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And the vicar, and dear little Miss Pimpernell, and Monsieur Parole d'Honneur how can I speak of all their kindness evinced in many, many ways ere I left the old parish and its whilom associations behind me? Little Miss Pimpernell worked a supply of knitted socks, "comforters," and muffetees, sufficient to last me for a three years' cruise in the Polar circle in search of the north-west passage.
I was then resolved to learn whether she loved me or no. "Faint heart never won fair lady," as Miss Pimpernell had told me; I would deserve her reproach no longer. Thursday arrived at length, and with it the school treat.
"Now, Frank," exclaimed Miss Pimpernell, "I will not have any more sparring between you and Mr Mawley, for I'm sure you've argued enough. It is `the merry Christmas-time, you know; and we ought all to be at peace, and gay and happy, too! What do you say, girls?" "But what shall we do to be merry?" asked Bessie Dasher.
We had been down to the church Miss Pimpernell, the Dasher girls, Min, and myself, to hear the organist make trial of a new stop which had been lately added to his instrument.
"I assure you, Miss Pimpernell," I said with all the earnestness which the circumstances really warranted, "that I have not behaved in any way, to my knowledge, of which you might be ashamed for my sake. I came in this evening to ask your sympathy; and, here, you accuse me like this, without waiting to hear a word I have to say! Miss Pimpernell, you are unjust to me. I will go."
I did not allude to physical cramming, such as the Strasbourg geese undergo; but, mental stuffing. A `crammer' is a `coach, you know." "I'm sure I don't," said little Miss Pimpernell, energetically; "for, what with your crammers and coaches, I really do not know what you are speaking about!"
There were the Dasher girls, two young collegians from Cambridge ex-pupils of the vicar to entertain Bessie and Seraphine, Lizzie Dangler, Horner with his inseparable eye-glass and faultless toilet, Baby Blake for his entertainment Miss Pimpernell was a wise caterer Min, and myself.
"Well, well, Frank," she said, laughing too, "I don't mean to advise you to go to that extent; yet, you might easily find an opportunity to speak to Minnie Clyde, if you only set your wits to work. There's the school treat on Thursday, won't that do for you?" "Really," I replied, "I never thought of that, Miss Pimpernell; indeed I had made up my mind not to go; and "
Scandal Miss Pimpernell never permitted; indeed, no one would have had the heart to say an ill-natured thing of anybody else in her presence.
I should have liked also to have spoken to Mrs Clyde immediately, as Min was still away, and I could hear nothing of her; but, she had left town, too, and so I was unable to carry out my wish which, indeed, Miss Pimpernell had strongly advised against my doing. The latter counselled me to wait awhile before I renewed my offer; and, it was just as well, perhaps, that Mrs Clyde was away.
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