Part 7 (2/2)

Evelyn went to her wardrobe. Jasper had already unpacked her young lady's things and laid them higgledy-piggledy in the s.p.a.cious wardrobe.

It took the little girl a long time to find a tall velvet hat trimmed with plumes of crimson feathers. This she put on before the gla.s.s, arranging her hair to look as thick as possible, and smirking at her face while she arrayed herself.

”I would not wear this hat, for I got it quite for Sunday best, but I want her to see that she cannot master me,” thought the child. She then wrapped a crimson silk scarf round her neck and shoulders, and so attired looked very much like a little lady of the time of Vandyck. Once more she went down-stairs.

Audrey she did not wish to meet; Miss Sinclair she intended to be hideously rude to; but Jasper-where was Jasper?

Evelyn looked all round. Suddenly she saw a figure on the other side of a small lake which adorned part of the grounds. The figure was too far off for her to see it distinctly. It must be Jasper, for it surely was not in the least like the tall, fair, and stately Aubrey, not like Miss Sinclair.

Picking up her skirts, which were too long for her to run comfortably, the small figure now skidded across the gra.s.s. She soon reached the side of the lake, and shouted:

”Jasper! Oh Jasper! Jasper, I have news for you! You never knew anything like the--”

The next instant she had rushed into the arms of Sylvia Leeson. Sylvia cried out eagerly:

”Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

Evelyn stared for a moment at the strange girl, then burst into a hearty laugh.

”Do tell me-quick, quick!-are you one of the Wynfords?” she asked.

”I a Wynford!” cried Sylvia. ”I only wish I were. Are you a Wynford? Do you live at the Castle?”

”Do I live at the Castle!” cried Evelyn. ”Why, the Castle is mine-I mean it will be when Uncle Ned dies. I came here yesterday; and, oh! I am miserable, and I want Jasper?”

”Who is Jasper?”

”My maid. Such a darling!-the only person here who cares in the least for me. Oh, please, please tell me your name! If you do not live at the Castle, and if you can a.s.sure me from the bottom of your heart that you do not love any one-any one who lives in the Castle-why, I will love you. You are sweetly pretty! What is your name?”

”Sylvia Leeson. I live three miles from here, but I adore the Castle. I should like to come here often.”

”You adore it! Then that is because you know nothing about it. Do you adore Audrey?”

”Is Audrey the young lady of the Castle?”

”She is not the young lady of the Castle. _I_ am the young lady of the Castle. But have you ever seen her?”

”Once; and then she was rude to me.”

”Ah! I thought so. I don't think she could be very polite to anybody.

Now, suppose you and I become friends? The Castle belongs to me-or will when Uncle Ned dies. I can order people to come or people to go; and I order you to come. You shall come up to the house with me. You shall have lunch with me; you shall really. I have got a lovely suite of rooms-a bedroom of blue-and-silver and a little sitting-room for my own use; and you shall come there, and Jasper shall serve us both. Do you know that you are sweetly pretty?-just like a gipsy. You are lovely!

Will you come with me now? Do! come at once.”

Sylvia laughed. She looked full at Evelyn; then she said abruptly:

”May I ask you a very straight question?”

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