Daddy's Girl

by L. T. Meade

  CHAPTER XX.

  Ogilvie went up to Sibyl. Suffering and love had taught him manylessons, amongst others those of absolute self-control. His face wassmiling and calm as he crossed the room, bent over the child andkissed her. Those blue eyes of hers, always so full of penetration andof knowledge, which was not all this earth, could detect no sorrow inher father's.

  "I must go to town, I shall be away for as short a time as possible.As soon as I come back I will come to you," he said. "Look after her,please, Miss Winstead. If you cannot remain in the room, send nurse.Now, don't tire yourself, my little love. Remember that father will beback very soon."

  "Don't hurry, father darling," replied Sibyl "'cos I am quite happythinking about you, even if you are not here."

  He went away, ran downstairs, put on his hat and went out. His wifewas standing in the porch.

  "One moment, Phil," she called, "where are you going?"

  "To town."

  "To do what?"

  "To do what I said," he answered, and he gave her a strange look,which frightened her, and caused her to fall back against the wall.

  He disappeared down the avenue, she sank into a chair and beganto weep. She was thoroughly miserable and frightened. Philip hadreturned, but all pleasant golden dreams were shattered, for althoughhe had sent a cablegram to Lord Grayleigh, saying that all was well,better than well, his conscience was speaking to him, that troublesometerrible conscience of his, and he was about to destroy his own work.

  "What fearful creatures men with consciences are," moaned Mrs.Ogilvie.

  Meanwhile Ogilvie walked quickly up the avenue. Just at the gates hemet an old couple who were coming in. They were a queer-looking oldpair, dressed in old-fashioned style. Ogilvie did not know them, butthe woman paused when she saw him, came forward, dropped a curtsey andsaid:

  "I beg your pardon, sir."

  "What can I do for you?" said Ogilvie. He tried to speak courteously,but this delay, and the presence of the old couple whose names he didnot even know, irritated him.

  "If you please, sir, you are Mr. Ogilvie?"

  "That is my name."

  "We know you," continued the old woman, "by the likeness to yourlittle daughter."

  The mention of Sibyl caused Ogilvie now to regard them moreattentively.

  "May I inquire your names?" he asked.

  "Holman, sir," said the woman. "This is my husband, sir. We heard onlyyesterday of dear little Missie's illness, and we couldn't rest untilwe came to enquire after her. We greatly 'opes, sir, that the dearlittle lamb is better. We thought you wouldn't mind if we asked."

  "By no means," answered Ogilvie. "Any friends of Sibyl's, any realfriends, are of interest to me."

  He paused and looked into the old woman's face.

  "She's better, ain't she, dear lamb?" asked Mrs. Holman.

  Ogilvie shook his head; it was a quick movement, his face was verywhite, his lips opened but no words came. The next instant he hadhurried down the road, leaving the old pair looking after him.

  Mrs. Holman caught her husband's hand.

  "What do it mean, John?" she asked, "what do it mean?"

  "We had best go to the house and find out," was Holman's response.

  "Yes, we had best," replied Mrs. Holman; "but, John, I take it thatit means the worst. The little lamb was too good for this earth. Ialways said it, John, always."

  "Come to the house and let's find out," said Holman again.

  He took his old wife's hand, and the strange-looking pair walked downthe avenue. Presently they found themselves standing outside thepretty old-fashioned porch of lovely Silverbel. They did not know asthey walked that they were in full view of the windows of the Chamberof Peace, and that eager blue eyes were watching them, eager eyeswhich filled with love and longing when they gazed at them.

  "Miss Winstead!" cried little Sibyl.

  "What is it, dear?" asked the governess.

  Sibyl had been silent for nearly a quarter of an hour, and MissWinstead, tired with the bazaar and many other things, had beenfalling into a doze. The sudden excitement in Sibyl's voice nowarrested her attention.

  "Oh, Miss Winstead, they have come."

  "Who have come, dear?"

  "The Holmans, the darlings! I saw them walking down the avenue. Oh, Ishould so like to see them. Will you go down and bring them up? Pleasedo."

  "But the doctor said you were to be quiet, and not excite yourself."

  "What does it matter whether I incite myself or not? Please, pleaselet me see the Holmans."

  "Yes, dear," replied Miss Winstead. She left the room and wentdownstairs. As she entered the central hall she suddenly found herselflistening to an animated conversation.

  "Now, my good people," said Mrs. Ogilvie's voice, raised high andclear, "you will be kind enough to return to town immediately. Thechild is ill, but we hope soon to have her better. See her, did yousay, my good woman? Certainly not. I shall be pleased to offer yourefreshment if you will go round to the housekeeper's entrance, butyou must take the next train to town, you cannot see the child."

  "If you please, Mrs. Ogilvie," here interrupted Miss Winstead, comingforward. "Sibyl noticed Mr. and Mrs. Holman as they walked down theavenue, and is very much pleased and delighted at their coming to seeher, and wants to know if they may come up at once and have a talkwith her?"

  "Dear me!" cried Mrs. Ogilvie; "I really must give the child anotherbedroom, this sort of thing is so bad for her. It is small wonder thedarling does not get back her health--the dreadful way in which sheis over-excited and injudiciously treated. Really, my good folks, Iwish you would go back to town and not make mischief."

  "But if the little lady wishes?" began Mrs. Holman, in a timid voice,tears trembling on her eyelids.

  "Sibyl certainly does wish to see you," said Miss Winstead in a gravevoice. "I think, Mrs. Ogilvie," she added, "it would be a pity torefuse her. I happen to know Mr. and Mrs. Holman pretty well, and I donot think they will injure dear little Sibyl. If you will both promiseto come upstairs quietly," continued Miss Winstead, "and not expresssorrow when you see her, for she is much changed, and will endeavor tospeak cheerfully, you will do her good, not harm."

  "Oh, yes, we'll speak cheerfully," said Holman; "we know the ways ofdear little Miss. If so be that she would see us, it would be a greatgratification, Madam, and we will give you our word that we will notinjure your little daughter."

  "Very well," said Mrs. Ogilvie, waving her hand, "My opinion isnever taken in this house, nor my wishes consulted. I pass theresponsibility on to you, Miss Winstead. When the child's fatherreturns and finds that you have acted as you have done you willhave to answer to him. I wash my hands of the matter."

  Mrs. Ogilvie went out on to the lawn.

  "The day is improving," she thought. She glanced up at the sky. "Itcertainly is miserable at home, and every one talks nonsense aboutSibyl. I shall really take a drive and go and see the Le Stranges. Icannot stand the gloom of the house. The dear child is getting betterfast, there is not the least doubt of it, and why Phil should talk ashe does, and in particular why he should speak as if we were paupers,is past bearing. Lose Silverbel! I certainly will not submit to that."

  So the much aggrieved wife went round in the direction of the stables,gave orders that the pony trap was to be got ready for her, and soonafterward was on her way to the Le Stranges. By the time she reachedthat gay and somewhat festive household, she herself was as merry andhopeful as usual.

  Meantime Miss Winstead took the Holmans upstairs.

  "You must be prepared for a very great change," said Miss Winstead,"but you will not show her that you notice it. She is very sweet andvery happy, and I do not think anyone need be over-sorry about her."

  Miss Winstead's own voice trembled. The next moment she opened thedoor of the Chamber of Peace, and the old-fashioned pair from whomSibyl had bought so many dusty toys stood before her.

  "Eh, my little love, and how are you, dearie?" said Mrs. Holman. Shewent forward,
dropped on her knees by the bed, and took one of Sibyl'ssoft white hands. "Eh, dearie, and what can Mrs. Holman do for you?"

  "How do you do, Mrs. Holman?" said Sibyl, in her weak, but perfectlyclear voice; "and how do you do, Mr. Holman? How very kind of you bothto come to see me. Do you know I love you very much. I think of you sooften. Won't you come to the other side of the bed, Mr. Holman, andwon't you take a chair? My voice is apt to get tired if I talk tooloud. I am very glad to see you both."

  "Eh! but you look sweet," said Mrs. Holman.

  Mr. Holman now took his big handkerchief and blew his nose violently.After that precautionary act he felt better, as he expressed it, andno longer in danger of giving way. But Mrs. Holman never for a singleinstant thought of giving way. She had once, long ago, had a child ofher own--a child who died when young--and she had sat by that dyingchild's bed and never once given expression to her feelings. So whyshould she now grieve little Sibyl by showing undue sorrow?

  "It is nice to look at you, dearie," she repeated, "and what a prettyroom you have, my love."

  "Everything is beautiful," said little Sibyl, "everything in all theworld, and I love you so much."

  "To be sure, darling, and so do Holman and I love you."

  "Whisper," said Sibyl, "bend a little nearer, my voice gets so verytired. Have you kept your hundred pounds quite safe?"

  "Yes, darling, but we won't talk of money now."

  "Only," said Sibyl, "when the gold comes from the mine _you'll_ be allright. Lord Grayleigh has wrote your name and Mr. Holman's in hisnote-book, and he has promised that you are to get some of the gold.You'll be able to have the shop in Buckingham Palace Road, and thechildren will come to you and buy your beautiful toys." She pausedhere and her little face turned white.

  "You must not talk any more, dearie," said Mrs. Holman. "It's allright about the gold and everything else. All we want is for you toget well."

  "I am getting well," answered Sibyl, but as she said the words acurious expression came into her eyes.

  "You know," she said, as Mrs. Holman rose and took her hand before shewent away, "that when we have wings we fly. I think my wings arecoming; but oh, I love you, and you won't forget me when you have yourbig shop in Buckingham Palace Road?"

  "We will never forget you, dearie," said Mrs. Holman, and then shestooped and kissed the child.

  "Come, Holman," she said.

  "If I might," said old Holman, straightening himself and looking verysolemn, "if I might have the great privilege of kissing littleMissie's hand afore I go."

  "Oh, indeed, you may," said Sibyl.

  A moment later the old pair were seen going slowly down the avenue.

  "Blessed darling, her wings are very near, I'm thinking," said Mrs.Holman. She was sobbing now, although she had not sobbed in the sickroom.

  "Queer woman, the mother," said Holman. "We'll get back to town, wife;I'm wonderful upset."

  "We'll never sell no more of the dusty toys to no other littlechildren," said Mrs. Holman, and she wept behind her handkerchief.