the stokesley secret-第7章

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Susan　was　too　simple　and　straightforward　to　be　shy；　and　answered　readily；　that　they　had　had　letters；　and　Mamma　had　been　sadly　tired　by　the　journey；　but　was　better　the　next　day。　　The　little　girls　shook　hands；　and　Mrs。　Greville　made　a　kind　of　introduction　by　nodding　towards　her　companion；　and　murmuring　something　about　〃Fraulein　Munsterthal；〃　and　Miss　Fosbrook　found　herself　walking　beside　a　lady　with　the　least　of　all　bonnets；　a　profusion　of　fair　hair；　and　a　good…　humoured；　one…coloured　face；　no　doubt　Miss　Ida's　German　governess。　She　said　something　about　the　fine　day；　and　received　an　answer；　but　what　it　was　she　could　not　guess；　whether　German；　French；　or　English；　and　her　own　knowledge　of　the　two　first　languages　was　better　for　reading　than　for　speaking；　so　after　an　awkward　attempt　or　two；　she　held　her　peace　and　looked　at　her　companions。

Susan　and　Mrs。　Greville　seemed　to　be　getting　on　very　well　together；　but　Elizabeth's　admiration　of　Ida　seemed　to　be　speechless；　for　they　were　walking　side　by　side　without　a　word；　perhaps　too　close　to　their　elders　to　talk。

Annie　and　David　were　going　on　steadily　hand　in　hand　a　little　way　off；　and　Miss　Fosbrook　chiefly　heard　the　talk　of　the　boys；　who　had　fallen　behind；　perhaps　her　ears　were　quickened　by　its　personality；　for　though　Sam　was　saying；　〃I'll　tell　you　what；　she's　a　famous　fellow！〃　the　rejoinder　was；　〃What！　do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　mind　her？〃

〃Doesn't　he？〃　said　Hal's　voice；　〃why；　she　sent　him　away　from　tea　last　night；　just　for　shying　crusts。〃

〃And　did　he　go？〃　and　there　was　a　disagreeable　sounding　laugh；　in　which　she　was　sorry　that　Hal　joined。

〃Catch　the　Fraulein　serving　me　so！〃

〃She　never　tries！〃

〃She　knows　better！〃

〃I　say；　Sam；　I　thought　you　had　more　spirit。　　You'll　be　sitting　up　pricking　holes　in　a　frill　by　the　time　the　Captain　comes　back。〃

〃And　Hal　will　be　mincing　along　with　his　toes　turned　out　like　a　dancing…master！〃　continued　an　affected　voice。

〃No　such　thing！〃　cried　Hal　angrily：　　〃I'm　not　a　fellow　to　be　ordered　about！〃

The　Grevilles　laughed；　and　one　of　them　said；　〃Well；　then；　why　don't　you　show　it？　　I'd　soon　send　her　to　the　right…about　if　she　tried　to　interfere　with　me！〃

Miss　Fosbrook　could　bear　it　no　longer；　and　facing　suddenly　round；　looked　the　speaker　full　in　the　face；　and　said；　〃I　am　very　much　obliged　to　youbut　you　should　not　speak　quite　so　loud。〃

The　boys　shrank　back　out　of　countenance；　and　Sam；　who　alone　had　not　spoken；　looked　up　into　her　face　with　a　merry　air；　as　if　he　were　gratified　by　her　spirited　way　of　discomfiting　them。

Osmond　tried　to　recover；　and　muttered；　〃What　a　sell！〃　rather　impudently；　but　they　were　now　near　the　churchyard；　and　Mrs。　Greville　turning　round；　all　was　hushed。

Christabel　felt　much　vexed　that　all　this　should　have　happened　just　before　going　into　church；　she　felt　a　good　deal　ruffled　herself；　and　feared　that　Bessie's　head　was　filled　with　nonsense；　if　Hal's　were　not　with　something　worse。

The　church　looked　pretty　outside；　with　the　old　weather…boarded　wooden　belfry　rising　above　the　tiled　roof　and　western　gable；　and　it　was　neatly　kept　but　not　pretty　within；　the　walls　all　done　over　with　pale　buff　wash；　and　the　wood…work　very　clumsy。　　Sam　and　Susan　behaved　well　and　attentively；　but　Bessie　fidgeted　into　her　mamma's　place；　and　would　stand　upon　a　hassock。　　Miss　Fosbrook　was　much　afraid　it　was　to　keep　in　sight　of　the　beautiful　bird。　　Hal　yawned；　and　Johnnie　not　only　fidgeted　unbearably　himself；　but　made　his　sister　Annie　do　the　same；　till　Miss　Fosbrook　scarcely　felt　as　if　she　was　at　church；　and　made　up　her　mind　to　tell　Johnnie　that　she　should　leave　him　at　home　with　the　babies　unless　he　changed　his　ways。　　Little　David　went　on　most　steadily　with　his　Prayer…Book；　and　scarcely　looked　off　it　till　the　sermon；　when　he　fell　asleep。

Miss　Fosbrook　had　one　pleasure　as　she　was　going　home。　　The　children　had　all　gone　on　some　steps　before　her；　chattering　eagerly　among　themselves；　when　Sam　turned　back　and　said　abruptly；　〃Miss　Fosbrook；　you　didn't　mind　THAT；　I　hope？〃

〃What　those　boys　were　saying？　It　depends　on　you　whether　you　make　me　mind　it。〃

〃I　don't　mean　to　make　any　rows　if　I　can　help　it；〃　said　Sam。

〃I　am　sure　I　hope　you　will　be　able　to　help　it！　　I　don't　know　what　I　should　do　if　you　did！〃

Sam　gave　an　odd　smile　with　his　honest　face。　　〃Well；　you've　got　a　good　spirit　of　your　own。　　It　would　take　something　to　cow　you。〃

〃Pray　don't　try！〃

Sam　laughed；　and　said；　〃I　did　promise　Papa　to　be　conformable。〃

〃And　I　was　very　much　obliged　to　you　yesterday　evening。　　The　behaviour　of　the　other　boys　depends　so　much　on　you。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Sam；　〃and　I　don't　mind　it　so　much　now　I　see　you　can　stand　up　for　yourself。〃

〃Besides；　what　would　it　be　if　I　had　to　write　to　your　father　that　I　could　not　manage　such　a　bear…garden？〃

〃I'll　take　care　that　sha'n't　happen；〃　exclaimed　Sam。　　〃It　would　hinder　all　the　good　to　Mamma！　　I'll　tell　you　what；〃　he　added；　after　a　confidential　pause；　〃if　we　get　beyond　you；　there's　Mr。　Carey。〃

〃I　thought　you　did　not　mean　to　get　beyond　me。〃

Sam　looked　a　little　disconcerted；　and　it　struck　her　that；　though　he　would　not　say　so；　he　was　doubtful　whether　the　Greville　influence　might　not　render　Henry　unmanageable；　but　he　quickly　gave　it　another　turn。　　〃Only　you　must　not　plague　us　about　London　manners。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean　by　London　manners。　　Do　you　mean　not　bawling　at　tea？　for　I　mean　to　insist　upon　that；　I　assure　you；　and　I　want　you　to　help　me。〃

〃Oh！　not　being　finikin；　and　mincing；　and　nonsensical！〃

〃I　hope　I'm　not　so！〃　said　Miss　Fosbrook；　laughing　heartily；　〃but　I'll　tell　you　one　thing；　Sam；　that　I　do　wish　you　would　leave　offand　that　is　teazing。　　I　don't　know　whether　that　is　country　manners；　but　I　don't　like　to　see　a　sensible　kind　fellow　like　you　just　go　out　of　your　way　to　say　something　mortifying　to　a　younger　one。〃

〃You　don't　know；〃　said　Sam。　　〃It　is　fun。　　They　like　it。〃

〃If　they　really　like　it；　there　is　no　objection。　　I　know　I　should　like　very　much　to　have　my　brother　here　quizzing　me；　but　you　know　very　well　there　are　two　sorts　of　such　fun；　and　one　that　is　only　sport　to　the　stronger　side。〃

〃Bessie　is　so　ridiculous。〃

〃She　is　the　very　one　I　want　to　protect。　　I　don't　think　that　teazing　her　does　any　good；　it　only　gives　her　cross　feelings。　　And　she　really　has　more　right　on　her　side　than　you　think。　　You　might　be　just　as　honest　and　bold　if　you　were　less　rude　and　bearish。〃

〃I　can't　bear　to　see　her　so　affected　and　perked　up。〃

〃It　is　not　affectation。　　She　is　really　more　gentle　and　quiet　than　you　are；　you　don't　think　it　so　in　your　Mamma；　and　she　is　like　her。〃

〃Mamma　is　not　like　Bessie。〃

〃And　then　about　Davy。　　How　could　you　go　and　stop　the　poor　little　boy　when　he　was　trying　to　think　and　feel　rightly？〃

〃He　was　so　funny；〃　repeated　Sam。

〃I　hope　you　will　think　another　time　whether　your　fun　is　safe　and　kind。〃

〃One　can't　be　so　particular；〃　he　said　impatiently。

〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　it。　　I　thought　the　only　way　to　do　right　was　to　be　particular。〃

He　grunted；　and　flung　away　from　her。　　She　was　vexed　to　have　sent　him　off　in　such　a　mood；　but；　unmannerly　as　he　was；　she　saw　so　much　good　in　him；　that　she　could　not　but　hope　he　would　be　her　friend　and　ally。

Dinner　went　off　very　peaceably；　and　then　Susan　fetched　her　two　darlings　from　the　nursery；　George　and　Sarah；　of　three　years　and　eighteen　months　old。　　Her　great　perfection　was　as　a　motherly　elder　sister；　and　even　Sam　was　gentle　to　these　little　things；　and　played　with　them　very　nicely。

Miss　Fosbrook　reminded　Hal　of　his　Collect；　but　he　observed　that　there　was　plenty　of　time；　and　continued　to　stand　by　the　window；　pursuing　the　flies　with　his　finger；　not　killing　them；　but　tormenting　them　and　David　very　seriously；　by　making　them　think　he　wouldnot　a　very　pretty　business　for　the　day　when　all　things　should　be　happy；　more　like　that　which　is　always　found　〃for　idle　hands　to　do。〃

Evening　service…time　put　an　end　to　this　sport；　but　Miss　Fosbrook　could　not　set　off　till　after　a　severe　conflict　with　Johnnie。　　She　had　decreed　that　he　should　not　go　again　that　day；　after　his　behaviour　in　the　morning；　and　perhaps　he　would　not　have　minded　this　punishment　much　if　David　had　not　been　going；　which　made　him　think　it　a　disgrace。　So；　in　the　most　independen