CHAPTER II.

THE COUSINS.

ONLY this garden-party could be talked of for the next few days, and all was bustle and preparation at Mrs. Golding's. Hannah was too busy preparing for their expected visitors to question her young mistress about money matters. She supposed Hetty had consulted her mother upon this, and had sanctioned all that was being done. She ordered what she wanted of the tradespeople, as she was told to do, giving Hetty the bill when the things were brought, merely remarking that it had better be paid at once, as she knew her mistress did not like bills left unpaid.

Hetty put the bill into her pocket, without replying. In fact, she had no money to pay it with, and she was wondering how much she could save out of her next monthly allowance to meet these little bills, for she knew that eggs, butter, and milk would not be the only items left unpaid. Her sovereign had melted she hardly knew how. The party was to be on Tuesday, and by the time Monday came, she had not a farthing left. But she would not let Hannah know this.

"My cousin will be here, I dare say, when they send the things from the confectioner's," she said, "and so you must tell them to leave the bill, I can't be bothered with that just as Lettice comes in."

"I could pay it, Miss Hetty, if you leave the money with me. You know how particular mistress is about the bills being paid."

"Oh, it won't matter for once, we don't have my cousin and a party every day," said Hetty, turning out of the kitchen, for fear the boy should appear at once, with his pastry-box on his head.

She did not want to be present when this arrived, for she had not ordered so much as Hannah had told her was necessary. Jellies and ices were so expensive that she could not venture upon many of these, and Hannah would be cross, she knew, for she had made up her mind that it should be a grand affair, as well as her young mistress, and was throwing all her energies into the preparations for it.

Mrs. Golding contrived to leave her friend for an hour or two, and went with Hetty to meet her cousins, but she was obliged to return to Mrs. Newton soon after dinner, leaving the young people to rest and amuse themselves until the evening.

"Hetty has invited a few friends to meet you to-morrow, so that you will not be at a loss for company, and will hardly miss me, even if I should not be able to leave my friend," said Mrs. Golding.

"Indeed, aunt, but you must spare us one day for a picnic in the woods. I remember you telling me what a beautiful place it was, and there was a sort of half promise given that we should spend a whole day there."

"Hetty is afraid of the creepy-crawly things," laughed Mrs. Golding. "She thought you would like a garden-party best."

"Oh no, aunt; a garden-party is not half so delightful as a real picnic. Everybody gives a garden-party now; I am quite tired of them."

If Lettice had glanced at her cousin's face, she would not have said so much, but, intent only on winning her aunt's consent to the picnic, she never looked at Hetty.

Her brother, however, saw that something was amiss, and said quickly, "Of course, we should like a picnic, aunt. But I daresay we shall enjoy a garden-party quite as much if you have arranged for one. By the bye, where is the garden, Hetty?" he asked, looking out of the window upon the little square grass plot which Hetty called a croquet lawn.

She reddened at the question, and her mother laughed.

"I asked how we could call it a garden-party when we had no garden," remarked Mrs. Golding.

"But we have a garden, at least for the day, mamma. You see, Lettice, we could not possibly use that large old-fashioned garden at the back, we are such a small family, and so we gave it up to Mrs. Mavor, merely retaining the right of occasionally using it."

Hetty thought her mother had left the room, or she would hardly have given such an explanation as this in her hearing, but it was the little fiction she had so often repeated to her young friends, and she forgot that her mother was likely to be startled by hearing it.

"What are you saying, Hetty, about Mrs. Mavor's garden? We have no right there; it is by her kindness that we are allowed to walk in it, and you know it quite well." Mrs. Golding spoke sharply, for Hetty's words had pained her deeply, and she went out without another word, but a feeling of bitter disappointment in heart, for she had prided herself on her daughter's open truthful character.

Hetty felt very uncomfortable as her cousin looked as her with his clear, truthful eyes. They were a greater reproach even than her mother's angry words, and she had the bitterness of feeling that she had forfeited his esteem through that falsehood. She tried to shake off the impression, and turned to Lettice, who was looking over an album at the table.

"What do you think of that?" she said, pointing to a portrait.

"I don't think I should care for the original. She looks a vulgar, over-dressed girl. Is she a friend of yours, Hetty?"

"Yes, we were schoolfellows. Her father, Sir Charles Hodson, is one of the richest men in this neighbourhood."

"It does not make his daughter a lady," remarked Lettice, carelessly, as she turned over the leaves.

But here came an interruption from Hannah.

"What am I to tell Mary Riley about to-morrow, Miss Hetty?" she asked.

"She must come, of course, and I will speak to mamma this evening about it," said Hetty.

In point of fact Mary Riley had been helping Hannah some hours every day lately, but Mrs. Golding did not know it.

When she turned to her cousin again, Lettice said, "I am afraid aunt is very much troubled by old Mrs. Newton's illness, she looks so pale and worried. I hope we have not given you extra trouble by coming just now."

"Oh no, Lettice. You know we have wanted you all the summer, and mamma was quite pleased when Uncle's letter came, saying he would spare you for a week."

"But this party, Hetty. I wish you had not taken so much trouble about that, for indeed I shall enjoy the quiet chats with you and aunt much more than I shall meeting a lot of strange people. Don't think me very disagreeable, Hetty, but I am obliged to see so many people at home that I have quite looked forward to being quiet with you," said Lettice.

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