by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER VI.
MANY VISITORS.
Miss Martineau's plans had been full of directness. Having made up hermind, she wasted no precious moments. The girls must be helped; shecould only give them counsel, but others could do more. Miss Martineaudetermined to go at once to the fountainhead. In short, she wouldattack the one and only rich person who lived in the neighborhood ofRosebury. Shortlands was a big place, and the Ellsworthys wereundoubtedly big people. Money with them was plentiful. They consideredthemselves county folk; they lived in what the Rosebury peoplebelieved to be royal style.
Miss Martineau had for one short blissful week of her life spent thetime at Shortlands. She had been sent for in an emergency, to take theplace of a nursery governess who was ill. Her French had been oflittle account in this great house, and her music had not beentolerated. The poor old lady had indeed been rather snubbed. But whatof that? She was able to go back to her own intimate friends, andentertain them with accounts of powdered footmen, of richly-dressedLondon ladies, of a world of fashion which these people believed to beParadise.
Twice during her week's sojourn she had been addressed by Mrs.Ellsworthy. No matter; from that day she considered herself one of thegreat lady's acquaintances. Miss Martineau could be heroic when shepleased, and there was certainly something of the heroic element abouther when she ventured to storm so mighty a citadel at eleven o'clockin the morning.
Her very boldness, however, won her cause. The footman who opened thedoor might look as supercilious as he pleased, but he was obliged todeliver her messages, and Mrs. Ellsworthy, with a good-humored smile,consented to see her.
Their interview was short, but Miss Martineau, when she launched onher theme, quite forgot that she was poor and her auditor rich. Mrs.Ellsworthy, too, after a few glances into the thin and earnest face ofthe governess, ceased to think of that antiquated poke bonnet, or theabsurdly old-fashioned cut of that ugly mantle.
The two who talked so earnestly were women--women with kind and largehearts, and their theme was engrossing.
Mrs. Ellsworthy bound herself by no promises, but she contrived tosend the governess away with a heart full of hope.
Mrs. Ellsworthy had never yet called on any of the people who lived inthe straggling village of Rosebury. Therefore, when her carriage, withits prancing horses and perfect appointments, drew up at theMainwarings' door, the old-fashioned little place felt quite a flutterthrough its heart.
Poppy Jenkins, the laundress's pretty daughter, came out into thestreet, and stared with all her eyes. The doctor's wife, who lived atthe opposite side of the street, gazed furtively and enviously frombehind her muslin blinds. The baker and the butcher neglected theirusual morning orders; and Hannah, the Mainwarings' servant, feltherself, as she expressed it, all of a tremble from top to toe.
"Let me brush your hair, Miss Primrose," she said, when she had atlast succeeded in inducing her young lady to dry her tears; "and areyour hands nice and clean, Miss Primrose? and your collar, is it neat?It's very condescending of Mrs. Ellsworthy to call."
"I wonder what she has come about," said Primrose; "she never knew mymother."
Primrose felt at that moment the great lady's visit to be anintrusion.
"I'll just run into the garden and stop Miss Jasmine and Miss Daisyrushing into the drawing-room all in a mess," said Hannah. "Oh! sakesalive! why, the young ladies will be seen anyhow from the Frenchwindow."
Hannah hurried off, wondering if she could smuggle these troublesomemembers of her flock out of sight through the kitchen.
Alas! she was too late--when Primrose, slim and graceful, and with herpretty eyes only slightly reddened by her crying fit, entered thedrawing-room, she saw the French doors open, and her guest pacingtranquilly round the garden, hold the Pink in her arms, while Daisydanced in front of her, and Jasmine, chattering volubly, walked by herside.
"I'm so glad you like those carnations," Jasmine was saying. "Mammawas very fond of them. Shall I set some slips for you? I will withpleasure."
"If Pink ever has a kitten you shall have it," said Daisy solemnly.
At this moment Primrose joined her sisters.
"Oh, Primrose--something so delightful!" began Jasmine.
"She thinks the Pink a perfect beauty. She wants another pussy justlike it," burst from Daisy's pretty dimpled lips.
Mrs. Ellsworthy, still keeping the Pink in her arms, held out herother hand to Primrose.
"I have introduced myself to your sisters, dear Miss Mainwaring. I amMrs. Ellsworthy, of Shortlands--a near neighbor. You must not considermy visit an intrusion."
Before Primrose could reply Jasmine exclaimed volubly--
"Indeed we don't--we are quite delighted; we were feeling ourselvesawfully dull. Miss Martineau said every one would call now she hadbeen. We did not want to see every one, but you are different."
"You are delightful," echoed Daisy.
Primrose felt herself almost cross. "Girls, do stop chattering," shesaid. "Mrs. Ellsworthy, I hope you will excuse my sisters; and won'tyou come into the drawing-room?"
"I am charmed with your sisters," answered the great lady--"they arefresh, they are original. Dear Miss Mainwaring, why need we leave thisdelightful garden? can we not have our little talk here?"
"With pleasure," said Primrose, but her stiffness did not disappear;she still had a slightly sore feeling at the bottom of her heart, andthe thought that Mrs. Ellsworthy never took the trouble to know dearmamma kept recurring.
Mrs. Ellsworthy was quite woman of the world enough to read Primrose,and to guess what was in her heart. She saw at a glance that the girlswere ladies, and would not be patronized. Her task had seemed easyenough when she assured Miss Martineau that the poor young Mainwaringsmust be helped. When she ordered her carriage and drove into Roseburyshe made up her mind to discuss their affairs boldly with them, and tooffer them practical advice, and, if necessary, substantialassistance. The eldest girl, if she was at all presentable, might begot into some family as a nursery governess or companion, and she feltquite sure that she had sufficient interest to procure admissions forJasmine and Daisy into some of the schools especially started toeducate the orphan daughters of army men.
But in the garden, although it was a very shabby little garden, thisprogramme did not seem quite so easy. Jasmine and Daisy weredelightful children; they hailed her instantly as a comrade; theythought nothing whatever of her wealth or her position. Shortlandsconveyed no meaning to their unsophisticated minds; they fullybelieved that Mrs. Ellsworthy envied them their carnations, and wouldhave been made happy by the possession of a kitten similar to thePink. Primrose, on the contrary, was proud and shy, and had no idea oftreating any stranger in a confidential manner.
Mrs. Ellsworthy chatted on, but she never got beyond commonplaces; sheinvited the girls to visit her at Shortlands, and Primrose, reading agreat desire in Daisy's blue eyes, answered simply, "Thank you; weshall like to come very much."
"I'll manage it when I get them to my own house," thought Mrs.Ellsworthy; "it's quite absurd to be baffled by three little chits,but I'll settle everything in a satisfactory fashion when I get themto Shortlands."
Aloud she said, "My dears, I shall be very glad to see you--and canyou come to-morrow? To-morrow I shall be quite alone."
"Primrose," burst from Daisy, "there's a Newfoundland dog, and amastiff, and two English terriers at Shortlands. The Newfoundland isblack and woolly and the mastiff is tawny, like a lion."
"Will you really show us over your beautiful conservatories?" askedJasmine. "Primrose, she was telling us about her flowers; and theymust be lovely."
"I'll show you everything, and take you everywhere," responded Mrs.Ellsworthy, stooping down to kiss Jasmine's upturned face. "You'llbring your sisters to-morrow, Miss Mainwaring," she continued, turningto the grave Primrose.
"Thank you--yes. It is kind of you to ask us," answered Primrose.
Mrs. Ellsworthy drove away in state, and the sisters saw her off fromtheir door-steps.
They made a pretty group as they stoodtogether--Daisy's arms clasped her elder sister's waist, and Jasmineshaded her dark eyes from the full blaze of the sun with her littlewhite dimpled hand.
As the great lady drove away Jasmine had actually the audacity to blowa kiss to her.
The neighbors at the opposite side of the street felt quitescandalized, and said to themselves that surely the poor young ladieshad seen the last of Mrs. Ellsworthy, after such a piece ofimpertinence. But the lady of Shortlands was really delighted.
"To think of my being here all these years, and never knowing thosecharming creatures," she soliloquized. Just then she saw MissMartineau crossing the street, and she ordered her coachman to drawup.
"I have been with them, dear Miss Martineau--they are delightful--sofresh--and so--so pretty! They are coming to Shortlands to-morrow.Good-bye--warm morning, is it not? Home, Tomlinson."
The girls had entered the little house, cheered by Mrs. Ellsworthy'svisit. Primrose, it is true, did not share her younger sisters'enthusiasm, but even she was pleased, and owned to herself that Mrs.Ellsworthy was a very different neighbor from the village folk.
Primrose's mind, however, was a good deal absorbed by what she haddiscovered in her mother's little old-fashioned cabinet. A letterdirected to herself lay there unopened. She longed to break the seal,and to acquaint herself with the contents of this message from thedead. She longed to read the letter, but she knew she could only do soat some quiet moment. She must peruse those beloved words when she wasalone and quite sure of being undisturbed. She thought she might slipaway into a little glade at the back of the house that afternoon, andthere read her letter, and ponder over its contents.
Events, however, were to occur which would prevent Primrose carryingout this scheme.
Immediately after dinner Miss Martineau's well-known knock was heardat the hall-door, and Miss Martineau herself, bristling withexcitement and curiosity, invaded the girls in their drawing-room.
"Now, my dears, tell me all about her. Is she not fascinating? She isgreatly pleased with you three--you have made a most properimpression; and you are to go to spend the day at Shortlandsto-morrow. Now, my loves, tell me what arrangements she has come to--Iam so _deeply_ interested, my poor darlings."
Miss Martineau, as she spoke, kept her eyes fixed on Primrose; butthat young lady only gave her a puzzled look, and, after a shortpause, said quietly--
"I don't understand you. We have made no special arrangements. Mrs.Ellsworthy was friendly, and she asked us to come and see her atShortlands; and we are going. Miss Martineau, I am so very busy thisafternoon; will you forgive me if I run away?"
Primrose left the room, and Miss Martineau, turning to Jasmine,clasped her hands in some excitement.
"Oh, my dear!" she exclaimed, "I do hope Primrose won't spoileverything by those little proud airs of hers; they really are--yes, Iam grieved to be obliged to say it--but they really are affected. Now,Jasmine darling, a great deal depends on this visit--yes, a greatdeal. You and Daisy must be on your very best behavior. You have neverbeen in a great house like Shortlands, and it is only right that I,your instructress, should tell you how you are to behave. You musttake no liberties, dear; and you must not speak too much, or too fast;and you must look _very_ grateful when Mrs. Ellsworthy notices you,loves. Oh, my poor dears! I feel over anxious, for so much depends onto-morrow."
It was now Jasmine's turn to stare, and to begin to say--"I don'tunderstand you." But Daisy burst out volubly--
"We are going up to Shortlands to run about--she said so. She said wewere to see the dogs--the black woolly Newfoundland and the tawnymastiff; and she has got a snow-white Persian kitten, only she likesthe Pink best; and I promised her that if ever the Pink had a littlekit of her own she should have it. Mrs. Ellsworthy didn't say a wordabout being horrid, and proper, and waiting until you are spoken to. Iwon't go to Shortlands if I have to behave like that, I won't,"concluded spoiled Daisy, pouting her lips.
Jasmine bent forward and kissed her. "You may do just what you like,darling little Eyebright," she said.
"Oh, Miss Martineau, really Mrs. Ellsworthy is not at all what youpicture her. I should say she was the kind of lady who likes a realromp. Anyhow, she does not at all want people to be stiff with her.Daisy, and she, and I were as jolly as possible until Primrose camedownstairs, and I suppose Primrose agreed with you, and thought it wasmanners to be formal. But, poor dear, she did not like it a bit. Wethree were having such a chatter before Primrose came. She is going toshow me all her conservatories to-morrow, and she took a great fancyto my carnations. I promised her some slips. Oh dear! oh dear! who isthat knocking at the hall door? Daisy, run and peep from behind thecurtain, and let me know."
Daisy started off on the instant, and returned in a moment with theintelligence that Mr. Danesfield, the manager of the bank, wasstanding on the steps, and that his face was very red.
On hearing this intelligence poor Miss Martineau's face also becamesuffused with a deep flush, and she pushed her poke bonnet a littlebackward in her excitement. An awful idea had suddenly darted throughher brain.
Perhaps Mr. Danesfield had called to announce some misfortune. Perhapsthe two hundred pounds was lost; perhaps there was no balance at thebank!
When the good gentleman was ushered into the room she glanced at himmysteriously, and even while he was shaking hands with Jasmine andDaisy, began letting fall short, but mysterious sentences--
"Mrs. Ellsworthy has called--_much_ pleased--inclined to take them up.They are to spend to-morrow at Shortlands." Mr. Danesfield raised hiseyebrows, pulled Daisy to stand between his knees; and, staring atMiss Martineau over his gold-rimmed glasses, said--
"Eh! eh!--Shortlands--Ellsworthy's--worthy folk!" here he laughed,pleased with his pun; "yes, Miss Martineau, a good opportunity,undoubtedly!"
At this moment Primrose came into the room, and Miss Martineau,judging that she might best serve her cause by retiring from the sceneof action, went away.
Mr. Danesfield did not pay a long visit. He had known the Mainwarings,although not very intimately, for years. He was a good-hearted, kind,and very busy man, and during their mother's lifetime he had taken butlittle notice of the girls.
To-day, however, he seemed to regard them with fresh interest. Heassured Primrose that if he could assist her in any business capacityhe would only be too pleased to do so. "Our good friend Miss Martineauassures me that your means are likely to be a little straitened, mydear. I am sincerely sorry, although there are worse troubles--yes,assuredly, far worse troubles. It cannot do a healthy girl any harm towork. Yes, come to me for advice if you care to, and look on me as anold friend. And hark ye, Miss Primrose, I am glad Mrs. Ellsworthy hascalled. Make the most of your opportunity at Shortlands, my dears.Yes; I'll look in another day with pleasure. Good-bye, good-bye."
When Mr. Danesfield went away the two elder sisters looked at eachother. What did it all mean? What mystery was there in the air?Jasmine thought both Miss Martineau and Mr. Danesfield verydisagreeable but Primrose pondered these things and felt anxious.
