_July 15th_.
I was not in the least interested to know anything about what Will
Dudley and Rachel Greaves talked about together, but I was anxious to
find out if she had said anything to show him that I was really grown-
up, instead of the child he thought me; so the next time we met I asked
her plump and plain--
"What did you and Mr Dudley say about me the other morning?"
We were walking along a lane together, and she turned her head and
stared at me in blank surprise.
"About you? The other morning? We--we never spoke of you at all!"
Then I suppose I looked angry, or red, or something, for she seemed in a
tremendous hurry to appease me.
"We have a great many interests in common. When we lived in town we
belonged to the same societies, and worked for the same charities. It
is interesting to remember old days, and tell each other the latest news
we have heard about the work and its progress."
"Then you knew him before he came here? He is not a new friend?"
"Oh, no--we have known him for years. It was father who got him his
present position."
"And you like him very much?"
"Yes," she said quietly. "Isn't it lovely to see the hedges covered
with the wild roses? I think they are almost my favourite flower--so
dainty and delicate."
"Nasty, prickly things--I hate them!" I cried; for I do detest being
snubbed, and she could not have told me more plainly in so many words
that she did not choose to speak of Will Dudley. Why not? I wonder.
Was there some mystery about their friendship? I should not mind
talking about anyone I know, and it was really absurd of Rachel to be so
silent and reserved. I determined not to ask her any more questions,
but to tackle Mr Dudley himself.
Two days after there was the garden party, where I knew we should meet.
He was bound to go, as it was on the estate where he was living, and I
was to make my first formal appearance in society, in the prettiest
dress and hat you can possibly imagine. Mother was quite pleased with
me because I let her and Johnson fuss as much as they liked, and tie on
my white veil three times over to get it in the right folds. Then I
looked in the glass at my sweeping skirts, and hair all beautifully done
up, and laughed to think how different I looked from Babs of the morning
hours.
We drove off in state, and I was quite excited at the prospect of the
fray; but I do think garden parties are dreadfully dull affairs! A band
plays on the lawn, and people stroll about, and criticise one another's
dresses, and look at the flowers. They are very greedy affairs, too,
for really and truly we were eating all the time--tea and iced coffee
when we arrived; ices, and fruits, and nice things to drink until the
moment we came away. I don't mean to say that I ate straight on, of
course, but waiters kept walking about with trays, and I noticed
particularly what they were like, so as not to take two ices running
from the same man. I had a strawberry, and a vanilla, and a lemon--but
that was watery, and I didn't like it. I was talking to the hostess,
when I saw Mr Dudley coming towards us, and he looked at me with such a
blank, unrecognising stare that I saw at once he had no idea who I was.
Mrs Darcy talked to him for a moment while I kept the brim of my hat
tilted over my face, then she said--
"Don't you know Miss Sackville? Allow me to introduce Mr Dudley, dear.
Do take her to have some refreshment, like a good man. I am sure she
has had nothing to eat!"
I thought of the coffee, and the ices, and the lemonade and the
sandwiches, but said nothing, and we sauntered across the lawn together
talking in the usual ridiculous grown-up fashion.
"Lovely day, isn't it?"
"Quite charming. So fortunate for Mrs Darcy."
"Beautiful garden, isn't it?"
"Charming! Such lovely roses!"
"Beautiful band, isn't it?"
"Oh, charming! Quite charming!"
Then he seated me at a little table and provided me with an ice, (number
four), and stared furtively at me from the opposite side. It _was_ fun.
I crinkled my veil up over my nose and tilted my hat over my forehead,
and shot a glance at him every now and then, to find his eyes fixed on
me--not recognising at all, but evidently so puzzled and mystified to
think who I could be. Father had told him only a week before that Vere
would not be home for a month--and now who was this third Miss Sackville
who had suddenly appeared upon the scene?
"You have returned home rather sooner than you intended, haven't you?"
he inquired, and I shook my head and said--
"Oh, no, I kept to the exact date. I always do! What makes you think
otherwise?"
"I--er--I thought I heard you were not expected for some time to come.
You have been staying with friends?"
"Oh, a number of friends! Quite a huge house party. I feel quite lost
without them all."
He would have been rather surprised if I had explained that the party
consisted of forty women and no man, but that was not his business, and
it was perfectly true that I missed them badly. All the Rachel
Greaveses in the world would never make up for Lorna and the rest!
"But you have your sister!" he said. "I have seen a good deal of your
sister in her morning walks with Mr Sackville. She is a charming
child, and most companionable; I am sure she will be a host in herself!"
"It's very good of you! I can't tell you how pleased I am to hear you
say so!" I said suavely; but do what I would, I could not resist a
giggle, and he stared at me harder than ever, and looked so confused. I
was so afraid that he would find me out and spoil the fun that I
determined not to try to keep up the delusion any longer. He was going
to cross-question me, I could see it quite plainly, so I lay back in my
chair, smoothed out my veil, and smiled at him in my most fascinating
manner.
"I'm so pleased that you have formed such a good opinion of me, Mr
Dudley! I was really afraid you had forgotten me altogether, for you
seemed hardly to recognise me a few minutes ago."
He leant both arms on the table so that his face was quite near to mine.
"_Who are you_?" he asked, and I laughed, and nodded in reply.
"I'm Babs--Una Sackville is my name--England is my nation, Branfield is
my dwelling--"
"Don't joke, please. I want to understand. _You--are--Babs_! Have you
been deliberately deceiving me, then? Pray, what has been your object
in posing as a child all these weeks!"