the stokesley secret-第3节

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〃I　hope　I　shall　not　be　cross；〃　she　answered；　〃but　I　do　not　engage　to　let　you　off　any。　　I　think　having　so　good　a　use　to　put　your　money　to　should　make　you　more　careful　against　forfeiting　it。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Johnnie　disconsolately。

〃Well；　I　never　get　fined；〃　cried　Hal　joyfully。

〃Except　for　running　up　stairs　in　dirty　shoes；〃　said　Sam。

〃Oh！　there's　no　dirt　now。〃

〃Let　me　see；　what　are　the　fines？〃　said　Miss　Fosbrook。

〃Here's　the　list；〃　said　Susan；　and　sighing；　she　said；　〃I'm　afraid　I　shall　never　do　it！　　If　Bessie　only　would　help！〃

The　fines　of　the　Stokesley　schoolroom　were　these　for　delinquencies　each　value　a　farthing　…


For　being　dressed　later　than　eight　o'clock。　For　hair　not　properly　brushed。　For　coming　to　lessons　later　than　five　minutes　after　ten。　For　dirty　hands。　For　being　turned　back　twice　with　any　lesson。　For　elbows　on　the　table。　For　foolish　crying。　For　unnecessary　words　in　lesson…time。　For　running　up　stairs　in　wet　shoes。　For　leaving　things　about。


Each　of　these　bits　of　misbehaviour　caused　the　forfeit　of　a　farthing　out　of　the　weekly　allowance。　　Susan　looked　very　gloomy　over　them；　but　Hal　exclaimed；　〃Never　mind；　Susie；　we'll　do　it　all　without　you；　never　fear！〃

〃And　now；〃　said　Sam；　〃I　vote　we　have　some　fun　in　the　garden。〃

Some　readers　may　be　disposed　to　doubt；　after　this　specimen；　whether　the　young　Merrifields　could　be　really　young　ladies　and　gentlemen；　but　indeed　their　birth　might　make　them　so；　for　there　had　been　Squire　Merrifields　at　Stokesley　as　long　as　Stokesley　had　been　a　parish；　and　those　qualities　of　honour　and　good　breeding　that　mark　the　gentleman　had　not　been　wanting　to　the　elder　members　of　the　family。　　The　father　of　these　children　was　a　captain　in　the　navy；　and　till　within　the　last　six　years　the　children　had　lived　near　Plymouth；　but　when　he　inherited　the　estate　they　came　thither；　and　David　and　the　two　little　ones　had　been　born　at　Stokesley。　　The　property　was　not　large；　and　as　Captain　Merrifield　was　far　from　rich；　it　took　much　management　to　give　all　this　tribe　of　boys　and　girls　a　good　education；　as　well　as　plenty　of　bread　and　butter；　mutton；　and　apple…pudding。　　There　was　very　little　money　left　to　be　spent　upon　ornament；　or　upon　pleasuring；　so　they　were　brought　up　to　the　most　homely　dress　suited　to　their　station；　and　were　left　entirely　to　the　country　enjoyments　that　spring　up　of　themselves。　　Company　was　seldom　seen；　for　Papa　and　Mamma　had　little　time　or　means　for　visiting；　and　a　few　morning　calls　and　a　little　dining　out　was　all　they　did；　which　tended　to　make　the　young　ones　more　shy　and　homely；　more　free　and　rude；　more　inclined　to　love　their　own　ways　and　despise　those　of　other　people；　than　if　they　had　seen　more　of　the　world。　　They　were　a　happy；　healthy　set　of　children；　not　faulty　in　essentials；　but；　it　must　be　confessed；　a　little　wild；　rough　and　uncivil；　in　spite　of　the　code　of　fines。



CHAPTER　II。



Mrs。　Merrifield　had　taught　her　children　herself；　till　Samuel　and　Henry　began　going　to　the　Curate　for　a　couple　of　hours　every　day；　to　be　prepared　for　school。　　Lessons　were　always　rather　a　scramble；　so　many　people　coming　to　speak　to　her；　and　so　many　interruptions　from　the　nursery；　and　then　came　a　time　when　Mamma　always　was　tired；　and　Papa　used　to　come　out　and　scold　if　the　noises　grew　very　loud　indeed；　and　was　vexed　if　the　children　gave　Mamma　any　trouble　of　any　kind。　Next　they　were　told　they　were　to　have　a　governessa　sort　of　piece　of　finery　which　the　little　savages　had　always　despisedand　thereupon　came　Miss　Fosbrook；　but　before　she　had　been　a　week　in　the　house　Mamma　was　quite　ill　and　in　her　bed…room；　and　Papa　looked　graver　than　he　had　ever　done　before；　and　Mr。　Braddon；　the　doctor；　came　very　often：　　and　at　last　Susan　was　called　into　Mamma's　room；　and　it　was　explained　to　her　that　Mamma　was　thought　so　ill；　that　she　must　go　to　be　under　a　London　doctor；　and　would　be　away；　she　could　not　tell　how　long；　so　that　meantime　the　children　must　all　be　left　to　Miss　Fosbrook；　with　many　many　injunctions　to　be　good　and　obedient；　for　hearing　that　they　were　going　on　well　would　be　poor　Mamma's　only　comfort。

It　was　three　days　since　Captain　and　Mrs。　Merrifield　had　gone；　and　Miss　Fosbrook　stood　at　the　window；　gazing　at　the　bright　young　green　of　the　horse…chestnut　trees；　and　thinking　many　various　thoughts　in　the　lull　that　the　children　had　left　when　they　rushed　out　of　doors。

She　thought　herself　quite　alone；　and　stood；　sometimes　smiling　over　the　odd　ways　of　her　charges；　and　at　what　they　put　her　in　mind　of；　sometimes　gravely　thinking　whether　she　had　said　or　done　the　wisest　things　for　them；　or　what　their　mother　would　have　most　approved。　　She　was　just　going　to　move　away　from　the　window；　when　she　saw　a　little　figure　curled　up　on　the　floor；　with　her　head　on　the　window…seat。　〃Bessie；　my　dear；　what　are　you　doing　here？　　Why　are　not　you　gone　out？〃

〃I　don't　want　to　go　out。〃

〃I　thought　they　were　to　have　a　great　game　at　whoop…hide。〃

〃I　don't　like　whoop…hide。　　Johnnie　pulls　the　clothes　off　my　back。〃

〃My　dear；　I　hope　you　are　not　staying　in　because　they　called　you　those　foolish　names。　　It　was　all　in　good　humour。〃

〃It　was　not　kind；〃　said　Elizabeth；　her　throat　swelling。　　〃It　was　not　true。〃

〃Perhaps　not；　but　you　did　not　speak　to　give　your　reasons；　and　who　could　tell　how　good　they　might　be？〃

〃I've　a　right　to　my　secrets　as　well　as　they　have；〃　said　the　little　maiden。

Miss　Fosbrook　looked　kindly　at　her；　and　she　turned　wistful　eyes　on　the　young　governess。

〃Miss　Fosbrook；　will　you　keep　a　secret？〃

〃That　I　will。〃

〃I　want　my　money　to　buy　some　card…boardand　some　ribbonand　some　real　true　paints。　　I've　got　some　vermilion；　but　I　want　some　real　good　blue。　　And　then　I　want　to　make　some　beautiful　bands　with　tieslike　what　Papa　has　for　his　lettersfor　all　Mamma's　letters　in　her　desk。　There's　a　bundle　of　Papa's　when　he　was　gone　out　to　the　Crimean　War；　and　that's　to　have　a　frigate　on　it；　because　of　the　Calliopehis　ship；　you　know；　and　there's　one　bundle　of　dear　Aunt　Sarah'sthat's　to　have　a　rose；　because　I　always　think　her　memory　is　like　the　rose　in　my　hymn；　you　know；　and　Grandmamma；　she's　to　haveI　think　perhaps　I　could　copy　a　bit　of　the　tower　of　Westminster　Abbey　out　of　the　print；　because　one　sees　it　out　of　her　window；　and；　oh！　I　thought　of　so　many　more；　but　you　see　I　can't　do　it　without　a　real　good　paint…box；　and　that　costs　three　and　sixpence。　　Now；　Miss　Fosbrook；　is　it　stingy　to　wish　to　do　that？〃

〃Not　at　all；　my　dear；　but　you　could　not　expect　the　others　to　understand　what　they　never　were　told。〃

〃I'd　have　said　something　if　they　had　not　called　me　stingy；〃　said　Bessie。

〃It　certainly　was　rude　and　hasty；　but　if　we　bear　such　things　good…　naturedly；　they　become　better；　and　they　were　very　eager　about　their　own　plan。〃

〃Such　a　disagreeable　thing　as　a　pig！〃　continued　Bessie。　　〃If　it　had　been　anything　nice；　I　should　not　have　minded　so　much。〃

〃Yes；　but；　my　dear；　you　must　remember　that　the　pig　will　be　a　more　useful　present　than　even　your　pretty　contrivances。　　You　cannot　call　them　doing　good；　as　the　other　will　be。〃

〃Then　you　are　like　them！　　You　think　I　ought　to　spend　all　my　money　on　a　great　horrid　pig；　when　Mamma〃　and　the　tears　were　in　the　little　girl's　eyes。

〃No；　indeed；　my　dear。　　I　don't　think　anyone　is　called　on　to　give　their　all；　and　it　is　very　nice　and　quite　right　for　a　little　girl　to　try　to　make　a　pretty　present　to　please　her　mamma。　　There　is　plenty　of　time　before　you；　and　I　think　you　will　manage　to　have　some　share　in　the　very　kind　action　your　brothers　and　sisters　are　contriving。〃

Elizabeth　had　not　forgiven；　as　she　should　have　done；　the　being　called　stingy；　it　rankled　on　her　feelings　far　more　than　those　who　said　the　word　understood；　and　she　presently　went　on；　〃If　they　knew　ever　so　much；　they　would　only　laugh　at　me；　and　call　it　all　Bessie's　nonsense。　Miss　Fosbrook；　please；　what　is　affectation？〃

〃I　believe　it　is　pretending　to　seem　what　we　are　not　by　nature；〃　said　Miss　Fosbrook；　〃putting　on　manners　or　feelings　that　do　not　come　to　us　of　themselves。〃

〃Then　I　shall　tell　them　they　make　me　affected；〃　exclaimed　she。　　〃If　I　like　to　be　quiet　and　do　things　prettily；　they　teaze　me　for　being　affected；　and　I'm　forced　to　be　as　plain　and　blunt　as　their　are；　and　I　don't　like　it！　　I　wish　I　was　grown　up。　　I　wish　I　was　Ida　Greville！〃

〃And　why；　my　dear？〃

〃Because　then　things　might　be　pretty；〃　said　Elizabeth。　　〃Everything　is　so　plain　and　ugly；　and　one　gets　so　tired　of　it！　　Is　it　silly　to　like　things　to　be　pretty？〃

〃No；　far　from　it；　that　is；　if　we　do　not　sacrifice　better　things　to　prettiness。〃

Elizabeth　looked　up　with　a　light　in　her　dark　eyes；　and　said；　〃Miss　Fosbrook；　I　like　you！〃

Miss　Fosbrook　was　very　much　pleased；　and　kissed　her。

She　paused　a　moment；　and　then　said；　〃Miss　Fosbrook；　may　I　ask　one　question？　　What　is　your　name？　　Mamma　said　it　must　be　Charlotte；　because　you　signed　your　letter　Ch。　A。　Fosbrook；　but　your　little　sister's　letter　that　you　showed　us　began　'My　dear　Bell。'　　If　it　is　a　secret；　indeed　I　will　keep　it。〃

〃It　is　no　secret　at　all；〃　said　Miss　Fosbrook；　laughing。　　〃My　name　is　Christabel　Angela。〃

Elizabeth　opened　her　eyes；　and　said　it　by　syllables。　　〃Christabel　Angela！　that's　a　prettier　name　than　Ida。　　Does　it　make　you　very　glad　to　have　it？〃

〃I　like　it　for　some　reasons；〃　said　Miss　Fosbro