Part 4 (1/2)
”Who, who--Oh! it is you! What do you want?”
”Nothing. I saw you come out, and thought you would be cold. I brought you out my coat.”
”I don't want it; I am quite warm. I came here to be alone.”
”I know; I'm not going to bother. Mrs Asplin thinks you are in your room, and I didn't tell her that I'd seen you go out. But it's damp.
If you catch cold, your mother will be sorry.”
Peggy looked at him thoughtfully, and there was a glimmer of grat.i.tude in her poor tear-stained eyes.
”Yes; I p-p-romised to be careful. You are very kind, but I can't think of anything to-night. I am too miserably wretched.”
”I know; I've been through it. I was sent away to a boarding-school when I was a little kid of eight, and I howled myself to sleep every night for weeks. It is worse for you, because you are older, but you will be happy enough in this place when you get settled. Mrs Asplin is a brick, and we have no end of fun. It is ever so much better than being at school; and, I say, you mustn't mind what Mellicent said the other night. She's a little m.u.f.f, always saying the wrong thing. We were only chaffing when we said you were to be our f.a.g. We never really meant to bully you.”
”You c-couldn't if you t-tried,” stammered Peggy brokenly, but with a flash of her old spirit which delighted her hearer.
”No; of course not. You can stand up for yourself; I know that very well. But look here: I'll make a compact, if you will. Let us be friends. I'll stick to you and help you when you need it, and you stick to me. The other girls have their brother to look after them, but if you want anything done, if anyone is cheeky to you, and you want him kicked, for instance, just come to me, and I'll do it for you. It's all nonsense about being a f.a.g, but there are lots of things you could do for me if you would, and I'd be awfully grateful. We might be partners, and help one another--”
Robert stopped in some embarra.s.sment, and Peggy stared fixedly at him, her pale face peeping out from the folds of the Inverness coat. She had stopped crying, though the tears still trembled on her eyelashes, and her chin quivered in uncertain fas.h.i.+on. Her eyes dwelt on the broad forehead, the overhanging brows, the square, ma.s.sive chin, and brightened with a flash of approval.
”You are a nice boy,” she said slowly. ”I like you! You don't really need my help, but you thought it would cheer me to feel that I was wanted. Yes; I'll be your partner, and I'll be of real use to you yet.
You'll find that out, Robert Darcy, before you have done with me.”
”All right, so much the better. I hope you will; but you know you can't expect to have your own way all the time. I'm the senior partner, and you will have to do what I tell you. Now I say it's damp in this hole, and you ought to come back to the house at once. It's enough to kill you to sit in this draught.”
”I'd rather like to be killed. I'm tired of life. I shouldn't mind dying a bit.”
”Humph!” said Robert shortly. ”Jolly cheerful news that would be for your poor mother when she arrived at the end of her journey! Don't be so selfish. Now then, up you get! Come along to the house.”
”I wo--” Peggy began, then suddenly softened, and glanced apologetically into his face. ”Yes, I will, because you ask me. Smuggle me up to my room, Robert, and don't, don't, if you love me, let Mellicent come near me! I couldn't stand her chatter to-night!”
”She will have to fight her way over my dead body,” said Robert firmly; and Peggy's sweet little laugh quavered out on the air.
”Nice boy!” she repeated heartily. ”Nice boy; I do like you!”
CHAPTER SEVEN.
AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS.
Peggy looked very sad and wan after her mother's departure, but her companions soon discovered that anything like outspoken sympathy was unwelcome. The redder her eyes, the more erect and dignified was her demeanour; if her lips trembled when she spoke, the more grandiose and formidable became her conversation, for Peggy's love of long words and high-sounding expressions was fully recognised by this time, and caused much amus.e.m.e.nt in the family.
A few days after Mrs Saville sailed, a welcome diversion arrived in the shape of the promised camera. The Parcels Delivery van drove up to the door, and two large cases were delivered, one of which was found to contain the camera itself, the tripod and a portable dark room, while the other held such a collection of plates, printing-frames, and chemicals as delighted the eyes of the beholders. It was the gift of one who possessed not only a deep purse, but a most true and thoughtful kindness, for, when young people are concerned, two-thirds of the enjoyment of any present is derived from the possibility of being able to put it to immediate use. As it was a holiday afternoon, it was unanimously agreed to take two groups and develop them straightway.
”Professional photographers are so dilatory,” said Peggy severely; ”and indeed I have noticed that amateurs are even worse. I have twice been photographed by friends, and they have solemnly promised to send me a copy within a few days. I have waited, consumed by curiosity, and, my dears, it has been months before it has arrived! Now we will make a rule to finish off our groups at once, and not keep people waiting until all the interest has died away. There's no excuse for such dilatory behaviour!”
”There is some work to do, remember, Peggy. You can't get a photograph by simply taking off and putting on the cap; you must have a certain amount of time and fine weather. I haven't had much experience, but I remember thinking that photographs were jolly cheap, considering all the trouble they cost, and wondering how the fellows could do them at the price. There's the developing, and was.h.i.+ng, and printing, and toning,-- half a dozen processes before you are finished.”
Peggy smiled in a patient, forbearing manner.
”They don't get any less, do they, by putting them off? Procrastination will never lighten labour. Come, put the camera up for us, like a good boy, and we'll show you how to do it.” She waved her hand towards the brown canvas bag, and the six young people immediately seized different portions of the tripod and camera, and set to work to put them together.