Part 25 (1/2)

”Miss Bethia spoke as coolly as if she had been speaking about the stirring up of a Johnny cake,” Jem said. Violet looked eagerly from her to her mother. There was a little stir and murmur of excitement went round the table, but all awaited for their mother to speak. But she said nothing, and Miss Bethia went on, not at all as if she were saying anything to surprise anybody, but just as she would have told any piece of news.

”I've thought of it considerable. Serepta Stone has concluded to go away to a water-cure place in the States. If Debby should conclude to go to another place, I shouldn't care about staying in that big house alone. I can let it next fall, I expect. But this summer, Mrs Inglis, if you say so, you can have the house as well as not. It won't cost you a cent, and it won't be a cent's loss to me. And I don't see why that won't suit pretty well all round.”

A chorus of ”ohs,” and ”ahs,” and ”dear mammas,” went round the table.

”It wouldn't cost more than living here,” said David.

”Not so much,” said Miss Bethia.

”And I am sure Mr Oswald would be delighted to have Charlotte and Sarah go, mamma,” said Violet.

”He would pay you the same as he'd pay to them at the other place, and he might be sure he would get the worth of his money,” said Miss Bethia.

”And I would keep house, and save you the trouble, mamma,” said Violet.

”You and Debby Stone,” said Miss Bethia, who seemed to consider that it was as much her affair as theirs, and so put in her word between the others.

”Davie, you'll have to lend me your fis.h.i.+ng rod, to take to Gourlay with me,” said Ned.

”Bless the child! there's fis.h.i.+ng rods enough,” said Miss Bethia.

”It's mamma's turn to speak now,” said Jessie. And ”yes, mamma!” and ”oh! dear mamma!” were repeated again, eagerly.

There would be no use in telling all that Mrs Inglis said, or all that Miss Bethia and the rest said. It was not quite decided that night that they were to pa.s.s a part of the summer in Gourlay, but it looked so much like it that Violet held a little private jubilation with little Polly, as she undressed her for bed, before she went away, promising her, with many kisses and sweet words, that she would be rosy and strong, and as brown as a berry before she should see the bridge house again. Before she was done with it, Jem called out.

”It is time to be going, Letty, if I am to be responsible for you at the big house.”

”Perhaps if you wait, Mr Philip will come for you. He said he would,”

said Jessie.

”And, just at the minute, he meant it, but we won't put him to the trouble, even if he remembers, which is doubtful,” said Violet. ”Come, Jem, I am ready.”

”He seems a pretty likely young man, don't he?--young Mr Oswald, I mean,” said Miss Bethia.

The question was not addressed to any one in particular. Jem looked at Letty, and Letty looked at Davie, and they all laughed merrily.

”Likely,” in Miss Bethia's vocabulary, meant well-intentioned, agreeable, promising, all in a moderate degree, and the description fell so far short of Mr Philip's idea of himself and his merits, and indeed of their idea of him that they could not help it.

”He seems to be a pleasant-spoken youth, and good-natured,” said Miss Bethia.

”Oh, yes! he is very good-natured,” said Violet.

Everybody had something to say in his praise. The little ones were quite enthusiastic. Jem said he was ”smart” as well as good-natured, and David, though he said less, acknowledged that he was very clever, and added Mr Caldwell's opinion, that Mr Philip had all his father's talent for business, and would do well if he were really in earnest about it, and would settle down to it. Several instances of his kindness to the children and to his own little sisters were repeated, and Mrs Inglis spoke warmly in his praise.

”Only, mamma,” said Violet, with some hesitation, ”all these things are agreeable to himself. He does such things because he likes to do them.”

”And ain't that to be put to his credit,” said Miss Bethia. ”It is well when one does right things and likes to do them, ain't it?”

”Yes; but people ought to do right things because they are right, and not just because they are pleasant. If very different things were agreeable to him, he would do them all the same.”