During the next week Betty's thoughts were continually winging across
the Square to her new friend, Mrs Vanburgh, though her own time was so
fully occupied, that, with the exception of a sudden encounter in the
street, they did not see anything of each other until the great Saturday
arrived.
Meantime it rankled in Jill's mind that she had been unfairly treated,
and, in consequence, she was constantly endeavouring to hit on some
scheme which would at once vindicate her own importance and put Betty's
adventure in the shade. General Digby, as a new and striking
personality in her small circle of acquaintances, naturally suggested
himself as a fitting object for the enterprise, and she lost no time in
consulting her ally.
"I say, Jack, when you saw the `Victim' home the other night, did you
notice the address?"
"What do you take me for, silly? I have eyes, haven't I? Of course I
noticed it."
"You may have eyes, but you certainly haven't a memory. Do you happen
to remember where it was?"
"No, I don't, but I wrote it down in my pocket-book, so I could soon
find out if I wanted to. Why?"
"Because I think we ought to call and ask how he is."
"Father says he's all right except for his gout."
"I know--but it would be polite to call. Mother always does, even when
she knows they are better. And as we were the--er--what do you call
it?--cause of the accident--"
"Innocent?"
"No, that's not it! A much finer word--un--un--_unwitting_!--that's it,
so it's all the more proper that we should inquire. How far off is it?
Could we meet and go together after school this afternoon?"
"It's near enough, as far as that goes--one of those swagger flats in
Prince's Square. I suppose we could manage all right. Will you tell
mother about it?"
"Not till we get back. I am sure she would think it very nice and kind
of us, but she'd want me to put on best things, and worry about my hair.
I wish I'd been born a savage! I do so loathe being bothered about
clothes."
"Never mind. No one would think to look at you that you ever bothered
about them at all," quoth Jack, with somewhat unflattering sympathy.
"I'll wait for you at the corner of Prince's Square. I'm not going to
meet all those sniggering girls if I know it."
So it was arranged, and Jill swelled with importance for the rest of the
day, longing for four o'clock to arrive, and set her free from her
duties.
Pam went to the door with her sister after lunch, and stood shivering
upon the top step while they exchanged farewells. She herself attended
only the morning school, and was apt to find the afternoons rather
lonely when the twins were out, and Betty was absorbed in her studies.
"Come back quickly," she pleaded. "Do come back quickly, and 'muse me!"
and Jill nodded a bright assent.
"I'll amuse you finely--when I come!"
She pranced off, tossing back her hair, and swinging her satchel to and
fro, while Pam looked after her with admiring envy. How lovely to be
old like that--quite old--old enough to do your own hair, and walk to
school by yourself! Pam heaved another sigh, and glanced wistfully up
and down the Square--the look of a captive who longs to escape. A
policeman was strolling along his beat. Emily and Hannah were taking
their places in the old-fashioned barouche preparatory to starting on
their afternoon amble. Just across the road old "All a-growing all a-
blowing" was standing by his barrow, loudly urging a passer-by to
purchase one of his plants.
Pam looked longingly at the branching palms as his guttural accents came
to her ear--
"Buy a palm, lidy, won't you, lidy? Very cheap--cheaper than you could
buy 'em anywhere in the City. If you've got such a thing as an old
dress or a pair of trousers, of the master's, I'd allow you 'ansome for
them. I'd rather have clothes nor money. I'm a married man, lidy, with
a fam'ly of children--"
"Pam, Pam," cried Mrs Trevor's voice, "don't stand out there, darling.
It's far too cold. Come in here to me."
Pam obediently shut the door, and settled down to the afternoon duties
of plain sewing and practice, which her soul abhorred. It was
characteristic of her that she never rebelled against authority, nor
expressed her distaste in words. A meek, uncomplaining little martyr,
she sat perched on the piano-stool, wrestling with the "Blue Bells of
Scotland," the while the wildest rebellion surged within her soul.
"I wish pianos had never been born! I wish I'd been made a boy. When
I'm a lidy," (unconscious intonation of "All a-blowing!") "I'll have no
pianos in the house, nor no needles, and my little girls shall 'muse
themselves however they like. The--Blue--Bells--of--Scot--land... It
doesn't go a bit nice in the bass! Don't believe I shall ever get it
right if I live a hundred thousand years?"
The moment school was over Jill made a rush for the dressing-room,
scrambled into her outdoor clothes, and hurried to the appointed
meeting-place, where Jack found her a few minutes later. It was already
dusk, and they set off at a brisk trot towards the mansions in which
General Digby's flat was situated, in great hopes of finding that
gentleman at home and disengaged.
"It's too damp for him to be out. Gout's a kind of rheumatism, and that
always has to be kept dry," Jill declared learnedly. "He's sure to be
in, but I've got a card, just in case. It's a correspondence one cut
down, and I've printed our names on it, and `Kind inquiries' in the
corner, like mother puts. It's fine! When I cough it will mean that I
don't know what to say next, so you must go on while I think. If he
asks us to stay to tea, we must say we can't, until he begs us again."
"But suppose he didn't--that would be a pretty sell! I shan't do
anything so silly," said cautious Jack. "I'll accept at once."
"Well--perhaps. But it's politer to make a fuss. Is it a man who opens
the door, or a woman?"
"A man--looks like an old soldier himself."
"What's the proper way to tell him our names?"
"Jack and Mary Trevor, of course."
"It isn't! Miss Mary Trevor and Master Jack Trevor, if you please!"
"If you're miss, I'm mister. I'm not going to be called `master,' as if
I were a kid!"
"All right, then--Miss and Mr Trevor. I'll speak, because I'm the
lady, and give him the card to carry up."
Jack was not at all anxious to take the lead, so he assented by means of
the usual grunt, and when the door of the flat was reached, and the man-
servant appeared in response to a furious onslaught on the electric
bell, he stood by silently while Jill conducted operations.
"Does a gentleman called General Digby live here?"
"He does, madam."
Jill gave a toss to her saucy head. She had never before been addressed
as "madam," and the sensation was distinctly agreeable.
"We want to see him, please."
The butler looked in hesitating fashion from one of the strange visitors
to the other--Jill with her elfin locks, shabby hat and thick woollen
gloves; Jack with his hands thrust deep into his pockets, his school cap
at the back of his head.
"I am not sure, madam, that the General is receiving this afternoon."
"Then please take in my card and inquire," returned Jill with a burst of
dignity, which surprised herself and rilled Jack with admiration.
The butler also looked distinctly impressed, though the card itself,
when produced from the recesses of Jill's pocket, had somewhat lost its
first crispness and beauty. He placed it on a silver salver and
disappeared down the passage, while the twins peered curiously through
the doorway.
Old guns, swords, and curious-looking Eastern weapons hung against the
wall; stags' heads peered over the different doorways; a great glass-
case of stuffed birds stood on a table. "Hidjus!" thought Jill.
"Ripping!" thought Jack, his mind turning longingly to the exciting
scenes of sport in which these trophies had been captured. He had time
to examine them pretty thoroughly before the servant returned, but when
he did make his appearance he brought with him the desired answer. The
General was "at home," and would be pleased to receive Miss and Mr
Trevor forthwith.