The Rectory Children | Page 8

one--my new merino.' P. 27.]
Rosalys looked much concerned.
'What a pity!' she exclaimed. 'I wish we hadn't played in the sand. But
really, Biddy, you are very unlucky. I've been jumping just as much as
you, and I've got no harm.'
'You never do--I don't know how it is that I always get torn,' said Bride
dolefully. 'And oh, Alie, there is mamma'--they were down on the shore
by this time, coming down being a much speedier affair than climbing
up,--'she will be so vexed, for I've got this frock new, extra to yours,
you know, because of the stain on the other the day I spilt my tea all
down it. I am so sorry, Alie. Could you pin it up?'
Rosalys stooped to examine the damage. It was not very great, still
under the circumstances of its being a new frock, it was vexing enough.

'You've got it so sandy, too--that makes it look worse,' said the elder
sister, giving the unlucky skirt a shake as she spoke.
'I wish mamma hadn't come out,' said Bridget. 'Then I could have got it
brushed and mended before I told her, but perhaps it's best to tell at
once,' and she gave a little sigh.
'Much best,' her sister agreed, and they went on to meet their mother.
Suddenly Bride gave a little cry of satisfaction.
'Oh, Smut's with mamma,' she exclaimed. 'I'm so glad. You can walk
with mamma alone then, Alie, and Smut and I will come after you. I'm
always quite happy with Smuttie--I wish he was my very own.'
It was rather unlucky that just as they got up to Mrs. Vane, Bridget was
so occupied in calling to Smut, who came careering forward to meet the
girls, that the dilapidated frock went quite out of her mind. At the first
moment her mother did not notice it.
'Well, dears, here I am!' she began brightly. 'I got my letters finished
more quickly than I expected. What a quantity of things there are to
order when one first comes to a new house! And I do so miss M'Creagh!
Did you see me coming, Alie darling?'
'Yes, mamma--not very far off though. We were up on the sand-hills
when papa rang for Rough, and----'
But Mrs. Vane interrupted her.
'Oh, Bridget,' she exclaimed in a tone of vexation, 'what have you been
doing to yourself? Do you see, Alie? Her skirt is torn from top to
bottom--the stuff torn, not the seam. And so dirty. Your new frock
too--really, child, you are too provoking.'
Biddy's round rosy face grew longer and redder, and her eyes filled
with tears. She opened her mouth to speak, but Rosalys came before
her.

'It isn't so very bad, dear mamma,' she said eagerly. 'I've been looking
at it. It looks worse because of the sand, but it isn't really dirty; it will
brush off. She rolled down one of the sand-hills. I'm afraid it was my
fault. It was my idea to play about there.'
Mrs. Vane glanced at Alie's own garments.
'Your frock is none the worse,' she said. 'I do not see that Bride need
have hurt hers if she had been the least careful. But you are so
incorrigibly heedless, Bridget, and so thoughtless. Why, you were
dancing and jumping and calling to Smut when I met you as if there
was nothing the matter! I suppose you had forgotten all about your
frock already.'
Mrs. Vane's voice was rather sharp as she spoke thus to the little girl. It
sounded quite differently from the bright sweet tone in which she had
greeted them. And it did not seem to suit her to speak sharply. She was
very pretty and sweet-looking, and she seemed young to be tall Alie's
mother; indeed, people often said they looked more like sisters: stout,
sturdy little Bridget was quite unlike them both.
Rosalys looked up at her mother anxiously. She could not bear her to
be troubled, and though she was sorry for Bridget, she was vexed with
her too. She slipped her arm inside Mrs. Vane's and drew her on.
'It's too cold to stand still, mamma dear,' she said. 'Let us walk on to
that beautiful smooth piece of sand--it's rather stony just here. Biddy,
take care of Smut.'
That meant, 'You may stay behind and keep out of the way a little.'
Biddy had no objection to do so.
'Come, Smuttie, stay by me,' she said coaxingly to the little shaggy
black dog. Smut was very fond of Bridget, who had a very big heart for
all dumb animals. He wagged his tail and looked up in her face with
inquiring sympathy, for he saw quite well that Biddy was in trouble.
This was nothing new; many and many