CHAPTER NINE.
Rob went back to The Larches next day, faithful to a decision expressedto Peggy at the reception.
"I have seen you now, Peg," he said, "and have gratified my curiosity,so I shall go back to my work and the country, until such time as youdeign to shed the light of your presence upon us. It's no use stayinghere, for you will be up to your ears in engagements all day long, andI'm never fit to speak to in London, in any case. I hate and detest theplace, and feel in an abominable rage the whole time I am here."
"How strange--and I love it! I made father take me for a drive on thetop of a City omnibus the other day, and it was just thrilling. I lovethe roar and rush and bustle, and the feeling that one is in the verycentre of the world, and that inside those big bare buildings, and amongthose jostling crowds, the greatest men in the world are at work, makingliterature--making kingdoms--making history! I look at the differentpeople as they pass, and wonder who they are, and what they are doingand feeling and thinking. It's like a big, wonderful puzzle, which onewill never, never be able to solve, but which keeps one enthralled andwondering all the same."
Rob's dark face softened tenderly as he looked at the little figuresitting so erect by his side, with the flush of excitement on hercheeks, and her young eyes aglow with enthusiasm.
"Or a story-book?" he said gently. "You used always to compare life toa story-book, Peggy, and comfort yourself in tribulation by thereflection that it would all work out right in the third volume. Well,_you_ find your most interesting chapters in the City, and I find mineunder the hedges in a country lane. It's all a matter of taste, but youhave as much right to your opinion as any one else."
"Oh, but I love the country, too," cried Peggy quickly. "You know I do!We want to have our home in the country, and I intend to have the mostbeautiful garden in the county. I have never yet seen a garden whichcame up to my ideal, and I mean to show how things should be managed,and to enjoy myself ever so much in planning it out. All the same, itmust be near town, so that we can run up when we feel inclined. Peoplefirst, and Nature second--them's my sentiments! I could not be happyseparated from my fellow-creatures."
Rob smiled in a patient, forbearing manner.
"Women are by nature gregarious. They can't help themselves, poorthings! Whatever they do, they need an audience. It's no satisfactionto them to possess anything, unless they can show it off to a so-calledfriend and make her green with envy. `What is the good of a nice house?No one sees it!' That is Rosalind's cry, when by any chance we arewithout visitors for a week at a time. `What is the use of wearingpretty clothes? Nobody sees them!' The idea of enjoying a thing foritself alone is unattainable to the feminine mind."
"Don't be superior, please! It's so easy to sneer and be sarcastic atother people's expense. I could scorch you up at this moment if Ichose, but I refrain. Snubbing is a form of wit which has never madeany appeal to my imagination," cried Peggy grandiloquently, and Robchuckled to himself with delighted appreciation.
"Bravo, Mariquita! Score for you! I hide my diminished head. Lookhere, though, I've got an idea which I present as a peace-offering. Ifyou don't succeed in getting a house near town, what do you say to YewHedge, in our neighbourhood? It's to be sold, and you used to admire itin the old days, I remember. It's a quaint, old-fashioned place, with adrawing-room out of which you could make great things; six acres ofland, and some fine trees. Altogether you might do worse, and althoughit is further in the country than you wish, there are several humancreatures in the neighbourhood who would be delighted to welcome you!"
"Rob, you admirable person! You have the most delightful ideas! YewHedge! I have never been inside the house itself, but I rememberpeeping over the hedge and admiring the grounds, and it would be justscrumptious to be near you all. I'll speak to father about it at once,and it will be a comfort to have something in the background, to keep upour spirits if our search continues to be as unsuccessful as it is atpresent."
Another week's house-hunting proved the truth of Peggy's words, for ifit had not been for the thought of Yew Hedge, the wanderers would havebegun to think that there was no resting-place for them within theirnative land. House after house was visited, and house after houseproved unsuitable or, in those rare instances when all requirements werefulfilled, so far beyond Colonel Saville's purse as to transformperfection into aggravation, pure and simple. It seemed as though Fatewere shutting every avenue in order to advocate the claim of Yew Hedge;but, though Peggy secretly rejoiced over the fact, she could not induceArthur to share her feelings.
"It's a charming old place, I grant you," he said, on one of theprecious, too rare occasions when brother and sister found anopportunity for a confidential chat, "and, personally, I think nothingof the distance. When you are once settled in the train, you might aswell have an hour and a half's journey as forty or fifty minutes', butthere are other considerations. For my own sake I wish the house hadbeen situated anywhere in the kingdom but just where it is--within halfa mile's distance of the Darcys'."
Peggy looked up quickly, for this was the nearest approach to aconfidence which Arthur had made, and though she did not wish to forcehim into speech, she was equally anxious not to miss an opportunity.
"You mean, Arthur, you mean because of--"
Arthur rose from his seat, and paced restlessly up and down the room.
"I mean, Peg, that I want to be with you dear people as much aspossible, and at the same time to see as little as possible of--otherpeople! When one is perfectly conscious of a temptation, the wisestplan is to keep out of its way. It is no use deliberately playing withfire, and then praying to be `delivered.' I've thought out that subjectfor myself through some pretty hard times these last few years, and havecome to a final conclusion. We must do our own share in keeping awayfrom the danger, and not trifle away the strength we ask for. This is alittle confidence for yourself alone, dear. I don't care to worry theparents with my affairs, or to influence their choice, but I want you toknow the reason if I don't enter into your plans so heartily as youexpect."
"But, Arthur dear, it seemed--it struck me that `other people' seemed tofind it a temptation too! Surely if you both--"
"Then I must think for both, and be the more careful. The hardesttemptation of all, Peg, is one that seems just within grasp, but ofwhich conscience says one should not take advantage. Think what thismeans! I have a hundred or two a year from the dear old godfather, anda few more for my salary--in all about as much as a fashionable ladywould spend on clothes and jewellery. Even with what my father and--hers might be willing to add, it would mean comparative poverty foryears to come, and some people are not made for poverty, and could notbe happy under such conditions."
"There are things which are worth more than money!"
"To you and me, yes, Peg, a thousand times, but not to every one! Thebent of a lifetime does not easily alter. One may think it does underthe stress of strong feeling, but it is a very difficult matter when itcomes to living a restricted life day after day, month after month, andto giving up the luxuries and pleasures to which one has beenaccustomed. It is better to face a definite sorrow, than life-longregret and repining." Arthur's face hardened into a determination whichhad in it a sadness which Peggy was quick to understand. The bitterestdrop in the poor fellow's cup was the consciousness that the girl whomhe loved was neither strong nor unselfish enough to value happinessbefore worldly prosperity, and his sister's heart grew hot withindignation at the thought that any one dared to think herself too goodfor Arthur Saville!
"I hope and pray, Arthur, that when the time comes for you to marry,your wife will realise that she is a most blessedly fortunate woman, andnot harbour any delusions about making a martyr of herself! You areperfectly right in wishing to keep out of the way under thecircumstances, and I will do the same. I never wish to see `otherpeople' again, or to speak to her, or to have anything whatever to dowith her."
"If you want to please me, you wi
ll see as much of her as you can, foryou can help the poor girl more than any one else. She is fond of you,and knows that you return her affection."
"I don't! I won't! How can I be fond of her when she makes youunhappy? If you are not grand enough for her, then neither am I; but Ihave yet to learn that the Savilles are unworthy of any alliance whichthey may choose to make. I can't be a hypocrite even to please you,Arthur, and I'll have nothing more to say to Rosalind Darcy from thishour!" protested Peggy violently, then suddenly melted into tears, andlaying her head on Arthur's shoulder, proceeded to contradict every wordshe had spoken. "Yes, I will! I'll do anything you want, but, oh, whydid you do it? Why did you fall in love at all? Why couldn't you go onloving me best, and being happy and comfortable?"
Peggy wept and moaned, and Arthur shook her by the shoulder with all aman's horror at the sight of tears.
"Hold hard, Peg! Hold hard! For pity's sake don't cry! Your eyes willbe crimson in another moment, and the Rollos will be coming in to tea,and wondering what on earth is the matter. So unbecoming, too! What afunny little fright you do look, to be sure!" said Arthur shrewdly, andchuckled in triumph as Peggy stopped short in the middle of a sob, and,with two tears in the very act of rolling down her nose, rushed to thenearest mirror and began dabbing at her face with a minute pocket-handkerchief.
"Horrors! They do look red. I'll go up to my room and stand in adraught, and you must keep the visitors occupied till I come down.Don't let father get impatient. I'll come back the moment I amrespectable," she cried, and flew breathlessly from the room, just intime to avoid Mrs and Miss Rollo, who entered by another door.
The "country cousin" sight-seeing had been carried on with much gusto inthe intervals of house-hunting, and more than once Eunice Rollo had beenincluded in the party, for, like many Londoners born and bred, she hadneglected to visit places close at hand, and was delighted to have sopleasant an opportunity of making their acquaintance.
The three girls spent an afternoon in the British Museum, and discussedMollusks and Lepidoptera with surreptitious pauses to yawn behind theglass cases, until the first barriers of formality were broken down bythe fascination of Egyptian mummies, and the thrilling, imaginaryhistories which Peggy wove concerning their life on earth. They wentover the Tower, and enlivened the tedium of a Beefeater's life bydiscussing in his presence how best to steal the treasured Koh-i-nor;and finally, they visited the National Gallery, and on their returnMellicent and Eunice sat on Peggy's bed, while that young personrepresented some of the celebrated portraits for their benefit, with theaid of such properties as the room afforded.
"Portrait of a young girl, by Sir Peter Lely," announced the clearvoice; and the audience turned their heads, to behold a demure visageframed by braided hairy a white towel pinned severely across theshoulders, and a milk-white blossom held in a mittened hand. The chintzcurtain with its bouquets of flowers made an admirable background forthe youthful figure, and the lamb-like innocence of expression wastouching to behold. Eunice gripped her companion's arm and pointedbreathlessly to the feet peeping out beneath the short white skirt. Theflat black shoes with the sandal-like crossings were the exactcounterpart of those in the picture; but how in the name of mystery hadPeggy managed to produce them? Eunice discussed the question withMellicent in the pause during which they were requested to "look theother way," and had reached the solution of goloshes and ribbon, when"Gloriana, by Rubens!" was introduced to their notice.
Miss Peggy reclined against a background of cushions, beaminglyconscious of a transformation so complete as to be positively startlingto behold. A trio of sponges pinned round the head gave the effect ofan elaborate coiffure, above which was perched a scarlet turbandecorated by half-a-dozen brooches, holding in position as manyfeathers; a blue dressing-gown opened over an underskirt composed of aneiderdown quilt, which gave an appropriately portly air to the figure,and by some mysterious process a double chin had been produced for theoccasion! Gasps of delight from the bed greeted this masterpiece; butthe third impersonation was most successful of all, when the audienceshrieked aloud to behold Lady Macbeth glaring upon them from a yard'sdistance, enveloped in bath sheets, and wearing such an expression ofhorror on her face as chilled the blood to behold!
"Not all the spices of Arabia can sweeten this little hand!" hissedPeggy, shaking her little paw in the air, while Mellicent screamed withdelight and pounded the ground with her heels, and Eunice lay proneagainst the bedpost in a silent paroxysm of laughter. To see EuniceRollo laugh was a delightful experience, and one which was worth sometrouble to enjoy. Not a sound issued from her lips, not an exclamationmarked her enjoyment; like a helpless image she sat, and shook, andtrembled, and quivered from head to foot, while her face grew pink, andthe tears rose in her eyes, and streamed unheeded down her cheeks. Thesight of her, dumb, shaking, weeping--roused the other girls touncontrollable mirth, and the louder they laughed, the more did Euniceweep; the more violently did they gesticulate and prance about the room,the closer did she hug her bedpost, the more motionless she appeared.
To be forced into laughter, real, honest, uncontrollable laughter, asopposed to the forced guffaw of society, seemed a new experience to thisonly child of busy and pre-occupied parents; and it needed only Arthur'sassurance that he had never seen the girl so bright and animated to putthe final touch to Peggy's growing liking.
On the present occasion Eunice and her mother had come to tea at thehotel, and as Rosalind and Hector were also expected within the nexthalf-hour, it was quite necessary that Peggy should get her eyes inorder without delay. She was not in a mood to give a cordial welcome tothe destroyer of her brother's happiness, and, despite her efforts tothe contrary, there was a chill in her manner which Rosalind was quickto note. It worried her, as it had worried her in the old girlish dayswhen Peggy Saville had refused to pay the homage which she expected fromher companions, and now, as then, she put forth all her fascinations inorder to subdue the unruly spirit. The princess in the fairy-taleseemed again the only creature to whom to compare her as she satenthroned on the sofa, her lovely face alight with smiles and dimples.Eunice Rollo looked like a little grey mouse beside her, the very colourseeming to be absorbed from her face by the brilliancy of the contrast,while bonnie Mellicent appeared of a sudden awkward and blousy.
"Rosalind makes every one else look a fright, the moment she comes intoa room. I shudder to think of the guy I must appear. Poor dear Arthur!I don't wonder at his devotion. She is so lovely that she fascinatesone in spite of oneself!" sighed Peggy, trying to harden herself againstthe glances of the sweet caressing eyes, and feeling her heart softeningwith every moment that passed.
All her thoughts were centred on Rosalind and Arthur, and she presidedover the tea-tray with a sublime absence of mind which afforded HectorDarcy much amusement. His own cup was filled last of all, and seatinghimself beside her he gravely extracted from it six separate lumps ofsugar, which he ranged in a neat little row on a plate.
"Seeing that you asked me twice over if I took sugar, and on hearingthat I did not, immediately ladled in the largest pieces you could find,I conclude that there is something weighing on your mind," he saidmarkedly. "What is it? Nothing unpleasant, I hope--nothing serious?"
"A bad habit of thinking of several things at the same time, coupledwith the fatigues of a London season. That is the explanation!" sighedPeggy, patting the discarded lumps into a pulp with her spoon, andmoulding them into pyramid shape with as earnest an air as if her lifedepended on the operation. "We have been terribly energetic--flyingabout all day long and living in a perfect whirl of excitement."
"And yet I never meet you. I look out for you every day, but in vain.We never seem to go to the same places."
"Ah, you are among the rank and fashion, you see, and we are countrycousins doing the sights. You visit the real people, and we stare atthe images at Madame Tussaud's. You attend private views, and we go inwith the rabble. You go to luncheon parties at The Star an
d Garter, andwe have buns and tea in an ABC shop, and pay an extra penny for cream.We move in different circles, Major Darcy," cried Peggy, with a toss ofthe head which contradicted the humility of her words. "It is not to beexpected that we should meet. To-morrow morning we are going to theZoo."
The big officer looked down at her with admiring eyes, paused just longenough to give added effect to his words, and then said deliberately:
"May I go with you?"
"Certainly not!" replied Peggy promptly; and when Hector demanded herreason, "You would be too great a strain upon us," she explained. "Weshould have to behave properly if you were there, and that would spoilthe fun. You would be shocked at our behaviour, or if you were notshocked, you would be bored, and that would be even more disastrous."
"Try me and see. There is no fear of my being bored, and I promisefaithfully to be so far from shocked that I will do every single thingthat you do yourself."
"Go round with the crowd and see the animals feed?"
"Certainly, if you wish it."
"Give biscuits to the elephants?"
"With pleasure! I'd do anything for an elephant. Finest beast you canfind."
"And nuts to the monkeys?"
"Er--is that a necessary condition? I really cannot face the monkey-house in this weather."
"Walk round the parrot-house and examine every cage, and offer yourfinger to be bitten?"
"I would wait outside until you came back."
"That's shirking. If I let you off the monkeys, I should insist uponthe parrots; but the most important of all is the dromedary. Will youhave a penny ride with us round the grounds on the back of a dromedary?"
"My dear Peggy! Anything in reason to enjoy the pleasure of yoursociety, but really--"
"Nobody shall come with us to the Zoo who is too proud to ride on thedromedary," said Peggy firmly. "I told you you would be shocked, andyou see I was right; but Mellicent and I have no pride at all whereanimals are concerned, and we intend to do every possible thing that canbe done. We will have to defer our next meeting for another occasion,Major Darcy."
"Not longer than Fwiday, I hope, Peggy," interrupted Rosalind sweetly."I want you to keep Fwiday afternoon disengaged, and come with us toLady B's garden-party, which will be one of the things of the season.The Pwince and Pwincess will be there, and everybody who is in town, andthere is to be a pastowal play beneath the trees, so that altogether itwill be worth seeing. You will come, won't you, Peggy? You really mustpwomise to come."
"The Prince and Princess! Oh, how lovely! I'm simply dying to see thePrincess! Only yesterday I said that I could not bear to go awaywithout seeing her. If she were at a garden-party, we could get quitenear, and see her face, and her clothes, and hear her speak. How_simply_ lovely!" ejaculated Mellicent rapturously. "Oh, we must go, wemust manage it! We have no engagement for Friday, Peggy, have we?Nothing that could not be put off?"
The idea that she herself might not have been included in Rosalind'sinvitation had never occurred to Mellicent's innocent mind. Since herarrival in town she had been treated as an honoured guest, and if on anyoccasion it had been impossible for both girls to enjoy a pleasure, ithad been Peggy who stayed at home and gave place to her friend.Mellicent had wondered more than once when Rosalind Darcy intended to doher share towards the entertainment of her vicar's daughter, and now wasaglow with delight on receiving the invitation which of all others shehad most desired. She was too much excited to notice Rosalind'sdiscomfited surprise, but awakening came all too soon.
"Dear Mellicent, I am sowwy, but I cannot take more than one fwiend,"she murmured caressingly. "Evewybody is asking for invitations, and itwould not do to encroach too far on Lady B's hospitality. Another time,when Peggy is not going, I should be delighted to take you with me--"
"But, Rosalind, I can't go on Friday. I am dreadfully disappointed, forit is just the sort of thing I should love, and if I had only anordinary engagement I would put it off, but it is not. An old school-friend of mother's is coming up from the country especially to see us,and we could not possibly put her off, as we have already had no end ofdifficulty to fix a day. Letters and telegrams have been flying to andfro, and if we altered the date there is no saying when we should meet.I am very, very sorry, but it is impossible to go with you."
"But surely you could be spared for the afternoon! You would see yourfwiend in the morning, and at dinner--"
"She won't arrive until lunch-time, and must leave again at six o'clock.She will travel four hours in the train just to spend the afternoonwith us, so I could not possibly go out; but there is no reason whyMellicent should stay in too. She could go instead of me."
Peggy would not have ventured to make such a suggestion had notRosalind's own protestations opened the way, but as it was she felt nodiffidence in making it, and the change from despair to rapture on herfriend's expressive face went far to console her for her owndisappointment. But if Mellicent's expression was significant,Rosalind's was even more so. Her lips tightened, the colour deepened inher cheeks, and her eyes sent forth an unmistakable gleam of vexation.She hated being forced into an unpleasant position, but there was onething which she would hate even more--to be obliged to take a dowdilydressed, countrified-looking visitor to one of the social events of theseason, and at all risks this must be avoided. Mellicent would probablybe offended, Peggy furious, Arthur pained and disappointed--she knew itbeforehand, and lamented the knowledge; but, as Arthur had said, thebent of a lifetime is too strong to be overcome in a moment. Rosalindwould have been ready to protest that she cared a hundred times more forher friends' feelings than for her own dignity, but when it came to thetest she sacrificed them without hesitation in the interest of selfishpride.
"I am sowwy, but if you cannot go, Peggy, I think we had better leave italone for the pwesent. Some day we may all be able to arrange to gotogether, but Lady B's will be a gweat cwush, and I shall meet manyfwiends, and be so much engrossed. Mellicent would not enjoy herselfwithout you. She would know nobody."
There was a dead silence. Hector stared at his shoes; Peggy gave ashort, _staccato_ cough; and Arthur looked swiftly across the room, tosee how Mellicent bore herself beneath this unmerited snub. She wasseated on the sofa beside Eunice Rollo, slightly in advance of himself,so that only a crimson cheek _was_ visible, and a neck reddened to theroots of the hair, but Arthur saw something else, which touched him evenmore than his old friend's distress--a little grey-gloved hand whichshot out from its owner's side and gripped the broad waist; a littlehand that stroked, and patted, and pressed close in sympathetic embrace.Arthur's lips twitched beneath his moustache, but he said no word; andpresently Rosalind rose and took her departure, feeling the atmospheretoo charged with electricity to be agreeable.
Contrary to his usual custom, Arthur did not accompany her downstairs,so that he returned from the door in time to hear the explosion ofindignation which followed her departure. Mellicent stamped up and downthe floor, breathless and tearful; Eunice stared at the floor; and Peggysat erect as a poker, with a bright spots of colour on either cheek, andlips screwed into a tight little button of scorn.
"Don't speak to me!" she was saying. "Don't ask my opinion. I ambereft of speech. Never, in all my existence, have I ever beheld suchan exhibition of snobbish disloyalty--"
"Mellicent, my mother has a ticket," put in Eunice. "You can go withher and take my place. I have seen the Princess scores of times. Oh,please don't cry, it isn't worth it, indeed it isn't!"
"I'd scorn to cry. I wouldn't condescend to shed a tear for the nastyhorrid thing!" cried Mellicent, mopping with her handkerchief at thecontinuous stream which rolled down her cheeks. "It is she who shouldcry, not I. If I _am_ poor and shabby, I know how to behave. I'm alady, and Rosalind Darcy is a c-cad. She _is_, and I don't care whohears me say it! I've known her all my life, and she's ashamed to beseen with me. I'll go home to-morrow, I will! I'll stay at home wherepeople love me, and don't choose their friend
s for the cl-clothes theywear!"
Mellicent burst into fresh tears, and Peggy looked anxiously intoArthur's face. It was drawn and fixed, and his lips were set, as if inendurance of actual physical pain.
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