Ah, but no place was ever so good as this, said poor Valetta.
Dont be such a little donkey, said Fergus consequentially. Dont you know we are going to school, and I am three years younger than Wilfred was?
It is only a petticoat school, said Val, kept by ladies.
It isnt.
It is; I heard Harry say so.
And yours is all butchers and bakers and candlestick makers.
On which they fell on each other, each with a howl of defiance. Fergus grabbed at Vals pigtail, and she was buffeting him vehemently when Harry came out, held them apart, and demanded if this were the way to make their mother easy in leaving them.
She said it was a pet-pet-petticoat school, sobbed Fergus.
And so it ought to be, for boys that fight with girls.
And he said mine was all butchers and bakers and candlestick makers, whined Valetta.
Then youd better learn manners, or theyll take you for a tramp, observed Harry; but at that moment Mysie broke in with a shout at having discovered the kittens making a plaything of the best library pen-wiper, their mother, the sleek Begum, abetting them, and they were borne off to display the coming glories of their deep fur to Aunt Jane.
Her choice fell upon the Sofy, as much because of the convenience of the name as because of the preternatural wisdom of expression imparted by the sweep of the black lines on the gray visage. Mr. Pollocks landlady was to be the happy possessor of Artaxerxes, and the turbulent portion of the Household was disposed of to bear him thither, and to beg Miss Hacket to give Buff and Ring the run of her cage, whence they had originally come, also to deliver various messages and notes.
By the time they returned, Colonel Mohun was met in the hall by his sister. Oh, Reggie, it is too good in you! were the words that came with her fervent kiss. Remember how many years I have been seasoned to being cockit up on a baggage waggon. Ought not such an old soldier as I to be able to take care of myself?
And what would your husband say to you when you got there? And should not I catch it from William? Well, are you packing up the youthful family for Beechcroft, except that at Rotherwood they are shrieking for Mysie?
I know how good William and Alethea would be. This child, pointing to Primrose, who had been hanging on her all day in silence, is to go to them; but as I cant send Miss Vincent, educational advantages, as the advertisements say, lie on the side of Rockstone; so Jenny here undertakes to be troubled with the rabble.
But Mysie? Rotherwood met me at the station and begged me to obtain her from you. They really wish it.
He does, I have no doubt.
So does Madame la Marquise. They have been anxious about little Phyllis all the summer. She was languid and off her feed in London, and did not pick up at home as they expected. My belief is that it is too much governess and too little play, and that a fortnight here would set her up again. Rotherwood himself thinks so, and Victoria has some such inkling. At any rate, they are urgent to have Mysie with the child, as the next best thing.
Poor dear little Fly! ejaculated Lady Merrifield; but I am afraid Mysie was not very happy there last year.
And what would be the effect of all the overdoing? said Miss Mohun.
Mysie is tougher than that sprite, and I suppose there is some relaxation, said Lady Merrifield.
Yes; the doctors have frightened them sufficiently for the present.
I suppose Mysie is a prescription, poor child, said her aunt, in a tone that evoked from her brother
Jealous, Jenny?
Well, Jane, said Lady Merrifield, you know how thankful I am to you and Ada, but I am inclined to let it depend on the letters I get to-morrow, and the way Victoria takes it. If it is really an earnest wish on that dear little Flys account, I could not withstand old Rotherwood, and though Mysie might be less happy than she would be with you, I do not think any harm will be done. Everything there is sound and conscientious, and if she picks up a little polish, it wont hurt her.
Shall you give her the choice?
I see no good in rending the poor childs mind between two affections, especially as there will be a very short time to decide in, for I shall certainly not send her if Victorias is a mere duty letter.
You are quite right there, Lily, said the Colonel. The less choice the greater comfort.
Well done, sir soldier, said his sister Jane. I say quite right too; only, for my own sake, I wish it had been Valetta.
So no doubt does she, said the mother; but unluckily it isnt. And, indeed, I dont think I wish it. Val is safer with you. As Gillian expressed it the other day, Val does right when she likes it; Mysie does right when she knows it.
You have the compliment after all, Jane, said the Colonel. Lily trusts you with the child she doesnt trust!
There was no doubt the next morning, for Lady Rotherwood wrote an earnest, affectionate letter, begging for Mysie, who, she said, had won such golden opinions in her former visit that it would be a real benefit to Phyllis, as much morally as physically, to have her companionship. It was the tenderest letter that either of the sisters had ever seen from the judicious and excellent Marchioness, full of warm sympathy for Lady Merrifields anxiety for her husband, and betraying much solicitude for her little girl.
It has done her good, said Jane Mohun. I did not think she had such a soft spot.
Poor Victoria, said Lady Merrifield, that is a shame. You know she is an excellent mother.
Too excellent, thats the very thing, muttered Aunt Jane. Well, Mysies fate is settled, and I dare say it will turn out for the best.
So Mysie was to go with Mrs. Halfpenny and Primrose to Beechcroft, whence the Rotherwoods would fetch her. If the ladys letter had been much less urgent, who could have withstood her lords postscript: If you could see the little pale face light up at the bare notion of seeing Mysie, you would know how grateful we shall be for her.
Mysie herself heard her destiny without much elation, though she was very fond of Lady Phyllis, and the tears came into her eyes at the thought of her being unwell and wanting her.
Mamma said we must not grumble, she said to Gillian; but I shall feel so lost without you and Val. It is so unhomish, and theres that dreadful German Fraulein, who was not at home last time.
If you told mamma, perhaps she would let you stay, returned Gillian. I know I should hate it, worse than I do going to Rockstone and without you.
That would be unkind to poor Fly, said Mysie. Besides, mamma said she could not have settling and unsettling for ever. And I shall see Primrose sometimes; besides, I do love Fly. Its marching orders, you know.
It was Valetta who made the most objection. She declared that it was not fair that Mysie, who had been to the ball at Rotherwood, should go again to live with lords and ladies, while she went to a nasty day-school with butchers and bakers daughters. She hoped she should grow horridly vulgar, and if mamma did not like it, it would be her own fault!
Mrs. Halfpenny, who did not like to have to separate Mysies clothes from the rest after they were packed, rather favoured this naughtiness by observing: The old blue merino might stay at home. Miss Mysie would be too set up to wear that among her fine folk. Set her up, that she should have all the treats, while her own Miss Gillian was turned over to the auld aunties!
Nonsense, nurse, said Gillian. Im much better pleased to go and be of some use! Val, you naughty child, how dare you make such a fuss? for Valetta was crying again.
I hate school, and I hate Rockstone, and I dont see why Mysie should always go everywhere, and wear new frocks, and I go to the butchers and bakers and wear horrid old ones.
I wish you could come too, said Mysie; but indeed old frocks are the nicest, because one is not bothered to take so much care of them; and lords and ladies arent a bit better to play with than, other people. In fact, Ivy is what Japs calls a muff and a stick.
Valetta, however, cried on, and Mysie went the length of repairing to her mother, in the midst of her last notes and packings, to entreat to change with Val, who followed on tip-toe.
Certainly not, was the answer from Lady Merrifield, who was being worried on all sides, Valetta is not asked, and she is not behaving so that I could accept for her if she were.
And Val had to turn away in floods of tears, which redoubled on being told by the united voices of her brothers and sisters that they were ashamed of her for being so selfish as to cry for herself when all were in so much trouble about papa.
Lady Merrifield caught some of the last words. No, my dear, she said. That is not quite just or kind. It is being unhappy that makes poor Val so ready to cry about her own grievances. Only, Val, come here, and remember that fretting is not the way to meet such things. There is a better way, my child, and I think you know what I mean. Now, to help you through the time in an outer way, suppose you each set yourself some one thing to improve in while I am away. Dont tell me what it is, but let me find out when I come home. With that she obeyed an urgent summons to speak to the gardener.
I shall! I shall, cried little Primrose, write a whole copy-book in single lines! And wont mamma be pleased? What shall you do, Fergus? and Val? and Mysie?
I shall get to spin my peg-top so as it will never tumble down, and will turn an engine for drawing water, was the prompt answer of Fergus.
What nonsense! said Val; youd better settle to get your long division sums right.
That s girls stuff, replied Fergus; youd better settle to leave off crying for nothing.
That you had! said several voices, and Val very nearly cried again as she exclaimed: Dont be all so tiresome. I shall make mamma a beautiful crewel cushion, with all the battles in history on it. And wont she be surprised!
I think mamma meant more than that, said Mysie.
Oh, Mysie, what shall you do? asked Primrose.
I did think of getting to translate one of mammas favourite German stories quite through to her without wanting the dictionary or stumbling one bit, said Mysie; but I am sure she meant something better and better, and Im thinking what it isPerhaps it is making all little Flossie Maddins clothes, a whole suit all oneselfOr perhaps it is manners. What do you think, Gill?
I should say most likely it was manners for you, volunteered Harry, and the extra you are most likely to acquire at Rotherwood.
Im so glad, said Mysie.
And you, Gill, inquired Primrose, what will you do? Mine is a copy-book, and Ferguss is the spinning-top-engines, and rule of three; and Vals is a crewel battle cushion and not crying; and Mysies is German stories and manners; and whats yours, Gill?
Gill is so grown up, she is too good to want an inside thing announced Primrose.
Oh, Prim, you dear little thing, cried both elder brother and sister, as they thought with a sort of pang of the childs opinion of grown-up impeccability.
Harry is grown up more, put in Fergus; why dont you ask him?
Because I know, said Primrose, with a pretty shyness, and as they pressed her, she whispered, He is going to be a clergyman.
There was a call for Mysie and Val from upstairs, and as the younger population scampered off, Gillian said to her brother
Is not it like occupy till I come?
So I was thinking, said Harry gravely. But one must be as young as Mysie to throw ones inside things into the general stock of resolutions.
Yes, said Gillian, with uplifted eyes. I doI do hope to do something.
Some great thing was her unspoken thoughtsome great and excellent achievement to be laid before her mother on her return. There was a tale begun in imitation of Bessie Merrifield, called Hildas Experiences. Suppose that was finished, printed, published, splendidly reviewed. Would not that be a great thing? But alas, she was under a tacit engagement never to touch it in the hours of study.
CHAPTER II. ROCKQUAY
The actual moment of a parting is often softened by the confusion of departure. That of the Merrifield family took place at the junction, where Lady Merrifield with her brother remained in the train, to be carried on to London.
Gillian, Valetta, and Fergus, with their aunt, changed into a train for Rockstone, and Harry was to return to his theological college, after seeing Mysie and Primrose off with nurse on their way to the ancestral Beechcroft, whence Mysie was to be fetched to Rotherwood. The last thing that met Lady Merrifields eyes was Mrs. Halfpenny gesticulating wildly, under the impression that Mysies box was going off to London.
And Gillians tears were choked in the scurry to avoid a smoking-carriage, while Harry could not help thinkinghalf blaming himself for so doingthat Mysie expended more feeling in parting with Sofy, the kitten, than with her sisters, not perceiving that pussy was the safety-valve for the poor childs demonstrations of all the sorrow that was oppressing her.
Gillian, in the corner of a Rockstone carriage, had time for the full heart-sickness and tumult of fear that causes such acute suffering to young hearts. It is quite a mistake to say that youth suffers less from apprehension than does age; indeed, the very inexperience and novelty add to the alarms, where there is no background of anxieties that have ended happily, only a crowd of examples of other peoples misfortunes. The difference is in the greater elasticity and power of being distracted by outward circumstances; and thus lookers-on never guess at the terrific possibilities that have scared the imagination, and the secret ejaculations that have met them. How many times on that brief journey had not Gillian seen her father dying, her sisters in despair, her mother crushed in the train, wrecked in the steamer, perishing of the climate, or arriving to find all over and dying of the shock; yet all was varied by speculations on the great thing that was to offer itself to be done, and the delight it would give, and when the train slackened, anxieties were merged in the care for bags, baskets, and umbrellas.
Rockstone and Rockquay had once been separate placesa little village perched on a cliff of a promontory, and a small fishing hamlet within the bay, but these had become merged in one, since fashion had chosen them as a winter resort. Speculators blasted away such of the rocks as they had not covered with lodging-houses and desirable residences. The inhabitants of the two places had their separate churches, and knew their own bounds perfectly well; but to the casual observer, the chief distinction between them was that Rockstone was the more fashionable, Rockquay the more commercial, although the one had its shops, the other its handsome crescents and villas. The station was at Rockquay, and there was an uphill drive to reach Rockstone, where the two Miss Mohuns had been early inhabitantshad named their cottage Beechcroft after their native home, and, to justify the title, had flanked the gate with two copper beeches, which had attained a fair growth, in spite of sea winds, perhaps because sheltered by the house on the other side.