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！
shillings was an exorbitant price to set on a turkey… cock's head； and perhaps half would content him。
The half； however； seemed as impossible as the whole。 Osmond had three shillings； Martin two； Hal fourpence！ What was to be done？ And the boys declared that if it should come to their father's knowledge； Hal； who had given up their names； should certainly not be shielded by them。 In fact； he； who had done the deed； was the only one who ought to pay。
The sound of the servants' dinner…bell at the Park broke up the consultation； the boys must not be missed at luncheon； and they therefore separated； agreeing to meet at that same place at four o'clock； to hear the result of Hal's negotiation with the farmer； for neither of the Grevilles would hear of helping him to face the enemy。
Poor Hal plodded home disconsolately。 Once he thought of telling Sam； and asking his help； but Sam would be so much shocked at such a scrape at such a time； as possibly to lick him for it before helping him。 Indeed Hal did not see much chance of Sam being able to do anything for them； and he had too often boasted over his elder brother to like to abase himself by such a confessionwhen； too； it would almost be owning how much better it would have been to have followed Sam's advice and have gone safely to church。
Could he borrow of any one？ Had he nothing of his own to sell or exchange？ Ah！ if it had not been for that stupid hoard of little David's； he might have had even so much！ By…the…bye； some of that collection was his own。 He might quite lawfully take that back again。 How much could it be？ How much did he put in last week？ the week before？ Oh； never mind； some of it was his at all events； there was no harm in taking that。 Most likely he should be able to restore it four…fold when Colonel Carey made his present； or； if not； nobody knew exactly what was in Toby Fillpot； and after all very likely they would forget all about it； people could not think about pigs when Mamma was ill； or； maybe； he should go to join his ship； and hear no more of it。 So he came home； and crossed the paddock just as the dinner…bell was ringing； opening the hall…door as the children were running across it to the dining…room。
Miss Fosbrook； who was walking behind them； turned as he came in。
〃Henry；〃 she said； 〃I have sent Johnnie to dine in the nursery； for his disobedience in climbing the gate。 I certainly shall not give you a less punishment。 You must have led him into it； and how could you be so cruel as to leave the poor little fellow alone in such a dangerous place？〃
〃Stupid little coward！ it was not a bit of danger！〃 said Hal。
〃So young a child〃 began Miss Fosbrook。
〃Oh； that's all your London notions；〃 said Hal。 〃Why； I climbed up our gate at Stonehouse； which was twice as high； when I wasn't near as old as that！〃
〃I am not going to argue with you； Henry； but after such an act of disobedience； I cannot allow you to sit down to dinner with us。 Go up to the school…room； and Mary shall bring you your dinner。〃
〃I'm sure I don't want to dine with a lot of babies and governesses！〃 exclaimed Henry； and bounced up…stairs； leaving Miss Fosbrook quite confounded at such an outbreak of naughtiness。
She intended； as soon as dinner should be over； to go up to him； and try to lead him to be sorry for his conduct； and to think what a wretched moment this was for such audacity； and then she feared that she ought to punish him farther； by keeping him in all the afternoon。 He was so soft and easily impressed； that she almost trusted to make him feel that it would be right that he should suffer for his misconduct。
When she went up…stairs； almost as soon as grace had been said； he was gone。 Nobody could find him； and calling produced no answer。 She became quite distressed and anxious； but could not go far from the house herself； nor send Sam； in case the message should arrive。
〃Oh；〃 said Sam； 〃no doubt he's after something with the Grevilles； and was afraid you would stop him in。〃
She tried to believe this； but still felt far from satisfied all the afternoon； and was glad to see the boy come back in time for tea。
He said he had been with the Grevilles； he did not see why anybody need ask him questions； he should do what he pleased without being called to account。 Nobody told him not to run away after dinner； he was not going to stay to be ordered about for nothing。
This was so bad a temper； that Christabel could not bear to try to touch him with the thought of his sick mother。 She knew that softening must come in time； and believed the best thing to do at the moment would be to put a stop to his disrespectful speeches to her； and his cross ones to his brothers and sisters； by sending him to bed as soon as tea was over； as the completion of his punishment。 He did not struggle； for she had taught him to mind her； but he went up… stairs with a gloomy brow； and angry murmurs that it was very hard to be put under a stupid woman； who knew nothing about anything； and was always cross。
CHAPTER XII。
Saturday's post brought a letter； and a comfortable one。 All Thursday Mrs。 Merrifield had been in so doubtful a state； that her husband could not bear to write； lest he should fill the children with false hopes； or alarm them still more； but she had had a good night； was stronger on Friday； and when the post went out； the doctors had just ventured to say they believed she would recover favourably。 The letter was finished off in a great hurry； but Captain Merrifield did not forget to thank his little Susan warmly for her poor scrambling letter； and say he knew all she meant by it； bidding her give Miss Fosbrook his hearty thanks for forwarding it； and for telling him the children were all behaving well； and feeling properly。 His love to them all； they must try to deserve the great mercy that had been granted to them。
To the children； this was almost as good as saying that their mother was well again； but there was too much awe about them for their joy to show itself noisily。 Susan ran away to her own room； and Bessie followed her； and Sam said no word； only Miss Fosbrook remarked that he did not eat two mouthfuls of breakfast。 She would not take any notice； she knew his heart was full； and when she looked round on that little flock； and thought of the grievous sorrow scarcely yet averted from them； she could hardly keep the tears from blinding her。 They were all somewhat still and grave； and it was too happy a morning to be broken into by the reproofs that Henry deserved； even more richly than Christabel knew。 She had almost forgotten his bad behaviour； and when she remembered something of it； she could not but hope that silence； on such a day as this； might bring it home to him more than rebuke。 Yet when breakfast was ever； he was among the loudest of those who； shaking off the strange； awed gravity of deep gladness； went rushing together into the garden； feeling that they might give way to their spirits again。
Sam shouted and whooped as if he were casting off a burthen； and picking little George up in his arms； tossed him and swung him round in the air in an ecstasy； while John and Annie and David went down on the grass together； and tumbled and rolled one over the other like three kittens； their legs and arms kicking about； so that it was hard to tell whose property were the black shoes that came wriggling into view。
Susan was quieter。 She told Nurse the good news； and then laid hold upon Baby； and carried her off into the passage to hug all to herself。 She could tell no one but Baby how very happy she was； and how her heart had trembled at her mother's suffering； her father's grief； and at the desolateness that had so nearly come on them。 Oh； she was very happy； very thankful； but she could not scream it out like the others； Baby must have it all in kisses。
〃Christabel；〃 said a little voice； when all the others were gone； 〃I shall never be pipy again。〃
〃You must try to fight against it； my dear。〃
〃Because；〃 said Elizabeth； coming close up to her； 〃when dear Mamma was so ill； it did seem so silly to mind about not having pretty things like Ida； and the boys plaguing； and so on。〃
〃Yes； my dear；