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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Odd + +Author: Amy Le Feuvre + +Release Date: August 10, 2007 [EBook #22291] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ODD *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT="Betty came to a standstill, and Prince likewise, the latter putting his tongue out and looking up inquiringly, as he panted for breath." BORDER="2" WIDTH="409" HEIGHT="636"> +<H4 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 409px"> +Betty came to a standstill, and Prince likewise, the latter putting his tongue out and looking up inquiringly, as he panted for breath. +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +ODD +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +By +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Amy Le Feuvre +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +The Religious Tract Society +<BR> +4 Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4 +<BR> +1919 +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<BR> + + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER I<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap01">CAGED BIRDS</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER II<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap02">'MOTHER NATURE'</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER III<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap03">WAS IT AN ANGEL?</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER IV<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap04">ADVENTURES</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER V<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap05">PRINCE</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER VI<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap06">MADE INTO A COUPLE</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER VII<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap07">HAYMAKING</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER VIII<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap08">GOD'S PATCHWORK</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER IX<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap09">BETTY'S DISCOVERY</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER X<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap10">A LITTLE MESSENGER</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER XI<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap11">A DARING FEAT</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER XII<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap12">UNCLE HARRY'S FRIEND</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER XIII<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap13">'WHEN WE TWO MET'</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER XIV<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap14">A HERO'S DEATH</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CHAPTER XV<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em"><A HREF="#chap15">COMFORTED</A></SPAN> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Caged Birds +</H3> + +<P> +It was just four o'clock on a dull grey winter afternoon. The little +Stuarts' nursery looked the picture of cosiness and comfort with the +blazing fire that threw flickering lights over the bright-coloured +pictures on the walls, the warm carpet under foot, and the fair fresh +faces of the children gathered there. +</P> + +<P> +Five of them there were, and they were alone, for the old nurse who had +brought them all up from their infancy was at present absent from the +room. +</P> + +<P> +By one of the large square windows stood one of the little girls; she +was gazing steadily out into the fast darkening street below, her chin +resting on one of the bars that were fastened across the lower part of +the window. How the children disliked those bars! Marks of little +teeth were plainly discernible along them, and no prisoners could have +tried more perseveringly to shake them from their sockets than they +did. Betty, who stood there now, had received great applause one +afternoon when, after sundry twists and turns, she had successfully +thrust her little dark curly head through, and was able to have a +delightfully clear view of all the passers-by. +</P> + +<P> +But the sequel was not so pleasant, for somehow or other Betty's head +would not come in so easily as it went out, and when nurse came to the +rescue with an angry hand, the poor little head was very much bruised +in consequence, and Betty's reward for such dexterity was an aching +head and dry bread for tea. She was a slight, slim little figure, with +big blue eyes, and long, black curved lashes and eyebrows, which made +her eyes the most beautiful feature in her face. Very soft, fine curly +hair surrounded a rather pathetic-looking little face; but her +movements were like quicksilver, and though all the little Stuarts were +noted for their mischievous ways and daring escapades, Betty eclipsed +them all. +</P> + +<P> +She turned from the window soon with a sigh of relief. +</P> + +<P> +'He's coming,' she said, 'old Bags is coming, and it's my turn to-day.' +</P> + +<P> +There was no response. Bobby and Billy, the twins, little lads only +just promoted from petticoats to knickerbockers, were deeply engrossed +in one corner of the room over their bricks. Perched on the top of a +low chest of drawers were Douglas and Molly, and their heads were in +that close proximity that told that secret business was going on. +</P> + +<P> +Betty's heart sank a little. +</P> + +<P> +'Old Bags is coming,' she repeated; 'don't you hear his bell?' +</P> + +<P> +'We're busy,' said Douglas, looking up; 'we won't have Bags' story +to-day.' +</P> + +<P> +'You promised yesterday when you put it off that you would hear it +to-day. It isn't fair. I always listen to you.' +</P> + +<P> +'Tell it to the babies; they'll like to hear.' +</P> + +<P> +This was adding insult to injury, and when the twins trotted up to the +window Betty turned a defiant back upon them, tears of disappointment +dimming the blue eyes. +</P> + +<P> +'She's cwying,' announced Bobby, twisting his head round to look up +into her face. +</P> + +<P> +Betty turned round furiously; a sharp push sent Bobby to the ground, +and in falling he struck his head against one of the feet of the +nursery table. There was a howl, general confusion, and nurse +appeared, to discover and chastise the offender. Betty was led off in +disgrace to a little room on the nursery landing, known by the children +as 'Cells.' Their uncle, a young captain in the Guards, had given it +that name, but in reality it was nurse's storeroom, and was heated with +hot pipes, to air the linen kept there. It was a small, square room, +containing a table and one chair; the window was high above the +children's reach, and locked cupboards were on every side. Nurse +invariably used it for punishing small offences, and being a woman of +stern principles, she generally set the little culprit a text to learn +whilst there. A Bible was on the table, and Betty was led up to it. +</P> + +<P> +'You will stay here till tea-time, and will not come out until you have +learnt a text, and said you are sorry for knocking down your little +brother in a fit of wicked temper. This is the fourth time I have had +to bring you here this week, and it is now only Tuesday. I have more +trouble with you than all the others put together, and you ought to be +ashamed of yourself.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty was sobbing bitterly, and when nurse left the room and turned the +key behind her, the child flung herself down on the floor. +</P> + +<P> +'It's a shame! It's all Douglas and Molly: they make promises and +don't keep them; and it was ever so much nicer a story than Molly's. I +know they'd have liked it if they'd heard it; they never think I can do +anything!' +</P> + +<P> +To explain the cause of Betty's grievance, I must tell you that it was +a custom of the little Stuarts to await the muffin man's approach on +his rounds, and as his bell would sound, they would take it in turns +each day to relate to the others an account of the different houses he +had gone to, and who had been the fortunate individuals to receive the +muffins that had already disappeared from his tray. It was an idle +hour in the nursery from four to five, and if the gathering dusk kept +the active eyes still, the fertile brains were brought into +requisition. Telling stories was a constant delight, and the wonderful +adventures that befell the muffins on their daily rounds kept the +little gathering quiet and happy till tea appeared. +</P> + +<P> +Betty's stories were not inferior to her elders, and it was her +childish sense of justice and consideration that was outraged. But +tears will come to an end, and soon the little maiden was perched up at +the table to learn the task before her. She turned over the pages till +she reached Revelation, that mysterious and mystical book that so +fascinates and contents a child's soul, though the wisest on earth read +it with perplexity and awe. And after a moment or two Betty had found +a text to learn, and when nurse appeared later on she repeated +unfalteringly with shining eyes and with a note of triumph in her tone +'And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are +they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, +and made them white in the blood of the Lamb' (Rev. vii. 14). +</P> + +<P> +'That's a good child; are you sorry?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes,' was the reply, rather absently given, for Betty's mind was on +the white-robed throng; and how could she let nurse know all the +workings of her busy brain over the verse she had been taking into her +heart and soul? +</P> + +<P> +'And remember,' said nurse gravely, 'that no naughty children who +quarrel and fight will ever be in heaven.' +</P> + +<P> +'Not even if they've been through great tribulation?' quickly demanded +Betty. +</P> + +<P> +But nurse did not hear, and Betty was received into the well-lighted +nursery with acclamation from the others, already seated at the round +table for tea. +</P> + +<P> +'We've made a new game, Molly and I,' announced Douglas. +</P> + +<P> +He was a fair, curly-headed boy with an innocent baby face, and a +talent for inventing the most mischievous plans that could ever be +concocted, with a will that made all the others bow before him. Molly +was also fair, with long golden hair that reached to her waist; extreme +self-possession and absence of all shyness were perhaps her chief +characteristics. 'I am the eldest of the family,' she was fond of +asserting, and she certainly claimed the eldest's privileges. Yet her +temper was sweet and obliging, and she could easily be swayed and led +by those around her. +</P> + +<P> +'Is it one for outdoors or indoors?' asked Betty with interest. +</P> + +<P> +'Indoors, of course; we'll tell you after tea.' +</P> + +<P> +'Your mother wants you in the drawing-room after ten,' put in nurse; +'you and Miss Molly are to go down.' +</P> + +<P> +Molly looked pleased, not so Douglas. At last, putting down his piece +of bread and butter, he looked up into nurse's face with one of his +sweetest looks. +</P> + +<P> +'Why are grown-up people so very dull, nurse? They all are just the +same, except Uncle Harry. They are dreadfully heavy and dull.' +</P> + +<P> +'They have so little to amuse them,' Molly said reflectively: 'no games +or toys; they never make believe, or pretend the lovely things we do.' +</P> + +<P> +'And their legs get stiff, and their dresses trip them up if they try +to run.' +</P> + +<P> +'But they never get punished, and they're never scolded, and they're +never wicked.' +</P> + +<P> +This from Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'It's their talk that is so stupid,' went on Douglas; 'they look nice +until they begin to talk; they make me dreadfully sleepy to listen to +them.' +</P> + +<P> +'Shall I go down instead of you to-night?' asked Betty eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +'Don't chatter such nonsense; it's strange times when children begin to +pick their elders to pieces. You weren't asked for, Miss Betty; and +Master Douglas is to go down and behave himself.' +</P> + +<P> +'The three B's aren't big enough yet to leave the nursery.' +</P> + +<P> +Douglas said this with a sparkle of mischief in his eye. It was a sore +point with Betty to be ranked with the twins, for she was only a year +behind Douglas. Long ago he had seized hold of a laughing joke of his +father's, alluding to the names by which the three youngest children +were called, and had twitted her with it ever since. +</P> + +<P> +'B for Baby—Baby Betty, Baby Bobby, and Baby Billy; babies must go to +bed,' he explained. +</P> + +<P> +Betty gave an angry kick under the table, but did not speak. +</P> + +<P> +She was very silent for the rest of that evening; but when she and +Molly were safely in bed, and the room was very quiet, she asked,— +</P> + +<P> +'Molly, do you know what tribulation means?' +</P> + +<P> +'I'm not sure that I do,' was the hesitating reply; 'I think it's +something dreadful. Why do you want to know?' +</P> + +<P> +'Is it like the dark valley Christian went through in the <I>Pilgrim's +Progress</I>, or the goblin's cave we make up about?' +</P> + +<P> +'I expect it is something like. Why?' +</P> + +<P> +'It's on the way to heaven,' whispered Betty, in an awestruck tone; +'the Bible says so.' +</P> + +<P> +There was silence, then Molly said,— +</P> + +<P> +'There's a book in father's library will tell you about it. It tells +the meaning of every word; father said so. A dick something it is.' +</P> + +<P> +'I'll ask Mr. Roper to get it for me.' +</P> + +<P> +And Betty turned over on her pillow comforted by this thought, and fell +fast asleep. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Stuart was a Member of Parliament, and being a man who threw his +whole soul into everything he did, was too much engrossed with business +when in town to have much to do with his children. He spent a great +part of his day in the library with his secretary, a quiet young +fellow, who was looked upon by the children as an embodiment of wisdom +and learning. Mrs. Stuart saw as little of her children as her +husband; her time was fully occupied in attending committee meetings, +opening bazaars, and superintending numerous pet projects for ennobling +and raising the standard of social morality amongst the masses. She +was not an indifferent mother; she was only an active, busy woman, who, +after carefully selecting a thoroughly good and trustworthy woman as +her nurse, left the children's training with perfect confidence to her. +And between her social and charitable claims there was not much time +for having her little ones about her. A young governess came every day +for two hours to teach the three eldest ones, but their life was +essentially a nursery one. And when the House was closed, and the +husband and wife would go off to the Continent or to the Highlands, the +children would be sent to a quiet seaside town with their nurse and the +nursery maid. +</P> + +<P> +The following afternoon a little figure stole quietly down to the +library door. Betty knew her father was out, and Mr. Roper never +repulsed any of the children. After a timid knock she passed in, and +made a little picture as she stood in the firelight, in her brown +velveteen frock and large white-frilled pinafore. +</P> + +<P> +'Well,' said Mr. Roper, wheeling round from his writing-desk, 'what do +you want, Betty?' +</P> + +<P> +'I want one of father's books,' the child said earnestly, 'one that +Dick Somebody wrote—a book that tells the meaning of everything.' +</P> + +<P> +'I wish there was such a one in existence,' said the young man, smiling +a little sadly. 'Now what is in your little head, I wonder?' +</P> + +<P> +'It's a word I want to find, please.' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, a word! Bless the child, she means a dictionary!' and Mr. Roper +laughed as he drew a fat volume out of a shelf, and placed it on a +table by the little girl. +</P> + +<P> +'May I help you to find it?' +</P> + +<P> +'It's tribulation. I don't know how it's spelt.' +</P> + +<P> +He did not ask questions; that was one thing that attracted Betty +towards him. She was a curious mixture of frankness and reserve. She +would confide freely of her own free will, but if pressed by questions +would relapse at once into silence. He found the word for her, and she +read with difficulty, 'Trouble, distress, great affliction.' +</P> + +<P> +'Do they all mean tribulation?' she asked. +</P> + +<P> +'Tribulation means all of them,' was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +'And can children have tribulation, Mr. Roper?' +</P> + +<P> +'What do you think?' +</P> + +<P> +'I must have it if I'm to get to heaven,' she said emphatically; and +then she left him, and the young man repeated her words to himself with +a sigh and a smile, as he replaced the book in its resting-place. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +'Mother Nature' +</H3> + +<P> +A few evenings after this, as nurse was undressing the little girls for +bed, Mrs. Stuart came into the nursery. She was going out to dinner, +and looked very beautiful in her soft satin dress and pearls. She was +tall and stately, with the same golden hair as Molly, but her face was +somewhat cold in expression. +</P> + +<P> +Sitting down in an easy chair by the fire she asked,— +</P> + +<P> +'What is the matter with Betty? is she in disgrace again?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty was standing in her long nightdress at the foot of her small bed; +her hands were clenched, and there was a resolute, determined look upon +her flushed face. +</P> + +<P> +'One of her obstinate fits,' said nurse angrily; 'she generally goes to +bed before Miss Molly, and because I have let her stay up a little +later to-night she is as contrary as she can be! I can do nothing with +her, a good whipping is what she wants!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's blue eyes wandered from nurse's face to her mother's, as if +seeking consolation there; her hands relaxed, and a slight quiver came +to the little lips. +</P> + +<P> +'Are you going to a party, mother? may I come and kiss you?' +</P> + +<P> +It was Molly who spoke. She was in the act of scrambling into bed, but +upon receiving permission she made her way, a little shyly, across to +where her mother was seated. +</P> + +<P> +'Now keep your hands off my dress,' Mrs. Stuart said with a smile; but +she put her arm round the little figure and kissed her, and sent her +back to bed perfectly happy. All the children adored their mother, +though it was adoration at a distance. +</P> + +<P> +'Now come here, Betty; what have you been doing? How is it that I +never visit the nursery without hearing complaints of your naughtiness?' +</P> + +<P> +'I'm going to be good now,' said Betty, hanging her head, and coming +slowly forward into the firelight. +</P> + +<P> +'She has refused to say her prayers,' said nurse sternly. +</P> + +<P> +'I will say them now'; and Betty raised her eyes to her mother somewhat +wistfully. +</P> + +<P> +'Why did you refuse to say them when nurse told you to?' +</P> + +<P> +'Because Molly was saying her prayers.' +</P> + +<P> +'Well, what had that to do with it?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty did not answer. +</P> + +<P> +'Answer me.' +</P> + +<P> +The child looked round; nurse had left the room. She worked her little +foot backwards and forwards in the long-haired rug rather nervously, +and then, almost in a whisper, said,— +</P> + +<P> +'God couldn't listen to both of us, and I wanted Him to listen to me.' +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Stuart gazed perplexedly at her little daughter, then laughed. +</P> + +<P> +'You are a little goose! Go and say your prayers at once, and get into +bed. I have come here to talk to nurse.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty crept away. Her mother's amused laugh had hurt her more than +nurse's scoldings. It was hard to have one's secret feelings brought +to light and scoffed at, and her sensitive little soul felt this, +though in a dim, uncertain way. +</P> + +<P> +'I want to have God all to myself,' was her thought, as a few minutes +later she laid her little head down on the pillow; 'I wonder if I'm +very wicked. I won't say my prayers if He is not listening.' +</P> + +<P> +'Now, nurse,' said Mrs. Stuart, as that worthy reappeared, 'I want to +talk to you. Your master and I are going abroad after Easter; he is +not well, and the doctors have ordered him away. I want to send you +and the children into the country for the summer. I don't fancy them +being at the seaside all that time. You were telling me some time ago +of your old home; isn't it a brother of yours who has the farm? Yes? +Well, do you think they have room to take you all in?' +</P> + +<P> +Nurse's face glowed with pleasure. +</P> + +<P> +'He has no chick or child, ma'am, and the house is large and roomy; his +wife was saying in a letter to me they should like lodgers in the +summer. I'm sure it would please them to take us in; and the country +round there is wonderfully healthy.' +</P> + +<P> +'I think that would answer very well,' Mrs. Stuart went on +thoughtfully; 'we may be away six months: and the children are looking +pale, a country life will do them all the good in the world. Let them +run wild, nurse, they will come back to their lessons all the better +for it. Miss Grant told me this morning she would have to give up +teaching—her mother is very ill—so, all things combined, I think this +plan will work well. Will you write to your brother and find out if he +can take you in the last week in April? Let me know when you have +heard from him.' +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Stuart rose as she spoke; her visits were never long, and nurse +left the room with her. +</P> + +<P> +'Betty,' said Molly, in an eager tone, 'did you hear? We're going into +the country.' +</P> + +<P> +'I heard; and no lessons, and we're to run wild; how lovely!' Betty's +curly head bobbed up and down in excitement, then she said +persuasively, 'Molly, let you and me keep it a secret together; we +won't tell Douglas or the twins.' +</P> + +<P> +This required consideration. Molly sat up in bed and looked thoughtful. +</P> + +<P> +'I never do have a secret with you,' pleaded Betty. 'You and Douglas +have lots; I never have any one to have secrets with.' +</P> + +<P> +'Well, I'll see,' and there was a little of the elder sister in Molly's +tone. 'I'll tell you to-morrow morning. Oh, it will be jolly in the +country, won't it? And nurse's home that she tells us about is like +our story-books: it's full of calves, and lambs, and horses, and ducks, +and chickens, and haymaking, and pigs!' +</P> + +<P> +'And ponds, and apple orchards, and we shall have cream, and honey, and +strawberries every day!' continued Betty. +</P> + +<P> +The little girls' voices were raised in their excitement, and they did +not notice a door at the end of the room slowly open. +</P> + +<P> +'What a row! Are you telling stories?' +</P> + +<P> +It was Douglas, who slept in a little room off the nursery, and who had +been roused by the sound of talking. +</P> + +<P> +'Hush! nurse will hear. Come and sit on my bed,' said Molly, 'and then +you will hear all about it.' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, Molly, it was to be our secret!' +</P> + +<P> +'Douglas won't tell. Besides, nurse is sure to tell us; she knew we +were awake and listening.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty gave a little sigh, then joined eagerly in giving her brother the +delightful information. +</P> + +<P> +He listened, rumpling up his fair curls, and blinking his blue eyes, +which were already heavy with sleep. +</P> + +<P> +'Easter is years off,' he said at last. 'Why, we are still in winter. +I daresay we shan't go, after all.' +</P> + +<P> +'We are in February now,' said Molly, looking a little disappointed at +the calm way he received such rapturous news. +</P> + +<P> +'If I go,' Douglas went on meditatively, 'I shall ask father to let me +have a gun, and I shall shoot rabbits and birds every day.' +</P> + +<P> +'Then you'd be a wicked, cruel boy!' pronounced Betty indignantly. 'I +shall catch all the rabbits I can see and tame them.' +</P> + +<P> +'Then I shall let them loose again,' retorted Douglas; and taking up +Molly's pillow, he flung it with all his strength at Betty, who +instantly returned it, and a pillow fight commenced. Molly joined +delightedly in the fray; but, alas! in the height of the excitement, +Betty backed into a can of water put ready for their morning bath. +Over she went, head first, on the floor, and the whole contents of the +can flooded her and the carpet together. Douglas precipitately fled +into his little room, and Molly into her bed, so that when nurse came +hastily in Betty again was discovered as chief offender. Whilst she +was being hustled into a dry nightdress nurse relieved her vexed +feelings by giving her a good scolding, and Betty eventually crept into +bed wondering if she was really the 'wickedest, mischievousest child on +earth,' or if grown-up people sometimes made mistakes. +</P> + +<P> +For the next few days nothing was talked of but the proposed country +visit; but as weeks went on, and spring seemed still as far away, the +children's excitement subsided, and the ordinary routine of lessons, +walks, and play engrossed their whole attention. +</P> + +<P> +But Easter came at last, and then packing-up began. Miss Grant took +her departure, and poor Sophy, the nursery maid, had her hands full +enough, for nurse's command was to keep the children quiet, and not let +them come near her when packing. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Roper was leaving the library one afternoon about four o'clock, +when he saw the disconsolate little figure of Betty seated on the +stairs. +</P> + +<P> +'Anything the matter?' he asked good-naturedly. +</P> + +<P> +'We're going away to-morrow,' was the reply, 'and it is all topsy-turvy +upstairs. Douglas and Molly have been lions for hours, and Bobby and +Billy two monkeys, and I've been the man. I'm tired of being him, and +they won't let me change. I've broken a jug and basin, and nearly +pulled a cupboard over, and spilt a bottle of cod-liver oil all over +Billy's hair, and upset nurse's work-basket, and then I ran away and +hid, and came down here. You don't know how tiring it is to be hunted +by four animals all at once.' +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Roper sat down on the stairs by her and laughed heartily. 'Poor +little hunter!' he said, 'and how does nurse bear all this raging storm +around her?' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, nurse is with mother, in the night nursery. Sophy is running +after all of us. I don't know who she pretends to be, but when I left +her she was sitting on the floor wiping Billy's hair and crying.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's tone and face were grave, and Mr. Roper stopped laughing. +'Have you been thinking over tribulation any more?' he asked. +</P> + +<P> +Betty nodded. +</P> + +<P> +'A lot,' she said emphatically, then shut up her little lips tightly; +and Mr. Roper knew he was to be told no more. +</P> + +<P> +'Are you going into the country, Mr. Roper?' he was asked presently. +</P> + +<P> +'No, indeed. I am not rich enough to have such a holiday as is in +prospect for you. I wonder what you will do with yourselves all the +time? You must come back much the better and wiser, Betty, for it.' +</P> + +<P> +'Why?' +</P> + +<P> +'You will be six months older, and old Mother Nature is the best +governess for little ones like you. She will teach you many a lesson, +if you keep your eyes and ears open.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's eyes were very wide open now. +</P> + +<P> +'Does she live at the farm? I never heard nurse speak of her. We +don't want another governess there. How do you know her?' +</P> + +<P> +'I knew her when I was a little boy, and loved her. I love her now, +but my work is in London, and I never get much chance of seeing her.' +</P> + +<P> +'She must be very old,' Betty said meditatively. +</P> + +<P> +'Very old; and yet every year she seems younger and more beautiful. +You will see her at her best, Betty. I shall expect you to come home +and tell me all about her.' +</P> + +<P> +'Shall I give her your love and a kiss when I see her?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes,' said the young man, smiling down upon the earnest child beside +him. +</P> + +<P> +A rush of feet behind them, and Molly and Douglas came tearing +downstairs. +</P> + +<P> +'Here she is! Where have you been? Bobby has cut his head open, and +Sophy has rushed to nurse, and nurse is scolding away, so we came off. +Mr. Roper, do you know we're going away to-morrow?' +</P> + +<P> +'And will you come and see us one day, Mr. Roper?' +</P> + +<P> +'Mr. Roper, does every farmer in the country go about in his +night-shirt? Douglas says they do, and we have pictures of them.' +</P> + +<P> +'And are there stags and wild boar to hunt? Do tell us.' +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Roper made short work of these questions, and departed. He was a +reserved, reticent man, and did not understand the boisterous spirits +of the little Stuarts. Betty was his favourite; he was always ready +for a chat with her, but the others worried him. +</P> + +<P> +Nurse was very thankful when she got herself and her little charges all +comfortably settled in the railway carriage for Tiverstoke the next +day. Sophy was not going with them, but the longing to be in the old +home again quite compensated nurse for the additional labour and +responsibility she would have. +</P> + +<P> +The children had parted from their parents with great composure. Mrs. +Stuart had reiterated parting injunctions to nurse, and their father +had presented all five with a bright half-crown each, which gift +greatly added to their delight at going. +</P> + +<P> +'Not much affection in children's hearts,' said Mr. Stuart to his wife, +as he watched the beaming faces gathered round the cab window to wave +'good-bye.' +</P> + +<P> +'They will get through life the better for absence of sentiment and +demonstrativeness,' replied Mrs. Stuart; and perhaps those words were +an index to her character. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Was it an Angel? +</H3> + +<P> +It was a lovely afternoon in May, a week after the children's arrival +at Brook Farm. They were together in the orchard, which was a mass of +pink and white bloom. Bobby and Billy were having a see-saw on a low +apple branch; Douglas was perched on a higher bough of a cherry tree, +and the little girls were lying on the ground. Tongues were busy, as +usual. +</P> + +<P> +'We've seen everything round the house,' Douglas was asserting in +rather a dictatorial tone; 'and now we must be busy having +adventures—people always do in the country.' +</P> + +<P> +'What kind?' asked Molly meekly. +</P> + +<P> +'They get tossed by bulls, or lost in the woods, or drowned in ponds,' +Douglas went on thoughtfully. +</P> + +<P> +'I'm not going to do any of those.' +</P> + +<P> +And Betty's tone was very determined. +</P> + +<P> +'What are you going to do, then?' +</P> + +<P> +'I shall be busy all by myself. I'm going out to look for some one.' +</P> + +<P> +'Who?' asked Molly curiously. +</P> + +<P> +'Some one Mr. Roper told me about. He sent his love to her and a kiss. +It's a secret between me and Mr. Roper, I shan't tell you any more.' +</P> + +<P> +And Betty rolled over in the grass with a delighted chuckle at the +puzzled faces round her. +</P> + +<P> +'It's only one of her make-ups,' Douglas said, recovering his +composure. 'Let me tell you of my plans. Do you see those thick trees +at the top of that hill? That's a real wood. Now, if nurse sends us +out tomorrow afternoon while she takes a nap, I'm going there, and you +girls must come after me.' +</P> + +<P> +'And us, too,' put in Bobby, listening attentively. +</P> + +<P> +'If you can walk so far, and don't go telling nurse about it.' +</P> + +<P> +'How far is it? Six miles?' asked Molly, who would have been willing +to walk ten, had her brother so ordained. +</P> + +<P> +'It is only through three fields, Sam told me.' +</P> + +<P> +Sam was one of the carters, who had already become one of Douglas's +greatest friends. +</P> + +<P> +'He be the pluckiest, knowingest little chap that ever oi see wi' such +a baby face!' was the carter's opinion of him. +</P> + +<P> +'If it's a very nice wood perhaps I'll come,' said Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'You must save something from dinner to take with us, for we will have +a feast when we get there.' +</P> + +<P> +This sounded delightful, and all spent the rest of the day in busy +confabulation as to how they could get there without being stopped by +any one, and what provisions they must take. +</P> + +<P> +But, alas! when the next day came, nurse announced her intention of +taking Douglas and Molly with her to tea with a friend, a little +distance off, and so the visit to the wood was postponed. +</P> + +<P> +Betty pleaded to be allowed to go with them, but nurse refused. +</P> + +<P> +'I can't have more than two; and I'm taking them more to keep them out +of mischief than anything. Mrs. Giles is going to look after the +little ones, so you must amuse yourself.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty felt rather disconsolate after they had gone. She wandered into +the farm kitchen, where Mrs. Giles, a good-natured, smiling woman, was +busy making bread. The twins were in a corner playing with some +kittens. Betty stood at the table watching. At last she looked up a +little shyly and said,— +</P> + +<P> +'Mrs. Giles, do you know a very nice governess that lives here?' +</P> + +<P> +'A guviness, bless your little heart. There's Miss Tyler in the +village, two mile off—but I don't think much of her. She's too giddy +and smart, and the way she carries on with Dan Somers is the talk of +the place! Are you after having lessons then?' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh no, no, no!' cried Betty eagerly, 'that's why I don't talk about it +to any one; but I should like to see her, for I have a message to give +her. I don't think it can be Miss Tyler; Mother Nestor—I forget the +name, but something like Nestor or Nasher—Mr. Roper called her. She's +old and young together, and very pretty.' +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Giles laughed. 'Old and young together! I know of nought like +that; when we gets old, youth don't stick to us. Do you think I answer +to that description, Miss Betty?' +</P> + +<P> +'I should say you were very old,' observed Betty reflectively, 'not a +bit young; but I think your red cheeks are very pretty.' +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Giles laughed again, and Betty left the kitchen saying, 'I'll go +out of doors and look for her; perhaps she'll be coming along the road.' +</P> + +<P> +Into the bright sunshine she went, across a clover field, and out at a +gate into the white, dusty road. She trotted along, picking flowers by +the wayside, and peeping over hedges to look at the tiny lambs or young +foals and heifers sporting on the green grass. Everything was new and +delightful to her; the birds singing, the budding trees, the bright +blue sky, and sweet fresh air, all was filling her little heart with +content and happiness. Wandering on, she kept no reckoning of time or +distance, until she came to a church in the midst of green elms, and +rooks keeping up a perpetual chatteration on the topmost branches of +the trees. +</P> + +<P> +Betty was a little afraid of rooks; they were so big and strong and +black that she feared they would peck her legs; but she was very tired +and warm, and as the church-gate was open she thought she would venture +into the cool shade of the elms inside. Her little steps took her to +the church porch, and finding the door partly open, with a child's +curiosity, she pushed her way in, there to stand with admiring awe in +the cool, quiet atmosphere. It was a pretty old church, with stained +glass windows; and the sun streaming through sent flashing rays of red +and blue, golden and purple, across the old stone walls and oaken seats. +</P> + +<P> +Betty felt she was in another world at once, and the very novelty and +strangeness of her surroundings had a great charm for her. Slowly she +made her way round the church, looking at every tablet and monument, +and trying in vain to decipher the writing upon them. But one amongst +them brought her to a standstill: it was the figure of a little girl +sculptured in white marble, lying in a recumbent position; her hands +were crossed on her breast, with a lily placed between them, her eyes +were closed, and her hair curled over her brow and round her shoulders +in the most natural way. Just above her was a stained glass window—a +beautiful representation of the Saviour taking the children in His arms +and blessing them. Below the window was written in plain black +letters,— +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN LOVING MEMORY OF VIOLET RUSSELL. +<BR> +Aged six years. +<BR> +'<I>Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not.</I>' +</H3> + +<BR> + +<P> +Betty drew a deep breath; her thoughts were busy. She wished herself +that little girl lying so calm and beautiful, with the red and golden +rays slanting across her; and then looking up at the window, she wished +still more that she was one of those happy children in the Lord's arms. +</P> + +<P> +Looking up with tearful eyes, she clasped her hands, and let her +buttercups and bluebells fall to the ground unheeded. +</P> + +<P> +'O God, I will be good! I will be good!' +</P> + +<P> +Those were all the words uttered, but He who heard them looked down +into the overflowing heart, and knew all that lay behind them. +</P> + +<P> +Long the child stood there, and then with flagging footsteps made her +way down the aisle. +</P> + +<P> +'I'm very tired,' she murmured to herself; 'I'll just sit down inside +that pew.' +</P> + +<P> +And a moment after, curling herself up on the cushions, Betty went fast +asleep. +</P> + +<P> +She was dreaming soon of a wonderful white-robed throng; she saw the +little girl walk up with her white, still face to a golden throne, she +tried to follow, but could not manage to walk, and then the most +wonderful music began to sound; louder and clearer it came, until with +a start she opened her eyes and discovered where she was. Was it all a +dream? The music was still sounding in her ears, and sitting up she +peered over the edge of the high pew. There, seated at the organ, was +a lady, and she was pouring forth such a flood of melody and song that +it did indeed seem to the half-wakened child music straight from heaven. +</P> + +<P> +Betty listened breathlessly to the words—words that she knew now so +well, and that were ever in her thoughts: 'These are they which came +out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them +white in the blood of the Lamb.' +</P> + +<P> +It was a beautiful anthem, and a beautiful voice that was singing. +Betty had never heard such singing before. She gazed with open mouth +and eyes; the lady was rather a young one, she noticed, and when her +voice rose in triumph and the organ pealed out in accompaniment, Betty +saw that her uplifted eyes, shining as they were with such a glad light +behind them, were full of tears. +</P> + +<P> +'It's an angel,' she whispered to herself. And when at last the notes +died away, and there was stillness in the church, when she saw the +lady's face bowed in her hands, as if in prayer, Betty stole softly out +of the building, and retraced her steps along the road, sobbing as she +went. It had been too much for her excitable little brain; she always +had been passionately fond of music, but was more accustomed to the +street organs in London than to any other sort, and this was as great a +contrast to those as heaven is to earth. +</P> + +<P> +It was a long way back, but Betty did not feel it. Had God sent an +angel to sing to her? Was there a chance of her ever being amongst +that white-robed throng? If she could only go through tribulation! +Had the little girl lying so white and still gone through it? These +and other similar puzzling thoughts came crowding through her brain. +</P> + +<P> +She was very quiet when she reached the farm. They were just sitting +down to tea when she came in, and Mrs. Giles looked relieved when she +saw her. +</P> + +<P> +'We was wonderin' where you had got to,' she said. 'Ain't you tired? +You look quite beat.' +</P> + +<P> +'I've had a lovely afternoon,' was the child's answer, and the blue +eyes shone up at her questioner; but not a word more could be got from +her, though the little boys did their best to extract more information. +</P> + +<P> +The next day was a wet one, but the little Stuarts were never at a loss +for occupation, and when they were packed off into a large empty garret +for the whole afternoon their delight was unbounded. +</P> + +<P> +At last, tired out, their spirits began to flag, and after having +exhausted all their stock of games they flung themselves down on the +ground to rest. +</P> + +<P> +'I'll tell you a story,' said Betty suddenly. +</P> + +<P> +'All right, go on!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty sat up in a corner, and rested her back against the wall. She +clasped her small hands in front of her, and gazing dreamily up at an +old beam across the room, on which hung many a cobweb, she began,— +</P> + +<P> +'It was a beautiful day in heaven——' +</P> + +<P> +'It's always a beautiful day there,' put in Douglas critically. +</P> + +<P> +'I never said it wasn't. You're not to interrupt me. It was a +beautiful day, the harps were playing and the angels singing, and one +angel looked as if she wanted something. So God asked her what was the +matter. +</P> + +<P> +'"Oh, please," she said, "I want to go down to earth to-day." +</P> + +<P> +'"What do you want to do there, O angel?" +</P> + +<P> +'"I want to play and sing to some children there." +</P> + +<P> +'Then God said she might go. So she flew down and changed her +clothes——' +</P> + +<P> +'What kind of clothes did she put on?' asked Molly eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +Betty considered a moment 'She put on a straw hat and a grey dress; she +took off her wings and folded them up.' +</P> + +<P> +'Where did she put them?' demanded Douglas. +</P> + +<P> +'Down a well,' was the prompt reply. 'It was a dry well, and she put +her white dress and crown with it; she did them up in a paper parcel, +and wrote her name on.' +</P> + +<P> +'What was her name?' asked Bobby. +</P> + +<P> +Betty knitted her brows. 'It was a Bible name, of course; I think it +was Miriam. She felt the earth was very hot, for the sun was shining +like anything, and then she wondered who she could sing to. Well, she +walked along a road, and then she saw a church, so she thought that +must be a good place, and she went inside. The church was dark, and +cool, and still, but it was lovely; and there were red and blue and +yellow and green and violet sunbeams, and beautiful painted windows, +and white marble figures all about, and it was so still that you felt +you must hush and walk on tiptoe. And then, what do you think she saw?' +</P> + +<P> +All eyes were on Betty now, as she sank her voice to an impressive +whisper. +</P> + +<P> +'She saw a little girl fast asleep!' +</P> + +<P> +'Go on,' said Douglas impatiently, as Betty made another pause. +</P> + +<P> +'So the angel thought she would sing to her; so she went up very softly +to the big organ, and began to play it, and then she began to sing. It +was lovely. She sang like she did in heaven, and the little girl woke +up and listened.' +</P> + +<P> +'What did she sing about?' asked Molly. +</P> + +<P> +'She sang about heaven, and all the people and children who had come +through great tribulation. And the music went on right up to the top +of the church, and her voice got louder and louder, and then softer and +softer to a whisper, and then the music got softer too, and then—it +was quite still.' +</P> + +<P> +'Well, go on. What did the little girl do?' +</P> + +<P> +'The little girl came away; she—she cried a little.' +</P> + +<P> +'Why, you're crying too! What a silly!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty dashed her small hand across her eyes, and threw up her head +defiantly. 'That's all my story,' she said. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, what a stupid story! You must make a proper ending.' +</P> + +<P> +'You shall go on! we'll make you!' +</P> + +<P> +'Did the angel get her proper clothes again?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes,' said Betty, with a little sigh; 'she put them on and went up to +heaven. And God asked her what she'd done. And she told Him she +thought the little girl would like to come to heaven, if He would let +her.' +</P> + +<P> +There was a little break in Betty's voice; she slid down from her +corner, and rolled over on the floor, her face hidden from the others. +Then in a second she called out, 'I see a mouse! Let us catch him!' +</P> + +<P> +The children were on their feet directly, and a regular scramble +ensued, Betty the most boisterous of them all. And when nurse came in +a little later, she found the little story-teller in the act of +crawling across the oaken beam in the centre of the room, to the +intense delight of those watching her below. +</P> + +<P> +Nurse caught her breath at the daring feat, but waited till she had +accomplished it in safety, then caught her in her arms, and taking her +off, gave her a good whipping, and Betty's spirits totally subsided for +the rest of the evening. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Adventures +</H3> + +<P> +The visit to the wood came off the day after. Nurse arrayed all her +little charges in large holland overalls, and sent them out into the +fields for the afternoon. And the little party set out in good spirits, +Bobby and Billy tramping sturdily along, under the firm conviction that +they were going to meet with wild beasts, and go through the most +harrowing adventures. +</P> + +<P> +It was a long walk, but they reached it at last, and came to a standstill +when they saw the ditch and the thick hedge that surrounded it. +</P> + +<P> +'There's a castle and a princess inside, so they don't like people to +come in,' asserted Douglas; 'but we'll find a hole somewhere and creep +through.' +</P> + +<P> +And this was soon done. The children looked round them with delight at +the little winding paths, the banks of green moss, and the thick +overhanging bushes and trees, that seemed so full of life and interest. +Douglas was in his element. +</P> + +<P> +'We'll find a place we must call home first, and then we'll see what food +we've got.' +</P> + +<P> +The foot of an old oak tree was chosen. Bits of cake, pudding, some +biscuits, and a few lumps of sugar were then produced from different +pockets, and these were given over to Douglas, who, wrapping them in +paper, deposited them inside the hollow trunk of the tree. +</P> + +<P> +'Now,' he said, 'we must all divide, and go in search for adventures; and +when we've found them, we can come back and tell the others here, and +then we'll have a feast.' +</P> + +<P> +'And if we don't find any?' questioned Betty doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +'Then you must go on till you do. Why, of course a wood is full of +dangers. I mean to have an <I>awful</I> time. We must go two and two; Molly +and I will take this path, and the twins can take that one, and you, +Betty, must go by yourself, because you're the odd one.' +</P> + +<P> +'I always have to go alone,' murmured Betty; 'it isn't fair.' +</P> + +<P> +Bobby and Billy stood clasping each other's hands, and looking with +anxious though determined faces along the path mapped out for them. +</P> + +<P> +'And if we should meet a cwocodile?' Billy asked, lifting his blue eyes +to those of his big brother. +</P> + +<P> +'Then you must either kill it or run away,' said Douglas. 'And +crocodiles don't live in woods.' +</P> + +<P> +'And if we lose ourselves in the wood?' questioned Bobby. +</P> + +<P> +'If you're frightened, you needn't go, but stay here till we come back,' +put in Molly, her conscience a little uneasy with turning such little +fellows loose on their own resources. +</P> + +<P> +But this gave the twins courage. Frightened! Not a bit of it! And they +trotted off, calling out they were going to kill every one they met. +</P> + +<P> +Betty likewise started on her journey. She was feeling rather depressed +with the truth of which she was always being reminded—namely, that she +was the odd one. +</P> + +<P> +'I wish there had just been one more of us,' she kept saying to herself; +'I'm either one too many or one too few, and it's very dull to be always +alone.' +</P> + +<P> +But her thoughts soon left herself when she saw some rabbits scudding +away in the distance; and the flowers on her path, and the strangeness of +her surroundings, were quite enough to occupy her mind. She soon found +that her path was coming to an end; right across it was some fine wire +netting, and for a moment she hesitated, then, deciding to go straight +on, clambered over it with great difficulty. The grass was smoother +here, and the path a wide one; a little distance farther was an iron +seat, and then she came to a long, straight grass walk, with trees on +either side, and at the end a gate, in an old stone wall. +</P> + +<P> +'I shall have to get through that gate,' she mused, 'or else I must climb +the wall. I wonder what is inside! It might be anything—a castle, with +an ogre or giant, or a prince and princess—and I can't go back till I +find out. My adventures have come. But I'm very tired. I'll just sit +down for a little before I go on.' +</P> + +<P> +A few moments after Betty's little body was lying full length on the +grassy path, and she was counting over a cluster of primroses with great +care and precision. +</P> + +<P> +'Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three—ah, what a pity! there is a little +odd one, just like me!' +</P> + +<P> +'What are you doing, child?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty started to her feet. Looking down upon her was a tall old lady, +dressed in a shady straw hat and black lace shawl; her black silk dress +rustled as she moved. One hand was resting on a stick, the other was +holding a sunshade. Her face was as still and cold-looking as some of +the figures on the monuments in the little village church, and her voice +stern and peremptory. +</P> + +<P> +Wild thoughts flashed through Betty's brain. Was this a fairy godmother, +a queen, a princess? Or might it possibly be the old governess that Mr. +Roper loved so much? +</P> + +<P> +Again the question was repeated, in the same stern tone, and Betty gazed +up in awe, as she answered simply,— +</P> + +<P> +'I was counting the primroses, to see if they were even or odd.' +</P> + +<P> +'And what business have you to be trespassing in my private grounds?' +</P> + +<P> +'I didn't know this was trespassing,' Betty faltered; 'a wood belongs to +anybody in the country, and I haven't got inside your gate yet, though I +was going to try.' +</P> + +<P> +'And pray what were you coming inside my gate to do?' +</P> + +<P> +'I'm—I'm looking for adventures; I have to do something before I go +back.' +</P> + +<P> +'I think you had better explain to me who you are.' +</P> + +<P> +The voice was gentler, and Betty took courage. The lady listened to her +attentively, and seemed interested; she even smiled when Betty, looking +up, asked innocently, 'I suppose you are not a princess, are you?' +</P> + +<P> +'No, I'm not a princess,' she said; 'but this is a private wood, and I +cannot allow children to run wild all over it.' +</P> + +<P> +'And mustn't we ever come here again?' asked Betty, with a grave face. +'We should be ever so careful, and we won't pick a flower if you'll only +let us walk about. We've never seen a wood before, only read about one +in our story-books; and children always go through woods in books without +being stopped, unless it's an ogre or a giant that stops them.' +</P> + +<P> +The lady did not speak for a minute, then she said,— +</P> + +<P> +'How many are there of you?' +</P> + +<P> +'Five with me; there's Molly and Douglas, and there's Bobby and +Billy—I'm the odd one.' +</P> + +<P> +'Why should you be the odd one?' +</P> + +<P> +'Because Molly and Douglas are the eldest ones, and they always go +together, and Bobby and Billy are the babies. Mother always calls them +the babies, and I come in between, and I belong to no one. You see, in +our games it's generally two and two; I always make everything odd, and +Molly and Douglas are always having secrets, and that only leaves me the +babies to play with, and they're only just four years old—much too small +for me.' +</P> + +<P> +'I suppose you have a doll or something to comfort yourself with? I +remember I used to when I was a little girl.' +</P> + +<P> +'I don't much like dolls,' said Betty, with a decided shake of her curly +head; 'I like something really alive, something that moves by itself. +There's a big sheepdog at our farm called Rough. I sometimes get hold of +him for a game, but he likes Douglas better than me. Sam says he's +always fond of boys.' +</P> + +<P> +'Would you like to come inside my gate?' asked the lady, looking down +upon Betty with a strange tenderness in her eyes, though her lips were +still grave and stern. +</P> + +<P> +Betty slipped her hand confidingly into hers. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, please; and will you tell me who you are? I think you're rather +like a lady I'm trying to find. She teaches children, a governess she +is, and she's old and young together. You're much more like her than +Mrs. Giles is.' +</P> + +<P> +But the lady did not satisfy Betty's curiosity; she only said,— +</P> + +<P> +'I have never taught any children in my life,' and led her up the grassy +walk to the gate in the wall. +</P> + +<P> +'I am only going to let you stand inside for a moment, and then you must +run away. And you must never come over the wire netting in the wood +again. You and your brothers and sister can play in the other part of +the wood, but I will not have children running over my private walks.' +</P> + +<P> +She opened the gate, and Betty saw a lovely flower garden, with a smooth, +grassy lawn, and away in the distance a great white house. The flowers +were exquisite, and to Betty's London eyes they were a feast of delight. +Her little face flushed with pleasure. +</P> + +<P> +'Do you live here?' she asked. 'How happy you must be!' +</P> + +<P> +'Do you like it better than my wood?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty turned from the blaze of sunshine and brightness to look at the +cool green glade behind her. She did not answer for a minute, then she +said, pointing with her small finger down the grassy avenue,— +</P> + +<P> +'It's something like church down there, it looks so quiet. But this +garden is like heaven, I think.' +</P> + +<P> +The lady smiled. 'I will give you any flower you like to take away, so +choose.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty was not long in making her choice. There were some beautiful white +lilies close by—lilies that might have come from the same plant as that +one lying between the little girl's hands in church. +</P> + +<P> +'I should like one of those, please,' she said, with sparkling eyes. +</P> + +<P> +She was given, not one, but several, and then was dismissed. +</P> + +<P> +'And I shall never see you again,' Betty said, as she put up her mouth +for a kiss. She did not say it regretfully, only as if stating a fact. +</P> + +<P> +The lady stooped and kissed her. 'Not unless I send for you,' she said. +'Can you find your way back?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty nodded brightly, and ran off. The lady stood watching her little +figure for some minutes, then she gave a deep sigh, and her face relapsed +into its usual stern and immovable expression as she entered her garden +and locked the gate behind her. +</P> + +<P> +Betty ran on as fast as she could to join the others. When she reached +the oak tree, Douglas and Molly were already there, seated on the ground, +busily employed in dividing the provisions for the feast. They exclaimed +at the sight of her flowers. +</P> + +<P> +'I've had a lovely adventure,' said Betty. 'Where are Bobby and Billy?' +</P> + +<P> +'We don't know,' said Molly, rising to her feet and looking anxious. +'I'm sure they ought to be here by this time.' +</P> + +<P> +'Perhaps they're lost,' Douglas suggested cheerfully; 'I was hoping some +of us would get lost, and then we should have the fun of finding them. +We'll go in a few minutes and look for them. Would you like to hear +where we have been, Betty?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes.' +</P> + +<P> +'Well, it is rather a stupid wood, for we came to nothing particular; +only we've found a little house. It has three sides and a roof—tumbling +in. We're going to mend it up, and live there, next time we come out +here. At least, I mean to live in it. I shall be a disguised prince +hiding for my life, and you will all have to search the wood to get food +for me. Molly and I have made it all up. She is to be my daughter, who +steals out at night time to visit me; you can be a servant, who mends the +roof, and makes me comfortable; and the twins can be soldiers scouring +the wood for me.' +</P> + +<P> +Neither Betty nor Molly showed much interest in this plan; they were both +thinking of the twins, and Douglas, having said his say, was quite ready +to start off on the quest. +</P> + +<P> +Together they ran along the path by which the little boys had gone. It +led them under some low brushwood, and then along the banks of a stream. +And then calling their names aloud, they were relieved to hear an +answering call. A moment later and they came upon them. The stream was +broad, and rather deep here, with great boulders of stone appearing above +the water. Upon one of these boulders, in the centre of the stream, sat +the two little boys, wet to the skin, and looking the pictures of abject +despair. +</P> + +<P> +'However did you get there?' said Douglas rather angrily. +</P> + +<P> +'Billy was getting some forget-me-nots, and tumbled in, and so I came +over to help him, and we can't get back,' explained Bobby, not very +lucidly. +</P> + +<P> +'If you got over there you can get back again,' Molly said decisively. +</P> + +<P> +At this both the twins began to cry. +</P> + +<P> +'It's so cold; we was nearly drownded; and we've seen a shark swim along.' +</P> + +<P> +Douglas laughed, but took off his shoes and stockings. +</P> + +<P> +'I shall have to wade in and bring them over on my back,' he said, with +rather a lordly air. +</P> + +<P> +And this he did, landing both the twins safely on the bank. +</P> + +<P> +'Nurse will scold awfully, they're both so wet; we shall have to go home +at once,' said prudent Molly, as with very small handkerchiefs she and +Betty tried to wipe some of the wet off their clothes. +</P> + +<P> +'And then she'll say we're never to come to the wood again. I wish we +hadn't brought them with us!' +</P> + +<P> +It was a quiet little party that returned to Brook Farm; and in the +excitement of receiving the vials of nurse's wrath, and the fuss made +over the poor little victims, Betty's adventures remained still unheard +and unknown. +</P> + +<P> +She was not sorry that this was so, and was quite content to muse in the +secrecy of her own heart upon the beautiful cold lady who had given her +the lilies. She thought of her sleeping and waking, and with a strange +longing wondered if she would ever be allowed to see her again. +</P> + +<P> +The next afternoon was a very warm one; but Betty's restless little feet +could not stay in the buttercup meadow close to the house, where the +others were playing, and soon a small white figure in a large sun-bonnet +could have been seen plodding along the dusty road towards the churchyard +in the distance. +</P> + +<P> +Her little determined face relaxed into wonderful softness when she +entered the cool church. Going on tip-toe up the aisle, she came to the +monument of little Violet Russell, and here she paused, then clambering +up with a little difficulty, she laid two fresh lilies by the side of the +sculptured one, across the clasped hands of the child's figure. +</P> + +<P> +'There,' she said in a hushed voice; 'you shan't always hold a cold dead +lily, Violet dear; I've brought them to you from my own self, because +they're mine, and I'll get you some other flowers when they are dead.' +</P> + +<P> +She put her soft red lips down and left a kiss on the little clasped +hands, and then slipped down to the ground again, where she stood for a +moment looking up at the stained window above. A noise startled her: +walking up the middle aisle was the lady who had played to her before, +and following her a rough country boy, who disappeared through a little +door behind the organ. +</P> + +<P> +Betty slipped behind a pillar, and watched eagerly. Yes, she was going +to play again; and her heart beat high with expectation. She crept into +one of the high, old-fashioned pews, and sitting on a hassock, leant her +little head back upon the seat, and prepared herself to listen. +</P> + +<P> +The music began, and sent a little shiver of delight through Betty's +soul. The long, soft notes that died away like a summer breeze, the +deep, grand rolls that seemed to come from a cavern below, and then blend +with the clear, sweet echoes rising and falling, and at length ascending +in a burst of praise and gladness—it seemed to her that the angels above +would be stooping to listen to such strains. +</P> + +<P> +And then, after a little, the lady began to sing; and Betty drew in one +deep breath after another. It must be an angel, surely! and yet there +was something in the fresh holland dress and shady hat of the singer this +afternoon that seemed hardly suitable for an angel's apparel. +</P> + +<P> +The lady once looked round; and Betty thought her face looked sad; but +when she began to sing her face was illumined with such light and +gladness that the child watched it entranced. +</P> + +<P> +An hour passed, and then the singer was startled by the sound of a sob. +She was singing 'Oh, that I had wings like a dove!' and turning round, +was startled at the sight of a white sun-bonnet and two small hands +grasping the back of one of the pews. Betty had mounted on the hassock +to have a full view of the singer long ago, and was now trying in vain to +restrain the pent-up feelings of her sensitive little soul. +</P> + +<P> +In an instant the lady had left her seat and come up to the child. +</P> + +<P> +'What is the matter, little one? How did you find your way in here?' she +asked gently, as she put her arm round the sobbing child. +</P> + +<P> +But Betty could not put her feelings into words; she only shook her head +and sobbed, 'I like the music; don't stop singing.' +</P> + +<P> +'I must stop now: my hour is up. Tell me who you are.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty made an effort to recover her self-possession. +</P> + +<P> +'I'm only Betty,' she said, dabbing her face with her handkerchief; 'are +you an angel?' +</P> + +<P> +'Indeed I am not; do I look like one?' +</P> + +<P> +And the lady threw back her head and laughed in a very amused way. +</P> + +<P> +'Not now,' said Betty soberly; 'but you did look like one when you were +singing, and I—I hoped you might be.' +</P> + +<P> +'Why did you hope so?' +</P> + +<P> +Again Betty was silent; then, looking up, she seemed to gather courage +from the kind face looking down upon her, and burying her face in the +lady's dress, she sobbed out,— +</P> + +<P> +'I thought God might have sent you; and then you could have told me lots +of things I wanted to know.' +</P> + +<P> +'Perhaps God may have sent me instead of an angel. Tell me some of the +things you want to know.' +</P> + +<P> +'I want to know about Violet, and heaven, and tribulation,' murmured +Betty a little incoherently; and then she started as the church clock in +the belfry began to chime five. +</P> + +<P> +'It's tea-time; nurse will be looking for me.' +</P> + +<P> +The lady stooped and kissed her. 'I must go too,' she said; 'will you +come and see me to-morrow afternoon? I shall be here at the same time, +and then we can have a little talk.' +</P> + +<P> +'What is your name?' asked Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'Nesta,' the young lady answered, a little briefly. +</P> + +<P> +'And do you teach children?' was the next question, breathlessly put. +</P> + +<P> +'Sometimes; on Sundays I do.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's face lighted up, but she said no more, and trotted out of the +church and along the road as hard as ever she could. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Prince +</H3> + +<P> +The children were all at breakfast the next morning in the +old-fashioned kitchen. Nurse and her brother were having an animated +talk over some reminiscences of the past, when there was a knock at the +back door, and Mrs. Giles went out. Coming back, she appeared with a +small hamper under her arm, which she placed on the floor. +</P> + +<P> +''Tis the queerest thing I know of,' she said; 'look at the label now, +Jack; whoever is it for?' +</P> + +<P> +Every one crowded round at once. +</P> + +<P> +'For the little odd one at Brook Farm.' +</P> + +<P> +''Tis for one of the children,' said Jack, rubbing his head; 'they be +the only little 'uns that I know of.' +</P> + +<P> +'It's for Betty!' shouted Douglas and Molly excitedly; 'she's the odd +one! Open it quick, Betty; perhaps it's a big cake.' +</P> + +<P> +'It's alive!' exclaimed nurse, as on her knees she tried to undo the +fastenings. 'Come along, Miss Betty, you shall open it for yourself.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty came near, and with trembling fingers cut the string. +</P> + +<P> +A minute after, and out of the hamper jumped a beautiful little black +and white spaniel. +</P> + +<P> +There were screams of delight from all the children, and great surmises +as to who could have sent it. Betty guessed, but said nothing when she +found a piece of paper tied to a brass collar round his neck, with +these words: 'From a friend, hoping he may prove a true companion.' +</P> + +<P> +She clasped her arms round the dog's neck in ecstasy. 'He is my very, +very own,' she said, looking up at nurse with shining eyes; 'and I'll +have him for ever and ever.' +</P> + +<P> +The little creature sniffed at her face, and then put out his tongue, +and gave her a lick of satisfaction and approval. From that time the +two were all in all to each other. +</P> + +<P> +There was a great deal of discussion about him that morning, and Betty +had to tell of the strange, stern lady who had spoken to her in the +wood. +</P> + +<P> +'I'm sure she sent him,' Betty kept repeating; 'I'm sure she did.' +</P> + +<P> +'It was awfully mean to keep your adventure so secret, said Douglas, +looking at the dog very wistfully; 'she must be a fairy godmother +living in the wood. I wish she would send me something.' +</P> + +<P> +'Perhaps she is a wicked fairy or witch,' suggested Molly, 'who has +turned a prince into a little dog, and we must find a kind of spell to +bring him back to a prince again.' +</P> + +<P> +'That's what I'll call him,' said Betty, looking up; 'I'll call him +Prince.' +</P> + +<P> +Nurse at first demurred at having such an addition to her family, but +Mrs. Giles comforted her with the assurance—'There, let the little +miss enjoy him; she'll soon get tired of him—children always do—and +when you go back to London you can leave him behind with us. He's a +good breed, that we can see; and Jack will be able to sell him if we +don't care about keeping him.' +</P> + +<P> +It was fortunate Betty did not hear this suggestion. Prince was +rapidly filling a void in her little heart of which only she perhaps +had been dimly conscious. She was a child with strong affections and +intense feelings, and a yearning to have some one to love, and to be +loved in return. None of the little Stuarts were demonstrative, and +few guessed how deeply and passionately the bright and mischievous +Betty longed for the sympathy and love that was so rarely shown towards +her. +</P> + +<P> +So engrossing was the possession of Prince that the day went by, and +tea-time came, before Betty thought of her new friend in the church. +</P> + +<P> +But when tea was over she took Molly into her confidence. 'Molly, do +you think I might take Prince for a walk? would he follow me?' +</P> + +<P> +'Where are you going?' +</P> + +<P> +'I'm going to see a lady that I think is the governess Mr. Roper told +me about; Nesta, her name is, only I think he called her Mother Nesta. +I told you about it one night, don't you remember? she's really very +old, but she looks very young, and this one must be her.' +</P> + +<P> +'Where did you find her?' +</P> + +<P> +'In a church.' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh!' and Molly's tone was indifferent; 'I don't like people in church. +Nurse says she is going to take us to church to-morrow. I hoped she +would forget; last Sunday it was too far, she said. And Douglas and I +were going to have a beautiful church in the orchard. There's an apple +tree just like a pulpit.' +</P> + +<P> +'Molly,' called out Douglas, 'Sam is going down to the river to fish; +he says he'll show us where we can fish too; do come on!' +</P> + +<P> +Away ran Molly. The twins were playing in the garden porch, and nurse +chatting in the kitchen with her sister-in-law. Betty called Prince, +who had been busy with a saucer of scraps, and putting on her straw hat +set off along the road to church. Prince was certainly a great charge; +he was a dog of an inquiring mind, and his continual rushes into the +hedge sides, and long searches after young frogs in the grass, +considerably delayed his young mistress's progress. +</P> + +<P> +But at length the church was reached; the evening shadows threw long, +weird shapes across the darkened path that led to the porch, the rooks +were noisier than usual, and Betty looked anxiously down at Prince. +</P> + +<P> +'You won't bark, dear, will you?' she said stooping and lifting him +into her arms; 'because church is a very quiet place, and music is the +only noise allowed. I'll take you in to see the prettiest little girl +you've ever seen, and she's lying so still. I've brought her some +forget-me-nots.' +</P> + +<P> +Prince struggled a little at first, but Betty soothed him and then +crept inside. +</P> + +<P> +'I'm afraid I've come too late,' she murmured, as she looked round the +silent church and saw no signs of the lady; 'but I'll come another day +soon and see her.' +</P> + +<P> +Softly she made her way round to the stained-glass window she loved, +but started in astonishment when she saw leaning against the monument a +tall, strange gentleman. +</P> + +<P> +He did not see Betty; his brows were knitted and his lips twitching +strangely under his heavy dark moustache; with folded arms he stood +leaning against the pillar, and looking down upon the fair figure of +the recumbent child in front of him. Then he stooped, and taking up +one of the fading lilies across the child's hands looked at it +wonderingly. +</P> + +<P> +'The picture more lasting than the thing itself,' he muttered; 'it is +all that is left us; the fragile productions of nature cannot exist +long in this hard, rough world, and yet how I tried to shield her from +every blast!' +</P> + +<P> +A slight whine from Prince startled him, and looking round he pulled +himself together sternly. +</P> + +<P> +'What are you doing here, little girl?' +</P> + +<P> +Almost the same words that had been said to her in the wood the other +day; and Betty began to wonder if she were again on forbidden ground. +</P> + +<P> +'Does the church belong to you?' she asked, standing her ground, and +looking up through her long dark lashes rather shyly; 'am I where I +oughtn't to be? I came to see that little girl.' +</P> + +<P> +He looked at her. +</P> + +<P> +'What do you know about her?' +</P> + +<P> +'I don't know anything, but I want to know. I love her, and I've +brought her some more flowers.' +</P> + +<P> +'Did you put these lilies here?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes; they're quite dead now, aren't they?' +</P> + +<P> +'Of course they are; this is the place of death.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty did not understand the bitter tone; but she said simply, pointing +to the child's figure, 'She isn't really dead, is she? She has gone to +sleep. I was thinking, when I was here before, if Jesus would only +just walk out of that window and touch her hands with His, she would +open her eyes and get up. I should like to see her, wouldn't you? I +watched her the other day till I almost thought I saw her move. But +she will wake up one day, won't she?' +</P> + +<P> +There was no answer. +</P> + +<P> +Betty slipped her little hand in his. 'Would you give her these +forget-me-nots, or lift me up so that I can do it?' She had dropped +Prince, who was sniffing suspiciously round the gentleman's heels, and +waited anxiously for his reply. He took her in his arms, and held her +there whilst she placed the flowers in the position she wished; and +then, before she was lifted down, she said softly, 'I think she is +really singing up in heaven. I like to believe she is there, but I'm +not quite sure. Do you know if she came out of tribulation?' +</P> + +<P> +'Why should she?' +</P> + +<P> +'Because it says, about those in white robes with crowns, "These are +they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, +and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." It makes me feel very +unhappy sometimes, because I haven't been through tribulation yet, and +I shan't be ready to die till I have.' +</P> + +<P> +She was set quickly down upon her feet, and without a word the +gentleman left her, striding down the aisle and shutting the church +door with a slam that echoed and re-echoed through the silent church. +</P> + +<P> +Betty was startled at his sudden departure; she took up her dog in her +arms again, and stood gazing silently up at the window above, through +which the setting sun was sending coloured rays in all directions. +Then with a little sigh she turned and left the church. Outside the +porch was a grey-headed old man, the sexton, who was taking his evening +walk amongst the graves. +</P> + +<P> +'Hulloo!' he said, 'be you the one that banged this 'ere door just now? +'Twas enough to scare the owls and bats and all the other beasties from +their holes for evermore.' +</P> + +<P> +'No, it wasn't me; it was a gentleman.' +</P> + +<P> +'Ah, was it now? Shouldn't be surprised if I knew who it was! 'Twas +Mr. Russell, surely! There's no other gent that favours this 'ere +building like him.' +</P> + +<P> +'Is he Violet Russell's father?' questioned Betty eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +The old man nodded. 'Yes, he be that little maid's parent, and he'll +never get over her loss. She were the apple of his eye, and when she +were took, he were like a man demented. Ah, 'tis the young as well as +the old I have to dig for!' +</P> + +<P> +'Does that gentleman live here?' asked Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'Ay, surely, for he be the owner of the whole property hereabout. But +'tis not money will give comfort; he have had a deal o' trouble. I +mind when his father turned him out o' doors for his painting and +sich-like persoots. And he went to Italy, and there he taught hisself +to be a hartist, and painted and carved a lot o' stone figures, and +folks say he made a name for hisself in Lunnon. He were taken back by +his father after a bit, and came a-coorting Miss Violet Granger, that +lived over at Deemster Hall. But his brother, Mr. Rudolph, cut him +out, when he went off to Germany for a spell, and he and Miss Violet +runned away together, and when he come back he found his bride stolen. +He were terrible cut up, and off he goes to foreign parts again, and +never a sight of he did us get till the old squire were dead, and Mr. +Rudolph had killed hisself out hunting. Then Mr. Frank comes home agen +with a bran-new wife, and we thought as how his life were a mending, +and things were looking up. He seemed brighter, too; but lack-a-day, +'twere not ten months afore I had to dig a grave for her, and she left +him a two-day-old babe to bring up—and little Miss Violet were the joy +of his heart—she were a purty, bright little maid, and were out on her +little pony every day wi' her father. She just doated on him, and he +were as lovin' as a woman wi' her. Then there come the day when the +little maid got a ugly fall from her pony, and all the Lunnon doctors +were sent for, but could do no good, and she were in bed a wasting away +for nigh a twelve-month, and then she died. 'Twere a mercy, for she'd +have been a hunchbacked cripple had she lived; and Mary Foster, what +were her maid, said as 'ow she suffered terrible at times. The Lord +were marciful in takin' of her. But 'tis not to be wondered at Mr. +Frank takin' it sorely. And then he shut hisself up in his painting +room, and never comed out of it till he had cut the little maid's +figure out in stone, like as you see it in the church. Many's the +visitor that I've a taken in to see it; and the ladies, they comes away +sheddin' tears at the little dear. He put up the coloured window too, +and comes to church reg'lar; but he's hard and cold, like the stones he +cut, and 'tis his troubles have spoilt him. I mind he were a +bright-faced, bonny lad once, that I used to show birds' nests to in +the hedges; but now he passes me wi'out a civil word or look. Ay, it's +trouble and toil and tribbylation that is man's lot here below!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty listened to this long harangue breathlessly. Much of it she +could not follow, but the old man's closing sentence made her look at +him eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +'Do you know about tribulation?' she asked. +</P> + +<P> +'Me know of it! Ay, surely, when I've buried six sons and daughters, +and last of all my woife, and dug all their graves mysel', save two, +which were Jack in Mericky, which died of yellow fever, and only a +packet of letters sent back to us belonging to him, and in them there +were a bit o' his mother's grey hair which he had cut off that playful +afore he went away; and then there were Rob, that were killed down a +coal mine, and we could never get at his body, and he left a widder and +three childer, and she were married to one o' his chums afore a +twelvemonth past—the unfeeling hussy; but I've washed my hands of the +lot. Ay, I've been through troubles and tribbylation, which is our lot +in this world, but I've had a many more than most folks.' +</P> + +<P> +'Then you must be quite ready to die?' said Betty, looking at him +thoughtfully. +</P> + +<P> +The old man looked at her; then rubbed his head in a puzzled way. +</P> + +<P> +'I'm no so sure about that, little lassie; I've seen scores brought +into this churchyard and placed in my graves, but there are toimes when +I think o' seeing mysel' let down into a strange grave, and one not cut +half so foine as mine, for I'm up to my trade, and none could do it +better, and I'm thinkin' if that day will wait till I'm ready for it; +well—'twill be a good way off yet!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty knitted her brows in perplexity. +</P> + +<P> +'If you've been through tribulation, you must be very nearly ready for +heaven—the Bible says so.' +</P> + +<P> +'Ay, do it? Let's hear, missy; for sure I've had my lot o' woe, and +the Lord do be marciful!' +</P> + +<P> +For a second time that afternoon Betty repeated the text that was so +occupying her mind and thoughts. The old man listened attentively. +</P> + +<P> +'You see,' said Betty, leaning against an old yew tree and hugging +Prince close to her, 'it's the first part that's so difficult to me, +but it must be quite easy for you. The end of it fits us all, but the +tribulation doesn't fit me.' +</P> + +<P> +'And what be the end of it?' asked the sexton. +</P> + +<P> +'It says, they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of +the Lamb.' +</P> + +<P> +'Ay,' said the old man, after a minute's silence, 'and 'tis the end of +it don't fit me.' +</P> + +<P> +The child looked up, astonishment coming into her blue eyes. +</P> + +<P> +'But that's very easy,' she said, 'that is coming to Jesus and asking +Him to wash our sins away in His blood. I thought everybody did that. +I do it every night, because I'm an awful wicked girl. I'm always +forgetting to be good.' +</P> + +<P> +Again there was silence; the old man looked away over the hills in the +distance. It was just the quietest time in the evening; the birds were +already in their nests for the night,—even the rooks had subsided; and +the stillness and peace around drew his heart and mind upwards. Betty +thought he was looking at the sunset, which was shedding its last +golden rays over the misty blue outlines of the hills across the +horizon. Presently he drew the cuff of his sleeve across his eyes. +'And who be they that the Book says that of?' he asked. +</P> + +<P> +'Why, it's the people in heaven—every one who dies, I s'pose. I like +to think of them there, but I do want dreadfully to join them one day; +and I'm afraid sometimes I shall be left out.' +</P> + +<P> +Tears were filling the earnest little eyes, and the curly head bent +over Prince to hide them. +</P> + +<P> +'I mind,' said the sexton slowly, 'that my missus, before she died, +told me to pray, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." I expect +she knew all about the washing, but I've never done much harm to any +one, and I've attended church reg'lar.' +</P> + +<P> +'I wish I was as good as you.' And Betty looked up with emphatic +utterance. 'I'm always doing some one harm, and nurse will scold me +when I get in for being out so late—I know she will. Good-bye, old +man.' +</P> + +<P> +She put Prince down on the ground, and trotted off, and the old sexton +looked after her with a shake of his head. +</P> + +<P> +'She be a queer little lass! Ay, I would be glad to have her chance of +getting to the Kingdom. But I'll have a look at the old Book, and see +what it says about this 'ere washing.' +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Made into a Couple +</H3> + +<P> +The next morning being Sunday, the three elder children were taken to +church by nurse. It was a small village congregation; and Betty looked +round in vain for her friend Nesta. She saw Mr. Russell standing grim +and solitary in his large, old-fashioned pew; and she had a nod from +the sexton at the church door. The clergyman's wife and grown-up +daughter and a few grandly dressed farmers' wives were the only others +who occupied seats of their own. The organ was played by the +schoolmaster, and after Nesta's playing it did not seem the same +instrument. Betty was quieter than her brother and sister; she could +see her stained window and little Violet's figure from where she sat; +she could even catch sight of her forget-me-nots—now looking withered +and dead; and her thoughts kept her restless little body still. Molly +and Douglas did not like church; their fair heads were close together, +and occasionally a faint sniggle would cause nurse to look round with +stern reproval. But at last the long service was over, and they came +out into the fresh, sweet air of a June morning. +</P> + +<P> +Nurse had several friends to talk to in the churchyard, and Molly and +Betty walked on soberly in front of her, feeling subdued and a little +uncomfortable in their stiff white frocks and best Leghorn hats and +feathers. +</P> + +<P> +'Where is Douglas?' whispered Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'Hush! don't let nurse know; he saw a pair of legs through a little +hole at the back of the organ, and he's gone to see if it is a robber +hiding.' +</P> + +<P> +'Will he fight him if it is?' said Betty, with an awe-struck look; then +an expression of relief crossing her face, she said, 'I know; it's a +boy that goes in at the back whenever a person plays. I don't know +what he does, but I've seen him there before.' +</P> + +<P> +'When did you see him?' asked Molly eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +Betty's private adventures never remained secret for long, and she +poured forth a long account of her various visits to the church. Molly +was much impressed, but Douglas's return soon turned her thoughts into +another channel. He looked flushed and dishevelled, and his white +sailor suit was soiled and dusty; but nurse was too busy talking to +notice his appearance, and he joined the others with some importance in +his tone. +</P> + +<P> +'I've made a discovery,' he said; 'how do you think a church organ is +played?' +</P> + +<P> +'Like a piano,' said Molly promptly. +</P> + +<P> +'It isn't, then; you turn a handle like the organs in the street, and a +man or boy does all the work behind.' +</P> + +<P> +The little girls looked sceptical, and Betty said, 'I'm sure you don't, +then, for we can see the person playing.' +</P> + +<P> +'Well, they're only pretending; I've seen the handle myself, and the +boy told me if he didn't pull it up and down the organ wouldn't play. +It must be like a kind of duet, perhaps. I expect he makes all the big +booming notes, and the squeaky notes are made by the person in front. +I've promised him sixpence out of my new half-crown, if he'll let me +play instead of him one day; and he says he will.' +</P> + +<P> +'Nurse won't let you play it on Sundays,' said Molly; 'besides, you +won't be able to do it properly, and if you made a mistake it would be +awful.' +</P> + +<P> +'I shall play it on a week-day, and I'll make the old organ sound, you +see if I don't!' +</P> + +<P> +Directly the children reached home, Betty flew to her dog, who had been +shut up in the garret whilst they had been at church. Prince was +already getting to know his little mistress, and welcomed her back with +short happy barks and a great many licks. And Betty poured out all her +heart's love for him in the shape of caresses and pats and kisses, +whispering in his silken ears many a secret, and hugging him to her +breast with a passionate vehemence which astonished and amused those +who saw her. +</P> + +<P> +'He is my own, my very own,' she kept repeating; 'and I shall never +feel odd no more!' +</P> + +<P> +She did not. It was a new and delightful sensation to be one of a +couple. 'Molly and Douglas, Bobby and Billy, and Prince and I,' she +would say. No longer was she to trot off alone in some of their +games,—Prince was always ready to go with her; if Molly and Douglas +were deep in some conspiracy, so could she and Prince be; and the +pent-up feelings and thoughts of rather a lonely little heart were +poured out to one who listened and sympathised with his soft brown eyes +and curly tail, but who never betrayed the confidence reposed in him. +</P> + +<P> +At no time in her life had Betty been so happy as she was now; her +little pensive face sparkled with gladness when Prince gambolled by her +side; and nurse asserted that the dog kept her out of mischief, and was +a very successful addition to their party. It was some days before she +visited the church again; but when she did, the organ was sounding, and +she found her friend already playing. Rolling Prince up in her large +holland overall, until only his little black nose peeped out, Betty +crept up close to the player, and stood unnoticed for some minutes. +Then Nesta Fairfax turned round and gave the child a pleased smile. +</P> + +<P> +'My little friend again!' she said; 'I have been wondering what has +become of you. Have you come for a talk?' +</P> + +<P> +'No, only to listen to the music,' said Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'Then I will go on playing.' +</P> + +<P> +She turned back to the organ, and for some time Betty listened in +silence, sitting on a hassock and rocking Prince backwards and +forwards, till warm and exhausted with his ineffectual struggles to +free himself, he fell asleep in her arms. +</P> + +<P> +At last, when there was a pause in the music, Betty said earnestly,— +</P> + +<P> +'Will you sing again what you did when I thought you were an angel?' +</P> + +<P> +'What was it, I wonder?' +</P> + +<P> +'It was about—"these are they which came out of great tribulation!"' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh yes, I remember.' +</P> + +<P> +And the sweet clear voice rang out through the silent church, and the +organ rose and fell to the beautiful words, till Betty could hardly +bear it. +</P> + +<P> +'Is it over?' she asked, as the last note died away. +</P> + +<P> +Nesta Fairfax turned her glowing face upon the child. +</P> + +<P> +'You love it as much as I do, you little mite!' she said; 'but you +mustn't cry. Do you know where those words come from?' +</P> + +<P> +She put her arms round her, and drew her to rest against her as she +spoke,— +</P> + +<P> +'Yes,' said Betty with a nod; 'I know all about them; I've read it +sixty hundred times, I think, and I know that verse by heart. I want +to ask you about it.' +</P> + +<P> +Nesta waited, and with a little effort Betty said,— +</P> + +<P> +'I want dreadfully to be one of them one day, and I'm afraid I never +shall. I was talking to the old man who digs graves, the other day; +the first part of the verse doesn't fit me, and the last doesn't fit +him—at least he said so. I wonder if both parts fit you.' +</P> + +<P> +Nesta gazed at Betty in a puzzled kind of way; then looked away, for +her eyes were filling with tears. +</P> + +<P> +'Perhaps it may,' she said softly; 'I should like to think it did.' +</P> + +<P> +'And can you tell me how I can go through tribulation? I want to get +it over, so that I can be quite ready for heaven.' +</P> + +<P> +'My dear child, if God means you to have it, He will send it in His own +good time. Never wish for troubles; they will come fast enough as you +grow older.' +</P> + +<P> +'That's what nurse says; she tells us when we get to her age we shall +know what distress and trouble is. But s'posing if I don't live to +grow up? Violet didn't, and I'm so afraid I may not get inside heaven. +I may be left out of those in the text, because I haven't been through +tribulation. I don't want to be left out; I want to be in the very +middle of them all! I want to stand singing, and have a crown and a +palm, and I want to hear some one ask who I am; and then I want to hear +the answer, "She came out of tribulation!" Oh! do tell me how I can go +into it! Mr. Roper said you would teach me a lot of things.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's voice was eloquent in her beseeching tone, and Nesta was silent +for a moment; then she said,— +</P> + +<P> +'Trouble doesn't take us to heaven; tribulation, even martyrdom, does +not. Don't you know what does? What did Jesus Christ come into the +world for? What did He die for? Will you sing a little hymn with me? +I expect you know it.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty looked delighted. +</P> + +<P> +'And will you play the organ?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes.' +</P> + +<P> +Then Nesta began to sing; and Betty's sweet little voice chimed in; for +well she knew the words,— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'There is a green hill far away,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Beyond the city wall,</SPAN><BR> +Where our dear Lord was crucified,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Who died to save us all.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +We may not know, we cannot tell<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">What pains He had to bear;</SPAN><BR> +But we believe it was for us<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">He hung and suffered there.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +He died that we may be forgiven,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">He died to make us good,</SPAN><BR> +That we might go at last to heaven,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Saved by His precious blood.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +There was no other good enough<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">To pay the price of sin;</SPAN><BR> +He only could unlock the gate<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Of heaven and let us in.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Oh, dearly, dearly has He loved,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">And we must love Him too,</SPAN><BR> +And trust in His redeeming blood,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">And try His works to do.'</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +'Now can you tell me why the Lord Jesus Christ died; what does the hymn +say?' +</P> + +<P> +'He died that we may be forgiven, He died to make us good,' quoted +Betty slowly. +</P> + +<P> +'Go on.' +</P> + +<P> +'That we might go at last to heaven, saved by His precious blood.' +</P> + +<P> +'Then how can we get to heaven?' +</P> + +<P> +'Because Jesus died for us.' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, He died to let you go to heaven, Betty; He did it all, and you +have nothing to do with it. If you let Jesus take your little heart +and wash it in His blood, nothing will ever keep you out of heaven.' +</P> + +<P> +'But if I'm naughty?' asked Betty. 'I've asked God so often to give me +a new heart and wash me in Jesus' blood, and sometimes I think He has +done it; but then I'm always getting into mischief, and nurse says it's +only the good children go to heaven.' +</P> + +<P> +'I think Jesus will teach you to be good, if you ask Him, and you +mustn't expect to be quite good all at once; always go to Him when +you've been naughty, and tell Him about it, and ask Him to help you to +be good. He loves you, Betty, and He will always listen to you and +answer your prayers.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's blue eyes were looking intently at the speaker; and her little +lips took a resolute curve. +</P> + +<P> +'I will be good,' she said; 'I do love Jesus, and I'll ask Him all day +long to keep me from being naughty.' +</P> + +<P> +Then after a pause she said,— +</P> + +<P> +'Have you gone through tribulation?' +</P> + +<P> +'I have had a great deal of trouble.' And a sad look came over Nesta's +face. +</P> + +<P> +'My old man said he had had a lot of trouble, and he told me Mr. +Russell had. Trouble always means people dying, doesn't it?' +</P> + +<P> +'There are troubles worse than death,' Nesta said gravely; 'God grant +you may never know such!' Then with a change of tone she said +brightly, 'Don't look for trouble, darling; Jesus means you to be +happy. Now shall we sing one more hymn, and then I must go.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty joined in delightedly when Nesta began,— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'There's a Friend for little children.'<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +After it was finished Nesta asked,— +</P> + +<P> +'What did you mean, Betty, by saying that a Mr. Roper had told you I +would teach you? Who is Mr. Roper?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty told her, repeating as much of the conversation she had had with +him as she could remember; and Nesta laughed aloud when she discovered +the origin of the 'lady who taught.' +</P> + +<P> +'He meant Mother Nature, Betty; a very different teacher to me.' +</P> + +<P> +'Do you know her, then? Where does she live?' +</P> + +<P> +'I will take you to see her when next we meet. You see her every day, +Betty. Now I must go. Good-bye. Is this a little doggie you have +rolled up in your pinafore? I thought it was a doll. Now, Dick, you +can come out.' +</P> + +<P> +Dick Green, a heavy-looking village boy, appeared from behind the +organ, and followed Miss Fairfax down the aisle. But Betty waited; she +had brought two roses with her for Violet's monument, and she went to +the seat upon which she had laid them, and took them round to the other +side of the church, where she deposited them in the usual place. Then +calling Prince, who had been awakened from his sleep, and was now +inspecting every corner of the church with nose and paws, Betty set off +homewards. +</P> + +<P> +Nesta Fairfax had comforted her, but had not entirely satisfied her +perplexed little heart, and the busy brain was still trying to solve +the problem. +</P> + +<P> +Betty was not the only visitor to the church that day. +</P> + +<P> +Douglas disappeared after tea, and after nearly two hours' absence +returned, hot, tired, and very cross. +</P> + +<P> +At last he confided to Molly that he had been to play the organ. +</P> + +<P> +'And I'm awfully afraid I've broken the horrid old thing, and I don't +like that Dick Green! He took my sixpence and ran off, and I worked +the handle up and down for hours; he told me the music would come in +about a quarter of an hour. It never did, but the organ gave great +gasps and groans; you never heard such a noise, just like Mr. Giles +when he goes to sleep after tea! It's awfully hard work pulling the +handle up and down; I hope I haven't broke it. I think it wants some +one to play on the front of it, but the front part is locked up. But +I've had a kind of adventure. When I came out there was a strange +gentleman looking at one of the graves in the church, so I went up to +see what he was looking at, and it was the stone image of a little +girl, and there were some pink roses in her hands.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty edged up close to her brother as he got thus far, and asked +eagerly, 'What did he say about the roses?' +</P> + +<P> +'He looked at me with an awful frown, and I folded my arms and frowned +back, like this!' +</P> + +<P> +And Douglas rumpled his fair brow into many creases, and looked so +ferocious that Molly was quite awed, though disrespectful Betty laughed +aloud. +</P> + +<P> +'"What are you doing here?" he said. "Did you put these roses here?" +</P> + +<P> +'"No," I said; "oughtn't they to be there? I'll take them away." And +then he frowned worse than ever, and said, "Don't you dare to lay a +finger on them!" and then he muttered something about the church being +always full of children now. But I didn't listen to him much; I was +busy looking at the little girl, and thinking, and then I made up a +beautiful story on the spot; it's something like some of the fairy +stories we read in our big books. I'll tell it to you in a minute. I +said to him that I thought I could tell him where the roses came from, +and he said "Where?" and then I said to him that the little girl was a +sleeping beauty waiting for a prince to come along and kiss her and +wake her up; but he hadn't come yet, so a fairy was watching her till +he came; and every moonlight night she would bring some flowers in, and +creep inside them and sleep with her, to keep all the goblins off, and +she would sing her songs in the night, and tell her stories, and +comfort her——' +</P> + +<P> +'But,' interrupted Molly, 'if she was asleep, how could she hear the +fairy?' +</P> + +<P> +'You're too sharp! Perhaps you'll wait. I was just going to say that +in the night she was able to open her eyes, only she couldn't get up. +I had just got as far as that, when the gentleman said "Pshaw!" and +then he told me to run off, and not come into the church again to +tomfool—that's what he said. He was a kind of dark, grim-looking +ogre, and I'll—well, I shall have more to do with him yet!' +</P> + +<P> +This awful threat was accompanied with a very significant shake of the +flaxen head, but Betty cried out hotly,— +</P> + +<P> +'You don't know anything about it! He's the father of that little +girl, and he goes to her grave to say his prayers and cry. I know more +about him than you do, so there!' +</P> + +<P> +'What do you know?' +</P> + +<P> +But Betty walked off, hugging Prince under her arm, and calling out as +she went, with a spice of superiority in her tone, 'Prince and I know +all about him, and her, and the roses; that's <I>our</I> secret.' +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Haymaking +</H3> + +<P> +It was only a few days after this that nurse took all the children to +tea at an old farmhouse about two miles off. They rode part of the way +in a farm waggon, and were all in the best of spirits, for it was +haymaking time,—a time of entrancing joy to all children, and to the +little Stuarts a new and delightful experience. They had tea out in +one of the fields under a shady elm, and were just separating after it +was over to have one more romp in the hay, when, to Betty's intense +surprise, who should come across the field but Nesta Fairfax! She +evidently knew Mrs. Crump, the farmer's wife, well, for she sat down +and began chatting away about all her family, and then she caught sight +of Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'Why, it's my little friend!' she said, stooping down and kissing her; +'and are these your brothers and sisters?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty got crimson with delight, and introduced one after the other with +great importance, and Nesta won all their hearts at once by joining +them in their frolic. Her laugh was as gay as theirs, and she could +run as fast as any of them. +</P> + +<P> +'You're rather a nice grown-up person,' said Douglas approvingly, as at +last she took her leave; 'you aren't so dull and stupid as grown-up +people generally are! Will you come and see us one day at our farm? +I'll take you to see the sweetest white mice in the stable that Sam +keeps, and there's heaps of easy trees to climb in the orchard, if you +like climbing!' +</P> + +<P> +'And I'll show you a baby calf only two days old,' put in Molly, 'and +three black and white kittens in a loft, with a lot of apples one end. +We've jolly things at our farm, if you'll only come.' +</P> + +<P> +'And a see-saw and a swing,' added the twins. +</P> + +<P> +'And what will Betty show me?' asked Nesta, amused. +</P> + +<P> +'I think I'll show you the flowers, and the forget-me-nots and +watercress in the brook,' said Betty meditatively. +</P> + +<P> +'Then I really must come, with such an enchanting programme before me,' +said Nesta; and she kissed them all round, told nurse she envied her +her little family, cracked some jokes with old Crump and his wife, and +departed, leaving behind her a breezy brightness and cheeriness that +she brought with her wherever she came. +</P> + +<P> +'A pleasant young lady,' said nurse; 'who is she, Mrs. Crump?' +</P> + +<P> +'Ah, well,' said Mrs. Crump, shaking her head solemnly; 'there's a sad +story attached to the family. My niece, what the master and I have +brought up like one of our own children, has got the sitivation as maid +to Mrs. Fairfax, and she knows all the ins and outs of their trouble as +no one else do. You see, this is how it is! They were a Lunnon +family, and come down here first for change of air. They took lodgings +in Mrs. Twist's farm; there were Mrs. Fairfax and the two young ladies, +and a dashing young gentleman, the son, who came down for a day or two +at a time, but he never stayed long. Mrs. Fairfax were proud as proud +could be, and very cold and stern-like except to her son, so Jane says, +and him she couldn't do enough for; her heart was just bound up in him! +Jane went back with them to Lunnon, but she says the way the young +gentleman went on were enough to break any mother's heart. He was fast +going to the bad; and yet his mother, though she would scold and fume +at times, never seemed to see it, and paid his debts, and let him have +his fling. Miss Nesta were engaged to be married, and Jane says her +lover did all he could to stand by her brother and keep him straight; +but it weren't no good whatever. And about two year ago the end came. +Mr. Arthur had some trouble over a gaming-table; that was the +beginning; then he went and signed a bank cheque that wasn't his—I +believe as how it is called forging, and the gentleman whose cheque it +was had him up in court; he wouldn't hush it up, and it was the talk of +all Lunnon, so Jane tells me. His mother would have paid up, though it +would have ruined her; but she weren't allowed, and he were sent to +prison across the seas for seventeen years. Jane says Mrs. Fairfax +seemed turned to stone; she shut up the Lunnon house, and went abroad +to some foreign place with a long name, I forgets it now; and then she +comes back and takes Holly Grange, which is as nice an old house as +ever you see, and belonged to a Colonel Sparks, who died only a +twelvemonth ago, and is about a mile from here, over against that wood +you see yonder. But I'm tiring of you with this long tale.' +</P> + +<P> +'I like to hear it,' said nurse; and so did Betty, though a good deal +of it was incomprehensible to her. She sat with Prince in her arms on +the grass close by, and her quick little ears were listening to every +word. +</P> + +<P> +'Well,' said Mrs. Crump, with a sigh, 'there ain't much more to tell. +Jane says Mrs. Fairfax shuts herself up and won't see a single visitor; +Miss Grace, the eldest daughter, who was never very strong, has become +a confirmed invalid, with very crotchety and fidgety ways, and makes +every one miserable who comes near her. Miss Nesta is the only one +that keeps bright; and Jane says her temper is that sweet, she bears +with all her sister's crossness and unreasonableness, and her mother's +icy coldness, like an angel. She have had her troubles, too, poor +thing! Jane tells me that it was Mrs. Fairfax made her break off her +engagement with her lover; he were some relative of the gentleman that +lost the cheque, and she wouldn't have the engagement go on on no +account. Jane says her lover had a talk with Mrs. Fairfax, and he were +rather a high and mighty gentleman, and he left the room as white as +death, and declared he would never set foot in the house again. Jane +thinks Mrs. Fairfax was beside herself at the time, and must have +insulted him fearful. Anyhow, it all came to an end. It's a world of +trouble, Mrs. Duff. But I feel very sorry for Miss Nesta. The other +ladies hardly ever leave the house or grounds, and they would like to +keep Miss Nesta in as well; but she comes across to me and has a chat, +and she reads a chapter and has prayers with grandfather. She's a very +good young lady, and no one would think, to look at her, what she have +come through.' +</P> + +<P> +'Has she come through tribulation?' asked Betty, looking up suddenly. +</P> + +<P> +'Well, I never did! To think of that child a-taking it all in!' +ejaculated Mrs. Crump. 'What do you know about tribulation, little +missy?' +</P> + +<P> +'It means trouble or distress, I know;' and Betty's face was very +wistful as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +'Run along and play with the others,' said nurse quickly, 'and don't +worry your head over other people's troubles. There is plenty of it in +the world, but your time hasn't come for it yet.' +</P> + +<P> +'I wish it would come,' said Betty softly, 'and then I could put myself +in that text.' +</P> + +<P> +But only Prince heard the whispered words, and he wagged his tail in +sympathy. +</P> + +<P> +It was that night that Betty added another clause to her evening +prayers. She generally said them aloud at nurse's knee, but it was not +the first time that she had said, 'I want to whisper quite a secret to +God'; and nurse always let her have her way. +</P> + +<P> +'She is a queer little thing,' she told her brother; 'sometimes +naughtier and more contrary than all the rest put together, and +sometimes so angel-like that I wonder if she won't have an early death. +But there's no knowing how to take her!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's secret was this,— +</P> + +<P> +'And please, God, forgive Prince his sins and take him to heaven when +he dies, and let me come through great tribulation, so that I may be +like your people in heaven.' +</P> + +<P> +When haymaking commenced at Brook Farm the children's delight knew no +bounds. Every moment of the day they were out in the fields; and as +the great cart-loads of hay were driven off, they felt proud and +pleased with having helped in the work. Prince enjoyed it as much as +any one; but he never left his little mistress's side for long. One +evening, as the tired haymakers were resting, after having placed the +last load on the wagon, Betty, dancing by the cart, was inspired to +ascend the ladder which had been left against it. +</P> + +<P> +'Come on,' she shouted to Douglas and Molly, 'and we'll have a ride +home.' +</P> + +<P> +Up they went, unnoticed by any, and danced up and down with delight +when they reached the top. Then nurse discovered them, and in her +fright and anxiety at their risky position she rushed towards them and +screamed aloud. The horses, startled, swerved hastily aside, and +Douglas, dangerously near the edge, over-balanced himself, and fell +with a terrible thud to the ground. It was the work of a moment to +seize him and drag him from the wheels, which mercifully did not touch +him; but he was carried into the house stunned and insensible, and +Molly and Betty, with scared, white faces, were taken down and sent +indoors. +</P> + +<P> +'It's your fault,' whispered Molly to the frightened Betty; 'you made +us come up, and now Douglas will die! I think he's dead already; +you'll be a murderer, and you'll be sent to prison and hung!' +</P> + +<P> +And Betty quite believed this assertion, and crept up to the passage +outside Douglas's bedroom trembling with excitement and fright. She +crouched down in a corner, and Prince came up, put his two paws on her +shoulder, and licked her face with a little wistful whine. It was a +long time before nurse came out of the room, and then she wasted very +few words on the little culprit. +</P> + +<P> +'Go to bed, you naughty child, and tell Miss Molly to go too. You are +never safe from mischief, and it's a mercy your brother hasn't been +killed.' +</P> + +<P> +'Will he get better, nurse?' +</P> + +<P> +But nurse made no reply, and both little girls were long before they +got to sleep that night, so fearful were their conjectures as to the +fate of their brother. +</P> + +<P> +Douglas was only stunned for the time, and very much bruised and +shaken. Nurse kept him in bed for two or three days, and the two +little girls were unremitting in their care and attention. He accepted +their services with much complacency, and enjoyed his important and +interesting position. +</P> + +<P> +'What would you two girls have done if I had died?' he asked. 'Who +would have been your leader then?' +</P> + +<P> +'You're not my leader,' said Betty promptly. 'No one is my leader. I +lead myself.' +</P> + +<P> +'I don't know what I should have done,' said Molly pensively. 'I +should have had to go about with Betty then. You see, I should have +her, and the twins have themselves. I don't think Bobby and Billy +would miss any of us much if we were to die. We should be equal if you +died, Douglas—two and two, but I'm glad you're going to get better.' +</P> + +<P> +'You wouldn't have gone about with me, Molly,' said Betty, with a +decisive shake of her head, as she stooped to caress Prince at her +feet, 'because you would have been one too many. We are two and two +without you. I don't want any one with me but Prince. You would have +to be the odd one if Douglas died—like I used to be.' +</P> + +<P> +'Prince is only a dog,' said Molly, with a little curl of her lip. 'I +wouldn't make two with a dog!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's eyes sparkled dangerously. +</P> + +<P> +'Prince is ever so much nicer than you are—much nicer, and you're +jealous because he likes me and not you. He's my very own, and I love +him, and he loves me; and I love him better than all the people in the +world put together, so there!' +</P> + +<P> +'You needn't get in a temper. He's a silly, stupid kind of a dog, and +Mr. Giles said yesterday if he caught him chasing his sheep round the +field, he would give him a good beating; and I hope he will, for he +nearly chased the sheep yesterday.' +</P> + +<P> +'When you two have done fighting I should like to speak. My head +aches. I think I should like some of the jelly nurse made for me. It +will make it better.' +</P> + +<P> +The little girls' rising wrath subsided. Both rushed to fulfil +Douglas's desire,—for had not nurse left them in charge, and had she +not also warned them against exciting him by loud talking and noise? +</P> + +<P> +'I'm glad you will get better,' said Betty presently. 'I saw Miss +Fairfax in church yesterday, and she asked me how you were.' +</P> + +<P> +'What were you doing in church?' demanded Douglas. 'It wasn't Sunday.' +</P> + +<P> +'Prince and I go to church very often,' said Betty, putting on a prim +little air. 'We have several businesses there; but we don't tell every +one what we do.' +</P> + +<P> +'Do you play the organ?' asked Douglas, a little eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +'No, but we hear it played, and we sing, and we—well, we do lots of +other things.' +</P> + +<P> +'I shall come with you next time you go,' and Douglas's tone was firm. +</P> + +<P> +'No,' said Betty; 'you'll be one too many. I don't want Molly, and I +don't want you. I've got Prince, and I don't want no one else.' +</P> + +<P> +It was thus she aired her triumphs daily; and it was by such speeches +that she revealed how much she had felt and suffered in times past by +being so constantly left out in the cold. And Prince was daily +becoming more and more companionable. Not one doubt did Betty ever +entertain as to his not understanding or caring for her long +confidences. He slept in a little basket at the foot of her bed. She +was wakened by his wet kisses in the morning, and he liked nothing +better than snuggling into bed with her. Tucking his little black nose +under her soft chin, he would place a paw on each of her shoulders, and +settle off into a reposeful sleep; whilst Betty would lie perfectly +still, gazing at him with loving eyes, and every now and then giving +him a gentle squeeze and murmuring, 'You're my very own, my darling, +and I love you.' +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +God's Patchwork +</H3> + +<P> +'Good-morning to you, little maid.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty and Prince had been straying through the lanes, and had suddenly +come upon the old sexton, who was leaning over his cottage gate smoking +a short clay pipe. +</P> + +<P> +Betty's face dimpled with smiles. +</P> + +<P> +'May I come in and see your little house?' she asked. 'Prince and I +want something to do. Douglas and Molly are lying in a hammock, and +making up stories; and the twins are no company.' +</P> + +<P> +'Come in, come in, my dear, and welcome, but 'tis a lonesome kind o' +home with only me in it; 'twas very different once on a time.' +</P> + +<P> +He led the way up a narrow path through rows of cabbages and sweet +peas, and ushered her into a tiny kitchen, clean, but rather untidy. +Betty looked round with a child's admiring eyes. There were great +shells on the mantelpiece, a stuffed owl on a sideboard, and lots of +other quaint curiosities on some shelves in a recess. +</P> + +<P> +Then she climbed into a big rocking-chair. +</P> + +<P> +'This is lovely,' she said; 'it's almost as good as a rocking-horse, if +you go very fast.' +</P> + +<P> +The old man stood looking at her for a minute; then seated himself on +the low window-seat, and went on smoking. When Betty had swung herself +violently to and fro for some minutes, she asked,— +</P> + +<P> +'Have you been busy digging graves to-day?' +</P> + +<P> +'No; 'tis a fortnight since I had one: the season has bin rare and +healthy.' +</P> + +<P> +'Then what have you been doing?' demanded the child. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, I don't let the time slip by; there are a many things I turn my +hand to. I digs my taters up, and gardens a bit first thing in the +morning, and I cleans up in my churchyard, and then I cooks a bit o' +dinner, and has a bit o' gossip with my neighbours. I'm a sociable +sort o' chap, though I'm so lonesome. And I has a bit o' reading on +occasions. Are you a-thinkin' any more o' that 'ere tex' that we was +a-argufying on t'other arter-noon?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty nodded. +</P> + +<P> +'I'm always thinking of it,' she said, stopping the motion of the +chair, and looking up at him with grave, earnest eyes. +</P> + +<P> +'Ah, well, so am I! I've had a good bit o' readin', too, 'tis a most +important thing, the Bible be; and I've been giving a good bit o' my +mind to it latterly. 'Twas your calm tone of saying I must be ready to +die, if I'd bin through tribbylation, started me off. I couldn't quite +make out about the washing, and so I've a looked it up. And I've found +out from the old Book that I'm as black a sinner as ever lived on this +'ere blessed earth.' +</P> + +<P> +'How dreadful!' Betty said in an awed, shocked tone; 'and you told me +you were so good! I never knew grown-up people were wicked; I thought +it was only children. What made you find it out?' +</P> + +<P> +'Well, 'twas readin' what we ought to live like, first knocked me down. +I got a-lookin' through them there epistlies, and got awful cast down. +And then I thinks to mysel', p'raps arter all Paul and such like were +too severe, so I went to the gospels, for I've always heerd the gospels +tell of love, and not judgment, but I wasn't comforted by them, not a +bit,—not even when I turned up the sheep chapter that I used for to +learn as a little 'un. It says there, "My sheep hear My voice, and I +know them, and they follow Me." And I says to myself, "Reuben! you've +never a listened to His voice; you've a gone your own way all your life +through, and you ain't a follered Him one day in all the +sixty-and-eight years you've a bin on this 'ere blessed earth!" Well, +I began to think I'd better say that prayer my dear old missis a told +me, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." And then 'twas last +Toosday night about seven o'clock I got the answer.' +</P> + +<P> +The old man paused, took his pipe out of his mouth, and looked up at +the blackened rafters across his little kitchen with a quivering smile +about his lips; whilst Betty, with knitted brows, tried hard to follow +him in what he was saying. +</P> + +<P> +'I was a-turnin' over the leaves of the old Book,' he continued, 'when +I come to a tex' which stared me full in the face, and round it was +pencilled a thick black line, which was the doin' of my missis. I'll +read it for you, little maid.' +</P> + +<P> +He rose, and took from the shelf a large family Bible. Placing it on +the table, he turned over its leaves with a trembling hand; and then +his voice rang out with a solemn triumph in it, '"Come, now, and let us +reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they +shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall +be as wool." My knees began to tremble, for I says to myself, "Reuben, +'tis the Lord's voice to thee." And I drops down on the floor, just +where you're a-sittin', missy, and I says, "Amen, so be it, Lord." I +gets up with a washed soul—washed in the blood of the Lamb.' +</P> + +<P> +There was silence; the old man's attitude, his upward gaze, his solemn +emphasis, awed and puzzled Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'And now you're in the text!' she said at last, somewhat wistfully; as +she drew Prince to her, and lifted him into her lap. +</P> + +<P> +'I shall be one o' these days, for certain sure,' was old Reuben's +reply; 'but 'tis the Lord that will put me there; 'tis His washing that +has done it.' +</P> + +<P> +'That's what Miss Fairfax said; she said it wasn't tribulation would +bring us to heaven. She made me sing,— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"There was no other good enough<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">To pay the price of sin;</SPAN><BR> +He only could unlock the gate<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Of heaven and let us in."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +But I'm quite sure God won't mean me to stand in the middle of those +people round the throne, if I haven't been through tribulation; I'm +quite sure He won't! I shall find myself in a mistake if I try to +creep in among them; and, oh! I want to be there, I want to be there!' +</P> + +<P> +Tears were welling up, and Prince wondered why he was clutched hold of +so convulsively by his little mistress. Reuben looked at her, rubbed +his head a little doubtfully, and then straightened himself up with a +sudden resolve. +</P> + +<P> +'Look here, little maid; you just a foller me: I'm a-goin' to the +church.' +</P> + +<P> +Up Betty sprang, her tears were brushed away; and she and Prince danced +along by the side of the old man, her doubts and fears dispersing for +the time. +</P> + +<P> +But Reuben was very silent. He led her into the cool, dark church and +up the side aisle to the tomb of little Violet Russell. There he +stopped, and directed the child's gaze above it to the stained-glass +window. +</P> + +<P> +'Can you read the tex', little maid?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes,' said Betty brightly; 'why, even Bobby and Billy know that: +"Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not."' +</P> + +<P> +'And that's what the Lord says,' the old man went on; 'did He say the +children were to have tribbylation afore they comed to Him? Why, for +sure not! And if you, little missy, go straight into His arms when you +gets to heaven, you'll be safe enough, and He'll know where to put you.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's little face beamed all over. +</P> + +<P> +'And He will love me, even if I haven't been through tribulation?' +</P> + +<P> +'Why, for sure He will.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty gave a happy little sigh. +</P> + +<P> +'I tell you what, now,' Reuben added; 'if you're a-wantin' to have +tribbylation made clear to you, I'll take you down to see old +Jenny—praychin' Jenny, she used to be called—for she used to hold +forth in chapel bettern than a parson. And she's bin bedridden these +twelve year; but she can learn anybody about the Bible; she knows tex's +by thousands; there hain't no one can puzzle Jenny over the Bible.' +</P> + +<P> +'Is she very ill?' asked Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'She's just bedridden with rheumatics, that's all; but 'tis quite +enough; and I was calkilatin' only t'other day that I'll have to be +diggin' her grave afore Christmas.' +</P> + +<P> +'Will you take me to see her now?' +</P> + +<P> +'For sure I will.' +</P> + +<P> +Out of the cool church they went, and along the hot, dusty road, till +they reached a low thatched cottage by the wayside. Reuben lifted the +latch of the door, and walked right in. +</P> + +<P> +There was a big screen just inside the door, and a voice asked at +once,— +</P> + +<P> +'Who be there?' +</P> + +<P> +''Tis only Reuben and a little lass that wants to see you.' And Betty +was led round the screen to a big four-post bed with spotlessly clean +hangings and a wonderful patch-work quilt. Lying back on the pillows +was one of the sweetest old women that Betty had ever seen. A close +frilled night-cap surrounded a cheery, withered face—a face that +looked as if nothing would break the placid smile upon it, nothing +would dim the joy and peace shining through the faded blue eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Betty held out her little hand. +</P> + +<P> +'How do you do?' she said; 'this old man has brought me to see you. He +said you would tell me about tribulation.' +</P> + +<P> +'Bless your dear little heart! Lift her up on the foot of the bed, +Reuben. Why, what a bonny little maid! and who may she be?' +</P> + +<P> +'She be lodgin' at Farmer Giles's; and be troubled in her mind +concarning tribbylation.' +</P> + +<P> +The old woman reached over, and laid a wrinkled hand on the soft, +childish one. +</P> + +<P> +'Then tell old Jenny, dearie, what it is.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty was quite ready to do so; and poured forth such a long, +incoherent story that it was very difficult to understand her. Jenny +did not quite take in her perplexity. +</P> + +<P> +'Ay, dearie, most of us has tribbylation in some form or t'other; I +often think, as I lie lookin' at my patchwork quilt, that it be just a +pictur' of our life—a little bit o' brightness and then a patch of +dark; but the dark is jined to the bright, and one never knows just +what the next patch will be. But the One who makes it knows—He's +a-workin' in the pattern, and the black dark bits only serve to show up +the bright that's a-comin'.' +</P> + +<P> +'Ay,' said Reuben, sinking into a chair; 'I mind plenty o' black days +in my life; but I've had a many bright 'uns too—ay, and one white 'un, +and that were last Toosday! It be a fine patch o' white in my quilt, +Jenny!' +</P> + +<P> +'Tribbylation!' said the old woman musingly; 'I mind o' several verses +on it: "In the world ye shall have tribbylation; but be of good cheer: +I have overcome the world." "We must through much tribbylation enter +into the Kingdom of God." "We glory in tribbylation also, knowing that +tribbylation worketh patience." "Who shall separate us from the love +of Christ? shall tribbylation?" Ah, tribbylation is tryin' to the +flesh, but 'tis for the improvin' of the soul!' +</P> + +<P> +'And does everybody have it except children?' asked Betty with a solemn +face. +</P> + +<P> +'I think as how most folks have it in one form or t'other; the saints +get it surely, for "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth +every son whom He receiveth.'" +</P> + +<P> +'What does "chasteneth" mean?' +</P> + +<P> +'Punish, I take it, dearie, your father and mother punishes you at +times, don't they?' +</P> + +<P> +'No, never; only nurse.' +</P> + +<P> +'Ah, well; and doesn't she desire your good? She don't do it just to +spite you.' +</P> + +<P> +'I s'pose it's for my good,' said Betty doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +'Tribbylation will allays be a mystery,' went on the old woman, +speaking more to Reuben than the child. 'We must bow our heads and +take it, whether we like it or no; and it's wonderful strange how +differently folks take it! Seems to me, as the Bible puts it, it's +just a fire, and whiles some like wax gets melted and soft by it, +t'others are like the clay, they gets hard and unbendable. I've known +lots o' both those sorts in my time; 'tis only by keeping close to the +Hand that smites that you feels the comfort and healing that goes along +with it. If you keeps a distance off, and lets the devil come +a-sympathisin' and a-groanin' with you, then it's all bitterness +through and through.' +</P> + +<P> +'Ay,' said Reuben, 'me and the devil have oft sat down together over my +troubles; and he do know how to make 'em werry black!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's round eyes and puzzled gaze at this assertion made Reuben adopt +another tone. +</P> + +<P> +'But here's this little lass, Jenny, a-wantin' to have tribbylation, +for fear she shouldn't be one o' the Lord's people after all.' +</P> + +<P> +The old woman looked across at the child, and then she nodded brightly +at her. +</P> + +<P> +'And you shall have it, dearie; the Lord will send it surely; and when +you're in the midst o't, you mind these words o' the Lord's, "Be thou +faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." It's in +tribbylation our faith fails; we can't see in the dark, and we mistrust +our Guide.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's face lit up at these words, and she brushed away some +glittering drops from her long lashes. +</P> + +<P> +'You think I shall really have it?' she questioned eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +'Surely you will in some form or t'other, and p'raps before you're a +growed-up woman. I sometimes think little folks' troubles are as big +as the older folks.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty did not hear much more of the conversation that followed. Old +Jenny had done more to comfort and satisfy her than any one else, and +she left the cottage with Reuben, saying,— +</P> + +<P> +'I like Jenny very much, and so does Prince; we will come and see her +again.' +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Betty's Discovery +</H3> + +<P> +Molly and Douglas were up in an apple tree in the orchard late one +afternoon, when Betty and Prince came rushing by. +</P> + +<P> +'Hullo, where are you going?' shouted Douglas. +</P> + +<P> +Betty came to a standstill, and Prince likewise, the latter putting his +tongue out and looking up inquiringly, as he panted for breath. +</P> + +<P> +Betty cut a caper. 'I'm going to spend the day with Miss Fairfax +to-morrow; me and Prince, hurray!' +</P> + +<P> +And Prince danced round his little mistress's legs with delighted barks. +</P> + +<P> +'I don't believe it,' said Molly, looking down through the leafy +branches; 'didn't she ask us too?' +</P> + +<P> +'No, only me; she said she'd ask you another day.' +</P> + +<P> +'Where did you see Miss Fairfax?' +</P> + +<P> +'In church; she has been making the loveliest music, and Prince and I +have been singing.' +</P> + +<P> +'Prince singing!' said Douglas contemptuously; 'I should like to hear +him!' +</P> + +<P> +'He does,' Betty said eagerly; 'he really does. He kind of whines in +his throat and up his nose, and sometimes he puts up his head, opens +his mouth wide, and gives a lovely howl! And he looks awfully pleased +when he's done it; he thinks he sings very nicely. Where's nurse?' +</P> + +<P> +'She's washing Bobby; he tumbled right into the pig-stye, and came out +a disgusting objec'!' +</P> + +<P> +'Is she rather cross?' +</P> + +<P> +'Of course she is; she won't let you go to Miss Fairfax if you ask her +now.' +</P> + +<P> +'Then I'll wait till tea.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty threw herself down on the grass, and Prince sat at her feet, +thumping his tail on the ground, and watching intently every change +that flitted across her face. Now and then he would make a snap at +some flies; if Betty spoke to him, his whole body would wriggle with +ecstasy; he seemed to live on her smiles and caressing words. +</P> + +<P> +'It will be very dull to spend the day with a grown-up person,' said +Douglas presently; 'I'm glad she didn't ask me; I never do care for +grown-up persons.' +</P> + +<P> +His lordly air in making this assertion helped to fortify Molly, who +was bitterly disappointed in not being included in the invitation. +</P> + +<P> +'I love her!' exclaimed Betty; 'she's the nicest grown-up I've ever +seen. She does laugh so, and isn't a bit proper.' +</P> + +<P> +'Well, you'll be sick of it before the day is over, you see if you +aren't! Now Molly and I are going to have a lovely day. Would you +like to know what we're going to do?' +</P> + +<P> +Molly listened eagerly, for Douglas's plans were always sudden and +unexpected. +</P> + +<P> +'We're going off directly after breakfast with our dinner in our +basket, and we're going down to the brook. I'm going to build a bridge +over it at the widest part!' +</P> + +<P> +Both sisters looked aghast at this audacity. +</P> + +<P> +'What will you build it of?' questioned Betty sceptically. +</P> + +<P> +'Of stones and clay. We shall make the clay down there; and I shall +put a few boards in, and make it all smooth with some putty that I saw +in the stable.' +</P> + +<P> +'You will fall in the water and get drowned,' said Betty; and then she +jumped up and ran off to the house, to escape a pelting shower of small +green apples from her irate brother. +</P> + +<P> +Nurse made a few objections at first, when she heard of Betty's +invitation; but when she knew that Miss Fairfax was going to call for +her little guest, and had promised to bring her safely back again, she +gave the required permission; and Betty's sleep that night was full of +wonderful dreams about her coming visit. +</P> + +<P> +She woke very early the next morning, and was full of confidences to +Prince of all that they were going to do and say. She gave nurse no +rest after breakfast until she had dressed her in her best white frock +and tan shoes and stockings; then, with her large white Leghorn hat and +little white silk gloves, she sat up on a chair in the best front +parlour, feeling very important, and making a dainty little picture as +she sat there. Prince had a piece of pink ribbon tied round his neck; +Mrs. Giles had produced it from her work-basket, and had gained a +fervent kiss and hug from the little maiden thereby. +</P> + +<P> +At last Nesta arrived in a low pony carriage, to Betty's intense +delight. She wished that Molly and Douglas had waited to see her step +in and drive off, but they had run off half an hour before, nurse +having packed them a lunch-basket, as desired. +</P> + +<P> +Nesta smiled at the excited child, as she and Prince tumbled themselves +into the carriage with a good deal of fuss; but when they were once +off, driving through the shady lanes, Betty folded her little hands +demurely round Prince in her lap, and upon her face came that dreamy +look her friend so loved to see. She did not ask questions, and the +drive was a quiet one, until they at length drove through some iron +gates round a thick shrubbery, and up to a big white house with green +Venetian shutters, and a brilliant show of roses in front. Betty was +lifted out, and taken up some low stone steps into a broad +old-fashioned hall. It seemed very cool and quiet inside; thick soft +rugs lay about the tiled floor, large pots of flowering shrubs stood +here and there, and at the farther end was an open door with striped +awning outside, and a glimpse of a smooth grassy lawn and bright +flower-beds. +</P> + +<P> +Nesta opened a door, and led Betty into a darkened room, full of sweet +scents of heliotrope and roses. +</P> + +<P> +'Now I am going to bring you something, so sit down and wait for me.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's quick eyes were taking in everything; and as for Prince, his +nose was as busy as his eyes, and a low growl and a stiffening of his +ears soon told his little mistress that he had discovered something +objectionable. When Betty crossed the room on tip-toe, she found him +in front of a large mirror, and the snarl on his lips was not pleasant +to see, as he faced his mock antagonist. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, Prince, for shame! I must hold you; what would I do if you broke +that glass? Now come and look at these beautiful pictures. Look at +that lady up there; she has got a little dog in her arms very like you.' +</P> + +<P> +It was a pleasant morning-room, with plenty of pretty ornaments +scattered about, and after the farm kitchen it had a great fascination +for Betty. +</P> + +<P> +Nesta presently returned with some sponge cakes and a glass of +raspberry vinegar, which Betty found most refreshing. +</P> + +<P> +'Do you live here all alone?' she asked. +</P> + +<P> +'No,' said Miss Fairfax, smiling; 'I have my mother and sister here. +My mother is not very well to-day, but I will take you to see my sister +now. Come along, this way; will Prince be good?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, he won't bark at all unless he meets another dog.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty trotted along, following her guide across the hall to another +room, where on a couch near the window lay a lady. +</P> + +<P> +'I've brought a little visitor to see you, Grace,' Nesta said in cheery +tones. 'This is the little girl I was telling you about the other day.' +</P> + +<P> +'I can't bear children,' was the fretful reply; 'why do you bring her +here?' +</P> + +<P> +But nevertheless she put the book down that she was reading, and +scanned the child from head to foot. Betty's grave face and earnest +scrutiny in return seemed to vex her more. +</P> + +<P> +'How children stare! Do you think me a scarecrow, child? can't you +keep your eyes to yourself? What is your name?' +</P> + +<P> +'Betty,' and the little girl drew to her friend's side rather shyly. +</P> + +<P> +'Go and shake hands,' whispered Nesta. +</P> + +<P> +Betty went up to the couch and held out her little hand. The invalid +took it, and the fair, flushed little face seemed to attract her. +</P> + +<P> +'This is a perfect baby, Nesta; I thought you meant a much older child. +Well, little girl, haven't you a tongue in your head? Have you nothing +to say? It's the way of this house: here I lie from morning to night +without a soul to speak to, and if I do have a visitor it is half a +dozen words, and then off they go! I should like them to lie here and +suffer as I do—perhaps they might have a little more feeling for an +invalid if they did.' +</P> + +<P> +'Are you going to die?' asked Betty timidly. +</P> + +<P> +'Take her away!' gasped Miss Grace; 'don't bring a child to mock me; +and I suppose you will be devoting yourself to her the whole day, and I +shall have no one to read the paper to me.' +</P> + +<P> +'No,' said Nesta brightly, 'I am going to let her play in the garden, +and then I shall come to you as usual. Come along, Betty; now you and +Prince can have a scamper.' +</P> + +<P> +Out into the garden they went; but Betty rubbed her eyes in +bewilderment when she got there. Surely she had seen this garden +before! Was it in her dreams last night? +</P> + +<P> +She tripped across the velvet lawn, answering Nesta's questions and +remarks rather absently, and then suddenly she turned round with a +beaming face. 'I've been here before,' she said; 'I had some lilies +from over there, and I came through that little door in the wall from +the wood. Do you know my lady? She looks like a queen. Does she live +with you?' +</P> + +<P> +Nesta looked perfectly bewildered. +</P> + +<P> +'You must be dreaming, Betty. How could you have come here? When did +you come?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty told her of her adventure in the wood, and Nesta listened in +wonder. +</P> + +<P> +'It must have been my mother, and yet I can hardly understand it. It +is unlike her to take any notice of children.' Then she added, 'Do you +think you can make yourself happy in the garden, Betty, or would you +like to go down the green walk outside the little gate?' +</P> + +<P> +'Will you open the gate and let me see?' said Betty thoughtfully. +</P> + +<P> +Nesta took her to it, and then for a moment they stood silent, looking +down the green avenue, with the golden sunshine glinting through the +leafy trees, and the tall bracken swaying to and fro in the summer +breeze. +</P> + +<P> +'Which do you like best, Betty—the garden or this?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty turned and looked behind her at the lovely flowers and +beautifully kept grass and gravel walks, and then she heaved a little +sigh as she looked out into the wood. +</P> + +<P> +'My beautiful old lady asked me that question before, and I thought +then I liked the garden, but now I like this green walk best,' she said. +</P> + +<P> +'You prefer nature uncultivated, don't you? So do I. But I do not +often come out here. This is my mother's favourite spot.' +</P> + +<P> +'Did you say "Nature"?' questioned betty eagerly. 'Do you mean Mother +Nature? You said you would show her to me one day.' +</P> + +<P> +'So I did, I have quite forgotten. Well, there she is out there, +Betty. Nature is God's beautiful earth: the country, the birds, the +rabbits, and the squirrels—everything that He makes and that man +leaves alone.' +</P> + +<P> +'I don't understand;' and the child's white brow was creased with +puckers. 'I thought she was a woman: Mr. Roper said she was; he said +he had learnt many a lesson from her.' +</P> + +<P> +'And so have I,' said Nesta softly. 'Listen, Betty. Sometimes I have +gone out of doors tired and worried and sad; I have wandered through +the wood, and the sweet sounds and sights I have seen in it have +brought me home rested and refreshed. They have spoken to me of God's +love, and God's care, and God's perfection. You are too little to +understand me, I expect, but you will when you get older. God makes +everything beautiful, and He watches over the tiny birds and insects +whom no one but Himself ever sees. The tiniest flower is noticed by +Him, and all His works in nature lead us to think of Him, and to +remember how He loves and cares for us.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's blue eyes were raised earnestly upwards. +</P> + +<P> +'God does love everything, doesn't He? And He loves Prince just as +much as He does you and me.' +</P> + +<P> +Nesta hesitated. 'I think, darling, God has a different love for us to +what He has for animals. We have cost the dear Saviour His life; our +souls have been redeemed. Animals have no souls, they do not know the +difference between right and wrong——' +</P> + +<P> +'But Prince does,' broke in Betty hastily; 'he knows lots of the Bible, +for I've told him about it, and I read The Peep of Day to him on +Sunday. He likes it; he lies quite still on my lap and folds his paws +and listens like anything. And I've told him about Jesus dying for +him, and how he must try to be good. And he does try: he wanted to run +after some little chickens yesterday, and I called him and told him it +was wicked, and he came away from them directly; and I know he wanted +to go after them dreadfully, for he was licking his lips and glaring at +them!' +</P> + +<P> +This outburst from Betty was too much for Nesta. She looked at her +with perplexity, then wisely turned the subject, and after a few +minutes' more chat left her, and went back to the house. +</P> + +<P> +Betty wandered out into the wood, and then seating herself on a soft +bank surrounded by ferns and foxgloves, she drew Prince to her. +</P> + +<P> +'Come, you little darling, how do you like this? Isn't it lovely to be +spending a day in that lovely house, and not have to be shut out with +only some lilies to take away? Do you like it, Prince? And do you +think we shall see that nice queen, and find out if she sent you in a +basket to me? Do you understand about nature, Prince? I wish I did, +but it's the earth, I think; you put your mouth down and kiss it. +Isn't it nice and soft?' +</P> + +<P> +And then, laying her curly head on the velvet moss, Betty pressed her +lips to it, whispering, 'Mother Nature, Mr. Roper sent you his love and +a kiss!' +</P> + +<P> +Prince was not content to stay as quiet as this for long, and when a +rabbit popped out from a hole close by, he was after it like lightning. +Betty tore after him delightedly, and a scamper removed from her busy +little mind for the time thoughts that were beginning to trouble her. +</P> + +<P> +When Nesta returned to the garden half an hour after, she found Betty +deep in conversation with the old gardener, and Prince was hunting for +snails in a thick laurel hedge close by. +</P> + +<P> +'We didn't stay out in the wood very long,' Betty explained; 'we got +tired of running after rabbits.' +</P> + +<P> +'You must come in to luncheon now; I want you to come up to my room to +wash your face and hands.' +</P> + +<P> +'Will the cross lady be at lunch?' asked Betty, as she trotted up the +broad oak stairs a few minutes later. +</P> + +<P> +'Hush, dear; she is ill, remember. I don't think she will lunch with +us.' +</P> + +<P> +Nesta took her little visitor through a long passage to a pretty +bedroom, and Betty looked about at all the pictures and knick-knacks, +asking ceaseless questions, and fingering everything that she could get +hold of. Her curls were brushed out, her hands and face washed, and +then she was brought down to the large drawing-room. +</P> + +<P> +'This is my little friend, mother,' said Nesta, going in. +</P> + +<P> +A tall figure turned round from the window, and Betty saw her +mysterious lady once again. She looked colder and sterner than ever, +and put up her gold pince-nez to scan the little new-comer down; but +Betty's radiant face, dimpling all over with pleasure as she held up +her face for a kiss, brought a softer gleam to the old grey eyes, and, +to her daughter's astonishment, Mrs. Fairfax stooped to give the +expected kiss. +</P> + +<P> +'It is the little trespasser,' she said. 'I did not know I should see +you again so soon.' +</P> + +<P> +Then she turned to Nesta. 'Grace informed me she intended to lunch +with us. She is in the dining-room already, so we will wait no longer.' +</P> + +<P> +They walked in silence across to the dining-room, and Betty, awed by +the big table, the noiseless butler, and the cold, formal stateliness +of the meal, sat up in her big chair, subdued and still. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Little Messenger +</H3> + +<P> +Miss Fairfax seemed the most talkative, but her conversation was a +perpetual flow of complaints; the food, the weather, and her ailments +were her chief topics, and Betty's round eyes of amazement, as she sat +opposite, served to irritate her more. At length she gave a little +start and scream. +</P> + +<P> +'I am sure there is a dog in the room!' she exclaimed. 'How often I +have told you, Jennings' (this to the butler), 'to keep the dogs out of +our rooms!' +</P> + +<P> +'It's my dog,' said Betty at once; 'it's only Prince; he always sits +under my chair; he's such a dear, he waits as quiet as a mouse.' +</P> + +<P> +'Take him out of the room at once, Jennings; I can't eat another +mouthful while he is here. You ought never to have allowed him to come +in!' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, Grace, he won't hurt you!' said Nesta, remonstrating. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Fairfax put her knife and fork together, and leant back in her +chair. +</P> + +<P> +'Very well; as my nerves are never considered in the least, it is +useless for me to speak; I had better go back to my room. I am +continually being urged to join you at meal-times; yet, when I do, I am +expected to go through the misery of having a wretched dog crawling +round my feet, and setting every nerve in my head quivering and +throbbing.' +</P> + +<P> +'Take the dog outside,' said Mrs. Fairfax quietly; then, turning to +Betty, who looked very perturbed and flushed, she said, 'Jennings will +take care of him, and he shall have some dinner in the kitchen.' +</P> + +<P> +'He won't be beaten, will he? He didn't know it was wrong to follow +me'; and Betty's eyes began to fill with tears, as she saw Prince +seized by the scruff of his neck, and carried off, in spite of +indignant growls and snaps. +</P> + +<P> +'No, he won't be beaten,' she was assured; but after this she had no +appetite for her dinner; and when the ladies rose from the table she +ran up to Mrs. Fairfax. +</P> + +<P> +'May I have Prince again now? He's so very good. I want him +dreadfully.' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, he shall be brought to you. What are you going to do with the +child, Nesta?' +</P> + +<P> +'I will take her out into the garden, mother. But I hear old Mrs. Parr +has come up for some linseed meal I promised her. Her husband is very +ill again with bronchitis. I shall not be gone long.' +</P> + +<P> +'Then Betty shall come upstairs with me.' +</P> + +<P> +Again Nesta wondered, but wisely said nothing. +</P> + +<P> +Prince came scampering across the hall, and Betty, now completely +happy, took hold of Mrs. Fairfax's hand, and went upstairs into a +lovely little boudoir, where she sat down in a low cushioned seat by +the window, and chattered away to her heart's content. +</P> + +<P> +'Did you send Prince to me? You did, didn't you? I knew it was you! +He is such a darling, and it makes me into a couple—which I've never +been before.' +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Fairfax smiled; she seemed to lose some of her stiffness when with +Betty alone. +</P> + +<P> +'And is he as much a companion as another brother or sister might be?' +</P> + +<P> +'I think he's much nicer. I wouldn't have any one instead of him for +all the world.' +</P> + +<P> +'What have you been doing with yourself since I saw you?' +</P> + +<P> +'Lots and lots of things. I go to church to hear Miss Fairfax play the +organ; and I take flowers to dead Violet; and I have got into lots of +scrapes; but I don't think I'm quite as naughty here as I used to be in +London. At least, we can't quite make it out. Douglas was saying the +other day, nurse lets him climb any trees here; but if he tried to +climb a lamp-post, or even one of the trees in the parks, in London, he +was always being whipped or put into cells for it! And in the country +we can go out without gloves, and run races along the roads, and swing +on gates, and we never get punished at all. We don't want to go back +to London; it's so dreadfully hard to be good there.' +</P> + +<P> +'But don't you want to see your father and mother again?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, I s'pose so; but we don't see them very much in London. I'd like +to stay in the country for ever and ever, and so would Prince.' After +a pause she went on, 'You see, there's a good deal more going on in the +country than in London. We know a lot more people, and there's always +something fresh happening. Now, in London every day is the same, and +we have only the nursery to play in, we get so tired of it. At the +farm where we live we're always having nice surprises; lots of little +calves are born quite suddenly, or little horses, and we don't know +anything about it till we go and see them in the morning. Yesterday +there were six little black pigs, such little beauties! And then we +have so many more people to talk to. There's Farmer and Mrs. Giles, +and Sam, and all the carters, and the old man who digs the graves, and +old Jenny, and you, and Miss Fairfax, and Mr. Russell, but I've only +seen him once.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty paused for breath. +</P> + +<P> +'And what do you find to talk about to so many people?' +</P> + +<P> +'I've been talking rather grave talks with some of them,' Betty said +reflectively, 'about tribulation.' +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Fairfax raised her eyebrows. +</P> + +<P> +'That is very grave talk indeed for such a mite as you. What do you +know about it?' +</P> + +<P> +'I know that everybody has got it except me, and I want to have it; and +old Jenny said I'd be sure to come to it soon. She's had it, and +Reuben has, and Mr. Russell, and nurse, and Miss Fairfax has. Has the +cross lady downstairs had it, and have you?' +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Fairfax's lips quivered a little as she turned away her head. The +soft, childish fingers were probing the wound, and she shrank from +their touch. +</P> + +<P> +Betty went on dreamily, 'I often wonder what it's like, and whether you +feel like Christian did in the dark valley; but he got through it all +right at last! I should like to come right through it into the middle +of the text, and Jenny says I shall some day!' +</P> + +<P> +There was glad triumph in her tone. +</P> + +<P> +'What text?' asked Mrs. Fairfax, looking out of the window, and away to +the green woods in the distance. +</P> + +<P> +Betty repeated once more the familiar words,— +</P> + +<P> +'"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed +their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." How glad +they must be to have had it! don't you think so?' +</P> + +<P> +And then the stately Mrs. Fairfax sat down, and took Betty upon her +knee; drawing her close to her, till she had the little dark curly head +resting against her shoulder, she bent her head to hers, and said, +almost passionately,— +</P> + +<P> +'God grant you will never know such trouble as mine, little +one—trouble that turns your heart to stone, and blots all heaven from +your sight!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty put her little arms round her neck. +</P> + +<P> +'Old Jenny said I should have it,' she repeated, 'and she told me when +I was in the middle of it to remember, "Be thou faithful unto death"—I +forget the other part.' +</P> + +<P> +There was silence for some moments; then Mrs. Fairfax kissed the +upturned face. +</P> + +<P> +'Now run downstairs, little woman, and find Nesta. I will say good-bye +now, for I shall not see you again.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty obeyed instantly, and when she had gone, for the first time for +many a long month, the sorrowful woman knelt in prayer. 'God help me!' +she cried; 'I have been an unfaithful servant, and have refused to turn +to Thee for comfort.' +</P> + +<P> +The rest of the afternoon was as delightful as the morning to Betty. +She visited the stables and poultry yard; she picked strawberries, and +ate them whilst she picked; she gathered a large nosegay of flowers to +take home to nurse; and then, at four o'clock, she came in to a +delicious little tea in the cool, shady drawing-room. Miss Fairfax was +lying on the sofa there, but she seemed to like to hear the child talk, +and even condescended to allow Prince to come inside to receive a lump +of sugar on his nose, whilst he sat up and begged. +</P> + +<P> +'I've had a lovely day,' said Betty, as Nesta was putting on her hat +upstairs in the bedroom. +</P> + +<P> +'And so have I,' responded Nesta, laughing. 'You have been very good +company, Betty; I shall be quite dull when you are gone.' +</P> + +<P> +'Have you no one to talk to, when I'm not here? Are you an odd one?' +</P> + +<P> +'Perhaps I may be.' +</P> + +<P> +hy don't you make yourself into a couple with some<BR> +one, like Prince and me?' +</P> + +<P> +But this made Nesta's soft eyes fill with tears; and Betty felt very +uncomfortable until she was kissed and told she was the funniest little +chatterbox living. The pony carriage came round; and a little later +she was being driven home, rather tired, and very happy, at her day's +outing. +</P> + +<P> +Nesta left her at the gate, and drove silently home. Betty had brought +a good deal of brightness into her life; and though she was always +outwardly so cheery in her manner, her heart was often heavy and sore. +It was not a cheerful house; and as an hour later she tried to enliven +the solemn dinner-table, expecting as usual to meet with no response, +but grumbles from Grace and chilling indifference on the part of her +mother, she was surprised by Mrs. Fairfax's efforts to take part in the +conversation. +</P> + +<P> +'That child is an original character,' she observed. 'Do you know who +they are, Nesta?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, Mr. Crump was telling me the other day; their father is the +Member for Stonycroft, and their mother that Mrs. Stuart who is so busy +in philanthropical objects in town. She was one of the Miss Champneys, +the clever Miss Champneys, as we used to call them. I think the +children must inherit the talents of their parents, for though they are +regular little pickles for mischief, they are all original in their +way. Betty thinks the most, I should say, the others seem to live in +dreamland half their time. I came across the other girl and boy in an +old willow tree the other day. I spoke to them, but was hushed up at +once by the boy, who put his fair curly head out of the branches, and +said, "You're not to speak to us just now; we're hiding from the Queen +of the Brook! she comes dashing down in foam, she's so angry with us; +and if she splashes us we shall be turned into black dogs, and have to +go on all fours till dinner time!" I laughed and left them. I don't +altogether envy their nurse!' +</P> + +<P> +'Betty is not enough of a child,' Mrs. Fairfax said; 'some of her +sayings are quite uncanny.' +</P> + +<P> +'Do you think so? She has plenty of life and spirits. But she is a +child of intense feeling. I am afraid she will suffer for it as she +grows older. Yesterday I came upon her outside the churchyard crying, +as if her heart would break, over a dead frog. I tried to comfort her. +"Oh," she sobbed; "I'm so afraid Prince has killed it. I didn't see +him, but he may have; and he doesn't look a bit sorry. What shall I do +if he grows up a murderer!"' +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Fairfax would have thought Betty a stranger child still, if she +could have seen her that evening tossing in her little bed. +</P> + +<P> +Molly was fast asleep; nurse had left the room, and all was quiet; but +Betty was going over in her busy little mind the events of the past +day. At last she stretched out her hand to Prince in his basket. +</P> + +<P> +'She said you had no soul, Prince; I wonder if you haven't! I wish +you'd say prayers to God; I'm sure God will give you a soul, if you +ought to have one! Prince, wake up!' +</P> + +<P> +Prince rolled over, shook himself, and jumped up on the bed, wondering +what was the reason of this summons. +</P> + +<P> +Betty sat up with flushed cheeks and bright eyes. 'Come here. Prince! +Now beg! that's right. Now say a prayer; just a very little one. I +pray for you, darling, every night; but you're big enough to pray +yourself. God will know your language if you speak to Him, and you can +just speak secret to Him—I do often. Now, Prince—no—don't lick my +hand, and keep your tail still. I wish you'd shut your eyes. I'll put +my hand over them—there! Now Prince, ask God to give you a soul, and +forgive your sins, and take you to heaven when you die.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty bent her head in silence; whilst for two minutes Prince kept +perfectly still; then she took her little hands from his eyes, and he +gave a quick short bark of delight, perhaps in anticipation of a lump +of sugar for this new trick taught him. If so, he was disappointed, he +was only kissed and put back into his basket. And Betty laid her +little head on the pillow, but only half satisfied. 'O God,' she +murmured sleepily, 'if Prince hasn't prayed properly, please forgive +him, and give him a soul and make him a good dog, for Jesus Christ's +sake. Amen.' +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Daring Feat +</H3> + +<P> +It was a hot afternoon in July. The children had tired themselves out +with play, and were resting under some shady trees near the farm. By +and bye Betty wandered off into a neighbouring cornfield, and resting +her head against an old log of wood in the corner of it, went fast +asleep, whilst Prince sat at her feet, keeping a faithful watch over +his little mistress. Mr. Russell, sauntering through a footpath in the +field, came up and looked at them; and his artist's eye was at once +charmed with the picture they made. He stood, and taking out his +sketch-book, drew a rapid outline of Betty's little figure as she lay +there, one hand grasping some red poppies, and the other arm thrown +behind her curly head. Prince was also sketched; and then Betty awoke. +She looked confused at first, then jumped to her feet. +</P> + +<P> +'Don't be frightened,' said Mr. Russell gravely. 'Do you live near +here?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty pointed out the farm. +</P> + +<P> +'And do you think you would be allowed to come to my house one day, for +me to make a picture of you?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty coloured with pleasure. +</P> + +<P> +'I'll ask nurse. All by myself?' +</P> + +<P> +'All by yourself—at least with your dog. Where is your nurse? Would +she come out here to speak to me?' +</P> + +<P> +Nurse was only in the next field, so was easily fetched, and though +demurring somewhat at first, was soon reassured by Mr. Russell, who +promised to keep her only about an hour. +</P> + +<P> +'I will see she returns to you safely, my good woman; and when you find +that she has come to no harm, perhaps you will allow her to come again. +I want to make a little sketch of her, for a subject I have in view.' +</P> + +<P> +And it was settled that Betty should go to him the next day at two +o'clock. +</P> + +<P> +'I don't quite like it,' said nurse afterwards, when talking it over +with Mrs. Giles; 'but he seemed rather a high-handed gentleman, as if +he wouldn't take no. I don't know whether the mistress would like it, +most children would be shy of it, but none of these seem to know what +shyness is; and Miss Betty seems to make friends wherever she goes. I +can't understand it; Miss Molly, to my eyes, is much the most taking!' +</P> + +<P> +'Mr. Russell is our landlord,' responded Mrs. Giles; 'he's a proper +sort o' gentleman, and he won't hurt the child by a-paintin' of her. +He lives all alone since his little girl died, and maybe she'll cheer +him up; he's very downhearted, folks say.' +</P> + +<P> +'Why should you go and not us?' said Molly, when Betty ran off to tell +them all about it; 'it's too bad; you're getting all the nice things, +and I'm the eldest.' +</P> + +<P> +'I don't expect you'll like it,' said Douglas, rolling over on the +grass and tickling Bobby's bare legs with a bunch of grass; 'I know the +man, and he has an awful temper! Sam told me he thrashed a boy who was +taking a bird's nest out of his orchard; and he has a large glass room +with skeletons and bits of people's bodies lying all about. I think he +likes to get children in there, and then he keeps them prisoners, and +never lets them out again.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty stood still, eyeing her brother doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +'I don't believe it.' +</P> + +<P> +'You wait till he gets you there! He has dead men's legs and hands. +Sam says he's seen them through the window! He's a Bluebeard; he +always keeps the room locked, and doesn't let any one in. And if he +takes you in there to-morrow afternoon, you'll never come out again!' +</P> + +<P> +'And then I shall have Prince, and take him back to London for my dog,' +put in Molly. +</P> + +<P> +'Prince is coming with me,' Betty retorted; 'so if I never come back +again, Prince won't! And I don't care if we don't come back. I'd +rather live with Mr. Russell than with you when you are cross.' +</P> + +<P> +'He'll fatten you up with porridge for a week; and then he'll cut you +up into little bits, and Prince too.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty laughed and danced away, Prince at her heels. +</P> + +<P> +'You're jealous because I'm going to be put into a picture,' she called +out. 'I'll tell you all about the dead men's legs when I come back.' +</P> + +<P> +The next afternoon she was taken up to the Hall by nurse, who arrayed +herself in her best clothes, and was delighted when she was taken to +the housekeeper's room to be entertained. She would have liked to wait +there the full hour, but Mr. Russell had promised to bring back Betty +himself; so she had not that excuse. +</P> + +<P> +And Douglas and Molly were consoling themselves at home, by building a +hay castle in the meadow, and capturing Bobby and Billy at intervals, +under the plea of painting their pictures; and then going through a +process which was more entertaining to them than to their little +victims—that of cutting off their arms and legs to hang on their walls. +</P> + +<P> +It was nearly five o'clock when Betty returned, and her little tongue +was busy all tea-time. +</P> + +<P> +'Such a funny room! and Mr. Russell had changed his mind, and he isn't +going to paint my picture; but he's going to make a dead figure of me +and Prince instead; he's got some white wet stuff like putty, and he +rolls up his shirt-sleeves like a workman! I had to lie down and +pretend to be asleep, but I could keep my eyes open, and I did see some +legs, but they're images—and there was a image without a head, a dead +figure, you know. And there were beautiful curtains, and flowers, and +rugs, and pictures half finished. It was rather an untidy room. I +told Mr. Russell what you said, Douglas; and he laughed. He gave me +some peaches, and then we had a nice grave talk coming home.' +</P> + +<P> +This and more Betty revealed; and her visits to the Hall became very +frequent as time wore on. If she enjoyed them, Mr. Russell did too, +and yet she brought to him mingled feelings of pleasure and pain. He +talked lightly to her, and put aside his stern moods whilst with her; +but every now and then some childish gesture or tone would stab him +with the memory of his little daughter, and his brows would contract +and his voice falter at the remembrance. +</P> + +<P> +One day he was called away from the studio, and for some time Betty was +left alone. +</P> + +<P> +When he returned, he found her lying flat on her chest, turning over +the leaves of a book. +</P> + +<P> +'What book have you got hold of?' he asked; 'something that seems to +interest you.' +</P> + +<P> +'It's Revelation,' said Betty, with a beaming face. +</P> + +<P> +'The Bible? I did not remember I had one in the room; ah yes, I +remember, it's here for its antique cover! Well, what do you make of +Revelation?' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, I love it, don't you? I'm reading about the singing in heaven; +and it says "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of +thousands." What crowds there will be! Mr. Russell, supposing heaven +gets too small for all the people, what will happen?' +</P> + +<P> +'I don't think there's a chance of that,' Mr. Russell said, smiling; +'it doesn't look as if many are bound there in the present age, at all +events.' +</P> + +<P> +'It says,' went on Betty, with her finger on the page, 'for Thou wast +slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood, out of every kindred +and tongue and people and nation; that takes in everybody, doesn't it, +Mr. Russell?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes,' said Mr. Russell, looking down at the little figure on the +floor, half humorously, half sadly; 'every one that wants to be taken +in.' +</P> + +<P> +'Why should any one want to be outside?' questioned the child. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Russell did not answer; he went to his outline and uncovered it. +It was rapidly progressing. Betty's little figure was nearly finished. +There was the gnarled log of wood against which she lay; and Prince's +outline had already been commenced. +</P> + +<P> +She jumped up and came over to look at it. +</P> + +<P> +'It would make a beautiful grave, wouldn't it?' she said thoughtfully; +'I should like to have it put on the top of mine when I die.' +</P> + +<P> +'Don't talk about dying, child!' was the hasty reply. +</P> + +<P> +'I'm afraid I'm not ready,' said Betty, with a shake of her curly head; +'but I will be when I've been through tribulation! Mr. Russell, do you +think a dog can go through tribulation?' +</P> + +<P> +'No, I do not,' said Mr. Russell, laughing. Betty's views on her +favourite text were by this time well known to him; and he generally +treated her childish difficulties with respect; but this unexpected +question was too much for him, and Betty's little face clouded over at +his laugh. She was very silent after that, and went home with rather a +wistful little face. +</P> + +<P> +But all serious thoughts were dissolved at the news that awaited her. +Molly rushed out, her long hair flying in the wind: 'I've got a letter +from Uncle Harry, and he is coming to see us next week!' +</P> + +<P> +'And he's going to spend a week with us; he's going to fish, and I +shall fish too!' shouted Douglas. +</P> + +<P> +'And Uncle Harry will have cwicket with us!' cried the twins. +</P> + +<P> +'Of course he wrote to me, as I'm the eldest,' said Molly proudly; 'if +you'll be very good I'll read you his letter.' And producing a very +crumpled envelope from her pocket, she read:— +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +'DEAR MADAM MOLLY,— +</P> + +<P> +'I have had orders from your respected parents to come down for an +inspection of you all; so expect me Tuesday, the 27th inst. Tell nurse +all complaints will be attended to, and punishment duly administered. +She must get me a room somewhere for a week, as I have heard there is +good fishing in your neighbourhood. My love to doughty Douglas and the +three B's. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +'Your affectionate uncle,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">'HARRY.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +'P.S.—Tell nurse I shall bring a rod with me.' +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +'Isn't he a funny dear?' went on Molly. 'He pretends he's coming to +punish us! Won't we have fun when he comes!' +</P> + +<P> +'He doesn't know there are six of us now,' observed Betty, with +sparkling eyes; 'I wonder what he will say to Prince.' +</P> + +<P> +The children could do little else but talk about their uncle's coming +visit for the next week; and when at last Tuesday arrived, they were in +a great state of excitement. Nurse could hardly curb their turbulent +spirits. Captain Stuart was adored by his little nephews and nieces, +and his visits were always a golden time. At last, after rescuing +Douglas from a farm wagon that he was driving off during the carter's +absence, Molly and Betty from an infuriated sow that they were trying +to wash under the pump, and Bobby and Billy from a hay-cutter they were +meditating using, nurse locked up all the five in the garret, hoping +they would be safe there until their uncle arrived. Prince was left +outside; and all Betty's beseeching petitions that he might share their +punishment were unheeded by nurse. So Prince crouched down outside the +door, patiently keeping watch, and now and then responding to his +little mistress's voice through the keyhole by sundry whines and barks. +</P> + +<P> +'Nurse won't dare to put us in cells after to-day,' said Douglas +wrathfully; 'she is just doing it to pretend to Uncle Harry that we're +always in disgrace; and I hate her!' +</P> + +<P> +'And I was going down to the brook to get some forget-me-nots, to put +in Uncle Harry's room,' said Molly plaintively. +</P> + +<P> +'It's wather nice being punished all together,' said Bobby, who always +dreaded being left alone. +</P> + +<P> +Betty said nothing; her curly head was out of one of the windows, and +she was deep in thought. At last she drew it in. +</P> + +<P> +'S'posing the house was to take fire, and we were all to be locked in +here?' she suggested. +</P> + +<P> +Molly looked quite frightened at the thought; but Douglas rose to the +occasion, and he said triumphantly,— +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, nurse would be in a pretty state then! Farmer Giles would rush +off for a fire-engine; we would throw up the windows, and then I'd get +out on the roof and make a speech. I'd remind nurse of all the nasty +things she has said and done to us since we were babies; how she has +said over and over again there never were such children in the world, +and that we nearly drove her mad; and then I'd say she'd be sorry now +when she was going to see us burnt before her eyes; and she would be +sobbing and crying, and so would Mrs. Giles and Sam and all the others!' +</P> + +<P> +'But they might get ladders to take us down,' suggested Molly. +</P> + +<P> +'There's only one ladder long enough. Sam would put that up, but the +flames underneath the floor would come out and burn the ladder in two; +and there's no fire-escape! They don't seem to have them in the +country. I should go on speaking as long as I could, and then I should +say we didn't wish to go down to our graves angry, so we would forgive +her, only we hoped the next children she had she would be kinder to. +And then I would say good-bye; and the roof would be cracking +underneath me; and nurse would scream and cry; and then I would take a +leap right into the middle of the fire; and there would be a kind of +explosion, and the house would fall in; and the next day there would be +five heaps of bones and black ashes! all that was left of us! and nurse +would sit down with a broken heart in the middle of us!' +</P> + +<P> +Bobby and Billy had been listening to this awful story with their eyes +nearly starting out of their heads; and now both burst into sobs of +terror. 'We're going to be burnt! Nurse, nurse, let us out; we will +be good!' +</P> + +<P> +They were hushed up in scorn by Douglas; but Molly soothed and +comforted them, assuring them it was only a make-up, and that the house +never would catch fire. +</P> + +<P> +'And if it did catch fire I would get out safe,' said Betty solemnly; +'for I should climb out of the window and walk along the gutter, +holding on by the roof; and then I should climb down by the pear tree +over Uncle Harry's bedroom.' +</P> + +<P> +'You couldn't do it,' said Douglas scoffingly; 'girls can't climb!' +</P> + +<P> +'I could do it; I could do it now!' +</P> + +<P> +'Then do it, do it; I dare you to do it!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's eyes sparkled; and Molly at once left the twins, and ran to the +window and put her head out. +</P> + +<P> +'I think she could do it if we lifted her out; but it looks awful +dangerous; I should be afraid.' +</P> + +<P> +'I'm not a bit afraid,' said Betty sturdily. +</P> + +<P> +'You wait till you're once out. I dare you to do it!' And Douglas +danced up and down in delight at the coming excitement. +</P> + +<P> +Not a doubt entered Betty's head as to the right or wrong of such an +escapade; her impulsive little soul was longing to prove to her brother +her ability in climbing, and audacious as she was in daring feats, this +seemed to be a test of her powers. The garret window was opened; it +was in the roof, so Betty had no difficulty in climbing out and +standing in the gutter, which ran right round the house. Then slowly +and carefully, in sight of the four admiring faces at the window, she +commenced her perilous walk. Steadying herself by leaning with one +hand on the sloping roof at her right, Betty walked triumphantly on +till she reached the corner of the house; here she hesitated. +</P> + +<P> +'Come back,' called out Molly; 'you can't turn the corner!' +</P> + +<P> +'I dare you to go on!' naughty Douglas cried excitedly. +</P> + +<P> +There was breathless silence; but others besides the little inmates of +the garret were watching this feat in horror. Two gentlemen were +walking leisurely through the meadow in front of the house. +</P> + +<P> +'What on earth is that on the roof, Stuart? Not a child, surely!' +</P> + +<P> +'A child it is; good heavens! It's one of my hopeful nieces; she'll be +dashed to pieces to a certainty! Come on, St. Clair; only don't make a +row!' +</P> + +<P> +They reached the house as Betty was in the act of turning the corner. +For a moment the little figure swayed outwardly, and Captain Stuart +quite expected that moment to be Betty's last; but she recovered her +balance most miraculously, accomplished the turn successfully, and went +steadily on till she reached the pear tree. +</P> + +<P> +Both gentlemen remained perfectly silent, knowing that a start might +produce a false step, and they watched her descent to the ground now +with less anxiety. Half-way down had Betty got, when there was a +rushing sound of feet, and nurse, with a scream of horror appeared on +the scene. +</P> + +<P> +Betty's nerves gave way; she placed her foot on a rotten branch, which +broke under her; her hands relaxed their hold. Another scream from +nurse, echoed by Mrs. Giles behind her, and the child fell heavily, but +safely, into her uncle's arms below. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Uncle Harry's Friend +</H3> + +<P> +'There's a pretty welcome for a tired man who wants his dinner!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty was standing before her uncle with a white little face and +determined, set mouth, and nurse was releasing the other little +prisoners and bringing them down to their uncle. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Stuart's friend was lounging on the low window-seat of the best +parlour, looking on with an amused eye. +</P> + +<P> +'Nurse thinks you ought to have a good whipping,' continued Captain +Stuart, stroking his long, fair moustache very gravely, though there +was a twinkle in his blue eyes. 'I think we must have a court-martial +first. Were you trying to kill yourself, Betty?' +</P> + +<P> +'I was trying to save myself from a fire—I mean a fire that might be.' +</P> + +<P> +The sentence was begun bravely, but the little lips began to quiver. +Shaken by her fall, afraid of her uncle's anger, and uncomfortable by +the presence of a stranger, she burst into tears. +</P> + +<P> +And then Captain Stuart took her on his knee, and drew out his large +handkerchief. +</P> + +<P> +'There, little woman, rest your head against my shoulder and cry away; +it will do you good. I was beginning to think you a little stoic.' +</P> + +<P> +The door opened, and the other children appeared, with very large eyes +and solemn faces. +</P> + +<P> +They kissed their uncle in a subdued fashion, and then Molly said, +'Nurse told us Betty had fallen, is she hurt?' +</P> + +<P> +'Is her legs bwoken?' demanded the twins. +</P> + +<P> +'I knew she couldn't do it; I told her she couldn't!' +</P> + +<P> +In an instant Betty's face appeared from behind her handkerchief. 'I +did do it; I did! and I could do it again to-morrow; so there, Douglas!' +</P> + +<P> +Then Uncle Harry laughed outright, after which he pulled himself up, +and said as sternly as he could,— +</P> + +<P> +'Now look here, youngsters, I'm not good at scolding, as you know; but +you're all old enough to know that it is not true pluck to go crawling +round roofs like cats, and running the risks of breaking your necks and +damaging your limbs for the rest of your lives. Now then, who is to +blame? Speak up like little Britons, and don't be ashamed of owning up +and telling the truth about it.' +</P> + +<P> +There was a pause. Douglas got very red in the face, but blurted out, +'I dared her to do it.' +</P> + +<P> +'And I said I thought she could do it,' said Molly with tearful eyes; +'but I did ask her to come back at the corner.' +</P> + +<P> +'And I dared her to go on,' added Douglas. +</P> + +<P> +'And Bobby and me clapped our hands at her,' put in Billy eagerly, +feeling anxious to share in the glory of the escapade. +</P> + +<P> +'Do you think it a brave thing to urge another on to danger, when, +perhaps, you would be afraid of taking their place yourself?' +</P> + +<P> +It was Douglas who was addressed, and he hung his head in shame. +</P> + +<P> +'But he was just getting out of the window to follow her, when nurse +came up,' said Molly, in defence of her favourite brother. +</P> + +<P> +'I didn't know boys were in the habit of following girls,' remarked +Captain Stuart drily. 'I think doughty Douglas must have another name. +Listen, my boy, and remember this to the end of your life. There were +two young fellows came out to join our battalion in Egypt. We were +ordered out one morning on a reconnaissance, and both these youngsters +came with us. They were strong, fresh-faced young fellows, one +especially; he was the heir to a big property at home, and had left his +widow mother to come and earn a name for himself. I can see him now, +with his sparkling eyes and merry laugh, as he rode on just in front of +me with his chum. I won't give you children details, but we had a +sharp bit of fighting that morning, and bullets were flying pretty +freely. At the finish, when returning, having dispersed our enemy, we +came across another party of them entrenched on a height. Orders were +given to fire lying down, as they were skilled marksmen and had the +advantage of the position. "Now then," whispered one of these young +fellows to the other, "make your name; scale the hillside and storm +their fort." +</P> + +<P> +'"I would if I had my orders to," was the quick retort. +</P> + +<P> +'"We're like rabbits in the underwood," the youngster went on. "Do +those skulking fellows think we're afraid of showing ourselves? A good +British cheer and a sight of our rifles would soon send them to the +right-about. The poor old major is dead beat and wants a nap, or he +wouldn't give such an order. Show yourself, Castleton; let them have a +sight of your six foot six. What? <I>afraid</I>!" +</P> + +<P> +'In an instant Johnny Castleton stood up in the full strength of his +manhood, and the next moment his brains were scattered by a bullet, his +dead body falling into the arms of the friend who was the cause of his +death. Do you think he died the death of a hero, Betty? How do you +think his friend felt, Douglas, when he had to write home and tell the +widowed mother her boy would never come back to her? Do you know, the +folly of his act so weighed upon his mind that he left the army, and +when I last heard of him his friends were afraid that his reason was +giving way. There now! I've made your faces solemn enough to satisfy +nurse. And you will never dare your sisters to do foolhardy exploits +again, will you, my boy? And you will never listen to him if he does, +girls? Now my lecture is ended, and you can tell nurse to forgive you +all. Where is Mrs. Giles? I wonder if she could put up my friend for +a night or two.' +</P> + +<P> +Captain Stuart put Betty down from his knee, and rose to his feet. He +so seldom lectured the children that his words left a deep impression, +and none of them ever forgot the lesson imprinted on their minds. They +were rather subdued for the rest of the day, and not altogether pleased +at the advent of Major St. Clair. +</P> + +<P> +'We shan't get Uncle Harry a bit to ourselves,' grumbled Douglas, as +the children were playing in the garden whilst the gentlemen were at +dinner; 'he'll be going out fishing with that other fellow every day, +and he's going to stay the whole week with him.' +</P> + +<P> +'I like him rather,' said Molly; 'he is something like Mr. Roper.' +</P> + +<P> +'He has nice sad eyes,' put in Betty; 'and he likes Prince.' +</P> + +<P> +But before long Major St. Clair was taken into favour. He was a tall, +dark man, with rather a stern look, until he smiled; and then the +children knew they need not be afraid, for he had more smiles than +frowns for them during his stay. Douglas, to his great delight, was +allowed to go fishing with them. +</P> + +<P> +'You see,' he confided to his sisters, 'they couldn't get on very well +without me, as I'm learning to put their bait on for them, and I help +to unpack their luncheon-basket, and very often I lie down on the bank +and tell them stories; they like that very much.' +</P> + +<P> +One afternoon they were all in the orchard under some shady trees: the +gentlemen were smoking and reading the papers, the children playing a +little way off. Presently Betty came sauntering up to her uncle, +Prince close at her heels. +</P> + +<P> +'We're going for a walk,' she said; 'I s'pose you wouldn't like to come +with us?' +</P> + +<P> +None of the little Stuarts ever did anything without first inviting +their uncle to participate in it. +</P> + +<P> +'No, I wouldn't,' he said, leaning lazily back in his wicker chair and +surveying the little figure before him with amused eyes. 'Where are +you bound? Your independence of thought and action will be sadly +crippled when you get back to town. Does nurse let you all scour the +country at your own free will?' +</P> + +<P> +'What does scour mean?' asked Betty with knitted brows. 'Does it mean +scrub? for I'm sure the country doesn't want cleaning.' Then, not +liking the laugh following her words, she went on hastily: 'Nurse +doesn't ask where I go, so I don't tell her; but I go to church, when I +don't go to Mr. Russell.' +</P> + +<P> +'And what do you do there?' +</P> + +<P> +'Well,' said Betty, looking very steadily at her uncle, 'if you and +Major St. Clair won't say anything about it, I'll tell you.' +</P> + +<P> +'Wild horses won't tear it from me,' said the major. +</P> + +<P> +'I go to take some flowers to a little dead girl there; she likes to +smell them, and hold them in her hands instead of the dead lily she has +got. And then I've got a friend who meets me there—a lady she is—and +she sings the most beautiful songs on the organ! they make me cry +sometimes. And the church is so dark, and still, and cool; it's a +beautiful place.' +</P> + +<P> +'Will you let me come with you?' asked Major St. Clair, rising as he +spoke. +</P> + +<P> +'It is an enchanting programme,' murmured Uncle Harry; 'tears amongst +the dead! I warn you, my dear fellow, the church is nearly a mile +away.' +</P> + +<P> +'I want to stretch my legs,' was the response. +</P> + +<P> +Betty set off radiant, with much self-importance. +</P> + +<P> +'You see,' she said, looking up at the major through her long lashes as +she trotted along at his side, 'I don't always ask people to come with +me; Prince and I are quite enough. But you're a visitor, and so is +Uncle Harry. You won't talk or make a noise in church, will you? And +will you help me to get some honeysuckle from the hedge as we go along? +Violet will like to smell it—at least, I make believe she will.' +</P> + +<P> +The walk seemed a short one to the major, Betty entertained him so +well. When they reached the church, she took him straight to the +monument she loved so much, and was pleased with his genuine admiration +of it. She placed the honeysuckle reverentially in the clasped hands +of the little figure, which she stooped down to kiss as usual, and then +pointed to the stained window above. +</P> + +<P> +'Don't you like it?' she said in a solemn whisper. 'And do you see the +text? Mr. Russell put it there. I was asking him the other day about +it. I asked him if he was like one of the disciples that wanted to +keep the children away from Jesus, and if he put it up for that, and he +said, Yes, he did want to forbid Violet to go to Jesus when He called +her. I expect Violet is very glad she wasn't kept back, don't you +think so?' +</P> + +<P> +'I expect so,' the major responded gravely. +</P> + +<P> +'She wasn't any bigger than me,' continued Betty, standing before the +window with clasped hands, and that upward dreamy look that always came +upon her sweet little face when talking about serious things, 'but +she's got through tribulation safely. Mr. Russell told me how she bore +all the pain of her illness for a whole year without a grumble; and +pain and suffering is tribulation, isn't it?' +</P> + +<P> +'What do you know about tribulation?' +</P> + +<P> +How often had Betty been asked that question! +</P> + +<P> +'I know a great deal about it,' she said, looking at the major very +earnestly; 'and though I haven't had it, I'm expecting to. Have you +had it?' +</P> + +<P> +'No, I don't know that I have,' was the amused reply. Then, a shadow +crossing his face, he added: 'Trouble and I are not strangers. I think +I have had my share.' +</P> + +<P> +'And a big trouble is tribulation, isn't it? And it's on the way to +heaven.' +</P> + +<P> +Then the major smiled his sweet smile. 'That's it, Betty, on the way +to heaven. We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of +God.' +</P> + +<P> +'And have you had a big trouble?' persisted the child. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, I have,' the major said slowly; 'a very big trouble, Betty. At +one time of my life it would have overwhelmed me, but I've learnt to +take things differently now.' +</P> + +<P> +'You'll hear my friend sing about tribulation, p'raps, if I ask her to; +she will be here directly. Where will you sit? I like to sit on the +chancel step, and Prince sits in my lap.' +</P> + +<P> +'I will find a seat for myself. Perhaps I shall slip away into the +sunshine again.' +</P> + +<P> +And Major St. Clair sauntered round the church, looking at the old +tablets until he heard the door open, and then he slipped into a seat +at the side of the church behind an old stone pillar. +</P> + +<P> +Betty seated herself on the chancel steps after her greetings with her +friend were over. The picture she made as she sat there was long +riveted on Major St. Clair's memory: the golden sunshine streaming in, +the old carved pews in the background, and the dainty little white +figure hugging her spaniel in her arms, would have charmed an artist's +eye. But it was not this sight that made the strong man suddenly turn +pale and clutch the back of the seat in front of him with nervous, +trembling hands; his startled gaze was no longer upon Betty, but upon +the slight, graceful figure that was now taking her seat at the organ. +</P> + +<P> +Betty's clear, childish voice was heard,— +</P> + +<P> +'Please sing about tribulation. I've brought some one with me who +would like to hear it. He's listening at the back of the church.' +</P> + +<P> +Nesta gave a hasty look round, but seeing no one, turned again to the +organ, and in a minute her beautiful voice rose in the triumphant +strains of the song of the redeemed. Major St. Clair folded his arms, +and stood up behind his pillar. He seemed strangely moved, and as the +last notes died away he hastily quitted the church. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +'When We Two Met!' +</H3> + +<P> +Betty was so absorbed in the music that she forgot all about the major. +</P> + +<P> +'When I grow up, do you think I shall be able to play and sing like you +do?' she asked, with a little sigh of happiness. +</P> + +<P> +'I dare say you may, dear.' +</P> + +<P> +'But shall I have an organ to play? In London you can't go into any +church and play, can you?' +</P> + +<P> +'No; it is only because I know the clergyman here that he gives me +permission.' +</P> + +<P> +'And why do you never come to church here on Sunday?' +</P> + +<P> +'Because we have a little church nearer us; but it has not an organ, +and so I come over here.' +</P> + +<P> +'Do you know what I do when you're singing? I shut my eyes and pretend +I'm in heaven. It's lovely! If you shut yours you could pretend too, +and I wish you could go on singing for ever and ever!' +</P> + +<P> +Nesta laughed, and kissed the little eager, up-turned face. 'I should +get very tired and hungry, I'm afraid. I am not an angel, Betty; but +you're right, darling. I, too, get very near to heaven when I'm +singing;' and she added musingly,— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +In heart and mind ascending,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">My spirit follows Thee.'</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +When, a little later, Nesta came out of the church with Betty, the tall +figure of Major St. Clair came forward to meet them. +</P> + +<P> +'Good-afternoon, Miss Fairfax.' +</P> + +<P> +His tone was cold and grave; but Nesta started, and turned white to her +very lips; then with an effort she recovered her composure, and held +out her hand. +</P> + +<P> +'It is a long time since we have met,' she said. +</P> + +<P> +There was a pause, but Betty came to the rescue with the delightful +unconsciousness of childhood. +</P> + +<P> +'Do you know my Miss Fairfax?' she asked the major. 'You never told me +you did. Didn't she sing beautifully? Did you like "Tribulation"? We +like it the best of all her songs, don't we, Prince?' +</P> + +<P> +She stooped to caress her little dog; then, as he broke away from her, +she darted after him. +</P> + +<P> +Major St. Clair stood still, and his eyes never moved from Nesta's face. +</P> + +<P> +'Do we meet as strangers?' he asked. +</P> + +<P> +'No,' she said, a little unsteadily, and her lips quivered in spite of +herself, as she strove in vain to meet his gaze calmly; 'as old +friends, I hope.' +</P> + +<P> +'Never!' he said, a passionate light coming to his eyes; 'it must be +everything or nothing to me, as I told you long ago.' +</P> + +<P> +She was silent; a little sigh escaped her, so hopeless and yet so +patient, that Major St. Clair continued hotly,— +</P> + +<P> +'I would not have come here, had I known you were in this +neighbourhood; but having met I cannot go without a word with you. +Nesta, you are not happy; I see it in your face! Time has not soothed +and comforted you; why will you not let me share your trouble and stand +by you when perhaps you need a friend more than ever you did in days of +old? Do you realize the blank you are making in my life, as well as in +your own? Yes, I know I am taking much for granted; but yours is not a +nature to change. I believe in you now as I always did, and it is only +your mistaken ideas of duty that have brought this trouble into our +lives.' +</P> + +<P> +He paused, and then Nesta spoke, looking away from the low churchyard +wall by which they were standing to the hills in the distance. +</P> + +<P> +'I am sorry we have met,' she said simply, 'very sorry, for it is pain +to us both; but the circumstances in my life have not changed; I cannot +act differently; my mother and sister require me, and my mother——' +Her voice faltered. +</P> + +<P> +'Your mother is still of the same opinion,' he said. 'I look back with +regret to my heated words when last I saw her. Time and another +Teacher has shown me since where I was wrong; but, Nesta, let me plead +my—may I say our cause with her again? She has no right to spoil our +lives, and it is no true kindness to her to allow her to do it. Give +me your permission to come and see her.' +</P> + +<P> +'I cannot; it will only stir up her grief and pain afresh. She will +not, cannot, look at things in a different light.' +</P> + +<P> +'And are you going to part with me like this?' +</P> + +<P> +His tone was low and husky with feeling. He added, a little drearily, +'I wonder, after all, if your affection has cooled; you speak so calmly +about it all, that it makes one think——' +</P> + +<P> +Nesta heard him so far, and then put out her hand as if to stop him. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, Godfrey!' +</P> + +<P> +That was all; but as the old familiar name slipped from her lips she +burst into tears, and turning aside, leant her arms on the old wall and +buried her head in them. +</P> + +<P> +Major St. Clair stepped up quickly. 'Nesta, Nesta, you must not! I +cannot stand it! My darling, we cannot part like this!' +</P> + +<P> +What he might have done was never known; perhaps, with his strong arm +round her, Nesta would have yielded then and there; but a most +inopportune childish voice broke in close by. +</P> + +<P> +'You've made her cry! You've made my Miss Fairfax cry!' And with a +little rush Betty flew to comfort her friend. +</P> + +<P> +In an instant Nesta was standing erect again. +</P> + +<P> +'It is nothing, darling; we have been talking over old times. +Good-bye, Major St. Clair.' +</P> + +<P> +She turned down a path at the side of the church, whilst Major St. +Clair gazed after her in bewilderment and vexation. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh!' he said, shaking his head at Betty as they retraced their way +homewards, 'you're like a little boy I once knew, who would bring me a +delicious plate of cherries. "Would you like to have some, major? +Look at them; aren't they lovely?" And then, as I stretched out my +hand, he would snatch them back with malicious glee, and gobble them up +in my sight.' +</P> + +<P> +'He was a very rude little boy,' said Betty, a little offended, 'and I +don't think I'm a bit like him, for I haven't brought you anything this +afternoon.' +</P> + +<P> +Very restless and uneasy was Major St. Clair all that evening; Captain +Stuart more than once took him to task for his moodiness and absence of +mind, but was quite unsuccessful in eliciting a satisfactory +explanation. +</P> + +<P> +The next day they went off fishing together, but about four o'clock +Major St. Clair left his friend and sauntered back to the house. +Finding Betty and Prince playing together outside, he called her to +him, and, lying full length on the grass, led her on to talk about +Nesta. Betty innocently fell in with his wish; she gave him a graphic +description of her day at Holly Grange, and then went back to the day +when she first met Mrs. Fairfax in the wood. +</P> + +<P> +'She's like a queen,' said the eager child; 'her face is so stern and +proud, but she's very sad! Every grown-up person seems sad about here! +I like Mrs. Fairfax very much; she gave me Prince.' +</P> + +<P> +Major St. Clair listened, and asked questions, and then suddenly +started to his feet. +</P> + +<P> +'Come for a walk with me,' he said; 'wait till I have written a letter, +and then we will start.' +</P> + +<P> +'To church again?' inquired Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'No, not to church; to Holly Grange.' +</P> + +<P> +'It's miles and miles,' said Betty dubiously; 'I went in a pony +carriage, but if you go by the wood it is shorter.' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, we shall manage it very well, and if you are tired I will carry +you.' +</P> + +<P> +Major St. Clair's tone was quite cheerful, and Betty set off with him, +delighted at being chosen as his companion. +</P> + +<P> +'Are you going to see Miss Fairfax?' she asked presently. +</P> + +<P> +'No, I don't think I shall go into the house at all; but I want you to +take a note to Mrs. Fairfax and bring me back an answer.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty coloured up with pleasure. 'I shall like to do that,' she said; +'it's such a nice house inside, and you should see the flowers! I +think I could be quite happy if I were Mrs. Fairfax, couldn't you?' +</P> + +<P> +She chattered on, and when at last the gates were reached, Major St. +Clair entrusted her with the important letter. +</P> + +<P> +'Give it to Mrs. Fairfax yourself, Betty, and tell her I would like to +see her very much.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty nodded, and clasped the letter tightly in one little hand, Prince +followed her closely up the drive. The hall-door stood open, and for a +moment the child hesitated; then the old butler crossed the hall, and +she called out eagerly,— +</P> + +<P> +'Please, can I come in and see Mrs. Fairfax?' +</P> + +<P> +The man looked surprised. 'I don't think she will see you,' he said, +smiling; 'Mrs. Fairfax sees no visitors.' +</P> + +<P> +'But I'm not a visitor,' said the little girl; 'I'm only Betty, and +I've got a letter to give her.' +</P> + +<P> +'I will go and see.' +</P> + +<P> +He disappeared, but returned a minute after. +</P> + +<P> +'Come in, missy—this way.' +</P> + +<P> +He led the child into the drawing-room, where Mrs. Fairfax was +presiding at the afternoon tea-table. Nesta was not there, and Grace +was just leaving the room. +</P> + +<P> +A smile lightened Mrs. Fairfax's grave face at the sight of Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'All alone?' she asked, bending down to kiss her. +</P> + +<P> +'I've come to bring you a letter,' said Betty, dimpling over with +pleasure and importance. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Fairfax made her sit down in a little cushioned chair, and took +the note in her hand. As she read it, she knitted her brows, and her +lips took their sternest curve; then rising she went to the farther end +of the room, and stood looking out of the low French window, her back +turned to Betty, and her hands clenched convulsively by her side. +</P> + +<P> +Nesta was right in surmising what a torrent of painful memories would +be aroused by Major St. Clair's advent in their neighbourhood. +</P> + +<P> +If the letter had come a few weeks before, there would have been only +one answer; but Mrs. Fairfax had been learning lately from the great +Master Himself, and her heart was softened and subdued. Still it was a +hard struggle, and pride fought for predominance. At length she turned +round, and went to her writing-desk; and then Betty crept up softly to +her. +</P> + +<P> +'Major St. Clair asked me to ask you to see him,' she said, laying her +little hand on Mrs. Fairfax's knee. +</P> + +<P> +'I will write my answer, Betty; I cannot do that,' was the cold reply, +as Mrs. Fairfax turned her head away from the child. +</P> + +<P> +But Betty was not to be put off. +</P> + +<P> +'I think he would like to see you very much; and you'd like him, for he +is Uncle Harry's friend; and he has such sad eyes, and he has been +through tribulation like you; at least, he has had a big trouble, he +told me; and that's just the same, isn't it?' +</P> + +<P> +There was no answer. Betty continued: 'Shall I just go out and bring +him in? I've been telling him about you this afternoon, and how you +gave me the lilies, and Prince, and he liked to hear it; he asked me a +lot of questions, and I think he wants to see you, and if you're like a +queen, like I told him!' +</P> + +<P> +Then Mrs. Fairfax lifted the child on her knee. 'Oh Betty, Betty!' was +all she said, but some glistening drops fell on the child's curly head, +as the grey head was bent over it, and Betty wondered why Mrs. +Fairfax's voice sounded so strange. 'I think you will have to bring +him in here,' Mrs. Fairfax said at last; and Betty trotted out of the +room in great delight. She found the major pacing up and down the road +with a white, resolute face. He threw away the cigar he was smoking +when he saw the child, and asked, with anxiety in his dark eyes,— +</P> + +<P> +'Well, little woman, how have you fared?' +</P> + +<P> +'You're to come in and see her.' +</P> + +<P> +'Thank God!' and not another word did the major say till he was in the +drawing-room. +</P> + +<P> +It was a constrained and formal greeting between the two; and then Mrs. +Fairfax turned to Betty,— +</P> + +<P> +'Will you run into the garden, dear, till we call you? I think Grace +is out there.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty obeyed. Grace was walking slowly up and down the path, enveloped +in shawls, and did not look well-pleased when the childish voice +sounded in her ear,— +</P> + +<P> +'May I come and walk with you?' +</P> + +<P> +'Were you sent out here? Nesta, I suppose, as usual is out, so she +will not be able to look after you, and I certainly am not in a fit +state of health to amuse you and keep you out of mischief.' +</P> + +<P> +'I'm not going to get into mischief, really,' protested Betty in an +aggrieved tone; 'I'll walk quietly along with you, and won't even pick +a flower. Are you better today?' +</P> + +<P> +'No, I am not better—I don't expect I ever shall be, though I can get +no sympathy from any one in this house.' +</P> + +<P> +'What's the matter with you?' asked Betty. +</P> + +<P> +'Now, if you are going to worry me with questions, you can just run +away; if you were to be kept awake night after night, and never know +what it was to be without headaches, having every nerve in your body +quivering from exhaustion, you wouldn't wonder what the matter was.' +</P> + +<P> +'I expect you're like Violet, only she could never leave her bed. Mr. +Russell said she would sometimes have no sleep all night, and she was +so patient, she used to say, "Read me about there shall be no pain." +Mr. Russell said he wouldn't have been half so patient as she was. And +now she is singing right in the middle of "these are they which came +out of great tribulation." Wouldn't you like to be her?' +</P> + +<P> +Grace was silent. Betty's active little tongue turned to other +subjects; she told about her visit to the Hall, of her 'dead figure' +which was being made out of 'soft putty'; of Prince's misdemeanours +when he tried to chase chickens, and then came back to his little +mistress with his tail between his legs; of Douglas and Molly's +wonderful games, and the twins' talents for getting into trouble; she +told her of her walk on the roof, and the story of the young soldiers +related by Uncle Harry; and Grace listened, and eventually was amused +and interested in spite of herself. +</P> + +<P> +It was a long time before Betty was summoned to the house; and then she +met the major in the hall. +</P> + +<P> +'Run in, little one, and wish Mrs. Fairfax good-bye.' +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Fairfax stooped to kiss Betty; all the hard lines in her face had +disappeared, and her voice was unusually gentle. +</P> + +<P> +'You must come and see me another day, when I have no business to +occupy me.' +</P> + +<P> +And Betty put her arms round her neck, and gave her a delighted hug. +</P> + +<P> +'You will meet Nesta coming back from the church if you keep to the +lane,' Mrs. Fairfax said, speaking to Major St. Clair; 'and we shall +expect you to dinner tomorrow.' +</P> + +<P> +He raised his hat, and strode round the shrubbery with such energy that +it was all Betty could do to keep up with him. +</P> + +<P> +'Don't you think Mrs. Fairfax like a queen?' asked Betty presently. +'Was she like what I told you?' +</P> + +<P> +'I have seen Mrs. Fairfax before,' was the major's short reply; and +Betty gave a little disappointed 'Oh!' +</P> + +<P> +Not long afterwards they came in sight of Nesta. She was walking along +rather slowly, her eyes and her thoughts far away; but when she saw who +it was, a quick colour spread over her face. +</P> + +<P> +Major St. Clair stepped forward quickly. +</P> + +<P> +'Your mother has sent me to you,' he said; and there was a glad ring in +his tone. Nesta looked up at him bewildered. +</P> + +<P> +'My mother! Have you seen her?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes; thanks to this little person here with me.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty was kissed, but for once Nesta seemed oblivious of her presence. +The child could not understand it, neither could she understand the +explanation that followed in low, earnest tones. She saw Nesta's eyes +light up with a sudden joy, and then fill with tears; she saw Major St. +Clair bend his head very close to hers, and though she stood silently +by she might just as well have been miles away, for all the notice that +she received. At last with a little sigh she said,— +</P> + +<P> +'I'm rather tired; I think I'll go home with Prince.' +</P> + +<P> +Nesta turned to her at once. +</P> + +<P> +'You poor little mite! Godfrey, will you carry her? I must leave you. +No, don't come with me. I shall see you to-morrow, and I would rather +see my mother alone. She has been so different lately, but I never +dared to hope for this! Good-bye, Betty; you have been our little +benefactor.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty was hoisted on the broad shoulders of the major, and carried home +in silence; he was busy with his own thoughts, and she was tired and +sleepy. +</P> + +<P> +They found Captain Stuart impatiently waiting for dinner. +</P> + +<P> +'Where have you been?' he asked; 'has Betty bewitched you?' +</P> + +<P> +'She has done me a good turn to-day,' responded the major. +</P> + +<P> +Betty dipped her little hand into her uncle's. +</P> + +<P> +'We've been to Holly Grange, Uncle Harry. I think Major St. Clair and +my Miss Fairfax must have quarrelled yesterday, for he made her cry; +but they kissed each other and made it up to-day, and now we're all +friends.' +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Hero's Death +</H3> + +<P> +Captain Stuart's week was prolonged to a fortnight, much to the +children's delight. They were all astonished when they heard that +Major St. Clair was going to marry Betty's Miss Fairfax. Betty herself +was very puzzled about it, for she was still unconscious of how large a +part she had played in the little drama; and only wondered sometimes +that Nesta seemed to care so little for the organ now, and was so often +occupied in walking or driving with the major. This, perhaps, made her +enjoy her visits to Mr. Russell's studio the more; and when one day he +put the finishing touch to the bit of sculpture, she looked rather +wistfully at him. +</P> + +<P> +'And mustn't I come here any more now?' +</P> + +<P> +'Come as often as you like,' was the hearty reply; 'I like you chatting +away to me whilst I work.' +</P> + +<P> +'I've a good many friends here,' announced Betty upon the last evening +of Captain Stuart's stay; 'I think I've more friends than Molly and +Douglas have. They don't care about grown-up people: I rather like +them!' +</P> + +<P> +'We like Uncle Harry,' protested Molly. +</P> + +<P> +'And who do you like the best of all your friends, Betty?' asked Major +St. Clair. +</P> + +<P> +'I think I like Mr. Russell. You see, he's an odd one, like I used to +be before I had Prince. Miss Fairfax used to be an odd one too, but +she's one of a couple now. Mr. Russell has got no one; he's quite +alone.' +</P> + +<P> +There was great laughter at Betty's speech. +</P> + +<P> +'I think I'm an odd one, Betty,' Captain Stuart said. 'What do you +advise? My making myself into a couple?' +</P> + +<P> +'Two and two are so much more comfortable,' went on Betty gravely; 'I +don't really know what I should do if I hadn't Prince to go with! +Really at the bottom of my heart I love him better than anybody! +Couldn't you get a dog, if you can't get any one else, Uncle Harry? +You'd find yourself in a very nice couple then.' +</P> + +<P> +How Captain Stuart laughed! And Betty was the only one who could see +no joke in the matter. +</P> + +<P> +After the gentlemen had left, the children had a quiet time. Betty +would still steal away to the church to hear Nesta sing and play; and +one day all the children spent a day at Holly Grange. Nurse was +getting a little tired of the quiet country life, and began to talk +about the return to London, which filled her little charges' hearts +with dismay. +</P> + +<P> +'It will be dreadful to sit up and do lessons again,' moaned Molly. +</P> + +<P> +'I think,' said Douglas slowly, 'that I shall get lost the day we are +going back; and then I shall live in the wood in that little hut; I +shall be a kind of wild man; and I shall eat berries and nuts, and when +I want some meat I shall kill a rabbit, and cook him! I really cannot +stand being cooped up in that nursery at home again.' +</P> + +<P> +'I've never, never been so happy in my life before,' Betty chimed in; +'but then of course I shall take Prince with me. Fancy! If we had +never come to this farm, we should never have gone to that wood, and I +should never have seen Mrs. Fairfax, and she would have never sent me +Prince!' +</P> + +<P> +'It's always "Prince" with you,' Douglas said a little impatiently; +'you can talk of no one else.' +</P> + +<P> +The day following the one on which this conversation was held, Farmer +Giles came into the kitchen in great perturbation about twelve o'clock. +</P> + +<P> +'Where are the children?' he demanded quickly. +</P> + +<P> +Nurse came into the room, leading Bobby, who had been undergoing a +change of garments through a tumble into the duck-pond. +</P> + +<P> +'They're out in the meadows,' she said; 'what's the matter?' +</P> + +<P> +'I'm afraid there's a dog of Mr. Dart's loose; I've just heard say it's +gone mad, and can't be found! It's these dreadful hot days. I've just +chained up Rough. Little Miss Betty must look after that dog of hers. +Tom Dart and a neighbour is out huntin' for theirs now.' +</P> + +<P> +'A mad dog!' exclaimed nurse in horror; 'call them in, Jack, do! What +should I do if they met it?' +</P> + +<P> +And leaving Bobby in the kitchen, she as well as her brother ran out to +warn the children. They found them in a clover field under the trees: +Douglas was busy trying to work his way inside an old hollow trunk; +Molly was digging down a rabbit hole; and Billy was waiting upon them +both. +</P> + +<P> +'Where is Miss Betty?' +</P> + +<P> +'She's gone along the lane,' said Douglas, looking up with a very +heated face; 'I sent her to the brook to get some water: we're going to +lay in provisions for a siege; and this tree will be our hiding-place.' +</P> + +<P> +'And I'm digging for treasure money,' said Molly. +</P> + +<P> +'Is Prince with her?' asked nurse anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, he won't ever stay with us.' +</P> + +<P> +'They're safe enough in this field,' said Farmer Giles, looking round; +'but they'd best not wander in the lanes. We must have Miss Betty +back.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty meanwhile was trotting contentedly along, hugging an old +earthenware jar. +</P> + +<P> +'We'll get them some water, Prince, and then you shall be the sentry; +Douglas said you could be; directly you hear a step you must bark!' +</P> + +<P> +Prince looked up, wagged his tail in response, and began to burrow in +the grass for imaginary frogs. +</P> + +<P> +And then Betty, feeling her jar very heavy, sat down against the hedge +bank to rest. She remained there some time, chattering away to her +dog, and was just starting on her way again, when shouts up the lane +startled her. +</P> + +<P> +A moment after, and straight down the lane towards her tore a large +retriever; his mouth was open and covered with foam, and he kept making +snaps at the air as he rushed along. After him came two men and some +boys. +</P> + +<P> +'Out of the way!' they shouted; 'he's mad!' +</P> + +<P> +Poor little Betty stood in the middle of the lane, quite petrified. It +was a very narrow lane; the banks and hedges were high on either side, +and there literally seemed no escape for the child. On he came, with +open jaws and bloodshot eyes; and in another moment a shrill childish +scream rose in the air, which sent an awful chill through nurse's +blood; for she was now close upon the scene. She arrived just as Tom +Dart had got near enough to the dog to fire, and the report of a gun +went off as she clambered over a gate into the lane. +</P> + +<P> +She saw the body of the poor beast in the road, with Tom standing over +it, but with trembling limbs made her way along to the little crowd now +assembled higher up the lane. They were bending down over something in +the middle of the road. Was it Betty? +</P> + +<P> +'Is she safe? Who is hurt?' she gasped, as she pushed her way through. +There, in agony of grief and terror, Betty was sitting upon the ground, +shielding with her little arms her precious dog. 'You shan't take him +from me, you shan't; he's my very own, and he's nearly killed!' she was +crying frantically. +</P> + +<P> +Nurse seized hold of her and the dog together. 'Are you hurt, child? +Speak! Thank God, it's only the dog!' +</P> + +<P> +Farmer Giles was already there, questioning the excited crowd. 'He was +making straight for her, but the little dog dashed in front just in +time. See how he's bitten! Take him away from the little missy; he'll +have to be shot! 'Twas lucky for her she had him with her!' This and +more was told, with gaps and pauses; but Betty saw and heard nothing of +what was going on around her. She seemed almost beside herself with +terror and grief. +</P> + +<P> +'Take us away, nurse! Get a doctor! he's bleeding! He mustn't, oh, he +mustn't die! Don't touch him! Oh, I won't, I won't let him go!' +</P> + +<P> +'Come, come,' said Farmer Giles soothingly; 'I won't hurt him. We must +see where he is bitten; perhaps I can put him to rights. You let me +carry him home. There, see, he's been bitten in his neck, but you're +hurting him, holding him so tightly! You let me carry him for you, and +you can walk by my side.' +</P> + +<P> +'Will you bathe him, and put a bandage round, and make him well again?' +</P> + +<P> +There was hope dawning in the blue eye raised so trustfully to his; and +for a moment the farmer hesitated; then he said, 'We'll do the best for +him we can.' +</P> + +<P> +And Betty opened her arms, and Prince was tenderly lifted up, and a +piece of sacking the farmer happened to have with him was wrapped round +him. He lifted his head, and tried to lick Betty's little hands as he +was being taken from her; and she with a fresh burst of sobbing got up +from the ground, and clutching hold of the farmer's coat, walked back +to the house with him, nurse trying in vain to comfort her. +</P> + +<P> +Arrived at the farm, nurse took decided measures, 'You come indoors +with me, there's a good child; and let Jack attend to Prince. He will +come and tell you when he's better. No, I won't let you take him in +your arms again—now I mean it.' +</P> + +<P> +'I must just see him once more; I must, nurse!' +</P> + +<P> +'Ay,' said the farmer, giving nurse a peculiar look, 'she shall have +one more look at him, before I take him!' +</P> + +<P> +The sacking was uncovered, and Prince's ears pricked up and his bright +brown eyes sought his little mistress's face. Betty bent over him, and +was allowed to kiss the back of his brown silky head. 'My little +darling,' she whispered, though tears began to fall again; 'I wish I +had been bitten instead of you!' Then turning to Farmer Giles, she +said, clasping her little hands in agony of entreaty,— +</P> + +<P> +'You'll be as quick as ever you can, won't you? You won't be more than +five minutes bathing his neck and binding it up, will you? and then +I'll sit by and nurse him till he gets better. Will you put him in +this basket and bring him to me as soon as ever you can?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, yes,' said the farmer a little gruffly, and then he went out to +the stables; and Betty stood by the kitchen window, too well trained in +obedience to attempt to follow him, but with her little heart +overflowing with longing to have Prince in her arms again. +</P> + +<P> +'Now,' said nurse very kindly but determinedly, 'come up into the +nursery, and let me wash your face and hands and put you on a clean +pinafore.' +</P> + +<P> +'He will get better, won't he, nurse? He didn't look very hurt. Can I +give him some bread and milk when Farmer Giles brings him in?' +</P> + +<P> +Nurse evaded this question; she seemed ill at ease; and when a few +minutes afterwards the report of a gun went off, she started violently, +then gave a sigh of relief. Betty was too absorbed in her own thoughts +to notice this; and, directly her toilet was finished, she ran +downstairs to the kitchen again. +</P> + +<P> +'Has Prince come in, Mrs. Giles? Is he better?' +</P> + +<P> +'Bless your little heart,' said Mrs. Giles, bustling about, 'Jack will +be in directly, and he'll tell you.' +</P> + +<P> +And, a few minutes afterwards, Farmer Giles appeared. Betty ran to him +with outstretched hands. 'Where is he? Are you going to take me to +him?' +</P> + +<P> +The farmer looked helplessly at his wife. +</P> + +<P> +'Where is nurse?' he said. +</P> + +<P> +'Keeping out of the way,' muttered Mrs. Giles. +</P> + +<P> +The farmer fetched a deep breath. 'Come along, then,' he said; 'I've +done my best, and mustn't shirk the consequence.' +</P> + +<P> +He took hold of Betty's hand, and led her to the stables; twice he +cleared his throat, as if about to speak, and then at the door, keeping +one hand on the latch, he put his other one under Betty's little chin +and raised her face. +</P> + +<P> +'You'll be a brave, good little maid, won't you?' he said, 'and you'll +bear up, for 'tis better for the little dog than to live in suffering.' +</P> + +<P> +He opened the door, and Betty, not in the slightest understanding his +words, pushed her way breathlessly in. +</P> + +<P> +There in his basket, cold and stiff, lay poor little Prince! For one +minute Betty thought he was asleep, and then the awful truth dawned +upon her. With her blue eyes dilating with horror, she turned and +faced the old farmer, and every vestige of colour left her cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +'He's not dead!' she cried. 'Wake him up, Mr. Giles; he shan't be +dead!' +</P> + +<P> +'My little maid, I'm dreadful sorry for you; but 'tis better so; and +his neck were near bitten through; he couldn't have lived long in any +case.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty flung herself on the floor with such a sharp wail of despair that +Farmer Giles felt a lump rising in his throat He knew there could be +no comfort yet for the broken-hearted child; that she must go through +her trouble alone—words at such a time were useless; and after +watching her for some minutes, he slipped away to fetch nurse to bring +her in. +</P> + +<P> +And Betty lay with her arms round Prince's basket, sobbing her very +heart out, and feeling as if light and joy and gladness had gone out of +her life for ever! When nurse came in a little later, and put a gentle +hand on the little crouching figure, Betty turned round, furious in her +grief. +</P> + +<P> +'Go away, I shan't leave Prince; I wish I could die! Oh, nurse, +nurse!' and a fresh burst of sobs shook her; 'tell me he isn't dead; +tell me he isn't!' +</P> + +<P> +Nurse tried in vain to pacify her; Betty was too over-wrought to +listen. One thing she stedfastly refused to do, and that was to leave +her dog, and nurse finally had to take her up in her arms by force, and +carry her, shrieking and struggling, to the house. Poor little Betty +did not prove herself a heroine; but nurse made allowance for her, and +was unusually patient and tender. +</P> + +<P> +'It's like a bit of her life gone,' she confided to Mrs. Giles. 'I +always think it a pity when children get so wrapped up with their pets, +but Miss Betty never does anything by halves.' +</P> + +<P> +All that hot afternoon Betty lay on her bed in the nursery. Nurse +could not tempt her to eat any dinner; and when the first paroxysm of +grief was over, she lay there, white and silent, with little clenched +hands, and now and then a quick-drawn sob escaping her. +</P> + +<P> +Nurse was relieved and thankful when, going in quietly shortly before +tea-time, she found her fast asleep, utterly worn out by her trouble. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Comforted +</H3> + +<P> +Betty did not wake before the children's bedtime, and nurse did not +disturb her; she trusted that a long night's rest would do her good. +</P> + +<P> +But early the next morning the awakening came, and with it an undefined +sense of misery. The little hand was at once put out for Prince's +basket. +</P> + +<P> +'Prince, wake up, darling!' +</P> + +<P> +There was no basket! What had happened? Was it all an ugly dream? +But where was Prince? +</P> + +<P> +And then Molly woke by feeling a tugging at her bedclothes, and there +was Betty, with round frightened eyes, standing over her. +</P> + +<P> +'Molly, Molly, wake up; tell me it is only a dream! Where is Prince?' +</P> + +<P> +Molly sat up, rubbed her eyes, and tried to recover her lost senses; +then she looked sorrowfully at her little sister. +</P> + +<P> +'Don't you remember, Betty? You get into bed with me, and I'll tell +you again. Nurse told us all about it; and me and Douglas are +dreadfully sorry too!' +</P> + +<P> +Betty crept into Molly's bed, with much heart-sinking; the bad dream +was truth then, and Prince was dead! +</P> + +<P> +'Douglas and I went to see him in the stable,' Molly continued in a +whisper. 'Farmer Giles said he saved your life; so he was quite a +hero, Betty. Don't you think he ought to have a tombstone telling +about it? Douglas wondered if you would go into mourning for him; but +I don't think people wear black for dogs, do they?' +</P> + +<P> +'He saved my life,' murmured Betty; 'oh, why did he? I wish I'd died +instead; if Prince is dead, I can't live!' And then, with a fresh +burst of tears, she sobbed, 'And I shall be the odd one again! I shall +always be left out! and I shan't be in a couple any more! And, oh! I +must see Prince again; dear darling Prince, he was the only friend I've +ever had.' Then, drying her tears, she sat up. 'I'm going to the +stable to look at him once again, Molly. I must give him a real +good-bye kiss; I couldn't yesterday.' +</P> + +<P> +'But he's buried,' Molly put in quickly. 'After tea last night we had +his funeral. Farmer Giles dug a grave for him under our nice old apple +tree in the orchard, he said it was best to get him out of your sight.' +</P> + +<P> +This was a terrible blow to Betty. 'I think I might have been at his +funeral; he was my dog, and you and Douglas didn't care for him a bit! +Farmer Giles is a horrid man! But, oh dear, oh dear, I don't care for +anything now he's dead!' +</P> + +<P> +And the curly head sank back on the pillow; and, like Ahab of old, +Betty turned her face to the wall and refused to be comforted. +</P> + +<P> +For the next few days Betty gave nurse much anxiety; she crept about +with a white face and flagging footsteps, refused to play with the +other children, and spent most of her time sitting by Prince's grave. +She had no appetite, and had restless, wakeful nights. +</P> + +<P> +'Fretting herself ill over it,' was Mrs. Giles's comment; 'she'll be +better when she gets back to London.' +</P> + +<P> +Nesta Fairfax came down to see her little favourite, and Betty shed +many tears on her knee. +</P> + +<P> +'It's no good; I shall never, never be happy again! No one cares for +me like Prince; and now he's dead I've no friend left!' +</P> + +<P> +'You have a good many friends, Betty. Listen, darling; when I'm +married I'm going to live in London, and you shall come and stay with +me sometimes, if your mother will allow it.' +</P> + +<P> +'When are you going to be married?' +</P> + +<P> +'Soon; but we shall have a very quiet wedding, or I would have you as a +little bridesmaid.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty shook her curly head mournfully. 'It's no good, my heart is +broken; and I don't want to stay with anybody or do anything.' +</P> + +<P> +She had the same answer to any one who tried to comfort her. And then +one afternoon Mr. Russell appeared on the scene. When he heard from +nurse how matters lay, he proposed that Betty should come and stay with +him for a week. 'It is change of scene and atmosphere that she wants. +Let me take her back with me at once; my housekeeper will take good +care of her.' And this was managed, and Betty walked away with him +quietly and contentedly. +</P> + +<P> +She was certainly happier roaming through his big house than she had +been at the farm; but there seemed to be some extra weight on her mind +that she would not reveal, and it was not until the first Sunday after +her arrival there that he discovered the cause. +</P> + +<P> +They had been to church together, had waited until the congregation had +dispersed, and stood by Violet's monument. Betty had placed some fresh +roses on it, and as they were leaving the church she said, looking back +wistfully,— +</P> + +<P> +'I wish Prince had been buried in church; no one cares about his grave! +I put flowers on it, but the chickens run through the orchard and +scratch them off; and one day the horrid black pig was grunting with +his nose, and making a great hole in it! I wish he could have a +tombstone; no one cares a bit, and they almost laugh if I say anything +about it.' +</P> + +<P> +'Is that what is troubling you?' asked Mr. Russell kindly. +</P> + +<P> +'That's one of the things, but not the big thing.' +</P> + +<P> +'And what is the big thing?' +</P> + +<P> +Betty was silent; then she said, 'I'll tell it to you—p'raps this +afternoon.' +</P> + +<P> +They went back to luncheon, and then Mr. Russell took his seat in the +shady verandah that ran round the house. It was a still, warm +afternoon. Betty got a stool, and sitting down on it rested her head +against the knee of her friend. Outside the bees were humming round +the roses and amongst the bright flower-beds on the lawn; the birds +were twittering in the old beeches close by; but over the whole scene +hung a Sabbath peace and repose. +</P> + +<P> +The child looked away to the soft distant hills and the deep blue sky. +</P> + +<P> +'Shall I tell you what I promised?' she asked at last, bringing her sad +little eyes to Mr. Russell's face. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Russell nodded, and clutching rather nervously at his hand, Betty +said a little hurriedly, 'Prince has always been so good, and I've +talked so much to him of heaven, and he seemed to like it, and I—well, +I tried to teach him his prayers, and I've prayed to God for him every +night, that I thought he would be sure to go to heaven, don't you think +so? But I was reading Revelation, and I was thinking how perhaps he +might be able to sing in heaven, perhaps God would give him a proper +voice—for Mrs. Giles told me she had a little deaf and dumb brother +once who died, and she said he would be given a voice when he got +there; and then I read in the last chapter—oh, I can't tell you!' +</P> + +<P> +Down dropped the little head, and a burst of tears came. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Russell did not speak; he got up and went inside the house to get a +Bible. Coming back, he spread it open on his knee and scanned the +chapter through. +</P> + +<P> +'Well,' he said at length, 'I don't see your trouble, Betty.' +</P> + +<P> +'It says,' sobbed the child, 'that dogs will be outside heaven with all +the wicked persons and all the liars! Prince was never wicked, and +never, never told a lie. I can't make it out, it's so dreadful!' +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Russell almost smiled, but his tone was as grave as usual when he +put his arm round Betty, saying, 'But, my dear child, that is not the +meaning of the verse. How can I explain it to you? Let me try: the +term dog was used by the Jews to express anything unclean, despicable; +the Palestine dogs were wild, savage animals, despised and scouted by +every one; and so people who led wicked lives, without any right +feeling or principle, are compared to dogs.' +</P> + +<P> +'Then it doesn't mean Prince? He may be in heaven after all? Oh, I +wish I had asked some one about it, but I was afraid! Miss Fairfax +said once he had no soul; but then I've asked God to give him one, and +God can do anything, can't He? Do you think he is in heaven? Oh, Mr. +Russell, he must be somewhere!' +</P> + +<P> +The piteous tone went right to Mr. Russell's heart. He leant forward +and lifted Betty on his knee. +</P> + +<P> +'Betty, do you love God?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes.' +</P> + +<P> +'Very much?' +</P> + +<P> +'I think I do, and I feel He loves me.' +</P> + +<P> +'I think you do too, for you have often talked to me about Him, and you +have taught me to love Him too, Betty. Now you must trust God about +Prince. I can't give you a text in the Bible to tell you Prince is in +heaven, but God knows all about your little sorrowful heart. You tell +him all about it, and be at rest. There are times when we go through +life that we must do this, yes, grown-up men and women, Betty, when +they cannot see, and struggle to understand and penetrate the unseen, +are brought down under God's hand. And He says to us, "I have done +this: now is the time to trust Me." "Be still, and know that I am +God." I have had to learn this lesson, and at times my heart has been +hard and bitter. But there, why am I talking like this to you? You +will not understand.' +</P> + +<P> +'I like it,' said Betty, lying back in his arms, and looking out into +the sunny garden. 'And I may think what I like about Prince now, +mayn't I? I'm quite, quite sure God loves him. God loves everybody, +even the wickedest sinners, and Prince wasn't a wicked dog at all.' +</P> + +<P> +There was silence, which Betty broke at last. +</P> + +<P> +'I like being here with you, because you talk to me so differently, and +I feel so dreadfully alone at the farm. Nurse said you were a single +gentleman, and your servants couldn't have much to do. I must be a +single child, I feel! And they all say such stupid things to comfort +me. Nurse said he would have had to die some time, and perhaps if I +had taken him back to London he would have got run over, and Douglas +said I must pretend I never had a dog called Prince; and Molly told me +that Douglas will soon be going to school, and then she and I will be a +couple; and Mrs. Giles said if Prince hadn't died he would have gone +raving mad and bitten all of us, and made us raving mad too, and we +would have all been shot, and we must be thankful; and Reuben, the old +grave man, asked me if I didn't thank God that the mad dog didn't bite +me; and old Jenny said perhaps I was making an idol of Prince, and so +he was taken away. How could I make an idol of him? I wouldn't say my +prayers to him instead of God! You wouldn't be comforted to have those +things said to you, would you?' +</P> + +<P> +'No, I don't think I should,' said Mr. Russell, smiling. +</P> + +<P> +'Mrs. Fairfax wanted to give me another dog, a little puppy; but I +couldn't, I couldn't have another dog when Prince is dead! You +couldn't have another Violet, could you? I think you and I understand, +because we've now both had some one dead belonging to us.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty's week lengthened into three. Mr. Russell seemed loth to part +with her, and her subdued spirits and pathetic grief touched him +greatly. But the visit came to an end at last, and about four o'clock +one bright afternoon the dog-cart was driven round to take her home, +'You shall come and see me again, Betty,' said Mr. Russell brightly, +'and I shall come and see you when I am in London. I used to be at +Eton with your father, and shall like to renew his acquaintance. And +next spring you ask your mother to take you to the Royal Academy, where +all the pictures are. I think you will see a white statue of a little +girl asleep on a log of wood, and a——' He stopped. +</P> + +<P> +'And Prince,' put in Betty sadly. 'I shan't bear to look at him; and +yet I should like to. I don't mind going back to London; I thought I +could never be so happy anywhere as in the country, but I've been +miserabler than I ever was in London. I shall be miserable now for +ever and ever!' +</P> + +<P> +'Betty,' said Mr. Russell suddenly, as they were driving through the +sweet-scented lanes towards the farm-house, 'do you remember the text +you said to me when I first saw you in the church, and you were putting +forget-me-nots on my darling's tomb?' +</P> + +<P> +'I expect it was my tribulation text,' said Betty musingly. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, it was. You told me you were unhappy because you had not been +through tribulation, and a short time ago you told me that you were +asking God to send you tribulation, and that you were hoping to get it +soon.' +</P> + +<P> +'And you told me the same as everybody else—that I didn't know what I +was wishing for. But I did, and I expect God will answer it; for old +Jenny said I should come through it, and perhaps I wouldn't have to +wait till I grew up.' +</P> + +<P> +'I think,' said Mr. Russell slowly, as he looked down at the wistful +little face, 'that God has been answering your prayer already.' +</P> + +<P> +Betty looked up breathlessly. 'How?' +</P> + +<P> +'I think He has sent you a little bit of tribulation to see if you can +bear it, and if you will be a good, patient child over it, and not keep +saying you will never be happy again.' +</P> + +<P> +Such a flash of light came across Betty's face, and into her big blue +eyes. +</P> + +<P> +'Do you really think God has taken away Prince to give me tribulation? +Oh! Mr. Russell, is it true, could it be? Is this coming through +tribulation?' +</P> + +<P> +Her whole face was quivering with intense feeling. +</P> + +<P> +'I think it is as big a trouble as a little child like you can be +called upon to bear,' said Mr. Russell, drawing her close to him; 'and +I think God has sent it to you for some good purpose.' +</P> + +<P> +A long-drawn sigh came from the child, and not another word did she +say; but when nurse and the other children came out to welcome her +back, they were all surprised to see the radiant, happy look upon her +face, and nurse inwardly congratulated herself upon the good her visit +had done her. Mr. Russell received a fervent kiss and hug on +departing, and Betty came back to her own circle again. +</P> + +<P> +But a glad surprise awaited her. Douglas and Molly were full of a +suppressed mystery all tea-time; and, when it was over, they +impatiently begged her to come to the orchard. She accompanied them +willingly, but gave a cry of delight and astonishment when she reached +the old apple tree. There was a neat little iron railing surrounding +poor Prince's grave; above it was a stone pedestal, and upon this was +lying the stone figure of Prince himself, the facsimile of the portrait +of him lying at Betty's feet when she was fast asleep in the cornfield. +Below in gold letters was written:— +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +'To THE MEMORY OF PRINCE, +<BR> +<I>Who gave his life for his mistress, 11th August, 18—.</I>' +</H3> + +<BR> + +<P> +'Mr. Russell had it put up,' said Molly; 'he has come over several +times about it, and he said he wanted it to be kept quite a secret till +you came back. Isn't it lovely?' +</P> + +<P> +But Betty had no voice to answer; tears were flowing freely, and when +Douglas and Molly tried to comfort her, she assured them it was only +because she was so happy. They left her there shortly after, and she +stood silent for some time; then her little face shone again with a +soft radiance, and kneeling down on the green grass, with closed eyes, +she bent her curly head, and these were the words she uttered,— +</P> + +<P> +'O God, I thank You for answering my prayer, and sending me +tribulation. I thank You that I'm in the text at last!' +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +THE END. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Odd, by Amy Le Feuvre + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ODD *** + +***** This file should be named 22291-h.htm or 22291-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/2/9/22291/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Odd + +Author: Amy Le Feuvre + +Release Date: August 10, 2007 [EBook #22291] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ODD *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: Betty came to a standstill, and Prince likewise, the +latter putting his tongue out and looking up inquiringly, as he panted +for breath.] + + + + +ODD + + +By + +Amy Le Feuvre + + + + +The Religious Tract Society + +4 Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4 + +1919 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I + CAGED BIRDS + +CHAPTER II + 'MOTHER NATURE' + +CHAPTER III + WAS IT AN ANGEL? + +CHAPTER IV + ADVENTURES + +CHAPTER V + PRINCE + +CHAPTER VI + MADE INTO A COUPLE + +CHAPTER VII + HAYMAKING + +CHAPTER VIII + GOD'S PATCHWORK + +CHAPTER IX + BETTY'S DISCOVERY + +CHAPTER X + A LITTLE MESSENGER + +CHAPTER XI + A DARING FEAT + +CHAPTER XII + UNCLE HARRY'S FRIEND + +CHAPTER XIII + 'WHEN WE TWO MET' + +CHAPTER XIV + A HERO'S DEATH + +CHAPTER XV + COMFORTED + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Caged Birds + +It was just four o'clock on a dull grey winter afternoon. The little +Stuarts' nursery looked the picture of cosiness and comfort with the +blazing fire that threw flickering lights over the bright-coloured +pictures on the walls, the warm carpet under foot, and the fair fresh +faces of the children gathered there. + +Five of them there were, and they were alone, for the old nurse who had +brought them all up from their infancy was at present absent from the +room. + +By one of the large square windows stood one of the little girls; she +was gazing steadily out into the fast darkening street below, her chin +resting on one of the bars that were fastened across the lower part of +the window. How the children disliked those bars! Marks of little +teeth were plainly discernible along them, and no prisoners could have +tried more perseveringly to shake them from their sockets than they +did. Betty, who stood there now, had received great applause one +afternoon when, after sundry twists and turns, she had successfully +thrust her little dark curly head through, and was able to have a +delightfully clear view of all the passers-by. + +But the sequel was not so pleasant, for somehow or other Betty's head +would not come in so easily as it went out, and when nurse came to the +rescue with an angry hand, the poor little head was very much bruised +in consequence, and Betty's reward for such dexterity was an aching +head and dry bread for tea. She was a slight, slim little figure, with +big blue eyes, and long, black curved lashes and eyebrows, which made +her eyes the most beautiful feature in her face. Very soft, fine curly +hair surrounded a rather pathetic-looking little face; but her +movements were like quicksilver, and though all the little Stuarts were +noted for their mischievous ways and daring escapades, Betty eclipsed +them all. + +She turned from the window soon with a sigh of relief. + +'He's coming,' she said, 'old Bags is coming, and it's my turn to-day.' + +There was no response. Bobby and Billy, the twins, little lads only +just promoted from petticoats to knickerbockers, were deeply engrossed +in one corner of the room over their bricks. Perched on the top of a +low chest of drawers were Douglas and Molly, and their heads were in +that close proximity that told that secret business was going on. + +Betty's heart sank a little. + +'Old Bags is coming,' she repeated; 'don't you hear his bell?' + +'We're busy,' said Douglas, looking up; 'we won't have Bags' story +to-day.' + +'You promised yesterday when you put it off that you would hear it +to-day. It isn't fair. I always listen to you.' + +'Tell it to the babies; they'll like to hear.' + +This was adding insult to injury, and when the twins trotted up to the +window Betty turned a defiant back upon them, tears of disappointment +dimming the blue eyes. + +'She's cwying,' announced Bobby, twisting his head round to look up +into her face. + +Betty turned round furiously; a sharp push sent Bobby to the ground, +and in falling he struck his head against one of the feet of the +nursery table. There was a howl, general confusion, and nurse +appeared, to discover and chastise the offender. Betty was led off in +disgrace to a little room on the nursery landing, known by the children +as 'Cells.' Their uncle, a young captain in the Guards, had given it +that name, but in reality it was nurse's storeroom, and was heated with +hot pipes, to air the linen kept there. It was a small, square room, +containing a table and one chair; the window was high above the +children's reach, and locked cupboards were on every side. Nurse +invariably used it for punishing small offences, and being a woman of +stern principles, she generally set the little culprit a text to learn +whilst there. A Bible was on the table, and Betty was led up to it. + +'You will stay here till tea-time, and will not come out until you have +learnt a text, and said you are sorry for knocking down your little +brother in a fit of wicked temper. This is the fourth time I have had +to bring you here this week, and it is now only Tuesday. I have more +trouble with you than all the others put together, and you ought to be +ashamed of yourself.' + +Betty was sobbing bitterly, and when nurse left the room and turned the +key behind her, the child flung herself down on the floor. + +'It's a shame! It's all Douglas and Molly: they make promises and +don't keep them; and it was ever so much nicer a story than Molly's. I +know they'd have liked it if they'd heard it; they never think I can do +anything!' + +To explain the cause of Betty's grievance, I must tell you that it was +a custom of the little Stuarts to await the muffin man's approach on +his rounds, and as his bell would sound, they would take it in turns +each day to relate to the others an account of the different houses he +had gone to, and who had been the fortunate individuals to receive the +muffins that had already disappeared from his tray. It was an idle +hour in the nursery from four to five, and if the gathering dusk kept +the active eyes still, the fertile brains were brought into +requisition. Telling stories was a constant delight, and the wonderful +adventures that befell the muffins on their daily rounds kept the +little gathering quiet and happy till tea appeared. + +Betty's stories were not inferior to her elders, and it was her +childish sense of justice and consideration that was outraged. But +tears will come to an end, and soon the little maiden was perched up at +the table to learn the task before her. She turned over the pages till +she reached Revelation, that mysterious and mystical book that so +fascinates and contents a child's soul, though the wisest on earth read +it with perplexity and awe. And after a moment or two Betty had found +a text to learn, and when nurse appeared later on she repeated +unfalteringly with shining eyes and with a note of triumph in her tone +'And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are +they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, +and made them white in the blood of the Lamb' (Rev. vii. 14). + +'That's a good child; are you sorry?' + +'Yes,' was the reply, rather absently given, for Betty's mind was on +the white-robed throng; and how could she let nurse know all the +workings of her busy brain over the verse she had been taking into her +heart and soul? + +'And remember,' said nurse gravely, 'that no naughty children who +quarrel and fight will ever be in heaven.' + +'Not even if they've been through great tribulation?' quickly demanded +Betty. + +But nurse did not hear, and Betty was received into the well-lighted +nursery with acclamation from the others, already seated at the round +table for tea. + +'We've made a new game, Molly and I,' announced Douglas. + +He was a fair, curly-headed boy with an innocent baby face, and a +talent for inventing the most mischievous plans that could ever be +concocted, with a will that made all the others bow before him. Molly +was also fair, with long golden hair that reached to her waist; extreme +self-possession and absence of all shyness were perhaps her chief +characteristics. 'I am the eldest of the family,' she was fond of +asserting, and she certainly claimed the eldest's privileges. Yet her +temper was sweet and obliging, and she could easily be swayed and led +by those around her. + +'Is it one for outdoors or indoors?' asked Betty with interest. + +'Indoors, of course; we'll tell you after tea.' + +'Your mother wants you in the drawing-room after ten,' put in nurse; +'you and Miss Molly are to go down.' + +Molly looked pleased, not so Douglas. At last, putting down his piece +of bread and butter, he looked up into nurse's face with one of his +sweetest looks. + +'Why are grown-up people so very dull, nurse? They all are just the +same, except Uncle Harry. They are dreadfully heavy and dull.' + +'They have so little to amuse them,' Molly said reflectively: 'no games +or toys; they never make believe, or pretend the lovely things we do.' + +'And their legs get stiff, and their dresses trip them up if they try +to run.' + +'But they never get punished, and they're never scolded, and they're +never wicked.' + +This from Betty. + +'It's their talk that is so stupid,' went on Douglas; 'they look nice +until they begin to talk; they make me dreadfully sleepy to listen to +them.' + +'Shall I go down instead of you to-night?' asked Betty eagerly. + +'Don't chatter such nonsense; it's strange times when children begin to +pick their elders to pieces. You weren't asked for, Miss Betty; and +Master Douglas is to go down and behave himself.' + +'The three B's aren't big enough yet to leave the nursery.' + +Douglas said this with a sparkle of mischief in his eye. It was a sore +point with Betty to be ranked with the twins, for she was only a year +behind Douglas. Long ago he had seized hold of a laughing joke of his +father's, alluding to the names by which the three youngest children +were called, and had twitted her with it ever since. + +'B for Baby--Baby Betty, Baby Bobby, and Baby Billy; babies must go to +bed,' he explained. + +Betty gave an angry kick under the table, but did not speak. + +She was very silent for the rest of that evening; but when she and +Molly were safely in bed, and the room was very quiet, she asked,-- + +'Molly, do you know what tribulation means?' + +'I'm not sure that I do,' was the hesitating reply; 'I think it's +something dreadful. Why do you want to know?' + +'Is it like the dark valley Christian went through in the _Pilgrim's +Progress_, or the goblin's cave we make up about?' + +'I expect it is something like. Why?' + +'It's on the way to heaven,' whispered Betty, in an awestruck tone; +'the Bible says so.' + +There was silence, then Molly said,-- + +'There's a book in father's library will tell you about it. It tells +the meaning of every word; father said so. A dick something it is.' + +'I'll ask Mr. Roper to get it for me.' + +And Betty turned over on her pillow comforted by this thought, and fell +fast asleep. + +Mr. Stuart was a Member of Parliament, and being a man who threw his +whole soul into everything he did, was too much engrossed with business +when in town to have much to do with his children. He spent a great +part of his day in the library with his secretary, a quiet young +fellow, who was looked upon by the children as an embodiment of wisdom +and learning. Mrs. Stuart saw as little of her children as her +husband; her time was fully occupied in attending committee meetings, +opening bazaars, and superintending numerous pet projects for ennobling +and raising the standard of social morality amongst the masses. She +was not an indifferent mother; she was only an active, busy woman, who, +after carefully selecting a thoroughly good and trustworthy woman as +her nurse, left the children's training with perfect confidence to her. +And between her social and charitable claims there was not much time +for having her little ones about her. A young governess came every day +for two hours to teach the three eldest ones, but their life was +essentially a nursery one. And when the House was closed, and the +husband and wife would go off to the Continent or to the Highlands, the +children would be sent to a quiet seaside town with their nurse and the +nursery maid. + +The following afternoon a little figure stole quietly down to the +library door. Betty knew her father was out, and Mr. Roper never +repulsed any of the children. After a timid knock she passed in, and +made a little picture as she stood in the firelight, in her brown +velveteen frock and large white-frilled pinafore. + +'Well,' said Mr. Roper, wheeling round from his writing-desk, 'what do +you want, Betty?' + +'I want one of father's books,' the child said earnestly, 'one that +Dick Somebody wrote--a book that tells the meaning of everything.' + +'I wish there was such a one in existence,' said the young man, smiling +a little sadly. 'Now what is in your little head, I wonder?' + +'It's a word I want to find, please.' + +'Oh, a word! Bless the child, she means a dictionary!' and Mr. Roper +laughed as he drew a fat volume out of a shelf, and placed it on a +table by the little girl. + +'May I help you to find it?' + +'It's tribulation. I don't know how it's spelt.' + +He did not ask questions; that was one thing that attracted Betty +towards him. She was a curious mixture of frankness and reserve. She +would confide freely of her own free will, but if pressed by questions +would relapse at once into silence. He found the word for her, and she +read with difficulty, 'Trouble, distress, great affliction.' + +'Do they all mean tribulation?' she asked. + +'Tribulation means all of them,' was the answer. + +'And can children have tribulation, Mr. Roper?' + +'What do you think?' + +'I must have it if I'm to get to heaven,' she said emphatically; and +then she left him, and the young man repeated her words to himself with +a sigh and a smile, as he replaced the book in its resting-place. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +'Mother Nature' + +A few evenings after this, as nurse was undressing the little girls for +bed, Mrs. Stuart came into the nursery. She was going out to dinner, +and looked very beautiful in her soft satin dress and pearls. She was +tall and stately, with the same golden hair as Molly, but her face was +somewhat cold in expression. + +Sitting down in an easy chair by the fire she asked,-- + +'What is the matter with Betty? is she in disgrace again?' + +Betty was standing in her long nightdress at the foot of her small bed; +her hands were clenched, and there was a resolute, determined look upon +her flushed face. + +'One of her obstinate fits,' said nurse angrily; 'she generally goes to +bed before Miss Molly, and because I have let her stay up a little +later to-night she is as contrary as she can be! I can do nothing with +her, a good whipping is what she wants!' + +Betty's blue eyes wandered from nurse's face to her mother's, as if +seeking consolation there; her hands relaxed, and a slight quiver came +to the little lips. + +'Are you going to a party, mother? may I come and kiss you?' + +It was Molly who spoke. She was in the act of scrambling into bed, but +upon receiving permission she made her way, a little shyly, across to +where her mother was seated. + +'Now keep your hands off my dress,' Mrs. Stuart said with a smile; but +she put her arm round the little figure and kissed her, and sent her +back to bed perfectly happy. All the children adored their mother, +though it was adoration at a distance. + +'Now come here, Betty; what have you been doing? How is it that I +never visit the nursery without hearing complaints of your naughtiness?' + +'I'm going to be good now,' said Betty, hanging her head, and coming +slowly forward into the firelight. + +'She has refused to say her prayers,' said nurse sternly. + +'I will say them now'; and Betty raised her eyes to her mother somewhat +wistfully. + +'Why did you refuse to say them when nurse told you to?' + +'Because Molly was saying her prayers.' + +'Well, what had that to do with it?' + +Betty did not answer. + +'Answer me.' + +The child looked round; nurse had left the room. She worked her little +foot backwards and forwards in the long-haired rug rather nervously, +and then, almost in a whisper, said,-- + +'God couldn't listen to both of us, and I wanted Him to listen to me.' + +Mrs. Stuart gazed perplexedly at her little daughter, then laughed. + +'You are a little goose! Go and say your prayers at once, and get into +bed. I have come here to talk to nurse.' + +Betty crept away. Her mother's amused laugh had hurt her more than +nurse's scoldings. It was hard to have one's secret feelings brought +to light and scoffed at, and her sensitive little soul felt this, +though in a dim, uncertain way. + +'I want to have God all to myself,' was her thought, as a few minutes +later she laid her little head down on the pillow; 'I wonder if I'm +very wicked. I won't say my prayers if He is not listening.' + +'Now, nurse,' said Mrs. Stuart, as that worthy reappeared, 'I want to +talk to you. Your master and I are going abroad after Easter; he is +not well, and the doctors have ordered him away. I want to send you +and the children into the country for the summer. I don't fancy them +being at the seaside all that time. You were telling me some time ago +of your old home; isn't it a brother of yours who has the farm? Yes? +Well, do you think they have room to take you all in?' + +Nurse's face glowed with pleasure. + +'He has no chick or child, ma'am, and the house is large and roomy; his +wife was saying in a letter to me they should like lodgers in the +summer. I'm sure it would please them to take us in; and the country +round there is wonderfully healthy.' + +'I think that would answer very well,' Mrs. Stuart went on +thoughtfully; 'we may be away six months: and the children are looking +pale, a country life will do them all the good in the world. Let them +run wild, nurse, they will come back to their lessons all the better +for it. Miss Grant told me this morning she would have to give up +teaching--her mother is very ill--so, all things combined, I think this +plan will work well. Will you write to your brother and find out if he +can take you in the last week in April? Let me know when you have +heard from him.' + +Mrs. Stuart rose as she spoke; her visits were never long, and nurse +left the room with her. + +'Betty,' said Molly, in an eager tone, 'did you hear? We're going into +the country.' + +'I heard; and no lessons, and we're to run wild; how lovely!' Betty's +curly head bobbed up and down in excitement, then she said +persuasively, 'Molly, let you and me keep it a secret together; we +won't tell Douglas or the twins.' + +This required consideration. Molly sat up in bed and looked thoughtful. + +'I never do have a secret with you,' pleaded Betty. 'You and Douglas +have lots; I never have any one to have secrets with.' + +'Well, I'll see,' and there was a little of the elder sister in Molly's +tone. 'I'll tell you to-morrow morning. Oh, it will be jolly in the +country, won't it? And nurse's home that she tells us about is like +our story-books: it's full of calves, and lambs, and horses, and ducks, +and chickens, and haymaking, and pigs!' + +'And ponds, and apple orchards, and we shall have cream, and honey, and +strawberries every day!' continued Betty. + +The little girls' voices were raised in their excitement, and they did +not notice a door at the end of the room slowly open. + +'What a row! Are you telling stories?' + +It was Douglas, who slept in a little room off the nursery, and who had +been roused by the sound of talking. + +'Hush! nurse will hear. Come and sit on my bed,' said Molly, 'and then +you will hear all about it.' + +'Oh, Molly, it was to be our secret!' + +'Douglas won't tell. Besides, nurse is sure to tell us; she knew we +were awake and listening.' + +Betty gave a little sigh, then joined eagerly in giving her brother the +delightful information. + +He listened, rumpling up his fair curls, and blinking his blue eyes, +which were already heavy with sleep. + +'Easter is years off,' he said at last. 'Why, we are still in winter. +I daresay we shan't go, after all.' + +'We are in February now,' said Molly, looking a little disappointed at +the calm way he received such rapturous news. + +'If I go,' Douglas went on meditatively, 'I shall ask father to let me +have a gun, and I shall shoot rabbits and birds every day.' + +'Then you'd be a wicked, cruel boy!' pronounced Betty indignantly. 'I +shall catch all the rabbits I can see and tame them.' + +'Then I shall let them loose again,' retorted Douglas; and taking up +Molly's pillow, he flung it with all his strength at Betty, who +instantly returned it, and a pillow fight commenced. Molly joined +delightedly in the fray; but, alas! in the height of the excitement, +Betty backed into a can of water put ready for their morning bath. +Over she went, head first, on the floor, and the whole contents of the +can flooded her and the carpet together. Douglas precipitately fled +into his little room, and Molly into her bed, so that when nurse came +hastily in Betty again was discovered as chief offender. Whilst she +was being hustled into a dry nightdress nurse relieved her vexed +feelings by giving her a good scolding, and Betty eventually crept into +bed wondering if she was really the 'wickedest, mischievousest child on +earth,' or if grown-up people sometimes made mistakes. + +For the next few days nothing was talked of but the proposed country +visit; but as weeks went on, and spring seemed still as far away, the +children's excitement subsided, and the ordinary routine of lessons, +walks, and play engrossed their whole attention. + +But Easter came at last, and then packing-up began. Miss Grant took +her departure, and poor Sophy, the nursery maid, had her hands full +enough, for nurse's command was to keep the children quiet, and not let +them come near her when packing. + +Mr. Roper was leaving the library one afternoon about four o'clock, +when he saw the disconsolate little figure of Betty seated on the +stairs. + +'Anything the matter?' he asked good-naturedly. + +'We're going away to-morrow,' was the reply, 'and it is all topsy-turvy +upstairs. Douglas and Molly have been lions for hours, and Bobby and +Billy two monkeys, and I've been the man. I'm tired of being him, and +they won't let me change. I've broken a jug and basin, and nearly +pulled a cupboard over, and spilt a bottle of cod-liver oil all over +Billy's hair, and upset nurse's work-basket, and then I ran away and +hid, and came down here. You don't know how tiring it is to be hunted +by four animals all at once.' + +Mr. Roper sat down on the stairs by her and laughed heartily. 'Poor +little hunter!' he said, 'and how does nurse bear all this raging storm +around her?' + +'Oh, nurse is with mother, in the night nursery. Sophy is running +after all of us. I don't know who she pretends to be, but when I left +her she was sitting on the floor wiping Billy's hair and crying.' + +Betty's tone and face were grave, and Mr. Roper stopped laughing. +'Have you been thinking over tribulation any more?' he asked. + +Betty nodded. + +'A lot,' she said emphatically, then shut up her little lips tightly; +and Mr. Roper knew he was to be told no more. + +'Are you going into the country, Mr. Roper?' he was asked presently. + +'No, indeed. I am not rich enough to have such a holiday as is in +prospect for you. I wonder what you will do with yourselves all the +time? You must come back much the better and wiser, Betty, for it.' + +'Why?' + +'You will be six months older, and old Mother Nature is the best +governess for little ones like you. She will teach you many a lesson, +if you keep your eyes and ears open.' + +Betty's eyes were very wide open now. + +'Does she live at the farm? I never heard nurse speak of her. We +don't want another governess there. How do you know her?' + +'I knew her when I was a little boy, and loved her. I love her now, +but my work is in London, and I never get much chance of seeing her.' + +'She must be very old,' Betty said meditatively. + +'Very old; and yet every year she seems younger and more beautiful. +You will see her at her best, Betty. I shall expect you to come home +and tell me all about her.' + +'Shall I give her your love and a kiss when I see her?' + +'Yes,' said the young man, smiling down upon the earnest child beside +him. + +A rush of feet behind them, and Molly and Douglas came tearing +downstairs. + +'Here she is! Where have you been? Bobby has cut his head open, and +Sophy has rushed to nurse, and nurse is scolding away, so we came off. +Mr. Roper, do you know we're going away to-morrow?' + +'And will you come and see us one day, Mr. Roper?' + +'Mr. Roper, does every farmer in the country go about in his +night-shirt? Douglas says they do, and we have pictures of them.' + +'And are there stags and wild boar to hunt? Do tell us.' + +Mr. Roper made short work of these questions, and departed. He was a +reserved, reticent man, and did not understand the boisterous spirits +of the little Stuarts. Betty was his favourite; he was always ready +for a chat with her, but the others worried him. + +Nurse was very thankful when she got herself and her little charges all +comfortably settled in the railway carriage for Tiverstoke the next +day. Sophy was not going with them, but the longing to be in the old +home again quite compensated nurse for the additional labour and +responsibility she would have. + +The children had parted from their parents with great composure. Mrs. +Stuart had reiterated parting injunctions to nurse, and their father +had presented all five with a bright half-crown each, which gift +greatly added to their delight at going. + +'Not much affection in children's hearts,' said Mr. Stuart to his wife, +as he watched the beaming faces gathered round the cab window to wave +'good-bye.' + +'They will get through life the better for absence of sentiment and +demonstrativeness,' replied Mrs. Stuart; and perhaps those words were +an index to her character. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Was it an Angel? + +It was a lovely afternoon in May, a week after the children's arrival +at Brook Farm. They were together in the orchard, which was a mass of +pink and white bloom. Bobby and Billy were having a see-saw on a low +apple branch; Douglas was perched on a higher bough of a cherry tree, +and the little girls were lying on the ground. Tongues were busy, as +usual. + +'We've seen everything round the house,' Douglas was asserting in +rather a dictatorial tone; 'and now we must be busy having +adventures--people always do in the country.' + +'What kind?' asked Molly meekly. + +'They get tossed by bulls, or lost in the woods, or drowned in ponds,' +Douglas went on thoughtfully. + +'I'm not going to do any of those.' + +And Betty's tone was very determined. + +'What are you going to do, then?' + +'I shall be busy all by myself. I'm going out to look for some one.' + +'Who?' asked Molly curiously. + +'Some one Mr. Roper told me about. He sent his love to her and a kiss. +It's a secret between me and Mr. Roper, I shan't tell you any more.' + +And Betty rolled over in the grass with a delighted chuckle at the +puzzled faces round her. + +'It's only one of her make-ups,' Douglas said, recovering his +composure. 'Let me tell you of my plans. Do you see those thick trees +at the top of that hill? That's a real wood. Now, if nurse sends us +out tomorrow afternoon while she takes a nap, I'm going there, and you +girls must come after me.' + +'And us, too,' put in Bobby, listening attentively. + +'If you can walk so far, and don't go telling nurse about it.' + +'How far is it? Six miles?' asked Molly, who would have been willing +to walk ten, had her brother so ordained. + +'It is only through three fields, Sam told me.' + +Sam was one of the carters, who had already become one of Douglas's +greatest friends. + +'He be the pluckiest, knowingest little chap that ever oi see wi' such +a baby face!' was the carter's opinion of him. + +'If it's a very nice wood perhaps I'll come,' said Betty. + +'You must save something from dinner to take with us, for we will have +a feast when we get there.' + +This sounded delightful, and all spent the rest of the day in busy +confabulation as to how they could get there without being stopped by +any one, and what provisions they must take. + +But, alas! when the next day came, nurse announced her intention of +taking Douglas and Molly with her to tea with a friend, a little +distance off, and so the visit to the wood was postponed. + +Betty pleaded to be allowed to go with them, but nurse refused. + +'I can't have more than two; and I'm taking them more to keep them out +of mischief than anything. Mrs. Giles is going to look after the +little ones, so you must amuse yourself.' + +Betty felt rather disconsolate after they had gone. She wandered into +the farm kitchen, where Mrs. Giles, a good-natured, smiling woman, was +busy making bread. The twins were in a corner playing with some +kittens. Betty stood at the table watching. At last she looked up a +little shyly and said,-- + +'Mrs. Giles, do you know a very nice governess that lives here?' + +'A guviness, bless your little heart. There's Miss Tyler in the +village, two mile off--but I don't think much of her. She's too giddy +and smart, and the way she carries on with Dan Somers is the talk of +the place! Are you after having lessons then?' + +'Oh no, no, no!' cried Betty eagerly, 'that's why I don't talk about it +to any one; but I should like to see her, for I have a message to give +her. I don't think it can be Miss Tyler; Mother Nestor--I forget the +name, but something like Nestor or Nasher--Mr. Roper called her. She's +old and young together, and very pretty.' + +Mrs. Giles laughed. 'Old and young together! I know of nought like +that; when we gets old, youth don't stick to us. Do you think I answer +to that description, Miss Betty?' + +'I should say you were very old,' observed Betty reflectively, 'not a +bit young; but I think your red cheeks are very pretty.' + +Mrs. Giles laughed again, and Betty left the kitchen saying, 'I'll go +out of doors and look for her; perhaps she'll be coming along the road.' + +Into the bright sunshine she went, across a clover field, and out at a +gate into the white, dusty road. She trotted along, picking flowers by +the wayside, and peeping over hedges to look at the tiny lambs or young +foals and heifers sporting on the green grass. Everything was new and +delightful to her; the birds singing, the budding trees, the bright +blue sky, and sweet fresh air, all was filling her little heart with +content and happiness. Wandering on, she kept no reckoning of time or +distance, until she came to a church in the midst of green elms, and +rooks keeping up a perpetual chatteration on the topmost branches of +the trees. + +Betty was a little afraid of rooks; they were so big and strong and +black that she feared they would peck her legs; but she was very tired +and warm, and as the church-gate was open she thought she would venture +into the cool shade of the elms inside. Her little steps took her to +the church porch, and finding the door partly open, with a child's +curiosity, she pushed her way in, there to stand with admiring awe in +the cool, quiet atmosphere. It was a pretty old church, with stained +glass windows; and the sun streaming through sent flashing rays of red +and blue, golden and purple, across the old stone walls and oaken seats. + +Betty felt she was in another world at once, and the very novelty and +strangeness of her surroundings had a great charm for her. Slowly she +made her way round the church, looking at every tablet and monument, +and trying in vain to decipher the writing upon them. But one amongst +them brought her to a standstill: it was the figure of a little girl +sculptured in white marble, lying in a recumbent position; her hands +were crossed on her breast, with a lily placed between them, her eyes +were closed, and her hair curled over her brow and round her shoulders +in the most natural way. Just above her was a stained glass window--a +beautiful representation of the Saviour taking the children in His arms +and blessing them. Below the window was written in plain black +letters,-- + + +IN LOVING MEMORY OF VIOLET RUSSELL. + +Aged six years. + +'_Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not._' + + +Betty drew a deep breath; her thoughts were busy. She wished herself +that little girl lying so calm and beautiful, with the red and golden +rays slanting across her; and then looking up at the window, she wished +still more that she was one of those happy children in the Lord's arms. + +Looking up with tearful eyes, she clasped her hands, and let her +buttercups and bluebells fall to the ground unheeded. + +'O God, I will be good! I will be good!' + +Those were all the words uttered, but He who heard them looked down +into the overflowing heart, and knew all that lay behind them. + +Long the child stood there, and then with flagging footsteps made her +way down the aisle. + +'I'm very tired,' she murmured to herself; 'I'll just sit down inside +that pew.' + +And a moment after, curling herself up on the cushions, Betty went fast +asleep. + +She was dreaming soon of a wonderful white-robed throng; she saw the +little girl walk up with her white, still face to a golden throne, she +tried to follow, but could not manage to walk, and then the most +wonderful music began to sound; louder and clearer it came, until with +a start she opened her eyes and discovered where she was. Was it all a +dream? The music was still sounding in her ears, and sitting up she +peered over the edge of the high pew. There, seated at the organ, was +a lady, and she was pouring forth such a flood of melody and song that +it did indeed seem to the half-wakened child music straight from heaven. + +Betty listened breathlessly to the words--words that she knew now so +well, and that were ever in her thoughts: 'These are they which came +out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them +white in the blood of the Lamb.' + +It was a beautiful anthem, and a beautiful voice that was singing. +Betty had never heard such singing before. She gazed with open mouth +and eyes; the lady was rather a young one, she noticed, and when her +voice rose in triumph and the organ pealed out in accompaniment, Betty +saw that her uplifted eyes, shining as they were with such a glad light +behind them, were full of tears. + +'It's an angel,' she whispered to herself. And when at last the notes +died away, and there was stillness in the church, when she saw the +lady's face bowed in her hands, as if in prayer, Betty stole softly out +of the building, and retraced her steps along the road, sobbing as she +went. It had been too much for her excitable little brain; she always +had been passionately fond of music, but was more accustomed to the +street organs in London than to any other sort, and this was as great a +contrast to those as heaven is to earth. + +It was a long way back, but Betty did not feel it. Had God sent an +angel to sing to her? Was there a chance of her ever being amongst +that white-robed throng? If she could only go through tribulation! +Had the little girl lying so white and still gone through it? These +and other similar puzzling thoughts came crowding through her brain. + +She was very quiet when she reached the farm. They were just sitting +down to tea when she came in, and Mrs. Giles looked relieved when she +saw her. + +'We was wonderin' where you had got to,' she said. 'Ain't you tired? +You look quite beat.' + +'I've had a lovely afternoon,' was the child's answer, and the blue +eyes shone up at her questioner; but not a word more could be got from +her, though the little boys did their best to extract more information. + +The next day was a wet one, but the little Stuarts were never at a loss +for occupation, and when they were packed off into a large empty garret +for the whole afternoon their delight was unbounded. + +At last, tired out, their spirits began to flag, and after having +exhausted all their stock of games they flung themselves down on the +ground to rest. + +'I'll tell you a story,' said Betty suddenly. + +'All right, go on!' + +Betty sat up in a corner, and rested her back against the wall. She +clasped her small hands in front of her, and gazing dreamily up at an +old beam across the room, on which hung many a cobweb, she began,-- + +'It was a beautiful day in heaven----' + +'It's always a beautiful day there,' put in Douglas critically. + +'I never said it wasn't. You're not to interrupt me. It was a +beautiful day, the harps were playing and the angels singing, and one +angel looked as if she wanted something. So God asked her what was the +matter. + +'"Oh, please," she said, "I want to go down to earth to-day." + +'"What do you want to do there, O angel?" + +'"I want to play and sing to some children there." + +'Then God said she might go. So she flew down and changed her +clothes----' + +'What kind of clothes did she put on?' asked Molly eagerly. + +Betty considered a moment 'She put on a straw hat and a grey dress; she +took off her wings and folded them up.' + +'Where did she put them?' demanded Douglas. + +'Down a well,' was the prompt reply. 'It was a dry well, and she put +her white dress and crown with it; she did them up in a paper parcel, +and wrote her name on.' + +'What was her name?' asked Bobby. + +Betty knitted her brows. 'It was a Bible name, of course; I think it +was Miriam. She felt the earth was very hot, for the sun was shining +like anything, and then she wondered who she could sing to. Well, she +walked along a road, and then she saw a church, so she thought that +must be a good place, and she went inside. The church was dark, and +cool, and still, but it was lovely; and there were red and blue and +yellow and green and violet sunbeams, and beautiful painted windows, +and white marble figures all about, and it was so still that you felt +you must hush and walk on tiptoe. And then, what do you think she saw?' + +All eyes were on Betty now, as she sank her voice to an impressive +whisper. + +'She saw a little girl fast asleep!' + +'Go on,' said Douglas impatiently, as Betty made another pause. + +'So the angel thought she would sing to her; so she went up very softly +to the big organ, and began to play it, and then she began to sing. It +was lovely. She sang like she did in heaven, and the little girl woke +up and listened.' + +'What did she sing about?' asked Molly. + +'She sang about heaven, and all the people and children who had come +through great tribulation. And the music went on right up to the top +of the church, and her voice got louder and louder, and then softer and +softer to a whisper, and then the music got softer too, and then--it +was quite still.' + +'Well, go on. What did the little girl do?' + +'The little girl came away; she--she cried a little.' + +'Why, you're crying too! What a silly!' + +Betty dashed her small hand across her eyes, and threw up her head +defiantly. 'That's all my story,' she said. + +'Oh, what a stupid story! You must make a proper ending.' + +'You shall go on! we'll make you!' + +'Did the angel get her proper clothes again?' + +'Yes,' said Betty, with a little sigh; 'she put them on and went up to +heaven. And God asked her what she'd done. And she told Him she +thought the little girl would like to come to heaven, if He would let +her.' + +There was a little break in Betty's voice; she slid down from her +corner, and rolled over on the floor, her face hidden from the others. +Then in a second she called out, 'I see a mouse! Let us catch him!' + +The children were on their feet directly, and a regular scramble +ensued, Betty the most boisterous of them all. And when nurse came in +a little later, she found the little story-teller in the act of +crawling across the oaken beam in the centre of the room, to the +intense delight of those watching her below. + +Nurse caught her breath at the daring feat, but waited till she had +accomplished it in safety, then caught her in her arms, and taking her +off, gave her a good whipping, and Betty's spirits totally subsided for +the rest of the evening. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Adventures + +The visit to the wood came off the day after. Nurse arrayed all her +little charges in large holland overalls, and sent them out into the +fields for the afternoon. And the little party set out in good spirits, +Bobby and Billy tramping sturdily along, under the firm conviction that +they were going to meet with wild beasts, and go through the most +harrowing adventures. + +It was a long walk, but they reached it at last, and came to a standstill +when they saw the ditch and the thick hedge that surrounded it. + +'There's a castle and a princess inside, so they don't like people to +come in,' asserted Douglas; 'but we'll find a hole somewhere and creep +through.' + +And this was soon done. The children looked round them with delight at +the little winding paths, the banks of green moss, and the thick +overhanging bushes and trees, that seemed so full of life and interest. +Douglas was in his element. + +'We'll find a place we must call home first, and then we'll see what food +we've got.' + +The foot of an old oak tree was chosen. Bits of cake, pudding, some +biscuits, and a few lumps of sugar were then produced from different +pockets, and these were given over to Douglas, who, wrapping them in +paper, deposited them inside the hollow trunk of the tree. + +'Now,' he said, 'we must all divide, and go in search for adventures; and +when we've found them, we can come back and tell the others here, and +then we'll have a feast.' + +'And if we don't find any?' questioned Betty doubtfully. + +'Then you must go on till you do. Why, of course a wood is full of +dangers. I mean to have an _awful_ time. We must go two and two; Molly +and I will take this path, and the twins can take that one, and you, +Betty, must go by yourself, because you're the odd one.' + +'I always have to go alone,' murmured Betty; 'it isn't fair.' + +Bobby and Billy stood clasping each other's hands, and looking with +anxious though determined faces along the path mapped out for them. + +'And if we should meet a cwocodile?' Billy asked, lifting his blue eyes +to those of his big brother. + +'Then you must either kill it or run away,' said Douglas. 'And +crocodiles don't live in woods.' + +'And if we lose ourselves in the wood?' questioned Bobby. + +'If you're frightened, you needn't go, but stay here till we come back,' +put in Molly, her conscience a little uneasy with turning such little +fellows loose on their own resources. + +But this gave the twins courage. Frightened! Not a bit of it! And they +trotted off, calling out they were going to kill every one they met. + +Betty likewise started on her journey. She was feeling rather depressed +with the truth of which she was always being reminded--namely, that she +was the odd one. + +'I wish there had just been one more of us,' she kept saying to herself; +'I'm either one too many or one too few, and it's very dull to be always +alone.' + +But her thoughts soon left herself when she saw some rabbits scudding +away in the distance; and the flowers on her path, and the strangeness of +her surroundings, were quite enough to occupy her mind. She soon found +that her path was coming to an end; right across it was some fine wire +netting, and for a moment she hesitated, then, deciding to go straight +on, clambered over it with great difficulty. The grass was smoother +here, and the path a wide one; a little distance farther was an iron +seat, and then she came to a long, straight grass walk, with trees on +either side, and at the end a gate, in an old stone wall. + +'I shall have to get through that gate,' she mused, 'or else I must climb +the wall. I wonder what is inside! It might be anything--a castle, with +an ogre or giant, or a prince and princess--and I can't go back till I +find out. My adventures have come. But I'm very tired. I'll just sit +down for a little before I go on.' + +A few moments after Betty's little body was lying full length on the +grassy path, and she was counting over a cluster of primroses with great +care and precision. + +'Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three--ah, what a pity! there is a little +odd one, just like me!' + +'What are you doing, child?' + +Betty started to her feet. Looking down upon her was a tall old lady, +dressed in a shady straw hat and black lace shawl; her black silk dress +rustled as she moved. One hand was resting on a stick, the other was +holding a sunshade. Her face was as still and cold-looking as some of +the figures on the monuments in the little village church, and her voice +stern and peremptory. + +Wild thoughts flashed through Betty's brain. Was this a fairy godmother, +a queen, a princess? Or might it possibly be the old governess that Mr. +Roper loved so much? + +Again the question was repeated, in the same stern tone, and Betty gazed +up in awe, as she answered simply,-- + +'I was counting the primroses, to see if they were even or odd.' + +'And what business have you to be trespassing in my private grounds?' + +'I didn't know this was trespassing,' Betty faltered; 'a wood belongs to +anybody in the country, and I haven't got inside your gate yet, though I +was going to try.' + +'And pray what were you coming inside my gate to do?' + +'I'm--I'm looking for adventures; I have to do something before I go +back.' + +'I think you had better explain to me who you are.' + +The voice was gentler, and Betty took courage. The lady listened to her +attentively, and seemed interested; she even smiled when Betty, looking +up, asked innocently, 'I suppose you are not a princess, are you?' + +'No, I'm not a princess,' she said; 'but this is a private wood, and I +cannot allow children to run wild all over it.' + +'And mustn't we ever come here again?' asked Betty, with a grave face. +'We should be ever so careful, and we won't pick a flower if you'll only +let us walk about. We've never seen a wood before, only read about one +in our story-books; and children always go through woods in books without +being stopped, unless it's an ogre or a giant that stops them.' + +The lady did not speak for a minute, then she said,-- + +'How many are there of you?' + +'Five with me; there's Molly and Douglas, and there's Bobby and +Billy--I'm the odd one.' + +'Why should you be the odd one?' + +'Because Molly and Douglas are the eldest ones, and they always go +together, and Bobby and Billy are the babies. Mother always calls them +the babies, and I come in between, and I belong to no one. You see, in +our games it's generally two and two; I always make everything odd, and +Molly and Douglas are always having secrets, and that only leaves me the +babies to play with, and they're only just four years old--much too small +for me.' + +'I suppose you have a doll or something to comfort yourself with? I +remember I used to when I was a little girl.' + +'I don't much like dolls,' said Betty, with a decided shake of her curly +head; 'I like something really alive, something that moves by itself. +There's a big sheepdog at our farm called Rough. I sometimes get hold of +him for a game, but he likes Douglas better than me. Sam says he's +always fond of boys.' + +'Would you like to come inside my gate?' asked the lady, looking down +upon Betty with a strange tenderness in her eyes, though her lips were +still grave and stern. + +Betty slipped her hand confidingly into hers. + +'Yes, please; and will you tell me who you are? I think you're rather +like a lady I'm trying to find. She teaches children, a governess she +is, and she's old and young together. You're much more like her than +Mrs. Giles is.' + +But the lady did not satisfy Betty's curiosity; she only said,-- + +'I have never taught any children in my life,' and led her up the grassy +walk to the gate in the wall. + +'I am only going to let you stand inside for a moment, and then you must +run away. And you must never come over the wire netting in the wood +again. You and your brothers and sister can play in the other part of +the wood, but I will not have children running over my private walks.' + +She opened the gate, and Betty saw a lovely flower garden, with a smooth, +grassy lawn, and away in the distance a great white house. The flowers +were exquisite, and to Betty's London eyes they were a feast of delight. +Her little face flushed with pleasure. + +'Do you live here?' she asked. 'How happy you must be!' + +'Do you like it better than my wood?' + +Betty turned from the blaze of sunshine and brightness to look at the +cool green glade behind her. She did not answer for a minute, then she +said, pointing with her small finger down the grassy avenue,-- + +'It's something like church down there, it looks so quiet. But this +garden is like heaven, I think.' + +The lady smiled. 'I will give you any flower you like to take away, so +choose.' + +Betty was not long in making her choice. There were some beautiful white +lilies close by--lilies that might have come from the same plant as that +one lying between the little girl's hands in church. + +'I should like one of those, please,' she said, with sparkling eyes. + +She was given, not one, but several, and then was dismissed. + +'And I shall never see you again,' Betty said, as she put up her mouth +for a kiss. She did not say it regretfully, only as if stating a fact. + +The lady stooped and kissed her. 'Not unless I send for you,' she said. +'Can you find your way back?' + +Betty nodded brightly, and ran off. The lady stood watching her little +figure for some minutes, then she gave a deep sigh, and her face relapsed +into its usual stern and immovable expression as she entered her garden +and locked the gate behind her. + +Betty ran on as fast as she could to join the others. When she reached +the oak tree, Douglas and Molly were already there, seated on the ground, +busily employed in dividing the provisions for the feast. They exclaimed +at the sight of her flowers. + +'I've had a lovely adventure,' said Betty. 'Where are Bobby and Billy?' + +'We don't know,' said Molly, rising to her feet and looking anxious. +'I'm sure they ought to be here by this time.' + +'Perhaps they're lost,' Douglas suggested cheerfully; 'I was hoping some +of us would get lost, and then we should have the fun of finding them. +We'll go in a few minutes and look for them. Would you like to hear +where we have been, Betty?' + +'Yes.' + +'Well, it is rather a stupid wood, for we came to nothing particular; +only we've found a little house. It has three sides and a roof--tumbling +in. We're going to mend it up, and live there, next time we come out +here. At least, I mean to live in it. I shall be a disguised prince +hiding for my life, and you will all have to search the wood to get food +for me. Molly and I have made it all up. She is to be my daughter, who +steals out at night time to visit me; you can be a servant, who mends the +roof, and makes me comfortable; and the twins can be soldiers scouring +the wood for me.' + +Neither Betty nor Molly showed much interest in this plan; they were both +thinking of the twins, and Douglas, having said his say, was quite ready +to start off on the quest. + +Together they ran along the path by which the little boys had gone. It +led them under some low brushwood, and then along the banks of a stream. +And then calling their names aloud, they were relieved to hear an +answering call. A moment later and they came upon them. The stream was +broad, and rather deep here, with great boulders of stone appearing above +the water. Upon one of these boulders, in the centre of the stream, sat +the two little boys, wet to the skin, and looking the pictures of abject +despair. + +'However did you get there?' said Douglas rather angrily. + +'Billy was getting some forget-me-nots, and tumbled in, and so I came +over to help him, and we can't get back,' explained Bobby, not very +lucidly. + +'If you got over there you can get back again,' Molly said decisively. + +At this both the twins began to cry. + +'It's so cold; we was nearly drownded; and we've seen a shark swim along.' + +Douglas laughed, but took off his shoes and stockings. + +'I shall have to wade in and bring them over on my back,' he said, with +rather a lordly air. + +And this he did, landing both the twins safely on the bank. + +'Nurse will scold awfully, they're both so wet; we shall have to go home +at once,' said prudent Molly, as with very small handkerchiefs she and +Betty tried to wipe some of the wet off their clothes. + +'And then she'll say we're never to come to the wood again. I wish we +hadn't brought them with us!' + +It was a quiet little party that returned to Brook Farm; and in the +excitement of receiving the vials of nurse's wrath, and the fuss made +over the poor little victims, Betty's adventures remained still unheard +and unknown. + +She was not sorry that this was so, and was quite content to muse in the +secrecy of her own heart upon the beautiful cold lady who had given her +the lilies. She thought of her sleeping and waking, and with a strange +longing wondered if she would ever be allowed to see her again. + +The next afternoon was a very warm one; but Betty's restless little feet +could not stay in the buttercup meadow close to the house, where the +others were playing, and soon a small white figure in a large sun-bonnet +could have been seen plodding along the dusty road towards the churchyard +in the distance. + +Her little determined face relaxed into wonderful softness when she +entered the cool church. Going on tip-toe up the aisle, she came to the +monument of little Violet Russell, and here she paused, then clambering +up with a little difficulty, she laid two fresh lilies by the side of the +sculptured one, across the clasped hands of the child's figure. + +'There,' she said in a hushed voice; 'you shan't always hold a cold dead +lily, Violet dear; I've brought them to you from my own self, because +they're mine, and I'll get you some other flowers when they are dead.' + +She put her soft red lips down and left a kiss on the little clasped +hands, and then slipped down to the ground again, where she stood for a +moment looking up at the stained window above. A noise startled her: +walking up the middle aisle was the lady who had played to her before, +and following her a rough country boy, who disappeared through a little +door behind the organ. + +Betty slipped behind a pillar, and watched eagerly. Yes, she was going +to play again; and her heart beat high with expectation. She crept into +one of the high, old-fashioned pews, and sitting on a hassock, leant her +little head back upon the seat, and prepared herself to listen. + +The music began, and sent a little shiver of delight through Betty's +soul. The long, soft notes that died away like a summer breeze, the +deep, grand rolls that seemed to come from a cavern below, and then blend +with the clear, sweet echoes rising and falling, and at length ascending +in a burst of praise and gladness--it seemed to her that the angels above +would be stooping to listen to such strains. + +And then, after a little, the lady began to sing; and Betty drew in one +deep breath after another. It must be an angel, surely! and yet there +was something in the fresh holland dress and shady hat of the singer this +afternoon that seemed hardly suitable for an angel's apparel. + +The lady once looked round; and Betty thought her face looked sad; but +when she began to sing her face was illumined with such light and +gladness that the child watched it entranced. + +An hour passed, and then the singer was startled by the sound of a sob. +She was singing 'Oh, that I had wings like a dove!' and turning round, +was startled at the sight of a white sun-bonnet and two small hands +grasping the back of one of the pews. Betty had mounted on the hassock +to have a full view of the singer long ago, and was now trying in vain to +restrain the pent-up feelings of her sensitive little soul. + +In an instant the lady had left her seat and come up to the child. + +'What is the matter, little one? How did you find your way in here?' she +asked gently, as she put her arm round the sobbing child. + +But Betty could not put her feelings into words; she only shook her head +and sobbed, 'I like the music; don't stop singing.' + +'I must stop now: my hour is up. Tell me who you are.' + +Betty made an effort to recover her self-possession. + +'I'm only Betty,' she said, dabbing her face with her handkerchief; 'are +you an angel?' + +'Indeed I am not; do I look like one?' + +And the lady threw back her head and laughed in a very amused way. + +'Not now,' said Betty soberly; 'but you did look like one when you were +singing, and I--I hoped you might be.' + +'Why did you hope so?' + +Again Betty was silent; then, looking up, she seemed to gather courage +from the kind face looking down upon her, and burying her face in the +lady's dress, she sobbed out,-- + +'I thought God might have sent you; and then you could have told me lots +of things I wanted to know.' + +'Perhaps God may have sent me instead of an angel. Tell me some of the +things you want to know.' + +'I want to know about Violet, and heaven, and tribulation,' murmured +Betty a little incoherently; and then she started as the church clock in +the belfry began to chime five. + +'It's tea-time; nurse will be looking for me.' + +The lady stooped and kissed her. 'I must go too,' she said; 'will you +come and see me to-morrow afternoon? I shall be here at the same time, +and then we can have a little talk.' + +'What is your name?' asked Betty. + +'Nesta,' the young lady answered, a little briefly. + +'And do you teach children?' was the next question, breathlessly put. + +'Sometimes; on Sundays I do.' + +Betty's face lighted up, but she said no more, and trotted out of the +church and along the road as hard as ever she could. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Prince + +The children were all at breakfast the next morning in the +old-fashioned kitchen. Nurse and her brother were having an animated +talk over some reminiscences of the past, when there was a knock at the +back door, and Mrs. Giles went out. Coming back, she appeared with a +small hamper under her arm, which she placed on the floor. + +''Tis the queerest thing I know of,' she said; 'look at the label now, +Jack; whoever is it for?' + +Every one crowded round at once. + +'For the little odd one at Brook Farm.' + +''Tis for one of the children,' said Jack, rubbing his head; 'they be +the only little 'uns that I know of.' + +'It's for Betty!' shouted Douglas and Molly excitedly; 'she's the odd +one! Open it quick, Betty; perhaps it's a big cake.' + +'It's alive!' exclaimed nurse, as on her knees she tried to undo the +fastenings. 'Come along, Miss Betty, you shall open it for yourself.' + +Betty came near, and with trembling fingers cut the string. + +A minute after, and out of the hamper jumped a beautiful little black +and white spaniel. + +There were screams of delight from all the children, and great surmises +as to who could have sent it. Betty guessed, but said nothing when she +found a piece of paper tied to a brass collar round his neck, with +these words: 'From a friend, hoping he may prove a true companion.' + +She clasped her arms round the dog's neck in ecstasy. 'He is my very, +very own,' she said, looking up at nurse with shining eyes; 'and I'll +have him for ever and ever.' + +The little creature sniffed at her face, and then put out his tongue, +and gave her a lick of satisfaction and approval. From that time the +two were all in all to each other. + +There was a great deal of discussion about him that morning, and Betty +had to tell of the strange, stern lady who had spoken to her in the +wood. + +'I'm sure she sent him,' Betty kept repeating; 'I'm sure she did.' + +'It was awfully mean to keep your adventure so secret, said Douglas, +looking at the dog very wistfully; 'she must be a fairy godmother +living in the wood. I wish she would send me something.' + +'Perhaps she is a wicked fairy or witch,' suggested Molly, 'who has +turned a prince into a little dog, and we must find a kind of spell to +bring him back to a prince again.' + +'That's what I'll call him,' said Betty, looking up; 'I'll call him +Prince.' + +Nurse at first demurred at having such an addition to her family, but +Mrs. Giles comforted her with the assurance--'There, let the little +miss enjoy him; she'll soon get tired of him--children always do--and +when you go back to London you can leave him behind with us. He's a +good breed, that we can see; and Jack will be able to sell him if we +don't care about keeping him.' + +It was fortunate Betty did not hear this suggestion. Prince was +rapidly filling a void in her little heart of which only she perhaps +had been dimly conscious. She was a child with strong affections and +intense feelings, and a yearning to have some one to love, and to be +loved in return. None of the little Stuarts were demonstrative, and +few guessed how deeply and passionately the bright and mischievous +Betty longed for the sympathy and love that was so rarely shown towards +her. + +So engrossing was the possession of Prince that the day went by, and +tea-time came, before Betty thought of her new friend in the church. + +But when tea was over she took Molly into her confidence. 'Molly, do +you think I might take Prince for a walk? would he follow me?' + +'Where are you going?' + +'I'm going to see a lady that I think is the governess Mr. Roper told +me about; Nesta, her name is, only I think he called her Mother Nesta. +I told you about it one night, don't you remember? she's really very +old, but she looks very young, and this one must be her.' + +'Where did you find her?' + +'In a church.' + +'Oh!' and Molly's tone was indifferent; 'I don't like people in church. +Nurse says she is going to take us to church to-morrow. I hoped she +would forget; last Sunday it was too far, she said. And Douglas and I +were going to have a beautiful church in the orchard. There's an apple +tree just like a pulpit.' + +'Molly,' called out Douglas, 'Sam is going down to the river to fish; +he says he'll show us where we can fish too; do come on!' + +Away ran Molly. The twins were playing in the garden porch, and nurse +chatting in the kitchen with her sister-in-law. Betty called Prince, +who had been busy with a saucer of scraps, and putting on her straw hat +set off along the road to church. Prince was certainly a great charge; +he was a dog of an inquiring mind, and his continual rushes into the +hedge sides, and long searches after young frogs in the grass, +considerably delayed his young mistress's progress. + +But at length the church was reached; the evening shadows threw long, +weird shapes across the darkened path that led to the porch, the rooks +were noisier than usual, and Betty looked anxiously down at Prince. + +'You won't bark, dear, will you?' she said stooping and lifting him +into her arms; 'because church is a very quiet place, and music is the +only noise allowed. I'll take you in to see the prettiest little girl +you've ever seen, and she's lying so still. I've brought her some +forget-me-nots.' + +Prince struggled a little at first, but Betty soothed him and then +crept inside. + +'I'm afraid I've come too late,' she murmured, as she looked round the +silent church and saw no signs of the lady; 'but I'll come another day +soon and see her.' + +Softly she made her way round to the stained-glass window she loved, +but started in astonishment when she saw leaning against the monument a +tall, strange gentleman. + +He did not see Betty; his brows were knitted and his lips twitching +strangely under his heavy dark moustache; with folded arms he stood +leaning against the pillar, and looking down upon the fair figure of +the recumbent child in front of him. Then he stooped, and taking up +one of the fading lilies across the child's hands looked at it +wonderingly. + +'The picture more lasting than the thing itself,' he muttered; 'it is +all that is left us; the fragile productions of nature cannot exist +long in this hard, rough world, and yet how I tried to shield her from +every blast!' + +A slight whine from Prince startled him, and looking round he pulled +himself together sternly. + +'What are you doing here, little girl?' + +Almost the same words that had been said to her in the wood the other +day; and Betty began to wonder if she were again on forbidden ground. + +'Does the church belong to you?' she asked, standing her ground, and +looking up through her long dark lashes rather shyly; 'am I where I +oughtn't to be? I came to see that little girl.' + +He looked at her. + +'What do you know about her?' + +'I don't know anything, but I want to know. I love her, and I've +brought her some more flowers.' + +'Did you put these lilies here?' + +'Yes; they're quite dead now, aren't they?' + +'Of course they are; this is the place of death.' + +Betty did not understand the bitter tone; but she said simply, pointing +to the child's figure, 'She isn't really dead, is she? She has gone to +sleep. I was thinking, when I was here before, if Jesus would only +just walk out of that window and touch her hands with His, she would +open her eyes and get up. I should like to see her, wouldn't you? I +watched her the other day till I almost thought I saw her move. But +she will wake up one day, won't she?' + +There was no answer. + +Betty slipped her little hand in his. 'Would you give her these +forget-me-nots, or lift me up so that I can do it?' She had dropped +Prince, who was sniffing suspiciously round the gentleman's heels, and +waited anxiously for his reply. He took her in his arms, and held her +there whilst she placed the flowers in the position she wished; and +then, before she was lifted down, she said softly, 'I think she is +really singing up in heaven. I like to believe she is there, but I'm +not quite sure. Do you know if she came out of tribulation?' + +'Why should she?' + +'Because it says, about those in white robes with crowns, "These are +they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, +and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." It makes me feel very +unhappy sometimes, because I haven't been through tribulation yet, and +I shan't be ready to die till I have.' + +She was set quickly down upon her feet, and without a word the +gentleman left her, striding down the aisle and shutting the church +door with a slam that echoed and re-echoed through the silent church. + +Betty was startled at his sudden departure; she took up her dog in her +arms again, and stood gazing silently up at the window above, through +which the setting sun was sending coloured rays in all directions. +Then with a little sigh she turned and left the church. Outside the +porch was a grey-headed old man, the sexton, who was taking his evening +walk amongst the graves. + +'Hulloo!' he said, 'be you the one that banged this 'ere door just now? +'Twas enough to scare the owls and bats and all the other beasties from +their holes for evermore.' + +'No, it wasn't me; it was a gentleman.' + +'Ah, was it now? Shouldn't be surprised if I knew who it was! 'Twas +Mr. Russell, surely! There's no other gent that favours this 'ere +building like him.' + +'Is he Violet Russell's father?' questioned Betty eagerly. + +The old man nodded. 'Yes, he be that little maid's parent, and he'll +never get over her loss. She were the apple of his eye, and when she +were took, he were like a man demented. Ah, 'tis the young as well as +the old I have to dig for!' + +'Does that gentleman live here?' asked Betty. + +'Ay, surely, for he be the owner of the whole property hereabout. But +'tis not money will give comfort; he have had a deal o' trouble. I +mind when his father turned him out o' doors for his painting and +sich-like persoots. And he went to Italy, and there he taught hisself +to be a hartist, and painted and carved a lot o' stone figures, and +folks say he made a name for hisself in Lunnon. He were taken back by +his father after a bit, and came a-coorting Miss Violet Granger, that +lived over at Deemster Hall. But his brother, Mr. Rudolph, cut him +out, when he went off to Germany for a spell, and he and Miss Violet +runned away together, and when he come back he found his bride stolen. +He were terrible cut up, and off he goes to foreign parts again, and +never a sight of he did us get till the old squire were dead, and Mr. +Rudolph had killed hisself out hunting. Then Mr. Frank comes home agen +with a bran-new wife, and we thought as how his life were a mending, +and things were looking up. He seemed brighter, too; but lack-a-day, +'twere not ten months afore I had to dig a grave for her, and she left +him a two-day-old babe to bring up--and little Miss Violet were the joy +of his heart--she were a purty, bright little maid, and were out on her +little pony every day wi' her father. She just doated on him, and he +were as lovin' as a woman wi' her. Then there come the day when the +little maid got a ugly fall from her pony, and all the Lunnon doctors +were sent for, but could do no good, and she were in bed a wasting away +for nigh a twelve-month, and then she died. 'Twere a mercy, for she'd +have been a hunchbacked cripple had she lived; and Mary Foster, what +were her maid, said as 'ow she suffered terrible at times. The Lord +were marciful in takin' of her. But 'tis not to be wondered at Mr. +Frank takin' it sorely. And then he shut hisself up in his painting +room, and never comed out of it till he had cut the little maid's +figure out in stone, like as you see it in the church. Many's the +visitor that I've a taken in to see it; and the ladies, they comes away +sheddin' tears at the little dear. He put up the coloured window too, +and comes to church reg'lar; but he's hard and cold, like the stones he +cut, and 'tis his troubles have spoilt him. I mind he were a +bright-faced, bonny lad once, that I used to show birds' nests to in +the hedges; but now he passes me wi'out a civil word or look. Ay, it's +trouble and toil and tribbylation that is man's lot here below!' + +Betty listened to this long harangue breathlessly. Much of it she +could not follow, but the old man's closing sentence made her look at +him eagerly. + +'Do you know about tribulation?' she asked. + +'Me know of it! Ay, surely, when I've buried six sons and daughters, +and last of all my woife, and dug all their graves mysel', save two, +which were Jack in Mericky, which died of yellow fever, and only a +packet of letters sent back to us belonging to him, and in them there +were a bit o' his mother's grey hair which he had cut off that playful +afore he went away; and then there were Rob, that were killed down a +coal mine, and we could never get at his body, and he left a widder and +three childer, and she were married to one o' his chums afore a +twelvemonth past--the unfeeling hussy; but I've washed my hands of the +lot. Ay, I've been through troubles and tribbylation, which is our lot +in this world, but I've had a many more than most folks.' + +'Then you must be quite ready to die?' said Betty, looking at him +thoughtfully. + +The old man looked at her; then rubbed his head in a puzzled way. + +'I'm no so sure about that, little lassie; I've seen scores brought +into this churchyard and placed in my graves, but there are toimes when +I think o' seeing mysel' let down into a strange grave, and one not cut +half so foine as mine, for I'm up to my trade, and none could do it +better, and I'm thinkin' if that day will wait till I'm ready for it; +well--'twill be a good way off yet!' + +Betty knitted her brows in perplexity. + +'If you've been through tribulation, you must be very nearly ready for +heaven--the Bible says so.' + +'Ay, do it? Let's hear, missy; for sure I've had my lot o' woe, and +the Lord do be marciful!' + +For a second time that afternoon Betty repeated the text that was so +occupying her mind and thoughts. The old man listened attentively. + +'You see,' said Betty, leaning against an old yew tree and hugging +Prince close to her, 'it's the first part that's so difficult to me, +but it must be quite easy for you. The end of it fits us all, but the +tribulation doesn't fit me.' + +'And what be the end of it?' asked the sexton. + +'It says, they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of +the Lamb.' + +'Ay,' said the old man, after a minute's silence, 'and 'tis the end of +it don't fit me.' + +The child looked up, astonishment coming into her blue eyes. + +'But that's very easy,' she said, 'that is coming to Jesus and asking +Him to wash our sins away in His blood. I thought everybody did that. +I do it every night, because I'm an awful wicked girl. I'm always +forgetting to be good.' + +Again there was silence; the old man looked away over the hills in the +distance. It was just the quietest time in the evening; the birds were +already in their nests for the night,--even the rooks had subsided; and +the stillness and peace around drew his heart and mind upwards. Betty +thought he was looking at the sunset, which was shedding its last +golden rays over the misty blue outlines of the hills across the +horizon. Presently he drew the cuff of his sleeve across his eyes. +'And who be they that the Book says that of?' he asked. + +'Why, it's the people in heaven--every one who dies, I s'pose. I like +to think of them there, but I do want dreadfully to join them one day; +and I'm afraid sometimes I shall be left out.' + +Tears were filling the earnest little eyes, and the curly head bent +over Prince to hide them. + +'I mind,' said the sexton slowly, 'that my missus, before she died, +told me to pray, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." I expect +she knew all about the washing, but I've never done much harm to any +one, and I've attended church reg'lar.' + +'I wish I was as good as you.' And Betty looked up with emphatic +utterance. 'I'm always doing some one harm, and nurse will scold me +when I get in for being out so late--I know she will. Good-bye, old +man.' + +She put Prince down on the ground, and trotted off, and the old sexton +looked after her with a shake of his head. + +'She be a queer little lass! Ay, I would be glad to have her chance of +getting to the Kingdom. But I'll have a look at the old Book, and see +what it says about this 'ere washing.' + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Made into a Couple + +The next morning being Sunday, the three elder children were taken to +church by nurse. It was a small village congregation; and Betty looked +round in vain for her friend Nesta. She saw Mr. Russell standing grim +and solitary in his large, old-fashioned pew; and she had a nod from +the sexton at the church door. The clergyman's wife and grown-up +daughter and a few grandly dressed farmers' wives were the only others +who occupied seats of their own. The organ was played by the +schoolmaster, and after Nesta's playing it did not seem the same +instrument. Betty was quieter than her brother and sister; she could +see her stained window and little Violet's figure from where she sat; +she could even catch sight of her forget-me-nots--now looking withered +and dead; and her thoughts kept her restless little body still. Molly +and Douglas did not like church; their fair heads were close together, +and occasionally a faint sniggle would cause nurse to look round with +stern reproval. But at last the long service was over, and they came +out into the fresh, sweet air of a June morning. + +Nurse had several friends to talk to in the churchyard, and Molly and +Betty walked on soberly in front of her, feeling subdued and a little +uncomfortable in their stiff white frocks and best Leghorn hats and +feathers. + +'Where is Douglas?' whispered Betty. + +'Hush! don't let nurse know; he saw a pair of legs through a little +hole at the back of the organ, and he's gone to see if it is a robber +hiding.' + +'Will he fight him if it is?' said Betty, with an awe-struck look; then +an expression of relief crossing her face, she said, 'I know; it's a +boy that goes in at the back whenever a person plays. I don't know +what he does, but I've seen him there before.' + +'When did you see him?' asked Molly eagerly. + +Betty's private adventures never remained secret for long, and she +poured forth a long account of her various visits to the church. Molly +was much impressed, but Douglas's return soon turned her thoughts into +another channel. He looked flushed and dishevelled, and his white +sailor suit was soiled and dusty; but nurse was too busy talking to +notice his appearance, and he joined the others with some importance in +his tone. + +'I've made a discovery,' he said; 'how do you think a church organ is +played?' + +'Like a piano,' said Molly promptly. + +'It isn't, then; you turn a handle like the organs in the street, and a +man or boy does all the work behind.' + +The little girls looked sceptical, and Betty said, 'I'm sure you don't, +then, for we can see the person playing.' + +'Well, they're only pretending; I've seen the handle myself, and the +boy told me if he didn't pull it up and down the organ wouldn't play. +It must be like a kind of duet, perhaps. I expect he makes all the big +booming notes, and the squeaky notes are made by the person in front. +I've promised him sixpence out of my new half-crown, if he'll let me +play instead of him one day; and he says he will.' + +'Nurse won't let you play it on Sundays,' said Molly; 'besides, you +won't be able to do it properly, and if you made a mistake it would be +awful.' + +'I shall play it on a week-day, and I'll make the old organ sound, you +see if I don't!' + +Directly the children reached home, Betty flew to her dog, who had been +shut up in the garret whilst they had been at church. Prince was +already getting to know his little mistress, and welcomed her back with +short happy barks and a great many licks. And Betty poured out all her +heart's love for him in the shape of caresses and pats and kisses, +whispering in his silken ears many a secret, and hugging him to her +breast with a passionate vehemence which astonished and amused those +who saw her. + +'He is my own, my very own,' she kept repeating; 'and I shall never +feel odd no more!' + +She did not. It was a new and delightful sensation to be one of a +couple. 'Molly and Douglas, Bobby and Billy, and Prince and I,' she +would say. No longer was she to trot off alone in some of their +games,--Prince was always ready to go with her; if Molly and Douglas +were deep in some conspiracy, so could she and Prince be; and the +pent-up feelings and thoughts of rather a lonely little heart were +poured out to one who listened and sympathised with his soft brown eyes +and curly tail, but who never betrayed the confidence reposed in him. + +At no time in her life had Betty been so happy as she was now; her +little pensive face sparkled with gladness when Prince gambolled by her +side; and nurse asserted that the dog kept her out of mischief, and was +a very successful addition to their party. It was some days before she +visited the church again; but when she did, the organ was sounding, and +she found her friend already playing. Rolling Prince up in her large +holland overall, until only his little black nose peeped out, Betty +crept up close to the player, and stood unnoticed for some minutes. +Then Nesta Fairfax turned round and gave the child a pleased smile. + +'My little friend again!' she said; 'I have been wondering what has +become of you. Have you come for a talk?' + +'No, only to listen to the music,' said Betty. + +'Then I will go on playing.' + +She turned back to the organ, and for some time Betty listened in +silence, sitting on a hassock and rocking Prince backwards and +forwards, till warm and exhausted with his ineffectual struggles to +free himself, he fell asleep in her arms. + +At last, when there was a pause in the music, Betty said earnestly,-- + +'Will you sing again what you did when I thought you were an angel?' + +'What was it, I wonder?' + +'It was about--"these are they which came out of great tribulation!"' + +'Oh yes, I remember.' + +And the sweet clear voice rang out through the silent church, and the +organ rose and fell to the beautiful words, till Betty could hardly +bear it. + +'Is it over?' she asked, as the last note died away. + +Nesta Fairfax turned her glowing face upon the child. + +'You love it as much as I do, you little mite!' she said; 'but you +mustn't cry. Do you know where those words come from?' + +She put her arms round her, and drew her to rest against her as she +spoke,-- + +'Yes,' said Betty with a nod; 'I know all about them; I've read it +sixty hundred times, I think, and I know that verse by heart. I want +to ask you about it.' + +Nesta waited, and with a little effort Betty said,-- + +'I want dreadfully to be one of them one day, and I'm afraid I never +shall. I was talking to the old man who digs graves, the other day; +the first part of the verse doesn't fit me, and the last doesn't fit +him--at least he said so. I wonder if both parts fit you.' + +Nesta gazed at Betty in a puzzled kind of way; then looked away, for +her eyes were filling with tears. + +'Perhaps it may,' she said softly; 'I should like to think it did.' + +'And can you tell me how I can go through tribulation? I want to get +it over, so that I can be quite ready for heaven.' + +'My dear child, if God means you to have it, He will send it in His own +good time. Never wish for troubles; they will come fast enough as you +grow older.' + +'That's what nurse says; she tells us when we get to her age we shall +know what distress and trouble is. But s'posing if I don't live to +grow up? Violet didn't, and I'm so afraid I may not get inside heaven. +I may be left out of those in the text, because I haven't been through +tribulation. I don't want to be left out; I want to be in the very +middle of them all! I want to stand singing, and have a crown and a +palm, and I want to hear some one ask who I am; and then I want to hear +the answer, "She came out of tribulation!" Oh! do tell me how I can go +into it! Mr. Roper said you would teach me a lot of things.' + +Betty's voice was eloquent in her beseeching tone, and Nesta was silent +for a moment; then she said,-- + +'Trouble doesn't take us to heaven; tribulation, even martyrdom, does +not. Don't you know what does? What did Jesus Christ come into the +world for? What did He die for? Will you sing a little hymn with me? +I expect you know it.' + +Betty looked delighted. + +'And will you play the organ?' + +'Yes.' + +Then Nesta began to sing; and Betty's sweet little voice chimed in; for +well she knew the words,-- + + 'There is a green hill far away, + Beyond the city wall, + Where our dear Lord was crucified, + Who died to save us all. + + We may not know, we cannot tell + What pains He had to bear; + But we believe it was for us + He hung and suffered there. + + He died that we may be forgiven, + He died to make us good, + That we might go at last to heaven, + Saved by His precious blood. + + There was no other good enough + To pay the price of sin; + He only could unlock the gate + Of heaven and let us in. + + Oh, dearly, dearly has He loved, + And we must love Him too, + And trust in His redeeming blood, + And try His works to do.' + + +'Now can you tell me why the Lord Jesus Christ died; what does the hymn +say?' + +'He died that we may be forgiven, He died to make us good,' quoted +Betty slowly. + +'Go on.' + +'That we might go at last to heaven, saved by His precious blood.' + +'Then how can we get to heaven?' + +'Because Jesus died for us.' + +'Yes, He died to let you go to heaven, Betty; He did it all, and you +have nothing to do with it. If you let Jesus take your little heart +and wash it in His blood, nothing will ever keep you out of heaven.' + +'But if I'm naughty?' asked Betty. 'I've asked God so often to give me +a new heart and wash me in Jesus' blood, and sometimes I think He has +done it; but then I'm always getting into mischief, and nurse says it's +only the good children go to heaven.' + +'I think Jesus will teach you to be good, if you ask Him, and you +mustn't expect to be quite good all at once; always go to Him when +you've been naughty, and tell Him about it, and ask Him to help you to +be good. He loves you, Betty, and He will always listen to you and +answer your prayers.' + +Betty's blue eyes were looking intently at the speaker; and her little +lips took a resolute curve. + +'I will be good,' she said; 'I do love Jesus, and I'll ask Him all day +long to keep me from being naughty.' + +Then after a pause she said,-- + +'Have you gone through tribulation?' + +'I have had a great deal of trouble.' And a sad look came over Nesta's +face. + +'My old man said he had had a lot of trouble, and he told me Mr. +Russell had. Trouble always means people dying, doesn't it?' + +'There are troubles worse than death,' Nesta said gravely; 'God grant +you may never know such!' Then with a change of tone she said +brightly, 'Don't look for trouble, darling; Jesus means you to be +happy. Now shall we sing one more hymn, and then I must go.' + +Betty joined in delightedly when Nesta began,-- + + 'There's a Friend for little children.' + + +After it was finished Nesta asked,-- + +'What did you mean, Betty, by saying that a Mr. Roper had told you I +would teach you? Who is Mr. Roper?' + +Betty told her, repeating as much of the conversation she had had with +him as she could remember; and Nesta laughed aloud when she discovered +the origin of the 'lady who taught.' + +'He meant Mother Nature, Betty; a very different teacher to me.' + +'Do you know her, then? Where does she live?' + +'I will take you to see her when next we meet. You see her every day, +Betty. Now I must go. Good-bye. Is this a little doggie you have +rolled up in your pinafore? I thought it was a doll. Now, Dick, you +can come out.' + +Dick Green, a heavy-looking village boy, appeared from behind the +organ, and followed Miss Fairfax down the aisle. But Betty waited; she +had brought two roses with her for Violet's monument, and she went to +the seat upon which she had laid them, and took them round to the other +side of the church, where she deposited them in the usual place. Then +calling Prince, who had been awakened from his sleep, and was now +inspecting every corner of the church with nose and paws, Betty set off +homewards. + +Nesta Fairfax had comforted her, but had not entirely satisfied her +perplexed little heart, and the busy brain was still trying to solve +the problem. + +Betty was not the only visitor to the church that day. + +Douglas disappeared after tea, and after nearly two hours' absence +returned, hot, tired, and very cross. + +At last he confided to Molly that he had been to play the organ. + +'And I'm awfully afraid I've broken the horrid old thing, and I don't +like that Dick Green! He took my sixpence and ran off, and I worked +the handle up and down for hours; he told me the music would come in +about a quarter of an hour. It never did, but the organ gave great +gasps and groans; you never heard such a noise, just like Mr. Giles +when he goes to sleep after tea! It's awfully hard work pulling the +handle up and down; I hope I haven't broke it. I think it wants some +one to play on the front of it, but the front part is locked up. But +I've had a kind of adventure. When I came out there was a strange +gentleman looking at one of the graves in the church, so I went up to +see what he was looking at, and it was the stone image of a little +girl, and there were some pink roses in her hands.' + +Betty edged up close to her brother as he got thus far, and asked +eagerly, 'What did he say about the roses?' + +'He looked at me with an awful frown, and I folded my arms and frowned +back, like this!' + +And Douglas rumpled his fair brow into many creases, and looked so +ferocious that Molly was quite awed, though disrespectful Betty laughed +aloud. + +'"What are you doing here?" he said. "Did you put these roses here?" + +'"No," I said; "oughtn't they to be there? I'll take them away." And +then he frowned worse than ever, and said, "Don't you dare to lay a +finger on them!" and then he muttered something about the church being +always full of children now. But I didn't listen to him much; I was +busy looking at the little girl, and thinking, and then I made up a +beautiful story on the spot; it's something like some of the fairy +stories we read in our big books. I'll tell it to you in a minute. I +said to him that I thought I could tell him where the roses came from, +and he said "Where?" and then I said to him that the little girl was a +sleeping beauty waiting for a prince to come along and kiss her and +wake her up; but he hadn't come yet, so a fairy was watching her till +he came; and every moonlight night she would bring some flowers in, and +creep inside them and sleep with her, to keep all the goblins off, and +she would sing her songs in the night, and tell her stories, and +comfort her----' + +'But,' interrupted Molly, 'if she was asleep, how could she hear the +fairy?' + +'You're too sharp! Perhaps you'll wait. I was just going to say that +in the night she was able to open her eyes, only she couldn't get up. +I had just got as far as that, when the gentleman said "Pshaw!" and +then he told me to run off, and not come into the church again to +tomfool--that's what he said. He was a kind of dark, grim-looking +ogre, and I'll--well, I shall have more to do with him yet!' + +This awful threat was accompanied with a very significant shake of the +flaxen head, but Betty cried out hotly,-- + +'You don't know anything about it! He's the father of that little +girl, and he goes to her grave to say his prayers and cry. I know more +about him than you do, so there!' + +'What do you know?' + +But Betty walked off, hugging Prince under her arm, and calling out as +she went, with a spice of superiority in her tone, 'Prince and I know +all about him, and her, and the roses; that's _our_ secret.' + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Haymaking + +It was only a few days after this that nurse took all the children to +tea at an old farmhouse about two miles off. They rode part of the way +in a farm waggon, and were all in the best of spirits, for it was +haymaking time,--a time of entrancing joy to all children, and to the +little Stuarts a new and delightful experience. They had tea out in +one of the fields under a shady elm, and were just separating after it +was over to have one more romp in the hay, when, to Betty's intense +surprise, who should come across the field but Nesta Fairfax! She +evidently knew Mrs. Crump, the farmer's wife, well, for she sat down +and began chatting away about all her family, and then she caught sight +of Betty. + +'Why, it's my little friend!' she said, stooping down and kissing her; +'and are these your brothers and sisters?' + +Betty got crimson with delight, and introduced one after the other with +great importance, and Nesta won all their hearts at once by joining +them in their frolic. Her laugh was as gay as theirs, and she could +run as fast as any of them. + +'You're rather a nice grown-up person,' said Douglas approvingly, as at +last she took her leave; 'you aren't so dull and stupid as grown-up +people generally are! Will you come and see us one day at our farm? +I'll take you to see the sweetest white mice in the stable that Sam +keeps, and there's heaps of easy trees to climb in the orchard, if you +like climbing!' + +'And I'll show you a baby calf only two days old,' put in Molly, 'and +three black and white kittens in a loft, with a lot of apples one end. +We've jolly things at our farm, if you'll only come.' + +'And a see-saw and a swing,' added the twins. + +'And what will Betty show me?' asked Nesta, amused. + +'I think I'll show you the flowers, and the forget-me-nots and +watercress in the brook,' said Betty meditatively. + +'Then I really must come, with such an enchanting programme before me,' +said Nesta; and she kissed them all round, told nurse she envied her +her little family, cracked some jokes with old Crump and his wife, and +departed, leaving behind her a breezy brightness and cheeriness that +she brought with her wherever she came. + +'A pleasant young lady,' said nurse; 'who is she, Mrs. Crump?' + +'Ah, well,' said Mrs. Crump, shaking her head solemnly; 'there's a sad +story attached to the family. My niece, what the master and I have +brought up like one of our own children, has got the sitivation as maid +to Mrs. Fairfax, and she knows all the ins and outs of their trouble as +no one else do. You see, this is how it is! They were a Lunnon +family, and come down here first for change of air. They took lodgings +in Mrs. Twist's farm; there were Mrs. Fairfax and the two young ladies, +and a dashing young gentleman, the son, who came down for a day or two +at a time, but he never stayed long. Mrs. Fairfax were proud as proud +could be, and very cold and stern-like except to her son, so Jane says, +and him she couldn't do enough for; her heart was just bound up in him! +Jane went back with them to Lunnon, but she says the way the young +gentleman went on were enough to break any mother's heart. He was fast +going to the bad; and yet his mother, though she would scold and fume +at times, never seemed to see it, and paid his debts, and let him have +his fling. Miss Nesta were engaged to be married, and Jane says her +lover did all he could to stand by her brother and keep him straight; +but it weren't no good whatever. And about two year ago the end came. +Mr. Arthur had some trouble over a gaming-table; that was the +beginning; then he went and signed a bank cheque that wasn't his--I +believe as how it is called forging, and the gentleman whose cheque it +was had him up in court; he wouldn't hush it up, and it was the talk of +all Lunnon, so Jane tells me. His mother would have paid up, though it +would have ruined her; but she weren't allowed, and he were sent to +prison across the seas for seventeen years. Jane says Mrs. Fairfax +seemed turned to stone; she shut up the Lunnon house, and went abroad +to some foreign place with a long name, I forgets it now; and then she +comes back and takes Holly Grange, which is as nice an old house as +ever you see, and belonged to a Colonel Sparks, who died only a +twelvemonth ago, and is about a mile from here, over against that wood +you see yonder. But I'm tiring of you with this long tale.' + +'I like to hear it,' said nurse; and so did Betty, though a good deal +of it was incomprehensible to her. She sat with Prince in her arms on +the grass close by, and her quick little ears were listening to every +word. + +'Well,' said Mrs. Crump, with a sigh, 'there ain't much more to tell. +Jane says Mrs. Fairfax shuts herself up and won't see a single visitor; +Miss Grace, the eldest daughter, who was never very strong, has become +a confirmed invalid, with very crotchety and fidgety ways, and makes +every one miserable who comes near her. Miss Nesta is the only one +that keeps bright; and Jane says her temper is that sweet, she bears +with all her sister's crossness and unreasonableness, and her mother's +icy coldness, like an angel. She have had her troubles, too, poor +thing! Jane tells me that it was Mrs. Fairfax made her break off her +engagement with her lover; he were some relative of the gentleman that +lost the cheque, and she wouldn't have the engagement go on on no +account. Jane says her lover had a talk with Mrs. Fairfax, and he were +rather a high and mighty gentleman, and he left the room as white as +death, and declared he would never set foot in the house again. Jane +thinks Mrs. Fairfax was beside herself at the time, and must have +insulted him fearful. Anyhow, it all came to an end. It's a world of +trouble, Mrs. Duff. But I feel very sorry for Miss Nesta. The other +ladies hardly ever leave the house or grounds, and they would like to +keep Miss Nesta in as well; but she comes across to me and has a chat, +and she reads a chapter and has prayers with grandfather. She's a very +good young lady, and no one would think, to look at her, what she have +come through.' + +'Has she come through tribulation?' asked Betty, looking up suddenly. + +'Well, I never did! To think of that child a-taking it all in!' +ejaculated Mrs. Crump. 'What do you know about tribulation, little +missy?' + +'It means trouble or distress, I know;' and Betty's face was very +wistful as she spoke. + +'Run along and play with the others,' said nurse quickly, 'and don't +worry your head over other people's troubles. There is plenty of it in +the world, but your time hasn't come for it yet.' + +'I wish it would come,' said Betty softly, 'and then I could put myself +in that text.' + +But only Prince heard the whispered words, and he wagged his tail in +sympathy. + +It was that night that Betty added another clause to her evening +prayers. She generally said them aloud at nurse's knee, but it was not +the first time that she had said, 'I want to whisper quite a secret to +God'; and nurse always let her have her way. + +'She is a queer little thing,' she told her brother; 'sometimes +naughtier and more contrary than all the rest put together, and +sometimes so angel-like that I wonder if she won't have an early death. +But there's no knowing how to take her!' + +Betty's secret was this,-- + +'And please, God, forgive Prince his sins and take him to heaven when +he dies, and let me come through great tribulation, so that I may be +like your people in heaven.' + +When haymaking commenced at Brook Farm the children's delight knew no +bounds. Every moment of the day they were out in the fields; and as +the great cart-loads of hay were driven off, they felt proud and +pleased with having helped in the work. Prince enjoyed it as much as +any one; but he never left his little mistress's side for long. One +evening, as the tired haymakers were resting, after having placed the +last load on the wagon, Betty, dancing by the cart, was inspired to +ascend the ladder which had been left against it. + +'Come on,' she shouted to Douglas and Molly, 'and we'll have a ride +home.' + +Up they went, unnoticed by any, and danced up and down with delight +when they reached the top. Then nurse discovered them, and in her +fright and anxiety at their risky position she rushed towards them and +screamed aloud. The horses, startled, swerved hastily aside, and +Douglas, dangerously near the edge, over-balanced himself, and fell +with a terrible thud to the ground. It was the work of a moment to +seize him and drag him from the wheels, which mercifully did not touch +him; but he was carried into the house stunned and insensible, and +Molly and Betty, with scared, white faces, were taken down and sent +indoors. + +'It's your fault,' whispered Molly to the frightened Betty; 'you made +us come up, and now Douglas will die! I think he's dead already; +you'll be a murderer, and you'll be sent to prison and hung!' + +And Betty quite believed this assertion, and crept up to the passage +outside Douglas's bedroom trembling with excitement and fright. She +crouched down in a corner, and Prince came up, put his two paws on her +shoulder, and licked her face with a little wistful whine. It was a +long time before nurse came out of the room, and then she wasted very +few words on the little culprit. + +'Go to bed, you naughty child, and tell Miss Molly to go too. You are +never safe from mischief, and it's a mercy your brother hasn't been +killed.' + +'Will he get better, nurse?' + +But nurse made no reply, and both little girls were long before they +got to sleep that night, so fearful were their conjectures as to the +fate of their brother. + +Douglas was only stunned for the time, and very much bruised and +shaken. Nurse kept him in bed for two or three days, and the two +little girls were unremitting in their care and attention. He accepted +their services with much complacency, and enjoyed his important and +interesting position. + +'What would you two girls have done if I had died?' he asked. 'Who +would have been your leader then?' + +'You're not my leader,' said Betty promptly. 'No one is my leader. I +lead myself.' + +'I don't know what I should have done,' said Molly pensively. 'I +should have had to go about with Betty then. You see, I should have +her, and the twins have themselves. I don't think Bobby and Billy +would miss any of us much if we were to die. We should be equal if you +died, Douglas--two and two, but I'm glad you're going to get better.' + +'You wouldn't have gone about with me, Molly,' said Betty, with a +decisive shake of her head, as she stooped to caress Prince at her +feet, 'because you would have been one too many. We are two and two +without you. I don't want any one with me but Prince. You would have +to be the odd one if Douglas died--like I used to be.' + +'Prince is only a dog,' said Molly, with a little curl of her lip. 'I +wouldn't make two with a dog!' + +Betty's eyes sparkled dangerously. + +'Prince is ever so much nicer than you are--much nicer, and you're +jealous because he likes me and not you. He's my very own, and I love +him, and he loves me; and I love him better than all the people in the +world put together, so there!' + +'You needn't get in a temper. He's a silly, stupid kind of a dog, and +Mr. Giles said yesterday if he caught him chasing his sheep round the +field, he would give him a good beating; and I hope he will, for he +nearly chased the sheep yesterday.' + +'When you two have done fighting I should like to speak. My head +aches. I think I should like some of the jelly nurse made for me. It +will make it better.' + +The little girls' rising wrath subsided. Both rushed to fulfil +Douglas's desire,--for had not nurse left them in charge, and had she +not also warned them against exciting him by loud talking and noise? + +'I'm glad you will get better,' said Betty presently. 'I saw Miss +Fairfax in church yesterday, and she asked me how you were.' + +'What were you doing in church?' demanded Douglas. 'It wasn't Sunday.' + +'Prince and I go to church very often,' said Betty, putting on a prim +little air. 'We have several businesses there; but we don't tell every +one what we do.' + +'Do you play the organ?' asked Douglas, a little eagerly. + +'No, but we hear it played, and we sing, and we--well, we do lots of +other things.' + +'I shall come with you next time you go,' and Douglas's tone was firm. + +'No,' said Betty; 'you'll be one too many. I don't want Molly, and I +don't want you. I've got Prince, and I don't want no one else.' + +It was thus she aired her triumphs daily; and it was by such speeches +that she revealed how much she had felt and suffered in times past by +being so constantly left out in the cold. And Prince was daily +becoming more and more companionable. Not one doubt did Betty ever +entertain as to his not understanding or caring for her long +confidences. He slept in a little basket at the foot of her bed. She +was wakened by his wet kisses in the morning, and he liked nothing +better than snuggling into bed with her. Tucking his little black nose +under her soft chin, he would place a paw on each of her shoulders, and +settle off into a reposeful sleep; whilst Betty would lie perfectly +still, gazing at him with loving eyes, and every now and then giving +him a gentle squeeze and murmuring, 'You're my very own, my darling, +and I love you.' + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +God's Patchwork + +'Good-morning to you, little maid.' + +Betty and Prince had been straying through the lanes, and had suddenly +come upon the old sexton, who was leaning over his cottage gate smoking +a short clay pipe. + +Betty's face dimpled with smiles. + +'May I come in and see your little house?' she asked. 'Prince and I +want something to do. Douglas and Molly are lying in a hammock, and +making up stories; and the twins are no company.' + +'Come in, come in, my dear, and welcome, but 'tis a lonesome kind o' +home with only me in it; 'twas very different once on a time.' + +He led the way up a narrow path through rows of cabbages and sweet +peas, and ushered her into a tiny kitchen, clean, but rather untidy. +Betty looked round with a child's admiring eyes. There were great +shells on the mantelpiece, a stuffed owl on a sideboard, and lots of +other quaint curiosities on some shelves in a recess. + +Then she climbed into a big rocking-chair. + +'This is lovely,' she said; 'it's almost as good as a rocking-horse, if +you go very fast.' + +The old man stood looking at her for a minute; then seated himself on +the low window-seat, and went on smoking. When Betty had swung herself +violently to and fro for some minutes, she asked,-- + +'Have you been busy digging graves to-day?' + +'No; 'tis a fortnight since I had one: the season has bin rare and +healthy.' + +'Then what have you been doing?' demanded the child. + +'Oh, I don't let the time slip by; there are a many things I turn my +hand to. I digs my taters up, and gardens a bit first thing in the +morning, and I cleans up in my churchyard, and then I cooks a bit o' +dinner, and has a bit o' gossip with my neighbours. I'm a sociable +sort o' chap, though I'm so lonesome. And I has a bit o' reading on +occasions. Are you a-thinkin' any more o' that 'ere tex' that we was +a-argufying on t'other arter-noon?' + +Betty nodded. + +'I'm always thinking of it,' she said, stopping the motion of the +chair, and looking up at him with grave, earnest eyes. + +'Ah, well, so am I! I've had a good bit o' readin', too, 'tis a most +important thing, the Bible be; and I've been giving a good bit o' my +mind to it latterly. 'Twas your calm tone of saying I must be ready to +die, if I'd bin through tribbylation, started me off. I couldn't quite +make out about the washing, and so I've a looked it up. And I've found +out from the old Book that I'm as black a sinner as ever lived on this +'ere blessed earth.' + +'How dreadful!' Betty said in an awed, shocked tone; 'and you told me +you were so good! I never knew grown-up people were wicked; I thought +it was only children. What made you find it out?' + +'Well, 'twas readin' what we ought to live like, first knocked me down. +I got a-lookin' through them there epistlies, and got awful cast down. +And then I thinks to mysel', p'raps arter all Paul and such like were +too severe, so I went to the gospels, for I've always heerd the gospels +tell of love, and not judgment, but I wasn't comforted by them, not a +bit,--not even when I turned up the sheep chapter that I used for to +learn as a little 'un. It says there, "My sheep hear My voice, and I +know them, and they follow Me." And I says to myself, "Reuben! you've +never a listened to His voice; you've a gone your own way all your life +through, and you ain't a follered Him one day in all the +sixty-and-eight years you've a bin on this 'ere blessed earth!" Well, +I began to think I'd better say that prayer my dear old missis a told +me, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." And then 'twas last +Toosday night about seven o'clock I got the answer.' + +The old man paused, took his pipe out of his mouth, and looked up at +the blackened rafters across his little kitchen with a quivering smile +about his lips; whilst Betty, with knitted brows, tried hard to follow +him in what he was saying. + +'I was a-turnin' over the leaves of the old Book,' he continued, 'when +I come to a tex' which stared me full in the face, and round it was +pencilled a thick black line, which was the doin' of my missis. I'll +read it for you, little maid.' + +He rose, and took from the shelf a large family Bible. Placing it on +the table, he turned over its leaves with a trembling hand; and then +his voice rang out with a solemn triumph in it, '"Come, now, and let us +reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they +shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall +be as wool." My knees began to tremble, for I says to myself, "Reuben, +'tis the Lord's voice to thee." And I drops down on the floor, just +where you're a-sittin', missy, and I says, "Amen, so be it, Lord." I +gets up with a washed soul--washed in the blood of the Lamb.' + +There was silence; the old man's attitude, his upward gaze, his solemn +emphasis, awed and puzzled Betty. + +'And now you're in the text!' she said at last, somewhat wistfully; as +she drew Prince to her, and lifted him into her lap. + +'I shall be one o' these days, for certain sure,' was old Reuben's +reply; 'but 'tis the Lord that will put me there; 'tis His washing that +has done it.' + +'That's what Miss Fairfax said; she said it wasn't tribulation would +bring us to heaven. She made me sing,-- + + "There was no other good enough + To pay the price of sin; + He only could unlock the gate + Of heaven and let us in." + +But I'm quite sure God won't mean me to stand in the middle of those +people round the throne, if I haven't been through tribulation; I'm +quite sure He won't! I shall find myself in a mistake if I try to +creep in among them; and, oh! I want to be there, I want to be there!' + +Tears were welling up, and Prince wondered why he was clutched hold of +so convulsively by his little mistress. Reuben looked at her, rubbed +his head a little doubtfully, and then straightened himself up with a +sudden resolve. + +'Look here, little maid; you just a foller me: I'm a-goin' to the +church.' + +Up Betty sprang, her tears were brushed away; and she and Prince danced +along by the side of the old man, her doubts and fears dispersing for +the time. + +But Reuben was very silent. He led her into the cool, dark church and +up the side aisle to the tomb of little Violet Russell. There he +stopped, and directed the child's gaze above it to the stained-glass +window. + +'Can you read the tex', little maid?' + +'Yes,' said Betty brightly; 'why, even Bobby and Billy know that: +"Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not."' + +'And that's what the Lord says,' the old man went on; 'did He say the +children were to have tribbylation afore they comed to Him? Why, for +sure not! And if you, little missy, go straight into His arms when you +gets to heaven, you'll be safe enough, and He'll know where to put you.' + +Betty's little face beamed all over. + +'And He will love me, even if I haven't been through tribulation?' + +'Why, for sure He will.' + +Betty gave a happy little sigh. + +'I tell you what, now,' Reuben added; 'if you're a-wantin' to have +tribbylation made clear to you, I'll take you down to see old +Jenny--praychin' Jenny, she used to be called--for she used to hold +forth in chapel bettern than a parson. And she's bin bedridden these +twelve year; but she can learn anybody about the Bible; she knows tex's +by thousands; there hain't no one can puzzle Jenny over the Bible.' + +'Is she very ill?' asked Betty. + +'She's just bedridden with rheumatics, that's all; but 'tis quite +enough; and I was calkilatin' only t'other day that I'll have to be +diggin' her grave afore Christmas.' + +'Will you take me to see her now?' + +'For sure I will.' + +Out of the cool church they went, and along the hot, dusty road, till +they reached a low thatched cottage by the wayside. Reuben lifted the +latch of the door, and walked right in. + +There was a big screen just inside the door, and a voice asked at +once,-- + +'Who be there?' + +''Tis only Reuben and a little lass that wants to see you.' And Betty +was led round the screen to a big four-post bed with spotlessly clean +hangings and a wonderful patch-work quilt. Lying back on the pillows +was one of the sweetest old women that Betty had ever seen. A close +frilled night-cap surrounded a cheery, withered face--a face that +looked as if nothing would break the placid smile upon it, nothing +would dim the joy and peace shining through the faded blue eyes. + +Betty held out her little hand. + +'How do you do?' she said; 'this old man has brought me to see you. He +said you would tell me about tribulation.' + +'Bless your dear little heart! Lift her up on the foot of the bed, +Reuben. Why, what a bonny little maid! and who may she be?' + +'She be lodgin' at Farmer Giles's; and be troubled in her mind +concarning tribbylation.' + +The old woman reached over, and laid a wrinkled hand on the soft, +childish one. + +'Then tell old Jenny, dearie, what it is.' + +Betty was quite ready to do so; and poured forth such a long, +incoherent story that it was very difficult to understand her. Jenny +did not quite take in her perplexity. + +'Ay, dearie, most of us has tribbylation in some form or t'other; I +often think, as I lie lookin' at my patchwork quilt, that it be just a +pictur' of our life--a little bit o' brightness and then a patch of +dark; but the dark is jined to the bright, and one never knows just +what the next patch will be. But the One who makes it knows--He's +a-workin' in the pattern, and the black dark bits only serve to show up +the bright that's a-comin'.' + +'Ay,' said Reuben, sinking into a chair; 'I mind plenty o' black days +in my life; but I've had a many bright 'uns too--ay, and one white 'un, +and that were last Toosday! It be a fine patch o' white in my quilt, +Jenny!' + +'Tribbylation!' said the old woman musingly; 'I mind o' several verses +on it: "In the world ye shall have tribbylation; but be of good cheer: +I have overcome the world." "We must through much tribbylation enter +into the Kingdom of God." "We glory in tribbylation also, knowing that +tribbylation worketh patience." "Who shall separate us from the love +of Christ? shall tribbylation?" Ah, tribbylation is tryin' to the +flesh, but 'tis for the improvin' of the soul!' + +'And does everybody have it except children?' asked Betty with a solemn +face. + +'I think as how most folks have it in one form or t'other; the saints +get it surely, for "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth +every son whom He receiveth.'" + +'What does "chasteneth" mean?' + +'Punish, I take it, dearie, your father and mother punishes you at +times, don't they?' + +'No, never; only nurse.' + +'Ah, well; and doesn't she desire your good? She don't do it just to +spite you.' + +'I s'pose it's for my good,' said Betty doubtfully. + +'Tribbylation will allays be a mystery,' went on the old woman, +speaking more to Reuben than the child. 'We must bow our heads and +take it, whether we like it or no; and it's wonderful strange how +differently folks take it! Seems to me, as the Bible puts it, it's +just a fire, and whiles some like wax gets melted and soft by it, +t'others are like the clay, they gets hard and unbendable. I've known +lots o' both those sorts in my time; 'tis only by keeping close to the +Hand that smites that you feels the comfort and healing that goes along +with it. If you keeps a distance off, and lets the devil come +a-sympathisin' and a-groanin' with you, then it's all bitterness +through and through.' + +'Ay,' said Reuben, 'me and the devil have oft sat down together over my +troubles; and he do know how to make 'em werry black!' + +Betty's round eyes and puzzled gaze at this assertion made Reuben adopt +another tone. + +'But here's this little lass, Jenny, a-wantin' to have tribbylation, +for fear she shouldn't be one o' the Lord's people after all.' + +The old woman looked across at the child, and then she nodded brightly +at her. + +'And you shall have it, dearie; the Lord will send it surely; and when +you're in the midst o't, you mind these words o' the Lord's, "Be thou +faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." It's in +tribbylation our faith fails; we can't see in the dark, and we mistrust +our Guide.' + +Betty's face lit up at these words, and she brushed away some +glittering drops from her long lashes. + +'You think I shall really have it?' she questioned eagerly. + +'Surely you will in some form or t'other, and p'raps before you're a +growed-up woman. I sometimes think little folks' troubles are as big +as the older folks.' + +Betty did not hear much more of the conversation that followed. Old +Jenny had done more to comfort and satisfy her than any one else, and +she left the cottage with Reuben, saying,-- + +'I like Jenny very much, and so does Prince; we will come and see her +again.' + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Betty's Discovery + +Molly and Douglas were up in an apple tree in the orchard late one +afternoon, when Betty and Prince came rushing by. + +'Hullo, where are you going?' shouted Douglas. + +Betty came to a standstill, and Prince likewise, the latter putting his +tongue out and looking up inquiringly, as he panted for breath. + +Betty cut a caper. 'I'm going to spend the day with Miss Fairfax +to-morrow; me and Prince, hurray!' + +And Prince danced round his little mistress's legs with delighted barks. + +'I don't believe it,' said Molly, looking down through the leafy +branches; 'didn't she ask us too?' + +'No, only me; she said she'd ask you another day.' + +'Where did you see Miss Fairfax?' + +'In church; she has been making the loveliest music, and Prince and I +have been singing.' + +'Prince singing!' said Douglas contemptuously; 'I should like to hear +him!' + +'He does,' Betty said eagerly; 'he really does. He kind of whines in +his throat and up his nose, and sometimes he puts up his head, opens +his mouth wide, and gives a lovely howl! And he looks awfully pleased +when he's done it; he thinks he sings very nicely. Where's nurse?' + +'She's washing Bobby; he tumbled right into the pig-stye, and came out +a disgusting objec'!' + +'Is she rather cross?' + +'Of course she is; she won't let you go to Miss Fairfax if you ask her +now.' + +'Then I'll wait till tea.' + +Betty threw herself down on the grass, and Prince sat at her feet, +thumping his tail on the ground, and watching intently every change +that flitted across her face. Now and then he would make a snap at +some flies; if Betty spoke to him, his whole body would wriggle with +ecstasy; he seemed to live on her smiles and caressing words. + +'It will be very dull to spend the day with a grown-up person,' said +Douglas presently; 'I'm glad she didn't ask me; I never do care for +grown-up persons.' + +His lordly air in making this assertion helped to fortify Molly, who +was bitterly disappointed in not being included in the invitation. + +'I love her!' exclaimed Betty; 'she's the nicest grown-up I've ever +seen. She does laugh so, and isn't a bit proper.' + +'Well, you'll be sick of it before the day is over, you see if you +aren't! Now Molly and I are going to have a lovely day. Would you +like to know what we're going to do?' + +Molly listened eagerly, for Douglas's plans were always sudden and +unexpected. + +'We're going off directly after breakfast with our dinner in our +basket, and we're going down to the brook. I'm going to build a bridge +over it at the widest part!' + +Both sisters looked aghast at this audacity. + +'What will you build it of?' questioned Betty sceptically. + +'Of stones and clay. We shall make the clay down there; and I shall +put a few boards in, and make it all smooth with some putty that I saw +in the stable.' + +'You will fall in the water and get drowned,' said Betty; and then she +jumped up and ran off to the house, to escape a pelting shower of small +green apples from her irate brother. + +Nurse made a few objections at first, when she heard of Betty's +invitation; but when she knew that Miss Fairfax was going to call for +her little guest, and had promised to bring her safely back again, she +gave the required permission; and Betty's sleep that night was full of +wonderful dreams about her coming visit. + +She woke very early the next morning, and was full of confidences to +Prince of all that they were going to do and say. She gave nurse no +rest after breakfast until she had dressed her in her best white frock +and tan shoes and stockings; then, with her large white Leghorn hat and +little white silk gloves, she sat up on a chair in the best front +parlour, feeling very important, and making a dainty little picture as +she sat there. Prince had a piece of pink ribbon tied round his neck; +Mrs. Giles had produced it from her work-basket, and had gained a +fervent kiss and hug from the little maiden thereby. + +At last Nesta arrived in a low pony carriage, to Betty's intense +delight. She wished that Molly and Douglas had waited to see her step +in and drive off, but they had run off half an hour before, nurse +having packed them a lunch-basket, as desired. + +Nesta smiled at the excited child, as she and Prince tumbled themselves +into the carriage with a good deal of fuss; but when they were once +off, driving through the shady lanes, Betty folded her little hands +demurely round Prince in her lap, and upon her face came that dreamy +look her friend so loved to see. She did not ask questions, and the +drive was a quiet one, until they at length drove through some iron +gates round a thick shrubbery, and up to a big white house with green +Venetian shutters, and a brilliant show of roses in front. Betty was +lifted out, and taken up some low stone steps into a broad +old-fashioned hall. It seemed very cool and quiet inside; thick soft +rugs lay about the tiled floor, large pots of flowering shrubs stood +here and there, and at the farther end was an open door with striped +awning outside, and a glimpse of a smooth grassy lawn and bright +flower-beds. + +Nesta opened a door, and led Betty into a darkened room, full of sweet +scents of heliotrope and roses. + +'Now I am going to bring you something, so sit down and wait for me.' + +Betty's quick eyes were taking in everything; and as for Prince, his +nose was as busy as his eyes, and a low growl and a stiffening of his +ears soon told his little mistress that he had discovered something +objectionable. When Betty crossed the room on tip-toe, she found him +in front of a large mirror, and the snarl on his lips was not pleasant +to see, as he faced his mock antagonist. + +'Oh, Prince, for shame! I must hold you; what would I do if you broke +that glass? Now come and look at these beautiful pictures. Look at +that lady up there; she has got a little dog in her arms very like you.' + +It was a pleasant morning-room, with plenty of pretty ornaments +scattered about, and after the farm kitchen it had a great fascination +for Betty. + +Nesta presently returned with some sponge cakes and a glass of +raspberry vinegar, which Betty found most refreshing. + +'Do you live here all alone?' she asked. + +'No,' said Miss Fairfax, smiling; 'I have my mother and sister here. +My mother is not very well to-day, but I will take you to see my sister +now. Come along, this way; will Prince be good?' + +'Yes, he won't bark at all unless he meets another dog.' + +Betty trotted along, following her guide across the hall to another +room, where on a couch near the window lay a lady. + +'I've brought a little visitor to see you, Grace,' Nesta said in cheery +tones. 'This is the little girl I was telling you about the other day.' + +'I can't bear children,' was the fretful reply; 'why do you bring her +here?' + +But nevertheless she put the book down that she was reading, and +scanned the child from head to foot. Betty's grave face and earnest +scrutiny in return seemed to vex her more. + +'How children stare! Do you think me a scarecrow, child? can't you +keep your eyes to yourself? What is your name?' + +'Betty,' and the little girl drew to her friend's side rather shyly. + +'Go and shake hands,' whispered Nesta. + +Betty went up to the couch and held out her little hand. The invalid +took it, and the fair, flushed little face seemed to attract her. + +'This is a perfect baby, Nesta; I thought you meant a much older child. +Well, little girl, haven't you a tongue in your head? Have you nothing +to say? It's the way of this house: here I lie from morning to night +without a soul to speak to, and if I do have a visitor it is half a +dozen words, and then off they go! I should like them to lie here and +suffer as I do--perhaps they might have a little more feeling for an +invalid if they did.' + +'Are you going to die?' asked Betty timidly. + +'Take her away!' gasped Miss Grace; 'don't bring a child to mock me; +and I suppose you will be devoting yourself to her the whole day, and I +shall have no one to read the paper to me.' + +'No,' said Nesta brightly, 'I am going to let her play in the garden, +and then I shall come to you as usual. Come along, Betty; now you and +Prince can have a scamper.' + +Out into the garden they went; but Betty rubbed her eyes in +bewilderment when she got there. Surely she had seen this garden +before! Was it in her dreams last night? + +She tripped across the velvet lawn, answering Nesta's questions and +remarks rather absently, and then suddenly she turned round with a +beaming face. 'I've been here before,' she said; 'I had some lilies +from over there, and I came through that little door in the wall from +the wood. Do you know my lady? She looks like a queen. Does she live +with you?' + +Nesta looked perfectly bewildered. + +'You must be dreaming, Betty. How could you have come here? When did +you come?' + +Betty told her of her adventure in the wood, and Nesta listened in +wonder. + +'It must have been my mother, and yet I can hardly understand it. It +is unlike her to take any notice of children.' Then she added, 'Do you +think you can make yourself happy in the garden, Betty, or would you +like to go down the green walk outside the little gate?' + +'Will you open the gate and let me see?' said Betty thoughtfully. + +Nesta took her to it, and then for a moment they stood silent, looking +down the green avenue, with the golden sunshine glinting through the +leafy trees, and the tall bracken swaying to and fro in the summer +breeze. + +'Which do you like best, Betty--the garden or this?' + +Betty turned and looked behind her at the lovely flowers and +beautifully kept grass and gravel walks, and then she heaved a little +sigh as she looked out into the wood. + +'My beautiful old lady asked me that question before, and I thought +then I liked the garden, but now I like this green walk best,' she said. + +'You prefer nature uncultivated, don't you? So do I. But I do not +often come out here. This is my mother's favourite spot.' + +'Did you say "Nature"?' questioned betty eagerly. 'Do you mean Mother +Nature? You said you would show her to me one day.' + +'So I did, I have quite forgotten. Well, there she is out there, +Betty. Nature is God's beautiful earth: the country, the birds, the +rabbits, and the squirrels--everything that He makes and that man +leaves alone.' + +'I don't understand;' and the child's white brow was creased with +puckers. 'I thought she was a woman: Mr. Roper said she was; he said +he had learnt many a lesson from her.' + +'And so have I,' said Nesta softly. 'Listen, Betty. Sometimes I have +gone out of doors tired and worried and sad; I have wandered through +the wood, and the sweet sounds and sights I have seen in it have +brought me home rested and refreshed. They have spoken to me of God's +love, and God's care, and God's perfection. You are too little to +understand me, I expect, but you will when you get older. God makes +everything beautiful, and He watches over the tiny birds and insects +whom no one but Himself ever sees. The tiniest flower is noticed by +Him, and all His works in nature lead us to think of Him, and to +remember how He loves and cares for us.' + +Betty's blue eyes were raised earnestly upwards. + +'God does love everything, doesn't He? And He loves Prince just as +much as He does you and me.' + +Nesta hesitated. 'I think, darling, God has a different love for us to +what He has for animals. We have cost the dear Saviour His life; our +souls have been redeemed. Animals have no souls, they do not know the +difference between right and wrong----' + +'But Prince does,' broke in Betty hastily; 'he knows lots of the Bible, +for I've told him about it, and I read The Peep of Day to him on +Sunday. He likes it; he lies quite still on my lap and folds his paws +and listens like anything. And I've told him about Jesus dying for +him, and how he must try to be good. And he does try: he wanted to run +after some little chickens yesterday, and I called him and told him it +was wicked, and he came away from them directly; and I know he wanted +to go after them dreadfully, for he was licking his lips and glaring at +them!' + +This outburst from Betty was too much for Nesta. She looked at her +with perplexity, then wisely turned the subject, and after a few +minutes' more chat left her, and went back to the house. + +Betty wandered out into the wood, and then seating herself on a soft +bank surrounded by ferns and foxgloves, she drew Prince to her. + +'Come, you little darling, how do you like this? Isn't it lovely to be +spending a day in that lovely house, and not have to be shut out with +only some lilies to take away? Do you like it, Prince? And do you +think we shall see that nice queen, and find out if she sent you in a +basket to me? Do you understand about nature, Prince? I wish I did, +but it's the earth, I think; you put your mouth down and kiss it. +Isn't it nice and soft?' + +And then, laying her curly head on the velvet moss, Betty pressed her +lips to it, whispering, 'Mother Nature, Mr. Roper sent you his love and +a kiss!' + +Prince was not content to stay as quiet as this for long, and when a +rabbit popped out from a hole close by, he was after it like lightning. +Betty tore after him delightedly, and a scamper removed from her busy +little mind for the time thoughts that were beginning to trouble her. + +When Nesta returned to the garden half an hour after, she found Betty +deep in conversation with the old gardener, and Prince was hunting for +snails in a thick laurel hedge close by. + +'We didn't stay out in the wood very long,' Betty explained; 'we got +tired of running after rabbits.' + +'You must come in to luncheon now; I want you to come up to my room to +wash your face and hands.' + +'Will the cross lady be at lunch?' asked Betty, as she trotted up the +broad oak stairs a few minutes later. + +'Hush, dear; she is ill, remember. I don't think she will lunch with +us.' + +Nesta took her little visitor through a long passage to a pretty +bedroom, and Betty looked about at all the pictures and knick-knacks, +asking ceaseless questions, and fingering everything that she could get +hold of. Her curls were brushed out, her hands and face washed, and +then she was brought down to the large drawing-room. + +'This is my little friend, mother,' said Nesta, going in. + +A tall figure turned round from the window, and Betty saw her +mysterious lady once again. She looked colder and sterner than ever, +and put up her gold pince-nez to scan the little new-comer down; but +Betty's radiant face, dimpling all over with pleasure as she held up +her face for a kiss, brought a softer gleam to the old grey eyes, and, +to her daughter's astonishment, Mrs. Fairfax stooped to give the +expected kiss. + +'It is the little trespasser,' she said. 'I did not know I should see +you again so soon.' + +Then she turned to Nesta. 'Grace informed me she intended to lunch +with us. She is in the dining-room already, so we will wait no longer.' + +They walked in silence across to the dining-room, and Betty, awed by +the big table, the noiseless butler, and the cold, formal stateliness +of the meal, sat up in her big chair, subdued and still. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A Little Messenger + +Miss Fairfax seemed the most talkative, but her conversation was a +perpetual flow of complaints; the food, the weather, and her ailments +were her chief topics, and Betty's round eyes of amazement, as she sat +opposite, served to irritate her more. At length she gave a little +start and scream. + +'I am sure there is a dog in the room!' she exclaimed. 'How often I +have told you, Jennings' (this to the butler), 'to keep the dogs out of +our rooms!' + +'It's my dog,' said Betty at once; 'it's only Prince; he always sits +under my chair; he's such a dear, he waits as quiet as a mouse.' + +'Take him out of the room at once, Jennings; I can't eat another +mouthful while he is here. You ought never to have allowed him to come +in!' + +'Oh, Grace, he won't hurt you!' said Nesta, remonstrating. + +Miss Fairfax put her knife and fork together, and leant back in her +chair. + +'Very well; as my nerves are never considered in the least, it is +useless for me to speak; I had better go back to my room. I am +continually being urged to join you at meal-times; yet, when I do, I am +expected to go through the misery of having a wretched dog crawling +round my feet, and setting every nerve in my head quivering and +throbbing.' + +'Take the dog outside,' said Mrs. Fairfax quietly; then, turning to +Betty, who looked very perturbed and flushed, she said, 'Jennings will +take care of him, and he shall have some dinner in the kitchen.' + +'He won't be beaten, will he? He didn't know it was wrong to follow +me'; and Betty's eyes began to fill with tears, as she saw Prince +seized by the scruff of his neck, and carried off, in spite of +indignant growls and snaps. + +'No, he won't be beaten,' she was assured; but after this she had no +appetite for her dinner; and when the ladies rose from the table she +ran up to Mrs. Fairfax. + +'May I have Prince again now? He's so very good. I want him +dreadfully.' + +'Yes, he shall be brought to you. What are you going to do with the +child, Nesta?' + +'I will take her out into the garden, mother. But I hear old Mrs. Parr +has come up for some linseed meal I promised her. Her husband is very +ill again with bronchitis. I shall not be gone long.' + +'Then Betty shall come upstairs with me.' + +Again Nesta wondered, but wisely said nothing. + +Prince came scampering across the hall, and Betty, now completely +happy, took hold of Mrs. Fairfax's hand, and went upstairs into a +lovely little boudoir, where she sat down in a low cushioned seat by +the window, and chattered away to her heart's content. + +'Did you send Prince to me? You did, didn't you? I knew it was you! +He is such a darling, and it makes me into a couple--which I've never +been before.' + +Mrs. Fairfax smiled; she seemed to lose some of her stiffness when with +Betty alone. + +'And is he as much a companion as another brother or sister might be?' + +'I think he's much nicer. I wouldn't have any one instead of him for +all the world.' + +'What have you been doing with yourself since I saw you?' + +'Lots and lots of things. I go to church to hear Miss Fairfax play the +organ; and I take flowers to dead Violet; and I have got into lots of +scrapes; but I don't think I'm quite as naughty here as I used to be in +London. At least, we can't quite make it out. Douglas was saying the +other day, nurse lets him climb any trees here; but if he tried to +climb a lamp-post, or even one of the trees in the parks, in London, he +was always being whipped or put into cells for it! And in the country +we can go out without gloves, and run races along the roads, and swing +on gates, and we never get punished at all. We don't want to go back +to London; it's so dreadfully hard to be good there.' + +'But don't you want to see your father and mother again?' + +'Yes, I s'pose so; but we don't see them very much in London. I'd like +to stay in the country for ever and ever, and so would Prince.' After +a pause she went on, 'You see, there's a good deal more going on in the +country than in London. We know a lot more people, and there's always +something fresh happening. Now, in London every day is the same, and +we have only the nursery to play in, we get so tired of it. At the +farm where we live we're always having nice surprises; lots of little +calves are born quite suddenly, or little horses, and we don't know +anything about it till we go and see them in the morning. Yesterday +there were six little black pigs, such little beauties! And then we +have so many more people to talk to. There's Farmer and Mrs. Giles, +and Sam, and all the carters, and the old man who digs the graves, and +old Jenny, and you, and Miss Fairfax, and Mr. Russell, but I've only +seen him once.' + +Betty paused for breath. + +'And what do you find to talk about to so many people?' + +'I've been talking rather grave talks with some of them,' Betty said +reflectively, 'about tribulation.' + +Mrs. Fairfax raised her eyebrows. + +'That is very grave talk indeed for such a mite as you. What do you +know about it?' + +'I know that everybody has got it except me, and I want to have it; and +old Jenny said I'd be sure to come to it soon. She's had it, and +Reuben has, and Mr. Russell, and nurse, and Miss Fairfax has. Has the +cross lady downstairs had it, and have you?' + +Mrs. Fairfax's lips quivered a little as she turned away her head. The +soft, childish fingers were probing the wound, and she shrank from +their touch. + +Betty went on dreamily, 'I often wonder what it's like, and whether you +feel like Christian did in the dark valley; but he got through it all +right at last! I should like to come right through it into the middle +of the text, and Jenny says I shall some day!' + +There was glad triumph in her tone. + +'What text?' asked Mrs. Fairfax, looking out of the window, and away to +the green woods in the distance. + +Betty repeated once more the familiar words,-- + +'"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed +their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." How glad +they must be to have had it! don't you think so?' + +And then the stately Mrs. Fairfax sat down, and took Betty upon her +knee; drawing her close to her, till she had the little dark curly head +resting against her shoulder, she bent her head to hers, and said, +almost passionately,-- + +'God grant you will never know such trouble as mine, little +one--trouble that turns your heart to stone, and blots all heaven from +your sight!' + +Betty put her little arms round her neck. + +'Old Jenny said I should have it,' she repeated, 'and she told me when +I was in the middle of it to remember, "Be thou faithful unto death"--I +forget the other part.' + +There was silence for some moments; then Mrs. Fairfax kissed the +upturned face. + +'Now run downstairs, little woman, and find Nesta. I will say good-bye +now, for I shall not see you again.' + +Betty obeyed instantly, and when she had gone, for the first time for +many a long month, the sorrowful woman knelt in prayer. 'God help me!' +she cried; 'I have been an unfaithful servant, and have refused to turn +to Thee for comfort.' + +The rest of the afternoon was as delightful as the morning to Betty. +She visited the stables and poultry yard; she picked strawberries, and +ate them whilst she picked; she gathered a large nosegay of flowers to +take home to nurse; and then, at four o'clock, she came in to a +delicious little tea in the cool, shady drawing-room. Miss Fairfax was +lying on the sofa there, but she seemed to like to hear the child talk, +and even condescended to allow Prince to come inside to receive a lump +of sugar on his nose, whilst he sat up and begged. + +'I've had a lovely day,' said Betty, as Nesta was putting on her hat +upstairs in the bedroom. + +'And so have I,' responded Nesta, laughing. 'You have been very good +company, Betty; I shall be quite dull when you are gone.' + +'Have you no one to talk to, when I'm not here? Are you an odd one?' + +'Perhaps I may be.' + + Why don't you make yourself into a couple with some +one, like Prince and me?' + +But this made Nesta's soft eyes fill with tears; and Betty felt very +uncomfortable until she was kissed and told she was the funniest little +chatterbox living. The pony carriage came round; and a little later +she was being driven home, rather tired, and very happy, at her day's +outing. + +Nesta left her at the gate, and drove silently home. Betty had brought +a good deal of brightness into her life; and though she was always +outwardly so cheery in her manner, her heart was often heavy and sore. +It was not a cheerful house; and as an hour later she tried to enliven +the solemn dinner-table, expecting as usual to meet with no response, +but grumbles from Grace and chilling indifference on the part of her +mother, she was surprised by Mrs. Fairfax's efforts to take part in the +conversation. + +'That child is an original character,' she observed. 'Do you know who +they are, Nesta?' + +'Yes, Mr. Crump was telling me the other day; their father is the +Member for Stonycroft, and their mother that Mrs. Stuart who is so busy +in philanthropical objects in town. She was one of the Miss Champneys, +the clever Miss Champneys, as we used to call them. I think the +children must inherit the talents of their parents, for though they are +regular little pickles for mischief, they are all original in their +way. Betty thinks the most, I should say, the others seem to live in +dreamland half their time. I came across the other girl and boy in an +old willow tree the other day. I spoke to them, but was hushed up at +once by the boy, who put his fair curly head out of the branches, and +said, "You're not to speak to us just now; we're hiding from the Queen +of the Brook! she comes dashing down in foam, she's so angry with us; +and if she splashes us we shall be turned into black dogs, and have to +go on all fours till dinner time!" I laughed and left them. I don't +altogether envy their nurse!' + +'Betty is not enough of a child,' Mrs. Fairfax said; 'some of her +sayings are quite uncanny.' + +'Do you think so? She has plenty of life and spirits. But she is a +child of intense feeling. I am afraid she will suffer for it as she +grows older. Yesterday I came upon her outside the churchyard crying, +as if her heart would break, over a dead frog. I tried to comfort her. +"Oh," she sobbed; "I'm so afraid Prince has killed it. I didn't see +him, but he may have; and he doesn't look a bit sorry. What shall I do +if he grows up a murderer!"' + +Mrs. Fairfax would have thought Betty a stranger child still, if she +could have seen her that evening tossing in her little bed. + +Molly was fast asleep; nurse had left the room, and all was quiet; but +Betty was going over in her busy little mind the events of the past +day. At last she stretched out her hand to Prince in his basket. + +'She said you had no soul, Prince; I wonder if you haven't! I wish +you'd say prayers to God; I'm sure God will give you a soul, if you +ought to have one! Prince, wake up!' + +Prince rolled over, shook himself, and jumped up on the bed, wondering +what was the reason of this summons. + +Betty sat up with flushed cheeks and bright eyes. 'Come here. Prince! +Now beg! that's right. Now say a prayer; just a very little one. I +pray for you, darling, every night; but you're big enough to pray +yourself. God will know your language if you speak to Him, and you can +just speak secret to Him--I do often. Now, Prince--no--don't lick my +hand, and keep your tail still. I wish you'd shut your eyes. I'll put +my hand over them--there! Now Prince, ask God to give you a soul, and +forgive your sins, and take you to heaven when you die.' + +Betty bent her head in silence; whilst for two minutes Prince kept +perfectly still; then she took her little hands from his eyes, and he +gave a quick short bark of delight, perhaps in anticipation of a lump +of sugar for this new trick taught him. If so, he was disappointed, he +was only kissed and put back into his basket. And Betty laid her +little head on the pillow, but only half satisfied. 'O God,' she +murmured sleepily, 'if Prince hasn't prayed properly, please forgive +him, and give him a soul and make him a good dog, for Jesus Christ's +sake. Amen.' + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A Daring Feat + +It was a hot afternoon in July. The children had tired themselves out +with play, and were resting under some shady trees near the farm. By +and bye Betty wandered off into a neighbouring cornfield, and resting +her head against an old log of wood in the corner of it, went fast +asleep, whilst Prince sat at her feet, keeping a faithful watch over +his little mistress. Mr. Russell, sauntering through a footpath in the +field, came up and looked at them; and his artist's eye was at once +charmed with the picture they made. He stood, and taking out his +sketch-book, drew a rapid outline of Betty's little figure as she lay +there, one hand grasping some red poppies, and the other arm thrown +behind her curly head. Prince was also sketched; and then Betty awoke. +She looked confused at first, then jumped to her feet. + +'Don't be frightened,' said Mr. Russell gravely. 'Do you live near +here?' + +Betty pointed out the farm. + +'And do you think you would be allowed to come to my house one day, for +me to make a picture of you?' + +Betty coloured with pleasure. + +'I'll ask nurse. All by myself?' + +'All by yourself--at least with your dog. Where is your nurse? Would +she come out here to speak to me?' + +Nurse was only in the next field, so was easily fetched, and though +demurring somewhat at first, was soon reassured by Mr. Russell, who +promised to keep her only about an hour. + +'I will see she returns to you safely, my good woman; and when you find +that she has come to no harm, perhaps you will allow her to come again. +I want to make a little sketch of her, for a subject I have in view.' + +And it was settled that Betty should go to him the next day at two +o'clock. + +'I don't quite like it,' said nurse afterwards, when talking it over +with Mrs. Giles; 'but he seemed rather a high-handed gentleman, as if +he wouldn't take no. I don't know whether the mistress would like it, +most children would be shy of it, but none of these seem to know what +shyness is; and Miss Betty seems to make friends wherever she goes. I +can't understand it; Miss Molly, to my eyes, is much the most taking!' + +'Mr. Russell is our landlord,' responded Mrs. Giles; 'he's a proper +sort o' gentleman, and he won't hurt the child by a-paintin' of her. +He lives all alone since his little girl died, and maybe she'll cheer +him up; he's very downhearted, folks say.' + +'Why should you go and not us?' said Molly, when Betty ran off to tell +them all about it; 'it's too bad; you're getting all the nice things, +and I'm the eldest.' + +'I don't expect you'll like it,' said Douglas, rolling over on the +grass and tickling Bobby's bare legs with a bunch of grass; 'I know the +man, and he has an awful temper! Sam told me he thrashed a boy who was +taking a bird's nest out of his orchard; and he has a large glass room +with skeletons and bits of people's bodies lying all about. I think he +likes to get children in there, and then he keeps them prisoners, and +never lets them out again.' + +Betty stood still, eyeing her brother doubtfully. + +'I don't believe it.' + +'You wait till he gets you there! He has dead men's legs and hands. +Sam says he's seen them through the window! He's a Bluebeard; he +always keeps the room locked, and doesn't let any one in. And if he +takes you in there to-morrow afternoon, you'll never come out again!' + +'And then I shall have Prince, and take him back to London for my dog,' +put in Molly. + +'Prince is coming with me,' Betty retorted; 'so if I never come back +again, Prince won't! And I don't care if we don't come back. I'd +rather live with Mr. Russell than with you when you are cross.' + +'He'll fatten you up with porridge for a week; and then he'll cut you +up into little bits, and Prince too.' + +Betty laughed and danced away, Prince at her heels. + +'You're jealous because I'm going to be put into a picture,' she called +out. 'I'll tell you all about the dead men's legs when I come back.' + +The next afternoon she was taken up to the Hall by nurse, who arrayed +herself in her best clothes, and was delighted when she was taken to +the housekeeper's room to be entertained. She would have liked to wait +there the full hour, but Mr. Russell had promised to bring back Betty +himself; so she had not that excuse. + +And Douglas and Molly were consoling themselves at home, by building a +hay castle in the meadow, and capturing Bobby and Billy at intervals, +under the plea of painting their pictures; and then going through a +process which was more entertaining to them than to their little +victims--that of cutting off their arms and legs to hang on their walls. + +It was nearly five o'clock when Betty returned, and her little tongue +was busy all tea-time. + +'Such a funny room! and Mr. Russell had changed his mind, and he isn't +going to paint my picture; but he's going to make a dead figure of me +and Prince instead; he's got some white wet stuff like putty, and he +rolls up his shirt-sleeves like a workman! I had to lie down and +pretend to be asleep, but I could keep my eyes open, and I did see some +legs, but they're images--and there was a image without a head, a dead +figure, you know. And there were beautiful curtains, and flowers, and +rugs, and pictures half finished. It was rather an untidy room. I +told Mr. Russell what you said, Douglas; and he laughed. He gave me +some peaches, and then we had a nice grave talk coming home.' + +This and more Betty revealed; and her visits to the Hall became very +frequent as time wore on. If she enjoyed them, Mr. Russell did too, +and yet she brought to him mingled feelings of pleasure and pain. He +talked lightly to her, and put aside his stern moods whilst with her; +but every now and then some childish gesture or tone would stab him +with the memory of his little daughter, and his brows would contract +and his voice falter at the remembrance. + +One day he was called away from the studio, and for some time Betty was +left alone. + +When he returned, he found her lying flat on her chest, turning over +the leaves of a book. + +'What book have you got hold of?' he asked; 'something that seems to +interest you.' + +'It's Revelation,' said Betty, with a beaming face. + +'The Bible? I did not remember I had one in the room; ah yes, I +remember, it's here for its antique cover! Well, what do you make of +Revelation?' + +'Oh, I love it, don't you? I'm reading about the singing in heaven; +and it says "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of +thousands." What crowds there will be! Mr. Russell, supposing heaven +gets too small for all the people, what will happen?' + +'I don't think there's a chance of that,' Mr. Russell said, smiling; +'it doesn't look as if many are bound there in the present age, at all +events.' + +'It says,' went on Betty, with her finger on the page, 'for Thou wast +slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood, out of every kindred +and tongue and people and nation; that takes in everybody, doesn't it, +Mr. Russell?' + +'Yes,' said Mr. Russell, looking down at the little figure on the +floor, half humorously, half sadly; 'every one that wants to be taken +in.' + +'Why should any one want to be outside?' questioned the child. + +Mr. Russell did not answer; he went to his outline and uncovered it. +It was rapidly progressing. Betty's little figure was nearly finished. +There was the gnarled log of wood against which she lay; and Prince's +outline had already been commenced. + +She jumped up and came over to look at it. + +'It would make a beautiful grave, wouldn't it?' she said thoughtfully; +'I should like to have it put on the top of mine when I die.' + +'Don't talk about dying, child!' was the hasty reply. + +'I'm afraid I'm not ready,' said Betty, with a shake of her curly head; +'but I will be when I've been through tribulation! Mr. Russell, do you +think a dog can go through tribulation?' + +'No, I do not,' said Mr. Russell, laughing. Betty's views on her +favourite text were by this time well known to him; and he generally +treated her childish difficulties with respect; but this unexpected +question was too much for him, and Betty's little face clouded over at +his laugh. She was very silent after that, and went home with rather a +wistful little face. + +But all serious thoughts were dissolved at the news that awaited her. +Molly rushed out, her long hair flying in the wind: 'I've got a letter +from Uncle Harry, and he is coming to see us next week!' + +'And he's going to spend a week with us; he's going to fish, and I +shall fish too!' shouted Douglas. + +'And Uncle Harry will have cwicket with us!' cried the twins. + +'Of course he wrote to me, as I'm the eldest,' said Molly proudly; 'if +you'll be very good I'll read you his letter.' And producing a very +crumpled envelope from her pocket, she read:-- + + +'DEAR MADAM MOLLY,-- + +'I have had orders from your respected parents to come down for an +inspection of you all; so expect me Tuesday, the 27th inst. Tell nurse +all complaints will be attended to, and punishment duly administered. +She must get me a room somewhere for a week, as I have heard there is +good fishing in your neighbourhood. My love to doughty Douglas and the +three B's. + +'Your affectionate uncle, + 'HARRY. + +'P.S.--Tell nurse I shall bring a rod with me.' + + +'Isn't he a funny dear?' went on Molly. 'He pretends he's coming to +punish us! Won't we have fun when he comes!' + +'He doesn't know there are six of us now,' observed Betty, with +sparkling eyes; 'I wonder what he will say to Prince.' + +The children could do little else but talk about their uncle's coming +visit for the next week; and when at last Tuesday arrived, they were in +a great state of excitement. Nurse could hardly curb their turbulent +spirits. Captain Stuart was adored by his little nephews and nieces, +and his visits were always a golden time. At last, after rescuing +Douglas from a farm wagon that he was driving off during the carter's +absence, Molly and Betty from an infuriated sow that they were trying +to wash under the pump, and Bobby and Billy from a hay-cutter they were +meditating using, nurse locked up all the five in the garret, hoping +they would be safe there until their uncle arrived. Prince was left +outside; and all Betty's beseeching petitions that he might share their +punishment were unheeded by nurse. So Prince crouched down outside the +door, patiently keeping watch, and now and then responding to his +little mistress's voice through the keyhole by sundry whines and barks. + +'Nurse won't dare to put us in cells after to-day,' said Douglas +wrathfully; 'she is just doing it to pretend to Uncle Harry that we're +always in disgrace; and I hate her!' + +'And I was going down to the brook to get some forget-me-nots, to put +in Uncle Harry's room,' said Molly plaintively. + +'It's wather nice being punished all together,' said Bobby, who always +dreaded being left alone. + +Betty said nothing; her curly head was out of one of the windows, and +she was deep in thought. At last she drew it in. + +'S'posing the house was to take fire, and we were all to be locked in +here?' she suggested. + +Molly looked quite frightened at the thought; but Douglas rose to the +occasion, and he said triumphantly,-- + +'Yes, nurse would be in a pretty state then! Farmer Giles would rush +off for a fire-engine; we would throw up the windows, and then I'd get +out on the roof and make a speech. I'd remind nurse of all the nasty +things she has said and done to us since we were babies; how she has +said over and over again there never were such children in the world, +and that we nearly drove her mad; and then I'd say she'd be sorry now +when she was going to see us burnt before her eyes; and she would be +sobbing and crying, and so would Mrs. Giles and Sam and all the others!' + +'But they might get ladders to take us down,' suggested Molly. + +'There's only one ladder long enough. Sam would put that up, but the +flames underneath the floor would come out and burn the ladder in two; +and there's no fire-escape! They don't seem to have them in the +country. I should go on speaking as long as I could, and then I should +say we didn't wish to go down to our graves angry, so we would forgive +her, only we hoped the next children she had she would be kinder to. +And then I would say good-bye; and the roof would be cracking +underneath me; and nurse would scream and cry; and then I would take a +leap right into the middle of the fire; and there would be a kind of +explosion, and the house would fall in; and the next day there would be +five heaps of bones and black ashes! all that was left of us! and nurse +would sit down with a broken heart in the middle of us!' + +Bobby and Billy had been listening to this awful story with their eyes +nearly starting out of their heads; and now both burst into sobs of +terror. 'We're going to be burnt! Nurse, nurse, let us out; we will +be good!' + +They were hushed up in scorn by Douglas; but Molly soothed and +comforted them, assuring them it was only a make-up, and that the house +never would catch fire. + +'And if it did catch fire I would get out safe,' said Betty solemnly; +'for I should climb out of the window and walk along the gutter, +holding on by the roof; and then I should climb down by the pear tree +over Uncle Harry's bedroom.' + +'You couldn't do it,' said Douglas scoffingly; 'girls can't climb!' + +'I could do it; I could do it now!' + +'Then do it, do it; I dare you to do it!' + +Betty's eyes sparkled; and Molly at once left the twins, and ran to the +window and put her head out. + +'I think she could do it if we lifted her out; but it looks awful +dangerous; I should be afraid.' + +'I'm not a bit afraid,' said Betty sturdily. + +'You wait till you're once out. I dare you to do it!' And Douglas +danced up and down in delight at the coming excitement. + +Not a doubt entered Betty's head as to the right or wrong of such an +escapade; her impulsive little soul was longing to prove to her brother +her ability in climbing, and audacious as she was in daring feats, this +seemed to be a test of her powers. The garret window was opened; it +was in the roof, so Betty had no difficulty in climbing out and +standing in the gutter, which ran right round the house. Then slowly +and carefully, in sight of the four admiring faces at the window, she +commenced her perilous walk. Steadying herself by leaning with one +hand on the sloping roof at her right, Betty walked triumphantly on +till she reached the corner of the house; here she hesitated. + +'Come back,' called out Molly; 'you can't turn the corner!' + +'I dare you to go on!' naughty Douglas cried excitedly. + +There was breathless silence; but others besides the little inmates of +the garret were watching this feat in horror. Two gentlemen were +walking leisurely through the meadow in front of the house. + +'What on earth is that on the roof, Stuart? Not a child, surely!' + +'A child it is; good heavens! It's one of my hopeful nieces; she'll be +dashed to pieces to a certainty! Come on, St. Clair; only don't make a +row!' + +They reached the house as Betty was in the act of turning the corner. +For a moment the little figure swayed outwardly, and Captain Stuart +quite expected that moment to be Betty's last; but she recovered her +balance most miraculously, accomplished the turn successfully, and went +steadily on till she reached the pear tree. + +Both gentlemen remained perfectly silent, knowing that a start might +produce a false step, and they watched her descent to the ground now +with less anxiety. Half-way down had Betty got, when there was a +rushing sound of feet, and nurse, with a scream of horror appeared on +the scene. + +Betty's nerves gave way; she placed her foot on a rotten branch, which +broke under her; her hands relaxed their hold. Another scream from +nurse, echoed by Mrs. Giles behind her, and the child fell heavily, but +safely, into her uncle's arms below. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Uncle Harry's Friend + +'There's a pretty welcome for a tired man who wants his dinner!' + +Betty was standing before her uncle with a white little face and +determined, set mouth, and nurse was releasing the other little +prisoners and bringing them down to their uncle. + +Captain Stuart's friend was lounging on the low window-seat of the best +parlour, looking on with an amused eye. + +'Nurse thinks you ought to have a good whipping,' continued Captain +Stuart, stroking his long, fair moustache very gravely, though there +was a twinkle in his blue eyes. 'I think we must have a court-martial +first. Were you trying to kill yourself, Betty?' + +'I was trying to save myself from a fire--I mean a fire that might be.' + +The sentence was begun bravely, but the little lips began to quiver. +Shaken by her fall, afraid of her uncle's anger, and uncomfortable by +the presence of a stranger, she burst into tears. + +And then Captain Stuart took her on his knee, and drew out his large +handkerchief. + +'There, little woman, rest your head against my shoulder and cry away; +it will do you good. I was beginning to think you a little stoic.' + +The door opened, and the other children appeared, with very large eyes +and solemn faces. + +They kissed their uncle in a subdued fashion, and then Molly said, +'Nurse told us Betty had fallen, is she hurt?' + +'Is her legs bwoken?' demanded the twins. + +'I knew she couldn't do it; I told her she couldn't!' + +In an instant Betty's face appeared from behind her handkerchief. 'I +did do it; I did! and I could do it again to-morrow; so there, Douglas!' + +Then Uncle Harry laughed outright, after which he pulled himself up, +and said as sternly as he could,-- + +'Now look here, youngsters, I'm not good at scolding, as you know; but +you're all old enough to know that it is not true pluck to go crawling +round roofs like cats, and running the risks of breaking your necks and +damaging your limbs for the rest of your lives. Now then, who is to +blame? Speak up like little Britons, and don't be ashamed of owning up +and telling the truth about it.' + +There was a pause. Douglas got very red in the face, but blurted out, +'I dared her to do it.' + +'And I said I thought she could do it,' said Molly with tearful eyes; +'but I did ask her to come back at the corner.' + +'And I dared her to go on,' added Douglas. + +'And Bobby and me clapped our hands at her,' put in Billy eagerly, +feeling anxious to share in the glory of the escapade. + +'Do you think it a brave thing to urge another on to danger, when, +perhaps, you would be afraid of taking their place yourself?' + +It was Douglas who was addressed, and he hung his head in shame. + +'But he was just getting out of the window to follow her, when nurse +came up,' said Molly, in defence of her favourite brother. + +'I didn't know boys were in the habit of following girls,' remarked +Captain Stuart drily. 'I think doughty Douglas must have another name. +Listen, my boy, and remember this to the end of your life. There were +two young fellows came out to join our battalion in Egypt. We were +ordered out one morning on a reconnaissance, and both these youngsters +came with us. They were strong, fresh-faced young fellows, one +especially; he was the heir to a big property at home, and had left his +widow mother to come and earn a name for himself. I can see him now, +with his sparkling eyes and merry laugh, as he rode on just in front of +me with his chum. I won't give you children details, but we had a +sharp bit of fighting that morning, and bullets were flying pretty +freely. At the finish, when returning, having dispersed our enemy, we +came across another party of them entrenched on a height. Orders were +given to fire lying down, as they were skilled marksmen and had the +advantage of the position. "Now then," whispered one of these young +fellows to the other, "make your name; scale the hillside and storm +their fort." + +'"I would if I had my orders to," was the quick retort. + +'"We're like rabbits in the underwood," the youngster went on. "Do +those skulking fellows think we're afraid of showing ourselves? A good +British cheer and a sight of our rifles would soon send them to the +right-about. The poor old major is dead beat and wants a nap, or he +wouldn't give such an order. Show yourself, Castleton; let them have a +sight of your six foot six. What? _afraid_!" + +'In an instant Johnny Castleton stood up in the full strength of his +manhood, and the next moment his brains were scattered by a bullet, his +dead body falling into the arms of the friend who was the cause of his +death. Do you think he died the death of a hero, Betty? How do you +think his friend felt, Douglas, when he had to write home and tell the +widowed mother her boy would never come back to her? Do you know, the +folly of his act so weighed upon his mind that he left the army, and +when I last heard of him his friends were afraid that his reason was +giving way. There now! I've made your faces solemn enough to satisfy +nurse. And you will never dare your sisters to do foolhardy exploits +again, will you, my boy? And you will never listen to him if he does, +girls? Now my lecture is ended, and you can tell nurse to forgive you +all. Where is Mrs. Giles? I wonder if she could put up my friend for +a night or two.' + +Captain Stuart put Betty down from his knee, and rose to his feet. He +so seldom lectured the children that his words left a deep impression, +and none of them ever forgot the lesson imprinted on their minds. They +were rather subdued for the rest of the day, and not altogether pleased +at the advent of Major St. Clair. + +'We shan't get Uncle Harry a bit to ourselves,' grumbled Douglas, as +the children were playing in the garden whilst the gentlemen were at +dinner; 'he'll be going out fishing with that other fellow every day, +and he's going to stay the whole week with him.' + +'I like him rather,' said Molly; 'he is something like Mr. Roper.' + +'He has nice sad eyes,' put in Betty; 'and he likes Prince.' + +But before long Major St. Clair was taken into favour. He was a tall, +dark man, with rather a stern look, until he smiled; and then the +children knew they need not be afraid, for he had more smiles than +frowns for them during his stay. Douglas, to his great delight, was +allowed to go fishing with them. + +'You see,' he confided to his sisters, 'they couldn't get on very well +without me, as I'm learning to put their bait on for them, and I help +to unpack their luncheon-basket, and very often I lie down on the bank +and tell them stories; they like that very much.' + +One afternoon they were all in the orchard under some shady trees: the +gentlemen were smoking and reading the papers, the children playing a +little way off. Presently Betty came sauntering up to her uncle, +Prince close at her heels. + +'We're going for a walk,' she said; 'I s'pose you wouldn't like to come +with us?' + +None of the little Stuarts ever did anything without first inviting +their uncle to participate in it. + +'No, I wouldn't,' he said, leaning lazily back in his wicker chair and +surveying the little figure before him with amused eyes. 'Where are +you bound? Your independence of thought and action will be sadly +crippled when you get back to town. Does nurse let you all scour the +country at your own free will?' + +'What does scour mean?' asked Betty with knitted brows. 'Does it mean +scrub? for I'm sure the country doesn't want cleaning.' Then, not +liking the laugh following her words, she went on hastily: 'Nurse +doesn't ask where I go, so I don't tell her; but I go to church, when I +don't go to Mr. Russell.' + +'And what do you do there?' + +'Well,' said Betty, looking very steadily at her uncle, 'if you and +Major St. Clair won't say anything about it, I'll tell you.' + +'Wild horses won't tear it from me,' said the major. + +'I go to take some flowers to a little dead girl there; she likes to +smell them, and hold them in her hands instead of the dead lily she has +got. And then I've got a friend who meets me there--a lady she is--and +she sings the most beautiful songs on the organ! they make me cry +sometimes. And the church is so dark, and still, and cool; it's a +beautiful place.' + +'Will you let me come with you?' asked Major St. Clair, rising as he +spoke. + +'It is an enchanting programme,' murmured Uncle Harry; 'tears amongst +the dead! I warn you, my dear fellow, the church is nearly a mile +away.' + +'I want to stretch my legs,' was the response. + +Betty set off radiant, with much self-importance. + +'You see,' she said, looking up at the major through her long lashes as +she trotted along at his side, 'I don't always ask people to come with +me; Prince and I are quite enough. But you're a visitor, and so is +Uncle Harry. You won't talk or make a noise in church, will you? And +will you help me to get some honeysuckle from the hedge as we go along? +Violet will like to smell it--at least, I make believe she will.' + +The walk seemed a short one to the major, Betty entertained him so +well. When they reached the church, she took him straight to the +monument she loved so much, and was pleased with his genuine admiration +of it. She placed the honeysuckle reverentially in the clasped hands +of the little figure, which she stooped down to kiss as usual, and then +pointed to the stained window above. + +'Don't you like it?' she said in a solemn whisper. 'And do you see the +text? Mr. Russell put it there. I was asking him the other day about +it. I asked him if he was like one of the disciples that wanted to +keep the children away from Jesus, and if he put it up for that, and he +said, Yes, he did want to forbid Violet to go to Jesus when He called +her. I expect Violet is very glad she wasn't kept back, don't you +think so?' + +'I expect so,' the major responded gravely. + +'She wasn't any bigger than me,' continued Betty, standing before the +window with clasped hands, and that upward dreamy look that always came +upon her sweet little face when talking about serious things, 'but +she's got through tribulation safely. Mr. Russell told me how she bore +all the pain of her illness for a whole year without a grumble; and +pain and suffering is tribulation, isn't it?' + +'What do you know about tribulation?' + +How often had Betty been asked that question! + +'I know a great deal about it,' she said, looking at the major very +earnestly; 'and though I haven't had it, I'm expecting to. Have you +had it?' + +'No, I don't know that I have,' was the amused reply. Then, a shadow +crossing his face, he added: 'Trouble and I are not strangers. I think +I have had my share.' + +'And a big trouble is tribulation, isn't it? And it's on the way to +heaven.' + +Then the major smiled his sweet smile. 'That's it, Betty, on the way +to heaven. We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of +God.' + +'And have you had a big trouble?' persisted the child. + +'Yes, I have,' the major said slowly; 'a very big trouble, Betty. At +one time of my life it would have overwhelmed me, but I've learnt to +take things differently now.' + +'You'll hear my friend sing about tribulation, p'raps, if I ask her to; +she will be here directly. Where will you sit? I like to sit on the +chancel step, and Prince sits in my lap.' + +'I will find a seat for myself. Perhaps I shall slip away into the +sunshine again.' + +And Major St. Clair sauntered round the church, looking at the old +tablets until he heard the door open, and then he slipped into a seat +at the side of the church behind an old stone pillar. + +Betty seated herself on the chancel steps after her greetings with her +friend were over. The picture she made as she sat there was long +riveted on Major St. Clair's memory: the golden sunshine streaming in, +the old carved pews in the background, and the dainty little white +figure hugging her spaniel in her arms, would have charmed an artist's +eye. But it was not this sight that made the strong man suddenly turn +pale and clutch the back of the seat in front of him with nervous, +trembling hands; his startled gaze was no longer upon Betty, but upon +the slight, graceful figure that was now taking her seat at the organ. + +Betty's clear, childish voice was heard,-- + +'Please sing about tribulation. I've brought some one with me who +would like to hear it. He's listening at the back of the church.' + +Nesta gave a hasty look round, but seeing no one, turned again to the +organ, and in a minute her beautiful voice rose in the triumphant +strains of the song of the redeemed. Major St. Clair folded his arms, +and stood up behind his pillar. He seemed strangely moved, and as the +last notes died away he hastily quitted the church. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +'When We Two Met!' + +Betty was so absorbed in the music that she forgot all about the major. + +'When I grow up, do you think I shall be able to play and sing like you +do?' she asked, with a little sigh of happiness. + +'I dare say you may, dear.' + +'But shall I have an organ to play? In London you can't go into any +church and play, can you?' + +'No; it is only because I know the clergyman here that he gives me +permission.' + +'And why do you never come to church here on Sunday?' + +'Because we have a little church nearer us; but it has not an organ, +and so I come over here.' + +'Do you know what I do when you're singing? I shut my eyes and pretend +I'm in heaven. It's lovely! If you shut yours you could pretend too, +and I wish you could go on singing for ever and ever!' + +Nesta laughed, and kissed the little eager, up-turned face. 'I should +get very tired and hungry, I'm afraid. I am not an angel, Betty; but +you're right, darling. I, too, get very near to heaven when I'm +singing;' and she added musingly,-- + + In heart and mind ascending, + My spirit follows Thee.' + + +When, a little later, Nesta came out of the church with Betty, the tall +figure of Major St. Clair came forward to meet them. + +'Good-afternoon, Miss Fairfax.' + +His tone was cold and grave; but Nesta started, and turned white to her +very lips; then with an effort she recovered her composure, and held +out her hand. + +'It is a long time since we have met,' she said. + +There was a pause, but Betty came to the rescue with the delightful +unconsciousness of childhood. + +'Do you know my Miss Fairfax?' she asked the major. 'You never told me +you did. Didn't she sing beautifully? Did you like "Tribulation"? We +like it the best of all her songs, don't we, Prince?' + +She stooped to caress her little dog; then, as he broke away from her, +she darted after him. + +Major St. Clair stood still, and his eyes never moved from Nesta's face. + +'Do we meet as strangers?' he asked. + +'No,' she said, a little unsteadily, and her lips quivered in spite of +herself, as she strove in vain to meet his gaze calmly; 'as old +friends, I hope.' + +'Never!' he said, a passionate light coming to his eyes; 'it must be +everything or nothing to me, as I told you long ago.' + +She was silent; a little sigh escaped her, so hopeless and yet so +patient, that Major St. Clair continued hotly,-- + +'I would not have come here, had I known you were in this +neighbourhood; but having met I cannot go without a word with you. +Nesta, you are not happy; I see it in your face! Time has not soothed +and comforted you; why will you not let me share your trouble and stand +by you when perhaps you need a friend more than ever you did in days of +old? Do you realize the blank you are making in my life, as well as in +your own? Yes, I know I am taking much for granted; but yours is not a +nature to change. I believe in you now as I always did, and it is only +your mistaken ideas of duty that have brought this trouble into our +lives.' + +He paused, and then Nesta spoke, looking away from the low churchyard +wall by which they were standing to the hills in the distance. + +'I am sorry we have met,' she said simply, 'very sorry, for it is pain +to us both; but the circumstances in my life have not changed; I cannot +act differently; my mother and sister require me, and my mother----' +Her voice faltered. + +'Your mother is still of the same opinion,' he said. 'I look back with +regret to my heated words when last I saw her. Time and another +Teacher has shown me since where I was wrong; but, Nesta, let me plead +my--may I say our cause with her again? She has no right to spoil our +lives, and it is no true kindness to her to allow her to do it. Give +me your permission to come and see her.' + +'I cannot; it will only stir up her grief and pain afresh. She will +not, cannot, look at things in a different light.' + +'And are you going to part with me like this?' + +His tone was low and husky with feeling. He added, a little drearily, +'I wonder, after all, if your affection has cooled; you speak so calmly +about it all, that it makes one think----' + +Nesta heard him so far, and then put out her hand as if to stop him. + +'Oh, Godfrey!' + +That was all; but as the old familiar name slipped from her lips she +burst into tears, and turning aside, leant her arms on the old wall and +buried her head in them. + +Major St. Clair stepped up quickly. 'Nesta, Nesta, you must not! I +cannot stand it! My darling, we cannot part like this!' + +What he might have done was never known; perhaps, with his strong arm +round her, Nesta would have yielded then and there; but a most +inopportune childish voice broke in close by. + +'You've made her cry! You've made my Miss Fairfax cry!' And with a +little rush Betty flew to comfort her friend. + +In an instant Nesta was standing erect again. + +'It is nothing, darling; we have been talking over old times. +Good-bye, Major St. Clair.' + +She turned down a path at the side of the church, whilst Major St. +Clair gazed after her in bewilderment and vexation. + +'Oh!' he said, shaking his head at Betty as they retraced their way +homewards, 'you're like a little boy I once knew, who would bring me a +delicious plate of cherries. "Would you like to have some, major? +Look at them; aren't they lovely?" And then, as I stretched out my +hand, he would snatch them back with malicious glee, and gobble them up +in my sight.' + +'He was a very rude little boy,' said Betty, a little offended, 'and I +don't think I'm a bit like him, for I haven't brought you anything this +afternoon.' + +Very restless and uneasy was Major St. Clair all that evening; Captain +Stuart more than once took him to task for his moodiness and absence of +mind, but was quite unsuccessful in eliciting a satisfactory +explanation. + +The next day they went off fishing together, but about four o'clock +Major St. Clair left his friend and sauntered back to the house. +Finding Betty and Prince playing together outside, he called her to +him, and, lying full length on the grass, led her on to talk about +Nesta. Betty innocently fell in with his wish; she gave him a graphic +description of her day at Holly Grange, and then went back to the day +when she first met Mrs. Fairfax in the wood. + +'She's like a queen,' said the eager child; 'her face is so stern and +proud, but she's very sad! Every grown-up person seems sad about here! +I like Mrs. Fairfax very much; she gave me Prince.' + +Major St. Clair listened, and asked questions, and then suddenly +started to his feet. + +'Come for a walk with me,' he said; 'wait till I have written a letter, +and then we will start.' + +'To church again?' inquired Betty. + +'No, not to church; to Holly Grange.' + +'It's miles and miles,' said Betty dubiously; 'I went in a pony +carriage, but if you go by the wood it is shorter.' + +'Oh, we shall manage it very well, and if you are tired I will carry +you.' + +Major St. Clair's tone was quite cheerful, and Betty set off with him, +delighted at being chosen as his companion. + +'Are you going to see Miss Fairfax?' she asked presently. + +'No, I don't think I shall go into the house at all; but I want you to +take a note to Mrs. Fairfax and bring me back an answer.' + +Betty coloured up with pleasure. 'I shall like to do that,' she said; +'it's such a nice house inside, and you should see the flowers! I +think I could be quite happy if I were Mrs. Fairfax, couldn't you?' + +She chattered on, and when at last the gates were reached, Major St. +Clair entrusted her with the important letter. + +'Give it to Mrs. Fairfax yourself, Betty, and tell her I would like to +see her very much.' + +Betty nodded, and clasped the letter tightly in one little hand, Prince +followed her closely up the drive. The hall-door stood open, and for a +moment the child hesitated; then the old butler crossed the hall, and +she called out eagerly,-- + +'Please, can I come in and see Mrs. Fairfax?' + +The man looked surprised. 'I don't think she will see you,' he said, +smiling; 'Mrs. Fairfax sees no visitors.' + +'But I'm not a visitor,' said the little girl; 'I'm only Betty, and +I've got a letter to give her.' + +'I will go and see.' + +He disappeared, but returned a minute after. + +'Come in, missy--this way.' + +He led the child into the drawing-room, where Mrs. Fairfax was +presiding at the afternoon tea-table. Nesta was not there, and Grace +was just leaving the room. + +A smile lightened Mrs. Fairfax's grave face at the sight of Betty. + +'All alone?' she asked, bending down to kiss her. + +'I've come to bring you a letter,' said Betty, dimpling over with +pleasure and importance. + +Mrs. Fairfax made her sit down in a little cushioned chair, and took +the note in her hand. As she read it, she knitted her brows, and her +lips took their sternest curve; then rising she went to the farther end +of the room, and stood looking out of the low French window, her back +turned to Betty, and her hands clenched convulsively by her side. + +Nesta was right in surmising what a torrent of painful memories would +be aroused by Major St. Clair's advent in their neighbourhood. + +If the letter had come a few weeks before, there would have been only +one answer; but Mrs. Fairfax had been learning lately from the great +Master Himself, and her heart was softened and subdued. Still it was a +hard struggle, and pride fought for predominance. At length she turned +round, and went to her writing-desk; and then Betty crept up softly to +her. + +'Major St. Clair asked me to ask you to see him,' she said, laying her +little hand on Mrs. Fairfax's knee. + +'I will write my answer, Betty; I cannot do that,' was the cold reply, +as Mrs. Fairfax turned her head away from the child. + +But Betty was not to be put off. + +'I think he would like to see you very much; and you'd like him, for he +is Uncle Harry's friend; and he has such sad eyes, and he has been +through tribulation like you; at least, he has had a big trouble, he +told me; and that's just the same, isn't it?' + +There was no answer. Betty continued: 'Shall I just go out and bring +him in? I've been telling him about you this afternoon, and how you +gave me the lilies, and Prince, and he liked to hear it; he asked me a +lot of questions, and I think he wants to see you, and if you're like a +queen, like I told him!' + +Then Mrs. Fairfax lifted the child on her knee. 'Oh Betty, Betty!' was +all she said, but some glistening drops fell on the child's curly head, +as the grey head was bent over it, and Betty wondered why Mrs. +Fairfax's voice sounded so strange. 'I think you will have to bring +him in here,' Mrs. Fairfax said at last; and Betty trotted out of the +room in great delight. She found the major pacing up and down the road +with a white, resolute face. He threw away the cigar he was smoking +when he saw the child, and asked, with anxiety in his dark eyes,-- + +'Well, little woman, how have you fared?' + +'You're to come in and see her.' + +'Thank God!' and not another word did the major say till he was in the +drawing-room. + +It was a constrained and formal greeting between the two; and then Mrs. +Fairfax turned to Betty,-- + +'Will you run into the garden, dear, till we call you? I think Grace +is out there.' + +Betty obeyed. Grace was walking slowly up and down the path, enveloped +in shawls, and did not look well-pleased when the childish voice +sounded in her ear,-- + +'May I come and walk with you?' + +'Were you sent out here? Nesta, I suppose, as usual is out, so she +will not be able to look after you, and I certainly am not in a fit +state of health to amuse you and keep you out of mischief.' + +'I'm not going to get into mischief, really,' protested Betty in an +aggrieved tone; 'I'll walk quietly along with you, and won't even pick +a flower. Are you better today?' + +'No, I am not better--I don't expect I ever shall be, though I can get +no sympathy from any one in this house.' + +'What's the matter with you?' asked Betty. + +'Now, if you are going to worry me with questions, you can just run +away; if you were to be kept awake night after night, and never know +what it was to be without headaches, having every nerve in your body +quivering from exhaustion, you wouldn't wonder what the matter was.' + +'I expect you're like Violet, only she could never leave her bed. Mr. +Russell said she would sometimes have no sleep all night, and she was +so patient, she used to say, "Read me about there shall be no pain." +Mr. Russell said he wouldn't have been half so patient as she was. And +now she is singing right in the middle of "these are they which came +out of great tribulation." Wouldn't you like to be her?' + +Grace was silent. Betty's active little tongue turned to other +subjects; she told about her visit to the Hall, of her 'dead figure' +which was being made out of 'soft putty'; of Prince's misdemeanours +when he tried to chase chickens, and then came back to his little +mistress with his tail between his legs; of Douglas and Molly's +wonderful games, and the twins' talents for getting into trouble; she +told her of her walk on the roof, and the story of the young soldiers +related by Uncle Harry; and Grace listened, and eventually was amused +and interested in spite of herself. + +It was a long time before Betty was summoned to the house; and then she +met the major in the hall. + +'Run in, little one, and wish Mrs. Fairfax good-bye.' + +Mrs. Fairfax stooped to kiss Betty; all the hard lines in her face had +disappeared, and her voice was unusually gentle. + +'You must come and see me another day, when I have no business to +occupy me.' + +And Betty put her arms round her neck, and gave her a delighted hug. + +'You will meet Nesta coming back from the church if you keep to the +lane,' Mrs. Fairfax said, speaking to Major St. Clair; 'and we shall +expect you to dinner tomorrow.' + +He raised his hat, and strode round the shrubbery with such energy that +it was all Betty could do to keep up with him. + +'Don't you think Mrs. Fairfax like a queen?' asked Betty presently. +'Was she like what I told you?' + +'I have seen Mrs. Fairfax before,' was the major's short reply; and +Betty gave a little disappointed 'Oh!' + +Not long afterwards they came in sight of Nesta. She was walking along +rather slowly, her eyes and her thoughts far away; but when she saw who +it was, a quick colour spread over her face. + +Major St. Clair stepped forward quickly. + +'Your mother has sent me to you,' he said; and there was a glad ring in +his tone. Nesta looked up at him bewildered. + +'My mother! Have you seen her?' + +'Yes; thanks to this little person here with me.' + +Betty was kissed, but for once Nesta seemed oblivious of her presence. +The child could not understand it, neither could she understand the +explanation that followed in low, earnest tones. She saw Nesta's eyes +light up with a sudden joy, and then fill with tears; she saw Major St. +Clair bend his head very close to hers, and though she stood silently +by she might just as well have been miles away, for all the notice that +she received. At last with a little sigh she said,-- + +'I'm rather tired; I think I'll go home with Prince.' + +Nesta turned to her at once. + +'You poor little mite! Godfrey, will you carry her? I must leave you. +No, don't come with me. I shall see you to-morrow, and I would rather +see my mother alone. She has been so different lately, but I never +dared to hope for this! Good-bye, Betty; you have been our little +benefactor.' + +Betty was hoisted on the broad shoulders of the major, and carried home +in silence; he was busy with his own thoughts, and she was tired and +sleepy. + +They found Captain Stuart impatiently waiting for dinner. + +'Where have you been?' he asked; 'has Betty bewitched you?' + +'She has done me a good turn to-day,' responded the major. + +Betty dipped her little hand into her uncle's. + +'We've been to Holly Grange, Uncle Harry. I think Major St. Clair and +my Miss Fairfax must have quarrelled yesterday, for he made her cry; +but they kissed each other and made it up to-day, and now we're all +friends.' + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A Hero's Death + +Captain Stuart's week was prolonged to a fortnight, much to the +children's delight. They were all astonished when they heard that +Major St. Clair was going to marry Betty's Miss Fairfax. Betty herself +was very puzzled about it, for she was still unconscious of how large a +part she had played in the little drama; and only wondered sometimes +that Nesta seemed to care so little for the organ now, and was so often +occupied in walking or driving with the major. This, perhaps, made her +enjoy her visits to Mr. Russell's studio the more; and when one day he +put the finishing touch to the bit of sculpture, she looked rather +wistfully at him. + +'And mustn't I come here any more now?' + +'Come as often as you like,' was the hearty reply; 'I like you chatting +away to me whilst I work.' + +'I've a good many friends here,' announced Betty upon the last evening +of Captain Stuart's stay; 'I think I've more friends than Molly and +Douglas have. They don't care about grown-up people: I rather like +them!' + +'We like Uncle Harry,' protested Molly. + +'And who do you like the best of all your friends, Betty?' asked Major +St. Clair. + +'I think I like Mr. Russell. You see, he's an odd one, like I used to +be before I had Prince. Miss Fairfax used to be an odd one too, but +she's one of a couple now. Mr. Russell has got no one; he's quite +alone.' + +There was great laughter at Betty's speech. + +'I think I'm an odd one, Betty,' Captain Stuart said. 'What do you +advise? My making myself into a couple?' + +'Two and two are so much more comfortable,' went on Betty gravely; 'I +don't really know what I should do if I hadn't Prince to go with! +Really at the bottom of my heart I love him better than anybody! +Couldn't you get a dog, if you can't get any one else, Uncle Harry? +You'd find yourself in a very nice couple then.' + +How Captain Stuart laughed! And Betty was the only one who could see +no joke in the matter. + +After the gentlemen had left, the children had a quiet time. Betty +would still steal away to the church to hear Nesta sing and play; and +one day all the children spent a day at Holly Grange. Nurse was +getting a little tired of the quiet country life, and began to talk +about the return to London, which filled her little charges' hearts +with dismay. + +'It will be dreadful to sit up and do lessons again,' moaned Molly. + +'I think,' said Douglas slowly, 'that I shall get lost the day we are +going back; and then I shall live in the wood in that little hut; I +shall be a kind of wild man; and I shall eat berries and nuts, and when +I want some meat I shall kill a rabbit, and cook him! I really cannot +stand being cooped up in that nursery at home again.' + +'I've never, never been so happy in my life before,' Betty chimed in; +'but then of course I shall take Prince with me. Fancy! If we had +never come to this farm, we should never have gone to that wood, and I +should never have seen Mrs. Fairfax, and she would have never sent me +Prince!' + +'It's always "Prince" with you,' Douglas said a little impatiently; +'you can talk of no one else.' + +The day following the one on which this conversation was held, Farmer +Giles came into the kitchen in great perturbation about twelve o'clock. + +'Where are the children?' he demanded quickly. + +Nurse came into the room, leading Bobby, who had been undergoing a +change of garments through a tumble into the duck-pond. + +'They're out in the meadows,' she said; 'what's the matter?' + +'I'm afraid there's a dog of Mr. Dart's loose; I've just heard say it's +gone mad, and can't be found! It's these dreadful hot days. I've just +chained up Rough. Little Miss Betty must look after that dog of hers. +Tom Dart and a neighbour is out huntin' for theirs now.' + +'A mad dog!' exclaimed nurse in horror; 'call them in, Jack, do! What +should I do if they met it?' + +And leaving Bobby in the kitchen, she as well as her brother ran out to +warn the children. They found them in a clover field under the trees: +Douglas was busy trying to work his way inside an old hollow trunk; +Molly was digging down a rabbit hole; and Billy was waiting upon them +both. + +'Where is Miss Betty?' + +'She's gone along the lane,' said Douglas, looking up with a very +heated face; 'I sent her to the brook to get some water: we're going to +lay in provisions for a siege; and this tree will be our hiding-place.' + +'And I'm digging for treasure money,' said Molly. + +'Is Prince with her?' asked nurse anxiously. + +'Yes, he won't ever stay with us.' + +'They're safe enough in this field,' said Farmer Giles, looking round; +'but they'd best not wander in the lanes. We must have Miss Betty +back.' + +Betty meanwhile was trotting contentedly along, hugging an old +earthenware jar. + +'We'll get them some water, Prince, and then you shall be the sentry; +Douglas said you could be; directly you hear a step you must bark!' + +Prince looked up, wagged his tail in response, and began to burrow in +the grass for imaginary frogs. + +And then Betty, feeling her jar very heavy, sat down against the hedge +bank to rest. She remained there some time, chattering away to her +dog, and was just starting on her way again, when shouts up the lane +startled her. + +A moment after, and straight down the lane towards her tore a large +retriever; his mouth was open and covered with foam, and he kept making +snaps at the air as he rushed along. After him came two men and some +boys. + +'Out of the way!' they shouted; 'he's mad!' + +Poor little Betty stood in the middle of the lane, quite petrified. It +was a very narrow lane; the banks and hedges were high on either side, +and there literally seemed no escape for the child. On he came, with +open jaws and bloodshot eyes; and in another moment a shrill childish +scream rose in the air, which sent an awful chill through nurse's +blood; for she was now close upon the scene. She arrived just as Tom +Dart had got near enough to the dog to fire, and the report of a gun +went off as she clambered over a gate into the lane. + +She saw the body of the poor beast in the road, with Tom standing over +it, but with trembling limbs made her way along to the little crowd now +assembled higher up the lane. They were bending down over something in +the middle of the road. Was it Betty? + +'Is she safe? Who is hurt?' she gasped, as she pushed her way through. +There, in agony of grief and terror, Betty was sitting upon the ground, +shielding with her little arms her precious dog. 'You shan't take him +from me, you shan't; he's my very own, and he's nearly killed!' she was +crying frantically. + +Nurse seized hold of her and the dog together. 'Are you hurt, child? +Speak! Thank God, it's only the dog!' + +Farmer Giles was already there, questioning the excited crowd. 'He was +making straight for her, but the little dog dashed in front just in +time. See how he's bitten! Take him away from the little missy; he'll +have to be shot! 'Twas lucky for her she had him with her!' This and +more was told, with gaps and pauses; but Betty saw and heard nothing of +what was going on around her. She seemed almost beside herself with +terror and grief. + +'Take us away, nurse! Get a doctor! he's bleeding! He mustn't, oh, he +mustn't die! Don't touch him! Oh, I won't, I won't let him go!' + +'Come, come,' said Farmer Giles soothingly; 'I won't hurt him. We must +see where he is bitten; perhaps I can put him to rights. You let me +carry him home. There, see, he's been bitten in his neck, but you're +hurting him, holding him so tightly! You let me carry him for you, and +you can walk by my side.' + +'Will you bathe him, and put a bandage round, and make him well again?' + +There was hope dawning in the blue eye raised so trustfully to his; and +for a moment the farmer hesitated; then he said, 'We'll do the best for +him we can.' + +And Betty opened her arms, and Prince was tenderly lifted up, and a +piece of sacking the farmer happened to have with him was wrapped round +him. He lifted his head, and tried to lick Betty's little hands as he +was being taken from her; and she with a fresh burst of sobbing got up +from the ground, and clutching hold of the farmer's coat, walked back +to the house with him, nurse trying in vain to comfort her. + +Arrived at the farm, nurse took decided measures, 'You come indoors +with me, there's a good child; and let Jack attend to Prince. He will +come and tell you when he's better. No, I won't let you take him in +your arms again--now I mean it.' + +'I must just see him once more; I must, nurse!' + +'Ay,' said the farmer, giving nurse a peculiar look, 'she shall have +one more look at him, before I take him!' + +The sacking was uncovered, and Prince's ears pricked up and his bright +brown eyes sought his little mistress's face. Betty bent over him, and +was allowed to kiss the back of his brown silky head. 'My little +darling,' she whispered, though tears began to fall again; 'I wish I +had been bitten instead of you!' Then turning to Farmer Giles, she +said, clasping her little hands in agony of entreaty,-- + +'You'll be as quick as ever you can, won't you? You won't be more than +five minutes bathing his neck and binding it up, will you? and then +I'll sit by and nurse him till he gets better. Will you put him in +this basket and bring him to me as soon as ever you can?' + +'Yes, yes,' said the farmer a little gruffly, and then he went out to +the stables; and Betty stood by the kitchen window, too well trained in +obedience to attempt to follow him, but with her little heart +overflowing with longing to have Prince in her arms again. + +'Now,' said nurse very kindly but determinedly, 'come up into the +nursery, and let me wash your face and hands and put you on a clean +pinafore.' + +'He will get better, won't he, nurse? He didn't look very hurt. Can I +give him some bread and milk when Farmer Giles brings him in?' + +Nurse evaded this question; she seemed ill at ease; and when a few +minutes afterwards the report of a gun went off, she started violently, +then gave a sigh of relief. Betty was too absorbed in her own thoughts +to notice this; and, directly her toilet was finished, she ran +downstairs to the kitchen again. + +'Has Prince come in, Mrs. Giles? Is he better?' + +'Bless your little heart,' said Mrs. Giles, bustling about, 'Jack will +be in directly, and he'll tell you.' + +And, a few minutes afterwards, Farmer Giles appeared. Betty ran to him +with outstretched hands. 'Where is he? Are you going to take me to +him?' + +The farmer looked helplessly at his wife. + +'Where is nurse?' he said. + +'Keeping out of the way,' muttered Mrs. Giles. + +The farmer fetched a deep breath. 'Come along, then,' he said; 'I've +done my best, and mustn't shirk the consequence.' + +He took hold of Betty's hand, and led her to the stables; twice he +cleared his throat, as if about to speak, and then at the door, keeping +one hand on the latch, he put his other one under Betty's little chin +and raised her face. + +'You'll be a brave, good little maid, won't you?' he said, 'and you'll +bear up, for 'tis better for the little dog than to live in suffering.' + +He opened the door, and Betty, not in the slightest understanding his +words, pushed her way breathlessly in. + +There in his basket, cold and stiff, lay poor little Prince! For one +minute Betty thought he was asleep, and then the awful truth dawned +upon her. With her blue eyes dilating with horror, she turned and +faced the old farmer, and every vestige of colour left her cheeks. + +'He's not dead!' she cried. 'Wake him up, Mr. Giles; he shan't be +dead!' + +'My little maid, I'm dreadful sorry for you; but 'tis better so; and +his neck were near bitten through; he couldn't have lived long in any +case.' + +Betty flung herself on the floor with such a sharp wail of despair that +Farmer Giles felt a lump rising in his throat He knew there could be +no comfort yet for the broken-hearted child; that she must go through +her trouble alone--words at such a time were useless; and after +watching her for some minutes, he slipped away to fetch nurse to bring +her in. + +And Betty lay with her arms round Prince's basket, sobbing her very +heart out, and feeling as if light and joy and gladness had gone out of +her life for ever! When nurse came in a little later, and put a gentle +hand on the little crouching figure, Betty turned round, furious in her +grief. + +'Go away, I shan't leave Prince; I wish I could die! Oh, nurse, +nurse!' and a fresh burst of sobs shook her; 'tell me he isn't dead; +tell me he isn't!' + +Nurse tried in vain to pacify her; Betty was too over-wrought to +listen. One thing she stedfastly refused to do, and that was to leave +her dog, and nurse finally had to take her up in her arms by force, and +carry her, shrieking and struggling, to the house. Poor little Betty +did not prove herself a heroine; but nurse made allowance for her, and +was unusually patient and tender. + +'It's like a bit of her life gone,' she confided to Mrs. Giles. 'I +always think it a pity when children get so wrapped up with their pets, +but Miss Betty never does anything by halves.' + +All that hot afternoon Betty lay on her bed in the nursery. Nurse +could not tempt her to eat any dinner; and when the first paroxysm of +grief was over, she lay there, white and silent, with little clenched +hands, and now and then a quick-drawn sob escaping her. + +Nurse was relieved and thankful when, going in quietly shortly before +tea-time, she found her fast asleep, utterly worn out by her trouble. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Comforted + +Betty did not wake before the children's bedtime, and nurse did not +disturb her; she trusted that a long night's rest would do her good. + +But early the next morning the awakening came, and with it an undefined +sense of misery. The little hand was at once put out for Prince's +basket. + +'Prince, wake up, darling!' + +There was no basket! What had happened? Was it all an ugly dream? +But where was Prince? + +And then Molly woke by feeling a tugging at her bedclothes, and there +was Betty, with round frightened eyes, standing over her. + +'Molly, Molly, wake up; tell me it is only a dream! Where is Prince?' + +Molly sat up, rubbed her eyes, and tried to recover her lost senses; +then she looked sorrowfully at her little sister. + +'Don't you remember, Betty? You get into bed with me, and I'll tell +you again. Nurse told us all about it; and me and Douglas are +dreadfully sorry too!' + +Betty crept into Molly's bed, with much heart-sinking; the bad dream +was truth then, and Prince was dead! + +'Douglas and I went to see him in the stable,' Molly continued in a +whisper. 'Farmer Giles said he saved your life; so he was quite a +hero, Betty. Don't you think he ought to have a tombstone telling +about it? Douglas wondered if you would go into mourning for him; but +I don't think people wear black for dogs, do they?' + +'He saved my life,' murmured Betty; 'oh, why did he? I wish I'd died +instead; if Prince is dead, I can't live!' And then, with a fresh +burst of tears, she sobbed, 'And I shall be the odd one again! I shall +always be left out! and I shan't be in a couple any more! And, oh! I +must see Prince again; dear darling Prince, he was the only friend I've +ever had.' Then, drying her tears, she sat up. 'I'm going to the +stable to look at him once again, Molly. I must give him a real +good-bye kiss; I couldn't yesterday.' + +'But he's buried,' Molly put in quickly. 'After tea last night we had +his funeral. Farmer Giles dug a grave for him under our nice old apple +tree in the orchard, he said it was best to get him out of your sight.' + +This was a terrible blow to Betty. 'I think I might have been at his +funeral; he was my dog, and you and Douglas didn't care for him a bit! +Farmer Giles is a horrid man! But, oh dear, oh dear, I don't care for +anything now he's dead!' + +And the curly head sank back on the pillow; and, like Ahab of old, +Betty turned her face to the wall and refused to be comforted. + +For the next few days Betty gave nurse much anxiety; she crept about +with a white face and flagging footsteps, refused to play with the +other children, and spent most of her time sitting by Prince's grave. +She had no appetite, and had restless, wakeful nights. + +'Fretting herself ill over it,' was Mrs. Giles's comment; 'she'll be +better when she gets back to London.' + +Nesta Fairfax came down to see her little favourite, and Betty shed +many tears on her knee. + +'It's no good; I shall never, never be happy again! No one cares for +me like Prince; and now he's dead I've no friend left!' + +'You have a good many friends, Betty. Listen, darling; when I'm +married I'm going to live in London, and you shall come and stay with +me sometimes, if your mother will allow it.' + +'When are you going to be married?' + +'Soon; but we shall have a very quiet wedding, or I would have you as a +little bridesmaid.' + +Betty shook her curly head mournfully. 'It's no good, my heart is +broken; and I don't want to stay with anybody or do anything.' + +She had the same answer to any one who tried to comfort her. And then +one afternoon Mr. Russell appeared on the scene. When he heard from +nurse how matters lay, he proposed that Betty should come and stay with +him for a week. 'It is change of scene and atmosphere that she wants. +Let me take her back with me at once; my housekeeper will take good +care of her.' And this was managed, and Betty walked away with him +quietly and contentedly. + +She was certainly happier roaming through his big house than she had +been at the farm; but there seemed to be some extra weight on her mind +that she would not reveal, and it was not until the first Sunday after +her arrival there that he discovered the cause. + +They had been to church together, had waited until the congregation had +dispersed, and stood by Violet's monument. Betty had placed some fresh +roses on it, and as they were leaving the church she said, looking back +wistfully,-- + +'I wish Prince had been buried in church; no one cares about his grave! +I put flowers on it, but the chickens run through the orchard and +scratch them off; and one day the horrid black pig was grunting with +his nose, and making a great hole in it! I wish he could have a +tombstone; no one cares a bit, and they almost laugh if I say anything +about it.' + +'Is that what is troubling you?' asked Mr. Russell kindly. + +'That's one of the things, but not the big thing.' + +'And what is the big thing?' + +Betty was silent; then she said, 'I'll tell it to you--p'raps this +afternoon.' + +They went back to luncheon, and then Mr. Russell took his seat in the +shady verandah that ran round the house. It was a still, warm +afternoon. Betty got a stool, and sitting down on it rested her head +against the knee of her friend. Outside the bees were humming round +the roses and amongst the bright flower-beds on the lawn; the birds +were twittering in the old beeches close by; but over the whole scene +hung a Sabbath peace and repose. + +The child looked away to the soft distant hills and the deep blue sky. + +'Shall I tell you what I promised?' she asked at last, bringing her sad +little eyes to Mr. Russell's face. + +Mr. Russell nodded, and clutching rather nervously at his hand, Betty +said a little hurriedly, 'Prince has always been so good, and I've +talked so much to him of heaven, and he seemed to like it, and I--well, +I tried to teach him his prayers, and I've prayed to God for him every +night, that I thought he would be sure to go to heaven, don't you think +so? But I was reading Revelation, and I was thinking how perhaps he +might be able to sing in heaven, perhaps God would give him a proper +voice--for Mrs. Giles told me she had a little deaf and dumb brother +once who died, and she said he would be given a voice when he got +there; and then I read in the last chapter--oh, I can't tell you!' + +Down dropped the little head, and a burst of tears came. + +Mr. Russell did not speak; he got up and went inside the house to get a +Bible. Coming back, he spread it open on his knee and scanned the +chapter through. + +'Well,' he said at length, 'I don't see your trouble, Betty.' + +'It says,' sobbed the child, 'that dogs will be outside heaven with all +the wicked persons and all the liars! Prince was never wicked, and +never, never told a lie. I can't make it out, it's so dreadful!' + +Mr. Russell almost smiled, but his tone was as grave as usual when he +put his arm round Betty, saying, 'But, my dear child, that is not the +meaning of the verse. How can I explain it to you? Let me try: the +term dog was used by the Jews to express anything unclean, despicable; +the Palestine dogs were wild, savage animals, despised and scouted by +every one; and so people who led wicked lives, without any right +feeling or principle, are compared to dogs.' + +'Then it doesn't mean Prince? He may be in heaven after all? Oh, I +wish I had asked some one about it, but I was afraid! Miss Fairfax +said once he had no soul; but then I've asked God to give him one, and +God can do anything, can't He? Do you think he is in heaven? Oh, Mr. +Russell, he must be somewhere!' + +The piteous tone went right to Mr. Russell's heart. He leant forward +and lifted Betty on his knee. + +'Betty, do you love God?' + +'Yes.' + +'Very much?' + +'I think I do, and I feel He loves me.' + +'I think you do too, for you have often talked to me about Him, and you +have taught me to love Him too, Betty. Now you must trust God about +Prince. I can't give you a text in the Bible to tell you Prince is in +heaven, but God knows all about your little sorrowful heart. You tell +him all about it, and be at rest. There are times when we go through +life that we must do this, yes, grown-up men and women, Betty, when +they cannot see, and struggle to understand and penetrate the unseen, +are brought down under God's hand. And He says to us, "I have done +this: now is the time to trust Me." "Be still, and know that I am +God." I have had to learn this lesson, and at times my heart has been +hard and bitter. But there, why am I talking like this to you? You +will not understand.' + +'I like it,' said Betty, lying back in his arms, and looking out into +the sunny garden. 'And I may think what I like about Prince now, +mayn't I? I'm quite, quite sure God loves him. God loves everybody, +even the wickedest sinners, and Prince wasn't a wicked dog at all.' + +There was silence, which Betty broke at last. + +'I like being here with you, because you talk to me so differently, and +I feel so dreadfully alone at the farm. Nurse said you were a single +gentleman, and your servants couldn't have much to do. I must be a +single child, I feel! And they all say such stupid things to comfort +me. Nurse said he would have had to die some time, and perhaps if I +had taken him back to London he would have got run over, and Douglas +said I must pretend I never had a dog called Prince; and Molly told me +that Douglas will soon be going to school, and then she and I will be a +couple; and Mrs. Giles said if Prince hadn't died he would have gone +raving mad and bitten all of us, and made us raving mad too, and we +would have all been shot, and we must be thankful; and Reuben, the old +grave man, asked me if I didn't thank God that the mad dog didn't bite +me; and old Jenny said perhaps I was making an idol of Prince, and so +he was taken away. How could I make an idol of him? I wouldn't say my +prayers to him instead of God! You wouldn't be comforted to have those +things said to you, would you?' + +'No, I don't think I should,' said Mr. Russell, smiling. + +'Mrs. Fairfax wanted to give me another dog, a little puppy; but I +couldn't, I couldn't have another dog when Prince is dead! You +couldn't have another Violet, could you? I think you and I understand, +because we've now both had some one dead belonging to us.' + +Betty's week lengthened into three. Mr. Russell seemed loth to part +with her, and her subdued spirits and pathetic grief touched him +greatly. But the visit came to an end at last, and about four o'clock +one bright afternoon the dog-cart was driven round to take her home, +'You shall come and see me again, Betty,' said Mr. Russell brightly, +'and I shall come and see you when I am in London. I used to be at +Eton with your father, and shall like to renew his acquaintance. And +next spring you ask your mother to take you to the Royal Academy, where +all the pictures are. I think you will see a white statue of a little +girl asleep on a log of wood, and a----' He stopped. + +'And Prince,' put in Betty sadly. 'I shan't bear to look at him; and +yet I should like to. I don't mind going back to London; I thought I +could never be so happy anywhere as in the country, but I've been +miserabler than I ever was in London. I shall be miserable now for +ever and ever!' + +'Betty,' said Mr. Russell suddenly, as they were driving through the +sweet-scented lanes towards the farm-house, 'do you remember the text +you said to me when I first saw you in the church, and you were putting +forget-me-nots on my darling's tomb?' + +'I expect it was my tribulation text,' said Betty musingly. + +'Yes, it was. You told me you were unhappy because you had not been +through tribulation, and a short time ago you told me that you were +asking God to send you tribulation, and that you were hoping to get it +soon.' + +'And you told me the same as everybody else--that I didn't know what I +was wishing for. But I did, and I expect God will answer it; for old +Jenny said I should come through it, and perhaps I wouldn't have to +wait till I grew up.' + +'I think,' said Mr. Russell slowly, as he looked down at the wistful +little face, 'that God has been answering your prayer already.' + +Betty looked up breathlessly. 'How?' + +'I think He has sent you a little bit of tribulation to see if you can +bear it, and if you will be a good, patient child over it, and not keep +saying you will never be happy again.' + +Such a flash of light came across Betty's face, and into her big blue +eyes. + +'Do you really think God has taken away Prince to give me tribulation? +Oh! Mr. Russell, is it true, could it be? Is this coming through +tribulation?' + +Her whole face was quivering with intense feeling. + +'I think it is as big a trouble as a little child like you can be +called upon to bear,' said Mr. Russell, drawing her close to him; 'and +I think God has sent it to you for some good purpose.' + +A long-drawn sigh came from the child, and not another word did she +say; but when nurse and the other children came out to welcome her +back, they were all surprised to see the radiant, happy look upon her +face, and nurse inwardly congratulated herself upon the good her visit +had done her. Mr. Russell received a fervent kiss and hug on +departing, and Betty came back to her own circle again. + +But a glad surprise awaited her. Douglas and Molly were full of a +suppressed mystery all tea-time; and, when it was over, they +impatiently begged her to come to the orchard. She accompanied them +willingly, but gave a cry of delight and astonishment when she reached +the old apple tree. There was a neat little iron railing surrounding +poor Prince's grave; above it was a stone pedestal, and upon this was +lying the stone figure of Prince himself, the facsimile of the portrait +of him lying at Betty's feet when she was fast asleep in the cornfield. +Below in gold letters was written:-- + + +'To THE MEMORY OF PRINCE, + +_Who gave his life for his mistress, 11th August, 18--._' + + +'Mr. Russell had it put up,' said Molly; 'he has come over several +times about it, and he said he wanted it to be kept quite a secret till +you came back. Isn't it lovely?' + +But Betty had no voice to answer; tears were flowing freely, and when +Douglas and Molly tried to comfort her, she assured them it was only +because she was so happy. They left her there shortly after, and she +stood silent for some time; then her little face shone again with a +soft radiance, and kneeling down on the green grass, with closed eyes, +she bent her curly head, and these were the words she uttered,-- + +'O God, I thank You for answering my prayer, and sending me +tribulation. I thank You that I'm in the text at last!' + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Odd, by Amy Le Feuvre + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ODD *** + +***** This file should be named 22291.txt or 22291.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/2/9/22291/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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