A SUCCESS.
On Friday all was bustle and preparation for the entertainment which was
to take place on the next day. Minnie was everywhere at once, and yet
was in constant request.
The girls had begged and been granted a holiday that their preparations
might be as complete as possible, and their unfailing allies--the
children of Hollowmell--were at hand to render them every possible sort
of help.
Next morning Minnie was flying round, "more like a bird than a human
being," as her father observed. She had to see that the prizes--of which
there were a considerable number to be distributed--were carried down to
the hall, and innumerable other things about which she was in a fever of
excitement.
The dinner was ordered for half-past two precisely, and by that hour
everybody had arrived.
It was a goodly sight in Minnie's eyes to see them come in--the miners
and their wives and children--all looking clean and respectable, and
many of them even looking very well-dressed, as indeed they could all
well afford to be, if they had not been in the habit of taking their
earnings to the public-house in preference to any other place.
Pat Malone was there and all his children, accompanied by Molly Gray,
who had been promoted to the dignity of his housekeeper since the death
of his wife.
In the morning Minnie had informed her father of the expected presence
of some of the young ladies' parents and friends, and Mr. Kimberly
suggested the propriety of inviting these to dinner in his own house, at
a later hour. This proposal, however, was met by Minnie with decided
disapproval, who requested instead that they should be invited to sit
down with the company.
"I don't wish the people to think they are a show," she declared, "and
that all this is merely for the amusement of us and our friends--they
must either dine with my people or stay out of the hall till dinner is
over."
Every one accepted the invitation--in fact, Mrs. Cameron declared that
for her part, she had come for that purpose and no other, and moreover,
she believed they had all come with a similar intention.
"Now, my good friends," said Mrs. Cameron, as they prepared to enter the
banqueting-hall, "don't sit all together at one end of the table, and
look exclusive. Mix yourselves up among the company and make yourselves
sociable, and don't, whatever you do, seem to be trying to set them a
good example, in the way of eating, or you'll spoil their pleasure and
their appetites too." After which advice, delivered with much energy,
she accepted Mr. Kimberly's arm and proceeded into the hall, followed by
the other guests.
It was a day, never to be forgotten in the annals of Hollowmell, and for
years its inhabitants talked about it, and dated events from it.
The dinner was a great success, and although there was no liquor of an
intoxicating kind in the bill of fare, there were many healths proposed,
and toasts drunk in the harmless beverages which were upon the table in
abundance.
Minnie's and Mabel's healths were drunk with much enthusiasm, as the
original inaugurators of the good work, and then the health of all the
young ladies together, which was responded to on their behalf by Mr.
Kimberly who expressed the great delight he experienced in reviewing the
fruit of such a successful venture, and congratulated his workmen on
having for their champions such a bevy of fair reformers, which remark
was wildly applauded by the whole assemblage.
Mr. Kimberly and Mrs. Cameron having likewise received a similar
tribute, the company rose, and proceeded to entertain themselves with
general conversation while the remains of the feast were cleared away,
and the hall reduced to an orderly condition.
Then came the distribution of prizes which occupied a considerable time,
Mr. Kimberly saying a few words to each youthful prize-taker, as the
various articles were handed to him or her by Mrs. Cameron.
After that there were games for the children, into which many of the
older people entered with great spirit and enjoyment, and as an
appropriate climax the service of strawberries and cream.
When it had been disposed of the company relapsed into silence and a
sort of expectant hush fell upon it which it was difficult to account
for, until one of the miners rose to make a speech.
He floundered about a good deal, and didn't exactly know what to say,
and at length, in a sort of desperation, determined to forego the
pleasure of indulging in a harangue, and went straight to the root of
the business by producing from his pocket two small boxes, and presented
them in the name of the Hollowmell miners to Miss Mabel Chartres and
Miss Minnie Kimberly, as a mark of their respect and gratitude.
These, when opened, were found to contain each an exquisite coral and
gold necklet, which had been bought by the miners themselves, who, of
their own accord, had subscribed the money for their purchase.
The two girls were completely overcome, to such an extent, indeed, that
they could scarcely collect their ideas sufficiently to beg Mr. Kimberly
to thank the donors for them, which duty he performed, however, very
happily--promising for them, at the instigation of Charlie, that they
would wear the gifts, so gracefully and unexpectedly bestowed upon them,
incessantly, and would ever have the pleasantest associations connected
with them.
Soon after their guests departed, and the Kimberlys went home.
Archie, Ned, and Minnie were in the parlour discussing the events of
the day, and regaling each other with their respective experiences as
they were in the habit of doing.
"I am sure there is something serious the matter with Mabel," said
Archie, suddenly, "did you not notice something strange about her
to-day?"
"She was very tired, you know how little is sufficient to tire her, and
the excitement was too much for her," said Minnie.
"I don't think that was all," returned Archie, then suddenly abandoning
the subject he inquired where Charlie might be.
"He's with papa in the study," replied Minnie. "I saw him go in a few
minutes ago."
"Then I think I'll go and find Seymour. I want somebody to talk to, and
Ned looks too lazy even to wink."
"Seymour isn't back yet," drawled Ned, speaking solely for the purpose
of disproving Archie's accusation, "he went off with Miss Mabel, and a
precious while he has been doing that quarter of a mile."
"Oh, there he is!" exclaimed Minnie, as he passed the window, and a
moment later he entered the room looking very grave indeed.
"What's the matter?" inquired all three almost in a breath.
"It's Mabel," he replied slowly. "She is in great danger, the doctor
thinks she has burst a blood-vessel, but cannot be quite sure yet."
"But how did it happen?" cried Minnie, "she was all right when she left
here. She did not feel ill at all--only tired."
"The doctor says it must have been the excitement, but I am certain he
is wrong there. I know more than he does." The last words were spoken in
a voice too low to reach any one but Minnie.
"I know," she said, "she told me about it to-day."
"But you don't know half though--you don't know the terrible state of
mind she's been in for months--it may have been years for aught I know,
the wearing strain of incessant strife between feeling and reason going
on beneath every other interest and occupation. It was little wonder, I
think, that it should tell on her thus at last."
Minnie listened in silence while Seymour spoke, and then she said in a
low, almost inaudible voice:
"Why did Mabel keep this from me?" And without waiting for a reply went
out and sought her own room.