Part 8 (1/2)

”I love straight questions,” replied Evelyn.

”Can you give me a right, good, big lunch? Do you know that I am very hungry? Were you ever very hungry?”

”Oh, sometimes,” replied Evelyn, staring very hard at her. ”I lived on a ranch, you know-or perhaps you don't know.”

”I don't know what a ranch is.”

”How funny! I thought everybody knew. You see, I am not English; I am Tasmanian. My father was an Englishman, but he died when I was a little baby, and I lived with mothery-the sweetest, the dearest, the darlingest woman on earth-on a ranch in Tasmania. Mothery is dead, and I have come here, and all the place will belong to me-not to Audrey-some day. Yes, I was hungry when we went on long expeditions, which we used to do in fine weather, but there was always something handy to eat. I have heard of people who are hungry and there is nothing handy to eat. Do you belong to that sort?”

”Yes, to that sort,” said Sylvia, nodding. ”I will tell you about myself presently. Yes, take me to the house, please. I know _he_ will be angry when he knows it, but I am going all the same.”

”Who is he?”

”I will tell you about him when you know the rest. Take me to the house, quick. I was there once before, on New Year's Day, when every one-every one has a right to come. I hope you will keep up that splendid custom when you get the property. I ate a lot then. I longed to take some for him, but it was the rule that I must not do that. I told him about it afterwards: game-pie, two helpings; venison pasty, two ditto.”

”Oh, that is dull!” interrupted Evelyn. ”Have you not forgotten yet about a lunch you had some days ago?”

”You would not if you were in my shoes,” said Sylvia. ”But come; if we stay talking much longer some one will see us and prevent me from going to the house with you.”

”I should like to find the person who could prevent me from doing what I like to do!” replied Evelyn. ”Come, Sylvia, come.”

Evelyn took the tall, dark girl's hand, and they both set to running, and entered the house by the side entrance. They had the coast clear, as Evelyn expressed it, and ran up at once to her suite of rooms. Jasper was not in; the rooms were empty. They ran through the bedroom and found themselves in the beautifully furnished boudoir. A fire was blazing on the hearth; the windows were slightly open; the air, quite mild and fresh-for the day was like a spring one-came in at the open cas.e.m.e.nt.

Evelyn ran and shut it, and then turned and faced her companion.

”There!” she said. She came close up to Sylvia, and almost whispered, ”Suppose Jasper brings lunch for both of us up here? She will if I command her. I will ring the bell and she'll come. Would you not like that?”

”Yes, I'd like it much-much the best,” said Sylvia. ”I am afraid of Lady Frances. And Miss Audrey can be very rude. She was very chuff with me on New Year's Day.”

”She won't be chuff with you in my presence,” said Evelyn. ”Ah! here comes Jasper.”

Jasper, looking slightly excited, now appeared on the scene.

”Well, my darling!” she said. She rushed up to Evelyn and clasped her in her arms. ”Oh, my own sweet Eve, and how are you getting on?” she exclaimed. ”I am thinking this is not the place for you.”

”We will talk of that another time, please, Jasper,” said Evelyn, with unwonted dignity. ”I have brought a friend to lunch with me. This young lady is called Miss Sylvia Leeson, and she is awfully hungry, and we'd both like a big lunch in this room. Can you smuggle things up, Jasper?”

”Her ladys.h.i.+p will be mad,” exclaimed Jasper. ”I was told in the servants' hall that she was downright annoyed at your not going to breakfast; if you are not at lunch she will move heaven and earth.”

”Let her; it will be fun,” said Evelyn. ”I am going to lunch here with my friend Sylvia Leeson. Bring a lot of things up, Jasper-good things, rich things, tempting things; you know what sort I like.”

”I'll try if there is a bit of pork and some mincepies and plum-pudding and cream and such-like down-stairs. And you'd fancy your chocolate, would you not?”

”Rather! Get all you can, and be as quick as ever you can.”

Jasper accordingly withdrew, and in a short time appeared with a laden tray in her hands.

”I had to run the gauntlet of the footman and the butler too; and what they will tell Lady Frances goodness knows, but I do not,” answered Jasper. ”But there, if things have to come to a crisis, why, they must.

You will not forget me when the storm breaks, will you, Evelyn?”