Jasper Read online

it's quite wonderful what you'vemade of it, Mums, really wonderful. The rooms couldn't be nicer."

  And as the little girls followed their mother upstairs, in their heartthey could not but agree with him. A nice airy room, not large ofcourse, but as large as any in the house, had been furnished for them,with their own little beds and toilet-table, and as many of theirfavourite belongings as it was possible to find room for, including twobookcases with glass doors, on the wall, and a small writing-table infront of the fireplace.

  "It's really very nice, Mumsey dear," said Leila, delighted at the sightof her low straw chair in one corner; "I don't believe I'd ever be toocold up here--not with a shawl on. It seems so nice and peaceful, ifonly--" she stopped and hesitated and glanced at her sister.

  "You'd better finish," said Chrissie sharply. "I know it's somethinghorrid about me."

  "No, it isn't horrid," Leila replied. "It's only if you _could_ betidy."

  "`Tidy,' indeed," repeated Chrissie scornfully.

  "I'm quite as tidy as you, and tidier. Am I not, Nurse?" she went on,turning to her.

  Nurse, in spite of her extreme anxiety to make the best of things and tokeep all smooth, could scarcely help smiling.

  "I'm afraid, my dear, that there isn't much to be said as to tidiness,"she replied. "Perhaps it's been partly my fault, ma'am," she went on toMrs Fortescue, "I've not left off feeling as if the young ladies werestill the tiny little fairies I remember them when I first came. Butnow they're so much bigger, and with things being so different, I'm sureMiss Leila and Miss Chrissie will do their very best to help in everyway."

  "She's not at all sure of anything of the kind," thought Christabel,"and that's why she says she is. I wish people wouldn't be humbugs."

  Poor Nurse herself certainly did her very best during the two or threedays she remained at Spenser Terrace. And there was, of course, still agreat deal to do. For, notwithstanding the careful choice of furnitureand such things for the little house, when the trunks and boxes came tobe unpacked, it was by no means easy to find room for all that had beenbrought. But for Nurse, I much doubt if the children's possessionswould ever have been properly arranged! She managed to interest thegirls--Chrissie especially, who was naturally quick and active--in herplans about cupboards and shelves and chests of drawers, and before sheleft she glanced round with satisfaction at the result.

  "If _only_ they will try now to be thoughtful and methodical," she saidto herself.

  These first few days had passed not unpleasantly. With Nurse stillthere, the great difference to themselves personally had not, of course,been very much felt by the little girls, and there is always, I think,to all children--and to many grown-up people too--a curious charm innovelty. It was a nice change to breakfast downstairs with their fatherand mother, to have tea also in the dining-room, and no lessons. Then,fortunately, just then the weather was fine and bright and dry. Theywent out with Mrs Fortescue or Nurse two or three times to exploretheir new neighbourhood, and found it rather amusing. They even thoughtit would be great fun to have expeditions in omnibuses, though atpresent there was still too much to do indoors for anything of thatkind.

  Mr Fortescue was pleased with them, and said so to their mother.

  "I think we have worried ourselves unnecessarily about Leila andChrissie," he said, "they seem to be settling down all right."

  "I hope so," she replied. "But of course the real test will come whenNurse goes and Aunt Margaret comes. In some ways she _must_ be my firstthought, when we remember all she is doing to help us."

  "But she is a miracle of unselfishness. I am only afraid of herspoiling the children," he said.

  "She is too wise to do so," said Mrs Fortescue. "I earnestly hope theymay learn to follow her example," but still she sighed, and MrFortescue thought that anxiety and overwork were probably making herrather downhearted, though he did not say so.

  Nurse left on a Saturday, and Aunt Margaret was expected to arrive onthe Monday. I don't think this was a very good arrangement, and if Ihad been consulted I should have said so. Sundays are, and should be,rather different from other days, but to make them thus in a happy waytakes some method and planning, as the heads of all households, largeand small, know well. And in a family accustomed to twelve or fifteenservants, suddenly obliged to manage with only two, of course thedifficulties were much increased.

  "We must begin rightly at once, or we shall get into wrong ways,"thought Mrs Fortescue. "The servants must both go to church; one inthe morning, and one in the evening, turn about. And we must have acold meal once a day. Let me see--if Harriet goes to-morrow morning, wecan have a hot luncheon and cold supper this first Sunday, and tea alltogether in the afternoon," and she lay awake half the night thinkingabout it, which was not very wise, I must allow, as it made her sleeplater than usual the next morning.

  But she dressed quickly, and on her way downstairs to breakfast, glancedin at the little girls' room, expecting to find them ready.

  Alas! What was the spectacle that met her view?

  Leila in bed reading--a candle still alight on the little table by herside, though the room was, of course, in full daylight. Christabel,half dressed, standing in front of the looking-glass, tearing wildly ather hair, and scolding furiously at her sister, who was calmly paying noattention to her. And the room! Its state may be imagined when I saythat it looked as if every article of clothing the children possessedhad been dragged out of wardrobe and drawers and flung pell-mell onbeds, chairs, and floor. It was really difficult to believe that suchconfusion was possible in the same room that Nurse had left in perfectorder the very afternoon before.

  Mrs Fortescue's heart sank. For a moment or two she stood therespeechless--unobserved by Leila, absorbed in her book, or by Chrissie,in the noise and excitement of her temper. And when at last theirmother spoke, it was only by raising her voice that she gained theirattention.

  "Leila," she said, and her tone was more severe than either of the girlshad ever before heard it, "Leila, get up _at once_. I am completelyashamed of you;" and Leila started up. She attempted no excuse.

  "Christabel," Mrs Fortescue went on, "be silent."

  "I can't be, I won't be," stormed Chrissie. "It is all Leila's fault.I got up very soon after that stupid Harriet brought the hot water, andshe said she'd come back to help me to tie my hair, and I would havebeen ready, but Leila wouldn't get up, and at last I threw a pillow ather, and it overturned the chair with her clothes on, and then she saidI'd got out her Sunday frock instead of mine, and I hadn't, and then shewent on so, that I _did_ get out hers and threw it on the floor, and herjacket and hat too, just to show her, and--"

  "Christabel be _silent_," repeated her mother, and this time the child,though with flaming cheeks and really shaking with anger, did obey her.

  "And this," said Mrs Fortescue, "this is the first Sunday in our newlittle home; the first day you have really had an opportunity of--Iwon't even say helping me--but of showing yourselves sensible andtrustworthy. It might and should have been a peaceful and happymorning. Stand still, Christabel," as the little girl was flouncingabout, "stand still while I tie your hair. It is very good-natured ofHarriet to offer to do it, but you and Leila are perfectly able to helpeach other."

  "She's not good-natural," muttered Christabel: "when I told her to comeback in ten minutes, she said she couldn't. She's very impertinent."

  "Be silent," was her mother's only reply. Then, turning to Leila, shewent on, "Give me that book," and Leila did so. Mrs Fortescue glancedat it. It was one of Mrs Ewing's. "I cannot let you have it againto-day," she said, "nor to-morrow, unless you are dressed and downstairsby half-past eight, and _properly_ dressed, remember," and so saying sheleft the room, and with a very heavy heart slowly made her waydownstairs.

  It was a dull, grey day, not yet raining, but with small promise oflightening or brightening, and Mrs Fortescue, accustomed to awell-warmed and luxurious house, felt it very chilly. And when sheopened the little din
ing-room door, she felt even chillier, and nowonder, for the window was pushed up as far as it would go, evidently toget rid of smoke, some remains of which was still hanging about. Therewas only one person in the room, and that person not only a very smallone, but so crouched down in a little bundle on the hearth-rug, that fora moment or so Mrs Fortescue really did not see him. Then the bundlestirred, and a small face, rather red and with smutty marks on itscheeks, looked up.

  "Jasper," his mother exclaimed, "what _are_ you doing? Not playing withthe fire,