Now, Miss, if you please, said the woman, I want to know why my girl was kep in yesterday and punished. I told my master last night Id come on wi her this morning, and see her reighted; and, if you please, I want to know what shes done.
I am sorry to say, Mrs Searby began the young mistress.
Oh, you neednt be sorry, Miss. Strite up and downs my motto. I want to know what my Lizabeths done. Theres no getting her to school nowadays. When Mrs Marley was alive
if not engaged, there is already a very great intimacy existing between her and Luke Ross.
Phew! whistled Cyril. What, that young prig of a fellow! I say, father, hes turning schoolmaster, isnt he?
It is settled that he shall succeed Mr Bone as soon as he has finished his training, said Mr Mallow, quietly.
Poor old Bone! dry Bone, as we used to call him, because he was such a thirsty soul. And so Luke Ross is to be the new man, eh? I congratulate Lawford, he added, with a sneer.
You have never liked Luke Ross since he gave you so sound a thrashing, said his father, quietly.
He? Thrash me? Absurd, father! Pooh! the fellow is beneath my notice.
I think we understand each other now, said Mr Mallow, with quiet firmness. While you stay here, Cyril, there is to be no trifling with any one. You can share our home for the present that is, until you obtain some engagement.
Oh, hang engagements! cried the young man, impatiently. You have plenty of money, father, both in your own right and mammas. Why should I be constantly driven from home to some menial work?
Because it is time that your spoiled life of indulgence should cease. There is nothing degrading in work; it is idleness that degrades.
Oh, yes; youve lectured me enough about that, said the young man, rudely.
And you may take it for granted that as soon as an opening can be made for you
Opening wanted for a pushing young man, cried Cyril, mockingly.
I shall ask you to leave home and try to do your duty in this busy world.
Thanks, father, said the young man, roughly. What am I to be?
Three years ago I felt that I was doing wrong in keeping you in idleness at home.
Idle? Why, I was always busy, father.
Yes hunting, shooting, fishing, and the like; but you did not stop there.
Oh, nonsense?
To-day I feel certain that I should be doing a great injustice to the parish to your mother to your sisters
Any one else? said the young man, mockingly.
To you, replied his father, sternly.
Any one else?
And to Miss Portlock and Luke Ross by allowing you to stay here.
They had reached the rectory, and the Rev. Eli Mallow, who had paused with one hand upon the oaken bar to finish his sentence, now pushed open the quaintly-made gate, held it for a moment as if for his son to follow; but as he did not, the Rector allowed it to close, and, placing his hands behind him, walked slowly up the well-kept gravel walk, too intent upon his thoughts to give heed to his favourite flowers, or to enter the conservatory, according to his custom, on his way to his own snug room, whose walls were well stored with works on botany and his favourite pursuit, gardening.
Cyril Mallow gave his long moustache a tug as he watched his fathers bent back till it disappeared amongst the choice shrubs and evergreens; then, taking out his cigar-case, he selected one from its contents, bit off the end viciously, and there was the petulance of a spoiled child in his action as he struck one of the old-fashioned flat fusees upon the rough oaken gate-post till he had torn the match to rags without obtaining a light, another and another following before he could ignite his cigar.
Confound the place! he exclaimed. Its as dull as ditch water. Pretty state of affairs, indeed! One cant look at a soul without being jerked up short. Luke Ross, eh? Id like to
He did not say what, but he gave his teeth a grind, and, thrusting his hands deep down into his pockets, he walked on towards the fields beyond the little town.
I declare everybodys hard on me, he said aloud. Just because Im a bit unlucky and want change. Heres the governor rolling in riches, and might make me a handsome allowance, and yet Im always to be driven out into the world. Hanged if it isnt too bad.
He leaped over a stile and strolled a little way on across a field, beyond which was a patch of woodland, all aglow with the rich tints of autumn, but Cyril Mallow saw them not, his thoughts being elsewhere.
I wont stand it, he cried suddenly, as he stopped short. A man cant always be in leading-strings, and Im old enough now, surely, to strike for my liberty, and
His hand went involuntarily to his vest pocket, from which he drew a delicately-made ladys gold watch, whose presence was accounted for by the fact that Cyrils own stout gold watch had passed into the hands of a station shepherd out at a place called Bidgeewoomba, in Queensland, and Cyrils indulgent mother had insisted upon his using hers until it was replaced.
Beastly dull place! he muttered, gazing at the watch. Its of no use to go across to the ford; our master will