Part 2 (1/2)
”Is that so really, you poor mite? Well, you will not be lonely any more, Bunny, and I hope you will try hard and learn to read soon.
When children can read they do not want a companion so much, because they can read pretty stories about other children and so amuse themselves for hours together.”
”Oh, I don't want to read stories one bit,” said Bunny with a pout.
”Sophie and mama read lots of stories to me, so it doesn't matter whether I can read them for myself or not.”
”And what will you do when you grow up, Bunny? Don't you think you would feel very much ashamed if you could not read when you had grown to be a tall lady?”
”Oh, no one would ever know, for I am sure people never ask grown-up ladies if they can read. Do they, now? No one ever asks you or mama if you know how to read.”
”No, people never ask us if we can read, certainly, Bunny,” answered Miss Kerr laughing, ”but they would soon find out if we did not, I can tell you. People who cannot read seldom learn those things that everyone should know, and so they are ignorant and stupid. Surely you would not like Mervyn to beat you at his lessons, would you?”
”Oh, but he's older than me,” said Bunny, ”and, of course, he knows a great deal more than me, and----”
”Than _I_, Bunny, say he is older than _I_ am,” corrected Miss Kerr.
”Yes, he is older, but I do not think he knows more than you do. His papa says he has never been taught anything but his letters, and he can hardly speak English.”
”Oh, dear! Does he only speak French then?” said Bunny with a look of alarm.
”No, Hindustanee. That is the Indian language, you know, and as he always had a native nurse he does not know English very perfectly.
But we will soon teach him, won't we, dear?”
”Oh, yes, it will be fun, and I'll try very hard to learn to read well before he does! It will be nice to have a cousin, won't it? I wonder what he's like. But I'm sure he'll be nice. I know he will.
Don't you think he'll be nice, Miss Kerr?”
”Yes, dear, I think it is very likely, but you will know all about him to-morrow.”
”Oh, I wish to-morrow would come, quick, quick!” cried Bunny; ”the days and the hours go over so slowly, and I do want to see that little Indian.”
”Poor little boy! I daresay he will be very tired and shy when he arrives. It is a sad thing to leave father and friends and come among strangers, Bunny,” said Miss Kerr, and there were tears in her eyes as she gazed out over the garden.
”Dear Miss Kerr, why should you feel sorry for Mervyn? I'm so glad that he is coming here,” said Bunny softly, and she put her little hand into Miss Kerr's. ”Why should you cry for him? We will be very kind to him, you and I, and papa and mama.”
”Yes, darling, of course,” answered Miss Kerr stroking the little hand. ”But I was not thinking of Mervyn, but of someone I know, who had to leave her dear home, her father and mother, and brothers and sisters, to go be governess to a wild little girl, who did not care to learn her lessons and did not love her at all.”
”Why, that's like me and you! But I do love you; oh, I do love you!”
cried the child, and she flung her arms round Miss Kerr's neck.
”You are so good and kind, and I am sorry you had to leave your little brothers and sisters, and I won't be wild, and I'll love you very much.”
”If you do, Bunny, you will make me very happy, and I think you will soon be a very good little girl,” and Miss Kerr kissed the eager face over and over again. ”But run away now and get ready for tea. I have some letters to write for the post, and I shall just have time if you run off at once.”
”Very well,” said Bunny jumping off Miss Kerr's knee. ”I must go to tell Sophie the news.” And away she ran, calling, ”Sophie, Sophie,”
as she went up the stairs.
”She has a good little heart, and will become a fine character in time, if she is properly managed,” said Miss Kerr to herself as the child left the room. ”But she has been terribly spoilt and neglected. If the boy from India is as great a pickle as Miss Bunny, I shall have my hands very full indeed,” and with something between a sigh and a laugh, Miss Kerr seated herself at the table and began to write her letters.