But Anthony Cranford did not notice Jane's maid, even though she was pretty. The only Greenhall girl who attracted his attention was Emily, and she, beautiful and sharp-tongued, wasted no opportunity to flirt with the master's son, naturally avoiding his mother's inquisitive gaze.

– Yes, we expect so," Lady Cranford answered her son in an indifferent tone. – 'This is my foolish sister's daughter.

– The one your father disinherited? – Mr. Cranford said, approaching his mother in an airy manner.

– Yes, Catherine's daughter," his mother confirmed. – My younger sister married against our father's wishes to a penniless petty nobleman and broke our mother's heart. Fool!

– And what of her daughter?

– She will live with us. Catherine died many years ago, and before she died, she wrote to me begging me to help her daughter, Vivian.

– That's a pretty name," Anthony grinned at that. – So your penniless relative will live under your roof? Even after what her mother has done?

– You know, my dear, what a pitiful heart I have. I could not refuse my dying sister.

– Then why did this Vivian only turn up here today?

– I wrote to her father that I would not take her into my house and care until she was eighteen. I hope she's beautiful, and I'll find her a match quickly. Of course, with her background, she can't expect a rich, noble bridegroom. – Lady Cranford narrowed her eyes. – She will marry the first man who asks for her hand.

– Mother, you are a noble woman," said her son, and kissed his mother's cold white palm.

'A poor motherless relative, then! – With a mocking smile he thought. – The mother must have loved her fallen sister fiercely to put such a burden on her frail shoulders. Well, I'll be polite, but no more. I don't want to be seen with that beardless wench!"

But the sneer was gone from his lips as soon as his penniless cousin descended gracefully from the carriage and came into view of the Cranfords.

"What a horror!" – flashed through Lady Cranford's mind. She cast her niece from head to foot with an unceremonious glance, and her pretty mouth turned into a thin lifeless line.

– Almighty God! Look at that! Have you ever seen such a thing? – exclaimed one of the maids in the kitchen, as she stood on a chair and looked out of a small window high up on the wall. How convenient that from this window there was a view, though distant, of the courtyard of the house.

– What is it, Mary? What is it? – There was a rumble of voices from her friends.

– Oh, you wouldn't believe it! Oh, my God, is there such a thing? – Mary exclaimed again instead of answering. – I won't tell you! You'll see for yourself!

At the same time, the guilty party looked without fear or shyness into her aunt's face.

The green eyes, shining with courage, met the cold blue ones.

– Aunt Beatrice! I am eternally grateful to you for allowing me to be a part of your beautiful family! – In a beautiful, rather high, but not at all harsh voice, the arriving niece said and made a charming curtsy. Then, with a glance at her cousin, she sat down again in a curtsy and said: – Good day, sir!

– 'Good day indeed,' Anthony replied casually, gazing at the girl with ill-concealed admiration.

"So this bird is my dearest beggar cousin? Well, mother must be pleased: no sober-minded single man can resist the green-eyed fairy!" – Mr. Cranford thought involuntarily.

– Welcome to Greenhall, my dear niece," said Lady Cranford coolly. But any intelligent person would easily have realised that it was merely a courtesy, for pauper relatives are the most unwelcome of guests. – I hope the long journey has not tired you?

Anthony felt a slight annoyance at his mother: the tone of her voice was so indifferent and cold that it might easily have frightened and distressed his young cousin, who must be expecting a warmer welcome.

– Oh, dear auntie, don't worry! I slept the whole journey and did not awake until the gates of London. Besides, Philip, our coachman, knows how to drive a carriage without tiring me. Can Philip and the horses spend the night in your stables? He will be travelling back to Casterbridge at dawn tomorrow," Vivian said with a smile, as if she had not noticed her aunt's coldness.