CHAPTER SIX.
The next morning was devoted to another house-hunting expedition,unsuccessful as its predecessor, while in the afternoon came a freshexcitement, in the shape of a call from Arthur's "chief," accompanied byhis wife and daughter. Mr Rob had had a slight acquaintance withColonel Saville years before, so that the interview lost some of thestiffness incidental to such occasions; and while the two men talkedtogether in one corner of the room, their wives exchanged condolences onthe ever-fruitful subject of domestic arrangements, and the three girlscast curious glances at one another in the intervals of conversation.
"I am afraid you must find the weather chilly. Our English springs arevery treacherous!" remarked Miss Rollo properly, turning her card-caseround and round in her hands, and blinking rapidly with a pair of shygrey eyes, veiled by eyelashes of extraordinary length and silkiness.As the only child of distinguished parents, Miss Eunice Rollo was apersonage of some importance in society; but she appeared much moreafraid of the two girls than they were of her, and kept her eyes fixedso persistently on the carpet that Mellicent enjoyed an unusualopportunity of indulging a favourite pastime, and sat braced against theback of her chair, staring stolidly up and down, down and up, until shecould have passed an examination on the minutest detail of thestranger's appearance and clothing. As for Peggy, she prattled away onthe engrossing subjects of sun and rain, while her thoughts went off onan excursion of their own, and busied themselves with criticisms on thenew visitor.
"Eunice by name, and Eunice by nature! A more Eunicey creature I neverbeheld. Grey eyes like Mrs Asplin... I could love her for thosealone, but _so_ solemn! I'd like to wake you up, my dear, and make youlook more like a real live girl, and less like a marionette. The waythat Mellicent stares is disgraceful. She must be made to stop."
Peggy cleared her throat in meaning fashion, met the wide blue eyes andfrowned a warning. Any other girl in the world would have understoodand obeyed; but Mellicent only gaped the more, raised questioningeyebrows, and even mouthed a dumb inquiry. Peggy screwed up her faceinto a vicious glare of anger, at which moment, it is needless to say,Eunice seized the opportunity to lift her eyes from the carpet. For onesecond amazement held her motionless, then she fell to work on the card-case with redoubled zeal, and tilted her hat over her face. Her eyescould not be seen, but her lips were twisted on one side, and her cheeksgrew suddenly, mysteriously pink. Was she laughing? Was she angry?Peggy could not tell, but she felt an intense curiosity to discover, anda dawning suspicion that Eunice was perhaps not quite so "Eunicey" afterall.
"It is very nice to come home to the old country again, and to see allour friends. Miss Asplin and I had lessons together for four years, sothat, as you may imagine, we have a great deal to talk over now that wehave met again," she explained; and Miss Rollo replied with elaboratepoliteness:
"I can indeed. It must be delightful I hope you will bring Miss Asplinwith you, if you come to us on Wednesday. We are having a reception inthe evening, with music and tableaux. It will be a crush, I'm afraid,but you may find it amusing. Rosalind Darcy is coming. She has beenstaying in the country for a week, but she will be back by then, andwould like to see you, I'm sure. I hope you will be able to come."
"Oh, I hope so!" The answer came simultaneously from two pairs of lips,and Mellicent drew in her breath with a gasp of pleasure. It wasbeginning already. What excitement--what joy--what delight! Only thefirst day of her visit, and behold! an invitation to one of the best-known houses in London, where with her own eyes she should behold thosegreat people of the world whom she had read about, but never, neverexpected to see. At this rate, Mellicent reflected, she would findherself on intimate terms at Court before the fortnight was concluded;and oh! the joy of returning home and speaking in casual tones aboutPrinces of the Blood, Dukes and Marquises, and Cabinet Ministers, for,the edification of village hearers! Her complacency vented itself in along postscript to the letter already written to her mother, apostscript of such characteristic nature as delighted that appreciativelady, and which was read aloud with much unction to her husband, and afriend of the family who happened to be paying a call at the time,whereby, as will be seen, certain things came to pass which would nototherwise have happened.
The prospect of Mrs Rollo's reception was so dazzling as to throw allother experiences into the shade; but the two intervening days were fullof excitement, for Peggy was delighted to play "country cousin" for herfriend's benefit, and the two girls drove about from one place ofinterest to another, from early morning until late at night.Westminster Abbey had, of course, special claims on the affections, andevoked that thrill of mingled awe and patriotism which all true-bornBritons must feel on entering that glorious edifice. When the voices ofthe choristers rang out in the psalms for the morning, Mellicent shedtears on her Prayer-book, and felt icy-cold all the way down her spine,and Peggy's eyes flashed fire, and the rare colour burned in her cheeks.
When the service was over the two girls wandered about together gazingat the monuments, reading the inscriptions which recalled noble deeds,and exchanging ardent confidences the while.
"I should like to come here every day," said Mellicent softly, "everysingle day. I should like to be a verger, and spend my life in anabbey. I think I could be awfully good if I lived here always. Itmakes one feel so small and insignificant, that one wouldn't dare to beselfish, and think one's own happiness so important. I can't believethat it was ever built by men--ordinary common working men. It seemslike a mountain--a great, wonderful thing that God must have madeHimself, and given to His people."
Peggy looked at her with bright, astonished eyes.
"You dear thing, what a sweet idea! I feel the same about it; butperhaps, after all, it was better that men _should_ have made it. Itmust have done _them_ good. One cannot imagine that a workman in such atask could remain `common.' I have read charming stories about men whohave devoted their whole lives to little pieces of carving or ironwork,to be placed in insignificant corners of old Continental cathedrals. Itdid not trouble them that their work would not be seen; they were soimpressed with the spirit of the place that they simply could not endureto do less than their very, very best, and were willing to remain poorall their lives in order to be able to do it. That's fine! That'sgrand! None of your miserable scamping spirit there. The place madethe men, as well as the men the place."
"Yes, yes, that's just what I feel. I'd like to do something for ittoo, if it were only the dusting," sighed Mellicent, passing her fingeralong a ledge of wood, and pensively regarding the ridge of dust on herlight kid gloves. "I assure you, Peggy, the shivers were running downmy back the whole time of that service like a cold-water tap. I wasfreezing!"
"And I was tingling. Oh, to do something big enough--great enough--tobe brought here when I die, and be laid among these fine old heroes!Isn't it maddening sometimes to be a woman, and feel penned in, in awretched little body?" Peggy stood still and faced her companion withkindling eyes. "At this moment, my dear, the spirit of Hercules iswithin me--I feel as if I could lift mountains, and look at _that_."She held out her hand, staring with intense disfavour at the fragilelittle wrist. "That's my weapon! If I tried to lift that _bench_, Ishould sprain my wrist. If I work my brain for several hours on end, Ihave a sick headache I'm a lion in a cage, dear; a little, miserable,five-foot cage, and it's no use beating at the bars, for I'll never getout;" and Peggy stared miserably at the statue of the "third greatCanning" which stood opposite, and sighed her heart out, to think howimpossible it seemed that the name of Mariquita Saville would ever beemblazoned by his side.
From the Abbey the sightseers drove to the Academy, where they spent acouple of hours in making their way through the crowded rooms. MrsSaville and her daughter were unaffectedly interested in the pictures,but Mellicent declared the study of them such a "neck-achey" processthat she soon abandoned the effort, and contented herself withcriticising the people instead. After living all one's life inprovi
ncial parishes where every inhabitant recognised and saluted thevicar's daughter, it was a little bewildering to find oneself surroundedby hundreds of absolutely strange faces; a trifle depressing too, toone-and-twenty, to realise afresh her own countrified appearance, asslim-waisted _elegantes_ floated past in a succession of springtoilettes, each one more fascinating than the last. Mellicent sat downon one of the centre couches and gave herself up to despair.
"My sleeves aren't right, and my neck isn't right, and my back isn'tright! My skirt sticks out where it should be flat, and is flat whereit ought to stick out. My hat looks like the ark, and my gloves are toobig. I ought to be superior like Esther, and not care a bit, but I_do_. I care frightfully. I feel a worm, and as it I'd like to crawlaway and hide myself out of sight,"--and Mellicent's fair face cloudedover with an expression of such hopeless melancholy, that Peggy,catching sight of it, came forward instantly to discover the reason.
"Tired?" she cried cheerily. "Never mind, we won't be long now, andthen we'll drive home, and you shall be tucked up in bed, and have acomfy rest. Sight-seeing _is_ tiring... Which do you like best?"
"The blue, I think, with the lace edgings. The body is so sweet, withall the tiny, lovely little tucks, and the colour would suit my hair,"said Mellicent plaintively, all unconscious of the open-eyed wonder withwhich she was regarded.
"What has your hair to do with it, and how _could_ a body be coveredwith tucks? You are sleepy, dear, and didn't hear what I said. I askedwhat picture you liked best."
"Oh-h, picture! I thought you meant dresses. I was thinking about thedresses--"
"Mellicent Asplin, I'm shocked at you! You remind me of the visitor toParis who was asked how she liked the Louvre, and replied that the BonMarche was cheaper for ribbons. To think that you could sit oppositesome of the finest pictures of the year, and find more enjoyment inlooking at frocks."
"I haven't enjoyed it at all. I've disenjoyed it horribly. Youwouldn't like it yourself, if you saw seven hundred and fifty girls, andeach one looked seven hundred times nicer than you did yourself. Idetest them all, but I hate the blue one worst! Didn't you see her,Peggy--pale, _pale_ blue, with white lace and--"
"Poor old Mill. Come along, dear, we'll go back to the hotel, and notworry about them any more. You shall come straight to my room, and I'llgive you a tonic that will do you good."
"I hate tonics. They taste like rusty spoons. I'm quite well, anddon't want it."
"We'll see about that. It's a new brand, warranted to be especiallyefficacious in the case of young females. It isn't in the least like arusty spoon, and exercises an exhilarating effect on the spirits. Youwait and see."
Peggy looked at her friend, and her eyes twinkled. It was evident thatsome mystery was in the air, and that the word `tonic' was used in afigurative rather than a literal sense. Mellicent pondered, hit on thesolution of chocolates, and being an inveterate sweet-tooth, foundconsolation in the prospect. Perhaps Peggy was going to present herwith some of the treasures she had brought home from Cannes, in whichcase there would not only be the enjoyment of the bonbons themselves,but the case would remain as a permanent joy and pride. So fascinatingdid the idea appear that it was quite a shook to see a long narrow rollemerge from the wardrobe when the crucial hour arrived.
"Here is your tonic," said Peggy. "It has come all the way from India,and was ordered for you a whole year back. I didn't tell you what yourpresent was the other night, for I wanted you to have the fun of openingit yourself. I do like opening my own parcels, don't you, and notknowing what I'm going to see!"
"Oh, I do! I love it!" agreed Mellicent rapturously, taking the roll inher arms, and prodding at it with the end of her fingers. "Peggy, howsweet of you! I know I shall like it... It's very hard, and sonarrow... I can't imagine what it can be. Ordered a year ago--thatsounds as if it had to be made. Is it--er--ornamental or useful?"
"Oh, useful! very, very useful!" cried Peggy, and chuckled withenjoyment at Mellicent's gallant attempt to hide disappointment beneatha pretence of satisfaction.
"Oh yes, how nice! Useful things are much more--_useful_, aren't they?I believe it's an umbrella, and yet it's rather thick for that. I can'timagine what it can be."
"Cut the string and look! That's the best way out of the difficulty,"suggested Peggy; and Mellicent followed her advice, and slowly unrolledthe parcel on the bed. Silver paper came first, rolls of silver paper,and a breath of that delicious aromatic perfume which seems an integralpart of all Eastern produce, last of all a cardboard cylinder, withsomething soft and white and gauzy wrapped around it. Mellicentscreamed aloud, and jumped about in the middle of the floor.
"It is! It is!" she cried rhapsodically. "It's a dress like yours--like the one that was burned in the fire, and that I loved so much. Butprettier. Oh, Peggy, it's prettier! There are more of the lovely whitesilk flowers, and the muslin is softer and finer. You wicked, wickedgirl, how dare you say it was useful!"
"Because it was true. You can let Carter make it up, and wear it overyour white silk at the Rollos' on Thursday, and if _that_ isn't useful,what is, I should like to know? I wish you could have seen your facewhen I said it was useful. It grew about a yard long."
"I knew it did, though I tried so hard to smile and look pleased. Yousee, Peg, I have nothing but useful things at home, for we can't affordanything else, and I do so dearly love a taste of luxury now and then.I simply hate useful presents, and when we get any sent to us theyinvariably are of that order, for people say to themselves, `Poorthings, they are not at all well off, better send them something thatwill be _of use_.' And I do assure you, my dear girl, that theChristmas before last I got four dozen handkerchiefs, and five separatepairs of gloves. Gloves I don't mind, for they are _nicely_ useful; butI nearly spread out all the forty-eight handkerchiefs on the bed, andwept over them with sheer rage that they weren't something else... Oh,you ducky, darling dress! Sha'n't I look nice! Peggy Peggy, I do loveyou for thinking of it, and giving me such a pleasure. You can't thinkhow I shall enjoy being really well-dressed for once in my life."
"I'm so pleased you are pleased. It's ever so much nicer to give thanto receive. When my three French dresses came home, I was in a badtemper for the rest of the day, because the collars were too high andstuck into my chin, and the dressmaker had not carried out all myinstructions; but I'm enjoying this as much as you are, and shall feel areflected glory in your appearance on Thursday. I'm so glad Arthur willbe there, for it will be a comfort to see one familiar face among thethrong. I wish--"
"What?"
"Nothing. It's lovely to be back again; but sometimes one feels alittle lonely when people are all talking together, and going off intolittle groups. In Calcutta it was different, for we knew every one, andevery one knew us. Is one _always_ disappointed, I wonder, when a thinghappens which one had longed for, for years and years? I don't knowwhat I want, but I want _something_!" cried Peggy drearily, and pressedher hands to her brow, while her friend looked on with sympathetic gaze.
"It's tea!" she declared oracularly. "It is five o'clock, and you know,Peggy, you always did get melancholy if tea was later than usual. Letus go downstairs and order it at once."
Peggy slid her hand in her friend's arm with a soft explosion oflaughter.
"So we will," she said cheerily. "It's a capital explanation. Tea!Oh, you sensible old Chubby!"