with the grey fur; and it suited you so well."
I was wearing one of my summer dresses which my step-mother had alteredfor me shortly after she came to us. It was made of pale-blue crepon,which had been rather ugly, but she had put on a beautiful lace tucker,and had arranged the skirt so that my growing length of limb was not sodiscernible.
"It isn't your dress," continued Hermione--"never mind about it--nobodycares what any one else wears on Christmas Day--but it is your face."
"And what about that?" I said.
"You are so much better-looking."
I felt myself flushing.
"I wish you wouldn't laugh at me, Hermione. It isn't kind. I can'thelp being plain."
"No," said Hermione, putting her head a little on one side. "Nothingwill ever give you remarkably good eyes, or much of a nose, or anythingspecial of a mouth; but you have got a complexion now, and your cheekshave filled out."
"Oh, I was always fat," I said.
"Well, but they look different," she said; "I can't tell why."
I knew, but I would not enlighten her. I knew that it was the excellentfood that I now had, and the warm rooms to live in, and the goodinfluence of a comfortable home. I was not going to betray myself,however.
"You must be having a jolly time," said Hermione. "Oh! if anything wereto give me a step-mother, I should pine and long for a sort of GraceDonnithorne."
"She is a dear," I said.
Hermione looked at me very gravely.
"Dumps," she said, "you don't like her in your heart."
"Hermione, how dare you say it?"
"You know you don't. The moment I saw you I was certain of it."
"I wish you wouldn't read people like that," I said.
"I saw it, and I was sorry; for the fact is, you have only known Gracefor a little--a very little--time."
"For two months," I said.
"And I have known her ever since I have known anybody at all."
"Then, of course, it is natural that you should be fond of her."
"Not at all. There are other people I have known, so to speak, from mybirth. There is old Mr Chatterton, and there is Mrs Frazer. Now, Idetest fussy Mrs Frazer, and I run away a mile from Mr Chatterton. Itisn't the time I have known Grace, but because she is what she is."
"Well, I suppose," I said, "you are going to give me a lecture abouther?"
"No, I am not; but I am simply going to say this--that you are in rareluck to have got the most amiable woman in the whole of Essex to be yourstep-mother. And then, Dumps dear, she is so jolly rich! She can giveyou all sorts of comforts. And what is more, she is awfully fond ofyou; she said so."
"Fond of me? She couldn't be!"
"She is, poor darling! She said so in such a loving and sad way justnow. I know why she is sad; it is because you won't return her love."
"Never mind," I said, jumping to my feet. I went over to the window andlooked out.
"Hermione," I said, "let us talk of something else."
"Of course. For instance, how will you like your new school?"
"What new school?"
I sprang towards her; I took her by her shoulders; I turned her round.
"Oh! have I let the cat out of the bag?" said Hermione. "Didn't youknow you were going?"
"There!" I said; "and yet you tell me to like her. Has she beenplanning this?"
"It is awfully wrong of me to speak of it; but I thought, of course, youknew."
"But I don't want to go."
"Oh, won't you, though? Now look here, Dumps. You mustn't make a fuss;you must be patient; you must--you really must--for I am going with you.It's to a jolly, jolly school in Paris. We'll have a nice time--I knowwe shall."
"Paris?" I said.
Now, what London girl doesn't own to a secret hankering for Paris--Paristhe gay, the fascinating, the beautiful? Nevertheless, after my firstshock of pleasure I was very wary. I said after a pause, "Perhaps youhad better not say any more."
"No, I won't, as you didn't know. It's very odd; you'll be toldprobably to-morrow."
"I suppose so," I said.
There came a knock at the door. Hermione said, "Come in;" and Augustaintruded her face.
"It seems a great pity you should be here," she said. "I thought I'dtell you."
"Come in, Miss Moore; make yourself at home," said Hermione.
"Thank you so much," said Augusta, "but I couldn't come in."
"And why not?" asked Hermione.
"Because he is talking--he is lecturing downstairs. We are alllistening.--I thought it would be such a frightful deprivation for you,Dumps, not to hear him. I rushed upstairs; he was blowing his nose--Ithink he has a cold. I must go back at once. Do come down, if youdon't want to miss it. It's about the time of Herodotus; it's mostfascinating--fascinating!" She banged the door after her and rushedaway.
"Is that poor girl mad?" said Hermione slowly.
"I think so," I answered. "She has conceived a violent worshippingattachment to father. She thinks he is the soul of genius."
"Well, he is, you know. You, as his daughter, can really hold a mostdistinguished position; and now that you have got such a step-mother asMiss Donnithorne, and you yourself are to be sent to--oh, I forgot, thatsubject is taboo. Well, never mind; when you come out you will havequite a good time, Dumps, I can tell you. Your step-mother means to dothe right thing both by you and the boys. You will have a splendidtime, so just do cheer up and be thankful for the blessings whichProvidence has showered upon your head."
PART TWO, CHAPTER FIVE.
A QUIET TALK.
Christmas Day came to an end, and the very next morning, when I wasalone with my step-mother, I asked her what Hermione meant by her words.
"Oh, she has told you?" said Mrs Grant.
She was sitting by the fire in the little drawing-room; the stuffedbirds and the stuffed animals surrounded us, but the room was neverclose, and it had the faint, delicious smell of cedar-wood which hadfascinated me so much on the occasion of my first visit.
"Sit down, Dumps," she said, holding out her hand to take one of mine.
"But please tell me," I said.
"Well, yes, it has been arranged. Your father would like it, and sowould I. You go on the 21st of January. It is a very nice school, justbeyond the Champs Elysees. You will be well taught, and I think thechange will do you good."
"You suggested it, didn't you?" I said.
"Yes, naturally."
"Why naturally? I am his child."
"My dear, you know his character; he is so absorbed in those marvellousthings which occupy his great brain that he hasn't time--"
"Oh, I know," I said bitterly; "he never had any time, this wonderfulfather of ours, to attend to us, his children."
"Dear, he has given you into my care, and, believe me, I love you."
"I believe you do," I said in a gentle voice.
"Some day, Rachel, I am sure you will love me."
I was silent.
"Tell me about the school," I said.
"I know all about it, for it belongs to a very special friend of mine,and I am certain you will be looked after and all your best interestspromoted."
"And Hermione Aldyce goes too?"
"Yes; she is a very nice girl, and a special friend of mine."
"I know."
"You will, I am sure, Dumps, do your utmost to attend to your studies.You will soon be sixteen; my intention is that you should remain at theFrench school for two years, and then come back in time to enjoy some ofthe pleasures of life--some of the pleasures, dear, as well as theresponsibilities, for we never can dissever one from the other."
I was silent. Why did I like her and yet dislike her? I had thoughtthe day before when Hermione spoke of school that I should wildly rebel,but as I sat there looking at her placid face it did not occur to me torebel. I said after a minute, "Step-mother, until I love you better,may I call you by that name?"
"I have given you leave," s
he said in a low tone.
"I have something to confess," I said.
"What is that?" she asked.
"I did not buy any thing useful out of the ten pounds you gave me."
"Your father's dress allowance?"
"You know it was yours."
"Your father's," she repeated.
"I will tell you how I spent it," I said; and then I described to herall about the ribbons and the chiffons