Pixie O'Shaughnessy

by Mrs George de Horne Vaizey________________________________________________________________This is an absolutely delightful book. Pixie is a totally uniquecharacter! Her mother had died and had left what money she had forPixie's education. The family live in a tumble-down old castle inIreland, and are all and each totally eccentric, in an Irish kind ofway. Pixies and her father travel to London, for she is to go to aschool for girls in the London suburbs. Suddenly her father realiseswhat a shabby little thing she is. Furthermore she has a very strongIrish brogue. So how does she get on with the other girls. Famously, in the end, but there were a few set-backs. 

There is a very strongly written episode in the second half of the book, where Pixie takes the blame for the loss of a perfume-bottle that hadbeen given to one of the mistresses by an old and beloved friend. Everything points to Pixie being the culprit. She actually knows whodid it, but somehow had given her word that she wouldn't give the othergirl away. Pixie is punished severely, not only for having done thedeed, as generally assumed, but also for refusing to talk about it. Could any of us show such strength of character? There are severalsequels to this book, but though good, they are mere sequels. Theinspiration that went into this book is unsurpassable. N. H. ________________________________________________________________PIXIE O'SHAUGHNESSY

BY MRS GEORGE DE HORNE VAIZEY

CHAPTER ONE. 

THE UGLY DUCKLING. 

Pixie O'Shaughnessy was at once the joy and terror of the school. Ithad been a quiet, well-conducted seminary before her time, or it seemedso, at least, looking back after the arrival of the wild Irish tornado, before whose pranks the mild mischief of the Englishers was as waterunto wine. Pixie was entered in the school-lists as "Patricia Monica deVere O'Shaughnessy, " but no one ever addressed her by such a title, noteven her home-people, by whom the name was considered at once as atragedy and a joke of the purest water. 

Mrs O'Shaughnessy had held stern ideas about fanciful names for herchildren, on which subject she had often waxed eloquent to her friends. 

"What, " she would ask, "could be more trying to a large and bouncingyoung woman than to find herself saddled for life with the title of`Ivy, ' or for a poor anaemic creature to pose as `Ruby' before aderisive world?" She christened her own first daughter Bridget, and thesecond Joan, and the three boys respectively Jack, Miles, and Patrick, resolutely waving aside suggestions of more poetic names even when theytouched her fancy, or appealed to her imagination. Better err on thesafe side, and safeguard oneself from the risk of having a brood ofplain, awkward children masquerading through life under names which madethem a laughing-stock to their companions. 

So she argued; but as the years passed by, it became apparent that herchildren had too much respect for the traditions of the race to appearan any such unattractive guise. "The O'Shaughnessys were alwaysbeautiful, " quoth the Major, tossing his own handsome head with the airof supreme self-satisfaction which was his leading characteristic, "andit's not my children that are going to break the rule, " and certain itis that one might have travelled far and wide before finding anotherfamily to equal the one at Knock Castle in point of appearance. Theboys were fine upstanding fellows with dark eyes and aquiline features;Bridgie was a dainty, fair-haired little lady; while Joan, (Esmeraldafor short, as her brothers had it), had reached such a climax of beautythat strangers gasped with delight, and the hardest heart softenedbefore her baby smile. Well might Mrs O'Shaughnessy waver in herdecision; well might she suppose that she was safe in relaxing herprinciples sufficiently to bestow upon baby number six a name moreappropriate to prospective beauty and charm. The most sensible peoplehave the most serious relapses, and once having given rein to herimagination nothing less than three names would satisfy her--and thosethree the high-sounding Patricia Monica de Vere. 

She was an ugly baby. Well, but babies often were ugly. That countedfor nothing. It was really a bad sign if an infant were conspicuouslypretty. She had no nose to speak of, and a mouth of enormousproportions. What of that? Babies' noses always were small, and themouth would not grow in proportion to the rest of the features. In afew months she would no doubt be as charming as her sisters had beenbefore her; but, alas! Pixie disappointed that expectation, as she wasfated to disappoint most expectations during her life. Her nose refusedto grow bigger, her mouth to grow smaller, her small twinkling eyesdisdained the lashes which were so marked a feature in the faces of hersisters, and her hair was thin and straight, and refused to grow beyondher neck, whereas Bridgie and Esmeralda had curling manes so long that, as their nurse proudly pointed out to other nurses, they could sit onthem, the darlints! and that to spare. 

There was no disguising the fact that she was an extraordinarily plainchild, and as the years passed by she grew ever plainer and plainer, andshowed less possibility of improvement. The same contrariety of fatewhich made Bridget look like Patricia, made Patricia look like Bridget, and Mrs O'Shaughnessy often thought regretfully of her brokenprinciple. "Indeed it's a judgment on me!" she would cry; but always asshe said the words she hugged her baby to her breast, and showeredkisses on the dear, ugly little face, wondering in her heart if she hadever loved a child so much before, or if any of Pixie's beautifulsisters and brothers had had such strange, fascinating little ways. Atthe age when most infants are content to blink, she smiled accuratelyand with intent; when three months old she would look up from her pillowwith a twinkling glance, as who would say, "Such an adventure as I'vehad with these cot curtains! You wait a few months until I can speak, and I'll astonish you about it!" And when she could sit up shevirtually governed the nursery. The shrewdness of the glance which shecast upon her sisters quite disturbed the enjoyment of those youngladies in the pursuance of such innocent tricks as making lakes of inkin the laps of their clean pinafores, or scratching their initials onnewly painted doors, and she waved her rattle at them with such animperious air that they meekly bowed their heads, and allowed her to tugat their curls without reproach. 

The whole family vied with each other in adoring the ugly duckling, andin happy Irish fashion regarded her shortcomings as a joke rather than amisfortune. "Seen that youngster of mine?" the Major would cry geniallyto his friends. "She's worth a visit, I tell you! Ugliest child inGalway, though I say it that shouldn't. " And Pixie's company trickswere all based on the subject of personal shortcomings. 

"Show the lady where your nose ought to be, darling, " her mother wouldsay fondly, and the baby fingers would point solemnly to the flat spacebetween the eyes. 

"And where's the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, sweetheart?" would be thenext question, when the whole of Pixie's fat fist would disappear bodilyinside the capacious mouth. 

"The Major takes more notice of her than he did of any of the others, "Mrs O'Shaughnessy would tell her visitor. "He is always buying herpresents!"

And then she would sigh, for, alas! the Major was one of those careless, extravagant creatures, who are never restrained from buying a luxury bythe uninteresting fact that the bread bill is owing, and the butchergrowing pressing in his demands. When his wife pleaded for money withwhich to defray household bills, he grew irritable and impatient, asthough he himself were the injured party. "The impudence of thefellows!" he would cry. "They are nothing but ignorant upstarts, whilethe O'Shaughnessys have been living on this ground for the last threecenturies. They ought to be proud to serve me! This is what comes ofeducating people beyond their station. Any upstart of a tradesmanthinks himself good enough to trouble an O'Shaughnessy about a trumperytwenty or thirty pounds. I'll show them their mistake! You can tellthem that I'll not be bullied, and indeed they might as well save theirtrouble, for, between you and me, there's not a five-pound note in mypocket between now and the beginning of the year. " After deliveringhimself of which statement he would take the train to the nearest town, order a new coat, buy an armful of toys for Pixie, and enjoy a gooddinner at the best hotel, leaving his poor wife to face the iratetradesmen as best she might. 

Poor Mrs O'Shaughnessy! She hid an aching heart under a brightexterior many times over, as the pressure for money grew ever tighterand tighter, and she saw her children running wild over the countryside, with little or no education to fit them for the battle of life. TheMajor declared that he could not afford school fees, so a dailygoverness was engaged to teach boys and girls alike--a staid, old-fashioned maiden lady, who tried to teach the young O'Shaughnessys onthe principles of fifty years ago, to her own confusion and theirpatronising disdain. The three boys were sharp as needles to discoverthe weak points in her armour, and maliciously prepared questions bywhich she could be put to confusion, while the girls tittered and idled, finding endless excuses for neglecting their unwelcome tasks. Half adozen times over had Miss Minnitt threatened to resign her hopelesstask, and half a dozen times had she been persuaded by MrsO'Shaughnessy to withdraw her resignation. The poor mother knew fullwell that it would be a difficulty to find anyone to take the place ofthe hard-worked, ill-paid governess, and the governess loved her wildcharges, as indeed did everyone who knew them, and sorrowed over them inher heart, because she saw what their blind young eyes never noticed--the coming shadow on the house, the gradual fading away of the weary, overtaxed mother. Mrs O'Shaughnessy had fought for years againstchronic weariness and ill-health, but the time was coming when she couldfight no longer, and, almost before her family had recognised that shewas ill, the end drew near, and her husband and children were summonedto bid the last farewell. 

The eyes of the dying woman roamed from one to the other of her sixchildren--twenty-two-year-old Jack, handsome and manly, so like--oh, solike that other Jack who had come wooing her nearly thirty years ago!Bridgie, slim and delicate--so unfit, poor child, to take the burden ofa mother's place; Miles, with his proud, overbearing look, a boy who hadhad especial claims on her care and guidance; Joan, beautiful anddaring, ignorant of nothing so much as of her own ignorance; Pat, of thepensive face and reckless spirit; and last but not least, Pixie, herbaby--dear, naughty, loyal little Pixie, whom she must leave to thetender mercies of children little older than herself! The dim eyesbrightened, the thin hand stretched out and gripped her husband by thearm. 

"Jack!" she cried shrilly--"Pixie! Give Pixie a chance! Take care ofher--she is so young--and I can't stay. For my sake, Jack, give Pixie achance!"

The Major promised with sobs and tears. In his own selfish way he hadadored his wife, and her last words could not easily be put aside. Asthe months passed by, he was the more inclined to follow her wishes, asthe few thousands which fell to him at her death enabled him to pay offhis more pressing debts and enjoy a temporary feeling of affluence. Jack went back to his office in London, where he had betaken himselfthree years before, to the disgust of the father, who considered it morerespectable for an O'Shaughnessy to be in debt than to work for hisliving in the City among City men. Pat and Miles remained at home, ostensibly to help on the estate, and in reality to shoot rabbits andget into mischief with the farm hands. Miss Minnitt was discharged, since Bridgie must now be occupied with household duties, and Joan wassatisfied that her education was finished. And the verdict went forththat Pixie was to go to school. 

"Your mother was always grieving that she could not educate your sisterslike other girls, and it was her wish that you should have a chance. I'll send you to London to the best school that can be found, if I haveto sell the coat off my back to do it, " said the Major fervently; forthere was no sacrifice which he was not ready to make--in anticipation, and he hoped to discover a school which did not demand payments inadvance. He patted the child on the shoulder in congratulation; butPixie was horrified, and, opening her mouth, burst into howls and yellsof indignation. 

"I won't! I shan't! I hate school! I won't go a step! I'll stay athome and have Miss Minnitt to teach me! I won't! I won't! I won't!"

The Major smiled and stroked his moustache. He was used to Pixie'soutbursts, and quite unperturbed thereby, although a stranger would havequailed at the sound, and would certainly have imagined that somehorrible form of torture was being employed. Pixie checked herselfsufficiently to peep at his face, realised that violence was useless, and promptly changed her tactics. She whimpered dismally, and essayedcajolery. 

"It will break me heart to leave you. Father darlin', let me stay!What will you do without your little girl at all?"

"I'll miss you badly, but it's for your own good. That brogue of yoursis getting worse and worse. And such a fine school, too! Think of allyou will be able to learn!"

"Me education's finished, " said Pixie haughtily. "I know me tables andcan read me books, and write a letter when I want, and that's all that'srequired of a young gentlewoman living at home with her parents. I'veheard you say so meself--a hundred times, if once. "

It was too true. The Major recognised the argument with which he hadbeen wont to answer his wife's pleas for higher education, and wasincensed, as we all are when our own words are brought up against us. 

"You are a very silly child, " he said severely, "and don't understandwhat you are talking about. I am giving you an opportunity which noneof your brothers and sisters have had, and you have not the decency tosay as much as `Thank you. ' I am ashamed of you. I am bitterlyashamed!"

Such a statement would have been blighting indeed to an ordinary child, but Pixie looked relieved rather than otherwise, for her quick wits hadrecognised another form of appeal, and she was instantly transformedinto an image of penitence and humiliation. 

"I am a bad, ungrateful choild, and don't deserve your kindness. Iought to be punished, and kept at home, and then when I grew older andhad more sense I'd regret it, and it would be a warning to me. Esmeralda's cleverer than me. It would serve me right if she wentinstead. "

It was of no avail. The Major only laughed and repeated his decision, when Pixie realised that it was useless fighting against fate, andresigned herself to the inevitable with characteristic philosophy. 

Her outbursts of rebellion, though violent for the time being, were ofremarkably short duration, for she was of too sunny a nature to remainlong depressed, and moreover it was more congenial to her pride to poseas an object of envy than pity. On the present occasion she no soonerrealised that go to school she must, than she began to plume herself onher importance, and prepare to queen it over her sisters. 

"You had better make the most of me, my dears, " she announced in themorning-room five minutes later, "for it's not long you'll be having mewith you. I'm off to a grand London school to correct me brogue andlearn accomplishments. It will cost a mint of money, and father can'tafford to send you too; but I'll tell you all about it when I come back, and correct your accent and show you me fine new clothes!"

"Thank you, darling!" said Bridgie meekly, while Esmeralda stifled alaugh and turned her lovely eyes on the ugly duckling with a glance offondest admiration. Both sisters had overheard the shrieks of tenminutes before and could still see tell-tale tear-marks, but nothing inthe world would have induced them to say as much or check their darlingin her newly found complacency. 

After all it was not until some months had elapsed that the dilatoryMajor discovered a school to his liking, and even then he allowed hisown engagements to interfere with the date of her arrival, for heinsisted upon accompanying Pixie himself, and could not see that it madethe least difference whether she arrived at the beginning of the term ora few weeks later on. Miss Minnitt protested faintly, but soon relapsedinto silence, and consoled herself by turning seamstress and helpingBridgie and Joan with the school outfit. It was a case of making newlamps out of old, for little money was forthcoming to buy freshmaterial, and, with the best will in the world, the workers were stillunskilled in their efforts. 

Bridgie's tender heart was pierced with sorrow as she looked at thedismal little outfit spread out on the bed preparatory to packing--sopoor it seemed, so shabby, oh, so black, black, black and sorrowful!Poor little Pixie going forth alone into the unknown world--little, wild, ignorant Irish girl, bound for a strange land among strangepeople! Would those fine English girls laugh among themselves and jeerat her untamed ways? Would they imitate her brogue in their thinmincing voices, and if so, how, oh, how would Pixie conduct herself inreturn? Bridgie was barely twenty years old, but since her mother'sdeath she had grown into a woman in thoughtfulness and love for others, and now it weighed on her mind that it was her duty to speak seriouslyto Pixie before she left home, and prepare her in some sort for thetrials which might lie before her. If she did not, no one would, and itwas cruel to let the child leave without a word of counsel. She layawake wondering what to say and how to say it. 

"It's no use telling Pixie not to get into mischief, for she can't helpit, the darling! It's the nature of her, but she has such a lovinglittle heart that she will never go far wrong. "

The next day she watched her opportunity, and took advantage of a quietmoment to speak her words of counsel. 

"You won't be disappointed if school isn't all you expect, will you, dear?" she began nervously. "I have heard girls say that they feltdreadfully lonely and homesick at first, and when the pupils are allstrange to you, and chums with one another, you may think they are notas friendly as you could wish. And the teachers may seem stern. MissMinnitt has spoiled us by being too mild and easy, and you will feel thedifference. Then you have run wild all your life, and it will seemstrange to be allowed out for walks only; but, Pixie, I want you toremember that you are our pet and baby, and that our happiness dependson you. If you get a good report and bring home prizes, the pride weshall feel, the airs we shall be giving ourselves, going into Galway andtelling everyone we meet on the street; but if you are disobedient andwe hear complaints, it's covered with disgrace we shall be in the eyesof the county. Now, there will be good girls in that school, and badgirls, and lazy girls, and industrious ones, and girls who would tellthe truth if they were to be shot for it the next moment; and girls whowould trick and deceive to get a mean advantage over another. PatriciaO'Shaughnessy, which are you going to choose for your companions?"

Pixie fairly jumped upon her seat with surprise, the use of that seldom-heard name impressing her more than anything else could possibly havedone with the importance of the occasion. A murmur of protest did dutyas a reply, and Bridgie continued impressively--

"Yes, I am sure you will choose the right sort of friend, for the honourof your name and the family to which you belong; but you must beindustrious with your work as well. Now that I have left off lessons Iwish I had worked twice as hard, for I feel so ignorant and stupidbeside other girls; and you are clever, Pixie, and can do well if youchoose. Don't be troublesome to the teachers, dearie; it must bemaddening to have to teach day after day, and they have to be cross nowand then--the creatures!--to relieve their feelings. And if you feeltempted to be rude and naughty, just remember that you are mother'slittle baby, and that the last thing she asked was that you should haveyour chance! Perhaps she sees you still, Pixie! Perhaps God lets herbe a white angel to watch over her boys and girls. If you thoughtmother was watching, you never could do anything to grieve her!"

The ready tears poured down Pixie's face. She sobbed and moaned, andwith clasped hands repeated her vow to be good, good, good; never to benaughty again so long as she lived! And Bridgie wept too, smilingthrough her tears at the impracticability of the promise, the while sheclasped the dear little sister to her breast. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

FOND FAREWELLS. 

The morning rose clear and fair, and the sun shone as cheerfully as ifno tragedy were about to be enacted, and Pixie O'Shaughnessy wouldpresently run out of doors to sit swinging on a gate, clad inEsmeralda's dyed skirt, Pat's shooting jacket, and the first cap thatcame to hand, instead of starting on the journey to school in a newdress, a hat with bows and two whole quills at the side, and her hairtied back with a ribbon that had not once been washed! It was almosttoo stylish to be believed!

Pixie entered the breakfast-room with much the same stride as that withwhich the big drum-major heads the Lord Mayor's procession, and spreadout her dress ostentatiously as she seated herself by the table. Thearmholes stuck into her arms, the collar was an inch too high, and thechest painfully contracted, but she was intensely proud of herself allthe same, and privately thought the London girls would have littlespirit left in them when confronted with so much elegance. Bridgie waswiping her eyes behind the urn, Esmeralda was pressing the mustard uponher, the Major was stroking his moustache and smiling as he murmured tohimself--

"Uglier than ever in that black frock! Eh--what! Bless the child, itis the mischief to let her go! The house will be lost without her!"

Pat and Miles were conversing together in tones of laboured mystery, adevice certain to arrest Pixie's vivid attention. 

"On Sundays--yes! Occasionally on Wednesdays also. It _does_ seemrather mean, but I suppose puddings are not good for growing girls. Twoa week is ample if you think of it!"

"Good wholesome puddings too!" said Pat, nodding assent. "Suet andrice, and perhaps tapioca for a change! Very sensible, I call it. Porridge for breakfast, I think they said, but no butter, of course?"

"Certainly not! Too bad for the complexion, but cod-liver oil regularlyafter every meal. Especially large doses to those suffering from changeof climate!"

The Major was chuckling with amusement; Bridgie was shaking her head, and murmuring, "Boys, don't! It's cruel!" Pixie was turning from oneto the other with eager eyes, and mouth agape with excitement. She knewperfectly well that the conversation was planned for her benefit, andmore than guessed its imaginary nature, but it was impossible to resista thrill--a fear--a doubt! The bread-and-butter was arrested in herhand in the keenness of listening. 

"Did I understand you to say _no_ talking allowed?" queried Patearnestly. "I had an impression that on holiday afternoons a littlemore liberty might be given?"

"My dear fellow, there are no holidays! They are abolished in modernschools as being unsettling, and disturbing to study. `In work, inwork, in work always let my young days be spent!' Pass the marmalade, please! The girls are occasionally allowed to speak to each other inFrench, or, if they prefer it, in German, or any other Continentallanguage. The constant use of one language is supposed to be bad forthe throat. I hope, by the way, father, that you mentioned distinctlythat Pixie's throat requires care?"

Pixie cast an agonised glance round the table, caught Bridgie's eye, andsighed with relief, as a shake of the head and an encouraging smiletestified to the absurdity of the boys' statements. 

"There's not a word of truth in it, darling. Don't listen to them. They are only trying to tease you. "

"I'd scorn to listen! Ignorant creatures, brought up at home by a ladygoverness! What do they know about schooling?" cried Pixie cruelly; forthis was a sore point, on which it was not safe to jest on ordinaryoccasions. Miles rolled his eyes at her in threatening fashion, and Patstamped on her foot; but she smiled on unabashed, knowing full well thather coming departure would protect her from the ordinary retribution. 

After breakfast it seemed a natural thing to go a farewell round of thehouse and grounds, escorted by the entire family circle, and amelancholy review it would have been to anyone unblessed with Irishspirits, and the Irish capability of shutting one's eyes to unpleasanttruths. Knock Castle sounded grandly enough, and a fine old place ithad been some centuries before; but for want of repairs it had nowfallen into a semi-ruinous condition pathetic to witness. Slates inhundreds had fallen off the roof and been left unreplaced; a largestaircase window, blown in by a storm, was still boarded up, waiting tobe mended "some time, " though more than a year had elapsed since theaccident had taken place; the walls in the great drawing-room weremouldy with damp, for it had been deserted for many a day, because itsowner could not afford the two big fires necessary to keep it aired. Pixie sniffed with delight when she entered the gloomy apartment, forthe room represented the family glory to her childish imagination, sothat the smell of mildew was irresistibly associated with luxury. Thedining-room carpet was worn into holes, and there was one especially bigone near the window, where Esmeralda, who was nothing if not artistic, had painted so accurate a repetition of the pattern on the boardsbeneath that one could scarcely see where one ended, and the otherbegan!

The original intention had been to disguise the hole, but so proud wasthe family of the success of the imitation, that it became one of theshow places of the establishment. When the hounds met at Bally William, and the Major brought old Lord Atrim into the house for lunch, he calledthe old gentleman's attention to it with a chuckle of enjoyment. "Mydaughter's work! The second, Joan here--Esmeralda, we call her. She'llbe an artist yet! A real genius with the brush. " And the old lord hadlaughed till he cried, and stared at Esmeralda the whole time of lunch, and when Christmas-time came round, did he not send her the mostbeautiful box of the best possible paints, the very thing of all othersfor which she had been longing, so that it seemed after all that it hadbeen a good thing when the terriers Tramp and Scamp had scratched thethin web into a hole! The ceilings were black with the smoke of fireand lamps, but the silver on the oak dresser would have delighted theheart of a connoisseur, and the china in daily use would have been laidout for view in glassed-in cabinets in most households, instead of beinggiven over to the care of an Irish biddy who tried to hang cups uponhooks with her head turned in an opposite direction, and had a weaknessfor sitting on the corner of the table to rest herself in the midst ofwashing the plates. 

Outside the garden was an overgrown wilderness of vegetation, for theone gardener, realising the impossibility of doing the work of the sixwho would have been required to keep the place in order, resignedhimself to doing nothing at all, or as little as was compatible with theweekly drawing of wages. The stables were empty, save for the two finehunters which were necessary for the Major's enjoyment of his favouritesport, and the rough little pony which did duty for all the rest of thefamily in turns. The row of glass-houses looked imposing enough from adistance, but almost squalid at a nearer view, for, as the Major couldnot afford to keep them in working order, broken panes greeted the eyein every direction, and plants were replaced by broken pieces offurniture and the hutches and cages of such live-stock as white mice, guinea-pigs, and ferrets. Pixie had many farewells to bid in thisquarter, and elaborate instructions to give as to the care to belavished on her favourites during her absence. The ferret was boardedout to Pat, who had no idea of doing anything for nothing, but waswilling to keep the creature supplied with the unsavoury morsels, inwhich its soul delighted, for the fee of a halfpenny a week, to be paid"some time, " an happy O'Shaughnessy fashion. The white mice looked oncoldly with their little pink eyes, while their mistress's own grew redwith the misery of parting from them, and the rabbit seized theopportunity to gnaw Bridgie's skirt with its sharp teeth; but for Pixiethe keenest pang of parting was over when she saw no more the floor withits scattered cabbage-leaves, and the door closed behind her, shuttingout the dear mousy, rabbity smell associated with so many happy hours. 

Outside on the gravel path old Dennis was sitting on a wheelbarrowenjoying a pipe in the sunshine. He made no attempt to rise as "thefamily" approached, but took the pipe out of his mouth and shook hishead lugubriously. 

"This is the black day for us, for all the sun's shining in the skies. Good luck to ye, Miss Pixie, and don't forget to spake a good word forOuld Ireland when the opportunity is yours. The ould place won't seemlike itself with you and Mr Jack both going off within the same month;but there's one comfort--one frettin' will do for the pair of you!" Andwith this philosophic reflection he stuck the pipe back in the corner ofhis mouth and resigned himself to the inevitable. 

"Pixie darling, " said Bridgie nervously, "I think we must go back to thehouse. It's time--very nearly time that you were getting ready. Fatheris going to drive you over in the cart, and he won't like to be keptwaiting. "

"Aren't you coming too?" queried Pixie eagerly. There was a look onBridgie's face this morning which reminded her of the dear dead mother, and she had a sudden feeling of dread and longing. "I want you, Bridgie! Come too! Come too!"

"I can't, my dearie. Your box must go, you know, and there's not roomfor both. But you won't cry, Pixie. It's only babies who cry, notgirls like you--big girls, almost in their teens, going away to see theworld like any grand lady. You may see the queen some day! Think ofthat, now! If you ever do, bow to her twice--once for yourself, andonce for me--and tell her Bridget O'Shaughnessy is hers to the death. _I_ wouldn't cry, Pixie, if I were going to see the queen!"

"Is it cry?" asked Pixie airily, with the tears pouring down her faceand splashing on to her collar, which had been manufactured out of thestrings of an old bonnet, with only three joins at the back to betraythe fact that it had not been cut out of "the piece. "

"It's not likely I'll cry, when I'm going on a real train and steamer, and meals on the way right up to to-morrow night! _You_ never had lunchon a train, Bridgie, and you are eight years older than me!"

"'Deed I didn't, then. No such luck!" sighed Bridgie regretfully, making the most of her own privation for the encouragement of the youngtraveller. "That will be a treat for you, Pixie, and there aresandwiches and cakes in the dining-room for you to eat before you go. Come straight in, for I brought down your coat before going out. Youmust write often, dear, and tell us every single thing. What MissPhipps is like, and the other teachers, and the girls in your class, andwho sleeps in your bedroom, and every single thing that happens to you. "

"And remember to write every second letter to your brothers, for if youdon't, they won't write to you. Girls get all the letters, and it isn'tfair. Tell us if you play any games, and what sort of food they giveyou, and what you think of the English, " said Miles, helping himself tosandwiches, and turning over the cakes to select the most tempting forhis own refreshment, despite the young housekeeper's frowns ofdisapproval. "Stick up for your country, and stand no cheek. Youunderstand, of course, that you are to be the Champion of Ireland in theschool. "

"I do!" said little Pixie, and her back straightened, and her headreared itself in proud determination. 

"And if any English upstarts dare to try bullying you, just let themknow that your name is O'Shaughnessy, and that your ancestors were Kingsof Ireland when theirs were begging bread on the streets! Talk to themstraight, and let them know who they are dealing with!"

"I will so!" said Pixie. She chuckled gleefully at the anticipation;but, alas! her joy was short-lived, for at that moment the shabbydogcart passed the window, and the Major's voice was heard callingimpatiently from the hall. 

"Ten minutes late already. We shall need all our time. Tumble in, now, tumble in! You have had the whole morning for saying good-bye. Surelyyou have finished by now!"

The children thought they had hardly begun; but perhaps it was just aswell to be spared the last trying moments. Bridgie and Esmeraldawrapped their arms round the little sister and almost carried her to thedoor; Pat and Miles followed with their hands in their pockets, puttingon a great affectation of jollity in their anxiety to disguise a naturalregret; the two women-servants wailed loudly from the staircase. Pixiescrambled to her seat and looked down at them, her poor little chinquivering with emotion. 

"Bridgie, write! Esmeralda, write!" she cried brokenly. "Oh, writeoften! Write every day. Pat, Pat, be kind to my ferret. Don't starveit. Don't let it die. Take care of it for me till I come back. "

"I'll be a mother to it, " said Pat solemnly. 

And so Pixie O'Shaughnessy went off to school. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

THE NEW SCHOLAR. 

Major O'Shaughnessy and his little daughter reached London on thefollowing afternoon, after a comfortable and unadventurous journey. Pixie had howled dismally all the way to the station, but had dried hereyes at the sight of the train, and even brightened into hilariousspirits on boarding the steamer. She ate an enormous dinner of therichest and most indigestible dishes on the menu, slept peacefullythrough a stormy passage, and was up on deck conversing affably with themen who were washing down, long before her father had nerved himself tothink of dressing. The journey to London was a more or lessdisappointing experience, for, if she had not known to the contrary, shewas not at all sure that she would have recognised that she was in astrange land. What she had expected, it was impossible to say; but thatEngland should bear so close a resemblance to her beloved land seemedanother "insult to Ireland, " as Pat would have had it, and that itshould in some respects look better, more prosperous and orderly, thiswas indeed a bitter pill to swallow. 

As the train neared London, and other passengers came in and out of thecarriage, Major O'Shaughnessy became conscious for the first time what adusty, dishevelled little mortal he was about to introduce to an Englishschool. He was not noticing where his children were concerned, andmoreover, his eye had grown accustomed to the home surroundings, but thecontrast between these trim strangers and his own daughter was toostriking to be overlooked. Pixie had wriggled about until her frock wasa mass of creases, her hat was grey with dust, and she had apparentlyforgotten to brush her hair before leaving her cabin. The Major was tooeasy-going to feel any distress at this reflection. He merely remarkedto himself whimsically that, "the piccaninny would astonish them!"meaning the companions to whom she was about to be introduced, anddecided then and there to take her straight to her destination. Thishad been the only point upon which he and his young daughter had been atvariance; for from the start Pixie had laid down, as her idea of whatwas right and proper, that her father should take her for the night to agrand hotel, introduce her next morning to the Tower, the ZoologicalGardens, and Madame Tussaud's, and deposit her at Surbiton in theafternoon. The Major's ideas on the subject were, however, that anexacting little daughter was a drawback to a man's enjoyment of a visitto London, and that there were other forms of amusement which he wouldprefer to a visit to the before-mentioned historic resorts. Withaccustomed fluency, he found a dozen reasons for carrying out his ownwishes, and propitiated Pixie by promising that Jack should take hersight-seeing before many weeks were over. 

"I'll tell Miss Phipps that I wish you to go out with your brother onSaturday afternoons, and you'll have a fine time together seeing allthat is to be seen. Far greater fun than if we tried to hurry aboutwith not a minute to spare. "

"I like to do things _now_, " sighed Pixie pensively; but as usual sheresigned herself to the inevitable, and a box of chocolates, bought atWaterloo, sufficed to bring back the smiles to her face and restore herequanimity. 

The arrival at Surbiton Station was a breathless experience, though itwas a distinct blow to her vanity to find that no deputation from HollyHouse was in waiting to receive Patricia O'Shaughnessy with the honoursshe deserved. No one took any notice of her at all. When the cabman, when directed to drive to Holly House, preserved an unmoved stolidity offeature, and had no remark whatever to offer on the subject. Howdifferent from dear, friendly, outspoken Bally William, where each manwas keenly interested in the affairs of his neighbour, and the poorestpeasant upon the road felt himself competent to offer advice on the mostintimate family matters! Pixie felt a chill of foreboding as she drovethrough the trim Surbiton streets and noticed girls like herself walkingdemurely beside mother or governess, with laced-in boots, gloved bands, and silky manes flowing down their backs in straight, uninterruptedflow. She looked down at her own new, stout, little boots. Sixteenbuttons in all, and only one missing! Such a pitch of propriety madeher feel quite in keeping with her surroundings, and she had kid glovestoo--dyed ones--which looked every bit as good as new, and left no markat all except round the fastenings, and the lobes of the fingers. Shegave a wriggle of contentment, and at that moment the cab turned in atthe gate of Holly House. 

The name of the house seemed to have more appropriateness than isusually the case, for the garden was surrounded by a thick holly hedge, and the beds were planted with holly trees so dark that they appeared tobe almost black in hue. To the eyes of the new pupil there wassomething awe-inspiring in the sight of the grim flowerless beds and thefoliage which looked so stern and prickly, almost as bad as the piecesof broken glass which are laid on the top of high walls to preventescape or intrusion. The house itself was big and square, with a doorin the centre, and at the top two quaint dormer windows, standing outfrom the roof like big surprised-looking eyes. "Dear, dear!" theyseemed to say. "If this isn't Pixie O'Shaughnessy driving up to thedoor! Wonders will never cease!"

The hall was wide and cold, and, oh, so clean--"fearful clean, " thoughtthe new pupil with a sigh, as she stepped gingerly over the polishedoilcloth and gazed awesomely at spotless wood and burnished brass. Thedrawing-room had none of the splendour of that disused apartment atKnock Castle, but it was bright and home-like, with an abundance ofpretty cushions and tablecloths, a scent of spring flowers in the air, and a fire dancing cheerily in the grate. Pixie's prejudices received ashock at the sight of so much frivolity in a drawing-room, and she couldnot echo her father's admiration. She seated herself on the edge of thesofa and began to paint imaginary pictures of the mistress of this finehouse. "She will be tall, with yellow hair. She will have cold fingersand a nose that looks thin and has a hump in the middle. No, I don'tbelieve she will, after all. I believe she'll be fussy, and then theyare small and dark--dark, with eyeglasses, and those funny red cheeksthat are made up of little lines, and never get lighter or darker. Andshe'll have a chain hanging from her waist with a lot of things thatjingle, like the lady in the train. Oh, me dear, suppose she was old!I never thought of that. Suppose she was old, in a cap and a blacksatin dress, and chilblains on her hands!" And when the door opened--itwas really a most exciting occasion!--and Miss Phipps came into theroom. 

She was not in the least like any of the three pictures which Pixie hadimagined, she was far, far nicer and prettier. She was tall, and sograceful and elegantly dressed as to be quite dazzling to the eyes ofthe country-bred stranger. She had waving brown hair, which formed asort of halo round her face, a pale complexion, and grey eyes whichlooked at you with a straight long glance, and then lightened as if theyliked what they saw. She was quite young, too, not a bit old andproper; the only thing that looked old were the little lines about theeyes, and even those disappeared when her face was in repose. She cameforward to where the major was standing, and held out her hand with asmile of welcome. 

"Major O'Shaughnessy! I am very pleased to see you. I hope you havehad a good journey and a comfortable crossing. " Then she turned andlooked at the crumpled little figure on the sofa, and her eyes softenedtenderly. "Is this my new pupil? How do you do, dear? I hope we shallbe very good friends!"

"Oi trust we may!" returned Pixie fervently, and with a broadening ofthe already broad brogue which arose from the emotion of the moment andmade her father frown with embarrassment. 

"Ha--hum--ha--I am afraid I have brought you rather a rough specimen, "he said apologetically. "Pixie is the baby of the family, and has beenallowed to run wild, and play with all the children about the place. Ihope you will not find her very backward in her lessons. She has had agoverness at home, but--"

"But she wasn't much good, either!" interrupted Pixie, entering into theconversation with the ease and geniality of one whose remarks are in thehabit of being received with applause. "I didn't pay much attention toher. I expect there's a good deal I don't know yet, but I'm very quickand clever, and can be even with anyone if I choose to try. "

"Then please try, Pixie! I shall be disappointed if you don't!" saidMiss Phipps promptly. Her cheeks had grown quite red with surprise, andshe pulled in her upper lip, and bit at it hard as she looked down ather new pupil, and noted the flat nose, the wide mouth, and the elf-likethinness of the shabby figure. "Pixie! that's a very charming littlename, but a fancy one, surely. What is your Christian name?"

Father and daughter gazed at each other appealingly. It was a momentwhich they had both dreaded, and the Major had fondly hoped that hemight escape before the question was asked. He remained obstinatelysilent, and Pixie nerved herself to reply. 

"Me name's not suited to me appearance, " she said sadly. "I'd rather, if you please, that ye didn't tell it to the girls. I am always calledPixie at home. Me name's Patricia!"

Miss Phipps bit her lip harder than ever, but did managed to control herfeatures, and Pixie was relieved to see that she did not even smile atthe mention of the fatal name. 

"It's rather a long name for such a small person, isn't it?" she saidseriously. "I think we will keep to Pixie. It will make school morehome-like for you, than if we changed to one to which you are notaccustomed. " Then turning to the Major, "I am sorry my head mistress, Miss Bruce, is not at home to-day, as I should have liked you to seeher. She is very bright and original, and has a happy knack of bringingout the best that is in her pupils. She directs the teaching, and I amthe housekeeper and sick-nurse of the establishment. Would you like tocome upstairs, and see the room in which Pixie will sleep, or shall wewait perhaps until after tea?"

The Major declared that he could not wait for tea. He had kept the cabwaiting at the door, and was all anxiety to get the parting over asquickly as possible and return to the fascinations of town, so hediscussed a few business matters with Miss Phipps, and then took Pixie'shand and accompanied her up the staircase to the third-floor bedroomwhich she was to share with three other pupils. 

Two windows looked out on to the garden in front of the house, and anarrangement of curtains hung on rods made each little cubicle privatefrom the rest. Pixie's handbag had already been laid by her bed, andshe felt quite a swelling of importance as she surveyed her new domain, wherein everything was to be her very own, and not shared with someoneelse, as had always been the case at home. The Major gushed over all hesaw, and professed himself as more than satisfied, but he was plainlyill at ease, and after walking twice round the room was all eagerness tomake his escape. 

"I'll say good-bye to you now, Pixie, " he said, "for your bag is there, I see, and you would be much the better for a wash and brush. It's nouse coming downstairs again. Be a good girl, now, and Jack shall comeoften to see you! I'm happy to leave you in such good hands, and it's alucky child you are to have such a school to come to! It will be yourown fault if you are not happy. "

"I've no doubt I'll be very comfortable, thank you, " Pixie saidpleasantly, lifting her cheek to receive her father's kiss, with littlesign of the emotion dreaded by the two onlookers, for her mind was toofull of the new excitements to allow her to realise his departure. Hehurried out of the room, followed by Miss Phipps, and Pixie withdrewinto her cubicle, pulled the curtains closely around her, and feltmonarch of all she surveyed. A dear little white bed, so narrow that ifyou turned, you turned at your peril and in instant dread of landing onthe floor; a wonderful piece of furniture which did duty as dressing-table, washstand, and chest of drawers combined; a single chair and ahanging cupboard. Everything fresh, spotlessly clean, and in perfectorder; absolutely, if you can believe it, not a single broken thing tobe seen! Pixie drew a quick breath of admiration, and wondered how longit could possibly be before she succeeded in cracking that lovely blueand white china, and exactly what would happen if she spilt the waterover the floor! She was so much occupied in building castles in the airthat ten minutes passed by and she had not moved from her seat, whensuddenly there came the sound of footsteps running up the stairs, thedoor was pushed open, and tramp, tramp, in came her future companions, hidden from sight, but talking volubly to each other as they took offhats and jackets after the afternoon walk. 

"The new girl has arrived!" cried number one, in a tone of breathlessexcitement. "I saw her box as I came through the hall. I peeped at thelabel, but hadn't time to read it properly. "

"I did, though!" cried another. "A funny name--O something or other. `Shog-nessie, ' or something like that. Such a shabby old trunk! Lookedas if it came out of the Ark. "

"It will be rather fun having an Irish girl, don't you think?" numbertwo suggested. "They are untidy and quarrelsome, of course, but it isfunny to hear them talk, and they make such droll mistakes. I shouldn'tlike to be Irish myself, but it will be a pleasant change to have aPaddy among us!"

"Well, I hope she isn't quarrelsome in this room, that's all!" said athird speaker, who had hitherto been silent, "because if she is, I shallfeel it my duty to give her a taste of Home Rule that she may notappreciate. And if she snores I shall squeeze my sponge over her, soyou may tell her what she has to expect. There's nothing like trainingthese youngsters properly from the beginning!"

"Twelve years old! I call it mean to put a child like that in thisroom! You are fourteen, I'm fourteen, Ethel is fifteen; we ought tohave one of the older ones with us. We will make her fag for herliving. She shall get the hot water, and fold up our nightgowns, andpick up the pins. All the same, I shall be kind to her, for the creditof the country, for Irish people are always imagining themselves ill-used by England. If I had thought of it I would have drawn a picturefor her cubicle, as a delicate little mark of attention. An Irishmanwith his--what do you call it?--shi-lee-lah!"

The speaker stopped suddenly as she pronounced this difficult word, fora curious muffled sound reached her ears. "What's that?" she askedquickly; but her companions had heard nothing, so she retired into thecubicle next Pixie's own to brush her hair, slightly raising her voice, so as to be heard more easily by her companions. 

"She lives in a castle! I heard Miss Phipps telling Miss Bruce when shewas sending the labels. `Knock-kneed Castle, ' or something like that. Every second house in Ireland is called a castle, my father says. It'sno more than a villa in England, and all the people are as poor as Job, and have hens in their parlours and pigs on the lawn. They don't knowwhat it is to keep order. What are you grunting for, Ethel? It's quitetrue, I tell you!"

"Dear me, I'm not grunting, I'm only washing my hands, " cried Ethel, aggrieved. "What's the matter with your ears this afternoon? I don'tcare where she lives, so long as she behaves herself, and knows how torespect her elders. I wonder what she is like!"

"Irish girls are mostly pretty. "

"Who told you that?"

"Never mind, I know it. It's always raining over there, and that issupposed to be good for the hair, or the complexion, or something. Andthey are so bright and vivacious. If an author wants to make aspecially lively heroine in a book, the father is Irish, and the motheris French. Perhaps she'll be the beauty of the school, and then won'tsomeone we could mention tear her hair with rage?"

"Well, I don't know about being pretty, " said Pixie's neighbourreflectively. "We have had lots of Irish servants, and they were plainenough. But the name sounds interesting--`Miss Shog-nessie--theCastle--Ireland. ' It certainly sounds interesting. I'd give somethingto know what she is like. "

"If ye'll step inside the curtain, ye may judge for yerself, " said adeep rich voice suddenly from behind the curtain which was farthest fromthe door. 

There was silence in the bedroom--a silence which might be felt!

CHAPTER FOUR. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS. 

Pixie's first week at school was a period of delirious excitement. Above all things in the world she loved to be of importance, and occupya foremost place with those around her, and she was proudly consciousthat her name was on every lip, her doings the subject of universalattention. New girls were wont to be subdued and bashful in theirdemeanour, and poor unfortunates who arrived after the beginning of theterm to find other pupils settled down into regular work, were apt tofeel doubly alone. By this time those arrangements are determined whichare of such amazing importance to the schoolgirl's heart--Clara hassworn deathless friendship with Ethel; Mary, Winifred, and Elsie haveformed a "triple alliance, " each solemnly vowing to tell the other herinmost secrets, and consult her in all matters of difficulty. Rosalindand Bertha have agreed to form a pair in the daily crocodile, and Gracehas sent Florence to Coventry because she has dared to sharpen pencilsfor Lottie, the school pet, when she knew perfectly well that it wasGrace's special privilege, and she is a nasty, interfering thing, anyhow, and ought to be snubbed! What chance has a poor late-comeragainst such syndicates as these? There is nothing for her but to takea back place, and wait patiently for a chance at the beginning ofanother term. 

Pixie O'Shaughnessy, however, has never taken a back place in her life, and has no intention of beginning now. On her very first evening thetwo head girls entered the school parlour to find a small, ugly girlseated in the middle of the hearth rug on the most comfortable chairwhich the room afforded, and were invited in the most genial manner to, "Shtep forward and take a seat!"

"It's rhemarkably cold for the time of year!" remarked the small person, making no sign of giving up her seat, but waving blandly towards thecane chairs by the wall. "I'm the new girl, I come from Ireland. Mefather brought me. I'm the youngest of six, and I've come to school tocorrect me brogue, and be polished up. As soon as I've finished I shallgo back to me home!"

The head girl came over to the fireplace, and stared downwards with widegrey eyes. She looked almost grown-up, for her hair was twisted roundand round like a lady's, and her dress reached to her ankles. 

"That's very interesting!" she said slowly. "I am glad you have madeyourself comfortable, for from what you say I expect we shall have youwith us for quite a long time. Can't you tell us some more familydetails while you are about it?"

"I can so!" said Pixie with emphasis, and sitting erect in her seat shefolded her hands in her lap, and began to talk. The room was filling bythis time, for the quarter of an hour before tea was a cosy holiday-time, when the girls could talk without restraint, and compare notes onthe work of the day. One by one they approached the fireside, untilPixie's chair was surrounded by a compact wall of laughing young faces, and thirty pairs of eyes stared at her from head to foot, back againfrom foot to head. Her black skirt was so short that it was like aflounce, and nothing more; from chest to back there was no more widththan could be covered by the scraggy little arm, the feet dangled half-way to the floor, and the hands waved about, emphasising every sentencewith impassioned gestures. 

At the end of ten minutes what the pupils of Holly House did not knowabout the O'Shaughnessy family may be safely described as not worthknowing! They had been treated to graphic descriptions of all itsmembers, with illustrative anecdotes setting them forth in their bestand worst lights; they had heard of the ancient splendours of theCastle, and the past glories of the family, and--for Pixie was giftedwith a most engaging honesty--they had also heard of the presentstraitness of means, the ingenious contrivances by which the familyneeds were supplied, and even of one tragic episode when the butcherrefused to supply any more meat, just when one of the county magnateswas expected to dinner! It had been a ghastly occasion, but Bridgiewent and "spoke soft to him, " and he was a decent man, and he said itwasn't for "all the mutton in the world, " he said, that he would see hershamed before the quality, so all ended as happily as could be desired!

"I wouldn't tell stories like that if I were you, Pixie, " said the headgirl gravely, at the end of this recital. She had not laughed as theothers had done, but looked at the little chatterbox with a grave, steady glance. Margaret had gained for herself the title of "School-Mother", by thinking of something better than the amusement of themoment, and being brave enough to speak a word of warning when she saw agirl setting out on a path which was likely to bring her into trouble. "I wouldn't tell stories like that!" she repeated, and when the swift"Why not?" came back, she was ready with her reply. "Because I am sureyour people would not like it. It is all right for you to tell us aboutyour brothers and sisters, and it was very interesting. I wish Bridgieand Esmeralda had come to school with you; but we don't tell stories ofour home doings of which we are, "--she was about to say "ashamed, " butthe child's innocent eyes restrained her--"about which we are sorry! Wekeep those to ourselves. "

"But--but we got the mutton! He gave us the mutton!" cried Pixie, agapewith wonder. It seemed to her an interesting and highly creditablehistory, seeing that Bridgie had had the better of the butcher, andmaintained the family credit in the eyes of the neighbourhood. Shecould not understand Margaret's gravity, and the half-amused, half-pitiful glances of the older pupils. 

The girl standing nearest to her put an arm round her neck, and said, "Poor little girlie!" in such a soft, tender voice that her tearsoverflowed at the moment, and she returned the embrace with startlingfervour. Pixie's emotions were all on the surface, and she could cry atone moment and laugh at the next, with more ease than an ordinary personcould smile or sigh. When the gong sounded for tea, she went downstairswith her arms twined fondly round the waists of two new friends, andthere was quite a quarrel among the girls, as to who should sit besideher. 

Miss Phipps was at one end of the table, and Mademoiselle, the residentFrench teacher, at the other, and between them stretched a long whitespace flanked by plates of bread-and-butter, and in the centre somecurrant scones, and dishes of jam. These latter dainties were intendedto supply a second course when appetite had been appeased by plainerfare, but the moment that grace was said the new-comer helped herself tothe largest scone she could find, half covered her plate with jam, andfell to work with unrestrained relish, while thirty pairs of eyeswatched with fascinated horror. She thought that everyone seemeduncommonly quiet and solemn, and was casting about in her mind for apleasant means of opening the conversation, when a sound broke on herears which recalled one of Pat's prophecies with unpleasantdistinctness. Mademoiselle was talking in her native tongue, and it wasnot in the least like the French which she had been accustomed to hearin the schoolroom at Bally William. The agonising presentiment that herignorance was about to be discovered before her schoolmates reducedPixie at one blow to a condition of abject despair. She hung her headover her plate, and strove to avoid attention by keeping as quiet aspossible. 

"They speak too quick. It's rude to gabble!" she told herselfresentfully. "And I know some French meself. `_J'ai, tu as, il a, noussommes, vous etes, ils sont_. ' Listen at that, now!" She felt amomentary thrill of triumph in her achievement, but it quickly fadedaway, as further efforts showed how scanty was the knowledge upon whichshe could draw. "_Je suis faim_" was the only phrase which occurred atthe moment, and appropriately enough too! She stretched out her hand totake a second scone, but was immediately called to order by MissPhipps's soft voice. 

"Bread-and-butter this time, Pixie! You are not supposed to take sconesuntil you have had at least three pieces of bread. You must do as theother girls do, you know, dear!"

"Oi like a relish to my tay!" sighed Pixie sadly, and five separategirls who happened to have their cups to their mouths at the moment, choked immediately, and had to be patted on the backs by theircompanions. All the girls were laughing; even the victims smiled amidsttheir struggles, and Mademoiselle's brown eyes were sparkling withamusement. There was not one of them half so beautiful as Esmeralda, nor so sweet as Bridgie, but they were good to look at all the same, reflected the new pupil critically. Right opposite sat her three room-mates--Flora, plump and beaming; Kate, sallow and spectacled; Ethel, thecurious, with a mane of reddish brown hair, which she kept tossing fromside to side with a self-conscious, consequential air. Margaret sat byMiss Phipps's side, and helped her by putting sugar and milk into thecups. Glance where she would, she met bright, kindly smiles, and herfriend on either side looked after her wants in the kindest of manners. Pixie did not know their names, so she addressed them indiscriminatelyas "darlin', " and was prepared to vow eternal friendship without waitingto be introduced. 

"Do you always speak French at meals?" she asked under cover of thegeneral conversation a few minutes later, and the reply was even worsethan her fears. 

"We are supposed to speak it always, except in the quarter of an hourbefore tea, and on Sundays, and holidays. But of course, if you do notknow a word you can ask Mademoiselle, or look it up in a dictionary, andthe new girls get into it gradually. Miss Phipps is a darling; shecan't bear to see a girl unhappy, and of course it is difficult to getinto school ways when you have been taught at home. I have been herefor two years, and am as happy as possible, though I cried myself sickthe first week. If you do what you are told and work hard, you willhave a very good time at Holly House. "

Pixie looked dubious. 

"But aren't you ever naughty?" she asked anxiously. "Not really bad, you know, but just mischeevious! Don't you ever play tricks, or havepillow fights, or secret suppers up in your room, or dress up as bogeysto frighten the others?"

"Certainly not!" Eleanor Hopton was a proper and dignified young lady, and the straightness of her back was quite alarming as she frowneddissent at the new-comer. "Frighten people, indeed! Do you not callthat naughty? It's a wicked and dangerous thing to do, and you would bepunished severely if you attempted it. I have read of people who diedof fright. How would you feel if you played bogey, as you call it, tostartle one of the girls, and she had a weak heart and died before youreyes? You would feel pretty miserable then, I should say. "

"I would so! I'd get the fright myself that time. But suppers, now, --suppers don't hurt anyone!" urged Pixie, pushing aside one objectionableproposition and bringing forward the next with unconscious generalship. "Don't you ever smuggle things upstairs--sausages and cakes, andsardines and cream--and wake up early in the morning--early--early, before it is light--and eat them together, and pretend you are ladiesand gentlemen, or shipwrecked mariners on desert islands, or wildIndians, or anything like that, and talk like they talk, and dance aboutthe room?"

"Cer-tain-ly not! The very idea!" cried Eleanor once more. "I neverheard of anything so silly. Why on earth should one sit up shivering toeat things in the middle of the night, when one can have themcomfortably downstairs at the right hour? I should not think of doinganything so foolish. "

Pixie sighed heavily. This was England indeed! For the first timesince entering the house she realised that she was a stranger in astrange land. Eleanor's calm commonsense was so entirely foreign to hernature that she felt a distinct chilling of the new affection. Thecompanion on her right looked more sympathetic, and she addressed hernext remark in that direction. 

"We were for ever playing tricks on one another at home. Bridgie andEsmeralda sleep in the same bed, and one day Pat--that's the secondboy--the next but one to me--he went to Bridgie and he says, `I'veplayed a fine joke on Esmeralda! Ask no questions, but just wait upuntil she gets into bed to-night, and you'll have the best laugh you'vehad this side Christmas. ' Then off he goes to Esmeralda, and `Keep asecret!' says he. `Let Bridget be the first to get into bed to-night. Make an excuse and sit up yourself to see the fun, for she'll have afine surprise when she lies down. ' The girls guessed that they had beentaking the laths off the bed, as they had done once or twice before, tolet a visitor fall through on to the floor, and it was a very coldnight, and they were tired, for they had been working hard mending thestaircase carpet; and says Bridgie to Esmeralda, `Just hurry up, can'tyou! I never did see such a girl for dawdling. Get into bed, ' shesays, `and don't sit up all night. ' `Oh, ' says Esmeralda, smiling, `I've a fancy to brush out me hair. Take no notice of me, but just liedown and turn your face to the wall, and I'll be as quiet as a mouse. '`I never can sleep with a light in the room, ' says Bridgie, quitetesty. .. I was in my own bed in the dressing-room, so I heard what theysaid, and was stuffing the bedclothes into my mouth not to laugh out, and spoil the fun. `If you are going to make a night of it, I'll sitdown and read, and you can let me know when you are ready. ' `You willcatch cold sitting in that draught!' Esmeralda says, her own teethchattering, for it was mortal cold, and there was a hole in the windowabove her head, where Pat had thrown up a stone when he wanted to wakeher one morning, and couldn't spare time to walk upstairs. `And youknow, Bridget, you are always delicate on the chest. ' `It'll be on yourhead, then, ' says Bridgie, `if I _am_ made ill, keeping me up when I'mlonging for my bed! Come, dear, ' wheedling her to see if she could getround that way, `leave it alone now, and I'll brush it for you in themorning. It is beautiful hair, and Mrs Gallagher the laundress wassaying to me this morning there wasn't its match in the country. ' AndEsmeralda said afterwards that she was too cold for compliments, so sheup and said it was her own hair, and she'd brush it when she liked, andhow she liked, without interference from anyone; and at that they grewmad, and began quarrelling with each other, and throwing up everythingthat ever they did since they were short-coated, and meself lyingtrembling on me bed, to think what would happen next. Joan--that'sEsmeralda--she would have sat up all night, she's that obstinate, butBridgie grew tired, and says she, `I'm not going to catch me deathshivering here for all the jokes on earth, so here goes, and I don'tcare what happens!' and with that she throws herself down on the bed;and--would ye believe it?--nothing happened at all. The bed was asright as it had been all its life, and the boys had had their jokewithout any trouble. "

Pixie finished in the midst of a dead silence, for one by one thespeakers round the table had paused to listen to the soft Irish voice, and the story once begun had riveted attention. Some of the girlslaughed outright, some held down their heads to conceal their smiles, some nudged their companions and looked demurely at Miss Phipps to taketheir cue from her face. She was undoubtedly smiling, but she lookedworried all the same, and gave the signal for rising in a hurriedmanner, as if anxious to allow no time for comment. The girls rose andfiled slowly past, Pixie skipping complacently in front, with her armround another new friend, whom she was prepared to adore even morefondly than the last. Only Margaret remained behind to assist inputting the room in order, and when the door shut Miss Phipps looked ather under raised appealing brows. 

"I am afraid we have rather a difficult subject there, Margaret! Poorlittle thing! Her father says she has been allowed to run wild, and itwill be difficult for her to get into school ways. She doesn't mean tobe forward, but of course we can't allow her to go on like this. Shemust be taught wholesome respect and reticence, but I don't want to betoo hard upon her at first. She's a lovable little creature, and I'veno doubt will be a favourite with the girls. They like to be amused, and I fear they may encourage her for the sake of their own amusement. You must help me, dear, by setting a good example and checking hergently when she gets excited. "

"I'll try!" said Margaret, but she looked by no means hopeful ofsuccess. "I did try before tea. She was telling the most extraordinarytales about home, and I said it was not right to repeat such things, butshe seemed quite puzzled. She doesn't seem to have the same ideas thatwe have, or the same feelings about things. "

Miss Phipps sighed, and shook her head. 

"She is a difficult subject, " she repeated anxiously; then her facelighted up suddenly and she began to laugh. "But you can't help likingher!" she cried. "Funny little mite! I am growing quite fond of heralready. "

CHAPTER FIVE. 

THE ALICE PRIZE. 

To the surprise of all concerned, Pixie took a very fair place in theschool. The sorely tried Miss Minnitt was by no means an accomplishedwoman, but what she did know she taught well, and she felt rewarded forher efforts when she heard that Miss Bruce, the English teacher, hadremarked that Pixie had been well grounded, and knew more than manygirls of her age. The mixture of knowledge and ignorance which thechild displayed was indeed incomprehensible to those who did notunderstand the conditions under which she had lived. She was quite abotanist in a small way, could discourse like any farmer on crops andtillages, was most sporting in her descriptions of shooting and hunting, and had an exhaustive understanding of, and sympathy with, the animalworld, which seemed quite uncanny to town-bred girls. Here, however, her knowledge stopped, and of the ways of the world, the hundred and onerestrictions and obligations of society which come as second nature tomost girls, she knew no more than a South Sea Islander dancing gailyupon the sands, and stringing shells in her dusky locks. "I wish I wasborn a savage!" was indeed her daily reflection, as she buttoned hertight little frock, and wriggled to and fro in a vain search forcomfort. 

"Now listen to me!" said Miss Bruce, at the end of the examination whichwas conducted after breakfast the day following Pixie's arrival. "I amundecided which of two classes you shall join, so I am going to give youthe choice. The under-fourth would be comparatively easy, the upper-fourth would mean real hard work. I think you could manage it, if youworked hard and determined to do your very, very best; but I tell youfrankly it will not be easy. If you would rather have a term in thelower class and work up gradually, I am willing to let it be so; but youmust realise that it will be less good for yourself. You seem to have agood memory and to learn quickly; but we don't like to force girlsbeyond their strength. You would be the youngest girl in the upper-fourth. "

That decided the matter! Pixie's heart had sunk at the mention of work;but the ecstatic prospect of being the baby of a class, of writing hometo boast of her position, and of reminding her elders at frequentintervals of her own precocious cleverness, was too tempting to beresisted. She pleaded eagerly for the upper-fourth, and came throughthe first morning's ordeal with gratifying success. But, alas!afternoon brought a change of scene, for the girls retired to theschoolroom for "prep, " and the new class-member stared in dismay at thework before her. 

"Is it for next week we are to learn it?" she asked, and when the answercame, "For to-morrow, " she shrieked aloud in dismay. "What! The lot ofit? Grammar, and arithmetic, and geography? All those pages, an'pages, and pages! I couldn't finish to-day if I sat up all night!You're joking with me! It isn't really and truly for to-morrowmorning?"

"It is indeed, my dear, worse luck! Miss Bruce gives a terrible amountof prep, and you are bound to get through somehow. Sometimes it isworse than this, and you feel simply frantic. You are not allowed to goon after seven o'clock either, so there is no hope for you if you arenot finished by that time. "

"Don't frighten her, Dora, " said Kate kindly. She looked through herspectacles at Pixie's woe-begone face, and smiled encouragement. "Itseems hopeless at first, but you will get accustomed to it in time. Iused to be in despair, but you get into the way of learning quickly, andpicking out the things that are most important. There's no time fortalking, though. Open your grammar and begin at once. "

"Hate grammar!" grumbled Pixie crossly. "What's the use of it? I cantalk as well as I want to without bothering about grammar, and I don'tunderstand it either! Silly gibberish!"

She wished with all her heart at that moment that she had been contentwith the seclusion of the lower-fourth; but she was not allowed to talkany more, for Clara called out an impatient "Hush!" and Florence stuckher fingers in her ears and looked so savage that it was impossible todisregard the warning. Pixie read over the tiresome grammar, and thenlay back in her seat studying the furniture of the room, and deciding onthe improvements which she would make if Miss Phipps asked her advice onthe subject of redecoration. It was an engrossing subject, and wouldhave kept her happily occupied for quite a long time, had not Katejerked her elbow as a reminder, and pointed significantly to thehistory. She had mentally constituted herself as friend-in-need to thenew classmate, and was determined to do her duty by her, however littlethanks she might receive; so she nudged, and nudged again, until Pixieresentfully opened the history book in its turn. 

History was interesting--it was just like a story! When the prescribedportion had been read, she was anxious to learn what happened next, andread on and on until the watchful Kate suspected something wrong, andforcibly confiscated the book. 

"What are you reading the next chapter for? A minute ago you weregroaning because you had too much to do. Finish the work that is givenyou before trying to do more!"

"But there was an execution coming on. I love executions!" sighed Pixiemiserably. "This is the best bit of the whole history, for there's nomore fun when you get to the Georges. They never have any murders, norplots, nor blowings up. "

"You will get blown up if you interrupt like this! How do you suppose Ican learn with you chattering away all the time?" cried Clara, theirascible. She glared at Pixie, and Pixie glared at her, and went onglaring long after the other had settled to work, with an intentnesswhich seemed mysteriously connected with the movement of a stubbly leadpencil. Presently she touched Kate softly, and there on the margin ofthe clean new book was exhibited the drawing of a dismembered head, glaring horribly over rule-of-three problems, and labelled "Clara" inlargest round hand. It was a very juvenile effort, but drawing was afamily talent among the O'Shaughnessys, and the artist had been sharp tonote the weak points of her subject, as well as to exaggerate them withcruel honesty. The high forehead was doubled in height, the long upperlip stretched to abnormal length, the blots which did duty for eyes werereally marvellously, astonishingly like Clara's in expression! Katepressed her handkerchief against her mouth, but the sound of hersplutters was distinctly audible, and her companions looked up inamazement. Kate laughing during prep was a sight which had never beenwitnessed before, and they stared at her in mingled surprise and envy. 

"What's the joke?" asked Marjorie wistfully. "You might share it, Ithink, for I feel as if I should never smile again until the holidays. If there is anything amusing in these lessons to-night, I should like tohave it pointed out, that's all!"

"It's n-n-thing!" returned Kate, spluttering still. Pixie had flippedover a page with a deft movement, and sat with hands folded on her lap, a picture of lamblike innocence. 

For the rest of the time allowed for preparation she worked really well, inspired by the remembrance that she had made Kate laugh, and drawn acaricature which even Esmeralda herself must have approved. 

About half-past seven came supper, and after supper prayers, and afterprayers bed, and an interesting conversation with the three room-mates. 

"Which is the nicest girl in the school?" Pixie asked, going at once tothe most important point, and fondly hoping that she might listen to herown name by way of answer. She was doomed to disappointment, however, for though there was a difference of opinion, her name was not evenmentioned. 

"Margaret!" said Kate. 

"Lottie!" cried Flora. 

"Clara!" cried Ethel; and they proceeded to argue the question betweenthemselves. 

"Margaret is an angel. She is sweet to everyone. She never says anunkind word. "

"Lottie is so bright and clever. She is first in almost every singleclass. "

"Clara is so sensible. She doesn't make a fuss, and gush overeverything, as Lottie does; but if she says she will be your friend, shekeeps her word, and always tries to do you a good turn. "

"That's the way with meself, " said Pixie modestly. "I'm the soft-heartedest creature! You three girls are me best friends because yeshare me room, and I'll stick to you, whatever trouble ye're in. Yeneed never be afraid to come to me, for the worse ye are, the betterI'll like ye!"

"Ho, ho, ho!" laughed Kate shrilly. Flora chuckled to herself in fat, good-natured fashion, and Ethel tossed her mane and said--

"I can quite believe it, but if you will excuse my saying so, I thinkthe trouble is more likely to come to you than to us! If you go onbehaving as you have done the last two days, you will be in need offriends yourself, my dear, so don't say I haven't warned you. "

"Behaving as I have done! Get into trouble meself!" echoed Pixieblankly. "And what for, please? What have I done? I promised Bridgiebefore I left that I would behave meself, and not disgrace the family, and I've kept me word. I've not been naughty once the whole timethrough. "

"Don't say `naughty, ' child, as if you were a baby two years old! Youmay not have done anything wrong from your point of view, but you havebroken half a dozen rules all the same. You planted yourself in frontof the fire when the fifth-form girls were in the room, and neveroffered to give up your place even when Margaret herself came in. Notone of the old girls would think of doing such a thing. And youanswered back when Miss Phipps spoke to you at tea--and told a story soloud that everyone could hear!"

"And small blame to me if I did! It _was_ the dullest meal I ever satthrough, and I thought I would do you a kindness by waking you up!"returned Pixie defiantly. She did not at all approve of Clara'sattitude of fault-finding, and was up in arms at once in her owndefence. "I have been brought up to make meself agreeable, and whenMiss Phipps spoke to me, wasn't I obliged to give a civil answer? And Iwas cold when I sat before the fire. Are fifth-form girls colder thananyone else, that they must have all the heat?"

"You know perfectly well what I mean, or if you don't, you are a stupidchild, and you needn't fly into a temper when I tell you your mistakes. You want to get on, I suppose, and take a good place in the school, soyou ought to be grateful to anyone who tries to keep you out oftrouble. "

In the seclusion of her cubicle Pixie made a grimace, the reverse ofappreciative, but she stifled her feelings in her desire forinformation, and asked the next question on her list. 

"How often in the year do you get prizes?"

"Once. At the end of the summer term. There's a chance for you now!Work hard for six months, and win the class prize!"

Flora chuckled with amusement at the idea, but Pixie considered thesubject seriously for a good two minutes, and found it altogetheragreeable. She saw a vision of herself walking forward to receive herhonours while the elder girls sat in a row, subdued and envious, andtasted in advance the ecstasy of the moment. 

"What sort of prizes do they give you--books?"

"Books, of course. Improving books. Poets, with nice soft backs, andDutch Republics in calf, and things like that. The sort of book you areawfully proud of, but hardly ever read. You put it carefully in abookcase, and admire the binding. You can always tell a prize a yardoff, it looks so smart and gilt, and unopened. I've seen rows of themin some houses, all ranged together with their little silk markershanging out at the bottom, as smooth and uncrumpled as if they had neverbeen moved; and the owners take them down and show you the inscriptionon the first page, to prove how good and clever they were when they wereat school!"

"Ah!" Pixie drew a rapturous sigh, seeing herself be-capped andshawled, in the act of exhibiting her own spoils to a bevy of admiringgrandchildren. The great point seemed to be to have the inscription asstriking as possible, so she inquired anxiously if the class prize wasthe highest that could be obtained. 

"She's ambitious, girls, isn't she? The class prize isn't enough forher, you notice!" cried Ethel, splashing her face with cold water, andinterposing her remarks with audible shudderings. "Yes, there's onething higher--the `Alice Prize, ' we call it, because it is given by thefather of a certain Alice who used to be at school here, and who died atthe end of her last term. She was Lottie's sister; but Lottie is not inthe least like her, for she was very shy and nervous, and the girlsteased her a great deal, and she took it to heart and made herselfmiserable. After her death it was found that she had kept a diary, andwritten down all her troubles; and her parents read it, and tried tothink what they could do to prevent any other girl suffering as she haddone. At last they thought of offering this prize--it is given everyyear--five pounds' worth of books, which you can choose for yourself. You can get a lot of books for five pounds, and it is given to the girlwho is kindest and most considerate to others. She has to be nice tonew girls, and answer their questions, and be patient with them, as I ambeing with you, my dear, at the present moment, and dry their littleeyes when they weep, and cheer them up when they are low in their minds. And she has to be careful not to hurt other people's feelings, and touse her influence to stop a joke when it is going too far. Oh, and adozen other things which you can imagine for yourself! The girls knowbest who deserves the prize, and they vote at the end of the year, andwhoever gets most votes gets the prize. "

"Who got it last year?"

"Margaret, of course. So she would every time, but the same person isnot allowed to have it two years running. A good thing, too, for weshould all feel that it was no use competing with her, and so give uptrying. "

"And who do you think will get it this year?"

"Oh dear me! How many more questions? Myself, of course, for answeringyou so kindly. If you don't vote for me, young woman, there'll be acoldness between us, and so I tell you. Flora thinks she will get it, but it won't be fair if she does, for she is so fat that she couldn't beanything else than good-natured if she tried. Now I have really aviolent temper, but I keep it in check. I can't answer any morequestions, though. Time's up. I give you all two minutes more, andthen I must put out the light. "

"Let me do it! I'll put it out! You get into your bed and keep warm, and I'll wait upon you!" cried Pixie eagerly; and, to her dismay, therecame a simultaneous burst of laughter from all three listeners. 

"She's Alicing, " they cried--"she's Alicing! Nothing like beginning intime, and making the most of your opportunities. So you want that prizetoo, do you, as well as the class one? It's a bad lookout for the restof the girls. There won't be anything left for us to try for. "

Pixie stood transfixed within her cubicle, staring before her withbewildered eyes. As it had been her delight to wait upon her belovedsisters, it had come naturally to wish to help these girls who, for thetime, had taken their place in her life. She had made her offer in allgood faith, and her heart swelled with bitterness at the injustice ofthe accusation. A rush of honest Irish pride forbade an answer; but thetears came to her eyes as she lay down in bed, and the loneliness ofexile fell upon her. Bally William, oh, dear Bally William, how are youlooking to-night? Is everything going on as usual, though PixieO'Shaughnessy is far away in a cold, cruel land where no one knows her, and her best motives are misjudged and derided? Beautiful old castle, standing among your luxuriant green, are the lamps lit in your rooms, and twinkling like so many stars into the night? And there, where thered curtains are drawn so snugly, are the boys and girls gathered roundthe fire, the flames lighting up Bridgie's sweet face and Esmeralda'sstormy beauty? Oh, boys and girls, are you thinking of Pixie--your ownlittle Pixie?

"How that child does snort!" muttered Ethel impatiently. "It seems tobe our luck to have all the snorers in this room. "

CHAPTER SIX. 

A NOVEL AMUSEMENT. 

During the weeks which followed, "Pixie's Prep" became a by-word amongher companions, for no amount of goading seemed sufficient to keep herattention from roaming from her books during the hours when it was mostnecessary that she should give them her undivided attention. Howeversturdily she might begin, in ten minutes' time her eyes were wanderingabout the room, she was scribbling on the margin of her book, ortwisting her handkerchief into a new variety of rag doll. The well-meaning Kate, finding frowns and nudges losing their effect, resorted tomore drastic measures, such as the prick of a pin, or a tug of the elf-like locks; but the victim's howls and protestations not only disturbedher companions, but took so long to pacify that the experiment had to beabandoned. 

How Pixie managed to sustain even her very low place in the class was awonder to her companions; but in truth she had an unusually quick brain, so that when she chose to apply herself she learnt as much as slowergirls would do in twice the time, while her Irish wit enabled her toplace her scraps of knowledge in the most advantageous light, andrescued her from awkward questionings. Nowhere was this faculty moremarked than in French, of which she knew least, yet in which subject shemade the most rapid progress. It was clear to a pair of uncommonlysharp eyes that Miss Phipps's leniency would some day come to an end, and that she would then find herself in the position of being obligedeither to speak French or not to speak at all. To a born chatterbox thelatter alternative seemed the acme of misery, so it behoved her toprepare for speech before the dread verdict was given, which she did ina manner astonishing to her companions. Of French grammar she had thepoorest opinion, but she was sharp as a magpie to pick up the phrases ofothers and store them for her own use. The morning after Mademoisellehad suffered from a headache, Pixie's handkerchief was soaked withofferings of eau-de-Cologne, from the various girls to whom she hadrepeated ejaculations of distress; she discoursed exhaustively upon theweather to every one who could be induced to listen, and recitedexercise phrases to the school cat until her tongue grew quite nimbleover the words. 

Mademoiselle was an object of intense interest and curiosity to her newpupil. She was the first foreigner whom Pixie had known, and there wassomething in her dark, eager face which arrested the child's attention. Mademoiselle was quick and nervous, subject to fits of unreasonableirritation; but at other times there was a sad, far-away look in hereyes, and then her voice would take a softer cadence, so that when shesaid "Cherie, " one pupil at least forgot all the scoldings which hadgone before. Pixie felt irresistibly drawn to Mademoiselle in her hoursof depression. She could not have explained the attraction, but in herheart she felt that they were both exiles, and that Mademoiselle pinedfor her own sunny land, even as she pined for the dear green isle whichseemed so far away. She longed for Mademoiselle to notice her, to showher some special mark of favour, but longed in vain, until at last a daydawned which brought her into notice in a manner which was scarcely toher liking. 

It was a wet Saturday afternoon, and wet Saturday afternoons areabominations to every boarding-school girl, and the cause of endlessgrumblings and repinings. Ethel and Kate had gone out to tea with anold maiden lady who lived in the neighbourhood, and had still furtherdeepened their friend's depression before departing by drawing a mostroseate picture of the joys before them. 

"She is awfully kind, " they had explained of their hostess; "she givesyou the most galumptious teas, and the best part of it is, she has an e-normous appetite herself, so you can eat as much as you like, withoutfear of looking greedy!"

No wonder the poor stay-at-homes looked glum after this; no wonder theysighed with envy as they thought of the thick bread-and-butter in storefor themselves. The elder girls provided themselves with books, and satin rows before the fire, while artistic spirits set themselves copies, and filled up page after page of their sketching-books. Flora stitchedon a table-centre destined to be a birthday present for her mother, andthe younger girls clustered round Pixie, and besought her to think ofsome new means of amusement. 

"Think of something, Pixie-doo! It's so dull, and we are sick of thestupid old games. What did you do at home when it rained and youcouldn't go out?"

"I've never seen it rain hard enough to keep me indoors if I wanted tobe out, " returned Pixie, with a toss of the head; "but I've had fine funindoors sometimes when I didn't feel disposed for exertion. Ratting inthe barn is good sport, or grooming the pony, or feeding the animals, and pretending it is the Zoo; but you can't do those things here. It'shard to think of anything amusing when you are shut up in one room. "

"We can go out on the landing, if we like; I vote we do, and be byourselves. The fifth forms are sure to tell us not to, the moment wehave thought of something nice. Come along now, before they notice us!"

No sooner said than done. The little band of conspirators slipped fromthe room, and stood without on the square landing, five short-frockedgirls all gazing eagerly, confidently, into the face of their leader. 

"Pixie, what shall we do?"

Pixie racked her brains in despair, for not a single idea would come toher aid, and yet to acknowledge such a want of invention would have beento forfeit her position, and therefore not to be thought of for asecond. Her eyes roamed from side to side, and lit upon a table onwhich some working materials happened to be lying. A basket, a foldedlength of cloth, and a roll of wide green binding such as was used toedge old-fashioned window-curtains. Pixie looked at it thoughtfully, fingered it to ascertain its weight, shook it out to discover itslength, and cried eagerly--

"Just the thing! Might have been made for it. Would you like to see melasso the next person who comes upstairs?"

"Lasso!" The girls were not quite sure of the meaning of the word, butPixie explained it, suiting the action to the word. 

A lasso was a rope with a noose at one end--so! and it was used to catchwild horses, or anything else you happened to chase. You stood with therope gathered up in your hand--so! and then took aim and sent it flyingout suddenly--so! Pat could do it beautifully, and he had taught hertoo, but she could not always manage very well. If you caught a girlfrom above, she would be startled out of her wits, and squeal likeanything. It would be splendid fun. The next one, then, who cameupstairs!

The girls were divided between horror and delight. Dared she? Really!Would it hurt? What would Miss Phipps say? Did she really think sheought? But their agitation acted as fuel to Pixie's determination, andshe would only laugh and lean over the banisters, experimenting with thelong green rope, and altering the length until it met with her approval. 

Five minutes passed, and nobody appeared; ten minutes, and theconspirators were beginning to grow impatient, when from below came theunmistakable sound of an ascending footstep. The orders of the chiefhad been that when this happened her attendants were to withdraw to asafe distance, so that no movement nor sound of muffled laughter shouldwarn the victim of her peril; so the girls retreated obediently, leavingPixie to crouch on the floor until the eventful moment when a headappeared on the landing six steps below. It came--the top of a smooth, brown head, and on the moment out flew the rope, whirled into space witha skilful jerk which sent the noose flying wide, and with an accuracy ofaim which brought it right round the neck of the new-comer. Shesquealed indeed, but horror of horrors! she squealed in French, withsuch staccato "Oh's" and "Ah's" of astonishment as could only have comefrom one person in the house. It was Mademoiselle herself! and liftingher glance she beheld six horrified faces peering at her over thebanisters, six pairs of startled eyes, six mouths agape with dismay. She looked, and then, as it seemed with one stride, was in their midst, with her hands gripping Pixie by the shoulders. 

Now it happened that Mademoiselle was in her most irritable mood thisafternoon, for all day long she had been struggling against what, forconvenience' sake, she called a headache, but which might more honestlyhave been described as a heartache instead. A teacher cannot explain tothirty pupils that she has received a letter from home which has seemedto drop a veil before the sky, but such letters come all the same, andmake it difficult to bear the hundred and one little annoyances andtrials of temper which fall to her lot. Mademoiselle's letter had toldof the illness of a beloved father, and as she dared not sit down andhave a good cry to relieve her feelings, she was an a pent-up state ofnerves which made her the worst possible subject for a practical joke. The rope in Pixie's hand marked her out as the principal offender, andshe was called to order in a breathless stream of French which left herdumb and bewildered. 

"I--I can't understand!" she stammered, and Mademoiselle struggled toexpress herself in sufficiently expressive English. "You bad girl! Yourude, bad girl! What 'ave you done? What you mean playing your treeckson me? I will not 'ave it. I will complain to Miss Phipps. How dareyou throw your strings about to catch me as I come upstairs!Impertinent! Disobedient!"

"P-please, Mademoiselle, it was a lasso! I didn't know it was you. Isaid I would do it to the first person who came, and I didn't see yourface. It was only a joke. "

"A joke! You catch me by the throat, you 'ang me by the neck, and youcall it a joke! You wicked, impertinent girl, you shall be punished forthis!"

Pixie heaved a sigh so sepulchral that it might almost have been calleda groan instead. 

"It's just my luck!" she said dismally. "When I tried to show offbefore Pat and the girls, I couldn't do it one time in a hundred, andjust now, when I'd have no credit, but only get into trouble, I caughtyou the very first try!"

Did she mean to be impertinent? Mademoiselle looked down with sharpsuspicion, but even in her excited condition she could not mistake thatdowncast look, and troubled, disconsolate frown. Her voice grew atrifle less sharp, but she was very angry still. 

"You ought to be ashamed playing such treecks! It is always the samething--there is no peace since you 'ave come. These girls were quitegood and mild, but you make them as wild as yourself. I will teach youto be'ave better. You will come with me to the schoolroom and write outa verrrb!"

"I will, Mademoiselle, " said Pixie meekly, so meekly that her companionsfondly hoped that such exemplary submission would win forgiveness; butno, Mademoiselle flounced downstairs, and Pixie followed at her heels, to seat herself in solitary state at one end of the deserted schoolroom, while Mademoiselle took possession of the desk and began to correct apile of exercise books. 

To write out a verb is not, as a rule, a very lengthy matter, butMademoiselle's punishment verbs had invariably a phrase attached whichgave to them an added appropriateness, but very much lengthened thetask. "I am sorry that I was rude to Mademoiselle" was the verb whichpoor Pixie was to-day condemned to conjugate, and the big stragglingsentences amplified the statement until it seemed impossible to expressit in any other way. "I am sorry that I was rude to Mademoiselle--I wassorry that I was rude to Mademoiselle--I shall or will be sorry that Iwas rude to Mademoiselle. "

At intervals of every two or three minutes Mademoiselle glanced from herwork to the little figure at the other end of the room, but each timePixie's head was bent over her task, and the wandering eyes were gluedto their task. Such industry seemed so unnatural that the onlookerbecame first puzzled and then uneasy, and at last resorted to coughingand moving about in her chair in order to satisfy curiosity. In vain!Pixie's head went down lower than ever, and the pen scratched awaywithout a moment's cessation, for she was enduring that unreasoningpanic of fear which sensitive children suffer when they are in disgracewith their elders. She had been brought up in an atmosphere of tenderindulgence, had been the adored baby of the household, who had neverheard the sound of an angry voice, so that now, to sit alone in a roomwith a person whom she had displeased, reduced her to a condition oftrembling fear. Her eyelids felt weighed down, a lump rose in herthroat, and she trembled as with cold, and then presently the dreadedvoice spoke again, and Mademoiselle said--

"Pixie, come here. Bring your verrrb!"

The wretched scribe had not yet finished her conjugation, being aboutimperatively to command herself to be sorry that she had been rude toMademoiselle, but she was too nervous to explain, and stood twisting herhands together and staring at the carpet, while Mademoiselle turned overthe pages. She bit her lips once or twice as she read, and her eyestwinkled, but Pixie did not see that, and the voice which spoke soundedalarmingly stern. 

"It is ver' badly written. You make your letters too big; and suchblots! I cannot 'ave such blots. What 'ave you been doing to make suchblots as these?"

"They are not blots, please, Mademoiselle; they are only--"

"Only what then?"

"Spots!"

"Spots!" echoed Mademoiselle blankly. "Spots--blots! Blots--spots! Ido not understand. What is then the difference between blots andspots?"

"Blots is made with ink, "--when Pixie was agitated, as at the presentmoment, grammar was by no means her strong point--"and spots is madewith--with--"

"_Eh bien_! And with what, then?"

"T-tears!" came the answer in the softest echo of a voice, andMademoiselle looked down at the woe-begone face with startled eyes. 

"Tears! Your tears! But why should you cry? It is not so dreadful towrite a verrrb. I might have given you worse punishment than that. Perhaps it was because you had missed the afternoon with your friends. I cannot think a girl of your age should cry over a simple verrrb. "

"I thought it was a very elaborate verb!" said Pixie faintly. "But itwasn't that that made me cry; it was hurting your feelings, Mademoiselle!"

Mademoiselle leant back in her seat and looked intently at the shrinkingfigure. 

"Look up, _cherie_!" she said softly, and Pixie's fear fell from herlike a mantle. She saw a hand outstretched, and clasped it eagerly. 

"I never meant to hang you, Mademoiselle! It was only a joke. Thegirls asked me to amuse them, and we think it fine sport to lasso oneanother at home. How was I to know it would be you, when I gave my wordI would catch the first one that came upstairs? I didn't mean to beimpertinent. "

"But, _ma petite_, you should not play such treecks at all!"Mademoiselle shook her head, but she was smiling as she spoke, for shewas beginning to realise that no disrespect had been meant to herself, and that she had been unduly stern in her denunciations. "It is not thething for a young lady at school; it is only for wild--how do you callthem--`cowboys, ' out on the prairie. If you do it at 'ome, it is not myaffair, but if your father should see you some day, he must be shockedlike me!"

"I'm the youngest of six, and me father won't have me thwarted!" sighedPixie, lapsing into her brogue, as she usually did when agitated. "Nobody's ever angry with me at Bally William; I get into mischief theday long, and it's all quite happy and comfortable. If I'm quiet andwell-behaved, Bridgie is after giving me a mixture, for, says she, `Thechoild's ill; there's not been a sound out of her this day!' I wish Iwas back in me own country, Mademoiselle, and then I shouldn't troubleyou any more!"

"I vish I was back in my countree, too, " sighed the other softly, andtwo big tears started in the brown eyes, and trickled slowly down thecheeks. "My father is ill, and needs me, and I cannot be with him. Ifeel as if I could have wings and fly, I long so much to go; but I muststay here and work. My 'eart is very sad, and sometimes I get cross--too cross, perhaps, because I cannot bear any more. Then you girls talkamong yourselves and say, `How she is bad-tempered, that Mademoiselle!How she is cross and strict!' That is what you say very often, _n'est-ce pas_?"

"We do!" replied Pixie frankly. It was one of the Irishisms whichamused her companions that she never by any chance gave a simple "Yes"or "No" in reply to a question. It was always "I am!" "I will!" "Ido!" as the case might be. 

"We do!" she replied now, and then hastened to soften the admission by acoaxing, "But I wouldn't be troubling meself about that, if I were you, for they don't mind it a bit. I drew a picture of you the other daywith a bubble coming out of your mouth, and `Bow-wow-wow' written on itlike a dog, because you are always barking; but there isn't a bite inye, and all the girls say you aren't half as bad as the Mademoiselle whowas here before!"

Well! There are some conditions of mind when we are thankful for thesmallest grain of comfort, and Mademoiselle smiled and flicked the tearsfrom her eyes. 

"They are too kind! I am much obliged; but another time, when I `bark'as you call it, you will perhaps remember that your teachers are likeyourselves, and 'ave the same feelings. When you come first to schoolyou have to be comforted because you are 'ome-sick, but we are 'ome-sicktoo; and when you get bad news you cry, and are excused your work, butwe must go on the same as before; and if it is difficult to learn yourlessons, it is also difficult to teach! Well, now you may go! You willremember not to be rude to Mademoiselle again, eh?"

She held out her hand, smiling more brightly this time, and Pixie seizedit eagerly. 

"I will! And I hope your father will get well soon. You will see himat Christmas, and that isn't very long now; only forty-eight days to-morrow. I mark them off on my calendar. "

"No, that is so sad, I shall not see him until summer! He is going tomy brother in Italy, where it is warm and sunny, and it is too far forme to go there with him. It costs too much money, and the little housein Paris will be shut up till he returns, so I must stay in England allthrough the dark, long winter, when the sun never shines, and I shiver, shiver, shiver all day and all night! I shall forget what it is like tobe warm before the spring arrives!"

Pixie rubbed the cold hands with a sympathetic touch, but she made noremark, and presently went from the schoolroom to rejoin her companionsand make the most of the hours which still remained, while Mademoisellewent wearily on with the task of correction. She forgot all about herown complaints of cold, but when she retired to bed that night adelightful surprise was in store, for the sheets were warm instead ofcold, and her chilled feet came in contact with something soft and hot, which proved upon examination to be an indiarubber water-bottle encasedin a flannel bag. Mademoiselle drew a long gasp of rapture, and nestleddown again with a feeling of comfort to which she had long been astranger. A day or two earlier, Miss Phipps had spoken of the necessityof putting more coverings on the beds, as the frost had set in unusuallyearly, and Mademoiselle sleepily attributed this new comfort as anotherinstance of the Principal's consideration for her assistants. She feltcertain that it must be so, as night after night the welcome warmth wasin waiting, and more than once determined to express her appreciation;but life was busy, and there was such an accumulation of work as theperiod of examination approached, that there seemed no time to speak ofanything but school affairs. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

TERM-HOLIDAY. 

Flora and Kate and Ethel were sitting with their classmates discussingthe day's work, and Pixie O'Shaughnessy had drawn her stool beside them, and was putting in a remark at every possible opportunity. It made herfeel grown-up and important to join in the conferences of the oldergirls, and though in words they might say, "Run away, Pixie!" itgenerally happened that someone moved to the side of her chair to makean extra place, or that an arm stretched out to encircle the tiny waist. Even sixth-form girls like to be amused occasionally as if they wereordinary mortals, and Pixie was welcomed because she made them laugh andforget their trials and troubles, in the shape of Latin and Euclid andGerman idioms which refused to be unravelled. Two or three of the olderpupils were going in for the Cambridge Examination at Christmas, and allwere looking forward to the school exams at the end of the term, so thatanxiety was heavy upon them. 

"My brain feels like jelly! It _won't_ work. I shall be gettingsoftening of the brain at this rate!" sighed Flora, rubbing her cheeksup and down between her bands until she looked like a fat indiarubberdoll. "I keep mixing things up until I don't seem to have a clear idealeft, and my mother has set her heart on my taking a good place. Shewill look sad if I come out bottom, and I do hate and detest peoplelooking sad! I would far rather they scolded, and had done with it!"

"My people don't worry their heads about lessons. They sent me toschool because they think it polishes a girl, and rubs off the angles, don't you know!" said Lottie, with an air. She was the richest girl inthe school, who took all the extras, and put her name down for everyconcert and entertainment, without thinking of the expense. Her parentshad a house in town to which they came regularly every spring, duringwhich season Lottie's friends received many delightful invitations. Shehad unlimited pocket-money also, and was lavish in gifts to those whohappened to be in her favour, a fact which a certain number of girlsfound it impossible to banish from their minds; and thus Lottie held alittle court over which she reigned as queen, while the more earnest-minded of the pupils adored Margaret, and would hear no one compared tothe sweet "school-mother. " Clara was a Margaret-worshipper, so she feltin duty bound to snub Lottie on this as on every possible occasion. 

"I don't see much polish about _you_!" she retorted brutally. "And it'sridiculous to come to school at all, if you don't mean to work. If it'sonly `pruins and prism' you want, why didn't you go to board with adancing-mistress, and practise how to come in and out of a room, and bowto your friends, and cut your old schoolfellows when you meet them inthe road? You'd find it useful, my dear!"

The last sentence was a deliberate hit, for a former pupil had reportedthat, during a visit to a well-known watering-place, when she herselfwas returning unkempt and sandy from a cockling expedition, she hadencountered Lottie walking on the parade with a number of fashionablevisitors, and that, after one hasty glance in her direction, Miss Lottiehad become so wonderfully interested in what was going on at the otherside of the road that she altogether forgot to return her bow. Needlessto say, Lottie had been reminded more than once of this incident, sothat even Pixie, the newest comer, was familiar with its incidents, though she could not bring herself to believe in such deliberatesnobbery. To-day, as Lottie flushed, and Margaret looked a painedreproach, it was Pixie who rushed to the rescue, wriggling about in herseat, and clasping and unclasping her hands in the earnestness of herdefence. 

"Clara Montagu, you've no business accusing Lottie! You weren't there, so you can't tell! Perhaps the sun was in her eyes. You can't see aman from a woman when it's shining full in your face, though they maysee you clear enough, and believe you're shamming. Or perhaps the dustwas blowing. I've been blind meself with dust before now, and come intothe house looking as though I'd been crying for weeks. Why should shepretend not to know a friend--least of all when she'd been cockling?'Deed, I'd have been more affectionate than ever, in the hope she'd say, `Help yourself, me dear! Lend me your handkerchief, and I'll give ye anice little bundle to take home for your tea!'"

The Margaret-girls gave a simultaneous shriek of laughter at the idea ofMiss Lottie carrying a handkerchief full of cockles, and even theLottie-girls smiled approvingly at the little speaker, for was she notadvocating the position of their chief? Flora nodded encouraginglyacross the hearth and cried, "Good for you, Pixie! Never listen tosecond-hand stories against your friends!" And Kate added meaningly, "Go on believing in human nature as long as you can, my dear. You'reyoung yet. When you are as old as I am it will be time to open youreyes. But to go back to the last subject but one, don't you give way tonerves, girls, and begin worrying about the exams already. I've noticedthat just about the middle of the term there always comes a`discouragement stage' to anyone who is anxious to do well. The firstenergy with which one begins work has worn off, and as it is too soonfor the final spurt, there comes a dull, flat time, when one worries andfrets and gets down in the lowest depths of dumps. I spoke about it athome, and my father says every worker feels the same--artists when theyare painting pictures, and authors when they are writing books. Theyhave an idea, and set to work, all delight and excitement, believingthat they are going to do the best thing they have ever done. For alittle time all goes well, and then they begin to grow discouraged andworried, and think they might as well give it up at once, for it isgoing to be a dismal failure. They know _something_ is wrong, but theycan't see what it is, and they mope about, and don't know what to trynext. Father told me a story about Millais, the man who painted`Bubbles, ' you know, and heaps of other beautiful things. He was somiserable about a picture once that he grew quite ill worrying about it. His wife tried to persuade him to leave it alone for a few days, andthen take a rest; but no, he would not hear of it, so one fine day, whenhe was out, she just took the law into her own hands and had it carrieddown and hidden in the cellar. When he came home he went straight tothe studio, and--my dears! I am glad I didn't happen to be in thehouse, that's all. I know what my father is like when he can't find aclothes-brush, or someone has moved the matches out of the dressing-room. Millais raged about like a wild animal, but his wife was quitefirm and determined, and wouldn't tell him where it was for severaldays. He was obliged to go out and interest himself in other ways, andwhen he was quite well again she had the picture brought up, and hesimply looked at it and laughed. He knew at once what was wrong, andhow to put it right. "

"I say, " cried Flora eagerly, "do tell that story to Miss Phipps! Shemight give us a week's holiday and send us to see the sights of London!Do, Kate! Get it up in French and tell it to-night at tea. You don'tknow how much good it might do!"

"It's a very good story, but I fail to see where the moral comes in. Ithardly applies to us, I think, " said Clara, in her superior manner, andKate breathlessly vindicated her position. 

"Yes, it does--of course it does. It shows that this anxious stage is anatural thing which all workers have to live through, and even if wecan't leave off lessons altogether, we can help ourselves by not givingway to nerves, but going steadily on, knowing that we shall feel allright again in a few days. Besides, there's the Exeat coming, --thatwill make a nice break. "

"I never worry about lessons, do I?" cried Pixie, pluming herselfcomplacently. The part of Kate's lecture which had dealt with over-anxiety about work had appealed with special force to one listener atleast, and Pixie was delighted to find that she was free from failing inone direction at least. "I never did. Miss Minnitt--that's the one whoused to teach us--she said I never paid any attention at all. There wasone day she was questioning me about grammar. `Pixie O'Shaughnessy, 'she says, `you've been over this one page until it's worn transparent. For pity's sake, ' she says, `be done with it, and get on to somethingfresh. Let me see if you can remember to-day what I taught youyesterday afternoon. How many kinds of verbs are there?' `There aretwo, ' I said, and with that she was all smiles and noddings. `So thereare, now. You're quite right. And what will be their names?' `Verband adverb, ' says I, quite haughty; and the howl that went out of heryou might have heard from Cork to Galway! That was all the grammarshe'd managed to teach _me_!"

"You don't know very much more now, do you, chicken?" said Margaret, bending her head so that her cheek rested upon the rough, dark head. "Just bring your books to me any time you get puzzled, and I'll try tomake it clear. Talking of the term-holiday, girls, it is time we beganto make our plans. How many of you are going out? Lottie, are you?Clara? Kate? Pixie? We had better find out first how many will behere. "

Clara had had hopes that the maiden lady with the appetite would rise tothe occasion, but, alas! she had betaken herself to stay with arelative, Pixie was sure that Jack could not spare time to have her fora whole day, and besides, she was going to have tea with him theSaturday before. All the girls seemed fated to spend the holiday atschool save only the two sisters, Mabel and Violet, who were to beentertained by a kind aunt, and to choose their own entertainment forthe afternoon, and Lottie, who was fortunate as usual. 

"I am doubly engaged for the evening!" she announced with a flourish. "I wrote home to my people about the holiday, and mother asked somefriends to have me for part of the day. They live in a regularmansion--as big as two or three houses like this rolled into one, andthey know all sorts of grand people! I am going to dinner, and it'smost exciting, for I don't know whom I may meet!"

"The Prince and Princess of Wales are at Sandringham! What a pity!"sighed Kate, the sarcastic. "It's so awfully trying to come down toLords and Ladies, don't you know! You will hardly trouble to put onyour best dress, I should think. The pea-green satin with the pinkflounces will be good enough for them!"

The Margaret-girls laughed hysterically at this exhibition of wit, butLottie's followers shot indignant glances across the room, and Pixieasked innocently--"Have you got a pea-green satin, Lottie? And pinkflounces to it? You _will_ be fine! I have a little pink fan out of acracker last year, when there was company at the Chase. I'll lend it toyou if you like, and then you'll be all complete!"

"Thank you, Pixie O'Shaughnessy; you are a kind little girl. I shan'twant it this time, but I'll be sure to remind you when I do, " repliedLottie, with unusual warmth of manner, for the child's sincerity hadtouched a soft spot in her vain heart, and she had an increasing desireto include her in the number of her admirers. Later on, when they wereleft alone together at the end of the schoolroom, she put her arm roundthe tiny waist, and said caressingly--

"Talking of party dresses, what are you going to wear yourself onTuesday evening? You have to put on your best things, you know, just asif you were going out?"

"_Will_ I?" Pixie looked surprised, but absolutely unperturbed. "But Ihaven't a rag to my back but the black you see every night! Bridgiesaid, `It's not likely you'll be visiting at Court until ye'reeducation's finished, so this old grenadine will see you through untilthe ship comes home from its next voyage. It's gone a long way thistime, ' says she, `and between you and me, I expect the storms will swampit, but I've taken the best pieces out of my old dress and Esmeralda's, and, barring the darn on the back seam, I defy ye to tell it from new!'So that's all I've got, as I told you before, and, party or no party, itwill have to do. "

Lottie looked at her in horrified sympathy, but not a sigh of regretclouded the beaming face; the head was tilting to and fro in its usualcomplacent fashion, the shabby little flounce of a skirt was whisking toand fro. Such a depth of poverty seemed incomprehensible to the childof wealthy parents, and she was moved to an unusual desire to help. Never before had she been known to lend one of her possessions toanother girl, but now she said quite eagerly--

"I have a lace collar, Pixie--a very pretty collar--I'll lend it to you, and a white ribbon for your hair! It would lighten your dresswonderfully; and there is a brooch too, and a little gold bangle. "

She paused, looking inquiringly to see the result of her offer, for onecould never tell how it would be received. Some girls might be pleased, others might consider it almost an insult, and she would be sorry tooffend the funny little thing. But Pixie was not offended. She had toomuch of the O'Shaughnessy blood in her veins to object to have thingsmade easy for her at the expense of another, and she felt noembarrassment in taking the good things that came in her way. 

"Oh, ye darlin'!" she cried rapturously. "Will ye lend them to me, really? Think of me now with a bracelet on me arm, and a brooch at meneck! They wouldn't be knowing me at home. I wish to-day was Tuesday;and what shall we do with ourselves all the hours before it's time todress up?"

Lottie referred the question to Margaret, who, as head girl, had beenbusy thinking out plans for the enjoyment of her friends. 

"I thought of asking if we might go to see the Cinematograph at thePolytechnic, " she replied. "Miss Phipps promised to take us some day, and if we could do some shopping first, and have tea afterwards, itwould be a delightful way of spending the afternoon. There is one thingthat we must buy while we have the chance, and that's a present forFraulein. Her birthday is next week, and she is such a kind old dearthat she deserves something nice. I want at least a shilling fromeveryone, and as much more as they can afford. I wonder what we hadbetter get?"

"I know what she would love! A scent-bottle for her dressing-table likethe one Mademoiselle has. We could not afford one quite so good, but wecould get a very nice size for about two pounds. One day when I was inMademoiselle's room, Fraulein came in and took up the bottle, and beganadmiring it, and saying how nice it was to get presents which were goodto look at, as well as to use. She has not many pretty things--poorFraulein!--and I think she would really enjoy a taste of luxury. Mademoiselle has her initials engraven on the glass, but that would betoo expensive for us. We can have them on the stopper instead. "

"And who gave Mademoiselle her bottle? Was it someone here?" askedPixie curiously, whereupon Kate tossed her head with an air ofexaggerated dismay. 

"My dear, how can you? Don't say that to Mademoiselle, I implore you!She would have a fit. _We_ are all commoners, and English commoners atthat, and the lady who gave her that precious bottle was Madame laMarquise de Something or Other, the mother of her beloved pupil IsoultAndree Adele Marie Therese--the most perfect, and beautiful, and clever, and amiable _jeune fille_ that was ever created!" Kate paused, hitchedone shoulder to her ear, spread out her hands, and elevated her eyebrowsin ridiculous mimicry of Mademoiselle's mannerisms. "Did she evareneglect her work? _Jamais_, nevare! Did she evare forget that she wasa _jeune fille_, and be'ave like a vild, rough boy? _Jamais_, _jamais_!Was she evare like these Engleesh--rude, impairtinent, disobedient?_Mais non_! Always the same--_cette ange_, the most wise, the mostamiable! And when she has finished her education and made her _debut_, to be the most beautiful and admired wherever she has gone, she hasvept--_vept_, I tell you, to say _adieu_ to her beloved Mademoiselle!And she has given her a chain for her neck, and Madame la Marquise thatbeautiful 'ansome botelle. Really, Pixie, you are behind the times ifyou don't know about Isoult. Just turn Mademoiselle on to her next timeyou are with her on the walk, and you won't have to exert yourself anymore. She will sing her praises until you come in. "

"I will, " said Pixie sturdily. "And I'll see that bottle, too. I mustsee that bottle. I'll go into Mademoiselle's room next time I have achance, and have a good look at it all to myself!"

The girls smiled, but took little note of a determination which seemednatural enough under the circumstances. A week afterwards theyremembered it with very different feelings, and Pixie's own words werebrought up in judgment against her. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

PIXIE IN TROUBLE. 

It was already dark when the crocodile passed in at the gates of HollyHouse on its return from the expedition to town, and Miss Phipps gaveinstructions that the girls were to go straight to their rooms to dressfor the evening. Full dress was the rule for the evenings of term-holiday, for even if nothing particular was going on, and no extraguests expected, it gave one a gala feeling to don a light frock, andgaze down upon one's very best shoes and stockings. Before leaving fortown in the morning, visits had been paid to the box-room to take therarely-used splendours from their wrappings, and now they lay stretchedout in all their glory on the narrow beds, white, blue, and pink, a verywealth of colour and luxury. 

Pixie O'Shaughnessy, having no adornment to do for herself, acted aslady's-maid to her bedroom, with much satisfaction to her mistresses, and credit to herself. She brushed Kate's hair until it was so smoothand flat as to be almost invisible from a front view; she tied Ethel'ssash, and the ribbon to match which confined the ends of her curls; andshe fastened Flora's dress, which was a matter of difficulty and time, for though it was let out regularly each holiday-time, it invariablygrew too tight before it was needed again. 

"I can't help it, " the poor thing protested miserably. "I don't eathalf as much as Ethel, and she's as thin as a stick. It's my fate! Iwas born fat, and I go on growing fatter and fatter all the time. Ishall be a fat woman in a show, before I am done with it. It's hardlines, for I should so love to be slim and willowy. That's what theheroines are in books, and it makes me quite ill every time I read it. Nothing exciting ever happens to fat people! The thin ones get all thefun and excitement, and marry the nice man, while the poor fatty staysat home, and waits upon her hand and foot. Then she grows into an aunt, and takes charge of the nephews and nieces when they have fever ormeasles, or when the parents go abroad for a holiday. Everyone imposesupon her, just because she is fat!"

"No, indeed, then, it is because she's good-natured. Look at yourselfnow; you are always laughing!" declared Pixie soothingly. "Hold yerbreath a single moment while I get the better of this hook. Ye'll notneed to curtsey too low, I'm thinking, or you'll go off like a cracker!And the elegant dress that it is, too! I remember the night Bridgiewent to her first ball, the Hunt Ball it was, over at Roskillie. It wasme mother's wedding-dress that she wore, and she looked like a picturein it, the darlin'! Me mother was for having it altered to be in thefashion, but me father says, `Leave it alone; you'll spoil it if yealter a stitch! It's better than fashionable, ' he says, `it's artistic, and fits the child like her own skin. ' So away it was put in Bridgie'scupboard, and Esmeralda comes peeping at it, and, thinks she, `Whatyellow lace! It would be a disgrace to us all to have the girl dancingabout with that dirty stuff round her neck, ' so not a word did shespeak, but off with the lace and washed it herself, with a good hardrub, and plenty of blue bag. Then she ironed it, with a morsel ofstarch to make it stand out and show itself off, and stitched it onagain as proud as could be. It was to be a surprise for Bridgie, and, me dears, it _was_ a surprise! Mother and Bridgie screeching at the topof their voices, and looking as if the plague was upon us. Would yebelieve it, it was just what they liked, to have the lace that colour, and it was the bad turn Esmeralda had done them, starching it up likenew! Off it all came, and mother found an old lace scarf, yellower thanthe first, and pinned it round Bridgie's shoulders, and she had pearlsround her neck, and a star in her hair, and Lord Atrim danced the firstdance with her, and told me mother she was the prettiest thing he hadseen for a twelvemonth. But Esmeralda sulked all the evening, and itwas very lively for me alone at home with her tantrums!"

Flora chuckled softly, and Ethel give a shrill "He! he!" from hercubicle at the other end of the room. 

"I do think you must be the funniest family! You seem always to bedoing the most extraordinary things. We never have such experiences athome. We used to go along quietly and steadily, and there is never anyhubbub nor excitement. You seem to have a constant succession of alarmsand adventures. "

"We do so!" said Pixie with relish. "Scarcely the day that we're notall rushing about in distraction about something. Either it's the boystumbling out of the barn and cutting themselves open, or father bringinghome accidents from the meet, or the ferret getting loose in thedrawing-room when there's visitors present, or not a pound of fresh meatin the house, and the Bishop taking it into his head to drive over tenmiles to lunch! And Bridgie was for going out and killing a chicken, and engaging him in conversation while it was cooked, but mother says, `No, the man's hungry! Bring lunch in the same as if we were alone, andleave the rest to me. ' And when he had asked the blessing she says, smiling, `It's nothing but ham and eggs I've got to offer ye, Bishop, but there's enough welcome for ten courses, ' and the smile of him wouldhave done you good to behold. Three eggs he ate, and half a pigbesides, and `It's the best lunch I've had since I said good-bye toshort jackets, ' he said when he was finished. "

"Now, now, Pixie, not so much talking! Get on with your own dressing, you little chatterbox!" cried Kate, putting her head round the corner ofthe curtain and giving a tug to the end of the short black skirt. "Flora can manage now, and you have not too much time, if you are tocatch Lottie before she goes out. Hurry up! Hurry up!"

Pixie retired obediently, for Kate was head girl of the dormitory, andmust needs be obeyed; so one black frock came off and another went on, the stout boots were exchanged for slippers, and then--the others havingalready departed--she turned down the gas, and skipped along to the roomwhere Lottie stood waiting for her, a vision of spotless white. 

"That's right! I was just wondering what had become of you. Sit downhere, and I'll put on the collar, and just call out if I stick a pin inyou by mistake. I'm going to fasten it with this little brooch. There!Isn't it sweet? I think I will give it to you to keep. I never wearit, and you might just as well have it. Yes, I will! You shall have itfor a term-holiday present, because you were a kind little girl anddidn't join the other girls when they were nasty to me last week. Areyou pleased with it now?"

"Oh-h, Lottie! You darlin'! Is it really me very own?" Pixie wasfairly breathless with pleasure and excitement, and could only exclaimrapturously and gaze at the reflection of the new treasure, while Lottiesmiled, well pleased to have given so much pleasure. Yes! she toldherself she was really devoted to Pixie O'Shaughnessy! There wassomething so sweet and taking about the child that it made one feel niceto give her pleasure, and she pinned, and arranged, and tied ribbonswith as much zest as if she were arranging her own toilette. 

"There! Now you are done. I think you look very nice. The collar goesso well with that black dress. "

"My worrd! Aren't I stylish! I just look beautiful!" cried Pixie, poking her ugly little face close to the glass, and twisting round andround to examine herself in all aspects. She kissed Lottie effusively, expressed a hundred thanks, and danced downstairs into the schoolroom, where the girls were standing about in twos and threes, looking so grandthat it was quite difficult to recognise them. They all stared at heras the latest arrival, and Pixie, being conscious of their scrutiny, held out her arms stiffly on either side, and revolved slowly round andround on one heel. The girls laughed uproariously at first, thensuddenly the laughs subsided into titters, and Pixie, stopping to seewhat was wrong, espied Miss Phipps and the three governesses standingjust inside the doorway, watching with the rest, and applauding withtheir hands. It was an embarrassing moment, and the performer made aquick dash behind a sofa to screen herself from publicity, but she hadnot been there five minutes before she was called upon to answer aquestion. 

"Pixie, Kate tells me you were in Lottie's room before you came down. Was she nearly ready?"

"She was, Miss Phipps, quite ready! Only waiting for me. She's on awhite dress, and--"

"Never mind that. I want you to run upstairs, please, and tell her thatthe cab is here. She must put on her wraps and come down at once. "

"I will, Miss Phipps. " There was a whisk of short black skirts and offshe went, running lightly upstairs, and raising her voice in rich, musical cry, "Lottie! Lottie!"

"The real Irish voice! She ought to be able to sing charmingly when sheis older, " said Miss Phipps to Mademoiselle, and Mademoiselle nodded herhead in assent. 

"I 'ope so! It is a great charm for a young girl to sing well, and sheis not pretty. _La pauvre petite_!"

"No; yet the father is fine-looking, and my friends tell me that the twosisters are quite beauties, and all the family wonderfully handsome withthis one exception. But Pixie is better than pretty, she is charming. Would you be kind enough to go to the dining-room to see if everythingis ready, Mademoiselle? It is time we began tea. "

Mademoiselle departed, and came back to give the required signal, whenthe girls filed slowly across the hall, casting curious glances atLottie as she came downstairs. She was wrapped up in a long whitecloak, and had a fleecy shawl thrown over her head, almost covering herface from view. She looked very dainty, and when the door opened andthey beheld her step into the cab, they felt a rising of envy whichcould not be entirely removed, even by the sight of the luxurious teaspread out on the dining-room table. 

"Lottie is a lucky creature!" sighed Clara discontentedly. "She isalways going out. I wish my people lived near, instead of at the otherend of England. I am glad I am North Country, though; I don't likeSoutherners! I agree with Tennyson--

 "`True, and firm, and tender is the North; False, and fair, and smiling is the South. '"

"It isn't false; it's sweet!"

"It _is_ false, I tell you! False, and fair, and--"

"Sweet, and fair, and--"

"Ask Miss Phipps, then, if you won't believe me. Oh, I say, look at theicing on the cake! We didn't have icing last time. Doesn't the tablelook nice? I do think it is sweet of Miss Phipps to take so muchtrouble. Sit by me, and we will get hold of Pixie, and make her tell usstories. It makes me laugh just to hear that child talk. Her broguedoesn't get a bit better. "

"I hope it never may. Pixie, here! Sit by us. We've kept a place!"

But Pixie shook her head, for she had been engaged to Flora ever sincebreakfast, and was already seating herself at the other end of thetable. She did not speak much, however, during the meal, for experiencehad taught what it had been difficult to express in words--that it wasnot respectful to her teachers to chatter in their presence, as shewould do with her companions. She applied herself instead to the goodthings that had been provided, and ate away steadily until she hadsampled the contents of every plate upon the table, and couldsuperintend the choice of her companions with the wisdom of experience. 

Miss Phipps had drawn out a programme of games for the evening'samusement, and later on the older pupils took it in turns to playwaltzes and polkas, while the others danced. The teachers joined inwith the rest, and it was a proud girl who had Miss Phipps for apartner, while Mademoiselle was so light and agile that it was likedancing with a feather, and Fraulein felt like a heavy log lying againstone's arm. Then everyone sat down and puffed and panted, while Jeanie, the Scotch girl, danced a Highland Fling, and when Pixie called out anappropriate "Hoch! Hoch!" the teachers laughed as heartily as thegirls; for be it well understood there are things which are allowed onterm-holiday which the rashest spirit dare not attempt on working days!Then two pretty sisters went through the stately figures of a minuet, and Margaret sang a song in her sweet voice, pronouncing the words sodistinctly that you really knew what she was singing about, whichnowadays is a very rare and wonderful accomplishment. Altogether it wasa most festive evening, and Flora was in the act of remarkingcomplacently, "We really are a most accomplished school!" when suddenlythe scene changed, and an expression of horrified anxiety appeared onevery face, for Mademoiselle came rushing into the room, which she hadleft but a few minutes before, and the tears stood in her eyes, and herface was scarlet with mingled grief and anger. She held in one hand thegold stopper of her precious scent-bottle, and in the other a number ofpieces of broken glass, at sight of which a groan of dismay sounded onevery hand. 

"_Voila! Regardez_ See what I 'ave found! I go to my room, and the airis full of scent, and I turn up the gas, and there it is--on thedressing-table before my eyes--in pieces! My bottle--that I have keptall these years--that was given to me by my friend--my dear, goodfriend!"

Her voice broke off in a sob, and Miss Phipps came forward to examinethe pieces with an expression of real distress. 

"But, Mademoiselle, how has it happened? You found it on the table, yousay, --not on the floor. If it had been on the floor, you might perhapshave swept it off in leaving the room, and not heard the sound againstthe mat. But on the table! How could it be broken on the table?"

"Someone has been touching it and let it drop. "

"I be so careless as to break my bottle? It is impossible to think of!I never come away without a look to see that it is safe. I dust mydressing-table myself every morning, so that no one shall interfere withmy things. The servants know that it is so. When I came downstairsthis evening it was all right. I have not been upstairs since. "

"I think very few of us have. We have been too busy. Ellen would goin, of course, to prepare the bed. Did she--"

"Yes! It was Ellen who told me. I was in the hall, and she came out ofthe kitchen and said, `Oh, Mademoiselle, do you know? Your beautifulbottle is broken!'" Mademoiselle's voice broke; she held out the piecesand exclaimed in broken tones, "And I ran--and I saw--this!"

"I am sorry! I am grieved! But we must get to the bottom of thismystery. Things do not fall over and break by themselves. Girls, doany of you know anything about this? If so, please speak out at once, and don't be afraid to tell the truth. If by any chance one of you hasunintentionally broken Mademoiselle's bottle, I know you will be asdeeply grieved as she can be herself; but the only thing you can do nowis to explain, and beg her forgiveness. Carelessness it must have been, and you cannot hope to escape altogether without punishment, butremember deception is fifty times worse. I have no mercy on a girl whoknows she is guilty, and lets her companions rest under the shadow ofsuspicion. Now, I ask you again, do you know anything at all of thecause of this accident?"

There was a unanimous burst of denial from all parts of the room; butdifferent girls took the question in different ways, as was natural tothe different characters. Some looked grieved, some indignant, a fewshowed suspicions of tears, and Pixie looked so thoroughly scared andmiserable that more than one eye rested curiously upon her. 

Miss Phipps glanced around with her keen, scrutinising glance, thenpressed her lips together, and said sharply--

"This becomes serious! You all deny it? Very well, I must find out thetruth for myself. Call Ellen, please, Mademoiselle. I am sorry to havesuch a painful ending to our happy holiday, but we cannot go to bed withthis cloud hanging over us. Ellen, Mademoiselle tells me that you foundthe scent-bottle broken when you went into her room just now to turndown the bed!"

Ellen straightened herself and fumbled miserably with the corner of herapron. She loved all the girls, and had known many of them for years;for though other maids might come and go, Ellen, like the brook, went onfor ever. She had been a servant in the Phipps family, and hadaccompanied "her young lady" when Holly House was bought and the schoolfirst founded. Matron, nurse, general factotum, and refuge in time oftrouble, it would have been as easy to suspect her of duplicity as MissPhipps herself. She was wretched now because she feared that her"children" might be in trouble, and her "children" knew it, and lovedher for her fear. 

"I did, Miss Emily. It was lying just where it usually stands, with theglass piled up in a little heap. "

"It looked, then, as if someone had arranged it so? Not as if it hadbeen, say, blown over by any chance?"

"It couldn't have blown over, Miss Emily! It was too heavy. And itwasn't near the window, either. "

"And the pieces, you say, were gathered together, as if someone hadplaced them so? Very well, I understand! Now, Ellen, have any of theother maids been upstairs to your knowledge since Mademoiselle left herroom at seven o'clock?"

"They say they have not, miss, for I asked them, and I've been in thekitchen all the time. We were busy clearing away after tea, and gettingthe refreshments ready for supper, and then we came and watched theyoung ladies dance. "

"You would have noticed if anyone had gone upstairs?"

"I think I should, being together all the time. They have no workupstairs at this hour--"

"I know that, but I must speak to them myself later on. There is onething more, Ellen. Your work upstairs takes you a good time. Inpassing to and fro, you didn't happen to see anyone in or nearMademoiselle's room, I suppose? Speak up, please! Remember I rely uponyou to do all in your power to help me to get to the bottom of thismystery!"

The last words were added in a warning voice, for Ellen's start ofdismay and drawn, miserable brows too plainly betrayed the truth of hermistress's surmise. 

"I saw--when I went up first in the middle of the dancing, I was at theend of the passage, and I saw little Miss O'Shaughnessy coming out of aroom. I couldn't be sure, but I _thought_ it was Mademoiselle's!"

She had said it, and in an instant every eye in the room was rivetedupon Pixie, and every heart sank woefully at the sight of her crimson, agitated face. It said much for the hold which she had gained on hercompanions' affections that at this moment the feeling in every girl'sbreast was that she would prefer to find the culprit in almost any othergirl in the school than in dear, loving, kind-hearted Irish Pixie. Perhaps Miss Phipps felt the same, but it did not become her to showfavouritism, and her voice was very stern and cold. 

"Come here, Pixie, please! Stand before me! You have heard what Ellensays! Was it Mademoiselle's room out of which you were coming?"

"It--was, Miss Phipps!" said Pixie, with a gulp; and a groan of dismaysounded through the room, at which Miss Phipps's eyes sent out aflashing glance. 

"Silence, please! Leave this to me! Was it you who let the bottle falland broke it, then, though you would not acknowledge it when I askedjust now?"

Pixie's lips moved, but she seemed so paralysed with fear that she hadto repeat her words twice over before they could be heard. 

"No, I--I didn't break it, Miss Phipps! I didn't break it!"

"Do you mean to say you know nothing about it? Did you not notice itwhen you were in the room? May I ask what you were doing in that roomat all? You had no business in there. "

"I--I--please, Miss Phipps, the gas was down; I didn't see anything!"

"I asked you, Pixie, what you were doing in that room?"

To the dismay of her companions, Pixie hung her head and refused toanswer, and, when the question was repeated, had no reason to offer buta stammering, "It was nothing! I was doing nothing!"

"That is nonsense, Pixie; you would not go upstairs and into a strangeroom, to-night of all nights, without a very definite reason. I insistupon your telling me what you were doing. If it is nothing of which youare ashamed, you need surely not hesitate to speak. "

"I wasn't doing anything! I never touched it!" said Pixie once more, and an expression came over her face which was well known to theinhabitants of Bally William, though so far it was unfamiliar to hercompanions--a dumb, obstinate look which promised little satisfaction tothe questioner. 

"If you refuse to answer me, Pixie, it is your own fault if I suspectyou. You have been with us only a short time, but I have alwaysbelieved you to be truthful and straightforward. I should be sorry tochange my opinion, but you will have yourself to blame!" She paused andlooked down at the little black figure, and her face softenedregretfully. "You need not look so terrified, child. Mademoiselle isnaturally very grieved and distressed, but you know her well enough tobe sure that she would forgive you if you have unintentionally brokenher pretty bottle. She would be sorry to drive you into telling afalsehood--wouldn't you, Mademoiselle?"

"I shall say nothing to her. My bottle is gone, and it can do no goodnow. But she had no right to touch my things. My room is my own, andshe had no business there at all. I thought you were a good girl, Pixie, and remembered what I had said to you. I did not think you wouldgrieve me like this. I have not so many treasures!"

Mademoiselle's tears trickled down afresh, and the girls began to lookaskance at Pixie, and to feel the first incredulity give place to ahorrible doubt. Why wouldn't she speak? Why did she look so guilty?Why need she have been so alarmed at the first mention of the accidentif she had no part in bringing it about? Margaret held out her handwith an involuntary gesture of appeal, and Pixie, seeing it, shut herlips more tightly than ever. 

"You may go to your room, Pixie, " said Miss Phipps coldly. "I am verymuch disappointed in you!"

CHAPTER NINE. 

DARK DAYS. 

The three girls who shared Pixie's room were not forbidden to speak toher when they went upstairs to bed, and their first impulse was to pullaside the curtains of her cubicle, where she was discovered lying on thetop of the bed, still fully dressed, with features swollen anddisfigured with crying. She was shivering, too, and the hand which Katetouched was so icy cold that she exclaimed in horrified reproach--

"Pixie, you are freezing! What do you mean by not getting into bed?You will catch a chill, and then goodness knows what may happen! Youmay go into consumption and die. "

Pixie gave a dismal little sniff, and her teeth chattered together. 

"That's what I thought. A girl at Bally William died of a chill, andconsumption's in our family. Me mother's cousin suffered from it everywinter. I want to die!"

"Here, sit up! I am going to unhook you. Dear me, what a mess you havemade of your fine collar! I don't know what Lottie will say when shesees it. Lucky girl to be out to-night and escape all this fuss! Shealways gets the best of things. I never wish to spend such an eveningagain, I know that!"

"Pixie, why wouldn't you tell? Why wouldn't you answer Miss Phipps?"cried Flora, unable to contain herself a moment longer; and Pixie drewherself up, and tried to look dignified, a difficult achievement whenone is being forcibly undressed, and can hardly see out of red, swolleneyelids. 

"I told her I had not broken the bottle. I gave her a straight answer, and that ought to be enough for any lady!"

"Don't talk such rubbish! This house is not yours, and if you gowandering about into strange rooms, it is only right that you should bemade to explain. And it looks so bad when you refuse to answer. Youdon't realise how bad it looks. After you left the room, Miss Phippsasked if we had heard you say anything which would explain your goinginto that room, and we all remembered--we didn't want to tell, but wewere obliged--we remembered that you said you intended to have a goodlook at the scent-bottle. "

"So I did, and I don't mind who you tell. I looked at it the very nextday, but I never lifted it once. I was too afraid I'd be hurting it, and it was all right long after that--Mademoiselle said so herself!"

The three girls looked at each other quickly, and as quickly avertedtheir eyes. Ethel gave a toss to her curls, and walked off to hercubicle. Kate went on unhooking with relentless haste, and Flora satdown heavily on the edge of the bed, and melted into tears. 

"I wish scent-bottles had never been invented! I wish that old marquisehad had more sense than to spend her money on a thing that would breakif you looked at it! I know how easy it would be. I've broken lots ofthings myself. Mother always said to us when we were children, `Don'tbe afraid to tell me if you've had an accident. I will never scold youif you tell the truth, but if I find out that you have hidden anythingfrom me I shall be extremely angry. ' Lots of girls tell stories justbecause they are frightened, especially little ones, and when they arestrange, too, and don't know people well. But we all love you, Pixie, really and truly we do! We won't turn against you. Oh, do tell! Dotell! Tell Kate and me now before we go to bed, and we will help youto-morrow. "

"Will Miss Phipps talk to me again to-morrow? Will she be cross again?Will Mademoiselle be cross?" cried Pixie fearfully. "Oh, what will Ido? What will I do? No one was ever cross with me at home. I'll runaway in the night and swim over to Ireland. They'd welcome me there ifI'd smashed all the scent-bottles in the world. I never meant to do anyharm. I didn't know it was wrong to go into Mademoiselle's room. Noone ever said I mustn't. Molly, our maid, broke something every day ofher life at Bally William, and no one disturbed themselves about it. What's a scent-bottle? Suppose I _had_ broken it, why should they makesuch a storm, I should like to know?"

Her sentences were broken by sobs and tears, and her companions hadlearnt by now that Pixie's outbursts of grief were not to be trifledwith, for while other girls shed tears in a quiet and ladylike manner, Pixie grew hysterical on the slightest pretext, and sobbed, and wailed, and shivered, and shook, and drowned herself in tears until she was in acondition of real physical collapse. To-night Kate signalledimperiously to Flora to depart to her own cubicle, and herself bundledthe shaking, quivering little creature into bed, where she left her witha "good-night" sufficiently sympathetic, but--oh, agonies to a sensitiveheart!--without attempting the kiss which had become a nightlyinstitution!

Next morning Pixie's face was still swollen and puffy, but her elasticspirits had sufficiently recovered to enable her to make repeatedattempts to converse with her taciturn companions, and to run in and outof their cubicles to play lady's-maid as usual, in such useful, unostentatious ways as carrying water, folding nightgowns, and tyinghair ribbons. This morning she was even more assiduous than usual inher attentions, for there was an edge of coldness and reserve in themanner even of Flora herself which cut deeply into the sensitive heart. Then when she had fully dressed, she gathered together Lottie's fineriesand betook herself to the room which that luxurious young lady occupiedin solitary splendour. 

Early as she had been in leaving her cubicle, breakfast had alreadybegun when Pixie made her appearance downstairs, and the furtive mannerin which she entered the room, was not calculated to dispel thesuspicions, with which she was regarded. Her "good-morning" to theteachers was a mere mumble, and oh, how formidable they looked! MissPhipps with tight lips and a back like a poker; Mademoiselle, a visionof misery, and Fraulein and Miss Bruce staring at the tablecloth as ifafraid to raise their eyes. As for the girls, they munched away insilence, no one daring to make a remark, and it was significant of thesolemnity of the occasion that not a single girl helped herself tomarmalade or jam. By the unwritten laws of the school it would havebeen considered unfeeling to indulge in such luxuries while thereputation of a companion was at stake. It was a ghastly occasion, andPixie seemed literally to shrink in stature as she cowered in her chair, glancing to right and left with quick, terrified glances. Thehopefulness of the earlier morning had departed, and among all thedejected faces round the table hers was conspicuously the worst. 

There seemed a special meaning in the Bible reading that morning, andwhen Miss Phipps laid aside the book she added a few words of her ownbefore kneeling in prayer. The sternness had left her face, but it wasvery grave and sad. 

"Before we kneel down together this morning, girls, there are somethoughts which I would like to impress upon you all. We are in trouble, and it behoves each one of us to ask in all earnestness that the cloudmay be lifted, and that courage and truthfulness may be given where itis most needed. An accident, however regrettable, is not a seriousoffence, but in this instance it has been turned into one by the refusalof the culprit to acknowledge her offence. I have made every inquiry, and it seems morally certain that one of you must know how it happened, and be able to give a satisfactory explanation; and until she does so, the shadow of her deceit must fall on all. I ask those of you who knowthat they are blameless to pray for her who is guilty, that she mayacknowledge her fault, and for yourselves that you be preserved fromtemptation; and I ask the guilty one to remember that God reads allhearts, and although she may deceive her companions, she can hidenothing from His eyes. And now we will kneel and pray, and let thewords which you say be no vain repetition, but the earnest cry of yourhearts that God will help us!"

Many of the girls had tears in their eyes as they rose from their knees, and no one was surprised when, as they filed slowly towards the door, Miss Phipps spoke again, to request Pixie O'Shaughnessy to follow her toher private sanctum. Flora thrust her hand through Lottie's arm as theywent upstairs and heaved a sigh of funereal proportions. 

"Poor little Pixie! Don't you pity her? Oh, Lottie, you are lucky tohave been out last night and escape all this bother! I wish I had hadan invitation too, and then, even if Pixie doesn't confess, no one couldpossibly think that I had done it. Poor little thing! She is so scaredthat she hardly knows what she is doing. Did you notice her face atbreakfast? Did you hear about the accident when you came in last night, or who told you first?"

"I only saw the teachers last night, but Mademoiselle was crying, and Iknew something was wrong. Then Pixie came to my room this morning tobring me back my collar, and she told me. It seems that she issuspected because she won't tell why she was in Mademoiselle's room. It's very stupid of her! There can't be any great mystery about it, onewould think, though she wouldn't tell even me; but if she says shedidn't break the bottle, I think she ought to be believed. She hasalways been truthful, so far as we know. "

"Yes, but then we haven't known her long, and she has never been in acorner before. It is easy to tell the truth when all is going smoothly, but it's rather dreadful when you know quite well you are going to bepunished; and if you let the first moment pass it's fifty times worse, because then you have been deceitful as well. What I'm afraid of isthat she was too frightened to own up last night--you know what a scareylittle thing she is--and that now she is determined to be obstinate andbrave it out!"

Lottie hitched her shoulder with an impatient movement which drew herarm free from her companion. 

"Well, I'm fond of Pixie O'Shaughnessy, and I am going to stick to her, whatever happens! It's mean of Mademoiselle to make such a fuss aboutan accident which nobody could help. I'll buy her another scent-bottlemyself, if that will satisfy her. I have lots of money, and can get asmuch more as I want. It's absurd making thirty people miserable for thesake of a few pounds. I'll ask Miss Phipps if I may go into town andbuy one this very day. "

"She wouldn't let you spend so much without your mother's consent, andit's my belief Mademoiselle wouldn't take it if she did. It was theassociation she liked, and you could not give her that. I'm fond ofPixie too, but I shan't like her a bit if she gets us all into trouble, and that's what it will mean if she is obstinate. We shall have all ourtreats and holidays knocked off until the truth comes out. It is boundto be discovered sooner or later, don't you think?"

"No, I don't! Lots of things are never discovered, and the holidayswill be here in a month, thank goodness! It will have to drop afterthat, for it wouldn't be fair to drag the troubles of one term into thenext. I don't know what Margaret is going to do, but I shall be kind toPixie and try to help her!"

The girls had reached the schoolroom by this time and joined the groupby the fire, so that Margaret herself was able to reply. 

"I shall certainly help her if I can, " she said gently; but herfollowers noticed that she avoided giving any opinion as to guilt orinnocence, and the reticence depressed them still further, for it wasunlike Margaret to refrain from speaking a good word if it was possibleto do so. 

She was soon to have an opportunity of trying to help, however, for halfan hour later Miss Phipps called her out of class, and said sadly--

"I can make nothing of Pixie, Margaret. Will you try what you can do?She seems afraid of me, though I have tried to be as forbearing aspossible, and perhaps she may speak more freely to a girl like herself. So long as she refuses to say what she was doing in Mademoiselle's roomwe cannot help believing her to be guilty. I am dreadfully upset aboutit all, and should be so thankful to get at the truth. I have heard ofthis kind of thing going on in other schools, but this is my firstexperience, and I earnestly hope it will be the last. She is in mysnuggery. Go to her there, and see what your influence will do!"

Margaret went, and, at the first opening of the door, Pixie rushed intoher arms with a cry of joyous welcome. 

"Oh, Margaret, I hoped you would come! I wanted you to come. I'm sodreadfully miserable. "

"So are we all, Pixie, but you can end the misery if you will only tellus truthfully all you know about this accident. You do know something, I feel certain, or why should you be so afraid to speak? It's no usebeing afraid, dear. We all have to do difficult things sometimes, whether we like them or not, and it will only get worse as time goes on. The truth is bound to come out, and then how ashamed you will feel, ifyou have not taken the opportunity while it was yours!"

"Do you think it will be found out, really?" Pixie shivered, andtwisted her fingers together in nervous fashion. "But how can it if Idon't tell, and if--if there is no one else?"

"I don't know, Pixie, but I believe it will, sooner or later. It may belater, for God is very patient, and waits to give us our chance beforeHe takes things into His own hands. In the days when Jesus was on earthHe used to work miracles, but He doesn't do that any longer. I used tobe sorry for that, but I am not now, for it is so wonderful that He letsus help Him by putting it into our hearts to do His will. He won't showus in any miraculous way who is deceiving us now, but if she will listenHe will speak to her, and make it seem impossible to go on doing wrong. "

"That's what Bridgie said!" agreed Pixie eagerly. "It was the nightbefore I came to school, and she was speaking to me for my good. `You'll be far away from home, ' she said, `but you never need be farfrom Him, and He is your best friend. When you are happy and everythingis bright, thank Him for it, for it's a shame to be always asking, asking, and never saying a "Thank you" for what you receive. And whenyou are undecided between two ways, take the one that's hardest, forthat was what He meant by bearing the cross; and when you are introuble, keep still, ' she says, `keep still, and you'll hear His voicein your heart. ' And I was thinking of that last night, and I could hearBridgie saying it all over again, as plain as if she were by my side!"

"And the other voice, Pixie--did you hear that too?"

"I tried to, but, "--the small troubled face was pitiful to behold--"itseemed always to say the things I wanted, and I was afraid I wasimagining. Then I remembered about doing the hardest thing, and everytime I awoke I thought of it again, and this morning I decided that Iwould!"

"Pixie!" cried Margaret, in a tone of almost incredulous relief. "Oh, Pixie, you will really! I am so glad, so glad! You will come with meto Miss Phipps now, and tell all you know!"

But Pixie shook her head firmly, and her lips closed in determinedlines. 

"I will never tell, " she said. "I'll be silent for ever!"

CHAPTER TEN. 

AN ARMISTICE. 

A week passed by, and the mystery was no nearer being unravelled than onthe first evening, though every possible means had been taken todiscover the offender. At the beginning of the time the general feelinghad been in favour of Pixie, but girls are very human creatures, and asthe days passed by and they suffered for her silence, a feeling ofresentment began to grow against her. Why should all the school besuspected because one girl refused to tell what she knew? What was theuse of pretending to be so kind and helpful, if you would not sacrificeyour pride for your friends' comfort? If Pixie were innocent, whyshould she be afraid to answer questions? But, really--and then theheads would draw close together, and the voices drop to a whisper--really she looked so wretched and ashamed, that one began to wonder ifshe could be innocent after all! A whole week, and she had not oncebeen in mischief. Didn't that look as if something was on her mind?While as for funny stories, she was as dull as Clara herself; and it wasimpossible to say anything more scathing than that!

After Margaret's failure no more personal efforts had been made toinduce Pixie to confess; but at the end of a week the anticipated blowfell, for Miss Phipps addressed the assembled school and announced herintention of confiscating holidays until the end of the term. 

"I am sorry to punish the innocent with the guilty, " she said, "but Ihope that the consciousness that she is depriving her companions oftheir enjoyment may have more influence with the culprit, whoever shemay be, than any words of mine. I don't think it is right to depriveyour teachers of their much-needed rest, so on Wednesdays and Saturdaysyou will have extra preparation during the hours which would otherwisehave been your own. Of course no invitations can be accepted. I havewritten to your brother, Pixie, to say that you will not be able to goout with him on Saturday, as arranged. "

Pixie's cry of dismay was drowned by the general groan, which swelledever louder and louder as Miss Phipps left the room. The younger girlslooked inclined to cry, one or two stamped on the floor withirrepressible anger, and there was a very babel of indignation. 

"I told you so! What did I say? As if we hadn't enough to do withoutslaving six hours more! I know what it will be now--I shall get so wornout that I shall fail in my examination. "

"Preparation! More prep! I call that adding insult to injury. If ithad been a class, I wouldn't have minded half so much. I'm sick andtired of school. I'll ask my mother if I may leave the day I amseventeen. "

"And I was going out on Wednesday! I had an invitation this morning, and was going to tell Miss Phipps after tea. I may as well write andsay I can't go, and it would have been so nice too. I should have hadsuch fun!"

"Jack was going to take me to the s-s-circus! I've never seen a clownin all me days! I was c-counting the hours!" stammered Pixie tearfully;and at the sound of her voice, as at a signal, all the girls stoppedtalking and fixed their eyes upon her. She looked pitiful enough withthe tears streaming down her cheeks, but there was not much sympathy inthe watching faces, and for the first time the growing resentment forceditself into words. 

"You have only yourself to blame, " Kate said coldly. "If you had spokenup and told all you knew about that horrible night, it would have beenforgotten by this time. I believe Mademoiselle is sorry already thatshe made such a fuss, but Miss Phipps won't rest until she has found outwhat she wants. If you _will_ be obstinate, you must expect to bepunished, but it's hard lines on the rest of us who have done nothingwrong. "

"And we were all so kind to you, Pixie O'Shaughnessy, and made a regularpet of you--you know we did! We helped you like angels when youcouldn't do your lessons. I've been in this school five years, and I'venever seen a new girl made such a fuss of before. I call you anungrateful serpent to turn and rend us like this. "

"Clowns indeed! I should think you have something else to think of thanclowns! Do you realise that thirty girls are losing their fun for threewhole weeks because you won't speak? If you had any nice feeling, youwould be too miserable for clowns. "

"Oh, Pixie, I've such a smashing headache! You might tell! I was solooking forward to a rest this afternoon. It makes the week sodreadfully, dreadfully long when there are no holidays!"

Flora's voice was full of tears, and Pixie's miserable glance, rovingfrom one speaker to another, grew suddenly eager as it rested upon her, for she was skilled in the treatment of headaches, and was never morehappy than when officiating as nurse. 

"I'll lend ye my smelling-bottle. It's awful strong! Ye said yourselfthe last time you smelt it ye forgot all about the pain. Will I run upthis minute, and bring it for you?"

"No, thank you!" Flora's tone was almost as cold as Kate's. "I don'twant your loans. Smelling-bottles are no good to me if I have to rackmy brains all the afternoon. You needn't pretend to be sorry, for ifyou were you could soon cure me. Come along, girls, let's go upstairs!It is no use talking to her any longer. "

The girls linked arms and filed to the door, only Lottie lingeringbehind to thrust her hand encouragingly through Pixie's arm. Kate, standing near, caught the whispered words of consolation. "You shall goto the circus in the holidays. I'll ask you to stay with me, and wewill go somewhere nice every afternoon!"--and told herself reproachfullythat Lottie was more forgiving than herself. 

"I don't feel in the least inclined to offer her treats, though I'msorry for her all the same. She does look such a woe-begone littlewretch! It's my belief she thought it was a good opportunity to examinethe scent-bottle when we were all upstairs, and that she put it down tooroughly or let it slip from her hands and hadn't the nerve to own up atonce. I don't wonder she is afraid to confess now; I should be myself. You don't know what might happen--you might even be expelled! I don'tbelieve Miss Phipps would keep a girl who was so mean as to make all theschool suffer rather than face a scolding. There's one thing certain, I'm not going to have Pixie O'Shaughnessy fagging for me until thisbusiness is cleared up! I have tied my own hair bows before and can dothem again, and I shall tell Flora and Ethel not to allow her in theircubicles either. If she is untruthful, how are we to know that shemight not be dishonest next!"

There is no truer proverb than that which says, "Give a dog a bad nameand hang him!" for it is certain that when once we begin to harboursuspicion, a dozen little actions and coincidences arise to strengthenus in our convictions. 

It is also true that no judges are so unflinching as very young people, who set a hard line between right and wrong, and are unwilling toacknowledge the existence of extenuating circumstances. During the nextfew weeks Pixie was sent to Coventry by her companions, to her ownunutterable grief and confusion. No one offered to help her withdifficult lessons; no one invited her to be a companion in the dailycrocodile; no one made room for her when she entered a room; on thecontrary, she was avoided as if her very presence were infectious, andwhen she spoke a silence fell over the room, and several moments elapsedbefore a cold, stern voice would vouchsafe a monosyllabic answer. Shewas at the bottom of her classes too, being unable to learn in thisatmosphere of displeasure, and the governess's strictures had in them atouch of unusual severity. 

Curiously enough, it was Mademoiselle herself who showed most sympathywith Pixie during those dark days. Like most people of impulsivetemperament, she had quick reactions of feeling, and after havingstormed and bewailed for a couple of days, she began to regret the gloominto which she had plunged the school. She had been fond of the drolllittle Irish girl, and, though convinced of her guilt, feared lest herown unbridled anger had frightened a sensitive child into a denialdifficult to retract. 

It happened one day that governess and pupil were alike suffering fromcold and unable to go out for the usual walk, and the impressionableFrench heart went out in a wave of pity, as its owner entered thedeserted schoolroom and found Pixie seated alone by the fire, her handsfolded listlessly on her lap, a very Cinderella of misery and dejection. When the door opened she looked up with that shrinking expression ofdread which is so pitiful to see on a young face, for to be left _tete-a-tete_ with Mademoiselle seemed under the circumstances the mostterrible thing that could happen. Her head drooped forward over herchest, and she stared fixedly at the floor while Mademoiselle seatedherself on a chair close by and stared at her with curious eyes. 

Surely the ugly little face was smaller, the figure more absurdly minutethan of yore! The black dress with its folds of rusty crape added tothe pathos of the picture, and awoke remembrances of the dead mother whowould never comfort her baby again, nor point out the right way withwise, tender words. Mademoiselle's thoughts went back to her own past, when, if the truth must be told, she had been an exceedingly naughtychild; and she realised that it was not coldness and severity which hadwrought the most good, but the tender patience and affection of thekindest of parents. What if they had been trying the wrong course withPixie O'Shaughnessy? What if suspicion and avoidance were but hardeningthe child's heart and hastening her path downwards? Mademoisellecleared her throat and said in the softest tone which she couldcommand--

"_Eh bien_, Pixie! What are you doing sitting here all by yourself?"

"I'm thinking, Mademoiselle. "

"And what are you thinking about then? Tell me your thoughts for apenny, as you girls say to each other!"

"I'm thinking of Foxe's martyrs!" was Pixie's somewhat startling reply. Her face had lightened with immeasurable relief at the sound of thefriendly voice, and the talkative tongue once loosened could not resistthe temptation to enlarge on the reply. "We have the book at home. Didye ever see it, Mademoiselle? It's got lovely pictures! There's oneman lying down and they are pinching him with hot tongs, and anotherbeing stoned, and another being boiled in oil. They were so brave thatthey never screeched out, but only sang hymns, and prayed beautifulprayers. I used to long to be a martyr too, but I don't any more now, for I know I couldn't bear it, but it cheers me up to think about them. Bridgie says there's nothing so bad but it might be worse, and I wasthinking that they were worse off than me. I'd rather even that thegirls wouldn't speak to me than boiling oil--wouldn't you, Mademoiselle?"

"I would indeed!" replied Mademoiselle fervently. "But what a subjectto think about on a dull grey day! No wonder you look miserable! Youneed not think about boiling oil just now at all events, for I have tostay in too, and I have come to sit here and talk to you. Will thatmake you feel a little bit less miserable?"

"Now that depends upon what ye talk about, Mademoiselle, " said Pixie, with that air of quaint candour which her companions had been wont tofind so amusing; and Mademoiselle first smiled, and then looked graveenough. 

"I am not going to question you about your trouble, if you mean that, Pixie. It is Miss Phipps's affair now, not mine. I wish you had beenmore outspoken, but I am not going to scold you again. You are beingpunished already, and I feel sorry to see you so grave and to hear nomore laughs and jokes. Shall we 'ave what they call an armistice, andtalk together as we used to do when we were very good friends?"

She held out her hand as she spoke, and Pixie's thin fingers graspedhers with a force that was almost painful. She looked overcome withgratitude, nevertheless, now that it had been agreed to talk, both felta decided difficulty in deciding what to talk about, for even atemporary coldness between friends heaps up many barriers, and in thisparticular case it was difficult to feel once more at ease andunconstrained. It was Pixie who spoke first, and her voice was full ofshy eagerness. 

"How's your father, Mademoiselle? Is he having his health any betterthan it was?"

"A little--yes, a little better. He is in the South with my brotheruntil the cold winds are over in Paris. He is like me--he hates to becold, so he is very happy down there in the sunshine. I told you abouthim then, did I? I had forgotten that. "

"Yes, you told me that day when I--when I lassoed you on the stairs, andI wrote the verb not to be rude to you any more. You said I wouldremember that, and I do; but perhaps you think I have done somethingworse than being rude, Mademoiselle! I want to know--please tell me!--can your bottle be stuck together so that you can use it again?"

Mademoiselle's face clouded over. She had recovered from her firstviolent anger about the accident, but it was still too sore a subject tobe lightly touched. 

"No, " she said shortly, "it cannot mend. I tried. I thought I mightuse it still as an ornament, but the pieces will not _fit_. There isperhaps something missing. I have just to make up my mind that it isgone for ever. It seems as if I should never know what happened to it. "

An expression of undoubted relief and satisfaction passed over Pixie'sface as she heard these last words, but Mademoiselle was gazingdisconsolately in the fire, and it had passed before she looked up. Perhaps she had hoped that her words would draw forth some sort ofconfession, but, if so, she was fated to be disappointed, for when Pixiespoke again it was to broach another subject. 

"Mademoiselle, I've a favour to ask you! I've been afraid to do itbefore, but you are so kind to-day that I'm not frightened any longer. It's about the party at the end of the term. The girls say they alwayshave one, and they will be broken-hearted if they miss that as well asall the holidays. It is no use my asking, because it's me that's introuble, but, Mademoiselle, it was your bottle that was broken. If youasked Miss Phipps, she couldn't find the heart in her to say no!Please, Mademoiselle, will you ask if the girls can have their party thesame as ever?"

Mademoiselle looked, as she felt, completely taken aback by thisunexpected request. It sounded strange indeed coming from Pixie's lips, and it was difficult to explain to the girl that she herself would bethe greatest hindrance to the granting of such a request. She lookeddown, fingered her dress in embarrassment, and said slowly--

"For my part I should be glad for the girls to have their party. It ishard that they should all suffer, and it _is_ dull for them. I havebeen here three years, but it was never so dull as this. Yes, I wouldask, but what would Miss Phipps say? That is a different thing! Itseems odd to stop the holidays and give the party all the same, and--doyou not see?--the bad girl--the girl who will not say what she hasdone--she would have her pleasure with the rest, and that would not beright. It is to punish her we have to punish many. "

"But if I stayed upstairs--" cried Pixie eagerly, and then stoppedshort, with crimson cheeks, as if startled by the sound of her ownwords. "I mean I am the one they are vexed with; they want to punish memost. If I stayed upstairs in my own room, or was sent to bed, whyshouldn't the others have their party? It would be an extra punishmentto me to hear them dancing, wouldn't it now?"

Mademoiselle threw up her bands in an expressive silence. In all herexperience of school life never before had she met a girl who pleaded insuch coaxing terms for her own humiliation, and she was at sea as towhat it might mean. Either Pixie was guilty, in which case she was oneof the most arrant little hypocrites that could be imagined, or she wasinnocent, and a marvel of sweetness and charity. Which could it be? Amoment before she had felt sure that the former was the case, now shewas equally convinced of the latter. In any case she was gratified bythe idea that she herself should plead for the breaking-up party, andwas ready to promise that she would interview Miss Phipps without delay. 

"And ye'll not say that ever I mentioned it, " urged Pixie anxiously, "for maybe that would put her off altogether. Just ask as if it was afavour to yourself, and if she asks, `What about Pixie?' `Oh, Pixie, 'says you, `never trouble about her! Send her to bed! It will be goodfor her health. She can lie still and listen to the music, and amuseherself thinking of all she has lost. '"

The beaming smile with which this suggestion was offered was too muchfor Mademoiselle's composure, and, do what she would, she could notrestrain a peal of laughter. 

"You are a ridiculous child, but I will do as you say, and hope forsuccess. I like parties too, but it will not be half so nice if you arenot there, _petite_! See, I was angry at first, and when I am angry Isay many sharp things, but I am not angry any more. If it had happenedto anyone to break my bottle by mistake, she need no more be frightenedto tell me. I would not be angry now!"

"Wouldn't you?" queried Pixie eagerly, but instantly her face fell, andshe shivered as with dread. "But, oh, Miss Phipps would! She would beangrier than ever! The girls say so, and it is only a fortnight longerbefore the holidays, and then we shall all go home. If it is not foundout before the holidays, it will be all over then, won't it? No onewill say anything about it next term. "

"I do not know, Pixie. I can't tell what Miss Phipps will do, " returnedMademoiselle sadly. She felt no doubt at this moment that Pixie wasguilty; but that only strengthened her in her decision to plead for theparty, for it did indeed seem hard that twenty-nine girls should bedeprived of their pleasure for the sake of one obstinate wrong-doer. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

DIVIDED OPINIONS. 

"Girls, " announced Miss Phipps after tea, two evenings later, "I havesomething to tell you which I am sure you will be delighted, and alsomuch touched to hear. You have, I suppose, taken for granted that nobreaking-up party would be held this term, as I have unfortunately hadto deprive you of all holidays and excursions. For myself, I had putthe matter entirely aside, as out of keeping with our present position, but you have had an advocate whom I have found it impossible to refuse. Someone has pleaded your cause so eloquently that she has gained theday, and I have now to announce that your party will be held as usual onWednesday next, a few days before we break up. Don't thank me, please!It is someone else who deserves your thanks. Can you guess who it is?"

The girls were jumping about in their seats, all excitement and delight. Ethel was tossing her curls, Flora beaming from ear to ear, Kate's eyeswere dancing behind her spectacles, Margaret was looking across thetable at Pixie with an anxious, scrutinising glance. Who could it be--this unknown champion? There were whispering and consulting on everyside, but the first suggestions fell wide of the mark. 

"Mrs Vane!" said one, mentioning the name of the giver of the "AlicePrize, " which was held in such importance in the school. But no, it wasnot Mrs Vane. "Miss Ewing!" cried another, naming a friend of MissPhipps, who on one memorable occasion had begged a holiday for theentire school; but it was not Miss Ewing. "Nearer home, nearer home!She is in this room now!" cried Miss Phipps, laughing; and then it wasimpossible to look at Mademoiselle's red cheeks and remain in doubt anylonger. 

The gasp of surprise, of gratitude, of admiration that went round theroom was the most eloquent acknowledgment of the generosity which hadprompted the request, and Mademoiselle grew redder than ever, as shereflected that she would not have deserved any thanks had it not beenfor the suggestion of another. She looked instinctively at Pixie, andmet a smile which reached from ear to ear, and was fairly beaming overwith exultation. No one in the room looked so beamingly happy, but thenext moment the smile gave way to a startled expression, as Miss Phippscontinued slowly--

"There is one girl whom I am unfortunately obliged to except in givingmy invitation, and that is Pixie O'Shaughnessy. Whether she is guiltyof really breaking Mademoiselle's scent-bottle or not, it is impossiblefor me to say, but a suspicion has rested upon her which she haspersistently refused to remove. I cannot allow a girl who defies myauthority to be among us on such an occasion, and though the fact thatshe is in disgrace will cast a shadow over our evening, I consider thatI have no choice in the matter. On Wednesday night, then, Pixie, youwill have tea by yourself in the schoolroom, and go up to bed at seveno'clock. "

"I will, Miss Phipps, " said Pixie faintly. She had blushed until herface was crimson from the roots of her hair to the tip of her chin, andher face stood out like a vivid peony among those of her companions. Everyone looked at her, and the glances were more kindly than they hadbeen for many a day; for it is easy to be sympathetic when we get ourown way, and have shifted the burden off our own shoulders on to thoseof another. When the Principal left the room, attention was almostequally divided between Mademoiselle and Pixie, who were each surroundedby a group of excited talkers. 

"Oh, Maddie, I do call you an angel! It was simply sweet of you toplead for us when you have been the one to suffer. I'll love you forever for this!"

"So shall I, Maddie, and you'll see how well I'll do my verbs! I'llnever worry you any more, but be so good and industrious. Dance withme, do, the first waltz, and I'll be gentleman, and not let you bumpinto anybody!"

"Pixie dear, I'm so sorry, but you would rather the girls had theirparty even if you couldn't go, wouldn't you, dear?"--this from Margaret, while Lottie tossed her head and said--

"She needn't distress herself! There is nothing to make a fuss about. Party, indeed! A fine sort of party! No one comes, and it is just likeany other night, except that you dance and wear your best things!"

"And have programmes, and trifles, and jellies, and crackers, and allsorts of good things, and sit up until ten o'clock! But I'm awfullysorry you can't come, Pixie. If I get a chance I'll bring you somethingupstairs from the supper-table. You can't put lumps of jelly in yourpocket, but if there is anything dry, I'll bring it to you when I go tobed!"

"So will I, Pixie. My party frock has a baggy front, so I can carry alot. I could get a whole cheese-cake in when no one was looking. Orwould you rather have a mince pie?"

"I think I'd rather have--both, " said Pixie sadly. "I shall be sohungry, lying alone repining! I have never been to a party except once, at Bally William, and that wasn't a party either, for there was only meand two other boys, and the girls of the house, but we had crackers allthe same, and I got an elegant little fan. The same I offered to you, Lottie, when you went out last time!"

"I remember, but it didn't go with my dress. That's another thing, Pixie--you haven't a dress to wear, so it's just as well you aren'tasked, after all! I managed to make you presentable for a half-termevening, but that old frock of yours would never do for a breaking-upparty. "

Well, Lottie evidently intended to be comforting, but she had anextraordinary tactless way of going about it, Kate reflected angrily. She herself had a much happier inspiration, when she said with anelaborate affectation of relief--

"And it's an ill wind that blows nobody good! What we should have donewithout you to help us to dress, I really don't know! Mind you come tome first now. Ethel doesn't need you half so much, for her hair curlsnaturally, and mine always takes an unruly turn when it sees my bestdress, and refuses to lie as I want it. "

The listeners opened their eyes significantly, for no one had ever seenKate's hair untidy, and it was impossible to imagine the lank locksexhibiting roving propensities; but Pixie smiled, and that was all thathad been desired. Pixie flicked the tears away and cried eagerly--

"I'll plait it in four, like I used to do Bridgie's when she wentvisiting. You wouldn't believe the style there is to ut. Esmeraldasaid no one would believe that it was really her own. It was for allthe world as if she had bought a plait and stuck it on. I'll make yourslook like that too, if you'll give me time!"

"Oh, I'll give you time!" laughed Kate pleasantly. Her consciencemisgave her when she thought of her behaviour during the last days, andsaw how ready the child was to forgive the cold contempt, with which shehad been treated. It was pleasant, too, to hear again of Bridgie andEsmeralda, who had been so long unmentioned, and who must really be thefunniest creatures! And now that the poor little scrap was to bepunished in such drastic fashion, one might venture to show pity withoutbeing accused of encouraging wickedness. After all, she had so far beenconvicted of no worse crime than obstinacy. 

Unfortunately for Pixie, some of her companions took a different view ofMiss Phipps's decision, seeing in it a proof that the Principal at leastwas convinced of her guilt, and so felt themselves bound to follow herexample by ostracising the offender. Some of Lottie's followers wereamong the number, and that young lady found herself in the difficultposition of being drawn two ways at once, for she had vowed to befriendPixie, yet was loth to risk her popularity by acting in opposition tothe general feeling. She took refuge in an easy neutrality, remainingsilent when gibing words were passed from mouth to mouth, and avoidingevery opportunity of coming into contact with Pixie herself. With somany girls about and the rush of examination work on hand, this was easyenough to accomplish, for Lottie was ambitious, and made special effortto come out in a good position on the list. Every evening she poredover books to "stew" up the subject of the next day's exam, and everymorning seated herself before her desk, and became immediately immersedin the paper before her. Oh, those papers, what agony and confusion ofspirit they brought to one poor scholar at least! Pixie had beeninformed that the secret of examination work was to carefully read overthe list of questions, and then set to work at once on the one she couldanswer best, be it number one or six; but what was a poor girl to dowhen she was convinced that she could not answer one at all? No one hadeven imagined such a position, and yet it was the one in which she foundherself over and over again during those last miserable days. She wasso unused to examination work that the formal wording of the questionsfrequently disguised their meaning, and made her imagine ignorance whenin reality she could have answered correctly enough; and oh, what miseryto look around the room and see every other girl scribbling for herlife, and looking as if the only difficulty was lack of time to writeall she knew!

Pixie's mode of proceeding was to print an elaborate heading to herpaper, and while away a quarter of an hour in adding ornamentalflourishes to the double lines, and in elaborately darkening the down-strokes of her capitals. Then she would scribble on her blotting-paper, dropping intentional blots upon a clean page, and weaving them into aconnected picture with no little skill and ingenuity. At this point asharp reminder from teacher or scholar would bring her back to anothermelancholy perusal of the paper, and she would read and read thequestions, in the melancholy hope of finding them grown more easy forthe time of waiting. 

Sometimes a query was put in so straightforward a form that it waspossible to answer it in a single word, and then with glee Pixie wouldprint "Question two" in ornamental characters, and write "Yes!"underneath it with a glow of exhilaration. At other times, as in thegrammar paper, a question would make no calls on the memory, but would, so to speak, supply its own material, when she attacked it with morehaste than discretion in her delight at finding something which shecould really accomplish. 

To give an example--Miss Bruce, the English teacher, quoted thesentence, "How sharper than a serpent's tooth is an ungrateful child!"and asked to have it paraphrased so as to show the two predicates whichmade it into a complex sentence. Pixie licked her lips over thisopportunity, and squeak, squeak, squeak, went her pen along the paper, making the other girls look up and raise their eyebrows at one anotherin surprised comment. Writing at last, and so eagerly too! Pixie mustsurely have an inspiration at last; and so she had, for the big stragglywriting set forth an extraordinary sentence: "How sharper it is to havean ungrateful child, than it is to have a serpent's tooth!"

"Humph!" mused Pixie, gnawing her pen, "there's a queer sound to it too. If I didn't know for sure it was right, I'd be just as certain it waswrong!" and so the paraphrase remained, to astonish the eyes of MissBruce, and give her a hearty laugh in the midst of the dreary work ofreading examination papers that evening. 

"Well, who comes out first in the exams it is impossible to say, butthere is no doubt who will be last! I don't think Pixie O'Shaughnessywill get more than a dozen marks for a single paper she has written, "was the remark of a certain Evelyn, one of the leaders of the anti-Pixiefaction, on the day before the breaking-up party. "We used to think herclever, but it was only a bubble, which has collapsed utterly the lastfew weeks. A guilty conscience--that's my explanation! I call her ahardened little wretch, for she doesn't seem to mind a bit not beingallowed to come down to-morrow. You might have thought that she wouldbe perfectly miserable, but instead of that she really seems in betterspirits than before. "

"She does, and she likes to hear about the party, too! Just watch herwhen we are talking about it, and she is all eyes and ears. We saw someof the refreshments coming in to-day, and she positively beamed! Isaid, `Those are for supper to-morrow!' and she said, `Are they as niceas usual? Do you think it will be as grand as last year? Will you haveevery single thing just the same as if Miss Phipps hadn't been angry?'I said that if Miss Phipps did a thing at all, she would do it properly, and that I was quite sure it would be quite as `grand, ' and she chuckledwith delight, just as if she were going herself. I can't make her out. "

"Perhaps she thinks that Miss Phipps will relax at the last moment, butif she does, she is very much mistaken. There will be no pardon for heruntil she speaks the truth. As I said before, I believe she is just ahardened little wretch who doesn't care what happens to her, and that iswhy she doesn't show any sign of feeling. "

"She has looked miserable enough until now. Why not give her thebenefit of the doubt, and believe that, whether she is guilty or not, she is generous enough to be glad that the whole school is not to bepunished?" asked Margaret gently. "Whatever Pixie has done, she is toowarm-hearted to be called `hardened, ' and I think some of you girls makea great mistake in treating her as you do. You will never do any goodby bullying, for she is so terrified at anything like unkindness that itmakes it still more difficult to speak. You would have more influenceif you were kinder to her. "

"Oh, Margaret, you are so absurdly good-natured! It's always the samecry with you. You would forgive everybody, if you had your way!" criedEvelyn impatiently, and promptly flounced across the room, leavingMargaret and Lottie alone by the fire. They looked at each other insilence, and then Margaret summoned up courage to make an appeal whichshe had been meditating for some days past. 

"They won't listen to me, Lottie, but they would if you asked them. Itis really cruel to be always gibing and jeering as they are, and theolder girls ought to set a better example. You are fond of Pixie too, and want to do the best for her. Can't you persuade your friends totreat her better for the rest of the term?"

Lottie shrugged her shoulders impatiently, and frowned in worried, discontented fashion. 

"It is only three days longer. What is the use of making a fuss? It isidiotic of Pixie not to tell what she was doing in Mademoiselle's room, and I can't go about lecturing the whole school because she chooses tobe obstinate! I am going to invite her to stay with me in the holidays, and will give her a good time to make up for all this. What's the goodof worrying? The girls will be too busy packing and preparing for theparty to think of her any more now. "

This was true enough, so true that Margaret could say no more, thoughshe could not suppress the reflection that Lottie might have given theclue weeks before, if she had been so disposed. "But, as she says, theworst is over. Nothing much can happen in three days, " she told herselfconsolingly; wherein she was for something very exciting indeed wasfated to happen before half that time had elapsed!

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

THE DISCOVERY. 

The next afternoon all was bustle and confusion in Holly House, servantssetting the tables in the dining-room, and clearing the large classroom, in preparation for the party, and governesses and pupils dressingthemselves with as much care as though they expected to meet a hundredstrangers, instead of the everyday school set, without a singleaddition. Dresses which had not seen the light since the half-term-holiday were brought forth once more, with such additions in the shapeof sashes, flowers, and gloves as befitted the greater importance of theoccasion, and in her own bedroom Pixie O'Shaughnessy was whisking to andfro, attending to the wants of three exacting mistresses, who all seemedto require her at one and the same moment. 

"Hi, Pixie, come here! This place is getting knee-deep in clothes. Just put them away. "

"Now then, Pixie. I'm waiting for this hair-dressing! You make it looklike an artificial plait, or there'll be trouble in this camp. "

"Oh-h, bother! The more hurry the less speed. Now I've broken thistape. Has anyone got a bodkin? No, of course not! There never is abodkin when I want one. You'll have to manage with a hairpin, Pixie, and be sharp about it. I shall be late for tea at this rate!" So on, and so on, and at each summons in rushed an eager little worker, sodeft, so willing, so incredibly quick in her movements, that hermistresses were overcome with admiration. 

"Your hands do you more credit than your brains, young woman!"pronounced Kate judicially. "You will never be a mistress of a HighSchool; but you are a born lady's-maid, and you can come to me for areference when you need it. "

"That's what Esmeralda says. I am going to be her maid when she marriesthe duke. He comes down to hunt near Bally William, but he really livesin England, in the most beautiful palace, with peacocks on the lawn. Esmeralda's going to have the drawing-room papered in yellow, to suither complexion, and to set the fashion of having little sisters to waitupon you, like pages in old story-books, " returned Pixie, with her mouthfull of hairpins, and there was a rustle of excitement in the differentcubicles. 

"Esmeralda engaged! You never told us! To a duke. Which duke? Howlovely for her! When are they going to get married?"

"Now indeed I can't tell you!" returned Pixie regretfully. She wasproudly conscious of having made a sensation, and it did seem hard to beobliged to dispel it as soon as it was made! "There's nothing settled, for, to tell you the truth, he has never so much as seen her yet, butshe was visiting old Biddy Gallagher when he drove past to the meet, andat lunch says she, `He's the elegant creature, that duke! I'm thinkingof marrying him myself!' and took Bridgie's advice on the trousseau thatvery afternoon. She says she won't be engaged until she is twenty-one, and that it's a pity to unsettle him about it yet awhile, as there'sover two years to wait. He wouldn't want to wait if he saw her, forshe's more beautiful than anyone you ever saw out of a picture, thoughit's himself I pity when the tantrums is on her. We often talk aboutit, and plan how we will spend his money, and if you want to put her ina good temper you've nothing to do but call her `Your Grace!'"

"I never heard anything so silly!" cried Ethel scornfully. Kate gave amild "He, he!" as she watched the process of hair-dressing in themirror, and reflected pensively that spectacles seemed strangely out ofkeeping with evening dress. There was no doubt about it, she wasastonishingly plain, and oh, how nice it must be to be beautiful likeEsmeralda--so beautiful that even your own brothers and sisters admiredyou! It was a natural longing, for every girl wishes to be attractiveto others, and feels a pang if obliged to realise that the tribute ofadmiration can never be hers; but Kate was too sensible to grieve longover impossibilities. "I shall have to be extra amiable to make up forit, that's all!" she told herself philosophically, as she lifted thehand-glass, and wriggled about before the glass to view the effect ofthe new coiffure. It was most elaborate and hairdresser-windowish ineffect, and if it were not exactly becoming, that was perhaps more herown misfortune than the fault of the operator, who had bestowed suchpains upon the erection. So she declared truthfully enough that she hadnever felt so fine in her life, and threatened to sit at the piano thewhole of the evening, so that all beholders might have an opportunity ofadmiring her "back hair. "

Her toilet was now finished, but Ethel's bows were waiting to be tiedand smoothed out, and Flora had to be laced into her dress, and to beconsoled when again visited with the dread of finishing her career asthe fat woman in a show. Finally, the first bell for tea was heardpealing downstairs, and away ran the three girls, leaving poorCinderella to tidy the cubicles, and almost forgetting to thank her forher services; for in truth they had been so cheerfully rendered as toappear a favour given, rather than received. 

Left to herself, Pixie stole into the corridor and flattened herselfinto a doorway to watch the gay figures descending the staircase. Thetidying away could wait for a few moments, but it was not often that onehad the opportunity of watching so festive a scene. Doors opened onevery side, and out they came, one girl after another, so smart and finethat one could hardly recognise them for the blue-serged damsels ofordinary school life. Down the stairs they tripped, with rustlings ofsilk and crinklings of muslin, dainty white shoes, looking daintier thanever against the well-worn carpet. Such a crowd of girls, and each onelooking brighter and happier than the one before. Lottie in white, Margaret in blue, with her brown hair coiled round her head in a shiningchestnut coronet, one after another, until at last there was no oneleft, and silence reigned in the corridor, broken only by a little sniffand sigh from the shadow of a doorway. "And one little p-ig stayed ath-ome, " sighed Pixie, trying hard to laugh, and assiduously licking thetears from her cheeks, as she hung school skirts in the cupboards, andfolded everyday garments on bedroom chairs, in readiness for use on thefollowing day. 

"Now they are all sitting down and beginning to eat! There'll benothing but jam and cakes and elegant bread-and-butter--so thin youmight eat a plateful, and starve upon it! I wonder what they'll besending me upstairs. I couldn't look at a bit of plain food, but plumcake would be medicine to me. Me digestion was always delicate. Bridgie said so. `The child needs tempting!' I've heard her say, overand over again, when the milk pudding came in at the door, and myappetite went out. I must go to the schoolroom now, I suppose, for MissPhipps said I must be in my bed by seven. Ellen has the soft heart--Iwouldn't wonder if she brought me something nice to cheer me spirits!"

Buoyed up by this hope, she ran off to the classroom, and there wasEllen herself at the door, looking at her with such kind, sorry-lookingeyes, as if there was nothing she would like better than to carry herbodily downstairs. 

"Your tea is ready, Miss Pixie. Miss Emily's orders were that I was notto bring you any cake, but I have brought something else that you willlike better. "

What could that be? Pixie rushed to the table, and oh, joy of joys, there lay a big fat letter with the Bally William postmark in thecorner, and Bridgie's dear, well-known writing straggling over itssurface. No one in the world wrote such sweet letters as Bridgie, andhow dear of her to time this one to arrive at the moment of all otherswhen it was most desired! Pixie gloated over it with sparkling eyes, kissed it, hugged it, poked at it with her fingers to discover exactlyhow many sheets it might contain, and finally devoured it and the bread-and-butter together in one long beam of delight. 

"Littlest and dearest, do you want to see us all, and know what we aredoing? It is eight o'clock, and we have had three dinners insuccession, each lordly male waiting until the other had finished hismeal before he could resign himself to come indoors, and at the thirdcoming Molly sent for me to the kitchen to give warning for this daymonth, which same I took smiling, for it's never a bribe she would taketo leave Knock Castle while an O'Shaughnessy was within its walls. It'sPat that's sitting at the table now, eating apples and cracking nuts aslanguid as if the day was his own, and Esmeralda frowning thunder at himbecause she wants the table to draw a sketch for the newest picture, which is to make all our fortunes yet. The Major is reading thenewspaper, and groaning aloud at every comma, because the Government hasno sense at all, and the only man who could put things straight is tiedby the heel by half a dozen children. The dogs are sitting in a circleround Pat, watching every bite with such big, longing eyes, and myselfwriting on my knee by the fire, with the ink on the fender, --lookingthreatening at the rug! Says Esmeralda, `Five days more, and we shallsee her again, ' meaning yourself, to whom I write. `Will she be grown, I'm wondering! She's too small altogether, and yet we don't want ourPixie changed. And the mimic she is! Wait till we hear the fineEnglish talk, and have her correcting us all, on account of our brogue!'Then Pat must up and say there was no room for him and an Englishaccent in the Castle at the same time, and the Major rebuked him, andasked was it for pleasure he paid as much for schooling as could bespent sensibly on as fine a hunter as a man could wish, and besought usall to put ourselves at your feet, and learn what you could teach us. Then Esmeralda sighed and clasped her hands, and says she, `It's tiredto death I am of my own family, and longing to meet somebody who hasseen more of the world than Bally William. Couldn't we tell the Pixieto bring home one of her friends with her, to divert us during theChristmas holidays?' and at that we all called out together, for we havebeen dull without you, little one, and looking forward to a frolic onChristmas. Last year we were all too sad thinking of the dear mother, but this year she will want to see us happy. I am sure she sees us, andoften and often when I sit alone sewing as she used to do, I think abouther, and feel she is near still, and it's only because my eyes are dimthat I can't see her. Well then, dearie, think over your friends, anddecide which it shall be! There's room at Castle Knock for anyone whohas been kind to its baby, and it won't be our fault if she hasn't ahappy memory of Old Ireland. "

The letter went on for another sheet, but Pixie's mind was so full ofthis new idea that she was hardly able to take in the words, on whichher eye rested. To take home a friend to Bally William! To give aninvitation on her own account, and be able to show the glories of thedear old Castle! This was indeed a dazzling prospect, and the problemof deciding which friend it should be kept her occupied even when teawas over, and she was undergoing the humiliation of putting herself tobed in the chilly little cubicle. Should it be Margaret? No; forMargaret, with all her sweetness, had little sense of humour, and thoughPixie could not reason out the matter for herself, she yet realisedinstinctively that she would be uncomfortable and out of place in thehaphazard atmosphere of the Irish household. Should it be Kate? No, that would not do either, for at first sight Kate was not prepossessing, and the Major and the boys would certainly take a dislike to herstraightway. Should it be Flora--dear, fat, good-tempered Flora? Butwhat fun Esmeralda would make of her, to be sure, and how helpless shewould be when attacked by the boys' badinage! Pixie grew quite tiredand sleepy puzzling out the question; her eyelids drooped down and downuntil the lashes rested upon her cheeks, and her thoughts passedunconsciously into dreams. 

Meantime, in the large classroom downstairs the other thirty pupils wereenjoying themselves with a zest all the greater for the dullness of theweeks which had gone before. The floor had been sponged with milk untilit was quite smooth and slippery, a table supplied with suchrefreshments as lemonade, ginger-beer, and sweet biscuits, was placedoutside the door, and the violin pupils took it in turns to accompanythe piano, so that nothing was lacking to enhance the grandeur of theoccasion. Pretty little programmes were distributed around the room;blue for the ladies, pink for the "gentlemen, " and after each dance thecouples marched round and round the room, conversing together as if theywere at "a real party, " and tabooing the affairs of ordinary schoollife. Then the gentlemen deposited their partners on chairs, andinquired, "May I bring you a little refreshment?" until the last drop oflemonade was drained, and only crumbs remained in the cake-baskets. They were all flushed and panting with the vigour with which they hadjoined in the dance, and at last Miss Phipps thought it wise to call ahalt. 

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, you must really sit down for ten minutes!"she cried laughingly. "If you get so overheated, you will be catchingchills next, and I am sure you don't want to be invalided just beforethe holidays. Come and take your places round the room, and we will askLottie to dance her pretty scarf-dance for us, as she looks the onlycool member of the party. There's your scarf, dear, in that drawer, andMiss Bruce will play for you. You dance so nicely that it is a pleasureto see it. "

Lottie blushed with pleasure at such words of praise, and took her placein the centre of the room with smiling alacrity, and the watcherswhispered admiringly to each other as they looked at the dainty, satin-clad figure. Lottie was not really pretty, but she was always socharmingly dressed that she gave the effect of beauty, and to-night inher gala frock she certainly looked her best. She danced gracefully andmodestly, waving her chiffon scarf in the air, and moving it to and froin a manner which looked easy enough, but which was in reality extremelydifficult, and required no little effort of strength, so that by thetime the dance was finished she was as flushed as her friends, and herbreath came in quick, short pants. Poof--how hot she felt, and howtired! It was a relief to give the scarf into Mademoiselle'soutstretched hands, and be free to feel for a handkerchief with which towipe the moisture from her brow. There was a little difficulty infinding her pocket, and the girls watched her fumbles with amusedattention. It was a little pause in the evening's entertainment, andfor want of something better to do all eyes were fixed upon the figurewhich stood so prominently in the middle of the room. "Try again!" theycried encouragingly, and Lottie made yet another dive downwards. Thistime she was successful, for her hand disappeared into her pocket, andpresently jerked upwards, bringing with it a small lace handkerchiefrolled up into a ball, as if it had lain forgotten since the last timethat the dress was worn. She flicked it in the air, and at thatsomething flew out and clattered on the floor near her feet. Mademoiselle stooped to pick it up, and threw up her hands with a cry ofdismay. It was a piece of glass, about half an inch in size, and in onecorner was clearly discernible the end of an engraved letter--the letter"T!"

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

EXPLANATIONS. 

"Pixie, awake! awake! Oh, Pixie, open your eyes! Get up, dear, get up!We want you downstairs!"

Margaret bent over Pixie's bedside, tears shining in her eyes, andlifting the slight figure in her arms, shook it to and fro, until thegrey eyes opened in astonishment, and a sleepy voice murmured--

"Is't morning? Time get up?"

"Morning, no! It is not nine o'clock, and Miss Phipps thought you wouldcertainly be awake, with so much music going on; but it's no use, I mustwake you, whatever happens! Here's your dressing-gown. Here are yourbedroom slippers. You have to come downstairs with me this minute!"

"Am I the queen?" asked Pixie, waking up all in a moment, and peeringmischievously into Margaret's face. "When you are wakened up in themiddle of the night, and taken downstairs in your dressing-gown andslippers, it's either a fire, or you are the queen, and the courtiersare waiting to kiss your hand. You know it is, Margaret! You have seenit in the pictures!"

"Yes, I've seen it? and perhaps there may be courtiers waiting for you, Pixie; and kisses too, and a dear little crown to put on that shaggyhead! Great excitements have happened since you went to bed, and weknow now that it was not you who broke Mademoiselle's scent-bottle. Weare almost certain that it was Lottie herself, and Miss Phipps has sentfor you to help us!"

Pixie gave a start of dismay, and the laughter died out of her face, leaving it scared and white. Her fingers tightened round Margaret'sarm, and she hung back trembling as they neared the schoolroom door. Another moment and they stood within the threshold, looking round onwhat seemed suddenly to have taken upon itself the aspect of a court ofjustice. The girls were as before ranged round the walls, and at theend of the room stood a row of teachers; Fraulein and Miss Bruce flushedand excited, Mademoiselle with tears in her eyes, Miss Phipps with anawful sternness of expression, which gave place to a momentary softnessas she looked at the new-comers. Pixie glanced at them all, one afterthe other, and from them to the figure standing in the centre of theroom, like a prisoner at the bar, her face white as her dress, her eyesfull of terror and despair. She gave a sharp cry of distress, andrushed forward with outstretched arms. 

"Lottie, Lottie, I didn't tell! I never told--Lottie, Lottie, I kept myword!"

A deep murmur sounded through the room as each hearer drew her breath ina sob of mingled conviction and regret, and of all the number Lottieseemed the most affected. She burst into a paroxysm of tears, claspedPixie in an hysterical embrace, then, thrusting her aside, turnedeagerly towards Miss Phipps. 

"Oh, I will tell--I will! It was all my fault--Pixie had nothing to dowith it--I will tell you all about it. "

"It is more than time, Lottie. Begin at once, and pray calm yourselfuntil you have finished!" returned Miss Phipps coldly; and Lottie wipedaway her tears, and struggled to keep back the rising sobs. 

"It was the night of the term-holiday--I was going out--I was dressedand going along the passage, and Mademoiselle's door stood open, and Isaw the light shining upon the gold of the scent-bottle. I had no scentof my own, and I thought I would go in and take a little ofMademoiselle's. I knew she would give it to me if I asked, and if Itold her next day there wouldn't be any harm. But I was in a hurry, andI heard Pixie calling, and I put the bottle down too quickly, and theglass struck the corner of the table and fell into pieces in my hand. Iwas so frightened--and there was no time to think, for Pixie was runningalong the passage, so I just mopped up the scent with my handkerchief, and flew to the door. I suppose the piece of glass must have got inthen, for the handkerchief has never been out of my pocket until to-night. Pixie said, `Oh, what a smell of scent!' and I said something--Iforget what--about its being rude to make remarks, and ran downstairs asquickly as I could go. I was so wretched all the evening I didn't knowwhat to do. I thought when it was found out Pixie would be sure totell; but when I came home the girls all said how lucky I was to havebeen out, for no one could suspect me, and I said nothing. And I sawMademoiselle crying, and I said nothing, and then I was afraid to speak, for it was too late! Pixie came to me next morning and said, `Lottie, they think I broke the bottle because I was the only girl inMademoiselle's room last night; but I know that you were there too, andthat you had been taking some scent!' and I begged and prayed her not totell anyone else. I was so confused that I let her see I had broken it, but I said if she told I should get into trouble with my father, and shepromised at once. She was so willing, that I didn't feel asuncomfortable as I expected, but I was miserable when everyone blamedher, and she was punished. I comforted myself by thinking that I wouldask her to stay with me in the holidays, and make it up to her then. She never told me what she was doing in Mademoiselle's room--I tried tobelieve that she was really to blame. She might have cracked thebottle, and that was why it broke so easily!"

"And so the best reward you could give to the friend who shielded you ather own expense was to suspect her of deceit! That will do, Lottie!You can go to your own room now. I will deal with you to-morrow. Nowwe will hear what Pixie has to say!"

Miss Phipps paused impressively for a moment, and then spoke again intones so sweet and gentle that it was difficult to recognise them ascoming from the same voice which had spoken but a moment before. 

"Pixie, you have heard Lottie's explanation. I will speak about thatlater on, but now I have a favour to ask you. For my sake, dear--forall our sakes--to help us to get at the whole truth of this unhappyaffair, I ask you to tell me frankly what you were doing inMademoiselle's room when Ellen saw you there?"

Pixie hung her head, and her cheeks grew am scarlet as the scarletdressing-gown itself. She lifted one little slippered foot and stoodperched on the other like a funny little ruffled stork in the midst ofthe shining floor, and the watching faces of the girls were pretty tosee with their expressions of tender amusement and sympathy. 

"Please, Miss Phipps, " said Pixie hoarsely, "I was doing nothing. I wasonly after putting in the hot bottle!"

Miss Phipps stared, Mademoiselle gave a sharp exclamation of surprise, and turned impetuously to her Principal. 

"The 'ot bottle! It is true. I 'ave one every night, but I thoughtthat Ellen--that one of the maids--"

"We have put no hot bottle in your bed, Mademoiselle. It is MissEmily's rule that any of the young ladies may have bottles of their own, if they take the trouble to fill them in the bathroom as they go to bed, and to put them back there in the morning. We never put one in a bedunless in the case of illness, " said Ellen, who stood in a corner of theroom, one of the most anxious and interested of the spectators; and atthat Miss Phipps turned once more to Pixie. 

"Then are we to understand that it was your own bottle of which you aretalking? And what made you think of lending it to Mademoiselle?"

"She told me that she was always cold, " said Pixie faintly. "I didn'tlike to think of her lying there shivering. Bridgie gave me the bottlewhen I came away in a little red flannel cover. `You're such a frog!'says she, `maybe this will warm you, ' but I just roll my feet in mynightgown and hug them in my hands until they are warm. I thoughtperhaps Mademoiselle couldn't do that. Ye can't bend so easy whenyou're old, so she needed the bottle most. "

"_Ma petite_!" cried Mademoiselle. "_Ma cherie_!"--and she would haverushed forward and taken Pixie into her arms straight away, had not MissPhipps held her back with a restraining touch. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

PIXIE INTERCEDES. 

"One more question, Pixie, and remember I place absolute reliance onwhat you say, for you have given proof that you are to be trusted. Youheard Lottie's insinuation that you might have had some share in theaccident! Had you touched the scent-bottle at all that night?"

"I had not, Miss Phipps!" The grey eyes looked into the face of thequestioner with a steady light. "I never noticed it at all until thegirls began talking about it, and then said I, `I must have a look atthat bottle before I'm much older, ' and so I did that very same evening, but never a finger did I lay upon it. I put me hands behind me back andjust doubled meself over the table--like this!--looking at it all Iknew, but not daring as much as to breathe upon it, and from that hour Iwas never within yards of its presence. "

"I understand! But why, dear, have you refused to give us this simpleexplanation all these weeks? It was surely only to your credit that youhad thought of Mademoiselle's comfort before your own, so there was noreason for being so secret about it. Did you not see that it would havehelped your cause to have given this explanation?"

"I--didn't--like!" said Pixie, twisting her finger in and out inembarrassed fashion. "It was this way--that first night you were all socross and so certain that it was me, because I had been in the room, that I was shy about telling. You see Mademoiselle would have beenobliged to be pleased with me, and she wasn't feeling disposed to bepleased just then, and it would seem as if I were trying to get offblame, by boasting of what I'd done. I can't explain my feelings, but Icouldn't tell! The next day it would have been different, but Lottiebegged me not to say what I knew, and we never told tales of each otherat home. The boys would have been cut in pieces before they had roundedon each other, so of course I had to give my word. It was verymiserable, because no one loved me, and in my home we have veryaffectionate ways, the one with the other; but Lottie said it was only alittle time to the holidays, and after that all would be forgotten. Shedid say she would ask me to visit her, and I wouldn't hurt her feelingsby saying No, so I just wrote and told Bridgie to say I couldn't bespared, for I can't go anywhere but my own home. And she said herfather would be so angry with her if he knew, that never another happymoment would she have, and I knew my people wouldn't mind!"

"And did you tell your people how unhappy you were? Did you tell themwhat trouble you were in?" queried Miss Phipps softly, and at that Pixieshook her head with great emphasis. 

"I did not, Miss Phipps--I wouldn't dare! They would be so terriblyangry!"

"But you said a moment ago that they `wouldn't mind'! Then how couldthey be angry with you, dear?" asked Miss Phipps, smiling, and Pixiebent her head with a quick propitiatory bow. 

"'Deed, it was yourself they would be angry with, --not me! If the twoHouses of Parliament were walking up to Knock Castle and telling themthat Pixie had told a lie and stuck to it for a month on end, they wouldonly be calling shame upon them, to have nothing better to do than takeaway a lady's character, and the Major would say, `Twelve years have Iknown her, and never the day that she wasn't up to her neck in mischief, but no child of mine ever looked in my face and gave me the lie, andPixie's not the one to begin. ' So never a word did I say, but just thatthe examinations were coming on, and we were not allowed to go out. "

"Pixie, come here!" cried Miss Phipps; and when the girl approached shereceived her with outstretched arms and framed the thin little face withher hands. "Little Pixie, " she said softly, "never say again that noone loves you in this house. I have loved you from the first, and havefelt it a real trouble to be obliged to doubt you, and now I love you ahundred times more for your loyalty and unselfish consideration for yourfriend. You would have been wiser to be more candid about your owndoings, but I appreciate your scruples, and the school code of honourhas so many good points that I cannot bring myself to say that it shouldhave been broken. As for the conduct of a girl who would let anothersuffer as you have done rather than bear the consequences of her ownmisdoing, I have no words to express my horror and indignation, especially when she is a senior and you one of the youngest in theschool. It shows a want of principle which makes me despair of herfuture. A sudden slip or disobedience I could pardon, but notdeliberate deceit, and I am too fond of my girls, and too anxious abouttheir welfare, to allow such an influence to remain in their midst. "

Like the shiver of wind among the trees, the word "Expelled!" came froma dozen quivering lips, and Pixie O'Shaughnessy clasped her hands inhorrified appeal. 

"Oh, ye wouldn't--ye wouldn't send her away! Ye wouldn't give her overto her father, and him so stern and cruel with her! If she's been badnow, she was good before. The girls were fond of her, and she was kindto meself, lending me her lace collar and all the fixings for the party. If it's for making me miserable you are after punishing her, I'll bemore miserable than ever, and the girls will be miserable too--ask themif they won't! Lots of them think there isn't another to touch her inthe school, and they couldn't do that if she was all bad. Punish hersome other way, but oh, don't, don't send her away! What's the use ofme taking all the trouble if it's to be no good after all?"

A smile came to Miss Phipps's lips at the innocent directness of thequestion, but she grew grave enough the next moment, and her voicesounded both sad and troubled as she replied--

"You certainly give us a lesson in the way to forgive our enemies, Pixie, and I should be sorry to do anything that would make you`miserable'; but I must think of Lottie's good before our ownpreferences. Mr Vane is too good and just a man to treat her unkindly, and is only stern because he has realised the weakness of her character. He is too anxious about her welfare to make it right for me to concealanything from him, especially so flagrant a breach of honour; butperhaps--I don't know--if the feeling of the girls themselves is in herfavour, I may consent to give her another chance. I am glad to hearthat she has been kind--"

"Lottie is very good-natured, Miss Phipps. She is a favourite with thegirls. They would be sorry to lose her. I think it would be apunishment to her to feel that she had fallen so much in their opinion, and we would all like to give her another chance, " said Margarettimidly, and Miss Phipps nodded kindly in reply. 

"Ah, well, we can decide nothing to-night. It will need carefulthinking over, and meanwhile we will banish the subject and make themost of the time that is left. I am very sorry for the interruption, although in one sense we are glad of it too, for it has brought Pixieback amongst us. She must go upstairs and dress quickly, and then wewill have supper and put away unpleasant thoughts, and Mademoiselle mustreally dry her eyes, for I cannot have any more crying to-night. "

"If Peexie will forgeeve me!" cried Mademoiselle, stretching out herarms and clasping Pixie in so tight an embrace that when her little snubnose came again in sight, it bore the pattern of a steel button plainlystamped upon it. "I won't forgeeve myself that I was so 'arsh andcross. It was a poor thanks, _cherie_, for your kindness to me allthese weeks when I have been so warm and comfortable. I am ashamed toremember what I have done. "

"Small blame to you if you were mad when you believed I was telling alie to your face! But ye weren't half so nasty as ye think ye were, "said Pixie, beaming upon her in sweetest condescension. "Sometimes yewere quite agreeable. There was one day I was in with a cold, and yecame and cheered up me spirits until I hardly knew meself for the samecreature. "

Mademoiselle lifted her hands with an eloquent gesture, as a suddenremembrance darted into her mind. 

"Ah, yes! It is true. And now I have something else to tell you, yougirls! It is Pixie whom you have to thank for this party, not me. Itwas she who begged me to supplicate Miss Phipps for you. She said, `Shewill say Yes if it is you who ask, but not to me, therefore you must notsay my name at all; but if she will not give the party because I am tobe punished, tell her to send me to bed and let the rest be 'appy. ' Thedear child has thought of you when you were all so cross with her!"

There was an outburst of cheering from all corners of the room, in themidst of which Evelyn fell back in her chair and tugged with both handsat her long dark locks. 

"And I called her a hardened little sinner! I abused her like apickpocket, and called her an ungrateful serpent! Bring some sackclothand ashes, somebody, quickly! I shall go in mourning for the rest of mylife!"

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION. 

"That child Pixie is more wonderful than ever. What do you think sheasks me next?" said Mademoiselle to Miss Phipps early the next morning. "The dear Breedgie has told her to invite a friend to return 'ome withher for the holidays, and she gives me the letter to read, and asks thatit shall be me! I have laughed, but it is no use; she is still inearnest. I have said, `I am not a schoolgirl, and too old for you, mydear. ' She stares in my face, and asks, `'Ow old are you then? Notmore than forty, are you?' Ah, dear! If someone else had said that, Ihad been furious, for one does not like to be made ten years too old, but one cannot be angry with that child. Then I said, `Your sister willexpect a girl like yourself, and will be disappointed to see me, andthat would be uncomfortable for both. ' But she would not listen to thateither, but declared it would be still better for them, for they hadwished for someone who had seen the world. Nothing that I can say willconvince her, but you know it is impossible that I should go!"

"Well, really, Therese, I wish you would!" returned Miss Phipps, laughing. "It has been a weight on my mind to think of your remaininghere alone during the holidays; and I cannot stay with you, for I ambound to go to my old aunt. As for Pixie taking one of the girls homewith her, that is out of the question at this hour of the day. If MissO'Shaughnessy had sent an invitation even a fortnight ago, it might havebeen arranged, but now there is no time to write, and get permission, and make the necessary plans. It is only in a case like yours, whenthere is no one else to consult, that such a very Irish invitation couldbe accepted; so either you go with Pixie, or she returns alone. Andthat reminds me of another thing. It would be a comfort to me if youcould look after the child on the journey, for I have had a letter fromthe brother to say that he cannot decide definitely on what day he willcross. How would it be if you accepted the invitation for one week, took the child safely home, and just left it to circumstances to decidewhat to do after that?"

"You think I might venture--really?" asked Mademoiselle eagerly. Hereyes brightened, and a flush of colour came into her cheek. "If itwould not be too absurd, I should like it ver' much! We have heard somuch of those dear sisters that we seem to know them already, and Ishould be glad of the change. If, for example, you would write and sayyou would be more comfortable if I accompanied the child, and that Iwould stay a few days--that would perhaps make it easier!"

"Certainly, with pleasure; and I shall be so glad if it ends in a niceholiday for you, dear! The last part of the term has been so tryingthat we all need cheering up; and, from all we hear, I should think thehousehold at Knock Castle must be a delightful study. Young MrO'Shaughnessy has promised to call this afternoon, so you had bettercome down and talk to him yourself. I am sure you will find that he isas cordial as Pixie herself. "

This, indeed, proved to be the case, and greatly charmed wasMademoiselle with the handsome youth, who beamed upon her with Pixie'sown smile, and who was so much warmer and more enthusiastic in hismanner than his English brothers. Jack, indeed, was an apt disciple ofthe Blarney Stone, and could pay compliments with any man in Ireland. He gazed at Mademoiselle with an expression in his eyes which seemed tosay that never, no, never, had he met so charming a woman; his voicegurgled with emotion as he seconded his sister's invitation, and he badeher welcome to Knock Castle with the graciousness of a prince of theblood. So handsome he looked, too, that Pixie's heart swelled withpride, as she beheld him seated on the sofa, in his frock coat andfreshly creased trousers, looking, as she mentally expressed it, as ifhe never "gave a thought to money, " which in good truth was the case, though in another sense to that in which she meant it. The West Endtailor would have a weary time to wait before Mr Jack troubled himselfto pay for all his fine new clothes!

Jack declared that it would be of all things the most helpful ifMademoiselle would escort Pixie home, for he himself would have to leavehis journey until the very last moment before Christmas, when travellingwould be both difficult and unpleasant. He offered to telegraph to hissisters, prophesied that Mademoiselle would receive an immediateresponse, so that before he left the house the matter was virtuallysettled, and the extraordinary news spread through the school thatMademoiselle was going home with Pixie O'Shaughnessy to pay a visit toher relatives. Surprise was the first feeling, envy the next, and theelder pupils were urgent in their demands for letters. 

"Write to us, Maddie, do! Promise you will! We are all dying to hearwhat they are like. Tell us if Esmeralda is really as beautiful asPixie says, and what Bridgie is like, and the boys, and `the Major, ' andthe Castle itself. And tell us all you do, and exactly what happenswhen you arrive. Write one really long, detaily letter, and we willsend it the round of the class, so that we will all get the benefit. You will, Maddie, won't you? We do want so badly to know about Pixie'shome!"

Mademoiselle laughed merrily. It was astonishing how bright and youngshe looked in the prospect of the unexpected holiday. She was in such agood temper that it seemed really impossible for her to say No. 

"I will tell you what I can, but you know it is not _comme il faut_ tocriticise the house, in which you stay. I will write all the pleasantthings, but for the jokes--the _contretemps_, no! Pixie shall do thatif she will, I must keep them to myself. If they are all as nice as theson whom I have seen, they must be charming. I have never met a morepleasant youth. "

The girls wagged their heads in meaning fashion. 

"We saw him!" they said meaningly--"we saw him! Pixie said he wascoming about four, so we kept a lookout, and were obliged to go to thewindow to read some small print, just as he happened to walk up thesteps. Ethel heard the bell, and stopped practising five minutes beforethe time, and strolled casually downstairs to meet him. He stood asideto let her pass, and she says he smiles with his eyes, just like Pixie!Oh, of course, we don't expect you to tell tales, but just to ease ourcuriosity. We do take such an extraordinary interest in that family!"

"There is another family in which I take an even greater interest justnow, and that's the Vanes!" remarked Kate meaningly. "Miss Phipps wroteto Mr Vane, and I met poor Lottie just now with eyes all magenta withcrying over a letter she had just received from him. She saw I wassorry for her, and I think she was thankful to have someone to talk to, for she asked me to read it. " She threw up her hands with a gesture ofdismay. "Well, I don't know what I should do if my father wrote me aletter like that!"

"Ow-w-ow!" Ethel shivered dramatically. "How horrible! What did hesay? Was it terribly furious?"

"It wasn't furious at all, not even angry; but oh, so sad and solemnthat it made you turn cold to read it! `It had tears in it, ' asFraulein said of Margaret's singing, and you could tell he was sobitterly, bitterly disappointed! Lottie felt that more than if he hadbeen cross, for she does so love to be loved and fussed over; and ifever there was a poor thing scared out of her wits at the thought of to-morrow, it is herself at this moment. He comes to take her away, youknow, and instead of the holidays being a relief, as she expected, sheis longing for them to be over. She says now that she would rather notcome back here, but go to some fresh school where no one knows aboutthis trouble; but her father thinks it would be good for her to sufferthe humiliation of losing her position among us, and says if Miss Phippswill have her, she must try to regain our esteem. Ah, well, I was asdisgusted with her as anyone could be, and felt inclined never to speakto her again when I thought how she had treated the Pixie; but I amdreadfully sorry for her now, when I compare her home-going with my own. I do have such a time! The family is one beam of delight when Iarrive; the children quarrel who shall sit by me at table, and I haveall my favourite puddings. My room looks so sweet with flowers on thedressing-table, and I sit up till ten o'clock, and mother comes to seeme in bed and gives me a lovely hug. Fifty-two more hours! I'm sohappy I couldn't be angry with my deadliest enemy!"

"I saw Mr Vane once, and he looks a regular grey man, " said Ethel inreply. "Clothes, and hair, and eyes, and skin--all the same washed-outgrey. I don't wonder Lottie is in awe of him, and I'm thankful I am notmixed up in the business, so that he can't ask to interview me. Ibelieve he will want to see Pixie, though. It would seem only natural. I wouldn't say so to her for the world, but don't you think Miss Phippswill send for her when he comes?"

Some of the girls thought no, others thought yes, and events proved thatthe latter were in the right; for the next afternoon Pixie was summonedto the drawing-room in the middle of her packing, and entered to findMiss Phipps in earnest conversation with a tall, grave-looking man, while Lottie stood miserably by the window. She looked tall and womanlyin her travelling-cloak, and the pained glance which Mr Vane turnedfrom her to the new-comer showed that he felt all an Englishman's horrorat the idea of cruelty to the weak. 

"Is this--this surely can't be _Pixie_?" he asked anxiously. "I did notexpect to see anyone so--small. She is surely very young!"

He was really speaking to Miss Phipps, but as he held Pixie's hand inhis, she felt it her duty to answer for herself. 

"No--I'm really quite old, but I'm stunted. I'm twelve!" she said, smiling up at him, with the confiding look which was her bestintroduction to a stranger. She was about to enlighten him stillfurther as to the respective heights of the different members of herfamily, but a curious quiver passed over the grey face, and scared herinto silence. 

"Twelve, are you, and Lottie is sixteen! I sent for you, Pixie, to tellyou how bitterly grieved Mrs Vane and I are to think of all you havesuffered through our daughter's cowardice. I wish it were in our powerto do something for you in return, but I hope at least that Lottie hasexpressed her regret before leaving, and begged your forgiveness!"

"No, she didn't beg anything. She just cried, and hugged me, and Icried, and hugged her back. I knew she was sorry from the beginning;and it was worse for her, because she knew all the time that she waswrong, and I was quite comfortable inside. And she was very kind to mebefore that. I liked her very much. She gave me an elegant littlebrooch that she didn't want any longer. "

Mr Vane turned aside, and looked into Miss Phipps's face, and MissPhipps looked back at him with a glance half smiling, half tearful, andwithal wholly proud, as though justified in something about which shehad previously been inclined to boast. 

"Pixie finds no difficulty in forgiving, Mr Vane, and I think the bestthanks you could give her would be an opportunity of befriending Lottiestill further, and helping her to regain her position in the school. Ithink it is an encouraging omen for the future that it is the girlsthemselves who have persuaded me to take her back. "

"They are very good! You are all very good, " he said sadly. "I needhardly say how much I appreciate your kindness. Good-bye, then, littlePixie O'Shaughnessy, and I hope we may meet again under happiercircumstances. May you have happy holidays!"

"I'm going home, " said Pixie eloquently. Her radiant face made such astriking contrast to that other bleached, frightened-looking visage thatthe father's heart softened as he looked from one to the other. He tookLottie's hand and drew it tenderly through his arm. 

"And so is Lottie, and if her parents seem stern with her, it is onlybecause they are anxious for her good. She perhaps hardly realises thebitter pain it gives them to see her unhappy. "

"Father!" cried Lottie eagerly, and now for the first time she clung tohim instead of shrinking out of sight, and seemed to find comfort in thetouch of his hand. The fifth-form girls, peeping cautiously out of thewindow a few minutes later, were amazed to see her descend the stepsholding tightly to his arm, but they were too much engrossed with theirown exciting preparations to have time to ponder over the phenomenon. Only Miss Phipps and Pixie knew that the "grey man" had a tender heartdespite his sternness, and that Lottie had fallen into wise and lovingcare. 

The next morning all was excitement and bustle, cabs and omnibusesdriving up to the door of Holly House to convey parties of pupils to thestation, gushing farewells and promises to write taking place on thestaircase, mysterious bundles, "not to be opened until Christmasmorning, " slipped into trunks at the last moment, and such racings upand down stairs in search of things forgotten as can be better imaginedthan described when thirty girls half-mad with excitement are on thepoint of starting for home. 

Mademoiselle and Pixie were among the first to leave, and, despite thevery early hour of their departure, came in for such a magnificent "sendoff" that they felt quite like royal personages as they drove away fromthe door. Meals would be supplied on train and boat, but they wereladen with other comforts for the long journey in the shape of sweets, scent, books to read, and, alas! specifics against sea-sickness. Mademoiselle looked pensive whenever she thought of the hours on boardthe boat, but for the rest she was as gay as one of the girlsthemselves, and much interested in the country through which they flew. One great town after another appeared, and was left behind as theyroared through the stations, seeing nothing but a blur of white facesand undecipherable letters upon a board. Hour after hour and never astop, morning changing into afternoon, and still no slackening of thatwonderful onward rush. Two o'clock, and then, just as Pixie wasbeginning to nod after her lunch, a sudden cry of admiration came fromMademoiselle by her side, and there, close at hand, so near that but astep would have taken them upon the beach, lay the beautiful, mysterioussea, its waters shining in the winter sunshine, the breakers making aridge of white along the yellow shore. The bathing vans were drawn upon the shingle, and there were no active little figures running to andfro digging castles on the sands, no nigger minstrels and gingerbreadstalls and swarms of donkey-boys. All was still and bare and lifeless, and as the short day closed in there was an eeriness about the scenewhich made the travellers glad to draw the curtains over the windows, and which gave an added cheeriness to the prospect of tea. WhenHolyhead was reached, Mademoiselle lifted her bag and walked on boardthe steamer with the air of a martyr marching to the stake, and, toPixie's dismay, laid herself down at once with an utter disregard of thetables spread out in the saloon. She waited in what patience she couldcommand until they were well on their way and the preparations for theevening meal grew more advanced, and then it was impossible to remainsilent any longer. 

"Would ye not be taking something to warm ye, Mademoiselle?" sheinquired anxiously. "There's a lovely smell of cooking--two smells. One of them is cabbage, and the other smells like gravy spilt in theoven. Doesn't it make you hungry, that nice greasy smell?"

But Mademoiselle only groaned and bade her eat a biscuit and be silent;so for mere occupation's sake the wisest thing seemed to be to go tosleep, which she proceeded to do with extraordinary quickness. Such anamount of groanings and clanking of chains mingled with her dreams thatthey naturally took the shape of confinement within prison walls, whereshe suffered many and wonderful adventures, and from which she was onthe point of escaping under the most romantic circumstances when she wasseized in the grasp of the jailer, as she at first supposed, but itturned out to be Mademoiselle herself--such a haggard, dishevelledMademoiselle!--who bade her get up and put on her hat, for the sea wascrossed at last, and they were anchored at the quay at Dublin. Pixiefelt as if roused in the middle of the night, and altogether it was amost dejected-looking couple who went shivering across the gangway inthe pouring rain and made their way to the train for the third and laststage of the journey. Neither spoke, but just lay prone against thecushions of the railway carriage, so much asleep as to be uncomfortablyaware that they were awake, so much awake as to long hopelessly forsleep. Mademoiselle determined drearily to send for her aged father, and spend the rest of her life in enforced exile on this grey, rain-swept island, since never, never again could she summon up courage tocross that dreadful sea, and the night seemed half over when BallyWilliam was reached at last. 

The station clock was pointing to eleven, and a broken-down fly waswaiting to convey the travellers to their destination. In the dim lightthe surroundings looked both poor and squalid, but porter and flymanvied with one another in a welcome so warm that it went far to dissipatethe cheerlessness of the scene. 

Pixie discoursed with them in animated fashion the while the trunks werebeing hoisted to their places. 

"Has anyone been here from the Castle to-day, Dennis? They are allquite well, I suppose?"

"They are so, Miss Pixie, and Miss Joan down upon us this morning, hinting of what would happen if Jock was forgetting the fly. You mindthe night the lady was arriving, and having to find her way in the darkwhile he was snoring in his bed? It's a fine flow of language Miss Joanhas of her own. It's as good as a sermon to listen to her when she'sroused, and Jock was getting the benefit of it this day!"

"There's a fine tale he's spinning!" exclaimed the defaulting Jock, grinning in unabashed complacency. "Don't you be after believing a wordof it, Miss Pixie dear. It would be a cold bed that would keep JockMagee from driving ye home this night. And the size of ye too. You'vegrown out of knowledge! It's a fine strapping lass you will be one ofthese days. " And Jock gazed with simulated amazement at the elf-likefigure as it stepped forward into the lamplight. "My Molly was biddin'me give you her duty, and say her eyes are longing for the sight of youagain. "

"I'll come to-morrow, as soon as I can get away. Give Molly my love, Jock, and say I was often thinking of her. He is a decent fellow, JockMagee!" she explained to her companion, as the ramshackle vehicletrundled away in the darkness. "A decent fellow, but he has beenterrible unlucky with his wives. They fall ill on him as soon asthey're married, and cost him pounds in doctors and funerals. This onehas asthma, and he expects she will die too before very long. He saysit doesn't give a man a chance; but he's the wonderful knack for keepingup his spirits!"

He had indeed. Mademoiselle found it difficult to think of the jovial, round-faced Jehu as the victim of domestic afflictions, and for thehundredth time she reflected that this Ireland to which she had come wasa most extraordinary place. Nothing could be seen from the windows ofthe fly save an occasional tree against the sky, but ever up and up theyclimbed, while the wind blew round them in furious blasts. Thensuddenly came a bend in the road, and a vision of twinkling windows, rowupon row, stretching from one wing to the other of a fine old building, and each window glowing with its own cheery welcome. 

"It's illumined!" cried Pixie wildly, pinching Mademoiselle's arm in herexcitement. "It's illumined! Oh, Bridgie, Bridgie, did I ever see!Mademoiselle, Mademoiselle, did ye ever have a castle illumined for youbefore? Did they ever give you such a welcome in your own country?"

"Never, never!" cried Mademoiselle. She was almost as excited as Pixieherself, craning forward to peer out of the windows, countingbreathlessly the long line of lights, and reflecting that she had notsufficiently realised the grandeur of the household, to which she wascoming. Another moment and a still brighter light shone through anopened doorway, and a chorus of voices sang out welcome. Then the flystopped, someone helped her to alight, a hand clasped hersaffectionately, and a rich, soft voice spoke in her ears. 

"Are you destroyed? The journey you've been having, poor creatures, inthe wind and the rain! Are you destroyed altogether?"

This was Castle Knock indeed, and Bridgie O'Shaughnessy's fair facebeamed a welcome upon her. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

KNOCK CASTLE ONCE MORE. 

Mademoiselle was so exhausted that she begged to retire at once, and wasforthwith escorted to a huge cavern of a room, which boasted tapestriedwalls, an oaken ceiling, and a four-poster bed large enough to haveaccommodated the whole fifth-form at a pinch. It looked cheery enough, however, in the light of a great peat fire, and the visitor was feelingso unwell after her stormy crossing that her one overpowering desire wasto lay her head upon the pillows, and revel in the consciousness thather journeyings were at an end. Her tact suggested also that thisaffectionate family would be glad to have their baby to themselves forthe first meeting; but when she woke up refreshed and vigorous thefollowing morning, she was full of eagerness to get downstairs, and makethe acquaintance of the O'Shaughnessys in their own home. The nightbefore she had been so faint and dazed that she had gone automaticallythrough the various introductions, and as the lights inside the roomswere by no means as bright as those at the windows, even the very facesseemed seen through a mist. But Bridget had mentioned eight o'clock asthe breakfast-hour, so Mademoiselle leaped out of bed, and, wondering alittle why no one appeared to bring tea, hot water, or a bath, made thebest work of her toilet which was possible under the circumstances. 

Truth to tell, the room did not appear so attractive in the light of adark December morning, aided by one flickering candle upon the dressing-table. The tapestry was worn into holes, the carpet was threadbare, andthe silk curtains had faded to a dull grey hue. The general aspect wasso grim and dull, both within the room and outside in the wind-sweptpark, that the sun-loving Mademoiselle made all speed she could to getdownstairs to the cheering influences of breakfast and fire. The soundof voices guided her when she reached the ground floor, and she entereda room on the right of the hall, hoping to see the family alreadyassembled to meet her. 

What a disappointment! Not one welcoming face did she see, not a signof breakfast upon the table, and but a flicker of light on the hugegrate, before which knelt one untidy maid, while another stopped shortin her dusting operations to stare at the new-comer with unconcealedamazement. 

"Was this perhaps not the room where breakfast was held?" Mademoiselleinquired politely, but it appeared that this was the room. And she hadunderstood Miss O'Shaughnessy to say that the hour was eight o'clock. Had she been mistaken in her impression?

Molly laughed, and shook her duster in the air, so that the atoms whichshe had swept together were instantly dispersed afresh. 

"'Deed, you were right enough. The hour is eight, but you'll be in finetime if you're down by nine, " she replied encouragingly; and poorMademoiselle felt her heart sink at the thought of the weary hour whichstretched between her and the longed-for meal. Nothing solid to eatsince one o'clock yesterday, and now to have to sit shivering andwatching the provisions slowly taking their place on the table, deterredby politeness from helping herself to as much as a slice of bread. Shefelt intensely sorry for herself, but, after all, the prospect was theworst part of the business, for the kindness of the Irish heart came toher rescue, and while Molly blew at the fire with a pair of huge leatherbellows, her companion scuttled upstairs into the room where Bridgie laysweetly sleeping, to bring her out of bed with a bound with theinformation that the "foreign lady was in her clothes, and afterinquiring for her breakfast. "

In an incredibly short space of time Bridgie appeared downstairs, and asshe broke into vehement apologies, Mademoiselle had an opportunity ofstudying her face, and came to the conclusion that the little sisterhad, if anything, understated its charms. Surely never did sweeter greyeyes shelter behind curling black lashes, and look out of a broader, fairer brow. The waving hair was of purest flaxen, and the carelesscoiffure was as becoming as if arranged by the most skilful ofhairdressers. What if the mouth were large, and the nose of noclassical outline, no one who looked into Bridget O'Shaughnessy's eyeshad either time or inclination to look further. 

"I'm ashamed to think of you sitting here all by yourself!" she cried, holding both Mademoiselle's hands in hers, and smiling into her facewith a beguiling sweetness. "We always call the breakfast-hour eight;because, if we said nine, it would be ten, and ye must be punctual inarranging for a family. But it's all for the best, for I've told Mollyto bring something in at once, and you and I will have a cosy mealbefore the rest appear. And you are looking quite fresh and bright thismorning--that's good! My heart was broken for you last night, when youcame in all perished with cold. And it was so good of you to take thelong journey to give us this pleasure. You don't know the excitementthere was in this house when Jack's telegram arrived! If we werepleased to think of having a child for the holidays, imagine our delightwhen it was a girl like ourselves--a companion for Esmeralda and me!"

"A girl like ourselves!" Oh, Bridgie, Bridgie, you must have had ataste of the Blarney Stone too, to have ignored so completely the tenyears which separated you from your visitor; but, needless to say, Mademoiselle bore you no grudge for your short-sightedness, and was onlytoo happy to be classed as a girl once more. 

They sat down to breakfast together, and presently one member afteranother of the family strolled in, and took their share in entertainingthe stranger. The Major put on his most fascinating air, and revivedrecollections of an old visit to "Paree, " and Pat and Miles staredunblinkingly at every morsel she put between her lips. They were bothhandsome lads, but Pat in especial had such languishing eyes, such anair of pensive melancholy, that he seemed almost too good for thiswicked world, and as far as possible removed from the ordinarymischievous schoolboy. Mademoiselle wondered what beautiful poeticfancies were passing through his brain as he lay back in his chair andpushed the curls from his forehead. Then his eyes met hers, and hesmiled angelic questioning. 

"Do you have frogs for breakfast in your home in France, Mademoiselle?"

"Pat, be quiet! That's very rude. "

"It is not, Bridgie; it's thirst for information. Or snails, Mademoiselle? Have you often eaten snails?"

"Never once, nor frogs neither. We have a breakfast much as you havehere. Rolls of bread, and honey, and butter, and coffee--ver' goodcoffee!" and there was a regretful tone in Mademoiselle's voice, as shestruggled womanfully to swallow the grounds of chicory which seemed toconstitute the leading feature of coffee as served at Knock Castle. Shedid not intend to show her distaste, but the Major exclaimed in eageragreement with the unspoken criticism. 

"And this stuff is not fit to drink! If you will teach my girls to makecoffee as you have it in France, Mademoiselle, you will be doing me alifelong favour. I suppose you can cook by instinct, like most of yourcountrywomen?"

"I think I can--pretty well, but I do not often get the chance. If MissBreegie will let me teach her some of our favourite dishes, it will be apleasure to me too! I used to be very happy cooking tempting things formy father to eat!"

"Hark to that now, Bridgie! There's no better ambition for a young girlthan to wait upon her father and see to his comfort!" cried the Majorsolemnly; and a merry laugh rang out from the doorway as Esmeralda cameforward, and standing behind his chair, clasped her arms round his neck, the while she sent her bright, inquiring glances round the table. 

"The whole duty of woman is to wait upon man! and a good long time shehas to wait too, if the man is anything like yourself, me dear! We willmake him an omelette for his lunch this very day, Mademoiselle, if he'llpromise to eat it when he returns an hour past the proper time! I hopeyou're well, and had a good sleep after your travels. "

Mademoiselle murmured something in reply, but what, she scarcely knew, so absorbed was she in studying the charming picture made by father anddaughter, the Major with his hair scarcely touched with grey, hischarming smile and stalwart figure, and above him Esmeralda, in all herwonderful, gipsy-like beauty. Her hair was as dark as Bridgie's wasfair, and stood out from her head in a mass of curls and waves, herfeatures were perfect in their haughty, aquiline curves, and the bloomof youth was on her cheeks. With such hair and colouring it would havebeen natural to expect brown eyes, but what gave to her face its note ofdistinction was the fact that they were grey, and not brown--wonderfulclear grey eyes, which gave the beholder a thrill of mingled surpriseand admiration every time she lifted her curled black lashes and turnedthem upon him. Mademoiselle stared in speechless admiration, andEsmeralda's brothers and sisters stared at her in their turn, wellpleased at the effect produced; for what was the use of groaning beneaththe whims and tyrannies of "the beautiful Miss O'Shaughnessy, " if onecould not also enjoy a little honour and glory once in a while?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

ESMERALDA'S WILES. 

It was easy to see that if Pixie were the pet, Esmeralda was the prideof her father's heart, and exercised a unique influence over him. Sheseated herself by his side at the table, and they teased and jokedtogether more like a couple of mischievous children than a staid, grown-up father and his daughter. The girl was quick and apt in her replies, and Mademoiselle was conscious that the Major kept turning surreptitiousglances towards herself, to see if she were duly impressed by theexhibition. He evidently delighted in showing off Esmeralda's beautyand cleverness, and that in a wider circle than home, for presently hesaid meaningly--

"The hounds meet at Balligarry on Monday, Joan. It will be the best runwe have had yet, and the whole county will be there. You'll arrange tocome with me, of course. "

"I'd love to, but--" Esmeralda raised her brows, and looked across thetable with a glance half appealing, half apologetic--"it's Bridgie'sturn! I went with you the last time. "

"And the time before that!" muttered Miles into his cup; but the Majorwaved aside the suggestion with his accustomed carelessness. "Oh, Bridgie would rather stay at home. She'll be too much taken up withMademoiselle to have any time to spare. "

Mademoiselle looked, as she felt, decidedly uncomfortable, but the firstglance at Bridgie's face sufficed to restore her complacency, for thesmile was without a shadow of offence, and the voice in which shereplied was cheerfulness itself. 

"Indeed that's true! We can get hunting for half of the year, but it'snot every day we have a visitor in the house. You go with father, Esmeralda, and don't think of me! We will have a fine little spree onour own account, Mademoiselle and I! Maybe we'll drive into Roskillieand have a look at the shops!"

Mademoiselle remembered the Rue de la Paix, and smiled to herself at thethought of the shops in the Irish village, but she said honestly enoughthat she would enjoy the expedition; for would not Bridgie O'Shaughnessybe her companion, and did she not appear sweeter and more attractivewith every moment that passed? Nearly an hour had elapsed sincebreakfast began, and still she sat behind the urn, smiling brilliantlyat each fresh laggard, and looking as unruffled as if she had nothing todo but attend to his demands! It was the quaintest meal Mademoisellehad ever known, and seemed as if it would never come to an end, for justas she was expecting a general rise the Major would cry, "What about afresh brew of tea? I could drink another cup if I were pressed, " andpresto! it took on a new lease of life. Last of all Pixie made herappearance, to be invited to a seat on each knee, and embraced with afervour which made Mademoiselle realise more fully than ever what thechild must have suffered during those weeks of suspicion and coldness. 

"How's my ferret?" she inquired, with her mouth full of toast, selectedfrom her father's plate; and Pat seized the occasion to deliver hisoutstanding account. 

"Grown out of knowledge! Eightpence halfpenny you owe me now. I had toput on another farthing a week because his appetite grew so big. I knewyou would rather pay more than see him suffer. And the guinea-pig died. There's twopence extra for funeral expenses. We put him in the orchardbeside the dogs, and made a headstone out of your old slate. It's arattling good idea, because, don't you see, you can write your owninscription!"

"If it was my own slate, and I am to make up the inscription, I don'tsee why I should pay!" reasoned Pixie, with a business sharpness whichsent her father into fits of delighted laughter, though it left Patobstinately firm. 

"Man's time!" he said stolidly. "That's what costs nowadays. You lookat any bill, and you'll find the labour comes to ten times as much asthe material. You needn't grudge the poor thing its last resting-place. He was a good guinea-pig to you. "

"I don't care how much I owe, for I have no money to pay with, " returnedPixie, unconsciously echoing her father's financial principles. "GivePat a shilling, please, Major, for taking care of my animals while I wasaway. " And that gentleman promptly threw a coin across the table. 

"I wish my animals were as cheap to keep! Well, who is coming out withme this morning? I have an appointment in Roskillie at 10:30, but Ican't be there now until 11, so there's no use hurrying. Put on yourcap, piccaninny, and come to the stables with me. The girls will lookafter you, Mademoiselle, and find some means of amusing you for theday. "

"Oh yes, we'll take care of her!" said Esmeralda lightly; then, as theboys withdrew after their father, she planted her elbows on the tableand looked across under questioning eyebrows. "Please, have we to callyou `Mademoiselle' all the time? Haven't you a nice, pretty French namethat we could call you instead?"

"Therese! Yes, please do! I should feel so much more happy!" criedMademoiselle eagerly, and Bridgie nodded in approval. 

"Therese is charming, and it's so much more friendly to use Christiannames at Christmas-time. I shall begin at once. We want you to help uswith the decoration of the rooms, Therese! We shall be just a familyparty, but Jack will be at home, and we will have games and charades tomake it lively. We might rehearse something this morning, mightn't we, Joan dear?"

"_I_ mightn't!" replied "Joan dear" promptly, "because why?--I've gotsomething better to do. There is plenty of time still, and you willagree with me later that my business is important. If you put on acloak, Therese, I will come back for you in ten minutes, and take you tothe stables to join father and Pixie. It will amuse you, I'm sure. "

She left the room without waiting for a reply, and Bridgie heaved a sighof disappointment. 

"She's just mad after horses, that girl. Now she will be off withfather, and not a sight of her shall we have until afternoon. It's easyto say there is time to spare, but to-morrow we must decorate, and lookafter all the arrangements for Jack's return, and I do hate a scramble. However, when Esmeralda says she won't, she won't, and there's an end ofit. You had better go with her, dear, while I interview the servants. "

"I suppose I had, " said Mademoiselle slowly. She thought Esmeraldaselfish and autocratic, but she was fascinated, despite herself, by herbeauty and brightness, and anxious to know her better; so she obedientlywent up to her room to heap on the wraps, for the morning was cold, though by this time the sun was struggling from behind the clouds. Onthe way down she was joined by Esmeralda in riding costume--a mostpeculiar riding costume, and, extraordinary to relate, most unbecominginto the bargain. Mademoiselle's critical glance roamed from head tofoot, back again from foot to head, while Esmeralda stood watching herwith tightened lips and curious twinkling eyes. Then Bridgie appearedupon the scene, and stopped short, uttering shrill cries ofastonishment, as she looked at the slovenly tie, the twisted skirt, thegeneral air of dishevelment and shabbiness. 

"Esmeralda, you're an _Object_! Look at the dust on your skirt. You'venot half brushed it, and everything is hanging the wrong way. It's aperfect disgrace you look, to ride out with any man!"

"I'm delighted to hear it! That's just my intention, " replied the younglady, tugging the disreputable skirt still further awry, and nodding herbeautiful head, with an air of mysterious amusement. The blue serge hada smudge of white all down one side, which looked suspiciously as if thepowder-box had been spilt over it. A seam gaped open and showed littlefragments of thread still sticking to the cloth. 

If Esmeralda's intention was to look disreputable, she had certainlyaccomplished her object; and when the stables were reached she took careto place herself conspicuously, so that her father's eyes must ofnecessity rest upon her. 

"I'm going to ride to Roskillie with you, dad! It's a fine morning, andI thought you would be the better of my company. "

"That's a good girl!" cried the Major cheerily; then his brow puckered, and he stared uneasily at the untidy figure. He was so unnoticing aboutclothes that it required a good deal to attract his attention, butsurely there was something wrong about the girl's get-up to-day? Hekept throwing uneasy glances towards her while the horses were broughtout, and Esmeralda strolled about in a patch of sunshine, and picked hersteps gingerly over the muddles, like a model of fastidious care. Shesprang to the saddle, light as thistledown, and curved her gracefulthroat with a complacent toss, as the groom smoothed her skirt, bringingthe white stain into full prominence. 

"You want dusting!" said the Major curtly, and a brush was brought fromthe stable, and scrubbed vigorously up and down, with the result thatthe surface of the cloth was frayed and roughened, though there was noappreciable removal of the stain. 

"It doesn't seem as if it would come out, does it? but there are plentymore further on, " said Esmeralda innocently. "Have a try at another, Dennis!"--but the Major motioned the man away with a hasty gesture. 

"Leave the rag alone--it's past dusting! Is that the best habit youhave to your back?" he cried testily, and the dark eyes looked into hiswith angelic resignation. 

"It was a very good habit--six years ago! That's as good as twelve, forwe've worn it in turns ever since. The bodice is the least thing in theworld crinkly, for I'm broader than Bridgie, and stretch it out, andthen it goes into creases on her figure. We might try washing the skirtto take out the stains, and then it would be clean, if the colour _did_run a bit! Ride round by the back roads, dear, and I'll keep behind, and not disgrace you!"

"Humph, " said the Major again, and led the way out of the yard withoutanother word, Esmeralda following, looking over her shoulder at thelittle group of watchers with a smile of such triumphant enjoyment astook away Mademoiselle's breath to behold. She looked inquiringly atPixie, but Pixie and Dennis were in silent convulsions of enjoyment, andonly waited until the riders were out of hearing before exploding intopeals of laughter. 

"That bates all for the cleverness of her! Miss Bridgie has beenfretting over that old habit for a couple of years, and trying towheedle a new one out of the Major, but it's Miss Joan that can twisthim round her little finger when she takes the work in hand! That was afunny stain, that got the worse the more you brushed it! She never gotthat on the hunting-field. Go back to the house, Miss Pixie, dearie, and tell the mistress the new habit is as good as paid for. The Major'snot the man I take him for, if he passes the tailor's door this morningwithout stepping inside!"

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS. 

Esmeralda strolled into the house in time for afternoon tea, and smiledcomplacently around as she warmed herself at the fire. 

"Blue cloth!" she announced triumphantly. "No more serge, thank you, but good, solid cloth with a fine surface to it, and a smart little coatinstead of a bodice, which was pure unselfishness on my part, for Ishould have been fitted well enough, and the man pressed it on me, but Ithought of you, me darling, and the agony it would be to you to haveyour waist misjudged by a couple of inches, so I stuck to the coat, andI hope you are grateful!"

"I am, " said Bridgie frankly; but there was a pained expression minglingwith her satisfaction, and presently she added slowly, "So Dennis wasright, and you got your way again. I have been trying for ages topersuade father that we needed a new habit, but he paid no attention tome. "

"You didn't go about it the right way, me dear. You are fifty timescleverer than I, but there is one thing you don't understand, and thatis how to manage men! They hate and detest being told what to do, andthe secret of getting round them is to make them believe that what youwant is their own suggestion. You have to be very cunning, and that'sjust what you can never manage to be!"

"Yes, she can!" came a shrill cry from the doorway, as Pixie burst intothe room and made a bee-line for the tea-table. "Indeed she can now, Esmeralda, so it's no use denying it. She can, perfectly well!"

The three listeners looked at each other with questioning glances, forsuch vehemence was somewhat bewildering on the part of one who could notpossibly have heard the first part of the conversation. 

"What can she do?" queried Esmeralda sternly. 

"Whatever you say she can't, " replied the champion, unabashed; and atthat the cloud rolled off Bridgie's brow, like mist before the sun. 

"Oh, you precious goose! Bridgie can do everything, can't she? Shealways could in your eyes. It's very silly of you, dear, but it's verynice. I'm not at all vexed with you about it. "

"You would be, though, if you were her true friend, but you always spoilone another, you two!" cried Esmeralda lightly. Then she stared roundthe room with a surprised expression, and added disapprovingly, "Youseem to have been fairly lazy while I've been out. I thought you wouldhave been getting on with the decorations. Whatever have you beendoing?"

"Roaming about, and actually daring to enjoy ourselves like otherpeople, " retorted Bridgie, with what Mademoiselle was glad to recogniseas a decided nip of severity; "but from this minute there must be nomore playing until the work is finished. Dennis has cut the evergreens, and we must begin making wreaths at once, so as to be in order when Jackarrives to-morrow evening. We could have two hours' work beforedinner. "

"I loathe making wreaths; they are so dirty and prickly, and I take apride in me hands; they are the only ones I have, and what's the use ofsleeping in white kid gloves, the same as if I were dressed for a party, if they are to be scratched all over with that hateful holly?"Esmeralda stretched out two well-shaped, if somewhat large, hands, andgazed at them with pensive admiration; but Bridgie was firm, and, scratches or no scratches, insisted that she should take her own shareof the work. As soon as tea was over, then, the family descended to theservants' hall, a whitewashed apartment about as cheerful as a vault, and but little warmer despite the big peat fire, where they set to workto reduce a stack of evergreens into wreaths and borderings for cottonwool "Merrie Christmases" and "Happy Newe Yeares" reserved from formeroccasions. 

Pat and Miles cut the branches into smaller and more workableproportions. Pixie unravelled string and wire, and the three eldersworked steadily at their separate wreaths. At the end of an hour theyhad progressed so well that it was suggested that the three fragmentsshould be tied together, and the wreath hung in the hall, to clear theroom for further operations. 

The suggestion being universally approved, a stormy half-hour followed, when each of the five O'Shaughnessys harangued the others concerning thesuperiority of his or her own plan of decoration, and precious liveswere imperilled on the oldest and shakiest of step-ladders. The boyscould naturally mount to the highest step without a fear, but, whenmounted, were so clumsy and inartistic in their arrangements that theywere called down with derisive cries, and retired to sulk in a corner. Then Bridgie lifted her skirt and gallantly ascended five steps, feltthe boards sway beneath her, and scuttled down to make way for hersister. The daring rider across country possessed stronger nerves, butalso a heavier body, and the ladder creaked so ominously beneath herthat she insisted upon the whole company acting as props, in one breathsending them running for hammer and rope, and in the next shrieking tothem to return to their posts. 

By the time that the wreath was really hung, the friction had reachedsuch a pitch that Mademoiselle expected a state of civil war for therest of the evening, and even wondered if the atmosphere would have timeto clear before Christmas itself. She could hardly believe the evidenceof her senses when the boys affably volunteered to clear away therubbish, and Bridgie and Esmeralda went upstairs with wreathed arms, calling one another "Darling" and "Love, " with the echo of sharp tauntand sharper reply still ringing in the air! Certainly, if the Irishtongue were quick, the heart seemed even quicker to forgive an enemy, orpardon an offence. 

By the time that Mademoiselle retired to bed that night the last remnantof strangeness had vanished, and she felt like a lifelong friend andconfidante. She had seen the menu for the Christmas dinner, and hadhelped to manufacture jellies and creams, while Pixie perched upon thedresser, industriously scraping basins of their sweet, lemony, creamyleavings, with the aid of a teaspoon and an occasional surreptitiousfinger when her sisters were looking in an opposite direction. Shesuggested and achieved such marvels in the way of garnishing that Mollywas greatly impressed, being a very plain cook in more ways than one, and solemnly asked for advice upon the killing of turkeys, whenMademoiselle had to acknowledge ignorance, and lost caste forthwith. Then Esmeralda invited her to a display of evening dresses in herbedroom, and wished to know which she should wear--the black silk withthe net top, or the net top over a white skirt, or the black silk withno top at all, and Bridgie plaintively appealed to her for the castingvote on the great question of crackers or no crackers!

It was certainly a curious mingling of grandeur and poverty, this lifein the half-ruined Castle, with its magnificent tapestries and carvings, its evidences of bygone splendour, and, alas! present-day parsimony. The little house at Passy could have been put down inside the greatentrance hall, but it was a trim little habitation, where on a minutescale all the refinements and niceties of life were observed, and incomeand expenditure were so well balanced that there was always a margin tothe good; but the Misses O'Shaughnessy, who bore themselves as queens inthe neighbourhood, and were treated with truly loyal deference, ownedhardly a decent gown between them, and were seriously exercised aboutspending an extra half-crown on a Christmas dinner!

"It's the trifles that mount up! I am a miser about pennies, but I canspend pounds with the best!" Bridgie explained; and Mademoiselle smiledmeaningly, for had not the order just gone forth that the Castle was tobe "illumined" once more for the arrival of the son and heir?

On Christmas Eve the rain fell in torrents, and, after a morning spentin preparations of one sort and another, the workers felt the need of alittle amusing recreation. This did not seem easy to achieve, in thislonely habitation set in the midst of a rain-swept plain, but Bridgie'sfertile brain came to the rescue, and proposed a scheme which kept theyoung people busy for the rest of the afternoon. 

"I vote we have a fancy-dress dinner to-night!" she cried, at theconclusion of lunch. "Not an ordinary affair, but like the one thePegrams enjoyed so much when they were spending the winter inGrindelwald. `A sheet and pillow-case party, ' they called it, for thatis all you have out of which to make your dress. I will open the linen-box and give you each a pair of sheets, and a pillow-case for head-gear, and you must arrange them in your own rooms, and not let anyone see youuntil the gong rings. It really will be quite pretty--all the whitefigures against the flags and holly, and we shall feel more festive thanin our ordinary clothes. I think it will be great fun, don't you?"

Great fun indeed! The O'Shaughnessy family was always ready for anyexcitement, and particularly so at Christmas-time, a season when we allfeel that we _ought_ to be festive, and are injured in our minds ifthere is nothing to make us so. 

Esmeralda fell at once to pleating her table-napkin into one shape afteranother, Mademoiselle smiled over a happy inspiration, whereupon wilyPat put on his most angelic look and asked--

"Will you dress me, Mademoiselle? A man's no good at this sort ofthing. You can't fasten sheets with screws, and I'm no hand at fancystitching. I've an idea I'd look rather well as--" He whispered a fewwords in her ear, and Mademoiselle threw up her hands, and laughed, andnodded in emphatic assent. 

Pixie and Miles fell to Bridgie's share, while the Major declared thathe would have nothing to do with such foolishness, but with a ruminatingexpression on his face which belied the words. 

Bridgie went upstairs immediately after lunch, and, opening her linen-chest, apportioned its contents among the different members of thefamily. Some wanted large sheets, some wanted small; some begged forfrills to their pillow-cases, some preferred plain; but at last all weresatisfied, and were further supplied with tape from the various work-baskets, while Pixie was sent a round of the bedrooms to pick up thepins, with which the floors were liberally scattered, as the demand inthis direction was so large as to be practically unlimited. 

Esmeralda flew off at once, with the boys in her train; but Mademoisellelingered to help Bridgie to fold away the linen that was not needed, andto enjoy the luxury of a quiet chat, which was not an easy thing toaccomplish in this noisy household. Bridgie in company was alwayslaughing and gay, but the visitor had already noticed that Bridgie alonewas apt to grow grave and to wear a wistful pucker on her brow. It wasthere now as she locked the chest and sat down on the lid, stretchingout her arms with a sigh of weariness. The wintry light left thegallery full of shadows, and the only bright thing to be seen was thegirl's own golden head outlined against the oak walls. Mademoisellethought that if she had been an artist she could have wished for nofairer picture than this old-world corridor, with the fair face of theyoung mistress shining out like a lily in the darkness; but the lilytoiled more than she liked to see, and she could not restrain a protestagainst the custom which gave one sister all the work, and another allthe play. 

"You are tired already before the day is half over, and now you havethose children's dresses to look after as well as your own! Why do younot make Esmeralda help, instead of doing everything yourself?"

"Esmeralda, is it?" Bridgie's face lit up with a smile as she repeatedthe name. "Indeed now, Mademoiselle, I'm never worked so hard in mylife as when Esmeralda has been trying to help, and I have to tidy awayafter her! She has the best will in the world, poor thing; but workdoesn't come naturally to her. You mustn't be hard on her. She showsher worst side to a stranger, for, though her first impulse may beselfish, when she takes time to think, she is all generosity andkindness. That habit, now! She was longing to have a fitted bodice, but she chose a coat, out of consideration for me. She is a darling, and so young yet that I don't like to worry her. Let her have a goodtime as long as she may. It will be hard enough soon. "

Mademoiselle started and looked alarmed questionings, and Bridgie smiledin response, saying in cool, conversational tones--

"We are ruined, you know! We can't go on living here much longer. Father has spent all his money, and we should have had to leave beforenow, but that he came into a little more at mother's death. It was notmuch, and it is going very fast. It can't be more than a year or two atmost before the crash comes, so you can't wonder I let the boys andgirls enjoy themselves, can you?"

"_Mais oui_! I wonder very much!" cried Mademoiselle, dismayed at whatseemed to her prudent mind such a fatal way of preparing for adifficulty. "The kind thing surely would be to prepare them for whatwill come. It will make it more hard if they have never known work. Inthree years one can do much to prepare for a struggle. Why do you notspeak to your sister, and say it is time to stop play? Why do you notsend her away to work, and then perhaps the bad day need never comeafter all?"

Bridgie looked surprised, almost shocked at the suggestion. The easy-going Irish nature saw things in a different light from that taken bythe thrifty Frenchwoman; moreover, the idea of girls working forthemselves was still viewed as decidedly _infra dig_ by the old-fashioned inhabitants of Bally William. She gasped at the thought ofher father's wrath at such a suggestion, then laughed at the idea ofEsmeralda's earnings being large enough to stave off the coming ruin. 

"I'm afraid it would be taking more than that to prevent it, Therese!You don't know the state our landlords are in over here. There's nomoney to be got at all, and things go from bad to worse. Until motherdied I didn't know how poor we were, and at first I wore myself topieces saving pennies here and halfpennies there; but there's not muchfun in saving twopence when nothing less than thousands of pounds woulddo any good. I grew tired of it, and says I to myself, `A short life, and a merry one!' If I can't help, I'll just put the thought from mymind, and give the young ones a good time to remember. No use troublingthe creatures before it's necessary!"

Mademoiselle grunted in eloquent disapproval, and wished to know whetherthe master of the house had been equally philosophical. 

"Is it the Major?" cried Bridgie, laughing. "He never troubles himselfabout anything, and he has it all fitted up like a puzzle. Esmeralda isto marry a duke, Jack a countess in her own right, and meself amillionaire manufacturer, who will be so flattered at marrying anO'Shaughnessy that he will be proud to house Pixie into the bargain. Pat and Miles are to go to London to seek their fortunes, and the Castleis to be let--to Jack and his wife by preference, but, failing them, toanyone who offers, when the Major can keep himself and his hunters onthe rental without a `Thank you' to anyone. It works out so beautifullywhen you hear him talk, that it seems folly to trouble oneselfbeforehand. "

"And suppose you don't marry? Your country is full of old maids. Andsuppose the Castle does not let? It is very far from--anywhere!" saidMademoiselle, who had lived in the gayest city in the world, and feltthe solitude of Bally William only a degree less absolute than that ofthe backwoods themselves. "Suppose none of these things of which youspeak were to 'appen, what then?"

"Indeed, I can't tell you!" returned Bridgie, truthfully enough. "And--excuse me, me love, it's not a very diverting suggestion for the time ofyear! Let me keep my millionaire, if it's only for the day, for by thesame token I'm quite attached to him in prospect! Will you come andvisit me, Therese, when I'm comfortably established in my soap bubble?"

She was laughing again, full of mischief and wilful impracticability, and Mademoiselle was tactful enough to realise that the time was not aptfor pressing her lesson further. Later on she would return to thecharge, but to-day at least might be safely given over to enjoyment. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

PAT'S TAUNT. 

When the gong sounded that night two white-robed figures stole out ofMademoiselle's room, and crept quietly along the gallery. Pat wasarrayed as a knight of old, wearing a pair of Esmeralda's old whitestockings, surmounted by loose linen trunks, the rest of the sheet beingingeniously swathed round his body, and kept in place by such anelaborate cris-crossing of tape as gave the effect of a slashed doublet. A thickly pleated cloak, (made out of sheet number two), hung over hisshoulders, and the pillow-case was drawn into a cap, which was placedjauntily on the side of his head. As handsome a young knight as onecould wish to see was Mr Patrick O'Shaughnessy, and the manner in whichhe held Mademoiselle's hand, and led her down the great staircase, evoked thunders of applause from the watchers beneath. 

Mademoiselle herself looked worthy of her squire, for her dark, animatedface stood the test of the unrelieved whiteness so successfully, thatshe was all ablush with delight at the discovery that she was not an oldwoman after all, but on occasion could still look as girlish as shefelt. She was attired as a Normandy peasant, with turned-back skirt andloose white bodice; but the feature of the costume was undoubtedly thecap, which looked so extraordinarily like the real article that thesceptical refused to believe in its pillow-case origin, until thebuttonholes were exhibited in evidence. 

"It is wonderful--wonderful! But how have you made it so stiff andcrinkly?" the Major inquired curiously; and Mademoiselle laughed ingleeful triumph. 

"I 'ave curled it with the curling tongs--not perhaps curl, but what thewasherwoman would say--`goffer, ' and for the rest, can you not see thewire? It is a piece I have taken upstairs after the decorations, and itis stitched in to keep the folds in place; but I must keep my 'eadstill, for it is not too strong. You are very fine too, sir. You are, I suppose, some old patrician?"

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!" declaimed the Major, throwing his arms about with impassioned gestures. His white toga fellin graceful folds round his tall figure; his arms were bared to theelbows; he wore a twisted turban, which was impressive, if not exactlyappropriate; and it was really an imposing spectacle to behold himstrutting up and down the hall, with a great display of sandalled feet, of which he was evidently immensely proud. 

Bridgie sat demurely on a high-backed chair, a sweet-faced nun, with hergolden hair hidden from sight, and her dark-lashed eyes looking lovelierthan ever when contrasted with the white bands across her forehead. Shehad been so busy dressing others that she had had no time to plananything more elaborate for herself; but if she had worked for days shecould not have hit on a costume more becoming to her style of beauty. It was scarcely in character, however, to shriek aloud with laughter, asshe did a moment later, as Mark Antony was suddenly arrested on hismarch by an apparition which leapt forward from behind a screen, andadvanced upon him to an accompaniment of unearthly groanings. 

Miles as a ghost was certainly an eerie figure; for by means of a stickstrapped to his back the sheet was raised to an abnormal altitude, whilea couple of tennis rackets held in either hand, made extended wings, with which to swoop about, and raise warning signals to the onlookers. He chased Mark Antony until that classic gentleman threatened fight witha poker; when he amused himself by groaning vigorously at Pixie, who hadbeen attired as a "Lady in Waiting"--not, it must be confessed, with anystriking success; and who was somewhat ruffled in her temper throughconstant trippings over her train. 

"Ye stupid thing!" she cried crossly. "Be over hooting at me! If youare a bogie, you can go and haunt by yourself, and not molest yourbetters! It's the worst dress of the lot. Nothing but three sticks andthe sheets in knots. You had better rest yourself a bit, and groanwhile we are at dinner, for your head is covered up that tight thatyou'll never be able to eat!"

"Trust me!" cried Miles, and somewhere about the middle of the ghost thewhite folds parted, and out peered a crimson face with twinkling eyes, and a mat of damp curls falling over the forehead. "You don't catch metaking any part which interfered with eating! Contrariwise--I'm bestoff of you all, for I have just to drop my sticks, and--there I am! Thesheet falls down, and I eat my dinner in comfort, instead of beingstewed alive, as you will be before it's half over. "

"That's true for you! I feel as if I had mumps already!" sighed the nunsadly; but the next moment she gave a cry of delight, and pointedeagerly across the hall. 

"Esmeralda! Oh, look! look!"

There had been so much to see and admire that the absence of the seconddaughter of the house had not been noticed; but even as Bridgie spokeeach one realised that her late arrival was just what might have beenexpected. The beautiful Miss O'Shaughnessy had preferred to be sure ofher audience before appearing upon the stage; for, to judge by thecontinuous rumble of the sewing-machine which had sounded from her room, she had bestowed no little pains upon her costume. 

Great expectations are apt to be disappointed; but in this instance itis safe to say that the reality exceeded the wildest dreams, for it wasalmost impossible to believe that this charming figure owed her attireto no more promising materials than ordinary bed-linen! Esmeralda hadaimed at nothing less ambitious than a Watteau costume, and the rumblingof the machine was accounted for by one glance at the elaboratelyquilted petticoat. She had folded a blanket between the double sheet, so as to give the effect of wadding, and an ancient crinoline held outthe folds with old-world effect. For the rest she wore the orthodoxpanniers on the hips, and a bodice swathed as artistically as might be, round the beautiful bare neck and arms. Her hair was dressed high andpowdered, and the pillow-case was drawn into the shape of a hood whichdangled lightly over her arm. Half-way down the staircase she came to astand, and stood sunning herself in the applause of the beholders, thencame slowly forward, and, standing in the middle of the floor, revolvedslowly round and round, so as to display every feature of her costume. It was certainly a marvel of ingenuity, and amidst the general chorus ofpraise, Mademoiselle could not refrain from improving the occasion byremarking that such a good needlewoman should have no difficulty inturning dressmaker for her own and her sisters' benefit. The reply tothis insinuation was a threatening grimace, and Esmeralda made haste todraw her father's attention to another topic. 

"Aren't you proud of me now, father dear, and cut to the heart to thinkthat no one will see me but yourself? Sure it's a crime to waste allthis splendour on the desert air!"--and she rolled her eyes at him witha languishing glance, and smiled so bewitchingly, that the Major rubbedhis hands in delight, and fell unhesitatingly into the snare. 

"Faith, and you're right! It's a perfect crime. We should have askedsome of the neighbours to see you. Bridgie, why did you not think ofthat, now? We might have had a pleasant little party to amuse yourfriend, instead of taking all this trouble for nothing!"

"Not on two days' invitation, father, and besides, Jack is not here yet. While he is at home, perhaps--"

"Yes, father, on New Year's Eve! Give us leave to ask some people onNew Year's Eve, and we will plan such a wonderful programme as will bethe talk for miles around. I'm brimful of ideas, and we have not hadany sort of entertainment for two years now. Say we may ask them, won'tyou, dear?"

But at this the Major began to look uneasy, for it was one thing to findfault with Bridgie for not having given an invitation in the past, andquite another to be asked to sanction a fresh one in the future. 

"Who will you be wanting to ask?" he queried anxiously. "Never did Imeet such an exacting child! My mouth's no sooner opened than you areready to jump inside! `A wonderful programme, ' says she. And who's topay for it, may I ask? You would ruin me between you, you children, ifI hadn't saved you the trouble long ago. How much will thisentertainment be costing me now?"

"Oh, twopence halfpenny! Not more than that. We will kill the oldturkey, that is so tough that he is fairly pleading to be killed, anduse up the dessert from Christmas, and Mademoiselle shall make us someof her fine French dishes, and there will be so much going on that therewill be very little time to eat. Make your mind easy, and trust to me. "

"I'll see you through!" cried Esmeralda grandly; whereupon the Majorshrugged his shoulders, and reflected cheerfully that a few pounds moreor less made little difference. Let the girl have her way! she had beenkept too long in seclusion as it was, and what was the use of possessingthe most beautiful daughter in the county if you could not show her offto your friends once in a while?

Silence was rightly interpreted as consent, and having gained her point, Esmeralda was wreathed in smiles and amiability for the rest of theevening. 

The Major dispensed with his toga at an early hour, and Nun and Ghostalike shed their wrappings and appeared in ordinary evening dress; butEsmeralda was too complacently conscious of looking her best to make anychange in her attire. Dinner passed hilariously enough, and then, therain having ceased, the Major put on his coat and went out for a walk inthe grounds, while the ladies retired to their snuggery upstairs andmade themselves comfortable round the fire. To them entered presentlyMaster Pat, white knight no longer, but an ordinary shabby striplingwith pensive eyes and an innocent expression. He sat himself down inleisurely fashion, and gazed at his second sister with melancholyinterest, as one far removed from youthful follies and grieved to beholdthem in those he held dear. 

"You are the only one who has kept on her dress! I suppose you don'tmind what you suffer, so long as you make an appearance! It's a pity, as you said, that there is no one to admire you, but if you would liketo meet a stranger, why don't you go for a walk down the left wing andback by the hall? The moonlight is shining in at the windows, and youknow the old saying that if you walk by yourself in the moonlight to-night you will see the spirit of your future husband waiting for you!You might have a peep at him now, and come back and tell us what he islike!"

Esmeralda turned her head on the cushion, and looked at him with a lazysmile. 

"What nonsense are you talking? You are thinking of Hallowe'en, stupid!That has nothing to do with to-day!"

"It has, then! It's just as good as Christmas Eve. We been told so bythose that know, but you want to get out of it because you haven't thepluck. All girls are afraid of the dark. "

"You said yourself it was moonlight! I shouldn't be afraid to walk thewhole round of the Castle if it came to that, but I don't see why Ishould. I'm snug and comfortable here, and it's not worth disturbingmyself to convince a boy like you!"

"So you say. " Pat wagged his head in undisguised scepticism. "It'seasy to talk, my dear, but I should prefer actions to words. You made apoor show on that ladder yesterday, and I don't like to own a coward formy sister. Look here now, you were worrying me to give you that racket, and I said I would do nothing of the kind, but I'll change my mind andhand it over to you to-night, if you will walk that round and come backhere without letting a single howl out of you the whole time!"

Bridgie drew her brows together and looked suspicious at this unwontedgenerosity, but Esmeralda sprang to her feet, all eagerness andexcitement. 

"You will now? Honour bright? If I walk down the left wing, go downthe circular staircase, and round by the hall, you will hand the racketover when I come back?"

"I will so!"

"You hear that, you girls? You are witnesses, remember! I'm off thisminute, and if I meet my spouse I'll bring him back for a warm by thefire, so stoke up and get a good blaze. I hope he will think I ambecomingly arrayed. "

He was sure to do that, was Mademoiselle's reflection as she smiled backinto the sparkling face, and watched the tall figure flit down thecorridor. Quite ghost-like it looked in the cold blue rays which camein through the windows, the dead white of the dress standing out sharplyagainst the darkness of the background. It was almost as if the spiritof one of those old ancestors whose portraits lined the walls had comeback to revisit her old home, and Bridgie shivered as she looked, andturned on Pat with unusual sharpness. 

"What nonsense are you up to now? She'll not catch anything but herdeath of cold, wandering about those galleries with her bare arms andneck. Spirits indeed! You ought to know better than to believe in suchnonsense; but there's some mischief afoot, or you wouldn't be sogenerous all of a sudden. What's the meaning of it now? Tell me thisminute!"

Pat's grin of delight extended from ear to ear; he stood in obstinatesilence until the last flicker of whiteness disappeared in the distance, then shut the door, and deliberately barred it with his back. 

"Sit down, then, and I'll give the history; but don't attempt to getout, for you'll not pass this door except over my dead body. You sayshe won't meet anybody, do you? That's where you are wrong, for he'swaiting for her at this very minute. He came ringing at the door fiveminutes ago, the young Englishman that's with the Trelawneys, and thatfather was after offering a mount to the other day. `Is MrO'Shaughnessy at home?' says he. `He is, sir, ' says Molly, knowing nobetter, for she never had a sight of the Major after dinner. `Can I seehim for a moment? I'll not come farther than the hall, for the cart'swaiting, and I am not fit to enter a room. ' So with that he comes in, six foot two, if he's an inch, and covered from head to foot in a shinywhite mackintosh, with his head peeping out on top, and I've seen ugliermen than him before this. I was coming down the stairs after sheddingme sheets, and Molly was asking me where the Major might be, so I toldher to send Dennis in search, and I was all smiles and apologies for thedarkness of the place, with only the one lamp and the fire dying out onthe hearth. `I'll fetch more light, ' says I, and, `Pray do nothing ofthe kind. It's charming to see this fine old place lit up by themoonlight; I could study it for an hour on end. A perfect setting for aghost story, isn't it?' says he, smiling, and with that he crosses overto the window, and by the same token it was a regular ghost he lookedhimself, all tall, and straight, and shiny white. Then it walked intomy head what a jest it would be to send Esmeralda to meet him, and thetwo of them each thinking the other was a ghost, and frightened out oftheir seven senses. So I excused myself, polite like, saying I wouldspeak to my sister, and the rest of the tale you know for yourselves. Itaunted her with cowardice to make her rise to the occasion, but thatwouldn't work, and time was passing, so I turned to bribery, but by goodfortune I'll keep my racket yet. At this very moment she will befeeling her way cautiously down that stair, and he'll be hearing thecreak, and coming forward to see the cause. All bluey white they'll be, and each one so scared by the sight of the other that they'll hardlydare to breathe. Listen now while I open the door, and you may hear hersqueal. "

"Patrick O'Shaughnessy, ye graceless boy, how dare you take such aliberty with your sister! A strange man, --an Englishman, --and Esmeraldaknowing nothing about him, and believing there is no one near! Let mepass now! Stand aside this moment! Patrick O'Shaughnessy, will you letme pass, or will you not?"

"I will not!" returned Pat sturdily. "It's my joke, and I'm not goingto have it spoiled. You leave them to fight it out between themselves, and if they come out alive you'll hear the tale first hand. `What do myeyes behold?' says he. `What fairy form is this I see before me?'`Pity me!' says she. `What's that white pillar over there by thewindow? It's a dust sheet that Molly has been hanging over thecurtains, and maybe the draught is making it move. Oh, oh, oh, there'sa head to it! It's alive! It comes towards me! What will I do? Whatwill I do?'"

Pat clasped his hands in affected terror, and shrieked in cleverimitation of his sister's manner. The door was still ajar, and as hestopped a sound from below rose faintly to the ears of his companions, asecond shriek so alike in tone and expression that it might have beenthe echo of his own. "Pixie, " cried Bridgie wildly, "at him, Pixie! Athim!" And like a flash of lightning Pixie lay prone on the floor withher arms wound tightly round Pat's legs. He swayed and staggered, clutched at the wall, and felt Mademoiselle's arms nip him from behind, as the door flew open, and Bridgie sped like a lapwing along thegallery. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

THE WHITE LADY. 

Esmeralda set out on her expedition in the highest spirits, for a girlwho is brought up on a regime of outdoor sport is not troubled withnerves, and she laughed at the suggestion of ghosts with the scorn whichit deserved. What she did not laugh at, however, was the promise ofPat's racket, a gift to him from an absent godfather, and coveted by allhis brothers and sisters, but by none so much as Esmeralda, who played avery pretty game of her own, and felt a conviction that she coulddistinguish herself still more if she possessed a good racket instead ofthe old one which had done duty for years, and was now badly sprung. 

Pat had promised in the presence of witnesses to hand over his treasureif she returned to the schoolroom without--oh, elegantexpression!--"letting a howl out of her, " and Esmeralda smiled toherself at the unlikeliness of such a proceeding. Why, except for thecold air, it was really a treat to walk along the disused old gallerywhich traversed the left wing of the Castle, where the moonbeams shonein through the long row of windows with such picturesque effect. Shesauntered along, enjoying the scene with artistic appreciation, evenfeeling a sense of satisfaction in her own appropriate attire. Powderedhair and hooped skirt seemed more in keeping with the surroundings thanthe bicycling dress of everyday life, and it was an agreeable variety topose as one's own great-grandmother once in a way. 

Esmeralda reached the end of the gallery, and stretched a hand on eitherside, to feel her way down the circular stone staircase which would leadher into the entrance hall below. This means of descent was rarelyused, and was now in a semi-ruinous condition, the stone steps being somuch worn with the action of time that it required some little care todescend safely in the darkness. She stood poised on each step, extending a pretty foot to find a secure resting-place on the one below;round the curve where the darkness was almost complete, then coming intosight of the hall, with the moonlight making long streaks of lightacross the floor, and in the distance a yellow gleam from the solitarylamp. 

Only three more steps remained to be descended, when suddenly shestopped short, drawing her breath sharply, for there by the secondwindow stood a man's tall form, all straight and still, and of a curiousshining whiteness. The face was turned aside, but at the sound of thatgasping sob it turned slowly round, and a pair of keen, steel-like eyesstared into hers. 

Geoffrey Hilliard had been thoroughly enjoying this opportunity ofstudying the features of the fine old hall, and making a note of themfor future use. "What a magnificent old place!" he said to himself. "Trelawney says the man is at his last gasp, and will positively have toturn out before long. Poor beggar! I pity him. It must beheartbreaking to leave an old place like this, where one's ancestorshave lived for generations, where every stone has its history, and thespirits of the departed seem still hovering in the air. Halloa, what'sthat?"

He turned his head, and peering round the corner of that quaintest ofstone staircases beheld a vision at sight of which he stood transfixedand astounded. Spirits of ancestors, indeed! Here was one before hisvery eyes, a picture out of its frame, a dream of grace and beauty suchas is not vouchsafed to mortal eyes in this commonplace, matter-of-facttwentieth century! The first glance was admiration alone, the secondbrought a thrill of something uncomfortably like fear, for to the mostunsuperstitious of minds there was still something unpleasantly eerie inthis unexpected apparition. Motionless as a figure of stone stood theWhite Lady, her body craned forward, one hand resting against the wall, the other drawing aside the quilted skirt; the moonlight fell full onthe face, and showed it stiff and rigid as a sculptor's block. 

For one moment Geoffrey felt incapable of movement, but the nextcommonsense returned, and a dozen matter-of-fact explanations dartedinto his head. What he saw was no figure, but simply a statue, areflection, a curious effect of light. He must examine the phenomenonat close quarters, and find a solution with which to confound thesuperstitious in the future. No sooner said than done, and he steppedforward, momentarily averting his eyes, to make his sight the moresearching. When he opened them again the figure still confronted him;but now the position seemed slightly altered, for instead of bendingforward she had drawn back, as if to avoid his approach. 

A dread seized him lest the phenomenon might vanish altogether before hehad had time to discover its character; he gave a sudden leap forward, and to his dismay beheld the figure stagger forward, and collapse in aheap on the lowest stair. In an instant his arms were round her, andtwo warm living hands came together with a shock of surprise. Masculineghost lifted, and feminine ghost struggled and pinched in a mannerunmistakably human. But if Geoffrey Hilliard's matter-of-fact mindleapt to a quick understanding of the real situation, Esmeralda was muchmore sensational in her explanation. He remembered that it wasChristmas Eve, a time when some family festivity, of which fancy-dresswas a feature, might well be in progress; she leapt to the dramaticconclusion that this was a thief masquerading in ghost's attire, thebetter to make his escape in the event of discovery. 

Cowardly ruffian! He should not find it so easy as he expected! If itwas only a girl whom he had encountered, he should find that she was notso easily shaken off as he expected. To Hilliard's intense amazement hefelt the hands fasten suddenly round his arm, the white fingers grip hisflesh with no uncertain grasp. The premeditated apologies died upon hislips, as the White Lady became rosy red, and her lips parted to showteeth set in threatening anger. He stepped back, or tried to do so, butshe clung only the closer; he laughingly tried to move her hand from hisarm, at which she shrieked aloud, and struggled valiantly. 

"No, no, you shall not go! You shall stay here until my father comes!"

"That is just what I want to do! Pardon me, there is really nonecessity to hold me so fast. I am not going to run away!" returned theyoung fellow, laughing, but in a somewhat impatient fashion. He had noambition to be discovered in this melodramatic attitude, and once moremade an effort to escape. The grasp on her wrist was gentle, but withalwonderfully strong, and to Esmeralda's horror she found it impossible tostruggle against it. The thought that the thief was escaping after allwas too humiliating to be borne, and as one hand after the other wasforced back she grew desperate, and raised her voice in a shrill cry forhelp. 

"Help! Help! Murder! Thieves! He-l-p!"

"My dear, good girl!" exclaimed the Murderer blankly, overcome withamazement, and allowing himself to be once more seized in a detaininggrasp, while Esmeralda poured the vials of her wrath upon him. 

"How dare you call me names! It's a horsewhip you'll be feeling on yourback for this, once my father is here. I'll hold you tight till hecomes!"

The stranger looked at her, tried to speak, choked hopelessly, and wasjust attempting a stammering, "You are really most--complimentary!" whenthe sound of flying footsteps came from above, and Bridgie rushedheadlong down the staircase. Poor Bridgie, what a sight was that whichmet her eye! In the middle of the hall stood the figure of the tallEnglishman, his face all sparkling with fun, his arms hanging slack byhis sides, while Esmeralda clasped him in close embrace, reiteratingshrilly--

"I'll hold you tight! I'll hold you tight!"

"For pity's sake, Esmeralda, let go of him this minute!" she cried, rushing to the rescue, and laying soothing hands upon her sister'sshoulder. "There's nothing to be frightened at, dear; it's just thatwicked Pat, who ought to be destroyed for his pains. It's no ghost, darling. See, now, he's laughing at you. Ghosts don't laugh! He'snothing but a man after all!"

"He's a thief! He was trying to get the things out of the cabinet. Iam holding him until father comes, so that he may give him in charge!"gasped Esmeralda wildly; and Hilliard looked from one sister to theother with eyes dancing with amusement. 

"I'm neither ghost nor thief, as Major O'Shaughnessy will testify whenhe arrives. I'm really exceedingly sorry to have made such anunfortunate impression, but I came on the most innocent errand. I amstaying with Mr Trelawney, and your father was kind enough to offer tolend me a mount for to-morrow. We thought of going for a long ride inthe morning, so--"

Esmeralda's hands fell to her sides. The commonplace explanation didmore than a hundred protestations, and a remembrance of the Major'srhapsodies over the handsome young Englishman whom he had met but a weekbefore was still fresh in her mind. She stepped back, but the light inher eyes gleamed more threateningly than before, as with tragic attitudeshe turned towards the staircase. On the lowest step crouched Pixie, all eyes and gaping mouth; on the third Mademoiselle clasped her hands, and wagged her head from side to side, as if calling someone to witnessthat she at least was innocent of offence; from between the banisterspeered a red, questioning face, audacious, yet vaguely alarmed. 

"Patrick O'Shaughnessy, " said Esmeralda in an awful voice, "you shallpay for this evening's work!" and at that, audacity triumphed, and Patretorted sharply--

"But not with the racket, me dear, for ye did howl after all. We heardyou right up in the schoolroom. You're not the hero you thoughtyourself, to mistake an innocent gentleman for a midnight assassin. "

"Pat, be quiet!" interrupted Bridgie sharply, then turned to thestranger with that winsome smile which was her greatest charm. "You'vebeen a schoolboy yourself, and know the ways of them. My brother neverrests out of mischief, and he dared my sister Joan to walk the round ofthe Castle in the dark. She was dressed up as you see, and he had seenyou down here in your white coat, and thought maybe you would each bestartled by the sight of the other. "

"And at first she wouldn't go at all, and was only laughing at him forhis pains, but Pat said Christmas Eve and Hallowe'en were all the same, and that if a girl went alone by herself in the moonlight she would seethe spirit of her future h---" cried Pixie in one breathless sentence. In her opinion Bridgie's explanation had been singularly inadequate, andshe was filled with indignation at the babel of sounds which drowned herconclusion. Bridgie was seized with a paroxysm of coughing, Mademoiselle with admirable promptitude knocked an old metal cup from abracket, and sent it clanging to the floor, and Pat cried shrilly--

"See a spook! She was dressed all in white, and you said yourself itwas a good setting for a ghost story! It was yourself that put it in myhead!"

"I believe you are right. I certainly did make that remark, " said thestranger obligingly. For some reason or other his colour had decidedlyheightened during the last few moments, and he looked at Esmeralda witha quick, embarrassed glance, as if afraid to meet her eyes. She wasflushed like himself, a beautiful young fury, with eyes ablaze, and lipsset in a hard, straight line. Propitiation was plainly hopeless at themoment, and he was not so foolish as to attempt the impossible. Thiswas evidently "Beauty O'Shaughnessy, " of whom he had heard so much, and, to judge by his own experience, his friends' accounts of theeccentricities of the family were no whit exaggerated. The dear littlegirl with the sweet eyes was plainly the eldest sister, since she tookupon herself to perform the honours of the house, and he was thankful tofollow her towards the fireplace, leaving the belligerents at the end ofthe hall. 

"I'm exceedingly sorry to have caused such an alarm! Please make mypeace with your sister. I am afraid, if she was not prepared to see me, my actions must have seemed sadly suspicious, " he began apologetically;but Bridgie stopped him with uplifted hand, and a queenliness of mannerwhich sat charmingly upon her slight figure. 

"Indeed you were not to blame at all, and there is no need to give itanother thought. You have had bad weather for your visit, but I hopethere is a change to-night. The Major will be delighted that you tookhim at his word, and Dandy will carry you like a feather. Here he is atlast, to welcome you himself. "

The Major came forward as she spoke, calling out welcomes from afar, andholding out his hand in hospitable Irish greeting. He was all smilesand superlatives, charmed that Mr Hilliard had called, overjoyed togive him a mount, delighted that he had already made the acquaintance of"me children, " beamingly unconscious that there was trouble in the air, and persistent in summoning Esmeralda to his side. 

"What do you think of that for an impromptu costume? All made out of acouple of sheets, me dear fellow, and at a moment's notice. Quite adisplay we had this night, with the whole lot of them got up to match;but this child is the only one that kept it on. Me daughter Joan!Esmeralda, for short. Mr Geoffrey Hilliard!"

Hilliard bowed deeply. Esmeralda drooped her eyelids, and the Majorchuckled afresh at "the spirit of the girl!"

"A shame to waste such sweetness on the desert air, isn't it, Hilliard?That's what she says herself, and there's nothing for it but to give myconsent to a party on New Year's Eve. A man's not master of himselfwhen he has three daughters, but you must give us the pleasure ofwelcoming you with the rest of our guests. The Trelawneys will be hereto a man, and you must come over with them. Esmeralda says she isfatigued with meeting the same people over and over again, so she'll bedelighted to see you. Won't you now, Esmeralda? Give your owninvitation to Mr Hilliard. "

"Indeed, father, we have scarcely got the length of invitations. It wasjust an idea we were thinking over, and at the best it will be a poorcountry affair. If Mr Hilliard is accustomed to London, 'twould be buta bore to him to join us. "

It was evident that Esmeralda was by no means anxious to count thestranger among her guests. Having shown herself to him in a ridiculousand unbecoming light, she had no wish to pursue the acquaintance, andthe glance which accompanied the words was even more eloquent thanthemselves. 

"Don't dare to come here again!" said the haughty eyes. "Don't imagineyou will get the laugh over me, " said the haughty head, and GeoffreyHilliard read the signals, and smiled unperturbed--a happy, self-confident smile. 

"I assure Miss O'Shaughnessy that I should be honoured by aninvitation, " he said blandly, "if I may accept in advance. Nothing willgive me greater pleasure than to join your gathering. "

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

BRIDGIE'S CONFESSION. 

After Mr Hilliard's departure, Mademoiselle was treated to anexhibition of what was known in the family as "Esmeralda's tantrums. "Hardly had her father turned from the door than she had rushed towardshim, and begun pouring out the story of her wrongs. Eyes flashed, headtossed, arms waving about in emphatic declamation, little foot tappedthe floor all a-quiver with excitement, while Pixie stood in thebackground faithfully imitating each gesture, and Pat gazed at theceiling with an expression of heart-broken innocence. Esmeralda calledupon all present to witness that she was despised and ridiculed by themembers of her own family; that by this evening's work she had been madethe laughing-stock of the county; and announced her intention of leavinghome by the first train that steamed out of the station. She would earnher own living, and if necessary, wander barefoot through the world, rather than submit any longer to insults from her own kith and kin, andwhen she died a beggar's death, and lay stretched in a pauper's grave, they might remember her words, and forgive themselves if they could!

The invective was originally directed against Pat alone, but as shewarmed to her work it grew ever more comprehensive, until at last itseemed as though the whole household were in conspiracy against her. Then suddenly the climax was touched and passed; the last stage of allwas announced by a tempest of tears, and the Major tugged miserably athis moustache, nerving himself to the task most difficult in the worldto his easy-going nature, --that of finding fault!

"Pat, ye rascal, what's this I hear about you? Mark my words, now. I'll not have your sisters made the subject for practical jokes! If youcan't keep yourself out of mischief, I'll find a way to occupy you withsomething you'd like worse. Can I have no peace in me own home for thecomplaints of you and your doings? If ye can't carry yourself as agentleman, I'll apprentice ye to a trade, and wash me hands of you oncefor all. Mind what I'm telling ye, for there's truth in it! Will I begiving him a punishment now, Esmeralda? Is it your wish I should punishhim?"

"It is so! And the harder the better!" sobbed Esmeralda; and the Majorheaved a sigh of ponderous dimensions. 

"Ye hear that, Patrick? Listen to that, now, and see your sister intears, and think shame to yourself on a good Christmas Eve. And nowI've the trouble of punishing you into the bargain. What will I do withhim, Esmeralda? Will I send him off to his bed before Jack comes home?"

And then a pretty thing happened, for among the chorus of groans whichgreeted this suggestion, Esmeralda's "No, no!" sounded shrillest of all, and off she rushed to Pat's side in a whirlwind of repentance. 

"No, no! Not that! He would be so disappointed. He must see Jack. Iwon't have him punished after all, father. It's Christmas-time, andhe's sorry already. Tell the Major you are sorry, Pat, and I'll shakehands and say no more. "

"I'm sorry, sir, there's been such a stupid row, " said Pat truthfullyenough; but when his father turned away with a sigh of relief, he puthis arm round his sister and gave her a bear-like hug. 

"What did you howl about, silly?" he asked affectionately. "When you'vehad time to cool down you will think it the finest joke of the year. And you so well plucked, too, holding on like grim death, for all hisstruggles. You ought to be proud instead of sorry. Look here, now, youshall have the racket after all! I won't have you the loser for yourdealings with me. I'll give it to you at once, if you'll be troubled tocome to my room!"

Then Esmeralda cried, "Oh, Pat, me darlin'!" and Pat hung on to herarms, crying, "Hold me tight! Hold me tight!" at which she blushed andtugged his curly locks, and off they went together, laughing, squabbling, protesting; sworn enemies, dearest of friends!

Jack arrived in due course, and a happier Christmas party than thatassembled round the breakfast-table at Knock Castle next morning itwould have been hard to find. Each one had provided presents for theothers, and if they were of infinitesimal value, they were apparentlynone the less valued by the recipients. Mademoiselle thought she hadnever seen anything more charming, than the manner in which Pixiepresented, and the Major received, a solitary bone stud for his collar, amidst the acclamations of an admiring family. 

"A happy Christmas to ye, father darlin', and many happy returns!" saidPixie in deep sweet accents, as she pressed the tiny packet into hishand, and blinked at it with an air of elaborate indifference. "It'sjust a little present I was buying you, thinking maybe you would like towear something I'd chosen meself. "

"And now what can this be next?" soliloquised the Major, untwisting thepaper with tenderest fingers and an air of absorption seldom seen on hismerry features. When wrapping number two was undone, and the stud wasdisclosed in all its glory, he appeared almost dizzy with rapture, holding it out on an outstretched palm, and gazing at it withincredulous joy. "Did ever anything fall out so lucky as that? Thevery thing I was breaking my heart over not an hour ago. Somebody eatsmy studs--I'm sure they do--and what are left Esmeralda steals for hercuffs. But I'll be even with anybody who dares to take this one from mydrawer. Thank you, my piccaninny. It's a broth of a stud, and youcould not have given me anything I liked better. "

"I hope it may never break on you when you are in a hurry, " said Pixiepolitely, and with sundry memories of past occasions when the Major haddressed for a function, while the sounds of his groans and lamentationshad been heard without the portals of his dressing-room. 

Esmeralda presented Bridgie with a card of hat-pins; Bridgie had knittedwoollen gloves for the boys, and the most exciting presentations werethose which Mademoiselle had thoughtfully brought with her--dainty laceties for the sisters, which were received with a rapture almost toogreat for words, and the grey Suede gloves which were Jack's happyinspiration. Dark and threatening as the day appeared, on went glovesand tie, when it was time to start for church, and Esmeralda at leastwas proudly conscious of her stylish appearance, when half-way along themuddy lane the Trelawneys' carriage bowled past, and the laughing eyesof the stranger met hers once more. The mud flew from the carriage-wheels, and she held up her skirts with a great display of grey-glovedhands, and backed up against the hedge, frowning and petulant--my LadyDisdain in every gesture and expression. 

Mademoiselle had never before attended a Christmas service in an Englishchurch, and though it was impossible to resist some pangs ofhomesickness, she was still interested and impressed. The littlebuilding was tastefully decorated, and the beautiful hymns were sungwith delightful heartiness and feeling. The O'Shaughnessys themselveswould have constituted a creditable choir, for Pat's still unbrokenvoice was a joy to hear as he joined in the air with Bridgie and Pixie, the Major rolled out a sonorous bass, Jack sang tenor, while Esmeralda'salto was rich and full as an organ stop. They sang with heart as wellas voice, as indeed who can help singing those wonderful words? First, the heralds' call to Christendom to greet the great festival of theyear, the birthday of its Lord: "Christians, awake! Salute the happymorn. "--It must be a cold heart indeed which does not thrill a responseto that summons; then the description of the angelic joy at His coming, "Hark, the herald angels sing"; and last, and perhaps most beautiful ofall, the summons to the saints on earth to join in that praise, "Oh, come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!"

The service passed in a glow of exaltation, and the softening influencecontinued throughout the long walk home, when the younger members of thefamily walked on ahead, and the two older girls followed sedately in therear. Bridgie's eyes glowed as she looked after her "children", Pat andMiles, tall and graceful even in this their hobbledehoy stage, Esmeraldaqueening it in their midst, and Pixie dancing blissfully through everypuddle that came in her way. 

"Doesn't it make you rejoice to see them all so well and happy?" shecried fervently. "Last Christmas we were so sad that it seemed as ifthe sun would never shine again; but mother said she wanted us to behappy, and it would do her heart good to see them to-day. I wasthinking about her in church, and asked myself if I had done all I couldto keep my charge. She left them in my care, you know, for I had totake her place, and on days like this I feel as if I had to answer toher for all that is wrong. Pixie is happy at school, and it's lovely toknow you, and feel that you will be good to the darling; Jack is gettingon with his work, and the boys and Esmeralda quarrel less than they usedto do. She's the one I am most anxious about, for she is not satisfiedwith this quiet life, and her head will be turned with flattery beforemany years are over. Did you notice that young Englishman last night, and the way he fixed his eyes upon her? If he comes over here flirtingwith her, what will I do, Therese? He is here for a week or two only, and after he has gone she will feel duller than ever, poor creature. Iwonder what I had better do?"

"Mees Esmeralda seems to me exceedingly able to take care of herself, "remarked Mademoiselle quietly. "I don't think you need distressyourself about her in this instance. Monsieur 'Illiard has had themisfortune to make a bad impression, by placing her in an uncomfortableposition, and have you not observed the air with which she has bowed tohim to-day as he passed? It was not, to say the least of it, encouraging. "

Bridgie laughed, --a little, tender, indulgent laugh. 

"But it was very pretty all the same, and sort of encouragingdiscouraging, don't you think? If I were in his place I don't think Ishould be exactly depressed. It was like a challenge thrown down beforehim, and from his look I believe he means to accept it too! Ah dear, it's a great responsibility to have a beauty for a sister! I am interror every time a young man comes to the house, in case he should fallin love with her. "

"There is more than one girl in the house, however, and I know vich ofthe two would be my choice, if I were, as you say, a young man myself, "returned Mademoiselle sturdily. Bridgie's utter unconsciousness of herown claims to attention filled her at once with admiration andimpatience, and she could not resist putting her feelings into words. "Does it never give you any fear in case one should fall in love withyou instead?"

"No, never; how could they when she was near?" cried Bridgie fervently, and then suddenly flushed all over her delicate face and began astammering explanation. "At least, that's not quite true. There wasone man--I never told anyone about it before, and indeed there's notmuch to tell. Joan and I went to stay ten days with some friends at theother side of the county, nearly a year ago last autumn, and he wasstaying there too. He was not like other men I had met, or I thought hewas different. He was graver than most young men, though he liked funall the same, and when we talked it seemed as if we shared the samethoughts. It was not long after mother's death, and I was feeling verylonely, but I didn't feel lonely when I was with him. On the third daywe went a picnic, and I drove in a wagonette with the ladies, and hewalked with the men. Just as we overtook them the horses took fright, and began to gallop down a hill. We thought for a few minutes that weshould certainly be thrown out at the bottom, but the driver managed topull up in time, and we were none the worse except for the fright. Themen came racing along to see what had happened, and his face was aswhite as death. When he came up he looked straight at me, and at no oneelse, though his sister was there and several old friends, and he said, `_Thank God_!' Only that, but his voice shook as he said it, and heturned away, as if he could not bear any more. And I felt so strangeand glad, so happy and proud; all that day I felt as if I were walkingon air, but when I went to bed at night I could not sleep, for Irealised suddenly what it meant. He was growing fond of me, and I ofhim; if we were together another week, perhaps he would ask me to marryhim and go away to the other end of the world, for he was a soldier--didI tell you that? And I had promised mother to look after the childrenuntil they were old enough to manage for themselves. I couldn't breakmy word, and yet if I stayed on and was nice to him, he might think itwas wrong of me to say No. And I was afraid I couldn't help beingnice. "

The sweet voice broke off suddenly, and Mademoiselle looked into thegrey eyes, and thought that the young soldier was to be congratulatedboth on his own good taste, and on the feelings which he had beenfortunate enough to awaken in this best and sweetest of girls. 

"_Eh bien_, and what have you done then?" she inquired eagerly. "It wasa difficult position. What have you done?"

"Oh, I did nothing. I came away!" said Bridgie, as simply as if thatwere not just the most difficult thing she could have done under thecircumstances. "The next morning he went out shooting, and the postcame in at ten o'clock with a letter from father saying that Pat hadfallen from the barn and twisted his ankle. It was very few weeks hedid not fall from the barn, as a matter of fact, but it was an excuse, so I said I must go home and nurse him, and they drove me to the stationthat very afternoon before the men came home. "

Mademoiselle drew in her breath, in a gasp of amazement. She looked atBridgie, and her eyes flashed with eloquent comment. It was sowonderful to think of the courage with which this young thing, with thebright, pleasure-loving nature which had come to her as an inheritance, had yet had the courage to deliberately put from her the greatesthappiness which she could have known, in order to devote herself to thecare of others. The simple, unpretentious manner in which the tale wastold, made so light of the incident that it might have involved littleor no suffering; but Mademoiselle knew better, and her voice trembledwith sympathy as she put the low-toned question--

"And afterwards--did it hurt--did it hurt very much, _cherie_?"

"I think it did. I cried a great deal for several nights when I thoughtof the good times they were all having together; but I knew it wouldhave been worse later on, and I comforted myself with that. Besides, what is the use of giving up a thing at all if one can't do itcheerfully? It would have been better for me to have married and lefthome, than to stay, and make them all miserable by moping and lookingsad. And they are all such darlings, and so loving and kind. I don'tthink any other girl ever had such a family as mine!"

"The Major ignores you; the boys worry you to death; my lady Joan ordersyou about as if she were a queen, and you her servant; only the littlePixie worships you as you deserve to be worshipped, " reflectedMademoiselle mentally; but she kept her reflections to herself, andasked another question, the answer to which she was longing to hear withtruly feminine curiosity. "And was that all, --the end of everything?What happened next? Have you not heard or seen him since that time?"

The red flew over Bridgie's face, and she smiled--a soft, contentedsmile. 

"I have never seen him--no! Only a month after that he was ordered toIndia, and sailed almost at once, but he wrote to me before he left. Aletter arrived one day in a strange handwriting, but I guessed almost atonce that it was from him. He said he had intended to come to Irelandin the spring, and to call at Knock Castle, but that now it would beimpossible for some years to come. He said he had enjoyed so muchmeeting me for those few days, and he hoped I should not altogetherforget him while he was away. Would I allow him to write to me now andagain, and would I send a photograph for a poor exile to take away tocomfort his loneliness? I had a very nice photograph that a friend offather had taken the summer before, and I thought there was no harm insending him that, and writing a polite little note. It was very short, and I tried not to make it too nice, and I said nothing at all aboutwriting, only just remarked that it would be interesting to receiveletters from India, " said Bridgie, with a naivete which madeMademoiselle throw up her hands in delight. "He has written to me fourtimes since then, and, "--her eyes began to dance, and a dimple dancedmischievously in her cheek--"I enjoy writing to him so much that Ianswer them the very next day; but it would not be proper to send themso soon, you know, so I put no date, but just lock them away in my desk, and wait for six weeks, or two months before I send them off. Once Iwaited for three, and then he sent a newspaper. There was nothing in itthat could interest me in the least, but it was just a gentle hurry up. I did laugh over that newspaper!"

"Bridgie, Bridgie! this is more serious than I thought. No wonder youlook upon new-comers with indifference. I hope they are veryinteresting, those letters. They must be, I suppose, since you are soeager to reply. " But at this Bridgie shook her head, and shrugged hershoulders deprecatingly. 

"You are a teacher; perhaps you would call them interesting. For methey are just a trifle instructive! I want to hear about himself, andhe describes the country, and the expeditions they make. Don't pleasethink they are love-letters, Therese. They are very, very proper, notin the least affectionate, and my replies are terribly dull. You seeI'm in an awkward position, for everything that would be interesting itwould not be proper to say, and everything I can say must beuninteresting, for he knows almost nothing of us or of our people. "

"And yet you are compelled to answer these `instructive epistles' themoment they arrive, and he cannot wait patiently to receive your so dullreplies. That has only one meaning, my dear, and it will come when hereturns home in a few years, and your children are grown up and able tobe left. It will come. I am sure it will come!"

"If it is the right thing for me--if it is God's will--yes! it willcome, and meanwhile I am very happy. It is good of Him to have given mesuch a hope in my life, " said Bridgie simply; and Mademoiselle's eyesdimmed with sudden tears. Her own nervous, restless spirit was for everkicking against the pricks, but she was at least honest enough toacknowledge her shortcomings, and the example of this young girl filledher with shame and a humble desire to follow in her footsteps. 

"And I am thankful that He has let me know you. You do me good, _cherie_. I wish to be more like you, " she said humbly; and Bridgieopened her great eyes in bewilderment. 

"Like me!" she echoed incredulously. "My dear!" The dimple dippedagain, and she slipped her hand through Mademoiselle's arm and shook herin playful remonstrance. "Don't you make fun of your hostess, or she'llstarve you for your pains. The very idea of clever, accomplished Youwanting to be like blundering Irish Me!"

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

"TO SEE THE RUINS!"

"This begins to grow exciting. The plot develops!" said Mademoisellegaily to herself, when the fifth day of the last week in the year wasreached, and Mr Geoffrey Hilliard made his fifth appearance on thescene in transparently accidental-on-purpose manner. On the first dayhe had been discovered assiduously pumping up the tyres of a bicycleimmediately outside the Castle gates; on the second, he was loungingabout the village street with an air of boredom which showed that he hadexhausted all the objects of interest long before the O'Shaughnessyparty passed by on their morning walk; on the third, he paid a formalcall in the afternoon and stayed a good two hours by the clock, forwhich breach of etiquette he was so much concerned that he was compelledto come again the next day to apologise, and hope the ladies were notfatigued. Bridgie smiled polite reassurements, but Esmeralda lay backin her seat and naughtily yawned, as though in protest against hersister's words. She affected to conceal her weariness, but it was atransparent pretence, and the young fellow's eyes twinkled withamusement. Since the moment of their first meeting there had been thispretence of antagonism, this playing at fighting on the girl's part;but, as Bridgie had foretold, the man seemed to find it rather anencouragement than otherwise, and his smile was never more bright andself-confident than after an exhibition like the present. 

"Miss Joan seems to have suffered, " he said boldly. "I feel trulyguilty; but won't you allow me to remedy the mischief? If I might makea suggestion, it's a perfect winter afternoon, and you promised to showme the remains of that old ruin in your grounds. Don't you think thathalf an hour's walk before tea would freshen you up?"

"I detest ruins; they are so dull, " said Esmeralda ungraciously; but MrHilliard still continued to smile and to look at her in expectantfashion, and presently, almost against her will, as it seemed, she rosefrom her chair and moved across the room. "Of course, if you reallywant to see them! It will only take a few minutes. Come then, Pixie!You were asking me to come out. It will do you good to come too. "

Bridgie and Mademoiselle exchanged a quick glance of amusement at thelook of disgust which passed over the visitor's face, and which all hispoliteness was not able to conceal; but Pixie pranced after her sisterwith willing step, for it had never entered into her heart to believe itpossible that there could exist a living creature unto whom her societycould be otherwise than rapturously welcome. In the cloak-room off thehall she put on two odd shoes, the two which came first to hand, and apiebald sealskin jacket, which, according to tradition, had descendedfrom a great-aunt, and which was known in the household as "The jacket, "and worn indiscriminately by whosoever might happen to need a warm wrap. 

The effect of this costume, finished off by an old bowler hat, was soweird and grotesque that at the first moment of beholding it Hilliardthought it must surely be a joke designed for his benefit; but the airof unconsciousness worn by both girls saved him from making a falsemove, and he speedily forgot all about Pixie in admiration of hersister. Whatever Esmeralda wore, it seemed as if this were the dress ofall others to show off her beauty to the best advantage; and the greygolf-cape and knitted cap, set carelessly over her smoke-like locks, appeared at once the ideal garments for a winter promenade. Pixieslipped her arm underneath the cloak to hang on to her sister's arm, andthe three set off together across the snow-bound park. 

"I suppose you know a great deal about ruins, since you are so muchinterested in ours, " said Esmeralda, as an opening to the conversation. "People are always interested in things they understand. That's theonly reason why I should like to be clever and learned--it would makelife so much more satisfying. It doesn't amuse me in the least to seeold walls, and bits of pillars sticking out of the earth. I'd pull themall down and build something new in their place if I had the chance, butpeople who understand are quite different. Some people came here onceon a picnic from Dublin, and father gave them permission to see over thegrounds. Of course it rained, but they all stood round on the damp, soaking grass while an old gentleman gave a lecture about that miserablelittle ruin. He said something about the shape of the windows, and theyall took notes and sketches and snapshots, as if they had never seenanything so wonderful in their lives. There is a bit of a pillar twoyards high. He prosed away about that until I had to yawn, but theyseemed to like it. Some of them were quite young too. There was a girlrather like Bridgie, with such a pretty hat!" Esmeralda heaved a sighof melancholy recollection. "She stood there and let the rain soakthrough the ribbons while she sketched the stupid old things. I enviedher so! I thought, `Why can't I be interested in ruins too, and then Ishould have something to think about, and to amuse myself with when thetime feels so long?'"

"Does the time seem long to you, then? Do you find it dull over here?"asked Hilliard, in a tone that was almost tender in its anxioussolicitude; and Esmeralda heaved a sigh of funereal proportions, delighted to find herself supplied with a listener ready to sympathisewith her woes. A home audience is proverbially stoical, and after thejeers and smiles of brothers and sisters, it was a refreshing change towake a note of distress at the very beginning of a conversation. Shebecame suddenly conscious of a feeling of acute enjoyment, butendeavoured to look pensive, as befitted the occasion, and rolled hergrey eyes upward with eloquent sadness. 

"Oh, dull! Dull does not express my feelings! We are so shut in here, and so little happens, and I know nothing. I have had no chance oflearning and finding interests in that way. "

"Why didn't ye study, then, when ye had the chance? Ye drove MissMinnitt crazy with your idleness!" interposed Pixie brutally; andEsmeralda flushed and hesitated, momentarily discomfited, then, recovering herself, cast a melancholy glance in Hilliard's face. 

"Our old governess, " she explained resignedly, in the tone of one whomight speak volumes, but is restrained from feelings of loyalty anddecorum. "A kind old creature, so good to us! She has lived in thisvillage all her life. "

"I understand, " said the model listener. It seemed to him quite naturalthat this beautiful creature possessed an intellect to match her person, and felt her eagle wings pinioned in the atmosphere of an Irish village. He wished he were only more intellectual himself, so that he might be afitter companion, and devoutly hoped that he might make no bad slip tobetray his ignorance, and so alienate her sweet confidence. "As yousay, the more one knows, the less possible it should be to be dull oridle. Amusement can never make up for good solid occupation. "

"Oh, never, never!" cried Miss Esmeralda, with a fervour which broughtPixie's eyes upon her in a flash of righteous indignation. Esmeralda totalk like this! Esmeralda, who sat at ease while others worked, whogroaned aloud if asked to sew on a button, and was at once so dilatoryand so inefficient that Bridgie declared it was easier to do a task atonce than to unravel it after her vain attempts. Pixie gasped andpranced on ahead, her back towards the direction in which she was going, her face turned upon the culprit in kindling reproach. 

"Joan O'Shaughnessy, what's happened to you to talk in such a fashionthis day? You, that doesn't know the meaning of work, to be sighing andgroaning that you haven't enough to do! You, to be saying that it wouldcheer you to be busy, when ye sigh like a furnace and grumble the daylong if you have to work for an hour on end! I've heard ye say with myown ears that if you had your own way, you would never do another hand'sturn, and of all the lazy, idle girls--"

"Wouldn't it perhaps be wise if you looked which way you were going?The ground is rough, and I'm afraid you will have a fall, " interposedHilliard mildly; not that he was in truth the least bit anxious aboutthis strange child's safety, or could not have witnessed her downfallwith equanimity, but in pity for Esmeralda's embarrassment she could notbe allowed to continue her tirade indefinitely. He was rewarded by amelting glance, as the beauty sighed once more, and said, in a tone ofsweet forbearance--

"She does not understand! She has been away, and that's not the sort ofwork I meant; and besides--"

She stopped short, for she could not think how to finish the sentence, and the fear of Pixie was ever before her eyes. It was in a differentand much more natural voice that she again took up her explanation. "Perhaps I was mistaken in saying it was work I wanted, but it iscertainly interest. I have never been farther away than Dublin, and Iget so tired and weary of it all, and have such a longing for somethingfresh. The others don't feel it, for they are so fond of the place; butI'm restless. I feel pent in, knowing the world is moving on and on, all the time, and I am shut up here, and sometimes the longing comesover me so strongly that it's more than I can bear, and I fall into--"

"A rage!" said Pixie calmly. Esmeralda had paused just long enough todraw that short eloquent breath which adds so largely to the eloquenceof a peroration, and was preparing to roll out a tragic "despair, " whenthat tiresome child must needs interfere and spoil everything by hersuggestion. Esmeralda's anger was quickly roused, but fortunately evenquicker still was her sense of humour. For a moment clouds and sunshinestruggled together upon her face, then the sunshine prevailed, shelooked at Hilliard, beheld him biting his lips in a vain effort topreserve composure, and went off into peal after peal of rich, melodiouslaughter. 

"Next time I wish to talk at my ease, it's not bringing you out with meI'll be, Pixie O'Shaughnessy!" she cried between her gasps; andHilliard's merry "Ho! ho! ho!" rang out in echo. 

"She is indeed a most painfully honest accompanist. I am thankful thatI have no small brothers to give me away in return. You give yoursister a very bad character, Miss Pixie; but you seem very little in aweof her, I notice. She must possess some redeeming qualities to make upfor the bad ones you have quoted. "

Pixie bent her head in benignant assent, as one bound by honesty to seeboth sides of a question and to deal out praise with blame. 

"She's idle, " she said judicially, "and she's hasty, but she's sorryafterwards. The more awful her temper, the quicker she's sorry. Thenight after you left--"

"Thank you, Pixie, you can spare us further domestic revelations!" criedEsmeralda, flushing in lovely confusion, and keeping her face turnedaway from the merry blue eyes so persistently bent upon her. "There'sone comfort, Mr Hilliard. You know the worst of me now, and there isnothing more to dread. Pixie has spoiled my chance of posing as ablighted genius, and shown me as just a bad-tempered, discontented girlwho has not the sense to be satisfied with her position. I'm sorry, forit would have been interesting to hear you talk like the clever, intellectual people in books, and perhaps, if I had kept very quiet andagreed with all you said, you wouldn't have discovered my ignorance forquite a long time to come. "

"But, dear me, you would have discovered mine! I couldn't have kept itup for an hour. You surely don't expect me to lecture on improvingtopics!" cried Hilliard, in such transparent amaze that Esmeralda couldnot but be convinced of his sincerity. 

"Then you are not clever either!" she exclaimed. "What a relief! Nowwe can just talk comfortably, and not pretend any more. But at any rateyou have seen more than we have. Have you travelled much? What haveyou seen? What countries have you been in?"

"I can hardly say straight off. Let me count. France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Turkey--"

The "Ohs!" and "Ahs!" of astonishment had been steadily gaining involume, but at the sound of this last name they reached a perfect shriekof delight. There was something so very strange and mysterious aboutTurkey that even to see a man who had visited its borders gave one athrill of excitement. Pixie's premeditated boast that she had been inSurbiton died upon her lips, and Esmeralda's eyes grew soft with wonder. 

"Turkey! Oh, you are a traveller! What on earth made you go toTurkey?"

"It was part of a tour on which my uncle took me after leaving theUniversity, and I went even farther afield than that, --to Palestine andEgypt. You would like Egypt even better than Turkey, Miss Joan, forthere, thanks to our rule, you have picturesqueness without squalor, whereas Turkey does not stand a close inspection. We were thankful toleave Constantinople after a very few days, but were sad indeed to turnour backs on fascinating Cairo. If I had the seven-leagued boots, Ishould be a frequent visitor over there. "

The two sisters linked arms, and gazed at him with awe-stricken eyes. 

"And you have seen veiled women, " sighed Esmeralda softly, "and MontBlanc, and the Pyramids, and the desert, and the Red Sea, and SaintPeter's at Rome, and all the things I have dreamt about ever since I wasa child! Oh, you are lucky! I think I should die with joy if anyoneoffered to take me a trip like that. Did you have any adventures? Whatdid you like best? Begin at the beginning, and tell us all about it!"

Well, as our American cousins would say, this was rather a large order;but Hilliard could refuse nothing to such an audience, and, if the truthmust be told, had his full share of the traveller's love of relating hisexperiences. He passed lightly over days spent in countries near home, but grew even more and more animated as he went farther afield, andreached the Eastern surroundings in which he delighted. 

"Shall I tell you about Palestine? I never knew anything stranger thanarriving at that railway station and seeing `Jerusalem' written up onthe hoardings. It seemed extraordinary to have a station there at all, and such a station! It was in autumn, and everything was white withdust. Outside in the road were a number of the most extraordinary-looking vehicles you can possibly imagine, white as if they had beenkept in a flour mill, and as decrepit as if a hundred years had passedsince they were last used. How they kept together at all was a marvelto me, and as for the harness, there was more string than leather to beseen. The drive from the station to the hotel was one of the mostexciting things I ever experienced. I am not nervous, and have had asmuch driving as most fellows, but that was a bit too much even for me. The road is very hilly, turns sharply at many corners, and is, ofcourse, badly made to the last degree, so that it would have seemeddifficult enough to manage suck crazy vehicles even at a foot-pace; butour fellow drove as if the Furies were at his back, as if it were aquestion of life and death to get to the hotel before any of hiscompanions. He stood up on the box and shouted to his horses; he lashedat them with his whip; he yelled imprecations to the rivals who weregalloping in pursuit. When an especially dangerous corner came in view, two drivers made for it in a reckless stampede, which made it seemcertain that one or other must be hurled to the bottom of the hill. Alady inside our carriage burst into a flood of tears, and I believe hercompanions were all clinging to one another in terror. As for me, I wason the box, and I never passed a more exciting ten minutes. We weretold afterwards that we had had the best driver in Jerusalem, but Inever engaged his services again. 

"That same night in the hotel I was introduced to a dragoman, whom weengaged to take us about. I am sure you will like to hear about Salim, for, apart from himself, he had a great claim to attention, for he hadbeen Gordon's dragoman years ago when he was in Egypt. Yes! I knewthat would interest you, and you would have loved Salim for his own saketoo. He had a gentle, sad face, with the beautiful dark eyes of theEastern, and he spoke English remarkably well. He was unmarried, andlived with his mother and a married brother. Sixteen years he and hissister-in-law had lived in the same house, but he had never seen herface. He had been unlucky in money matters, but accepted his povertywith the placid acquiescence of the Oriental. I remember one day whenhe told me of a piece of good fortune which had befallen a fellow-dragoman, and I said that I hoped he might be similarly fortunate. Hebowed his head with quiet dignity, and waved a brown hand in the air. `That is with God, sahib--that is with God!' I used to question himabout Gordon, and he loved to talk of him. `He was a good man, sahib, better than any bishop. When we were camping in the desert he was upevery morning before it was light, kneeling to pray before his tent, andhis heart was so great that he could not bear to see anyone in trouble. I must always keep with me a bag with small moneys, and he would notwait to be asked. Everyone who needed must be helped. When he wentaway he gave me his two best horses, but my heart was sore. He was agreat chief--a great chief; but I heard afterwards that when he came todie he was quite poor--the same as Christ!'"

Hilliard told a story well, and now, as he repeated the words, his voicesoftened into the deep cadence of the Eastern tones, in which they hadfirst been said; his hand waved and his eye kindled with emotion. 

Esmeralda looked at him, and her heart gave a throb of admiration. Themanner in which he had spoken was unmistakably reverent, and if youngmen only knew it, there is nothing which a girl loves more than amingling of manliness and reverence in the man who singles her out forattention. 

"He is a good man; I like him, " was the mental comment. Aloud she saiddreamily, "Gordon is my hero. I love to hear about him. He was toogenerous to others to heap up money for himself. I suppose he didn'tcare about it. I wish I didn't, but I do. It's so very distressing tobe always short of money. All the good people in books are poor, butfor myself I think it's bad for the temper. They talk about the perilof riches, but I should like to try it for myself, wouldn't you, MrHilliard?"

Hilliard smiled--a quiet, amused smile. 

"Well, I don't know. Everything is comparative. If some people wouldthink us poor, others would most certainly consider us very rich indeed. We have all that we need, and for myself I'm quite content. I manageto have a very good time. "

"And you get away for holidays like this. That must make it easier. Have you to work very hard? What is your work? In what way do you makeyour living?"

Once more Hilliard smiled in amusement, and in truth there was adirectness about Esmeralda's questionings which was as unusual as it wasunconscious. He put up his hand and stroked one end of his curlymoustache. 

"Glue!"

"Glue!" echoed Esmeralda shrilly. 

"Glue!" shrieked Pixie in even shriller echo. 

The two pairs of eyes were fixed upon him in horrified incredulity. Thepity, the commiseration of their expressions was touching to behold. 

"Oh, poor fellow!" sighed Esmeralda softly. "You _must_ be poor! Howcan anyone manage to make a living out of--glue?"

"But you know, Esmeralda darling, it is useful! We break such heaps ofthings ourselves. We often use it, " urged Pixie anxiously; and at thisher sister brightened visibly. 

"We do. That's true for you, Pixie. Perhaps it's your glue we use, MrHilliard. Dear me, it will be quite cheering when we break anythingafter this! We shall feel we are helping a friend by our misfortune. "

"That's very kind of you. I'll remember that you said that, and it willcheer me too, " replied Hilliard gallantly, and at that very moment asound came to the ears of all. "The gong! It must be tea-time. Theyare sounding it to let us hear. I hope I have not kept you out toolong. "

Ten minutes later they were all seated in the hall enjoying tea andscones, while Bridgie smiled sweetly on their flushed, animated faces. 

"You look well after your walk, " she said. "And what did Mr Hilliardthink of our tame ruins?"

Pixie looked at Esmeralda; Esmeralda looked at Mr Hilliard; MrHilliard looked at his boots. One and all they had forgotten all aboutthe ruins!

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

THE UNWRITTEN PAGE. 

The New Year gathering was a great success, and justified Esmeralda'sboast that she would organise an entertainment which should be bothoriginal and striking. Mademoiselle was not admitted to the secretconferences, for she was to be surprised with the other guests; but shecould not shut her ears, and would not have done so if she could, forthe sound of the music which rose to her ears was too melodious to lose. One and all the O'Shaughnessys possessed beautiful singing voices, andthough the carols which they rehearsed were simple in themselves, theywere practised with a care which made them a joy to hear. Over and overagain the Major made his choir repeat a certain phrase, until the_diminuendo_ or _crescendo_ was rendered to his satisfaction, untilopening and closing notes sounded together to the instant, and dueexpression was given to every mark. Music he loved, and over musicwould spend time and trouble which he would have grudged in almost everyother way; but he rubbed his hands with satisfaction when the lastrehearsal was over, and boasted gleefully that for carol-singing notmany choirs could be found to beat his own. 

By eight o'clock the girls were dressed and strutting up and down thehall to exhibit themselves to the gaze of their companions. Bridgiewore her coming-out dress--not so white as it had once been, butcarefully chalked at the worst places, and swathed in lovely old laceround the shoulders. Esmeralda sported a pink moire dress which hadonce belonged to her mother, with a voluminous sash of white muslin, since nothing more elaborate was to hand, a wreath of roses out of lastsummer's hat pinned over one shoulder, with all the crunched-up leavesironed out smooth and flat, and white gloves cleaned with benzolineuntil you could hardly tell them from new. She was a vision ofelegance, or looked so at least to the ordinary observer; for when agirl is eighteen, and a beauty at that, she is bound to look charming, whatever be her clothes. 

At nine o'clock the guests were asked, and the hour had barely struckbefore they began to arrive. The sound of horses' feet was heard fromwithout, wheels drew up before the door, and in they came, one partyafter another, having driven across country in the cold and the dark forfive, for six, and in one instance for ten long miles, but arrivingfresh and radiant for all that, and brimming over with good humour. Mademoiselle thought that she had not seen such a merry assembly sinceleaving her own dear land, or heard such a babel of tongues. Everyoneseemed to know everyone else, and to be on terms of closest intimacy andaffection; everyone talked at once and exclaimed with rapture andadmiration at the preparations for the entertainment. It was easy toamuse such a company, and dancing and games were carried on with gustoin the long drawing-room, which had been prepared for the occasion, andlooked comparatively festive with great fires burning in the fireplacesat either end. 

Soon after eleven o'clock the different members of the O'Shaughnessyfamily began to slip out of the room, but almost before their absencewas noted, the Major was ringing a bell to attract attention andmarshalling the company to the far end of the room. At the same signaltwo servants entered the room, turned out the lamps, and drew aside thecurtains from the mullioned windows, through which the grounds could beseen, lying white and still in the moonlight. There was a rustle ofexpectation among the guests, for evidently something was about tohappen, something appropriate to the day and the hour, yet what it couldbe no one had the ghost of an idea. That was the best of those dearO'Shaughnessys, a smiling lady confided to Geoffrey Hilliard--no onecould tell what they would be up to next! They were different fromeverybody else, and their ways were so much more amusing and charmingthan the ordinary stereotyped usages of society. 

Hilliard agreed with fervour, and found an additional proof of theassertion as, one by one, a picturesque band of carollers entered theroom by the farthest door and took up their position in a semicirclefacing the audience. They were uniformly robed in black, with cowl-likehoods hanging loosely round the face, and each bore a stick, on the endof which waved a brilliant Japanese lantern. The lights lit up thefeatures of the singers, and seldom indeed had "the beautifulO'Shaughnessys" appeared to greater advantage than at this moment. Jack's handsome features and commanding stature made him appear a typeof young manhood, Miles for once forgot to grimace, and Pat's misleadingair of innocence was even more guileless and touching than usual. Asfor the girls, Esmeralda looked like a picture by Rossetti, andBridgie's halo of golden hair was more bewitching than ever in itssombre setting. No one looked at Pixie until the signal was given andthe choristers burst into song, when she came in for even more than herown share of admiration, for the treble solos were without exceptiongiven to her to sing, and the piercing sweetness of the young voicemoved some of the more emotional of the audience to surreptitious tears. 

Several carols were sung, interspersed with part-songs suitable to theoccasion, and then the singers formed up in rank two and two, and at theMajor's request the guests followed their example, making a longprocession in the rear. Another song was started, something slow andplaintive in tone, its subject being the dying year, with regret for allthat it had brought of joy and gladness, and to its strains theprocession started on a strange and charming expedition. Down one longcorridor, unlit save by the cold light from without and the warm flickerof lantern ahead along a deserted wing, where dust lay thick on thewalls and the faces of departed ancestors looked down sadly from theirtarnished frames, finally down the circular staircase, from whichEsmeralda had had her first glimpse of Geoffrey Hilliard, and so intothe great hall beneath. At the end farthest from the door the Majorhalted, raised one hand, and called aloud in slow, solemn tones. 

"Prithee, silence!" he said. That was all--"Prithee, silence!" and atthe sound there was another flutter of excitement among the guests. Thehands of the clock pointed to four minutes to twelve, and it was evidentthat the last item in the charming programme was about to take place. Ladies moved about on tiptoe, mounting the first steps of the staircase, or standing on stools to ensure a better view. Men moved politely tothe rear. There was a minute's preoccupation, and when the general gazewas once more turned to the doorway, it was seen that a significantchange had taken place in the scene. 

Against a background of screens stood the figure of an old man--a veryold man, it would appear, since his back was bowed and his head andbeard white as the snow on the ground outside. His brown cloak hung intatters, and he leant heavily upon his staff. A deep-toned "Ah-h!"sounded through the assembly, and showed that the onlookers were at noloss to understand the character which he was intended to represent. "The Old Year, " murmured one voice after another. 

Then a solemn hush fell over all as the clock ticked out the lastminutes, and through the opened door came a blast of icy air and a fewflakes of snow, blown inwards by the wind. Only another minute, andthen there it came--the slow, solemn chiming of the clock on the tower. One, two, three. Good-bye, Old Year! What if you have brought troublesin your wake, you have brought blessings too, and sunny summer hours!Four, five, six--Dear old friend, we are sorrier to part with thee thanwe knew! We have not appreciated thee enough, made enough of thyopportunities. If we have ever reproached thee, thou hast cause toreproach us now. Seven, eight, nine. Going so soon? We were used tothee, and had been long companions, and of the new and untried there isalways a dread. Good-bye, Old Year! Take with thee our blessings andour thanks, our sorrowful regrets for all wherein we have been amiss. Ten, eleven, _twelve_. 

It is here! The New Year has come, and to greet its arrival such aclashing of bells, such an outburst of strange and jangling sounds asfairly deafened the listening ears. Molly, grinning from ear to ear, was running the broom-handle up and down the row of bells outside theservants' hall. Mike was belabouring the gong as if his life dependedon his exertions. The stable-boy was blowing shrilly through a tinwhistle, and the fat old cook was dashing trays of empty mustard-tins onthe stone floor, and going off into peals of laughter between eachmovement. 

Perhaps it was owing to the stunning effect of this sudden noise thatwhat had happened at the doorway seemed to have something of thequickness of magic to the astonished onlookers, but a good deal of thecredit was still due to the castors, on which the screens had beenmounted, to an ingenious arrangement of strings, and to many and carefulrehearsals. Certain it is that, whereas at one moment the figure of theOld Year was visible to all, at the next he had disappeared, and thesound of that last long chime had hardly died away before another figurestood in his place. No need to ask the name of the visitor. It wasonce more patent to the most obtuse beholder. A small, girlish figurewith dark locks falling loosely over the shoulders, with a straightwhite gown reaching midway between the knees and the ankles, and showinglittle bare feet encased in sandals. A few white blossoms were heldloosely in one hand, and in the other a long white scroll--the page onwhich was to be inscribed the history of an untried path. 

Pixie's face was white and awed, for the solemnity of the occasion andthe poetry of the impersonation alike appealed to her emotional nature, and there was an expression upon the plain little face which was moreimpressive than any mere pink and white prettiness, as more than one ofthe onlookers remarked with astonishment. 

"Who could have believed that that child could look like that?" criedGeoffrey Hilliard to Mademoiselle, and that young lady tossed her headwith an impatient movement. 

"Why not, pray? If Pixie is not pretty, she is something better--she is_spirituelle_!" for it had come to this, that Mademoiselle could notendure to hear Pixie adversely criticised, and resented a depreciatingremark as hotly as if it had had reference to herself. 

At this point the formal programme came to an end, and the guestshurried forward to shake hands with their hosts and thank them over andover again for the entertainment which they had provided, while thechoristers shed their monk-like robes, (nothing after all but mackintoshcloaks with hoods cut out of black calico!) and appeared once more inevening dress. The way was led to the dining-room, where refreshmentswere spread out on the long table, and there was much drinking ofhealths and exchanging of good wishes for the New Year. Everyone washungry and happy, and Mademoiselle's cakes and jellies were muchappreciated; but Esmeralda sighed as she looked around, and atesandwiches with such a pensive air that Hilliard demanded the reason ofher depression. 

"This!" she sighed, holding out the half-eaten fragment, on which wasplainly circled the mark of small white teeth. "It hurts my sense offitness. We should have had boar's head and venison, and a sheeproasted whole. We have some lovely old silver dishes which would haveheld them, but--" the "but" was significant, and she raised herbeautiful shoulders with a shrug--"those days have departed. We have tobe content with sandwiches now. "

"There's no limit to one, surely, " Hilliard replied gravely. "We willkeep this plate to ourselves, for I am prepared to eat a very good half, and you must be hungry after your exertions. I can't tell how much Ihave enjoyed this evening. It will stand out in my memory as unlike anyother I have ever spent. I shall often recall it when I am back intown. "

"When--when are you going back?" asked Esmeralda, with an anxiety whichshe made no effort to conceal. "Not very soon, I hope. Jack goes to-morrow, and that is quite enough at one time. Oh, I do hate the end ofthe Christmas season! Everyone seems to go away. In a fortnight or soPixie will be off, and Mademoiselle with her. It has been so delightfulhaving a visitor in the house, and she has been so kind and useful. Shemade most of the things on the table to-night, --all those pretty icedcakes. "

"Ah, yes! Very clever, I'm sure, " said Hilliard absently. It was easyto see that he had no attention to spare for Mademoiselle or herconfectionery, and presently he added in a lower tone, "There is noimmediate hurry for my return. I can just as well stay another three orfour days, but I must be back in town before this day week. I fearthere is no getting out of that. "

"Glue?" queried Esmeralda saucily. They were sitting together at alittle table behind most of the other guests, and she lay back in herchair looking up at him with a roguish smile. "Glue?"

"Glue principally. It is a very--er--engrossing occupation, " returnedHilliard, nobly resisting the inclination to pun; "but I think it couldmanage without me for a few days longer, and perhaps we could haveanother ride together. There is a meet somewhere near the day after to-morrow. Shall you be there?"

Esmeralda hesitated, seized with a sudden mysterious disinclination tosay "No, " a desperate longing to say "Yes, " and yet--and yet, --how couldit decently be done?

"I--don't know! It's Bridgie's turn. We have only one horse betweenus, and I have been the last three times. I don't like to ask heragain. It seems so mean. "

"But if you did ask, she would let you go. She would not mind takingher turn later on?"

"Oh no, or not at all, for the matter of that. There's nothing Bridgiewouldn't give away if anyone else wanted it. She's an angel. It's justbecause she's so sweet that I'm ashamed to be selfish. "

"I can understand that, but--just for once! If you were to ask her verynicely to change places with you this time, because--because--er--"--Hilliard hesitated and pulled his moustache in embarrassment--"becauseyou--"

"Yes, that's just it. What can I say? Because what?" laughed Esmeraldagaily, then suddenly met the gaze of a pair of deep blue eyes, twinklingno longer, but fixed upon her in intent, earnest scrutiny, and flushedin mysterious embarrassment. 

"Because it was my last chance, and I had asked you especially to bethere. Because I had stayed on purpose to have another ride with you!That's the true reason, so far as I am concerned. I am sure, if youtold Miss Bridgie the truth, she wouldn't have the heart to say No. "

Esmeralda looked down at the table and crumbled bread thoughtfully. Shewas by no means so sure. Bridgie was enough of a mother to take frightat such an open declaration of interest. She would not be so rash as torepeat the conversation _verbatim_, but go to that meet she would, letBridgie refuse ten times over, let every horse disappear from thestable. Go she would, if she had to borrow the pedlar's pony and ridebarebacked all the way. Such was the mental decision; aloud she saidlanguidly--

"Don't know, I'm sure! Perhaps I may be too tired. I'll see when thetime comes, " and stretched out her hand to beckon Pixie to her side. 

Hilliard smiled quietly. He had an extraordinary way of seeing throughEsmeralda's pretences, and he welcomed Pixie as genially as if the_tete-a-tete_ were of no consequence in his eyes. 

"Well, little white New Year, are you coming to sit down beside us?Have you had no supper yet? I am sure you must be hungry after all yourexertions. Let me wait upon you now, in return for all the pleasure youhave given me by your charming singing. "

But no, Pixie refused to sit down or to eat any of the good thingspressed upon her. For once in her life jellies and creams, evenmeringues themselves, failed to tempt her appetite, for she was feastingon an even sweeter diet--that of unlimited flattery and praise. As shestrolled to and fro among the guests she was greeted on every side withwords of commendation for her singing, her charming impersonation of thecharacter assigned to her, and by the more facetious members of theparty implored to smile kindly upon them, to promise them her favour, and to remember their especial desires. It was not likely that she wasgoing to sit down in a corner of the room with no one but her sister andthat stupid Mr Hilliard, who did nothing but stare at Esmeralda, as ifhe had never seen a girl before. She shook her head as he pointed to achair, but lingered a moment to allow him to examine her costume and paythe proper tribute of praise. 

"It's charming--quite charming--so simple, and yet so effective. Thosefew loose flowers are much better than a formal bouquet, and thescroll--who made the scroll? It is most professional, and I see youhave a pencil hanging by the side, --white, --to match the rest. " Helifted it as he spoke, and made as though about to write, but at thatPixie drew back in dismay. 

"No, you mustn't! Be careful, --you must be careful. It won't rub out. "

She walked hastily away, and the two who were left looked at each other, half sad, half smiling, for the words went home with a meaning deeperthan any which the speaker had intended to convey. 

"Be careful. It won't rub out, " repeated Hilliard slowly. "That's agood motto for the New Year. I don't know that one could have a better. I shall remember that, and the scroll all white and unmarked. I wonderwhat will be written there before the year is done?"

"A great deal, I hope--a great many happenings. I am tired of joggingalong in the same old way. I would like a sensational headline in bigprint, and that as soon as possible!" cried Esmeralda recklessly. 

Poor Esmeralda! The day was near at hand when she recalled her words, and winced at the remembrance in sorrow and misery. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

THE LAST RUN. 

"Me dear, " said Bridgie to Mademoiselle, the next morning, showing allher dimples at once in the most mischievous of smiles, "what do youthink Mr Hilliard said to me last night before he left? He has madearrangements to stay a few days later to have another ride with thehounds. He believed it would be a very good meet on Thursday, and howwonderfully my sister did ride, to be sure. It's my belief he startedwith the intention of asking me to let Esmeralda go in my place, but Ilooked so innocent at him that he hadn't the heart. `Indeed, ' I said, `she did so, and I feared he would think I made but a poor show incomparison. ' Wasn't it cruel of me now, and the poor thing looking atme speechless, with those lovely, humbugging eyes! I had to turn awayand laugh in a corner, but I wouldn't relent, for, says I to myself, ifI have to give up my run, I'll get some fun another way--and it isamusing, isn't it now, when a man shows you so plainly that he doesn'twant you?"

"Indeed that is a form of humour I do not understand!" returnedMademoiselle, with her nose in the air. "But you will give way, ofcourse--that goes without saying--and let Esmeralda go once again. Youwill not stand out to the end!"

"How could I? Suppose it was myself, and--someone I told you about. How should I feel if I had the chance of seeing him, and she would notallow me? I believe they are really beginning to care for each other, and he is a nice man. I should like him well enough. "

"A week ago you were alarmed at the thought! I confess he makes on me apleasant impression, but surely you know very little about him, and itis rather rash to accept him at once as a possible suitor. What do youknow beyond that he is handsome, and appears amiable and kind?"

"His uncle was one of the Hilliards of Nanabeg. My father knew himwell, and he was a fine, old-fashioned gentleman. That was what madethis Mr Geoffrey come here for the hunting. He had heard his unclespeak of Bally William, and the Trelawneys take paying guests for thehunting season, so he arranged to come to them. He is not very welloff, I'm afraid, for Joan tells me that he has to make his money out ofglue, poor creature! But he must be nice, if he is the old squire'snephew. "

Mademoiselle's eyes rolled upward with an eloquent glance. It was a newarticle of faith that a nephew must needs be exemplary because his unclehad been a popular country squire, but she held her peace and amusedherself by watching the play which went on between the two sistersduring the next twenty-four hours. Esmeralda was plainly anxious andill at ease, and made tentative allusions to the coming meet, whichBridgie received with bland obtuseness. She had not the courage to makeher request in so many words, but instead brought forward a successionof gloomy prophecies calculated to dampen expectation in the mind of anybut the most enthusiastic rider. 

"It will be a heavy run to-morrow, " she said, shaking her head dismallyas she glanced out of the window on the quickly melting snow. "Iwouldn't wonder if it poured with rain! It's a fine draggled set thewomen will look before they get home. "

"I prefer the ground soft, and as for sunshine, it's a thing I detest, --dazzling your eyes, and the poor mare's into the bargain. Dull weatherand a cloudy sky is what I hope to see, and for once it looks as if Ishould get my wish. "

"Well, it's good weather you need, to get safely over that country. MrO'Brien was saying only last season that it was the worst we had. Thereare some nasty bits of water this side of Roskillie, and they will beswollen with all this snow. Now next week over at Aughrin it reallywill be pleasant and comfortable. "

"I'm so glad, darling! I hope you will enjoy it!" Bridgie put her headon one side, with a smile of angelic sweetness. Then, as Esmeraldaflounced from the room in disgust, turned back to Mademoiselle, laughingly penitent. 

"Isn't it wicked of me now, but I do enjoy it! She must care very muchto be so shy about asking, for in an ordinary way she would have blurtedit out long ago. Well, I shall just wait until to-morrow, and then I'llsay I am--" she paused to laugh over the word--"indisposed!"

There is many a true word spoken in jest, and Bridgie was reminded ofthe proverb when the next morning arrived, and her inclination forhunting or any other amusement died a sudden death through an incidentwhich happened at the breakfast-table. The Major was the only one ofthe party who received a letter, and when he had perused it he gave anexclamation of dismay, and leant back in his chair with an expression ofbewilderment. "It can't be! It isn't possible!" he muttered tohimself, and when Bridgie inquired the reason of his distress, he threwthe letter across the table with an impatient movement. 

"That wretched bank! They say I have overdrawn. It's impossible, --there was a decent balance only a few months back! They have made somemistake. I am positive it is a mistake. "

He left the room as he spoke, for breakfast had come to an end at last, after the usual long-drawn-out proceedings, and he had waited until hehad finished his meal before opening the uninteresting looking envelope, and only Bridgie was left, sitting patiently behind the urn, withMademoiselle to keep her company. She also rose as if to go, feelingthat she might be _de trop_ under the circumstances, but Bridgie raiseda pale face, and said flatly--

"Don't run away, Therese, I'd rather you stayed! I knew it must comesome day. It's only a little sooner than I expected. "

"But, _ma cherie_--don't look like that, Bridgie dear! Your father saysthere is a mistake. He seemed surprised like yourself. If, as he says, the bank is mistaken--"

But at this Bridgie shook her head with doleful conviction. 

"The bank is never wrong! Oh, I've been through this before, and everytime father declares it's a mistake, but it never is! I've beendisappointed so often that I can't hope any more. Poor dear fatherseems to have no idea how quickly money goes, and he is so extravagantwith his horses. He bought a new hunter this autumn, and madealterations in the stables. I have tried to be careful, but, as I saidbefore, it is so little I can do! Well, this is the last stage but one. There are a few more shares that can be sold to keep us going for alittle longer, and then out we go. Poor father, he won't be able tocarry out his programme at this rate. Esmeralda's duke has not comeforward, and neither has my millionaire. When we leave the Castle weshall have to squeeze into a cottage, and live on potatoes andbuttermilk. I am glad I am not going to the meet. I should have beenwretched all the time, but Joan need not know until she comes back. "

Bridgie's pale cheeks seemed sufficient explanation of her determinationto stay at home, and Esmeralda was sweetly sympathetic and concerned, but quite decided that exertion must at all costs be avoided. 

"Me dear, you must not think of going! It would be madness. I'll keepfather company, so don't you worry a bit, but just lie down and take iteasy the whole day long, " she cried gushingly; and Bridgie smiled, despite her heartache, and felt comforted by the reflection that twopeople would owe their happiness to her absence. 

The Major looked very handsome in his "pink" coat, but his brow wasclouded, and he sighed profoundly as he came into the dining-room tolight his cigar, and saw his eldest daughter standing disconsolately bythe window. 

"So you are not coming after all, Bride? Letting Joan take your place?Well, everyone to his taste. I feel as if it would do me good to have ahard run and let off steam that way. I'll show them some riding to-day, if they have never seen it before. There won't be much that will standin my way, but you prefer to stay at home and eat your heart out inquiet. Your mother was the same; she couldn't throw it off. It's apity for your own sake you don't take after me instead. " Then suddenly, as he looked at her, his face altered, and he put his arms round herwith a rare tenderness. "Poor little woman! Poor little anxiousMartha, this is rough on you! I've brought about this ill day by mythoughtlessness. If I'd been as careful as you, we might have lastedout until the children were grown up, but I was like Micawber--alwaysexpecting something to `turn up. ' You must try to forgive me, Bride. You must not be hard on your old father!"

Ah, and it was a lovely sight to see Bridget O'Shaughnessy's face atthat moment--the sweetness of it, and the pity and tenderness, and thedeep, unselfish love! Her father was touched by the sight, and lingeredby her side, stroking her soft hair and murmuring fond, regretful words. 

"I haven't treated you well. That minx Joan has twisted me round herfinger, and you have suffered for it. You have had a hard time theselast two years. Never mind, we'll make a fresh start. I'll turn over anew leaf from this day, and you shall take me in hand. Who knows but wemay pull through yet?"

He went off waving his hand in adieu, and Bridgie stood watching the tworiders until they disappeared from sight, and repeating his loving wordswith fond appreciation. Hard time! Who had had a hard time? She was afortunate girl to have had so much love and kindness, to possess such adear, gallant, handsome father. What if they had to leave the Castle?Happiness did not depend upon the walls by which they were surrounded. So long as they were all together, they might laugh at poverty!

Meanwhile Esmeralda and her father were gently trotting along towardsthe park at Roskillie, from whence, in hunting parlance, they were toproceed to "draw Long Gorse, " and on their way were enjoying thepicturesque surroundings of a meet in the country. Along every highroad, footpath, and byroad came horses and riders of various sorts andsizes, walking or jogging along towards the central point. Schoolboyswere coming on ponies to see the start, farmers on clever nags; neatlydressed grooms riding, or leading horses conspicuous for shape andbeauty. Down the cross-road approached the hounds themselves, headed bytheir whipper-in and surrounding the picturesque figure of the huntsman. They took up their position in the park, and presently from every pointof the compass the scarlet coats came trotting forward, followed by astring of drags, dogcarts, and gigs. The Major and his daughter came infor greetings on every side, for they were among old friends, and thegirl's beauty and daring had made her popular with all. There wereother ladies present, but they looked colourless and insignificantbeside the glowing young Amazon, and she was quite conscious of thefact, and of the becoming correctness of the new habit. While yettwenty yards distant her quick eye had distinguished Geoffrey Hilliard, but she affected not to see him until he rode up to her side, his faceaglow with pleasure. 

"You managed it, then? You managed to get here?"

"My sister is not feeling very well. She begged to be excused, " repliedEsmeralda demurely, and Hilliard laughed and muttered something about"blessed Saint Bridget, " which on the whole she thought it wiser not tohear. When the signal was given to move on, he kept beside her as thehorsemen proceeded to cross several grassy fields; and, contrary to hisusual custom, her father lagged behind, as though relieved to leave herto the care of another. Esmeralda turned lightly in her saddle, saw himriding at the farther end of the long line, and looked wonderingly ather companion. 

"Something's wrong with the Major. He was so glum all the way here, andlook at him now with his head hanging forward! It's not like him to bedown-hearted at a meet. "

"Perhaps he is tired. He'll waken up presently when we get to business. It would only worry him if we took any notice. "

"That's true. Perhaps the mare fidgets him. It's the one he bought ashort time since, and she has an awkward temper. Sometimes she is aparagon and does everything that she ought, but at others she is fidgetyand uncertain. Father thinks she has been badly ridden at the start, but that she is good enough to take trouble with still. "

"She looks a beauty, and she has not had any time to annoy him to-day. I think it can hardly be that. Did not your brother return to townyesterday? I stayed away on purpose, because I feared that on his lastday you would not care to be disturbed; but isn't it very likely thatMajor O'Shaughnessy is depressed at being without him?"

Esmeralda looked up with a brightening glance. "Why, of course, I neverthought of that! Father hates saying good-bye to Jack, hates him beingin town at all, for he is the first O'Shaughnessy who has ever gone intobusiness. There was a great scene when Jack was twenty, because heinsisted on doing something for himself. `Have you no pride?' cries myfather. `Faith I have!' cries Jack. `Too much of it to spend all mylife starving in a ruin. ' `You will be the first of your race to soilyour hands with trade. ' `Honest work, ' says Jack, `will soil no man'shands, and please God, I'll touch nothing that isn't honest. ' `You'llbe falling into English ways and selling the old place as not fit foryou to live in. I know the ways of your purse-proud English. ' ThenJack went white all over his face, and he says, `It's never a stone ofKnock I'd sell if I could keep it with my own heart's blood, but it'stime it had a master who could spend money on it instead of seeing itfall to pieces before his eyes. ' Then it was the Major's turn to gowhite, and mother said softly, `Jack dear--Jack!' You never knew mymother. Bridgie is like her, she always made peace--and after thatfather made no more objections. I think, in a curious sort of way, hewas proud of Jack because he would have his will, and he is doing well. He will retrieve our fortunes some fine day. There! there go thehounds! They are over into the covert, and see! see! there's that oldshepherd holding up his hat. The fox is off! Now for it!"

Now for it indeed! From that time forth there was little chance ofconnected conversation, but all his life long Geoffrey Hilliard lookedback upon that morning with the fond, yearning tenderness with which werecall the sunshine which precedes a storm. It was so delightful to bemounted upon a fine horse galloping lightly across country with thatbeautiful figure by his side, the dark eyes meeting his with a flash ofunderstanding at every fresh incident of the run. As time wore on andthe ground became more difficult, the other ladies dropped behind one byone, but Esmeralda never wearied, never flinched before any obstacle. It was the prettiest thing in the world to see her trot slowly butstraightly towards gate or fence, loosen the reins, and soar like a birdover the apparently formidable obstacle, and Hilliard privately admittedthat it took him all his time to keep level with her. The Major stillrode apart, and seemed to take pleasure in choosing the most difficultjumps that came in his way; but his mare behaved well, and no one feltany anxiety about the safety of one of the cleverest riders present. Danger was close at hand, however, in one of those nasty "bits of water"of which Esmeralda had spoken to her sister. The hounds doubledsuddenly, and the huntsmen, wheeling their horses to follow, saw beforethem at a distance of some quarter of a mile a line of those well-knownwillows which to the practised eye so plainly bespeak the presence of abrook. Esmeralda pointed towards them and spoke a few warning words. 

"A bad bit, swollen, I expect, after the snow. A fence this side. There's the Master taking a view. He will tell us if it's safe, if not, we must try the meadow. Ride over here towards him. "

She swerved to the side as she spoke, and a moment later was withinshort enough distance to hear the warning cry. The Master pointed withhis whip in the direction of the meadow, of which Esmeralda had spoken, and the next moment the whole hunt was galloping after him. The wholehunt, we have said, but there was one exception, for one rider refusedto take warning or to turn aside from the direct line across country. The sudden change of course had left him in the rear, and so it happenedthat his absence was not noted by his companions, and it was only whenseveral moments had passed that Esmeralda, looking from side to side, began to draw her delicate brows into a frown as she asked Hilliard--

"Where's father? I can't see him. He is not here. "

"I don't see him either, but he was with us five minutes ago before weturned back. I saw him in the last field. "

"So did I, but where is he now? He can't--" Esmeralda reined insuddenly and turned startled eyes upon her companion--"he can't havetried that brook?"

"No, no! Certainly not. " But even as he spoke Hilliard had a previsionof the truth. Although he would not admit as much as Esmeralda, therehad been something in the Major's bearing which had struck himunpleasantly since the moment of meeting, and his reckless riding haddeepened the impression. "You go on, " he said earnestly, "and I willride back and see. Perhaps he took a look at the brook and then had tocome round after all, which would make him late. Please go on, MissJoan. "

But Esmeralda looked him full in the eyes and turned her horse backtowards the brook. 

"I am going back myself. If there has been an accident, it is I whoshould be there. Don't hinder me, Mr Hilliard. I must go to myfather. "

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

TROUBLE AT KNOCK. 

The Major was lying on the bank of the stream, white and motionless, while Black Bess was pawing the air in agony a few yards away. Esmeralda slipped from her saddle and ran to his side, and he opened hiseyes and smiled at her feebly. 

"Joan, my girl! That's right. My--own--fault! I had no business totry it, but I was--mad, I think. That poor beast!" and he turned awayhis head, unable to look upon the animal's struggles. "I can't move. Get a cart--O'Brien's farm. "

"I'll go! I can see the chimneys. I'll bring help at once. I'll bringback men with me, and we'll lift him with less pain. "

Hilliard dashed off in the direction of the farm, and Joan knelt downand lifted her father's head on to her knee. He tried to smileencouragement into the ashen face. 

"It might have been worse, dear! She threw me clear of the water, andI've no pain. I shall be all right when I get home, and have a rest. "

"Yes, darling, yes. Of course you will, " answered Esmeralda bravely. Accidents in the hunting-field were unfortunately no new thing to her, and her heart died within her as she looked at the helpless limbs, andheard her father's words. Over and over again had she heard oldhuntsmen marvel at the unconsciousness of those who were most mortallyinjured. Absence of pain, combined with loss of power in the limbs, meant serious injury to the spine, yet it seemed as if, with thecomparative comfort of the body, there must be a dulling of the mentalpowers, since the victim frequently congratulated himself on his escape, and seemed to forget the experiences of others!

As Esmeralda sat holding her father's head on her knee, the futurestretched before her, transformed by the accident of a moment. TheMajor would never again ride by her side, never again mount his horseand gallop over the wide green land; while he lived he must lie even ashe lay now, still and straight, a child in the hands of his nurses!Poor father! oh, poor, poor father! what a death in life, to one of hisrestless nature! what grief, what agony to see his sufferings! Thespring would come, and the summer, and the autumn, but there would be nosunshine at Knock Castle, nothing but clouds and darkness, and dull, settled gloom. Esmeralda had been her father's darling, and hadreturned his love with all the fervour of a passionate Irish heart, sothat the sight of him in his helplessness hurt like a physical pain, andthe moments seemed endless until Hilliard returned accompanied by thefarmer and three of his men. 

An hour later the Major was carried upstairs to his own room in theCastle, and laid gently upon the old four-poster bed. Hilliard hadridden on in advance to prepare the young mistress, and there she stoodat the doorway, white to the lips, but smiling still, a smile of almostmotherly tenderness as she bent over the prostrate form. 

"More trouble to ye, Bridgie!" murmured the Major faintly. "A littlerest--that's all I need; but that poor beast! Tell Dennis to go and puther out of her misery. " He shut his eyes and remained silent until thedoctor arrived, galloping up to the door on Hilliard's horse, which hehad lent to save time, and tearing up the staircase to the sick-roomwith the unprofessional speed of an old and devoted friend. 

The examination was soon over, and fortunately the patient asked noquestions; he was tired and inclined for sleep, unperturbed on his ownaccount, but greatly distressed for the noble animal for whose agony heheld himself responsible. He was soothed by the assurance thateverything possible should be done to cure, or, if that were impossible, to end its sufferings, and was then left to rest, while the doctorreturned to the morning-room, to face the sisters with what courage hemight. Bridgie lay back in a deep, old-fashioned chair, a slight, almost childlike figure, her hands clasped in her lap, her shouldersbowed as by too heavy a burden--the burden of all those fivemotherless, --it might soon be fatherless?--children. Esmeralda, straight and defiant by the fireplace, her stormy eyes challenging hisface. 

"I--I--there is very little to say!" The doctor passed his handshelplessly through his grey locks and wished himself at the other end ofthe county. "I didn't want to fatigue him to-day, but to-morrow we canhave a better examination. Perhaps Trevor would come over inconsultation. He seems quite easy--quite easy and comfortable. I thinkhe will sleep. You must keep up your hearts, and not let him think youare anxious. A great thing to keep up the spirits!"

"Why do you talk like that? Why do you try to deceive us? My fatherwill never get better. You know perfectly well that it is hopeless!"Esmeralda's voice sounded clear and cold as falling water; her lips didnot tremble, she looked the doctor full in the face with hard, defianteyes. "I have seen other accidents before this, and know what it means. It is useless to pretend. He has no pain because his spine is too muchinjured. If he suffered, there might be some hope; as it is, there isnone. He will lie there days, weeks, months, whichever it may be, buthe will never move out of that room. He is dead already, my father, thefather I love, and it will be cruel and wicked of you if you try to keephim alive!"

"Joan, Joan! Oh, darling, don't! Think what you are saying!"

Tender-hearted Bridgie burst into tears, but Esmeralda would not berestrained. She turned to her sister ablaze with righteous anger. 

"What! You too? Would you keep him here, existing--merely existing--not able to do anything--he who has been so active all his life! It'scruel, I tell you--cruel and selfish! You ought not even to wish such athing!"

"My child, the issues of life and death are not in our hands!" Thevoice of the old man sounded solemn and deep after the girl's heatedaccents, and she caught her breath as she listened. "It is not for youto decide what is best. If your father lingers in helplessness, it willbe for some wise purpose, and you will see that it will be less tryingthan you expect. Nature herself will work in his favour, for, whenparalysis comes, on the brain is mercifully deadened against the worst. He will not suffer, and in all probability he will be patient andresigned. Is not that something for which to be thankful?"

Bridgie covered her face with a low, heart-broken cry, for the doctor'ssilent assent to Esmeralda's verdict--the undisguised conviction thatthe case was hopeless--came to her with a shock of surprise before whichher courage wavered. 

"Mother dead--father dead! All those children alone in the world, andno money for them, and only me--only me--" Her heart swelled with agreat wave of protecting love; she held out her arms and cried brokenly, "Esmeralda, come--come to me. Darling, if we are to be alone, we musthelp each other, we must love each other more! Oh, Esmeralda, be brave, for I am frightened--I can't do everything alone!" And at thatEsmeralda gave a great cry and rushed across the room, and the olddoctor groped his way downstairs, leaving the sisters sobbing in eachother's arms. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

THE SENTENCE. 

That afternoon and the next day passed away like a nightmare, and stillthe Major lay in the same helpless calm. Mr Hilliard had gone over toDublin on his own responsibility, and had come back late at night, bringing with him a trained nurse, at the sight of whom Bridgie shedtears of thankfulness; but during the daytime the sisters took it inturns to watch by the bedside, while Mademoiselle seemed to act the partof guardian angel to the whole household in turns. She soothed theexcited servants and roused them to a sense of their duty. She cookeddainty little dishes for the nurses, and ministered to them when theywere off duty. She interviewed callers, and, last and best of all, tookPixie in hand, and kept her interested and content. It was the strongwish of her brothers and sisters that Pixie should not suspect thedangerous nature of her father's illness, for they knew her excitablenature, and trembled for the effect on the invalid of one of herpassionate bursts of lamentation. 

"Besides, what's the use? Let her be happy as long as she can! I wanther to be happy!" cried Bridgie pathetically; and Mademoiselle assented, knowing full well that the very effort of keeping up before the childwould be good for the rest of the household. There was no preventingone interview, however, for the Major was as much set on seeing hispiccaninny as she was determined to see him; so on the evening of thesecond day Bridgie led her cautiously into the room, and the sick manmoved his eyes--the only part of him that seemed able to move--andlooked wistfully into the eager face. 

"Well, my Pixie, I've been getting into trouble, you see!"

"Does it hurt ye, father? Have you got a pain?"

"Never a bit, Pixie. I'm just numb. I feel as if I can't move!"

"I've felt the same meself. Many times! I feel it every morning atschool when the gong rings and I'm made to get up. It's the same asbeing lazy. "

The Major smiled for the first time since his return home. He nevercould resist Pixie's quaint speeches, and Bridgie watched with delighthis brightening glance. 

"Is it, piccaninny? That doesn't sound very serious. You'll have totell the doctor to be stern with me. What have you been doing withyourself all day?"

"Fretting for you, but Mademoiselle's going to play games with me, andI'll enjoy them now that you're comfortable. You've got on the verybest pillow-cases, father. You do look smart! Are you tired now? Doyou want to go to sleep? Will I sing to you awhile, the hymn you likedso much at church last Sunday?"

Bridgie looked dismayed at the suggestion, but it appeared that Pixieknew best what would please her father, for once more his facebrightened, and the eyes flashed an assent. On Sunday evenings inwinter, when the long dark walk made it difficult to get to church, theO'Shaughnessys had been accustomed to sing hymns together, not in thedrawling, slipshod method in which such singing is too often done, butwith at least as much care and finish as they would have bestowed onsecular music, the different parts being accurately represented, and dueattention given to time and expression. In this way delightful hourshad been spent, and many beautiful hymns imprinted on the memory, sothat in this instance Pixie had no need to consult a book. She merelyleant against the bed-post, clasped her hands together, and, opening herlips, began at once to sing, with clear, full-throated sweetness--

 "`Come unto Me, ye weary, And I will give you rest!'"

The beautiful old words seemed to take upon themselves an addedsignificance in the shaded room, with the motionless figure lying uponthe bed. The Major shut his eyes, and Bridgie turned aside withquivering face, but the flute-like voice went on without a tremor--

 "`Come unto Me, ye fainting, And I will give you life!' O cheering voice of Jesus, Which comes to end our strife. The foe is stern and eager, The fight is fierce and long, But He has made us mighty, And stronger than the strong. "

There was a slight quickening of time in the last two lines, a clearer, stronger tone, as the singer's emotional nature caught the triumph inthe words, but the last verse was soft as an echo. 

 "`And whosoever cometh I will not cast him out. ' O welcome voice of Jesus, Which drives away our doubt; Which calls us very sinners, Unworthy though we be Of love so free and boundless, To come, dear Lord, to Thee!"

The Major's face was in shadow, but Bridgie saw the big tears rollingdown his cheeks, and hurried the little sister from the room. 

"You sang beautifully, darling. It was sweet of you to think of it, butnow we must let him be quiet. I think perhaps he will go to sleep. "

"Yes, he says he feels lazy! The Major was always fond of his bed!"cried Pixie, skipping blithely down the staircase; but when Bridgie wentback to the sick-room her father's eyes were fixed eagerly on thedoorway, and he said in urgent tones--

"Bride, I'm wanting to see O'Brien! Send down for him at once, and whenhe arrives, let him come up alone. I want to have a talk!"

Bridgie obeyed, in fear and trembling. Had something in the sweetthough solemn words of the hymn arrested the sick man's attention andgiven him a conviction of his own danger? She sent the faithful Dennisin search of the doctor, and in less than an hour's time the two oldfriends were once more face to face. 

"O'Brien, " said the Major clearly, "I want you to answer me a questionbefore I sleep. Shall I ever hunt again?" And at this the doctorheaved a sigh of relief, for he had feared a more direct inquiry, andconsequently one more difficult to answer. 

"Not this season, my boy; you must make up your mind to that. A spilllike yours takes a little time to recover. You must be easy, and makeyourself happy at home. "

"O'Brien, shall I ever hunt again?"

The doctor put his hand to his head in miserable embarrassment. He hadknown handsome Jack O'Shaughnessy since he was a boy in knickerbockers. It was more than he could stand to look him in the face and give him hisdeath-warrant. 

"Now--now--now, " he cried impatiently, "it isn't like you, Major, to beworrying your head about what is going to happen next year! Keep still, and be thankful you've a comfortable bed to lie on and two of theprettiest daughters in Ireland to wait upon you! When next season comesit will answer for itself, but I'm not a prophet--I can't foretell thefuture. "

The Major looked in his face with bright, steady eyes. 

"You foolish fellow!" he cried. "You foolish fellow! You were always abad hand at deception, and you are no cleverer than usual this evening. What are you afraid of, man? I'm not a coward! If my time's come, Ican face it calmly. Back injured, eh? That's why I felt no pain, butit's difficult to realise that an injury is hopeless, when one is socomparatively comfortable. How long will it be?"

He was perfectly calm, but the doctor was trembling with emotion, andhis voice was rough with tears. 

"I can't say. You are very ill, old man--I won't deceive you--but whilethere is life there is hope. We are going to have a man from Dublin; wewill try every means, and you must help us by keeping up your heart. One never knows what changes may take place. " But the Major only lookedat him the more steadily and repeated his question. 

"How long will it be? I ought to know, so that I may do what I can forthe children. I haven't been the best of fathers to them, and theestate is in a rare muddle. And Jack! What about Jack? I'd like tosee him again, but if it's not imminent, I won't bring him back justyet. The boy is doing well, but he is not his own master, and has justhad a holiday. I must be unselfish in my last days, but you mustpromise, doctor, not to let me go without seeing Jack!"

"My dear fellow, it's not a question of days! At the worst it will beweeks, possibly months. My own opinion is two or three months, but weshall know better after Barrett has been down. I wish you had not askedme. It's the hardest work I've ever had to do, to tell you this; butfor the children's sake--If there is anything to be done, you ought notto waste time!"

"I understand!" said the Major quietly, then suddenly a light flashedacross his face, and his eyes sparkled as with joy. "I shall die atKnock!" he cried. "I shall not have to turn out after all! It was thatthat drove me mad, O'Brien--the thought of leaving the old place where Iwas born, and all my people before me! I had bad news from the bank, and it seemed as if the end had come at last, and all the time I wasriding I was feeling desperate--driven into a corner. The poor beasttried to save me, she knew the jump was too much for her, but I was tooreckless to care. I felt that I could face death sooner than leave theold place, and now it has come to that after all. I shall die at Knock!Thank God for that! Go downstairs, O'Brien, and tell the girls that Iknow the truth, and am quite happy. You needn't mind leaving me. Ishall sleep now!"

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

ESMERALDA'S SOLACE. 

The Dublin specialist came down in due course, and entirely agreed withDr O'Brien's diagnosis. There was no chance of the Major's recovery, and though there was no immediate danger, it was not likely that lifewould be prolonged for more than two or three months at most. He wouldnot suffer physically nor mentally, for the brain power would becomemore and more dulled, so that he would hardly realise his condition. 

The thought of watching him die by inches, as it were, was an evenharder trial to Esmeralda's impetuous nature than the shock of a suddendeath, but Bridgie was thankful for every day as it came, for everyopportunity of ministering to his needs. And he was so sweet, sogentle; all his former indifference and selfishness had fallen from himlike a cloak, and his one thought was for his children, his one anxietyon their behalf. When Bridgie saw how devoted he was to his piccaninny, and how she could always succeed in raising a smile, she proposed thatthe child should not return to school for the next term at least; butthe Major would not listen to the suggestion. 

"No, no! I promised Molly that she should have her chance, and I won'thave her distressed. If she stayed on she would find out--and she wouldcry, and I never could endure to see her cry. It would be delightful tohave her, but it will count for one real unselfish thing I've done in mylife if I do without her for these last weeks. "

So it was arranged that Pixie should return at the proper date, andMademoiselle sat in the morning-room stitching away at the pile ofshabby little garments, mending, and darning, putting in "elegant"little patches at the elbows, and turning and pressing the frayed silkcuffs. Neither of the sisters had time to help, and indeed seemed tothink It unnecessary to spend so much trouble on a child's outfit, butMademoiselle set her lips and went steadily on with her task. She knew, if they did not, that it is not too pleasant for a girl to be noticeablyshabby at a fashionable school, and many a dainty piece of ribbon andlace found its way from her box to refresh hat or dress, and give anappearance of freshness to the well-worn background. When the lastnight came, and Bridgie tried to thank her for her help, she shook herhead and refused to listen. 

"I was a stranger to you, and you welcomed me among you as if I had beenyour own. You were more than kind, you seemed to love me, and never letme feel for one moment that I was one apart. That means a great deal toa woman who is alone in a strange land, and I could not be more happythan to find something to do for you in return. What is a littlesewing? Bah! I tell you, my friend, it is much more than that I intendto do for your Pixie. You say that you will not long be able to sendher to school, but I can do better for her than school. At the end ofthis year I must go 'ome, for my sister is _fiancee_, and when she ismarried I must be there to look after the old father. Lend Pixie to me, and she shall learn to speak French, the proper French, not thatdreadful language of Holly House, and I will take her myself to theConservatoire--there is no better place in the world to learn music thanthe Conservatoire in Paris--and she shall learn to sing and make use ofthat lovely voice. _Voila, ma chere_, at the end of a few years shecomes back to you, and you will not know her! A young woman, withgrace, with charm, with--what shall I say?--an air such as your Englishgirls do not know how to possess, and everyone shall say, `How she isaccomplished, that Pixie! How she is clever and _chic_!'"

The tears had risen in Bridgie's eyes, but now she was obliged to laughat the same time, for it was so droll to think of Pixie as a young lady"with an air!" She laid her hand on Mademoiselle's arm, with one of herpretty caressing gestures. 

"You are a dear, kind Therese, and it all sounds too charming, but I amafraid it cannot be done. We shall be very poor, dear father's pensionwill die with him, and if we cannot afford school, we could not pay youproperly for all your trouble. You are a darling for thinking of it, but--"

She stopped short in dismay, for Mademoiselle had straightened her backuntil it was as stiff as a poker, and was glaring at her with the air ofan offended Fury. 

"Did you ask me for money when I came here? Did you expect me to paywhen you asked me to your house? Am I a pauper, then, that you insultme with such an idea? It is the first time, I must say, that I haveinvited a guest, and been offered a payment. "

"Oh! oh! oh! What will I do? Don't glare at me like that, Therese, orI'll expire with fright! I never offered you a payment, my dear; I saidI couldn't pay. I don't know what I said, but I never meant to make youangry! If you don't forgive me this instant, I'll cry, and if I oncestart crying, I shall go on till to-morrow, and so I warn you!_Please_, Therese!"

She held out her hand appealingly, but Mademoiselle still tilted herhead, and kept up an air of offence. 

"My feelings are 'urt, " she said with dignity, "and they can only beappeased if you withdraw your remarks, and promise that Pixie shallcome. You can pay for the lessons she takes, and the ParisConservatoire will not ruin you, my dear, I can tell you that; but forthe rest, do you suppose Pixie will do nothing for me in return for herboard? It is not too lively, a house with an invalid and an old maid, and they may perhaps be glad to have a young thing about; to be made tolaugh sometimes and have some interest in life beyond rheumatism andasthma! Do not disturb yourself; if you are too proud to accept helpfrom me, be assured that I shall make the child useful. She shall workfor her living!"

"You are pretending to be cross, to make me say `Yes, ' but you needn'tkeep it up any longer, dear. I'll say it with thankfulness this minute, if it is indeed a pleasure to you too. I don't feel at all too proud toaccept a favour from you, and besides, it seems as if Providence meantit to be so, and just the most wonderful and beautiful reason for yourcoming here, which seemed at first so extraordinary. If you will reallylet us pay for her lessons and make her as useful as if she were yourown little sister, why, then, thank you a thousand times, and a thousandtimes more for lifting a weight off my mind. I was worrying myselfabout her future, and now I shall worry no more, and father will be sorelieved, so happy! Are you sufficiently appeased to let me kiss you, you haughty Mademoiselle?"

"With pleasure; yes! but my feelings are still sensitive. With theslightest irritation I should have a relapse!" said Mademoisellestiffly; for it would not do to indulge in sentiment to-day, andBridgie's tears were dangerously near the surface. 

The time for parting came at last, and the Major nerved himself to bidadieu to his piccaninny with a composure which should leave herunsuspicious of its final nature. He was very white, but Pixie hadgrown accustomed to his pallor, and mingling with her grief at leavinghome was a keen pleasure at the thought of returning to her schoolcompanions, of seeing Margaret and Ethel, of hearing Flora's fat, contented chuckle, and seeing poor Lottie, and hearing how she had faredat home. It was all very interesting and exciting, and somehow or otherhome had been unusually dull during the last fortnight. Even Esmeraldahad turned quiet and mild, and Pat abandoned practical joking, and foronce been as good as he looked. The longing for some of the oldmischievous days made Pixie listen to her father's precepts with adecided lack of enthusiasm. 

"You will be a good child now, piccaninny, and work hard at your tasks. Remember what I say to you, that you couldn't please me more than bybeing good and industrious, and obedient to your teachers. I let yourun wild too long, and that's made you behind other girls of your age, but you'll promise me that you will settle down, and make the most ofyour opportunities?"

"I don't feel as if I wanted to `settle down. ' It sounds so dull! Yecan work without being so awfully proper, can't you, father? I can be alittle mischievous sometimes, can't I--especially on half-holidays?I'll work all the better for it afterwards. And the girls would be sodisappointed if I were proper. You wouldn't believe how I liven themup. Ye wouldn't like it yourself, now, Major, if ye never saw any moreof my pranks!"

He winced at that, but smiled bravely, his eye resting longingly uponthe thin little figure wriggling to and fro in the earnestness of itsappeal. With the remembrance of all that her brightness had been tohim, he could not bring himself to forbid it to others. 

"Be as happy as you can, darling, and make other people happy too. Solong as you consider their feelings, and are careful not to go too far, you will do no harm. Good-bye, my piccaninny! God bless you! Nevermind if you are not clever. Go on loving and making sunshine, and youwill do a great work in the world. Remember your old father when youget back among your new friends!"

"I'll think of you for ever!" said Pixie solemnly. "Haste and get well, Major, and come and take me out. You must be getting tired of your bed, poor creature, but I'm glad you have no pain! You won't be here longnow. "

"No, not long, " said the Major quietly. Then he held up his lips to bekissed, murmuring the last, the very last words of farewell, "Good-bye, dearest. Thank you for being such a good, loving little daughter!"

"Thank you, me dear, for the father you have been to me!" returnedPixie, in a tone of gracious condescension which made the listener smilethrough his tears. That was a sweet characteristic little speech tocherish as the last! He shut his eyes in token of dismissal, and Pixiestole away, somewhat sobered and impressed, for the Major had not beengiven to improving an occasion, but free from the vaguest suspicion thatshe had bidden him her last farewell. 

Downstairs Esmeralda was waiting to drive the cart to the station, andat the station itself Mr Hilliard was standing ready to receive thetravellers and make every preparation for their comfort. No one seemedin the least surprised to see him, for in Jack's absence he had quietlytaken upon himself the part of an elder son, and in every emergency hadstepped forward and filled the gap so efficiently and with such tactthat he seemed more like a friend of years' standing than anacquaintance of a few weeks. His business in London had apparently beenaccomplished in a flying visit of forty-eight hours, during which timehe had seen Jack, and eased anxiety by a personal report of the invalid, and here he was back again, declaring that there was no reason to keephim in town, and that if he could be of the slightest use at BallyWilliam, there was no place in the world where he would sooner remain. Bridgie smiled to herself with quiet understanding, and Esmeralda grewthoughtful, and her white cheeks hung out a flag of welcome every timehe made his appearance. 

To-day she made no objections to his proposal that they should walk backfrom the station, leaving a boy to drive the cart home during theafternoon, and they struck across the fields together, disregarding dampand mud with the callousness of true lovers of the country. The girl'sface was worn and downcast, for the Castle would seem sadder and emptierthan ever, now that the little sister had gone and that dear, helpfulMademoiselle; and at nineteen it is hard to look forward and know for acertainty that the shadows must deepen. There were still sadder timesahead, and a loneliness such as she dared not even imagine; forEsmeralda had not Bridgie's sweet faith and trust, and hers was astormy, rebellious nature, which made trouble harder to bear by uselessfightings against the inevitable. Bridgie found a dozen reasons forthankfulness among all her distresses--the kindness of friends, theceaseless attentions of the good old doctor, her father's freedom frompain, and the fact that he would be spared the dread of his lifetime--aseparation from the old home. Joan saw nothing but clouds and darkness, and tortured herself with useless questionings. Why--why--why--whyshould all this trouble fall upon her? Why should other girls havefather and mother and money and opportunity, and she be deprived of all?Why should the accident have been allowed to happen when her father'slife was of such value--such inestimable value to his young family? Whyshould her life be darkened just at the time when she was most able toappreciate joy and gladness?

Hilliard watched the clouds flit over the beautiful face, and was at noloss to understand their meaning. During the last fortnight he had morethan once been a witness to a storm of misery and rebellion, and apartfrom that fact he had an instinctive understanding of the girl's moods, which seemed all the more curious, as his own nature of happy optimismwas as great a contrast to hers as could possibly be imagined. 

A smile flickered over his face as he reflected on the strangeness ofhis present position. A month ago, if anyone had described to him theO'Shaughnessy sisters, he would have declared without a moment'shesitation that Bridgie would be his favourite--that in every way hercharacter would be more attractive to him than that of Esmeralda. Evennow--even now, yes!--if the question were put plainly before him, hemust still confess that "Saint Bridget" was sweeter, simpler, lesswayward, more unselfish; yet in spite of all there remained theextraordinary fact that he liked Bridgie and loved Esmeralda with thewhole strength of a warm and loving heart! He saw her faults clearlyenough with those keen, quizzical eyes; but what the sight roused in himwas not so much disapproval as pity, and an immense longing to help andcomfort. He loved her; he understood her; he honestly believed he couldhelp her to rise above the weaknesses of girlhood, and become the finelarge-hearted woman which Providence had intended her to be; and thetime had come when he intended to speak his mind and ask her to be hiswife. The silence had lasted so long that at last Joan herself becameconscious of it, and roused herself to apologise for her rudeness. 

"But I'm miserable, " she said simply. "I can't remember to be polite. I was miserable last time when the Pixie left us, but now it is ahundred times worse. I can't bear to think of going back to that bigempty place, with that dreadful shadow coming nearer and nearer everyday. I am a coward, and can't face it!"

"You are a very brave girl--one of the bravest I have known. If anyonebut yourself dared to call you cowardly, you would never forgive him!"

"I know. It's quite true. I am brave physically, but I've never beentried in this way before, so I didn't know how weak I was. It arisesfrom selfishness, I suppose. It's so hard to suffer like this. "

"No one can be selfish who loves another person more than himself. Ihave never seen two sisters so devoted to each other as you and MissBridgie. You will think of her before yourself, and try to help her, simply because you will not be able to help it!"

"Darling Bridgie--yes, I do love her. Who could help it? She takesthis trouble like the saint she is, and believes that it is God's will, and must be for the best. I can't feel that--I can't! It's againstreason. It's no use pretending that I do, for I should only be ahypocrite. "

"You have a different nature from your sister's. It is more difficultfor you to be resigned, and therefore all the more praiseworthy if youfight against your rebellious thoughts, and learn submission. "

The tears rose slowly to Joan's eyes, and she looked at him with aflickering smile. 

"It's no use talking to you. You won't believe how wicked I am. Youmake excuses for me all the time. "

"Because I love you, Joan, that's why! Have you found that out foryourself? I began to love you the first night I saw you, and I've beenprogressing rapidly ever since. We have not known each other for long, as time goes, but so much has happened, and we have been thrown so muchtogether, that we know each other as well as many acquaintances ofyears' standing. My mind is made up, at any rate; there is no othergirl in the world for me! Do you think if you tried very hard, and Iwaited very patiently, you could possibly bring yourself to love me inreturn?"

Esmeralda gazed at him with her wonderful grey eyes, not shyly, notself-consciously, but with slow, solemn deliberation. 

"I don't know, " she said simply. "I can't tell. I like you very much;you have been very kind to us, and it does me good to talk to you, butthat isn't enough, is it? I don't know if I love you, but I love you tolove me! It comforts my heart, and makes me feel braver and lesslonely. Sometimes this last week--just once or twice when we have beenalone--I have thought perhaps you did, and I hoped I was right. I hopedI was not mistaken. "

"You darling! Oh, you darling!" cried Hilliard rapturously. "You domake me happy by telling me that. That's all I want--the very bestproof you could give me that you care for me too. Don't you see, mybeauty, that you must care, or you would not want my love? Don't yousee that you have been drawn to me, just as I have been drawn to you, and have felt the need of me, just as I have longed and wearied for youever since we met?"

He tried to take hold of her hand as he spoke, but Esmeralda drew back, refusing to be caressed. She was trembling now, and her cheeks wereflushed with the loveliest rosy blush, but there was an almost piteousappeal in her voice. 

"No, no! I don't see, and I don't want to see. My father is dying--hehas only a little time to live, and I don't want to think of anythingbut him. If it is as you say, there will be all my life after that, butI can't think of love-making and being happy just the very last weeks weshall have him with us. You mustn't be vexed; you mustn't think meungrateful. Indeed, indeed I can't help it!"

"Vexed!" echoed Hilliard. "Ungrateful!" His glance was eloquent enoughto show how far such words were from expressing his real feelings; andindeed, if it had been possible to love Esmeralda more dearly than hedid, he would have done so at this moment, when she had shown him thereality of the generous nature which lay beneath her girlishextravagances, "You are absolutely and perfectly right, dearest, " hesaid warmly, "and I promise you faithfully that I will not try in anyway to absorb your attention so long as your father lives. But afterthat, Esmeralda, (I may call you Esmeralda, mayn't I? Dear, charming, ridiculous name--I love it, it is so deliciously characteristic!) afterthat you must let me take my right place as your chief helper andcomforter. I won't be put off any longer, and I think I shall be ableto do more for you than anyone else. "

"I believe you would, but--" Esmeralda looked at him beneath a troubled, puckered brow--"please understand exactly what you are doing! We aredreadfully poor--we shall be poorer than ever after father's death. IfI marry I shall not have a penny; for what little there is will beneeded, and more than needed, for Bridgie and the children. It would berather hard on you, for, as you are not rich yourself, you ought tomarry a rich wife. "

"The same argument would apply to you, wouldn't it? Are you quite surethat you would not mind marrying a poor man, and that you would bewilling to give up luxuries for my sake?"

"If I cared enough in other ways, it would not be money that wouldprevent me, but I should not like to be _very_ poor!" returned Esmeraldahonestly. "I've had a taste of it, you see, and it is so dull to bealways worried about butchers' bills, and not be able to have nicepuddings because of the eggs, and to have to turn your dresses over andover again. I've never once in my life bought a thing because I likedit best. I've always had to think that it was cheaper than the others, and I must make it do. I suppose men can't realise how hard that is, for they need so much less, and their things are so much alike; but it'shard to know for certain that you could look just twice as nice, andhave to put up with the frumpy things, because you have no money to payfor the pretty ones!"

"Could you look twice as nice as you do now--really?" Hilliard laughedwith happy incredulity. "Esmeralda, I don't believe it; but if youmarry me you shall try! I am not so poor that I cannot afford to be alittle extravagant for my wife, and I promise you faithfully that youshall never be worried about the bills. I'll protect you from that, andevery other trouble, I hope, my darling!"

"It--it seems to me we are getting on very fast. I thought I said thatnothing was decided. Oh, please talk of something else!" criedEsmeralda urgently; and Hilliard laughed once more, and obedientlydiscussed the weather until the Castle gates were reached. 

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

A TELEGRAM. 

It was six weeks later that the girls in Holly House heard a sharp, wailing cry from within the portals of Miss Phipps's private room, andlooked at each other with eyes of sympathetic understanding. Theknowledge that Pixie's father was seriously ill had leaked out among theelder pupils, and this afternoon, as they returned from their walk, atelegraph boy had met them in the drive, and Mademoiselle had turnedpale and muttered below her breath. Miss Phipps called her aside onentering, and at tea-time there were unmistakable tear-marks round hereyes, and she was even more affectionate than usual in her manner toPixie, --poor, unconscious Pixie, who was in radiant spirits, and quitepuffed up with pride because she had suddenly remembered a favouriteexploit as practised at Knock Castle, and had issued invitations to thefifth-form to come to the classroom before tea and play the part ofspectators, while she made a circuit of the room without touching theground. 

"Without--touching--the--ground! Pixie O'Shaughnessy, are youdemented?" demanded Flora incredulously. "You can't fly, I suppose?Then how on earth could you get round a room without touching thefloor?"

"Come with me, me dear, and you shall see, " returned Pixie graciously, and forthwith led the way into the big, bare room. There was no classbeing held at the time, so that the performer and her friends were theonly persons present; the chairs were neatly ranged beside the desks, the matches and vases of spills which usually graced the mantelpiecewere placed together on a corner bracket, otherwise no article had beenmoved from its place. Pixie sprang lightly on to a chair near the door, kissed her hand after the manner of the lady riders at the circus, andstarted off on her mad career. 

From one chair to another, from chair number two to the shelf of the oldbookcase which filled the middle space of the wall; from the bookcase, with a leap and a bound, on to the oak chest in which were storeddrawing-books and copies; from the chest to another chair, and thencewith a whoop and wildly waving hands to the end of an ordinary woodenform. Why that form did not collapse at once, and land the invader onthe floor, no one of the spectators could understand! Flora gave ahollow groan and leant against the wall in palpitating nervousness; Kateshut her eyes, and Ethel pinched Margaret's arm with unconsciousseverity; but, after all, nothing happened! With instantaneousquickness Pixie had fallen forward on her knees, and so restored thebench to its normal position; and now she was off again with anotherkiss, another flourish, another whisk of those absurd short petticoats. Providentially there was a table close at hand which she could mountwithout difficulty, and so bring herself to the completion of the firsthalf of her task, but the harder part was still to come. 

It was easy enough to run along the blackboard, but what about thatspace between it and the shelves at the other side of the fireplace?"She can't do it!" cried Ethel confidently; but Pixie had not made herboast without counting the cost. What if there was no article offurniture within reach, there was a shelf overhead to which one couldcling and work slowly along hand over hand until the coal-box offered afriendly footing! Then, when one had been accustomed to climb trees allone's life, what could be easier than to rest the elbows on themantelpiece, and with the aid of one foot pressed lightly on that fat, substantial bell, (horrors! suppose it rang!) to wriggle upward untilknees joined elbows, and a perpendicular position was once morepossible! The gasps and groans from the doorway were even moreencouraging than applause, and under their influence it was impossibleto resist indulging in a few extravagances, such as standing poised onone leg, blowing more kisses, and bowing from side to side after themanner of that fascinating circus lady. Another bound sent her lightlyon to the one substantial chair which the room possessed--Miss Phipps'sseat when she came to take a class. It rocked, of course, but tobalance it was child's play, compared with the really difficult featwith the form, and for the rest of the course the way was easy. Anyonecould have run along the substantial dumb waiter, stepped down to thechair by its side, and so, with a leap, to the one from which the starthad been made. Pixie stopped, panting, gasping, and smirking at hercompanions, expectant of adulation, but there was more reproach thanpraise in store. 

"You are mad!" cried Ethel shortly. "Stark, staring mad! No thanks toyou that every bone in your body isn't broken. I wonder what MissPhipps would have said if she had come in, while you were pirouetting onthe mantelpiece! It would have been your turn to be surprised then, myyoung friend. "

"I n-n-never did see such a sight in all my born days, " stuttered Florablankly. "You've made me feel quite ill. My heart is pumping like anengine. I thought every moment you would be killed. I call it mean andunkind to ask us to look on, while you play such tricks, for you knowvery well we should be blamed if anything went wrong! I'll never comeagain, so you needn't trouble to ask me!"

"Pixie dear, it really is most dangerous! You might have sprained yourankle a dozen times over. Promise me, promise me faithfully, that youwill never do it again!" pleaded Margaret gently; but Pixie shook herhead in obstinate fashion. 

"Me dear, don't ask me! I'll tell you no stories. I've done it a dozentimes at home, and so have Bridgie and Esmeralda. It was a finehandicap we had one night, boys against girls, and Bridgie the winner, being so light on her feet. You wouldn't wish to forbid what my ownfamily approves. " She drew herself up with an air of dignity as shepronounced the last words, and skipped out of the room, as the quickestway of closing the argument; but when tea-time arrived she was stillabeam with complacency, and pleasantly conscious of being the object ofan unusual amount of attention. The girls all looked at her and smiledso kindly when they met her eye; jam and scones were pressed upon herfrom half a dozen different quarters; Mademoiselle called her"_cherie_, " and even Miss Phipps said "dear. " "Are you having a goodtea, dear?" "Won't you have another cup of tea, dear?" It was all verypleasant and gratifying, and she felt convinced that the fame of herexploit had spread over the school, and that even the teachers had beenunable to resist it. 

She was strutting out of the dining-room at the conclusion of the meal, when Miss Phipps laid a hand on her shoulder and said, "Come into myroom, Pixie, " and a moment later she stood within the boudoir, staringaround with wide, astonished eyes. Mademoiselle had followed, and wastwisting her hands together, trying vainly not to cry. Miss Phippslooked at her and made a little signal, but Mademoiselle only shook herhead, and held out her hands with a helpless gesture, and then MissPhipps began to speak herself, in such a gentle voice--a voice quitedifferent from her usual brisk, decided accents. 

"Pixie dear, I have something to tell you. God has been very kind tothe dear father whom you love so much. He saw that he could never bewell again--never able to move about, nor walk, nor ride, as he had donebefore, and instead of leaving him to lie helpless upon his bed for longweary years, as so many poor sufferers have had to do, He took him homeat once, and made him well and strong again. You must not think of yourfather as dead, Pixie. He is alive and happy in heaven!"

But it was too early for the dead man's child to realise that beautifultruth, and Pixie burst into a passion of grief, and the girls withoutheard the long pitiful wails and nestled close to each other and sobbedin sympathy. 

Miss Phipps talked on and on, saying comforting words in that new sweetvoice, and Mademoiselle put her arms fondly round the little figure andsaid--

"You will be brave, _cherie_. You are always brave! All theO'Shaughnessys are brave--your Bridgie told me so, and said it was thepride of the family! You will not be the first to act like a coward. No!" But the shock was too sudden to be borne with resignation. 

"We haven't got any family now! How can you have a family without afather? He wouldn't have died if I had been at home. He was alwayscheerful when I was with him, and he said himself I was better than adoctor. Oh, Major, Major! Oh, Bridgie, Bridgie! Me heart's broken!Me heart's broken!"

Pixie wept and wailed, and presently Miss Phipps stopped trying toconsole, and let her weep her fill, knowing well that the noisy grief isnever the most lasting, and that when the first passion was exhaustedshe would be more ready for comfort. She had purposely delayed tellingthe sad news until tea was over, and presently it would be time for bed, when the sleep of childhood would drop its soothing curtain over grief. Pixie lay on the sofa, and cried until her face was swollen and she wastoo exhausted to cry any longer, and Miss Phipps was just about topropose a move to bed when, to her amazement, the child suddenly put herfeet to the ground, sat up, and said faintly--

"I want to see the girls!"

Well, after all, it was a natural request, for the bent of a lifetimedoes not change in moments of grief, and Pixie was a sociable littlecreature, who must needs have someone in whom to confide on everyoccasion. Miss Phipps realised as much, and also that companions of herown age would be better comforters than the teachers, between whom andthe pupils there was naturally a great gulf fixed; so she assented atonce, saying only--

"I will come for you in ten minutes. You must not stay downstairslonger than that, " and Pixie feebly tottered across the hall to the roomwhere the elder girls were sitting. She chose to join them rather thanthe pupils of her own age, for, as she had previously explained, she hadbeen accustomed to "grown-ups" at home, and felt more interest in theirsociety. The girls raised their heads with starts of surprise as sheentered, and came slowly forward to seat herself in a chair. Theystared at her with melancholy eyes, but there was a dead silence, for noone knew what to say or how to say it, so they sat in a row facing her, and Pixie blinked and trembled, and screwed her fingers together in atight little knot. 

"I'm an orphan!" she said faintly, and five separate sobs of sympathysounded as replies. 

"Poor little kid!" said Kate gruffly. 

"D-arling!" sobbed Flora. 

"But we all love you, Pixie! Everyone loves you! You can't be lonely, dear, when you have so many friends, " said Margaret's soft voice; and ahand stretched out and clutched hers in convulsive energy. It wasLottie's hand, and Lottie's face was trembling as if she were going tocry, and a pulse on her temple was beating up and down, Pixie looked ather curiously, and realised that, sorry as the others were, she wassomehow sorriest of all, and most anxious to comfort. Lottie had beenmuch subdued and silent since the beginning of the term, and had seemed, if anything, to avoid the society of the girl whom she had treated sobadly, but with her fine intuition Pixie had understood quite well thatthe avoidance arose from no lack of affection. She held Lottie's handin a tight pressure while she continued her broken sentences. 

"And I didn't know he was going to die. They never told me. MissPhipps says they didn't want me to be unhappy, but I'd rather haveknown. He wasn't like other people's fathers. They are old, with greyhair; he was young--like a boy, and so handsome and gay. He alwayslaughed, even if things went wrong, and I was the youngest, and hewouldn't have me thwarted. No one ever appreciated me like the Major. The very last words he spoke were praising me and saying what a daughterI'd been!"

"When you said `Good-bye, ' you mean. That's good to think of, isn't it, Pixie? He knew he would never see you again, and that afterwards youwould remember all he said, and treasure it in your heart, and thesweetest thing of all is to know that you were a joy and pleasure tohim. It is a comfort to think that he is well again, isn't it? Quitewell and happy in heaven!"

"I want him on earth!" said Pixie, and the tears flowed down her cheeks. "We all want him. What is to become of us without our father? I feelas if I could never be happy again, but he said I must be. `Be as happyas you can, ' he said, `and make other people happy too. Never trouble abit about your lessons, but go on loving and making sunshine, and you'lldo a great work in the world. ' Those were the very last words I heardhim speak. "

It was a somewhat free translation, so far as lessons were concerned, and the girls realised as much, being accustomed to Pixie and her ways, but they allowed that part of the story to pass without comment, andreferred only to what was obviously a literal repetition. 

"Well, then, of course, you must obey his last words! It would not belike a good daughter if you didn't. You must go on loving us, andmaking us happy, and we shall all be wretched if we see you fretting. You do make us happy, you know, Pixie! We have been ever so muchlivelier since you came. I think it ought to cheer anyone to know thatshe can make thirty-three people happy, don't you, now?"

"Can I--can I really?" Pixie inquired wistfully. "I'm glad of that, and I will try, but I can't help fretting a little first! I don't thinkthe Major would like it if I didn't fret for him. " And at this momentMiss Phipps came into the room and put an end to the conference. 

"I can't let you sit up a moment longer, you weary little girl! Say`Good-night' at once, and one of the girls shall go upstairs with you, and help you to undress. Which will you have?"

Pixie looked from one to the other of her companions with uncertaingaze. Where everyone was so kind it was hard to choose. Ethel had nottossed her head once since she entered the room; Kate kept taking offher spectacles, and polishing them on her handkerchief; Flora looked sokind and comfortable; the "Bridgie's expression" was stronger than everin Margaret's eyes; but there was a something in Lottie's face--ahumble, wistful longing which was to be found nowhere else. 

"Lottie, please!" she cried quickly; and the other girls realised atonce that the cure had begun, for Pixie was already forgetting herself, and considering how she could make other people happy!

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

THE SISTERS' VISIT. 

Pixie did not go home for the Easter holidays, for everything at theCastle was so sad and unsettled that Bridgie felt it advisable that sheshould stay away a little longer, and an invitation from Mr and MrsVane came as a happy alternative. 

On the whole she spent a happy three weeks, thoroughly enjoying theluxury of her surroundings and the attention lavished upon her by everymember of the household. Mr Vane still remained grey and serious, buthe was unfailingly kind; while his wife belonged to the type designatedby schoolgirls as "simple darlings, " and seemed to find no greaterpleasure in life than in making young people happy. It was evident thatthey were both devoted to their only remaining child, though there was areserve in their manner which seemed to Irish Pixie perilously allied tocoldness. She was all unconscious that her own fearless intimacy ofmanner made a precedent for little demonstrations of affection which hadhitherto been unknown in the household; but so it was, and her host andhostess felt that they owed her a second debt of gratitude, wheneverLottie volunteered a caress, or added a second kiss to the morninggreeting. Perhaps, in their determination to overcome their daughter'sfaults, they had erred on the side of firmness, and so brought aboutanother temptation in the girl's terror of discovery; and if this wereso, what better instrument could have been found to draw them togetherthan fearless, loving, audacious Pixie?

When the time came to return to school, she received many pressinginvitations to return to a home where she would always be welcome, andwas able truthfully to assure the girls at Holly House that Lottie hadbeen "an angel" to her throughout the holidays. 

After that the ordinary routine went on for a few weeks, broken bynothing more exciting than the weekly letters from home; then came anepisode of thrilling interest, when Geoffrey Hilliard was shown into thedrawing-room, and Miss O'Shaughnessy summoned from her class and sentupstairs to brush her hair, before going to interview him. He wasleaning against the mantelpiece as she entered, looking very tall andhandsome in his long frock coat, and he was smiling to himself with acurious shiny look in his eyes, which at once arrested Pixie'sattention. 

"How are you, Pixie? How are you, dear little girl?" he criedgushingly. 

Pixie remarked that she was in excellent health, privately not a littletaken aback by his fervour. "He seems mighty fond of me, all of asudden. Over at Bally William he didn't care half so much. I supposehe missed me, after I'd gone!" She smiled at him encouragingly. "Andyou are looking very well yourself. I'm pleased to see you!"

"I am very well, Pixie. Happiness agrees with me. I'm very happy--thehappiest man in the world! Do you know why? I am going to be married. I came on purpose to tell you. Can you guess who `She' is?"

"How could I guess? I don't know your friends. There's no one at allthat it could be, unless, perhaps--"

Pixie stopped short suddenly, as certain memories darted into her mind. The extraordinary manner in which Mr Hilliard was always appearing atKnock Castle during the Christmas holidays; his interest in everythingEsmeralda did and said; the fixity of his gaze upon the beautiful face. She gasped and blinked with surprise. "Not--_not_ Esmeralda?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Esmeralda, of course! Clever girl to guess so well!It was settled only last Wednesday, and she sent me across to tell youfirst thing, and ask your consent, as she couldn't be properly engagedwithout it. You see this is an important matter for me, so you reallymust be kind, for I can't give up Esmeralda, after waiting for her solong. Will you have me for another brother, and let me do all I can tomake you happy?"

"I'm glad it isn't Bridgie, " sighed Pixie irrelevantly; then, fearingthat she had failed in politeness, "But Esmeralda is nice too, " sheadded quickly. "She can't help having a temper, but she won't show itto you, like she did to her brothers and sisters. And she _is_beautiful! I've seen photographs of people they call beautiful here, and they are frights compared with her. I suppose I can have her roomafter she's married! It's got one of the turret windows, and I alwayswanted it because of the view. I hope you will be happy, Mr Hilliard. It was very kind of you to come and tell me. I'll write and askEsmeralda if I may be a bridesmaid. "

Hilliard laughed, and muttered something about "sisterly candour. " Hedid not seem in the least alarmed at the thought of Esmeralda's temper, and settled the bridesmaid question there and then with the utmostconfidence. 

"Of course you shall be bridesmaid. The wedding will be in the summerholidays, but you will see your sisters before then. You knew, ofcourse, that they were trying to let the Castle for a few years, untilJack makes his fortune, and goes back to live there himself. Well, I amglad to say a tenant has been found through a lawyer, and thateverything is satisfactorily arranged. He takes possession on the firstof September, and Bridgie is coming to live in London with Jack and theboys, in a nice little flat, where you can spend your holidays. Shesaid I was to tell you that, and to say that you were not to fret forthe Castle, for you would see much more of each other than if she hadremained over there. She is coming to town in summer to look for theflat, and Esmeralda is coming too, to buy fineries for the wedding, andthen we will all return to Ireland and have a quiet little wedding, andyou shall keep Bridgie company when I carry Esmeralda away. That's thesummer programme. I hope you approve!"

"I hate the man who's coming to Knock, " said Pixie sadly; "but I am gladBridgie will be near, and it will be lovely on holidays. It must feelstrange to live in a flat; like being in a cage. I am sorry for thepeople beneath, when the boys get romping round. If I were Bridgie, I'dtake a house, and then we could make as much noise as we liked. It's nouse pretending that we are a quiet family, because we're not. You mightthink it was an army, to hear us tramp downstairs!"

"I--I think myself that a house would be more suitable!" said Hilliard, smiling his humorous twisted smile; then he asked to see Mademoiselle, and when he said to her in her turn that he had a piece of news toimpart, she nodded her head gaily, and cried, "So, so! I 'ope you willbe very 'appy!" and could not be induced to say that she was in theleast surprised. Pixie hoped that none of the girls would ask about thenew brother's business; for, after boasting of possible dukes, it wasreally rather humiliating to come down to glue! What a comfort thatLottie had turned over a new leaf, and abandoned her snobbish, inquisitive questionings!

After that it was a case of counting the days until the arrival of thesisters, and Pixie's companions were almost as excited as herself at theprospect of seeing the much-talked-of Bridgie and Esmeralda in theflesh. Miss Joan announced her intention of taking advantage of theJuly sales to buy her trousseau--a delightful arrangement, for by thetime that dressmakers had done their work the holidays would begin, sothat the girls could be present at the great breaking-up festival, andafterwards act as companions on the journey home. Pixie's elasticspirits went up with a bound, and every week they grew higher andhigher, until at last it became a question of days, and Bridgie's lettermust needs be addressed to Jack's lodgings instead of Knock Castle, forby the time it was delivered the dear visitors would have arrived intown. 

"Please come to see me soon, " ran the letter, "and be sure to look yournicest, because of the girls! They all want to see you, and I've toldthem such lots about you. Please ask Miss Phipps to let me come outoften. Wednesday is the best day, because it's half-holiday, only Ishould like other days better, because I should get off prep. Pleasewear your best clothes!"

The two sisters laughed heartily over this missive, but Pixie's word waslaw, and as usual they obeyed her instructions to the letter. Atelegram was sent off next morning to announce the hour in the afternoonat which they hoped to call, and the morning was spent to such goodpurpose that two most elegant and fashionable-looking young ladies droveup to Holly House shortly before four o'clock. The third-form girlswere, to a man, peeping through the curtains of their classroom; Ethelhad left her music in the drawing-room, and rushed downstairs to reclaimit the moment the door-bell rang; Kate suddenly felt it impossible tolive without a clean handkerchief, and on her way upstairs waited roundthe corner of the hall until she could meet the visitors face to face;Flora peeped through the banisters, and snored so loudly in herexcitement that she was in instant danger of discovery; and Pixie rushedlike a whirlwind from the top of the house, and flung herself intoBridgie's arms. 

They hugged and kissed, and kissed and hugged again, and fell apart togaze with eyes that suddenly brimmed with tears. No need to ask thecause! The remembrance of the Major was in each heart, but Bridgiedried her eyes, and said, as if answering the unspoken lament--

"But we have so much to be thankful for! Such a splendid let for theCastle, and Jack so good, trying to find work for the boys, and Geoffreylike another brother, and Esmeralda so happy. "

No question about that! Esmeralda was radiant, more beautiful thanever, and astonishingly grand. So was Bridgie! The little sister gazedfrom one to the other with kindling eyes. Black dresses with tails tothem; fluffy gauze boas with ends floating to the knees; hats that werenot hats, but crinkled, brimless things like the Surbiton ladies wore inthe afternoons, and so light and gauzy that they might have been blownaway with a breath. 

"You _are_ fine!" she gasped, and the girls laughed and cried merrily. 

"We had our instructions, you see! We dared not come down until we hadbought new hats and gloves; and we put on our very best clothes for thegirls' benefit. "

"And jewellery!" added Esmeralda; and Pixie looked at her with an evenmore critical scrutiny. There was a little diamond brooch sparklingamong the laces at her throat. "Geoffrey gave me that!" There was agold bangle round her wrist, with a heart-shaped locket dangling fromthe clasp. "Geoffrey gave me that!" There was a dainty little watchpinned on to her dress. "Geoffrey gave me that!"

"Deary me, " quoth Pixie at last, "it must be rather nice being engaged. "

"It is, my dear. Quite nice! And he gave us these boas too, --insistedupon buying them when he came shopping with us this morning. He saidboas were the fashionable thing, and he really dared not allow us toface `the girls' without them. He is very extravagant, but he says hewill only be engaged once, and after we are married he will be ascareful as I like. It was through his lawyer that we found our tenant. Geoffrey told him about the place, and it seemed that it was justexactly what a client had been wanting. We have not seen him yet, buthe is tremendously interested in old places, and is going to spend a lotof money putting things into repair, which, of course, is a very goodthing for us. He has taken it for ten years, and by the end of thelease Jack hopes he may be able to go back himself, for part of theyear, at any rate. It is hard to leave Knock, but not so hard as weexpected, for I am to be married, and the rest of you will be together, and able to enjoy seeing the sights, and all the fun and bustle of townlife. "

"And it will be so good for the boys! They were idling away their time, but now they will have to set to work in earnest to make their way inthe world. It will be the making of them, so even if we do feelhomesick at times it will be a light price to pay for their good, " saidBridgie hastily, for the tears were beginning to rise again in Pixie'seyes at the thought of leaving the dear old home. "Dear me, I amlonging to see `the girls'! Aren't we going to see `the girls'? Whatis the use of our dressing up like this if we are not to see `thegirls'?"

"Come along! Come along! Miss Phipps said I was to take you roundbefore she came in to give you tea. Come along, and see them now, "cried Pixie, prancing to the door with eager steps, and forgettingeverything else in the excitement of the coming introduction, as it hadbeen intended that she should do. Bridgie and Joan followed closebehind, smiling in anticipation; but it was rather an embarrassingoccasion, when the door of the big classroom was thrown open, andfifteen girls rose to their feet and stood staring with unblinking eyes, while Fraulein smiled and bowed from the end of the long table. Bridgiewanted to say something graceful and appropriate, but could only blush, and smile, and stammer feebly. "Oh-h! How do you do? Is there anyonehere that I know by name? Flora--Margaret--Kate? Are any of yourspecial friends here, Pixie? Please introduce me. "

"That's Flora!" said Pixie, pointing barefacedly across the room. "Thefat one. Kate is next to Fraulein--with specs. Margaret is having hermusic lesson. That's Ethel in the middle, with the frizzy hair. Thisis my sister Bridgie that I've told you about. "

The faces of the girls thus singled out for special notice were woodenin stolidity. Not a flicker of animation lit up their features; theystood like pokers staring blankly before them, as if they had heard noword of what was passing, and poor Bridgie murmured more disconnectednothings, while Esmeralda looked from one to the other with her haughty, patronising smile. It was quite a relief when the door was shut, andthe presence of Mademoiselle in classroom number two insured onelistener at least who would speak in reply. The greeting was a warm oneon both sides, but conversation was deferred until tea-time, whenMademoiselle had been asked to join the party in the drawing-room, andafter just a minute's wait a move was made upstairs to the room wherePixie slept. Here there were photographs to exhibit, and a number oftiny ornaments which had been gifts from other girls. 

"Ethel gave me that the day that I was ill. --Fanny bought me that whenshe went out for the day. It cost threepence. Wasn't it dear? DoraEllis and Vera Knowles clubbed together and bought me that at thebazaar. It's supposed to be for matches. I am going to give it to Jackat Christmas. That's Ethel's mother! She is really awfully nice, though you wouldn't think so. That's Flora's little brother. Isn't helike Mellin's Food? Ethel has silver brushes. I wish I might havesilver things. She is awfully proud of her dressing-table. If I standon my pillow I can just see over the curtain between our beds. Ipainted eyes on my forehead one night, and tied my hair round it. Itlooked lovely, --just like a monkey! and then I crept up quietly, and putit over for Ethel to see. She did howl! Shall we go downstairs now?You'll have a scrumptious tea. Visitors always do. That's one reasonwhy it's so nice having them coming to see you. "

Miss Phipps and Mademoiselle were waiting in the drawing-room, and, tothe amusement of her sisters, Pixie became a model of decorum the momentshe entered their presence, and handed about cake and tea in the moststaid and deliberate fashion. To see her stand with her heels drawnneatly together in the first position; to hear her demure, "Yes, MissPhipps!" "No, Miss Phipps!" was almost too much for Esmeralda'scomposure, and she was glad to leave the house with the promise ofhaving Pixie to spend a long day in town at the beginning of thefollowing week, while that young lady herself was so eager to return toher companions and hear their criticisms on her visitors that she borethe parting with wonderful resignation. 

Fortunately for all, approval was unanimous, and the girls declared in abreath that never, no never, had they seen anyone so "simply sweet" asBridgie, so "frightfully pretty" as Esmeralda. Bridgie was a darling;her eyes were so kind and loving and sorry for you, and didn't she lookan angel when she smiled? Esmeralda was like a queen; they could quiteimagine that she had a temper, but when she laughed she had the sweetestdimples! Did her hair curl naturally? Fancy! She was really and trulylike a picture, and not a bit like a person who was alive. Didn't theylook ducks together--one so fair, and one so dark? So on, and so on, until Pixie was one big beam of joy and contentment. 

During the next fortnight Pixie spent no less than three days with hersisters, and had the felicity of helping to choose the little house, inwhich they were to begin the new life. After an inspection of variousflats Bridgie was quite of one mind with her youngest sister inbelieving that either they themselves or every other tenant in thebuilding would have to give notice within a week of their arrival. Itwas so preposterous to think of creeping on tiptoe in consideration foryour neighbours below, and speaking in hushed tones because of yourneighbours above, while, in spite of high rents, the passages seemed socramped, oh, so painfully cramped and narrow! Even a little house was acastle, comparatively speaking; and in due time one was found whichpromised to be healthy and convenient, and was put in the hands ofpainters and paper-hangers to be ready for the removal in autumn. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

THE PRIZE IS WON. 

When the breaking-up gathering was held, Pixie was proud indeed, for ifother girls had fathers and mothers present, she had two sisters andJack and Geoffrey Hilliard into the bargain, and there was no doubt thatthey were the handsomest and most attractive of all the guests. Therewas only one drawback to her happiness, and that was that there was nochance of being called forward to receive a prize, and so cover herselfwith glory. She devoutly hoped that the class lists might not be readaloud, to betray how very, very near the bottom she was to be found, andheaved a deep sigh of relief when little Beatrice Ferrars marched up toreceive her certificate, and so end the list of honours. But itappeared that it was not quite finished, for Miss Phipps rose to herfeet and began to speak amid a general murmur of excitement. 

"We now come to perhaps the most interesting item on our programme--thebestowal of a prize by the girls themselves, instead of by the teachers. For the benefit of those who have not been present at one of thesegatherings before, I must briefly explain that this prize consists offive pounds to be expended in books, and is the gift of the father ofone of the pupils. Its object is to encourage among the girls a spiritof kindliness and consideration, a readiness to hold out a helping hand, to assist another to overcome a weakness, and, in short, to _befriend_, in the best sense of the word. The prize is given once a year at theend of the summer term, and, as I have said, is awarded by the vote ofthe girls themselves. As they have the best opportunity of judging, itis only right that the decision should come from them, and it ispleasant to know that this year at least there is absolute unanimityamong them. I have gone over your voting papers, girls, and havepleasure in telling you that, with the natural exception of the winnerherself, the same name was given by all. There is one girl who, whatever may be her faults and shortcomings, has never failed to showthe most generous and unselfish friendship, one girl who has put her owninterests aside and been content to suffer for the sake of others, onegirl who has ever been on the watch to do a kindly act or speak a lovingword, a girl whom everyone loves, who counts every member of thehousehold among her admirers, and that girl's name is--"

She paused and looked smilingly at her pupils, and on the instant camethe loud answering cry. The girls waved their hands in the air, theydrummed on the ground with their feet. "Pixie!" they cried, "PixieO'Shaughnessy!" and "Pixie!" once again, "Bravo, Pixie!" "Three cheersfor Pixie!" until they were hoarse with shouting, and Miss Phipps heldup her hand for silence. 

It was really a most exciting scene. Every eye was riveted on Pixieherself, who had applauded as violently as her companions when MissPhipps first asked her question, and whose shrill cry of "Margaret!Margaret!" had been frozen on her lips by the sound of her own name. There she sat with her mouth agape, too much overcome by surprise tohave any thought for appearances, and there sat Bridgie looking on andcrying copiously with happiness, and Esmeralda blinking the tears awayand laughing furtively at Jack, who was grunting to himself, "Sillyfuss! Silly fuss!" and putting on a great appearance of boredom todistract attention from the tears on his eyelashes. There sat Mr andMrs Vane, too, beaming with pleasure that their prize should have goneto Pixie of all people, and Lottie rubbing her hands and growinghysterical in delight. Then Pixie was marched up to the desk to bepresented with the envelope containing the crisp new note, and when shehad taken it she must needs turn round and face the audience, instead ofscuttling back to her seat in abashed, self-conscious fashion like othergirls, and even address a word of acknowledgment for the applausebestowed upon her. "I'm very much obliged to ye!" she said in thebroadest of Irish accents, and all the fathers and mothers lay back intheir chairs and laughed until they were tired, and clapped soenthusiastically that it was a marvel that their beautiful light kidgloves did not split an halves. 

In the drawing-room afterwards Pixie was quite the heroine of theoccasion, and was greeted on all sides, and warmly congratulated on hersuccess. Mr and Mrs Vane asked especially to be introduced to Bridgieand her party, and eventually sat down an the same corner to partake oftea. Pixie could not hear all that they said, but they looked at her asthey spoke, and their faces were very kindly, so that she was pleasantlyconscious of being the subject of conversation. Then Mrs Vane began tospeak of the contemplated removal to town, and made many kind offers ofhelp and hospitality, while her husband put in a word about the dear oldCastle. 

"Your sister showed me some photographs when she was with us, and I wasmuch impressed by them. It is a fine old place, and I can understandyour attachment to it. You are fortunate to have secured such a goodtenant. Curiously enough, I was mentioning your name to my lawyer, whowas dining with me the other night, and he told me he had negotiated thelease for your new tenant. The young fellow is able to pay for hishobbies, and is evidently keen on putting the place in repair. It isnot every day that a millionaire comes to the rescue just when he iswanted, but this Mr Hilliard certainly seems the right man in the rightplace. Wonderful what glue can accomplish, isn't it, MissO'Shaughnessy? it makes one almost wish to be in trade oneself!"

Jack was wont to say in later years that he had never admired Bridgiemore than at this moment of surprise and shock. She turned white, itwas true, but her voice was as calm as usual, and the manner in whichshe replied so full of quiet dignity, that neither then nor at any othertime had Mr Vane the slightest idea of the sensation which he hadcreated. 

As for Esmeralda, she did not know the meaning of control; what she feltshe was obliged to show, and that forthwith, so within two minutes ofMr Vane's disclosure she became suddenly overcome with heat, anddemanded Geoffrey's escort to the ball without. There they stood andfaced each other, he all downcast and abashed, as who should say, "Please forgive me for not being poor!" she, flashing with indignation, which said as plainly, "How dare you be a millionaire!" There wassilence for a minute, then she asked imperiously, "Is this true?" and hemade a gesture of impatience. 

"I wish that chattering old fellow was at the bottom of the sea. Yes, it's true, darling. I'm your tenant. I have more money than I knowwhat to do with, and we are going to live at Knock half the year, youand I, and amuse ourselves by putting it in repair, and have Bridgie andthe rest over to stay with us whenever you like. Don't be angry withme, please. I meant it all so well!"

Esmeralda drew a quick breath, and pressed her hands tightly together. Oh, dear old home! oh, dear old Castle! was it possible that it need notbe left after all? need never pass into the hands of strangers? Was itreally, really possible that she herself was to reign as Lady Bountiful, and see order replace disorder, beauty restored where ruin had walkedbarefaced? It was an effort to preserve an appearance of severity, butshe would not give in so soon, so held her head erect, and demandedhaughtily--

"Why was this kept from me? Why was I never told?"

"Jack knew, " said Hilliard humbly. "Your father knew. I told himbefore his death. But, Esmeralda darling, I have been run after for mymoney all my life, and it was so sweet to me to think that you believedme poor, and would still marry me for my own sake, that I could not bearto put an end to the delusion. Then I thought I would wait until wewere married, and give you the lease of the Castle as a wedding-present. I meant it to be such a happy surprise, and that grey man has spoiledit all! What a comfort it would be if people would mind their ownbusiness! Do you remember pitying me for being dependent on glue, andtaking for granted I must be poor? How I did enjoy that walk, and ourtalk together! But you see, darling, it is a more valuable commoditythan you thought. My old uncle made a fortune by it, and I make a freshfortune every year. You said once that you would like to be rich, but Ihaven't found it altogether a bed of roses. I need your help at leastas much as if I were a poor man, and we will try together to use ourmoney so as to make other people happier and better. First of all comeyour own brothers. I can help them on, and Bridgie and Pixie will belike my own sisters. You are pleased, Esmeralda; I can see it in yourface. You are not angry with me any more? What are you thinking of, darling, with that far-away gaze?"

"I am thinking of father, " said Esmeralda softly. "How happy he wouldbe! There will still be an O'Shaughnessy at dear Knock Castle. "

THE END.