the stokesley secret-第10章

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〃Bring　down　the　nest；　Sam；〃　cried　Susan；　〃Georgy　will　like　to　have　it。〃

The　children　behind；　who　never　could　hear　of　anything　to　be　had　without　laying　a　claim　to　it；　shouted　that　they　wanted　the　nest；　but　Sam　said　Sue　had　spoken　first；　and　they　fell　back　discontented；　and　more　bent　on　their　unkind　sport。　　Miss　Fosbrook　was　rather　shocked　at　the　tearing　out　the　nest；　and　asked　if　the　old　bird　would　not　have　another　brood　there；　but　it　was　explained　that　a　thrush　would　never　return　to　a　forsaken　nest；　and　when　Sam　came　down　with　it　in　his　hand；　she　was　delighted　with　the　wonderful　cup　that　formed　the　lining；　so　smooth　and　firm　a　bason　formed　of　dried　mud　set　within　the　grassy　wall。　　She　had　thought　that　swallows　alone　built　with　mud；　and　had　to　learn　that　the　swallows　used　their　clay　for　their　outer　walls；　and　down　for　their　lining；　whereas　the　thrush　is　a　regular　plasterer。

Sam　promised　her　another　thrush　to　make　up　for　her　disappointment；　and　meantime　conducted　her　to　a　very　untidy　old　summer…house；　the　moss　of　whose　roof　hung　down　loose　and　rough　over　a　wild　collection　of　headless　wooden　horses；　little　ships　with　torn　sails；　long　sticks；　battered　watering…pots；　and　old　garden　tools。　　She　was　desired　to　look　up　to　one　of　the　openings　in　the　ragged　moss；　and　believe　that　it　housed　a　kitty　wren's　family　of　sixteen　or　eighteen；　but　she　had　to　take　this　on　trust；　for　to　lay　a　finger　near　would　lead　to　desertion；　in　fact；　Sam　was　rather　sorry　to　be　able　to　point　out　to　her；　on　coming　out；　the　tiny；　dark；　nutmeg；　cock…tailed　father　kitty；　popping　in　and　out　of　the　thorn　hedge；　spying　at　the　party。

Now　then　for　a　wonder　as　they　came　out。　　Sam　waved　everybody　away　nay；　waved　is　a　small　word　for　what　he　didshouted；　pushed；　ordered；　would　be　more　like　it。　　He　was　going　to　give　Miss　Fosbrook　such　a　proof　of　his　esteem　as　hardly　any　one　enjoyed；　not　even　Hal；　twice　in　the　summer。

Everybody　submitted　to　his　violent　demonstrations；　and　Christabel　followed　him　to　the　back　of　the　summer…house。　　There　stood　a　large　red　flower…pot　upside　down。

〃Now；　Miss　Fosbrook！〃

Sam's　finger　hooked　into　the　hole　at　the　top。　　Off　came　the　flower…　pot；　and　disclosed　something　flying　off　with　rushing　wings；　and　something　confused　remaining；a　cluster　of　grey　wings　all　quill；　with　gaping　yellow　mouths　here　and　there　opening；　a　huddling　movement　always　going　on　in　the　forlorn　heap；　as　if　each　were　cold；　and　wanted　to　be　undermost。

〃Tits；　my　tits！〃　said　Sam　triumphantly；　〃they've　built　their　nest　here　three　years　following。〃

〃But　how　do　they　get　in　and　out？〃

〃Through　the　hole。　　Take　care；　I'll　show　you　one。〃

〃Won't　you　frighten　away　the　bird？〃

〃Oh　dear　no！　　Ox…eyes　aren't　like　wrens；　I　go　to　them　every　day。　See！〃　and　he　took　up　in　his　hand　a　creature　that　could　just　be　seen　to　be　intended　for　a　bird；　though　the　long　skinny　neck　was　bare；　and　the　tiny　quills　of　the　young　wings　only　showed　a　little　grey　sprouting　feather；　as　did　the　breast　some　primrose…coloured　down。　Miss　Fosbrook　had　to　part　with　some　favourite　cockney　notions　of　the　beauty　of　infant　birds；　and　on　the　other　hand　to　gain　a　vivid　idea　of　what　is　meant　by　〃callow　young。〃

Sam　quickly　put　his　nestling　back；　and　showed　her　the　parent。　　She　could　hardly　believe　that　the　handsome　bird　in　the　smooth　grey　coat　and　bright　straw…coloured　waistcoat；　with　the　broad　jet…black　line　down　the　centre；　the　great　white　cheeks　edged　with　black；　and　the　bold　knowing　look；　could　be　like　what　the　little　bits　of　deformity　in　the　nest　would　soon　become。

〃Ay；　that's　an　ox…eye；〃　said　Sam。　　〃You'll　hear　them　going　on　peter　peterpeterall　the　spring。〃

But　Sam　was　cut　short　by　a　loud　and　lamentable　burst　of　roaring　where　they　had　left　the　party。

Miss　Fosbrook　hurried　back；　hearing　Hal's　rude　laugh　as　she　came　nearer；　it　was　Elizabeth；　sobbing　in　the　passionate　way　in　which　it　is　not　good　to　see　a　child　cry；　and　violently　shaking　off　Susan；　who　was　begging　her　to　stop　herself　before　Miss　Fosbrook　should　come。

What　WAS　the　matter？

〃Oh！　　Betty's　nonsense。〃

〃Johnnie　DID〃

〃Johnnie　only〃

〃Now；　Hal！〃

〃Tell…tale！〃　　〃Cry…baby！〃

〃She　only　cried　that　Miss　Fosbrook　might　hear。〃

So　shouted　the　little　Babel；　Bessie　sobbing　resentfully　between　her　words；　till　Miss　Fosbrook；　insisting　that　everybody　should　be　quiet；　desired　her　to　tell　what　had　happened。

〃JohnnieJohnnie　called　me　a　toad。〃

The　others　all　burst　out　laughing；　and　Miss　Fosbrook；　trying　to　silence　them　with　a　frown；　said　it　was　very　rude　of　John；　but　she　saw　no　reason　why　a　girl　of　Bessie's　age　should　act　so　childish　a　part。

〃He's　been　teasing　me；　and　so　has　Anne；　all　this　time！〃　cried　Bessie。　〃They've　been　at　me　ever　since　I　came　out；　pulling　me　and　plaguing　me；　and〃

〃Well；〃　said　Susan；　〃I　told　you　to　walk　in　front　of　Miss　Fosbrook；　where　they　could　not。〃

〃I　didn't　do　anything　to　her；〃　said　John。

〃Now；　Johnnie！〃

〃He　only　pulled　her　frock　and　poked　her　ankles；〃　said　Anne　pleadingly

〃Onlyand　why　did　you　do　what　she　did　not　like？〃

Johnnie　looked　sturdy　and　cross。　　Anne　hung　her　head；　and　Elizabeth　burst　out　again；

〃They　always　dothey　always　are　cross　to　me！　　I　said　I'd　tell　you；　and　now　they　said　Ida　was　a　conceited　little　toad；　and　stingy　Bet　was　another；〃　and　out　burst　her　howls　again。

〃A　very　sad　and　improper　way　of　spending　a　Sunday　evening；〃　said　Miss　Fosbrook；　who　had　really　grown　quite　angry。　　〃Anne　and　John；　I　WILL　put　an　end　to　this　teasing。　　Go　to　bed　this　instant。〃

They　did　not　dare　to　disobey；　but　went　off　slowly　with　sulky　footsteps；　muttering　to　one　another　that　Miss　Fosbrook　always　took　pipy　Betty's　part；　Nurse　said　so；　and　they　wished　Mamma　was　at　home。　And　when　they　came　up　to　the　nursery；　Nurse　pitied　them。　　She　had　never　heard　of　a　young　lady　doing　such　a　thing　as　ordering　off　two　poor　dear　children　to　bed　for　only　just　saying　a　word；　but　it　seemed　there　were　to　be　favourites　now。　　No；　she　could　not　put　them　to　bed；　they　must　wait　till　Mary　came　in　from　her　walk；　she　wasn't　going　to　put　herself　out　of　the　way　for　any　fine　London　governess。

So　Johnnie　had　another　conquest　over　Miss　Fosbrook；　but　Anne　was　uncomfortable；　and　went　and　sat　in　a　corner；　wishing　she　had　had　her　punishment　properly　over；　and　kicking　her　brother　away　when　he　wanted　to　play　with　her。

As　for　Bessie；　she　only　cried　the　more　for　Miss　Fosbrook's　trying　to　talk　to　her。　　It　was　a　way　of　hers；　perhaps　from　being　less　strong　than　the　others；　if　once　she　started　in　a　cry　she　could　not　leave　off。

Susan　told　Miss　Fosbrook　so；　and　the　boys　tried　to　drag　her　on　with　a　promise　of　a　blackbird's　nest；　but　she　thought　them　unfeeling　to　such　woeful　distress；　and　first　tried　to　reason　with　Bessie；　then　to　soothe　her；　till　at　last；　finding　all　in　vain；　she　thought　bed　the　only　place　for　the　child；　and　led　her　into　the　house；　helped　her；　still　shaking　with　sobs；　to　undress；　and　was　going　to　see　her　lie　down　in　the　bed　which　she　shared　with　Susan。　　Elizabeth　was　still　young　enough　to　say　her　prayers　aloud。　　The　words　came　out　in　the　middle　of　choking　sobs；　not　as　if　she　were　much　attending　to　them。　Miss　Fosbrook　knelt　down　by　her　as　she　was　going　to　rise；　and　said　in　her　own　words；

〃Most　merciful　God；　give　unto　this　Thy　child　the　spirit　of　content；　and　the　spirit　of　love；　that　she　may　bear　patiently　all　the　little　trials　that　hurt　and　vex　her；　and　win　her　way　as　Thy　good　soldier　and　servant。　　Amen。〃

Elizabeth　held　her　breath　to　listen。　　It　was　new　and　odd。　　She　did　not　like　to　say　Amen；　she　did　not　know　if　the　governess　were　not　taking　a　liberty。　　Perhaps　it　was　a　new　way　of　telling　her　she　was　wrongChristabel；　whom　she　had　thought　on　her　side。

The　bad　temper　woke　up；　and　would　not　let　her　offer　a　friendly　kiss。　She　hid　her　face　in　the　pillow；　and　as　soon　as　Miss　Fosbrook　had　shut　the　door；　went　off　into　a　fresh　gust　of　piteous　sobs；　because　Miss　Elizabeth　Merrifield　was　the　most　miserable　ill…used　child　in　all　the　world。

She　might　be　one　of　the　most　miserable；　but　it　was　not　because　of　her　ill…usage；　but　because　she　had　no　spirit　to　be　cheerful；　and　had　turned　away　from　comfort　of　the　right　kind。　　She　was　in　such　a　frame　as　to　prefer　thinking　everyone　against　her；　to　supposing　that　anything　she　co