CHAPTER IV

MARKET DAY

I WOKE up at four o'clock the next morning.

I had been dreaming all night that I was trying to catch trains, and just missing them, and trying to hide from Aunt Caroline. I was so glad when it got light at last and I could get up. I was very excited, for it was a regular adventure, and we do love adventures. I had thought out everything. I did not want people to know who I was, so I put on a very old cotton frock and my pinafore over that—the one I wear in the garden—and then I plaited my hair in a tight pig-tail and stuffed it into a cotton sun-bonnet, and drew that well over my face. Aunt Caroline bought these cotton sunbonnets at Mrs. Ribbon's—she said they were just the thing for Lynette and me to wear in the garden, but we never go out in the village with them, because we don't like to look like the village children.

I didn't wear gloves, and I had to dress very quietly so as not to wake Lynette, but I was ready at last, and then I put my note on the dressing-table for Lynette to see and take to Aunt Caroline. I stole on tiptoe down the stairs, for it was very early, and I did not want the servants to see me, and then I opened the hall door as gently as I could and let myself out of the house. Baldwin had carried the hamper to the stable the night before, and the only difficulty was in getting it down to the gate. It was very heavy, but I did it at last. I had to drag it along the drive most of the way, and I kept looking up at the house to see if any one was peeping at me. I left it outside the gate, for the carrier's cart always passed along the road at the corner, and then I walked as quickly as I could to Mrs. Tapson's cottage. Bob Tapson had told me if I came there early, I could get a comfortable seat by him, before the village people got in. I found him harnessing his horse. He looked quite surprised when he saw me, but he didn't recognise me in my sun-bonnet.

"I don't want the village people to know what I am doing," I said. "You won't tell them, will you? And I've left my hamper just outside our gate. I thought you would fetch it, and lift it in by me."

"That I will, missy," he said heartily. "You be a early bird. Have you had some breakfast?"

I took out of my pocket two thick slices of bread-and-butter which I had coaxed cook to give me the night before. She thought I was extra hungry and wanted something to eat before I went to bed. He smiled and went indoors, and then brought me out a lovely cup of tea. He had just been having some himself. Then he went up to say good-bye to his old mother, and asked me if I would like to see her. So I went up, and she took hold of my hand and smiled at me.

"You be a brave little lass to go," she said, "and I tell 'ee who will help 'ee there. You ask for Mary Dutton; she be my own sister what lives two mile out of Lemworth, and she'll let 'ee stand by her stall and see to 'ee. Bob will take your goods right in to her."

"I've never been to a country market before," I confessed to her; "I shall be so glad if she will help me."

And then I went down and climbed up into the big covered waggon which was standing in the yard. I could not help feeling glad that Aunt Caroline had told me to take the soup to Mrs. Tapson, for she was making it all so easy for me, and it seemed so strange that her son should be the carrier. Bob was very good; he put a footstool in the corner of the waggon just behind him, and I was quite comfortable. Then we started; it was delicious to be really off, but I thought we were never going to get through the village. Only three women got in, but nearly every one sent parcels or messages. Bob brought my hamper in, and then one of the women looked at me.

"Whose be that little lass?" she asked.

I didn't turn my head, and Bob said rather crossly, "She have come wi' me."

And she said no more, for she was so busy talking to the other women that she quite forgot me.

I sat still and loved my ride, only we went so slowly that it seemed like years and years, and my legs got rather cramped. I was tired too, for I had been awake so early, and I actually found myself nodding before we came to Lemworth. It seemed quite a big town, and I was almost frightened when we got to the market; there were such a lot of people, and everybody pushed so.

I let them all get out first. We were quite full up, because so many people had got in on the way. And then Bob shouldered my hamper and told me to follow him. It was a lovely market; there were rows of chickens, and ducks, and fruit, and flowers, and butter, and eggs, and everybody was laughing and talking at the top of their voices. There were such funny old country-women and men; children were crowding round the sweet-stalls, and farther down there was the little market. It was like the pictures I have seen of fairs, only there were no "Punch and Judys" or peep-shows.

Bob took me right along to the corner stall, where a dear old woman sat. She was very like Mrs. Tapson, only she had a fatter face. He told her who I was, and she laughed and begged me to tell her all about it. So I did, and then she unpacked my hamper, and made room for me to put my things on the corner of her stall. I began to enjoy myself very much, and I longed that the boys could see me. And my bunches of flowers were prettier than any I saw, because I had arranged them very carefully.

But for a long time no one bought anything, and I began to feel very nervous. I never shall forget the first person who took hold of my flowers and asked me how much they were a bunch. I said twopence—Mrs. Dutton had told me to ask that—and she took six bunches from me. I could have got up and danced round the market, I was so delighted. And soon after that two ladies came along with baskets. They stopped and said "Good-morning" to Mrs. Dutton and asked her if she had any lettuces. She said she hadn't, but told them I had some nice ones. They looked at mine and bought four, and they bought a bunch of parsley from me, and three beetroots, and they gave me ninepence, and one of them turned to the other and said:

"Is she not a little picture in her neat dress? If only the poor would always dress their children as sensibly as her mother dresses her, we should not have such extravagance amongst the lower classes. She is quite an example to her class!"

And I nearly laughed aloud when I heard them. Later on I sold four cabbages, and three bunches of sweet peas, and some carrots. By the end of the afternoon I had sold all I brought except two cabbages and a vegetable marrow, and Mrs. Dutton bought those from me—she keeps a little, greengrocer's shop, and said they would come in handy. I forgot to say that at one o'clock I went with Mrs. Dutton into a large room joining the market where they sold cups of tea and buns and meat pies. I felt very hungry, but I didn't want to spend much of my money which I had earned, so I got a penny cup of tea and a penny bun, and Mrs. Dutton gave me one of her big apples.

Bob Tapson came along to tell me that his cart would start at four, and long before that the women were packing their baskets up and leaving. I counted up my money and found I had actually four shillings and a penny! I was so proud and pleased. And Mrs. Dutton seemed pleased too. I felt I should like to sit in the market and sell every day. Everybody seemed so good-natured and kind to each other. And the jokes they made when they gave each other change, and the stories they told of their own and their neighbours' complaints, would have made the boys roar. They generally began each sentence with "Well, there, my dear," and "You don't say so!"

I was quite sorry to leave the market, but I climbed up into the cart and got my own seat again. It seemed quite an endless way coming back. There was an old man who smelt very strongly of beer and who kept laughing at nothing at all, and some girls who were screaming with silly jokes, and trying to make Bob Tapson look at them. I felt dreadfully tired, and then I got the fidgets and couldn't get comfortable, and then at last I went fast asleep and never woke up till Bob put me down at the Rectory gate.

"Well, missy, have you had a good time?"

"Yes," I said, trying to wake up; "how much is it I have to pay you?"

"Oh, nothing at all—you didn't take no room. And mind you come and tell mother all about your day. She'll be proper interested to hear about it."

I shook hands with him and thanked him very much, and then I carried my empty hamper back to the stable, and opened the hall door and went quietly in. I was rather afraid of Aunt Caroline.

Lynette came running downstairs.

"Oh, you wicked girl! You'll catch it; father has come home, and he is awfully angry with you; and what have you been doing? We've been guessing all day—and do you know, I've found out what Denys is doing. Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I'm tired," I said; "can I have some tea? Where is Aunt Caroline?"

"They're all in the garden, watering the flowers. Grisel dear, darling, dearest, do tell me what you've been doing."

But I wouldn't tell her then. I was feeling rather uncomfortable, so I thought I'd better go to father straight and tell him. I ran out into the garden. Aunt Caroline came towards me at once.

"Grisel, this is very naughty of you. Where have you been? And what have you been doing all day? You ought to know better than to absent yourself without leave in such a manner."

"I want to tell father; it's a secret," I said.

Aunt Caroline was always very good when we said we wanted to go to father. She called father, who was filling the water-can from the garden tap, and then she walked away and left us. Denys says it's very "good form" when she does that.

Father put on his spectacles and looked at me.

"You have made your aunt very anxious to-day, Grisel; I am not pleased with you."

"Please listen, father. It's about the vegetables and flowers you said I could have. I've been selling them to help to buy our donkey."

And then I told him as fast as I could just what I had been doing. And once he laughed, and then I knew I shouldn't get a big scolding. But I got a little one, and he said I must not think of doing such a thing again, which made me miserable.

"No, Grisel. I don't like my little daughter to be alone amongst a lot of rough people, however kind-hearted they may be. It is not suitable. Your mother would not have allowed it, I am sure. And you ought to have asked permission first. I am afraid you must have known you would not get it. Speak up and tell the truth."

My cheeks got scarlet.

"I did think—at least, I was afraid you might not let me," I said, "but I wasn't disobedient, for I didn't know it for certain!"

"That is where you did wrong, and you know it. Don't do such a thing again. And now go in and have something to eat."

"And I may keep the money?" I asked.

"Yes; I have no objection this time, but you must find another way of disposing of the vegetables than of selling them yourself in the market."

So I went into the dining-room, and Aunt Caroline had been getting my tea ready. She didn't say much, but before I had finished eating, the boys and Lynette burst in.

"Now, you sinner, own up! What have you been doing with yourself?"

"'Good business' indeed! We saw your letter; it was an awfully cheeky one!"

"And Aunt Caroline was in a jolly wax, I can tell you."

I quietly produced my purse, and poured out my silver and copper upon the table.

"There!" I said. "Can any of you beat that?"

"Four shillings!" exclaimed Denys, grabbing it like any old miser. "Ah, well, it isn't bad for a girl! Tell us how you did it."

"That's my secret!" I said.

It was my triumphant moment. But I knew I could not keep it much longer. I did so want to tell them all about it.

"Well!" said Lynette. "I know what Denys has been doing these last two days. Ask him how much he has got, Grisel!"

Denys grinned and held out his hand.

"I've had an adventure to-day," he said. It was a half-crown he held out.

I got up from my tea and danced round the table. "We shall soon be rolling and rolling in money," I cried.

"Wallowing!" put in Aylwin. "But I haven't begun to roll yet. You'll have to wait till the end of this week for my little million!"

Then we all pursued each other round the table, and Denys sang—

When the money comes rolling in, boys, And our silver turns to gold, We'll then buy a noble steed, boys, And ride like the knights of old.

Denys can always spout poetry whenever he likes. We were so delighted that we sang it at the top of our voices and danced faster and faster, till we got into a regular war-dance, and then at last tumbled down on the top of each other in a regular heap of arms and legs. And then we got up, rather out of breath, and I shouted:

"'Pax!' If you tell your adventure, Denys, I'll tell mine."

"Ladies first!" he said, with a grin.

So I began in a great hurry, for I thought it would astonish them, and it did.

At first Denys and Aylwin wished they had done it themselves—I know they did, though they wouldn't say so. And then Denys put on his soberest face and said:

"I don't think you and Lynette are playing the game fair. Anybody can make money out of father's things! Why, I could go into his study and take some of his books and sell them!"

"Oh!" I gasped. "That would be sac—sacrilege!"

"The flowers and vegetables aren't yours to sell," said Denys, "nor more is Lynette's butter and sugar she uses for her toffee."

"Oh, but," we both cried, "father has given leave."

"And I pay for mine," said Lynette; "and it's a lot harder work in the stuffy hot kitchen than sitting in a market and selling, and not half the fun!"

"Father gave me leave," I repeated, "so it's quite, quite fair."

"Well, but we've all a right to sell the flowers and stuff," said Aylwin.

"No," I said firmly, "only those who thought of doing it. It was my plan."

"Well, if you thought of doing it yesterday, I shall think of doing it to-morrow; why shouldn't I? And I've been working much harder than any of you, and I'm going on all this week."

"But I can't go on," I said dolefully; "I'm not to do it again, father says."

"Like to hear my adventure?" asked Denys.

"He's dying to tell about himself," said Lynette mischievously.

We were all attention, but Denys would not begin at once. He hummed and hawed, and then, just as he was settling down to tell us, in came Aunt Caroline and packed us off to bed.

"It will keep till to-morrow," said Denys.

And I was almost glad, for I was so sleepy and tired that I fell asleep directly my head touched the pillow.