“I expect it’s there still, only you can’t see it because it’s hidden away behind your dresses. What is far more important is my umbrella. Somebody has eaten it, I believe—it’s simply gone!”
“You have left it at school again. You are always losing your umbrellas.”
“People steal them, I suppose, because they are so beautiful! Alpaca—three and eleven! Mother says it’s no use giving me a silk because I’m not careful. That’s bad reasoning! I should be careful if I had a silk. But it’s not my fault this time. I know I brought it home, because there was an apple inside it which Norah gave me in prep. I ate it last night, and this morning the brolley has vanished. It’s hard lines, for I shall get a rowing if it doesn’t turn up, and it isn’t my fault a bit.”
“Oh, I expect you’ll find it all right. It’s so tiresome, because the buttons exactly match this blouse, and I want it for Saturday,” returned Betty, too much absorbed in her own affairs to have any sympathy to spare for Jill’s loss. All the week long she lived in the thought of Saturday, and when at long last the day arrived she could hardly wait until three o’clock, so anxious was she to be at her post.
Mrs Vanburgh came to meet her at the door of the dining-room, looking flushed and excited.
“Come in here!” she said. “We are beginning to set out the table, so you are just in time. I want to have everything ready by the half-hour.”
“Who are ‘we,’ I wonder?” was Betty’s mental question as she crossed the threshold, and the next moment brought with it a shock of surprise, for, standing in the middle of the room, her hair shining like an aureola round her head, stood no less a person than the Pampered Pet herself. A plate of cakes was held in one hand, and a plate of bread-and-butter in the other, and she stood stock still, staring at the new-comer, apparently as much surprised to recognise Betty as Betty was to recognise herself.
“This is my friend Cynthia Alliot; this is my friend Betty Trevor!” cried Mrs Vanburgh, introducing the two girls with an easy wave of the hand. “She can’t shake hands, poor dear, so you’ll have to take the will for the deed. Where shall we put those plates? There doesn’t seem much room left.”
There did not, indeed! Betty stared in amazement at the noble feast which had been provided for the expected guests. The dining-table was profusely decorated with flowers, which looked especially beautiful at this dull, wintry season. Dishes of cold fowls, ham, and tongue, were flanked by every imaginable description of cakes, both small and large. Different sorts of jam were dotted here and there among the larger dishes; tea and coffee cups were ranged at the farther end. It was, in fact, a North Country high-tea of the most complete and tempting description.
“Light refreshments are to be served in the drawing-room. This is for those who can stay on for several hours. My husband is going to dine at his club, so we can keep the dear things as long as they are happy,” said Nan with a gush, while the two girls smiled at each other with shy friendliness.