Magnum Bonum; Or, Mother Carey's Brood - Charlotte Yonge 11 стр.

Beauty versus brains! My dear, you had better open your eyes to the truth. You must make up your mind to it. It is only very exceptional people who, even in the long run, care most for feminine brains.

But, mother, every one did.

Every one in our world, Janet; but your father made our home set of those exceptional people, and we are cast out of it now! she added, with a gasp and a gesture of irrepressible desolateness.

Yes, that comes of this horrid move, said the girl, in quite another tone. Well, some day and she stopped.

Some day? said her mother.

Some day well go back again, and show what we are, she said, proudly.

Ah, Janet! and thats nothing now without him.

Mother, how can you say so, when? Jane just checked herself, as she was coming to the great secret.

When we have his four boys, said her mother. Ah! yes, Janetifand whenBut thats a long way off, and, to come back to our former subject, she added, recalling herself with a sigh, it will be wise in us owlets to make up our minds that owlets we are, and to give the place to the eaglets.

But eaglets are very ugly, and owlets very pretty, quoth Janet.

Carey laughed. That does not seem to have been the opinion of the Beast Epic, said she, and the entrance of Babie prevented them from going further.

Janet turned away with one of her grim sighs at the unappreciative world to which she was banished. She had once or twice been on the point of mentioning the Magnum Bonum to her mother, but the reserve at first made it seem as if an avowal would be a confession, and to this she could not bend her pride, while the secrecy made a strange barrier between her and her mother. In truth, Janet had never been so devoted to Mother Carey as to either granny or her father, and now she missed them sorely, and felt it almost an injury to have no one but her mother to turn to.

Her character was not set in the same mould, and though both could meet on the common ground of intellect, she could neither enter into the recesses of her mothers grief, nor understand those flashes of brightness and playfulness which nothing could destroy. If Carey had chosen to unveil the truth to herself, she would have owned that Allen, who was always ready, tender and sympathetic to her, was a much greater comfort than his sister; nay, that even little Babie gave her more rest and peace than did Janet, who always rubbed against her whenever they found themselves tete-a-tete or in consultation.

Meantime Babie had been out with her two little cousins, and came home immensely impressed with the Belforest gardens. The house was shut up, but the gardens were really kept up to perfection, and the little one could not declare her full delight in the wonderful blaze she had seen of banks of red, and flame coloured, and white, flowering trees. They said they would show me the Americans, she said. Why was it, mother? I thought Americans were like the gentleman who dined with you one day, and told me about the snow birds. But there were only these flower-trees, and a pond, and statues standing round it, and I dont think they were Americans, for I know one was Diana, because she had a bow and quiver. I wanted to look at the rest, but Miss James said they were horrid heathen gods, not fit for little girls to look at; and, mother, Ellie is so silly, she thought the people at Belforest worshipped them. Do come and see them, mother. It is like the Crystal Palace out-of-doors.

Omitting the Crystal, laughed some one; but Babie had more to say, exclaiming, O mother, Essie says Aunt Ellen says Janet and I are to do lessons with Miss James, but you wont let us, will you?

Miss James! broke out Janet indignantly; we might as well learn of old nurse! Why, mother, she cant pronounce French, and she never heard of terminology, and she thinks Edward I. killed the bards! For the girls had spent a day or two with their cousins in the course of the move.

Yes, broke in Barbara, and she wont let Essie and Ellie teach their dolls their lessons! She was quite cross when I was showing them how, and said it was all nonsense when I told her I heard you say that I half taught myself by teaching Juliet. And so the poor dolls have no advantages, mother, and are quite stupid for want of education, pursued the little girl, indignantly. They arent people, but only dolls, and Essie and Ellie cant do anything with them but just dress them and take them out walking.

Thats what they would wish to make Babie like! said her elder sister.

But youll not let anybody teach me but you, dear, dear Mother Carey, entreated the child.

No, indeed, my little one. And just then the boys came rushing in to their evening meal, full of the birds nest that they had been visiting in their uncles field, and quite of opinion that Kenminster was a jolly place.

And then, added Jock, we got the garden engine, and had such fun, you dont know.

Yes, said Bobus, till you sent a whole cataract against the house, and that brought out her Serene Highness!

The applicability of the epithet set the whole family off into a laugh, and Jock further made up a solemn face, and repeated

It convulsed them all, and the mother, recovering a little, said, I wonder whether she ever can laugh.

Poor Aunt Ellen! said Babie, in all her gravity; she is like King Henry I. and never smiled again.

And with more wit than prudence, Mrs. Buff, her Serene Highness, Sua Serenita, as Janet made it, became the sobriquets for Aunt Ellen, and were in continual danger of oozing out publicly. Indeed the younger population at Kencroft probably soon became aware of them, for on the next half-holiday Jock crept in with unmistakable tokens of combat about him, and on interrogation confessed, It was Johnnie, mother. Because we wanted you to come out walking with us, and he said twas no good walking with ones mother, and I told him he didnt know what a really jolly mother was, and that his mother couldnt laugh, and that you said so, and he said my mother was no better than a tomboy, and that she said so, and so

And so, the effects were apparent on Jocks torn and stained collar and swelled nose.

But the namesake champions remained unconvinced, except that Johnnie may have come over to the opinion that a mother no better than a tomboy was not a bad possession, for the three haunted the Folly a good deal, and made no objection to their aunts company after the first experiment.

Unfortunately, however, their assurances that their mother could laugh as well as other people were not so conclusive but that Jock made it his business to do his utmost to produce a laugh, in which he was apt to be signally unsuccessful, to his own great surprise, though to that of no one else. For instance, two or three days later, when his mother and Allen were eating solemnly a dinner at Kencroft, by way of farewell ere Allens return to Eton, an extraordinarily frightful noise was heard in the poultry yard, where dwelt various breeds of Uncle Roberts prize fowls.

Thievesfoxesdogswhat could it be? Even the cheese and celery were deserted, and out rushed servants, master, mistress, and guests, being joined by the two girls from the school-room; but even then Carey was struck by the ominous absence of boys. The poultry house door was shutlockedbut the noises within were more and more frightfulof convulsive cocks and hysterical hens, mingled with human scufflings and hushes and snortings and snigglings that made the elders call out in various tones of remonstrance and reprobation, Boys, have done! Come out! Open the door.

A small hatch door was opened, a flourish on a tin trumpet was heard, and out darted, in an Elizabethan ruff and cap, a respectable Dorking mother of the yard, cackling her displeasure, and instantly dashing to the top of the wall, followed at once by a stately black Spaniard, decorated with a lace mantilla of cut paper off a French plum box, squawking and curtseying. Then came a dapper pullet, with a dolls hat on her unwilling head, &c., &c.

The outsiders were choking with breathless surprise at first, then the one lady began indignantly to exclaim, Now, boys! Have donelet the poor things alone. Come out this minute. The other fairly reeled against the wall with laughter, and Janet and Jessie screamed at each fresh appearance, till they made as much noise as the outraged chickens, though one shrieked with dismay, the other with diversion. At last the Colonel, slower of foot than the rest, arrived on the scene, just as the pride of his heart, the old King Chanticleer of the yard, made his exit, draped in a royal red paper robe and a species of tinsel crown, out of which his red face looked most ludicrous as he came halting and stupefied, having evidently been driven up in a corner and pinched rather hard; but close behind him, chuckling forth his terror and flapping his wings, came the pert little white bantam, belted and accoutred as a page.

Colonel Brownlows severe command to open the door was not resisted for one moment, and forth rushed a cloud of dust and feathers, a quacking waggling substratum of ducks, and a screaming flapping rabble of chickens, behind whom, when the mist cleared, were seen, looking as if they had been tarred and feathered, various black and grey figures, which developed into Jock, Armine, Robin, Johnny, and Joe. Jock, the foremost, stared straight up in his aunts face, Armine ran to his mother withDid you see the old king, mother, and his little page? Wasnt it funny

But he was stopped by the sight of his uncle, who laid hold of his eldest son with a fierce How dare you, sir? and gave him a shake and blow. Robin stood with a sullen look on his face, and hands in his pockets, and his brothers followed suit. Armine hid his face in his mothers dress, and burst out crying; but Jock stepped forth and, with that impish look of fearlessness, said, I did it, Uncle Robert! I wanted to make Aunt Ellen laugh. Did she laugh, mother? he asked in so comical and innocent a manner that, in spite of her full consciousness of the heinousness of the offence, and its general unluckiness, Mother Carey was almost choked. This probably added to the gravity with which the other lady decreed with Juno-like severity, Robin and John must be flogged. Joe is too young.

Certainly, responded the Colonel; but Caroline, instead of, as they evidently expected of her, at once offering up her victim, sprang forward with eager, tearful pleadings, declaring it was all Jocks fault, and he did not know how naughty it wasbut all in vain. Robert knew. He ought to have stopped it, said the Colonel. Go to the study, you two.

Jock did not act as the generous hero of romance would have done, and volunteer to share the flogging. He cowered back on his mother, and put his arm round her waist, while she said, Jock told the truth, so I shall not ask you to flog him, Uncle Robert. He shall not do such mischief again.

If he does, said his uncle, with a look as if her consent would not be asked to what would follow.

CHAPTER VIII. THE FOLLY

How does my little schoolfellow get on? asked Mary Ogilvie, when she had sat down for her first meal with her brother in her summer holidays.

Much as Ariel did in the split pine, I fancy.

For shame, David! Im afraid you are teaching her to see Sycorax and Caliban in her neighbours.

Not I! How should I ever see her! Do you hear from her?

Sometimes; and I heard of her from the Actons, who had an immense regard for her husband, who, they say, was a very superior man.

It is hardly necessary to be told so.

They mean to take lodgings somewhere near here this next month, and see what they can do to cheer her in her present life, which must be the greatest possible contrast to her former one. Do you wish to set out on our expedition before August, Davie? I should like you to see them.

By all means let us wait for them. Indeed I should not be at liberty till the last week in July.

And how go the brains of Kenminster? You look enlivened since last time I saw you.

It is the infusion the brains have received. That one woman has made more difference to the school than I could have done in ten years.

You find her boys, at any rate, pupils worth teaching.

More than that. Of course it is something to have a fellow capable of ideas before one; but besides that, lads who had gone on contentedly at their own level have had to bestir themselves not to be taken down by him. When he refused to have it forced upon him that study was not the thing at Kenminster, they found the only way to make him know his place was to keep theirs, and some of them have really found the use of their wits, and rejoice in them. Even in the lower form, the Colonels second boy has developed an intellect. Then the way those boys bring their work prepared has raised the standard!

I heard something of that on my way.

You did?

Yes; two ladies were in full career of talk when the train stopped at the Junction, and I heardI am always obliged to spend one hour every evening seeing that Arthur knows his lessons. So troublesome you know; but since that Mrs. Joseph Brownlow has come, she helps her boys so with their home-work that the others have not a chance if one does not look to it oneself. Then it appeared that she told Mr. Ogilvie it wasnt fair, and that he would give her no redress.

Absurd woman! It is not a matter of unfairness, as I told her. They dont get help in sums or exercises; they only have grammar to learn and construing to prepare, and all my concern is that it should be got up thoroughly. If their mothers help them, so much the better.

The mothers dont seem to think so. However, she branched off into incredulity that Mrs. Joe Brownlow could ever really teach her children anything, for she was always tramping all over the country with them at all hours of the day and night. She has met her herself, with all those boys after her, three miles from home, in a great straw hat, when her husband hadnt been dead a year.

Im sure she is always in regulation veils, and all the rest of it, at Church, if thats what you ladies want.

But the crown of the misdoings seemed to be that she had been met at some old castle, sacred to picnics, alone with her childrenno party nor anything. I could not make out whether the offence consisted in making the ruin too cheap, or in caring for it for its own sake, and not as a lion for guests.

The latter probably. She has the reputation of being very affected!!!

Poor dear! I heard that she was a great trial to dear Mrs. Brownlow, said Mary, in an imitative voice. Why, do you know, she sometimes is up and out with her children before six oclock in the morning; and then Colonel Brownlow went in one day at twelve oclock, and found the whole family fast asleep on different sofas.

The sensible way, too, to spend such days as these. To go out in the cool of the morning, and take a siesta, is the only rational plan!