Part 37 (1/2)
”It wouldn't be us spoiling her trip,” Nesta objected; ”it would be Brenda's and Herbert's faults, because they are so disagreeable”
”It would be because of us,” Eustace held out, ”and I'll never forgive you if you go whining about it to mother or any one We can bear it for a year, or we aren't worth anything”
But even Eustace's courage received a check one evening when he and Nesta were called into their mother's rooloith soeso and out of the way
”Chicks,” she said, drawing the very special to say to you to-day--solad or sorry about, for it cuts tays It fulfils the ambition of my life for you, and at the same time it costs me my twins”
There was a breathless, expectant silence
”I think for you the happiness will outweigh the pain,” she went on gently, ”because ityou randfather for it; he insists on sending you both to school”
”To school!” shouted the twins simultaneously
”Yes,” Mrs Orban said, ”actually to school He wishes you to have exactly the saes as Brenda and Herbert Won't it be splendid for you?”
There was dead silence Mrs Orban glanced frorave face to the other Nesta's was crumpled and bewildered; Eustace's very white, and his expression sadly strained
”Why, darlings,” Mrs Orban said, ”you have alanted to go to school Hasn't it nearlywe could not give you? And now your wishes have been granted as it were by lad after all”
There was such a ring of disappointment in their mother's voice that even Nesta was roused
”We've wanted it awfully,” stam quite so soon”
”Oh, is that it, you dears?” Mrs Orban said in a tone between laughter and tears ”I was afraid soed your land after all; but of course that couldn't be”
She spoke with such perfect certainty that the tere du to say
”There really is rather a blessing in disguise in your going to school at once, though I can't bear parting with you,” Mrs Orban went on after a little silence ”I shall be quite close to you while you are still feeling strange in your new life; I shall hear all about everything froo away next year feeling content that you are settled down, and likely to be nothing but a tiny bit ainst her shoulder
”More than a tiny bit, muh,” said Mrs Orban cheerily; ”it is a long way off, with plenty of lovely tio so soon”
”How soon?” queried Nesta sharply
”He says he must be off the end of thishas had to be settled so hurriedly
But he has a lovely dream for the future: before you have left school he hopes to be able to co would it be before that, mother?” Eustace asked
”Oh, four or five years, perhaps,” said Mrs Orban
”But shan't we ever go back to Australia again?” Nesta said with a gulp