CHAPTER FIVE.
The next day the Savilles lost no time in consulting the agent who hadbeen commissioned to advertise for houses on their behalf, and he in histurn presented them with a list of a dozen places which were for sale,eight of which were obviously unsuitable, and none in the very leastlike Peggy's ideal abode. This was a bitter disappointment to theexpectant trio, and the disappointment was not softened by the offhandand independent manner in which they were treated, for the agent hintedat inordinate expectations, smiled openly at Peggy's inquiry about amoat, and floated off to attend to another inquirer, as if any othersubject were worth considering when the question of Colonel Saville'sfuture home was on the _tapis_!
Mrs Saville left the office with a crestfallen air, but her husband anddaughter stalked forth with their most military stride, and exchangedglances of kindling irritation on the doorstep.
"Insubordinate wretch!" cried the colonel, the ends of his moustachelooking fiercer than ever, and his eyes gleaming with anger, for afterruling as despot over his regiment for so many years, the lack ofdeference shown by a mere civilian was a distinct trial to the flesh."There's a good deal to be said for our friends the natives after all,Peg! If one of them had dared to treat me like that--"
"Just so!" assented Peggy. "I'm with you, father. I _do_ like peopleto tremble at my nod, and in this land of freedom no one seems in theleast afraid of us. It's disgraceful. We had better take the train,and look at this Uplands place. It seems the most likely of any on thelist, so I suppose we ought to see it."
To the Uplands, then, the trio betook themselves, to find disappointmentnumber two, for the name had evidently been bestowed in a spirit ofsatire on a house situated in a valley, and shut in by a network oftrees. The rooms smelt like so many vaults, and presented a cheerfulpattern of mould upon the walls, while even Peggy's ardour could notface the task of reducing a wilderness into a garden. A drive of threemiles brought the explorers to yet another desirable residence of souncompromisingly bleak and hideous an aspect that they drove away fromthe gates without examining the interior, and returned to town fatiguedand discouraged.
"But we could not expect to find what we wanted the very first day,"Peggy reminded herself cheerily. "Besides, Mellicent is coming! Thatis quite enough happiness for one day. In two more hours she will behere. I'll go downstairs at five o'clock, and wait for her in thehall."
When five o'clock arrived, however, a brother officer came to call uponColonel Saville, and Peggy was delayed several minutes longer than sheintended, so that when she repaired downstairs it was a little past thehour when Mellicent was due. It was quite likely that the train hadbeen behind time, or that difficulties in getting luggage put on a cabmight have delayed her arrival, and Peggy devoutly hoped that this hadbeen the case, so that she might still be in time to give a friendlywelcome. The hall was, as usual, crowded with visitors. An Americancontingent chatted merrily together in one corner; a French marquisestared around through a gold-rimmed lorgnette; and the usual array offamily parties lolled on ottomans and sofas, scrutinising the passers-by, and exchanging whispered criticisms, which were neither socomplimentary nor so subdued as might have been desired. A stout ladyand two slim daughters, looking more like fashion-plates than Peggycould have believed it possible for any human creatures to do, stooddiscussing a knotty point together in the centre of the floor, theirvoluminous skirts shutting out the view beyond.
Peggy made a _detour_ to the side, caught sight of a broad, blue sergeback, looking broader than ever from contrast with sylph-like forms, acoil of yellow hair beneath a sailor hat, and the side of a crimsoncheek. Mellicent! Of course it was Mellicent! There she stood, thepoor dear thing, a statue of misery in the midst of the fashionablecrowd, a roll of shawls clutched in one hand, her dress thick with dust,and her hair blown into disorder. The critics on the benches sniggeredand whispered to one another, and the French marquise examined herthrough the lorgnette with unconcealed amaze; but at the sight of thefamiliar figure Peggy's heart leapt within her, for she saw again theivy-covered vicarage, and the shabby, sunny schoolroom in which she hadspent such happy days. A hand clutched Mellicent's arm in ecstaticgrasp, and a tremulous voice spoke in her ear.
"Mellicent, _darling_! Is it really you?"
"Oh, my goodness, Peggy, have you come at last? Nobody knew where youwere, and they said they'd send, and it's simply awful the way thesewretches stare!" cried Mellicent in a rush, "They sit round in rows, andglare as if they had nothing in the world to do but quiz the poor newarrivals as they come in at the door."
"Which, my dear, is precisely the state of the case. It _is_disconcerting, especially when you arrive in the evening, after atempestuous Channel passage, and step into a hall aglow with diamondsand eye-glasses; but turn about is fair play!" cried Peggy reassuringly."To-morrow you and I will quiz in our turn, and just think how we shallenjoy it. Father and I have sat together for hours, criticising andinventing histories, and you have no idea how entertaining it is.You'll simply love it."
"No, I sha'n't. It's unkind and cruel, and must make people simplydread coming in. If I were the manager, I wouldn't allow it!" declaredMellicent in righteous wrath; then her eyes turned to her companion, anda tardy realisation of the position seemed to dawn upon her. "Oh,Peggy!" she cried, and again, "Oh, Peggy! I'm _so_ glad to see youagain. It has seemed such a long, long time since you went away, andthere was no one like you--no one who could ever take your place."
Peggy gave an affectionate little grip to the blue serge arm, but madenone of the protests which usually follow such an announcement. Modestynot being her strong point, she saw no reason to dispute Mellicent'sassertion, so smiled instead, and cried reassuringly:
"Never mind, I'm back again now, and never going away no more! Dear oldChubs, you look so fresh, and pink-and-white and Englishy, that it doesme good to see you. This is our sitting-room, and you must come in andsay how do you do to father and mother, and have some tea. Father isgoing out with a friend presently, and mother will have a rest in herbedroom, so we shall have a cosy little chat by ourselves. Don't lookalarmed! They are not a bit fierce, I assure you, but a most mild andagreeable old couple."
As she spoke Peggy threw open the door of the sitting-room, and the mildand agreeable couple bestowed the kindliest of greetings upon theiryoung visitor; but the surroundings were all so strange and formal thatcountry-bred Mellicent was overpowered, and could only blush and stammerin school-girl fashion. Her own perfect consciousness of the fact addedfuel to her embarrassment, and a full-length mirror at the opposite sideof the room presented such an exasperating contrast of rusticawkwardness and dainty grace, as she and Peggy stood side by side, thather heart died down within her. Poor Mellicent! her new coat and skirthad been made by the very best dressmaker in the village, and had beenconsidered a miracle of elegance by the admiring home circle; so thatshe had looked forward to making quite a triumphant entrance, and nowhere she was, looking her very worst, and conscious of a dozenshortcomings as she looked at her friend's graceful figure. Peggy'sfeatures still retained their miniature-like faultlessness of outline,her pretty hair was coiled about her head in fantastic fashion, she boreherself with even more than the old assurance, and rustled about theroom in a gown of Parisian manufacture. A little chill of strangenessand depression settled down on Mellicent's spirits. For the last monthshe had lived in constant expectation of this visit, had built a fairyedifice of dreams concerning it, and already the foundations werebeginning to totter. The great hotel, with its crowd of criticalinmates, was terrifying to the country-bred girl, the graciousness ofher host and hostess appeared formal, when compared with the warm-hearted cordiality of her Irish mother, and even Peggy herself seemedtransformed into another person. It was no longer Peggy, it wasMariquita, and Mariquita a dozen times more self-possessed and imposingthan in the days of old.
When Colonel and Mrs Saville left the room, Mellicent watched with awedeyes an interview which
took place between Miss Peggy and a waiter whomshe had summoned to bring a supply of fresh tea. There were severalother matters to discuss regarding the despatch of letters and parcels,and the severe though courteous manner in which the young lady conductedthe conversation, reduced the listener to a condition of speechlessamazement. When the door closed behind the man, Peggy met the stare ofthe horrified blue eyes, and put a laughing inquiry as to the nature ofher offence.
"I don't know how you _dare_ talk to him like that!" stammered Mellicentin return. "He is ever so much older than you, and looks so--sodignified and grand, and you order him about, and tell him to becareful, and send him running up and downstairs. I don't know how youcan do it. I'm nervous enough about finding fault with the servants athome, but with a stranger! A man! I could never summon up courage tofind fault, no matter what mistakes he made. And you are so cool aboutit!"
"My dear, I'm used to it. Consider the position I have had to fillthese last three years in Indiah!" drawled Miss Peggy, and leant herhead against the cushions of her chair with an exhausted air, whichseemed to imply that she had come straight from the duties of GovernmentHouse itself. Then suddenly she straightened herself, and attacked theteapot.
"I forget if you take sugar in your tea. So few people do nowadays.And cream? It's rather strong, I'm afraid. Be sure to tell me if it'sexactly as you like."
"Thank you!" murmured Mellicent faintly. She put the cup down on atable close at hand, and fumbled nervously with her gloves.
"P-Peggy!"
"Yes, dear."
"Peg-gy!"
"Yes, Mellicent, what is it?"
"Oh, Peggy, I feel--I feel so uncomfortable! It's all so strange anddifferent from what I expected. I thought I should feel at home themoment I saw you--but I don't, not a bit. You look so grown-up andproper, and your dress is so grand, and you have done your hair like thepeople in the fashion-books, and I never can make out how on earth theytwist it in and out... We are the same age, but you seem ever so mucholder, and I don't feel that it is you at all."
"The inference is, that I never _was_ proper, nor tidy, nor well-dressedin the old days! Not very complimentary to me, I must say," began Peggylightly, and then caught sight of a tear-drop glittering on Mellicent'seyelashes, which sobered her very quickly. Crying? No, surely not; yettears were there, undeniable tears, filling the blue eyes, and rollingslowly down over the pink cheeks. Peggy dropped down on her knees, andclasped her hands round the plump blue waist.
"Why, Mill, what is it? What grieves you, dear? What have I done, orsaid, or looked--horrid thing that I am!--to vex you within ten minutesof your arrival? I never, never meant it!"
"You haven't done anything! It's my own fault. I'm sorry to be sosilly, Peggy, but all this time I have been longing and longing to seeyou, and thinking that it would be just the same as in the old days;but, oh, Peggy, we've led such different lives, and it's not the same--oh, it's not the same at all! I have stood still, but you have movedon, and there's such a big, big difference. I realised it all of asudden, and began to cry like a baby, but it's not your fault. It'sonly because I am so fond--so fond of you, Peggy, and so sorry tothink--"
"You dear, sweet goose! Stop crying this minute, and listen to me.There is no difference between us, and it's going to be _exactly_ thesame. You are Mellicent Asplin, and I'm Peggy Saville, and after myvery own people I love the dear old vicaragers more than any one else inthe world. I never change in my affections, and in other respects theday may yet dawn, my love, when you may wish that I had alteredconsiderably more than I have. Will it help you to recognise me if Ipull your hair, eli?--or tickle you under the chin, eh?--or give a nicelittle jolt to your elbow just as you lift your cup, eh?" cried Peggy,illustrating each inquiry in practical fashion, while Mellicent giggledin the midst of tears, and dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief.
"D-o-on't! You'll spoil my dress. Oh, Peggy, it _is_ good of you, andI did so want to come, and will you really promise not to be ashamed ofme, if I make stupid mistakes, and look dowdy and horrid when we go outtogether?"
"I'll be ashamed of you, and furious into the bargain, if you hint atsuch a thing again. I'm not a snob, thank goodness! Now sit up, mydear, and drop sentiment, and attend to tea. Take a cress sandwich, anddon't cry over it, I beseech you! If there is one thing moreobjectionable than another, it is wet salad. Tell me all about home,and every one in it. Are they looking forward to my advent, and is cookremembering my favourite puddings? I've got a present for every one--such a beautiful white shawl for Mrs Asplin, a tiger skin for yourfather's study, some old manuscripts for Esther, as I could not think ofanything she would like better, and--"
"And what for--How very nice! So kind of you, Peggy, to think of us!"protested Mellicent, drawing herself up with sudden recollection, butpalpitating with curiosity to hear what her own share might be. "Estherhopes to get home while you are with us, but she can't tear herself fromher precious pupils for more than a week. She has three little boyswhom she is training for school, and teaching Latin and Greek andmathematics and all sorts of horrid things. You would hate it, Peggy,and so would I, but Esther loves it, and grudges every moment she isaway."
Peggy laughed.
"I can imagine it! The little rascals scrawling substantives on theirslates--`O frog--To a frog--By, with, or from a frog!' and Esther'ssolemn distress over a wrong termination. Isn't it a blessing that weare made differently, and that some people are born with such wonderfulpatience and forbearance? I pity their poor little knuckles if _I_ werein charge. But then I was always hastily inclined. Your father used tosay that Esther and Rob had far more of the scholarly spirit than Rex,though he must have worked hard to get through his examinations so well.Dear old Rex, how I should love to see him again! It seems so funny tothink of him as a full-fledged doctor, with a practice of his own! Howdoes he like living in the North, and how does he get on?"
Mellicent shrugged her shoulders uncertainly.
"Pretty well, only it's such a disgustingly bracing place that no one isever ill. Rex says it is most depressing to look out of the windows andsee the healthy faces! He gets so tired waiting for patients who nevercome. I stayed with him for a week in the winter, and whenever the bellrang we used to rush out into the hall, and peer over the banisters tosee who was there, and if it was a patient Rex kept him waiting for tenminutes by his watch, to pretend that he was busy, though he was reallydying to fly downstairs at once. He makes very little money, and fatherhas to help him a good deal; but last month something happened which hehopes will help him on. The mayor of the town had a carriage accidentjust opposite his house, and was nearly killed. Wasn't it luck for Rex?He was so pleased! The mayor was carried into the house, and could notbe moved for days, and the papers were full of `Dr Asplin this, and DrAsplin that,' as if he was the biggest doctor they had! The mayoressseems to have taken a fancy to him too, for she begs him to go to theirhouse as often as he likes, without waiting to be asked. It will benice for Rex to have some friends in the town, for he daren't go farfrom home. Oswald and his wife live within an hour's rail, and ofteninvite him there, but he is afraid to go, in case a patient _should_appear!"
"Oswald's wife! How strange it sounds! I have never heard anythingabout her, and am so curious to know what she is like! What account didRex bring when he came home from the wedding?"
"He said he couldn't attempt to describe her, but that you could meetseventy-six girls exactly like her any day of the week. Rather pretty,rather fair, rather nice, rather musical! Everything _rather_, andnothing _very_! and thinks Oswald the most wonderful man in the world.She can't be very clever herself, if she thinks that, can she? Oswaldwas always a regular dunce!"
"Oh, `dunce' is too strong a word, Chubby! He was not brilliant, butyou must remember that he suffered from contrast with his companions.Rex was very bright, if he was not exactly clever, and it is not oftenthat you come across such a really scholarly boy as Rob Darcy!"
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br /> Peggy busied herself with the arrangement of the tea-tray withoutglancing in her friend's direction, and with an air of studiedcarelessness. She herself knew that she had dragged Rob's name into thediscussion for no other object than to set Mellicent's ready tongue towork on a subject about which she was longing for information, and shewas alarmed lest her intention might be suspected. Mellicent, however,had retained her comfortable obtuseness, and rose to the bait withinnocent alacrity.
"Well, I don't know if _you_ call it scholarly to think of nothing inthe world but beetles, and grubby little plants that no one ever heardof before; but _I_ call it idiotic. He is worse than Esther, because,after all, schoolboys are human creatures, and sometimes you can't helpliking them, though they are so tiresome, but nobody could love abeetle! I said so once to Rob, and he snubbed me dreadfully, and talkedat me for half an hour. I didn't understand half he said--for it wasall in technical beetley language, but it was meant to prove that it waswrong to say anything of the sort, or refuse to see the beauty hiddenaway in the meanest created thing."
"Quite true! I agree with Rob. He was perfectly right."
"But, Peggy, a beetle! And to care for nothing else! You have no ideawhat a regular old hermit Rob has become. He is perfectly wrapped up inbeetles!" cried Mellicent, with a descriptive elegance of diction, atwhich her hearer shuddered visibly. "He takes no interest in anythingelse!"
Peggy smiled, and her head took a complacent tilt.
"That's bad! That will have to be altered. He'll take interest in_me_, my dear, or there'll be trouble! I believe in a man devotinghimself to his work, but Rob is too nice to be allowed to bury himselfcompletely. I must rouse him up! A fortnight from now we will meetagain, and the treatment will begin. Meanest creatures are all verywell in their way, but superior ones demand their own share ofattention. Rob always did as I told him, and he will not disappoint menow."
Mellicent gazed at her friend in reflective fashion. She called upbefore her a picture of Rob's great stooping form, his shaggy head, andoverhanging brows, and contrasted it mentally with that of the slimlittle, neat little, prettiest of elf-like figures before her. No, itwas not in the least likely that Rob would disappoint Peggy Saville."Those dreadful Savilles" had now, as ever, the power of enforcingobedience from their vassals.
"But all the same," she repeated obstinately, "but all the same he wouldhave liked you better if you had been a beetle!"