by L. T. Meade
giving her away tostrangers); I said that father had now been told what was necessary tothe well bringing up of his children, and accordingly things werealtered in our home.
The girls were in great spirits on this occasion, and when I met them Isuddenly resolved to enjoy myself.
"What do you think has happened to me?" I said.
"What can it be?" said Rita. "Oh, dear me! Rachel, you look verynice."
In the old days they did not pet me much, and they often told me Ilooked very ugly, and I was not elated by the compliment.
"Never mind my looks," I said. "I am quite a proud girl to-day. I am,in fact, almost grown-up; I have taken the first step upwards."
Now, to be grown-up was Rita's greatest ambition in all the world. Shewas four months older than I. She would be sixteen early in January,and I should have to wait until the beginning of May for the event.But, of course, she would not be "out" for at least two years.
"You are not really grown-up, and you needn't suppose you will be forages and ages," said Agnes. "Why, look at Rita; you have made her quitecross."
"You do talk in such an absurd way," said Rita. "But what is it? Outwith it!"
"Well, I've begun to get an allowance."
"A what?" said Agnes. "An allowance."
"You don't mean a dress allowance?" said Rita. "Yes, that's just what Ido mean; and I've got my first quarter's money in my pocket. What'smore, I'm as rich as Croesus; I have more money than I think any onegirl could by any possibility spend. Now, what do you think of me?"
Agnes had been walking on Rita's other side. She showed her estimationof my upward step in the world's ladder by running round to my side andplacing me in the middle.
"Tell us all about it," she said, and she slipped her hand through myarm.
"There's not much to tell. Father thought that--or at least mystep-mother thought that I ought to have money to spend on dress, and Ihave got ten pounds."
"For a year?" asked Agnes.
"No; for a quarter. I am to have ten pounds every quarter. Think ofit!"
Now, Agnes Swan knew quite well that when her allowance was given to herit would not approach anything like that royal sum. She thereforeglanced at me and said in a low, pathetic voice, "What remarkably prettyears you have got, Dumps!"
I made no answer. I continued as though I had not heard her: "And Ihave the money--two banknotes--in my pocket; and I am going to choosesome dresses now, and I thought perhaps you two girls would like to comewith me."
"How splendid! Where shall we go?"
"Not to Wallis's," I said firmly.
"Why not to Wallis's? What special hatred have you for that shop?"
"I do not wish to go there," I answered. "I want to dress myself inWest End style."
"Then," said Agnes, "nothing can be easier. We'll wait just here andtake the first 'bus to Oxford Street. We'll get down there and pressour noses against the shop windows. It's Christmas-time, and things areso bright. But if you want dresses now you'll have to get themready-made, for no shop will make your dresses in time for Christmas."
"I don't really know that I want much dress," I said. "I have got themoney to do what I like with."
"Of course you have." Rita looked at me anxiously.
"I must spend some of it on dress, of course, but I've got ten pounds.It seems almost as though it could never be spent. Oh, here's a 'bus!Shall we go on the top?"
Rita waved her umbrella wildly. The driver of the omnibus stopped. Wemounted on to the roof, and sat huddled close together discussing mybrilliant prospects.
"We'd best keep one on each side of you, for a lot of money like that ina girl's pocket makes it dangerous for her to walk about atChristmas-time," said Agnes.
"I don't mind," I said. "You can keep one on each side of me. Ithink," I continued after a pause, "that it would be only right to spendsome of my money on Christmas presents."
"Of course, dear; it would be only generous. And you ought to getsomething for your step-mother."
"Yes, of course I ought; and for the boys, and for father. It will bedifficult to think of anything for father. And then there is Hannah.Yes, I will spend some of it on Christmas-boxes."
We got down from the roof of the omnibus at Oxford Circus, and then wewalked slowly down Regent Street and revelled in our view of the shopwindows. I was not specially devoted to dress, but the dainty andravishing garments which I beheld exhibited in the windows werecertainly enough to excite the wonder and admiration of us all.
At last we decided to venture into a large shop to ask the price of apretty costume which took my fancy. I liked it because it was asdifferent from the dark-blue with the grey fur as dress could be. Itwas a soft, glowing shade of crimson, and was smartly trimmed withvelvet of the same colour. We all marched into the shop, and I demandedthe price of the little costume in the window.
"It will just fit you, Dumps," said Rita.
The man who served us said he would inquire, and presently he informedus that the dress was selling off and we could have it for ten guineas.Both Rita and Agnes raised their blows in amazement. I coloured deeply,and said that ten guineas was more than I wanted to pay. He said thathe had cheaper costumes in the shop, but I would not listen. We wentout of the shop, and we three girls once again found ourselves on thepavement.
"I call it a perfect swindle," said Rita. "Of course, I know that mycousin Laura Ives gives more than that for a dress, but then she isgrown-up. After all, ten pounds doesn't seem much for a dressallowance. But let us go into another shop."
But, try as we would, I could get nothing that I could really wear underabout five guineas, and as I did not choose to give more than half myallowance for a single dress, I resolved to do without one.
"I'll tell my step-mother that father must be informed that ten pounds aquarter is not nearly enough to spend on clothes," I said. "Of course Ihad no real ideas on the subject before."
"Of course it isn't half enough," said Rita. "You can just spend themoney on odds and ends. That's what I'd do."
I proceeded to follow her advice, and presently I purchased a quantityof ribbon of different shades and colours, two or three pairs ofgloves--boots I decided I could do without, although mine were rathershabby--some neckties of different colours, and a new hat. The hat wasquite unsuitable, but Rita said it was remarkably stylish.
By this time I had spent three or four pounds of my allowance.
"Oh, I must have some handkerchiefs and stockings," I said suddenly. Ithought myself most prudent and all that was wise and common-sense whenI spoke of stockings. I bought several pairs of most expensive make,and furnished myself with some fine lawn handkerchiefs, and lo andbehold! my first five-pound note had vanished. Still, I had the other.
"You ought to think of the Christmas-boxes; you ought to take somethinghome for them all," said Rita.
The Christmas-boxes proved themselves most fascinating. They were thesort of things that beckoned you into a shop, and then went away, andyou could not find them. You followed them from shop to shop, andalways exactly the very things you wanted were in another shop fartheron and yet quite near. Oh, how difficult it was to get them! Thatknife, for instance, that Alex would like, or that pen which Charleywould condescend to write with, or that pair of soft doeskin gloves forHannah--Hannah was always complaining of cold hands.
In the end I gave up the knife and the pen and the gloves, and boughtfancy articles which I thought would please my family--glass and chinafor my step-mother; a new sort of inkpot, which eventually proved of nouse at all, but was very expensive, for my father; and things for theboys which I will reveal by-and-by.
I had only thirty shillings out of my ten pounds when I returned homethat afternoon, having provided presents for every one except myself;and in addition I presented an exceedingly expensive, huge box ofchocolates each to Rita and Agnes Swan. They called me their bestdarling, and said that each moment my appearance was improving, until atlast the
ir remarks made me so angry that I said, "If you say that againI will never speak to you or give you sixpence-worth of chocolates aslong as I live!"
Upon this threat the two girls were silent, until at last Rita remarked,"Well, whatever happens, she will always pass in a crowd."
"What does that mean?" I said.
"It means that whatever you put on, you will never be anything but amost ordinary-looking person. Now, does that content you?"
"Better than flattering words which are false," I said stoutly.
They had conducted me home. I
