by L. T. Meade
as a little present,"said Marcia.--"You might tie it in a knot round the neck of your whiteblouse. There, you look quite sweet; now put some smiles on your faceand come along, dear, for mother must be tired of waiting."
Mrs Aldworth was amazed when she saw the two girls enter the room handin hand.
"Oh, Molly," she said. "Good-morning, dear, you haven't been to seeyour old mother yet to-day, but I'll excuse you, my love. How very niceyou look, quite pretty. I must say, Marcia dear, that my children arethe beauties of the family."
Marcia smiled. She went straight up to the open window. Molly fidgetedabout near her mother.
"Sit down, Molly, won't you?" said Marcia.
"But why should she?" said Mrs Aldworth. "The poor child is longing togo out for a bit of fun, and I'm sure I don't wonder. Run along, Molly,my love. Marcia and I are going to have such a busy afternoon."
"No," said Marcia suddenly. She turned round and faced Mrs Aldworth."I must tell you," she continued, "I am really sorry for you and thegirls, but they must take their share in looking after you. I will cometo you at this time to-morrow, and spend the rest of the day with you.Molly, you can explain the rest of the situation. Do your duty, love,and, dear mother, believe that I love you. But there are four of us inthe house and it must be our pleasure, and our duty, and it ought to beour high privilege, to devote part of our time to nursing you."
CHAPTER FOUR.
A REFRESHING TEA.
The door closed behind Marcia. Mrs Aldworth was so astonished that shehad not time to find her breath before the daring culprit haddisappeared. She looked now at Molly. Molly, who had quite forgottenher role, turned to her mother for sympathy.
"Oh, mother, could you have believed it of her? She is just the meanestold cat in existence."
"But what is it, Molly? Do you mean to say that Marcia--Marcia--won'tbe with me, her mother, this afternoon?"
"Catch her, indeed," said the angry Molly. "Didn't you say, mother, anddidn't you hear father say that when Marcia came home, we three girlswould have a fine time of freedom? It was always, always likethat--`Wait till Marcia comes back.' Now she is back, and she--oh,mother, I couldn't believe it of her, I couldn't! I couldn't!"
Molly sobbed and sobbed. At another moment Mrs Aldworth would havesent Molly from her room, but now she was so thoroughly angry withMarcia that she was inclined to sympathise with her.
"I will tell you everything, mother. It really is too marvellous. Itis almost past belief."
"Sit down, Molly, and try to stop crying. It is so disfiguring to yourface. You are wonderfully like what I used to be when I was a girl.That is, before my poor health gave way, and my poor dear nerves failedme. If you cry like that you will suffer in the end, as I am suffering.You will be a helpless, neglected, disliked invalid."
"Oh, mother," said Molly, "I should not be at all surprised, and I onlyeighteen. You know Marcia is two years older, quite old, you know, outof her teens. When a girl gets out of her teens you expect her to be alittle bit steady, don't you, mother?"
"Of course, dear, of course. But stop crying. I can't hear you whenyou sob between each word."
"It's enough to make anybody sob. We were so happy yesterday, we three.Ethel and I had everything planned--we were going to the Carters' danceto-night. You know Edward was to be there, and--and--Rob, who is sotaken with Ethel, and our dresses were ready and everything."
"But why cannot you go, my dear child? You must go."
"It is impossible, mother, and it is all Marcia's doing. Our only fearwas that perhaps Marcia would not come; but when she did enter the housewe did feel ourselves safe. Nesta, poor pet, was going to play tenniswith the Fortescues, but everything is knocked on the head now."
"There's an unpleasant draught over my feet," said Mrs Aldworth."Please, Molly, get me a light shawl to throw over them. No, not thatone, the light one, the light one with the grey border. Just put itover my feet and tuck it in a little round the edge--not _too_ much.You are not very skilful. Now, Marcia--"
"Oh, mother, you'll have to do without much of your precious Marcia. Itwas an awful mistake to let her go to Frankfort; it has ruined her. Shehas come back most terribly conceited and most, _most_ selfish."
"I never did greatly admire her," said Mrs Aldworth. "As a child shewas exceedingly obstinate."
"Like a mule, I've no doubt," said Molly. "Oh, dear, dear! I know I'vegot a quick temper, but as to being mulish--I wouldn't make othersunhappy, and she has made three girls so wretched."
"Well, out with it, Molly."
Mrs Aldworth was so much interested and so much amazed, that now thather feet had just the right degree of heat provided for them by theshawl with the grey border, she was inclined to listen with curiosity.
"It was at breakfast, mother; we had planned our day, and then all of asudden Marcia turned round and faced us. She said that she was going tolook after you one day in the morning and the next day in the afternoon,and that we three girls were to look after you during the alternatetimes, and she said--"
"She surely didn't say anything so monstrous and inhuman in the presenceof your father?"
"That's the worst of it, mother, you wouldn't believe for a singlemoment that she could, but she did."
"I don't believe you, Molly."
"Well, mother, I'll call her back, she will tell you, she haspractically said so already before you, now, hasn't she? She said shedidn't want to leave Frankfort, but that she had come, and she wouldstay and do her duty; but that we were to do our duty too, and if werefused, she'd go back to Frankfort. She will be of age almostimmediately, and father says she cannot be coerced, and the fact is shewill go unless we do it. And oh, Mothery, Horace too is on her side.There's no hope at all, and we are three miserable girls! What is to bedone? What is to be done?"
Molly flung herself on her knees by her mother's side and sobbed againsther mother's thin white hand, and Mrs Aldworth never recognised theselfish nature or perceived the shallow heart of her eldest child.After a time, however, Number One rose paramount in the good lady'sheart.
"Now get up, my dear. Of course this little matter will be put right.You had better stay with me this afternoon, but Marcia must come in andwe can talk things, over."
"She half promised to come in to tea. I don't believe she will; she'llbe too much afraid."
"Oh, my dear, she won't defy me long. She'll do what I wish; you leaveit in my hands. I don't say for a single moment that you may not haveto give up this one dance, but that is all. Marcia has returned to lookafter me, to be with me morning, noon, and night, to read to me, andamuse me, and alter my dresses and do everything that I require, andyou, my three little girls, are to have your pleasure. But you mustcome to visit your poor old mother daily, won't you, Molly?"
"Oh, darling, of course we will. We just love to come."
"And you must tell me all about your parties and your fun generally,won't you, Molly?"
"Oh, yes, yes, mother."
"And whisper, Molly. Marcia has very good taste; she is an exceedinglyclever girl."
"Hardly a girl, mother; she will be twenty-one, soon."
"Anyhow, dear, she is young, I must admit that, and she has very goodtaste, and perhaps she'll help me to make some little extra finery foryou. Now, dear child, get up and go on with that novel. I am soanxious to hear if Miss Melville really did accept Lord Dorchester ornot."
Mrs Aldworth's taste in reading had degenerated very much since thedays when she had won a first prize for literature at the second-rateschool which had had the honour of educating her. She now preferredstories which appeared in penny papers to any others, and was deeplyinterested in the fate of Miss Melville at that moment.
Molly read badly, in a most slovenly style. Mrs Aldworth snapped herup every minute or two.
"Don't drop your voice so, Molly; I didn't hear what you said. Sitnearer, and don't fidget. Oh, don't you know how you torture my poornerves?"
This s
ort of thing went on for a couple of hours. Molly grew sleepierand sleepier, and her face crosser and crosser. The room was no longercomfortable; the sun was pouring hotly in, the blinds were up, andneither Mrs Aldworth nor her daughter had the least idea how to mendmatters.
But by-and-by--oh, welcome sound--there came a step in the corridor, andMarcia entered, bearing a beautifully arranged tea tray. She carried itherself, and there was a smile on her sweet face. She was all in white,and she looked most charming.
"I thought I'd give you both a