THE COUSINS.
ONLY this garden-party could be talked of for the next few days, and
all was bustle and preparation at Mrs. Golding's. Hannah was too busy
preparing for their expected visitors to question her young mistress
about money matters. She supposed Hetty had consulted her mother upon
this, and had sanctioned all that was being done. She ordered what she
wanted of the tradespeople, as she was told to do, giving Hetty the
bill when the things were brought, merely remarking that it had better
be paid at once, as she knew her mistress did not like bills left
unpaid.
Hetty put the bill into her pocket, without replying. In fact, she
had no money to pay it with, and she was wondering how much she could
save out of her next monthly allowance to meet these little bills, for
she knew that eggs, butter, and milk would not be the only items left
unpaid. Her sovereign had melted she hardly knew how. The party was
to be on Tuesday, and by the time Monday came, she had not a farthing
left. But she would not let Hannah know this.
"My cousin will be here, I dare say, when they send the things from
the confectioner's," she said, "and so you must tell them to leave the
bill, I can't be bothered with that just as Lettice comes in."
"I could pay it, Miss Hetty, if you leave the money with me. You know
how particular mistress is about the bills being paid."
"Oh, it won't matter for once, we don't have my cousin and a party
every day," said Hetty, turning out of the kitchen, for fear the boy
should appear at once, with his pastry-box on his head.
She did not want to be present when this arrived, for she had not
ordered so much as Hannah had told her was necessary. Jellies and ices
were so expensive that she could not venture upon many of these, and
Hannah would be cross, she knew, for she had made up her mind that
it should be a grand affair, as well as her young mistress, and was
throwing all her energies into the preparations for it.
Mrs. Golding contrived to leave her friend for an hour or two, and went
with Hetty to meet her cousins, but she was obliged to return to Mrs.
Newton soon after dinner, leaving the young people to rest and amuse
themselves until the evening.
"Hetty has invited a few friends to meet you to-morrow, so that you
will not be at a loss for company, and will hardly miss me, even if I
should not be able to leave my friend," said Mrs. Golding.
"Indeed, aunt, but you must spare us one day for a picnic in the woods.
I remember you telling me what a beautiful place it was, and there was
a sort of half promise given that we should spend a whole day there."
"Hetty is afraid of the creepy-crawly things," laughed Mrs. Golding.
"She thought you would like a garden-party best."
"Oh no, aunt; a garden-party is not half so delightful as a real
picnic. Everybody gives a garden-party now; I am quite tired of them."
If Lettice had glanced at her cousin's face, she would not have said so
much, but, intent only on winning her aunt's consent to the picnic, she
never looked at Hetty.
Her brother, however, saw that something was amiss, and said quickly,
"Of course, we should like a picnic, aunt. But I daresay we shall enjoy
a garden-party quite as much if you have arranged for one. By the bye,
where is the garden, Hetty?" he asked, looking out of the window upon
the little square grass plot which Hetty called a croquet lawn.
She reddened at the question, and her mother laughed.
"I asked how we could call it a garden-party when we had no garden,"
remarked Mrs. Golding.
"But we have a garden, at least for the day, mamma. You see, Lettice,
we could not possibly use that large old-fashioned garden at the back,
we are such a small family, and so we gave it up to Mrs. Mavor, merely
retaining the right of occasionally using it."
Hetty thought her mother had left the room, or she would hardly have
given such an explanation as this in her hearing, but it was the little
fiction she had so often repeated to her young friends, and she forgot
that her mother was likely to be startled by hearing it.
"What are you saying, Hetty, about Mrs. Mavor's garden? We have no
right there; it is by her kindness that we are allowed to walk in it,
and you know it quite well." Mrs. Golding spoke sharply, for Hetty's
words had pained her deeply, and she went out without another word, but
a feeling of bitter disappointment in heart, for she had prided herself
on her daughter's open truthful character.
Hetty felt very uncomfortable as her cousin looked as her with his
clear, truthful eyes. They were a greater reproach even than her
mother's angry words, and she had the bitterness of feeling that she
had forfeited his esteem through that falsehood. She tried to shake off
the impression, and turned to Lettice, who was looking over an album at
the table.
"What do you think of that?" she said, pointing to a portrait.
"I don't think I should care for the original. She looks a vulgar,
over-dressed girl. Is she a friend of yours, Hetty?"
"Yes, we were schoolfellows. Her father, Sir Charles Hodson, is one of
the richest men in this neighbourhood."
"It does not make his daughter a lady," remarked Lettice, carelessly,
as she turned over the leaves.
But here came an interruption from Hannah.
"What am I to tell Mary Riley about to-morrow, Miss Hetty?" she asked.
"She must come, of course, and I will speak to mamma this evening about
it," said Hetty.
In point of fact Mary Riley had been helping Hannah some hours every
day lately, but Mrs. Golding did not know it.
When she turned to her cousin again, Lettice said, "I am afraid aunt is
very much troubled by old Mrs. Newton's illness, she looks so pale and
worried. I hope we have not given you extra trouble by coming just now."
"Oh no, Lettice. You know we have wanted you all the summer, and mamma
was quite pleased when Uncle's letter came, saying he would spare you
for a week."
"But this party, Hetty. I wish you had not taken so much trouble about
that, for indeed I shall enjoy the quiet chats with you and aunt much
more than I shall meeting a lot of strange people. Don't think me very
disagreeable, Hetty, but I am obliged to see so many people at home
that I have quite looked forward to being quiet with you," said Lettice.
[Illustration]