Part 12 (2/2)
”But if you are going to chatter, be kind enough to move away to another seat. I am not going to have my nap disturbed if I know it.”
”Come along, Miss Hilary. Our pride won't allow us to stay after that!”
cried Mr Rayner, picking up his crutches and leading the way across the lawn with suspicious alacrity; and no sooner were they seated on the comfortable bench than he turned a smiling face upon his companion, and wished to know if she were satisfied with the result of her lecture.
”Entirely,” said Hilary. ”It sounded brave and man-like, and put all at their ease. It is always best to be honest.”
”It is. I agree with you. What about the head?”
”What head?”
”Ah! and is _that_ honest? You know what I mean. Does it ache _very_ badly?”
”N-no! Not a bit! I stayed behind because I preferred to--to talk to you,” said Hilary stoutly, wis.h.i.+ng she could prevent herself blus.h.i.+ng in such a ridiculous fas.h.i.+on, wis.h.i.+ng Mr Rayner would not stare at her quite so fixedly; happy, miserable, discomfited, triumphant, all at the same moment, and in the most incomprehensible fas.h.i.+on.
”That's very satisfactory, because I like to talk to you also,” he said gravely; and the next two hours pa.s.sed so quickly that it was quite a shock to hear calls from the verandah, and to see the walking party already a.s.sembled round the tea-table.
”What did you wish?” was Hilary's first question, but, with the exception of the Mouse, everyone refused to divulge the secret.
”I wished I might have a doll's pramulator,” said Geraldine gravely, and when Miss Carr asked if the dolls were not able to take walking exercise, she shook her head with pathetic remembrance.
”Mabel isn't, 'cause she's only one leg. She really had two, only one day, Raymond hanged her up from the ceiling, and when I sawed her, I cried, and pulled with my hands, and one leg earned off. So now I want a pramulator.”
”And she shall have one, bless her! and the best that can be bought,”
muttered Miss Carr beneath her breath; while Norah whispered eager questionings into her companion's ear.
”You might tell me, Rex--you might! I won't tell a soul. What did you wish?”
”Don't be so curious. What does it matter to you?”
”It does matter. I want to know. You might! Do-oo!”
”No-o! I won't now. There's an end of it.”
”Oh, Rex, look here--I've sixpence in my pocket. I'll buy you a packet of gingerbread if you will.”
”I don't want the gingerbread. What a girl you are! You give a fellow no peace. I didn't wish anything particular, only--”
”Yes! Yes!”
”Only that she,” with a nod of the head towards where Miss Carr sat sipping her tea--”that she might choose Hilary to live with her in London.”
”Oh-oh! You wouldn't like it if it were Lettice?”
”Of course not, neither would you.”
”But--but--it might be me!”
”It might. There's no saying. I'll have another cup of tea, if you please,” said Rex coolly.
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