Part 31 (1/2)
”I don't know that I can. I must not carry that brilliant idea to extremities, or I shall be found out.”
”Well, what are you going to do?”
”I don't know. Bide my time.”
Miss Day gave a listless sort of yawn.
”Let's talk of something else,” she said impatiently. ”What are you going to wear at the Elliot-Smith's party next week, Rose?”
”I have got a new white dress,” said Rose in that voice of strong animation and interest which the mere mention of dress always arouses in certain people.
”Have you? What a lot of dresses you get!”
”Indeed, you are mistaken, Annie. I have the greatest difficulty in managing my wardrobe at all.”
”Why is that? I thought your people not only belonged to the county, but were as rich as Jews.”
”We are county people, of course,” said Rose in her most affected manner, ”but county people need not invariably be rich. The fact is my father has had some losses lately, and mother says she must be careful. I wanted a great many things, and she said she simply could not give them. Oh, if only that spiteful Miss Oliphant had not prevented my getting the sealskin jacket, and if she had not raised the price of Polly's pink coral!”
”Don't begin that old story again, Rose. When all is said and done, you have got the lovely coral. By the way, it will come in beautifully for the Elliot-Smith's party. You'll wear it, of course?”
”Oh, I don't know.”
”What do you mean? Of course you'll wear it.”
”I don't know. The fact is I have not paid the whole price for it yet.”
”Haven't you really? You said you'd bring the money when you returned this term.”
”Of course I thought I could, but I was absolutely afraid to tell mother what a lot the coral cost; and as she was so woefully short of funds, I had just to come away without the money. I never for a moment supposed I should have such ill luck.”
”It is awkward. What are you going to say to Polly Singleton?'
”I don't know. I suppose you could not help me, Annie?”
”I certainly couldn't. I never have a penny to bless myself with. I don't know how I sc.r.a.pe along.”
Rosalind sighed. Her pretty face looked absolutely careworn.
”Don't fret, Rose,” said Miss Day after a pause; ”whether you have paid for the coral or not, you can wear it at the Elliot-Smith's.”
”No, alas! that's just what I can't do. The fact is Polly is turning out awfully mean. She has come back this time with apparently an unlimited supply of pocket money, and she has been doing her best to induce me to sell her the coral back again.”
”Well, why don't you? I'm sure I would, rather than be worried about it.”
Miss Merton's face flushed angrily.
”Nothing will induce me to give up the coral,” she said. ”I bought my new white dress to wear with it. I have looked forward all during the holidays to showing it to Meta Elliot-Smith. It's the sort of thing to subdue Meta, and I want to subdue her. No, nothing will induce me to part with my lovely coral now.”
”Well, my dear, keep it, of course, and pay for it how you can. It's your own affair. You have not yet explained to me, however, why, when it is in your possession, you can't wear it with your new dress at the Elliot-Smiths' next week.”