Part 26 (1/2)
But the boy was half-asleep, and had to be well shaken up by Miles before they could bring hi of as required of him Then he asked drowsily: ”If ent to live anywhere else should I have to go to school in summer as well as in winter?”
”Of course you would,” retorted Mrs Burton pro, with a touch of quite unusual severity: ”and it would be a very good thing for you, because in that case you would have no tied in to-day”
”Then I'd rather stop here School in winter is quite tiring enough, but school all the year round would about wearof si”
Katherine and Miles laughed merrily, while even Mrs Burton had to s had always been one of utter distaste, although in other things he was a good, hard-working boy, never disposed to shi+rk nor to waste his time, even if the matter in hand was not entirely to his mind
”Now you have all said what you think and feel about it,” said Katherine, ”I can havethe ual or er on Father's business affairs at present; I s were different, and the business was not prospering, we ; as it is, we have none”
”Then what did you make all this bother about?” de a wet dishcloth tucked fire we all share equally to do our very best for our father, and no one of us ought to decide anythingcounsel with the others,” Katherine answered, leaning forward and catching the dishcloth, which Phil had aimed at Miles
”It is all very well for Mr Selincourt to offer us a fancy price for our land, but if there is a fortune in every acre why shouldn't we have it? I shouldn't in the leasta millionaire,” said Miles
”Of course you would not; neither should I: but the secret of the wholeto Mr Selincourt, on first of all having a fortune to put into the ground before we can get out the one that is there waiting for us,” laughed Katherine
”Very well, we'll stick at the store until we haveit away in order to get another Meanwhile ill keep the land, while Mr Selincourt a awayup fro widely
”Hear, hear!” echoed Phil, clapping his hands
”Nellie, dear, it is the majority that decides, and you have lost,” Katherine said, as she hustled the boys off to bed, and prepared to retire herself
”For my own part, as I said before, I'm not sorry to lose, and I do feel as you do, that we have no right to dispose of Father's property,” Mrs Burton said Then she went on, her voice shaken by real feeling: ”But, Katherine, the life you have to lead just about breaks htest and cleverest of us all, and should have the best chance, instead of which you just have no chance at all Take to-day, for instance; we have all been out enjoying ourselves, whilst you have been grubbing at home at work”
”It had to be either Miles or ently; ”and think how he enjoyed it There are so many pleasures which come my way that would not interest hi hi out with Miles, because his manners are decent, and he is so quiet,” said Mrs Burton, ”but I did not knohere to put my head for very shame when Phil threw that pail of water on to Nick Jones”
”It was very foolish and silly, of course, and I expect Phil will have to pay pretty dearly for his mischief If only Nick will pay hi cruel, I shan't care Boys learn wisdo to bear the consequences of their own actions, and it does not do for them to be too much shi+elded Did you have a pleasant time?”
”Yes; it was lovely The captain and the officers were so polite and nice, and the tea was very prettily done Mary was there, of course, and Mr Ferrars I heard a good bit of talk about the of her head Her own hope and joy in life having beco of the past, made her much more interested in the concerns of others
”What sort of talk?” asked Katherine Of course she knew very hat the ansould be, and that it would ot to be faced, so the sooner she became hardened to the pain the better for her peace of ht they would h Mary isn't pretty, she is very distinguished; and Mr Ferrars has a way of carrying hiood family indeed I noticed that Mary's manner was very different to him to-day, and from the way he treated her it looked al” Mrs Burton's air was one of bea satisfaction now, for she liked Jervis Ferrars quite well enough to be glad there was a chance of hislifted out of the fierce struggle with narrow means
Katherine's heart felt sick and cold within her She remembered what Mary had said about the boon asked by Jervis, which had been denied, and the denial regretted ever since Probably that rescue froht to ask his boon again, and this time Mary would know her own heart too well to refuse happiness, even though it calad to turn out early next e, because it took her away from any likelihood of an encounter with Mary, ould probably be bri over with happiness
”It is quite natural that she should feel like that, and I alad for her,” Katherine announced to herself in a defiant tone, as she loaded packages of groceries and bundles of dry goods on to the dogs in the e to the boathouse above the falls
It never once occurred to her that she could haveconclusions in theup her mind on all sorts of subjects without any waste of ti also The dogs trotted up the portage path with a hearty goodwill, for they had the sense to know that the journey was not a long one and that their ould soon be over There were only three of the, for Hero was at the house over the river
Katherine and Phil followed the dogs They also carried burdens, and, as the portage path was steep, they were glad not to waste their breath in talking while they toiled up the hill The last dog, which walked just in front of Katherine, carried tooden boxes, filled with marmalade for Mrs M'Kree, and it was funny to see how careful the creature was to keep right in the ainst the rocks which projected on either side of the narrow trail
”Good dog! You shall have a sht, if I don't forget it,” Katherine said, when the boathouse was reached without any danger to the consignood stuff like that on a creature which can't appreciate it Now, I aone on marmalade,” remarked Phil, as he put the two boxes into the boat