youdon't quite understand this time."
"Oh!" I said.
"You want a quiet, plain dress; let me recommend you to get it the firstthing to-morrow morning. Peter Robinson has some very nice dresses foryoung girls; and Evans, just a little farther down Oxford Street, hasperhaps even smarter costumes. You ought to get a very nice dress forabout four guineas. It would be wrong to spend more. A warm coat and anice short skirt would be the thing. Shall we go to-morrow morning toEvans's?"
"No, thank you," I replied.
"But, my dear child, you want a dress. Well, perhaps you will get oneof the girls to go with you."
"I would rather," I replied. I gathered up all my parcels in my armsand prepared to leave the room.
"Just as you like, dear; but remember we go on the 24th to HedgerowHouse."
"On the 24th; yes, step-mother, thank you."
I went upstairs.
PART TWO, CHAPTER THREE.
CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY.
After all, Christmas Eve was jolly. You may cherish a feud against themost innocent and good-natured person in the world with all your mightand main; but unless you are specially wicked you cannot bring it intoprominence when every one else around you is in the best of goodspirits.
It was altogether a very merry party which started off by train fromLiverpool Street _en route_ for Hedgerow House. We seemed to have leftcares of every sort behind us. The boys were absolutely unruly in theirmirth. As to father, he elected to go in a smoking carriage. This wasa very keen disappointment to Augusta. I saw her start from her seat asthough she would accompany him; but not being invited--indeed, theProfessor did not even see her--she sank back again and solaced herselfby eating chocolates and reading a German book the whole way down.
"Don't you ever want to watch the scenery?" said Von Marlo in his slowDutch fashion.
"Yes, when it is worth looking at," she responded. She glanced at him."You are a foreigner?"
"Yes, a Dutchman."
"I don't approve of Dutchmen."
She lapsed back into her German. Von Marlo thought it well to changehis seat. He came nearer to me.
Oh, I forgot to say that Hannah was also of the party. Now, she had notwished to come; she had objected very strongly; but my step-mother,there was no doubt, was beginning to win Hannah over. Hannah came to myroom that very morning when I was dressing to go, and said, "Miss Dumps,I do hope you won't take it amiss, but--"
"Why, what is it, Hannah?" I asked.
"Well, I'm going too."
"I'm very glad," I said.
"'Tain't that I like her a bit better than I did," said Hannah--"not abit. She's a step-mother, and what's a step-mother but a sort of personwho is in league against the children of the first wife? I've sworn tobe a friend to the first wife's children. Didn't the poor lady come tovisit me in a dream the very night I heard of your pa's marriage, anddidn't I promise that I'd never leave you? And didn't she come againlast night in another dream and tell me to go down to Hedgerow House--not for my own enjoyment, but to be close to you, Miss Dumps, and thetwo dear boys? So I'm going. Those new servants can look after thisplace. 'Tain't what it was."
"Indeed it isn't, Hannah. I am very glad you are going with us. And tobe honest, Hannah, isn't it now, frankly, very much nicer than it was?"
"Not to my way of thinking," said Hannah. "The house now is at thatwork what I 'ates."
"The house?" I said. "What is the poor house doing?"
"Pushing out old memories; that's what this 'ere house is busy over.Every room that gets decked up new is pushing out the old memories--thememories of the time when that poor, dear shadow walked from room toroom trying to get a glimpse of sunshine. She'll soon be gone, poordear! That's what I call the behaviour of the house, so don't ask me ifI like it better, for I don't, and that's flat."
Had I been at all wise I should have talked sensibly to Hannah; but inmy heart of hearts, although knowing that she spoke the most absolutenonsense, I could not help partly agreeing with her.
The very last thing I did before leaving was to take mother's miniatureand stuff it into the bottom of the little old horse-hair trunk whichhad been unearthed from a distant garret for me. Nothing would induceme to take my step-mother's new trunk on this special journey. I wasnot too well dressed, either, for I could not possibly buy the smart,warm costume which my step-mother had set her heart on, and up to thepresent I had given her no reason for this. But then I had endlessribbons--sky-blue, pink, mauve, even green; and I had quantities ofchiffon bows and chiffon ties, and good gloves and good stockings, andlovely handkerchiefs. I felt that I would pass muster, and turned adeaf ear when Mrs Grant came somewhat anxiously to my room to know if Idid not want a corner of her trunk for some of my prettiest dresses. Itold her that the horse-hair trunk held all I required, and she wentaway.
Well, at last we got off, and we were in the train. Good-bye, dullcare! This was Christmas-time--the time of presents, of fun andhilarity. I had taken good care to bring all my Christmas-boxes withme.
When we arrived at Chelmsford Station there was a great wagonettewaiting for us, drawn by a pair of brown horses. My step-motherimmediately took the reins. We all scrambled in; father was huddled inone corner occupied with his Greek Testament. When he had nothing elseto do he always read his Greek Testament.
Augusta pushed herself into the seat exactly opposite to him; she bentforward and stared fixedly into his face; but he never once looked ather. I am certain he did not see her. Occasionally she said "Oh!" inquite an audible tone. I felt that Augusta would be quite enough tokeep any one from perfect bliss if she went on in such an idioticfashion.
"What is she doing?" whispered Charley to me.
"Oh, let her alone," I said; "she is worshipping him."
"Worshipping him?" he cried.
"Yes; don't you know?"
"I'll prick her with a pin," he said.
"Oh, you mustn't--you really mustn't! Do let her alone, poor thing!You see, she sees a kind of glory round father which we don't."
"My word, I should think not!" said Charley. "Poor, dear old Professor!Of course, he's a jolly old dad and all that sort of thing, but--"Charley gave a low whistle.
Augusta's voice was now heard.
"You were reading that passage aloud; I heard it," she said. "Would yougreatly mind raising your voice a little?"
The Professor lowered his book.
"Eh?" he said.
Then he dropped his glasses. They were _pince-nez_, and as he droppedthem one of the glasses fell out. The wagonette had to be stopped, andwe had all to search for the missing glass; and so Augusta's questionwas never answered, for when the glass was found it was slipped into itscase, and father readjusted his _pince-nez_ on his nose, and went onreading as though nothing had happened.
Augusta looked round at me.
"It would have been such a valuable help," she said, "and so very littleextra exertion to him."
"Oh, don't talk to him while he's reading," I said. "I'll get you achance if you're good; but do just make an effort to keep your feelingsto yourself."
We had now reached the house, and we all tumbled out of the wagonette.I do think there is no other way of describing the manner in which weleft that vehicle. Mrs Grant immediately assumed the manners ofhostess. She gave directions to the groom who had brought the carriage,flung him the reins, and then spoke to a man who was waiting. This mandisposed of what luggage had been brought in the carriage; the rest wasto follow in a cart. Then we entered the house.
Its smallness, its bewitching appearance, the little drawing-room withthe stuffed birds and stuffed animals, the dear little dining-room, thepretty bedrooms upstairs, were invaded as though by a horde of ants.Nancy was curtsying and bobbing at the hall door. She welcomed me asthough I were a very dear friend, and personally took me up herself tothe identical room where I had slept before. It was just as sweet andfresh and fragrant, and the brightest of fires burned in the
grate; butthere was an extra bed in one corner, which in itself was disconcerting.
Then Augusta appeared and flung down an ugly leather valise, which shehad brought her clothes in, on the snowy white counterpane, and said,with a sigh, "Oh, wonderful--wonderful! Marvellous beyond words toexpress! I am here! I am here!"
"Augusta," I said stoutly, "if you go on in that fashion you'll be araving lunatic before Christmas Day is over. Now pull yourself togetherand be sensible. You'll never get father to talk to you if you keep onstaring at him and interrupting him. We are going to