A Houseful of Girls | Page 8

I've behaved beautifully--just like a real,
grown-up lady! In the morning I pursued my avocations, and in the
afternoon I went out calling, with light kid gloves and a card-case.
Every one was out but old Mrs Reed, and you would have loved it if

you could have heard us talk! We discussed the weather in all its
branches. Cold--dampy-cold--dry cold; warm--close-warm--breezy
warm; hot, thundery hot, scorching. She told me which of each she
liked best, and which her poor dear mother had liked best; and I
lingered on and on, hoping they would bring in tea, until at last I
yawned so much that I was obliged to come away unfed. Then I had
cold tea and scraps in the schoolroom, and we discussed charitable
agencies."
"Oh, Nan, Nan, this will never do! You are getting altogether too
civilised. I shall have no playmate left at this rate," cried her father,
laughing. "Can't you be satisfied with two grown-up daughters, mother,
and leave Mops to me for a few years longer?"
Mrs Rendell tried to look shocked, a task which she found somewhat
difficult when her husband was the offender; but if her eyes betrayed
her, the elevated brows and pursed-up lips made a valiant show of
disapproval.
"At eighteen? She is past eighteen, remember. You don't expect a girl
of eighteen to run about in short skirts, with her hair down her back?"
"She would look much nicer!" sighed Mr Rendell, looking regretfully
first at the long white skirt, and then at the coiled-up tresses. "They
grow up so quickly, Edith; I live in terror of having no children left--
nothing but fashionable young ladies. One must give in to custom to a
certain extent, I suppose, but I warn you frankly that Chrissie shall be
the exception. It would break my heart to see Chrissie properly grown
up. Chrissie shall always wear her hair down her back!"
Christabel screwed up her eyes at him across the fireplace with a smile
of indulgent affection. He was so young, this dear old father! so
ridiculously young, that his vagaries could not be treated with the
severity they deserved. It was truest wisdom to take no notice, and lead
the conversation to wiser topics.
"Any news in the great world to-day, father?" she inquired airily. "Any
nice little bits of gossip to tell us? We look forward to hearing your

news, you know, as part of the day's excitement."
"My news, indeed! Gossip, she calls it. If you had to provide for half a
dozen daughters, Miss Christabel, you wouldn't find much time to
spend in `gossip.' I go to town to work, and leave it to you at home to
run round collecting the news of the neighbourhood. I know nothing. I
hear nothing. Men don't trouble themselves with gossip."
Seven long-drawn gasps of incredulity greeted this utterance; seven
pairs of eyes rolled involuntarily to the ceiling; seven heads wagged in
accusation.
"Oh, oh, oh! Who goes on 'Change and is told the latest jokes? Who
goes to a cafe after lunch and smokes with his cronies? Who has
afternoon tea, and talks again? Who travels every day with the same
men in the train, and hears everything, every--single--tiny--weeny snap
of news that has happened within ten miles around?"
"Don't know, I'm sure. I don't!"
"Oh, oh! Who told us about Evan Bruce, and about Mabel's
engagement, and the robbery at the Priory, and--and--"
"For pity's sake, stop talking all at once! Take it in turns. Speak in pairs
if you must, but not in a perfect orchestra. I didn't know I had been the
first to hear any of those thrilling incidents, but it was quite an
exception if I did. We generally read reviews, or talk business. I've no
news for you to-night, at any rate."
"You always say so at first, dear. You're so forgetful. Think again.
Frank Brightwen, now--he told you something?"
"Gold Reef shares gone up two per cent. Market closed firm, with a
tendency to rise."
"I shall buy some at once. I like things that are going to rise. Be
sensible now, for I shall have to go to bed in ten minutes, and I do so
want to be amused. Had Mr Keeling nothing interesting to relate?"

"Bad cold, and feared influenza. Details of his last attack. Prescriptions
from all the other fellows, with accounts of their own experiences."
"Deah me, how appalling! Worse than a tea-party! I had no ideah men
could be so dull. Nobody engaged? Nobody married? Nobody going to
give a dance? No new people coming to live in the neighbourhood?"
"Ha!" Mr Rendell struck an attitude of remembrance, at which the
watching faces brightened with smiles. "Yes, now I come to think of it,
there was one little item