A Bevy of Girls Page 9

determined nature. She was fully resolved that nothingwould really induce her to give up her walk with Flossie Griffiths.Flossie was her dearest friend. Between Flossie and Nesta had sprung upthat sort of adoring friendship that often exists between two younggirls in that period of their lives. Flossie and Nesta declared thatthey thought alike, that when a thought darted through the brain of one,it immediately visited the other. Every idea was in common; all theirplans were made to suit the convenience of each other. Nesta used tosay that Flossie was like her true sister, for her own sisters were ofcourse absorbed in each other.

  "There are Molly and Ethel, they are always hugger-muggering," she usedto say. "What should I do but for my Flossie? I am quite happy becauseI have got my Flossie."

  Therefore, to have to tell her that she could not walk with her, couldnot confide secrets to her, could not be so much in her company justbecause there was a tiresome old mother at home, who ought to be nursedby an equally tiresome elder sister, a confirmed old maid, was more thanNesta could brook. She had made up her mind, therefore, what she woulddo. She would not confide her scheme to her sisters, but after dinner,instead of going to her mother's room, she would slip out of the house,rush down a side path in the garden, get into the wood, and go off toFlossie's house. The idea had come into her venturesome brain thatmorning; but she was quite cautious enough to keep it to herself. Sheknew well that with regard to such an escapade she would have nosympathy from her elder sisters. They were highly pleased with thecomplete day of liberty which lay before them. They had planned itdelightfully. They were resolved to ask the Carters to have tea withthem in the summerhouse at the far end of the garden. They had so oftenbeen at the Carters' house, now it would be their turn to entertainthem, and they should have a right good time. They had coaxed Susan,the parlour maid, into their conspiracy, and Susan had proved herselfagreeable. She said that hot cakes and several dainty sweets should beforthcoming, and that the two Miss Carters should have as good a tea asshe and cook could devise between them.

  "But not a word to Marcia," said Molly, "and for goodness' sake, not aword to Nesta. She is so greedy that she would be capable of comingdown and helping herself to the things in the pantry if she knew."

  Nesta did know, however; for nothing ever went on in that house that shedid not contrive to learn all about, but as she herself had a schemequite ripe for action, she was determined to leave her sisters alone.

  "One of them will have to go to mother," she thought, "and goodness mewhat a fuss there'll be. Of course, mother can't be left alone, and Icannot be got back in a hurry, particularly when Flossie and I'll be outand away the very minute I get to her house. Marcia is going by trainto visit that tiresome Angela St Just. I heard her telling father sothis morning. I wouldn't be in Molly's shoes, or in Ethel's shoes.Yes, it will be Molly's turn--I wouldn't be in Molly's shoes. Dear,dear! What fun it is! It is quite exciting, we live in a continualsort of battle, each of us dodging the others."

  Nesta had to be very careful, and to keep the watchful eyes of hercompanions from fixing themselves too much on her face.

  Marcia came down to lunch that day neatly dressed, with her hat on.

  "Did you leave mother to put your hat on?" asked Ethel, in a vindictivetone.

  "No, mother helped me to dress. She was most particular. She has verygood taste when she likes."

  "She is everything that is good; don't run her down to us," said Molly.

  They had, it may be perceived, almost dropped the Coventry system. Itwas tiresome and uninteresting when nobody took any notice of it.

  "Nesta, dear," said Marcia during lunch, "you will be very careful aboutmother. I think you are going to have a nice afternoon. I have lefther so well and comfortable, and so inclined to enjoy herself."

  "Oh, yes," said Nesta.

  "That's a good girl," said Marcia. "I see by your face that you aregoing to make us all happy."

  "I hope so," replied Nesta.

  These remarks would have aroused the suspicions of Molly and Ethel onanother occasion, for they would have considered them wonderfully unlikethe pert Nesta; but they were absorbed by the thought of their own teaparty, and took no notice.

  Marcia had to hurry through her lunch in order to catch her train. Shetold her sisters she would be back about nine o'clock that evening andwent away.

  "Now, Nesta, it is your turn," said Molly. "You ought to be going tomother. Do go along and make yourself scarce. Do your duty; it's nouse grumbling. She's off now for her fill of pleasure, and we cannotget her back. Horrid, mean, spiteful old cat!"

  "You can't be called Miss Mule Selfish for nothing, can you?" saidNesta.

  Molly laughed at this.

  "Doesn't it sound funny?" she said. "I'll tell--"

  She stopped herself. She was about to say that she would tell theCarters, who would keenly relish the joke.

  Nesta slipped out of the room. She had already secreted her hat underthe stairs. It was soon on her head, and a minute or two later she haddashed down the sidewalk, passed through the wicket gate, and was awaythrough the woods.

  The Griffiths lived about three-quarters of a mile away. They were notrich like the Carters, but they had a little house in the oppositesuburb of the town, a little house with a fairly big garden, and withwoods quite near. Flossie was an only child; she was a great pet withher father and mother, whom she contrived completely to turn round herlittle finger.

  She was standing now at the gate, waiting anxiously for the moment whenher darling Nesta would arrive. She and Nesta were to go for a picnicall by themselves to a distant ruin. Flossie was to bring the eatables;Nesta knew nothing of this delectable plan, for Flossie had resolved tokeep it a secret all to herself. But now, with her basket packed--thatbasket which contained tea, milk, sugar, various cakes, a small pot ofjam, some bread, and a little pat of butter, as well as a second basketfilled with ripe gooseberries--she anxiously waited for her visitor.

  By-and-by Nesta was seen. She was running, and looked very untidy, andnot like her usually spruce self.

  "Dear, dear!" called out Flossie. "How do you do, Nesta? What in theworld is the matter? You haven't put on your best frock or anything."

  "I'm very lucky to be here at all," said Nesta. "For goodness' sakedon't speak to me for a minute, until I have got back my breath. I haverun all the way, and I am choking--oh, my heart will burst."

  "Lean against me," said Flossie.

  Nesta flung herself against her friend. Flossie was slender and dark,with very curly hair. Nesta was a large girl, built on a generousscale. When she flung herself now against poor Flossie, the latteralmost staggered.

  "Oh, come," said Flossie, "not quite so violent as that. Here, let usflop down under this tree. You can take your breath and tell me what itis all about."

  "Oh, I can't," said Nesta, who was beginning to recover herself already."We must be off as fast as possible. Oh, I have had a time of itcoming to you. Goodness gracious me, whatever is that?"

  She pointed to the tea basket.

  "We're going to Norland's Cliff, you and I, to have tea all byourselves. Isn't it prime? Isn't it golloptious?" said Flossie.

  "Flossie! Has your mother said you might?"

  "Yes, yes, of course, she has. I asked her this morning, and she said:`Certainly, dear.'"

  "But I thought there were donkey races there to-day."

  "There are; but I didn't say a word about that to mother. She neverguessed. Luckily, father was out of the room. It will be much more fungoing there to-day, for we'll see the races; that is if we are quick.But I'm sure, Nesta, I did think you'd come looking a little bit smart,and you've got your very oldest hat on too, and that dress."

  "Oh, if you're ashamed of me," began Nesta, tears springing to her blueeyes--they could always rise there at a moment's warning.

  "I didn't mean to hurt you, dear," said Flossie, who was really deeplyattached to her friend; "but whatever is it?"

 
"You must take me as I am, or I'll go home again if you like," saidNesta. "It would be much better for me to go home. I wouldn't get intoquite such an awful row as I shall get into all for love of you, if Iwent home now. I'll go if you wish. I'll just be in time to escape thevery worst of the fuss. What am I to do, dear?"

  "Never mind about your dress. I'd lend you something of mine, only youare twice as big."

  "Well, I'll carry this basket," said Nesta, picking up the tea basket."Now, do let us go; I shan't have an easy moment until we are well outof sight of the