Part 44 (1/2)

”I will take Mr. Mortimer to her,” said Justina, rising serenely. This she thought would break off the conversation, in which she had no part.

So John went up to Miss Christie's little sitting-room, and there she was, bolt upright, with her lame foot on a cus.h.i.+on. By this visit he gave unmixed pleasure to the old lady, and afforded opportunity to the younger one for some pleasant, reasonable speeches, and for a little effective waiting on the invalid, as well as for some covert compliments.

”Ay, John Mortimer,” quoth Miss Christie, with an audacious twinkle in her eyes, ”I'm no that clear that I don't deserve all the pain I've got for my sins against ye.”

”Against me!” exclaimed John, amazed.

”Some very bad advice I gave ye, John,” she continued, while Miss Fairbairn, a little surprised, looked on.

”Make your mind easy,” John answered with mock gravity, for he knew well enough what she meant. ”I never follow bad advice. I promise not to follow yours.”

”What was your advice, dear?” asked Miss Fairbairn sweetly, her golden head within a yard of John's as she stooped forward. ”I wonder you should have ventured to give advice to such a man as Mr. Mortimer.

People always seem to think that in any matter of consequence they are lucky if they can get advice from him.”

John drew a long breath, and experienced a strong sense of compunction; but Miss Christie was merely relieved, and she began to talk with deep interest about the new governess and the new housekeeper.

Miss Fairbairn brought John down again as soon as she could, and took the opportunity to engage his attention on the stairs, by asking him a question on some political subject that really interested him; and he, like a straightforward man, falling into the trap, began to give her his views respecting it.

But as he opened the drawing-room door for her, his three children, who all this time had been in the garden, came running in at the window, and before he and Miss Fairbairn were seated, his two little boys, treading on Mrs. Walker's c.r.a.pe, were thrusting some large handfuls of flowers almost into her face, while Anastasia emptied a lapful on to her knees.

Emily accepted them graciously.

”And so,” little Hugh exclaimed, ”as father said we were not to have the gardens, we thought we had better gather all the flowers, because _they_ are our own, you know,” he proceeded; ”for we bought most of the bulbs with our own money; and they're all for you.”

Hyacinths, narcissus, wallflowers, polyanthus, they continued to be held up for her inspection.

”And you'll let us put them in water ourselves, won't you?” said Bertram.

”Yes, she will, Bertie,” cried Hugh.

”Don't tread on Mrs. Walker's dress,” John began, and the sprites, as if in ready obedience, were off in an instant; but in reality they were gone to find vases for the flowers, Emily looking up with all composure, though a good deal of scrambling and arguing were heard through the open door.

”We found these in the pantry,” exclaimed the two little boys, returning, each with a dish in his hand. ”Nancy wanted to get some water, but we wouldn't let her.”

”Come here,” exclaimed John with gravity; ”come here, and shut the door.

Emily, I brought these imps on purpose to apologize for their high misdemeanours.”

Thereupon the two little boys blushed and hung their heads. It was nothing to have taken the garden, but it daunted them to have to acknowledge the fault. Before they had said a word, however, a shrill little voice cried out behind them--

”But I can't do my _apologize_ yet, father, because I've got a pin in my cape, and it p.r.i.c.ks, and somebody must take it out.”

”I cannot get the least pretence of penitence out of any one of them,”

exclaimed John, unable to forbear laughing. ”I must make the apology myself, Emily. I am very much afraid that these gardens were taken without leave; they were not given at all.”

”I have heard you say more than once,” answered Emily, with an easy smile, ”that it is the privilege of the giver to forget. I never had a very good memory.”

”But they confessed themselves that they _took_ them.”