we are going to theseaside next week."
"And the Carters are going on Saturday. I do declare I'll have to looksharp after my yellow-boy. I tell you what--there's nothing on earthfor us to do to-day; why shouldn't we go right away and see the Carters.I could get my money from Pen, and we'll have a treat. We can go toSimpson's and have ginger beer and chocolates. Wouldn't that be prime?"
"Rather!" said Flossie, "and I'm just in the humour, for the day isfrightfully hot."
"But you don't mind the heat--I'm sure I don't."
"You're rather a show in that dress, Nesta."
"I don't care twopence about my dress," said Nesta. "What I want is mydarling yellow-boy. I want him and I'll have him. We can go right awaythrough the woods as far as our place; only perhaps that would bedangerous, for they might pounce upon me. They're always doing it now.Before mothery got so ill we had our stated times, but now we're neversure when we'll be wanted. It's Molly this, and Ethel that, and Nesta,Nesta, Nesta, all the time. I scarcely have a minute to myself. If itwasn't for my lessons I'd simply be deaved out of all patience; but it'shard now that there are holidays, that I can't get away."
"I wish you could come to the seaside with us," said Flossie suddenly,as she thought of the yellow-boy--twenty whole shillings. Perhaps herfather and mother might be induced to take Nesta with them. Her fatherhad said only that morning:
"I am sorry for you, my little girl; you will miss your companions."
Flossie's father was rather proud of her friendship for Nesta Aldworth.He thought a great deal of Mr Aldworth, and spoke of him as a risingman. Oh, yes, it might be worth while to get her father and mother toinvite Nesta to join them, and Nesta would have her twenty shillings.Twenty, or nineteen at least, and they might have a great many sprees atScarborough. It would be delightful.
"I tell you what it is," said Flossie. "There's no earthly reason whyyou should stay at home. I'll just run in this very minute and speak tomother. Why shouldn't you come with us for a week or fortnight?"
"Do you think there's any chance?" said Nesta, turning pale.
"There's every possible chance. Why in the world shouldn't you comewith us? They can't want four of you at home, and it's downrightselfish."
"The fact is," said Nesta, "they're all agog to get Marcia a holiday."
"Your elder sister--Miss Aldworth? The old maid?"
"Yes, indeed, she is that, but they all think she is looking pale, andthey want her to go to those blessed St Justs. She's hand in glovewith them, you know. She thinks of no one else on earth but that Angelaof hers."
"Well, I'm not surprised at that," said Flossie. "Every one thinks alot of Angela St Just. Now, don't keep me, I'll rush in and speak tomother."
She dashed into the house. The aggrieved mongrel raised a languid headand looked at her. How false she was, with that sugar in her pocket.He wagged a deprecating tail, but Flossie took no notice.
She found her mother busily engaged dusting the drawing room.
"What is it?" she said. "Are you inclined to come in and help me? Thisroom is in a disgraceful state. I must really change Martha."
"Oh, mother, I'll help you another day, but I'm in such a hurry now.Nesta is outside."
"I wonder what you'll do without Nesta at the seaside," said the mother.
"Oh, mother, do you think you could coax father very hard to let meinvite Nesta to come with us just for a week--or even for a fortnight?I wish--I wish you would! Do you think it could be managed?"
Mrs Griffiths paused in her work to consider. She was a very frowzy,commonplace woman. She looked out of the window. There stood Nesta,pretty, careless, debonnaire--untidy enough in all truth, but decidedlyabove the Griffiths in her personal appearance.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
AN UNWELCOME CALLER.
"I wouldn't go near her now for all the world," said Flossie, shrinkingback. "Oh, my word, Nesta, do get behind this tree. You're a perfectfright, you know, in your very oldest dress and your face as scarlet asa poppy. As to me--I wish I'd put on my Sunday-go-to-meeting frock; itisn't as grand as theirs, but at least it has some fashion about it.But I'm in this dreadful old muslin that I've had for three years, andhave quite outgrown. It's awful, it really is. We can't say anythingto them to-day, we must go away."
"Go away?" said Nesta. "That's not me. If you're a coward, I'm not.It's my way to strike when the iron's hot, I can tell you. I'll getinto a scrape for this when I get home, and if there's one thing I'vemade up my mind about, it's this--that I won't get into a scrape fornothing. No, if you're frightened, say so, and sit down behind thathaycock. Not a soul will see you there, and I'll walk up just as thoughI were one of the guests, and shame Penelope and the others intorecognising me."
"Nesta! You haven't the courage!"
"Courage?" said Nesta, "catch me wanting courage. Stay where you are;I'll come back to you when I've got my yellow-boy. When that's in mypocket I'll come back and then you'll have a good time. Although," sheadded reflectively, "I don't know that you deserve it, for being such anarrant little coward."
Nesta disappeared; Flossie sat and mopped her face. She was tremblingwith nervousness. She had never been really at home with the Carters,and she disliked immensely her present position. She wondered, too, whyshe cared so much for Nesta. There was nothing wonderful about Nesta.But then there was the sovereign, a whole sovereign, capable of beingdivided into twenty beautiful silver shillings. Flossie's father was avery well-to-do tradesman, and could and would leave his child well off;but he was careful, and he never allowed her much pocket money. In thewhole course of her life she had never possessed more than half-a-crownat a time, and to be able to have eight of those darlings, to feel thatshe could do what she liked with them, was a dream beyond the dreams ofavarice. It is true the money would not be hers; it would be Nesta's;but Nesta, with all her faults, was generous enough, and Flossie feltthat once she had the money and was away with her friend at the seasidethey could really have a good time. Flossie was very fond of her food,and she imagined how the money could be spent on little treats--shrimpsor doughnuts, and whatever fruit was in season. They could have endlesslittle picnics all to themselves on the sands. It would be a time worthremembering.
Meanwhile where was Nesta? Flossie was afraid at first to venture tolook round the other side of the haycock, but after a time, when she hadquite cooled down, she did poke her head round. To her astonishment,envy and disgust, she saw that Nesta, in her shabby cotton frock, withher old hat on her head, was calmly walking up and down in the companyof Penelope Carter. Penelope and her boy friend, and Nesta, wereparading slowly up and down, up and down a corner of one of the lawns.
Penelope did all that an ordinary girl could to get rid of her friend;but Nesta stuck like a leech. At last Penelope was desperate.
"I am awfully sorry, Nesta, but you see we have all our sets marked out,and we--we didn't invite you to-day. You must be tired, and if you willgo into the house, Mrs Johnson will give you a cup of tea."
"But I've brought Flossie, Flossie Griffiths. I cannot leave her out."
"Take Flossie with you, and both have a cup of tea."
"I'll go with pleasure, if you'll come with me."
"But I can't. Do speak for me, Bertie," she continued, turning to theboy. "Say that I cannot."
"Miss Penelope is engaged to play a set of tennis with me," said BertiePearson, trembling as he uttered the words, for Nesta's aggressivemanner frightened him.
"She shall have her set with you as soon as I have said what I have cometo say. It won't take long; I can say it if you will come as far as thehouse with me, Pen. You won't get rid of me in any other way."
Penelope fairly stamped her foot.
"If I must, I must," she said. "Bertie, keep a set open for me, like agood fellow. Come at once, Nesta." They turned down a shady walk.
"Oh, Nesta, how could you?" said Penelope, her anger breaking out themoment she found herself alone wi
th her companion. "To come hereto-day--to-day of all days, and to look like that, in your veryshabbiest!"
"Oh, you're ashamed of me," said Nesta. "You're a nice friend!"
"I am not ashamed of you," said Penelope stoutly, "when you are fit tobe seen. I like you for yourself. I always have; but I don't think itright for a girl to thrust herself on