There was nothing to say against it, only grandmamma observed, I am too old to catch things; Joe will let me stay and keep house for him.
Please, please let me stay with granny, insisted Janet; then I shall finish my German classes.
Janet was grannys child. She had slept in her room ever since Allen was born, and trotted after her in her housewifeskep, and the sense of being protected was passing into the sense of protection. Before she could be answered, however, there was an announcement. Friends were apt to drop in to coffee and talk in the evening, on the understanding that certain days alone were freepeople chiefly belonging to a literary, scientific, and artist set, not Bohemian, but with a good deal of quiet ease and absence of formality.
This friend had just returned from Asia Minor, and had brought an exquisite bit of a Greek frieze, of which he had become the happy possessor, knowing that Mrs. Joseph Brownlow would delight to see it, and mayhap to copy it.
For Careys powers had been allowed to develop themselves; Mrs. Brownlow having been always housekeeper, she had been fain to go on with the studies that even her preparation for governess-ship had not rendered wearisome, and thus had become a very graceful modeller in clayher favourite pursuitwhen her childrens lessons and other occupations left her free to indulge in it. The history of the travels, and the account of the discovery, were given and heard with all zest, and in the midst others came ina barrister and his wife to say good-bye before the circuit, a professor with a ticket for the gallery at a scientific dinner, two medical students, who had been made free of the house because they were nice lads with no available friends in town.
It was all over by half-past ten, and the trio were alone together. How amusing Mr. Leslie is! said the young Mrs. Brownlow. He knows how describe as few people do.
Did you see Janet listening to him, said her grandmother, with her brows pulled down and her eyes sparkling out under them, wanting to devour every word?
Yes, returned the Doctor, I saw it, and I longed to souse that black head of hers with salt water. I dont like brains to grow to the contempt of healthful play.
People never know when they are well off! I wonder what you would have said if you had had a lot of stupid dolts, boys always being plucked, &c.
Dont plume yourself too soon, Mother Carey; only one chick has gone through the first ordeal.
And if Allen did, Bobus will.
Allen is quite as clever as Bobus, granny, if eagerly said the mother.
If said the father; theres the point. If Allen has the stimulus, he will do well. I own I am particularly pleased with his success, because perseverance is his weak point.
Carey kept him up to it, said granny. I believe his success is quite as much her work as his own.
And the question is, how will he get on without his mother to coach him?
Now you know you are not one bit uneasy, papa! cried his wife, indignantly. But dont you think we might let Janet have her will for just these ten days? There cant be any real danger for her with grandmamma, and I should be happier about granny.
You dont trust Joe to take care of me?
Not if Joe is to be out all day. There will be nobody to trot up and down stairs for you. Come, it is only what she begs for herself, and she really is perfectly well.
As if I could have a child victimised to me, said granny.
The little Cockney thinks the victimising would be in going to the deserts with only the boys and me, laughed Carey; But I think a week later will be quite time enough to sweep the cobwebs out of her brain.
And you can do without her? inquired Mrs. Brownlow. You dont want her to help to keep the boys in order?
Thank you, I can do that better without her, said Carey. She exasperates them sometimes.
I believe granny is thinking whether she is not wanted to keep Mother Carey in order as well as her chickens. Hasnt mother been taken for your governess, Carey?
No, no, Joe, thats too bad. They asked Janet at the dancing-school whether her sister was not going to join.
Her younger sister?
No, I tell you, her half-sister. But Clara Acton will do discretion for us, granny; and I promise you we wont do anything her husband says is very desperate! Dont be afraid.
No, said grandmamma, smiling as she kissed her daughter-in-law, and rose to take her candle; I am never afraid of anything a mother can share with her boys.
Even if she is nearly a tomboy herself, laughed the husband, with rather a teasing air, towards his little wife. Good night, mother. Shall not we be snug with nobody left but Janet, who might be great-grandmother to us both?
I really am glad that Janet should stay with granny, said Carey, when he had shut the door behind the old lady; she would be left alone so many hours while you are out, and she does need more waiting on than she used to do.
You think so? I never see her grow older.
Not in the least older in mind or spirits; but she is not so strong, nor so willing to exert herself, and she falls asleep more in the afternoon. One reason for which I am less sorry to go on before, is that I shall be able to judge whether the rooms are comfortable enough for her, and I suppose we may change if they are not.
To another place, if you think best.
Only you will not let her stay at home altogether. Thats what Im afraid of.
She will only do so on the penalty of keeping me, and you may trust her not to do that, said Joe, laughing with the confidence of an only son.
I shall come back and fetch you if you dont appear under a fortnight. Did you do any more this morning to the great experiment, Magnum Bonum?
She spoke the words in a proud, shy, exulting semi-whisper, somewhat as Gutenbergs wife might have asked after his printing-press.
No. I havent had half an hour to myself to-day; at least when I could have attended to it. Dont be afraid, Carey, Im not daunted by the doubts of our good friends. I see your eyes reproaching me with that.
Oh no, as you said, Sir Matthew Fleet mistrusts anything entirely new, and the professor is never sanguine. I am almost glad they are so stupid, it will make our pleasure all the sweeter.
You silly little bird, if you sit on that egg it will be sure to be addled. If it should come to any good, probably it will take longer than our life-time to work into peoples brains.
No, said Carey, I know the real object is the relieving pain and saving life, and that is what you care for more than the honour and glory. But do you remember the fly on the coach wheel?
Well, the coach wheel means to stand still for a little while. I dont mean to try another experiment till my brains have been turned out to grass, and I can come to it fresh.
Ah! tis you that really need the holiday, said Carey, wistfully; much more than any of us. Look at this great crows foot, tracing it with her finger.
Laughing, my dear. Thats the outline of the risible muscle. A Mother Carey and her six ridiculous chickens cant but wear out furrows with laughing at them.
I only know I wish it were you that were going, and I that were staying at home.
You shall do my work to-day,
And Ill go follow the plough,
said her husband, laughing. There are the notes of my lecture, if youll go and give it.