Part 19 (1/2)

Ermengarde's knock at the kitchen door was answered by Mrs. Collins herself.

”Oh, Miss Wilton, I am pleased to see you,” she said. ”Susy was fretting ever so for fear you wouldn't be able to keep your word. Come in, miss, please; and has Master Basil come with you? or maybe it's Hudson? I hope whoever it is will be pleased to walk in and wait in the kitchen.”

”No, I've come alone,” said Ermengarde shortly. ”You know I am not allowed to be with Susy, so how could I possibly ask anyone to come with me?”

”Oh, my dear young lady, as if my poor child could harm any one! You are good and brave, Miss Ermengarde; as brave as you're beautiful, and I'm sure we'll none of us ever forget it to you. No, that we won't.”

Ermengarde was never proof against flattery. A satisfied smile stole now over her face.

”I was not at all afraid,” she said. ”I had given my word that I would come, and of course a lady's word must always be kept. How _is_ Susy, Mrs. Collins?”

”Oh, my dear, but poorly. Very fractious and feverish, and her pain is considerable. But she'll be better after she has seen you, my sweet young lady, for no one knows better than Susy how to appreciate condescension.”

”Well, I can't wait more than a minute, Mrs. Collins. I'll just run up and say good-night to Susy, and then I must be off.”

”Shall I light you up, miss?”

”No, thank you, I can see my way perfectly.”

Ermengarde ran up the little wooden ladder-like stairs, and bounded somewhat noisily into Susy's bedroom.

”Here I am, Susy; now give me the miniature at once. I'll hide it under my waterproof cloak.”

”I can't reach to it, miss,” said Susy. ”It's where you put it this morning, atween the mattress and the pailla.s.se, and I had the greatest work keeping mother's hands off it, for she was bent on making the bed all over again.”

”Well, I'll take it now. Yes, here it is.”

Ermengarde pulled the little case from under the bed.

”O Susy!” she said, uttering an exclamation of dismay, ”what shall we do? The ivory on which the picture is painted is cracked right across!

Oh, what a queer expression it gives to the little girl's face, and what will Miss Nelson say?”

”Now, miss, you're not going to betray me about it, and me so bad and ill?”

”No, you little coward, you shan't get into any sc.r.a.pe. How _did_ this happen? The picture was right enough this morning.”

”I expect it was the way you pushed it under the bed, miss. It got knocked most likely, and father was sitting just over it for an hour and more this afternoon, and he's a goodish weight.”

”Well, I shall take the miniature away now, so good-night, Susy. I'm very sorry I ever made such a little thief as you are my friend. A nice sc.r.a.pe you've got me into!”

Ermengarde thrust the miniature under her waterproof, and rushed downstairs.

”Good-night, Mrs. Collins,” she said.

”Stay a minute, miss. Collins is just coming in, and he'll see you home.”

”No, I can't possibly wait. I think Susy is better--good-night.”

”But ain't you afeared to go right across the park by yourself at this hour, miss?”

”No--no--no; good-night, good-night!”