"Why, Beryl, how can you?" exclaimed Coral in the greatest surprise. "And you used to hate him so."
"No, I didn't," contradicted Beryl; "at least I ought not to have. It is wicked to hate people, Coral."
But it is to be feared that Miss Beryl would not have been so conscious of the sinfulness of hatred if she had not discovered that there was something amiable in Percy Everard's character.
[CHAPTER XX]
BERYL'S BIRTHDAY PARTY
PERCY'S bruised and sprained foot healed slowly, and the doctor enjoined rest for many days to come. It was no small trial to the active, restless youth to be thus kept a prisoner in his room; but he bore the confinement with tolerable patience. His injuries brought him much attention and commiseration. Miss Burton continued his faithful nurse, and dressed his wounds, and waited upon him with gentle care and skill. Mr. Hollys showed the greatest solicitude for his comfort, and even Miss Hollys made a daily visit to his room to enquire how he felt, and whether there were anything she could do for him. To the latter query, which was merely formal, Percy always responded by a decided negative. Once, by way of experiment, he offered to unbandage his wounded limb for her inspection, whereupon the lady hastily retreated, declaring that she should faint if she saw so dreadful a sight.
Perhaps Percy found his chief consolation during the monotonous course of these days in the visits which Coral and Beryl paid him. The children's society seemed to amuse him greatly, and he coaxed Miss Burton into shortening their school hours, that he might see more of them. They managed to play dominoes beside his couch, and he began to initiate Beryl into the mysteries of backgammon; and after declaring repeatedly that it was a stupid game, and had no fun in it, she discovered its fascination, as she came gradually to understand it.
With such diversions, the hours passed swiftly, and Friday drew near—the day so eagerly anticipated—without Beryl's gaining the least clue to the "splendid idea" which Percy was determined to keep from her. It was very tantalising to be thus in the dark regarding it. She was sure that Miss Burton was in the secret, and she fancied that her father also shared it.
Mr. Hollys received several large packages from Plymouth, concerning the contents of which he refused to satisfy Beryl's curiosity. She knew that these packages were carried into Percy's room and unpacked there; and she shrewdly guessed that they had some connection with her birthday fête, as Percy chose to call it. But she could only whisper her conjectures to Coral, and wait patiently for time to reveal the mystery.
All Thursday the children were in the greatest excitement. They deserted Percy, in their eagerness to watch the various preparations for the grand event of the morrow, which were going on in the household. Cook quite entered into the spirit of the thing, and used her utmost skill in the making of cakes and tarts for the children's treat. A delicious smell of baking came from the kitchen, and the children, stealing frequently through the baize door, were delighted by seeing tins full of crisp, brown buns, or the most tempting of jam tarts lifted out of the oven. The occasion called for a large supply of such dainties, since general invitation had been given to the village children, and all who could come would be sure to avail themselves of it.