“Yes, I should—I certainly should; so be careful what you say!” cried Ruth hastily. Then, as if eager to change the subject—“Here is James coming out with the afternoon letters. I hope there is one from home. It seems ages since we heard!”
“Trix! For me. How lovely! I’ll read it aloud!” cried Mollie, tearing open the envelope, and unfolding several odd sheets torn out of an exercise-book and covered with large, untidy handwriting. Trix’s characteristic epistles were always welcome, and this afternoon’s specimen had arrived in the very nick of time to stop an embarrassing discussion, and cheer Ruth’s drooping spirits.
Mollie lay back in her chair, and began reading in her clear fresh tones—
“Darling Moll,—While you are basking in the lap of luxury, this poor critter is snatching a few precious moments from ‘prep’ to answer your last epistle, and give what news there is. First and foremost, mother is as well as possible, and goes about with an ‘open your mouth and shut your eyes, and in your mouth you’ll find a prize’ expression, which puzzles her friends into fits. Poor mum simply dies to tell them that one of her daughters will shortly become a millionaire! But she shuts her lips up tight, and looks more mysterious than ever, because, of course, there is a chance that it may not come off. Don’t let me ever see your faces again if it doesn’t, that’s all!
“Fancy you having all those fine clothes! I can’t imagine how you would look respectably attired. Kindly remember Beatrice Olivia for any cast-off fineries. Hair-ribbons especially desired. I’ve nothing left but an old Navy-blue, twisted up like a tape.
“We had a general intelligence examination at school this week. Stupid old things! One question was, ‘What is the complementary colour to red?’ I had never heard of a complementary colour in my life, and I was just racking my brains to think what to say, when my eyes happened to light on Miss Smith’s carrots. ‘Ah, ha,’ thinks I, ‘I have it!’ So I put down ‘auburn,’ and was jolly well pleased with myself until lunch-time came, when I was telling Gladys my answers, and Miss Bateson heard me, and went into perfect fits! It seems complementary means something idiotic about two colours making a white light—as if they ever could! Anyway, I think my answer was very pretty and tactful—don’t you? and I hope it will soften Smithy’s hard heart.
“Another silly question was, ‘Order a dinner for a class of twelve Board-school children, and state what quantities of each article are required.’ One girl ordered a pound of roast beef and a pound of potatoes for each child, and ten and a half yards of Swiss-roll for the whole class! I ordered the ‘scrag-end of the neck.’ Haven’t the least idea what it means, but I thought it sounded cheap. I likewise gave them suet dumplings for pudding. Hope they liked them!
“Is Mr Melland’s ankle getting better? Have you had any more callers, invitations, rides, excursions, or excitements generally? Please answer my questions next time, and don’t ignore them, as you generally do. Drummond had a fine adventure yesterday. Another small boy dared him to stick his head between our railings, and he did, but it wouldn’t come out! He pushed, and the small boy pulled, and a crowd collected right across the pavement, making kind suggestions, and commenting on the size of his ears. Whenever he tried to get back, the railings caught them, and they stuck out like sails. Finally his pride gave way, and he howled, and a friendly policeman coming along, poked the rails apart with a stick, or did something or other, and out he came with a rush. He looked very crushed in every sense all the evening, so we hope it may be a lesson to him.
“The next-door girls have new hats—mustard straw, draped with green, and roses under the brim. It seems so sad to reflect that the poor dears probably imagine they look quite nice!
“How is the Ogre? Does he still live in his den, and growl when you appear? I should be very glad he did shut himself up, when he is so cross and disagreeable!
“Well, ta-ta, my darlings! I miss you at home, but I can’t say I pine for your return, for it’s quite pleasant to be Number One for a change, and boss Attica and the Muz. Take care of yourselves, behave prettily, and don’t forget the hair-ribbons.—Your loving Trix.”
“Wild child!” said Ruth, smiling. “She does write the most absurd letters! Better tear that up at once, Mollie, or burn it when you get into the house. You have such a trick of leaving things about, and it isn’t safe. Uncle Bernard might—”
She started violently, and Mollie jumped to her feet as a harsh voice interrupted the sentence—
“Uncle Bernard has already had the pleasure of hearing the way in which a member of your family writes of him to a visitor in his own house. Ideas of loyalty seem to have altered since my young days, when it was considered a breach of decent feeling to eat a man’s salt and speak slightingly of him behind his back!”
Ruth sat silent, crimson to the roots of her hair; Mollie shuffled miserably from one foot to another, but did not shrink from the old man’s angry gaze.
“But how did you hear, Uncle Bernard? Have you been sitting behind this open window, listening to us all the while we have been talking? I don’t think it is quite fair to do that.”
“Don’t you, indeed! I happened to be reading in my armchair, when you came and planted your chairs immediately outside. I was the first-comer, you observe, not yourselves, and I cannot say I was interested enough to listen to your conversation until my attention was attracted by the description of myself. I presume the very descriptive title was originally your invention?”