A Very Naughty Girl Part 16

"Go and fetch her."

Evelyn obeyed. She imagined her head was giddy and that her legs were too weak to enable her to walk steadily.

"Jasper, come," she said in a tremulous voice.

"Poor darling! Poor pet!" muttered Jasper in an injudicious undertone to her afflicted charge.

Lady Frances was now standing up.

"Come here, Jasper," she said. "In which wardrobe do you keep Miss Wynford's dresses?"

"In this one, madam."

"Open it and let me see."

The maid obeyed. Lady Frances went to the wardrobe and felt amongst skirts of different colors, different materials, and different degrees of respectability. Without exception they were all unsuitable; but presently she chose the least objectionable, an ugly drab frieze, and lifting it herself from its hook, laid it on the bed.

"Is there a bodice for this dress?" she asked of the maid.

"Yes, madam. Miss Evelyn used to wear that on the ranch. She has outgrown it rather."

"Put it on your young mistress and let me see her."

"I won't wear that horrid thing!" said Evelyn.

"You will wear what I choose."

Again Evelyn submitted. The dress was put on. It was not becoming, but was at least quiet in appearance.

"You will wear that to-day," said her aunt. "I will myself take you into town this afternoon to get some suitable clothes.-Jasper, I wish Miss Evelyn's present wardrobe to be neatly packed in her trunks."

"Yes, madam."

"No, no, Aunt Frances; you cannot mean it," said Evelyn.

"My dear, I do.-Before you go, Jasper, I have one thing to say. I am sorry, but I cannot help myself. Your late mistress wished you to remain with Miss Wynford. I grieve to say that you are not the kind of person I should wish to have the charge of her. I will myself get a suitable maid to look after the young lady, and you can go this afternoon. I will pay you well. I am sorry for this; it sounds cruel, but it is really cruel to be kind.-Now, Evelyn, what is the matter?"

"Only I hate you! Oh, how I hate you!" said Evelyn. "I wish mothery were alive that she might fight you! Oh, you are a horrid woman! How I hate you!"

"When you come to yourself, Evelyn, and you are inclined to apologize for your intemperate words, you can come down-stairs, where your belated breakfast awaits you."

CHAPTER X.-JASPER WAS TO GO.

What will not hunger-real, healthy hunger-effect? Lady Frances, after her last words, swept out of the room; and Jasper, her bosom heaving, her black eyes flas.h.i.+ng angry fire, looked full at her little charge.

What would Evelyn do now? The spoilt child, who could scarcely brook the smallest contradiction, who had declined to get up even to breakfast, to do without Jasper! To allow her friend Jasper to be torn from her arms-Jasper, who had been her mother's dearest companion, who had sworn to that mother that she would not leave Evelyn come what might, that she would protect her against the tyrant aunt and the tyrant uncle, that if necessary she would fight for her with the power which the law bestows!

Oh, what an awful moment had arrived! Jasper was to go. What would Evelyn do now?

Evelyn's first impulse had been all that was satisfactory. Her fury had burst forth in wild, indignant words. But now, when the child and the maid found themselves alone, Jasper waited in expectancy which was almost certainty. Evelyn would not submit to this? She and her charge would leave Castle Wynford together that very day. If they were eventually parted, the law should part them.

Still Evelyn was silent.

"Oh Eve-my dear Miss Evelyn-my treasure!" said the afflicted woman.

"Yes, Jasper?" said Evelyn then. "It is an awful nuisance."

"A nuisance! Is that all you have got to say?"

Evelyn rubbed her eyes.

"I won't submit, of course," she said. "No, I won't submit for a minute.

But, Jasper, I must have some breakfast; I am too hungry for anything.

Perhaps you had better take all my darling, lovely clothes; and if you have to go, Jasper, I'll-I'll never forget you; but I'll talk to you more about it when I have had something to eat."

Evelyn turned and left the room. She was in an ugly dress, beyond doubt, but in her neat black shoes and stockings, and with her fair hair tied back according to Lady Frances's directions, she looked rather more presentable than she had done the previous day. She entered the breakfast-room. The remains of a meal still lay upon the table. Evelyn looked impatiently round. Surely some one ought to appear-a servant at the very least! Hot tea she required, hot coffee, dishes nicely cooked and tempting and fresh. The little girl went to the bell and rang it. A footman appeared.

"Get my breakfast immediately," said Evelyn.

The man withdrew, endeavoring to hide a smile. Evelyn's conduct in daring to defy Lady Frances had been the amus.e.m.e.nt of the servants' hall that morning. The man went to the kitchen premises now with the announcement that "miss" had come to her senses.

"She is as white as a sheet, and looks as mad as a hatter," said the man; "but her spirit ain't broke. My word! she 'ave got a will of her own. 'My breakfast, immediate,' says she, as though she were the lady of the manor."

"Which she will be some day," said cook; "and I 'ates to think of it.

Our beautiful Miss Audrey supplanted by the like of her. There, Johnson!

my missus said that Miss Wynford was to have quite a plain breakfast, so take it up-do."

Toast, fresh tea, and one solitary new-laid egg were placed on a tray and brought up to the breakfast-room.

Evelyn sat down without a word, poured herself out some tea, ate every crumb of toast, finished her egg, and felt refreshed. She had just concluded her meal when Audrey, accompanied by Arthur Jervice, ran into the room.

"Oh, I say, Evelyn," cried Audrey, "you are the very person that we want. We are getting up charades for to-night; will you join us?"

"Yes, do, please," said Arthur. "And we are most anxious that Sylvia should join too."

"I wish I knew her address," said Audrey. "She is such a mystery! Mother is rather disturbed about her. I am afraid, Arthur, we cannot have her to-night; we must manage without.-But will you join us, Evelyn? Do you know anything about acting?"

"I have never acted, but I have seen plays," said Evelyn. "I am sure I can manage all right. I'll do my best if you will give me a big part. I won't take a little part, for it would not be suitable."

Audrey colored and laughed.

"Well, come, anyway, and we will do our best for you," she said. "Have you finished your breakfast? The rest of us are in my schoolroom. You have not been introduced to it yet. Come if you are ready; we are all waiting."

After her miserable morning, Evelyn considered this an agreeable change.

She had intended to go up-stairs to comfort Jasper, but really and truly Jasper must wait. She accordingly went with her cousin, and was welcomed by all the children, who pitied her and wanted to make her as much at home as possible. A couple of charades were discussed, and Evelyn was thoroughly satisfied with the _role_ a.s.signed her. She was a clever child enough, and had some powers of mimicry. As the different arrangements were being made she suddenly remembered something, and uttered a cry.

"Oh dear!" she said-"oh dear! What a pity!"