Part 8 (1/2)
Judy wandered about, too restless and unhappy to settle to her play.
Babs shouted in the distance that the wasp was not to be seen. Even the fate of the poor wasp scarcely interested Judy at present. She was watching for Mildred to reappear that she might join her in the avenue and ask why she dared to say those words about Jasper.
”Well, Judy,” said Miss Anstruther by and by, ”here I am, back at last.
I saw Aunt Marjorie, but I didn't see the Rector, and I didn't see Hilda. Aunt Marjorie tells me that Jasper Quentyns is coming down to-night, so I suppose he's going to take everything all right.”
”What do you mean, Milly?” asked Judy.
”Why do you look at me in that fierce way, you small atom?” answered Mildred, stopping in her walk and looking at the child with an amused smile on her face.
”Because I don't understand you,” said Judy.
”It is scarcely likely you should, my darling. Let me see, how old are you--nine? Well, you'll know something of what I mean when you're nineteen. Now I must go.”
”No, stop a bit, Milly. I don't understand you, but I hate hints. Miss Mills hints things sometimes, and oh, how I detest her when she does!
and you're hinting now, and it is something against Hilda.”
”Against Hilda? Oh, good gracious, child, what an awful cram!”
”It isn't a cram, it is true. I can't explain it, but I know you're hinting something against darling Hilda. Why should you say that Jasper will be disappointed? Isn't she going away with him some day? and aren't they going to live in--in a horrid--a horrid _flat_ together, and she won't even have a garden, nor fowls, nor flowers? And you say Jasper will be disappointed. Everything is going when Hilda goes, and you speak as if Jasper wasn't the very luckiest person in all the wide world. _I_ know what it means; yes, I know. Oh, Milly, I'm so unhappy. Oh, Milly, what _shall_ I do when Hilda goes away?”
Mildred was impulsive and kind-hearted, notwithstanding the very decided fit of jealousy which was now over her. She put her arm round Judy and tried to comfort her.
”You poor little thing,” she said, ”you poor little jealous, miserable mite. How could you think you were going to keep your Hilda always?
There, Judy, there, darling, I really am sorry for you--I really am, but you know Hilda is pretty and sweet, and someone wants her to make another home beautiful. There, I'll say something to comfort you--I'll eat all the words I have already uttered, and tell you emphatically from my heart of hearts that Hilda is too good for Jasper Quentyns.”
”Judy, Judy, Judy! I have found the wasp,” shouted Babs.
Judy dried her eyes hastily, kissed Mildred, and ran across the lawn to her little sister.
”What a queer child Judy Merton is,” said Mildred to herself. ”What tempestuous little creatures some children are. How pa.s.sionately she spoke about Hilda, and now her whole heart and soul are devoted to the rescuing of a miserable insect. Yes, of course Jasper is not good enough for Hilda. He has plenty of faults, he is not the prince I have been looking for, and yet--and yet----”
Her heart beat quickly, the color rushed into her face, she felt her firm lips tremble, and knew that her eyes were s.h.i.+ning with unusual brilliance. Someone was coming along the path to meet her. A man with the sunlight s.h.i.+ning all over him--an athletic figure, who walked with the swift bounding step of youth. He was Jasper Quentyns.
”Hullo!” he called, catching sight of her. ”I was fortunate in getting an earlier train than I had hoped for, and here I am two hours before I was expected. How is Hilda? Have you been at the house? Are they all fearfully cut up?”
”How do you do, Mr. Quentyns?” replied Mildred. ”Yes, I have been at the house, and I have seen Judy and Aunt Marjorie. Judy seems to me to be in a very excitable and feverish state of mind.”
”She's rather spoilt, isn't she?” said Quentyns.
”Oh, well, she's Hilda's special darling, the first in her heart by many degrees--after--after somebody else.”
”But how could a child like Judy know anything about money loss?”
”It isn't the money that's troubling her at the present moment, it's a poor wasp. Now pray don't look so bewildered, and do try and forget about Judy. Aunt Marjorie is taking her trouble in a thoroughly practical and Aunt Marjorie style. I have not seen Hilda, nor have I seen the Rector.”
”It will be an awful blow to them all,” said Quentyns.