CHAPTER XIV. RECRUITS
Marian walked to the nearest point of Camden Road, and there
waited for an omnibus, which conveyed her to within easy reach of
the street where Maud and Dora Milvain had their lodgings. This
was at the north-east of Regent's Park, and no great distance
from Mornington Road, where Jasper still dwelt.
On learning that the young ladies were at home and alone, she
ascended to the second floor and knocked.
'That's right!' exclaimed Dora's pleasant voice, as the door
opened and the visitor showed herself And then came the friendly
greeting which warmed Marian's heart, the greeting which until
lately no house in London could afford her.
The girls looked oddly out of place in this second-floor sitting-
room, with its vulgar furniture and paltry ornaments. Maud
especially so, for her fine figure was well displayed by the
dress of mourning, and her pale, handsome face had as little
congruence as possible with a background of humble circumstances.
Dora impressed one as a simpler nature, but she too had
distinctly the note of refinement which was out of harmony with
these surroundings. They occupied only two rooms, the
sleeping-chamber being double-bedded; they purchased food for
themselves and prepared their own meals, excepting dinner. During
the first week a good many tears were shed by both of them; it
was not easy to transfer themselves from the comfortable country
home to this bare corner of lodgers' London. Maud, as appeared at
the first glance, was less disposed than her sister to make the
best of things; her countenance wore an expression rather of
discontent than of sorrow, and she did not talk with the same
readiness as Dora.
On the round table lay a number of books; when disturbed, the
sisters had been engaged in studious reading.
'I'm not sure that I do right in coming again so soon,' said
Marian as she took off her things. 'Your time is precious.'
'So are you,' replied Dora, laughing. 'It's only under protest
that we work in the evening when we have been hard at it all
day.'
'We have news for you, too,' said Maud, who sat languidly on an
uneasy chair.
'Good, I hope?'
'Someone called to see us yesterday. I dare say you can guess who
it was.'
'Amy, perhaps?'
'Yes.'
'And how did you like her?'
The sisters seemed to have a difficulty in answering. Dora was
the first to speak.
'We thought she was sadly out of spirits. Indeed she told us that
she hasn't been very well lately. But I think we shall like her
if we come to know her better.'
'It was rather awkward, Marian,' the elder sister explained. 'We
felt obliged to say something about Mr Reardon's books, but we
haven't read any of them yet, you know, so I just said that I
hoped soon to read his new novel. "I suppose you have seen
reviews of it?" she asked at once. Of course I ought to have had
the courage to say no, but I admitted that I had seen one or two
— Jasper showed us them. She looked very much annoyed, and after
that we didn't find much to talk about.'
'The reviews are very disagreeable,' said Marian with a troubled
face. 'I have read the book since I saw you the other day, and I
am afraid it isn't good, but I have seen many worse novels more
kindly reviewed.'
'Jasper says it's because Mr Reardon has no friends among the
journalists.'
'Still,' replied Marian, 'I'm afraid they couldn't have given the
book much praise, if they wrote honestly. Did Amy ask you to go
and see her?'
'Yes, but she said it was uncertain how long they would be living
at their present address. And really. we can't feel sure whether
we should be welcome or not just now.'
Marian listened with bent head. She too had to make known to her
friends that they were not welcome in her own home; but she knew
not how to utter words which would sound so unkind.