CHAPTER XI.
IN CARRIE'S BEDROOM.
Of the Lewis family the first who came home that special evening wasCarrie. She walked straight into the little sitting-room, where KittyMalone's letter lying on top of the blotter immediately attracted herattention. It need not be said that she instantly read it, and not onlyonce but twice.
"Ha! ha! Elma, I have got you into my power at last," she said toherself. "So that accounts for the money. Now, what did you borrow itfrom that queer Irish girl for? But now that I know a thing or two. Imay be able to draw on you to a considerable extent. Return it! notyou--you are not likely to; but I think I'll be able to frighten you. Ishall certainly do my utmost."
It will be seen from these remarks that Carrie was by no means anamiable girl. She ran up to her room, took off her hat, and surveyedherself in the pale blue dress which had been purchased with some ofpoor Kitty's money. She then returned to the sitting-room, and foldingup the letter, deliberately put it into her pocket. As she was doing soMaggie came in to lay the tea.
"Oh lor! Miss Carrie," cried the maid-of-all-work as she spread thenot-too-clean cloth upon the table, "whatever 'as become of that bit ofwritin' that was lyin' atop of the blotter here?"
"What bit of writing?" asked Carrie, turning calmly round and surveyingher.
"Oh, a letter miss; I don't know what was in it, but it was a moneytransaction, as important as the Bank of England, and it was to be giveto Miss Helma the very instant she come 'ome. Didn't you see it, miss,when you come in?"
"No, I didn't," said Carrie promptly. "I saw no letter of any kind.Here's the blotter, there is nothing on it. It may have got between thefolds, however." She took up the thick pad of blotting-paper and shookit, but no letter dropped out.
"There," she said. "I have not the least doubt that Fido jumped on thetable and took it up and ate it."
"Oh lor! miss, you don't think so?"
"I should not be surprised. Fido can never resist paper; he is alwayspulling it about and chewing it."
Maggie looked frantically under the table for even stray pieces of theletter, but she could not find any.
"If he had ate it," she said at last, fixing Carrie with a verydetermined stare--"if he had ate it he would have left some bits about.I don't believe it; I believe you 'as took it Miss Carrie. Oh, miss, forshame; and it was as important as the Bank of England--a moneytransaction, miss, what ought not to be trifled with. I can't readwritin', though I can read books fair enough; but the young lady wasawful put about."
"What young lady?" asked Carrie. "You had better tell me everything."
"Oh, it was that Irish young lady, Miss Malone. She come here with themost beautiful 'at on (no, it was wot they calls a talk), and thewiolets in it they might 'av growed, I could a'most smell 'em; and shecome in distracted like, and writ the letter, and told me I was to giveit to Miss Helma the very moment she returned, and that Miss Helma wasto take her the money to-night--what money is more than I can tell, forI didn't think Miss Helma ever had any. And she said it was an importanttransaction. And I said, 'Is it like the Bank of England, miss?' and shesaid, 'Yes, to be sure.' Why, Miss Carrie, you have not gone and hid theletter, 'ave you? That would be real mean of you."
"Look here," said Carrie; "what did you say about those violets?"
"Why, she gave 'em to me, miss; she took 'em out of her cap, and shegive 'em to me, and I was to give the letter to Miss Helma. It was afair and honest bargain, and I must keep my part of it miss."
"Would you like some roses to put with the violets?" said Carrie, makinga careful calculation.
"Roses, miss? That would be prime, and very seasonable, wouldn't theymiss?"
"Yes, violets and roses look very pretty together, and I'll pin theminto your hat and furbish it up. And, look here, Maggie, you can go outwith your young man on Sunday. I'll manage it--I can. I will stay athome."
"Oh, Miss Carrie, you don't mean it?"
"Yes, I do. I'll manage it; but I'll do it only on a condition."
"What is that miss?"
"That you don't every ask me another question with regard to thatletter, and that you never, never on any account breathe a word of it toElma. If you do, why----"
"Oh, Miss, it don't seem fair."
Poor honest Maggie walked to the window and struggled for a few minuteswith her temptation. The thought, however, of roses to add to theviolets, the thought also of Joe, whom she dearly loved, to walk withher on the following Sunday, proved far too seductive. She struggledwith her enemy for a few minutes, and then she fell once and for all.
"I'll have the roses, Miss Carrie. I can't resist them and the thoughtof Joe on Sunday. Joe is so passionate loving, miss, I can't resist'im." And then Maggie rushed out of the room.
She flew to her attic, threw herself by the side of her bed and burstinto sobs.
"But I oughtn't to 'ave done it," she said several times--"I oughtn't to'ave done it. If it worn't for the roses and for Joe I'd 'ave stood upto her; but as it is I was too tempted. But all the same I oughtn't tohave done it--no, I oughtn't to 'ave done it!"
Meanwhile Carrie up in her bedroom was thinking hard. Here indeed was arevelation! So Elma possessed eight pounds, or nearly eight--for Carrieknew that her blue dress, and the lobster, and the lettuces, and thestout had not cost a great deal of that valuable sum of money.
"At the present moment," she concluded, making a careful computation inher mind, for she was a smart enough girl in certain ways--"at thepresent moment Elma must possess the sum of seven pounds or thereabouts."What in the world did that Irish girl lend it to her for? What an utterfool she must have been! But as to Elma's paying it back! as to Elmagetting rid of those riches--Carrie thought she saw her way ofpreventing that. In order to do so, however, it was all-important thatElma should not see poor Kitty's passionate little appeal to her; foralthough Elma was anything but an amiable girl, Carrie was certain thatmere fright would make her return the money.
Carrie stayed some time in her room; she was thinking out a plan. Howcould she prevent Elma returning the money to Kitty Malone? Sheconsidered rapidly. Never before had she felt so full of energy and ofresource; it suddenly occurred to her as extremely unlikely that Elmawould carry about so much money on her person. Suppose she, Carrie, hada thorough good hunt for it now on the spot. Suppose she found it, thenwould it not be her duty, by taking possession of it, to guard Elma fromgiving it away? Carrie made up her mind quickly; she determined to havea search for the money at once. In the somewhat meagerly-furnishedbedroom there were not a great many hiding-places, and Carrie began hersearch systematically. Elma and she had a little set of drawers each;there were no locks to these drawers. With all her faults, Elmaabsolutely trusted her own family. It never occurred to her even in herworst moments that Carrie would examine her drawers; she also believedthat Maggie was perfectly honest.
Carrie now began to search. She opened Elma's drawers and lookedthrough them. Soon she found what she sought for. In the smallright-hand drawer at the top corner was a little parcel. It felt heavy.Carrie opened it and there lay seven shining sovereigns. There were alsoa couple of shillings and a few pence; but Carrie's eyes wereprincipally fixed upon the sovereigns. Bright and new they looked,almost as if they had just come from the mint. Carrie danced a pirouettethere and then.
"I have found the treasure," she gasped. "Now I must take it where itwill be safe. I know what I'll do. I'll give it to Sam Raynes to keepfor Elma. It will be a nice excuse for seeing him again, and I'll tellhim it is money of my own, and ask him to bank it for me. He'll be everso pleased; he will think all the more of me if he supposes I amwealthy. Yes, I'll take it to Sam; he shall keep it for me."
Flushed, excited, her heart beating high, Carrie once more pinned on herhat. She ran downstairs. As she passed through the hall her mother wasletting herself in with a latchkey.
"My dear Carrie," she said, "you are not going out again at this hour ofnight?"
"I shan't be long, mother. I am jus
t going into Summer Terrace to seethe Raynes."
"I wish you would not go out so late, Carrie; it really isn't----"
But Carrie had slammed the door without even waiting for her parent'slast words. She soon reached the Terrace, which was within threeminutes' walk of her own house. Florrie Raynes let her in.
"My dear Carrie," she said, "what do you want? Oh, you naughty girl;you knew Sam would be in."
"Well, I want to speak to him. Can I see him just for a moment?" gaspedCarrie, panting and breathless, pushing the hair from her forehead asshe spoke.
"Yes, come right in," said Florrie; "you need not apologize. He is onlyhaving a cigar, and he'll be right pleased to see you."
As she spoke she opened the door of a small sitting-room and pushedCarrie in, slamming it behind her. The echo of her rude laughter as sheperformed this unladylike feat was heard down the passage.
Sam was seated in front of an open window smoking a cigar. When he sawCarrie he removed it from his mouth and came forward in a somewhatnonchalant way to meet her.
"Now, Car," he said, "what's up? Any news? Can we have a jolly time nextSunday?"
"Yes," answered Carrie panting slightly, "and for as many other Sundaysas you like. See here, Sam, I cannot wait a minute now. You know youonce told me that I was a frivolous little thing, that I wasextravagant, and all that. Now, what will you say if I ask you to putseven pounds in the bank for me?"
"Seven pounds!" cried Sam; "'pon my word! Where in the world did you getit, Car?"
"It's out of my savings," replied Carrie.
"Well, I must say--" Sam gave her a look of the broadest admiration hehad ever yet bestowed upon her. "You can bank it for me, can you not?"
"Yes, that I can. But I say, Car, would you like me to speculate withit? I might double it, you know."
"Oh, do what you like with it, only keep it safe," answered Carrie. "Ishall want to draw a little of it from time to time. Now, good-by, Sam.I can't wait another moment."
She laid the money on the table. Sam's large and somewhat fat handclosed greedily over it, and the next moment it was conveyed to hiswaistcoat pocket.
"This will come in very handy for myself," he muttered; but Carrie didnot hear the words--she ran home breathless and excited. She thought shehad managed splendidly.