The Blue Diamond by Annie Haynes Read Free Book Online Page A

lids.
    â€œNurse—what did you say her name was—Marston?”
    â€œYes, Marston. She is Mrs. Marston’s daughter down at Lockford. Do you know her, Jim? She has been in London.”
    â€œNot that I know of,” he said carelessly. “Mr. Garth seemed pretty thick with her this afternoon, to my way of thinking. That note you gave Mrs. Parkyns was from her, wasn’t it?”
    â€œYes. She wants to see her ladyship most particular to-night,” said Minnie, forgetting her promise. “Something about the young lady—”
    Jim glanced obliquely at her a moment.
    â€œWhat about her? She doesn’t know anything of her, this Nurse Marston, does she?”
    â€œShe thinks she does, but I don’t know what. She said she wouldn’t tell anyone but her ladyship,” Minnie said carelessly; then in an altered tone, “There! She charged me I wasn’t to say a word to anybody and here I am telling you all about it!”
    â€œDon’t you fret yourself, I shan’t say anything. For the matter of that, telling you is the same thing as telling me, for ain’t you and me going to be one, Minnie?” responded Mr. Gregory, his clasp growing tighter. “I have got something better than that to talk about to-night. There’s a little cottage down against the common at Lockford to let. How’d that do—Ah, Mrs. Parkyns, you do come into the room quiet! I never so much as heard a step!”
    The housekeeper laughed meaningly.
    â€œAy, maybe I am a bit too quiet for some folks! Bless me, Minnie, there’s no need to put yourself about!” for the girl had sprung away from Gregory and thrown up her hands to her flaming face. “We have all of us been young once, my lass. Where are you off to now, may I ask?”
    â€œThere’s some lace to be put on Miss Mavis’s gown for to-morrow,” faltered Minnie. “I—I must be off, Mrs. Parkyns.”
    â€œAnd her ladyship’s message to the nurse?” remarked the housekeeper, chuckling at the girl’s confusion. “There, if I don’t believe you have forgot all about it! What can you be thinking of, I wonder!” with a laugh at Gregory. “Her ladyship says if Nurse Marston’s business is very important she is to come to her in the small library when all the guests are gone. She does not think they will be very late to-night.”
    â€œThe small library? I haven’t seen that, I think,” Gregory remarked, moving a little nearer the girl but keeping his eyes on the housekeeper.
    â€œWell, I dare say you haven’t,” she remarked a trifle condescendingly. “It hasn’t been, so to speak, in general use, though it has been kept aired, since Sir Noel died. He always sat there in the morning when he was indoors. It is that small room that opens into the conservatory to the right of the drawing-room.”
    â€œOh, ah, I think I have seen it,” Jim said absently, edging nearer the door through which Minnie had already vanished. “I’ll be pleased to do what I can for you at any time, Mrs. Parkyns; but if there is nothing more tonight—”
    â€œI should be sorry to keep you if there was,” the housekeeper said with a significant laugh. “You are to let us have the cattleyas for the table to-morrow night, Sir Arthur said.”
    â€œVery good, m’m,” and Jim made his escape without, more ado.
    In the wide stone-flagged passage outside he caught a glimpse of Minnie’s black skirt as she hurried round the corner, and gave chase at once.
    â€œWhy, Minnie,” he said reproachfully as he came up with her, “you are never going off like this without a word? I want to talk to you about that Cottage; but I haven’t finished with Mrs. Parkyns yet. However, you come round while they are at dinner and I will tell you all about it.”
    Minnie looked frightened.
    â€œI don’t know as I