betty and her father had taken a long journey from london. they had been nearly all day in the train, after a breakfast by candle-light; and it was quite dark, except for the light of the full moon in a misty sky, as they drove up the long avenue at danesly. pagot was in great spirits; she was to go everywhere with betty now, being used to the care of young ladies, and more being expected of this young lady than in the past. pagot had been at danesly before with the duncans, and had many friends in the household.
mr. leicester was walking across the fields by a path he well knew from the little station, with a friend and fellow guest whom they had met at durham. this path was much shorter than the road, so that papa was sure of reaching the house first; but betty felt a little lonely, being tired, and shy of meeting a great bright houseful of people quite by herself, in case papa should loiter. but suddenly the carriage stopped, and the footman jumped down and opened the door. "my lady is walking down to meet you, miss," he said; "she's just ahead of us, coming down the avenue." and betty flew like a pigeon to meet her dear friend. the carriage drove on and left them together under the great trees, walking along together over the beautiful tracery of shadows. suddenly lady mary felt the warmth of betty's love for her and her speechless happiness as she had not felt it before, and she stopped, looking so tall and charming, and put her two arms round betty, and hugged her to her heart.
"my dear little girl!" she said for the second time; and then they walked on, and still betty could not say anything for sheer joy. "now i'm going to tell you something quite in confidence," said the hostess of the great house, which showed its dim towers and scattered lights beyond the leafless trees. "i had been wishing to have you come to me, but i should not have thought this the best time for a visit; later on, when the days will be longer, i shall be able to have much more time to myself. but an american friend of mine, mr. banfield, who is a friend of your papa's, i believe, wrote to ask if he might bring his young daughter, whom he had taken from school in new york for a holiday. it seemed a difficult problem for the first moment," and lady mary gave a funny little laugh. "i did not know quite what to do with her just now, as i should with a grown person. and then i remembered that i might ask you to help me, betty dear. you know that the duncans always go for a christmas visit to their grandmother in devon."
"i was so glad to come," said betty warmly; "it was nicer than anything else.
"i am a little afraid of young american girls, you understand," said lady mary gayly; and then, taking a solemn tone: "yes, you needn't laugh, miss betty! but you know all about what they like, don't you? and so i am sure we can make a bit of pleasure together, and we'll be fellow hostesses, won't we? we must find some time every day for a little talking over of things quite by ourselves. i've put you next your father's rooms, and to-morrow miss banfield will be near by, and you're to dine in my little morning-room to-night. i'm so glad good old pagot is with you; she knows the house perfectly well. i hope you will soon feel at home. why, this is almost like having a girl of my very own," said lady mary wistfully, as they began to go up the great steps and into the hall, where the butler and other splendid personages of the household stood waiting. lady mary was a tall, slender figure in black, with a beautiful head; and she carried herself with great spirit and grace. she had wrapped some black lace about her head and shoulders, and held it gathered with one hand at her throat.
"i must fly to the drawing-room now, and then go to dress for dinner; so good-night, darling," said this dear lady, whom betty had always longed to be nearer to and to know better. "to-morrow you must tell me all about your summer in new england," she said, looking over her shoulder as she went one way and betty another, with pagot and a footman who carried the small luggage from the carriage. how good and kind she had been to come to meet a young stranger who might feel lonely, and as if there were no place for her in the great strange house in the first minute of her arrival. and betty leicester quite longed to see miss banfield and to help her to a thousand pleasures at once for lady mary's sake.
《the country of the pointed firs尖枞之乡》
《a country doctor乡村医生》