Part 16 (1/2)
”Good, kind, considerate old gentleman,” responded Nan in her most flippant voice. ”Did he say anything more about that great and auspicious event, Hetty?”
”He said a great deal more about it; in fact, the largest part of his letter was about it; but I'm not going to talk it over now. I propose that we all go to Nora's room after breakfast and discuss the letter.
There is a good deal to discuss, and it is very exciting,” continued Hester, a flush of brilliant colour coming into her cheeks.
The news that there was a good deal to discuss of an exciting character restored even Nan's good humour. Breakfast was hurried over, and Annie Forest and Nan rushed off to Nora's room to prepare her for the fact that she was soon expected to hold a _levee_, and that the subject under discussion was likely to be of a very rousing character.
Molly lingered behind in the breakfast-room; she looked anxiously at Hester, who avoided her eyes. Hester did not wish to say anything to make Molly unhappy, and she knew that her father's allusion to the possible sale of the Towers would fill the poor little girl's heart with the most acute misery.
Making a great effort, therefore, to fight down a nameless apprehension on her own account, for what important business could be keeping Sir John so long away from home, she said in a cheerful voice--
”Now, Molly, we're not going to croak, nor spend the day imagining all kinds of unpleasant things. Father has written me a long letter, and there are some things in it which I don't quite like; but I am not going to talk them over at present. All the end of the letter is taken up with Nan's birthday, and that is the matter we have to discuss just now. Come along now to the library, and let's get it over.”
Nora was still lying flat on her back; but all pain had long left her, and she was practically quite well.
The subject of the letter was therefore discussed with intense animation by the five eager girls.
Unlimited money, any amount of presents, and _carte blanche_ how to spend the birthday in the most agreeable way was surely enough to turn the brains of most people.
Many and wild were the plans which Nan proposed.
They would start for a picnic at six in the morning. They would order ices from Nortonbury to arrive by special messenger at some impossible place at an unearthly hour. They would have bonfires on the top of every hill within a reasonable distance. Although it was not Christmas time, they would end up with the largest Christmas tree ever seen, and it should stand in the centre of the lawn, and every poor child for miles round should be invited to see it and to share the wonderful presents which should hang from every branch and twig.
Nan's cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright while she made these suggestions; but, after all, it was Annie's proposal in the end which carried the day.
”Let's have the picnic by all means,” she said; ”and let all who will go to it. If Nan wishes to be charitable, and to think of others rather than herself, let her do so; and let all the school children be taken in waggons and waggonettes to Friar's Wood or any other beautiful place in the neighbourhood, and let Nan herself give them presents before they go home. All that, of course, will be very delightful; although, of course, neither Nora nor I can be present.”
”What do you mean by _your_ not being present?” asked Molly, her brown eyes growing dark with anger. ”I suppose if anyone is to stay with Nora, it ought to be me.”
”No, it oughtn't,” said Nora. ”I wish for Annie; she's more fun.”
”And I can't do without you, Molly, darling,” interrupted Hester. ”You always are my right hand when anything important is going on; and then you know all the school children by name, which, frankly, I do not.”
”Well, now, _do_ hear me out,” said Annie; ”I have not half done. What I say is this, that as Sir John Thornton is so generous, and as he wishes everyone in the house to be happy on the day of Nan's birthday, I think something should be done to make it up to Nora and me. Now, why shouldn't we have a real glorious time in the evening? You have a billiard-room in this house, haven't you?”
”Yes.”
”Can't we have a ball there?”
”What are we to do with the table?” said Hester.
”Oh,” exclaimed Nora, her eyes sparkling, ”we have such a heavenly ball-room at the Towers; a great enormous room, never used and full of rubbish, which can easily be turned out.”
”Is there a gallery to that room?” interrupted Annie.
”Yes, at one end.”
”Then the whole thing is complete,” continued Annie. ”We'll have a children's fancy ball in the evening, and Nora shall look on from the gallery. Nora shall be, in a sort of way, princess of the ceremonies.
We'll make her up the sweetest dress, and everyone shall come up and talk to her; and if presents are to be given away at the end, she shall give them. What do you say, girls? Could anything be more perfectly lovely than a children's fancy ball in the old ball-room at the Towers?
Oh, I hope it will be a moonlight night, and the whole place will look like fairyland!”