by L. T. Meade
if you think mother'll give you a bed--"
"I don't know--it was you who said it."
"She will, if you pay her. You may have to give her fourpence--can youafford that?"
"Yes, I think so."
"She'll give you your breakfast for three ha'pence, and a sort of dinnermeal for threepence. Can you manage that?"
"Yes, quite well."
Nesta made a mental calculation. If Mrs Hogg was really so veryreasonable, she might stay with her for several days. Eight andsixpence would last a long time at that rate.
"You are very kind," she said, with rapture. "That will do beautifully.Now, just tell me where she lives, will you?"
"You say as Mary Hogg told you to come. Mother'll know what that means.It's a very small house; 'tain't in no way the sort as you're used to."
"I don't mind. Tell me where it is."
"Well; there's the village yonder. You foller your nose and you'll getit. By-and-by you'll cross the stream over a little bridge, but stillfoller after your nose, and you'll come to a cottage just at the side ofthe road, standing all alone. You can go up the path and knock at thedoor, and when you knock, mother'll say, `Come right in,' and you'll goright in, and mother 'll say, `What do you want?' and you'll say, `MaryHogg sent me.' Then you'll manage the rest. Good-bye to you; I reallymust run."
Mary put wings to her feet, and toiling and panting with her brown paperparcel, she hurried up the steep hill towards that spot where CastleWalworth reflected from its many windows the gleam of the now westeringsun.
Nesta stood for a minute just where her new friend had left her, andthen went down towards the village. She felt in her pocket for herlittle purse; she took it out and opened it. Yes, there was the moneythat Mrs Griffiths had lent her--eight shillings and sixpence. Shefelt herself quite wealthy. At the Hogg establishment she might reallymanage to live for several days.
Following Mary's directions she reached the little village street, foundthe rustic bridge, crossed it and went along a pretty shady road. Somepeople passed her, poor people returning from their work, people of herown class, some well dressed, some the reverse. They all looked at her,for people will stare at a stranger in country villages. Then acarriage passed by with several gaily dressed ladies in it, and theyalso turned and looked at Nesta. Nesta hurried after that. How awfulit would be if she suddenly met Angela St Just Angela would know her,of course, and she would know Angela. But no one in the carriage seemedto recognise her, and the prancing horses soon bowled out of sight.
Then she came to a cottage covered with ivy, roof and all; it almostseemed weighted down by the evergreens. She saw a tiny porch made oflatticework, which was also covered with evergreens. The porch was sosmall and so entirely covered that Nesta had slightly to stoop to getwithin. There was a little door which was shut; she knocked, and avoice said, "Come right in."
Nesta felt for a moment as though she were Red Riding Hood, and the wolfwere within. She lifted the latch and went in. The first person shesaw was a sandy-haired middle-aged woman, with a strong likeness to MaryHogg. The woman said, "Oh, my!" then she gave a little curtsey, thenshe said, "Oh, my!" again. Nesta stood and stared at her. A small boywho had been lying face downward on the floor, started to his feet,thrust his hands into his trouser pockets, and stared also. Anotherboy, who had been bending over a book, and who was a little older, flungthe book on the floor, and added to the group of starers.
"Mary Hogg sent me," said Nesta.
She used the words wondering if they would be a talisman, the "opensesame" which her hungry soul desired. They certainly had an immediateeffect, but not the effect she expected. Mrs Hogg darted forward,dusted a chair, and said:
"Honoured Miss, be seated."
Nesta dropped into the chair, for she was really very tired.
"If you are one of the young ladies from the Castle, I'm sorry I ain'tgot all the sewing done yet, but I will to-morrow."
"No," said Nesta, "it isn't that. I'm not one of the young ladies fromthe Castle; I'm just a girl, a stranger, and I want a bed for the night.I travelled in the same train with your daughter, Mary Hogg, and shesent me on here. She said you would give me a bed, and that you'dexpect me to pay. I can pay you. I have got eight and sixpence. Ihope you won't charge me a great deal, for that is all the money I havein the wide world. But I can pay you; will you give me a bed?"
Now this was most exciting to Mrs Hogg. It was still more exciting tothe two boys, whose names were Ben and Dan. They stood now side byside, each with his hands in his pockets, and his glowing eyes fixed onNesta's face. Mrs Hogg stood silent; she was considering deeply.
"There's but two rooms," she said, at last. "This room, and the bedroombeyond; but there's the scullery."
"I could sleep anywhere," said Nesta, who was terrified at the thoughtof being thrust out of this humble habitation.
"There's only one thing to be done," said Mrs Hogg, "you must share mybed."
This was scarcely agreeable, but any port in a storm, Nesta thought.
"Very well."
"I'll charge you twopence a night."
"Thank you," said Nesta.
"The boys will have to leave the room and sleep in the scullery."
"Hooray!" said Dan.
"Hurroa!" cried Ben.
"Quiet, lads, quiet," said the mother. "You go right out of the way andlet the young lady rest herself."
"I'm just a girl," said Nesta. "I'd best not be a young lady; I'm justa girl, and I'm very glad to come and stay with you. I shall be ratherhungry presently," she continued; "could you give me any supper?"
"If it's anything special, I'll charge you what it costs," said MrsHogg; "but if it's anything, why, it'll be three ha'pence for supper,twopence for breakfast, threepence for dinner. Them's my terms."
"It must be anything," said Nesta.
Mrs Hogg nodded. She whispered to her eldest boy, who, with another"Hooray!" rushed out of the cottage, followed by his brother. Nestasank down in the shadow; she had found a refuge. For the present shewas safe. Even Horace, with all his penetration, could not possiblyfind her in Mrs Hogg's kitchen, in Souchester. She made a hurriedcalculation. She might live here for over a week quite comfortably. Inher present terrible plight a week seemed like forever.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
UNACCUSTOMED FARE.
Mrs Hogg's bedroom was choky and Mrs Hogg herself snored loudly. Butthe place was really clean, and Nesta was too tired to lie long awake.When she did open her eyes in the morning, it was to the pleasantperfume of fried herring. A small boy was standing gazing at her out oftwo of the roundest eyes Nesta had ever seen. She came to theconclusion that the eyes of the entire Hogg family were not made likeother people's; they were as round as marbles, and protruded veryslightly from the head. The boy said:
"Red herrings!" thrust his tongue into his cheek, winked at her, andvanished.
Nesta proceeded to dress herself, and went into the living room. Theplace of honour was reserved for her. There was bread for breakfast,but no butter. There was, however, a sort of lard, which the childrenmuch appreciated. There was tea, but very little milk, and coarse brownsugar. Mrs Hogg helped the boys liberally, but she did not give themany of the red herring. Nesta noticed that Ben's eyes watered when heglanced at it. She herself could not touch it, so she transferred themorsel which had been put on her plate to that of the little boy. Theboy shouted; he did not seem to be able to speak quietly. He said"Hurra!" The moment he said "Hurra!" the eldest boy said "Hooray!" andstretched out his hand and snatched a piece of herring from the dish.Mrs Hogg rose and smacked both the boys on their ears, whereupon theyfell to crying bitterly.
"Oh, don't," said Nesta. "How can you? It seems so cruel."
"Crool?" said Mrs Hogg; "crool to smack yer own children? Why, don'tBible Solomon say, `Spare the rod and spoil the child'? There's nospoiling of my children in this house. Put back that fish, you greedyboy. Ain't it got to do for Mis
sie's dinner and supper, as well as forher breakfast; you put it back this blessed minute."
Nesta felt a sudden sense of dismay. To be obliged to eat red herringas her sole sustenance for one whole day did seem dreadful, but shereflected that anything was better than her father's and brother'swrath, and the sneers of her two sisters, and better than Marcia'sgracious, and yet most intolerable forgiveness. Nesta was not at allsorry yet, for what she had done, but she was sorry for