awfulthings."
"And I daresay they pay a lot for them, too," said Stasy.
"No doubt they do," said Blanche; "and I don't suppose one of them hasthe slightest idea of trimming anything neatly."
Stasy was silent for a moment; then she said, with a little hesitation:"You're very complimentary about my taste, Blanchie. But as to theactual work, I'm afraid I should not be much good. I know nothing aboutwhat may be called the `technique' of the business. I couldn't line orbind a hat neatly, for instance."
"I've thought of that," said Blanche eagerly; and, indeed, a great partof her interest in this new idea had to do with the occupation andamusement she had hoped it would give her sister. "I've thought aboutthat, and I feel pretty sure that little Miss Halliday would help us.I'm going to Blissmore this afternoon, and I mean to ask her if shewould teach us a little. Two or three lessons would give us all weneed."
Stasy brightened up.
"That would really be great fun," she said. "Do let me go with you,Blanchie. Can we pay her for teaching us, do you think? Won't it be atall like poaching on her manor?"
"Oh no," said Blanche. "These girls are not the class who would everget things from her; and, of course, however clever we become, wemustn't leave off giving her our own work. That is to say, everythingwe don't get from London. She will quite enter into it, I feel sure."
And that very afternoon Blanche's idea was carried out. They walkedinto Blissmore, and went to see Miss Halliday, who was always delightedto have a glimpse of them; and when Blanche unfolded her plan, thelittle milliner entered into it heartily.
"Of course," said Blanche, "you must count it as if you were reallygiving us lessons. It would be quite unfair to take up your time fornothing."
Miss Halliday hesitated, grew rather pink and nervous.
"I wish, I am sure, I could refuse any payment," she said at last. "Butto tell you the truth, Miss Derwent, things have not been going verywell with me lately. There is a great increase of work in Blissmore, asnew families keep coming, and, rather than lose the chance of increasingmy customers, I had made up my mind to take a partner. After a greatdeal of inquiry and writing about it, I found what seemed the veryperson, unexceptionable in every way. She was to put a little moneyinto the concern, and, above all, was said to be extremely clever andtasteful. Just what I wanted! For, you see, there is no denying that Imay be getting a little old-fashioned; though I do think my work isalways neat, and I use good materials. So I had my shop enlarged alittle, and fresh painted, and a new mirror, and altogether went to agood deal of expense, when, just at the last moment, this poor girl--Ican't find it in my heart to blame her--had a sudden call to Australia,owing to some family troubles. I could have held her to the bargain, ormade her pay up, but it went against me to do it, so I let her off.That was nearly two months ago, and here have I been ever since tryingto find some one else. The season getting on too, more work coming inthan I can manage, not daring to refuse any, for fear of it gettingabout, and leading to some other milliners starting!"
And Miss Halliday wiped away a tear which she could not altogetherrepress.
The sisters were full of sympathy.
"Poor Miss Halliday!" said Blanche, "I am so sorry."
"I wish we could help you," said Stasy impulsively. "Perhaps if youfind us very clever, after you've taught us a little, we might come downnow and then and help you, as if we were apprentices, you know!Wouldn't it be fun, Blanchie?"
"Bless you, my love," said the old maid, wiping away another tear. "Itis good of you to have such a thought, though, of course, I couldn't sopresume. I'm sure you'll learn very quickly, having been brought up inFrance, where, they say, good taste comes with the air. Indeed, I havebeen thinking of trying for a French young person as a partner, and Ionce thought of consulting your dear mamma about it."
"I can tell her what you say," said Blanche. "But I scarcely think shewould advise it. It's a risk to bring any one so far, and as for whatyou say of French taste--well, I don't know--in Paris, perhaps; but onesees plenty of vulgar ugliness in the provinces."
"Indeed, Miss," said the milliner, considerably impressed. "Well, Imight be safer with an English girl, after all. And thank you, morethan I can say, for your kind sympathy. Your visit has quite cheeredme--it has indeed. You'll let me make you a cup of tea before you go.It'll be ready directly in your own parlour--we always call thedrawing-room your own room since you were here, we do indeed." And thelittle woman started up in her eager hospitality.
"We'll stay to tea on one condition, Miss Halliday," said Stasy--"thatis, that if you do find us clever, you'll promise to let us come andhelp you after our lessons with you are over."
"My dear Miss Anastasia," began Miss Halliday.
"Oh, but you must promise," said Stasy. "It's not all out of kindnessthat I want it! It would be something to do--some fun! I only wishyou'd let me serve in the shop a little, it's so dreadfully dull atPinnerton, you don't know."
Miss Halliday's face expressed commiseration.
"I'm sorry for that," said she. "I was hoping that, when you gotsettled down, you'd feel quite at home, and find it more lively. But,of course, about now most of the families are going up to London."
"That doesn't make much difference to us," said Stasy. "If you want toknow, Miss Halliday, I think English people are horribly unfriendly anddisagreeable."
The milliner looked uncomfortable; she had delicacy enough to know thatany distinct expression of sympathy in such a case would be animpertinence.
"You may find it pleasanter in the winter," she said. "There are somenice young ladies in your neighbourhood--Lady Hebe Shetland at EastModdersham, now! She is a sweet young lady."
"Yes," said Blanche, speaking for the first time. "We know her alittle, but still it is quite different from what it used to be whenmamma was a girl here."
"Well yes, to be sure," said Miss Halliday, "for it was your dearmamma's home; and no one was more respected in all the country-side, asI've heard my aunt say, than your dear grandpapa, the late Mr Fenning.It was quite a different thing in the next vicars time; his wife anddaughters were not, so to say, in the county society at all."
"Do you mean the Flemings?" asked Blanche; "yes, I have heard of them.I hope people don't confuse mamma with them; sometimes I've been afraidthey may do."
Miss Halliday grew a little pink again.
"Well, Miss, as you've mentioned it," she said, "though I wouldn't havemade free to speak of it myself, I'm afraid there may have been somemistake of the kind in one or two quarters, and seeing that it was so, Imade bold to set it right; telling those that had made the mistake, thatyour dear mamma came of a very high family indeed, as my dear aunt hasoften told me, and that on both sides."
Blanche could not help smiling, though she was touched by the littlemilliner's loyalty.
"Thank you, Miss Halliday," she said. "I should certainly be sorry formamma's family to be confused with the Flemings, not so much becausethey were--well, scarcely gentlepeople by birth--but because they werenot particularly nice in themselves. It is misleading that the twonames are so like, and I am glad you explained it."
"I won't mention names," said Miss Halliday, beaming with satisfaction;"but it will all come right in the end, you will see, my dear youngladies. And now I think tea must be ready in the drawing-room, ifyou'll be so good as to step that way."
"But you are going to have tea with us," said Stasy. "It would be nofun if you didn't. And we have to settle the day for our first lesson;and you've never been out to see our house yet, Miss Halliday. Mammasent a special message about that."
"What a good little soul she is!" said Blanche, as Stasy and she werewalking home together.
"Yes, isn't she?" said Stasy. "Blanche," she went on, thoughtfully,after a moment's pause, "do you ever think how nice it would be to bereally very rich? Not just comfortable, as we are, but really rich,with lots to give away. What nice things one could do for other people!We co
uld pay for a very clever assistant for Miss Halliday, forinstance, so that she might get to be quite a grand milliner, and thepeople here would go to her for their bonnets instead of sending toLondon."
Blanche laughed.
"We should have to frank her over to Paris also once or twice a year.Fancy Miss Halliday in Paris!" she said. "However beautiful her bonnetswere, no one could believe in her unless she went
Blanche: A Story for Girls Page 24