Part 17 (1/2)

”And perhaps I'm to have a s.h.a.ggy pony all to myself,” exclaimed Nell; ”but it's only perhaps. It's perhaps, too, with you, Boris, and you, Kitty; you oughtn't to forget that.”

”Oh, bother perhapses!” exclaimed Kitty. ”I know I'm to have my rabbit; he's to have lop-ears and long fur, and he's to be snow-white, if possible. I described him fully to mother last night when she came to tuck me up. I kept pulling my eyes open to stay awake for the purpose.”

”And I told mother that I wished for a ring-dove,” said Boris. ”I want a ring-dove awfully, for there's an empty cage in the attic that will just fit it. Oh, I do hope, I do hope, that it will come!”

He looked almost sad as he spoke and glanced at Nell, who was not looking at him.

”Nell, come here,” exclaimed Molly suddenly. ”Hester, you can explain to Boris and Kitty what you have come about, and they can take you round and show you the ball-room. Come along, Nell, I want to talk to you.”

Molly put her arm round Nell and drew her down a side walk.

”Now, Nell,” she said, ”you must explain all this to me. Why has mother gone to London? I am not so much surprised about father; father does go sometimes, but mother. Why has she gone? Answer me, Nell; tell me what you know.”

”I don't know anything,” said Nell. ”Father was out all day yesterday, and mother looked very sad. She didn't cry or anything of that sort, of course; but she looked sad, and then father came home about tea-time quite jolly and in high spirits, and he said something to mother and they went into the study together; and then father shouted to Jane Macalister to come to them, and Jane went; and presently we were told that father and mother were to go to London this morning, and that they'd be away perhaps a week, perhaps ten days. Jane told us that, and then mother came into the room and she said the same thing, and she looked kind of _pretence_-merry you know, and said that _perhaps_ she'd bring us back things. It was then Kitty asked for the rabbit, and Boris for the dove, and Guy wanted Star-Land and Harry some new carpenter's tools, and mother promised everything with a perhaps tacked on; but I don't think anyone noticed the perhaps except me, and all the time she kept smiling with her lips, but her eyes were so sad.”

”And you asked for a pony, Nell?”

Nell coloured crimson.

”No, I didn't,” she replied; ”but mother turned to me and put her arm round me and said, 'If the others get their things you shall have the wish of your heart, a s.h.a.ggy pony.'”

”And what did you say to that, Nell?”

”I whispered back to her that I didn't want her to spend her money; and then she kissed me very hard.”

”And did father promise things?”

”He said that the house should be refurnished, and that we should go to the sea, and he would buy new horses and a lovely carriage for mother.

Father was lively; I never saw him so gay.”

”And they went off this morning?”

”Yes, very early; I wasn't even dressed, but I jumped out of bed and ran to the window and saw them driving away.”

”And that's all you know, Nell?” exclaimed Molly.

”Yes, that's all I know.”

”Now, tell me what you think.”

”What I think?” replied Nell. ”I--” she hesitated. ”No, I'd rather not.”

”You must, Nell, you must. Remember I'm your own cosy old Moll; remember I understand you, and I'm the eldest girl and mother's right hand.

There's something that you think very, very hard, Nell, and you have wise thoughts, though you are so young. Tell me what they are; tell me at once.”

Molly knelt on the gra.s.s as she spoke and put her arms round Nell, who leant up against her and laid her head on her shoulder.

”Now, Nell, speak.”

Nell rubbed her cheek against Molly's, as if she found great comfort in the contact.

”I think that mother is unhappy,” she said, ”and that, that we won't get the presents.”