PREPARATIONS.
Sharply at four, Mabel appeared at the door of Minnie's home, and she,
being quite ready, they proceeded without delay to carry out their
purpose of "viewing the battlefield" as Mabel remarked.
Hollowmell was a lovely glade which lay at the foot of a gentle
eminence, immediately behind which lay the pit whose ugly shaft was
almost hid by it. No one would have imagined that such a thing lay in
the immediate neighbourhood who saw the glade before the row of miner's
cottages had been erected on one side of it by Mr. Kimberley for the
convenience of his work-people, and even yet the beauty of the scene
would not have been marred by the pretty picturesque-looking little red
brick houses with their white-coppiced windows and green-painted sashes,
if the carelessness and disorder which reigned within had not been
reflected without in the neglected plots of ground attached to each
cottage, in the dirty window-panes, and in the untidy women and
children, and occasionally begrimed men who seemed to have no other
object in life than to hang about and complete the disgrace they had
wrought on the fair face of nature.
Mabel and Minnie walked along the entire row, as the empty cottage stood
at the further end, looking with a new interest at the faces with which
they were both well acquainted by sight, and being rewarded by stares of
stony indifference. They went into the empty cottage, and Mabel cried
out with pleasure, as she looked round the bright, cheerful apartments,
wondering how anyone could feel anything but pride and interest in
keeping such a house in order.
"Why," she said, "I would not wish any pleasanter place to live in
myself, nor any lovelier view to feast my eyes on."
Minnie laughed and said that her papa always said these houses should
belong to her some day, and when that time came she would make this one
a present to Mabel, unless indeed, she would allow her to share it.
After that, they took their leave, convinced that it would answer their
purpose exactly.
Minnie made a message into one of the cottages on their way back to make
inquiries concerning one of the children whom she knew to be ill.
This house was about the most respectable in the entire row, and yet it
might have borne a great deal in the way of improvement. The child's
mother was quite a young woman, probably not over twenty-two, yet there
were two other children playing on the floor, while she herself sat
sewing the braid of her skirt with white thread in great uneven
stitches, the dishes and remains of dinner still upon the table.
She jumped up as they tapped at the open door, and having hastily bade
them enter, she dived into an adjoining room from whence she produced
two chairs, talking in a pleasant, though rather loud voice all the
time. They thanked her, but would not sit down, as they had only a few
minutes to spare, and having ascertained that the little girl was
progressing favourably, they departed.
"I think I'd better go home this way," said Mabel, when they got to the
end of the glade. "It is my soonest way home, and I have got a great
deal to do. I suppose I shall see you at church to-morrow?"
"O, yes," returned Minnie. "And I shall speak to papa to-night. I'll
just whisper to you whether it's all right or not, when I see you
to-morrow."
"And I suppose that after that it will be a free subject, and liable to
be discussed at any time?" queried Mabel, smiling.
"Certainly," assented Minnie, a little puzzled.
"O, Minnie, you can't think how amused I was at your efforts to keep
from speaking about it yesterday and the day before! You would open your
lips to say something every five minutes, and then suddenly recollecting
yourself, you would close them again with a determined snap, but it was
hard work to keep them closed, I could see that plainly enough."
Minnie laughed.
"I know it was," she confessed, "but I must say I did not dream that my
efforts would be appreciated as thoroughly as they seem to have been."
"Well, be thankful it _is_ so," advised Mabel. "And now I'm off.
Good-bye."
That evening Minnie, seizing a favourable moment when the boys were all
out, and she and her father alone, unfolded to him her scheme for the
reformation of Hollowmell. He was, of course, greatly surprised, and at
first very reluctant to allow his daughter to go among these people,
even for the purpose she had at heart.
"You don't know what sort of people these miners are, my dear," he said
when Minnie had made known to him in as few words as possible what she
wished to do. "And as for reforming them, I don't think that possible, I
don't indeed. You had better leave that to the missionary, I think, or
to some one who knows the sort of folks they are, and how to deal with
them."
"But they have proved that they don't know how to deal with them, they
have all failed, so I mean to try a different plan from any of the
common methods, besides I shall only have to do with the children at
first; I want to try to influence the older people through them. Come,
papa, _do_ let me have the cottage and make a trial, and I promise if
the result does not please you to give it up at the end of a month."
Mr. Kimberly shook his head a good deal, and grumbled a little that she
might find something better to occupy her time than amusing a lot of
dirty ragamuffins who would never thank her for her trouble, but finally
gave in, to the unbounded delight of Minnie, who, it may be remarked,
had never entertained a doubt as to the final issue of the debate,
knowing well that her father would refuse her nothing on which she had
so strenuously set her heart.
"And how about the jacket?" he inquired, when she laid before him her
financial scheme, in a business-like manner which greatly amused and
delighted him.
"O, you know, I can do without that quite well. You don't imagine,
surely, that it is because a sealskin is warmer or for any reason of
that description that I want it. It is only because it looks finer, and
it is so great a satisfaction to have such a thing that I wanted it--in
fact, only to gratify my vanity, which is gratified too much already by
a certain old gentleman who evidently thinks there never _was_ such
another girl as his daughter."
"Come, now, young lady, don't abuse your old father in that insinuating
manner, for he won't stand it, and as for your vanity, you don't
overstate it a bit; but we'll see whether the inhabitants of Hollowmell
won't contrive to rid you of some of that."
"Just one thing, papa," said Minnie, as she kissed and thanked him
again, before retiring for the night. "Please keep it a secret from the
boys. You know how they would tease me about it if they knew."
"Very well, it is not likely it would have occurred to me to mention it
to them, but it is just as well to be on guard. When do you begin
operations?"
"As soon as we can have everything in working order."
"Well, here's some money to start with, and see you make a good use of
it. We'll arrange about your own money when I have more time."
Minnie ran off with her prize--a bright, golden sovereign--and found
herself scarcely able to sleep that night for dreaming of the wonders
which were to be affected through her agency in Hollowmell.
Next day she only saw Mabel for a few minutes as they came out of
church, but even that short time was sufficient for the communication of
a whispered account of her success, the narration of which afforded
Mabel quite as much delight as its accomplishment had afforded Minnie.
It is just possible, indeed, that the consideration of their project
occupied rather more of their attention on that day, at least, than the
sermon did. Mabel had to take herself to task severely several times
during the afternoon service, and Minnie, without thinking very much
about it, found herself mixing up the Epistle to the Galatians with a
homily to be delivered to the inhabitants of Hollowmell upon some
important occasion, the exact nature of which she had not yet clearly
settled in her mind.
Next day there was more than one "phiz" between Minnie and Mona, owing
to the fact that Minnie's mind was so entirely occupied by her new
undertaking, that she could not manage to give more than a small part of
her attention to her lessons. This was a matter of no small
gratification to Mona, who was rather more profuse, in consequence, with
her sharp remarks, which Minnie was in no mood to brook patiently.
Some of Minnie's books were lost as usual, when at last she was free to
go, for although she had tried, and been pretty successful too, in
keeping her books together since her promise to do so, they sometimes
reverted to their old habit of getting lost again, and to-day she had
almost fallen back to her former careless state.
Mona looked on from time to time when she could spare a minute from her
work, and at last observed in her most sarcastic manner that "fair words
were easily spoken and light vows swiftly broken."
Minnie flared up in a moment.
"Fair words are easily spoken, as you say, Mona," she retorted, "you
speak of what you know nothing. It may be so. Sharp things cost more, I
dare say, and that is doubtless why they are generally more successful
in their aim."
Mona laughed disagreeably, and enquired with mock politeness, "at what
object Minnie might at present be aiming."
She was about to retort with a bitterness scarcely less penetrating than
Mona's own sharp thrusts, when she suddenly checked herself, and putting
her books which she had now collected under her arm, she walked out
without even waiting for Mabel, lest she should find the temptation to
speak too strong for her. Her heart was very heavy as she walked
homewards, and her eyes _would_ keep filling with tears.
Only last night she had been so happy in her efforts to do good, and
here she was, actually as bad as any of the people she had been
flattering herself she could reform. What _was_ she to do? she asked
herself a hundred times, and then it occurred to her that she must tell
God about it.
She hastened home, and shutting herself into her room poured out all her
sorrow and contrition into the ear of Him who is ever ready to hear and
comfort. When she rose she felt both refreshed and strengthened, and
after a little while something came into her mind which she had, only by
chance, heard the minister say yesterday. She could not tell the exact
words, for she had only a vague remembrance of it, but it was something
about the mistake of allowing anything, however good and right it might
be in itself, to come between us and our present duty.
"That is just the mistake I have fallen into," thought Minnie, "I ought
to have been attending to my lessons, which were clearly of the first
importance at the time, and having gone wrong at the beginning, I
naturally fell into a great many other scrapes. I must remember that
about present duty. I am rather afraid I allowed the same thing to occur
yesterday in church, or I should have been better able to recollect the
words I wanted just now."
On the afternoon of the following day, which happily contained no cause
of regret to Minnie, she and Mabel went down to the vacant cottage, and
occupied themselves for about two hours busily and happily in rendering
it fit for their purpose. They were determined to do all the scrubbing
and cleaning themselves, so on that and the two following afternoons all
the time they could spare was devoted to the work.
Having got it thoroughly bright and clean, they proceeded to arrange a
variety of odd pieces of furniture, dragged by Minnie from their place
of concealment in a large attic, where such things were allowed to
accumulate, and supplemented by various old benches, which the gardener
had been only too glad to get rid of.
These had been transported to their place of consignment by him during
the early hours of the morning, when the lazy inhabitants were still
wrapped in slumber, the hour being discriminately chosen to avoid the
notice of such miners as might be going or returning from the pit.
These arrangements being successfully carried out by Thursday evening,
Minnie paid a visit to all the houses which contained children, and
asked leave that they might attend a small treat which they intended to
provide for their enjoyment on the following Saturday.
Various were the forms of reception which she received. Some regarded
the proposal with contempt, enquiring with ironical interest what manner
of "treat" they were going to stand, and whether they would not include
parents also in their invitations, Others affected anger, and wondered
what the "likes of them" had to do coming among poor folk's bairns, and
stuffing their heads with their "high and mighty nonsense," whatever
style of absurdity such a term might be held to describe.
However, she won over most of them with her bright winning manner, and
sweet, unaffected graciousness, and seemed when she left their dirty and
untidy dwellings to leave something behind in them that had never been
there before.
On Friday evening she and Mabel had a wonderful shopping expedition, to
provide the necessary utensils for the preparation of their
entertainment. These absorbed the greater part of their treasure, but
happily Mabel had some of her pocket-money left which was a great help.
Then they made everything ready for the morrow, the whole forenoon of
which was to be devoted to cooking, for they had mutually agreed that
all the eatables were to be of their own manufacture--unless, indeed,
they were found to be unpalatable to their guests, in which case they
should resort to other methods.
Minnie could make oat-cake of a specially delicious kind, so it was to
be introduced, Mabel had learnt to make gingerbread of quite an uncommon
quality, which was also to make its appearance; and various other
delicacies, easily made and of general popularity, were placed upon
their bill of fare.
There was much fun and merriment over their cooking operations next day,
and when all were completed, both girls came to the conclusion that
working for the good and happiness of others, was in itself an excellent
cure for irritability, and all forms of bad temper.
"Do you remember the time," enquired Minnie, "when I invited all the
girls in the singing-class to tea? How I did fret about the cake-basket
being old-fashioned, and moaned about the pattern of the tea cups." And
she laughed again at the recollection.
"And how perfectly tragic you became on the subject of the drawing-room
curtains," reminded Mabel laughing also.
"I don't think," continued Minnie, "that we were ever so near
quarrelling as we were that day about those very curtains. Well, that
was all because I wished to make a show before the girls, not to have
them enjoy themselves. Now it is quite different. We don't mind at all
what like the things about us are, as long as the things we make are
good, and the children enjoy themselves."
"That reminds me," said Mabel, "that we have forgotten to provide
ourselves with confections--they will doubtless be in great request."
"Of course, what could we be thinking about! We must see after them
immediately--or stay! Perhaps you could get them when you are coming
back--don't you think that would do?"
"I am sure it would, and would save time which is precious," agreed
Mabel, and so it was settled.
Their preparations being completed about two o'clock, they repaired to
their respective homes, locking the door upon their possessions with a
delightful sense of proprietorship and satisfaction, after a solemn
mutual reminder concerning the necessity of being back sharp at four, as
the festivity was arranged to take place at five prompt.
Minnie found her father and four brothers in the parlour when she came
in, flushed and breathless with her run home.
"Hallo, Min!" Exclaimed Charlie, the eldest of her brothers, a young man
of about twenty-two. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself, rushing off
directly breakfast's over and leaving your poor unhappy encumbrances of
brothers to amuse themselves as best they can during the long hours of
a Saturday morning. Here are Ned and I, who only get a peep of home once
a week, and even on that occasion we seldom get half a peep of you.
Confess now, isn't it too bad?"
"Bad!" put in Ned, before she could speak, "It's villainous. Here am I,
shut up in a dingy office all week and every day of the week, with
nothing more amusing than that highly respectable old humbug,
Blackstone, to lighten the weary moments, and when I come home it isn't
a bit better."
"Oh, you two poor, neglected beings!" Cried Minnie, laughing heartlessly
at their rueful faces, "What would you like me to do for your amusement?
Read goody stories to you, or play at wild beasts?--Which?"
"Why, you're just as heartless as any other girl could possibly be,"
asserted Ned.
"And haven't I quite as good a right?" enquired Minnie saucily. "Pray,
tell me why shouldn't I be?"
"Oh, as to that, you may be just as heartless as you please to other
fellows--the more so the better, _I_ should say--but you might have a
little consideration for the feeling of your brothers," replied Ned,
calling up a look of tragic gloom, delightful to behold.
"I say," interrupted Archie at this juncture, "I'm ferociously hungry.
Do let's see about having something to eat. In my opinion, the best way
to amuse one's self under the present circumstances, and to lay the
foundation of an imperturbable temper, is to satisfy the cravings of the
inner man."
"Well spoken!" approved Charlie, patting him on the head, "you're a
sound philosopher, my boy, and deserve every honour."
"''Tis not for praise, my voice I raise,'" sang Charlie, "I speak only
in the interests of common sense, and common necessity," he continued in
a sepulchral voice, "and I rather think Pope had the same interests at
heart when he represented justice weighing solid pudding against empty
praise."
They all laughed at the extreme literalness of Archie's interpretation,
which Charlie declared would probably have afforded the great poet
himself unbounded satisfaction. By this time they had made the
transition from the parlour to the dining-room, where, on the table just
by Minnie's plate lay a letter, directed in a peculiar yet beautiful
form of writing. Ned, in passing, was arrested by it, and lifted it the
better to observe its beauty.
"Look here!" he exclaimed, "what peculiar writing--I never saw anything
like this before. Did you, Charlie?"
Charlie, thus appealed to, came round to see, and started slightly when
his eyes fell upon it, but quickly recovering himself, he glanced at it
indifferently, and remarked that it was very pretty in a careless tone,
which yet had in it an uneasy ring.
"Whose writing is it?" asked Ned, bluntly, as Minnie at last obtained
possession of it after it had been criticized and admired by all in
turn, with the exception of Charlie, who stood somewhat aloof, humming a
tune with a strained assumption of carelessness, which was only noticed
by Seymour, the only member of the family who had been silent during
the conversation.
"O, it's a girl in our school--Mona Cameron--a deadly enemy of mine,"
said Minnie with a laugh as she made the last assertion, "Some of the
girls call her 'Soda' and me 'Magnesia,' because we always create a
'phiz' when we come into contact."
She opened the letter carelessly and found it to contain, as she had
expected it would, some information relative to an examination for which
they were both working. She put the note in her pocket when she had read
it, but left the envelope on the table.
Nothing more was said on the subject, but when Minnie came into the
dining-room about half-an-hour afterward for something she had left
there, she found Charlie standing by the window with the envelope in his
hand, gazing at it with a look that was more than merely critical. He
put it down hastily as she entered, and remembering his former
indifference, she enquired laughingly if he was trying to discover the
writer's character from her caligraphy. He laughed too, but it was not a
mirthful laugh, and soon after, went out; Minnie observed, however, that
the envelope no longer lay where he had laid it, and turned back to look
for it, thinking it must have fallen, but it was not to be found.
"Charlie must have taken it with him," she thought. "Is it possible that
he has fallen in love with Mona's writing without knowing Mona herself.
Well, when one thinks of it, Mona's writing is almost Mona's self, and
any one who would be likely to fall in love with it would be almost
likely to fall in love with her. She is just as beautiful and delicate
and sharp," she continued to herself, taking out Mona's note and looking
at it attentively, "and just the same something about both that repels
one and produces an uncomfortable sensation without any visible cause."
She put back the note in a hurry, remembering how much she had to do,
and soon forgot the circumstance among the multitude of other matters
which immediately claimed her attention.
She found her time fully occupied till shortly before four o'clock, and
had a pretty exciting scramble to be at Hollowmell at the time
appointed.