Part 15 (1/2)

”I say, mother, you're going it. Hot rolls! Are they b.u.t.tered?”

”Yes, my dear, and in the oven.”

”Did you cut 'em in three?”

”Yes, dear, and put plenty of b.u.t.ter in, as you like them.”

”Hooray! Come on then, and let's begin.”

”But, Esau dear, if you'll only promise to stop, you shall have hot rolls for breakfast every morning. You shall, if I work night and day.”

”Then Esau and I would rather have hard biscuit and dry bread out yonder, Mrs Dean,” I said warmly; and Esau shouted--

”Hear, hear!”

Two days pa.s.sed, then a third, and we had been out, and, to please Esau's mother, tried in several places to get engagements. But we soon found that it was hopeless, and after tramping about for hours went back to the cottage.

”Such waste of time, and such a lot of trouble,” grumbled Esau. ”Why, we might have done a lot of good work hunting, or shooting, or gardening, out in Merriky yonder.”

But Mrs Dean only shook her head, and told us to try again; and we tried.

I think it was on the fourth evening that we were sitting in the little kitchen, tired, discontented, and miserable, with Mrs Dean st.i.tching away more quickly than ever, when we all started, for there was a double knock at the door, ”Hullo!” cried Esau.

”Hus.h.!.+ my dear,” said his mother, mysteriously; ”I know. It's either Mr Dempster to beg you to go back, or news about a new place.”

She smoothed her ap.r.o.n and went to the door, picking off threads and ravelings from her dress so as to look neat, though that she always looked; and the next moment I ran to the door too, for I heard a familiar voice, and to my surprise found both Mr and Mrs John.

”Ah, my dear boy,” he cried eagerly, ”we were getting uneasy about you, and thought you must be ill. My wife could not rest till we came.”

I led them into the little parlour, and placed chairs; while Mrs Dean, after a humble courtesy, went away into the kitchen.

”Is that your landlady?” continued Mrs John, as she glanced quickly round; and, before I could answer, ”How beautifully neat and clean.”

”Yes, beautifully,” a.s.sented Mr John, hurriedly. ”Have you heard of an engagement, Mayne?”

”No, sir,” I said sadly.

”Then you have not tried?”

”Indeed, sir, both Esau and I have tried very hard, as his mother is so averse to his going abroad.”

”Then you have given up all thought of going abroad, my dear boy?”

I shook my head.

”But you should, Mayne,” said Mrs John, in rather a low voice. ”We are forced to go for my health's sake, but you are young and strong, and with energy you ought to succeed here.”

”I should like to do what you think right, ma'am,” I said sadly.

”And we both think it right, my boy,” said Mr John. ”We should dearly like to have you with us; but it would be unjust to you to encourage you to take a step which you might afterwards bitterly repent, and we should feel ourselves to blame.”