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diff --git a/36132.txt b/36132.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..754c0bd --- /dev/null +++ b/36132.txt @@ -0,0 +1,18146 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Parent's Assistant, by Maria Edgeworth + +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: The Parent's Assistant + Stories for Children + +Author: Maria Edgeworth + +Illustrator: Chris Hammond + +Release Date: May 17, 2011 [EBook #36132] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PARENT'S ASSISTANT *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Matthew Wheaton and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + THE PARENT'S ASSISTANT + + + [Illustration: _'I thought I saw----' poor Franklin began._--P. 61.] + + + THE + PARENT'S ASSISTANT + or, Stories for Children + + BY + MARIA EDGEWORTH + + + WITH AN INTRODUCTION + BY + ANNE THACKERAY RITCHIE + + + ILLUSTRATED + BY + CHRIS HAMMOND + + + LONDON: MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED + NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + 1903 + + + + _First printed with Illustrations by Chris Hammond 1897._ + _Illustrated Pocket Classics 1903._ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Once when the present writer was a very little girl she suffered for a +short time from some inflammation of the eyes, which prevented her from +reading, or amusing herself in any way. Her father, who had just then +returned from the East, in order to help her to pass the weary hours +began telling her the story of the 'Forty Thieves,' and when he had +finished, and had boiled down the wicked thieves in oil, and when she +asked him to tell it all over again, he said that he would try and find +something else to amuse her, and looking about the room he took up a +volume of the _Parent's Assistant_ which was lying on the table, and +began to read aloud the story of the 'Little Merchants.' The story +lasted two mornings, and an odd, confused impression still remains in +the listener's mind to this day of Naples, Vesuvius, pink and white +sugar plums--of a darkened room, of a lonely country house in Belgium, +of a sloping garden full of flowers outside the shutters, of the back of +a big sofa covered with yellow velvet, and of her father's voice reading +on and on. When she visited Naples in after days she found herself +looking about unconsciously for her early playfellows. + +Not only Francisco and Piedro, but all those various members of the +Edgeworth family who play their parts in fancy names and dresses in +Miss Edgeworth's stories, became her daily familiar companions from that +day forth. + +Many of the stories in the _Parent's Assistant_ were written in a time +when wars and rumours of wars were in the air; these quiet scenes of +village life were devised to the sound of clarions. Rebels were marching +and countermarching; volunteers were assembling; husbandmen, throwing +away their spades, were arming and turning into soldiers; the French +were landing in Ireland. 'I cannot be a Captain of Dragoons,' writes +Miss Edgeworth, 'and it would not make any of us one degree safer if I +were sitting with my hands before me.' So she quietly goes on with her +stories. One or two of them were written at Clifton, and very early in +her career an illustrated edition had been suggested by the publishers. +A young Irish neighbour, with a taste for the fine arts, was asked to +make the drawings to these stories, and it was this lady, Miss Beaufort, +the daughter of the Rector of Colon, who afterwards became the fourth +Mrs. Edgeworth. Not long after his third wife's death in 1797, Mr. +Edgeworth wrote a letter to Dr. Darwin at Lichfield, in which he gives +him various items of family news. He writes of portraits (Dr. Darwin, +Mr. Thomas Day, and Mr. Edgeworth, had all sat for their portraits); he +writes of Upas trees, of frozen frogs, of farming and rack-rents; of +pipes for hot-houses to be heated by stable dung, of speaking machines, +and finally in a postscript he announces the fact of his being engaged +to be married for the fourth time, 'to a young lady of small fortune and +large accomplishments, much youth, some beauty, more sense, uncommon +talents, more uncommon temper, liked by my family, loved by me.' + +These were stormy times for Ireland: a few days after the letter was +written, a conspiracy was discovered in Dublin, and the city was under +arms. Mr. Edgeworth set out immediately to join the Beauforts, who were +there. The true-hearted daughter now admires her father for urging on +the marriage. 'Instead of delaying, as some would have advised, my +father urged for an immediate day. He brought his bride home through a +part of the country in actual insurrection.' + +There is a grim story of the new-married pair on their way to +Edgeworthstown passing the suspended corpse of a man hanging between the +shafts of a cart. Miss Edgeworth in her Memoirs of her father gives a +striking account of the family assembled to receive the new wife. It is +a grandson of this last Mrs. Edgeworth who is the present owner of +Edgeworthstown. + +_The Parent's Assistant_ had just been written; but one or two of the +stories in the present collection were not added till much later, such +as 'The Bracelets,' which were written in Switzerland to make up a +proper allowance of copy for a new edition. It is hard to make a choice +among these charming and familiar histories. They open like fairy tales, +recounting in simple diction the histories of widows living in flowery +cottages, with assiduous devoted little sons, who work in the garden and +earn money to make up the rent. There are also village children busily +employed, and good little orphans whose parents generally die in the +opening pages. Fairies were not much in Miss Edgeworth's line, but +philanthropic manufacturers, liberal noblemen, and benevolent ladies in +travelling carriages, do as well and appear in the nick of time to +distribute rewards or to point a moral. Rosamond of the Purple Jar +reappears in the _Birthday Present_, which gives one an odd picture of +the customs of those days. We read of the little lace girl who leaves +her pillow upon a stone before the door, and of the footman laced with +silver, who having entangled the bobbins and kicked the pillow into the +lane, jumps up behind his mistress's coach and is out of sight in a +minute. Wise Laura, who had not, like Rosamond, spent her half-guinea +upon filigree paper, consoles the little weeping lace-maker, and presses +her golden coin into her hand. + +Lazy Lawrence is one of the prettiest stories in the collection. Who +could read the story of Dutiful Jim and his love for old Lightfoot +unmoved? Lightfoot deserves to take his humble place among the immortal +winged steeds of mythology along with Pegasus, or with Black Bess, or +Balaam's Ass, or any other celebrated steeds. + +Most children like the history of the Orphans; that quiet history in +which the sister of twelve years old acts a mother's part by the little +children. I believe the story is founded on some real and modest heroine +of those bygone days. Then, again, who has not sympathised with 'Waste +not, Want not,' and with thoughtful Ben and his careful assiduity? It +would be curious to calculate how much good time has been sacrificed to +saving worthless pieces of string in imitation of this thrifty but +fascinating hero. But after all nothing is to compare to Simple Susan: +how pretty the scene is where Susan, working in her arbour, hears the +sound of her friend Philip's pipe and tabor; the children come across +the green with their garlands, leading up Susan's lamb tied up with +ribbons, the wicked agent skulks away; innocence and beauty triumph over +wrong. + + * * * * * + +Friendship plays a no less important part in Miss Edgeworth's stories +than it did in her own actual experience. Many of the scenes of Miss +Edgeworth's stories are laid in manufacturing districts, and I have +already quoted from the correspondence with Mr. Strutt, on whose +sympathy and help she so greatly relied. Young Edward Strutt, +afterwards Lord Belper, used to write to the young men at Edgeworthstown +when he was a child of only nine years old. 'I shall not be satisfied +with any letter from you that does not mention every member of your +uncle's family and your own,' says one of the young Edgeworths, writing +back in answer to the boy. Mr. Edgeworth sends his sons in succession to +visit his friend Mr. Strutt, and quotes from Pliny, saying: 'The claim I +now make to your favour is your having already done me favours. I +introduce my fourth son to your notice simply upon the foundation of +your having been very kind to his brothers.' + +In 1823 Miss Edgeworth, who has been writing to Mr. Strutt for years, +addresses him as 'my dear sir--my dear friend, I think I may venture to +say!' She consults him upon details in her stories, and asks his advice +on some matter connected with spinning-jennies. There also are many +family events, charmingly chronicled in the orderly flowing characters +of the lady, or the bolder writing of her correspondent; one letter +concerns the election to Parliament of Mr. Edward Strutt in 1830. + + The Strutts are all clever, + Here's Edward for ever, + +she writes, and defends her doggerel by the 'natural Irish spirits where +the interests of a friend are concerned.' As time goes on Lord Belper's +own letters appear, keeping up the family tradition of kindness and +hospitality. The author's conscientious painstaking strikes one, as one +realises the care she bestowed upon her work. _La Triste Realite_, of +which Mme. de Stael complained, has certainly its charm for the infant +mind, and also for some maturer readers. + +Archbishop Whately in one of his reviews upon Miss Edgeworth points out +the change which has gradually come over story-telling. 'Instead of the +splendid scenes of an imaginary world, striking representations of that +which is daily taking place around us are set forth,' he says. 'We now +turn to _Flemish painting_'--so he calls the descriptions; and he adds +that a novel which makes good its pretensions of giving a perfectly +correct picture of common life, becomes a far more instructive work than +one of superior merit belonging to the imaginative class; for, as he +tells us, 'It guides the judgment and supplies a kind of artificial +experience of life.' It is also Whately who complains--not exactly as +one would expect an archbishop to complain--that Miss Edgeworth's +stories are too improving, too didactic. 'She would, we think, instruct +more successfully, and we are sure please more frequently, if she kept +the design of teaching more out of sight,' he writes. If Whately were +alive to review the novels of our own day, he might after all prefer +'the splendid scenes of an imaginary world' to the favourite experiments +in garbage of our present Laura Matildas. It is true the books sell by +thousands. They certainly prove that the successful discovery of the age +is _not_ to point out what is right but what is wrong. Books used to be +coarse and jocular; our books are earnest and indecent on principle. One +hears of the _revolting_ daughters who are so much to the front, the +same word in a different sense may perhaps apply to a favourite school +of authors now in vogue. + +There is, however, a compensating balance in every adjustment of the +scales of life: along with the minor virtues which are so much out of +fashion, such as modesty, decency, good breeding, etc., follows the +expulsion of a great many minor vices, such as affectation, +disingenuousness, exclusiveness, and worldly wisdom. The latter +qualities still exist of course, but in a rather shame-stricken, +apologetic sort of way. Besides the gibes of literature, they have to +contend with all sorts of opposing influences,--with omnibuses, +depreciated investments, penny papers, county councils, all of which +certainly place altruism and public spirit in the place of the more +personal egotisms of our grandfathers. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + PREFACE 1 + + THE ORPHANS 5 + + LAZY LAWRENCE 27 + + THE FALSE KEY 55 + + SIMPLE SUSAN 79 + + THE WHITE PIGEON 141 + + THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT 153 + + ETON MONTEM 169 + + FORGIVE AND FORGET 215 + + WASTE NOT, WANT NOT; OR, TWO STRINGS TO YOUR BOW 231 + + OLD POZ 257 + + THE MIMIC 273 + + THE BARRING OUT; OR, PARTY SPIRIT 307 + + THE BRACELETS 347 + + THE LITTLE MERCHANTS 373 + + TARLTON 431 + + THE BASKET-WOMAN 451 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PAGE + + 'I thought I saw----' poor Franklin began _Frontispiece_ + + Inquired what it was she most wanted 10 + + 'Well, and what have you done with the treasure you had the + luck to find?' 20 + + 'See what you've done for me--look!--look, look, I say!' 38 + + 'What's the matter?' said his mistress. 'God bless the boy!' + said his mother 48 + + 'You know this key? I shall trust it in your care' 72 + + 'It won't do,' said Barbara, turning her back 85 + + Tried all her skill to fathom his thoughts 100 + + Let it eat out of her hand for the last time 116 + + 'Stay! oh stay! don't chop his head off' 144 + + The boy pulled off the cover, and saw a white pigeon painted + upon the sign 151 + + She twisted and untwisted, placed and replaced, the bobbins, + while the footman stood laughing at her distress 156 + + 'I shan't spoil it; and I will have it in my own hands' 161 + + 'Then shake hands, my honest landlord' 176 + + Enter Miss Bursal, in a riding dress 181 + + 'I say I saw _him_ there take the jump which strained + the horse.' 209 + + 'Talbot and truth for ever! Huzza' 212 + + 'Stay! Stand still, sir! or you will break your china jar' 217 + + When Maurice saw his raspberry-plants scattered upon the + ground, and his favourite tulip broken, he was in much + astonishment 228 + + Playing at cat's cradle 236 + + He dragged poor Hal out of the red mud 253 + + _Lucy._ What's this, papa? _Just._ Pshaw! pshaw! + pshaw!--it is not melted, child--it is the same as no sugar 260 + + 'Five times have I commanded silence, and I won't command + anything five times in vain--_that's poz!_' 264 + + 'And Mr. Smack, the curate, and Squire Solid, and the doctor, + sir, are come, and dinner is upon the table' 270 + + The next day Mrs. Theresa Tattle did herself the honour to + wait upon Mrs. Montague 276 + + 'She dashed and splashed without minding exactness, or the + recipe, or anything' 284 + + 'And like a man--and like a good man, I am sure thou wilt,' said + the good Quaker, shaking Frederick's hand affectionately 304 + + 'What is become of my Livy?' 'Your _sister_ Livy, do you + mean?' 313 + + Archer leaped up, and seizing hold of Fisher with a powerful + grasp, sternly demanded 'What he meant by this?' 335 + + He sneaked out, whimpering in a doleful voice 345 + + 'How?' cried Cecilia, catching hold of her 352 + + 'Oh, stay one minute!' said Cecilia 363 + + 'I saw him the other day miss selling a melon for his father by + turning the bruised side to the customer' 377 + + Piedro was hissed and hooted out of the market-place 400 + + The Jew, who was a man old in all the arts of villainy, contrived + to cheat both his associates 413 + + Returned in safety over the lava, yet warm under his feet 419 + + 'Is it poison?' exclaimed Loveit, starting back with horror 441 + + 'May God bless you!' 448 + + 'But, oh, brother, look at this! this is not the same as the + other halfpence' 456 + + His master came in with a face of indignation, and demanded + '_The guinea_--the _guinea_, _sir_!' 464 + + + + +PREFACE + +ADDRESSED TO PARENTS + + +Our great lexicographer, in his celebrated eulogium on Dr. Watts, thus +speaks in commendation of those productions which he so successfully +penned for the pleasure and instruction of the juvenile portion of the +community. + +'For children,' says Dr. Johnson, 'he condescended to lay aside the +philosopher, the scholar, and the wit, to write little poems of +devotion, and systems of instruction adapted to their wants and +capacities, from the dawn of reason to its gradation of advance in the +morning of life. Every man acquainted with the common principles of +human action will look with veneration on the writer who is at one time +combating Locke and at another time making a catechism for _children in +their fourth year_. A voluntary descent from the dignity of science is +perhaps the hardest lesson which humility can teach.' + +It seems, however, no very easy task to write for children. Those only +who have been interested in the education of a family, who have +patiently followed children through the first processes of reasoning, +who have daily watched over their thoughts and feelings--those only who +know with what ease and rapidity the early associations of ideas are +formed, on which the future taste, character, and happiness depend, can +feel the dangers and difficulties of such an undertaking. + +Indeed, in all sciences the grand difficulty has been to ascertain +facts--a difficulty which, in the science of education, peculiar +circumstances conspire to increase. Here the objects of every experiment +are so interesting that we cannot hold our minds indifferent to the +result. Nor is it to be expected that many registers of experiments, +successful and unsuccessful, should be kept, much less should be +published, when we consider that the combined powers of affection and +vanity, of partiality to his child and to his theory, will act upon the +mind of a parent, in opposition to the abstract love of justice, and the +general desire to increase the wisdom and happiness of mankind. +Notwithstanding these difficulties, an attempt to keep such a register +has actually been made. The design has from time to time been pursued. +Though much has not been collected, every circumstance and conversation +that have been preserved are faithfully and accurately related, and +these notes have been of great advantage to the writer of the following +stories. + +The question, whether society could exist without the distinction of +ranks, is a question involving a variety of complicated discussions, +which we leave to the politician and the legislator. At present it is +necessary that the education of different ranks should, in some +respects, be different. They have few ideas, few habits, in common; +their peculiar vices and virtues do not arise from the same causes, and +their ambition is to be directed to different objects. But justice, +truth, and humanity are confined to no particular rank, and should be +enforced with equal care and energy upon the minds of young people of +every station; and it is hoped that these principles have never been +forgotten in the following pages. + +As the ideas of children multiply, the language of their books should +become less simple; else their taste will quickly be disgusted, or will +remain stationary. Children that live with people who converse with +elegance will not be contented with a style inferior to what they hear +from everybody near them. + +All poetical allusions, however, have been avoided in this book; such +situations only are described as children can easily imagine, and which +may consequently interest their feelings. Such examples of virtue are +painted as are not above their conception of excellence, or their powers +of sympathy and emulation. + +It is not easy to give _rewards_ to children which shall not indirectly +do them harm by fostering some hurtful taste or passion. In the story of +'Lazy Lawrence,' where the object was to excite a spirit of industry, +care has been taken to proportion the reward to the exertion, and to +demonstrate that people feel cheerful and happy whilst they are +employed. The reward of our industrious boy, though it be money, is only +money considered as the means of gratifying a benevolent wish. In a +commercial nation it is especially necessary to separate, as much as +possible, the spirit of industry and avarice; and to beware lest we +introduce Vice under the form of Virtue. + +In the story of 'Tarlton and Loveit' are represented the danger and the +folly of that weakness of mind, and that easiness to be led, which too +often pass for good nature; and in the tale of the 'False Key' are +pointed out some of the evils to which a well-educated boy, on first +going to service, is exposed from the profligacy of his fellow-servants. + +In the 'Birthday Present,' and in the character of Mrs. Theresa Tattle, +the _Parent's Assistant_ has pointed out the dangers which may arise in +education from a bad servant or a common acquaintance. + +In the 'Barring Out' the errors to which a high spirit and the love of +party are apt to lead have been made the subject of correction, and it +is hoped that the common fault of making the most mischievous characters +appear the most _active_ and the most ingenious has been as much as +possible avoided. _Unsuccessful_ cunning will not be admired, and cannot +induce imitation. + +It has been attempted, in these stories, to provide antidotes against +ill-humour, the epidemic rage for dissipation, and the fatal propensity +to admire and imitate whatever the fashion of the moment may +distinguish. Were young people, either in public schools or in private +families, absolutely free from bad examples, it would not be advisable +to introduce despicable and vicious characters in books intended for +their improvement. But in real life they _must_ see vice, and it is best +that they should be early shocked with the representation of what they +are to avoid. There is a great deal of difference between innocence and +ignorance. + +To prevent the precepts of morality from tiring the ear and the mind, it +was necessary to make the stories in which they are introduced in some +measure dramatic; to keep alive hope and fear and curiosity, by some +degree of intricacy. At the same time, care has been taken to avoid +inflaming the imagination, or exciting a restless spirit of adventure, +by exhibiting false views of life, and creating hopes which, in the +ordinary course of things, cannot be realised. + + + + +THE ORPHANS + + +Near the ruins of the castle of Rossmore, in Ireland, is a small cabin, +in which there once lived a widow and her four children. As long as she +was able to work, she was very industrious, and was accounted the best +spinner in the parish; but she overworked herself at last, and fell ill, +so that she could not sit to her wheel as she used to do, and was +obliged to give it up to her eldest daughter, Mary. + +Mary was at this time about twelve years old. One evening she was +sitting at the foot of her mother's bed spinning, and her little +brothers and sisters were gathered round the fire eating their potatoes +and milk for supper. 'Bless them, the poor young creatures!' said the +widow, who, as she lay on her bed, which she knew must be her deathbed, +was thinking of what would become of her children after she was gone. +Mary stopped her wheel, for she was afraid that the noise of it had +wakened her mother, and would hinder her from going to sleep again. + +'No need to stop the wheel, Mary, dear, for me,' said her mother, 'I was +not asleep; nor is it _that_ which keeps me from sleep. But don't +overwork yourself, Mary.' 'Oh, no fear of that,' replied Mary; 'I'm +strong and hearty.' 'So was I once,' said her mother. 'And so you will +be again, I hope,' said Mary, 'when the fine weather comes again.' + +'The fine weather will never come again to me,' said her mother. ''Tis a +folly, Mary, to hope for that; but what I hope is, that you'll find some +friend--some help--orphans as you'll soon all of you be. And one thing +comforts my heart, even as I _am_ lying here, that not a soul in the +wide world I am leaving has to complain of me. Though poor I have lived +honest, and I have brought you up to be the same, Mary; and I am sure +the little ones will take after you; for you'll be good to them--as good +to them as you can.' + +Here the children, who had finished eating their suppers, came round the +bed, to listen to what their mother was saying. She was tired of +speaking, for she was very weak; but she took their little hands as they +laid them on the bed, and joining them all together, she said, 'Bless +you, dears--bless you; love and help one another all you can. Good +night!--good-bye!' + +Mary took the children away to their bed, for she saw that their mother +was too ill to say more; but Mary did not herself know how ill she was. +Her mother never spoke rightly afterwards, but talked in a confused way +about some debts, and one in particular, which she owed to a +schoolmistress for Mary's schooling; and then she charged Mary to go and +pay it, because she was not able to _go in_ with it. At the end of the +week she was dead and buried, and the orphans were left alone in their +cabin. + +The two youngest girls, Peggy and Nancy, were six and seven years old. +Edmund was not yet nine, but he was a stout-grown, healthy boy, and well +disposed to work. He had been used to bring home turf from the bog on +his back, to lead carthorses, and often to go on errands for gentlemen's +families, who paid him a sixpence or a shilling, according to the +distance which he went, so that Edmund, by some or other of these little +employments, was, as he said, likely enough to earn his bread; and he +told Mary to have a good heart, for that he should every year grow able +to do more and more, and that he should never forget his mother's words +when she last gave him her blessing and joined their hands all together. + +As for Peggy and Nancy, it was little that they could do; but they were +good children, and Mary, when she considered that so much depended upon +her, was resolved to exert herself to the utmost. Her first care was to +pay those debts which her mother had mentioned to her, for which she +left money done up carefully in separate papers. When all these were +paid away, there was not enough left to pay both the rent of the cabin +and a year's schooling for herself and sisters which was due to the +schoolmistress in a neighbouring village. + +Mary was in hopes that the rent would not be called for immediately, +but in this she was disappointed. Mr. Harvey, the gentleman on whose +estate she lived, was in England, and in his absence all was managed by +a Mr. Hopkins, an agent, who was a _hard man_.[1] The driver came to +Mary about a week after her mother's death and told her that the rent +must be brought in the next day, and that she must leave the cabin, for +a new tenant was coming into it; that she was too young to have a house +to herself, and that the only thing she had to do was to get some +neighbour to take her and her brother and her sisters in for charity's +sake. + + [1] A hard-hearted man. + +The driver finished by hinting that she would not be so hardly used if +she had not brought upon herself the ill-will of Miss Alice, the agent's +daughter. Mary, it is true, had refused to give Miss Alice a goat upon +which she had set her fancy; but this was the only offence of which she +had been guilty, and at the time she refused it her mother wanted the +goat's milk, which was the only thing she then liked to drink. + +Mary went immediately to Mr. Hopkins, the agent, to pay her rent; and +she begged of him to let her stay another year in her cabin; but this he +refused. It was now September 25th, and he said that the new tenant must +come in on the 29th, so that she must quit it directly. Mary could not +bear the thoughts of begging any of the neighbours to take her and her +brother and sisters in _for charity's sake_; for the neighbours were +all poor enough themselves. So she bethought herself that she might find +shelter in the ruins of the old castle of Rossmore, where she and her +brother, in better times, had often played at hide and seek. The kitchen +and two other rooms near it were yet covered in tolerably well; and a +little thatch, she thought, would make them comfortable through the +winter. The agent consented to let her and her brother and sisters go in +there, upon her paying him half a guinea in hand, and promising to pay +the same yearly. + +Into these lodgings the orphans now removed, taking with them two +bedsteads, a stool, chair, and a table, a sort of press, which contained +what little clothes they had, and a chest in which they had two hundred +of meal. The chest was carried for them by some of the charitable +neighbours, who likewise added to their scanty stock of potatoes and +turf what would make it last through the winter. + +These children were well thought of and pitied, because their mother was +known to have been all her life honest and industrious. 'Sure,' says one +of the neighbours, 'we can do no less than give a helping hand to the +poor orphans, that are so ready to help themselves.' So one helped to +thatch the room in which they were to sleep, and another took their cow +to graze upon his bit of land on condition of having half the milk; and +one and all said they should be welcome to take share of their potatoes +and buttermilk if they should find their own ever fall short. + +The half-guinea which Mr. Hopkins, the agent, required for letting Mary +into the castle was part of what she had to pay to the schoolmistress, +to whom above a guinea was due. Mary went to her, and took her goat +along with her, and offered it in part of payment of the debt, but the +schoolmistress would not receive the goat. She said that she could +afford to wait for her money till Mary was able to pay it; that she knew +her to be an honest, industrious little girl, and she would trust her +with more than a guinea. Mary thanked her; and she was glad to take the +goat home again, as she was very fond of it. + +Being now settled in their house, they went every day regularly to work; +Mary spun nine cuts a day, besides doing all that was to be done in the +house; Edmund got fourpence a day by his work; and Peggie and Annie +earned twopence apiece at the paper-mills near Navan, where they were +employed to sort rags and to cut them into small pieces. + +When they had done work one day, Annie went to the master of the +paper-mill and asked him if she might have two sheets of large white +paper which were lying on the press. She offered a penny for the paper; +but the master would not take anything from her, but gave her the paper +when he found that she wanted it to make a garland for her mother's +grave. Annie and Peggy cut out the garland, and Mary, when it was +finished, went along with them and Edmund to put it up. It was just a +month after their mother's death. + +It happened, at the time the orphans were putting up this garland, that +two young ladies, who were returning home after their evening walk, +stopped at the gate of the churchyard to look at the red light which the +setting sun cast upon the window of the church. As the ladies were +standing at the gate, they heard a voice near them crying, 'O mother! +mother! are you gone for ever?' They could not see any one; so they +walked softly round to the other side of the church, and there they saw +Mary kneeling beside a grave, on which her brother and sisters were +hanging their white garlands. + +The children all stood still when they saw the two ladies passing near +them; but Mary did not know anybody was passing, for her face was hid in +her hands. + +Isabella and Caroline (so these ladies were called) would not disturb +the poor children; but they stopped in the village to inquire about +them. It was at the house of the schoolmistress that they stopped, and +she gave them a good account of these orphans. She particularly +commended Mary's honesty, in having immediately paid all her mother's +debts to the utmost farthing, as far as her money would go. She told the +ladies how Mary had been turned out of her house, and how she had +offered her goat, of which she was very fond, to discharge a debt due +for her schooling; and, in short, the schoolmistress, who had known Mary +for several years, spoke so well of her that these ladies resolved that +they would go to the old castle of Rossmore to see her the next day. + +When they went there, they found the room in which the children lived as +clean and neat as such a ruined place could be made. Edmund was out +working with a farmer, Mary was spinning, and her little sisters were +measuring out some bogberries, of which they had gathered a basketful, +for sale. Isabella, after telling Mary what an excellent character she +had heard of her, inquired what it was she most wanted; and Mary said +that she had just worked up all her flax, and she was most in want of +more flax for her wheel. + +Isabella promised that she would send her a fresh supply of flax, and +Caroline bought the bogberries from the little girls, and gave them +money enough to buy a pound of coarse cotton for knitting, as Mary said +that she could teach them how to knit. + +The supply of flax, which Isabella sent the next day, was of great +service to Mary, as it kept her in employment for above a month; and +when she sold the yarn which she had spun with it, she had money enough +to buy some warm flannel for winter wear. Besides spinning well, she had +learned at school to do plain work tolerably neatly, and Isabella and +Caroline employed her to work for them; by which she earned a great +deal more than she could by spinning. At her leisure hours she taught +her sisters to read and write; and Edmund, with part of the money which +he earned by his work out of doors, paid a schoolmaster for teaching him +a little arithmetic. When the winter nights came on, he used to light +his rush candles for Mary to work by. He had gathered and stripped a +good provision of rushes in the month of August, and a neighbour gave +him grease to dip them in. + +[Illustration: _Inquired what it was she most wanted._] + +One evening, just as he had lighted his candle, a footman came in, who +was sent by Isabella with some plain work to Mary. This servant was an +Englishman, and he was but newly come over to Ireland. The rush candles +caught his attention; for he had never seen any of them before, as he +came from a part of England where they were not used. Edmund, who was +ready to oblige, and proud that his candles were noticed, showed the +Englishman how they were made, and gave him a bundle of rushes.[2] + + [2] 'The proper species of rush,' says White, in his _Natural History + of Selborne_, 'seems to be the _Juncus effusus_, or common soft + rush, which is to be found in moist pastures, by the sides of + streams, and under hedges. These rushes are in best condition + in the height of summer, but may be gathered so as to serve the + purpose well quite on to autumn. The largest and longest are + the best. Decayed labourers, women, and children make it their + business to procure and prepare them. As soon as they are cut, + they must be flung into water, and kept there; for otherwise they + will dry and shrink, and the peel will not run. When these _junci_ + are thus far prepared, they must lie out on the grass to be + bleached, and take the dew for some nights, and afterwards be + dried in the sun. Some address is required in dipping these rushes + in the scalding fat or grease; but this knack is also to be + attained by practice. A pound of common grease may be procured for + fourpence, and about six pounds of grease will dip a pound of + rushes, and one pound of rushes may be bought for one shilling; + so that a pound of rushes, medicated and ready for use, will + cost three shillings.' + +The servant was pleased with his good nature in this trifling instance, +and remembered it long after it was forgotten by Edmund. Whenever his +master wanted to send a messenger anywhere, Gilbert (for that was the +servant's name) always employed his little friend Edmund, whom, upon +further acquaintance, he liked better and better. He found that Edmund +was both quick and exact in executing commissions. + +One day, after he had waited a great while at a gentleman's house for an +answer to a letter, he was so impatient to get home that he ran off +without it. When he was questioned by Gilbert why he did not bring an +answer, he did not attempt to make any excuse; he did not say, '_There +was no answer, please your honour_' or, '_They bid me not wait_' etc.; +but he told exactly the truth; and though Gilbert scolded him for being +so impatient as not to wait, yet his telling the truth was more to the +boy's advantage than any excuse he could have made. After this he was +always believed when he said, '_There was no answer_' or, '_They bid me +not wait_'; for Gilbert knew that he would not tell a lie to save +himself from being scolded. + +The orphans continued to assist one another in their work according to +their strength and abilities; and they went on in this manner for three +years. With what Mary got by her spinning and plain work, and Edmund by +leading of carthorses, going on errands, etc., and with little Peggy and +Anne's earnings, the family contrived to live comfortably. Isabella and +Caroline often visited them, and sometimes gave them clothes, and +sometimes flax or cotton for their spinning and knitting; and these +children did not _expect_ that, because the ladies did something for +them, they should do everything. They did not grow idle or wasteful. + +When Edmund was about twelve years old, his friend Gilbert sent for him +one day, and told him that his master had given him leave to have a boy +in the house to assist him, and that his master told him he might choose +one in the neighbourhood. Several were anxious to get into such a good +place; but Gilbert said that he preferred Edmund before them all, +because he knew him to be an industrious, honest, good-natured lad, who +always told the truth. So Edmund went into service at _the vicarage_; +and his master was the father of Isabella and Caroline. He found his new +way of life very pleasant; for he was well fed, well clothed, and well +treated; and he every day learned more of his business, in which at +first he was rather awkward. He was mindful to do all that Mr. Gilbert +required of him; and he was so obliging to all his fellow-servants that +they could not help liking him. But there was one thing which was at +first rather disagreeable to him: he was obliged to wear shoes and +stockings, and they hurt his feet. Besides this, when he waited at +dinner he made such a noise in walking that his fellow-servants laughed +at him. He told his sister Mary of his distress, and she made for him, +after many trials, a pair of cloth shoes, with soles of platted +hemp.[3] In these he could walk without making the least noise; and as +these shoes could not be worn out of doors, he was always sure to change +them before he went out; and consequently he had always clean shoes to +wear in the house. + + [3] The author has seen a pair of shoes, such as here described, made + in a few hours. + +It was soon remarked by the men-servants that he had left off clumping +so heavily, and it was observed by the maids that he never dirtied the +stairs or passages with his shoes. When he was praised for these things, +he said it was his sister Mary who should be thanked, and not he; and he +showed the shoes which she had made for him. + +Isabella's maid bespoke a pair immediately, and sent Mary a piece of +pretty calico for the outside. The last-maker made a last for her, and +over this Mary sewed the calico vamps tight. Her brother advised her to +try platted packthread instead of hemp for the soles; and she found that +this looked more neat than the hemp soles, and was likely to last +longer. She platted the packthread together in strands of about half an +inch thick, and these were sewed firmly together at the bottom of the +shoe. When they were finished they fitted well, and the maid showed them +to her mistress. + +Isabella and Caroline were so well pleased with Mary's ingenuity and +kindness to her brother, that they bespoke from her two dozen of these +shoes, and gave her three yards of coloured fustian to make them of, and +galloon for the binding. When the shoes were completed, Isabella and +Caroline disposed of them for her amongst their acquaintance, and got +three shillings a pair for them. The young ladies, as soon as they had +collected the money, walked to the old castle, where they found +everything neat and clean as usual. They had great pleasure in giving to +this industrious girl the reward of her ingenuity, which she received +with some surprise and more gratitude. They advised her to continue the +shoemaking trade, as they found the shoes were liked, and they knew that +they could have a sale for them at the _Repository_ in Dublin. + +Mary, encouraged by these kind friends, went on with her little +manufacture with increased activity. Peggy and Anne platted the +packthread, and basted the vamps and linings together ready for her. +Edmund was allowed to come home for an hour every morning, provided he +was back again before eight o'clock. It was summer time, and he got up +early, because he liked to go home to see his sisters, and he took his +share in the manufactory. It was his business to hammer the soles flat; +and as soon as he came home every morning he performed his task with so +much cheerfulness, and sang so merrily at his work, that the hour of his +arrival was always an hour of joy to the family. + +Mary had presently employment enough upon her hands. Orders came to her +for shoes from many families in the neighbourhood, and she could not get +them finished fast enough. She, however, in the midst of her hurry, +found time to make a very pretty pair, with neat roses, as a present for +her schoolmistress, who, now that she saw her pupil in a good way of +business, consented to receive the amount of her old debt. Several of +the children who went to her school were delighted with the sight of +Mary's present, and went to the little manufactory at Rossmore Castle, +to find out how these shoes were made. Some went from curiosity, others +from idleness; but when they saw how happy the little shoemakers seemed +whilst busy at work, they longed to take some share in what was going +forward. One begged Mary to let her plat some packthread for the soles; +another helped Peggy and Anne to baste in the linings; and all who could +get employment were pleased, for the idle ones were shoved out of the +way. It became a custom with the children of the village to resort to +the old castle at their play hours; and it was surprising to see how +much was done by ten or twelve of them, each doing but a little at a +time. + +One morning Edmund and the little manufacturers were assembled very +early, and they were busy at their work, all sitting round the meal +chest, which served them for a table. + +'My hands must be washed,' said George, a little boy who came running +in; 'I ran so fast that I might be in time, to go to work along with you +all, that I tumbled down, and look how I have dirtied my hands. Most +haste worst speed. My hands must be washed before I can do anything.' + +Whilst George was washing his hands, two other little children, who had +just finished their morning's work, came to him to beg that he would +blow some soap bubbles for them, and they were all three eagerly blowing +bubbles, and watching them mount into the air, when suddenly they were +startled by a noise as loud as thunder. They were in a sort of outer +court of the castle, next to the room in which all their companions were +at work, and they ran precipitately into the room, exclaiming, 'Did you +hear that noise?' + +'I thought I heard a clap of thunder,' said Mary, 'but why do you look +so frightened?' + +As she finished speaking, another and a louder noise, and the walls +round about them shook. The children turned pale and stood motionless; +but Edmund threw down his hammer and ran out to see what was the matter. +Mary followed him, and they saw that a great chimney of the old ruins at +the farthest side of the castle had fallen down, and this was the cause +of the prodigious noise. + +The part of the castle in which they lived seemed, as Edmund said, to be +perfectly safe; but the children of the village were terrified, and +thinking that the whole would come tumbling down directly, they ran to +their homes as fast as they could. Edmund, who was a courageous lad, and +proud of showing his courage, laughed at their cowardice; but Mary, who +was very prudent, persuaded her brother to ask an experienced mason, who +was building at his master's, to come and give his opinion whether their +part of the castle was safe to live in or not. The mason came, and gave +it as his opinion that the rooms they inhabited might last through the +winter, but that no part of the ruins could stand another year. Mary was +sorry to leave a place of which she had grown fond, poor as it was, +having lived in it in peace and contentment ever since her mother's +death, which was now nearly four years; but she determined to look out +for some other place to live in; and she had now money enough to pay the +rent of a comfortable cabin. Without losing any time, she went to the +village that was at the end of the avenue leading to _the vicarage_, for +she wished to get a lodging in this village because it was so near to +her brother, and to the ladies who had been so kind to her. She found +that there was one newly built house in this village unoccupied; it +belonged to Mr. Harvey, her landlord, who was still in England; it was +slated, and neatly fitted up inside; but the rent of it was six guineas +a year, and this was far above what Mary could afford to pay. Three +guineas a year she thought was the highest rent for which she could +venture to engage. Besides, she heard that several proposals had been +made to Mr. Harvey for this house, and she knew that Mr. Hopkins, the +agent, was not her friend; therefore she despaired of getting it. There +was no other to be had in this village. Her brother was still more vexed +than she was, that she could not find a place near him. He offered to +give a guinea yearly towards the rent out of his wages; and Mr. Gilbert +spoke about it for him to the steward, and inquired whether, amongst any +of those who had given in proposals, there might not be one who would be +content with a part of the house, and who would join with Mary in paying +the rent. None could be found but a woman who was a great scold, and a +man who was famous for going to law about every trifle with his +neighbours. Mary did not choose to have anything to do with these +people. She did not like to speak either to Miss Isabella or Caroline +about it, because she was not of an encroaching temper; and when they +had done so much for her, she would have been ashamed to beg for more. +She returned home to the old castle, mortified that she had no good news +to tell Anne and Peggy, who she knew expected to hear that she had found +a nice house for them in the village near their brother. + +'Bad news for you, Peggy,' cried she, as soon as she got home. 'And bad +news for you, Mary,' replied her sisters, who looked very sorrowful. +'What's the matter?' 'Your poor goat is dead,' replied Peggy. 'There she +is, yonder, lying under the great corner stone; you can just see her +leg. We cannot lift the stone from off her, it is so heavy. Betsy (_one +of the neighbour's girls_) says she remembers, when she came to us to +work early this morning, she saw the goat rubbing itself and butting +with its horns against that old tottering chimney.' + +'Many's the time,' said Mary, 'that I have driven the poor thing away +from that place; I was always afraid she would shake that great ugly +stone down upon her at last.' + +The goat, who had long been the favourite of Mary and her sisters, was +lamented by them all. When Edmund came, he helped them to move the great +stone from off the poor animal, who was crushed so as to be a terrible +sight. As they were moving away this stone in order to bury the goat, +Anne found an odd-looking piece of money, which seemed neither like a +halfpenny, nor a shilling, nor a guinea. + +'Here are more, a great many more of them,' cried Peggy; and upon +searching amongst the rubbish, they discovered a small iron pot, which +seemed as if it had been filled with these coins, as a vast number of +them were found about the spot where it fell. On examining these coins, +Edmund thought that several of them looked like gold, and the girls +exclaimed with great joy--'O Mary! Mary! this is come to us just in +right time--now you can pay for the slated house. Never was anything so +lucky!' + +But Mary, though nothing could have pleased her better than to have been +able to pay for the house, observed that they could not honestly touch +any of this treasure, as it belonged to the owner of the castle. Edmund +agreed with her that they ought to carry it all immediately to Mr. +Hopkins, the agent. Peggy and Anne were convinced by what Mary said, and +they begged to go along with her and her brother, to take the coins to +Mr. Hopkins. On their way they stopped at the vicarage, to show the +treasure to Mr. Gilbert, who took it to the young ladies, Isabella and +Caroline, and told them how it had been found. + +It is not only by their superior riches, but it is yet more by their +superior knowledge, that persons in the higher rank of life may assist +those in a lower condition. + +Isabella, who had some knowledge of chemistry, discovered, by touching +the coins with nitric acid, that several of them were of gold, and +consequently of great value. Caroline also found out that many of the +coins were very valuable as curiosities. She recollected her father's +having shown to her the prints of the coins at the end of each king's +reign in Rapin's _History of England_; and upon comparing these +impressions with the coins found by the orphans, she perceived that many +of them were of the reign of Henry the Seventh, which, from their +scarcity, were highly appreciated by numismatic collectors. + +Isabella and Caroline, knowing something of the character of Mr. +Hopkins, the agent, had the precaution to count the coins, and to mark +each of them with a cross, so small that it was scarcely visible to the +naked eye, though it was easily to be seen through a magnifying glass. +They also begged that their father, who was well acquainted with Mr. +Harvey, the gentleman to whom Rossmore Castle belonged, would write to +him, and tell him how well these orphans had behaved about the treasure +which they had found. The value of the coins was estimated at about +thirty or forty guineas. + +A few days after the fall of the chimney at Rossmore Castle, as Mary and +her sisters were sitting at their work, there came hobbling in an old +woman, leaning on a crab stick that seemed to have been newly cut. She +had a broken tobacco-pipe in her mouth; her head was wrapped up in two +large red and blue handkerchiefs, with their crooked corners hanging far +down over the back of her neck, no shoes on her broad feet, nor +stockings on her many-coloured legs. Her petticoat was jagged at the +bottom, and the skirt of her gown turned up over her shoulders to serve +instead of a cloak, which she had sold for whisky. This old woman was +well known amongst the country people by the name of _Goody Grope_;[4] +because she had for many years been in the habit of groping in old +castles and in moats,[5] and at the bottom of a round tower[6] in the +neighbourhood, in search of treasure. In her youth she had heard some +one talking in a whisper of an old prophecy, found in a bog, which said +that before many + + St. Patrick's days should come about, + There would be found + A treasure under ground, + By one within twenty miles around. + +This prophecy made a deep impression upon her. She also dreamed of it +three times: and as the dream, she thought, was a sure token that the +prophecy was to come true, she, from that time forwards, gave up her +spinning-wheel and her knitting, and could think of nothing but hunting +for the treasure that was to be found by one '_within twenty miles +round_'. + + [4] _Goody_ is not a word used in Ireland. _Collyogh_ is the Irish + appellation of an old woman; but as _Collyogh_ might sound + strangely to English ears, we have translated it by the word + Goody. + + [5] What are in Ireland called moats, are, in England, called Danish + mounds, or barrows. + + [6] Near Kells, in Ireland, there is a round tower, which was in + imminent danger of being pulled down by an old woman's rooting + at its foundation, in hopes of finding treasure. + +Year after year St. Patrick's day came about without her ever finding a +farthing by all her groping; and, as she was always idle, she grew +poorer and poorer; besides, to comfort herself for her disappointments, +and to give her spirits for fresh searches, she took to drinking. She +sold all she had by degrees; but still she fancied that the lucky day +would come, sooner or later, _that would pay for all_. + +Goody Grope, however, reached her sixtieth year without ever seeing this +lucky day; and now, in her old age, she was a beggar, without a house to +shelter her, a bed to lie on, or food to put into her mouth, but what +she begged from the charity of those who had trusted more than she had +to industry and less to _luck_. + +'Ah, Mary, honey! give me a potato and a sup of something, for the love +o' mercy; for not a bit have I had all day, except half a glass of +whisky and a halfpenny-worth of tobacco!' + +Mary immediately set before her some milk, and picked a good potato out +of the bowl for her. She was sorry to see such an old woman in such a +wretched condition. Goody Grope said she would rather have spirits of +some kind or other than milk; but Mary had no spirits to give her; so +she sat herself down close to the fire, and after she had sighed and +groaned and smoked for some time, she said to Mary, 'Well, and what have +you done with the treasure you had the luck to find?' Mary told her that +she had carried it to Mr. Hopkins, the agent. + +'That's not what I would have done in your place,' replied the old +woman. 'When good luck came to you, what a shame to turn your back upon +it! But it is idle talking of what's done--that's past; but I'll try my +luck in this here castle before next St. Patrick's day comes about. I +was told it was more than twenty miles from our bog, or I would have +been here long ago; but better late than never.' + +Mary was much alarmed, and not without reason, at this speech; for she +knew that if Goody Grope once set to work at the foundation of the old +castle of Rossmore, she would soon bring it all down. It was in vain to +talk to Goody Grope of the danger of burying herself under the ruins, or +of the improbability of her meeting with another pot of gold coins. She +set her elbow upon her knees, and stopping her ears with her hands, bid +Mary and her sisters not to waste their breath advising their elders; +for that, let them say what they would, she would fall to work the next +morning, '_barring_ you'll make it worth my while to let it alone.' + +[Illustration: _'Well, and what have you done with the treasure you had +the luck to find?'_] + +'And what will make it worth your while to let it alone?' said Mary; for +she saw that she must either get into a quarrel or give up her +habitation, or comply with the conditions of this provoking old woman. + +Half a crown, Goody Grope said, was the least she could be content to +take. Mary paid the half-crown, and was in hopes that she had got rid +for ever of her tormentor, but she was mistaken, for scarcely was the +week at an end before the old woman appeared before her again, and +repeated her threats of falling to work the next morning, unless she had +something given to her to buy tobacco. + +The next day and the next, and the next, Goody Grope came on the same +errand, and poor Mary, who could ill afford to supply her constantly +with halfpence, at last exclaimed, 'I am sure the finding of this +treasure has not been any good luck to us, but quite the contrary; and I +wish we never had found it.' + +Mary did not yet know how much she was to suffer on account of this +unfortunate pot of gold coins. Mr. Hopkins, the agent, imagined that no +one knew of the discovery of this treasure but himself and these poor +children; so, not being as honest as they were, he resolved to keep it +for his own use. He was surprised some weeks afterwards to receive a +letter from his employer, Mr. Harvey, demanding from him the coins which +had been discovered at Rossmore Castle. Hopkins had sold the gold coins, +and some of the others; and he flattered himself that the children, and +the young ladies, to whom he now found they had been shown, could not +tell whether what they had seen were gold or not, and he was not in the +least apprehensive that those of Henry the Seventh's reign should be +reclaimed from him as he thought they had escaped attention. So he sent +over the silver coins and others of little value, and apologised for his +not having mentioned them before, by saying that he considered them as +mere rubbish. + +Mr. Harvey, in reply, observed that he could not consider as rubbish the +gold coins which were amongst them when they were discovered; and he +inquired why these gold coins, and those of the reign of Henry the +Seventh, were not now sent to him. + +Mr. Hopkins denied that he had ever received any such; but he was +thunderstruck when Mr. Harvey, in reply to this falsehood, sent him a +list of the coins which the orphans had deposited with him, and exact +drawings of those that were missing. He informed him that this list and +these drawings came from two ladies who had seen the coins in question. + +Mr. Hopkins thought that he had no means of escape but by boldly +persisting in falsehood. He replied, that it was very likely such coins +had been found at Rossmore Castle, and that the ladies alluded to had +probably seen them; but he positively declared that they never came to +his hands; that he had restored all that were deposited with him; and +that, as to the others, he supposed they must have been taken out of the +pot by the children, or by Edmund or Mary on their way from the ladies' +house to his. + +The orphans were shocked and astonished when they heard, from Isabella +and Caroline, the charge that was made against them. They looked at one +another in silence for some moments. Then Peggy exclaimed--'_Sure!_ Mr. +Hopkins has forgotten himself strangely. Does not he remember Edmund's +counting the things to him upon the great table in his hall, and we all +standing by? I remember it as well as if it was this instant.' + +'And so do I,' cried Anne. 'And don't you recollect, Mary, your picking +out the gold ones, and telling Mr. Hopkins that they were gold; and he +said you knew nothing of the matter; and I was going to tell him that +Miss Isabella had tried them, and knew that they were gold? but just +then there came in some tenants to pay their rent, and he pushed us out, +and twitched from my hand the piece of gold which I had taken up to show +him the bright spot which Miss Isabella had cleaned by the stuff that +she had poured on it? I believe he was afraid I should steal it; he +twitched it from my hand in such a hurry. Do, Edmund; do, Mary--let us +go to him, and put him in mind of all this.' 'I'll go to him no more,' +said Edmund sturdily. 'He is a bad man--I'll never go to him again. +Mary, don't be cast down--we have no need to be cast down--we are +honest.' 'True,' said Mary; 'but is not it a hard case that we, who have +lived, as my mother did all her life before us, in peace and honesty +with all the world, should now have our good name taken from us, +when----' Mary's voice faltered and stopped. 'It can't be taken from +us,' cried Edmund, 'poor orphans though we are, and he a rich gentleman, +as he calls himself. Let him say and do what he will, he can't hurt our +good name.' + +Edmund was mistaken, alas! and Mary had but too much reason for her +fears. The affair was a great deal talked of; and the agent spared no +pains to have the story told his own way. The orphans, conscious of +their own innocence, took no pains about the matter; and the consequence +was, that all who knew them well had no doubt of their honesty; but +many, who knew nothing of them, concluded that the agent must be in the +right and the children in the wrong. The buzz of scandal went on for +some time without reaching their ears, because they lived very +retiredly. But one day, when Mary went to sell some stockings of Peggy's +knitting at the neighbouring fair, the man to whom she sold them bid her +write her name on the back of a note, and exclaimed, on seeing it--'Ho! +ho! mistress; I'd not have had any dealings with you, had I known your +name sooner. Where's the gold that you found at Rossmore Castle?' + +It was in vain that Mary related the fact. She saw that she gained no +belief, as her character was not known to this man, or to any of those +who were present. She left the fair as soon as she could; and though she +struggled against it, she felt very melancholy. Still she exerted +herself every day at her little manufacture; and she endeavoured to +console herself by reflecting that she had two friends left who would +not give up her character, and who continued steadily to protect her and +her sisters. + +Isabella and Caroline everywhere asserted their belief in the integrity +of the orphans, but to prove it was in this instance out of their power. +Mr. Hopkins, the agent, and his friends, constantly repeated that the +gold coins were taken away in coming from their house to his; and these +ladies were blamed by many people for continuing to countenance those +that were, with great reason, suspected to be thieves. The orphans were +in a worse condition than ever when the winter came on, and their +benefactresses left the country to spend some months in Dublin. The old +castle, it was true, was likely to last through the winter, as the mason +said; but though the want of a comfortable house to live in was, a +little while ago, the uppermost thing in Mary's thoughts, now it was not +so. + +One night, as Mary was going to bed, she heard some one knocking hard at +the door. 'Mary, are you up? let us in,' cried a voice, which she knew +to be the voice of Betsy Green, the postmaster's daughter, who lived in +the village near them. + +She let Betsy in, and asked what she could want at such a time of night. + +'Give me sixpence, and I'll tell you,' said Betsy; 'but waken Anne and +Peggy. Here's a letter just come by post for you, and I stepped over to +you with it; because I guessed you'd be glad to have it, seeing it is +your brother's handwriting.' + +Peggy and Anne were soon roused, when they heard that there was a letter +from Edmund. It was by one of his rush candles that Mary read it; and +the letter was as follows:-- + + 'DEAR MARY, NANCY, AND LITTLE PEG--Joy! joy!--I always said the + truth would come out at last; and that he could not take our good + name from us. But I will not tell you how it all came about till we + meet, which will be next week, as we are (I mean, master and + mistress, and the young ladies--bless them!--and Mr. Gilbert + and I) coming down to the vicarage to keep Christmas; and a happy + Christmas 'tis likely to be for honest folks. As for they that are + not honest, it is not for them to expect to be happy, at Christmas, + or any other time. You shall know all when we meet. So, till then, + fare ye well, dear Mary, Nancy, and little Peg.--Your joyful and + affectionate brother, EDMUND.' + +To comprehend why Edmund is joyful, our readers must be informed of +certain things which happened after Isabella and Caroline went to +Dublin. One morning they went with their father and mother to see the +magnificent library of a nobleman, who took generous and polite pleasure +in thus sharing the advantages of his wealth and station with all who +had any pretensions to science or literature. Knowing that the gentleman +who was now come to see his library was skilled in antiquities, the +nobleman opened a drawer of medals, to ask his opinion concerning the +age of some coins, which he had lately purchased at a high price. They +were the very same which the orphans had found at Rossmore Castle. +Isabella and Caroline knew them again instantly; and as the cross which +Isabella had made on each of them was still visible through a +magnifying glass, there could be no possibility of doubt. + +The nobleman, who was much interested both by the story of these +orphans, and the manner in which it was told to him, sent immediately +for the person from whom he had purchased the coins. He was a Jew +broker. At first he refused to tell them from whom he got them, because +he had bought them, he said, under a promise of secrecy. Being further +pressed, he acknowledged that it was made a condition in his bargain +that he should not sell them to any one in Ireland, but that he had been +tempted by the high price the present noble possessor had offered. + +At last, when the Jew was informed that the coins were stolen, and that +he would be proceeded against as a receiver of stolen goods if he did +not confess the whole truth, he declared that he had purchased them from +a gentleman, whom he had never seen before or since; but he added that +he could swear to his person, if he saw him again. + +Now, Mr. Hopkins, the agent, was at this time in Dublin, and Caroline's +father posted the Jew, the next day, in the back-parlour of a banker's +house, with whom Mr. Hopkins had, on this day, appointed to settle some +accounts. Mr. Hopkins came--the Jew knew him--swore that he was the man +who had sold the coins to him; and thus the guilt of the agent and the +innocence of the orphans were completely proved. + +A full account of all that happened was sent to England to Mr. Harvey, +their landlord, and a few posts afterwards there came a letter from him, +containing a dismissal of the dishonest agent, and a reward for the +honest and industrious orphans. Mr. Harvey desired that Mary and her +sisters might have the slated house, rent-free, from this time forward, +under the care of ladies Isabella and Caroline, as long as Mary or her +sisters should carry on in it any useful business. This was the joyful +news which Edmund had to tell his sisters. + +All the neighbours shared in their joy, and the day of their removal +from the ruins of Rossmore Castle to their new house was the happiest of +the Christmas holidays. They were not envied for their prosperity; +because everybody saw that it was the reward of their good conduct; +everybody except Goody Grope. She exclaimed, as she wrung her hands with +violent expressions of sorrow--'Bad luck to me! bad luck to me!--Why +didn't I go sooner to that there Castle? It is all luck, all luck in +this world; but I never had no luck. Think of the luck of these +_childer_, that have found a pot of gold, and such great, grand friends, +and a slated house, and all: and here am I, with scarce a rag to cover +me, and not a potato to put into my mouth!--I, that have been looking +under ground all my days for treasure, not to have a halfpenny at the +last, to buy me tobacco!' + +'That is the very reason that you have not a halfpenny,' said Betsy. +'Here Mary has been working hard, and so have her two little sisters and +her brother, for these five years past; and they have made money for +themselves by their own industry--and friends too--not by luck, but +by----' + +'Phoo! phoo!' interrupted Goody Grope; 'don't be prating; don't I know +as well as you do that they found a pot of gold, _by good luck_? and is +not that the cause why they are going to live in a slated house now?' + +'No,' replied the postmaster's daughter; 'this house is given to them +_as a reward_--that was the word in the letter; for I saw it. Edmund +showed it to me, and will show it to any one that wants to see. This +house was given to them "_as a reward for their honesty_."' + + + + +LAZY LAWRENCE + + +In the pleasant valley of Ashton there lived an elderly woman of the +name of Preston. She had a small neat cottage, and there was not a weed +to be seen in her garden. It was upon her garden that she chiefly +depended for support; it consisted of strawberry beds, and one small +border for flowers. The pinks and roses she tied up in nice nosegays, +and sent either to Clifton or Bristol to be sold. As to her +strawberries, she did not send them to market, because it was the custom +for numbers of people to come from Clifton, in the summer time, to eat +strawberries and cream at the gardens in Ashton. + +Now, the widow Preston was so obliging, active, and good-humoured, that +every one who came to see her was pleased. She lived happily in this +manner for several years; but, alas! one autumn she fell sick, and, +during her illness, everything went wrong; her garden was neglected, her +cow died, and all the money which she had saved was spent in paying for +medicines. The winter passed away, while she was so weak that she could +earn but little by her work; and when the summer came, her rent was +called for, and the rent was not ready in her little purse as usual. She +begged a few months' delay, and they were granted to her; but at the end +of that time there was no resource but to sell her horse Lightfoot. Now +Lightfoot, though perhaps he had seen his best days, was a very great +favourite. In his youth he had always carried the dame to the market +behind her husband; and it was now her little son Jem's turn to ride +him. It was Jem's business to feed Lightfoot, and to take care of him--a +charge which he never neglected, for, besides being a very good-natured, +he was a very industrious boy. + +'It will go near to break my Jem's heart,' said Dame Preston to herself, +as she sat one evening beside the fire stirring the embers, and +considering how she had best open the matter to her son, who stood +opposite to her, eating a dry crust of bread very heartily for supper. + +'Jem,' said the old woman, 'what, art hungry?' 'That I am, brave and +hungry!' + +'Ay! no wonder, you've been brave hard at work--Eh?' 'Brave hard! I wish +it was not so dark, mother, that you might just step out and see the +great bed I've dug; I know you'd say it was no bad day's work--and oh, +mother! I've good news: Farmer Truck will give us the giant +strawberries, and I'm to go for 'em to-morrow morning, and I'll be back +afore breakfast.' + +'God bless the boy! how he talks!--Four mile there, and four mile back +again, afore breakfast.' 'Ay, upon Lightfoot, you know, mother, very +easily; mayn't I?' 'Ay, child!' 'Why do you sigh, mother?' 'Finish thy +supper, child.' 'I've done!' cried Jem, swallowing the last mouthful +hastily, as if he thought he had been too long at supper--'and now for +the great needle; I must see and mend Lightfoot's bridle afore I go to +bed.' + +To work he set, by the light of the fire, and the dame having once more +stirred it, began again with 'Jem, dear, does he go lame at all now?' +'What, Lightfoot! Oh la, no, not he!--never was so well of his lameness +in all his life. He's grown quite young again, I think, and then he's so +fat he can hardly wag.' 'God bless him--that's right. We must see, Jem, +and keep him fat.' 'For what, mother!' 'For Monday fortnight at the +fair. He's to be--sold!' 'Lightfoot!' cried Jem, and let the bridle fall +from his hand; 'and _will_ mother sell Lightfoot?' '_Will_? no: but I +_must_, Jem.' 'Must! who says you _must_? why _must_ you, mother?' 'I +must, I say, child. Why, must not I pay my debts honestly; and must not +I pay my rent, and was not it called for long and long ago; and have not +I had time; and did not I promise to pay it for certain Monday +fortnight, and am not I two guineas short; and where am I to get two +guineas? So what signifies talking, child?' said the widow, leaning her +head upon her arm. 'Lightfoot _must_ go.' + +Jem was silent for a few minutes--'Two guineas, that's a great, great +deal. If I worked, and worked, and worked ever so hard, I could no ways +earn two guineas _afore_ Monday fortnight--could I, mother?' 'Lord help +thee, no; not an' work thyself to death.' 'But I could earn something, +though, I say,' cried Jem proudly; 'and I _will_ earn _something_--if it +be ever so little, it will be _something_--and I shall do my very best; +so I will.' 'That I'm sure of, my child,' said his mother, drawing him +towards her and kissing him; 'you were always a good, industrious lad, +_that_ I will say afore your face or behind your back;--but it won't do +now--Lightfoot _must_ go.' + +Jem turned away struggling to hide his tears, and went to bed without +saying a word more. But he knew that crying would do no good; so he +presently wiped his eyes, and lay awake, considering what he could +possibly do to save the horse. 'If I get ever so little,' he still said +to himself, 'it will be _something_, and who knows but landlord might +then wait a bit longer? and we might make it all up in time; for a penny +a day might come to two guineas in time.' + +But how to get the first penny was the question. Then he recollected +that one day, when he had been sent to Clifton to sell some flowers, he +had seen an old woman with a board beside her covered with various +sparkling stones, which people stopped to look at as they passed, and he +remembered that some people bought the stones; one paid twopence, +another threepence, and another sixpence for them; and Jem heard her say +that she got them amongst the neighbouring rocks: so he thought that if +he tried he might find some too, and sell them as she had done. + +Early in the morning he wakened full of this scheme, jumped up, dressed +himself, and, having given one look at poor Lightfoot in his stable, set +off to Clifton in search of the old woman, to inquire where she found +her sparkling stones. But it was too early in the morning, the old woman +was not at her seat; so he turned back again, disappointed. He did not +waste his time waiting for her, but saddled and bridled Lightfoot, and +went to Farmer Truck's for the giant strawberries. + +A great part of the morning was spent in putting them into the ground; +and, as soon as that was finished, he set out again in quest of the old +woman, whom, to his great joy, he spied sitting at her corner of the +street with her board before her. But this old woman was deaf and +cross; and when at last Jem made her hear his questions, he could get no +answer from her, but that she found the fossils where he would never +find any more. 'But can't I look where you looked?' 'Look away, nobody +hinders you,' replied the old woman; and these were the only words she +would say. + +Jem was not, however, a boy to be easily discouraged; he went to the +rocks, and walked slowly along, looking at all the stones as he passed. +Presently he came to a place where a number of men were at work +loosening some large rocks, and one amongst the workmen was stooping +down looking for something very eagerly; Jem ran up and asked if he +could help him. 'Yes,' said the man, 'you can; I've just dropped, +amongst this heap of rubbish, a fine piece of crystal that I got +to-day.' 'What kind of a looking thing is it?' said Jem. 'White, and +like glass,' said the man, and went on working whilst Jem looked very +carefully over the heap of rubbish for a great while. + +'Come,' said the man, 'it's gone for ever; don't trouble yourself any +more, my boy.' 'It's no trouble; I'll look a little longer; we'll not +give it up so soon,' said Jem; and after he had looked a little longer, +he found the piece of crystal. 'Thank'e,' said the man, 'you are a fine +little industrious fellow.' Jem, encouraged by the tone of voice in +which the man spoke this, ventured to ask him the same questions which +he had asked the old woman. + +'One good turn deserves another,' said the man; 'we are going to dinner +just now, and shall leave off work--wait for me here, and I'll make it +worth your while.' + +Jem waited; and, as he was very attentively observing how the workmen +went on with their work, he heard somebody near him give a great yawn, +and, turning round, he saw stretched upon the grass, beside the river, a +boy about his own age, who, in the village of Ashton, as he knew, went +by the name of Lazy Lawrence--a name which he most justly deserved, for +he never did anything from morning to night. He neither worked nor +played, but sauntered or lounged about restless and yawning. His father +was an ale-house keeper, and being generally drunk, could take no care +of his son; so that Lazy Lawrence grew every day worse and worse. +However, some of the neighbours said that he was a good-natured poor +fellow enough, and would never do any one harm but himself; whilst +others, who were wiser, often shook their heads, and told him that +idleness was the root of all evil. + +'What, Lawrence!' cried Jem to him, when he saw him lying upon the +grass; 'what, are you asleep?' 'Not quite.' 'Are you awake?' 'Not +quite.' 'What are you doing there?' 'Nothing.' 'What are you thinking +of?' 'Nothing.' 'What makes you lie there?' 'I don't know--because I +can't find anybody to play with me to-day. Will you come and play?' 'No, +I can't; I'm busy.' 'Busy,' cried Lawrence, stretching himself, 'you are +always busy. I would not be you for the world to have so much to do +always.' 'And I,' said Jem, laughing, 'would not be you for the world, +to have nothing to do.' + +They then parted, for the workman just then called Jem to follow him. He +took him home to his own house, and showed him a parcel of fossils, +which he had gathered, he said, on purpose to sell, but had never had +time enough to sell them. Now, however, he set about the task; and +having picked out those which he judged to be the best, he put them in a +small basket, and gave them to Jem to sell, upon condition that he +should bring him half of what he got. Jem, pleased to be employed, was +ready to agree to what the man proposed, provided his mother had no +objection. When he went home to dinner, he told his mother his scheme, +and she smiled, and said he might do as he pleased; for she was not +afraid of his being from home. 'You are not an idle boy,' said she; 'so +there is little danger of your getting into any mischief.' + +Accordingly Jem that evening took his stand, with his little basket, +upon the bank of the river, just at the place where people land from a +ferry-boat, and the walk turns to the wells, and numbers of people +perpetually pass to drink the waters. He chose his place well, and +waited nearly all the evening, offering his fossils with great assiduity +to every passenger; but not one person bought any. + +'Hallo!' cried some sailors, who had just rowed a boat to land, 'bear a +hand here, will you, my little fellow, and carry these parcels for us +into yonder house?' + +Jem ran down immediately for the parcels, and did what he was asked to +do so quickly, and with so much good-will, that the master of the boat +took notice of him, and, when he was going away, stopped to ask him +what he had got in his little basket; and when he saw that they were +fossils, he immediately told Jem to follow him, for that he was going to +carry some shells he had brought from abroad to a lady in the +neighbourhood who was making a grotto. 'She will very likely buy your +stones into the bargain. Come along, my lad; we can but try.' + +The lady lived but a very little way off, so that they were soon at her +house. She was alone in her parlour, and was sorting a bundle of +feathers of different colours; they lay on a sheet of pasteboard upon a +window seat, and it happened that as the sailor was bustling round the +table to show off his shells, he knocked down the sheet of pasteboard, +and scattered all the feathers. The lady looked very sorry, which Jem +observing, he took the opportunity, whilst she was busy looking over the +sailor's bag of shells, to gather together all the feathers, and sort +them according to their different colours, as he had seen them sorted +when he first came into the room. + +'Where is the little boy you brought with you? I thought I saw him here +just now.' 'And here I am, ma'am,' cried Jem, creeping from under the +table with some few remaining feathers which he had picked from the +carpet; 'I thought,' added he, pointing to the others, 'I had better be +doing something than standing idle, ma'am.' She smiled, and, pleased +with his activity and simplicity, began to ask him several questions; +such as who he was, where he lived, what employment he had, and how much +a day he earned by gathering fossils. + +'This is the first day I ever tried,' said Jem; 'I never sold any yet, +and if you don't buy 'em now, ma'am, I'm afraid nobody else will; for +I've asked everybody else.' + +'Come, then,' said the lady, laughing, 'if that is the case, I think I +had better buy them all.' So, emptying all the fossils out of his +basket, she put half a crown into it. + +Jem's eyes sparkled with joy. 'Oh, thank you, ma'am,' said he, 'I will +be sure and bring you as many more, to-morrow.' 'Yes, but I don't +promise you,' said she, 'to give you half a crown, to-morrow.' 'But, +perhaps, though you don't promise it, you will.' 'No,' said the lady, +'do not deceive yourself; I assure you that I will not. _That_, instead +of encouraging you to be industrious, would teach you to be idle.' + +Jem did not quite understand what she meant by this, but answered, 'I'm +sure I don't wish to be idle; what I want is to earn something every +day, if I knew how; I'm sure I don't wish to be idle. If you knew all, +you'd know I did not.' 'How do you mean, _if I knew all_?' 'Why, I mean, +if you knew about Lightfoot.' 'Who's Lightfoot?' 'Why, mammy's horse,' +added Jem, looking out of the window; 'I must make haste home, and feed +him afore it gets dark; he'll wonder what's gone with me.' 'Let him +wonder a few minutes longer,' said the lady, 'and tell me the rest of +your story.' 'I've no story, ma'am, to tell, but as how mammy says he +must go to the fair Monday fortnight, to be sold, if she can't get the +two guineas for her rent; and I should be main sorry to part with him, +for I love him, and he loves me; so I'll work for him, I will, all I +can. To be sure, as mammy says, I have no chance, such a little fellow +as I am, of earning two guineas afore Monday fortnight.' 'But are you +willing earnestly to work?' said the lady; 'you know there is a great +deal of difference between picking up a few stones and working steadily +every day, and all day long.' 'But,' said Jem, 'I would work every day, +and all day long.' 'Then,' said the lady, 'I will give you work. Come +here to-morrow morning, and my gardener will set you to weed the +shrubberies, and I will pay you sixpence a day. Remember, you must be at +the gates by six o'clock.' Jem bowed, thanked her, and went away. + +It was late in the evening, and Jem was impatient to get home to feed +Lightfoot; yet he recollected that he had promised the man who had +trusted him to sell the fossils, that he would bring him half of what he +got for them; so he thought that he had better go to him directly; and +away he went, running along by the water-side about a quarter of a mile, +till he came to the man's house. He was just come home from work, and +was surprised when Jem showed him the half-crown, saying, 'Look what I +got for the stones; you are to have half, you know.' 'No,' said the man, +when he had heard his story, I shall not take half of that; it was given +to you. I expected but a shilling at the most, and the half of that is +but sixpence, and that I'll take. 'Wife, give the lad two shillings, and +take this half-crown.' So the wife opened an old glove, and took out two +shillings; and the man, as she opened the glove, put in his fingers and +took out a little silver penny. 'There, he shall have that into the +bargain for his honesty--honesty is the best policy--there's a lucky +penny for you, that I've kept ever since I can remember.' 'Don't you +ever go to part with it, do ye hear!' cried the woman. 'Let him do what +he will with it, wife,' said the man. 'But,' argued the wife, 'another +penny would do just as well to buy gingerbread; and that's what it will +go for.' 'No, that it shall not, I promise you,' said Jem; and so he ran +away home, fed Lightfoot, stroked him, went to bed, jumped up at five +o'clock in the morning, and went singing to work as gay as a lark. + +Four days he worked 'every day and all day long'; and every evening the +lady, when she came out to walk in her gardens, looked at his work. At +last she said to her gardener, 'This little boy works very hard.' 'Never +had so good a little boy about the grounds,' said the gardener; 'he's +always at his work, let me come by when I will, and he has got twice as +much done as another would do; yes, twice as much, ma'am; for look +here--he began at this 'ere rose-bush, and now he's got to where you +stand, ma'am; and here is the day's work that t'other boy, and he's +three years older too, did to-day--I say, measure Jem's fairly, and it's +twice as much, I'm sure.' 'Well,' said the lady to her gardener, 'show +me how much is a fair good day's work for a boy of his age.' 'Come at +six o'clock and go at six? why, about this much, ma'am,' said the +gardener, marking off a piece of the border with his spade. + +'Then, little boy,' said the lady, 'so much shall be your task every +day. The gardener will mark it off for you; and when you've done, the +rest of the day you may do what you please.' + +Jem was extremely glad of this; and the next day he had finished his +task by four o'clock; so that he had all the rest of the evening to +himself. He was as fond of play as any little boy could be; and when he +was at it he played with all the eagerness and gaiety imaginable; so as +soon as he had finished his task, fed Lightfoot, and put by the sixpence +he had earned that day, he ran to the playground in the village, where +he found a party of boys playing, and amongst them Lazy Lawrence, who +indeed was not playing, but lounging upon a gate, with his thumb in his +mouth. The rest were playing at cricket. Jem joined them, and was the +merriest and most active amongst them; till, at last, when quite out of +breath with running, he was obliged to give up to rest himself, and sat +down upon the stile, close to the gate on which Lazy Lawrence was +swinging. + +'And why don't you play, Lawrence?' said he. 'I'm tired,' said Lawrence. +'Tired of what?' 'I don't know well what tires me; grandmother says I'm +ill, and I must take something--I don't know what ails me.' 'Oh, pugh! +take a good race--one, two, three, and away--and you'll find yourself as +well as ever. Come, run--one, two, three, and away.' 'Ah, no, I can't +run, indeed,' said he hanging back heavily; 'you know I can play all day +long if I like it, so I don't mind play as you do, who have only one +hour for it.' 'So much the worse for you. Come now, I'm quite fresh +again, will you have one game at ball? do.' 'No, I tell you I can't; I'm +as tired as if I had been working all day long as hard as a horse.' 'Ten +times more,' said Jem, 'for I have been working all day long as hard as +a horse, and yet you see I'm not a bit tired, only a little out of +breath just now.' 'That's very odd,' said Lawrence, and yawned, for want +of some better answer; then taking out a handful of halfpence,--'See +what I got from father to-day, because I asked him just at the right +time, when he had drunk a glass or two; then I can get anything I want +out of him--see! a penny, twopence, threepence, fourpence--there's +eightpence in all; would not you be happy if you had _eightpence_?' +'Why, I don't know,' said Jem, laughing, 'for you don't seem happy, and +you _have eightpence_.' 'That does not signify, though. I'm sure you +only say that because you envy me. You don't know what it is to have +eightpence. You never had more than twopence or threepence at a time in +all your life.' + +Jem smiled. 'Oh, as to that,' said he, 'you are mistaken, for I have at +this very time more than twopence, threepence, or eightpence either. I +have--let me--see--stones, two shillings; then five days' work that's +five sixpences, that's two shillings and sixpence; in all, makes four +shillings and sixpence; and my silver penny, is four and +sevenpence--four and sevenpence!' 'You have not!' said Lawrence, roused +so as absolutely to stand upright, 'four and sevenpence, have you? Show +it me and then I'll believe you.' 'Follow me, then,' cried Jem, 'and +I'll soon make you believe me; come.' 'Is it far?' said Lawrence, +following half-running, half-hobbling, till he came to the stable, where +Jem showed him his treasure. 'And how did you come by it--honestly?' +'Honestly! to be sure I did; I earned it all.' 'Lord bless me, earned +it! well, I've a great mind to work; but then it's such hot weather, +besides, grandmother says I'm not strong enough yet for hard work; and +besides, I know how to coax daddy out of money when I want it, so I need +not work. But four and sevenpence; let's see, what will you do with it +all?' 'That's a secret,' said Jem, looking great. 'I can guess; I know +what I'd do with it if it was mine. First, I'd buy pocketfuls of +gingerbread; then I'd buy ever so many apples and nuts. Don't you love +nuts? I'd buy nuts enough to last me from this time to Christmas, and +I'd make little Newton crack 'em for me, for that's the worst of nuts, +there's the trouble of cracking 'em.' 'Well, you never deserve to have a +nut.' 'But you'll give me some of yours,' said Lawrence, in a fawning +tone; for he thought it easier to coax than to work--'you'll give me +some of your good things, won't you?' 'I shall not have any of those +good things,' said Jem. 'Then, what will you do with all your money?' +'Oh, I know very well what to do with it; but, as I told you, that's a +secret, and I shan't tell it anybody. Come now, let's go back and +play--their game's up, I daresay.' + +Lawrence went back with him, full of curiosity, and out of humour with +himself and his eightpence. 'If I had four and sevenpence,' said he to +himself, 'I certainly should be happy!' + +The next day, as usual, Jem jumped up before six o'clock and went to his +work, whilst Lazy Lawrence sauntered about without knowing what to do +with himself. In the course of two days he laid out sixpence of his +money in apples and gingerbread; and as long as these lasted, he found +himself well received by his companions; but at length the third day he +spent his last halfpenny, and when it was gone, unfortunately some nuts +tempted him very much, but he had no money to pay for them; so he ran +home to coax his father, as he called it. + +When he got home he heard his father talking very loud, and at first he +thought he was drunk; but when he opened the kitchen door, he saw that +he was not drunk, but angry. + +'You lazy dog!' cried he, turning suddenly upon Lawrence, and gave him +such a violent box on the ear as made the light flash from his eyes; +'you lazy dog! See what you've done for me--look!--look, look, I say!' + +Lawrence looked as soon as he came to the use of his senses, and with +fear, amazement, and remorse beheld at least a dozen bottles burst, and +the fine Worcestershire cider streaming over the floor. + +'Now, did not I order you three days ago to carry these bottles to the +cellar, and did not I charge you to wire the corks? answer me, you lazy +rascal; did not I?' 'Yes,' said Lawrence, scratching his head. 'And why +was not it done, I ask you?' cried his father, with renewed anger, as +another bottle burst at the moment. 'What do you stand there for, you +lazy brat? why don't you move, I say? No, no,' catching hold of him, 'I +believe you can't move; but I'll make you.' And he shook him till +Lawrence was so giddy he could not stand. 'What had you to think of? +What had you to do all day long, that you could not carry my cider, my +Worcestershire cider, to the cellar when I bid you? But go, you'll never +be good for anything; you are such a lazy rascal--get out of my sight!' +So saying, he pushed him, out of the house door, and Lawrence sneaked +off, seeing that this was no time to make his petition for halfpence. + +The next day he saw the nuts again, and wishing for them more than ever, +he went home, in hopes that his father, as he said to himself, would be +in a better humour. But the cider was still fresh in his recollection; +and the moment Lawrence began to whisper the word 'halfpenny' in his +ear, his father swore with a loud oath, 'I will not give you a +halfpenny, no, not a farthing, for a month to come. If you want money, +go work for it; I've had enough of your laziness--go work!' + +At these terrible words Lawrence burst into tears, and, going to the +side of a ditch, sat down and cried for an hour; and when he had cried +till he could cry no more, he exerted himself so far as to empty his +pockets, to see whether there might not happen to be one halfpenny left; +and, to his great joy, in the farthest corner of his pocket one +halfpenny was found. With this he proceeded to the fruit-woman's stall. +She was busy weighing out some plums, so he was obliged to wait; and +whilst he was waiting he heard some people near him talking and laughing +very loud. + +[Illustration: _'See what you've done for me--look!--look, look, I +say!'_] + +The fruit-woman's stall was at the gate of an inn yard; and peeping +through the gate in this yard, Lawrence saw a postilion and a +stable-boy, about his own size, playing at pitch farthing. He stood by +watching them for a few minutes. 'I began but with one halfpenny,' cried +the stable-boy, with an oath, 'and now I've got twopence!' added he, +jingling the halfpence in his waistcoat pocket. Lawrence was moved at +the sound, and said to himself, 'If _I_ begin with one halfpenny I may +end, like him, with having twopence; and it is easier to play at pitch +farthing than to work.' + +So he stepped forward, presenting his halfpenny, offering to toss up +with the stable-boy, who, after looking him full in the face, accepted +the proposal, and threw his halfpenny into the air. 'Head or tail?' +cried he. 'Head,' replied Lawrence, and it came up head. He seized the +penny, surprised at his own success, and would have gone instantly to +have laid it out in nuts; but the stable-boy stopped him, and tempted +him to throw it again. This time Lawrence lost; he threw again and won; +and so he went on, sometimes losing, but most frequently winning, till +half the morning was lost. At last, however, finding himself the master +of three halfpence, he said he would play no more. + +The stable-boy, grumbling, swore he would have his revenge another time, +and Lawrence went and bought his nuts. 'It is a good thing,' said he to +himself, 'to play at pitch farthing; the next time I want a halfpenny +I'll not ask my father for it, nor go to work neither.' Satisfied with +this resolution, he sat down to crack his nuts at his leisure, upon the +horse-block in the inn yard. Here, whilst he ate, he overheard the +conversation of the stable-boys and postilions. At first their shocking +oaths and loud wrangling frightened and shocked him; for Lawrence, +though _lazy_, had not yet learned to be a _wicked_ boy. But, by +degrees, he was accustomed to the swearing and quarrelling, and took a +delight and interest in their disputes and battles. As this was an +amusement which he could enjoy without any sort of exertion, he soon +grew so fond of it, that every day he returned to the stable yard, and +the horse-block became his constant seat. Here he found some relief from +the insupportable fatigue of doing nothing, and here, hour after hour, +with his elbows on his knees and his head on his hands, he sat, the +spectator of wickedness. Gaming, cheating, and lying soon became +familiar to him; and, to complete his ruin, he formed a sudden and close +intimacy with the stable-boy (a very bad boy) with whom he had first +begun to game. + +The consequences of this intimacy we shall presently see. But it is now +time to inquire what little Jem had been doing all this while. + +One day, after Jem had finished his task, the gardener asked him to stay +a little while, to help him to carry some geranium pots into the hall. +Jem, always active and obliging, readily stayed from play, and was +carrying in a heavy flower pot, when his mistress crossed the hall. +'What a terrible litter!' said she, 'you are making here--why don't you +wipe your shoes upon the mat?' Jem turned to look for the mat, but he +saw none. 'Oh,' said the lady, recollecting herself, 'I can't blame you, +for there is no mat.' 'No, ma'am,' said the gardener, 'nor I don't know +when, if ever, the man will bring home those mats you bespoke, ma'am.' +'I am very sorry to hear that,' said the lady; 'I wish we could find +somebody who would do them, if he can't. I should not care what sort of +mats they were, so that one could wipe one's feet on them.' + +Jem, as he was sweeping away the litter, when he heard these last words, +said to himself, 'Perhaps I could make a mat.' And all the way home, as +he trudged along whistling, he was thinking over a scheme for making +mats, which, however bold it may appear, he did not despair of +executing, with patience and industry. Many were the difficulties which +his '_prophetic eye_' foresaw; but he felt within himself that spirit +which spurs men on to great enterprises, and makes them 'trample on +impossibilities.' In the first place, he recollected that he had seen +Lazy Lawrence, whilst he lounged upon the gate, twist a bit of heath +into different shapes; and he thought that, if he could find some way of +plaiting heath firmly together, it would make a very pretty green, soft +mat, which would do very well for one to wipe one's shoes on. About a +mile from his mother's house, on the common which Jem rode over when he +went to Farmer Truck's for the giant strawberries, he remembered to have +seen a great quantity of this heath; and, as it was now only six o'clock +in the evening, he knew that he should have time to feed Lightfoot, +stroke him, go to the common, return, and make one trial of his skill +before he went to bed. + +Lightfoot carried him swiftly to the common, and there Jem gathered as +much of the heath as he thought he should want. But what toil! what +time! what pains did it cost him, before he could make anything like a +mat! Twenty times he was ready to throw aside the heath, and give up his +project, from impatience of repeated disappointments. But still he +persevered. Nothing _truly great_ can be accomplished without toil and +time. Two hours he worked before he went to bed. All his play hours the +next day he spent at his mat; which, in all, made five hours of +fruitless attempts. The sixth, however, repaid him for the labours of +the other five. He conquered his grand difficulty of fastening the heath +substantially together, and at length completely finished a mat, which +far surpassed his most sanguine expectations. He was extremely +happy--sang, danced round it--whistled--looked at it again and again, +and could hardly leave off looking at it when it was time to go to bed. +He laid it by his bedside, that he might see it the moment he awoke in +the morning. + +And now came the grand pleasure of carrying it to his mistress. She +looked fully as much surprised as he expected, when she saw it, and when +she heard who made it. After having duly admired it, she asked how much +he expected for his mat. 'Expect!--Nothing, ma'am,' said Jem; 'I meant +to give it you, if you'd have it; I did not mean to sell it. I made it +in my play hours, I was very happy in making it; and I'm very glad, too, +that you like it; and if you please to keep it, ma'am, that's all.' 'But +that's not all,' said the lady. 'Spend your time no more in weeding in +my garden, you can employ yourself much better; you shall have the +reward of your ingenuity as well as of your industry. Make as many more +such mats as you can, and I will take care and dispose of them for you.' + +'Thank'e, ma'am,' said Jem, making his best bow, for he thought by the +lady's looks that she meant to do him a favour, though he repeated to +himself, 'Dispose of them, what does that mean?' + +The next day he went to work to make more mats, and he soon learned to +make them so well and quickly, that he was surprised at his own success. +In every one he made he found less difficulty, so that, instead of +making two, he could soon make four, in a day. In a fortnight he made +eighteen. + +It was Saturday night when he finished, and he carried, at three +journeys, his eighteen mats to his mistress's house; piled them all up +in the hall, and stood with his hat off, with a look of proud humility, +beside the pile, waiting for his mistress's appearance. Presently a +folding-door, at one end of the hall, opened, and he saw his mistress, +with a great many gentlemen and ladies, rising from several tables. + +'Oh! there is my little boy and his mats,' cried the lady; and, followed +by all the rest of the company, she came into the hall. Jem modestly +retired whilst they looked at his mats; but in a minute or two his +mistress beckoned to him, and when he came into the middle of the +circle, he saw that his pile of mats had disappeared. + +'Well,' said the lady, smiling, 'what do you see that makes you look so +surprised?' 'That all my mats are gone,' said Jem; 'but you are very +welcome.' 'Are we?' said the lady, 'well, take up your hat and go home +then, for you see that it is getting late, and you know Lightfoot will +wonder what's become of you.' Jem turned round to take up his hat, which +he had left on the floor. + +But how his countenance changed! the hat was heavy with shillings. Every +one who had taken a mat had put in two shillings; so that for the +eighteen mats he had got thirty-six shillings. 'Thirty-six shillings,' +said the lady; 'five and sevenpence I think you told me you had earned +already--how much does that make? I must add, I believe, one other +sixpence to make out your two guineas.' + +'Two guineas!' exclaimed Jem, now quite conquering his bashfulness, for +at the moment he forgot where he was, and saw nobody that was by. 'Two +guineas!' cried he, clapping his hands together,--'O Lightfoot! O +mother!' Then, recollecting himself, he saw his mistress, whom he now +looked up to quite as a friend. 'Will _you_ thank them all?' said he, +scarcely daring to glance his eyes round upon the company; 'will _you_ +thank 'em, for you knew I don't know how to thank 'em _rightly_.' +Everybody thought, however, that they had been thanked _rightly_. 'Now +we won't keep you any longer, only,' said his mistress, 'I have one +thing to ask you, that I may be by when you show your treasure to your +mother.' + +'Come, then,' said Jem, 'come with me now.' 'Not now,' said the lady, +laughing; 'but I will come to Ashton to-morrow evening; perhaps your +mother can find me a few strawberries.' + +'That she will,' said Jem; 'I'll search the garden myself.' + +He now went home, but felt it a great restraint to wait till to-morrow +evening before he told his mother. To console himself he flew to the +stable:--'Lightfoot, you're not to be sold on Monday, poor fellow!' said +he, patting him, and then could not refrain from counting out his money. +Whilst he was intent upon this, Jem was startled by a noise at the door: +somebody was trying to pull up the latch. It opened, and there came in +Lazy Lawrence, with a boy in a red jacket, who had a cock under his arm. +They started when they got into the middle of the stable, and when they +saw Jem, who had been at first hidden by the horse. + +'We--we--we came,' stammered Lazy Lawrence--'I mean, I came +to--to--to----' 'To ask you,' continued the stable-boy, in a bold tone, +'whether you will go with us to the cock-fight on Monday? See, I've a +fine cock here, and Lawrence told me you were a great friend of his; so +I came.' + +Lawrence now attempted to say something in praise of the pleasures of +cock-fighting and in recommendation of his new companion. But Jem looked +at the stable-boy with dislike, and a sort of dread. Then turning his +eyes upon the cock with a look of compassion, said, in a low voice, to +Lawrence, 'Shall you like to stand by and see its eyes pecked out?' 'I +don't know,' said Lawrence, 'as to that; but they say a cockfight's a +fine sight, and it's no more cruel in me to go than another; and a great +many go, and I've nothing else to do, so I shall go.' 'But I have +something else to do,' said Jem, laughing, 'so I shall not go.' 'But,' +continued Lawrence, 'you know Monday is a great Bristol fair, and one +must be merry then, of all the days in the year.' 'One day in the year, +sure, there's no harm in being merry,' said the stable-boy. 'I hope +not,' said Jem; 'for I know, for my part, I am merry every day in the +year.' 'That's very odd,' said Lawrence; 'but I know, for my part, I +would not for all the world miss going to the fair, for at least it will +be something to talk of for half a year after. Come, you'll go, won't +you?' 'No,' said Jem, still looking as if he did not like to talk before +the ill-looking stranger. 'Then what will you do with all your money?' +'I'll tell you about that another time,' whispered Jem; 'and don't you +go to see that cock's eyes pecked out; it won't make you merry, I'm +sure.' 'If I had anything else to divert me,' said Lawrence, hesitating +and yawning. 'Come,' cried the stable-boy, seizing his stretching arm, +'come along,' cried he; and, pulling him away from Jem, upon whom he +cast a look of extreme contempt; 'leave him alone, he's not the sort.' + +'What a fool you are,' said he to Lawrence, the moment he got him out of +the stable; 'you might have known he would not go, else we should soon +have trimmed him out of his four and sevenpence. But how came you to +talk of four and sevenpence? I saw in the manger a hat full of silver.' +'Indeed!' exclaimed Lawrence. 'Yes, indeed; but why did you stammer so +when we first got in? You had like to have blown us all up.' 'I was so +ashamed,' said Lawrence, hanging down his head. 'Ashamed! but you must +not talk of shame now you are in for it, and I shan't let you off; you +owe us half a crown, recollect, and I must be paid to-night, so see and +get the money somehow or other.' After a considerable pause he added, 'I +answer for it he'd never miss half a crown out of all that silver.' 'But +to steal,' said Lawrence, drawing back with horror; 'I never thought I +should come to that--and from poor Jem, too--the money that he has +worked so hard for, too.' 'But it is not stealing; we don't mean to +steal; only to borrow it; and if we win, which we certainly shall, at +the cock-fight, pay it back again, and he'll never know anything about +the matter, and what harm will it do him? Besides, what signifies +talking? you can't go to the cock-fight, or the fair either, if you +don't; and I tell ye we don't mean to steal it; we'll pay it by Monday +night.' + +Lawrence made no reply, and they parted without his coming to any +determination. + +Here let us pause in our story. We are almost afraid to go on. The rest +is very shocking. Our little readers will shudder as they read. But it +is better that they should know the truth and see what the idle boy came +to at last. + +In the dead of the night, Lawrence heard somebody tap at his window. He +knew well who it was, for this was the signal agreed upon between him +and his wicked companion. He trembled at the thoughts of what he was +about to do, and lay quite still, with his head under the bedclothes, +till he heard the second tap. Then he got up, dressed himself, and +opened his window. It was almost even with the ground. His companion +said to him, in a hollow voice, 'Are you ready?' He made no answer, but +got out of the window and followed. + +When he got to the stable a black cloud was just passing over the moon, +and it was quite dark. 'Where are you?' whispered Lawrence, groping +about, 'where are you? Speak to me.' 'I am here; give me your hand.' +Lawrence stretched out his hand. 'Is that your hand?' said the wicked +boy, as Lawrence laid hold of him; 'how cold it feels.' 'Let us go +back,' said Lawrence; 'it is time yet.' 'It is no time to go back,' +replied the other, opening the door: 'you've gone too far now to go +back,' and he pushed Lawrence into the stable. 'Have you found it? Take +care of the horse. Have you done? What are you about? Make haste, I hear +a noise,' said the stable-boy, who watched at the door. 'I am feeling +for the half-crown, but I can't find it.' 'Bring all together.' He +brought Jem's broken flower-pot, with all the money in it, to the door. + +The black cloud had now passed over the moon, and the light shone full +upon them. 'What do we stand here for?' said the stable-boy, snatching +the flower-pot out of Lawrence's trembling hands, and pulled him away +from the door. + +'Good God!' cried Lawrence, 'you won't take all. You said you'd only +take half a crown, and pay it back on Monday. You said you'd only take +half a crown!' 'Hold your tongue,' replied the other, walking on, deaf +to all remonstrances--'if ever I am to be hanged, it shan't be for half +a crown.' + +Lawrence's blood ran cold in his veins, and he felt as if all his hair +stood on end. Not another word passed. His accomplice carried off the +money, and Lawrence crept, with all the horrors of guilt upon him, to +his restless bed. All night he was starting from frightful dreams; or +else, broad awake, he lay listening to every small noise, unable to +stir, and scarcely daring to breathe--tormented by that most dreadful of +all kinds of fear, that fear which is the constant companion of an evil +conscience. + +He thought the morning would never come; but when it was day, when he +heard the birds sing, and saw everything look cheerful as usual, he felt +still more miserable. It was Sunday morning, and the bell rang for +church. All the children of the village, dressed in their Sunday +clothes, innocent and gay, and little Jem, the best and gayest amongst +them, went flocking by his door to church. + +'Well, Lawrence,' said Jem, pulling his coat as he passed, and saw +Lawrence leaning against his father's door, 'what makes you look so +black?' 'I?' said Lawrence, starting; 'why do you say that I look +black?' 'Nay, then,' said Jem, 'you look white enough now, if that will +please you, for you're turned as pale as death.' 'Pale!' replied +Lawrence, not knowing what he said, and turned abruptly away, for he +dared not stand another look of Jem's; conscious that guilt was written +in his face, he shunned every eye. He would now have given the world to +have thrown off the load of guilt which lay upon his mind. He longed to +follow Jem, to fall upon his knees and confess all. + +Dreading the moment when Jem should discover his loss, Lawrence dared +not stay at home, and not knowing what to do, or where to go, he +mechanically went to his old haunt at the stable yard, and lurked +thereabouts all day, with his accomplice, who tried in vain to quiet his +fears and raise his spirits by talking of the next day's cock-fight. It +was agreed that, as soon as the dusk of the evening came on, they should +go together into a certain lonely field, and there divide their booty. + +In the meantime, Jem, when he returned from church, was very full of +business, preparing for the reception of his mistress, of whose intended +visit he had informed his mother; and whilst she was arranging the +kitchen and their little parlour, he ran to search the strawberry beds. + +'Why, my Jem, how merry you are to-day!' said his mother, when he came +in with the strawberries, and was jumping about the room playfully. +'Now, keep those spirits of yours, Jem, till you want 'em, and don't let +it come upon you all at once. Have it in mind that to-morrow's fair day, +and Lightfoot must go. I bid Farmer Truck call for him to-night. He said +he'd take him along with his own, and he'll be here just now--and then I +know how it will be with you, Jem!' 'So do I!' cried Jem, swallowing his +secret with great difficulty, and then tumbling head over heels four +times running. + +A carriage passed the window, and stopped at the door. Jem ran out; it +was his mistress. She came in smiling, and soon made the old woman +smile, too, by praising the neatness of everything in the house. + +We shall pass over, however important as they were deemed at the time, +the praises of the strawberries, and of 'my grandmother's china plate.' + +Another knock was heard at the door. 'Run, Jem,' said his mother. 'I +hope it's our milk-woman with cream for the lady.' No; it was Farmer +Truck come for Lightfoot. The old woman's countenance fell. 'Fetch him +out, dear,' said she, turning to her son; but Jem was gone; he flew out +to the stable the moment he saw the flap of Farmer Truck's greatcoat. + +'Sit ye down, farmer,' said the old woman, after they had waited about +five minutes in expectation of Jem's return. 'You'd best sit down, if +the lady will give you leave; for he'll not hurry himself back again. My +boy's a fool, madam, about that there horse.' Trying to laugh, she +added, 'I knew how Lightfoot and he would be loth enough to part. He +won't bring him out to the last minute; so do sit ye down, neighbour.' + +The farmer had scarcely sat down when Jem, with a pale, wild +countenance, came back. 'What's the matter?' said his mistress. 'God +bless the boy!' said his mother, looking at him quite frightened, whilst +he tried to speak but could not. + +She went up to him, and then leaning his head against her, he cried, +'It's gone!--it's all gone!' and, bursting into tears, he sobbed as if +his little heart would break. 'What's gone, love?' said his mother. 'My +two guineas--Lightfoot's two guineas. I went to fetch 'em to give you, +mammy; but the broken flower-pot that I put them in and all's +gone!--quite gone!' repeated he, checking his sobs. 'I saw them safe +last night, and was showing 'em to Lightfoot; and I was so glad to think +I had earned them all myself; and I thought how surprised you'd look, +and how glad you'd be, and how you'd kiss me, and all!' + +His mother listened to him with the greatest surprise, whilst his +mistress stood in silence, looking first at the old woman and then at +Jem with a penetrating eye, as if she suspected the truth of his story, +and was afraid of becoming the dupe of her own compassion. + +[Illustration: _'What's the matter?' said his mistress. 'God bless the +boy!' said his mother._] + +'This is a very strange thing!' said she gravely. 'How came you to leave +all your money in a broken flower-pot in the stable? How came you not to +give it to your mother to take care of?' 'Why, don't you remember?' said +Jem, looking up in the midst of his tears--'why, don't you remember you, +your own self, bid me not tell her about it till you were by?' 'And did +you not tell her?' 'Nay, ask mammy,' said Jem, a little offended; and +when afterwards the lady went on questioning him in a severe manner, as +if she did not believe him, he at last made no answer. 'O Jem! Jem! why +don't you speak to the lady?' said his mother. 'I have spoke, and spoke +the truth,' said Jem proudly; 'and she did not believe me.' + +Still the lady, who had lived too long in the world to be without +suspicion, maintained a cold manner, and determined to wait the event +without interfering, saying only that she hoped the money would be +found, and advised Jem to have done crying. + +'I have done,' said Jem; 'I shall cry no more.' And as he had the +greatest command over himself, he actually did not shed another tear, +not even when the farmer got up to go, saying he could wait no longer. + +Jem silently went to bring out Lightfoot. The lady now took her seat, +where she could see all that passed at the open parlour-window. The old +woman stood at the door, and several idle people of the village, who had +gathered round the lady's carriage examining it, turned about to listen. +In a minute or two Jem appeared, with a steady countenance, leading +Lightfoot, and, when he came up, without saying a word, put the bridle +into Farmer Truck's hand. 'He _has been_ a good horse,' said the farmer. +'He _is_ a good horse!' cried Jem, and threw his arm over Lightfoot's +neck, hiding his own face as he leaned upon him. + +At this instant a party of milk-women went by; and one of them, having +set down her pail, came behind Jem and gave him a pretty smart blow upon +the back. He looked up. 'And don't you know me?' said she. 'I forget,' +said Jem; 'I think I have seen your face before, but I forget.' 'Do you +so? and you'll tell me just now,' said she, half opening her hand, 'that +you forget who gave you this, and who charged you not to part with it, +too.' Here she quite opened her large hand, and on the palm of it +appeared Jem's silver penny. + +'Where?' exclaimed Jem, seizing it, 'oh, where did you find it? and have +you--oh, tell me, have you got the rest of my money?' 'I know nothing of +your money--I don't know what you would be at,' said the milk-woman. +'But where--pray tell me where--did you find this?' 'With them that you +gave it to, I suppose,' said the milk-woman, turning away suddenly to +take up her milk-pail. But now Jem's mistress called to her through the +window, begging her to stop, and joining in his entreaties to know how +she came by the silver penny. + +'Why, madam,' said she, taking up the corner of her apron, 'I came by it +in an odd way, too. You must know my Betty is sick, so I came with the +milk myself, though it's not what I'm used to; for my Betty--you know my +Betty?' said she, turning round to the old woman, 'my Betty serves you, +and she's a tight and stirring lassy, ma'am, I can assure----' 'Yes, I +don't doubt it,' said the lady impatiently; 'but about the silver +penny?' 'Why, that's true; as I was coming along all alone, for the rest +came round, and I came a short cut across yon field--no, you can't see +it, madam, where you stand--but if you were here----' 'I see it--I know +it,' said Jem, out of breath with anxiety. 'Well--well--I rested my pail +upon the stile, and sets me down awhile, and there comes out of the +hedge--I don't know well how, for they startled me so I'd like to have +thrown down my milk--two boys, one about the size of he,' said she, +pointing to Jem, 'and one a matter taller, but ill-looking like; so I +did not think to stir to make way for them, and they were like in a +desperate hurry: so, without waiting for the stile, one of 'em pulled at +the gate, and when it would not open (for it was tied with a pretty +stout cord) one of 'em whips out with his knife and cuts it----Now, have +you a knife about you, sir?' continued the milk-woman to the farmer. He +gave her his knife. 'Here, now, ma'am, just sticking, as it were here, +between the blade and the haft, was the silver penny. The lad took no +notice; but when he opened it, out it falls. Still he takes no heed, but +cuts the cord, as I said before, and through the gate they went, and out +of sight in half a minute. I picks up the penny, for my heart misgave me +that it was the very one my husband had had a long time, and had given +against my voice to he,' pointing to Jem; 'and I charged him not to part +with it; and, ma'am, when I looked I knew it by the mark, so I thought +I would show it to _he_,' again pointing to Jem, 'and let him give it +back to those it belongs to.' 'It belongs to me,' said Jem, 'I never +gave it to anybody--but----' 'But,' cried the farmer, 'those boys have +robbed him; it is they who have all his money.' 'Oh, which way did they +go?' cried Jem, 'I'll run after them.' + +'No, no,' said the lady, calling to her servant; and she desired him to +take his horse and ride after them. 'Ay,' added Farmer Truck, 'do you +take the road, and I'll take the field way, and I'll be bound we'll have +'em presently.' + +Whilst they were gone in pursuit of the thieves, the lady, who was now +thoroughly convinced of Jem's truth, desired her coachman would produce +what she had ordered him to bring with him that evening. Out of the boot +of the carriage the coachman immediately produced a new saddle and +bridle. + +How Jem's eyes sparkled when the saddle was thrown upon Lightfoot's +back! 'Put it on your horse yourself, Jem,' said the lady; 'it is +yours.' + +Confused reports of Lightfoot's splendid accoutrements, of the pursuit +of thieves, and of the fine and generous lady who was standing at dame +Preston's window, quickly spread through the village, and drew everybody +from their houses. They crowded round Jem to hear the story. The +children especially, who were fond of him, expressed the strongest +indignation against the thieves. Every eye was on the stretch; and now +some, who had run down the lane, came back shouting, 'Here they are! +they've got the thieves!' + +The footman on horseback carried one boy before him; and the farmer, +striding along, dragged another. The latter had on a red jacket, which +little Jem immediately recollected, and scarcely dared lift his eyes to +look at the boy on horseback. 'Good God!' said he to himself, 'it must +be--yet surely it can't be Lawrence!' The footman rode on as fast as the +people would let him. The boy's hat was slouched, and his head hung +down, so that nobody could see his face. + +At this instant there was a disturbance in the crowd. A man who was +half-drunk pushed his way forwards, swearing that nobody should stop +him; that he had a right to see--and he _would_ see. And so he did; for, +forcing through all resistance, he staggered up to the footman just as +he was lifting down the boy he had carried before him. 'I _will_--I +tell you I _will_ see the thief!' cried the drunken man, pushing up the +boy's hat. It was his own son. 'Lawrence!' exclaimed the wretched +father. The shock sobered him at once, and he hid his face in his hands. + +There was an awful silence. Lawrence fell on his knees, and in a voice +that could scarcely be heard made a full confession of all the +circumstances of his guilt. + +'Such a young creature so wicked!' the bystanders exclaimed; 'what could +put such wickedness in your head?' 'Bad company,' said Lawrence. 'And +how came you--what brought you into bad company?' 'I don't know, except +it was idleness.' + +While this was saying, the farmer was emptying Lazy Lawrence's pockets; +and when the money appeared, all his former companions in the village +looked at each other with astonishment and terror. Their parents grasped +their little hands closer, and cried, 'Thank God! he is not my son. How +often when he was little we used, as he lounged about, to tell him that +idleness was the root of all evil.' + +As for the hardened wretch, his accomplice, every one was impatient to +have him sent to gaol. He put on a bold, insolent countenance, till he +heard Lawrence's confession; till the money was found upon him; and he +heard the milk-woman declare that she would swear to the silver penny +which he had dropped. Then he turned pale, and betrayed the strongest +signs of fear. + +'We must take him before the justice,' said the farmer, 'and he'll be +lodged in Bristol gaol.' + +'Oh!' said Jem, springing forwards when Lawrence's hands were going to +be tied, 'let him go--won't you?--can't you let him go?' 'Yes, madam, +for mercy's sake,' said Jem's mother to the lady; 'think what a disgrace +to his family to be sent to gaol.' + +His father stood by wringing his hands in an agony of despair. 'It's all +my fault,' cried he; 'brought him up in _idleness_.' 'But he'll never be +idle any more,' said Jem; 'won't you speak for him, ma'am?' 'Don't ask +the lady to speak for him,' said the farmer; 'it's better he should go +to Bridewell now, than to the gallows by and by.' + +Nothing more was said; for everybody felt the truth of the farmer's +speech. + +Lawrence was eventually sent to Bridewell for a month, and the +stable-boy was sent for trial, convicted, and transported to Botany Bay. + +During Lawrence's confinement, Jem often visited him, and carried him +such little presents as he could afford to give; and Jem could afford to +be _generous_, because he was _industrious_. Lawrence's heart was +touched by his kindness, and his example struck him so forcibly that, +when his confinement was ended, he resolved to set immediately to work; +and, to the astonishment of all who knew him, soon became remarkable for +industry. He was found early and late at his work, established a new +character, and for ever lost the name of '_Lazy Lawrence_.' + + + + +THE FALSE KEY + + +Mr. Spencer, a very benevolent and sensible man, undertook the education +of several poor children. Among the best was a boy of the name of +Franklin, whom he had bred up from the time he was five years old. +Franklin had the misfortune to be the son of a man of infamous +character; and for many years this was a disgrace and reproach to his +child. When any of the neighbours' children quarrelled with him, they +used to tell him that he would turn out like his father. But Mr. Spencer +always assured him that he might make himself whatever he pleased; that +by behaving well he would certainly, sooner or later, secure the esteem +and love of all who knew him, even of those who had the strongest +prejudice against him on his father's account. + +This hope was very delightful to Franklin, and he showed the strongest +desire to learn and to do everything that was right; so that Mr. Spencer +soon grew fond of him, and took great pains to instruct him, and to give +him all the good habits and principles which might make him a useful, +respectable, and happy man. + +When he was about thirteen years of age, Mr. Spencer one day sent for +him into his closet; and as he was folding up a letter which he had been +writing, said to him, with a very kind look, but in a graver tone than +usual, 'Franklin, you are going to leave me.' 'Sir!' said Franklin. 'You +are now going to leave me, and to begin the world for yourself. You will +carry this letter to my sister, Mrs. Churchill, in Queen's Square. You +know Queen's Square?' Franklin bowed. 'You must expect,' continued Mr. +Spencer, 'to meet with several disagreeable things, and a great deal of +rough work, at your first setting out; but be faithful and obedient to +your mistress, and obliging to your fellow-servants, and all will go +well. Mrs. Churchill will make you a very good mistress, if you behave +properly; and I have no doubt but you will.' 'Thank you, sir.' 'And you +will always--I mean, as long as you deserve it--find a friend in me.' +'Thank you, sir--I am sure you are----' There Franklin stopped short, +for the recollection of all Mr. Spencer's goodness rushed upon him at +once, and he could not say another word. 'Bring me a candle to seal this +letter,' said his master; and he was very glad to get out of the room. +He came back with the candle, and, with a stout heart, stood by whilst +the letter was sealing; and, when his master put it into his hand, said, +in a cheerful voice, 'I hope you will let me see you again, sir, +sometimes.' 'Certainly; whenever your mistress can spare you, I shall be +very glad to see you; and remember, if ever you get into any difficulty, +don't be afraid to come to me. I have sometimes spoken harshly to you; +but you will not meet with a more indulgent friend.' Franklin at this +turned away with a full heart; and, after making two or three attempts +to express his gratitude, left the room without being able to speak. + +He got to Queen's Square about three o'clock. The door was opened by a +large, red-faced man, in a blue coat and scarlet waistcoat, to whom he +felt afraid to give his message, lest he should not be a servant. 'Well, +what's your business, sir?' said the butler. 'I have a letter for Mrs. +Churchill, _sir_,' said Franklin, endeavouring to pronounce his _sir_ in +a tone as respectful as the butler's was insolent. + +The man, having examined the direction, seal, and edges of the letter, +carried it upstairs, and in a few minutes returned, and ordered Franklin +to rub his shoes well and follow him. He was then shown into a handsome +room, where he found his mistress--an elderly lady. She asked him a few +questions, examining him attentively as she spoke; and her severe eye at +first and her gracious smile afterwards, made him feel that she was a +person to be both loved and feared. 'I shall give you in charge,' said +she, ringing a bell, 'to my housekeeper, and I hope she will have no +reason to be displeased with you.' + +The housekeeper, when she first came in, appeared with a smiling +countenance; but the moment she cast her eyes on Franklin, it changed to +a look of surprise and suspicion. Her mistress recommended him to her +protection, saying, 'Pomfret, I hope you will keep this boy under your +own eye.' And she received him with a cold 'Very well, ma'am,' which +plainly showed that she was not disposed to like him. In fact, Mrs. +Pomfret was a woman so fond of power, and so jealous of favour, that she +would have quarrelled with an angel who had got so near her mistress +without her introduction. She smothered her displeasure, however, till +night; when, as she attended her mistress's toilette, she could not +refrain from expressing her sentiments. She began cautiously: 'Ma'am, is +not this the boy Mr. Spencer was talking of one day--that has been +brought up by the _Villaintropic Society_, I think they call +it?'--'Philanthropic Society; yes,' said her mistress; 'and my brother +gives him a high character: I hope he will do very well.' 'I'm sure I +hope so too,' observed Mrs. Pomfret; 'but I can't say; for my part, I've +no great notion of those low people. They say all those children are +taken from the very lowest _drugs_ and _refuges_ of the town, and surely +they are like enough, ma'am, to take after their own fathers and +mothers.' 'But they are not suffered to be with their parents,' rejoined +the lady; 'and therefore cannot be hurt by their example. This little +boy, to be sure, was unfortunate in his father, but he has had an +excellent education.' 'Oh, _edication_! to be sure, ma'am, I know. I +don't say but what _edication_ is a great thing. But then, ma'am, +_edication_ can't change the _natur_ that's in one, they say; and one +that's born naturally bad and low, they say, all the _edication_ in the +world won't do no good; and, for my part, ma'am, I know you knows best; +but I should be afraid to let any of those _Villaintropic_ folks get +into my house; for nobody can tell the _natur_ of them aforehand. I +declare it frights me.' 'Pomfret, I thought you had better sense: how +would this poor boy earn his bread? he would be forced to starve or +steal, if everybody had such prejudices.' + +Pomfret, who really was a good woman, was softened at this idea, and +said, 'God forbid he should starve or steal, and God forbid I should say +anything _prejudiciary_ of the boy; for there may be no harm in him.' + +'Well,' said Mrs. Churchill, changing her tone, 'but, Pomfret, if we +don't like the boy at the end of the month, we have done with him; for I +have only promised Mr. Spencer to keep him a month upon trial: there is +no harm done.' 'Dear, no, ma'am, to be sure; and cook must put up with +her disappointment, that's all.' 'What disappointment?' 'About her +nephew, ma'am; the boy she and I was speaking to you for.' 'When?' 'The +day you called her up about the almond pudding, ma'am. If you remember, +you said you should have no objections to try the boy; and upon that +cook bought him new shirts; but they are to the good, as I tell her.' +'But I did not promise to take her nephew.' 'Oh no, ma'am, not at all; +she does not think to _say that_, else I should be very angry; but the +poor woman never let fall a word, any more than frets that the boy +should miss such a good place.' 'Well, but since I did say that I should +have no objection to try him, I shall keep my word; let him come +to-morrow. Let them both have a fair trial, and at the end of the month +I can decide which I like best, and which we had better keep.' + +Dismissed with these orders, Mrs. Pomfret hastened to report all that +had passed to the cook, like a favourite minister, proud to display the +extent of her secret influence. In the morning Felix, the cook's nephew, +arrived; and, the moment he came into the kitchen, every eye, even the +scullion's, was fixed upon him with approbation, and afterwards glanced +upon Franklin with contempt--contempt which Franklin could not endure +without some confusion, though quite unconscious of having deserved it; +nor, upon the most impartial and cool self-examination, could he +comprehend the justice of his judges. He perceived indeed--for the +comparisons were minutely made in audible and scornful whispers--that +Felix was a much handsomer, or as the kitchen maid expressed it, a much +more genteeler gentlemanly looking like sort of person than he was; and +he was made to understand that he wanted a frill to his shirt, a cravat, +a pair of thin shoes, and, above all, shoe-strings, besides other +nameless advantages, which justly made his rival the admiration of the +kitchen. However, upon calling to mind all that his friend Mr. Spencer +had ever said to him, he could not recollect his having warned him that +shoe-strings were indispensable requisites to the character of a good +servant; so that he could only comfort himself with resolving, if +possible, to make amends for these deficiencies, and to dissipate the +prejudices which he saw were formed against him, by the strictest +adherence to all that his tutor had taught him to be his duty. He hoped +to secure the approbation of his mistress by scrupulous obedience to all +her commands, and faithful care of all that belonged to her. At the same +time he flattered himself he should win the goodwill of his +fellow-servants by showing a constant desire to oblige them. He pursued +this plan of conduct steadily for nearly three weeks, and found that he +succeeded beyond his expectations in pleasing his mistress; but +unfortunately he found it more difficult to please his fellow-servants, +and he sometimes offended when he least expected it. He had made great +progress in the affections of Corkscrew, the butler, by working indeed +very hard for him, and doing every day at least half his business. But +one unfortunate night the butler was gone out; the bell rang: he went +upstairs; and his mistress asking where Corkscrew was, he answered that +he was gone out. 'Where to?' said his mistress. 'I don't know,' answered +Franklin. And, as he had told exactly the truth, and meant to do no +harm, he was surprised, at the butler's return, when he repeated to him +what had passed, at receiving a sudden box on the ear, and the +appellation of a mischievous, impertinent, mean-spirited brat. + +'Mischievous, impertinent, mean!' repeated Franklin to himself; but, +looking in the butler's face, which was a deeper scarlet than usual, he +judged that he was far from sober, and did not doubt but that the next +morning, when he came to the use of his reason, he would be sensible of +his injustice, and apologise for his box of the ear. But no apology +coming all day, Franklin at last ventured to request an explanation, or +rather, to ask what he had best do on the next occasion. 'Why,' said +Corkscrew, 'when mistress asked for me, how came you to say I was gone +out?' 'Because, you know, I saw you go out.' 'And when she asked you +where I was gone, how came you to say that you did not know?' 'Because, +indeed, I did not.' 'You are a stupid blockhead! could you not say I was +gone to the washerwoman's?' 'But _were_ you?' said Franklin. 'Was I?' +cried Corkscrew, and looked as if he would have struck him again: 'how +dare you give me the lie, Mr. Hypocrite? You would be ready enough, I'll +be bound, to make excuses for yourself. Why are not mistress's clogs +cleaned? Go along and blacken 'em, this minute, and send Felix to me.' + +From this time forward Felix alone was privileged to enter the butler's +pantry. Felix became the favourite of Corkscrew; and, though Franklin by +no means sought to pry into the mysteries of their private conferences, +nor ever entered without knocking at the door, yet it was his fate once +to be sent of a message at an unlucky time; and, as the door was +half-open, he could not avoid seeing Felix drinking a bumper of red +liquor, which he could not help suspecting to be wine; and, as the +decanter, which usually went upstairs after dinner, was at this time in +the butler's grasp, without any stopper in it, he was involuntarily +forced to suspect they were drinking his mistress's wine. + +Nor were the bumpers of port the only unlawful rewards which Felix +received: his aunt, the cook, had occasion for his assistance, and she +had many delicious _douceurs_ in her gift. Many a handful of currants, +many a half-custard, many a triangular remnant of pie, besides the +choice of his own meal at breakfast, dinner, and supper, fell to the +share of the favourite Felix; whilst Franklin was neglected, though he +took the utmost pains to please the cook in all honourable service, and, +when she was hot, angry, or hurried, he was always at hand to help her; +and in the hour of adversity, when the clock struck five, and no dinner +was dished, and no kitchen-maid with twenty pair of hands was to be had, +Franklin would answer to her call, with flowers to garnish her dishes, +and presence of mind to know, in the midst of the commotion, where +everything that was wanting was to be found; so that, quick as +lightning, all difficulties vanished before him. Yet when the danger was +over, and the hour of adversity had passed, the ungrateful cook would +forget her benefactor, and, when it came to his supper time, would throw +him, with a carelessness that touched him sensibly, anything which the +other servants were too nice to eat. All this Franklin bore with +fortitude; nor did he envy Felix the dainties which he ate, sometimes +close beside him: 'For,' said he to himself, 'I have a clear conscience, +and that is more than Felix can have. I know how he wins cook's favour +too well, and I fancy I know how I have offended her; for since the day +I saw the basket, she has done nothing but huff me.' + +The history of the basket was this. Mrs. Pomfret, the housekeeper, had +several times, directly and indirectly, given the world below to +understand that she and her mistress thought there was a prodigious +quantity of meat eaten of late. Now, when she spoke, it was usually at +dinner time; she always looked, or Franklin imagined that she looked, +suspiciously at him. Other people looked more maliciously; but, as he +felt himself perfectly innocent, he went on eating his dinner in +silence. + +But at length it was time to explain. One Sunday there appeared a +handsome sirloin of beef, which before noon on Monday had shrunk almost +to the bare bone, and presented such a deplorable spectacle to the +opening eyes of Mrs. Pomfret that her long-smothered indignation burst +forth, and she boldly declared she was now certain there had been foul +play, and she would have the beef found, or she would know why. She +spoke, but no beef appeared, till Franklin, with a look of sudden +recollection, cried, 'Did not I see something like a piece of beef in a +basket in the dairy?--I think----' + +The cook, as if somebody had smote her a deadly blow, grew pale; but, +suddenly recovering the use of her speech, turned upon Franklin, and, +with a voice of thunder, gave him the lie direct; and forthwith, taking +Mrs. Pomfret by the ruffle, led the way to the dairy, declaring she +could defy the world--'that so she could, and would.' 'There, ma'am,' +said she kicking an empty basket which lay on the floor--'there's malice +for you. Ask him why he don't show you the beef in the basket.' 'I +thought I saw----' poor Franklin began. 'You thought you saw!' cried the +cook, coming close up to him with kimboed arms, and looking like a +dragon; 'and pray, sir, what business has such a one as you to think you +see? And pray, ma'am, will you be pleased to speak--perhaps, ma'am, +he'll condescend to obey you--ma'am, will you be pleased to forbid him +my dairy? for here he comes prying and spying about; and how, ma'am, am +I to answer for my butter and cream, or anything at all? I'm sure it's +what I can't pretend to, unless you do me the justice to forbid him my +places.' + +Mrs. Pomfret, whose eyes were blinded by her prejudices against the +folks of the _Villaintropic Society_, and also by her secret jealousy of +a boy whom she deemed to be a growing favourite of her mistress's, took +part with the cook, and ended, as she began, with a firm persuasion +that Franklin was the guilty person. 'Let him alone, let him alone!' +said she, 'he has as many turns and windings as a hare; but we shall +catch him yet, I'll be bound, in some of his doublings. I knew the +nature of him well enough, from the first time I ever set my eyes upon +him; but mistress shall have her own way, and see the end of it.' + +These words, and the bitter sense of injustice, drew tears at length +fast down the proud cheek of Franklin, which might possibly have touched +Mrs. Pomfret, if Felix, with a sneer, had not called them _crocodile +tears_. 'Felix, too!' thought he; 'this is too much.' In fact, Felix had +till now professed himself his firm ally, and had on his part received +from Franklin unequivocal proofs of friendship; for it must be told that +every other morning, when it was Felix's turn to get breakfast, Felix +never was up in decent time, and must inevitably have come to public +disgrace if Franklin had not got all the breakfast things ready for him, +the bread and butter spread, and the toast toasted; and had not, +moreover, regularly, when the clock struck eight, and Mrs. Pomfret's +foot was heard overhead, run to call the sleeping Felix, and helped him +constantly through the hurry of getting dressed one instant before the +housekeeper came downstairs. All this could not but be present to his +memory; but, scorning to reproach him, Franklin wiped away his crocodile +tears, and preserved a magnanimous silence. + +The hour of retribution was; however, not so far off as Felix imagined. +Cunning people may go on cleverly in their devices for some time; but +although they may escape once, twice, perhaps ninety-nine times, what +does that signify?--for the hundredth time they come to shame, and lose +all their character. Grown bold by frequent success, Felix became more +careless in his operations; and it happened that one day he met his +mistress full in the passage, as he was going on one of the cook's +secret errands. 'Where are you going, Felix?' said his mistress. 'To the +washerwoman's, ma'am,' answered he, with his usual effrontery. 'Very +well,' said she. 'Call at the bookseller's in--stay, I must write down +the direction. Pomfret,' said she, opening the housekeeper's room door. +'have you a bit of paper?' Pomfret came with the writing-paper, and +looked very angry to see that Felix was going out without her +knowledge; so, while Mrs. Churchill was writing the direction, she stood +talking to him about it; whilst he, in the greatest terror imaginable, +looked up in her face as she spoke; but was all the time intent on +parrying on the other side the attacks of a little French dog of his +mistress's, which, unluckily for him, had followed her into the passage. +Manchon was extremely fond of Felix, who, by way of pleasing his +mistress, had paid most assiduous court to her dog; yet now his caresses +were rather troublesome. Manchon leaped up, and was not to be rebuffed. +'Poor fellow--poor fellow--down! down! poor fellow!' cried Felix, and +put him away. But Manchon leaped up again, and began smelling near the +fatal pocket in a most alarming manner. 'You will see by this direction +where you are to go,' said his mistress. 'Manchon, come here--and you +will be so good as to bring me--down! down! Manchon, be quiet!' But +Manchon knew better--he had now got his head into Felix's pocket, and +would not be quiet till he had drawn from thence, rustling out of its +brown paper, half a cold turkey, which had been missing since morning. +'My cold turkey, as I'm alive!' exclaimed the housekeeper, darting upon +it with horror and amazement. 'What is all this?' said Mrs. Churchill, +in a composed voice. 'I don't know, ma'am,' answered Felix, so confused +that he knew not what to say; 'but----' 'But what?' cried Mrs. Pomfret, +indignation flashing from her eyes. 'But what?' repeated his mistress, +waiting for his reply with a calm air of attention, which still more +disconcerted Felix; for, though with an angry person he might have some +chance of escape, he knew that he could not invent any excuse in such +circumstances, which could stand the examination of a person in her +sober senses. He was struck dumb. 'Speak,' said Mrs. Churchill, in a +still lower tone; 'I am ready to hear all you have to say. In my house +everybody shall have justice; speak--but what?' '_But_,' stammered +Felix; and, after in vain attempting to equivocate, confessed that he +was going to take the turkey to his cousin's; but he threw all the blame +upon his aunt, the cook, who, he said, had ordered him upon this +expedition. + +The cook was now summoned; but she totally denied all knowledge of the +affair, with the same violence with which she had lately confounded +Franklin about the beef in the basket; not entirely, however, with the +same success; for Felix, perceiving by his mistress's eye that she was +on the point of desiring him to leave the house immediately; and not +being very willing to leave a place in which he had lived so well with +the butler, did not hesitate to confront his aunt with assurance equal +to her own. He knew how to bring his charge home to her. He produced a +note in her own handwriting, the purport of which was to request her +cousin's acceptance of 'some _delicate cold turkey_,' and to beg she +would send her, by the return of the bearer, a little of her +cherry-brandy. + +Mrs. Churchill coolly wrote upon the back of the note her cook's +discharge, and informed Felix she had no further occasion for his +services, but, upon his pleading with many tears, which Franklin did not +call _crocodile tears_, that he was so young, that he was under the +dominion of his aunt, he touched Mrs. Pomfret's compassion, and she +obtained for him permission to stay till the end of the month, to give +him yet a chance of redeeming his character. + +Mrs. Pomfret, now seeing how far she had been imposed upon, resolved, +for the future, to be more upon her guard with Felix, and felt that she +had treated Franklin with great injustice, when she accused him of +malpractices about the sirloin of beef. + +Good people, when they are made sensible that they have treated any one +with injustice, are impatient to have an opportunity to rectify their +mistake; and Mrs. Pomfret was now prepared to see everything which +Franklin did in the most favourable point of view; especially as the +next day she discovered that it was he who every morning boiled the +water for her tea, and buttered her toast--services for which she had +always thought she was indebted to Felix. Besides, she had rated Felix's +abilities very highly, because he made up her weekly accounts for her; +but unluckily once, when Franklin was out of the way, and she brought a +bill in a hurry to her favourite to cast up, she discovered that he did +not know how to cast up pounds, shillings, and pence, and he was obliged +to confess that she must wait till Franklin came home. + +But, passing over a number of small incidents which gradually unfolded +the character of the two boys, we must proceed to a more serious affair. + +Corkscrew frequently, after he had finished taking away supper, and +after the housekeeper was gone to bed, sallied forth to a neighbouring +alehouse to drink with his friends. The alehouse was kept by that cousin +of Felix's who was so fond of '_delicate_ cold turkey,' and who had such +choice cherry-brandy. Corkscrew kept the key of the house door, so that +he could return home whenever he thought proper; and, if he should by +accident be called for by his mistress after supper, Felix knew where to +find him, and did not scruple to make any of those excuses which poor +Franklin had too much integrity to use. + +All these precautions taken, the butler was at liberty to indulge his +favourite passion, which so increased with indulgence that his wages +were by no means sufficient to support him in this way of life. Every +day he felt less resolution to break through his bad habits; for every +day drinking became more necessary to him. His health was ruined. With a +red, pimpled, bloated face, emaciated legs, and a swelled, diseased +body, he appeared the victim of intoxication. In the morning, when he +got up, his hands trembled, his spirits flagged, he could do nothing +until he had taken a dram--an operation which he was obliged to repeat +several times in the course of the day, as all those wretched people +_must_ who once acquire this habit. + +He had run up a long bill at the alehouse which he frequented; and the +landlord, who grew urgent for his money, refused to give further credit. + +One night, when Corkscrew had drunk enough only to make him fretful, he +leaned with his elbow surlily upon the table, began to quarrel with the +landlord, and swore that he had not of late treated him like a +gentleman. To which the landlord coolly replied, 'That as long as he had +paid like a gentleman, he had been treated like one, and _that_ was as +much as any one could expect, or, at any rate, as much as any one would +meet with in this world.' For the truth of this assertion he appealed, +laughing, to a party of men who were drinking in the room. The men, +however, took part with Corkscrew, and, drawing him over to their table, +made him sit down with them. They were in high good-humour, and the +butler soon grew so intimate with them that, in the openness of his +heart, he soon communicated to them not only all his own affairs, but +all that he knew, and more than all that he knew, of his mistress's. + +His new friends were by no means uninterested by his conversation, and +encouraged him as much as possible to talk; for they had secret views, +which the butler was by no means sufficiently sober to discover. + +Mrs. Churchill had some fine old family plate; and these men belonged to +a gang of housebreakers. Before they parted with Corkscrew, they engaged +him to meet them again the next night; their intimacy was still more +closely cemented. One of the men actually offered to lend Corkscrew +three guineas towards the payment of his debt, and hinted that, if he +thought proper, he could easily get the whole cleared off. Upon this +hint, Corkscrew became all attention, till, after some hesitation on +their part, and repeated promises of secrecy on his, they at length +disclosed their plans to him. They gave him to understand that, if he +would assist in letting them into his mistress's house, they would let +him have an ample share in the booty. The butler, who had the reputation +of being an honest man, and indeed whose integrity had hitherto been +proof against everything but his mistress's port, turned pale and +trembled at this proposal, drank two or three bumpers to drown thought, +and promised to give an answer the next day. + +He went home more than half-intoxicated. His mind was so full of what +had passed, that he could not help bragging to Felix, whom he found +awake at his return, that he could have his bill paid off at the +alehouse whenever he pleased; dropping, besides, some hints which were +not lost upon Felix. + +In the morning Felix reminded him of the things which he had said; and +Corkscrew, alarmed, endeavoured to evade his questions by saying that he +was not in his senses when he talked in that manner. Nothing, however, +that he could urge made any impression upon Felix, whose recollection on +the subject was perfectly distinct, and who had too much cunning +himself, and too little confidence in his companion, to be the dupe of +his dissimulation. The butler knew not what to do when he saw that Felix +was absolutely determined either to betray their scheme or to become a +sharer in the booty. + +The next night came, and he was now to make a final decision; either to +determine on breaking off entirely with his new acquaintances, or taking +Felix with him to join in the plot. + +His debt, his love of drinking, the impossibility of indulging it +without a fresh supply of money, all came into his mind at once and +conquered his remaining scruples. It is said by those whose fatal +experience gives them a right to be believed, that a drunkard will +sacrifice anything, everything, sooner than the pleasure of habitual +intoxication. + +How much easier is it never to begin a bad custom than to break through +it when once formed! + +The hour of rendezvous came, and Corkscrew went to the alehouse, where +he found the housebreakers waiting for him, and a glass of brandy ready +poured out. He sighed--drank--hesitated--drank again--heard the landlord +talk of his bill, saw the money produced which would pay it in a +moment--drank again--cursed himself, and, giving his hand to the villain +who was whispering in his ear, swore that he could not help it, and must +do as they would have him. They required of him to give up the key of +the house door, that they might get another made by it. He had left it +with Felix, and was now obliged to explain the new difficulty which had +arisen. Felix knew enough to ruin them, and must therefore be won over. +This was no very difficult task; he had a strong desire to have some +worked cravats, and the butler knew enough of him to believe that this +would be a sufficient bribe. The cravats were bought and shown to Felix. +He thought them the only things wanting to make him a complete fine +gentleman; and to go without them, especially when he had once seen +himself in the glass with one tied on in a splendid bow, appeared +impossible. Even this paltry temptation, working upon his vanity, at +length prevailed with a boy whose integrity had long been corrupted by +the habits of petty pilfering and daily falsehood. It was agreed that, +the first time his mistress sent him out on a message, he should carry +the key of the house door to his cousin's, and deliver it into the hands +of one of the gang, who were there in waiting for it. Such was the +scheme. + +Felix, the night after all this had been planned, went to bed and fell +fast asleep; but the butler, who had not yet stifled the voice of +conscience, felt, in the silence of the night, so insupportably +miserable that, instead of going to rest, he stole softly into the +pantry for a bottle of his mistress's wine, and there drinking glass +after glass, he stayed till he became so far intoxicated that, though he +contrived to find his way back to bed, he could by no means undress +himself. Without any power of recollection, he flung himself upon the +bed, leaving his candle half hanging out of the candlestick beside him. +Franklin slept in the next room to him, and presently awaking, thought +he perceived a strong smell of something burning. He jumped up, and +seeing a light under the butler's door, gently opened it, and, to his +astonishment, beheld one of the bed curtains in flames. He immediately +ran to the butler, and pulled him with all his force to rouse him from +his lethargy. He came to his senses at length, but was so terrified and +so helpless that, if it had not been for Franklin, the whole house would +soon inevitably have been on fire. Felix, trembling and cowardly, knew +not what to do; and it was curious to see him obeying Franklin, whose +turn it now was to command. Franklin ran upstairs to awaken Mrs. +Pomfret, whose terror of fire was so great that she came from her room +almost out of her senses, whilst he, with the greatest presence of mind, +recollected where he had seen two large tubs of water, which the maids +had prepared the night before for their washing, and seizing the wet +linen which had been left to soak, he threw them upon the flames. He +exerted himself with so much good sense, that the fire was presently +extinguished. + +Everything was now once more safe and quiet. Mrs. Pomfret, recovering +from her fright, postponed all inquiries till the morning, and rejoiced +that her mistress had not been awakened, whilst Corkscrew flattered +himself that he should be able to conceal the true cause of the +accident. + +'Don't you tell Mrs. Pomfret where you found the candle when you came +into the room,' said he to Franklin. 'If she asks me, you know I must +tell the truth,' replied he. 'Must!' repeated Felix, sneeringly; 'what, +you _must_ be a tell-tale!' 'No, I never told any tales of anybody, and +I should be very sorry to get any one into a scrape; but for all that I +shall not tell a lie, either for myself or anybody else, let you call me +what names you will.' 'But if I were to give you something that you +would like,' said Corkscrew--'something that I know you would like?' +repeated Felix. 'Nothing you can give me will do,' answered Franklin, +steadily; 'so it is useless to say any more about it--I hope I shall not +be questioned.' In this hope he was mistaken; for the first thing Mrs. +Pomfret did in the morning was to come into the room to examine and +deplore the burnt curtains, whilst Corkscrew stood by, endeavouring to +exculpate himself by all the excuses he could invent. + +Mrs. Pomfret, however, though sometimes blinded by her prejudices, was +no fool; and it was absolutely impossible to make her believe that a +candle which had been left on the hearth, where Corkscrew protested he +had left it, could have set curtains on fire which were at least six +feet distant. Turning short round to Franklin, she desired that he would +show her where he found the candle when he came into the room. He took +up the candlestick; but the moment the housekeeper cast her eye upon it, +she snatched it from his hands. 'How did this candlestick come here? +This was not the candlestick you found here last night,' cried she. +'Yes, indeed it was,' answered Franklin. 'That is impossible,' retorted +she, vehemently, 'for I left this candlestick with my own hands, last +night, in the hall, the last thing I did, after you,' said she, turning +to the butler, 'was gone to bed--I'm sure of it. Nay, don't you +recollect my taking this _japanned candlestick_ out of your hand, and +making you to go up to bed with the brass one, and I bolted the door at +the stair-head after you?' + +This was all very true; but Corkscrew had afterwards gone down from his +room by a back staircase, unbolted that door, and, upon his return from +the alehouse, had taken the japanned candlestick by mistake upstairs, +and had left the brass one in its stead upon the hall table. + +'Oh, ma'am,' said Felix, 'indeed you forget; for Mr. Corkscrew came into +my room to desire me to call him betimes in the morning, and I happened +to take particular notice, and he had the japanned candlestick in his +hand, and that was just as I heard you bolting the door. Indeed, ma'am, +you forget.' 'Indeed, sir,' retorted Mrs. Pomfret, rising in anger, 'I +do not forget; I'm not come to be _superannuated_ yet, I hope. How do +you dare to tell me I forget?' 'Oh, ma'am,' cried Felix, 'I beg your +pardon, I did not--I did not mean to say you forgot, but only I thought, +perhaps, you might not particularly remember; for if you please to +recollect----' 'I won't please to recollect just whatever you please, +sir! Hold your tongue; why should you poke yourself into this scrape; +what have you to do with it, I should be glad to know?' 'Nothing in the +world, oh nothing in the world; I'm sure I beg your pardon, ma'am,' +answered Felix, in a soft tone; and, sneaking off, left his friend +Corkscrew to fight his own battle, secretly resolving to desert in good +time, if he saw any danger of the alehouse transactions coming to light. + +Corkscrew could make but very blundering excuses for himself; and, +conscious of guilt, he turned pale, and appeared so much more terrified +than butlers usually appear when detected in a lie, that Mrs. Pomfret +resolved, as she said, to sift the matter to the bottom. Impatiently did +she wait till the clock struck nine, and her mistress's bell rang, the +signal for her attendance at her levee. 'How do you find yourself this +morning, ma'am?' said she, undrawing the curtains. 'Very sleepy, +indeed,' answered her mistress in a drowsy voice; 'I think I must sleep +half an hour longer--shut the curtains.' 'As you please, ma'am; but I +suppose I had better open a little of the window shutter, for it's past +nine.' 'But just struck.' 'Oh dear, ma'am, it struck before I came +upstairs, and you know we are twenty minutes slow--Lord bless us!' +exclaimed Mrs. Pomfret, as she let fall the bar of the window, which +roused her mistress. 'I'm sure I beg your pardon a thousand times--it's +only the bar--because I had this great key in my hand.' 'Put down the +key, then, or you'll knock something else down; and you may open the +shutters now, for I'm quite awake.' 'Dear me! I'm so sorry to think of +disturbing you,' cried Mrs. Pomfret, at the same time throwing the +shutters wide open; 'but, to be sure, ma'am, I have something to tell +you which won't let you sleep again in a hurry. I brought up this here +key of the house door for reasons of my own, which I'm sure you'll +approve of; but I'm not come to that part of my story yet. I hope you +were not disturbed by the noise in the house last night, ma'am.' 'I +heard no noise.' 'I am surprised at that, though,' continued Mrs. +Pomfret, and proceeded to give a most ample account of the fire, of her +fears and her suspicions. 'To be sure, ma'am, what I say _is_, that +without the spirit of prophecy one can nowadays account for what has +passed. I'm quite clear in my own judgment that Mr. Corkscrew must have +been out last night after I went to bed; for, besides the japanned +candlestick, which of itself I'm sure is strong enough to hang a man, +there's another circumstance, ma'am, that certifies it to me--though I +have not mentioned it, ma'am, to no one yet,' lowering her +voice--'Franklin, when I questioned him, told me that he left the +lantern in the outside porch in the court last night, and this morning +it was on the kitchen table. Now, ma'am, that lantern could not come +without hands; and I could not forget about that, you know; for Franklin +says he's sure he left the lantern out.' 'And do you believe _him_?' +inquired her mistress. 'To be sure, ma'am--how can I help believing him? +I never found him out in the least symptom of a lie since ever he came +into the house; so one can't help believing in him, like him or not.' +'Without meaning to tell a falsehood, however,' said the lady, 'he might +make a mistake.' 'No, ma'am, he never makes mistakes; it is not his way +to go gossiping and tattling; he never tells anything till he's asked, +and then it's fit he should. About the sirloin of beef, and all, he was +right in the end, I found, to do him justice; and I'm sure he's right +now about the lantern--he's _always right_.' + +Mrs. Churchill could not help smiling. + +'If you had seen him, ma'am, last night in the midst of the fire--I'm +sure we may thank him that we were not burned alive in our beds--and I +shall never forget his coming to call me. Poor fellow! he that I was +always scolding and scolding, enough to make him hate me. But he's too +good to hate anybody; and I'll be bound I'll make it up to him now.' +'Take care that you don't go from one extreme into another, Pomfret; +don't spoil the boy.' 'No, ma'am, there's no danger of that; but I'm +sure if you had seen him last night yourself, you would think he +deserved to be rewarded.' 'And so he shall be rewarded,' said Mrs. +Churchill; 'but I will try him more fully yet.' 'There's no occasion, I +think, for trying him any more, ma'am,' said Mrs. Pomfret, who was as +violent in her likings as in her dislikes. 'Pray desire,' continued her +mistress, 'that he will bring up breakfast this morning; and leave the +key of the house door, Pomfret, with me.' + +When Franklin brought the urn into the breakfast-parlour, his mistress +was standing by the fire with the key in her hand. She spoke to him of +his last night's exertions in terms of much approbation. 'How long have +you lived with me?' said she, pausing; 'three weeks, I think?' 'Three +weeks and four days, madam.' 'That is but a short time; yet you have +conducted yourself so as to make me think I may depend upon you. You +know this key?' 'I believe, madam, it is the key of the house door.' 'It +is; I shall trust it in your care. It is a great trust for so young a +person as you are.' Franklin stood silent, with a firm but modest +look. 'If you take the charge of this key,' continued his mistress, +'remember it is upon condition that you never give it out of your own +hands. In the daytime it must not be left in the door. You must not tell +anybody where you keep it at night; and the house door must not be +unlocked after eleven o'clock at night, unless by my orders. Will you +take charge of the key upon these conditions?' 'I will, madam, do +anything you order me,' said Franklin, and received the key from her +hands. + +[Illustration: _'You know this key? I shall trust it in your care.'_] + +When Mrs. Churchill's orders were made known, they caused many secret +marvellings and murmurings. Corkscrew and Felix were disconcerted, and +dared not openly avow their discontent; and they treated Franklin with +the greatest seeming kindness and cordiality. + +Everything went on smoothly for three days. The butler never attempted +his usual midnight visits to the alehouse, but went to bed in proper +time, and paid particular court to Mrs. Pomfret, in order to dispel her +suspicions. She had never had any idea of the real fact, that he and +Felix were joined in a plot with housebreakers to rob the house, but +thought he only went out at irregular hours to indulge himself in his +passion for drinking. + +Thus stood affairs the night before Mrs. Churchill's birthday. +Corkscrew, by the housekeeper's means, ventured to present a petition +that he might go to the play the next day, and his request was granted. +Franklin came into the kitchen just when all the servants had gathered +round the butler, who, with great importance, was reading aloud the +play-bill. Everybody present soon began to speak at once, and with great +enthusiasm talked of the playhouse, the actors and actresses; and then +Felix, in the first pause, turned to Franklin and said, 'Lord, you know +nothing of all this! _you_ never went to a play, did you?' 'Never,' said +Franklin, and felt, he did not know why, a little ashamed; and he longed +extremely to go to one. 'How should you like to go to the play with me +to-morrow?' said Corkscrew. 'Oh,' exclaimed Franklin, 'I should like it +exceedingly.' 'And do you think mistress would let you if I asked?' 'I +think--maybe she would, if Mrs. Pomfret asked her.' 'But then you have +no money, have you?' 'No,' said Franklin, sighing. 'But stay,' said +Corkscrew, 'what I'm thinking of is, that if mistress will let you go, +I'll treat you myself, rather than that you should be disappointed.' + +Delight, surprise, and gratitude appeared in Franklin's face at these +words. Corkscrew rejoiced to see that now, at least, he had found a most +powerful temptation. 'Well, then, I'll go just now and ask her. In the +meantime, lend me the key of the house door for a minute or two.' 'The +key!' answered Franklin, starting; 'I'm sorry, but I can't do that, for +I've promised my mistress never to let it out of my own hands.' 'But how +will she know anything of the matter? Run, run, and get it for us.' 'No, +I _cannot_,' replied Franklin, resisting the push which the butler gave +his shoulder. 'You can't?' cried Corkscrew, changing his tone; 'then, +sir, I can't take you to the play.' 'Very well, sir,' said Franklin, +sorrowfully, but with steadiness. 'Very well, sir,' said Felix, +mimicking him, 'you need not look so important, nor fancy yourself such +a great man, because you're master of a key.' + +'Say no more to him,' interrupted Corkscrew; 'let him alone to take his +own way. Felix, you would have no objection, I suppose, to going to the +play with me?' 'Oh, I should like it of all things, if I did not come +between anybody else. But come, come!' added the hypocrite, assuming a +tone of friendly persuasion, 'you won't be such a blockhead, Franklin, +as to lose going to the play for nothing; it's only just obstinacy. What +harm can it do to lend Mr. Corkscrew the key for five minutes? he'll +give it you back again safe and sound.' 'I don't doubt _that_,' answered +Franklin. 'Then it must be all because you don't wish to oblige Mr. +Corkscrew.' 'No, but I can't oblige him in this; for, as I told you +before, my mistress trusted me. I promised never to let the key out of +my own hands, and you would not have me break my trust. Mr. Spencer told +me _that_ was worse than _robbing_.' + +At the word _robbing_ both Corkscrew and Felix involuntarily cast down +their eyes, and turned the conversation immediately, saying that he did +very right, that they did not really want the key, and had only asked +for it just to try if he would keep his word. 'Shake hands,' said +Corkscrew, 'I am glad to find you out to be an honest fellow!' 'I am +sorry you did not think me an honest fellow before, Mr. Corkscrew,' said +Franklin giving his hand rather proudly, and he walked away. + +'We shall make no hand of this prig,' said Corkscrew. 'But we'll have +the key from him in spite of all his obstinacy,' said Felix; 'and let +him make his story good as he can afterwards. He shall repent of these +airs. To-night I'll watch him, and find out where he hides the key; and +when he's asleep we'll get it without thanking him.' + +This plan Felix put into execution. They discovered the place where +Franklin kept the key at night, stole it whilst he slept, took off the +impression in wax, and carefully replaced it in Franklin's trunk, +exactly where they found it. + +Probably our young readers cannot guess what use they could mean to make +of this impression of the key in wax. Knowing how to do mischief is very +different from wishing to do it, and the most innocent persons are +generally the least ignorant. By means of the impression which they had +thus obtained, Corkscrew and Felix proposed to get a false key made by +Picklock, a smith who belonged to their gang of housebreakers; and with +this false key knew they could open the door whenever they pleased. + +Little suspecting what had happened, Franklin, the next morning, went to +unlock the house door as usual; but finding the key entangled in the +lock, he took it out to examine it, and perceived a lump of wax sticking +in one of the wards. Struck with this circumstance, it brought to his +mind all that had passed the preceding evening, and, being sure that he +had no wax near the key, he began to suspect what had happened; and he +could not help recollecting what he had once heard Felix say, that 'give +him but a halfpenny worth of wax, and he could open the strongest lock +that ever was made by hands.' + +All these things considered, Franklin resolved to take the key just as +it was, with the wax sticking to it, to his mistress. + +'I was not mistaken when I thought I might trust _you_ with this key,' +said Mrs. Churchill, after she had heard his story. 'My brother will be +here to-day, and I shall consult him. In the meantime, say nothing of +what has passed.' + +Evening came, and after tea Mr. Spencer sent for Franklin upstairs. 'So, +Mr. Franklin,' said he, 'I'm glad to find you are in such high _trust_ +in this family.' Franklin bowed. 'But you have lost, I understand, the +pleasure of going to the play to-night.' 'I don't think anything--much, +I mean, of that, sir,' answered Franklin, smiling. 'Are Corkscrew and +Felix _gone_ to the play?' 'Yes; half an hour ago, sir.' 'Then I shall +look into his room and examine the pantry and the plate that is under +his care.' + +When Mr. Spencer came to examine the pantry, he found the large salvers +and cups in a basket behind the door, and the other things placed so as +to be easily carried off. Nothing at first appeared in Corkscrew's +bedchamber to strengthen their suspicions, till, just as they were going +to leave the room, Mrs. Pomfret exclaimed, 'Why, if there is not Mr. +Corkscrew's dress coat hanging up there! and if here isn't Felix's fine +cravat that he wanted in such a hurry to go to the play! Why, sir, they +can't be gone to the play. Look at the cravat. Ah! upon my word I am +afraid they are not at the play. No, sir, you may be sure that they are +plotting with their barbarous gang at the alehouse; and they'll +certainly break into the house to-night. We shall all be murdered in our +beds, as sure as I'm a living woman, sir; but if you'll only take my +advice----' 'Pray, good Mrs. Pomfret,' Mr. Spencer observed, 'don't be +alarmed.' 'Nay, sir, but I won't pretend to sleep in the house, if +Franklin isn't to have a blunderbuss, and I a _baggonet_.' 'You shall +have both, indeed, Mrs. Pomfret; but don't make such a noise, for +everybody will hear you.' + +The love of mystery was the only thing which could have conquered Mrs. +Pomfret's love of talking. She was silent; and contented herself the +rest of the evening with making signs, looking _ominous_, and stalking +about the house like one possessed with a secret. + +Escaped from Mrs. Pomfret's fears and advice, Mr. Spencer went to a shop +within a few doors of the alehouse which he heard Corkscrew frequented, +and sent to beg to speak to the landlord. He came; and, when Mr. Spencer +questioned him, confessed that Corkscrew and Felix were actually +drinking in his house, with two men of suspicious appearance; that, as +he passed through the passage, he heard them disputing about a key; and +that one of them said, 'Since we've got the key, we'll go about it +to-night.' This was sufficient information. Mr. Spencer, lest the +landlord should give them information of what was going forwards, took +him along with him to Bow Street. + +A constable and proper assistance was sent to Mrs. Churchill's. They +stationed themselves in a back parlour which opened on a passage leading +to the butler's pantry, where the plate was kept. A little after +midnight they heard the hall door open. Corkscrew and his accomplices +went directly to the pantry; and there Mr. Spencer and the constable +immediately secured them, as they were carrying off their booty. + +Mrs. Churchill and Pomfret had spent the night at the house of an +acquaintance in the same street. 'Well, ma'am,' said Mrs. Pomfret, who +had heard all the news in the morning, 'the villains are all safe, thank +God. I was afraid to go to the window this morning; but it was my luck +to see them all go by to gaol. They looked so shocking! I am sure I +never shall forget Felix's look to my dying day! But poor Franklin! +ma'am; that boy has the best heart in the world. I could not get him to +give a second look at them as they passed. Poor fellow! I thought he +would have dropped; and he was so modest, ma'am, when Mr. Spencer spoke +to him, and told him he had done his duty.' 'And did my brother tell him +what reward I intend for him?' 'No, ma'am, and I'm sure Franklin thinks +no more of _reward_ than I do.' 'I intend,' continued Mrs. Churchill, +'to sell some of my old useless plate, and to lay it out in an annuity +for Franklin's life.' 'La, ma'am!' exclaimed Mrs. Pomfret, with +unfeigned joy, 'I'm sure you are very good; and I'm very glad of it.' +'And,' continued Mrs. Churchill, 'here are some tickets for the play, +which I shall beg you, Pomfret, to give him, and to take him with you.' + +'I am very much obliged to you, indeed, ma'am; and I'll go with him with +all my heart, and choose such plays as won't do no prejudice to his +morality. And, ma'am,' continued Mrs. Pomfret, 'the night after the fire +I left him my great Bible and my watch, in my will; for I never was more +mistaken at the first in any boy in my born days; but he has won me by +his own _deserts_, and I shall from this time forth love all the +_Villaintropic_ folks for his sake.' + + + + +SIMPLE SUSAN + + +CHAPTER I + + Waked, as her custom was, before the day, + To do the observance due to sprightly May. + DRYDEN. + +In a retired hamlet on the borders of Wales, between Oswestry and +Shrewsbury, it is still the custom to celebrate the 1st of May. + +The children of the village, who look forward to this rural festival +with joyful eagerness, usually meet on the last day of April to make up +their nosegays for the morning and to choose their queen. Their +customary place of meeting is at a hawthorn which stands in a little +green nook, open on one side to a shady lane, and separated on the other +side by a thick sweet-brier and hawthorn hedge from the garden of an +attorney. + +This attorney began the world with nothing, but he contrived to scrape +together a good deal of money, everybody knew how. He built a new house +at the entrance of the village, and had a large well-fenced garden, yet, +notwithstanding his fences, he never felt himself secure. Such were his +litigious habits and his suspicious temper that he was constantly at +variance with his simple and peaceable neighbours. Some pig, or dog, or +goat, or goose was for ever trespassing. His complaints and his +extortions wearied and alarmed the whole hamlet. The paths in his fields +were at length unfrequented, his stiles were blocked up with stones, or +stuffed with brambles and briers, so that not a gosling could creep +under, or a giant get over them. Indeed, so careful were even the +village children of giving offence to this irritable man of the law, +that they would not venture to fly a kite near his fields lest it should +entangle in his trees or fall upon his meadow. + +Mr. Case, for this was the name of our attorney, had a son and a +daughter, to whose education he had not time to attend, as his whole +soul was intent upon accumulating for them a fortune. For several years +he suffered his children to run wild in the village; but suddenly, on +his being appointed to a considerable agency, he began to think of +making his children a little genteel. He sent his son to learn Latin; he +hired a maid to wait upon his daughter Barbara, and he strictly forbade +her _thenceforward_ to keep company with any of the poor children who +had hitherto been her playfellows. They were not sorry for this +prohibition, because she had been their tyrant rather than their +companion. She was vexed to observe that her absence was not regretted, +and she was mortified to perceive that she could not humble them by any +display of airs and finery. + +There was one poor girl, amongst her former associates, to whom she had +a peculiar dislike,--Susan Price, a sweet-tempered, modest, sprightly, +industrious lass, who was the pride and delight of the village. Her +father rented a small farm, and, unfortunately for him, he lived near +Attorney Case. + +Barbara used often to sit at her window, watching Susan at work. +Sometimes she saw her in the neat garden raking the beds or weeding the +borders; sometimes she was kneeling at her beehive with fresh flowers +for her bees; sometimes she was in the poultry yard, scattering corn +from her sieve amongst the eager chickens; and in the evening she was +often seated in a little honeysuckle arbour, with a clean, light, +three-legged deal table before her, upon which she put her plain work. + +Susan had been taught to work neatly by her good mother, who was very +fond of her, and to whom she was most gratefully attached. + +Mrs. Price was an intelligent, active, domestic woman; but her health +was not robust. She earned money, however, by taking in plain work; and +she was famous for baking excellent bread and breakfast cakes. She was +respected in the village, for her conduct as a wife and as a mother, and +all were eager to show her attention. At her door the first branch of +hawthorn was always placed on May morning, and her Susan was usually +Queen of the May. + +It was now time to choose the Queen. The setting sun shone full upon the +pink blossoms of the hawthorn, when the merry group assembled upon their +little green. Barbara was now walking in sullen state in her father's +garden. She heard the busy voices in the lane, and she concealed herself +behind the high hedge, that she might listen to their conversation. + +'Where's Susan?' were the first unwelcome words which she overheard. +'Ay, where's Susan?' repeated Philip, stopping short in the middle of a +new tune that he was playing on his pipe. 'I wish Susan would come! I +want her to sing me this same tune over again; I have not it yet.' + +'And I wish Susan would come, I'm sure,' cried a little girl, whose lap +was full of primroses. 'Susan will give me some thread to tie up my +nosegays, and she'll show me where the fresh violets grow; and she has +promised to give me a great bunch of her double cowslips to wear +to-morrow. I wish she would come.' + +'Nothing can be done without Susan! She always shows us where the nicest +flowers are to be found in the lanes and meadows,' said they. 'She must +make up the garlands; and she shall be Queen of the May!' exclaimed a +multitude of little voices. + +'But she does not come!' said Philip. + +Rose, who was her particular friend, now came forward to assure the +impatient assembly 'that she would answer for it Susan would come as +soon as she possibly could, and that she probably was detained by +business at home.' + +The little electors thought that all business should give way to theirs, +and Rose was despatched to summon her friend immediately. + +'Tell her to make haste,' cried Philip. 'Attorney Case dined at the +Abbey to-day--luckily for us. If he comes home and finds us here, maybe +he'll drive us away; for he says this bit of ground belongs to his +garden: though that is not true, I'm sure; for Farmer Price knows, and +says, it was always open to the road. The Attorney wants to get our +playground, so he does. I wish he and his daughter Bab, or Miss +Barbara, as she must now be called, were a hundred miles off, out of +our way, I know. No later than yesterday she threw down my ninepins in +one of her ill-humours, as she was walking by with her gown all trailing +in the dust.' + +'Yes,' cried Mary, the little primrose-girl, 'her gown is always +trailing. She does not hold it up nicely, like Susan; and with all her +fine clothes she never looks half so neat. Mamma says she wishes I may +be like Susan, when I grow up to be a great girl, and so do I. I should +not like to look conceited as Barbara does, if I was ever so rich.' + +'Rich or poor,' said Philip, 'it does not become a girl to look +conceited, much less _bold_, as Barbara did the other day, when she was +at her father's door without a hat upon her head, staring at the strange +gentleman who stopped hereabout to let his horse drink. I know what he +thought of Bab by his looks, and of Susan too; for Susan was in her +garden, bending down a branch of the laburnum tree, looking at its +yellow flowers, which were just come out; and when the gentleman asked +her how many miles it was from Shrewsbury, she answered him so +modest!--not bashful, like as if she had never seen nobody before--but +just right: and then she pulled on her straw hat, which was fallen back +with her looking up at the laburnum, and she went her ways home; and the +gentleman says to me, after she was gone, "Pray, who is that neat modest +girl----?" But I wish Susan would come,' cried Philip, interrupting +himself. + +Susan was all this time, as her friend Rose rightly guessed, busy at +home. She was detained by her father's returning later than usual. His +supper was ready for him nearly an hour before he came home; and Susan +swept up the ashes twice, and twice put on wood to make a cheerful blaze +for him; but at last, when he did come in, he took no notice of the +blaze or of Susan; and when his wife asked him how he did, he made no +answer, but stood with his back to the fire, looking very gloomy. Susan +put his supper upon the table, and set his own chair for him; but he +pushed away the chair and turned from the table, saying--'I shall eat +nothing, child! Why have you such a fire to roast me at this time of the +year?' + +'You said yesterday, father, I thought, that you liked a little cheerful +wood fire in the evening; and there was a great shower of hail; your +coat is quite wet, we must dry it.' + +'Take it, then, child,' said he, pulling it off--'I shall soon have no +coat to dry--and take my hat too,' said he, throwing it upon the ground. + +Susan hung up his hat, put his coat over the back of a chair to dry, and +then stood anxiously looking at her mother, who was not well; she had +this day fatigued herself with baking; and now, alarmed by her husband's +moody behaviour, she sat down pale and trembling. He threw himself into +a chair, folded his arms, and fixed his eyes upon the fire. + +Susan was the first who ventured to break silence. Happy the father who +has such a daughter as Susan!--her unaltered sweetness of temper, and +her playful, affectionate caresses, at last somewhat dissipated her +father's melancholy. + +He could not be prevailed upon to eat any of the supper which had been +prepared for him; however, with a faint smile, he told Susan that he +thought he could eat one of her guinea-hen's eggs. She thanked him, and +with that nimble alacrity which marks the desire to please, she ran to +her neat chicken-yard; but, alas! her guinea-hen was not there--it had +strayed into the attorney's garden. She saw it through the paling, and +timidly opening the little gate, she asked Miss Barbara, who was walking +slowly by, to let her come in and take her guinea-hen. Barbara, who was +at this instant reflecting, with no agreeable feelings, upon the +conversation of the village children, to which she had recently +listened, started when she heard Susan's voice, and with a proud, +ill-humoured look and voice, refused her request. + +'Shut the gate,' said Barbara, 'you have no business in _our_ garden; +and as for your hen, I shall keep it; it is always flying in here and +plaguing us, and my father says it is a trespasser; and he told me I +might catch it and keep it the next time it got in, and it is in now.' +Then Barbara called to her maid, Betty, and bid her catch the +mischievous hen. + +'Oh, my guinea-hen! my pretty guinea-hen!' cried Susan, as they hunted +the frightened, screaming creature from corner to corner. + +'Here we have got it!' said Betty, holding it fast by the legs. + +'Now pay damages, Queen Susan, or good-bye to your pretty guinea-hen,' +said Barbara, in an insulting tone. + +'Damages! what damages?' said Susan; 'tell me what I must pay.' 'A +shilling,' said Barbara. 'Oh, if sixpence would do!' said Susan; 'I have +but sixpence of my own in the world, and here it is.' 'It won't do,' +said Barbara, turning her back. 'Nay, but hear me,' cried Susan; 'let me +at least come in to look for its eggs. I only want _one_ for my father's +supper; you shall have all the rest.' 'What's your father, or his supper +to us? is he so nice that he can eat none but guinea-hen's eggs?' said +Barbara. 'If you want your hen and your eggs, pay for them, and you'll +have them.' 'I have but sixpence, and you say that won't do,' said +Susan, with a sigh, as she looked at her favourite, which was in the +maid's grasping hands, struggling and screaming in vain. + +Susan retired disconsolate. At the door of her father's cottage she saw +her friend Rose, who was just come to summon her to the hawthorn bush. + +'They are all at the hawthorn, and I am come for you. We can do nothing +without _you_, dear Susan,' cried Rose, running to meet her, at the +moment she saw her. 'You are chosen Queen of the May--come, make haste. +But what is the matter? why do you look so sad?' + +'Ah!' said Susan, 'don't wait for me; I can't come to you, but,' added +she, pointing to the tuft of double cowslips in the garden, 'gather +those for poor little Mary; I promised them to her, and tell her the +violets are under a hedge just opposite the turnstile, on the right as +we go to church. Good-bye! never mind me; I can't come--I can't stay, +for my father wants me.' + +'But don't turn away your face; I won't keep you a moment; only tell me +what's the matter,' said her friend, following her into the cottage. + +'Oh, nothing, not much,' said Susan; 'only that I wanted the egg in a +great hurry for father, it would not have vexed me--to be sure I should +have clipped my guinea-hen's wings, and then she could not have flown +over the hedge; but let us think no more about it, now,' added she, +twinkling away a tear. + +When Rose, however, learnt that her friend's guinea-hen was detained +prisoner by the attorney's daughter, she exclaimed, with all the honest +warmth of indignation, and instantly ran back to tell the story to her +companions. + +[Illustration: _'It won't do,' said Barbara, turning her back._] + +'Barbara! ay; like father, like daughter,' cried Farmer Price, starting +from the thoughtful attitude in which he had been fixed, and drawing his +chair closer to his wife. + +'You see something is amiss with me, wife--I'll tell you what it is.' As +he lowered his voice, Susan, who was not sure that he wished she should +hear what he was going to say, retired from behind his chair. 'Susan, +don't go; sit you down here, my sweet Susan,' said he, making room for +her upon his chair; 'I believe I was a little cross when I came in first +to-night; but I had something to vex me, as you shall hear. + +'About a fortnight ago, you know, wife,' continued he, 'there was a +balloting in our town for the militia; now at that time I wanted but ten +days of forty years of age; and the attorney told me I was a fool for +not calling myself plump forty. But the truth is the truth, and it is +what I think fittest to be spoken at all times come what will of it. So +I was drawn for a militiaman; but when I thought how loth you and I +would be to part, I was main glad to hear that I could get off by paying +eight or nine guineas for a substitute--only I had not the nine +guineas--for, you know, we had bad luck with our sheep this year, and +they died away one after another--but that was no excuse, so I went to +Attorney Case, and, with a power of difficulty, I got him to lend me the +money; for which, to be sure, I gave him something, and left my lease of +our farm with him, as he insisted upon it, by way of security for the +loan. Attorney Case is too many for me. He has found what he calls a +_flaw_ in my lease; and the lease, he tells me, is not worth a farthing, +and that he can turn us all out of our farm to-morrow if he pleases; and +sure enough he will please; for I have thwarted him this day, and he +swears he'll be revenged of me. Indeed, he has begun with me badly +enough already. I'm not come to the worst part of my story yet----' + +Here Farmer Price made a dead stop; and his wife and Susan looked up in +his face, breathless with anxiety. + +'It must come out,' said he, with a short sigh; 'I must leave you in +three days, wife.' + +'Must you?' said his wife, in a faint, resigned voice. 'Susan, love, +open the window.' Susan ran to open the window, and then returned to +support her mother's head. When she came a little to herself she sat up, +begged that her husband would go on, and that nothing might be concealed +from her. Her husband had no wish indeed to conceal anything from a +wife he loved so well; but, firm as he was, and steady to his maxim, +that the truth was the thing the fittest to be spoken at all times, his +voice faltered, and it was with great difficulty that he brought himself +to speak the whole truth at this moment. + +The fact was this. Case met Farmer Price as he was coming home, +whistling, from a new-ploughed field. The attorney had just dined at +_The Abbey_. The Abbey was the family seat of an opulent baronet in the +neighbourhood, to whom Mr. Case had been agent. The baronet died +suddenly, and his estate and title devolved to a younger brother, who +was now just arrived in the country, and to whom Mr. Case was eager to +pay his court, in hopes of obtaining his favour. Of the agency he +flattered himself that he was pretty secure; and he thought that he +might assume a tone of command towards the tenants, especially towards +one who was some guineas in debt, and in whose lease there was a flaw. + +Accosting the farmer in a haughty manner, the attorney began with, 'So, +Farmer Price, a word with you, if you please. Walk on here, man, beside +my horse, and you'll hear me. You have changed your opinion, I hope, +about that bit of land--that corner at the end of my garden?' 'As how, +Mr. Case?' said the farmer. 'As how, man! Why, you said something about +it's not belonging to me, when you heard me talk of enclosing it the +other day.' 'So I did,' said Price, 'and so I do.' + +Provoked and astonished at the firm tone in which these words were +pronounced, the attorney was upon the point of swearing that he would +have his revenge; but, as his passions were habitually attentive to the +_letter_ of the law, he refrained from any hasty expression, which +might, he was aware, in a court of justice, be hereafter brought against +him. + +'My good friend, Mr. Price,' said he, in a soft voice, and pale with +suppressed rage. He forced a smile. 'I'm under the necessity of calling +in the money I lent you some time ago, and you will please to take +notice that it must be paid to-morrow morning. I wish you a good +evening. You have the money ready for me, I daresay.' + +'No,' said the farmer, 'not a guinea of it; but John Simpson, who was my +substitute, has not left our village yet. I'll get the money back from +him, and go myself, if so be it must be so, into the militia--so I +will.' + +The attorney did not expect such a determination, and he represented, in +a friendly, hypocritical tone to Price, that he had no wish to drive him +to such an extremity; that it would be the height of folly in him _to +run his head against a wall for no purpose_. 'You don't mean to take the +corner into your own garden, do you, Price?' said he. 'I,' said the +farmer, 'God forbid! it's none of mine; I never take what does not +belong to me.' 'True, right, very proper, of course,' said Mr. Case; +'but then you have no interest in life in the land in question?' 'None.' +'Then why so stiff about it, Price? All I want of you to say----' 'To +say that black is white, which I won't do, Mr. Case. The ground is a +thing not worth talking of; but it's neither yours nor mine. In my +memory, since the _new_ lane was made, it has always been open to the +parish; and no man shall enclose it with my good-will. Truth is truth, +and must be spoken; justice is justice, and should be done, Mr. +Attorney.' + +'And law is law, Mr. Farmer, and shall have its course, to your cost,' +cried the attorney, exasperated by the dauntless spirit of this village +Hampden. + +Here they parted. The glow of enthusiasm, the pride of virtue, which +made our hero brave, could not render him insensible. As he drew nearer +home, many melancholy thoughts pressed upon his heart. He passed the +door of his own cottage with resolute steps, however, and went through +the village in search of the man who had engaged to be his substitute. +He found him, told him how the matter stood; and luckily the man, who +had not yet spent the money, was willing to return it; as there were +many others drawn for the militia, who, he observed, would be glad to +give him the same price, or more, for his services. + +The moment Price got the money, he hastened to Mr. Case's house, walked +straight forward into his room, and laying the money down upon his desk, +'There, Mr. Attorney, are your nine guineas; count them; now I have done +with you.' + +'Not yet,' said the attorney, jingling the money triumphantly in his +hand. 'We'll give you a taste of the law, my good sir, or I'm mistaken. +You forgot the flaw in your lease, which I have safe in this desk.' + +'Ah, my lease,' said the farmer, who had almost forgot to ask for it +till he was thus put in mind of it by the attorney's imprudent threat. + +'Give me my lease, Mr. Case. I've paid my money; you have no right to +keep the lease any longer, whether it is a bad one or a good one.' + +'Pardon me,' said the attorney, locking his desk and putting the key +into his pocket, 'possession, my honest friend,' cried he, striking his +hand upon the desk, 'is nine points of the law. Good-night to you. I +cannot in conscience return a lease to a tenant in which I know there is +a capital flaw. It is my duty to show it to my employer; or, in other +words, to your new landlord, whose agent I have good reasons to expect I +shall be. You will live to repent your obstinacy, Mr. Price. Your +servant, sir.' + +Price retired with melancholy feelings, but not intimidated. Many a man +returns home with a gloomy countenance, who has not quite so much cause +for vexation. + +When Susan heard her father's story, she quite forgot her guinea-hen, +and her whole soul was intent upon her poor mother, who, notwithstanding +her utmost exertion, could not support herself under this sudden stroke +of misfortune. + +In the middle of the night Susan was called up; her mother's fever ran +high for some hours; but towards morning it abated, and she fell into a +soft sleep with Susan's hand locked fast in hers. + +Susan sat motionless, and breathed softly, lest she should disturb her. +The rushlight, which stood beside the bed, was now burnt low; the long +shadow of the tall wicker chair flitted, faded, appeared, and vanished, +as the flame rose and sank in the socket. Susan was afraid that the +disagreeable smell might waken her mother; and, gently disengaging her +hand, she went on tiptoe to extinguish the candle. All was silent: the +gray light of the morning was now spreading over every object; the sun +rose slowly, and Susan stood at the lattice window, looking through the +small leaded, crossbarred panes at the splendid spectacle. A few birds +began to chirp; but, as Susan was listening to them, her mother started +in her sleep, and spoke unintelligibly. Susan hung up a white apron +before the window to keep out the light, and just then she heard the +sound of music at a distance in the village. As it approached nearer, +she knew that it was Philip playing upon his pipe and tabor. She +distinguished the merry voices of her companions 'carolling in honour of +the May,' and soon she saw them coming towards her father's cottage, +with branches and garlands in their hands. She opened quick, but gently, +the latch of the door, and ran out to meet them. + +'Here she is!--here's Susan!' they exclaimed joyfully. 'Here's the Queen +of the May.' 'And here's her crown!' cried Rose, pressing forward; but +Susan put her finger upon her lips, and pointed to her mother's window. +Philip's pipe stopped instantly. + +'Thank you,' said Susan, 'my mother is ill; I can't leave her, you +know.' Then gently putting aside the crown, her companions bid her say +who should wear it for her. + +'Will you, dear Rose?' said she, placing the garland upon her friend's +head. 'It's a charming May morning,' added she, with a smile; 'good-bye. +We shan't hear your voices or the pipe when you have turned the corner +into the village; so you need only stop till then, Philip.' + +'I shall stop for all day,' said Philip; 'I've no mind to play any +more.' + +'Good-bye, poor Susan. It is a pity you can't come with us,' said all +the children; and little Mary ran after Susan to the cottage door. + +'I forgot to thank you,' said she, 'for the double cowslips; look how +pretty they are, and smell how sweet the violets are in my bosom, and +kiss me quick, for I shall be left behind.' Susan kissed the little +breathless girl, and returned softly to the side of her mother's bed. + +'How grateful that child is to me for a cowslip only! How can I be +grateful enough to such a mother as this?' said Susan to herself, as she +bent over her sleeping mother's pale countenance. + +Her mother's unfinished knitting lay upon a table near the bed, and +Susan sat down in her wicker arm-chair, and went on with the row, in the +middle of which her hand stopped the preceding evening. 'She taught me +to knit, she taught me everything that I know,' thought Susan, 'and the +best of all, she taught me to love her, to wish to be like her.' + +Her mother, when she awakened, felt much refreshed by her tranquil +sleep, and observing that it was a delightful morning, said 'that she +had been dreaming she heard music; but that the drum frightened her, +because she thought it was the signal for her husband to be carried away +by a whole regiment of soldiers, who had pointed their bayonets at him. +But that was but a dream, Susan; I awoke, and knew it was a dream, and I +then fell asleep, and have slept soundly ever since.' + +How painful it is to awake to the remembrance of misfortune. Gradually +as this poor woman collected her scattered thoughts, she recalled the +circumstances of the preceding evening. She was too certain that she had +heard from her husband's own lips the words, '_I must leave you in three +days_'; and she wished that she could sleep again, and think it all a +dream. + +'But he'll want, he'll want a hundred things,' said she, starting up. 'I +must get his linen ready for him. I'm afraid it's very late. Susan, why +did you let me lie so long?' + +'Everything shall be ready, dear mother; only don't hurry yourself,' +said Susan. And indeed her mother was ill able to bear any hurry, or to +do any work this day. Susan's affectionate, dexterous, sensible activity +was never more wanted, or more effectual. She understood so readily, she +obeyed so exactly; and when she was left to her own discretion, judged +so prudently, that her mother had little trouble and no anxiety in +directing her. She said that Susan never did too little, or too much. + +Susan was mending her father's linen, when Rose tapped softly at the +window, and beckoned to her to come out. She went out. 'How does your +mother do, in the first place?' said Rose. 'Better, thank you.' 'That's +well, and I have a little bit of good news for you besides--here,' said +she, pulling out a glove, in which there was money, 'we'll get the +guinea-hen back again--we have all agreed about it. This is the money +that has been given to us in the village this May morning. At every door +they gave silver. See how generous they have been--twelve shillings, I +assure you. Now we are a match for Miss Barbara. You won't like to leave +home; I'll go to Barbara, and you shall see your guinea-hen in ten +minutes.' + +Rose hurried away, pleased with her commission, and eager to accomplish +her business. Miss Barbara's maid, Betty, was the first person that was +visible at the attorney's house. Rose insisted upon seeing Miss Barbara +herself, and she was shown into a parlour to the young lady, who was +reading a dirty novel, which she put under a heap of law papers as they +entered. + +'Dear, how you _startled_ me! Is it only you?' said she to her maid; but +as soon as she saw Rose behind the maid, she put on a scornful air. +'Could not ye say I was not at home, Betty? Well, my good girl, what +brings you here? Something to borrow or beg, I suppose.' + +May every ambassador--every ambassador in as good a cause--answer with +as much dignity and moderation as Rose replied to Barbara upon the +present occasion. She assured her that the person from whom she came did +not send her either to beg or borrow; that she was able to pay the full +value of that for which she came to ask; and, producing her well-filled +purse, 'I believe that this is a very good shilling,' said she. 'If you +don't like it, I will change it, and now you will be so good as to give +me Susan's guinea-hen. It is in her name I ask for it.' + +'No matter in whose name you ask for it,' replied Barbara, 'you will not +have it. Take up your shilling, if you please. I would have taken a +shilling yesterday, if it had been paid at the time properly; but I told +Susan, that if it was not paid then, I should keep the hen, and so I +shall, I promise her. You may go back, and tell her so.' + +The attorney's daughter had, whilst Rose opened her negotiation, +measured the depth of her purse with a keen eye; and her penetration +discovered that it contained at least ten shillings. With proper +management she had some hopes that the guinea-hen might be made to bring +in at least half the money. + +Rose, who was of a warm temper, not quite so fit a match as she had +thought herself for the wily Barbara, incautiously exclaimed, 'Whatever +it costs us, we are determined to have Susan's favourite hen; so, if one +shilling won't do, take two; and if two won't do, why, take three.' + +The shillings sounded provoking upon the table, as she threw them down +one after another, and Barbara coolly replied, 'Three won't do.' 'Have +you no conscience, Miss Barbara? Then take four.' Barbara shook her +head. A fifth shilling was instantly proffered; but Bab, who now saw +plainly that she had the game in her own hands, preserved a cold, cruel +silence. Rose went on rapidly, bidding shilling after shilling, till she +had completely emptied her purse. The twelve shillings were spread upon +the table. Barbara's avarice was moved; she consented for this ransom to +liberate her prisoner. + +Rose pushed the money towards her; but just then, recollecting that she +was acting for others more than for herself, and doubting whether she +had full powers to conclude such an extravagant bargain, she gathered up +the public treasure, and with newly-recovered prudence observed that she +must go back to consult her friends. Her generous little friends were +amazed at Barbara's meanness, but with one accord declared that they +were most willing, for their parts, to give up every farthing of the +money. They all went to Susan in a body, and told her so. 'There's our +purse,' said they; 'do what you please with it.' They would not wait for +one word of thanks, but ran away, leaving only Rose with her to settle +the treaty for the guinea-hen. + +There is a certain manner of accepting a favour, which shows true +generosity of mind. Many know how to give, but few know how to accept a +gift properly. Susan was touched, but not astonished, by the kindness of +her young friends, and she received the purse with as much simplicity as +she would have given it. + +'Well,' said Rose, 'shall I go back for the guinea-hen?' 'The +guinea-hen!' said Susan, starting from a reverie into which she had +fallen, as she contemplated the purse. 'Certainly I _do_ long to see my +pretty guinea-hen once more; but I was not thinking of her just then--I +was thinking of my father.' + +Now Susan had heard her mother often, in the course of this day, wish +that she had but money enough in the world to pay John Simpson for going +to serve in the militia instead of her husband. 'This, to be sure, will +go but a little way,' thought Susan; 'but still it may be of some use to +my father.' She told her mind to Rose, and concluded by saying, +decidedly, that 'if the money was given to her to dispose of as she +pleased, she would give it to her father.' + +'It is all yours, my dear good Susan,' cried Rose, with a look of warm +approbation. 'This is so like you!--but I'm sorry that Miss Bab must +keep your guinea-hen. I would not be her for all the guinea-hens, or +guineas either, in the whole world. Why, I'll answer for it, the +guinea-hen won't make her happy, and you'll be happy _even_ without; +because you are good. Let me come and help you to-morrow,' continued +she, looking at Susan's work, 'if you have any more mending work to +do--I never liked work till I worked with you. I won't forget my thimble +or my scissors,' added she, laughing--'though I used to forget them when +I was a giddy girl. I assure you I am a great hand at my needle, +now--try me.' + +Susan assured her friend that she did not doubt the powers of her +needle, and that she would most willingly accept of her services, but +that _unluckily_ she had finished all her needlework that was +immediately wanted. + +'But do you know,' said she, 'I shall have a great deal of business +to-morrow; but I won't tell you what it is that I have to do, for I am +afraid I shall not succeed; but if I do succeed, I'll come and tell you +directly, because you will be so glad of it.' + +Susan, who had always been attentive to what her mother taught her, and +who had often assisted her when she was baking bread and cakes for the +family at the Abbey, had now formed the courageous, but not +presumptuous, idea that she could herself undertake to bake a batch of +bread. One of the servants from the Abbey had been sent all round the +village in the morning in search of bread, and had not been able to +procure any that was tolerable. Mrs. Price's last baking failed for want +of good barm. She was not now strong enough to attempt another herself; +and when the brewer's boy came with eagerness to tell her that he had +some fine fresh yeast, she thanked him, but sighed, and said it would be +of no use to her. Accordingly she went to work with much prudent care, +and when her bread the next morning came out of the oven, it was +excellent; at least her mother said so, and she was a good judge. It was +sent to the Abbey; and as the family there had not tasted any good bread +since their arrival in the country, they also were earnest and warm in +its praise. Inquiries were made from the housekeeper, and they heard, +with some surprise, that this excellent bread was made by a young girl +only twelve years old. + +The housekeeper, who had known Susan from a child, was pleased to have +an opportunity in speaking in her favour. 'She is the most industrious +little creature, ma'am, in the world,' said she to her mistress. 'Little +I can't so well call her now, since she's grown tall and slender to look +at; and glad I am she is grown up likely to look at; for handsome is +that handsome does; she thinks no more of her being handsome than I do +myself; yet she has as proper a respect for herself, ma'am, as you have; +and I always see her neat, and with her mother, ma'am, or fit people, as +a girl should be. As for her mother, she dotes upon her, as well she +may; for I should myself if I had half such a daughter; and then she has +two little brothers; and she's as good to them, and, my boy Philip says, +taught 'em to read more than the schoolmistress, all with tenderness and +good nature; but I beg your pardon, ma'am, I cannot stop myself when I +once begin to talk of Susan.' + +'You have really said enough to excite my curiosity,' said her mistress; +'pray send for her immediately; we can see her before we go out to +walk.' + +The benevolent housekeeper despatched her boy Philip for Susan, who +never happened to be in such an _untidy_ state as to be unable to obey a +summons without a long preparation. She had, it is true, been very busy; +but orderly people can be busy and neat at the same time. She put on her +usual straw hat, and accompanied Rose's mother, who was going with a +basket of cleared muslin to the Abbey. + +The modest simplicity of Susan's appearance, and the artless good sense +and propriety of the answers she gave to all the questions that were +asked her, pleased the ladies at the Abbey, who were good judges of +character and manners. + +Sir Arthur Somers had two sisters, sensible, benevolent women. They were +not of that race of fine ladies who are miserable the moment they come +to _the country_; nor yet were they of that bustling sort, who quack and +direct all their poor neighbours, for the mere love of managing, or the +want of something to do. They were judiciously generous; and whilst they +wished to diffuse happiness, they were not peremptory in requiring that +people should be happy precisely their own way. With these dispositions, +and with a well-informed brother, who, though he never wished to +direct, was always willing to assist in their efforts to do good, there +were reasonable hopes that these ladies would be a blessing to the poor +villagers amongst whom they were now settled. + +As soon as Miss Somers had spoken to Susan, she inquired for her +brother; but Sir Arthur was in his study, and a gentleman was with him +on business. + +Susan was desirous of returning to her mother, and the ladies therefore +would not detain her. Miss Somers told her, with a smile, when she took +leave, that she would call upon her in the evening at six o'clock. + +It was impossible that such a grand event as Susan's visit to the Abbey +could long remain unknown to Barbara Case and her gossiping maid. They +watched eagerly for the moment of her return, that they might satisfy +their curiosity. 'There she is, I declare, just come into her garden,' +cried Bab; 'I'll run in and get it all out of her in a minute.' + +Bab could descend, without shame, whenever it suited her purposes, from +the height of insolent pride to the lowest meanness of fawning +familiarity. + +Susan was gathering some marigolds and some parsley for her mother's +broth. + +'So, Susan,' said Bab, who came close up to her before she perceived it, +'how goes the world with you to-day?' 'My mother is rather better +to-day, she says, ma'am--thank you,' replies Susan, coldly but civilly. +'_Ma'am!_ dear, how polite we are grown of a sudden!' cried Bab, winking +at her maid. 'One may see you've been in good company this morning--hey, +Susan? Come, let's hear about it.' 'Did you see the ladies themselves, +or was it only the housekeeper sent for you?' said the maid. 'What room +did you go into?' continued Bab. 'Did you see Miss Somers, or Sir +Arthur?' 'Miss Somers.' 'La! she saw Miss Somers! Betty, I must hear +about it. Can't you stop gathering those things for a minute and chat a +bit with us, Susan?' 'I can't stay, indeed, Miss Barbara; for my +mother's broth is just wanted, and I'm in a hurry.' Susan ran home. + +'Lord, her head is full of broth now,' said Bab to her maid; 'and she +has not a word for herself, though she has been abroad. My papa may well +call her _Simple Susan_; for simple she is, and simple she will be, all +the world over. For my part, I think she's little better than a +downright simpleton. But, however, simple or not, I'll get what I want +out of her. She'll be able to speak, maybe, when she has settled the +grand matter of the broth. I'll step in and ask to see her mother, that +will put her in a good humour in a trice.' + +Barbara followed Susan into the cottage, and found her occupied with the +grand affair of the broth. 'Is it ready?' said Bab, peeping into the pot +that was over the fire. 'Dear, how savoury it smells! I'll wait till you +go in with it to your mother; for I must ask her how she does myself.' +'Will you please to sit down then, miss?' said Simple Susan, with a +smile; for at this instant she forgot the guinea-hen; 'I have but just +put the parsley into the broth; but it soon will be ready.' + +During this interval Bab employed herself, much to her own satisfaction, +in cross-questioning Susan. She was rather provoked indeed that she +could not learn exactly how each of the ladies was dressed, and what +there was to be for dinner at the Abbey; and she was curious beyond +measure to find out what Miss Somers meant by saying that she would call +at Mr. Price's cottage at six o'clock in the evening. 'What do you think +she could mean?' 'I thought she meant what she said,' replied Susan, +'that she would come here at six o'clock.' 'Ay, that's as plain as a +pike-staff,' said Barbara; 'but what else did she mean, think you? +People, you know, don't always mean exactly, downright, neither more nor +less than what they say.' 'Not always,' said Susan, with an arch smile, +which convinced Barbara that she was not quite a simpleton. '_Not +always_,' repeated Barbara colouring,--'oh, then I suppose you have some +guess at what Miss Somers meant.' 'No,' said Susan, 'I was not thinking +about Miss Somers, when I said not always.' 'How nice that broth does +look,' resumed Barbara, after a pause. + +Susan had now poured the broth into a basin, and as she strewed over it +the bright orange marigolds, it looked very tempting. She tasted it, and +added now a little salt, and now a little more, till she thought it was +just to her mother's taste. 'Oh, _I_ must taste it,' said Bab, taking +the basin up greedily. 'Won't you take a spoon?' said Susan, trembling +at the large mouthfuls which Barbara sucked up with a terrible noise. +'Take a spoonful, indeed!' exclaimed Barbara, setting down the basin in +high anger. 'The next time I taste your broth you shall affront me, if +you dare! The next time I set my foot in this house, you shall be as +saucy to me as you please.' And she flounced out of the house, repeating +'_Take a spoon, pig_, was what you meant to say.' + +Susan stood in amazement at the beginning of this speech; but the +concluding words explained to her the mystery. + +Some years before this time, when Susan was a very little girl, and +could scarcely speak plain, as she was eating a basin of bread and milk +for her supper at the cottage door, a great pig came up and put his nose +into the basin. Susan was willing that the pig should have some share of +the bread and milk; but as she ate with a spoon and he with his large +mouth, she presently discovered that he was likely to have more than his +share; and in a simple tone of expostulation she said to him, 'Take a +_poon_, pig.'[7] The saying became proverbial in the village. Susan's +little companions repeated it, and applied it upon many occasions, +whenever any one claimed more than his share of anything good. Barbara, +who was then not Miss Barbara, but plain Bab, and who had played with +all the poor children in the neighbourhood, was often reproved in her +unjust methods of division by Susan's proverb. Susan, as she grew up, +forgot the childish saying; but the remembrance of it rankled in +Barbara's mind, and it was to this that she suspected Susan had alluded, +when she recommended a spoon to her, whilst she was swallowing the basin +of broth. + + [7] This is a true anecdote. + +'La, miss,' said Barbara's maid, when she found her mistress in a +passion upon her return from Susan's, 'I only wondered you did her the +honour to set your foot within her doors. What need have you to trouble +her for news about the Abbey folks, when your own papa has been there +all the morning, and is just come in, and can tell you everything?' + +Barbara did not know that her father meant to go to the Abbey that +morning, for Attorney Case was mysterious even to his own family about +his morning rides. He never chose to be asked where he was going, or +where he had been; and this made his servants more than commonly +inquisitive to trace him. + +Barbara, against whose apparent childishness and real cunning he was not +sufficiently on his guard, had often the art of drawing him into +conversation about his visits. She ran into her father's parlour; but +she knew, the moment she saw his face, that it was no time to ask +questions; his pen was across his mouth, and his brown wig pushed +oblique upon his contracted forehead. The wig was always pushed crooked +whenever he was in a brown, or rather a black, study. Barbara, who did +not, like Susan, bear with her father's testy humour from affection and +gentleness of disposition, but who always humoured him from artifice, +tried all her skill to fathom his thoughts, and when she found that _it_ +would not do, she went to tell her maid so, and to complain that her +father was so cross there was no bearing him. + +It is true that Attorney Case was not in the happiest mood possible; for +he was by no means satisfied with his morning's work at the Abbey. Sir +Arthur Somers, the _new man_, did not suit him, and he began to be +rather apprehensive that he should not suit Sir Arthur. He had sound +reasons for his doubts. + +Sir Arthur Somers was an excellent lawyer, and a perfectly honest man. +This seemed to our attorney a contradiction in terms; in the course of +his practice the case had not occurred; and he had no precedents ready +to direct his proceedings. Sir Arthur was also a man of wit and +eloquence, yet of plain dealing and humanity. The attorney could not +persuade himself to believe that his benevolence was anything but +enlightened cunning, and his plain dealing he one minute dreaded as the +masterpiece of art, and the next despised as the characteristic of +folly. In short, he had not yet decided whether he was an honest man or +a knave. He had settled accounts with him for his late agency, and had +talked about sundry matters of business. He constantly perceived, +however, that he could not impose upon Sir Arthur; but the idea that he +could know all the mazes of the law, and yet prefer the straight road, +was incomprehensible. + +Mr. Case having paid Sir Arthur some compliments on his great legal +abilities, and his high reputation at the bar, he coolly replied, 'I +have left the bar.' The attorney looked in unfeigned astonishment that a +man who was actually making L3000 per annum at the bar should leave it. + +'I am come,' said Sir Arthur, 'to enjoy that kind of domestic life in +the country which I prefer to all others, and amongst people whose +happiness I hope to increase.' At this speech the attorney changed his +ground, flattering himself that he should find his man averse to +business, and ignorant of country affairs. He talked of the value of +land, and of new leases. + +[Illustration: _Tried all her skill to fathom his thoughts._] + +Sir Arthur wished to enlarge his domain, and to make a ride round it. A +map of it was lying upon the table, and Farmer Price's garden came +exactly across the new road for the ride. Sir Arthur looked +disappointed; and the keen attorney seized the moment to inform him that +'Price's whole land was at his disposal.' + +'At my disposal! how so?' cried Sir Arthur, eagerly; 'it will not be out +of lease, I believe, these ten years. I'll look into the rent-roll +again; perhaps I am mistaken.' + +'You are mistaken, my good sir, and you are not mistaken,' said Mr. +Case, with a shrewd smile. 'In one sense, the land will not be out of +lease these ten years, and in another it is out of lease at this present +time. To come to the point at once, the lease is, _ab origine_, null and +void. I have detected a capital flaw in the body of it. I pledge my +credit upon it, sir, it can't stand a single term in law or equity.' + +The attorney observed that at these words Sir Arthur's eye was fixed +with a look of earnest attention. 'Now I have him,' said the cunning +tempter to himself. + +'Neither in law nor equity,' repeated Sir Arthur, with apparent +incredulity. 'Are you sure of that, Mr. Case?' 'Sure! As I told you +before, sir, I'd pledge my whole credit upon the thing--I'd stake my +existence.' '_That's something_,' said Sir Arthur, as if he was +pondering upon the matter. + +The attorney went on with all the eagerness of a keen man, who sees a +chance at one stroke of winning a rich friend and of ruining a poor +enemy. He explained, with legal volubility and technical amplification, +the nature of the mistake in Mr. Price's lease. 'It was, sir,' said he, +'a lease for the life of Peter Price, Susanna his wife, and to the +survivor or survivors of them, or for the full time and term of twenty +years, to be computed from the first day of May then next ensuing. Now, +sir, this, you see, is a lease in reversion, which the late Sir Benjamin +Somers had not, by his settlement, a right to make. This is a curious +mistake, you see, Sir Arthur; and in filling up those printed leases +there's always a good chance of some flaw. I find it perpetually; but I +never found a better than this in the whole course of my practice.' + +Sir Arthur stood in silence. + +'My dear sir,' said the attorney, taking him by the button, 'you have no +scruple of stirring in this business?' + +'A little,' said Sir Arthur. + +'Why, then, that can be done away in a moment. Your name shall not +appear in it at all. You have nothing to do but to make over the lease +to me. I make all safe to you with my bond. Now, being in possession, I +come forward in my own proper person. _Shall I proceed?_' + +'No--you have said enough,' replied Sir Arthur. + +'The case, indeed, lies in a nutshell,' said the attorney, who had by +this time worked himself up to such a pitch of professional enthusiasm +that, intent upon his vision of a lawsuit, he totally forgot to observe +the impression his words made upon Sir Arthur. + +'There's only one thing we have forgotten all this time,' said Sir +Arthur. 'What can that be, sir?' 'That we shall ruin this poor man.' + +Case was thunderstruck at these words, or rather, by the look which +accompanied them. He recollected that he had laid himself open before he +was sure of Sir Arthur's _real_ character. He softened, and said he +should have had certainly more _consideration_ in the case of any but a +litigious, pig-headed fellow, as he knew Price to be. + +'If he be litigious,' said Sir Arthur, 'I shall certainly be glad to get +him fairly out of the parish as soon as possible. When you go home, you +will be so good, sir, as to send me his lease, that I may satisfy myself +before we stir in this business.' + +The attorney, brightening up, prepared to take leave; but he could not +persuade himself to take his departure without making one push at Sir +Arthur about the agency. + +'I will not trouble _you_, Sir Arthur, with this lease of Price's,' +said Case; 'I'll leave it with your agent. Whom shall I apply to?' +'_To myself_, sir, if you please,' replied Sir Arthur. + +The courtiers of Louis the Fourteenth could not have looked more +astounded than our attorney, when they received from their monarch a +similar answer. It was this unexpected reply of Sir Arthur's which had +deranged the temper of Mr. Case, and caused his wig to stand so crooked +upon his forehead, and which had rendered him impenetrably silent to his +inquisitive daughter Barbara. + +After having walked up and down his room, conversing with himself, for +some time, the attorney concluded that the agency must be given to +somebody when Sir Arthur should have to attend his duty in Parliament; +that the agency, even for the winter season, was not a thing to be +neglected; and that, if he managed well, he might yet secure it for +himself. He had often found that small timely presents worked +wonderfully upon his own mind, and he judged of others by himself. The +tenants had been in the reluctant but constant practice of making him +continual petty offerings; and he resolved to try the same course with +Sir Arthur, whose resolution to be his own agent, he thought, argued a +close, saving, avaricious disposition. He had heard the housekeeper at +the Abbey inquiring, as he passed through the servants, whether there +was any lamb to be gotten. She said that Sir Arthur was remarkably fond +of lamb, and that she wished she could get a quarter for him. +Immediately he sallied into his kitchen, as soon as the idea struck him, +and asked a shepherd, who was waiting there, whether he knew of a nice +fat lamb to be had anywhere in the neighbourhood. + +'I know of one,' cried Barbara. 'Susan Price has a pet lamb that's as +fat as fat could be.' The attorney easily caught at these words, and +speedily devised a scheme for obtaining Susan's lamb for nothing. + +It would be something strange if an attorney of his talents and standing +was not an over-match for Simple Susan. He prowled forth in search of +his prey. He found Susan packing up her father's little wardrobe; and +when she looked up as she knelt, he saw that she had been in tears. + +'How is your mother to-day, Susan?' inquired the attorney. 'Worse, sir. +My father goes to-morrow.' 'That's a pity.' 'It can't be helped,' said +Susan, with a sigh. 'It can't be helped--how do you know that?' said +Case. 'Sir, _dear_ sir!' cried she, looking up at him, and a sudden ray +of hope beamed in her ingenuous countenance. 'And if _you_ could help +it, Susan?' said he. Susan clasped her hands in silence, more +expressive than words. 'You _can_ help it, Susan.' She started up in an +ecstasy. 'What would you give now to have your father at home for a +whole week longer?' 'Anything!--but I have nothing.' 'Yes, but you have, +a lamb,' said the hard-hearted attorney. 'My poor little lamb!' said +Susan; 'but what can that do?' 'What good can any lamb do? Is not lamb +good to eat? Why do you look so pale, girl? Are not sheep killed every +day, and don't you eat mutton? Is your lamb better than anybody else's, +think you?' 'I don't know,' said Susan, 'but I love it better.' 'More +fool you,' said he. 'It feeds out of hand, it follows me about; I have +always taken care of it; my mother gave it to me.' 'Well, say no more +about it, then,' he cynically observed; 'if you love your lamb better +than both your father and your mother, keep it, and good morning to +you.' + +'Stay, oh stay!' cried Susan, catching the skirt of his coat with an +eager, trembling hand;--'a whole week, did you say? My mother may get +better in that time. No, I do not love my lamb half so well.' The +struggle of her mind ceased, and with a placid countenance and calm +voice, 'Take the lamb,' said she. 'Where is it?' said the attorney. +'Grazing in the meadow, by the river-side.' 'It must be brought up +before nightfall for the butcher, remember.' 'I shall not forget it,' +said Susan, steadily. + +As soon, however, as her persecutor turned his back and quitted the +house, Susan sat down and hid her face in her hands. She was soon +aroused by the sound of her mother's feeble voice, who was calling +_Susan_ from the inner room where she lay. Susan went in, but did not +undraw the curtain as she stood beside the bed. + +'Are you there, love? Undraw the curtain, that I may see you, and tell +me;--I thought I heard some strange voice just now talking to my child. +Something's amiss, Susan,' said her mother, raising herself as well as +she was able in the bed, to examine her daughter's countenance. + +'Would you think it amiss, then, my dear mother,' said Susan, stooping +to kiss her--'would you think it amiss, if my father was to stay with us +a week longer?' 'Susan! you don't say so?' 'He is, indeed, a whole +week;--but how burning hot your hand is still.' 'Are you sure he will +stay?' inquired her mother. 'How do you know? Who told you so? Tell me +all quick.' 'Attorney Case told me so; he can get him a week's longer +leave of absence, and he has promised he will.' 'God bless him for it, +for ever and ever!' said the poor woman, joining her hands. 'May the +blessing of heaven be with him!' + +Susan closed the curtains, and was silent. She _could not say Amen_. She +was called out of the room at this moment, for a messenger was come from +the Abbey for the bread-bills. It was she who always made out the bills, +for though she had not a great number of lessons from the +writing-master, she had taken so much pains to learn that she could +write a very neat, legible hand, and she found this very useful. She was +not, to be sure, particularly inclined to draw out a long bill at this +instant, but business must be done. She set to work, ruled her lines for +the pounds, shillings, and pence, made out the bill for the Abbey, and +despatched the impatient messenger. She then resolved to make out all +the bills for the neighbours, who had many of them taken a few loaves +and rolls of her baking. 'I had better get all my business finished,' +said she to herself, 'before I go down to the meadow to take leave of my +poor lamb.' + +This was sooner said than done, for she found that she had a great +number of bills to write, and the slate on which she had entered the +account was not immediately to be found, and when it was found the +figures were almost rubbed out. Barbara had sat down upon it. Susan +pored over the number of loaves, and the names of the persons who took +them; and she wrote and cast up sums, and corrected and re-corrected +them, till her head grew quite puzzled. + +The table was covered with little square bits of paper, on which she had +been writing bills over and over again, when her father came in with a +bill in his hand. 'How's this, Susan?' said he. 'How can ye be so +careless, child? What is your head running upon? Here, look at the bill +you were sending up to the Abbey? I met the messenger, and luckily asked +to see how much it was. Look at it.' + +Susan looked and blushed; it was written, 'Sir Arthur Somers, to John +Price, debtor, six dozen _lambs_, so much.' She altered it, and returned +it to her father; but he had taken up some of the papers which lay upon +the table. 'What are all these, child?' 'Some of them are wrong, and +I've written them out again,' said Susan. 'Some of them! All of them, I +think, seem to be wrong, if I can read,' said her father, rather +angrily, and he pointed out to her sundry strange mistakes. Her head, +indeed, had been running upon her poor lamb. She corrected all the +mistakes with so much patience, and bore to be blamed with so much good +humour, that her father at last said that it was impossible ever to +scold Susan, without being in the wrong at the last. + +As soon as all was set right, Price took the bills, and said he would go +round to the neighbours and collect the money himself; for that he +should be very proud to have it to say to them that it was all earned by +his own little daughter. + +Susan resolved to keep the pleasure of telling him of his week's +reprieve till he should come home to sup, as he had promised to do, in +her mother's room. She was not sorry to hear him sigh as he passed the +knapsack, which she had been packing up for his journey. 'How delighted +he will be when he hears the good news!' said she to herself; 'but I +know he will be a little sorry too for my poor lamb.' + +As Susan had now settled all her business, she thought she could have +time to go down to the meadow by the river-side to see her favourite; +but just as she had tied on her straw hat the village clock struck four, +and this was the hour at which she always went to fetch her little +brothers home from a dame-school near the village. She knew that they +would be disappointed if she was later than usual, and she did not like +to keep them waiting, because they were very patient, good boys; so she +put off the visit to her lamb, and went immediately for her brothers. + + +CHAPTER II + + Evn in the spring and playtime of the year, + That calls th' unwonted villager abroad, + With all her little ones, a sportive train, + To gather kingcups in the yellow mead, + And prink their heads with daisies. + COWPER. + +The dame-school, which was about a mile from the hamlet, was not a showy +edifice: but it was reverenced as much by the young race of village +scholars as if it had been the most stately mansion in the land; it was +a low-roofed, long, thatched tenement, sheltered by a few reverend oaks, +under which many generations of hopeful children had gambolled in their +turn. + +The close-shaven green, which sloped down from the hatch-door of the +schoolroom, was paled round with a rude paling, which, though decayed in +some parts by time, was not in any place broken by violence. + +The place bespoke order and peace. The dame who governed was well +obeyed, because she was just and well beloved, and because she was ever +glad to give well-earned praise and pleasure to her little subjects. + +Susan had once been under her gentle dominion, and had been deservedly +her favourite scholar. The dame often cited her as the best example to +the succeeding tribe of emulous youngsters. She had scarcely opened the +wicket which separated the green before the schoolroom door from the +lane, when she heard the merry voices of the children, and saw the +little troup issuing from the hatchway and spreading over the green. + +'Oh, there's Susan!' cried her two little brothers, running, leaping, +and bounding up to her; and many of the other rosy girls and boys +crowded round her, to talk of their plays; for Susan was easily +interested in all that made others happy; but she could not make them +comprehend that, if they all spoke at once, it was not possible that she +could hear what was said. + +The voices were still raised one above another, all eager to establish +some important observation about ninepins, or marbles, or tops, or bows +and arrows, when suddenly music was heard and the crowd was silenced. +The music seemed to be near the spot where the children were standing, +and they looked round to see whence it could come. Susan pointed to the +great oak tree, and they beheld, seated under its shade, an old man +playing upon his harp. The children all approached--at first timidly, +for the sounds were solemn; but as the harper heard their little +footsteps coming towards him, he changed his hand and played one of his +most lively tunes. The circle closed, and pressed nearer and nearer to +him; some who were in the foremost row whispered to each other, 'He is +blind!' 'What a pity!' and 'He looks very poor,--what a ragged coat he +wears!' said others. 'He must be very old, for all his hair is white: +and he must have travelled a great way, for his shoes are quite worn +out,' observed another. + +All these remarks were made whilst he was tuning his harp, for when he +once more began to play, not a word was uttered. He seemed pleased by +their simple exclamations of wonder and delight, and, eager to amuse his +young audience, he played now a gay and now a pathetic air, to suit +their several humours. + +Susan's voice, which was soft and sweet, expressive of gentleness and +good nature, caught his ear the moment she spoke. He turned his face +eagerly to the place where she stood; and it was observed that, whenever +she said that she liked any tune particularly, he played it over again. + +'I am blind,' said the old man, 'and cannot see your faces; but I know +you all asunder by your voices, and I can guess pretty well at all your +humours and characters by your voices.' + +'Can you so, indeed?' cried Susan's little brother William, who had +stationed himself between the old man's knees. 'Then you heard _my_ +sister Susan speak just now. Can you tell us what sort of person she +is?' 'That I can, I think, without being a conjurer,' said the old man, +lifting the boy up on his knee; '_your_ sister Susan is good-natured.' +The boy clapped his hands. 'And good-tempered.' '_Right_,' said little +William, with a louder clap of applause. 'And very fond of the little +boy who sits upon my knee.' 'O right! right! quite right!' exclaimed the +child, and 'quite right' echoed on all sides. + +'But how came you to know so much, when you are blind?' said William, +examining the old man attentively. + +'Hush,' said John, who was a year older than his brother, and very sage, +'you should not put him in mind of his being blind.' + +'Though I am blind,' said the harper, 'I can hear, you know, and I heard +from your sister herself all that I told you of her, that she was +good-tempered and good-natured and fond of you.' 'Oh, that's wrong--you +did not hear all that from herself, I'm sure,' said John, 'for nobody +ever hears her praising herself.' 'Did not I hear her tell you,' said +the harper, 'when you first came round me, that she was in a great hurry +to go home, but that she would stay a little while, since you wished it +so much? Was not that good-natured? And when you said you did not like +the tune she liked best, she was not angry with you, but said, "Then +play William's first, if you please,"--was not that good-tempered?' +'Oh,' interrupted William, 'it's all true; but how did you find out that +she was fond of me?' 'That is such a difficult question,' said the +harper, 'that I must take time to consider.' The harper tuned his +instrument, as he pondered, or seemed to ponder; and at this instant two +boys who had been searching for birds' nests in the hedges, and who had +heard the sound of the harp, came blustering up, and pushing their way +through the circle, one of them exclaimed, 'What's going on here? Who +are you, my old fellow? A blind harper! Well, play us a tune, if you can +play ever a good one--play me--let's see, what shall he play, Bob?' +added he, turning to his companion. 'Bumper Squire Jones.' + +The old man, though he did not seem quite pleased with the peremptory +manner of the request, played, as he was desired, 'Bumper Squire Jones'; +and several other tunes were afterwards bespoke by the same rough and +tyrannical voice. + +The little children shrank back in timid silence, and eyed the brutal +boy with dislike. This boy was the son of Attorney Case; and as his +father had neglected to correct his temper when he was a child, as he +grew up it became insufferable. All who were younger and weaker than +himself dreaded his approach, and detested him as a tyrant. + +When the old harper was so tired that he could play no more, a lad, who +usually carried his harp for him, and who was within call, came up, and +held his master's hat to the company, saying, 'Will you be pleased to +remember us?' The children readily produced their halfpence, and +thought their wealth well bestowed upon this poor, good-natured man, who +had taken so much pains to entertain them, better even than upon the +gingerbread woman, whose stall they loved to frequent. The hat was held +some time to the attorney's son before he chose to see it. At last he +put his hand surlily into his waistcoat pocket and pulled out a +shilling. There were sixpennyworth of halfpence in the hat. 'I'll take +these halfpence,' said he, 'and here's a shilling for you.' + +'God bless you, sir,' said the lad; but as he took the shilling, which +the young gentleman had slily put _into the blind man's hand_, he saw +that it was not worth one farthing. 'I am afraid it is not good, sir,' +said the lad, whose business it was to examine the money for his master. +'I am afraid, then, you'll get no other,' said young Case, with an +insulting laugh. 'It never will do, sir,' persisted the lad; 'look at it +yourself; the edges are all yellow! you can see the copper through it +quite plain. Sir, nobody will take it from us.' 'That's your affair,' +said the brutal boy, pushing away his hand. 'You may pass it, you know, +as well as I do, if you look sharp. You have taken it from me, and I +shan't take it back again, I promise you.' + +A whisper of 'that's very unjust,' was heard. The little assembly, +though under evident constraint, could no longer suppress their +indignation. + +'Who says it's unjust?' cried the tyrant sternly, looking down upon his +judges. + +Susan's little brothers had held her gown fast, to prevent her from +moving at the beginning of this contest, and she was now so much +interested to see the end of it, that she stood still, without making +any resistance. + +'Is any one here amongst yourselves a judge of silver?' said the old +man. 'Yes, here's the butcher's boy,' said the attorney's son; 'show it +to him.' He was a sickly-looking boy, and of a remarkably peaceful +disposition. Young Case fancied that he would be afraid to give judgment +against him. However, after some moments' hesitation, and after turning +the shilling round several times, he pronounced, 'that, as far as his +judgment went, but he did not pretend to be a downright _certain sure_ +of it, the shilling was not over and above good.' Then turning to Susan, +to screen himself from manifest danger, for the attorney's son looked +upon him with a vengeful mien, 'But here's Susan here, who understands +silver a great deal better than I do; she takes a power of it for bread, +you know.' + +'I'll leave it to her,' said the old harper; 'if she says the shilling +is good, keep it, Jack.' The shilling was handed to Susan, who, though +she had with becoming modesty forborne all interference, did not +hesitate, when she was called upon, to speak the truth: 'I think that +this shilling is a bad one,' said she; and the gentle but firm tone in +which she pronounced the words for a moment awed and silenced the angry +and brutal boy. 'There's another, then,' cried he; 'I have sixpences and +shillings too in plenty, thank my stars.' + +Susan now walked away with her two little brothers, and all the other +children separated to go to their several homes. The old harper called +to Susan, and begged that, if she was going towards the village, she +would be so kind as to show him the way. His lad took up his harp, and +little William took the old man by the hand. 'I'll lead him, I can lead +him,' said he; and John ran on before them, to gather kingcups in the +meadow. + +There was a small rivulet which they had to cross, and as a plank which +served for a bridge over it was rather narrow, Susan was afraid to trust +the old blind man to his little conductor; she therefore went on the +tottering plank first herself, and then led the old harper carefully +over. They were now come to a gate, which opened upon the highroad to +the village. 'There is the highroad straight before you,' said Susan to +the lad, who was carrying his master's harp; 'you can't miss it. Now I +must bid you a good evening; for I'm in a great hurry to get home, and +must go the short way across the fields here, which would not be so +pleasant for you, because of the stiles. Good-bye.' The old harper +thanked her, and went along the highroad, whilst she and her brothers +tripped on as fast as they could by the short way across the fields. + +'Miss Somers, I am afraid, will be waiting for us,' said Susan. 'You +know she said she would call at six; and by the length of our shadows +I'm sure it is late.' + +When they came to their own cottage door, they heard many voices, and +they saw, when they entered, several ladies standing in the kitchen. +'Come in, Susan; we thought you had quite forsaken us,' said Miss +Somers to Susan, who advanced timidly. 'I fancy you forgot that we +promised to pay you a visit this evening; but you need not blush so much +about the matter; there is no great harm done; we have only been here +about five minutes; and we have been well employed in admiring your neat +garden and your orderly shelves. Is it you, Susan, who keep these things +in such nice order?' continued Miss Somers, looking round the kitchen. + +Before Susan could reply, little William pushed forward and answered, +'Yes, ma'am, it is _my_ sister Susan that keeps everything neat; and she +always comes to school for us, too, which was what caused her to be so +late.' 'Because as how,' continued John, 'she was loth to refuse us the +hearing a blind man play on the harp. It was we kept her, and we hopes, +ma'am, as you _are_--as you _seem_ so good, you won't take it amiss.' + +Miss Somers and her sister smiled at the affectionate simplicity with +which Susan's little brothers undertook her defence, and they were, from +this slight circumstance, disposed to think yet more favourably of a +family which seemed so well united. They took Susan along with them +through the village. Many neighbours came to their doors, and far from +envying, they all secretly wished Susan well as she passed. + +'I fancy we shall find what we want here,' said Miss Somers, stopping +before a shop, where unfolded sheets of pins and glass buttons glistened +in the window, and where rolls of many coloured ribbons appeared ranged +in tempting order. She went in, and was rejoiced to see the shelves at +the back of the counter well furnished with glossy tiers of stuffs, and +gay, neat printed linens and calicoes. + +'Now, Susan, choose yourself a gown,' said Miss Somers; 'you set an +example of industry and good conduct, of which we wish to take public +notice, for the benefit of others.' + +The shopkeeper, who was father to Susan's friend Rose, looked much +satisfied by this speech, and as if a compliment had been paid to +himself, bowed low to Miss Somers, and then with alertness, which a +London linendraper might have admired, produced piece after piece of his +best goods to his young customer--unrolled, unfolded, held the bright +stuffs and calendered calicoes in various lights. Now stretched his arm +to the highest shelves, and brought down in a trice what seemed to be +beyond the reach of any but a giant's arm; now dived into some hidden +recess beneath the counter, and brought to light fresh beauties and +fresh temptations. + +Susan looked on with more indifference than most of the spectators. She +was thinking much of her lamb, and more of her father. + +Miss Somers had put a bright guinea into her hand, and had bid her pay +for her own gown; but Susan, as she looked at the guinea, thought it was +a great deal of money to lay out upon herself, and she wished, but did +not know how to ask, that she might keep it for a better purpose. + +Some people are wholly inattentive to the lesser feelings, and incapable +of reading the countenances of those on whom they bestow their bounty. +Miss Somers and her sister were not of this roughly charitable class. + +'She does not like any of these things,' whispered Miss Somers to her +sister. Her sister observed that Susan looked as if her thoughts were +far distant from gowns. + +'If you don't fancy any of these things,' said the civil shopkeeper to +Susan, 'we shall have a new assortment of calicoes for the spring season +soon from town.' 'Oh,' interrupted Susan, with a smile and a blush, +'these are all pretty, and too good for me, but----' '_But_ what, +Susan?' said Miss Somers. 'Tell us what is passing in your little mind.' +Susan hesitated. 'Well then, we will not press you, you are scarcely +acquainted with us yet; when you are, you will not be afraid, I hope, to +speak your mind. Put this shining yellow counter,' continued she, +pointing to the guinea, 'in your pocket, and make what use of it you +please. From what we know, and from what we have heard of you, we are +persuaded that you will make a good use of it.' + +'I think, madam,' said the master of the shop, with a shrewd, +good-natured look, 'I could give a pretty good guess myself what will +become of that guinea; but I say nothing.' + +'No, that is right,' said Miss Somers; 'we leave Susan entirely at +liberty; and now we will not detain her any longer. Good night, Susan, +we shall soon come again to your neat cottage.' Susan curtsied, with an +expressive look of gratitude, and with a modest frankness in her +countenance which seemed to say, 'I would tell you, and welcome, what I +want to do with the guinea; but I am not used to speak before so many +people. When you come to our cottage again you shall know all.' + +When Susan had departed, Miss Somers turned to the obliging shopkeeper, +who was folding up all the things he had opened. 'You have had a great +deal of trouble with us, sir,' said she; 'and since Susan will not +choose a gown for herself, I must.' She selected the prettiest; and +whilst the man was rolling it in paper, she asked him several questions +about Susan and her family, which he was delighted to answer, because he +had now an opportunity of saying as much as he wished in her praise. + +'No later back, ma'am, than last May morning,' said he, 'as my daughter +Rose was telling us, Susan did a turn, in her quiet way, by her mother, +that would not displease you if you were to hear it. She was to have +been Queen of the May, which in our little village, amongst the younger +tribe, is a thing that is thought of a good deal; but Susan's mother was +ill, and Susan, after sitting up with her all night, would not leave her +in the morning, even when they brought the crown to her. She put the +crown upon my daughter Rose's head with her own hands; and, to be sure, +Rose loves her as well as if she was her own sister. But I don't speak +from partiality; for I am no relation whatever to the Prices--only a +well-wisher, as every one, I believe, who knows them is. I'll send the +parcel up to the Abbey, shall I, ma'am?' + +'If you please,' said Miss Somers, 'and, as soon as you receive your new +things from town, let us know. You will, I hope, find us good customers +and well-wishers,' added she, with a smile; 'for those who wish well to +their neighbours surely deserve to have well-wishers themselves.' + +A few words may encourage the benevolent passions, and may dispose +people to live in peace and happiness; a few words may set them at +variance, and may lead to misery and lawsuits. Attorney Case and Miss +Somers were both equally convinced of this, and their practice was +uniformly consistent with their principles. + +But now to return to Susan. She put the bright guinea carefully into the +glove with the twelve shillings which she had received from her +companions on May day. Besides this treasure, she calculated that the +amount of the bills for bread could not be less than eight or nine and +thirty shillings; and as her father was now sure of a week's reprieve, +she had great hopes that, by some means or other, it would be possible +to make up the whole sum necessary to pay for a substitute. 'If that +could but be done,' said she to herself, 'how happy would my mother be. +She would be quite stout again, for she certainly is a great deal better +since I told her that father would stay a week longer. Ah! but she would +not have blessed Attorney Case, though, if she had known about my poor +Daisy.' + +Susan took the path that led to the meadow by the water-side, resolved +to go by herself and take leave of her innocent favourite. But she did +not pass by unperceived. Her little brothers were watching for her +return, and as soon as they saw her they ran after her, and overtook her +as she reached the meadow. + +'What did that good lady want with you?' cried William; but looking up +in his sister's face he saw tears in her eyes, and he was silent, and +walked on quietly. Susan saw her lamb by the water-side. 'Who are those +two men?' said William. 'What are they going to do with _Daisy_?' The +two men were Attorney Case and the butcher. The butcher was feeling +whether the lamb was fat. + +Susan sat down upon the bank in silent sorrow; her little brothers ran +up to the butcher, and demanded whether he was going to _do any harm_ to +the lamb. The butcher did not answer, but the attorney replied, 'It is +not your sister's lamb any longer; it's mine--mine to all intents and +purposes.' 'Yours!' cried the children, with terror; 'and will you kill +it?' 'That's the butcher's business.' + +The little boys now burst into piercing lamentations. They pushed away +the butcher's hand; they threw their arms round the neck of the lamb; +they kissed its forehead--it bleated. 'It will not bleat to-morrow!' +said William, and he wept bitterly. The butcher looked aside, and +hastily rubbed his eyes with the corner of his blue apron. The attorney +stood unmoved; he pulled up the head of the lamb, which had just stooped +to crop a mouthful of clover. 'I have no time to waste,' said he; +'butcher, you'll account with me. If it's fat--the sooner the better. +I've no more to say.' And he walked off, deaf to the prayers of the poor +children. + +As soon as the attorney was out of sight, Susan rose from the bank where +she was seated, came up to her lamb, and stooped to gather some of the +fresh dewy trefoil, to let it eat out of her hand for the last time. +Poor Daisy licked her well-known hand. + +[Illustration: _Let it eat out of her hand for the last time._] + +'Now, let us go,' said Susan. 'I'll wait as long as you please,' said +the butcher. Susan thanked him, but walked away quickly, without looking +again at her lamb. Her little brothers begged the man to stay a few +minutes, for they had gathered a handful of blue speedwell and yellow +crowsfoot, and they were decking the poor animal. As it followed the +boys through the village, the children collected as they passed, and the +butcher's own son was amongst the number. Susan's steadiness about the +bad shilling was full in this boy's memory; it had saved him a beating. +He went directly to his father to beg the life of Susan's lamb. + +'I was thinking about it, boy, myself,' said the butcher; 'it's a sin to +kill a _pet lamb_, I'm thinking--any way, it's what I'm not used to, and +don't fancy doing, and I'll go and say as much to Attorney Case; but +he's a hard man; there's but one way to deal with him, and that's the +way I must take, though so be I shall be the loser thereby; but we'll +say nothing to the boys, for fear it might be the thing would not take; +and then it would be worse again to poor Susan, who is a good girl, and +always was, as well she may, being of a good breed, and well reared from +the first.' + +'Come, lads, don't keep a crowd and a scandal about my door,' continued +he, aloud, to the children; 'turn the lamb in here, John, in the +paddock, for to-night, and go your ways home.' + +The crowd dispersed, but murmured, and the butcher went to the attorney. +'Seeing that all you want is a good, fat, tender lamb, for a present for +Sir Arthur, as you told me,' said the butcher, 'I could let you have +what's as good or better for your purpose.' 'Better--if it's better, I'm +ready to hear reason.' The butcher had choice, tender lamb, he said, fit +to eat the next day; and as Mr. Case was impatient to make his offering +to Sir Arthur, he accepted the butcher's proposal, though with such +seeming reluctance, that he actually squeezed out of him, before he +would complete the bargain, a bribe of a fine sweetbread. + +In the meantime Susan's brothers ran home to tell her that her lamb was +put into the paddock for the night; this was all they knew, and even +this was some comfort to her. Rose, her good friend, was with her, and +she had before her the pleasure of telling her father of his week's +reprieve. Her mother was better, and even said she was determined to sit +up to supper in her wicker armchair. + +Susan was getting things ready for supper, when little William, who was +standing at the house door, watching in the dusk for his father's +return, suddenly exclaimed, 'Susan! if here is not our old man!' + +'Yes,' said the old harper, 'I have found my way to you. The neighbours +were kind enough to show me whereabouts you lived; for, though I didn't +know your name, they guessed who I meant by what I said of you all.' +Susan came to the door, and the old man was delighted to hear her speak +again. 'If it would not be too bold,' said he, 'I'm a stranger in this +part of the country, and come from afar off. My boy has got a bed for +himself here in the village, but I have no place. Could you be so +charitable as to give an old blind man a night's lodging?' Susan said +she would step in and ask her mother; and she soon returned with an +answer that he was heartily welcome, if he could sleep upon the +children's bed, which was but small. + +The old man thankfully entered the hospitable cottage. He struck his +head against the low roof, as he stepped over the door-sill. 'Many roofs +that are twice as high are not half so good,' said he. Of this he had +just had experience at the house of the Attorney Case, while he had +asked, but had been roughly refused all assistance by Miss Barbara, who +was, according to her usual custom, standing staring at the hall door. + +The old man's harp was set down in Farmer Price's kitchen, and he +promised to play a tune for the boys before they went to bed; their +mother giving them leave to sit up to supper with their father. He came +home with a sorrowful countenance; but how soon did it brighten when +Susan, with a smile, said to him, 'Father, we've good news for you! good +news for us all!--You have a whole week longer to stay with us; and +perhaps,' continued she, putting her little purse into his hands, +'perhaps with what's here and the bread bills, and what may somehow be +got together before a week's at an end, we may make up the nine guineas +for the substitute, as they call him. Who knows, dearest mother, but we +may keep him with us for ever!' As she spoke, she threw her arms round +her father, who pressed her to his bosom without speaking, for his heart +was full. He was some little time before he could perfectly believe that +what he heard was true; but the revived smiles of his wife, the noisy +joy of his little boys, and the satisfaction that shone in Susan's +countenance, convinced him that he was not in a dream. + +As they sat down to supper, the old harper was made welcome to his share +of the cheerful though frugal meal. + +Susan's father, as soon as supper was finished, even before he would let +the harper play a tune for his boys, opened the little purse which Susan +had given him. He was surprised at the sight of the twelve shillings, +and still more, when he came to the bottom of the purse, to see the +bright golden guinea. + +'How did you come by all this money, Susan?' said he. 'Honestly and +handsomely, that I'm sure of beforehand,' said her proud mother; 'but +how I can't make out, except by the baking. Hey, Susan, is this your +first baking?' 'Oh no, no,' said her father, 'I have her first baking +snug here, besides, in my pocket. I kept it for a surprise, to do your +mother's heart good, Susan. Here's twenty-nine shillings, and the Abbey +bill, which is not paid yet, comes to ten more. What think you of this, +wife? Have we not a right to be proud of our Susan? Why,' continued he, +turning to the harper, 'I ask your pardon for speaking out so free +before strangers in praise of my own, which I know is not mannerly; but +the truth is the fittest thing to be spoken, as I think, at all times; +therefore, here's your good health, Susan; why, by-and-by she'll be +worth her weight in gold--in silver at least. But tell us, child, how +came you by all this riches? and how comes it that I don't go to-morrow? +All this happy news makes me so gay in myself, I'm afraid I shall hardly +understand it rightly. But speak on, child--first bringing us a bottle +of the good mead you made last year from your own honey.' + +Susan did not much like to tell the history of her guinea-hen--of the +gown and of her poor lamb. Part of this would seem as if she was +vaunting of her own generosity, and part of it she did not like to +recollect. But her mother pressed to know the whole, and she related it +as simply as she could. When she came to the story of her lamb, her +voice faltered, and everybody present was touched. The old harper sighed +once, and cleared his throat several times. He then asked for his harp, +and, after tuning it for a considerable time, he recollected--for he had +often fits of absence--that he had sent for it to play the tune he had +promised to the boys. + +This harper came from a great distance, from the mountains of Wales, to +contend with several other competitors for a prize, which had been +advertised by a musical society about a year before this time. There was +to be a splendid ball given upon the occasion at Shrewsbury, which was +about five miles from our village. The prize was ten guineas for the +best performer on the harp, and the prize was now to be decided in a few +days. + +All this intelligence Barbara had long since gained from her maid, who +often paid visits to the town of Shrewsbury, and she had long had her +imagination inflamed with the idea of this splendid music-meeting and +ball. Often had she sighed to be there, and often had she revolved in +her mind schemes for introducing herself to some _genteel_ neighbours, +who might take her to the ball _in their carriage_. How rejoiced, how +triumphant was she when this very evening, just about the time when the +butcher was bargaining with her father about Susan's lamb, a _livery_ +servant from the Abbey rapped at the door, and left a card for Mr. and +Miss Barbara Case. + +'There,' cried Bab, '_I_ and _papa_ are to dine and drink tea at the +Abbey to-morrow. Who knows? I daresay, when they see that I'm not a +vulgar-looking person, and all that, and if I go cunningly to work with +Miss Somers, as I shall, to be sure--I daresay she'll take me to the +ball with her.' + +'To be sure,' said the maid; 'it's the least one may expect from a lady +who _demeans_ herself to visit Susan Price, and goes about a-shopping +for her. The least she can do for you is to take you in her carriage, +_which_ costs nothing, but is just a common civility, to a ball.' + +'Then pray, Betty,' continued Miss Barbara, 'don't forget to-morrow, the +first thing you do, to send off to Shrewsbury for my new bonnet. I must +have it _to dine in_, at the Abbey, or the ladies will think nothing of +me; and, Betty, remember the mantua-maker too. I must see and coax papa +to buy me a new gown against the ball. I can see, you know, something of +the fashions to-morrow at the Abbey. I shall _look the ladies well +over_, I promise you. And, Betty, I have thought of the most charming +present for Miss Somers, as papa says it's good never to go empty-handed +to a great house, I'll make Miss Somers, who is fond, as her maid told +you, of such things--I'll make Miss Somers a present of that guinea-hen +of Susan's; it's of no use to me, so do you carry it up early in the +morning to the Abbey, with my compliments. That's the thing.' + +In full confidence that her present and her bonnet would operate +effectually in her favour, Miss Barbara paid her first visit at the +Abbey. She expected to see wonders. She was dressed in all the finery +which she had heard from her maid, who had heard from the 'prentice of a +Shrewsbury milliner, was _the thing_ in London; and she was much +surprised and disappointed, when she was shown into the room where the +Miss Somerses and the ladies of the Abbey were sitting, to see that they +did not, in any one part of their dress, agree with the picture her +imagination had formed of fashionable ladies. She was embarrassed when +she saw books and work and drawings upon the table, and she began to +think that some affront was meant to her, because _the company_ did not +sit with their hands before them. + +When Miss Somers endeavoured to find out conversation that would +interest her, and spoke of walks and flowers and gardening, of which she +was herself fond, Miss Barbara still thought herself undervalued, and +soon contrived to expose her ignorance most completely, by talking of +things which she did not understand. + +Those who never attempt to appear what they are not--those who do not in +their manners pretend to anything unsuited to their habits and situation +in life, never are in danger of being laughed at by sensible, well-bred +people of any rank; but affectation is the constant and just object of +ridicule. + +Miss Barbara Case, with her mistaken airs of gentility, aiming to be +thought a woman and a fine lady, whilst she was, in reality, a child and +a vulgar attorney's daughter, rendered herself so thoroughly ridiculous, +that the good-natured, yet discerning spectators were painfully divided +between their sense of comic absurdity and a feeling of shame for one +who could feel nothing for herself. + +One by one the ladies dropped off. Miss Somers went out of the room for +a few minutes to alter her dress, as it was the custom of the family, +before dinner. She left a portfolio of pretty drawings and good prints +for Miss Barbara's amusement; but Miss Barbara's thoughts were so intent +upon the harpers' ball, that she could not be entertained with such +_trifles_. How unhappy are those who spend their time in expectation! +They can never enjoy the present moment. Whilst Barbara was contriving +means of interesting Miss Somers in her favour, she recollected, with +surprise, that not one word had yet been said of her present of the +guinea-hen. Mrs. Betty, in the hurry of her dressing her young lady in +the morning, had forgotten it; but it came just whilst Miss Somers was +dressing; and the housekeeper came into her mistress's room to announce +its arrival. + +'Ma'am,' said she, 'here's a beautiful guinea-hen just come, _with_ Miss +Barbara Case's compliments to you.' + +Miss Somers knew, by the tone in which the housekeeper delivered this +message, that there was something in the business which did not +perfectly please her. She made no answer, in expectation that the +housekeeper, who was a woman of a very open temper, would explain her +cause of dissatisfaction. In this she was not mistaken. The housekeeper +came close up to the dressing-table, and continued, 'I never like to +speak till I'm sure, ma'am, and I'm not quite sure, to say certain, in +this case, ma'am, but still I think it right to tell you, which can't +wrong anybody, what came across my mind about this same guinea-hen, +ma'am; and you can inquire into it, and do as you please afterwards, +ma'am. Some time ago we had fine guinea-fowls of our own, and I made +bold, not thinking, to be sure, that all our own would die away from us, +as they have done, to give a fine couple last Christmas to Susan Price, +and very fond and pleased she was at the time, and I'm sure would never +have parted with the hen with her good-will; but if my eyes don't +strangely mistake, this hen, that comes from Miss Barbara, is the +self-same identical guinea-hen that I gave to Susan. And how Miss Bab +came by it is the thing that puzzles me. If my boy Philip was at home, +maybe, as he's often at Mrs. Price's (which I don't disapprove), he +might know the history of the guinea-hen. I expect him home this night, +and if you have no objection, I will sift the affair.' + +'The shortest way, I think,' said Henrietta, 'would be to ask Miss Case +herself about it, which I will do this evening.' 'If you please, ma'am,' +said the housekeeper, coldly; for she knew that Miss Barbara was not +famous in the village for speaking truth. + +Dinner was now served. Attorney Case expected to smell mint sauce, and, +as the covers were taken from off the dishes, looked around for lamb; +but no lamb appeared. He had a dexterous knack of twisting the +conversation to his point. Sir Arthur was speaking, when they sat down +to dinner, of a new carving knife, which he lately had had made for his +sister. The Attorney immediately went from carving-knives to poultry; +thence to butchers meat. Some joints, he observed, were much more +difficult to carve than others. He never saw a man carve better than the +gentleman opposite him, who was the curate of the parish. 'But, sir,' +said the vulgar attorney, 'I must make bold to differ with you in one +point, and I'll appeal to Sir Arthur. Sir Arthur, pray may I ask, when +you carve a forequarter of lamb, do you, when you raise the shoulder, +throw in salt, or not?' This well-prepared question was not lost upon +Sir Arthur. The attorney was thanked for his intended present; but +mortified and surprised to hear Sir Arthur say that it was a constant +rule of his never to accept of any presents from his neighbours. 'If we +were to accept a lamb from a rich neighbour on my estate,' said he, 'I +am afraid we should mortify many of our poor tenants, who can have +little to offer, though, perhaps, they may bear us thorough good-will +notwithstanding.' + +After the ladies left the dining-room, as they were walking up and down +the large hall, Miss Barbara had a fair opportunity of imitating her +keen father's method of conversing. One of the ladies observed that this +hall would be a charming place for music. Bab brought in harps and +harpers, and the harpers' ball, in a breath. 'I know so much about +it,--about the ball I mean,' said she, 'because a lady in Shrewsbury, a +friend of papa's, offered to take me with her; but papa did not like to +give her the trouble of sending so far for me, though she has a coach of +her own.' Barbara fixed her eyes upon Miss Somers as she spoke; but she +could not read her countenance as distinctly as she wished, because Miss +Somers was at this moment letting down the veil of her hat. + +'Shall we walk out before tea?' said Miss Somers to her companions; +'I have a pretty guinea-hen to show you.' Barbara, secretly drawing +propitious omens from the guinea-hen, followed with a confidential +step. The pheasantry was well filled with pheasants, peacocks, etc.; +and Susan's pretty little guinea-hen appeared well, even in this high +company. It was much admired. Barbara was in glory; but her glory was of +short duration. + +Just as Miss Somers was going to inquire into the guinea-hen's history, +Philip came up, to ask permission to have a bit of sycamore, to turn a +nutmeg box for his mother. He was an ingenious lad, and a good turner +for his age. Sir Arthur had put by a bit of sycamore on purpose for him; +and Miss Somers told him where it was to be found. He thanked her; but +in the midst of his bow of thanks his eye was struck by the sight of the +guinea-hen, and he involuntarily exclaimed, 'Susan's guinea-hen, I +declare!' 'No, it's not Susan's guinea-hen,' said Miss Barbara, +colouring furiously; 'it is mine, and I have made a present of it to +Miss Somers.' + +At the sound of Bab's voice, Philip turned--saw her--and indignation, +unrestrained by the presence of all the amazed spectators, flashed in +his countenance. + +'What is the matter, Philip?' said Miss Somers, in a pacifying tone; but +Philip was not inclined to be pacified. 'Why, ma'am,' said he, 'may I +speak out?' and, without waiting for permission, he spoke out, and gave +a full, true, and warm account of Rose's embassy, and of Miss Barbara's +cruel and avaricious proceedings. + +Barbara denied, prevaricated, stammered, and at last was overcome with +confusion; for which even the most indulgent spectators could scarcely +pity her. + +Miss Somers, however, mindful of what was due to her guest, was anxious +to despatch Philip for his piece of sycamore. Bab recovered herself as +soon as he was out of sight; but she further exposed herself by +exclaiming, 'I'm sure I wish this pitiful guinea-hen had never come into +my possession. I wish Susan had kept it at home, as she should have +done!' + +'Perhaps she will be more careful now that she has received so strong a +lesson,' said Miss Somers. 'Shall we try her?' continued she. 'Philip +will, I daresay, take the guinea-hen back to Susan, if we desire it.' +'If you please, ma'am,' said Barbara, sullenly; 'I have nothing more to +do with it.' + +So the guinea-hen was delivered to Philip, who set off joyfully with +his prize, and was soon in sight of Farmer Price's cottage. He stopped +when he came to the door. He recollected Rose and her generous +friendship for Susan. He was determined that she should have the +pleasure of restoring the guinea-hen. He ran into the village. All the +children who had given up their little purse on May-day were assembled +on the play-green. They were delighted to see the guinea-hen once more. +Philip took his pipe and tabor, and they marched in innocent triumph +towards the white washed cottage. + +'Let me come with you--let me come with you,' said the butcher's boy to +Philip. 'Stop one minute! my father has something to say to you.' He +darted into his father's house. The little procession stopped, and in a +few minutes the bleating of a lamb was heard. Through a back passage, +which led into the paddock behind the house, they saw the butcher +leading a lamb. + +'It is Daisy!' exclaimed Rose. 'It's Daisy!' repeated all her +companions. 'Susan's lamb! Susan's lamb!' and there was a universal +shout of joy. + +'Well, for my part,' said the good butcher, as soon as he could be +heard,--'for my part, I would not be so cruel as Attorney Case for the +whole world. These poor brute beasts don't know aforehand what's going +to happen to them; and as for dying, it's what we must all do some time +or another; but to keep wringing the hearts of the living, that have as +much sense as one's self, is what I call cruel; and is not this what +Attorney Case has been doing by poor Susan and her whole family, ever +since he took a spite against them? But, at any rate, here's Susan's +lamb safe and sound. I'd have taken it back sooner, but I was off before +day to the fair, and am but just come back. Daisy, however, has been as +well off in my paddock as he would have been in the field by the +water-side.' + +The obliging shopkeeper, who showed the pretty calicoes to Susan, was +now at his door, and when he saw the lamb, and heard that it was +Susan's, and learned its history, he said that he would add his mite; +and he gave the children some ends of narrow riband, with which Rose +decorated her friend's lamb. + +The pipe and tabor now once more began to play, and the procession +moved on in joyful order, after giving the humane butcher three cheers; +three cheers which were better deserved than 'loud huzzas' usually are. + +Susan was working in her arbour, with her little deal table before her. +When she heard the sound of the music, she put down her work and +listened. She saw the crowd of children coming nearer and nearer. They +had closed round Daisy, so that she did not see it; but as they came up +to the garden gate she saw that Rose beckoned to her. Philip played as +loud as he could, that she might not hear, till the proper moment, the +bleating of the lamb. Susan opened the garden-wicket, and at this signal +the crowd divided, and the first thing that Susan saw, in the midst of +her taller friends, was little smiling Mary, with the guinea-hen in her +arms. + +'Come on! Come on!' cried Mary, as Susan started with joyful surprise; +'you have more to see.' + +At this instant the music paused, Susan heard the bleating of a lamb, +and scarcely daring to believe her senses, she pressed eagerly forward, +and beheld poor Daisy!--she burst into tears. 'I did not shed one tear +when I parted with you, my dear little Daisy!' said she. 'It was for my +father and mother. I would not have parted with you for anything else in +the whole world. Thank you, thank you all,' added she, to her +companions, who sympathised in her joy, even more than they had +sympathised in her sorrow. 'Now, if my father was not to go away from us +next week, and if my mother was quite stout, I should be the happiest +person in the world!' + +As Susan pronounced these words, a voice behind the little listening +crowd cried, in a brutal tone, 'Let us pass, if you please; you have no +right to stop up the public road!' This was the voice of Attorney Case, +who was returning with his daughter Barbara from his visit to the Abbey. +He saw the lamb, and tried to whistle as he went on. Barbara also saw +the guinea-hen, and turned her head another way, that she might avoid +the contemptuous, reproachful looks of those whom she only affected to +despise. Even her new bonnet, in which she had expected to be so much +admired, was now only serviceable to hide her face and conceal her +mortification. + +'I am glad she saw the guinea-hen,' cried Rose, who now held it in her +hands. 'Yes,' said Philip, 'she'll not forget May-day in a hurry.' 'Nor +I neither, I hope,' said Susan, looking round upon her companions with +a most affectionate smile: 'I hope, whilst I live, I shall never forget +your goodness to me last May-day. Now I've my pretty guinea-hen safe +once more, I should think of returning your money.' 'No! no! no!' was +the general cry. 'We don't want the money--keep it, keep it--you want it +for your father.' 'Well,' said Susan, 'I am not too proud to be obliged. +I _will_ keep your money for my father. Perhaps some time or other I may +be able to earn----' 'Oh,' interrupted Philip, 'don't let us talk of +earning; don't let us talk to her of money now; she has not had time +hardly to look at poor Daisy and her guinea-hen. Come, we had best go +about our business, and let her have them all to herself.' + +The crowd moved away in consequence of Philip's considerate advice; but +it was observed that he was the very last to stir from the garden-wicket +himself. He stayed, first, to inform Susan that it was Rose who tied the +ribands on Daisy's head. Then he stayed a little longer to let her into +the history of the guinea-hen, and to tell her who it was that brought +the hen home from the Abbey. + +Rose held the sieve, and Susan was feeding her long-lost favourite, +whilst Philip leaned over the wicket, prolonging his narration. 'Now, my +pretty guinea-hen,' said Susan--'my naughty guinea-hen, that flew away +from me, you shall never serve me so again. I must cut your nice wings; +but I won't hurt you.' 'Take care,' cried Philip; 'you'd better, indeed +you'd better let me hold her whilst you cut her wings.' + +When this operation was successfully performed, which it certainly could +never have been if Philip had not held the hen for Susan, he recollected +that his mother had sent him with a message to Mrs. Price. This message +led to another quarter of an hour's delay; for he had the whole history +of the guinea-hen to tell over again to Mrs. Price, and the farmer +himself luckily came in whilst it was going on, so it was but civil to +begin it afresh; and then the farmer was so rejoiced to see his Susan so +happy again with her two little favourites, that he declared he must see +Daisy fed himself; and Philip found that he was wanted to hold the +jugful of milk, out of which Farmer Price filled the pan for Daisy. +Happy Daisy! who lapped at his ease whilst Susan caressed him, and +thanked her fond father and her pleased mother. + +'But, Philip,' said Mrs. Price, 'I'll hold the jug--you'll be late with +your message to your mother; we'll not detain you any longer.' + +Philip departed, and as he went out of the garden-wicket he looked up, +and saw Bab and her maid Betty staring out of the window, as usual. On +this, he immediately turned back to try whether he had shut the gate +fast, lest the guinea-hen might stray, out and fall again into the hands +of the enemy. + +Miss Barbara, in the course of this day, felt considerable +mortification, but no contrition. She was vexed that her meanness was +discovered, but she felt no desire to cure herself of any of her faults. +The ball was still uppermost in her vain, selfish soul. 'Well,' said she +to her _confidante_, Betty, 'you hear how things have turned out; but if +Miss Somers won't think of asking me to go out with her, I've a notion I +know who will. As papa says, it's a good thing to have two strings to +one's bow.' + +Now some officers, who were quartered at Shrewsbury, had become +acquainted with Mr. Case. They had gotten into some quarrel with a +tradesman of the town, and Attorney Case had promised to bring them +through the affair, as the man threatened to take the law of them. Upon +the faith of this promise, and with the vain hope that, by civility, +they might dispose him to bring in a _reasonable_ bill of costs, these +officers sometimes invited Mr. Case to the mess; and one of them, who +had lately been married, prevailed upon his bride _sometimes_ to take a +little notice of Miss Barbara. It was with this lady that Miss Barbara +now hoped to go to the harpers' ball. + +'The officers and Mrs. Strathspey, or, more properly, Mrs. Strathspey +and the officers, are to breakfast here, to-morrow, do you know?' said +Bab to Betty. 'One of them dined at the Abbey to-day, and told papa +they'd all come. They are going out on a party, somewhere into the +country, and breakfast here on their way. Pray, Betty, don't forget that +Mrs. Strathspey can't breakfast without honey. I heard her say so +myself.' 'Then, indeed,' said Betty, 'I'm afraid Mrs. Strathspey will be +likely to go without her breakfast here; for not a spoonful of honey +have we, let her long for it ever so much.' 'But, surely,' said Bab, 'we +can contrive to get some honey in the neighbourhood.' 'There's none to +be bought, as I know of,' said Betty. 'But is there none to be begged +or borrowed?' said Bab, laughing. 'Do you forget Susan's beehive? Step +over to her in the morning with _my compliments_, and see what you can +do. Tell her it's for Mrs. Strathspey.' + +In the morning Betty went with Miss Barbara's compliments to Susan, to +beg some honey for Mrs. Strathspey who could not breakfast without it. +Susan did not like to part with her honey, because her mother loved it, +and she therefore gave Betty but a small quantity. When Barbara saw how +little Susan sent, she called her a _miser_, and she said she _must_ +have some more for Mrs. Strathspey. 'I'll go myself and speak to her. +Come with me, Betty,' said the young lady, who found it at present +convenient to forget her having declared, the day that she sucked up the +broth, that she never would honour Susan with another visit. 'Susan,' +said she, accosting the poor girl, whom she had done everything in her +power to injure, 'I must beg a little more honey from you for Mrs. +Strathspey's breakfast. You know, on a particular occasion such as this, +neighbours must help one another.' 'To be sure they should,' added +Betty. + +Susan, though she was generous, was not weak; she was willing to give to +those she loved, but not disposed to let anything be taken from her, or +coaxed out of her, by those she had reason to despise. She civilly +answered that she was sorry she had no more honey to spare. + +Barbara grew angry, and lost all command of herself, when she saw that +Susan, without regarding her reproaches, went on looking through the +glass pane in the beehive. 'I'll tell you what, Susan Price,' said she, +in a high tone, 'the honey I _will_ have, so you may as well give it to +me by fair means. Yes or no? Speak! Will you give it me or not? Will you +give me that piece of the honeycomb that lies there?' 'That bit of +honeycomb is for my mother's breakfast,' said Susan; 'I cannot give it +you.' 'Can't you?' said Bab, 'then see if I don't take it!' She +stretched across Susan for the honeycomb, which was lying by some +rosemary leaves that Susan had freshly gathered for her mother's tea. +Bab grasped, but at her first effort she only reached the rosemary. She +made a second dart at the honeycomb, and, in her struggle to obtain it, +she overset the beehive. The bees swarmed about her. Her maid Betty +screamed and ran away. Susan, who was sheltered by a laburnum tree, +called to Barbara, upon whom the black clusters of bees were now +settling, and begged her to stand still, and not to beat them away. 'If +you stand quietly you won't be stung, perhaps.' But instead of standing +quietly, Bab buffeted and stamped and roared, and the bees stung her +terribly. Her arms and her face swelled in a frightful manner. She was +helped home by poor Susan and treacherous Mrs. Betty, who, now the +mischief was done, thought only of exculpating herself to her master. + +'Indeed, Miss Barbara,' said she, 'this was quite wrong of you to go and +get yourself into such a scrape. I shall be turned away for it, you'll +see.' + +'I don't care whether you are turned away or not,' said Barbara; 'I +never felt such pain in my life. Can't you do something for me? I don't +mind the pain either so much as being such a fright. Pray, how am I to +be fit to be seen at breakfast by Mrs. Strathspey; and I suppose I can't +go to the ball either to-morrow, after all!' + +'No, that you can't expect to do, indeed,' said Betty, the comforter. +'You need not think of balls; for those lumps and swellings won't go off +your face this week. That's not what pains me; but I'm thinking of what +your papa will say to me when he sees you, miss.' + +Whilst this amiable mistress and maid were in their adversity reviling +one another, Susan, when she saw that she could be of no further use, +was preparing to depart, but at the house-door she was met by Mr. Case. +Mr. Case had revolved things in his mind; for his second visit at the +Abbey pleased him as little as his first, owing to a few words which Sir +Arthur and Miss Somers dropped in speaking of Susan and Farmer Price. +Mr. Case began to fear that he had mistaken his game in quarrelling with +this family. The refusal of his present dwelt upon the attorney's mind; +and he was aware that, if the history of Susan's lamb ever reached the +Abbey, he was undone. He now thought that the most prudent course he +could possibly follow would be to _hush up_ matters with the _Prices_ +with all convenient speed. Consequently, when he met Susan at his door, +he forced a gracious smile. 'How is your mother, Susan?' said he. 'Is +there anything in our house can be of service to her?' On hearing his +daughter he cried out, 'Barbara, Barbara--Bab! come downstairs, child, +and speak to Susan Price.' But as no Barbara answered, her father +stalked upstairs directly, opened the door, and stood amazed at the +spectacle of her swelled visage. + +Betty instantly began to tell the story of Barbara's mishap her own way. +Bab contradicted her as fast as she spoke. The attorney turned the maid +away on the spot; and partly with real anger, and partly with feigned +affectation of anger, he demanded from his daughter how she dared to +treat Susan Price so ill, 'when,' as he said, 'she was so neighbourly +and obliging as to give you some of her honey? Couldn't you be content, +without seizing upon the honeycomb by force? This is scandalous +behaviour, and what, I assure you, I can't countenance.' + +Susan now interceded for Barbara; and the attorney, softening his voice, +said that 'Susan was a great deal too good to her; as you are, indeed,' +added he, 'to everybody. I forgive her for your sake.' Susan curtsied, +in great surprise; but her lamb could not be forgotten, and she left the +attorney's house as soon as she could, to make her mother's rosemary tea +breakfast. + +Mr. Case saw that Susan was not so simple as to be taken in by a few +fair words. His next attempt was to conciliate Farmer Price. The farmer +was a blunt, honest man, and his countenance remained inflexibly +contemptuous, when the attorney addressed him in his softest tone. + +So stood matters the day of the long-expected harpers' ball. Miss +Barbara Case, stung by Susan's bees, could not, after all her +manoeuvres, go with Mrs. Strathspey to the ball. The ballroom was +filled early in the evening. There was a numerous assembly. The harpers, +who contended for the prize, were placed under the music-gallery at the +lower end of the room. Amongst them was our old blind friend, who, as he +was not so well clad as his competitors, seemed to be disdained by many +of the spectators. Six ladies and six gentlemen were now appointed to be +judges of the performance. They were seated in a semicircle, opposite to +the harpers. The Miss Somerses, who were fond of music, were amongst the +ladies in the semicircle; and the prize was lodged in the hands of Sir +Arthur. There was now silence. The first harp sounded, and as each +musician tried his skill, the audience seemed to think that each +deserved the prize. The old blind man was the last. He tuned his +instrument; and such a simple pathetic strain was heard as touched every +heart. All were fixed in delighted attention; and when the music ceased, +the silence for some moments continued. + +The silence was followed by a universal buzz of applause. The judges +were unanimous in their opinions, and it was declared that the old blind +harper, who played the last, deserved the prize. + +The simple pathetic air which won the suffrages of the whole assembly, +was his own composition. He was pressed to give the words belonging to +the music; and at last he modestly offered to repeat them, as he could +not see to write. Miss Somers' ready pencil was instantly produced; and +the old harper dictated the words of his ballad, which he +called--_Susan's Lamentation for her Lamb_. + +Miss Somers looked at her brother from time to time, as she wrote; and +Sir Arthur, as soon as the old man had finished, took him aside, and +asked him some questions, which brought the whole history of Susan's +lamb and of Attorney Case's cruelty to light. + +The attorney himself was present when the harper began to dictate his +ballad. His colour, as Sir Arthur steadily looked at him, varied +continually; till at length, when he heard the words 'Susan's +Lamentation for her Lamb,' he suddenly shrank back, skulked through the +crowd, and disappeared. We shall not follow him; we had rather follow +our old friend, the victorious harper. + +No sooner had he received the ten guineas, his well-merited prize, than +he retired to a small room belonging to the people of the house, asked +for pen, ink, and paper, and dictated, in a low voice, to his boy, who +was a tolerably good scribe, a letter, which he ordered him to put +directly into the Shrewsbury post-office. The boy ran with the letter to +the post-office. He was but just in time, for the postman's horn was +sounding. + +The next morning, when Farmer Price, his wife, and Susan, were sitting +together, reflecting that his week's leave of absence was nearly at an +end, and that the money was not yet made up for John Simpson, the +substitute, a knock was heard at the door, and the person who usually +delivered the letters in the village put a letter into Susan's hand, +saying, 'A penny, if you please--here's a letter for your father.' + +'For me!' said Farmer Price; 'here's the penny then; but who can it be +from, I wonder? Who can think of writing to me, in this world?' He tore +open the letter; but the hard name at the bottom of the page puzzled +him--'_your obliged friend_, Llewellyn.' + +'And what's this?' said he, opening a paper that was enclosed in the +letter. 'It's a song, seemingly; it must be somebody that has a mind to +make an April fool of me.' 'But it is not April, it is May, father,' +said Susan. 'Well, let us read the letter, and we shall come to the +truth all in good time.' + +Farmer Price sat down in his own chair, for he could not read entirely +to his satisfaction in any other, and read as follows:-- + + 'MY WORTHY FRIEND--I am sure you will be glad to hear that I have had + good success this night. I have won the ten guinea prize, and for that + I am in a great measure indebted to your sweet daughter Susan; as you + will see by a little ballad I enclose for her. Your hospitality to me + has afforded to me an opportunity of learning some of your family + history. You do not, I hope, forget that I was present when you were + counting the treasure in Susan's little purse, and that I heard for + what purpose it was all destined. You have not, I know, yet made up + the full sum for your substitute, John Simpson; therefore do me the + favour to use the five guinea banknote which you will find within the + ballad. You shall not find me as hard a creditor as Attorney Case. + Pay me the money at your own convenience. If it is never convenient + to you to pay it, I shall never ask it. I shall go my rounds again + through this country, I believe, about this time next year, and will + call to see how you do, and to play the new tune for Susan and the + dear little boys. + + 'I should just add, to set you hearts at rest about the money, that it + does not distress me at all to lend it to you. I am not quite so poor + as I appear to be. But it is my humour to go about as I do. I see more + of the world under my tattered garb than, perhaps, I should ever see + in a better dress. There are many of my profession who are of the same + mind as myself in this respect; and we are glad, when it lies in our + way, to do any kindness to such a worthy family as yours. So, fare ye + well.--Your obliged Friend, LLEWELLYN.' + +Susan now, by her father's desire, opened the ballad. He picked up the +five-guinea banknote, whilst she read, with surprise, 'Susan's +Lamentation for her Lamb.' Her mother leaned over her shoulder to read +the words; but they were interrupted, before they had finished the first +stanza, by another knock at the door. It was not the postman with +another letter. It was Sir Arthur and his sisters. + +They came with an intention, which they were much disappointed to find +that the old harper had rendered vain--they came to lend the farmer and +his good family the money to pay for his substitute. + +'But, since we are here,' said Sir Arthur, 'let me do my own business, +which I had like to have forgotten. Mr. Price, will you come out with +me, and let me show you a piece of your land, through which I want to +make a road? Look there,' said Sir Arthur, pointing to the spot; 'I am +laying out a ride round my estate, and that bit of land of yours stops +me.' + +'Why, sir,' said Price, 'the land's mine, to be sure, for that matter; +but I hope you don't look upon me to be that sort of person that would +be stiff about a trifle or so.' + +'The fact is,' said Sir Arthur, 'I had heard you were a litigious, +pig-headed fellow; but you do not seem to deserve this character.' + +'Hope not, sir,' said the farmer; 'but about the matter of the land, I +don't want to take any advantage of your wishing for it. You are welcome +to it; and I leave it to you to find me out another bit of land +convenient to me that will be worth neither more nor less; or else to +make up the value to me some way or other. I need say no more about it.' + +'I hear something,' continued Sir Arthur, after a short silence--'I hear +something, Mr. Price, of a _flaw_ in your lease. I would not speak to +you about it whilst we were bargaining about your land, lest I should +overawe you; but, tell me, what is this _flaw_?' + +'In truth, and the truth is the fittest thing to be spoken at all +times,' said the farmer, 'I didn't know myself what a _flaw_, as they +call it, meant, till I heard of the word from Attorney Case; and, I take +it, a _flaw_ is neither more nor less than a mistake, as one should say. +Now, by reason a man does not make a mistake on purpose, it seems to me +to be the fair thing that if a man finds out his mistake, he might set +it right; but Attorney Case says this is not law; and I've no more to +say. The man who drew up my lease made a mistake; and if I must suffer +for it, I must,' said the farmer. 'However, I can show you, Sir Arthur, +just for my own satisfaction and yours, a few lines of a memorandum on a +slip of paper, which was given me by your relation, the gentleman who +lived here before, and let me my farm. You'll see, by that bit of paper, +what was meant; but the attorney says the paper's not worth a button in +a court of justice, and I don't understand these things. All I +understand is the common honesty of the matter. I've no more to say.' + +'This attorney, whom you speak of so often,' said Sir Arthur, 'you seem +to have some quarrel with. Now, would you tell me frankly what is the +matter between----?' + +'The matter between us, then,' said Price, 'is a little bit of ground, +not worth much, that is there open to the lane at the end of Mr. Case's +garden, and he wanted to take it in. Now I told him my mind, that it +belonged to the parish, and that I never would willingly give my consent +to his cribbing it in that way. Sir, I was the more loth to see it shut +into his garden, which, moreover, is large enough of all conscience +without it, because you must know, Sir Arthur, the children in our +village are fond of making a little play-green of it; and they have a +custom of meeting on May-day at a hawthorn that stands in the middle of +it, and altogether I was very loth to see 'em turned out of it by those +who have no right.' + +'Let us go and see this nook,' said Sir Arthur. 'It is not far off, is +it?' + +'Oh no, sir, just hard by here.' + +When they got to the ground, Mr. Case, who saw them walking together, +was in a hurry to join them, that he might put a stop to any +explanations. Explanations were things of which he had a great dread; +but, fortunately, he was upon this occasion a little too late. + +'Is this the nook in dispute?' said Sir Arthur. 'Yes; this is the whole +thing,' said Price. 'Why, Sir Arthur,' interposed the politic attorney, +with an assumed air of generosity, 'don't let us talk any more about it. +Let it belong to whom it will, I give it up to you.' + +'So great a lawyer, Mr. Case, as you are,' replied Sir Arthur, 'must +know that a man cannot give up that to which he has no legal title; and +in this case it is impossible that, with the best intentions to oblige +me in the world, you can give up this bit of land to me, because it is +mine already, as I can convince you effectually by a map of the +adjoining land, which I have fortunately safe amongst my papers. This +piece of ground belonged to the farm on the opposite side of the road, +and it was cut off when the lane was made.' + +'Very possibly. I daresay you are quite correct; you must know best,' +said the attorney, trembling for the agency. + +'Then,' said Sir Arthur, 'Mr. Price, you will observe that I now promise +this little green to the children for a playground; and I hope they may +gather hawthorn many a May-day at this their favourite bush.' Mr. Price +bowed low, which he seldom did, even when he received a favour himself. +'And now, Mr. Case,' said Sir Arthur, turning to the attorney, who did +not know which way to look, 'you sent me a lease to look over.' + +'Ye--ye--yes,' stammered Mr. Case. 'I thought it my duty to do so; not +out of any malice or ill-will to this good man.' + +'You have done him no injury,' said Sir Arthur coolly. 'I am ready to +make him a new lease, whenever he pleases, of his farm, and I shall be +guided by a memorandum of the original bargain, which he has in his +possession. I hope I never shall take an unfair advantage of any one.' + +'Heaven forbid, sir,' said the attorney, sanctifying his face, 'that I +should suggest the taking an _unfair_ advantage of any man, rich or +poor; but to break a bad lease is not taking an unfair advantage.' + +'You really think so?' said Sir Arthur. 'Certainly I do, and I hope I +have not hazarded your good opinion by speaking my mind concerning the +flaw so plainly. I always understood that there could be nothing +ungentlemanlike, in the way of business, in taking advantage of the flaw +in a lease.' + +'Now,' said Sir Arthur, 'you have pronounced judgment _undesignedly_ in +your own case. You intended to send me this poor man's lease; but your +son, by some mistake, brought me your own, and I have discovered a fatal +error in it.' 'A fatal error!' said the alarmed attorney. 'Yes, sir,' +said Sir Arthur, pulling the lease out of his pocket. 'Here it is. You +will observe that it is neither signed nor sealed by the grantor.' 'But +you won't take advantage of me, surely, Sir Arthur?' said Mr. Case, +forgetting his own principles. 'I shall not take advantage of you, as +you would have taken of this honest man. In both cases I shall be guided +by memoranda which I have in my possession. I shall not, Mr. Case, +defraud you of one shilling of your property. I am ready, at a fair +valuation, to pay the exact value of your house and land; but upon this +condition--that you quit the parish within one month!' + +Attorney Case was thus compelled to submit to the hard necessity of the +case, for he knew that he could not legally resist. Indeed he was glad +to be let off so easily; and he bowed and sneaked away, secretly +comforting himself with the hope that when they came to the valuation of +the house and land he should be the gainer, perhaps, of a few guineas. +His reputation he justly held very cheap. + +'You are a scholar; you write a good hand; you can keep accounts, cannot +you?' said Sir Arthur to Mr. Price, as they walked home towards the +cottage. 'I think I saw a bill of your little daughter's drawing out the +other day, which was very neatly written. Did you teach her to write?' + +'No, sir,' said Price, 'I can't say I did _that_; for she mostly taught +it herself; but I taught her a little arithmetic, as far as I knew, on +our winter nights, when I had nothing better to do.' + +'Your daughter shows that she has been well taught,' said Sir Arthur; +'and her good conduct and good character speak strongly in favour of her +parents.' + +'You are very good, very good indeed, sir, to speak in this sort of +way,' said the delighted father. + +'But I mean to do more than _pay you with words_,' said Sir Arthur. 'You +are attached to your own family, perhaps you may become attached to me, +when you come to know me, and we shall have frequent opportunities of +judging of one another. I want no agent to squeeze my tenants, or do my +dirty work. I only want a steady, intelligent, honest man, like you, to +collect my rents, and I hope, Mr. Price, you will have no objection to +the employment.' 'I hope, sir,' said Price, with joy and gratitude +glowing in his honest countenance, 'that you'll never have cause to +repent your goodness.' + +'And what are my sisters about here?' said Sir Arthur, entering the +cottage, and going behind his sisters, who were busily engaged in +measuring an extremely pretty coloured calico. + +'It is for Susan, my dear brother,' said they. 'I knew she did not keep +that guinea for herself,' said Miss Somers. 'I have just prevailed upon +her mother to tell me what became of it. Susan gave it to her father; +but she must not refuse a gown of our choosing this time; and I am sure +she will not, because her mother, I see, likes it. And, Susan, I hear +that instead of becoming Queen of the May this year, you were sitting in +your sick mother's room. Your mother has a little colour in her cheeks +now.' + +'Oh, ma'am,' interrupted Mrs. Price, 'I'm quite well. Joy, I think, has +made me quite well.' + +'Then,' said Miss Somers, 'I hope you will be able to come out on your +daughter's birthday, which, I hear, is the 25th of this month. Make +haste and get quite well before that day; for my brother intends that +all the lads and lassies of the village shall have a dance on Susan's +birthday.' + +'Yes,' said Sir Arthur, 'and I hope on that day, Susan, you will be very +happy with your little friends upon their play-green. I shall tell them +that it is your good conduct which has obtained it for them; and if you +have anything to ask, any little favour for any of your companions, +which we can grant, now ask, Susan. These ladies look as if they would +not refuse you anything that is reasonable; and, I think, you look as if +you would not ask anything unreasonable.' + +'Sir,' said Susan, after consulting her mother's eyes, 'there is, to be +sure, a favour I should like to ask; it is for Rose.' + +'Well, I don't know who Rose is,' said Sir Arthur, smiling; 'but go on.' + +'Ma'am, you have seen her, I believe; she is a very good girl, indeed,' +said Mrs. Price. 'And works very neatly, indeed,' continued Susan, +eagerly, to Miss Somers; 'and she and her mother heard you were looking +out for some one to wait upon you.' + +'Say no more,' said Miss Somers; 'your wish is granted. Tell Rose to +come to the Abbey to-morrow morning, or, rather, come with her yourself; +for our housekeeper, I know, wants to talk to you about a certain cake. +She wishes, Susan, that you should be the maker of the cake for the +dance; and she has good things ready looked out for it already, I know. +It must be large enough for everybody to have a slice, and the +housekeeper will ice it for you. I only hope your cake will be as good +as your bread. Fare ye well.' + +How happy are those who bid farewell to a whole family, silent with +gratitude, who will bless them aloud when they are far out of hearing! + +'How do I wish, now,' said Farmer Price, 'and it's almost a sin for one +who has had such a power of favours done him to wish for anything more; +but how I _do_ wish, wife, that our good friend, the harper, was only +here at this time. It would do his old warm heart good. Well, the best +of it is, we shall be able next year, when he comes his rounds, to pay +him his money with thanks, being all the time, and for ever, as much +obliged to him as if we kept it. I long, so I do, to see him in this +house again, drinking, as he did, just in this spot, a glass of Susan's +mead, to her very good health.' + +'Yes,' said Susan, 'and the next time he comes, I can give him one of my +guinea-hen's eggs, and I shall show my lamb, Daisy.' + +'True, love,' said her mother, 'and he will play that tune and sing that +pretty ballad. Where is it? for I have not finished it.' + +'Rose ran away with it, mother, but I'll step after her, and bring it +back to you this minute,' said Susan. + +Susan found her friend Rose at the hawthorn, in the midst of a crowded +circle of her companions, to whom she was reading 'Susan's Lamentation +for her Lamb.' + +'The words are something, but the tune--the tune--I must have the tune,' +cried Philip. 'I'll ask my mother to ask Sir Arthur to try and find out +which way that good old man went after the ball; and if he's above +ground, we'll have him back by Susan's birthday, and he shall sit +here--just exactly here--by this, our bush, and he shall play--I mean, +if he pleases--that same tune for us, and I shall learn it--I mean, if I +can--in a minute.' + +The good news that Farmer Price was to be employed to collect the rents, +and that Attorney Case was to leave the parish in a month, soon spread +over the village. Many came out of their houses to have the pleasure of +hearing the joyful tidings confirmed by Susan herself. The crowd on the +play-green increased every minute. + +'Yes,' cried the triumphant Philip, 'I tell you it's all true, every +word of it. Susan's too modest to say it herself; but I tell ye all, Sir +Arthur gave us this play-green for ever, on account of her being so +good.' + +You see, at last Attorney Case, with all his cunning, has not proved a +match for 'Simple Susan.' + + + + +THE WHITE PIGEON + + +The little town of Somerville, in Ireland, has, within these few years, +assumed the neat and cheerful appearance of an English village. Mr. +Somerville, to whom this town belongs, wished to inspire his tenantry +with a taste for order and domestic happiness, and took every means in +his power to encourage industrious, well-behaved people to settle in his +neighbourhood. When he had finished building a row of good slated houses +in his town, he declared that he would let them to the best tenants he +could find, and proposals were publicly sent to him from all parts of +the country. + +By the best tenants, Mr. Somerville did not, however, mean the best +bidders; and many, who had offered an extravagant price for the houses, +were surprised to find their proposals rejected. Amongst these was Mr. +Cox, an alehouse-keeper, who did not bear a very good character. + +'Please your honour, sir,' said he to Mr. Somerville, 'I _expected_, +since I bid as fair and fairer for it than any other, that you would +have let me the house next the apothecary's. Was not it fifteen guineas +I mentioned in my proposal? and did not your honour give it against me +for thirteen?' 'My honour did just so,' replied Mr. Somerville calmly. +'And please your honour, but I don't know what it is I or mine have done +to offend you. I'm sure there is not a gentleman in all Ireland I'd go +further to sarve. Would not I go to Cork to-morrow for the least word +from your honour?' 'I am much obliged to you, Mr. Cox, but I have no +business at Cork at present,' answered Mr. Somerville drily. 'It is all +I wish,' exclaimed Mr. Cox, 'that I could find out and light upon the +man that has belied me to your honour.' 'No man has belied you, Mr. +Cox, but your nose belies you much, if you do not love drinking a +little, and your black eye and cut chin belie you much if you do not +love quarrelling a little.' + +'Quarrel! I quarrel, please your honour! I defy any man, or set of men, +ten mile round, to prove such a thing, and I am ready to fight him that +dares to say the like of me. I'd fight him here in your honour's +presence, if he'd only come out this minute and meet me like a man.' + +Here Mr. Cox put himself into a boxing attitude, but observing that Mr. +Somerville looked at his threatening gesture with a smile, and that +several people, who had gathered round him as he stood in the street, +laughed at the proof he gave of his peaceable disposition, he changed +his attitude, and went on to vindicate himself against the charge of +drinking. + +'And as to drink, please your honour, there's no truth in it. Not a drop +of whisky, good or bad, have I touched these six months, except what I +took with Jemmy M'Doole the night I had the misfortune to meet your +honour coming home from the fair of Ballynagrish.' + +To this speech Mr. Somerville made no answer, but turned away to look at +the bow-window of a handsome new inn, which the glazier was at this +instant glazing. 'Please your honour, that new inn is not let, I hear, +as yet,' resumed Mr. Cox; 'if your honour recollects, you promised to +make me a compliment of it last Seraphtide was twelvemonth.' + +'Impossible!' cried Mr. Somerville, 'for I had no thoughts of building +an inn at that time.' 'Oh, I beg your honour's pardon, but if you'd be +just pleased to recollect, it was coming through the gap in the bog +meadows, _forenent_ Thady O'Connor, you made me the promise--I'll leave +it to him, so I will.' 'But I will not leave it to him, I assure you,' +cried Mr. Somerville; 'I never made any such promise. I never thought of +letting this inn to you.' 'Then your honour won't let me have it?' 'No; +you have told me a dozen falsehoods. I do not wish to have you for a +tenant.' + +'Well, God bless your honour; I've no more to say, but God bless your +honour,' said Mr. Cox; and he walked away, muttering to himself, as he +slouched his hat over his face, 'I hope I'll live to be revenged on +him!' + +Mr. Somerville the next morning went with his family to look at the new +inn, which he expected to see perfectly finished; but he was met by the +carpenter, who, with a rueful face, informed him that six panes of glass +in the large bow-window had been broken during the night. + +'Ha! perhaps Mr. Cox has broken my windows, in revenge for my refusing +to let him my house,' said Mr. Somerville; and many of the neighbours, +who knew the malicious character of this Mr. Cox, observed that this was +like one of his tricks. A boy of about twelve years old, however, +stepped forward and said, 'I don't like Mr. Cox, I'm sure; for once he +beat me when he was drunk; but, for all that, no one should be accused +wrongfully. He _could_ not be the person that broke these windows last +night, for he was six miles off. He slept at his cousin's last night, +and he has not returned home yet. So I think he knows nothing of the +matter.' + +Mr. Somerville was pleased with the honest simplicity of this boy, and +observing that he looked in eagerly at the staircase, when the house +door was opened, he asked him whether he would like to go in and see the +new house. 'Yes, sir,' said the boy, 'I should like to go up those +stairs, and to see what I should come to.' 'Up with you, then!' said Mr. +Somerville; and the boy ran up the stairs. He went from room to room +with great expressions of admiration and delight. At length, as he was +examining one of the garrets, he was startled by a fluttering noise over +his head; and looking up he saw a white pigeon, who, frightened at his +appearance, began to fly round and round the room, till it found its way +out of the door, and flew into the staircase. + +The carpenter was speaking to Mr. Somerville upon the landing-place of +the stairs; but, the moment he spied the white pigeon, he broke off in +the midst of a speech about _the nose_ of the stairs, and exclaimed, +'There he is, please your honour! There's he that has done all the +damage to our bow-window--that's the very same wicked white pigeon that +broke the church windows last Sunday was se'nnight; but he's down for it +now; we have him safe, and I'll chop his head off, as he deserves, this +minute.' + +'Stay! oh stay! don't chop his head off: he does not deserve it,' cried +the boy, who came running out of the garret with the greatest +eagerness--'_I_ broke your window, sir,' said he to Mr. Somerville. 'I +broke your window with this ball; but I did not know that I had done it, +till this moment, I assure you, or I should have told you before. +Don't chop his head off,' added the boy to the carpenter, who had now +the white pigeon in his hands. 'No,' said Mr. Somerville, 'the pigeon's +head shall not be chopped off, nor yours either, my good boy, for +breaking a window. I am persuaded by your open, honest countenance, that +you are speaking the truth; but pray explain this matter to us; for you +have not made it quite clear. How happened it that you could break my +windows without knowing it? and how came you to find it out at last?' +'Sir,' said the boy, 'if you'll come up here, I'll show you all I know, +and how I came to know it.' + +[Illustration: _'Stay! oh stay! don't chop his head off.'_] + +Mr. Somerville followed the boy into the garret, who pointed to a pane +of glass that was broken in a small window that looked out upon a piece +of waste ground behind the house. Upon this piece of waste ground the +children of the village often used to play. 'We were playing there at +ball yesterday evening,' continued the boy, addressing himself to Mr. +Somerville, 'and one of the lads challenged me to hit a mark in the +wall, which I did; but he said I did not hit it, and bade me give him up +my ball as the forfeit. This I would not do; and when he began to +wrestle with me for it, I threw the ball, as I thought, over the house. +He ran to look for it in the street, but could not find it, which I was +very glad of; but I was very sorry just now to find it myself lying upon +this heap of shavings, sir, under this broken window; for, as soon as I +saw it lying there, I knew I must have been the person that broke the +window; and through this window came the white pigeon. Here's one of his +white feathers sticking in the gap.' + +'Yes,' said the carpenter, 'and in the bow-window room below there's +plenty of his feathers to be seen; for I've just been down to look. It +was the pigeon broke _them_ windows, sure enough.' 'But he could not +have got in had I not broke this little window,' said the boy eagerly; +'and I am able to earn sixpence a day, and I'll pay for all the +mischief, and welcome. The white pigeon belongs to a poor neighbour, a +friend of ours, who is very fond of him, and I would not have him killed +for twice as much money.' + +'Take the pigeon, my honest, generous lad,' said Mr. Somerville, 'and +carry him back to your neighbour. I forgive him all the mischief he has +done me, tell your friend, for your sake. As to the rest, we can have +the windows mended; and do you keep all the sixpences you earn for +yourself.' + +'That's what he never did yet,' said the carpenter. 'Many's the sixpence +he earns, but not a halfpenny goes into his own pocket: it goes every +farthing to his poor father and mother. Happy for them to have such a +son!' + +'More happy for him to have such a father and mother,' exclaimed the +boy. 'Their good days they took all the best care of me that was to be +had for love or money, and would, if I would let them, go on paying for +my schooling now, falling as they be in the world; but I must learn to +mind the shop now. Good morning to you, sir; and thank you kindly,' said +he to Mr. Somerville. + +'And where does this boy live, and who are his father and mother? They +cannot live in town,' said Mr. Somerville, 'or I should have heard of +them.' + +'They are but just come into the town, please your honour,' said the +carpenter. 'They lived formerly upon Counsellor O'Donnel's estate; but +they were ruined, please your honour, by taking a joint lease with a man +who fell afterwards into bad company, ran out all he had, so could not +pay the landlord; and these poor people were forced to pay his share and +their own too, which almost ruined them. They were obliged to give up +the land; and now they have furnished a little shop in this town with +what goods they could afford to buy with the money they got by the sale +of their cattle and stock. They have the goodwill of all who know them; +and I am sure I hope they will do well. The boy is very ready in the +shop, though he said only that he could earn sixpence a day. He writes a +good hand, and is quick at casting up accounts, for his age. Besides, he +is likely to do well in the world, because he is never in idle company, +and I've known him since he was two foot high, and never heard of his +telling a lie.' + +'This is an excellent character of the boy, indeed,' said Mr. +Somerville, 'and from his behaviour this morning I am inclined to think +that he deserves all your praises.' + +Mr. Somerville resolved to inquire more fully concerning this poor +family, and to attend to their conduct himself, fully determined to +assist them if he should find them such as they had been represented. + +In the meantime, this boy, whose name was Brian O'Neill, went to return +the white pigeon to its owner. 'You have saved its life,' said the woman +to whom it belonged, 'and I'll make you a present of it.' Brian thanked +her; and he from that day began to grow fond of the pigeon. He always +took care to scatter some oats for it in his father's yard; and the +pigeon grew so tame at last that it would hop about the kitchen, and eat +off the same trencher with the dog. + +Brian, after the shop was shut up at night, used to amuse himself with +reading some little books which the schoolmaster who formerly taught him +arithmetic was so good as to lend him. Amongst these he one evening met +with a little book full of the history of birds and beasts; he looked +immediately to see whether the pigeon was mentioned amongst the birds, +and, to his great joy, he found a full description and history of his +favourite bird. + +'So, Brian, I see your schooling has not been thrown away upon you; you +like your book, I see, when you have no master over you to bid you +read,' said his father, when he came in and saw Brian reading his book +very attentively. + +'Thank you for having me taught to read, father,' said Brian. 'Here I've +made a great discovery: I've found out in this book, little as it looks, +father, a most curious way of making a fortune; and I hope it will make +your fortune, father, and if you'll sit down, I'll tell it to you.' + +Mr. O'Neill, in hopes of pleasing his son rather than in the expectation +of having his fortune made, immediately sat down to listen; and his son +explained to him that he had found in his book an account of pigeons who +carried notes and letters: 'and, father,' continued Brian, 'I find my +pigeon is of this sort; and I intend to make my pigeon carry messages. +Why should not he? If other pigeons have done so before him, I think he +is as good, and, I daresay, will be as easy to teach as any pigeon in +the world. I shall begin to teach him to-morrow morning; and then, +father, you know people often pay a great deal for sending messengers: +and no boy can run, no horse can gallop, so fast as a bird can fly; +therefore the bird must be the best messenger, and I should be paid the +best price. Hey, father?' + +'To be sure, to be sure, my boy,' said his father, laughing; 'I wish you +may make the best messenger in Ireland of your pigeon; but all I beg, my +dear boy, is that you won't neglect our shop for your pigeon; for I've +a notion we have a better chance of making a fortune by the shop than by +the white pigeon.' + +Brian never neglected the shop: but in his leisure hours he amused +himself with training his pigeon; and after much patience he at last +succeeded so well, that one day he went to his father and offered to +send him word by his pigeon what beef was a pound in the market of +Ballynagrish, where he was going. 'The pigeon will be home long before +me, father; and he will come in at the kitchen window and light upon the +dresser; then you must untie the little note which I shall have tied +under his left wing, and you'll know the price of beef directly.' + +The pigeon carried his message well; and Brian was much delighted with +his success. He soon was employed by the neighbours, who were aroused by +Brian's fondness of his swift messenger; and soon the fame of the white +pigeon was spread amongst all who frequented the markets and fairs of +Somerville. + +At one of these fairs a set of men of desperate fortunes met to drink, +and to concert plans of robberies. Their place of meeting was at the +alehouse of Mr. Cox, the man who, as our readers may remember, was +offended by Mr. Somerville's hinting that he was fond of drinking and of +quarrelling, and who threatened vengeance for having been refused the +new inn. + +Whilst these men were talking over their schemes, one of them observed +that one of their companions was not arrived. Another said, 'No.' 'He's +six miles off,' said another; and a third wished that he could make him +hear at that distance. This turned the discourse upon the difficulties +of sending messages secretly and quickly. Cox's son, a lad of about +nineteen, who was one of this gang, mentioned the white carrier pigeon, +and he was desired to try all means to get it into his possession. +Accordingly, the next day young Cox went to Brian O'Neill, and tried, at +first by persuasion and afterwards by threats, to prevail upon him to +give up the pigeon. Brian was resolute in his refusal, more especially +when the petitioner began to bully him. + +'If we can't have it by fair means, we will by foul,' said Cox; and a +few days afterwards the pigeon was gone. Brian searched for it in +vain--inquired from all the neighbours if they had seen it, and +applied, but to no purpose, to Cox. He swore that he knew nothing about +the matter. But this was false, for it was he who during the night-time +had stolen the white pigeon. He conveyed it to his employers, and they +rejoiced that they had gotten it into their possession, as they thought +it would serve them for a useful messenger. + +Nothing can be more short-sighted than cunning. The very means which +these people took to secure secrecy were the means of bringing their +plots to light. They endeavoured to teach the pigeon, which they had +stolen, to carry messages for them in a part of the country at some +distance from Somerville; and when they fancied that it had forgotten +its former habits and its old master, they thought that they might +venture to employ him nearer home. The pigeon, however, had a better +memory than they imagined. They loosed him from a bag near the town of +Ballynagrish, in hopes that he would stop at the house of Cox's cousin, +which was on its road between Ballynagrish and Somerville. But the +pigeon, though he had been purposely fed at this house for a week before +this trial, did not stop there, but flew on to his old master's house in +Somerville, and pecked at the kitchen window, as he had formerly been +taught to do. His father, fortunately, was within hearing, and poor +Brian ran with the greatest joy to open the window and to let him in. + +'Oh, father, here's my white pigeon come back of his own accord,' +exclaimed Brian; 'I must run and show him to my mother.' At this instant +the pigeon spread his wings, and Brian discovered under one of its wings +a small and very dirty-looking billet. He opened it in his father's +presence. The scrawl was scarcely legible; but these words were at +length deciphered:-- + + 'Thare are eight of uz sworn: I send yo at botom thare names. We meat + at tin this nite at my faders, and have harms and all in radiness to + brak into the grate 'ouse. Mr. Summervill is to lye out to nite--kip + the pigeon untill to-morrow. For ever yours, MURTAGH COX, JUN.' + +Scarcely had they finished reading this note, than both father and son +exclaimed, 'Let us go and show it to Mr. Somerville.' Before they set +out, they had, however, the prudence to secure the pigeon, so that he +should not be seen by any one but themselves. + +Mr. Somerville, in consequence of this fortunate discovery, took proper +measures for the apprehension of the eight men who had sworn to rob his +house. When they were all safely lodged in the county gaol, he sent for +Brian O'Neill and his father; and after thanking them for the service +they had done him, he counted out ten bright guineas upon a table, and +pushed them towards Brian, saying, 'I suppose you know that a reward of +ten guineas was offered some weeks ago for the discovery of John +MacDermod, one of the eight men whom we have just taken up?' + +'No, sir,' said Brian; 'I did not know it, and I did not bring that note +to you to get ten guineas, but because I thought it was right. I don't +want to be paid for doing it.' 'That's my own boy,' said his father. 'We +thank you, sir; but we'll not take the money; _I don't like to take the +price of blood._' + +'I know the difference, my good friends,' said Mr. Somerville, 'between +vile informers and courageous, honest men.' 'Why, as to that, please +your honour, though we are poor, I hope we are honest.' 'And, what is +more,' said Mr. Somerville, 'I have a notion that you would continue to +be honest, even if you were rich. + +'Will you, my good lad,' continued Mr. Somerville, after a moment's +pause--'will you trust me with your pigeon a few days?' 'Oh, and +welcome, sir,' said the boy, with a smile; and he brought the pigeon to +Mr. Somerville when it was dark, and nobody saw him. + +A few days afterwards, Mr. Somerville called at O'Neill's house, and bid +him and his son follow him. They followed till he stopped opposite to +the bow-window of the new inn. The carpenter had just put up a sign, +which was covered over with a bit of carpeting. + +'Go up the ladder, will you?' said Mr. Somerville to Brian, 'and pull +that sign straight, for it hangs quite crooked. There, now it is +straight. Now pull off the carpet, and let us see the new sign.' + +The boy pulled off the cover, and saw a white pigeon painted upon the +sign, and the name of O'Neill in large letters underneath. + +[Illustration: _The boy pulled off the cover, and saw a white pigeon +painted upon the sign._] + +'Take care you do not tumble down and break your neck upon this joyful +occasion,' said Mr. Somerville, who saw that Brian's surprise was too +great for his situation. 'Come down from the ladder, and wish your +father joy of being master of the new inn called the "White Pigeon." And +I wish him joy of having such a son as you are. Those who bring up their +children well, will certainly be rewarded for it, be they poor or +rich.' + + + + +THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT + + +'Mamma,' said Rosamond, after a long silence, 'do you know what I have +been thinking of all this time?' 'No, my dear--What?' 'Why, mamma, about +my cousin Bell's birthday; do you know what day it is?' 'No, I don't +remember.' 'Dear mother! don't you remember it's the 22nd of December; +and her birthday is the day after to-morrow? Don't you recollect now? +But you never remember about birthdays, mamma. That was just what I was +thinking of, that you never remember my sister Laura's birthday, +or--or--or _mine_, mamma.' + +'What do you mean, my dear? I remember your birthday perfectly well.' +'Indeed! but you never _keep_ it, though.' 'What do you mean by keeping +your birthday?' 'Oh, mamma, you know very well--as Bell's birthday is +kept. In the first place, there is a great dinner.' 'And can Bell eat +more upon her birthday than upon any other day?' 'No; nor I should not +mind about the dinner, except the mince-pies. But Bell has a great many +nice things--I don't mean nice eatable things, but nice new playthings, +given to her always on her birthday; and everybody drinks her health, +and she's so happy.' + +'But stay, Rosamond, how you jumble things together! Is it everybody's +drinking her health that makes her so happy? or the new playthings, or +the nice mince-pies? I can easily believe that she is happy whilst she +is eating a mince-pie, or whilst she is playing; but how does +everybody's drinking her health at dinner make her happy?' + +Rosamond paused, and then said she did not know. 'But,' added she, 'the +_nice new_ playthings, mother!' 'But why the nice new playthings? Do you +like them only because they are _new_?' 'Not _only_--_I_ do not like +playthings _only_ because they are new: but Bell _does_, I believe--for +that puts me in mind--Do you know, mother, she had a great drawer full +of _old_ playthings that she never used, and she said that they were +good for nothing, because they were _old_; but I thought many of them +were good for a great deal more than the new ones. Now you shall be +judge, mamma; I'll tell you all that was in the drawer.' + +'Nay, Rosamond, thank you, not just now; I have not time to listen to +you.' + +'Well then, mamma, the day after to-morrow I can show you the drawer. I +want you to judge very much, because I am sure I was in the right. And, +mother,' added Rosamond, stopping her as she was going out of the room, +'will you--not now, but when you've time--will you tell me why you never +keep my birthday--why you never make any difference between that day and +any other day?' 'And will you, Rosamond--not now, but when you have time +to think about it--tell me why I should make any difference between your +birthday and any other day?' + +Rosamond thought, but she could not find out any reason; besides, she +suddenly recollected that she had not time to think any longer; for +there was a certain work-basket to be finished, which she was making for +her cousin Bell, as a present upon her birthday. The work was at a stand +for want of some filigree-paper, and, as her mother was going out, she +asked her to take her with her, that she might buy some. Her sister +Laura went with them. + +'Sister,' said Rosamond, as they were walking along, 'what have you done +with your half-guinea?' 'I have it in my pocket.' 'Dear! you will keep +it for ever in your pocket. You know, my godmother when she gave it to +you said you would keep it longer than I should keep mine; and I know +what she thought by her look at the time. I heard her say something to +my mother.' 'Yes,' said Laura, smiling; 'she whispered so loud that I +could not help hearing her too. She said I was a little miser.' 'But did +not you hear her say that I was very _generous_? and she'll see that she +was not mistaken. I hope she'll be by when I give my basket to +Bell--won't it be beautiful? There is to be a wreath of myrtle, you +know, round the handle, and a frost ground, and then the +medallions----' + +'Stay,' interrupted her sister, for Rosamond, anticipating the glories +of her work-basket, talked and walked so fast that she had passed, +without perceiving it, the shop where the filigree-paper was to be +bought. They turned back. Now it happened that the shop was the corner +house of a street, and one of the windows looked out into a narrow lane. +A coach full of ladies stopped at the door, just before they went in, so +that no one had time immediately to think of Rosamond and her +filigree-paper, and she went to the window where she saw her sister +Laura looking earnestly at something that was passing in the lane. + +Opposite to the window, at the door of a poor-looking house, there was +sitting a little girl weaving lace. Her bobbins moved as quick as +lightning, and she never once looked up from her work. 'Is not she very +industrious?' said Laura; 'and very honest, too?' added she in a minute +afterwards; for just then a baker with a basket of rolls on his head +passed, and by accident one of the rolls fell close to the little girl. +She took it up eagerly, looked at it as if she was very hungry, then put +aside her work, and ran after the baker to return it to him. Whilst she +was gone, a footman in a livery laced with silver, who belonged to the +coach that stood at the shop door, as he was lounging with one of his +companions, chanced to spy the weaving pillow, which she had left upon a +stone before the door. To divert himself (for idle people do mischief +often to divert themselves) he took up the pillow, and entangled all the +bobbins. The little girl came back out of breath to her work; but what +was her surprise and sorrow to find it spoiled. She twisted and +untwisted, placed and replaced, the bobbins, while the footman stood +laughing at her distress. She got up gently, and was retiring into the +house, when the silver-laced footman stopped her, saying, insolently, +'Sit still, child.' 'I must go to my mother, sir,' said the child; +'besides, you have spoiled all my lace. I can't stay.' 'Can't you?' said +the brutal footman, snatching her weaving-pillow again, 'I'll teach you +to complain of me.' And he broke off, one after another, all the +bobbins, put them into his pocket, rolled her weaving-pillow down the +dirty lane, then jumped up behind his mistress's coach, and was out of +sight in an instant. + +'Poor girl!' exclaimed Rosamond, no longer able to restrain her +indignation at this injustice; 'poor little girl!' + +[Illustration: _She twisted and untwisted, placed and replaced, the +bobbins, while the footman stood laughing at her distress._] + +At this instant her mother said to Rosamond--'Come, now, my dear, if you +want this filigree-paper, buy it.' 'Yes, madam,' said Rosamond; and the +idea of what her godmother and her cousin Bell would think of her +generosity rushed again upon her imagination. All her feelings of pity +were immediately suppressed. Satisfied with bestowing another +exclamation upon the '_poor little girl_!' she went to spend her +half-guinea upon her filigree basket. In the meantime, she that was +called the '_little miser_' beckoned to the poor girl, and, opening the +window, said, pointing to the cushion, 'Is it quite spoiled?' 'Quite! +quite spoiled! and I can't, nor mother neither, buy another; and I can't +do anything else for my bread.' A few, but very few, tears fell as she +said this. + +'How much would another cost?' said Laura. 'Oh, a great--_great_ deal.' +'More than that?' said Laura, holding up her half-guinea. 'Oh no.' 'Then +you can buy another with that,' said Laura, dropping the half-guinea +into her hand; and she shut the window before the child could find words +to thank her, but not before she saw a look of joy and gratitude, which +gave Laura more pleasure probably than all the praise which could have +been bestowed upon her generosity. + +Late on the morning of her cousin's birthday, Rosamond finished her +work-basket. The carriage was at the door--Laura came running to call +her; her father's voice was heard at the same instant; so she was +obliged to go down with her basket but half wrapped up in silver +paper--a circumstance at which she was a good deal disconcerted; for the +pleasure of surprising Bell would be utterly lost if one bit of the +filigree should peep out before the proper time. As the carriage went +on, Rosamond pulled the paper to one side and to the other, and by each +of the four corners. + +'It will never do, my dear,' said her father, who had been watching her +operations. 'I am afraid you will never make a sheet of paper cover a +box which is twice as large as itself.' + +'It is not a box, father,' said Rosamond, a little peevishly; 'it's a +basket.' + +'Let us look at this basket,' said he, taking it out of her unwilling +hands, for she knew of what frail materials it was made, and she dreaded +its coming to pieces under her father's examination. He took hold of the +handle rather roughly; when, starting off the coach seat, she cried, +'Oh, sir! father! sir! you will spoil it indeed!' said she, with +increased vehemence, when, after drawing aside the veil of silver paper, +she saw him grasp the myrtle-wreathed handle. 'Indeed, sir, you will +spoil the poor handle.' + +'But what is the use of _the poor handle_,' said her father, 'if we are +not to take hold of it? And pray,' continued he, turning the basket +round with his finger and thumb, rather in a disrespectful manner, +'pray, is this the thing you have been about all this week? I have seen +you all this week dabbling with paste and rags; I could not conceive +what you were about. Is this the thing?' 'Yes, sir. You think, then, +that I have wasted my time, because the basket is of no use; but then it +is for a present for my cousin Bell.' 'Your cousin Bell will be very +much obliged to you for a present that is of no use. You had better have +given her the purple jar.' + +'Oh, father! I thought you had forgotten that--it was two years ago; I'm +not so silly now. But Bell will like the basket, I know, though it is of +no use.' + +'Then you think Bell is sillier _now_ than you were two years +ago,--well, perhaps that is true; but how comes it, Rosamond, now that +you are so wise, that you are fond of such a silly person?' '_I_, +father?' said Rosamond, hesitating; 'I don't think I am _very_ fond of +her.' 'I did not say _very_ fond.' 'Well, but I don't think I am at all +fond of her.' 'But you have spent a whole week in making this thing for +her.' 'Yes, and all my half-guinea besides.' + +'Yet you think her silly, and you are not fond of her at all; and you +say you know this thing will be of no use to her.' + +'But it is her birthday, sir; and I am sure she will _expect_ something, +and everybody else will give her something.' + +'Then your reason for giving is because she expects you to give her +something. And will you, or can you, or should you, always give, merely +because others _expect_, or because somebody else gives?' 'Always?--no, +not always.' 'Oh, only on birthdays.' + +Rosamond, laughing: 'Now you are making a joke of me, papa, I see; but I +thought you liked that people should be generous,--my godmother said +that she did.' 'So do I, full as well as your godmother; but we have not +yet quite settled what it is to be generous.' 'Why, is it not generous +to make presents?' said Rosamond. 'That is the question which it would +take up a great deal of time to answer. But, for instance, to make a +present of a thing that you know can be of no use to a person you +neither love nor esteem, because it is her birthday, and because +everybody gives her something, and because she expects something, and +because your godmother says she likes that people should be generous, +seems to me, my dear Rosamond, to be, since I must say it, rather more +like folly than generosity.' + +Rosamond looked down upon the basket, and was silent. 'Then I am a fool, +am I?' said she, looking up at last. 'Because you have made _one_ +mistake? No. If you have sense enough to see your own mistakes, and can +afterwards avoid them, you will never be a fool.' + +Here the carriage stopped, and Rosamond recollected that the basket was +uncovered. + +Now we must observe that Rosamond's father had not been too severe upon +Bell when he called her a silly girl. From her infancy she had been +humoured; and at eight years old she had the misfortune to be a spoiled +child. She was idle, fretful, and selfish; so that nothing could make +her happy. On her birthday she expected, however, to be perfectly happy. +Everybody in the house tried to please her, and they succeeded so well +that between breakfast and dinner she had only six fits of crying. The +cause of five of these fits no one could discover: but the last, and +most lamentable, was occasioned by a disappointment about a worked +muslin frock; and accordingly, at dressing time, her maid brought it to +her, exclaiming, 'See here, miss, what your mamma has sent you on your +birthday. Here's a frock fit for a queen--if it had but lace round the +cuffs.' 'And why has not it lace around the cuffs? mamma said it +should.' 'Yes, but mistress was disappointed about the lace; it is not +come home.' 'Not come home, indeed! and didn't they know it was my +birthday? But then I say I won't wear it without the lace--I can't wear +it without the lace, and I won't.' + +The lace, however, could not be had; and Bell at length submitted to let +the frock be put on. 'Come, Miss Bell, dry your eyes,' said the maid who +_educated_ her; 'dry your eyes, and I'll tell you something that will +please you.' + +'What, then?' said the child, pouting and sobbing. 'Why----but you must +not tell that I told you.' 'No,--but if I am asked?' 'Why, if you are +asked, you must tell the truth, to be sure. So I'll hold my tongue, +miss.' 'Nay, tell me, though, and I'll never tell--if I _am_ asked.' +'Well, then,' said the maid, 'your cousin Rosamond is come, and has +brought you the most _beautifullest_ thing you ever saw in your life; +but you are not to know anything about it till after dinner, because she +wants to surprise you; and mistress has put it into her wardrobe till +after dinner.' 'Till after dinner!' repeated Bell impatiently; 'I can't +wait till then; I must see it this minute.' The maid refused her several +times, till Bell burst into another fit of crying, and the maid, fearing +that her mistress would be angry with _her_, if Bell's eyes were red at +dinner time, consented to show her the basket. + +'How pretty!--but let me have it in my own hands,' said Bell, as the +maid held the basket up out of her reach. 'Oh, no, you must not touch +it; for if you should spoil it, what would become of me?' 'Become of +you, indeed!' exclaimed the spoiled child, who never considered anything +but her own immediate gratification--'Become of _you_, indeed! what +signifies that?--I shan't spoil it; and I will have it in my own hands. +If you don't hold it down for me directly, I'll tell that you showed it +to me.' 'Then you won't snatch it?' 'No, no, I won't indeed,' said Bell; +but she had learned from her maid a total disregard of truth. She +snatched the basket the moment it was within her reach. A struggle +ensued, in which the handle and lid were torn off, and one of the +medallions crushed inwards, before the little fury returned to her +senses. + +Calmed at this sight, the next question was, how she should conceal the +mischief which she had done. After many attempts, the handle and lid +were replaced; the basket was put exactly in the same spot in which it +had stood before, and the maid charged the child '_to look as if nothing +was the matter_.' + +We hope that both children and parents will here pause for a moment to +reflect. The habits of tyranny, meanness, and falsehood, which children +acquire from living with bad servants, are scarcely ever conquered in +the whole course of their future lives. + +After shutting up the basket they left the room, and in the adjoining +passage they found a poor girl waiting with a small parcel in her +hand. 'What's your business?' said the maid. 'I have brought home the +lace, madam, that was bespoke for the young lady.' 'Oh, you have, have +you, at last?' said Bell; 'and pray why didn't you bring it sooner?' The +girl was going to answer, but the maid interrupted her, saying, 'Come, +come, none of your excuses; you are a little idle, good-for-nothing +thing, to disappoint Miss Bell upon her birthday. But now you have +brought it, let us look at it!' + +[Illustration: _'I shan't spoil it; and I will have it in my own +hands.'_] + +The little girl gave the lace without reply, and the maid desired her to +go about her business, and not to expect to be paid; for that her +mistress could not see anybody, _because_ she was in a room full of +company. + +'May I call again, madam, this afternoon?' said the child, timidly. + +'Lord bless my stars!' replied the maid, 'what makes people so poor, I +_wonders_! I wish mistress would buy her lace at the warehouse, as I +told her, and not of these folks. Call again! yes, to be sure. I believe +you'd call, call, call twenty times for twopence.' + +However ungraciously the permission to call again was granted, it was +received with gratitude. The little girl departed with a cheerful +countenance, and Bell teased her maid till she got her to sew the +long-wished-for lace upon her cuffs. + +Unfortunate Bell!--All dinner time passed, and people were so hungry, so +busy, or so stupid, that not an eye observed her favourite piece of +finery. Till at length she was no longer able to conceal her impatience, +and turning to Laura, who sat next to her, she said, 'You have no lace +upon your cuffs. Look how beautiful mine is!--is not it? Don't you wish +your mamma could afford to give some like it? But you can't get any if +she would, for this was made on purpose for me on my birthday, and +nobody can get a bit more anywhere, if they would give the world for +it.' 'But cannot the person who made it,' said Laura, 'make any more +like it?' 'No, no, no!' cried Bell; for she had already learned, either +from her maid or her mother, the mean pride which values things not for +being really pretty or useful, but for being such as nobody else can +procure. 'Nobody can get any like it, I say,' repeated Bell; 'nobody in +all London can make it but one person, and that person will never make a +bit for anybody but me, I am sure. Mamma won't let her, if I ask her +not.' 'Very well,' said Laura coolly, 'I do not want any of it; you +need not be so violent: I assure you that I don't want any of it.' 'Yes, +but you do, though,' said Bell, more angrily. 'No, indeed,' said Laura, +smiling. 'You do, in the bottom of your heart; but you say you don't to +plague me, I know,' cried Bell, swelling with disappointed vanity. 'It +is pretty for all that, and it cost a great deal of money too, and +nobody shall have any like it, if they cried their eyes out.' + +Laura received this declaration in silence--Rosamond smiled; and at her +smile the ill-suppressed rage of the spoiled child burst forth into the +seventh and loudest fit of crying which had yet been heard on her +birthday. + +'What's the matter, my pet?' cried her mother; 'come to me and tell me +what's the matter.' Bell ran roaring to her mother; but no otherwise +explained the cause of her sorrow than by tearing the fine lace with +frantic gestures from her cuffs, and throwing the fragments into her +mother's lap. 'Oh! the lace, child!--are you mad?' said her mother, +catching hold of both her hands. 'Your beautiful lace, my dear love--do +you know how much it cost?' 'I don't care how much it cost--it is not +beautiful, and I'll have none of it,' replied Bell, sobbing; 'for it is +not beautiful.' 'But it is beautiful,' retorted her mother; 'I chose the +pattern myself. Who has put it into your head, child, to dislike it? Was +it Nancy?' 'No, not Nancy, but _them_, mamma,' said Bell, pointing to +Laura and Rosamond. 'Oh, fie! don't _point_,' said her mother, putting +down her stubborn finger; 'nor say _them_, like Nancy; I am sure you +misunderstood. Miss Laura, I am sure, did not mean any such thing.' 'No, +madam; and I did not say any such thing, that I recollect,' said Laura, +gently. 'Oh no, indeed!' cried Rosamond, warmly, rising in her sister's +defence. + +No defence or explanation, however, was to be heard, for everybody had +now gathered round Bell, to dry her tears, and to comfort her for the +mischief she had done to her own cuffs. They succeeded so well, that in +about a quarter of an hour the young lady's eyes and the reddened arches +over her eyebrows came to their natural colour; and the business being +thus happily hushed up, the mother, as a reward to her daughter for her +good humour, begged that Rosamond would now be so good as to produce her +'charming present.' + +Rosamond, followed by all the company, amongst whom, to her great joy, +was her godmother, proceeded to the dressing-room. 'Now I am sure,' +thought she, 'Bell will be surprised, and my godmother will see she was +right about my generosity.' + +The doors of the wardrobe were opened with due ceremony, and the +filigree basket appeared in all its glory. 'Well, this is a charming +present, indeed!' said the godmother, who was one of the company; '_my_ +Rosamond knows how to make presents.' And as she spoke, she took hold of +the basket, to lift it down to the admiring audience. Scarcely had she +touched it, when, lo! the basket fell to the ground, and only the handle +remained in her hand. All eyes were fixed upon the wreck. Exclamations +of sorrow were heard in various tones; and 'Who can have done this?' was +all that Rosamond could say. Bell stood in sullen silence, which she +obstinately preserved in the midst of the inquiries that were made about +the disaster. + +At length the servants were summoned, and amongst them Nancy, Miss +Bell's maid and governess. She affected much surprise when she saw what +had befallen the basket, and declared that she knew nothing of the +matter, but that she had seen her mistress in the morning put it quite +safe into the wardrobe; and that, for her part, she had never touched +it, or thought of touching it, in her born days. 'Nor Miss Bell, +neither, ma'am,--I can answer for her; for she never knew of its being +there, because I never so much as mentioned it to her, that there was +such a thing in the house, because I knew Miss Rosamond wanted to +surprise her with the secret; so I never mentioned a sentence of it--did +I, Miss Bell?' + +Bell, putting on the deceitful look which her maid had taught her, +answered boldly, '_No_'; but she had hold of Rosamond's hand, and at the +instant she uttered this falsehood she squeezed it terribly. 'Why do you +squeeze my hand so?' said Rosamond, in a low voice; 'what are you afraid +of?' 'Afraid of!' cried Bell, turning angrily; 'I'm not afraid of +anything--I've nothing to be afraid about.' 'Nay, I did not say you +had,' whispered Rosamond; 'but only if you did by accident--you know +what I mean--I should not be angry if you did--only say so.' 'I say I +did not!' cried Bell furiously. 'Mamma, mamma! Nancy! my cousin Rosamond +won't believe me! That's very hard. It's very rude, and I won't bear +it--I won't.' 'Don't be angry, love. Don't,' said the maid. 'Nobody +suspects you, darling,' said her mother; 'but she has too much +sensibility. Don't cry, love; nobody suspected you.' 'But you know,' +continued she, turning to the maid, 'somebody must have done this, and I +must know how it was done. Miss Rosamond's charming present must not be +spoiled in this way, in my house, without my taking proper notice of it. +I assure you I am very angry about it, Rosamond.' + +Rosamond did not rejoice in her anger, and had nearly made a sad mistake +by speaking aloud her thoughts--'_I was very foolish_----' she began and +stopped. + +'Ma'am,' cried the maid, suddenly, 'I'll venture to say I know who did +it.' 'Who?' said every one, eagerly. 'Who?' said Bell, trembling. 'Why, +miss, don't you recollect that little girl with the lace, that we saw +peeping about in the passage? I'm sure she must have done it; for here +she was by herself half an hour or more, and not another creature has +been in mistress's dressing-room, to my certain knowledge, since +morning. Those sort of people have so much curiosity. I'm sure she must +have been meddling with it,' added the maid. + +'Oh yes, that's the thing,' said the mistress, decidedly. 'Well, Miss +Rosamond, for your comfort she shall never come into my house again.' +'Oh, that would not comfort me at all,' said Rosamond; 'besides, we are +not sure that she did it, and if----' A single knock at the door was +heard at this instant. It was the little girl, who came to be paid for +her lace. 'Call her in,' said the lady of the house; 'let us see her +directly.' + +The maid, who was afraid that the girl's innocence would appear if she +were produced, hesitated; but upon her mistress repeating her commands, +she was forced to obey. The girl came in with a look of simplicity; but +when she saw a room full of company she was a little abashed. Rosamond +and Laura looked at her and one another with surprise, for it was the +same little girl whom they had seen weaving lace. 'Is not it she?' +whispered Rosamond to her sister. 'Yes, it is; but hush,' said Laura, +'she does not know us. Don't say a word, let us hear what she will say.' + +Laura got behind the rest of the company as she spoke, so that the +little girl could not see her. + +'Vastly well!' said Bell's mother; 'I am waiting to see how long you +will have the assurance to stand there with that innocent look. Did you +ever see that basket before?' 'Yes, ma'am,' said the girl. '_Yes, +ma'am!_' cried the maid; 'and what else do you know about it? You had +better confess it at once, and mistress, perhaps, will say no more about +it.' 'Yes, do confess it,' added Bell, earnestly. 'Confess what, madam?' +said the little girl; 'I never touched the basket, madam.' 'You never +_touched_ it; but you confess,' interrupted Bell's mother, 'that you +_did see_ it before. And, pray, how came you to see it? You must have +opened my wardrobe.' 'No, indeed, ma'am,' said the little girl; 'but I +was waiting in the passage, ma'am, and this door was partly open; and +looking at the maid, you know, I could not help seeing it.' 'Why, how +could you see through the doors of my wardrobe?' rejoined the lady. + +The maid, frightened, pulled the little girl by the sleeve. + +'Answer me,' said the lady, 'where did you see this basket?' Another +stronger pull. 'I saw it, madam, in her hands,' looking at +the maid; 'and----' 'Well, and what became of it afterwards?' +'Ma'am'--hesitating--'miss pulled, and by accident--I believe, I saw, +ma'am--miss, you know what I saw.' 'I do not know--I do not know; and if +I did, you had no business there; and mamma won't believe you, I am +sure.' Everybody else, however, did believe; and their eyes were fixed +upon Bell in a manner which made her feel rather ashamed. 'What do you +all look at me so for? Why do you all look so? And am I to be put to +shame on my birthday?' cried she, bursting into a roar of passion; 'and +all for this nasty thing!' added she, pushing away the remains of the +basket, and looking angrily at Rosamond. 'Bell! Bell! oh, fie! fie!--Now +I _am_ ashamed of you; that's quite rude to your cousin,' said her +mother, who was more shocked at her daughter's want of politeness than +at her falsehood. 'Take her away, Nancy, till she has done crying,' +added she to the maid, who accordingly carried off her pupil. + +Rosamond, during this scene, especially at the moment when her present +was pushed away with such disdain, had been making reflections upon the +nature of true generosity. A smile from her father, who stood by, a +silent spectator of the catastrophe of the filigree basket, gave rise to +these reflections; nor were they entirely dissipated by the condolence +of the rest of the company, nor even by the praises of her godmother, +who, for the purpose of condoling with her, said, 'Well, my dear +Rosamond, I admire your generous spirit. You know I prophesied that your +half-guinea would be gone the soonest. Did I not, Laura?' said she, +appealing, in a sarcastic tone, to where she thought Laura was. 'Where +is Laura? I don't see her.' Laura came forward. 'You are too _prudent_ +to throw away your money like your sister. Your half-guinea, I'll answer +for it, is snug in your pocket--is it not?' 'No, madam,' answered she, +in a low voice. + +But low as the voice of Laura was, the poor little lace-girl heard it; +and now, for the first time, fixing her eyes upon Laura, recollected her +benefactress. 'Oh, that's the young lady!' she exclaimed, in a tone of +joyful gratitude, 'the good, good young lady who gave me the +half-guinea, and would not stay to be thanked for it; but I _will_ thank +her now.' + +'The half-guinea, Laura!' said her godmother. 'What is all this?' 'I'll +tell you, madam, if you please,' said the little girl. + +It was not in expectation of being praised for it that Laura had been +generous, and therefore everybody was really touched with the history of +the weaving-pillow; and whilst they praised, felt a certain degree of +respect, which is not always felt by those who pour forth eulogiums. +_Respect_ is not an improper word, even applied to a child of Laura's +age; for let the age or situation of the person be what it may, they +command respect who deserve it. + +'Ah, madam!' said Rosamond to her godmother, 'now you see--you see she +is _not_ a little miser. I'm sure that's better than wasting half a +guinea upon a filigree basket; is it not, ma'am?' said she, with an +eagerness which showed that she had forgotten all her own misfortunes in +sympathy with her sister. 'This is being _really generous_, father, is +it not?' + +'Yes, Rosamond,' said her father, and he kissed her; 'this _is_ being +really generous. It is not only by giving away money that we can show +generosity; it is by giving up to others anything that we like +ourselves; and therefore,' added he, smiling, 'it is really generous of +you to give your sister the thing you like best of all others.' + +'The thing I like the best of all others, father,' said Rosamond, half +pleased, half vexed. 'What is that, I wonder? You don't mean _praise_, +do you, sir?' 'Nay, you must decide that yourself, Rosamond.' 'Why, +sir,' said she, ingenuously, 'perhaps it _was_ ONCE the thing I liked +best; but the pleasure I have just felt makes me like something else +much better.' + + + + +ETON MONTEM + +[_Extracted from the 'Courier' of May 1799._] + + +'Yesterday this triennial ceremony took place, with which the public are +too well acquainted to require a particular description. A collection, +called _Salt_, is taken from the public, which forms a purse, to support +the Captain of the School in his studies at Cambridge. This collection +is made by the Scholars, dressed in fancy dresses, all round the +country. + +'At eleven o'clock, the youths being assembled in their habiliments at +the College, the Royal Family set off from the Castle to see them, and, +after walking round the Courtyard, they proceeded to Salt Hill in the +following order:-- + +'His Majesty, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and the Earl of +Uxbridge. + +'Their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Kent and Cumberland, Earl Morton, +and General Gwynne, all on horseback, dressed in the Windsor uniform, +except the Prince of Wales, who wore a suit of dark blue, and a brown +surtout over. + +'Then followed the Scholars, preceded by the Marechal Serjeant, the +Musicians of the Staffordshire Band, and Mr. Ford, Captain of the +Seminary, the Serjeant-Major, Serjeants, Colonels, Corporals, Musicians, +Ensign, Lieutenant, Steward, Salt-Bearers, Polemen, and Runners. + +'The cavalcade was brought up by Her Majesty and her amiable daughters +in two carriages, and a numerous company of equestrians and pedestrians, +all eager to behold their Sovereign and his family. Among the former, +Lady Lade was foremost in the throng; only two others dared venture +their persons on horseback in such a multitude. + +'The King and Royal Family were stopped on Eton Bridge by Messrs. Young +and Mansfield, the Salt-Bearers, to whom their Majesties delivered their +customary donation of fifty guineas each. + +'At Salt Hill, His Majesty, with his usual affability, took upon himself +to arrange the procession round the Royal carriages; and even when the +horses were taken off, with the assistance of the Duke of Kent, +fastened the traces round the pole of the coaches, to prevent any +inconvenience. + +'An exceeding heavy shower of rain coming on, the Prince took leave, and +went to the "Windmill Inn" till it subsided. The King and his attendants +weathered it out in their greatcoats. + +'After the young gentlemen walked round the carriage, Ensign Vince and +the Salt-Bearers proceeded to the summit of the hill; but the wind being +boisterous, he could not exhibit his dexterity in displaying his flag, +and the space being too small before the carriages, from the concourse +of spectators, the King kindly acquiesced in not having it displayed +under such inconvenience. + +'Their Majesties and the Princesses then returned home, the King +occasionally stopping to converse with the Dean of Windsor, the Earl of +Harrington, and other noblemen. + +'The Scholars partook of an elegant dinner at the "Windmill Inn," and in +the evening walked on Windsor Terrace. + +'Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cumberland, +after taking leave of their Majesties, set off for town, and honoured +the Opera House with their presence in the evening. + +'The profit arising from the Salt collected, according to account, +amounted to L800. + +'The Stadtholder, the Duke of Gordon, Lord and Lady Melbourne, Viscount +Brome, and a numerous train of fashionable nobility were present. + +'The following is an account of their dresses, made as usual, very +handsomely, by Mrs. Snow, milliner, of Windsor:-- + + 'Mr. Ford, Captain, with eight Gentlemen to attend him as servitors. + + 'Mr. Sarjeant, Marechal. + + 'Mr. Bradith, Colonel. + + 'Mr. Plumtree, Lieutenant. + + 'Mr. Vince, Ensign. + + 'Mr. Young, College Salt-Bearer; white and gold dress, rich satin + bag, covered with gold netting. + + 'Mr. Mansfield, Oppidin, white, purple, and orange dress, trimmed + with silver; rich satin bag, purple and silver: each carrying + elegant poles, with gold and silver cord. + + 'Mr. Keity, yellow and black velvet; helmet trimmed with silver. + + 'Mr. Bartelot, plain mantle and sandals, Scotch bonnet, a very + Douglas. + + 'Mr. Knapp, flesh-colour and blue; Spanish hat and feathers. + + 'Mr. Ripley, rose-colour; helmet. + + 'Mr. Islip (being in mourning), a scarf; helmet, black velvet; and + white satin. + + 'Mr. Tomkins, violet and silver; helmet. + + 'Mr. Thackery, lilac and silver; Roman cap. + + 'Mr. Drury, mazarin blue; fancy cap. + + 'Mr. Davis, slate-colour and straw. + + 'Mr. Routh, pink and silver; Spanish hat. + + 'Mr. Curtis, purple; fancy cap. + + 'Mr. Lloyd, blue; ditto. + +'At the conclusion of the ceremony the Royal Family returned to Windsor, +and the boys were all sumptuously entertained at the tavern at Salt +Hill. About six in the evening all the boys returned in the order of +procession, and, marching round the great square of Eton, were +dismissed. The Captain then paid his respects to the Royal Family, at +the Queen's Lodge, Windsor, previously to his departure for King's +College, Cambridge, to defray which expense the produce of the Montem +was presented to him. + +'The day concluded by a brilliant promenade of beauty, rank, and fashion +on Windsor Terrace, enlivened by the performance of several bands of +music. + +'The origin of the procession is from the custom by which the Manor was +held. + +'The custom of hunting the Ram belonged to Eton College, as well as the +custom of Salt; but it was discontinued by Dr. Cook, late Dean of Ely. +Now this custom we know to have been entered on the register of the +Royal Abbey of Bee, in Normandy, as one belonging to the Manor of East +or Great Wrotham, in Norfolk, given by Ralph de Toni to the Abbey of +Bee, and was as follows:--When the harvest was finished, the tenants +were to have half an acre of barley, and a ram let loose; and if they +caught him he was their own to make merry with, but if he escaped from +them he was the Lord's. The Etonians, in order to secure the ram, +houghed him in the Irish fashion, and then attacked him with great +clubs. The cruelty of this proceeding brought it into disuse, and now it +exists no longer.--_See Register of the Royal Abbey of Bee_, folio 58. + +'After the dissolution of the alien priories, in 1414, by the Parliament +of Leicester, they remained in the Crown till Henry VI., who gave +Wrotham Manor to Eton College; and if the Eton Fellows would search, +they would perhaps find the Manor in their possession, that was held by +the custom of Salt.' + +MEN + + Alderman Bursal, Father of young Bursal. + Lord John, } + Talbot, } + Wheeler, } Young Gentlemen of Eton, from 17 to 19 years of age. + Bursal, } + Rory O'Ryan } + Mr. Newington, Landlord of the Inn at Salt Hill. + Farmer Hearty. + A Waiter and crowd of Eton Lads. + +WOMEN + + The Marchioness of Piercefield, Mother of Lord John. + Lady Violetta--her Daughter, a Child of six or seven years old. + Mrs. Talbot. + Louisa Talbot, her Daughter. + Miss Bursal, Daughter to the Alderman. + Mrs. Newington, Landlady of the Inn at Salt Hill. + Sally, a Chambermaid. + Patty, a Country Girl. + +Pipe and Tabor, and Dance of Peasants. + + +ACT THE FIRST + + + SCENE I + + _The Bar of the 'Windmill Inn' at Salt Hill_ + + MR. _and_ MRS. NEWINGTON, _the Landlord and Landlady_ + +_Landlady._ 'Tis an unpossibility, Mr. Newington; and that's enough. Say +no more about it; 'tis an unpossibility in the _natur_ of things. (_She +ranges jellies, etc., in the Bar._) And pray, do you take your great +old-fashioned tankard, Mr. Newington, from among my jellies and +confectioneries. + +_Landlord_ (_takes his tankard and drinks_). Anything for a quiet life. +If it is an unpossibility, I've no more to say; only, for the soul of +me, I can't see the great unpossibility, wife. + +_Landlady._ Wife, indeed!--wife!--wife! wife every minute. + +_Landlord._ Heyday! Why, what a plague would you have me call you? The +other day you quarrelled with me for calling you Mrs. Landlady. + +_Landlady._ To be sure I did, and very proper in me I should. I've +turned off three waiters and five chambermaids already, for screaming +after me _Mrs. Landlady!_ _Mrs. Landlady!_ But 'tis all your ill +manners. + +_Landlord._ Ill manners! Why, if I may be so bold, if you are not Mrs. +Landlady, in the name of wonder what are you? + +_Landlady._ Mrs. Newington, Mr. Newington. + +_Landlord_ (_drinks_). Mrs. Newington, Mr. Newington drinks your health; +for I suppose I must not be landlord any more in my own house +(_shrugs_). + +_Landlady._ Oh, as to that, I have no objections nor impediments to your +being called _Landlord_. You look it, and become it very proper. + +_Landlord._ Why, yes, indeed, thank my tankard, I do look it, and become +it, and am nowise ashamed of it; but every one to their mind, as you, +wife, don't fancy the being called Mrs. Landlady. + +_Landlady._ To be sure I don't. Why, when folks hear the old-fashioned +cry of Mrs. Landlady! Mrs. Landlady! who do they expect, think you, to +see, but an overgrown, fat, featherbed of a woman coming waddling along +with her thumbs sticking on each side of her apron, o' this fashion? +Now, to see me coming, nobody would take me to be a landlady. + +_Landlord._ Very true, indeed, wife--Mrs. Newington, I mean--I ask +pardon; but now to go on with what we were saying about the +unpossibility of letting that old lady and the civil-spoken young lady +there above have them there rooms for another day. + +_Landlady._ Now, Mr. Newington, let me hear no more about that old +gentlewoman and that civil-spoken young lady. Fair words cost nothing; +and I've a notion that's the cause they are so plenty with the young +lady. Neither o' them, I take it, by what they've ordered since their +coming into the house, are such grand folk that one need be so +_petticular_ about them. + +_Landlord._ Why, they came only in a chaise and pair, to be sure; I +can't deny that. + +_Landlady._ But, bless my stars! what signifies talking? Don't you know, +as well as I do, Mr. Newington, that to-morrow is Eton Montem, and that +if we had twenty times as many rooms and as many more to the back of +them, it would not be one too many for all the company we've a right to +expect, and those the highest quality of the land? Nay, what do I talk +of to-morrow? isn't my Lady Piercefield and suite expected? and, +moreover, Mr. and Miss Bursal's to be here, and will call for as much in +an hour as your civil-spoken young lady in a twelvemonth, I reckon. So, +Mr. Newington, if you don't think proper to go up and inform the ladies +above that the Dolphin rooms are not for them, I must _speak_ myself, +though 'tis a thing I never do when I can help it. + +_Landlord_ (_aside_). She not like to speak! (_Aloud._) My dear, you +can speak a power better than I can; so take it all upon yourself, if +you please; for, old-fashioned as I and my tankard here be, I can't make +a speech that borders on the uncivil order, to a lady like, for the life +and lungs of me. So, in the name of goodness, do you go up, Mrs. +Newington. + +_Landlady._ And so I will, Mr. Newington. Help ye! Civilities and +rarities are out o' season for them that can't pay for them in this +world; and very proper. + + (_Exit Landlady._) + +_Landlord._ And very proper! Ha! who comes yonder? The Eton chap who +wheedled me into lending him my best hunter last year, and was the +ruination of him; but that must be paid for, wheedle or no wheedle; and, +for the matter of wheedling, I'd stake this here Mr. Wheeler, that is +making up to me, do you see, against e'er a boy, or hobbledehoy, in all +Eton, London, or Christendom, let the other be who he will. + + _Enter_ WHEELER. + +_Wheeler._ A fine day, Mr. Newington. + +_Landlord._ A fine day, Mr. Wheeler. + +_Wheel._ And I hope, for _your_ sake, we may have as fine a day for the +Montem to-morrow. It will be a pretty penny in your pocket! Why, all the +world will be here; and (_looking round at the jellies_, _etc._) so much +the better for them; for here are good things enough, and enough for +them. And here's the best thing of all, the good old tankard still; not +empty, I hope. + +_Landlord._ Not empty, I hope. Here's to you, Mr. Wheeler. + +_Wheel._ _Mr._ Wheeler!--_Captain_ Wheeler, if you please. + +_Landlord._ _You_, Captain Wheeler!--Why, I thought in former times it +was always the oldest scholar at Eton that was Captain at the Montems; +and didn't Mr. Talbot come afore you? + +_Wheel._ Not at all; we came on the same day. Some say I came first; +some say Talbot. So the choice of which of us is to be captain is to be +put to the vote amongst the lads--most votes carry it; and I have most +votes, I fancy; so I shall be captain, to-morrow, and a pretty deal of +_salt_[8] I reckon I shall pocket. Why, the collection at the last +Montem, they say, came to a plump thousand! No bad thing for a young +fellow to set out with for Oxford or Cambridge--hey? + + [8] _Salt_, the _cant_ name given by the Eton lads to the money + collected at Montem. + +_Landlord._ And no bad thing, before he sets out for Cambridge or +Oxford, 'twould be for a young gentleman to pay his debts. + +_Wheel._ Debts! Oh, time enough for that. I've a little account with you +in horses, I know; but that's between you and me, you know--mum. + +_Landlord._ Mum me no mums, Mr. Wheeler. Between you and me, my best +hunter has been ruinationed; and I can't afford to be mum. So you'll +take no offence if I speak; and as you'll set off to-morrow, as soon as +the Montem's over, you'll be pleased to settle with me some way or other +to-day, as we've no other time. + +_Wheel._ No time so proper, certainly. Where's the little account?--I +have money sent me for my Montem dress, and I can squeeze that much out +of it. I came home from Eton on purpose to settle with you. But as to +the hunter, you must call upon Talbot--do you understand? to pay for +him; for though Talbot and I had him the same day, 'twas Talbot did for +him, and Talbot must pay. I spoke to him about it, and charged him to +remember you; for I never forget to speak a good word for my friends. + +_Landlord._ So I perceive. + +_Wheel._ I'll make bold just to give you my opinion of these jellies +whilst you are getting my account, Mr. Newington. + + (_He swallows down a jelly or two--Landlord is going._) + + _Enter_ TALBOT. + +_Talbot._ Hallo, Landlord! where are you making off so fast? Here, your +jellies are all going as fast as yourself. + +_Wheel._ (_aside_). Talbot!--I wish I was a hundred miles off. + +_Landlord._ You are heartily welcome, Mr. Talbot. A good morning to you, +sir; I'm glad to see you--very glad to see you, Mr. Talbot. + +_Talb._ Then shake hands, my honest landlord. + + (_Talbot, in shaking hands with him, puts a purse into the + Landlord's hands._) + +[Illustration: _'Then shake hands, my honest landlord.'_] + +_Landlord._ What's here? Guineas? + +_Talb._ The hunter, you know; since Wheeler won't pay, I must--that's +all. Good morning. + +_Wheel._ (_aside._) What a fool! + + (_Landlord, as Talbot is going catches hold of his coat._) + +_Landlord._ Hold, Mr. Talbot, this won't do! + +_Talb._ Won't it? Well, then, my watch must go. + +_Landlord._ Nay, nay! but you are in such a hurry to pay--you won't hear +a man. Half this is enough for your share o' the mischief, in all +conscience. Mr. Wheeler, there, had the horse on the same day. + +_Wheel._ But Bursal's my witness---- + +_Talb._ Oh, say no more about witnesses; a man's conscience is always +his best witness, or his worst. Landlord, take your money, and no more +words. + +_Wheel._ This is very genteel of you, Talbot. I always thought you would +do the genteel thing, as I knew you to be so generous and considerate. + +_Talb._ Don't waste your fine speeches, Wheeler, I advise you, this +election time. Keep them for Bursal or Lord John, or some of those who +like them. They won't go down with _me_. Good morning to you. I give you +notice, I'm going back to Eton as fast as I can gallop; and who knows +what plain speaking may do with the Eton lads? I may be captain yet, +Wheeler. Have a care! Is my horse ready there? + +_Landlord._ Mr. Talbot's horse, there! Mr. Talbot's horse, I say. + + _Talbot sings._ + + He carries weight--he rides a race-- + 'Tis for a thousand pound! + + (_Exit Talbot._) + +_Wheel._ And, dear me! I shall be left behind. A horse for me, pray; a +horse for Mr. Wheeler! + + (_Exit Wheeler._) + +_Landlord_ (_calls very loud_). Mr. Talbot's horse! Hang the hostler! +I'll saddle him myself. + + (_Exit Landlord._) + + + SCENE II + + _A Dining-room in the Inn at Salt Hill_ + + MRS. TALBOT _and_ LOUISA + +_Louisa_ (_laughing_). With what an air Mrs. Landlady made her exit! + +_Mrs. Talbot._ When I was young, they say, I was proud; but I am humble +enough now: these petty mortifications do not vex me. + +_Louisa._ It is well my brother was gone before Mrs. Landlady made her +_entree_; for if he had heard her rude speech, he would at least have +given her the retort courteous. + +_Mrs. Talb._ Now tell me honestly, my Louisa----You were, a few days +ago, at Bursal House. Since you have left it and have felt something of +the difference that is made in this world between splendour and no +splendour, you have never regretted that you did not stay there, and +that you did not bear more patiently with Miss Bursal's little airs? + +_Louisa._ Never for a moment. At first Miss Bursal paid me a vast deal +of attention; but, for what reason I know not, she suddenly changed her +manner, grew first strangely cold, then condescendingly familiar, and at +last downright rude. I could not guess the cause of these variations. + +_Mrs. Talb._ (_aside_). I guess the cause too well. + +_Louisa._ But as I perceived the lady was out of tune, I was in haste to +leave her. I should make a very bad, and, I am sure, a miserable toad +eater. I had much rather, if I were obliged to choose, earn my own +bread, than live as toad eater with anybody. + +_Mrs. Talb._ Fine talking, dear Louisa! + +_Louisa._ Don't you believe me to be in earnest, mother? To be sure, you +cannot know what I would do, unless I were put to the trial. + +_Mrs. Talb._ Nor you either, my dear. + + (_She sighs, and is silent._) + +_Louisa_ (_takes her mother's hand_). What is the matter, dear mother? +You used to say that seeing my brother always made you feel ten years +younger; yet even while he was here, you had, in spite of all your +efforts to conceal them, those sudden fits of sadness. + +_Mrs. Talb._ The Montem--is not it to-morrow? Ay, but my boy is not sure +of being captain. + +_Louisa._ No; there is one Wheeler, who, as he says, is most likely to +be chosen captain. He has taken prodigious pains to flatter and win over +many to his interest. My brother does not so much care about it; he is +not avaricious. + +_Mrs. Talb._ I love your generous spirit and his! but, alas! my dear, +people may live to want, and wish for money, without being avaricious. I +would not say a word to Talbot; full of spirits as he was this morning, +I would not say a word to him, till after the Montem, of what has +happened. + +_Louisa._ And what has happened, dear mother? Sit down,--you tremble. + +_Mrs. Talb._ (_sits down and puts a letter into Louisa's hand_). Read +that, love. A messenger brought me that from town a few hours ago. + +_Louisa_ (_reads_). 'By an express from Portsmouth, we hear the _Bombay +Castle_ East Indiaman is lost, with all your fortune on board.' _All!_ I +hope there is something left for you to live upon. + +_Mrs. Talb._ About L150 a year for us all. + +_Louisa._ That is enough, is it not, for you? + +_Mrs. Talb._ For me, love? I am an old woman, and want but little in +this world, and shall be soon out of it. + +_Louisa_ (_kneels down beside her_). Do not speak so, dearest mother. + +_Mrs. Talb._ Enough for me, love! Yes, enough, and too much for me. I am +not thinking of myself. + +_Louisa._ Then, as to my brother, he has such abilities, and such +industry, he will make a fortune at the bar for himself, most certainly. + +_Mrs. Talb._ But his education is not completed. How shall we provide +him with money at Cambridge? + +_Louisa._ This Montem. The last time the captain had eight hundred, the +time before a thousand, pounds. Oh, I hope--I fear! Now, indeed, I know +that, without being avaricious, we may want, and wish for money. + + (_Landlady's voice heard behind the scenes._) + +_Landlady._ Waiter!--Miss Bursal's curricle, and Mr. Bursal's +_vis-a-vis_. Run! see that the Dolphin's empty. I say run!--run! + +_Mrs. Talb._ I will rest for a few moments upon the sofa, in this +bedchamber, before we set off. + +_Louisa_ (_goes to open the door_). They have bolted or locked it. How +unlucky! + + (_She turns the key, and tries to unlock the door._) + + _Enter_ WAITER. + +_Waiter._ Ladies, I'm sorry--Miss Bursal and Mr. Bursal are come--just +coming upstairs. + +_Mrs. Talb._ Then, will you be so good, sir, as to unlock this door? + + (_Waiter tries to unlock the door._) + +_Waiter._ It must be bolted on the inside. Chambermaid! Sally! Are you +within there? Unbolt this door. + +_Mr. Bursal's voice behind the scenes._ Let me have a basin of good soup +directly. + +_Waiter._ I'll go round and have the door unbolted immediately, ladies. + + (_Exit Waiter._) + + _Enter_ MISS BURSAL, _in a riding dress, and with a long whip._ + +_Miss Bursal._ Those creatures, the ponies, have a'most pulled my _'and_ +off. Who _'ave_ we _'ere_? Ha! Mrs. Talbot! Louisa, _'ow_ are ye? I'm so +vastly glad to see you; but I'm so shocked to _'ear_ of the loss of the +_Bombay Castle_. Mrs. Talbot, you look but poorly; but this Montem will +put everybody in spirits. I _'ear_ everybody's to be _'ere_; and my +brother tells me, 'twill be the finest ever seen at _H_Eton. Louisa, my +dear, I'm sorry I've not a seat for you in my curricle for to-morrow; +but I've promised Lady Betty; so, you know, 'tis impossible for me. + +[Illustration: _Enter Miss Bursal, in a riding dress._] + +_Louisa._ Certainly; and it would be impossible for me to leave my +mother at present. + +_Chambermaid_ (_opens the bedchamber door_). The room's ready now, +ladies. + +_Mrs. Talb._ Miss Bursal, we intrude upon you no longer. + +_Miss Burs._ Nay, why do you decamp, Mrs. Talbot? I _'ad_ a thousand +things to say to you, Louisa; but am so tired and so annoyed---- + + (_Seats herself. Exeunt Mrs. Talbot, Louisa, and Chambermaid._) + + _Enter_ MR. BURSAL, _with a basin of soup in his hand._ + +_Mr. Burs._ Well, thank my stars the _Airly Castle_ is safe in the +Downs. + +_Miss Burs._ Mr. Bursal, can you inform me why Joe, my groom, does not +make his appearance? + +_Mr. Burs._ (_eating and speaking_). Yes, that I can, child; because he +is with his _'orses_, where he ought to be. 'Tis fit they should be +looked after well; for they cost me a pretty penny--more than their +heads are worth, and yours into the bargain; but I was resolved, as we +were to come to this Montem, to come in style. + +_Miss Burs._ In style, to be sure; for all the world's to be here--the +King, the Prince of W_h_ales, and Duke o' York, and all the first +people; and we shall cut a dash! Dash! dash! will be the word +to-morrow!--(_playing with her whip_). + +_Mr. Burs._ (_aside_). Dash! dash! ay, just like her brother. He'll pay +away finely, I warrant, by the time he's her age. Well, well, he can +afford it; and I do love to see my children make a figure for their +money. As Jack Bursal says, what's money for, if it e'nt to make a +figure? (_Aloud._) There's your brother Jack, now. The extravagant dog! +he'll have such a dress as never was seen, I suppose, at this here +Montem. Why, now, Jack Bursal spends more money at Eton, and has more to +spend, than my Lord John, though my Lord John's the son of a +marchioness. + +_Miss Burs._ Oh, that makes no difference nowadays. I wonder whether her +ladyship is to be at this Montem. The only good I ever got out of these +stupid Talbots was an introduction to their friend Lady Piercefield. +What she could find to like in the Talbots, heaven knows. I've a notion +she'll drop them, when she hears of the loss of the _Bombay Castle_. + + _Enter a_ WAITER, _with a note._ + +_Waiter._ A note from my Lady Piercefield, sir. + +_Miss B._ Charming woman! Is she here, pray, sir? + +_Waiter._ Just come. Yes, ma'am. + + (_Exit Waiter._) + +_Miss B._ Well, Mr. Bursal, what is it? + +_Mr. B._ (_reads_). 'Business of importance to communicate----' Hum! +what can it be?--(_going_). + +_Miss B._ (_aside_). Perhaps some match to propose for me! (_Aloud._) +Mr. Bursal, pray before you go to her ladyship, do send my _ooman_ to me +to make me _presentable_. + + (_Exit Miss Bursal at one door._) + +_Mr. B._ (_at the opposite door_). 'Business of importance!' Hum! I'm +glad I'm prepared with a good basin of soup. There's no doing business +well upon an empty stomach. Perhaps the business is to lend cash; and +I've no great stomach for that. But it will be an honour, to be sure. + + (_Exit._) + + + SCENE III + + _Landlady's Parlour_ + + _Landlady_--MR. FINSBURY, _a man-milliner, with bandboxes--a fancy + cap, or helmet, with feathers, in the Landlady's hand--a satin bag, + covered with gold netting, in the man-milliner's hand--a mantle + hanging over his arm. A rough-looking Farmer is sitting with his + back towards them, eating bread and cheese, and reading a + newspaper._ + +_Landlady._ Well, this, to be sure, will be the best-dressed Montem that +ever was seen at Eton; and you Lon'on gentlemen have the most +fashionablest notions; and this is the most elegantest fancy cap---- + +_Finsbury._ Why, as you observe, ma'm, that is the most elegant fancy +cap of them all. That is Mr. Hector Hogmorton's fancy cap, ma'm; and +here, ma'm, is Mr. Saul's rich satin bag, covered with gold net. He is +college salt-bearer, I understand, and has a prodigious superb white and +gold dress. But, in my humble opinion, ma'm, the marshal's white and +purple and orange fancy-dress, trimmed with silver, will bear the bell; +though, indeed, I shouldn't say that,--for the colonel's and +lieutenant's, and ensign's, are beautiful in the extreme. And, to be +sure, nothing could be better imagined than Mr. Marlborough's lilac and +silver, with a Roman cap. And it must be allowed that nothing in nature +can have a better effect than Mr. Drake's flesh-colour and blue, with +this Spanish hat, ma'm, you see. + + (_The Farmer looks over his shoulder from time to time during + this speech, with contempt._) + +_Farmer_ (_reads the newspaper_). French fleet at sea--Hum! + +_Landlady._ O gemini: Mr. Drake's Spanish hat is the sweetest, tastiest +thing! Mr. Finsbury, I protest---- + +_Finsb._ Why, _ma'm_, I knew a lady of your taste couldn't but approve +of it. My own invention entirely, ma'm. But it's nothing to the +captain's cap, ma'm. Indeed, ma'm, Mr. Wheeler, the captain that is to +be, has the prettiest taste in dress. To be sure, his sandals were my +suggestion; but the mantle he has the entire credit of, to do him +justice; and when you see it, ma'm, you will be really surprised; for +(for contrast and elegance, and richness, and lightness, and propriety, +and effect, and costume) you've never yet seen anything at all to be +compared to Captain Wheeler's mantle, ma'm. + +_Farmer_ (_to the Landlady_). Why, now, pray, Mrs. Landlady, how long +may it have been the fashion for milliners to go about in men's clothes? + +_Landlady_ (_aside to Farmer_). Lord, Mr. Hearty, hush! This is Mr. +Finsbury, the great man-milliner. + +_Farm._ The great man-milliner! This is a sight I never thought to see +in Old England. + +_Finsb._ (_packing up bandboxes_). Well, ma'm, I'm glad I have your +approbation. It has ever been my study to please the ladies. + +_Farm._ (_throws a fancy mantle over his frieze coat_). And is this the +way to please the ladies, Mrs. Landlady, nowadays? + +_Finsb._ (_taking off the mantle_). Sir, with your leave--I ask +pardon--but the least thing detriments these tender colours; and as you +have just been eating cheese with your hands---- + +_Farm._ 'Tis my way to eat cheese with my mouth, man. + +_Finsb._ _Man!_ + +_Farm._ I ask pardon--man-milliner, I mean. + + _Enter_ LANDLORD. + +_Landlord._ Why, wife! + +_Landlady._ Wife! + +_Landlord._ I ask pardon--Mrs. Newington I mean. Do you know who them +ladies are that you have been and turned out of the Dolphin? + +_Landlady_ (_alarmed_). Not I, indeed. Who are they, pray? Why, if they +are quality it's no fault of mine. It is their own fault for coming, +like scrubs, without four horses. Why, if quality will travel the road +this way, incognito, how can they expect to be known and treated as +quality? 'Tis no fault of mine. Why didn't you find out sooner who they +were, Mr. Newington? What else in the 'versal world have you to do, but +to go basking about in the yards and places with your tankard in your +hand, from morning till night? What have you else to ruminate, all day +long, but to find out who's who, I say? + +_Farm._ Clapper! clapper! clapper! like my mill in a high wind, +landlord. Clapper! clapper! clapper!--enough to stun a body. + +_Landlord._ That is not used to it; but use is all, they say. + +_Landlady._ Will you answer me, Mr. Newington? Who are the grandees that +were in the Dolphin?--and what's become _on_ them? + +_Landlord._ Grandees was your own word, wife. They be not to call +grandees; but I reckon you'd be sorry not to treat 'em civil, when I +tell you their name is Talbot, mother and sister to our young Talbot of +Eton; he that paid me so handsome for the hunter this very morning. + +_Landlady._ Mercy! is that all? What a combustion for nothing in life! + +_Finsb._ For nothing in life, as you say, ma'm; that is, nothing in high +life, I'm sure, ma'm; nay, I dare a'most venture to swear. Would you +believe it, Mr. Talbot is one of the few young gentlemen of Eton that +has not bespoke from me a fancy-dress for this grand Montem? + +_Landlady._ There, Mr. Newington; there's your Talbot for you! and +there's your grandees! Oh, trust me, I know your scrubs at first sight. + +_Landlord._ Scrubs, I don't, nor can't, nor won't call them that pay +their debts honestly. Scrubs, I don't, nor won't, nor can't call them +that behave as handsome as young Mr. Talbot did here to me this morning +about the hunter. A scrub he is not, wife. Fancy-dress or no +fancy-dress, Mr. Finsbury, this young gentleman is no scrub. + +_Finsb._ Dear me! 'Twas not I said _scrub_. Did I say scrub? + +_Farm._ No matter if you did. + +_Finsb._ No matter, certainly; and yet it is a matter; for I'm confident +I wouldn't for the world leave it in any one's power to say that I +said--that I called--any young gentleman of Eton a _scrub_! Why, you +know, sir, it might breed a riot! + +_Farm._ And a pretty figure you'd make in a riot! + +_Landlady._ Pray let me hear nothing about riots in my house. + +_Farm._ Nor about scrubs. + +_Finsb._ But I beg leave to explain, gentlemen. All I ventured to remark +or suggest was, that as there was some talk of Mr. Talbot's being +captain to-morrow, I didn't conceive how he could well appear without +any dress. That was all, upon my word and honour. A good morning to you, +gentlemen; it is time for me to be off. Mrs. Newington, you were so +obliging as to promise to accommodate me with a return chaise as far as +Eton. + + (_Finsbury bows and exit._) + +_Farm._ A good day to you and your bandboxes. There's a fellow for you +now! Ha! ha! ha!--A man-milliner, forsooth! + +_Landlord._ Mrs. Talbot's coming--stand back. + +_Landlady._ Lord! why does Bob show them through this way? + + _Enter_ MRS. TALBOT, _leaning on_ LOUISA; _Waiter showing the way._ + +_Landlady._ You are going on, I suppose, ma'am? + +_Waiter_ (_aside to Landlord_). Not if she could help it; but there's no +beds, since Mr. Bursal and Miss Bursal's come. + +_Landlord._ I say nothing, for it is vain to say more. But isn't it a +pity she can't stay for the Montem, poor old lady! Her son--as good and +fine a lad as ever you saw--they say, has a chance, too, of being +captain. She may never live to see another such a sight. + + (_As Mrs. Talbot walks slowly on, the Farmer puts himself across + her way, so as to stop her short._) + +_Farm._ No offence, madam, I hope; but I have a good snug farmhouse, not +far off hand; and if so be you'd be so good to take a night's lodging, +you and the young lady with you, you'd have a hearty welcome. That's all +I can say; and you'd make my wife very happy; for she's a good woman, to +say nothing of myself. + +_Landlord._ If I may be so bold to put in my word, madam, you'd have as +good beds, and be as well lodged, with Farmer Hearty, as in e'er a house +at Salt Hill. + +_Mrs. Talb._ I am very much obliged---- + +_Farm._ Oh, say nothing o' that, madam. I am sure I shall be as much +obliged if you do come. Do, miss, speak for me. + +_Louisa._ Pray, dear mother---- + +_Farm._ She will. (_Calls behind the scenes._) Here, waiter! hostler! +driver! what's your name? drive the chaise up here to the door, smart, +close. Lean on my arm, madam, and we'll have you in and home in a whiff. + + (_Exeunt Mrs. Talbot, Louisa, Farmer, Landlord, and Waiter._) + +_Landlady_ (_sola_). What a noise and a rout this farmer man makes! and +my husband, with his great broad face, bowing, as great a nincompoop as +t'other. The folks are all bewitched with the old woman, I verily +believe. (_Aloud._) A good morning to you, ladies. + + +ACT THE SECOND + + + SCENE I + + _A field near Eton College;--several boys crossing backwards and + forwards in the background. In front,_ TALBOT, WHEELER, LORD JOHN + _and_ BURSAL. + +_Talbot._ Fair play, Wheeler! Have at 'em, my boy! There they stand, +fair game! There's Bursal there, with his _dead_ forty-five votes at +command; and Lord John with his--how many live friends? + +_Lord John_ (_coolly_). Sir, I have fifty-six friends, I believe. + +_Talb._ Fifty-six friends, his lordship believes--Wheeler inclusive no +doubt. + +_Lord J._ That's as hereafter may be. + +_Wheeler._ Hereafter! Oh, fie, my _lud_! You know your own Wheeler has, +from the first minute he ever saw you, been your fast friend. + +_Talb._ Your fast friend from the first minute he ever saw you, my lord! +That's well hit, Wheeler; stick to that; stick fast. Fifty-six friends, +Wheeler _in_clusive, hey, my lord! hey, my _lud_! + +_Lord J._ Talbot _ex_clusive, I find, contrary to my expectations. + +_Talb._ Ay, contrary to your expectations, you find that Talbot is not a +dog that will lick the dust: but then there's enough of the true spaniel +breed to be had for whistling for; hey, Wheeler? + +_Bursal_ (_aside to Wheeler_). A pretty electioneerer. So much the +better for you, Wheeler. Why, unless he bought a vote, he'd never win +one, if he talked from this to the day of judgment. + +_Wheeler_ (_aside to Bursal_). And as he has no money to buy votes--he! +he! he!--we are safe enough. + +_Talb._ That's well done, Wheeler; fight the by-battle there with +Bursal, now you are sure of the main with Lord John. + +_Lord J._ Sure! I never made Mr. Wheeler any promise yet. + +_Wheel._ Oh, I ask no promise from his lordship; we are upon honour: I +trust entirely to his lordship's good nature and generosity, and to his +regard for his own family; I having the honour, though distantly, to be +related. + +_Lord J._ Related! How, Wheeler? + +_Wheel._ Connected, I mean, which is next door, as I may say, to being +related. Related slipped out by mistake; I beg pardon, my Lord John. + +_Lord J._ Related!--a strange mistake, Wheeler. + +_Talb._ Overshot yourself, Wheeler; overshot yourself, by all that's +awkward. And yet, till now, I always took you for '_a dead-shot at a +yellow-hammer_.'[9] + + [9] Young noblemen at Oxford wear yellow tufts at the tops of + their caps. Hence their flatterers are said to be dead-shots + at yellow-hammers. + +_Wheel._ (_taking Bursal by the arm_). Bursal, a word with you. (_Aside +to Bursal._) What a lump of family pride that Lord John is. + +_Talb._ Keep out of my hearing, Wheeler, lest I should spoil sport. But +never fear: you'll please Bursal sooner than I shall. I can't, for the +soul of me, bring myself to say that Bursal's not purse-proud, and you +can. Give you joy. + +_Burs._ A choice electioneerer!--ha! ha! ha! + +_Wheel._ (_faintly_). He! he! he!--a choice electioneerer, as you say. + + (_Exeunt Wheeler and Bursal; manent Lord J. and Talbot._) + +_Lord J._ There was a time, Talbot---- + +_Talb._ There was a time, my lord--to save trouble and a long +explanation--there was a time when you liked Talbots better than +spaniels; you understand me? + +_Lord J._ I have found it very difficult to understand you of late, Mr. +Talbot. + +_Talb._ Yes, because you have used other people's understandings instead +of your own. Be yourself, my lord. See with your own eyes, and hear with +your own ears, and then you'll find me still, what I've been these seven +years; not your under-strapper, your hanger-on, your flatterer, but your +friend! If you choose to have me for a friend, here's my hand. I am your +friend, and you'll not find a better. + +_Lord J._ (_giving his hand_). You are a strange fellow, Talbot; I +thought I never could have forgiven you for what you said last night. + +_Talb._ What? for I don't keep a register of my sayings. Oh, it was +something about gaming--Wheeler was flattering your taste for it, and he +put me into a passion--I forget what I said. But, whatever it was, I'm +sure it was well meant, and I believe it was well said. + +_Lord J._ But you laugh at me sometimes to my face. + +_Talb._ Would you rather I should laugh at you behind your back? + +_Lord J._ But of all things in the world I hate to be laughed at. Listen +to me, and don't fumble in your pockets while I'm talking to you. + +_Talb._ I'm fumbling for--oh, here it is. Now, Lord John, I once did +laugh at you behind your back, and what's droll enough, it was _at_ your +back I laughed. Here's a caricature I drew of you--I really am sorry I +did it; but 'tis best to show it to you myself. + +_Lord J._ (_aside_). It is all I can do to forgive this. (_After a +pause, he tears the paper._) I have heard of this caricature before; but +I did not expect, Talbot, that you would come and show it to me +yourself, Talbot, so handsomely, especially at such a time as this. +Wheeler might well say you are a bad electioneerer. + +_Talb._ Oh, hang it! I forgot my election, and your fifty-six friends. + + _Enter_ RORY O'RYAN. + +_Rory_ (_claps Talbot on the back_). Fifty-six friends, have you, +Talbot? Say seven--fifty-seven, I mean; for I'll lay you a wager, you've +forgot me; and that's a shame for you, too; for out of the whole +posse-comitatus entirely now, you have not a stauncher friend than poor +little Rory O'Ryan. And a good right he has to befriend you; for you +stood by him when many who ought to have known better were hunting him +down for a wild Irishman. Now that same wild Irishman has as much +gratitude in him as any tame Englishman of them all. But don't let's be +talking s_i_ntim_i_nt; for, for my share I'd not give a bogberry a +bushel for s_i_ntim_i_nt, when I could get anything better. + +_Lord J._ And pray, sir, what may a bogberry be? + +_Rory._ Phoo! don't be playing the innocent, now. Where have you lived +all your life (I ask pardon, my l_a_rd) not to know a bogberry when you +see or hear of it? (_Turns to Talbot._) But what are ye standing idling +here for? Sure, there's Wheeler, and Bursal along with him, canvassing +out yonder at a terrible fine rate. And haven't I been huzzaing for you +there till I'm hoarse? So I am, and just stepped away to suck an orange +for my voice--(_sucks an orange_). I am a _thoroughgoing_ friend, at any +rate. + +_Talb._ Now, Rory, you are the best fellow in the world, and a +_thoroughgoing_ friend; but have a care, or you'll get yourself and me +into some scrape, before you have done with this violent _thoroughgoing_ +work. + +_Rory._ Never fear! never fear, man!--a warm _frind_ and a bitter enemy, +that's my maxim. + +_Talb._ Yes, but too warm a friend is as bad as a bitter enemy. + +_Rory._ Oh, never fear me! I'm as cool as a cucumber all the time; and +whilst they _tink_ I'm _tinking_ of nothing in life but making a noise, +I make my own snug little remarks in prose and verse, as--now my voice +is after coming back to me, you shall hear, if you _plase_. + +_Talb._ I do please. + +_Rory._ I call it Rory's song. Now, mind, I have a verse for +everybody--o' the leading lads, I mean; and I shall put 'em in or _lave_ +'em out, according to their inclinations and deserts, _wise-a-wee_ to +you, my little _frind_. So you comprehend it will be Rory's song, with +variations. + +_Talbot and Lord John._ Let's have it; let's have it without further +preface. + + _Rory sings._ + + I'm true game to the last, and no _Wheeler_ for me. + +_Rory._ There's a stroke, in the first place, for Wheeler,--you take it? + +_Talb._ Oh yes, yes, we take it; go on. + + _Rory sings._ + + I'm true game to the last, and no Wheeler for me. + Of all birds, beasts, or fishes, that swim in the sea, + Webb'd or finn'd, black or white, man or child, Whig or Tory, + None but Talbot, O Talbot's the dog for Rory. + +_Talb._ 'Talbot the dog' is much obliged to you. + +_Lord J._ But if I have any ear, one of your lines is a foot too long, +Mr. O'Ryan. + +_Rory._ Phoo, put the best foot foremost for a _frind_. Slur it in the +singing, and don't be quarrelling, anyhow, for a foot more or less. The +more feet the better it will stand, you know. Only let me go on, and +you'll come to something that will _plase_ you. + + _Rory sings._ + + Then there's he with the purse that's as long as my arm. + +_Rory._ That's Bursal, mind now, whom I mean to allude to in this verse. + +_Lord J._ If the allusion's good, we shall probably find out your +meaning. + +_Talb._ On with you, Rory, and don't read us notes on a song. + +_Lord J._ Go on, and let us hear what you say of Bursal. + + _Rory sings._ + + Then there's he with the purse that's as long as my arm; + His father's a tanner,--but then where's the harm? + Heir to houses, and hunters, and horseponds in fee, + Won't his skins sure soon buy him a pedigree? + +_Lord J._ Encore! encore! Why, Rory, I did not think you could make so +good a song. + +_Rory._ Sure 'twas none of I made it--'twas Talbot here. + +_Talb._ I! + +_Rory_ (_aside_). Not a word: I'll make you a present of it: sure, then, +it's your own. + +_Talb._ I never wrote a word of it. + +_Rory_ (_to Lord J._) Phoo, phoo! he's only denying it out of false +modesty. + +_Lord J._ Well, no matter who wrote it,--sing it again. + +_Rory._ Be easy; so I will, and as many more verses as you will to the +back of it. (_Winking at Talbot aside._) You shall have the credit of +all. (_Aloud._) Put me in when I'm out, Talbot, and you (_to Lord John_) +join--join. + + _Rory sings, and Lord John sings with him._ + + Then there's he with the purse that's as long as my arm; + His father's a tanner,--but then where's the harm? + Heir to houses, and hunters, and horseponds in fee, + Won't his skins sure soon buy him a pedigree? + There's my lord with the back that never was bent---- + + (_Lord John stops singing; Talbot makes signs to Rory to stop; + but Rory does not see him, and sings on._) + + There's my lord with the back that never was bent; + Let him live with his ancestors, I am content. + + (_Rory pushes Lord J. and Talbot with his elbows._) + +_Rory._ Join, join, both of ye--why don't you join? (_Sings._) + + Who'll buy my Lord John? the arch fishwoman cried, + A nice oyster shut up in a choice shell of pride. + +_Rory._ But join or ye spoil all. + +_Talb._ You have spoiled all, indeed. + +_Lord J._ (_making a formal low bow_). Mr. Talbot, Lord John thanks you. + +_Rory._ Lord John! blood and thunder! I forgot you were by--quite and +clean. + +_Lord J._ (_puts him aside and continues speaking to Talbot_). Lord John +thanks you, Mr. Talbot: this is the second part of the caricature. Lord +John thanks you for these proofs of friendship--Lord John has reason to +thank you, Mr. Talbot. + +_Rory._ No reason in life now. Don't be thanking so much for nothing in +life; or if you must be thanking of somebody, it's me you ought to +thank. + +_Lord J._ I ought and do, sir, for unmasking one who---- + +_Talb._ (_warmly_). Unmasking, my lord---- + +_Rory_ (_holding them asunder_). Phoo! phoo! phoo! be easy, can't +ye?--there's no unmasking at all in the case. My Lord John, Talbot's +writing the song was all a mistake. + +_Lord J._ As much a mistake as your singing it, sir, I presume---- + +_Rory._ Just as much. 'Twas all a mistake. So now don't you go and make +a mistake into a misunderstanding. It was I made every word of the song +_out o' the face_[10]--that about the back that never was bent, and the +ancestors of the oyster, and all. He did not waste a word of it; upon my +conscience, I wrote it all--though I'll engage you didn't think I could +write such a good thing. (_Lord John turns away._) I'm telling you the +truth, and not a word of a lie, and yet you won't believe me. + + [10] From beginning to end. + +_Lord J._ You will excuse me, sir, if I cannot believe two contradictory +assertions within two minutes. Mr. Talbot, I thank you (_going_). + + (_Rory tries to stop Lord John from going, but cannot.--Exit + Lord John._) + +_Rory._ Well, if he _will_ go, let him go then, and much good may it do +him. Nay, but don't you go too. + +_Talb._ O Rory, what have you done?--(_Talbot runs after Lord J._) Hear +me, my lord. + + (_Exit Talbot._) + +_Rory._ Hear him! hear him! hear him!--Well, I'm point blank mad with +myself for making this blunder; but how could I help it? As sure as ever +I am meaning to do the best thing on earth, it turns out the worst. + + _Enter a party of lads, huzzaing._ + +_Rory_ (_joins_). Huzza! huzza!--Who, pray, are ye huzzaing for? + +_1st Boy._ Wheeler! Wheeler for ever! huzza! + +_Rory._ Talbot! Talbot for ever! huzza! Captain Talbot for ever! huzza! + +_2nd Boy._ _Captain_ he'll never be,--at least not to-morrow; for Lord +John has just declared for Wheeler. + +_1st Boy._ And that turns the scale. + +_Rory._ Oh, the scale may turn back again. + +_3rd Boy._ Impossible! Lord John has just given his _promise_ to +Wheeler. I heard him with my own ears. + +(_Several speak at once._) And I heard him; and I! and I! and I!--Huzza! +Wheeler for ever! + +_Rory._ Oh, murder! murder! murder! (_Aside._) This goes to my heart! +it's all my doing. O, my poor Talbot! murder! murder! murder! But I +won't let them see me cast down, and it is good to be huzzaing at all +events. Huzza for Talbot! Talbot for ever! huzza! + + (_Exit._) + + _Enter_ WHEELER _and_ BURSAL. + +_Wheel._ Who was that huzzaing for Talbot? + + (_Rory behind the scenes_, 'Huzza for Talbot! Talbot for ever! + huzza!') + +_Burs._ Pooh, it is only Rory O'Ryan, or the roaring lion, as I call +him. Ha! ha! ha! Rory O'Ryan, _alias_ O'Ryan, the roaring lion; that's a +good one; put it about--Rory O'Ryan, the roaring lion, ha! ha! ha! but +you don't take it--you don't laugh, Wheeler. + +_Wheeler._ Ha! ha! ha! Oh, upon my honour I do laugh; ha! ha! ha! (_It +is the hardest work to laugh at his wit--aside._) (_Aloud._) Rory +O'Ryan, the roaring lion--ha! ha! ha! You know I always laugh, Bursal, +at your jokes--he! he! he!--ready to kill myself. + +_Burs._ (_sullenly_). You are easily killed, then, if that much laughing +will do the business. + +_Wheel._ (_coughing_). Just then--something stuck in my throat; I beg +your pardon. + +_Burs._ (_still sullen_). Oh, you need not beg my pardon about the +matter; I don't care whether you laugh or no--not I. Now you have got +Lord John to declare for you, you are above laughing at my jokes, I +suppose. + +_Wheel._ No, upon my word and honour, _I did_ laugh. + +_Burs._ (_aside_). A fig for your word and honour. (_Aloud._) I know I'm +of no consequence now; but you'll remember that, if his lordship has the +honour of making you captain, he must have the honour to pay for your +captain's accoutrements; for I shan't pay the piper, I promise you, +since I'm of no consequence. + +_Wheel._ Of no consequence! But, my dear Bursal, what could put that +into your head? that's the strangest, oddest fancy. Of no consequence! +Bursal, of no consequence! Why, everybody that knows anything--everybody +that has seen Bursal House--knows that you are of the greatest +consequence, my dear Bursal. + +_Burs._ (_taking out his watch, and opening it, looks at it_). No, I'm +of no consequence. I wonder that rascal Finsbury is not come yet with +the dresses (_still looking at his watch_). + +_Wheel._ (_aside_). If Bursal takes it into his head not to lend me the +money to pay for my captain's dress, what will become of me? for I have +not a shilling--and Lord John won't pay for me--and Finsbury has orders +not to leave the house till he is paid by everybody. What will become of +me?--(_bites his nails_). + +_Burs._ (_aside_). How I love to make him bite his nails! (_Aloud._) I +know I'm of no consequence. (_Strikes his repeater._) + +_Wheel._ What a fine repeater that is of yours, Bursal! It is the best I +ever heard. + +_Burs._ So it well may be; for it cost a mint of money. + +_Wheel._ No matter to you what anything costs. Happy dog as you are! You +roll in money; and yet you talk of being of no consequence. + +_Burs._ But I am not of half so much consequence as Lord John--am I? + +_Wheel._ Are you? Why, aren't you twice as rich as he! + +_Burs._ Very true, but I'm not purse-proud. + +_Wheel._ You purse-proud! I should never have thought of such a thing. + +_Burs._ Nor I, if Talbot had not used the word. + +_Wheel._ But Talbot thinks everybody purse-proud that has a purse. + +_Burs._ (_aside_). Well, this Wheeler does put one into a good humour +with one's self in spite of one's teeth. (_Aloud._) Talbot says blunt +things; but I don't think he's what you can call clever--hey, Wheeler? + +_Wheel._ Clever! Oh, not he. + +_Burs._ I think I could walk round him. + +_Wheel._ To be sure you could. Why, do you know, I've _quizzed_ him +famously myself within this quarter of an hour? + +_Burs._ Indeed! I wish I had been by. + +_Wheel._ So do I, 'faith! It was the best thing. I wanted, you see, to +get him out of my way, that I might have the field clear for +electioneering to-day. So I bowls up to him with a long face--such a +face as this. 'Mr. Talbot, do you know--I'm sorry to tell you, here's +Jack Smith has just brought the news from Salt Hill. Your mother, in +getting into the carriage, slipped, and has _broke_ her leg, and there +she's lying at a farmhouse, two miles off. Is not it true, Jack?' said +I. 'I saw the farmer helping her in with my own eyes,' cries Jack. Off +goes Talbot like an arrow. '_Quizzed_ him, _quizzed_ him!' said I. + +_Burs._ Ha! ha! ha! quizzed him indeed, with all his cleverness; that +was famously done. + +_Wheel._ Ha! ha! ha! With all his cleverness he will be all the evening +hunting for the farmhouse and the mother that has _broke_ her leg; so he +is out of our way. + +_Burs._ But what need have you to want him out of your way, now Lord +John has come over to your side? You have the thing at a dead beat. + +_Wheel._ Not so dead either; for there's a great independent party, you +know; and if _you_ don't help me, Bursal, to canvass them, I shall be no +captain. It is you I depend upon after all. Will you come and canvass +them with me? Dear Bursal, pray--all depends upon you. + + (_Pulls him by the arm--Bursal follows._) + +_Burs._ Well, if all depends upon me, I'll see what I can do for you. +(_Aside._) Then I am of some consequence! Money makes a man of some +consequence, I see; at least with some folks. + + + SCENE II + + _In the back scene a flock of sheep are seen penned. In front, a + party of country lads and lasses, gaily dressed, as in + sheep-shearing time, with ribands and garlands of flowers, etc., are + dancing and singing._ + + _Enter_ PATTY, _dressed as the Queen of the Festival, with a lamb in + her arms. The dancers break off when she comes in, and direct their + attention towards her._ + +_1st Peasant._ Oh, here comes Patty! Here comes the Queen o' the day. +What has kept you from us so long, Patty? + +_2nd Peasant._ '_Please your Majesty_,' you should say. + +_Patty._ This poor little lamb of mine was what kept me so long. It +strayed away from the rest; and I should have lost him, so I should, for +ever, if it had not been for a good young gentleman. Yonder he is, +talking to Farmer Hearty. That's the young gentleman who pulled my lamb +out of the ditch for me, into which he had fallen--pretty creature! + +_1st Peasant._ Pretty creature--or, your Majesty, whichever you choose +to be called--come and dance with them, and I'll carry your lamb. + + (_Exeunt, singing and dancing._) + + _Enter_ FARMER HEARTY _and_ TALBOT. + +_Farmer._ Why, young gentleman, I'm glad I happened to light upon you +here, and so to hinder you from going farther astray, and set your heart +at ease like. + +_Talb._ Thanks, good farmer, you have set my heart at ease, indeed. But +the truth is, they did frighten me confoundedly--more fool I. + +_Farm._ No fool at all, to my notion. I should, at your age, ay, or at +my age, just the self-same way have been frightened myself, if so be +that mention had been made to me, that way, of my own mother's having +broke her leg or so. And greater, by a great deal, the shame for them +that frighted you, than for you to be frighted. How young gentlemen, +now, can bring themselves for to tell such lies, is to me, now, a matter +of amazement, like, that I can't noways get over. + +_Talb._ Oh, farmer, such lies are very witty, though you and I don't +just now like the wit of them. This is fun, this is _quizzing_; but you +don't know what we young gentlemen mean by _quizzing_. + +_Farm._ Ay, but I do though, to my cost, ever since last year. Look you, +now, at yon fine field of wheat. Well, it was just as fine, and finer, +last year, till a young Eton jackanapes---- + +_Talb._ Take care what you say, farmer; for I am a young Eton +jackanapes. + +_Farm._ No; but you be not the young Eton jackanapes that I'm a-thinking +on. I tell you it was this time last year, man; he was a-horseback, I +tell ye, mounted upon a fine bay hunter, out o' hunting, like. + +_Talb._ I tell you it was this time last year, man, that I was mounted +upon a fine bay hunter, out a-hunting. + +_Farm._ Zooks! would you argufy a man out of his wits? You won't go for +to tell me that you are that impertinent little jackanapes! + +_Talb._ No! no! I'll not tell you that I am an impertinent little +jackanapes! + +_Farm._ (_wiping his forehead_). Well, don't then, for I can't believe +it; and you put me out. Where was I? + +_Talb._ Mounted upon a fine bay hunter. + +_Farm._ Ay, so he was. 'Here, _you_,' says he, meaning me--'open this +gate for me.' Now, if he had but a-spoke me fair, I would not have +gainsaid him; but he falls to swearing, so I bid him open the gate for +himself. 'There's a bull behind you, farmer,' says he. I turns. +'_Quizzed_ him!' cries my jackanapes, and off he gallops him, through +the very thick of my corn; but he got a fall, leaping the ditch out +yonder, which pacified me, like, at the minute. So I goes up to see +whether he was killed; but he was not a whit the worse for his tumble. +So I should ha' fell into a passion with him then, to be sure, about my +corn; but his horse had got such a terrible sprain, I couldn't say +anything to him; for I was a-pitying the poor animal. As fine a hunter +as ever you saw! I am s_a_rtain sure he could never come to good after. + +_Talb._ (_aside_). I do think, from the description, that this was +Wheeler; and I have paid for the horse which he spoiled! (_Aloud._) +Should you know either the man or the horse again, if you were to see +them? + +_Farm._ Ay, that I should, to my dying day. + +_Talb._ Will you come with me, then, and you'll do me some guineas' +worth of service? + +_Farm._ Ay, that I will, with a deal of pleasure; for you be a +civil-spoken young gentleman; and, besides, I don't think the worse _on_ +you for being _frighted_ a little about your mother; being what I might +ha' been, at your age, myself; for I had a mother myself once. So lead +on, master. + + (_Exeunt._) + + +ACT THE THIRD + + + SCENE I + + _The Garden of the 'Windmill Inn' at Salt Hill_ + + MISS BURSAL, MRS. NEWINGTON, SALLY _the Chambermaid_ + + (_Miss Bursal, in a fainting state, is sitting on a garden stool, + and leaning her head against the Landlady. Sally is holding a glass + of water and a smelling bottle._) + +_Miss Bursal._ Where am I? Where am I? + +_Landlady._ At the 'Windmill,' at Salt Hill, young lady; and ill or +well, you can't be better. + +_Sally._ Do you find yourself better since coming into the air, miss? + +_Miss B._ Better! Oh, I shall never be better! + + (_Leans her head on hand, and rocks herself backwards and + forwards._) + +_Landlady._ My dear young lady, don't take on so. (_Aside._) Now would I +give something to know what it was my Lady Piercefield said to the +father, and what the father said to this one, and what's the matter at +the bottom of affairs. Sally, did you hear anything at the doors? + +_Sally_ (_aside_). No, indeed, ma'am; I never _be's_ at the doors. + +_Landlady_ (_aside_). Simpleton! (_Aloud._) But, my dear Miss Bursal, if +I may be so bold--if you'd only disembosom your mind of what's on it---- + +_Miss B._ Disembosom my mind! Nonsense! I've nothing on my mind. Pray +leave me, madam. + +_Landlady_ (_aside_). Madam, indeed! madam, forsooth! Oh, I'll make her +pay for that! That _madam_ shall go down in the bill as sure as my +name's Newington. (_In a higher tone._) Well, I wish you better, ma'am. +I suppose I'd best send your own servant? + +_Miss B._ (_sullenly_). Yes, I suppose so. (_To Sally._) You need not +wait, child, nor look so curious. + +_Sally._ _Cur'ous!_ Indeed, miss, if I look a little _cur'ous_, or so +(_looking at her dress_), 'tis only because I was _frighted_ to see you +take on, which made me forget my clean apron when I came out; and this +apron---- + +_Miss B._ Hush! hush! child. Don't tell me about clean aprons, nor run +on with your vulgar talk. Is there ever a seat one can set on in that +_h_arbour yonder? + +_Sally._ O dear _'art_, yes, miss; 'tis the pleasantest _h_arbour on +_h_earth. Be pleased to lean on my _h_arm, and you'll soon be there. + +_Miss B._ (_going_). Then tell my woman she need not come to me, and let +nobody _interude_ on me--do you _'ear_? (_Aside._) Oh, what will become +of me? and the Talbots will soon know it! And the ponies, and the +curricle, and the _vis-a-vis_--what will become of them? and how shall I +make my appearance at the Montem, or any _ware_ else? + + + SCENE II + + LORD JOHN--WHEELER--BURSAL + +_Wheeler._ Well, but, my lord--Well, but, Bursal--though my Lady +Piercefield--though Miss Bursal is come to Salt Hill, you won't leave us +all at sixes and sevens. What can we do without you? + +_Lord J._ You can do very well without _me_. + +_Bursal._ You can do very well without _me_. + +_Wheel._ (_to Burs._). Impossible!--impossible! You know Mr. Finsbury +will be here just now, with the dresses; and we have to try them on. + +_Burs._ And to pay for them. + +_Wheel._ And to settle about the procession. And then, my lord, the +election is to come on this evening. You won't go till that's over, as +your lordship has _promised_ me your lordship's vote and interest. + +_Lord J._ My vote I promised you, Mr. Wheeler; but I said not a syllable +about my _interest_. My friends, perhaps, have not been offended, though +I have, by Mr. Talbot. I shall leave them to their own inclinations. + +_Burs._ (_whistling_). Wheugh! wheugh! wheugh! Wheeler, the principal's +nothing without the interest. + +_Wheel._ Oh, the interest will go along with the principal, of course; +for I'm persuaded, if my lord leaves his friends to their inclinations, +it will be the inclination of my lord's friends to vote as he does, if +he says nothing to them to the contrary. + +_Lord J._ I told you, Mr. Wheeler, that I should leave them to +themselves. + +_Burs._ (_still whistling_). Well, I'll do my best to make that father +of mine send me off to Oxford. I'm sure I'm fit to go--along with +Wheeler. Why, you'd best be my tutor, Wheeler!--a devilish good thought. + +_Wheel._ An excellent thought. + +_Burs._ And a cursed fine dust we should kick up at Oxford, with your +Montem money and all!--Money's _the go_ after all. I wish it was come to +my making you my last bow, 'ye distant spires, ye _antic_ towers!' + +_Wheel._ (_aside to Lord J._). Ye _antic_ towers!--fit for Oxford, my +lord! + +_Lord J._ _Antique_ towers, I suppose Mr. Bursal means. + +_Burs._ Antique, to be sure!--I said antique, did not I, Wheeler? + +_Wheel._ Oh yes. + +_Lord J._ (_aside_). What a mean animal is this! + + _Enter_ RORY O'RYAN. + +_Rory._ Why, now, what's become of Talbot, I want to know? There he is +not to be found anywhere in the wide world; and there's a hullabaloo +amongst his friends for him. + + (_Wheeler and Bursal wink at one another._) + +_Wheel._ We know nothing of him. + +_Lord J._ I have not the honour, sir, to be one of Mr. Talbot's friends. +It is his own fault, and I am sorry for it. + +_Rory._ 'Faith, so am I, especially as it is mine--fault I mean; and +especially as the election is just going to come on. + +_Enter a party of boys, who cry_, Finsbury's come!--Finsbury's come with +the dresses! + +_Wheel._ Finsbury's come? Oh, let us see the dresses, and let us try 'em +on to-night. + +_Burs._ (_pushing the crowd_). On with ye--on with ye, there!--Let's try +'em on!--Try 'em on--I'm to be colonel. + +_1st Boy._ And I lieutenant. + +_2nd Boy._ And I ensign. + +_3rd Boy._ And I college salt-bearer. + +_4th Boy._ And I oppidan. + +_5th Boy._ Oh, what a pity I'm in mourning. + +(_Several speak at once._) And we are servitors. We are to be the eight +servitors. + +_Wheel._ And I am to be your Captain, I hope. Come on, my Colonel (_to +Bursal_). My lord, you are coming? + +_Rory._ By-and-by--I've a word in his ear, by your _lave_ and his. + +_Burs._ Why, what the devil stops the way, there?--Push on--on with +them. + +_6th Boy._ I'm marshal. + +_Burs._ On with you--on with you--who cares what you are? + +_Wheel._ (_to Bursal, aside_). You'll pay Finsbury for me, you rich Jew? +(_To Lord John._) Your lordship will remember your lordship's promise? + +_Lord J._ I do not usually forget my promises, sir; and therefore need +not to be reminded of them. + +_Wheel._ I beg pardon--I beg ten thousand pardons, my lord. + +_Burs._ (_taking him by the arm_). Come on, man, and don't stand begging +pardon there, or I'll leave you. + +_Wheel._ (_to Burs._). I beg pardon, Bursal--I beg pardon, ten thousand +times. + + (_Exeunt._) + + MANENT LORD JOHN and RORY O'RYAN. + +_Rory._ Wheugh!--Now put the case. If I was going to be hanged, for the +life of me I couldn't be after begging so many pardons for nothing at +all. But many men, many minds--(_Hums._) True game to the last! No +Wheeler for me. Oh, murder! I forgot, I was nigh letting the cat out o' +the bag again. + +_Lord J._ You had something to say to me, sir? I wait till your +recollection returns. + +_Rory._ 'Faith, and that's very kind of you; and if you had always done +so, you would never have been offended with me, my lord. + +_Lord J._ You are mistaken, Mr. O'Ryan, if you think that you did or +could offend me. + +_Rory._ Mistaken was I, then, sure enough; but we are all liable to +mistakes, and should forget and forgive one another; that's the way to +go through. + +_Lord J._ You will go through the world your own way, Mr. O'Ryan, and +allow me to go through it my way. + +_Rory._ Very fair--fair enough--then we shan't cross. But now, to come +to the point. I don't like to be making disagreeable retrospects, if I +could any way avoid it; nor to be going about the bush, especially at +this time o' day; when, as Mr. Finsbury's come, we've not so much time +to lose as we had. Is there any truth, then, my lord, in the report that +is going about this hour past, that you have gone in a huff and given +your promise there to that sneaking Wheeler to vote for him now? + +_Lord J._ In answer to your question, sir, I am to inform you that I +_have_ promised Mr. Wheeler to vote for him. + +_Rory._ In a huff?--Ay, now, there it is!--Well, when a man's _mad_, to +be sure, he's mad--and that's all that can be said about it. And I know, +if I had been _mad_ myself, I might have done a foolish thing as well as +another. But now, my lord, that you are not mad---- + +_Lord J._ I protest, sir, I cannot understand you. In one word, sir, I'm +neither mad nor a fool!--Your most obedient (_going, angrily_). + +_Rory_ (_holding him_). Take care, now; you are going mad with me again. +But phoo! I like you the better for being mad. I'm very often mad +myself, and I would not give a potato for one that had never been mad in +his life. + +_Lord J._ (_aside_). He'll not be quiet till he makes me knock him down. + +_Rory._ Agh! agh! agh!--I begin to guess whereabouts I am at last. +_Mad_, in your country, I take it, means fit for Bedlam; but with us in +Ireland, now, 'tis no such thing; it means nothing in life but the being +in a passion. Well, one comfort is, my lord, as you're a bit of a +scholar, we have the Latin proverb in our favour--'_Ira furor brevis +est_' (Anger is short madness). The shorter the better, I think. So, my +lord, to put an end to whatever of the kind you may have felt against +poor Talbot, I'll assure you he's as innocent o' that unfortunate song +as the babe unborn. + +_Lord J._ It is rather late for Mr. Talbot to make apologies to me. + +_Rory._ He make apologies! Not he, 'faith; he'd send me to Coventry, or +maybe to a worse place, did he but know I was condescending to make +this bit of explanation, unknown to him. But, upon my conscience, I've a +regard for you both, and don't like to see you go together by the ears. +Now, look you, my lord. By this book, and all the books that were ever +shut and opened, he never saw or heard of that unlucky song of mine till +I came out with it this morning. + +_Lord J._ But you told me this morning that it was he who wrote it. + +_Rory._ For that I take shame to myself, as it turned out; but it was +only a _white_ lie to s_a_rve a friend, and make him cut a dash with a +new song at election time. But I've done for ever with white lies. + +_Lord J._ (_walking about as if agitated_). I wish you had never begun +with them, Mr. O'Ryan. This may be a good joke to you, but it is none to +me or Talbot. So Talbot never wrote a word of the song? + +_Rory._ Not a word or syllable, good or bad. + +_Lord J._ And I have given my promise to vote against him. He'll lose +his election. + +_Rory._ Not if you'll give me leave to speak to your friends in your +name. + +_Lord J._ I have promised to leave them to themselves; and Wheeler, I am +sure, has engaged them by this time. + +_Rory._ Bless my body! I'll not stay prating here then. + + (_Exit Rory._) + +_Lord J._ (_follows_). But what can have become of Talbot? I have been +too hasty for once in my life. Well, I shall suffer for it more than +anybody else; for I love Talbot, since he did not make the song, of +which I hate to think. + + (_Exit._) + + + SCENE III + + _A large hall in Eton College--A staircase at the end--Eton lads, + dressed in their Montem Dresses, in the Scene--In front,_ WHEELER + (_dressed as Captain_), BURSAL, _and_ FINSBURY. + +_Fins._ I give you infinite credit, Mr. Wheeler, for this dress. + +_Burs._ _Infinite credit!_ Why, he'll have no objection to that--hey, +Wheeler? But I thought Finsbury knew you too well to give you credit for +anything. + +_Fins._ You are pleased to be pleasant, sir. Mr. Wheeler knows, in that +sense of the word, it is out of my power to give him credit, and I'm +sure he would not ask it. + +_Wheel._ (_aside_). O, Bursal, pay him, and I'll pay you to-morrow. + +_Burs._ Now, if you weren't to be captain after all, Wheeler, what a +pretty figure you'd cut. Ha! ha! ha!--Hey? + +_Wheel._ Oh, I am as sure of being captain as of being alive. (_Aside._) +Do pay for me, now, there's a good, dear fellow, before _they_ (_looking +back_) come up. + +_Burs._ (_aside_). I love to make him lick the dust. (_Aloud._) Hollo! +here's Finsbury waiting to be paid, lads. (_To the lads who are in the +back scene._) Who has paid, and who has not paid? I say. + +(_The lads come forward, and several exclaim at once_,) I've paid! I've +paid! + + _Enter_ LORD JOHN _and_ RORY O'RYAN. + +_Rory._ Oh, King of Fashion, how fine we are! Why, now, to look at ye +all one might fancy one's self at the playhouse at once, or at a fancy +ball in dear little Dublin. Come, strike up a dance. + +_Burs._ Pshaw! Wherever you come, Rory O'Ryan, no one else can be heard. +Who has paid, and who has not paid? I say. + +_Several boys exclaim_, We've all paid. + +_1st Boy._ I've not paid, but here's my money. + +_Several Boys._ We have not paid, but here's our money. + +_6th Boy._ Order there, I am marshal. All that have paid march off to +the staircase, and take your seats there, one by one. March! + + (_As they march by, one by one, so as to display their dresses, + Mr. Finsbury bows, and says,_) + +A thousand thanks, gentlemen. Thank you, gentlemen. Thanks, gentlemen. +The finest sight ever I saw out of Lon'on. + +_Rory, as each lad passes, catches his arm,_ Are you a Talbot_ite_, or a +Wheeler_ite_? _To each who answers_ 'A Wheelerite,' _Rory replies_, +'Phoo! dance off, then. Go to the devil and shake yourself.'[11] _Each +who answers_ 'A Talbotite,' _Rory shakes by the hand violently, +singing,_ + + Talbot, oh, Talbot's the dog for Rory. + +_When they have almost all passed, Lord John says,_ But where can Mr. +Talbot be all this time? + + [11] This is the name of a country dance. + +_Burs._ Who knows? Who cares? + +_Wheel._ A pretty electioneerer! (_Aside to Bursal._) Finsbury's waiting +to be paid. + +_Lord J._ You don't wait for me, Mr. Finsbury. You know, I have settled +with you. + +_Fins._ Yes, my lord--yes. Many thanks; and I have left your lordship's +dress here, and everybody's dress, I believe, as bespoke. + +_Burs._ Here, Finsbury, is the money for Wheeler, who, between you and +me, is as poor as a rat. + +_Wheeler_ (_affecting to laugh_). Well, I hope I shall be as rich as a +Jew to-morrow. + + (_Bursal counts money, in an ostentatious manner, into + Finsbury's hand._) + +_Fins._ A thousand thanks for all favours. + +_Rory._ You will be kind enough to _lave_ Mr. Talbot's dress with me, +Mr. Finsbury, for I'm a friend. + +_Fins._ Indubitably, sir; but the misfortune is--he! he! he!--Mr. +Talbot, sir, has bespoke no dress. Your servant, gentlemen. + + (_Exit Finsbury._) + +_Burs._ So your friend Mr. Talbot could not afford to bespeak a +dress--(_Bursal and Wheeler laugh insolently_). How comes that, I +wonder? + +_Lord J._ If I'm not mistaken, here comes Talbot to answer for himself. + +_Rory._ But who, in the name of St. Patrick, has he along with him? + + _Enter_ TALBOT _and_ LANDLORD. + +_Talb._ Come in along with us, Farmer Hearty--come in. + + (_Whilst the Farmer comes in, the boys who were sitting on the + stairs rise and exclaim,_) + +Whom have we here? What now? Come down, lads; here's more fun. + +_Rory._ What's here, Talbot? + +_Talb._ An honest farmer and a good-natured landlord, who _would_ come +here along with me to speak---- + +_Farm._ (_interrupting_). To speak the truth--(_strikes his stick on the +ground_). + +_Landlord_ (_unbuttoning his waistcoat_). But I am so hot--so +short-winded, that (_panting and puffing_)--that for the soul and body +of me, I cannot say what I have got for to say. + +_Rory._ 'Faith, now, the more short-winded a story, the better, to my +fancy. + +_Burs._ Wheeler, what's the matter, man? you look as if your under jaw +was broke. + +_Farm._ The matter is, young gentlemen, that there was once upon a time +a fine bay hunter. + +_Wheel._ (_squeezing up to Talbot, aside_). Don't expose me, don't let +him tell. (_To the Farmer._) I'll pay for the corn I spoiled. (_To the +Landlord._) I'll pay for the horse. + +_Farm._ I does not want to be paid for my corn. The short of it is, +young gentlemen, this 'un here, in the fine thing-em-bobs (_pointing to +Wheeler_), is a shabby fellow; he went and spoiled Master Newington's +best hunter. + +_Land._ (_panting_). Ruinationed him! ruinationed him! + +_Rory._ But was that all the shabbiness? Now I might, or any of us +might, have had such an accident as that. I suppose he paid the +gentleman for the horse, or will do so, in good time. + +_Land._ (_holding his sides_). Oh, that I had but a little breath in +this body o' mine to speak all--speak on, Farmer. + +_Farm._ (_striking his stick on the floor_). Oons, sir, when a man's put +out, he can't go on with his story. + +_Omnes._ Be quiet, Rory--hush! + + (_Rory puts his finger on his lips._) + +_Farm._ Why, sir, I was a-going to tell you the shabbiness--why, sir, he +did not pay the landlord, here, for the horse; but he goes and says to +the landlord, here--'Mr. Talbot had your horse on the self-same day; +'twas he did the damage; 'tis from he you must get your money.' So Mr. +Talbot, here, who is another sort of a gentleman (though he has not so +fine a coat), would not see a man at a loss, that could not afford it; +and not knowing which of 'em it was that spoiled the horse, goes, when +he finds the other would not pay a farthing, and pays all. + +_Rory_ (_rubbing his hands_). There's Talbot for ye. And now, gentlemen +(_to Wheeler and Bursal_), you guess the _rason_, as I do, I suppose, +why he bespoke no dress; he had not money enough to be fine--and honest, +too. You are very fine, Mr. Wheeler, to do you justice. + +_Lord J._ Pray, Mr. O'Ryan, let the farmer go on; he has more to say. +How did you find out, pray, my good friend, that it was not Talbot who +spoiled the horse? Speak loud enough to be heard by everybody. + +_Farm._ Ay, that I will--I say (_very loudly_) I say I saw _him_ there +(_pointing to Wheeler_) take the jump which strained the horse; and I'm +ready to swear to it. Yet he let another pay; there's the shabbiness. + + (_A general groan from all the lads._ 'Oh, shabby Wheeler, + shabby! I'll not vote for shabby Wheeler!') + +_Lord J._ (_aside_). Alas! I must vote for him. + + _Rory sings._ + + True game to the last; no Wheeler for me; + Talbot, oh, Talbot's the dog for me. + + (_Several voices join the chorus._) + +_Burs._ Wheeler, if you are not chosen Captain, you must see and pay me +for the dress. + +_Wheel._ I am as poor as a rat. + +_Rory._ Oh yes! oh yes! hear ye! hear ye, all manner of men--the +election is now going to begin forthwith in the big field, and Rory +O'Ryan holds the poll for Talbot. Talbot for ever!--huzza! + + (_Exit Rory followed by the Boys, who exclaim,_ Talbot for + ever!--huzza! _The Landlord and Farmer join them._) + +_Lord J._ Talbot, I am glad you _are_ what I always thought you--I'm +glad you did not write that odious song. I would not lose such a friend +for all the songs in the world. Forgive me for my hastiness this +morning. I've punished myself--I've promised to vote for Wheeler. + +_Talb._ Oh, no matter whom you vote for, my lord, if you are still my +friend, and if you know me to be yours. + + (_They shake hands._) + +_Lord J._ I must not say, '_Huzza for Talbot!_' + + (_Exeunt._) + +[Illustration: _'I say I saw_ him _there take the jump which strained +the horse.'_] + + + SCENE IV + + WINDSOR TERRACE + + LADY PIERCEFIELD, MRS. TALBOT, LOUISA, _and a little girl of six + years old_, LADY VIOLETTA, _daughter to_ LADY PIERCEFIELD. + +_Violetta_ (_looking at a paper which Louisa holds_). I like it _very_ +much. + +_Lady P._ What is it you like _very_ much, Violetta? + +_Violet._ You are not to know _yet_, mamma; it is--I may tell her +that--it is a little drawing that Louisa is doing for me. Louisa, I wish +you would let me show it to mamma. + +_Louisa._ And welcome, my dear; it is only a sketch of 'The Little +Merchants,' a story which Violetta was reading, and she asked me to try +to draw the pictures of the little merchants for her. + + (_Whilst Lady P. looks at the drawing, Violetta says to Louisa_) + +But are you in earnest, Louisa, about what you were saying to me just +now,--quite in earnest? + +_Louisa._ Yes, in earnest,--quite in earnest, my dear. + +_Violet._ And may I ask mamma _now_? + +_Louisa._ If you please, my dear. + +_Violet._ (_runs to her mother_). Stoop down to me, mamma; I've +something to whisper to you. + + (_Lady Piercefield stoops down; Violetta throws her arms round + her mother's neck._) + +_Violet._ (_aside to her mother_). Mamma, do you know--you know you want +a governess for me. + +_Lady P._ Yes, if I could find a good one. + +_Violet._ (_aloud_). Stoop again, mamma, I've more to whisper. (_Aside +to her mother._) _She_ says she will be my governess, if you please. + +_Lady P._ _She!_--who is _she_? + +_Violet._ Louisa. + +_Lady P._ (_patting Violetta's cheek_). You are a little fool. Miss +Talbot is only playing with you. + +_Violet._ No, indeed, mamma; she is in earnest; are not you, +Louisa?--Oh, say yes! + +_Louisa._ Yes. + +_Violet._ (_claps her hands_). _Yes_, mamma; do you hear _yes_? + +_Louisa._ If Lady Piercefield will trust you to my care, I am persuaded +that I should be much happier as your governess, my good little +Violetta, than as an humble dependent of Miss Bursal's. (_Aside to her +mother._) You see that, now I am put to the trial, I keep to my +resolution, dear mother. + +_Mrs. T._ Your ladyship would not be surprised at this offer of my +Louisa, if you had heard, as we have done within these few hours, of the +loss of the East India ship in which almost our whole property was +embarked. + +_Louisa._ The _Bombay Castle_ is wrecked. + +_Lady P._ The _Bombay Castle_! I have the pleasure to tell you that you +are misinformed--it was the _Airly Castle_ that was wrecked. + +_Louisa and Mrs. T._ Indeed! + +_Lady P._ Yes; you may depend upon it--it was the _Airly Castle_ that +was lost. You know I am just come from Portsmouth, where I went to meet +my brother, Governor Morton, who came home with the last India fleet, +and from whom I had the intelligence. + + (_Here Violetta interrupts, to ask her mother for her + nosegay--Lady P. gives it to her,--then goes on speaking._) + +_Lady P._ They were in such haste, foolish people! to carry their news +to London, that they mistook one castle for another. But do you know +that Mr. Bursal loses fifty thousand pounds, it is said, by the _Airly +Castle_? When I told him she was lost, I thought he would have dropped +down. However, I found he comforted himself afterwards with a bottle of +Burgundy; but poor Miss Bursal has been in hysterics ever since. + +_Mrs. T._ Poor girl! My Louisa, _you_ did not fall into hysterics, when +I told you of the loss of our whole fortune. + + (_Violetta, during this dialogue, has been seated on the ground + making up a nosegay._) + +_Violet._ (_aside_). Fall into hysterics! What are hysterics, I wonder. + +[Illustration: _'Talbot and truth for ever! Huzza.'_] + +_Louisa._ Miss Bursal is much to be pitied; for the loss of wealth will +be the loss of happiness to her. + +_Lady P._ It is to be hoped that the loss may at least check the +foolish pride and extravagance of young Bursal, who, as my son tells +me---- + + (_A cry of_ 'Huzza! huzza!' _behind the scenes._) + + _Enter_ LORD JOHN. + +_Lord J._ (_hastily_). How d'ye do, mother? Miss Talbot, I give you joy. + +_Lady P._ Take breath--take breath. + +_Louisa._ It is my brother. + +_Mrs. T._ Here he is!--Hark! hark! + + (_A cry behind the scenes of_ 'Talbot and truth for ever! + Huzza!') + +_Louisa._ They are chairing him. + +_Lord J._ Yes, they are chairing him; and he has been chosen for his +honourable conduct, not for his electioneering skill; for, to do him +justice, Coriolanus himself was not a worse electioneerer. + + _Enter_ RORY O'RYAN _and another Eton lad, carrying_ TALBOT _in a + chair, followed by a crowd of Eton lads._ + +_Rory._ By your _lave_, my lord--by your _lave_, ladies. + +_Omnes._ Huzza! Talbot and truth for ever! Huzza! + +_Talb._ Set me down! There's my mother! There's my sister! + +_Rory._ Easy, easy. Set him down! No such _ting_! give him t'other +huzza! There's nothing like a good loud huzza in this world. Yes, there +is! for, as my Lord John said just now, out of some book or out of his +own head-- + + One self-approving hour whole years outweighs + Of stupid starers and of loud huzzas. + + +CURTAIN FALLS + + + + +FORGIVE AND FORGET + + +In the neighbourhood of a seaport town in the west of England there +lived a gardener, who had one son, called Maurice, to whom he was very +partial. One day his father sent him to the neighbouring town to +purchase some garden seeds for him. When Maurice got to the seed-shop, +it was full of people, who were all impatient to be served: first a +great tall man, and next a great fat woman pushed before him; and he +stood quietly beside the counter, waiting till somebody should be at +leisure to attend to him. At length, when all the other people who were +in the shop had got what they wanted, the shopman turned to +Maurice--'And what do you want, my patient little fellow?' said he. + +'I want all these seeds for my father,' said Maurice, putting a list of +seeds into the shopman's hand; 'and I have brought money to pay for them +all.' + +The seedsman looked out all the seeds that Maurice wanted, and packed +them up in paper: he was folding up some painted lady-peas, when, from a +door at the back of the shop, there came in a square, rough-faced man, +who exclaimed, the moment he came in, 'Are the seeds I ordered +ready?--The wind's fair--they ought to have been aboard yesterday. And +my china jar, is it packed up and directed? where is it?' + +'It is up there on the shelf over your head, sir,' answered the +seedsman. 'It is very safe, you see; but we have not had time to pack it +yet. It shall be done to-day; and we will get the seeds ready for you, +sir, immediately.' + +'Immediately! then stir about it. The seeds will not pack themselves up. +Make haste, pray.' 'Immediately, sir, as soon as I have done up the +parcel for this little boy.' 'What signifies the parcel for this little +boy? He can wait, and I cannot--wind and tide wait for no man. Here, my +good lad, take your parcel and sheer off,' said the impatient man; and, +as he spoke, he took up the parcel of seeds from the counter, as the +shopman stooped to look for a sheet of thick brown paper and packthread +to tie it up. + +The parcel was but loosely folded up, and as the impatient man lifted +it, the weight of the peas which were withinside of it burst the paper, +and all the seeds fell out upon the floor, whilst Maurice in vain held +his hands to catch them. The peas rolled to all parts of the shop; the +impatient man swore at them, but Maurice, without being out of humour, +set about collecting them as fast as possible. + +Whilst the boy was busied in this manner, the man got what seeds he +wanted; and as he was talking about them, a sailor came into the shop, +and said, 'Captain, the wind has changed within these five minutes, and +it looks as if we should have ugly weather.' + +'Well, I'm glad of it,' replied the rough-faced man, who was the captain +of a ship. 'I am glad to have a day longer to stay ashore, and I've +business enough on my hands.' The captain pushed forward towards the +shop door. Maurice, who was kneeling on the floor, picking up his seeds, +saw that the captain's foot was entangled in some packthread which hung +down from the shelf on which the china jar stood. Maurice saw that, if +the captain took one more step forward, he must pull the string, so that +it would throw down the jar, round the bottom of which the packthread +was entangled. He immediately caught hold of the captain's leg, and +stopped him, 'Stay! Stand still, sir!' said he, 'or you will break your +china jar.' + +The man stood still, looked, and saw how the packthread had caught in +his shoe buckle, and how it was near dragging down his beautiful china +jar. 'I am really very much obliged to you, my little fellow,' said he. +'You have saved my jar, which I would not have broken for ten guineas, +for it is for my wife, and I've brought it safe from abroad many a +league. It would have been a pity if I had broken it just when it was +safe landed. I am really much obliged to you, my little fellow, this was +returning good for evil. I am sorry I threw down your seeds, as you are +such a good-natured, forgiving boy. Be so kind,' continued he, turning +to the shopman, 'as to reach down that china jar for me.' + +[Illustration: _'Stay! Stand still, sir! or you will break your china +jar.'_] + +The shopman lifted down the jar very carefully, and the captain took off +the cover, and pulled out some tulip-roots. 'You seem, by the quantity +of seeds you have got, to belong to a gardener. Are you fond of +gardening?' said he to Maurice. + +'Yes, sir,' replied Maurice, 'very fond of it; for my father is a +gardener, and he lets me help him at his work, and he has given me a +little garden of my own.' + +'Then here are a couple of tulip-roots for you; and if you take care of +them, I'll promise you that you will have the finest tulips in England +in your little garden. These tulips were given to me by a Dutch +merchant, who told me that they were some of the rarest and finest in +Holland. They will prosper with you, I'm sure, wind and weather +permitting.' + +Maurice thanked the gentleman, and returned home, eager to show his +precious tulip-roots to his father, and to a companion of his, the son +of a nurseryman, who lived near him. Arthur was the name of the +nurseryman's son. + +The first thing Maurice did, after showing his tulip-roots to his +father, was to run to Arthur's garden in search of him. Their gardens +were separated only by a low wall of loose stones:--'Arthur! Arthur! +where are you? Are you in your garden? I want you.' But Arthur made no +answer, and did not, as usual, come running to meet his friend. 'I know +where you are,' continued Maurice, 'and I'm coming to you as fast as the +raspberry-bushes will let me. I have good news for you--something you'll +be delighted to see, Arthur!--Ha!--but here is something that I am not +delighted to see, I am sure,' said poor Maurice, who, when he had got +through the raspberry-bushes, and had come in sight of his own garden, +beheld his bell-glass--his beloved bell-glass, under which his cucumbers +were grown so finely--his only bell-glass, broken to pieces! + +'I am sorry for it,' said Arthur, who stood leaning upon his spade in +his own garden; 'I am afraid you will be very angry with me.' 'Why, was +it you, Arthur, broke my bell-glass? Oh, how could you do so?' 'I was +throwing weeds and rubbish over the wall, and by accident a great lump +of couch-grass, with stones hanging to the roots, fell upon your +bell-glass, and broke it, as you see.' + +Maurice lifted up the lump of couch-grass, which had fallen through the +broken glass upon his cucumbers, and he looked at his cucumbers for a +moment in silence--'Oh, my poor cucumbers! you must all die now. I shall +see all your yellow flowers withered to-morrow; but it is done, and it +cannot be helped; so, Arthur, let us say no more about it.' + +'You are very good; I thought you would have been angry. I am sure I +should have been exceedingly angry if you had broken the glass, if it +had been mine.' + +'Oh, forgive and forget, as my father always says; that's the best way. +Look what I have got for you.' Then he told Arthur the story of the +captain of the ship, and the china jar; the seeds having been thrown +down, and of the fine tulip-roots which had been given to him; and +Maurice concluded by offering one of the precious roots to Arthur, who +thanked him with great joy, and repeatedly said, 'How good you were not +to be angry with me for breaking your bell-glass! I am much more sorry +for it than if you had been in a passion with me!' + +Arthur now went to plant his tulip-root; and Maurice looked at the beds +which his companion had been digging, and at all the things which were +coming up in his garden. + +'I don't know how it is,' said Arthur, 'but you always seem as glad to +see the things in my garden coming up, and doing well, as if they were +all your own. I am much happier since my father came to live here, and +since you and I have been allowed to work and to play together, than I +ever was before; for you must know, before we came to live here, I had a +cousin in the house with me, who used to plague me. He was not nearly so +good-natured as you are. He never took pleasure in looking at my garden, +or at anything that I did that was well done; and he never gave me a +share of anything that he had; and so I did not like him; how could I? +But, I believe that hating people makes us unhappy; for I know I never +was happy when I was quarrelling with him; and I am always happy with +you, Maurice. You know we never quarrel.' + +It would be well for all the world if they could be convinced, like +Arthur, that to live in friendship is better than to quarrel. It would +be well for all the world if they followed Maurice's maxim of 'Forgive +and Forget,' when they receive, or when they imagine that they receive, +an injury. + +Arthur's father, Mr. Oakly, the nurseryman, was apt to take offence at +trifles; and when he thought that any of his neighbours disobliged him, +he was too proud to ask them to explain their conduct; therefore he was +often mistaken in his judgment of them. He thought that it showed +_spirit_, to remember and to resent an injury; and, therefore, though he +was not an ill-natured man, he was sometimes led, by this mistaken idea +of _spirit_, to do ill-natured things: 'A warm friend and a bitter +enemy,' was one of his maxims, and he had many more enemies than +friends. He was not very rich, but he was proud; and his favourite +proverb was, 'Better live in spite than in pity.' + +When first he settled near Mr. Grant, the gardener, he felt inclined to +dislike him, because he was told that Mr. Grant was a Scotchman, and he +had a prejudice against Scotchmen; all of whom he believed to be cunning +and avaricious, because he had once been overreached by a Scotch +peddler. Grant's friendly manners in some degree conquered this +prepossession; but still he secretly suspected that _this civility_, as +he said, '_was all show_, and _that he was not, nor could not, being a +Scotchman, be such a hearty friend as a true-born Englishman_.' + +Grant had some remarkably fine raspberries. The fruit was so large as to +be quite a curiosity. When it was in season, many strangers came from +the neighbouring town, which was a sea-bathing place, to look at these +raspberries, which obtained the name of _Brobdingnag_ raspberries. + +'How came you, pray, neighbour Grant, if a man may ask, by these +wonderful fine raspberries?' said Mr. Oakly, one evening, to the +gardener. 'That's a secret,' replied Grant, with an arch smile. + +'Oh, in case it's a secret, I've no more to say; for I never meddle with +any man's secrets that he does not choose to trust me with. But I wish, +neighbour Grant, you would put down that book. You are always poring +over some book or another when a man comes to see you, which is not, +according to my notions (being a plain, _unlarned_ Englishman bred and +born), so civil and neighbourly as might be.' + +Mr. Grant hastily shut his book, but remarked, with a shrewd glance at +his son, that it was in that book he found his Brobdingnag raspberries. + +'You are pleased to be pleasant upon them that have not the luck to be +as book-_larned_ as yourself, Mr. Grant; but I take it, being only a +plain-spoken Englishman, as I observed afore, that one is to the full as +like to find a raspberry in one's garden as in one's book, Mr. Grant.' + +Grant, observing that his neighbour spoke rather in a surly tone, did +not contradict him; being well versed in the Bible, he knew that 'A soft +word turneth away wrath,' and he answered, in a good-humoured voice, 'I +hear, neighbour Oakly, you are likely to make a great deal of money of +your nursery this year. Here's to the health of you and yours, not +forgetting the seedling larches, which I see are coming on finely.' + +'Thank ye, neighbour, kindly; the larches are coming on +tolerably well, that's certain; and here's to your good health, +Mr. Grant--you and yours, not forgetting your, what d'ye call 'em +raspberries'--(_drinks_)--and, after a pause, resumes, 'I'm not apt to +be a beggar, neighbour, but if you could give me----' + +Here Mr. Oakly was interrupted by the entrance of some strangers, and he +did not finish making his request--Mr. Oakly was not, as he said of +himself, apt to ask favours, and nothing but Grant's cordiality could +have conquered his prejudices so far as to tempt him to ask a favour +from a Scotchman. He was going to have asked for some of the Brobdingnag +raspberry-plants. The next day the thought of the raspberry-plants +recurred to his memory, but, being a bashful man, he did not like to go +himself on purpose to make his request, and he desired his wife, who was +just setting out to market, to call at Grant's gate, and, if he was at +work in his garden, to ask him for a few plants of his raspberries. + +The answer which Oakly's wife brought to him was that Mr. Grant had not +a raspberry-plant in the world to give him, and that if he had ever so +many, he would not give one away, except to his own son. + +Oakly flew into a passion when he received such a message, declared it +was just such a mean, shabby trick as might have been expected from a +Scotchman--called himself a booby, a dupe, and a blockhead, for ever +having trusted to the civil speeches of a Scotchman--swore that he would +die in the parish workhouse before he would ever ask another favour, be +it ever so small, from a Scotchman; related to his wife, for the +hundredth time, the way in which he had been taken in by the Scotch +peddler ten years ago, and concluded by forswearing all further +intercourse with Mr. Grant, and all belonging to him. + +'Son Arthur,' said he, addressing himself to the boy, who just then came +in from work--'Son Arthur, do you hear me? let me never again see you +with Grant's son.' 'With Maurice, father?' 'With Maurice Grant, I say; I +forbid you from this day and hour forward to have anything to do with +him.' 'Oh, why, dear father?' 'Ask me no questions, but do as I bid +you.' + +Arthur burst out a-crying, and only said, 'Yes, father, I'll do as you +bid me, to be sure.' + +'Why now, what does the boy cry for? Is there no other boy, simpleton, +think you, to play with, but this Scotchman's son? I'll find out another +playfellow for ye, child, if that be all.' 'That's not all, father,' +said Arthur, trying to stop himself from sobbing; 'but the thing is, I +shall never have such another playfellow,--I shall never have such +another friend as Maurice Grant.' + +'Like father like son--you may think yourself well off to have done with +him.' 'Done with him! Oh, father, and shall I never go again to work in +his garden, and may not he come to mine?' 'No,' replied Oakly sturdily; +'his father has used me uncivil, and no man shall use me uncivil twice. +I say no. Wife, sweep up this hearth. Boy, don't take on like a fool; +but eat thy bacon and greens, and let's hear no more of Maurice Grant.' + +Arthur promised to obey his father. He only begged that he might once +more speak to Maurice, and tell him that it was by his father's orders +he acted. This request was granted; but when Arthur further begged to +know what reason he might give for this separation, his father refused +to tell his reasons. The two friends took leave of one another very +sorrowfully. + +Mr. Grant, when he heard of all this, endeavoured to discover what could +have offended his neighbour; but all explanation was prevented by the +obstinate silence of Oakly. + +Now, the message which Grant really sent about the Brobdingnag +raspberries was somewhat different from that which Mr. Oakly received. +The message was, that the raspberries were not Mr. Grant's; that +therefore he had no right to give them away; that they belonged to his +son Maurice, and that this was not the right time of year for planting +them. This message had been unluckily misunderstood. Grant gave his +answer to his wife; she to a Welsh servant-girl, who did not perfectly +comprehend her mistress's broad Scotch; and she in her turn could not +make herself intelligible to Mrs. Oakly, who hated the Welsh accent, and +whose attention, when the servant-girl delivered the message, was +principally engrossed by the management of her own horse. The horse on +which Mrs. Oakly rode this day, being ill-broken, would not stand still +quietly at the gate, and she was extremely impatient to receive her +answer, and to ride on to market. + +Oakly, when he had once resolved to dislike his neighbour Grant, could +not long remain without finding out fresh causes of complaint. There was +in Grant's garden a plum-tree, which was planted close to the loose +stone wall that divided the garden from the nursery. The soil in which +the plum-tree was planted happened not to be quite so good as that which +was on the opposite side of the wall, and the plum-tree had forced its +way through the wall, and gradually had taken possession of the ground +which it liked best. + +Oakly thought the plum-tree, as it belonged to Mr. Grant, had no right +to make its appearance on his ground: an attorney told him that he might +oblige Grant to cut it down; but Mr. Grant refused to cut down his +plum-tree at the attorney's desire, and the attorney persuaded Oakly to +go to law about the business, and the lawsuit went on for some months. + +The attorney, at the end of this time, came to Oakly with a demand for +money to carry on his suit, assuring him that, in a short time, it would +be determined in his favour. Oakly paid his attorney ten golden guineas, +remarked that it was a great sum for him to pay, and that nothing but +the love of justice could make him persevere in this lawsuit about a bit +of ground, 'which, after all,' said he, 'is not worth twopence. The +plum-tree does me little or no damage, but I don't like to be imposed +upon by a Scotchman.' + +The attorney saw and took advantage of Oakly's prejudice against the +natives of Scotland; and he persuaded him, that to show the _spirit_ of +a true-born Englishman it was necessary, whatever it might cost him, to +persist in this lawsuit. + +It was soon after this conversation with the attorney that Mr. Oakly +walked with resolute steps towards the plum-tree, saying to himself, 'If +it cost me a hundred pounds I will not let this cunning Scotchman get +the better of me.' + +Arthur interrupted his father's reverie by pointing to a book and some +young plants which lay upon the wall. 'I fancy, father,' said he, 'those +things are for you, for there is a little note directed to you in +Maurice's handwriting. Shall I bring it to you?' 'Yes, let me read it, +child, since I must.' It contained these words: + + 'DEAR MR. OAKLY--I don't know why you have quarrelled with us; I am + very sorry for it. But though you are angry with me, I am not angry + with you. I hope you will not refuse some of my Brobdingnag + raspberry-plants, which you asked for a great while ago, when we were + all good friends. It was not the right time of the year to plant them, + which was the reason they were not sent to you; but it is just the + right time to plant them now; and I send you the book, in which you + will find the reason why we always put seaweed ashes about their + roots; and I have got some seaweed ashes for you. You will find the + ashes in the flower-pot upon the wall. I have never spoken to Arthur, + nor he to me, since you bid us not. So, wishing your Brobdingnag + raspberries may turn out as well as ours, and longing to be all + friends again, I am, with love to dear Arthur and self, your + affectionate neighbour's son, MAURICE GRANT. + + 'P.S.--It is now about four months since the quarrel began, and that + is a very long while.' + +A great part of the effect of this letter was lost upon Oakly, because +he was not very expert in reading writing, and it cost him much trouble +to spell it and put it together. However, he seemed affected by it, and +said, 'I believe this Maurice loves you well enough, Arthur, and he +seems a good sort of boy; but as to the raspberries, I believe all that +he says about them is but an excuse; and, at any rate, as I could not +get 'em when I asked for them, I'll not have 'em now. Do you hear me, I +say, Arthur? What are you reading there?' + +Arthur was reading the page that was doubled down in the book which +Maurice had left along with the raspberry-plants upon the wall. Arthur +read aloud as follows:-- + + +(_Monthly Magazine_, Dec. '98, p. 421.) + +'There is a sort of strawberry cultivated at Jersey which is almost +covered with seaweed in the winter, in like manner as many plants in +England are with litter from the stable. These strawberries are usually +of the largeness of a middle-sized apricot, and the flavour is +particularly grateful. In Jersey and Guernsey, situate scarcely one +degree farther south than Cornwall, all kinds of fruit, pulse, and +vegetables are produced in their seasons a fortnight or three weeks +sooner than in England, even on the southern shores; and snow will +scarcely remain twenty-four hours on the earth. Although this may be +attributed to these islands being surrounded with a salt, and +consequently a moist atmosphere, yet the ashes (seaweed ashes) made use +of as manure may also have their portion of influence.'[12] + + [12] It is necessary to observe that this experiment has never been + actually tried upon raspberry-plants. + +'And here,' continued Arthur, 'is something written with a pencil, on a +slip of paper, and it is Maurice's writing. I will read it to you. + +'When I read in this book what is said about the strawberries growing as +large as apricots, after they had been covered over with seaweed, I +thought that perhaps seaweed ashes might be good for my father's +raspberries; and I asked him if he would give me leave to try them. He +gave me leave, and I went directly and gathered together some seaweed +that had been cast on shore; and I dried it, and burned it, and then I +manured the raspberries with it, and the year afterwards the raspberries +grew to the size that you have seen. Now, the reason I tell you this is, +first, that you may know how to manage your raspberries, and next, +because I remember you looked very grave, as if you were not pleased +with my father, Mr. Grant, when he told you that the way by which he +came by his Brobdingnag raspberries was a secret. Perhaps this was the +thing that has made you so angry with us all; for you never have come to +see father since that evening. Now I have told you all I know; and so I +hope you will not be angry with us any longer.' + +Mr. Oakly was much pleased by this openness, and said, 'Why now, Arthur, +this is something like, this is telling one the thing one wants to +know, without fine speeches. This is like an Englishman more than a +Scotchman. Pray, Arthur, do you know whether your friend Maurice was +born in England or in Scotland?' + +'No, indeed, sir, I don't know--I never asked--I did not think it +signified. All I know is that, wherever he was born, he is _very_ good. +Look, papa, my tulip is blowing.' 'Upon my word,' said his father, 'this +will be a beautiful tulip!' 'It was given to me by Maurice.' 'And did +you give him nothing for it?' was the father's inquiry. 'Nothing in the +world; and he gave it to me just at the time when he had good cause to +be angry with me, just when I had broken his bell-glass.' + +'I have a great mind to let you play together again,' said Arthur's +father. 'Oh, if you would,' cried Arthur, clapping his hands, 'how happy +we should be! Do you know, father, I have often sat for an hour at a +time up in that crab-tree, looking at Maurice at work in his garden, and +wishing that I was at work with him.' + +Here Arthur was interrupted by the attorney, who came to ask Mr. Oakly +some question about the lawsuit concerning the plum-tree. Oakly showed +him Maurice's letter; and to Arthur's extreme astonishment, the attorney +had no sooner read it than he exclaimed, 'What an artful little +gentleman this is! I never, in the course of all my practice, met with +anything better. Why, this is the most cunning letter I ever read.' +'Where's the cunning?' said Oakly, and he put on his spectacles. 'My +good sir, don't you see that all this stuff about Brobdingnag +raspberries is to ward off your suit about the plum-tree? They +know--that is, Mr. Grant, who is sharp enough, knows--that he will be +worsted in that suit; that he must, in short, pay you a good round sum +for damages, if it goes on----' + +'Damages!' said Oakly, staring round him at the plum-tree; 'but I don't +know what you mean. I mean nothing but what's honest. I don't mean to +ask for any good round sum; for the plum-tree has done me no great harm +by coming into my garden; but only I don't choose it should come there +without my leave.' + +'Well, well,' said the attorney, 'I understand all that; but what I want +to make you, Mr. Oakly, understand is, that this Grant and his son only +want to make up matters with you, and prevent the thing's coming to a +fair trial, by sending you, in this underhand sort of way, a bribe of a +few raspberries.' + +'A bribe!' exclaimed Oakly, 'I never took a bribe, and I never will'; +and, with sudden indignation, he pulled the raspberry plants from the +ground in which Arthur was planting them; and he threw them over the +wall into Grant's garden. + +Maurice had put his tulip, which was beginning to blow, in a flower-pot, +on the top of the wall, in hopes that his friend Arthur would see it +from day to day. Alas! he knew not in what a dangerous situation he had +placed it. One of his own Brobdingnag raspberry-plants, swung by the +angry arm of Oakly, struck off the head of his precious tulip! Arthur, +who was full of the thought of convincing his father that the attorney +was mistaken in his judgment of poor Maurice, did not observe the fall +of the tulip. + +The next day, when Maurice saw his raspberry-plants scattered upon the +ground, and his favourite tulip broken, he was in much astonishment, +and, for some moments, angry; but anger, with him, never lasted long. He +was convinced that all this must be owing to some accident or mistake. +He could not believe that any one could be so malicious as to injure him +on purpose--'And even if they did all this on purpose to vex me,' said +he to himself, 'the best thing I can do is not to let it vex me. Forgive +and forget.' This temper of mind Maurice was more happy in enjoying than +he could have been made, without it, by the possession of all the tulips +in Holland. + +Tulips were, at this time, things of great consequence in the estimation +of the country several miles round where Maurice and Arthur lived. There +was a florist's feast to be held at the neighbouring town, at which a +prize of a handsome set of gardening tools was to be given to the person +who could produce the finest flower of its kind. A tulip was the flower +which was thought the finest the preceding year, and consequently +numbers of people afterwards endeavoured to procure tulip-roots, in +hopes of obtaining the prize this year. Arthur's tulip was beautiful. As +he examined it from day to day, and every day thought it improving, he +longed to thank his friend Maurice for it; and he often mounted into his +crab-tree, to look into Maurice's garden, in hopes of seeing his tulip +also in full bloom and beauty. He never could see it. + +The day of the florist's feast arrived, and Oakly went with his son +and the fine tulip to the place of meeting. It was on a spacious +bowling-green. All the flowers of various sorts were ranged upon a +terrace at the upper end of the bowling-green; and, amongst all this gay +variety, the tulip which Maurice had given to Arthur appeared +conspicuously beautiful. To the owner of this tulip the prize was +adjudged; and, as the handsome garden-tools were delivered to Arthur, he +heard a well-known voice wish him joy. He turned, looked about him, and +saw his friend Maurice. + +[Illustration: _When Maurice saw his raspberry-plants scattered upon the +ground, and his favourite tulip broken, he was in much astonishment._] + +'But, Maurice, where is your own tulip?' said Mr. Oakly; 'I thought, +Arthur, you told me that he kept one for himself.' 'So I did,' said +Maurice; 'but somebody (I suppose by accident) broke it.' 'Somebody! +who?' cried Arthur and Mr. Oakly at once. 'Somebody who threw the +raspberry-plants back again over the wall,' replied Maurice. 'That was +me--that somebody was me,' said Oakly. 'I scorn to deny it; but I did +not intend to break your tulip, Maurice.' + +'Dear Maurice,' said Arthur--'you know I may call him dear Maurice--now +you are by, papa; here are all the garden-tools; take them, and +welcome.' 'Not one of them,' said Maurice, drawing back. 'Offer them to +the father--offer them to Mr. Grant,' whispered Oakly; 'he'll take them, +I'll answer for it.' + +Mr. Oakly was mistaken: the father would not accept of the tools. Mr. +Oakly stood surprised--'Certainly,' said he to himself, 'this cannot be +such a miser as I took him for'; and he walked immediately up to Grant, +and bluntly said to him, 'Mr. Grant, your son has behaved very +handsomely to my son, and you seem to be glad of it.' 'To be sure I am,' +said Grant. 'Which,' continued Oakly, 'gives me a better opinion of you +than ever I had before--I mean, than ever I had since the day you sent +me the shabby answer about those foolish, what d'ye call 'em, cursed +raspberries.' + +'What shabby answer?' said Grant, with surprise; and Oakly repeated +exactly the message which he received; and Grant declared that he never +sent any such message. He repeated exactly the answer which he really +sent, and Oakly immediately stretched out his hand to him, saying, 'I +believe you; no more need be said. I'm only sorry I did not ask you +about this four months ago; and so I should have done if you had not +been a Scotchman. Till now, I never rightly liked a Scotchman. We may +thank this good little fellow,' continued he, turning to Maurice, 'for +our coming at last to a right understanding. There was no holding out +against his good nature. I'm sure, from the bottom of my heart, I'm +sorry I broke his tulip. Shake hands, boys; I'm glad to see you, Arthur, +look so happy again, and hope Mr. Grant will forgive----' 'Oh, forgive +and forget,' said Grant and his son at the same moment. And from this +time forward the two families lived in friendship with each other. + +Oakly laughed at his own folly, in having been persuaded to go to law +about the plum-tree; and he, in process of time, so completely conquered +his early prejudice against Scotchmen, that he and Grant became partners +in business. Mr. Grant's book-_larning_ and knowledge of arithmetic he +found highly useful to him; and he, on his side, possessed a great many +active, good qualities, which became serviceable to his partner. + +The two boys rejoiced in this family union; and Arthur often declared +that they owed all their happiness to Maurice's favourite maxim, +'Forgive and Forget.' + + + + +WASTE NOT, WANT NOT; + +OR, + +TWO STRINGS TO YOUR BOW + + +Mr. Gresham, a Bristol merchant, who had, by honourable industry and +economy, accumulated a considerable fortune, retired from business to a +new house which he had built upon the Downs, near Clifton. Mr. Gresham, +however, did not imagine that a new house alone could make him happy. He +did not propose to live in idleness and extravagance; for such a life +would have been equally incompatible with his habits and his principles. +He was fond of children; and as he had no sons, he determined to adopt +one of his relations. He had two nephews, and he invited both of them to +his house, that he might have an opportunity of judging of their +dispositions, and of the habits which they had acquired. + +Hal and Benjamin, Mr. Gresham's nephews, were about ten years old. They +had been educated very differently. Hal was the son of the elder branch +of the family. His father was a gentleman, who spent rather more than he +could afford; and Hal, from the example of the servants in his father's +family, with whom he had passed the first years of his childhood, +learned to waste more of everything than he used. He had been told that +'gentlemen should be above being careful and saving'; and he had +unfortunately imbibed a notion that extravagance was the sign of a +generous disposition, and economy of an avaricious one. + +Benjamin, on the contrary, had been taught habits of care and foresight. +His father had but a very small fortune, and was anxious that his son +should early learn that economy ensures independence, and sometimes puts +it in the power of those who are not very rich to be very generous. + +The morning after these two boys arrived at their uncle's they were +eager to see all the rooms in the house. Mr. Gresham accompanied them, +and attended to their remarks and exclamations. + +'Oh! what an excellent motto!' exclaimed Ben, when he read the following +words, which were written in large characters over the chimneypiece in +his uncle's spacious kitchen-- + + 'WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.' + +'"Waste not, want not!"' repeated his cousin Hal, in rather a +contemptuous tone; 'I think it looks stingy to servants; and no +gentleman's servants, cooks especially, would like to have such a mean +motto always staring them in the face.' Ben, who was not so conversant +as his cousin in the ways of cooks and gentlemen's servants, made no +reply to these observations. + +Mr. Gresham was called away whilst his nephews were looking at the other +rooms in the house. Some time afterwards, he heard their voices in the +hall. + +'Boys,' said he, 'what are you doing there?' 'Nothing, sir,' said Hal; +'you were called away from us and we did not know which way to go.' 'And +have you nothing to do?' said Mr. Gresham. 'No, sir, nothing,' answered +Hal, in a careless tone, like one who was well content with the state of +habitual idleness. 'No, sir, nothing!' replied Ben, in a voice of +lamentation. 'Come,' said Mr. Gresham, 'if you have nothing to do, lads, +will you unpack those two parcels for me?' + +The two parcels were exactly alike, both of them well tied up with good +whipcord. Ben took his parcel to a table, and, after breaking off the +sealing-wax, began carefully to examine the knot, and then to untie it. +Hal stood still, exactly in the spot where the parcel was put into his +hands, and tried, first at one corner and then at another, to pull the +string off by force. 'I wish these people wouldn't tie up their parcels +so tight, as if they were never to be undone,' cried he, as he tugged at +the cord; and he pulled the knot closer instead of loosening it. + +'Ben! why, how did you get yours undone, man? what's in your parcel?--I +wonder what is in mine! I wish I could get this string off--I must cut +it.' + +'Oh no,' said Ben, who now had undone the last knot of his parcel, and +who drew out the length of string with exultation, 'don't cut it, +Hal,--look what a nice cord this is, and yours is the same; it's a pity +to cut it; "_Waste not, want not!_" you know.' + +'Pooh!' said Hal, 'what signifies a bit of packthread?' 'It is +whipcord,' said Ben. 'Well, whipcord! what signifies a bit of whipcord! +you can get a bit of whipcord twice as long as that for twopence; and +who cares for twopence? Not I, for one! so here it goes,' cried Hal, +drawing out his knife; and he cut the cord, precipitately, in sundry +places. + +'Lads, have you undone the parcels for me?' said Mr. Gresham, opening +the parlour door as he spoke. 'Yes, sir,' cried Hal; and he dragged off +his half-cut, half-entangled string--'here's the parcel.' 'And here's my +parcel, uncle; and here's the string,' said Ben. 'You may keep the +string for your pains,' said Mr. Gresham. 'Thank you, sir,' said Ben; +'what an excellent whipcord it is!' 'And you, Hal,' continued Mr. +Gresham, 'you may keep your string too, if it will be of any use to +you.' 'It will be of no use to me, thank you, sir,' said Hal. 'No, I am +afraid not, if this be it,' said his uncle, taking up the jagged knotted +remains of Hal's cord. + +A few days after this, Mr. Gresham gave to each of his nephews a new +top. + +'But how's this?' said Hal; 'these tops have no strings; what shall we +do for strings?' 'I have a string that will do very well for mine,' said +Ben; and he pulled out of his pocket the fine, long, smooth string which +had tied up the parcel. With this he soon set up his top, which spun +admirably well. + +'Oh, how I wish I had but a string,' said Hal. 'What shall I do for a +string? I'll tell you what, I can use the string that goes round my +hat!' 'But then,' said Ben, 'what will you do for a hat-band?' 'I'll +manage to do without one,' said Hal, and he took the string off his hat +for his top. It soon was worn through; and he split his top by driving +the peg too tightly into it. His cousin Ben let him set up his the next +day; but Hal was not more fortunate or more careful when he meddled with +other people's things than when he managed his own. He had scarcely +played half an hour before he split it, by driving the peg too +violently. + +Ben bore this misfortune with good humour. 'Come,' said he, 'it can't be +helped; but give me the string, because _that_ may still be of use for +something else.' + +It happened some time afterwards that a lady, who had been intimately +acquainted with Hal's mother at Bath--that is to say, who had frequently +met her at the card-table during the winter--now arrived at Clifton. She +was informed by his mother that Hal was at Mr. Gresham's, and her sons, +who were _friends_ of his, came to see him, and invited him to spend the +next day with them. + +Hal joyfully accepted the invitation. He was always glad to go out to +dine, because it gave him something to do, something to think of, or at +least something to say. Besides this, he had been educated to think it +was a fine thing to visit fine people; and Lady Diana Sweepstakes (for +that was the name of his mother's acquaintance) was a very fine lady, +and her two sons intended to be very _great_ gentlemen. He was in a +prodigious hurry when these young gentlemen knocked at his uncle's door +the next day; but just as he got to the hall door, little Patty called +to him from the top of the stairs, and told him that he had dropped his +pocket-handkerchief. + +'Pick it up, then, and bring it to me, quick, can't you, child?' cried +Hal, 'for Lady Di's sons are waiting for me.' + +Little Patty did not know anything about Lady Di's sons; but as she was +very good-natured, and saw that her cousin Hal was, for some reason or +other, in a desperate hurry, she ran downstairs as fast as she possibly +could towards the landing-place, where the handkerchief lay; but, alas! +before she reached the handkerchief, she fell, rolling down a whole +flight of stairs, and when her fall was at last stopped by the +landing-place, she did not cry out, she writhed, as if she was in great +pain. + +'Where are you hurt, my love?' said Mr. Gresham, who came instantly, on +hearing the noise of some one falling downstairs. 'Where are you hurt, +my dear?' + +'Here, papa,' said the little girl, touching her ankle, which she had +decently covered with her gown. 'I believe I am hurt here, but not +much,' added she, trying to rise; 'only it hurts me when I move.' 'I'll +carry you; don't move then,' said her father, and he took her up in his +arms. 'My shoe! I've lost one of my shoes,' said she. + +Ben looked for it upon the stairs, and he found it sticking in a loop of +whipcord, which was entangled round one of the banisters. When this cord +was drawn forth, it appeared that it was the very same jagged, entangled +piece which Hal had pulled off his parcel. He had diverted himself with +running up and down stairs, whipping the banisters with it, as he +thought he could convert it to no better use; and, with his usual +carelessness, he at last left it hanging just where he happened to throw +it when the dinner bell rang. Poor little Patty's ankle was terribly +strained, and Hal reproached himself for his folly, and would have +reproached himself longer, perhaps, if Lady Di Sweepstakes' sons had not +hurried him away. + +In the evening, Patty could not run about as she used to do; but she sat +upon the sofa, and she said that she did not feel the pain of her ankle +_so much_ whilst Ben was so good as to play at _jack straws_ with her. + +'That's right, Ben; never be ashamed of being good-natured to those who +are younger and weaker than yourself,' said his uncle, smiling at seeing +him produce his whipcord, to indulge his little cousin with a game at +her favourite cat's cradle. 'I shall not think you one bit less manly, +because I see you playing at cat's cradle with a little child of six +years old.' + +Hal, however, was not precisely of his uncle's opinion; for when he +returned in the evening, and saw Ben playing with his little cousin, he +could not help smiling contemptuously, and asked if he had been playing +at cat's cradle all night. In a heedless manner he made some inquiries +after Patty's sprained ankle, and then he ran on to tell all the news he +had heard at Lady Diana Sweepstakes'--news which he thought would make +him appear a person of vast importance. + +'Do you know, uncle--do you know, Ben,' said he, 'there's to be the most +_famous_ doings that ever were heard of upon the Downs here, the first +day of next month, which will be in a fortnight, thank my stars! I wish +the fortnight was over; I shall think of nothing else, I know, till that +happy day comes!' + +Mr. Gresham inquired why the first of September was to be so much +happier than any other day in the year. 'Why,' replied Hal, 'Lady Diana +Sweepstakes, you know, is a _famous_ rider, and archer, and _all +that_----' 'Very likely,' said Mr. Gresham, soberly; 'but what then?' + +'Dear uncle!' cried Hal, 'but you shall hear. There's to be a race upon +the Downs on the first of September, and after the race, there's to be +an archery meeting for the ladies, and Lady Diana Sweepstakes is to be +one of _them_. And after the ladies have done shooting--now, Ben, comes +the best part of it!--we boys are to have our turn, and Lady Di is to +give a prize to the best marksman amongst us, of a very handsome bow and +arrow. Do you know, I've been practising already, and I'll show you, +to-morrow, as soon as it comes home, the _famous_ bow and arrow that +Lady Diana has given me; but, perhaps,' added he, with a scornful laugh, +'you like a cat's cradle better than a bow and arrow.' + +[Illustration: _Playing at cat's cradle._] + +Ben made no reply to this taunt at the moment; but the next day, when +Hal's new bow and arrow came home, he convinced him that he knew how to +use it very well. + +'Ben,' said his uncle, 'you seem to be a good marksman, though you have +not boasted of yourself. I'll give you a bow and arrow, and, perhaps, if +you practise, you may make yourself an archer before the first of +September; and, in the meantime, you will not wish the fortnight to be +over, for you will have something to do.' + +'Oh, sir,' interrupted Hal, 'but if you mean that Ben should put in for +the prize, he must have a uniform.' 'Why _must_ he?' said Mr. Gresham. +'Why, sir, because everybody has--I mean everybody that's anybody; and +Lady Diana was talking about the uniform all dinner time, and it's +settled, all about it, except the buttons: the young Sweepstakes are to +get theirs made first for patterns--they are to be white, faced with +green, and they'll look very handsome, I'm sure; and I shall write to +mamma to-night, as Lady Diana bid me, about mine; and I shall tell her +to be sure to answer my letter, without fail, by return of post; and +then, if mamma makes no objection, which I know she won't, because she +never thinks much about expense, and _all that_--then I shall bespeak my +uniform, and get it made by the same tailor that makes for Lady Diana +and the young Sweepstakes.' + +'Mercy upon us!' said Mr. Gresham, who was almost stunned by the rapid +vociferation with which this long speech about a uniform was pronounced. +'I don't pretend to understand these things,' added he, with an air of +simplicity; 'but we will inquire, Ben, into the necessity of the case; +and if it is necessary--or, if you think it necessary, that you shall +have a uniform--why, I'll give you one.' + +'_You_, uncle? Will you, _indeed_?' exclaimed Hal, with amazement +painted in his countenance. 'Well that's the last thing in the world I +should have expected! You are not at all the sort of person I should +have thought would care about a uniform; and now I should have supposed +you'd have thought it extravagant to have a coat on purpose only for one +day; and I'm sure Lady Diana Sweepstakes thought as I do; for when I +told her of that motto over your kitchen chimney, 'WASTE NOT, WANT NOT,' +she laughed, and said that I had better not talk to you about uniforms, +and that my mother was the proper person to write to about my uniform; +but I'll tell Lady Diana, uncle, how good you are, and how much she was +mistaken.' + +'Take care how you do that,' said Mr. Gresham; 'for perhaps the lady was +not mistaken.' 'Nay, did not you say, just now, you would give poor Ben +a uniform?' 'I said I would, if he thought it necessary to have one.' +'Oh, I'll answer for it, he'll think it necessary,' said Hal, laughing, +'because it is necessary.' 'Allow him, at least, to judge for himself,' +said Mr. Gresham. 'My dear uncle, but I assure you,' said Hal, +earnestly, 'there's no judging about the matter, because really, upon my +word, Lady Diana said distinctly that her sons were to have uniforms, +white faced with green, and a green and white cockade in their hats.' +'May be so,' said Mr. Gresham, still with the same look of calm +simplicity; 'put on your hats, boys, and come with me. I know a +gentleman whose sons are to be at this archery meeting, and we will +inquire into all the particulars from him. Then, after we have seen him +(it is not eleven o'clock yet), we shall have time enough to walk on to +Bristol, and choose the cloth for Ben's uniform, if it is necessary.' + +'I cannot tell what to make of all he says,' whispered Hal, as he +reached down his hat; 'do you think, Ben, he means to give you this +uniform, or not?' 'I think,' said Ben, 'that he means to give me one, if +it is necessary; or, as he said, if I think it is necessary.' + +'And that to be sure you will; won't you? or else you'll be a great +fool, I know, after all I've told you. How can any one in the world know +so much about the matter as I, who have dined with Lady Diana +Sweepstakes but yesterday, and heard all about it from beginning to end? +And as for this gentleman that we are going to, I'm sure, if he knows +anything about the matter, he'll say exactly the same as I do.' 'We +shall hear,' said Ben, with a degree of composure which Hal could by no +means comprehend when a uniform was in question. + +The gentleman upon whom Mr. Gresham called had three sons, who were all +to be at this archery meeting; and they unanimously assured him, in the +presence of Hal and Ben, that they had never thought of buying uniforms +for this grand occasion, and that, amongst the number of their +acquaintance, they knew of but three boys whose friends intended to be +at such an _unnecessary_ expense. Hal stood amazed. + +'Such are the varieties of opinion upon all the grand affairs of life,' +said Mr. Gresham, looking at his nephews. 'What amongst one set of +people you hear asserted to be absolutely necessary, you will hear from +another set of people is quite unnecessary. All that can be done, my +dear boys, in these difficult cases, is to judge for yourselves which +opinions and which people are the most reasonable.' + +Hal, who had been more accustomed to think of what was fashionable than +of what was reasonable, without at all considering the good sense of +what his uncle said to him, replied, with childish petulance, 'Indeed, +sir, I don't know what other people think; but I only know what Lady +Diana Sweepstakes said.' The name of Lady Diana Sweepstakes, Hal +thought, must impress all present with respect; he was highly astonished +when, as he looked round, he saw a smile of contempt upon every one's +countenance; and he was yet further bewildered when he heard her spoken +of as a very silly, extravagant, ridiculous woman, whose opinion no +prudent person would ask upon any subject, and whose example was to be +shunned instead of being imitated. + +'Ay, my dear Hal,' said his uncle, smiling at his look of amazement, +'these are some of the things that young people must learn from +experience. All the world do not agree in opinion about characters: you +will hear the same person admired in one company and blamed in another; +so that we must still come round to the same point, _Judge for +yourself_.' + +Hal's thoughts were, however, at present too full of the uniform to +allow his judgment to act with perfect impartiality. As soon as their +visit was over, and all the time they walked down the hill from Prince's +Buildings towards Bristol, he continued to repeat nearly the same +arguments which he had formerly used respecting necessity, the uniform, +and Lady Diana Sweepstakes. To all this Mr. Gresham made no reply, and +longer had the young gentleman expatiated upon the subject, which had so +strongly seized upon his imagination, had not his senses been forcibly +assailed at this instant by the delicious odours and tempting sight of +certain cakes and jellies in a pastrycook's shop. 'Oh, uncle,' said he, +as his uncle was going to turn the corner to pursue the road to Bristol, +'look at those jellies!' pointing to a confectioner's shop. 'I must buy +some of those good things, for I have got some halfpence in my pocket.' +'Your having halfpence in your pocket is an excellent reason for +eating,' said Mr. Gresham, smiling. 'But I really am hungry,' said Hal; +'you know, uncle, it is a good while since breakfast.' + +His uncle, who was desirous to see his nephews act without restraint, +that he might judge their characters, bid them do as they pleased. + +'Come, then, Ben, if you've any halfpence in your pocket.' 'I'm not +hungry,' said Ben. 'I suppose _that_ means that you've no halfpence,' +said Hal, laughing, with the look of superiority which he had been +taught to think _the rich_ might assume towards those who were convicted +either of poverty or economy. 'Waste not, want not,' said Ben to +himself. Contrary to his cousin's surmise, he happened to have two +pennyworth of halfpence actually in his pocket. + +At the very moment Hal stepped into the pastrycook's shop, a poor, +industrious man, with a wooden leg, who usually sweeps the dirty corner +of the walk which turns at this spot to the Wells, held his hat to Ben, +who, after glancing his eye at the petitioner's well-worn broom, +instantly produced his twopence. 'I wish I had more halfpence for you, +my good man,' said he; 'but I've only twopence.' + +Hal came out of Mr. Millar's, the confectioner's shop, with a hatful of +cakes in his hand. Mr. Millar's dog was sitting on the flags before the +door, and he looked up with a wistful, begging eye at Hal, who was +eating a queen-cake. Hal, who was wasteful even in his good-nature, +threw a whole queen-cake to the dog, who swallowed it for a single +mouthful. + +'There goes twopence in the form of a queen-cake,' said Mr. Gresham. + +Hal next offered some of his cakes to his uncle and cousin; but they +thanked him, and refused to eat any, because, they said, they were not +hungry; so he ate and ate as he walked along, till at last he stopped +and said, 'This bun tastes so bad after the queen-cakes, I can't bear +it!' and he was going to fling it from him into the river. 'Oh, it is a +pity to waste that good bun; we may be glad of it yet,' said Ben; 'give +it me rather than throw it away.' 'Why, I thought you said you were not +hungry,' said Hal. 'True, I am not hungry now; but that is no reason why +I should never be hungry again.' 'Well, there is the cake for you. Take +it; for it has made me sick, and I don't care what becomes of it.' + +Ben folded the refuse bit of his cousin's bun in a piece of paper, and +put it into his pocket. + +'I'm beginning to be exceeding tired or sick or something,' said Hal; +'and as there is a stand of coaches somewhere hereabouts, had we not +better take a coach, instead of walking all the way to Bristol?' + +'For a stout archer,' said Mr. Gresham, 'you are more easily tired than +one might have expected. However, with all my heart, let us take a +coach, for Ben asked me to show him the cathedral yesterday; and I +believe I should find it rather too much for me to walk so far, though I +am not sick with eating good things.' + +'_The cathedral!_' said Hal, after he had been seated in the coach about +a quarter of an hour, and had somewhat recovered from his sickness--'the +cathedral! Why, are we only going to Bristol to see the cathedral? I +thought we came out to see about a uniform.' + +There was a dulness and melancholy kind of stupidity in Hal's +countenance as he pronounced these words, like one wakening from a +dream, which made both his uncle and his cousin burst out a-laughing. + +'Why,' said Hal, who was now piqued, 'I'm sure you _did_ say, uncle, you +would go to Mr. Hall's to choose the cloth for the uniform.' 'Very true, +and so I will,' said Mr. Gresham; 'but we need not make a whole +morning's work, need we, of looking at a piece of cloth? Cannot we see a +uniform and a cathedral both in one morning?' + +They went first to the cathedral. Hal's head was too full of the uniform +to take any notice of the painted window, which immediately caught Ben's +embarrassed attention. He looked at the large stained figures on the +Gothic window, and he observed their coloured shadows on the floor and +walls. + +Mr. Gresham, who perceived that he was eager on all subjects to gain +information, took this opportunity of telling him several things about +the lost art of painting on glass, Gothic arches, etc., which Hal +thought extremely tiresome. + +'Come! come! we shall be late indeed,' said Hal; 'surely you've looked +long enough, Ben, at this blue and red window.' 'I'm only thinking about +these coloured shadows,' said Ben. 'I can show you when we go home, +Ben,' said his uncle, 'an entertaining paper upon such shadows.'[13] +'Hark!' cried Ben, 'did you hear that noise?' They all listened; and +they heard a bird singing in the cathedral. 'It's our old robin, sir,' +said the lad who had opened the cathedral door for them. + + [13] Vide Priestley's _History of Vision_, chapter on coloured + shadows. + +'Yes,' said Mr. Gresham, 'there he is, boys--look--perched upon the +organ; he often sits there, and sings, whilst the organ is playing.' +'And,' continued the lad who showed the cathedral, 'he has lived here +these many, many winters. They say he is fifteen years old; and he is so +tame, poor fellow! that if I had a bit of bread he'd come down and feed +in my hand.' 'I've a bit of bun here,' cried Ben joyfully, producing the +remains of the bun which Hal but an hour before would have thrown away. +'Pray, let us see the poor robin eat out of your hand.' + +The lad crumbled the bun, and called to the robin, who fluttered and +chirped, and seemed rejoiced at the sight of the bread; but yet he did +not come down from his pinnacle on the organ. + +'He is afraid of _us_,' said Ben; 'he is not used to eat before +strangers, I suppose.' + +'Ah, no, sir,' said the young man, with a deep sigh, 'that is not the +thing. He is used enough to eat afore company. Time was he'd have come +down for me before ever so many fine folks, and have eat his crumbs out +of my hand, at my first call; but, poor fellow! it's not his fault now. +He does not know me now, sir, since my accident, because of this great +black patch.' The young man put his hand to his right eye, which was +covered with a huge black patch. Ben asked what _accident_ he meant; and +the lad told him that, but a few weeks ago, he had lost the sight of his +eye by the stroke of a stone, which reached him as he was passing under +the rocks at Clifton, unluckily when the workmen were blasting. 'I don't +mind so much for myself, sir,' said the lad; 'but I can't work so well +now, as I used to do before my accident, for my old mother, who has had +a _stroke_ of the palsy; and I've a many little brothers and sisters not +well able yet to get their own livelihood, though they be as willing as +willing can be.' + +'Where does your mother live?' said Mr. Gresham. 'Hard by, sir, just +close to the church here: it was _her_ that always had the showing of it +to strangers, till she lost the use of her poor limbs.' + +'Shall we, may we, uncle, go that way? This is the house; is not it?' +said Ben, when they went out of the cathedral. + +They went into the house; it was rather a hovel than a house; but, poor +as it was, it was as neat as misery could make it. The old woman was +sitting up in her wretched bed, winding worsted; four meagre, +ill-clothed, pale children, were all busy, some of them sticking pins in +paper for the pin-maker, and others sorting rags for the paper-maker. + +'What a horrid place it is!' said Hal, sighing; 'I did not know there +were such shocking places in the world. I've often seen +terrible-looking, tumble-down places, as we drove through the town in +mamma's carriage; but then I did not know who lived in them; and I never +saw the inside of any of them. It is very dreadful, indeed, to think +that people are forced to live in this way. I wish mamma would send me +some more pocket-money, that I might do something for them. I had half a +crown; but,' continued he, feeling in his pockets, 'I'm afraid I spent +the last shilling of it this morning upon those cakes that made me sick. +I wish I had my shilling now, I'd give it to _these poor people_.' + +Ben, though he was all this time silent, was as sorry as his talkative +cousin for all these poor people. But there was some difference between +the sorrow of these two boys. + +Hal, after he was again seated in the hackney-coach, and had rattled +through the busy streets of Bristol for a few minutes, quite forgot the +spectacle of misery which he had seen; and the gay shops in Wine Street +and the idea of his green and white uniform wholly occupied his +imagination. + +'Now for our uniforms!' cried he, as he jumped eagerly out of the coach, +when his uncle stopped at the woollen-draper's door. + +'Uncle,' said Ben, stopping Mr. Gresham before he got out of the +carriage, 'I don't think a uniform is at all necessary for me. I'm very +much obliged to you; but I would rather not have one. I have a very good +coat, and I think it would be waste.' + +'Well, let me get out of the carriage, and we will see about it,' said +Mr. Gresham; 'perhaps the sight of the beautiful green and white cloth, +and the epaulette (have you ever considered the epaulettes?) may tempt +you to change your mind.' 'Oh no,' said Ben, laughing; 'I shall not +change my mind.' + +The green cloth, and the white cloth, and the epaulettes were produced, +to Hal's infinite satisfaction. His uncle took up a pen, and calculated +for a few minutes; then, showing the back of the letter, upon which he +was writing, to his nephews, 'Cast up these sums, boys,' said he, 'and +tell me whether I am right.' 'Ben, do you do it,' said Hal, a little +embarrassed; 'I am not quick at figures.' Ben _was_, and he went over +his uncle's calculation very expeditiously. + +'It is right, is it?' said Mr. Gresham. 'Yes, sir, quite right.' 'Then, +by this calculation, I find I could, for less than half the money your +uniforms would cost, purchase for each of you boys a warm greatcoat, +which you will want, I have a notion, this winter upon the Downs.' + +'Oh, sir,' said Hal, with an alarmed look; 'but it is not winter _yet_; +it is not cold weather _yet_. We shan't want greatcoats _yet_.' + +'Don't you remember how cold we were, Hal, the day before yesterday, in +that sharp wind, when we were flying our kite upon the Downs? and winter +will come, though it is not come yet--I am sure, I should like to have a +good warm greatcoat very much.' + +Mr. Gresham took six guineas out of his purse; and he placed three of +them before Hal, and three before Ben. 'Young gentlemen,' said he, 'I +believe your uniforms would come to about three guineas apiece. Now I +will lay out this money for you just as you please. Hal, what say you?' +'Why, sir,' said Hal, 'a greatcoat is a good thing, to be sure; and +then, after the greatcoat, as you said it would only cost half as much +as the uniform, there would be some money to spare, would not there?' +'Yes, my dear, about five-and-twenty shillings.' 'Five-and-twenty +shillings?--I could buy and do a great many things, to be sure, with +five-and-twenty shillings; but then, _the thing is_, I must go without +the uniform, if I have the greatcoat.' 'Certainly,' said his uncle. +'Ah!' said Hal, sighing, as he looked at the epaulette, 'uncle, if you +would not be displeased, if I choose the uniform----' 'I shall not be +displeased at your choosing whatever you like best,' said Mr. Gresham. + +'Well, then, thank you, sir,' said Hal; 'I think I had better have the +uniform, because, if I have not the uniform, now, directly, it will be +of no use to me, as the archery meeting is the week after next, you +know; and, as to the greatcoat, perhaps between this time and the _very_ +cold weather, which, perhaps, won't be till Christmas, papa will buy a +greatcoat for me; and I'll ask mamma to give me some pocket-money to +give away, and she will, perhaps.' To all this conclusive, conditional +reasoning, which depended upon the word _perhaps_, three times repeated, +Mr. Gresham made no reply; but he immediately bought the uniform for +Hal, and desired that it should be sent to Lady Diana Sweepstakes' son's +tailor, to be made up. The measure of Hal's happiness was now complete. + +'And how am I to lay out the three guineas for you, Ben?' said Mr. +Gresham; 'speak, what do you wish for first?' 'A greatcoat, uncle, if +you please.' Mr. Gresham bought the coat; and, after it was paid for, +five-and-twenty shillings of Ben's three guineas remained. 'What next, +my boy?' said his uncle. 'Arrows, uncle, if you please; three arrows.' +'My dear, I promised you a bow and arrows.' 'No, uncle, you only said a +bow.' 'Well, I meant a bow and arrows. I'm glad you are so exact, +however. It is better to claim less than more than what is promised. The +three arrows you shall have. But go on; how shall I dispose of these +five-and-twenty shillings for you?' 'In clothes, if you will be so good, +uncle, for that poor boy who has the great black patch on his eye.' + +'I always believed,' said Mr. Gresham, shaking hands with Ben, 'that +economy and generosity were the best friends, instead of being enemies, +as some silly, extravagant people would have us think them. Choose the +poor, blind boy's coat, my dear nephew, and pay for it. There's no +occasion for my praising you about the matter. Your best reward is in +your own mind, child; and you want no other, or I'm mistaken. Now, jump +into the coach, boys, and let's be off. We shall be late, I'm afraid,' +continued he, as the coach drove on; 'but I must let you stop, Ben, with +your goods, at the poor boy's door.' + +When they came to the house, Mr. Gresham opened the coach door, and Ben +jumped out with his parcel under his arm. + +'Stay, stay! you must take me with you,' said his pleased uncle; 'I like +to see people made happy as well as you do.' 'And so do I, too,' said +Hal; 'let me come with you. I almost wish my uniform was not gone to the +tailor's, so I do.' And when he saw the look of delight and gratitude +with which the poor boy received the clothes which Ben gave him, and +when he heard the mother and children thank him, Hal sighed, and said, +'Well, I hope mamma will give me some more pocket-money soon.' + +Upon his return home, however, the sight of the _famous_ bow and arrow, +which Lady Diana Sweepstakes had sent him, recalled to his imagination +all the joys of his green and white uniform; and he no longer wished +that it had not been sent to the tailor's. 'But I don't understand, +Cousin Hal,' said little Patty, 'why you call this bow a _famous_ bow. +You say _famous_ very often; and I don't know exactly what it means; a +_famous_ uniform--_famous_ doings. I remember you said there are to be +_famous_ doings, the first of September, upon the Downs. What does +_famous_ mean?' 'Oh, why, _famous_ means--now, don't you know what +_famous_ means? It means--it is a word that people say--it is the +fashion to say it--it means--it means _famous_.' Patty laughed, and +said, '_This_ does not explain it to me.' + +'No,' said Hal, 'nor can it be explained: if you don't understand it, +that's not my fault. Everybody but little children, I suppose, +understands it; but there's no explaining _those sort_ of words, if you +don't _take them_ at once. There's to be _famous_ doings upon the Downs, +the first of September; that is grand, fine. In short, what does it +signify talking any longer, Patty, about the matter? Give me my bow, for +I must go out upon the Downs and practise.' + +Ben accompanied him with the bow and the three arrows which his uncle +had now given to him; and, every day, these two boys went out upon the +Downs and practised shooting with indefatigable perseverance. Where +equal pains are taken, success is usually found to be pretty nearly +equal. Our two archers, by constant practice, became expert marksmen; +and before the day of trial, they were so exactly matched in point of +dexterity, that it was scarcely possible to decide which was superior. + +The long-expected 1st of September at length arrived. 'What sort of a +day is it?' was the first question that was asked by Hal and Ben the +moment that they wakened. The sun shone bright, but there was a sharp +and high wind. 'Ha!' said Ben, 'I shall be glad of my good greatcoat +to-day; for I've a notion it will be rather cold upon the Downs, +especially when we are standing still, as we must, whilst all the people +are shooting.' 'Oh, never mind! I don't think I shall feel it cold at +all,' said Hal, as he dressed himself in his new green and white +uniform; and he viewed himself with much complacency. + +'Good morning to you, uncle; how do you do?' said he, in a voice of +exultation, when he entered the breakfast-room. How do you do? seemed +rather to mean 'How do you like me in my uniform?' And his uncle's cool +'Very well, I thank you, Hal,' disappointed him, as it seemed only to +say, 'Your uniform makes no difference in my opinion of you.' + +Even little Patty went on eating her breakfast much as usual, and talked +of the pleasure of walking with her father to the Downs, and of all the +little things which interested her; so that Hal's epaulettes were not +the principal object in any one's imagination but his own. + +'Papa,' said Patty, 'as we go up the hill where there is so much red +mud, I must take care to pick my way nicely; and I must hold up my +frock, as you desired me, and, perhaps, you will be so good, if I am not +troublesome, to lift me over the very bad place where are no +stepping-stones. My ankle is entirely well, and I'm glad of that, or +else I should not be able to walk so far as the Downs. How good you were +to me, Ben, when I was in pain the day I sprained my ankle! You played +at jack straws and at cat's cradle with me. Oh, that puts me in +mind--here are your gloves which I asked you that night to let me mend. +I've been a great while about them; but are not they very neatly mended, +papa? Look at the sewing.' + +'I am not a very good judge of sewing, my dear little girl,' said Mr. +Gresham, examining the work with a close and scrupulous eye; 'but, in my +opinion, here is one stitch that is rather too long. The white teeth are +not quite even.' 'Oh, papa, I'll take out that long tooth in a minute,' +said Patty, laughing; 'I did not think that you would observe it so +soon.' + +'I would not have you trust to my blindness,' said her father, stroking +her head fondly; 'I observe everything. I observe, for instance, that +you are a grateful little girl, and that you are glad to be of use to +those who have been kind to you; and for this I forgive you the long +stitch.' 'But it's out, it's out, papa,' said Patty; 'and the next time +your gloves want mending, Ben, I'll mend them better.' + +'They are very nice, I think,' said Ben, drawing them on; 'and I am much +obliged to you. I was just wishing I had a pair of gloves to keep my +fingers warm to-day, for I never can shoot well when my hands are +benumbed. Look, Hal; you know how ragged these gloves were; you said +they were good for nothing but to throw away; now look, there's not a +hole in them,' said he, spreading his fingers. + +'Now, is it not very extraordinary,' said Hal to himself, 'that they +should go on so long talking about an old pair of gloves, without saying +scarcely a word about my new uniform? Well, the young Sweepstakes and +Lady Diana will talk enough about it; that's one comfort. Is not it time +to think of setting out, sir?' said Hal to his uncle. 'The company, you +know, are to meet at the Ostrich at twelve, and the race to begin at +one, and Lady Diana's horses, I know, were ordered to be at the door at +ten.' + +Mr. Stephen, the butler, here interrupted the hurrying young gentleman +in his calculations. 'There's a poor lad, sir, below, with a great black +patch on his right eye, who is come from Bristol, and wants to speak a +word with the young gentlemen, if you please. I told him they were just +going out with you; but he says he won't detain them more than half a +minute.' + +'Show him up, show him up,' said Mr. Gresham. + +'But, I suppose,' said Hal, with a sigh, 'that Stephen mistook, when he +said the young _gentlemen_; he only wants to see Ben, I daresay; I'm +sure he has no reason to want to see me.' + +'Here he comes--O Ben, he is dressed in the new coat you gave him,' +whispered Hal, who was really a good-natured boy, though extravagant. +'How much better he looks than he did in the ragged coat! Ah! he looked +at you first, Ben--and well he may!' + +The boy bowed, without any cringing civility, but with an open, decent +freedom in his manner, which expressed that he had been obliged, but +that he knew his young benefactor was not thinking of the obligation. +He made as little distinction as possible between his bows to the two +cousins. + +'As I was sent with a message, by the clerk of our parish, to Redland +chapel out on the Downs, to-day, sir,' said he to Mr. Gresham, 'knowing +your house lay in my way, my mother, sir, bid me call, and make bold to +offer the young gentlemen two little worsted balls that she has worked +for them,' continued the lad, pulling out of his pocket two worsted +balls worked in green and orange-coloured stripes. 'They are but poor +things, sir, she bid me say, to look at; but, considering she has but +one hand to work with, and _that_ her left hand, you'll not despise 'em, +we hopes.' He held the balls to Ben and Hal. 'They are both alike, +gentlemen,' said he. 'If you'll be pleased to take 'em, they're better +than they look, for they bound higher than your head. I cut the cork +round for the inside myself, which was all I could do.' + +'They are nice balls, indeed: we are much obliged to you,' said the boys +as they received them, and they proved them immediately. The balls +struck the floor with a delightful sound, and rebounded higher than Mr. +Gresham's head. Little Patty clapped her hands joyfully. But now a +thundering double rap at the door was heard. + +'The Master Sweepstakes, sir,' said Stephen, 'are come for Master Hal. +They say that all the young gentlemen who have archery uniforms are to +walk together, in a body, I think they say, sir; and they are to parade +along the Well Walk, they desired me to say, sir, with a drum and fife, +and so up the hill by Prince's Place, and all to go upon the Downs +together, to the place of meeting. I am not sure I'm right, sir; for +both the young gentlemen spoke at once, and the wind is very high at the +street door; so that I could not well make out all they said; but I +believe this is the sense of it.' + +'Yes, yes,' said Hal eagerly, 'it's all right. I know that is just what +was settled the day I dined at Lady Diana's; and Lady Diana and a great +party of gentlemen are to ride----' + +'Well, that is nothing to the purpose,' interrupted Mr. Gresham. 'Don't +keep these Master Sweepstakes waiting. Decide--do you choose to go with +them or with us?' 'Sir--uncle--sir, you know, since all the _uniforms_ +agreed to go together----' 'Off with you, then, Mr. Uniform, if you mean +to go,' said Mr. Gresham. + +Hal ran downstairs in such a hurry that he forgot his bow and arrows. +Ben discovered this when he went to fetch his own; and the lad from +Bristol, who had been ordered by Mr. Gresham to eat his breakfast before +he proceeded to Redland Chapel, heard Ben talking about his cousin's bow +and arrows. 'I know,' said Ben, 'he will be sorry not to have his bow +with him, because here are the green knots tied to it, to match his +cockade; and he said that the boys were all to carry their bows, as part +of the show.' + +'If you'll give me leave, sir,' said the poor Bristol lad, 'I shall have +plenty of time; and I'll run down to the Well Walk after the young +gentleman, and take him his bow and arrows.' + +'Will you? I shall be much obliged to you,' said Ben; and away went the +boy with the bow that was ornamented with green ribands. + +The public walk leading to the Wells was full of company. The windows of +all the houses in St. Vincent's Parade were crowded with well-dressed +ladies, who were looking out in expectation of the archery procession. +Parties of gentlemen and ladies, and a motley crowd of spectators, were +seen moving backwards and forwards, under the rocks, on the opposite +side of the water. A barge, with coloured streamers flying, was waiting +to take up a party who were going upon the water. The bargemen rested +upon their oars, and gazed with broad face of curiosity upon the busy +scene that appeared upon the public walk. + +The archers and archeresses were now drawn up on the flags under the +semicircular piazza just before Mrs. Yearsley's library. A little band +of children, who had been mustered by Lady Diana Sweepstakes' _spirited +exertions_, closed the procession. They were now all in readiness. The +drummer only waited for her ladyship's signal; and the archers' corps +only waited for her ladyship's word of command to march. + +'Where are your bow and arrows, my little man?' said her ladyship to +Hal, as she reviewed her Lilliputian regiment. 'You can't march, man, +without your arms?' + +Hal had despatched a messenger for his forgotten bow, but the messenger +returned not. He looked from side to side in great distress--'Oh, +there's my bow coming, I declare!' cried he; 'look, I see the bow and +the ribands. Look now, between the trees, Charles Sweepstakes, on the +Hotwell Walk; it is coming!' 'But you've kept us all waiting a +confounded time,' said his impatient friend. 'It is that good-natured +poor fellow from Bristol, I protest, that has brought it me; I'm sure I +don't deserve it from him,' said Hal to himself, when he saw the lad +with the black patch on his eye running, quite out of breath, towards +him, with his bow and arrows. + +'Fall back, my good friend--fall back,' said the military lady, as soon +as he had delivered the bow to Hal; 'I mean, stand out of the way, for +your great patch cuts no figure amongst us. Don't follow so close, now, +as if you belonged to us, pray.' + +The poor boy had no ambition to partake the triumph; he _fell back_ as +soon as he understood the meaning of the lady's words. The drum beat, +the fife played, the archers marched, the spectators admired. Hal +stepped proudly, and felt as if the eyes of the whole universe were upon +his epaulettes, or upon the facings of his uniform; whilst all the time +he was considered only as part of a show. + +The walk appeared much shorter than usual, and he was extremely sorry +that Lady Diana, when they were half-way up the hill leading to Prince's +Place, mounted her horse, because the road was dirty, and all the +gentlemen and ladies who accompanied her followed her example. + +'We can leave the children to walk, you know,' said she to the gentleman +who helped her to mount her horse. 'I must call to some of them, though, +and leave orders where they are to _join_.' + +She beckoned: and Hal, who was foremost, and proud to show his alacrity, +ran on to receive her ladyship's orders. Now, as we have before +observed, it was a sharp and windy day; and though Lady Diana +Sweepstakes was actually speaking to him, and looking at him, he could +not prevent his nose from wanting to be blowed: he pulled out his +handkerchief and out rolled the new ball which had been given to him +just before he left home, and which, according to his usual careless +habits, he had stuffed into his pocket in his hurry. 'Oh, my new ball!' +cried he, as he ran after it. As he stopped to pick it up, he let go his +hat, which he had hitherto held on with anxious care; for the hat, +though it had a fine green and white cockade, had no band or string +round it. The string, as we may recollect, our wasteful hero had used +in spinning his top. The hat was too large for his head without this +band; a sudden gust of wind blew it off. Lady Diana's horse started and +reared. She was a _famous_ horsewoman, and sat him to the admiration of +all beholders; but there was a puddle of red clay and water in this +spot, and her ladyship's uniform habit was a sufferer by the accident. +'Careless brat!' said she, 'why can't he keep his hat upon his head?' In +the meantime, the wind blew the hat down the hill, and Hal ran after it +amidst the laughter of his kind friends, the young Sweepstakes, and the +rest of the little regiment. The hat was lodged, at length, upon a bank. +Hal pursued it: he thought this bank was hard, but, alas! the moment he +set his foot upon it the foot sank. He tried to draw it back; his other +foot slipped, and he fell prostrate, in his green and white uniform, +into the treacherous bed of red mud. His companions, who had halted upon +the top of the hill, stood laughing spectators of his misfortune. + +It happened that the poor boy with the black patch upon his eye, who had +been ordered by Lady Diana to '_fall back_,' and to '_keep at a +distance_' was now coming up the hill; and the moment he saw our fallen +hero, he hastened to his assistance. He dragged poor Hal, who was a +deplorable spectacle, out of the red mud. The obliging mistress of a +lodging-house, as soon as she understood that the young gentleman was +nephew to Mr. Gresham, to whom she had formerly let her house, received +Hal, covered as he was with dirt. + +The poor Bristol lad hastened to Mr. Gresham's for clean stockings and +shoes for Hal. He was willing to give up his uniform: it was rubbed and +rubbed, and a spot here and there was washed out; and he kept +continually repeating,--'When it's dry it will all brush off--when it's +dry it will all brush off, won't it?' But soon the fear of being too +late at the archery meeting began to balance the dread of appearing in +his stained habiliments; and he now as anxiously repeated, whilst the +woman held the wet coat to the fire, 'Oh, I shall be too late; indeed, I +shall be too late; make haste; it will never dry; hold it nearer--nearer +to the fire. I shall lose my turn to shoot; oh, give me the coat; I +don't mind how it is, if I can but get it on.' + +Holding it nearer and nearer to the fire dried it quickly, to be sure; +but it shrank it also, so that it was no easy matter to get the coat +on again. However, Hal, who did not see the red splashes, which, in +spite of all these operations, were too visible upon his shoulders, and +upon the skirts of his white coat behind, was pretty well satisfied to +observe that there was not one spot upon the facings. 'Nobody,' said he, +'will take notice of my coat behind, I daresay. I think it looks as +smart almost as ever!'--and under this persuasion our young archer +resumed his bow--his bow with green ribands, now no more!--and he +pursued his way to the Downs. + +[Illustration: _He dragged poor Hal out of the red mud._] + +All his companions were far out of sight. 'I suppose,' said he to his +friend with the black patch--'I suppose my uncle and Ben had left home +before you went for the shoes and stockings for me?' + +'Oh yes, sir; the butler said they had been gone to the Downs the matter +of a good half-hour or more.' + +Hal trudged on as fast as he possibly could. When he got upon the Downs, +he saw numbers of carriages, and crowds of people, all going towards the +place of meeting at the Ostrich. He pressed forwards. He was at first so +much afraid of being late, that he did not take notice of the mirth his +motley appearance excited in all beholders. At length he reached the +appointed spot. There was a great crowd of people. In the midst he heard +Lady Diana's loud voice betting upon some one who was just going to +shoot at the mark. + +'So then the shooting is begun, is it?' said Hal. 'Oh, let me in! pray +let me into the circle! I'm one of the archers--I am, indeed; don't you +see my green and white uniform?' + +'Your red and white uniform, you mean,' said the man to whom he +addressed himself; and the people, as they opened a passage for him, +could not refrain laughing at the mixture of dirt and finery which it +exhibited. In vain, when he got into the midst of the formidable circle, +he looked to his friends, the young Sweepstakes, for their countenance +and support. They were amongst the most unmerciful of the laughers. Lady +Diana also seemed more to enjoy than to pity his confusion. + +'Why could you not keep your hat upon your head, man?' said she, in her +masculine tone. 'You have been almost the ruin of my poor uniform habit; +but I've escaped rather better than you have. Don't stand there, in the +middle of the circle, or you'll have an arrow in your eyes just now, +I've a notion.' + +Hal looked round in search of better friends. 'Oh, where's my +uncle?--where's Ben?' said he. He was in such confusion, that, amongst +the number of faces, he could scarcely distinguish one from another; but +he felt somebody at this moment pull his elbow, and, to his great +relief, he heard the friendly voice and saw the good-natured face of his +cousin Ben. + +'Come back--come behind these people,' said Ben, 'and put on my +greatcoat; here it is for you.' + +Right glad was Hal to cover his disgraced uniform with the rough +greatcoat which he had formerly despised. He pulled the stained, +drooping cockade out of his unfortunate hat; and he was now sufficiently +recovered from his vexation to give an intelligible account of his +accident to his uncle and Patty, who anxiously inquired what had +detained him so long, and what had been the matter. In the midst of the +history of his disaster, he was just proving to Patty that his taking +the hatband to spin his top had nothing to do with his misfortune, and +he was at the same time endeavouring to refute his uncle's opinion that +the waste of the whipcord that tied the parcel was the original cause of +all his evils, when he was summoned to try his skill with his _famous_ +bow. + +'My hands are benumbed; I can scarcely feel,' said he, rubbing them, and +blowing upon the ends of his fingers. + +'Come, come,' cried young Sweepstakes, 'I'm within one inch of the mark; +who'll go nearer? I shall like to see. Shoot away, Hal; but first +understand our laws; we settled them before you came upon the green. You +are to have three shots, with your own bow and your own arrows; and +nobody's to borrow or lend under pretence of other's bows being better +or worse, or under any pretence. Do you hear, Hal?' + +This young gentleman had good reasons for being so strict in these laws, +as he had observed that none of his companions had such an excellent bow +as he had provided for himself. Some of the boys had forgotten to bring +more than one arrow with them, and by his cunning regulation that each +person should shoot with his own arrows, many had lost one or two of +their shots. + +'You are a lucky fellow; you have your three arrows,' said young +Sweepstakes. 'Come, we can't wait whilst you rub your fingers, +man--shoot away.' + +Hal was rather surprised at the asperity with which his friend spoke. He +little knew how easily acquaintance who call themselves friends can +change when their interest comes in the slightest degree in competition +with their friendship. Hurried by his impatient rival, and with his +hands so much benumbed that he could scarcely feel how to fix the arrow +in the string, he drew the bow. The arrow was within a quarter of an +inch of Master Sweepstakes' mark, which was the nearest that had yet +been hit. Hal seized his second arrow. 'If I have any luck----' said he. +But just as he pronounced the word _luck_, and as he bent his bow, the +string broke in two, and the bow fell from his hands. + +'There, it's all over with you!' cried Master Sweepstakes, with a +triumphant laugh. + +'Here's my bow for him, and welcome,' said Ben. 'No, no, sir,' said +Master Sweepstakes, 'that is not fair; that's against the regulation. +You may shoot with your own bow, if you choose it, or you may not, just +as you think proper; but you must not lend it, sir.' + +It was now Ben's turn to make his trial. His first arrow was not +successful. His second was exactly as near as Hal's first. 'You have but +one more,' said Master Sweepstakes; 'now for it!' Ben, before he +ventured his last arrow, prudently examined the string of his bow; and, +as he pulled it to try its strength, it cracked. Master Sweepstakes +clapped his hands, with loud exultations and insulting laughter. But his +laughter ceased when our provident hero calmly drew from his pocket an +excellent piece of whipcord. + +'The everlasting whipcord, I declare!' exclaimed Hal, when he saw that +it was the very same that had tied up the parcel. 'Yes,' said Ben, as he +fastened it to his bow, 'I put it into my pocket to-day on purpose, +because I thought I might happen to want it.' He drew his bow the third +and last time. + +'Oh, papa!' cried little Patty, as his arrow hit the mark, 'it's the +nearest; is it not the nearest?' + +Master Sweepstakes, with anxiety, examined the hit. There could be no +doubt. Ben was victorious! The bow, the prize bow, was now delivered to +him; and Hal, as he looked at the whipcord, exclaimed, 'How _lucky_ this +whipcord has been to you, Ben!' + +'It is _lucky_, perhaps, you mean, that he took care of it,' said Mr. +Gresham. + +'Ay,' said Hal, 'very true; he might well say, "Waste not, want not." It +is a good thing to have two strings to one's bow.' + + + + +OLD POZ + + + LUCY, _daughter to the Justice._ + MRS. BUSTLE, _landlady of the 'Saracen's Head.'_ + JUSTICE HEADSTRONG. + OLD MAN. + WILLIAM, _a Servant._ + + + SCENE I + + _The House of Justice Headstrong--A hall--Lucy watering some + myrtles--A servant behind the scenes is heard to say--_ + +I tell you my master is not up. You can't see him, so go about your +business, I say. + +_Lucy._ To whom are you speaking, William? Who's that? + +_Will._ Only an old man, miss, with a complaint for my master. + +_Lucy._ Oh, then, don't send him away--don't send him away. + +_Will._ But master has not had his chocolate, ma'am. He won't ever see +anybody before he drinks his chocolate, you know, ma'am. + +_Lucy._ But let the old man, then, come in here. Perhaps he can wait a +little while. Call him. + + (_Exit servant._) + + (_Lucy sings, and goes on watering her myrtles; the servant + shows in the Old Man._) + +_Will._ You can't see my master this hour; but miss will let you stay +here. + +_Lucy_ (_aside_). Poor old man! how he trembles as he walks. (_Aloud._) +Sit down, sit down. My father will see you soon; pray sit down. + + (_He hesitates; she pushes a chair towards him._) + +_Lucy._ Pray sit down. + + (_He sits down._) + +_Old Man._ You are very good, miss; very good. + + (_Lucy goes to her myrtles again._) + +_Lucy._ Ah! I'm afraid this poor myrtle is quite dead--quite dead. + + (_The Old Man sighs, and she turns round._) + +_Lucy_ (_aside_). I wonder what can make him sigh so! (_Aloud._) My +father won't make you wait long. + +_Old M._ Oh, ma'am, as long as he pleases. I'm in no haste--no haste. +It's only a small matter. + +_Lucy._ But does a small matter make you sigh so? + +_Old M._ Ah, miss; because though it is a small matter in itself, it is +not a small matter to me (_sighing again_); it was my all, and I've lost +it. + +_Lucy._ What do you mean? What have you lost? + +_Old M._ Why, miss--but I won't trouble you about it. + +_Lucy._ But it won't trouble me at all--I mean, I wish to hear it; so +tell it me. + +_Old M._ Why, miss, I slept last night at the inn here, in town--the +'Saracen's Head'---- + +_Lucy_ (_interrupts him_). Hark! there is my father coming downstairs; +follow me. You may tell me your story as we go along. + +_Old M._ I slept at the 'Saracen's Head,' miss, and---- + + (_Exit talking._) + + + SCENE II + + _Justice Headstrong's Study_ + + (_He appears in his nightgown and cap, with his gouty foot upon a + stool--a table and chocolate beside him--Lucy is leaning on the arm + of his chair._) + +_Just._ Well, well, my darling, presently; I'll see him presently. + +_Lucy._ Whilst you are drinking your chocolate, papa? + +_Just._ No, no, no--I never see anybody till I have done my chocolate, +darling. (_He tastes his chocolate._) There's no sugar in this, child. + +_Lucy._ Yes, indeed, papa. + +_Just._ No, child--there's _no_ sugar, I tell you; that's poz! + +_Lucy._ Oh, but, papa, I assure you I put in two lumps myself. + +_Just._ There's _no_ sugar, I say; why will you contradict me, child, +for ever? There's no sugar, I say. + + (_Lucy leans over him playfully, and with his teaspoon pulls out + two lumps of sugar._) + +_Lucy._ What's this, papa? + +_Just._ Pshaw! pshaw! pshaw!--it is not melted, child--it is the same as +no sugar.--Oh, my foot, girl, my foot!--you kill me. Go, go, I'm busy. +I've business to do. Go and send William to me; do you hear, love? + +_Lucy._ And the old man, papa? + +_Just._ What old man? I tell you what, I've been plagued ever since I +was awake, and before I was awake, about that old man. If he can't wait, +let him go about his business. Don't you know, child, I never see +anybody till I've drunk my chocolate; and I never will, if it were a +duke--that's poz! Why, it has but just struck twelve; if he can't wait, +he can go about his business, can't he? + +_Lucy._ Oh, sir, he _can_ wait. It was not he who was impatient. (_She +comes back playfully._) It was only I, papa; don't be angry. + +_Just._ Well, well, well (_finishing his cup of chocolate, and pushing +his dish away_); and at any rate there was not sugar enough. Send +William, send William, child; and I'll finish my own business, and +then---- + + (_Exit Lucy, dancing, 'And then!--and then!'_) + + JUSTICE, _alone._ + +_Just._ Oh, this foot of mine!--(_twinges_)--Oh, this foot! Ay, if Dr. +Sparerib could cure one of the gout, then, indeed, I should think +something of him; but as to my leaving off my bottle of port, it's +nonsense; it's all nonsense; I can't do it; I can't, and I won't for all +the Dr. Spareribs in Christendom; that's poz! + + _Enter_ WILLIAM. + +_Just._ William--oh! ay! hey! what answer, pray, did you bring from the +'Saracen's Head'? Did you see Mrs. Bustle herself, as I bid you? + +_Will._ Yes, sir, I saw the landlady herself; she said she would come up +immediately, sir. + +[Illustration: Lucy. _What's this, papa?_ Just. _Pshaw! pshaw! +pshaw!--it is not melted, child--it is the same as no sugar._] + +_Just._ Ah, that's well--immediately? + +_Will._ Yes, sir, and I hear her voice below now. + +_Just._ Oh, show her up; show Mrs. Bustle in. + + _Enter_ MRS. BUSTLE, _the landlady of the 'Saracen's Head.'_ + +_Land._ Good-morrow to your worship! I'm glad to see your worship look +so purely. I came up with all speed (_taking breath_). Our pie is in the +oven; that was what you sent for me about, I take it. + +_Just._ True, true; sit down, good Mrs. Bustle, pray---- + +_Land._ Oh, your worship's always very good (_settling her apron_). I +came up just as I was--only threw my shawl over me. I thought your +worship would excuse--I'm quite, as it were, rejoiced to see your +worship look so purely, and to find you up so hearty---- + +_Just._ Oh, I'm very hearty (_coughing_), always hearty, and thankful +for it. I hope to see many Christmas doings yet, Mrs. Bustle. And so our +pie is in the oven, I think you say? + +_Land._ In the oven it is. I put it in with my own hands; and if we have +but good luck in the baking, it will be as pretty a goose-pie--though I +say it that should not say it--as pretty a goose-pie as ever your +worship set your eyes upon. + +_Just._ Will you take a glass of anything this morning, Mrs. Bustle?--I +have some nice usquebaugh. + +_Land._ Oh, no, your worship!--I thank your worship, though, as much as +if I took it; but I just took my luncheon before I came up; or more +proper, _my sandwich_, I should say, for the fashion's sake, to be sure. +A _luncheon_ won't go down with nobody nowadays (_laughs_). I expect +hostler and boots will be calling for their sandwiches just now (_laughs +again_). I'm sure I beg your worship's pardon for mentioning a +_luncheon_. + +_Just._ Oh, Mrs. Bustle, the word's a good word, for it means a good +thing--ha! ha! ha! (_pulls out his watch_); but pray, is it luncheon +time? Why, it's past one, I declare; and I thought I was up in +remarkably good time, too. + +_Land._ Well, and to be sure so it was, remarkably good time for _your +worship_; but folks in our way must be up betimes, you know. I've been +up and about these seven hours. + +_Just._ (_stretching_). Seven hours! + +_Land._ Ay, indeed--eight, I might say, for I am an early little body; +though I say it that should not say it--I _am_ an early little body. + +_Just._ An early little body, as you say, Mrs. Bustle--so I shall have +my goose-pie for dinner, hey? + +_Land._ For dinner, as sure as the clock strikes four--but I mustn't +stay prating, for it may be spoiling if I'm away; so I must wish your +worship a good morning. + + (_She curtsies._) + +_Just._ No ceremony--no ceremony; good Mrs. Bustle, your servant. + + _Enter_ WILLIAM, _to take away the chocolate. The Landlady is + putting on her shawl._ + +_Just._ You may let that man know, William, that I have dispatched my +_own_ business, and am at leisure for his now (_taking a pinch of +snuff_). Hum! pray, William (_Justice leans back gravely_), what sort of +a looking fellow is he, pray? + +_Will._ Most like a sort of travelling man, in my opinion, sir--or +something that way, I take it. + + (_At these words the Landlady turns round inquisitively, and + delays, that she may listen, while she is putting on and pinning + her shawl._) + +_Just._ Hum! a sort of a travelling man. Hum! lay my books out open at +the title Vagrant; and, William, tell the cook that Mrs. Bustle promises +me the goose-pie for dinner. Four o'clock, do you hear? And show the old +man in now. + + (_The Landlady looks eagerly towards the door, as it opens, and + exclaims,_) + +_Land._ My old gentleman, as I hope to breathe! + + _Enter the_ OLD MAN. + + (_Lucy follows the Old Man on tiptoe--The Justice leans back and + looks consequential--The Landlady sets her arms akimbo--The Old Man + starts as he sees her._) + +_Just._ What stops you, friend? Come forward, if you please. + +_Land._ (_advancing_). So, sir, is it you, sir? Ay, you little thought, +I warrant ye, to meet me here with his worship; but there you reckoned +without your host--Out of the frying-pan into the fire. + +_Just._ What is all this? What is this? + +_Land._ (_running on_). None of your flummery stuff will go down with +his worship no more than with me, I give you warning; so you may go +further and far worse, and spare your breath to cool your porridge. + +_Just._ (_waves his hand with dignity_). Mrs. Bustle, good Mrs. Bustle, +remember where you are. Silence! silence! Come forward, sir, and let me +hear what you have to say. + + (_The Old Man comes forward._) + +_Just._ Who and what may you be, friend, and what is your business with +me? + +_Land._ Sir, if your worship will give me leave---- + + (_Justice makes a sign to her to be silent._) + +_Old M._ Please your worship, I am an old soldier. + +_Land._ (_interrupting_). An old hypocrite, say. + +_Just._ Mrs. Bustle, pray, I desire, let the man speak. + +_Old M._ For these two years past--ever since, please your worship--I +wasn't able to work any longer; for in my youth I did work as well as +the best of them. + +_Land._ (_eager to interrupt_). You work--you---- + +_Just._ Let him finish his story, I say. + +_Lucy._ Ay, do, do, papa, speak for him. Pray, Mrs. Bustle---- + +_Land._ (_turning suddenly round to Lucy_). Miss, a good morrow to you, +ma'am. I humbly beg your apologies for not seeing you sooner, Miss Lucy. + + (_Justice nods to the Old Man, who goes on._) + +_Old Man._ But, please your worship, it pleased God to take away the use +of my left arm; and since that I have never been able to work. + +_Land._ Flummery! flummery! + +_Just._ (_angrily_). Mrs. Bustle, I have desired silence, and I will +have it, that's poz! You shall have your turn presently. + +_Old M._ For these two years past (for why should I be ashamed to tell +the truth?) I have lived upon charity, and I scraped together a guinea +and a half and upwards, and I was travelling with it to my grandson, in +the north, with him to end my days--_but_ (_sighing_)---- + +_Just._ _But_ what? Proceed, pray, to the point. + +_Old M._ But last night I slept here in town, please your worship, at +the 'Saracen's Head.' + +_Land._ (_in a rage_). At the 'Saracen's Head!' Yes, forsooth! none such +ever slept at the 'Saracen's Head' afore, or ever shall afterwards, as +long as my name's Bustle and the 'Saracen's Head' is the 'Saracen's +Head.' + +_Just._ Again! again! Mrs. Landlady, this is downright--I have said you +should speak presently. He _shall_ speak first, since I've said +it--that's poz! Speak on, friend. You slept last night at the 'Saracen's +Head.' + +[Illustration: '_Five times have I commanded silence, and I won't +command anything five times in vain_--that's poz!'] + +_Old M._ Yes, please your worship, and I accuse nobody; but at night I +had my little money safe, and in the morning it was gone. + +_Land._ Gone!--gone, indeed, in my house! and this is the way I'm to be +treated! Is it so? I couldn't but speak, your worship, to such an +inhuman like, out o' the way, scandalous charge, if King George and all +the Royal Family were sitting in your worship's chair, beside you, to +silence me (_turning to the Old Man_). And this is your gratitude, +forsooth! Didn't you tell me that any hole in my house was good enough +for you, wheedling hypocrite? And the thanks I receive is to call me and +mine a pack of thieves. + +_Old M._ Oh, no, no, no, _No_--a pack of thieves, by no means. + +_Land._ Ay, I thought when _I_ came to speak we should have you upon +your marrow-bones in---- + +_Just._ (_imperiously_). Silence! Five times have I commanded silence, +and five times in vain; and I won't command anything five times in +vain--_that's poz_! + +_Land._ (_in a pet, aside_). Old Poz! (_Aloud._) Then, your worship, I +don't see any business I have to be waiting here; the folks want me at +home (_returning and whispering_). Shall I send the goose-pie up, your +worship, if it's ready? + +_Just._ (_with magnanimity_). I care not for the goose-pie, Mrs. Bustle. +Do not talk to me of goose-pies; this is no place to talk of pies. + +_Land._ Oh, for that matter, your worship knows best, to be sure. + + (_Exit Landlady, angry._) + + + SCENE III + + JUSTICE HEADSTRONG, OLD MAN, _and_ LUCY + +_Lucy._ Ah, now, I'm glad he can speak; now tell papa; and you need not +be afraid to speak to him, for he is very good-natured. Don't contradict +him, though, because he told _me_ not. + +_Just._ Oh, darling, _you_ shall contradict me as often as you +please--only not before I've drunk my chocolate, child--hey? Go on, my +good friend; you see what it is to live in Old England, where, thank +Heaven, the poorest of His Majesty's subjects may have justice, and +speak his mind before the first in the land. Now speak on; and you hear +she tells you that you need not be afraid of me. Speak on. + +_Old M._ I thank your worship, I'm sure. + +_Just._ Thank me! for what, sir? I won't be thanked for doing justice, +sir; so--but explain this matter. You lost your money, hey, at the +'Saracen's Head'? You had it safe last night, hey?--and you missed it +this morning? Are you sure you had it safe at night? + +_Old M._ Oh, please your worship, quite sure; for I took it out and +looked at it just before I said my prayers. + +_Just._ You did--did ye so?--hum! Pray, my good friend, where might you +put your money when you went to bed? + +_Old M._ Please, your worship, where I always put it--always--in my +tobacco-box. + +_Just._ Your tobacco-box! I never heard of such a thing--to make a +_strong box_ of a tobacco-box. Ha! ha! ha! hum!--and you say the box and +all were gone in the morning? + +_Old M._ No, please your worship, no; not the box--the box was never +stirred from the place where I put it. They left me the box. + +_Just._ Tut, tut, tut, man!--took the money and left the box? I'll never +believe _that_! I'll never believe that any one could be such a fool. +Tut, tut! the thing's impossible! It's well you are not upon oath. + +_Old M._ If I were, please your worship, I should say the same; for it +is the truth. + +_Just._ Don't tell me, don't tell me; I say the thing is impossible. + +_Old M._ Please your worship, here's the box. + +_Just._ (_goes on without looking at it_). Nonsense! nonsense! it's no +such thing; it's no such thing, I say--no man would take the money and +leave the tobacco-box. I won't believe it. Nothing shall make me believe +it ever--that's poz. + +_Lucy_ (_takes the box and holds it up before her father's eyes_). You +did not see the box, did you, papa? + +_Just._ Yes, yes, yes, child--nonsense! it's all a lie from beginning to +end. A man who tells one lie will tell a hundred. All a lie!--all a lie! + +_Old M._ If your worship would give me leave---- + +_Just._ Sir, it does not signify--it does not signify! I've said it, +I've said it, and that's enough to convince me, and I'll tell you more; +if my Lord Chief Justice of England told it to me, I would not believe +it--that's poz! + +_Lucy_ (_still playing with the box_). But how comes the box here, I +wonder? + +_Just._ Pshaw! pshaw! pshaw! darling. Go to your dolls, darling, and +don't be positive--go to your dolls, and don't talk of what you don't +understand. What can you understand, I want to know, of the law? + +_Lucy._ No, papa, I didn't mean about the law, but about the box; +because, if the man had taken it, how could it be here, you know, papa? + +_Just._ Hey, hey, what? Why, what I say is this, that I don't dispute +that that box, that you hold in your hands, is a box; nay, for aught I +know, it may be a tobacco-box--but it's clear to me that if they left +the box they did not take the money; and how do you dare, sir, to come +before Justice Headstrong with a lie in your mouth? recollect yourself, +I'll give you time to recollect yourself. + + (_A pause._) + +_Just._ Well, sir; and what do you say now about the box? + +_Old M._ Please your worship, with submission, I _can_ say nothing but +what I said before. + +_Just._ What, contradict me again, after I gave you time to recollect +yourself! I've done with you; I have done. Contradict me as often as you +please, but you cannot impose upon me; I defy you to impose upon me! + +_Old M._ Impose! + +_Just._ I know the law!--I know the law!--and I'll make you know it, +too. One hour I'll give you to recollect yourself, and if you don't give +up this idle story, I'll--I'll commit you as a vagrant--that's poz! Go, +go, for the present. William, take him into the servants' hall, do you +hear?--What, take the money, and leave the box? I'll never do it--that's +poz! + + (_Lucy speaks to the Old Man as he is going off._) + +_Lucy._ Don't be frightened! don't be frightened!--I mean, if you tell +the truth, never be frightened. + +_Old M._ _If_ I tell the truth--(_turning up his eyes_). + + (_Old Man is still held back by the young lady._) + +_Lucy._ One moment--answer me one question--because of something that +just came into my head. Was the box shut fast when you left it? + +_Old M._ No, miss, no!--open--it was open; for I could not find the lid +in the dark--my candle went out. _If_ I tell the truth--oh! + + (_Exit._) + + + SCENE IV + + _Justice's Study--the Justice is writing_ + +_Old M._ Well!--I shall have but few days' more misery in this world! + +_Just._ (_looks up_). Why! why--why then, why will you be so positive to +persist in a lie? Take the money and leave the box! Obstinate blockhead! +Here, William (_showing the committal_), take this old gentleman to +Holdfast, the constable, and give him this warrant. + + _Enter_ LUCY, _running, out of breath._ + +_Lucy._ I've found it! I've found it! Here, old man; here's your +money--here it is all--a guinea and a half, and a shilling and a +sixpence, just as he said, papa. + + _Enter_ LANDLADY. + +_Land._ Oh la! your worship, did you ever hear the like? + +_Just._ I've heard nothing yet that I can understand. First, have you +secured the thief, I say? + +_Lucy_ (_makes signs to the landlady to be silent_). Yes, yes, yes! we +have him safe--we have him prisoner. Shall he come in, papa? + +_Just._ Yes, child, by all means; and now I shall hear what possessed +him to leave the box. I don't understand--there's something deep in all +this; I don't understand it. Now I do desire, Mrs. Landlady, nobody may +speak a single word whilst I am cross-examining the thief. + + (_Landlady puts her finger upon her lips--Everybody looks + eagerly towards the door._) + + _Re-enter_ LUCY, _with a huge wicker cage in her hand, containing a + magpie--The Justice drops the committal out of his hand._ + +_Just._ Hey!--what, Mrs. Landlady--the old magpie? hey? + +_Land._ Ay, your worship, my old magpie. Who'd have thought it? Miss +was very clever--it was she caught the thief. Miss was very clever. + +_Old M._ Very good! very good! + +_Just._ Ay, darling, her father's own child! How was it, child? Caught +the thief, _with the mainour_, hey? Tell us all; I will hear all--that's +poz. + +_Lucy._ Oh! then first I must tell you how I came to suspect Mr. Magpie. +Do you remember, papa, that day last summer when I went with you to the +bowling-green at the 'Saracen's Head'? + +_Land._ Oh, of all days in the year! but I ask pardon, miss. + +_Lucy._ Well, that day I heard my uncle and another gentleman telling +stories of magpies hiding money; and they laid a wager about this old +magpie and they tried him--they put a shilling upon the table, and he +ran away with it and hid it; so I thought that he might do so again, you +know, this time. + +_Just._ Right, right. It's a pity, child, you are not upon the +Bench--ha! ha! ha! + +_Lucy._ And when I went to his old hiding-place, there it was; but you +see, papa, he did not take the box. + +_Just._ No, no, no! because the thief was a magpie. No _man_ would have +taken the money and left the box. You see I was right; no _man_ would +have left the box, hey? + +_Lucy._ Certainly not, I suppose; but I'm so very glad, old man, that +you have obtained your money. + +_Just._ Well then, child, here--take my purse, and add that to it. We +were a little too hasty with the committal--hey? + +_Land._ Ay, and I fear I was, too; but when one is touched about the +credit of one's house, one's apt to speak warmly. + +_Old M._ Oh, I'm the happiest old man alive! You are all convinced that +I told you no lies. Say no more--say no more. I am the happiest man! +Miss, you have made me the happiest man alive! Bless you for it! + +_Land._ Well, now, I'll tell you what. I know what I think--you must +keep that there magpie, and make a show of him, and I warrant he'll +bring you many an honest penny; for it's a _true story_, and folks would +like to hear it, I hopes---- + +_Just._ (_eagerly_). And, friend, do you hear? You'll dine here to-day, +you'll dine here. We have some excellent ale. I will have you drink my +health--that's poz!--hey? You'll drink my health, won't you--hey? + +[Illustration: _'And Mr. Smack, the curate, and Squire Solid, and the +doctor, sir, are come, and dinner is upon the table.'_] + +_Old M._ (_bows_). Oh! and the young lady's, if you please. + +_Just._ Ay, ay, drink her health--she deserves it. Ay, drink my +darling's health. + +_Land._ And please your worship, it's the right time, I believe, to +speak of the goose-pie now; and a charming pie it is, and it's on the +table. + +_Will._ And Mr. Smack, the curate, and Squire Solid, and the doctor, +sir, are come, and dinner is upon the table. + +_Just._ Then let us say no more, but do justice immediately to the +goose-pie; and, darling, put me in mind to tell this story after dinner. + + (_After they go out, the Justice stops._) + +'Tell this story'--I don't know whether it tells well for me; but I'll +never be positive any more--_that's poz_! + + + + +THE MIMIC + + +CHAPTER I + +Mr. and Mrs. Montague spent the summer of the year 1795 at Clifton with +their son Frederick, and their two daughters Sophia and Marianne. They +had taken much care of the education of their children; nor were they +ever tempted, by any motive of personal convenience or temporary +amusement, to hazard the permanent happiness of their pupils. + +Sensible of the extreme importance of early impressions, and of the +powerful influence of external circumstances in forming the characters +and the manners, they were now anxious that the variety of new ideas and +new objects which would strike the minds of their children should appear +in a just point of view. + +'Let children see and judge for themselves,' is often inconsiderately +said. Where children see only a part they cannot judge of the whole; and +from the superficial view which they can have in short visits and +desultory conversation, they can form only a false estimate of the +objects of human happiness, a false notion of the nature of society, and +false opinions of characters. + +For the above reasons, Mr. and Mrs. Montague were particularly cautious +in the choice of their acquaintances, as they were well aware that +whatever passed in conversation before their children became part of +their education. + +When they came to Clifton, they wished to have a house entirely to +themselves; but, as they came late in the season, almost all the +lodging-houses were full, and for a few weeks they were obliged to +remain in a house where some of the apartments were already occupied. + +During the first fortnight they scarcely saw or heard anything of one of +the families who lodged on the same floor with them. An elderly Quaker +and his sister Bertha were their silent neighbours. The blooming +complexion of the lady had indeed attracted the attention of the +children, as they caught a glimpse of her face when she was getting into +her carriage to go out upon the Downs. They could scarcely believe that +she came to the Wells on account of her health. + +Besides her blooming complexion, the delicate white of her garments had +struck them with admiration; and they observed that her brother +carefully guarded her dress from the wheel of the carriage, as he handed +her in. From this circumstance, and from the benevolent countenance of +the old gentleman, they concluded that he was very fond of his sister, +and that they were certainly very happy, except that they never spoke, +and could be seen only for a moment. + +Not so the maiden lady who occupied the ground-floor. On the stairs, in +the passages, at her window, she was continually visible; and she +appeared to possess the art of being present in all these places at +once. Her voice was eternally to be heard, and it was not particularly +melodious. The very first day she met Mrs. Montague's children on the +stairs, she stopped to tell Marianne that she was a charming dear, and a +charming little dear; to kiss her, to inquire her name, and to inform +her that her own name was 'Mrs. Theresa Tattle,' a circumstance of which +there was little danger of their long remaining in ignorance; for, in +the course of one morning, at least twenty single and as many double +raps at the door were succeeded by vociferations of 'Mrs. Theresa +Tattle's servant!' 'Mrs. Theresa Tattle at home?' 'Mrs. Theresa Tattle +not at home!' + +No person at the Wells was oftener at home and abroad than Mrs. Tattle. +She had, as she deemed it, the happiness to have a most extensive +acquaintance residing at Clifton. She had for years kept a register of +arrivals. She regularly consulted the subscriptions to the circulating +libraries, and the lists at the Ball and the Pump rooms; so that, with a +memory unencumbered with literature and free from all domestic cares, +she contrived to retain a most astonishing and correct list of births, +deaths, and marriages, together with all the anecdotes, amusing, +instructive, or scandalous, which are necessary to the conversation of +a water-drinking place, and essential to the character of a 'very +pleasant woman.' + +'A very pleasant woman' Mrs. Tattle was usually called; and, conscious +of her accomplishments, she was eager to introduce herself to the +acquaintance of her new neighbours; having, with her ordinary +expedition, collected from their servants, by means of her own, all that +could be known, or rather all that could be told about them. The name of +Montague, at all events, she knew was a good name, and justified in +courting the acquaintance. She courted it first by nods and becks and +smiles at Marianne whenever she met her; and Marianne, who was a very +little girl, began presently to nod and smile in return, persuaded that +a lady who smiled so much could not be ill-natured. Besides, Mrs. +Theresa's parlour door was sometimes left more than half open, to afford +a view of a green parrot. Marianne sometimes passed very slowly by this +door. One morning it was left quite wide open, when she stopped to say +'Pretty Poll'; and immediately Mrs. Tattle begged she would do her the +honour to walk in and see 'Pretty Poll,' at the same time taking the +liberty to offer her a piece of iced plum-cake. + +The next day Mrs. Theresa Tattle did herself the honour to wait upon +Mrs. Montague, 'to apologise for the liberty she had taken in inviting +Mrs. Montague's charming Miss Marianne into her apartment to see Pretty +Poll, and for the still greater liberty she had taken in offering her a +piece of plum-cake--inconsiderate creature that she was!--which might +possibly have disagreed with her, and which certainly were liberties she +never should have been induced to take, if she had not been +unaccountably bewitched by Miss Marianne's striking though highly +flattering resemblance to a young gentleman (an officer) with whom she +had danced, now nearly twelve years ago, of the name of Montague, a most +respectable young man, and of a most respectable family, with which, in +a remote degree, she might presume to say, she herself was someway +connected, having the honour to be nearly related to the Joneses of +Merionethshire, who were cousins to the Mainwarings of Bedfordshire, who +married into the family of the Griffiths, the eldest branch of which, +she understood, had the honour to be cousin-german to Mr. Montague; on +which account she had been impatient to pay a visit, so likely to be +productive of most agreeable consequences, by the acquisition of an +acquaintance whose society must do her infinite honour.' + +[Illustration: _The next day Mrs. Theresa Tattle did herself the honour +to wait upon Mrs. Montague._] + +Having thus happily accomplished her first visit, there seemed little +probability of escaping Mrs. Tattle's further acquaintance. In the +course of the first week she only hinted to Mr. Montague that 'some +people thought his system of education rather odd; that she should be +obliged to him if he would, some time or other, when he had nothing else +to do, just sit down and make her understand his notions, that she might +have something to say to her acquaintance, as she always wished to have +when she heard any friend attacked, or any friend's opinions.' + +Mr. Montague declining to sit down and make this lady understand a +system of education only to give her something to say, and showing +unaccountable indifference about the attacks with which he was +threatened, Mrs. Tattle next addressed herself to Mrs. Montague, +prophesying, in a most serious whisper, 'that the charming Miss Marianne +would shortly and inevitably grow quite crooked, if she were not +immediately provided with a back-board, a French dancing-master, and a +pair of stocks.' + +This alarming whisper could not, however, have a permanent effect upon +Mrs. Montague's understanding, because three days afterwards Mrs. +Theresa, upon the most anxious inspection, entirely mistook the just and +natural proportions of the hip and shoulder. + +This danger vanishing, Mrs. Tattle presently, with a rueful length of +face, and formal preface, 'hesitated to assure Mrs. Montague that she +was greatly distressed about her daughter Sophy; that she was convinced +her lungs were affected; and that she certainly ought to drink the +waters morning and evening; and, above all things, must keep one of the +patirosa lozenges constantly in her mouth, and directly consult Dr. +Cardamum, the best physician in the world, and the person she would send +for herself upon her death-bed; because, to her certain knowledge, he +had recovered a young lady, a relation of her own, after she had lost +one whole _globe_[14] of her lungs.' + + [14] Lobe. + +The medical opinion of a lady of so much anatomical precision could not +have much weight. Neither was this universal adviser more successful in +an attempt to introduce a tutor to Frederick, who, she apprehended, must +want some one to perfect him in the Latin and Greek, and dead languages, +of which, she observed, it would be impertinent for a woman to talk; +only she might venture to repeat what she had heard said by good +authority, that a competency of the dead tongues could be had nowhere +but at a public school, or else from a private tutor who had been abroad +(after the advantage of a classical education, finished in one of the +universities) with a good family; without which introduction it was idle +to think of reaping solid advantages from any continental tour; all +which requisites, from personal knowledge, she could aver to be +concentrated in the gentleman she had the honour to recommend, as having +been tutor to a young nobleman, who had no further occasion for him, +having, unfortunately for himself and his family, been killed in an +untimely duel. + +All Mrs. Theresa Tattle's suggestions being lost upon these stoical +parents, her powers were next tried upon the children, and her success +soon became apparent. On Sophy, indeed, she could not make any +impression, though she had expended on her some of her finest strokes of +flattery. Sophy, though very desirous of the approbation of her friends, +was not very desirous of winning the favour of strangers. She was about +thirteen--that dangerous age at which ill-educated girls, in their +anxiety to display their accomplishments, are apt to become dependent +for applause upon the praise of every idle visitor; when the habits not +being formed, and the attention being suddenly turned to dress and +manners, girls are apt to affect and imitate, indiscriminately, +everything that they conceive to be agreeable. + +Sophy, whose taste had been cultivated at the same time with her powers +of reasoning, was not liable to fall into these errors. She found that +she could please those whom she wished to please, without affecting to +be anything but what she really was; and her friends listened to what +she said, though she never repeated the sentiments, or adopted the +phrases, which she might easily have copied from the conversation of +those who were older or more fashionable than herself. + +This word _fashionable_, Mrs. Theresa Tattle knew, had usually a great +effect, even at thirteen; but she had not observed that it had much +power upon Sophy; nor were her remarks concerning grace and manners much +attended to. Her mother had taught Sophy that it was best to let herself +alone, and not to distort either her person or her mind in acquiring +grimace, which nothing but the fashion of the moment can support, and +which is always detected and despised by people of real good sense and +politeness. + +'Bless me!' said Mrs. Tattle, to herself, 'if I had such a tall +daughter, and so unformed, before my eyes from morning to night, it +would certainly break my poor heart. Thank heaven, I am not a mother! if +I were, Miss Marianne for me!' + +Miss Marianne had heard so often from Mrs. Tattle that she was very +charming, that she could not help believing it; and from being a very +pleasing, unaffected little girl, she in a short time grew so conceited, +that she could neither speak, look, move, nor be silent, without +imagining that everybody was, or ought to be, looking at her; and when +Mrs. Theresa saw that Mrs. Montague looked very grave upon these +occasions, she, to repair the ill she had done, would say, after +praising Marianne's hair or her eyes, 'Oh, but little ladies should +never think about their beauty, you know. Nobody loves anybody for being +handsome, but for being good.' People must think children are very +silly, or else they can never have reflected upon the nature of belief +in their own minds, if they imagine that children will believe the words +that are said to them, by way of moral, when the countenance, manner, +and every concomitant circumstance tell them a different tale. Children +are excellent physiognomists--they quickly learn the universal language +of looks; and what is said _of_ them always makes a greater impression +than what is said _to_ them, a truth of which those prudent people +surely cannot be aware who comfort themselves, and apologise to parents, +by saying, 'Oh, but I would not say so and so to the child.' + +Mrs. Theresa had seldom said to Frederick Montague 'that he had a vast +deal of drollery, and was a most incomparable mimic'; but she had said +so of him in whispers, which magnified the sound to his imagination, if +not to his ear. He was a boy of much vivacity, and had considerable +abilities; but his appetite for vulgar praise had not yet been +surfeited. Even Mrs. Theresa Tattle's flattery pleased him, and he +exerted himself for her entertainment so much that he became quite a +buffoon. Instead of observing characters and manners, that he might +judge of them, and form his own, he now watched every person he saw, +that he might detect some foible, or catch some singularity in their +gesture or pronunciation, which he might successfully mimic. + +Alarmed by the rapid progress of these evils, Mr. and Mrs. Montague, +who, from the first day that they had been honoured with Mrs. Tattle's +visit, had begun to look out for new lodgings, were now extremely +impatient to decamp. They were not people who, from the weak fear of +offending a silly acquaintance, would hazard the happiness of their +family. They had heard of a house in the country which was likely to +suit them, and they determined to go directly to look at it. As they +were to be absent all day, they foresaw that their officious neighbour +would probably interfere with their children. They did not choose to +exact any promise from them which they might be tempted to break, and +therefore they only said at parting, 'If Mrs. Theresa Tattle should ask +you to come to her, do as you think proper.' + +Scarcely had Mrs. Montague's carriage got out of hearing when a note was +brought, directed to 'Frederick Montague, Junior, Esq.,' which he +immediately opened, and read as follows:-- + + 'Mrs. Theresa Tattle presents her very best compliments to the + entertaining Mr. Frederick Montague; she hopes he will have the + charity to drink tea with her this evening, and bring his charming + sister, Miss Marianne, with him, as Mrs. Theresa will be quite alone + with a shocking headache, and is sensible her nerves are affected; + and Dr. Cardamum says that (especially in Mrs. T. T.'s case) it is + downright death to nervous patients to be alone an instant. She + therefore trusts Mr. Frederick will not refuse to come and make her + laugh. Mrs. Theresa has taken care to provide a few macaroons for + her little favourite, who said she was particularly fond of them the + other day. Mrs. Theresa hopes they will all come at six, or before, + not forgetting Miss Sophy, if she will condescend to be of the + party.' + +At the first reading of this note, 'the entertaining' Mr. Frederick and +the 'charming' Miss Marianne laughed heartily, and looked at Sophy, as +if they were afraid that she should think it possible they could like +such gross flattery; but upon a second perusal, Marianne observed that +it certainly was very good-natured of Mrs. Theresa to remember the +macaroons; and Frederick allowed that it was wrong to laugh at the poor +woman because she had the headache. Then twisting the note in his +fingers, he appealed to Sophy:-- + +'Well, Sophy, leave off drawing for an instant,' said Frederick, 'and +tell us what answer can we send?' + +'Can!--we can send what answer we please.' + +'Yes, I know that,' said Frederick; 'I would refuse if I could; but we +ought not to do anything rude, should we? So I think we might as well +go, because we could not refuse, if we would, I say.' + +'You have made such confusion,' replied Sophy, 'between "couldn't" and +"wouldn't" and "shouldn't," that I can't understand you: surely they are +all different things.' + +'Different! no,' cried Frederick--'_could_, _would_, _should_, _might_, +and _ought_ are all the same thing in the Latin grammar; all of 'em +signs of the potential mood, you know.' + +Sophy, whose powers of reasoning were not to be confounded, even by +quotations from the Latin grammar, looked up soberly from her drawing, +and answered 'that very likely those words might be signs of the same +thing in the Latin grammar, but she believed that they meant perfectly +different things in real life.' + +'That's just as people please,' said her sophistical brother. 'You know +words mean nothing in themselves. If I choose to call my hat my +cadwallader, you would understand me just as well, after I had once +explained it to you, that by cadwallader I meant this black thing that I +put upon my head; cadwallader and hat would then be just the same thing +to you.' + +'Then why have two words for the same thing?' said Sophy; 'and what has +this to do with _could_ and _should_? You wanted to prove----' + +'I wanted to prove,' interrupted Frederick, 'that it's not worth while +to dispute for two hours about two words. Do keep to the point, Sophy, +and don't dispute with me.' + +'I was not disputing, I was reasoning.' + +'Well, reasoning or disputing. Women have no business to do either; +for, how should they know how to chop logic like men?' + +At this contemptuous sarcasm upon her sex, Sophy's colour rose. + +'There!' cried Frederick, exulting, 'now we shall see a philosopheress +in a passion; I'd give sixpence, half-price, for a harlequin +entertainment, to see Sophy in a passion. Now, Marianne, look at her +brush dabbing so fast in the water!' + +Sophy, who could not easily bear to be laughed at, with some little +indignation, said, 'Brother, I wish----' + +'There! there!' cried Frederick, pointing to the colour which rose in +her cheeks almost to her temples--'rising! rising! rising! look at the +thermometer! blood heat! blood! fever heat! boiling water heat! +Marianne.' + +'Then,' said Sophy, smiling, 'you should stand a little farther off, +both of you. Leave the thermometer to itself a little while. Give it +time to cool. It will come down to "temperate" by the time you look +again.' + +'Oh, brother!' cried Marianne, 'she's so good-humoured, don't tease her +any more, and don't draw heads upon her paper, and don't stretch her +india-rubber, and don't let us dirty any more of her brushes. See! the +sides of her tumbler are all manner of colours.' + +'Oh, I only mixed red, blue, green, and yellow to show you, Marianne, +that all colours mixed together make white. But she is temperate now, +and I won't plague her; she shall chop logic, if she likes it, though +she is a woman.' + +'But that's not fair, brother,' said Marianne, 'to say "woman" in that +way. I'm sure Sophy found out how to tie that difficult knot, which papa +showed us yesterday, long before you did, though you are a man.' 'Not +long,' said Frederick. 'Besides, that was only a conjuring trick.' + +'It was very ingenious, though,' said Marianne; 'and papa said so. +Besides, she understood the "Rule of Three," which was no conjuring +trick, better than you did, though she is a woman; and she can reason, +too, mamma says.' + +'Very well, let her reason away,' said the provoking wit. 'All I have to +say is, that she'll never be able to make a pudding.' + +'Why not, pray, brother?' inquired Sophy, looking up again, very +gravely. + +'Why, you know papa himself, the other day at dinner, said that that +woman who talks Greek and Latin as well as I do, is a fool after all; +and that she had better have learned something useful; and Mrs. Tattle +said, she'd answer for it she did not know how to make a pudding.' + +'Well! but I am not talking Greek and Latin, am I?' + +'No, but you are drawing, and that's the same thing.' + +'The same thing! Oh, Frederick!' said little Marianne, laughing. + +'You may laugh; but I say it is the same sort of thing. Women who are +always drawing and reasoning never know how to make puddings. Mrs. +Theresa Tattle said so, when I showed her Sophy's beautiful drawing +yesterday.' + +'Mrs. Theresa Tattle might say so,' replied Sophy, calmly; 'but I do not +perceive the reason, brother, why drawing should prevent me from +learning how to make a pudding.' + +'Well, I say you'll never learn how to make a good pudding.' + +'I have learned,' continued Sophy, who was mixing her colours, 'to mix +such and such colours together to make the colour that I want; and why +should I not be able to learn to mix flour and butter, and sugar and +egg, together, to produce the taste that I want?' + +'Oh, but mixing will never do, unless you know the quantities, like a +cook; and you would never learn the right quantities.' + +'How did the cook learn them? Cannot I learn them as she did?' + +'Yes, but you'd never do it exactly, and mind the spoonfuls right, by +the recipe, like a cook.' + +'Indeed! indeed! but she would,' cried Marianne, eagerly; 'and a great +deal more exactly, for mamma has taught her to weigh and measure things +very carefully; and when I was ill she always weighed the bark in +nicely, and dropped my drops so carefully: better than the cook. When +mamma took me down to see the cook make a cake once, I saw her +spoonfuls, and her ounces, and her handfuls: she dashed and splashed +without minding exactness, or the recipe, or anything. I'm sure Sophy +would make a much better pudding, if exactness only were wanting.' + +'Well, granting that she could make the best pudding in the whole +world, what does that signify? I say she never would, so it comes to the +same thing.' + +[Illustration: _'She dashed and splashed without minding exactness, or +the recipe, or anything.'_] + +'Never would! how can you tell that, brother?' + +'Why, now look at her, with her books, and her drawings, and all this +apparatus. Do you think she would ever jump up, with all her nicety, +too, and put by all these things, to go down into the greasy kitchen, +and plump up to the elbows in suet, like a cook, for a plum-pudding?' + +'I need not plump up to the elbows, brother,' said Sophy, smiling, 'nor +is it necessary that I should be a cook; but, if it were necessary, I +hope I should be able to make a pudding.' + +'Yes, yes,' cried Marianne, warmly; 'and she would jump up, and put by +all her things in a minute if it were necessary, and run downstairs and +up again like lightning, or do anything that was ever so disagreeable to +her, even about the suet, with all her nicety, brother, I assure you, as +she used to do anything, everything for me, when I was ill last winter. +Oh, brother, she can do anything; and she could make the best +plum-pudding in the whole world, I'm sure, in a minute, if it were +necessary.' + + +CHAPTER II + +A knock at the door, from Mrs. Theresa Tattle's servant, recalled +Marianne to the business of the day. + +'There,' said Frederick, 'we have sent no answer all this time. It's +necessary to think of that in a minute.' + +The servant came with his mistress's compliments, to let the young +ladies and Mr. Frederick know that she was waiting tea for them. + +'Waiting! then we must go,' said Frederick. + +The servant opened the door wider, to let him pass, and Marianne thought +she must follow her brother; so they went downstairs together, while +Sophy gave her own message to the servant, and quietly stayed at her +usual occupations. + +Mrs. Tattle was seated at her tea-table, with a large plate of macaroons +beside her, when Frederick and Marianne entered. She was 'delighted' +they were come, and 'grieved' not to see Miss Sophy along with them. +Marianne coloured a little; for though she had precipitately followed +her brother, and though he had quieted her conscience for a moment by +saying, 'You know, papa and mamma told us to do what we thought best,' +yet she did not feel quite pleased with herself; and it was not till +after Mrs. Theresa had exhausted all her compliments and half her +macaroons, that she could restore her spirits to their usual height. + +'Come, Mr. Frederick,' said she after tea, 'you promised to make me +laugh; and nobody can make me laugh so well as yourself.' + +'Oh, brother,' said Marianne, 'show Mrs. Theresa Dr. Carbuncle eating +his dinner; and I'll be Mrs. Carbuncle.' + +_Marianne._ Now, my dear, what shall I help you to? + +_Frederick._ 'My dear!' she never calls him my dear, you know, but +always Doctor. + +_Mar._ Well then, doctor, what will you eat to-day? + +_Fred._ Eat, madam! eat! nothing! nothing! I don't see anything here I +can eat, ma'am. + +_Mar._ Here's eels, sir; let me help you to some eel--stewed eel;--you +used to be fond of stewed eel. + +_Fred._ Used, ma'am, used! But I'm sick of stewed eels. You would tire +one of anything. Am I to see nothing but eels? And what's this at the +bottom? + +_Mar._ Mutton, doctor, roast mutton; if you'll be so good as to cut it. + +_Fred._ Cut it, ma'am! I can't cut it, I say; it's as hard as a deal +board. You might as well tell me to cut the table, ma'am. Mutton, +indeed! not a bit of fat. Roast mutton, indeed! not a drop of gravy. +Mutton, truly! quite a cinder. I'll have none of it. Here, take it away; +take it downstairs to the cook. It's a very hard case, Mrs. Carbuncle, +that I can never have a bit of anything that I can eat at my own table, +Mrs. Carbuncle, since I was married, ma'am, I that am the easiest man in +the whole world to please about my dinner. It's really very +extraordinary, Mrs. Carbuncle! What have you at that corner there, under +the cover? + +_Mar._ Patties, sir; oyster patties. + +_Fred._ Patties, ma'am! kickshaws! I hate kickshaws. Not worth putting +under a cover, ma'am. And why not have glass covers, that one may see +one's dinner before one, before it grows cold with asking questions, +Mrs. Carbuncle, and lifting up covers? But nobody has any sense; and I +see no water plates anywhere, lately. + +_Mar._ Do, pray, doctor, let me help you to a bit of chicken before it +gets cold, my dear. + +_Fred._ (_aside_). 'My dear,' again, Marianne! + +_Mar._ Yes, brother, because she is frightened, you know, and Mrs. +Carbuncle always says 'my dear' to him when she's frightened, and looks +so pale from side to side; and sometimes she cries before dinner's done, +and then all the company are quite silent, and don't know what to do. + +'Oh, such a little creature; to have so much sense, too!' exclaimed Mrs. +Theresa, with rapture. 'Mr. Frederick, you'll make me die with laughing! +Pray go on, Dr. Carbuncle.' + +_Fred._ Well, ma'am, then if I must eat something, send me a bit of +fowl; a leg and wing, the liver wing, and a bit of the breast, oyster +sauce, and a slice of that ham, if you please, ma'am. + + (_Dr. Carbuncle eats voraciously, with his head down to his + plate, and, dropping the sauce, he buttons up his coat tight + across the breast._) + +_Fred._ Here; a plate, knife and fork, bit o' bread, a glass of +Dorchester ale! + +'Oh, admirable!' exclaimed Mrs. Tattle, clapping her hands. + +'Now, brother, suppose that it is after dinner,' said Marianne; 'and +show us how the doctor goes to sleep.' + +Frederick threw himself back in an arm-chair, leaning his head back, +with his mouth open, snoring; nodded from time to time, crossed and +uncrossed his legs, tried to awake himself by twitching his wig, +settling his collar, blowing his nose, and rapping on the lid of his +snuff-box. + +All which infinitely diverted Mrs. Tattle, who, when she could stop +herself from laughing, declared 'it made her sigh, too, to think of the +life poor Mrs. Carbuncle led with that man, and all for nothing, too; +for her jointure was nothing, next to nothing, though a great thing, to +be sure, her friends thought, for her, when she was only Sally Ridgeway +before she was married. Such a wife as she makes,' continued Mrs. +Theresa, lifting up her hands and eyes to heaven, 'and so much as she +has gone through, the brute ought to be ashamed of himself if he does +not leave her something extraordinary in his will; for turn it which +way she will, she can never keep a carriage, or live like anybody else, +on her jointure, after all, she tells me, poor soul! A sad prospect, +after her husband's death, to look forward to, instead of being +comfortable, as her friends expected; and she, poor young thing! knowing +no better when they married her! People should look into these things +beforehand, or never marry at all, I say, Miss Marianne.' + +Miss Marianne, who did not clearly comprehend this affair of the +jointure, or the reason why Mrs. Carbuncle would be so unhappy after her +husband's death, turned to Frederick, who was at that instant studying +Mrs. Theresa as a future character to mimic. 'Brother,' said Marianne, +'now sing an Italian song for us like Miss Croker. Pray, Miss Croker, +favour us with a song. Mrs. Theresa Tattle has never had the pleasure of +hearing you sing; she's quite impatient to hear you sing.' + +'Yes, indeed, I am,' said Mrs. Theresa. + +Frederick put his hands before him affectedly. 'Oh, indeed, ma'am! +indeed, ladies! I really am so hoarse, it distresses me so to be pressed +to sing; besides, upon my word, I have quite left off singing. I've +never sung once, except for very particular people, this winter.' + +_Mar._ But Mrs. Theresa Tattle is a very particular person. I'm sure +you'll sing for her. + +_Fred._ Certainly, ma'am, I allow that you use a powerful argument; but +I assure you now, I would do my best to oblige you, but I absolutely +have forgotten all my English songs. Nobody hears anything but Italian +now, and I have been so giddy as to leave my Italian music behind me. +Besides, I make it a rule never to hazard myself without an +accompaniment. + +_Mar._ Oh, try, Miss Croker, for once. + + (_Frederick sings, after much preluding._) + + Violante in the pantry, + Gnawing of a mutton-bone; + How she gnawed it, + How she claw'd it, + When she found herself alone! + +'Charming!' exclaimed Mrs. Tattle; 'so like Miss Croker, I'm sure I +shall think of you, Mr. Frederick, when I hear her asked to sing again. +Her voice, however, introduces her to very pleasant parties, and she's +a girl that's very much taken notice of, and I don't doubt will go off +vastly well. She's a particular favourite of mine, you must know; and I +mean to do her a piece of service the first opportunity, by saying +something or other, that shall go round to her relations in +Northumberland, and make them do something for her; as well they may, +for they are all rolling in gold, and won't give her a penny. + +_Mar._ Now, brother, read the newspaper like Counsellor Puff. + +'Oh, pray do, Mr. Frederick, for I declare I admire you of all things! +You are quite yourself to-night. Here's a newspaper, sir, pray let us +have Counsellor Puff. It's not late.' + + (_Frederick reads in a pompous voice._) + +'As a delicate white hand has ever been deemed a distinguishing ornament +in either sex, Messrs. Valiant and Wise conceive it to be their duty to +take the earliest opportunity to advertise the nobility and gentry of +Great Britain in general, and their friends in particular, that they +have now ready for sale, as usual, at the Hippocrates' Head, a fresh +assortment of new-invented, much-admired primrose soap. To prevent +impositions and counterfeits, the public are requested to take notice, +that the only genuine primrose soap is stamped on the outside, "Valiant +and Wise."' + +'Oh, you most incomparable mimic! 'tis absolutely the counsellor +himself. I absolutely must show you, some day, to my friend Lady +Battersby; you'd absolutely make her die with laughing; and she'd quite +adore you,' said Mrs. Theresa, who was well aware that every pause must +be filled with flattery. 'Pray go on, pray go on. I shall never be +tired, if I sit looking at you these hundred years.' + +Stimulated by these plaudits, Frederick proceeded to show how Colonel +Epaulette blew his nose, flourished his cambric handkerchief, bowed to +Lady Diana Periwinkle, and admired her work, saying, 'Done by no hands, +as you may guess, but those of Fairly Fair.' Whilst Lady Diana, he +observed, simpered so prettily, and took herself so quietly for Fairly +Fair, not perceiving that the colonel was admiring his own nails all the +while. + +Next to Colonel Epaulette, Frederick, at Marianne's particular desire, +came into the room like Sir Charles Slang. + +'Very well, brother,' cried she, 'your hand down to the very bottom of +your pocket, and your other shoulder up to your ear; but you are not +quite wooden enough, and you should walk as if your hip were out of +joint. There now, Mrs. Tattle, are not those good eyes? They stare so +like his, without seeming to see anything all the while.' + +'Excellent! admirable! Mr. Frederick. I must say that you are the best +mimic of your age I ever saw, and I'm sure Lady Battersby will think so +too. That is Sir Charles to the very life. But with all that, you must +know he's a mighty pleasant, fashionable young man when you come to know +him, and has a great deal of sense under all that, and is of a very good +family--the Slangs, you know. Sir Charles will come into a fine fortune +himself next year, if he can keep clear of gambling, which I hear is his +foible, poor young man! Pray go on. I interrupt you, Mr. Frederick.' + +'Now, brother,' said Marianne. + +'No, Marianne, I can do no more. I'm quite tired, and I will do no +more,' said Frederick, stretching himself at full length upon a sofa. + +Even in the midst of laughter, and whilst the voice of flattery yet +sounded in his ear, Frederick felt sad, displeased with himself, and +disgusted with Mrs. Theresa. + +'What a deep sigh was there!' said Mrs. Theresa; 'what can make you sigh +so bitterly? You, who make everybody else laugh. Oh, such another sigh +again!' + +'Marianne,' cried Frederick, 'do you remember the man in the mask?' + +'What man in the mask, brother?' + +'The man--the actor--the buffoon, that my father told us of, who used to +cry behind the mask that made everybody else laugh.' + +'Cry! bless me,' said Mrs. Theresa, 'mighty odd! very extraordinary! but +one can't be surprised at meeting with extraordinary characters amongst +that race of people, actors by profession, you know; for they are +brought up from the egg to make their fortune, or at least their bread, +by their oddities. But, my dear Mr. Frederick, you are quite pale, quite +exhausted; no wonder--what will you have? a glass of cowslip-wine?' + +'Oh no, thank you, ma'am,' said Frederick. + +'Oh yes; indeed you must not leave me without taking something; and Miss +Marianne must have another macaroon. I insist upon it,' said Mrs. +Theresa, ringing the bell. 'It is not late, and my man Christopher will +bring up the cowslip-wine in a minute.' + +'But, Sophy! and papa and mamma, you know, will come home presently,' +said Marianne. + +'Oh! Miss Sophy has her books and drawings. You know she's never afraid +of being alone. Besides, to-night it was her own choice. And as to your +papa and mamma, they won't be home to-night, I'm pretty sure; for a +gentleman, who had it from their own authority, told me where they were +going, which is further off than they think; but they did not consult +me; and I fancy they'll be obliged to sleep out; so you need not be in a +hurry about them. We'll have candles.' + +The door opened just as Mrs. Tattle was going to ring the bell again for +candles and the cowslip-wine. 'Christopher! Christopher!' said Mrs. +Theresa, who was standing at the fire, with her back to the door, when +it opened, 'Christopher! pray bring----Do you hear?' but no Christopher +answered; and, upon turning round, Mrs. Tattle, instead of Christopher, +beheld two little black figures, which stood perfectly still and silent. +It was so dark, that their forms could scarcely be discerned. + +'In the name of heaven, who and what may you be? Speak, I conjure you! +what are ye?' + +'The chimney-sweepers, ma'am, an' please your ladyship.' + +'Chimney-sweepers!' repeated Frederick and Marianne, bursting out +a-laughing. + +'Chimney-sweepers!' repeated Mrs. Theresa, provoked at the recollection +of her late solemn address to them. 'Chimney-sweepers! and could not you +say so a little sooner? Pray, what brings you here, gentlemen, at this +time of night?' + +'The bell rang, ma'am,' answered a squeaking voice. + +'The bell rang! yes, for Christopher. The boy's mad, or drunk.' + +'Ma'am,' said the taller of the chimney-sweepers, who had not yet +spoken, and who now began in a very blunt manner; 'ma'am, your brother +desired us to come up when the bell rang; so we did.' + +'My brother? I have no brother, dunce,' said Mrs. Theresa. + +'Mr. Eden, madam.' + +'Ho, ho!' said Mrs. Tattle, in a more complacent tone, 'the boy takes me +for Miss Bertha Eden, I perceive'; and, flattered to be taken in the +dark by a chimney-sweeper for a young and handsome lady, Mrs. Theresa +laughed, and informed him 'that they had mistaken the room; and they +must go up another pair of stairs, and turn to the left.' + +The chimney-sweeper with the squeaking voice bowed, thanked her ladyship +for this information, said, 'Good-night to ye, quality'; and they both +moved towards the door. + +'Stay,' said Mrs. Tattle, whose curiosity was excited; 'what can the +Edens want with chimney-sweepers at this time o' night, I wonder? +Christopher, did you hear anything about it?' said the lady to her +footman, who was now lighting the candles. + +'Upon my word, ma'am,' said the servant, 'I can't say; but I'll step +down below and inquire. I heard them talking about it in the kitchen; +but I only got a word here and there, for I was hunting for the +snuff-dish, as I knew it must be for candles when I heard the bell ring, +ma'am; so I thought to find the snuff-dish before I answered the bell, +for I knew it must be for candles you rang. But, if you please, I'll +step down now, ma'am, and see about the chimney-sweepers.' + +'Yes, step down, do; and, Christopher, bring up the cowslip-wine, and +some more macaroons for my little Marianne.' + +Marianne withdrew rather coldly from a kiss which Mrs. Tattle was going +to give her; for she was somewhat surprised at the familiarity with +which this lady talked to her footman. She had not been accustomed to +these familiarities in her father and mother, and she did not like them. + +'Well,' said Mrs. Tattle to Christopher, who was now returned, 'what is +the news?' + +'Ma'am, the little fellow with the squeaking voice has been telling me +the whole story. The other morning, ma'am, early, he and the other were +down the hill sweeping in Paradise Row. Those chimneys, they say, are +difficult; and the square fellow, ma'am, the biggest of the two boys, +got wedged in the chimney. The other little fellow was up at the top at +the time, and he heard the cry; but in his fright, and all, he did not +know what to do, ma'am; for he looked about from the top of the chimney, +and not a soul could he see stirring, but a few that he could not make +attend to his screech; the boy within almost stifling too. So he +screeched, and screeched, all he could; and by the greatest chance in +life, ma'am, old Mr. Eden was just going down the hill to fetch his +morning walk.' + +'Ay,' interrupted Mrs. Theresa, 'friend Ephraim is one of your early +risers.' + +'Well?' said Marianne, impatiently. + +'So, ma'am, hearing the screech, he turns and sees the sweep; and at +once he understands the matter----' + +'I'm sure he must have taken some time to understand it,' interposed +Mrs. Tattle, 'for he's the slowest creature breathing, and the deafest +in company. Go on, Christopher. So the sweep did make him hear.' + +'So he says, ma'am; and so the old gentleman went in and pulled the boy +out of the chimney, with much ado, ma'am.' + +'Bless me!' exclaimed Mrs. Theresa; 'but did old Eden go up the chimney +himself after the boy, wig and all?' + +'Why, ma'am,' said Christopher, with a look of great delight, 'that was +all as one, as the very 'dentical words I put to the boy myself, when he +telled me his story. But, ma'am, that was what I couldn't get out of +him, neither, rightly, for he is a churl--the big boy that was stuck in +the chimney, I mean; for when I put the question to him about the wig, +laughing like, he wouldn't take it laughing like at all; but would only +make answer to us like a bear, 'He saved my life, that's all I know'; +and this over again, ma'am, to all the kitchen round, that +cross-questioned him. But I finds him stupid and ill-mannered like, for +I offered him a shilling, ma'am, myself, to tell about the wig; but he +put it back in a way that did not become such as he, to no lady's +butler, ma'am; whereupon I turns to the slim fellow (and he's smarterer, +and more mannerly, ma'am, with a tongue in his head for his betters), +but he could not resolve me my question either; for he was up at the top +of the chimney the best part o' the time; and when he came down Mr. Eden +had his wig on, but had his arm all bare and bloody, ma'am.' + +'Poor Mr. Eden!' exclaimed Marianne. + +'Oh, miss,' continued the servant, 'and the chimney-sweep himself was so +bruised, and must have been killed.' + +'Well, well! but he's alive now; go on with your story, Christopher,' +said Mrs. T. 'Chimney-sweepers get wedged in chimneys every day; it's +part of their trade, and it's a happy thing when they come off with a +few bruises.[15] To be sure,' added she, observing that both Frederick +and Marianne looked displeased at this speech, 'to be sure, if one may +believe this story, there was some real danger.' + + [15] This atrocious practice is now happily superseded by the use of + sweeping machines. + +'Real danger! yes, indeed,' said Marianne; 'and I'm sure I think Mr. +Eden was very good.' + +'Certainly it was a most commendable action, and quite providential. So +I shall take an opportunity of saying, when I tell the story in all +companies; and the boy may thank his kind stars, I'm sure, to the end of +his days, for such an escape----But pray, Christopher,' said she, +persisting in her conversation with Christopher, who was now laying the +cloth for supper, 'pray, which house was it in Paradise Row? where the +Eagles or the Miss Ropers lodge? or which?' + +'It was at my Lady Battersby's, ma'am.' + +'Ha! ha!' cried Mrs. Theresa, 'I thought we should get to the bottom of +the affair at last. This is excellent! This will make an admirable story +for my Lady Battersby the next time I see her. These Quakers are so sly! +Old Eden, I know, has long wanted to obtain an introduction into that +house; and a charming charitable expedient hit upon! My Lady Battersby +will enjoy this, of all things.' + + +CHAPTER III + +'Now,' continued Mrs. Theresa, turning to Frederick, as soon as the +servant had left the room, 'now, Mr. Frederick Montague, I have a +favour--such a favour--to ask of you; it's a favour which only you can +grant; you have such talents, and would do the thing so admirably; and +my Lady Battersby would quite adore you for it. She will do me the +honour to be here to spend an evening to-morrow. I'm convinced Mr. and +Mrs. Montague will find themselves obliged to stay out another day, and +I so long to show you off to her ladyship; and your Doctor Carbuncle, +and your Counsellor Puff, and your Miss Croker, and all your charming +characters. You must let me introduce you to her ladyship to-morrow +evening. Promise me.' + +'Oh, ma'am,' said Frederick, 'I cannot promise you any such thing, +indeed. I am much obliged to you; but indeed I cannot come.' + +'Why not, my dear sir? why not? You don't think I mean you should +promise, if you are certain your papa and mamma will be home.' + +'If they do come home, I will ask them about it,' said Frederick, +hesitating; for though he by no means wished to accept the invitation, +he had not yet acquired the necessary power of decidedly saying No. + +'Ask them!' repeated Mrs. Theresa. 'My dear sir, at your age, must you +ask your papa and mamma about such things?' + +'Must! no, ma'am,' said Frederick; 'but I said I would. I know I need +not, because my father and mother always let me judge for myself almost +about everything.' + +'And about this, I am sure,' cried Marianne. 'Papa and mamma, you know, +just as they were going away, said, "If Mrs. Theresa asks you to come, +do as you think best."' + +'Well, then,' said Mrs. Theresa, 'you know it rests with yourselves, if +you may do as you please.' + +'To be sure I may, madam,' said Frederick, colouring from that species +of emotion which is justly called false shame, and which often conquers +real shame; 'to be sure, ma'am, I may do as I please.' + +'Then I may make sure of you,' said Mrs. Theresa; 'for now it would be +downright rudeness to tell a lady you won't do as she pleases. Mr. +Frederick Montague, I'm sure, is too well-bred a young gentleman to do +so unpolite, so ungallant a thing!' + +The jargon of politeness and gallantry is frequently brought by the +silly acquaintance of young people to confuse their simple morality and +clear good sense. A new and unintelligible system is presented to them +in a language foreign to their understanding, and contradictory to their +feelings. They hesitate between new motives and old principles. From the +fear of being thought ignorant, they become affected; and from the dread +of being thought to be children act like fools. But all this they feel +only when they are in the company of such people as Mrs. Theresa Tattle. + +'Ma'am,' Frederick began, 'I don't mean to be rude; but I hope you'll +excuse me from coming to drink tea with you to-morrow, because my father +and mother are not acquainted with Lady Battersby, and maybe they might +not like----' + +'Take care, take care,' said Mrs. Theresa, laughing at his perplexity; +'you want to get off from obliging me, and you don't know how. You had +very nearly made a most shocking blunder in putting it all upon poor +Lady Battersby. Now you know it's impossible that Mr. and Mrs. Montague +could have in nature the slightest objection to introducing you to my +Lady Battersby at my own house; for, don't you know, that, besides her +ladyship's many unquestionable qualities, which one need not talk of, +she is cousin, but once removed, to the Trotters of Lancashire--your +mother's great favourites? And there is not a person at the Wells, I'll +venture to say, could be of more advantage to your sister Sophy, in the +way of partners, when she comes to go to balls, which it's to be +supposed she will, some time or other; and as you are so good a brother, +that's a thing to be looked to, you know. Besides, as to yourself, +there's nothing her ladyship delights in so much as in a good mimic; and +she'll quite adore you!' + +'But I don't want her to adore me, ma'am,' said Frederick, bluntly; +then, correcting himself, added, 'I mean for being a mimic.' + +'Why not, my love? Between friends, can there be any harm in showing +one's talents? You that have such talents to show. She'll keep your +secret, I'll answer for her; and,' added she, 'you needn't be afraid of +her criticism; for, between you and me, she's no great critic: so you'll +come. Well, thank you, that's settled. How you have made me beg and +pray! but you know your own value, I see; as you entertaining people +always do. One must ask a wit, like a fine singer, so often. Well, but +now for the favour I was going to ask you.' + +Frederick looked surprised; for he thought that the favour of his +company was what she meant; but she explained herself farther. + +'As to the old Quaker who lodges above, old Ephraim Eden--my Lady +Battersby and I have so much diversion about him. He is the best +character, the oddest creature! If you were but to see him come into the +rooms with those stiff skirts, or walking with his eternal sister +Bertha, and his everlasting broad-brimmed hat! One knows him a mile off! +But then his voice and way, and altogether, if one could get them to +the life, they'd be better than anything on the stage; better even than +anything I've seen to-night; and I think you'd make a capital Quaker for +my Lady Battersby; but then the thing is, one can never get to hear the +old quiz talk. Now you, who have so much invention and cleverness--I +have no invention myself--but could you not hit upon some way of seeing +him, so that you might get him by heart? I'm sure you, who are so quick, +would only want to see him, and hear him, for half a minute, to be able +to take him off, so as to kill one with laughing. But I have no +invention.' + +'Oh, as to the invention,' said Frederick, 'I know an admirable way of +doing the thing, if that is all; but then remember, I don't say I will +do the thing, for I will not. But I know a way of getting up into his +room, and seeing him, without his knowing me to be there.' + +'Oh, tell it me, you charming, clever creature!' + +'But, remember, I do not say I will do it.' + +'Well, well, let us hear it; and you shall do as you please afterwards. +Merciful goodness!' exclaimed Mrs. Tattle, 'do my ears deceive me? I +declare I looked round, and thought I heard the squeaking +chimney-sweeper was in the room!' + +'So did I, Frederick, I declare,' cried Marianne, laughing, 'I never +heard anything so like his voice in my life.' + +Frederick imitated the squeaking voice of this chimney-sweeper to great +perfection. + +'Now,' continued he, 'this fellow is just my height. The old Quaker, if +my face were blackened, and if I were to change clothes with the +chimney-sweeper, I'll answer for it, would never know me.' + +'Oh, it's an admirable invention! I give you infinite credit for it!' +exclaimed Mrs. Theresa. 'It shall, it must be done. I'll ring, and have +the fellow up this minute.' + +'Oh, no; do not ring,' said Frederick, stopping her hand, 'I don't mean +to do it. You know you promised that I should do as I pleased. I only +told you my invention.' + +'Well, well; but only let me ring, and ask whether the chimney-sweepers +are below. You shall do as you please afterwards.' + +'Christopher, shut the door. Christopher,' said she to the servant who +came up when she rang, 'pray are the sweeps gone yet?' 'No, ma'am.' +'But have they been up to old Eden yet?' 'Oh no, ma'am; nor be not to go +till the bell rings; for Miss Bertha, ma'am, was asleep a-lying down, +and her brother wouldn't have her wakened on no account whatsomever. He +came down hisself to the kitchen to the sweeps, though; but wouldn't +have, as I heard him say, his sister waked for no account. But Miss +Bertha's bell will ring when she wakens for the sweeps, ma'am. 'Twas she +wanted to see the boy as her brother saved, and I suppose sent for 'em +to give him something charitable, ma'am.' 'Well, never mind your +suppositions,' said Mrs. Theresa; 'run down this very minute to the +little squeaking chimney-sweep, and send him up to me. Quick, but don't +let the other bear come up with him.' + +Christopher, who had curiosity as well as his mistress, when he returned +with the chimney-sweeper, prolonged his own stay in the room by sweeping +the hearth, throwing down the tongs and shovel, and picking them up +again. + +'That will do, Christopher! Christopher, that will do, I say,' Mrs. +Theresa repeated in vain. She was obliged to say, 'Christopher, you may +go,' before he would depart. + +'Now,' said she to Frederick, 'step in here to the next room with this +candle, and you'll be equipped in an instant. Only just change clothes +with the boy; only just let me see what a charming chimney-sweeper you'd +make. You shall do as you please afterwards.' 'Well, I'll only change +clothes with him, just to show you for one minute.' + +'But,' said Marianne to Mrs. Theresa whilst Frederick was changing his +clothes, 'I think Frederick is right about----' 'About what, love?' 'I +think he is in the right not to go up, though he can do it so easily, to +see that gentleman; I mean on purpose to mimic and laugh at him +afterwards. I don't think that would be quite right.' 'Why, pray, Miss +Marianne?' 'Why, because he is so good-natured to his sister. He would +not let her be wakened.' 'Dear, it's easy to be good in such little +things; and he won't have long to be good to her neither; for I don't +think she will trouble him long in this world, anyhow.' 'What do you +mean?' said Marianne. 'That she'll die, child.' 'Die! die with that +beautiful colour in her cheeks! How sorry her poor, poor brother will +be! But she will not die, I'm sure, for she walks about, and runs +upstairs so lightly! Oh, you must be quite mistaken, I hope.' 'If I'm +mistaken, Dr. Panado Cardamum's mistaken too, then, that's my comfort. +He says, unless the waters work a miracle, she stands a bad chance; and +she won't follow my advice, and consult the doctor for her health.' 'He +would frighten her to death, perhaps,' said Marianne. 'I hope Frederick +won't go up to disturb her.' 'Lud, child, you are turned simpleton all +of a sudden; how can your brother disturb her more than the real +chimney-sweeper?' 'But I don't think it's right,' persisted Marianne, +'and I shall tell him so.' 'Nay, Miss Marianne, I don't commend you now. +Young ladies should not be so forward to give opinions and advice to +their elder brothers unasked; and I presume that Mr. Frederick and I +must know what's right as well as Miss Marianne. Hush! here he is. Oh, +the capital figure!' cried Mrs. Theresa. 'Bravo, bravo!' cried she, as +Frederick entered in the chimney-sweeper's dress; and as he spoke, +saying, 'I'm afraid, please your ladyship, to dirt your ladyship's +carpet,' she broke out into immoderate raptures, calling him 'her +charming chimney-sweeper!' and repeating that she knew beforehand the +character would do for him. + +Mrs. Theresa instantly rang the bell, in spite of all +expostulation--ordered Christopher to send up the other +chimney-sweeper--triumphed in observing that Christopher did not know +Frederick when he came into the room; and offered to lay any wager that +the other chimney-sweeper would mistake him for his companion. And so he +did; and when Frederick spoke, the voice was so very like, that it was +scarcely possible that he should have perceived the difference. + +Marianne was diverted by this scene; but she started when, in the midst +of it, they heard a bell ring. 'That's the lady's bell, and we must go,' +said the blunt chimney-sweeper. 'Go, then, about your business,' said +Mrs. Theresa, 'and here's a shilling for you, to drink, my honest +fellow. I did not know you were so much bruised when I first saw you. I +won't detain you. Go,' said she, pushing Frederick towards the door. +Marianne sprang forward to speak to him; but Mrs. Theresa kept her off; +and, though Frederick resisted, the lady shut the door upon him by +superior force, and, having locked it, there was no retreat. Mrs. Tattle +and Marianne waited impatiently for Frederick's return. 'I hear them,' +cried Marianne, 'I hear them coming downstairs.' They listened again, +and all was silent. At length they suddenly heard a great noise of many +steps in the hall. 'Merciful!' exclaimed Mrs. Theresa, 'it must be your +father and mother come back.' Marianne ran to unlock the room door, and +Mrs. Theresa followed her into the hall. The hall was rather dark, but +under the lamp a crowd of people; all the servants in the house having +gathered together. + +As Mrs. Theresa approached, the crowd opened in silence, and in the +midst she beheld Frederick, with blood streaming from his face. His head +was held by Christopher; and the chimney-sweeper was holding a basin for +him. 'Merciful! what will become of me?' exclaimed Mrs. Theresa. +'Bleeding! he'll bleed to death! Can nobody think of anything that will +stop blood in a minute? A key, a large key down his back--a key--has +nobody a key? Mr. and Mrs. Montague will be here before he has done +bleeding. A key! cobwebs! a puff ball! for mercy's sake! Can nobody +think of anything that will stop blood in a minute? Gracious me! he'll +bleed to death, I believe.' + +'He'll bleed to death! Oh, my brother!' cried Marianne, catching hold of +the words; and terrified, she ran upstairs, crying, 'Sophy, oh, Sophy! +come down this minute, or he'll be dead! My brother's bleeding to death! +Sophy! Sophy! come down, or he'll be dead!' + +'Let go the basin, you,' said Christopher, pulling the basin out of the +chimney-sweeper's hand, who had all this time stood in silence; 'you are +not fit to hold the basin for a gentleman.' 'Let him hold it,' said +Frederick; 'he did not mean to hurt me.' 'That's more than he deserves. +I'm certain sure he might have known well enough it was Mr. Frederick +all the time, and he'd no business to go to fight--such a one as +he--with a gentleman.' 'I did not know he was a gentleman,' said the +chimney-sweeper! 'how could I?' 'How could he, indeed?' said Frederick; +'he shall hold the basin.' + +'Gracious me! I'm glad to hear him speak like himself again, at any +rate,' cried Mrs. Theresa. 'And here comes Miss Sophy, too.' 'Sophy!' +cried Frederick. 'Oh, Sophy, don't you come--don't look at me; you'll +despise me.' 'My brother!--where? where?' said Sophy, looking, as she +thought, at the two chimney-sweepers. + +'It's Frederick,' said Marianne; 'that's my brother.' + +'Miss Sophy, don't be alarmed,' Mrs. Theresa began; 'but gracious +goodness! I wish Miss Bertha----' + +At this instant a female figure in white appeared upon the stairs; she +passed swiftly on, whilst every one gave way before her. 'Oh, Miss +Bertha!' cried Mrs. Theresa, catching hold of her gown to stop her, as +she came near Frederick. 'Oh, Miss Eden, your beautiful India muslin! +take care of the chimney-sweeper, for heaven's sake.' But she pressed +forward. + +'It's my brother, will he die?' cried Marianne, throwing her arms round +her, and looking up as if to a being of a superior order. 'Will he bleed +to death?' 'No, my love!' answered a sweet voice; 'do not frighten +thyself.' + +'I've done bleeding,' said Frederick. 'Dear me, Miss Marianne, if you +would not make such a rout,' cried Mrs. Tattle. 'Miss Bertha, it's +nothing but a frolic. You see Mr. Frederick Montague only in a +masquerade dress. Nothing in the world but a frolic, ma'am. You see he's +stopped bleeding. I was frightened out of my wits at first. I thought it +was his eye, but I see it's only his nose. All's well that ends well. +Mr. Frederick, we'll keep your counsel. Pray, ma'am, let us ask no +questions; it's only a boyish frolic. Come, Mr. Frederick, this way, +into my room, and I'll give you a towel and some clean water, and you +can get rid of this masquerade dress. Make haste, for fear your father +and mother should drop in upon us.' + +'Do not be afraid of thy father and mother. They are surely thy best +friends,' said a voice. It was the voice of an elderly gentleman, who +now stood behind Frederick. 'Oh, sir, oh, Mr. Eden,' said Frederick, +turning to him. 'Don't betray me! for goodness' sake!' whispered Mrs. +Tattle, 'say nothing about me.' 'I'm not thinking about you. Let me +speak,' cried he, pushing away her hand, which stopped his mouth. 'I +shall say nothing about you, I promise you,' said Frederick, with a look +of contempt. 'No, but for your own sake, my dear sir, your papa and +mamma. Bless me! is not that Mrs. Montague's carriage?' + +'My brother, ma'am,' said Sophy, 'is not afraid of my father and +mother's coming back. Let him speak; he was going to speak the truth.' + +'To be sure, Miss Sophia, I wouldn't hinder him from speaking the truth; +but it's not proper, I presume, ma'am, to speak truth at all times, and +in all places, and before everybody, servants and all. I only wanted, +ma'am, to hinder your brother from exposing himself. A hall, I +apprehend, is not a proper place for explanation.' + +'Here,' said Mr. Eden, opening the door of his room, which was on the +opposite side of the hall to Mrs. Tattle's. 'Here is a place,' said he +to Frederick, 'where thou mayst speak the truth at all times, and before +everybody.' 'Nay, my room's at Mr. Frederick Montague's service, and my +door's open too. This way, pray,' said she, pulling his arm. But +Frederick broke from her, and followed Mr. Eden. 'Oh, sir, will you +forgive me?' cried he. 'Forgive thee!--and what have I to forgive?' +'Forgive, brother, without asking what,' said Bertha, smiling. + +'He shall know all!' cried Frederick; 'all that concerns myself, I mean. +Sir, I disguised myself in this dress; I came up to your room to-night +on purpose to see you, without your knowing it, that I might mimic you. +The chimney-sweeper, where is he?' said Frederick, looking round; and he +ran into the hall to seek for him. 'May he come in? he may--he is a +brave, an honest, good, grateful boy. He never guessed who I was. After +we left you we went down to the kitchen together, and there, fool as I +was, for the pleasure of making Mr. Christopher and the servants laugh, +began to mimic you. This boy said he would not stand by and hear you +laughed at; that you had saved his life; that I ought to be ashamed of +myself; that you had just given me half a crown; and so you had; but I +went on, and told him I'd knock him down if he said another word. He +did; I gave the first blow; we fought; I came to the ground; the +servants pulled me up again. They found out, I don't know how, that I +was not a chimney-sweeper. The rest you saw. And now can you forgive me, +sir?' said Frederick to Mr. Eden, seizing hold of his hand. + +'The other hand, friend,' said the Quaker, gently withdrawing his right +hand, which everybody now observed was much swelled, and putting it into +his bosom again. 'This, and welcome,' offering his other hand to +Frederick, and shaking his with a smile. 'Oh, that other hand!' said +Frederick, 'that was hurt, I remember. How ill I have behaved--extremely +ill! But this is a lesson that I shall never forget as long as I live. +I hope for the future I shall behave like a gentleman.' 'And like a +man--and like a good man, I am sure thou wilt,' said the good Quaker, +shaking Frederick's hand affectionately; 'or I am much mistaken, friend, +in that black countenance.' + +'You are not mistaken,' cried Marianne. 'Frederick will never be +persuaded again by anybody to do what he does not think right; and now, +brother you may wash your black countenance.' + +Just when Frederick had got rid of half his black countenance, a double +knock was heard at the door. It was Mr. and Mrs. Montague. 'What will +you do now?' whispered Mrs. Theresa to Frederick, as his father and +mother came into the room. 'A chimney-sweeper covered with blood!' +exclaimed Mr. and Mrs. Montague. 'Father, I am Frederick,' said he, +stepping forward towards them, as they stood in astonishment. +'Frederick! my son!' 'Yes, mother, I'm not hurt half so much as I +deserve; I'll tell you----' 'Nay,' interrupted Bertha, 'let my brother +tell the story this time. Thou hast told it once, and told it well; no +one but my brother could tell it better.' + +'A story never tells so well the second time, to be sure,' said Mrs. +Theresa; 'but Mr. Eden will certainly make the best of it.' + +Without taking any notice of Mrs. Tattle, or her apprehensive looks, Mr. +Eden explained all he knew of the affair in a few words. 'Your son,' +concluded he, 'will quickly put off his dirty dress. The dress hath not +stained the mind; that is fair and honourable. When he found himself in +the wrong, he said so; nor was he in haste to conceal his adventure from +his father; this made me think well of both father and son. I speak +plainly, friend, for that is best. But what is become of the other +chimney-sweeper? He will want to go home,' said Mr. Eden, turning to +Mrs. Theresa. Without making any reply, she hurried out of the room as +fast as possible, and returned in a few moments, with a look of extreme +consternation. + +'Here is a catastrophe indeed! Now, indeed, Mr. Frederick, your papa and +mamma have reason to be angry. A new suit of clothes!--the barefaced +villain! gone! no sign of them in my closet, or anywhere. The door was +locked; he must have gone up the chimney, out upon the leads, and so +escaped; but Christopher is after him. I protest, Mrs. Montague, you +take it too quietly. The wretch!--a new suit of clothes, blue coat and +buff waistcoat. I never heard of such a thing! I declare, Mr. Montague, +you are vastly good, not to be in a passion,' added Mrs. Theresa. + +[Illustration: _'And like a man--and like a good man, I am sure thou +wilt,' said the good Quaker shaking Frederick's hand affectionately_] + +'Madam,' replied Mr. Montague, with a look of much civil contempt, 'I +think the loss of a suit of clothes, and even the disgrace that my son +has been brought to this evening, fortunate circumstances in his +education. He will, I am persuaded, judge and act for himself more +wisely in future. Not will he be tempted to offend against humanity, for +the sake of being called "The best mimic in the world."' + + + + +THE BARRING OUT; + +OR, + +PARTY SPIRIT + + +'The mother of mischief,' says an old proverb, 'is no bigger than a +midge's wing.' + +At Doctor Middleton's school there was a great tall dunce of the name of +Fisher, who never could be taught how to look out a word in the +dictionary. He used to torment everybody with--'Do pray help me! I can't +make out this one word.' The person who usually helped him in his +distress was a very clever, good-natured boy, of the name of De Grey, +who had been many years under Dr. Middleton's care, and who, by his +abilities and good conduct, did him great credit. The doctor certainly +was both proud and fond of him; but he was so well beloved, or so much +esteemed, by his companions, that nobody had ever called him by the +odious name of favourite, until the arrival of a new scholar of the name +of Archer. + +Till Archer came, the ideas of _favourites_ and _parties_ were almost +unknown at Dr. Middleton's; but he brought all these ideas fresh from a +great public school, at which he had been educated--at which he had +acquired a sufficient quantity of Greek and Latin, and a superabundant +quantity of party spirit. His aim, the moment he came to a new school, +was to get to the head of it, or at least to form the strongest party. +His influence, for he was a boy of considerable abilities, was quickly +felt, though he had a powerful rival, as he thought proper to call him, +in De Grey; and, with _him_, a rival was always an enemy. De Grey, so +far from giving him any cause of hatred, treated him with a degree of +cordiality which would probably have had an effect upon Archer's mind, +if it had not been for the artifices of Fisher. + +It may seem surprising that a _great dunce_ should be able to work upon +a boy like Archer, who was called a great genius; but when genius is +joined to a violent temper, instead of being united to good sense, it is +at the mercy even of dunces. + +Fisher was mortally offended one morning by De Grey's refusing to +translate his whole lesson for him. He went over to Archer, who, +considering him as a partisan deserting from the enemy, received him +with open arms, and translated his whole lesson, without expressing +_much_ contempt for his stupidity. From this moment Fisher forgot all De +Grey's former kindness, and considered only how he could in his turn +mortify the person whom he felt to be so much his superior. + +De Grey and Archer were now reading for a premium, which was to be given +in their class. Fisher betted on Archer's head, who had not sense enough +to despise the bet of a blockhead. On the contrary, he suffered him to +excite the spirit of rivalship in its utmost fury by collecting the bets +of all the school. So that this premium now became a matter of the +greatest consequence, and Archer, instead of taking the means to secure +a judgment in his favour, was listening to the opinions of all his +companions. It was a prize which was to be won by his own exertions; but +he suffered himself to consider it as an affair of chance. The +consequence was, that he trusted to chance--his partisans lost their +wagers, and he the premium--and his temper. + +'Mr. Archer,' said Dr. Middleton, after the grand affair was decided, +'you have done all that genius alone could do; but you, De Grey, have +done all that genius and industry united could do.' + +'Well!' cried Archer, with affected gaiety, as soon as the doctor had +left the room--'well, I'm content with _my_ sentence. Genius alone for +me--industry for those who _want_ it,' added he, with a significant look +at De Grey. + +Fisher applauded this as a very spirited speech; and, by insinuations +that Dr. Middleton 'always gave the premium to De Grey,' and 'that those +who had lost their bets might thank themselves for it, for being such +simpletons as to bet against the favourite,' he raised a murmur highly +flattering to Archer amongst some of the most credulous boys; whilst +others loudly proclaimed their belief in Dr. Middleton's impartiality. +These warmly congratulated De Grey. At this Archer grew more and more +angry, and when Fisher was proceeding to speak nonsense _for_ him, +pushed forward into the circle to De Grey, crying, 'I wish, Mr. Fisher, +you would let me fight my own battles!' + +'And _I_ wish,' said young Townsend, who was fonder of diversions than +of premiums, or battles, or of anything else--'_I_ wish that we were not +to have any battles; after having worked like horses, don't set about to +fight like dogs. Come,' said he, tapping De Grey's shoulder, 'let us see +your new playhouse, do--it's a holiday, and let us make the most of it. +Let us have the "School for Scandal," do; and I'll play Charles for you, +and you, De Grey, shall be _my little Premium_. Come, do open this new +playhouse of yours to-night.' + +'Come then!' said De Grey, and he ran across the playground to a waste +building at the farthest end of it, in which, at the earnest request of +the whole community, and with the permission of Dr. Middleton, he had +with much pain and ingenuity erected a theatre. + +'The new theatre is going to be opened! Follow the manager! Follow the +manager!' echoed a multitude of voices. + +'_Follow the manager!_' echoed very disagreeably in Archer's ear; but as +he could not be _left alone_, he was also obliged to follow the manager. +The moment that the door was unlocked, the crowd rushed in; the delight +and wonder expressed at the sight were great, and the applause and +thanks which were bestowed upon the manager were long and loud. + +Archer at least thought them long, for he was impatient till his voice +could be heard. When at length the acclamations had spent themselves, he +walked across the stage with a knowing air, and looking round +contemptuously-- + +'And is _this_ your famous playhouse?' cried he. 'I wish you had, any of +you, seen the playhouse _I_ have been used to?' + +These words made a great and visible change in the feelings and opinions +of the public. 'Who would be a servant of the public? or who would toil +for popular applause?' A few words spoken in a decisive tone by a new +voice operated as a charm, and the playhouse was in an instant +metamorphosed in the eyes of the spectators. All gratitude for the past +was forgotten, and the expectation of something better justified to the +capricious multitude their disdain of what they had so lately pronounced +to be excellent. + +Every one now began to criticise. One observed 'that the green curtain +was full of holes, and would not draw up.' Another attacked the scenes. +'Scenes! they were not like real scenes--Archer must know best, because +he was used to these things.' So everybody crowded to hear something of +the _other_ playhouse. They gathered round Archer to hear the +description of his playhouse, and at every sentence insulting +comparisons were made. When he had done, his auditors looked round, +sighed, and wished that Archer had been their manager. They turned from +De Grey as from a person who had done them an injury. Some of his +friends--for he had friends who were not swayed by the popular +opinion--felt indignation at this ingratitude, and were going to express +their feelings; but De Grey stopped them, and begged that he might speak +for himself. + +'Gentlemen,' said he, coming forward, as soon as he felt that he had +sufficient command of himself. 'My friends, I see you are discontented +with me and my playhouse. I have done my best to please you; but if +anybody else can please you better, I shall be glad of it. I did not +work so hard for the glory of being your manager. You have my free leave +to tear down----' Here his voice faltered, but he hurried on--'You have +my free leave to tear down all my work as fast as you please. Archer, +shake hands first, however, to show that there's no malice in the case.' + +Archer, who was touched by what his rival said, and stopping the hand of +his new partisan, Fisher, cried, 'No, Fisher! no!--no pulling down. We +can alter it. There is a great deal of ingenuity in it, considering.' + +In vain Archer would now have recalled the public to reason,--the time +for reason was past: enthusiasm had taken hold of their minds. 'Down +with it! Down with it! Archer for ever!' cried Fisher, and tore down the +curtain. The riot once begun, nothing could stop the little mob, till +the whole theatre was demolished. The love of power prevailed in the +mind of Archer; he was secretly flattered by the zeal of his _party_, +and he mistook their love of mischief for attachment to himself. De Grey +looked on superior. 'I said I could bear to see all this, and I can,' +said he; 'now it is all over.' And now it was all over, there was +silence. The rioters stood still to take breath, and to look at what +they had done. There was a blank space before them. + +In this moment of silence there was heard something like a female voice. +'Hush! What strange voice is that?' said Archer. Fisher caught fast hold +of his arm. Everybody looked round to see where the voice came from. It +was dusk. Two window-shutters at the farthest end of the building were +seen to move slowly inwards. De Grey, and in the same instant Archer, +went forward; and, as the shutters opened, there appeared through the +hole the dark face and shrivelled hands of a very old gipsy. She did not +speak; but she looked first at one and then at another. At length she +fixed her eyes on De Grey. 'Well, my good woman,' said he, 'what do you +want with me?' 'Want!--nothing--with _you_,' said the old woman; 'do you +want nothing with _me_?' 'Nothing,' said De Grey. Her eye immediately +turned upon Archer,--'_You_ want something with me,' said she, with +emphasis. 'I--what do I want?' replied Archer. 'No,' said she, changing +her tone, 'you want nothing--nothing will you ever want, or I am much +mistaken in that _face_.' + +In that _watch-chain_, she should have said, for her quick eye had +espied Archer's watch-chain. He was the only person in the company who +had a watch, and she therefore judged him to be the richest. + +'Had you ever your fortune told, sir, in your life?' 'Not I,' said he, +looking at De Grey, as if he was afraid of his ridicule, if he listened +to the gipsy. 'Not you! No! for you will make your own fortune, and the +fortune of all that belong to you!' + +'There's good news for my friends,' cried Archer. 'And I'm one of them, +remember that,' cried Fisher. 'And I,' 'And I,' joined a number of +voices. 'Good luck to them!' cried the gipsy, 'good luck to them all!' + +Then, as soon as they had acquired sufficient confidence in her good +will, they pressed up to the window. 'There,' cried Townsend, as he +chanced to stumble over the carpenter's mitre box, which stood in the +way, 'there's a good omen for me. I've stumbled on the mitre box; I +shall certainly be a bishop.' + +Happy he who had sixpence, for he bid fair to be a judge upon the bench. +And happier he who had a shilling, for he was in the high road to be one +day upon the woolsack, Lord High Chancellor of England. No one had +half-a-crown, or no one would surely have kept it in his pocket upon +such an occasion, for he might have been an archbishop, a king, or what +he pleased. + +Fisher, who like all weak people was extremely credulous, had kept his +post immovable in the front row all the time, his mouth open, and his +stupid eyes fixed upon the gipsy, in whom he felt implicit faith. + +Those who have least confidence in their own powers, and who have least +expectation from the success of their own exertions, are always most +disposed to trust in fortune-tellers and fortune. They hope to _win_, +when they cannot _earn_; and as they can never be convinced by those who +speak sense, it is no wonder they are always persuaded by those who talk +nonsense. + +'I have a question to put,' said Fisher, in a solemn tone. 'Put it, +then,' said Archer, 'what hinders you?' 'But they will hear me,' said +he, looking suspiciously at De Grey. '_I_ shall not hear you,' said De +Grey, 'I am going.' Everybody else drew back, and left him to whisper +his question in the gipsy's ear. 'What is become of my Livy?' 'Your +_sister_ Livy, do you mean?' said the gipsy. 'No, my _Latin_ Livy.' + +The gipsy paused for information. 'It had a leaf torn out in the +beginning, and _I hate Dr. Middleton_----' 'Written in it,' interrupted +the gipsy. 'Right--the very book!' cried Fisher with joy. 'But how +_could_ you know it was Dr. Middleton's name? I thought I had scratched +it, so that nobody could make it out.' 'Nobody _could_ make it out but +_me_,' replied the gipsy. 'But never think to deceive me,' said she, +shaking her head at him in a manner that made him tremble. 'I don't +deceive you indeed, I tell you the whole truth. I lost it a week ago.' +'True.' 'And when shall I find it?' 'Meet me here at this hour to-morrow +evening, and I will answer you. No more! I must be gone. Not a word more +to-night.' + +She pulled the shutters towards her, and left the youth in darkness. All +his companions were gone. He had been so deeply engaged in this +conference, that he had not perceived their departure. He found all the +world at supper, but no entreaties could prevail upon him to disclose +his secret. Townsend rallied in vain. As for Archer, he was not disposed +to destroy by ridicule the effect which he saw that the old woman's +predictions in his favour had had upon the imagination of many of his +little partisans. He had privately slipped two good shillings into the +gipsy's hand to secure her; for he was willing to pay any price for +_any_ means of acquiring power. + +[Illustration: _'What is become of my Livy?' 'Your sister Livy, do you +mean?'_] + +The watch-chain had not deceived the gipsy, for Archer was the richest +person in the community. His friends had imprudently supplied him with +more money than is usually trusted to boys of his age. Dr. Middleton had +refused to give him a larger monthly allowance than the rest of his +companions; but he brought to school with him secretly the sum of five +guineas. This appeared to his friends and to himself an inexhaustible +treasure. + +Riches and talents would, he flattered himself, secure to him that +ascendency of which he was so ambitious. 'Am I your manager or not?' was +now his question. 'I scorn to take advantage of a hasty moment; but +since last night you have had time to consider. If you desire me to be +your manager, you shall see what a theatre I will make for you. In this +purse,' said he, showing through the network a glimpse of the shining +treasure--'in this purse is Aladdin's wonderful lamp. Am I your manager? +Put it to the vote.' + +It was put to the vote. About ten of the most reasonable of the assembly +declared their gratitude and high approbation of their old friend, De +Grey; but the numbers were in favour of the new friend. And as no +metaphysical distinctions relative to the idea of a majority had ever +entered their thoughts, the most numerous party considered themselves as +now beyond dispute in the right. They drew off on one side in triumph, +and their leader, who knew the consequence of a name in party matters, +immediately distinguished his partisans by the gallant name of +_Archers_, stigmatising the friends of De Grey by the odious epithet of +Greybeards. + +Amongst the Archers was a class not very remarkable for their mental +qualifications; but who, by their bodily activity, and by the peculiar +advantages annexed to their way of life, rendered themselves of the +highest consequence, especially to the rich and enterprising. + +The judicious reader will apprehend that I allude to the persons called +day scholars. Amongst these, Fisher was distinguished by his knowledge +of all the streets and shops in the adjacent town; and, though a dull +scholar, he had such reputation as a man of business that whoever had +commissions to execute at the confectioner's was sure to apply to him. +Some of the youngest of his employers had, it is true, at times +complained that he made mistakes of halfpence and pence in their +accounts; but as these affairs could never be brought to a public trial, +Fisher's character and consequence were undiminished, till the fatal day +when his Aunt Barbara forbade his visits to the confectioner's; or +rather, till she requested the confectioner, who had his private reasons +for obeying her, not _to receive_ her nephew's visits, as he had made +himself sick at his house, and Mrs. Barbara's fears for his health were +incessant. + +Though his visits to the confectioner's were thus at an end, there were +many other shops open to him; and with officious zeal he offered his +services to the new manager, to purchase whatever might be wanting for +the theatre. + +Since his father's death Fisher had become a boarder at Dr. Middleton's, +but his frequent visits to his Aunt Barbara afforded him opportunities +of going into the town. The carpenter, De Grey's friend, was discarded +by Archer, for having said '_lack-a-daisy!_' when he saw that the old +theatre was pulled down. A new carpenter and paper-hanger, recommended +by Fisher, were appointed to attend, with their tools, for orders, at +two o'clock. Archer, impatient to show his ingenuity and his generosity, +gave his plan and his orders in a few minutes, in a most decided manner. +'These things,' he observed, 'should be done with some spirit.' + +To which the carpenter readily assented, and added that 'gentlemen of +spirit never looked to the _expense_, but always to the _effect_.' Upon +this principle Mr. Chip set to work with all possible alacrity. In a few +hours' time he promised to produce a grand effect. High expectations +were formed. Nothing was talked of but the new playhouse; and so intent +upon it was every head, that no lessons could be got. Archer was +obliged, in the midst of his various occupations, to perform the part of +grammar and dictionary for twenty different people. + +'O ye Athenians!' he exclaimed, 'how hard do I work to obtain your +praise!' + +Impatient to return to the theatre, the moment the hours destined for +instruction, or, as they are termed by schoolboys, school-hours, were +over each prisoner started up with a shout of joy. + +'Stop one moment, gentlemen, if you please,' said Dr. Middleton, in an +awful voice. 'Mr. Archer, return to your place. Are you all here?' The +names of all the boys were called over, and when each had answered to +his name, Dr. Middleton said-- + +'Gentlemen, I am sorry to interrupt your amusements; but, till you have +contrary orders from me, no one, on pain of my serious displeasure, must +go into _that_ building' (pointing to the place where the theatre was +erecting). 'Mr. Archer, your carpenter is at the door. You will be so +good as to dismiss him. I do not think proper to give my reasons for +these orders; but you who _know_ me,' said the doctor, and his eye +turned towards De Grey, 'will not suspect me of caprice. I depend, +gentlemen, upon your obedience.' + +To the dead silence with which these orders were received, succeeded in +a few minutes a universal groan. 'So!' said Townsend, 'all our diversion +is over.' 'So,' whispered Fisher in the manager's ear, 'this is some +trick of the Greybeards'. Did you not observe how he looked at De Grey?' + +Fired by this thought, which had never entered his mind before, Archer +started from his reverie, and striking his hand upon the table, swore +that he 'would not be outwitted by any Greybeard in Europe--no, nor by +all of them put together. The Archers were surely a match for them. He +would stand by them, if they would stand by him,' he declared, with a +loud voice, 'against the whole world, and Dr. Middleton himself, with +"_Little Premium_" at his right hand.' + +Everybody admired Archer's spirit, but was a little appalled at the +sound of standing against Dr. Middleton. + +'Why not?' resumed the indignant manager. 'Neither Dr. Middleton nor any +doctor upon earth shall treat me with injustice. This, you see, is a +stroke at me and my party, and I won't bear it.' + +'Oh, you are mistaken!' said De Grey, who was the only one who dared to +oppose reason to the angry orator. 'It cannot be a stroke aimed at "you +and your party," for he does not know that you _have_ a party.' + +'I'll make him know it, and I'll make _you_ know it, too,' said Archer. +'Before I came here you reigned alone; now your reign is over, Mr. De +Grey. Remember my majority this morning, and your theatre last night.' + +'He has remembered it,' said Fisher. 'You see, the moment he was not to +be our manager, we were to have no theatre, no playhouse, no plays. We +must all sit down with our hands before us--all for "_good reasons_" of +Dr. Middleton's, which he does not vouchsafe to tell us.' + +'I won't be governed by any man's reasons that he won't tell me,' cried +Archer. 'He cannot have good reasons, or why not tell them?' 'Nonsense!' +said De Grey. '_We shall not suspect him of caprice!_' 'Why not?' +'Because we who know him have never known him capricious.' 'Perhaps not. +_I_ know nothing about him,' said Archer. 'No,' said De Grey; 'for that +very reason _I_ speak who do know him. Don't be in a passion, Archer.' +'I will be in a passion. I won't submit to tyranny. I won't be made a +fool of by a few soft words. You don't know me, De Grey. I'll go through +with what I've begun. I am manager, and I will be manager; and you shall +see my theatre finished in spite of you, and _my_ party triumphant.' + +'Party,' repeated De Grey. 'I cannot imagine what is in the word "party" +that seems to drive you mad. We never heard of parties till you came +amongst us.' + +'No; before I came, I say, nobody dared oppose you; but _I_ dare; and I +tell you to your face, take care of me--a warm friend and a bitter enemy +is my motto.' 'I am not your enemy! I believe you are out of your +senses, Archer!' said he, laughing. 'Out of my senses! No; you are my +enemy! Are you not my rival? Did you not win the premium? Did not you +want to be manager? Answer me, are not you, in one word, a Greybeard?' +'You called me a Greybeard, but my name is De Grey,' said he, still +laughing. 'Laugh on!' cried the other, furiously. 'Come, _Archers_, +follow me. _We_ shall laugh by-and-by, I promise you.' At the door +Archer was stopped by Mr. Chip. 'Oh, Mr. Chip, I am ordered to discharge +you.' 'Yes, sir; and here's a little bill----' 'Bill, Mr. Chip! why, you +have not been at work for two hours!' 'Not much over, sir; but if +you'll please to look into it, you'll see 'tis for a few things you +ordered. The stuff is all laid out and delivered. The paper and the +festoon-bordering for the drawing-room scene is cut out, and left +y_a_nder within.' 'Y_a_nder within! I wish you had not been in such a +confounded hurry--six-and-twenty shillings!' cried he; 'but I can't stay +to talk about it now. I'll tell you, Mr. Chip,' said Archer, lowering +his voice, 'what you must do for me, my good fellow.' + +Then, drawing Mr. Chip aside, he begged him to pull down some of the +woodwork which had been put up, and to cut it into a certain number of +wooden bars, of which he gave him the dimensions, with orders to place +them all, when ready, under a haystack, which he pointed out. + +Mr. Chip scrupled and hesitated, and began to talk of '_the doctor_.' +Archer immediately began to talk of the bill, and throwing down a guinea +and a half, the conscientious carpenter pocketed the money directly, and +made his bow. + +'Well, Master Archer,' said he, 'there's no refusing you nothing. You +have such a way of talking one out of it. You manage me just like a +child.' + +'Ay, ay!' said Archer, knowing that he had been cheated, and yet proud +of managing a carpenter, 'ay, ay! I know the way to manage everybody. +Let the things be ready in an hour's time; and hark'e! leave your tools +by mistake behind you, and a thousand of twenty-penny nails. Ask no +questions, and keep your own counsel like a wise man. Off with you, and +take care of "_the doctor_."' + +'Archers, Archers, to the Archers' tree! Follow your leader,' cried he, +sounding his well-known whistle as a signal. His followers gathered +round him, and he, raising himself upon the mount at the foot of the +tree, counted his numbers, and then, in a voice lower than usual, +addressed them thus:--'My friends, is there a Greybeard amongst us? If +there is, let him walk off at once, he has my free leave.' No one +stirred. 'Then we are all Archers, and we will stand by one another. +Join hands, my friends.' They all joined hands. 'Promise me not to +betray me, and I will go on. I ask no security but your honour.' They +all gave their honour to be secret and _faithful_, as he called it, and +he went on. 'Did you ever hear of such a thing as a "_Barring Out_," my +friends?' They had heard of such a thing, but they had only heard of +it. + +Archer gave the history of a 'Barring Out' in which he had been +concerned at his school, in which the boys stood out against the master, +and gained their point at last, which was a week's more holidays at +Easter.[16] 'But if _we_ should not succeed,' said they, 'Dr. Middleton +is so steady; he never goes back from what he has said.' 'Did you ever +try to push him back? Let us be steady and he'll tremble. Tyrants always +tremble when----' 'Oh,' interrupted a number of voices, 'but he is not a +tyrant--is he?' 'All schoolmasters are tyrants--are not they?' replied +Archer; 'and is not he a schoolmaster?' To this logic there was no +answer; but, still reluctant, they asked, 'What they should _get_ by a +Barring Out?' 'Get!--everything!--what we want!--which is everything to +lads of spirit--victory and liberty! Bar him out till he repeals his +tyrannical law; till he lets us into our own theatre again, or till he +tells us his "_good reasons_" against it.' 'But perhaps he has reasons +for not telling us.' 'Impossible!' cried Archer; 'that's the way we are +always to be governed by a man in a wig, who says he has good reasons, +and can't tell them. Are you fools? Go! go back to De Grey! I see you +are all Greybeards. Go! Who goes first?' Nobody would go _first_. 'I +will have nothing to do with ye, if ye are resolved to be slaves!' 'We +won't be slaves!' they all exclaimed at once. 'Then,' said Archer, +'stand out in the right and be free.' + + [16] This custom of 'BARRING OUT' was very general (especially in the + northern parts of England) during the 17th and 18th centuries, + and it has been fully described by Brand and other antiquarian + writers. + +Dr. Johnson mentions that Addison, while under the tuition of Mr. Shaw, +master of the Lichfield Grammar School, led, and successfully conducted, +'a plan for _barring out_ his master. A disorderly privilege,' says the +doctor, 'which, in his time, prevailed in the principal seminaries of +education.' + +In the _Gentleman's Magazine_ of 1828, Dr. P. A. Nuttall, under the +signature of P. A. N., has given a spirited sketch of a 'BARRING OUT' at +the Ormskirk Grammar School, which has since been republished at length +(though without acknowledgment) by Sir Henry Ellis, in Bonn's recent +edition of Brand's _Popular Antiquities_. This operation took place +early in the present century, and is interesting from its being, +perhaps, the last attempt on record, and also from the circumstance of +the writer himself having been one of the juvenile leaders in the daring +adventure, 'quorum pars magna fuit.'--ED. + +'_The right._' It would have taken up too much time to examine what 'the +right' was. Archer was always sure that '_the right_' was what his +party chose to do; that is, what he chose to do himself; and such is the +influence of numbers upon each other, in conquering the feelings of +shame and in confusing the powers of reasoning, that in a few minutes +'the right' was forgotten, and each said to himself, 'To be sure, Archer +is a very clever boy, and he can't be mistaken'; or, 'To be sure, +Townsend thinks so, and he would not do anything to get us into a +scrape'; or, 'To be sure, everybody will agree to this but myself, and I +can't stand out alone, to be pointed at as a Greybeard and a slave. +Everybody thinks it is right, and everybody can't be wrong.' + +By some of these arguments, which passed rapidly through the mind +without his being conscious of them, each boy decided, and deceived +himself--what none would have done alone, none scrupled to do as a +party. It was determined, then, that there should be a Barring Out. The +arrangement of the affair was left to their new manager, to whom they +all pledged implicit obedience. Obedience, it seems, is necessary, even +from rebels to their ringleaders; not reasonable, but implicit +obedience. + +Scarcely had the assembly adjourned to the Ball-alley, when Fisher, with +an important length of face, came up to the manager, and desired to +speak one word to him. 'My advice to you, Archer, is, to do nothing in +this till we have consulted _you know who_, about whether it's right or +wrong.' '"_You know who_"! Whom do you mean? Make haste, and don't make +so many faces, for I'm in a hurry. Who is "_You know who_"?' 'The old +woman,' said Fisher, gravely; 'the gipsy.' 'You may consult the old +woman,' said Archer, bursting out a-laughing, 'about what's right and +wrong, if you please, but no old woman shall decide for me.' 'No; but +you don't _take_ me,' said Fisher; 'you don't _take_ me. By right and +wrong, I mean lucky and unlucky.' 'Whatever _I_ do will be lucky,' +replied Archer. 'My gipsy told you that already.' 'I know, I know,' said +Fisher, 'and what she said about your friends being lucky--that went a +great way with many,' added he, with a sagacious nod of his head, 'I can +tell you _that_--more than you think. Do you know,' said he, laying hold +of Archer's button, 'I'm in the secret? There are nine of us have +crooked our little fingers upon it, not to stir a step till we get her +advice; and she has appointed me to meet her about particular business +of my own at eight. So I'm to consult her and to bring her answer.' + +Archer knew too well how to govern fools to attempt to reason with them; +and, instead of laughing any longer at Fisher's ridiculous superstition, +he was determined to take advantage of it. He affected to be persuaded +of the wisdom of the measure; looked at his watch; urged him to be exact +to a moment; conjured him to remember exactly the words of the oracle; +and, above all things, to demand the lucky hour and minute when the +Barring Out should begin. With these instructions Archer put his watch +into the solemn dupe's hand, and left him to count the seconds till the +moment of his appointment, whilst he ran off himself to prepare the +oracle. + +At a little gate which looked into a lane, through which he guessed that +the gipsy must pass, he stationed himself, saw her, gave her +half-a-crown and her instructions, made his escape, and got back +unsuspected to Fisher, whom he found in the attitude in which he had +left him, watching the motion of the minute hand. + +Proud of his secret commission, Fisher slouched his hat, he knew not +why, over his face, and proceeded towards the appointed spot. To keep, +as he had been charged by Archer, within the letter of the law, he stood +_behind_ the forbidden building, and waited some minutes. + +Through a gap in the hedge the old woman at length made her appearance, +muffled up, and looking cautiously about her. 'There's nobody near us!' +said Fisher, and he began to be a little afraid. 'What answer,' said he, +recollecting himself, 'about my Livy?' 'Lost! lost! lost!' said the +gipsy, lifting up her hands; 'never, never, never to be found! But no +matter for that now: that is not your errand to-night; no tricks with +me; speak to me of what is next your heart.' + +Fisher, astonished, put his hand upon his heart, told her all that she +knew before, and received the answers that Archer had dictated: 'That +the Archers should be lucky as long as they stuck to their manager and +to one another; that the Barring Out should end in woe, if not begun +precisely as the clock should strike nine on Wednesday night; but if +begun in that _lucky_ moment, and all obedient to their _lucky_ leader, +all should end well.' + +A thought, a provident thought, now struck Fisher; for even he had some +foresight where his favourite passion was concerned. 'Pray, in our +Barring Out shall we be starved?' 'No,' said the gipsy, 'not if you +trust to me for food, and if you give me money enough. Silver won't do +for so many; gold is what must cross my hand.' 'I have no gold,' said +Fisher, 'and I don't know what you mean by "so many." I'm only talking +of number one, you know. I must take care of that first.' + +So, as Fisher thought it was possible that Archer, clever as he was, +might be disappointed in his supplies, he determined to take secret +measures for himself. His Aunt Barbara's interdiction had shut him out +of the confectioner's shop; but he flattered himself that he could +outwit his aunt; he therefore begged the gipsy to procure him twelve +buns by Thursday morning, and bring them secretly to one of the windows +of the schoolroom. + +As Fisher did not produce any money when he made this proposal, it was +at first absolutely rejected; but a bribe at length conquered his +difficulties: and the bribe which Fisher found himself obliged to +give--for he had no pocket money left of his own, he being as much +_restricted_ in that article as Archer was _indulged_--the bribe that he +found himself obliged to give to quiet the gipsy was half-a-crown, which +Archer had entrusted to him to buy candles for the theatre. 'Oh,' +thought he to himself, 'Archer's so careless about money, he will never +think of asking me for the half-crown again; and now he'll want no +candles for the _theatre_; or, at any rate, it will be some time first; +and maybe Aunt Barbara may be got to give me that much at Christmas; +then, if the worst comes to the worst, one can pay Archer. My mouth +waters for the buns, and have 'em I must now.' + +So, for the hope of twelve buns, he sacrificed the money which had been +entrusted to him. Thus the meanest motives, in mean minds, often prompt +to the commission of those great faults to which one should think +nothing but some violent passion could have tempted. + +The ambassador having thus, in his opinion, concluded his own and the +public business, returned well satisfied with the result, after +receiving the gipsy's reiterated promise to tap _three times_ at the +window on Thursday morning. + +The day appointed for the Barring Out at length arrived; and Archer, +assembling the confederates, informed them that all was prepared for +carrying their design into execution; that he now depended for success +upon their punctuality and courage. He had, within the last two hours, +got all their bars ready to fasten the doors and window shutters of the +schoolroom; he had, with the assistance of two of the day scholars who +were of the party, sent into the town for provisions, at his own +expense, which would make a handsome supper for that night; he had also +negotiated with some cousins of his, who lived in the town, for a +constant supply in future. 'Bless me,' exclaimed Archer, suddenly +stopping in this narration of his services, 'there's one thing, after +all, I've forgot, we shall be undone without it. Fisher, pray did you +ever buy the candles for the playhouse?' 'No, to be sure,' replied +Fisher, extremely frightened; 'you know you don't want candles for the +playhouse now.' 'Not for the playhouse, but for the Barring Out. We +shall be in the dark, man. You must run this minute, run.' 'For +candles?' said Fisher, confused; 'how many?--what sort?' 'Stupidity!' +exclaimed Archer, 'you are a pretty fellow at a dead lift! Lend me a +pencil and a bit of paper, do; I'll write down what I want myself! Well, +what are you fumbling for?' 'For money!' said Fisher, colouring. 'Money, +man! Didn't I give you half-a-crown the other day?' 'Yes,' replied +Fisher, stammering; 'but I wasn't sure that that might be enough.' +'Enough! yes, to be sure it will. I don't know what you are _at_.' +'Nothing, nothing,' said Fisher; 'here, write upon this, then,' said +Fisher, putting a piece of paper into Archer's hand, upon which Archer +wrote his orders. 'Away, away!' cried he. + +Away went Fisher. He returned; but not until a considerable time +afterwards. They were at supper when he returned. 'Fisher always comes +in at supper-time,' observed one of the Greybeards, carelessly. 'Well, +and would you have him come in _after_ supper-time?' said Townsend, who +always supplied his party with ready _wit_. 'I've got the candles,' +whispered Fisher as he passed by Archer to his place. 'And the +tinder-box?' said Archer. 'Yes; I got back from my Aunt Barbara under +pretence that I must study for repetition day an hour later to-night. So +I got leave. Was not that clever?' + +A dunce always thinks it clever to cheat even by _sober lies_. How Mr. +Fisher procured the candles and the tinder-box without money and without +credit we shall discover further on. + +Archer and his associates had agreed to stay the last in the schoolroom; +and as soon as the Greybeards were gone out to bed, he, as the signal, +was to shut and lock one door, Townsend the other. A third conspirator +was to strike a light, in case they should not be able to secure a +candle. A fourth was to take charge of the candle as soon as lighted; +and all the rest were to run to their bars, which were secreted in a +room; then to fix them to the common fastening bars of the window, in +the manner in which they had been previously instructed by the manager. +Thus each had his part assigned, and each was warned that the success of +the whole depended upon their order and punctuality. + +Order and punctuality, it appears, are necessary even in a Barring Out; +and even rebellion must have its laws. + +The long-expected moment at length arrived. De Grey and his friends, +unconscious of what was going forward, walked out of the schoolroom as +usual at bedtime. The clock began to strike nine. There was one +Greybeard left in the room, who was packing up some of his books, which +had been left about by accident. It is impossible to describe the +impatience with which he was watched, especially by Fisher and the nine +who depended upon the gipsy oracle. + +When he had got all his books together under his arm, he let one of them +fall; and whilst he stooped to pick it up, Archer gave the signal. The +doors were shut, locked, and double-locked in an instant. A light was +struck and each ran to his post. The bars were all in the same moment +put up to the windows, and Archer, when he had tried them all, and seen +that they were secure, gave a loud 'Huzza!'--in which he was joined by +all the party most manfully--by all but the poor Greybeard, who, the +picture of astonishment, stood stock still in the midst of them with his +books under his arm; at which spectacle Townsend, who enjoyed the +_frolic_ of the fray more than anything else, burst into an immoderate +fit of laughter. 'So, my little Greybeard,' said he, holding a candle +full in his eyes, 'what think you of all this?--How came you amongst the +wicked ones?' 'I don't know, indeed,' said the little boy, very gravely; +'you shut me up amongst you. Won't you let me out?' 'Let you out! No, +no, my little Greybeard,' said Archer, catching hold of him and dragging +him to the window bars. 'Look ye here--touch these--put your hand to +them--pull, push, kick--put a little spirit into it, man--kick like an +Archer, if you can; away with ye. It's a pity that the king of the +Greybeards is not here to admire me. I should like to show him our +fortifications. But come, my merry men all, now to the feast. Out with +the table into the middle of the room. Good cheer, my jolly Archers! I'm +your manager!' + +Townsend, delighted with the bustle, rubbed his hands and capered about +the room, whilst the preparations for the feast were hurried forward. +'Four candles!--Four candles on the table. Let's have things in style +when we are about it, Mr. Manager,' cried Townsend. 'Places!--Places! +There's nothing like a fair scramble, my boys. Let every one take care +of himself. Hallo, Greybeard! I've knocked Greybeard down here in the +scuffle. Get up again, my lad, and see a little life.' + +'No, no,' cried Fisher, 'he shan't _sup_ with us.' 'No, no,' cried the +manager, 'he shan't _live_ with us; a Greybeard is not fit company for +Archers.' 'No, no,' cried Townsend, 'evil communication corrupts good +manners.' + +So with one unanimous hiss they hunted the poor little gentle boy into a +corner; and having pent him up with benches, Fisher opened his books for +him, which he thought the greatest mortification, and set up a candle +beside him. 'There, now he looks like a Greybeard as he is!' cried they. +'Tell me what's the Latin for cold roast beef?' said Fisher, exultingly, +and they returned to their feast. + +Long and loud they revelled. They had a few bottles of cider. 'Give me +the corkscrew, the cider shan't be kept till it's sour,' cried Townsend, +in answer to the manager, who, when he beheld the provisions vanishing +with surprising rapidity, began to fear for the morrow. 'Hang +to-morrow!' cried Townsend, 'let Greybeards think of to-morrow; Mr. +Manager, here's your good health.' + +The Archers all stood up as their cups were filled, to drink the health +of their chief with a universal cheer. But at the moment that the cups +were at their lips, and as Archer bowed to thank the company, a sudden +shower from above astonished the whole assembly. They looked up, and +beheld the rose of a watering-engine, whose long neck appeared through a +trap-door in the ceiling. 'Your good health, Mr. Manager!' said a voice, +which was known to be the gardener's; and in the midst of their surprise +and dismay the candles were suddenly extinguished; the trap-door shut +down; and they were left in utter darkness. + +'The _Devil_!' said Archer. 'Don't swear, Mr. Manager,' said the same +voice from the ceiling, 'I hear every word you say.' 'Mercy upon us!' +exclaimed Fisher. 'The clock,' added he, whispering, 'must have been +wrong, for it had not done striking when we began. Only, you remember, +Archer, it had just done before you had done locking your door.' 'Hold +your tongue, blockhead!' said Archer. 'Well, boys! were ye never in the +dark before? You are not afraid of a shower of rain, I hope. Is anybody +drowned?' 'No,' said they, with a faint laugh, 'but what shall we do +here in the dark all night long, and all day to-morrow? We can't unbar +the shutters.' 'It's a wonder _nobody_ ever thought of the trap-door!' +said Townsend. + +The trap-door had indeed escaped the manager's observation. As the house +was new to him, and the ceiling being newly whitewashed, the opening was +scarcely perceptible. Vexed to be out-generalled, and still more vexed +to have it remarked, Archer poured forth a volley of incoherent +exclamations and reproaches against those who were thus so soon +discouraged by a trifle; and groping for the tinder-box, he asked if +anything could be easier than to strike a light again.[17] The light +appeared. But at the moment that it made the tinder-box visible, another +shower from above, aimed, and aimed exactly, at the tinder-box, drenched +it with water, and rendered it totally unfit for further service. Archer +in a fury dashed it to the ground. And now for the first time he felt +what it was to be the unsuccessful head of a party. He heard in his turn +the murmurs of a discontented, changeable populace; and recollecting all +his bars and bolts, and ingenious contrivances, he was more provoked at +their blaming him for this one only oversight than he was grieved at the +disaster itself. + + [17] Lucifer matches were then unknown.--ED. + +'Oh, my hair is all wet!' cried one, dolefully. 'Wring it then,' said +Archer. 'My hand's cut with your broken glass,' cried another. 'Glass!' +cried a third; 'mercy! is there broken glass? and it's all about, I +suppose, amongst the supper; and I had but one bit of bread all the +time.' 'Bread!' cried Archer; 'eat if you want it. Here's a piece here, +and no glass near it.' 'It's all wet, and I don't like dry bread by +itself; that's no feast.' + +'Heigh-day! What, nothing but moaning and grumbling! If these are the +joys of _a Barring Out_,' cried Townsend, 'I'd rather be snug in my bed. +I expected that we should have sat up till twelve o'clock, talking, and +laughing, and singing.' 'So you may still; what hinders you?' said +Archer. 'Sing, and we'll join you, and I should be glad those fellows +overhead heard us singing. Begin, Townsend-- + + Come, now, all ye social Powers, + Spread your influence o'er us-- + +Or else-- + + Rule, Britannia! Britannia rules the waves! + Britons never will be slaves.' + +Nothing can be more melancholy than forced merriment. In vain they +roared in chorus. In vain they tried to appear gay. It would not do. The +voices died away, and dropped off one by one. They had each provided +himself with a greatcoat to sleep upon; but now, in the dark, there was +a peevish scrambling contest for the coats, and half the company, in +very bad humour, stretched themselves upon the benches for the night. + +There is great pleasure in bearing anything that has the appearance of +hardship, as long as there is any glory to be acquired by it; but when +people feel themselves foiled, there is no further pleasure in +endurance; and if, in their misfortune, there is any mixture of the +ridiculous, the motives for heroism are immediately destroyed. Dr. +Middleton had probably considered this in the choice he made of his +first attack. + +Archer, who had spent the night as a man who had the cares of government +upon his shoulders, rose early in the morning, whilst everybody else was +fast asleep. In the night he had resolved the affair of the trap-door, +and a new danger had alarmed him. It was possible that the enemy might +descend upon them through the trap-door. The room had been built high to +admit a free circulation of air. It was twenty feet, so that it was in +vain to think of reaching to the trap-door. + +As soon as the daylight appeared, Archer rose softly, that he might +_reconnoitre_, and devise some method of guarding against this new +danger. Luckily there were round holes in the top of the +window-shutters, which admitted sufficient light for him to work by. The +remains of the soaked feast, wet candles, and broken glass spread over +the table in the middle of the room, looked rather dismal this morning. + +'A pretty set of fellows I have to manage!' said Archer, contemplating +the group of sleepers before him. 'It is well they have somebody to +think for them. Now if I wanted--which, thank goodness, I don't--but if +I did want to call a cabinet council to my assistance, whom could I +pitch upon?--not this stupid snorer, who is dreaming of gipsies, if he +is dreaming of anything,' continued Archer, as he looked into Fisher's +open mouth. 'This next chap is quick enough; but, then, he is so fond of +having everything his own way. And this curl-pated monkey, who is +grinning in his sleep, is all tongue and no brains. Here are brains, +though nobody would think it, in this lump,' said he, looking at a fat, +rolled up, heavy-breathing sleeper; 'but what signify brains to such a +lazy dog? I might kick him for my football this half-hour before I +should get him awake. This lank-jawed harlequin beside him is a handy +fellow, to be sure; but then, if he has hands, he has no head--and he'd +be afraid of his own shadow too, by this light, he is such a coward! And +Townsend, why he has puns in plenty; but, when there's any work to be +done, he's the worst fellow to be near one in the world--he can do +nothing but laugh at his own puns. This poor little fellow that we +hunted into the corner has more sense than all of them put together; but +then he is a Greybeard.' + +Thus speculated the chief of a party upon his sleeping friends. And how +did it happen that he should be so ambitious to please and govern this +set, when for each individual of which it was composed he felt such +supreme contempt? He had formed them into a _party_, had given them a +name, and he was at their head. If these be not good reasons, none +better can be assigned for Archer's conduct. + +'I wish ye could all sleep on,' said he; 'but I must waken ye, though +you will be only in my way. The sound of my hammering must waken them; +so I may as well do the thing handsomely, and flatter some of them by +pretending to ask their advice.' + +Accordingly, he pulled two or three to waken them. 'Come, Townsend, +waken, my boy! Here's some diversion for you--up! up!' + +'Diversion!' cried Townsend; 'I'm your man! I'm up--_up to anything_.' + +So, under the name of _diversion_, Archer set Townsend to work at four +o'clock in the morning. They had nails, a few tools, and several spars, +still left from the wreck of the playhouse. These, by Archer's +directions, they sharpened at one end, and nailed them to the ends of +several forms. + +All hands were now called to clear away the supper things, and to erect +these forms perpendicularly under the trap-door; and with the assistance +of a few braces, a _chevaux-de-frise_ was formed, upon which nobody +could venture to descend. At the farthest end of the room they likewise +formed a penthouse of the tables, under which they proposed to +breakfast, secure from the pelting storm, if it should again assail them +through the trap-door. They crowded under the penthouse as soon as it +was ready, and their admiration of its ingenuity paid the workmen for +the job. + +'Lord! I shall like to see the gardener's phiz through the trap-door, +when he beholds the spikes under him!' cried Townsend. 'Now for +breakfast!' 'Ay, now for breakfast,' said Archer, looking at his watch; +'past eight o'clock, and my town boys not come! I don't understand +this!' + +Archer had expected a constant supply of provisions from two boys who +lived in the town, who were cousins of his, and who had promised to come +every day, and put food in at a certain hole in the wall, in which a +ventilator usually turned. This ventilator Archer had taken down, and +had contrived it so that it could be easily removed and replaced at +pleasure; but, upon examination, it was now perceived that the hole had +been newly stopped up by an iron back, which it was impossible to +penetrate or remove. + +'It never came into my head that anybody would ever have thought of the +ventilator but myself!' exclaimed Archer, in great perplexity. He +listened and waited for his cousins; but no cousins came, and at a late +hour the company were obliged to breakfast upon the scattered fragments +of the last night's feast. That feast had been spread with such +imprudent profusion, that little now remained to satisfy the hungry +guests. + +Archer, who well knew the effect which the apprehension of a scarcity +would have upon his associates, did everything that could be done by a +bold countenance and reiterated assertions to persuade them that his +cousins would certainly come at last, and that the supplies were only +delayed. The delay, however, was alarming. + +Fisher alone heard the manager's calculations and saw the public fears +unmoved. Secretly rejoicing in his own wisdom, he walked from window to +window, slily listening for the gipsy's signal. 'There it is!' cried he, +with more joy sparkling in his eyes than had ever enlightened them +before. 'Come this way, Archer; but don't tell anybody. Hark! do ye hear +those three taps at the window? This is the old woman with twelve buns +for me. I'll give you one whole one for yourself, if you will unbar the +window for me.' + +'Unbar the window!' interrupted Archer; 'no, that I won't, for you or +the gipsy either; but I have heard enough to get your buns without that. +But stay; there is something of more consequence than your twelve buns. +I must think for ye all, I see, regularly.' + +So he summoned a council, and proposed that every one should subscribe, +and trust the subscription to the gipsy, to purchase a fresh supply of +provisions. Archer laid down a guinea of his own money for his +subscription; at which sight all the company clapped their hands, and +his popularity rose to a high pitch with their renewed hopes of plenty. +Now, having made a list of their wants, they folded the money in the +paper, put it into a bag, which Archer tied to a long string, and, +having broken the pane of glass behind the round hole in the +window-shutter, he let down the bag to the gipsy. She promised to be +punctual, and having filled the bag with Fishers twelve buns, they were +drawn up in triumph, and everybody anticipated the pleasure with which +they should see the same bag drawn up at dinner-time. The buns were a +little squeezed in being drawn through the hole in the window-shutter, +but Archer immediately sawed out a piece of the shutter, and broke the +corresponding panes in each of the other windows, to prevent suspicion, +and to make it appear that they had all been broken to admit air. + +What a pity that so much ingenuity should have been employed to no +purpose! + +It may have surprised the intelligent reader that the gipsy was so +punctual to her promise to Fisher, but we must recollect that her +apparent integrity was only cunning; she was punctual that she might be +employed again, that she might be entrusted with the contribution which, +she foresaw, must be raised amongst the famishing garrison. No sooner +had she received the money than her end was gained. + +Dinner-time came; it struck three, four, five, six. They listened with +hungry ears, but no signal was heard. The morning had been very long, +and Archer had in vain tried to dissuade them from devouring the +remainder of the provisions before they were sure of a fresh supply. And +now those who had been the most confident were the most impatient of +their disappointment. + +Archer, in the division of the food, had attempted, by the most +scrupulous exactness, to content the public, and he was both astonished +and provoked to perceive that his impartiality was impeached. So +differently do people judge in different situations! He was the first +person to accuse his master of injustice, and the least capable of +bearing such an imputation upon himself from others. He now experienced +some of the joys of power, and the delight of managing unreasonable +numbers. + +'Have not I done everything I could to please you? Have not I spent my +money to buy you food? Have not I divided the last morsel with you? I +have not tasted one mouthful to-day! Did not I set to work for you at +sunrise? Did not I lie awake all night for you? Have not I had all the +labour and all the anxiety? Look round and see _my_ contrivances, _my_ +work, _my_ generosity! And, after all, you think me a tyrant, because I +want you to have common sense. Is not this bun which I hold in my hand +my own? Did not I earn it by my own ingenuity from that selfish dunce +(pointing to Fisher), who could never have gotten one of his twelve +buns, if I had not shown him how? Eleven of them he has eaten since +morning for his own share, without offering any one a morsel; but I +scorn to eat even what is justly my own, when I see so many hungry +creatures longing for it. I was not going to touch this last morsel +myself. I only begged you to keep it till supper-time, when perhaps +you'll want it more, and Townsend, who can't bear the slightest thing +that crosses his own whims, and who thinks there's nothing in this world +to be minded but his own diversion, calls me a _tyrant_. You all of you +promised to obey me. The first thing I ask you to do for your own good, +and when, if you had common sense, you must know I can want nothing but +your good, you rebel against me. Traitors! fools! ungrateful fools!' + +Archer walked up and down, unable to command his emotion, whilst, for +the moment, the discontented multitude was silenced. + +'Here,' said he, striking his hand upon the little boy's shoulder, +'here's the only one amongst you who has not uttered one word of +reproach or complaint, and he has had but one bit of bread--a bit that I +gave him myself this day. Here!' said he, snatching the bun, which +nobody had dared to touch, 'take it--it's mine--I give it to you, though +you are a Greybeard; you deserve it. Eat it, and be an Archer. You shall +be my captain; will you?' said he, lifting him up in his arm above the +rest. + +'I like you now,' said the little boy, courageously; 'but I love De Grey +better; he has always been my friend, and he advised me never to call +myself any of those names, Archer or Greybeard; so I won't. Though I am +shut in here, I have nothing to do with it. I love Dr. Middleton; he was +never unjust to _me_, and I daresay that he has very good reasons, as De +Grey said, for forbidding us to go into that house. Besides, it's his +own.' + +Instead of admiring the good sense and steadiness of this little lad, +Archer suffered Townsend to snatch the untasted bun out of his hands. He +flung it at a hole in the window, but it fell back. The Archers +scrambled for it, and Fisher ate it. + +Archer saw this, and was sensible that he had not done handsomely in +suffering it. A few moments ago he had admired his own generosity, and +though he had felt the injustice of others, he had not accused himself +of any. He turned away from the little boy, and sitting down at one end +of the table, hid his face in his hands. He continued immovable in this +posture for some time. + +'Lord!' said Townsend; 'it was an excellent joke!' 'Pooh!' said Fisher; +'what a fool, to think so much about a bun!' 'Never mind, Mr. Archer, if +you are thinking about me,' said the little boy, trying gently to pull +his hands from his face. + +Archer stooped down and lifted him up upon the table, at which sight the +partisans set up a general hiss. 'He has forsaken us! He deserts his +party! He wants to be a Greybeard! After he has got us all into this +scrape, he will leave us!' + +'I am not going to leave you,' cried Archer. 'No one shall ever accuse +me of deserting my party. I'll stick by the Archers, right or wrong, I +tell you, to the last moment. But this little fellow--take it as you +please, mutiny if you will, and throw me out of the window. Call me +traitor! coward! Greybeard!--this little fellow is worth you all put +together, and I'll stand by him against any one who dares to lay a +finger upon him; and the next morsel of food that I see shall be his. +Touch him who dares!' + +The commanding air with which Archer spoke and looked, and the belief +that the little boy deserved his protection, silenced the crowd. But the +storm was only hushed. + +No sound of merriment was now to be heard--no battledore and +shuttlecock--no ball, no marbles. Some sat in a corner, whispering their +wishes that Archer would unbar the doors and give up. Others, stretching +their arms, and gaping as they sauntered up and down the room, wished +for air, or food, or water. Fisher and his nine, who had such firm +dependence upon the gipsy, now gave themselves up to utter despair. It +was eight o'clock, growing darker and darker every minute, and no +candles, no light, could they have. The prospect of another long dark +night made them still more discontented. + +Townsend, at the head of the yawners, and Fisher, at the head of the +hungry malcontents, gathered round Archer and the few yet unconquered +spirits, demanding 'How long he meant to keep them in this dark dungeon? +and whether he expected that they should starve themselves for his +sake?' + +The idea of _giving up_ was more intolerable to Archer than all the +rest. He saw that the majority, his own convincing argument, was against +him. He was therefore obliged to condescend to the arts of persuasion. +He flattered some with hopes of food from the town boys. Some he +reminded of their promises; others he praised for former prowess; and +others he shamed by the repetition of their high vaunts in the beginning +of the business. + +It was at length resolved that at all events they _would hold out_. With +this determination they stretched themselves again to sleep, for the +second night, in weak and weary obstinacy. + +Archer slept longer and more soundly than usual the next morning, and +when he awoke, he found his hands tied behind him! Three or four boys +had just got hold of his feet, which they pressed down, whilst the +trembling hands of Fisher were fastening the cord round them. + +With all the force which rage could inspire, Archer struggled and roared +to '_his Archers_!'--his friends, his party--for help against the +traitors. But all kept aloof. Townsend, in particular, stood laughing +and looking on. 'I beg your pardon, Archer, but really you look so +droll. All alive and kicking! Don't be angry. I'm so weak, I cannot help +laughing to-day.' + +The packthread cracked. 'His hands are free! He's loose!' cried the +least of the boys, and ran away, whilst Archer leaped up, and seizing +hold of Fisher with a powerful grasp, sternly demanded 'What he meant by +this?' + +'Ask my party,' said Fisher, terrified; 'they set me on; ask my party.' + +'Your party!' cried Archer, with a look of ineffable contempt; 'you +reptile!--_your_ party? Can such a thing as _you_ have a party?' + +'To be sure!' said Fisher, settling his collar, which Archer in his +surprise had let go; 'to be sure! Why not? Any man who chooses it may +have a party as well as yourself, I suppose. I have nine Fishermen.' + +At these words, spoken with much sullen importance, Archer, in spite of +his vexation, could not help laughing. 'Fishermen!' cried he, +'_Fishermen!_' 'And why not Fishermen as well as Archers?' cried they. +'One party is just as good as another; it is only a question which can +get the upper hand; and we had your hands tied just now.' + +'That's right, Townsend,' said Archer, 'laugh on, my boy! Friend or foe, +it's all the same to you. I know how to value your friendship now. You +are a mighty good fellow when the sun shines; but let a storm come, and +how you slink away!' + +At this instant, Archer felt the difference between _a good companion_ +and a good friend, a difference which some people do not discover till +late in life. + +[Illustration: _Archer leaped-up, and seizing hold of Fisher with a +powerful grasp, sternly demanded 'What he meant by this?'_] + +'Have I no friend?--no real friend amongst you all? And could ye stand +by and see my hands tied behind me like a thief's? What signifies such a +party--all mute?' + +'We want something to eat,' answered the Fishermen. 'What signifies +_such_ a party, indeed? and _such_ a manager, who can do nothing for +one?' + +'And have _I_ done nothing?' + +'Don't let's hear any more prosing,' said Fisher; 'we are too many for +you. I've advised my party, if they've a mind not to be starved, to give +you up for the ringleader, as you were; and Dr. Middleton will not let +us all off, I daresay.' So, depending upon the sullen silence of the +assembly, he again approached Archer with a cord. A cry of 'No, no, no! +Don't tie him,' was feebly raised. + +Archer stood still, but the moment Fisher touched him, he knocked him +down to the ground, and turning to the rest, with eyes sparkling with +indignation, 'Archers!' cried he. A voice at this instant was heard at +the door. It was De Grey's voice. 'I have got a large basket of +provisions for your breakfast.' A general shout of joy was sent forth by +the voracious public. 'Breakfast! Provisions! A large basket! De Grey +for ever! Huzza!' + +De Grey promised, upon his honour, that if he would unbar the door +nobody should come in with him, and no advantage should be taken of +them. This promise was enough even for Archer. 'I will let him in,' said +he, 'myself; for I'm sure he'll never break his word.' He pulled away +the bar; the door opened; and having bargained for the liberty of +Melsom, the little boy who had been shut in by mistake, De Grey entered +with his basket of provisions, when he locked and barred the door +instantly. + +Joy and gratitude sparkled in every face when he unpacked his basket and +spread the table with a plentiful breakfast. A hundred questions were +asked him at once. 'Eat first,' said he, 'and we will talk afterwards.' +This business was quickly despatched by those who had not tasted food +for a long while. Their curiosity increased as their hunger diminished. +'Who sent us breakfast? Does Dr. Middleton know?' were questions +reiterated from every mouth. + +'He does know,' answered De Grey; 'and the first thing I have to tell +you is, that I am your fellow-prisoner. I am to stay here till you give +up. This was the only condition on which Dr. Middleton would allow me to +bring you food, and he will allow no more.' + +Every one looked at the empty basket. But Archer, in whom +half-vanquished party spirit revived with the strength he had got from +his breakfast, broke into exclamations in praise of De Grey's +magnanimity, as he now imagined that De Grey had become one of +themselves. + +'And you will join us, will you? That's a noble fellow!' 'No,' answered +De Grey, calmly; 'but I hope to persuade, or rather to convince you, +that you ought to join me.' 'You would have found it no hard task to +have persuaded or convinced us, whichever you pleased,' said Townsend, +'if you had appealed to Archers fasting; but Archers feasting are quite +other animals. Even Caesar himself, after breakfast, is quite another +thing!' added he, pointing to Archer. 'You may speak for yourself, Mr. +Townsend,' replied the insulted hero, 'but not for me, or for Archers in +general, if you please. We unbarred the door upon the faith of De Grey's +promise--_that_ was not giving up. And it would have been just as +difficult, I promise you, to persuade or convince me either that I +should give up against my honour before breakfast as after.' + +This spirited speech was applauded by many, who had now forgotten the +feelings of famine. Not so Fisher, whose memory was upon this occasion +very distinct. + +'What nonsense,' and the orator paused for a synonymous expression, but +none was at hand. 'What nonsense and--nonsense is here! Why, don't you +remember that dinner-time, and supper-time, and breakfast-time will come +again? So what signifies mouthing about persuading and convincing? We +will not go through again what we did yesterday! Honour me no honour. I +don't understand it. I'd rather be flogged at once, as I have been +many's the good time for a less thing. I say, we'd better all be flogged +at once, which must be the end of it sooner or later, than wait here to +be without dinner, breakfast, and supper, all only because Mr. Archer +won't give up because of his honour and nonsense!' + +Many prudent faces amongst the Fishermen seemed to deliberate at the +close of this oration, in which the arguments were brought so 'home to +each man's business and bosom.' + +'But,' said De Grey, 'when we yield, I hope it will not be merely to get +our dinner, gentlemen. When we yield, Archer----' 'Don't address +yourself to me,' interrupted Archer, struggling with his pride; 'you +have no further occasion to try to win me. I have no power, no party, +you see! And now I find that I have no friends, I don't care what +becomes of myself. I suppose I'm to be given up as a ringleader. Here's +this Fisher, and a party of his Fishermen, were going to tie me hand and +foot, if I had not knocked him down, just as you came to the door, De +Grey; and now perhaps you will join Fisher's party against me.' + +De Grey was going to assure him that he had no intention of joining any +party, when a sudden change appeared on Archer's countenance. 'Silence!' +cried Archer, in an imperious tone, and there was silence. Some one was +heard to whistle the beginning of a tune, that was perfectly new to +everybody present except to Archer, who immediately whistled the +conclusion. 'There!' cried he, looking at De Grey with triumph; 'that's +a method of holding secret correspondence, whilst a prisoner, which I +learned from "Richard Coeur de Lion." I know how to make use of +everything. Hallo! friend! are you there at last?' cried he, going to +the ventilator. 'Yes, but we are barred out here.' 'Round to the window +then, and fill our bag. We'll let it down, my lad, in a trice; bar me +out who can!' + +Archer let down the bag with all the expedition of joy, and it was +filled with all the expedition of fear. 'Pull away! make haste, for +Heaven's sake!' said the voice from without; 'the gardener will come +from dinner, else, and we shall be caught. He mounted guard all +yesterday at the ventilator; and though I watched and watched till it +was darker than pitch, I could not get near you. I don't know what has +taken him out of the way now. Make haste, pull away!' The heavy bag was +soon pulled up. 'Have you any more?' said Archer. 'Yes, plenty. Let down +quick! I've got the tailor's bag full, which is three times as large as +yours, and I've changed clothes with the tailor's boy; so nobody took +notice of me as I came down the street.' + +'There's my own cousin!' exclaimed Archer, 'there's a noble fellow! +there's my own cousin, I acknowledge. Fill the bag, then.' Several times +the bag descended and ascended; and at every unlading of the crane, +fresh acclamations were heard. 'I have no more!' at length the boy with +the tailor's bag cried. 'Off with you, then; we've enough, and thank +you.' + +A delightful review was now made of their treasure. Busy hands arranged +and sorted the heterogeneous mass. Archer, in the height of his glory, +looked on, the acknowledged master of the whole. Townsend, who, in his +prosperity as in adversity, saw and enjoyed the comic foibles of his +friends, pushed De Grey, who was looking on with a more good-natured and +more thoughtful air. 'Friend,' said he, 'you look like a great +philosopher, and Archer a great hero.' 'And you, Townsend,' said Archer, +'may look like a wit, if you will; but you will never be a hero.' 'No, +no,' replied Townsend; 'wits were never heroes, because they are wits. +You are out of your wits, and therefore may set up for a hero.' 'Laugh, +and welcome. I'm not a tyrant. I don't want to restrain anybody's wit; +but I cannot say I admire puns.' 'Nor I, either,' said the time-serving +Fisher, sidling up to the manager, and picking the ice off a piece of +plum-cake, 'nor I either; I hate puns. I can never understand Townsend's +_puns_. Besides, anybody can make puns; and one doesn't want wit, +either, at all times; for instance, when one is going to settle about +dinner, or business of consequence. Bless us all, Archer!' continued he, +with sudden familiarity, '_what a sight of good things are here_! I'm +sure we are much obliged to you and your cousin. I never thought he'd +have come. Why, now we can hold out as long as you please. Let us see,' +said he, dividing the provisions upon the table; 'we can hold out +to-day, and all to-morrow, and part of next day, maybe. Why, now we may +defy the doctor and the Greybeards. The doctor will surely give up to +us; for, you see, he knows nothing of all this, and he'll think we are +starving all this while; and he'd be afraid, you see, to let us starve +quite, in reality, for three whole days, because of what would be said +in the town. My Aunt Barbara, for one, would be _at him_ long before +that time was out; and besides, you know, in that case, he'd be hanged +for murder, which is quite another thing, in law, from a _Barring Out_, +you know.' + +Archer had not given to this harangue all the attention which it +deserved, for his eye was fixed upon De Grey. 'What is De Grey thinking +of?' he asked, impatiently. 'I am thinking,' said De Grey, 'that Dr. +Middleton must believe that I have betrayed his confidence in me. The +gardener was ordered away from his watch-post for one half-hour when I +was admitted. This half-hour the gardener has made nearly an hour. I +never would have come near you if I had foreseen all this. Dr. Middleton +trusted me, and now he will repent of his confidence in me.' 'De Grey!' +cried Archer, with energy, 'he shall not repent of his confidence in +you--nor shall you repent of coming amongst us. You shall find that we +have some honour as well as yourself, and I will take care of your +honour as if it were my _own_!' 'Hey-day!' interrupted Townsend; 'are +heroes allowed to change sides, pray? And does the chief of the Archers +stand talking sentiment to the chief of the Greybeards? In the middle of +his own party too!' 'Party!' repeated Archer, disdainfully; 'I have done +with parties! I see what parties are made of! I have felt the want of a +friend, and I am determined to make one if I can.' 'That you may do,' +said De Grey, stretching out his hand. + +'Unbar the doors! unbar the windows!' exclaimed Archer. 'Away with all +these things! I give up for De Grey's sake. He shall not lose his credit +on my account.' 'No,' said De Grey, 'you shall not give up for my sake.' +'Well, then, I'll give up to do what is _honourable_,' said Archer. 'Why +not to do what is _reasonable_?' said De Grey. '_Reasonable!_ Oh, the +first thing that a man of spirit should think of is, what is +_honourable_.' 'But how will he find out _what is_ honourable, unless he +can reason?' replied De Grey. 'Oh,' said Archer, 'his own feelings +always tell him what is honourable.' 'Have not _your feelings_,' asked +De Grey, 'changed within these few hours?' 'Yes, with circumstances,' +replied Archer; 'but, right or wrong, as long as I think it honourable +to do so and so, I'm satisfied.' 'But you cannot think anything +honourable, or the contrary,' observed De Grey, 'without reasoning; and +as to what you call feeling, it's only a quick sort of reasoning.' 'The +quicker the better,' said Archer. 'Perhaps not,' said De Grey. 'We are +apt to reason best when we are not in quite so great a hurry.' 'But,' +said Archer, 'we have not always time enough to reason _at first_.' 'You +must, however, acknowledge,' replied De Grey, smiling, 'that no man but +a fool thinks it honourable to be in the wrong _at last_. Is it not, +therefore, best to begin by reasoning to find out the right _at first_?' +'To be sure,' said Archer. 'And did you reason with yourself at first? +And did you find out that it was right to bar Dr. Middleton out of his +own schoolroom, because he desired you not to go into one of his own +houses?' 'No,' replied Archer; 'but I should never have thought of +heading a Barring Out, if he had not shown partiality; and if you had +flown into a passion with me openly at once for pulling down your +scenery, which would have been quite natural, and not have gone slily +and forbid us the house out of revenge, there would have been none of +this work.' 'Why,' said De Grey, 'should you suspect me of such a mean +action, when you have never seen or known me do anything mean, and when +in this instance you have no proofs?' 'Will you give me your word and +honour now, De Grey, before everybody here, that you did not do what I +suspected?' 'I do assure you, upon my honour, I never, indirectly, spoke +to Dr. Middleton about the playhouse.' 'Then,' said Archer, 'I'm as glad +as if I had found a thousand pounds! Now you are my friend indeed.' 'And +Dr. Middleton--why should you suspect him without reason any more than +me?' 'As to that,' said Archer, 'he is your friend, and you are right to +defend him; and I won't say another word against him. Will that satisfy +you?' 'Not quite.' 'Not quite! Then, indeed, you are unreasonable!' +'No,' replied De Grey; 'for I don't wish you to yield out of friendship +to me, any more than to honour. If you yield to reason, you will be +governed by reason another time.' 'Well, but then don't triumph over me, +because you have the best side of the argument.' 'Not I! How can I?' +said De Grey; 'for now you are on _the best side_ as well as myself, are +not you? So we may triumph together.' + +'You are a good friend!' said Archer; and with great eagerness he pulled +down the fortifications, whilst every hand assisted. The room was +restored to order in a few minutes--the shutters were thrown open, the +cheerful light let in. The windows were thrown up, and the first feeling +of the fresh air was delightful. The green playground opened before +them, and the hopes of exercise and liberty brightened the countenances +of these voluntary prisoners. + +But, alas! they were not yet at liberty. The idea of Dr. Middleton, and +the dread of his vengeance, smote their hearts. When the rebels had sent +an ambassador with their surrender, they stood in pale and silent +suspense, waiting for their doom. + +'Ah!' said Fisher, looking up at the broken panes in the windows, 'the +doctor will think the most of _that_--he'll never forgive us for that.' + +'Hush! here he comes!' His steady step was heard approaching nearer and +nearer. Archer threw open the door, and Dr. Middleton entered. Fisher +instantly fell on his knees. 'It is no delight to me to see people on +their knees. Stand up, Mr. Fisher. I hope you are all conscious that you +have done wrong?' 'Sir,' said Archer, 'they are conscious that they have +done wrong, and so am I. I am the ringleader. Punish me as you think +proper. I submit. Your punishments--your vengeance ought to fall on me +alone!' + +'Sir,' said Dr. Middleton, calmly, 'I perceive that whatever else you +may have learned in the course of your education, you have not been +taught the meaning of the word punishment. Punishment and vengeance do +not with us mean the same thing. _Punishment_ is pain given, with the +reasonable hope of preventing those on whom it is inflicted from doing, +_in future_, what will hurt themselves or others. _Vengeance_ never +looks to the _future_, but is the expression of anger for an injury that +is past. I feel no anger; you have done me no injury.' + +Here many of the little boys looked timidly up to the windows. 'Yes, I +see that you have broken my windows; that is a small evil.' 'Oh, sir! +How good! How merciful!' exclaimed those who had been most panic-struck. +'He forgives us!' + +'Stay,' resumed Dr. Middleton; 'I cannot forgive you. I shall never +revenge, but it is my duty to punish. You have rebelled against the just +authority which is necessary to conduct and govern you whilst you have +not sufficient reason to govern and conduct yourselves. Without +obedience to the laws,' added he, turning to Archer, 'as men, you cannot +be suffered in society. You, sir, think yourself a man, I observe; and +you think it the part of a man not to submit to the will of another. I +have no pleasure in making others, whether men or children, submit to my +_will_; but my reason and experience are superior to yours. Your parents +at least think so, or they would not have entrusted me with the care of +your education. As long as they do entrust you to my care, and as long +as I have any hopes of making you wiser and better by punishment, I +shall steadily inflict it, whenever I judge it to be necessary, and I +judge it to be necessary _now_. This is a long sermon, Mr. Archer, not +preached to show my own eloquence, but to convince your understanding. +Now, as to your punishment!' + +'Name it, sir,' said Archer; 'whatever it is, I will cheerfully submit +to it.' 'Name it yourself,' said Dr. Middleton, 'and show me that you +now understand the nature of punishment.' + +Archer, proud to be treated like a reasonable creature, and sorry that +he had behaved like a foolish schoolboy, was silent for some time, but +at length replied, 'That he would rather not name his own punishment.' +He repeated, however, that he trusted he should bear it well, whatever +it might be. + +'I shall then,' said Dr. Middleton, 'deprive you, for two months, of +pocket-money, as you have had too much, and have made a bad use of it.' + +'Sir,' said Archer, 'I brought five guineas with me to school. This +guinea is all that I have left.' + +Dr. Middleton received the guinea which Archer offered him with a look +of approbation, and told him that it should be applied to the repairs of +the schoolroom. The rest of the boys waited in silence for the doctor's +sentence against them, but not with those looks of abject fear with +which boys usually expect the sentence of a schoolmaster. + +'You shall return from the playground, all of you,' said Dr. Middleton, +'one quarter of an hour sooner, for two months to come, than the rest of +your companions. A bell shall ring at the appointed time. I give you an +opportunity of recovering my confidence by your punctuality.' + +'Oh, sir! we will come the instant, the very instant the bell rings; you +shall have confidence in us,' cried they, eagerly. + +'I deserve your confidence, I hope,' said Dr. Middleton; 'for it is my +first wish to make you all happy. You do not know the pain that it has +cost me to deprive you of food for so many hours.' + +Here the boys, with one accord, ran to the place where they had +deposited their last supplies. Archer delivered them up to the doctor, +proud to show that they were not reduced to obedience merely by +necessity. + +'The reason,' resumed Dr. Middleton, having now returned to the usual +benignity of his manner--'the reason why I desired that none of you +should go to that building,' pointing out of the window, 'was this:--I +had been informed that a gang of gipsies had slept there the night +before I spoke to you, one of whom was dangerously ill of a putrid +fever. I did not choose to mention my reason to you or your friends. I +have had the place cleaned, and you may return to it when you please. +The gipsies were yesterday removed from the town.' + +'De Grey, you were in the right,' whispered Archer, 'and it was I that +was _unjust_.' + +'The old woman,' continued the doctor, 'whom you employed to buy food +has escaped the fever, but she has not escaped a gaol, whither she was +sent yesterday, for having defrauded you of your money. + +'Mr. Fisher,' said Dr. Middleton, 'as to you, I shall not punish you: I +have no hope of making you either wiser or better. Do you know this +paper?'--the paper appeared to be a bill for candles and a tinder-box. +'I desired him to buy those things, sir,' said Archer, colouring. 'And +did you desire him not to pay for them?' 'No,' said Archer, 'he had +half-a-crown on purpose to pay for them.' 'I know he had, but he chose +to apply it to his private use, and gave it to the gipsy to buy twelve +buns for his own eating. To obtain credit for the tinder-box and +candles, he made use of _this_ name,' said he, turning to the other side +of the bill, and pointing to De Grey's name, which was written at the +end of a copy of one of De Grey's exercises. + +[Illustration: _He sneaked out, whimpering in a doleful voice._] + +'I assure you, sir----' cried Archer. 'You need not assure me, sir,' +said Dr. Middleton; 'I cannot suspect a boy of your temper of having any +part in so base an action. When the people in the shop refused to let +Mr. Fisher have the things without paying for them, he made use of De +Grey's name, who was known there. Suspecting some mischief, however, +from the purchase of the tinder-box, the shopkeeper informed me of the +circumstance. Nothing in this whole business gave me half so much pain +as I felt, for a moment, when I suspected that De Grey was concerned in +it.' A loud cry, in which Archer's voice was heard most distinctly, +declared De Grey's innocence. Dr. Middleton looked round at their +eager, honest faces with benevolent approbation. 'Archer,' said he, +taking him by the hand, 'I am heartily glad to see that you have got the +better of your party spirit. I wish you may keep such a friend as you +have now beside you; one such friend is worth two such parties. As for +you, Mr. Fisher, depart; you must never return hither again.' In vain he +solicited Archer and De Grey to intercede for him. Everybody turned away +with contempt; and he sneaked out, whimpering in a doleful voice, 'What +shall I say to my Aunt Barbara?' + + + + +THE BRACELETS + + +In a beautiful and retired part of England lived Mrs. Villars, a lady +whose accurate understanding, benevolent heart, and steady temper +peculiarly fitted her for the most difficult, as well as most important, +of all occupations--the education of youth. This task she had +undertaken; and twenty young persons were put under her care, with the +perfect confidence of their parents. No young people could be happier; +they were good and gay, emulous, but not envious of each other; for Mrs. +Villars was impartially just; her praise they felt to be the reward of +merit, and her blame they knew to be the necessary consequence of +ill-conduct. To the one, therefore, they patiently submitted, and in the +other consciously rejoiced. They rose with fresh cheerfulness in the +morning, eager to pursue their various occupations. They returned in the +evening with renewed ardour to their amusements, and retired to rest +satisfied with themselves and pleased with each other. + +Nothing so much contributed to preserve a spirit of emulation in this +little society as a small honorary distinction, given annually, as a +prize of successful application. The prize this year was peculiarly dear +to each individual, as it was the picture of a friend whom they dearly +loved. It was the picture of Mrs. Villars in a small bracelet. It wanted +neither gold, pearls, nor precious stones to give it value. + +The two foremost candidates for this prize were Cecilia and Leonora. +Cecilia was the most intimate friend of Leonora; but Leonora was only +the favourite companion of Cecilia. + +Cecilia was of an active, ambitious, enterprising disposition, more +eager in the pursuit than happy in the enjoyment of her wishes. Leonora +was of a contented, unaspiring, temperate character; not easily roused +to action, but indefatigable when once excited. Leonora was proud; +Cecilia was vain. Her vanity made her more dependent upon the +approbation of others, and therefore more anxious to please, than +Leonora; but that very vanity made her, at the same time, more apt to +offend. In short, Leonora was the most anxious to avoid what was wrong; +Cecilia the most ambitious to do what was right. Few of her companions +loved, but many were led by, Cecilia, for she was often successful. Many +loved Leonora, but none were ever governed by her, for she was too +indolent to govern. + +On the first day of May, about six o'clock in the evening, a great bell +rang, to summon this little society into a hall, where the prize was to +be decided. A number of small tables were placed in a circle in the +middle of the hall. Seats for the young competitors were raised one +above another, in a semicircle, some yards distant from the table, and +the judges' chairs, under canopies of lilacs and laburnums, forming +another semicircle, closed the amphitheatre. + +Every one put their writings, their drawings, their works of various +kinds, upon the tables appropriated for each. How unsteady were the last +steps to these tables! How each little hand trembled as it laid down its +claims! Till this moment every one thought herself secure of success; +and the heart which exulted with hope now palpitated with fear. + +The works were examined, the preference adjudged, and the prize was +declared to be the happy Cecilia's. Mrs. Villars came forward, smiling, +with the bracelet in her hand. Cecilia was behind her companions, on the +highest row. All the others gave way, and she was on the floor in an +instant. Mrs. Villars clasped the bracelet on her arm; the clasp was +heard through the whole hall, and a universal smile of congratulation +followed. Mrs. Villars kissed Cecilia's little hand. 'And now,' said +she, 'go and rejoice with your companions; the remainder of the day is +yours.' + +Oh! you whose hearts are elated with success, whose bosoms beat high +with joy in the moment of triumph, command yourselves. Let that triumph +be moderate, that it may be lasting. Consider, that though you are good, +you may be better; and, though wise, you may be weak. + +As soon as Mrs. Villars had given her the bracelet, all Cecilia's little +companions crowded round her, and they all left the hall in an instant. +She was full of spirits and vanity. She ran on. Running down the flight +of steps which led to the garden, in her violent haste Cecilia threw +down the little Louisa, who had a china mandarin in her hand, which her +mother had sent her that very morning, and which was all broken to +pieces by her fall. + +'Oh, my mandarin!' cried Louisa, bursting into tears. The crowd behind +Cecilia suddenly stopped. Louisa sat on the lowest step, fixing her eyes +upon the broken pieces. Then, turning round, she hid her face in her +hands upon the step above her. In turning, Louisa threw down the remains +of the mandarin. The head, which she placed in the socket, fell from the +shoulders, and rolled, bounding along the gravel walk. Cecilia pointed +to the head and to the socket, and burst into laughter. The crowd behind +laughed too. + +At any other time they would have been more inclined to cry with Louisa; +but Cecilia had just been successful, and sympathy with the victorious +often makes us forget justice. + +Leonora, however, preserved her usual consistency. 'Poor Louisa!' said +she, looking first at her, and then reproachfully at Cecilia. Cecilia +turned sharply round, colouring, half with shame and half with vexation. +'I could not help it, Leonora,' said she. 'But you could have helped +laughing, Cecilia.' 'I didn't laugh at Louisa; and I surely may laugh, +for it does nobody any harm.' 'I am sure, however,' replied Leonora, 'I +should not have laughed if I had----' 'No, to be sure, you wouldn't, +because Louisa is your favourite. I can buy her another mandarin when +the old peddler comes to the door, if that's all. I _can_ do no more, +_can_ I?' said she, again turning round to her companions. 'No, to be +sure,' said they; 'that's all fair.' + +Cecilia looked triumphantly at Leonora. Leonora let go her hand; she ran +on, and the crowd followed. When she got to the end of the garden, she +turned round to see if Leonora had followed her too; but was vexed to +see her still sitting on the steps with Louisa. 'I'm sure I can do no +more than buy her another, _can_ I?' said she, again appealing to her +companions. 'No, to be sure,' said they, eager to begin their play. + +How many games did these juvenile playmates begin and leave off, before +Cecilia could be satisfied with any! Her thoughts were discomposed, and +her mind was running upon something else. No wonder, then, that she did +not play with her usual address. She grew still more impatient. She +threw down the ninepins. 'Come, let us play at something else--at +threading the needle,' said she, holding out her hand. They all yielded +to the hand which wore the bracelet. But Cecilia, dissatisfied with +herself, was discontented with everybody else. Her tone grew more and +more peremptory. One was too rude, another too stiff; one too slow, +another too quick; in short, everything went wrong, and everybody was +tired of her humours. + +The triumph of _success_ is absolute, but short. Cecilia's companions at +length recollected that, though she had embroidered a tulip and painted +a peach better than they, yet that they could play as well, and keep +their tempers better; for she was discomposed. + +Walking towards the house in a peevish mood, Cecilia met Leonora, but +passed on. 'Cecilia!' cried Leonora. 'Well, what do you want with me?' +'Are we friends?' 'You know best,' said Cecilia. 'We are, if you will +let me tell Louisa that you are sorry----' Cecilia, interrupting her, +'Oh, pray let me hear no more about Louisa!' 'What! not confess that you +were in the wrong? O Cecilia! I had a better opinion of you.' 'Your +opinion is of no consequence to me now, for you don't love me.' 'No; not +when you are unjust, Cecilia.' 'Unjust! I am not unjust; and if I were, +you are not my governess.' 'No, but am not I your friend?' 'I don't +desire to have such a friend, who would quarrel with me for happening to +throw down little Louisa. How could I tell that she had a mandarin in +her hand? and when it was broken, could I do more than promise her +another; was that unjust?' 'But you know, Cecilia----' 'I _know_,' +ironically. 'I know, Leonora, that you love Louisa better than you love +me; that's the injustice!' 'If I did,' replied Leonora, gravely, 'it +would be no injustice, if she deserved it better.' 'How can you compare +Louisa to me!' exclaimed Cecilia, indignantly. + +Leonora made no answer; for she was really hurt at her friend's conduct. +She walked on to join the rest of her companions. They were dancing in a +round upon the grass. Leonora declined dancing; but they prevailed upon +her to sing for them. Her voice was not so sprightly, but it was sweeter +than usual. Who sang so sweetly as Leonora? or who danced so nimbly as +Louisa? Away she was flying, all spirits and gaiety, when Leonora's +eyes, full of tears, caught hers. Louisa silently let go her companion's +hand, and quitting the dance, ran up to Leonora to inquire what was the +matter with her. 'Nothing,' replied she, 'that need interrupt you. Go, +my dear; go and dance again.' + +Louisa immediately ran away to her garden, and pulling off her little +straw hat, she lined it with the freshest strawberry-leaves, and was +upon her knees before the strawberry-bed when Cecilia came by. Cecilia +was not disposed to be pleased with Louisa at that instant, for two +reasons; because she was jealous of her, and because she had injured +her. The injury, however, Louisa had already forgotten. Perhaps, to tell +things just as they were, she was not quite so much inclined to kiss +Cecilia as she would have been before the fall of her mandarin; but this +was the utmost extent of her malice, if it can be called malice. + +'What are you doing there, little one?' said Cecilia, in a sharp tone. +'Are you eating your early strawberries here all alone?' 'No,' said +Louisa, mysteriously, 'I am not eating them.' 'What are you doing with +them? can't you answer, then? I'm not playing with you, child!' 'Oh, as +to that, Cecilia, you know I need not answer you unless I choose it; not +but what I would if you would only ask me civilly, and if you +would not call me _child_.' 'Why should not I call you child?' +'Because--because--I don't know; but I wish you would stand out of my +light, Cecilia, for you are trampling upon all my strawberries.' 'I have +not touched one, you covetous little creature!' 'Indeed--indeed, +Cecilia, I am not covetous. I have not eaten one of them; they are all +for your friend Leonora. See how unjust you are!' + +'Unjust! that's a cant word which you learnt of my friend Leonora, as +you call her; but she is not my friend now.' 'Not your friend now!' +exclaimed Louisa; 'then I am sure you must have done something _very_ +naughty.' 'How?' cried Cecilia, catching hold of her. 'Let me go, let me +go!' cried Louisa, struggling. 'I won't give you one of my strawberries, +for I don't like you at all!' 'You don't, don't you?' cried Cecilia, +provoked, and, catching the hat from Louisa, she flung the strawberries +over the hedge. + +'Will nobody help me?' exclaimed Louisa, snatching her hat again, and +running away with all her force. + +[Illustration: _'How?' cried Cecilia, catching hold of her._] + +'What have I done?' said Cecilia, recollecting herself; 'Louisa! +Louisa!' she called very loud, but Louisa would not turn back: she was +running to her companions, who were still dancing, hand in hand, upon +the grass, whilst Leonora, sitting in the middle, was singing to them. + +'Stop! stop! and hear me!' cried Louisa, breaking through them; and, +rushing up to Leonora, she threw her hat at her feet, and panting for +breath--'It was full--almost full of my own strawberries,' said she, +'the first I ever got out of my own garden. They should all have been +for you, Leonora; but now I have not one left. They are all gone!' said +she; and she hid her face in Leonora's lap. + +'Gone! gone where?' said every one, at once running up to her. 'Cecilia! +Cecilia!' said she, sobbing. 'Cecilia,' repeated Leonora, 'what of +Cecilia?' 'Yes, it was--it was.' 'Come along with me,' said Leonora, +unwilling to have her friend exposed. 'Come, and I will get you some +more strawberries.' 'Oh, I don't mind the strawberries, indeed; but I +wanted to have had the pleasure of giving them to you.' + +Leonora took her up in her arms to carry her away, but it was too late. + +'What, Cecilia! Cecilia, who won the prize! It could not surely be +Cecilia,' whispered every busy tongue. + +At this instant the bell summoned them in. 'There she is! There she is!' +cried they, pointing to an arbour, where Cecilia was standing ashamed +and alone; and, as they passed her, some lifted up their hands and eyes +with astonishment, others whispered and huddled mysteriously together, +as if to avoid her. Leonora walked on, her head a little higher than +usual. 'Leonora!' said Cecilia, timorously, as she passed. 'Oh, Cecilia! +who would have thought that you had a bad heart?' Cecilia turned her +head aside and burst into tears. + +'Oh no, indeed, she has not a bad heart!' cried Louisa, running up to +her and throwing her arms around her neck. 'She's very sorry; are not +you, Cecilia? But don't cry any more, for I forgive you, with all my +heart--and I love you now, though I said I did not when I was in a +passion.' + +'Oh, you sweet-tempered girl! how I love you!' said Cecilia, kissing +her. 'Well, then, if you do, come along with me, and dry your eyes, for +they are so red!' 'Go, my dear, and I'll come presently.' 'Then I will +keep a place for you, next to me; but you must make haste, or you will +have to come in when we have all sat down to supper, and then you will +be so stared at! So don't stay now.' + +Cecilia followed Louisa with her eyes till she was out of sight. 'And is +Louisa,' said she to herself, 'the only one who would stop to pity me? +Mrs. Villars told me that this day should be mine. She little thought +how it would end!' + +Saying these words, Cecilia threw herself down upon the ground; her arm +leaned upon a heap of turf which she had raised in the morning, and +which, in the pride and gaiety of her heart, she had called her throne. + +At this instant, Mrs. Villars came out to enjoy the serenity of the +evening, and, passing by the arbour where Cecilia lay, she started. +Cecilia rose hastily. + +'Who is there?' said Mrs. Villars. 'It is I, madam.' 'And who is _I_?' +'Cecilia.' 'Why, what keeps you here, my dear? Where are your +companions? This is, perhaps, one of the happiest days of your life.' +'Oh no, madam,' said Cecilia, hardly able to repress her tears. 'Why, my +dear, what is the matter?' Cecilia hesitated. + +'Speak, my dear. You know that when I ask you to tell me anything as +your friend, I never punish you as your governess; therefore you need +not be afraid to tell me what is the matter.' 'No, madam, I am not +afraid, but ashamed. You asked me why I was not with my companions. Why, +madam, because they have all left me, and----' 'And what, my dear?' 'And +I see that they all dislike me; and yet I don't know why they should, +for I take as much pains to please as any of them. All my masters seem +satisfied with me; and you yourself, madam, were pleased this very +morning to give me this bracelet; and I am sure you would not have given +it to any one who did not deserve it.' + +'Certainly not,' said Mrs. Villars. 'You well deserve it for your +application--for your successful application. The prize was for the most +assiduous, not for the most amiable.' + +'Then, if it had been for the most amiable, it would not have been for +me?' + +Mrs. Villars, smiling--'Why, what do you think yourself, Cecilia? You +are better able to judge than I am. I can determine whether or no you +apply to what I give you to learn; whether you attend to what I desire +you to do, and avoid what I desire you not to do. I know that I like +you as a pupil, but I cannot know that I should like you as a companion, +unless I were your companion. Therefore I must judge of what I should +do, by seeing what others do in the same circumstances.' + +'Oh, pray don't, madam! for then you would not love me either. And yet I +think you would love me; for I hope that I am as ready to oblige, and as +good-natured as----' + +'Yes, Cecilia, I don't doubt but that you would be very good-natured to +me; but I'm afraid that I should not like you unless you were +good-tempered too.' 'But, madam, by good-natured I mean +good-tempered--it's all the same thing.' 'No, indeed, I understand by +them two very different things. You are good-natured, Cecilia; for you +are desirous to oblige and serve your companions--to gain them praise, +and save them from blame--to give them pleasure, and relieve them from +pain; but Leonora is good-tempered, for she can bear with their foibles, +and acknowledge her own. Without disputing about the right, she +sometimes yields to those who are in the wrong. In short, her temper is +perfectly good; for it can bear and forbear.' 'I wish that mine could!' +said Cecilia, sighing. 'It may,' replied Mrs. Villars; 'but it is not +wishes alone which can improve us in anything. Turn the same exertion +and perseverance which have won you the prize to-day to this object, and +you will meet with the same success; perhaps not on the first, the +second, or the third attempt; but depend upon it that you will at last. +Every new effort will weaken your bad habits and strengthen your good +ones. But you must not expect to succeed all at once. I repeat it to +you, for habit must be counteracted by habit. It would be as extravagant +in us to expect that all our faults could be destroyed by one +punishment, were it ever so severe, as it was in the Roman emperor we +were reading of a few days ago to wish that all the heads of his enemies +were upon one neck, that he might cut them off at one blow.' + +Here Mrs. Villars took Cecilia by the hand, and they began to walk home. +Such was the nature of Cecilia's mind, that when any object was forcibly +impressed on her imagination, it caused a temporary suspension of her +reasoning faculties. Hope was too strong a stimulus for her spirits; and +when fear did take possession of her mind, it was attended with total +debility. Her vanity was now as much mortified as in the morning it had +been elated. She walked on with Mrs. Villars in silence, until they came +under the shade of the elm-tree walk, and there, fixing her eyes upon +Mrs. Villars, she stopped short. + +'Do you think, madam,' said she, with hesitation--'do you think, madam, +that I have a bad heart?' 'A bad heart, my dear! why, what put that into +your head?' 'Leonora said that I had, madam, and I felt ashamed when she +said so.' 'But, my dear, how can Leonora tell whether your heart be good +or bad? However, in the first place, tell me what you mean by a bad +heart.' 'Indeed, I do not know what is meant by it, madam; but it is +something which everybody hates.' 'And why do they hate it?' 'Because +they think that it will hurt them, ma'am, I believe; and that those who +have bad hearts take delight in doing mischief; and that they never do +anybody any good but for their own ends.' + +'Then the best definition,' said Mrs. Villars, 'which you can give me of +a bad heart is, that it is some constant propensity to hurt others, and +to do wrong for the sake of doing wrong.' 'Yes, madam; but that is not +all either. There is still something else meant; something which I +cannot express--which, indeed, I never distinctly understood; but of +which, therefore, I was the more afraid.' + +'Well, then, to begin with what you do understand, tell me, Cecilia, do +you really think it possible to be wicked merely for the love of +wickedness? No human being becomes wicked all at once. A man begins by +doing wrong because it is, or because he thinks it, for his interest. If +he continue to do so, he must conquer his sense of shame and lose his +love of virtue. But how can you, Cecilia, who feel such a strong sense +of shame, and such an eager desire to improve, imagine that you have a +bad heart?' + +'Indeed, madam, I never did, until everybody told me so, and then I +began to be frightened about it. This very evening, madam, when I was in +a passion, I threw little Louisa's strawberries away, which, I am sure, +I was very sorry for afterwards; and Leonora and everybody cried out +that I had a bad heart--but I am sure I was only in a passion.' + +'Very likely. And when you are in a passion, as you call it, Cecilia, +you see that you are tempted to do harm to others. If they do not feel +angry themselves, they do not sympathise with you. They do not perceive +the motive which actuates you; and then they say that you have a bad +heart. I daresay, however, when your passion is over, and when you +recollect yourself, you are very sorry for what you have done and said; +are not you?' 'Yes, indeed, madam--very sorry.' 'Then make that sorry of +use to you, Cecilia, and fix it steadily in your thoughts, as you hope +to be good and happy, that if you suffer yourself to yield to your +passion upon every trifling occasion, anger and its consequences will +become familiar to your mind; and, in the same proportion, your sense of +shame will be weakened, till what you began with doing from sudden +impulse you will end with doing from habit and choice; and then you +would, indeed, according to our definition, have a bad heart.' 'Oh, +madam! I hope--I am sure I never shall.' 'No, indeed, Cecilia; I do, +indeed, believe that you never will; on the contrary, I think that you +have a very good disposition, and what is of infinitely more consequence +to you, an active desire of improvement. Show me that you have as much +perseverance as you have candour, and I shall not despair of your +becoming everything that I could wish.' + +Here Cecilia's countenance brightened, and she ran up the steps in +almost as high spirits as she ran down them in the morning. + +'Good-night to you, Cecilia,' said Mrs. Villars, as she was crossing the +hall. 'Good-night to you, madam,' said Cecilia; and she ran upstairs to +bed. She could not go to sleep; but she lay awake, reflecting upon the +events of the preceding day, and forming resolutions for the future, at +the same time considering that she had resolved, and resolved without +effect, she wished to give her mind some more powerful motive. Ambition +she knew to be its most powerful incentive. 'Have I not,' said she to +herself, 'already won the prize of application, and cannot the same +application procure me a much higher prize? Mrs. Villars said that if +the prize had been promised to the most amiable, it would not have been +given to me. Perhaps it would not yesterday, perhaps it might not +to-morrow; but that is no reason that I should despair of ever deserving +it.' + +In consequence of this reasoning, Cecilia formed a design of proposing +to her companions that they should give a prize, the first of the +ensuing month (the 1st of June), to the most amiable. Mrs. Villars +applauded the scheme, and her companions adopted it with the greatest +alacrity. + +'Let the prize,' said they, 'be a bracelet of our own hair'; and +instantly their shining scissors were produced, and each contributed a +lock of her hair. They formed the most beautiful gradation of colours, +from the palest auburn to the brightest black. Who was to have the +honour of plaiting them? was now the question. Caroline begged that she +might, as she could plait very neatly, she said. Cecilia, however, was +equally sure that she could do it much better; and a dispute would have +inevitably ensued, if Cecilia, recollecting herself just as her colour +rose to scarlet, had not yielded--yielded, with no very good grace +indeed, but as well as could be expected for the first time. For it is +habit which confers ease; and without ease, even in moral actions, there +can be no grace. + +The bracelet was plaited in the neatest manner by Caroline, finished +round the edge with silver twist, and on it was worked, in the smallest +silver letters, this motto, 'TO THE MOST AMIABLE.' The moment it was +completed, everybody begged to try it on. It fastened with little silver +clasps, and as it was made large enough for the eldest girls, it was too +large for the youngest. Of this they bitterly complained, and +unanimously entreated that it might be cut to fit them. + +'How foolish!' exclaimed Cecilia; 'don't you perceive that if any of you +win it, you have nothing to do but to put the clasps a little further +from the edge, but, if we get it, we can't make it larger?' 'Very true,' +said they; 'but you need not to have called us foolish, Cecilia.' + +It was by such hasty and unguarded expressions as these that Cecilia +offended. A slight difference in the manner makes a very material one in +the effect. Cecilia lost more love by general petulance than she could +gain by the greatest particular exertions. + +How far she succeeded in curing herself of this defect--how far she +became deserving of the bracelet, and to whom the bracelet was +given--shall be told in the History of the First of June. + + * * * * * + +The First of June was now arrived, and all the young competitors were +in a state of the most anxious suspense. Leonora and Cecilia continued +to be the foremost candidates. Their quarrel had never been finally +adjusted, and their different pretensions now retarded all thoughts of a +reconciliation. Cecilia, though she was capable of acknowledging any of +her faults in public before all her companions, could not humble herself +in private to Leonora. Leonora was her equal; they were her inferiors, +and submission is much easier to a vain mind, where it appears to be +voluntary, than when it is the necessary tribute to justice or candour. +So strongly did Cecilia feel this truth, that she even delayed making +any apology, or coming to any explanation with Leonora, until success +should once more give her the palm. + +'If I win the bracelet to-day,' said she to herself, 'I will solicit the +return of Leonora's friendship; it will be more valuable to me than even +the bracelet, and at such a time, and asked in such a manner, she surely +cannot refuse it to me.' Animated with this hope of a double triumph, +Cecilia canvassed with the most zealous activity. By constant attention +and exertion she had considerably abated the violence of her temper, and +changed the course of her habits. Her powers of pleasing were now +excited, instead of her abilities to excel; and, if her talents appeared +less brilliant, her character was acknowledged to be more amiable. So +great an influence upon our manners and conduct have the objects of our +ambition. + +Cecilia was now, if possible, more than ever desirous of doing what was +right, but she had not yet acquired sufficient fear of doing wrong. This +was the fundamental error of her mind; it arose in a great measure from +her early education. Her mother died when she was very young; and though +her father had supplied her place in the best and kindest manner, he had +insensibly infused into his daughter's mind a portion of that +enterprising, independent spirit which he justly deemed essential to the +character of her brother. This brother was some years older than +Cecilia, but he had always been the favourite companion of her youth. +What her father's precepts inculcated, his example enforced; and even +Cecilia's virtues consequently became such as were more estimable in a +man than desirable in a female. All small objects and small errors she +had been taught to disregard as trifles; and her impatient disposition +was perpetually leading her into more material faults; yet her candour +in confessing these, she had been suffered to believe, was sufficient +reparation and atonement. + +Leonora, on the contrary, who had been educated by her mother in a +manner more suited to her sex, had a character and virtues more peculiar +to a female. Her judgment had been early cultivated, and her good sense +employed in the regulation of her conduct. She had been habituated to +that restraint which, as a woman, she was to expect in life, and early +accustomed to yield. Compliance in her seemed natural and graceful; yet, +notwithstanding the gentleness of her temper, she was in reality more +independent than Cecilia. She had more reliance upon her own judgment, +and more satisfaction in her own approbation. The uniform kindness of +her manner, the consistency and equality of her character, had fixed the +esteem and passive love of her companions. + +By passive love we mean that species of affection which makes us +unwilling to offend rather than anxious to oblige, which is more a habit +than an emotion of the mind. For Cecilia her companions felt active +love, for she was active in showing her love to them. + +Active love arises spontaneously in the mind, after feeling particular +instances of kindness, without reflection on the past conduct or general +character. It exceeds the merits of its object, and is connected with a +feeling of generosity, rather than with a sense of justice. + +Without determining which species of love is the most flattering to +others, we can easily decide which is the most agreeable feeling to our +minds. We give our hearts more credit for being generous than for being +just; and we feel more self-complacency when we give our love +voluntarily, than when we yield it as a tribute which we cannot +withhold. Though Cecilia's companions might not know all this in theory, +they proved it in practice; for they loved her in a much higher +proportion to her merits than they loved Leonora. + +Each of the young judges was to signify her choice by putting a red or a +white shell into a vase prepared for the purpose. Cecilia's colour was +red, Leonora's white. + +In the morning nothing was to be seen but these shells; nothing talked +of but the long-expected event of the evening. Cecilia, following +Leonora's example, had made it a point of honour not to inquire of any +individual her vote, previously to their final determination. + +They were both sitting together in Louisa's room. Louisa was recovering +from the measles. Every one during her illness had been desirous of +attending her; but Leonora and Cecilia were the only two that were +permitted to see her, as they alone had had the distemper. They were +both assiduous in their care of Louisa, but Leonora's want of exertion +to overcome any disagreeable feelings of sensibility often deprived her +of presence of mind, and prevented her from being so constantly useful +as Cecilia. Cecilia, on the contrary, often made too much noise and +bustle with her officious assistance, and was too anxious to invent +amusements and procure comforts for Louisa, without perceiving that +illness takes away the power of enjoying them. + +As she was sitting at the window in the morning, exerting herself to +entertain Louisa, she heard the voice of an old peddler who often used +to come to the house. Downstairs, they ran immediately, to ask Mrs. +Villars's permission to bring him into the hall. Mrs. Villars consented, +and away Cecilia ran to proclaim the news to her companions. Then, first +returning into the hall, she found the peddler just unbuckling his box, +and taking it off his shoulders. + +'What would you be pleased to want, miss?' said the peddler; 'I've all +kinds of tweezer-cases, rings, and lockets of all sorts,' continued he, +opening all the glittering drawers successively. + +'Oh!' said Cecilia, shutting the drawer of lockets which tempted her +most, 'these are not the things which I want. Have you any china +figures? any mandarins?' + +'Alack-a-day, miss, I had a great stock of that same chinaware; but now +I'm quite out of them kind of things; but I believe,' said he, rummaging +one of the deepest drawers, 'I believe I have one left, and here it is.' +'Oh, that is the very thing! what's its price?' 'Only three shillings, +ma'am.' Cecilia paid the money, and was just going to carry off the +mandarin, when the peddler took out of his greatcoat pocket a neat +mahogany case. It was about a foot long, and fastened at each end by two +little clasps. It had, besides, a small lock in the middle. + +'What is that?' said Cecilia, eagerly. 'It's only a china figure, miss, +which I am going to carry to an elderly lady, who lives nigh hand, and +who is mighty fond of such things.' 'Could you let me look at it?' 'And +welcome, miss,' said he, and opened the case. 'Oh, goodness! how +beautiful!' exclaimed Cecilia. + +It was a figure of Flora, crowned with roses, and carrying a basket of +flowers in her hand. Cecilia contemplated it with delight. 'How I should +like to give this to Louisa!' said she to herself; and, at last, +breaking silence, 'Did you promise it to the old lady?' 'Oh no, miss, I +didn't promise it--she never saw it; and if so be that you'd like to +take it, I'd make no more words about it.' 'And how much does it cost?' +'Why, miss, as to that, I'll let you have it for half-a-guinea.' + +Cecilia immediately produced the box in which she kept her treasure, +and, emptying it upon the table, she began to count the shillings. Alas! +there were but six shillings. 'How provoking!' said she; 'then I can't +have it. Where's the mandarin? Oh, I have it,' said she, taking it up, +and looking at it with the utmost disgust. 'Is this the same that I had +before?' 'Yes, miss, the very same,' replied the peddler, who, during +this time, had been examining the little box out of which Cecilia had +taken her money--it was of silver. 'Why, ma'am,' said he, 'since you've +taken such a fancy to the piece, if you've a mind to make up the +remainder of the money, I will take this here little box, if you care to +part with it.' + +Now this box was a keepsake from Leonora to Cecilia. 'No,' said Cecilia +hastily, blushing a little, and stretching out her hand to receive it. + +'Oh, miss!' said he, returning it carelessly, 'I hope there's no +offence. I meant but to serve you, that's all. Such a rare piece of +china-work has no cause to go a-begging,' added he. Then, putting the +Flora deliberately into the case, and turning the key with a jerk, he +let it drop into his pocket; when, lifting up his box by the leather +straps, he was preparing to depart. + +'Oh, stay one minute!' said Cecilia, in whose mind there had passed a +very warm conflict during the peddler's harangue. 'Louisa would so like +this Flora,' said she, arguing with herself. 'Besides, it would be so +generous in me to give it to her instead of that ugly mandarin; that +would be doing only common justice, for I promised it to her, and she +expects it. Though, when I come to look at this mandarin, it is not +even so good as hers was. The gilding is all rubbed off, so that I +absolutely must buy this for her. Oh yes! I will, and she will be so +delighted! and then everybody will say it is the prettiest thing they +ever saw, and the broken mandarin will be forgotten for ever.' + +[Illustration: _'Oh, stay one minute!' said Cecilia._] + +Here Cecilia's hand moved, and she was just going to decide: 'Oh, but +stop,' said she to herself, 'consider--Leonora gave me this box, and it +is a keepsake. However, we have now quarrelled, and I daresay that she +would not mind my parting with it. I'm sure that I should not care if +she was to give away my keepsake, the smelling-bottle, or the ring which +I gave her. Then what does it signify? Besides, is it not my own? and +have I not a right to do what I please with it?' + +At this moment, so critical for Cecilia, a party of her companions +opened the door. She knew that they came as purchasers, and she dreaded +her Flora's becoming the prize of some higher bidder. 'Here,' said she, +hastily putting the box into the peddler's hand, without looking at it, +'take it, and give me the Flora.' Her hand trembled, though she snatched +it impatiently. She ran by, without seeming to mind any of her +companions. + +Let those who are tempted to do wrong by the hopes of future +gratification, or the prospect of certain concealment and impunity, +remember that, unless they are totally depraved, they bear in their own +hearts a monitor, who will prevent their enjoying what they ill +obtained. + +In vain Cecilia ran to the rest of her companions, to display her +present, in hopes that the applause of others would restore her own +self-complacency; in vain she saw the Flora pass in due pomp from hand +to hand, each vying with the other in extolling the beauty of the gift +and the generosity of the giver. Cecilia was still displeased with +herself, with them, and even with their praise. From Louisa's gratitude, +however, she yet expected much pleasure, and immediately she ran +upstairs to her room. + +In the meantime, Leonora had gone into the hall to buy a bodkin; she had +just broken hers. In giving her change, the peddler took out of his +pocket, with some halfpence, the very box which Cecilia had sold to him. +Leonora did not in the least suspect the truth, for her mind was above +suspicion; and besides, she had the utmost confidence in Cecilia. + +'I should like to have that box,' said she, 'for it is like one of which +I was very fond.' + +The peddler named the price, and Leonora took the box. She intended to +give it to little Louisa. On going to her room she found her asleep, and +she sat softly down by her bedside. Louisa opened her eyes. + +'I hope I didn't disturb you,' said Leonora. 'Oh no; I didn't hear you +come in; but what have you got there?' 'It is only a little box; would +you like to have it? I bought it on purpose for you, as I thought +perhaps it would please you, because it's like that which I gave +Cecilia.' 'Oh yes! that out of which she used to give me Barbary drops. +I am very much obliged to you; I always thought _that_ exceedingly +pretty, and this, indeed, is as like it as possible. I can't unscrew it; +will you try?' + +Leonora unscrewed it. 'Goodness!' exclaimed Louisa, 'this must be +Cecilia's box. Look, don't you see a great L at the bottom of it?' + +Leonora's colour changed. 'Yes,' she replied calmly, 'I see that; but it +is no proof that it is Cecilia's. You know that I bought this box just +now of the peddler.' 'That may be,' said Louisa; 'but I remember +scratching that L with my own needle, and Cecilia scolded me for it, +too. Do go and ask her if she has lost her box--do,' repeated Louisa, +pulling her by the ruffle, as she did not seem to listen. + +Leonora, indeed, did not hear, for she was lost in thought. She was +comparing circumstances which had before escaped her attention. She +recollected that Cecilia had passed her as she came into the hall, +without seeming to see her, but had blushed as she passed. She +remembered that the peddler appeared unwilling to part with the box, and +was going to put it again in his pocket with the halfpence. 'And why +should he keep it in his pocket, and not show it with his other things?' +Combining all these circumstances, Leonora had no longer any doubt of +the truth, for though she had an honourable confidence in her friends, +she had too much penetration to be implicitly credulous. + +'Louisa,' she began, but at this instant she heard a step, which, by its +quickness, she knew to be Cecilia's, coming along the passage. + +'If you love me, Louisa,' said Leonora, 'say nothing about the box.' +'Nay, but why not? I daresay she had lost it.' 'No, my dear, I'm afraid +she has not.' Louisa looked surprised. 'But I have reasons for desiring +you not to say anything about it.' 'Well, then, I won't, indeed.' + +Cecilia opened the door, came forward smiling, as if secure of a good +reception, and taking the Flora out of the case, she placed it on the +mantelpiece, opposite to Louisa's bed. + +'Dear, how beautiful!' cried Louisa, starting up. 'Yes,' said Cecilia, +'and guess who it's for.' 'For me, perhaps!' said the ingenuous Louisa. +'Yes, take it, and keep it for my sake. You know that I broke your +mandarin.' 'Oh, but this is a great deal prettier and larger than that.' +'Yes, I know it is; and I meant that it should be so. I should only have +done what I was bound to do if I had only given you a mandarin.' + +'Well,' replied Louisa, 'and that would have been enough, surely; but +what a beautiful crown of roses! and then that basket of flowers! they +almost look as if I could smell them. Dear Cecilia, I'm very much +obliged to you; but I won't take it by way of payment for the mandarin +you broke; for I'm sure you could not help that, and, besides, I should +have broken it myself by this time. You shall give it to me entirely; +and, as your keepsake, I'll keep it as long as I live.' + +Louisa stopped short and coloured; the word keepsake recalled the box to +her mind, and all the train of ideas which the Flora had banished. +'But,' said she, looking up wistfully in Cecilia's face, and holding the +Flora doubtfully, 'did you----' + +Leonora, who was just quitting the room, turned her head back, and gave +Louisa a look, which silenced her. + +Cecilia was so infatuated with her vanity, that she neither perceived +Leonora's sign nor Louisa's confusion, but continued showing off her +present, by placing it in various situations, till at length she put it +into the case, and laying it down with an affected carelessness upon the +bed, 'I must go now, Louisa. Good-bye,' said she, running up and kissing +her; 'but I'll come again presently'; then, clapping the door after her, +she went. But as soon as the fermentation of her spirits subsided, the +sense of shame, which had been scarcely felt when mixed with so many +other sensations, rose uppermost in her mind. 'What!' said she to +herself, 'is it possible that I have sold what I promised to keep for +ever? and what Leonora gave me? and I have concealed it too, and have +been making a parade of my generosity. Oh! what would Leonora, what +would Louisa--what would everybody think of me if the truth were known?' + +Humiliated and grieved by these reflections, Cecilia began to search in +her own mind for some consoling idea. She began to compare her conduct +with that of others of her own age; and at length, fixing her comparison +upon her brother George, as the companion of whom, from her infancy, she +had been habitually the most emulous, she recollected that an almost +similar circumstance had once happened to him, and that he had not only +escaped disgrace, but had acquired glory, by an intrepid confession of +his fault. Her father's word to her brother, on the occasion, she also +perfectly recollected. + +'Come to me, George,' he said, holding out his hand, 'you are a +generous, brave boy: they who dare to confess their faults will make +great and good men.' + +These were his words; but Cecilia, in repeating them to herself, forgot +to lay that emphasis on the word _men_ which would have placed it in +contradistinction to the word women. She willingly believed that the +observation extended equally to both sexes, and flattered herself that +she should exceed her brother in merit if she owned a fault which she +thought that it would be so much more difficult to confess. 'Yes, but,' +said she, stopping herself, 'how can I confess it? This very evening, in +a few hours, the prize will be decided. Leonora or I shall win it. I +have now as good a chance as Leonora, perhaps a better; and must I give +up all my hopes--all that I have been labouring for this month past? Oh, +I never can! If it were but to-morrow, or yesterday, or any day but +this, I would not hesitate; but now I am almost certain of the prize, +and if I win it--well, why then I will--I think I will tell all--yes I +will; I am determined,' said Cecilia. + +Here a bell summoned them to dinner. Leonora sat opposite to her, and +she was not a little surprised to see Cecilia look so gay and +unconstrained. 'Surely,' said she to herself, 'if Cecilia had done that +which I suspect, she would not, she could not, look as she does.' But +Leonora little knew the cause of her gaiety. Cecilia was never in higher +spirits, or better pleased with herself, than when she had resolved upon +a sacrifice or a confession. + +'Must not this evening be given to the most amiable? Whose, then, will +it be?' All eyes glanced first at Cecilia, and then at Leonora. Cecilia +smiled; Leonora blushed. 'I see that it is not yet decided,' said Mrs. +Villars; and immediately they ran upstairs, amidst confused whisperings. + +Cecilia's voice could be distinguished far above the rest. 'How can she +be so happy!' said Leonora to herself. 'O Cecilia, there was a time when +you could not have neglected me so! when we were always together the +best of friends and companions; our wishes, tastes, and pleasures the +same! Surely she did once love me,' said Leonora; 'but now she is quite +changed. She has even sold my keepsake; and she would rather win a +bracelet of hair from girls whom she did not always think so much +superior to Leonora than have my esteem, my confidence, and my +friendship for her whole life--yes, for her whole life, for I am sure +she will be an amiable woman. Oh that this bracelet had never been +thought of, or that I were certain of her winning it; for I am sure that +I do not wish to win it from her. I would rather--a thousand times +rather--that we were as we used to be than have all the glory in the +world. And how pleasing Cecilia can be when she wishes to please!--how +candid she is!--how much she can improve herself! Let me be just, though +she has offended me; she is wonderfully improved within this last month. +For one fault, and _that_ against myself, shall I forget all her +merits?' + +As Leonora said these last words, she could but just hear the voices of +her companions. They had left her alone in the gallery. She knocked +softly at Louisa's door. 'Come in,' said Louisa; 'I'm not asleep. Oh,' +said she, starting up with the Flora in her hand, the instant that the +door was opened, 'I'm so glad you are come, Leonora, for I did so long +to hear what you all were making such a noise about. Have you forgot +that the bracelet----' 'Oh yes! is this the evening?' inquired Leonora. +'Well, here's my white shell for you,' said Louisa. 'I've kept it in my +pocket this fortnight; and though Cecilia did give me this Flora, I +still love you a great deal better.' 'I thank you, Louisa,' said +Leonora, gratefully. 'I will take your shell, and I shall value it as +long as I live; but here is a red one, and if you wish to show me that +you love me, you will give this to Cecilia. I know that she is +particularly anxious for your preference, and I am sure that she +deserves it.' 'Yes, if I could I would choose both of you,' said +Louisa, 'but you know I can only choose which I like the best.' 'If you +mean, my dear Louisa,' said Leonora, 'that you like me the best, I am +very much obliged to you, for, indeed, I wish you to love me; but it is +enough for me to know it in private. I should not feel the least more +pleasure at hearing it in public, or in having it made known to all my +companions, especially at a time when it would give poor Cecilia a great +deal of pain.' 'But why should it give her pain?' asked Louisa; 'I don't +like her for being jealous of you.' 'Nay, Louisa, surely you don't think +Cecilia jealous? She only tries to excel, and to please; she is more +anxious to succeed than I am, it is true, because she has a great deal +more activity, and perhaps more ambition. And it would really mortify +her to lose this prize--you know that she proposed it herself. It has +been her object for this month past, and I am sure she has taken great +pains to obtain it.' 'But, dear Leonora, why should you lose it?' +'Indeed, my dear, it would be no loss to me; and, if it were, I would +willingly suffer it for Cecilia; for, though we seem not to be such good +friends as we used to be, I love her very much, and she will love me +again--I'm sure she will; when she no longer fears me as a rival, she +will again love me as a friend.' + +Here Leonora heard a number of her companions running along the gallery. +They all knocked hastily at the door, calling 'Leonora! Leonora! will +you never come? Cecilia has been with us this half-hour.' Leonora +smiled. 'Well, Louisa,' said she, smiling, 'will you promise me?' 'Oh, I +am sure, by the way they speak to you, that they won't give you the +prize!' said the little Louisa, and the tears started into her eyes. +'They love me, though, for all that,' said Leonora; 'and as for the +prize, you know whom I wish to have it.' + +'Leonora! Leonora!' called her impatient companions; 'don't you hear us? +What are you about?' 'Oh, she never will take any trouble about +anything,' said one of the party; 'let's go away.' 'Oh, go, go! make +haste!' cried Louisa; 'don't stay; they are so angry.' 'Remember, then, +that you have promised me,' said Leonora, and she left the room. + +During all this time, Cecilia had been in the garden with her +companions. The ambition which she had felt to win the first prize--the +prize of superior talents and superior application--was not to be +compared to the absolute anxiety which she now expressed to win this +simple testimony of the love and approbation of her equals and rivals. + +To employ her exuberant activity, Cecilia had been dragging branches of +lilacs and laburnums, roses and sweet brier, to ornament the bower in +which her fate was to be decided. It was excessively hot, but her mind +was engaged, and she was indefatigable. She stood still at last to +admire her works. Her companions all joined in loud applause. They were +not a little prejudiced in her favour by the great eagerness which she +expressed to win their prize, and by the great importance which she +seemed to affix to the preference of each individual. At last, 'Where is +Leonora?' cried one of them; and immediately, as we have seen, they ran +to call her. + +Cecilia was left alone. Overcome with heat and too violent exertion, she +had hardly strength to support herself; each moment appeared to her +intolerably long. She was in a state of the utmost suspense, and all her +courage failed her. Even hope forsook her; and hope is a cordial which +leaves the mind depressed and enfeebled. + +'The time is now come,' said Cecilia; 'in a few moments all will be +decided. In a few moments--goodness! How much do I hazard? If I should +not win the prize, how shall I confess what I have done? How shall I beg +Leonora to forgive me? I, who hoped to restore my friendship to her as +an honour! They are gone to seek for her. The moment she appears I shall +be forgotten. What--what shall I do?' said Cecilia, covering her face +with her hands. + +Such was Cecilia's situation when Leonora, accompanied by her +companions, opened the hall door. They most of them ran forwards to +Cecilia. As Leonora came into the bower, she held out her hand to +Cecilia. 'We are not rivals, but friends, I hope,' said she. Cecilia +clasped her hand; but she was in too great agitation to speak. + +The table was now set in the arbour--the vase was now placed in the +middle. 'Well,' said Cecilia, eagerly, 'who begins?' Caroline, one of +her friends, came forward first, and then all the others successively. +Cecilia's emotion was hardly conceivable. 'Now they are all in! Count +them, Caroline!' + +'One, two, three, four; the numbers are both equal.' There was a dead +silence. 'No, they are not,' exclaimed Cecilia, pressing forward, and +putting a shell into a vase. 'I have not given mine, and I give it to +Leonora.' Then, snatching the bracelet, 'It is yours, Leonora,' said +she; 'take it, and give me back your friendship.' The whole assembly +gave one universal clap and a general shout of applause. + +'I cannot be surprised at this from you, Cecilia,' said Leonora; 'and do +you then still love me as you used to do?' + +'O Leonora, stop! don't praise me; I don't deserve this,' said she, +turning to her loudly-applauding companions. 'You will soon despise me. +O Leonora, you will never forgive me! I have deceived you; I have +sold----' + +At this instant Mrs. Villars appeared. The crowd divided. She had heard +all that passed, from her window. 'I applaud your generosity, Cecilia,' +said she, 'but I am to tell you that in this instance it is +unsuccessful. You have it not in your power to give the prize to +Leonora. It is yours. I have another vote to give to you. You have +forgotten Louisa.' + +'Louisa!' exclaimed Cecilia; 'but surely, ma'am, Louisa loves Leonora +better than she does me.' 'She commissioned me, however,' said Mrs. +Villars, 'to give you a red shell; and you will find it in this box.' + +Cecilia started, and turned as pale as death; it was the fatal box! + +Mrs. Villars produced another box. She opened it; it contained the +Flora. 'And Louisa also desired me,' said she, 'to return you this +Flora.' She put it into Cecilia's hand. Cecilia trembled so that she +could not hold it. Leonora caught it. + +'Oh, madam! Oh, Leonora!' exclaimed Cecilia; 'now I have no hope left. I +intended--I was just going to tell----' 'Dear Cecilia,' said Leonora, +'you need not tell it me; I know it already; and I forgive you with all +my heart.' + +'Yes, I can prove to you,' said Mrs. Villars, 'that Leonora has forgiven +you. It is she who has given you the prize; it was she who persuaded +Louisa to give you her vote. I went to see her a little while ago; and +perceiving, by her countenance, that something was the matter, I pressed +her to tell me what it was. + +'"Why, madam," said she, "Leonora has made me promise to give my shell +to Cecilia. Now I don't love Cecilia half so well as I do Leonora. +Besides, I would not have Cecilia think I vote for her because she gave +me a Flora." Whilst Louisa was speaking,' continued Mrs. Villars, 'I saw +this silver box lying on the bed. I took it up, and asked if it was not +yours, and how she came by it. "Indeed, madam," said Louisa, "I could +have been almost certain that it was Cecilia's; but Leonora gave it me, +and she said that she bought it of the peddler this morning. If anybody +else had told me so, I could not have believed them, because I remember +the box so well; but I can't help believing Leonora." "But did not you +ask Cecilia about it?" said I. "No, madam," replied Louisa; "for Leonora +forbade me." I guessed her reason. "Well," said I, "give me the box, and +I will carry your shell in it to Cecilia." "Then, madam," said she, "if +I must give it her, pray do take the Flora, and return it to her first, +that she may not think it is for that I do it."' + +'Oh, generous Leonora!' exclaimed Cecilia; 'but, indeed, Louisa, I +cannot take your shell.' + +'Then, dear Cecilia, accept of mine instead of it! you cannot refuse it; +I only follow your example. As for the bracelet,' added Leonora, taking +Cecilia's hand, 'I assure you I don't wish for it, and you do, and you +deserve it.' 'No,' said Cecilia, 'indeed I do not deserve it. Next to +you, surely Louisa deserves it best.' + +'Louisa! oh yes, Louisa,' exclaimed everybody with one voice. + +'Yes,' said Mrs. Villars, 'and let Cecilia carry the bracelet to her; +she deserves that reward. For one fault I cannot forget all your merits, +Cecilia, nor, I am sure, will your companions.' 'Then, surely, not your +best friend,' said Leonora, kissing her. + +Everybody present was moved. They looked up to Leonora with respectful +and affectionate admiration. + +'Oh, Leonora, how I love you! and how I wish to be like you!' exclaimed +Cecilia--'to be as good, as generous!' + +'Rather wish, Cecilia,' interrupted Mrs. Villars, 'to be as just; to be +as strictly honourable, and as invariably consistent. Remember, that +many of our sex are capable of great efforts--of making what they call +great sacrifices to virtue or to friendship; but few treat their friends +with habitual gentleness, or uniformly conduct themselves with prudence +and good sense.' + + + + +THE LITTLE MERCHANTS + + +CHAPTER I + + _Chi di gallina nasce, convien che rozole._ + As the old cock crows, so crows the young. + +Those who have visited Italy give us an agreeable picture of the +cheerful industry of the children of all ages in the celebrated city of +Naples. Their manner of living and their numerous employments are +exactly described in the following 'Extract from a Traveller's +Journal.'[18] + + [18] _Varieties of Literature_, vol. i. p. 299. + +'The children are busied in various ways. A great number of them bring +fish for sale to town from Santa Lucia; others are very often seen about +the arsenals, or wherever carpenters are at work, employed in gathering +up the chips and pieces of wood; or by the seaside, picking up sticks, +and whatever else has drifted ashore, which, when their basket is full, +they carry away. + +'Children of two or three years old, who can scarcely crawl along upon +the ground, in company with boys of five or six, are employed in this +petty trade. Hence they proceed with their baskets into the heart of the +city, where in several places they form a sort of little market, sitting +round with their stock of wood before them. Labourers, and the lower +order of citizens, buy it of them to burn in the tripods for warming +themselves, or to use in their scanty kitchens. + +'Other children carry about for sale the water of the sulphurous wells, +which, particularly in the spring season, is drunk in great abundance. +Others again endeavour to turn a few pence by buying a small matter of +fruit, of pressed honey, cakes, and comfits, and then, like little +peddlers, offer and sell them to other children, always for no more +profit than that they may have their share of them free of expense. + +'It is really curious to see how an urchin, whose whole stock and +property consist in a board and a knife, will carry about a water-melon, +or a half-roasted gourd, collect a troup of children round him, set down +his board, and proceed to divide the fruit into small pieces among them. + +'The buyers keep a sharp look-out to see that they have enough for their +little piece of copper; and the Lilliputian tradesmen act with no less +caution as the exigencies of the case may require, to prevent his being +cheated out of a morsel.' + +The advantages of truth and honesty, and the value of a character for +integrity, are very early felt amongst these little merchants in their +daily intercourse with each other. The fair dealer is always sooner or +later seen to prosper. The most cunning cheat is at last detected and +disgraced. + +Numerous instances of the truth of this common observation were remarked +by many Neapolitan children, especially by those who were acquainted +with the characters and history of Piedro and Francisco, two boys +originally equal in birth, fortune, and capacity, but different in their +education, and consequently in their habits and conduct. Francisco was +the son of an honest gardener, who, from the time he could speak, taught +him to love to speak the truth, showed him that liars are never +believed--that cheats and thieves cannot be trusted, and that the +shortest way to obtain a good character is to deserve it. + +Youth and white paper, as the proverb says, take all impressions. The +boy profited much by his father's precepts, and more by his example; he +always heard his father speak the truth, and saw that he dealt fairly +with everybody. In all his childish traffic, Francisco, imitating his +parents, was scrupulously honest, and therefore all his companions +trusted him--'As honest as Francisco,' became a sort of proverb amongst +them. + +'As honest as Francisco,' repeated Piedro's father, when he one day +heard this saying. 'Let them say so; I say, "As sharp as Piedro"; and +let us see which will go through the world best.' With the idea of +making his son _sharp_ he made him cunning. He taught him, that to make +a _good bargain_ was to deceive as to the value and price of whatever +he wanted to dispose of; to get as much money as possible from customers +by taking advantage of their ignorance or of their confidence. He often +repeated his favourite proverb--'The buyer has need of a hundred eyes; +the seller has need but of one.'[19] And he took frequent opportunities +of explaining the meaning of this maxim to his son. He was a fisherman; +and as his gains depended more upon fortune than upon prudence, he +trusted habitually to his good luck. After being idle for a whole day, +he would cast his line or his nets, and if he was lucky enough to catch +a fine fish, he would go and show it in triumph to his neighbour the +gardener. + + [19] Chi compra ha bisogna di cent' occhi; chi vende n' ha assai di + uno. + +'You are obliged to work all day long for your daily bread,' he would +say. 'Look here; I work but five minutes, and I have not only daily +bread, but daily fish.' + +Upon these occasions, our fisherman always forgot, or neglected to +count, the hours and days which were wasted in waiting for a fair wind +to put to sea, or angling in vain on the shore. + +Little Piedro, who used to bask in the sun upon the sea-shore beside his +father, and to lounge or sleep away his time in a fishing-boat, acquired +habits of idleness, which seemed to his father of little consequence +whilst he was _but a child_. + +'What will you do with Piedro as he grows up, neighbour?' said the +gardener. 'He is smart and quick enough, but he is always in mischief. +Scarcely a day has passed for this fortnight but I have caught him +amongst my grapes. I track his footsteps all over my vineyard.' '_He is +but a child_ yet, and knows no better,' replied the fisherman. 'But if +you don't teach him better now he is a child, how will he know when he +is a man?' said the gardener. 'A mighty noise about a bunch of grapes, +truly!' cried the fisherman; 'a few grapes more or less in your +vineyard, what does it signify?' 'I speak for your son's sake, and not +for the sake of my grapes,' said the gardener; 'and I tell you again, +the boy will not do well in the world, neighbour, if you don't look +after him in time.' 'He'll do well enough in the world, you will find,' +answered the fisherman, carelessly. 'Whenever he casts my nets, they +never come up empty. "It is better to be lucky than wise."'[20] + + [20] E meglio esser fortunato che savio. + +This was a proverb which Piedro had frequently heard from his father, +and to which he most willingly trusted, because it gave him less trouble +to fancy himself fortunate than to make himself wise. + +'Come here, child,' said his father to him, when he returned home after +the preceding conversation with the gardener; 'how old are you, my +boy?--twelve years old, is not it?' 'As old as Francisco, and older by +six months,' said Piedro. 'And smarter and more knowing by six years,' +said his father. 'Here, take these fish to Naples, and let us see how +you'll sell them for me. Venture a small fish, as the proverb says, to +catch a great one.[21] I was too late with them at the market yesterday, +but nobody will know but what they are just fresh out of the water, +unless you go and tell them.' + + [21] Butta una sardella per pigliar un luccio. + +'Not I; trust me for that; I'm not such a fool,' replied Piedro, +laughing; 'I leave that to Francisco. Do you know, I saw him the other +day miss selling a melon for his father by turning the bruised side to +the customer, who was just laying down the money for it, and who was a +raw servant-boy, moreover--one who would never have guessed there were +two sides to a melon, if he had not, as you say, father, been told of +it?' + +'Off with you to market. You are a droll chap,' said his father, 'and +will sell my fish cleverly, I'll be bound. As to the rest, let every man +take care of his own grapes. You understand me, Piedro?' + +'Perfectly,' said the boy, who perceived that his father was indifferent +as to his honesty, provided he sold fish at the highest price possible. +He proceeded to the market, and he offered his fish with assiduity to +every person whom he thought likely to buy it, especially to those upon +whom he thought he could impose. He positively asserted to all who +looked at his fish that they were just fresh out of the water. Good +judges of men and fish knew that he said what was false, and passed him +by with neglect; but it was at last what he called _good luck_ to meet +with the very same young raw servant-boy who would have bought the +bruised melon from Francisco. He made up to him directly, crying, 'Fish! +Fine fresh fish! fresh fish!' + +'Was it caught to-day?' said the boy. + +[Illustration: _'I saw him the other day miss selling a melon for his +father by turning the bruised side to the customer.'_] + +'Yes, this morning; not an hour ago,' said Piedro, with the greatest +effrontery. + +The servant-boy was imposed upon; and being a foreigner, speaking the +Italian language but imperfectly, and not being expert at reckoning the +Italian money, he was no match for the cunning Piedro, who cheated him +not only as to the freshness but as to the price of the commodity. +Piedro received nearly half as much again for his fish as he ought to +have done. + +On his road homewards from Naples to the little village of Resina, where +his father lived, he overtook Francisco, who was leading his father's +ass. The ass was laden with large panniers, which were filled with the +stalks and leaves of cauliflowers, cabbages, broccoli, lettuces, +etc.--all the refuse of the Neapolitan kitchens, which are usually +collected by the gardeners' boys, and carried to the gardens round +Naples, to be mixed with other manure. + +'Well-filled panniers, truly,' said Piedro, as he overtook Francisco and +the ass. The panniers were indeed not only filled to the top, but piled +up with much skill and care, so that the load met over the animal's +back. + +'It is not a very heavy load for the ass, though it looks so large,' +said Francisco. 'The poor fellow, however, shall have a little of this +water,' added he, leading the ass to a pool by the roadside. + +'I was not thinking of the ass, boy; I was not thinking of any ass, but +of you, when I said, "Well-filled panniers, truly!" This is your +morning's work, I presume, and you'll make another journey to Naples +to-day, on the same errand, I warrant, before your father thinks you +have done enough?' + +'Not before _my father_ thinks I have done enough, but before I think so +myself,' replied Francisco. + +'I do enough to satisfy myself and my father too,' said Piedro, 'without +slaving myself after your fashion. Look here,' producing the money he +had received for the fish; 'all this was had for asking. It is no bad +thing, you'll allow, to know how to ask for money properly.' + +'I should be ashamed to beg, or borrow either,' said Francisco. + +'Neither did I get what you see by begging, or borrowing either,' said +Piedro, 'but by using my wits; not as you did yesterday, when, like a +novice, you showed the bruised side of your melon, and so spoiled your +market by your wisdom.' + +'Wisdom I think it still,' said Francisco. + +'And your father?' asked Piedro. + +'And my father,' said Francisco. + +'Mine is of a different way of thinking,' said Piedro. 'He always tells +me that the buyer has need of a hundred eyes, and if one can blind the +whole hundred, so much the better. You must know, I got off the fish +to-day that my father could not sell yesterday in the market--got it off +for fresh just out of the river--got twice as much as the market price +for it; and from whom, think you? Why, from the very booby that would +have bought the bruised melon for a sound one if you would have let him. +You'll allow I'm no fool, Francisco, and that I'm in a fair way to grow +rich, if I go on as I have begun.' + +'Stay,' said Francisco; 'you forgot that the booby you took in to-day +will not be so easily taken in to-morrow. He will buy no more fish from +you, because he will be afraid of your cheating him; but he will be +ready enough to buy fruit from me, because he will know I shall not +cheat him--so you'll have lost a customer, and I gained one.' + +'With all my heart,' said Piedro. 'One customer does not make a market; +if he buys no more from me, what care I? there are people enough to buy +fish in Naples.' + +'And do you mean to serve them all in the same manner?' asked Francisco. + +'If they will be only so good as to give me leave,' said Piedro, +laughing, and repeating his father's proverb, '"Venture a small fish to +catch a large one."'[22] He had learned to think that to cheat in making +bargains was witty and clever. + + [22] See _antea_. + +'And you have never considered, then,' said Francisco, 'that all these +people will, one after another, find you out in time?' + +'Ay, in time; but it will be some time first. There are a great many of +them, enough to last me all the summer, if I lose a customer a day,' +said Piedro. + +'And next summer,' observed Francisco, 'what will you do?' + +'Next summer is not come yet; there is time enough to think what I +shall do before next summer comes. Why, now, suppose the blockheads, +after they had been taken in and found it out, all joined against me, +and would buy none of our fish--what then? Are there no trades but that +of a fisherman? In Naples, are there not a hundred ways of making money +for a smart lad like me? as my father says. What do you think of turning +merchant, and selling sugar-plums and cakes to the children in their +market? Would they be hard to deal with, think you?' + +'I think not,' said Francisco; 'but I think the children would find out +in time if they were cheated, and would like it as little as the men.' + +'I don't doubt them. Then _in time_ I could, you know, change my +trade--sell chips and sticks in the wood-market--hand about the lemonade +to the fine folks, or twenty other things. There are trades enough, +boy.' + +'Yes, for the honest dealer,' said Francisco, 'but for no other; for in +all of them you'll find, as _my_ father says, that a good character is +the best fortune to set up with. Change your trade ever so often, you'll +be found out for what you are at last.' + +'And what am I, pray?' said Piedro, angrily. 'The whole truth of the +matter is, Francisco, that you envy my good luck, and can't bear to hear +this money jingle in my hand. Ay, stroke the long ears of your ass, and +look as wise as you please. It's better to be lucky than wise, as _my_ +father says. Good morning to you. When I am found out for what I am, or +when the worst comes to the worst, I can drive a stupid ass, with his +panniers filled with rubbish, as well as you do now, _honest Francisco_? + +'Not quite so well. Unless you were _honest Francisco_, you would not +fill his panniers quite so readily.' + +This was certain, that Francisco was so well known for his honesty +amongst all the people at Naples with whom his father was acquainted, +that every one was glad to deal with him; and as he never wronged any +one, all were willing to serve him--at least, as much as they could +without loss to themselves; so that after the market was over, his +panniers were regularly filled by the gardeners and others with whatever +he wanted. His industry was constant, his gains small but certain, and +he every day had more and more reason to trust to his father's +maxim--That honesty is the best policy. + +The foreign servant lad, to whom Francisco had so honestly, or, as +Piedro said, so sillily, shown the bruised side of the melon, was an +Englishman. He left his native country, of which he was extremely fond, +to attend upon his master, to whom he was still more attached. His +master was in a declining state of health, and this young lad waited on +him a little more to his mind than his other servants. We must, in +consideration of his zeal, fidelity, and inexperience, pardon him for +not being a good judge of fish. Though he had simplicity enough to be +easily cheated once, he had too much sense to be twice made a dupe. The +next time he met Piedro in the market, he happened to be in company with +several English gentlemen's servants, and he pointed Piedro out to them +all as an arrant knave. They heard his cry of 'Fresh fish! fresh fish! +fine fresh fish!' with incredulous smiles, and let him pass, but not +without some expressions of contempt, though uttered in English, he +tolerably well understood; for the tone of contempt is sufficiently +expressive in all languages. He lost more by not selling his fish to +these people than he had gained the day before by cheating the _English +booby_. The market was well supplied, and he could not get rid of his +cargo. + +'Is not this truly provoking?' said Piedro, as he passed by Francisco, +who was selling fruit for his father. 'Look, my basket is as heavy as +when I left home; and look at 'em yourself, they really are fine fresh +fish to-day; and yet, because that revengeful booby told how I took him +in yesterday, not one of yonder crowd would buy them; and all the time +they really are fresh to-day!' + +'So they are,' said Francisco; 'but you said so yesterday, when they +were not; and he that was duped then is not ready to believe you to-day. +How does he know that you deserve it better?' + +'He might have looked at the fish,' repeated Piedro; 'they are fresh +to-day. I am sure he need not have been afraid.' + +'Ay,' said Francisco; 'but as my father said to you once--the scalded +dog fears cold water.'[23] + + [23] Il cane scottato dell' acqua calda ha paura poi della fredda. + +Here their conversation was interrupted by the same English lad, who +smiled as he came up to Francisco, and taking up a fine pine-apple, he +said, in a mixture of bad Italian and English--'I need not look at the +other side of this; you will tell me if it is not as good as it looks. +Name your price; I know you have but one, and that an honest one; and as +to the rest, I am able and willing to pay for what I buy; that is to +say, my master is, which comes to the same thing. I wish your fruit +could make him well, and it would be worth its weight in gold--to me, at +least. We must have some of your grapes for him.' + +'Is he not well?' inquired Francisco. 'We must, then, pick out the best +for him,' at the same time singling out a tempting bunch. 'I hope he +will like these; but if you could some day come as far as Resina (it is +a village but a few miles out of town, where we have our vineyard), you +could there choose for yourself, and pluck them fresh from the vines for +your poor master.' + +'Bless you, my good boy; I should take you for an Englishman, by your +way of dealing. I'll come to your village. Only write me down the name; +for your Italian names slip through my head. I'll come to the vineyard +if it was ten miles off; and all the time we stay in Naples (may it not +be so long as I fear it will!), with my master's leave, which he never +refuses me to anything that's proper, I'll deal with you for all our +fruit, as sure as my name's Arthur, and with none else, with my good +will. I wish all your countrymen would take after you in honesty, indeed +I do,' concluded the Englishman, looking full at Piedro, who took up his +unsold basket of fish, looking somewhat silly, and gloomily walked off. + +Arthur, the English servant, was as good as his word. He dealt +constantly with Francisco, and proved an excellent customer, buying from +him during the whole season as much fruit as his master wanted. His +master, who was an Englishman of distinction, was invited to take up his +residence, during his stay in Italy, at the Count de F.'s villa, which +was in the environs of Naples--an easy walk from Resina. Francisco had +the pleasure of seeing his father's vineyard often full of generous +visitors, and Arthur, who had circulated the anecdote of the bruised +melon, was, he said, 'proud to think that some of this was his doing, +and that an Englishman never forgot a good turn, be it from a countryman +or foreigner.' + +'My dear boy,' said Francisco's father to him, whilst Arthur was in the +vineyard helping to tend the vines, 'I am to thank you and your honesty, +it seems, for our having our hands so full of business this season. It +is fair you should have a share of our profits.' + +'So I have, father, enough and enough, when I see you and mother going +on so well. What can I want more?' + +'Oh, my brave boy, we know you are a grateful, good son; but I have been +your age myself; you have companions, you have little expenses of your +own. Here; this vine, this fig-tree, and a melon a week next summer +shall be yours. With these make a fine figure amongst the little +Neapolitan merchants; and all I wish is that you may prosper as well, +and by the same honest means, in managing for yourself, as you have done +managing for me.' + +'Thank you, father; and if I prosper at all, it shall be by those means, +and no other, or I should not be worthy to be called your son.' + +Piedro the cunning did not make quite so successful a summer's work as +did Francisco the honest. No extraordinary events happened, no singular +instance of bad or good luck occurred; but he felt, as persons usually +do, the natural consequences of his own actions. He pursued his scheme +of imposing, as far as he could, upon every person he dealt with; and +the consequence was, that at last nobody would deal with him. + +'It is easy to outwit one person, but impossible to outwit all the +world,' said a man[24] who knew the world at least as well as either +Piedro or his father. + + [24] The Duc de Rochefoucault.--'On peut etre plus fin qu'un autre, + mais pas plus fin que tous les autres.' + +Piedro's father, amongst others, had reason to complain. He saw his own +customers fall off from him, and was told, whenever he went into the +market, that his son was such a cheat there was no dealing with him. One +day, when he was returning from the market in a very bad humour, in +consequence of these reproaches, and of his not having found customers +for his goods, he espied his _smart_ son Piedro at a little merchant's +fruit-board, devouring a fine gourd with prodigious greediness. 'Where, +glutton, do you find money to pay for these dainties?' exclaimed his +father, coming close up to him, with angry gestures. Piedro's mouth was +much too full to make an immediate reply, nor did his father wait for +any, but darting his hand into the youth's pocket, pulled forth a +handful of silver. + +'The money, father,' said Piedro, 'that I got for the fish yesterday, +and that I meant to give you to-day, before you went out.' + +'Then I'll make you remember it against another time, sirrah!' said his +father. 'I'll teach you to fill your stomach with my money. Am I to lose +my customers by your tricks, and then find you here eating my all? You +are a rogue, and everybody has found you out to be a rogue; and the +worst of rogues I find you, who scruples not to cheat his own father.' + +Saying these words, with great vehemence he seized hold of Piedro, and +in the very midst of the little fruit-market gave him a severe beating. +This beating did the boy no good; it was vengeance not punishment. +Piedro saw that his father was in a passion, and knew that he was beaten +because he was found out to be a rogue, rather than for being one. He +recollected perfectly that his father once said to him: 'Let every one +take care of his own grapes.' + +Indeed, it was scarcely reasonable to expect that a boy who had been +educated to think that he might cheat every customer he could in the way +of trade, should be afterwards scrupulously honest in his conduct +towards the father whose proverbs encouraged his childhood in cunning. + +Piedro writhed with bodily pain as he left the market after his +drubbing, but his mind was not in the least amended. On the contrary, he +was hardened to the sense of shame by the loss of reputation. All the +little merchants were spectators of this scene, and heard his father's +words: 'You _are_ a rogue, and the worst of rogues, who scruples not to +cheat his own father.' + +These words were long remembered, and long did Piedro feel their +effects. He once flattered himself that, when his trade of selling fish +failed him, he could readily engage in some other; but he now found, to +his mortification, that what Francisco's father said proved true: 'In +all trades the best fortune to set up with is a good character.' + +Not one of the little Neapolitan merchants would either enter into +partnership with him, give him credit, or even trade with him for ready +money.--'If you would cheat your own father, to be sure you will cheat +us,' was continually said to him by these prudent little people. + +Piedro was taunted and treated with contempt at home and abroad. His +father, when he found that his son's _smartness_ was no longer useful +in making bargains, shoved him out of his way whenever he met him. All +the food or clothes that he had at home seemed to be given to him +grudgingly, and with such expressions as these: 'Take that; but it is +too good for you. You must eat this, now, instead of gourds and +figs--and be thankful you have even this.' + +Piedro spent a whole winter very unhappily. He expected that all his old +tricks, and especially what his father had said of him in the +market-place, would be soon forgotten; but month passed after month, and +still these things were fresh in the memory of all who had known them. + +It is not easy to get rid of a bad character. A very great rogue[25] was +once heard to say, that he would, with all his heart, give ten thousand +pounds for a good character, because he knew that he could make twenty +thousand by it. + + [25] Chartres. + +Something like this was the sentiment of our cunning hero when he +experienced the evils of a bad reputation, and when he saw the numerous +advantages which Francisco's good character procured. Such had been +Piedro's wretched education, that even the hard lessons of experience +could not alter its pernicious effects. He was sorry his knavery had +been detected, but he still thought it clever to cheat, and was secretly +persuaded that, if he had cheated successfully, he should have been +happy. 'But I know I am not happy now,' said he to himself one morning, +as he sat alone disconsolate by the sea-shore, dressed in tattered +garments, weak and hungry, with an empty basket beside him. His +fishing-rod, which he held between his knees, bent over the dry sands +instead of into the water, for he was not thinking of what he was about; +his arms were folded, his head hung down, and his ragged hat was +slouched over his face. He was a melancholy spectacle. + +Francisco, as he was coming from his father's vineyard with a large dish +of purple and white grapes upon his head, and a basket of melons and +figs hanging upon his arm, chanced to see Piedro seated in this +melancholy posture. Touched with compassion, Francisco approached him +softly; his footsteps were not heard upon the sands, and Piedro did not +perceive that any one was near him till he felt something cold touch his +hand; he then started, and, looking up, saw a bunch of ripe grapes, +which Francisco was holding over his head. + +'Eat them; you'll find them very good, I hope,' said Francisco, with a +benevolent smile. + +'They are excellent--most excellent, and I am much obliged to you, +Francisco,' said Piedro. 'I was very hungry, and that's what I am now, +without anybody's caring anything about it. I am not the favourite I was +with my father, but I know it is all my own fault.' + +'Well, but cheer up,' said Francisco; 'my father always says, "One who +knows he has been in fault, and acknowledges it, will scarcely be in +fault again." Yes, take as many figs as you will,' continued he; and +held his basket closer to Piedro, who, as he saw, cast a hungry eye upon +one of the ripe figs. + +'But,' said Piedro, after he had taken several, 'shall not I get you +into a scrape by taking so many? Won't your father be apt to miss them?' + +'Do you think I would give them to you if they were not my own?' said +Francisco, with a sudden glance of indignation. + +'Well, don't be angry that I asked the question; it was only from fear +of getting you into disgrace that I asked it.' + +'It would not be easy for anybody to do that, I hope,' said Francisco, +rather proudly. + +'And to me less than anybody,' replied Piedro, in an insinuating tone, +'_I_, that am so much obliged to you!' + +'A bunch of grapes and a few figs are no mighty obligation,' said +Francisco, smiling; 'I wish I could do more for you. You seem, indeed, +to have been very unhappy of late. We never see you in the markets as we +used to do.' + +'No; ever since my father beat me, and called me rogue before all the +children there, I have never been able to show my face without being +gibed at by one or t'other. If you would but take me along with you +amongst them, and only just _seem_ my friend for a day or two, or so, it +would quite set me up again; for they all like you.' + +'I would rather _be_ than seem your friend, if I could,' said Francisco. + +'Ay, to be sure; that would be still better,' said Piedro, observing +that Francisco, as he uttered his last sentence, was separating the +grapes and other fruits into two equal divisions. 'To be sure I would +rather you would _be_ than _seem_ a friend to me; but I thought that was +too much to ask at first, though I have a notion, notwithstanding I +have been so _unlucky_ lately--I have a notion you would have no reason +to repent of it. You would find me no bad hand, if you were to try, and +take me into partnership.' + +'Partnership!' interrupted Francisco, drawing back alarmed; 'I had no +thoughts of that.' + +'But won't you? can't you?' said Piedro, in a supplicating tone; +'_can't_ you have thoughts of it? You'd find me a very active partner.' + +Francisco still drew back, and kept his eyes fixed upon the ground. He +was embarrassed; for he pitied Piedro, and he scarcely knew how to point +out to him that something more is necessary in a partner in trade +besides activity, and that is honesty. + +'Can't you?' repeated Piedro, thinking that he hesitated from merely +mercenary motives. 'You shall have what share of the profits you +please.' + +'I was not thinking of the profits,' said Francisco; 'but without +meaning to be ill-natured to you, Piedro, I must say that I cannot enter +into any partnership with you at present; but I will do what, perhaps, +you will like as well,' said he, taking half the fruit out of his +basket; 'you are heartily welcome to this; try and sell it in the +children's fruit-market.' 'I'll go on before you, and speak to those +I am acquainted with, and tell them you are going to set up a new +character, and that you hope to make it a good one.' + +'Hey, shall I! Thank you for ever, dear Francisco,' cried Piedro, +seizing his plentiful gift of fruit. 'Say what you please for me.' + +'But don't make me say anything that is not true,' said Francisco, +pausing. + +'No, to be sure not,' said Piedro; 'I _do_ mean to give no room for +scandal. If I could get them to trust me as they do you, I should be +happy indeed.' + +'That is what you may do, if you please,' said Francisco. 'Adieu, I wish +you well with all my heart; but I must leave you now, or I shall be too +late for the market.' + + +CHAPTER II + + _Chi va piano va sano, e anche lontano._ + Fair and softly goes far in a day. + +Piedro had now an opportunity of establishing a good character. When he +went into the market with his grapes and figs, he found that he was not +shunned or taunted as usual. All seemed disposed to believe in his +intended reformation, and to give him a fair trial. + +These favourable dispositions towards him were the consequence of +Francisco's benevolent representations. He told them that he thought +Piedro had suffered enough to cure him of his tricks, and that it would +be cruelty in them, because he might once have been in fault, to banish +him by their reproaches from amongst them, and thus to prevent him from +the means of gaining his livelihood honestly. + +Piedro made a good beginning, and gave what several of the younger +customers thought excellent bargains. His grapes and figs were quickly +sold, and with the money that he got for them he the next day purchased +from a fruit-dealer a fresh supply; and thus he went on for some time, +conducting himself with scrupulous honesty, so that he acquired some +credit among his companions. They no longer watched him with suspicious +eyes. They trusted to his measures and weights, and they counted less +carefully the change which they received from him. + +The satisfaction he felt from this alteration in their manners was at +first delightful, to Piedro; but in proportion to his credit, his +opportunities of defrauding increased; and these became temptations +which he had not the firmness to resist. His old manner of thinking +recurred. + +'I make but a few shillings a day, and this is but slow work,' said he +to himself. 'What signifies my good character, if I make so little by +it?' + +Light gains, and frequent, make a heavy purse,[26] was one of +Francisco's proverbs. But Piedro was in too great haste to get rich to +take time into his account. He set his invention to work, and he did not +want for ingenuity, to devise means of cheating without running the risk +of detection. He observed that the younger part of the community were +extremely fond of certain coloured sugar-plums, and of burnt almonds. + + [26] Poco e spesso empie il l' orsetto. + +With the money he had earned by two months' trading in fruit he laid in +a large stock of what appeared to these little merchants a stock of +almonds and sugar-plums, and he painted in capital gold coloured letters +upon his board, 'Sweetest, largest, most admirable sugar-plums of all +colours ever sold in Naples, to be had here; and in gratitude to his +numerous customers, Piedro adds to these "Burnt almonds gratis."' + +This advertisement attracted the attention of all who could read; and +many who could not read heard it repeated with delight. Crowds of +children surrounded Piedro's board of promise, and they all went away +the first day amply satisfied. Each had a full measure of coloured +sugar-plums at the usual price, and along with these a burnt almond +gratis. The burnt almond had such an effect upon the public judgment, +that it was universally allowed that the sugar-plums were, as the +advertisement set forth, the largest, sweetest, most admirable ever sold +in Naples; though all the time they were, in no respect, better than any +other sugar-plums. + +It was generally reported that Piedro gave full measure--fuller than any +other board in the city. He measured the sugar-plums in a little cubical +tin box; and this, it was affirmed, he heaped up to the top and pressed +down before he poured out the contents into the open hands of his +approving customers. This belief, and Piedro's popularity, continued +longer even than he had expected; and, as he thought his sugar-plums had +secured their reputation with the _generous public_, he gradually +neglected to add burnt almonds gratis. + +One day a boy of about ten years old passed carelessly by, whistling as +he went along, and swinging a carpenter's rule in his hand. 'Ha! what +have we here?' cried he, stopping to read what was written on Piedro's +board. 'This promises rarely. Old as I am, and tall of my age, which +makes the matter worse, I am still as fond of sugar-plums as my little +sister, who is five years younger than I. Come, Signor, fill me quick, +for I'm in haste to taste them, two measures of the sweetest, largest, +most admirable sugar-plums in Naples--one measure for myself, and one +for my little Rosetta.' + +'You'll pay for yourself and your sister, then,' said Piedro, 'for no +credit is given here.' + +'No credit do I ask,' replied the lively boy; 'when I told you I loved +sugar-plums, did I tell you I loved them, or even my sister, so well as +to run in debt for them? Here's for myself, and here's for my sister's +share,' said he, laying down his money; 'and now for the burnt almonds +gratis, my good fellow.' + +'They are all out; I have been out of burnt almonds this great while,' +said Piedro. + +'Then why are they in your advertisement here?' said Carlo. + +'I have not had time to scratch them out of the board.' + +'What! not when you have, by your own account, been out of them a great +while? I did not know it required so much time to blot out a few +words--let us try'; and as he spoke, Carlo, for that was the name of +Piedro's new customer, pulled a bit of white chalk out of his pocket, +and drew a broad score across the line on the board which promised burnt +almonds gratis. + +'You are most impatient,' said Piedro; 'I shall have a fresh stock of +almonds to-morrow.' 'Why must the board tell a lie to-day?' 'It would +ruin me to alter it,' said Piedro. 'A lie may ruin you, but I could +scarcely think the truth could.' 'You have no right to meddle with me or +my board,' said Piedro, put off his guard, and out of his usual soft +voice of civility, by this last observation. 'My character, and that of +my board, are too firmly established now for any chance customer like +you to injure.' 'I never dreamed of injuring you or any one else,' said +Carlo--'I wish, moreover, you may not injure yourself. Do as you please +with your board, but give me my sugar-plums, for I have some right to +meddle with those, having paid for them.' 'Hold out your hand, then.' +'No, put them in here, if you please; put my sister's, at least, in +here; she likes to have them in this box: I bought some for her in it +yesterday, and she'll think they'll taste the better out of the same +box. But how is this? your measure does not fill my box nearly; you give +us very few sugar-plums for our money.' 'I give you full measure, as I +give to everybody.' 'The measure should be an inch cube, I know,' said +Carlo; 'that's what all the little merchants have agreed to, you know.' +'True,' said Piedro, 'so it is.' 'And so it is, I must allow,' said +Carlo, measuring the outside of it with the carpenter's rule which he +held in his hand. 'An inch every way; and yet by my eye--and I have no +bad one, being used to measuring carpenter's work for my father--by my +eye, I should think this would have held more sugar-plums.' 'The eye +often deceives us,' said Piedro. 'There's nothing like measuring, you +find.' 'There's nothing like measuring, I find, indeed,' replied Carlo, +as he looked closely at the end of his rule, which, since he spoke last, +he had put into the tin cube to take its depth in the inside. 'This is +not as deep by a quarter of an inch, Signor Piedro, measured within as +it is measured without.' + +Piedro changed colour terribly, and seizing hold of the tin box, +endeavoured to wrest it from the youth who measured so accurately. Carlo +held his prize fast, and lifting it above his head, he ran into the +midst of the square where the little market was held, exclaiming, 'A +discovery! a discovery! that concerns all who love sugar-plums. A +discovery! a discovery! that concerns all who have ever bought the +sweetest, largest, and most admirable sugar-plums ever sold in Naples.' + +The crowd gathered from all parts of the square as he spoke. + +'We have bought,' and 'We have bought of those sugar-plums,' cried +several little voices at once, 'if you mean Piedro's.' + +'The same,' continued Carlo--'he who, out of gratitude to his numerous +customers, gives, or promises to give, burnt almonds gratis.' + +'Excellent they were!' cried several voices. 'We all know Piedro well; +but what's your discovery?' + +'My discovery is,' said Carlo, 'that you, none of you, know Piedro. Look +you here; look at this box--this is his measure; it has a false +bottom--it holds only three-quarters as much as it ought to do; and his +numerous customers have all been cheated of one-quarter of every measure +of the admirable sugar-plums they have bought from him. "Think twice of +a good bargain," says the proverb.' + +'So we have been finely duped, indeed,' cried some of the bystanders, +looking at one another with a mortified air. Full of courtesy, full of +craft![27] 'So this is the meaning of his burnt almonds gratis,' cried +others; all joined in an uproar of indignation, except one, who, as he +stood behind the rest, expressed in his countenance silent surprise and +sorrow. + + [27] Chi te fa piu carezza che non vuole, O ingannato t' ha, o + ingannar te vuole. + +'Is this Piedro a relation of yours?' said Carlo, going up to this +silent person. 'I am sorry, if he be, that I have published his +disgrace, for I would not hurt _you_. You don't sell sugar-plums as he +does, I'm sure; for my little sister Rosetta has often bought from you. +Can this Piedro be a friend of yours?' + +'I wished to have been his friend, but I see I can't,' said Francisco. +'He is a neighbour of ours, and I pitied him; but since he is at his old +tricks again, there's an end of the matter. I have reason to be obliged +to you, for I was nearly taken in. He has behaved so well for some time +past, that I intended this very evening to have gone to him, and to have +told him that I was willing to do for him what he has long begged of me +to do--to enter into partnership with him.' + +'Francisco! Francisco! your measure, lend us your measure!' exclaimed a +number of little merchants crowding round him. 'You have a measure for +sugar-plums; and we have all agreed to refer to that, and to see how +much we have been cheated before we go to break Piedro's bench and +declare him bankrupt,[28]--the punishment for all knaves.' + + [28] This word comes from two Italian words, _banco rotto_--broken + bench. Bankers and merchants used formerly to count their money + and write their bills of exchange upon benches in the streets; + and when a merchant or banker lost his credit, and was unable + to pay his debts, his bench was broken. + +They pressed on to Francisco's board, obtained his measure, found that +it held something more than a quarter above the quantity that could be +contained in Piedro's. The cries of the enraged populace were now most +clamorous. They hung the just and the unjust measures upon high poles; +and, forming themselves into a formidable phalanx, they proceeded +towards Piedro's well-known yellow-lettered beard, exclaiming, as they +went along, 'Common cause! common cause! The little Neapolitan merchants +will have no knaves amongst them! Break his bench! break his bench! He +is a bankrupt in honesty.' + +Piedro saw the mob, heard the indignant clamour, and terrified at the +approach of numbers, he fled with the utmost precipitation, having +scarcely time to pack up half his sugar-plums. There was a prodigious +number, more than would have filled many honest measures, scattered upon +the ground and trampled under foot by the crowd. Piedro's bench was +broken, and the public vengeance wreaked itself also upon his +treacherous painted board. It was, after being much disfigured by +various inscriptions expressive of the universal contempt for Piedro, +hung up in a conspicuous part of the market-place; and the false measure +was fastened like a cap upon one of its corners. Piedro could never more +show his face in this market, and all hopes of friendship--all hopes of +partnership with Francisco--were for ever at an end. + +If rogues would calculate, they would cease to be rogues; for they would +certainly discover that it is most for their interest to be +honest--setting aside the pleasure of being esteemed and beloved, of +having a safe conscience, with perfect freedom from all the various +embarrassments and terror to which knaves are subject. Is it not clear +that our crafty hero would have gained rather more by a partnership with +Francisco, and by a fair character, than he could possibly obtain by +fraudulent dealing in comfits? + +When the mob had dispersed, after satisfying themselves with executing +summary justice upon Piedro's bench and board, Francisco found a +carpenter's rule lying upon the ground near Piedro's broken bench, which +he recollected to have seen in the hands of Carlo. He examined it +carefully, and he found Carlo's name written upon it, and the name of +the street where he lived; and though it was considerably out of his +way, he set out immediately to restore the rule, which was a very +handsome one, to its rightful owner. After a hot walk through several +streets, he overtook Carlo, who had just reached the door of his own +house. Carlo was particularly obliged to him, he said, for restoring +this rule to him, as it was a present from the master of a vessel, who +employed his father to do carpenter's work for him. 'One should not +praise one's self, they say,' continued Carlo; 'but I long so much to +gain your good opinion, that I must tell you the whole history of the +rule you have restored. It was given to me for having measured the work +and made up the bill of a whole pleasure-boat myself. You may guess I +should have been sorry enough to have lost it. Thank you for its being +once more in my careless hands, and tell me, I beg, whenever I can do +you any service. By-the-bye, I can make up for you a fruit stall. I'll +do it to-morrow, and it shall be the admiration of the market. Is there +anything else you could think of for me?' + +'Why, yes,' said Francisco; 'since you are so good-natured, perhaps +you'd be kind enough to tell me the meaning of some of those lines and +figures that I see upon your rule. I have a great curiosity to know +their use.' + +'That I'll explain to you with pleasure, as far as I know them myself; +but when I'm at fault, my father, who is cleverer than I am, and +understands trigonometry, can help us out.' + +'Trigonometry!' repeated Francisco, not a little alarmed at the +high-sounding word; 'that's what I certainly shall never understand.' + +'Oh, never fear,' replied Carlo, laughing. 'I looked just as you do +now--I felt just as you do now--all in a fright and a puzzle, when I +first heard of angles and sines, and co-sines, and arcs and centres, and +complements and tangents.' + +'Oh, mercy! mercy!' interrupted Francisco, whilst Carlo laughed, with a +benevolent sense of superiority. + +'Why,' said Carlo, 'you'll find all these things are nothing when you +are used to them. But I cannot explain my rule to you here broiling in +the sun. Besides, it will not be the work of a day, I promise you; but +come and see us at your leisure hours, and we'll study it together. I +have a great notion we shall become friends; and, to begin, step in with +me now,' said Carlo, 'and eat a little macaroni with us. I know it is +ready by this time. Besides, you'll see my father, and he'll show you +plenty of rules and compasses, as you like such things; and then I'll go +home with you in the cool of the evening, and you shall show me your +melons and vines, and teach me, in time, something of gardening. Oh, I +see we must be good friends, just made for each other; so come in--no +ceremony.' + +Carlo was not mistaken in his predictions; he and Francisco became very +good friends, spent all their leisure hours together, either in Carlo's +workshop or in Francisco's vineyard, and they mutually improved each +other. Francisco, before he saw his friend's rule, knew but just enough +of arithmetic to calculate in his head the price of the fruit which he +sold in the market; but with Carlo's assistance, and the ambition to +understand the tables and figures upon the wonderful rule, he set to +work in earnest, and in due time satisfied both himself and his master. + +'Who knows but these things that I am learning now may be of some use to +me before I die?' said Francisco, as he was sitting one morning with his +tutor, the carpenter. + +'To be sure it will,' said the carpenter, putting down his compasses, +with which he was drawing a circle. 'Arithmetic is a most useful, and I +was going to say necessary thing to be known by men in all stations; and +a little trigonometry does no harm. In short, my maxim is, that no +knowledge comes amiss; for a man's head is of as much use to him as his +hands; and even more so. + + 'A word to the wise will always suffice. + +'Besides, to say nothing of making a fortune, is not there a great +pleasure in being something of a scholar, and being able to pass one's +time with one's book, and one's compasses and pencil? Safe companions +these for young and old. No one gets into mischief that has pleasant +things to think of and to do when alone; and I know, for my part, that +trigonometry is----' + +Here the carpenter, just as he was going to pronounce a fresh panegyric +upon his favourite trigonometry, was interrupted by the sudden entrance +of his little daughter Rosetta, all in tears: a very unusual spectacle, +for, taking the year round, she shed fewer tears than any child of her +age in Naples. + +'Why, my dear good-humoured little Rosetta, what has happened? Why these +large tears?' said her brother Carlo, and he went up to her, and wiped +them from her cheeks. 'And these that are going over the bridge of the +nose so fast? I must stop these tears too,' said Carlo. + +Rosetta, at this speech, burst out laughing, and said that she did not +know till then that she had any bridge on her nose. + +'And were these shells the cause of the tears?' said her brother, +looking at a heap of shells which she held before her in her frock. + +'Yes, partly,' said Rosetta. 'It was partly my own fault, but not all. +You know I went out to the carpenters' yard, near the arsenal, where all +the children are picking up chips and sticks so busily; and I was as +busy as any of them, because I wanted to fill my basket soon; and then I +thought I should sell my basketful directly in the little wood-market. +As soon as I had filled my basket, and made up my faggot (which was not +done, brother, till I was almost baked by the sun, for I was forced to +wait by the carpenters for the bits of wood to make up my faggot)--I +say, when it was all ready, and my basket full, I left it all together +in the yard.' 'That was not wise to leave it,' said Carlo. 'But I only +left it for a few minutes, brother, and I could not think anybody would +be so dishonest as to take it whilst I was away. I only just ran to tell +a boy, who had picked up all these beautiful shells upon the sea-shore, +and who wanted to sell them, that I should be glad to buy them from him, +if he would only be so good as to keep them for me, for an hour or so, +till I had carried my wood to market, and till I had sold it, and so had +money to pay him for the shells.' + +'Your heart was set mightily on these shells, Rosetta.' + +'Yes; for I thought you and Francisco, brother, would like to have them +for your nice grotto that you are making at Resina. That was the reason +I was in such a hurry to get them. The boy who had them to sell was very +good-natured; he poured them into my lap, and said I had such an honest +face he would trust me, and that as he was in a great hurry, he could +not wait an hour whilst I sold my wood; but that he was sure I would pay +him in the evening, and he told me that he would call here this evening +for the money. But now what shall I do, Carlo? I shall have no money to +give him: I must give him back his shells, and that's a great pity.' + +'But how happened it that you did not sell your wood?' + +'Oh, I forgot; did not I tell you that? When I went back for my basket, +do you know it was empty, quite empty, not a chip left? Some dishonest +person had carried it all off. Had not I reason to cry now, Carlo?' + +'I'll go this minute into the wood-market, and see if I can find your +faggot. Won't that be better than crying?' said her brother. 'Should you +know any one of your pieces of wood again if you were to see them?' + +'Yes, one of them, I am sure, I should know again,' said Rosetta. 'It +had a notch at one end of it, where one of the carpenters cut it off +from another piece of wood for me.' + +'And is this piece of wood from which the carpenter cut it still to be +seen?' said Francisco. 'Yes, it is in the yard; but I cannot bring it to +you, for it is very heavy.' + +'We can go to it,' said Francisco, 'and I hope we shall recover your +basketful.' + +Carlo and his friend went with Rosetta immediately to the yard, near the +arsenal, saw the notched piece of wood, and then proceeded to the little +wood-market, and searched every heap that lay before the little factors; +but no notched bit was to be found, and Rosetta declared that she did +not see one stick that looked at all like any of hers. + +On their part, her companions eagerly untied their faggots to show them +to her, and exclaimed, 'that they were incapable of taking what did not +belong to them; that of all persons they should never have thought of +taking anything from the good-natured little Rosetta, who was always +ready to give to others, and to help them in making up their loads.' + +Despairing of discovering the thief, Francisco and Carlo left the +market. As they were returning home, they were met by the English +servant Arthur, who asked Francisco where he had been, and where he was +going. + +As soon as he heard of Rosetta's lost faggot, and of the bit of wood, +notched at one end, of which Rosetta drew the shape with a piece of +chalk which her brother had lent her, Arthur exclaimed, 'I have seen +such a bit of wood as this within this quarter of an hour; but I cannot +recollect where. Stay! this was at the baker's, I think, where I went +for some rolls for my master. It was lying beside his oven.' + +To the baker's they all went as fast as possible, and they got there but +just in time. The baker had in his hand the bit of wood with which he +was that instant going to feed his oven. + +'Stop, good Mr. Baker!' cried Rosetta, who ran into the baker's shop +first; and as he heard 'Stop! stop!' re-echoed by many voices, the baker +stopped; and turning to Francisco, Carlo, and Arthur, begged, with a +countenance of some surprise, to know why they had desired him to stop. + +The case was easily explained, and the baker told them that he did not +buy any wood in the little market that morning; that this faggot he had +purchased between the hours of twelve and one from a lad about +Francisco's height, whom he met near the yard of the arsenal. + +'This is my bit of wood, I am sure; I know it by this notch,' said +Rosetta. + +'Well,' said the baker, 'if you will stay here a few minutes, you will +probably see the lad who sold it to me. He desired to be paid in bread, +and my bread was not quite baked when he was here. I bid him call again +in an hour, and I fancy he will be pretty punctual, for he looked +desperately hungry.' + +The baker had scarcely finished speaking when Francisco, who was +standing watching at the door, exclaimed, 'Here comes Piedro! I hope he +is not the boy who sold you the wood, Mr. Baker?' 'He is the boy, +though,' replied the baker, and Piedro, who now entered the shop, +started at the sight of Carlo and Francisco, whom he had never seen +since the day of disgrace in the fruit-market. + +'Your servant, Signor Piedro,' said Carlo; 'I have the honour to tell +you that this piece of wood, and all that you took out of the basket, +which you found in the yard of the arsenal, belongs to my sister.' 'Yes, +indeed,' cried Rosetta. + +Piedro being very certain that nobody saw him when he emptied Rosetta's +basket, and imagining that he was suspected only upon the bare assertion +of a child like Rosetta, who might be baffled and frightened out of her +story, boldly denied the charge, and defied any one to prove him guilty. + +'He has a right to be heard in his own defence,' said Arthur, with the +cool justice of an Englishman; and he stopped the angry Carlo's arm, who +was going up to the culprit with all the Italian vehemence of oratory +and gesture. Arthur went on to say something in bad Italian about the +excellence of an English trial by jury, which Carlo was too much enraged +to hear, but to which Francisco paid attention, and turning to Piedro, +he asked him if he was willing to be judged by twelve of his equals. +'With all my heart,' said Piedro, still maintaining an unmoved +countenance, and they returned immediately to the little wood-market. On +their way, they had passed through the fruit-market, and crowds of those +who were well acquainted with Piedro's former transactions followed, to +hear the event of the present trial. + +Arthur could not, especially as he spoke wretched Italian, make the +eager little merchants understand the nature and advantages of an +English trial by jury. They preferred their own summary mode of +proceeding. Francisco, in whose integrity all had perfect confidence, +was chosen with unanimous shouts for the judge; but he declined the +office, and another was appointed. He was raised upon a bench, and the +guilty but insolent-looking Piedro, and the ingenuous, modest Rosetta +stood before him. She made her complaint in a very artless manner; and +Piedro, with ingenuity, which in a better cause would have deserved +admiration, spoke volubly and craftily in his own defence. But all that +he could say could not alter facts. The judge compared the notched bit +of wood found at the baker's with a piece from which it was cut, which +he went to see in the yard of the arsenal. It was found to fit exactly. +The judge then found it impossible to restrain the loud indignation of +all the spectators. The prisoner was sentenced never more to sell wood +in the market; and the moment sentence was pronounced, Piedro was hissed +and hooted out of the market-place. Thus a third time he deprived +himself of the means of earning his bread. + +We shall not dwell upon all his petty methods of cheating in the trades +he next attempted. He handed lemonade about in a part of Naples where he +was not known, but he lost his customers by putting too much water and +too little lemon into this beverage. He then took to the waters from the +sulphurous springs, and served them about to foreigners; but one day, as +he was trying to jostle a competitor from the coach door, he slipped his +foot and broke his glasses. They had been borrowed from an old woman who +hired out glasses to the boys who sold lemonade. Piedro knew that it was +the custom to pay, of course, for all that was broken; but this he was +not inclined to do. He had a few shillings in his pocket, and thought +that it would be very clever to defraud this poor woman of her right, +and to spend his shillings upon what he valued much more than he did his +good name--macaroni. The shillings were soon gone. + +We shall now for the present leave Piedro to his follies and his fate; +or, to speak more properly, to his follies and their inevitable +consequences. + +Francisco was all this time acquiring knowledge from his new friends, +without neglecting his own or his father's business. He contrived, +during the course of autumn and winter, to make himself a tolerable +arithmetician. Carlo's father could draw plans in architecture neatly; +and, pleased with the eagerness Francisco showed to receive instruction, +he willingly put a pencil and compasses into his hand, and taught him +all he knew himself. Francisco had great perseverance, and, by repeated +trials, he at length succeeded in copying exactly all the plans which +his master lent him. His copies, in time, surpassed the originals, and +Carlo exclaimed, with astonishment: 'Why, Francisco, what an astonishing +_genius_ you have for drawing!--Absolutely you draw plans better than my +father!' + +[Illustration: _Piedro was hissed and hooted out of the market-place._] + +'As to genius,' said Francisco, honestly, 'I have none. All that I have +done has been done by hard labour. I don't know how other people do +things; but I am sure that I never have been able to get anything done +well but by patience. Don't you remember, Carlo, how you and even +Rosetta laughed at me the first time your father put a pencil into my +awkward, clumsy hands?' + +'Because,' said Carlo, laughing again at the recollection, 'you held +your pencil so drolly; and when you were to cut it, you cut it just as +if you were using a pruning-knife to your vines; but now it is your turn +to laugh, for you surpass us all. And the times are changed since I set +about to explain this rule of mine to you.' + +'Ay, that rule,' said Francisco--'how much I owe to it! Some great +people, when they lose any of their fine things, cause the crier to +promise a reward of so much money to anyone who shall find and restore +their trinket. How richly have you and your father rewarded me for +returning this rule!' + +Francisco's modesty and gratitude, as they were perfectly sincere, +attached his friends to him most powerfully; but there was one person +who regretted our hero's frequent absences from his vineyard at Resina. +Not Francisco's father, for he was well satisfied his son never +neglected his business; and as to the hours spent in Naples, he had so +much confidence in Francisco, that he felt no apprehensions of his +getting into bad company. When his son had once said to him, 'I spend my +time at such a place, and in such and such a manner,' he was as well +convinced of its being so as if he had watched and seen him every +moment of the day. But it was Arthur who complained of Francisco's +absence. + +'I see, because I am an Englishman,' said he, 'you don't value my +friendship, and yet that is the very reason you ought to value it; no +friends so good as the English, be it spoken without offence to your +Italian friend, for whom you now continually leave me to dodge up and +down here in Resina, without a soul that I like to speak to, for you are +the only Italian I ever liked.' + +'You _shall_ like another, I promise you,' said Francisco. 'You must +come with me to Carlo's, and see how I spend my evenings; then complain +of me, if you can.' + +It was the utmost stretch of Arthur's complaisance to pay this visit; +but, in spite of his national prejudices and habitual reserve of temper, +he was pleased with the reception he met with from the generous Carlo +and the playful Rosetta. They showed him Francisco's drawings with +enthusiastic eagerness; and Arthur, though no great judge of drawing, +was in astonishment, and frequently repeated, 'I know a gentleman who +visits my master who would like these things. I wish I might have them +to show him.' + +'Take them, then,' said Carlo; 'I wish all Naples could see them, +provided they might be liked half as well as I like them.' + +Arthur carried off the drawings, and one day, when his master was better +than usual, and when he was at leisure, eating a dessert of Francisco's +grapes, he entered respectfully, with his little portfolio under his +arm, and begged permission to show his master a few drawings done by the +gardener's son, whose grapes he was eating. + +Though not quite so partial a judge as the enthusiastic Carlo, this +gentleman was both pleased and surprised at the sight of these drawings, +considering how short a time Francisco had applied himself to this art, +and what slight instructions he had received. Arthur was desired to +summon the young artist. Francisco's honest, open manner, joined to the +proofs he had given of his abilities, and the character Arthur gave him +for strict honesty, and constant kindness to his parents, interested Mr. +Lee, the name of this English gentleman, much in his favour. Mr. Lee was +at this time in treaty with an Italian painter, whom he wished to engage +to copy for him exactly some of the cornices, mouldings, tablets, and +antique ornaments which are to be seen amongst the ruins of the ancient +city of Herculaneum. + + We must give those of our young English readers who may not be + acquainted with the ancient city of Herculaneum some idea of it. + None can be ignorant that near Naples is the celebrated volcanic + mountain of Vesuvius;--that, from time to time, there happen violent + eruptions from this mountain; that is to say, flames and immense + clouds of smoke issue from different openings, mouths, or _craters_, + as they are called, but more especially from the summit of the + mountain, which is distinguished by the name of _the_ crater. A + rumbling, and afterwards a roaring noise is heard within, and + prodigious quantities of stones and minerals burnt into masses + (scoriae) are thrown out of the crater, sometimes to a great + distance. The hot ashes from Mount Vesuvius have often been seen + upon the roofs of the houses of Naples, from which it is six miles + distant. Streams of lava run down the sides of the mountain during + the time of an eruption, destroying everything in their way, and + overwhelm the houses and vineyards which are in the neighbourhood. + + About 1700 years ago, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Titus, + there happened a terrible eruption of Mount Vesuvius; and a large + city called Herculaneum, which was situated at about four miles' + distance from the volcano, was overwhelmed by the streams of lava + which poured into it, filled up the streets, and quickly covered + over the tops of the houses, so that the whole was no more visible. + It remained for many years buried. The lava which covered it became + in time fit for vegetation, plants grew there, a new soil was + formed, and a new town called Portici was built over the place where + Herculaneum formerly stood. The little village of Resina is also + situated near the spot. About fifty years ago, in a poor man's + garden at Resina, a hole in a well about thirty feet below the + surface of the earth was observed. Some persons had the curiosity to + enter into this hole, and, after creeping underground for some time, + they came to the foundations of houses. The peasants, inhabitants of + the village, who had probably never heard of Herculaneum, were + somewhat surprised at their discovery.[29] About the same time, in + a pit in the town of Portici, a similar passage under ground was + discovered, and, by orders of the King of Naples, workmen were + employed to dig away the earth, and clear the passages. They found, + at length, the entrance into the town, which, during the reign of + Titus, was buried under lava. It was about eighty-eight Neapolitan + palms (a palm contains near nine inches) below the top of the pit. + The workmen, as they cleared the passages, marked their way with + chalk when they came to any turning, lest they should lose + themselves. The streets branched out in many directions, and, lying + across them, the workmen often found large pieces of timber, beams, + and rafters; some broken in the fall, others entire. These beams and + rafters are burned quite black, and look like charcoal, except those + that were found in moist places, which have more the colour of + rotten wood, and which are like a soft paste, into which you might + run your hand. The walls of the houses slant, some one way, some + another, and some are upright. Several magnificent buildings of + brick, faced with marble of different colours, are partly seen, + where the workmen have cleared away the earth and lava with which + they were encrusted. Columns of red and white marble, and flights of + marble steps, are seen in different places; and out of the ruins of + the palaces some very fine statues and pictures have been dug. + Foreigners who visit Naples are very curious to see this + subterraneous city, and are desirous to carry with them into their + own country some proofs of their having examined this wonderful + place. + + [29] _Philosophical Transactions_, vol. ix. p. 440. + + +CHAPTER III + + _Tutte le gran faciende si fanno di foca cosa._ + What great events from trivial causes spring. + +Signor Camillo, the artist employed by Mr. Lee to copy some of the +antique ornaments in Herculaneum, was a liberal-minded man, perfectly +free from that mean jealousy which would repress the efforts of rising +genius. + +'Here is a lad scarcely fifteen, a poor gardener's son, who, with merely +the instructions he could obtain from a common carpenter, has learned to +draw these plans and elevations, which you see are tolerably neat. What +an advantage your instruction would be to him,' said Mr. Lee, as he +introduced Francisco to Signor Camillo. 'I am interested in this lad +from what I have learned of his good conduct. I hear he is strictly +honest, and one of the best of sons. Let us do something for him. If you +will give him some knowledge of your art, I will, as far as money can +recompense you for your loss of time, pay whatever you may think +reasonable for his instruction.' + +Signor Camillo made no difficulties; he was pleased with his pupil's +appearance, and every day he liked him better and better. In the room +where they worked together there were some large books of drawings and +plates, which Francisco saw now and then opened by his master, and which +he had a great desire to look over; but when he was left in the room by +himself he never touched them, because he had not permission. Signor +Camillo, the first day he came into his room with his pupil, said to +him, 'Here are many valuable books and drawings, young man. I trust, +from the character I have heard of you, that they will be perfectly safe +here.' + +Some weeks after Francisco had been with the painter, they had occasion +to look for the front of a temple in one of these large books. 'What! +don't you know in which book to look for it, Francisco?' cried his +master, with some impatience. 'Is it possible that you have been here so +long with these books, and that you cannot find the print I mean? Had +you half the taste I gave you credit for, you would have singled it out +from all the rest, and have it fixed in your memory.' + +'But, signor, I never saw it,' said Francisco, respectfully, 'or perhaps +I should have preferred it.' + +'That you never saw it, young man, is the very thing of which I +complain. Is a taste for the arts to be learned, think you, by looking +at the cover of a book like this? Is it possible that you never thought +of opening it?' + +'Often and often,' cried Francisco, 'have I longed to open it; but I +thought it was forbidden me, and however great my curiosity in your +absence, I have never touched them. I hoped, indeed, that the time would +come when you would have the goodness to show them to me.' + +'And so the time is come, excellent young man,' cried Camillo; 'much as +I love taste, I love integrity more. I am now sure of your having the +one, and let me see whether you have, as I believe you have, the other. +Sit you down here beside me; and we will look over these books +together.' + +The attention with which his young pupil examined everything, and the +pleasure he unaffectedly expressed in seeing these excellent prints, +sufficiently convinced his judicious master that it was not from the +want of curiosity or taste that he had never opened these tempting +volumes. His confidence in Francisco was much increased by this +circumstance, slight as it may appear. + +One day Signor Camillo came behind Francisco, as he was drawing with +much intentness, and tapping him upon the shoulder, he said to him: 'Put +up your pencils and follow me. I can depend upon your integrity; I have +pledged myself for it. Bring your note-book with you, and follow me; I +will this day show you something that will entertain you at least as +much as my large book of prints. Follow me.' + +Francisco followed, till they came to the pit near the entrance of +Herculaneum. 'I have obtained leave for you to accompany me,' said his +master, 'and you know, I suppose, that this is not a permission granted +to every one?' Paintings of great value, besides ornaments of gold and +silver, antique bracelets, rings, etc., are from time to time found +amongst these ruins, and therefore it is necessary that no person should +be admitted whose honesty cannot be depended upon. Thus, even +Francisco's talents could not have advanced him in the world, unless +they had been united to integrity. He was much delighted and astonished +by the new scene that was now opened to his view; and as, day after day, +he accompanied his master to this subterraneous city, he had leisure for +observation. He was employed, as soon as he had gratified his curiosity, +in drawing. There are niches in the walls in several places, from which +pictures have been dug, and these niches are often adorned with elegant +masks, figures and animals, which have been left by the ignorant or +careless workmen, and which are going fast to destruction. Signor +Camillo, who was copying these for his English employer, had a mind to +try his pupil's skill, and, pointing to a niche bordered with grotesque +figures, he desired him to try if he could make any hand of it. +Francisco made several trials, and at last finished such an excellent +copy, that his enthusiastic and generous master, with warm encomiums, +carried it immediately to his patron, and he had the pleasure to receive +from Mr. Lee a purse containing five guineas, as a reward and +encouragement for his pupil. + +Francisco had no sooner received this money than he hurried home to his +father and mother's cottage. His mother, some months before this time, +had taken a small dairy farm; and her son had once heard her express a +wish that she was but rich enough to purchase a remarkably fine brindled +cow, which belonged to a farmer in the neighbourhood. + +'Here, my dear mother,' cried Francisco, pouring the guineas into her +lap; 'and here,' continued he, emptying a bag, which contained about as +much more, in small Italian coins, the profits of trade-money he had +fairly earned during the two years he sold fruit amongst the little +Neapolitan merchants; 'this is all yours, dearest mother, and I hope it +will be enough to pay for the brindled cow. Nay, you must not refuse +me--I have set my heart upon the cow being milked by you this very +evening; and I'll produce my best bunches of grapes, and my father, +perhaps, will give us a melon, for I've had no time for melons this +season; and I'll step to Naples and invite--may I, mother?--my good +friends, dear Carlo and your favourite little Rosetta, and my old +drawing master, and my friend Arthur, and we'll sup with you at your +dairy.' + +The happy mother thanked her son, and the father assured him that +neither melon nor pine-apple should be spared, to make a supper worthy +of his friends. + +The brindled cow was bought, and Arthur and Carlo and Rosetta most +joyfully accepted the invitation. + +The carpenter had unluckily appointed to settle a long account that day +with one of his employers, and he could not accompany his children. It +was a delicious evening; they left Naples just as the sea-breeze, after +the heats of the day, was most refreshingly felt. The walk to Resina, +the vineyard, the dairy, and most of all, the brindled cow, were praised +by Carlo and Rosetta with all the Italian superlatives which signify, +'Most beautiful! most delightful! most charming!' Whilst the English +Arthur, with as warm a heart, was more temperate in his praise, +declaring that this was 'the most like an English summer's evening of +any he had ever felt since he came to Italy; and that, moreover, the +cream was almost as good as what he had been used to drink in Cheshire.' +The company, who were all pleased with each other, and with the +gardener's good fruit, which he produced in great abundance, did not +think of separating till late. + +It was a bright moonlight night, and Carlo asked his friend if he would +walk with them part of the way to Naples. 'Yes, all the way most +willingly,' cried Francisco, 'that I may have the pleasure of giving to +your father, with my own hands, this fine bunch of grapes, that I have +reserved for him out of my own share.' 'Add this fine pine-apple for my +share, then,' said his father, 'and a pleasant walk to you, my young +friends.' + +They proceeded gaily along, and when they reached Naples, as they passed +through the square where the little merchants held their market, +Francisco pointed to the spot where he found Carlo's rule. He never +missed an opportunity of showing his friends that he did not forget +their former kindness to him. 'That rule,' said he, 'has been the cause +of all my present happiness, and I thank you for----' + +'Oh, never mind thanking him now,' interrupted Rosetta, 'but look +yonder, and tell me what all those people are about.' She pointed to a +group of men, women, and children, who were assembled under a piazza, +listening in various attitudes of attention to a man, who was standing +upon a flight of steps, speaking in a loud voice, and with much action, +to the people who surrounded him. Francisco, Carlo, and Rosetta joined +his audience. The moon shone full upon his countenance, which was very +expressive, and which varied frequently according to the characters of +the persons whose history he was telling, and according to all the +changes of their fortune. This man was one of those who are called +Improvisatori--persons who, in Italian towns, go about reciting verses +or telling stories, which they are supposed to invent as they go on +speaking. Some of these people speak with great fluency, and collect +crowds round them in the public streets. When an Improvisatore sees the +attention of his audience fixed, and when he comes to some very +interesting part of his narrative, he dexterously drops his hat upon the +ground, and pauses till his auditors have paid tribute to his eloquence. +When he thinks the hat sufficiently full, he takes it up again, and +proceeds with his story. The hat was dropped just as Francisco and his +two friends came under the piazza. The orator had finished one story, +and was going to commence another. He fixed his eyes upon Francisco, +then glanced at Carlo and Rosetta, and after a moment's consideration he +began a story which bore some resemblance to one that our young English +readers may, perhaps, know by the name of 'Cornaro, or the Grateful +Turk.' + +Francisco was deeply interested in this narrative, and when the hat was +dropped, he eagerly threw in his contribution. At the end of the story, +when the speaker's voice stopped, there was a momentary silence, which +was broken by the orator himself, who exclaimed, as he took up the hat +which lay at his feet, 'My friends, here is some mistake! this is not my +hat; it has been changed whilst I was taken up with my story. Pray, +gentlemen, find my hat amongst you; it was a remarkably good one, a +present from a nobleman for an epigram I made. I would not lose my hat +for twice its value. It has my name written withinside of it, Dominicho, +Improvisatore. Pray, gentlemen, examine your hats.' + +Everybody present examined their hats, and showed them to Dominicho, but +his was not amongst them. No one had left the company; the piazza was +cleared, and searched in vain. 'The hat has vanished by magic.' said +Dominicho. 'Yes, and by the same magic a statue moves,' cried Carlo, +pointing to a figure standing in a niche, which had hitherto escaped +observation. The face was so much in the shade, that Carlo did not at +first perceive that the statue was Piedro. Piedro, when he saw himself +discovered, burst into a loud laugh, and throwing down Dominicho's hat, +which he held in his hand behind him, cried, 'A pretty set of novices! +Most excellent players at hide-and-seek you would make.' + +Whether Piedro really meant to have carried off the poor man's hat, or +whether he was, as he said, merely in jest, we leave it to those who +know his general character to decide. + +Carlo shook his head. 'Still at your old tricks, Piedro,' said he. +'Remember the old proverb: No fox so cunning but he comes to the +furrier's at last.'[30] + + [30] Tutte le volpi si trovano in pellicera. + +'I defy the furrier and you too,' replied Piedro, taking up his own +ragged hat. 'I have no need to steal hats; I can afford to buy better +than you'll have upon your head. Francisco, a word with you, if you have +done crying at the pitiful story you have been listening to so +attentively.' + +'And what would you say to me?' said Francisco, following him a few +steps. 'Do not detain me long, because my friends will wait for me.' + +'If they are friends, they can wait,' said Piedro. 'You need not be +ashamed of being seen in my company now, I can tell you; for I am, as I +always told you I should be, the richest man of the two.' + +'Rich! you rich?' cried Francisco. 'Well, then, it was impossible you +could mean to trick that poor man out of his good hat.' + +'Impossible!' said Piedro. Francisco did not consider that those who +have habits of pilfering continue to practise them often, when the +poverty which first tempted them to dishonesty ceases. 'Impossible! You +stare when I tell you I am rich; but the thing is so. Moreover, I am +well with my father at home. I have friends in Naples, and I call myself +Piedro the Lucky. Look you here,' said he, producing an old gold coin. +'This does not smell of fish, does it? My father is no longer a +fisherman, nor I either. Neither do I sell sugar-plums to children; nor +do I slave myself in a vineyard, like some folks; but fortune, when I +least expected it, has stood my friend. I have many pieces of gold like +this. Digging in my father's garden, it was my luck to come to an old +Roman vessel full of gold. I have this day agreed for a house in Naples +for my father. We shall live, whilst we can afford it, like great folks, +you will see; and I shall enjoy the envy that will be felt by some of my +old friends, the little Neapolitan merchants, who will change their note +when they see my change of fortune. What say you to all this, Francisco +the Honest?' + +'That I wish you joy of your prosperity, and hope you may enjoy it long +and well.' + +'Well, no doubt of that. Every one who has it enjoys it _well_. He +always dances well to whom fortune pipes.'[31] + + [31] Assai ben balla a chi fortuna suona. + +'Yes, no longer pipe, no longer dance,' replied Francisco; and here they +parted; for Piedro walked away abruptly, much mortified to perceive that +his prosperity did not excite much envy, or command any additional +respect from Francisco. + +'I would rather,' said Francisco, when he returned to Carlo and Rosetta, +who waited for him under the portico, when he left them--'I would rather +have such good friends as you, Carlo and Arthur, and some more I could +name, and, besides that, have a clear conscience, and work honestly for +my bread, than be as lucky as Piedro. Do you know he has found a +treasure, he says, in his father's garden--a vase full of gold? He +showed me one of the gold pieces.' + +'Much good may they do him. I hope he came honestly by them,' said +Carlo; 'but ever since the affair of the double measure, I suspect +double-dealing always from him. It is not our affair, however. Let him +make himself happy his way, and we ours. + + 'He that would live in peace and rest, + Must hear, and see, and say the best.'[32] + +All Piedro's neighbours did not follow this peaceable maxim; for when he +and his father began to circulate the story of the treasure found in the +garden, the village of Resina did not give them implicit faith. People +nodded and whispered, and shrugged their shoulders; then crossed +themselves and declared that they would not, for all the riches of +Naples, change places with either Piedro or his father. Regardless, or +pretending to be regardless, of these suspicions, Piedro and his father +persisted in their assertions. The fishing-nets were sold, and +everything in their cottage was disposed of; they left Resina, went to +live at Naples, and, after a few weeks, the matter began to be almost +forgotten in the village. + + [32] Odi, vedi, taci, se vuoi viver in pace. + +The old gardener, Francisco's father, was one of those who endeavoured +to _think the best_; and all that he said upon the subject was, that he +would not exchange Francisco the Honest for Piedro the Lucky; that one +can't judge of the day till one sees the evening as well as the +morning.[33] + + [33] La vita il fine,--e di loda la sera. Compute the morn and evening + of their day.--POPE. + +Not to leave our readers longer in suspense, we must inform them that +the peasants of Resina were right in their suspicions. Piedro had never +found any treasure in his father's garden, but he came by his gold in +the following manner:-- + +After he was banished from the little wood-market for stealing Rosetta's +basketful of wood, after he had cheated the poor woman, who let glasses +out to hire, out of the value of the glasses which he broke, and, in +short, after he had entirely lost his credit with all who knew him, he +roamed about the streets of Naples, reckless of what became of him. + +He found the truth of the proverb, 'that credit lost is like a Venice +glass broken--it can't be mended again.' The few shillings which he had +in his pocket supplied him with food for a few days. At last he was glad +to be employed by one of the peasants who came to Naples to load their +asses with manure out of the streets. They often follow very early in +the morning, or during the night-time, the trace of carriages that are +gone, or that are returning from the opera; and Piedro was one night at +this work, when the horses of a nobleman's carriage took fright at the +sudden blaze of some fireworks. The carriage was overturned near him; a +lady was taken out of it, and was hurried by her attendants into a shop, +where she stayed till her carriage was set to rights. She was too much +alarmed for the first ten minutes after her accident to think of +anything; but after some time, she perceived that she had lost a +valuable diamond cross, which she had worn that night at the opera. She +was uncertain where she had dropped it; the shop, the carriage, the +street were searched for it in vain. + +Piedro saw it fall as the lady was lifted out of the carriage, seized +upon it, and carried it off. Ignorant as he was of the full value of +what he had stolen, he knew not how to satisfy himself as to this point, +without trusting some one with the secret. + +After some hesitation, he determined to apply to a Jew, who, as it was +whispered, was ready to buy everything that was offered to him for sale, +without making any _troublesome_ inquiries. It was late; he waited till +the streets were cleared, and then knocked softly at the back door of +the Jew's house. The person who opened the door for Piedro was his own +father. Piedro started back; but his father had fast hold of him. + +'What brings you here?' said the father, in a low voice, a voice which +expressed fear and rage mixed. + +'Only to ask my way--my shortest way,' stammered Piedro. + +'No equivocations! Tell me what brings you here at this time of the +night? I _will_ know.' + +Piedro, who felt himself in his father's grasp, and who knew that his +father would certainly search him, to find out what he had brought to +sell, thought it most prudent to produce the diamond cross. His father +could but just see its lustre by the light of a dim lamp which hung over +their heads in the gloomy passage in which they stood. + +'You would have been duped, if you had gone to sell this to the Jew. It +is well it has fallen into my hands. How came you by it?' Piedro +answered that he had found it in the street. 'Go your ways home, then,' +said the father; 'it is safe with me. Concern yourself no more about +it.' + +Piedro was not inclined thus to relinquish his booty, and he now thought +proper to vary in his account of the manner in which he found the cross. +He now confessed that it had dropped from the dress of a lady, whose +carriage was overturned as she was coming home from the opera, and he +concluded by saying that, if his father took his prize from him without +giving him his share of the profits, he would go directly to the shop +where the lady stopped whilst her servants were raising the carriage, +and that he would give notice of his having found the cross. + +Piedro's father saw that his _smart_ son, though scarcely sixteen years +of age, was a match for him in villainy. He promised him that he should +have half of whatever the Jew would give for the diamonds, and Piedro +insisted upon being present at the transaction. + +[Illustration: _The Jew, who was a man old in all the arts of villainy, +contrived to cheat both his associates._] + +We do not wish to lay open to our young readers scenes of iniquity. It +is sufficient to say that the Jew, who was a man old in all the arts of +villainy, contrived to cheat both his associates, and obtained the +diamond cross for less than half its value. The matter was managed so +that the transaction remained undiscovered. The lady who lost the cross, +after making fruitless inquiries, gave up the search, and Piedro and his +father rejoiced in the success of their manoeuvres. + +It is said that 'Ill-gotten wealth is quickly spent';[34] and so it +proved in this instance. Both father and son lived a riotous life as +long as their money lasted, and it did not last many months. What his +bad education began, bad company finished, and Piedro's mind was +completely ruined by the associates with whom he became connected during +what he called his _prosperity_. When his money was at an end, these +unprincipled friends began to look cold upon him, and at last plainly +told him--'If you mean to _live with us_, you must _live as we do_.' +They lived by robbery. + + [34] Vien presto consumato l' ingiustamente acquistato. + +Piedro, though familiarised to the idea of fraud, was shocked at the +thought of becoming a robber by profession. How difficult it is to stop +in the career of vice! Whether Piedro had power to stop, or whether he +was hurried on by his associates, we shall, for the present, leave in +doubt. + + +CHAPTER IV + +We turn with pleasure from Piedro the Cunning to Francisco the Honest. +Francisco continued the happy and useful course of his life. By his +unremitting perseverance he improved himself rapidly under the +instructions of his master and friend, Signor Camillo; his friend, we +say, for the fair and open character of Francisco won, or rather earned, +the friendship of this benevolent artist. The English gentleman seemed +to take a pride in our hero's success and good conduct. He was not one +of those patrons who think that they have done enough when they have +given five guineas. His servant Arthur always considered every generous +action of his master's as his own, and was particularly pleased whenever +this generosity was directed towards Francisco. + +As for Carlo and the little Rosetta, they were the companions of all the +pleasant walks which Francisco used to take in the cool of the evening, +after he had been shut up all day at his work. And the old carpenter, +delighted with the gratitude of his pupil, frequently repeated--'That he +was proud to have given the first instructions to such a _genius_; and +that he had always prophesied Francisco would be a _great_ man.' 'And a +good man, papa,' said Rosetta; 'for though he has grown so great, and +though he goes into palaces now, to say nothing of that place +underground, where he has leave to go, yet, notwithstanding all this, he +never forgets my brother Carlo and you.' + +'That's the way to have good friends,' said the carpenter. 'And I like +his way; he does more than he says. Facts are masculine, and words are +feminine.'[35] + + [35] I fatti sono maschii, le parole femmine. + +These good friends seemed to make Francisco happier than Piedro could be +made by his stolen diamonds. + +One morning, Francisco was sent to finish a sketch of the front of an +ancient temple, amongst the ruins of Herculaneum. He had just reached +the pit, and the men were about to let him down with cords, in the usual +manner, when his attention was caught by the shrill sound of a scolding +woman's voice. He looked, and saw at some paces distant this female +fury, who stood guarding the windlass of a well, to which, with +threatening gestures and most voluble menaces, she forbade all access. +The peasants--men, women, and children, who had come with their pitchers +to draw water at this well--were held at bay by the enraged female. Not +one dared to be the first to advance; whilst she grasped with one hand +the handle of the windlass, and, with the other tanned muscular arm +extended, governed the populace, bidding them remember that she was +padrona, or mistress of the well. They retired, in hopes of finding a +more gentle padrona at some other well in the neighbourhood; and the +fury, when they were out of sight, divided the long black hair which +hung over her face, and, turning to one of the spectators, appealed to +them in a sober voice, and asked if she was not right in what she had +done. 'I, that am padrona of the well,' said she, addressing herself to +Francisco, who, with great attention, was contemplating her with the eye +of a painter--'I, that am padrona of the well, must in times of +scarcity do strict justice, and preserve for ourselves alone the water +of our well. There is scarcely enough even for ourselves. I have been +obliged to make my husband lengthen the ropes every day for this week +past. If things go on at this rate, there will soon be not one drop of +water left in my well.' + +'Nor in any of the wells of the neighbourhood,' added one of the +workmen, who was standing by; and he mentioned several in which the +water had lately suddenly decreased; and a miller affirmed that his mill +had stopped for want of water. + +Francisco was struck by these remarks. They brought to his recollection +similar facts, which he had often heard his father mention in his +childhood, as having been observed previous to the last eruption of +Mount Vesuvius.[36] He had also heard from his father, in his childhood, +that it is better to trust to prudence than to fortune; and therefore, +though the peasants and workmen, to whom he mentioned his fears, +laughed, and said, 'That as the burning mountain had been favourable to +them for so many years, they would trust to it and St. Januarius one day +longer,' yet Francisco immediately gave up all thoughts of spending this +day amidst the ruins of Herculaneum. After having inquired sufficiently, +after having seen several wells, in which the water had evidently +decreased, and after having seen the mill-wheels that were standing +still for want of their usual supply, he hastened home to his father and +mother, reported what he had heard and seen, and begged of them to +remove, and to take what things of value they could to some distance +from the dangerous spot where they now resided. + + [36] _Phil. Trans._ vol. ix. + +Some of the inhabitants of Resina, whom he questioned, declared that +they had heard strange rumbling noises underground; and a peasant and +his son, who had been at work the preceding day in a vineyard, a little +above the village, related that they had seen a sudden puff of smoke +come out of the earth, close to them; and that they had, at the same +time, heard a noise like the going off of a pistol.[37] + + [37] These facts are mentioned in Sir William Hamilton's account of an + eruption of Mount Vesuvius.--See _Phil. Trans._ 1795, first part. + +The villagers listened with large eyes and open ears to these +relations; yet such was their habitual attachment to the spot they lived +upon, or such the security in their own good fortune, that few of them +would believe that there could be any necessity for removing. 'We'll see +what will happen to-morrow; we shall be safe here one day longer,' said +they. + +Francisco's father and mother, more prudent than the generality of their +neighbours, went to the house of a relation, at some miles' distance +from Vesuvius, and carried with them all their effects. + +In the meantime, Francisco went to the villa where his English friends +resided. The villa was in a most dangerous situation, near Torre del +Greco--a town that stands at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. He related all +the facts that he had heard to Arthur, who, not having been, like the +inhabitants of Resina, familiarised to the idea of living in the +vicinity of a burning mountain and habituated to trust in St. Januarius, +was sufficiently alarmed by Francisco's representations. He ran to his +master's apartment, and communicated all that he had just heard. The +Count de Flora and his lady, who were at this time in the house, +ridiculed the fears of Arthur, and could not be prevailed upon to remove +even as far as Naples. The lady was intent upon preparations for her +birthday, which was to be celebrated in a few days with great +magnificence at their villa; and she observed that it would be a pity to +return to town before that day, and they had everything arranged for the +festival. The prudent Englishman had not the gallantry to appear to be +convinced by these arguments, and he left the place of danger. He left +it not too soon, for the next morning exhibited a scene--a scene which +we shall not attempt to describe. + +We refer our young readers to the account of this dreadful eruption of +Mount Vesuvius, published by Sir W. Hamilton in the _Philosophical +Transactions_. It is sufficient here to say that, in the space of about +five hours, the wretched inhabitants of Torre del Greco saw their town +utterly destroyed by the streams of burning lava which poured from the +mountain. The villa of Count de Flora, with some others, which were at a +little distance from the town, escaped; but they were absolutely +surrounded by the lava. The count and countess were obliged to fly from +their house with the utmost precipitation in the night-time; and they +had not time to remove any of their furniture, their plate, clothes, or +jewels. + +A few days after the eruption, the surface of the lava became so cool +that people could walk upon it, though several feet beneath the surface +it was still exceedingly hot. Numbers of those who had been forced from +their houses now returned to the ruins to try to save whatever they +could. But these unfortunate persons frequently found their houses had +been pillaged by robbers, who, in these moments of general confusion, +enrich themselves with the spoils of their fellow-creatures. + +'Has the count abandoned his villa? and is there no one to take care of +his plate and furniture? The house will certainly be ransacked before +morning,' said the old carpenter to Francisco, who was at his house +giving him an account of their flight. Francisco immediately went to the +count's house in Naples, to warn him of his danger. The first person he +saw was Arthur, who, with a face of terror, said to him, 'Do you know +what has happened? It is all over with Resina!' 'All over with Resina! +What, has there been a fresh eruption? Has the lava reached Resina?' +'No; but it will inevitably be blown up. There,' said Arthur, pointing +to a thin figure of an Italian, who stood pale and trembling, and +looking up to heaven as he crossed himself repeatedly--'There,' said +Arthur, 'is a man who has left a parcel of his cursed rockets and +fireworks, with I don't know how much gunpowder, in the count's house, +from which we have just fled. The wind blows that way. One spark of +fire, and the whole is blown up.' + +Francisco waited not to hear more; but instantly, without explaining his +intentions to any one, set out for the count's villa, and, with a bucket +of water in his hand, crossed the beds of lava with which the house was +encompassed; when, reaching the hall where the rockets and gunpowder +were left, he plunged them into the water, and returned with them in +safety over the lava, yet warm under his feet. + +What was the surprise and joy of the poor firework-maker when he saw +Francisco return from this dangerous expedition! He could scarcely +believe his eyes, when he saw the rockets and the gunpowder all safe. + +The count, who had given up the hopes of saving his palace, was in +admiration when he heard of this instance of intrepidity, which probably +saved not only his villa, but the whole village of Resina, from +destruction. These fireworks had been prepared for the celebration of +the countess's birthday, and were forgotten in the hurry of the night on +which the inhabitants fled from Torre del Greco. + +[Illustration: _Returned in safety over the lava, yet warm under his +feet._] + +'Brave young man!' said the count to Francisco, 'I thank you, and shall +not limit my gratitude to thanks. You tell me that there is danger of my +villa being pillaged by robbers. It is from this moment your interest as +well as mine to prevent their depredations; for (trust to my liberality) +a portion of all that is saved of mine shall be yours.' + +'Bravo! bravissimo!' exclaimed one who started from a recessed window in +the hall where all this passed. 'Bravo! bravissimo!' Francisco thought +he knew the voice and the countenance of this man, who exclaimed with so +much enthusiasm. He remembered to have seen him before, but when, or +where, he could not recollect. As soon as the count left the hall, the +stranger came up to Francisco. 'Is it possible,' said he, 'that you +don't know me? It is scarcely a twelvemonth since I drew tears from your +eyes.' 'Tears from my eyes?' repeated Francisco, smiling; 'I have shed +but few tears. I have had but few misfortunes in my life.' The stranger +answered him by two extempore Italian lines, which conveyed nearly the +same idea that has been so well expressed by an English poet:-- + + To each their sufferings--all are men + Condemn'd alike to groan; + The feeling for another's woes, + Th' unfeeling for his own. + +'I know you now perfectly well,' cried Francisco; 'you are the +Improvisatore who, one fine moonlight night last summer, told us the +story of Cornaro the Turk.' + +'The same,' said the Improvisatore; 'the same, though in a better dress, +which I should not have thought would have made so much difference in +your eyes, though it makes all the difference between man and man in the +eyes of the stupid vulgar. My genius has broken through the clouds of +misfortune of late. A few happy impromptu verses I made on the Count de +Flora's fall from his horse attracted attention. The count patronises +me. I am here now to learn the fate of an ode I have just composed for +his lady's birthday. My ode was to have been set to music, and to have +been performed at his villa near Torre del Greco, if these troubles had +not intervened. Now that the mountain is quiet again, people will return +to their senses. I expect to be munificently rewarded. But perhaps I +detain you. Go; I shall not forget to celebrate the heroic action you +have performed this day. I still amuse myself amongst the populace in my +tattered garb late in the evenings, and I shall sound your praises +through Naples in a poem I mean to recite on the late eruption of Mount +Vesuvius. Adieu.' + +The Improvisatore was as good as his word. That evening, with more than +his usual enthusiasm, he recited his verses to a great crowd of people +in one of the public squares. Amongst the crowd were several to whom the +name of Francisco was well known, and by whom he was well beloved. These +were his young companions, who remembered him as a fruit-seller amongst +the little merchants. They rejoiced to hear his praises, and repeated +the lines with shouts of applause. + +'Let us pass. What is all this disturbance in the streets?' said a man, +pushing his way through the crowd. A lad who held by his arm stopped +suddenly on hearing the name of Francisco, which the people were +repeating with so much enthusiasm. + +'Ha! I have found at last a story that interests you more than that of +Cornaro the Turk,' cried the Improvisatore, looking in the face of the +youth who had stopped so suddenly. 'You are the young man who, last +summer, had liked to have tricked me out of my new hat. Promise me you +won't touch it now,' said he, throwing down the hat at his feet, 'or you +hear not one word I have to say. Not one word of the heroic action +performed at the villa of the Count de Flora, near Torre del Greco, this +morning, by Signor Francisco.' + +'_Signor_ Francisco!' repeated the lad with disdain. 'Well, let us hear +what you have to tell of him,' added he. 'Your hat is very safe, I +promise you; I shall not touch it. What of _Signor_ Francisco?' + +'_Signor_ Francisco I may, without impropriety, call him,' said the +Improvisatore, 'for he is likely to become rich enough to command the +title from those who might not otherwise respect his merit.' + +'Likely to become rich! how?' said the lad, whom our readers have +probably before this time discovered to be Piedro. 'How, pray, is he +likely to become rich enough to be a signor?' + +'The Count de Flora has promised him a liberal portion of all the fine +furniture, plate, and jewels that can be saved from his villa at Torre +del Greco. Francisco is gone down hither now with some of the count's +domestics to protect the valuable goods against those villainous +plunderers, who robbed their fellow-creatures of what even the flames of +Vesuvius would spare.' + +'Come, we have had enough of this stuff,' cried the man whose arm Piedro +held. 'Come away,' and he hurried forwards. + +This man was one of the villains against whom the honest orator +expressed such indignation. He was one of those with whom Piedro got +acquainted during the time that he was living extravagantly upon the +money he gained by the sale of the stolen diamond cross. That robbery +was not discovered; and his _success_, as he called it, hardened him in +guilt. He was both unwilling and unable to withdraw himself from the bad +company with whom his ill-gotten wealth connected him. He did not +consider that bad company leads to the gallows.[38] + + [38] La mala compagnia e quella che mena uomini a la forca. + +The universal confusion which followed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius +was to these villains a time of rejoicing. No sooner did Piedro's +companion hear of the rich furniture, plate, etc., which the imprudent +orator had described as belonging to the Count de Flora's villa, than he +longed to make himself master of the whole. + +'It is a pity,' said Piedro, 'that the count has sent Francisco with his +servants down to guard it.' 'And who is this Francisco of whom you seem +to stand in so much awe?' 'A boy, a young lad only, of about my own age; +but I know him to be sturdily honest. The servants we might corrupt; but +even the old proverb of "Angle with a silver hook,"[39] won't hold good +with him.' + + [39] Pescar col hamo d' argento. + +'And if he cannot be won by fair means, he must be conquered by foul,' +said the desperate villain; 'but if we offer him rather more than the +count has already promised for his share of the booty, of course he +will consult at once his safety and his interest.' + +'No,' said Piedro; 'that is not his nature. I know him from a child, and +we'd better think of some other house for to-night's business.' + +'None other; none but this,' cried his companion, with an oath. 'My mind +is determined upon this, and you must obey your leader: recollect the +fate of him who failed me yesterday.' + +The person to whom he alluded was one of the gang of robbers who had +been assassinated by his companions for hesitating to commit some crime +suggested by their leader. No tyranny is so dreadful as that which is +exercised by villains over their young accomplices, who become their +slaves. Piedro, who was of a cowardly nature, trembled at the +threatening countenance of his captain, and promised submission. + +In the course of the morning, inquiries were made secretly amongst the +count's servants; and the two men who were engaged to sit up at the +villa that night along with Francisco were bribed to second the views of +this gang of thieves. It was agreed that about midnight the robbers +should be let into the house; that Francisco should be tied hand and +foot, whilst they carried off their booty. 'He is a stubborn chap, +though so young, I understand,' said the captain of the robbers to his +men; 'but we carry poniards, and know how to use them. Piedro, you look +pale. You don't require to be reminded of what I said to you when we +were alone just now?' + +Piedro's voice failed, and some of his comrades observed that he was +young and new to the business. The captain, who, from being his +pretended friend during his wealthy days, had of late become his tyrant, +cast a stern look at Piedro, and bid him be sure to be at the old Jew's, +which was the place of meeting, in the dusk of the evening. After saying +this he departed. + +Piedro, when he was alone, tried to collect his thoughts--all his +thoughts were full of horror. 'Where am I?' said he to himself; 'what am +I about? Did I understand rightly what he said about poniards? +Francisco; oh, Francisco! Excellent, kind, generous Francisco! Yes, I +recollect your look when you held the bunch of grapes to my lips, as I +sat by the sea-shore deserted by all the world; and now, what friends +have I? Robbers and----' The word _murderers_ he could not utter. He +again recollected what had been said about poniards, and the longer his +mind fixed upon the words, and the look that accompanied them, the more +he was shocked. He could not doubt that it was the serious intention of +his accomplices to murder Francisco, if he should make any resistance. + +Piedro had at this moment no friend in the world to whom he could apply +for advice or assistance. His wretched father died some weeks before +this time, in a fit of intoxication. Piedro walked up and down the +street, scarcely capable of thinking, much less of coming to any +rational resolution. + +The hours passed away, the shadows of the houses lengthened under his +footsteps, the evening came on, and when it grew dusk, after hesitating +in great agony of mind for some time, his fear of the robbers' vengeance +prevailed over every other feeling, and he went at the appointed hour to +the place of meeting. + +The place of meeting was at the house of that Jew to whom he, several +months before, sold the diamond cross. That cross which he thought +himself so lucky to have stolen, and to have disposed of undetected, +was, in fact, the cause of his being in his present dreadful situation. +It was at the Jew's that he connected himself with this gang of robbers, +to whom he was now become an absolute slave. + +'Oh that I dared to disobey!' said he to himself, with a deep sigh, as +he knocked softly at the back door of the Jew's house. The back door +opened into a narrow, unfrequented street, and some small rooms at this +side of the house were set apart for the reception of guests who desired +to have their business kept secret. These rooms were separated by a dark +passage from the rest of the house, and numbers of people came to the +shop in the front of the house, which looked into a creditable street, +without knowing anything more, from the ostensible appearance of the +shop, than that it was a kind of pawnbroker's, where old clothes, old +iron, and all sorts of refuse goods might be disposed of conveniently. + +At the moment Piedro knocked at the back door, the front shop was full +of customers; and the Jew's boy, whose office it was to attend to these +signals, let Piedro in, told him that none of his comrades were yet +come, and left him in a room by himself. + +He was pale and trembling, and felt a cold dew spread over him. He had a +leaden image of Saint Januarius tied round his neck, which, in the midst +of his wickedness, he superstitiously preserved as a sort of charm, and +on this he kept his eyes stupidly fixed, as he sat alone in this gloomy +place. + +He listened from time to time, but he heard no noise at the side of the +house where he was. His accomplices did not arrive, and, in a sort of +impatient terror, the attendant upon an evil conscience, he flung open +the door of his cell, and groped his way through the passage which he +knew led to the public shop. He longed to hear some noise, and to mix +with the living. The Jew, when Piedro entered the shop, was bargaining +with a poor, thin-looking man about some gunpowder. + +'I don't deny that it has been wet,' said the man, 'but since it was in +the bucket of water, it has been carefully dried. I tell you the simple +truth, that so soon after the grand eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the +people of Naples will not relish fireworks. My poor little rockets, and +even my Catherine-wheels, will have no effect. I am glad to part with +all I have in this line of business. A few days ago I had fine things in +readiness for the Countess de Flora's birthday, which was to have been +celebrated at the count's villa.' + +'Why do you fix your eyes on me, friend? What is your discourse to me?' +said Piedro, who imagined that the man fixed his eyes upon him as he +mentioned the name of the count's villa. + +'I did not know that I fixed my eyes upon you; I was thinking of my +fireworks,' said the poor man, simply. 'But now that I do look at you +and hear your voice, I recollect having had the pleasure of seeing you +before.' + +'When? where?' said Piedro. + +'A great while ago; no wonder you have forgotten me,' said the man; 'but +I can recall the night to your recollection. You were in the street with +me the night I let off that unlucky rocket which frightened the horses, +and was the cause of overturning a lady's coach. Don't you remember the +circumstance?' + +'I have a confused recollection of some such thing,' said Piedro, in +great embarrassment; and he looked suspiciously at this man, in doubt +whether he was cunning, and wanted to sound him, or whether he was so +simple as he appeared. + +'You did not, perhaps, hear, then,' continued the man 'that there was a +great search made, after the overturn, for a fine diamond cross +belonging to the lady in the carriage? That lady, though I did not know +it till lately, was the Countess de Flora.' + +'I know nothing of the matter,' interrupted Piedro, in great agitation. +His confusion was so marked that the firework-maker could not avoid +taking notice of it; and a silence of some moments ensued. The Jew, more +practised in dissimulation than Piedro, endeavoured to turn the man's +attention back to his rockets and his gunpowder--agreed to take the +gunpowder--paid for it in haste, and was, though apparently unconcerned, +eager to get rid of him. But this was not so easily done. The man's +curiosity was excited, and his suspicions of Piedro were increased every +moment by all the dark changes of his countenance. Piedro, overpowered +with the sense of guilt, surprised at the unexpected mention of the +diamond cross, and of the Count de Flora's villa, stood like one +convicted, and seemed fixed to the spot, without power of motion. + +'I want to look at the old cambric that you said you had--that would do +for making--that you could let me have cheap for artificial flowers,' +said the firework-maker to the Jew; and as he spoke, his eye from time +to time looked towards Piedro. + +Piedro felt for the leaden image of the saint, which he wore round his +neck. The string which held it cracked, and broke with the pull he gave +it. This slight circumstance affected his terrified and superstitious +mind more than all the rest. He imagined that at this moment his fate +was decided; that Saint Januarius deserted him, and that he was undone. +He precipitately followed the firework-man the instant he left the shop, +and seizing hold of his arm, whispered, 'I must speak to you.' 'Speak, +then,' said the man, astonished. 'Not here; this way,' said he, drawing +him towards the dark passage; 'what I have to say must not be overheard. +You are going to the Count de Flora's, are not you?' 'I am,' said the +man. He was going there to speak to the countess about some artificial +flowers; but Piedro thought he was going to speak to her about the +diamond cross. 'You are going to give information against me? Nay, hear +me, I confess that I purloined that diamond cross; but I can do the +count a great service, upon condition that he pardons me. His villa is +to be attacked this night by four well-armed men. They will set out five +hours hence. I am compelled, under the threat of assassination, to +accompany them; but I shall do no more. I throw myself upon the count's +mercy. Hasten to him--we have no time to lose.' + +The poor man, who heard this confession, escaped from Piedro the moment +he loosed his arm. With all possible expedition he ran to the count's +palace in Naples, and related to him all that had been said by Piedro. +Some of the count's servants, on whom he could most depend, were at a +distant part of the city attending their mistress, but the English +gentleman offered the services of his man Arthur. Arthur no sooner heard +the business, and understood that Francisco was in danger, than he armed +himself without saying one word, saddled his English horse, and was +ready to depart before any one else had finished his exclamations and +conjectures. + +'But we are not to set out yet,' said the servant; 'it is but four miles +to Torre del Greco; the sbirri (officers of justice) are summoned--they +are to go with us--we must wait for them.' + +They waited, much against Arthur's inclination, a considerable time for +these sbirri. At length they set out, and just as they reached the +villa, the flash of a pistol was seen from one of the apartments in the +house. The robbers were there. This pistol was snapped by their captain +at poor Francisco, who had bravely asserted that he would, as long as he +had life, defend the property committed to his care. The pistol missed +fire, for it was charged with some of the damaged powder which the Jew +had bought that evening from the firework-maker, and which he had sold +as excellent immediately afterwards to his favourite customers--the +robbers who met at his house. + +Arthur, as soon as he perceived the flash of the piece, pressed forward +through all the apartments, followed by the count's servants and the +officers of justice. At the sudden appearance of so many armed men, the +robbers stood dismayed. Arthur eagerly shook Francisco's hand, +congratulating him upon his safety, and did not perceive, till he had +given him several rough friendly shakes, that his arm was wounded, and +that he was pale with the loss of blood. + +'It is not much--only a slight wound,' said Francisco; 'one that I +should have escaped if I had been upon my guard; but the sight of a face +that I little expected to see in such company took from me all presence +of mind; and one of the ruffians stabbed me here in the arm, whilst I +stood in stupid astonishment.' + +'Oh! take me to prison! take me to prison--I am weary of life--I am a +wretch not fit to live!' cried Piedro, holding his hands to be tied by +the sbirri. + +The next morning Piedro was conveyed to prison; and as he passed through +the streets of Naples he was met by several of those who had known him +when he was a child. 'Ay,' said they, as he went by, 'his father +encouraged him in cheating when he was _but a child_; and see what he is +come to, now he is a man!' He was ordered to remain twelve months in +solitary confinement. His captain and his accomplices were sent to the +galleys, and the Jew was banished from Naples. + +And now, having got these villains out of the way, let us return to +honest Francisco. His wound was soon healed. Arthur was no bad surgeon, +for he let his patient get well as fast as he pleased; and Carlo and +Rosetta nursed him with so much kindness, that he was almost sorry to +find himself perfectly recovered. + +'Now that you are able to go out,' said Francisco's father to him, 'you +must come and look at my new house, my dear son.' 'Your new house, +father?' 'Yes, son, and a charming one it is, and a handsome piece of +land near it--all at a safe distance, too, from Mount Vesuvius; and can +you guess how I came by it?--it was given to me for having a good son.' + +'Yes,' cried Carlo; 'the inhabitants of Resina, and several who had +property near Torre del Greco, and whose houses and lives were saved by +your intrepidity in carrying the materials for the fireworks and the +gunpowder out of this dangerous place, went in a body to the duke, and +requested that he would mention your name and these facts to the king, +who, amongst the grants he has made to the sufferers by the late +eruption of Mount Vesuvius, has been pleased to say that he gives this +house and garden to your father, because you have saved the property and +lives of many of his subjects.' + +The value of a handsome portion of furniture, plate, etc., in the Count +de Flora's villa, was, according to the count's promise, given to him; +and this money he divided between his own family and that of the good +carpenter who first put a pencil into his hands. Arthur would not accept +of any present from him. To Mr. Lee, the English gentleman, he offered +one of his own drawings--a fruit-piece. 'I like this very well,' said +Arthur, as he examined the drawing, 'but I should like this melon better +if it was a little bruised. It is now three years ago since I was going +to buy that bruised melon from you; you showed me your honest nature +then, though you were but a boy; and I have found you the same ever +since. A good beginning makes a good ending--an honest boy will make an +honest man; and honesty is the best policy, as you have proved to all +who wanted the proof, I hope.' + +'Yes,' added Francisco's father, 'I think it is pretty plain that Piedro +the Cunning has not managed quite so well as Francisco the Honest.' + + + + +TARLTON + + Delightful task! to rear the tender thought,-- + To teach the young idea how to shoot,-- + To pour the fresh instruction o'er the mind,-- + To breathe th' enlivening spirit,--and to fix + The generous purpose in the glowing breast. + THOMSON. + + +Young Hardy was educated by Mr. Trueman, a very excellent master, at one +of our rural Sunday schools. He was honest, obedient, active, and +good-natured, hence he was esteemed by his master; and being beloved by +all his companions who were good, he did not desire to be loved by the +bad; nor was he at all vexed or ashamed when idle, mischievous, or +dishonest boys attempted to plague or ridicule him. His friend Loveit, +on the contrary, wished to be universally liked, and his highest +ambition was to be thought the best-natured boy in the school--and so he +was. He usually went by the name of _Poor Loveit_, and everybody pitied +him when he got into disgrace, which he frequently did, for, though he +had a good disposition, he was often led to do things which he knew to +be wrong merely because he could never have the courage to say '_No_,' +because he was afraid to offend the ill-natured, and could not bear to +be laughed at by fools. + +One fine autumn evening, all the boys were permitted to go out to play +in a pleasant green meadow near the school. Loveit and another boy, +called Tarlton, began to play a game at battledore and shuttlecock, and +a large party stood by to look on, for they were the best players at +battledore and shuttlecock in the school, and this was a trial of skill +between them. When they had got it up to three hundred and twenty, the +game became very interesting. The arms of the combatants grew so tired +that they could scarcely wield the battledores. The shuttlecock began to +waver in the air; now it almost touched the ground, and now, to the +astonishment of the spectators, mounted again high over their heads; yet +the strokes became feebler and feebler; and 'Now, Loveit!' 'Now, +Tarlton!' resounded on all sides. For another minute the victory was +doubtful; but at length the setting sun, shining full in Loveit's face, +so dazzled his eyes that he could no longer see the shuttlecock, and it +fell at his feet. + +After the first shout for Tarlton's triumph was over, everybody +exclaimed, 'Poor Loveit! he's the best-natured fellow in the world! What +a pity that he did not stand with his back to the sun!' + +'Now, I dare you all to play another game with me,' cried Tarlton, +vauntingly; and as he spoke, he tossed the shuttlecock up with all his +force--with so much force that it went over the hedge and dropped into a +lane which went close beside the field. 'Heyday!' said Tarlton, 'what +shall we do now?' + +The boys were strictly forbidden to go into the lane; and it was upon +their promise not to break this command, that they were allowed to play +in the adjoining field. + +No other shuttlecock was to be had, and their play was stopped. They +stood on the top of the bank, peeping over the hedge. 'I see it yonder,' +said Tarlton; 'I wish somebody would get it. One could get over the gate +at the bottom of the field, and be back again in half a minute,' added +he, looking at Loveit. 'But you know we must not go into the lane,' said +Loveit, hesitatingly. 'Pugh!' said Tarlton, 'why, now, what harm could +it do?' 'I don't know,' said Loveit, drumming upon his battledore; +'but----' 'You don't know, man! why, then, what are you afraid of, I ask +you?' Loveit coloured, went on drumming, and again, in a lower voice, +said '_he didn't know_.' But upon Tarlton's repeating, in a more +insolent tone, 'I ask you, man, what you're afraid of?' he suddenly left +off drumming, and looking round, said, 'he was not afraid of anything +that he knew of.' 'Yes, but you are,' said Hardy, coming forward. 'Am +I?' said Loveit; 'of what, pray, am I afraid?' 'Of doing wrong!' 'Afraid +_of doing wrong_!' repeated Tarlton, mimicking him, so that he made +everybody laugh. 'Now, hadn't you better say afraid of being flogged?' +'No,' said Hardy, coolly, after the laugh had somewhat subsided, 'I am +as little afraid of being flogged as you are, Tarlton; but I meant----' +'No matter what you meant; why should you interfere with your wisdom and +your meanings; nobody thought of asking _you_ to stir a step for us; but +we asked Loveit, because he's the best fellow in the world.' 'And for +that very reason you should not ask him, because you know he can't +refuse you anything.' 'Indeed, though,' cried Loveit, piqued, '_there_ +you're mistaken, for I could refuse if I chose it.' + +Hardy smiled; and Loveit, half afraid of his contempt, and half afraid +of Tarlton's ridicule, stood doubtful, and again had recourse to his +battledore, which he balanced most curiously upon his forefinger. 'Look +at him!--now do look at him!' cried Tarlton; 'did you ever in your life +see anybody look so silly!--Hardy has him quite under his thumb; he's so +mortally afraid of Parson Prig, that he dare not, for the soul of him, +turn either of his eyes from the tip of his nose; look how he squints!' +'I don't squint,' said Loveit, looking up, 'and nobody has me under his +thumb! and what Hardy said was only for fear I should get in disgrace; +he's the best friend I have.' + +Loveit spoke this with more than usual spirit, for both his heart and +his pride were touched. 'Come along, then,' said Hardy, taking him by +the arm in an affectionate manner; and he was just going, when Tarlton +called after him, 'Ay, go along with its best friend, and take care it +does not get into a scrape;--good-bye, Little Panado!' 'Whom do they +call Little Panado?' said Loveit, turning his head hastily back. 'Never +mind,' said Hardy, 'what does it signify?' 'No,' said Loveit, 'to be +sure it does not signify; but one does not like to be called Little +Panado; besides,' added he, after going a few steps farther, 'they'll +all think it so ill-natured. I had better go back, and just tell them +that I'm very sorry I can't get their shuttlecock;--do come back with +me.' 'No,' said Hardy, 'I can't go back; and you'd better not.' 'But, I +assure you, I won't stay a minute; wait for me,' added Loveit; and he +slunk back again to prove that he was not Little Panado. + +Once returned, the rest followed, of course; for to support his +character of good nature he was obliged to yield to the entreaties of +his companions, and, to show his spirit, leapt over the gate, amidst the +acclamations of the little mob:--he was quickly out of sight. + +'Here,' cried he, returning in about five minutes, quite out of breath, +'I've got the shuttlecock; and I'll tell you what I've seen,' cried he, +panting for breath. 'What?' cried everybody, eagerly. 'Why, just at the +turn of the corner, at the end of the lane'--panting. 'Well,' said +Tarlton, impatiently, 'do go on.' 'Let me just take breath first.' +'Pugh--never mind your breath.' 'Well, then, just at the turn of the +corner, at the end of the lane, as I was looking about for the +shuttlecock, I heard a great rustling somewhere near me, and so I looked +where it could come from; and I saw, in a nice little garden, on the +opposite side of the way, a boy, about as big as Tarlton, sitting in a +great tree, shaking the branches; so I called to the boy, to beg one; +but he said he could not give me one, for that they were his +grandfather's; and just at that minute, from behind a gooseberry bush, +up popped the uncle; the grandfather poked his head out of the window; +so I ran off as fast as my legs would carry me, though I heard him +bawling after me all the way.' + +'And let him bawl,' cried Tarlton; 'he shan't bawl for nothing; I'm +determined we'll have some of his fine large rosy apples before I sleep +to-night.' + +At this speech a general silence ensued; everybody kept his eyes fixed +upon Tarlton, except Loveit, who looked down, apprehensive that he +should be drawn on much farther than he intended. 'Oh, indeed!' said he +to himself, 'as Hardy told me, I had better not have come back!' + +Regardless of this confusion, Tarlton continued, 'But before I say any +more, I hope we have no spies amongst us. If there is any one of you +afraid to be flogged, let him march off this instant!' + +Loveit coloured, bit his lips, wished to go, but had not the courage to +move first. He waited to see what everybody else would do: nobody +stirred; so Loveit stood still. + +'Well, then,' cried Tarlton, giving his hand to the boy next him, then +to the next, 'your word and honour that you won't betray me; but stand +by me, and I'll stand by you.' Each boy gave his hand and his promise, +repeating, 'Stand by me, and I'll stand by you.' + +Loveit hung back till the last; and had almost twisted off the button of +the boy's coat who screened him, when Tarlton came up, holding out his +hand, 'Come, Loveit, lad, you're in for it: stand by me, and I'll stand +by you.' 'Indeed, Tarlton,' expostulated he, without looking him in the +face, 'I do wish you'd give up this scheme; I daresay all the apples are +gone by this time; I wish you would. Do, pray, give up this scheme.' +'What scheme, man? you haven't heard it yet; you may as well know your +text before you begin preaching.' + +The corners of Loveit's mouth could not refuse to smile, though in his +heart he felt not the slightest inclination to laugh. + +'Why, I don't know you, I declare I don't know you to-day,' said +Tarlton; 'you used to be the best-natured, most agreeable lad in the +world, and would do anything one asked you; but you're quite altered of +late, as we were saying just now, when you skulked away with Hardy; +come,--do, man, pluck up a little spirit, and be one of us, or you'll +make us all _hate you_.' '_Hate_ me!' repeated Loveit, with terror; 'no, +surely, you won't all _hate_ me!' and he mechanically stretched out his +hand, which Tarlton shook violently, saying, '_Ay, now, that's right._' +'_Ay, now, that's wrong!_' whispered Loveit's conscience; but his +conscience was of no use to him, for it was always overpowered by the +voice of numbers; and though he had the wish, he never had the power, to +do right. 'Poor Loveit! I knew he would not refuse us,' cried his +companions; and even Tarlton, the moment he shook hands with him, +despised him. It is certain that weakness of mind is despised both by +the good and the bad. + +The league being thus formed, Tarlton assumed all the airs of commander, +explained his schemes, and laid the plan of attack upon the poor old +man's apple-tree. It was the only one he had in the world. We shall not +dwell upon their consultation; for the amusement of contriving such +expeditions is often the chief thing which induces idle boys to engage +in them. + +There was a small window at the end of the back staircase, through +which, between nine and ten o'clock at night, Tarlton, accompanied by +Loveit and another boy, crept out. It was a moonlight night, and after +crossing the field, and climbing the gate, directed by Loveit, who now +resolved to go through the affair with spirit, they proceeded down the +lane with rash yet fearful steps. + +At a distance Loveit saw the whitewashed cottage, and the apple-tree +beside it. They quickened their pace, and with some difficulty scrambled +through the hedge which fenced the garden, though not without being +scratched and torn by the briers. Everything was silent. Yet now and +then, at every rustling of the leaves, they started, and their hearts +beat violently. Once, as Loveit was climbing the apple-tree, he thought +he heard a door in the cottage open, and earnestly begged his companions +to desist and return home. This, however, he could by no means persuade +them to do, until they had filled their pockets with apples; then, to +his great joy, they returned, crept in at the staircase window, and each +retired, as softly as possible, to his own apartment. + +Loveit slept in the room with Hardy, whom he had left fast asleep, and +whom he now was extremely afraid of awakening. All the apples were +emptied out of Loveit's pockets, and lodged with Tarlton till the +morning, for fear the smell should betray the secret to Hardy. The room +door was apt to creak, but it was opened with such precaution that no +noise could be heard, and Loveit found his friend as fast asleep as when +he left him. + +'Ah,' said he to himself, 'how quietly he sleeps! I wish I had been +sleeping too.' The reproaches of Loveit's conscience, however, served no +other purpose but to torment him; he had not sufficient strength of mind +to be good. The very next night, in spite of all his fears, and all his +penitence, and all his resolutions, by a little fresh ridicule and +persuasion he was induced to accompany the same party on a similar +expedition. We must observe that the necessity for continuing their +depredations became stronger the third day; for, though at first only a +small party had been in the secret, by degrees it was divulged to the +whole school; and it was necessary to secure secrecy by sharing the +booty. + +Every one was astonished that Hardy, with all his quickness and +penetration, had not yet discovered their proceedings; but Loveit could +not help suspecting that he was not quite so ignorant as he appeared to +be. Loveit had strictly kept his promise of secrecy; but he was by no +means an artful boy; and in talking to his friend, conscious that he had +something to conceal, he was perpetually on the point of betraying +himself; then, recollecting his engagement, he blushed, stammered, +bungled; and upon Hardy's asking what he meant, would answer with a +silly, guilty countenance that he did not know; or abruptly break off, +saying, 'Oh, nothing! nothing at all!' + +It was in vain that he urged Tarlton to permit him to consult his +friend. A gloom overspread Tarlton's brow when he began to speak on the +subject, and he always returned a peremptory refusal, accompanied with +some such taunting expression as this--'I wish we had nothing to do with +such a sneaking fellow; he'll betray us all, I see, before we have done +with him.' 'Well,' said Loveit to himself, 'so I am abused after all, +and called a sneaking fellow for my pains; that's rather hard, to be +sure, when I've got so little by the job.' + +In truth he had not got much; for in the division of the booty only one +apple, and half of another which was only half ripe, happened to fall to +his share; though, to be sure, when they had all eaten their apples, he +had the satisfaction to hear everybody declare they were very sorry they +had forgotten to offer some of theirs to '_poor Loveit_.' + +In the meantime, the visits to the apple-tree had been now too +frequently repeated to remain concealed from the old man who lived in +the cottage. He used to examine his only tree very frequently, and +missing numbers of rosy apples, which he had watched ripening, he, +though not prone to suspicion, began to think that there was something +going wrong; especially as a gap was made in his hedge, and there were +several small footsteps in his flower-beds. + +The good old man was not at all inclined to give pain to any living +creature, much less to children, of whom he was particularly fond. Nor +was he in the least avaricious, for though he was not rich, he had +enough to live upon, because he had been very industrious in his youth; +and he was always very ready to part with the little he had. Nor was he +a cross old man. If anything would have made him angry, it would have +been the seeing his favourite tree robbed, as he had promised himself +the pleasure of giving his red apples to his grandchildren on his +birthday. However, he looked up at the tree in sorrow rather than in +anger, and leaning upon his staff, he began to consider what he had best +do. + +'If I complain to their master,' said he to himself, 'they will +certainly be flogged, and that I should be sorry for; yet they must not +be let to go on stealing; that would be worse still, for it would +surely bring them to the gallows in the end. Let me see--oh, ay, that +will do; I will borrow farmer Kent's dog Barker, he'll keep them off, +I'll answer for it.' + +Farmer Kent lent his dog Barker, cautioning his neighbour, at the same +time, to be sure to chain him well, for he was the fiercest mastiff in +England. The old man, with farmer Kent's assistance, chained him fast to +the trunk of the apple-tree. + +Night came; and Tarlton, Loveit, and his companions returned at the +usual hour. Grown bolder now by frequent success, they came on talking +and laughing. But the moment they had set their foot in the garden, the +dog started up; and, shaking his chain as he sprang forward, barked with +unremitting fury. They stood still as if fixed to the spot. There was +just moonlight enough to see the dog. 'Let us try the other side of the +tree,' said Tarlton. But to whichever side they turned, the dog flew +round in an instant, barking with increased fury. + +'He'll break his chain and tear us to pieces,' cried Tarlton; and, +struck with terror, he immediately threw down the basket he had brought +with him, and betook himself to flight, with the greatest precipitation. +'Help me! oh, pray, help me! I can't get through the hedge,' cried +Loveit, in a lamentable tone, whilst the dog growled hideously, and +sprang forward to the extremity of his chain. 'I can't get out! Oh, for +God's sake, stay for me one minute, dear Tarlton!' He called in vain; he +was left to struggle through his difficulties by himself; and of all his +dear friends not one turned back to help him. At last, torn and +terrified, he got through the hedge and ran home, despising his +companions for their selfishness. Nor could he help observing that +Tarlton, with all his vaunted prowess, was the first to run away from +the appearance of danger. + +The next morning Loveit could not help reproaching the party with their +conduct. 'Why could not you, any of you, stay one minute to help me?' +said he. 'We did not hear you call,' answered one. 'I was so +frightened,' said another, 'I would not have turned back for the whole +world.' 'And you, Tarlton?' 'I,' said Tarlton; 'had not I enough to do +to take care of myself, you blockhead? Every one for himself in this +world!' 'So I see,' said Loveit, gravely. 'Well, man! is there anything +strange in that?' 'Strange! why, yes; I thought you all loved me!' +'Lord love you, lad! so we do; but we love ourselves better.' 'Hardy +would not have served me so, however,' said Loveit, turning away in +disgust. Tarlton was alarmed. 'Pugh!' said he; 'what nonsense have you +taken into your brain? Think no more about it. We are all very sorry, +and beg your pardon; come, shake hands,--forgive and forget.' + +Loveit gave his hand, but gave it rather coldly. 'I forgive it with all +my heart,' said he; 'but I cannot forget it so soon!' 'Why, then, you +are not such a good-humoured fellow as we thought you were. Surely you +cannot bear malice, Loveit.' Loveit smiled, and allowed that he +certainly could not bear malice. 'Well, then, come; you know at the +bottom we all love you, and would do anything in the world for you.' +Poor Loveit, flattered in his foible, began to believe that they did +love him at the bottom, as they said, and even with his eyes open +consented again to be duped. + +'How strange it is,' thought he, 'that I should set such value upon the +love of those I despise! When I'm once out of this scrape, I'll have no +more to do with them, I'm determined.' + +Compared with his friend Hardy, his new associates did indeed appear +contemptible; for all this time Hardy had treated him with uniform +kindness, avoided to pry into his secrets, yet seemed ready to receive +his confidence, if it had been offered. + +After school in the evening, as he was standing silently beside Hardy, +who was ruling a sheet of paper for him, Tarlton, in his brutal manner, +came up, and seizing him by the arm, cried, 'Come along with me, Loveit, +I've something to say to you.' 'I can't come now,' said Loveit, drawing +away his arm. 'Ah, do come now,' said Tarlton, in a voice of persuasion. +'Well, I'll come presently.' 'Nay, but do, pray; there's a good fellow, +come now, because I've something to say to you.' 'What is it you've got +to say to me? I wish you'd let me alone,' said Loveit; yet at the same +time he suffered himself to be led away. + +Tarlton took particular pains to humour him and bring him into temper +again; and even, though he was not very apt to part with his playthings, +went so far as to say, 'Loveit, the other day you wanted a top; I'll +give you mine if you desire it.' Loveit thanked him, and was overjoyed +at the thoughts of possessing this top. 'But what did you want to say to +me just now?' 'Ay, we'll talk of that presently; not yet--when we get +out of hearing.' 'Nobody is near us,' said Loveit. 'Come a little +farther, however,' said Tarlton, looking round suspiciously. 'Well now, +well?' 'You know the dog that frightened us so last night?' 'Yes.' 'It +will never frighten us again.' 'Won't it? how so?' 'Look here,' said +Tarlton, drawing something from his pocket wrapped in a blue +handkerchief. 'What's that?' Tarlton opened it. 'Raw meat!' exclaimed +Loveit. 'How came you by it?' 'Tom, the servant boy, Tom got it for me, +and I'm to give him sixpence.' 'And is it for the dog?' 'Yes, I vowed +I'd be revenged on him, and after this he'll never bark again.' 'Never +bark again! What do you mean? Is it poison?' exclaimed Loveit, starting +back with horror. 'Only poison for _a dog_;' said Tarlton, confused; +'you could not look more shocked if it was poison for a Christian.' + +Loveit stood for nearly a minute in profound silence. 'Tarlton,' said he +at last, in a changed tone and altered manner, 'I did not know you; I +will have no more to do with you.' 'Nay, but stay,' said Tarlton, +catching hold of his arm, 'stay; I was only joking.' 'Let go my arm--you +were in earnest.' 'But then that was before I knew there was any harm. +If you think there's any harm?' '_If_,' said Loveit. 'Why, you know, I +might not know; for Tom told me it's a thing that's often done. Ask +Tom.' 'I'll ask nobody! Surely we know better what's right and wrong +than Tom does.' 'But only just ask him, to hear what he'll say.' 'I +don't want to hear what he'll say,' cried Loveit, vehemently; 'the dog +will die in agonies--in agonies! There was a dog poisoned at my +father's--I saw him in the yard. Poor creature! He lay and howled and +writhed himself!' 'Poor creature! Well, there's no harm done now,' cried +Tarlton, in a hypocritical tone. But though he thought fit to dissemble +with Loveit, he was thoroughly determined in his purpose. + +Poor Loveit, in haste to get away, returned to his friend Hardy; but his +mind was in such agitation, that he neither talked nor moved like +himself; and two or three times his heart was so full that he was ready +to burst into tears. + +'How good-natured you are to me,' said he to Hardy, as he was trying +vainly to entertain him; 'but if you knew----' Here he stopped short, +for the bell for evening prayer rang, and they all took their places and +knelt down. After prayers, as they were going to bed, Loveit stopped +Tarlton,--'_Well?_' asked he, in an inquiring manner, fixing his eyes +upon him. '_Well?_' replied Tarlton, in an audacious tone, as if he +meant to set his inquiring eye at defiance. 'What do you mean to do +to-night?' 'To go to sleep, as you do, I suppose,' replied Tarlton, +turning away abruptly, and whistling as he walked off. + +[Illustration: _'Is it poison?' exclaimed Loveit, starting back with +horror._] + +'Oh, he has certainly changed his mind!' said Loveit to himself, 'else +he could not whistle.' + +About ten minutes after this, as he and Hardy were undressing, Hardy +suddenly recollected that he had left his new kite out upon the grass. +'Oh,' said he, 'it will be quite spoiled before morning!' 'Call Tom,' +said Loveit, 'and bid him bring it in for you in a minute.' They both +went to the top of the stairs to call Tom; no one answered. They called +again louder, 'Is Tom below?' 'I'm here,' answered he at last, coming +out of Tarlton's room with a look of mixed embarrassment and effrontery. +And as he was receiving Hardy's commission, Loveit saw the corner of the +blue handkerchief hanging out of his pocket. This excited fresh +suspicions in Loveit's mind; but, without saying one word, he +immediately stationed himself at the window in his room, which looked +out towards the lane; and, as the moon was risen, he could see if any +one passed that way. 'What are you doing there?' said Hardy, after he +had been watching some time; 'why don't you come to bed?' Loveit +returned no answer, but continued standing at the window. Nor did he +watch long in vain. Presently he saw Tom gliding slowly along a bypath, +and get over the gate into the lane. + +'He's gone to do it!' exclaimed Loveit aloud, with an emotion which he +could not command. 'Who's gone? to do what?' cried Hardy, starting up. +'How cruel! how wicked!' continued Loveit. 'What's cruel--what's wicked? +speak out at once!' returned Hardy, in that commanding tone which, in +moments of danger, strong minds feel themselves entitled to assume +towards weak ones. Loveit instantly, though in an incoherent manner, +explained the affair to him. Scarcely had the words passed his lips, +when Hardy sprang up and began dressing himself without saying one +syllable. 'For God's sake, what are you going to do?' said Loveit in +great anxiety. 'They'll never forgive me! don't betray me! they'll never +forgive! pray, speak to me! only say you won't betray us.' 'I will not +betray you, trust to me,' said Hardy; and he left the room, and Loveit +stood in amazement; whilst, in the meantime, Hardy, in hopes of +overtaking Tom before the fate of the poor dog was decided, ran with all +possible speed across the meadow, and then down the lane. He came up +with Tom just as he was climbing the bank into the old man's garden. +Hardy, too much out of breath to speak, seized hold of him, dragged him +down, detaining him with a firm grasp, whilst he panted for utterance. +'What, Master Hardy, is it you? what's the matter? what do you want?' 'I +want the poisoned meat that you have in your pocket.' 'Who told you that +I had any such thing?' said Tom, clapping his hand upon his guilty +pocket. 'Give it me quietly, and I'll let you off.' 'Sir, upon my word, +I haven't! I didn't! I don't know what you mean,' said Tom, trembling, +though he was by far the stronger of the two. 'Indeed, I don't know what +you mean.' 'You do,' said Hardy, with great indignation, and a violent +struggle immediately commenced. + +The dog, now alarmed by the voices, began to bark outrageously. Tom was +terrified lest the old man should come out to see what was the matter; +his strength forsook him, and flinging the handkerchief and meat over +the hedge, he ran away with all his speed. The handkerchief fell within +reach of the dog, who instantly snapped at it; luckily it did not come +untied. Hardy saw a pitchfork on a dunghill close beside him, and, +seizing upon it, stuck it into the handkerchief. The dog pulled, tore, +growled, grappled, yelled; it was impossible to get the handkerchief +from between his teeth; but the knot was loosed, the meat, unperceived +by the dog, dropped out, and while he dragged off the handkerchief in +triumph, Hardy, with inexpressible joy, plunged the pitchfork into the +poisoned meat and bore it away. + +Never did hero retire with more satisfaction from a field of battle. +Full of the pleasure of successful benevolence, Hardy tripped joyfully +home, and vaulted over the window-sill, when the first object he beheld +was Mr. Power, the usher, standing at the head of the stairs, with his +candle in his hand. + +'Come up, whoever you are,' said Mr. William Power, in a stern voice; +'I thought I should find you out at last. Come up, whoever you are!' +Hardy obeyed without reply.--'Hardy!' exclaimed Mr. Power, starting back +with astonishment; 'is it you, Mr. Hardy?' repeated he, holding the +light to his face. 'Why, sir,' said he, in a sneering tone, 'I'm sure if +Mr. Trueman was here he wouldn't believe his own eyes; but for my part I +saw through you long since; I never liked saints, for my share. Will you +please do me the favour, sir, if it is not too much trouble, to empty +your pockets?' Hardy obeyed in silence. 'Heyday! meat! raw meat! what +next?' 'That's all,' said Hardy, emptying his pockets inside out. 'This +is _all_,' said Mr. Power, taking up the meat. 'Pray, sir,' said Hardy, +eagerly, 'let that meat be burned; it is poisoned.' 'Poisoned!' cried +Mr. William Power, letting it drop out of his fingers; 'you wretch!' +looking at him with a menacing air, 'what is all this? Speak.' Hardy was +silent. 'Why don't you speak?' cried he, shaking him by the shoulder +impatiently. Still Hardy was silent. 'Down upon your knees this minute +and confess all; tell me where you've been, what you've been doing, and +who are your accomplices, for I know there is a gang of you; so,' added +he, pressing heavily upon Hardy's shoulder, 'down upon your knees this +minute, and confess the whole, that's your only way now to get off +yourself. If you hope for _my_ pardon, I can tell you it's not to be had +without asking for.' + +'Sir,' said Hardy, in a firm but respectful voice, 'I have no pardon to +ask, I have nothing to confess; I am innocent; but if I were not, I +would never try to get off myself by betraying my companions.' 'Very +well, sir! very well! very fine! stick to it, stick to it, I advise you, +and we shall see. And how will you look to-morrow, Mr. Innocent, when my +uncle, the doctor, comes home?' 'As I do now, sir,' said Hardy, unmoved. + +His composure threw Mr. Power into a rage too great for utterance. +'Sir,' continued Hardy, 'ever since I have been at school, I never told +a lie, and therefore, sir, I hope you will believe me now. Upon my word +and honour, sir, I have done nothing wrong.' 'Nothing wrong? Better and +better! what, when I caught you going out at night?' '_That_, to be +sure, was wrong,' said Hardy, recollecting himself; 'but except +that----' 'Except that, sir! I will except nothing. Come along with me, +young gentleman, your time for pardon is past.' + +Saying these words, he pulled Hardy along a narrow passage to a small +closet, set apart for desperate offenders, and usually known by the name +of the _Black Hole_. 'There, sir, take up your lodging there for +to-night,' said he, pushing him in; 'to-morrow I'll know more, or I'll +know why,' added he, double-locking the door, with a tremendous noise, +upon his prisoner, and locking also the door at the end of the passage, +so that no one could have access to him. 'So now I think I have you +safe!' said Mr. William Power to himself, stalking off with steps which +made the whole gallery resound, and which made many a guilty heart +tremble. + +The conversation which had passed between Hardy and Mr. Power at the +head of the stairs had been anxiously listened to; but only a word or +two here and there had been distinctly overheard. + +The locking of the Black Hole door was a terrible sound--some knew not +what it portended, and others knew _too well_. All assembled in the +morning with faces of anxiety. Tarlton's and Loveit's were the most +agitated: Tarlton for himself, Loveit for his friend, for himself, for +everybody. Every one of the party, and Tarlton at their head, surrounded +him with reproaches; and considered him as the author of the evils which +hung over them. 'How could you do so? and why did you say anything to +Hardy about it? when you had promised, too! Oh! what shall we all do? +what a scrape you have brought us into! Loveit, it's all your fault!' +'_All my fault!_' repeated poor Loveit, with a sigh; 'well, that is +hard.' + +'Goodness! there's the bell,' exclaimed a number of voices at once. 'Now +for it!' They all stood in a half-circle for morning prayers. They +listened--'Here he is coming! No--Yes--Here he is!' And Mr. William +Power, with a gloomy brow, appeared and walked up to his place at the +head of the room. They knelt down to prayers, and the moment they rose, +Mr. William Power, laying his hand upon the table, cried, 'Stand still, +gentlemen, if you please.' Everybody stood stock still; he walked out of +the circle; they guessed that he was gone for Hardy, and the whole room +was in commotion. Each with eagerness asked each what none could answer, +'_Has he told?_' '_What_ has he told?' 'Who has he told of?' 'I hope he +has not told of me,' cried they. 'I'll answer for it he has told of all +of us,' said Tarlton. 'And I'll answer for it he has told of none of +us,' answered Loveit, with a sigh. 'You don't think he's such a fool, +when he can get himself off,' said Tarlton. + +At this instant the prisoner was led in, and as he passed through the +circle, every eye was fixed upon him. His eye fell upon no one, not even +upon Loveit, who pulled him by the coat as he passed--every one felt +almost afraid to breathe. 'Well, sir,' said Mr. Power, sitting down in +Mr. Trueman's elbow-chair, and placing the prisoner opposite to him; +'well, sir, what have you to say to me this morning?' 'Nothing, sir,' +answered Hardy, in a decided, yet modest manner; 'nothing but what I +said last night.' 'Nothing more?' 'Nothing more, sir.' 'But I have +something more to say to you, sir, then; and a great deal more, I +promise you, before I have done with you;' and then, seizing him in a +fury, he was just going to give him a severe flogging, when the +schoolroom door opened, and Mr. Trueman appeared, followed by an old man +whom Loveit immediately knew. He leaned upon his stick as he walked, and +in his other hand carried a basket of apples. When they came within the +circle, Mr. Trueman stopped short 'Hardy!' exclaimed he, with a voice of +unfeigned surprise, whilst Mr. William Power stood with his hand +suspended. 'Ay, Hardy, sir,' repeated he. 'I told him you'd not believe +your own eyes.' + +Mr. Trueman advanced with a slow step. 'Now, sir, give me leave,' said +the usher, eagerly drawing him aside and whispering. + +'So, sir,' said Mr. T. when the whisper was done, addressing himself to +Hardy, with a voice and manner which, had he been guilty, must have +pierced him to the heart, 'I find I have been deceived in you; it is but +three hours ago that I told your uncle I never had a boy in my school in +whom I placed so much confidence; but, after all this show of honour and +integrity, the moment my back is turned, you are the first to set an +example of disobedience of my orders. Why do I talk of disobeying my +commands,--you are a thief!' 'I, sir?' exclaimed Hardy, no longer able +to repress his feelings. 'You, sir,--you and some others,' said Mr. +Trueman, looking round the room with a penetrating glance--'you and some +others,' 'Ay, sir,' interrupted Mr. William Power, 'get that out of him +if you can--ask him.' 'I will ask him nothing; I shall neither put his +truth nor his honour to the trial; truth and honour are not to be +expected amongst thieves.' 'I am not a thief! I have never had anything +to do with thieves,' cried Hardy, indignantly. 'Have you not robbed this +old man? Don't you know the taste of these apples?' said Mr. Trueman, +taking one out of the basket. 'No, sir; I do not. I never touched one of +that old man's apples.' 'Never touched one of them! I suppose this is +some vile equivocation; you have done worse, you have had the barbarity, +the baseness, to attempt to poison his dog; the poisoned meat was found +in your pocket last night.' 'The poisoned meat was found in my pocket, +sir; but I never intended to poison the dog--I saved his life.' 'Lord +bless him!' said the old man. 'Nonsense--cunning!' said Mr. Power. 'I +hope you won't let him impose upon you, sir.' 'No, he cannot impose upon +me; I have a proof he is little prepared for,' said Mr. Trueman, +producing the blue handkerchief in which the meat had been wrapped. + +Tarlton turned pale; Hardy's countenance never changed. 'Don't you know +this handkerchief, sir?' 'I do, sir.' 'Is it not yours?' 'No, sir.' +'Don't you know whose it is?' cried Mr. Power. Hardy was silent. + +'Now, gentlemen,' said Mr. Trueman, 'I am not fond of punishing you; but +when I do it, you know, it is always in earnest. I will begin with the +eldest of you; I will begin with Hardy, and flog you with my own hands +till this handkerchief is owned.' 'I'm sure it's not mine,' and 'I'm +sure it's none of mine,' burst from every mouth, whilst they looked at +each other in dismay; for none but Hardy, Loveit, and Tarlton knew the +secret. 'My cane,' said Mr. Trueman, and Mr. Power handed him the cane. +Loveit groaned from the bottom of his heart. Tarlton leaned back against +the wall with a black countenance. Hardy looked with a steady eye at the +cane. + +'But first,' said Mr. Trueman, laying down the cane, 'let us see. +Perhaps we may find out the owner of this handkerchief another way,' +examining the corners. It was torn almost to pieces; but luckily the +corner that was marked remained. + +'J. T.!' cried Mr. Trueman. Every eye turned upon the guilty Tarlton, +who, now as pale as ashes and trembling in every limb, sank down upon +his knees, and in a whining voice begged for mercy. 'Upon my word and +honour, sir, I'll tell you all; I should never have thought of stealing +the apples if Loveit had not first told me of them; and it was Tom who +first put the poisoning the dog into my head. It was he that carried the +meat; _wasn't it_?' said he, appealing to Hardy, whose word he knew must +be believed. 'Oh, dear sir!' continued he as Mr. Trueman began to move +towards him, 'do let me off; do pray let me off this time! I'm not the +only one, indeed, sir! I hope you won't make me an example for the rest. +It's very hard I'm to be flogged more than they!' 'I'm not going to flog +you.' 'Thank you, sir,' said Tarlton, getting up and wiping his eyes. +'You need not thank me,' said Mr. Trueman. 'Take your handkerchief--go +out of this room--out of this house; let me never see you more.' + +[Illustration: _'May God bless you!'_] + +'If I had any hopes of him,' said Mr. Trueman, as he shut the door after +him--'if I had any hopes of him, I would have punished him; but I have +none. Punishment is meant only to make people better; and those who have +any hopes of themselves will know how to submit to it.' + +At these words Loveit first, and immediately all the rest of the guilty +party, stepped out of the ranks, confessed their fault and declared +themselves ready to bear any punishment their master thought proper. + +'Oh, they have been punished enough,' said the old man; 'forgive them, +sir.' + +Hardy looked as if he wished to speak. 'Not because you ask it,' said +Mr. Trueman to the guilty penitents, 'though I should be glad to oblige +you--it wouldn't be just; but there,' pointing to Hardy, 'there is one +who has merited a reward; the highest I can give him is that of +pardoning his companions.' + +Hardy bowed and his face glowed with pleasure, whilst everybody present +sympathised in his feelings. + +'I am sure,' thought Loveit, 'this is a lesson I shall never forget.' + +'Gentlemen,' said the old man, with a faltering voice, 'it wasn't for +the sake of my apples that I spoke; and you, sir,' said he to Hardy, 'I +thank you for saving my dog. If you please, I'll plant on that mount, +opposite the window, a young apple-tree, from my old one. I will water +it, and take care of it with my own hands for your sake, as long as I am +able. And may God bless you!' laying his trembling hand on Hardy's head; +'may God bless you--I'm sure God _will_ bless all such boys as you +are.' + + + + +THE BASKET-WOMAN. + + Toute leur etude etait de se complaire et de s'entr'aider.[40] + PAUL ET VIRGINIE. + + +At the foot of a steep, slippery, white hill, near Dunstable, in +Bedfordshire, called Chalk Hill, there is a hut, or rather a hovel, +which travellers could scarcely suppose could be inhabited, if they did +not see the smoke rising from its peaked roof. An old woman lives in +this hovel,[41] and with her a little boy and girl, the children of a +beggar who died and left these orphans perishing with hunger. They +thought themselves very happy when the good old woman first took them +into her hut and bid them warm themselves at her small fire, and gave +them a crust of mouldy bread to eat. She had not much to give, but what +she had she gave with good-will. She was very kind to these poor +children, and worked hard at her spinning-wheel and at her knitting, to +support herself and them. She earned money also in another way. She used +to follow all the carriages as they went up Chalk Hill, and when the +horses stopped to take breath or to rest themselves, she put stones +behind the carriage wheels to prevent them from rolling backwards down +the steep, slippery hill. + + [40] Their whole study was how to please and to help one another. + + [41] This was about the close of the last century. + +The little boy and girl loved to stand beside the good-natured old +woman's spinning-wheel when she was spinning, and to talk to her. At +these times she taught them something which, she said, she hoped they +would remember all their lives. She explained to them what is meant by +telling the truth, and what it is to be honest. She taught them to +dislike idleness, and to wish that they could be useful. + +One evening, as they were standing beside her, the little boy said to +her, 'Grandmother,' for that was the name by which she liked that these +children should call her--'grandmother, how often you are forced to get +up from your spinning-wheel, and to follow the chaises and coaches up +that steep hill, to put stones underneath the wheels, to hinder them +from rolling back! The people who are in the carriages give you a +halfpenny or a penny for doing this, don't they?' 'Yes, child.' 'But it +is very hard work for you to go up and down that hill. You often say +that you are tired, and then you know that you cannot spin all that +time. Now if we might go up the hill, and put the stones behind the +wheels, you could sit still at your work, and would not the people give +us the halfpence? and could not we bring them all to you? Do, pray, dear +grandmother, try us for one day--to-morrow, will you?' + +'Yes,' said the old woman; 'I will try what you can do; but I must go up +the hill along with you for the first two or three times, for fear you +should get yourselves hurt.' + +So, the next day, the little boy and girl went with their grandmother, +as they used to call her, up the steep hill; and she showed the boy how +to prevent the wheels from rolling back, by putting stones behind them; +and she said, 'This is called scotching the wheels'; and she took off +the boy's hat and gave it to the little girl, to hold up to the +carriage-windows, ready for the halfpence. + +When she thought that the children knew how to manage by themselves, she +left them, and returned to her spinning-wheel. A great many carriages +happened to go by this day, and the little girl received a great many +halfpence. She carried them all in her brother's hat to her grandmother +in the evening; and the old woman smiled, and thanked the children. She +said that they had been useful to her, and that her spinning had gone on +finely, because she had been able to sit still at her wheel all day. +'But, Paul, my boy,' said she, 'what is the matter with your hand?' + +'Only a pinch--only one pinch that I got, as I was putting a stone +behind a wheel of a chaise. It does not hurt me much, grandmother; and +I've thought of a good thing for to-morrow. I shall never be hurt again, +if you will only be so good as to give me the old handle of the broken +crutch, grandmother, and the block of wood that lies in the +chimney-corner, and that is of no use. I'll make it of some use, if I +may have it.' + +'Take it then, dear,' said the old woman; 'and you'll find the handle of +the broken crutch under my bed.' + +Paul went to work immediately, and fastened one end of the pole into the +block of wood, so as to make something like a dry-rubbing brush. 'Look, +grandmamma, look at my _scotcher_. I call this thing my _scotcher_,' +said Paul, 'because I shall always scotch the wheels with it. I shall +never pinch my fingers again; my hands, you see, will be safe at the end +of this long stick; and, sister Anne, you need not be at the trouble of +carrying any more stones after me up the hill; we shall never want +stones any more. My scotcher will do without anything else, I hope. I +wish it was morning, and that a carriage would come, that I might run up +the hill and try my scotcher.' + +'And I wish that as many chaises may go by to-morrow as there did +to-day, and that we may bring you as many halfpence, too, grandmother,' +said the little girl. + +'So do I, my dear Anne,' said the old woman; 'for I mean that you and +your brother shall have all the money that you get to-morrow. You may +buy some gingerbread for yourselves, or some of those ripe plums that +you saw at the fruit-stall, the other day, which is just going into +Dunstable. I told you then that I could not afford to buy such things +for you; but now that you can earn halfpence for yourselves, children, +it is fair you should taste a ripe plum and bit of gingerbread for once +and a way in your lives.' + +'We'll bring some of the gingerbread home to her, shan't we, brother?' +whispered little Anne. The morning came; but no carriages were heard, +though Paul and his sister had risen at five o'clock, that they might be +sure to be ready for early travellers. Paul kept his scotcher poised +upon his shoulder, and watched eagerly at his station at the bottom of +the hill. He did not wait long before a carriage came. He followed it up +the hill; and the instant the postillion called to him, and bid him stop +the wheels, he put his scotcher behind them, and found that it answered +the purpose perfectly well. + +Many carriages went by this day, and Paul and Anne received a great many +halfpence from the travellers. + +When it grew dusk in the evening, Anne said to her brother--'I don't +think any more carriages will come by to-day. Let us count the +halfpence, and carry them home now to grandmother.' + +'No, not yet,' answered Paul, 'let them alone--let them lie still in the +hole where I have put them. I daresay more carriages will come by before +it is quite dark, and then we shall have more halfpence.' + +Paul had taken the halfpence out of his hat, and he had put them into a +hole in the high bank by the roadside; and Anne said she would not +meddle with them, and that she would wait till her brother liked to +count them; and Paul said--'If you will stay and watch here, I will go +and gather some blackberries for you in the hedge in yonder field. Stand +you hereabouts, half-way up the hill, and the moment you see any +carriage coming along the road, run as fast as you can and call me.' + +Anne waited a long time, or what she thought a long time; and she saw no +carriage, and she trailed her brother's scotcher up and down till she +was tired. Then she stood still, and looked again, and she saw no +carriage; so she went sorrowfully into the field, and to the hedge where +her brother was gathering blackberries, and she said, 'Paul, I'm sadly +tired, _sadly tired_!' said she, 'and my eyes are quite strained with +looking for chaises; no more chaises will come to-night; and your +scotcher is lying there, of no use, upon the ground. Have not I waited +long enough for to-day, Paul?' 'Oh no,' said Paul; 'here are some +blackberries for you; you had better wait a little bit longer. Perhaps a +carriage might go by whilst you are standing here talking to me.' + +Anne, who was of a very obliging temper, and who liked to do what she +was asked to do, went back to the place where the scotcher lay; and +scarcely had she reached the spot, when she heard the noise of a +carriage. She ran to call her brother, and, to their great joy, they now +saw four chaises coming towards them. Paul, as soon as they went up the +hill, followed with his scotcher; first he scotched the wheels of one +carriage, then of another; and Anne was so much delighted with observing +how well the scotcher stopped the wheels, and how much better it was +than stones, that she forgot to go and hold her brother's hat to the +travellers for halfpence, till she was roused by the voice of a little +rosy girl, who was looking out of the window of one of the chaises. +'Come close to the chaise-door,' said the little girl; 'here are some +halfpence for you.' + +Anne held the hat; and she afterwards went on to the other carriages. +Money was thrown to her from each of them; and when they had all gotten +safely to the top of the hill, she and her brother sat down upon a large +stone by the roadside, to count their treasure. First they began by +counting what was in the hat--'One, two, three, four halfpence.' + +'But, oh, brother, look at this!' exclaimed Anne; 'this is not the same +as the other halfpence.' + +'No, indeed, it is not,' cried Paul, 'it is no halfpenny; it is a +guinea, a bright golden guinea!' 'Is it?' said Anne, who had never seen +a guinea in her life before, and who did not know its value; 'and will +it do as well as a halfpenny to buy gingerbread? I'll run to the +fruit-stall and ask the woman; shall I?' + +'No, no,' said Paul, 'you need not ask any woman, or anybody but me; I +can tell you all about it, as well as anybody in the whole world.' + +'The whole world! Oh, Paul, you forgot. Not so well as my grandmother.' + +'Why, not so well as my grandmother, perhaps; but, Anne, I can tell you +that you must not talk yourself, Anne, but you must listen to me +quietly, or else you won't understand what I am going to tell you, for I +can assure you that I don't think I quite understood it myself, Anne, +the first time my grandmother told it to me, though I stood stock still +listening my best.' + +Prepared by this speech to hear something very difficult to be +understood, Anne looked very grave, and her brother explained to her +that, with a guinea, she might buy two hundred and fifty-two times as +many plums as she could get for a penny. + +'Why, Paul, you know the fruit-woman said she would give us a dozen +plums for a penny. Now, for this little guinea, would she give us two +hundred and fifty-two dozen?' + +'If she has so many, and if we like to have so many, to be sure she +will,' said Paul, 'but I think we should not like to have two hundred +and fifty-two dozen of plums; we could not eat such a number.' + +'But we could give some of them to my grandmother,' said Anne. 'But +still there would be too many for her, and for us too,' said Paul, 'and +when we had eaten the plums, there would be an end to all the pleasure. +But now I'll tell you what I am thinking of, Anne, that we might buy +something for my grandmother that would be very useful to her indeed, +with the guinea--something that would last a great while.' + +[Illustration: _'But, oh, brother, look at this! this is not the same as +the other halfpence.'_] + +'What, brother? What sort of thing?' 'Something that she said she +wanted very much last winter, when she was so ill with the +rheumatism--something that she said yesterday, when you were making her +bed, she wished she might be able to buy before next winter.' + +'I know, I know what you mean!' said Anne--'a blanket. Oh, yes, Paul, +that will be much better than plums; do let us buy a blanket for her; +how glad she will be to see it! I will make her bed with the new +blanket, and then bring her to look at it. But, Paul, how shall we buy a +blanket? Where are blankets to be got?' + +'Leave that to me, I'll manage that. I know where blankets can be got; I +saw one hanging out of a shop the day I went last to Dunstable.' + +'You have seen a great many things at Dunstable, brother.' + +'Yes, a great many; but I never saw anything there or anywhere else that +I wished for half so much as I did for the blanket for my grandmother. +Do you remember how she used to shiver with the cold last winter? I'll +buy the blanket to-morrow. I'm going to Dunstable with her spinning.' + +'And you'll bring the blanket to me, and I shall make the bed very +neatly, that will be all right--all happy!' said Anne, clapping her +hands. + +'But stay! Hush! don't clap your hands so, Anne; it will not be all +happy, I'm afraid,' said Paul, and his countenance changed, and he +looked very grave. 'It will not be all right, I'm afraid, for there is +one thing we have neither of us thought of, but that we ought to think +about. We cannot buy the blanket, I'm afraid.' 'Why, Paul, why?' +'Because I don't think this guinea is honestly ours.' + +'Nay, brother, but I'm sure it is honestly ours. It was given to us, and +grandmother said all that was given to us to-day was to be our own.' +'But who gave it to you, Anne?' 'Some of the people in those chaises, +Paul. I don't know which of them, but I daresay it was the little rosy +girl.' + +'No,' said Paul, 'for when she called you to the chaise door, she said, +"Here's some halfpence for you." Now, if she gave you the guinea, she +must have given it to you by mistake.' + +'Well, but perhaps some of the people in the other chaises gave it to +me, and did not give it to me by mistake, Paul. There was a gentleman +reading in one of the chaises and a lady, who looked very good-naturedly +at me, and then the gentleman put down his book and put his head out of +the window, and looked at your scotcher, brother, and he asked me if +that was your own making; and when I said yes, and that I was your +sister, he smiled at me, and put his hand into his waistcoat pocket, and +threw a handful of halfpence into the hat, and I daresay he gave us the +guinea along with them because he liked your scotcher so much.' 'Why,' +said Paul, 'that might be, to be sure, but I wish I was quite certain of +it.' 'Then, as we are not quite certain, had not we best go and ask my +grandmother what she thinks about it?' + +Paul thought this was excellent advice; and he was not a silly boy, who +did not like to follow good advice. He went with his sister directly to +his grandmother, showed her the guinea, and told her how they came by +it. + +'My dear, honest children,' said she, 'I am very glad you told me all +this. I am very glad that you did not buy either the plums or the +blanket with this guinea. I'm sure it is not honestly ours. Those who +threw it you gave it you by mistake, I warrant; and what I would have +you do is, to go to Dunstable, and try if you can at either of the inns +find out the person who gave it to you. It is now so late in the evening +that perhaps the travellers will sleep at Dunstable, instead of going on +the next stage; and it is likely that whosoever gave you a guinea +instead of a halfpenny has found out their mistake by this time. All you +can do is to go and inquire for the gentleman who was reading in the +chaise.' + +'Oh!' interrupted Paul, 'I know a good way of finding him out. I +remember it was a dark green chaise with red wheels: and I remember I +read the innkeeper's name upon the chaise, "_John Nelson_." (I am much +obliged to you for teaching me to read, grandmother.) You told me +yesterday, grandmother, that the names written upon chaises are the +innkeepers to whom they belong. I read the name of the innkeeper upon +that chaise. It was John Nelson. So Anne and I will go to both the inns +in Dunstable, and try to find out this chaise--John Nelson's. Come, +Anne, let us set out before it gets quite dark.' + +Anne and her brother passed with great courage the tempting stall that +was covered with gingerbread and ripe plums, and pursued their way +steadily through the streets of Dunstable; but Paul, when he came to the +shop where he had seen the blanket, stopped for a moment and said, 'It +is a great pity, Anne, that the guinea is not ours. However, we are +doing what is honest, and that is a comfort. Here, we must go through +this gateway, into the inn-yard; we are come to the "Dun Cow."' 'Cow!' +said Anne, 'I see no cow.' 'Look up, and you'll see the cow over your +head,' said Paul--'the sign--the picture. Come, never mind looking at it +now; I want to find out the green chaise that has John Nelson's name +upon it.' + +Paul pushed forward, through a crowded passage, till he got into the +inn-yard. There was a great noise and bustle. The hostlers were carrying +in luggage. The postillions were rubbing down the horses, or rolling the +chaises into the coachhouse. + +'What now? What business have you here, pray?' said a waiter, who almost +ran over Paul, as he was crossing the yard in a great hurry to get some +empty bottles from the bottle-rack. 'You've no business here, crowding +up the yard. Walk off, young gentleman, if you please.' + +'Pray give me leave, sir,' said Paul, 'to stay a few minutes, to look +amongst these chaises for one dark green chaise with red wheels, that +has Mr. John Nelson's name written upon it.' + +'What's that he says about a dark green chaise?' said one of the +postillions. + +'What should such a one as he is know about chaises?' interrupted the +hasty waiter, and he was going to turn Paul out of the yard; but the +hostler caught hold of his arm and said, 'Maybe the child _has_ some +business here; let's know what he has to say for himself.' + +The waiter was at this instant luckily obliged to leave them to attend +the bell; and Paul told his business to the hostler, who, as soon as he +saw the guinea and heard the story, shook Paul by the hand, and said, +'Stand steady, my honest lad; I'll find the chaise for you, if it is to +be found here; but John Nelson's chaises almost always drive to the +"Black Bull."' + +After some difficulty, the green chaise, with John Nelson's name upon +it, and the postillion who drove that chaise, were found; and the +postillion told Paul that he was just going into the parlour to the +gentleman he had driven, to be paid, and that he would carry the guinea +with him. + +'No,' said Paul, 'we should like to give it back ourselves.' + +'Yes,' said the hostler; 'that they have a right to do.' + +The postillion made no reply, but looked vexed, and went on towards the +house, desiring the children would wait in the passage till his return. +In the passage there was standing a decent, clean, good-natured-looking +woman, with two huge straw baskets on each side of her. One of the +baskets stood a little in the way of the entrance. A man who was pushing +his way in, and carried in his hand a string of dead larks hung to a +pole, impatient at being stopped, kicked down the straw basket, and all +its contents were thrown out. Bright straw hats, and boxes, and slippers +were all thrown in disorder upon the dirty ground. + +'Oh, they will be trampled upon! They will be all spoiled!' exclaimed +the woman to whom they belonged. + +'We'll help you to pick them up, if you will let us,' cried Paul and +Anne, and they immediately ran to her assistance. + +When the things were all safe in the basket again, the children +expressed a desire to know how such beautiful things could be made of +straw; but the woman had not time to answer before the postillion came +out of the parlour, and with him a gentleman's servant, who came to +Paul, and clapping him upon the back, said, 'So, my little chap, I gave +you a guinea for a halfpenny, I hear; and I understand you've brought it +back again; that's right, give me hold of it.' 'No, brother,' said Anne, +'this is not the gentleman that was reading.' 'Pooh, child, I came in +Mr. Nelson's green chaise. Here's the postillion can tell you so. I and +my master came in that chaise. I and my master that was reading, as you +say, and it was he that threw the money out to you. He is going to bed; +he is tired and can't see you himself. He desires that you'll give me +the guinea.' + +Paul was too honest himself to suspect that this man was telling him a +falsehood; and he now readily produced his bright guinea, and delivered +it into the servant's hands. 'Here's sixpence apiece for you, children,' +said he, 'and goodnight to you.' He pushed them towards the door; but +the basket-woman whispered to them as they went out, 'Wait in the street +till I come to you.' + +'Pray, Mrs. Landlady,' cried this gentleman's servant, addressing +himself to the landlady, who just then came out of a room where some +company were at supper--'Pray, Mrs. Landlady, please to let me have +roasted larks for my supper. You are famous for larks at Dunstable; and +I make it a rule to taste the best of everything wherever I go; and, +waiter, let me have a bottle of claret. Do you hear?' + +'Larks and claret for his supper,' said the basket-woman to herself, as +she looked at him from head to foot. The postillion was still waiting, +as if to speak to him; and she observed them afterwards whispering and +laughing together. '_No bad hit,_' was a sentence which the servant +pronounced several times. + +Now it occurred to the basket-woman that this man had cheated the +children out of the guinea to pay for the larks and claret; and she +thought that perhaps she could discover the truth. She waited quietly in +the passage. + +'Waiter! Joe! Joe!' cried the landlady, 'why don't you carry in the +sweetmeat-puffs and the tarts here to the company in the best parlour?' + +'Coming, ma'am,' answered the waiter; and with a large dish of tarts and +puffs, the waiter came from the bar; the landlady threw open the door of +the best parlour, to let him in; and the basket-woman had now a full +view of a large cheerful company, and amongst them several children, +sitting round a supper-table. + +'Ay,' whispered the landlady, as the door closed after the waiter and +the tarts, 'there are customers enough, I warrant, for you in that room, +if you had but the luck to be called in. Pray, what would you have the +conscience, I wonder now, to charge me for these here half-dozen little +mats to put under my dishes?' + +'A trifle, ma'am,' said the basket-woman. She let the landlady have the +mats cheap, and the landlady then declared she would step in and see if +the company in the best parlour had done supper. 'When they come to +their wine,' added she, 'I'll speak a good word for you, and get you +called in afore the children are sent to bed.' + +The landlady, after the usual speech of, '_I hope the supper and +everything is to your liking, ladies and gentlemen,_' began with, 'If +any of the young gentlemen or ladies would have a _cur'osity_ to see any +of our famous Dunstable straw-work, there's a decent body without +would, I daresay, be proud to show them her pincushion-boxes, and her +baskets and slippers, and her other _cur'osities_.' + +The eyes of the children all turned towards their mother; their mother +smiled, and immediately their father called in the basket-woman, and +desired her to produce her _curiosities_. The children gathered round +her large pannier as it opened, but they did not touch any of her +things. + +'Ah, papa!' cried a little rosy girl, 'here are a pair of straw slippers +that would just fit you, I think; but would not straw shoes wear out +very soon? and would not they let in the wet?' + +'Yes, my dear,' said her father, 'but these slippers are meant----' 'For +powdering-slippers, miss,' interrupted the basket-woman. 'To wear when +people are powdering their hair,' continued the gentleman, 'that they +may not spoil their other shoes.' 'And will you buy them, papa?' 'No, I +cannot indulge myself,' said her father, 'in buying them now. I must +make amends,' said he, laughing, 'for my carelessness; and as I threw +away a guinea to-day, I must endeavour to save sixpence at least?' + +'Ah, the guinea that you threw by mistake into the little girl's hat as +we were coming up Chalk Hill. Mamma, I wonder that the little girl did +not take notice of its being a guinea, and that she did not run after +the chaise to give it back again. I should think, if she had been an +honest girl, she would have returned it.' + +'Miss!--ma'am!--sir!' said the basket-woman, 'if it would not be +impertinent, may I speak a word? A little boy and girl have just been +here inquiring for a gentleman who gave them a guinea instead of a +halfpenny by mistake; and not five minutes ago I saw the boy give the +guinea to a gentleman's servant, who is there without, and who said his +master desired it should be returned to him.' + +'There must be some mistake, or some trick in this,' said the gentleman. +'Are the children gone? I must see them--send after them.' 'I'll go for +them myself,' said the good-natured basket-woman; 'I bid them wait in +the street yonder, for my mind misgave me that the man who spoke so +short to them was a cheat, with his larks and his claret.' + +Paul and Anne were speedily summoned, and brought back by their friend +the basket-woman; and Anne, the moment she saw the gentleman, knew that +he was the very person who smiled upon her, who admired her brother's +scotcher, and who threw a handful of halfpence into the hat; but she +could not be certain, she said, that she received the guinea from him; +she only thought it most likely that she did. + +'But I can be certain whether the guinea you returned be mine or no,' +said the gentleman. 'I marked the guinea; it was a light one; the only +guinea I had, which I put into my waistcoat pocket this morning.' He +rang the bell, and desired the waiter to let the gentleman who was in +the room opposite to him know that he wished to see him. 'The gentleman +in the white parlour, sir, do you mean?' 'I mean the master of the +servant who received a guinea from this child.' 'He is a Mr. Pembroke, +sir,' said the waiter. + +Mr. Pembroke came; and as soon as he heard what had happened, he desired +the waiter to show him to the room where his servant was at supper. The +dishonest servant, who was supping upon larks and claret, knew nothing +of what was going on; but his knife and fork dropped from his hand, and +he overturned a bumper of claret as he started up from the table, in +great surprise and terror, when his master came in with a face of +indignation, and demanded '_The guinea_--the _guinea, sir_! that you got +from this child; that guinea which you said I ordered you to ask for +from this child.' + +The servant, confounded and half-intoxicated, could only stammer out +that he had more guineas than one about him, and that he really did not +know which it was. He pulled his money out, and spread it upon the table +with trembling hands. The marked guinea appeared. His master instantly +turned him out of his service with strong expressions of contempt. + +'And now, my little honest girl,' said the gentleman who had admired her +brother's scotcher, turning to Anne, 'and now tell me who you are, and +what you and your brother want or wish for most in the world.' + +In the same moment Anne and Paul exclaimed, 'The thing we wish for the +most in the world is a blanket for our grandmother.' + +'She is not our grandmother in reality, I believe, sir,' said Paul; 'but +she is just as good to us, and taught me to read, and taught Anne to +knit, and taught us both that we should be honest--so she has; and I +wish she had a new blanket before next winter, to keep her from the cold +and the rheumatism. She had the rheumatism sadly last winter, sir; and +there is a blanket in this street that would be just the thing for her.' + +[Illustration: _His master came in with a face of indignation, and +demanded_ 'The guinea--_the_ guinea, sir!'] + +'She shall have it, then; and,' continued the gentleman, 'I will do +something more for you. Do you like to be employed or to be idle best?' + +'We like to have something to do always, if we could, sir,' said Paul; +'but we are forced to be idle sometimes, because grandmother has not +always things for us to do that we _can_ do well.' + +'Should you like to learn how to make such baskets as these?' said the +gentleman, pointing to one of the Dunstable straw-baskets. 'Oh, very +much!' said Paul. 'Very much!' said Anne. 'Then I should like to teach +you how to make them,' said the basket-woman; 'for I'm sure of one +thing, that you'd behave honestly to me.' + +The gentleman put a guinea into the good-natured basket-woman's hand, +and told her that he knew she could not afford to teach them her trade +for nothing. 'I shall come through Dunstable again in a few months,' +added he; 'and I hope to see that you and your scholars are going on +well. If I find that they are, I will do something more for you.' 'But,' +said Anne, 'we must tell all this to grandmother, and ask her about it; +and I'm afraid--though I'm very happy--that it is getting very late, and +that we should not stay here any longer.' 'It is a fine moonlight +night,' said the basket-woman; 'and is not far. I'll walk with you, and +see you safe home myself.' + +The gentleman detained them a few minutes longer, till a messenger whom +he had dispatched to purchase the much-wished-for blanket returned. + +'Your grandmother will sleep well upon this good blanket, I hope,' said +the gentleman, as he gave it into Paul's opened arms. 'It has been +obtained for her by the honesty of her adopted children.' + +THE END + + +_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh_. + + + * * * * * + + + +Macmillan's Illustrated Pocket Classics. + +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY + +HUGH THOMSON, LINLEY SAMBOURNE, CHARLES E. BROCK, CHRIS HAMMOND, AND +OTHERS. + +_Fcap. 8vo. Cloth, 2s. net each. Leather Limp, 3s. net each._ + + =CRANFORD.= By Mrs. GASKELL. With Preface by ANNE THACKERAY RITCHIE, + and 100 Illustrations by HUGH THOMSON. + + =OUR VILLAGE.= By MARY RUSSELL MITFORD. With Preface by ANNE THACKERAY + RITCHIE, and 100 Illustrations by HUGH THOMSON. + + =THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.= With Preface by AUSTIN DOBSON, and 182 + Illustrations by HUGH THOMSON. + + =TOM BROWN'S SCHOOL-DAYS.= By THOMAS HUGHES. With Illustrations by + E. J. SULLIVAN. + + =THE WATER BABIES: A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby.= By CHARLES KINGSLEY. + With 100 Illustrations by LINLEY SAMBOURNE. + + =COACHING DAYS AND COACHING WAYS.= By W. OUTRAM TRISTRAM. With + Illustrations by HUGH THOMSON and HERBERT RAILTON. + + =THE HUMOROUS POEMS OF THOMAS HOOD.= With Preface by Canon AINGER, and + 130 Illustrations by CHARLES E. BROCK. + + =OLD CHRISTMAS.= By WASHINGTON IRVING. With Illustrations by RANDOLPH + CALDECOTT. + + =BRACEBRIDGE HALL.= By WASHINGTON IRVING. With Illustrations by + RANDOLPH CALDECOTT. + + +MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON. + + + +Macmillan's Illustrated Pocket Classics. + +_Fcap. 8vo. Cloth, 2s. net. Leather Limp, 3s. net._ + + +THE WORKS OF JANE AUSTEN + +WITH INTRODUCTIONS BY AUSTIN DOBSON. + + =PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.= With Illustrations by CHARLES E. BROCK. + =SENSE AND SENSIBILITY.= With Illustrations by HUGH THOMSON. + =EMMA.= With Illustrations by HUGH THOMSON. + =MANSFIELD PARK.= With Illustrations by HUGH THOMSON. + =NORTHANGER ABBEY.= With Illustrations by HUGH THOMSON. + + +THE WORKS OF MARIA EDGEWORTH + +WITH INTRODUCTIONS BY ANNE THACKERAY RITCHIE. + + =CASTLE RACKRENT AND THE ABSENTEE.= With Illustrations by CHRIS + HAMMOND. + =ORMOND.= With Illustrations by C. SCHLOESSER. + =POPULAR TALES.= With Illustrations by CHRIS HAMMOND. + =HELEN.= With Illustrations by CHRIS HAMMOND. + =BELINDA.= With Illustrations by CHRIS HAMMOND. + =THE PARENT'S ASSISTANT.= With Illustrations by CHRIS HAMMOND. + + +MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON. + + + * * * * * + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: + + +Minor punctuation errors corrected without note. + +Italic words and phrases are marked _like this_. + +Bold words and phrases are marked =LIKE THIS=. + +Small caps are converted to ALL CAPS. + +Words spelled multiple ways are left as in the original. + +Within the drama sections, the following convention is used: + + All lines and line groups centered in the original are indented + four spaces. All other lines and line groups right-aligned in the + original (stage directions) are indented eight spaces. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Parent's Assistant, by Maria Edgeworth + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PARENT'S ASSISTANT *** + +***** This file should be named 36132.txt or 36132.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/1/3/36132/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Matthew Wheaton and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +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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