CHAPTER XV.
A CATASTROPHE.
It was not a very pleasant trio that sat at the table the morning afterthe visit to the cottage. If Mabel had disliked the coarse work on whichshe had been employed the day before, her repugnance to the examinationto which she was subjected by Aunt Mary, in order to test thecapabilities of her niece, and to find out what lessons would be mostappropriate for her, showed itself so plainly in fits of sullenness, ortears of vexation, that even Miss Livesay herself could not helpfeeling-dispirited; while Clara, though she tried to think only of herlessons, felt very much disposed to shed tears on her aunt's account.More than once, indeed, a subdued expression of rage escaped from theirritated Mabel; but it was so instantly and authoritatively checked byher aunt, that Mabel was made to feel that it would be useless for herto contend: so she sat and pored over her book in sullen silence.
This lasted until near dinner-time, so that the results of thismorning's work, so far as Mabel was concerned, had been anything butsatisfactory when the books were put away; and it was with very painfulfeelings that Miss Livesay contemplated not only the drudgery she wouldbe subjected to, in having to go through _early lessons_ with thisrefractory niece of hers (who was far, very far behind both Clara andthe Maitlands in her learning), but the conflict she was likely toencounter with pride and obstinacy, evils she never before had tocontend with.
Aunt Mary, however, was not one to give way to despondency, and at thedinner-table she had resumed all her usual cheerfulness; nor did shemake the least difference in her manners to her nieces, but chatted withthem both, as if nothing had occurred to disturb her serenity.
The mornings at Oak Villa were always devoted to lessons; in theafternoon there were two hours spent in work and reading; then the day'sduties were finished, if we except the looking over the lessons for thefollowing day, which Clara never omitted doing. And on this day she hada scheme in her head, both for doing Mabel good, and saving her dearaunt trouble.
In short, she determined, if possible, to induce her cousin to exertherself in learning extra lessons, in order to overtake the youngMaitlands and herself.
She thought, perhaps, that the very pride in the young girl'scomposition would aid her in this task, and in this she was notmistaken. Mabel this afternoon was permitted to do some of the work shehad brought from home; and what with this indulgence, and the clever andamusing book her aunt had been reading to them, she had quite recoveredher spirits, and was as lively and cheerful as possible.
'Isn't it time to feed the fowls, Clara?' inquired Mabel, when work andbooks were laid aside.
'Yes, dear, it is,' replied her cousin; 'but I should be obliged if youwould feed them for me to-day, as Aunt Mary wants me to write a letterto dear mamma before post-time.'
'Oh, I shall be glad to do so, very glad!' said Mabel, who had her ownmotives for the alacrity she displayed.
'Must I ask Bridget for the corn?' she inquired.
'I dare say you will find it set ready on the kitchen table; Bridgetnever forgets,' said Clara, as she arranged her desk and writingmaterials.
Mabel ran off in great glee, and was soon busily engaged in her veryagreeable task; yet in spite of her endeavours, she found that it wasimpossible to give satisfaction to all her feathered friends. Some weretoo greedy, and would insist upon having more than their share, whileothers were not courageous enough to stand up for their rights, and sowere easily repulsed, and came very badly off in the general scramble,notwithstanding Mabel's spirited attempts to make an equitabledistribution. At last she got tired of trying to teach manners to thecock and hens, so she went to look after the pets, as she called thechickens. These, as we have before stated, had with their mother aseparate establishment, and so they were permitted to peck their grainsin peace, being in no danger of losing their share; though even amongthese tiny things there were contentions for a single grain, whichperhaps three or four would strive after. As Mabel stood watching andadmiring the little downy creatures, the desire came strongly over her,as it had done before, to take one up in her hand.
'What harm could I do the little creature by just holding it in my handfor a minute?' said Mabel. 'And as to the old hen pecking at me, I don'tcare for that; and I dare say,' she added, 'Clara only told me this tofrighten me.'
As Mabel made this very unjust remark concerning her cousin, she openedthe small door in the wire-work, and put her hand in to seize one of thechicks; but she was saluted with such a terribly hard peck from DameNetty, that, had she not been very determined in the matter, she wouldhave let the little chick go. Unfortunately for the little creature, hercaptor was very determined, and in spite of the hard peck, and thestruggles of the bird, she took it out, and was in the act of shuttingto the door, when the soft trembling thing slipped out of her hand, andfluttered away to its own destruction.
Yes, there on the wall, slyly watching all that had been going on, andwith as great a desire after the chicken as Mabel herself had, thoughfor a vastly different purpose, sat the fine sleek cat, to whom my youngreaders have before been introduced, and quick as lightning she pounceddown upon the poor chick, and carried it off.
This was a terrible catastrophe, and Mabel stood for a moment in bitterdismay; she did not know what to do--how should she? The cat haddisappeared, and by this time the poor chicken was killed, and perhapseaten. Should she tell Clara? no, that would never do, for it would besure to come to Aunt Mary's ears. It was not the first scrape that Mabelhad got into, and we are sorry to add got out of by dissimulation; andnow, after a little further consideration, she came to the unwiseconclusion that it would be better to say nothing about the matter.After all, it was only one chick out of twelve; it perhaps would not bemissed. And though she was sorry that the poor little thing had beenkilled, she solaced herself with the idea that there would soon be afresh brood to attract her cousin's attention.
Comforting herself with this idea, she walked into the dining-room,where she found the tea ready, and was soon joined by her aunt andcousin, who had finished their correspondence, and were now at libertyto take their evening walk as soon as the pleasant meal was ended.