Nurse Heatherdale's Story Read online

  CHAPTER XI

  IN DISGRACE AGAIN

  He held out one foot to be admired.

  'Yes,' I said, 'they are very nice indeed, and Miss Lally was so patientabout them. I'll have to think of some other knitting for her.'

  'O nurse!' said Master Francis quickly, then he stopped. 'I must askLally first,' he went on; and I heard him say, as if speaking tohimself--'it would be nice to please auntie.'

  For a day or two after that I saw there was some mystery going on.Master Francis and Miss Lally were whispering together and looking veryimportant, and one fine afternoon the secret was confided to me.

  Miss Bess was out with her mamma, and Master Francis had disappearedwhen we came in from our walk, a rather short one that day. Suddenly,just as we were sitting down to tea, and I was wondering what hadbecome of him, he hurried in, and threw a small soft white packet on toMiss Lally's lap.

  'O Francie!' she said, 'have you really got it?'

  Then she undid the parcel and showed it to me; it was white wool.

  'Francie has bought it with his own money,' she said, 'for me to knit apair of boots for baby, and oh! nursie, will you show me how? They're tobe a present from Francie and me; me the knitting and Francie the wool,and we want it to be quite a secret till they're ready. It's so warm nowI can knit up in the attic. Won't mamma be pleased?'

  'Certainly, my dear,' I said. 'I'll do my best to teach you. They'll berather difficult, for we'll have to put in some fancy stitches, but Ithink you can manage it now.'

  Master Francis stood by, looking as interested and pleased as Miss Lallyherself.

  'That was all the wool Prideaux' daughter had,' he said. 'Do you thinkthere'll be enough, nurse? She'll have some more in a few days.'

  'I doubt if there'll be enough,' I said, 'but I can tell better whenwe've got them begun.'

  Begun they were, that very evening. Miss Lally and Master Francis set towork to wind the wool, having first spent some time at an extra washingof their hands, for fear of soiling it in the very least.

  'It's so beautifully white,' said Miss Lally, 'like it says in theBible, isn't it, nursie? It would be a pity to dirty it.'

  Dear me! how happy those two were over their innocent secret, and howlittle I thought what would come of Master Bevil's white wool bootikins!

  The knitting got on nicely, though there were some difficulties in theway. The weather was getting warmer, and it is not easy for even littleladies to keep their hands quite spotlessly clean. The ball of wool hadto be tied up in a little bag, as it would keep falling on the floor,and besides this, Miss Lally spread out a clean towel in the cornerwhere she sat to work in the attic.

  I gave Miss Bess a hint that there was a new secret and got her topromise not to tease the children, and she was really good about it, aswas her way if she felt she was trusted. Altogether, for some littletime things seemed to be going smoothly. Master Francis was mostparticular to do nothing that could in the least annoy his uncle andaunt, or could seem like disobedience to them.

  After the long spell of fine weather, July set in with heavy rain. Ihad now been a whole year with the dear children. I remember saying soto them one morning when we were all at breakfast.

  It was about a week since the baby's boots had been in hand. One wasalready finished, in great part by Miss Lally herself, though I had hadto do a little to it in the evenings after they were all in bed, settingit right for her to go on with the next day.

  With the wet weather there was less walking out, of course, and all themore time for the knitting. On the day I am speaking of the childrencame down from the attic in the afternoon with rather doleful faces.

  'Nursie,' said Miss Lally, 'I have been getting on so nicely,' andindeed I had not required to do more than glance at her work for two orthree days. 'I thought I would have had it ready for you to begin thelace part round the top, only, just fancy the wool's done!'

  'They'll have more at the shop by now,' said Master Francis. 'If only itwould clear up I could go to the village for it.'

  'It may be finer to-morrow,' I said, 'but there's no chance of you goingout to-day; even if it left off raining, the ground's far too wet foryou with your rheumatism. Now, Miss Lally, my dear, don't you beginlooking so doleful about it; you've got on far quicker than you couldhave expected.'

  She did look rather doleful all the same, and the worst of it was thatthough Master Francis would have given up anything for himself, he nevercould bear Miss Lally to be disappointed.

  'I'm so much better now, nurse,' he said. 'I don't believe even goingout in the rain would hurt me.'

  'It's _possible_ it mightn't hurt you, but----' I was beginning, when Iheard Master Bevil crying out in the other room. Miss Lally had now alittle room of her own on the other side of the nursery, and we hadsaved enough of Miss Bess's chintz to smarten it up. This had been donesome months ago. I hadn't too much time now, and the young girl whohelped me was no hand at sewing at all. Off I hurried to the babywithout finishing what I was saying to Master Francis, and indeed Inever gave another thought to what he'd said about fetching the wooltill tea-time came, and he didn't answer when we called him, thinking hewas in his own room.

  Just then, unluckily, my lady came up to the nursery to say good-bye tothe children, or good-night rather, for she and Sir Hulbert were goingto dine at Carris Court, which is a long drive from Treluan, and theroads were just then very heavy with the rain. She came in looking quitebright and cheery. I can see her now in her black lace dress--it was farfrom new--it was seldom my lady spent anything on herself--but it suitedher beautifully, showing off her lovely hair and fair complexion. Onelittle diamond star was her only ornament. I forget if I mentioned thatas well as the strange disappearance of money at the death of old SirDavid, a great many valuable family jewels, worth thousands of pounds,were also missing, so it was but little that Sir Hulbert had been ableto give his wife, and what money she had of her own she wouldn't havespent in such ways, knowing from the first how things were with him.

  She came in, as I said, looking so beautiful and bright that I feltgrieved when almost in a moment her look changed.

  'Where is Francis?' she asked quickly.

  'He must be somewhere downstairs, my lady,' I said. 'He's not in hisroom, but no doubt he'll be coming directly.'

  Esther, the nursery-maid, was just then coming in with some tea-cakesMrs. Brent had sent us up.

  'Go and look for Master Francis, and tell him to come at once,' said mylady. 'Surely he can't have gone out anywhere,' she added to me; 'it'spouring, besides he isn't allowed to go out without leave.'

  'He'd never think of such a thing,' I said quickly, 'after being so illtoo.' But even as I spoke the words, there came into my mind what theboy had said that afternoon, and I began to feel a little anxious,though of course I didn't let my lady see it, and I did my best tosmooth things when Esther came back to say that he was nowhere to befound. It was little use, however, my lady began to be thoroughly putout.

  She hurried off to Sir Hulbert, feeling both anxious and angry, and agood half-hour was spent in looking for the boy before Sir Hulbert couldpersuade her to start. He was vexed too, and no wonder, just when mylady had been looking so happy.

  'Really,' I thought to myself, 'Master Francis is tiresome after all.'And I was thankful when they at last drove off, there being no realcause for anxiety.

  No sooner had the sound of the carriage-wheels died away than thenursery door opened and Master Francis burst in, looking for once likea regular pickle of a boy. His eyes bright and his cheeks rosy, thoughhe was covered with mud from head to foot, his boots really not to bethought of as fit to come up a tidy staircase.

  'Hurrah!' he cried, shaking a little parcel over his head. 'I've got it,Lally. And I'm not a bit wet after all, nurse!'

  'Oh no!' said Miss Bess, who did love to put in her word, 'not at all.Quite nice and dry and tidy and fit to sit down to tea, after worryingmamma out of her wits and nearly stopping papa and her going to Carris.'<
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  Master Francis's face fell at once. I was sorry for him and yet thatprovoked I couldn't but join in with Miss Bess.

  'Go upstairs to your room at once, Master Francis, and undress and getstraight into your bed. I'll come up in a few minutes with some hot teafor you. How you could do such a thing close upon getting better ofrheumatic fever, and the trouble and worry it gave, passes me! Andconsidering, too, what I said to you this very afternoon.'

  'You didn't actually say I wasn't to go,' he said quickly. 'You knowquite well why I went, and I'm not a _bit_ wet really. I'm all muffledup in things to keep me dry. I'm nearly suffocating.'

  'All the worse,' I said. 'If you're overheated all the more certainyou'll get a chill. Don't stand talking, go at once.'

  He went off, and I was beginning to pour out the tea, which had beenkept back all this time, when, as I lifted the teapot in my hand Ialmost dropped it, nearly scalding Miss Baby who was sitting close byme, so startled was I by a sudden terrible scream from Miss Lally; and,as I have said before, anything like Miss Lally's screams I never didhear in any nursery. Besides which, once she was started, there wasnever any saying when she'd leave off.

  'Now, whatever's the matter with you, my dear?' I said, but it waslittle use talking quietly to her. She only sobbed something about 'poorFrancie and nursie scolding him,' and then went on with her screamingtill I was obliged to put her in the other room by herself to get quiet.

  Of all the party Miss Bess and Miss Baby were the only ones who didjustice to Mrs. Brent's tea-cakes that evening. They did take MissLally's screaming fits quietly, I must say, which was a good thing, andeven Master Bevil had strong nerves, I suppose, for he slept on sweetlythrough it all, poor dear. For myself, I was out and out upset for once,provoked and yet sorry too.

  I went up to Master Francis and did the best I could for him to preventhis taking cold. He was as sorry as could be by this time, and he hadreally not meant to be disobedient, but though I was ready to believehim, I felt much afraid that this new scrape wouldn't be passed oververy lightly by his uncle and aunt. After a while Miss Lally quieteddown, partly, I think, because I promised her she might go up to hercousin if she would leave off crying, and the two passed the eveningtogether very soberly and sadly, winding the fresh skein of white woolwhich had been the cause of all the trouble.

  After all Master Francis did not take cold. He came down to breakfastthe next morning looking pretty much as usual, though I could see he wasuneasy in his mind. Miss Lally too was feeling rather ashamed of herscreaming fit the night before, for she was growing a big girl now, oldenough to understand that she should have more self-command. Altogetherit was a rather silent nursery that morning, for Miss Bess was concernedfor her cousin too.

  I had quite meant to try to see my lady before anything was said toMaster Francis. But she was tired and later of getting up than usual,and I didn't like to disturb her. Sir Hulbert, I found, had gone outearly and would not be in till luncheon-time, so I hoped I would stillhave my chance.

  I hardly saw the elder children till their dinner time. It was an extralong morning of lessons with Miss Kirstin, for it was still raining, andon wet days she sometimes helped them with what they had to learn bythemselves.

  The three hurried up together to make themselves tidy before going downto the dining-room, and I just saw them for a moment. Master Bevil wasrather fractious, and I was feeling a little worried about him, so thatwhat had happened the night before was not quite so fresh in my mind asit had been; but I did ask Miss Lally, who came to me to have her hairbrushed, if she had seen her mamma, and if my lady was feeling rested.

  'She's getting up for luncheon,' was the child's answer, 'but I haven'tseen her. Mrs. Brent told us she was very tired last night. Mrs. Brentwaited up to tell mamma Francie had come in.'

  After luncheon the two young ladies came up together. I looked pastthem anxiously for Master Francis.

  'No,' said Miss Lally, understanding my look, 'he's not coming. He'sgone to papa's room, and papa and mamma are both there.'

  My heart sank at the words.

  'Mamma's coming up to see baby in a little while,' said Miss Bess. 'Shewas so tired, poor little mamma, she only woke in time to dress forluncheon, and papa said he was very glad.'

  Miss Lally came round and whispered to me.

  'Nurse,' she said, 'may I go up to the attic? I want to knit a great lotto-day, and if I stayed down here mamma would see.'

  'Very well, my dear,' I said. 'Only be sure to come downstairs if youfeel chilly.'

  There was really no reason, now that she had a room of her own, for herever to sit in the attic, but she had taken a fancy to it, I suppose,and off she went.

  Miss Bess stood looking out of the window, in a rather idle way she had.

  'Oh dear!' she said impatiently; 'is it _never_ going to leave offraining? I am so tired of not getting out.'

  'Get something to do, my dear,' I said. 'Then the time will pass morequickly. It won't stop raining for you watching it, you know. Weren'tyou saying something about the schoolroom books needing arranging, andthat you hadn't had time to do them?'

  Miss Bess was in a very giving-in mood.

  'Very well,' she said, moving off slowly. 'I suppose I may as well dothem. But I need somebody to help me; where's Lally?'

  'Don't disturb her yet awhile, poor dear,' I said. 'She does so want toget on with the work I've told you about.'

  Miss Bess stood looking uncertain. Suddenly an idea struck her.

  'May I have Baby then?' she asked. 'She could hold up the books to me,and that's about all the help I need, really.'

  I saw no objection, and Miss Baby trotted off very proud, Miss Bessleading her by the hand.

  The nursery seemed very quiet the next half-hour or so, or maybe longer.I was beginning to wonder when my lady would be coming, and feeling gladthat Master Bevil, who had just wakened up from a nice sleep, waslooking quite like himself again before she saw him, when suddenly thedoor burst open and Master Francis looked in. He was not crying, buthis face had the strained white look I could not bear to see on it.

  'Is there no one here?' he said.

  Somehow I didn't like to question him, grieved though I felt at thingsgoing wrong again.

  'No,' I replied. 'Miss Bess is in the schoolroom with----,' then itsuddenly struck me that my lady might be coming in at any moment, andthat it might be better for Master Francis not to be there. 'MissLally,' I went on quickly, 'is at her knitting in the attic, if you liketo go to her there.'

  He turned and went. Afterwards he told me that he caught sight of mylady coming along the passage as he left the room, and that he hurriedupstairs to avoid her. He didn't find Miss Lally in the attic as heexpected, but her knitting was there lying on the floor, thrown downhurriedly, and though she had not forgotten to spread out the cleantowel as usual, in her haste she hadn't noticed that the newly-woundball of white wool had rolled some distance away from the half-finishedboot and the pins.

  Afterwards I will tell what happened to Master Francis, up there byhimself in the attic.

  To make all clear, I may here explain why he had not found Miss Lally inher nook. The book-tidying in the schoolroom had gone on pretty well,but after a bit, though Miss Baby did her best, Miss Bess found the wantof some one who could read the titles, and she ran upstairs to beg MissLally to come for a few minutes. The few minutes turned into an hour ormore, for the young ladies, just like children as they were, came acrosssome old favourites in their tidying, and began reading out bits hereand there to each other. And then to please Miss Baby they made housesand castles of the books on the floor, which she thought a beautiful newgame, so that Miss Lally forgot about her knitting, while feeling, so tosay, at the back of her mind quite easy about it, thinking she had leftit safely lying on the clean cloth.

  They were both so much taken up with what they were about, that it neverstruck them to wonder what Master Francis was doing with himself all theafternoon.

  My lady and I mea
nwhile were having a long talk in the nursery. It hadbeen as I feared, Sir Hulbert having spoken most severely to the boy,and my lady having said some bitter things, which already she wasrepenting, more especially when I was able to explain that MasterFrancis had really not been so distinctly disobedient as had seemed thecase.

  'We must try and put it right again, I suppose,' she said rather sadly,as she was leaving the room. 'I wish I didn't take up things so hotly atthe time, but I was really frightened as well as angry. Still SirHulbert would not have spoken so strongly if it hadn't been for me.'

  This was a great deal for my lady to say, and I felt honoured by herconfidence. I began to be more hopeful again, and tried to set out thetea rather nicer than usual to cheer them up a little.