At breakfast that morning Lady Ascot noticed how tired Maggie looked—her blue eyes were swollen1 as if she had been crying, her pretty cheeks were very red, and she did not come to table with at all her usual appetite. Maggie always breakfasted with her father and mother. She also had her early dinner at their lunch, but her own lunch and tea she took in the schoolroom with Miss Grey. Miss Grey was now present at the breakfast-table, and so also was Ralph. Ralph was a very slight and thin boy, with a dark face and bright eyes. He looked uncommonly2 well this morning, remarkably3 neat in his person, and altogether a striking contrast to poor disheveled little Maggie. Maggie felt afraid to raise her eyes from her plate. When her mother noticed her[Pg 50] fatigue4 and languor5, she knew that Ralph's quizzical and laughing gaze was upon her, and that his lips were softly moving to the inaudible words:
"Little muff, she got up in the middle of the night! She got up in the middle of the night!"
Maggie would have been quite saucy6 enough, and independent enough, to be indifferent to these remarks of Ralph's, and perhaps even to pay him back in his own coin, but for the loss of the rabbits. Bianco and Lily were gone, however; the hutch was empty; it was all the little princess' fault, and, in consequence, her versatile7 spirits had gone down to zero. With all her faults—and she had plenty—Maggie was far too honest a child to think of concealing8 what she had done from her cousin. She meant to tell him, but she had dreaded9 very much going through her revelation, and she felt that his contempt and anger would be very bitter and hard to bear. Maggie always sat next her father at breakfast, and he now patted her on her hot cheeks, looked tenderly at her, and piled the choicest morsels11 on her plate.[Pg 51]
"The little maid does not look quite the thing," Sir John called across the table to his wife. "I think we must give her a holiday. Miss Grey, you won't object to a holiday, I am sure, and Ralph and Maggie will have plenty to do with one another."
"If you please, sir," here burst from Ralph, "do you mind coming round with me after breakfast and seeing to the accommodation of the rabbits and pigeons? I think my rabbits want a larger and better hutch, if you please, Uncle John."
"All right, my boy, we'll see about them," replied the good-natured uncle. "Hullo, little maid, what is up with you—where are you off to?"
"I—I don't want any breakfast. I'm tired," said Maggie, and before her father could again interrupt her she ran out of the room.
Her heart was full, there was a limit to her endurance; she could not go with Sir John and her Cousin Ralph to look at the empty hutch. She wondered what she should do; she wished with all her heart at this moment[Pg 52] that Ralph had never come, that he had never brought those tiresome12 and beautiful rabbits to tempt10 her to open the door of their prison, and so unwittingly set them free. She ran once more into the garden, and went in a forlorn manner into the shrubbery; she had a kind of wild vain hope that Bianco and Lily might be tired of having run away, and might have returned to their new home. She approached the rabbit-hutch; alas13! the truants14 were nowhere in sight; she stooped down and looked into the empty home; and just at this moment voices were heard approaching, the clear high voice of her boy cousin, accompanied by Sir John's deeper tones. Maggie had nothing for it but to hide, and the nearest and safest way for her to accomplish this feat15 was to climb into a large tree which partly over-shaded the rabbit-hutch. Maggie could climb like any little squirrel, and Sir John and Ralph took no notice of a rustling16 in the boughs17 as they approached. Her heart beat fast; she crouched18 down in the green leafy foliage19, and hoped and trusted they would not look up.[Pg 53] There was certainly no chance of their doing that. When Ralph discovered that his pets were gone, he gave vent20 to something between a howl and a cry of agony, and then, dragging his uncle by the arm, they both set off in a vain search for the missing pets—Bianco and Lily. No one knew better than poor Maggie did how slight was their chance of finding them. She wondered if she might leave her leafy prison, if she would have time to rush in to nurse or mother before Ralph came back. She thought she might try. It would be such a comfort to put her head on mother's breast and tell the story to this sympathizing friend. She had just made the first rustling in the old tree, preparatory to her descent, when Sir John's portly form was seen returning. He was coming back alone, and, after a fashion he had, was saying aloud:
"Very strange occurrence. 'Pon my word, quite mysterious. Whoever did open the door of the hutch? Surely Jim would not be so mischievous21! I must question him, and if I think the young rascal22 is telling me a lie, he[Pg 54] shall go—yes, he shall go. I won't be humbugged. And Ralph, poor lad! It's a disgrace to have my sister's son annoyed in this way on the very first morning of his visit. Why, hullo, Maggie, little woman! What are you doing up there?"
"I'm coming down if you'll just wait a minute, father," called down Maggie. "Oh, please, father, stand close under the tree, and don't let Ralph see us. I'm coming down as hard as ever I can. There, please stretch up your hand, father; when I catch it I'll jump."
"Into my arms," said Sir John, folding her tight in a loving embrace. "My darling, you are not well. You are all trembling. What is the matter, little woman?"
"Nothing, father; only I wanted to speak to you so badly, and I didn't want Ralph to hear. I heard you say that perhaps Jim did it, and you'd send him away. 'Twasn't Jim, 'twas me. I'm miserable23 about it—'twas all me, father."
"All you? Mag-Mag, what do you mean?"
"I let them out, father. I gave poor Bianco[Pg 55] and Lily some nice lettuce24 leaves just here under the tree. See, they have not quite finished what I gave them. While they were feeding I thought I'd clean the hutch to please Ralph, and I ran round to the hay-rick for some fresh hay, and when I came back Bianco and Lily were gone. I spent all the time before breakfast looking for them, but I couldn't see them anywhere. Poor Jim had nothing to do with it, father. I did see Jim this morning. I think he's an awfully25 good boy. Father, Jim had nothing to do with opening the door of the hutch—it was all me."
"Yes, Maggie, so it seems. Ah! here comes Ralph himself. Now, my dear little maid, you really need not be frightened. I'll undertake to break the tidings to Master Ralph. You were a good child to tell me the truth, Maggie."
"I can't find them anywhere, uncle," called back Ralph, in his high voice. "Who could have been the mischievous person? Don't you think it was very wicked, Uncle John, for any one to open my hutch door? I expect some[Pg 56] thief came and stole them. I suppose you are a magistrate26, Uncle John; I hope you are, and that you'll have a warrant issued immediately, so that the person who stole my Bianco and Lily may find themselves locked up in prison. Why, if that is not Maggie standing27 behind you. How very, very queer you look, Maggie!"
Sir John laid his hand on Ralph's shoulder.
"The fact is, my lad," he said, "this poor dear little maid of mine has come to me with a sad confession28. It seems that she is the guilty person. She gave your rabbits something to eat, and let them out in order that they might enjoy their meal the better. Then it occurred to her to get some fresh hay for the hutch, and while she was away Bianco and Lily took it into their heads to play truants. You must forgive Maggie, Ralph; she meant no harm. If the rabbits are not found I can only promise to get you another pair as handsome as money can buy."
While his uncle was speaking Ralph's face had grown very white.[Pg 57]
"I don't want any other rabbits, thank you, Uncle John," he said. "It was poor little Jo gave me Bianco and Lily, and I was fond of them; other rabbits would not be the same."
"I only hope, Ralph, your pets will be found. I shall send a couple of men to search for them directly. In the mean time, you must promise me not to be angry with my poor little girl; she meant no harm."
"Oh, I'm not angry," said Ralph; "most girls are muffs; Jo isn't, but then she's not like other people." He turned on his heel and sauntered slowly away.
It is difficult to say how the affair of the rabbits would have terminated, and how soon Maggie would have been taken back into Ralph's favor, but just then, on the afternoon of that very day in fact, an event occurred which turned every one's thoughts into a fresh channel.
Lady Ascot received a telegram announcing the dangerous illness of her favorite and only sister—it was necessary that she and Sir John should start that very night for the North to[Pg 58] see her. The question then arose. What was to become of the two children?
"Hullo!" exclaimed Sir John; "why, I declare if it isn't a good thought. Violet wouldn't mind having you both on a visit for a fortnight or so, and Miss Grey could go with you, so that your mother need have no extra trouble. Remember, Ralph, you are bound to us for the summer, my boy, and we only lend you to your mother for a few days. You quite understand?"
"Lend me to mother; no, I'm sure I don't understand that," said Ralph. "Oh! Maggie," he exclaimed suddenly, in all his old brightest manner, "if we go to London, you'll see Jo!"
"I'll go off this very moment and telegraph to my sister," said Sir John; "the children and Miss Grey can start to-morrow morning. It's all arranged. It is a splendid plan."
In five minutes the plan was made which was to exercise so large an influence over little[Pg 59] Maggie, which was, in short, completely to alter her life. Sir John sent off his telegram, and in the course of the afternoon his sister, Mrs. Grenville, replied to it. She would be ready to receive Ralph and Maggie the next day, and would be pleased also to have Miss Grey, Maggie's governess, accompany the children. Maggie had never seen London; and Ralph became eloquent30 with regard to its charms.
"It will be delightful31 for you," he said; "of course I am rather tired of it, for I have been everywhere and seen all the sights, but it will really be very nice for you. You are young, you know, Maggie, and you'll have to go to the places where quite the little children are seen; Madame Tussaud's is one, and the Zoological Gardens is another. Oh, won't it be fun to see you jumping when the lions roar!"
At these words of Ralph's Maggie turned rather pale, and perceiving that he had made an impression, he proceeded still further to work on her feelings, describing graphically32 the scene at the Zoo when the lions are fed, the[Pg 60] cruel glitter in the eyes of the hungry beasts, and the awful sound which they make when they crush the great bones of meat provided for them.
"You mustn't go too near their cages," said Ralph; "nobody knows how strong a lion is; and though the cages are made with very large bars of iron, yet still——" Here Ralph made an expressive33 pause.
Maggie opened her blue eyes, remained quite silent for a moment, for she did not wish Ralph to suppose that she was really afraid of the lions, and then she said softly:
"I'm not going to the Zoo—at least not at first. I'm going to do my lessons with Miss Grey in the hours when the lions are fed. I know it's very good of me, but I'm going to be good, 'cause I am so sorry about your rabbits, Ralph."
"So you ought to be," said Ralph, turning red; "but weeks and weeks of being sorry won't bring them back. When people do very careless and thoughtless things, being sorry doesn't mend matters. You ask mother, and[Pg 61] she'll explain to you. But please don't say anything more about Bianco and Lily. I want to know what you mean by saying that you'll do your lessons at the hour the lions are fed. You do your lessons at the hour that most suits Miss Grey, don't you?"
Maggie nodded.
"Yes," she said, "I'm going to please poor Miss Grey too; I'm going to be very good."
"Well, Miss Grey won't like to be kept at home in the afternoons teaching you your lessons—she'll like to be out amusing herself in the afternoon. I call that more thoughtlessness. You'll have to do your lessons in the morning, and the lions are fed at three o'clock, so that excuse won't serve."
"I'm not going to the Zoo," continued Maggie, who began to feel decidedly worried. "If Miss Grey wants to be out in the afternoon, I'll go to Madame Tussaud's then. I don't like that Zoo, and I'm not fond of lions; but I expect Madame Tussaud's must be a nice sort of place."
"Oh—oh—oh," said Ralph, beginning to[Pg 62] jump about on one leg; "you see the chamber34 of horrors before you make up your mind whether it's a nice sort of place or not. Why, at Madame Tussaud's you always have your heart in your mouth because you don't know whether the wax figures are alive or not; and you are always saying, 'I beg your pardon;' and you are always knocking up against people whom you think are alive and want to speak to you, when they are only big wax dolls; and whenever you give a little start and show by your face that you have made a mistake, the real live people laugh. I can tell you, Maggie, you have to mind your p's and q's at Madame Tussaud's."
"I won't go," said Maggie; "I need not go unless I like;" and then she walked out of the room, beginning seriously to debate in her poor little mind on the joys of having a playmate, for Ralph contrived35 at every turn to make her feel so very small.
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1
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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versatile
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| adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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morsels
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| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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13
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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14
truants
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| n.旷课的小学生( truant的名词复数 )；逃学生；逃避责任者；懒散的人 | |
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15
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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lettuce
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| n.莴苣；生菜 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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30
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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31
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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32
graphically
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| adv.通过图表；生动地，轮廓分明地 | |
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33
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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34
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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