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diff --git a/25647-h/25647-h.htm b/25647-h/25647-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5ce7b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/25647-h/25647-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4460 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Holiday Tales, by Florence Wilford. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Holiday Tales, by Florence Wilford + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Holiday Tales + +Author: Florence Wilford + +Release Date: May 30, 2008 [EBook #25647] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOLIDAY TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 317px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="317" height="500" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i002.png" width="400" height="565" alt="PLANNING OUT THE GROUND." title="PLANNING OUT THE GROUND." /> +<span class="caption">PLANNING OUT THE GROUND. <br /> <span style="margin-left: 6em;"><i><a href="#Page_14">See page 14</a>.</i></span></span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>HOLIDAY TALES.</h1> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By</span> FLORENCE WILFORD,</h3> + +<div class='center'>AUTHOR OF 'NIGEL BARTRAM'S IDEAL,' 'AN AUTHOR'S CHILDREN,' ETC.<br /> +<br /><br /><br /> + +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/emblem.png" width="100" height="81" alt="Emblem" title="Emblem" /> +</div> + + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +<big>GRIFFITH, FARRAN, OKEDEN & WELSH,</big><br /> +<small>SUCCESSORS TO NEWBERY AND HARRIS,</small><br /> +WEST CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON.<br /> +E. P. DUTTON & CO., NEW YORK.<br /></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + +<div class='center'><i>The Rights of Translation and of Reproduction are reserved.</i></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/ispine.jpg" width="72" height="500" alt="Spine" title="Spine" /> +</td><td align='left'><h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="0"> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='3'>SEVEN CAMPBELLS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mother and Sons</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Johnnie's Protege</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">What Seven Campbells Can Do</span> </td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='3'><br />CECIL'S MEMORABLE WEEK</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Cecil's Memorable Week</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Bachelor's Lunch</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Good News</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">It's All Right!</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i005a.png" width="400" height="91" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>SEVEN CAMPBELLS.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>MOTHER AND SONS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/i123m.png" width="75" height="76" alt="M" title="M" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />AMMA, there's such a fine poem +here about "seven lovely Campbells" +whose father's name was +Archibald; it must mean us,—don't you +think so?' And a very pretty boy about +ten years of age, who had been poring for +some time over Wordsworth's Poems, lifted +his roguish face to his mother's with a look of +pretended conviction.</div> + +<p>'Not exactly, Willie, seeing that the poem +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>begins, "Seven <i>daughters</i> had Lord Archibald!"'</p> + +<p>'Ah, mamma, you are not to be caught. +I do believe you have read everything that +ever was written! But now, mamma, which +would you rather have—seven daughters or +seven sons?'</p> + +<p>'I would rather have just what I've got, +Willie.'</p> + +<p>'Seven sons, then. Oh! mamma, I'm glad +you said that; and you know we shall be of +much more use to you than a lot of girls. +Why, if the French were to come, you needn't +be a bit afraid, with all of us to defend you.'</p> + +<p>'Baby at the head, armed <i>cap-à-pie</i>, I suppose,' +smiled the mother, dancing in her arms +her youngest son, a little fellow of about two +years old; but she soon set him down in her +lap again, for she had been ill, and was still +so weak that the least effort tired her.</p> + +<p>'Mamma, I think you'd better let me ring +for nurse to take Georgie, and then you can +lie upon your sofa again and have a nap; and +I'll go and ask my brothers to play in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +rough ground, where you won't hear their +noise,' said thoughtful Willie.</p> + +<p>The mother assented to all these proposals; +but when, after ringing the bell, the boy +turned to go, she beckoned him back to her +side. 'Tell my darling Johnnie that I hope +he'll come and sit with me this afternoon; +only he must be wise and quiet, and not get +into one of his harum-scarum moods, or papa +won't let me have him.'</p> + +<p>Willie nodded sagaciously. 'I'll keep guard +over him, mamma, so that he shall behave +like a mouse all dinner-time, and then papa +won't be afraid to trust him. Now let me give +Georgie one kiss.' His mother watched him +fondly as he caressed the little brother, whose +baby mind took small cognizance of such +affectionate demonstrations, and then, drawing +his curly head down to her, she gave him +a true mother's kiss, and whispered, 'Mamma's +own good boy.' Willie tripped lightly down +the stairs and into the garden, where three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +little boys, of the respective ages of eight, six, +and five, were playing at the well-known game +which Charles Dickens terms 'an invasion of +the imaginary domains of Mr. Thomas Tytler.'</p> + +<p>'Here, Duncan, Seymour, Archie, I want +you to come into the "desert" with me and +have a game there. Mamma's going to take +a nap before dinner, and she won't be able to +sleep while you make this row under her +window. Come along, there's good fellows.' +The two little ones left off picking up gold and +silver directly, and Duncan descended from +the rank of a landed proprietor with great +good-humour;—not that Mr. Thomas Tytler's +domains were the only ground belonging to +him: he had a neat little flower-plot in one +corner of the garden, as had all the elder +brothers except Johnnie, who had been deprived +of his by his father for having neglected +to cultivate it, and who from that day forward +had been known in the family by +the soubriquet of 'Jean-sans-terre,' otherwise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +'Lackland.' Willie led the way out of the +garden into a rough piece of ground covered +with weeds and stones, and called by the children +the 'desert,' because nothing grew there +but a few stunted shrubs. He left the younger +ones to play about there, while he passed on +and walked along the high road to meet his +two elder brothers, Honorius and John, who +attended a day school in the neighbourhood, +and always came home at twelve and returned +in the afternoon. Willie was of an age to go to +school too; but his father, who was not a rich +man, could not afford to send him just then, and +therefore instructed him himself, together with +Duncan and Seymour, though rather in a desultory +fashion, as he was a doctor, and could +not command much uninterrupted time.</p> + +<p>The Doctor's seven sons were well known +in the neighbourhood, and acknowledged by +every one to be 'nice, gentlemanly boys;' so +Willie had to receive and return some greetings +both from high and low as he passed along.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +But before he had gone far he descried an +elder boy with some lesson-books in his hand +coming towards him, whereupon he shouted +'Is that you, old fellow? What have you done +with Johnnie?' and bounded to his side.</p> + +<p>Honorius was, like his name, grave and +dignified,—at least as much so as a boy of +fourteen can be without affectation. He +answered quietly that Johnnie had taken the +path through the fields in order to hunt for +sticklebats in Farmer Merryman's pond, and +that he did not know when they might expect +to see him again. But at that very +moment a bright, mischievous face peered +over the hedge at one side of the road, and +then, with a warning to them to stand clear, +and 'a one, two, three, and away,' Johnnie—for +he it was—took a running leap, cleared +the hedge, and stood beside them. Willie +explained his reason for coming to meet them, +and the three boys took their way to the +desert, lamenting that the ground was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +smooth enough there to admit of their playing +cricket, as they did on the lawn.</p> + +<p>'Do you know I've been thinking,' said +Willie suddenly, 'that it would be very jolly +if we could dig up the desert, and make it a +nice place for mamma to walk in when she +gets better? We might have paths this way +and that, and then flower-beds or turf between; +though, to be sure, papa <i>did</i> say that +when he could afford to have it cultivated, he +would plant some of it with potatoes.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, plebeian notion!' said Johnnie, tossing +his handsome head, 'he will propose keeping +pigs next! What do you say to it, my +Emperor? is not your royal mind duly horrified?' +The Emperor, as his brother called +him, in allusion to his imperial namesake, by +no means showed the disgust expected of +him: he turned up a bit of the soil with his +pocket-knife, and said reflectively,</p> + +<p>'I should think it would grow potatoes very +well, but it'll want a deal in the way of preparation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +I don't believe we could dig it up +properly, for there are none of us strong +enough for the work but myself and you, +Johnnie; and you're such an idle fellow, you +wouldn't work for more than ten minutes +together.'</p> + +<p>'Oh yes, he will, if it's for mamma,' cried +Willie; 'and papa would be so pleased. Do +let's begin, Honorius; I can dig quite well, +and the little ones might pull up some of the +weeds.'</p> + +<p>'We must mark the paths first if we're to +do it at all,' said Honorius in his deliberate +way. 'Who's got a ball of string?'</p> + +<p>'I have,' began Johnnie, putting his hand +in his pocket; but he drew it forth again +empty, and jestingly continued, 'No, "it's +gone from my gaze like a beautiful dream." +I have lost it, I suppose. We must advertise +for it; or, considering all things, perhaps it +would be cheaper to buy another.'</p> + +<p>'You'll lose your head some day,' observed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +Honorius calmly. 'Run into the house, Willie, +and ask cook for some string; and you might +fetch the spades, Lackland,—they're in the +arbour.'</p> + +<p>The two boys darted off on their separate +errands, and the Emperor walked up and +down, devising how the desert might be best +improved.</p> + +<p>'Rather stupid of us not to have thought of +doing something to it before,—it's more than +four months since papa bought it; but, to be +sure, the weather has not been fit for out-of-door +work, and papa always talked as if it +would take two or three men to put it in +order. I don't think he'll mind our having a +try at it, for at any rate we can't do much +harm. I'm very glad he bought it: it would +have been horrid to have had it let on a +building lease, and some great house run up +that would shut out the view from our windows, +that mamma likes so much. It's nice +that her own room does not overlook this, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +she'd see what we are about, and I should like +it to be a surprise to her. It's quite Willie's +idea; he's a capital chap for thinking of things +to please her. I wish that funny fellow Lackland +had half as much sense.'</p> + +<p>Willie came back very soon with the string, +and assisted his brother in fastening a stake +in the ground where the path was to begin, +and then, tying the string to it, drew it along +in a straight line to the place where the path +was to end, at which they stuck in another +stake, and again fastened the string.</p> + +<p>Johnnie did not reappear for some time, +and then wore an air of rather droll vexation. +'Pity me,' he exclaimed as he gave the spades +to Honorius, 'I have fallen foul of my paternal +relative. I found a lot of birds in the arbour, +and served them with a notice to quit by +clapping my hands and hooting to them, when +who should appear but papa, asking what +the noise was about, and how I could be so +inconsiderate as to disturb mamma?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> + +<p>'No wonder,' said Honorius.</p> + +<p>'Oh, and I promised to keep you quiet!' +exclaimed Willie in great distress.</p> + +<p>Jean-sans-terre laughed his merriest of +laughs.</p> + +<p>'Keep me quiet! you silly fellow. Did +you really think it possible?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, for mamma's sake,' said Willie stoutly. +'You can be quiet if you choose; and I told +you what she said about her wanting you to +sit with her this afternoon.'</p> + +<p>'And you think paterfamilias will forbid +it on account of my ill-timed sparrow-hooting?'</p> + +<p>'I think,' said Honorius, 'you had better +speak of my father by his right name, and +endeavour to behave rather less like an +idiot. Here, take a spade, man, and come to +work.'</p> + +<p>Johnnie shrugged his shoulders, made an +indescribable grimace, and began digging +vigorously, humming the Jacobite ditty,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<div class='poem'> +'Wha is it noo we ha'e gotten for a king,<br /> +But a wee wee German lairdie?<br /> +And when we went to fetch him hame,<br /> +He was dibbling in his kail-yairdie.'<br /> +</div> + +<p>Honorius sketched in his pocket-book a +sort of plan of what the desert was to be like +when its cultivation was completed. There +was to be a path crossing it each way exactly +through the centre, and along each side of +these paths there was to be a broad flower-border, +which would partially conceal from +view the potatoes and other useful vegetables +which were to occupy the chief part of the +ground.</p> + +<p>'It's not too late in the spring to plant +potatoes, I suppose, Honorius, is it?' said +thoughtful Willie; 'and papa will give us +those, I'm sure. But where shall we get the +flowers? I don't think papa will buy them +for us.'</p> + +<p>'We can get some seeds of different annuals, +such as nemophila and candytuft, ourselves. +That won't cost very much, and I've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +got three shillings that I can spend on it; but +then we shall want roots of other things and +rose-bushes, and they cost more. Have you +got any money, Johnnie?'</p> + +<p>'No, not I. I am "sans argent" as well as +"sans terre." I know one way of getting some, +though. Papa said if I would translate that +favourite piece of his in Cæsar all through, +<i>well</i>, he would give me half-a-crown. But +then, consider the labour! I have a strong +suspicion that it might prove fatal to my +constitution.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, humbug! you could do it easily if +you chose,' said the elder brother. 'Besides, +I'll help you, if papa doesn't mind.'</p> + +<p>'You'll do it, I know,' pleaded Willie softly; +'and I've got a shilling that'll go towards +buying some roots.'</p> + +<p>'And Seymour and I have got sixpence +between us,' cried Duncan. 'I say, Honorius, +haven't we pulled up a jolly lot of weeds already?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Oh, famous,' cried the Emperor approvingly. +'Work away; we shall have to go in +to dinner soon.'</p> + +<p>He himself toiled with all his might, for the +soil in some places was very stiff, and resisted +the incision of the spade. Whenever he +came to a part where it was looser, he turned +that over to the younger ones; for Honorius, +though occasionally sharp in speech, was almost +invariably kind and considerate in his +actions. 'Deeds, not words,' was his favourite +motto; but it would sometimes have been +well if he had remembered that we must give +account for words as well as deeds, and that +the law of love should govern both.</p> + +<p>The boys worked on for some time almost +in silence. Johnnie was expending his energies +in hard digging, and dropped for the +while his usual character of 'merry-andrew.' +He was considering with himself, too, whether +he should undertake the task his father had +proposed to him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>'To be sure, I have a strong motive now for +earning the half-crown, which I hadn't before,' +thought he; 'but papa's so awfully particular, +and I'm—yes, I must allow—I'm such an +awful blockhead, that it's as likely as not I +shall not win the money after all. However, +I can but try; yes, and I will try too.'</p> + +<p>Lackland's face was very bright when he +took his place at dinner that day, but his +behaviour was more quiet and guarded than +usual: he conducted himself more like Willie's +ideal mouse, than like the noisy, rattling fellow +he usually appeared. The brothers sat, three +on each side of the table; no one claimed the +place at the top, where the mother was accustomed +to sit when well. Dr. Campbell looked +tired, and was very silent, but took care that +his sons' vigorous appetites should be duly +satisfied, and was always ready with a kindly +'Willie, my boy, don't you want some more?' +'Seymour, pass your plate to me,' whenever +the silence of one knife and fork told that its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +owner had finished the portion allotted to +him. Johnnie glanced at him sometimes, but +did not address him till after grace had been +said and they had risen from table, when, +approaching him, he asked gently if he might +be allowed to sit a little while with his mother +that afternoon.</p> + +<p>'Can I trust you to be quiet, Johnnie?' +said the Doctor doubtfully.</p> + +<p>Lackland blushed, and fidgeted with his feet. +'I will try to be quiet indeed, papa. I am +sorry I made such a row in the arbour this +morning.'</p> + +<p>'Very well, you may go to mamma, then, +as soon as I come down; but I shall beg her +to send you away if you get riotous.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, papa; and, one thing more, may I do +that bit of Cæsar that you offered the half-crown +for? I didn't care about doing it the +other day, but I should like to, now.'</p> + +<p>'You may do it, certainly. I am glad you +wish to—without help, mind—and I will look<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +over it as soon as I have time. Well, Honorius,' +as his elder son drew near, 'have you +something to ask too?'</p> + +<p>Honorius's errand was to obtain his father's +sanction for the changes they were making in +the desert. Dr. Campbell smiled as he heard +their plans. 'It would take two men's hard +labour to put that place in order,' he said; 'I +don't think you'll be able to do it.'</p> + +<p>'Papa, you don't know what seven Campbells +can do!' said Willie in a tone of triumphant +heroism.</p> + +<p>'Seven! What! have you pressed Georgie +into the service? Well, good luck to you all, +it'll be a nice amusement for you; you can't +do much harm, at any rate.'</p> + +<p>He left them and hastened up to his wife's +room, but Willie ran after him to beg that +the plan might be kept a secret from her. +Dr. Campbell readily promised secrecy, but +the boys were disappointed that he had not +seemed more delighted with their scheme.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>'If papa thinks it's nonsense, there's no use +going on with it,' said Honorius moodily.</p> + +<p>'Yes, there is,' said Willie; 'it'll show him +what we can do. He thinks it nonsense, because +he doesn't know how hard we mean to +work, and how steadily we'll keep on at it. +It'll be such fun when he sees we can do a +great deal more than he thinks!'</p> + +<p>Honorius allowed himself to be convinced +by this reasoning, and went with Willie and +Seymour to the desert to work away till it +got near three o'clock, at which time he had +to return to school. Johnnie worked steadily +at Cæsar till he heard his father go out, and +then went up-stairs softly and tapped at his +mother's door. Her 'come in' was glad and +eager, and a soft pink colour flushed into her +cheeks when she saw it was really Johnnie. +This good mother, so just and tender to all +her sons, kept a special corner of her heart +for the merry scapegrace who excelled the +family cat in a talent for unintentional mischief,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +and almost equalled that luckless animal +in a facility for getting into universal +disgrace. In another minute Johnnie was +squatted on a footstool by the side of her +sofa, holding her thin white hands in his own, +and sometimes kissing them with a pretty +devotion, which, mother-like, she thought very +charming, though she pretended to call it +'silly.'</p> + +<p>'And how is my Johnnie getting on at +school?' she asked presently. 'Whereabouts +in the class are you now? At the top, I +hope!'</p> + +<p>Johnnie screwed his mouth up, shook his +head, groaned, and made all manner of funny +faces. 'I'm at the bottom, mother,' he said +at last, in a voice that might have been intended +to be penitent, but did not sound so.</p> + +<p>'Oh, Johnnie! and I was hoping you would +never do so badly again. What <i>will</i> papa +say if this half-year's report is as bad as the +last?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I don't know,' said Johnnie in a way that +might almost have been taken to mean, 'I +don't care;' then, more softly, 'I am sorry +you are vexed, mother.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, I am indeed, Johnnie. It is not as if +you were really dull and slow: then your low +place in the school would not be your fault, +and we shouldn't mind so much; but you can +learn very well if you like.'</p> + +<p>'But I was born with a disposition <i>not</i> to +like it. I can't help being idle, really, mother; +"it's the natur of the baste!"'</p> + +<p>'Then you must conquer your nature,' she +said in the spirited tone of one who had +never sat down helplessly under her faults +and talked about 'natural infirmity.' 'What +should any of us be worth, Johnnie, if we +yielded to all our foolish inclinations?'</p> + +<p>He had not an answer ready, so played +with her rings, and glanced at her deprecatingly +and coaxingly from under his long, +dark eyelashes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I didn't mean to scold,' she said relentingly, +'especially this day of all days, when +I may have you for one of the little talks we +haven't had for so long. But, Johnnie, you +don't know how hard it makes it for me to +submit to be ill and helpless, when I think +that because I am not able to watch over you, +you are running wild, neglecting your lessons, +and vexing poor papa, who has so much to +trouble him.'</p> + +<p>Jean-sans-terre's brown eyes looked odd in +their expression of mingled fun and sadness; +he was trying to feel sorry and ashamed, as +he knew he ought, but penitence was so very +difficult to him. 'Dear little mother, don't +fret; I'll do better for the future,' he said +caressingly.</p> + +<p>No experience of the fragile nature of his +promises had availed to make his mother distrust +him. 'My darling, I'm sure you will,' +she answered with ready confidence.</p> + +<p>He was so anxious to assure her of his good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +intentions, that he had nearly revealed the +secret of his intended labour at Cæsar, and his +desire to obtain the half-crown to aid his plans +for the desert, but he remembered in time that +it was his brothers' secret as well as his own; +and Lackland, if he lacked wisdom and steadiness +and industry, was at least not deficient +in a sense of honour, so he was silent. But he +could almost have thought that she guessed +at his scheme when she went on, 'If you +would only pursue one thing steadily, and +<i>make</i> yourself do it in spite of disinclination, +you don't know what good it would do you, +and how it would help you in everything else. +Be a hero, Johnnie, and conquer your idleness!'</p> + +<p>'I mean to be a real hero some day, +mamma,' he answered, smiling. 'You know +Uncle Gustavus has promised to use his interest +to get me a commission, and then you +shall see how well I'll serve the Queen. Don't +you remember telling me how Bertrand du<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +Guesclin was a great bother to everybody +when he was a boy, but yet he grew up so +jolly brave that people were glad to run to +him for help when he was a man?'</p> + +<p>'And his mother hadn't patience with him, +and yet afterwards lived to be proud of him: +is that the inference you mean me to draw, +Johnnie?'</p> + +<p>'No, no, no! she was a cross old thing. +Don't you remember how she was going to +have Bertrand beaten, when that kind old +nun stopped her? You're not a bit like her, +dear little mamma,—not a scrap, not an atom! +But oh, mamma, when will you be able to +read us all those famous stories about heroes? +They're the only things I ever remember, +and I'm pining for one of them.'</p> + +<p>'You shall have one as soon as papa +thinks I'm strong enough to read aloud. But, +my hero, I want you to consider that before +you can get a commission you must +pass an examination, and knowing about Du<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +Guesclin won't make up for deficiency in +arithmetic and French grammar.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, I'll see about all that; I'll work night +and day sooner than not pass, for I <i>must</i> be +an officer. You know, mamma, we've settled +it all. Honorius is to be a doctor, like papa, +and I'm to be a soldier, and Willie is to be a +clergyman, and Duncan a sailor, and Seymour +a merchant, and Archie a lawyer, and +Georgie—somehow we never can settle what +Georgie is to be—but something, of course, +you know; and then you will have us all, +mamma, your seven sons, "seven Campbells," +as Willie has taken a fit for saying, and we +shall make you so proud of us!'</p> + +<p>'I hope so; but, my Johnnie, we must not +forget that if my seven are spared to me, +and I to them, it will be by <span class="smcap">God's</span> great +mercy.'</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i139a.png" width="400" height="91" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>JOHNNIE'S PROTEGE.</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/i139j.png" width="75" height="75" alt="J" title="J" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />OHNNIE completed his task in two +or three days, labouring at it at +first very earnestly, then growing +tired, getting careless, and finally finishing it +up in a hurry, with so little effort at accuracy +of rendering or clearness of style, that any +one less sanguine than he would have considered +the attainment of the half-crown +hopeless. Honorius glanced over the translation, +and shook his head ominously, wishing +that he might be allowed to make some +improvements in it; but his father's injunction +to Johnnie to accept no help put this +out of the question, so it was delivered into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +Dr. Campbell's hands just as it was. The +first part was very satisfactory. 'Very good, +very good indeed, Johnnie!' he exclaimed +as his eye ran rapidly down the neatly +written lines; but his face lengthened as he +went on. 'Why, how you have begun to +scribble here, Johnnie!' he said as he reached +the middle. 'And what <i>do</i> you mean by this? +You have not even given the sense of this +passage correctly. Here, take the book and +translate it to me word by word.'</div> + +<p>Johnnie stumbled wofully in his rendering, +not from confusion, but from sheer ignorance; +and both the written and verbal translation +went on getting worse and worse, till at last +the Doctor, who was rather a hasty man, lost +all patience, and tossed the whole production +into the fire, exclaiming, 'Pshaw! far +from deserving any reward, that translation +is the most wretched exhibition of carelessness +and idleness that I ever saw. I don't +know what's to become of you, Johnnie, if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +you can't, or rather <i>won't</i>, do better than +that!'</p> + +<p>The little boys glanced at poor Lackland +in terror and dismay, and Willie's eyes filled +with tears; but Johnnie only coloured, and, +shutting up the volume of Cæsar, put it in +its place again, and resumed the occupation +of making a willow-wand into a bow, on +which he had been engaged when his father +summoned him. If Honorius had met with +such a rebuff, he would have <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'emained'">remained</ins> bitterly +hurt and ashamed for the rest of the +day, and Willie in the same case would have +been utterly humbled and discouraged. Not +so 'Jean-sans-terre.' What his cogitations +were, his brothers could not decide; but the +result was, that when he had bidden his +father good-night, he paused a minute, and +then added, 'May I have another try at +Cæsar, papa?' The tone was bright and +cheery, and Dr. Campbell looked up in +pleased surprise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>'Do you really mean it, Johnnie?' he said +hopefully.</p> + +<p>'Yes, I do indeed, papa; but perhaps you +wouldn't like the trouble of looking over +another translation. I know that one was +awful.'</p> + +<p>'If you can take the trouble of writing it, +I shall not begrudge the trouble of looking +over it; but mind, it must be well done. I'd +rather you took a month about it than brought +me such a one as that of to-night.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, thank you, papa, but that wouldn't +suit me at all; I want the half-crown as quick +as I can get it. I'll work night and day +rather than not have the translation done +soon.'</p> + +<p>'Then I am to understand it is merely for +the sake of the half-crown you are willing +to do this bit of Cæsar over again?' said Dr. +Campbell disappointedly: 'I had hoped that +it was from a better motive—a real desire +to improve and conquer your carelessness, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +a wish to please and satisfy your mother +and me.' He looked full at his son as he +spoke, and seemed to expect an answer. It +came, bold and true: 'I was only thinking +of the half-crown, papa.' Yet if Dr. Campbell +could have known to what purpose the +half-crown was to be devoted, he would have +seen that love to the mother was the primary +motive, after all, and would not have turned +away so coldly as he did from this apparently +mercenary speech. Honorius thought so, and +would have explained; but Johnnie pulled his +sleeve and whispered something, and meanwhile +the Doctor left the room.</p> + +<p>'Oh, how could you answer like that, +Johnnie?' remonstrated Willie when the two +boys were alone in the attic which they +shared together. 'If you had told papa +what you wanted the half-crown for, he +would have been pleased, whereas now I +don't know what he thinks of you.'</p> + +<p>'I only gave a plain answer to a plain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +question,' said Johnnie. 'If he had asked +me what I wanted the money for, I might +have told him.'</p> + +<p>'But it appeared——'</p> + +<p>'I don't care what it appeared,' interrupted +Lackland, laughing; 'I only wish papa hadn't +burnt the whole of my translation: the beginning +of it was all right, and I might have +copied it straight off, instead of having to +make it all out again.'</p> + +<p>'Oh yes! that was dreadful,' replied +Willie. 'And then what he said too! I was +so sorry, Johnnie; I knew you must be so +ashamed.'</p> + +<p>Jean-sans-terre's eyes seemed to be searching +after penitence again, as they had when +his mother spoke to him.</p> + +<p>'<i>Ought</i> I to have been ashamed?' he asked +with simplicity.</p> + +<p>The question appeared to Willie so extraordinary, +that he really didn't know what to +say in answer. He pondered over it seriously<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +while he was undressing, and added to his +evening prayers this clause: 'Make Johnnie +more sorry when he has vexed papa.'</p> + +<p>Dr. Campbell was certainly vexed and disappointed +with his son, and showed it a little +in his manner, which was, however, quite useless +as far as Johnnie was concerned, for he +never even remarked it. There are children +so sensitive, that the faintest shade of sadness +or disapproval in the manner of their elders +towards them will suffice to make them unhappy +for days; there are others who, unless +they are actually scolded or punished, never +perceive that anything is amiss: and Johnnie +was one of these last. He was just as pleasant +and affectionate to his father as usual, just as +fearless in his remarks and questions, and +showed up his translation, when he had +finished it, quite as unconcernedly as if no +previous one had ever existed. He got the +half-crown this time, and a fair meed of praise, +which he received with undisguised satisfaction,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +and the mental reflection that 'papa was +very kind.'</p> + +<p>Dr. Campbell did not inquire how he meant +to spend the money, not wishing to show a +want of confidence in his son; and Johnnie +tarried for no explanation, but raced off to +the nurseryman's, only pausing to tell Honorius +that he was no longer 'sans argent,' and +to ask what plants he should buy.</p> + +<p>The boys, by constant labour, had managed +already to dig up the proposed flower-border +and to level the part intended for the paths; +but Honorius was sadly at a loss as to where +they should get gravel for the latter. He +could not help looking rather wistfully at a +great heap of it—beautiful golden gravel +too—which lay in one corner of the garden +of an old lady to whom his father one day +sent him with a message; and Mrs. Western—as +this old lady was called—noticed her +young friend's expression, and asked what he +was thinking of. He told her of his plans for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +the desert, and inquired where such gravel +was to be bought, and if it were very dear. +She replied that it was rather so, but this had +been given her by her son-in-law, who had a +gravel-pit on his estate, and added very kindly, +'You are quite welcome to have what you see +there, for I have used as much as I shall +want for the present; only you must send +some one for it, for I can't ask my maid to +carry gravel.' Honorius thanked her warmly, +and joyfully accepted her offer, promising to +send some one for the gravel as soon as he +possibly could.</p> + +<p>The difficulty was to know whom to send, +for the Campbells' in-door servants were all +maids; and when the boys begged the old +man who took care of their father's horse and +drove his gig to go to Mrs. Western's for +them, he replied surlily that he had hard +work enough as it was ('night and day both, +sometimes, when master is sent for from a +distance'), and declined to assist them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I know,' said Johnnie. 'The next half-holiday +Bob Middleton would do it for sixpence +or a shilling; he could take the wheelbarrow +and get a load at a time. I declare I +wouldn't mind fetching it myself, if I thought +papa wouldn't object.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, nonsense,' said Honorius. 'Work as +hard as you like here, but don't take to wheeling +gravel through the village, pray. Bob +Middleton might do, only he's such an impudent +fellow. I hate having anything to +say to him.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, I'll transmit your royal commands to +him, if that's all,' said Johnnie; 'only say yes, +and I'll look him up this afternoon: perhaps +he might go to Mrs. Western's for us at +once.'</p> + +<p>Honorius gave a reluctant consent, and accordingly +Johnnie appeared in the desert soon +after three o'clock, accompanied by a youth +of fifteen, very raggedly attired, and with a +face which was an extraordinary compound<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +of ugliness and roguery. Bob undertook for +a shilling to fetch all the gravel from Mrs. +Western's, and set off at once for the first +load, with which he returned ere long. He +came and went several times; but at last such +a long interval elapsed between his going +and returning, that the boys began to be +alarmed.</p> + +<p>'He's gone off with the wheelbarrow, I do +believe,' said Honorius.</p> + +<p>'"Body o' me!" as old King Jamie used to +say, you don't suppose such a thing,' cried +Johnnie. 'Spite of his objections to soap +and water and the English grammar, I have +a higher opinion of Bob than that.'</p> + +<p>But as still time passed on and Bob did +not return, Duncan and Seymour were sent +in search of him. They looked for him by +the way, but saw nothing of him, and at +length arrived at Mrs. Western's house and +rang the bell.</p> + +<p>'Has a boy been here for some gravel Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +Western promised us, or is he here now?' inquired +Duncan of the maid who came to the +gate.</p> + +<p>'He has been here, Master Campbell,' she +replied, 'but he's gone off as fast as his legs +can carry him, and he's taken mistress's new +thermometer with him that hung on the south +wall, and he's trampled over all the beds, and +Mrs. Western she saw him from the window; +and your pa' was passing, so she called him +in; but the boy made off, and it'll be a wonder +if the police are not sent for. They're a bad +set, those Middletons.'</p> + +<p>Duncan's eyes grew round with excitement, +and Seymour, who was rather timid, began +to cry. He wanted to run home again, but +Duncan considered such a proceeding cowardly; +and while they were debating the +point, Dr. Campbell saw them, and called to +them to come in.</p> + +<p>'Who sent Bob here for the gravel?' he +inquired.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Johnnie sent him; Honorius said he +might,' replied Duncan.</p> + +<p>'Of course they never thought how the boy +would behave,' said kind old Mrs. Western. +'I daresay they didn't know he wasn't a fit +person to be trusted.'</p> + +<p>'They might have known,' said Dr. Campbell; +'Johnnie at least has heard me say that +Bob was ripe for any mischief, and he knows +I refused to let him take him out fishing with +him. If Honorius had told me of your kind +present, I would have sent some proper person +for the gravel.'</p> + +<p>'Honorius did say Mrs. Western had promised +us some gravel after dinner, papa, but +you were just going out, and I suppose you +didn't hear him,' said Duncan. 'He didn't +like sending Bob much, but we didn't know +who else to get.'</p> + +<p>'You should have asked,' began his father; +but seeing that Seymour was frightened, he +checked himself, saying, 'It's no blame to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +you little ones; I don't suppose you had +anything to do with it. Run away home +if you like.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, but let Sarah cut you a piece of cake +first,' said Mrs. Western. 'My dear (to Seymour), +don't fret; you shall have the gravel all +the same.'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Western's maid brought them out two +large slices of pound-cake, which, after they +had thanked their kind old friend, they took +away with them, Seymour beginning directly +to munch at his slice, while Duncan put his +into his pocket.</p> + +<p>'Papa didn't say we <i>must</i> go home,' he observed,—'he +only said we <i>might</i> if we liked; so +you can go, and I'll try and find Bob, and tell +him I'll give him this piece of cake if he'll +give back the thermometer. I'm so afraid, if +he doesn't, Johnnie'll get into trouble; and +besides, it's so wicked to steal.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' said Seymour with his mouth full of +cake; 'and I'll tell you what, Duncan,' reluctantly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +but firmly, 'you may take the rest of +my piece too.'</p> + +<p>Duncan, however, declined this, and trudged +away, resolutely resisting, as he went along, +the temptation to eat even a <i>crumb</i> of his own +delicious-looking slice. He soon arrived at +Mrs. Middleton's cottage, but of course Bob +was not there; and his mother, who was a +widow, and supported herself by washing, +came to the door with her arms covered with +soap-suds, and after hastily answering that +'Bob was nowhere's about, plunged them in +the wash-tub again, and took no more heed of +Duncan. He hesitated whether to tell her +about the thermometer or not, but had been +so impressed with the naughtiness of 'telling +tales,' that he could not make up his mind it +could be right, even in this case, and so turned +away and ran back to the desert, where he +found his father speaking to Honorius and +Johnnie.</p> + +<p>'Didn't you remember, boys, what I said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +about Bob when you wanted to take him out +fishing with you?' he was asking.</p> + +<p>'It was to me you said it; Honorius was +not in the room,' Johnnie said quickly.</p> + +<p>'Very well, then, you at any rate knew my +opinion of Bob Middleton, and must have +known that you were doing wrong in employing +him without my leave.'</p> + +<p>'I didn't think,' said Lackland carelessly.</p> + +<p>'Then I must teach you to think. Put +down your spade and go into the house, and +up to your room.'</p> + +<p>There was no mistaking Dr. Campbell's +manner now; even Johnnie was obliged to +perceive the displeasure he had provoked: he +stuck his spade into the ground, and turned +towards the house.</p> + +<p>Duncan dashed after him. 'Here, Johnnie, +take this piece of cake. Mrs. Western gave +it to me; it's so good—do have it, see!'</p> + +<p>Lackland was by no means too miserable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +to appreciate this attempt at consolation. 'It +looks jolly,' he said, 'but I won't take it all; +you must have half yourself, Duncan,' and he +broke it in two.</p> + +<p>Duncan would rather his brother should +have had the whole, but he was glad to see +him munching the half even so contentedly. +'Do you think I may go up into your room +with you?' he inquired.</p> + +<p>'No, no; papa didn't mean that, I'm sure. +Don't stop me, old fellow; good-bye,' and +Johnnie ran off and up to his room as fast +as he could go. He had not been there more +than five minutes, when there was a sound +of little toddling steps along the passage, and +two fat hands came drumming on the door. +'What do you want, baby?' said Johnnie, +rising and opening it.</p> + +<p>'I want to tiss 'oo,' answered the child, lifting +up his chubby face.</p> + +<p>Johnnie bent down and kissed him, asking, +'How did you know I was here, Georgie?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Ma heard 'oo tome up 'tairs; ma say +what matter wis 'oo?'</p> + +<p>'Tell her papa sent me up,' faltered Johnnie; +'or stay, say——'</p> + +<p>'I say 'oo naughty,' said Georgie, whose +infantine mind had already jumped to the +right conclusion. He scampered off with +this message, but speedily returned: 'Ma +say she vezy sorry; ma say I may tiss 'oo +again.'</p> + +<p>'I wish I might go to her,' thought Johnnie, +and in his softened mood the little brother's +kisses were so sweet to him, that he could +scarcely make up his mind to let Georgie go. +But he did, and stepped back resolutely into +his room, while the little one, announcing, 'I +going to tea now,' trotted off again down the +passage. Meantime Honorius was showing +his father the scarlet geraniums that Johnnie +had bought with his half-crown, and expatiating +on the quantity of digging he had got +through, although, being occupied with Cæsar,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +he had not had so much time to spend in the +desert as the others.</p> + +<p>'Poor fellow! Well, he has behaved much +better than I thought,' said Dr. Campbell +relentingly. 'I'm afraid I was rather hard on +him just now; that's the worst of being too +hasty.'</p> + +<p>Of all things, Honorius could not bear that +his father should reproach himself. 'I'm sure +Johnnie admits that he was in fault about +Bob, papa,' he said.</p> + +<p>'And do you know I've got a bright idea +about Bob and the thermometer, papa,' said +Willie. 'May I go as far as Farmer Merryman's +field and back? I won't be long.'</p> + +<p>'Certainly you may, if it's necessary for the +development of your bright idea, Willie; but +make haste home to tea. And you, boys, +come in with me; if you're not hungry, I am.'</p> + +<p>In the strength of his bright idea Willie +ran along like a greyhound; moreover, it was +pleasant to feel how completely his father<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +trusted him. He went across the fields till he +came to Farmer Merryman's pond, which was +overhung by a willow-tree, whose branches +were thick enough to afford a tempting seat: +it was a lonely place, and a favourite resort of +Bob's, as Willie well knew; and here he hoped +to find him. Was he there? Yes—no—yes! +and Willie almost shouted with delight, but +restrained himself, and advanced cautiously +to the foot of the tree. 'Bob,' he said softly, +'Bob, I want to speak to you, please.'</p> + +<p>Bob gave a violent start, and looked down +rather savagely at the adventurous child who +had discovered his hiding-place. 'What d'ye +come prying here for?' he asked rudely.</p> + +<p>'I came to ask you to give back Mrs. +Western's thermometer,' said Willie; 'and +my brother Johnnie says he's <i>quite</i> sure you +didn't mean to steal it.'</p> + +<p>'No more I did; what's the worth of it to +me? I'd only taken it down just to look at +it, like, when out came those maids a-storming<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +and a-scolding, and vowed they'd fetch the +justice; so I made off, and took the 'mometer +with me, for I hadn't had half a look +at it.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, but you've done with it now, so do +take it back,' pleaded Willie urgently.</p> + +<p>'Don't you wish you may get it? You'd +like to see me make such a fool of myself, +wouldn't you?'</p> + +<p>'Well, then, let me take it, and I'll tell +Mrs. Western how it was, and ask her not to +be angry with you. If you give it me, I'll +give you the shilling that you were to have +had when you fetched all the gravel: of course +you can't fetch any more of it for us now, but +we would rather you had the shilling. I'm +so glad you didn't mean to steal.'</p> + +<p>Bob calmly surveyed the flushed, eager +face that was turned up to his. 'It's you +that's to be the parson, ain't it?' he said +mockingly.</p> + +<p>Willie made no reply, but folded his arms<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +and leant back against the tree, looking such +a perfect little gentleman, that some dim perception +of his own impertinence flashed upon +Bob's eccentric mind.</p> + +<p>'It worn't all on my account you comed +along here, was it?' he inquired.</p> + +<p>'No; partly on Mrs. Western's, and partly +on my brother Johnnie's. Papa is displeased +with him for having sent you for the gravel; +and, Bob, you know Johnnie <i>trusted</i> you.'</p> + +<p>Bob grinned, and Willie felt that the appeal +to his sense of honour had failed; but, though +very impertinent and mischievous, he was not +a thoroughly bad boy, and now swung himself +down from the tree, bringing the thermometer +with him.</p> + +<p>'If I give it to you, you must promise not +to tell where you found me,' he said; 'I won't +have other folks prying after me here.'</p> + +<p>'I won't tell Mrs. Western, if that's what +you mean,' said Willie; 'and I'll ask her to +forgive you.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i051.png" width="400" height="561" alt="'CAN'T HELP THAT,—HERE GOES.'" title="'CAN'T HELP THAT,—HERE GOES.'" /> +<span class="caption">'CAN'T HELP THAT,—HERE GOES.' <br /><span style="margin-left: 6em;"><i><ins title="Transcriber's Note: This line omitted in original">See page 52.</ins></i></span></span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>'My! you may do as you like about that. +I ain't in such a hurry to be forgiven. But +what I mean is, you ain't to tell your father +nor nobody where you found me.'</p> + +<p>'I must tell papa if he <i>asks</i> me,' said Willie.</p> + +<p>'Then you shan't have the 'mometer; I'll +pitch it into the pond.'</p> + +<p>'That would be wicked,' said undaunted +Willie, 'for it does not belong to you.'</p> + +<p>'Can't help that; here goes,' and he held it +over the edge of the pond. 'It'll be in in another +minute if you don't say you'll not <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'tel'">tell</ins> +your father.'</p> + +<p>'I shan't tell him if he doesn't say I am to; +but if he does, I must.'</p> + +<p>'Why must you?'</p> + +<p>'Because I must obey him, even when I'd +rather not; it's right.'</p> + +<p>'That beats all,' said Bob in unbounded +surprise; but he didn't throw the thermometer +into the pond. It was some time, however, +before Willie could persuade him to give it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +up, though at length he did, and received the +shilling, observing,</p> + +<p>'I could ha' took this from you if I'd liked, +and kep' the 'mometer too; but I ain't a +thief, let folks say what they please.'</p> + +<p>'No, I know you're not,' said Willie. 'Oh, +Bob, if you would only——'</p> + +<p>'What?' said Bob; 'you hadn't no call to +stop just then. I thought you was a-going to +make a fine speech.'</p> + +<p>'No, I mustn't.'</p> + +<p>'Mustn't what?'</p> + +<p>'Mustn't lecture; mamma won't ever let +me. There are other people to teach you.'</p> + +<p>'They did teach me a lot,—parson did, and +schoolmaster did; but I got tired of it, and +now I'm too big to go to school. But I'm +thinking of looking out for a bit of work.'</p> + +<p>'Oh do, do, <i>please;</i> we should be so glad.'</p> + +<p>'If you ain't the funniest little gentleman!' +said Bob with increasing astonishment. 'But +I kind o' like you too, I ha' been thinkin'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +o' taking a turn for the better, as they say, +lately; but bless you, not even my mother +would believe I was in earnest, so who is +there to care if I do?'</p> + +<p>'Seven Campbells,' said Willie; and then, +fearing this was not quite the truth, he added, +'No, Georgie is too young to care, but all the +rest of us would be glad, Bob;' and when he +had said this he ran home. His arrival with +the thermometer caused great delight to all +his brothers, and Dr. Campbell called Lackland +down to hear the good news, saying +kindly, 'You have had opportunity for a little +thought, Johnnie, my man, and I hope will +be more careful not to act contrary to my +known wishes another time; so now come and +help us to rejoice over the recovery of poor +Mrs. Western's thermometer.' Johnnie came, +nothing loth, pausing, however, to ask, 'May +I speak to mamma first? She heard me +come up-stairs.'</p> + +<p>Permission was given, and after a preliminary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +tap the bonnie face peeped into the sickroom. +'All right, dear little mother: I <i>was</i> +rather in a scrape just now, but papa has forgiven +me, and I'm going down-stairs again. +Good-night, dear mamma.' The white curtains +of the bed were drawn aside for one +minute, and the sweet motherly eyes looked +out at him.</p> + +<p>'Good-night, and thank you for coming to +me, my darling boy; only remember'—very +gently—'a <i>pardoned</i> fault needn't be a +<i>forgotten</i> one, Johnnie.'</p> + +<p>'No, mamma.' There was a momentary +quiver in the gay, ringing voice, and it was +quite enough for the mother. 'That will do; +I can trust you not to forget <i>this</i> time, +Johnnie,' she said, and with a happy smile +she lay down to sleep.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i056a.png" width="400" height="91" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>WHAT SEVEN CAMPBELLS CAN DO.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/i056s.png" width="75" height="73" alt="S" title="S" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />PITE of obstacles, the labours of the +'Seven Campbells,' as Willie grandly +called them, did effect a great improvement +in the desert, and the seventh +certainly took his share, so far as such a very +small man could; for he pulled up a great +many weeds with his little fat hands, and +brushed down the gravel on the walks with a +tooth-brush! The Doctor, seeing his boys were +in earnest, lent them his help whenever he +could spare time, sent for the remainder of +the gravel for them, showed them how to lay +it, trimmed the borders, sowed some potatoes, +and presented them with four apple-trees,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +which he planted at four corners of the +ground, and called 'Gozmaringa, Geroldinga, +Crevedella, and Spirauca,' after the names +of some apple-trees that belonged to King +Charlemagne. But, spite of his assistance, +there was a great deal requiring the boys' +exertions; and they worked like Trojans, devoting +nearly all their play-hours and pocket-money +to this object, and finding in it both +interest and amusement. Johnnie had learnt +one or two lessons from this undertaking: +first, that in working for a good object, it is +not only necessary to have a right intention +at starting, but that constant pains and perseverance +are requisite,—as in the matter of +Cæsar; secondly, that a privilege earned is +sweeter than one bestowed as a favour,—as in +the spending of the half-crown, which his own +toil had procured; thirdly, that even for a +good object we must not use bad or doubtful +means,—as in the matter of the gravel; and +fourthly, that hard work—digging, or what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +not—from a right motive, becomes a much +greater pleasure than any that can be procured +by idleness. And he had found true, +too, what his mother had said, that if he +would pursue <i>one</i> thing steadily, and make +himself do it in spite of disinclination, the +determination and energy thus acquired +would help him in everything else.</div> + +<p>Midsummer came, and by that time the +desert was a desert no longer: it was a neat, +trim-looking piece of ground with smooth +walks, some small but promising crops, and +a flower-border gay with geraniums, nasturtiums, +sweet-peas, nemophila, and convolvulus. +The mother was rapidly regaining +strength, and had been down-stairs several +times, but only into the drawing-room, which +did not look towards the desert: from the +school-room and dining-room, which had a +full view of it, she had been jealously excluded. +It is to be feared that this precaution +had caused her a little anxiety, and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +she had a secret vision of broken slates, torn +pinafores, and blotted lesson-books, which +she imagined were being concealed from her +in these forbidden chambers till she was supposed +to be strong enough to bear the sight +of such calamities. But the day was now +come when her fears were to be dispersed, +and a far different and much pleasanter surprise +was to dawn upon her.</p> + +<p>She was to take her first walk, leaning on +her husband's arm; and he had been privately +instructed by his sons to bring her in the +direction of the quondam desert. They had +erected a triumphal arch over the little entrance-gate, +formed of bent osiers twined with +flowers, and surmounted with paper flags, on +which were inscribed, in large coloured letters, +such mottoes as the Scotch 'Ye're gey +welcome,' and the Irish 'Cead mile failte.' +Archie and Georgie, gaily bedizened, and with +wands in their hands, were stationed at each +side of the gate to welcome her, and were to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +marshal her up the centre walk, at the top of +which her other sons were to receive her, and +conduct her to a seat which had been prepared +for her to rest upon. Such was the +programme; but how could English boys +adhere to anything so formal? Directly +Archie announced that 'mamma was coming' +Georgie pushed the gate open, and toddled +to meet her, followed by all the rest of the +boys, leaping, shouting, and laughing, forgetting +all preconcerted speeches, and much too +happy to be even coherent.</p> + +<p>'Papa' was afraid such noisy glee would be +too much for the invalid, but 'mamma' would +have her way for once, and indulge the boys +to the top of their bent; so they led the way +into the desert, all laughing and talking at +the same time, till Willie bethought himself +that the noise and excitement would really +be too much for his mother, and first loudly +exhorted his brothers to be quiet, and then—which +was much better—became quiet himself,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +and thus set an example of considerateness.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Campbell's surprise and delight were +great enough to satisfy her sons, which is +saying a good deal. She would not sit down +till she had made the tour of the garden (it +would be an insult to say 'desert' any longer); +and she accepted a sprig of Johnnie's geranium, +and a handful of Duncan's sweet-peas; +<i>tasted</i> one of Archie's nasturtium flowers when +assured by him that it was 'so nice;' was duly +edified by the sight of the remains of the +tooth-brush, worn to a stump by Georgie's +sedulous and novel use of it; allowed Honorius +to pull up a potato root, that she might see +how healthy and free from disease it was; submitted +patiently to have her hair ornamented +with some of Seymour's convolvuluses; and +only declined to taste the one hard green +apple born by Geroldinga (Gozmaringa, Crevedella, +and Spirauca were as yet fruitless), +from a fear that the tender, careful guardian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +at her side would be irrecoverably shocked +at such imprudence. She sat down at last on +the chair of state that had been prepared for +her, and owned herself a little tired; but her +interest and amusement never flagged, and +she listened with eager pleasure to the history +of her sons' exertions.</p> + +<p>'They've all worked like horses,—even +Georgie, I do believe,' said Dr. Campbell, +smiling.</p> + +<p>'And Johnnie too!' said the mother delightedly.</p> + +<p>'Yes, Johnnie has done his work manfully, +and has found out that industry is pleasure, +after all. Haven't you, my boy?' and the +father laid his hand on his son's shoulder with +a proud, pleased look, such as Lackland had +but seldom called up before.</p> + +<p>The bright eyes, which never looked down +in fear, looked down now. Jean-sans-terre +was not so unsensitive to <i>praise</i> as he was to +<i>blame</i>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Ah, papa,' said Willie, 'you laughed at us +when we began to dig up the desert, but now +you see seven Campbells can do more than +you thought they could.'</p> + +<p>'And now, when we want anything done, +we may look to our seven Campbells for it, +said Mrs. Campbell gaily. 'Honorius, you +were the directing genius, were you not?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, I believe I planned how it was to be, +but it was Willie who first thought of it, and +proposed that we should do it to please you. +I am so glad you are satisfied with our work, +mother.'</p> + +<p>'Satisfied! I am delighted, my Emperor. +But now that the desert is <i>put</i> in order, who is +going to <i>keep</i> it so? Are we to look to our +seven sons for that?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, oh yes!' was chorused by six of the +seven voices. Johnnie alone was silent; but +his dimples were all in play, and he had +never looked more roguish.</p> + +<p>'Sans-terre means to steal a march on us,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +and do more than any of us, I do believe, +though he won't make promises,' said Honorius.</p> + +<p>'Sans-terre shall be sans-terre no longer,' +said Dr. Campbell; 'he has earned back a +right to his own plot of flower-garden, and +may enter into possession again to-night, if he +pleases.'</p> + +<p>But Lackland shrugged his shoulders, and +declined the burden of proprietorship.</p> + +<p>'I don't care to have any garden of my own, +thank you, papa,' he answered; 'I'm happier +without it than with it, and there's plenty of +work for me here. I never want to have anything +belonging to me except a sword.'</p> + +<p>'And some clothes, Johnnie,' said Seymour, +who was very matter-of-fact.</p> + +<p>The boys laughed, and Johnnie replied, +'Oh, certainly, Seymour. I'm not prepared +to adopt the full dress of a Mexican general +even—a cocked hat and a pair of spurs; I +must have a full suit of uniform, at any rate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +But I mean to say I'll never be bothered with +a house or a wife, or anything like that.'</p> + +<p>'Ah, Johnnie,' said his father, 'I may say +to you in the words of the old song,</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Bide ye yet, and bide ye yet,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Ye dinna ken what'll betide ye yet."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'>For aught you know,</div> + +<div class='poem'> +"A canty wee house and a cosie wee fire,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And a bonnie wee bodie to praise and admire,"</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'>may be your destiny; and perhaps some day +you will appreciate those treasures as much +as I do now.'</div> + +<p>Johnnie looked incredulous. But the attention +of all was diverted by the sudden +appearance of a sun-burnt, grinning face over +the paling which separated the kitchen garden +(no longer desert) from the road.</p> + +<p>'That's Bob Middleton, I declare!' said +Honorius. 'Do you know, papa, Farmer +Jennings has taken him to work in his hay-field,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +and says if he does well he may perhaps +keep him as a farm-labourer?'</p> + +<p>'And Mrs. Middleton told Mrs. Western +that Bob was beginning to hold up his head +a bit, and that if he had only a decent jacket +she really thought he would go to church with +her on Sundays,' said Willie.</p> + +<p>'Honorius has an old jacket that is only fit +for giving away,' said Mrs. Campbell; 'don't +you think we might make poor Bob a present +of it, dear Archibald?'</p> + +<p>'Oh do, papa,' cried the boys unanimously.</p> + +<p>Dr. Campbell had no objection; so Honorius +ran into the house to fetch the jacket, +observing, 'I shall tell him to take himself off +when I've given it him; it's not manners to +stare over at us in this way.' When he returned, +however, from his colloquy with the +grinning Bob, he explained, 'He doesn't mean +to be rude, he says, but he's so pleased that +we've made the desert so trim, and that +"madam," as he calls mamma, is able to come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +out and see it. He's immensely pleased with +the jacket, but he doesn't want to go away till +he's spoken to Johnnie and Willie.'</p> + +<p>Willie ran off at once. Johnnie turned to +go with equal haste, then paused and glanced +at his father: the forgiven fault had <i>not</i> been +forgotten.</p> + +<p>'Yes, go, my man,' said Dr. Campbell; 'and +you may bring Bob in if you like, just to take +a turn round the garden; but don't encourage +him to stay.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, and mayn't we give him Geroldinga's +apple?' said Duncan; but the Doctor answered, +laughing, 'that that would be anything but +a benevolent present, and that Geroldinga's +solitary fruit had better be allowed to ripen.'</p> + +<p>'I shan't take it,' said Archie, thus innocently +revealing, what was indeed the case, +that he felt some temptation to do so.</p> + +<p>'Nor baby won't,' said Georgie manfully.</p> + +<p>'No, my little boys will not touch what is +not their own,' said the mother, glancing down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +tenderly at the two small faces; 'and some +summer, perhaps, we may find Gozmaringa +and the rest covered with apples, and then +what apple dumplings we shall have!'</p> + +<p>Archie's broad smile told that he relished +the idea. Georgie, to whom apple dumplings +were as yet an unknown delicacy, looked +grave and asked, 'Is appy dumpions nice?'</p> + +<p>'Very,' said the laughing mamma. 'But +see, here is Bob coming this way. Well, Bob, +what do you think of my sons' work?'</p> + +<p>'It's fust-rate,' said Bob, pulling his rough +forelock. 'I hopes you finds yourself better, +mum.'</p> + +<p>'Much better, thank you, and very glad to +be out again. I have been watching the hay-making +in Farmer Jennings' field from my +window; I was very glad to see <i>you</i> at work +there, Bob.'</p> + +<p>Bob made an indescribable contortion of +his figure, charitably supposed to be intended +for a bow, and passed on.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Madam looks palish,' he observed to Johnnie, +who was escorting him about; 'I doubt +she's not very hearty yet.'</p> + +<p>'No, it'll be some time before she's quite +strong. Has she ever spoken to you before, +Bob?'</p> + +<p>'Oh my! yes. Why, she brought me some +doctor's stuff and some sweet cold drink +when I was so bad with fever two winters +ago, and she took and spoke up to me last +autumn when I was throwin' stones at parson's +chickens. Besides, I've seen her in the +school when I was a little chap.' He was +evidently proud of his acquaintance with so +sweet-spoken and kind a lady, and when he +left the garden with the jacket under his +arm, remarked, 'I'll make a bigger haycock +than e'er a one else in the field right under +madam's window, that'll pleasure her, maybe, +for it smells fust-rate, it does.'</p> + +<p>He fulfilled his intention, and pleased Farmer +Jennings so much by his cheerful industry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +in the hay-field, that he took him on trial for +a month as farm-lad, and finding him tolerably +satisfactory in that capacity, gave him +permanent employment. His impudence was +not at once conquered, and brought him into +some trouble; but when he found that the +farmer and his men would not put up with it +as his mother had, he learned to put a check +on it, and others besides the seven Campbells +encouraged him in taking a turn for +the better.</p> + +<p>Johnnie still remained 'sans terre,' by his +own desire, but worked away in his father's +garden as he never had done in the part that +was called his own. He began to get on +better at school too; and Willie joined him +there after the summer vacation, and helped +to keep him steady by his example and +admonitions. For Willie had certainly a little +taste for lecturing; and Lackland, the harum-scarum +and good-humoured, was just the boy +both to provoke it and to bear it: if he was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +Du Guesclin in bravery, he was not in quarrelsomeness, +and nothing that Willie could say +ever made him angry. The mother, too, became +well and strong again, able once more +to exercise her sweet influence through all +the household; and between the father's firmness +and the mother's gentleness, those seven +boys were well and wisely trained.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Many years have passed since then, and +the seven Campbells are no longer boys +Honorius has been taken into partnership +with his father, and is known by the whole +country-side as 'the young doctor;' Johnnie +is serving the Queen in a line regiment in +India; and Willie has lately been ordained, +and is working hard as a curate in a large +manufacturing town. So three of the seven +have had their wish. But Seymour has been +taken by one of his uncles, a rich banker, into +his counting-house; Duncan is not gone to +sea,—he has just passed a competitive examination<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +for the Indian Civil Service; as for +Archie, he is still only a schoolboy, and he +and Honorius live at home, while the others +are scattered far and wide.</p> + +<p>But nowhere on earth could you find all +those seven Campbells now, and there has +never been any need to decide on a profession +for Georgie: the youngest, the darling, the +flower of the flock, has been called to rest the +first. Wide tracts of sea and land lie between +the mother and her darling Johnnie, and a +wider distance still severs her from her little +George, yet to her the seven are but as one +band, united for ever by a common faith and +mutual love. And so much is this the feeling +of them all, that if you should chance to meet +one of those Campbells, and to ask of their +number, I think, like the child in the ballad, +he would answer, 'We are Seven.'</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i073a.png" width="400" height="89" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>CECIL'S MEMORABLE WEEK.</h2> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>THE SENTENCE.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/i073i.png" width="75" height="76" alt="I" title="I" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />T would be hard to find a pleasanter +family group than that which had +gathered round the tea-table at Wilbourne +Rectory one hot bright evening in the +end of July: a kindly-looking mother, with a +dark, sweet, brunette face, that <i>would</i> not be +careworn spite of forty years of life, seven +children, and a slender purse; a tall, slight, +brown-bearded father, a little bald, and with +deep lines of thought on the broad forehead +and around the rather sunken blue eyes; a +fair, round-faced girl of fifteen, sitting next<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +him; two smaller lasses, with long black hair +almost straight, clear brown complexions, and +a bit of bright scarlet bloom on each cheek, +that was just like the mother's, only fresher +and less fixed; a little curly-haired lad of +eight, that was like nobody in particular; and +last, but not least, a Sandhurst cadet, a well-grown +youth of seventeen, with dark hair, +cut very short in military style, and a little +dark down on cheek and lip, which <i>he</i> called +whiskers and moustaches. He sat on one +side of his mother, and on the other sat a +person who was <i>not</i> a member of the family—Mr. +Cunningham's curate, a great big +broad-shouldered young man, six feet three +at least in height, with a pleasant, open +face, rather sun-burnt, and the most good-tempered +smile that you can possibly conceive.</div> + +<p>Two of the children of the house were +absent—the second son, a midshipman in the +Queen's service, who was now on his way to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +Japan; and the third, who was expected home +this very evening from school.</p> + +<p>A little talk sprang up about him among +his brothers and sisters, begun by a 'wonder' +from one of the little girls as to when he +would arrive; and strange to say, at the +mention of his name, the lines on the father's +brow deepened a little, and Mrs. Cunningham's +face took for a moment quite a sorrowful +expression.</p> + +<p>'I almost hope he will not come till tea is +over,' she said.</p> + +<p>It did not sound like a motherly sentiment, +but it was spoken out of the depths of a true +motherly feeling.</p> + +<p>Cecil Cunningham was coming home in a +kind of disgrace. He had been placed at a +good grammar school in the county town, +some fourteen miles from Wilbourne, had +won for himself an 'exhibition,' as it was +called, by which the greater part of his school +expenses were defrayed, and would have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +allowed to keep it till he went to college had +his progress during the first year been sufficiently +good. But, alas! it had just been +discovered that the marks he had gained for +his various studies throughout this time did +not, when counted up, amount to the rather +high total which the founder's will required; +and so it had been announced to him and his +parents that he had forfeited the 'exhibition,' +and could not be received at the school again +unless his father were prepared to pay the full +terms, which, though not very high, happened +to be more than Mr. Cunningham could justly +afford. The middy had lately been fitted out +for sea. The son at Sandhurst was a considerable +expense; and though it was hoped that +after another six months he would succeed in +getting a commission without purchase, there +would be his outfit and yearly allowance to +provide; and altogether, Mr. Cunningham did +not see his way to giving Cecil such advantages +as he could wish, without the help of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +that 'exhibition' which the boy had just lost +by his own fault.</p> + +<p>Cecil was very clever, and, though rather +idle by nature, had promised to work hard at +school, and had been supposed to be conscientious +enough to be sure to keep his +word. He greatly wished to be a clergyman; +and this desire of his had been an intense +joy to his father, who, though a good +deal disappointed at his two elder sons choosing +army and navy, had consoled himself +with the thought that <i>one</i> at least of his children +had a real desire for the priesthood, +and this the very one whose talents best +fitted him for a university education. From +school he was to have gone to Oxford; and +his whole prospects had seemed fair enough +till now, so that it was not wonderful that the +unexpected news of his failure had occasioned +great disappointment at the Rectory. +His father was much displeased with him, +and meant that he should feel how great a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +fault his idleness had been; and his mother, +who knew this, and believed that her boy +was <i>already</i> feeling it, was anxious that the +first meeting should be got over without the +presence of spectators.</p> + +<p>But just as she spoke, Cecil, followed by +the gardener wheeling his luggage in a barrow, +was seen coming up the gravel walk +towards the house.</p> + +<p>The little curly-haired boy rushed off at +once to meet him,—not to open the hall door, +for that stood wide open already,—but a restraining +look from the mother stopped the +girls, who were rising also; and when Cecil +came in, the greetings were very quiet, though +not in the least cold, except perhaps on Mr. +Cunningham's part. Cecil had his mother's +face, at once dark and bright, with brown +clear eyes that looked full of intelligence, +and, alas! seemed to say that their owner +might have kept his place in the school with +ease had he but so chosen. He did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +seem very conscious or very miserable: he +had the true boyish instinct of hiding feelings, +and looked much as usual, though there +was nothing like bravado or nonchalance in +his manner. When his father shook hands +with him gravely, and merely said, 'Well, +Cecil,' in a short dry way, a sudden flush +mounted up in his brown cheek; and there +was a little anxiety in his face when he +turned to kiss his mother, as if a sudden fear +had come over him that she might refuse the +caress. But she did not; and he sat down +calmly enough to his bread and butter, showing +a very tolerable schoolboy appetite, and +munching away rather quickly when he found +that the others were near the end of their +meal. His sisters and his little brother volunteered +some information about his rabbits, +and so on; but when they began to ask +questions concerning his schoolfellows, their +father said quietly, 'Let Cecil have his tea,' +and began a conversation about politics with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +the curate, in which none of the juniors ventured +to join except the cadet.</p> + +<p>When they rose from the table, the two +gentlemen went off to the study; and with +a sigh of relief one of the little girls exclaimed, +'Oh, now you <i>can</i> come and see the rabbits, +Cecil; father won't want you!'</p> + +<p>Cecil glanced at his mother; but though she +was longing for a good hug and a little private +talk, she thought it better to refrain just +then, and said gently, 'Yes, you can go with +Jessie, but don't go out of earshot;' after +which she turned away and went up-stairs.</p> + +<p>Jessie, who was just a year younger than +Cecil, was his special friend and ally, and the +other long-haired lassie considerately left +them together, and went off to do some +gardening; while little Lewis followed at a +respectful distance, not able to tear himself +quite away from Cecil, and yet not presuming +to interrupt the confidential talk between +him and his sister.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>The rabbit hutch was in a little yard not +far from the house, and within view, as it happened, +of the study window. Cecil stroked the +soft creatures' ears, and fondled them a little, +and fed them with some cabbage leaves with +which Jessie supplied him; but his manner was +rather absent, and presently he said abruptly, +'I say, Jessie, isn't it an awful shame?'</p> + +<p>Jessie was not prepared for this view of the +question.</p> + +<p>'I am so sorry,' she said doubtfully. 'I +never once thought of its happening till Dr. +Lomax's letter came; for you know, Cecil, +you told me you meant to work. Oh! don't +you remember saying it here, in this very +place, when you were making the new bars +to Lop-ear's hutch?'</p> + +<p>'Well, and I did,' said Cecil gruffly.</p> + +<p>'Yes, I know you did; and that made me +think you would do it.'</p> + +<p>'Well, so I did do it—that's what I mean' +said he more gruffly still.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Did work!' exclaimed she gladly, and +quite ready of belief, with the tender trustfulness +of a true sister. 'But oh, then, Cecil +how was it that they didn't give you marks +enough? I thought you would have lots +to spare—I did indeed!'</p> + +<p>'Humbug!' said Cecil, but not gruffly now; +'it's not so easy to get marks as all that. I +was quite sure of having enough, though—so +sure that I hadn't a second thought about it; +and I can't tell to this moment how it was +I didn't, except that Lomax is such a +brute!'</p> + +<p>'The Doctor!'</p> + +<p>'No—his son, the junior master; it was he +who counted up the marks.'</p> + +<p>'Do you mean the marks you got at the +examination?'</p> + +<p>'No, the weekly marks I had got in all my +studies during the half-year; that's the way +they calculate to see whether one may keep +the "exhibition."'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Do you think he can have made any +mistake?'</p> + +<p>'He might, perhaps, to spite me; it's not +likely otherwise, for he's a dab at arithmetic. +I asked the Doctor to let me see the book, +but he wouldn't; and of course I couldn't +tell him what I thought, and it would have +been no use if I had.'</p> + +<p>'And you did really work all the time?' +said Jessie, looking at him tenderly and +seriously out of her big black eyes.</p> + +<p>'Well, almost all—not quite the last week or +two, perhaps: it was awfully hot weather, and +being so sure, I thought I might take it easy; +but that couldn't have made the difference.'</p> + +<p>'I wish you had been able to say you +worked quite all the time,' said Jessie gravely, +with a little sigh, 'for then father couldn't +have been angry.'</p> + +<p>'I'm afraid he's awfully vexed, isn't he?' +said Cecil, with rather an anxious glance towards +the study.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I think so; and Percy says' (Percy was +the cadet) 'that he doesn't know how to +manage about your education. Francie and +I have been so anxious about it: it would +be too dreadful if you were not to be a +clergyman, wouldn't it, Cecil?'</p> + +<p>Cecil said nothing, but absently doled out +the last cabbage leaf to the rabbits in such +small morsels, that they nibbled at his fingers +as if they thought those part of the provender. +Jessie was lost in a calculation of +whether if Frances and she were to have no +new frocks for a twelvemonth, and to save up +all their pocket-money, that would make it +possible for Cecil to go back to the grammar +school, when Mr. Cunningham leaned out of +the study window and called him.</p> + +<p>Though he had been expecting the summons, +he started and coloured violently, but +ran off at once, going in by the back door, +which was the nearest way.</p> + +<p>Jessie went into a little tool-shed, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +was close to the rabbits' dwelling-place. +She did not like to watch the window, but +was too anxious to be able to go and help +Francie with her gardening, or to play with +Lewis, who was wandering aimlessly about. +'Father,' who was so tender to his little girls, +who was the very very best man, as Jessie +believed, in the whole world, could nevertheless +be very severe when he saw occasion—could +reprove in a way which an offender +was not likely to forget. He had wonderful +patience for the blunders of little Lewis, who +was rather dull, and found lessons a daily +difficulty; but he had always expected much +more of Cecil, who was really full of ability, +and had sometimes dealt seriously with his +fits of idleness in the days of his home teaching. +And <i>now</i>—now when the boy had +failed just when every principle of duty +should have made him exert himself to the +utmost—what could be looked for? Oh, +what a bitter half-hour this must be to Cecil!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>Yes, for half an hour passed, and still Cecil +did not come back. Jessie's fright and agitation +were growing very hard to bear. 'Oh +I know it is right!' she said, clasping her +hands together; 'I know we <i>must</i> be scolded +and punished for our faults; only I wish it +was me, and not Cecil. And, after all, I +think there must have been some mistake, +for he says he <i>did</i> work; and if father could +only believe it, I am sure he wouldn't be +angry, even though Cecil <i>has</i> lost his place +in school! Oh, I wish it could be made +clear somehow! I know! I will ask God +to make it clear.' And then the little girl +prayed to the heavenly Father, whom the +earthly father had taught her to seek in +all her troubles.</p> + +<p>Eight o'clock struck, and she started to +her feet.</p> + +<p>'Oh! I must go in and do my work—I +shall only just be able to finish it before +bed-time. Father must have gone to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +choir practice. I wonder if he has taken +Cecil with him, and if <i>that</i> is the reason why +he hasn't come back?'</p> + +<p>With a deep-drawn breath of relief at this +possibility, she ran into the house, and meeting +her eldest brother in the hall, hastily inquired +if he knew what had become of Cecil.</p> + +<p>'He's in his room, I think,' was the answer. +'Poor little beggar! I fancied I heard him +sobbing, and wanted to go in, but he wouldn't +let me. I've just been telling Mary, that if I +don't succeed in getting my commission without +purchase I shall enlist as a private, and +never come home at all. I couldn't stand +seeing you all look as glum about me as +you do about Cecil.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, but, Percy, would that be—' began +little Jessie in consternation; and then he +laughed, and she saw that he was joking.</p> + +<p>'Mother's been looking for you,' he said as +she turned towards the staircase; 'she wants +you to do some work.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Where's father?'</p> + +<p>'Gone to the choir practice a quarter of +an hour ago. Good-bye; I'm going out for +a stroll. Try and cheer up that poor little +chap; perhaps he'll let you in, as you're +his chum.'</p> + +<p>Jessie longed to try that moment, but she +knew she was due at her needle-work, and +very unwillingly went into the drawing-room, +where her mother and sisters were sitting +round a lamp-lit table, stitching away very +busily at a new set of shirts for Percy.</p> + +<p>'I was looking for you, Jessie,' said the +mother in her pleasant voice; 'come and work +at double speed, to make up for lost time.'</p> + +<p>Jessie had never felt less disposed to work; +but when Mrs. Cunningham made room for +her, and gave her the seam she was to do, +with a kindly sympathy in tone and glance +that seemed to say she knew just what the +little girl was feeling, though she wasn't +going to talk about it, all her unwillingness<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +melted away. 'Mother is sad too,' she +thought. 'I won't do anything to vex her;' +and so she worked away as neatly and diligently +as she could till nine o'clock, which +was her bed-time.</p> + +<p>'I may go to Cecil before I go to bed, +mother, mayn't I?' she whispered as she +was bidding good-night.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cunningham gave permission, and +Jessie rushed up-stairs two steps at a time, +but controlled herself to give a very gentle +tap at Cecil's door. It must have been too +gentle, for he took no notice of it; but in +answer to another, rather louder, came the +question, 'Is it you, Jessie?' And when +he found it was, he opened the door, which +was locked, and let her in.</p> + +<p>He seemed to have been unpacking, for +his little portmanteau was open on the floor, +and some of his clothes and other possessions +were strewn upon the bed and the one chair, +which was the only seat that the little attic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +could boast; but he was flushed, and his +eyes were red, as if he had been crying, +and he turned away abruptly from his sister +when he had let her in, and began to dive +into the portmanteau again.</p> + +<p>'Can't I help you?' said she, not knowing +well how to begin her task of comfort. +'I'll fold up the clothes and put them in +the drawers, while you take out the books. +Oh! perhaps you meant to leave them in, +though. You won't want them for the holidays?'</p> + + +<p>'Pretty holidays!' said Cecil passionately, +more to himself than to her. 'A single +week!'</p> + +<p>'I don't understand,' she rejoined in consternation. +'You're not going back to school +in a week, surely?'</p> + +<p>'I'm not going back to Eastwood at all, +but I'm going to a horrid, odious, beastly +little day school in Fairview;' and Cecil +flung out some books upon the floor, in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>a +manner which did not bespeak very exemplary +submission to his father's decrees.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i091.png" width="400" height="559" alt="'JESSIE CAME OVER TO HIM AND HUGGED HIM.'" title="'JESSIE CAME OVER TO HIM AND HUGGED HIM.'" /> +<span class="caption">'JESSIE CAME OVER TO HIM AND HUGGED HIM.'<br /><span style="margin-right: -8em;"><i>See page 92.</i></span></span> +</div> + +<p>The information itself, and Cecil's terrible +adjectives, both dismayed Jessie, and for a +minute or two she did not speak. Then +she said, 'But surely there must be holidays +at the day school too?'</p> + +<p>'They're just over—they began in June. +Of course those sort of places don't break +up at the same time as the public schools, +like <i>we</i> do,' said Cecil with wrathful contempt.</p> + +<p>'And must you begin when the school +does?'</p> + +<p>'I've got to—that's all; it's to be my punishment, +father says,—just as if losing the +exhibition were not punishment enough!' +And he buried his face in the portmanteau +to hide his tears.</p> + +<p>Jessie came over to him and hugged him; +and he didn't seem to mind, though she could +only kiss the side of his cheek and his shirt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +collar, for the greater part of his face was +hidden among the books.</p> + +<p>'Did you tell him you worked nearly all +the time?' she faltered in an unsteady voice.</p> + +<p>'I began to say something, and he asked +me if I could honestly say I had done my +very best, and I couldn't quite say that, you +know, and then he wouldn't hear any more. +And oh, I'm sure he thinks I did nothing +but idle my time away!'</p> + +<p>'Did you tell him you thought there must +be some mistake?'</p> + +<p>'I said something about Lomax spiting +me, but he wouldn't listen to that.'</p> + +<p>'Oh no,' said Jessie, who readily understood +that her father would never admit <i>that</i> explanation +of the affair. 'Oh, Cecil, I am so +sorry, so <i>very</i> sorry!'</p> + +<p>'If I had really been idle,' said Cecil, raising +up his tear-wet face, more crimson than +ever from its sojourn in the box, 'then I +shouldn't care—I mean, it would only be fair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +that I should be served out for it; but when +I haven't—when I have tried all this year—oh!—--' and +he was nearly choked by the +sobs which, in his desire to be manly, he +was struggling to repress.</p> + +<p>Jessie believed him entirely, and was grieved +to the very heart. 'I am so sorry,' she repeated. +'But, dear Cecil, <i>God</i> knows; He +sees you have been trying; <i>He</i> isn't angry +with you.'</p> + +<p>'Then why does He let this happen?' said +Cecil fiercely.</p> + +<p>Jessie was startled and shocked, and had +no answer ready. 'I don't know,' she said at +last, through her tears; 'I can't tell why, but +He is so good—oh, He is <i>so</i> good!—perhaps +it will all come right still. I will ask Him; +and you will, won't you, Cecil? Isn't there +something in the Bible about its being acceptable +with God, if we do well and suffer +for it?'</p> + +<p>'Yes; but I'm not suffering because I've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +done well, but because I'm supposed to have +done ill,' said Cecil gloomily. 'There's no +good talking, Jessie; you'd better go to bed.'</p> + +<p>'Perhaps I had,' said Jessie, a sudden +thought striking her as she heard her father's +voice in the passage below; 'but I can't bear +to leave you, Cecil. I am so sorry, and I do +love you so!'</p> + +<p>He half returned her tender, sorrowful hug; +and then she ran away, but not straight to +her own room. She darted down one flight +of stairs, and caught hold of her father, who +had come in from the practice, and had been +washing his hands before going to supper.</p> + +<p>'Father,' she said breathlessly, 'please let +me say it: Cecil <i>has</i> been working—he has +indeed. Oh, I am sure you would believe it if +you had heard what he said to me just now!'</p> + +<p>Mr. Cunningham did not draw himself away +from the detaining clasp, but he said gravely, +'I quite believe that Cecil does not think he +has been so very idle, but he admits that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +has not done his best, and I hope in a little +while he will see all his fault, and be sorry +for it. Don't let him talk to you any more +to-night.'</p> + +<p>'But don't you think there may have been +some mistake?'</p> + +<p>'No, indeed,' he answered in a surprised +tone, which showed that no such supposition +had ever entered his head.</p> + +<p>Then, as she still lingered, he stooped to +kiss her, and said kindly, 'Don't try to comfort +Cecil with such an idea as that, my child, +but see if you can encourage him to do his +best for the future.'</p> + +<p>'And—father,' she said timidly, 'is he +really only to have a week's holiday?'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' said Mr. Cunningham in his most +decided tone; then more gently he added, +'I am afraid that is punishing you as well as +him, but it can't be helped; and as he is only +going to a day school, you will not lose him +entirely.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>Remembering the adjectives Cecil had +heaped upon the day school, Jessie could not +feel this to be quite consolatory; but she +only said 'Good-night, father,' and held up +her face for another kiss, which was given +very tenderly.</p> + +<p>Poor little girl! there was a great deal of +grief and perplexity in her heart that night; +but the comfort was, that though she so +pitied Cecil, she did not distrust the goodness +of either the heavenly or the earthly +father. She could not see the why and +wherefore of it all; but when she had said +her prayers, she laid herself down to sleep +trustfully and patiently, while Cecil was tossing +and tumbling about, feeling as if everybody +except Jessie were against him.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i098a.png" width="400" height="89" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>A BACHELOR'S LUNCH.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/i098t.png" width="75" height="74" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />HE bells were ringing for Sunday +Morning Prayer at Wilbourne +Church, and the congregation was +pouring in at the large west door, and the +choir boys taking the little path towards +the vestry, when Mr. Yorke, the tall curate, +opened the small side gate, which was his +nearest entrance to the churchyard.</div> + +<p>He was passing quickly along, when he +caught sight of a boy leaning over the paling +a little beyond the gate, in rather a disconsolate +attitude; and first he paused for a +minute, and then struck across the grass and +laid his hand kindly on the boy's shoulder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Come in with me, Cecil,' he said in his +most cheery tone—knowing that the lad +usually formed one of the choir when at home, +and thinking that his ill success at school had +made him shy of facing the other choristers, +who probably knew all about it by this time.</p> + +<p>'No, I mustn't,' said Cecil, turning round +abruptly and colouring very much.</p> + +<p>Mr. Yorke was surprised, and showed it. +Knowing that Cecil's general conduct at +school had been very good, he had not +thought that exclusion from the choir would +have formed part of his punishment.</p> + +<p>'It's not because of <i>that</i>,' said the boy, +reading his thoughts in his open, kindly face, +'at least not of that alone; it's because I +don't say I'm sorry, and behave as I'm +expected to behave. But oh, if father +knew——'</p> + +<p>He broke off and turned his face away; +but Mr. Yorke, who liked the boy well, and +had one of those sympathetic natures that can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +feel for everybody's troubles, was touched by +the bitter, hopeless tone.</p> + +<p>'Suppose you come home with me after +service, and spend the rest of the day with +me,' said he, feeling it might really do the +boy good to have his Sunday free from the +sort of atmosphere of disgrace which he felt +or fancied surrounded him at home.</p> + +<p>He could see that Cecil caught at the notion, +by the eager way in which he looked up; +though the answer was,</p> + +<p>'Thank you; but perhaps father wouldn't +like it.'</p> + +<p>'I don't think he will mind; I'll ask him myself. +Don't suppose I'm inviting you to any +great treat: cold mutton and bread and marmalade +are about all that I have to offer. I +don't like to keep my landlady from church.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, thanks,' said Cecil, laughing, not at +all as if the prospect alarmed him; and Mr. +Yorke laughed too, and saying, 'Well, then, +look out for me after service,' strode away<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +across the grass, looking back, however, at +the vestry door, to see if Cecil were turning +his steps towards the church.</p> + +<p>Cecil had not at all liked the idea of taking +his place among the congregation: he thought +that those who noticed him would wonder +why he was not in the choir, and in his present +mood the least humiliation was intolerable +to him. The two days which had intervened +since his coming home had not been +well or happily spent: he had gone about in +a sulky injured way, keeping aloof from his +father and mother, answering shortly when +spoken to, and being anything but sociable +even with his brothers and sisters. Some of +them had almost ceased to be sorry for him, +because he made himself, as they said, 'so +disagreeable;' but his faithful friend Jessie +had borne with him uncomplainingly, and +continued to feel for him with all her heart. +He was a little cheered now by the thought +that Mr. Yorke felt for him too, and did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +seem to condemn him altogether; and so—rather +slowly—he walked towards the church +and went in, and took a place near the door, +where he thought scarcely anybody would +see him.</p> + +<p>His thoughts wandered far and wide during +the prayers, though now and then he recalled +them by an effort, and tried to attend for at +least a few minutes; but he could not help +listening to the sermon, which was preached +by his father—his father, whom at the bottom +of his heart he did warmly love and respect, +spite of all the rebellious feelings of the last +day or two. The text was, 'While I live will +I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my +God while I have any being;' and there followed +a beautiful, fervent exhortation to the +spirit of constant praise, and then a consideration +of the hindrances which check this flow +of thankfulness in Christian souls. Cecil +listened most attentively, and with a kind of +awe, when among these was named the pride<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +of heart which would not acknowledge as deserved +such punishment as God might send, +either directly from Himself or through +others—the temper which called it 'very +hard' that this or that suffering should be +laid upon us. He did not suppose that his +father was thinking of him—nor was he; but +in the vivid description of feelings which followed +he recognised his own, and a strange +thrill of heart seized him when Mr. Cunningham +went on: 'There is no peace like +the peace of those who have conquered all +such rebellious impulses, such self-justifying +thoughts, who have given themselves up lovingly +to God to be chastened as much and as +long as He wills. There is no praise like the +praise of a soul that can say with holy Job, +"Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him;" +or with Habakkuk, "Although the fig-tree +shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in +the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, +and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall +be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice +in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my +salvation."'</p> + +<p>'If I had sung in the choir to-day, it +wouldn't have been real praise; I shouldn't +have thought of it or meant it,' Cecil owned +to himself; and it did not seem to him so +hard as before that he had been excluded, +though he was far from entering fully into the +spirit of submission which Mr. Cunningham +had set before his people as the thing to be +longed and striven for. Entering fully! Ah, +with most of us it takes a lifetime to do that; +but none of us are too young to <i>begin</i> to learn it.</p> + +<p>Cecil went back to his old position by the +churchyard palings after service to wait for +Mr. Yorke, but could not quite escape some +greetings from his village friends, who were +'glad to see him back, and hoped he had his +health.' He looked up anxiously when he +saw his father and the curate come forth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +from the vestry together; but they soon +parted, and Mr. Yorke came across the grass +to him, saying, 'All right, Cecil; you can +come home with me.'</p> + +<p>'Home' was some bachelor lodgings in a +very rustic cottage with a porch all overgrown +with Tangier peas, and a queerly-shaped +dining-room, the ceiling of which was so low +that Mr. Yorke's head seemed but a little way +off it as he walked about. On the other side +of the passage was a drawing-room, wonderfully +smart and uncomfortable, with groups +of wax fruit under glass shades on rickety +tables, crochet couvrettes over the back of +almost every chair as well as on the sofa, and +a wonderful festoon of green and yellow +tissue paper round the glass above the mantelpiece. +Mr. Yorke took Cecil in there while +the cloth was being laid, but told him he +never sat there, as there was not a single +chair which would bear his weight, nor a table +which did not creak when it was leant upon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I should turn all this trumpery out, and +make Mrs. Keeling give me something sensible,' +said Cecil, with a boy's rough-and-ready +way of disposing of difficulties.</p> + +<p>'No, you wouldn't, if you saw what a delight +she takes in it all, and what a solace it +is to her to come and dust and admire. Between +the dining-room and a little den I have +up-stairs, I do very well. I only hope you'll +have as snug a little hole and as worthy a +little landlady when <i>you</i> are a curate in +lodgings.'</p> + +<p>'I don't know whether I shall ever be a +clergyman now,' said Cecil gloomily.</p> + +<p>Mr. Yorke, who was standing at the window +looking out, while his guest had ventured +on one of the dangerous chairs, turned +round in surprise. 'You don't mean to say +you are giving up that? I thought you had +wished it ever since you were four years old.'</p> + +<p>'So I have; and if I had stayed at Eastwood, +I might some day have got one of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +Hulston scholarships, and that would have +helped me at college; but now there's no +chance for me. I'm going to old Bardsley's +day school in Fairview, and there's nothing +to be got <i>there</i>.'</p> + +<p>'Still I wouldn't give up if I were you, +my boy; I would keep the hope before me. +There's nothing like a high aim to help one +through the drudgery of school-work, and +keep one out of stupid, little, mean temptations.'</p> + +<p>'I know, and it was for that I worked,' said +Cecil, 'at least for that chiefly; but it was all +no use, and it doesn't seem worth while to +try any more.'</p> + +<p>Mr. Yorke, who had supposed that Cecil +<i>hadn't</i> worked, did not quite know what answer +to make to this.</p> + +<p>'I think it seems more worth while than +ever,' he said after a minute. 'If one has lost +ground, one must make it up again somehow. +You know you might be ordained even without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +going to Oxford, though I don't mean to +say that a college education is not a good +thing, if one can have it.'</p> + +<p>'Father went to Oxford, and so did you, +didn't you?' said Cecil.</p> + +<p>'Yes, there was no difficulty about that, +as it happened; but my way was not all +smooth, any more than yours. I had not +been meant for a clergyman, and there were +objections to be got over, and a good deal +that was discouraging; but it all came right +at last.'</p> + +<p>He broke off his sentence rather abruptly, +but in his heart it was ended thus: 'Thanks +be to God for it.'</p> + +<p>If Cecil had ever seen the luxurious home +from which the curate came, or had known +what good worldly prospects he had given +up to enter holy orders, he would have made +quite a hero of him in his own mind; but, even +as it was, he looked up admiringly at the tall +manly figure and bright resolute face. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +liked to feel that Mr. Yorke was his friend, +and for the moment longed to tell him all his +trouble, and see if he could give him more +help in bearing it than little Jessie could. +But he was shy of beginning; and before he +had opened his lips, a plump little old woman +in a black silk dress and spotless apron appeared +at the door, and announced, 'Your +lunch is ready, sir.'</p> + +<p><i>Lunch!</i>—so they were to dine late; and +though the cold mutton was not likely to +prove a much greater dainty at six than at +one, Cecil felt a little pride and pleasure in +keeping such grown-up hours.</p> + +<p>In honour of the young guest, Mrs. Keeling +had set out every small luxury that either +her lodger or she possessed; and there were +poached eggs, and gooseberries, and sardines, +and honey, and pickles, and gingerbread, and +potted meat, arranged with great display +upon the table, while the bread and butter +and cheese, as being altogether ordinary,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +were exiled to a little sideboard behind Mr. +Yorke's chair.</p> + +<p>'Is there anything more you require, sir?' +said the old dame before withdrawing, in a +complacent tone that seemed to say, What +<i>could</i> they require when such a variety was +before them?</p> + +<p>'Thank you, let me see: would you like +some mutton, Cecil?'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Keeling almost frowned at this proposal. +How could the good young gentleman +be so inconsiderate, she thought, as to propose +to his visitor for <i>lunch</i> what was by and +by to come up for <i>dinner?</i> She was quite +relieved, however, by Cecil's eager negative, +and went off to her kitchen well satisfied; +while Mr. Yorke, after saying grace, proceeded +to do the honours of the repast.</p> + +<p>'May I give you some pickles, Cecil?' he +said mischievously. 'I don't see anything to +eat with them, so I suppose they are meant +to form a course by themselves.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>'They wouldn't be bad with bread and +cheese,' rejoined Cecil, laughing; 'some of +our seniors eat them with all sorts of things.'</p> + +<p>'Well, you can try the combination if you +like, but I don't see any cheese; and oh, +hulloa! there's no bread either. Will you +ring the bell while I help the eggs?'</p> + +<p>'I see them—they're behind you—I'll get +them,' and Cecil jumped up and set down the +bread, but, among the array of dishes which +covered the small table, could find no room +for the butter or cheese.</p> + +<p>'We can turn out the pickles, and the +gooseberries too, for the present,' said Mr. +Yorke with a look of amusement. 'Thank +you, Cecil; I seem to have brought you here +to wait upon me.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, it's such fun!' said Cecil delightedly. +A thoroughly well-arranged meal would not +have given him half the pleasure that this +queer little bachelor lunch did.</p> + +<p>Before it was over, his spirits were such as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +entirely to satisfy his host; and Mrs. Keeling, +when she came to clear away, was gratified +to find that her home-made gingerbread had +by no means been despised, though she had +been a little offended in the interval by water +being rung for. What could Mr. Yorke be +thinking of, to let the little gentleman drink +water, when there was cowslip wine and raspberry +vinegar of her own making in the house, +supposing that ordinary wine or beer were +thought too strong for him?</p> + +<p>But Cecil had affirmed that he always +drank water at home, and wished for nothing +else, and Mr. Yorke knew better than to try +to lead him to other tastes. He liked Cecil's +bringing-up altogether—the hardiness and +the good sense of it, and the kindness that +was never spoiling; and could sympathize +the more with the boy, under the cloud +which had come between him and his father, +because he knew how happy the relations +between them had been till now. He was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +ready to talk about school and cricket, and +his own younger brothers, and anything that +seemed to interest him; and was rather +startled when, as they sat together after +lunch in a queer little arbour at the end of +the garden, Cecil suddenly said, 'Do you +think a person can help being miserable when +they are punished for a fault they haven't +done?'</p> + +<p>'I think it is a great trial,' he answered +after a moment's reflection. 'But surely they +would have more reason to be miserable if +they <i>had</i> committed the fault.'</p> + +<p>Cecil pondered over this a minute; then +he said, 'But how is it <i>just</i> that they should +be punished for what they haven't done?'</p> + +<p>'Why, I suppose the person punishing +thinks they have done it.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, the person,' said Cecil,—and there +he hesitated,—'I mean,' he said at last, not +irreverently, but in a low, earnest tone, 'why +are things like <i>this let</i> happen?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Yorke could only guess what 'this' +was, and did not seek to have it explained, +not wishing to make himself a judge of anything +that lay between Cecil and his father.</p> + +<p>'You mean, why is disgrace allowed to +come upon a person which they cannot feel +they have deserved? I don't think we can +always tell why—I think we must be content +to trust and submit; but it may often be to +teach them some lesson which they could not +have learned without it. For instance, suppose +a very proud person were punished for +telling an untruth, which he had not really +told: the humiliation might be a check to +his pride, and in that way might be for his +real good.'</p> + +<p>'And he deserved it, you mean, for being +proud, though he didn't for untruth?'</p> + +<p>'Yes; and when he came to see this, he +would no longer say it was very hard.'</p> + +<p>This reminded Cecil of his father's sermon, +which indeed Mr. Yorke had in his mind when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +he spoke. He was silent a good while, then +he began on what seemed at first another +subject. 'If something that wasn't your own +fault had come to hinder you when you were +being educated for a clergyman, shouldn't +you have thought you weren't meant to be +one?'</p> + +<p>'I think it would have depended on what +the hindrance was, and a good many other +circumstances. It isn't only book-learning +that makes people fit to be clergymen; perhaps +I might have been hindered in that, only +to make me more fit in some other way.'</p> + +<p>'What kind of way?'</p> + +<p>'Well, I might have needed to learn submission +or humility, or a hundred things.'</p> + +<p>Cecil clasped both hands round his knees, +and went swaying himself backwards and forwards +in a queer kind of way that was more +reflective than polite.</p> + +<p>'I suppose it wouldn't do for a clergyman +to be cock-a-hoop,' he said presently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Well, not exactly, if he meant to be in +any sense an example to his flock,' returned +Mr. Yorke with a smile.</p> + +<p>'I know I was very cock-a-hoop just before +this disappointment came,' thought Cecil, +'and that last week I was careless and all. +I wonder whether that is why all this has +happened!'</p> + +<p>He did not say any of this aloud, but it was +not pride that kept him from the avowal, only +a very natural and reasonable shyness of +talking about himself. He stopped rocking, +and sat with his gaze fixed on the trees in +the distance, without really seeing them a bit. +A new feeling of half-dismayed contrition +was springing up in his heart, but the bitterness +of resentment and the sense of injury +were passing away.</p> + +<p>He started when the church bells began to +ring. There was evening prayer, with catechizing, +at three o'clock at Wilbourne Church, and +evening prayer again, with a sermon, at seven.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +'Are you going, sir?' he said as Mr. Yorke +rose up.</p> + +<p>'Not to church now, but I must be off to +Bar-end, where I have my class of hobbledehoys +from the farms.'</p> + +<p>'Do you think father will expect me at the +catechizing?'</p> + +<p>'I should think he would be glad to see +you there.'</p> + +<p>'I mustn't stand with the choir, I suppose,' +said Cecil, hesitating.</p> + +<p>'No; but I think, if I were you, I should be +all the more anxious to go. You're not sulking, +I can see, Cecil; so why should you let +any one think you are?'</p> + +<p>'I have been, though,' said Cecil rather +awkwardly, breaking through his shyness now +that truth seemed to require it.</p> + +<p>'Well, Sunday is a good day for turning +over a new leaf,' said Mr. Yorke, with a smile +in his eyes that seemed to make no doubt at +all of Cecil's willingness to do it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>'It seemed so hard at first,' he answered, +feeling as if he must excuse himself a +little.</p> + +<p>'Yes, it <i>is</i> a struggle sometimes to accept +one's position; but when once one has, all the +bitterness goes, and one finds oneself not half +so miserable as one expected.'</p> + +<p>How true this was, Cecil soon began to +find out from his own experience. It was a +struggle to take his place beside the schoolboys, +instead of with the choir, at the catechizing;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">it cost him something to open his</span><br /> +lips when first his father seemed to address a +question to him, but after the first effort it +was not half so hard as he had thought it +would be. He answered thoughtfully and +well, and, without putting himself unduly +forward, showed that he was paying attention, +and was really anxious to understand +and to learn.</p> + +<p>Jessie ran up to him in the churchyard +after service.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Oh, Cecil, I am so glad you came! I +thought you would have gone to Bar-end +with Mr. Yorke. Are you coming home +now?'</p> + +<p>'No, I am going back to his place; he +said I might amuse myself with his books +till he came in. I haven't had dinner yet,' +and Cecil felt a momentary importance in +saying it.</p> + +<p>'How hungry you must be!' rejoined Jessie +innocently. 'Are you going, Cecil? I shall +wait for father.'</p> + +<p>'Here he is!' said Frances, who was waiting +also.</p> + +<p>Cecil felt an impulse to rush away instantly, +but was glad he had not, when his father said +in a kind voice, 'Are you coming with us, +Cecil?' Though he answered, of course, in +the negative, his heart felt lighter for that +kind tone and those few casual words. It was +his own sulkiness which had made great part +of his misery before, and he could see that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +plainly now that he was beginning to get the +better of it.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day passed very pleasantly, +and Cecil enjoyed his talk with his good-natured +friend very much, though nothing +more was said on the one subject which absorbed +him the most. It was quite bed-time +when he went home, so he had no opportunity +of putting in practice that night the good +resolutions which were springing up within +him; but the next day all the brothers and +sisters remarked how much more amiable he +was, and little Jessie's intense belief in his +goodness revived in full force. He was not so +merry as usual: it was impossible he should +be after his deep disappointment, and with +the sense of his father's displeasure resting on +him, and the prospect of the day school before +him. Both father and mother were touched +sometimes when they caught the sad expression +of his face; but he was no longer sullen; +and if a pettish word escaped him, he seemed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +to catch himself up quickly before it could +be followed by another.</p> + +<p>'I can't see the rights of it yet,' he said +to Jessie privately, 'nor why I should be so +served out for not working, when I <i>did</i> work; +but I think there were things—feeling set up, +you know, and crowing over other fellows, +and all that—which may have brought me in +for this in a kind of way.'</p> + +<p>Jessie could hardly bring herself to believe +that he could have deserved it in <i>any</i> way, +but his submission was much less grievous +and perplexing to her than his rebellion had +been; and she received these few words—spoken +rather gruffly, with his back turned to +her—as a great proof of confidence, which +indeed they were.</p> + +<p>'If being very good makes people ready +to be clergymen, I'm sure Cecil's getting +ready as fast as he can,' she remarked to +Frances.</p> + +<p>And though Frances was not so firmly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +convinced as her sister that Cecil's troubles +had not been brought on him by his own +fault, she answered readily, 'Yes, he has +been so nice and pleasant since Sunday, +and hasn't grumbled once about having to +go to Mr. Bardsley's.'</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i123a.png" width="400" height="89" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>GOOD NEWS.</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/i123m.png" width="75" height="76" alt="M" title="M" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />R. BARDSLEY'S was rather a large +day school, in a town about two +miles distant from Wilbourne. His +terms were low, and he was not particular +who the boys might be that came to him, so +that they behaved themselves when they did +come; but he taught really well, and was very +conscientious, and therefore even very careful +parents allowed their sons to go to him, convinced +that there they would be at least well +grounded in classics and mathematics, and +would learn nothing amiss from the general +tone of the school, though individual pupils +in it might not be all that could be wished.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i125.png" width="400" height="547" alt="'GOOD-BYE, CECIL.'" title="'GOOD-BYE, CECIL.'" /> +<span class="caption">'GOOD-BYE, CECIL.'<br /><span style="margin-left: 6em;"><i>See page 124.</i></span></span> +</div> + +<p>Cecil was to start from home each day +about half-past eight, and not to return till +after the school broke up at five o'clock, +except on the two half-holidays—Wednesday +and Saturday. Eight miles' walking would +have been too much for him; and it had +been arranged that on the four other days +he should dine with Mr. and Mrs. Bardsley, +and his hours of work would be from nine +to twelve and from two to five, with tasks +to prepare at home in the evening.</p> + +<p>It seemed rather hard to begin this routine +just in the first days of August, when the +weather was so lovely, and the woods so +enticing, and holiday cricket-matches going +on in Wilbourne Park. Cecil's face was a +little dismal at breakfast the first morning, +and it was real self-government which kept +him from grumbling when Jessie was helping +him to put his schoolbooks together. Just as +they were firmly strapped, his mother came +to bid him 'good-bye for a few hours,' with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +a tender kiss and a few cheerful words, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>after that his heart felt lighter, and he set out +bravely; but he was just beginning to think +what a long dull walk it was, and what a +dusty road, and how delightful it would be if +he might shy his books over the hedge and +strike off across the meadows to join Percy, +who had gone out fishing, when he heard +steps behind him, and turning, saw the tall +curate running along with rapid strides. His +first impression was that something had happened +at the Rectory since he started, and +that Mr. Yorke was come to take him back; +but he was soon undeceived.</p> + +<p>'I've got business in Fairview,' the young +clergyman explained, 'and I meant to go in +early; and when I saw you pass by, I thought +I might as well get ready and try to overtake +you. I like company myself; don't you?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, very much,' said Cecil, swinging his +books over his shoulder cheerfully again, instead +of dangling them drearily from the end<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +of the strap, as he had been doing before. +'Lewis wanted to come with me, but mother +wouldn't have liked his walking back alone; +and besides, one doesn't always want a little +chap like that after one.'</p> + +<p>'I thought Percy might want to get his +watch-chain mended,' said Mr. Yorke, with +rather a droll expression in his eyes. 'Doesn't +it require mending periodically? That was +what he always used to tell me last vacation, +when I met him going into Fairview.'</p> + +<p>'He hadn't had his watch long then, and +was always taking it out to look at it,' said +Cecil, laughing. 'I think that was how the +chain got broken. He's used to it now. I +wonder if Uncle Percy will give <i>me</i> a watch +when I'm sixteen. Of course Percy wanted +one particularly, because of his going to Sandhurst. +He's gone out fishing this morning: +mustn't it be jolly in the water-meadows?'</p> + +<p>'Very; but how well this part of the road +is watered!—it's quite pleasant walking here.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +I suppose the Fairview water-carts come out +as far as this.'</p> + +<p>'I wish they'd come all the way,' said Cecil; +'I was just thinking how dusty it was before +I met you.'</p> + +<p>'And I was wondering whether you chose +the road instead of the path on purpose, because +you <i>liked</i> the dust: there's no accounting +for tastes.'</p> + +<p>'I'll try the path next time,' said Cecil with +a smile. 'Do you know old Bardsley, Mr. +Yorke?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, I met him at the Institute one day, +and we had a lively discussion about Greek +roots. He's a clever man, I think, and has a +real taste for teaching. When he gets hold of +a fellow that cares to learn, I'm told there's +no limit to the pains he'll take with him.'</p> + +<p>'Jim Payne didn't like him at all,' said +Cecil, alluding to the son of a small farmer in +the neighbourhood; 'he said he was an awful +brute.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Jim Payne likes nothing but idleness, and +his father is mistaken enough to let him have +his way.'</p> + +<p>Cecil wisely suppressed some further quotations +which he had meant to make from Jim +Payne's account of Mr. Bardsley; and they +walked on sociably together, talking of other +things. It really seemed quite a short walk, +after all, though Cecil had fancied it very long +when he first set out.</p> + +<p>He was in tolerably good spirits when he +trod that road again in the evening, though +this time he was alone the whole way. He +did not dislike either the school or the schoolmaster +as much as he had expected; and he +felt that if he worked hard, and conformed to +rules, there was no danger of his ever finding +Mr. Bardsley the terrible monster that Jim +Payne had described him to be.</p> + +<p>It would, and did, seem a drudgery to prepare +school tasks that evening, while Percy +was enjoying 'elegant leisure;' but there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +the Saturday half-holiday to look forward to, +and Cecil's health was good, and not likely to +suffer from his speedy return to work. Seeing +him so patient and industrious, his father +wondered how it was that he still expressed +no sorrow for his past idleness, but did not +press him for any such acknowledgment. He +believed that it would come in time, and was +quite content to take his present good conduct +as a sign of penitence. 'He would not +bear his punishment so well if he were not +really sorry for his fault,' he said to himself.</p> + +<p>'You are not angry with Cecil now, father, +are you?' said Jessie softly the next morning, +as they stood watching him trudge down the +gravel path towards the gate on his way to +school.</p> + +<p>'No; very much pleased in some ways,' he +answered. 'How late the post is this morning! +I'm afraid old Hawkins is stopping for +a long chat with Mrs. Giles. Just run down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +the lane and see; and if there is any letter +for me, bring it at once to my study. I have +to go out in five minutes.'</p> + +<p>Jessie was running off directly, with her +long hair streaming in the wind, when her +mother called to her to put something on; +and she came back, snatched her garden-hat +and holland cape from their peg, and flew +away again. Yes, the old postman was +standing gossiping with Mrs. Giles at her +garden gate, just as Mr. Cunningham had +foreseen. When Jessie breathlessly inquired +if there were any letters for the Rectory, the +old man answered composedly, 'Yes, Missy, +three letters for your house—two for your +reverend father, and one for Miss Mary. +Shall I take 'em round, or shall I give 'em to +you?'</p> + +<p>'Oh, I'll take them, please,' said Jessie; +and back she flew with them, and straight +into the study she went, holding out the two +that belonged to Mr. Cunningham.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Thanks. This is the one I wanted, from +your Uncle Percy,' he said as he took them +from her; 'and this is from Dr. Lomax. +What makes him write again, I wonder?'</p> + +<p>'Oh, father, do open it, please!' said Jessie +excitedly, a sudden hope springing up in her +breast.</p> + +<p>'My child, what can there be in it to signify? +It is an account for some schoolbooks, +perhaps,' said Mr. Cunningham, rather +as if he thought her a very silly little girl. +But when he looked up and saw her eager, +quivering face, he added, with a smile, 'Well, +to set your mind at rest, I will just take a +glance.'</p> + +<p>He opened the letter as he spoke, but it +was much more than a glance which he gave +it. A minute passed, two minutes, three, and +still he read on and did not speak. Jessie +never took her eyes off his face; hope and +fear struggled together in her heart, and hope +was uppermost. But for the gravity of her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +father's silence, she would have felt sure that +all was coming right.</p> + +<p>At last he spoke. 'There <i>was</i> a mistake, +Jessie: the marks were counted up wrong, it +seems, and your brother has not been to +blame, after all.'</p> + +<p>'And not lost the "exhibition?"'</p> + +<p>'No; his marks more than entitle him to +keep it.'</p> + +<p>'And you will let him go back next month, +father?'</p> + +<p>'Certainly. Why, my dear——' For +Jessie was off like an arrow from a bow, and +did not even hear his exclamation.</p> + +<p>He supposed she had gone to tell the +others, and paused to read over the letter +once more, with deep thankfulness, and much +sympathy for Cecil. It was from young Mr. +Lomax, not from the Doctor: the similarity +in the handwriting had misled Mr. Cunningham. +He said the mistake had been discovered +by his father, but that, as it had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +made by him, he could not rest without +personally acknowledging it, and expressing +his regret. He had been himself surprised, +in the first instance, at the result of his addition; +but as he had only to do with Cecil in +mathematics, in which he was not <i>remarkably</i> +proficient, it did not seem so astonishing to +him as it did to his father, who had watched +the boy's progress in classics. Dr. Lomax +had not gone over the books himself at the +time, but having occasion to refer to them for +something the morning of the day on which +Mr. Lomax wrote, he had counted up Cecil's +marks throughout the year, just for his own +satisfaction, and in doing so had discovered +the mistake that had been made. 'We have +since been over it all together,' continued the +son; 'and being now fully convinced of my +mistake, I hasten to apprise you of it, and to +express my deep regret.' If Cecil had seen +this sentence, and some which followed, he +would certainly have abandoned his idea that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +'young Lomax might have done it to spite +him.'</p> + +<p>'Mother!' called Mr. Cunningham, suddenly +remembering the appointment which +this letter had made him forget for a few +minutes; and as his wife came running down +in answer to his call, he went on: 'Has Jessie +told you, love? I mustn't stay—but take the +letter; I shall try to get down in time to meet +that poor boy as he comes out from morning +school.'</p> + +<p>'I haven't seen Jessie,' Mrs. Cunningham +answered; but she seemed to guess instinctively +what the letter contained, and one +glance at it confirmed her impression.</p> + +<p>'My darling boy! oh, thank God!' she exclaimed. +'Lewis, you will bring him straight +home with you, won't you?'</p> + +<p>'If I don't, I shall have you following me +and hugging him before the whole school,' +said her husband, laughing, but almost with +tears in his eyes; and he hurried away, while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +she went joyfully back to the drawing-room +to tell Mary and Frances the good news.</p> + +<p>They literally 'jumped for joy;' and there +was a kind of triple hug between the mother +and her daughters, from which Frances was +the first to break away, crying, 'Oh, where's +Jessie? do let me tell her! how glad she will +be!'</p> + +<p>'She knows, I think,' said Mrs. Cunningham; +'it was she who brought father the +letter. But find her by all means, and Lewis +too, that we may all be happy together.'</p> + +<p>Lewis was easily found, but nothing could +be seen of Jessie; and presently her little +brother was sent to the meadows where Percy +was fishing, to see if she had run there with +the tidings; but there she was not, and there +was some consternation at the Rectory when +the fact was announced.</p> + +<p>'I really think she must have gone to Fairview,' +said Mary anxiously.</p> + +<p>'Perhaps she thought she could overtake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +Cecil,' suggested Frances. And though they +did not know it, this guess hit the exact +truth.</p> + +<p>When Jessie left the study, she firmly believed +that if she were only quick enough she +could catch Cecil, who was very likely to +linger on his way; and she had a vision of +finding him leaning over a certain gate which +opened into a harvest-field, and which was a +favourite halting-place with all the young +people.</p> + +<p>No, he was not at the gate; but Jessie, full +of her one idea of overtaking him, flew on +and on till she had reached the outskirts of +the town, and still she saw nothing of him—the +truth being, that not having allowed himself +more than enough time for his walk that +morning, he had hurried on instead of stopping +anywhere, and was in school by this +time. She was dismayed when the country +road began to turn into a street, and realized +for the first time how far she had come. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +had not had a thought of doing wrong when +she began to run after Cecil, but now she +was struck with a sudden sense of misdemeanour, +and a fear that 'mother' would be +angry.</p> + +<p>'I wonder if I ought to go back,' she said +to herself, 'or whether I may just go on to +Mr. Bardsley's! It isn't far now, and then +Cecil could come back with me, I daresay. +Perhaps I could still catch him just as he's +going in.'</p> + +<p>Inspirited by this thought, she began to +run again, and in a little while she was +standing opposite the square brick house +which she knew to be Mr. Bardsley's. There +was not a sign of a boy on the steps, nor was +there any sound of voices from the playground; +evidently Cecil and his companions +were already at study. She stood there, +panting and weary, not very well knowing +what to do next.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i139a.png" width="400" height="91" alt="Decoration" title="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>'IT'S ALL RIGHT!'</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/i139j.png" width="75" height="75" alt="J" title="J" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />ESSIE fancied that if she rang the +bell and asked for Cecil, she should +be either sent away or shown into +the great schoolroom; and the idea of facing +Mr. Bardsley and all the boys seemed to her +very terrible—almost too terrible to be entertained +for a moment. But then, to leave Cecil +in ignorance of the good tidings that she had +run all this way to bring to him!—to let him +go on through the day still feeling himself in +disgrace, and not knowing that all was explained! +No, she could not bear that either. +She put up a trembling hand, and not daring +to meddle with the big knocker, which looked +prepared to make any amount of noise, took<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +hold of the bell at the side of it, and gave +a feeble tinkle, which would scarcely have +been audible to the housemaid had she not +happened to be close at hand cleaning the +hall lamp. She opened the door so suddenly, +that Jessie, who was prepared to wait some +time, was quite startled, and so confused that +she could not say anything.</div> + +<p>'Did you ring?' asked the maid sharply, +looking down in amazement at the dusty little +figure and flushed frightened face.</p> + +<p>'Yes; oh, please,' said Jessie, recovering +herself, 'is Master Cunningham here? and +would you tell him that I want to speak to +him a minute?'</p> + +<p>'The young gentlemen are in school—they +can't be disturbed now,' replied the servant, +preparing to shut the door.</p> + +<p>'But oh, please, if you would tell him I've +come with news from home, and I want to +see him so much,' said Jessie desperately; +'I'm his sister.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + +<p>The maid looked hard at her, and Jessie +felt sure she spied out the gloveless hands +under the holland cape; but with as much +dignity as she could muster, the child added, +'I'm Miss Jessie Cunningham;' and something +in her tone and manner must have borne out +the assertion, for with a quick 'Step in here, +please, and I'll speak to Mrs. Bardsley,' the +maid opened the door wider instead of shutting +it, and allowed her to enter the hall.</p> + +<p>She then gave her a chair, and went into +a room close by, from which she soon reappeared, +followed by a quiet-looking lady, +not very old, but with a cap and spectacles, +and something about her which made Jessie +feel quite ashamed of her own heated, untidy +condition.</p> + +<p>'You have come with a message for Master +Cunningham, I understand; I trust no accident +has occurred at his home,' said Mrs. +Bardsley in a voice as quiet as her face.</p> + +<p>'Oh no! it's all good news, and I thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +I should have overtaken him, but I didn't; +and oh! if you would please let me see him, +and then perhaps he would come back with +me.'</p> + +<p>'I don't think he can return till after school, +unless you have brought an order from his +father to that effect,' said the schoolmaster's +wife; 'but come and sit down, and then perhaps +you will be able to explain yourself more +fully.'</p> + +<p>She took Jessie into a prim-looking sitting-room; +and in rather a confused way the little +girl did contrive to explain what had brought +her, and how important her news would be to +Cecil. 'And if Mr. Bardsley would let him +come back with me I don't think father would +mind, and mother would like it so much better +than my going back alone. I oughtn't to +have come, I'm afraid,' she wound up, feeling +every minute more and more dismayed +at herself.</p> + +<p>'I fear you must be causing anxiety at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +home,' said Mrs. Bardsley, still rather stiffly. +'I will send and ask Mr. Bardsley to allow +your brother to speak to you for a minute;' +and she went out of the room, leaving Jessie +alone.</p> + +<p>Some minutes passed, and Jessie grew more +and more nervous; but at length appeared +Cecil, looking very schoolboyish, with a great +dab of ink on his collar.</p> + +<p>She jumped off her chair and ran to him, +and got out one great 'Oh, Cecil!' and then, +instead of saying anything more, she began +to sob.</p> + +<p>'What is it? what's up?' said he in utter +amazement. 'Don't cry, don't cry; is anything +wrong at home?'</p> + +<p>'Oh no! it's all right! and you've got +enough marks, and you're to go back after +the holidays. And oh, Cecil! I'm so glad! +and I'm so hot, and I've run all the way!'</p> + +<p>'And you're obliged to cry about it,' said +Cecil, laughing, and kissing her. 'I say, sit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +down here in this arm-chair; there, I'll fan +you with my pocket-handkerchief. How's it +all come out? has the Doctor written—or +what?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, I think it was he; and father's so +glad, and he said himself you should go back. +He counted up the marks wrong—not father, +but somebody, you know—and you've got +plenty, and you're not a bit to blame; father +says you're not.'</p> + +<p>A sort of dancing light came into the boy's +black eyes, but he didn't say a word. Jessie +was quite astonished, and a good deal disappointed, +at his taking the matter so quietly.</p> + +<p>'Aren't you glad?' she said; 'I thought +you would have been ready to jump out of +your skin for joy. <i>I</i> was; but I came straight +off, thinking I should overtake you. How +fast you must have walked to get here first! +Oh, Cecil, do you think I could have a little +water?'</p> + +<p>'You're too hot to drink cold water,' said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +Cecil in a wise, elder-brotherly way. 'I've +got an apple in my pocket; you shall have a +bit of that.'</p> + +<p>It was rather a greenish specimen, and one +bite of it more than satisfied Jessie, without +refreshing her in the least; but she sat holding +it in her hand, and looking at Cecil with +loving eyes, too happy to mind much about +her thirst and fatigue.</p> + +<p>'Do you think Mr. Bardsley will let you +come back with me?' she said presently.</p> + +<p>'Not till twelve o'clock, I'm sure; perhaps +he would then. Father didn't say I was to +come, did he?'</p> + +<p>'No, I was so silly I didn't wait to ask him; +he didn't know I was coming. Cecil, do you +think they will be very angry with me? I +have never been so far alone before.'</p> + +<p>'I'm afraid mother won't like it,' said Cecil; +but he thought to himself that he should always +love her for it; and if he had been a +girl instead of a boy, he would have told her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +so. 'I must go back to study now; but +I think you had better wait here, if Mrs. +Bardsley will let you,' he continued, after a +minute's reflection.</p> + +<p>'But what will they think at home? They +must have missed me. Cecil, I'd better go;' +and she stood up, feeling how dreary the +lonely walk back would be, with those tired +feet of hers that had run along so merrily +when the thought of telling the joyful news +had been the only one present to her mind.</p> + +<p>'There's father, I do declare, in old Mr. +Rawson's gig!' exclaimed Cecil, who was +looking out of the window; and sure enough, +at this moment, a funny old-fashioned carriage +drew up at the door, and Mr. Cunningham +got down from it and shook hands with +the owner.</p> + +<p><i>He</i> was not afraid of the big knocker, but +the maid was much longer in answering his +rat-tat-tat than Jessie's feeble ring; and only a +sense that they were not in their own house,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +and must not take liberties, restrained the +children from opening the door themselves. +They could not resist running out into the +hall to meet him, thus forestalling any inquiry +for them by their immediate appearance.</p> + +<p>'Well, Cecil!'—oh, such a different 'well' +from the one that had greeted him on his return +for the holidays!—then to Jessie: 'And +so you are <i>here</i>, little madam! Mother is +making herself quite unhappy about you.'</p> + +<p>Before Jessie could answer, he turned to +the maid, asking her to request Mr. Bardsley +to see him for a minute; and she ushered +him into the sitting-room where the children +had been, and went off with the message.</p> + +<p>Then his little daughter got hold of his +hand and whispered, 'I didn't mean to vex +mother; I thought I could have overtaken +Cecil. I am very sorry.'</p> + +<p>'Well, I don't think I need tell you not to +do such a thing again,' said Mr. Cunningham +with a smile, 'for the temptation is not likely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +to recur. These things don't happen every +day; do they, Cecil? My boy, I am sorry +for this week of disgrace, and more glad +than I can tell you to find it was not deserved.'</p> + +<p>Cecil looked down, coloured, put his hands +in his pockets and took them out again, +twisted his eyes in a vain attempt to see the +whole extent of the ink spot on his collar, and +finally, standing quite upright, and looking +straight before him, said in a very modest and +yet manly way, 'I am glad you know that I +was not really idle, father; but I didn't work +so hard as I ought the last week, and I was +stuck-up and made too sure of success. I +would rather you knew that.'</p> + +<p>Jessie, looking to see how her father took +this, was struck by the shining of his eyes as +they rested on his son; but before he had +time to make any reply, Mr. Bardsley came in; +only, Cecil was sure, by the way his father's +hand remained upon his shoulder while he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +was speaking to the master, that he understood +and appreciated the frank confession, +and that they should be closer friends henceforth +than ever before.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bardsley gave leave for Cecil to return +home at once; and Mr. Cunningham said he +would call again the next day, out of school +hours, to explain more fully how Cecil's +prospects were altered, and 'make some +arrangement.' Jessie was rather alarmed at +the sound of this, but Cecil guessed that his +father meant to withdraw him from the day +school, and wished to offer some compensation +for taking him away in this sudden +fashion, just at the beginning of the half-year.</p> + +<p>Spite of Jessie's tired feet, the walk back +was very pleasant; and neither she nor Cecil +were insensible to the honour of having their +father all to themselves, and at this unusual +time of day too. He explained that he had +met their mother in the village, so anxious +about Jessie, that instead of waiting till towards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +twelve o'clock to go into Fairview, he +had got Mr. Yorke to finish his parish business +for him, and had started off at once, accepting +a lift from Mr. Rawson by the way. +And when he added quietly, 'You will take +care that she is never made uneasy again by +any thoughtlessness on your part, Jessie!' +the little girl answered, 'Yes, father,' in a +very subdued and humble tone, and felt quite +as sorry as if he had lectured her for an +hour.</p> + +<p>'Do you think Mr. Yorke will be at home +again now? Might I run in for a minute, +father?' said Cecil as they passed the curate's +lodging.</p> + +<p>'I am not sure; you can see if you like.' +And Cecil <i>did</i> see; and finding his friend +busily engaged sermon-writing in the queer +little dining-room, tarried only for a few +words.</p> + +<p>'I suppose father has told you,' he said as +he burst in.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Yes, I am <i>so</i> glad;' and Cecil's inky little +paw was enfolded in the curate's heartiest +grasp.</p> + +<p>'I shan't forget this week in a hurry,' the +boy continued; 'but I'm not so very sorry +now that it all happened. Thank you for +that nice Sunday.'</p> + +<p>He did not say, but he implied how much +it had helped him through; and Mr. Yorke +answered cheerily, 'I could have sympathized +more if I had known all that I know now; +but I don't think you wanted pity. I believe +your father's sermon showed you the way to +bear your trouble.'</p> + +<p>Cecil's cheeks were burning, and he only +said shyly, 'You showed me too;' and then +hastily adding, 'I want to catch up with +father before he gets home,' ran off again, +after one more hearty shake of the hand had +been exchanged between them.</p> + +<p>If the memory of pain could be effaced by +after-happiness, the remainder of this day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +would have amply sufficed to blot out the past +week. Never did Cecil feel more glad than +when his mother kissed him, called him her +own darling boy, and at his request forgave +Jessie's escapade, and gave her and Frances +a week's holiday, that he might have as much +of their company as he chose. And on the +following Sunday, when he took his place +in the choir again, and Mr. Yorke came to +dinner at the Rectory, and all was thankful +rejoicing, that sorrowful Sunday on which he +had felt as if the whole world were against +him seemed already far away.</p> + +<p>The trial was gone by, and some of the +effects it had left behind it were very pleasant. +But for it, Cecil felt he never could +have known Mr. Yorke so well, nor his own +little sister Jessie. They were his especial +friends from henceforth, in a way which they +had never been before, even though Jessie had +always been regarded by Percy and others +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>as 'Cecil's particular chum.' Percy himself +had seemed hitherto at an immeasurable +distance from Cecil, and had generally appeared +to expect to be treated with the same +sort of respect as would have been shown to +a school 'senior;' but now, wonderful to +relate, a change came over him, and he condescended +to unbend not only a little, but a +very great deal. It actually seemed as if he +had begun to respect Cecil! No one but a +schoolboy, with an admired and venerated +elder brother rather given to snubbing, can +quite realize how astonishing this change appeared +to the person most concerned. For +Percy to invite Cecil to come out fishing with +him, in the genial tone of an equal who really +cared for his companionship, instead of ordering +him in a lordly way to take his tackle +down to the river for him, was something so +unexpected and flattering, that it went nearer +to turning Cecil's head than anything that +had happened yet. Perhaps it really might +have done so, but for the wholesome lessons<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +the boy had learned during his time of +humiliation.</p> + +<p>These fishings with Percy became a sort +of institution during that week, which Jessie +had rather counted on for having Cecil all +to herself. 'Francie doesn't care, because she +wants to do her gardening; but what made +me like so to have holidays, was only that I +might go about with Cecil, and now he goes +off with Percy and doesn't want me!' thought +the poor little maiden, in rather an injured +way, as she sat forlornly in the wide window-seat +on Wednesday morning, watching the +retreating figures of her brothers. Spite of +all her unselfishness, that sense of injury +<i>would</i> come, and was very disagreeable.</p> + +<p>'Who will take the boys' dinner down to +the meadows for them by and by?' said her +father, coming suddenly into the room. 'I +have promised them a long, uninterrupted +time for their sport to-day, because to-morrow +we are all going for a picnic to the Beacon,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +and there will be no fishing then. You and +Francie are the two idlest folk in the house +just now, aren't you, Jessie? so suppose you +turn errand-women?'</p> + +<p>'Oh, father, are they going to fish all +day?' exclaimed Jessie, jumping up when +she was spoken to, but showing no great +alacrity in offering her services.</p> + +<p>'Till tea-time, I believe, if they don't get +tired of it. Do you know I am so glad of +these fishings, Jessie?'</p> + +<p>'Are you, father?' she said, rather drearily, +conscious that there was no gladness in her +own face or voice.</p> + +<p>'Yes, because I know what a brother's +friendship is worth. I believe Percy's good-natured +patronage seems to Cecil the greatest +reward he has had yet for his bravery in bearing +his misfortunes.'</p> + +<p>Jessie did not like the idea much; it +seemed to her that if it were true, her father +and she had <i>both</i> reason to feel slighted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Use your imagination, Jessie,' said Mr. +Cunningham, smiling; 'you have plenty, I +know, and the great use of it is to help us +to see things from other people's point of +view. Shall I tell you something else? I +am so glad of this companionship because I +believe Cecil, though the younger, will do +Percy good.'</p> + +<p>Jessie quite understood this; her face +brightened, as it always did at anything like +praise of Cecil, and she felt it very delightful +to be taken into her father's confidence in +such a 'grown-up' kind of way.</p> + +<p>'I can carry the dinner, if you like, father,' +she said briskly.</p> + +<p>'Suppose Francie and you both go, and +take your own dinners as well? That will +be a kind of picnic on a small scale, almost +as pleasant, perhaps, as the grand one of to-morrow. +You can come away afterwards, +and leave the boys to their sport.'</p> + +<p>Jessie looked rather cloudy again for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +minute; it was so like being offered a little +slice when she had wanted the whole loaf!</p> + +<p>Her father was standing quite near her +now, and he smoothed down her hair softly +with his hand, as he said, 'Jessie, have you +ever thought what a sweet and happy thing +love is when it has overcome jealousy? It is +not worth <i>very</i> much till then.'</p> + +<p>For one moment there was a sharp struggle +within her, and then she pressed her cheek +against his arm, with a loving, grateful gesture. +He had no fear that his little maiden +would give way to jealousy any longer. Now +that he had given the sore feeling a name, he +knew that she would be as anxious to drive it +away as he was.</p> + +<p>That dinner in the meadows was very pleasant—'Quite +enchanting,' Frances declared. +'Awfully jolly,' said Cecil, who was not +so choice in his vocabulary. Percy looked +on it as rather a childish entertainment, and +said more than once that he wished 'they'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +hadn't forgotten that he always took pepper +with everything; but he never blamed either +of his sisters, only this mysterious 'they,' +and made an excellent dinner, spite of the +absence of the pepper-box. He was very +kind to Jessie too,—so kind that she quite +forgave Cecil from henceforth for thinking +Percy's notice a very grand sort of thing; +it seemed as if he almost included <i>her</i> in the +new respect he had begun to have for his +younger brother. And then, Cecil! Cecil +was so entirely delightful on this occasion, +that she wondered how, even for a moment, +she could have thought him anything but +the most perfect of all possible brothers. +From the noble way in which he dispensed +the tart, only leaving himself a very small +piece, though she <i>knew</i> he liked it better than +anything, down to the good-nature with +which he gave his last bit of cheese to the +lame old setter, that had limped down to see +after them, everything in his behaviour was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +just according to her own heart, and totally +unlike the selfish greediness of what she +called 'common schoolboys.' And then, +when, instead of going back to his fishing +directly after dinner, he asked her to walk +with him as far as the bridge and watch the +trout leap, she was the very happiest and +proudest of little sisters. If it had not been +for what her father had said, she would have +lingered near him the whole afternoon; but +as it was, she came away quite contentedly +after she had watched his angling for a +minute or two, and really felt how nice it +was that Percy and he should have become +such allies,—how much pleasanter for him +than having only her for a companion. +Percy's vacation would be over before his, +and then her time would come perhaps; anyhow, +she was much too sure of Cecil's love +to have any excuse for jealousy in seeing +him taken up with others. He had opened +his heart to her when he was in trouble, she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +should never forget that. Oh! how dear this +had made him to her, both 'for then and for +always!'</p> + +<p>No after-trial worth recording shadowed +Cecil's boyhood; and now he is a man—just +such a man as Jessie longed to see him. +He very seldom thinks of the incidents here +related, but yet the lesson he learnt in that +memorable week is still bearing fruit in his +life; and when any trial comes to him, he +does not say it is 'very hard,' but takes it as +a new proof of the fatherly love that watches +over him, and, in dark seasons as well as +bright ones, is ready to sing with the psalmist, +'Every day will I give thanks unto Thee, +and praise Thy name for ever and ever.'</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 321px;"> +<img src="images/iback.jpg" width="321" height="500" alt="Back" title="Back" /> +</div> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>The original text had no table of contents. One was added as an aid to the reader.</p> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Holiday Tales, by Florence Wilford + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOLIDAY TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 25647-h.htm or 25647-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/6/4/25647/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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