“Well! since you put it like that, I can’t refuse,” he answered laughingly. “We will learn together, Miss Mollie, and good luck to our efforts.”
“But what about the riding-habits?” asked Ruth.
“We must get them,” said Mollie.
“Where?” asked Ruth.
“At a tailor’s,” said Mollie. “Bond Street, for choice; only it would be difficult to arrange about fitting. I’m not at all sure that we shan’t have to pay a visit to town on this matter of clothes. For the present I mean to consult that maid, and see what can be done until we can get habits well made for us. And—who knows?—there may be some old things stored away somewhere which will come in handy. Anyway, I’m going to begin lessons to-morrow, habit or no habit. You can do as you like.”
As there was no time to be lost, the maid was summoned only to proclaim her inability to manufacture riding attire in the space of twenty-four hours, or to produce the same from the household treasures.
“There is the mistress’s habit, of course, but that was locked away with her other clothes; and even if I could get at it I wouldn’t dare to use it. Mr Farrell keeps everything she wore, and nobody touches them but himself. There’s a very good tailor at Bexham, miss—only half an hour’s rail from here. Many of the ladies go to him for their things.”
“But we want something now—at once! Something to wear to-morrow. Surely you can think of something? Mr Farrell said we were to ask you for everything we wanted, and this is the first thing we have asked for. You must suggest something!” cried Mollie imperiously.
Thus adjured, Emma pursed up her lips, and wrinkled her forehead, leant her head on one side, and stared at the ceiling for inspiration. Presently it came, for the frown disappeared, the lips relaxed into a smile.
“Well, miss,” she said, “there’s the parson’s young ladies; they are nearly as big as you, though they are still at school. They ride with the father in the holiday, for the squire let’s them have a mount from the stables whenever they send up. Their habits will be at home, lying idle. They are not much for style, of course, but for a few days, until you have time to get fitted yourself—”