like for her in reason, child,” she said, “without stripping yourself. What, you don’t think there are enough pictures in her room? Well, you may drive in with Ward to Dacreshaw this afternoon, and get some, if you like. There is a good print-shop there. Put the bill down to St. Quentin.” [79] [79] But that was not necessary, for Sydney received a summons to the library before she set out that afternoon. Her cousin laid his pen down on her entrance; she saw he had been signing a cheque. “I haven’t started you on a dress-allowance, Sydney,” he said, “because you had better let Aunt Rica rig you out at present. She knows how to do the thing, you see. But you’ll want some money to play with, so there’s your first quarter.” He held out the cheque. Sydney gasped. “It isn’t for me, is it?” “Yes, it is; there, put it in your purse. You can change it at the Bank at Dacreshaw, where I hear you’re going. Good-bye, don’t spend it all on chocolates!” For the first time since her arrival at St. Quentin Castle, Sydney felt almost happy. What Christmas presents she could get now for every one at home! Should she choose them at Dacreshaw, or wait till she went to Donisbro’ for the lessons in drilling and deportment she was to take with a very select class of girls in the cathedral city? She sat in a happy dream all through the drive, and only roused herself when she reached the print-shop. [80] [80] The Castle carriage was known, and the owner of the shop came forward at once to serve the young lady, leaving the customer he had been attending—a tall, graceful girl, some years Sydney’s senior, with great calm, clear eyes. Sydney found the shopman most obliging. He bowed repeatedly; he seemed willing to reach down every picture in the shop for her to look at, regardless of the trouble, and he asked with real anxiety after the health of “his lordship, Lord St. Quentin.” The tall girl had come rather near to them to examine a picture Sydney had laid down. She started at the shopman’s question, looked irresolutely for a minute at the younger girl, then came across to her with a smile.
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