Part 16 (2/2)

”Well, if that ain't a joke! I ain't the ferry. Here you, Phil, jump into the _Fairy_ and go and see what that man wants.”

So Phil played the part of the ferry and brought Mrs. Bosher's brother to the lock-eyot.

He told his story. The previous evening he had met a young girl in the wood, and as it was private property, he had warned her out of it.

Afterwards he found that she had gone to his sister's house, evidently a runaway, and had engaged herself as a general servant. But Mrs.

Bosher, who was one that never took no rest, never even took off her bonnet, saw through that girl, and knew right well that she had come from the Littlebourne side of the river; and perhaps Mrs. Rowles could state what family had lost a little maid-servant.

Yes, Mrs. Rowles could tell him all about Juliet; and after giving him some breakfast sent him back in the _Fairy_ to his own side of the river, with a request that Mrs. Bosher would take Juliet to the station, where someone would meet the tiresome girl and convey her to her home in London.

The big man promised to do all this, and went out with Rowles intending to have a pipe and a gossip with him, when down came a boat rowed by Leonard Burnet, and steered by the old master-printer; and so the gossip was cut short, though not the pipe.

”I am not going through,” said Mr. Burnet from the boat. ”Help me to land, Rowles; I want to have a talk with you. Who is that man?”

looking at the big person who had just gone off in the little _Fairy_.

”Oh, that is Mrs. Bosher's brother. I hope you are well, sir, and the young gentleman; likewise Mr. Robert.”

”Yes, thanks, Leonard and I are very well; but Roberts has a smart touch of rheumatism, and will not come on the river to-day. May I sit here, Rowles?” added Mr. Burnet, pointing to a seat under some small trees.

”If you please, sir. Why, Emma, where are _you_ a-going?”

Mrs. Rowles curtsied to Mr. Burnet. ”I am going, Ned, to the vicarage.

I heard say that Mr. and Mrs. Webster are going to London to-day, and if they would take charge of Juliet it would save my time and money.”

Mrs. Rowles hurried off, and caught Mrs. Webster, who most kindly undertook the charge of Juliet if Mrs. Bosher should bring her to the station, and to see her safe to her own home in London.

While Mrs. Rowles was absent on this errand, her husband was having a very important conversation with Mr. Burnet under the small trees.

Neither Leonard nor Phil heard what pa.s.sed, as they were not within earshot; but when they presently came near their fathers they caught these words from Mr. Burnet:

”I hope that he will consent to do as we suggest. It was really my boy who first thought that it would be a good move. These young people sometimes get hold of ideas which are worth carrying out. And then Roberts took it up, knowing as he does from his relations the difficulties of that kind of life in London.”

”I'm sure, sir,” said Rowles doubtfully, ”it is very kind of you to think of doing such kindness to a stranger. But I'm much afeard that Thomas Mitch.e.l.l is so used to his topsy-turvy way of living, that he will not fit in with the morning for getting up and the night for going to bed.”

”I will endeavour to get him to try it, at all events. I have taken a lease of the Bourne House; very likely you know it.”

”I should think I did! A good old gentleman used to live there when I was a boy, as like to you, sir, as one pea is to another; and, what is more, Mrs. Bosher's brother farms all the arable land belonging to it.”

”Does he? Of course I know all about my future tenant, but I did not know he was Mrs. Bosher's brother. Well, Rowles, there is a nice little cottage on the property which your brother-in-law can rent cheap from me; and I will put him on the _Thames Valley Times and Post_, which only comes out once a week, and does not keep the men up at night. We also do a good deal of handbill printing, and catalogues for sales, and that kind of work, which is easy enough. And I hope to see your friends settled down here by the beginning of the week after next.”

Rowles shook his head, feeling certain that the arrangement would not answer. But Mr. Burnet was determined to try it, and Leonard was delighted with the project.

”Your cousins,” said Leonard to Philip, ”will have to learn all about country things. I don't suppose they know a garden when they see one.”

”No, they don't,” was Phil's answer. ”When Juliet saw the first of the country from the train window, she says to mother, 'It's a pretty churchyard!' says she.”

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