THE GIRL’S OWNPAPER
Vol. XX.—No. 1006.]
[Price One Penny.
APRIL 8, 1899.
[Transcriber’s Note: This Table of Contents was not present in the original.]
ABOUT PEGGY SAVILLE.
THE HOUSE WITH THE VERANDAH.
HER KINGDOM OF DREAMS.
SHEILA.
FROM LONDON TO DAMASCUS.
“OUR HERO.”
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
ABOUT PEGGY SAVILLE.
By JESSIE MANSERGH (Mrs. G. de Horne Vaizey), Author of “Sisters Three,” etc.
AT THE CROSS ROADS.
All rights reserved.]
CHAPTER XXVII.
Arthur kept his word, and tried manfullynot to let his own disappointmentinterfere with the enjoyment of ChristmasDay. The party at the vicarage wassmaller than usual, for Rob and Oswaldhad both gone home for the festiveseason, and he knew well that theknowledge that “Arthur was coming”had seemed the best guarantee of amerry day to those who were left behind.Peggy too—poor little Peg, with herbandaged hands and tiny white face—itwould never do to grieve her by beingdepressed and gloomy!
“Begone, dull care!” cried Arthur tohimself then, when he awoke on Christmasmorning, and promptly wrappinghimself in his dressing-gown, he salliedout on to the landing, where he burstinto the strains of “Christians, awake!”with such vigorous brush-and-combaccompaniment on the panels of thedoors as startled the household out oftheir dreams.
“Miserable boy! I was having sucha lovely nap! I’ll never forgive you!”cried Mrs. Asplin’s voice in sleepywrath.
“Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!”shouted the girls, and Peggy’sclear pipe joined in last of all. “Andmany of them! Come in! Come in! Iwas lying awake and longing to seeyou!”
Arthur put his ruffled head round thedoor and beamed at the little figure inthe bed, as if he had never known atrouble in his life.
“What a wicked story! I heard yousnore. Merry Christmas, Peg, and aHappy New Year! And don’t you gofor to do it again never no more! It’sa jolly morning. I’ll take you out for atoddle in the garden when we comehome from church, if you are a goodgirl. Will you have your present now,or wait till you get it? It begins with aB. I love my love with a B., becauseshe’s a——”
“Oh, Arthur!” interrupted Peggyregretfully. “I haven’t half such anice present for you as I expected.You see I couldn’t work anything, andI co