The Long Vacation - Charlotte Yonge 7 стр.

I thought a bazaar quite out of your line.

There seems to be no other chance of saving this place from board schools. Two thousand pounds have to be raised, and though Lord Rotherwood and Mr. White, the chief owners of property, have done, and will do, much, there still remains greater need than a fleeting population like this can be expected to supply, and Clement thinks that a bazaar is quite justifiable in such a case.

If there is nothing undesirable, said Mrs. Harewood, in her original what it may lead to voice.

Trust Lady Merrifield and Jane Mohun for that! I am going to take you to call upon Lilias Merrifield.

Yea; I shall wish to see the mother of Bernards wife.

Clement, who went with them, explained to his somewhat wondering elder sister that he thought safeguards to Christian education so needful, that he was quite willing that, even in this brief stay, all the aid in their power should be given to the cause at Rockquay. Nay, as he afterwards added to Wilmet, he was very glad to see how much it interested Geraldine, and that the work for the Church and the congenial friends were rousing her from her listless state of dejection.

Lady Merrifield and Mrs. Harewood were mutually charmed, perhaps all the more because the former was not impassioned about the bazaar. She said she had been importuned on such subjects wherever she had gone, and had learnt to be passive; but her sister Jane was all eagerness, and her younger young people, as she called the present half of her family, were in the greatest excitement over their first experience of the kind.

Well is it for all undertakings that there should always be somebody to whom all is new, and who can be zealous and full of delight.

By no means surtout point de zele, returned Geraldine.

As well say no fermentation, said Lady Merrifield.

A dangerous thing, said Clement.

But sourness comes without it, or at least deadness, returned his sister.

Wherewith they returned to talk of their common relations.

It was like a joke to the brother and sisters, that their Bernard should be a responsible husband and father, whereas Lady Merrifields notion of him was as a grave, grand-looking man with a splendid beard.

Fergus Merrifield was asked to become the protector of Adrian, whereat he looked sheepish; but after the round of pets had been made he informed his two youngest sisters, Valetta and Primrose, that it was the cheekiest little fellow he had ever seen, who would never know if he was bullied within an inch of his life; not that he (Fergus) should let the fellows do it.

So though until Monday morning Anna was the slave of her brother, doing her best to supply the place of the six devoted sisters at home, the young gentleman ungratefully announced at breakfast

I dont want gy-arls after me, with a peculiarly contemptuous twirl at the beginning of the word; Merrifield is to call for me.

Anna, who had brought down her hat, looked mortified.

Never mind, Annie, said her uncle, he will know better one of these days.

No, I shant, said Adrian, turning round defiantly. If she comes bothering after me at dinner-time I shall throw my books at herthats all! Theres Merrifield, and he banged out of the room.

Never mind, again said his uncle, he has had a large dose of the feminine element, and this is his swing out of it.

Hopes, which Anna thought cruel, were entertained by her elders that the varlet would return somewhat crestfallen, but there were no such symptoms; the boy re-appeared in high spirits, having been placed well for his years, but not too well for popularity, and in the playground he had found himself in his natural element. The boys were mostly of his own size, or a little bigger, and bullying was not the fashion. He had heard enough school stories to be wary of boasting of his title, and as long as he did not flaunt it before their eyes, it was regarded as rather a credit to the school.

Merrifield was elated at the success of his protege, and patronized him more than he knew, accepting his devotion in a droll, contemptuous manner, so that the pair were never willingly apart. As Fergus slept at his aunts during the week, the long summer evenings afforded splendid opportunities for what Fergus called scientific researches in the quarries and cliffs. It was as well for Lady Vanderkists peace of mind that she did not realize them, though Fergus was certified by his family to be cautious and experienced enough to be a safe guide. Perhaps people were less nervous about sixth sons than only ones.

There was, indeed, a certain undeveloped idea held out that some of the duplicates of Ferguss precious collection might be arranged as a sample of the specimens of minerals and fossils of Rockquay at the long-talked-of sale of work.

CHAPTER VIII. THE MOUSE-TRAP

The young ladies were truly in an intense state of excitement about the sale of work, especially about the authorship; and Uncle Lancelot having promised to send an estimate, a meeting of the Mouse-trap was convened to consider of the materials, and certainly the mass of manuscript contributed at different times to the Mouse-trap magazine was appalling to all but Anna, who knew what was the shrinkage in the press.

She, however, held herself bound not to inflict on her busy uncle the reading of anything entirely impracticable, so she sat with a stern and critical eye as the party mustered in Miss Mohuns drawing-room, and Gillian took the chair.

The great design, said she impressively, is that the Mouse-trap should collect and print and publish a selection for the benefit of the school.

The Mice vehemently applauded, only Miss Norton, the oldest of the party, asked humbly

Would any one think it worth buying?

Oh, yes, cried Valetta. Lots of translations!

The Erl King, for instance, put in Dolores Mohun.

If Anna would append the parody, suggested Gillian.

Oh, parodies areare horrid, said Mysie.

Many people feel them so, said Gillian, but to others I think they are almost a proof of love, that they can make sport with what they admire so much.

Then, said Mysie, theres Dolores Eruption!

What a nice subject, laughed Gillian. However, it will do beautifully, being the description of the pink terraces of that place with the tremendous name in New Zealand.

Were you there? cried Anna.

Yes. I always wonder how she can look the same after such adventures, said Mysie.

You know it is much the same as my fathers paper in the Scientific World, said Dolores.

Nobody over reads that, so it wont signify, was the uncomplimentary verdict.

And, added Mysie, Mr. Brownlow would do a history of Rockquay, and that would be worth having.

Oh yes, the dear ghost and all! cried Valetta.

The acclamation was general, for the Reverend Armine Brownlow was the cynosure curate of the lady Church-helpers, and Mysie produced as a precious loan, to show what could be done, the volume containing the choicest morceaux of the family magazine of his youth, the Travellers Joy, in white parchment binding adorned with clematis, and emblazoned with the Evelyn arms on one side, the Brownlow on the other, and full of photographs and reproductions of drawings.

Much too costly, said the prudent.

It was not for sale, said Mysie, obviously uneasy while it was being handed round.

Half-a-crown should be our outside price, said Gillian.

Or a shilling without photographs, half-a-crown with, was added.

Shall I ask Uncle Lance what can be done for how much? asked Anna, and this was accepted with acclamation, but, as Gillian observed, they had yet got no further than Dolores Eruption and the unwritten history.

There are lots of stories, said Kitty Varley; the one about Bayard and all the knights in Italy.

The one, said Gillian, where Padua got into the kingdom of Naples, and the lady of the house lighted a lucifer match, besides the horse who drained a goblet of red wine.

You know that was only the pronouns, suggested the author.

Then theres another, added Valetta, called Monrepossuch a beauty, when the husband was wounded, and died at his wifes feet just as the sun gilded the tops of the pines, and she died when the moon set, and the little daughter went in and was found dead at their feet.

No, no, Val, said Gillian. Here is a story that Bessie has sent usreally worth having.

Mesa! Oh, of course, was the acclamation.

And heres a little thing of mine, Gillian added modestly, about the development of the brain.

At this there was a shout.

A little thing! Isnt it on the differential calculus?

Really, I dont see why Rockquay should not have a little rational study!

Ah! but the present question is what Rockquay will buy; to further future development it may be, but I am afraid their brains are not yet developed enough, said Emma Norton.

Well then, here is the comparison between Euripides and Shakespeare.

Thats what you read papa and everybody to sleep with, said Valetta pertly.

Except Aunt Lily, and she said she had read something very like it in Schlegel, added Dolores.

You must not be too deep for ordinary intellects, Gillian, said Emma Norton good-naturedly. Surely there is that pretty history you made out of Count Baldwin the Pretender.

That! Oh, that is a childish concern.

The better fitted for our understandings, said Emma, disinterring it, and handing it over to Anna, while Mysie breathed out

Oh! I did like it! And, Gill, where is Phylliss account of the Jubilee gaieties and procession last year?

That would make the fortune of any paper, said Anna.

Yes, if Lady Rotherwood will let it be used, said Gillian. It is really delightful and full of fun, but I am quite sure that her name could not appear, and I do not expect leave to use it.

Shall I write and ask? said Mysie.

Oh yes, do; if Cousin Rotherwood is always gracious, it is specially to you.

I wrote to my cousin, Gerald Underwood, said Anna, to ask if he had anything to spare us, though I knew he would laugh at the whole concern, and he has sent down this. I dont quite know whether he was in earnest or in mischief.

And she read aloud

There was a good deal of laughter at this parody of Jane Taylors Village Girl, though Mysie was inclined to be shocked as at something profane.

Then what will you think of this? said Anna, beginning gravely to read aloud The Inspectors Tour.

It was very clever, so clever that Valetta and Kitty Varley both listened as in sober earnest, never discovering, or only in flashes like Mysie, that it was really a satire on all the social state of the different European nations, under the denomination of schools. One being depicted as highly orthodox, but much given to sentence insubordination to dark cold closets; another as given to severe drill, but neglecting manners; a third as repudiating religious teaching, and now and then preparing explosions for the mastersno, teachers. The various conversations were exceedingly bright and comical; and there were brilliant hits at existing circumstances, all a little in a socialistic spirit, which made Anna pause as she read. She really had not perceived till she heard it in her own voice and with other ears how audacious it was, especially for a school bazaar.

Dolores applauded with her whole heart, but owned that it might be too good for the Mouse-trap, it would be too like catching a monkey! Gillian, more doubtfully, questioned whether it would quite do; and Mysie, when she understood the allusions, thought it would not. Emma Norton was more decided, and it ended by deciding that the paper should be read to the elders at Clipstone, and their decision taken before sending it to Uncle Lance.

The spirits of the Muscipula party rose as they discussed the remaining MSS., but these were not of the highest order of merit; and Anna thought that the really good would be sufficient; and all the Underwood kith and kin had sufficient knowledge of the Press through their connection with the Pursuivant to be authorities on the subject.

Fergus has some splendid duplicate ammonites for me and bits of crystal, said Mysie.

Oh, do let Fergus alone, entreated Gillian. He is almost a petrifaction already, and you know what depends on it.

My sister is coming next week for a few days, said Anna. She is very clever, and may help us.

Emilia was accordingly introduced to the Mice, but she was not very tolerant of them. Essay societies, she said, were out of date, and she thought the Rockquay young ladies a very country-town set.

You dont know them, Emmie, said Anna. Gillian and Dolores are very remarkable girls, only

Only they are kept down by their mothers, I suppose. Is that the reason they dont do anything but potter after essay societies and Sunday-schools like our little girls at Vale Leston? Why, I asked Gillian, as you call her, what they were doing about the Penitents Home, and she said her mother and Aunt Jane went to look after it, but never talked about it.

You know they are all very young.

Young indeed! How is one ever to be of any use if mothers and people are always fussing about ones being young?

One wont always be so

They would think so, like the woman of a hundred years old, who said on her daughters death at eighty, Ah, poor girl, I knew I never should rear her! How shall I get to see the Infirmary here?