“She is sending Jasper away; she is—she is. Oh, can I bear it? Don’t you think it is awful of her?”
“I am sorry for you,” said Audrey.
“Jasper would be so useful,” continued Evelyn. “She is such a splendid actress; she could help me tremendously. I do wish she could stay even till to-morrow. Cannot you ask Aunt Frances—cannot you, Audrey? I wish you would.”
“I must not, Evelyn; mother cannot brook interference. She would not dream of altering her plans just for a play.—Well,” she added, looking round at the rest of her guests, “I think we have arranged everything now; we must meet here not later than three o’clock for rehearsal. Who would like to go out?” she added. “The morning is lovely.”
The boys and girls picked up hats and cloaks and ran out immediately into the grounds. Evelyn took the first covering she could find, and joined the others.
“They ought to consult me more,” she said to herself. “I see there is no help for it; I must live here for a bit and put Audrey down—that at least is due to me. But when next there are people here I shall be arranging the charades, and I shall invite them to go out into the grounds. It is a great bother about Jasper; but there! she must bear it, poor dear. She will be all right when I tell her that I will get her back when the Castle belongs to me.”
Meanwhile Arthur, remembering his promise to Sylvia, ran away from where the others were standing. The boy ran fast, hoping to see Sylvia. He had taken a great fancy to her bright, dark eyes and her vivacious ways.
“She promised to meet me,” he said to himself. “She is certain to keep her word.”
By and by he uttered a loud “Hullo!” and a slim young figure, in a shabby crimson cloak, turned and came towards him.
“Oh, it is you, Arthur!” said Sylvia. “Well, and how are they all?”