第19章 The Diamond Mines(4)

No one could ever take Emily's place,but I should respect the Last Doll very much;and I am sure the school would love it.They all like dolls,though some of the big ones--the almost fifteen ones--pretend they are too grown up."

Captain Crewe had a splitting headache when he read this letter in his bungalow in India.The table before him was heaped with papers and letters which were alarming him and filling him with anxious dread,but he laughed as he had not laughed for weeks.

"Oh,"he said,"she's better fun every year she lives.God grant this business may right itself and leave me free to run home and see her.

What wouldn't I give to have her little arms round my neck this minute!

What WOULDN'T I give!"

The birthday was to be celebrated by great festivities.The schoolroom was to be decorated,and there was to be a party.The boxes containing the presents were to be opened with great ceremony,and there was to be a glittering feast spread in Miss Minchin's sacred room.

When the day arrived the whole house was in a whirl of excitement.

How the morning passed nobody quite knew,because there seemed such preparations to be made.The schoolroom was being decked with garlands of holly;the desks had been moved away,and red covers had been put on the forms which were arrayed round the room against the wall.

When Sara went into her sitting room in the morning,she found on the table a small,dumpy package,tied up in a piece of brown paper.

She knew it was a present,and she thought she could guess whom it came from.She opened it quite tenderly.It was a square pincushion,made of not quite clean red flannel,and black pins had been stuck carefully into it to form the words,"Menny hapy returns."

"Oh!"cried Sara,with a warm feeling in her heart."What pains she has taken!I like it so,it--it makes me feel sorrowful."

But the next moment she was mystified.On the under side of the pincushion was secured a card,bearing in neat letters the name "Miss Amelia Minchin."

Sara turned it over and over.

"Miss Amelia!"she said to herself "How CAN it be!"

And just at that very moment she heard the door being cautiously pushed open and saw Becky peeping round it.

There was an affectionate,happy grin on her face,and she shuffled forward and stood nervously pulling at her fingers.

"Do yer like it,Miss Sara?"she said."Do yer?"

"Like it?"cried Sara."You darling Becky,you made it all yourself."

Becky gave a hysteric but joyful sniff,and her eyes looked quite moist with delight.

"It ain't nothin'but flannin,an'the flannin ain't new;

but I wanted to give yer somethin'an'I made it of nights.

I knew yer could PRETEND it was satin with diamond pins in.

_I_tried to when I was makin'it.The card,miss,"rather doubtfully;

"'t warn't wrong of me to pick it up out o'the dust-bin,was it?

Miss 'Meliar had throwed it away.I hadn't no card o'my own,an' I knowed it wouldn't be a proper presink if I didn't pin a card on--so I pinned Miss 'Meliar's."

Sara flew at her and hugged her.She could not have told herself or anyone else why there was a lump in her throat.

"Oh,Becky!"she cried out,with a queer little laugh,"I love you,Becky--I do,I do!"

"Oh,miss!"breathed Becky."Thank yer,miss,kindly;it ain't good enough for that.The--the flannin wasn't new."