and the gloves and the stockingsand the handkerchiefs.
"The stockings were needful," she said, "and so were the gloves andhandkerchiefs. So much ribbon was scarcely essential, but it can bepassed over. The hat you bought was vulgar, so I trust you will notwear it again."
"What?" I said. "That lovely green hat with the bird-of-Paradise init?"
"It is very unsuitable to a girl of your age."
"I got it in one of the smartest shops in Regent Street."
"Anything that is unsuitable is vulgar, Dumps. I hope you will soonunderstand that for yourself."
"Oh, I have a great deal to learn," I said, with sudden humility.
"You have, my dear; and when you take that fact really to heart you willbegin to learn in grave reality, and you will be all that your fatherand I long to make you."
"But I'm not the least like father; he could never appreciate me, for Iam so different from him. If, for instance, I were like Augusta--"
"I wonder, Dumps, if it would greatly distress you if Augusta also wentto the French school?"
"What?" I said. "Augusta! But surely she cannot afford it?"
"I think it could be arranged. I take an interest in her, poor child!There is no doubt she is wonderfully clever; but just at present she isvery one-sided in all her views. Her intellect is somewhat warped byher having all her aspirations and desires forced into one channel."
"Then, step-mother, you are going to support her?"
"Certainly not. It is true I may make it possible for those who couldnot otherwise afford it. I have spoken to her mother on the subject,and perhaps her mother can be helped by some of her relations; it wouldcertainly be the making of Augusta."
"You are wonderfully kind," I said.
"What am I put into the world for except to help others?"
"Is it true," I asked suddenly, and I laid my hand on her lap, "that youare very rich?"
"Who told you that?" she said, the colour coming into her face. Shelooked at me in a distressed way.
"Only I want to know."
"All I can tell you in reply to your question is this: that whatevermoney God has given me is to be spent not on myself but for Him--for Himand for those whom I am privileged to help. I do not want to talk ofriches, for it is impossible for a child like you, with your narrowexperience, to understand that money is a great gift; it is a talentlittle understood by many; nevertheless, one of the most precious ofall. Few who have money quite know how to spend it worthily."
Alex, Charley, and Von Marlo bounded into the room.
"We can skate, if you don't mind," said Charley, "on the round pond amile from here. We didn't bring our skates with us, but there are jollynice ones in Chelmsford. Do you mind?" he asked.
"Certainly not, dear," said Mrs Grant; "and what is more, if there isgood skating I am going myself. What do you say, Dumps? Do you knowhow to skate?"
"No," I answered. "How could I? I never learnt."
"Few girls can skate," said Charley.
"This girl shall learn," said Mrs Grant. "Come, come, children; we'llgo off as fast as ever we can, to get the best skates to be obtained."
PART TWO, CHAPTER SIX.
LEARNING TO SKATE.
Certainly my step-mother was a patient teacher, and certainly also therewere few more awkward girls than I, Rachel Grant, on that afternoon.The stumbles I made, the way I sprawled my legs, the many falls I had,notwithstanding my step-mother's care! Both Alex and Charley laughedimmoderately. It was Von Marlo, however, who in the end came to therescue.
"Mrs Grant," he said, "you are dead-tired. I have been able to skateever since I was able to walk. May I take Miss Dumps right round thepond? Will you trust her to me?"
"Oh yes, do let him!" I said.
My step-mother agreed, and a minute later she was flying away herself asthough on wings, with Charley on one side of her and Alex on the other.Notwithstanding that she was a stout person, she looked very graceful onthe ice. She could cut figures, and she set herself to teach the boyshow to manage these exquisite and bird-like movements.
Meanwhile Von Marlo and I skated away after a time with a certain amountof success. He was taller and stronger than my step-mother, and hetaught me a Dutch way of managing the business; and after a time I wasable to go forward with the help of his strong hand, and so theafternoon did not turn out so very disastrous after all.
As we were going home Von Marlo asked if he might walk with me. MrsGrant was standing near; she said "Certainly," and we started offtogether.
"Not that way," he said; "I don't want to go straight back. We havenearly two hours before dinner, and I want you to take me a very longway round."
"But I don't know Chelmsford specially well," I replied.
"Oh, I've been poking about a bit by myself," he answered. "We'll justwalk up this road to the left, then plunge into the woods; they look soperfect with the snow on the ground."
I took his hand, and we walked along bravely. I was warmed with theskating; my cheeks were cold; my heart was beating heartily; I felt acurious exhilaration which snowy air and even most badly executedskating gives to every one.
When we entered the woods Von Marlo slackened his steps and looked fullat me.
"You are as happy as the day is long," he said.
I made no reply.
"If you are not you ought to be so," was his next remark.
I turned then and stood quite still and faced him.
"You make too much fuss," I said. "If you and Alex and Charley wouldleave the subject alone I might get on better with her. But you neverwill leave the subject alone. When I speak to her you all three look atme."
"I didn't know that the others looked; I couldn't help it, you know,"said Von Marlo.
"But why should you do it? After all, you know much less than theothers do."
"That doesn't matter." Von Marlo held out his hand and took mine. "Iwant to say something to you, Dumps. You are quite the nicest andpluckiest girl I have ever come across. I know lots of girls at TheHague, and they are pretty in their way; but I never saw anybody quiteso pretty as you are."
"Oh Von!" I said, and I burst out laughing. "I do wish you wouldn'ttalk rubbish like that. Why, you know that I am very--very--downrightugly."
"I know nothing of the sort," he replied. "To me, a face like yours, soround, and eyes so grey, and--well, I think you are beautiful."
I saw at last that he was speaking the truth. Perhaps I was the Dutchstyle. I knew I should never certainly be the English style. After amoment his words were soothing. It was well if even a Dutchman couldthink me nice.
"And you are so brave," he continued. "Looks don't matter very much, ofcourse. They do a little, but you are so plucky, and you have alwaysbeen so good at home, although now you are just having a rare chance ofturning yourself into--"
"Well?" I said, for he stopped.
"Into a vixen."
"Oh dear!" I cried.
"Yes; you know you are not what you used to be, and it is because of thebest woman in the world. So I do want you to try--"
"Stop!" I said. "I won't do what you want, so now let us change thesubject."
The colour came into his face.
"Perhaps," he said, "the best thing I can do is to tell you about my ownstep-mother."
"Have you one?" I asked.
I looked at him with very keen interest. "Yes. I do not rememberanybody else. I don't remember my own mother."
"Oh, well, that is different."
"I do not think it is so different, for in some ways it is harder for methan for you."
"Isn't she nice. Von?" I asked.
"She means to be," he said; "but she is severe. She doesn't love me asEnglish school because I am not wanted at home."
"Poor Von!" I said. "And have you ever been rude to her?"
"Oh no," he answered; "I couldn't be that--my father wouldn't allow it."
He was silent for a bit, and so was I silent.
"What is she like, Von?"I asked.
"She is what you English would call plain. She is very stout, with agood figure, a high colour, and black eyes, only they're rather small.She is an excellent housewife, and makes good dinners, and sees to thehouse and the linen and the servants. My father thinks a great deal ofher."
"And you have brothers and sisters--half brothers and sisters?" I said.
"Oh yes; a great many. My step-mother loves them best, of course, butthat cannot be