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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36166-8.txt b/36166-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e02a11f --- /dev/null +++ b/36166-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3908 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of That Little Beggar, by E. King Hall + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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: That Little Beggar + +Author: E. King Hall + +Release Date: May 19, 2011 [EBook #36166] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THAT LITTLE BEGGAR *** + + + + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Kerry Tani and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THAT LITTLE BEGGAR + +BY E. KING HALL + + + + +BLACKIE & SON LIMITED + +LONDON GLASGOW DUBLIN BOMBAY + + + + +[Illustration: CHRIS IS BROUGHT BACK BY HIS FRIEND THE SERGEANT] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + Page + + CHAPTER I. JACK AND HIS MASTER. 161 + + CHAPTER II. A SONG AND A STORY. 172 + + CHAPTER III. CONCERNING EIGHT FLIES. 189 + + CHAPTER IV. TEACHING JACKY TO SWIM. 201 + + CHAPTER V. THE DOCTOR'S HEAD! 218 + + CHAPTER VI. A PASTE-MAN AND A PAINT-BOX. 232 + + CHAPTER VII. CHRIS AND HIS UNCLE. 244 + + CHAPTER VIII. "I'M A SOLDIER NOW." 259 + + CHAPTER IX. THE GOLDEN FARTHING. 274 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +JACK AND HIS MASTER. + + +"No carriage! Are you quite sure? Mrs. Wyndham told me that she would +send to meet this train." + +I looked anxiously at the station-master as I spoke. I was feeling +tired, having had a very long journey; and now, to find that I had the +prospect of a good walk before me was not pleasant. + +"I'll go and have another look, mum," he said civilly as he turned away; +"it may have driven up since the train came in. It weren't there before, +I know that." + +Presently he returned, and shook his head. + +"There's nothing from the Hall," he remarked; "nothing to be seen +nowhere." + +I looked round despairingly, first at the deserted-looking little +country station with its gay flower-beds, decorated with ornamental +devices in dazzling white stones, then at the long, white country road, +stretching away in the distance with the July sun beating down upon it, +and sighed. The outlook was not cheering. + +"Is there no inn near at which I could find some sort of conveyance?" I +asked, though without much hope of receiving a satisfactory reply. + +"None but the White Hart at Teddington, and that's a matter of four +miles off," he replied. "It would take less time to send to the Hall." + +"How far off is that?" I inquired. + +"It's two miles and a bit. By the fields it's less, but as you are a +stranger in these parts, I take it, mum, you'd do better to keep to the +road if you think of walking," he answered. + +"It seems to me the best thing to do," I replied with resignation. + +"Well, it's a beautiful afternoon for a walk, if it _is_ a bit hot," he +said consolingly, and, retiring to his office, left me to my own +devices. + +I started very slowly, determined not to waste any energy, with that +long and hot walk before me. + +Strolling gently on I fell to thinking over my past life--the quiet, +peaceful life in the country rectory, where I had lived for so many +years, and which had only ended with the death of my dear old father two +months ago. Now middle-aged--yes, I called myself middle-aged, though I +daresay you at the age of eight, ten, fourteen (what is it?) would have +called me a Methuselah--now I had to earn my own living, and start a +fresh life. I don't want to make you sad, for I am quite of the opinion +that it is better to make people laugh than cry, but I will confess that +as I walked along that sunny afternoon, with the recollection of my +great sorrow still fresh in my mind, the tears came to my eyes. You see, +my father and I loved each other so much, and he was all that I had in +the world; I had no brothers and sisters to share my sorrow with me. + +I had gone some distance on my way, when I heard the sound of loud and +bitter sobbing. Hastening my steps, I turned a bend of the road, and saw +a little boy lying full length on the roadside, his face buried in the +dusty, long grass, as he gave vent to the loud and uncontrolled grief +which had attracted my attention; whilst a few yards off stood a little +wire-haired fox-terrier, regarding him with a perplexed and wondering +eye. + +"What is the matter, dear?" I asked the distressed little mortal, whose +tears were flowing so fast. + +But he only mumbled something unintelligible, then burst into renewed +sobs. + +"Get up from that dusty grass and tell me what it is all about," I said +encouragingly, as I stooped down and took hold of his hand. + +He rose slowly from the ground and looked at me doubtfully, half sobbing +the while; then I saw how pretty he was. Such a pretty little boy, but +oh! such a dirty one. He had the sweetest violet eyes, the prettiest +golden curls, the most rosy of rosy checks that you can imagine, and he +was dressed in the dearest little white-duck sailor's suit that any +little boy ever wore. But at that moment the violet eyes were all +swollen with crying, the golden curls were all tumbled and tossed, the +rosy cheeks all smudged where dirty fingers had been rubbing away the +tears, whilst as for the white-duck suit--well, to be accurate, I ought +not to call it white. But as the small person inside of it had +apparently been recklessly rolling on the ground, it was not surprising +that something of its original purity had departed. + +"What is the matter?" I asked again. + +"I took Jack out for a walk and he runned away and I runned after him, +but he wouldn't stop!" he sobbed vehemently. + +Then, leaving go of my hand, he made a sudden dash towards the truant, +who as suddenly ran off. My small friend wept afresh. + +"He thinks that you are playing with him," I said; "that's why he runs +away. Wait a moment!" seeing he made a movement as if he were again +about to chase the dog. + +"Look!" I went on, and going gently towards Jack, I picked him up and +placed him beside his little master. + +"Come along, you little beggar!" the indignant little fellow exclaimed, +and, seizing hold of the cause of the commotion, he walked, or rather +staggered, off with him. + +Poor Jack! He did look so unhappy. I think you would have been as sorry +for him if you had seen him, as I was. Hugged closely in his master's +arms, his hind-legs hanging down in a helpless, dislocated fashion, he +gazed after me piteously over his master's shoulder, as if to say, "Can +you do nothing to help me?" + +He looked so funny and so miserable I could not help laughing. "What!" +you say with some surprise, "and you were crying a little while before?" + +Yes, my dear child; yet I could laugh in spite of that, for, you know, +there is no better way of drying our own tears than to wipe away the +tears of another--though they be but the ready tears of a little child. + +So I laughed, and I laughed very heartily too. + +"Wait," I said. "I fancy Jack is as uncomfortable as you, and that looks +to me very uncomfortable. Supposing we see if both you and he cannot +get home in an easier fashion. Why don't you put him on the ground? I +think if you were to walk back quietly Jack would follow you now." + +My new acquaintance wrinkled his dirty little tear-stained countenance +doubtfully. + +"P'r'aps he'll run away, 'cause he's runned away often and often whilst +he's been out with me, and I sha'n't be able to catch him," he said +woefully. + +"Put him down and see," I suggested. And Jack was dropped on the ground, +though as much I fancy from necessity as choice, since his weight was +evidently becoming too much for his master. + +"Are you far from home?" I asked. + +"A long, long way," he replied forlornly. "All the way from +Skeffington." + +"That's where I'm going," I said, "so we can go together." + +"Are you the lady what's coming to live with my Granny?" he asked, +slipping his hand confidingly in mine, as we turned our steps homewards. + +"Yes," I replied. + +"I'm called Chris, but my proper name is Christopher," he stated, +pronouncing it slowly and with some difficulty. + +"It's very pretty," I answered, smiling at the diminutive little figure +by my side, "but a very long name for such a little person." + +"That's not my only name," he said proudly. "Did you think it was?" + +And he laughed pityingly at my ignorance. + +"What is your other?" I inquired, as I was intended to. + +"Why, I have two others," he answered with still greater pride. "Three +names altogether. Christopher, that's only like myself; and Godfrey, +that's like my Uncle Godfrey; and Wyndham, that's like my Uncle Godfrey +and my Granny too. All our names is Wyndham. What's your name?" + +"Baggerley." + +"Beggarley! That's something like what Uncle Godfrey calls me. He says +I'm a little beggar." + +"Baggerley, not Beggarley," I corrected him. + +"But I would like to call you Beggarley, 'cause then you'd be called +something the same as me. Mayn't I?" + +A suspicious tremble in his voice warned me to give way, unless I was +prepared for another outcry from that healthy little pair of lungs. The +tears were evidently still near the surface. I therefore weakly yielded. + +"Very well, dear," I replied in a resigned voice; and Chris, brightening +at once, continued his conversation. + +"I'm seven years of age. How old are you?" he next remarked, regarding +me with interest. + +"Too old to tell my age," I replied evasively. + +"As old as my Granny?" + +"I don't think so." + +"Then how old?" + +"Chris, you shouldn't ask so many questions," I said, with a touch of +severity. + +"I only wanted to know if you was too old to play with me," he said, +looking at me reproachfully out of his great violet eyes. + +"I will certainly play with you if you are a good boy," I replied, in a +mollified voice. + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" he exclaimed, dancing by my side with pleasure; +"'cause I have no one to play with me. Granny is too old, and Briggs +says when she runs it makes her legs ache as if they will break." + +"I will run a little sometimes, but I can't promise to do much," I said +cautiously. + +"Oh, you needn't always run," he said, encouragingly. "There is one or +two games where you needn't hardly move. Just a little tiny bit, you +know. Will you play at trains?" + +"What is it?" + +"Oh, such a nice game! and you needn't run unless you like. I'll be the +train and the engine, and you can be the guard and the steam-engine +whistle. Then you need only walk about at the station and take the +tickets, and just scream high up in your head like this" (and Chris gave +vent to a loud and piercing scream--so unexpectedly loud and piercing +that I almost started). "That's like the steam-engine goes, you know," +he explained. + +"I couldn't do that," I said with decision, when I had recovered from +the shock. + +"Then p'r'aps you'd like to play at lame horses," he suggested. "You +needn't scream then, only jog up and down as if you'd got a stone in +your foot. I'll be the coachman, but I won't make you run fast, 'cause +it would be very cruel of me if you had a stone in your foot; wouldn't +it?" he continued, virtuously. + +"Very," I agreed, as we turned into the lodge-gates of Skeffington, and +pursued our way up the drive. + +"There's my Granny," he remarked presently, leaving go of my hand and +running towards an old lady, who, with her work-table by her side and +her knitting in her lap, was dozing comfortably in a big wicker chair on +the shady side of the lawn. + +"Granny! Granny!" shouted Chris excitedly, and at the top of his voice. +"Here's the lady what's coming to live with you." + +At the sound of his voice the old lady gave a nervous jump, opened her +eyes, and, replacing her spectacles which had fallen off her nose, +arose, looking round as she did so with a bewildered air. + +"Miss Baggerley, I presume," she said with an old-fashioned courtesy of +manner, and advancing towards me with outstretched hand. "But how is it +that you are walking? Was not the carriage at the station to meet you?" + +"No, she walked all the way; and she didn't know the way, and I showed +it to her," Chris put in eagerly. "I showed it to her all myself." + +"The carriage was not at the station. But it was not of the slightest +consequence, I assure you," I replied, as soon as Chris allowed me to +speak. + +"But two miles and a half in this hot sun, and after your long journey +too!" Mrs. Wyndham said apologetically. "I am most distressed, I am +indeed. I have a new coachman who is not very bright. He has doubtless +made some stupid mistake. Dear me, how unfortunate!" + +"It didn't matter, 'cause _I_ found her and _I_ showed her the way," +Chris reiterated with pride. + +"Hush, my dear child!" Granny said gently. Then, for the first time +becoming fully aware of his very unkempt condition, "What have you been +doing, my darling?" she exclaimed with surprise; "and what do you mean +by saying you met Miss Baggerley? Where did you meet her?" + +"I took Jack for a walk and he runned away, and was such a naughty +little dog. And I felled down and hurted myself, and I cried," Chris +concluded with much pathos, as he saw Granny shake her head at the +account of his doings. + +"My darling, it was very wrong of you to leave the garden," she said. +"You know when Briggs left you, she never thought for a moment that you +would go outside the gates. And, oh, how dirty you are! Your nice white +suit is all black! Miss Baggerley, I fear you met a disobedient, a very +disobedient little boy indeed." + +"I hurted myself very much," Chris remarked, in the most pathetic of +voices. + +Granny relented. "Where did you hurt yourself, my dear child?" she +asked, with some anxiety. + +"On my knee, and on my face, and on my hand," he replied still with +melancholy. + +"Go at once, darling, to Briggs, and ask her to bathe all your bruises +with warm water," she said. "Or, if they are very bad, tell her that she +will find some lotion in my room." + +"Wasn't Jack a naughty little dog?" he asked, recovering, as he held up +a smudgy little face to be kissed. + +"I'm afraid it was someone else who was naughty," she answered, with an +attempt at severity; "yes, very naughty indeed. But we'll say no more +about it, for I think you are sorry; are you not, my Chris?" + +"Very, very sorry, Granny," he replied, but more cheerfully than +penitently, as he ran off, relieved at the matter ending in so easy and +pleasant a fashion. + +"I'm afraid I spoil him dreadfully," Granny said, looking fondly after +the retreating little figure. 'You're ruining the little beggar'; that's +what my son Godfrey tells me. But then my Chris has no father or mother, +so I feel very tenderly towards him. He has such a lovable nature too, +it is difficult not to spoil him. You have doubtless seen that for +yourself already, have you not? + +"And now, my dear," she added kindly, "I'm sure you must want your tea +after your long journey, and that hot walk afterwards. It was a most +unfortunate mistake about the carriage. I cannot tell you how +distressed, how very distressed, I am about it." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A SONG AND A STORY. + + +Yes, Granny was quite right. It was difficult not to spoil that little +beggar. Everyone helped to do so; everyone, that is to say, but one +person. That one person was Briggs, Chris's dignified and severe nurse. +The whole household concurred in petting and spoiling him in every +possible way. Briggs alone maintained her course of justice, inflexible +and unbending. Her yoke was not one under which the little beggar +willingly bowed his head. He was not accustomed to any yoke, and Briggs' +was not at all to his taste. + +In consequence of this state of affairs, nursery rows were by no means +infrequent; nor was it very long before I witnessed one. It was but a +few days after I had arrived, and I was sitting one afternoon in the +library reading the _Morning Post_ to Granny, who was busy with some +work she was doing for the poor. + +It was a quiet and peaceful state of affairs which we were both +enjoying. Suddenly, however, we were interrupted by a tap at the door, +and the entrance of Briggs, flushed, heated, and slightly panting. + +"If you please, mum," she began, a little breathlessly, and placing her +hand on her side as if to still the beating of her heart, "I wish to +know if Master Chris is to be allowed to speak to me as he likes?" + +"Certainly not, certainly not," Granny replied, raising herself straight +in her arm-chair, and trying to assume the severity of manner she felt +was suitable to the occasion. "What has he been saying?" + +"It was just this, mum," Briggs started, with the air of resolving to +give a full, true, and particular account; "it was just this. We were +down in the village, and I stepped into the post-office to buy a few +reels of black cotton, which it so happens I have run out of. Likewise, +I wanted to buy some blue sewing-silk, which you may remember, mum, you +asked me to keep in mind next time I happened to be that way." + +"Yes, I remember, Briggs. And Master Chris was naughty?" Granny said, +gently trying to bring her to the point. + +"Well, mum, I was going to tell you," she continued, without hurrying, +"when I had bought the cotton and the silk, it came to my mind to buy a +packet of post-cards and two shillings' worth of stamps. But the +rector's young ladies had come in, and being pressed for time, Mrs. +Thompson, she says to me, 'I make no doubt but that you will let me +serve the young ladies first'; to which I made answer, 'I wait your +pleasure'. But Master Chris he gets cross, because he wants to go on +home at once and roll his new hoop. 'Come along, old Briggs!' he says; +'come along, you old slow-coach!' Such behaviour, such language! Before +the young ladies from the rectory, too! Where he learnt it I'm sure I +can't tell. Not from me, I do assure you, mum," she concluded with +indignation. + +"It was very naughty of him," Granny remarked mildly. + +"But that was not all, mum," the irate Briggs continued; "for all the +way home he walks in front of me, tossing his head and singing as loud +as possible, '_For I'm a jolly good fellow_'; and Jack there barking and +making such a row alongside of him; it was for all the world like a +wild-beast show. Nothing I could say could stop the pair of them." + +She paused to allow Granny to take in the full extent of Chris's +enormity. As she did so, a scampering of little feet was heard outside, +the handle of the door was impatiently turned--first the wrong way, and +then rattled angrily. Finally the door itself was burst open, and that +little beggar ran in, with excited countenance; the big holland +pinafore, in which Briggs insisted upon enveloping him, and his especial +detestation, half dropping off him, and trailing behind on the ground. + +"Granny," he began immediately, "is '_For he's a jolly good fellow_', +that Uncle Godfrey sings, a wicked song?" + +"It's very naughty of you to behave rudely to Briggs," she replied +gravely. + +Looking round, Chris's eyes fell upon Briggs, whom at first he had not +noticed; then, realizing that she had been first in the field, he burst +into a loud, tearless wail. + +"Briggs, you're a nasty, nasty thing, and I hate you!" he cried +vehemently, stamping his foot as he spoke. + +"There, mum! Is that the way for a young gentleman to speak?" she asked, +not without a certain triumph. + +"I don't like you!" Chris cried, stamping his foot again. "You are +always cross! Nasty, cross, old Briggs!" + +"Chris, I am shocked, very, very shocked," Granny said gravely. "You +must stand in the corner for a quarter of an hour." + +The little beggar wailed again; real, unfeigned tears this time. + +"I don't--want to--go into--the corner," he said sobbing. "It's +all--your fault, Briggs." + +Briggs shook her head slowly and solemnly from side to side. + +"Oh, Master Chris!" she exclaimed, "is that a way for a nice young +gentleman to speak?" Then she left the room with dignity. + +Chris, looking after her with impotent anger, moved towards the corner +with laggard steps, crying bitterly as he did so. + +"Must I go into the corner, my Granny?" he wailed. "Uncle Godfrey is +never sent into the corner." + +"Yes, yes, you must, Chris," she said, obliging herself to be firm. + +The little beggar looked entreatingly with large tearful eyes at her, as +he crept towards the hated corner. But she would not allow herself to +relent. Justice, in the form of the deeply offended Briggs, had to be +propitiated, and Chris had to bear the punishment for his misdeeds. + +At the same time, I believe Granny would joyfully have gone into the +corner herself, if by so doing she could have spared her darling this +wound to his pride, and yet have satisfied her own conscience. I think, +indeed, in her sympathy for Chris in his disgrace, she really suffered +more than he. It was therefore with relief, and as a welcome diversion +that, when the footman came to announce the arrival of visitors, she +rose to go to the drawing-room. + +"I must go, Miss Baggerley," she said. "Will you be so kind as to see +that Chris stays in the corner for a quarter of an hour? Only for a +quarter of an hour, if he is good; but I know that he will be good, for +he does not want to make his Granny unhappy any more. I am sure of +that." With which gentle persuasion she went. + +For a time Chris wept loudly and sorely, after which he was silent, save +for an occasional sniff. This silence continued uninterrupted for so +long that it at last aroused my suspicions. Turning my head the better +to see him, I found that he was engaged in drawing strange and mystic +signs upon the wall, by the simple process of wetting his finger in his +mouth. + +Hence the explanation of this sudden calm; for so absorbing, apparently, +was this occupation, that it had had the effect of drying up all those +bitter tears which, but a few minutes earlier, had flowed so freely. + +"What are you doing?" I asked. "You must not dirty the wall like that." + +"I am writing my name," the little beggar said with much pathos. +"Chris-to-pher God-frey Wyndham. Then when I'm dead and gone far away +over the sea, Granny will see it, and she'll be sorry she was so cross." + +"Jane will wash out those dirty marks," I replied, ruthlessly destroying +his mournful hopes. "They will not remain there." + +At this the little beggar desisted from disfiguring the wall, but +reiterated, though more weakly, "Granny will be very sorry by and by; +she was cross, and she'll wish she hadn't put me in the corner." + +"No, she won't," I answered decisively; "she'll be sorry that you were +naughty, but she won't wish that she had not punished you. You deserved +to be punished." + +Feeling that I did not regard him as the ill-used little being that he +considered himself, and that there was a want of sympathy about my +remarks that was not altogether to his taste, Chris once more was +silent. + +Ten minutes elapsed, broken only by an occasional sigh from the occupant +of the corner. Then I was asked wearily: + +"Is it nearly time for me to come away?" + +"Yes," I said, as I looked at my watch, "you may come out now." + +A forlorn little figure came towards me, and crept on my knee. + +"Was I very naughty?" he asked, deprecatingly. + +"Yes, dear, I am afraid you were," I answered. I should have liked to +speak more severely, but that was a difficult matter with Chris. + +"Briggs is a nasty thing," he said, nestling his head contentedly on my +shoulder. + +"Granny will send you back to the corner if she hears you speak like +that," I said, with more confidence than I felt upon the subject. + +"She was so unkind to me; she isn't a kind Briggs," he said. "Do you +like her?" + +Then without waiting for an answer he went on: "I love my Granny best, +and Uncle Godfrey next, and you next, and Briggs last,--the most last." + +"If you were good to Briggs you would love her more," I said. + +"Would I?" he asked doubtfully. + +"Yes," I answered; "and though you are a happy little boy now, you would +be still happier then. There is nothing that makes us happier than to +love people very much and try to be kind to them." + +"Even Briggs?" he inquired, thoughtfully. + +"You should not talk of her like that," I said, trying not to smile. +"She is really very fond of you, and very kind to you. If she was angry, +it was because you were rude." + +Chris moved impatiently. He did not like that view of the case. There +was a pause, then: "Shall I tell you a story?" I asked. "I shall just +have time before you go to your tea." + +"I don't know," he answered, with some indifference. "I've heard them +all lots of times. Briggs has told them to me often and often--'Jack the +Giant-Killer', and 'Jack and the Beanstalk', and 'Red Riding-Hood', and +'Cinderella' ("I don't much like those two," he put in, with a touch of +masculine contempt, "'cause they're all about girls"), and 'Hop o' my +Thumb.' And the story of the Good Boy who had a cake, and gave it all +away to the Blind Beggar and his dog, except a tiny, weeny piece for +himself; and the Bad Boy who had a cake, and told a wicked story, and +said there never was one, 'cause he didn't want anyone else to have it; +and the Greedy Boy who had a cake, and ate it all up so fast he was +dreadfully sick. Briggs has told them all to me, and she says there +ain't no more stories to tell; leastways, if there are, she's never +heard tell of them." + +"If I were you I shouldn't say 'leastways', 'never heard tell', or +'ain't no more'," I remarked as he paused, out of breath. + +"Why not?" he asked. + +"They are not the expressions a gentleman uses," I answered. + +"Does a lady?" he asked with curiosity; "'cause Briggs does." + +"My dear child, never mind what Briggs does. We were not talking of +her," I replied. "You know I have told you before you should not always +ask so many questions. It is a troublesome habit." + +"Is it?" he said, with the utmost innocence. + +"Decidedly," I replied, and once more struggling not to mar the effects +of my words by smiling. "Well, about my story. It is not one of those +you have spoken of. I don't think that you have heard it." + +"Then tell it to me, please," he said, with a touch of condescension. + +"Well, once upon a time," I began, in the most approved fashion, "there +were two men who had a great hill to climb. It was a long and difficult +climb, but, if they only reached the top of that hill, they would be +fully rewarded for all their pains. I will tell you why. There was +there a beautiful country, where they would live and be happy for +evermore. It was such a beautiful country! The trees were always green, +the flowers never withered, and it was always sunny,--never a cloud to +be seen. The Lord of that country was not only very great and powerful, +but He was also very loving and good. He knew how wearying and difficult +that uphill journey was to the dwellers in the valley beneath. So, in +His love, He sent messengers to tell the travellers how they must +journey if they hoped ever to reach the beautiful country over which He +ruled. + +"One of these messengers came to the two men of whom I have spoken just +before they started on their journey, with these plain and simple +directions: + +"Follow the straight and narrow path that leads up-hill; you cannot +mistake it, for it goes right on without any curves or twists. You will +come across many rough and difficult places, but do not turn aside, +though the path leads you over them. You may see other paths that lead +round them, but don't turn off from the narrow one. Don't take the +others; they don't lead up, they lead down. The straight path is the +only right one. _Go straight on, don't be afraid._ These are my Lord's +directions. + +"'The journey is very tiring,' went on the messenger, 'and the sun will +beat down by and by with much fierceness, so that you will suffer at +times from great thirst. But, see, my Lord has sent you these!' As he +spoke, he held out two flasks. You cannot imagine anything so beautiful +as they were. They were made of pure gold, bright and shining, and +ornamented with diamonds that flashed and sparkled in the light like +fire. To each of the men the messenger gave a flask. + +"'Look,' he said, 'and you will find that they are filled with fresh, +clear water. This water is magic; it will never come to an end, and you +will never suffer from thirst, so long as you obey the order which my +Lord sends you. This is the order. Drink none yourself, but give of it +to all who need it. If you do so, your thirst will never overpower you. +But if you are churlish, and wish to keep it for yourself, some day you +will suffer--suffer terribly. By and by you will find, too, that there +is no water left, for the magic will all have gone! The beauty also of +your flasks will have all disappeared; the gold will have become dim, +the diamonds will have lost their sparkle, and you yourself will have no +power to go onwards and climb higher. Good-bye--remember that my Lord +waits to welcome you with love.' + +"Now, when he had given them these directions, the messenger went, and +after a while the two men started on their journey. + +"At first the hill went up so gently that they hardly noticed the +incline. The way did not appear very difficult in the beginning. They +went through a wood where the trees were all young, and the leaves a +tender green, as you see in the springtime, Chris, my dear. And the +sunlight fell through the trees and made a pattern on the ground, which +moved slowly and gracefully as the gentle breezes swayed the branches. +There were no rough places then, or, if there were, they were so slight +that the two travellers hardly remarked them. And as they walked along +they sang in the joy of their hearts; the sunshine, the soft light +breezes, the pretty wild flowers, the trees--all made them so glad and +so happy. Nor did they forget to give to all who passed by some of the +fresh, pure water out of their golden flasks. + +"By and by they came out of the pretty little wood, and the hill became +steeper, the rough places rougher and more frequent. + +"Then one grew impatient. He wanted to go on more quickly than he had +done hitherto. It seemed to him a waste of time to stop so often to give +to the passers-by that pure, refreshing water. Besides, he began to +doubt the truth of the message he had received. It did not seem possible +to him that he could give away the water in his flask and yet not +suffer from thirst. He resolved to keep it all for himself. Nor could he +believe that it was always necessary to follow the narrow path. It was a +different thing when it led through the pretty wood, but now that it led +so often over such difficult places, he determined to find an easier +one. Therefore he separated from his companion, and went his own way, +avoiding all the roughnesses of the road, and taking the paths that +seemed less hard. Nor did he any longer stop to offer to others the +magical water of his golden flask, he kept it all for himself, and let +the wearied and sad ones pass him by without compassion. + +"But he never remarked how dim the gold of the flask was growing, nor +how fast the water was diminishing. Nor did he see that instead of going +up he was really going down-hill, and that the paths he chose were +misleading him. In his hurry he never noticed this, till one sad day it +came upon him. + +"He had been feeling very tired and out of heart, for the way seemed so +long and tiring. Yet, he had been struggling on, hoping to find his rest +at last. On this day, however, he found that his strength had gone; he +could climb no further. He took out his flask, now so dim, hoping to +quench the terrible thirst that was overpowering him; but alas! alas! +there was hardly any water left; not nearly enough to revive him. So +there, by himself, sad and disappointed--for he knew that now he would +never see the happy land he had started for with such glorious +hopes,--he died--died all alone and uncared for! + +"And the other traveller? Well, he went straight on as the good Lord had +directed. Often the rough places were terribly rough, and the sharp +stones in the pathway wounded his feet sadly. Nevertheless, he never +turned aside; he went right on as he had been directed, whilst to all +those who passed by, thirsting for some of the beautiful, clear water +from his golden flask, he gave freely and willingly. Little children who +met him with tearful eyes went on their way laughing and singing. Older +people, also, who were too tired to cry, whose hearts were heavy with +many sorrows, drank of that water and went on their way refreshed. And +his golden flask remained bright, and the water within it undiminished, +right to the very end. + +"What was the end? Ah, it came sooner than he thought it would! The +journey was not so very long after all! And when he arrived at that +beautiful country, and his eyes saw 'The King in His beauty', he forgot +all about the rough places, and all about his past weariness. It was the +land of sunlight, you see, and the land of shadows passed from his +recollection for ever." + +"Is that all?" Chris inquired, as I paused. + +"Yes, that's all," I replied. + +"It's a very nice story," he said, patronizingly. "I like it almost as +much as 'Jack the Giant Killer' and 'Jack and the Beanstalk', and better +than 'Cinderella'." + +"Shall I tell you what it means?" I asked. + +He looked at me doubtfully. + +"Are you going to scold me?" he asked, moving restlessly on my knee; +"'cause I'm going to be a good boy now." + +"No, my dear, I'm not going to scold you," I said reassuringly. "I only +want to tell you what I mean by my story." + +"Will it take long?" he asked; "'cause I'm hungry, and want my tea." + +"No, it won't take long," I answered persuasively. "I will tell it to +you quickly. This is what it means. You know, Chris, God wants us all to +go to heaven and live with Him by and by. In His great love He has shown +us all the way; it is the way that the blesséd Jesus went; a way that +sometimes takes us over hard and difficult places, but that always goes +up--never down. It is a way that leads us higher and higher, right away +to the happy land you were singing of last Sunday. But there is one +thing God has told us to do if we ever hope to reach that happy land--we +must love everyone. Just as the man who in my story reached the +beautiful land at last, just as he gave freely of the water in his +flask, so must we give freely of the love God has put into our hearts. +He has put it there, not that we should spend it on ourselves, but that +we should spend it on others. So long as we do that, so long will our +hearts remain pure and good as God wants them to be. And the more we +love everyone, the more we shall know of God, and the nearer we shall be +to heaven; for you see, dear, to know God is Heaven, and God is Love." + +I paused, and Chris looked contemplative. + +"I'm going to be like the good man, who gave away the water out of his +flask," he said, with the air of one taking a great resolution. "I'm +going to love everyone, and Briggs too." + +"I like to hear you say that," I said, stroking his head, with the +tumbled, golden curls. "Now, I think you had better go to your tea. +Briggs will be waiting for you." + +He jumped off my knee and went as far as the door, then came back to my +side. + +"Miss Beggarley," he said, putting his arms round my neck, "I want to +give you a great, good hug like I give my Granny. I love you very, very +much." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +CONCERNING EIGHT FLIES. + + +"If you please, mum, what am I to do about Master Chris's lessons? You +said you wished me to look over his clothes this morning, and I haven't +time for that and lessons too." Briggs looked inquiringly at Granny as +she spoke. + +"Of course not, of course not," said Granny. "Bring me his books, +Briggs; I will give them to him to-day." + +"Yes, Granny, you give me my lessons," exclaimed Chris, dancing with +glee and clapping his hands, evidently looking forward to a frivolous +hour in her company. + +"I hope, mum, you'll see he does no tricks," Briggs said, when she +returned with Chris's books. "He's very fond of them. He'll read over +what he's read before, with a face as innocent as a lamb's, and if I +don't remember he'll never say a word to remind me." + +"Go away, Briggs; I don't want you," the little beggar remarked with +more truth than politeness. + +"Master Chris, I shall always stay where my duty calls me," she answered +with loftiness, "as my mistress knows." + +"Certainly," Granny replied soothingly. "Chris, I cannot permit you to +speak to Briggs in such a way. Where are your lesson-books?" + +"Here, mum," Briggs said, producing two or three diminutive red books +and a tiny slate. + +"Thank you. Then you had better go and get on with your work," said +Granny, and Briggs left, with a last admonitory look at the little +beggar, which he received with one of defiance. + +"May Jack do lessons too? He's just outside," he asked as Granny opened +his reading-book. + +"Very well," she agreed, and he ran off to fetch him. He returned +presently, followed by his four-legged friend, who, selecting a sunny +spot near the window, lay basking there, blinking at us lazily with +sleepy eyes, as from time to time he roused himself to snap at the flies +within reach. + +"I want to get on your knee, my Granny," Chris said, suiting the action +to the word. + +"I don't think you will do your lessons so well," she said, doubtfully. + +"Oh yes, I will!" he replied coaxingly, and was allowed to remain. + +"Let us read this," he proposed, opening his book and pointing to a +page. + +"What is it? A little dialogue?" answered Granny. "Yes; it looks very +nice." + +"It's very difficult. So will you be the lady, and me the gentleman?" + +"Yes, if you would like that. But as I am helping you, you must be very +good, and read your very best." + +"My very, very best." + +There was a pause. + +"Now begin, my darling; we are losing so much time," Granny remarked. + +"Why, it's you to begin," Chris replied, with a touch of reproach at +having been unjustly censured. "Don't you see? You are Sue!" + +"Quite true, to be sure, so I am," the old lady said apologetically, +then began gently and precisely: + +"'_She._ Sir! sir! I am Sue. See me! see me! The cow has hit my leg! She +has hit her leg out up to my leg, and she has hit it and I cry! Boo! +boo!'" + +To this announcement of woe, Chris replied, or rather chanted in a +sing-song tone, and as loudly and rapidly as he could: + +"'_He._ Why, Sue, how is it? Why do you cry so? You are not to cry, Sue. +It is bad to cry. Put the cry out and let me see you gay.'" + +"Not so fast," Granny here remarked mildly; "not so fast, and not so +loud." + +"I want to finish it," he explained. "I want to get my lessons done very +quickly." + +"Ah! but they must be done properly. You see that, my darling, don't +you?" she said. Then continued: + +"'_She._ I am to cry, and to cry all the day. I am so bad and so ill, +and my leg is hit, and it is too bad of the cow to hit my leg.'" + +"'_He._ Did she hit you on the toe?'" + +"'_She._ No. She hit me by the hip, and it is a bad hip now, and she is +a bad, old, big cow, and she is not to eat rye or hay; no, not a bit of +it all the day.'" + +"'_He._ Not eat all the day! not eat rye, not eat hay!'" + +At this point, Granny stroked Chris's head and said commendingly: + +"You are reading very well now, very well indeed. You have made great +progress since I last heard you." + +The little beggar wagged his head solemnly. "I want to read well," he +stated gravely. "I want to read very well; then I shall read big books +like my Uncle Godfrey." + +"You are a good little boy," she said. "I am very pleased with the pains +my little Chris is taking." + +A suspicion crossed my mind. Was he indulging in one of the tricks of +which Briggs had forewarned Granny? + +"Have you ever read this before, Chris?" I asked. + +"Oh, yes; often and often!" he replied, with the utmost candour. + +"Oh, my darling, why did you ask me to let you read it now?" Granny +said, looking grieved. + +"'Cause I read it so well," he explained, without exhibiting any proper +shame. + +"Ah! but you might have known Granny didn't want an old lesson," she +said gravely. "It wasn't quite right; was it, Miss Baggerley?" + +"No; it wasn't fair," I assented. + +Chris hung his head. "I didn't mean not to be fair," he said, with +touching contrition. + +Granny's heart softened. "I don't believe you did, my Chris," she +remarked gently. + +Chris put his arms round her neck and hid his face on her shoulder. "I'm +very sorry," he mumbled. Then raising his head: + +"I am going to be a very fair boy," he said magnanimously, touched by +Granny's forgiveness; "I'm going to be a very fair boy, and I am going +to tell you that I don't know the lady's part as well as I know the +gentleman's part. Shall I be Sue, my Granny?" + +"Yes. Now that's an excellent idea," she said, with much satisfaction, +and glancing at me with a look of pride in her darling's noble +repentance. "I consider that an excellent idea, indeed; and I am very +pleased that you should have proposed it." + +Chris's face fell. "Don't you think that it is silly for a big boy like +me to be Sue?" he asked, with evident disappointment that his offer had +been accepted. + +"Not at all," Granny said. "It's only in a book, you see, my pet." + +"I don't like being a girl," he murmured. "I don't want to be Sue." + +"I thought, though, that you wanted to show Granny you were sorry for +not having told her you were reading an old lesson," I remarked. + +He sighed, without answering me; then after a pause, continued with an +effort and a hesitation that offered a striking contrast to the glib +manner of his previous reading: + +"'_She._ Yes; for why did she hit me? She is a big and bad old cow. See +her! See how fat she is! She is as fat as a sow. She has a fat hip, and +a fat rib, and a fat ear, and a fat leg, and a fat all.'" + +As he came to the end of the sentence he sighed once more, very heavily +and sadly, then waited. + +"Yes, yes, go on," Granny said, as he looked at her expectantly; "read +to the end, like my good little boy." + +He obeyed, but with a look of protest on his face, which changed to one +of injury, when, at the close of the one lesson, he found that Granny +intended him to read another. + +This was not what he had expected, and he was disappointed with her +accordingly. + +"That is just as much as I read with Briggs," he said, looking at her +with a world of reproach. + +"But you must read as much with me as you do with Briggs," she said, +looking slightly fatigued with the arduous duty of giving the little +beggar his lessons. + +"Why must I?" he asked. + +"Now, now, don't ask so many questions," she said slightly flustered. +"Begin here, my dear child." + +"'Ben! Ben! I can see a fly!'" he started impatiently, and stumbling +over the words in his haste; "'and the fly can fly, and the fly can die, +and the fly is shy, and can get to the pie, and can get on the rye! and +the fly can run, and can get on the bun, all for its fun! and the fly is +gay all the day, and oh, Ben! Ben! the fly is in my ear, so do put it +out of my ear.'"... Chris came to a stop, and leant his head back on +Granny's shoulder. + +"What a funny thing it must be to have a fly in your ear," he remarked +thoughtfully. "Have you ever had a fly in your ear, Granny?" + +"Never, my darling," said the long-suffering old lady patiently; "go +on." + +Chris obeyed; now, however, reading in a listless fashion, as if he had +no further energy left. + +He continued without a breath, until he reached the following: "Ah, but +now it has got in the oil. Oh, fly, fly, why do you go to the oil?" + +This was too good an opportunity to be lost. + +"Granny," he said idly, and yawning as he spoke, "I want to ask you +something." + +"Yes, my Chris," she said inquiringly. + +"Why did the fly go to the oil?" he asked with feigned interest. + +"My darling, how can I possibly tell you?" she exclaimed. "See, you are +slipping right off my knee. You can't read properly so." + +Chris scrambled back to his former position, and then continued reading +in a desultory fashion. + +"'Oil is bad for a fly. So, now I put you out of the oil, and now I say +you are to get dry. Ah! but now the fly is on the pot of jam, and it is +on the jar and in the jam. The red jam, the new jam, the big jar of +jam.'" + +"How nice!" he exclaimed, with more enthusiasm. "May I have some red jam +for my tea to-day?" + +"If you are a good boy, and read right on to the end of the lesson +without stopping," she replied. Thus encouraged, Chris with an effort +toiled to the conclusion without any further pauses. + +"'By, by! Wee fly!' Now must I do my sums?" he asked all in a breath as +he came to the end. + +"Yes; I think you had better," Granny replied, holding the slate-pencil +between her fingers and looking meditatively at the slate. "I will write +you out one." + +"_Sometimes_ Briggs doesn't write horrid sums on the slate; _sometimes_ +she asks me sums she makes up out of her head," he said, insinuatingly. +"I like that better, it is much, much nicer." + +"Sometimes Briggs asks you sums out of her head, does she?" Granny +repeated, putting down the slate-pencil. "Well, now, what shall I ask +you?" + +"Something about Jack," he said, getting off her knee and sitting on the +ground beside the dog. "He's such a naughty, lazy, little doggie; he's +done no lessons at all. Now, listen, Jackie, and do a sum with me. If +Granny asks me something about you, you must think just as much as me. +Mustn't he, Granny?" + +"Of course, of course," she replied absently. "I'm to ask you something +about Jack, my darling. Let me see, what shall it be?" + +She looked at Jack for a moment as she spoke, who blinked back at her +inquiringly, as if to ask, "What are you all talking so much about me +for?" + +Then with a look of inspiration: + +"I know," she said. "There were six--no, there were eight flies. Jack +swallowed one--yes, he swallowed one, he ate another--let me see, how +many flies did I say? Eight flies? Yes, eight. Well, he swallowed one, +and he ate one, and"--she took off her spectacles and thought a +moment--"he bit another in halves. + +"Yes, that will do," she said with satisfaction. "He swallowed one, he +ate another, and he bit another in halves. How many flies were left to +fly away?" + +Chris knitted his brows. "Lots," he replied, as he pulled one of Jack's +ears. + +"Come, come, think," Granny said reprovingly. "He swallowed one--that +left how many?" + +"Seven," said Chris. + +"Very good. He ate another?" she went on-- + +"That left six," the little beggar said, looking very astute. + +"That's right. And he bit another in halves. Then, how many were left to +fly away?" she asked with mild triumph. + +"Five and a half," answered Chris. Then thoughtfully: "How did the +half-fly fly away, my Granny? P'r'aps Jack only ate the body and left +the wings. Was that how it happened?" + +"My pet shouldn't ask such silly questions," Granny said, speaking more +testily than she generally did. "I only said, _supposing_ there were +eight flies." + +"Well, supposing," Chris persisted; "how would the half-fly fly away +then?" + +"It wouldn't, it couldn't. You see, my darling, it would be dead," the +old lady said, becoming flurried. + +"But you said it would," Chris said with some perplexity. + +"There, there, that will do," she said. "You are a silly little boy to +think such a thing. We must get on with your other lessons, for the time +is passing." + +"Shall I have a holiday now?" he suggested lazily. + +"No, no; that would never do," she said. "You had better do some more +sums; but on the slate. Miss Baggerley, will you be so kind as to give +them to him. That, with a little spelling and a copy, will, I think, be +sufficient for to-day;" and the old lady, leaning back in her arm-chair, +closed her eyes with an exhausted expression. + +"Miss Beggarley," said Chris in a coaxing voice--he never failed thus to +distort my name--"may I get on your knee and do my lessons, like I did +on Granny's?" + +"No, you had better not," I said, hardening my heart. "How do you expect +to write well if you sit on my knee?" + +"'Cause I know I could," he replied confidently. + +"No, no," I said firmly; "we won't try. Come here; you sit on this chair +and write this copy. Now show me how well you can write and spell. I +know a boy no older than you, and he writes and spells beautifully for +his age." + +"Better than me?" Chris asked anxiously. + +"Well, write and spell your very best, and then I shall be able to +tell," I replied with caution. The mention of my small friend of +advanced powers as scribe and speller proved a happy thought on my part. +The effect was excellent. Chris's mood changed; his lazy fit passed away +in a burning desire to emulate--not to say outdistance--his unknown +rival. With frowning brow and tongue between his teeth, he laboured +assiduously at his copy, without uttering a word, whilst Granny, lulled +by the quiet which prevailed, slept the sleep of the just. + +I felt, indeed I had cause to be, fully satisfied with the result of my +remark, for its effects lasted not only whilst the copy was being +written but even through the spelling-lesson; an effect that could +hardly have been anticipated when the varying moods of that little +beggar were taken into consideration. + +As I closed the spelling-book, "Miss Beggarley," he said, gazing at me +with anxious eyes, "have I written my writing and spelt my spelling as +well as that other boy?" + +"Yes, I really think you have; at least very nearly." + +"P'r'aps I shall quite, to-morrow." + +"Perhaps you will--if you take great pains." + +"Shall I kiss my Granny?" + +"No, you will wake her up." + +"Why does she want to go to sleep? She often goes to sleep when she does +my lessons. Do boys' lessons always make old people sleepy?" + +"That depends on the little boy who does them," I replied gravely. "If +he tires his granny very much, it is not surprising that she should go +to sleep." + +Chris looked thoughtful. + +"Have I been a good boy?" he said. + +"You were inattentive at the beginning, dear," I replied, "but you were +good afterwards." + +"Then I shall tell Briggs I have been a good boy," he remarked with +satisfaction. And with a certain expression of anticipated triumph upon +his face, he walked off, followed by Jack, his constant and faithful +companion. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TEACHING JACKY TO SWIM. + + +"Tell you a story? What shall it be about? I thought you were tired of +stories." Granny spoke a trifle drowsily. It was very warm that +September afternoon--an afternoon that made you feel more inclined to +sleep than to tell stories. + +But Chris was not to be denied. + +"I want a story very much," he said; "very much indeed." + +"Perhaps Miss Baggerley would tell you one," suggested Granny. "I am +sure it would be a more interesting one than any I could think of." + +"I don't want anyone to tell me a story but you," answered the little +tyrant wilfully; "only you, my Granny." + +"Then I will, my darling," she replied, plainly gratified at this +preference so strongly expressed. "But you must wait a moment," she went +on, "I shall have to think." + +She closed her eyes as she spoke, and there was silence, broken only by +the sounds of the world without carried through the open windows--the +lazy hum of the bees amongst the flowers, the gentle, monotonous cooing +of the wood-pigeons in the trees, the far-off voices of children at +play. + +Presently the little beggar became impatient. + +"Why don't you begin, Granny?" he asked, pulling her sleeve as he leant +against her knee. + +She started from a slight doze into which she had fallen. + +"Let me see," she said with a start; "I had just thought of a very nice +story, but I was trying to recollect the end. I think I remember it +now." + +"There was once a very beautiful Newfoundland dog," she began hurriedly. +"Yes, he was a very beautiful dog indeed." + +"How beautiful?" interrupted Chris, with his usual aptitude for asking +questions. "As beautiful as Jacky?" + +"I think more beautiful," she replied, without pausing to consider. + +"Then he was a nasty dog," he said, with vehemence. "I don't like a dog +what is more beautiful than my Jacky." + +"He was such a different kind of dog," she said deprecatingly. "A +Newfoundland dog cannot very well be compared with a fox-terrier, my +pet." + +"What was his name?" asked the little beggar, accepting Granny's +explanation and letting the matter pass. + +"Rover; that was what he was called," she replied. "His little mistress +loved him dearly," she continued. + +"Did he belong to a _girl_?" Chris inquired, with some contempt on the +substantive. + +"Yes; and they always used to go out for pleasant walks together," she +went on. "But never near the river, for she had said many a time, +'Don't go near the river, my darling, for it is not safe; not for a +little girl like you'." + +"Who said that?" he asked, speaking with some impatience. "The little +girl--or what?" + +"The little girl's mother," replied Granny, a trifle drowsily. + +"You're going to sleep again!" Chris exclaimed reproachfully. "Oh, +Granny, how can you tell me a story when you're asleep?" + +"Asleep! Oh no, my darling," she said opening her eyes. "Well, one day, +I am sorry, very sorry to say, Eliza--" + +"Was that the little girl's name?" inquired Chris. + +"Yes," she answered. "Didn't I tell you her name was Eliza? Dear, dear, +how forgetful of me! As I was saying, Eliza thought, in spite of her +father's and mother's command, she would go to the river, for she wished +to pick some of the water-lilies which grew there in such profusion." + +"How naughty of Eliza!" exclaimed Chris, with virtuous indignation. + +"Yes, very naughty; very naughty indeed," agreed Granny, her voice again +becoming sleepy. "It was sadly disobedient." + +There was another pause, during which Chris listened expectantly, and +the old lady once more closed her eyes. + +"Oh, Granny! do go on," said the anxious little listener fervently. + +"She picked several which grew near the river's brink," the old lady +continued with an effort, "and at first all went well. But at last she +saw a beautiful--a remarkably beautiful one that grew just out of her +reach. It was a most dangerous thing to attempt to pick it, but she did +not think of that, for she was very, very thoughtless as well as +disobedient. Bending forward, heedless of her father's warning call, and +her poor dear mother's sorrowful cry, she lost her balance, +and--fell--right--into--the--river." + +The last few words were uttered in a whisper, Granny's sleepiness having +once more overtaken her, bravely as she struggled against it. + +"How drefful!" said Chris, with wide-open eyes. "Was poor Eliza +drownded? Oh, I hope she wasn't! Did she get out? Oh, say yes, Granny! +And where did her father and mother call to her from? Right from the +house? 'Cause I thought you said she was alone." + +But the only answer to his torrent of questions was a gentle snore. The +time he had occupied in pouring forth these queries had sufficed to send +Eliza's historian asleep. + +Chris's little face fell. + +"My Granny has gone quite asleep," he remarked with much disappointment. +"Now I shall never know if Eliza was drownded or not. P'r'aps she's +only pretending. I'll see if her eyes are fast-shut," he added, +preparing to put Granny to the test by lifting one of her eyelids. + +"Don't do that, Chris," I said hastily. "Come here, I'll tell you the +rest of the story." + +"Do you know it?" he asked doubtfully. + +"I can guess it," I replied, as he crossed the room to my side. + +"Then what happened to poor Eliza?" he inquired anxiously; "and did +Rover help her? Oh! I do hope he did." + +"Well," I started, taking up the story at the point at which Granny had +dozed off, "when her father and mother--who were near enough to see what +had occurred--realized the danger their little daughter was in, they +were filled with horror. It seemed as if they were going to see her die +before their eyes; for they were so far off that it looked as if it were +not possible to get to her before she sunk. And this is just what would +have taken place had not help been at hand. Eliza, her water-lilies, and +her disobedient, little heart would have sunk to the bottom of the river +for ever, had it not been for--what do you think Chris?" + +"I know, I know!" he cried, clapping his hands. "It was Rover; the good +dog. He swam after her." + +"You are right," I said. "There was a plunge, and there was Rover +swimming to the help of his little mistress. For a minute it appeared as +if the current was carrying her away, and as if he would not reach her +in time. How, then, shall I describe her father and her mother's joy +when they saw him succeed in doing so, and, seizing her by the dress, +bring her safely to the river's bank! No," as Chris looked at me with +inquiring eyes, "she was not hurt; only very wet, and very frightened." + +"I 'spect she was very, very frightened," Chris said, loudly and +eagerly; "and I 'spect she never, never went near the river +again,--never again. Did she?" + +"No, my darling," Granny said, awakened by his loud and eager tones in +time to hear his last question, and sitting up and rubbing her eyes; +"she was never such a naughty little girl again. She expressed great +sorrow for what had occurred, and she learnt to be more obedient for the +future. Indeed, she became so remarkable for her obedience, my pet, that +they always called her by the name of 'the obedient little Eliza'." + +"Now nice!" Chris remarked with unction. "You've been fast asleep, my +Granny," he informed her, with a laugh--pitying and amused. + +"Dear, dear, is it possible?" she said. + +"Yes, and Miss Beggarley had to finish the story," he continued. + +"I'm much obliged to you, my dear, I'm sure," Granny said gratefully. + +"I hope I told it as you intended it to be told," I said laughing. + +"You told it just as it should have been, I am fully convinced," she +answered with gentle politeness; "much better than I should have +myself." + +"But she never told me what happened to Rover afterwards," put in Chris. + +"He lived to a great age," answered Granny, adjusting her spectacles and +resuming her knitting, "and was loved and honoured by all. And when he +died he was beautifully stuffed and put into a glass case." + +"I wish he hadn't died, my Granny," said the little beggar mournfully, +unconsoled by the honour paid to Rover's remains. Then, with a sudden +change of thought: "Can Jack swim like he did, I wonder." + +"That I can't say, my darling," Granny replied, intent on her work. + +"I think I had better teach him," the little beggar said, looking very +wise; "'cause if you, or Miss Beggarley, or me, or Briggs felled into +the water like Eliza, Jacky could bring us out, and save us from being +drownded." + +"Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine," murmured Granny, busy +counting the stitches on her sock, and too much occupied to pay +attention to what Chris said. "Twenty-nine! Now, how have I gone wrong? +Miss Baggerley, my dear, would you be so kind as to see if you can find +out my mistake?" + +"I know!" exclaimed Chris, as Granny handed me her work; "I know very +well what I will do. I'll--," and he stopped short. + +"What will you do, my pet?" asked Granny, a little absently, watching me +as I put her knitting right. + +But Chris shook his head. "A surprise!" he said, and closed his lips +firmly. + +I felt that it would be safer for the interests of all to probe the +matter further, and was about to do so, when there was a tap at the +door, and Briggs entered. + +"Master Chris," she said, "it's time for your walk." + +Now, generally the little beggar murmured much and loudly when he was +interrupted by Briggs. On this occasion, however, he showed no +disinclination to go with her, but on the contrary went with alacrity. + +"I think he is really becoming fond of her," Granny remarked with some +satisfaction when they had gone. "Perhaps, after all, I shall not have +to send her away at Christmas, as I feared I should have to if she and +Chris did not understand each other better. I shall be very glad if I +can let her stay, for although she has an unsympathetic manner--yes, I +must say that she strikes me as being extremely unsympathetic to the +darling at times; don't you think so, my dear?--yet I know that she is +thoroughly reliable and trustworthy." + +"I wonder if Chris's readiness to go with her had anything to do with +his 'surprise'," I answered. "It looks to me a little suspicious, I must +own. I hope he has not any mischievous idea in his little head." + +"Oh, no, my dear!" she replied, almost reproachfully; "the darling is as +good as gold. There never was a better child when he likes. No, no, he +is not at all inclined to be troublesome to-day; I think you are +mistaken." + +I kept silence, for I saw that dear old Granny was not altogether +pleased at my suggestion. Nevertheless, in spite of her reassuring +words, I did not feel convinced that the little beggar was not going to +give us some fresh proof of his remarkable powers for getting into +mischief. And further events justified my fears. + +I will tell you how this happened. + +About half an hour later I was taking a stroll in the garden, when, +turning my steps in the direction of the pond, I suddenly came upon +Chris, accompanied by Briggs. That something was amiss was at once +evident. Briggs was walking along, with her air of greatest +dignity--and that, I assure you, was very great indeed,--whilst Chris, +by her side, was also making his little attempt at being dignified. + +But it was the sorriest attempt you can imagine! + +Dripping from head to foot, water running in little rivulets from his +large straw hat upon his face, water dripping from his clothes soaked +through and through, and making little pools on the garden-path as he +pursued his way--a more forlorn, miserable-looking little object it was +impossible to conceive. + +In spite of this, however, he would not let go of that attempt at +dignity. With his hands in his pockets, and his head thrown back, he +whistled as he walked along, with the most defiant expression he could +assume upon that naughty little face of his. + +And the procession was brought up by Jack, with his tail between his +legs, also dripping and shivering violently. + +Directly Chris saw me the defiant expression instantly vanished, and +running to me, he buried his face in my dress and wept at the top of his +voice. + +"What is the matter, Chris?" I asked. "What has happened? What have you +been doing?" + +"What _hasn't_ happened, and what _hasn't_ he been doing?" said Briggs, +coming up and speaking very angrily. "And what will happen next? That's +what I ask." + +"What has happened now?" I repeated. + +"One of Master Chris's tricks again, that's all," she said, still +angrily, as we all walked on to the house. + +"I was--teach-teach--teaching J-J-Jack to--to swim--like Ro-Ro--Rover," +the little beggar said between violent sobs, and bringing out the last +word with a great gasp. + +"Teaching Jack to swim like Rover!" I repeated. + +"Yes," exclaimed Briggs, with much sarcasm; "and it was a mighty clever +thing for Master Chris to do, seeing as how he can't swim himself. + +"It was just like this, mum," she explained, as she hastened her steps, +"(I think we had better hurry a bit if Master Chris isn't to take his +death of cold. He'll be in bed to-morrow unless I'm much mistaken!) I +was just speaking to one of the gardeners about a pot of musk we wanted +in the nursery. I hadn't turned my back two minutes before I hear a +splash and Master Chris crying out at the top of his voice, and when I +look around there he is struggling nearly up to his neck in water, and +Jacky struggling along by his side. Well, here we are back; we'll see +what my mistress thinks of it all. I'll be bound she won't be over and +above pleased. As for me, I can only say I am more than thankful it was +at the shallow part of the pond; if it had been at the deep end, there's +no saying if he wouldn't have been lying there now stiff and stark." + +At this woeful picture of himself, Chris's grief, which had become +slightly subdued, burst forth afresh, and as we entered the hall he +sobbed more loudly and more violently than before. So loudly and so +violently that the sound of his grief penetrated to the library where +Granny was sitting, and brought her out into the hall, frightened and +anxious to know what was wrong. + +"He nearly drowned himself, that's what is the matter, mum," answered +Briggs, with a certain gloomy satisfaction, in reply to the old lady's +anxious questions. "It's nothing but a chance he isn't at the bottom of +the deepest end of the pond at this very same minute that I speak to +you!" + +At this startling, not to say overwhelming statement, Granny became +quite white, and, holding on to a chair near at hand, did not speak. + +"There is nothing for you to alarm yourself about, Mrs. Wyndham," I said +quietly.--"Chris, stop crying; you are frightening Granny.--He managed +to fall into the pond, trying to teach Jack to swim, but it was at the +shallow end, so there was no danger." + +Thus reassured, Granny looked at me with relief. + +"Thank God!" she said earnestly, as she kissed the little beggar +thankfully, all wet and tear-stained as he was. + +Then, with an attempt to control her emotion, but speaking in a voice +that trembled in spite of herself: + +"Come, come," she said to Briggs, "we must not waste time in talking. We +must put Master Chris to bed at once, and get him warm. See how he +shivers. Yes, come upstairs at once, my darling, and I will hear all +about it by and by." + +And, together with Briggs and the cause of all the confusion, she went +upstairs to take precautions for the prevention of the ill consequences +likely to follow upon his rash deed. It was some time before she came +downstairs again, and when she did so she looked worried. + +"I am afraid, very much afraid, he has caught a chill," she remarked. +"He so easily does that." + +"Perhaps you may have prevented it," I said hopefully. + +"I wish I could think so," she replied, shaking her head; "but I much +fear that it cannot be altogether prevented. He is not strong, you see, +my dear." + +"And to think," she went on admiringly; "to think the darling ran that +risk all because of his loving little heart; because he feared that +some day we might be in danger of being drowned, and that if Jack could +swim we should be rescued. Isn't it just like the pet to think of it?" + +"It is," I agreed with conviction; adding cautiously, "It would have +been better, I think, if he had told you of his idea before trying to +put it into effect. It would have given everyone less trouble." + +"He wished to surprise us all by showing us he had by himself taught +Jack to swim," Granny returned, quick to defend her darling. "No, no, I +see how it happened; he was thoughtless but not naughty. Indeed, I take +what blame there is to myself. I should have considered, before I told +him the story of Eliza and her dog Rover, the effect it was likely to +have upon an active, quick little brain like his." + +I smiled. It was quite plain that dear old Granny in her loving way +wished to take all the blame upon her own willing shoulders, and to +spare that incorrigible little beggar.... + +It was some three days after this, and I was sitting in the nursery by +Chris's crib, trying to amuse him and wile away the time until Briggs +came back with the lamp, when it would be the hour for him to say +good-night and go to sleep. The bright September afternoon was drawing +to a close, and twilight was beginning to fall. + +In spite of all Granny's precautions he had not escaped from the +consequences of his tumble into the pond, but had caught a severe chill, +and so had had to stay in bed for these last three days. He was very +sweet and gentle in his weakness, that poor little beggar; partly, I +think, because he felt too tired to be mischievous, and also, I am glad +to say, because he loved his Granny very dearly and was truly sorry for +the fright he had given her. I had been telling him stories for the last +half-hour, but having now come to the end of my resources, for the +moment we were quiet. + +With his hand in mine, Chris lay looking out through the window at the +stars as they came out slowly, slowly in the gathering darkness. + +Presently he asked: + +"Do you like the stars? I like them very much." + +"Yes, Chris," I answered; "so do I." + +"I think they are the most beautifullest things," he remarked with +enthusiasm. + +"Yes, they are," I replied. "They are like the great and loving deeds of +God, falling in a bright shower from heaven upon the earth beneath." + +"When I go to heaven, will God give me some stars if I ask Him very +much?" Chris inquired, most seriously. "P'r'aps if I ask Him every day +in my prayers till I'm dead He will then." + +I smiled a little. + +"No, darling," I said, smoothing his hair gently; "the stars are not the +little things they seem to you. You see, they are worlds like our world. +It is only because they are such thousands and thousands of miles away +that they look to you so small." + +Chris pondered over this for a moment or two, then he said thoughtfully: + +"Miss Beggarley, I want to ask you, when the good man got to the top of +the hill, did he see that the stars were big worlds and not little, tiny +things?" + +"Yes," I replied, half to him, half to myself; "he saw then that those +things which, at the foot of the hill, had seemed to him so small and so +far away he had given them but little consideration, were in reality +great, and beautiful, and worlds in their importance. And he saw, too, +that the things which in the valley beneath had appeared to him of such +infinite value were by comparison poor and valueless, not worthy the +thought he had given them or the pain they had so often caused him...." + +I heard a footstep, and looking round, saw that Briggs had come back. + +"I must go now," I said to Chris, kissing him. "It is time for you to +sleep. Good-night, dear!" + +"Good-night!" he said, then turned his head towards the window and lay +still, gazing solemnly with big, sleepy eyes at the stars that shone +without. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE DOCTOR'S HEAD! + + +As Chris regained his strength he also regained his love of mischief--a +state of affairs that proved somewhat trying. To keep him in bed and to +keep him good was not a very easy task. + +"The trouble it is, mum, words can't tell," Briggs said to me with +fervour one evening when I had come upstairs to see that Chris was +comfortably settled for the night. "If I turn my back for a moment he is +half out of bed," she said, as she detained me for a moment as I went +through the day-nursery. "He is that full of mischief I hardly know what +to do with him." + +"It shows he is getting strong again," I said, half smiling. + +"It's the only way I can get any comfort," she said, sighing. + +Poor Briggs! She really looked tired as she spoke, and I felt sorry for +her. + +"You look very tired," I remarked. + +"I've had bad enough nights lately to make me so," she replied. "Master +Chris--he is always waking up and coughing and coughing till I'm nearly +driven wild. It's my belief it's the barley-sugar has got something to +do with it. Ever since the doctor said some had better be given to him +when he got coughing it seems to me his cough has got a deal worse." + +"Why don't you put a little by his crib?" I suggested; "then he needn't +wake you up when he wants it." + +"I did try that last night," she answered, "but by the time I went to +bed myself he had eaten it all up, and there wasn't a scrap of it left." + +"I think he will be well enough to get up soon," I said hopefully. + +"I think so too," she replied. "It was only yesterday I said so to Dr. +Saunders, but he didn't seem to think the same. + +"I don't altogether hold with him," she continued, with a return of her +usual dignified manner; "and so I told my mistress this morning. He is +over-careful, and I've no belief in these medical gentlemen who are +given that way. When he comes to-morrow--There, if I didn't forget!" she +interrupted herself to exclaim. + +"What have you forgotten, Briggs?" I asked. + +"My mistress asked me in particular to remind the doctor that he said +Master Chris would be the better of a tonic, but he had forgotten to +leave the prescription," she answered. "I never thought of it this +morning when he was here." + +"I should make a note of it," I suggested. + +"Which is the very thing I'll do," she assented. "I'll write it down now +on Master Chris's slate whilst it is in my mind. It's the only way to +remember things, I do believe. + +"Though it is my opinion, mum," she added, as she carried out her +intention; "though it's my opinion a physician should not need reminding +of such things. But there! he is always forgetting something. He has no +head! I should like to know where it is sometimes, for it isn't always +on his shoulders, I'll be bound!" + +"How can the doctor's head not be on his shoulders?" asked a puzzled +little voice. "'Cause he'd be quite dead if he had no head." + +At this unexpected interruption Briggs and I looked in the direction +whence the voice proceeded, and saw a little figure standing on the +threshold of the door that led into the night-nursery. A little figure, +in a long white nightgown, with tumbled, golden hair falling about the +flushed little face, and two great violet eyes shining like stars, and +dancing with mischief and glee. + +I confess I felt a weak desire to take that naughty but bewitching +little beggar in my arms, and kiss him in spite of all his sins. But +Briggs experienced no such weakness. + +"Master Chris!" she exclaimed in horrified amazement; "what next, I +should like to know? This is past everything." + +Then snatching him up in her arms, she carried him back to bed, +struggling and vehemently protesting at being treated in so summary and +undignified a fashion. + +As for me, I presently went downstairs laughing, with the sound of +Chris's voice still ringing in my ears: + +"Put me down, Briggs. I will be a good boy. I don't want to be carried +like a baby." Then with his usual persistency: "But I want to know--why +do you say that the doctor sometimes has no head on his shoulders, +'cause how could he live without a head?" Then again, in the most +insinuating of voices: "Shall I tell the doctor about the medicine he +forgot, and shall I write down all the things you want to know, and all +the things I want to know, and everything. Would I be a good boy if I +did? I want some barley-sugar, 'cause my cough's drefful bad." + +"Chris is certainly recovering," I said to Granny when I joined her in +the drawing-room, and told her what had occurred. "He is quite in his +usual spirits again." + +"His is a happy disposition, is it not?" she said, with satisfaction. +"The child is like a sunbeam in the house; so merry, so bright!" + +The next morning, however, the sunbeam was comparatively still; not +dancing, gay, and restless, as sunbeams often are. + +The little beggar was in one of his quiet moods--moods of rare +occurrence with him, as you will have gathered. + +"The darling is like a lamb," Granny remarked when she came downstairs; +"very gentle and so good. He wants you to go and sit with him a little, +if you are not busy, my dear." + +"Certainly," I said, and went up to the nursery to see Chris in this +edifying rôle. + +I found him busy, drawing strange hieroglyphics on a large sheet of +foolscap paper with a red-lead pencil. As I entered he looked up at me +for a moment with a preoccupied expression, then said mysteriously: + +"Miss Beggarley, what do you think I am doing?" + +"I don't know," I replied. "What is it? Let me see." + +"No, no, no!" he cried, bending over the paper, "you mustn't see. I +don't want you to know." + +"Then why did you ask me?" I inquired. + +"'Cause I wanted to see if you could guess," he said. + +"It's nothing naughty, is it?" I asked. + +"Oh no!" he replied in the most virtuous of voices, "it's very good. + +"I've done now," he remarked a few minutes later, sitting up and putting +the sheet of foolscap and the red-lead pencil under his pillow. "When I +get better will you play horses with me? You said you would, and you +never have." + +"That is very wrong of me," I answered. "Yes, I will play with you when +you are better." + +"When will the doctor come?" he suddenly asked with some eagerness. + +"Very soon now, I think," I replied. "It is just about his time." + +"Will you be a lame horse when you play, or a well horse?" + +"Which of the two horses has the least work?" + +"The lame horse." + +"Then I'll be the lame horse." + +"Is that the doctor?" + +I listened. "Wait a moment, I'll see," I replied, and went to the +day-nursery. + +Yes, it was the doctor. I could hear him and Granny talking as they +walked along the passage; Granny on her favourite topic--the virtues of +her darling. + +"Yes," she was saying, in answer to some observation of her companion's, +"he really shows a great deal of character for one so young. But he has +done that from the earliest, from the very earliest age. When he was a +baby of but a few weeks old, he would clutch hold of his bottle with +such resolution, such tenacity, that it was, I assure you, a difficult +matter to take it from him." + +"Quite so, quite so," the doctor answered blandly as they entered; "as +you say, great tenacity of purpose. + +"Well," I heard him continue, after having passed through the +day-nursery to the one beyond; "well, and how are we to-day?" + +"Quite well," answered the little beggar's voice cheerfully. + +"Quite well? We couldn't be better, could we?" he said jocularly. "Yes, +I think we are looking so much better we may get up to-day, and go for a +walk in the sun to-morrow. What do you say, Master Chris?" + +"I want to ask you a lot," I heard Chris say importantly. + +"Very well," replied the doctor good-naturedly, "let us hear it;" at +which point curiosity prompted me to go to the door of the night-nursery +and look in. + +Chris was in the act of drawing, with no little pomp, the large sheet of +foolscap from beneath his pillow. + +"Read it," he said, handing it to the doctor with pride. "I've printed +it all myself." + +The doctor laughed as he glanced at it. + +"I think," he said, "you had better read it to me yourself, my little +man." + +"All right!" answered Chris. "It's all questions I want to ask you. I've +written them down in case I forget them." + +I here saw Briggs glance up uneasily, and was myself conscious of some +feeling of disquietude. Could Chris's questions have anything to do with +Briggs' remarks of the previous evening? A recollection came back to me +which, till that moment, had slipped from my mind. Had not I heard a +suggestion made by a naughty, struggling little mortal being carried +back to bed against his will? "Shall I write down all the things you +want to know, and all the things I want to know, and everything?" + +A presentiment of coming confusion came upon me, and I half stepped +forward to try and stop Chris going further in his proposed catechism. +But I was too late; he started without delay. + +"May I have sugar-candy for my cough instead of barley-sugar, 'cause +I've eaten so much barley-sugar?" he began pompously. + +"Certainly," replied the doctor laughing; "we won't make any difficulty +about that." + +I gave an involuntary sigh of relief at hearing so harmless a question, +whilst Briggs looked less anxious, and Granny smiled. + +"Shall I be well enough to run my hoop to-morrow?" he went on, loudly +and slowly, pretending to read from the sheet of foolscap he held. "I +have a new one, and I'm tired of not running it," he added. + +"Very well, we'll see," the doctor answered. "If the sun is out I +daresay we shall be able to run our hoop a little bit to-morrow. But we +must be careful not to over-tire ourselves. Anything more, my little +man?" + +"Yes. Why did you forget to leave the 'scription for my tonic +yesterday?" continued Chris. "And will you remember it to-day?" + +The doctor laughed, but with some constraint. Briggs looked up +anxiously, and the smile vanished from Granny's face. + +"What! Are we so fond of medicine?" the doctor asked, trying to speak as +before, but unable to prevent a touch of annoyance being heard in his +voice. "Little boys don't generally care for it so much. Yes, I will +leave the prescription to-day." + +"There, there, that will do," interposed Granny nervously, moving +towards the door. + +"But there is one other question I want to ask very much," Chris said, +again feigning to refer to his paper. + +"Yes?" said the doctor inquiringly, pausing in his progress towards the +door. + +"What do you do with your head when it isn't on your shoulders?" he +asked, with the innocent expression always to be seen upon his face when +he was creating the greatest awkwardness. + +At this question Briggs became scarlet, looked as if she were about to +speak, then appeared to alter her mind, and, turning her back, busied +herself arranging the medicine-bottles on a little table near the crib. +The doctor himself appeared more bewildered than anything else. + +"What do you mean?" he said. "Where can my head be except on my +shoulders?" + +"Well, that was what I thought," Chris said, triumphantly. "I said you'd +be dead if your head was off your shoulders." + +"I should have concluded that everyone must have been of the same +opinion," he said, still mystified, whilst Granny shook her head gently, +and frowned at the little beggar, hoping to prevent any further +discussion of the subject. A futile hope. Chris was resolved to go to +the bottom of the matter. + +"Well, Briggs said it wasn't!" he exclaimed, "and what did she mean?" + +The doctor's expression of mystification changed to one of annoyance, as +he remarked with no little displeasure: + +"I think you had better ask Briggs herself for an explanation of her +remark," then left, accompanied by Granny--poor Granny, awkward and +mortified beyond measure at the embarrassing situation. + +As for Briggs--who had certainly been the principal sufferer--her +indignation burst out as soon as we saw the last of the doctor. + +"Well, I never!" she exclaimed indignantly. Then with increased wrath, +"Well, I never did!" After which two exclamations she paused to find +suitable words in which to condemn the enormities of which Chris had +been guilty. + +For his part, he was not in the least disturbed by the general +embarrassment--the only one who was not. + +He gazed up at Briggs with an expression of injured innocence. + +"Are you cross, Briggs?" he asked. "Have I been naughty?" + +"Have you been naughty, Master Chris?" she asked, with wrathful sarcasm. +"Oh, no! there _never_ was such a well-behaved young gentleman." + +"Surely, Chris," I said, coming into the night-nursery, "you knew that +you had no business to repeat to Dr. Saunders what Briggs said to me?" + +He hung his head a little guiltily. + +"I wanted him to 'member about the tonic," he replied; "and I did want +to know what Briggs meant about his head coming off his shoulders. +Wasn't I a good boy?" + +He received his answer, however, from Granny, who returned at this +moment, a bright spot glowing in each of her faded, pink cheeks. + +"My Chris!" she said, "my darling! What foolish thought made you ask +such questions?" + +Chris wrinkled his brows. "I want to be a very good boy and please you," +he said querulously, and with a tremble in his voice; "and now Briggs +scolds me, and now you scold me, and now I'm very unhappy." + +"But don't you see, my pet," Granny said, more calmly; "don't you see +what rude questions you asked Dr. Saunders? Oh, I felt ashamed of my +little Chris!" + +The little beggar at this point crawled to the bottom of his crib. + +"I shall stay down here," said a muffled voice. "I shall stay here +always and never come back again, as my Granny is so unkind." + +"But you must see," she reiterated, addressing a shapeless mass of +bed-clothes, "that you asked the kind doctor very naughty questions, and +very silly ones too. Did you not understand when Briggs said that he had +no head, she meant that he had a bad memory, my child? Did you not +understand that? And did you not think how insulting, how very insulting +it was to ask him such a question? And about the tonic too. Surely, my +darling, if you had thought you must have seen that. And, especially, +how wrong it was to repeat what you overheard. Does not my pet see what +his Granny means?" + +The mass of bed-clothes moved impatiently, but there was no reply. + +"As for me," put in Briggs with dignity, "I felt as if I was going to +sink through the floor, I was that ashamed!" + +"Yes, yes, and so were we all," agreed Granny. "Indeed, had not my Chris +been ill, I should have felt obliged to punish him for his +thoughtlessness. But he is sorry now; that Granny feels sure of. Is he +not?" + +Her question was received in sullen silence. + +"Come, come," she said, "this is not the way I expect my child to +behave." + +"Nor any other little gentleman either," put in Briggs, with asperity. + +There was an expectant pause, but no answer from the little beggar +buried beneath the bed-clothes. + +Granny looked at me with a puzzled expression. + +"Well, Chris, we have no time to waste with naughty little boys," I +said, "so we are going downstairs. But I am surprised that you should +treat your Granny so; I thought you loved her." + +There was still no reply, and we turned to go. + +But ere we reached the door the shamefaced but slightly defiant little +beggar cried out: + +"I _do_ love my Granny!" + +At the sound she turned back with a radiant smile, and saw with delight +two little arms stretched out to her appealingly, and two large tears +trickling down a penitent little face. + +"There, there! we will say no more," she exclaimed, forgivingly; "for +you are sorry, my pet, are you not?" + +"Very, very sorry," said the little beggar with contrition; "and very +hot, dreffully hot; and I won't ask the nasty doctor nothing ever +again." + +"Not the 'nasty' doctor; the nice, kind doctor who has made little Chris +well again," she corrected gently. "And you are going to be a good +little boy now, darling?" + +"A very good boy; as good as Uncle Godfrey," Chris said brightening up, +as he saw that he was to be blamed no more. + +"That's my pet," she said, covering him up and tucking in the +bed-clothes. + +"I'm so glad," she continued to me as we went downstairs, "that he came +round, and was good in the end. But I knew he would. Sulkiness is not +one of his faults; no, no, nobody could say that. + +"I suppose," she went on a little uneasily, "Godfrey would tell me that +I ought to have been more severe with the child. 'You've let the little +beggar off too easily, mother,'--that's what he would say. But between +ourselves, my dear, I sometimes think that officers in the army are +accustomed to such obedience, such implicit obedience, that they are at +times inclined to carry their love of discipline too far. Don't you +agree with me? Not that Godfrey is a martinet! Oh, no! he is far from +that; such a favourite, so beloved by the men under his command. But you +understand what I mean, do you not? + +"However," she concluded, with a certain relief, and as a salve to her +conscience in the shape of her son Godfrey's opinion, "now I think of +it, I did tell the poor darling that if he had not been ill I should +have felt obliged to punish him. Of course, so I did. That will serve as +a warning to him in the future; won't it, my dear?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A PASTE-MAN AND A PAINT-BOX. + + +"I can't, my pet; I can't tell you a story to-day," said, or rather +whispered, Granny huskily. "I have such a bad cold I can hardly speak." + +Chris looked at her solemnly with wide-open eyes. + +"Are you very ill, my Granny?" he inquired very seriously, and sinking +his voice to the sympathizing whisper which seemed to him to befit the +occasion. + +"Not very ill, darling," she whispered again with an effort; "only a +very bad cold. + +"I am quite losing my voice," she added to me, shaking her head. "Most +trying, my dear." + +"How drefful!" exclaimed Chris with sympathy, and still speaking in a +whisper. "What a drefful thing!" + +"I have a good piece of news for you, my Chris," she whispered, with +another effort. "Someone is coming home--to-day--this very +afternoon--that you and I shall be--very, very--glad to see. Who do you +think it is?" + +Chris considered a moment, then suddenly looked enlightened. + +"I know, I know!" he cried, jumping about and clapping his hands, in the +excess of his joy forgetting to whisper, and putting to their full use +his well-developed little lungs. "I know!" he repeated. "It's my Uncle +Godfrey. Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" + +Granny nodded, and held up a telegram. "I've just had this," she said, +with an attempt to regain her natural tone, which ended in an almost +inaudible whisper, and her voice going away completely. "Few nights ... +way to London.... Isn't ... treat ... pet?" she whispered brokenly. "Must +be ... quiet ... tired." + +"Yes," I put in, taking upon myself to act as interpreter; "Granny is +very tired, Chris; so if you stay here, you must be quiet." + +"Did I make a noise and tire my Granny, and was I a naughty boy?" he +asked penitently, becoming very subdued in voice and manner. + +Granny smiled at him tenderly, and shook her head. + +"No, dear," I said; "you have not been naughty. We did not mean that." + +Thus reassured, the little beggar looked relieved; then, with a glance +of deepest sympathy at his Granny, he ran out of the room as if struck +by a sudden thought. + +In a few moments he returned, carrying something carefully wrapped up in +his pinafore. Then, going up to her, he drew out a piece of paste +bearing some rude resemblance to a man, and laid it with triumph on her +lap. + +"My Granny," he whispered proudly, "see what I have brought you. Cook +gave it to me for my tea, and I'm going to give it to you, and you may +eat it all up; every bit. P'r'aps it will make you feel happy, as you +have a cold." + +Granny opened her eyes slowly and languidly, but seeing the paste +figure, she sat straight up in her chair, with an expression of the +strongest disapprobation. + +She opened her mouth and endeavoured to speak, but this time without +success; she could not make herself heard. She rose, therefore, and +going to the writing-desk, took a sheet of note-paper, and, in a neat, +old-fashioned, Italian hand, wrote the following reply, which she placed +in my hand, signing to me to read aloud: + +"My darling, this is a most unwholesome and indigestible thing. It would +not make either my Chris or his Granny happy to eat it, but would +probably make them both ill. I am much surprised that Mrs. James should +have given it to you; she should have known better. You may, instead, +have some of the sponge-cake we had at lunch, but I cannot permit my pet +to eat this paste, nor can I eat it myself. But he will understand how +much Granny appreciates his kind thought." + +Chris listened to this long message attentively and without +interruption, for there was a solemnity about the proceeding that much +impressed him. When I had finished reading it, he regarded the object of +Granny's displeasure with suspicion, mingled with awe; then remarked in +a solemn and stage whisper, and in the manner of one bringing a grave +charge against his poor, misguided friend: + +"Cook called it 'Master Chris's little friend'. That's what she called +it, my Granny." + +"Tut, tut!" said Granny, as she heard this charge made against Cook. + +By her expression, it was plain to see that she would have liked to say +more had she been in full possession of her voice. Failing that, +however, she was obliged to content herself with "Tut, tut!" and a +gentle frown. + +"Come, Chris," I said laughing, "we'll leave Granny in peace now and go +and play in the library, or I will tell you a story. Take your 'friend', +the man of paste, with you, and see if Jack would like to eat him." + +"What shall we do?" asked Chris, slipping his hand into mine as we left +the drawing-room. + +"Would you like a story?" I asked. + +"No, thank you; I don't want a story now, I think," he answered, with +some caprice. He thought a moment or two, then exclaimed: "I know! we'll +paint. I'll get the new paint-box Granny has given me, and a +picture-paper, and we'll make lovely pictures." + +"Very well," I said, not dissatisfied with this arrangement, which I +hoped would only require on my part advice from time to time, or +admiration, as required. + +Taking a book, therefore, I sat down in an easy-chair near the +writing-table, where Chris, having fetched his paint-box, settled +himself, labouring for a time silently and earnestly at his paintings. + +Presently he asked: + +"What colour shall I make this horse? Shall I make him black?" + +"A very good colour," I replied. + +"Then, you see, I could call him 'Black Prince'," he went on. "I +couldn't call him 'Black Prince' if I made him brown, could I? I'd have +to call him 'Brown Prince'. Have you ever heard of a horse called 'Brown +Prince'?" + +"Not to my recollection," I said, with my eyes on my book. + +"It is a funny name, isn't it?" he said laughing, as he continued his +work. "Brown Prince!" + +"Very," I said shortly, interested in my story, and not inclined to +encourage conversation. + +Chris worked on for a few moments without speaking; then asked: + +"Miss Beggarley, what colour are moons gennerly?" + +I laughed. It was, after all, a futile hope to continue reading under +the circumstances. Still, it was Chris's time with Granny and me, when +he exacted as his right an unlimited amount of attention, so I resigned +myself. + +"What colour?" he repeated, as I did not at once answer. + +"Green," I answered. + +"Green!" he echoed. + +"Haven't you ever heard that the moon is made of green cheese?" I asked. + +He stared at me reproachfully. + +"You're laughing at me," he said, in an aggrieved voice, "and I don't +like you to laugh." + +"I won't any more, dear," I said, composing my countenance to a becoming +expression of gravity. "If I were you, I should paint the moon pale +blue. How would that do?" + +"Loverly," answered the little beggar in a mollified voice, and for a +moment or two there was again silence. + +Then, however, I heard something like a whimper, and looking up I saw +Chris's great eyes fixed on me tearfully. + +"What is the matter?" I inquired. + +"Will my Granny never, never be able to speak again?" he asked, digging +his knuckles into his eyes. "Will she always be never able to talk?" + +"Why, no, dear," I answered cheerfully. "In a day or two she will be +able to talk again as well as ever." + +"But she said it," he replied tearfully. + +"Said what?" I asked, puzzled. "Oh," I added, enlightened, "you mean +when she said she was losing her voice! But she only meant for a little +while. She did not intend to say she was losing it for ever. It is only +because she has caught a bad cold. When her cold is better she will be +able to speak again." + +"Are you quite, quite sure?" he asked, anxiously, but relieved at my +explanation. + +"Quite sure," I answered. + +His mind thus at ease, he returned once more to his painting and worked +contentedly for another five minutes, at the end of which time his +restless spirit reasserted itself. + +"Now, what shall we do?" he asked, throwing down his brush and yawning. +"Will you play at horses? You said you would." + +"Well, for a little while," I answered, "but not too long." + +"Oh, Briggs, what do you want?" Chris asked discontentedly, as at this +point that worthy woman made her appearance. + +"You are to come and put on your velvet suit against Mr. Wyndham comes," +she announced staidly. + +"I don't want to put on my velvet clothes," he replied rebelliously, +annoyed at being thus disturbed. "They're nasty, horrid things." + +"Oh, fie! Master Chris," she answered reprovingly. + +"It isn't like a big man to wear a velvet suit, it's like a baby," he +went on, grumblingly. "Uncle Godfrey doesn't wear velvet clothes, and +why should I?" + +"Don't you grumble at your velvet suit, Master Chris," Briggs said in a +warning tone. "You may come to want it some day. There's many a little +boy in the gutter as would be glad and proud to own it." + +"Then I wish you would give it to the little boys in the gutters," the +little beggar answered wilfully. "I shall ask my Granny to give it to +them, 'cause I hate it. And I'm going to play at horses; aren't I, Miss +Beggarley?" + +"Not with me," I said firmly, "until you have done what Briggs tells +you." + +"You said you would," he remarked, pouting. + +"So I will," I replied, "when you have obeyed Briggs." + +He glanced at me inquiringly to see if there was no chance of my +relenting, but I preserved a severe and resolute expression--in spite of +a distinct inclination to smile,--seeing which he left with laggard step +to don the despised suit. + +When, later, he returned in that same suit--in the dark-blue +knickerbockers and coat, the large Vandyke collar of cream lace, and the +little white satin vest,--I really thought that he looked the sweetest +little picture in the world! + +He had, indeed, such an extremely clean, well-brushed, and altogether +spotless appearance, that I hesitated about the promised game of horses, +fearing to spoil the result of Briggs' work, before that all-important +event--the arrival of Uncle Godfrey. + +"Shall we play something else?" I suggested. "I'm afraid if we play +horses you will get untidy." + +"Oh no, I won't!" he said confidently. "We'll be quiet horses. + +"I know," he added, with a look of intelligence. "I won't be a horse; +I'll be the driver, and you shall be a lame horse. Then the game will be +such a quiet game." + +"Very well," I replied, weakly yielding to his wishes, as most people +had a habit of doing. And a minute later I was running round the library +in a fashion most undignified for a lady of middle-age, becoming at the +same time hotter and more breathless than was altogether comfortable. +Consequently I slackened my pace, and found it more to my mind. For, +when a good many years have passed since you indulged in the habit of +playing horses, you find it more expedient to take for your model the +slow and conscientious cab-horse rather than the swift and brilliant +racer. + +But the change did not please Chris. + +"Gee-up, Charlie!" he cried, excitedly. "That's your name, you know. +Gee-up! why are you going so slowly?" + +"I've no breath left to go fast," I explained. + +"What shall we do?" he said, perplexed. "I don't like a horse what won't +go fast. + +"Oh," he said, his face clearing. "Why, it's time for you to go lame. +Poor Charlie! poor thing! what's the matter? + +"You've got a stone in your foot," he explained in an aside, "and you +must jog up and down as if you're lame." + +"Must I?" I said, and obediently followed the directions with a patience +truly praiseworthy, jogging laboriously up and down, whilst the little +beggar followed in my wake, highly delighted, and giving vent as he did +so to many loud and excited ejaculations. + +Before long, however, he pined for further excitement. + +"The road is very, very slippery," he said; "'cause it's been snowing. +You must slip right down and break your leg." + +"I'll slip into an arm-chair," I said, glancing at the comfortable one I +had just quitted. + +"No, horses don't slip into arm-chairs; there aren't no arm-chairs for +them in the road," he objected. + +"I can't help that," I answered, taking a stand. "My bones are too old +to risk breaking them. I don't mind my leg being broken in fancy, but I +do mind its being broken in reality." + +"How shall everyone know, then, that it is broken?" he asked, +discontentedly. "It won't look a bit as if it is broken if you fall into +an arm-chair." + +"I will groan very loud to show that I have," I said in a propitiating +voice. + +"Do horses groan when they break their legs?" he asked, doubtfully. + +"This horse does, very loud indeed," I said. "Come, we'll go once more +round the room, and then I'll break my leg and show you how beautifully +I can groan." + +"All right!" said the little beggar, conceding the point, and away we +started once more. + +"Gee-up, Charlie!" he cried; "gee-up, good horse! Now then!" as we +approached the arm-chair; "now then, now then, it's time for you to +break your leg. Quick, quick!" + +"All right!" I said, and with the most heartrending groan I could +produce, I sank--carefully--into the chair. At the same moment the +door opened, and a stranger to me entered the room--a tall and +soldier-like-looking young man. Even in the dimness of the twilight I +could see a strong enough resemblance to the little beggar to tell me +who he was without his delighted scream of "Uncle Godfrey! Uncle +Godfrey!" as he ran and clasped him round the knees. + +"Hold on!" answered Uncle Godfrey, putting him aside. + +Then turning to me: + +"I fear you are ill. Shall I send for my mother's maid?" he asked with +polite sympathy. + +"Why, no; she isn't; she isn't a bit ill!" cried the little beggar +delightedly, with peals of derisive laughter, as he jumped about and +clapped his hands. "She's only a poor, old, lame horse, what has just +fallen down and broken his leg...." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +CHRIS AND HIS UNCLE. + + +If ever there was a case of hero-worship it was the worship by Chris of +his uncle. To the little beggar, Uncle Godfrey was the ideal of all that +was most manly, most noble, most heroic. To emulate him in every way was +his most ardent desire, and with this end in view he imitated him +whenever possible, to the smallest details. + +When Uncle Godfrey was at home in the autumn, Chris's diminutive toy-gun +was, without fail, brought down to the gun-case in the hall, where it +lay in company with the more imposing weapons of his uncle. And when +these were cleaned, it was an understood thing that the toy-gun must be +cleaned likewise. To have omitted to do this would have drawn down upon +the offender the little beggar's deepest indignation. + +I believe, too, that it was a real grief of heart to him that he was not +allowed to go out with his uncle in the autumn, and try the effect of +that same toy-gun upon the pheasants. He had often pleaded hard to be +permitted do so, having, I imagine, glorious visions of the bags they +would make between them; and the refusal of his request had been the +cause of many tears in the nursery. Not before his uncle! No, if there +was one thing more than another that troubled him, it was the fear of +looking like a baby in his uncle's presence. Uncle Godfrey might tease +him as much as he pleased,--and he was undeniably talented in this +respect,--but, close as were the tears to his eyes at other times, +before his hero Chris would never let them fall if he could help it. + +Sometimes, when in the swing of a game, his uncle Godfrey was +unintentionally a little rough in word or deed, the little beggar, it is +true, would flush--crimsoning up to the roots of his fair hair. His +voice would falter, too, as if the tears were not far off, but he would +struggle manfully with them, and, as soon as he had recovered, return +again to the attack with fresh vigour. Indeed, so great was his +devotion to him, that he was never so happy as when by his side, and +with Chris in his vicinity, Uncle Godfrey found it a matter of no little +difficulty to give his attention elsewhere. This was observable one +morning when he was endeavouring to write his letters and enjoy a smoke +in peace--a state of affairs by no means to the little beggar's mind. + +Drawing near, Chris took up his position straight in front of him, and +stared steadily at him without speaking. Presently Uncle Godfrey looked +up, and, meeting Chris's stedfast gaze, stared back in silence. + +"I'm a policeman," at last remarked Chris, with a strenuous effort to +assume the manly tones of his uncle; his usual habit when talking to +him. + +"Are you?" replied Uncle Godfrey, leaning back in his chair and giving +him a little kick. "Then be off, it's time you were on your beat." + +"But you're a bad, wicked robber, and I've come to take you to prison," +persisted Chris. + +"Get along," said the writer laconically, blowing the smoke of his +cigarette into the face of the policeman, and returning to his letters. + +Chris looked at him admiringly. + +"I'm going to be a soldier like you, and smoke pipes and cigarettes, and +everything like you, Uncle Godfrey," he remarked. "When may I be a +soldier?" + +"Not yet," was the reply. "We take them young, but they have to be out +of the nursery, my boy." + +"When shall I be out of the nursery?" asked Chris, discontentedly. + +"When you're in the army," his uncle said to tease him. + +"But a man, a real soldier, said if I came to him, he would make me a +soldier," announced the little beggar. + +"What man?" asked Uncle Godfrey. + +"A man what is staying in Marston, with his father and his mother and +his brothers and his sisters," explained Chris. "A very tall, big +man--as tall as you; and he finds soldiers for the Queen, he told me." + +"Oh, a recruiting-sergeant!" Uncle Godfrey said. "How did you come to +speak to him?" + +"I saw him when I was standing outside the shop when Briggs was buying +some buns for tea, and when I asked him if he knowed you," said Chris, +all in a breath. "He had on such loverly clothes! Do you think if I go +to him he will make me a soldier for the Queen?" he asked. + +"Of course," his uncle replied. "But I'll tell you what, you had better +learn to hold your gun properly, and not as you did the other day. If +you don't, you'll end by shooting the sergeant, and being put in +'chokee'." + +"What is 'chokee'?" asked Chris, with wide-open eyes. + +"Oh, prison! You'll be put into a cell, and have nothing to eat but +bread and cold water." + +"How drefful!" + +"Then go and get that little gun I bought you, and I'll show you how to +hold it as you should." + +"Just like a real soldier?" + +"Well, how else? + +"Now, look here," said Uncle Godfrey, when Chris returned with the gun, +"didn't I tell you that it was very dangerous to hold a gun like that? +It's not sportsmanlike either. Do you hear?" + +He spoke with some severity, for he was a young man who was very +thorough in all he did, whether work or play, and would tolerate no +carelessness. + +"Not sports-man-like!" echoed Chris slowly, trying hard with his child's +voice to imitate Uncle Godfrey's manly tone. + +"Then, as you hear, remember," his uncle said, authoritatively. "Now, +rest the gun against your right shoulder--you young duffer, that's your +left shoulder; I said your right. Shut your left eye, and aim at my +hand." + +"Yes," said the little beggar, very proud of himself. + +"Let's see; that's right," his uncle continued. + +"Now, fire!... Not bad, only you should keep your arm steadier. It +wobbled about too much." + +"It's very tired," Chris remarked. + +Then he inquired: "Uncle Godfrey, may I shoot some wicked men?" + +"Certainly, when you find them--and with that gun," he answered. + +"Only in the legs," added Chris, "'cause it would be unkind to kill them +really, wouldn't it? But I may shoot their legs, so that they can be +caught, and can't run away; mayn't I?" + +"As much as you like, I say, with that gun," his uncle replied, as he +resumed his neglected correspondence. + +"I shall shoot a lot," Chris said, with satisfaction. + +"Granny," he went on eagerly as he entered the hall, "I'm going to shoot +some wicked men. Uncle Godfrey says I may." + +"With that gun," cried his uncle, without looking up from his writing. + +"My darling!" Granny exclaimed, somewhat dismayed at this bloodthirsty +ambition. "But you should not wish to hurt anyone; no, no one at all." + +"Only wicked men, and only in the legs, so they couldn't run away from +the people who catched them," he said comfortingly. "And I'm going to do +it with this gun Uncle Godfrey gave me. Isn't it a beufferfull gun?" he +went on proudly. + +"Yes, yes, I saw it," she answered, taking it out of his hands. "A very +nice little gun indeed, my pet." + +"Oh, my Granny, take care!" he cried suddenly, in a loud, warning voice. + +"Why what is the matter?" asked the old lady starting, and in her alarm +almost dropping the gun as she spoke. "What is it?" she repeated in a +flurried manner, turning round vaguely as she spoke. + +"You mustn't hold the gun like that, my Granny," Chris said more calmly, +but still gravely; "it's very dan-ger-rus, and it's not sport-man-like." + +"Thank you, my darling," she said simply. "Granny will remember another +time." + +"Shut up, Chris," said Uncle Godfrey laughing, "and don't talk +nonsense." + +"Well, I want somebody to play with me," he said inconsequently, as he +returned to his Uncle's side. "I want someone to play with me very +badly." + +"I can't," said Uncle Godfrey, in his usual decided manner. "I have to +finish my letters." + +"Then, Miss Beggarley," he asked, with the air of one making the best of +an unpromising state of affairs, "will you tell me a story?" + +"Not now, dear," I answered. "I am just turning the heel of this sock, +and I can't think of that and a story too." + +"Not even Miss Beggarley can tell me a story!" said Chris, sitting down, +with a disconsolate expression, beside Jacky on the hearth-rug. + +"Not even Miss Beggarley," I repeated laughing. + +Chris, looking disappointed and injured, gave Jacky an irritable push, +which resulted in an angry growl. + +There was a deep sigh from the little beggar. "No one plays with me +now," he said mournfully, "and Jacky growls. Naughty Jacky; I don't love +you." + +"Naughty Chris; it's time for you to go back to the nursery," remarked +Uncle Godfrey half-smiling. + +"Yes, my Chris; a few lessons, or a nice walk," Granny said, +persuasively. "Now, go, like my little pet." + +In spite, however, of her gentle persuasions, Chris looked as if he +would like to protest, had he not lacked the courage to do so in the +presence of Uncle Godfrey. It was, therefore, slowly and unwillingly +that he went up the first flight of stairs, then sat on the landing and +looked at the back of Uncle Godfrey's head as he bent over his writing. + +In a moment or two Briggs' voice was heard in the distance. + +"Master Chris, where are you?" + +"Here I am," he called back; "just here." + +"What, not gone yet?" Uncle Godfrey said a little sharply, turning +round. + +"Yes, I'm gone," answered the little beggar half-defiantly, +half-nervously, as he rose hastily from the landing and continued his +upward progress. + +"What do you want, Briggs?" he called out. + +"I want to know," she said, the sound of her voice coming nearer; "I +want to know if you can tell me where your hats are? It's time for you +to go out, and I've hunted for them everywhere, but not one can I find." + +"Why, they're down there," Chris was heard to say in an aggrieved voice, +and as if she were asking a most unnecessary question. "They're all down +there." + +"And where might down there be?" she asked, with some irritation. + +"Why, on the table near the door, with Uncle Godfrey's hats," he +answered. "I'm always going to keep my hats there now," he added. "It's +only babies what has their hats in the nursery." + +"Well, if this doesn't pass everything!" she was heard to exclaim +angrily. "And to think of me hunting for those very same hats for the +last quarter of an hour till I'm that tired. Your tricks, Master Chris, +are beyond bearing. You'll please come down with me this minute and +fetch those very same hats." + +"I shall put them all back when we come home," Chris remarked +rebelliously, as he began to walk downstairs in company with the irate +Briggs. + +"We'll see what we'll see,--and _you'll_ see. That's all I say," she +answered with some loftiness. "I have no mind to have things put out of +their proper place, and me have all this trouble given me." + +After which oracular speech, and because she was approaching the last +flight of stairs leading into the hall, she reserved all further +expressions of indignation till she and Chris were once more on the +familiar ground of the nursery. + +As for the little beggar, it was with many a furtive glance at Uncle +Godfrey, who was still writing, that he crossed the hall. He hoped to +escape without notice, and, looking mysteriously at Granny and myself, +walked by Briggs' side on tiptoe. But his pains were wasted. + +"Yes, I know you're there," Uncle Godfrey said, without turning his +head, and relaxing into a smile. "What mischief have you been up to this +time?" + +"I put my hats with your hats, 'cause I liked them to be with yours, +and I didn't want to be a baby and have my hats in the nursery," +explained Chris, encouraged by something in his uncle's voice to run to +his side and lay his cheek affectionately on his coat-sleeve. + +"Then, in future, just you keep your hats where you are told to," Uncle +Godfrey said, laughing. "Don't you be such an independent little +beggar." + +"No," replied Chris obediently, relieved at receiving no severer +reprimand. + +"And come and kiss your Granny," Granny said gently and caressingly, as +he passed her. "Do you love her very much?" + +"Oh, yes, my Granny!" he answered somewhat thoughtlessly, as he obeyed +her directions. Then continued without pause: "I wanted to ask you--why +does Cook always make rice-puddings, and tapioca-puddings, and +sago-puddings for my dinner?" + +"Because, my pet, I tell her to," she replied. "They are so wholesome, +so good for little boys; they make them grow big." + +"But I don't mind about growing big," he answered. "I would rather have +roly-poly puddings for my dinner; roly-poly puddings what have lots of +jam inside." + +"Now, how do you think I am to get on with my writing whilst you chatter +like this?" interrupted Uncle Godfrey. "Go upstairs, and don't keep +Briggs waiting like this." + +By the little beggar's expression, it was evident that he did not +consider the merits of roly-poly pudding, as compared with those of its +less enticing rivals, had been by any means sufficiently discussed, and +that much yet remained to be said upon the subject. Nevertheless, his +uncle's order had the effect of restoring, for a time at least, peace +and quiet to the hall; for, as I have before intimated, the one person +whose word Chris never thought of disputing was Uncle Godfrey's. + +I said that peace and quiet was restored _for a time only_, and I said +it advisedly. With the little beggar in the neighbourhood it was useless +to count on such a state of affairs continuing for more than a short +period. So it proved upon the present occasion. + +Before a quarter of an hour had passed, his voice--unmistakably defiant, +not to say impertinent--fell upon our ears, as he and Briggs walked +along the gallery, that ran above, round the hall. It was Briggs whom we +heard first. + +"Master Chris," she remarked severely, "I will not stand it." + +Then the little beggar repeated in an irritating and rebellious-sounding +treble: + + "I have a little nursie, + She is a little dear, + She runs about all day + Without a thought of fear. + I love my little nursie, + An' she loves me. + So my little nursie an' me + Both a-gree." + +A pause followed, evidently intended by Briggs to convey her sense of +deep displeasure, and to overawe the offender. Without effect. In a +moment Chris's voice began again, from time to time choked with +laughter, and giving a little variety to his poetical effort by varying +the accent on different words: + + "I _have_ a little nursie, + She _is_ a little dear, + She runs about all day + Without a _thought_ of fear. + I _love_ my little nursie, + An' she loves _me_. + _So_ my little nursie an' me + Both a-gree." + +At this repetition of the offence Briggs could contain her wrath no +longer. + +"If I'm to be ridiculed like this," she exclaimed angrily, yet without +altogether losing her habitual impressiveness of manner; "If I'm to be +ridiculed like this, I shall give warning and go. I cannot, and I will +not stand it." + +A second pause, by which time they had reached the top of the stairs +leading into the hall, when Chris, forgetful that Uncle Godfrey was +within hearing, and unaware of the judgment about to descend on him, +started once more: + + "I have a _little_ nur--" + +"Wait a moment, young man," called out his uncle from the writing-table. +"What do you mean by being so disobedient? Come here." + +"He has been going on like that for the last ten minutes," said Briggs +complainingly, when she and Chris reached the hall. "He's been that +aggravating." + +"What nonsense are you talking?" Uncle Godfrey asked him severely, +beckoning Chris to come to him. + +The little beggar looked at his uncle half-frightened, and did not at +once answer. + +"What was it, my pet?" Granny said, gently and encouragingly. + +"It was a piece of poetry I made up all by myself, all about Briggs," he +faltered out. + +"A piece of impertinence, it strikes me," remarked Uncle Godfrey. + +"Well, as you are so fond of poetry, as you call it, I'll make up a +piece about you," he said, whilst Granny glanced at the judge +pleadingly, as if to ask mercy for the offender. + +"Wait a moment ... yes, I have it," Uncle Godfrey said presently. And +holding Chris at arm's-length, he repeated, imitating as he did so, his +childish voice and accents: + + "I know a little beggar, + He is a little goose, + He runs about all day + Rampaging on the loose. + I think that little beggar, + Would be better for a slap; + If he isn't pretty sharp, + He'll get a nasty rap. + +"How do you like that?" he asked, when he had finished. + +He was smiling all the while in spite of his severe tone,--very often +the way with Uncle Godfrey. But Chris did not see that, and with his +little face scarlet, he stood still, struggling with his tears, unable +to reply. + +His uncle looked at him and relented. + +"There, go along with you," he said, laughing and rumpling the boy's +golden curls; "and don't you make yourself such a little nuisance." + +The little beggar brightened up as he noted the altered tone, and Granny +appeared perceptibly relieved. + +"Uncle Godfrey, do you know what?" he asked with a loud sniff and half a +sob. "What do you think?" + +"What?" asked his uncle with some amusement. + +"I'm going to be a soldier like you very soon," he said, nodding his +head. + +"Well, you'll have to learn to be a little more obedient," his uncle +remarked with a laugh. "I'd soon find myself in a pretty position if I +disobeyed orders as you do. Be off, you young rascal, and look smart. +There is Briggs waiting for you by the door. + +"What made him think of that jingle?" he continued, still laughing, to +Granny when Chris had gone. "It was a funny thing for a little chap of +his age." + +"The darling has quite a turn for poetry; he has indeed," explained +Granny with pride. "He takes the greatest delight in repeating his +little poems, such as: 'I love little Pussy, her coat is so warm,' and +'Mary had a little lamb'. And the child says them so sweetly, so +prettily too!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +"I'M A SOLDIER NOW." + + +Some two hours later Briggs faced Granny and myself with a countenance +expressive of the deepest despair. + +"He's gone, mum!" she exclaimed, tragically, throwing up her hands as +she spoke. + +"Gone! Gone! Who is gone?" Granny asked with bewilderment and surprise +at Briggs' sudden announcement. Then, as Chris's absence struck her, she +inquired fearfully: + +"Has anything happened to Master Chris? Where is the child? Why is he +not with you?" + +"He's lost, mum!" she said, breathlessly. "Everywhere have I looked for +him, high and low, up and down, but nowhere is he to be found!" + +At this startling piece of intelligence Granny half rose in her chair as +if to go without delay and search for the wanderer; but, recollecting +the necessity for further information, she sunk back again, and asked +with agitation: + +"Where, then, did you leave him? When did you last see him? How long ago +is it, Briggs? I must beg of you to be as accurate as possible, most +accurate." + +"I left him in the garden about an hour ago," she answered, on the point +of tears. "I had just taken him out for a short walk, having some work +to do; and thinking he'd be better for a little more air I left him in +the garden when we came back. When I went for him half an hour after, +not a trace of him was there to be seen!" + +"But how careless, how very careless of you, Briggs!" Granny said in a +reprimanding yet trembling voice. "You should not have left him out of +your sight for so long. At his age! Most inconsiderate!" + +"Have you looked along the road?" I suggested. "He may have wandered out +there. He did so the day I arrived." + +"I've walked half a mile along each way," she answered, with a hopeless +sigh. + +"But the garden, Briggs!" Granny exclaimed, in her anxiety hardly +knowing what to say. "How could you be so thoughtless, so forgetful as +not to search the garden before you went into the road?" + +"But I did, mum; it was the very first thing I did do," she replied +tearfully, and with something of an injured expression at this +unnecessary censure. + +"Have you looked over the house? He may be hiding there," I said. + +"Everywhere in the house and out of it," she answered with gloomy +conviction. "Not a stone have I left unturned." + +We glanced from one to the other with perplexity. What could have become +of the little beggar? Where could he have hidden himself, thus to escape +this vigilant search? + +"Wouldn't it be as well to let Mr. Wyndham know?" I said. "I think I +hear him practising billiards." + +"Of course, of course!" Granny answered with relief. "Why didn't I think +of that at once? Briggs, go at once and ask Mr. Wyndham to speak to +me." + +"Well, what is it?" he said cheerfully, when he arrived upon the scene. +"The youngster disappeared? There is no need for worry. Depend upon it +he is hiding somewhere not very far off, and we'll soon unearth him." + +"You say you have looked carefully in the garden?" he continued to +Briggs. + +"All over it, sir; in every corner," she replied. + +"All the same, we had better do it again," he said. "It is just possible +that he may have escaped you the first time. No, mother, you stay here," +he said decidedly, as Granny rose with the evident intention of +accompanying him. "You will only tire yourself for no purpose. If he is +to be found in the garden, you may rest assured that I shall find him +and bring him to you as soon as possible. Just stay here quietly with +Miss Baggerley, and don't worry yourself." + +Undoubtedly a very good piece of advice, this last, but one that poor +Granny in her nervous state of mind found very difficult to follow. + +"It is so strange, so very strange!" she said, unhappily. "I cannot +understand it at all; I only pray that no accident may have happened to +the child. I should have thought Briggs would have taken greater +precautions if she intended to leave him alone for that time. I had a +higher opinion of her, I had indeed. + +"She is much to blame," she added, smoothing with a nervous little +movement the curls she wore in the old fashion on each side of her face. + +After this she continued her knitting, but she was plainly too restless +and ill at ease to fix her attention on her work. + +"My dear," she said in a minute, "it has just struck me that it would be +a good thing if we were together to look upstairs; Briggs may not have +searched there thoroughly. Do you not think that it would be a good plan +if we were to go?" + +I should have liked to answer in the negative, for she was not strong, +and a little exertion soon fatigued her. But I saw that it would be a +real relief to her in her anxiety to be doing something. So I did not +follow my inclination, and together we went slowly upstairs, Granny +leaning on my arm, in a sweet, clinging way,--a way that was all her +own. + +Arrived upstairs, we went conscientiously from room to room, but in +vain. No success attended our efforts. + +We would go into a room, when Granny, opening the door of a cupboard and +peering in in a short-sighted way, would call out in a gentle, slightly +quavering voice: + +"Is my darling hiding here from his Granny?" + +No answer coming, her face would become still more anxious-looking, and +she would request me to see if he were under the bed. + +"Will you look under the bed, my dear, and see if he is there?" she +would whisper, as if fearful that he might overhear and escape us. Then +as I did so, she would cry coaxingly: + +"Are you hiding there, my pet, trying to frighten poor Granny? Come out, +my darling, come out." + +And so on from room to room till we had exhausted all those not only on +the first floor but on the next also, after which she proposed exploring +the attics. By this time, however, she was so tired that I persuaded her +to send one of the servants instead, whilst she returned with me to the +library. + +Here we found Briggs waiting for us, with a face the expression of which +told its tidings without words. Ill-success was so plainly written upon +it, that our anxious question, "Have you found him?" seemed almost +superfluous. + +"Did you look everywhere, Briggs,--everywhere?" poor Granny asked +anxiously, and with grievous disappointment. + +"In every single nook and corner, mum," Briggs replied, with a heavy +sigh. "He ain't in the garden--that's sure and certain." + +"Where is Mr. Wyndham?" Granny inquired, as she sat down wearily in her +arm-chair. + +"He's gone round to the stables," she said. "He's going to drive into +Marston. He says that Master Chris this morning was talking about the +recruiting-sergeant staying there, and he thinks it may be possible he +has taken it into his head to go to him, fancying he can enlist." + +"I really think that that is possible," I remarked. + +"Dear me! dear me! What if anything should happen to the child on the +way?" exclaimed Granny, with fresh care. + +"I should not think of that; nothing will happen. Someone will find him +and bring him back," I replied, speaking more cheerfully than I +altogether felt. + +As I spoke I turned to the window, more from a restless feeling of not +knowing what to do with myself than for any other reason. + +Certainly the last thing in the world I expected to see at that +particular moment was the little beggar. + +Yet--to my utter astonishment--that was exactly what I did see! + +There he was, after causing all the confusion and alarm of which I have +told you, walking down the drive as calmly as possible; as if to +disappear mysteriously from home for about two hours, without leaving +any idea as to his whereabouts, was the most ordinary and everyday habit +a little boy could indulge in. + +He was not alone, but was in company with a tall and gorgeous +individual, whom I concluded was the sergeant, and the innocent cause of +the little beggar's last and most startling escapade. + +He walked hand in hand with him in the most confiding fashion, +chattering to him apparently in his usual fashion--without the least +reserve, whilst Jacky frisked along by their side. + +As my eyes fell upon this little group I uttered a loud exclamation of +surprise, which induced Granny to look up inquiringly. + +"Why, there he is! Chris!" I exclaimed, "coming down the drive!" and +accompanied by Briggs I hurried to meet him, Granny following more +leisurely. + +"Here I am! Here I am!" cried the little vagabond, gaily bounding +forward to meet me. "I've 'listed, and I'm a soldier now like Uncle +Godfrey." + +"A soldier!" burst out Briggs contemptuously. "As naughty a child as can +be found in Christendom. That's what I should say!" + +"Yes, Chris," I said, in the gravest voice I could assume, "you have +been a very naughty little boy indeed." + +At these strictures on his conduct Chris pouted and kicked the gravel +with some violence, whilst his companion relaxed into a broad smile, +which he put up his hand to hide. + +"I found this here young gentleman, marm, on his way to Marston," he +said, touching his cap. "I came across him quite by a chance, as you +may say, it happening that I was taking a walk in this direction. 'I've +come to find you,' he says, ''cause I want to 'list and be a soldier +like my Uncle Godfrey,' says he. 'But I won't shoot you,' says he, +''cause I know how to hold my gun, and I don't want to be put in +chokee,' he says. Guessing as how there was something amiss I finds out +where he lives, and so here he is." + +"Is he quite well and safe, quite well and safe?" Granny asked nervously +at this point, arriving just in time to hear the conclusion of the +sergeant's explanation. "Oh, Chris, my darling, what have you been +doing?" + +"I'm a soldier now, my Granny," he stated proudly, with a defiant look +at Briggs and myself. "He said I was, didn't you?" he asked, turning to +the sergeant, who smiled again. "He's going to lend me his soldier +clothes till you buy me some. He said he would." + +"He'd have been here before if I could have got a lift, marm," explained +the sergeant, "but it chanced nothing passed by us. It's been a long +walk for the young gentleman, I'm afraid." + +But Granny did not at once reply; she was looking at the little beggar +with all the love of her heart overflowing her eyes, and as if she never +again could bear to let him out of her sight. Indeed, for the moment she +was so absorbed that I think she hardly realized what the sergeant +said. + +There was a slight pause, and then she said with much fervent gratitude +and an old-fashioned courtesy of manner: + +"I am more indebted to you than I can express for your kind care of my +little grandson. It is, indeed, a great relief to my mind to see him +back safely." + +"Why, my Granny!" cried Chris, with a little skip and a laugh, "I +_always_ was safe. There was nothing the matter with me!" + +"Hush! my child," Granny then continued, though with an effort, as if +the reaction from the anxiety she had been suffering was becoming too +much for her control: "Will you not go round to the kitchen and rest? +And will you kindly tell Parker, my butler, that I have sent you, and to +see that you have some refreshment after your long walk." + +"Thank you, marm," said the sergeant, touching his cap once more as he +left, followed by a regretful glance from Chris. + +"I should like to go with him," he remarked. + +"My darling," began Granny reproachfully--then stopped short and tried +to smile at me. + +"I'm very silly," she said, as the tears filled her eyes; "but, my dear, +I have been feeling so anxious, so anxious, you understand...." + +She could say no more, but going to a wicker-chair near, she sat down, +and covered her eyes with her hand. + +I said nothing, for I knew that her tears were a relief to her +overwrought feelings. So for a time there was silence, which was at +length broken by the little beggar, who, looking at her with pity +mingled with curiosity, remarked in a hushed voice: + +"I b'lieve my Granny is crying!" + +"And who do you think has made her cry?" suddenly asked a severe voice, +and turning round somewhat apprehensively, the little beggar saw Uncle +Godfrey--who, unperceived and unheard, had crossed the lawn--confronting +him in righteous indignation. + +"I say, who do you think has made her cry?" he reiterated, as Granny +threw him an imploring glance as if to beg mercy for the offender. "I +have just heard something of your last piece of disobedience from your +friend the sergeant," he continued sternly. "Fortunately for me I met +him not two minutes ago, and so was saved a useless drive into Marston +on your account. Now I should like to hear some explanation of your +conduct." + +He looked so very tall and inflexible as he towered above the little +beggar, and the little beggar looked so very small and abject as he +stood before him, that my heart was stirred with pity for the diminutive +transgressor in spite of his misdeeds. + +"Well, answer," Uncle Godfrey said peremptorily. "What is the meaning +of your behaviour, sir?" + +"I w--w--went to be a s--s--soldier," stammered Chris, winking his eyes +to keep back his tears, and grasping hold of Granny's hand as if for +protection. + +"What did I tell you this morning?" + +"I forget," answered the little beggar tremblingly. + +"Then think," his uncle said; whilst Granny said pleadingly: + +"Don't be too severe, my son. He's only a little child." + +"Quite old enough to know better," he replied unrelentingly; and, as +Chris did not at once answer, "Didn't I tell you," he went on, "that you +were not old enough to be a soldier? Do you remember now?" + +"Y--yes," answered Chris, with a strangled sob. + +"But I suppose you thought that you knew better than I, and didn't tell +me of your plan because you knew that you would not be allowed to carry +it out. Was it not so?" he asked. Then as Chris nodded he went on: "I +hope now that you see the consequences of your behaviour," he continued; +"everyone's time wasted, an endless amount of unnecessary anxiety and +trouble, and your Grandmother nearly ill. If ever anyone deserved a good +punishment it is you." + +At this point the little beggar, unable to keep back his tears any +longer, buried his head in his Granny's lap and sobbed bitterly, and as +if his heart would break; whilst for my part I went away. He had been +very naughty, but I did not like to see him crying so bitterly. It made +me sad. + + * * * * * + +It was about an hour later,--just lunch-time,--and I was walking up and +down the gravelled terrace at the back of the house, when a little hand +was slipped into mine, while a little voice remarked in an awe-struck +tone: + +"What do you think? Uncle Godfrey put me in the corner for half an +hour--a whole half-hour!" + +Chris spoke with much solemnity. Granny's punishments were of such a +mild description, that this of Uncle Godfrey's, by comparison, appeared +very heavy, and impressed upon him the grievousness of his offence. + +"And he says I'm not to have no pudding for dinner," he continued with +some pathos; "no pudding at all. Do you know what kind of pudding it +is?" + +"No, I don't," I answered smiling. + +"'Cause Granny said I might have a roly-poly pudding soon," he said, +"and I do hope it's not to-day. If it is bread-and-butter pudding I +don't mind, as I don't like bread-and-butter pudding." + +"I can't tell you what pudding it is," I repeated. + +"Uncle Godfrey said I was a very naughty boy," he went on. + +"So you were," I said, but mildly, and not with the decision the case +demanded. + +"I didn't want to frighten you, or my Granny, or anyone," he said +humbly, with the effects of his uncle's scolding and punishment still +fresh in his memory. "But I did want to be a soldier and fight; and +Uncle Godfrey says I'm not one, and I never was one, and that the +soldier was only laughing at me when he said I was. And I can't be a +soldier for a long while--a very, very, very long while." + +"Not that kind of soldier," I said, "but I know another kind of soldier +that you can be." + +"The Queen's soldier?" asked Chris eagerly. + +"No, but the King's soldier," I replied. "You can be one of Christ's +soldiers. Whenever you try hard to be good and obedient when you feel +inclined to be naughty and wilful; whenever you try not to say the angry +word, to think the unkind thought you would like to say, you would like +to think; whenever you turn your back on what is mean and unmanly and +follow what is true and noble; whenever you do this for His sake, then, +Chris, you are fighting for Christ, you are Christ's soldier. + +"But," I went on as I saw that I had gained his attention, "there is a +great difference between these battles and the others that you were +speaking of. In fighting for the Queen you have to be very brave and no +coward, it is true. But you have the cheers of your countrymen to +inspirit you. You know that your country is watching you, and that helps +you to meet your enemies with courage. In these other battles, fought +for Christ, there are no cheers to excite you, no one watching but God, +and God only. For these fights must be fought silently, quite by +yourself,--God your only Help,--or they are not worth the name of +battles. But, by and by, on that silent battle-field, where so many +struggles have been gone through, and so many hard victories won through +the grace of God, the silence will at last be broken. It will be broken +by a sound full of triumphant joy, too heavenly in its beauty for +earthly ears to catch, but a sound that will make the angels in heaven +rejoice, a sound of--" + +I paused as I tried to find appropriate words for the thought that, +half-formed, was in my mind, gazing as I did so, as if to seek +inspiration, at the boughs of the elms near, swaying and bowing slowly +to and fro in the wind. + +"What?" said Chris, impatiently tugging at my dress. "What?" + +"'The voice of a soul that goeth home'," I said, as the great poet's +words came to me in all their beauty. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE GOLDEN FARTHING. + + +"It's the best thing; I should not propose it unless I were fully +convinced that it is so." + +Uncle Godfrey, standing on the hearth-rug in the drawing-room, his hands +in his pockets, was speaking with his usual decision. + +I, who had just entered, feeling that I was interrupting his +conversation with Granny, turned to leave. + +"Please, don't go, Miss Baggerley. We should like to have the benefit of +your opinion," remarked Uncle Godfrey. + +"Yes, stay, my dear. I should be glad to know what you think," said +Granny. + +So I remained. + +"You tell her what we are talking about, Godfrey," she said. + +"All right!" he answered. "Well, the subject under discussion is the +advisability of sending Chris to be educated with my sister's little +boy. She and her husband have just come home from India, and have taken +a house for a time in Norfolk. In a letter my mother had from her this +morning, she suggests the plan I have mentioned; in fact, she is most +anxious that it should be arranged. I think myself that it is a capital +idea, for it seems to me that it would do Chris all the good in the +world to have the companionship of another child. He is a capital little +chap, but I don't see how it can be good for him to have every whim and +fancy attended to as he has at present, by my mother, by you, by +everyone as far as I can see, except perhaps that excellent and +depressing young woman, Briggs. Oh, I know what you would like to say; +much that my mother has already said--that Chris is not easily spoilt, +that he has such a good disposition, and so on. All of which I grant; +but, nevertheless, I think it would be better for him in the end to have +a little less attention given to him than he has at present. Besides, he +would have the advantage of an excellent governess, who has been with my +sister some time, and, according to her, is a paragon of a teacher. And +that is not to be despised, it seems to me. Chris, of course, would +always come to my mother for the holidays, so that she still would see a +great deal of him. Now, frankly, don't you agree with my view of the +case?" + +"I suppose so," I answered, though I was conscious of speaking +unwillingly, for I knew what it would cost Granny to give up the charge +of her darling. + +"Of course you do," he replied, "only you don't like to say so for the +sake of my mother." + +"The darling is very dear to me," said Granny, a little pathetically. +"I only desire what is best for him." + +"I know that, my dear mother," Uncle Godfrey said gently--he could speak +very gently when he liked, in spite of all his decided ways,--"no one +could doubt it." + +No one spoke for a moment or two, and it was plain to see that a +struggle was going on in Granny's mind. + +"I don't want to persuade you against your judgment, mother," at last +Uncle Godfrey said, still speaking very gently, even tenderly, and then +we were silent again. + +Then Granny said with an effort--an effort that plainly cost her much: + +"You are right, my son; yes, you are right. I am getting too old to have +the entire responsibility of the child, and, doubtless, it would be +good, it would be more cheerful for him, to be with a little companion +of his own age. Yes, it is better that he should go to Louisa." + +And then she got up and left the room, as if, for the time, she could +say no more. It was a hard trial for her, because love for Chris was as +part of her life, and to part with him would be a wrench that neither +Uncle Godfrey nor myself could fully comprehend, with all our desire to +enter into her feelings. Yet I think that she had never loved him so +truly as at that moment when she gave him up. For is not our love the +greatest when it is the most unselfish, when it is purified by +self-sacrifice, as "gold that is tried in the fire"? + + * * * * * + +It was such a bright morning when the little beggar left us; a cold, +crisp day in the beginning of October, the slight frost sprinkling the +ground with a white powder that sparkled and glistened like diamonds in +the autumn sun. + +Uncle Godfrey had come up from Aldershot for the express purpose of +taking him to his new home, which fact filled Chris with no little +pride. + +"Me and my Uncle Godfrey are going a long way together," he kept +informing everyone. "He has left all his soldiers to come and take me. +Isn't it kind of my Uncle Godfrey?" in a tone of devotion. + +I imagine that had it been anyone else but his Uncle Godfrey it would +have been a difficult matter to reconcile him to leave his Granny. As it +was, he became inclined to be very tearful as the hour of departure drew +near, and clung to her in a way that, whilst it touched and pleased her, +made the thought of the parting more difficult to bear. + +And now the little beggar, who for the last few minutes had been playing +in a somewhat restless fashion with Uncle Godfrey, returning between +whiles to Granny's side, was sent upstairs to have his hat put on. + +Five minutes passed and he had not returned. Granny became impatient. +Poor Granny! who grudged losing even a minute of her darling's presence +when she knew that she was about to lose it for so long. + +"My dear," she said to me, "will you kindly go and see if he is ready? +The dog-cart will so soon be round." + +Hastening upstairs, I went to the nursery to bring down the little +beggar to rejoice her sight for the short period that remained before he +left. + +As I approached the open door I heard Briggs taking leave of him, and +with more sentiment than was generally to be observed in the utterances +of that dignified person. + +"And you won't forget your Briggs?" she said, kissing him; "and you'll +send her a letter sometimes?" + +"A long, long letter; ever so long," promised Chris rashly. "And you've +wroten down the place what you live at?" + +"Yes, here it is," said Briggs, holding out an envelope and reading +aloud as I entered: + + "Miss AMELIA BRIGGS, + 6 Balaclava Villas, + Upper Touting, + London." + +"And you'll write me a nice letter, won't you, Master Chris?" + +"Nicer than ever you can think," he replied, as she kissed him again +with something like emotion, and bade him good-bye. + +"I'm sorry to leave Briggs," he said, as we went downstairs hand in +hand; "but I am dreffully, dreffully sorry to leave my Granny." + +"Will I never come back to her again?" he asked, wistfully. + +"Why, of course you will," I said, encouragingly. + +"But I don't want to go 'way from her," he remarked sadly. + +"You'll be a good boy, though," I said, "and not cry, or you will make +her unhappy." + +"Yes, I'll be the goodest boy," he promised me fervently, "and I won't +make my Granny unhappy; not a little, tiny bit." + +But when he saw her looking so sad his resolution somewhat failed, and, +standing by her side, he gazed up into her face with his great eyes full +of tears--eyes like violets with the dew upon them. + +Suddenly, however, he brightened up, and turned to leave the room. + +"Hulloa! where are you off to?" cried Uncle Godfrey. "The dog-cart will +be round in a minute, and you'll be nowhere to be found." + +"I want to get something for my Granny; I want to get something very +badly for her," he said eagerly as he paused; "and it's in my coat, and +it's outside, where I put it, with your greatcoat in the hall." + +"Slightly involved," Uncle Godfrey remarked, laughing. + +"What can the darling be bringing me?" Granny said, roused a little from +the abstraction into which she had fallen. + +She was not long left in doubt, for almost as she asked the question +Chris returned, holding aloft a little, bright, red leather purse, the +pride and joy of his heart. Opening it, he went back to Granny's side +and showered its contents upon her lap--two halfpennies and four +pennies, a sixpenny and a threepenny bit, and a bright farthing. + +"It's all for you, my Granny, 'cause I'm going away," he said +impulsively; "all for you! The golden farthing and everything?" + +"No, no, my pet; I won't take it from you," answered Granny, much moved +by this great gift. + +"Yes, but you must, my Granny; it's all for you," he repeated, with a +fleeting glance of regret at the red purse in its splendour. + +"My darling, I won't take it all," she said, replacing the money in the +purse, and putting it into his pocket--all save the "golden farthing", +which she kept. "But, see, I will keep this as a keepsake from my own +dear child." + +"Yes, Granny; and you'll never spend it," Chris said seriously. "You'll +keep it for always." + +"For always, my Chris," she said tenderly, with a pathetic little +tremble in her voice as she kissed him. + +And now the dog-cart came round to the door, and we all went out into +the hall. + +Then, with a hug from me, and many a loving kiss from Granny as she +clasped him in her arms, Chris was lifted up by the side of Uncle +Godfrey and driven away. + +"Good-bye! good-bye! good-bye!" he called out shrilly, looking back and +waving his hand, till his little voice grew faint in the distance. + +As for Granny, she stood still on the door-step, heedless of the keen +morning air, with one hand shading her eyes from the sunlight, while the +other grasped tightly Chris's parting gift--the "golden farthing". + +She stood there gazing after the dog-cart till it was out of sight. Then +she turned in silence and went back into the house. + +It seemed as if all the sunshine and brightness had gone out of it with +the departure of that little beggar! + + * * * * * + +Many years have passed since that summer's day when I found a little +truant sobbing so bitterly by the roadside. Granny is a very old lady +now, and my hair is becoming quite white. As for the little beggar +himself, the ambition of his childhood is fulfilled, and he is one of +the Queen's soldiers, having just passed into Sandhurst, a fact in +which Granny takes an overwhelming pride. So overwhelming, that I really +fancy if you were to ask her to name the greatest general of the future, +she would have but one answer for you. Cannot you guess what that answer +would be? + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + + +This title was published as the second half of the book _Unlucky_ by +Caroline Austin (eBook #35653). Page numbers begin with 161. + +The publisher's name comes from the first half of the book, as does the +illustration. + +Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; otherwise, +every effort has been made to remain true to the author's words and +intent. + +A table of contents has been added for the reader's convenience. + +Page 202, "Baggerly" changed to "Baggerley" ("Perhaps Miss Baggerley +would tell you"). + +Page 251, "Beggarly" changed to "Beggarley" ("Not even Miss Beggarley"). + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of That Little Beggar, by E. 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King Hall + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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: That Little Beggar + +Author: E. King Hall + +Release Date: May 19, 2011 [EBook #36166] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THAT LITTLE BEGGAR *** + + + + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Kerry Tani and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1>THAT LITTLE BEGGAR</h1> + +<h2><span class="smcap">By</span> E. KING HALL</h2> + + +<h3>BLACKIE & SON LIMITED<br /> +LONDON GLASGOW DUBLIN BOMBAY</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> +<p class="caption">CHRIS IS BROUGHT BACK BY HIS FRIEND THE SERGEANT</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + +<div> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td> </td><td align="right">Page</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER I.</td><td align="left">JACK AND HIS MASTER.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER II.</td><td align="left">A SONG AND A STORY.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER III.</td><td align="left">CONCERNING EIGHT FLIES.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER IV.</td><td align="left">TEACHING JACKY TO SWIM.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER V.</td><td align="left">THE DOCTOR'S HEAD!</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER VI.</td><td align="left">A PASTE-MAN AND A PAINT-BOX.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_232">232</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER VII.</td><td align="left">CHRIS AND HIS UNCLE.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER VIII.</td><td align="left">"I'M A SOLDIER NOW."</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_259">259</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER IX.</td><td align="left">THE GOLDEN FARTHING.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_274">274</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>JACK AND HIS MASTER.</h3> + + +<p>"No carriage! Are you quite sure? Mrs. Wyndham told me that she would +send to meet this train."</p> + +<p>I looked anxiously at the station-master as I spoke. I was feeling +tired, having had a very long journey; and now, to find that I had the +prospect of a good walk before me was not pleasant.</p> + +<p>"I'll go and have another look, mum," he said civilly as he turned away; +"it may have driven up since the train came in. It weren't there before, +I know that."</p> + +<p>Presently he returned, and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing from the Hall," he remarked; "nothing to be seen +nowhere."</p> + +<p>I looked round despairingly, first at the deserted-looking little +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>country station with its gay flower-beds, decorated with ornamental +devices in dazzling white stones, then at the long, white country road, +stretching away in the distance with the July sun beating down upon it, +and sighed. The outlook was not cheering.</p> + +<p>"Is there no inn near at which I could find some sort of conveyance?" I +asked, though without much hope of receiving a satisfactory reply.</p> + +<p>"None but the White Hart at Teddington, and that's a matter of four +miles off," he replied. "It would take less time to send to the Hall."</p> + +<p>"How far off is that?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"It's two miles and a bit. By the fields it's less, but as you are a +stranger in these parts, I take it, mum, you'd do better to keep to the +road if you think of walking," he answered.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me the best thing to do," I replied with resignation.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's a beautiful afternoon for a walk, if it <i>is</i> a bit hot," he +said consolingly, and, retiring to his office, left me to my own +devices.</p> + +<p>I started very slowly, determined not to waste any energy, with that +long and hot walk before me.</p> + +<p>Strolling gently on I fell to thinking over my past life—the quiet, +peaceful life in the country rectory, where I had lived for so many +years, and which had only ended with the death of my dear old father two +months ago. Now middle-aged—yes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> I called myself middle-aged, though I +daresay you at the age of eight, ten, fourteen (what is it?) would have +called me a Methuselah—now I had to earn my own living, and start a +fresh life. I don't want to make you sad, for I am quite of the opinion +that it is better to make people laugh than cry, but I will confess that +as I walked along that sunny afternoon, with the recollection of my +great sorrow still fresh in my mind, the tears came to my eyes. You see, +my father and I loved each other so much, and he was all that I had in +the world; I had no brothers and sisters to share my sorrow with me.</p> + +<p>I had gone some distance on my way, when I heard the sound of loud and +bitter sobbing. Hastening my steps, I turned a bend of the road, and saw +a little boy lying full length on the roadside, his face buried in the +dusty, long grass, as he gave vent to the loud and uncontrolled grief +which had attracted my attention; whilst a few yards off stood a little +wire-haired fox-terrier, regarding him with a perplexed and wondering +eye.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, dear?" I asked the distressed little mortal, whose +tears were flowing so fast.</p> + +<p>But he only mumbled something unintelligible, then burst into renewed +sobs.</p> + +<p>"Get up from that dusty grass and tell me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> what it is all about," I said +encouragingly, as I stooped down and took hold of his hand.</p> + +<p>He rose slowly from the ground and looked at me doubtfully, half sobbing +the while; then I saw how pretty he was. Such a pretty little boy, but +oh! such a dirty one. He had the sweetest violet eyes, the prettiest +golden curls, the most rosy of rosy checks that you can imagine, and he +was dressed in the dearest little white-duck sailor's suit that any +little boy ever wore. But at that moment the violet eyes were all +swollen with crying, the golden curls were all tumbled and tossed, the +rosy cheeks all smudged where dirty fingers had been rubbing away the +tears, whilst as for the white-duck suit—well, to be accurate, I ought +not to call it white. But as the small person inside of it had +apparently been recklessly rolling on the ground, it was not surprising +that something of its original purity had departed.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" I asked again.</p> + +<p>"I took Jack out for a walk and he runned away and I runned after him, +but he wouldn't stop!" he sobbed vehemently.</p> + +<p>Then, leaving go of my hand, he made a sudden dash towards the truant, +who as suddenly ran off. My small friend wept afresh.</p> + +<p>"He thinks that you are playing with him," I said; "that's why he runs +away. Wait a moment!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> seeing he made a movement as if he were again +about to chase the dog.</p> + +<p>"Look!" I went on, and going gently towards Jack, I picked him up and +placed him beside his little master.</p> + +<p>"Come along, you little beggar!" the indignant little fellow exclaimed, +and, seizing hold of the cause of the commotion, he walked, or rather +staggered, off with him.</p> + +<p>Poor Jack! He did look so unhappy. I think you would have been as sorry +for him if you had seen him, as I was. Hugged closely in his master's +arms, his hind-legs hanging down in a helpless, dislocated fashion, he +gazed after me piteously over his master's shoulder, as if to say, "Can +you do nothing to help me?"</p> + +<p>He looked so funny and so miserable I could not help laughing. "What!" +you say with some surprise, "and you were crying a little while before?"</p> + +<p>Yes, my dear child; yet I could laugh in spite of that, for, you know, +there is no better way of drying our own tears than to wipe away the +tears of another—though they be but the ready tears of a little child.</p> + +<p>So I laughed, and I laughed very heartily too.</p> + +<p>"Wait," I said. "I fancy Jack is as uncomfortable as you, and that looks +to me very uncomfortable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> Supposing we see if both you and he cannot +get home in an easier fashion. Why don't you put him on the ground? I +think if you were to walk back quietly Jack would follow you now."</p> + +<p>My new acquaintance wrinkled his dirty little tear-stained countenance +doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"P'r'aps he'll run away, 'cause he's runned away often and often whilst +he's been out with me, and I sha'n't be able to catch him," he said +woefully.</p> + +<p>"Put him down and see," I suggested. And Jack was dropped on the ground, +though as much I fancy from necessity as choice, since his weight was +evidently becoming too much for his master.</p> + +<p>"Are you far from home?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"A long, long way," he replied forlornly. "All the way from +Skeffington."</p> + +<p>"That's where I'm going," I said, "so we can go together."</p> + +<p>"Are you the lady what's coming to live with my Granny?" he asked, +slipping his hand confidingly in mine, as we turned our steps homewards.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I'm called Chris, but my proper name is Christopher," he stated, +pronouncing it slowly and with some difficulty.</p> + +<p>"It's very pretty," I answered, smiling at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> diminutive little figure +by my side, "but a very long name for such a little person."</p> + +<p>"That's not my only name," he said proudly. "Did you think it was?"</p> + +<p>And he laughed pityingly at my ignorance.</p> + +<p>"What is your other?" I inquired, as I was intended to.</p> + +<p>"Why, I have two others," he answered with still greater pride. "Three +names altogether. Christopher, that's only like myself; and Godfrey, +that's like my Uncle Godfrey; and Wyndham, that's like my Uncle Godfrey +and my Granny too. All our names is Wyndham. What's your name?"</p> + +<p>"Baggerley."</p> + +<p>"Beggarley! That's something like what Uncle Godfrey calls me. He says +I'm a little beggar."</p> + +<p>"Baggerley, not Beggarley," I corrected him.</p> + +<p>"But I would like to call you Beggarley, 'cause then you'd be called +something the same as me. Mayn't I?"</p> + +<p>A suspicious tremble in his voice warned me to give way, unless I was +prepared for another outcry from that healthy little pair of lungs. The +tears were evidently still near the surface. I therefore weakly yielded.</p> + +<p>"Very well, dear," I replied in a resigned voice; and Chris, brightening +at once, continued his conversation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm seven years of age. How old are you?" he next remarked, regarding +me with interest.</p> + +<p>"Too old to tell my age," I replied evasively.</p> + +<p>"As old as my Granny?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think so."</p> + +<p>"Then how old?"</p> + +<p>"Chris, you shouldn't ask so many questions," I said, with a touch of +severity.</p> + +<p>"I only wanted to know if you was too old to play with me," he said, +looking at me reproachfully out of his great violet eyes.</p> + +<p>"I will certainly play with you if you are a good boy," I replied, in a +mollified voice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so glad!" he exclaimed, dancing by my side with pleasure; +"'cause I have no one to play with me. Granny is too old, and Briggs +says when she runs it makes her legs ache as if they will break."</p> + +<p>"I will run a little sometimes, but I can't promise to do much," I said +cautiously.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't always run," he said, encouragingly. "There is one or +two games where you needn't hardly move. Just a little tiny bit, you +know. Will you play at trains?"</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, such a nice game! and you needn't run unless you like. I'll be the +train and the engine, and you can be the guard and the steam-engine +whistle. Then you need only walk about at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> the station and take the +tickets, and just scream high up in your head like this" (and Chris gave +vent to a loud and piercing scream—so unexpectedly loud and piercing +that I almost started). "That's like the steam-engine goes, you know," +he explained.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't do that," I said with decision, when I had recovered from +the shock.</p> + +<p>"Then p'r'aps you'd like to play at lame horses," he suggested. "You +needn't scream then, only jog up and down as if you'd got a stone in +your foot. I'll be the coachman, but I won't make you run fast, 'cause +it would be very cruel of me if you had a stone in your foot; wouldn't +it?" he continued, virtuously.</p> + +<p>"Very," I agreed, as we turned into the lodge-gates of Skeffington, and +pursued our way up the drive.</p> + +<p>"There's my Granny," he remarked presently, leaving go of my hand and +running towards an old lady, who, with her work-table by her side and +her knitting in her lap, was dozing comfortably in a big wicker chair on +the shady side of the lawn.</p> + +<p>"Granny! Granny!" shouted Chris excitedly, and at the top of his voice. +"Here's the lady what's coming to live with you."</p> + +<p>At the sound of his voice the old lady gave a nervous jump, opened her +eyes, and, replacing her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> spectacles which had fallen off her nose, +arose, looking round as she did so with a bewildered air.</p> + +<p>"Miss Baggerley, I presume," she said with an old-fashioned courtesy of +manner, and advancing towards me with outstretched hand. "But how is it +that you are walking? Was not the carriage at the station to meet you?"</p> + +<p>"No, she walked all the way; and she didn't know the way, and I showed +it to her," Chris put in eagerly. "I showed it to her all myself."</p> + +<p>"The carriage was not at the station. But it was not of the slightest +consequence, I assure you," I replied, as soon as Chris allowed me to +speak.</p> + +<p>"But two miles and a half in this hot sun, and after your long journey +too!" Mrs. Wyndham said apologetically. "I am most distressed, I am +indeed. I have a new coachman who is not very bright. He has doubtless +made some stupid mistake. Dear me, how unfortunate!"</p> + +<p>"It didn't matter, 'cause <i>I</i> found her and <i>I</i> showed her the way," +Chris reiterated with pride.</p> + +<p>"Hush, my dear child!" Granny said gently. Then, for the first time +becoming fully aware of his very unkempt condition, "What have you been +doing, my darling?" she exclaimed with surprise; "and what do you mean +by saying you met Miss Baggerley? Where did you meet her?"</p> + +<p>"I took Jack for a walk and he runned away,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> and was such a naughty +little dog. And I felled down and hurted myself, and I cried," Chris +concluded with much pathos, as he saw Granny shake her head at the +account of his doings.</p> + +<p>"My darling, it was very wrong of you to leave the garden," she said. +"You know when Briggs left you, she never thought for a moment that you +would go outside the gates. And, oh, how dirty you are! Your nice white +suit is all black! Miss Baggerley, I fear you met a disobedient, a very +disobedient little boy indeed."</p> + +<p>"I hurted myself very much," Chris remarked, in the most pathetic of +voices.</p> + +<p>Granny relented. "Where did you hurt yourself, my dear child?" she +asked, with some anxiety.</p> + +<p>"On my knee, and on my face, and on my hand," he replied still with +melancholy.</p> + +<p>"Go at once, darling, to Briggs, and ask her to bathe all your bruises +with warm water," she said. "Or, if they are very bad, tell her that she +will find some lotion in my room."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't Jack a naughty little dog?" he asked, recovering, as he held up +a smudgy little face to be kissed.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it was someone else who was naughty," she answered, with an +attempt at severity; "yes, very naughty indeed. But we'll say no more +about it, for I think you are sorry; are you not, my Chris?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Very, very sorry, Granny," he replied, but more cheerfully than +penitently, as he ran off, relieved at the matter ending in so easy and +pleasant a fashion.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I spoil him dreadfully," Granny said, looking fondly after +the retreating little figure. 'You're ruining the little beggar'; that's +what my son Godfrey tells me. But then my Chris has no father or mother, +so I feel very tenderly towards him. He has such a lovable nature too, +it is difficult not to spoil him. You have doubtless seen that for +yourself already, have you not?</p> + +<p>"And now, my dear," she added kindly, "I'm sure you must want your tea +after your long journey, and that hot walk afterwards. It was a most +unfortunate mistake about the carriage. I cannot tell you how +distressed, how very distressed, I am about it."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>A SONG AND A STORY.</h3> + + +<p>Yes, Granny was quite right. It was difficult not to spoil that little +beggar. Everyone helped to do so; everyone, that is to say, but one +person. That one person was Briggs, Chris's dignified<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> and severe nurse. +The whole household concurred in petting and spoiling him in every +possible way. Briggs alone maintained her course of justice, inflexible +and unbending. Her yoke was not one under which the little beggar +willingly bowed his head. He was not accustomed to any yoke, and Briggs' +was not at all to his taste.</p> + +<p>In consequence of this state of affairs, nursery rows were by no means +infrequent; nor was it very long before I witnessed one. It was but a +few days after I had arrived, and I was sitting one afternoon in the +library reading the <i>Morning Post</i> to Granny, who was busy with some +work she was doing for the poor.</p> + +<p>It was a quiet and peaceful state of affairs which we were both +enjoying. Suddenly, however, we were interrupted by a tap at the door, +and the entrance of Briggs, flushed, heated, and slightly panting.</p> + +<p>"If you please, mum," she began, a little breathlessly, and placing her +hand on her side as if to still the beating of her heart, "I wish to +know if Master Chris is to be allowed to speak to me as he likes?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, certainly not," Granny replied, raising herself straight +in her arm-chair, and trying to assume the severity of manner she felt +was suitable to the occasion. "What has he been saying?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It was just this, mum," Briggs started, with the air of resolving to +give a full, true, and particular account; "it was just this. We were +down in the village, and I stepped into the post-office to buy a few +reels of black cotton, which it so happens I have run out of. Likewise, +I wanted to buy some blue sewing-silk, which you may remember, mum, you +asked me to keep in mind next time I happened to be that way."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember, Briggs. And Master Chris was naughty?" Granny said, +gently trying to bring her to the point.</p> + +<p>"Well, mum, I was going to tell you," she continued, without hurrying, +"when I had bought the cotton and the silk, it came to my mind to buy a +packet of post-cards and two shillings' worth of stamps. But the +rector's young ladies had come in, and being pressed for time, Mrs. +Thompson, she says to me, 'I make no doubt but that you will let me +serve the young ladies first'; to which I made answer, 'I wait your +pleasure'. But Master Chris he gets cross, because he wants to go on +home at once and roll his new hoop. 'Come along, old Briggs!' he says; +'come along, you old slow-coach!' Such behaviour, such language! Before +the young ladies from the rectory, too! Where he learnt it I'm sure I +can't tell. Not from me, I do assure you, mum," she concluded with +indignation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It was very naughty of him," Granny remarked mildly.</p> + +<p>"But that was not all, mum," the irate Briggs continued; "for all the +way home he walks in front of me, tossing his head and singing as loud +as possible, '<i>For I'm a jolly good fellow</i>'; and Jack there barking and +making such a row alongside of him; it was for all the world like a +wild-beast show. Nothing I could say could stop the pair of them."</p> + +<p>She paused to allow Granny to take in the full extent of Chris's +enormity. As she did so, a scampering of little feet was heard outside, +the handle of the door was impatiently turned—first the wrong way, and +then rattled angrily. Finally the door itself was burst open, and that +little beggar ran in, with excited countenance; the big holland +pinafore, in which Briggs insisted upon enveloping him, and his especial +detestation, half dropping off him, and trailing behind on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Granny," he began immediately, "is '<i>For he's a jolly good fellow</i>', +that Uncle Godfrey sings, a wicked song?"</p> + +<p>"It's very naughty of you to behave rudely to Briggs," she replied +gravely.</p> + +<p>Looking round, Chris's eyes fell upon Briggs, whom at first he had not +noticed; then, realizing that she had been first in the field, he burst +into a loud, tearless wail.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Briggs, you're a nasty, nasty thing, and I hate you!" he cried +vehemently, stamping his foot as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"There, mum! Is that the way for a young gentleman to speak?" she asked, +not without a certain triumph.</p> + +<p>"I don't like you!" Chris cried, stamping his foot again. "You are +always cross! Nasty, cross, old Briggs!"</p> + +<p>"Chris, I am shocked, very, very shocked," Granny said gravely. "You +must stand in the corner for a quarter of an hour."</p> + +<p>The little beggar wailed again; real, unfeigned tears this time.</p> + +<p>"I don't—want to—go into—the corner," he said sobbing. "It's +all—your fault, Briggs."</p> + +<p>Briggs shook her head slowly and solemnly from side to side.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Master Chris!" she exclaimed, "is that a way for a nice young +gentleman to speak?" Then she left the room with dignity.</p> + +<p>Chris, looking after her with impotent anger, moved towards the corner +with laggard steps, crying bitterly as he did so.</p> + +<p>"Must I go into the corner, my Granny?" he wailed. "Uncle Godfrey is +never sent into the corner."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, you must, Chris," she said, obliging herself to be firm.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<p>The little beggar looked entreatingly with large tearful eyes at her, as +he crept towards the hated corner. But she would not allow herself to +relent. Justice, in the form of the deeply offended Briggs, had to be +propitiated, and Chris had to bear the punishment for his misdeeds.</p> + +<p>At the same time, I believe Granny would joyfully have gone into the +corner herself, if by so doing she could have spared her darling this +wound to his pride, and yet have satisfied her own conscience. I think, +indeed, in her sympathy for Chris in his disgrace, she really suffered +more than he. It was therefore with relief, and as a welcome diversion +that, when the footman came to announce the arrival of visitors, she +rose to go to the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>"I must go, Miss Baggerley," she said. "Will you be so kind as to see +that Chris stays in the corner for a quarter of an hour? Only for a +quarter of an hour, if he is good; but I know that he will be good, for +he does not want to make his Granny unhappy any more. I am sure of +that." With which gentle persuasion she went.</p> + +<p>For a time Chris wept loudly and sorely, after which he was silent, save +for an occasional sniff. This silence continued uninterrupted for so +long that it at last aroused my suspicions. Turning my head the better +to see him, I found that he was engaged in drawing strange and mystic +signs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> upon the wall, by the simple process of wetting his finger in his +mouth.</p> + +<p>Hence the explanation of this sudden calm; for so absorbing, apparently, +was this occupation, that it had had the effect of drying up all those +bitter tears which, but a few minutes earlier, had flowed so freely.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing?" I asked. "You must not dirty the wall like that."</p> + +<p>"I am writing my name," the little beggar said with much pathos. +"Chris-to-pher God-frey Wyndham. Then when I'm dead and gone far away +over the sea, Granny will see it, and she'll be sorry she was so cross."</p> + +<p>"Jane will wash out those dirty marks," I replied, ruthlessly destroying +his mournful hopes. "They will not remain there."</p> + +<p>At this the little beggar desisted from disfiguring the wall, but +reiterated, though more weakly, "Granny will be very sorry by and by; +she was cross, and she'll wish she hadn't put me in the corner."</p> + +<p>"No, she won't," I answered decisively; "she'll be sorry that you were +naughty, but she won't wish that she had not punished you. You deserved +to be punished."</p> + +<p>Feeling that I did not regard him as the ill-used little being that he +considered himself, and that there was a want of sympathy about my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +remarks that was not altogether to his taste, Chris once more was +silent.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes elapsed, broken only by an occasional sigh from the occupant +of the corner. Then I was asked wearily:</p> + +<p>"Is it nearly time for me to come away?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said, as I looked at my watch, "you may come out now."</p> + +<p>A forlorn little figure came towards me, and crept on my knee.</p> + +<p>"Was I very naughty?" he asked, deprecatingly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, I am afraid you were," I answered. I should have liked to +speak more severely, but that was a difficult matter with Chris.</p> + +<p>"Briggs is a nasty thing," he said, nestling his head contentedly on my +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Granny will send you back to the corner if she hears you speak like +that," I said, with more confidence than I felt upon the subject.</p> + +<p>"She was so unkind to me; she isn't a kind Briggs," he said. "Do you +like her?"</p> + +<p>Then without waiting for an answer he went on: "I love my Granny best, +and Uncle Godfrey next, and you next, and Briggs last,—the most last."</p> + +<p>"If you were good to Briggs you would love her more," I said.</p> + +<p>"Would I?" he asked doubtfully.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," I answered; "and though you are a happy little boy now, you would +be still happier then. There is nothing that makes us happier than to +love people very much and try to be kind to them."</p> + +<p>"Even Briggs?" he inquired, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"You should not talk of her like that," I said, trying not to smile. +"She is really very fond of you, and very kind to you. If she was angry, +it was because you were rude."</p> + +<p>Chris moved impatiently. He did not like that view of the case. There +was a pause, then: "Shall I tell you a story?" I asked. "I shall just +have time before you go to your tea."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," he answered, with some indifference. "I've heard them +all lots of times. Briggs has told them to me often and often—'Jack the +Giant-Killer', and 'Jack and the Beanstalk', and 'Red Riding-Hood', and +'Cinderella' ("I don't much like those two," he put in, with a touch of +masculine contempt, "'cause they're all about girls"), and 'Hop o' my +Thumb.' And the story of the Good Boy who had a cake, and gave it all +away to the Blind Beggar and his dog, except a tiny, weeny piece for +himself; and the Bad Boy who had a cake, and told a wicked story, and +said there never was one, 'cause he didn't want anyone else to have it; +and the Greedy Boy who had a cake, and ate it all up so fast he was +dreadfully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> sick. Briggs has told them all to me, and she says there +ain't no more stories to tell; leastways, if there are, she's never +heard tell of them."</p> + +<p>"If I were you I shouldn't say 'leastways', 'never heard tell', or +'ain't no more'," I remarked as he paused, out of breath.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"They are not the expressions a gentleman uses," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Does a lady?" he asked with curiosity; "'cause Briggs does."</p> + +<p>"My dear child, never mind what Briggs does. We were not talking of +her," I replied. "You know I have told you before you should not always +ask so many questions. It is a troublesome habit."</p> + +<p>"Is it?" he said, with the utmost innocence.</p> + +<p>"Decidedly," I replied, and once more struggling not to mar the effects +of my words by smiling. "Well, about my story. It is not one of those +you have spoken of. I don't think that you have heard it."</p> + +<p>"Then tell it to me, please," he said, with a touch of condescension.</p> + +<p>"Well, once upon a time," I began, in the most approved fashion, "there +were two men who had a great hill to climb. It was a long and difficult +climb, but, if they only reached the top of that hill, they would be +fully rewarded for all their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> pains. I will tell you why. There was +there a beautiful country, where they would live and be happy for +evermore. It was such a beautiful country! The trees were always green, +the flowers never withered, and it was always sunny,—never a cloud to +be seen. The Lord of that country was not only very great and powerful, +but He was also very loving and good. He knew how wearying and difficult +that uphill journey was to the dwellers in the valley beneath. So, in +His love, He sent messengers to tell the travellers how they must +journey if they hoped ever to reach the beautiful country over which He +ruled.</p> + +<p>"One of these messengers came to the two men of whom I have spoken just +before they started on their journey, with these plain and simple +directions:</p> + +<p>"Follow the straight and narrow path that leads up-hill; you cannot +mistake it, for it goes right on without any curves or twists. You will +come across many rough and difficult places, but do not turn aside, +though the path leads you over them. You may see other paths that lead +round them, but don't turn off from the narrow one. Don't take the +others; they don't lead up, they lead down. The straight path is the +only right one. <i>Go straight on, don't be afraid.</i> These are my Lord's +directions.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'The journey is very tiring,' went on the messenger, 'and the sun will +beat down by and by with much fierceness, so that you will suffer at +times from great thirst. But, see, my Lord has sent you these!' As he +spoke, he held out two flasks. You cannot imagine anything so beautiful +as they were. They were made of pure gold, bright and shining, and +ornamented with diamonds that flashed and sparkled in the light like +fire. To each of the men the messenger gave a flask.</p> + +<p>"'Look,' he said, 'and you will find that they are filled with fresh, +clear water. This water is magic; it will never come to an end, and you +will never suffer from thirst, so long as you obey the order which my +Lord sends you. This is the order. Drink none yourself, but give of it +to all who need it. If you do so, your thirst will never overpower you. +But if you are churlish, and wish to keep it for yourself, some day you +will suffer—suffer terribly. By and by you will find, too, that there +is no water left, for the magic will all have gone! The beauty also of +your flasks will have all disappeared; the gold will have become dim, +the diamonds will have lost their sparkle, and you yourself will have no +power to go onwards and climb higher. Good-bye—remember that my Lord +waits to welcome you with love.'</p> + +<p>"Now, when he had given them these directions,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> the messenger went, and +after a while the two men started on their journey.</p> + +<p>"At first the hill went up so gently that they hardly noticed the +incline. The way did not appear very difficult in the beginning. They +went through a wood where the trees were all young, and the leaves a +tender green, as you see in the springtime, Chris, my dear. And the +sunlight fell through the trees and made a pattern on the ground, which +moved slowly and gracefully as the gentle breezes swayed the branches. +There were no rough places then, or, if there were, they were so slight +that the two travellers hardly remarked them. And as they walked along +they sang in the joy of their hearts; the sunshine, the soft light +breezes, the pretty wild flowers, the trees—all made them so glad and +so happy. Nor did they forget to give to all who passed by some of the +fresh, pure water out of their golden flasks.</p> + +<p>"By and by they came out of the pretty little wood, and the hill became +steeper, the rough places rougher and more frequent.</p> + +<p>"Then one grew impatient. He wanted to go on more quickly than he had +done hitherto. It seemed to him a waste of time to stop so often to give +to the passers-by that pure, refreshing water. Besides, he began to +doubt the truth of the message he had received. It did not seem possible +to him that he could give away the water<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> in his flask and yet not +suffer from thirst. He resolved to keep it all for himself. Nor could he +believe that it was always necessary to follow the narrow path. It was a +different thing when it led through the pretty wood, but now that it led +so often over such difficult places, he determined to find an easier +one. Therefore he separated from his companion, and went his own way, +avoiding all the roughnesses of the road, and taking the paths that +seemed less hard. Nor did he any longer stop to offer to others the +magical water of his golden flask, he kept it all for himself, and let +the wearied and sad ones pass him by without compassion.</p> + +<p>"But he never remarked how dim the gold of the flask was growing, nor +how fast the water was diminishing. Nor did he see that instead of going +up he was really going down-hill, and that the paths he chose were +misleading him. In his hurry he never noticed this, till one sad day it +came upon him.</p> + +<p>"He had been feeling very tired and out of heart, for the way seemed so +long and tiring. Yet, he had been struggling on, hoping to find his rest +at last. On this day, however, he found that his strength had gone; he +could climb no further. He took out his flask, now so dim, hoping to +quench the terrible thirst that was overpowering him; but alas! alas! +there was hardly any water<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> left; not nearly enough to revive him. So +there, by himself, sad and disappointed—for he knew that now he would +never see the happy land he had started for with such glorious +hopes,—he died—died all alone and uncared for!</p> + +<p>"And the other traveller? Well, he went straight on as the good Lord had +directed. Often the rough places were terribly rough, and the sharp +stones in the pathway wounded his feet sadly. Nevertheless, he never +turned aside; he went right on as he had been directed, whilst to all +those who passed by, thirsting for some of the beautiful, clear water +from his golden flask, he gave freely and willingly. Little children who +met him with tearful eyes went on their way laughing and singing. Older +people, also, who were too tired to cry, whose hearts were heavy with +many sorrows, drank of that water and went on their way refreshed. And +his golden flask remained bright, and the water within it undiminished, +right to the very end.</p> + +<p>"What was the end? Ah, it came sooner than he thought it would! The +journey was not so very long after all! And when he arrived at that +beautiful country, and his eyes saw 'The King in His beauty', he forgot +all about the rough places, and all about his past weariness. It was the +land of sunlight, you see, and the land of shadows passed from his +recollection for ever."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is that all?" Chris inquired, as I paused.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's all," I replied.</p> + +<p>"It's a very nice story," he said, patronizingly. "I like it almost as +much as 'Jack the Giant Killer' and 'Jack and the Beanstalk', and better +than 'Cinderella'."</p> + +<p>"Shall I tell you what it means?" I asked.</p> + +<p>He looked at me doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to scold me?" he asked, moving restlessly on my knee; +"'cause I'm going to be a good boy now."</p> + +<p>"No, my dear, I'm not going to scold you," I said reassuringly. "I only +want to tell you what I mean by my story."</p> + +<p>"Will it take long?" he asked; "'cause I'm hungry, and want my tea."</p> + +<p>"No, it won't take long," I answered persuasively. "I will tell it to +you quickly. This is what it means. You know, Chris, God wants us all to +go to heaven and live with Him by and by. In His great love He has shown +us all the way; it is the way that the blesséd Jesus went; a way that +sometimes takes us over hard and difficult places, but that always goes +up—never down. It is a way that leads us higher and higher, right away +to the happy land you were singing of last Sunday. But there is one +thing God has told us to do if we ever hope to reach that happy land—we +must love everyone. Just<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> as the man who in my story reached the +beautiful land at last, just as he gave freely of the water in his +flask, so must we give freely of the love God has put into our hearts. +He has put it there, not that we should spend it on ourselves, but that +we should spend it on others. So long as we do that, so long will our +hearts remain pure and good as God wants them to be. And the more we +love everyone, the more we shall know of God, and the nearer we shall be +to heaven; for you see, dear, to know God is Heaven, and God is Love."</p> + +<p>I paused, and Chris looked contemplative.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to be like the good man, who gave away the water out of his +flask," he said, with the air of one taking a great resolution. "I'm +going to love everyone, and Briggs too."</p> + +<p>"I like to hear you say that," I said, stroking his head, with the +tumbled, golden curls. "Now, I think you had better go to your tea. +Briggs will be waiting for you."</p> + +<p>He jumped off my knee and went as far as the door, then came back to my +side.</p> + +<p>"Miss Beggarley," he said, putting his arms round my neck, "I want to +give you a great, good hug like I give my Granny. I love you very, very +much."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>CONCERNING EIGHT FLIES.</h3> + + +<p>"If you please, mum, what am I to do about Master Chris's lessons? You +said you wished me to look over his clothes this morning, and I haven't +time for that and lessons too." Briggs looked inquiringly at Granny as +she spoke.</p> + +<p>"Of course not, of course not," said Granny. "Bring me his books, +Briggs; I will give them to him to-day."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Granny, you give me my lessons," exclaimed Chris, dancing with +glee and clapping his hands, evidently looking forward to a frivolous +hour in her company.</p> + +<p>"I hope, mum, you'll see he does no tricks," Briggs said, when she +returned with Chris's books. "He's very fond of them. He'll read over +what he's read before, with a face as innocent as a lamb's, and if I +don't remember he'll never say a word to remind me."</p> + +<p>"Go away, Briggs; I don't want you," the little beggar remarked with +more truth than politeness.</p> + +<p>"Master Chris, I shall always stay where my duty calls me," she answered +with loftiness, "as my mistress knows."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," Granny replied soothingly. "Chris,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> I cannot permit you to +speak to Briggs in such a way. Where are your lesson-books?"</p> + +<p>"Here, mum," Briggs said, producing two or three diminutive red books +and a tiny slate.</p> + +<p>"Thank you. Then you had better go and get on with your work," said +Granny, and Briggs left, with a last admonitory look at the little +beggar, which he received with one of defiance.</p> + +<p>"May Jack do lessons too? He's just outside," he asked as Granny opened +his reading-book.</p> + +<p>"Very well," she agreed, and he ran off to fetch him. He returned +presently, followed by his four-legged friend, who, selecting a sunny +spot near the window, lay basking there, blinking at us lazily with +sleepy eyes, as from time to time he roused himself to snap at the flies +within reach.</p> + +<p>"I want to get on your knee, my Granny," Chris said, suiting the action +to the word.</p> + +<p>"I don't think you will do your lessons so well," she said, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, I will!" he replied coaxingly, and was allowed to remain.</p> + +<p>"Let us read this," he proposed, opening his book and pointing to a +page.</p> + +<p>"What is it? A little dialogue?" answered Granny. "Yes; it looks very +nice."</p> + +<p>"It's very difficult. So will you be the lady, and me the gentleman?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, if you would like that. But as I am helping you, you must be very +good, and read your very best."</p> + +<p>"My very, very best."</p> + +<p>There was a pause.</p> + +<p>"Now begin, my darling; we are losing so much time," Granny remarked.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's you to begin," Chris replied, with a touch of reproach at +having been unjustly censured. "Don't you see? You are Sue!"</p> + +<p>"Quite true, to be sure, so I am," the old lady said apologetically, +then began gently and precisely:</p> + +<p>"'<i>She.</i> Sir! sir! I am Sue. See me! see me! The cow has hit my leg! She +has hit her leg out up to my leg, and she has hit it and I cry! Boo! +boo!'"</p> + +<p>To this announcement of woe, Chris replied, or rather chanted in a +sing-song tone, and as loudly and rapidly as he could:</p> + +<p>"'<i>He.</i> Why, Sue, how is it? Why do you cry so? You are not to cry, Sue. +It is bad to cry. Put the cry out and let me see you gay.'"</p> + +<p>"Not so fast," Granny here remarked mildly; "not so fast, and not so +loud."</p> + +<p>"I want to finish it," he explained. "I want to get my lessons done very +quickly."</p> + +<p>"Ah! but they must be done properly. You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> see that, my darling, don't +you?" she said. Then continued:</p> + +<p>"'<i>She.</i> I am to cry, and to cry all the day. I am so bad and so ill, +and my leg is hit, and it is too bad of the cow to hit my leg.'"</p> + +<p>"'<i>He.</i> Did she hit you on the toe?'"</p> + +<p>"'<i>She.</i> No. She hit me by the hip, and it is a bad hip now, and she is +a bad, old, big cow, and she is not to eat rye or hay; no, not a bit of +it all the day.'"</p> + +<p>"'<i>He.</i> Not eat all the day! not eat rye, not eat hay!'"</p> + +<p>At this point, Granny stroked Chris's head and said commendingly:</p> + +<p>"You are reading very well now, very well indeed. You have made great +progress since I last heard you."</p> + +<p>The little beggar wagged his head solemnly. "I want to read well," he +stated gravely. "I want to read very well; then I shall read big books +like my Uncle Godfrey."</p> + +<p>"You are a good little boy," she said. "I am very pleased with the pains +my little Chris is taking."</p> + +<p>A suspicion crossed my mind. Was he indulging in one of the tricks of +which Briggs had forewarned Granny?</p> + +<p>"Have you ever read this before, Chris?" I asked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; often and often!" he replied, with the utmost candour.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my darling, why did you ask me to let you read it now?" Granny +said, looking grieved.</p> + +<p>"'Cause I read it so well," he explained, without exhibiting any proper +shame.</p> + +<p>"Ah! but you might have known Granny didn't want an old lesson," she +said gravely. "It wasn't quite right; was it, Miss Baggerley?"</p> + +<p>"No; it wasn't fair," I assented.</p> + +<p>Chris hung his head. "I didn't mean not to be fair," he said, with +touching contrition.</p> + +<p>Granny's heart softened. "I don't believe you did, my Chris," she +remarked gently.</p> + +<p>Chris put his arms round her neck and hid his face on her shoulder. "I'm +very sorry," he mumbled. Then raising his head:</p> + +<p>"I am going to be a very fair boy," he said magnanimously, touched by +Granny's forgiveness; "I'm going to be a very fair boy, and I am going +to tell you that I don't know the lady's part as well as I know the +gentleman's part. Shall I be Sue, my Granny?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Now that's an excellent idea," she said, with much satisfaction, +and glancing at me with a look of pride in her darling's noble +repentance. "I consider that an excellent idea, indeed; and I am very +pleased that you should have proposed it."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>Chris's face fell. "Don't you think that it is silly for a big boy like +me to be Sue?" he asked, with evident disappointment that his offer had +been accepted.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," Granny said. "It's only in a book, you see, my pet."</p> + +<p>"I don't like being a girl," he murmured. "I don't want to be Sue."</p> + +<p>"I thought, though, that you wanted to show Granny you were sorry for +not having told her you were reading an old lesson," I remarked.</p> + +<p>He sighed, without answering me; then after a pause, continued with an +effort and a hesitation that offered a striking contrast to the glib +manner of his previous reading:</p> + +<p>"'<i>She.</i> Yes; for why did she hit me? She is a big and bad old cow. See +her! See how fat she is! She is as fat as a sow. She has a fat hip, and +a fat rib, and a fat ear, and a fat leg, and a fat all.'"</p> + +<p>As he came to the end of the sentence he sighed once more, very heavily +and sadly, then waited.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, go on," Granny said, as he looked at her expectantly; "read +to the end, like my good little boy."</p> + +<p>He obeyed, but with a look of protest on his face, which changed to one +of injury, when, at the close of the one lesson, he found that Granny +intended him to read another.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was not what he had expected, and he was disappointed with her +accordingly.</p> + +<p>"That is just as much as I read with Briggs," he said, looking at her +with a world of reproach.</p> + +<p>"But you must read as much with me as you do with Briggs," she said, +looking slightly fatigued with the arduous duty of giving the little +beggar his lessons.</p> + +<p>"Why must I?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Now, now, don't ask so many questions," she said slightly flustered. +"Begin here, my dear child."</p> + +<p>"'Ben! Ben! I can see a fly!'" he started impatiently, and stumbling +over the words in his haste; "'and the fly can fly, and the fly can die, +and the fly is shy, and can get to the pie, and can get on the rye! and +the fly can run, and can get on the bun, all for its fun! and the fly is +gay all the day, and oh, Ben! Ben! the fly is in my ear, so do put it +out of my ear.'"... Chris came to a stop, and leant his head back on +Granny's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"What a funny thing it must be to have a fly in your ear," he remarked +thoughtfully. "Have you ever had a fly in your ear, Granny?"</p> + +<p>"Never, my darling," said the long-suffering old lady patiently; "go +on."</p> + +<p>Chris obeyed; now, however, reading in a listless fashion, as if he had +no further energy left.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<p>He continued without a breath, until he reached the following: "Ah, but +now it has got in the oil. Oh, fly, fly, why do you go to the oil?"</p> + +<p>This was too good an opportunity to be lost.</p> + +<p>"Granny," he said idly, and yawning as he spoke, "I want to ask you +something."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my Chris," she said inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"Why did the fly go to the oil?" he asked with feigned interest.</p> + +<p>"My darling, how can I possibly tell you?" she exclaimed. "See, you are +slipping right off my knee. You can't read properly so."</p> + +<p>Chris scrambled back to his former position, and then continued reading +in a desultory fashion.</p> + +<p>"'Oil is bad for a fly. So, now I put you out of the oil, and now I say +you are to get dry. Ah! but now the fly is on the pot of jam, and it is +on the jar and in the jam. The red jam, the new jam, the big jar of +jam.'"</p> + +<p>"How nice!" he exclaimed, with more enthusiasm. "May I have some red jam +for my tea to-day?"</p> + +<p>"If you are a good boy, and read right on to the end of the lesson +without stopping," she replied. Thus encouraged, Chris with an effort +toiled to the conclusion without any further pauses.</p> + +<p>"'By, by! Wee fly!' Now must I do my sums?" he asked all in a breath as +he came to the end.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I think you had better," Granny replied,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> holding the slate-pencil +between her fingers and looking meditatively at the slate. "I will write +you out one."</p> + +<p>"<i>Sometimes</i> Briggs doesn't write horrid sums on the slate; <i>sometimes</i> +she asks me sums she makes up out of her head," he said, insinuatingly. +"I like that better, it is much, much nicer."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes Briggs asks you sums out of her head, does she?" Granny +repeated, putting down the slate-pencil. "Well, now, what shall I ask +you?"</p> + +<p>"Something about Jack," he said, getting off her knee and sitting on the +ground beside the dog. "He's such a naughty, lazy, little doggie; he's +done no lessons at all. Now, listen, Jackie, and do a sum with me. If +Granny asks me something about you, you must think just as much as me. +Mustn't he, Granny?"</p> + +<p>"Of course, of course," she replied absently. "I'm to ask you something +about Jack, my darling. Let me see, what shall it be?"</p> + +<p>She looked at Jack for a moment as she spoke, who blinked back at her +inquiringly, as if to ask, "What are you all talking so much about me +for?"</p> + +<p>Then with a look of inspiration:</p> + +<p>"I know," she said. "There were six—no, there were eight flies. Jack +swallowed one—yes, he swallowed one, he ate another—let me see, how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +many flies did I say? Eight flies? Yes, eight. Well, he swallowed one, +and he ate one, and"—she took off her spectacles and thought a +moment—"he bit another in halves.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that will do," she said with satisfaction. "He swallowed one, he +ate another, and he bit another in halves. How many flies were left to +fly away?"</p> + +<p>Chris knitted his brows. "Lots," he replied, as he pulled one of Jack's +ears.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, think," Granny said reprovingly. "He swallowed one—that +left how many?"</p> + +<p>"Seven," said Chris.</p> + +<p>"Very good. He ate another?" she went on—</p> + +<p>"That left six," the little beggar said, looking very astute.</p> + +<p>"That's right. And he bit another in halves. Then, how many were left to +fly away?" she asked with mild triumph.</p> + +<p>"Five and a half," answered Chris. Then thoughtfully: "How did the +half-fly fly away, my Granny? P'r'aps Jack only ate the body and left +the wings. Was that how it happened?"</p> + +<p>"My pet shouldn't ask such silly questions," Granny said, speaking more +testily than she generally did. "I only said, <i>supposing</i> there were +eight flies."</p> + +<p>"Well, supposing," Chris persisted; "how would the half-fly fly away +then?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It wouldn't, it couldn't. You see, my darling, it would be dead," the +old lady said, becoming flurried.</p> + +<p>"But you said it would," Chris said with some perplexity.</p> + +<p>"There, there, that will do," she said. "You are a silly little boy to +think such a thing. We must get on with your other lessons, for the time +is passing."</p> + +<p>"Shall I have a holiday now?" he suggested lazily.</p> + +<p>"No, no; that would never do," she said. "You had better do some more +sums; but on the slate. Miss Baggerley, will you be so kind as to give +them to him. That, with a little spelling and a copy, will, I think, be +sufficient for to-day;" and the old lady, leaning back in her arm-chair, +closed her eyes with an exhausted expression.</p> + +<p>"Miss Beggarley," said Chris in a coaxing voice—he never failed thus to +distort my name—"may I get on your knee and do my lessons, like I did +on Granny's?"</p> + +<p>"No, you had better not," I said, hardening my heart. "How do you expect +to write well if you sit on my knee?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause I know I could," he replied confidently.</p> + +<p>"No, no," I said firmly; "we won't try. Come here; you sit on this chair +and write this copy. Now show me how well you can write and spell.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> I +know a boy no older than you, and he writes and spells beautifully for +his age."</p> + +<p>"Better than me?" Chris asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Well, write and spell your very best, and then I shall be able to +tell," I replied with caution. The mention of my small friend of +advanced powers as scribe and speller proved a happy thought on my part. +The effect was excellent. Chris's mood changed; his lazy fit passed away +in a burning desire to emulate—not to say outdistance—his unknown +rival. With frowning brow and tongue between his teeth, he laboured +assiduously at his copy, without uttering a word, whilst Granny, lulled +by the quiet which prevailed, slept the sleep of the just.</p> + +<p>I felt, indeed I had cause to be, fully satisfied with the result of my +remark, for its effects lasted not only whilst the copy was being +written but even through the spelling-lesson; an effect that could +hardly have been anticipated when the varying moods of that little +beggar were taken into consideration.</p> + +<p>As I closed the spelling-book, "Miss Beggarley," he said, gazing at me +with anxious eyes, "have I written my writing and spelt my spelling as +well as that other boy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I really think you have; at least very nearly."</p> + +<p>"P'r'aps I shall quite, to-morrow."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will—if you take great pains."</p> + +<p>"Shall I kiss my Granny?"</p> + +<p>"No, you will wake her up."</p> + +<p>"Why does she want to go to sleep? She often goes to sleep when she does +my lessons. Do boys' lessons always make old people sleepy?"</p> + +<p>"That depends on the little boy who does them," I replied gravely. "If +he tires his granny very much, it is not surprising that she should go +to sleep."</p> + +<p>Chris looked thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"Have I been a good boy?" he said.</p> + +<p>"You were inattentive at the beginning, dear," I replied, "but you were +good afterwards."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall tell Briggs I have been a good boy," he remarked with +satisfaction. And with a certain expression of anticipated triumph upon +his face, he walked off, followed by Jack, his constant and faithful +companion.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>TEACHING JACKY TO SWIM.</h3> + + +<p>"Tell you a story? What shall it be about? I thought you were tired of +stories." Granny spoke a trifle drowsily. It was very warm that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +September afternoon—an afternoon that made you feel more inclined to +sleep than to tell stories.</p> + +<p>But Chris was not to be denied.</p> + +<p>"I want a story very much," he said; "very much indeed."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Miss Baggerley would tell you one," suggested Granny. "I am +sure it would be a more interesting one than any I could think of."</p> + +<p>"I don't want anyone to tell me a story but you," answered the little +tyrant wilfully; "only you, my Granny."</p> + +<p>"Then I will, my darling," she replied, plainly gratified at this +preference so strongly expressed. "But you must wait a moment," she went +on, "I shall have to think."</p> + +<p>She closed her eyes as she spoke, and there was silence, broken only by +the sounds of the world without carried through the open windows—the +lazy hum of the bees amongst the flowers, the gentle, monotonous cooing +of the wood-pigeons in the trees, the far-off voices of children at +play.</p> + +<p>Presently the little beggar became impatient.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you begin, Granny?" he asked, pulling her sleeve as he leant +against her knee.</p> + +<p>She started from a slight doze into which she had fallen.</p> + +<p>"Let me see," she said with a start; "I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> just thought of a very nice +story, but I was trying to recollect the end. I think I remember it +now."</p> + +<p>"There was once a very beautiful Newfoundland dog," she began hurriedly. +"Yes, he was a very beautiful dog indeed."</p> + +<p>"How beautiful?" interrupted Chris, with his usual aptitude for asking +questions. "As beautiful as Jacky?"</p> + +<p>"I think more beautiful," she replied, without pausing to consider.</p> + +<p>"Then he was a nasty dog," he said, with vehemence. "I don't like a dog +what is more beautiful than my Jacky."</p> + +<p>"He was such a different kind of dog," she said deprecatingly. "A +Newfoundland dog cannot very well be compared with a fox-terrier, my +pet."</p> + +<p>"What was his name?" asked the little beggar, accepting Granny's +explanation and letting the matter pass.</p> + +<p>"Rover; that was what he was called," she replied. "His little mistress +loved him dearly," she continued.</p> + +<p>"Did he belong to a <i>girl</i>?" Chris inquired, with some contempt on the +substantive.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and they always used to go out for pleasant walks together," she +went on. "But never near the river, for she had said many a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> time, +'Don't go near the river, my darling, for it is not safe; not for a +little girl like you'."</p> + +<p>"Who said that?" he asked, speaking with some impatience. "The little +girl—or what?"</p> + +<p>"The little girl's mother," replied Granny, a trifle drowsily.</p> + +<p>"You're going to sleep again!" Chris exclaimed reproachfully. "Oh, +Granny, how can you tell me a story when you're asleep?"</p> + +<p>"Asleep! Oh no, my darling," she said opening her eyes. "Well, one day, +I am sorry, very sorry to say, Eliza—"</p> + +<p>"Was that the little girl's name?" inquired Chris.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered. "Didn't I tell you her name was Eliza? Dear, dear, +how forgetful of me! As I was saying, Eliza thought, in spite of her +father's and mother's command, she would go to the river, for she wished +to pick some of the water-lilies which grew there in such profusion."</p> + +<p>"How naughty of Eliza!" exclaimed Chris, with virtuous indignation.</p> + +<p>"Yes, very naughty; very naughty indeed," agreed Granny, her voice again +becoming sleepy. "It was sadly disobedient."</p> + +<p>There was another pause, during which Chris listened expectantly, and +the old lady once more closed her eyes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Granny! do go on," said the anxious little listener fervently.</p> + +<p>"She picked several which grew near the river's brink," the old lady +continued with an effort, "and at first all went well. But at last she +saw a beautiful—a remarkably beautiful one that grew just out of her +reach. It was a most dangerous thing to attempt to pick it, but she did +not think of that, for she was very, very thoughtless as well as +disobedient. Bending forward, heedless of her father's warning call, and +her poor dear mother's sorrowful cry, she lost her balance, +and—fell—right—into—the—river."</p> + +<p>The last few words were uttered in a whisper, Granny's sleepiness having +once more overtaken her, bravely as she struggled against it.</p> + +<p>"How drefful!" said Chris, with wide-open eyes. "Was poor Eliza +drownded? Oh, I hope she wasn't! Did she get out? Oh, say yes, Granny! +And where did her father and mother call to her from? Right from the +house? 'Cause I thought you said she was alone."</p> + +<p>But the only answer to his torrent of questions was a gentle snore. The +time he had occupied in pouring forth these queries had sufficed to send +Eliza's historian asleep.</p> + +<p>Chris's little face fell.</p> + +<p>"My Granny has gone quite asleep," he remarked with much disappointment. +"Now I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> shall never know if Eliza was drownded or not. P'r'aps she's +only pretending. I'll see if her eyes are fast-shut," he added, +preparing to put Granny to the test by lifting one of her eyelids.</p> + +<p>"Don't do that, Chris," I said hastily. "Come here, I'll tell you the +rest of the story."</p> + +<p>"Do you know it?" he asked doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"I can guess it," I replied, as he crossed the room to my side.</p> + +<p>"Then what happened to poor Eliza?" he inquired anxiously; "and did +Rover help her? Oh! I do hope he did."</p> + +<p>"Well," I started, taking up the story at the point at which Granny had +dozed off, "when her father and mother—who were near enough to see what +had occurred—realized the danger their little daughter was in, they +were filled with horror. It seemed as if they were going to see her die +before their eyes; for they were so far off that it looked as if it were +not possible to get to her before she sunk. And this is just what would +have taken place had not help been at hand. Eliza, her water-lilies, and +her disobedient, little heart would have sunk to the bottom of the river +for ever, had it not been for—what do you think Chris?"</p> + +<p>"I know, I know!" he cried, clapping his hands. "It was Rover; the good +dog. He swam after her."</p> + +<p>"You are right," I said. "There was a plunge,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> and there was Rover +swimming to the help of his little mistress. For a minute it appeared as +if the current was carrying her away, and as if he would not reach her +in time. How, then, shall I describe her father and her mother's joy +when they saw him succeed in doing so, and, seizing her by the dress, +bring her safely to the river's bank! No," as Chris looked at me with +inquiring eyes, "she was not hurt; only very wet, and very frightened."</p> + +<p>"I 'spect she was very, very frightened," Chris said, loudly and +eagerly; "and I 'spect she never, never went near the river +again,—never again. Did she?"</p> + +<p>"No, my darling," Granny said, awakened by his loud and eager tones in +time to hear his last question, and sitting up and rubbing her eyes; +"she was never such a naughty little girl again. She expressed great +sorrow for what had occurred, and she learnt to be more obedient for the +future. Indeed, she became so remarkable for her obedience, my pet, that +they always called her by the name of 'the obedient little Eliza'."</p> + +<p>"Now nice!" Chris remarked with unction. "You've been fast asleep, my +Granny," he informed her, with a laugh—pitying and amused.</p> + +<p>"Dear, dear, is it possible?" she said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and Miss Beggarley had to finish the story," he continued.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm much obliged to you, my dear, I'm sure," Granny said gratefully.</p> + +<p>"I hope I told it as you intended it to be told," I said laughing.</p> + +<p>"You told it just as it should have been, I am fully convinced," she +answered with gentle politeness; "much better than I should have +myself."</p> + +<p>"But she never told me what happened to Rover afterwards," put in Chris.</p> + +<p>"He lived to a great age," answered Granny, adjusting her spectacles and +resuming her knitting, "and was loved and honoured by all. And when he +died he was beautifully stuffed and put into a glass case."</p> + +<p>"I wish he hadn't died, my Granny," said the little beggar mournfully, +unconsoled by the honour paid to Rover's remains. Then, with a sudden +change of thought: "Can Jack swim like he did, I wonder."</p> + +<p>"That I can't say, my darling," Granny replied, intent on her work.</p> + +<p>"I think I had better teach him," the little beggar said, looking very +wise; "'cause if you, or Miss Beggarley, or me, or Briggs felled into +the water like Eliza, Jacky could bring us out, and save us from being +drownded."</p> + +<p>"Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine," murmured Granny, busy +counting the stitches on her sock, and too much occupied to pay +attention<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> to what Chris said. "Twenty-nine! Now, how have I gone wrong? +Miss Baggerley, my dear, would you be so kind as to see if you can find +out my mistake?"</p> + +<p>"I know!" exclaimed Chris, as Granny handed me her work; "I know very +well what I will do. I'll—," and he stopped short.</p> + +<p>"What will you do, my pet?" asked Granny, a little absently, watching me +as I put her knitting right.</p> + +<p>But Chris shook his head. "A surprise!" he said, and closed his lips +firmly.</p> + +<p>I felt that it would be safer for the interests of all to probe the +matter further, and was about to do so, when there was a tap at the +door, and Briggs entered.</p> + +<p>"Master Chris," she said, "it's time for your walk."</p> + +<p>Now, generally the little beggar murmured much and loudly when he was +interrupted by Briggs. On this occasion, however, he showed no +disinclination to go with her, but on the contrary went with alacrity.</p> + +<p>"I think he is really becoming fond of her," Granny remarked with some +satisfaction when they had gone. "Perhaps, after all, I shall not have +to send her away at Christmas, as I feared I should have to if she and +Chris did not understand each other better. I shall be very glad if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> I +can let her stay, for although she has an unsympathetic manner—yes, I +must say that she strikes me as being extremely unsympathetic to the +darling at times; don't you think so, my dear?—yet I know that she is +thoroughly reliable and trustworthy."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if Chris's readiness to go with her had anything to do with +his 'surprise'," I answered. "It looks to me a little suspicious, I must +own. I hope he has not any mischievous idea in his little head."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, my dear!" she replied, almost reproachfully; "the darling is as +good as gold. There never was a better child when he likes. No, no, he +is not at all inclined to be troublesome to-day; I think you are +mistaken."</p> + +<p>I kept silence, for I saw that dear old Granny was not altogether +pleased at my suggestion. Nevertheless, in spite of her reassuring +words, I did not feel convinced that the little beggar was not going to +give us some fresh proof of his remarkable powers for getting into +mischief. And further events justified my fears.</p> + +<p>I will tell you how this happened.</p> + +<p>About half an hour later I was taking a stroll in the garden, when, +turning my steps in the direction of the pond, I suddenly came upon +Chris, accompanied by Briggs. That something was amiss was at once +evident. Briggs was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> walking along, with her air of greatest +dignity—and that, I assure you, was very great indeed,—whilst Chris, +by her side, was also making his little attempt at being dignified.</p> + +<p>But it was the sorriest attempt you can imagine!</p> + +<p>Dripping from head to foot, water running in little rivulets from his +large straw hat upon his face, water dripping from his clothes soaked +through and through, and making little pools on the garden-path as he +pursued his way—a more forlorn, miserable-looking little object it was +impossible to conceive.</p> + +<p>In spite of this, however, he would not let go of that attempt at +dignity. With his hands in his pockets, and his head thrown back, he +whistled as he walked along, with the most defiant expression he could +assume upon that naughty little face of his.</p> + +<p>And the procession was brought up by Jack, with his tail between his +legs, also dripping and shivering violently.</p> + +<p>Directly Chris saw me the defiant expression instantly vanished, and +running to me, he buried his face in my dress and wept at the top of his +voice.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Chris?" I asked. "What has happened? What have you +been doing?"</p> + +<p>"What <i>hasn't</i> happened, and what <i>hasn't</i> he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> been doing?" said Briggs, +coming up and speaking very angrily. "And what will happen next? That's +what I ask."</p> + +<p>"What has happened now?" I repeated.</p> + +<p>"One of Master Chris's tricks again, that's all," she said, still +angrily, as we all walked on to the house.</p> + +<p>"I was—teach-teach—teaching J-J-Jack to—to swim—like Ro-Ro—Rover," +the little beggar said between violent sobs, and bringing out the last +word with a great gasp.</p> + +<p>"Teaching Jack to swim like Rover!" I repeated.</p> + +<p>"Yes," exclaimed Briggs, with much sarcasm; "and it was a mighty clever +thing for Master Chris to do, seeing as how he can't swim himself.</p> + +<p>"It was just like this, mum," she explained, as she hastened her steps, +"(I think we had better hurry a bit if Master Chris isn't to take his +death of cold. He'll be in bed to-morrow unless I'm much mistaken!) I +was just speaking to one of the gardeners about a pot of musk we wanted +in the nursery. I hadn't turned my back two minutes before I hear a +splash and Master Chris crying out at the top of his voice, and when I +look around there he is struggling nearly up to his neck in water, and +Jacky struggling along by his side. Well, here we are back; we'll see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +what my mistress thinks of it all. I'll be bound she won't be over and +above pleased. As for me, I can only say I am more than thankful it was +at the shallow part of the pond; if it had been at the deep end, there's +no saying if he wouldn't have been lying there now stiff and stark."</p> + +<p>At this woeful picture of himself, Chris's grief, which had become +slightly subdued, burst forth afresh, and as we entered the hall he +sobbed more loudly and more violently than before. So loudly and so +violently that the sound of his grief penetrated to the library where +Granny was sitting, and brought her out into the hall, frightened and +anxious to know what was wrong.</p> + +<p>"He nearly drowned himself, that's what is the matter, mum," answered +Briggs, with a certain gloomy satisfaction, in reply to the old lady's +anxious questions. "It's nothing but a chance he isn't at the bottom of +the deepest end of the pond at this very same minute that I speak to +you!"</p> + +<p>At this startling, not to say overwhelming statement, Granny became +quite white, and, holding on to a chair near at hand, did not speak.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing for you to alarm yourself about, Mrs. Wyndham," I said +quietly.—"Chris, stop crying; you are frightening Granny.—He managed +to fall into the pond, trying to teach Jack to swim, but it was at the +shallow end, so there was no danger."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus reassured, Granny looked at me with relief.</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" she said earnestly, as she kissed the little beggar +thankfully, all wet and tear-stained as he was.</p> + +<p>Then, with an attempt to control her emotion, but speaking in a voice +that trembled in spite of herself:</p> + +<p>"Come, come," she said to Briggs, "we must not waste time in talking. We +must put Master Chris to bed at once, and get him warm. See how he +shivers. Yes, come upstairs at once, my darling, and I will hear all +about it by and by."</p> + +<p>And, together with Briggs and the cause of all the confusion, she went +upstairs to take precautions for the prevention of the ill consequences +likely to follow upon his rash deed. It was some time before she came +downstairs again, and when she did so she looked worried.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid, very much afraid, he has caught a chill," she remarked. +"He so easily does that."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you may have prevented it," I said hopefully.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could think so," she replied, shaking her head; "but I much +fear that it cannot be altogether prevented. He is not strong, you see, +my dear."</p> + +<p>"And to think," she went on admiringly; "to think the darling ran that +risk all because of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> loving little heart; because he feared that +some day we might be in danger of being drowned, and that if Jack could +swim we should be rescued. Isn't it just like the pet to think of it?"</p> + +<p>"It is," I agreed with conviction; adding cautiously, "It would have +been better, I think, if he had told you of his idea before trying to +put it into effect. It would have given everyone less trouble."</p> + +<p>"He wished to surprise us all by showing us he had by himself taught +Jack to swim," Granny returned, quick to defend her darling. "No, no, I +see how it happened; he was thoughtless but not naughty. Indeed, I take +what blame there is to myself. I should have considered, before I told +him the story of Eliza and her dog Rover, the effect it was likely to +have upon an active, quick little brain like his."</p> + +<p>I smiled. It was quite plain that dear old Granny in her loving way +wished to take all the blame upon her own willing shoulders, and to +spare that incorrigible little beggar....</p> + +<p>It was some three days after this, and I was sitting in the nursery by +Chris's crib, trying to amuse him and wile away the time until Briggs +came back with the lamp, when it would be the hour for him to say +good-night and go to sleep. The bright September afternoon was drawing +to a close, and twilight was beginning to fall.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> + +<p>In spite of all Granny's precautions he had not escaped from the +consequences of his tumble into the pond, but had caught a severe chill, +and so had had to stay in bed for these last three days. He was very +sweet and gentle in his weakness, that poor little beggar; partly, I +think, because he felt too tired to be mischievous, and also, I am glad +to say, because he loved his Granny very dearly and was truly sorry for +the fright he had given her. I had been telling him stories for the last +half-hour, but having now come to the end of my resources, for the +moment we were quiet.</p> + +<p>With his hand in mine, Chris lay looking out through the window at the +stars as they came out slowly, slowly in the gathering darkness.</p> + +<p>Presently he asked:</p> + +<p>"Do you like the stars? I like them very much."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Chris," I answered; "so do I."</p> + +<p>"I think they are the most beautifullest things," he remarked with +enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they are," I replied. "They are like the great and loving deeds of +God, falling in a bright shower from heaven upon the earth beneath."</p> + +<p>"When I go to heaven, will God give me some stars if I ask Him very +much?" Chris inquired, most seriously. "P'r'aps if I ask Him every day +in my prayers till I'm dead He will then."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> + +<p>I smiled a little.</p> + +<p>"No, darling," I said, smoothing his hair gently; "the stars are not the +little things they seem to you. You see, they are worlds like our world. +It is only because they are such thousands and thousands of miles away +that they look to you so small."</p> + +<p>Chris pondered over this for a moment or two, then he said thoughtfully:</p> + +<p>"Miss Beggarley, I want to ask you, when the good man got to the top of +the hill, did he see that the stars were big worlds and not little, tiny +things?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied, half to him, half to myself; "he saw then that those +things which, at the foot of the hill, had seemed to him so small and so +far away he had given them but little consideration, were in reality +great, and beautiful, and worlds in their importance. And he saw, too, +that the things which in the valley beneath had appeared to him of such +infinite value were by comparison poor and valueless, not worthy the +thought he had given them or the pain they had so often caused him...."</p> + +<p>I heard a footstep, and looking round, saw that Briggs had come back.</p> + +<p>"I must go now," I said to Chris, kissing him. "It is time for you to +sleep. Good-night, dear!"</p> + +<p>"Good-night!" he said, then turned his head<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> towards the window and lay +still, gazing solemnly with big, sleepy eyes at the stars that shone +without.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>THE DOCTOR'S HEAD!</h3> + + +<p>As Chris regained his strength he also regained his love of mischief—a +state of affairs that proved somewhat trying. To keep him in bed and to +keep him good was not a very easy task.</p> + +<p>"The trouble it is, mum, words can't tell," Briggs said to me with +fervour one evening when I had come upstairs to see that Chris was +comfortably settled for the night. "If I turn my back for a moment he is +half out of bed," she said, as she detained me for a moment as I went +through the day-nursery. "He is that full of mischief I hardly know what +to do with him."</p> + +<p>"It shows he is getting strong again," I said, half smiling.</p> + +<p>"It's the only way I can get any comfort," she said, sighing.</p> + +<p>Poor Briggs! She really looked tired as she spoke, and I felt sorry for +her.</p> + +<p>"You look very tired," I remarked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I've had bad enough nights lately to make me so," she replied. "Master +Chris—he is always waking up and coughing and coughing till I'm nearly +driven wild. It's my belief it's the barley-sugar has got something to +do with it. Ever since the doctor said some had better be given to him +when he got coughing it seems to me his cough has got a deal worse."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you put a little by his crib?" I suggested; "then he needn't +wake you up when he wants it."</p> + +<p>"I did try that last night," she answered, "but by the time I went to +bed myself he had eaten it all up, and there wasn't a scrap of it left."</p> + +<p>"I think he will be well enough to get up soon," I said hopefully.</p> + +<p>"I think so too," she replied. "It was only yesterday I said so to Dr. +Saunders, but he didn't seem to think the same.</p> + +<p>"I don't altogether hold with him," she continued, with a return of her +usual dignified manner; "and so I told my mistress this morning. He is +over-careful, and I've no belief in these medical gentlemen who are +given that way. When he comes to-morrow—There, if I didn't forget!" she +interrupted herself to exclaim.</p> + +<p>"What have you forgotten, Briggs?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"My mistress asked me in particular to remind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> the doctor that he said +Master Chris would be the better of a tonic, but he had forgotten to +leave the prescription," she answered. "I never thought of it this +morning when he was here."</p> + +<p>"I should make a note of it," I suggested.</p> + +<p>"Which is the very thing I'll do," she assented. "I'll write it down now +on Master Chris's slate whilst it is in my mind. It's the only way to +remember things, I do believe.</p> + +<p>"Though it is my opinion, mum," she added, as she carried out her +intention; "though it's my opinion a physician should not need reminding +of such things. But there! he is always forgetting something. He has no +head! I should like to know where it is sometimes, for it isn't always +on his shoulders, I'll be bound!"</p> + +<p>"How can the doctor's head not be on his shoulders?" asked a puzzled +little voice. "'Cause he'd be quite dead if he had no head."</p> + +<p>At this unexpected interruption Briggs and I looked in the direction +whence the voice proceeded, and saw a little figure standing on the +threshold of the door that led into the night-nursery. A little figure, +in a long white nightgown, with tumbled, golden hair falling about the +flushed little face, and two great violet eyes shining like stars, and +dancing with mischief and glee.</p> + +<p>I confess I felt a weak desire to take that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> naughty but bewitching +little beggar in my arms, and kiss him in spite of all his sins. But +Briggs experienced no such weakness.</p> + +<p>"Master Chris!" she exclaimed in horrified amazement; "what next, I +should like to know? This is past everything."</p> + +<p>Then snatching him up in her arms, she carried him back to bed, +struggling and vehemently protesting at being treated in so summary and +undignified a fashion.</p> + +<p>As for me, I presently went downstairs laughing, with the sound of +Chris's voice still ringing in my ears:</p> + +<p>"Put me down, Briggs. I will be a good boy. I don't want to be carried +like a baby." Then with his usual persistency: "But I want to know—why +do you say that the doctor sometimes has no head on his shoulders, +'cause how could he live without a head?" Then again, in the most +insinuating of voices: "Shall I tell the doctor about the medicine he +forgot, and shall I write down all the things you want to know, and all +the things I want to know, and everything. Would I be a good boy if I +did? I want some barley-sugar, 'cause my cough's drefful bad."</p> + +<p>"Chris is certainly recovering," I said to Granny when I joined her in +the drawing-room, and told her what had occurred. "He is quite in his +usual spirits again."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p> + +<p>"His is a happy disposition, is it not?" she said, with satisfaction. +"The child is like a sunbeam in the house; so merry, so bright!"</p> + +<p>The next morning, however, the sunbeam was comparatively still; not +dancing, gay, and restless, as sunbeams often are.</p> + +<p>The little beggar was in one of his quiet moods—moods of rare +occurrence with him, as you will have gathered.</p> + +<p>"The darling is like a lamb," Granny remarked when she came downstairs; +"very gentle and so good. He wants you to go and sit with him a little, +if you are not busy, my dear."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," I said, and went up to the nursery to see Chris in this +edifying rôle.</p> + +<p>I found him busy, drawing strange hieroglyphics on a large sheet of +foolscap paper with a red-lead pencil. As I entered he looked up at me +for a moment with a preoccupied expression, then said mysteriously:</p> + +<p>"Miss Beggarley, what do you think I am doing?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," I replied. "What is it? Let me see."</p> + +<p>"No, no, no!" he cried, bending over the paper, "you mustn't see. I +don't want you to know."</p> + +<p>"Then why did you ask me?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"'Cause I wanted to see if you could guess," he said.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's nothing naughty, is it?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh no!" he replied in the most virtuous of voices, "it's very good.</p> + +<p>"I've done now," he remarked a few minutes later, sitting up and putting +the sheet of foolscap and the red-lead pencil under his pillow. "When I +get better will you play horses with me? You said you would, and you +never have."</p> + +<p>"That is very wrong of me," I answered. "Yes, I will play with you when +you are better."</p> + +<p>"When will the doctor come?" he suddenly asked with some eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Very soon now, I think," I replied. "It is just about his time."</p> + +<p>"Will you be a lame horse when you play, or a well horse?"</p> + +<p>"Which of the two horses has the least work?"</p> + +<p>"The lame horse."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll be the lame horse."</p> + +<p>"Is that the doctor?"</p> + +<p>I listened. "Wait a moment, I'll see," I replied, and went to the +day-nursery.</p> + +<p>Yes, it was the doctor. I could hear him and Granny talking as they +walked along the passage; Granny on her favourite topic—the virtues of +her darling.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she was saying, in answer to some observation of her companion's, +"he really shows a great deal of character for one so young. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> he has +done that from the earliest, from the very earliest age. When he was a +baby of but a few weeks old, he would clutch hold of his bottle with +such resolution, such tenacity, that it was, I assure you, a difficult +matter to take it from him."</p> + +<p>"Quite so, quite so," the doctor answered blandly as they entered; "as +you say, great tenacity of purpose.</p> + +<p>"Well," I heard him continue, after having passed through the +day-nursery to the one beyond; "well, and how are we to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Quite well," answered the little beggar's voice cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"Quite well? We couldn't be better, could we?" he said jocularly. "Yes, +I think we are looking so much better we may get up to-day, and go for a +walk in the sun to-morrow. What do you say, Master Chris?"</p> + +<p>"I want to ask you a lot," I heard Chris say importantly.</p> + +<p>"Very well," replied the doctor good-naturedly, "let us hear it;" at +which point curiosity prompted me to go to the door of the night-nursery +and look in.</p> + +<p>Chris was in the act of drawing, with no little pomp, the large sheet of +foolscap from beneath his pillow.</p> + +<p>"Read it," he said, handing it to the doctor with pride. "I've printed +it all myself."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> + +<p>The doctor laughed as he glanced at it.</p> + +<p>"I think," he said, "you had better read it to me yourself, my little +man."</p> + +<p>"All right!" answered Chris. "It's all questions I want to ask you. I've +written them down in case I forget them."</p> + +<p>I here saw Briggs glance up uneasily, and was myself conscious of some +feeling of disquietude. Could Chris's questions have anything to do with +Briggs' remarks of the previous evening? A recollection came back to me +which, till that moment, had slipped from my mind. Had not I heard a +suggestion made by a naughty, struggling little mortal being carried +back to bed against his will? "Shall I write down all the things you +want to know, and all the things I want to know, and everything?"</p> + +<p>A presentiment of coming confusion came upon me, and I half stepped +forward to try and stop Chris going further in his proposed catechism. +But I was too late; he started without delay.</p> + +<p>"May I have sugar-candy for my cough instead of barley-sugar, 'cause +I've eaten so much barley-sugar?" he began pompously.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied the doctor laughing; "we won't make any difficulty +about that."</p> + +<p>I gave an involuntary sigh of relief at hearing so harmless a question, +whilst Briggs looked less anxious, and Granny smiled.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Shall I be well enough to run my hoop to-morrow?" he went on, loudly +and slowly, pretending to read from the sheet of foolscap he held. "I +have a new one, and I'm tired of not running it," he added.</p> + +<p>"Very well, we'll see," the doctor answered. "If the sun is out I +daresay we shall be able to run our hoop a little bit to-morrow. But we +must be careful not to over-tire ourselves. Anything more, my little +man?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Why did you forget to leave the 'scription for my tonic +yesterday?" continued Chris. "And will you remember it to-day?"</p> + +<p>The doctor laughed, but with some constraint. Briggs looked up +anxiously, and the smile vanished from Granny's face.</p> + +<p>"What! Are we so fond of medicine?" the doctor asked, trying to speak as +before, but unable to prevent a touch of annoyance being heard in his +voice. "Little boys don't generally care for it so much. Yes, I will +leave the prescription to-day."</p> + +<p>"There, there, that will do," interposed Granny nervously, moving +towards the door.</p> + +<p>"But there is one other question I want to ask very much," Chris said, +again feigning to refer to his paper.</p> + +<p>"Yes?" said the doctor inquiringly, pausing in his progress towards the +door.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you do with your head when it isn't on your shoulders?" he +asked, with the innocent expression always to be seen upon his face when +he was creating the greatest awkwardness.</p> + +<p>At this question Briggs became scarlet, looked as if she were about to +speak, then appeared to alter her mind, and, turning her back, busied +herself arranging the medicine-bottles on a little table near the crib. +The doctor himself appeared more bewildered than anything else.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" he said. "Where can my head be except on my +shoulders?"</p> + +<p>"Well, that was what I thought," Chris said, triumphantly. "I said you'd +be dead if your head was off your shoulders."</p> + +<p>"I should have concluded that everyone must have been of the same +opinion," he said, still mystified, whilst Granny shook her head gently, +and frowned at the little beggar, hoping to prevent any further +discussion of the subject. A futile hope. Chris was resolved to go to +the bottom of the matter.</p> + +<p>"Well, Briggs said it wasn't!" he exclaimed, "and what did she mean?"</p> + +<p>The doctor's expression of mystification changed to one of annoyance, as +he remarked with no little displeasure:</p> + +<p>"I think you had better ask Briggs herself for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> an explanation of her +remark," then left, accompanied by Granny—poor Granny, awkward and +mortified beyond measure at the embarrassing situation.</p> + +<p>As for Briggs—who had certainly been the principal sufferer—her +indignation burst out as soon as we saw the last of the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Well, I never!" she exclaimed indignantly. Then with increased wrath, +"Well, I never did!" After which two exclamations she paused to find +suitable words in which to condemn the enormities of which Chris had +been guilty.</p> + +<p>For his part, he was not in the least disturbed by the general +embarrassment—the only one who was not.</p> + +<p>He gazed up at Briggs with an expression of injured innocence.</p> + +<p>"Are you cross, Briggs?" he asked. "Have I been naughty?"</p> + +<p>"Have you been naughty, Master Chris?" she asked, with wrathful sarcasm. +"Oh, no! there <i>never</i> was such a well-behaved young gentleman."</p> + +<p>"Surely, Chris," I said, coming into the night-nursery, "you knew that +you had no business to repeat to Dr. Saunders what Briggs said to me?"</p> + +<p>He hung his head a little guiltily.</p> + +<p>"I wanted him to 'member about the tonic," he replied; "and I did want +to know what Briggs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> meant about his head coming off his shoulders. +Wasn't I a good boy?"</p> + +<p>He received his answer, however, from Granny, who returned at this +moment, a bright spot glowing in each of her faded, pink cheeks.</p> + +<p>"My Chris!" she said, "my darling! What foolish thought made you ask +such questions?"</p> + +<p>Chris wrinkled his brows. "I want to be a very good boy and please you," +he said querulously, and with a tremble in his voice; "and now Briggs +scolds me, and now you scold me, and now I'm very unhappy."</p> + +<p>"But don't you see, my pet," Granny said, more calmly; "don't you see +what rude questions you asked Dr. Saunders? Oh, I felt ashamed of my +little Chris!"</p> + +<p>The little beggar at this point crawled to the bottom of his crib.</p> + +<p>"I shall stay down here," said a muffled voice. "I shall stay here +always and never come back again, as my Granny is so unkind."</p> + +<p>"But you must see," she reiterated, addressing a shapeless mass of +bed-clothes, "that you asked the kind doctor very naughty questions, and +very silly ones too. Did you not understand when Briggs said that he had +no head, she meant that he had a bad memory, my child? Did you not +understand that? And did you not think how insulting, how very insulting +it was to ask him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> such a question? And about the tonic too. Surely, my +darling, if you had thought you must have seen that. And, especially, +how wrong it was to repeat what you overheard. Does not my pet see what +his Granny means?"</p> + +<p>The mass of bed-clothes moved impatiently, but there was no reply.</p> + +<p>"As for me," put in Briggs with dignity, "I felt as if I was going to +sink through the floor, I was that ashamed!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, and so were we all," agreed Granny. "Indeed, had not my Chris +been ill, I should have felt obliged to punish him for his +thoughtlessness. But he is sorry now; that Granny feels sure of. Is he +not?"</p> + +<p>Her question was received in sullen silence.</p> + +<p>"Come, come," she said, "this is not the way I expect my child to +behave."</p> + +<p>"Nor any other little gentleman either," put in Briggs, with asperity.</p> + +<p>There was an expectant pause, but no answer from the little beggar +buried beneath the bed-clothes.</p> + +<p>Granny looked at me with a puzzled expression.</p> + +<p>"Well, Chris, we have no time to waste with naughty little boys," I +said, "so we are going downstairs. But I am surprised that you should +treat your Granny so; I thought you loved her."</p> + +<p>There was still no reply, and we turned to go.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> + +<p>But ere we reached the door the shamefaced but slightly defiant little +beggar cried out:</p> + +<p>"I <i>do</i> love my Granny!"</p> + +<p>At the sound she turned back with a radiant smile, and saw with delight +two little arms stretched out to her appealingly, and two large tears +trickling down a penitent little face.</p> + +<p>"There, there! we will say no more," she exclaimed, forgivingly; "for +you are sorry, my pet, are you not?"</p> + +<p>"Very, very sorry," said the little beggar with contrition; "and very +hot, dreffully hot; and I won't ask the nasty doctor nothing ever +again."</p> + +<p>"Not the 'nasty' doctor; the nice, kind doctor who has made little Chris +well again," she corrected gently. "And you are going to be a good +little boy now, darling?"</p> + +<p>"A very good boy; as good as Uncle Godfrey," Chris said brightening up, +as he saw that he was to be blamed no more.</p> + +<p>"That's my pet," she said, covering him up and tucking in the +bed-clothes.</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad," she continued to me as we went downstairs, "that he came +round, and was good in the end. But I knew he would. Sulkiness is not +one of his faults; no, no, nobody could say that.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," she went on a little uneasily, "Godfrey would tell me that +I ought to have been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> more severe with the child. 'You've let the little +beggar off too easily, mother,'—that's what he would say. But between +ourselves, my dear, I sometimes think that officers in the army are +accustomed to such obedience, such implicit obedience, that they are at +times inclined to carry their love of discipline too far. Don't you +agree with me? Not that Godfrey is a martinet! Oh, no! he is far from +that; such a favourite, so beloved by the men under his command. But you +understand what I mean, do you not?</p> + +<p>"However," she concluded, with a certain relief, and as a salve to her +conscience in the shape of her son Godfrey's opinion, "now I think of +it, I did tell the poor darling that if he had not been ill I should +have felt obliged to punish him. Of course, so I did. That will serve as +a warning to him in the future; won't it, my dear?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>A PASTE-MAN AND A PAINT-BOX.</h3> + + +<p>"I can't, my pet; I can't tell you a story to-day," said, or rather +whispered, Granny huskily. "I have such a bad cold I can hardly speak."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p> + +<p>Chris looked at her solemnly with wide-open eyes.</p> + +<p>"Are you very ill, my Granny?" he inquired very seriously, and sinking +his voice to the sympathizing whisper which seemed to him to befit the +occasion.</p> + +<p>"Not very ill, darling," she whispered again with an effort; "only a +very bad cold.</p> + +<p>"I am quite losing my voice," she added to me, shaking her head. "Most +trying, my dear."</p> + +<p>"How drefful!" exclaimed Chris with sympathy, and still speaking in a +whisper. "What a drefful thing!"</p> + +<p>"I have a good piece of news for you, my Chris," she whispered, with +another effort. "Someone is coming home—to-day—this very +afternoon—that you and I shall be—very, very—glad to see. Who do you +think it is?"</p> + +<p>Chris considered a moment, then suddenly looked enlightened.</p> + +<p>"I know, I know!" he cried, jumping about and clapping his hands, in the +excess of his joy forgetting to whisper, and putting to their full use +his well-developed little lungs. "I know!" he repeated. "It's my Uncle +Godfrey. Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!"</p> + +<p>Granny nodded, and held up a telegram. "I've just had this," she said, +with an attempt to regain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> her natural tone, which ended in an almost +inaudible whisper, and her voice going away completely. "Few nights ... +way to London.... Isn't ... treat ... pet?" she whispered brokenly. "Must +be ... quiet ... tired."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I put in, taking upon myself to act as interpreter; "Granny is +very tired, Chris; so if you stay here, you must be quiet."</p> + +<p>"Did I make a noise and tire my Granny, and was I a naughty boy?" he +asked penitently, becoming very subdued in voice and manner.</p> + +<p>Granny smiled at him tenderly, and shook her head.</p> + +<p>"No, dear," I said; "you have not been naughty. We did not mean that."</p> + +<p>Thus reassured, the little beggar looked relieved; then, with a glance +of deepest sympathy at his Granny, he ran out of the room as if struck +by a sudden thought.</p> + +<p>In a few moments he returned, carrying something carefully wrapped up in +his pinafore. Then, going up to her, he drew out a piece of paste +bearing some rude resemblance to a man, and laid it with triumph on her +lap.</p> + +<p>"My Granny," he whispered proudly, "see what I have brought you. Cook +gave it to me for my tea, and I'm going to give it to you, and you may +eat it all up; every bit. P'r'aps it will make you feel happy, as you +have a cold."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> + +<p>Granny opened her eyes slowly and languidly, but seeing the paste +figure, she sat straight up in her chair, with an expression of the +strongest disapprobation.</p> + +<p>She opened her mouth and endeavoured to speak, but this time without +success; she could not make herself heard. She rose, therefore, and +going to the writing-desk, took a sheet of note-paper, and, in a neat, +old-fashioned, Italian hand, wrote the following reply, which she placed +in my hand, signing to me to read aloud:</p> + +<p>"My darling, this is a most unwholesome and indigestible thing. It would +not make either my Chris or his Granny happy to eat it, but would +probably make them both ill. I am much surprised that Mrs. James should +have given it to you; she should have known better. You may, instead, +have some of the sponge-cake we had at lunch, but I cannot permit my pet +to eat this paste, nor can I eat it myself. But he will understand how +much Granny appreciates his kind thought."</p> + +<p>Chris listened to this long message attentively and without +interruption, for there was a solemnity about the proceeding that much +impressed him. When I had finished reading it, he regarded the object of +Granny's displeasure with suspicion, mingled with awe; then remarked in +a solemn and stage whisper, and in the manner of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> one bringing a grave +charge against his poor, misguided friend:</p> + +<p>"Cook called it 'Master Chris's little friend'. That's what she called +it, my Granny."</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut!" said Granny, as she heard this charge made against Cook.</p> + +<p>By her expression, it was plain to see that she would have liked to say +more had she been in full possession of her voice. Failing that, +however, she was obliged to content herself with "Tut, tut!" and a +gentle frown.</p> + +<p>"Come, Chris," I said laughing, "we'll leave Granny in peace now and go +and play in the library, or I will tell you a story. Take your 'friend', +the man of paste, with you, and see if Jack would like to eat him."</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?" asked Chris, slipping his hand into mine as we left +the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>"Would you like a story?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"No, thank you; I don't want a story now, I think," he answered, with +some caprice. He thought a moment or two, then exclaimed: "I know! we'll +paint. I'll get the new paint-box Granny has given me, and a +picture-paper, and we'll make lovely pictures."</p> + +<p>"Very well," I said, not dissatisfied with this arrangement, which I +hoped would only require on my part advice from time to time, or +admiration, as required.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> + +<p>Taking a book, therefore, I sat down in an easy-chair near the +writing-table, where Chris, having fetched his paint-box, settled +himself, labouring for a time silently and earnestly at his paintings.</p> + +<p>Presently he asked:</p> + +<p>"What colour shall I make this horse? Shall I make him black?"</p> + +<p>"A very good colour," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Then, you see, I could call him 'Black Prince'," he went on. "I +couldn't call him 'Black Prince' if I made him brown, could I? I'd have +to call him 'Brown Prince'. Have you ever heard of a horse called 'Brown +Prince'?"</p> + +<p>"Not to my recollection," I said, with my eyes on my book.</p> + +<p>"It is a funny name, isn't it?" he said laughing, as he continued his +work. "Brown Prince!"</p> + +<p>"Very," I said shortly, interested in my story, and not inclined to +encourage conversation.</p> + +<p>Chris worked on for a few moments without speaking; then asked:</p> + +<p>"Miss Beggarley, what colour are moons gennerly?"</p> + +<p>I laughed. It was, after all, a futile hope to continue reading under +the circumstances. Still, it was Chris's time with Granny and me, when +he exacted as his right an unlimited amount of attention, so I resigned +myself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What colour?" he repeated, as I did not at once answer.</p> + +<p>"Green," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Green!" he echoed.</p> + +<p>"Haven't you ever heard that the moon is made of green cheese?" I asked.</p> + +<p>He stared at me reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"You're laughing at me," he said, in an aggrieved voice, "and I don't +like you to laugh."</p> + +<p>"I won't any more, dear," I said, composing my countenance to a becoming +expression of gravity. "If I were you, I should paint the moon pale +blue. How would that do?"</p> + +<p>"Loverly," answered the little beggar in a mollified voice, and for a +moment or two there was again silence.</p> + +<p>Then, however, I heard something like a whimper, and looking up I saw +Chris's great eyes fixed on me tearfully.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"Will my Granny never, never be able to speak again?" he asked, digging +his knuckles into his eyes. "Will she always be never able to talk?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no, dear," I answered cheerfully. "In a day or two she will be +able to talk again as well as ever."</p> + +<p>"But she said it," he replied tearfully.</p> + +<p>"Said what?" I asked, puzzled. "Oh," I added, enlightened, "you mean +when she said she was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> losing her voice! But she only meant for a little +while. She did not intend to say she was losing it for ever. It is only +because she has caught a bad cold. When her cold is better she will be +able to speak again."</p> + +<p>"Are you quite, quite sure?" he asked, anxiously, but relieved at my +explanation.</p> + +<p>"Quite sure," I answered.</p> + +<p>His mind thus at ease, he returned once more to his painting and worked +contentedly for another five minutes, at the end of which time his +restless spirit reasserted itself.</p> + +<p>"Now, what shall we do?" he asked, throwing down his brush and yawning. +"Will you play at horses? You said you would."</p> + +<p>"Well, for a little while," I answered, "but not too long."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Briggs, what do you want?" Chris asked discontentedly, as at this +point that worthy woman made her appearance.</p> + +<p>"You are to come and put on your velvet suit against Mr. Wyndham comes," +she announced staidly.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to put on my velvet clothes," he replied rebelliously, +annoyed at being thus disturbed. "They're nasty, horrid things."</p> + +<p>"Oh, fie! Master Chris," she answered reprovingly.</p> + +<p>"It isn't like a big man to wear a velvet suit,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> it's like a baby," he +went on, grumblingly. "Uncle Godfrey doesn't wear velvet clothes, and +why should I?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you grumble at your velvet suit, Master Chris," Briggs said in a +warning tone. "You may come to want it some day. There's many a little +boy in the gutter as would be glad and proud to own it."</p> + +<p>"Then I wish you would give it to the little boys in the gutters," the +little beggar answered wilfully. "I shall ask my Granny to give it to +them, 'cause I hate it. And I'm going to play at horses; aren't I, Miss +Beggarley?"</p> + +<p>"Not with me," I said firmly, "until you have done what Briggs tells +you."</p> + +<p>"You said you would," he remarked, pouting.</p> + +<p>"So I will," I replied, "when you have obeyed Briggs."</p> + +<p>He glanced at me inquiringly to see if there was no chance of my +relenting, but I preserved a severe and resolute expression—in spite of +a distinct inclination to smile,—seeing which he left with laggard step +to don the despised suit.</p> + +<p>When, later, he returned in that same suit—in the dark-blue +knickerbockers and coat, the large Vandyke collar of cream lace, and the +little white satin vest,—I really thought that he looked the sweetest +little picture in the world!</p> + +<p>He had, indeed, such an extremely clean, well-brushed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> and altogether +spotless appearance, that I hesitated about the promised game of horses, +fearing to spoil the result of Briggs' work, before that all-important +event—the arrival of Uncle Godfrey.</p> + +<p>"Shall we play something else?" I suggested. "I'm afraid if we play +horses you will get untidy."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, I won't!" he said confidently. "We'll be quiet horses.</p> + +<p>"I know," he added, with a look of intelligence. "I won't be a horse; +I'll be the driver, and you shall be a lame horse. Then the game will be +such a quiet game."</p> + +<p>"Very well," I replied, weakly yielding to his wishes, as most people +had a habit of doing. And a minute later I was running round the library +in a fashion most undignified for a lady of middle-age, becoming at the +same time hotter and more breathless than was altogether comfortable. +Consequently I slackened my pace, and found it more to my mind. For, +when a good many years have passed since you indulged in the habit of +playing horses, you find it more expedient to take for your model the +slow and conscientious cab-horse rather than the swift and brilliant +racer.</p> + +<p>But the change did not please Chris.</p> + +<p>"Gee-up, Charlie!" he cried, excitedly. "That's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> your name, you know. +Gee-up! why are you going so slowly?"</p> + +<p>"I've no breath left to go fast," I explained.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?" he said, perplexed. "I don't like a horse what won't +go fast.</p> + +<p>"Oh," he said, his face clearing. "Why, it's time for you to go lame. +Poor Charlie! poor thing! what's the matter?</p> + +<p>"You've got a stone in your foot," he explained in an aside, "and you +must jog up and down as if you're lame."</p> + +<p>"Must I?" I said, and obediently followed the directions with a patience +truly praiseworthy, jogging laboriously up and down, whilst the little +beggar followed in my wake, highly delighted, and giving vent as he did +so to many loud and excited ejaculations.</p> + +<p>Before long, however, he pined for further excitement.</p> + +<p>"The road is very, very slippery," he said; "'cause it's been snowing. +You must slip right down and break your leg."</p> + +<p>"I'll slip into an arm-chair," I said, glancing at the comfortable one I +had just quitted.</p> + +<p>"No, horses don't slip into arm-chairs; there aren't no arm-chairs for +them in the road," he objected.</p> + +<p>"I can't help that," I answered, taking a stand. "My bones are too old +to risk breaking them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> I don't mind my leg being broken in fancy, but I +do mind its being broken in reality."</p> + +<p>"How shall everyone know, then, that it is broken?" he asked, +discontentedly. "It won't look a bit as if it is broken if you fall into +an arm-chair."</p> + +<p>"I will groan very loud to show that I have," I said in a propitiating +voice.</p> + +<p>"Do horses groan when they break their legs?" he asked, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"This horse does, very loud indeed," I said. "Come, we'll go once more +round the room, and then I'll break my leg and show you how beautifully +I can groan."</p> + +<p>"All right!" said the little beggar, conceding the point, and away we +started once more.</p> + +<p>"Gee-up, Charlie!" he cried; "gee-up, good horse! Now then!" as we +approached the arm-chair; "now then, now then, it's time for you to +break your leg. Quick, quick!"</p> + +<p>"All right!" I said, and with the most heartrending groan I could +produce, I sank—carefully—into the chair. At the same moment the +door opened, and a stranger to me entered the room—a tall and +soldier-like-looking young man. Even in the dimness of the twilight I +could see a strong enough resemblance to the little beggar to tell me +who he was without his delighted scream of "Uncle Godfrey! Uncle +Godfrey!" as he ran and clasped him round the knees.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hold on!" answered Uncle Godfrey, putting him aside.</p> + +<p>Then turning to me:</p> + +<p>"I fear you are ill. Shall I send for my mother's maid?" he asked with +polite sympathy.</p> + +<p>"Why, no; she isn't; she isn't a bit ill!" cried the little beggar +delightedly, with peals of derisive laughter, as he jumped about and +clapped his hands. "She's only a poor, old, lame horse, what has just +fallen down and broken his leg...."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>CHRIS AND HIS UNCLE.</h3> + + +<p>If ever there was a case of hero-worship it was the worship by Chris of +his uncle. To the little beggar, Uncle Godfrey was the ideal of all that +was most manly, most noble, most heroic. To emulate him in every way was +his most ardent desire, and with this end in view he imitated him +whenever possible, to the smallest details.</p> + +<p>When Uncle Godfrey was at home in the autumn, Chris's diminutive toy-gun +was, without fail, brought down to the gun-case in the hall, where it +lay in company with the more imposing weapons of his uncle. And when +these were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> cleaned, it was an understood thing that the toy-gun must be +cleaned likewise. To have omitted to do this would have drawn down upon +the offender the little beggar's deepest indignation.</p> + +<p>I believe, too, that it was a real grief of heart to him that he was not +allowed to go out with his uncle in the autumn, and try the effect of +that same toy-gun upon the pheasants. He had often pleaded hard to be +permitted do so, having, I imagine, glorious visions of the bags they +would make between them; and the refusal of his request had been the +cause of many tears in the nursery. Not before his uncle! No, if there +was one thing more than another that troubled him, it was the fear of +looking like a baby in his uncle's presence. Uncle Godfrey might tease +him as much as he pleased,—and he was undeniably talented in this +respect,—but, close as were the tears to his eyes at other times, +before his hero Chris would never let them fall if he could help it.</p> + +<p>Sometimes, when in the swing of a game, his uncle Godfrey was +unintentionally a little rough in word or deed, the little beggar, it is +true, would flush—crimsoning up to the roots of his fair hair. His +voice would falter, too, as if the tears were not far off, but he would +struggle manfully with them, and, as soon as he had recovered, return +again to the attack with fresh vigour. Indeed, so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> great was his +devotion to him, that he was never so happy as when by his side, and +with Chris in his vicinity, Uncle Godfrey found it a matter of no little +difficulty to give his attention elsewhere. This was observable one +morning when he was endeavouring to write his letters and enjoy a smoke +in peace—a state of affairs by no means to the little beggar's mind.</p> + +<p>Drawing near, Chris took up his position straight in front of him, and +stared steadily at him without speaking. Presently Uncle Godfrey looked +up, and, meeting Chris's stedfast gaze, stared back in silence.</p> + +<p>"I'm a policeman," at last remarked Chris, with a strenuous effort to +assume the manly tones of his uncle; his usual habit when talking to +him.</p> + +<p>"Are you?" replied Uncle Godfrey, leaning back in his chair and giving +him a little kick. "Then be off, it's time you were on your beat."</p> + +<p>"But you're a bad, wicked robber, and I've come to take you to prison," +persisted Chris.</p> + +<p>"Get along," said the writer laconically, blowing the smoke of his +cigarette into the face of the policeman, and returning to his letters.</p> + +<p>Chris looked at him admiringly.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to be a soldier like you, and smoke pipes and cigarettes, and +everything like you, Uncle Godfrey," he remarked. "When may I be a +soldier?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not yet," was the reply. "We take them young, but they have to be out +of the nursery, my boy."</p> + +<p>"When shall I be out of the nursery?" asked Chris, discontentedly.</p> + +<p>"When you're in the army," his uncle said to tease him.</p> + +<p>"But a man, a real soldier, said if I came to him, he would make me a +soldier," announced the little beggar.</p> + +<p>"What man?" asked Uncle Godfrey.</p> + +<p>"A man what is staying in Marston, with his father and his mother and +his brothers and his sisters," explained Chris. "A very tall, big +man—as tall as you; and he finds soldiers for the Queen, he told me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, a recruiting-sergeant!" Uncle Godfrey said. "How did you come to +speak to him?"</p> + +<p>"I saw him when I was standing outside the shop when Briggs was buying +some buns for tea, and when I asked him if he knowed you," said Chris, +all in a breath. "He had on such loverly clothes! Do you think if I go +to him he will make me a soldier for the Queen?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course," his uncle replied. "But I'll tell you what, you had better +learn to hold your gun properly, and not as you did the other day. If +you don't, you'll end by shooting the sergeant, and being put in +'chokee'."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is 'chokee'?" asked Chris, with wide-open eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, prison! You'll be put into a cell, and have nothing to eat but +bread and cold water."</p> + +<p>"How drefful!"</p> + +<p>"Then go and get that little gun I bought you, and I'll show you how to +hold it as you should."</p> + +<p>"Just like a real soldier?"</p> + +<p>"Well, how else?</p> + +<p>"Now, look here," said Uncle Godfrey, when Chris returned with the gun, +"didn't I tell you that it was very dangerous to hold a gun like that? +It's not sportsmanlike either. Do you hear?"</p> + +<p>He spoke with some severity, for he was a young man who was very +thorough in all he did, whether work or play, and would tolerate no +carelessness.</p> + +<p>"Not sports-man-like!" echoed Chris slowly, trying hard with his child's +voice to imitate Uncle Godfrey's manly tone.</p> + +<p>"Then, as you hear, remember," his uncle said, authoritatively. "Now, +rest the gun against your right shoulder—you young duffer, that's your +left shoulder; I said your right. Shut your left eye, and aim at my +hand."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the little beggar, very proud of himself.</p> + +<p>"Let's see; that's right," his uncle continued.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, fire!... Not bad, only you should keep your arm steadier. It +wobbled about too much."</p> + +<p>"It's very tired," Chris remarked.</p> + +<p>Then he inquired: "Uncle Godfrey, may I shoot some wicked men?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, when you find them—and with that gun," he answered.</p> + +<p>"Only in the legs," added Chris, "'cause it would be unkind to kill them +really, wouldn't it? But I may shoot their legs, so that they can be +caught, and can't run away; mayn't I?"</p> + +<p>"As much as you like, I say, with that gun," his uncle replied, as he +resumed his neglected correspondence.</p> + +<p>"I shall shoot a lot," Chris said, with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Granny," he went on eagerly as he entered the hall, "I'm going to shoot +some wicked men. Uncle Godfrey says I may."</p> + +<p>"With that gun," cried his uncle, without looking up from his writing.</p> + +<p>"My darling!" Granny exclaimed, somewhat dismayed at this bloodthirsty +ambition. "But you should not wish to hurt anyone; no, no one at all."</p> + +<p>"Only wicked men, and only in the legs, so they couldn't run away from +the people who catched them," he said comfortingly. "And I'm going to do +it with this gun Uncle Godfrey gave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> me. Isn't it a beufferfull gun?" he +went on proudly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I saw it," she answered, taking it out of his hands. "A very +nice little gun indeed, my pet."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my Granny, take care!" he cried suddenly, in a loud, warning voice.</p> + +<p>"Why what is the matter?" asked the old lady starting, and in her alarm +almost dropping the gun as she spoke. "What is it?" she repeated in a +flurried manner, turning round vaguely as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"You mustn't hold the gun like that, my Granny," Chris said more calmly, +but still gravely; "it's very dan-ger-rus, and it's not sport-man-like."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, my darling," she said simply. "Granny will remember another +time."</p> + +<p>"Shut up, Chris," said Uncle Godfrey laughing, "and don't talk +nonsense."</p> + +<p>"Well, I want somebody to play with me," he said inconsequently, as he +returned to his Uncle's side. "I want someone to play with me very +badly."</p> + +<p>"I can't," said Uncle Godfrey, in his usual decided manner. "I have to +finish my letters."</p> + +<p>"Then, Miss Beggarley," he asked, with the air of one making the best of +an unpromising state of affairs, "will you tell me a story?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not now, dear," I answered. "I am just turning the heel of this sock, +and I can't think of that and a story too."</p> + +<p>"Not even Miss Beggarley can tell me a story!" said Chris, sitting down, +with a disconsolate expression, beside Jacky on the hearth-rug.</p> + +<p>"Not even Miss Beggarley," I repeated laughing.</p> + +<p>Chris, looking disappointed and injured, gave Jacky an irritable push, +which resulted in an angry growl.</p> + +<p>There was a deep sigh from the little beggar. "No one plays with me +now," he said mournfully, "and Jacky growls. Naughty Jacky; I don't love +you."</p> + +<p>"Naughty Chris; it's time for you to go back to the nursery," remarked +Uncle Godfrey half-smiling.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my Chris; a few lessons, or a nice walk," Granny said, +persuasively. "Now, go, like my little pet."</p> + +<p>In spite, however, of her gentle persuasions, Chris looked as if he +would like to protest, had he not lacked the courage to do so in the +presence of Uncle Godfrey. It was, therefore, slowly and unwillingly +that he went up the first flight of stairs, then sat on the landing and +looked at the back of Uncle Godfrey's head as he bent over his writing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span></p> + +<p>In a moment or two Briggs' voice was heard in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Master Chris, where are you?"</p> + +<p>"Here I am," he called back; "just here."</p> + +<p>"What, not gone yet?" Uncle Godfrey said a little sharply, turning +round.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm gone," answered the little beggar half-defiantly, +half-nervously, as he rose hastily from the landing and continued his +upward progress.</p> + +<p>"What do you want, Briggs?" he called out.</p> + +<p>"I want to know," she said, the sound of her voice coming nearer; "I +want to know if you can tell me where your hats are? It's time for you +to go out, and I've hunted for them everywhere, but not one can I find."</p> + +<p>"Why, they're down there," Chris was heard to say in an aggrieved voice, +and as if she were asking a most unnecessary question. "They're all down +there."</p> + +<p>"And where might down there be?" she asked, with some irritation.</p> + +<p>"Why, on the table near the door, with Uncle Godfrey's hats," he +answered. "I'm always going to keep my hats there now," he added. "It's +only babies what has their hats in the nursery."</p> + +<p>"Well, if this doesn't pass everything!" she was heard to exclaim +angrily. "And to think of me hunting for those very same hats for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +last quarter of an hour till I'm that tired. Your tricks, Master Chris, +are beyond bearing. You'll please come down with me this minute and +fetch those very same hats."</p> + +<p>"I shall put them all back when we come home," Chris remarked +rebelliously, as he began to walk downstairs in company with the irate +Briggs.</p> + +<p>"We'll see what we'll see,—and <i>you'll</i> see. That's all I say," she +answered with some loftiness. "I have no mind to have things put out of +their proper place, and me have all this trouble given me."</p> + +<p>After which oracular speech, and because she was approaching the last +flight of stairs leading into the hall, she reserved all further +expressions of indignation till she and Chris were once more on the +familiar ground of the nursery.</p> + +<p>As for the little beggar, it was with many a furtive glance at Uncle +Godfrey, who was still writing, that he crossed the hall. He hoped to +escape without notice, and, looking mysteriously at Granny and myself, +walked by Briggs' side on tiptoe. But his pains were wasted.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know you're there," Uncle Godfrey said, without turning his +head, and relaxing into a smile. "What mischief have you been up to this +time?"</p> + +<p>"I put my hats with your hats, 'cause I liked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> them to be with yours, +and I didn't want to be a baby and have my hats in the nursery," +explained Chris, encouraged by something in his uncle's voice to run to +his side and lay his cheek affectionately on his coat-sleeve.</p> + +<p>"Then, in future, just you keep your hats where you are told to," Uncle +Godfrey said, laughing. "Don't you be such an independent little +beggar."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Chris obediently, relieved at receiving no severer +reprimand.</p> + +<p>"And come and kiss your Granny," Granny said gently and caressingly, as +he passed her. "Do you love her very much?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, my Granny!" he answered somewhat thoughtlessly, as he obeyed +her directions. Then continued without pause: "I wanted to ask you—why +does Cook always make rice-puddings, and tapioca-puddings, and +sago-puddings for my dinner?"</p> + +<p>"Because, my pet, I tell her to," she replied. "They are so wholesome, +so good for little boys; they make them grow big."</p> + +<p>"But I don't mind about growing big," he answered. "I would rather have +roly-poly puddings for my dinner; roly-poly puddings what have lots of +jam inside."</p> + +<p>"Now, how do you think I am to get on with my writing whilst you chatter +like this?" interrupted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> Uncle Godfrey. "Go upstairs, and don't keep +Briggs waiting like this."</p> + +<p>By the little beggar's expression, it was evident that he did not +consider the merits of roly-poly pudding, as compared with those of its +less enticing rivals, had been by any means sufficiently discussed, and +that much yet remained to be said upon the subject. Nevertheless, his +uncle's order had the effect of restoring, for a time at least, peace +and quiet to the hall; for, as I have before intimated, the one person +whose word Chris never thought of disputing was Uncle Godfrey's.</p> + +<p>I said that peace and quiet was restored <i>for a time only</i>, and I said +it advisedly. With the little beggar in the neighbourhood it was useless +to count on such a state of affairs continuing for more than a short +period. So it proved upon the present occasion.</p> + +<p>Before a quarter of an hour had passed, his voice—unmistakably defiant, +not to say impertinent—fell upon our ears, as he and Briggs walked +along the gallery, that ran above, round the hall. It was Briggs whom we +heard first.</p> + +<p>"Master Chris," she remarked severely, "I will not stand it."</p> + +<p>Then the little beggar repeated in an irritating and rebellious-sounding +treble:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p> +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">"I have a little nursie,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">She is a little dear,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">She runs about all day</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Without a thought of fear.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I love my little nursie,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">An' she loves me.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">So my little nursie an' me</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Both a-gree."</span></p> + +<p>A pause followed, evidently intended by Briggs to convey her sense of +deep displeasure, and to overawe the offender. Without effect. In a +moment Chris's voice began again, from time to time choked with +laughter, and giving a little variety to his poetical effort by varying +the accent on different words:</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">"I <i>have</i> a little nursie,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">She <i>is</i> a little dear,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">She runs about all day</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Without a <i>thought</i> of fear.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I <i>love</i> my little nursie,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">An' she loves <i>me</i>.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>So</i> my little nursie an' me</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Both a-gree."</span></p> + +<p>At this repetition of the offence Briggs could contain her wrath no +longer.</p> + +<p>"If I'm to be ridiculed like this," she exclaimed angrily, yet without +altogether losing her habitual impressiveness of manner; "If I'm to be +ridiculed like this, I shall give warning and go. I cannot, and I will +not stand it."</p> + +<p>A second pause, by which time they had reached the top of the stairs +leading into the hall, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> Chris, forgetful that Uncle Godfrey was +within hearing, and unaware of the judgment about to descend on him, +started once more:</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">"I have a <i>little</i> nur—"</span></p> + +<p>"Wait a moment, young man," called out his uncle from the writing-table. +"What do you mean by being so disobedient? Come here."</p> + +<p>"He has been going on like that for the last ten minutes," said Briggs +complainingly, when she and Chris reached the hall. "He's been that +aggravating."</p> + +<p>"What nonsense are you talking?" Uncle Godfrey asked him severely, +beckoning Chris to come to him.</p> + +<p>The little beggar looked at his uncle half-frightened, and did not at +once answer.</p> + +<p>"What was it, my pet?" Granny said, gently and encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"It was a piece of poetry I made up all by myself, all about Briggs," he +faltered out.</p> + +<p>"A piece of impertinence, it strikes me," remarked Uncle Godfrey.</p> + +<p>"Well, as you are so fond of poetry, as you call it, I'll make up a +piece about you," he said, whilst Granny glanced at the judge +pleadingly, as if to ask mercy for the offender.</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment ... yes, I have it," Uncle Godfrey said presently. And +holding Chris at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> arm's-length, he repeated, imitating as he did so, his +childish voice and accents:</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">"I know a little beggar,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">He is a little goose,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">He runs about all day</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Rampaging on the loose.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I think that little beggar,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Would be better for a slap;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">If he isn't pretty sharp,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">He'll get a nasty rap.</span></p> + +<p>"How do you like that?" he asked, when he had finished.</p> + +<p>He was smiling all the while in spite of his severe tone,—very often +the way with Uncle Godfrey. But Chris did not see that, and with his +little face scarlet, he stood still, struggling with his tears, unable +to reply.</p> + +<p>His uncle looked at him and relented.</p> + +<p>"There, go along with you," he said, laughing and rumpling the boy's +golden curls; "and don't you make yourself such a little nuisance."</p> + +<p>The little beggar brightened up as he noted the altered tone, and Granny +appeared perceptibly relieved.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Godfrey, do you know what?" he asked with a loud sniff and half a +sob. "What do you think?"</p> + +<p>"What?" asked his uncle with some amusement.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm going to be a soldier like you very soon," he said, nodding his +head.</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll have to learn to be a little more obedient," his uncle +remarked with a laugh. "I'd soon find myself in a pretty position if I +disobeyed orders as you do. Be off, you young rascal, and look smart. +There is Briggs waiting for you by the door.</p> + +<p>"What made him think of that jingle?" he continued, still laughing, to +Granny when Chris had gone. "It was a funny thing for a little chap of +his age."</p> + +<p>"The darling has quite a turn for poetry; he has indeed," explained +Granny with pride. "He takes the greatest delight in repeating his +little poems, such as: 'I love little Pussy, her coat is so warm,' and +'Mary had a little lamb'. And the child says them so sweetly, so +prettily too!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>"I'M A SOLDIER NOW."</h3> + + +<p>Some two hours later Briggs faced Granny and myself with a countenance +expressive of the deepest despair.</p> + +<p>"He's gone, mum!" she exclaimed, tragically, throwing up her hands as +she spoke.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Gone! Gone! Who is gone?" Granny asked with bewilderment and surprise +at Briggs' sudden announcement. Then, as Chris's absence struck her, she +inquired fearfully:</p> + +<p>"Has anything happened to Master Chris? Where is the child? Why is he +not with you?"</p> + +<p>"He's lost, mum!" she said, breathlessly. "Everywhere have I looked for +him, high and low, up and down, but nowhere is he to be found!"</p> + +<p>At this startling piece of intelligence Granny half rose in her chair as +if to go without delay and search for the wanderer; but, recollecting +the necessity for further information, she sunk back again, and asked +with agitation:</p> + +<p>"Where, then, did you leave him? When did you last see him? How long ago +is it, Briggs? I must beg of you to be as accurate as possible, most +accurate."</p> + +<p>"I left him in the garden about an hour ago," she answered, on the point +of tears. "I had just taken him out for a short walk, having some work +to do; and thinking he'd be better for a little more air I left him in +the garden when we came back. When I went for him half an hour after, +not a trace of him was there to be seen!"</p> + +<p>"But how careless, how very careless of you, Briggs!" Granny said in a +reprimanding yet trembling voice. "You should not have left him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> out of +your sight for so long. At his age! Most inconsiderate!"</p> + +<p>"Have you looked along the road?" I suggested. "He may have wandered out +there. He did so the day I arrived."</p> + +<p>"I've walked half a mile along each way," she answered, with a hopeless +sigh.</p> + +<p>"But the garden, Briggs!" Granny exclaimed, in her anxiety hardly +knowing what to say. "How could you be so thoughtless, so forgetful as +not to search the garden before you went into the road?"</p> + +<p>"But I did, mum; it was the very first thing I did do," she replied +tearfully, and with something of an injured expression at this +unnecessary censure.</p> + +<p>"Have you looked over the house? He may be hiding there," I said.</p> + +<p>"Everywhere in the house and out of it," she answered with gloomy +conviction. "Not a stone have I left unturned."</p> + +<p>We glanced from one to the other with perplexity. What could have become +of the little beggar? Where could he have hidden himself, thus to escape +this vigilant search?</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be as well to let Mr. Wyndham know?" I said. "I think I +hear him practising billiards."</p> + +<p>"Of course, of course!" Granny answered with relief. "Why didn't I think +of that at once?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> Briggs, go at once and ask Mr. Wyndham to speak to +me."</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?" he said cheerfully, when he arrived upon the scene. +"The youngster disappeared? There is no need for worry. Depend upon it +he is hiding somewhere not very far off, and we'll soon unearth him."</p> + +<p>"You say you have looked carefully in the garden?" he continued to +Briggs.</p> + +<p>"All over it, sir; in every corner," she replied.</p> + +<p>"All the same, we had better do it again," he said. "It is just possible +that he may have escaped you the first time. No, mother, you stay here," +he said decidedly, as Granny rose with the evident intention of +accompanying him. "You will only tire yourself for no purpose. If he is +to be found in the garden, you may rest assured that I shall find him +and bring him to you as soon as possible. Just stay here quietly with +Miss Baggerley, and don't worry yourself."</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly a very good piece of advice, this last, but one that poor +Granny in her nervous state of mind found very difficult to follow.</p> + +<p>"It is so strange, so very strange!" she said, unhappily. "I cannot +understand it at all; I only pray that no accident may have happened to +the child. I should have thought Briggs would have taken greater +precautions if she intended to leave him alone for that time. I had a +higher opinion of her, I had indeed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She is much to blame," she added, smoothing with a nervous little +movement the curls she wore in the old fashion on each side of her face.</p> + +<p>After this she continued her knitting, but she was plainly too restless +and ill at ease to fix her attention on her work.</p> + +<p>"My dear," she said in a minute, "it has just struck me that it would be +a good thing if we were together to look upstairs; Briggs may not have +searched there thoroughly. Do you not think that it would be a good plan +if we were to go?"</p> + +<p>I should have liked to answer in the negative, for she was not strong, +and a little exertion soon fatigued her. But I saw that it would be a +real relief to her in her anxiety to be doing something. So I did not +follow my inclination, and together we went slowly upstairs, Granny +leaning on my arm, in a sweet, clinging way,—a way that was all her +own.</p> + +<p>Arrived upstairs, we went conscientiously from room to room, but in +vain. No success attended our efforts.</p> + +<p>We would go into a room, when Granny, opening the door of a cupboard and +peering in in a short-sighted way, would call out in a gentle, slightly +quavering voice:</p> + +<p>"Is my darling hiding here from his Granny?"</p> + +<p>No answer coming, her face would become still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> more anxious-looking, and +she would request me to see if he were under the bed.</p> + +<p>"Will you look under the bed, my dear, and see if he is there?" she +would whisper, as if fearful that he might overhear and escape us. Then +as I did so, she would cry coaxingly:</p> + +<p>"Are you hiding there, my pet, trying to frighten poor Granny? Come out, +my darling, come out."</p> + +<p>And so on from room to room till we had exhausted all those not only on +the first floor but on the next also, after which she proposed exploring +the attics. By this time, however, she was so tired that I persuaded her +to send one of the servants instead, whilst she returned with me to the +library.</p> + +<p>Here we found Briggs waiting for us, with a face the expression of which +told its tidings without words. Ill-success was so plainly written upon +it, that our anxious question, "Have you found him?" seemed almost +superfluous.</p> + +<p>"Did you look everywhere, Briggs,—everywhere?" poor Granny asked +anxiously, and with grievous disappointment.</p> + +<p>"In every single nook and corner, mum," Briggs replied, with a heavy +sigh. "He ain't in the garden—that's sure and certain."</p> + +<p>"Where is Mr. Wyndham?" Granny inquired, as she sat down wearily in her +arm-chair.</p> + +<p>"He's gone round to the stables," she said.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> "He's going to drive into +Marston. He says that Master Chris this morning was talking about the +recruiting-sergeant staying there, and he thinks it may be possible he +has taken it into his head to go to him, fancying he can enlist."</p> + +<p>"I really think that that is possible," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"Dear me! dear me! What if anything should happen to the child on the +way?" exclaimed Granny, with fresh care.</p> + +<p>"I should not think of that; nothing will happen. Someone will find him +and bring him back," I replied, speaking more cheerfully than I +altogether felt.</p> + +<p>As I spoke I turned to the window, more from a restless feeling of not +knowing what to do with myself than for any other reason.</p> + +<p>Certainly the last thing in the world I expected to see at that +particular moment was the little beggar.</p> + +<p>Yet—to my utter astonishment—that was exactly what I did see!</p> + +<p>There he was, after causing all the confusion and alarm of which I have +told you, walking down the drive as calmly as possible; as if to +disappear mysteriously from home for about two hours, without leaving +any idea as to his whereabouts, was the most ordinary and everyday habit +a little boy could indulge in.</p> + +<p>He was not alone, but was in company with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> tall and gorgeous +individual, whom I concluded was the sergeant, and the innocent cause of +the little beggar's last and most startling escapade.</p> + +<p>He walked hand in hand with him in the most confiding fashion, +chattering to him apparently in his usual fashion—without the least +reserve, whilst Jacky frisked along by their side.</p> + +<p>As my eyes fell upon this little group I uttered a loud exclamation of +surprise, which induced Granny to look up inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"Why, there he is! Chris!" I exclaimed, "coming down the drive!" and +accompanied by Briggs I hurried to meet him, Granny following more +leisurely.</p> + +<p>"Here I am! Here I am!" cried the little vagabond, gaily bounding +forward to meet me. "I've 'listed, and I'm a soldier now like Uncle +Godfrey."</p> + +<p>"A soldier!" burst out Briggs contemptuously. "As naughty a child as can +be found in Christendom. That's what I should say!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Chris," I said, in the gravest voice I could assume, "you have +been a very naughty little boy indeed."</p> + +<p>At these strictures on his conduct Chris pouted and kicked the gravel +with some violence, whilst his companion relaxed into a broad smile, +which he put up his hand to hide.</p> + +<p>"I found this here young gentleman, marm, on his way to Marston," he +said, touching his cap. "I came across him quite by a chance, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> you +may say, it happening that I was taking a walk in this direction. 'I've +come to find you,' he says, ''cause I want to 'list and be a soldier +like my Uncle Godfrey,' says he. 'But I won't shoot you,' says he, +''cause I know how to hold my gun, and I don't want to be put in +chokee,' he says. Guessing as how there was something amiss I finds out +where he lives, and so here he is."</p> + +<p>"Is he quite well and safe, quite well and safe?" Granny asked nervously +at this point, arriving just in time to hear the conclusion of the +sergeant's explanation. "Oh, Chris, my darling, what have you been +doing?"</p> + +<p>"I'm a soldier now, my Granny," he stated proudly, with a defiant look +at Briggs and myself. "He said I was, didn't you?" he asked, turning to +the sergeant, who smiled again. "He's going to lend me his soldier +clothes till you buy me some. He said he would."</p> + +<p>"He'd have been here before if I could have got a lift, marm," explained +the sergeant, "but it chanced nothing passed by us. It's been a long +walk for the young gentleman, I'm afraid."</p> + +<p>But Granny did not at once reply; she was looking at the little beggar +with all the love of her heart overflowing her eyes, and as if she never +again could bear to let him out of her sight. Indeed, for the moment she +was so absorbed that I think she hardly realized what the sergeant +said.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was a slight pause, and then she said with much fervent gratitude +and an old-fashioned courtesy of manner:</p> + +<p>"I am more indebted to you than I can express for your kind care of my +little grandson. It is, indeed, a great relief to my mind to see him +back safely."</p> + +<p>"Why, my Granny!" cried Chris, with a little skip and a laugh, "I +<i>always</i> was safe. There was nothing the matter with me!"</p> + +<p>"Hush! my child," Granny then continued, though with an effort, as if +the reaction from the anxiety she had been suffering was becoming too +much for her control: "Will you not go round to the kitchen and rest? +And will you kindly tell Parker, my butler, that I have sent you, and to +see that you have some refreshment after your long walk."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, marm," said the sergeant, touching his cap once more as he +left, followed by a regretful glance from Chris.</p> + +<p>"I should like to go with him," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"My darling," began Granny reproachfully—then stopped short and tried +to smile at me.</p> + +<p>"I'm very silly," she said, as the tears filled her eyes; "but, my dear, +I have been feeling so anxious, so anxious, you understand...."</p> + +<p>She could say no more, but going to a wicker-chair near, she sat down, +and covered her eyes with her hand.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> + +<p>I said nothing, for I knew that her tears were a relief to her +overwrought feelings. So for a time there was silence, which was at +length broken by the little beggar, who, looking at her with pity +mingled with curiosity, remarked in a hushed voice:</p> + +<p>"I b'lieve my Granny is crying!"</p> + +<p>"And who do you think has made her cry?" suddenly asked a severe voice, +and turning round somewhat apprehensively, the little beggar saw Uncle +Godfrey—who, unperceived and unheard, had crossed the lawn—confronting +him in righteous indignation.</p> + +<p>"I say, who do you think has made her cry?" he reiterated, as Granny +threw him an imploring glance as if to beg mercy for the offender. "I +have just heard something of your last piece of disobedience from your +friend the sergeant," he continued sternly. "Fortunately for me I met +him not two minutes ago, and so was saved a useless drive into Marston +on your account. Now I should like to hear some explanation of your +conduct."</p> + +<p>He looked so very tall and inflexible as he towered above the little +beggar, and the little beggar looked so very small and abject as he +stood before him, that my heart was stirred with pity for the diminutive +transgressor in spite of his misdeeds.</p> + +<p>"Well, answer," Uncle Godfrey said peremptorily.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> "What is the meaning +of your behaviour, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I w—w—went to be a s—s—soldier," stammered Chris, winking his eyes +to keep back his tears, and grasping hold of Granny's hand as if for +protection.</p> + +<p>"What did I tell you this morning?"</p> + +<p>"I forget," answered the little beggar tremblingly.</p> + +<p>"Then think," his uncle said; whilst Granny said pleadingly:</p> + +<p>"Don't be too severe, my son. He's only a little child."</p> + +<p>"Quite old enough to know better," he replied unrelentingly; and, as +Chris did not at once answer, "Didn't I tell you," he went on, "that you +were not old enough to be a soldier? Do you remember now?"</p> + +<p>"Y—yes," answered Chris, with a strangled sob.</p> + +<p>"But I suppose you thought that you knew better than I, and didn't tell +me of your plan because you knew that you would not be allowed to carry +it out. Was it not so?" he asked. Then as Chris nodded he went on: "I +hope now that you see the consequences of your behaviour," he continued; +"everyone's time wasted, an endless amount of unnecessary anxiety and +trouble, and your Grandmother nearly ill. If ever anyone deserved a good +punishment it is you."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p> + +<p>At this point the little beggar, unable to keep back his tears any +longer, buried his head in his Granny's lap and sobbed bitterly, and as +if his heart would break; whilst for my part I went away. He had been +very naughty, but I did not like to see him crying so bitterly. It made +me sad.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>It was about an hour later,—just lunch-time,—and I was walking up and +down the gravelled terrace at the back of the house, when a little hand +was slipped into mine, while a little voice remarked in an awe-struck +tone:</p> + +<p>"What do you think? Uncle Godfrey put me in the corner for half an +hour—a whole half-hour!"</p> + +<p>Chris spoke with much solemnity. Granny's punishments were of such a +mild description, that this of Uncle Godfrey's, by comparison, appeared +very heavy, and impressed upon him the grievousness of his offence.</p> + +<p>"And he says I'm not to have no pudding for dinner," he continued with +some pathos; "no pudding at all. Do you know what kind of pudding it +is?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," I answered smiling.</p> + +<p>"'Cause Granny said I might have a roly-poly pudding soon," he said, +"and I do hope it's not to-day. If it is bread-and-butter pudding I +don't mind, as I don't like bread-and-butter pudding."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I can't tell you what pudding it is," I repeated.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Godfrey said I was a very naughty boy," he went on.</p> + +<p>"So you were," I said, but mildly, and not with the decision the case +demanded.</p> + +<p>"I didn't want to frighten you, or my Granny, or anyone," he said +humbly, with the effects of his uncle's scolding and punishment still +fresh in his memory. "But I did want to be a soldier and fight; and +Uncle Godfrey says I'm not one, and I never was one, and that the +soldier was only laughing at me when he said I was. And I can't be a +soldier for a long while—a very, very, very long while."</p> + +<p>"Not that kind of soldier," I said, "but I know another kind of soldier +that you can be."</p> + +<p>"The Queen's soldier?" asked Chris eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No, but the King's soldier," I replied. "You can be one of Christ's +soldiers. Whenever you try hard to be good and obedient when you feel +inclined to be naughty and wilful; whenever you try not to say the angry +word, to think the unkind thought you would like to say, you would like +to think; whenever you turn your back on what is mean and unmanly and +follow what is true and noble; whenever you do this for His sake, then, +Chris, you are fighting for Christ, you are Christ's soldier.</p> + +<p>"But," I went on as I saw that I had gained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> his attention, "there is a +great difference between these battles and the others that you were +speaking of. In fighting for the Queen you have to be very brave and no +coward, it is true. But you have the cheers of your countrymen to +inspirit you. You know that your country is watching you, and that helps +you to meet your enemies with courage. In these other battles, fought +for Christ, there are no cheers to excite you, no one watching but God, +and God only. For these fights must be fought silently, quite by +yourself,—God your only Help,—or they are not worth the name of +battles. But, by and by, on that silent battle-field, where so many +struggles have been gone through, and so many hard victories won through +the grace of God, the silence will at last be broken. It will be broken +by a sound full of triumphant joy, too heavenly in its beauty for +earthly ears to catch, but a sound that will make the angels in heaven +rejoice, a sound of—"</p> + +<p>I paused as I tried to find appropriate words for the thought that, +half-formed, was in my mind, gazing as I did so, as if to seek +inspiration, at the boughs of the elms near, swaying and bowing slowly +to and fro in the wind.</p> + +<p>"What?" said Chris, impatiently tugging at my dress. "What?"</p> + +<p>"'The voice of a soul that goeth home'," I said, as the great poet's +words came to me in all their beauty.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>THE GOLDEN FARTHING.</h3> + + +<p>"It's the best thing; I should not propose it unless I were fully +convinced that it is so."</p> + +<p>Uncle Godfrey, standing on the hearth-rug in the drawing-room, his hands +in his pockets, was speaking with his usual decision.</p> + +<p>I, who had just entered, feeling that I was interrupting his +conversation with Granny, turned to leave.</p> + +<p>"Please, don't go, Miss Baggerley. We should like to have the benefit of +your opinion," remarked Uncle Godfrey.</p> + +<p>"Yes, stay, my dear. I should be glad to know what you think," said +Granny.</p> + +<p>So I remained.</p> + +<p>"You tell her what we are talking about, Godfrey," she said.</p> + +<p>"All right!" he answered. "Well, the subject under discussion is the +advisability of sending Chris to be educated with my sister's little +boy. She and her husband have just come home from India, and have taken +a house for a time in Norfolk. In a letter my mother had from her this +morning, she suggests the plan I have mentioned; in fact, she is most +anxious that it should be arranged. I think myself that it is a capital +idea,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> for it seems to me that it would do Chris all the good in the +world to have the companionship of another child. He is a capital little +chap, but I don't see how it can be good for him to have every whim and +fancy attended to as he has at present, by my mother, by you, by +everyone as far as I can see, except perhaps that excellent and +depressing young woman, Briggs. Oh, I know what you would like to say; +much that my mother has already said—that Chris is not easily spoilt, +that he has such a good disposition, and so on. All of which I grant; +but, nevertheless, I think it would be better for him in the end to have +a little less attention given to him than he has at present. Besides, he +would have the advantage of an excellent governess, who has been with my +sister some time, and, according to her, is a paragon of a teacher. And +that is not to be despised, it seems to me. Chris, of course, would +always come to my mother for the holidays, so that she still would see a +great deal of him. Now, frankly, don't you agree with my view of the +case?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," I answered, though I was conscious of speaking +unwillingly, for I knew what it would cost Granny to give up the charge +of her darling.</p> + +<p>"Of course you do," he replied, "only you don't like to say so for the +sake of my mother."</p> + +<p>"The darling is very dear to me," said Granny,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> a little pathetically. +"I only desire what is best for him."</p> + +<p>"I know that, my dear mother," Uncle Godfrey said gently—he could speak +very gently when he liked, in spite of all his decided ways,—"no one +could doubt it."</p> + +<p>No one spoke for a moment or two, and it was plain to see that a +struggle was going on in Granny's mind.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to persuade you against your judgment, mother," at last +Uncle Godfrey said, still speaking very gently, even tenderly, and then +we were silent again.</p> + +<p>Then Granny said with an effort—an effort that plainly cost her much:</p> + +<p>"You are right, my son; yes, you are right. I am getting too old to have +the entire responsibility of the child, and, doubtless, it would be +good, it would be more cheerful for him, to be with a little companion +of his own age. Yes, it is better that he should go to Louisa."</p> + +<p>And then she got up and left the room, as if, for the time, she could +say no more. It was a hard trial for her, because love for Chris was as +part of her life, and to part with him would be a wrench that neither +Uncle Godfrey nor myself could fully comprehend, with all our desire to +enter into her feelings. Yet I think that she had never loved him so +truly as at that moment when she gave him up. For is not our love the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +greatest when it is the most unselfish, when it is purified by +self-sacrifice, as "gold that is tried in the fire"?</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>It was such a bright morning when the little beggar left us; a cold, +crisp day in the beginning of October, the slight frost sprinkling the +ground with a white powder that sparkled and glistened like diamonds in +the autumn sun.</p> + +<p>Uncle Godfrey had come up from Aldershot for the express purpose of +taking him to his new home, which fact filled Chris with no little +pride.</p> + +<p>"Me and my Uncle Godfrey are going a long way together," he kept +informing everyone. "He has left all his soldiers to come and take me. +Isn't it kind of my Uncle Godfrey?" in a tone of devotion.</p> + +<p>I imagine that had it been anyone else but his Uncle Godfrey it would +have been a difficult matter to reconcile him to leave his Granny. As it +was, he became inclined to be very tearful as the hour of departure drew +near, and clung to her in a way that, whilst it touched and pleased her, +made the thought of the parting more difficult to bear.</p> + +<p>And now the little beggar, who for the last few minutes had been playing +in a somewhat restless fashion with Uncle Godfrey, returning between +whiles to Granny's side, was sent upstairs to have his hat put on.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span></p> + +<p>Five minutes passed and he had not returned. Granny became impatient. +Poor Granny! who grudged losing even a minute of her darling's presence +when she knew that she was about to lose it for so long.</p> + +<p>"My dear," she said to me, "will you kindly go and see if he is ready? +The dog-cart will so soon be round."</p> + +<p>Hastening upstairs, I went to the nursery to bring down the little +beggar to rejoice her sight for the short period that remained before he +left.</p> + +<p>As I approached the open door I heard Briggs taking leave of him, and +with more sentiment than was generally to be observed in the utterances +of that dignified person.</p> + +<p>"And you won't forget your Briggs?" she said, kissing him; "and you'll +send her a letter sometimes?"</p> + +<p>"A long, long letter; ever so long," promised Chris rashly. "And you've +wroten down the place what you live at?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, here it is," said Briggs, holding out an envelope and reading +aloud as I entered:</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">"Miss <span class="smcap">Amelia Briggs</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">6 Balaclava Villas,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Upper Touting,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">London."</span></p> + +<p>"And you'll write me a nice letter, won't you, Master Chris?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nicer than ever you can think," he replied, as she kissed him again +with something like emotion, and bade him good-bye.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to leave Briggs," he said, as we went downstairs hand in +hand; "but I am dreffully, dreffully sorry to leave my Granny."</p> + +<p>"Will I never come back to her again?" he asked, wistfully.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course you will," I said, encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"But I don't want to go 'way from her," he remarked sadly.</p> + +<p>"You'll be a good boy, though," I said, "and not cry, or you will make +her unhappy."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'll be the goodest boy," he promised me fervently, "and I won't +make my Granny unhappy; not a little, tiny bit."</p> + +<p>But when he saw her looking so sad his resolution somewhat failed, and, +standing by her side, he gazed up into her face with his great eyes full +of tears—eyes like violets with the dew upon them.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, however, he brightened up, and turned to leave the room.</p> + +<p>"Hulloa! where are you off to?" cried Uncle Godfrey. "The dog-cart will +be round in a minute, and you'll be nowhere to be found."</p> + +<p>"I want to get something for my Granny; I want to get something very +badly for her," he said eagerly as he paused; "and it's in my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> coat, and +it's outside, where I put it, with your greatcoat in the hall."</p> + +<p>"Slightly involved," Uncle Godfrey remarked, laughing.</p> + +<p>"What can the darling be bringing me?" Granny said, roused a little from +the abstraction into which she had fallen.</p> + +<p>She was not long left in doubt, for almost as she asked the question +Chris returned, holding aloft a little, bright, red leather purse, the +pride and joy of his heart. Opening it, he went back to Granny's side +and showered its contents upon her lap—two halfpennies and four +pennies, a sixpenny and a threepenny bit, and a bright farthing.</p> + +<p>"It's all for you, my Granny, 'cause I'm going away," he said +impulsively; "all for you! The golden farthing and everything?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, my pet; I won't take it from you," answered Granny, much moved +by this great gift.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you must, my Granny; it's all for you," he repeated, with a +fleeting glance of regret at the red purse in its splendour.</p> + +<p>"My darling, I won't take it all," she said, replacing the money in the +purse, and putting it into his pocket—all save the "golden farthing", +which she kept. "But, see, I will keep this as a keepsake from my own +dear child."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Granny; and you'll never spend it," Chris said seriously. "You'll +keep it for always."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p> + +<p>"For always, my Chris," she said tenderly, with a pathetic little +tremble in her voice as she kissed him.</p> + +<p>And now the dog-cart came round to the door, and we all went out into +the hall.</p> + +<p>Then, with a hug from me, and many a loving kiss from Granny as she +clasped him in her arms, Chris was lifted up by the side of Uncle +Godfrey and driven away.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye! good-bye! good-bye!" he called out shrilly, looking back and +waving his hand, till his little voice grew faint in the distance.</p> + +<p>As for Granny, she stood still on the door-step, heedless of the keen +morning air, with one hand shading her eyes from the sunlight, while the +other grasped tightly Chris's parting gift—the "golden farthing".</p> + +<p>She stood there gazing after the dog-cart till it was out of sight. Then +she turned in silence and went back into the house.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if all the sunshine and brightness had gone out of it with +the departure of that little beggar!</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<p>Many years have passed since that summer's day when I found a little +truant sobbing so bitterly by the roadside. Granny is a very old lady +now, and my hair is becoming quite white. As for the little beggar +himself, the ambition of his childhood is fulfilled, and he is one of +the Queen's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> soldiers, having just passed into Sandhurst, a fact in +which Granny takes an overwhelming pride. So overwhelming, that I really +fancy if you were to ask her to name the greatest general of the future, +she would have but one answer for you. Cannot you guess what that answer +would be?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div id="notes"> +<h2><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes"></a>Transcriber's Notes</h2> + +<p>This title was published as the second half of the book <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35653">Unlucky</a> by +Caroline Austin (eBook #35653). Page numbers begin with 161.</p> + +<p>The publisher's name comes from the first half of the book, as does the +illustration.</p> + +<p>Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; otherwise, +every effort has been made to remain true to the author's words and +intent.</p> + +<p>A table of contents has been added for the reader's convenience.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, "Baggerly" changed to "Baggerley" ("Perhaps Miss Baggerley +would tell you").</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, "Beggarly" changed to "Beggarley" ("Not even Miss +Beggarley").</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of That Little Beggar, by E. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/36166-h/images/illus1.jpg b/36166-h/images/illus1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a34cf4 --- /dev/null +++ b/36166-h/images/illus1.jpg diff --git a/36166.txt b/36166.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..567db06 --- /dev/null +++ b/36166.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3908 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of That Little Beggar, by E. King Hall + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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: That Little Beggar + +Author: E. King Hall + +Release Date: May 19, 2011 [EBook #36166] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THAT LITTLE BEGGAR *** + + + + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Kerry Tani and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THAT LITTLE BEGGAR + +BY E. KING HALL + + + + +BLACKIE & SON LIMITED + +LONDON GLASGOW DUBLIN BOMBAY + + + + +[Illustration: CHRIS IS BROUGHT BACK BY HIS FRIEND THE SERGEANT] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + Page + + CHAPTER I. JACK AND HIS MASTER. 161 + + CHAPTER II. A SONG AND A STORY. 172 + + CHAPTER III. CONCERNING EIGHT FLIES. 189 + + CHAPTER IV. TEACHING JACKY TO SWIM. 201 + + CHAPTER V. THE DOCTOR'S HEAD! 218 + + CHAPTER VI. A PASTE-MAN AND A PAINT-BOX. 232 + + CHAPTER VII. CHRIS AND HIS UNCLE. 244 + + CHAPTER VIII. "I'M A SOLDIER NOW." 259 + + CHAPTER IX. THE GOLDEN FARTHING. 274 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +JACK AND HIS MASTER. + + +"No carriage! Are you quite sure? Mrs. Wyndham told me that she would +send to meet this train." + +I looked anxiously at the station-master as I spoke. I was feeling +tired, having had a very long journey; and now, to find that I had the +prospect of a good walk before me was not pleasant. + +"I'll go and have another look, mum," he said civilly as he turned away; +"it may have driven up since the train came in. It weren't there before, +I know that." + +Presently he returned, and shook his head. + +"There's nothing from the Hall," he remarked; "nothing to be seen +nowhere." + +I looked round despairingly, first at the deserted-looking little +country station with its gay flower-beds, decorated with ornamental +devices in dazzling white stones, then at the long, white country road, +stretching away in the distance with the July sun beating down upon it, +and sighed. The outlook was not cheering. + +"Is there no inn near at which I could find some sort of conveyance?" I +asked, though without much hope of receiving a satisfactory reply. + +"None but the White Hart at Teddington, and that's a matter of four +miles off," he replied. "It would take less time to send to the Hall." + +"How far off is that?" I inquired. + +"It's two miles and a bit. By the fields it's less, but as you are a +stranger in these parts, I take it, mum, you'd do better to keep to the +road if you think of walking," he answered. + +"It seems to me the best thing to do," I replied with resignation. + +"Well, it's a beautiful afternoon for a walk, if it _is_ a bit hot," he +said consolingly, and, retiring to his office, left me to my own +devices. + +I started very slowly, determined not to waste any energy, with that +long and hot walk before me. + +Strolling gently on I fell to thinking over my past life--the quiet, +peaceful life in the country rectory, where I had lived for so many +years, and which had only ended with the death of my dear old father two +months ago. Now middle-aged--yes, I called myself middle-aged, though I +daresay you at the age of eight, ten, fourteen (what is it?) would have +called me a Methuselah--now I had to earn my own living, and start a +fresh life. I don't want to make you sad, for I am quite of the opinion +that it is better to make people laugh than cry, but I will confess that +as I walked along that sunny afternoon, with the recollection of my +great sorrow still fresh in my mind, the tears came to my eyes. You see, +my father and I loved each other so much, and he was all that I had in +the world; I had no brothers and sisters to share my sorrow with me. + +I had gone some distance on my way, when I heard the sound of loud and +bitter sobbing. Hastening my steps, I turned a bend of the road, and saw +a little boy lying full length on the roadside, his face buried in the +dusty, long grass, as he gave vent to the loud and uncontrolled grief +which had attracted my attention; whilst a few yards off stood a little +wire-haired fox-terrier, regarding him with a perplexed and wondering +eye. + +"What is the matter, dear?" I asked the distressed little mortal, whose +tears were flowing so fast. + +But he only mumbled something unintelligible, then burst into renewed +sobs. + +"Get up from that dusty grass and tell me what it is all about," I said +encouragingly, as I stooped down and took hold of his hand. + +He rose slowly from the ground and looked at me doubtfully, half sobbing +the while; then I saw how pretty he was. Such a pretty little boy, but +oh! such a dirty one. He had the sweetest violet eyes, the prettiest +golden curls, the most rosy of rosy checks that you can imagine, and he +was dressed in the dearest little white-duck sailor's suit that any +little boy ever wore. But at that moment the violet eyes were all +swollen with crying, the golden curls were all tumbled and tossed, the +rosy cheeks all smudged where dirty fingers had been rubbing away the +tears, whilst as for the white-duck suit--well, to be accurate, I ought +not to call it white. But as the small person inside of it had +apparently been recklessly rolling on the ground, it was not surprising +that something of its original purity had departed. + +"What is the matter?" I asked again. + +"I took Jack out for a walk and he runned away and I runned after him, +but he wouldn't stop!" he sobbed vehemently. + +Then, leaving go of my hand, he made a sudden dash towards the truant, +who as suddenly ran off. My small friend wept afresh. + +"He thinks that you are playing with him," I said; "that's why he runs +away. Wait a moment!" seeing he made a movement as if he were again +about to chase the dog. + +"Look!" I went on, and going gently towards Jack, I picked him up and +placed him beside his little master. + +"Come along, you little beggar!" the indignant little fellow exclaimed, +and, seizing hold of the cause of the commotion, he walked, or rather +staggered, off with him. + +Poor Jack! He did look so unhappy. I think you would have been as sorry +for him if you had seen him, as I was. Hugged closely in his master's +arms, his hind-legs hanging down in a helpless, dislocated fashion, he +gazed after me piteously over his master's shoulder, as if to say, "Can +you do nothing to help me?" + +He looked so funny and so miserable I could not help laughing. "What!" +you say with some surprise, "and you were crying a little while before?" + +Yes, my dear child; yet I could laugh in spite of that, for, you know, +there is no better way of drying our own tears than to wipe away the +tears of another--though they be but the ready tears of a little child. + +So I laughed, and I laughed very heartily too. + +"Wait," I said. "I fancy Jack is as uncomfortable as you, and that looks +to me very uncomfortable. Supposing we see if both you and he cannot +get home in an easier fashion. Why don't you put him on the ground? I +think if you were to walk back quietly Jack would follow you now." + +My new acquaintance wrinkled his dirty little tear-stained countenance +doubtfully. + +"P'r'aps he'll run away, 'cause he's runned away often and often whilst +he's been out with me, and I sha'n't be able to catch him," he said +woefully. + +"Put him down and see," I suggested. And Jack was dropped on the ground, +though as much I fancy from necessity as choice, since his weight was +evidently becoming too much for his master. + +"Are you far from home?" I asked. + +"A long, long way," he replied forlornly. "All the way from +Skeffington." + +"That's where I'm going," I said, "so we can go together." + +"Are you the lady what's coming to live with my Granny?" he asked, +slipping his hand confidingly in mine, as we turned our steps homewards. + +"Yes," I replied. + +"I'm called Chris, but my proper name is Christopher," he stated, +pronouncing it slowly and with some difficulty. + +"It's very pretty," I answered, smiling at the diminutive little figure +by my side, "but a very long name for such a little person." + +"That's not my only name," he said proudly. "Did you think it was?" + +And he laughed pityingly at my ignorance. + +"What is your other?" I inquired, as I was intended to. + +"Why, I have two others," he answered with still greater pride. "Three +names altogether. Christopher, that's only like myself; and Godfrey, +that's like my Uncle Godfrey; and Wyndham, that's like my Uncle Godfrey +and my Granny too. All our names is Wyndham. What's your name?" + +"Baggerley." + +"Beggarley! That's something like what Uncle Godfrey calls me. He says +I'm a little beggar." + +"Baggerley, not Beggarley," I corrected him. + +"But I would like to call you Beggarley, 'cause then you'd be called +something the same as me. Mayn't I?" + +A suspicious tremble in his voice warned me to give way, unless I was +prepared for another outcry from that healthy little pair of lungs. The +tears were evidently still near the surface. I therefore weakly yielded. + +"Very well, dear," I replied in a resigned voice; and Chris, brightening +at once, continued his conversation. + +"I'm seven years of age. How old are you?" he next remarked, regarding +me with interest. + +"Too old to tell my age," I replied evasively. + +"As old as my Granny?" + +"I don't think so." + +"Then how old?" + +"Chris, you shouldn't ask so many questions," I said, with a touch of +severity. + +"I only wanted to know if you was too old to play with me," he said, +looking at me reproachfully out of his great violet eyes. + +"I will certainly play with you if you are a good boy," I replied, in a +mollified voice. + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" he exclaimed, dancing by my side with pleasure; +"'cause I have no one to play with me. Granny is too old, and Briggs +says when she runs it makes her legs ache as if they will break." + +"I will run a little sometimes, but I can't promise to do much," I said +cautiously. + +"Oh, you needn't always run," he said, encouragingly. "There is one or +two games where you needn't hardly move. Just a little tiny bit, you +know. Will you play at trains?" + +"What is it?" + +"Oh, such a nice game! and you needn't run unless you like. I'll be the +train and the engine, and you can be the guard and the steam-engine +whistle. Then you need only walk about at the station and take the +tickets, and just scream high up in your head like this" (and Chris gave +vent to a loud and piercing scream--so unexpectedly loud and piercing +that I almost started). "That's like the steam-engine goes, you know," +he explained. + +"I couldn't do that," I said with decision, when I had recovered from +the shock. + +"Then p'r'aps you'd like to play at lame horses," he suggested. "You +needn't scream then, only jog up and down as if you'd got a stone in +your foot. I'll be the coachman, but I won't make you run fast, 'cause +it would be very cruel of me if you had a stone in your foot; wouldn't +it?" he continued, virtuously. + +"Very," I agreed, as we turned into the lodge-gates of Skeffington, and +pursued our way up the drive. + +"There's my Granny," he remarked presently, leaving go of my hand and +running towards an old lady, who, with her work-table by her side and +her knitting in her lap, was dozing comfortably in a big wicker chair on +the shady side of the lawn. + +"Granny! Granny!" shouted Chris excitedly, and at the top of his voice. +"Here's the lady what's coming to live with you." + +At the sound of his voice the old lady gave a nervous jump, opened her +eyes, and, replacing her spectacles which had fallen off her nose, +arose, looking round as she did so with a bewildered air. + +"Miss Baggerley, I presume," she said with an old-fashioned courtesy of +manner, and advancing towards me with outstretched hand. "But how is it +that you are walking? Was not the carriage at the station to meet you?" + +"No, she walked all the way; and she didn't know the way, and I showed +it to her," Chris put in eagerly. "I showed it to her all myself." + +"The carriage was not at the station. But it was not of the slightest +consequence, I assure you," I replied, as soon as Chris allowed me to +speak. + +"But two miles and a half in this hot sun, and after your long journey +too!" Mrs. Wyndham said apologetically. "I am most distressed, I am +indeed. I have a new coachman who is not very bright. He has doubtless +made some stupid mistake. Dear me, how unfortunate!" + +"It didn't matter, 'cause _I_ found her and _I_ showed her the way," +Chris reiterated with pride. + +"Hush, my dear child!" Granny said gently. Then, for the first time +becoming fully aware of his very unkempt condition, "What have you been +doing, my darling?" she exclaimed with surprise; "and what do you mean +by saying you met Miss Baggerley? Where did you meet her?" + +"I took Jack for a walk and he runned away, and was such a naughty +little dog. And I felled down and hurted myself, and I cried," Chris +concluded with much pathos, as he saw Granny shake her head at the +account of his doings. + +"My darling, it was very wrong of you to leave the garden," she said. +"You know when Briggs left you, she never thought for a moment that you +would go outside the gates. And, oh, how dirty you are! Your nice white +suit is all black! Miss Baggerley, I fear you met a disobedient, a very +disobedient little boy indeed." + +"I hurted myself very much," Chris remarked, in the most pathetic of +voices. + +Granny relented. "Where did you hurt yourself, my dear child?" she +asked, with some anxiety. + +"On my knee, and on my face, and on my hand," he replied still with +melancholy. + +"Go at once, darling, to Briggs, and ask her to bathe all your bruises +with warm water," she said. "Or, if they are very bad, tell her that she +will find some lotion in my room." + +"Wasn't Jack a naughty little dog?" he asked, recovering, as he held up +a smudgy little face to be kissed. + +"I'm afraid it was someone else who was naughty," she answered, with an +attempt at severity; "yes, very naughty indeed. But we'll say no more +about it, for I think you are sorry; are you not, my Chris?" + +"Very, very sorry, Granny," he replied, but more cheerfully than +penitently, as he ran off, relieved at the matter ending in so easy and +pleasant a fashion. + +"I'm afraid I spoil him dreadfully," Granny said, looking fondly after +the retreating little figure. 'You're ruining the little beggar'; that's +what my son Godfrey tells me. But then my Chris has no father or mother, +so I feel very tenderly towards him. He has such a lovable nature too, +it is difficult not to spoil him. You have doubtless seen that for +yourself already, have you not? + +"And now, my dear," she added kindly, "I'm sure you must want your tea +after your long journey, and that hot walk afterwards. It was a most +unfortunate mistake about the carriage. I cannot tell you how +distressed, how very distressed, I am about it." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A SONG AND A STORY. + + +Yes, Granny was quite right. It was difficult not to spoil that little +beggar. Everyone helped to do so; everyone, that is to say, but one +person. That one person was Briggs, Chris's dignified and severe nurse. +The whole household concurred in petting and spoiling him in every +possible way. Briggs alone maintained her course of justice, inflexible +and unbending. Her yoke was not one under which the little beggar +willingly bowed his head. He was not accustomed to any yoke, and Briggs' +was not at all to his taste. + +In consequence of this state of affairs, nursery rows were by no means +infrequent; nor was it very long before I witnessed one. It was but a +few days after I had arrived, and I was sitting one afternoon in the +library reading the _Morning Post_ to Granny, who was busy with some +work she was doing for the poor. + +It was a quiet and peaceful state of affairs which we were both +enjoying. Suddenly, however, we were interrupted by a tap at the door, +and the entrance of Briggs, flushed, heated, and slightly panting. + +"If you please, mum," she began, a little breathlessly, and placing her +hand on her side as if to still the beating of her heart, "I wish to +know if Master Chris is to be allowed to speak to me as he likes?" + +"Certainly not, certainly not," Granny replied, raising herself straight +in her arm-chair, and trying to assume the severity of manner she felt +was suitable to the occasion. "What has he been saying?" + +"It was just this, mum," Briggs started, with the air of resolving to +give a full, true, and particular account; "it was just this. We were +down in the village, and I stepped into the post-office to buy a few +reels of black cotton, which it so happens I have run out of. Likewise, +I wanted to buy some blue sewing-silk, which you may remember, mum, you +asked me to keep in mind next time I happened to be that way." + +"Yes, I remember, Briggs. And Master Chris was naughty?" Granny said, +gently trying to bring her to the point. + +"Well, mum, I was going to tell you," she continued, without hurrying, +"when I had bought the cotton and the silk, it came to my mind to buy a +packet of post-cards and two shillings' worth of stamps. But the +rector's young ladies had come in, and being pressed for time, Mrs. +Thompson, she says to me, 'I make no doubt but that you will let me +serve the young ladies first'; to which I made answer, 'I wait your +pleasure'. But Master Chris he gets cross, because he wants to go on +home at once and roll his new hoop. 'Come along, old Briggs!' he says; +'come along, you old slow-coach!' Such behaviour, such language! Before +the young ladies from the rectory, too! Where he learnt it I'm sure I +can't tell. Not from me, I do assure you, mum," she concluded with +indignation. + +"It was very naughty of him," Granny remarked mildly. + +"But that was not all, mum," the irate Briggs continued; "for all the +way home he walks in front of me, tossing his head and singing as loud +as possible, '_For I'm a jolly good fellow_'; and Jack there barking and +making such a row alongside of him; it was for all the world like a +wild-beast show. Nothing I could say could stop the pair of them." + +She paused to allow Granny to take in the full extent of Chris's +enormity. As she did so, a scampering of little feet was heard outside, +the handle of the door was impatiently turned--first the wrong way, and +then rattled angrily. Finally the door itself was burst open, and that +little beggar ran in, with excited countenance; the big holland +pinafore, in which Briggs insisted upon enveloping him, and his especial +detestation, half dropping off him, and trailing behind on the ground. + +"Granny," he began immediately, "is '_For he's a jolly good fellow_', +that Uncle Godfrey sings, a wicked song?" + +"It's very naughty of you to behave rudely to Briggs," she replied +gravely. + +Looking round, Chris's eyes fell upon Briggs, whom at first he had not +noticed; then, realizing that she had been first in the field, he burst +into a loud, tearless wail. + +"Briggs, you're a nasty, nasty thing, and I hate you!" he cried +vehemently, stamping his foot as he spoke. + +"There, mum! Is that the way for a young gentleman to speak?" she asked, +not without a certain triumph. + +"I don't like you!" Chris cried, stamping his foot again. "You are +always cross! Nasty, cross, old Briggs!" + +"Chris, I am shocked, very, very shocked," Granny said gravely. "You +must stand in the corner for a quarter of an hour." + +The little beggar wailed again; real, unfeigned tears this time. + +"I don't--want to--go into--the corner," he said sobbing. "It's +all--your fault, Briggs." + +Briggs shook her head slowly and solemnly from side to side. + +"Oh, Master Chris!" she exclaimed, "is that a way for a nice young +gentleman to speak?" Then she left the room with dignity. + +Chris, looking after her with impotent anger, moved towards the corner +with laggard steps, crying bitterly as he did so. + +"Must I go into the corner, my Granny?" he wailed. "Uncle Godfrey is +never sent into the corner." + +"Yes, yes, you must, Chris," she said, obliging herself to be firm. + +The little beggar looked entreatingly with large tearful eyes at her, as +he crept towards the hated corner. But she would not allow herself to +relent. Justice, in the form of the deeply offended Briggs, had to be +propitiated, and Chris had to bear the punishment for his misdeeds. + +At the same time, I believe Granny would joyfully have gone into the +corner herself, if by so doing she could have spared her darling this +wound to his pride, and yet have satisfied her own conscience. I think, +indeed, in her sympathy for Chris in his disgrace, she really suffered +more than he. It was therefore with relief, and as a welcome diversion +that, when the footman came to announce the arrival of visitors, she +rose to go to the drawing-room. + +"I must go, Miss Baggerley," she said. "Will you be so kind as to see +that Chris stays in the corner for a quarter of an hour? Only for a +quarter of an hour, if he is good; but I know that he will be good, for +he does not want to make his Granny unhappy any more. I am sure of +that." With which gentle persuasion she went. + +For a time Chris wept loudly and sorely, after which he was silent, save +for an occasional sniff. This silence continued uninterrupted for so +long that it at last aroused my suspicions. Turning my head the better +to see him, I found that he was engaged in drawing strange and mystic +signs upon the wall, by the simple process of wetting his finger in his +mouth. + +Hence the explanation of this sudden calm; for so absorbing, apparently, +was this occupation, that it had had the effect of drying up all those +bitter tears which, but a few minutes earlier, had flowed so freely. + +"What are you doing?" I asked. "You must not dirty the wall like that." + +"I am writing my name," the little beggar said with much pathos. +"Chris-to-pher God-frey Wyndham. Then when I'm dead and gone far away +over the sea, Granny will see it, and she'll be sorry she was so cross." + +"Jane will wash out those dirty marks," I replied, ruthlessly destroying +his mournful hopes. "They will not remain there." + +At this the little beggar desisted from disfiguring the wall, but +reiterated, though more weakly, "Granny will be very sorry by and by; +she was cross, and she'll wish she hadn't put me in the corner." + +"No, she won't," I answered decisively; "she'll be sorry that you were +naughty, but she won't wish that she had not punished you. You deserved +to be punished." + +Feeling that I did not regard him as the ill-used little being that he +considered himself, and that there was a want of sympathy about my +remarks that was not altogether to his taste, Chris once more was +silent. + +Ten minutes elapsed, broken only by an occasional sigh from the occupant +of the corner. Then I was asked wearily: + +"Is it nearly time for me to come away?" + +"Yes," I said, as I looked at my watch, "you may come out now." + +A forlorn little figure came towards me, and crept on my knee. + +"Was I very naughty?" he asked, deprecatingly. + +"Yes, dear, I am afraid you were," I answered. I should have liked to +speak more severely, but that was a difficult matter with Chris. + +"Briggs is a nasty thing," he said, nestling his head contentedly on my +shoulder. + +"Granny will send you back to the corner if she hears you speak like +that," I said, with more confidence than I felt upon the subject. + +"She was so unkind to me; she isn't a kind Briggs," he said. "Do you +like her?" + +Then without waiting for an answer he went on: "I love my Granny best, +and Uncle Godfrey next, and you next, and Briggs last,--the most last." + +"If you were good to Briggs you would love her more," I said. + +"Would I?" he asked doubtfully. + +"Yes," I answered; "and though you are a happy little boy now, you would +be still happier then. There is nothing that makes us happier than to +love people very much and try to be kind to them." + +"Even Briggs?" he inquired, thoughtfully. + +"You should not talk of her like that," I said, trying not to smile. +"She is really very fond of you, and very kind to you. If she was angry, +it was because you were rude." + +Chris moved impatiently. He did not like that view of the case. There +was a pause, then: "Shall I tell you a story?" I asked. "I shall just +have time before you go to your tea." + +"I don't know," he answered, with some indifference. "I've heard them +all lots of times. Briggs has told them to me often and often--'Jack the +Giant-Killer', and 'Jack and the Beanstalk', and 'Red Riding-Hood', and +'Cinderella' ("I don't much like those two," he put in, with a touch of +masculine contempt, "'cause they're all about girls"), and 'Hop o' my +Thumb.' And the story of the Good Boy who had a cake, and gave it all +away to the Blind Beggar and his dog, except a tiny, weeny piece for +himself; and the Bad Boy who had a cake, and told a wicked story, and +said there never was one, 'cause he didn't want anyone else to have it; +and the Greedy Boy who had a cake, and ate it all up so fast he was +dreadfully sick. Briggs has told them all to me, and she says there +ain't no more stories to tell; leastways, if there are, she's never +heard tell of them." + +"If I were you I shouldn't say 'leastways', 'never heard tell', or +'ain't no more'," I remarked as he paused, out of breath. + +"Why not?" he asked. + +"They are not the expressions a gentleman uses," I answered. + +"Does a lady?" he asked with curiosity; "'cause Briggs does." + +"My dear child, never mind what Briggs does. We were not talking of +her," I replied. "You know I have told you before you should not always +ask so many questions. It is a troublesome habit." + +"Is it?" he said, with the utmost innocence. + +"Decidedly," I replied, and once more struggling not to mar the effects +of my words by smiling. "Well, about my story. It is not one of those +you have spoken of. I don't think that you have heard it." + +"Then tell it to me, please," he said, with a touch of condescension. + +"Well, once upon a time," I began, in the most approved fashion, "there +were two men who had a great hill to climb. It was a long and difficult +climb, but, if they only reached the top of that hill, they would be +fully rewarded for all their pains. I will tell you why. There was +there a beautiful country, where they would live and be happy for +evermore. It was such a beautiful country! The trees were always green, +the flowers never withered, and it was always sunny,--never a cloud to +be seen. The Lord of that country was not only very great and powerful, +but He was also very loving and good. He knew how wearying and difficult +that uphill journey was to the dwellers in the valley beneath. So, in +His love, He sent messengers to tell the travellers how they must +journey if they hoped ever to reach the beautiful country over which He +ruled. + +"One of these messengers came to the two men of whom I have spoken just +before they started on their journey, with these plain and simple +directions: + +"Follow the straight and narrow path that leads up-hill; you cannot +mistake it, for it goes right on without any curves or twists. You will +come across many rough and difficult places, but do not turn aside, +though the path leads you over them. You may see other paths that lead +round them, but don't turn off from the narrow one. Don't take the +others; they don't lead up, they lead down. The straight path is the +only right one. _Go straight on, don't be afraid._ These are my Lord's +directions. + +"'The journey is very tiring,' went on the messenger, 'and the sun will +beat down by and by with much fierceness, so that you will suffer at +times from great thirst. But, see, my Lord has sent you these!' As he +spoke, he held out two flasks. You cannot imagine anything so beautiful +as they were. They were made of pure gold, bright and shining, and +ornamented with diamonds that flashed and sparkled in the light like +fire. To each of the men the messenger gave a flask. + +"'Look,' he said, 'and you will find that they are filled with fresh, +clear water. This water is magic; it will never come to an end, and you +will never suffer from thirst, so long as you obey the order which my +Lord sends you. This is the order. Drink none yourself, but give of it +to all who need it. If you do so, your thirst will never overpower you. +But if you are churlish, and wish to keep it for yourself, some day you +will suffer--suffer terribly. By and by you will find, too, that there +is no water left, for the magic will all have gone! The beauty also of +your flasks will have all disappeared; the gold will have become dim, +the diamonds will have lost their sparkle, and you yourself will have no +power to go onwards and climb higher. Good-bye--remember that my Lord +waits to welcome you with love.' + +"Now, when he had given them these directions, the messenger went, and +after a while the two men started on their journey. + +"At first the hill went up so gently that they hardly noticed the +incline. The way did not appear very difficult in the beginning. They +went through a wood where the trees were all young, and the leaves a +tender green, as you see in the springtime, Chris, my dear. And the +sunlight fell through the trees and made a pattern on the ground, which +moved slowly and gracefully as the gentle breezes swayed the branches. +There were no rough places then, or, if there were, they were so slight +that the two travellers hardly remarked them. And as they walked along +they sang in the joy of their hearts; the sunshine, the soft light +breezes, the pretty wild flowers, the trees--all made them so glad and +so happy. Nor did they forget to give to all who passed by some of the +fresh, pure water out of their golden flasks. + +"By and by they came out of the pretty little wood, and the hill became +steeper, the rough places rougher and more frequent. + +"Then one grew impatient. He wanted to go on more quickly than he had +done hitherto. It seemed to him a waste of time to stop so often to give +to the passers-by that pure, refreshing water. Besides, he began to +doubt the truth of the message he had received. It did not seem possible +to him that he could give away the water in his flask and yet not +suffer from thirst. He resolved to keep it all for himself. Nor could he +believe that it was always necessary to follow the narrow path. It was a +different thing when it led through the pretty wood, but now that it led +so often over such difficult places, he determined to find an easier +one. Therefore he separated from his companion, and went his own way, +avoiding all the roughnesses of the road, and taking the paths that +seemed less hard. Nor did he any longer stop to offer to others the +magical water of his golden flask, he kept it all for himself, and let +the wearied and sad ones pass him by without compassion. + +"But he never remarked how dim the gold of the flask was growing, nor +how fast the water was diminishing. Nor did he see that instead of going +up he was really going down-hill, and that the paths he chose were +misleading him. In his hurry he never noticed this, till one sad day it +came upon him. + +"He had been feeling very tired and out of heart, for the way seemed so +long and tiring. Yet, he had been struggling on, hoping to find his rest +at last. On this day, however, he found that his strength had gone; he +could climb no further. He took out his flask, now so dim, hoping to +quench the terrible thirst that was overpowering him; but alas! alas! +there was hardly any water left; not nearly enough to revive him. So +there, by himself, sad and disappointed--for he knew that now he would +never see the happy land he had started for with such glorious +hopes,--he died--died all alone and uncared for! + +"And the other traveller? Well, he went straight on as the good Lord had +directed. Often the rough places were terribly rough, and the sharp +stones in the pathway wounded his feet sadly. Nevertheless, he never +turned aside; he went right on as he had been directed, whilst to all +those who passed by, thirsting for some of the beautiful, clear water +from his golden flask, he gave freely and willingly. Little children who +met him with tearful eyes went on their way laughing and singing. Older +people, also, who were too tired to cry, whose hearts were heavy with +many sorrows, drank of that water and went on their way refreshed. And +his golden flask remained bright, and the water within it undiminished, +right to the very end. + +"What was the end? Ah, it came sooner than he thought it would! The +journey was not so very long after all! And when he arrived at that +beautiful country, and his eyes saw 'The King in His beauty', he forgot +all about the rough places, and all about his past weariness. It was the +land of sunlight, you see, and the land of shadows passed from his +recollection for ever." + +"Is that all?" Chris inquired, as I paused. + +"Yes, that's all," I replied. + +"It's a very nice story," he said, patronizingly. "I like it almost as +much as 'Jack the Giant Killer' and 'Jack and the Beanstalk', and better +than 'Cinderella'." + +"Shall I tell you what it means?" I asked. + +He looked at me doubtfully. + +"Are you going to scold me?" he asked, moving restlessly on my knee; +"'cause I'm going to be a good boy now." + +"No, my dear, I'm not going to scold you," I said reassuringly. "I only +want to tell you what I mean by my story." + +"Will it take long?" he asked; "'cause I'm hungry, and want my tea." + +"No, it won't take long," I answered persuasively. "I will tell it to +you quickly. This is what it means. You know, Chris, God wants us all to +go to heaven and live with Him by and by. In His great love He has shown +us all the way; it is the way that the blessed Jesus went; a way that +sometimes takes us over hard and difficult places, but that always goes +up--never down. It is a way that leads us higher and higher, right away +to the happy land you were singing of last Sunday. But there is one +thing God has told us to do if we ever hope to reach that happy land--we +must love everyone. Just as the man who in my story reached the +beautiful land at last, just as he gave freely of the water in his +flask, so must we give freely of the love God has put into our hearts. +He has put it there, not that we should spend it on ourselves, but that +we should spend it on others. So long as we do that, so long will our +hearts remain pure and good as God wants them to be. And the more we +love everyone, the more we shall know of God, and the nearer we shall be +to heaven; for you see, dear, to know God is Heaven, and God is Love." + +I paused, and Chris looked contemplative. + +"I'm going to be like the good man, who gave away the water out of his +flask," he said, with the air of one taking a great resolution. "I'm +going to love everyone, and Briggs too." + +"I like to hear you say that," I said, stroking his head, with the +tumbled, golden curls. "Now, I think you had better go to your tea. +Briggs will be waiting for you." + +He jumped off my knee and went as far as the door, then came back to my +side. + +"Miss Beggarley," he said, putting his arms round my neck, "I want to +give you a great, good hug like I give my Granny. I love you very, very +much." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +CONCERNING EIGHT FLIES. + + +"If you please, mum, what am I to do about Master Chris's lessons? You +said you wished me to look over his clothes this morning, and I haven't +time for that and lessons too." Briggs looked inquiringly at Granny as +she spoke. + +"Of course not, of course not," said Granny. "Bring me his books, +Briggs; I will give them to him to-day." + +"Yes, Granny, you give me my lessons," exclaimed Chris, dancing with +glee and clapping his hands, evidently looking forward to a frivolous +hour in her company. + +"I hope, mum, you'll see he does no tricks," Briggs said, when she +returned with Chris's books. "He's very fond of them. He'll read over +what he's read before, with a face as innocent as a lamb's, and if I +don't remember he'll never say a word to remind me." + +"Go away, Briggs; I don't want you," the little beggar remarked with +more truth than politeness. + +"Master Chris, I shall always stay where my duty calls me," she answered +with loftiness, "as my mistress knows." + +"Certainly," Granny replied soothingly. "Chris, I cannot permit you to +speak to Briggs in such a way. Where are your lesson-books?" + +"Here, mum," Briggs said, producing two or three diminutive red books +and a tiny slate. + +"Thank you. Then you had better go and get on with your work," said +Granny, and Briggs left, with a last admonitory look at the little +beggar, which he received with one of defiance. + +"May Jack do lessons too? He's just outside," he asked as Granny opened +his reading-book. + +"Very well," she agreed, and he ran off to fetch him. He returned +presently, followed by his four-legged friend, who, selecting a sunny +spot near the window, lay basking there, blinking at us lazily with +sleepy eyes, as from time to time he roused himself to snap at the flies +within reach. + +"I want to get on your knee, my Granny," Chris said, suiting the action +to the word. + +"I don't think you will do your lessons so well," she said, doubtfully. + +"Oh yes, I will!" he replied coaxingly, and was allowed to remain. + +"Let us read this," he proposed, opening his book and pointing to a +page. + +"What is it? A little dialogue?" answered Granny. "Yes; it looks very +nice." + +"It's very difficult. So will you be the lady, and me the gentleman?" + +"Yes, if you would like that. But as I am helping you, you must be very +good, and read your very best." + +"My very, very best." + +There was a pause. + +"Now begin, my darling; we are losing so much time," Granny remarked. + +"Why, it's you to begin," Chris replied, with a touch of reproach at +having been unjustly censured. "Don't you see? You are Sue!" + +"Quite true, to be sure, so I am," the old lady said apologetically, +then began gently and precisely: + +"'_She._ Sir! sir! I am Sue. See me! see me! The cow has hit my leg! She +has hit her leg out up to my leg, and she has hit it and I cry! Boo! +boo!'" + +To this announcement of woe, Chris replied, or rather chanted in a +sing-song tone, and as loudly and rapidly as he could: + +"'_He._ Why, Sue, how is it? Why do you cry so? You are not to cry, Sue. +It is bad to cry. Put the cry out and let me see you gay.'" + +"Not so fast," Granny here remarked mildly; "not so fast, and not so +loud." + +"I want to finish it," he explained. "I want to get my lessons done very +quickly." + +"Ah! but they must be done properly. You see that, my darling, don't +you?" she said. Then continued: + +"'_She._ I am to cry, and to cry all the day. I am so bad and so ill, +and my leg is hit, and it is too bad of the cow to hit my leg.'" + +"'_He._ Did she hit you on the toe?'" + +"'_She._ No. She hit me by the hip, and it is a bad hip now, and she is +a bad, old, big cow, and she is not to eat rye or hay; no, not a bit of +it all the day.'" + +"'_He._ Not eat all the day! not eat rye, not eat hay!'" + +At this point, Granny stroked Chris's head and said commendingly: + +"You are reading very well now, very well indeed. You have made great +progress since I last heard you." + +The little beggar wagged his head solemnly. "I want to read well," he +stated gravely. "I want to read very well; then I shall read big books +like my Uncle Godfrey." + +"You are a good little boy," she said. "I am very pleased with the pains +my little Chris is taking." + +A suspicion crossed my mind. Was he indulging in one of the tricks of +which Briggs had forewarned Granny? + +"Have you ever read this before, Chris?" I asked. + +"Oh, yes; often and often!" he replied, with the utmost candour. + +"Oh, my darling, why did you ask me to let you read it now?" Granny +said, looking grieved. + +"'Cause I read it so well," he explained, without exhibiting any proper +shame. + +"Ah! but you might have known Granny didn't want an old lesson," she +said gravely. "It wasn't quite right; was it, Miss Baggerley?" + +"No; it wasn't fair," I assented. + +Chris hung his head. "I didn't mean not to be fair," he said, with +touching contrition. + +Granny's heart softened. "I don't believe you did, my Chris," she +remarked gently. + +Chris put his arms round her neck and hid his face on her shoulder. "I'm +very sorry," he mumbled. Then raising his head: + +"I am going to be a very fair boy," he said magnanimously, touched by +Granny's forgiveness; "I'm going to be a very fair boy, and I am going +to tell you that I don't know the lady's part as well as I know the +gentleman's part. Shall I be Sue, my Granny?" + +"Yes. Now that's an excellent idea," she said, with much satisfaction, +and glancing at me with a look of pride in her darling's noble +repentance. "I consider that an excellent idea, indeed; and I am very +pleased that you should have proposed it." + +Chris's face fell. "Don't you think that it is silly for a big boy like +me to be Sue?" he asked, with evident disappointment that his offer had +been accepted. + +"Not at all," Granny said. "It's only in a book, you see, my pet." + +"I don't like being a girl," he murmured. "I don't want to be Sue." + +"I thought, though, that you wanted to show Granny you were sorry for +not having told her you were reading an old lesson," I remarked. + +He sighed, without answering me; then after a pause, continued with an +effort and a hesitation that offered a striking contrast to the glib +manner of his previous reading: + +"'_She._ Yes; for why did she hit me? She is a big and bad old cow. See +her! See how fat she is! She is as fat as a sow. She has a fat hip, and +a fat rib, and a fat ear, and a fat leg, and a fat all.'" + +As he came to the end of the sentence he sighed once more, very heavily +and sadly, then waited. + +"Yes, yes, go on," Granny said, as he looked at her expectantly; "read +to the end, like my good little boy." + +He obeyed, but with a look of protest on his face, which changed to one +of injury, when, at the close of the one lesson, he found that Granny +intended him to read another. + +This was not what he had expected, and he was disappointed with her +accordingly. + +"That is just as much as I read with Briggs," he said, looking at her +with a world of reproach. + +"But you must read as much with me as you do with Briggs," she said, +looking slightly fatigued with the arduous duty of giving the little +beggar his lessons. + +"Why must I?" he asked. + +"Now, now, don't ask so many questions," she said slightly flustered. +"Begin here, my dear child." + +"'Ben! Ben! I can see a fly!'" he started impatiently, and stumbling +over the words in his haste; "'and the fly can fly, and the fly can die, +and the fly is shy, and can get to the pie, and can get on the rye! and +the fly can run, and can get on the bun, all for its fun! and the fly is +gay all the day, and oh, Ben! Ben! the fly is in my ear, so do put it +out of my ear.'"... Chris came to a stop, and leant his head back on +Granny's shoulder. + +"What a funny thing it must be to have a fly in your ear," he remarked +thoughtfully. "Have you ever had a fly in your ear, Granny?" + +"Never, my darling," said the long-suffering old lady patiently; "go +on." + +Chris obeyed; now, however, reading in a listless fashion, as if he had +no further energy left. + +He continued without a breath, until he reached the following: "Ah, but +now it has got in the oil. Oh, fly, fly, why do you go to the oil?" + +This was too good an opportunity to be lost. + +"Granny," he said idly, and yawning as he spoke, "I want to ask you +something." + +"Yes, my Chris," she said inquiringly. + +"Why did the fly go to the oil?" he asked with feigned interest. + +"My darling, how can I possibly tell you?" she exclaimed. "See, you are +slipping right off my knee. You can't read properly so." + +Chris scrambled back to his former position, and then continued reading +in a desultory fashion. + +"'Oil is bad for a fly. So, now I put you out of the oil, and now I say +you are to get dry. Ah! but now the fly is on the pot of jam, and it is +on the jar and in the jam. The red jam, the new jam, the big jar of +jam.'" + +"How nice!" he exclaimed, with more enthusiasm. "May I have some red jam +for my tea to-day?" + +"If you are a good boy, and read right on to the end of the lesson +without stopping," she replied. Thus encouraged, Chris with an effort +toiled to the conclusion without any further pauses. + +"'By, by! Wee fly!' Now must I do my sums?" he asked all in a breath as +he came to the end. + +"Yes; I think you had better," Granny replied, holding the slate-pencil +between her fingers and looking meditatively at the slate. "I will write +you out one." + +"_Sometimes_ Briggs doesn't write horrid sums on the slate; _sometimes_ +she asks me sums she makes up out of her head," he said, insinuatingly. +"I like that better, it is much, much nicer." + +"Sometimes Briggs asks you sums out of her head, does she?" Granny +repeated, putting down the slate-pencil. "Well, now, what shall I ask +you?" + +"Something about Jack," he said, getting off her knee and sitting on the +ground beside the dog. "He's such a naughty, lazy, little doggie; he's +done no lessons at all. Now, listen, Jackie, and do a sum with me. If +Granny asks me something about you, you must think just as much as me. +Mustn't he, Granny?" + +"Of course, of course," she replied absently. "I'm to ask you something +about Jack, my darling. Let me see, what shall it be?" + +She looked at Jack for a moment as she spoke, who blinked back at her +inquiringly, as if to ask, "What are you all talking so much about me +for?" + +Then with a look of inspiration: + +"I know," she said. "There were six--no, there were eight flies. Jack +swallowed one--yes, he swallowed one, he ate another--let me see, how +many flies did I say? Eight flies? Yes, eight. Well, he swallowed one, +and he ate one, and"--she took off her spectacles and thought a +moment--"he bit another in halves. + +"Yes, that will do," she said with satisfaction. "He swallowed one, he +ate another, and he bit another in halves. How many flies were left to +fly away?" + +Chris knitted his brows. "Lots," he replied, as he pulled one of Jack's +ears. + +"Come, come, think," Granny said reprovingly. "He swallowed one--that +left how many?" + +"Seven," said Chris. + +"Very good. He ate another?" she went on-- + +"That left six," the little beggar said, looking very astute. + +"That's right. And he bit another in halves. Then, how many were left to +fly away?" she asked with mild triumph. + +"Five and a half," answered Chris. Then thoughtfully: "How did the +half-fly fly away, my Granny? P'r'aps Jack only ate the body and left +the wings. Was that how it happened?" + +"My pet shouldn't ask such silly questions," Granny said, speaking more +testily than she generally did. "I only said, _supposing_ there were +eight flies." + +"Well, supposing," Chris persisted; "how would the half-fly fly away +then?" + +"It wouldn't, it couldn't. You see, my darling, it would be dead," the +old lady said, becoming flurried. + +"But you said it would," Chris said with some perplexity. + +"There, there, that will do," she said. "You are a silly little boy to +think such a thing. We must get on with your other lessons, for the time +is passing." + +"Shall I have a holiday now?" he suggested lazily. + +"No, no; that would never do," she said. "You had better do some more +sums; but on the slate. Miss Baggerley, will you be so kind as to give +them to him. That, with a little spelling and a copy, will, I think, be +sufficient for to-day;" and the old lady, leaning back in her arm-chair, +closed her eyes with an exhausted expression. + +"Miss Beggarley," said Chris in a coaxing voice--he never failed thus to +distort my name--"may I get on your knee and do my lessons, like I did +on Granny's?" + +"No, you had better not," I said, hardening my heart. "How do you expect +to write well if you sit on my knee?" + +"'Cause I know I could," he replied confidently. + +"No, no," I said firmly; "we won't try. Come here; you sit on this chair +and write this copy. Now show me how well you can write and spell. I +know a boy no older than you, and he writes and spells beautifully for +his age." + +"Better than me?" Chris asked anxiously. + +"Well, write and spell your very best, and then I shall be able to +tell," I replied with caution. The mention of my small friend of +advanced powers as scribe and speller proved a happy thought on my part. +The effect was excellent. Chris's mood changed; his lazy fit passed away +in a burning desire to emulate--not to say outdistance--his unknown +rival. With frowning brow and tongue between his teeth, he laboured +assiduously at his copy, without uttering a word, whilst Granny, lulled +by the quiet which prevailed, slept the sleep of the just. + +I felt, indeed I had cause to be, fully satisfied with the result of my +remark, for its effects lasted not only whilst the copy was being +written but even through the spelling-lesson; an effect that could +hardly have been anticipated when the varying moods of that little +beggar were taken into consideration. + +As I closed the spelling-book, "Miss Beggarley," he said, gazing at me +with anxious eyes, "have I written my writing and spelt my spelling as +well as that other boy?" + +"Yes, I really think you have; at least very nearly." + +"P'r'aps I shall quite, to-morrow." + +"Perhaps you will--if you take great pains." + +"Shall I kiss my Granny?" + +"No, you will wake her up." + +"Why does she want to go to sleep? She often goes to sleep when she does +my lessons. Do boys' lessons always make old people sleepy?" + +"That depends on the little boy who does them," I replied gravely. "If +he tires his granny very much, it is not surprising that she should go +to sleep." + +Chris looked thoughtful. + +"Have I been a good boy?" he said. + +"You were inattentive at the beginning, dear," I replied, "but you were +good afterwards." + +"Then I shall tell Briggs I have been a good boy," he remarked with +satisfaction. And with a certain expression of anticipated triumph upon +his face, he walked off, followed by Jack, his constant and faithful +companion. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TEACHING JACKY TO SWIM. + + +"Tell you a story? What shall it be about? I thought you were tired of +stories." Granny spoke a trifle drowsily. It was very warm that +September afternoon--an afternoon that made you feel more inclined to +sleep than to tell stories. + +But Chris was not to be denied. + +"I want a story very much," he said; "very much indeed." + +"Perhaps Miss Baggerley would tell you one," suggested Granny. "I am +sure it would be a more interesting one than any I could think of." + +"I don't want anyone to tell me a story but you," answered the little +tyrant wilfully; "only you, my Granny." + +"Then I will, my darling," she replied, plainly gratified at this +preference so strongly expressed. "But you must wait a moment," she went +on, "I shall have to think." + +She closed her eyes as she spoke, and there was silence, broken only by +the sounds of the world without carried through the open windows--the +lazy hum of the bees amongst the flowers, the gentle, monotonous cooing +of the wood-pigeons in the trees, the far-off voices of children at +play. + +Presently the little beggar became impatient. + +"Why don't you begin, Granny?" he asked, pulling her sleeve as he leant +against her knee. + +She started from a slight doze into which she had fallen. + +"Let me see," she said with a start; "I had just thought of a very nice +story, but I was trying to recollect the end. I think I remember it +now." + +"There was once a very beautiful Newfoundland dog," she began hurriedly. +"Yes, he was a very beautiful dog indeed." + +"How beautiful?" interrupted Chris, with his usual aptitude for asking +questions. "As beautiful as Jacky?" + +"I think more beautiful," she replied, without pausing to consider. + +"Then he was a nasty dog," he said, with vehemence. "I don't like a dog +what is more beautiful than my Jacky." + +"He was such a different kind of dog," she said deprecatingly. "A +Newfoundland dog cannot very well be compared with a fox-terrier, my +pet." + +"What was his name?" asked the little beggar, accepting Granny's +explanation and letting the matter pass. + +"Rover; that was what he was called," she replied. "His little mistress +loved him dearly," she continued. + +"Did he belong to a _girl_?" Chris inquired, with some contempt on the +substantive. + +"Yes; and they always used to go out for pleasant walks together," she +went on. "But never near the river, for she had said many a time, +'Don't go near the river, my darling, for it is not safe; not for a +little girl like you'." + +"Who said that?" he asked, speaking with some impatience. "The little +girl--or what?" + +"The little girl's mother," replied Granny, a trifle drowsily. + +"You're going to sleep again!" Chris exclaimed reproachfully. "Oh, +Granny, how can you tell me a story when you're asleep?" + +"Asleep! Oh no, my darling," she said opening her eyes. "Well, one day, +I am sorry, very sorry to say, Eliza--" + +"Was that the little girl's name?" inquired Chris. + +"Yes," she answered. "Didn't I tell you her name was Eliza? Dear, dear, +how forgetful of me! As I was saying, Eliza thought, in spite of her +father's and mother's command, she would go to the river, for she wished +to pick some of the water-lilies which grew there in such profusion." + +"How naughty of Eliza!" exclaimed Chris, with virtuous indignation. + +"Yes, very naughty; very naughty indeed," agreed Granny, her voice again +becoming sleepy. "It was sadly disobedient." + +There was another pause, during which Chris listened expectantly, and +the old lady once more closed her eyes. + +"Oh, Granny! do go on," said the anxious little listener fervently. + +"She picked several which grew near the river's brink," the old lady +continued with an effort, "and at first all went well. But at last she +saw a beautiful--a remarkably beautiful one that grew just out of her +reach. It was a most dangerous thing to attempt to pick it, but she did +not think of that, for she was very, very thoughtless as well as +disobedient. Bending forward, heedless of her father's warning call, and +her poor dear mother's sorrowful cry, she lost her balance, +and--fell--right--into--the--river." + +The last few words were uttered in a whisper, Granny's sleepiness having +once more overtaken her, bravely as she struggled against it. + +"How drefful!" said Chris, with wide-open eyes. "Was poor Eliza +drownded? Oh, I hope she wasn't! Did she get out? Oh, say yes, Granny! +And where did her father and mother call to her from? Right from the +house? 'Cause I thought you said she was alone." + +But the only answer to his torrent of questions was a gentle snore. The +time he had occupied in pouring forth these queries had sufficed to send +Eliza's historian asleep. + +Chris's little face fell. + +"My Granny has gone quite asleep," he remarked with much disappointment. +"Now I shall never know if Eliza was drownded or not. P'r'aps she's +only pretending. I'll see if her eyes are fast-shut," he added, +preparing to put Granny to the test by lifting one of her eyelids. + +"Don't do that, Chris," I said hastily. "Come here, I'll tell you the +rest of the story." + +"Do you know it?" he asked doubtfully. + +"I can guess it," I replied, as he crossed the room to my side. + +"Then what happened to poor Eliza?" he inquired anxiously; "and did +Rover help her? Oh! I do hope he did." + +"Well," I started, taking up the story at the point at which Granny had +dozed off, "when her father and mother--who were near enough to see what +had occurred--realized the danger their little daughter was in, they +were filled with horror. It seemed as if they were going to see her die +before their eyes; for they were so far off that it looked as if it were +not possible to get to her before she sunk. And this is just what would +have taken place had not help been at hand. Eliza, her water-lilies, and +her disobedient, little heart would have sunk to the bottom of the river +for ever, had it not been for--what do you think Chris?" + +"I know, I know!" he cried, clapping his hands. "It was Rover; the good +dog. He swam after her." + +"You are right," I said. "There was a plunge, and there was Rover +swimming to the help of his little mistress. For a minute it appeared as +if the current was carrying her away, and as if he would not reach her +in time. How, then, shall I describe her father and her mother's joy +when they saw him succeed in doing so, and, seizing her by the dress, +bring her safely to the river's bank! No," as Chris looked at me with +inquiring eyes, "she was not hurt; only very wet, and very frightened." + +"I 'spect she was very, very frightened," Chris said, loudly and +eagerly; "and I 'spect she never, never went near the river +again,--never again. Did she?" + +"No, my darling," Granny said, awakened by his loud and eager tones in +time to hear his last question, and sitting up and rubbing her eyes; +"she was never such a naughty little girl again. She expressed great +sorrow for what had occurred, and she learnt to be more obedient for the +future. Indeed, she became so remarkable for her obedience, my pet, that +they always called her by the name of 'the obedient little Eliza'." + +"Now nice!" Chris remarked with unction. "You've been fast asleep, my +Granny," he informed her, with a laugh--pitying and amused. + +"Dear, dear, is it possible?" she said. + +"Yes, and Miss Beggarley had to finish the story," he continued. + +"I'm much obliged to you, my dear, I'm sure," Granny said gratefully. + +"I hope I told it as you intended it to be told," I said laughing. + +"You told it just as it should have been, I am fully convinced," she +answered with gentle politeness; "much better than I should have +myself." + +"But she never told me what happened to Rover afterwards," put in Chris. + +"He lived to a great age," answered Granny, adjusting her spectacles and +resuming her knitting, "and was loved and honoured by all. And when he +died he was beautifully stuffed and put into a glass case." + +"I wish he hadn't died, my Granny," said the little beggar mournfully, +unconsoled by the honour paid to Rover's remains. Then, with a sudden +change of thought: "Can Jack swim like he did, I wonder." + +"That I can't say, my darling," Granny replied, intent on her work. + +"I think I had better teach him," the little beggar said, looking very +wise; "'cause if you, or Miss Beggarley, or me, or Briggs felled into +the water like Eliza, Jacky could bring us out, and save us from being +drownded." + +"Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine," murmured Granny, busy +counting the stitches on her sock, and too much occupied to pay +attention to what Chris said. "Twenty-nine! Now, how have I gone wrong? +Miss Baggerley, my dear, would you be so kind as to see if you can find +out my mistake?" + +"I know!" exclaimed Chris, as Granny handed me her work; "I know very +well what I will do. I'll--," and he stopped short. + +"What will you do, my pet?" asked Granny, a little absently, watching me +as I put her knitting right. + +But Chris shook his head. "A surprise!" he said, and closed his lips +firmly. + +I felt that it would be safer for the interests of all to probe the +matter further, and was about to do so, when there was a tap at the +door, and Briggs entered. + +"Master Chris," she said, "it's time for your walk." + +Now, generally the little beggar murmured much and loudly when he was +interrupted by Briggs. On this occasion, however, he showed no +disinclination to go with her, but on the contrary went with alacrity. + +"I think he is really becoming fond of her," Granny remarked with some +satisfaction when they had gone. "Perhaps, after all, I shall not have +to send her away at Christmas, as I feared I should have to if she and +Chris did not understand each other better. I shall be very glad if I +can let her stay, for although she has an unsympathetic manner--yes, I +must say that she strikes me as being extremely unsympathetic to the +darling at times; don't you think so, my dear?--yet I know that she is +thoroughly reliable and trustworthy." + +"I wonder if Chris's readiness to go with her had anything to do with +his 'surprise'," I answered. "It looks to me a little suspicious, I must +own. I hope he has not any mischievous idea in his little head." + +"Oh, no, my dear!" she replied, almost reproachfully; "the darling is as +good as gold. There never was a better child when he likes. No, no, he +is not at all inclined to be troublesome to-day; I think you are +mistaken." + +I kept silence, for I saw that dear old Granny was not altogether +pleased at my suggestion. Nevertheless, in spite of her reassuring +words, I did not feel convinced that the little beggar was not going to +give us some fresh proof of his remarkable powers for getting into +mischief. And further events justified my fears. + +I will tell you how this happened. + +About half an hour later I was taking a stroll in the garden, when, +turning my steps in the direction of the pond, I suddenly came upon +Chris, accompanied by Briggs. That something was amiss was at once +evident. Briggs was walking along, with her air of greatest +dignity--and that, I assure you, was very great indeed,--whilst Chris, +by her side, was also making his little attempt at being dignified. + +But it was the sorriest attempt you can imagine! + +Dripping from head to foot, water running in little rivulets from his +large straw hat upon his face, water dripping from his clothes soaked +through and through, and making little pools on the garden-path as he +pursued his way--a more forlorn, miserable-looking little object it was +impossible to conceive. + +In spite of this, however, he would not let go of that attempt at +dignity. With his hands in his pockets, and his head thrown back, he +whistled as he walked along, with the most defiant expression he could +assume upon that naughty little face of his. + +And the procession was brought up by Jack, with his tail between his +legs, also dripping and shivering violently. + +Directly Chris saw me the defiant expression instantly vanished, and +running to me, he buried his face in my dress and wept at the top of his +voice. + +"What is the matter, Chris?" I asked. "What has happened? What have you +been doing?" + +"What _hasn't_ happened, and what _hasn't_ he been doing?" said Briggs, +coming up and speaking very angrily. "And what will happen next? That's +what I ask." + +"What has happened now?" I repeated. + +"One of Master Chris's tricks again, that's all," she said, still +angrily, as we all walked on to the house. + +"I was--teach-teach--teaching J-J-Jack to--to swim--like Ro-Ro--Rover," +the little beggar said between violent sobs, and bringing out the last +word with a great gasp. + +"Teaching Jack to swim like Rover!" I repeated. + +"Yes," exclaimed Briggs, with much sarcasm; "and it was a mighty clever +thing for Master Chris to do, seeing as how he can't swim himself. + +"It was just like this, mum," she explained, as she hastened her steps, +"(I think we had better hurry a bit if Master Chris isn't to take his +death of cold. He'll be in bed to-morrow unless I'm much mistaken!) I +was just speaking to one of the gardeners about a pot of musk we wanted +in the nursery. I hadn't turned my back two minutes before I hear a +splash and Master Chris crying out at the top of his voice, and when I +look around there he is struggling nearly up to his neck in water, and +Jacky struggling along by his side. Well, here we are back; we'll see +what my mistress thinks of it all. I'll be bound she won't be over and +above pleased. As for me, I can only say I am more than thankful it was +at the shallow part of the pond; if it had been at the deep end, there's +no saying if he wouldn't have been lying there now stiff and stark." + +At this woeful picture of himself, Chris's grief, which had become +slightly subdued, burst forth afresh, and as we entered the hall he +sobbed more loudly and more violently than before. So loudly and so +violently that the sound of his grief penetrated to the library where +Granny was sitting, and brought her out into the hall, frightened and +anxious to know what was wrong. + +"He nearly drowned himself, that's what is the matter, mum," answered +Briggs, with a certain gloomy satisfaction, in reply to the old lady's +anxious questions. "It's nothing but a chance he isn't at the bottom of +the deepest end of the pond at this very same minute that I speak to +you!" + +At this startling, not to say overwhelming statement, Granny became +quite white, and, holding on to a chair near at hand, did not speak. + +"There is nothing for you to alarm yourself about, Mrs. Wyndham," I said +quietly.--"Chris, stop crying; you are frightening Granny.--He managed +to fall into the pond, trying to teach Jack to swim, but it was at the +shallow end, so there was no danger." + +Thus reassured, Granny looked at me with relief. + +"Thank God!" she said earnestly, as she kissed the little beggar +thankfully, all wet and tear-stained as he was. + +Then, with an attempt to control her emotion, but speaking in a voice +that trembled in spite of herself: + +"Come, come," she said to Briggs, "we must not waste time in talking. We +must put Master Chris to bed at once, and get him warm. See how he +shivers. Yes, come upstairs at once, my darling, and I will hear all +about it by and by." + +And, together with Briggs and the cause of all the confusion, she went +upstairs to take precautions for the prevention of the ill consequences +likely to follow upon his rash deed. It was some time before she came +downstairs again, and when she did so she looked worried. + +"I am afraid, very much afraid, he has caught a chill," she remarked. +"He so easily does that." + +"Perhaps you may have prevented it," I said hopefully. + +"I wish I could think so," she replied, shaking her head; "but I much +fear that it cannot be altogether prevented. He is not strong, you see, +my dear." + +"And to think," she went on admiringly; "to think the darling ran that +risk all because of his loving little heart; because he feared that +some day we might be in danger of being drowned, and that if Jack could +swim we should be rescued. Isn't it just like the pet to think of it?" + +"It is," I agreed with conviction; adding cautiously, "It would have +been better, I think, if he had told you of his idea before trying to +put it into effect. It would have given everyone less trouble." + +"He wished to surprise us all by showing us he had by himself taught +Jack to swim," Granny returned, quick to defend her darling. "No, no, I +see how it happened; he was thoughtless but not naughty. Indeed, I take +what blame there is to myself. I should have considered, before I told +him the story of Eliza and her dog Rover, the effect it was likely to +have upon an active, quick little brain like his." + +I smiled. It was quite plain that dear old Granny in her loving way +wished to take all the blame upon her own willing shoulders, and to +spare that incorrigible little beggar.... + +It was some three days after this, and I was sitting in the nursery by +Chris's crib, trying to amuse him and wile away the time until Briggs +came back with the lamp, when it would be the hour for him to say +good-night and go to sleep. The bright September afternoon was drawing +to a close, and twilight was beginning to fall. + +In spite of all Granny's precautions he had not escaped from the +consequences of his tumble into the pond, but had caught a severe chill, +and so had had to stay in bed for these last three days. He was very +sweet and gentle in his weakness, that poor little beggar; partly, I +think, because he felt too tired to be mischievous, and also, I am glad +to say, because he loved his Granny very dearly and was truly sorry for +the fright he had given her. I had been telling him stories for the last +half-hour, but having now come to the end of my resources, for the +moment we were quiet. + +With his hand in mine, Chris lay looking out through the window at the +stars as they came out slowly, slowly in the gathering darkness. + +Presently he asked: + +"Do you like the stars? I like them very much." + +"Yes, Chris," I answered; "so do I." + +"I think they are the most beautifullest things," he remarked with +enthusiasm. + +"Yes, they are," I replied. "They are like the great and loving deeds of +God, falling in a bright shower from heaven upon the earth beneath." + +"When I go to heaven, will God give me some stars if I ask Him very +much?" Chris inquired, most seriously. "P'r'aps if I ask Him every day +in my prayers till I'm dead He will then." + +I smiled a little. + +"No, darling," I said, smoothing his hair gently; "the stars are not the +little things they seem to you. You see, they are worlds like our world. +It is only because they are such thousands and thousands of miles away +that they look to you so small." + +Chris pondered over this for a moment or two, then he said thoughtfully: + +"Miss Beggarley, I want to ask you, when the good man got to the top of +the hill, did he see that the stars were big worlds and not little, tiny +things?" + +"Yes," I replied, half to him, half to myself; "he saw then that those +things which, at the foot of the hill, had seemed to him so small and so +far away he had given them but little consideration, were in reality +great, and beautiful, and worlds in their importance. And he saw, too, +that the things which in the valley beneath had appeared to him of such +infinite value were by comparison poor and valueless, not worthy the +thought he had given them or the pain they had so often caused him...." + +I heard a footstep, and looking round, saw that Briggs had come back. + +"I must go now," I said to Chris, kissing him. "It is time for you to +sleep. Good-night, dear!" + +"Good-night!" he said, then turned his head towards the window and lay +still, gazing solemnly with big, sleepy eyes at the stars that shone +without. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE DOCTOR'S HEAD! + + +As Chris regained his strength he also regained his love of mischief--a +state of affairs that proved somewhat trying. To keep him in bed and to +keep him good was not a very easy task. + +"The trouble it is, mum, words can't tell," Briggs said to me with +fervour one evening when I had come upstairs to see that Chris was +comfortably settled for the night. "If I turn my back for a moment he is +half out of bed," she said, as she detained me for a moment as I went +through the day-nursery. "He is that full of mischief I hardly know what +to do with him." + +"It shows he is getting strong again," I said, half smiling. + +"It's the only way I can get any comfort," she said, sighing. + +Poor Briggs! She really looked tired as she spoke, and I felt sorry for +her. + +"You look very tired," I remarked. + +"I've had bad enough nights lately to make me so," she replied. "Master +Chris--he is always waking up and coughing and coughing till I'm nearly +driven wild. It's my belief it's the barley-sugar has got something to +do with it. Ever since the doctor said some had better be given to him +when he got coughing it seems to me his cough has got a deal worse." + +"Why don't you put a little by his crib?" I suggested; "then he needn't +wake you up when he wants it." + +"I did try that last night," she answered, "but by the time I went to +bed myself he had eaten it all up, and there wasn't a scrap of it left." + +"I think he will be well enough to get up soon," I said hopefully. + +"I think so too," she replied. "It was only yesterday I said so to Dr. +Saunders, but he didn't seem to think the same. + +"I don't altogether hold with him," she continued, with a return of her +usual dignified manner; "and so I told my mistress this morning. He is +over-careful, and I've no belief in these medical gentlemen who are +given that way. When he comes to-morrow--There, if I didn't forget!" she +interrupted herself to exclaim. + +"What have you forgotten, Briggs?" I asked. + +"My mistress asked me in particular to remind the doctor that he said +Master Chris would be the better of a tonic, but he had forgotten to +leave the prescription," she answered. "I never thought of it this +morning when he was here." + +"I should make a note of it," I suggested. + +"Which is the very thing I'll do," she assented. "I'll write it down now +on Master Chris's slate whilst it is in my mind. It's the only way to +remember things, I do believe. + +"Though it is my opinion, mum," she added, as she carried out her +intention; "though it's my opinion a physician should not need reminding +of such things. But there! he is always forgetting something. He has no +head! I should like to know where it is sometimes, for it isn't always +on his shoulders, I'll be bound!" + +"How can the doctor's head not be on his shoulders?" asked a puzzled +little voice. "'Cause he'd be quite dead if he had no head." + +At this unexpected interruption Briggs and I looked in the direction +whence the voice proceeded, and saw a little figure standing on the +threshold of the door that led into the night-nursery. A little figure, +in a long white nightgown, with tumbled, golden hair falling about the +flushed little face, and two great violet eyes shining like stars, and +dancing with mischief and glee. + +I confess I felt a weak desire to take that naughty but bewitching +little beggar in my arms, and kiss him in spite of all his sins. But +Briggs experienced no such weakness. + +"Master Chris!" she exclaimed in horrified amazement; "what next, I +should like to know? This is past everything." + +Then snatching him up in her arms, she carried him back to bed, +struggling and vehemently protesting at being treated in so summary and +undignified a fashion. + +As for me, I presently went downstairs laughing, with the sound of +Chris's voice still ringing in my ears: + +"Put me down, Briggs. I will be a good boy. I don't want to be carried +like a baby." Then with his usual persistency: "But I want to know--why +do you say that the doctor sometimes has no head on his shoulders, +'cause how could he live without a head?" Then again, in the most +insinuating of voices: "Shall I tell the doctor about the medicine he +forgot, and shall I write down all the things you want to know, and all +the things I want to know, and everything. Would I be a good boy if I +did? I want some barley-sugar, 'cause my cough's drefful bad." + +"Chris is certainly recovering," I said to Granny when I joined her in +the drawing-room, and told her what had occurred. "He is quite in his +usual spirits again." + +"His is a happy disposition, is it not?" she said, with satisfaction. +"The child is like a sunbeam in the house; so merry, so bright!" + +The next morning, however, the sunbeam was comparatively still; not +dancing, gay, and restless, as sunbeams often are. + +The little beggar was in one of his quiet moods--moods of rare +occurrence with him, as you will have gathered. + +"The darling is like a lamb," Granny remarked when she came downstairs; +"very gentle and so good. He wants you to go and sit with him a little, +if you are not busy, my dear." + +"Certainly," I said, and went up to the nursery to see Chris in this +edifying role. + +I found him busy, drawing strange hieroglyphics on a large sheet of +foolscap paper with a red-lead pencil. As I entered he looked up at me +for a moment with a preoccupied expression, then said mysteriously: + +"Miss Beggarley, what do you think I am doing?" + +"I don't know," I replied. "What is it? Let me see." + +"No, no, no!" he cried, bending over the paper, "you mustn't see. I +don't want you to know." + +"Then why did you ask me?" I inquired. + +"'Cause I wanted to see if you could guess," he said. + +"It's nothing naughty, is it?" I asked. + +"Oh no!" he replied in the most virtuous of voices, "it's very good. + +"I've done now," he remarked a few minutes later, sitting up and putting +the sheet of foolscap and the red-lead pencil under his pillow. "When I +get better will you play horses with me? You said you would, and you +never have." + +"That is very wrong of me," I answered. "Yes, I will play with you when +you are better." + +"When will the doctor come?" he suddenly asked with some eagerness. + +"Very soon now, I think," I replied. "It is just about his time." + +"Will you be a lame horse when you play, or a well horse?" + +"Which of the two horses has the least work?" + +"The lame horse." + +"Then I'll be the lame horse." + +"Is that the doctor?" + +I listened. "Wait a moment, I'll see," I replied, and went to the +day-nursery. + +Yes, it was the doctor. I could hear him and Granny talking as they +walked along the passage; Granny on her favourite topic--the virtues of +her darling. + +"Yes," she was saying, in answer to some observation of her companion's, +"he really shows a great deal of character for one so young. But he has +done that from the earliest, from the very earliest age. When he was a +baby of but a few weeks old, he would clutch hold of his bottle with +such resolution, such tenacity, that it was, I assure you, a difficult +matter to take it from him." + +"Quite so, quite so," the doctor answered blandly as they entered; "as +you say, great tenacity of purpose. + +"Well," I heard him continue, after having passed through the +day-nursery to the one beyond; "well, and how are we to-day?" + +"Quite well," answered the little beggar's voice cheerfully. + +"Quite well? We couldn't be better, could we?" he said jocularly. "Yes, +I think we are looking so much better we may get up to-day, and go for a +walk in the sun to-morrow. What do you say, Master Chris?" + +"I want to ask you a lot," I heard Chris say importantly. + +"Very well," replied the doctor good-naturedly, "let us hear it;" at +which point curiosity prompted me to go to the door of the night-nursery +and look in. + +Chris was in the act of drawing, with no little pomp, the large sheet of +foolscap from beneath his pillow. + +"Read it," he said, handing it to the doctor with pride. "I've printed +it all myself." + +The doctor laughed as he glanced at it. + +"I think," he said, "you had better read it to me yourself, my little +man." + +"All right!" answered Chris. "It's all questions I want to ask you. I've +written them down in case I forget them." + +I here saw Briggs glance up uneasily, and was myself conscious of some +feeling of disquietude. Could Chris's questions have anything to do with +Briggs' remarks of the previous evening? A recollection came back to me +which, till that moment, had slipped from my mind. Had not I heard a +suggestion made by a naughty, struggling little mortal being carried +back to bed against his will? "Shall I write down all the things you +want to know, and all the things I want to know, and everything?" + +A presentiment of coming confusion came upon me, and I half stepped +forward to try and stop Chris going further in his proposed catechism. +But I was too late; he started without delay. + +"May I have sugar-candy for my cough instead of barley-sugar, 'cause +I've eaten so much barley-sugar?" he began pompously. + +"Certainly," replied the doctor laughing; "we won't make any difficulty +about that." + +I gave an involuntary sigh of relief at hearing so harmless a question, +whilst Briggs looked less anxious, and Granny smiled. + +"Shall I be well enough to run my hoop to-morrow?" he went on, loudly +and slowly, pretending to read from the sheet of foolscap he held. "I +have a new one, and I'm tired of not running it," he added. + +"Very well, we'll see," the doctor answered. "If the sun is out I +daresay we shall be able to run our hoop a little bit to-morrow. But we +must be careful not to over-tire ourselves. Anything more, my little +man?" + +"Yes. Why did you forget to leave the 'scription for my tonic +yesterday?" continued Chris. "And will you remember it to-day?" + +The doctor laughed, but with some constraint. Briggs looked up +anxiously, and the smile vanished from Granny's face. + +"What! Are we so fond of medicine?" the doctor asked, trying to speak as +before, but unable to prevent a touch of annoyance being heard in his +voice. "Little boys don't generally care for it so much. Yes, I will +leave the prescription to-day." + +"There, there, that will do," interposed Granny nervously, moving +towards the door. + +"But there is one other question I want to ask very much," Chris said, +again feigning to refer to his paper. + +"Yes?" said the doctor inquiringly, pausing in his progress towards the +door. + +"What do you do with your head when it isn't on your shoulders?" he +asked, with the innocent expression always to be seen upon his face when +he was creating the greatest awkwardness. + +At this question Briggs became scarlet, looked as if she were about to +speak, then appeared to alter her mind, and, turning her back, busied +herself arranging the medicine-bottles on a little table near the crib. +The doctor himself appeared more bewildered than anything else. + +"What do you mean?" he said. "Where can my head be except on my +shoulders?" + +"Well, that was what I thought," Chris said, triumphantly. "I said you'd +be dead if your head was off your shoulders." + +"I should have concluded that everyone must have been of the same +opinion," he said, still mystified, whilst Granny shook her head gently, +and frowned at the little beggar, hoping to prevent any further +discussion of the subject. A futile hope. Chris was resolved to go to +the bottom of the matter. + +"Well, Briggs said it wasn't!" he exclaimed, "and what did she mean?" + +The doctor's expression of mystification changed to one of annoyance, as +he remarked with no little displeasure: + +"I think you had better ask Briggs herself for an explanation of her +remark," then left, accompanied by Granny--poor Granny, awkward and +mortified beyond measure at the embarrassing situation. + +As for Briggs--who had certainly been the principal sufferer--her +indignation burst out as soon as we saw the last of the doctor. + +"Well, I never!" she exclaimed indignantly. Then with increased wrath, +"Well, I never did!" After which two exclamations she paused to find +suitable words in which to condemn the enormities of which Chris had +been guilty. + +For his part, he was not in the least disturbed by the general +embarrassment--the only one who was not. + +He gazed up at Briggs with an expression of injured innocence. + +"Are you cross, Briggs?" he asked. "Have I been naughty?" + +"Have you been naughty, Master Chris?" she asked, with wrathful sarcasm. +"Oh, no! there _never_ was such a well-behaved young gentleman." + +"Surely, Chris," I said, coming into the night-nursery, "you knew that +you had no business to repeat to Dr. Saunders what Briggs said to me?" + +He hung his head a little guiltily. + +"I wanted him to 'member about the tonic," he replied; "and I did want +to know what Briggs meant about his head coming off his shoulders. +Wasn't I a good boy?" + +He received his answer, however, from Granny, who returned at this +moment, a bright spot glowing in each of her faded, pink cheeks. + +"My Chris!" she said, "my darling! What foolish thought made you ask +such questions?" + +Chris wrinkled his brows. "I want to be a very good boy and please you," +he said querulously, and with a tremble in his voice; "and now Briggs +scolds me, and now you scold me, and now I'm very unhappy." + +"But don't you see, my pet," Granny said, more calmly; "don't you see +what rude questions you asked Dr. Saunders? Oh, I felt ashamed of my +little Chris!" + +The little beggar at this point crawled to the bottom of his crib. + +"I shall stay down here," said a muffled voice. "I shall stay here +always and never come back again, as my Granny is so unkind." + +"But you must see," she reiterated, addressing a shapeless mass of +bed-clothes, "that you asked the kind doctor very naughty questions, and +very silly ones too. Did you not understand when Briggs said that he had +no head, she meant that he had a bad memory, my child? Did you not +understand that? And did you not think how insulting, how very insulting +it was to ask him such a question? And about the tonic too. Surely, my +darling, if you had thought you must have seen that. And, especially, +how wrong it was to repeat what you overheard. Does not my pet see what +his Granny means?" + +The mass of bed-clothes moved impatiently, but there was no reply. + +"As for me," put in Briggs with dignity, "I felt as if I was going to +sink through the floor, I was that ashamed!" + +"Yes, yes, and so were we all," agreed Granny. "Indeed, had not my Chris +been ill, I should have felt obliged to punish him for his +thoughtlessness. But he is sorry now; that Granny feels sure of. Is he +not?" + +Her question was received in sullen silence. + +"Come, come," she said, "this is not the way I expect my child to +behave." + +"Nor any other little gentleman either," put in Briggs, with asperity. + +There was an expectant pause, but no answer from the little beggar +buried beneath the bed-clothes. + +Granny looked at me with a puzzled expression. + +"Well, Chris, we have no time to waste with naughty little boys," I +said, "so we are going downstairs. But I am surprised that you should +treat your Granny so; I thought you loved her." + +There was still no reply, and we turned to go. + +But ere we reached the door the shamefaced but slightly defiant little +beggar cried out: + +"I _do_ love my Granny!" + +At the sound she turned back with a radiant smile, and saw with delight +two little arms stretched out to her appealingly, and two large tears +trickling down a penitent little face. + +"There, there! we will say no more," she exclaimed, forgivingly; "for +you are sorry, my pet, are you not?" + +"Very, very sorry," said the little beggar with contrition; "and very +hot, dreffully hot; and I won't ask the nasty doctor nothing ever +again." + +"Not the 'nasty' doctor; the nice, kind doctor who has made little Chris +well again," she corrected gently. "And you are going to be a good +little boy now, darling?" + +"A very good boy; as good as Uncle Godfrey," Chris said brightening up, +as he saw that he was to be blamed no more. + +"That's my pet," she said, covering him up and tucking in the +bed-clothes. + +"I'm so glad," she continued to me as we went downstairs, "that he came +round, and was good in the end. But I knew he would. Sulkiness is not +one of his faults; no, no, nobody could say that. + +"I suppose," she went on a little uneasily, "Godfrey would tell me that +I ought to have been more severe with the child. 'You've let the little +beggar off too easily, mother,'--that's what he would say. But between +ourselves, my dear, I sometimes think that officers in the army are +accustomed to such obedience, such implicit obedience, that they are at +times inclined to carry their love of discipline too far. Don't you +agree with me? Not that Godfrey is a martinet! Oh, no! he is far from +that; such a favourite, so beloved by the men under his command. But you +understand what I mean, do you not? + +"However," she concluded, with a certain relief, and as a salve to her +conscience in the shape of her son Godfrey's opinion, "now I think of +it, I did tell the poor darling that if he had not been ill I should +have felt obliged to punish him. Of course, so I did. That will serve as +a warning to him in the future; won't it, my dear?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A PASTE-MAN AND A PAINT-BOX. + + +"I can't, my pet; I can't tell you a story to-day," said, or rather +whispered, Granny huskily. "I have such a bad cold I can hardly speak." + +Chris looked at her solemnly with wide-open eyes. + +"Are you very ill, my Granny?" he inquired very seriously, and sinking +his voice to the sympathizing whisper which seemed to him to befit the +occasion. + +"Not very ill, darling," she whispered again with an effort; "only a +very bad cold. + +"I am quite losing my voice," she added to me, shaking her head. "Most +trying, my dear." + +"How drefful!" exclaimed Chris with sympathy, and still speaking in a +whisper. "What a drefful thing!" + +"I have a good piece of news for you, my Chris," she whispered, with +another effort. "Someone is coming home--to-day--this very +afternoon--that you and I shall be--very, very--glad to see. Who do you +think it is?" + +Chris considered a moment, then suddenly looked enlightened. + +"I know, I know!" he cried, jumping about and clapping his hands, in the +excess of his joy forgetting to whisper, and putting to their full use +his well-developed little lungs. "I know!" he repeated. "It's my Uncle +Godfrey. Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" + +Granny nodded, and held up a telegram. "I've just had this," she said, +with an attempt to regain her natural tone, which ended in an almost +inaudible whisper, and her voice going away completely. "Few nights ... +way to London.... Isn't ... treat ... pet?" she whispered brokenly. "Must +be ... quiet ... tired." + +"Yes," I put in, taking upon myself to act as interpreter; "Granny is +very tired, Chris; so if you stay here, you must be quiet." + +"Did I make a noise and tire my Granny, and was I a naughty boy?" he +asked penitently, becoming very subdued in voice and manner. + +Granny smiled at him tenderly, and shook her head. + +"No, dear," I said; "you have not been naughty. We did not mean that." + +Thus reassured, the little beggar looked relieved; then, with a glance +of deepest sympathy at his Granny, he ran out of the room as if struck +by a sudden thought. + +In a few moments he returned, carrying something carefully wrapped up in +his pinafore. Then, going up to her, he drew out a piece of paste +bearing some rude resemblance to a man, and laid it with triumph on her +lap. + +"My Granny," he whispered proudly, "see what I have brought you. Cook +gave it to me for my tea, and I'm going to give it to you, and you may +eat it all up; every bit. P'r'aps it will make you feel happy, as you +have a cold." + +Granny opened her eyes slowly and languidly, but seeing the paste +figure, she sat straight up in her chair, with an expression of the +strongest disapprobation. + +She opened her mouth and endeavoured to speak, but this time without +success; she could not make herself heard. She rose, therefore, and +going to the writing-desk, took a sheet of note-paper, and, in a neat, +old-fashioned, Italian hand, wrote the following reply, which she placed +in my hand, signing to me to read aloud: + +"My darling, this is a most unwholesome and indigestible thing. It would +not make either my Chris or his Granny happy to eat it, but would +probably make them both ill. I am much surprised that Mrs. James should +have given it to you; she should have known better. You may, instead, +have some of the sponge-cake we had at lunch, but I cannot permit my pet +to eat this paste, nor can I eat it myself. But he will understand how +much Granny appreciates his kind thought." + +Chris listened to this long message attentively and without +interruption, for there was a solemnity about the proceeding that much +impressed him. When I had finished reading it, he regarded the object of +Granny's displeasure with suspicion, mingled with awe; then remarked in +a solemn and stage whisper, and in the manner of one bringing a grave +charge against his poor, misguided friend: + +"Cook called it 'Master Chris's little friend'. That's what she called +it, my Granny." + +"Tut, tut!" said Granny, as she heard this charge made against Cook. + +By her expression, it was plain to see that she would have liked to say +more had she been in full possession of her voice. Failing that, +however, she was obliged to content herself with "Tut, tut!" and a +gentle frown. + +"Come, Chris," I said laughing, "we'll leave Granny in peace now and go +and play in the library, or I will tell you a story. Take your 'friend', +the man of paste, with you, and see if Jack would like to eat him." + +"What shall we do?" asked Chris, slipping his hand into mine as we left +the drawing-room. + +"Would you like a story?" I asked. + +"No, thank you; I don't want a story now, I think," he answered, with +some caprice. He thought a moment or two, then exclaimed: "I know! we'll +paint. I'll get the new paint-box Granny has given me, and a +picture-paper, and we'll make lovely pictures." + +"Very well," I said, not dissatisfied with this arrangement, which I +hoped would only require on my part advice from time to time, or +admiration, as required. + +Taking a book, therefore, I sat down in an easy-chair near the +writing-table, where Chris, having fetched his paint-box, settled +himself, labouring for a time silently and earnestly at his paintings. + +Presently he asked: + +"What colour shall I make this horse? Shall I make him black?" + +"A very good colour," I replied. + +"Then, you see, I could call him 'Black Prince'," he went on. "I +couldn't call him 'Black Prince' if I made him brown, could I? I'd have +to call him 'Brown Prince'. Have you ever heard of a horse called 'Brown +Prince'?" + +"Not to my recollection," I said, with my eyes on my book. + +"It is a funny name, isn't it?" he said laughing, as he continued his +work. "Brown Prince!" + +"Very," I said shortly, interested in my story, and not inclined to +encourage conversation. + +Chris worked on for a few moments without speaking; then asked: + +"Miss Beggarley, what colour are moons gennerly?" + +I laughed. It was, after all, a futile hope to continue reading under +the circumstances. Still, it was Chris's time with Granny and me, when +he exacted as his right an unlimited amount of attention, so I resigned +myself. + +"What colour?" he repeated, as I did not at once answer. + +"Green," I answered. + +"Green!" he echoed. + +"Haven't you ever heard that the moon is made of green cheese?" I asked. + +He stared at me reproachfully. + +"You're laughing at me," he said, in an aggrieved voice, "and I don't +like you to laugh." + +"I won't any more, dear," I said, composing my countenance to a becoming +expression of gravity. "If I were you, I should paint the moon pale +blue. How would that do?" + +"Loverly," answered the little beggar in a mollified voice, and for a +moment or two there was again silence. + +Then, however, I heard something like a whimper, and looking up I saw +Chris's great eyes fixed on me tearfully. + +"What is the matter?" I inquired. + +"Will my Granny never, never be able to speak again?" he asked, digging +his knuckles into his eyes. "Will she always be never able to talk?" + +"Why, no, dear," I answered cheerfully. "In a day or two she will be +able to talk again as well as ever." + +"But she said it," he replied tearfully. + +"Said what?" I asked, puzzled. "Oh," I added, enlightened, "you mean +when she said she was losing her voice! But she only meant for a little +while. She did not intend to say she was losing it for ever. It is only +because she has caught a bad cold. When her cold is better she will be +able to speak again." + +"Are you quite, quite sure?" he asked, anxiously, but relieved at my +explanation. + +"Quite sure," I answered. + +His mind thus at ease, he returned once more to his painting and worked +contentedly for another five minutes, at the end of which time his +restless spirit reasserted itself. + +"Now, what shall we do?" he asked, throwing down his brush and yawning. +"Will you play at horses? You said you would." + +"Well, for a little while," I answered, "but not too long." + +"Oh, Briggs, what do you want?" Chris asked discontentedly, as at this +point that worthy woman made her appearance. + +"You are to come and put on your velvet suit against Mr. Wyndham comes," +she announced staidly. + +"I don't want to put on my velvet clothes," he replied rebelliously, +annoyed at being thus disturbed. "They're nasty, horrid things." + +"Oh, fie! Master Chris," she answered reprovingly. + +"It isn't like a big man to wear a velvet suit, it's like a baby," he +went on, grumblingly. "Uncle Godfrey doesn't wear velvet clothes, and +why should I?" + +"Don't you grumble at your velvet suit, Master Chris," Briggs said in a +warning tone. "You may come to want it some day. There's many a little +boy in the gutter as would be glad and proud to own it." + +"Then I wish you would give it to the little boys in the gutters," the +little beggar answered wilfully. "I shall ask my Granny to give it to +them, 'cause I hate it. And I'm going to play at horses; aren't I, Miss +Beggarley?" + +"Not with me," I said firmly, "until you have done what Briggs tells +you." + +"You said you would," he remarked, pouting. + +"So I will," I replied, "when you have obeyed Briggs." + +He glanced at me inquiringly to see if there was no chance of my +relenting, but I preserved a severe and resolute expression--in spite of +a distinct inclination to smile,--seeing which he left with laggard step +to don the despised suit. + +When, later, he returned in that same suit--in the dark-blue +knickerbockers and coat, the large Vandyke collar of cream lace, and the +little white satin vest,--I really thought that he looked the sweetest +little picture in the world! + +He had, indeed, such an extremely clean, well-brushed, and altogether +spotless appearance, that I hesitated about the promised game of horses, +fearing to spoil the result of Briggs' work, before that all-important +event--the arrival of Uncle Godfrey. + +"Shall we play something else?" I suggested. "I'm afraid if we play +horses you will get untidy." + +"Oh no, I won't!" he said confidently. "We'll be quiet horses. + +"I know," he added, with a look of intelligence. "I won't be a horse; +I'll be the driver, and you shall be a lame horse. Then the game will be +such a quiet game." + +"Very well," I replied, weakly yielding to his wishes, as most people +had a habit of doing. And a minute later I was running round the library +in a fashion most undignified for a lady of middle-age, becoming at the +same time hotter and more breathless than was altogether comfortable. +Consequently I slackened my pace, and found it more to my mind. For, +when a good many years have passed since you indulged in the habit of +playing horses, you find it more expedient to take for your model the +slow and conscientious cab-horse rather than the swift and brilliant +racer. + +But the change did not please Chris. + +"Gee-up, Charlie!" he cried, excitedly. "That's your name, you know. +Gee-up! why are you going so slowly?" + +"I've no breath left to go fast," I explained. + +"What shall we do?" he said, perplexed. "I don't like a horse what won't +go fast. + +"Oh," he said, his face clearing. "Why, it's time for you to go lame. +Poor Charlie! poor thing! what's the matter? + +"You've got a stone in your foot," he explained in an aside, "and you +must jog up and down as if you're lame." + +"Must I?" I said, and obediently followed the directions with a patience +truly praiseworthy, jogging laboriously up and down, whilst the little +beggar followed in my wake, highly delighted, and giving vent as he did +so to many loud and excited ejaculations. + +Before long, however, he pined for further excitement. + +"The road is very, very slippery," he said; "'cause it's been snowing. +You must slip right down and break your leg." + +"I'll slip into an arm-chair," I said, glancing at the comfortable one I +had just quitted. + +"No, horses don't slip into arm-chairs; there aren't no arm-chairs for +them in the road," he objected. + +"I can't help that," I answered, taking a stand. "My bones are too old +to risk breaking them. I don't mind my leg being broken in fancy, but I +do mind its being broken in reality." + +"How shall everyone know, then, that it is broken?" he asked, +discontentedly. "It won't look a bit as if it is broken if you fall into +an arm-chair." + +"I will groan very loud to show that I have," I said in a propitiating +voice. + +"Do horses groan when they break their legs?" he asked, doubtfully. + +"This horse does, very loud indeed," I said. "Come, we'll go once more +round the room, and then I'll break my leg and show you how beautifully +I can groan." + +"All right!" said the little beggar, conceding the point, and away we +started once more. + +"Gee-up, Charlie!" he cried; "gee-up, good horse! Now then!" as we +approached the arm-chair; "now then, now then, it's time for you to +break your leg. Quick, quick!" + +"All right!" I said, and with the most heartrending groan I could +produce, I sank--carefully--into the chair. At the same moment the +door opened, and a stranger to me entered the room--a tall and +soldier-like-looking young man. Even in the dimness of the twilight I +could see a strong enough resemblance to the little beggar to tell me +who he was without his delighted scream of "Uncle Godfrey! Uncle +Godfrey!" as he ran and clasped him round the knees. + +"Hold on!" answered Uncle Godfrey, putting him aside. + +Then turning to me: + +"I fear you are ill. Shall I send for my mother's maid?" he asked with +polite sympathy. + +"Why, no; she isn't; she isn't a bit ill!" cried the little beggar +delightedly, with peals of derisive laughter, as he jumped about and +clapped his hands. "She's only a poor, old, lame horse, what has just +fallen down and broken his leg...." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +CHRIS AND HIS UNCLE. + + +If ever there was a case of hero-worship it was the worship by Chris of +his uncle. To the little beggar, Uncle Godfrey was the ideal of all that +was most manly, most noble, most heroic. To emulate him in every way was +his most ardent desire, and with this end in view he imitated him +whenever possible, to the smallest details. + +When Uncle Godfrey was at home in the autumn, Chris's diminutive toy-gun +was, without fail, brought down to the gun-case in the hall, where it +lay in company with the more imposing weapons of his uncle. And when +these were cleaned, it was an understood thing that the toy-gun must be +cleaned likewise. To have omitted to do this would have drawn down upon +the offender the little beggar's deepest indignation. + +I believe, too, that it was a real grief of heart to him that he was not +allowed to go out with his uncle in the autumn, and try the effect of +that same toy-gun upon the pheasants. He had often pleaded hard to be +permitted do so, having, I imagine, glorious visions of the bags they +would make between them; and the refusal of his request had been the +cause of many tears in the nursery. Not before his uncle! No, if there +was one thing more than another that troubled him, it was the fear of +looking like a baby in his uncle's presence. Uncle Godfrey might tease +him as much as he pleased,--and he was undeniably talented in this +respect,--but, close as were the tears to his eyes at other times, +before his hero Chris would never let them fall if he could help it. + +Sometimes, when in the swing of a game, his uncle Godfrey was +unintentionally a little rough in word or deed, the little beggar, it is +true, would flush--crimsoning up to the roots of his fair hair. His +voice would falter, too, as if the tears were not far off, but he would +struggle manfully with them, and, as soon as he had recovered, return +again to the attack with fresh vigour. Indeed, so great was his +devotion to him, that he was never so happy as when by his side, and +with Chris in his vicinity, Uncle Godfrey found it a matter of no little +difficulty to give his attention elsewhere. This was observable one +morning when he was endeavouring to write his letters and enjoy a smoke +in peace--a state of affairs by no means to the little beggar's mind. + +Drawing near, Chris took up his position straight in front of him, and +stared steadily at him without speaking. Presently Uncle Godfrey looked +up, and, meeting Chris's stedfast gaze, stared back in silence. + +"I'm a policeman," at last remarked Chris, with a strenuous effort to +assume the manly tones of his uncle; his usual habit when talking to +him. + +"Are you?" replied Uncle Godfrey, leaning back in his chair and giving +him a little kick. "Then be off, it's time you were on your beat." + +"But you're a bad, wicked robber, and I've come to take you to prison," +persisted Chris. + +"Get along," said the writer laconically, blowing the smoke of his +cigarette into the face of the policeman, and returning to his letters. + +Chris looked at him admiringly. + +"I'm going to be a soldier like you, and smoke pipes and cigarettes, and +everything like you, Uncle Godfrey," he remarked. "When may I be a +soldier?" + +"Not yet," was the reply. "We take them young, but they have to be out +of the nursery, my boy." + +"When shall I be out of the nursery?" asked Chris, discontentedly. + +"When you're in the army," his uncle said to tease him. + +"But a man, a real soldier, said if I came to him, he would make me a +soldier," announced the little beggar. + +"What man?" asked Uncle Godfrey. + +"A man what is staying in Marston, with his father and his mother and +his brothers and his sisters," explained Chris. "A very tall, big +man--as tall as you; and he finds soldiers for the Queen, he told me." + +"Oh, a recruiting-sergeant!" Uncle Godfrey said. "How did you come to +speak to him?" + +"I saw him when I was standing outside the shop when Briggs was buying +some buns for tea, and when I asked him if he knowed you," said Chris, +all in a breath. "He had on such loverly clothes! Do you think if I go +to him he will make me a soldier for the Queen?" he asked. + +"Of course," his uncle replied. "But I'll tell you what, you had better +learn to hold your gun properly, and not as you did the other day. If +you don't, you'll end by shooting the sergeant, and being put in +'chokee'." + +"What is 'chokee'?" asked Chris, with wide-open eyes. + +"Oh, prison! You'll be put into a cell, and have nothing to eat but +bread and cold water." + +"How drefful!" + +"Then go and get that little gun I bought you, and I'll show you how to +hold it as you should." + +"Just like a real soldier?" + +"Well, how else? + +"Now, look here," said Uncle Godfrey, when Chris returned with the gun, +"didn't I tell you that it was very dangerous to hold a gun like that? +It's not sportsmanlike either. Do you hear?" + +He spoke with some severity, for he was a young man who was very +thorough in all he did, whether work or play, and would tolerate no +carelessness. + +"Not sports-man-like!" echoed Chris slowly, trying hard with his child's +voice to imitate Uncle Godfrey's manly tone. + +"Then, as you hear, remember," his uncle said, authoritatively. "Now, +rest the gun against your right shoulder--you young duffer, that's your +left shoulder; I said your right. Shut your left eye, and aim at my +hand." + +"Yes," said the little beggar, very proud of himself. + +"Let's see; that's right," his uncle continued. + +"Now, fire!... Not bad, only you should keep your arm steadier. It +wobbled about too much." + +"It's very tired," Chris remarked. + +Then he inquired: "Uncle Godfrey, may I shoot some wicked men?" + +"Certainly, when you find them--and with that gun," he answered. + +"Only in the legs," added Chris, "'cause it would be unkind to kill them +really, wouldn't it? But I may shoot their legs, so that they can be +caught, and can't run away; mayn't I?" + +"As much as you like, I say, with that gun," his uncle replied, as he +resumed his neglected correspondence. + +"I shall shoot a lot," Chris said, with satisfaction. + +"Granny," he went on eagerly as he entered the hall, "I'm going to shoot +some wicked men. Uncle Godfrey says I may." + +"With that gun," cried his uncle, without looking up from his writing. + +"My darling!" Granny exclaimed, somewhat dismayed at this bloodthirsty +ambition. "But you should not wish to hurt anyone; no, no one at all." + +"Only wicked men, and only in the legs, so they couldn't run away from +the people who catched them," he said comfortingly. "And I'm going to do +it with this gun Uncle Godfrey gave me. Isn't it a beufferfull gun?" he +went on proudly. + +"Yes, yes, I saw it," she answered, taking it out of his hands. "A very +nice little gun indeed, my pet." + +"Oh, my Granny, take care!" he cried suddenly, in a loud, warning voice. + +"Why what is the matter?" asked the old lady starting, and in her alarm +almost dropping the gun as she spoke. "What is it?" she repeated in a +flurried manner, turning round vaguely as she spoke. + +"You mustn't hold the gun like that, my Granny," Chris said more calmly, +but still gravely; "it's very dan-ger-rus, and it's not sport-man-like." + +"Thank you, my darling," she said simply. "Granny will remember another +time." + +"Shut up, Chris," said Uncle Godfrey laughing, "and don't talk +nonsense." + +"Well, I want somebody to play with me," he said inconsequently, as he +returned to his Uncle's side. "I want someone to play with me very +badly." + +"I can't," said Uncle Godfrey, in his usual decided manner. "I have to +finish my letters." + +"Then, Miss Beggarley," he asked, with the air of one making the best of +an unpromising state of affairs, "will you tell me a story?" + +"Not now, dear," I answered. "I am just turning the heel of this sock, +and I can't think of that and a story too." + +"Not even Miss Beggarley can tell me a story!" said Chris, sitting down, +with a disconsolate expression, beside Jacky on the hearth-rug. + +"Not even Miss Beggarley," I repeated laughing. + +Chris, looking disappointed and injured, gave Jacky an irritable push, +which resulted in an angry growl. + +There was a deep sigh from the little beggar. "No one plays with me +now," he said mournfully, "and Jacky growls. Naughty Jacky; I don't love +you." + +"Naughty Chris; it's time for you to go back to the nursery," remarked +Uncle Godfrey half-smiling. + +"Yes, my Chris; a few lessons, or a nice walk," Granny said, +persuasively. "Now, go, like my little pet." + +In spite, however, of her gentle persuasions, Chris looked as if he +would like to protest, had he not lacked the courage to do so in the +presence of Uncle Godfrey. It was, therefore, slowly and unwillingly +that he went up the first flight of stairs, then sat on the landing and +looked at the back of Uncle Godfrey's head as he bent over his writing. + +In a moment or two Briggs' voice was heard in the distance. + +"Master Chris, where are you?" + +"Here I am," he called back; "just here." + +"What, not gone yet?" Uncle Godfrey said a little sharply, turning +round. + +"Yes, I'm gone," answered the little beggar half-defiantly, +half-nervously, as he rose hastily from the landing and continued his +upward progress. + +"What do you want, Briggs?" he called out. + +"I want to know," she said, the sound of her voice coming nearer; "I +want to know if you can tell me where your hats are? It's time for you +to go out, and I've hunted for them everywhere, but not one can I find." + +"Why, they're down there," Chris was heard to say in an aggrieved voice, +and as if she were asking a most unnecessary question. "They're all down +there." + +"And where might down there be?" she asked, with some irritation. + +"Why, on the table near the door, with Uncle Godfrey's hats," he +answered. "I'm always going to keep my hats there now," he added. "It's +only babies what has their hats in the nursery." + +"Well, if this doesn't pass everything!" she was heard to exclaim +angrily. "And to think of me hunting for those very same hats for the +last quarter of an hour till I'm that tired. Your tricks, Master Chris, +are beyond bearing. You'll please come down with me this minute and +fetch those very same hats." + +"I shall put them all back when we come home," Chris remarked +rebelliously, as he began to walk downstairs in company with the irate +Briggs. + +"We'll see what we'll see,--and _you'll_ see. That's all I say," she +answered with some loftiness. "I have no mind to have things put out of +their proper place, and me have all this trouble given me." + +After which oracular speech, and because she was approaching the last +flight of stairs leading into the hall, she reserved all further +expressions of indignation till she and Chris were once more on the +familiar ground of the nursery. + +As for the little beggar, it was with many a furtive glance at Uncle +Godfrey, who was still writing, that he crossed the hall. He hoped to +escape without notice, and, looking mysteriously at Granny and myself, +walked by Briggs' side on tiptoe. But his pains were wasted. + +"Yes, I know you're there," Uncle Godfrey said, without turning his +head, and relaxing into a smile. "What mischief have you been up to this +time?" + +"I put my hats with your hats, 'cause I liked them to be with yours, +and I didn't want to be a baby and have my hats in the nursery," +explained Chris, encouraged by something in his uncle's voice to run to +his side and lay his cheek affectionately on his coat-sleeve. + +"Then, in future, just you keep your hats where you are told to," Uncle +Godfrey said, laughing. "Don't you be such an independent little +beggar." + +"No," replied Chris obediently, relieved at receiving no severer +reprimand. + +"And come and kiss your Granny," Granny said gently and caressingly, as +he passed her. "Do you love her very much?" + +"Oh, yes, my Granny!" he answered somewhat thoughtlessly, as he obeyed +her directions. Then continued without pause: "I wanted to ask you--why +does Cook always make rice-puddings, and tapioca-puddings, and +sago-puddings for my dinner?" + +"Because, my pet, I tell her to," she replied. "They are so wholesome, +so good for little boys; they make them grow big." + +"But I don't mind about growing big," he answered. "I would rather have +roly-poly puddings for my dinner; roly-poly puddings what have lots of +jam inside." + +"Now, how do you think I am to get on with my writing whilst you chatter +like this?" interrupted Uncle Godfrey. "Go upstairs, and don't keep +Briggs waiting like this." + +By the little beggar's expression, it was evident that he did not +consider the merits of roly-poly pudding, as compared with those of its +less enticing rivals, had been by any means sufficiently discussed, and +that much yet remained to be said upon the subject. Nevertheless, his +uncle's order had the effect of restoring, for a time at least, peace +and quiet to the hall; for, as I have before intimated, the one person +whose word Chris never thought of disputing was Uncle Godfrey's. + +I said that peace and quiet was restored _for a time only_, and I said +it advisedly. With the little beggar in the neighbourhood it was useless +to count on such a state of affairs continuing for more than a short +period. So it proved upon the present occasion. + +Before a quarter of an hour had passed, his voice--unmistakably defiant, +not to say impertinent--fell upon our ears, as he and Briggs walked +along the gallery, that ran above, round the hall. It was Briggs whom we +heard first. + +"Master Chris," she remarked severely, "I will not stand it." + +Then the little beggar repeated in an irritating and rebellious-sounding +treble: + + "I have a little nursie, + She is a little dear, + She runs about all day + Without a thought of fear. + I love my little nursie, + An' she loves me. + So my little nursie an' me + Both a-gree." + +A pause followed, evidently intended by Briggs to convey her sense of +deep displeasure, and to overawe the offender. Without effect. In a +moment Chris's voice began again, from time to time choked with +laughter, and giving a little variety to his poetical effort by varying +the accent on different words: + + "I _have_ a little nursie, + She _is_ a little dear, + She runs about all day + Without a _thought_ of fear. + I _love_ my little nursie, + An' she loves _me_. + _So_ my little nursie an' me + Both a-gree." + +At this repetition of the offence Briggs could contain her wrath no +longer. + +"If I'm to be ridiculed like this," she exclaimed angrily, yet without +altogether losing her habitual impressiveness of manner; "If I'm to be +ridiculed like this, I shall give warning and go. I cannot, and I will +not stand it." + +A second pause, by which time they had reached the top of the stairs +leading into the hall, when Chris, forgetful that Uncle Godfrey was +within hearing, and unaware of the judgment about to descend on him, +started once more: + + "I have a _little_ nur--" + +"Wait a moment, young man," called out his uncle from the writing-table. +"What do you mean by being so disobedient? Come here." + +"He has been going on like that for the last ten minutes," said Briggs +complainingly, when she and Chris reached the hall. "He's been that +aggravating." + +"What nonsense are you talking?" Uncle Godfrey asked him severely, +beckoning Chris to come to him. + +The little beggar looked at his uncle half-frightened, and did not at +once answer. + +"What was it, my pet?" Granny said, gently and encouragingly. + +"It was a piece of poetry I made up all by myself, all about Briggs," he +faltered out. + +"A piece of impertinence, it strikes me," remarked Uncle Godfrey. + +"Well, as you are so fond of poetry, as you call it, I'll make up a +piece about you," he said, whilst Granny glanced at the judge +pleadingly, as if to ask mercy for the offender. + +"Wait a moment ... yes, I have it," Uncle Godfrey said presently. And +holding Chris at arm's-length, he repeated, imitating as he did so, his +childish voice and accents: + + "I know a little beggar, + He is a little goose, + He runs about all day + Rampaging on the loose. + I think that little beggar, + Would be better for a slap; + If he isn't pretty sharp, + He'll get a nasty rap. + +"How do you like that?" he asked, when he had finished. + +He was smiling all the while in spite of his severe tone,--very often +the way with Uncle Godfrey. But Chris did not see that, and with his +little face scarlet, he stood still, struggling with his tears, unable +to reply. + +His uncle looked at him and relented. + +"There, go along with you," he said, laughing and rumpling the boy's +golden curls; "and don't you make yourself such a little nuisance." + +The little beggar brightened up as he noted the altered tone, and Granny +appeared perceptibly relieved. + +"Uncle Godfrey, do you know what?" he asked with a loud sniff and half a +sob. "What do you think?" + +"What?" asked his uncle with some amusement. + +"I'm going to be a soldier like you very soon," he said, nodding his +head. + +"Well, you'll have to learn to be a little more obedient," his uncle +remarked with a laugh. "I'd soon find myself in a pretty position if I +disobeyed orders as you do. Be off, you young rascal, and look smart. +There is Briggs waiting for you by the door. + +"What made him think of that jingle?" he continued, still laughing, to +Granny when Chris had gone. "It was a funny thing for a little chap of +his age." + +"The darling has quite a turn for poetry; he has indeed," explained +Granny with pride. "He takes the greatest delight in repeating his +little poems, such as: 'I love little Pussy, her coat is so warm,' and +'Mary had a little lamb'. And the child says them so sweetly, so +prettily too!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +"I'M A SOLDIER NOW." + + +Some two hours later Briggs faced Granny and myself with a countenance +expressive of the deepest despair. + +"He's gone, mum!" she exclaimed, tragically, throwing up her hands as +she spoke. + +"Gone! Gone! Who is gone?" Granny asked with bewilderment and surprise +at Briggs' sudden announcement. Then, as Chris's absence struck her, she +inquired fearfully: + +"Has anything happened to Master Chris? Where is the child? Why is he +not with you?" + +"He's lost, mum!" she said, breathlessly. "Everywhere have I looked for +him, high and low, up and down, but nowhere is he to be found!" + +At this startling piece of intelligence Granny half rose in her chair as +if to go without delay and search for the wanderer; but, recollecting +the necessity for further information, she sunk back again, and asked +with agitation: + +"Where, then, did you leave him? When did you last see him? How long ago +is it, Briggs? I must beg of you to be as accurate as possible, most +accurate." + +"I left him in the garden about an hour ago," she answered, on the point +of tears. "I had just taken him out for a short walk, having some work +to do; and thinking he'd be better for a little more air I left him in +the garden when we came back. When I went for him half an hour after, +not a trace of him was there to be seen!" + +"But how careless, how very careless of you, Briggs!" Granny said in a +reprimanding yet trembling voice. "You should not have left him out of +your sight for so long. At his age! Most inconsiderate!" + +"Have you looked along the road?" I suggested. "He may have wandered out +there. He did so the day I arrived." + +"I've walked half a mile along each way," she answered, with a hopeless +sigh. + +"But the garden, Briggs!" Granny exclaimed, in her anxiety hardly +knowing what to say. "How could you be so thoughtless, so forgetful as +not to search the garden before you went into the road?" + +"But I did, mum; it was the very first thing I did do," she replied +tearfully, and with something of an injured expression at this +unnecessary censure. + +"Have you looked over the house? He may be hiding there," I said. + +"Everywhere in the house and out of it," she answered with gloomy +conviction. "Not a stone have I left unturned." + +We glanced from one to the other with perplexity. What could have become +of the little beggar? Where could he have hidden himself, thus to escape +this vigilant search? + +"Wouldn't it be as well to let Mr. Wyndham know?" I said. "I think I +hear him practising billiards." + +"Of course, of course!" Granny answered with relief. "Why didn't I think +of that at once? Briggs, go at once and ask Mr. Wyndham to speak to +me." + +"Well, what is it?" he said cheerfully, when he arrived upon the scene. +"The youngster disappeared? There is no need for worry. Depend upon it +he is hiding somewhere not very far off, and we'll soon unearth him." + +"You say you have looked carefully in the garden?" he continued to +Briggs. + +"All over it, sir; in every corner," she replied. + +"All the same, we had better do it again," he said. "It is just possible +that he may have escaped you the first time. No, mother, you stay here," +he said decidedly, as Granny rose with the evident intention of +accompanying him. "You will only tire yourself for no purpose. If he is +to be found in the garden, you may rest assured that I shall find him +and bring him to you as soon as possible. Just stay here quietly with +Miss Baggerley, and don't worry yourself." + +Undoubtedly a very good piece of advice, this last, but one that poor +Granny in her nervous state of mind found very difficult to follow. + +"It is so strange, so very strange!" she said, unhappily. "I cannot +understand it at all; I only pray that no accident may have happened to +the child. I should have thought Briggs would have taken greater +precautions if she intended to leave him alone for that time. I had a +higher opinion of her, I had indeed. + +"She is much to blame," she added, smoothing with a nervous little +movement the curls she wore in the old fashion on each side of her face. + +After this she continued her knitting, but she was plainly too restless +and ill at ease to fix her attention on her work. + +"My dear," she said in a minute, "it has just struck me that it would be +a good thing if we were together to look upstairs; Briggs may not have +searched there thoroughly. Do you not think that it would be a good plan +if we were to go?" + +I should have liked to answer in the negative, for she was not strong, +and a little exertion soon fatigued her. But I saw that it would be a +real relief to her in her anxiety to be doing something. So I did not +follow my inclination, and together we went slowly upstairs, Granny +leaning on my arm, in a sweet, clinging way,--a way that was all her +own. + +Arrived upstairs, we went conscientiously from room to room, but in +vain. No success attended our efforts. + +We would go into a room, when Granny, opening the door of a cupboard and +peering in in a short-sighted way, would call out in a gentle, slightly +quavering voice: + +"Is my darling hiding here from his Granny?" + +No answer coming, her face would become still more anxious-looking, and +she would request me to see if he were under the bed. + +"Will you look under the bed, my dear, and see if he is there?" she +would whisper, as if fearful that he might overhear and escape us. Then +as I did so, she would cry coaxingly: + +"Are you hiding there, my pet, trying to frighten poor Granny? Come out, +my darling, come out." + +And so on from room to room till we had exhausted all those not only on +the first floor but on the next also, after which she proposed exploring +the attics. By this time, however, she was so tired that I persuaded her +to send one of the servants instead, whilst she returned with me to the +library. + +Here we found Briggs waiting for us, with a face the expression of which +told its tidings without words. Ill-success was so plainly written upon +it, that our anxious question, "Have you found him?" seemed almost +superfluous. + +"Did you look everywhere, Briggs,--everywhere?" poor Granny asked +anxiously, and with grievous disappointment. + +"In every single nook and corner, mum," Briggs replied, with a heavy +sigh. "He ain't in the garden--that's sure and certain." + +"Where is Mr. Wyndham?" Granny inquired, as she sat down wearily in her +arm-chair. + +"He's gone round to the stables," she said. "He's going to drive into +Marston. He says that Master Chris this morning was talking about the +recruiting-sergeant staying there, and he thinks it may be possible he +has taken it into his head to go to him, fancying he can enlist." + +"I really think that that is possible," I remarked. + +"Dear me! dear me! What if anything should happen to the child on the +way?" exclaimed Granny, with fresh care. + +"I should not think of that; nothing will happen. Someone will find him +and bring him back," I replied, speaking more cheerfully than I +altogether felt. + +As I spoke I turned to the window, more from a restless feeling of not +knowing what to do with myself than for any other reason. + +Certainly the last thing in the world I expected to see at that +particular moment was the little beggar. + +Yet--to my utter astonishment--that was exactly what I did see! + +There he was, after causing all the confusion and alarm of which I have +told you, walking down the drive as calmly as possible; as if to +disappear mysteriously from home for about two hours, without leaving +any idea as to his whereabouts, was the most ordinary and everyday habit +a little boy could indulge in. + +He was not alone, but was in company with a tall and gorgeous +individual, whom I concluded was the sergeant, and the innocent cause of +the little beggar's last and most startling escapade. + +He walked hand in hand with him in the most confiding fashion, +chattering to him apparently in his usual fashion--without the least +reserve, whilst Jacky frisked along by their side. + +As my eyes fell upon this little group I uttered a loud exclamation of +surprise, which induced Granny to look up inquiringly. + +"Why, there he is! Chris!" I exclaimed, "coming down the drive!" and +accompanied by Briggs I hurried to meet him, Granny following more +leisurely. + +"Here I am! Here I am!" cried the little vagabond, gaily bounding +forward to meet me. "I've 'listed, and I'm a soldier now like Uncle +Godfrey." + +"A soldier!" burst out Briggs contemptuously. "As naughty a child as can +be found in Christendom. That's what I should say!" + +"Yes, Chris," I said, in the gravest voice I could assume, "you have +been a very naughty little boy indeed." + +At these strictures on his conduct Chris pouted and kicked the gravel +with some violence, whilst his companion relaxed into a broad smile, +which he put up his hand to hide. + +"I found this here young gentleman, marm, on his way to Marston," he +said, touching his cap. "I came across him quite by a chance, as you +may say, it happening that I was taking a walk in this direction. 'I've +come to find you,' he says, ''cause I want to 'list and be a soldier +like my Uncle Godfrey,' says he. 'But I won't shoot you,' says he, +''cause I know how to hold my gun, and I don't want to be put in +chokee,' he says. Guessing as how there was something amiss I finds out +where he lives, and so here he is." + +"Is he quite well and safe, quite well and safe?" Granny asked nervously +at this point, arriving just in time to hear the conclusion of the +sergeant's explanation. "Oh, Chris, my darling, what have you been +doing?" + +"I'm a soldier now, my Granny," he stated proudly, with a defiant look +at Briggs and myself. "He said I was, didn't you?" he asked, turning to +the sergeant, who smiled again. "He's going to lend me his soldier +clothes till you buy me some. He said he would." + +"He'd have been here before if I could have got a lift, marm," explained +the sergeant, "but it chanced nothing passed by us. It's been a long +walk for the young gentleman, I'm afraid." + +But Granny did not at once reply; she was looking at the little beggar +with all the love of her heart overflowing her eyes, and as if she never +again could bear to let him out of her sight. Indeed, for the moment she +was so absorbed that I think she hardly realized what the sergeant +said. + +There was a slight pause, and then she said with much fervent gratitude +and an old-fashioned courtesy of manner: + +"I am more indebted to you than I can express for your kind care of my +little grandson. It is, indeed, a great relief to my mind to see him +back safely." + +"Why, my Granny!" cried Chris, with a little skip and a laugh, "I +_always_ was safe. There was nothing the matter with me!" + +"Hush! my child," Granny then continued, though with an effort, as if +the reaction from the anxiety she had been suffering was becoming too +much for her control: "Will you not go round to the kitchen and rest? +And will you kindly tell Parker, my butler, that I have sent you, and to +see that you have some refreshment after your long walk." + +"Thank you, marm," said the sergeant, touching his cap once more as he +left, followed by a regretful glance from Chris. + +"I should like to go with him," he remarked. + +"My darling," began Granny reproachfully--then stopped short and tried +to smile at me. + +"I'm very silly," she said, as the tears filled her eyes; "but, my dear, +I have been feeling so anxious, so anxious, you understand...." + +She could say no more, but going to a wicker-chair near, she sat down, +and covered her eyes with her hand. + +I said nothing, for I knew that her tears were a relief to her +overwrought feelings. So for a time there was silence, which was at +length broken by the little beggar, who, looking at her with pity +mingled with curiosity, remarked in a hushed voice: + +"I b'lieve my Granny is crying!" + +"And who do you think has made her cry?" suddenly asked a severe voice, +and turning round somewhat apprehensively, the little beggar saw Uncle +Godfrey--who, unperceived and unheard, had crossed the lawn--confronting +him in righteous indignation. + +"I say, who do you think has made her cry?" he reiterated, as Granny +threw him an imploring glance as if to beg mercy for the offender. "I +have just heard something of your last piece of disobedience from your +friend the sergeant," he continued sternly. "Fortunately for me I met +him not two minutes ago, and so was saved a useless drive into Marston +on your account. Now I should like to hear some explanation of your +conduct." + +He looked so very tall and inflexible as he towered above the little +beggar, and the little beggar looked so very small and abject as he +stood before him, that my heart was stirred with pity for the diminutive +transgressor in spite of his misdeeds. + +"Well, answer," Uncle Godfrey said peremptorily. "What is the meaning +of your behaviour, sir?" + +"I w--w--went to be a s--s--soldier," stammered Chris, winking his eyes +to keep back his tears, and grasping hold of Granny's hand as if for +protection. + +"What did I tell you this morning?" + +"I forget," answered the little beggar tremblingly. + +"Then think," his uncle said; whilst Granny said pleadingly: + +"Don't be too severe, my son. He's only a little child." + +"Quite old enough to know better," he replied unrelentingly; and, as +Chris did not at once answer, "Didn't I tell you," he went on, "that you +were not old enough to be a soldier? Do you remember now?" + +"Y--yes," answered Chris, with a strangled sob. + +"But I suppose you thought that you knew better than I, and didn't tell +me of your plan because you knew that you would not be allowed to carry +it out. Was it not so?" he asked. Then as Chris nodded he went on: "I +hope now that you see the consequences of your behaviour," he continued; +"everyone's time wasted, an endless amount of unnecessary anxiety and +trouble, and your Grandmother nearly ill. If ever anyone deserved a good +punishment it is you." + +At this point the little beggar, unable to keep back his tears any +longer, buried his head in his Granny's lap and sobbed bitterly, and as +if his heart would break; whilst for my part I went away. He had been +very naughty, but I did not like to see him crying so bitterly. It made +me sad. + + * * * * * + +It was about an hour later,--just lunch-time,--and I was walking up and +down the gravelled terrace at the back of the house, when a little hand +was slipped into mine, while a little voice remarked in an awe-struck +tone: + +"What do you think? Uncle Godfrey put me in the corner for half an +hour--a whole half-hour!" + +Chris spoke with much solemnity. Granny's punishments were of such a +mild description, that this of Uncle Godfrey's, by comparison, appeared +very heavy, and impressed upon him the grievousness of his offence. + +"And he says I'm not to have no pudding for dinner," he continued with +some pathos; "no pudding at all. Do you know what kind of pudding it +is?" + +"No, I don't," I answered smiling. + +"'Cause Granny said I might have a roly-poly pudding soon," he said, +"and I do hope it's not to-day. If it is bread-and-butter pudding I +don't mind, as I don't like bread-and-butter pudding." + +"I can't tell you what pudding it is," I repeated. + +"Uncle Godfrey said I was a very naughty boy," he went on. + +"So you were," I said, but mildly, and not with the decision the case +demanded. + +"I didn't want to frighten you, or my Granny, or anyone," he said +humbly, with the effects of his uncle's scolding and punishment still +fresh in his memory. "But I did want to be a soldier and fight; and +Uncle Godfrey says I'm not one, and I never was one, and that the +soldier was only laughing at me when he said I was. And I can't be a +soldier for a long while--a very, very, very long while." + +"Not that kind of soldier," I said, "but I know another kind of soldier +that you can be." + +"The Queen's soldier?" asked Chris eagerly. + +"No, but the King's soldier," I replied. "You can be one of Christ's +soldiers. Whenever you try hard to be good and obedient when you feel +inclined to be naughty and wilful; whenever you try not to say the angry +word, to think the unkind thought you would like to say, you would like +to think; whenever you turn your back on what is mean and unmanly and +follow what is true and noble; whenever you do this for His sake, then, +Chris, you are fighting for Christ, you are Christ's soldier. + +"But," I went on as I saw that I had gained his attention, "there is a +great difference between these battles and the others that you were +speaking of. In fighting for the Queen you have to be very brave and no +coward, it is true. But you have the cheers of your countrymen to +inspirit you. You know that your country is watching you, and that helps +you to meet your enemies with courage. In these other battles, fought +for Christ, there are no cheers to excite you, no one watching but God, +and God only. For these fights must be fought silently, quite by +yourself,--God your only Help,--or they are not worth the name of +battles. But, by and by, on that silent battle-field, where so many +struggles have been gone through, and so many hard victories won through +the grace of God, the silence will at last be broken. It will be broken +by a sound full of triumphant joy, too heavenly in its beauty for +earthly ears to catch, but a sound that will make the angels in heaven +rejoice, a sound of--" + +I paused as I tried to find appropriate words for the thought that, +half-formed, was in my mind, gazing as I did so, as if to seek +inspiration, at the boughs of the elms near, swaying and bowing slowly +to and fro in the wind. + +"What?" said Chris, impatiently tugging at my dress. "What?" + +"'The voice of a soul that goeth home'," I said, as the great poet's +words came to me in all their beauty. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE GOLDEN FARTHING. + + +"It's the best thing; I should not propose it unless I were fully +convinced that it is so." + +Uncle Godfrey, standing on the hearth-rug in the drawing-room, his hands +in his pockets, was speaking with his usual decision. + +I, who had just entered, feeling that I was interrupting his +conversation with Granny, turned to leave. + +"Please, don't go, Miss Baggerley. We should like to have the benefit of +your opinion," remarked Uncle Godfrey. + +"Yes, stay, my dear. I should be glad to know what you think," said +Granny. + +So I remained. + +"You tell her what we are talking about, Godfrey," she said. + +"All right!" he answered. "Well, the subject under discussion is the +advisability of sending Chris to be educated with my sister's little +boy. She and her husband have just come home from India, and have taken +a house for a time in Norfolk. In a letter my mother had from her this +morning, she suggests the plan I have mentioned; in fact, she is most +anxious that it should be arranged. I think myself that it is a capital +idea, for it seems to me that it would do Chris all the good in the +world to have the companionship of another child. He is a capital little +chap, but I don't see how it can be good for him to have every whim and +fancy attended to as he has at present, by my mother, by you, by +everyone as far as I can see, except perhaps that excellent and +depressing young woman, Briggs. Oh, I know what you would like to say; +much that my mother has already said--that Chris is not easily spoilt, +that he has such a good disposition, and so on. All of which I grant; +but, nevertheless, I think it would be better for him in the end to have +a little less attention given to him than he has at present. Besides, he +would have the advantage of an excellent governess, who has been with my +sister some time, and, according to her, is a paragon of a teacher. And +that is not to be despised, it seems to me. Chris, of course, would +always come to my mother for the holidays, so that she still would see a +great deal of him. Now, frankly, don't you agree with my view of the +case?" + +"I suppose so," I answered, though I was conscious of speaking +unwillingly, for I knew what it would cost Granny to give up the charge +of her darling. + +"Of course you do," he replied, "only you don't like to say so for the +sake of my mother." + +"The darling is very dear to me," said Granny, a little pathetically. +"I only desire what is best for him." + +"I know that, my dear mother," Uncle Godfrey said gently--he could speak +very gently when he liked, in spite of all his decided ways,--"no one +could doubt it." + +No one spoke for a moment or two, and it was plain to see that a +struggle was going on in Granny's mind. + +"I don't want to persuade you against your judgment, mother," at last +Uncle Godfrey said, still speaking very gently, even tenderly, and then +we were silent again. + +Then Granny said with an effort--an effort that plainly cost her much: + +"You are right, my son; yes, you are right. I am getting too old to have +the entire responsibility of the child, and, doubtless, it would be +good, it would be more cheerful for him, to be with a little companion +of his own age. Yes, it is better that he should go to Louisa." + +And then she got up and left the room, as if, for the time, she could +say no more. It was a hard trial for her, because love for Chris was as +part of her life, and to part with him would be a wrench that neither +Uncle Godfrey nor myself could fully comprehend, with all our desire to +enter into her feelings. Yet I think that she had never loved him so +truly as at that moment when she gave him up. For is not our love the +greatest when it is the most unselfish, when it is purified by +self-sacrifice, as "gold that is tried in the fire"? + + * * * * * + +It was such a bright morning when the little beggar left us; a cold, +crisp day in the beginning of October, the slight frost sprinkling the +ground with a white powder that sparkled and glistened like diamonds in +the autumn sun. + +Uncle Godfrey had come up from Aldershot for the express purpose of +taking him to his new home, which fact filled Chris with no little +pride. + +"Me and my Uncle Godfrey are going a long way together," he kept +informing everyone. "He has left all his soldiers to come and take me. +Isn't it kind of my Uncle Godfrey?" in a tone of devotion. + +I imagine that had it been anyone else but his Uncle Godfrey it would +have been a difficult matter to reconcile him to leave his Granny. As it +was, he became inclined to be very tearful as the hour of departure drew +near, and clung to her in a way that, whilst it touched and pleased her, +made the thought of the parting more difficult to bear. + +And now the little beggar, who for the last few minutes had been playing +in a somewhat restless fashion with Uncle Godfrey, returning between +whiles to Granny's side, was sent upstairs to have his hat put on. + +Five minutes passed and he had not returned. Granny became impatient. +Poor Granny! who grudged losing even a minute of her darling's presence +when she knew that she was about to lose it for so long. + +"My dear," she said to me, "will you kindly go and see if he is ready? +The dog-cart will so soon be round." + +Hastening upstairs, I went to the nursery to bring down the little +beggar to rejoice her sight for the short period that remained before he +left. + +As I approached the open door I heard Briggs taking leave of him, and +with more sentiment than was generally to be observed in the utterances +of that dignified person. + +"And you won't forget your Briggs?" she said, kissing him; "and you'll +send her a letter sometimes?" + +"A long, long letter; ever so long," promised Chris rashly. "And you've +wroten down the place what you live at?" + +"Yes, here it is," said Briggs, holding out an envelope and reading +aloud as I entered: + + "Miss AMELIA BRIGGS, + 6 Balaclava Villas, + Upper Touting, + London." + +"And you'll write me a nice letter, won't you, Master Chris?" + +"Nicer than ever you can think," he replied, as she kissed him again +with something like emotion, and bade him good-bye. + +"I'm sorry to leave Briggs," he said, as we went downstairs hand in +hand; "but I am dreffully, dreffully sorry to leave my Granny." + +"Will I never come back to her again?" he asked, wistfully. + +"Why, of course you will," I said, encouragingly. + +"But I don't want to go 'way from her," he remarked sadly. + +"You'll be a good boy, though," I said, "and not cry, or you will make +her unhappy." + +"Yes, I'll be the goodest boy," he promised me fervently, "and I won't +make my Granny unhappy; not a little, tiny bit." + +But when he saw her looking so sad his resolution somewhat failed, and, +standing by her side, he gazed up into her face with his great eyes full +of tears--eyes like violets with the dew upon them. + +Suddenly, however, he brightened up, and turned to leave the room. + +"Hulloa! where are you off to?" cried Uncle Godfrey. "The dog-cart will +be round in a minute, and you'll be nowhere to be found." + +"I want to get something for my Granny; I want to get something very +badly for her," he said eagerly as he paused; "and it's in my coat, and +it's outside, where I put it, with your greatcoat in the hall." + +"Slightly involved," Uncle Godfrey remarked, laughing. + +"What can the darling be bringing me?" Granny said, roused a little from +the abstraction into which she had fallen. + +She was not long left in doubt, for almost as she asked the question +Chris returned, holding aloft a little, bright, red leather purse, the +pride and joy of his heart. Opening it, he went back to Granny's side +and showered its contents upon her lap--two halfpennies and four +pennies, a sixpenny and a threepenny bit, and a bright farthing. + +"It's all for you, my Granny, 'cause I'm going away," he said +impulsively; "all for you! The golden farthing and everything?" + +"No, no, my pet; I won't take it from you," answered Granny, much moved +by this great gift. + +"Yes, but you must, my Granny; it's all for you," he repeated, with a +fleeting glance of regret at the red purse in its splendour. + +"My darling, I won't take it all," she said, replacing the money in the +purse, and putting it into his pocket--all save the "golden farthing", +which she kept. "But, see, I will keep this as a keepsake from my own +dear child." + +"Yes, Granny; and you'll never spend it," Chris said seriously. "You'll +keep it for always." + +"For always, my Chris," she said tenderly, with a pathetic little +tremble in her voice as she kissed him. + +And now the dog-cart came round to the door, and we all went out into +the hall. + +Then, with a hug from me, and many a loving kiss from Granny as she +clasped him in her arms, Chris was lifted up by the side of Uncle +Godfrey and driven away. + +"Good-bye! good-bye! good-bye!" he called out shrilly, looking back and +waving his hand, till his little voice grew faint in the distance. + +As for Granny, she stood still on the door-step, heedless of the keen +morning air, with one hand shading her eyes from the sunlight, while the +other grasped tightly Chris's parting gift--the "golden farthing". + +She stood there gazing after the dog-cart till it was out of sight. Then +she turned in silence and went back into the house. + +It seemed as if all the sunshine and brightness had gone out of it with +the departure of that little beggar! + + * * * * * + +Many years have passed since that summer's day when I found a little +truant sobbing so bitterly by the roadside. Granny is a very old lady +now, and my hair is becoming quite white. As for the little beggar +himself, the ambition of his childhood is fulfilled, and he is one of +the Queen's soldiers, having just passed into Sandhurst, a fact in +which Granny takes an overwhelming pride. So overwhelming, that I really +fancy if you were to ask her to name the greatest general of the future, +she would have but one answer for you. Cannot you guess what that answer +would be? + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + + +This title was published as the second half of the book _Unlucky_ by +Caroline Austin (eBook #35653). Page numbers begin with 161. + +The publisher's name comes from the first half of the book, as does the +illustration. + +Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; otherwise, +every effort has been made to remain true to the author's words and +intent. + +A table of contents has been added for the reader's convenience. + +Page 202, "Baggerly" changed to "Baggerley" ("Perhaps Miss Baggerley +would tell you"). + +Page 251, "Beggarly" changed to "Beggarley" ("Not even Miss Beggarley"). + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of That Little Beggar, by E. 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