might as well stop talking and set to work. Begin at once, Jane,
please; we'll push, and make it as easy as possible."
The workers crawled wearily back to their posts, while the audience, in
the shape of Lilias and Christabel, stood in the doorway and cheered
them with derisive comments.
"Amusing _contretemps_, isn't it? Reminds one of Maud's ecstasies the
other evening. Quite pleased, aren't you, Maudie, to have another
illustration of the humours of house-cleaning?"
"Never mind, darlings, keep cool! You'll think it very funny in six
months' time. If you work hard you'll finish by to-morrow morning!"
The glances cast upon the miscreants in reply to their witticisms were
so threatening, that they ran back to the library to stifle their
laughter; but five minutes had not elapsed before they were back again,
gasping in consternation.
"A caller! Some one at the door! Can't see properly, but it's a man!
A young man in a frock coat and a tall hat. What shall we do?"
"Send him away, of course. Jane, quick! put on a clean apron, and tell
the gentleman that Mrs Rendell is away from home. If he asks for us--
we are engaged. Sorry you can't ask him in, as the house is upset.
He'll see that for himself," added Maud, in a resigned tone, as Jane
hurried from the room. "The hall looks as if it were in the midst of a
removal, and if he had had any sense he would have known from the look
of the windows that we were not in a fit state to receive callers.
Anyhow, he will have to go away now."
The visitor, however, refused to go away, for, to the consternation of
the listeners, the parley at the front door was succeeded by the sound
of footsteps picking their way through the piled-up furniture, and
Jane's suggestion of "The library, sir," was apparently neglected, for
the tramp came nearer and nearer to the drawing-room door. Six pairs of
hands were raised to smooth six ruffled heads, Maud twitched down her
sleeves, Lilias stood in an attitude of graceful attention, and the next
moment the door was thrown open, and Ned Talbot's deep voice called out
a greeting.
"May I come in? I refused to be turned away at the door. How does
everybody do? You look very busy. I am going to stay and help you."
CHAPTER SIX.
NAN PLAYS HELPER.
Alas for Maud! Had it been for this that she had lived in dreams since
October last, planning afresh, and yet afresh, every detail of the next
meeting with Ned? Had it been for this that she had mentally arranged
background, occasion, opportunity, sending abroad mother, and sisters
five, and seating herself in solitude to await Ned's arrival? Had it
been for this that she had cherished her dainty new blouse, refusing to
crush it beneath cloak or shawl, and appearing over and over again in
the pink of a bygone age, so that it might appear in its first beauty
for Ned's inspection? Oh, it was hard to have planned so well, and then
to be discovered with ruffled hair, flushed cheeks, and unbecoming
attire! Lilias was only the more picturesque for her working attire,
and was even now shaking hands with the visitor, and welcoming him in
pretty, winsome fashion, as the other girls shook down skirts and
aprons, and took furtive peeps in the looking-glass.
"Mr Talbot. You! This is a surprise. It is delightful to see you
again, but we are so upset! We are in the throes of spring-cleaning, as
you perceive. Have you come from town? Agatha, Chrissie, bring in a
few chairs! This is the only room that has a pretence of a carpet, but
at any rate we can give you a chair to sit upon."
"But I don't want one. I have been sitting in the train, and would
rather stand for a change, or, still better, help with some work.
Please don't treat me as a visitor! What were you about when I came in?
Laying a carpet? Six of you! It doesn't take six women to lay one
carpet, surely!"
Nan groaned dismally.
"It does indeed, and then they can't do it! It's nasty, horrid, rough,
heavy work, only fit for men, and not for our poor little fingers. We
had just succeeded, with immense labour, in fastening it all round when
we made the cheerful discovery that a boxful of nails are scattered over
the floor beneath. You came in at the ghastly moment when it had dawned
upon us that it had all to come up again!"
Nan waved her hand with a tragic movement towards the little heap of
nails, then, making a sudden step forward, caught her foot in a loose
piece of braid at the bottom of her skirt, and went rushing forward at a
headlong run, to be caught in Ned Talbot's arms, and so rescued from
destruction against a corner of the wall.
"Nan, I told you that that braid was torn! I told you to sew it up! I
_told_ you you'd trip and hurt yourself," cried Maud reproachfully; but
the culprit only laid her hand over her heart, and gurgled in impenitent
amusement.
"But I didn't, you see! I came off all right. It's only a little end--
not worth talking about!"--and she took a couple of pins from the corner
of her apron and began fastening up the offending loop, while her sister
lifted her hands in disapproval.
"Pins? They won't hold! Better go upstairs and sew it at once. If you
don't, I warn you, Nan,"--but Maud did not get any further in her
prophecy, for Ned Talbot came over to her side, and looked down at her
with kindly, anxious eyes.
"Maud, you look so tired! Don't trouble any more about the carpet; I'll
manage it for you. What's the good of a great lumbering six-footer if
he can't manage a little job like that! I'll have it up and down again
before you can say `Jack Robinson,' and then we will have our talk in
comfort."
"It's more difficult than you think," said Maud dolefully; but Ned only
laughed, then proceeded to take off his coat and go down on his knees to
attack the obstinate rings. The workers took advantage of the
opportunity to adjust hair-pins, and divest themselves of soiled aprons,
while Lilias, having no such defects to remedy, developed sudden
interest in the work on hand, and knelt down on the floor beside him,
holding out first one implement and then another for his use. The
softly-tinted face and cloudy golden hair looked lovelier than ever
about the long white smock which she had adopted as her working costume,
and poor Maud stared at her own heated reflection with increased
disfavour, the while she whispered in Nan's ear--
"I suppose he expects to stay for the evening. So awkward! Can we ask
him, do you think, when mother's away?"
"Mother would be very much annoyed if we sent away an old friend, who
has stayed in the house dozens of times, without even offering him a
meal; especially when he has travelled twenty miles to see us!"
"But, my dear, what have we got? I can't give him dinner. There's
nothing in the house but cold meat."
"Cutlets and tinned fruit--the refuge of the destitute! Send Mary
flying to the butcher's!"
"It's Thursday afternoon!"
Nan's groan of dismay brought Ned Talbot's head round in inquiry. The
rings were giving way obediently in his strong grasp, and Lilias was
clapping her hands at each fresh success, and chatting away in animated
fashion. The sisters waited until the work was resumed, and then
continued the whispered conference.
"It always _is_ Thursday when we want anything. People should never be
allowed to shut their shops. Cold meat it must be, then, and nothing
else, I'm afraid. We might manage to manufacture a few made dishes from
the tinned things in the store-room, but _entrees_ and savouries seem
out of place in the middle of spring-cleaning, and the dining-room is
impassable--a perfect block."
"We might alter that if we put out the things that are needed for this
room. We had better go and do it now, for we don't seem needed here any
longer,"--and Maud cast a wistful look towards the two kneeling figures
in the corner. She envied Lilias her position; but it never entered
into her honest heart to mistrust her sister's loyalty, or to put a
cynical construction upon this sudden show of industry. All the girls
were fond of Ned; it was only natural that Lilias should want to help
him. She held out her poor, roughened hands, and looked appealingly at
Nan as they stood outside the drawing-room door.
"I might wash them, mightn't I, and put on a pair of cuffs, and a fresh
tie? I won't change my blouse, of course; but he is a man, and wouldn't
notice what I'd done--only perhaps that I looked a little bit nicer!"
Nan nodded silently, a lump rising in her throat at the sight of the
wistful face. She was the only one of the sisters who had been told the
secret of Maud's heart, and the bond between these two girls was very
strong and tender. She watched Maud until she disappeared from sight,
with her lips screwed tightly together, and her eyebrows meeting in an
ominous frown across her forehead. She felt very fierce and formidable
at that moment, and it was a positive relief to be able to vent some of
her pent-up irritation in work, so for the next ten minutes she dragged
and tugged at the piled-up furniture, making order out of confusion, and
carrying the lighter drawing-room articles into the hall, in readiness
to be put into their proper places. Then Maud reappeared, smartened up
by those subtle touches which every woman knows how to bestow, and no
man is able to understand, though the result is patent to his eyes; and
after a second consultation on the subject of dinner, a return was made
to the drawing-room, to see how the carpet-laying was progressing. Ned
Talbot was still on his knees, but now he was fastening instead of
unfastening the rings, while Lilias was exhibiting a cup full of sharp,
jagged little nails. The dreaded task was almost accomplished, and that
in less time than would have been possible with the united efforts of
the feminine household.
"Done already?" cried the new-comers; and Agatha shook her mane with a
melancholy air.
"It's s-imply wondrous! He just pulls, and the thing meets as easy as
winking. It doesn't seem a bit difficult. And to think how we almost
killed ourselves! It's humiliating!"
"Don't feel it so at all. If I am beaten at carpet-laying all my life,
I'll never repine. It's a woman's duty to do nice things, and pleasant
things, and pretty things, and leave the men to do the hard bits," said
Elsie, standing on one leg to relieve the pain which had come from long
kneeling, and looking with melancholy significance at her thin little
arms. "Look at those compared to his! Nature never intended me--"
Ned fastened the last hook, and straightened his back with a sigh of
satisfaction.
"Done! That's all right. I'm glad I came in time, for it's stiffish
work. I am staying in town for a few days, and thought I would chance
it this afternoon, and run down to see you for a few hours."
He looked at Maud as he spoke, and she hesitated uncertainly, thinking
once again of her mother's absence, the disordered rooms, the prescribed
contents of the larder.
"It was very good of you, and we are very pleased. Will you--er--will
you be able to stop and dine?"
"Thank you very much. Your sister has already asked me. If it wouldn't
be giving you too much trouble."
"Oh, no trouble! I mean, of course, we are very much upset, and I don't
quite know what we can give you, but if you will stay we will do our
best!"
"Now, Mr Talbot, listen to me!" interrupted Nan decisively. "There are
two alternatives open to you, and you can take your choice. Would you
rather sit here by yourself, looking at albums and illustrated books
while Mary changes her dress, and cook flies into a temper preparing a
proper dinner, and Jane helps to tidy the dining-room, and Maud ransacks
the store--room, and Elsie polishes up silver, and Chrissie cuts
flowers, and I--"
Ned Talbot threw up his hands in despair.
"Mercy! What next? Please stop, Nan. You make me feel the most
shocking intruder. If I am to cause such an upset, the sooner I rush
back to the station the better. What is the alternative? Tell it me at
once. You said I had a choice!"
"The alternative," said Nan slowly, beaming upon him the while, in a
friendly, encouraging fashion, "the alternative is what would happen to
us if we were alone, and you had not arrived. Dinner in the schoolroom,
with the library pictures ranged along the walls, and the books piled on
the floor. No flowers--no fruit--no waiting--no evening dress.
Everything on the table at once, and very little of that. Cold beef--
very good cold beef! I'll answer for that, for we've had it two days
already--potatoes in their jackets, perhaps one other vegetable..."
"Nan!" cried Maud protestingly; but Talbot gazed at her with a smile,
shadowed only by a faint anxiety.
"Pickles?" he queried eagerly. "Put my mind at rest on that point
before we go any further! Surely there are pickles?"
"Pickles, cer-tainly! As many as you like; but mostly onions, I am
afraid, for we like the cauliflowery bits best, and poke about with the
fork to get them out first. But there are lots of onions. Cold beef
and pickles, then, and something plain and wholesome in the shape of a
pudding, such as stewed prunes and rice; biscuits and cheese to follow;
and a really good cup of coffee made by our own fair hands."
"It's a feast for the gods! Nothing I should like better. Don't you
know, Nan, that nine out of ten Englishmen would rather be set down
opposite a joint of meat than half a dozen kickshaws! It will be like
old times to have a meal in the schoolroom, and if you will really let
me stay, and treat me exactly like one of yourselves, I shall enjoy it
more than a dozen dinner parties. You will promise faithfully to make
no alteration whatever in the _menu_?"
"Certainly, if you wish it."
"And--er--you will not feel it necessary to dress on my behalf! I can
make no change myself, so please don't confound me by your
magnificence."
Lazy Nan consented readily enough, but once more the thought of the blue
silk blouse sent a pang of disappointment to Maud's heart. She should
not be able to wear it after all, and the long hoarding up had been in
vain. She reflected on the disappointing nature of earthly hopes, with
a melancholy which would have done credit to Elsie herself, as she took
her way downstairs to interview cook on the subject of dinner. It is
one thing to give a promise to make no difference in a _menu_, and
another to keep that promise to the letter, as every housekeeper knows;
and even if circumstances did not allow of any substantial addition to
the meal, there were a dozen little contrivances by which it could be
given an air of elegance and distinction. They took time to arrange,
however, as all such contriving do, and cook was cross at being asked to
undertake fresh duties, and wished to know what people wanted coming
worriting about a house when a child in arms could see he wasn't wanted!
Maud smiled at the reflection that, in this instance, the child would
be vastly mistaken in his views, but did her best to soothe the offended
dignitary; and finally matters were smoothed over by Mary being told off
to help in the kitchen, while Maud herself undertook the arrangement of
the table.
"Nan will help me," she told herself encouragingly, as she mounted the
staircase and saw through the window a procession of girlish figures
making their way down the garden path, escorting Ned to a survey of the
daffodils and spring bulbs, for which Mr Rendell was famous among
amateur gardeners. Lilias walked first, a dainty figure against the
background of fresh green; slim little Elsie picked her way daintily
over the gravel; Agatha followed, large and beaming; and Christabel
majestically brought up the rear. Maud pressed her face against the
window and watched with a spasm of envy. Oh, to be out, enjoying
herself with the rest--to let everything take care of itself, and take
her place by Ned's side! Too bad to be kept indoors when her
opportunity had come at last, and the sun was shining, and all Nature
seemed bright and gay! No one seemed to have thought of her, or of
offering to help, except Nan--dear, good, thoughtless, and yet most
thoughtful of Nans; and here she came, flying three steps at a time,
upstairs to the rescue.
"Oh, you are here! I've been searching downstairs. Out you go! If
there's anything to do indoors, I'll do it. Your place is in the
garden."
"I've been in the kitchen, and cook was so cross that I told off Mary to
help her. I promised to lay the table."
"I'll do it for you!"
Maud tried not to smile. Well she knew what would happen if the work
were left in Nan's care. Crooked cloth, forks and spoons looking as if
they had been tossed upon the table; as likely as not, no cruets nor
water-bottles; and a general air of slipshod carelessness, which would
more than defeat all her arrangements.
"I--er--think I ought to look after it myself," she said apologetically;
"but please help me, dear! If we work together we'll get it done in no
time, and then I can go out and enjoy myself with an easy mind."
"I want you to go now. If you think I can't manage alone, send in
Chrissie. She's even more particular than you, and I'll do as she tells
me like a lamb!" said Nan, not one whit offended at the implied slight
on her own powers; but Maud shook her head.
"I couldn't! I never ask help in an ordinary way, and I couldn't do it
to-day!"
"Too proud?"
"Much!"
"Good for you! I'd feel the same. Come on, then; let's set to work and
get it over. He'll be wondering what you are doing. Where are the
things?"
"Mary has taken up some already, and the rest are in the pantry. I'll
tell you what I want, and you can carry up a trayful at a time while I
set the cloth. I know exactly how I want everything laid, you see!"
"Don't apologise, my love. I know I'm no good at finnicky work, but
I'll fetch and carry with the best. Knives--yes! Glass--yes! Plates--
yes! Leave the plates till the last, and bring up the rest first.
Yes'um! I understand! Knives and tumblers for seven. They shall be
yours before you can say `Jack Robinson.'"
"Not too quick, now!" cried Maud warningly; but Nan was off, leaping
downstairs in a succession of daring bounds, swinging round corners at
break-neck speed, and singing at the pitch of her voice, after the usual
decorous and ladylike manner in which she was wont to descend to the
lower regions.
Left to herself, Maud took a couple of steps towards the window, turned
back resolutely, spread the cloth over the table, and went back at a run
to peer behind the curtains and see what was going on in the garden.
Chrissie and Agatha were strolling about arm in arm; Elsie walked apart,
bowed in thought; Lilias flitted among the flower--beds, gesticulating
with graceful _abandon_ as she called Ned's attention to the choicest
blooms. Maud could hear her pretty ecstasies as plainly as though she
had been standing by her side.
"The little dears! Aren't they just _too_ sweet? Don't you love the
first spring flowers? They seem so full of hope and promise!"
She had heard it all before, every time that a visitor was taken round
the garden; and just for a moment a wish passed through Maud's mind that
her beautiful sister were not quite so fond of acting a part for the
benefit of strangers! As a matter of fact, Lilias took less interest in
the garden than any of the girls, yet she always gushed the most! The
next moment she pulled herself up sharply, abashed to have cherished
such uncharitable sentiments, and went on resolutely with the laying of
the table. Spoons and forks had been neatly laid in their places before
Nan's approaching footsteps could be heard ploughing upstairs to an
accompaniment of jingling glass and steel. She had taken the warning to
heart, apparently, for there was a noticeable pause between each
footstep; but, alas! when the top of the stair was reached, there came a
sudden and violent change in her procedure. Maud heard a gasp, and
then, even as she started forward to investigate the cause, in rushed
Nan, head foremost, the contents of the tray raining on the ground,
while she stumbled helplessly forward, and finally collapsed on the
floor in a nest of knives and broken glass, to lift up her voice in a
wail of anguish.
"Oh, oh, oh! I caught my foot! That horrid braid tripped me up at the
very last step, and sent me flying forward. What shall I do?"
"I told you,"--began Maud, but stopped abruptly, knowing by experience
how trying it was to be reminded of past warnings. "Oh dear, the fright
you gave me! To fall down with such a dangerous load. Nan, are you
hurt?"
"I'm killed!" cried Nan, with a sniff. "Talk of your fright, indeed:
I'm shaking all over. I'll run away and drown myself. Always make a
mess of everything I do! What will mother say?"
"Don't worry about that, dear. You were trying to help, and being so
good and kind, and half a dozen tumblers are not a deadly thing. That
won't ruin us. It might have been far worse."
"It is!" sighed Nan. "Two water-bottles--the best ones, too. I thought
they'd look so nice. Oh dear; oh dear; and just when I thought I was
getting on so well! I came up so slowly, stopping at every step. You
might have heard me--"
"I did; but you know, Nan, I said before--Never mind, it's done now, so
it's no use groaning. You look so white, dear; I am afraid you have had
a shock. Don't try to do anything more, but go to your room and take
some sal volatile, and lie down until dinner."
But at that Nan rose to her feet with a laugh of derision.
"I! I act the fine lady, and go to bed for a fall? Not likely. I
shall have to work harder than ever to make up for this. The knives
might as well go in their places first, and then I'll go down and get
something to brush up the glass. Don't you come: it's dangerous walking
over here, and I can do it quite well."
"Nan, please leave it to me! I am sure you are hurt, though you won't
acknowledge it. Sit down and rest, if it's only for five minutes."
But Nan would not be persuaded. She picked up the knives and hobbled
round the table, laying them in their places and tossing her head with
an air of triumph, oblivious of the fact that a drop of blood marked
each stage of her progress, leaving a vivid stain on the fresh white
cloth. A groan of dismay from Maud's lips aroused her attention,
whereupon she flushed red with dismay, and stared down at her cut
fingers with an air of shocked surprise.
It was really too aggravating, and even placid Maud felt aroused to
irritation; but it is difficult to upbraid an offender who is herself
overcome with penitence, and who lavishes such violent reproaches upon
her own head, as Nan now proceeded to do.
"Oh, mussey me, I thought they felt queer! They are cut all over.
Lockjaw, I suppose. I shall never be able to speak distinctly any more,
but have to push all my food between my teeth, like poor Jane Smith.
Oh, Maud, Maud, I wanted to help, and I've only made things worse than
before! I always do. Do please scold and get cross. Don't look so
wretched. Abuse me as I deserve!"
"What's the good?" sighed Maud dismally. "You didn't mean to do it, and
it's done, and can't be undone. Come to my room and I'll bandage your
hands. I'm not afraid of lockjaw, but you can't go about any longer
like that. Then we must get a clean cloth, and begin again."
Poor Maud! She set her lips and went through the new duties without
shirking or skimping, resolutely avoiding a look into the garden. There
was no chance now of being able to join Ned before dinner, and as soon
as the meal was over he would be obliged to hurry off to catch the last
train. After all the longing and expectation, it seemed as though she
were to meet with nothing but disappointment.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
DOUBT AND DREAD.
Maud had just time to change her working attire for a dress which was
suitable for the evening, though not sufficiently dressy to break the
compact which had been made with the visitor, before the gong sounded,
and she returned to the schoolroom to join the other members of the
party. Ned was standing beside the fireplace, and greeted her with a
pleasant smile as she entered.
"You didn't come out and join us in the garden," he said; and when she
replied with a vague murmur, "Ah, well," he added lightly, "perhaps you
were just as wise. There is a decided nip in the air still, and if you
get out of the sun, you are apt to feel chilled."