Part 19 (1/2)

”Oh, it's no use talking like that,” said his wife impatiently; ”it's only aggravating to hear you. I suppose you think things are done in the house without heads or hands either. Girls indeed! There's Agnetta, knows no more nor a baby, and only that little bit of a Lilac as can put her hand to anything.”

Finding his efforts useless, Mr Greenways shrugged his shoulders and went out, leaving his wife alone with her perplexities.

The more she thought them over the worse they seemed. To whom could she trust whilst she was helpless? Who would see that the b.u.t.ter was ready and fit for market? Not Bella, not Agnetta, and certainly not Molly.

Really and truly there was only that little bit of a Lilac, as she called her, to depend on--she would do her work just as well whether she were overlooked or not, Mrs Greenways felt sure. It was no use to shut her eyes to it any longer, Lilac White was not a burden but a support, not useless but valuable, only a child, but more dependable than many people of twice her years. It was bitter to poor Mrs Greenways to acknowledge this, even to herself, for the old jealousy was still strong within her.

”I s'pose,” she said with a groan, ”there was something in Mary White's upbringing after all. I'm not agoin' to own up to it, though, afore other folks.”

When a little later Lilac was told that her aunt wanted her, she thought that the scolding had come at last, and went prepared to bear it as well as she could. It was, however, for a surprisingly different purpose.

”Look here, Lilac,” said Mrs Greenways carelessly, ”you've been a good deal in the dairy lately, and you ought to have picked up a lot about it.”

”I can make the b.u.t.ter all myself, Aunt,” replied Lilac, ”without Molly touching it.”

”Well, I hope you're thankful for such a chance of learning,” said Mrs Greenways; ”not but what you're a good child enough, I've nothing to say against you. But what I want to say is this: Molly can't do everything while I'm laid by, and I think I shall take her from the dairy-work altogether, and let you do it.”

Lilac's eyes shone with delight. Her aunt spoke as though she were bestowing a favour, and she felt it indeed to be such.

”Oh! thank you, Aunt,” she cried. ”I'm quite sure as how I can do it, and I like it ever so much.”

”With Agnetta to help you I dessay you'll get through with it,” said Mrs Greenways graciously, and so the matter was settled. Lilac was dairymaid! No longer a little household drudge, called hither and thither to do everyone's work, but an important person with a business and position of her own. What an honour it was! There was only one drawback--there was no mother to rejoice with her, or to understand how glad she felt about it. Lilac was obliged to keep her exultation to herself. She would have liked to tell Peter of her advancement, but just now he was at work on some distant part of the farm, and she saw him very seldom, for her new office kept her more within doors than usual. The good-natured Molly was, however, delighted with the change, and full of wonder at Lilac's cleverness.

”It's really wonderful,” she said; ”and what beats me is that it allus turns out the same.”

With this praise Lilac had to be content, and she busied herself earnestly in her own little corner with increasing pride in her work.

Sometimes, it is true, she looked enviously at Agnetta, who seemed to have nothing to do but enjoy herself after her own fas.h.i.+on. Since Lenham fete Bella and she had had some confidential joke together, which they carried on by meaning nods and winks and mysterious references to ”Charlie.” They were also more than ever engaged in altering their dresses and tr.i.m.m.i.n.g their hats, and although Lilac was kept completely outside all this, she soon began to connect it with the visits of young Mr Buckle. She thought it a little unkind of Agnetta not to let her into the secret, and it was dull work to hear so much laughter going on without ever joining in it; but very soon she knew what it all meant.

”Heard the news?” cried Agnetta, rus.h.i.+ng into the dairy, then, without waiting for an answer, ”Bella's goin' to get married. Guess who to?”

”Young Mr Buckle,” said Lilac without a moment's hesitation.

”As soon as ever Ma's about again the wedding's to be,” said Agnetta exultingly. ”I'm to be bridesmaid, and p'r'aps Charlotte Smith as well.” Lilac, who had stopped her scrubbing to listen, now went on with it, and Agnetta looked down at her kneeling figure with some contempt.

”What a lot of trouble you take over it!” she said. ”Molly used to do it in half the time.”

”If I ain't careful,” answered Lilac, ”the b.u.t.ter'd get a taste.”

”I'll help you a bit,” said her cousin condescendingly. ”I'll rinse these pans for you.”

Lilac was glad to have Agnetta's company, for she wanted to hear all about Bella's wedding; but Agnetta's help she was not so anxious for, because she usually had to do the work all over again. Agnetta's idea of excellence was to get through her work quickly, to make it look well outside, to polish the part that showed and leave the rest undone.

Speed and show had always been the things desired in the household at Orchards Farm--not what _was_ good but what _looked_ good, and could be had at small expense and labour. Beneath the smart clothing which Mrs Greenways and her daughters displayed on Sundays, strange discoveries might have been made. Rents fastened up with pins, stains hidden by stylish scarves and mantles, stockings unmended, boots trodden down or in holes. A feather in the hat, a bangle on the arm, and a bunched-up dress made up for these deficiencies. ”If it don't show it don't matter,” Bella was accustomed to say. Agnetta paused to rest after about two minutes.

”Bella won't have nothing of this sort to do after she's married,” she said. ”Charlie says she needn't stir a finger, not unless she likes.

She'll be able to sit with her hands before her just like a lady.”

”I shouldn't care about being a lady if that's what I had to do,” said Lilac. ”I should think it would be dull. I'd rather see after the farm, if I was Bella.”

”You don't mean to tell me you _like work_?” said Agnetta, staring.

”You wouldn't do it, not if you weren't obliged? 'Tain't natural.”

”I like some,” said Lilac. ”I like the dairy work and I like feeding the poultry. And I want to learn to milk, if Ben'll teach me. And in the spring I mean to try and get ever such a lot of early ducks.”