Part 24 (1/2)

”Don't have the wreath too big,” said Betty; ”and be sure you get the gardener to choose small marguerites. Now, be off--won't you?--for I want to continue my walk.”

Sibyl, in wild delight, rushed into one of the flower-gardens. Betty watched her till she was quite out of sight. Then, quick as thought, she retraced her steps. She must find another hiding-place for the packet.

With Sibyl's knowledge, her present position was one of absolute danger.

Sibyl would tell every girl she knew all about Betty's action when she stood by the broken stump of the old tree. She would describe how Betty thrust in her hand and took something out, looked at it, and put it back again. The girls would go in a body, and poke, and examine, and try to discover for themselves what Betty had taken out of the trunk of the old oak-tree. Betty must remove the sealed packet at once, or it would be discovered.

”What a horrible danger!” thought the girl. ”But I am equal to it.”

She ran with all her might and main, and presently, reaching the tree, thrust her hand in, found the brown packet carefully tied up and sealed, and slipped it into her pocket. Quite close by was a little broken square of wood. Betty, hating herself for doing so, dropped it into the hollow of the tree. The bit of wood would satisfy the girls, for Sibyl had said that Betty had doubtless found some wood. Having done this, she set off to retrace her steps again, going now in the direction of the deserted gardens and the patch of common. She had no spade with her, but that did not matter. She went to the corner where the heather was growing. Very carefully working round a piece with her fingers, she loosened the roots; they had gone deep down, as is the fas.h.i.+on with heather. She slipped the packet underneath, replaced the heather, kissed it, said, ”I am sorry to disturb you, darling, but you are doing a great work now;” and then, wiping the mud from her fingers, she walked slowly home.

The packet would certainly be safe for a day or two under the Scotch heather, which, as a matter of fact, no one thought of interfering with from one end of the year to another. Before Betty left this corner of the common she took great care to remove all trace of having disturbed the heather. Then she walked back to the Court, her heart beating high.

The tension within her was so great as to be almost unendurable. But she would not swerve from the path she had chosen.

On the occasion of the Specialities' first entertainment, Betty Vivian, by request, wore white. Her sisters, who of course would be amongst the guests, also wore white. The little beds had been removed to a distant part of the room, where a screen was placed round them. All the toilet apparatus was put out of sight. Easy-chairs and elegant bits of furniture were brought from the other rooms. Margaret Grant lent her own lovely vases, which were filled with flowers from the gardens. The beautiful big room looked fresh and fragrant when the Specialities a.s.sembled to welcome their guests. Betty stood behind Margaret. Martha West--a little ungainly as usual, but with her strong, firm, reliable face looking even stronger and more reliable since she had joined the great club of the school--was also in evidence. f.a.n.n.y Crawford stood close to Betty. Just once she looked at her, and then smiled. Betty turned when she did so, and greeted that smile with a distinct frown of displeasure. Yet every one knew that Betty was to be the heroine of the evening.

Punctual to the minute the guests arrived--Sibyl Ray in her vivid-green dress, with the marguerites in her hair.

No one made any comment as the little girl came forward; only, a minute later, f.a.n.n.y whispered to Betty, ”What a ridiculous and conceited idea!

I wonder who put it into her head?”

”I did,” said Betty very calmly; ”But she hasn't arranged them quite right.” She left her place, and going up to Sibyl, said a few words to her. Sibyl flushed and looked lovingly into Betty's face. Betty then took Sibyl behind the screen, and, lo and behold! her deft fingers put the tiny wreath into a graceful position; arranged the soft, light hair so as to produce the best possible effect; twisted a white sash round the gaudy green dress, to carry out the idea of the marguerites; and brought Sibyl back, charmed with her appearance, and looking for once almost pretty.

”What a wonder you are, Betty!” said Martha West in a pleased tone.

”Poor little Sib, she doesn't understand how to manage the flowers!”

”She looks very nice now,” said Betty.

”It was sweet of you to do it for her,” said Martha. ”And, you know, she quite wors.h.i.+ps you; she does, really.”

”There was nothing in my doing it,” replied Betty. She felt inclined to add, ”For she was particularly obliging to me to-day;” but she changed these words into, ”I suggested the idea, so of course I had to see it carried out properly.”

”The white sash makes all the difference,” said Martha. ”You are quite a genius, Betty!”

”Oh no,” said Betty. She looked for a minute into Martha's small, gray, very honest eyes, and wished with all her heart and soul that she could change with her.

The usual high-jinks and merriment went on while the eatables were being discussed. But when every one had had as much as she could consume with comfort, and the oranges, walnuts, and crackers were put aside for the final entertainment, Margaret (being at present head-girl of the Specialities) proposed round games for an hour. ”After that,” she said, ”we will ask Betty Vivian to tell us stories.”

”Oh, but we all want the stories now!” exclaimed several voices.

Margaret laughed. ”Do you know,” she said, ”it is only a little past seven o'clock, and we cannot expect poor Betty to tell stories for close on two hours? We'll play all sorts of pleasant and exciting games until eight o'clock, and then perhaps Betty will keep her word.”

Betty had purposely asked to be excused from joining in these games, and every one said she understood the reason. Betty was too precious and valuable and altogether fascinating to be expected to rush about playing Blind-Man's Buff, and Puss-in-the-Corner, and Charades, and Telegrams, and all those games which schoolgirls love.

The sound from the Vivians' bedroom was very hilarious for the next three-quarters of an hour; but presently Margaret came forward and asked all the girls if they would seat themselves, as Betty was going to tell stories.

”With the lights down! Oh, please, please, don't forget that! All the lights down except one,” said Susie Rushworth.

”Yes, with all the lights down except one,” said Margaret. ”Betty, will you come and sit here? We will cl.u.s.ter round in a semi-circle. We shall be in shadow, but there must be sufficient light for us to see your face.”