He began, three or four times, as he went along, that game with the white pebbles against the brown, and then remembered that it was silly, and pulled himself up. He would not like Patty to know that he had a habit of doing that. He was aware, instinctively, that it would seem very silly to her. Three, four, and five; and a great big one that ought to count three at least for the right hand man. No; he wouldnt do it; it was silly; it was like a child, not a man. What, he wondered, was she going to do? Not go to the rector, because she had herself objected to that. Another way he wondered what other way there could be that dispensed with both parson and clerk? But that, thank Heaven, was Pattys affair, and she had promised that she would do it. Seven brown ones in a row; such luck for the left-hand man! But no, no; he would not pay any attention to that. Patty would think him a fool for his pains. What was she doing she that knew exactly what it was best to do? What a woman she was, up to everything; seeing with one look of her eye what he never would have found out, that it was not the right thing to speak to the rector, nor to the clerk, who was still worse than the rector. How much better it was that it should be all in her hands! How was a man to know, who had never been married himself, who knew nothing about such things, how to put up banns? What were banns? He had heard people asked in church, but he was not sure about the other name. Was it something, perhaps, to hang up like a picture? These thoughts did not pass through Gervases mind in so many words, but floated after each other vaguely, swimming in a dumb sort of consciousness. He had, perhaps, never had so many all turning round and crossing each other before. Generally it was only the pebbles he thought of as he walked unless when it was Patty. It gave him a strange sort of bewildering sense of life to feel how many things he was thinking of such a crowd of different things.
In the beech avenue, going up and down in his chair, pushed by Dunning, and with Osy capering upon a stick before him, Gervase came upon his father taking his morning turn. He remembered what Patty said about being agreeable to the old folks, and he also had a certain pleasure in wheeling his fathers chair. So he stopped and pushed the servant away. You go and take a rest, Dunning. Ill take Sir Giles along, he said. You mustnt play any tricks, Mr. Gervase, said the man, resisting a little. What tricks should I play? I can take care of my father as well as any one, I hope, cried Gervase, taking with energy the back of the chair. It went along a little more quickly perhaps, but Sir Giles did not mind that. Young legs go faster than ours, Dunning, he said to his
servant; but stand you by, old man, in case Mr. Gervase gets tired. Oh, Ill stand by. Ill not leave that Softy in charge of my master, Dunning said to himself. Oh, Ill not get tired, father, said Gervase aloud. This was quite a delightful way of uniting obedience to Pattys commands with pleasure to himself. Ill take you all round the grounds, father. Aint you tired of this beastly little bit of an avenue? Ill take you faster, as fast as the carriage if you like. No, my boy, thisll do, said Sir Giles; fair and softly goes the furthest. Dunning came on behind shaking his head.
You tant ride so fast as me, Uncle Giles, cried little Osy, prancing upon his wooden steed.
Cant he, though, you little beggar. Hed soon run you out of breath, if I was to put on steam!
Oh, tome on, tome on! cried Osy, flourishing his whip; and off Gervase tore, sweeping the chair along, with Dunning after him panting and exclaiming, and Sir Giles laughing, but shaking with the wild progress of the vehicle which usually went so quietly. The old gentleman rather liked it than otherwise, though when Gervase stopped with a sudden jerk and jar, he was thrown back upon his pillows, and seized with a fit of coughing. You see you cannot do everything, little un; theres some that can beat you, cried Gervase, waving his long arms, and drawing up his sleeves. Osy had been thrown quite behind, and came up panting, his little countenance flushed, and his little legs twisting as he ran, the child no longer making any pretence to be a prancing steed. Are you game for another run?
Yes, Im dame, cried little Osy, making a valorous struggle for his breath.
No, no, thats enough, cried Sir Giles, coughing and laughing, thats enough, Gervase. No harm done, Dunning you need not come puffing like a steam engine; but halt, Gervase, no more, no more.
Uncle Giles, Im dame, tome on; Uncle Giles, Im dame, shouted Osy flourishing his little cap.
This scene was seen from my ladys chamber with extremely mingled feelings. Lady Piercey sat in the recess of the window, where, in the evening, that querulous light had burned, waiting till Gervase came home. She had an old-fashioned embroidery frame fixed there, and worked at it for half an hour occasionally, with Margaret Osborne in attendance to thread her needles. Parsons had long since declared that her eyes were not equal to it, but with Mrs. Osborne there could be no such excuse. Lady Piercey had forgotten all about her work in watching. There is my boy Gervase wheeling his father, she said; look out, look out, Meg. Whatever you may say, that boy is full of feeling. Look! He has taken it out of Dunnings hands. See how pleased your uncle is; and little Osy acting outrider, bless him. Oh! cried Lady Piercey with a shriek. Her terror made her speechless. She fell back in her chair with passionate gesticulations, grasped Margaret, and pulled her to the window, then thrust her away, pointing to the door. Go! go! she cried with a great effort, in a choked voice which Parsons heard, and came flying from the next room.