CHAPTER VI.
PARTING SCENES.
Though Mrs. Arnott's health was, as I have said, so much improved thatshe now hoped to be able to remain through the winter at her own home,Mr. Arnott was desirous that she should spend some weeks of the summerat the warm springs of Virginia, from the waters of which she had alwaysseemed to derive great benefit. Mrs. Arnott was quite willing to do anything by which she might hope that her health would continue to improve,but she acknowledged to me that the idea of taking Florence theredistressed her.
"Since I have been at home," she said, "and have been able to observeclosely my child's habits and temper, I see much reason to fear that shehas already suffered greatly from the careless indulgence which canscarcely be avoided when we are always surrounded by strangers. She isnow almost eleven years old, and I feel there is no time to be lost inendeavoring to correct the faults of her character, and that this canonly be done by a degree of watchfulness, and of steady, yet gentlecontrol, which I know from experience it is impossible to exerciseeither in travelling or at a crowded watering-place."
"Why should you take Florence with you?" I asked.
"What else can I do with her?"
"Send her home with me. You will not be gone, Mr. Arnott says, more thansix weeks. For an object so important as your child's improvement, youwill not, I am sure, my dear friend, hesitate to separate yourself fromher for so short a time. You know nothing pleases me more than tosurround myself with children; and though I acknowledge there is noteacher like a mother, when the choice lies between a mother at awatering-place, and--"
"There is no room to hesitate," said Mrs. Arnott, interrupting me: "Ishould rejoice to have Florence with you even were I to remain at home;and if I can win her consent, your invitation will be gladly andthankfully accepted, for of her father's wishes I have not a doubt."
"Well," said I, "you will remember that I leave you in two days, so thatyou have little time to lose in deciding."
"To-morrow," said Mrs. Arnott, "to-morrow I will speak to Florence; thenif she give her consent, there will be no time for change."
The morrow came, and when I met Mr. Arnott, he said to me in a lowvoice, which was unheard by any other person, "I am very much obliged toyou for your offer to relieve us and benefit our little daughter, for agreat benefit I am sure it will be to Florence to be placed with otherchildren, and under what I know will be your kind and gentle, yet firminfluence."
Mrs. Arnott looked pale and sad, and complained of a bad headache. As Isaw her look tenderly at Florence, and heard how her voice softened inspeaking to her, I knew what caused both her headache and her paleness.It was the thought of parting with her child for the first time in herlife. The separation would, I knew, be very painful to this fond mother;but I also knew that she would willingly bear the pain to herself, forthe advantage which she hoped Florence would derive from it.
After breakfast, Mrs. Arnott and I passed into another room, where wehad been accustomed to spend the morning, because it was at that time ofthe day shaded and cool. We had scarcely entered when the three childrenpassed the window near which we sat. They seemed very merry, amusingthemselves with the wonderful but awkward efforts made by Rover to catchan elastic ball that Florence was tossing up.
Mrs. Arnott called Florence.
"What is it, mamma?" said she, scarcely stopping from her play longenough to look around.
"Come here, my daughter, I have something to say to you."
Florence came to the window.
"No, Florence, you must come in, I want to talk to you a little."
For a moment Florence's countenance was clouded; but it was only for amoment, when, laughing, she cried out, "Here, Rover, here, sir--come inwith me, Rover, for mamma wants to talk to me, and while she is talkingyou can be playing ball,"--and she came racing in, Rover at her heels,and Harriet and Mary following to see the fun.
Mrs. Arnott pressed her hand to her forehead, and I saw that all thisuproar increased her headache, but it was impossible for several secondsto make the children hear us. At length I succeeded in silencing Harrietand Mary, and in making Florence understand that the noise gave hermother pain, and that she had better send Rover out.
"Does mamma's head ache?" she said; "I am sorry for it--but just seeRover, mamma, try to catch this ball--just see him once--do, mamma--thatcan't hurt you, I am sure, and it is so funny."
Before I could remonstrate, or Mrs. Arnott could refuse, if she intendedto refuse, the ball was thrown. Again Rover, who had been watching everymovement of Florence, was barking, leaping, and turning somersets in theair; and again the children were laughing, Florence as loudly as ever,and Harriet and Mary with quite as much enjoyment, though a little lessnoise. As I found speaking of little use, I stepped up quietly to themerry group, and, catching the ball as it rebounded from the floor, puta stop at once to their mirth and Rover's efforts.
"Now, my dear," said I to Florence, "your mother wants to speak a fewwords to you, so sit down quietly by her while I take Rover out, for sheis in too much pain to be amused by him."
Florence looked surprised, and for a moment not very well pleased, butas she found that I spoke gently and pleasantly to the dog, and praisedhis beauty, while he ran good-humoredly by my side, rubbing his curlyhead against me, her countenance brightened, and she seated herselfwithout any objection. I beckoned to Harriet and Mary to follow me, andwhen we were out of the room, I gave Rover and the ball into theircharge. Telling them to wait in the piazza for Florence, and obtainingfrom them a promise that they would be very quiet, I returned. I hadleft the door of the room open, and as I reached it, I heard Florencesay, "Oh no, mamma! I had a great deal rather go to the Springs with youand papa." At this moment she heard my step, and turning, looked quiteconfused as her eye met mine.
"Do not be ashamed, Florence," said I, "that I should have heard you. Ishould be sorry if you did not love your papa and mamma well enough toprefer their company to mine; but I hope you love them so well that youwill do cheerfully what is not quite so pleasant to yourself, when youare told that it will please them." Florence hung her head, looked verygrave, and said nothing. "Speak, Florence," said I, "would you not bewilling, for your mother's sake, to do what might not be very pleasantto yourself?"
After a little hesitation, Florence, without raising her head, said in adissatisfied tone, "I don't see what good it could do mamma for me to gowhere I do not want to go."
I would have told Florence of her mother's delicate health, and of howmuch more benefit she would probably receive from travelling if shecould be free from care; but Mrs. Arnott, seeming to think there waslittle hope of influencing Florence in this way, interrupted me, saying,"But, my love, why should you not wish to go home with Harriet and Mary?You know how much you enjoyed your visit of two or three days to themlast summer,--and Harriet has since then got a pony--you might ride onhorseback if you went now."
"Will she let me ride him?" asked Florence, looking up at me with suddenanimation.
"I am sure she will," I replied.
"And may I carry Rover?"
"Yes."
"Well, then, I will go, for I should like to ride on horseback; andthen, mamma, I'll have Rover with me, and how odd it will be to see himjumping up and trying to get to me on the horse, just as he triedto-day to catch the ball," and she laughed out, and was again all smilesand good-humor.
The consent of Florence having been obtained, the preparations for hervisit were soon completed, and as we set out before the sun had risen onthe following morning, there was, as Mrs. Arnott had said, no time forher to change her mind.
Florence could not but love her kind and gentle mother dearly, and I didnot wonder to see the tears start as she bade her good-by; but Rover wasto be looked after--the wild-flowers with which the road was lined wereto be admired--the rising sun was to be seen--and amidst all these,Florence soon forgot to be sad.