Pixie O'Shaughnessy Part 6

The Margaret-girls laughed hysterically at this exhibition of wit, but Lottie's followers shot indignant glances across the room, and Pixie asked innocently--"Have you got a pea-green satin, Lottie? And pink flounces to it? You _will_ be fine! I have a little pink fan out of a cracker last year, when there was company at the Chase. I'll lend it to you if you like, and then you'll be all complete!"

"Thank you, Pixie O'Shaughnessy; you are a kind little girl. I shan't want it this time, but I'll be sure to remind you when I do," replied Lottie, with unusual warmth of manner, for the child's sincerity had touched a soft spot in her vain heart, and she had an increasing desire to include her in the number of her admirers. Later on, when they were left alone together at the end of the schoolroom, she put her arm round the tiny waist, and said caressingly--

"Talking of party dresses, what are you going to wear yourself on Tuesday evening? You have to put on your best things, you know, just as if you were going out?"

"_Will_ I?" Pixie looked surprised, but absolutely unperturbed. "But I haven't a rag to my back but the black you see every night! Bridgie said, 'It's not likely you'll be visiting at Court until ye're education's finished, so this old grenadine will see you through until the s.h.i.+p comes home from its next voyage. It's gone a long way this time,' says she, 'and between you and me, I expect the storms will swamp it, but I've taken the best pieces out of my old dress and Esmeralda's, and, barring the darn on the back seam, I defy ye to tell it from new!'

So that's all I've got, as I told you before, and, party or no party, it will have to do."

Lottie looked at her in horrified sympathy, but not a sigh of regret clouded the beaming face; the head was tilting to and fro in its usual complacent fas.h.i.+on, the shabby little flounce of a skirt was whisking to and fro. Such a depth of poverty seemed incomprehensible to the child of wealthy parents, and she was moved to an unusual desire to help.

Never before had she been known to lend one of her possessions to another girl, but now she said quite eagerly--

"I have a lace collar, Pixie--a very pretty collar--I'll lend it to you, and a white ribbon for your hair! It would lighten your dress wonderfully; and there is a brooch too, and a little gold bangle."

She paused, looking inquiringly to see the result of her offer, for one could never tell how it would be received. Some girls might be pleased, others might consider it almost an insult, and she would be sorry to offend the funny little thing. But Pixie was not offended. She had too much of the O'Shaughnessy blood in her veins to object to have things made easy for her at the expense of another, and she felt no embarra.s.sment in taking the good things that came in her way.

"Oh, ye darlin'!" she cried rapturously. "Will ye lend them to me, really? Think of me now with a bracelet on me arm, and a brooch at me neck! They wouldn't be knowing me at home. I wish to-day was Tuesday; and what shall we do with ourselves all the hours before it's time to dress up?"

Lottie referred the question to Margaret, who, as head girl, had been busy thinking out plans for the enjoyment of her friends.

"I thought of asking if we might go to see the Cinematograph at the Polytechnic," she replied. "Miss Phipps promised to take us some day, and if we could do some shopping first, and have tea afterwards, it would be a delightful way of spending the afternoon. There is one thing that we must buy while we have the chance, and that's a present for Fraulein. Her birthday is next week, and she is such a kind old dear that she deserves something nice. I want at least a s.h.i.+lling from everyone, and as much more as they can afford. I wonder what we had better get?"

"I know what she would love! A scent-bottle for her dressing-table like the one Mademoiselle has. We could not afford one quite so good, but we could get a very nice size for about two pounds. One day when I was in Mademoiselle's room, Fraulein came in and took up the bottle, and began admiring it, and saying how nice it was to get presents which were good to look at, as well as to use. She has not many pretty things--poor Fraulein!--and I think she would really enjoy a taste of luxury.

Mademoiselle has her initials engraven on the gla.s.s, but that would be too expensive for us. We can have them on the stopper instead."

"And who gave Mademoiselle her bottle? Was it someone here?" asked Pixie curiously, whereupon Kate tossed her head with an air of exaggerated dismay.

"My dear, how can you? Don't say that to Mademoiselle, I implore you!

She would have a fit. _We_ are all commoners, and English commoners at that, and the lady who gave her that precious bottle was Madame la Marquise de Something or Other, the mother of her beloved pupil Isoult Andree Adele Marie Therese--the most perfect, and beautiful, and clever, and amiable _jeune fille_ that was ever created!" Kate paused, hitched one shoulder to her ear, spread out her hands, and elevated her eyebrows in ridiculous mimicry of Mademoiselle's mannerisms. "Did she evare neglect her work? _Jamais_, nevare! Did she evare forget that she was a _jeune fille_, and be'ave like a vild, rough boy? _Jamais_, _jamais_!

Was she evare like these Engleesh--rude, impairtinent, disobedient?

_Mais non_! Always the same--_cette ange_, the most wise, the most amiable! And when she has finished her education and made her _debut_, to be the most beautiful and admired wherever she has gone, she has vept--_vept_, I tell you, to say _adieu_ to her beloved Mademoiselle!

And she has given her a chain for her neck, and Madame la Marquise that beautiful 'ansome botelle. Really, Pixie, you are behind the times if you don't know about Isoult. Just turn Mademoiselle on to her next time you are with her on the walk, and you won't have to exert yourself any more. She will sing her praises until you come in."

"I will," said Pixie st.u.r.dily. "And I'll see that bottle, too. I must see that bottle. I'll go into Mademoiselle's room next time I have a chance, and have a good look at it all to myself!"

The girls smiled, but took little note of a determination which seemed natural enough under the circ.u.mstances. A week afterwards they remembered it with very different feelings, and Pixie's own words were brought up in judgment against her.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

PIXIE IN TROUBLE.

It was already dark when the crocodile pa.s.sed in at the gates of Holly House on its return from the expedition to town, and Miss Phipps gave instructions that the girls were to go straight to their rooms to dress for the evening. Full dress was the rule for the evenings of term- holiday, for even if nothing particular was going on, and no extra guests expected, it gave one a gala feeling to don a light frock, and gaze down upon one's very best shoes and stockings. Before leaving for town in the morning, visits had been paid to the box-room to take the rarely-used splendours from their wrappings, and now they lay stretched out in all their glory on the narrow beds, white, blue, and pink, a very wealth of colour and luxury.

Pixie O'Shaughnessy, having no adornment to do for herself, acted as lady's-maid to her bedroom, with much satisfaction to her mistresses, and credit to herself. She brushed Kate's hair until it was so smooth and flat as to be almost invisible from a front view; she tied Ethel's sash, and the ribbon to match which confined the ends of her curls; and she fastened Flora's dress, which was a matter of difficulty and time, for though it was let out regularly each holiday-time, it invariably grew too tight before it was needed again.

"I can't help it," the poor thing protested miserably. "I don't eat half as much as Ethel, and she's as thin as a stick. It's my fate! I was born fat, and I go on growing fatter and fatter all the time. I shall be a fat woman in a show, before I am done with it. It's hard lines, for I should so love to be slim and willowy. That's what the heroines are in books, and it makes me quite ill every time I read it.

Nothing exciting ever happens to fat people! The thin ones get all the fun and excitement, and marry the nice man, while the poor fatty stays at home, and waits upon her hand and foot. Then she grows into an aunt, and takes charge of the nephews and nieces when they have fever or measles, or when the parents go abroad for a holiday. Everyone imposes upon her, just because she is fat!"

"No, indeed, then, it is because she's good-natured. Look at yourself now; you are always laughing!" declared Pixie soothingly. "Hold yer breath a single moment while I get the better of this hook. Ye'll not need to curtsey too low, I'm thinking, or you'll go off like a cracker!

And the elegant dress that it is, too! I remember the night Bridgie went to her first ball, the Hunt Ball it was, over at Roskillie. It was me mother's wedding-dress that she wore, and she looked like a picture in it, the darlin'! Me mother was for having it altered to be in the fas.h.i.+on, but me father says, 'Leave it alone; you'll spoil it if ye alter a st.i.tch! It's better than fas.h.i.+onable,' he says, 'it's artistic, and fits the child like her own skin.' So away it was put in Bridgie's cupboard, and Esmeralda comes peeping at it, and, thinks she, 'What yellow lace! It would be a disgrace to us all to have the girl dancing about with that dirty stuff round her neck,' so not a word did she speak, but off with the lace and washed it herself, with a good hard rub, and plenty of blue bag. Then she ironed it, with a morsel of starch to make it stand out and show itself off, and st.i.tched it on again as proud as could be. It was to be a surprise for Bridgie, and, me dears, it _was_ a surprise! Mother and Bridgie screeching at the top of their voices, and looking as if the plague was upon us. Would ye believe it, it was just what they liked, to have the lace that colour, and it was the bad turn Esmeralda had done them, starching it up like new! Off it all came, and mother found an old lace scarf, yellower than the first, and pinned it round Bridgie's shoulders, and she had pearls round her neck, and a star in her hair, and Lord Atrim danced the first dance with her, and told me mother she was the prettiest thing he had seen for a twelvemonth. But Esmeralda sulked all the evening, and it was very lively for me alone at home with her tantrums!"

Flora chuckled softly, and Ethel give a shrill "He! he!" from her cubicle at the other end of the room.

"I do think you must be the funniest family! You seem always to be doing the most extraordinary things. We never have such experiences at home. We used to go along quietly and steadily, and there is never any hubbub nor excitement. You seem to have a constant succession of alarms and adventures."

"We do so!" said Pixie with relish. "Scarcely the day that we're not all rus.h.i.+ng about in distraction about something. Either it's the boys tumbling out of the barn and cutting themselves open, or father bringing home accidents from the meet, or the ferret getting loose in the drawing-room when there's visitors present, or not a pound of fresh meat in the house, and the Bishop taking it into his head to drive over ten miles to lunch! And Bridgie was for going out and killing a chicken, and engaging him in conversation while it was cooked, but mother says, 'No, the man's hungry! Bring lunch in the same as if we were alone, and leave the rest to me.' And when he had asked the blessing she says, smiling, 'It's nothing but ham and eggs I've got to offer ye, Bishop, but there's enough welcome for ten courses,' and the smile of him would have done you good to behold. Three eggs he ate, and half a pig besides, and 'It's the best lunch I've had since I said good-bye to short jackets,' he said when he was finished."

"Now, now, Pixie, not so much talking! Get on with your own dressing, you little chatterbox!" cried Kate, putting her head round the corner of the curtain and giving a tug to the end of the short black skirt.

"Flora can manage now, and you have not too much time, if you are to catch Lottie before she goes out. Hurry up! Hurry up!"

Pixie retired obediently, for Kate was head girl of the dormitory, and must needs be obeyed; so one black frock came off and another went on, the stout boots were exchanged for slippers, and then--the others having already departed--she turned down the gas, and skipped along to the room where Lottie stood waiting for her, a vision of spotless white.

"That's right! I was just wondering what had become of you. Sit down here, and I'll put on the collar, and just call out if I stick a pin in you by mistake. I'm going to fasten it with this little brooch. There!

Isn't it sweet? I think I will give it to you to keep. I never wear it, and you might just as well have it. Yes, I will! You shall have it for a term-holiday present, because you were a kind little girl and didn't join the other girls when they were nasty to me last week. Are you pleased with it now?"

"Oh-h, Lottie! You darlin'! Is it really me very own?" Pixie was fairly breathless with pleasure and excitement, and could only exclaim rapturously and gaze at the reflection of the new treasure, while Lottie smiled, well pleased to have given so much pleasure. Yes! she told herself she was really devoted to Pixie O'Shaughnessy! There was something so sweet and taking about the child that it made one feel nice to give her pleasure, and she pinned, and arranged, and tied ribbons with as much zest as if she were arranging her own toilette.

"There! Now you are done. I think you look very nice. The collar goes so well with that black dress."

"My worrd! Aren't I stylis.h.!.+ I just look beautiful!" cried Pixie, poking her ugly little face close to the gla.s.s, and twisting round and round to examine herself in all aspects. She kissed Lottie effusively, expressed a hundred thanks, and danced downstairs into the schoolroom, where the girls were standing about in twos and threes, looking so grand that it was quite difficult to recognise them. They all stared at her as the latest arrival, and Pixie, being conscious of their scrutiny, held out her arms stiffly on either side, and revolved slowly round and round on one heel. The girls laughed uproariously at first, then suddenly the laughs subsided into t.i.tters, and Pixie, stopping to see what was wrong, espied Miss Phipps and the three governesses standing just inside the doorway, watching with the rest, and applauding with their hands. It was an embarra.s.sing moment, and the performer made a quick dash behind a sofa to screen herself from publicity, but she had not been there five minutes before she was called upon to answer a question.

"Pixie, Kate tells me you were in Lottie's room before you came down.

Was she nearly ready?"

"She was, Miss Phipps, quite ready! Only waiting for me. She's on a white dress, and--"

"Never mind that. I want you to run upstairs, please, and tell her that the cab is here. She must put on her wraps and come down at once."

"I will, Miss Phipps." There was a whisk of short black skirts and off she went, running lightly upstairs, and raising her voice in rich, musical cry, "Lottie! Lottie!"

"The real Irish voice! She ought to be able to sing charmingly when she is older," said Miss Phipps to Mademoiselle, and Mademoiselle nodded her head in a.s.sent.

"I 'ope so! It is a great charm for a young girl to sing well, and she is not pretty. _La pauvre pet.i.te_!"

"No; yet the father is fine-looking, and my friends tell me that the two sisters are quite beauties, and all the family wonderfully handsome with this one exception. But Pixie is better than pretty, she is charming.

Would you be kind enough to go to the dining-room to see if everything is ready, Mademoiselle? It is time we began tea."

Mademoiselle departed, and came back to give the required signal, when the girls filed slowly across the hall, casting curious glances at Lottie as she came downstairs. She was wrapped up in a long white cloak, and had a fleecy shawl thrown over her head, almost covering her face from view. She looked very dainty, and when the door opened and they beheld her step into the cab, they felt a rising of envy which could not be entirely removed, even by the sight of the luxurious tea spread out on the dining-room table.

"Lottie is a lucky creature!" sighed Clara discontentedly. "She is always going out. I wish my people lived near, instead of at the other end of England. I am glad I am North Country, though; I don't like Southerners! I agree with Tennyson--

"'True, and firm, and tender is the North; False, and fair, and smiling is the South.'"

"It isn't false; it's sweet!"

"It _is_ false, I tell you! False, and fair, and--"

"Sweet, and fair, and--"