“Did you think my father was obliged to live in Canada whether he liked it or not?” asked Launa; “that he was suffering an unwilling exile?”
“Not exactly that,” said Mrs. Carden. “Where are you staying?”
When she heard of the flat, and contemplated Launa’s boots and dress, she murmured to herself, “Money.”
“George, sometimes when you are busy I should be so glad to take care of Launa; I would take her to—” She paused. Where could she take Launa? “We might go to the Zoo.”
“Thank you very much,” said Launa politely. She did not press Mrs. Carden to name the day for this expedition; she was not favourably impressed by her relative.
“You will come and dine with us, Mrs. Carden,” said Launa.
“Come any evening next week; which one will suit you?” asked Mr. Archer.
Then they talked of Mr. Archer’s old home, and looked at photographs of the whole of the family.
“Those happy days,” murmured Mrs. Carden, not without an uneasy feeling that her hair was growing thin at the parting; besides, she began to feel cold without her cap.
They drank weak tea, and Lavinia asked Launa her impressions of England.
“I think London is perfectly delightful,” she answered. “I don’t like the horses much. You use bearing reins. The river is quite perfect, and so different from ours. And yet sometimes I long for a stretch of rocky country, for more freedom. But the music and the life are so interesting. Yes, I love London.”
“Horses, river, life,” repeated Mrs. Carden.
A horse to her was a vehicle of locomotion, like an engine; it conveyed her to the station or to a party. Some deluded beings owned horses; she preferred hers hired, with no responsibility as to legs or grooms.
“You love boating and freedom,” remarked Mrs. Carden. “They are both often dangerous.”
“In this country, yes—where freedom frequently ends in trespassing,” answered Launa.
“Or worse—the loss of one’s reputation,” Lavinia said with decision.
Then she turned to George and told him anecdotes. She conversed rapidly and loudly; when she was a girl her family had told her she was arch.
When they rose to go she said: “George, my dear son will be at home in a few days. May I bring him to dine? Launa, he is your cousin.”
“Do bring him,” said Mr. Archer; “Launa will be glad to see him, I know.”