the stokesley secret-第20节

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〃Oh　yes；　to　be　sure。　　You　will　grow　into　a　pig　yourself　if　you　go　on　that　way；　David。〃

However；　David；　partaking　the　family　distrust　of　Hal's　birds…in…the…　bush；　and　being　started　on　the　subject　of　the　hoard；　ran　up　to　Sam；　who　was　learning　his　lessons　by　way　of　something　to　do；　and　said；　〃If　you　go　to　London；　Sam；　may　I　have　your　sixpence　on　Monday　for　the　pig？〃

〃I　don't　know　that　I　am　going。〃

〃But　if　you　door　we　sha'n't　get　the　pig。〃

〃I　don't　care。〃

〃Don't　you　care　if　we　don't　get　the　pig？〃

〃No。　　Be　off　with　you。〃

David　next　betook　himself　to　his　eldest　sister；　who　was　trying　to　write　to　her　father；　and　finding　such　a　letter　harder　and　sadder　work　than　that　to　Ida　Greville；　though　no　one　teased　her　about　writing；　blots；　or　spelling。

〃If　you　go　to　London；　Susie；〃　said　he；　in　the　very　same　words；　〃may　I　have　your　sixpence　on　Monday　for　the　pig？〃

〃Oh；　Davie；　don't　be　tiresome！〃

David　only　said　it　over　again　in　the　same　words；　and　put　his　hand　down　on　her　letter　in　his　earnestness。

〃Come　away；　Davie；〃　said　Miss　Fosbrook；　〃don't　tease　your　sister。〃

〃I　want　her　to　say　I　may　have　her　sixpence　on　Monday　for　the　pig。〃

〃No；　you　sha'n't；　then；〃　said　Susan　angrily；　〃you　care　for　the　nasty　pig　more　than　for　poor　Mamma　or　anyone　else；　and　you　sha'n't　have　it。〃

So　seldom　did　Susan　say　anything　cross；　that　everyone　looked　up　surprised。　　Miss　Fosbrook　saw　that　it　was　sheer　unhappiness　that　made　her　speak　sharply；　and　would　not　take　any　notice；　except　by　gently　taking　away　the　pertinacious　David。

He　was　very　much　distressed　at　the　refusal；　and　when　Miss　Fosbrook　told　him　that　his　brother　and　sister　could　not　think　of　such　things　when　they　were　in　such　trouble；　he　only　answered；　〃But　Hannah　Higgins　won't　get　her　pig。〃

Miss　Fosbrook　was　vexed　herself　that　her　friend　David　should　seem　possessed　with　this　single　idea；　as　if　it　shut　out　all　others　from　his　mind。　　He　was　consoled　fast　enough；　for　Susan；　with　another　great　sob；　threw　down　her　pen；　and　coming　up　to　stroke　him　down　with　her　inky　fingers；　cried　out；　〃O　Davie；　Davie；　I　didn't　mean　it；　I　don't　know　why　I　said　it。　　You　shall　have　my　sixpence；　or　anything！　　But；　oh　dear；　I　wish　the　message　was　come；　and　we　were　going　to　dear　Mamma；　for　I　can't　write；　and　I　don't　know　what　to　do。〃

Then　she　went　back　to　her　place；　and　tried　to　write；　and　sat　with　her　head　on　her　hand；　and　dawdled　and　cried　and　blotted　till　it　grew　so　near　post…time　that　at　last　Miss　Fosbrook　took　the　longest　of　her　scrawls；　and　writing　three　lines　at　the　bottom　to　say　how　it　was　with　them　all；　directed　it　to　Captain　Merrifield；　thinking　that　he　would　like　it　better　than　nothing　from　home；　sent　it　off；　and　made　Susan　come　out　to　refresh　her　hot　eyes　and　burning　head　in　the　garden。

Sam　presently　came　and　walked　on　her　other　side；　gravely　and　in　silence；　glad　to　be　away　from　the　chatter　and　disputes　of　the　younger　ones。　　That　summons　had　made　them　both　feel　older；　and　less　like　children；　than　ever　before；　but　they　did　not　speak　much；　only；　when　they　sat　down　on　a　garden　bench；　as　Miss　Fosbrook　held　Susan's　hand；　she　presently　found　some　rough　hard　young　fingers　stealing　into　her　own　on　the　other　side；　and　saw　Sam's　eyes　glistening　with　unshed　tears。　　She　stroked　his　hand；　and　they　dropped　fast：　　but　he　was　ashamed　to　cry；　and　quickly　dried　them。

〃I　think；〃　she　said；　〃that　you　will　be　a　man；　Sam；　take　care　of　Susan；　and　be　a　comfort　to　your　father。〃

〃I　hope　I　shall；〃　said　Sam；　〃but　I　don't　know　how。〃

〃Nobody　can　tell　how　beforehand；〃　she　said。　　〃Only　watch　to　see　what　he　may　seem　to　want　to　have　done　for　him。　　Sit　quietly　by；　and　don't　get　in　the　way。〃

〃Were　you　ever　so　unhappy；　Miss　Fosbrook？〃　asked　Susan。

〃Yes；　once　I　was；　when　my　father　was　knocked　down　by　an　omnibus；　and　was　very　ill。〃

〃Tell　us　about　it？〃　said　Susan。

She　did　tell　them　of　her　week　of　sorrow　and　anxious　care　of　the　younger　children；　and　the　brightening　ray　of　hope　at　last。　　It　seemed　to　freshen　both　up；　and　give　them　hopes；　for　each　drew　a　long　sigh　of　relief；　and　then　Sam　said；　〃Papa　wrote　to　Mr。　Carey。　　She　is　to　be　prayed　for　in　church　to…morrow。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Susan；　with　a　sound　as　of　dismay；　which　made　Christabel　ask　in　wonder　why　she　was　sorry；　when；　from　Susan's　half…uttered　words；　she　found　that　the　little　girl　fancied　that　a　〃happy　issue　out　of　all　her　afflictions〃　meant　death。

〃Oh　no；　my　dear；〃　she　said。　　〃What　it　means　is；　that　the　afflictions　may　end　happily　in　whatever　way　God　may　see　to　be　best；　it　may　be　in　getting　well；　it　may　be　the　other　way：　　at　any　rate；　it　is　asking　that　the　distress　may　be　over；　not　saying　how。〃

〃Isn't　there　some　other　prayer　in　the　Prayer…book　about　it？〃　said　Sam；　looking　straight　before　him。

〃I　will　show　you　where　to　find　it；　in　the　Visitation　of　the　Sick。　　I　dare　say　it　has　often　been　read　to　her。〃

The　boy　and　girl　came　in　with　her；　and　brought　their　Prayer…books　to　her　room；　that　she　might　mark　them。

This　had　been　a　strange；　long；　sad　day　of　waiting　and　watching　for　the　telegram；　and　the　children　even　fancied　it　might　come　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　but　Miss　Fosbrook　thought　this　unlikely；　and　looked　for　the　morrow's　post。　　There　was　no　letter。　　It　was　very　disappointing；　but　Miss　Fosbrook　thought　it　a　good　sign；　since　at　least　the　danger　could　not　be　more　pressing；　and　delay　always　left　room　for　hope。

The　children　readily　believed　her；　they　were　too　young　to　go　on　dwelling　long　on　what　was　not　in　sight；　and　even　Susan　was　cheerful；　and　able　to　think　about　other　things　after　her　night's　rest；　and　the　relief　of　not　hearing　a　worse　account。

The　children　might　do　as　they　pleased　about　going　to　church　on　saints'　days；　and　on　this　day　all　the　three　girls　wished　to　go；　as　soon　as　it　had　been　made　clear　that　even　if　the　message　should　come　before　the　short　service　would　be　over；　there　would　be　ample　time　to　reach　the　station　before　the　next　train。　　Miss　Fosbrook　was　glad　to　prove　this；　for　not　only　did　she　wish　to　have　them　in　church；　but　she　thought　the　weary　watching　for　the　telegram　was　the　worst　thing　possible　for　Susan。　　Sam　was　also　going　to　church；　but　Henry　hung　back；　after　accompanying　them　to　the　end　of　the　kitchen…garden。　　〃I　wouldn't　go；　Sam；　just　suppose　if　the　message　came　without　anyone　at　home；　and　you　had　to　set　out　at　once！〃

〃We　couldn't；〃　said　Sam；　〃there's　no　train。〃

〃Oh；　but　they　always　put　on　a　special　train　whenever　anyone　is　ill。〃

〃Then　there　would　be　plenty！〃

〃At　least　they　did　when　Mr。　Greville's　mother　was　ill；　so　they　will　now；　and　then　you　may　ride　upon　the　engine；　for　there　won't　be　any　carriages；　you　know。　　I　say；　Sam；　if　you　go　to　church；　and　the　telegraph　comes；　I　shall　set　off。〃

〃You'll　do　no　such　thing；〃　said　Sam。　　〃You　had　much　better　come　to　church。〃

〃No；　I　sha'n't。　　It　is　like　a　girl　to　go　to　church　on　a　week…day。〃

〃It　is　much　more　like　a　girl　to　mind　what　a　couple　of　asses；　like　the　Grevilles；　say；〃　returned　Sam；　taking　up　his　cap　and　running　after　his　sisters　and　their　governess。

〃It　is　quite　right；〃　observed　Henry　to　John　and　David；　who　alone　remained　to　listen　to　him；　〃that　one　of　us　should　stay　in　case　the　telegraph　comes　in；　and　there　are　any　orders　to　give。　　I　can　catch　the　pony；　you　know；　and　ride　off　to　Bonchamp；　and　if　the　special　train　is　there；　I　shall　get　upon　the　engine。〃

〃But　it　is　Sam　and　Susan　who　are　going。〃

〃Oh；　that's　only　because　Sam　is　eldest。　　I　know　Mamma　would　like　to　have　me　much　better；　because　I　don't　walk　hard　like　Sam；　and　when　I　get　there；　she　will　be　so　much　better　already；　and　we　shall　be　all　right；　and　Admiral　Penrose　will　be　so　delighted　at　my　courage　in　riding　on　the　engine　and　putting　out　the　explosion；　or　something；　that　he　will　give　me　my　appointment　as　naval　cadet　at　once；　and　I　shall　have　a　dirk　and　a　uniform；　and　a　chest　of　my　own；　and　be　an　officer；　and　get　promoted　for　firing　red…hot　shot　out　of　the　batteries　at　Gibraltar。〃

〃Master　Hal！〃　exclaimed　Purday；　〃don't　throw　them　little　apples　about。〃

〃They　are　red…hot　shot；　Purday！〃

〃I'll　red…hot　shot　you　if　you　break　my　cucumber　frames；　young　gentleman！　　Come；　get　out　with　you。〃

Probably　anxiety　made　Purday　cross　as　well　as　everyone　else；　or　else　he　distrusted　Henry's　discretion　without　Sam；　for　he　hunted　the　little　boys　away　wherever　they　went。　　Now　they　would　break　the　cucumber　frames；　now　they　would　meddle　with　the　gooseberries；　or　trample　on　the　beds；　and　at　last　he　only　relented　so　far　as　to　let　David　stay　with　him　on　condition　of　being　very　good；　and　holding　the　little　cabbages　as　he　planted　them　out。

〃Master　Davie　was　a　solemn　one；〃　Purday　said；　and　they　were　great　friends；　but　Hal　and　Johnnie　were　fairly　turned　out；　as　their　idle　hands　were　continually　finding　fresh　mischief　to　do　in　their　sauntering　desultory　mood。

〃I　think；〃　said　Hal；　〃since　Purday　is　so　savage；　we'll　go　and　look　out　at　the　gate；　and　then　we　shall　see　if　the　telegraph　comes。〃

Johnnie　had　no　clear　idea　what　a　telegraph　was；　and　was　curious　to　know　how　it　would　come；　rather　expecting　it　to　be　a　man　in　a　red　coat　on　horseback；　blowing　a　horna　sight　that　certainly　was　not　to　be　missed；　so　he　willingly　strolled　down　after　Henry　to　the　gate　leading　to　the　lane。

〃I　can't　see　any　way　at　all；