The Squire's Little Girl Page 8

and made her happy. WithMiss Fleet's advent these things changed; and although the good womanwas far too sensible not to know that it was right that her dear littlelady should have the best instruction in the world, yet there were timeswhen she did not think that Miss Fleet quite understood Phyllis; thepresent occasion was one of these. If Phyllis had slept soundly allnight--had slept the sleep of absolute exhaustion--Nurse had oftenawoke, and once even, drawn by a low, deep sigh from the little sleeper,had got out of bed, lit a candle, and scanned the small white face withno little anxiety.

  "If this sort of thing goes on she will do for her, sweet littledarling," thought the nurse. "She wants to cram her dear little headwith all sorts of useless knowledge, and never once, never for a minuteto think that the lamb needs play and laughter and companions. Why,bless her! it did my heart good to hear her laughing yesterday, when sheand those young romps found their way to the big attic. Well did Iguess what they were after, the termagants, and small idea had I oftelling madam where they were. I wonder now what I can do to cheer upmy little pet!"

  So when Phyllis the next morning had looked piteously at Nurse, and hadasked if her father was at all likely to be back within two days, Nursehad put a large bath-towel over the can of hot water, had stirred up thefire, and then, going close to the little girl, had spoken.

  "You tell me all about it, darling," she said--"all, every single thingabout it. The Squire did not a bit want to go to London, but it wasbusiness took him there. Why do you want him to be back so mortal badin two days' time?"

  Phyllis's face turned first red and then pale.

  "Because I made a promise," she said, then slowly, "and the promisehurts me awfully; but it was only for two days. If Father stays longeraway I know I shall get very naughty again. Nursey, I mean to benaughty; I mean to be. I will have them back again, Nursey, and I willgive them every sort of thing they want; and I will go and see them, andI will disobey her. Oh! it is horrid of me, but I have not kept backanything from her. She knows quite well what she has to expect; I havebeen fair to her, and she knows--it is for two days. It is what youcall an--an amnesty--is not that a long word?--and it is just for twodays."

  "Oh, but, my pet, you ought not to be naughty, you know," said Nurse,who felt she must read a little moral lecture to her charge. "It is I,darling, who would like to give you companions and every other mortalthing you want; but there, my pet, the governess is set over you by themaster, and I suppose you must obey her."

  "For two days, yes," said Phyllis.

  She did not say any more, but a very heavy sigh escaped her lips.

  Nurse and she then plunged into the mysteries of her toilet, and at theusual breakfast-hour a very sprucely dressed, nice-looking little girljoined her governess in the schoolroom.

  Meanwhile the children of the Rectory were having very varied opinionswith regard to Phyllis. Rosie announced that she thought Phyllis quitethe most captivating and beautiful little girl in the world; but Susie,who had been even more fascinated, announced gravely that she thoughtPhyllis, for all her fascinations, was in the wrong.

  "It was delightful to steal up into the attic and have our stolen tea,"she said, "and to be promised those lovely, most, most fascinatingplaythings; but all the same what a state she had that governess of hersin! And--well, anyhow, Rosie, I would not do that sort of thing to myown mother. I would not be deceitful to her, and have friends when shedid not approve."

  "As if that horrid Miss Fleet could be compared to our mother!" saidRosie somewhat hotly. "There, Sue, you are talking nonsense, and I amnot inclined to listen."

  As to the boys, they declined absolutely to discuss Phyllis; Ralph feltthat he was in a sort of fashion Phyllis's chosen prince.

  "We do not understand, and we cannot pretend to," he said. "She willsee us again when the right time comes; there is nothing I would not dofor her, of course, but I cannot talk of it."

  Susie burst into a merry laugh, and Rose looked attentively at herbrother. Ralph turned on his heel; he felt very like a knight ofancient romance, and Phyllis was the fair lady whom he was to rescue.He did not like to own it to himself, but he was very much hurt at theway things had gone, and very much puzzled with regard to Phyllis'sextraordinary behaviour; and he wondered how things were going to end.At school that morning he was not quite so attentive as usual, and wentdown a place in his form, and altogether did his lessons in thatunsatisfactory way which is the usual result of being absent-minded.Instead of joining his brother and Susie and Rosie for their usual walk,he slipped away by himself, and of course he went in the direction ofthe Hall. He often peered through the trees to catch a glimpse of thedear little figure of Phyllis dressed in its pretty brown, with her rosycheeks and bright eyes. At last, to his great delight, he saw herwalking by herself in the distance. She was walking slowly, andevidently was lost in thought. The sight of her was more than Ralphcould withstand. He ran fast, and soon was standing breathless andexcited by her side.

  "Oh Phyllis!" he said. "Oh Phyllis!"

  Phyllis turned at once when she saw him, and her rosy cheeks got white,and there came a very puzzled look into her eyes.

  "Ralph," she said, "I cannot explain anything. You must go away. No, Icannot give you any message. I have promised, and I must--yes, I mustkeep my word. Perhaps some day you will know, and I can tell you. No,I won't say another word. Go away, please--please."

  There was something not only entreating but also commanding in Phyllis'sface, and Ralph knew at once that he must obey her. He turned,therefore, very disconsolately, walked about twenty yards, and thenlooked back.

  "Have you anything to say?" he cried.

  "No," she answered; "and I won't even speak if you ask me anotherquestion, for I have promised, and I must keep my word."

  CHAPTER TEN.

  Nurse did not often take the bit between her teeth, as she expressed it,but the time had now come when, in her opinion, she ought to do so.Accordingly she made an excuse to go into the town soon after breakfast,and sent off a telegram on her own account to the Squire.

  The little message was worded as follows:--

  "Dear Master,--If you cannot come back in two days, please send for Miss Phyllis to town. Urgent.--Nurse."

  This rather startling telegram reached the Squire in London about themiddle of the day. Now, it so happened that he had made arrangementsnot only not to return to the Hall in two days' time, but, further, togo with a friend on special and urgent business to Scotland. They wouldboth be travelling about a good deal, and to have Phyllis with themwould be absolutely impossible; so the Squire contented himself withwriting a long letter to Nurse, and giving her an address which wouldfind him in case of need, and enclosing a five-pound note, which was tobe spent on any special thing which Phyllis liked best to have. He alsowrote to Miss Fleet, not, of course, alluding to Nurse's telegram, butspeaking with great affection about his child.

  "You must be as good to her as ever you can," he said. "I need scarcelysay that I know you will be. I am sorry to be so long away from thedear child, but she will have her little friends, and doubtless theircompany will do much to sweeten her life."

  This letter Miss Fleet received the following morning. She read itdeliberately. Phyllis watched her face all the while.

  "Well," said Phyllis, who had been as good as gold on the previous day,"when is Father coming back?"

  "He does not say a word about coming back, Phyllis. Oh yes, though; hesays in his postscript that we must expect him when we see him."

  "Then he will not be back to-morrow night?"

  "Certainly not, dear. He is going to Scotland."

  Phyllis's face turned very white. Miss Fleet looked full at her.

  "My dear," she said, "you have pleased me much by your conductyesterday, and I trust until your father's return you will be equallygood; then I shall have a delightful report to render him."

  Phyllis made no remark. She would keep her word, certainly, as far asit went, but to
-morrow she fully meant to see the children of theRectory. This night would end the second day of her promise; she wouldconsider herself free the next morning. With all her faults she was avery honest child. She looked full at Miss Fleet now.

  "I won't deceive you," she said. "I made you a promise, and I will keepit; but, please, you can understand that my promise ends to-night. Imean that when this time to-morrow arrives, I won't have made you anypromise with regard to being good or bad."

  As Phyllis uttered these words the governess's eyes rested on thatportion of the Squire's letter which expressed satisfaction at hislittle girl's having companions to play with.

  "If he knew," thought Miss Fleet, "what thoroughly