Blanche: A Story for Girls

more of the future wife of Mr Norman Milward.

  Rosy was conscious of the underlying disappointment, though she couldnot have defined it.

  "I wish I could invite them to come to Crossburn," she thought toherself. "I don't like to see such a young girl so subdued and almostsad. But unless grandmamma would call, of course I can't, and I'mafraid there is no use in trying for that."

  The Milwards had no mother, and their father's mother, who had to someextent brought them up, was old, and naturally disinclined to make newacquaintances without strong motives for doing so; somewhat narrow andexclusive she was, too, in her ideas, and in this a great contrast tothe old friend, with whom, nevertheless, she had much in common--MrsSelwyn.

  Just as Miss Milward was feeling about for some other topic ofconversation which might interest her companion, Stasy bent towards her.

  "Would you mind telling me who the girl is on my other side--she can'thear, she is speaking to some one else?"

  Rosy glanced across Stasy: she had forgotten for the moment who wassitting there.

  "Oh yes," she said; "that is--let me see. I often confuse the twofamilies: they are cousins. Oh yes; that is Miss Wandle--Florry Wandle,Mrs Harrowby calls her. She helps a good deal with the guild. She hasa nice, pretty face, hasn't she?"

  "_Very_ pretty," Stasy agreed, and she meant what she said, andsomething in Miss Milward's tone gratified her. There was a tacit andtactful taking for granted that their little commentary on Miss Wandlewas from the same point of view: there was no touch of surprise thatStasy did not already know the girl, or that the Pinnerton Green folkwere not of the Derwents' "world."

  Then they went on to talk a little of the guild and its interests, tilla summons to Miss Milward to help at the tea-table interrupted the_tete-a-tete_. But Stasy's mercurial spirits had risen again, and theyrose still higher, when, encouraged by an almost imperceptible signalfrom Lady Hebe, she ventured to leave her place, and, as one of theyoungest present, volunteered her services in handing about bread andbutter and cakes.

  And Blanche, meanwhile? On entering, she had at once been led over tothe other end of the room, which was a long one, by Mrs Harrowby, andensconsed in a corner beside Lady Hebe.

  "Now, I want to talk to you very seriously, Miss Derwent," saidBlanche's "girl with the happy face."

  "Mrs Harrowby and I are counting on your doing great things to help us.You see it is such a disadvantage in any little work of this kind forthose who principally manage it to be so much away. And if you _could_take interest in it, it would be such a good thing for the girls. For Isuppose"--and she glanced up with a touch of apology--"I suppose youwill not be going to London for the season _this_ year, as you have comehere so lately?"

  "No," said Blanche simply, "we shall certainly stay here. I doubt if weshall ever go to London except for a day or two's shopping: we have nofriends there."

  "It will be different, of course, when you have been longer in England,"said Hebe. "And," she added with a smile, "when your sister comes out,I scarcely think _she_ would be satisfied with nothing more amusing thanPinnerton, however content _you_ are."

  Blanche coloured a little.

  "You think me better than I am," she said. "I should enjoy--things--too, but if one can't have them? But I think I _should_ mind for Stasymore than for myself. She is naturally more dependent on outside lifethan I. She does feel it very dull and lonely here, and I wish she hadsome companions." Hebe looked and felt full of sympathy.

  "I hope your life here will brighten by degrees," she said. "Don't youthink your sister would do something to help us, too? She seems soclever."

  "Yes, she is very quick, and she can be very amusing," said Blanche."We should both be glad to do anything we can. But have you not a goodmany helpers already? And those other ladies--the residentshere--_they_ don't go away. Could not they take charge in your absencemuch better than a stranger like me?"

  She glanced across the room to where Miss Adela Bracy, a small,capable-looking, dark girl, was at the moment saying something in a lowvoice to the rosebud-faced Florry Wandle. Lady Hebe's eyes followedhers.

  "They are very good, so far as they go," she replied, "but they are notquite capable of taking the lead. And they have really as much to do asthey can manage. It is some one to replace myself when I am away that Iwant to find. And I could explain it all to you so well, and get advicefrom you too, I have no doubt."

  "I am very ignorant about such things," said Blanche.

  "Yes, but you have a good head, and you"--here Hebe smiled and blushed alittle--"well, you must know how I mean. It would be so differentexplaining things to you: you would see them from our point of view.These girls are very good-natured and nice, but I never feel sure thatthey perfectly understand."

  And then she went on to tell Blanche further details about the littlework she had inaugurated and carried on--so simply, and yet earnestly,that Blanche's full interest was quickly won, and they went on talkingeagerly till tea and interruption came, as Hebe had to help Mrs Harrowbywith her hostess duties.

  After tea, some of the ladies drew a little closer together: they werethe committee, I believe, and Mrs Harrowby read aloud, for the benefitof all present, a short report of the work that had been done during thelast three months, and then some one else sketched out what they hopedto do during the summer, and what they were in want of to enable them tocarry out these intentions. Then Lady Hebe announced Miss Milwardsoffer of a day's entertainment for the girls at Crossburn House, andMiss Milward was duly thanked; and there was a good deal of practicaland some very unpractical talk, during which Mrs Harrowby and Hebemanaged to introduce the Misses Derwent as new members whose assistancewould be of great value, Hebe going on to say that Miss Derwent hadkindly consented to take her own place during her absence in London.Altogether, it was cheerful and informal, and, to Stasy especially, veryamusing.

  But just as the Derwents were beginning to feel more at home, andBlanche had been introduced to Rosy Milward, and Stasy was laughing atMiss Wandle's despair about _her_ girls' insubordination at the singingclass, which was her special charge, there fell a wet blanket on thelittle party. The door opened, and "Lady Marth" was announced.

  Hebe's face sobered. She had not expected her guardian's wife to callfor her, as she had promised to be back before the hour at which LadyMarth wished her to drive with her to Blissmore, and Hebe was a verypunctual person.

  "Josephine!" she exclaimed. "It is not late. You said you did not wantme till--"

  "Oh no, you are not late," said the new-comer, after shaking hands withMrs Harrowby and one or two others. "I only came on because Archie"--and here she suddenly turned and looked round her--"where is he? Ithought he was behind me--"

  "Who--Archie Dunstan?" said Hebe.

  "Yes; he wanted to see you about something or other--fishing orsomething--and he did not venture to come on here alone, when he heardthere was a meeting going on. But it's over, isn't it? It doesn't lookvery solemn."

  "Well, I think we have discussed everything we had to settle," said MrsHarrowby, getting up again from the chair beside Lady Marth, which shehad momentarily occupied. "I must say a word or two to Miss--Oh, herehe is, Lady Marth--here is Mr Dunstan."

  CHAPTER ELEVEN.

  RUFFLED PLUMAGE.

  "Yes, here I am," said the young man, as he entered the room andhastened up to Mrs Harrowby, no one suspecting that in his rapid transithe had managed to take in the fact of certain individuals' presence."Yes, here I am; and I should apologise, I know, but it is all LadyMarth's fault. She dragged me here, and then left me in the lurch withthe ponies at the door, quite forgetting I was not the groom. And then,no doubt, she has been wondering `what in the world has become of thatArchie.'"

  The few within hearing could not help laughing, he reproduced socleverly Lady Marth's coldly languid tones.

  She laughed herself, and her laugh was a pleasant one.

  "You are very impertinent," she said. "And as for dra
gging you here--you _know_ you were dying for an excuse to get in to see what one ofHebe's meetings was like. He reminded me of the legendary female whoexists in so many families, you know, whose husband was a Freemason, andshe hid herself to overhear their secrets," she went on, to MissMilward, who happened to be nearest her, Mrs Harrowby by this timehaving crossed the room to Florry Wandle and her cousin.

  "Well, my curiosity has not been rewarded--nor punished," said MrDunstan.

  And as he spoke he glanced at Blanche, who was standing a little behindRosy. He had already shaken hands with her, in an unobtrusive,friendly,