Wingless Bird

– 'Yes, Miss Vivian, it's very sad,' Jane said, stroking her hair gently. – But there is still time! I'm sure your dresses will be here any minute!

– I wish I had your confidence! I am afraid I shall spend the evening in these chambers. Dear Jane, I so appreciate your support! – The red-haired beauty said softly, and, tilting her head slightly, looked at her friend: "You will stay the night with me, won't you?

– Miss, I'd love to, but I have to get up early," she said, embarrassed. But her soul was filled with joy: Miss was asking her to sleep in her chambers! She needs her! How pleasant that would be! And these thoughts made Jane ashamed of her refusal, so she quickly added: – But I will stay with you, let there be no doubt in your mind!

Vivian smiled warmly, rose from the bed and hugged her faithful Jane tightly, and the latter responded enthusiastically.

– Dear Jane! Why can't the Cranfords be as good and kind as you? – whispered Vivian. – I swear to you that as soon as I am married you will come away with me! And my aunt will no longer frighten you with her icy stare!

– Of course you will marry, dear Miss Vivian! To a very rich and noble man, no less! – said Jane with sincere faith in her words.

– I thought you despised the Frenchwoman for hoping to lure a rich man into her net, but you hope to do the same for me? – Vivian chuckled and pulled away from her. – How contradictory you are, my dear friend!

– Come, Miss Vivian, the "French rat" is a dry rose compared to you! And you're as beautiful as the world has ever seen. Not only I think so, but all the servants of Greenhall! – The maid smiled broadly. – The Frenchwoman has no chance with the Duke of Nightingale, but you do!

– Do you think so? – Vivian gave her a wink, but then added sadly: – 'Alas, he is beyond my reach: why should he want me, beautiful but poor, when he can marry the daughter of some earl or duke and double his fortune?

– But you…

– No, no, Jane, I ca

– But then who have you got in mind? – Jane asked.

– I have no one in mind for my future spouse, for the only man I know who is a member of high society is my cousin. I had pla

The girls laughed quietly, but suddenly there was a loud knock at the door, and Lady Cranford entered Vivian's chamber uninvited. She was ready for her imminent departure: she was wearing a beautiful black silk dress, with long black gloves on her hands, her hair was elegantly coiffed and feathered, and she had a broad, happy smile on her lips.

– Your dresses are found, my dear! – she exclaimed.

Jane jumped up from the bed and made an awkward curtsy: oh, lest her mistress should think she thought she was her niece's friend!

But Lady Cranford did not even glance in her direction; she came quickly to her niece and, seizing her by the arms, almost forcibly seated her at the dressing-table.

– There is no time to lose- Oh, my dear, have you been crying? In vain: your eyes are puffy and your cheeks are red… You'll need powder.

Vivian had not expected such a sudden turn of events and was discouraged by her aunt's persistent and strange behaviour.

– Had the dresses been found? But where are they? – she asked the countess absent-mindedly.

– They will be brought in a few minutes," she replied, and began to take out the pins from her niece's high hair. – In the meantime, you take care of your hair: this one is no good....

– But, auntie, I won't have time…

– Don't forget: for your debut, wear a white dress and white gloves above the elbow…

– Auntie! There's so little time.

– You don't need much jewellery. But take that bird chain off your neck, it's too simple. You have more expensive jewellery, don't you? If not, I'll bring my own.

– Thank you, but I have more colourful jewellery in that box over there. – Vivian was confused: she had only fifty minutes to go to the ball! Didn't her aunt realise that in that time it was impossible to choose and put on a dress, shoes and gloves, to do her hair and powder her face? She will not go to the ball!

Lady Cranford opened her jewellery box, went through it in silence, and held out to her niece a short string of dazzling white pearl beads.

– Do you have earrings or clips like that? – she asked Vivian.

– 'Alas, auntie.

– Well, that will do. – The Countess went to the door. – 'I'll come and fetch you in forty minutes…'

"Forty? Not fifty?" – her poor niece was horrified.

– …Be ready: we must not be late. Here are your dresses! Remember: white dress and white gloves! – The Mistress of Greenhall left the chambers.

"What a lot of things she's bought! Where does she get all this money?" – Lady Cranford thought involuntarily, as she looked at the four footmen and three maids who, laden with many long covers, hurried into her niece's chamber.

– The dresses are here, Miss Vivian! – Jane shrieked with delight, but as she approached her friend she saw that she could hardly hold back her tears. – My dear miss, what are you saying?!

– Look at me, Jane! Look at my hair! How can you have time for a new hairdo? How can I be ready for the ball in forty minutes? – Vivian sobbed.

Jane glanced at Vivian's hair, which, devoid of bobby pins, was a thick, fiery waterfall down her back, but Jane combed her hair every morning and knew that it took a lot of effort to get those unruly, bouncy locks into a hairstyle.

– It will be all right, Miss Vivian, I'm sure I'll-

– Why try when I know we'll never make it! – Miss Cowell interrupted her nervously.

– Calm down and look at me! – Jane raised her voice slightly. Fortunately, the other servants were too busy putting away the covers to notice that Jane's maid had dared to shout at the mistress's own niece.

Vivian raised her eyebrows in surprise, but looked obediently at her friend.

– I shall have time to dress you, comb your hair, powder your hair, and wave to you from the window," said the maid in a confident tone.

– Are you sure about that? In forty minutes? – Vivian whispered: she was filled with hope.

– No doubt at all! But I need you to stop worrying and trust me.

– But how can I choose a dress if I haven't tried on any of them?

– Leave it to me. I'll choose a gown worthy of your beauty and your debut. And I swear to you, there will be no prettier lady at this ball than you.

Vivian smiled gratefully at her friend, and her eyes filled again with tears, but this time they were tears of emotion.

– Lead me, my dear Jane! – She said softly, and pressed Jane's hand in her own.

She answered her with a quiet smile, and went to the long covers that covered the wide bed, in which the new, freshly pressed, splendid dresses were waiting.

– Anthony, dear, may I come in? – came Lady Cranford's voice from outside her son's chamber.

– Of course, mother, come in," he said.

The door opened immediately, and the first thing the Countess saw was Emily making Mr. Cranford's bed. The windows of the room were wide open, and it was filled with the delicate fragrance of the flowers growing in the garden of Greenhall.

– Have you been resting, my dear? – The mistress of the house asked her son, looked him over with an appraising glance, and exclaimed. – Oh, what a handsome boy you are!

– It is difficult not to be handsome when my mother is so beautiful as you are, mother," Anthony answered gallantly, and a broad smile shone on his mother's face. – You look beautiful. Poor young girls who want to shine at this ball: you will outshine everyone and everything with your beauty.