CHAPTER XLII.
A NEW EMPLOYMENT.
At an early hour the next morning Mrs. Dredge and Primrose started forRosebury, and poor Jasmine and Poppy prepared to have a long andlonely time by themselves. Poppy hoped that Jasmine would cheer up,and look at that lovely printed story of hers, and perhaps read italoud to her; but poor Jasmine was really nearly broken-hearted, andsaid once almost passionately--
"How can I look at it, Poppy, when I don't know where our littledarling is? Did she not share my secret? And she was so proud of meand she always would believe I was a genius. I can't look at it,Poppy--no, I can't; but if you like to open the manuscript, and readwhat is printed of the story, why you may. Yes, I expect you will findit exciting. Sit down and read it, Poppy, and I will go to the windowand look out. Oh, dear! oh, dear! Primrose promised to send me atelegram when she got to Rosebury. Oh, what shall I do if I don't soonhear some news of my darling little Daisy?"
"Seeing as I can't comfort you, Miss Jasmine, I may as well take toreading the mysterious, lovely story," answered Poppy. "Maybe whenyou're having your dinner bye-and-bye, miss, you won't object to metelling you what I thinks of it."
"Only I shan't care in the least what you think to-day, dear Poppy,"answered poor little Jasmine, in a tone of deep melancholy.
She went and stood by the window, and Poppy ensconced herselfcomfortably on the sofa, and began to enjoy herself as best she couldunder the circumstances.
In about an hour there came a tap at the door, and Arthur Noel camein. Jasmine gave a little pleased exclamation when she saw him; thenshe ran forward, took his hand in hers, and burst into tears.
"Daisy is lost," she said; "our sweet little Daisy, who loved you somuch, is lost."
"It's inferred that she's gone down with a single third to Rosebury,sir," here interposed Poppy.
"Come and tell me all about it, Jasmine," said Noel, in his mostsympathizing tones. He led the poor little girl to the sofa, and,sitting down by her, listened attentively to her story.
"But the Ellsworthys are in London," he said, when he heard that Daisyhad gone to them.
On hearing this news poor Jasmine burst into floods of fresh weeping.
"Oh, then she's sure to be quite lost!" she said. "Oh, Mr. Noel, ifyou are in any sense a true friend, won't you try to find her?"
"Yes, Jasmine; I will never rest until I find her. I am glad I came into-day. I came to ask you to do something for me, but I find you wantmy help instead. I will come here this evening, about the time yoursister is likely to be back, and I will then go and look for Daisy, incase she is not found. Don't be frightened, Jasmine, I am quite surewe shall soon get tidings of the dear little girl."
"And do you know," said Jasmine, who felt a little comforted, "that wehave not only lost Daisy, but all our quarter's money. It is mostmysterious. Primrose gave Daisy a check to take care of for her, andDaisy says she has gone away because the cheque is lost. We have nomoney now that the cheque is lost, except just what Primrose earnsfrom Mrs. Mortlock."
"There's a likelihood of some more earnings presently, Miss Jasmine,"here interposed Poppy, in a cheerful voice; "there's a likelihood of agood bit more money when this powerful and thrilling romance ispublished."
"Your story, Jasmine?" said Noel, "and in type? Who did you get topublish it, my dear child? Oh, you must let me read this."
"Another time, please, Mr. Noel. I don't think I could quite bear itto-day," said Jasmine.
Noel looked at her earnestly.
"I wonder, Jasmine," he said, "even though you are in such trouble, ifyou would be brave enough to help _me_, and to earn a little money today? I want you to do quite a simple thing, and something you willprobably enjoy. I have never read any of your romances, but I haveoften noticed that you possess rather remarkable artistic tastes, andthat you have a very correct eye for the arrangement of color. I havebeen struck with this even in this little room, and I happened tomention my observations one day to a lady who is a friend of mine.That lady is giving a dinner-party to-night, and she wants some one toarrange the flowers on her table in as fresh and new a style aspossible. Will you come with me to her house now, and see what you cando? She will provide you with the flowers and the glasses to put theminto, and you can arrange them on the table just as you like best. Shewill give you a guinea for the work, and I think you will find itlight and pleasant."
Jasmine's eyes began to sparkle.
"Oh! at another time it would be delightful," she said.
"But don't you want a guinea very badly now? Don't you think you hadbetter put on your hat and come away with me, and try to earn it?"
"I will," said Jasmine, with sudden enthusiasm. "Oh, Mr. Noel, howgood you are! How I wish I had a brother, and that you were he!"
Noel took Jasmine to his friend's house, where the little girl beganby being almost frightened, but soon forgot herself in the stronginterest of her pleasant work. Noel was right when he said Jasmine hadtrue artistic instincts. Certainly, hers was untaught genius, but herunerring taste came to her aid, and Mrs. Daintree's dinner-table neverlooked prettier or fresher than when the little maiden had completedher work. The room was bright and sunny, but Jasmine gave the table abower-like and cool effect, and she not only dressed the dinner-tablebut placed flowers here and there about the room. Mrs. Daintree wasdelighted, and asked the pretty little girl to come again to arrange adinner-table for her the following week.
With her golden sovereign and her shilling tucked tightly away in herglove Jasmine did not feel altogether miserable as she went home; eventhough Daisy might still be lost, those first earnings were sweet. Sherushed upstairs and told her tale to Poppy, who sympathized mostwarmly with her. Very soon after her arrival a four-wheeler was heardto draw up to the door, and Mrs. Dredge alone returned.
"I have left Primrose at Rosebury," she said; "we have made inquiries,and there is no doubt a child resembling Daisy went down by the nighttrain yesterday. We have searched high and low, however, but cannot atpresent get any trace of her. Don't look so pale, Jasmine, she mustsoon be found. Primrose is staying with Miss Martineau, and they arenot leaving a stone unturned to find her. Most likely they have doneso by now. Don't cry, Jasmine; take example by your sister--she's afine plucky bit of a lass, and does not waste her time in tears whenthere's something to be done."
"Yes, that's just it," said Jasmine; Primrose has got something to do,but I haven't--I can do nothing to find my little darling! Oh, Mrs.Dredge, are not you awfully frightened about her?"
"Tut, tut, my dear, not a bit of it! Of course, when a little lassruns away all by herself there are most times difficulties in gettingtrace of her, but don't you be in a way, for they won't last long."
Poor little Jasmine sighed, and all her deep depression returned. Shewas soothed again, however, by the sight of Noel, who came in verysoon afterwards. He said he had seen the Ellsworthys, and meant to godown to Rosebury by the night train.
"I'm pleased to hear it, young man," said Mrs. Dredge; "you're doingjust what my Joshua would have approved of had he been alive. Eventhough Joshua was in the chandlery line he had a truly noble heart,and one of his mottoes was that the strong should help the weak, andif shoulders are made broad they should carry big burdens, so you godown to Rosebury, young man, and prosper in your work."
Noel smiled.
"I will certainly do my best," he said; "I quite agree with yourhusband's sentiments."
"Well, well, young man, Joshua would have liked to know you in hisday. Dear, how stupid I am! but I didn't rightly catch your name. Whatare you pleased to call yourself, sir?"
"My name is Arthur Noel."
"Well, what a small world we live in; it was only to-day I heard talkof you. When Miss Primrose and I were down at Rosebury we came acrossa gentleman of the name of Danesfield, and he came straight up to MissPrimrose and said he had had a letter from you which he had not beenable to answer, because he was away. He said a lot to Miss Primroseabout the letter you wrote him; it seems
that somebody must havestolen three five-pound notes, which Mr. Danesfield put into a closedenvelope, and gave Miss Primrose for a kind of emergency fund whenshe left her home. The poor lassie turned as white as a sheet when hetalked to her. Well, young man, you look white enough yourself at thepresent moment, but I'll tell you, now, what has struck me, thatwhoever took the three five-pound notes helped himself or herself tothat cheque of Miss Primrose's, and that poor little Daisy knows aboutit."
"I should not be the least surprised if you were right, Mrs. Dredge,"answered Noel. "Well, I must go now if I want to catch my train.Good-bye, Jasmine keep up your heart--expect good news soon, and getall the orders you can for dressing dinner-tables."