"I'm thinking of poor old Lancaster. Saw him this afternoon--talk about
gloom! He was in a vile temper! 'Pretty lot of fools we'll look! But I
deserve all I get!' he growled, and off he marched, though I wanted to
speak to him particularly!"
While they were dressing, Stewart slipped away next door.
He reappeared, oddly red and shy.
Sheila Pat, in short white petticoat and stockinged feet, met him on the
landing.
"Where have you been, Tommy?"
"Just home."
"What's the matter, Tommy?"
"Nothing!"
Sheila Pat considered him gravely.
"Your face is very red."
"Rot!"
"And why are you keepin' your hand behind you?"
"Want to!"
She made a dart, but he turned, too. Round and round they went, and she
won. She was too quick and elf-like for him.
"Oh!" she said. "It's a red rose. Is it for Nell?"
"No!"
"Is it for me?"
"If--if you like--you can have it!"
"Oh, yes, please, Tommy."
He held it out to her, a lovely deep red rose with a spray of maiden
hair.
"I'll pin it in front of my dress, Tommy, and I'll look so nice, won't
I? Janie and Benny Jones are comin' to look at us when we're dressed."
"Sheila Pat! Sheila Pat!"
She slipped away from him.
Presently she reappeared in the Stronghold.
"Tommy, _don't_ you think--with my button-hole and all--_I might be
seven_?"
Stewart looked at her in her little loose, short white frock; at her
long, slim legs and little white heelless shoes.
"Don't look at my _legs_!" she breathed.
"Ten!" he said unblinkingly.
"Oh, Tommy! I do so want to look old to-night! It's very
erportant--what I've got to do! And I'll put some cakes in my pocket
for you."
Nell ran past the room and upstairs to see how Denis was getting on. He
had lost his collar stud. She found it for him; she put it in for him;
she sewed the bow on to his shoe; she rearranged his tie; helped him on
with his coat, and all he said in thanks was:--
"Oh, Jemima! how I pity the poor chap who marries you!"
Nell pulled her hair a trifle looser, using his glass. She turned on
him, young, slim, radiantly pretty. "Do you?" she laughed. "I'll be an
old maid, then!"
"You do look stunning, old girl! Bet I'll have the prettiest sister
there to-night."
"Oh, I do believe you carry a chip of the blarney stone about with you.
Come down and let Janie and Benny look at you. Denis, there's a most
delicious scent in this room. What is it?"
"Eh? Oh, a bit of lily of the valley I thought you might like. It's on
the wash-hand stand."