Beck Center English Dept. University Libraries Emory University
Emory Women Writers Resource Project Collections:
Women's Genre Fiction Project

An Adventuress, an electronic edition

by L.T. Meade [ Meade, L.T., 1854-1914]

date: 1899
source publisher: Chatto & Windus
collection: Genre Fiction

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CHAPTER V

A GIRL and a man were walking slowly up one of the steep mountain passes near Mentone. The man's back was slightly bent; there were furrows on his face and beads of perspiration on his brow. The girl had a springing step, and did not show the least trace of fatigue.

"Need we go any farther, Katherine?" said the man.

"Not if you wish to rest, Uncle Robert. But see, there is a seat placed for the accommodation of weary climbers just round that next boulder. Let us make for it and sit down."

The man said nothing further, but resumed his toiling march upwards.

"For a girl who has passed most of her life in the East it is wonderful how well you can ascend these hills," he said.

"Oh, I am accustomed to climbing," began Kate, and then she stopped. She knew that Kate Bouverie had never climbed a mountain in her life.

The man turned and looked at her attentively.

"You are a remarkably healthy girl," he said; " and I am pleased--very much pleased--with what I have seen of you."

"Thank you, uncle; here is our resting-place. Isn't it good to toil when it makes rest so sweet?"

The man sat down with a sigh of relief. The girl | | 32 stood fanning herself with her large straw hat which she had removed from her head for the purpose.

"Now that we are here, Katherine, we may as well attend to business."

"Quite so, Uncle Robert; I am agreeable."

"Then sit near me, my dear niece."

Kate seated herself obediently. She turned her face so that Mr. Hume got a full view of it.

"You have grown up very much as I expected you to grow up," he said. "And yet there is a difference."

"What do you mean?" Kate felt herself colouring very slightly.

"You look more spirited. The old Kate had spirit enough, but she was not as healthy and lively as you are; she was of slighter make. At one time we seriously feared consumption for her; it is in her mother's family. Now you, my dear, look as hearty as girl could look."

"Oh, I have outgrown all my early delicacy," said Kate. "When I was in India father was a little anxious. But, you know, he took me to the hill stations--and it is splendid to live there--I got stronger year by year. Didn't he tell you so when he wrote?"

"He did mention from time to time that you were in good health, my dear. You must tell me some day of his last moments. Poor Christopher; I was very fond of him."

The girl sighed, and drew a little nearer to Mr. Hume. She laid her small hand on his.

"I love you for loving father," she said. "You must tell me about my dear mother, too, some day. I don't remember her in the least."

"She was my only sister," said Mr. Hume; | | 33 "and, as I told you, died of consumption. We have it in our family--although it has never touched me. At one time I almost thought that I ought to warn Ralph, but really there is no necessity now. So you have fixed up the date of your wedding, Kitty?"

"Yes," answered Kate, with a smile, the colour filling her cheeks. "This is April--the middle of April. We hope to be married sometime in June. There is no special hurry though, is there?"

"My dear child, there is always hurry when marriages are contemplated," was the somewhat testy answer. "I am much interested in Ralph; he is a man in a thousand. Your father wished for this wedding, and there is no earthly sense in putting it off. By the way, Kate, how old are you?"

"I shall he twenty my next birthday."

"To be sure. You will be married as a minor. But that does not matter. Now to talk on another matter. I want to return to England on Monday. This is Friday; can you be ready."

"Is it necessary for me to go back so soon?"

"I should like to escort you home. It would be better than Ralph doing so."

"I will try and be ready," said the girl. " There are only one or two things which I want to give directions about."

"And what are they?"

"I am anxious to settle a small sum of money upon Mrs Mildmay."

"The mother of that poor girl who died so suddenly?"

"Yes, Uncle Robert. She was a very nice girl, and I was much attached to her. I am also very fond of her mother."

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"That is quite natural, Kate; and any little sum which you may wish to give her I shall be quite willing to see about for you. Would fifty pounds content you?"

Kate opened her eyes wide.

"Certainly not," she answered promptly. "I promised Kate Mildmay when she was dying that I would make her mother comfortable for life. I want a much larger sum. I can surely do what I like with my own money?"

"When you are of age, dear Kate. Only then you will be married, and it will be tied up in settlements. But at present, my dear girl--"

A look of alarm flitted across the eager face.

"The fact is this, Uncle Robert," said Kate, nestling up to him, "I want you to be very good, indeed, to your Kitty; I want you to give me for Mrs. Mildmay two thousand pounds."

Mr. Robert Hume started away from Kate's side with considerable amazement.

"You must be mad, Katherine," he said. "You seriously ask me to advance you two thousand pounds out of your property to give to a total stranger. It cannot be thought of for a single moment."

"In that case I won't marry Ralph until I am over one-and-twenty. When I am of age I shall have complete control of my money, and I shall immediately give two thousand pounds to Mrs. Mildmay."

"My dear girl, you know nothing about what you are saying. Even when you are of age your money will have to be guarded by trustees. You have to think of your descendants."

Kate shrugged her shoulders. "I must have | | 35 that money for Mrs. Mildmay," she cried with impatience." I promised poor Kitty that I would leave her mother comfortable."

"The mother of a girl who was only your companion for a short time."

"That does not matter. I am determined that Mrs. Mildmay shall have the money. Now, you understand me, Uncle Robert. I can be firm when I put down my foot. I have put my foot down here. If she has to wait for it I shall be very sorry; but, in any case, she shall have it in the long-run."

"This is most disturbing and ridiculous," said Mr. Hume. "Of course you are rich; but no money ought to be squandered. And to throw away two thousand pounds on a comparative stranger! Katherine, you are mad!"

"Shall we turn the conversation?" was Kate's dignified reply.

Mr. Hume looked at her in astonishment. It is true he had not seen Kate Bouverie for eight years; but in the old days he had always considered her a yielding sort of girl, a very nice girl truly, very sweet, very handsome, but the sort of girl who would submit to advice, who would be guided in the way she ought to go. But this Kate, although handsome and bright and even brilliant, was different. There was a change in her which he could not quite account for. He believed there could be occasions when she would be hard.

"I want to know another thing," continued Kate, flashing round upon him. "I may as well ask it now, for after this talk we need not bother ourselves about money matters. Until I am of age you will give me just what I want?"

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"You shall have plenty of money, my dear--plenty. You are a very rich girl."

"Ah, that is what I am coming to. Do you know how much my yearly income is?"

"Your yearly income! Really, Katherine, at the present moment I cannot quite tell."

"Does it run into four figures?"

Mr. Hume laughed.

"Four figures, my dear child. Good gracious! I should think so. What would you say if I told you that it ran into five figures, Kate?"

"Oh, then, that is delightful. Is it possible that I have ten thousand pounds a year?"

"Nearer thirty thousand a year."

"Then why should you grumble at my asking for two thousand pounds for Mrs. Mildmay? Come, Uncle Robert, I am not going to stand this? The money was left to me by my dear father, and Mrs. Mildmay must have the small legacy which I promised Kitty to give to her. Now, then, you will say 'Yes,' won't you?"

"I suppose I must; but it is most unreasonable. The fact is this, Katherine, you need a good husband to keep you in order. I do trust Ralph will be firm enough."

Kate smiled, and a look of triumph came into her face.

"I believe we shall get on very well," she said at last slowly, "But I had better tell you at once, Uncle Robert, that I am a woman who cannot be driven; I must be led. I humoured my father, and he always imagined that he turned me whichever way he liked. In reality, I turned him. I turned him round my little finger as I mean to turn you--as I | | 37 mean to turn Ralph. But now, do tell me what we shall do when we get to London?"

"You must come to my place, of course."

"Your place--where?" Kate coloured, and her lips trembled as she spoke.

"Are you silly?" was her uncle's reply. "You must know where I live."

"Of course, of course."

"You spent many happy days at the Grange when you were a child," continued Mr. Hume.

"The Grange! How lucky that he has mentioned the name," thought Kate to herself.

"And Ethel and Mary will be very pleased to welcome you again," continued the lawyer. "They are not at all jealous of you, although you are the heiress and cut them out."

Kitty's face turned a little pale.

"Ethel and Mary," she said slowly. "Yes," she added, fixing her eyes now on Mr. Hume's face, "I used to be very fond of Ethel and Mary. But Ethel was my favourite."

"Yes, I remember that," said Mr. Hume. "Now, my dear girl, I love you very much; and I mean to be a true and faithful guardian to you, and to tie your money up securely. I am your guardian; and I shall see that your marriage settlement secures your fortune to you and your children. Ralph shall have the benefit of the interest, but he cannot touch a penny of the capital. No, my dear Kate, you need not frown. I am quite resolved."

Kate suddenly sprang to her feet.

"It is turning chilly," she said, "and the sun is just going to set. Let us hurry back to the Villa Beau Séjour."

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