by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER XIII.
It was the last week in July when Mrs. Ogilvie took possession ofSilverbel. She had ordered furniture in her usual reckless fashion,going to the different shops where she knew she could obtain credit.The house, already beautiful, looked quite lovely when decorated bythe skilful hands which arranged draperies and put furniture into themost advantageous positions.
Sibyl's room, just over the front porch, was really worthy of her. Itwas a bower of whiteness and innocence. It had lattice windows whichlooked out on to the lovely grounds. Climbing roses peeped in throughthe narrow panes, and sent their sweet fragrance to greet the childwhen the windows were open and she put her head out.
Sibyl thought more than ever of her father as she took possession ofthe lovely room at Silverbel. What a beautiful world it was! and whata happy little girl she, Sibyl, thought herself in possessing suchperfect parents. Her prayers became now passionate thanks. She had gotso much that it seemed unkind to ask Lord Jesus for one thing more. Ofcourse, He was making the mine full of gold, and He was making herfather very, very rich, and everyone, everyone she knew was soon to behappy.
Lady Helen Douglas came to stay at Silverbel, and this seemed to givean added touch to the child's sense of enjoyment, for Lady Helen hadat last, in a shy half whisper, told the eager little listener thatshe did love Mr. Rochester, and, further, that they were only waitingto proclaim their engagement to the world until the happy time whenSibyl's father came back.
"For Jim," continued Lady Helen, "will take shares in the LombardDeeps, and as soon as ever he does this we can afford to marry. Butyou must not speak of this, Sibyl. I have only confided in you becauseyou have been our very good friend all along."
Sibyl longed to write off at once to her father to hurry up matterswith regard to the gold mine.
"Of course, it is full of gold, quite full," thought the child; "but Ihope father will write, or, better still, come home quickly and tellus all about it."
She began to count the days now to her father's return, and wasaltogether in such a happy mood that it was delightful to be in herpresence or to see her joyful face.
Sibyl was nearly beside herself with delight at having exchanged herdull town life for this happy country one. She quickly made friendswith the poor people in the nearest village, who were all attracted byher bright ways and pretty face. Her mother also gave her a small partof the garden to do what she liked with, and when she was not diggingindustriously, or riding her pony, or talking to Lady Helen, orengaged in her lessons, she followed her mother about like a faithfullittle dog.
Mrs. Ogilvie was so pleased and contented with her purchase that shewas wonderfully amiable. She often now sat in the long evenings withSibyl by her side, and listened without impatience to the child'srhapsodies about her father. Mrs. Ogilvie would also be glad whenPhilip returned. But just now her thought of all thoughts was centredon the bazaar. This bazaar was to clinch her position as a countrylady. All the neighbors round were expected to attend, and already shewas busy drawing up programmes of the coming festivities, andarranging with a great firm in London for the special marquee, whichwas to grace her lawn right down to the river's edge.
The bazaar was expected to last for quite three days, and, during thattime, a spirited band would play, and there would be variousentertainments of all sorts and descriptions. Little boats, withcolored flags and awnings, were to be in requisition on the brink ofthe river, and people should pay heavily for the privilege ofoccupying these boats.
Mrs. Ogilvie clapped her hands almost childishly when this lastbrilliant idea came to her, and Sibyl thought that it was worthy ofmother, and entered into the scheme with childish enthusiasm.
The third week in August was finally decided as the best week for thebazaar, and those friends who were not going abroad promised to stayat Silverbel for the occasion.
Some weeks after Mrs. Ogilvie had taken possession of Silverbel, Mr.Acland called to see her.
"We have had no cable yet from your husband," he said, "and the rumorscontinue to be ominous. I wish with all my heart we could silencethem. I, myself, believe in the Lombard Deeps, for Grayleigh is thelast man to lend his name or become chairman of a company which hasnot brilliant prospects; but I can see that even he is a littleanxious."
"Oh, pray don't croak," was Mrs. Ogilvie's response and then she onceagain likened Mr. Acland to the raven.
"You are a bird of ill-omen," she said, shaking her finger playfullyin his face.
He frowned as she addressed him; he could not see the witticism of herremark.
"When people are perfectly happy and know nothing whatever withregard to business, what is the good of coming and telling thesedismalities?" she continued. "I am nothing but a poor little femininecreature, trying to do good, and to make myself happy in an innocentway. Why will you come and croak? I know Philip quite well enough tobe certain that he would not have set foot on this expedition if hehad not been satisfied in advance that the mine was a good one."
"That is my own impression," said Mr. Acland, thoughtfully; "but don'tforget you are expected to complete the purchase of Silverbel by theend of October."
"Oh! Philip will be back before then," answered Mrs. Ogilvie in alight and cheerful tone. "Any day now we may get a cablegram. Well,sweetheart, and what are you doing here?"
Sibyl had entered the room, and was leaning against the window frame.
"Any day we may expect what to happen, mother darling?" she asked.
"We may expect a cable from father to say he is coming back again."
"Oh! do you think so? Oh, I am so happy!"
Sibyl skipped lightly out of the room. She ran across the sunny,radiant garden, and presently found herself in a sort of wildernesswhich she had appropriated, and where she played at all sorts ofsolitary games. In that wilderness she imagined herself at times alonely traveler, at other times a merchant carrying goodly pearls, atother times a bandit engaged in feats of plunder. All possible scenesin history or imagination that she understood did the child try toenact in the wilderness. But she went there now with no intention ofposing in any imaginary part. She went there because her heart wasfull.
"Oh, Lord Jesus, it is so beautiful of you," she said, and she lookedup as she spoke full at the blue sky. "I can scarcely believe that myownest father will very soon be back again; it is quite toobeautiful."
A few days after this, and toward the end of the first week in August,Sibyl was one day playing as usual in the grounds when the sound ofcarriage wheels attracted her attention. She ran down to see who wasarriving, and a shout of delight came from her when she saw LordGrayleigh coming down the drive. He called the coachman to stop andput out his head.
"Jump into the carriage, Sib, I have not seen you for some time. Whenare you going to pay me another visit at Grayleigh Manor?"
"Oh, some time, but not at present," replied Sibyl. "I am too happywith mother here to think of going away. Isn't Silverbel sweet, LordGrayleigh?"
"Charming," replied Grayleigh. "Is your mother in, little woman?"
"I think so. She is very incited about the bazaar. Are you coming tothe bazaar?"
"I don't know, I will tell you presently."
Sibyl laid her little hand in Lord Grayleigh's. He gave it a squeeze,and she clasped it confidingly.
"Do you know that I am so monstrous happy I scarcely know what to do,"she said.
"Because you have got a pretty new place?"
"No, no, nothing of that sort. It's 'cos father is coming back aforelong! He will cable, whatever that means, and soon afterward he'llcome. I'm always thanking Lord Jesus about it. Isn't it good of Him tosend my ownest father back so soon?"
Lord Grayleigh made no answer, unless an uneasy movement of his feetsignified a sense of discomfort. The carriage drew up at the porch andhe alighted. Sibyl skipped out after him.
"Shall I find mother for you?" asked Sibyl, leadingLord Grayleigh across the lawn.--Page 208. _Daddy's Girl_.]
"Shall I find
mother for you?" she said. "Oh, there she is on thelawn. Darlingest mother, she can think of nothing at present but thebazaar, when all the big-wigs are to be present. You're a big-wig,aren't you? I asked nurse what big-wigs were, and she said people withhandles. Mother said they were people in a _good social position_.I remember the words so well 'cos I couldn't understand 'em, but whenI asked Miss Winstead to 'splain, she said mother meant ladies andgentlemen, and when I asked her to tell me what ladies and gentlemenwas, she said people who behaved nicely. Now isn't it all verypuzzling, 'cos the person who I think behaves nicest of all is ourfootman, Watson. He has lovely manners and splendid impulses; andperhaps the next nicest is dear Mrs. Holman, and she keeps a toy-shopin a back street. But when I asked mother if Watson and Mrs. Holmanwere big-wigs, she said I spoked awful nonsense. What do you think,Lord Grayleigh? Please do try to 'splain."
Lord Grayleigh had laughed during Sibyl's long speech. He now laid hishand on her arm.
"A big-wig is quite an ugly word," he said, "but a lady or agentleman, you will find them in all ranks of life."
"You haven't 'splained a bit," said the little girl. "Mother wantsbig-wigs at her bazaar; you are one, so will you come?"
"I will answer that question after I have seen your mother."
Lord Grayleigh crossed the lawn, and Sibyl, feeling dissatisfied,turned away.
"He doesn't look quite happy," she thought; "I'm sorry he is comingto take up mother's time. Mother promised, and it's most 'portant, toride with me this evening. It's on account of poor Dan Scott it is so'portant. Oh, I do hope she won't forget. Perhaps Miss Winstead wouldcome if mother can't. I promised poor Dan a basket of apples, and alsothat I'd go and sit with him, and mother said he should cert'nly havethe apples, and that she and I would ride over with them. He broke hisarm a week ago, poor fellow! poor little Dan! I'll go and find MissWinstead. If mother can't come, she must."
Sibyl ran off in search of her governess, and Lord Grayleigh and Mrs.Ogilvie, in deep conversation, paced up and down the lawn.
"You didn't hear by the last mail?" was Lord Grayleigh's query.
"No, I have not heard for two mails. I cannot account for hissilence."
"He is probably up country," was Lord Grayleigh's answer. "I thoughtbefore cabling that I would come and inquire of you."
"I have not heard," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "Of course things are allright, and Philip was never much of a correspondent. It probablymeans, Lord Grayleigh, that he has completed his report, and is comingback. I shall be glad, for I want him to be here some time beforeOctober, in order to see about paying the rest of the money for ournew place. What do you think of Silverbel?"
"Oh, quite charming," said Lord Grayleigh, in that kind of tone whichclearly implied that he was not thinking about his answer.
"I am anxious, of course, to complete the purchase," continued Mrs.Ogilvie.
"Indeed!" Lord Grayleigh raised his brows.
"Mr. Acland lent me two thousand pounds to pay the deposit," continuedthe lady, "but we must complete by the end of October. When my husbandcomes back rich, he will be able to do so. He will come back rich,won't he?" Here she looked up appealingly at Lord Grayleigh.
"He will come back rich, or we shall have the deluge," he replied,oracularly. "Don't be uneasy. As you have not heard I shall cable. Ishall wire to Brisbane, which I fancy is his headquarters."
"Perhaps," answered Mrs. Ogilvie, in an abstracted tone. "By the way,if you are going back to town, may I make use of your carriage? Thereare several things I want to order for my bazaar. It is to be in abouta fortnight now. You will remember that you are one of the patrons."
"Certainly," he answered; "at what date is the bazaar to be held?"
She named the arranged date, and he entered it in a gold-mountedengagement book.
"I shall stay in town to-night," continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "Just waitfor me a moment, and I will get on my hat."
Soon afterward the two were driving back to the railway station. Mrs.Ogilvie had forgotten all about her engagement to Sibyl. Sibyl saw hergo off with a feeling of deep disappointment, for Miss Winstead had aheadache, and declined to ride with the little girl. Dan Scott mustwait in vain for his apples. But should he wait? Sibyl wondered.
She went down in a discontented way to a distant part of the grounds.She was not feeling at all happy now. It was all very well to have aheart bubbling over with good-nature and kindly impulses; but whenthose impulses were flung back on herself, then the little girl feltthat latent naughtiness which was certainly an integral part of hercharacter. She saw Dan Scott's old grandfather digging weeds in theback garden. Dan Scott was one of the gardener's boys. He was abright, cheery-faced little fellow, with sloe-black eyes andtight-curling hair, and a winsome smile and white teeth. Sibyl hadmade friends with him at once, and when he ceased to appear on thescenes a week back, she was full of consternation, for Dan had fallenfrom a tree, and broken his arm rather badly. He had been feverishalso, and could not come to attend to his usual work. His oldgrandfather had at first rated the lad for having got into thistrouble, but then he had pitied him.
Sibyl the day before had promised old Scott that she and her motherwould ride to Dan's cottage and present him with a basket of earlyapples. There were some ripening now on the trees, long in shape,golden in color, and full of delicious juice.
Sibyl had investigated these apples on her own account, and pronouncedthem very good, and had thought that a basket of the fruit woulddelight Dan. She had spoken to her mother on the subject, and hermother, in the height of good-humor, had promised that the applesshould be gathered, and the little girl and she would ride down alovely country lane to Dan's cottage. They were to start about sixo'clock, would ride under the shade of some spreading beech trees, andcome back in the cool of the evening.
The whole plan was delightful, and Sibyl had been thinking about itall day. Now her mother had gone off to town, and most clearly hadforgotten her promise to the child.
"Well, Missy," said old Scott as he dug his spade deep down into thesoil; "don't stand just there, Missy, you'll get the earth all overyou."
Sibyl moved to a respectful distance.
"How is Dan?" she asked, after a pause.
"A-wrastling with his pain," answered Scott, a frown coming betweenhis brows.
"Is he expecting me and mother with the beautiful apples?" askedSibyl, in a somewhat anxious tone.
"Is he expecting you, Missy?" answered the old man, raising hisbeetling brows and fixing his black eyes on the child. "Is hea-counting the hours? Do ducks swim, Missy, and do little sick boysa-smothered up in bed in small close rooms want apples and littleladies to visit 'em or not? You said you'd go, Missy, and Dan he'scounting the minutes."
"Of course I'll go," replied Sibyl, but she looked anxious and_distrait_. Then she added, "I will go if I possibly can."
"I didn't know there was any doubt about it, Missy, and I tell you Danis counting the minutes. Last thing he said afore I went out thismorning was, 'I'll see little Missy to-day, and she is to bring me abasket of apples.' Seems to me he thinks a sight more of you than thefruit."
Sibyl turned pale as Scott continued to speak in an impressive voice.
"Dear, dear, it is quite dreadful," she said, "I could cry about it, Icould really, truly."
"But why, Missy? What's up? I don't like to see a little lady like youa-fretting."
"Mr. Scott, I'm awfully, awfully sorry; I am terribly afraid I can'tgo."
Old Scott ceased to delve the ground. He leant on the top of his spadeand looked full at the child. His sunken eyes seemed to burn intohers.
"You promised you'd go," he said then slowly.
"I did, I certainly did, but mother was to have gone with me, and shehas had to go to town about the bazaar. I suppose you couldn't takeback the apples with you when you go home to-night, Mr. Scott?"
"I could not," answered the old man. He began to dig with lusty and,in the child's opinion, almost venomous vigor.
"Besi
des," he added, "it wouldn't be the same. It's you he wants tosee as much as the fruit. If I was a little lady I'd keep my word tothe poor. It's a dangerous thing to break your word to the poor;there's God's curse on them as do."
Sibyl seemed to shrink into herself. She looked up at the sky.
"Lord Jesus wouldn't curse a little girl like me, a little girl wholoves Him," she thought; but, all the same, the old man's wordsseemed to chill her.
"I'll do my very best," she said, and she went slowly across thegarden. Old Scott called after her:
"I wouldn't disappoint the little lad if I was you, Missy. He'sa-counting of the minutes."
A clock in the stable yard struck five. Old Scott continued to watchSibyl as she walked away.
"I could take the apples," he said to himself; "I could if I had amind to, but I don't see why the quality shouldn't keep their word,and I'm due to speak at the Mission Hall this evening. Little Missshould know afore she makes promises. She's a rare fine little 'un,though, for all that. I never see a straighter face, eyes that couldlook through you. Dear little Missy! Dan thinks a precious sight ofher. I expect somehow she'll take him the apples."
So old Scott went on murmuring to himself, sometimes breaking off tosing a song, and Sibyl returned to the house.