A City Schoolgirl and Her Friends

  CHAPTER XIII.

  YOUNG HOUSE-HUNTERS.

  It had become a custom that Vava should accompany her sister to the Cityon Saturdays and sit in the housekeeper's room, and on these occasionsMr. James would drop into Mrs. Ryan's room on some pretext or another,and ask how she was getting on at school or how she liked London.

  This morning she had her algebra to do, and was puzzling over adifficult problem, for mathematics was not her strong point, when thejunior partner appeared, and seeing her occupation, exclaimed, 'Well,Miss Vava, how are you? And how's the algebra getting on?'

  'I'm quite well, thank you, Mr. Jones; but my algebra isn't. MissCourteney says I have not a mathematical brain, and I don't know how Iam to get one,' replied Vava.

  'I shouldn't bother about a mathematical brain. I don't see what womenwant with mathematics myself; but as for that problem, I'll show you howto do it,' said the good-natured young man, sitting down beside her andpatiently explaining the difficulty.

  'Thank you ever so much. I wish you taught me mathematics--by myself, Imean. Miss Courteney is a very good teacher; but, you see, she hasthirty of us, so she can't explain each sum to each girl as you haveexplained this to me. Besides, the others don't seem to want so muchexplanation as I do,' cried Vava, delighted at understanding at last adifficult rule.

  'Is that so? I will teach you, if you like to bring your work to me, forhalf-an-hour on Saturdays; I'm generally slack the first half-hour afterI have given your sister her letters,' he said.

  'Oh I wish I could; but I don't know if Stella will let me, she'sso'----Vava stopped suddenly.

  'So what?' demanded Mr. Jones, laughing.

  'So afraid of my troubling you, and she does not like my making friendswith people,' explained the girl; and then, to change the conversation,she told about the new house they were going to see.'

  'I should think it would be a very good plan, and a great deal morecomfortable than your present lodgings,' said Mr. Jones promptly.

  'How do you know?' asked Vava, opening her eyes, for Mr. Jones had neverbeen to their lodgings, and she had never mentioned them to him, forStella had forbidden her to speak about them or complain of discomforts.

  'Lodgings are mostly uncomfortable,' said Mr. Jones, 'and Blackstead isa very healthy suburb.'

  Here Vava looked more astonished still.

  'How did you know it was Blackstead?' she cried, for she had notmentioned that either.

  'Didn't you tell me? Oh well, some one did, and I suppose it is nosecret, is it?' he replied, looking a little annoyed.

  'Oh no; only I wondered how you knew the name,' said Vava, and she tookno more notice of his knowledge, and chattered on gaily about the newhouse, adding, 'Stella and I are not going to get anything on thehire-system; she says she could not enjoy sitting in an arm-chair thathad not been paid for.'

  Mr. Jones nodded approval. 'That's quite right, and just what I shouldexpect from your sister. It's not a good way of setting up house; savefirst and furnish afterwards is my motto. I have known many cases ofyoung householders starting in this way and getting deeper and deeperinto debt as expenses increased. But I think it is a good move, and willnot be much more expensive; only you must have some elderly person tolook after you. If I may give a piece of advice, it is to get _nofurniture_ yet.'

  'Stella says she will only get simple, light furniture, because we haveour own furniture at home, only it is too big to bring down, and somehorrid people have it now.'

  Mr. James looked very grave. 'Why do you call them horrid? Have they_spoilt_ the furniture, or are they horrid themselves?' he demanded.

  'Oh no; they are not really horrid, and they have not used the furnitureyet. They are only horrid because they have taken our house from us, andStella says that's not their fault. But I don't agree with her; I callit mean to take advantage of another person's not being business-like towin his property from him, and that's how my father lost his.'

  Mr. Jones did not reply to these remarks, and Vava, who liked to beagreed with, persisted, 'Don't you think it was rather a mean thing todo?'

  'I don't know all the facts of the case; but I hope it was a fair andsquare deal, and I should think it was,' he replied at last; but he didnot seem to want to talk about it, and after finishing the lesson he gotup and went away.

  But Stella was horrified when Vava repeated this conversation to her.'How many times am I to tell you not to talk of our private concerns tostrangers?' she exclaimed.

  'Well, you must have been talking about them yourself, or how did Mr.Jones know we were going to take a house at Blackstead?' retorted Vava.

  'You must have mentioned the name yourself, and you ought not to havedone so. I certainly never did; besides, we are going to view a house,not take it,' corrected her sister.

  'As it happens, I could not remember the name, and that's why I was sosurprised when Mr. Jones said it,' observed Vava.

  Stella was thoughtful for a moment, and then she said, 'I don't know whocan have told him, for only Mr. Stacey knows, unless he heard it fromsome one at your school. He is a governor, and sometimes goes there, andI suppose asked about you, and heard so.'

  'I never thought of that; of course that's it!' cried Vava; and thenthey met the other two and lunched together.

  'Have some pepper?' said Eva suddenly, and produced a quaint littlepepper-pot from her bag.

  'Is this another piece of furniture?' demanded Stella, smiling.

  'Yes, it cost a halfpenny,' said Eva.

  'It looks it,' said Amy severely.

  'It will have to go into the kitchen; I won't eat out of it,' declaredVava, pushing it away with pretended scorn.

  'People don't eat out of pepper-pots,' remarked Eva, shaking some on toher plate.

  'It's full! Did you get the pepper and all for a halfpenny?' they cried.

  But Eva shook the pepper steadily out till her plate was covered and theother three were sneezing. 'You seem to have colds,' she observed atlast.

  'Eva, you are a perfect plague with your purchases,' said Amy, laughing.

  'I got it at a penny bazaar--two for a penny; here is the other,' saidEva, producing a second, and preparing to empty it.

  But Vava made a dart at it, and after a struggle secured it. 'No more ofthat, thank you,' she declared.

  'You need not have excited yourself; it's empty,' said Eva.

  Amy pushed her chair back. 'If you have finished, Miss Wharton, I thinkwe had better start. I know what Eva is like when she gets into one ofthese moods, and she is better when she is moving and her mindoccupied.'

  As Stella had finished, she willingly agreed to set off, and they weresoon in the train for Blackstead and on their way to No. 2 Heather Road.

  'Oh Stella, do let's live here! It feels so fresh, and the trees arebeginning to bud, and these are quite nice gardens!' cried Vava.

  'We will see. The house may be damp or very small and dark, or quiteunsuitable,' said Stella cautiously.

  But when they came to the semi-detached villa it was none of thesethings, but a pretty bow-windowed house, with a nice little garden infront, and there was a very pretty garden next door, where they knockedand asked for the key, which was handed to them by a maid, who said,'The master will be round in ten minutes to see if you like the place.'

  'By the way, I don't know the name of the landlord,' said Stella, as shetook the key and walked off with the others.

  'That's awkward. Wasn't it on the order to view?' inquired Amy.

  Stella laughed guiltily. 'I believe it was; but, to tell the truth, Idid not look. It was very unbusiness-like of me. However, we shall knowif it comes to anything.'

  'But we sha'n't know what to call him,' said Eva.

  'It doesn't matter. Let's go over the house--it looks lovely to me.--OhStella, there is a tiny lawn, and a tree in the middle, and fruit-treesround the sides, and an arbour with a little table in it. Oh we musttake this house; I should love to live here!' cried Vava withenthusiasm.

  'You can't liv
e in the arbour; let us go and look at the house,' saidStella; but Vava and Eva had opened the back-door, which led into thegarden, and their voices were heard exclaiming in delight as they foundprimrose and violet plants and an early snowdrop, and fruit-trees whichmight be apples or pears or plums.

  From the next-door drawing-room window a girl watched them, but keptwell behind the curtain. 'They like it, mother; I believe they will takeit,' she said to some one within the room.

  'I hope they will; they will be very nice, quiet neighbours; but, mind,I will not have you running in and out and intruding upon them.'

  Meanwhile Stella and Amy were looking over the house, and they found alarge bedroom, three smaller ones, a nice bathroom, and twositting-rooms, one looking on the garden and one on the road, and akitchen, 'which is almost the pleasantest room in the house,' saidStella.

  'Yes, and it is all on two floors. I do hope the landlord will agree toour taking it together,' said Amy.

  At that moment the landlord rang the front-door bell, and the two girlswho went to meet him were agreeably surprised to see such a fine,dignified man.

  After some talk, the man said, 'I fancy you do not know who I am?'

  'No-o, I forgot to read your name,' Stella admitted.

  'And my daughter did not tell you either, for some foolish reason. Myname is Hackney,' said the man.

  But Stella looked puzzled. 'Your daughter? Do I know her?' Then a lightdawned upon her. 'Is Doreen Hackney your daughter? I had forgotten hername. That is very nice for Vava, as they are great friends at school.'

  Amy was surprised to see the pleased and relieved look on Mr. Hackney'sface. 'So Doreen says, and I hope we may come to terms. Your lawyerseemed satisfied. I suppose you know he wrote to me? I can only say Iwill do all I can; and now, if you will accept a cup of tea my wife willbe honoured.'

  Stella did not know Mr. Stacey had written, but accepted the invitationvery simply. She liked this simple, straightforward man, and called thetwo girls in from the garden to come to tea at the landlord's.

  'Mrs. Hackney has kindly asked us to have tea with her,' she said; butshe had no time to say more, for they were at the house, and Mr. Hackneytook them into the drawing-room, where they found Mrs. Hackney andDoreen.

  'Doreen!' cried Vava, and stood still in astonishment, and then, asDoreen came forward, she added mischievously, 'Please, Stella, I don'tthink we had better stay, as Doreen does not approve of knowing hernext-door neighbour.'

  Mrs. Hackney laughed; and though Stella was a little shocked at Vava'swant of manners, she smiled at sight of the two girls' pleasure and theamount they had to say to each other.

  'Doreen is an only child, and was very delicate, though she looks strongnow, and we sent her to a farm for a couple of years, where she haslearnt rough ways. It has been a great thing for her your sister makingfriends with her; but it must just go as far as you wish out of school,'said Doreen's mother.

  'It may go as far as you like; I could not wish for a nicer companionfor Vava,' said Stella.

  And Vava heard her with surprise. 'You are a naughty girl, Doreen, andyou annoyed me very much yesterday; and now I should think you havelearnt that honesty is the best policy,' she said to her friend.

  'I was so dreadfully afraid your sister would not come if she knew,'said Doreen.

  'Then what would have been the use of her coming, only to refuse whenshe did know?' inquired Vava with some reason.

  'Oh I was sure if she once saw the house and garden she would take it,because it is such a nice one!' cried Doreen.

  Stella only smiled, but Vava whispered, 'I'm sure we shall come here.Stella never speaks until she is quite certain of a thing, and ourlandlord approves.'

  And then, after a very dainty tea out of a silver teapot and fineporcelain, the four turned homeward, talking eagerly about 'our newhome,' as they called it.

  Stella Wharton and Amy Overall sat leaning back in opposite corners ofthe carriage, smiling at the grand plans of the two younger girls, whowere arranging the rooms and furnishing them with ideal furniture, whichchanged every few minutes, as did the wall-papers, except Eva's bedroom,which always had a paper covered with roses. 'I have always dreamt ofliving in a cottage covered with roses; but, till I do, I am going tomake shift with a bedroom covered with rose-pink roses climbing abouteverywhere in large bunches tied up with blue ribbons,' she affirmed.

  'Roses don't climb about tied up with ribbons,' remonstrated Vava, andthen they all laughed at Eva's mistake.

  'Oh well, I meant hanging about; I have seen papers like that, all pinkroses and blue ribbons, and longed to have one; and now that I canchoose my own paper that's what I'm going to have.--And oh, MissWharton, do have a crimson hall; it makes you feel warm the minute youget into a house!' cried Eva.

  'And what about summer--you want to feel cool then? I think a greenpaper would be best,' argued Vava, and in discussing the merits of thedifferent colours the journey was soon at an end, and the four, as theyoften did, wound up the evening together at Bleak House, where thematron generally arranged a musical or card evening for the girls whoboarded with her.