by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER XXIX.
A BLESSING.
Miss Egerton took Arthur Noel--for it was he--straight back into herlittle sitting-room, and sitting down on her worn little horse-hairsofa, and raising her eyes anxiously to the young man's face, she toldhim the story of the attic upstairs, of the furniture she hadpurchased, of the girls she had meant to serve. She showed him, withhands that trembled, the envelope with its queer inscription, and sheunfolded for his benefit the empty sheet of blank paper. She told herstory at once without any reservation, even relating with a littlehasty blush how she felt obliged to pay for the furniture herself.
Perhaps Arthur Noel was the only person in the world to whom she wouldhave made this confession; for she was one of those who made it apractice never to let her right hand know what her left did, but shehad known Arthur from his boyhood, and he was one of those men whoinspire trust and sympathy at a glance.
He listened to the story with interest, and even excitement--he wasnaturally enthusiastic, but even Miss Egerton had never seen him soperturbed and so moved as he was at present.
"I know about those girls," he said at last; "what are their names?--Iam sure I know about them. Nay, let me ask you a question--Is not onecalled Jasmine? Has she not a piquant face, and very soft and yetbright eyes, and a great lot of curly brown hair? Yes, Miss Egerton, Iam sure the girls you speak of are in a certain sense _my_ girls; forif they are the ones I mean I took them under my protection long ago."
"Their name is Mainwaring. My dear Arthur, where and how have you metthem? My dear boy, I fully believe, I have always believed, in yourgood intentions, in your wish to do your utmost for every one; but ifyou have really known Primrose, and Jasmine and Daisy, and have takenthem, as you say, under your protection, I must say that of late youhave lost sight of them--you have not been as kind as you generallyare to people in difficulties, for I never met three more absolutelyfriendless girls than these."
"It was a good Providence sent me here this morning," said Noel. "Youare quite right, Miss Egerton; I did lose sight of the children. Itried to follow them, but they managed to hide themselves mosteffectually. Think of my coming up to see you this morning, with amessage from Mrs. Ellsworthy, and finding that our lost lambs are allbut safe in your kind fold. How relieved my dear mother-friend willbe!"
"Mrs. Ellsworthy is the kindest and best of women," said Miss Egerton;"I will receive your message presently, Arthur, but you puzzle me moreand more when you tell me that she too knows my girls. I came acrossthem quite accidentally. They called to ask me to give Jasmine lessonsin English composition, and I took a fancy to them, and, inparticular, felt drawn to the little one--for she reminded me of--,but no matter! The girls have been in and out of my house ever since.I saw that they were fearfully independent, but in many trivial ways Itried to help them. Well, Arthur, it is most surprising--it isaltogether incomprehensible, but never during the months we have beenseeing each other daily have they alluded to you or the Ellsworthys.They seemed perfectly unconstrained, and chatted many times of theircottage home in the country, but they never spoke of the Ellsworthys."
"They would not be likely to do," answered Noel. "I think, MissEgerton, I must now tell you Mrs. Ellsworthy's and my side of thestory."
Certainly Miss Egerton appeared to neglect her duties that morning;fortunately, her school had not yet re-opened, but Bridget waited fororders, and the tradesman left the house unattended to. Bridget knewthat Miss Egerton was always greatly taken up with Mr. Noel, and shehad to admit that he was a bonny-looking young man with a pleasantface; but Bridget hitherto had given her mistress credit for alwaysputting duty before pleasure. What, therefore, did her present neglectof household management mean?
Arthur Noel had a long story to tell, and Miss Egerton listened,weighing each point, and not giving too undue sympathy to eitherparty. Noel was of course enthusiastic in Mrs. Ellsworthy's cause, andannounced his intention of going to see her that very day.
"She is in town," he said; "and if you give me the girls' address Ican bring her to them this afternoon."
But here Miss Egerton laid her thin hand on the young man's arm.
"No, Arthur, I won't betray their secret, poor little dears! they mayhave been headstrong, and silly, and rash, and, poor children, theymay fail utterly, but they have not failed yet by any means, and ifthey wish not to be tempted into a luxurious and dependent life, evenby the kindest friend, I, for one, will stand by them. You have comeon me by accident, Arthur, and have learned about the girls byaccident; you have no right to tell what you have thus discovered. Ihave studied those girls' characters and I know that Primrose at leastwould die of a broken heart if her independence were taken from her.No, Arthur; if you wish really to help them you must put them in theway of earning their own living, and in this manner the Ellsworthyscan doubtless assist, for they are rich, and have influence."
Then Miss Egerton and her guest had another long and earnestdiscussion, at the end of which time a compromise was arrived at. Noelmight tell the Ellsworthys that he and Miss Egerton knew where thegirls lived, and the Ellsworthys might give in-direct help by aidinghim in his efforts to find suitable work for Primrose and Jasmine--hetoo, could be their open and acknowledged friend, and he arranged withMiss Egerton to call and see them that very afternoon.
Finally, Miss Egerton again drew his attention to the envelope, whichwas only given to mock, as it contained nothing but blank paper.
Noel examined it carefully.
"This must have been given to the girls by Mr. Danesfield, the bankerat Rosebury," he said. "I know him well; he is the last person whowould play them such a trick. Don't you think, Miss Egerton it isquite possible that this envelope may have been opened, and the moneyremoved?"
"But the envelope does not look tampered with," answered Miss Egerton,turning it round, and examining it carefully.
"Thieves are very clever," answered Noel. "It is easy to open anenvelope by holding it over steaming water."
"But Primrose always kept this letter locked up in her trunk."
"Well, I will settle the point by writing direct, and in strictconfidence, to Mr. Danesfield. In the meantime let us say nothing toMiss Mainwaring; and you will let me pay for the furniture, kindfriend."
But Miss Egerton's face flushed brightly, and she drew back a step ortwo.
"No, my dear boy, I cannot. Since I drew that cheque I have feltstrangely happy. I think this very small act of self-denial will bringme a blessing, and I don't wish to be deprived of it. Good-bye,Arthur; come to see me again at three, and I will take you to mygirls."