Capricious Caroline

ng the fireglow light up the room and make

Brenton's maid had arranged everything and she ha

ally, filled her with a kind of excitement. She had not very much in front of

ed, died away, Caroline became conscious that there was an undoubted charm about her present situation. A day before, the future (when she had thought about it) had s

ghtful sensation to feel

so much with such an unquestioning docility, or that having given so much obedienc

remember, but when the school life had ended, and she had gone to Mrs. Baynhurst, there really had been no

Haverford. Now that I have seen him and spoken with him, it is easy enough to understand why his mother prefers to see him only on rare occasions. He has a blunt, straightforward way about him which must be an ab

fortably on th

, for she had been better housed and better fed at sc

e closed her eyes some new thought of the morrow and of

er things that she had lacked-those trivial everyday things which stock the lives of most young creatures. Her childish joys had all been secondhand ones. She had never had holidays, never any excitement; there had been no Christmas or birthday presents for her, no books or work-baskets,

made pleasures for herself out of her very unpromising

e had never once left London, and the call of the country to her nature at times had been so pr

Mrs. Baynhurst did not care for flowers. Neither did she con

strong when she had been speaking to Rupert Haverford, she possessed at this moment very little of her normal physical strength, but she had the force of a powerf

ing lachrymose about her or subservient. She had gone to Mrs. Baynhurst's primed with

some other person, and, at the same time, had been rather flattered that one of her pupils s

the conclusion that she was rather glad there had been no opportun

ould have been cross with me. I wonder where she has gone to? I feel sorry I have not written all these month

the thought of what lay

sneer if she could know I have been trying to teach myself a little all these months!... Having made up her mind to the fact that I am a fool, she woul

cosy and pleasant. She would have liked the night to ha

it for the post, and as she has practically turned me out of doors, it is not likely that I shall go back and ask for re-admittance. I should like to go to school again, but not here in London, somewhere where I can breathe, where I can ru

ew drowsy by degrees, and sleep came to her just as the day

o to him early in the morning, but when her maid brought the news that Caroline was sti

roline Graniger joined Mrs. Brenton at

he said. "I am generally awake about six,

ep very well the first part of the night when I am in a str

m. I am not used to luxury. I think I know now how the children feel on Christmas Eve, when they hang up their stockings,

he warmed her ha

gnes Brenton said, "and there is so

turned and looke

not black, but dark, very dark blue. "It was your goodness to me last night that made everything so wonderful, so delig

ton, as she poured out the coffee. "Of cours

When she had that colour in her face she looked much younger, and rather attractive. "I have been wondering if you would advise me," she said, with some hesitation. "I don't think I

you?" asked

knitted h

sh told me. That is the woman who kept the school where I lived for such a long time,

rp pang of pity for that little forlorn four-year-old child

"Miss Beamish has often told me that I was a very difficult child. They could not get me to eat anything. She declares that very often she had to sit up half the night and nurse me because I

Agnes Brento

he material comfort of her guest

elp you if I can. Just tell me what you think you could do. What would you lik

can sew, and I can dig," she finished with another smile. "I am really quite a good gardener," she said. "Whatever I do, I want, if possible, to be somewhere where there is a garden, or at any rate where I can see grass and some trees. The oppression of

tted her brows in

ren?" she asked, a

sallow f

with Miss Beamish. She had a large Indian connection, and also children from all parts of the world. When I left there

line Graniger relapsed into silence for a moment. T

. Brenton. You have been already much too good. I d

when they were startled by a sharp rap with a stick on the doo

ked slim and boyish and radiant, a

nutes past ten, and I have been out since half-past eight." She bent to kiss Mrs. Brenton,

ely famished," she declared. She threw off her riding-gloves

ing before you went ou

ns, no!" sa

e looking-glass and ruff

eight. He made Dennis wake me up. There was no time for anything

Caroline, and began to

nd oh! Agnes, another blow! Nurse came to me this morning, just as I was going out, with a doleful story about her father, or her mother, or somebody being dreadfully ill, and asking me if she might go and nurse the sick person. Isn't it too tiresome? She had

e table, but Caroline

rience to her. She felt a little out of the atmosphere, and imagining swiftly that Mrs. Brenton and Mr

o eat, and you are in your proper quarter, Agnes, playing the part of the good Samaritan. Well, now you must help me, my dear, because nurse is in earnest. I quite expect to find that she has gone when I get back. Why on earth do servants have parents and rel

ren into the country," said

t, and then looked up at her fri

," she said,

nton jus

illa?" she

as she spread some

shion it means the wind is in a bad quarter for s

only slightly, and, getting

d, "I wish you would not

f things?" a

the poker and stirred

I confess I don't understand you, Camilla. I thought you really dislike

do assure you there wasn't a creature about this morning! That is why I enjo

ut with," said Mrs. Brenton, half impatiently; "why

atiently in her turn. "Sammy is not a hero, but he is no worse than any o

ship. However," she added, "I suppose you know your own business best, and I have no right to i

ed the toast,

a quick, im

e, and I have driven that girl away," she said; "sh

ord to settle. But she interests me, and I feel so sorry for her. She will not go back to his mother, that is very sur

for me," said Camill

nton onl

le bit more," she said, "before

ng to bring her to

came in and handed a t

hat he would be with her directly, as in t

her hat and gloves

bother to have a cab, it is such a short distance, an

milla met Caroline Gr

to-day," she said. "I hear you like children, I am su

tly, and ran dow

ord's telegram to Caroline

hatted a little more on the subject of Caroline's future. Mrs. Brenton wanted the girl to have some definite scheme to propos

illa affected. She seemed to be chary of her words, as a rule. When "no" sufficed, s

hat she would not be the very person for Camilla's children. They want a refined influence about them; education and all the rest can wait a yea

Mrs. Brenton left Miss G

erford, breaking a slightly awkward pause as the door closed behind Mr

She had fallen back into her st

feel sure you will not like to encroach on that kindness." He put some bank-notes on the table. "I have brought you twenty pounds," he said; "wi

such explanations later, but I have determined to cut myself adrift from Mrs. Baynhurst for good and all." She paused an instant, and then, colouring vividly, she s

future date. This is the address of the lady who will be very glad to give you house room for a little while. She is a woman who does

e, and then he address

told you anything a

ook he

llection beyond the s

r head, and then h

none of it very clear, but I have always imagined that I must have been on board a ship at some time when I was a tiny child, because I recollect seeing the dark sky with stars in it, and then s

er sharply, an

ry unlovely existence

hat moment, and Haverford t

on in her brisk, pleasant manner. "As a matter of fact, I have some ideas of my own which I should like to discuss with her. You won't mind s

eyes now. She turned away and stood looking out of the window while Mrs. Bren

cleared, and after that we must go out, it is a shame to lose this bright morning. Just make yourself cosy by the fi

pers, but they lay i

re powdered with the white of a hoar frost, and the red, red

distinct. Rupert Haverford had brought her spirit to earth and hard facts for a few moments, but as he had left the house the range of resentful feeling he had roused had gone with him. She even passed away fr

o him every day, and now he holds me to this bargain. I really do owe him a letter this morning, however," said Agnes Brenton, "for I came away in such a hurry with her. Mrs. Lancing insisted on

an important approach; there was a great stamping of feet, acc

ildren!" said

door was opened very widely, and tw

o prettier little mortals,

n Mrs. Brenton, and hug

rling? Aren't you very pleased to see us? We comed because we have brought you this letter from mother, and because we promised to co

white woollen glove with fin

, with an angelic smile

taching herself from her sister, went and seated hers

'" she said; then she looked at Caroline and shrugged her sho

at," said Baby in a v

of the children, and was speaking

ing to eat, I am sure! Please ma'am," appeali

d her own views

ng off her pretty grey fur cap and removing her g

g great friends

going to have a birthday in March; but don't tell Baby, she'll want it too, and she does fuss so when she want

charm and distinction of her moth

roline answered the child, and

han you. Mrs. Bates, that's the lady that cleans our kitchen sometimes, has a tiny, tiddy little baby, and it is three month

a sense of her responsibilities, for she turned

d and vigorously shook the shoulder of t

uch a child in all my life," commented Betty severely; then, shrugging her s

by amply demonstrated that honey was exc

little person generally were made clean, and then-Betty having eaten

promise to hold my hand," pleaded Dennis the maid. "She do play

aby were hangin

ir cry; and Betty added magniloquently, "W

smiled into C

and have a good run

ficult occupation, and Caroline in the centre was quite wedged in. Useless was the voice of remonstr

rceful mind; and, picking up both small grey-coated figures,

was most sa

by delightedly. But Be

cruel; can't you hear her blowin

Betty scanned Caroline

's new, and she wears awful smart glo

tervened

tty ...

street-a little grey fairy hooked on to either arm-so q

ed them with a smile till they were out of

ng both for the girl and

tle note Betty had brou

wrote in

e under a pretence of love for 'poor Ned's children.' Don't, for Heaven's sake, fail to come. I shall feel a little better if you are with me. Oh, how tired I am of being overloo

r yo

mil

s capable, and if she has had such a bad time with that Baynhurst woman, I dare say she would mana

r post

new governess; she is sure to pull a long face if she hears that they ar