grow up.'
'That's right. I could not bear giving up what you seemed to fancy. but we will visit them when we want a mouthful of air, and Annette and Octavia shall come and stay with us. I should like to show Octavia a little of the world.'
'Then, we shall go on as we are?'
'Yes; spend as little as may be, and pay off so much a year. If we keep no horses, that is so much clear gain.'
'That seems the best way; but I almost fear your being well without riding.'
'No fear of that! I don't want to go out, and you never do. We will take our long walks, and, as Percy says, I will read and be rational. I mean to begin Johnnie's Latin as soon as we are settled in. Why, I quite look forward to it.'
'How delighted Johnnie will be!'
'We shall do famously!' repeated Arthur. 'Nothing like home, after all.'
Violet did not think he quite knew what he undertook, and her heart sank at the idea of a London winter, with his health and spirits failing for want of his usual resources. He imagined himself perfectly recovered; but when he went the next day to show himself to the doctor, the stethoscope revealed that the damage was not so entirely removed but that the greatest care would be necessary for some time to come. It sat lightly on him; his spirits depended on his sensations, and he had no fears but that a few months would remove all danger; and Violet would say no word of misgiving. She would have felt that to remonstrate would have been to draw him back, after his first step in the path of resolute self-denial.
CHAPTER 17
On Sunday, Heaven's gate stands ope, Blessings are plentiful and rife, More plentiful than hope. G. HERBERT
'Five years! How little can letters convey the true state of affairs! They can but record events--not their effects nor the insensible changes that may have taken place. My aunt's death I know, but not what my mother is without her. I have heard of my father's cares, but I have yet to see whether he is aged or broken. And Theodora, she has had many trials, but what can she be--tamed and refined as they tell me she is? I wish I could have gone through London to see Arthur and Violet. There again is the anxious question, whether his repentance is really such as his touching letter led me to hope. One at least I trust to see unchanged--my sweet sister, my best correspondent! Foolish it is to cling to the hope of meeting her again, as that vision of loveliness--that creature of affection and simplicity, that first awoke me to a return of cheerfulness! The boy, too--my godson, my child! he has been the dream of my solitude. At last, here is the village. How bright its welcome, this summer evening! Old faces!--may those at home be as unchanged. Alteration enough here! Even at this distance I see the ruin; but how richly green the park! How fresh the trees, and the shade of the avenue! This is home, thanks to Him who has led me safely back. Whom do I see yonder in the avenue? A gentleman leading a pony, and a little boy on it! Can it be?-- impossible! Yet the step and manner are just as he used to lead Violet's horse, Surely, it must be he! I must meet him and hear all before going up to the house, it will prepare them. Stop here.
He was out of the carriage in a moment, and walking down the avenue, feeling as if he only now was in the right way home; but a misgiving crossing him as he came nearer the two figures that had attracted him--there was less resemblance on a nearer view than in the general air when further off.
A shout--'Hollo, John!' settled all doubts.
'Arthur! is it you?' and the brothers' hands were locked together.
'Here is a gentleman you know something of, and who has thought very much of you,' continued Arthur, proudly. 'There, is not he like her?' as he tried to give a cock-up to the limp, flapping straw hat, under shade of which Johnnie was glowing up to his curls.
'Her very look!' said John. 'How is she, Arthur, and all of them?'
'All well. Have you not been at home yet!'
'No; I saw you here, and I could not help coming to meet you, that I might know if all was right.'
'You would have found no one at home, unless my mother and Violet are come in. They are always creeping about together.'
'Where is my father?'
'Looking after the workmen at the farm. We left him there because it was Johnnie's supper-time. Why, John, what a hale, middle-aged looking subject you are grown! Was it not wonderful sagacity in me to know you?'
'Greater than mine,' said John. 'My instinct was failing as I came near. Are you really well?'
'Never better. Johnnie and his mamma nursed me well again, and Helvellyn breezes blew away the remainder. When did you land?'
'This morning. We put in at Liverpool, and I came on at once. How is my mother? She had not been well.'
'She was ailing all the winter, but a house full of grandchildren seems to have cured her completely. You will stare to see her a perfect slave to--our eldest girl,' said Arthur, checking himself as he was about to speak the name, and John turned to the child.
'Well, Johnnie, and are you fond of riding?'
'With papa holding the rein,' and Johnnie edged closer to his father.
'Ay! I hope your uncle did not expect a godson like your dear Coeur de Lion, whom you have been romancing about all the way home. What is the country your uncle has seen, and you want to see, Johnnie?'
'Please, don't now, papa,' whispered Johnnie, colouring deeply.
'Yes, yes, you shall have it out when you are better acquainted,' said Arthur, patting both boy and pony. 'Well, John, is this the fellow you expected?'
John smiled, but before he could answer, a voice from behind, shouting to them to wait, caused him to turn, exclaiming, 'Percy! I did not know he was here! And Theodora!'
'He came a day or two ago--'
Theodora blushed crimson, and all the glad words of welcome were spoken by Percy; but he then fell into the background, taking charge of Johnnie, while the other three walked on together, Theodora's arm within that of her eldest brother.
'Thank you for your letter,' said Arthur. 'It did me great good.'
'My impulse was to have set out at once on receiving yours, but I was obliged to wait to get things into train for going on without me; and since that there have been delays of steamers.'
'You could not have come at a better time. We only wanted you to make us complete--'
Arthur was interrupted by a joyous outcry of 'Papa! papa!' from a little group on the other side of the road into which they were emerging.
'Ay! and who else! Look at this fellow!' cried he, catching from Sarah's arm, and holding aloft an elf, whose round mouth and eyes were all laughter, and sturdy limbs all movement, the moment he appeared. 'There! have we not improved in babies since your time! And here is a round dumpling that calls itself Anna. And that piece of mischief is grandmamma's girl, Aunt Theodora's double.'
Those flashing black eyes were not the ideal John had attached to the name which Arthur had paused to speak; but it would have been hard to be disappointed by the bright creature, who stood on the raised foot- path, pretending to hide her face with a bunch of tall foxgloves, and peeping out behind them to see whether she was noticed.
'The introduction is all on one side,' said Percy. 'Do you know who it is, Helen?'
Helen stuck her chin into her neck. She would tell her surmise to no one but Johnnie, who had persuaded Mr. Fotheringham to lift him from horseback, where he was never at ease with any one but papa. He looked up smiling: 'Helen thinks it must be Uncle Martindale, because papa is so glad.'
Helen ran away, but returned for a ride; and when the party, that had gathered like a snow-ball, came in front of the cottage, Percy was holding both little sisters on the pony at once, Theodora still leaning on her eldest brother's arm, Johnnie gravely walking on the foot-path, studying his uncle, and Arthur, with the young Arthur pulling his whiskers all the time, was walking forwards and backwards, round and about his brother, somewhat in the ecstatic aimless fashion of a dog who meets his master.
He was the first to exclaim, 'There she is! Run on, Johnnie, tell mamma and grandmamma whom we have
