CHAPTER XXVII.
THE POOR DOVES.
The next morning early Primrose opened her trunk, and unlocking acertain little morocco case, which contained her mother's letter abouther lost brother, one or two trinkets which had belonged to that samemother, and Mr. Danesfield's envelope, she took the latter out of thecase, and slipped it into her pocket. After breakfast she went roundto see Miss Egerton.
"An old friend," she said, "in the village where we lived--I wouldrather not say his name--gave me this. I believe it contains money. Ihave a kind of idea that it contains three bank notes for L5 each. Ihave never opened it, and I never wish to. I meant to return it someday to this kind friend--yes, I know he meant to be very kind. This iswhat he has written on the outside of the envelope."
Miss Egerton read aloud--"When you want me, use me; don't return me,and never abuse me."
"There must be money here, my dear," she said.
"Yes, I know there is money," said Primrose, "for he wanted to pressfifteen pounds on me when I went to say good-bye; but I was too proudto accept it, so now I think he has thought of this way of helping us.We could buy our furniture out of some of that money, Miss Egerton."
"Quite so, dear," said Miss Egerton, in a very cheerful voice. "Giveme the letter, Primrose, and I will put it carefully away for you; youneed not open it just at this moment. I will order just as littlefurniture as possible, and have it sent in to-day, and then when thebill comes you shall pay out of this envelope. I should not besurprised if we did our furnishing for seven pounds; I thought of somany nice, cheap little expedients last night. Now go home, dear, andcome to me again in the evening, and I will tell you what I have done.I have no doubt I can have your rooms ready by to-morrow; is Daisypleased at the idea of coming?"
"Yes, she is delighted," said Primrose; "her dear little face quitechanged when I spoke about it. I am sure you are right, Miss Egerton,and the change will do her lots of good."
"I mean to make your attics quite charming," said Miss Egerton. "Theyshall be converted into a kind of beautiful palace for my brave youngworkers. Yes, Primrose, I admire your spirit, and if I can do anythingto aid you three girls to conquer fate, I will."
The moment her school duties were over Miss Egerton went out. Shevisited certain shops that she knew of--queer little, quaint,out-of-the-way shops--quite pokey little places; but from their depthsshe managed to extract one or two round tables, one or twoeasy-chairs, a few brackets, which could be easily converted intobook-shelves, a certain sofa, with not too hard a back, a couple offenders, some fire-irons, some cups and saucers, some dinner plates.These and a few more necessary articles she bought for what would haveseemed a ridiculously low figure to any one who was not in her secret.The furniture was all conveyed to her neat little house thatafternoon, and there it was absolutely pounced upon by her willing andhard-working servant who washed it, and scrubbed it, and rubbed it,and polished it; and, finally, Miss Egerton purchased bright chintz,and slipped it over the ugly little chairs, and covered up theantiquated old sofa, and that very night a certain amount of her workwas got through, and the attics began already to look habitable.
"I mean to do a great deal more," thought Miss Egerton; "fortunatelythe paper is fresh and the paint clean; but I must put up two or threepictures, and I shall fill these book-shelves with the books I used tolove when I was young. My own white sheep-skin rug shall go in frontof the fire. Daisy will like to see the Pink curling down into thedepths of that sheep-skin. Ah, yes! the girls shall have a goodtime--a cosy, home-like time--in these rooms, if I can give it tothem."
Then Miss Egerton went downstairs to meet Primrose with a smile abouther thin lips, and a serene, beautiful light in her kind eyes.
"They are getting ready--the rooms are beginning to look charming,dear," she said. "Oh no, you must not see them yet. It is my fancy notto show them to you until they are quite ready, and I fear that won'tbe until the day after to-morrow; but to-morrow, Primrose, you andJasmine and little Daisy may occupy yourselves packing your trunks."
"It all sounds delightful," said Primrose. "You cannot think, MissEgerton, how cheered we all are at the thought of coming to you. As toDaisy, I simply should not know her--she is a changed child. I toldthe Doves that we were leaving as I went out this afternoon. Theylooked rather cross, and Mrs. Dove asked for a week's rent, instead ofthe usual notice. But I can manage to pay that nicely. I won't staynow, dear Miss Egerton. I'm going round to see Mr. Jones about theplates he was to try and sell for me, and then I shall hurry back toDaisy."
"Take her this fresh egg and this little sponge-loaf for her supper,"said Miss Egerton. "Now good-bye, dear. God bless you, dear!"
"It is wonderful what kind friends we girls seem to meet at everyturn," thought Primrose to herself, as she hurried down the dirty,sloppy street. "It would be very strange if we did not succeed with somany people wishing us well. Oh! I feel in good spirits to-night. Evenif Mr. Jones has not sold the plates I shall not complain."
Mr. Jones assured his industrious pupil when she entered his darklittle shop that he had "all but" got a customer for her. The customerwas a wealthy old gentleman, who had a passion for collecting china,and, in special, liked the work of beginners. The old gentleman hadlooked at Primrose's plates, and had said that they were very fine,and had a certain crudity or freshness about them, which, for hispart, he took to; and if she had three or four more lessons he feltmorally certain that he would purchase her wares.
"He's a splendid customer, but he was most explicit on the point ofmore lessons, Miss Mainwaring," said Mr. Jones.
"But you have found me so many 'all but' customers who just wished meto have a few more lessons, Mr. Jones," said Primrose, smiling sadly.
"None like the present man--none like the present man, my dear younglady," answered Mr. Jones, rubbing his fat hands softly together. "Aman who likes crudity, and calls it freshness, ain't to be found everyday of the week, Miss Mainwaring."
Primrose admitted this fact, and, bidding her teacher good evening,without committing herself to any definite promise of taking furtherlessons, she turned her steps homewards. Even Mr. Jones had scarcelypower to depress her to-night. She felt brave and bright, and all heryouth made itself manifest in her springing, elastic step. Now thatshe was about to leave them, she felt horrified at the thought ofhaving lived so long with the Doves. Her sense of relief at thethought of making her home with Miss Egerton was greater than shecould express.
She entered the house, and came upstairs singing a gay air under herbreath.
At the door of their attics she was met by Jasmine.
"Oh, Primrose! I have been watching for you. I am so glad you havecome. I cannot think what is the matter with Daisy."
"With Daisy?" echoed Primrose; "but I left her so bright two hoursago."
"She was bright an hour ago, Primrose; she was sitting on the floorwith the Pink in her arms, and laughing and chatting. I put on mybonnet, and left her alone for about ten minutes while I ran roundthe corner to get what we wanted for our supper, and when I came backshe was sitting with her hands straight before her in her lap, and thePink standing by her side, and looking into her face and mewing andDaisy not taking a scrap of notice, but with her eyes fixed straightin front of her in quite a dreadful way. When I went up to her andtouched her, she began to shiver, and then to cry, and then she said,'oh Jasmine! we can't go away from here--we can't; oh, we can't! Wemustn't do it, Jasmine; we must stay here always, always!'"
"Poor little darling!" said Primrose. "She must have had a bad dream;certainly Miss Egerton is right, and her nerves are very much shakenand she wants change as soon as possible. Is she in the bedroom,Jasmine?"
"Yes."
"Will you cook the supper, and I will go to her?"
Jasmine nodded, and Primrose went straight into the other room. Herlittle sister had once more flown to the Pink for consolation; she washolding the little animal tightly in her arms, and was rocking herselfbackwards and forwards, and sobbing
under her breath.
Primrose knelt down by her.
"What is it, my own little darling?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing, Primrose," said poor little Daisy, raising hertear-stained face; "nothing really, dear Primrose, only I don't liketo leave the poor Doves."
"Oh, is that all?" said Primrose, in a very cheerful tone. "Why,Daisy, you did not at all mind leaving them a couple of days ago; butif you are really fond of them you can still see them occasionally,for we are not going far away."
"I don't wish to leave the poor Doves," repeated Daisy, bending downover the Pink, and her tears falling afresh.
"But, Daisy dear, how very funny of you to speak like this! You know,darling, you must allow Jasmine and me to decide for you; we feel thatyou will be much happier and much more comfortable with Mrs. Egerton.Come, Daisy, these tears are very bad for you in your weak state. Letme wash your face and hands, and take you into the other room to anice surprise supper sent by Miss Egerton."
But Daisy only shook her head, and bent lower over her cat, andrepeated over, and over, and over:
"I can't go away from Mr. and Mrs. Dove."
Poor Primrose became really alarmed at last.
"Daisy," she said, "there must be some reason for this sudden changein your wishes. You were quite delighted at the thought of going toMiss Egerton's an hour ago, when Jasmine was here; Jasmine went out,and when she came back she found you in this state. Did you seeanybody while Jasmine was out?"
"N--n--no--I mean--I mean I can't say. Don't ask me, Primrose. Oh,Primrose, I'm such a miserable little girl! but please, please, pleasedon't take me away from the poor Doves."
Daisy cried herself nearly into hysterics, and Primrose had at last topacify her by assuring her that they were not going away from theDoves just yet.