the stokesley secret-第13章

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〃Miss　Fosbrook；〃　said　he；　〃isn't　this　it？　　Twelve　bricks；　take　away　those　seven；　thenl；　2；　3；　4；　5the　twelve　is　only　5：　　the　10　is　gone；　isn't　it？　so　you　must　leave　one　out　of　the　next　figure　in　the　upper　line　of　the　sum。〃

Now　Davy　had　only　begun　arithmetic　on　the　governess's　arrival；　but　he　had　learnt　numeration　and　addition　in　her　way。　　She　was　so　delighted；　that　she　stooped　down　and　kissed　him；　saying；　〃Quite　right；　my　little　man。〃

Davy　rather　disapproved　of　the　kiss；　and　rubbed　his　brown…holland　elbow　over　his　face；　as　if　to　clear　it　off。

〃Well；〃　thought　Christabel；　as　she　hurried　away　for　five　minutes'　peace　in　her　own　room　before　the　dinner…bell；　〃it　is　a　comfort　to　have　one　pupil　whose　whole　endeavour　is　not　to　frustrate　one's　attempts　to　educate　him。〃

Poor　young　thing！　that　one　little　bit　of　sense　had　quite　cheered　her　up。　　Otherwise　she　was　not　one　whit　less　weary　than　the　children。　She　had　been　learning　a　very　tough　lesson　toomuch　harder　than　any　of　theirs；　and　she　was　not　at　all　certain　that　she　had　learnt　it　right。

Now；　readers；　of　all　the　children；　who　do　you　think　had　used　the　most　conscience　at　the　lessons？



CHAPTER　VI。



What　an　entirely　different　set　of　beings　were　those　Stokesley　children　in　lesson…time　and　out　of　it！　　Talk　of　the　change　of　an　old　thorn　in　winter　to　a　May…bush　in　spring！　that　was　nothing　to　it！

Poor；　listless；　stolid；　deplorable　logs；　with　bowed　backs　and　crossed　ankles；　pipy　voices　and　heavy　eyes！　　Who　would　believe　that　these　were　the　merry；　capering；　noisy　creatures；　full　of　fun　and　riot；　clattering　and　screeching；　and　dancing　about　with　ecstasy　at　Sam's　information　that　there　was　a　bonfire　by　the　potato…house！

〃A　bonfire！〃　said　the　London　governess；　thinking　of　illuminations；　〃what　can　that　be　for？〃

〃Oh；　it　is　not　FOR　anything；〃　said　Susan；　〃it　is　Purday　burning　weeds。　　Don't　you　smell　them？　　How　nice　they　are！　　I　was　afraid　it　was　only　Farmer　Smith　burning　couch。〃

All　the　noses　were　elevated　to　scent　from　afar　a　certain　smoky　odour；　usually　to　be　detected　in　July　breezes；　and　which　reminded　Miss　Fosbrook　of　a　brick…field。

〃Potatoes！　　Potatoes！　　We'll　roast　some　potatoes；　and　have　them　for　tea！〃　bellowed　all　the　voices；　so　that　Miss　Fosbrook　could　hardly　find　a　space　for　very　unwillingly　saying；

〃But；　my　dears；　I　don't　know　whether　I　ought　to　let　you　play　with　fire。〃

〃Oh；　we　always　do；〃　roared　the　children；　and　Susan　added；

〃We　always　roast　potatoes　when　there's　a　bonfire。　　Mamma　always　lets　us；　it　is　only　Purday　that　is　cross。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　Mamma　lets　us。〃

〃Well；　if　Sam　and　Susan　say　it　is　right；　I　trust　to　them；〃　said　Miss　Fosbrook　gladly；　〃only　you　must　let　me　come　out　and　see　what　it　is。　I　am　too　much　of　a　Londoner　to　know。〃

〃Oh　yes；　and　we'll　roast　you　some　potatoes。〃

So　the　uproarious　population　tumbled　upstairs；　there　to　be　invested　with　rougher　brown…holland　garments　than　those　that　already　concealed　the　sprigged　cottons　of　the　girls；　and　when　the　five　came　down　again；　they　were　so　much　alike　in　dress；　that　it　was　not　easy　to　tell　girls　from　boys。　　Susan　brought　little　George　down　with　her；　and　off　the　party　set。　　Sam　and　Hal；　who　had　been　waiting　in　the　hall；　took　Miss　Fosbrook　between　them；　as　if　they　thought　it　their　duty　to　do　the　honours　of　the　bonfire；　and　conducted　her　across　the　garden；　through　the　kitchen…garden；　across　which　lay　a　long　sluggish　bar　of　heavy　and　very　odorous　smoke；　to　a　gate　in　a　quickset　hedge。　　Here　were　some　sheds　and　cart…houses；　a　fagot　pile；　various　logs　of　timber；　a　grindstone；　andthat　towards　which　all　the　eight　children　rushed　with　whoops　of　ecstasya　heap　of　smoking　rubbish；　chiefly　dry　leaves；　and　peas　and　potato　haulm；　with　a　large　allowance　of　cabbage　stumpsall　extremely　earthy；　and　looking　as　if　the　smouldering　smoke　were　a　wonder　from　so　mere　a　heap　of　dirt。

No　matter！　　There　were　all　the　children　round　it；　some　on　their　knees；　some　jumping；　and　voices　were　crying　on　all　sides；

〃O　jolly；　jolly！〃　　〃I'll　get　some　potatoes！〃　　〃Oh；　you　must　have　some　sticks　first；　and　make　some　ashes。〃　　〃There's　no　flamenot　a　bit！〃　〃Get　out　of　the　way；　can't　you？　　I'll　make　a　hot　place。〃　　〃We'll　each　have　our　own　oven；　and　roast　our　own　potatoes！〃　　〃Don't；　Sam；　you're　pushing　me　into　the　smoke！〃

This　of　course　was　from　Elizabeth；　and　there　followed；　〃Don't；　Bessie；　you　will　tread　upon　Georgie。Yes；　Georgie；　you　SHALL　have　a　place。〃

〃Sticks；　sticks！〃　shouted　Henry；　while　Sam　was　on　his　knees；　poking　out　a　species　of　cavern　in　the　fire；　where　some　symptoms　of　red　embers　appeared；　which　he　diligently　puffed　with　his　mouth；　feeding　it　with　leaves　and　smaller　chips　in　a　very　well　practised　way。　〃Sticks；　Annie！　　Johnnie！　　Davy！　get　sticks；　I　say；　and　we'll　make　an　oven。〃

Annie　obeyed；　but　the　two　little　boys　were　intent　on　imitating　Sam　on　another　side　of　the　fire；　and　Johnnie　uttered　a　gruff　〃Get　'em　yourself；〃　while　David　took　no　notice　at　all。

Perhaps　Hal　would　have　betaken　himself　to　no　gentle　means　if　Susan　had　not　hastily　put　in　his　way　a　plentiful　supply　of　dead　wood；　which　she　had　been　letting　little　George　think　he　picked　up　all　himself；　and　there　was　keen　excitement；　which　Christabel　could　not　help　sharing；　while　under　Sam's　breath　the　red　edges　of　the　half…burnt　chip　glowed；　flushed；　widened；　then　went　sparkling　doubtfully；　slowly；　to　the　light　bit　of　potato…stalk　that　he　held　to　it；　glowing　as　he　blewfading；　smoking；　when　he　took　breath。　　Try　againpuff；　puff；　puff　diligently；　the　fire　evidently　has　a　taste　for　the　delicate　little　shaving　that　Annie　has　found　for　it；　it　seizes　on　it；　anotheranother；　a　flame　at　last。　　Hurrah！　pile　on　more；　not　too　much。　　〃Don't　put　it　out！〃　　Oh；　there！　strong　flamecoming　crackling　up　through　those　smothering　heaps　of　stick　and　haulm；　it　won't　be　kept　down；　it　rises　in　the　wind；　it　is　a　red　flaring　banner。　　The　children　shriek　in　transports　of　admiration；　little　George　loudest　of　all；　because　Susan　is　holding　him　tight；　lest　he　should　run　into　the　brilliant　flame。　　Miss　Fosbrook　is　rather　appalled；　but　the　children　are　all　safe　on　the　windward　side；　and　seem　used　to　it；　so　she　supposes　it　is　all　right；　and　the　flame　dies　down　faster　than　it　rose。　　It　is　again　an　innocent　smouldering　heap；　like　a　volcano　after　an　eruption。

〃We　must　not　let　it　blaze　again　just　yet；〃　said　Sam；　〃keep　it　down　well　with　sticks；　to　make　some　nice　white　ashes　for　the　potatoes。　See；　I'll　make　an　oven。〃

They　were　all　stooping　round　this　precious　hot　corner；　some　kneeling；　some　sitting　on　the　ground；　David　with　hands　on　his　sturdy　kneesall　intent　on　nursing　that　creeping　red　spark；　as　it　smouldered　from　chip　to　chip；　leaving　a　black　trace　wherever　it　went；　when　through　the　thick　smoke；　that　was　like　an　absolute　curtain　hiding　everything　on　the　farther　side；　came　headlong　a　huge　bundle　of　weeds　launched　overwhelmingly　on　the　fire；　and　falling　on　the　children's　heads　in　an　absolute　shower；　knocking　Johnnie　down；　but　on　a　soft　and　innocent　side　of　the　fire　among　the　cabbage…stumps；　and　seeming　likely　to　bury　Sam；　who　leant　over　to　shelter　his　precious　oven；　and　puffed　away　as　if　nothing　was　happening；　amid　the　various　shouts　around　him；　in　which　〃Purday〃　was　the　most　audible　word。

〃Ah；　so　you've　got　at　he；　after　all；〃　said　Purday；　leaning　on　the　fork　with　which　he　had　thrown　on　the　weeds。　　〃Nothing　is　safe　from　you。〃

〃What；　you　thought　you　had　a　new　place；　Purday；　and　circumvented　us！〃　cried　Hal；　〃but　we　smelt　you　out；　you　old　rogue；　we　weren't　going　to　be　baulked　of　our　bonfire。〃

Miss　Fosbrook　here　ventured　on　asking　if　they　were　doing　mischief；　and　Purday　answered　with　an　odd　gruff　noise；　〃Mischief　enoughay；　to　be　surehucking　the　fire　all　abroad。　　It's　what　they're　always　after。　　I　did　think　I'd　got　it　safe　out　of　their　way　this　time。〃

〃Then；〃　in　rather　a　frightened　voice；　for　she　felt　that　it　would　be　a　tremendous　trial　of　her　powers；　〃should　I　make　them　come　away？〃

〃Catch　her！〃　muttered　Hal。

There　was　horror　and　disapprobation　on　Susan's　face。　　Annie　stood　with　her　mouth　open；　while　John；　throwing　himself　on　the　ground　with　fury；　rolled　over；　crying　out　something　about；　〃I　won't；〃　and　〃very　cross；〃　and　David　lay　flat　on　his　face；　puffing　at　his　own　particular