Aunt Judith: The Story of a Loving Life

by L. Frank Baum

  CHAPTER XII.

  "I ALWAYS SPEAK AS I THINK."

  The Christmas holidays were over now, and once more governesses andpupils were busy giving and receiving instruction in Mrs. Elder'sSelect Establishment for Young Ladies. A few scholars still remainedabsent, reluctant perhaps to come back to hard work after three weeks'ease and gaiety; and amongst the list of truants was the name ofWinnifred Blake, whose blithe little face had been like a ray ofsunlight in the dingy school-room. "Confined to the house throughindisposition," Mrs. Elder explained to each anxious inquirer after thetiny favourite. "Nothing serious; only a cold caught duringholiday-time." But the days passed by, and still no Winnie appeared.

  Nellie had never seen or heard of her since that night at DingleCottage when they had laughed so heartily together over poor Aunt Megand her infirmities; and she felt the separation keenly. At first theother school-mates plied her with questions regarding Winnie's absence,all of which she was unable to answer or parry successfully; and so bydegrees, and the help of Ada's sarcastic tongue, the secret oozed out,and Nellie's star paled accordingly. The poisoned shaft ofcarefully-veiled words struck home with new power: there was no Winnieto whom to turn for sympathy, and so the old cross had to be taken upagain and carried day after day. Some of the girls sided sensibly withNellie, and tried to make school-life pleasant to her; but they wereunfortunately in the minority, and often got snubbed and censured bythe others for their kindness.

  One afternoon, however, as Nellie was wending her way home from school,a hand was laid on her shoulder, while an honest, kindly voice saidsuddenly in her ear, "Well, it is good to get a peep at you again,Nell. How are you?" and Dick's freckled face shone down on the rosyone by his side.

  The girl looked up with a happy smile. "O Dick!" she gasped; and thenit seemed as if words failed her, and she stood simply holding hishand, and gazing with such genuine happiness into his eyes that the boylaughed outright.

  "What's up, Nell?" he inquired teasingly. "I declare such evidentadmiration makes me feel quite bashful."

  Nellie gave a little soft smile. "Don't be a tease, Dick," she said;"I am only so pleased to see you and hear about Winnie."

  Dick placed his hand on his heart and bowed. "The pleasure is mutual,"he began; but receiving an energetic shake of the arm he continued,"Oh, Win will soon be all right. She's been croaking like a raven forthe last fortnight or so, but is almost well now."

  "When did she catch cold?"

  Dick lowered his voice. "Coming home that night from Dingle Cottage.We missed the 'bus--walked--and Win caught a chill."

  "Was she very ill?"

  "Oh no; but the doctor would not allow her to go out or even run fromone room to the other, so she has been cooped up in the oak parlour allthis time."

  "Tell her I am very sorry, and she is to accept my dear love. Willyou, Dick?" and Nellie looked pleadingly up in the boy's kindly face.

  "That I shall" (with emphasis). "And, here, I may as well give you apiece of information, Nell. This is Wednesday--on Saturday afternoon Isail for Calcutta."

  Nellie stared. "What do you mean?" she cried in bewilderment.

  "Precisely what I say, my dear girl," replied the wild boy, vastlyenjoying her amazement. "Perhaps you'll never see me any more, so do alittle weep--no, not here," as Nellie out of mischief slipped her handinto her pocket; "we should have a crowd round us in no time if youdid, but in the--ahem!--privacy of your own room;" and Dick's eyessparkled.

  "Calcutta! Does that mean you are going to be a sailor after all? ODick, have you gained your wish at last? I am so glad for your sake."

  Human sympathy is very sweet. Dick's face beamed as he answered, "Yes,Nell; the governor has given his consent. It was not so very difficultto obtain after all" (a trifle sarcastically), "therefore I'm off onSaturday."

  "What is Winnie saying to all this?"

  The boy's face saddened a little.

  "Win's a brick," he replied enthusiastically; "she never says anythingabout herself, but talks of all the different countries I shall see,and hopes no harm will befall me. Dear little Win!" Dick's voice wasvery tender as he spoke.

  A silence followed, then the boy held out his hand. "Well, Nell, Imust say good-bye now. I'm on an errand of importance, and dare notdelay. Don't quite forget me, and be good to Winnie. There--ta-ta!"and away sped Dick before Nellie had time to utter a single word.

  About two hours afterwards he re-entered his own home, and madestraight for the oak parlour, chuckling to himself at the thought ofWinnie's delight when he told her his conversation with Nellie. Butdisappointments sometimes accompany our enjoyments, and Dick's brightanticipations of a quiet hour with his favourite sister received adecided check; for on nearing the door, which was slightly ajar, heheard the murmur of voices, and peering in cautiously saw, to his greatdismay, Mrs. Blake and Winnie entertaining no less honourable a visitorthan Miss Irvine. Dick smiled derisively at the tones of thecarefully-modulated voice, and ground his strong, white teeth ondetecting the malicious spite lurking under pretty sentences full ofapparent kindliness.

  "I must apologize, Winnie, for not calling and inquiring after yourhealth before this," Ada was saying as Dick approached; "but I havebeen assuming the _role_ of an invalid myself lately, and Mrs. Elderwould not allow me to venture out of doors till I was thoroughlyconvalescent."

  Mrs. Blake looked affectionately at her young visitor. "I did not knowyou were unwell, my dear. Are you quite recovered now?"

  "Yes, thank you; but there was not very much wrong with me, dear Mrs.Blake, only a slight touch of cold in the throat. Mrs. Elder is socareful, however, I am sure I owe her a debt of gratitude I shall neverbe able to repay." Then turning to Winnie, Ada continued with a prettyshow of anxiety, "I was very sorry to hear of your illness, Win. Howdid you manage to catch such a severe cold?"

  "That is what I cannot tell," interrupted Mrs. Blake, feeling inclinedto shake her naughty little step-daughter for her sullen behaviourtowards this amiable young visitor. "I happened to be from home oneday during the Christmas holidays, and on my return found Winniecoughing dreadfully and quite fevered with cold."

  Ada meditated a few seconds. "I wonder," she said at length, in slow,deliberate tones, "if your illness dated from that afternoon you spentat Dingle Cottage almost a month ago? I was visiting an old woman, aformer _nurse_ of mine, who lives in the house opposite, that same day,and remember perfectly seeing you and Miss Latimer standing together atone of the windows."

  "Surely you must have been mistaken, my dear. Winnie never visits atDingle Cottage now," Mrs. Blake interposed unconsciously.

  "Perhaps, but I hardly think so. However" (with a look of the utmostinnocence), "Winnie will be able to solve that riddle," and thespiteful girl turned towards her sick friend and awaited the reply.

  Winnie's cheeks were burning, and the great eyes full of a witheringcontempt. Raising them calmly to her visitor's placid face, andwithout a trembling of the proud young lips, she answeredquietly,--"Your surmise was correct, Ada. I did spend an afternoonlately at Dingle Cottage; and I am afraid, as you so kindly hintedbefore, that my cold dated from that night."

  Mrs. Blake was angry, very angry indeed, but too well bred to show herannoyance before her visitor. She changed the subject with ready tact,and made a most fascinating hostess; while Winnie sat in dead silence,with a great scowl disfiguring her pretty face, and Dick danced hisdispleasure on the door-mat.

  After a short time Ada rose to leave, and holding out a daintily-glovedhand to her sullen companion, said sweetly, "Good-bye, Winnie. I trustyou will soon be better; and if I can possibly find leisure for anothervisit, rest assured I shall drop in on you some day soon."

  "Pray, don't," replied Winnie, wilfully disregarding her step-mother'slook of heavy displeasure. "Your visit has not afforded me such a vastamount of pleasure that I could wish its repetition at an early date.We never were friends, Ada" (with ungoverned passion), "never so longas I
can remember. You hate me, and I--I detest you; why, then, willyou persist in assuming a friendship that has no foundation?"

  Dick's war-dance continued with greater vigour at this point, whileMrs. Blake in haughtiest tones said to Winnie, "How dare you insultMiss Irvine in this manner? Apologize at once, I command you."

  Ada's face, as she turned it towards her hostess, wore a sweet, patientlook, with just the tiniest flicker of pain about the curves of theperfect lips. "Please, do not blame Winnie too severely, Mrs. Blake,"she pleaded mildly; "her words are to some extent true, but I--" andthe lids drooped slowly over the lovely eyes, while a faint flushtinged the delicate cheeks--"I was trying to turn over a new leaf andgain Winnie's love."

  "My eye, what a cram!" muttered Dick from behind the door. "Oh, butshe acts the hypocrite capitally. Now then for Win's happy reply. Itwill be both sweet and original, I prophesy, for the little monkey isbristling all over like an insulted hedgehog. Here goes!" and theboy's ear was once more applied cautiously to the keyhole.

  Winnie had risen by this time, and was confronting her adversary with alook almost capable of annihilating a less daring foe than Ada Irvine.Quite undaunted by the fear of future punishment, and recognizing onlythe great wrong this girl was doing her, she said, "I think you are afemale Judas, Ada, and your true character will come to light some day.I know--" but Winnie got frightened at the awful look in Mrs. Blake'seyes, and stopped short, while Ada took refuge in tears.

  "Come away, my dear," said her hostess, leading her gently from theroom; "Winnie is not herself today. When the child is in a passion herlanguage is uncontrollable; but I shall see she sends you a properapology for her rudeness."

  Dick heard no more, having to slip away at that moment and hide behindone of the statues in the passage during the exit of his step-motherwith the weeping Niobe; but when the sound of their footsteps had diedaway in the distance, he rushed into the oak parlour, and seizingWinnie round the waist, treated her to several convulsive hugs andvarious exclamations of supreme delight.

  "Well, old girl, you did the thing first-rate," he panted, throwinghimself into a chair and rubbing his hands vigorously together. "Youdeserve to be commended, Win. Dear heart, as Aunt Debby says, what atongue somebody has!"

  "I don't care," pouted Winnie, endeavouring to straighten her sash,which Dick had been using as a handle during the hugging process; "Ionly said what was true, and would repeat it all over again if shecared to listen."

  "Bravo! what a hard heart the girl possesses! Cold as an icicle, too,not to melt under the influence of such dewy tears shedfrom--ahem!--'sweetest eyes were ever seen.'"

  "Crocodile tears!" (with scorn.) "I don't know how she managed tosqueeze them up. I never saw Ada Irvine weep before. As forapologizing, I won't, no matter what happens."

  "Perhaps your gentle friend had an onion hidden within the folds ofher--_mouchoir_. See how nicely I can speak French. You remember, inthe story of Beauty and the Beast, how the wicked sisters rubbed theireyes with onions to 'pretend' they were weeping." Dick's eyes weredancing as he spoke.

  Winnie's indignation, however, would admit of no reply, and she satsilently, like a little bird with its plumage all ruffled; while herbrother, stretched lazily opposite, gazed on the angry face andsoliloquized accordingly.

  "Alas for the rarity Of Christian charity,"

  quoth the incorrigible boy. "Come, Win, be magnanimous for once andforgive. Think what it would be to bask continually in the sunshine ofthe lovely Ada's smiles. But there--poor little bird! did I stroke itspretty feathers all the wrong way, and make it very cross?"

  How much more Dick would have said remains a mystery, for Mrs. Blakeinterrupted the interesting conversation by her entrance, and commandedhim to leave the room.

  "I'll take possession of the door-mat once again," he decided, givingWinnie an encouraging look as he passed out. "Eavesdropping is a low,mean thing, I know; but Win may require my assistance, and altogetherit's as well I should be on the spot."

  There is no need to describe the conversation that ensued between Mrs.Blake and her troublesome step-daughter. The good lady was justifiedin her displeasure at Winnie's daring disobedience; but her words werecold, cruel words, little calculated to inspire the love and confidenceof a warm, tender-hearted child. She would listen to noexpostulations, she refused to reason; her commands must be obeyed;Winnie would never dare to set her laws at defiance again; and at theclose of the session she would be transferred to another school. Asregarded Ada, she must write a humble apology, and in the future showthat sweet, amiable girl every respect.

  Winnie stoutly refused (Dick chuckled with delight), and Mrs. Blake'sanger waxed stronger at the little rebel. She meditated for a fewseconds on the best method of punishment, and then said coldly,--"Ishall say nothing further in the meantime, Winnie, concerning yourflagrant act of disobedience in connection with Miss Latimer. When youfeel truly penitent, and confess your sorrow, I shall be pleased toaccept your apology; but I insist on a letter being written to MissIrvine now. One hour is at your disposal, and if at the end of thatperiod I return and find you still obdurate, then to-morrow's pleasureis cancelled,--you will not be allowed, as promised, to see over Dick'sship." With that Mrs. Blake left the room, and Winnie was left tosolitude and reflection.

  For a long time she sat firmly determined to suffer anything ratherthan yield. Her young heart burned with anger and pride--she hatedeverybody and everything; but in the end love for Dick conquered, andthe required note was written.

  "I don't mean one single word of all that scribble," she cried,pitching the letter to the other end of the room. "I hate to humblemyself, so I do, and I should like to say all sorts of horrid things toAda Irvine; but I can't give up to-morrow's treat, and I wish to see asmuch of my dear old Dick as possible. Wait till I get back to school,however, and there will be fun." Winnie's face brightened at thethought, and the old mischievous smile came back to her lips. Afterall there was a good amount of wicked enjoyment to be derived fromhaving an enemy.