Adventures of Prince Lazybones, and Other Stories Page 2

  CHAPTER II

  The monastery had been a grand old pile in its day; it was not onesimple building, but a cluster of habitations which had grown with thegrowth and resources of the order which founded it. Like all feudalstructures it had its means of defence--its moat and drawbridge, itstower of observation, and in its heavy gates and thick walls loop-holesand embrasures for weapons.

  But grass grew now in the moat and birds nested in the embrasures, whileLeo's dogs bounded through chapel and refectory and cloister, parts ofthe latter being converted into a stable.

  Many of the walls had tumbled in hopeless confusion, but those of thebuildings yet in use had carved buttresses and mullioned windows, onwhich much skill had been displayed.

  Leo knew, or thought he knew, every nook and cranny of his home, forwhen it rained, or heavy fogs hung threateningly about, his rambles wereconfined to the various quarters of the monastery.

  On such days the stone floors and bare walls were very inhospitable,but he would sometimes find a new passage to loiter in or a window-ledgeto loll over and look from as he watched the rain drip from the carvednose of an ugly old monk whose head adorned the water-spout.

  I don't know whether it ever occurred to Leo that this world is a busyone. The very persistence of the pouring rain might have suggested it,as well as the beehives down in the kitchen court, where some of hismany friends were storing their winter provision, for bees as well asbirds were familiar to him; but he had the true Lazybones instinct ofnot following a thought too far, and so he looked and lolled and yawned,wishing for fine weather, for a new lining to his ragged old coat, orsoles to his slipshod shoes, but never once supposing that any effort ofhis own could gain them.

  When it was cold the kitchen was apt to be his resort. It was a long andlow apartment on the ground-floor, and its wide fireplace, with stonesettle beside the hooks and cranes for pots and kettles, had doubtlessbeen as cheery a corner for the old monks to warm their toes after aforaging expedition as it was for Leo, who liked to smell the savorystews.

  On the day of which I write the rain had fallen incessantly, and Leo hadbeen more than usually disturbed by it, for cold and dreary though itwas, the servants had turned him out of the kitchen. They would not havehim there.

  "Idle, worthless fellow!" said the cook; "he lolls about as a spy uponus, to repeat to the master every word he hears."

  This was quite untrue and unjust, for Leo rarely conversed with hisfather, and seldom saw him since Morpheus took his meals as well as hiswoes to bed with him, as he had done at the present moment.

  But the household was in revolt; the uneasiness from outside had creptwithin, and there was quarrelling among the servants.

  "What shall I do?" said Leo to himself. "The rain is too heavy, or Iwould go out in it; but I have no place to get dry when I become soaked,and I can't go to bed in the daytime, as my father does. I wonder whathe'd say if I went to him? Probably this: 'You have given wings to thefinest of rhymes, and spoiled the turn of an exquisite verse; now, sir,what atonement can you make for so great an injury? It's the world'sloss, remember.' That's the way it always is when I disturb him.Heigh-ho! what a dull day!"

  "A very dull day indeed, your highness."

  Leo started, his yawn ending abruptly, and he turned more quickly thanhe had ever done in his life towards the sound which saluted him. Surelyhe had been alone. Who ever came to this corridor? He looked up and downits dingy length, but saw no one. He must have been mistaken. Then helistened. The wind swept wailing through its accustomed approaches;shutters and windows shook with the blast, but no footfall was to beheard. He turned to the diamond-paned lattice, and again watched thedrops trickling from the nose of the water-spout. No one had spoken.Again he yawned prodigiously, but brought his jaws together with a snapwhich might have damaged his teeth; for, to his great surprise, a voicesaid,

  "I think I could amuse you."

  "And pray who are you?" asked Leo, feeling very queer, and as if he weretalking to himself.

  "That is of little consequence, so long as I do what I have proposed,"was the reply.

  "Very true," said Leo; "but I never before heard of a ghost in thedaytime."

  "I am no ghost, your highness; I'd scorn to be such a useless thing."

  "What are you, then, and where are you?"

  "You will find out what I am after a while; and as to where I am, why, Iam here beside you. Do you suppose you human beings have all the worldto yourselves?"

  "Not quite, to be sure; the birds and beasts have their share. But onecan see them."

  "So could you see me if your vision were not imperfect. How about allthe living things you swallow every time you drink?"

  "I have heard of something of the kind, but it was too much trouble tounderstand it."

  "Poor boy! It's a pity some old ghost of a monk could not interesthimself in your education; but, as I said before, ghosts are absurdlyuseless, except to scare people whose consciences are bad, and nothingmore is needed to make me doubt their existence than the fact of yourliving here in what should be their stronghold, and they never raisehand or foot to help you. It's quite in keeping with their ridiculouspretensions. Believe in ghosts? No, I never did, and I never will."

  The voice, small and weak though it was, grew quite angry in tone, andit seemed to Leo as if it were accompanied by the stamp of a foot; buthe saw nothing, not so much as a spider crawling over the stonecorridor.

  It was very peculiar. He pinched himself to see if he was awake. Yes,wide-awake, no doubt of that; besides, he seldom dreamed--indeed, never,unless his foot had slipped in climbing a crag to peep into a nest, whenthe fall was sometimes repeated in his sleep. Who was this speaking tohim? As if in answer to his thoughts, the voice went on:

  "So far from being a good-for-nothing old ghost, I am one of thefounders of the S.P.C.C., a very old society--much older than people ofthe present day imagine."

  Leo was quite ashamed to be so ignorant, but he ventured to ask,

  "What is the S.P.C.C.?"

  "Is it possible you have never heard of it?"

  "Never," replied Leo, still feeling as if he were talking to the walls.

  There was a queer little gurgling "Ha! ha!" which was at oncesuppressed.

  "Well, how could you know away off in this remote region?"

  "I am sure I don't understand you at all," said Leo.

  "No, I see you don't; and it's by no means remarkable. You live soentirely alone, and are so wretchedly neglected, that it is a wonder youknow anything."

  Leo began to be angry, but it was too much of an effort; besides, whatwas there to be angry at--a voice? So he remained sulkily silent untilthe voice resumed, in a changed tone:

  "I beg your highness's pardon; I quite forgot myself. I am very apt todo that when I am much interested; it is a great fault, for I appreciatefine manners. But to explain. In the faraway cities where people livelike ants in an ant-hill, all crowded together, there is often muchcruelty and oppression, as well as vice and poverty. Now for this stateof things they have laws and punishments, means of redress; but theyrelate principally to grown people's affairs; so the kind-hearted ones,noticing that little children are often in need of pity and care andprotection, have an association called the Society for the Prevention ofCruelty to Children. It is as old as the hills, but they think it amodern invention. I am one of the original founders of that society,little as they know me; but human beings are _so_ vain."

  "Indeed!" said Leo, lazily; he was already tired of the whole matter.

  "Yes, vain and pretentious. Look at your father and his poems; he thinkshis doggerel verses a mark of genius."

  "What has my father done to you that you attack him so rudely?" askedLeo, angrily.

  "Ah! you are aroused at last. I am glad. What has your father _not_done, you had better ask. But I acknowledge that I am rude, and I won'tsay more than just this: Your father has failed to prepare you for yourduties. Trouble is coming, and how are you to meet it?"

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bsp; "Don't know, and don't care," came out with characteristic Lazybonesindifference.

  "Ah! my dear Prince, do not speak so; it is quite time you knew andcared. Do you study geography?"

  "Sometimes."

  "All surface work, I suppose?"

  "Probably."

  "Now my plan of study comprehends an interior view of the earth'sformation."

  Leo gave a tremendous yawn, and said,

  "Oh, please don't bother any more; I am awfully tired."

  "So I should think. Well, do you want to be amused?"

  "No; I don't want anything."

  "Come with me, then."

  "Where?"

  "No matter where; just do as I bid you."

  "How can I, when I don't even see you?"

  "True. It will be necessary to anoint your eyes; shall I do it?"

  "Just as you please."

  Leo felt a little pressure forcing down his eyelids, and the pouring ofa drop of cool liquid on each.

  When he opened his eyes again there stood before him the quaintest,queerest being he had ever beheld.