CHAPTER TWELVE.
PEGGY IN TROUBLE.
As Peggy sat writing in the study one afternoon, a shaggy head camepeering round the door, and Robert's voice said eagerly--"Mariquita! Aword in your ear! Could you come out and take a turn round the gardenfor half an hour before tea, or are you too busy?"
"Not at all. I am entirely at your disposal," said Peggy elegantly; andthe young people made their way to the cloak-room, swung on coats andsailor hats, and sallied out into the fresh autumn air.
"Mariquita," said Robert then, using once more the name by which hechose to address Peggy in their confidential confabs, "Mariquita, I amin difficulties! There is a microscope advertised in _Science_ thisweek, that is the very thing I have been pining for for the last sixyears. I must _get_ it, or die; but the question is--_how_? You seebefore you a penniless man." He looked at Peggy as he spoke, and mether small, demure smile.
"My dear and honourable sir--"
"Yes, yes, I know; drop that, Mariquita! Don't take for granted, likeMellicent, that because a man has a title he must necessarily be amillionaire. Everything is comparative! My father is rich compared tothe vicar, but he is really hard-up for a man in his position. He getsalmost no rent for his land nowadays, and I am the third son. I haven'tas much pocket-money in a month as Oswald gets through in a week. Nowthat microscope costs twenty pounds, and if I were to ask the governorfor it, he wouldn't give it to me, but he would sigh and look wretchedat being obliged to refuse. He's a kind-hearted fellow, you know, whodoesn't like to say `No,' and I hate to worry him. Still--thatmicroscope! I must have it. By hook or by crook, I must have it. I'veset my mind on that."
"I'm sure I hope you will, though for my part you must not expect me tolook through it. I like things to be pretty, and when you see themthrough a microscope they generally look hideous. I saw my own handonce--ugh!" Peggy shuddered. "Twenty pounds! Well, I can only saythat my whole worldly wealth is at your disposal. Draw on me foranything you like--up to seven-and-six! That's all the money I havetill the beginning of the month."
"Thanks!--I didn't intend to borrow; I have a better idea than that. Iwas reading a magazine the other day, and came upon a list of prizecompetitions. The first prize offered was thirty pounds, and I'm goingto win that prize! The microscope costs only twenty pounds, but theextra ten would come in usefully for--I'll tell you about that later on!The _Piccadilly Magazine_ is very respectable and all that sort ofthing; but the governor is one of the good, old-fashioned, conservativefellows, who would be horrified if he saw my name figuring in it. I'mbound to consider his feelings, but all the same I'm going to win thatprize. It says in the rules--I've read them through carefully--that youcan ask your friends to help you, so that there would be nothing unfairabout going into partnership with someone else. What I was going tosuggest was that you and I should collaborate. I'd rather work with youthan with any of the others, and I think we could manage it rather wellbetween us. Our contribution should be sent in in your name; that is tosay, if you wouldn't object to seeing yourself in print."
"I should love it. I'm proud of my name; and it would be a newsensation." But Peggy spoke in absent-minded fashion, as if herthoughts were running on another subject. Rob had used a word which wasunfamiliar in her ears, a big word, a word with a delightfulintellectual roll, and she had not the remotest idea of its meaning.Collaborate! Beautiful! Not for worlds would she confess herignorance, yet the opportunity could not be thrown away. She mustsecure the treasure, and add it to her mental store. She put her headon one side, and said pensively--
"I shall be most happy to er--er--In what other words can I express`collaborate,' Rob? I object to repetition?"
"Go shags!" returned Robert briefly. "I would do the biggest part ofthe work, of course--that's only fair, because I want two-thirds of themoney--but you could do what you liked, and have ten pounds for yourshare. Ten pounds would come in very usefully for Christmas."
"Rather! I'd get mother and father lovely presents, and Mrs Asplintoo; and buy books for Esther, and a little gold ring for Mellicent--it's her idea of happiness to have a gold ring. I'll help you withpleasure, Rob, and I'm sure we shall get the prize. What have we to do?Compose some poetry?"
"Goodness, no! Fancy me making up poetry! It's to make up a calendar.There are subjects given for each month--sorrow, love, obedience,resignation--that sort of thing, and you have to give a quotation foreach day. It will take some time, but we ought to stand a good chance.You are fond of reading, and know no end of poetry, and where I have apull is in knowing French and German _so_ well. I can give them somefine translations from the Latin and Greek too, for the matter of that,and put the authors' names underneath. That will impress the judges,and make 'em decide in our favour. I've been working at it only threedays, and I've got over fifty quotations already. We must keepnote-books in our pockets, and jot down any ideas that occur to usduring the day, and go over them together at night. You will know alot, I'm sure."
"`Sorrow and silence are strong, and patient endurance is godlike, Therefore accomplish thy labour of love, till the heart is made godlike.'"
quoted Peggy with an air; and Rob nodded approval.
"That's it! That's the style! Something with a bit of a sermon in itto keep 'em up to the mark for the day. Bravo, Mariquita! you'll do itsplendidly. That's settled, then. We shall have to work hard, forthere is only a month before it must be sent off, and we must finish ingood time. When you leave things to the last, something is bound tocome in the way. It will take an age to write out three hundred andsixty-five extracts."
"It will indeed, for they must be very nicely done," said Peggyfastidiously. "Of course it is most important that the extractsthemselves should be good, but it matters almost as much that theyshould look neat and attractive. Appearances go such a long way." Andwhen Robert demurred, and stated his opinion that the judges would nottrouble their heads about looks, she stuck firmly to her point.
"Oh, won't they, though! Just imagine how you would feel if you were intheir position, and had to look over scores of ugly, uninterestingmanuscripts. You would be bored to death, and, after ploddingconscientiously through a few dozen, you would get so mixed up that youwould hardly be able to distinguish one from another. Then suddenly--suddenly,"--Peggy clasped her hands with one of her favourite dramaticgestures--"you would see before you a dainty little volume, prettilywritten, easy to read, easy to hold, nice to look at, and do you mean tosay that your heart wouldn't give a jump, and that you would not take afancy to the writer from that very moment? Of course you would; and so,if you please, I am going to look after the decorative department, andsee what can be done. I must give my mind to it--Oh! I'll tell youwhat would be just the thing. When I was in the library one day latelyI saw some sweet little note-books with pale green leaves and giltedges. I'll count the pages, and buy enough to make up three hundredand sixty-five, and twelve extra, so as to put one plain sheet betweeneach month. Then we must have a cover. Two pieces of cardboard woulddo, with gilt edges, and a motto in Old English letters--`_The months incircling-orbit fly_.' Have I read that somewhere, or did I make it up?It sounds very well. Well, what next?" Peggy was growing quiteexcited, and the restless hands were waving about at a great rate. "Oh,the pages! We shall have to put the date at the top of each. I coulddo that in gold ink, and make a pretty little skriggle--er--`_arabesque_' I should say, underneath, to give it a finish. ThenI'd hand them on to you to write the extracts in your tiny littlewriting. Rob, it will be splendid! Do you really think we shall getthe prize?"
"I _mean_ to get it! We have a good library here, and plenty of time,if we like to use it. I'm going to get up at six every morning. Ishan't fail for want of trying, and if I miss this I'll win somethingelse. My mind is made up! I'm going to buy that microscope!" Roberttossed his head and looked ferocious, while Peggy peered in his ruggedface, and, womanlike, admired him the more for his determination.
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They lingered in the garden discussing details, planning out the work,and arranging as to the different books to be overlooked until the teahour was passed, and Mrs Asplin came to the door and called to them tocome in.
"And nothing on your feet but your thin slippers? Oh, you Peggy!" sheexclaimed in despair. "Now you will have a cold, and ten to one it willfly to your throat. I shall have to line you a penny every time youcross the doorstep without changing your shoes. Summer is over,remember. You can't be too careful in these raw, damp days. Runupstairs this minute and change your stockings."
Peggy looked meek, and went to her room at once to obey orders; but themischief was done--she shivered, and could not get warm, her head ached,and her eyes felt heavy. Mrs Asplin looked anxiously at her in thedrawing-room after dinner, and finally called her to her side.
"Peggy, come here! Aren't you well? Let me feel your hand. Child,it's like a coal! You are in a fever. Why didn't you tell me at once?"
"Because I--really, it's nothing, Mrs Asplin! Don't be worried. Idon't know why I feel so hot. I was shivering only a minute ago."
"Go straight upstairs and take a dose of ammoniated quinine. Turn onthe fire in your room. Max! Robert! Oswald! Esther! Mellicent! willeveryone please look after Peggy in the future, and see that she doesnot run out in her slippers!" cried Mrs Asplin in a despairing voice;and Peggy bolted out of the door, in haste to escape before morereproaches could be hurled at her head.
But an alarm of a more serious nature than a threatened cold was to takeplace before the evening was over. The young people answered briefly,Mrs Asplin turned back to her book, and silence settled down upon theoccupants of the drawing-room. It was half-past eight, the servants hadcarried away the dinner things, and were enjoying their evening's restin the kitchen. The vicar was nodding in his easy-chair, the house wasso quiet that the tick of the old grandfather clock in the hall could beheard through the half-opened door. Then suddenly came the sound offlying footsteps, the door burst open, and in rushed Peggy once more,--but such a Peggy, such an apparition of fear, suffering, and terror asbrought a cry of consternation from every lip. Her eyes were startingfrom her head, her face was contorted in spasmodic gaspings for breath,her arms sawed the air like the sails of a windmill, and she flew roundand round the room in a wild, unheeding rush.
"Peggy, my child! my child! what is the matter? Oh, Austin--oh! Whatshall we do?" cried Mrs Asplin, trying to catch hold of the flyingarms, only to be waved off with frenzied energy. Mellicent dissolvedinto tears and retreated behind the sofa, under the impression thatPeggy had suddenly taken leave of her senses, and practical Estherrushed upstairs to search for a clue to the mystery among the medicinebellies on Peggy's table. She was absent only for a few minutes; but itseemed like an hour to the watchers, for Peggy's face grew more and moreagonised, she seemed on the verge of suffocation, and could neitherspeak nor endure anyone to approach within yards of her mad career.Presently, however, she began to falter, to draw her breath in longergasps, and as she did so there emerged from her lips a series of loudwhooping sounds, like the crowing of a cock, or the noise made by achild in the convulsions of whooping-cough. The air was making its wayto the lungs after the temporary stoppage, and the result would havebeen comical if any of the hearers had been in a mood for jesting,which, in good truth, they were not.
"Thank Heaven! She will be better now. Open the window and leave heralone. Don't try to make her speak. What in the world has the childbeen doing?" cried the vicar wonderingly; and at that moment Estherentered, bearing in her hand the explanation of the mystery--a bottlelabelled "Spirits of Ammonia," and a tumbler about an eighth full of awhite milky-looking fluid.
"They were in the front of the table. The other things had not beenmoved. I believe she has never looked at the labels, but seized thefirst bottle that came to her hand--this dreadfully strong ammonia whichyou gave her for the gnat bites when she first came."
A groan of assent came from the sofa on which Peggy lay, choking nolonger, but ghastly white, and drawing her breath in painful gasps.Mrs Asplin sniffed at the contents of the tumbler, only to jerk backher head with watery eyes and reddened lips.
"No wonder that the child was nearly choked! The marvel is that she hadever regained her breath after such a mistake. Her throat must be raw!"She hurried out of the room to concoct a soothing draught, at whichPeggy supped at intervals during the evening, croaking out a hoarse,"Better, thank you!" in reply to inquiries, and looking so small andpathetic in her nest of cushions that the hearts of the beholderssoftened at the sight. Before bedtime, however, she revivedconsiderably, and, her elastic spirits coming to her aid, entertainedthe listeners with a husky but dramatic account of her proceedings. Howshe had not troubled to turn the gas full up, and had just seized thebottle, tilted some of the contents into a tumbler in which there was asmall portion of water, without troubling to measure it out, and gulpedit down without delay. Her description of the feelings which ensued wasa really clever piece of word-painting, but behind the pretence ofhorror at her own carelessness there rang a hardly concealed note ofpride, as though, in thus risking her life, she had done something quiteclever and distinguished.
Mrs Asplin exhausted herself in "Ohs!" and "Ahs!" of sympathy, and hadnothing harsher to say than--
"Well now, dearie, you'll be more careful another time, won't you?" Butthe vicar's long face grew longer than ever as he listened, and thelines deepened in his forehead. Peggy was inexperienced indanger-signals, but Esther and Mellicent recognised the well-knownsigns, and were at no loss to understand the meaning of that quiet, "Aword with you in the study, Mariquita, if you please!" with which herose from the breakfast-table next morning.
Peggy's throat was still sore, and she fondly imagined that anxiety onits behalf was the cause of the summons, but she was speedilyundeceived, for the vicar motioned towards a chair, and said, in shortgrave sentences, as his manner was when annoyed--
"I wish to speak to you about the event of last night; I am afraid thatyou hardly realise the matter in its true light. I was not at allpleased with the manner in which you gave your explanation. Youappeared to imagine that you had done something clever and amusing. Itake a very different view. You showed a reprehensible carelessness intrifling with medicines in the dark; it might have caused you your life,or, at best, a serious injury. As it was, you brought pain uponyourself, and gave us all a serious alarm. I see nothing amusing insuch behaviour, but consider it stupid, and careless to an almostcriminal extent."
Peggy stood motionless, eyes cast down, hands clasped before her--apicture of injured innocence. She did not say a word in self-defence,but her feelings were so plainly written on her face that the vicar'seyes flashed with impatience.
"Well, what have you to say?"
Peggy sighed in dolorous fashion.
"I am sorry; I know it was careless. I am always doing things likethat. So is Arthur. So was father when he was a boy. It's in thefamily. It's unfortunate, but--"
"Mariquita," said the vicar sternly, "you are _not_ sorry! If I hadseen that you were penitent, I should not have spoken, for you wouldhave been sufficiently punished by your own sufferings, but you are notsorry; you are, on the whole, rather proud of the escapade! Look intoyour own heart and see if it is not so?"
He paused, looking at her with grave, expectant eyes, but there was nosign of conviction upon the set face. The eyes were still lowered, thelips drooped with an expression of patient endurance. There was silencein the room while Peggy studied the carpet, and the vicar gazed at herdowncast face. A moment before he had been on the verge of anger, butthe sternness melted away in that silence, and gave place to an anxioustenderness. Here was a little human soul committed to his care--howcould he help? how best guide and train? The long, grave face grewbeautiful in that moment with the expression which it wore every Sundayas he gazed around the church at the beginning of the sermon, notingthis one and that, having a swi
ft realisation of their needs andfailings, and breathing a prayer to God that He would give to his lipsthe right word, to his heart the right thought, to meet the needs of hispeople. Evidently, sternness and outspoken blame was not the best wayto touch the girl before him. He must try another mode.
"Peggy," he said quietly, "do you think you realise what a heavyresponsibility we laid upon ourselves when we undertook the care of youfor these three years? If any accident happened to you beneath ourroof, have you ever imagined what would be our misery and remorse atsending the news to your parents? About their feelings I do not speak;you can realise them for yourself. We safeguard you with everyprecaution in our power; we pray morning and night that you may bepreserved in safety; is it too much to ask that you will do your part byshowing more forethought, and by exercising some little care in thedaily duties of life? I ask it for our sakes as well as your own."
A pink flush spread over Peggy's cheeks; she gulped nervously and raisedher eyes to the vicar's face. Twice her lips opened as if to speak, butthe natural reserve, which made it agony to her to express her deepestfeelings, closed them again before a word had been spoken. The questionwas not answered, but a little hand shot out and nestled in Mr Asplin'swith a spasmodic grip which was full of eloquence.
"Yes, dear, I know you will! I know you will!" he said, answering theunspoken promise, and looking down at her with one of his sweet, kindlysmiles. "It will be a comfort to my wife as well as myself. She isvery nervous about you. She was upstairs three times in the night, tosatisfy herself that you were well after your fright, and is too tiredherself to come downstairs this morning. She is always bright andcheery, but she is not very strong. You would be sorry to make herill."
No answer, only another grip of the hand, and a sudden straightening ofthe lips, as if they were pressed together to avoid an involuntarytrembling. There is something especially touching in the sight ofrestrained emotion; and as the vicar thought of his own two daughters,his heart was very tender over the girl whose parents were separatedfrom her by six thousand miles of land and sea.
"Well now, dear, I have said my say, and that is an end of it. I don'tlike finding fault, but my dear wife has thrown that duty on myshoulders by being too tender-hearted to say a word of blame even whenit is needed. Her method works very well, as a rule, but there areoccasions when it would be criminal to withhold a just reprimand." Thevicar stopped short, and a spasm of laughter crossed his face. Peggy'sfingers had twitched within his own as he spoke those last two words,and her eyes had dilated with interest. He knew as well as if he hadbeen told that she was gloating over the new expression, and mentallynoting it for future use. Nothing, however, could have been sweeter ormore natural than the manner in which she sidled against him, andmurmured--
"Thank you so much. I am sorry! I will truly try;" and he watched herout of the room with a smile of tender amusement.
"A nice child--a good child--feels deeply. I can rely upon her to doher best."
Robert was hanging about in the passage, ready, as usual, to fulfil hisvows of support, and Peggy slid her hand through his arm and saunteredslowly with him towards the schoolroom. Like the two girls, he had beenat no loss to understand the reason of the call to the study, and wouldfain have expressed his sympathy, but Peggy stopped him with upliftedfinger.
"No, no--he was perfectly right. You must not blame him. I have beenguilty of reprehensible carelessness, and merited a reprimand!"