A Very Naughty Girl Part 12

"Perhaps that is her name. I mean the girl in white satin-the girl who wears a grown-up dress."

"She is Audrey Wynford's cousin."

"What! the Tasmanian? The one who is to--"

"Yes. Hush! she will hear us," said Sylvia.

The rustle of silk was heard on the stairs. Sylvia turned her head, and instinctively hid just behind Arthur; and Lady Frances, accompanied by several other ladies, all looking very stately and beautiful, joined the group of young people. A great deal of chattering and laughter followed.

Evelyn was in her element. She was not a sc.r.a.p shy, and going up to her aunt, said in a confident way:

"I hope you like this dress, Aunt Frances. Jasper chose it for me in Paris. It is quite Parisian, is it not? Don't you think it stylish?"

"Hush, Evelyn!" said Lady Frances in a peremptory whisper. "We do not talk of dress except in our rooms."

Evelyn pouted and bit her lip. Then she saw Sylvia, whose eyes were watching Lady Frances. Lady Frances also looked up and saw the tall and beautiful girl at the same moment.

"Who is that girl?" she said, turning to Evelyn. "I don't know her face."

"Her name is Sylvia Leeson."

"Sylvia Leeson! Still I don't understand. Who is she?"

"A friend of mine," said Evelyn.

"My dear, how can you possibly have any friends in this place?"

"She is my friend, Aunt Frances. I found her wandering about out of doors, and I brought her in; and Audrey asked her to stay for the rest of the day, and she is happy. She is very nice, Aunt Frances," said Evelyn, looking up full in her aunt's face.

"That will do, dear."

Lady Frances went up to her daughter.

"Audrey," she said, "introduce me to Miss Leeson."

The introduction was made. Lady Frances held out her hand.

"I am glad to see you, Miss Leeson," she said.

A few minutes later the whole party found themselves cl.u.s.tered round the dinner-table. The children, by special request, sat all together. They chattered and laughed heartily, and seemed to have a world of things to say each to the other. Audrey, surrounded by her own special friends, looked her very best; she had a great deal of tact, and had long ago been trained in the observances of society. She managed now, helped by a warning glance from her mother, to divide Sylvia and Evelyn. She put Sylvia next to Arthur, who continued to chat to her, and to try to draw information from her. Evelyn sat between Robert and Sophie Clavering.

Sophie was downright and blunt, and she made Evelyn laugh many times.

Sylvia, too, was now quite at her ease. She contrived to fascinate Arthur, who thought her quite the most lovely girl he had ever met.

"I wish you would come and skate to-morrow," he said, as the dinner was coming to an end and the signal for the ladies to withdraw might be expected at any moment. "I wish you would, Sylvia. I cannot see why you should refuse. One has so little chance of skating in England that no one ought to be off the ice who knows how to skate when the weather is suitable. Cannot you come? Shall I ask Lady Frances if you may?"

"No, thank you," said Sylvia; then she added: "I long to skate just as much as you do, and I probably shall skate, although not on your pond; but there is a long reach of water just where the pond narrows and beyond where the stream rushes away towards the river. I may skate there. The water is nearly a mile in extent."

"Then I will meet you," said Arthur. "I will get Robert and Hennie to come with me; Juliet will never stir from Audrey's side when she comes to Castle Wynford; but I'll make up a party and we can meet at the narrow stretch. What do you call it?"

"The Yellow Danger," said Sylvia promptly.

"What a curious name! What does it mean?"

"I don't know; I have not been long enough in this neighborhood. Oh, there is Lady Frances rising from the table; I must go. If you do happen to come to the Yellow Danger to-morrow I shall probably be there."

She nodded to him, and followed the rest of the ladies and the girls to one of the drawing-rooms.

Soon afterwards games of all sorts were started, and the children, and their elders as well, had a right merry time. There was no one smarter at guessing conundrums and proposing vigorous games of chance than Sylvia. The party was sufficiently large to divide itself into two groups, and "clumps," amongst other games, was played with much laughter and vigor. Finally, the whole party wandered into the hall, where an impromptu dance was struck up, and in this also Sylvia managed to excel herself.

"Who is that remarkably graceful and handsome girl?" said Mrs. Jervice to Lady Frances.

"My dear Agnes," was the answer, "I have not the slightest idea. She is a girl from the neighborhood; that terrible aborigine Evelyn picked her up. She certainly is handsome, and clever too; and she is well dressed.

That dress she has on reminds me of one which I bought for Audrey in Paris last year. I suppose the girl's people are very well off, for that special kind of muslin, with its quant.i.ties of real lace, would not be in the possession of a poor girl. On the whole, I like the girl, but the way in which Evelyn has brought her into the house is beyond enduring."

"My Arthur has quite lost his heart to her," said Mrs. Jervice, with a laugh. "He said something to me about asking her to join our skating party to-morrow."

"Well, dear, I will make inquiries, and if she belongs to any nice people I will call on her mother if she happens to have one; but I make it a rule to be very particular what girls Audrey becomes acquainted with."

"And you are quite right," said Mrs. Jervice. "Any one can see how very carefully your Audrey has been brought up."

"She is a sweet girl," said the mother, "and repays me for all the trouble I have taken with her; but what I shall do with Evelyn is a problem, for her uncle has put down his foot and declares that go to school she shall not."

The ladies moved away, chatting as they did so. The music kept up its merry sounds; the young feet tripped happily over the polished floor; all went on gaily, and Sylvia felt herself in paradise. Warmed and fed, petted and surrounded by luxury, she looked a totally different creature from the wild, defiant girl who had pushed past Audrey in order to have a hearty meal on New Year's Day.

But by and by the happy evening came to an end, and Sylvia ran up to Evelyn.

"It is time for me to go," she said. "I must say good night to Lady Frances; and then will you take me to your room just to change my dress, Evelyn?"

"Oh, what a nuisance you are!" said Evelyn. "I am not thinking of going to bed yet."

"Yes; but you are at home, remember. I have to go to my home."

"Well, I do not see why I should go to bed an hour before I wish to. Do go if you wish, Sylvia; I will see you another time. You will find Jasper up-stairs, and she will do anything for you you want."

Sylvia said nothing more. She stood silent for a minute; then noticing Lady Frances in the distance, she ran up to her.

"Good night, Lady Frances," she said; "and thank you very much."

"I am glad you have enjoyed yourself, Miss Leeson," said the lady. She looked full into the sparkling eyes, and suddenly felt a curious drawing towards the girl. "Tell me where you live," she said, "and who your mother is; I should like to have the pleasure of calling on her."

Sylvia's face suddenly became white. Her eyes took on a wild and startled glance.

"I have no mother," she said slowly; "and please do not call, Lady Frances-please don't."

"As you please, of course," said Lady Frances in a very stiff tone. "I only thought--"

"I cannot explain. I cannot help what you think of me. I know I shall not see you, perhaps, ever again-I mean, ever again like this," said Sylvia; "but thank you all the same."

She made a low courtesy, but did not even see the hand which Lady Frances was prepared to hold out. The next instant she was skimming lightly up-stairs.