Part 17 (1/2)
”Oh, Mr Sanford's is exactly the school to which I should wish Digby to go,” exclaimed Mrs Heathcote, after reading her brother's letter; ”he will be well taken care of, and well taught. What more can we wish?”
”I would rather send him at once to Eton or Winchester, and he would soon learn to take care of himself,” observed the Squire. ”As for the learning, he'll pick up enough of that, somehow or other, to roll along with, and to enable him to look after his property by and by. Really, I think we had better send him at once to Eton.”
Mrs Heathcote pleaded so hard against this, that at last it was settled that Digby should go to Mr Sanford's for a couple of years, and afterwards be sent to one of the above-mentioned public schools.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
RETURN HOME--CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES--HOW THEY WERE INTERRUPTED--THE HEIR OF BLOXHOLME MISSING--DAME MARLOW'S REVENGE--ARTHUR HAVILAND GOES IN SEARCH OF HIS FRIEND.
There were great rejoicings when just before Christmas time Digby's jovial, smiling, and sunburnt countenance beamed forth in the hall of Bloxholme. How pleased were his father and mother to see him--how delighted Kate was--how fondly she kissed him, and how eagerly she asked him, as soon as he could, to come and tell her about everything. Gusty shouted and cheered as if some great event had occurred--so it had to him--for one of the most important personages he had ever known, had just returned, after a long absence, to the home of his ancestors. John Pratt came to the door, hat in hand, grinning all over with glee, and eagerly helped the coachman to unstrap Digby's trunk and play-box.
Alesbury, the butler, looked benignly at him--”Glad to see you, Master Digby, very glad, that I am,” he exclaimed, in his usual well-bred undertone; ”so grown too, you are. Well, we've all sorts of things ready for the holidays--very glad to see you, very.” Mrs Carter hurried out of the housekeeper's room to welcome him, and after shaking hands and looking at him proudly for a minute, she gave way to the feelings of her heart, and seizing him in her arms, covered his cheeks with kisses. Nurse treated him much in the same way. He was too happy to resent the indignity, though he did rub his cheeks pretty hard afterwards with his handkerchief, when they were not looking. His two elder sisters were out riding when he arrived. When they came back they gave him as hearty a welcome as the rest of the family. Miss Apsley, too, in her quiet ladylike way, expressed her pleasure at seeing him.
Her discernment enabled her to discover that he possessed many qualities which, if properly directed, would make him both generally liked, and a useful member of society. She liked him because she thought that he was an honest true-hearted, English boy.
Digby had good reason, therefore, to be satisfied with the reception he met with from every member of the family after this his first absence from home. So he was, and he felt that he was a very happy fellow.
Still more full of glee was he, when he at length having been sufficiently looked at, and talked to, and cross questioned, and kissed, and hugged, and fed, found himself running through the grounds, with Kate by his side, towards their favourite resort, the summer-house on the mound.
It was a bright clear day, and though the air was cold, the sun striking through the gla.s.s windows for several hours made the room warm and pleasant. Then looking out together at the view, which, even in winter, was beautiful, Digby told Kate of all that had happened him at Mr Nugent's. How she did laugh at the idea of firing off the old guns at the Castle, though she very nearly cried with horror when he described how they had burst, and how narrowly he and Julian had escaped being killed.
Digby touched very lightly on Julian's behaviour, but he could not help saying enough to make Kate exclaim--
”Oh, I hate him!--mean-spirited, disagreeable boy. I hope papa will not ask him here again. I never liked him--I did not know why--now I guess the reason.”
Kate then told Digby that all sorts of preparations had been made for his amus.e.m.e.nt during the holidays, and that several people, young and old, had been invited to come to the house.
”And who do you think is among them?” she asked. ”Somebody you will be very glad to see, and whom I never saw. I begged that I might be the first to tell you, because I know that it will give you so much pleasure.”
Digby guessed all sorts of people, but gave it up at last. Perhaps he knew how much Kate would like to tell him.
”Then I won't leave you longer in doubt,” she exclaimed, eagerly.
”Arthur Haviland is coming.”
”You don't say so,” said Digby, clapping his hands. ”How very jolly.”
”Yes, he is, though,” cried Kate. ”Papa, it seems, knew Mr Haviland, who wrote to him about your having helped to pull Arthur out of the sea, and then they found that they were old friends, and so it was arranged that Arthur should come here for your holidays. Who else do you suppose is coming? I'll tell you, as you are not in a guessing mood to-day.
Cousin Giles. We could not get on this Christmas without him, I'm sure.
He'll manage everything. He'll direct all our games in the evening, and settle about all the sports in the morning for you boys. We were quite anxious till we knew that he would come; now I am certain that everything will go smoothly.”
”Capital! how jolly!” exclaimed Digby.
Everything which promised to be pleasant was jolly with him. If he had been asked what was the most jolly thing in existence, he would have answered--his sister Kate.
Cousin Giles and Arthur Haviland were to arrive the very next day, and several other people who had sons with them were coming before New-year's-day, so that the house would be full from the top to the bottom.
Kate had another surprise for Digby. After they had had their confabulation, and the sinking sun warned them that it was time to return home, she led him round the back way, under pretence of showing him the dogs and some young pups Juno had produced. By chance, it appeared, as she pa.s.sed the stables, she threw open the door, and there stood John Pratt, grinning with pleasure, and holding by the head a beautiful little pony, with a new bridle and saddle on.
”Oh Kate, how kind, how delightful, how jolly!” exclaimed Digby. ”Is that really for me? What a beauty. What grand gallops I'll have on him, and go out with you on your Tiny. It is of all things just what I should have liked the best, if I had been asked. What is his name? I hope that it is a pretty one.”
”Guess,” said Kate, who, although Digby never had guessed anything in his life, always persisted in making him try and do so.