A BRIGHT DAY.
Last times are always sad to write about and think about, but first
times are generally pleasant. Notwithstanding a certain sense of
disappointment which certainly did assail the three girls on their
entrance into London, notwithstanding the fact which Jasmine only too
quickly discovered, that the streets were not paved with gold, nor the
air replete with promises, yet there was still something left in that
same London air, a sort of mystery and wonder about it. There was
still something of untold fascination in the busy and crowded streets,
which brought a great sense of delight and exhilaration to the three
young adventurers.
Jasmine spoke about the stories which met her at every turn; she felt
almost melted to tears at the sight of the sadness in the eyes of some
women, and some little children. But again, beautiful ladies driving
past in carriages made of almost fairy lightness caused her to laugh
with pleasure.
Primrose was more gravely impressed by London than Jasmine. Her
emotions were not so keen as her younger sister's, her purpose was far
more steadfast; and even in the first few days when the girls gave
themselves up to seeing the wonderful sights of the great metropolis
she could never forget the real object for which they had come.
Daisy, when she had become reconciled to the smuts and disagreeables,
and the slights to which the Pink was exposed all day long in Penelope
Mansion, began to enjoy life in a serene but unqualified manner. Each
of the girls had her own particular tastes; and these they were by no
means slow to express to one another.
Primrose, who intended to study china painting--to make it, in short,
a profession--liked to stand opposite some large shop in Oxford
Street, and to study and try to carry away in her mind's eye the shape
and beauty of the many lovely things displayed in the windows.
Jasmine, who during the first few days had quite made up her mind not
to worry at all about the future, did not much care for these gazing
fits of Primrose's. She wanted to get into the parks. She exclaimed in
ecstasy over the horses, and those picture-galleries which were free
to the public quite enchanted her. Daisy frankly admitted that she
liked toy-shops, and of all toy-shops those which displayed rows of
dolls in their windows the best. Primrose had decided that the three
should have one week's holiday, and it was during this week that they
began to make a certain first acquaintance with London. "It is the
heart of the world," Jasmine was heard to say. "Primrose, it is what
we pictured it; in many ways it is even greater than what we pictured
it. Oh, don't your cheeks glow, and don't you feel that your eyes are
shining when you look down Oxford Street? Yes, it is lovely and grand,
and I think we ought to show poor dear Poppy some more of its
delights."
Primrose was only too glad to give Poppy all the happiness in her
power, and she and Jasmine arranged that they would take the little
girl out with them on another expedition before they settled down
finally to the great work of their lives.
"We'll spend five shillings," said Primrose, "we must not on any
account spend more, but we will be extravagant, and give poor Poppy a
real treat with one crown piece."
"We had better ask her to come to-morrow," said Daisy; "five shillings
seems a lot of money. Do you think there will be enough over,
Primrose, to buy me a tiny, tiny little doll?"
Primrose kissed Daisy, and said she would try somehow to manage the
doll, and Jasmine was elected to go downstairs and sound Poppy on the
subject of the morrow's treat.
The little maiden had made herself pretty well at home in the Mansion
by this time, and she soon discovered Poppy in what was called the
back scullery. The ladies had all finished their mid-day meal, and
were out. Even Mrs. Flint had sallied forth to a distant market to
secure some cheap provisions, and Poppy had the back scullery to
herself. She was handling the dinner-plates in a rather clumsy manner,
and, after the fashion of a discontented little girl, was sighing over
her work, and not doing it properly.
"Oh, let me help you!" said Jasmine, dancing up to her: "I hate
washing china, or delf, or whatever you call it, after people have
eaten, but I like wiping it if the cloths are clean. Poppy, I have
come to you about a most delicious and important scheme."
"Lor, Miss Jasmine," said Poppy, her fingers trembling violently, and
the large dish which she was washing nearly slipping out of them.
"Lor, miss, you do startle me. I was in the dumps, and you are for all
the world like the sun coming out. Why, deary me, the back scullery
ain't by no means such a bad sort of place when you're in it, Miss
Jasmine."
"It is very damp and gloomy, all the same," answered Jasmine. "I do
hope you will be quick, Poppy, in washing up those uninteresting
dinner-plates. Now, look here, Primrose and Daisy and I have been
making up such a lovely plan. We want to take you out with us
to-morrow; we are going to spend five shillings, quite lots of money,
you know, and we are going to have dinner out, and perhaps tea out;
and we are going a good long way. Can you come with us to-morrow,
Poppy?"
"Hold me," said Poppy, suddenly stretching out her hand, "the scullery
is damp and close, and my head a-going round. Let's get out into the
back yard, Miss Jasmine. Now I can breathe. Oh, didn't I say that
London was dazzling, and isn't it you three that has got the hearts of
gold. Say it all over again to me, please, Miss Jasmine. What is it
we're all a-going to do to-morrow?"
"Oh, what a silly, Poppy, you are," said Jasmine; "why even I do not
get as excited as you do. We are going out, and you are coming with
us, and we are going to spend five shillings."
Poppy's cheeks flushed a vivid crimson, her eyes sparkled, and her
small feet began involuntarily to dance.
"I has set my heart on something beauteous," she said, "and, oh, dear,
Miss Jasmine, you will do it, won't you? You won't let none of them
biting disappointments with which the air is choke full, as full as it
is of smuts, come in the way. If you three darling ladies spend a
crown piece, and take me abroad, we'll be on pleasure bent, and on
pleasure alone. Say so, do, Miss Jasmine."
"Why, Poppy, of course we are going for pleasure; what do you mean?"
"Only that we won't be going Cathedraling and Towering. I don't say
nothing ag'in them places, but when I wants real pleasure, and a crown
piece spent on me, I don't go in for no Cathedraling."
Jasmine laughed. "I tell you what," she said, "you shall choose the
pleasure yourself, Poppy. It's your treat, and you shall choose. Now,
do say what hour you will be ready to start to-morrow, for we want to
go early, and have a real long day."
"Let's think," said Poppy. "To-morrow is, yes, to-morrow is Thursday.
Cold joint to-morrow, and a salad made with stale lettuce which we
gets cheap; potatoes boiled plain and not mashed, and a apple dumpling
to follow. The ladies is very particular that their pastry should be
light. Miss Slowcum says she can't sleep a bit at night if her pastry
is heavy. She called me Sarah Martha Ann the last time I made it, and
she looked most vinegary. Yes, Miss Jasmine, the dinner's plain
to-morrow, and I'll get up with the daybreak, and do my cleaning. I
don't see why Aunt Flint shouldn't let me go with you, miss."
Mrs. Flint, when properly attacked, proved herself quite vulnerable.
She was anxious to please the Mainwarings who she hoped would take up
their abode with her, for naughty Primrose had by no means divulged
her real plans. Accordingly, Poppy was allowed to get her dinner
beforehand, and a very happy little quartet left the Mansion soon
after eleven o'clock.
They had gone some little distance from Penelope Mansion, and found
themselves in a far more cheerful and bright-looking street, before
Poppy divulged her plans.
"I has got to choose," she said, "and as I stated distinct to Miss
Jasmine yesterday, I don't go in for the glooms of the Tower, nor the
solemns of the Cathedral. I'd like to walk from end to end of Oxford
Street first, and then I'd like to take a penny boat on the river."
"A penny boat!" exclaimed the three sisters in a breath, "that does
sound delightful, and so cheap. Where did you hear of penny boats,
Poppy?"
Poppy's face became radiant.
"It was the last charwoman at the Mansion," she answered. "She said
that if you wanted a pleasure, and a pleasure cheap, there was nothing
in all the world like a penny boat. You sit in it, and there you are,
as snug as snug; plenty of room and plenty of company, and plenty of
sights. Mrs. Jones said that if there was a pleasure to rest a
tired charwoman it was to be found in a penny boat."
"Well, we are not charwomen, but we may as well have a little rest and
fun while we can," answered Jasmine. "I think yours is a lovely treat,
dear Poppy, and we will try and get into the penny boat as fast as
possible."
"I don't know how we are to reach the boats," said Primrose. "I begin
to know my way a little about Oxford Street, but how are we to find
the river?"
Poppy, however, had made good use of her acquaintance with Mrs. Jones
the charwoman. She knew the name as well as the color of the omnibus
which would safely convey them near to the pier at Westminster. She
also knew, being instructed by Mrs. Jones, that a policeman was the
right person to give her information as to where this special omnibus
was to be found. She was by no means shy in making her desires known
to one of these useful and worthy members of society, and in a short
time the four found themselves bowling away in the direction of
Westminster, and then, without any insurmountable difficulty, secured
comfortable seats on one of the river steamers.
The day was perfect, neither too hot nor too cold, and the summer
breezes fanned the young cheeks pleasantly, and raised the youthful
spirits to an exhilarating height. Poppy forgot her troubles in
Penelope Mansion, her difficulties with regard to the name of Sarah.
She forgot the gloom of the back scullery, and the discontented frown
quite vanished from her brow. London was again dazzling in her eyes,
and her own future was replete with hope.
Primrose also ceased to worry over the anxieties and cares of the
future; she ceased to reflect on the plan which was so soon to be
carried into execution. Her serene face looked sweet and careless as
in the happy days of her mother's lifetime. She leaned back in her
seat, gazed at the beauties of the river, and gave herself up to the
happiness of the hour.
The two younger girls, being never over anxious and being always more
or less full of hope, were to-day only more hopeful and bright than
usual. Many people turned to look at the pretty sisters, and to laugh
at Poppy's innocent expressions of rapture.
They landed at Battersea, and wandered about the pretty park, and had
refreshments in a quaint restaurant, where they really managed to
satisfy their hunger at a very moderate charge.
That evening they returned to the Mansion, having kept within the
limits of the prescribed five shillings, and each of them declaring
that she had never known a happier day.
"But now," said Primrose, addressing her two sisters solemnly, "we
must remember that after to-night we have done with pleasure.
To-morrow we must seriously set about forming our plans."