the stokesley secret-第6部分

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Miss　Fosbrook　did　not　wonder　at　little　Elizabeth　for　her　discomfort　under　the　rude　homeliness　of　Stokesley；　where　the　children　made　a　bad　copy　of　their　father's　sailor　bluntness；　and　the　difficulties　of　money　matters　kept　down　all　indulgences。　　She　knew　that　Captain　Merrifield　was　as　poor　a　man　for　an　esquire　as　her　father　was　for　a　surgeon；　and　that　if　he　were　to　give　his　sons　an　education　fit　for　their　station；　he　must　make　his　household　live　plainly　in　every　way；　but　without　thinking　them　right　feelings；　she　had　some　pity　for　little　Bessie's　weariness　and　discontent　in　never　seeing　anything　pretty。　　The　three　girls　came　in　dressed　for　church；　in　the　plainest　brown　hats；　black　capes；　and　drab　alpaca　frocks；　rather　long　and　not　very　full；　not　a　coloured　bow　nor　handkerchief；　not　a　flounce　nor　fringe；　to　relieve　them；　even　their　books　plain　brown。　　Bessie　looked　wistfully　at　Miss　Fosbrook's　pretty　Church…service；　and　said　she　and　Susan　both　had　beautiful　Prayer…Books；　but　Mamma　said　they　could　not　be　trusted　with　them　yetIda　Greville　had　such　a　beauty。

Was　it　the　effect　of　Miss　Fosbrook's　words；　that　Sam　forbore　to　teaze　Bessie　about　Ida　Greville？whose　name　was　a　very　dangerous　subject　in　the　schoolroom。　　Also；　he　let　Bessie　take　hold　of　Miss　Fosbrook's　hand　in　peace；　though　in　general　the　least　token　of　affection　was　scouted　by　the　whole　party。

It　was　a　pretty　walk　to　church；　over　a　paddock；　where　the　cows　were　turned　out；　and　then　along　a　green　lane；　and　the　boys　had　been　trained　enough　in　Sunday　habits　to　make　them　steady　and　quiet　on　the　way；　especially　as　Henry　was　romancing　about　the　pig。

By　and　by　Elizabeth　gave　Miss　Fosbrook's　hand　a　sudden　pull；　and　she　perceived；　in　the　village　street　into　which　they　were　emerging；　a　party　on　the　way　to　church。　　There　were　two　ladies；　one　in　stately　handsome　slight　mourning；　the　other　more　quietly　dressed；　and　two　or　three　boys；　but　what　Elizabeth　wanted　her　to　look　at　was　a　little　girl　of　nine　years　old；　who　was　walking　beside　the　lady。　　Her　hat　was　black　chip；　edged　and　tied　with　rose…coloured　ribbon；　and　adorned　with　a　real　bird；　with　glass　eyes；　black　plumage；　except　the　red　crest　and　wings。　　She　wore　a　neatly…fitting　little　fringed　black　polka；　beneath　which　spread　out　in　fan…like　folds　her　flounced　pink　muslin；　coming　a　little　below　her　knees；　and　showing　her　worked　drawers；　which　soon　gave　place　to　her　neat　stockings　and　dainty　little　boots。　　She　held　a　small　white　parasol；　bordered　with　pink；　and　deeply　fringed；　over　her　head；　and　held　a　gold…clasped　Prayer…　Book　in　her　hand；　and　Miss　Fosbrook　heard　a　little　sigh；　which　told　her　that　this　was　the　being　whom　Elizabeth　Merrifield　thought　the　happiest　in　the　world。　　She　hoped　it　was　not　all　for　the　fine　clothes；　and　Sam　muttered；

〃What　a　little　figure　of　fun！〃

Martin　and　Osmond　Greville　went　daily　to　Mr。　Carey's；　like　Sam　and　Hal；　so　the　boys　ran　on　to　them；　and　Mrs。　Greville；　turning　round；　showed　a　very　pleasant　face　as　she　bowed　to　Miss　Fosbrook；　and　shaking　hands　with　Susan　and　Elizabeth；　asked　with　much　solicitude　after　their　mamma；　and　how　lately　they　had　heard　of　her。

Susan　was　too　simple　and　straightforward　to　be　shy；　and　answered　readily；　that　they　had　had　letters；　and　Mamma　had　been　sadly　tired　by　the　journey；　but　was　better　the　next　day。　　The　little　girls　shook　hands；　and　Mrs。　Greville　made　a　kind　of　introduction　by　nodding　towards　her　companion；　and　murmuring　something　about　〃Fraulein　Munsterthal；〃　and　Miss　Fosbrook　found　herself　walking　beside　a　lady　with　the　least　of　all　bonnets；　a　profusion　of　fair　hair；　and　a　good…　humoured；　one…coloured　face；　no　doubt　Miss　Ida's　German　governess。　She　said　something　about　the　fine　day；　and　received　an　answer；　but　what　it　was　she　could　not　guess；　whether　German；　French；　or　English；　and　her　own　knowledge　of　the　two　first　languages　was　better　for　reading　than　for　speaking；　so　after　an　awkward　attempt　or　two；　she　held　her　peace　and　looked　at　her　companions。

Susan　and　Mrs。　Greville　seemed　to　be　getting　on　very　well　together；　but　Elizabeth's　admiration　of　Ida　seemed　to　be　speechless；　for　they　were　walking　side　by　side　without　a　word；　perhaps　too　close　to　their　elders　to　talk。

Annie　and　David　were　going　on　steadily　hand　in　hand　a　little　way　off；　and　Miss　Fosbrook　chiefly　heard　the　talk　of　the　boys；　who　had　fallen　behind；　perhaps　her　ears　were　quickened　by　its　personality；　for　though　Sam　was　saying；　〃I'll　tell　you　what；　she's　a　famous　fellow！〃　the　rejoinder　was；　〃What！　do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　mind　her？〃

〃Doesn't　he？〃　said　Hal's　voice；　〃why；　she　sent　him　away　from　tea　last　night；　just　for　shying　crusts。〃

〃And　did　he　go？〃　and　there　was　a　disagreeable　sounding　laugh；　in　which　she　was　sorry　that　Hal　joined。

〃Catch　the　Fraulein　serving　me　so！〃

〃She　never　tries！〃

〃She　knows　better！〃

〃I　say；　Sam；　I　thought　you　had　more　spirit。　　You'll　be　sitting　up　pricking　holes　in　a　frill　by　the　time　the　Captain　comes　back。〃

〃And　Hal　will　be　mincing　along　with　his　toes　turned　out　like　a　dancing…master！〃　continued　an　affected　voice。

〃No　such　thing！〃　cried　Hal　angrily：　　〃I'm　not　a　fellow　to　be　ordered　about！〃

The　Grevilles　laughed；　and　one　of　them　said；　〃Well；　then；　why　don't　you　show　it？　　I'd　soon　send　her　to　the　right…about　if　she　tried　to　interfere　with　me！〃

Miss　Fosbrook　could　bear　it　no　longer；　and　facing　suddenly　round；　looked　the　speaker　full　in　the　face；　and　said；　〃I　am　very　much　obliged　to　youbut　you　should　not　speak　quite　so　loud。〃

The　boys　shrank　back　out　of　countenance；　and　Sam；　who　alone　had　not　spoken；　looked　up　into　her　face　with　a　merry　air；　as　if　he　were　gratified　by　her　spirited　way　of　discomfiting　them。

Osmond　tried　to　recover；　and　muttered；　〃What　a　sell！〃　rather　impudently；　but　they　were　now　near　the　churchyard；　and　Mrs。　Greville　turning　round；　all　was　hushed。

Christabel　felt　much　vexed　that　all　this　should　have　happened　just　before　going　into　church；　she　felt　a　good　deal　ruffled　herself；　and　feared　that　Bessie's　head　was　filled　with　nonsense；　if　Hal's　were　not　with　something　worse。

The　church　looked　pretty　outside；　with　the　old　weather…boarded　wooden　belfry　rising　above　the　tiled　roof　and　western　gable；　and　it　was　neatly　kept　but　not　pretty　within；　the　walls　all　done　over　with　pale　buff　wash；　and　the　wood…work　very　clumsy。　　Sam　and　Susan　behaved　well　and　attentively；　but　Bessie　fidgeted　into　her　mamma's　place；　and　would　stand　upon　a　hassock。　　Miss　Fosbrook　was　much　afraid　it　was　to　keep　in　sight　of　the　beautiful　bird。　　Hal　yawned；　and　Johnnie　not　only　fidgeted　unbearably　himself；　but　made　his　sister　Annie　do　the　same；　till　Miss　Fosbrook　scarcely　felt　as　if　she　was　at　church；　and　made　up　her　mind　to　tell　Johnnie　that　she　should　leave　him　at　home　with　the　babies　unless　he　changed　his　ways。　　Little　David　went　on　most　steadily　with　his　Prayer…Book；　and　scarcely　looked　off　it　till　the　sermon；　when　he　fell　asleep。

Miss　Fosbrook　had　one　pleasure　as　she　was　going　home。　　The　children　had　all　gone　on　some　steps　before　her；　chattering　eagerly　among　themselves；　when　Sam　turned　back　and　said　abruptly；　〃Miss　Fosbrook；　you　didn't　mind　THAT；　I　hope？〃

〃What　those　boys　were　saying？　It　depends　on　you　whether　you　make　me　mind　it。〃

〃I　don't　mean　to　make　any　rows　if　I　can　help　it；〃　said　Sam。

〃I　am　sure　I　hope　you　will　be　able　to　help　it！　　I　don't　know　what　I　should　do　if　you　did！〃

Sam　gave　an　odd　smile　with　his　honest　face。　　〃Well；　you've　got　a　good　spirit　of　your　own。　　It　would　take　something　to　cow　you。〃

〃Pray　don't　try！〃

Sam　laughed；　and　said；　〃I　did　promise　Papa　to　be　conformable。〃

〃And　I　was　very　much　obliged　to　you　yesterday　evening。　　The　behaviour　of　the　other　boys　depends　so　much　on　you。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Sam；　〃and　I　don't　mind　it　so　much　now　I　see　you　can　stand　up　for　yourself。〃

〃Besides；　what　would　it　be　if　I　had　to　write　to　your　father　that　I　could　not　manage　such　a　bear…garden？〃

〃I'll　take　care　that　sha'n't　happen；〃　exclaimed　Sam。　　〃It　would　hinder　all　the　good　to　Mamma！　　I'll　tell　you　what；〃　he　added；　after　a　confidential　pause；　〃if　we　get　beyond　you；　there's　Mr。　Carey。〃

〃I　thought　you　did　not　mean　to　get　beyond　me。〃

Sam　looked　a　little　disconcerted；　and　it　struck　her　that；　though　he　would　not　say　so；　he　was　doubtful　whether　the　Greville　influence　might　not　render　Henry　unmanageable；　but　he　quickly　gave　it　another　turn。　　〃Only　you　must　not　plague　us　about　London　manners。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean　by　London　manners。　　Do　you　mean　not　bawling　at　tea？　for　I　mean　to　insist　upon　that；　I　assure　you；　and　I　want　you　to　help　me。〃

〃Oh！　not　being　finikin；　and　mincing；　and　nonsensical！〃

〃I　hope　I'm　not　so！〃　said　Miss　Fosbrook；　laughing　heartily；　〃but　I'll　tell　you　one　thing；　Sam；　that　I　do　wish　you　would　leave　offand　that　is　teazing。　　I　don't　know　whether　that　is　country　manners；　but　I　don't　like　to　see　a　sensible　kind　fellow　like　you　just　go　out　of　your　way　to　say　something　mortifying　to　a　younger　one。〃

〃You　don't　know；〃　said　Sam。　　〃It　is　fun。　　They　like　it。〃

〃If　they　really　like　it；　there　is　no　objection。　　I　know　I　should　like　very　much　to　have　my　brother　here　quizzing　me；　but　you　know　very　well　there　are　two　sorts　of　such　fun；　and　one　that　is　only　sport　to　the　stronger　side。〃

〃Bessie　is　s