Daisy Ashford: Her Book Part 33

"Oh no, we are rather a large family" responded Gladys, "perhaps I had better tell you our names or you wont understand the news."

"Yes please do" pleaded Helen.

"Well I have three brothers and three sisters," said Gladys, "Lionel is the eldest of the family, he's about 25 or 26 I think, then there is Wilelmina, we always call her Minna, she is 24, then Lawrence is about 23 I fancy. I am the next, and I suppose you know I have just come of age. Ethel and Elsie (the twins) are just 19, and Hugh is the youngest, he is between 17 and 18."

"You all seem to have very fanciful names" said Helen.

"Do we?" said Gladys "well Mother is just that kind you know, her name being Ethelreda Aurora, I suppose she thinks we ought to have fancy names."

"Yes I suppose so" replied Helen, "I certainly think you have sweet names, Ethel and Elsie are very nice for twins, are they pretty?"

"Ethel and Elsie?" asked Gladys "oh yes fairly so they are both fair you know."

"You must be a fair family" replied Helen

"You are fair yourself."

"Oh no we're not" answered Gladys, "Minna is like a gipsy almost and the boys are all dark."

"Really?" said Helen "well Gladys what about this wonderful piece of news?"

"Oh yes" said Gladys, "well when Mother wrote that postscript, I dont believe she asked the others about it at all, because only the other evening, I got a letter from Lawrence, (he is my favourite) and it seems he is quite in favour of me _not_ marrying James."

"How lovely!" exclaimed Helen.

"I'll try and find the letter" said Gladys "it really is awfully nice, he says he never liked the looks of James and he quite believes my suspicions are right and he says he'll try and find out who murdered Mr.

Winston if he can, and he strongly advises me to mary Lord Beaufort, (a friend of ours who has a regard for me). He also says that he will try and come to see me, Minna is very much of his oppinion too it seems, but I think that is because _she_ has her eye on James. The twins have not much to say in the matter except they think I am silly to miss such a chance, Lionel says so too, but then he is very high and mighty, you know, so of course he wants me to marry some one rich."

"Well I dont see much good in looking for the letter now you have told me all the news" said Helen laughingly, as Gladys having turned her desk up side down, was rampaging about the bookcase.

"I suppose its not much good" replied Gladys wearily, "well now Helen the question I want you to settle is this; what am I to write and tell Mother, and when am I to expect Lawrence?

"Well my dear, as regards the latter question I am quite ignorant" said Helen "your brother may turn up today for all I know."

"How jolly if he does" replied Gladys "it will be very awkward if James is at home, because if ever a man knew how to make himself disagreable James is that person."

"Is he really?" exclaimed Helen "well I hope Lawrence will come today if that is the case, but now Gladys to business, you must write to your mother you know, and have you decided what you will say?"

"Yes I have" said Gladys bravely "I will write at once and say that my suspicions are none the less keen, and on no plea whatever will I marry James."

"Gladys, you are good!" cried Helen, while her friend's lips trembled and her eyes filled with tears, "but never mind dear" she added "you will be well rewarded one day, when you find yourself the happy wife of a good man, he may be rich too, because it is not always the bad that are rich."

"I know" answered Gladys "and now Helen there is just time before lunch for me to write my letter."

Arranging her writing table, Gladys sat down and wrote the following letter:

8, Down Terrace, Richmond.

Oct. 17th.

MY DEAREST MOTHER,

No words can express how sorry I am that my letter should have caused you and father so much trouble.

My suspicions however have in no way diminished.

James is as bad as ever. He has a horrible sneaking way of coming upstairs and he dreams too and shouts out "oh why did I do it; murder!

robbery." So tonight I shall tell him that I have found him out and could not possibly marry him. Of course he will have nothing to do with me and I shall be penniless, but as _you_ will have no more to say to me, I suppose I am welcome to fall back upon the kindness of my dearly beloved friend Helen Winston. Now dear Mother, as this is the last letter I shall ever write you, I beg that you will give my very best love to dear Father and all the rest, Remember me very kindly to all my friends especially Lord Beaufort. Begging heartily for your forgiveness (which I suppose you will never grant me)

I remain, your devoted daughter _Gladys_.

Having finished this epistle Gladys stamped and sealed it and handing it to Helen said: "You will post this on your way home wont you?"

"Oh yes" said Helen and she placed the envelope in her pocket.

"Now the next best thing to be done is, to go and see if lunch is ready exclaimed Gladys and leading the way, the two girls crossed the pa.s.sage and entered a charming little drawing room. A fire burnt brightly in the grate and a table was spread in the middle of the room, on which a hot pheasant was waiting to be carved.

"Is this a drawing room or a dining room" enquired Helen, looking at the pretty pictures, the sofa and various drawing room articles.

"Both" replied Gladys "you see after meals, the flaps of this table are let down, an Indian silk cloth put upon it, and it is a sweet little table for the centre of a drawingroom,

"How dodgy" cried Helen in delight. Lunch was soon over and the girls repaired to Gladys's bedroom, which was brighter and sunnier than the drawing-room. Taking their seats by the window, they both sank into silence.

Gladys was the first to break it.

"Helen" she said "when James comes home tonight, I shall tell him exactly what I think about this matter; and if he turns me out of the house, where can I go?"

"Dont despair" said Helen "your brother may arrive before that.

"Oh" said Gladys scornfully "its not likely; I must say Helen you are very unsympathetic, perhaps if you were living with the prospect of spending a night with no roof over your head, you would be nicer to me"

"I am not nasty" returned Helen; if such a thing does happen that you dont know where to go, why you can come to me, you know you will be welcome; you see Gladys I've had so much trouble myself, that I find it easy to be calm during other peoples misery."

"Well it appears you do" replied Gladys, "but anyhow you will surely help me pack my things, for if James turns me away I shall be quite ready to start."

"Oh certainly" said Helen, and accordingly the next hour and a half was spent in turning out Gladys's wardrobes etc. and by the time the trunks were locked and the room set tidy, it was nearly tea-time.

Mrs. Norton (the Landlady brought some b.u.t.tered toast and tea into the bedroom, as it was more comfortable than the sitting room.

"Oh dear it has commenced to rain" cried Gladys, and walking to the window she drew back the pretty muslin curtain.

Helen followed and the two girls stood for a moment looking out of the window, through which a few rain-drops were splas.h.i.+ng on to the thick Turkish carpet.

Helens eyes wandered listlessly across the terrace gardens, but she did not take in the scene before her, as she gazed intently at the lively throng before her, her thoughts were far away in the dingy little home-office, and she was wondering if Cyril would permit Gladys to dwell under his roof.

All of a sudden Gladys clutched hold of Helen's arm, and pointed to a figure in the street, which was coming quickly up the steps of the house.

"Oh Helen he has come!" she cried "quick, quick we must come down stairs!"

The two girls rushed to the door, but ere they had time to take a dozen steps, they were met at the top of the stairs by _Mr. Palsey_.