Part 14 (1/2)

”I don't! I am glad that you know, now that the scolding is over,” said Mildred frankly. ”I am not sure that I could have screwed up courage to tell you myself, but I feel much more comfortable now that you do know.

I've never done anything else like that; I truly haven't.”

Lady Sarah smiled, and laid her hand caressingly on the golden head.

”I believe you, my dear. I am quite sure you have not, if you say so.

You are a bright, hopeful, young creature, Mildred. My heart goes out towards you. Will you help an old woman to get the better of her fretful temper?”

Mildred lifted her face, the grey eyes large and solemn.

”If you help me, too,” she said. ”Let us help each other!”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

A HAPPY ENDING.

The Dean and Mrs Faucit duly presented Mildred with a gold watch to match those already possessed by their own daughters. It had a monogram on the back, an inscription inside the cover, and was altogether the most delightful specimen of its kind that could be imagined.

Mildred developed an absorbing curiosity to know how time was pa.s.sing during the next few days, which compelled her to pull out the watch every two or three minutes, while the intervals were agreeably spent in playing with the pretty little chain to which it was attached. She wrote enthusiastic letters to her mother and Miss Margaret, describing her new possession and giving a dramatic description of the events which had led to its presentation; but the answers which she received were distinctly disappointing, for Mrs Moore could only send a verbal message, while Mardie treated her news in aggravatingly lukewarm manner.

Mildred realised with chagrin that her thrilling description had failed to arouse anything like the interest which she expected. Even the congratulations which followed were wanting in fervour, as though the presentation of a watch and chain were an everyday occurrence.

”_And now, dear, I have something interesting to tell you_,” the letter went on, when the subject of Mildred's own adventures had been dismissed in a few cursory sentences; and as she read the words, the girl tossed her head with a gesture of impatience.

”Interesting indeed! What does she call _my_ news?--A robbery,--a capture,--a quarrel,--a reconciliation,--a watch and chain! She has nothing half so interesting to tell me, I am sure.” Mildred changed her mind, however, before she finished reading Miss Margaret's letter.

And now, dear, I have something interesting to tell you. You remember the story about my friend, the planter in Ceylon, whose crop of cinchona died down so disastrously? I told it to you the night when you were so distressed about not being able to go home for the holidays. You said at the time that this disappointment was different to yours, because it had not affected my own personal happiness; but you were wrong, Mildred dear, for if that crop had been a success, instead of a failure, I should have been the planter's wife long ago, and you would not have had ”Mardie” at Milvern House! Years have pa.s.sed since then, but now things look brighter, though there is no prospect of a second fortune, and I am going to live in Ceylon, Mildred, in the very bungalow of which we spoke together.

I am afraid you will not find me at school when you return after the holidays, for we are going to be married very soon; but Mr Lytton will be in England for six months to come, and that wonderful person, his future wife, will, I feel sure, pay many visits to Milvern House, to see the dear girls whose affection has been a comfort to her during the days of her loneliness. Are you very much surprised, Mildred?

You must write and tell me what you think of my great news, and tell Bertha and Lois to write too. By the way, Mr Lytton brought a friend to call upon me the other day, a Mr Muir, who is a neighbour in Ceylon. He told me that he had met you at a picnic the other day, and intrusted me with a message which I was to give the next time I wrote: ”Give Miss Mildred my love, and tell her that I am quite of her opinion.” What did he mean, dear? I am curious.

Mildred gave a loud shriek of excitement when she came to that thrilling word ”wife”, the effect of which was to bring Bertha and Lois flying to peer over her shoulder. Together the three girls read the letter, together they gasped, and groaned, and exclaimed, together they burst into a chorus of lamentation when the end was reached.

”School without Mardie!”

”Lessons without Mardie!”

”Milvern House without Mardie! Oh, oh, oh! how shall we bear it?”

”I hate Mr Lytton!” cried Mildred vindictively, then repenting; ”at least, I don't exactly mean that. It is only natural that he should want Mardie if he can get her; but I call him selfish. What are _we_ to do, I should like to know?”

”Perhaps he would think we were selfish to want to keep her to ourselves,” said Bertha pensively. ”I am glad that Mardie is going to be happy, but I can't imagine school without her. Who will welcome the new girls, and comfort them when they are homesick? Who will take us out on half-holidays, and read aloud in the evening? Who will nurse us when we are ill?”

”Who will have her room when she is gone? I can't think how she can find it in her heart to leave that sweet little room!” cried Lois, in her turn. ”But she must be anxious to go, I suppose, or she would not have promised to marry him.”

”I wouldn't like to live in a country where you met snakes when you went out for afternoon strolls; but I think Indian people are nice,” declared Mildred. ”That Mr Muir had such a nice, sunburnt face, and such kind, twinkling eyes! If Mardie's husband is like that, I'll forgive him for taking her away. But I'll work like a slave, so as to be able to leave school as soon as possible. 'Mrs Lytton!' Gracious! We shall have to give her a present. I wish the wedding were not quite so soon, for I have only two and twopence in the world. Perhaps we could join together.”

”I think it would be a good thing if the whole school joined, and gave her something really handsome--a dressing-bag, for instance.”

”Oh, not a dressing-bag. She would use that on the voyage, and perhaps not again for two or three years. We ought to choose something that she would need every day. A clock would be nice,” and Mildred jingled her watch-chain with an air of proud possession.