Part 2 (1/2)
”It will be deuced hard work to make up the time. I was to have been up at four this morning, but that alarum went off and never woke me. However, I shall be able to do something to-night.”
”Don't make a slavery of your holidays, Frank. What's the good of having a new gun if you're not to use it?”
”It's not the new gun. I'm not such a child as that comes to. But, you see, G.o.dfrey is here, and one ought to be civil to him. I'll tell you what I want you girls to do, Bessy. You must come and meet us on our way home. Come over in the boat and along the path to the Patterdale road. We'll be there under the hill about five.”
”And if you are not, we are to wait in the snow?”
”Don't make difficulties, Bessy. I tell you we will be there. We are to go in the cart, and so shall have plenty of time.”
”And how do you know the other girls will go?”
”Why, to tell you the truth, Patty Coverdale has promised. As for Miss Holmes, if she won't, why you must leave her at home with mamma. But Kate and Patty can't come without you.”
”Your discretion has found that out, has it?”
”They say so. But you will come; won't you, Bessy? As for waiting, it's all nonsense. Of course you can walk on. But we'll be at the stile by five. I've got my watch, you know.” And then Bessy promised him. What would she not have done for him that was in her power to do?
”Go! Of course I'll go,” said Miss Holmes. ”I'm up to anything.
I'd have gone with them this morning, and have taken a gun if they'd asked me. But, by-the-bye, I'd better not.”
”Why not?” said Patty, who was hardly yet without fear lest something should mar the expedition.
”What will three gentlemen do with four ladies?”
”Oh, I forgot,” said Patty innocently.
”I'm sure I don't care,” said Kate; ”you may have Harry if you like.”
”Thank you for nothing,” said Miss Holmes. ”I want one for myself.
It's all very well for you to make the offer, but what should I do if Harry wouldn't have me? There are two sides, you know, to every bargain.”
”I'm sure he isn't anything to me,” said Kate. ”Why, he's not quite seventeen years old yet!”
”Poor boy! What a shame to dispose of him so soon. We'll let him off for a year or two; won't we, Miss Coverdale? But as there seems by acknowledgment to be one beau with unappropriated services--”
”I'm sure I have appropriated n.o.body,” said Patty, ”and didn't intend.”
”G.o.dfrey, then, is the only knight whose services are claimed,” said Miss Holmes, looking at Bessy. Bessy made no immediate answer with either her eyes or tongue; but when the Coverdales were gone, she took her new friend to task.
”How can you fill those young girls' heads with such nonsense?”
”Nature has done that, my dear.”
”But nature should be trained; should it not? You will make them think that those foolish boys are in love with them.”
”The foolish boys, as you call them, will look after that themselves. It seems to me that the foolish boys know what they are about better than some of their elders.” And then, after a moment's pause, she added, ”As for my brother, I have no patience with him.”
”Pray do not discuss your brother,” said Bessy. ”And, Bella, unless you wish to drive me away, pray do not speak of him and me together as you did just now.”
”Are you so bad as that,--that the slightest commonplace joke upsets you? Would not his services be due to you as a matter of course?