CHAPTER XX

BERYL'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

PERCY'S bruised and sprained foot healed slowly, and the doctor enjoined rest for many days to come. It was no small trial to the active, restless youth to be thus kept a prisoner in his room; but he bore the confinement with tolerable patience. His injuries brought him much attention and commiseration. Miss Burton continued his faithful nurse, and dressed his wounds, and waited upon him with gentle care and skill. Mr. Hollys showed the greatest solicitude for his comfort, and even Miss Hollys made a daily visit to his room to enquire how he felt, and whether there were anything she could do for him. To the latter query, which was merely formal, Percy always responded by a decided negative. Once, by way of experiment, he offered to unbandage his wounded limb for her inspection, whereupon the lady hastily retreated, declaring that she should faint if she saw so dreadful a sight.

Perhaps Percy found his chief consolation during the monotonous course of these days in the visits which Coral and Beryl paid him. The children's society seemed to amuse him greatly, and he coaxed Miss Burton into shortening their school hours, that he might see more of them. They managed to play dominoes beside his couch, and he began to initiate Beryl into the mysteries of backgammon; and after declaring repeatedly that it was a stupid game, and had no fun in it, she discovered its fascination, as she came gradually to understand it.

With such diversions, the hours passed swiftly, and Friday drew near—the day so eagerly anticipated—without Beryl's gaining the least clue to the "splendid idea" which Percy was determined to keep from her. It was very tantalising to be thus in the dark regarding it. She was sure that Miss Burton was in the secret, and she fancied that her father also shared it.

Mr. Hollys received several large packages from Plymouth, concerning the contents of which he refused to satisfy Beryl's curiosity. She knew that these packages were carried into Percy's room and unpacked there; and she shrewdly guessed that they had some connection with her birthday fête, as Percy chose to call it. But she could only whisper her conjectures to Coral, and wait patiently for time to reveal the mystery.

All Thursday the children were in the greatest excitement. They deserted Percy, in their eagerness to watch the various preparations for the grand event of the morrow, which were going on in the household. Cook quite entered into the spirit of the thing, and used her utmost skill in the making of cakes and tarts for the children's treat. A delicious smell of baking came from the kitchen, and the children, stealing frequently through the baize door, were delighted by seeing tins full of crisp, brown buns, or the most tempting of jam tarts lifted out of the oven. The occasion called for a large supply of such dainties, since general invitation had been given to the village children, and all who could come would be sure to avail themselves of it.

When they had seen what was doing in the kitchen, and tasted some of the good things, in order to judge if they were fit to set before their guests, Coral and Beryl would wander out of doors to watch Andrew's operations. He was making himself useful in various ways; they saw him hang a fine swing in the empty barn at the back of the house, and proceeded to test its soundness without loss of time. Then they followed him about the garden, and gave him much advice and assistance, with which he could easily have dispensed, as he arranged tables and seats for the expected guests.

"What shall we do if it rains?" exclaimed Coral, when they had seen all the tables firmly set.

"Oh, it won't rain!" exclaimed Beryl.

And Andrew being a weather-wise man, was able to assure them that there was little cause to fear rain for the next forty-eight hours.

"Well, Duchess," exclaimed Percy, when the children came to his room that evening to say "good-night"; "is everything arranged to your satisfaction?"

"Oh yes," replied Beryl; "everything is perfect. Andrew has made the most delightful swing in the barn, and cook has made the most delicious cakes and tarts, and everything is scrumptious. Isn't that the word you say?"

"Not at all the word for a duchess to use," said Percy gravely.

"Well, I don't care if it's not. I'm not a duchess, and I hate to be called so!" said Beryl. "Oh, I wish to-morrow would make haste and come. I am sure I shall not be able to sleep for thinking of it."

"I say, Beryl," said Percy, "what do you think your father has been suggesting? He thinks I might be got downstairs to-morrow, and lie in state on a sofa on the lawn, so as to see something of the fun. What do you say to that?"

For a few moments Beryl did not know what to say. The idea of Percy's watching and commenting upon all that went on did not readily fall in with her preconceived notions of the treat. She was silent.

"Oh, I see," said Percy; "you would much rather I kept upstairs out of the way of everything."

"No, I would not, Percy," exclaimed Beryl, with sudden decision. "I should like you to be there."

"You don't mean that?" he returned.

"Yes I do. I always mean what I say," replied Beryl with dignity.

"Then why didn't you speak sooner?" said Percy.

"Because I was thinking," said plain-spoken Beryl; "I was not sure at first whether I should like your being there. But now I think that it will be very nice."

"What a queer creature you are, Beryl!" exclaimed Percy laughing.

"Oh, well, if you are going to call me names, I'll go to bed at once," said Beryl. "Good-night."

But though she pretended to be offended, she went away feeling perfectly good-tempered. She had now not the least remnant of enmity towards Percy in her heart.

Restless and impatient though Beryl felt, her young, healthful fatigue prevailed over excitement, and she slept soundly that night.

The morning dawned as fresh and beautiful a September morn as any one could desire. The early breeze was cool and bracing; but by the middle of the day, the sun had gained great power, and all agreed that the weather was perfection, being neither too hot nor too cold.

Beryl and Coral were in the garden, ready to receive their guests, a full half-hour before the time appointed; but they had not long to wait, for scarcely one child arrived late, and many, in their eagerness to come, were unpunctual on the safe side.

The young guests made rather a formidable crowd as they gathered on the lawn. There were no less than eighty children of all ages, ranging from four to fifteen. For the first few minutes there was much shyness and constraint manifested by the young visitors; but Beryl, with Miss Burton's help, soon put an end to that. Parties were formed for croquet, hide-and-seek, and other games. The swing proved a great attraction, and was never once empty the whole afternoon. When Mr. Hollys and Andrew wheeled Percy on to the lawn, an hour later, the garden was echoing with the shouts of merry voices, and every one seemed thoroughly happy.

Delightfully engaged though she was, Beryl yet managed to slip out of the game in order to run and greet Percy, and enquire if he were comfortable on his couch under the walnut tree. The attention pleased him, though he would not let her stay more than a minute by his side, but sent her back to her guests.

The scene changed at five o'clock. By that time, the tables under the trees had been loaded with ample supplies of bread, cakes, tarts, ripe fruit, and rich Cornish cream. The servants brought large urns of hot tea and milk, and the young people, small and great, having been comfortably placed, began to enjoy the good things set before them.

Beryl presided at one table, Coral at another, and Miss Burton at the third. Mr. Hollys passed to and fro, and saw that every one was cared for. Miss Hollys also came to look on.

It was indeed a pleasant sight to watch the children's honest enjoyment of the feast. They came from their active games in the open air with hearty appetites. But though hungry, they showed no greediness.

Poor and untaught though they were, they were not ill-mannered. The honest Cornish race of which they came, though blunt in speech, and rough in deed, has a certain innate refinement of its own. Mr. Hollys was charmed with the behaviour of Beryl's guests.

"I have seen children of the upper classes whose breeding would be put to shame by the manners of these youngsters," he remarked to Miss Burton. She was too busy at the moment to do more than assent to his words; but she noted the remark, and hoped to turn it to good account at some other time.

It was not at tea-time that the children's enjoyment reached its highest point. That was gained later in the evening, when daylight faded and the stars looked out from the pale sky.

Then, at last, Percy's grand mystery was divulged, and Beryl learned what had been the contents of the curious-looking packages which had excited her curiosity. They were cases of fireworks, the best that could be obtained, and such as none of the children at Egloshayle had ever seen. The wonder and delight of the young people surpassed all bounds when, under Percy's direction, the first rocket was shot into the air, and breaking, shed a glorious shower of many-coloured stars. Some of the little ones were rather frightened by the noise and glare; but they quickly forgot their fear when they saw the pretty stars, and stood holding out their little hands to catch them when they fell to earth. They were sorry to find that this was impossible. There was a large supply of rockets of various kinds, famous Catherine wheels, and other imposing illuminations. Percy had made a capital selection of fireworks, and had not miscalculated the pleasure their display would give.

It was a delightful surprise to Coral and Beryl, and they enjoyed the sight quite as much as their guests. The garden rang with joyous acclamations as one wonder succeeded another. Nor was this all. When the fireworks were burnt out, and in the dim light the children could scarcely see each other's faces, suddenly lights began to gleam here and there amongst the foliage, and it appeared that Andrew, in obedience to Percy's orders, had been fastening bright-coloured Chinese lanterns at short distances along the garden walks.

With these brightly burning, the garden looked like a scene from fairyland. The novel illumination was hailed with the greatest satisfaction by all, and the children thoroughly enjoyed their last merry romp on the lawn. Then, when they had refreshed themselves with a repast of milk and cakes, the guests began to take their leave. The elder ones withdrew with evident reluctance; but their tiny brothers and sisters were growing tired and sleepy, and it was already past the hour at which their mothers expected them to return.

So with hearty good-will, and some rough attempts at thanks, Beryl's little scholars and their friends wished her and Coral good-night, and went gladly home to tell their parents what a wonderful time they had had.

Beryl and Coral were left tired out with the fatigue and excitement of entertaining and enjoying, but very pleased with the success of their party. Nothing could have gone off better, as they declared again and again. Every one had been pleased. There was absolutely no cause for regret.

"Well, Beryl, my darling,"' said her father, putting his arm around her as they walked together to the house, "has your birthday party come up to your expectations? Have you enjoyed it as much as you thought you would have?"

"Oh yes, papa, as much, and more," exclaimed Beryl; "nothing could be more delightful. It has been the happiest day of my life. How good of Percy to think of those fireworks? And the lanterns too!—who thought of them?"

"It was all Master Percy's planning," said Mr. Hollys; "you must thank him for the illuminations."

Beryl felt as if she could not thank him properly. How much he had contributed to the enjoyment of her guests! And she had actually wished him away, thinking that he would spoil everything! What a change had come over her feelings towards Percy within the last few days!