Daddy's Girl

by L. T. Meade

  CHAPTER XVII.

  Lord Grayleigh was so anxious about the Syndicate that he would not goto Scotland for the shooting as usual. Later on he would attend to hispleasures, but not now. Later on when Ogilvie had returned, and thecompany was finally floated, and the shares taken up, he would relaxhis efforts, but just at present he was engaged over the biggest thingof his life. He was cheerful, however, and full of hope. He eventhanked Providence for having aided all his exertions. So blinded washe by the glare of avarice and the desire for adding wealth to wealththat Ogilvie's cablegram set every anxiety at rest. He even believedthat the mine was as full of gold as the cablegram seemed to indicate.Yes, everything was going well. The Lombard Deeps Company would befloated in a short time, the Board of Directors was complete.

  Ogilvie's cablegram was shown to a few of the longest-headed men inthe financial world, and his report was anxiously looked for. Rumorscarefully worded got by degrees into the public press, the ominouswhispers were absolutely silenced: all, in short, was ripe for action.Nothing definite, however, could be done until the full report of themine arrived.

  Lord Grayleigh was fond of saying to himself: "From the tone ofOgilvie's cablegram the mine must be all that we desire, the ore rich,the veins good, the extent of the wealth unlimited. It will be nice,"Lord Grayleigh reflected, "to be rich and also honest at the sametime." He was a man with many kindly impulses, but he had never beenmuch troubled by the voice of conscience. So he went backward andforward to his lovely home in the country, and played with hischildren, and enjoyed life generally.

  On a certain day in the first week of September he received a letterfrom Mrs. Ogilvie; it ran as follows:--

  "MY DEAR LORD GRAYLEIGH,

  "You have not, I hope, forgotten your promise to be, as Sibyl said, one of the big-wigs at my bazaar."

  "But I _had_ forgotten it," muttered Grayleigh to himself. "That womanis, in my opinion, a poor, vain, frivolous creature. Why did shehamper Ogilvie with that place in his absence? Now, forsooth, she mustplay at charity. When that sort of woman does that sort of thing sheis contemptible."

  He lowered his eyes again, and went on reading the letter.

  "I was obliged to postpone the original date," continued his correspondent, "but I have quite fixed now that the bazaar shall be held at our new lovely place on the 24th. You, I know, will not disappoint me. You will be sure to be present. I hope to clear a large sum for the Home for Incurables at Watleigh. Have you heard how badly that poor dear charity needs funds just now? If you hesitate for a moment to come and help, just cast a thought on the poor sufferers there, the children, who will never know the blessing of strength again. Think what it is to lighten the burden of their last days, and do not hesitate to lend your hand to so worthy a work. I have advertised you in the papers as our principal supporter and patron, and the sooner we see you at Silverbel the better.

  "With kind regards, I remain, "Yours sincerely, "MILDRED OGILVIE.

  "P.S.--By the way, have you heard that our dear little Sibyl has met with rather a nasty accident? She fell off that pony you gave her. I must be frank, Lord Grayleigh, and say that I never did approve of the child's riding, particularly in her father's absence. She had a very bad tumble, and hurt her back, and has since been confined to her couch. I have had the best advice, and the doctors have been very silly and gloomy in their reports. Now, for my part, I have not the slightest faith in doctors, they are just as often proved wrong as right. The child is getting much better, but she is still, of course, confined to her bed. She would send you her love if she knew I was writing."

  Lord Grayleigh let this letter drop on to the table beside him. He satquite still for a moment, then he lit a cigarette and began to pacethe room. After a pause he took up Mrs. Ogilvie's letter and re-readthe postscript.

  After having read it a second time he rang his bell sharply. A servantappeared.

  "I am going to town by the next train; have the trap round," wasGrayleigh's direction.

  He did go to town by the next train, his children seeing him off.

  "Where are you going, father?" called out Freda. "You promised youwould take us for a long, long drive this afternoon. Oh, this isdisappointing. Are you coming back at all to-night?"

  "I don't think so, Freda. By the way, have you heard that your littlefriend Sibyl has met with an accident?"

  "Has she?" replied Freda. "I am very sorry. I like Sibyl very much."

  "So do I!" said Gus, coming up, "she's the best sort of girl I evercame across, not like an ordinary girl--quite plucky, you know. Whatsort of accident did she have, father?"

  "I don't know; I am going to see. I am afraid it has something to dowith the pony I gave her. Well, good-by, youngsters; if I don't returnby the last train to-night, I'll be back early to-morrow, and we canhave our drive then."

  Lord Grayleigh drove at once to Victoria Station, and took the nexttrain to Richmond. It was a two-mile drive from there to Silverbel. Hearrived at Silverbel between five and six in the afternoon. Mrs.Ogilvie was pacing about her garden, talking to two ladies who hadcome to call on her. When she saw Lord Grayleigh driving up theavenue, she uttered a cry of delight, apologized to her friends, andran to meet him--both her hands extended.

  "How good of you, how more than good of you," she said. "This is justwhat I might have expected from you, Lord Grayleigh. You received myletter and you have come to answer it in person."

  "I have come, as you say, to answer it in person. How is Sibyl?"

  "Oh, better. I mean she is about the same, but she really is going onvery nicely. She does not suffer the slightest pain, and----"

  "Can I see her?"

  "Of course you can. I will take you to her. Dear little thing, shewill be quite delighted, you are a prime favorite of hers. But first,what about the bazaar? Ah, naughty man! you need not think you aregoing to get out of it, for you are, as Sibyl says, one of thebig-wigs. We cannot do without big-wigs at our bazaar."

  "Well, Mrs. Ogilvie, I will come if I can. I cannot distinctly promiseat the present moment, for I may possibly have to go to Scotland; butthe chances are that I shall be at Grayleigh Manor, and if so I cancome."

  Mrs. Ogilvie was walking with Lord Grayleigh down one of the corridorswhich led to the Chamber of Peace while this conversation was goingon. As he uttered the last words she flung open the door.

  "One of the big-wigs, Sibyl, come to see you," she said, in a playfulvoice.

  Lord Grayleigh saw a white little face with very blue eyes turnedeagerly in his direction. He did not know why, but as he looked at thechild something clutched at his heart with a strange fear. He turnedto Mrs. Ogilvie and said,

  "Rest assured that I will come." He then went over, bent toward Sibyland took her little white hand.

  "I am sorry to see you like this," he said. "What has happened to you,my little girl?"

  "Oh, nothing much," answered Sibyl, "I just had a fall, but I am quiteall right now and I am awfully happy. Did you really come to see me?It is good of you. May I talk to Lord Grayleigh all by myself, motherdarling?"

  "Certainly, dear. Lord Grayleigh, you cannot imagine how we spoil thislittle woman now that she is lying on her back. I suppose it isbecause she is so good and patient. She never murmurs, and she enjoysherself vastly. Is not this a pretty room?"

  "Beautiful," replied Lord Grayleigh, in an abstracted tone. He sankinto a chair near the window, and glanced out at the smoothly keptlawn, at the flower-beds with their gay colors, and at the silverThames flowing rapidly by. Then he looked again at the child. Thechild's grave eyes were fixed on his face; there was a faint smileround the lips but the eyes were very solemn.

  "I will come back again, presently," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "By the way,Sib darling, Lord Grayleigh is coming to our bazaar, the bazaar forwhich you are dressing dolls."

  "Nursie
is dressing them," replied Sibyl in a weak voice--the motherdid not notice how weak it was, but Lord Grayleigh did. "It somehowtires me to work. I 'spect I'm not very strong, but I'll be betterperhaps to-morrow. Nursie is dressing them, and they are quitebeautiful."

  "Well, I'll come back soon; you mustn't tire her, Lord Grayleigh, andyou and I have a great deal to talk over when you do come downstairs."

  "I must return to town by the next train," said Lord Grayleigh; butMrs. Ogilvie did not hear him. She went quickly away to join thefriends who were waiting for her in the sunny garden.

  "Lord Grayleigh has come," she said. "He is quite devoted to Sibyl; heis sitting with her for a few minutes; the child worships him.Afterward he and I must have a rather business-like conversation."

  "Then we will go, dear Mrs. Ogilvie," said both ladies.

  "Thank you, dear friends; I hope you don't think I am sending youaway, but it is always my custom to speak plainly. Lord Grayleigh willbe our principal patron at the bazaar, and naturally I have much toconsult him about. I will drive over to-morrow to see you, Mrs. LeStrange, and we can discuss still further the sort of stall you willhave."

  The ladies took their leave, and Mrs. Ogilvie paced up and down infront of the house. She was restless, and presently a slight sense ofdisappointment stole over her, for Lord Grayleigh was staying anunconscionably long time in Sibyl's room.

  Sibyl and he were having what he said afterward was quite a straighttalk.

  "I am so glad you have come," said the little girl; "there are somethings you can tell me that no one else can. Have you heard fromfather lately?"

  "I had a cablegram from him not long ago."

  "What's that?"

  "The same as a telegram; a cablegram is a message that comes acrossthe sea."

  "I understand," said Sibyl. She thought of her pretty fancy of thephantom ships that took her night after night to the breast of herfather.

  "What are you thinking about?" said Lord Grayleigh.

  "Oh, about father, of course. When he sent you that message did hetell you there was much gold in the mine?"

  "My dear child," said Lord Grayleigh, "what do you know about it?"

  "I know all about it," answered Sybil. "I am deeply interested,deeply."

  "Well, my dear little girl, to judge from your father's message, themine is full of gold, quite full."

  "Up to the tip top?"

  "Yes, you can express it in that way if you like, up to the tip topand down, nobody knows how deep, full of beautiful yellow gold, butdon't let us talk of these things any more. Tell me how you reallyfell, and what that naughty pony did to you."

  "You must not scold my darling nameless pony, it was not his fault abit," said Sibyl. She turned first red and then whiter than usual.

  "Do you greatly mind if I _don't_ talk about it?" she asked in a voiceof sweet apology. "It makes me feel----"

  "How, dear?"

  "I don't know, only I get the up and down and round and round feel. Itwas the feel I had when pony sprang; he seemed to spring into the air,and I fell and fell and fell. I don't like to get the feel back, it isso very round and round, you know."

  "We won't talk of it," said Lord Grayleigh; "what shall I do to amuseyou?"

  "Tell me more about father and the mine full of gold."

  "I have only just had the one cablegram, Sib, in which he merelystated that the news with regard to the mine was good."

  "I am delighted," said Sibyl. "It's awfully good of Lord Jesus. Do youknow that I have been asking Lord Jesus to pile up the gold in themine. He can do anything, you know, and He has done it, you see. Isn'tit sweet and dear of Him? Oh, you don't know all He has done for me!Don't you love Him very much indeed, Lord Grayleigh?"

  "Who, Sibyl?"

  "My Lord Jesus Christ, my beautiful Lord Jesus Christ."

  Lord Grayleigh bent and picked up a book which had fallen on thecarpet. He turned the conversation. The child's eyes, very grave andvery blue, watched him. She did not say anything further, but sheseemed to read the thought he wished to hide. He stood up, then he satdown again. Sibyl had that innate tact which is born in some natures,and always knew where to pause in her probings and questionings.

  "Now," she continued, after a pause, "dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman will berich."

  "Mr. and Mrs. Holman," said Lord Grayleigh; "who are they?"

  "They are my very own most special friends. They keep a toy-shop inGreek Street, a back street near our house. Mrs. Holman is going tobuy a lot of gold out of the mine. I'll send her a letter to tell herthat she can buy it quick. You'll be sure to keep some of the gold forMrs. Holman, she is a dear old woman. You'll be quite sure to rememberher?"

  "Quite sure, Sibyl."

  "Hadn't you better make a note of it? Father always makes notes whenhe wants to remember things. Have you got a note-book?"

  "In my pocket."

  "Please take it out and put down about Mrs. Holman and the gold out ofthe mine."

  Lord Grayleigh produced a small note-book.

  "What do you wish me to say?" he inquired.

  "Put it this way," said Sibyl eagerly, "then you won't forget. Some ofthe gold in the----"

  "Lombard Deeps Mine," supplied Lord Grayleigh.

  "Some of the gold in the Lombard Deeps Mine," repeated Sibyl, "to bekept special for dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman. Did you put that? Did youput _dear_ Mr. and Mrs. Holman?"

  "Just exactly as you have worded it, Sibyl."

  "Her address is number ten, Greek Street, Pimlico."

  The address being further added, Sibyl gave a sigh of satisfaction.

  "That is nice," she said, "that will make them happy. Mrs. Holman hascried so often because of the dusty toys, and 'cos the children won'tcome to her shop to buy. Some children are very mean; I don't likesome children a bit."

  "I am glad you're pleased about the Holmans, little woman."

  "Of course I am, and aren't you. Don't you like to make people happy?"

  Again Lord Grayleigh moved restlessly.

  "Have you any other notes for this book?" he said.

  "Of course I have. There's the one who wants to marry the other one.I'm under a vow not to mention names, but they want to marry _so_badly, and they will in double quick time if there's gold in the mine.Will you put in your note-book 'Gold to be kept for the one who wantsto marry the other,' will you, Lord Grayleigh?"

  "I have entered it," said Lord Grayleigh, suppressing a smile.

  "And mother, of course," continued Sibyl, "wants lots of money, andthere's my nurse, her eyes are failing, she would like enough gold tokeep her from mending stockings or doing any more fine darning, andI'd like Watson to have some. Do you know, Lord Grayleigh, that Watsonis engaged to be married? He is really, truly."

  "I am afraid, Sibyl, I do not know who Watson is."

  "Don't you? How funny; he is our footman. I'm awfully fond of him. Heis full of the best impulses, is Watson, and he is engaged to a verynice girl in the cookery line. Don't you think it's very sensible ofWatson to engage himself to a girl in the cookery line?"

  "I think it is thoroughly sensible, but now I must really go."

  "But you won't forget all the messages? You have put them all down inyour note-book. You won't forget any of the people who want gold outof the Lombard Deeps?"

  "No, I'll be certain to remember every single one of them."

  "Then that's all right, and you'll come to darling mother's bazaar?"

  "I'll come."

  "I am so glad. You do make me happy. I like big-wigs awfully."