Part 11 (1/2)
”Well, Miss Evelyn, I hope I do my duty. But you and Miss Sylvia have been very late out, so you must hurry, miss, if I am to do you justice.”
”But, oh, I say!” cried Evelyn, looking for the first time at her friend. ”What is Sylvia to wear?”
”I don't know, miss. None of your dresses will fit her; she is so much taller.”
”I will not go down-stairs a fright,” said Sylvia. ”Audrey asked me, and she must lend me something. Please, Jasper, do go to Miss Wynford's room and ask her if she has a white dress she will lend me to wear to-night.
Even a was.h.i.+ng muslin will do. Anything that is long enough in the skirt and not too short in the waist. I will take it away and have it washed fresh for her. Do, please, please, ask her, Jasper!”
”I am very sorry, miss,” answered Jasper. ”I would do anything in reason to oblige, but to go to a young lady whom I don't know and to make a request of that sort is more than I can do, miss. Besides, she is occupied now. A whole lot of visitors have just arrived-fine young ladies and tall young gentlemen-and they are all chittering-chattering as though their lungs would burst. They are all in the hall, miss, chatting as hard as they can chat. No, I cannot ask her; I cannot really.”
”Then I must stop up-stairs and lose all, all the fun,” said Sylvia.
The gaiety left her face. She sat down on a chair.
”You will get me something to eat, at any rate, Jasper?” she said.
”Yes, of course, miss; you and I can have a cozy meal together.”
”No, thank you,” said Sylvia proudly. ”I don't eat with servants.”
Jasper's face turned an ugly green color. She looked at Evelyn, but Evelyn only laughed.
”You want to be put in your place, Jas,” was her remark. ”You are a little uppish, you know. I am quite pleased with Sylvia. I think she can teach me one or two things.”
”Well,” exclaimed Jasper, ”if it is to be cruel and nasty to your own old Jasper, I wish you joy of your future, Miss Evelyn; that I do.-And I am sure, miss,” she added, flas.h.i.+ng angry eyes at the unconscious Sylvia, ”I do not want to eat with you-not one bit. I am sure your dress ain't fit for any lady to wear.”
Sylvia got up slowly.
”I am going to look for Audrey,” she said; and before Evelyn could prevent her, she left the room.
”Ain't she a spiteful, nasty thing!” said the maid the moment Sylvia's back was turned. ”Ain't she just the very sort that your mother would be mad at your knowing! And I willing to be kind to her and all, and to have a dull evening for her sake, and she ups and cries, 'I don't eat with servants.' Forsooth! I like her ways! I hope, Miss Evelyn, you won't have nothing more to do with her.”
”Oh dear!” said Evelyn, lying back in her chair and going off into one peal of laughter after another. ”You really kill me, Jas, with your silly ways. It was fun to see Sylvia when she spoke like that. And didn't she take a rise out of you! And was not your p.e.c.k.e.r up! Oh, it was killing-killing!”
”I am surprised to hear you talk, Miss Evelyn, as you do. You have already forgotten your poor mother and what she said I was to be to you.”
”I have not forgotten her, Jas; but I mean to have great fun with Sylvia, and whether you like it or not you will have to lump it. Oh, I say, she has come back!-Well, Sylvia? Why, you have got a lovely dress hanging over your arm!”
”It is the best I could get,” said Sylvia. ”I went to Audrey's wardrobe and took it out. I did not ask her leave; she was not in the room. There were numbers of dresses, all hanging on pegs, and I took this one. See, it is only India muslin, and it can be washed and done up beautifully. I am determined to have my one happy evening without being docked of any of it, and I could not come down in my own frock. See, Evelyn; do you think it will do?”
”It looks rather raggy,” said Evelyn, gazing at the white India muslin, with its lovely lace and chiffon and numerous little tucks, with small favor; ”but I suppose it is better than nothing.”
”I borrowed this white sash too,” said Sylvia, ”and those shoes and stockings. I am certain to be found out. I am certain never to be allowed to come to the Castle again; but I mean to have one really great evening of grand fun.”
”And I won't help you to dress,” said Jasper.
”But you will, Jasper, because I order it,” cried the imperious little Evelyn. ”Only,” she added, ”you must dress me first; and then, while you are helping Sylvia to look as smart as she can in that old rag, I will strut up and down before the gla.s.s and try to imagine myself a bride and the owner of Wynford Castle.”
Jasper was, after all, too much afraid of Evelyn not to yield to her will, and the dressing of the extraordinary girl began. She was very particular about the arranging of her hair, and insisted on having a dash of powder on her face; finally, she found herself in the satin robe with its magnificent adornings. Her hair was once again piled on the top of her head, a wreath of stephanotis surrounding it, and she stood in silent ecstasy gazing at her image in the gla.s.s.