按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ble all day； but on the whole Elizabeth had hardly thoughts enough to last her so long； nor was she deep or serious enough to have done herself much good by keeping the Bible open before her。 In fact she did lose her verse in merely reading the chapter for the day！ So it was just as well that she had something to do that was not play； and that was a duty； and thus might give the desire to be good something to bear upon。
But Christabel saw by Susan's face； and heard in the shaken voice with which she took her turn in the reading； that she could not have given her mind to her tasks； and did not need them to keep her out of mischief。 It would have been cruel to have required her to sit down to them just then； and her governess was glad to be able to excuse her on account of the packing…up。 All her things and Sam's must be got ready in case of an immediate start； and she was sent up to the nursery to take care of the little ones； while Nurse and Mary mended； ironed； and packed。
To be sure Nurse Freeman made poor Susan unnecessarily unhappy by being sure that it was all the fault of the London doctors； but she was a kind； tender old woman； and her petting was a great comfort to the poor girl。 What did her most good； however； was sitting quite quiet with the little ones while they were asleep； and all alone； it seemed to rest and compose her； and she always loved to be in charge of them。 Poor child！ she might soon have to be their little mother！ She was able to play with them when they awoke； and cheered herself up with their pretty ways； and by finding how quickly Baby was learning to walk。 Ah！ but would Mamma ever see her walk？
If any of the children thought it unjust that Susan's lessons should be let off； they were wrong。 Parents and teachers must have the power of doing such things without being judged。 Sometimes they see that a child is really unable to learn； when the others perceive no difference； and it would be very harsh and cruel to oppress one who is out of order for fear little silly； idle； healthy things should think themselves hardly used。
At any rate； the lessons were capitally done； and when the children met again； they were all so much brighter and more hopeful； that they quite believed that their Mamma was going to get better very fast。 Bessie especially was so resolved that thus it should be； that she shut herself into Miss Fosbrook's room； and drew and painted with all her might； as if preparing for Mamma's birthday made it certain that it would be kept。
The boys brought word that they would have a holiday the next day； as it was the Feast of St。 Barnabas； and after morning service Mr。 Carey was going to meet his brother and bring him home。
〃I shall be all the more certain to get the sovereign； or two sovereigns；〃 said Henry to David； the only person whom he could find to listen to him； 〃if Sam is gone； and everyone will be caring about me。〃
〃And then you'll give it to the pig；〃 said David。
〃Oh yes； to be sure。 You will grow into a pig yourself if you go on that way； David。〃
However； David； partaking the family distrust of Hal's birds…in…the… bush； and being started on the subject of the hoard； ran up to Sam； who was learning his lessons by way of something to do； and said； 〃If you go to London； Sam； may I have your sixpence on Monday for the pig？〃
〃I don't know that I am going。〃
〃But if you door we sha'n't get the pig。〃
〃I don't care。〃
〃Don't you care if we don't get the pig？〃
〃No。 Be off with you。〃
David next betook himself to his eldest sister； who was trying to write to her father； and finding such a letter harder and sadder work than that to Ida Greville； though no one teased her about writing； blots； or spelling。
〃If you go to London； Susie；〃 said he； in the very same words； 〃may I have your sixpence on Monday for the pig？〃
〃Oh； Davie； don't be tiresome！〃
David only said it over again in the same words； and put his hand down on her letter in his earnestness。
〃Come away； Davie；〃 said Miss Fosbrook； 〃don't tease your sister。〃
〃I want her to say I may have her sixpence on Monday for the pig。〃
〃No； you sha'n't； then；〃 said Susan angrily； 〃you care for the nasty pig more than for poor Mamma or anyone else； and you sha'n't have it。〃
So seldom did Susan say anything cross； that everyone looked up surprised。 Miss Fosbrook saw that it was sheer unhappiness that made her speak sharply； and would not take any notice； except by gently taking away the pertinacious David。
He was very much distressed at the refusal； and when Miss Fosbrook told him that his brother and sister could not think of such things when they were in such trouble； he only answered； 〃But Hannah Higgins won't get her pig。〃
Miss Fosbrook was vexed herself that her friend David should seem possessed with this single idea； as if it shut out all others from his mind。 He was consoled fast enough； for Susan； with another great sob； threw down her pen； and coming up to stroke him down with her inky fingers； cried out； 〃O Davie； Davie； I didn't mean it； I don't know why I said it。 You shall have my sixpence； or anything！ But； oh dear； I wish the message was come； and we were going to dear Mamma； for I can't write； and I don't know what to do。〃
Then she went back to her place； and tried to write； and sat with her head on her hand； and dawdled and cried and blotted till it grew so near post…time that at last Miss Fosbrook took the longest of her scrawls； and writing three lines at the bottom to say how it was with them all； directed it to Captain Merrifield； thinking that he would like it better than nothing from home； sent it off； and made Susan come out to refresh her hot eyes and burning head in the garden。
Sam presently came and walked on her other side； gravely and in silence； glad to be away from the chatter and disputes of the younger ones。 That summons had made them both feel older； and less like children； than ever before； but they did not speak much； only； when they sat down on a garden bench； as Miss Fosbrook held Susan's hand； she presently found some rough hard young fingers stealing into her own on the other side； and saw Sam's eyes glistening with unshed tears。 She stroked his hand； and they dropped fast： but he was ashamed to cry； and quickly dried them。
〃I think；〃 she said； 〃that you will be a man； Sam； take care of Susan； and be a comfort to your father。〃
〃I hope I shall；〃 said Sam； 〃but I don't know how。〃
〃Nobody can tell how beforehand；〃 she said。 〃Only watch to see what he may seem to want to have done for him。 Sit quietly by； and don't get in the way。〃
〃Were you ever so unhappy； Miss Fosbrook？〃 asked Susan。
〃Yes； once I was； when my father was knocked down by an omnibus； and was very ill。〃
〃Tell us about it？〃 said Susan。
She did tell them of her week of sorrow and anxious care of the younger children； and the brightening ray of hope at last。 It seemed to freshen both up； and give them hopes； for each drew a long sigh of relief； and then Sam said； 〃Papa wrote to Mr。 Carey。 She is to be prayed for in church to…morrow。〃
〃Oh；〃 said Susan； with a sound as of dismay； which made Christabel ask in wonder why she was sorry； when； from Susan's half…uttered words； she found that the little girl fancied that a 〃happy issue out of all her afflictions〃 meant death。
〃Oh no； my dear；〃 she said。 〃What it means is； that the afflictions may end happily in whatever way God may see to be best； it may be in getting well； it may be the other way： at any rate； it is asking that the distress may be over； not saying how。〃
〃Isn't there some other prayer in the Prayer…book about it？〃 said Sam； looking straight before him。
〃I will show you where to find it； in the Visitation of the Sick。 I dare say it has often been read to her。〃
The boy and girl came in with her； and brought their Prayer…books to her room； that she might mark them。
This had been a strange； long； sad day of waiting and watching for the telegram； and the children even fancied it might come in the middle of the night； but Miss Fosbrook thought this unlikely； and looked for the morrow's post。 There was no letter。 It was very disappointing； but Miss Fosbrook thought it