For a few minutes Celia's self-complacency was in the background, and she saw the defects in herself; but the wish to be different was not very strong with her; slowly the sense of shame passed away, and a feeling of exultation that Sir Jasper had formed such a favourable opinion of her took its place. She glanced at her reflection in the looking-glass on the dressing-table, and a pleased smile curved her lips. To be told that she was as good as she was pretty was pleasant flattery indeed!
[CHAPTER XV.]
THE BUTTERFLY BROOCH.
A WEEK had elapsed since Mrs. Wallis and Celia had driven into T— to make their purchases, and the latter had everything in readiness for her visit. To-morrow she was to say good-bye to the Moat House for "at least a fortnight," Lulu had said; and already she had commenced to pack her dress trunk, although she was not to leave till the latter part of the following day.
"You look in a flutter of excitement, Celia," her brother remarked, as he passed her in the hall; "you will not mind my leaving you on this, your last evening in our midst?" he asked, glancing back at her laughingly, over his shoulder.
"Certainly not," Celia answered with a smile; "where are you going, though?"
"To Crumleigh, to play cricket. The Vicar's away—gone to some meeting or other at T—, so I promised Putty to be at the cricket field early to keep him in countenance. He's so shy!"
Eric went off, whistling. Lawrence Puttenham had arrived at the Vicarage on the previous Monday; and great had been his astonishment when, the Vicar having offered to show him the cricket field, he had found Eric there in the midst of a group of village lads. The meeting between the friends had been of the warmest nature; and during the very short while which had elapsed since, they had seen a great deal of each other. Lawrence Puttenham had been introduced to the household at the Moat House, and Sir Jasper had assured him he would always be pleased to see him.
A quiet, rather reserved boy was Putty; shy, Eric called him, but he was not actually that, though his manner was somewhat diffident. No two boys could be more unlike than Eric and Putty, and yet they were the closest friends.
Celia stood hesitating in the hall after her brother had left her. She was feeling restless and unsettled; and, as she could do no more packing till the morning, she thought she might as well join her mother and sister, who were in the garden. She found them on one of the seats on the terrace; Joy was reading, whilst Mrs. Wallis was busy with some fancy work. The latter looked up as Celia approached, and said: