The Palace Beautiful: A Story for Girls

  CHAPTER XXVI.

  A DELIGHTFUL PLAN.

  Neither Primrose nor Jasmine could quite understand their littlesister that night--her cold was worse, but that fact Primroseaccounted for by Jasmine's imprudence in taking her out; but whatneither she nor Jasmine could understand was Daisy's greatnervousness--her shrinking fear of being left for a moment by herself,and the worried and anxious look which had settled down on her usuallyquiet little face. Primrose determined to do what she had never doneyet since they had come to London--she would commit the unheard-ofextravagance of calling in a doctor.

  "I think Daisy is very feverish," she said to Jasmine; "only that itseems impossible, I would say she has got some kind of shock, and wastrying to conceal something. You are quite sure that you locked thedoor when you left her alone here this afternoon, Jasmine?"

  "Oh, yes," answered Jasmine, "and I found it locked all right when Icame back. I was rather longer away than I meant to be, for I did sucha venturesome thing, Primrose--I took my 'Ode to Adversity' to theEditor of _The Downfall_. I saw him, too--he was a red-faced man, withsuch a loud voice, and he didn't seem at all melancholy--he said hewould look at the poem, but he wasn't _very_ encouraging. I told himwhat Mrs. Dove said about his readers liking tearful things, and hegave quite a rude laugh; however, I shouldn't be surprised if the poemwas taken; if it fails in that quarter, I must only try one of thevery best magazines. Oh, what was I saying about Daisy? I think shewas asleep when I came back--she was lying very quiet, only her cheekswere rather flushed. Of course, Primrose, nothing happened to ourlittle Daisy; if there did, she would tell us."

  "I will send for the doctor, at any rate," said Primrose; "I don'tlike her look. I will send for the doctor, and--and--"

  But Primrose's brave voice broke, and she turned her face away.

  Jasmine ran up to her, and put her arms round her neck.

  "What is it, Rose darling?--are you really troubled about Daisy? orare you thinking of the expense? I wonder what a London doctor willcharge? Have you got any money to pay him, Primrose?"

  "I've got Mr. Danesfield's money," said Primrose; "I have always keptit for an emergency. I had hoped never to need it, but if the realemergency comes it is right to spend it. Yes, Jasmine, I can pay thedoctor and you had better go down and ask the Doves the name of one,for I don't know a single doctor in London."

  "Yes," said Jasmine, "I'll run down at once."

  Mr. and Mrs. Dove were greatly concerned when they heard of Daisy'sillness--in especial, Mr. Dove was concerned, and expressed himselfwilling to do all in his power for the sweet, pretty little lady. Hesaid he knew a doctor of the name of Jones, who was a dab hand withchildren, and if the young ladies liked he would run round to Dr.Jones's house, and fetch him in at once.

  Jasmine thought Mr. Dove very good-natured, and she expressed hergreat gratitude to him for the trouble he was about to take, andrequested him to seek Dr. Jones and to bring him to see Daisy withouta moment's delay. Accordingly, in a very short time the doctor ofDove's selection stood by Daisy's bedside and pronounced her to besuffering from nothing whatever but a common cold, ordered somemedicine for her cough, and went away with the assurance that shewould be as cheerful as ever on the morrow. But Daisy was not cheerfulthe next day; and day after day passed without bringing back eitherher sweet calm, or any of the brightness which used to characterizeher little face. Daisy possessed in a certain degree Primrose'scharacteristics, but she was naturally more highly strung and morenervous than her eldest sister. After a little time her cold gotbetter, but her nightly terrors, the look of watchfulness and anxiety,grew and deepened as the time wore on. Daisy's sweet little face wasaltering, and Primrose at last resolved to dismiss Dr. Jones, who wasdoing the child no good whatever, and to consult Miss Egerton aboutthe little one. It may be added that Primrose was able to pay Dr.Jones's account without breaking into Mr. Danesfield's money.

  Miss Egerton from the very first had taken a great interest in thegirls, and when Primrose went to her, and told her pitiful littlestory, the kind governess's eyes filled with tears.

  "My dear," she said, in conclusion, "whatever is or is not the matterwith that nice little sister of yours, I am sure she wants one thing,and that is change. Now, I am not so greatly taken with those rooms ofyours, Primrose. You remember I paid you a visit at Christmas, and youtried to show me all the beauties of your apartments. They wereneatly kept, dear, and were clean, and were furnished with somelittle attempt at taste, but the ceilings were very low, the windowsashes fitted badly, and there was such a draught from under thedoor--and, my dear child, now that you have come to me in confidence Imay as well tell you that I did _not_ admire your landlady Mrs. Dove."

  "She is rather fond of borrowing money, certainly," said Primrose,in a thoughtful voice, "but on the whole I believe she isgood-natured--she lends Jasmine books, and yesterday she baked a cakeherself for Daisy, and her husband brought it up to her."

  "All the same," repeated Miss Egerton, "I don't admire the woman. Ihave never seen the man; but I would rather you were in a nice house.Now I have a proposal to make. I too have got some attics--they arequite as large as Mrs. Dove's, and can soon be made as cheerful. I canalso promise you that the windows will not shake, nor will a draughtas keen as a knife come in from under the door. My attics, however, Igrieve to say, are unfurnished. Now, my dear, what do you pay at Mrs.Dove's?"

  "Twelve shillings a week," said Primrose.

  "That is a great deal for such rooms; I knew you were being imposedupon. Now, I would let you have mine for five, only somehow or otheryou must contrive to help me to furnish them. I can give you a carpetfor your sitting-room, and a warm rug for your bedroom floor, and Ibelieve I can supply you with bedsteads and beds, and there is afamous deep cupboard in the sitting-room, and two in the bedroom whereyou could easily keep all your clothes; but do you think you couldprovide the rest of the furniture? I would help you to get it as cheapas possible and would show you how to make old things look like new;for, my dear, I've gone through the contriving experience a long timeago. Now what do you say to my plan? You will not be cheated, you willbe cared for, and you will be in the house of a friend--for I want tobe your friend, my dear girl."

  "Oh, how kind you are!" said Primrose, her eyes glistening. "Yes, youknow how to give real help--the kind of help we girls want. I shouldlove your plan, but I must try and find out if we really have themoney. How much money will it take to put in very simplefurniture--just enough for us to go on with, Miss Egerton?"

  "You might manage it for ten pounds, dear, perhaps even for less, ifyou have that sum by you; you will soon save it in your lowered rent.Go home, and think it over, Primrose. I know Daisy will be much, muchbetter in my house than at the Doves'. Go and think about it, and letme know what you decide to-morrow."

  Primrose thanked Miss Egerton, and went back to her lodgings with afull heart. This offer from so good a friend had come, she felt, atthe right moment. Accept it she must; find the ten pounds she must;and once again she thought with a feeling of satisfaction of Mr.Danesfield's letter, and felt glad that she had been able to pay Dr.Jones's bill without breaking into its contents.

  She went upstairs, and instantly told Jasmine of the proposed change.

  "But we can't do it," said Jasmine; "you know that we have not tenpounds to spare."

  "I think," said Primrose, "that perhaps the time has come when weshould open that letter Mr. Danesfield put into my hand the morning weleft Rosebury. You know, Jasmine, how we determined to keep it, andreturn it to him unopened some day if we possibly could; but we alsoresolved to use it if a time of necessity really came--we resolved notto be proud about this. You know, Jasmine, it has come over me morethan once lately that I have been headstrong in coming to London, onlyI could not endure being dependent on any one."

  "Of course you could not, darling," said Jasmine. "I am certain youhave done right; of course we are rather depressed now withdifficulties, but I think yours was a grand plan. I have a kind
offeeling, Primrose, that our worst days are over; I think it more thanprobable you will have a great run on your china-painting bye-and-bye,and if _The Downfall_ and the other magazines begin to wish for mypoetry, why, of course, I shall earn two or three guineas a week. I amtold that a guinea is not at all a large sum for a good poem, and Ihave no doubt I could write two or three a week; and then my novel--itis really going to be very good. Mr. Dove says that he would recommendme to put it in a newspaper first, and then offer it to a publisher tobring out as a book. I said I would only let my first work appear in avery high-class newspaper. I never much cared for newspaper stories,but I might put up with one of the illustrated weekly papers if itpaid me well. Yes, Primrose, I feel hopeful; and I have not thesmallest doubt that we can earn the ten pounds for our furniture veryquickly, so let us borrow the money out of Mr. Danesfield's letter.But Rose, darling, how do you know there is any money in the letter?You have never opened it and you can't see inside."

  "I've never opened it, certainly," said Primrose, "but from a hint Mr.Danesfield gave me on the last day I saw him, I believe there arethree five-pound notes in the letter. Of course I am not sure, but Iam nearly sure."

  "Well, let us get the letter and open it," said Jasmine, "and then ourminds will be at rest. Oh! there is Daisy waking out of her nice nap.Daisy, darling, would you not like to go and live at Miss Egerton's?You know you are fond of Miss Egerton, and she is turning out a verykind friend. Won't you like to live always in her nice house, Daisylove?"

  Daisy's little face had flushed painfully when Jasmine began to talk,now it turned white, and her lips trembled.

  "Are there--are there any little birds there?" she asked.

  "Oh, Eyebright, what a silly question! Primrose had she not betterhave her beef-tea. I think Miss Egerton keeps a canary, but I am notsure."

  "I'd rather not have any little birds about," said Daisy, with greatemphasis, "and I'd greatly, greatly love to go. I like Miss Egerton.When shall we go, Primrose?"

  "In a day or two," said Primrose. "We have just got to buy a littlefurniture, and I'm going to open my trunk now, and get a letter outwhich I know has money in it. Yes, we'll very soon go away from here,darling, and Miss Egerton has thought of this delightful planentirely to please you. She says you will be much, much better whenyou are out of this house. Oh, Daisy! how bright your eyes look, andhow pleased you seem."

  "Yes," said Daisy, "I am delighted; we need never walk down thisstreet again, need we, Primrose? and we need never to have anything tosay to the Doves, most particularly to Mr. Dove; not but that he'svery kind, and he's--oh, yes! he's my friend; yes, of course he toldme he was my friend, but we needn't ever see him again, ever, _ever_again, Primrose, darling?"

  "Oh, Daisy! what a funny child you are! If Mr. Dove is your friend,why should you not wish to see him? He is not my friend, however;indeed, I may say frankly that I don't like him at all. Now drink upyour beef-tea, darling."