Part 14 (1/2)

”They're standing as it is! Can't take more than the 'bus is registered for, or we'd break down at the hills. Room for one! Which of you's coming? Be quick! I can't wait all day!”

It was a matter that had to be decided in a moment. Miss Hampson, knowing that seven of her girls were already packed in the omnibus, felt that she must go and escort them. She turned desperately to Wendy and Diana, and panted:

”Miss Todd won't have started yet. Run to the 'Queen's'. She'll take you back in the trap.”

Then she allowed herself to be hustled inside by the impatient conductress.

The two girls left behind stood staring for a minute after the retreating omnibus. Spot, straining at his leash, barked his loudest.

”Well, I don't envy them their drive. They're packed like sardines,”

commented Wendy.

”I guess we've got the best of it,” agreed Diana.

Evidently the next thing to be done was to walk to the Queen's Hotel and report themselves, to Miss Todd. Diana was even beginning to speculate whether she could advance any possible argument, such as a desire to save strain on her mistress's arm, whereby she might induce the Princ.i.p.al to allow her to take the reins and drive Baron home. They went along Westgate, and turned the corner of Hart Street; in another two minutes they would have been in Castle Street. Then fate interfered.

From a narrow alley on the right came sounds resembling explosives, and three small boys, yelling gleefully, shot out into the road. Wendy, pausing to ascertain the cause of the excitement, e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the one word, ”Squibs!”

”Gee whiz! You don't mean to say they've got fireworks!” exclaimed Diana. ”Then I'm not going back till I've bought some. Here, sonny!”--catching a bare-headed urchin by the shoulder--”tell me where you got those squibs, and I'll give you my last bit of candy. Mrs.

Cobbes's in Beck Street? Where's Beck Street? Is it far? You ought to come and show us for that big bit of candy.”

”Can't! Got to go 'ome to my tea,” returned the youth, whose small teeth were already in the toffee. ”Cobbes's is down there!” pointing an arm like a sign-post in the direction of a by-street.

Diana and Wendy did not even wait to discuss the expediency of thus side-tracking. The magic lure of fireworks drew them on, and with one accord they trotted off to seek Mrs. Cobbes's shop. It took a little hunting about and asking to find it; and then Mrs. Cobbes was stout and slow, and seemed to need an eternity of time to wrap up their purchases in an old piece of newspaper.

”We shall have to hurry!” said Diana, emerging at last, hugging her parcel, and dragging Spot away from the pursuit of an impudent and provocative tabby cat, with a torn ear, that was spitting at him from the railings.

They did hurry. They nearly ran up Jessamine Street and Vine Street, and clattered up the steps behind the post office into Castle Street, and tacked through the crowd into the yard of the Queen's Hotel. A whole row of conveyances was standing with shafts down, but the familiar governess car was not among them. Perhaps it had been put inside the coach-house.

”Miss Todd's trap, did you say?” replied the ostler, removing the f.a.g-end of a cigarette from his lips. ”Why, she's gone! I harnessed her only five minutes ago!”

Here was a blow indeed! They had never expected Miss Todd to drive away without them, though, considering that she did not know they had been left behind by the omnibus, she was scarcely to be blamed for doing so.

The two girls looked serious as they walked into the street again.

Somehow they felt aggrieved.

”If the rest haven't started, Magsie and Vi might take us behind them on their bicycles,” suggested Wendy dubiously. ”Hodson's would know if they've gone. They were to call for some parcels there.”

It proved a forlorn hope. The girl behind the counter a.s.sured them that a party on bicycles, wearing brown tam-o'-shanters, had come and claimed their purchases, and ridden off up the street ringing their bells. The next motor-omnibus would come through at seven. It was always crowded, and no doubt would be particularly full to-night.

”There's nothing else for it, Di--we shall have to walk,” said Wendy blankly.

”Whew! It's a pretty good step.”

”Six miles.”

”Je-hoshaphat!”

”Well, it's no use waiting for the 'bus. We should never get places.”

”Let's take that short cut that Stuart was talking about. She said it saves two miles.”

”What a brain wave! It's only a quarter past four. We'd be home long before dark. You can walk four miles an hour, can't you?”