CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
THE PARTING OF THE WAYS!
Arthur kept his word, and tried manfully not to let his owndisappointment interfere with the enjoyment of Christmas Day.
The party at the vicarage was smaller than usual, for Rob and Oswald hadboth gone home for the festive season, and he knew well that theknowledge that "Arthur was coming" had seemed the best guarantee of amerry day to those who were left.
Peggy too--poor little Peg, with her bandaged hands and tiny whiteface--it would never do to grieve her by being depressed and gloomy!
"Begone, dull care!" cried Arthur to himself then, when he awoke onChristmas morning, and, promptly wrapping himself in his dressing-gown,he sallied out on to the landing, where he burst into the strains of"Christians, awake!" with such vigorous brush-and-comb accompaniment onthe panels of the doors as startled the household out of their dreams.
"Miserable boy! I was having such a lovely nap! I'll never forgiveyou!" cried Mrs Asplin's voice, in sleepy wrath.
"Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" shouted the girls; and Peggy'sclear pipe joined in last of all. "And many of them! Come in! Comein! I was lying awake and longing to see you!"
Arthur put his ruffled head round the door and beamed at the littlefigure in the bed, as if he had never known a trouble in his life.
"What a wicked story! I heard you snore. Merry Christmas, Peg, and aHappy New Year! And don't you go for to do it again never no more!It's a jolly morning. I'll take you out for a toddle in the garden whenwe come home from church, if you are a good girl. Will you have yourpresent now, or wait till you get it? It begins with a B. I love mylove with a B, because she's a--"
"Oh, Arthur!" interrupted Peggy regretfully. "I haven't half such anice present for you as I expected. You see I couldn't work anything,and I couldn't get out to the shops, and I hadn't nearly as much moneyas I expected either. If Rob and I had won that prize, I should havehad ten pounds; but the stupid editors have put off announcing theresult week after week. They say there were so many competitors; butthat's no consolation, for it makes our chance less. I do hope it maybe out next week. But, at any rate, I didn't get my ten pounds in time,and there I was, you see, with little money and practically no hands--a--er--a most painful contingency, which I hope it may never be your lotto experience. You must take the will for the deed."
"Oh, I will!" agreed Arthur promptly. "I'll take the will now, and youcan follow up with the deed as soon as you get the cash. But no morejourneys up to London, my dear, if you love me, and don't use such bigwords before seven o'clock in the morning, or you'll choke. It's badfor little girls to exert themselves so much. Now I'm going to skateabout in the bath for a bit, and tumble into my clothes, and then I'llcome back and give you a lift downstairs. You are coming down forbreakfast, I suppose?"
"Rather! On Christmas morning! I should just think I was!" cried Peggyemphatically; and Arthur went off to the bathroom, calling in at Max'sroom _en route_, to squeeze a sponge full of water over that younggentleman's head, and pull the clothes off the bed, by way of givingemphasis to his, "Get up, you lazy beggar! It's the day afterto-morrow, and the plum-pudding is waiting!"
Peggy was the only one of the young folks who did not go to church thatmorning; but she was left in charge of the decorations for thedinner-table, and when this was finished there was so much to thinkabout that the time passed all too quickly.
Last year she and Arthur had spent Christmas with their mother; now bothparents were away in India, and everything was strange and altered. AsPeggy sat gazing into the heart of the big gloomy fire, it seemed to herthat the year that was passing away would end a complete epoch in herbrother's experiences and her own, and that from this hour a new chapterwould begin. She herself had come back from the door of death, and hadlife given, as it were, afresh into her hands. Arthur's longed-forcareer had been checked at its commencement, and all his plans laidwaste. Even the life in the vicarage would henceforth take newconditions, for Rob and Oswald would go up to Oxford at the beginning ofthe term, and their place be filled by new pupils. There was somethingsolemnising in the consciousness of change which filled the air. Onecould never tell what might be the next development. Nothing was toounexpected to happen--since Arthur's success had ended in failure, andshe herself had received Rosalind's vows of love and friendship.
"Good things have happened as well as bad," acknowledged Peggy honestly;"but how I do hate changes! The new pupils may be the nicest boys inthe world, but no one will ever--ever be like Rob, and I'd rather Arthurhad been a soldier than anything in the wide world. I wish one could goon being young for ever and ever. It's when you grow old that all thesetroubles and changes come upon you." And Peggy sighed and wagged herhead, oppressed with the weight of fifteen years.
It was a relief to hear the clatter of horses' hoofs, and the sound ofvoices in the hall, which proved that the church-goers had returnedhome. Mr and Mrs Asplin had been driven home from church by Lord andLady Darcy, and the next moment they were in the room, and greetingPeggy with demonstrative affection.
"We couldn't go home without coming to see you, dear," said Lady Darcyfondly. "Rosalind is walking with the rest, and will be here in a fewminutes. A merry Christmas to you, darling, and many, many of them.I've brought you a little present which I hope you will like. It's abangle bracelet--quite a simple one that you can wear every day--and youmust think of me sometimes when you put it on."
She touched the spring of a little morocco case as she spoke, and thereon the satin lining lay a band of gold, dependent from which hung thesweetest little locket in the world--heart-shaped, studded with pearls,and guarding a ring of hair beneath the glass shield.
Lady Darcy pointed to it in silence--her eyes filling with tears, asthey invariably did on any reference to Rosalind's accident, and Peggy'scheeks flushed with pleasure.
"I can't thank you! I really can't," she said. "It is too lovely. Youcouldn't possibly have given me anything I liked better. I have apredilection for jewellery, and the little locket is too sweet, danglingon that chain! I do love to have something that waggles!" She held upher arm as she spoke, shaking the locket to and fro with a childlikeenjoyment, while the two ladies watched her with tender amusement. LordDarcy had not spoken since his first greeting, but now he came forward,and linking his arm in Peggy's led her to the farther end of the room.
"I have no present for you, my dear--I could not think of one that wasgood enough--but yesterday I really think I hit on something that wouldplease you. Robert told us how keenly you were feeling your brother'sdisappointment, and that he was undecided what to try next. Now, Ibelieve I can help him there. I have influence in the Foreign Office,and can ensure him an opening when he is ready for it, if your fatheragrees that it is desirable. Would that please you, Peggy? If I canhelp your brother, will it go some little way towards paying the debt Iowe you?"
"Oh-h!" cried Peggy rapturously. "Oh!" She clasped Lord Darcy's handsin her own and gazed at him with dilated eyes. "Can you do it? Willyou do it? There is nothing in all the world I should like so much.Help Arthur--give him a good chance--and I shall bless you for ever andever! I could never thank you enough--"
"Well, well, I will write to your father and see what he has to say. Ican promise the lad a start at least, and after that his future will bein his own hands, where I think we may safely leave it. Master Arthuris one of the fortunate being's who has an `open sesame' to all hearts.Mr Asplin assures me that he is as good at work as at play; I have notseen that side of his character, but he has always left a most pleasingimpression on my mind, most pleasing." The old lord smiled to himself,and his eyes took a dreamy expression, as if he were recalling to memorythe handsome face and strong manly presence of the young fellow of whomhe was speaking. "He has been a favourite at our house for some yearsnow, and I shall be glad to do him a service; but remember, Peggy, thatwhen I propose this help, it is, in the first instance at least, fo
ryour sake, not his. I tell you this because I think it will give youpleasure to feel that you have been the means of helping your brother.Talk it over with him some time when you are alone together, and then hecan come up and see me. To-day we must leave business alone. Here theycome! I thought they would not be long after us--"
Even as he spoke voices sounded from the hall, there was a clatter offeet over the tiled flooring, and Mellicent dashed into the room.
"P-P-P-Postman!" she stammered breathlessly. "He is coming! Round thecorner! Heaps of letters! Piles of parcels! A hand-cart, and a boy tohelp him! Here in five minutes! Oh! oh! oh!" She went rushing back tothe door, and Rosalind came forward, looking almost her old beautifulself, with her cheeks flushed by the cold air, and the fur collar of herjacket turned up so as to hide the scarred cheek.
"Merry Christmas, Rosalind! How--how nice you look!" cried Peggy,looking up and down the dainty figure with more pleasure in the sightthan she could have believed possible a few weeks before. After beingaccustomed for four long weeks to gaze at those perfectly cut features,Esther's long chin and Mellicent's retrousse nose had been quite a trialto her artistic sensibilities on her return to the vicarage. It waslike having a masterpiece taken down from the walls and replaced by aninferior engraving. She gave a sigh of satisfaction as she looked oncemore at Rosalind's face.
"Mewwy Chwistmas, Peggy! I've missed you fwightfully. I've not been tochurch, but I dwove down to meet the others, and came to see you. I hadto see you on Chwistmas Day. I've had lovely pwesents, and there aremore to come. Mother has given you the bwacelet, I see. Is it what youlike?"
"My dear, I love it. I'm fearfully addicted to jewellery. I had to putit on at once, and it looks quite elegant on top of the bandages! I'minexpressibly obliged. I've got heaps of things--books, scent,glove-box, writing-case, a big box coming from India, and--don't tellher--an apron from Mellicent! The most awful thing. I can't thinkwhere she found it. Yellow cloth with dog-roses worked in filoselle!Imagine me in a yellow apron with spotty roses around the brim!"
"He! he! I can't! I weally can't. It's too widiculous!" protestedRosalind. "She sent me a twine bag made of netted cotton. It's awfullyuseful if you use twine, but I never do. Don't say I said so. Who gotthe night-dwess bag with the two shades of blue that didn't match?"
"Esther! You should have seen her face!" whispered Peggy roguishly, andthe girls went into peals of laughter, which brought Robert hurryingacross the room to join them.
"Now then, Rosalind; when you have quite done, I should like to speak toPeggy. The compliments of the season to you, Mariquita; I hope I seeyou well."
Peggy pursed up her lips, and looked him up and down with her dancinghazel eyes.
"Most noble sir, the heavens rain blessings on you--Oh, my goodness,there's the postman!" she said all in one breath; and the partnersdarted forward side by side towards the front door, where the oldpostman was already standing, beaming all over his weatherbeaten face,as he began turning out the letters and calling out the names on theenvelopes.
"Asplin, Asplin, Saville, Asplin, Saville, Saville, Miss Peggy Saville,Miss Mellercent Asplin, Miss Saville, Miss M. Saville, Miss PeggySaville."
So the list ran on, with such a constant repetition of the same namethat Max exclaimed in disgust, "Who _is_ this Miss Peggy Saville that wehear so much about? She's a greedy thing, whoever she may be;" andMellicent whined out, "I wish I had been at a boarding-school! I wishmy relatives lived abroad. There will be none left for me by the timeshe has finished." Then Arthur thrust forward his mischievous face, andput in a stern inquiry--
"Forbes! Where's that registered letter? That letter with thehundred-pound note. Don't say you haven't got it, for I know better.Hand it over now, without any more bother."
The old postman gave a chuckle of amusement, for this was a standingjoke renewed every Christmas that Arthur had spent at the vicarage.
"'Tasn't come ter-day, Muster Saville. Missed the post. 'Twill becoming ter-morrer morning certain!"
"Forbes!" croaked Arthur solemnly. "Reflect! You have a wife andchildren. This is a serious business. It's ruin, Forbes, that's whatit is. R-u-i-n, my friend! Be advised by me, and give it up. Thehundred pounds is not worth it, and besides I need it badly. Don'tdeprive a man of his inheritance!"
"Bless yer rart, I'd bring it yer with pleasure rif I could! Nobody'dbring it quicker ran I would!" cried Forbes, who like everyone elseadored the handsome young fellow who was always ready with a joke and akindly word. "It's comin' for the Noo Year, sir. You mark my words.There's a deal of luck waitin' for yer in the Noo Year!"
Arthur's laugh ended in a sigh, but he thanked the old man for his goodwishes, tipped him even more lavishly than usual, and followed hiscompanions to the drawing-room to examine their treasures.
Parcels were put on one side to await more leisurely inspection, butcards and letters were opened at once, and Rob seated himself by Peggy'sside as she placed the pile of envelopes on a table in the corner.
"We are partners, you know," he reminded her, "so I think I am entitledto a share in these. What a lot of cards! Who on earth are thesenders?"
"My godfathers, and my godmothers, and all my relatives and friends.The girls at school and some of the teachers. This fat one is from`Buns'--Miss Baker, the one whose Sunday hat I squashed. She used tosay that I was sent to her as wholesome discipline, to prevent her beingtoo happy as a hard-worked teacher in a ladies' school, but she weptbucketfuls when I came away. I liked Buns! This is from MarjorieRiggs, my chum. She had a squint, but a most engaging disposition.This is from Kate Strong: now if there is a girl in the world for whom Icherish an aversion, it is Katie Strong! She is what I call a speciouspig, and why she wanted to send me a Christmas card I simply can'timagine. We were on terms of undying hatred. This is from Miss Moss,the pupil teacher. She had chilblains, poor dear, and spoke through herdose. `You busn't do it, Peggy, you really busn't. It's bost adoying!'Then I did it again, you know, and she sniggered and tried to lookcross. This is--I don't know who this is from! It's a man's writing.It looks like a business letter--London postmark--and something printedin white on the seal. What is it? `The Pic-Pic-Piccadilly'--Robert!"Peggy's voice grew shrill with excitement. "_The Piccadilly Magazine_."
"Wh-at!" Robert grabbed at the envelope, read the words himself, andstared at her with sparkling eyes. "It is! It's the prize, Mariquita!It must be. What else would they write about? Open it and see. Quick!Shall I do it for you?"
"Yes, yes!" cried Peggy breathlessly. She craned her head forward asRob tore open the envelope, and grasped his arm with both hands.Together they read the typewritten words, together they gasped andpanted, and shrieked aloud in joy. "We've done it! We have! We've wonthe prize! Thirty pounds! Bravo, Rob! Now you can buy yourmicroscope!"--"Good old Mariquita, it's all your doing. Don't speak tous; we are literary people, far above ordinary commonplace creatureslike you. Thir-ty pounds! made by our own honest toil. What do youthink of that, I'd like to know?"
Each member of the audience thought something different, and said itamid a scene of wild excitement. The elders were pleased and proud,though not above improving the occasion by warnings against secret work,over-anxiety, midnight journeys, etcetera. Mellicent exclaimed, "Howjolly! Now you will be able to give presents for the New Year as wellas Christmas;" and Arthur said, "Dear Peggums! I always loved you; Itook the `will,' you know, without any grumbling, and now you can followup with the deed as quickly as you like!" Each one wanted to hold theprecious document in his own hands, to read it with his own eyes, and itwas handed round and round to be exclaimed over in accents of wonder andadmiration, while Rob beamed, and Peggy tossed her pigtail over hershoulder, holding her little head at an angle of complacentsatisfaction.
The moment of triumph was very sweet--all the sweeter because of thesorrows of the last few weeks. The partners forgot all the hard work,worry, and exhaustion, and remembered
only the joy of success and hopefulfilled. Robert said little in the way of thanks, preferring to waituntil he could tell Peggy of his gratitude without an audience tocriticise his words; but when his mother began to speak of leaving, itwas he who reminded Mrs Asplin of the promise that the invalid shouldhave her first walk on Christmas Day.
"Let us go on ahead, and take her with us until the carriage overtakesus. It will do her no harm. It's bright and dry--"
"Oh, mater, yes! I told Peg I would take her out," chimed in Arthur,starting from his seat by Rosalind's side, and looking quite distressedbecause he had momentarily forgotten his promise. "Wrap her up well,and we'll take care of her. The air will do her good."
"I think it will, but you must not go far--not an inch beyond thecrossroads. Come, Peggy, and I'll dress you myself. I can't trust youto put on enough wraps." Mrs Asplin whisked the girl out of the room,and wrapped her up to such an extent that when she came downstairs againshe could only puff and gasp above her muffler, declare that she waschoking, and fan herself with her muff. Choking or not, the eyes of thecompanions brightened as they looked at her, for the scarlettam-o'-shanter was set at a rakish angle on the dark little head, andPeggy the invalid seemed to have made way for the Peggy of old, withdimpling cheeks and the light of mischief in her eyes.
The moment that Mrs Asplin stopped fumbling with her wraps, she was outat the door, opening her mouth to drink in the fresh chill air, andRobert was at her side before anyone had a chance of superseding him.
"Umph! Isn't it good? I'm stifling for a blow. My lungs are sore forwant of exercise. I was longing, longing to get out. Robert, do yourealise it? We have won the prize! Can you believe it? It is almosttoo good to be true. It's the best present of all. Now you can buyyour microscope, and get on with your work as you never could before!"
"Yes, and it's all your doing, Mariquita. I could not have pulled itoff without your help. If I make anything out of my studies, it will beyour doing too. I'll put it down to you, and thank you for it all mylife."
"H-m! I don't think I deserve so much praise, but I like it. It's verysoothing," said Peggy reflectively. "I'm very happy about it, and Ineeded something to make me happy, for I felt as blue as indigo thismorning. We seem to have come to the end of so many things, and I hateends. There is this disappointment about Arthur, which spoils all theold plans, and the break-up of our good times here together. I shallmiss Oswald. He was a dear old dandy, and his ties were quite anexcitement in life; but I simply can't imagine what the house will belike without you, Rob!"
"I shall be here for some weeks every year, and I'll run down for a dayor two whenever I can. It won't be good-bye."
"I know--I know! but you will never be one of us again, living in thehouse, joining in all our jokes. It will be quite a different thing.And you will grow up so quickly at Oxford, and be a man before we knowwhere we are."
"So will you--a woman at least. You are fifteen in January. Atseventeen, girls put their hair up and wear long dresses. You will lookolder than I do, and give yourself as many airs as if you were fifty. Iknow what girls of seventeen are like. I've met lots of them, and theysay, `That boy!' and toss their heads as if they were a dozen yearsolder than fellows of their own age. I expect you will be as bad as therest, but you needn't try to snub me. I won't stand it."
"You won't have a chance, for I shan't be here. As soon as my educationis finished I am going out to India, to stay until father retires and wecome home to settle. So after to-day--"
"After to-day--the deluge! Peggy, I didn't tell you before, but I'm offto-morrow to stay in town until I go up to Oxford on the fourteenth.The pater wants to have me with him, so I shan't see you again for somemonths. Of course I am glad to be in town for most things, but--"
"Yes, but!" repeated Peggy, and turned a wan little face upon him. "Oh,Rob, it is changing quickly I never thought it would be so soon as this.So it is good-bye. No wonder I felt so blue this morning. It isgood-bye for ever to the old life. We shall meet again, oh yes! but itwill be different. Some day when I'm old and grown-up I will see in anewspaper the name of a distinguished naturalist and discoverer, andsay, `I used to know him once. He was not at all proud. He used topull my hair like any ordinary mortal.'
"Some day I shall enter a ballroom, and see a little lady sitting by thedoor waving her hands in the air, and using words a mile long, and shallsay to myself, `Do my eyes deceive me? Is it indeed the Peggy Pickle ofthe Past?' and my host will say, `My good sir, that is the world-famousauthoress, Mariquita de Ponsonby Plantagenet Saville!' Stevenson, Iassure you, is not in it for flow of language, and she is so proud ofherself that she won't speak to anyone under a belted earl."
"That sounds nice!" said Peggy approvingly. "I should like that; but itwouldn't be a ball, you silly boy--it would be a conversazione, whereall the clever and celebrated people of London were gathered together,`To have the honour of meeting Miss Saville.' There would be quite anumber of people whom we knew among the Lions. A very grand LadySomebody or other, the beauty of the season--Rosalind, ofcourse--all sparkling with diamonds, and leaning on the arm of adistinguished-looking gentleman with orders on his breast. That'sArthur. I'm determined that he shall have orders. It's the only thingthat could reconcile me to the loss of the Victoria Cross, and adress-coat is so uninteresting without trimmings! A fat lady would besitting in a corner prattling about half a dozen subjects all in onemoment--that's Mellicent; and a tall, lean lady in spectacles would beimparting useful information to a dandy with an eyeglass stuck in oneeye--that's Esther and Oswald! Oh dear, I wonder--I wonder--I wonder!It's like a story-book, Rob, and we are at the end of the first volume.How much shall we have to do with each other in the second and third;and what is going to happen next, and how, and when?"
"We--we have to part, that's the next thing," said Rob sadly. "Herecomes the carriage, and Arthur is shouting for us to stop. It'sgood-bye, for the present, Mariquita; there's no help for it!"
"At the crossroads!" said Peggy slowly, her eye wandering to thesign-board which marked the paths branching north, south, east, andwest. She stopped short and stood gazing into his face, her eyes bigand solemn, the wind blowing her hair into loose little curls beneathher scarlet cap, her dramatic mind seizing eagerly on the significanceof the position. "At the crossroads, Rob, to go our different ways!Good-bye, good-bye! I hate to say it. You--you won't forget me, andlike the horrid boys at college better than me, will you, Rob?"
Robert gave a short, strangled little laugh.
"I think--not! Cheer up, partner! We will meet again, and have abetter time together than we have had yet. The third volume is alwaysmore exciting than the first. I say we shall, and you know when I makeup my mind to a thing, it has to be done!"
"Ah, but how?" sighed Peggy faintly. "But how?" Vague prophecies ofthe future were not much comfort to her in this moment of farewell. Shewanted something more definite; but Rob had no time to enter intodetails, for even as she spoke the carriage drew up beside them, and,while the occupants congratulated Peggy on having walked so far and sowell, he could only grip her hand, and take his place in silence besidehis sister.
Lady Darcy bent forward to smile farewell; Rosalind waved her hand, andthen they were off again, driving swiftly homewards, while Peggy stoodwatching, a solitary figure upon the roadside.
Arthur and his companions hurried forward to join her, afraid lest sheshould be tired, and overcome with grief by the parting with her friendand partner.
"Poor little Peg! She won't like it a bit," said Arthur. "She'scrying! I'm sure she is."
"She is putting her handkerchief to her eyes," said Mellicent.
"We will give her an arm apiece, and take her straight back," said Maxanxiously. "It's a shame to have left the poor little soul alone!"
They stared with troubled eyes at the little figure which stood with itsback turned towards them, in an attitude of rigid stillness. There wassomething pathetic
about that stillness, with just the flutter of thetell-tale handkerchief, to hint at the quivering face that was hiddenfrom view. The hearts of Peggy's companions were very tender over herat that moment; but even as they planned words of comfort and cheer, shewheeled round suddenly and walked back to meet them.
It was an unusually mild morning for the season of the year, and the sunwas shining from a cloudless sky. Its rays fell full upon Peggy's faceas she advanced--upon reddened eyes, trembling lips, and two large tearstrickling down her cheeks. It was undeniable that she was crying, butshe carried her head well back upon her shoulders, rather courting thanavoiding observation, and as she drew nearer it became abundantlyevident that Peggy had retired in honour of Mariquita, and thatconsolations had better be deferred to a more promising occasion.
"A most lacerating wind!" she said coolly. "It draws the moisture to myeyes. Quite too piercingly cold, I call it!" and even Mellicent had notthe courage to contradict.
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And here, dear readers, we leave Peggy Saville at a milestone of herlife. In what direction the crossroads led the little company offriends, and what windings of the path brought them once more together,remains still to be told. It was a strange journey, and in theirtravelling they met many friends with whom all young people areacquainted. The giant barred the way, and had to be overcome before thepalace could be reached; the Good Spirit intervened at the right momentto prevent calamity, the prince and princess stepped forward and madelife beautiful; for life is the most wonderful fairy tale that was everwritten, and full of magic to those who have eyes to see.
Farewell, then, to Peggy Pickle; but if it be the wish of those who havefollowed her so far, we may meet again with Mariquita Saville, in theglory of sweet and twenty, and learn from her the secret of the years.
THE END.
About Peggy Saville Page 27
