Part 34 (2/2)
”What do I want with it?” he asked in astonishment. ”Why, it belongs to old Mr. Leeson, the miser!”
”Go-go!” she said. ”You can sell it for sixpence, or a s.h.i.+lling, or whatever it will fetch, only take it away.”
The boy ran off laughing, the hen tucked under his arm.
CHAPTER XIX.-”WHY DID YOU DO IT?”
Meanwhile Sylvia was thoroughly enjoying herself. She started for the Castle in the highest spirits. Her walk during the morning hours had not fatigued her; and when, soon after twelve o'clock, she walked slowly and thoughtfully up the avenue, a happier, prettier girl could scarcely be seen. The good food she had enjoyed since Jasper had appeared on the scene had already begun to tell. Her cheeks were plump, her eyes bright; her somewhat pale complexion was creamy in tint and thoroughly healthy.
Her dress, too, effected wonders. Sylvia would look well in a cotton frock; she would look well as a milkmaid, as a cottage girl; but she also had that indescribable grace which would enable her to fill a loftier station. And now, in her rich furs and dark-brown costume, she looked fit to move in any society. She held Evelyn's letter in her hand.
Her one fear was that Evelyn would remark on her own costume transmogrified for Sylvia's benefit.
”Well, if she does, I don't much care,” thought the happy girl. ”After all, truth is best. Why should I deceive? I deceived when I was here last, when I wore Audrey's dress. I had not the courage then that I have now. Somehow to-day I feel happy and not afraid of anything.”
She was met, just before she reached the front entrance, by Audrey and Evelyn.
”Here, Evelyn,” she cried-”here is a note for you.”
Evelyn took it quickly. She did not want Audrey to know that Jasper was living at The Priory. She turned aside and read her note, and Audrey devoted herself to Sylvia. Audrey had liked Sylvia before; she liked her better than ever now. She was far too polite to glance at her improved dress; that somehow seemed to tell her that happier circ.u.mstances had dawned for Sylvia, and a sense of rejoicing visited her.
”I am so very glad you have come!” she said. ”Evelyn and I have been planning how we are to spend the day. We want to give you, and ourselves also, a right good time. Do you know that Evelyn and I are schoolgirls now? Is it not strange? Dear Miss Sinclair has left us. We miss her terribly; but I think we shall like school-life-eh, Eve?”
Evelyn had finished Jasper's letter, and had thrust it into her pocket.
”I hate school-life!” she said emphatically.
”Oh Eve! but why?” asked Audrey. ”I thought you were making a great many friends at school.”
”Wherever I go I shall make friends,” replied Evelyn in a careless tone.
”That, of course, is due to my position. But I do not know, after all,”
she continued, ”that I like fair-weather friends. Mothery used to tell me that I must be careful when with them. She said they would, one and all, expect me to do something for them. Now, I hate people who want you to do things for them. For my part, I shall soon let my so-called friends know that I am not that sort of girl.”
”Let us walk about now,” said Audrey. ”It will be lunch-time before long; afterwards I thought we might go for a ride. Can you ride, Sylvia?”
”I used to ride once,” she answered, coloring high with pleasure.
”I can lend you a habit; and we have a very nice horse-quite quiet, and at the same time spirited.”
”I am not afraid of any horses,” answered the girl. ”I should like a ride immensely.”
”We will have lunch, then a ride, then a good cozy chat together by the schoolroom fire, then dinner; and then, what do you say to a dance? We have asked some young friends to come to the Castle to-night for the purpose.”
”I must not be too late in going home,” said Sylvia. ”And,” she added, ”I have not brought a dress for the evening.”
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