Part 12 (2/2)
Then the boats parted company, and across the water from the ”Petrel's”
crew came a verse from one of the Nonsense Songs in which the boys delighted.
”Oh, Timballoo! how happy we are, We live in a sieve and a crockery jar!
And all night long, in the starlight pale, We sail away, with a pea-green sail, And whistle and warble a moony song To the echoing sound of a coppery gong.
Far and few, far and few Are the lands where the Jumblies live; Their heads are green, and their hands are blue, And they went to sea in a sieve.”
CHAPTER VIII.
_AND WHAT CAME OF IT._
”UNCLE, could you lend me a ninepence? I'll return it as soon as I get my pocket-money,” said Rose, coming into the library in a great hurry that evening.
”I think I could, and I won't charge any interest for it, so you need not be in any hurry to repay me. Come back here and help me settle these books if you have nothing pleasanter to do,” answered Dr. Alec, handing out the money with that readiness which is so delightful when we ask small loans.
”I'll come in a minute; I've been longing to fix my books, but didn't dare to touch them, because you always shake your head when I read.”
”I shall shake my head when you write, if you don't do it better than you did in making out this catalogue.”
”I know it's bad, but I was in a hurry when I did it, and I am in one now.” And away went Rose, glad to escape a lecture.
But she got it when she came back, for Uncle Alec was still knitting his brows over the list of books, and sternly demanded, pointing to a tipsy-looking t.i.tle staggering down the page,--
”Is that meant for 'Pulverized Bones,' ma'am?”
”No, sir; it's 'Paradise Lost.'”
”Well, I'm glad to know it, for I began to think you were planning to study surgery or farming. And what is this, if you please? 'Babies'
Ap.r.o.ns' is all _I_ can make of it.”
Rose looked hard at the scrawl, and presently announced, with an air of superior wisdom,--
”Oh, that's 'Bacon's Essays.'”
”Miss Power did not teach any thing so old-fas.h.i.+oned as writing, I see.
Now look at this little memorandum Aunt Plenty gave me, and see what a handsome plain hand that is. She went to a dame-school and learnt a few useful things well; that is better than a smattering of half a dozen so-called higher branches, I take the liberty of thinking.”
”Well, I'm sure I was considered a bright girl at school, and learned every thing I was taught. Luly and me were the first in all our cla.s.ses, and 'specially praised for our French and music and those sort of things,” said Rose, rather offended at Uncle Alec's criticism.
”I dare say; but if your French grammar was no better than your English, I think the praise was not deserved, my dear.”
”Why, uncle, we _did_ study English grammar, and I could pa.r.s.e beautifully. Miss Power used to have us up to show off when people came.
I don't see but I talk as right as most girls.”
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