Part 39 (1/2)
”So you could, you sweet,” said Annie, bending down and kissing him, ”and the day I marry you I faithfully promise to join the feud; but I must run off now to find Molly.”
”She's somewhere in the tower packing books,” screamed Kitty after her.
Accordingly Annie pursued her way round to that part of the house.
The tower was at least two hundred years older than the rest of the mansion, and, as Annie ran up the spiral stairs, she had to feel her way through thick darkness, for the Lorrimers never thought of spending money on illuminating the stairs and pa.s.sages of this ancient building.
A dim light in the distance presently guided her steps, and she soon found herself standing, out of breath and a good deal blown, in the presence of Molly and Jane Macalister. They were both clothed from head to foot in long brown-holland ap.r.o.ns. Jane was vigorously dusting and brus.h.i.+ng a heap of dilapidated books, which Molly was arranging in orderly piles on the floor. Jane looked up when she saw Annie and uttered a little scream.
”Now, what have you come about?” she said; ”you see we are quite up to our eyes in work.”
”Delightful,” said Annie; ”I'll help. Toss me an ap.r.o.n, Molly, do.”
Off went Annie's hat, on went the brown-holland ap.r.o.n, and Jane found that she had secured a valuable a.s.sistant in the matter of dusting and brus.h.i.+ng.
[Ill.u.s.tration: PACKING THE BOOKS (_p._ 240).]
The work went on for two or three minutes in silence, then Molly said, ”I hope there's nothing the matter with Nora, Annie? It seems so very late for you to come to pay us a visit.”
”I have come here to stay for the night, if I may,” replied Annie.
”Hoots! I don't know if that will be possible,” interrupted Jane.
”Oh, I'll sleep anywhere; I'm not a bit particular. I want to talk to you, Molly; I've a great deal to say.”
”There's no use in girls wasting their time with silly havering when work has to be done,” snapped Jane. ”I'm willing to grant that a heavy misfortune has come to this house, but come rain or suns.h.i.+ne the daily round _must_ go on. Pa.s.s me that clean duster, Molly. These books have to be sorted and put in boxes before we either of us lie down to-night.”
”But three pairs of hands make lighter work than two,” rejoined Annie.
”I'm willing to help; I mean to help; I am helping. Molly, pa.s.s me a duster, too. I'll talk to you, Molly, when the work is over.”
”That's the time for sleep,” said Jane.
”Oh, come, Jane, if Annie wants to talk to me, she must,” said Molly in an almost fretful tone. ”There's plenty of room for you in my bed, Annie, so that matter is settled; now let us fly along with the books.”
Jane did not utter another word of remonstrance. In her inmost heart she had a great admiration for Annie, whom she always spoke of as a ”bonny, capable la.s.sie.” The books were all sorted and packed in a little over an hour, and then the girls went downstairs to supper in the great hall.
Supper consisted of porridge and milk, followed by great dishes of stewed fruit. The children all sat round a table, and Mrs. Lorrimer, with the air of a royal matron, dispensed the simple food.
Immediately afterwards, Annie slipped her hand through Molly's arm, and drew her out of doors on to the moonlit lawn.
”I can't wait another moment,” she said. ”I've oceans of things to ask you.”
”I suppose you have come over on some special business,” replied Molly.
”Has Hester sent me a message?”
”No; Hester has had nothing to do with it. I came over because I really want a talk with you all by myself. I cannot tell you what I thought to-day when that dreadful Susy Drummond came with her sort of 'take possession' style into the house.”
”And do you really imagine,” answered Molly, ”that Miss Drummond annoyed us in any way? for if you do you are greatly mistaken. We are in great trouble just now about father, and about dear Guy being cut out of his rightful inheritance, and naturally we shall all feel leaving the Towers, but if you think that girl makes any difference one way or other, you are quite wrong.”