Part 8 (1/2)

”They've never been taught nothing of such things,” said Mrs Greenways; ”and besides, Agnetta's got her schooling yet awhile.”

”Fancy me,” said Bella with a giggle, ”making the b.u.t.ter with my sleeves tucked up like Molly. I hope I'm above that sort of thing. I didn't go to Lenham finis.h.i.+ng school to _learn_ that.”

”I can't find out what it was you did learn there,” growled her father, ”except to look down on everything useful. I'll not have Agnetta sent there, I know. Not if I had the money, I wouldn't. It's bad enough to have bad seasons and poor crops to do with out-of-doors, without having a set of dressed-up lazy hussies in the house, who mar more than they make. Where to turn for money I don't know, and there's going on for three years' rent owing to Mr Leigh.”

He got up as he spoke and left the room, followed by Peter. Bella continued her tea placidly. Father was always cross on market days, and it did not impress her in the least to be called lazy; she was far more interested in the fate of her velveteen dress than in the quality of the b.u.t.ter. But this was not the case with Mrs Greenways. To hear that Benson had threatened not to take the b.u.t.ter was a real as well as a new trouble, and alarmed her greatly. The rent owing and the failing crops were such a very old story that she had ceased to heed it much, but what would happen if the b.u.t.ter was not sold? The dairy was one of their largest sources of profit, and, as the farmer had said, the pasture was good and the cows were good. There was no fault out-of-doors. Whose fault was it? Molly's without doubt. ”But then,” reflected Mrs Greenways, ”she have got a sight to do, and you can't hurry b.u.t.ter; you must have care and time.” She sighed as she glanced at Bella's strong capable form. Perhaps it would have been better after all, as Mrs White had so often said, to bring up her girls to understand household matters, instead of being stylishly idle. ”I did it for their good,”

thought poor Mrs Greenways; ”and anyhow, it's too late to alter 'em now. They'd no more take to it than ducks to flying.” She was startled out of these reflections by the sudden entrance of Agnetta, who burst into the room with a hot excited face, and flung her bag of books into a corner.

”Well,” said Bella, looking calmly at her, ”I s'pose you're to be Queen, ain't you?”

”No!” exclaimed Agnetta angrily, ”I ain't Queen; and it's a shame, so it is.”

”Why, whoever is it, then?” asked Bella, open-mouthed.

”They've been and chosen Lilac White; sneaking little thing!” said Agnetta.

”Well, now, surely, I am surprised,” said her mother. ”I made sure they'd choose you, Agnetta; being the oldest, and the best lookin', and all. I do call it hard.”

”It's too bad,” continued Agnetta, thus encouraged; ”after I've been such a friend to her, and helped her cut her hair. It's ungrateful.

She might have told me.”

”Why, I don't suppose she knew it, did she?” said Bella.

”She went all on pretending she wanted me Queen,” said Agnetta, ”as innocent as you please. And she must a known there were a lot meant to vote for her. I call it mean.”

”Never you mind, Agnetta,” said her mother soothingly; ”come and get yer tea, and here's a pot of strawberry jam as you're fond of. She'll never make half such a good Queen as you, and I dessay you'll look every bit as fine now, when you're dressed.”

”I don't want no strawberry jam,” said Agnetta sullenly, kicking at the leg of the table.

”Mercy me!” said poor Mrs Greenways with a sigh, ”everything do seem to go crossways today.”

CHAPTER FIVE.

MAY DAY.

”But I must gather knots of flowers, and buds and garlands gay, For I'm to be Queen of the May, mother, I'm to be Queen of the May!”

--_Tennyson_.

Agnetta had been quite wrong in saying that Lilac had any idea of being Queen. At the school that afternoon, when amidst breathless silence the Mistress had counted up the votes and said: ”Lilac White is chosen Queen”, it had been such a surprise to her that she had stood as though in a dream. Her companions nudged her on either side. ”It's you that's Queen,” they whispered; and at length she awoke to the wonderful fact that it was not Agnetta or anyone else who had the most votes, but she herself, Lilac White. She was Queen! Looking round, still half-puzzled to believe such a wonderful thing, she saw a great many pleased faces, and heard Mrs Leigh say: ”I think you have chosen very well, and I am glad Lilac will be Queen this year.” It was, then, really true. ”How pleased Mother'll be!” was her first thought; but her second was not so pleasant, for her eye fell on Agnetta. It was the only sullen face there; disappointment and vexation were written upon it, and there was no answering glance of sympathy from the downcast eyes. Lilac was an impulsive child, and affection for her friend made her forget everything else for the moment. She left her place, went up to Mrs Leigh, who was talking to the schoolmistress, and held one arm out straight in front of her.

”Well, Lilac,” said Mrs Leigh kindly, ”what is it?”

”Please, ma'am,” said Lilac, dropping a curtsy, ”if they don't mind, I'd rather Agnetta Greenways was Queen.”

”Oh, that's quite out of the question,” said Mrs Leigh decidedly; ”when the Queen's been once chosen it can't be altered. Why, I should have thought you would have been pleased.”

Lilac hung her head, and went back to her place rather abashed. She was pleased, and she did not like Mrs Leigh to think she did not care. Her whole heart was full of delight at receiving such an honour, but at the same time it was hard for Agnetta, who had so set her mind on being Queen. If only she could be Queen too! That being impossible, Lilac had done her best in offering to give it up, and it was disappointing to find that her friend, far from being grateful, was cross and sulky with her and quite out of temper. When the other children crowded round Lilac with pleased faces Agnetta held back, and had not one kind word to say, but refusing an advances flung herself away from her companions and rushed home full of wrath. Lilac looked after her wistfully; it hurt her to think that Agnetta could behave so. ”After all,” she said to herself, ”I couldn't help them choosing me, and I did offer to give it up.”

Everyone else was glad that she was Queen, and ready with a smile and a nod when they met her. If Agnetta had only been pleased too Lilac's happiness would have been perfect, but that was just the one thing wanting. However, even with this drawback there was a great deal of pleasure to look forward to, and when she went to the Rectory to have the white dress fitted on she was almost as excited as though it was really a royal robe.