we're only here for a few days."
"I shall be delighted to make them for you," Blanche replied pleasantly.
And the perfect good taste of her manner increased the favourableimpression she had created.
Indeed, that afternoon at Alderwood bade fair to see her and her sisterexalted into the rank of heroines. It was plain that "taking up" theDerwents was to be the fashion in the neighbourhood, and to a lessentirely single-minded and well-balanced nature than Blanche's, theposition would not have been without its risks. But, without cynicism,she appreciated the whole at its just value. The neglect andindifference and stupid exclusiveness shown to them during their firstfew lonely months in England had been a lesson not lost upon her, allthe more that she had in no way exaggerated its causes.
"There are lots of kind people in the world, I suppose," she said toStasy, whose head was much more in danger of being turned than her own."But there are not many who go out of their way to make others happier,like dear Lady Hebe, or to help them practically, like kind Mrs Bracy;and the sort of attention that comes from ones being in any wayprominent is really worth very little."
"I know," Stasy agreed. "People are very like sheep; still, Blanche,the Enneslies are very nice girls. You are not going to advise mammanot to let me go to see them, when they asked me so very kindly, and notat all in a patronising way. You have always wanted me to have nicecompanions."
"Mamma can judge much better than I," said Blanche. "I should not thinkof advising her one way or the other, though I hope she will let you goto spend a day with the Enneslies."
"Really," said Stasy, "if it's to be made such a fuss about, I'd muchrather not go; if I were a poor apprentice, I should be allowed `a dayout' now and then, I suppose."
For Stasy's temper just now was, to say the least, capricious. She wasgrowing tired of the steady work required of her, now that the firstblush of novelty and excitement had worn off. And this invitation tothe Enneslies, a simple and informal affair, such as there could be nopossible objection to for any girl of her age, was but the precursor ofothers, which, while they gratified Mrs Derwent to a certain extent, yetgave her cause for a great deal of consideration and some anxiety.
"Stasy is too young," she said to Blanche, "too young and excitable togo out, even in this ungrownup way, as much as would now be the case ifwe laid ourselves out for it. And for her it would not be the simplesort of thing that it is for girls in an ordinary position. Wherever wego, you would just at present be more or less picked out for notice andattention, and however kindly that may be meant, it would not be goodfor Stasy."
"Nor for me either, mamma," said Blanche. "I dare say I should get veryspoilt. I know I feel dreadfully lazy after these garden-parties andthings of the kind, and disinclined to do anything at all."
"My darling," said her mother, "I can scarcely imagine anything spoilingyou. The spoiling would go deeper with Stasy than in the common senseof the word, for immediately people began to make less of her, she wouldbe exaggeratedly embittered and cynical."
"We must save her from that," said Blanche eagerly; "and it is just whatwould happen. Still, mamma, I think we should let her have all thechange and recreation possible, for she does work so hard--harder thanshe needs. She throws herself so intensely into whatever she is doing.She gets as flushed and nervous over a hat as if her life depended uponit."
"It is even better when she is doing some lessons," said Mrs Derwent,"and the classes will be beginning again soon. We must just take thingsas they come, Blanchie, and do our best."
So a great part of the invitations that were sent to them wascourteously declined on the plea of want of time, none being acceptedsave such as it was desirable for Stasy to take part in, and which didnot involve the expense of long drives or of much loss of working hours.
One day early in October, "business"--to use Miss Halliday'sexpression--"being rather slack just then," Mrs Burgess made herappearance in a great state of excitement. She wanted some caps atonce, as she was going off unexpectedly on a visit.
It was late in the afternoon. Blanche had persuaded her mother to goout for a little stroll. Miss Halliday, in her corner of the shop, had,to confess the truth, been indulging in a little nap, and Stasy, somelace-frilling in her hands, which she was working at in a ratherperfunctory way, glancing between times at a story of thrilling incidentin a volume lent her by the Enneslies, was feeling unusually restful andcontented.
"I do hope no one else will come to-day," she thought to herself. "Itis nice to have a little breathing-time before the winter season begins,which Miss Halliday expects to be such a success."
Suddenly the shop door opened. Miss Halliday started up, looking andfeeling very guilty.
"Good-afternoon, Miss Halliday," said Mrs Burgess, the new-comer. "Dearme, what a colour you are! I hope you're not going to get apoplectic!Where is Miss Derwent? I must see her at once;" and she proceeded toexplain the reason of her visit, and the urgency of her wants.
Now, Mrs Burgess's caps were even more marvellous works of art than LadyHarriot's bonnets. They had indeed set Stasy's teeth on edge to such anextent that Blanche had taken them altogether into her own hands,especially since some over-plain-speaking of Stasy's on the subject hadgone very near to deeply offending the doctor's wife.
No visitor could have been more unwelcome. What imp had suggested toBlanche the desertion of her post that afternoon?
"I am sorry," Miss Halliday replied, as she collected her scatteredfaculties, speaking with unusual dignity as she took in the sense of MrsBurgess's uncalled-for remark on her own appearance--"I am sorry, butMiss Derwent is not in at present. If you will kindly explain to mewhat you want, I will do my best, and I will tell Miss Derwent allparticulars as soon as she comes back."
"No," interposed Stasy, coming forward, before Mrs Burgess had time toreply. "You are tired, Miss Halliday: I know you had a bad headachethis afternoon. Let me take Mrs Burgess's orders;" and she darted awrathful glance at the visitor. "Miss Halliday apoplectic indeed!" shethought inwardly; "_she_ looks far more so herself."
The doctor's wife looked at Stasy rather dubiously. She had not thesame faith in the young girl as in her elder sister, and at the bottomof her heart she was a little afraid of Stasy, whom she was given todescribing to her own friends as an impertinent, stuck-up little monkey.But her friends did not always agree with her--that is to say, notthose among them who had benefited by the girls cleverness, or beenfascinated by the charm of manner Stasy could exert when it suited her.
Furthermore, there was no choice. The caps must be had by a certainhour the next day, and as Mrs Burgess expected a guest to dine at herhouse that evening, she knew she would have no time to call again.
"I'm sure Miss Anastasia's taste will please you," said Miss Halliday,full of gratitude to Stasy, and recalling dire failures of her own intime past, anent Mrs Burgess's head-dresses.
"Ah well," said the lady, "you will do your best, I have no doubt, mydear, and I will explain exactly, so that you scarcely can go wrong.See here"--and she drew out a little parcel from the voluminous folds ofher cloak--"I have brought one of my old caps as a pattern. This onewas made by a French milliner in London, and was a great beauty in itsday."
"Indeed," said Stasy, as she took up the crumpled and faded articlegingerly by the tips of her long delicate fingers. "That was a goodwhile ago, I suppose, though of course fashions change quickly. You donot wish this to be copied exactly?"
"You couldn't do it if you tried," said Mrs Burgess, already on thedefensive, as she scented danger.
"No," replied Stasy, with apparent submissiveness, "I don't suppose Icould. But if you will be so good as to take off your bonnet and putthis cap on, it will be a guide as to the size of your head and the fit.Then I can show you some lace and flowers, or whatever you prefer."
It took some little time for Mrs Burgess to divest herself of her bonnetand veil, as precautions had to be observed lest the remarkable additionto her somewh
at scanty locks, which she called her "chignon," shouldcome off too. But at last the feat was safely accomplished, Stasystanding by and eyeing her the while with preternatural gravity.
Then the cap was hoisted to its place and adjusted with the help of ahairpin or two, Stasy marching round and round her victim, so as to geta view from all sides, with no more regard for Mrs Burgess, who was hotand flurried, and very doubtful as to the behaviour of her chignon, thanif the poor woman had been a hairdresser's block.
"Yes," she said at last, composedly, "I quite see how it should be.Miss Halliday, please