by L. T. Meade
it.
"Aunt Felice," she said, "I have got a great piece of news for you."
"What is that, my dear Robina? Don't put your elbow on the table; it isso unladylike; and I wish, my dear, you would not have that habit ofopening your mouth when you are not speaking. You ought to say the oldphrase, `Papa, potatoes, prunes and prism' constantly to yourself.There is nothing for keeping the mouth in a nice shape like uttering theword `prism.'"
"I can't, really, Aunt Felice. I am not made that way," said Robina."I can't be worried about my mouth."
"There you are," said Aunt Felice, "always so headstrong, rough, anddisagreeable. Now, _don't_ frown! It really makes you look like afright. Your poor mother quite dreads the thought of having you in thehouse; you are so undisciplined and wayward."
"I was thought quite a good girl at school," said Robina.
"Then that was because none of them really knew you."
"I think they knew me very well. You have to be your real self atschool, Aunt Felice."
"Then may I ask, miss, if that is the case, why you are not your realself at home?"
"I am afraid I have got two selves, and I am my worst self at home,because I am rubbed the wrong way."
"Indeed!" said Miss Jennings. "That is nice hearing. And who rubs youthe wrong way?"
"I know you will be very angry with me, Aunt Felicia; but you do."
"Robina: this is really more than I can stand. You don't speak in thatimpertinent way to me any more: you have no respect for those older andbetter than yourself, Robina. I don't say for a moment that you havenot your good points. You are a clever, strong, intelligent child, butyou are too independent: that is what is the matter with you."
Robina fidgetted.
"_Don't_ push your things about on your plate like that!" said MissFelicia: "and oh! don't kick me with your long legs under the table!You really are most objectionable in your manners--such a rough sort ofgirl."
"Come, Auntie," said Robina suddenly, "I have been thinking a lot of myreturn home. I have never been to school before, and these are my veryfirst holidays, and anyhow, there is jolly good news--"
"Don't say jolly! It is a most unladylike expression."
"Oh, I must talk a little slang. I can't be too proper. Besides,`jolly' is accepted now as the most correct English. `Awfully jolly' isa lovely phrase."
"It is a misnomer, and abominable. Don't ever say `awfully jolly' in mypresence."
"I will try not to," said Robina aloud. To herself, she whispered: "Iwon't be tempted: things never are awfully jolly when she is about."
"May I tell you the _nice_ thing that has happened?" she said, after apause.
"Don't spill that jam, Robina. See, you are dropping the juice on thetable-cloth. Now then, what is your news? I don't suppose it is worthanything."
"To begin with: I am going away on a visit in a fortnight."
"Indeed?" said Miss Jennings. "That is so likely: little girls do goaway on visits without the permission of their elders. That is themodern tendency, I am well aware, but it has not taken root in thishouse so far."
"Mr Durrant has invited me," said Robina, "and I know father and motherwill let me go: I am not a bit afraid on that point. Mr Durrant willmanage it."
"Who is Mr Durrant?"
"He is _the_ Durrant, you know: everyone speaks of him. He is one ofthe greatest men in England at the present day."
Miss Jennings stared hard at her niece.
"Up to the present," she said, "I always did think you were truthful:but I cannot quite believe that the great African explorer, whosethrilling book I could scarcely lay down when once I began to read it,would take any notice of an inconsequent, silly little girl likeyourself."
"Oh, but he has," said Robina, in a careless tone. "He is very fond ofme. I am his little boy's mother, you know."
"Robina: don't open your lips for the remainder of this meal. Lies Iwill not stand."
Robina whispered `prism' under her breath, and sat mute with her handsfolded. After a time, Miss Jennings asked if she wished for anythingmore. She shook her head.
"Are you satisfied? Are you no longer hungry?" Robina nodded.
"Then leave the room."
Robina did so. The next minute she was out of the house, and had rushedround to the stables.
"Jim!" she said to the man who had charge of the old grey horse and thevery humble chaise which was the only conveyance known at HeatherHouse--the name of Robina's home. "Jim: there is a very beautiful ponycoming here to-morrow; or he may not arrive till the next day. He ismine; and I want him to have a stable all to himself, and I want to hirea proper groom to see after him. Do you know any nice boy in thevillage who can be trained to look after my pony?"
Jim, who had always a secret admiration for Miss Robina as a fine, manlysort of young lady who could ride old Dobbin bareback from the time shecould walk, and whom he had secretly provided with many a less safe seaton neighbours' horses, now answered with alacrity:
"You don't mean, miss, as Mr Starling has gone and bought you a pony ofyour own?"
"No, Jim; nothing of the sort. It is such a comfort to confide in you,Jim: I _won_ the pony as a prize at school."
"Lawk-a-mercy!" said Jim: "what queer prizes they do have at thatschool, now!"
"Shall I tell you how I won it? I was good to a child."
"Lor! miss."
"A dear little boy. I am his school-mother. He chose me--or rather, hedidn't choose me first, but I became his school-mother afterwards; andthe prize was a pony and a side-saddle. You will have me skimming allover the country now when I am at home, Jim. I'll be worse to managethan ever."
"But miss, there is the master. How do you know as he'll let you keep apony?"
"Oh, that is all right," said Robina. "The gentleman who has given himis going to pay all his expenses. He is quite a rich gentleman, and hedoesn't mind what he spends. So I want a very nice groom indeed."
"I wish I could do for him, miss," said Jim. "I would with a heart anda half, but the master wouldn't spare a minute of my time; and even ifhe would. Miss Jennings wouldn't hear of it. She is very particular,miss, and works a man real hard."
"Robina, come in this minute!" called a shrill voice at that moment,"and _don't_ stand talking with Jim. Jim; how _dare_ you idle yourtime! Have you cleaned out the hen's roost? and have you put down freshstraw for the laying hen? and what about the ducks, Jim? and _don't_forget that you are to go to the village early in the morning to getsome fresh corn for the young turkeys. Robina, come here this minute:don't dawdle: come quickly."
"I was talking to Jim," said Robina, "about my pony."
"Your what?" asked Miss Felicia.
"My pony: you would not let me tell you at supper time: you snapped meup so short. I have got such a lovely pony as a prize!"
"You dare to tell me such things!"
"But, Aunt Felicia, it is true. I have got a pony. I haven't seen himyet, but I know he is _going_ to be a perfect darling, and there's aside-saddle coming too, and a habit made from my own measurements. Mymeasurements were taken before I left school, so the habit will fit meperfectly, and will allow room for growing."
"The pony may come," said Miss Felicia: "but if it comes, it goes. Doyou suppose for a single moment--you silly, selfish, thoughtless child--that your poor father, who has such expenses owing to your dear mother'ssad condition of health, can afford to keep a pony for you? If anyoneis fool enough to send the animal here it goes back again."
"I am certain father won't send it away," said Robina, "for it will costno one anything. Mr Durrant--_the_ Durrant--for I have told no lies,Aunt Felicia--is going to provide for all the expenses of my pony. Hespoke to me about it; and there is to be a groom engaged to look aftermy darling; and when I go away in a fortnight's time to Sunshine Lodge,my pony comes with me, and father will never be one penny out of pocketas far as my pony is concerned."
"Dear, dear! Tut, tut!" said Miss Felicia.
"Go into the house, Robina.You are either telling the most shocking lies, or something toomarvellous has happened. I am inclined to believe in your want oftruth, Robina, and if this is proved to be the case, your punishmentwill be exceedingly heavy."
Book 2--CHAPTER THREE.
A SURPRISE.
Late that night, Mr Starling returned home. He was a heavily built,rather dull looking man. He was a