Part 21 (1/2)

”Stop that noise!”

Willie could not stop; and his mother shook him. This was too much for his dignity, and he bawled with open mouth.

”You shall stay at home from meeting!” muttered Mrs. Royden. ”Take off his collar, Hepsy!”

”She shan't!” screamed Willie, throwing himself on the defensive. ”I'll bite her!”

”Come, come!” said Mr. Royden; ”Willie is going to be a good boy, and go to meeting like a man.”

”He shall go into the closet, and stay there one hour!” exclaimed his mother, s.n.a.t.c.hing him up roughly.

Willie met with a providential escape. While he was kicking and screaming in his mother's arms, the noise of a dire disaster filled the kitchen, and contributed to drown his cries.

Georgie, reaching up to the water-pail which stood on the sink-shelf, to get a dipper-full of drink, had somehow pulled it over. Its entire contents spouted upon his face, his bosom, his fresh collar and nice clothes, and the pail came with him to the floor. After the shock, and the jar, and a little gasping, he began to shriek. Mrs. Royden dropped Willie, and ran to the rescue. It was well for the drenched boy that his father arrived first at the spot, and lifted him up. Hepsy was terrified; but Sam, who had hobbled to the door, to tell Mr. Royden that the team was ready, laughed till he was too weak to stand.

Mrs. Royden, incensed by the lad's insolence, made a rapid dash at him; but Sam dodged, and rolled down the steps. Willie, diverted from his own woes by the mischance which had befallen his brother, crept into a corner in the sitting-room, where he hid away from his mother's wrath.

How the storm would have ended it is impossible to say, had not Father Brighthopes made his appearance, serene and glowing from his morning devotions.

”Ah! what has happened to my little friend?” he cried, as Mr. Royden held Georgie up to let him drip.

Mr. Royden had kept his temper with astonis.h.i.+ng success; but he was on the point of giving way to his irritable feelings. The old man's appearance was timely. The perplexed father remembered a resolution he had made, and was calm in a moment.

”Oh,” said he, ”Georgie has been taking a big drink at the water-pail.

It was rather too much for him.”

”Accidents will happen,” cried the clergyman, cheerfully. ”Bear it bravely, my fine fellow! You will get dry again soon. It helps nothing to cry about it, my little man.”

Georgie was hushed almost instantly. He seemed ashamed to make a great ado about his disaster, and smothered his cries into sobs. Meanwhile, Mrs. Royden, with a mighty effort, had controlled her boiling and bursting temper, and hastened to her room.

It was now impossible that Georgie should go to meeting. Hepsy undressed him, while Mrs. Royden got herself ready with nervous haste. All the neighbors bound for church had gone by before the family began to pile into the carriage. Mr. Royden's patience was fast ebbing away.

”Come, come, wife!” he said. ”I told you you would be too late.”

She flew around confusedly, doing everything amiss, in her hurry.

Three times, when on the point of getting into the carriage, she went back for something she had forgotten. Then Georgie, unwilling to stay at home, began to whimper aloud, and struggle fiercely with Hepsy, who restrained him from running after the family. To make matters worse, the yearling colt got out of the barn-yard, Sam having afforded him an opportunity by leaving the doors open on both sides of the barn. Mr.

Royden had to get him back; for it would not do to let him follow the team to church, and Sam, with his lame foot, could not have kept him out of the road.

Mrs. Royden took advantage of this delay to arrange some portion of her dress, which she had neglected in her haste. Her husband had shut the colt up, and returned to the horse-block, before she was ready. His temper was now on the point of bursting forth, as the clergyman saw by his fiery face, knitted brows and quivering lips.

”Calmly, calmly, brother!” said Father Brighthopes, cheerily. ”Take it easy. Keep cool. Heat and pa.s.sion always make bad things worse.”

”I know it!” exclaimed Mr. Royden. ”I will keep cool.”

He laid down the reins, and took his seat quietly on the horse-block, wiping the perspiration from his brow.