by L. T. Meade
and then wander away onthe cliffs. Flossie; after due consideration, was nothing loath.
"That horrid telegram is sure to come, and then the fat will be in thefire," said Nesta.
"That's true enough," replied Flossie, "and I expect I'll be scoldedtoo. You'll have to stand the blame--you'll have to tell them that itwas more your fault than mine."
"Oh, I like that!" said Nesta. "You mean to tell me that you won't takemy part, when I get into a beastly row all on account of you?"
The girls had a little tiff, as was their way; but their real affectionfor each other soon smoothed it over. Mrs Griffiths was talked roundto see the expediency of Nesta and Flossie putting off their bathe untilthe next day, and accordingly the two girls started off for their walk.
There was no doubt whatever in Nesta's mind that retribution must comethat day. It was the right day for Nemesis. She had enjoyed Saturday,but she had not enjoyed Sunday quite so much, for there was thepossibility that somebody would come to fetch her back. On Sunday thegirls might have sent the telegram to Marcia by special messenger, buton the other hand, Molly and Ethel were very careless; they did not carewhether Nesta was in the house or not. They had probably not sent iton. But of course, there was not the least doubt that Marcia wouldreceive it on Monday morning. What was to be done? She resolved toenjoy her walk even if it was the last. She spent a shilling of herprecious money, secured a most unwholesome meal, which the two girls ateon the high cliffs just outside Scarborough, and then returned home intime for lunch.
"I'm not a bit hungry," said Nesta, "and I know there'll be a fearfulrow when we go upstairs. Do go first, Flossie; I'll wait here. Ifthere's anything awful, I'll run down by the shore until it has blownover. Do go, Floss."
Flossie was cajoled into doing what Nesta wished. She went upstairs.Her father and mother were both waiting for them. They looked tranquil,as tranquil could be.
"Where's Nesta!" called out Mrs Griffiths from the landing. "Tell herto take off her hat and come in at once. Our dinner is getting cold."
Flossie flew downstairs.
"You needn't be a bit uneasy. Father and mother look as contented asthough they never had a trouble in the world."
Wondering somewhat, Nesta did go upstairs. She ate her dinner, but allthe time she was watching the door. Any minute either Marcia herself,stern, uncompromising, unyielding, unforgiving, might appear, or ahorrible telegram addressed to Mrs Griffiths might be thrust into herhand. In any case her disgrace must be near at hand.
But strange as it may seem, the whole day passed, and there was no sortof telegram for Nesta. She wondered and wondered.
"This is quite lucky," she said to Flossie, as she was undressing forthe night. "I really can't understand it. Of course, it's those girls;they never sent my telegram on to Marcia."
"Well, you know, you didn't send any address," said Flossie.
"Of course I didn't; but don't you suppose that they'd immediately rushoff to your house, and get your address from your servants?"
"I never thought of that," said Flossie.
"They could find me if they wished. It's all that Miss Mule Selfish;she's so absorbed in her own pleasure she has forgotten all about me."
The next day passed without any notice being taken of Nesta, and thenext, and the next. Nesta was quite bewildered. At first she wasdelighted, then she began to consider herself a slightly aggrievedperson, particularly when Flossie taunted her with the fact that she didnot seem to be missed much at home.
This was gall and wormwood to the little girl.
On the fifth day of her visit, Mr Griffiths, who had received someletters, said to Nesta:
"You don't seem to be hearing from your people--at least I have not seenany letters addressed to you. I hope they are all right."
"Oh, of course they are, no news is good news," said Nesta.
He took no notice of her remark, being absorbed in his own affairs.When he had read one of his letters he looked at his wife.
"I must go back to Newcastle this afternoon, but I'll return to-morrow,"he said. "I'll call in, if you like, Nesta, and find out how yourmother is."
"Oh, please don't--I mean you really needn't," said Nesta.
He raised his brows in some surprise.
"I should think," he said slowly, "that a girl who has an invalidmother, would like to know how she is."
Nesta coloured. She did not dare to say any more. She and Flossie hadbeen having what she called a ripping time, that is, Nesta could enjoyherself in spite of her anxiety. But now things were changing. Theyellow-boy had his limits; he was reduced in bulk until he had come downto a few pence. Between Nesta and that which made her so valuable inFlossie's eyes there was now but eleven-pence halfpenny. Nearly ashilling, a whole beautiful silver shilling, but not quite. When thatwas spent--and it would be spent that very day--Nesta would be of nospecial importance to Flossie Griffiths.
Flossie was making friends, too, on her own account. There was a familyof young people also staying at Scarborough, whom the Griffiths used toknow. They boasted of the name of Brown. They were all good-natured,hearty, friendly young folks. But in the beginning Nesta had chosen toturn up her nose at them. In consequence they devoted themselves toFlossie, and left Nesta very much out in the cold.
On the very day that Nesta was forced to spend her last pence on a feastfor Flossie, Flossie calmly informed her that she was going early thenext morning on a picnic with the Browns.
"They haven't invited you--I'm sorry," said Flossie. "They might havedone it, but I said you were going away. This is Friday, you know. Youwill have been with us a week to-morrow. I know father and mother willwant you to stay until the middle of next week, at any rate, but, ofcourse, you and I--knowing what we do--" Flossie giggled--"thought youwould be gone long ago."
"Well, I'm here," said Nesta, "and I wish I weren't."
"Why do you say that? I'm sure we have done all we could to give you areal good time."
"I think you hate me," said Nesta, in a passion.
"Well, Nesta, I do call that ungrateful! But there, you're in thesulks, poor old girl. You thought you'd be awfully missed at home, andyou see you are not one little bit."
"I'm anxious about mother," said Nesta. "It's so queer none of themwriting."
She burst into tears. Flossie was soft-hearted enough, and shecomforted her friend, and said that she would not hurt her for theworld, and would do her very best to get her an invitation to the picnicthe next day. At this intimation Nesta immediately wiped her eyes.
"I'd like it," she said; "it would be horrid to be left at home withonly your old mother."
"You needn't call mother old--she's no older than yours."
"Well, anyhow, mine's the prettiest," said Nesta.
"And my mother is the strongest," retorted Flossie. "Oh, there, don'tlet us quarrel," said Nesta. "If I hadn't you for my friend now, Floss,I'd be the most miserable girl in the world. To tell the truth, I'mrather terrified at the way they're taking things at home--not a word--not a line, nothing whatever. It does seem odd, doesn't it?"
Flossie made no remark. Just then Henrietta Brown was seen passing thewindow. Flossie put out her head and called to Henrietta to stop, andthen dashed downstairs.
"Oh, Henny," she gasped, "I'm ever so sorry, but Nesta Aldworth, myfriend, she is still with us. I wonder--"
"We really couldn't," said Henny, who was downright, and not quite asrefined as even the Griffiths themselves. "We haven't a seat left.Either you must come, or your friend. We can't fit in the two of you.It's impossible. We might have done so at the beginning, but you saidyour stuck-up Miss Aldworth would be gone away."
"Well, she has not gone," said Flossie. "Of course, if you like I cangive up my seat if you are sure you couldn't squeeze us both in."
"I'm certain, positive on the subject. And, Flossie, you mustn't giveup your seat," said Henny, linking her arm inside Flossie's arm, "for wedon't like her one little bi
t. She's not pretty like von, and she hasno go in her. You must come. Why, Tom and Jack and Robert--they'd bejust mad if you weren't there."
Flossie was pleased to hear that the Brown boys--Tom, Jack, and Robert--wished for her society.
"Well, of course, it's her own fault," she said aloud, and then she wentback to Nesta.
"It's no go," she said. "You must stay with mother--or--or do anythingyou like. Ah, there's