by L. T. Meade
longer ours, and you have the right to do as you like with your own."
"Then you think we did wrong? You, who know so much better."
"I will try not to think so; but don't ask me about Court Prospect. Letus forget that you live there."
"Then you won't come to see us? We are so anxious to know you."
"How kind of you," said Angela sweetly. "What a hot day this is; don'tyou find it so?"
"Well, yes; but at Court Prospect it is much cooler."
"Of course; you are more in the country."
Angela wondered when Marcia would be ready.
"We are going to the seaside," continued Clara. "Of course, we cannotstand this great heat. I want to take one of the Aldworth girls withme; but Marcia--I mean Miss Aldworth, your friend--doesn't seem toapprove of it."
"They couldn't leave home very well just now. The one who ought to gois Marcia herself."
"Indeed, yes. How sweet of you to confide in me. Don't you think sheis looking very pale?"
"She has suffered a good deal. I am most anxious that she should have afortnight or so at Hurst Castle."
"What a rapturous idea," thought Clara. "If only I could bring itabout. What wouldn't I give to spend some days at Hurst Castle! Ifonly that girl would get me to help her."
"But why won't she go?" said Clara. "It seems quite easy. MrsAldworth has three daughters of her own, and there is the nurse. Ithink she could."
"I quite agree with you," said Angela, and just then Marcia came intothe room.
"I am ready," she said. "I am ever so sorry, Miss Carter, it does seemrude, but we shall miss our train."
"Marcia, Miss Carter and I have been having quite an interestingconversation about you. We both think you need a change, and MissCarter thinks with me that your mother could be left with her own girlsand the nurse."
The colour came into Marcia's cheeks.
"We can talk of that in the train," she said. "Good-bye, Miss Carter.Shall I call Nesta to you?"
"No, thank you, I must be going now. I am so glad to have seen you.Miss St Just. It is a very great honour to make your acquaintance. Itrust some day you will be induced to come to see us in our home. Weshould be so glad to get your opinion with regard to furtherimprovements which we are anxious to make. You will come, won't you,come day? It would be such a very great pleasure."
Angela gave a dubious promise, and the next minute the girls werehurrying down the street.
"What a detestable creature!" said Marcia.
"Oh, no, she belongs to a type," said Angela. "But I don't want tothink of the awful things they have done at Court Prospect. They thinkthey have improved my garden--my dear, dear garden."
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
THE INTRODUCTION.
Meanwhile Nesta was in a state of wild excitement. No sooner had Marciaand Angela gone down the street than she darted into the drawing room.
"Well," she said, "is it all right? Did you really see her? Was sheproperly introduced to you? Can you say in future that you know her?When you meet her, will you be able to bow to her? Have you contrivedto get her promise to come and see you? Tell me everything,everything."
"What affair is it of yours, child?" said Clara crossly. For althoughshe had met Miss St Just, it seemed to her that she had made but smallway with that young lady.
"It means everything to me--everything possible. Do you know her?"
"Of course, I know her! Is it likely that your sister would be so rude,so fearfully rude as not to introduce me when I was in the room?"
"I don't know," replied Nesta. "Marcia can be rude enough when shelikes."
"Well, anyhow, she wasn't. She did introduce us, and Miss St Just wasmost pleasant. She has far nicer manners than your sister."
"That wouldn't be difficult," said Nesta. "Marcia is so verystand-offish."
"Ridiculously proud and prudish, I call her," said Clay.
"And do you think Miss St Just as lovely as you always did?"
"Oh, far, far more lovely. She puts every one else into the shade. Iinvited her to Court Prospect, and I expect she'll come. I am goinghome now, and shall try to get up a grand party in her honour. Afterwhat she said to me she could hardly refuse. It is all delightful."
"Yes, delightful!" said Nesta. "Well, good-bye. Just mention toPenelope, will you, that you were introduced to her this morning."
"I wonder why I should do that?" said Clara, as she settled herself inthe little pony trap which was standing outside the door.
"Oh, just to oblige me," said Nesta, and the next minute Clara Carterwas out of sight.
Nesta skipped joyfully into the house.
"Now I've done it," she thought. "Penelope can't go back. We made abet. How I was to fulfil my part I hadn't the least idea, but I amthankful to say I have won. She'll have to give me a whole sovereign.Yes, a whole, beautiful yellow-boy for my very own self; and if Claracontrives to get Miss St Just to visit them at Court Prospect, Penelopeis to give me two sovereigns. I shall be in luck! Why, a girl with twosovereigns can face the world. She has all before her. She has nothingleft to wish for. It is splendid! Magnificent! Oh, I am in luck!"
Nesta danced into the garden. Notwithstanding the hot day she wasdetermined to go at once to tell Flossie Griffiths the good news.Flossie had not been quite as nice as usual to Nesta of late. She hadmade the acquaintance of the Carters, and the Carters had not speciallytaken to her. Penelope Carter was also in some ways more fascinating toNesta than her old friend Flossie, and in consequence Flossie wasfuriously jealous. But when you have a piece of good news to tell--something quite above the ordinary, you must confide it to some one, andif it is a jealous friend, who would long to have such a delightfulthing happen to herself, why so much the better.
So Nesta pinned on her shabbiest hat and went down the narrow pathway,found the entrance to the woods, and by-and-by reached the Griffiths'house.
Flossie was in the garden; she was playing with her dogs. She hadthree, and was devoted to them. One was a black Pomeranian, another apug, and the third a mongrel--something between an Irish setter and anIrish terrier. The mongrel was the most interesting dog of the three,and had been taught tricks by Flossie. His name was Jingo. He was nowstanding on his hind legs, while the other two dogs waltzed round andround. However strong his desire to pounce upon Ginger, the pug, andBlackberry, the Pomeranian, he had to restrain himself. They might yapand bite at his toes, and try to reach his ears, as much as theypleased, but he must remain like a statue. If he endured long enough hewould have a lump of sugar for his pains, which he would eatdeliberately in view of his tormentors; for this halcyon moment heendured the tortures which Flossie daily subjected him to. It wasreally time for his sugar now, he had been on his hind legs for quitetwo minutes; his back was aching; he hated the feel of the sun on hishead, he wanted to get into the shade, and above all things he wanted topunish Blackberry and to snap at Ginger. Flossie's hand was in herpocket, the delicious moment had all but arrived, when Nesta's clear,ringing voice sounded on the breeze.
"I say, Floss, I'm just in time. Oh, do come away from those stupiddogs. I have something so heavenly to tell you--it's perfectlygolloptious."
Flossie forgot all about her dogs. Jingo mournfully descended to allfours, bit Ginger, snapped at Blackberry, and retired sulking into acorner.
Meanwhile Flossie took the arm of her friend and led her into the shade.
"How red you look," she said. "You must have been running very fast."
"What does that matter? I have got it; I have won it."
"You don't mean to say you've won your bet?"
"Yes, I have though. This very morning she came over--Clay, you know,and soon afterwards the Fairy Princess, and my noble elder sister waspresent, and she had to introduce Clay to the Princess, and it'sextremely likely that the Princess will be forced by circumstances topay the Carters a visit at Court Prospect."
"I wish her joy of them," said Flo
ssie sulkily.
"Oh, you needn't sulk, old Floss. I've got my yellow-boy all formyself. Now then, I'll tell you what. I know you're ever so cross, andas jealous as ever you can be, but I'm going to share some of it withyou."
"You aren't! Not really? Then if you are, I will say you're a brick!"
Flossie's brow cleared, her shallow black eyes danced. She looked fullat Nesta.
"You and I'll have a picnic all to ourselves," said Nesta.
"Then you must be very quick," replied Flossie, "for