CHAPTER XIX.
MAY DAY.
It was months before Mabel could really be said to have regained herhealth and strength. The dreary winter had passed away, and the tenderleaves, and blossoms of April, had put forth their signs of returningspring.
It must not however be supposed that the cold and dark season had beenan unprofitable one; far from it. Though Mabel had been an occasionalsufferer, during all that time, she and Clara had diligently attended totheir studies, and had, Aunt Mary said, made rapid advance; while theinward change which had been experienced by the invalid left no room forregret either to herself or her friends.
Mabel knew and felt that she had been healed of a far worse malady thanany bodily one, and though, as in the case of rheumatic pains, hiddenevils still gave occasional inward spasms, she had learned at whosehands she was to receive the healing draught, and she never failed toapply for it in the hour of need.
I ought perhaps to have informed my readers, that soon after Mabel hadbeen taken ill, Mr. and Mrs. Maitland, with their two daughters, Doraand Annie, had gone to spend the winter months in the west of England,with that lady's mother, who was now far advanced in years, and verydesirous of having the company of this her last surviving child, and tofeel the cheering influence of lively girlhood in the society of hertruly loving and attentive granddaughters.
And now, as I have before said, the winter had gone, and dewy April,with its smiles and tears, its soft green, tender leaves, its embryobuds and blossoms, its morning salutations which blithe birds sang inthe half-clothed trees or in the air, made fragrant by the breath ofprimrose pale, or violet blue, or polyanthus bright--yes, dewy April,notwithstanding all these delights, was about to take its departure, inorder to make way for the pleasant month of May, whose praises Aunt Marycelebrated in rhyme. Oak Villa was indeed a highly privileged home; noyoung girl, whose mind was properly balanced, could have considered itotherwise. Its owner was cheerful as the lark, industrious as the bee,thoughtful and provident as the ant, benevolent as!--well, I won't likenher to any of our four-footed friends; indeed, just at this moment, Imust confess that no comparison occurs to me: but Aunt Mary loved hernieces, delighted to impart to them those stores of knowledge to whichshe was herself constantly adding, and which a very retentive memoryenabled her to draw on for almost any occasion.
Master Freddy, who, in his visit to the truly happy home I have beenspeaking of, had contrived to make himself as disagreeable as possible,had been punished for his conduct by being prevented from going with hissister Julia in her occasional visits to Oak Villa; this, of course, wasby papa's order, and the prohibition was almost as grievous to mamma asit was to Freddy, but there was no redress. Julia had enjoyed many apleasant walk with her sister and cousin, and she was particularly fondof going to see the poor people, especially Mrs. Simmons, whose husbandhad in a great measure regained his strength, and was now able to do atleast some little towards the maintaining of his family. It had beenvery dull at home for Julia, after her sister had gone to Oak Villa; butshe had her mamma to attend to, and to teach the children, though to saythe truth this latter was almost an impossibility where Freddy wasconcerned, so he was often sent down to stay with mamma, beingpronounced incorrigible.
But May morning has come at last; it is Aunt Mary's birthday, and such alovely day! The cousins have a great deal of work to do beforebreakfast-time: may-blossoms to gather, garlands to twine, vases to fillwith the sweet-scented early flowers, the breakfast-table to arrangewith the best possible taste. As to Bridget, she had the day beforebeen preparing for this special holiday; and even now she is very busywith her hot cakes and buns, which bid fair to be of the very bestquality. Nine o'clock was the appointed hour for breakfast, and as AuntMary was not permitted by the young decorators to see what had been donein the way of preparation, it had been agreed that prayers were to beread in her bedroom, where, at half-past eight, Clara and Mabel, andBridget, made their appearance; the former clasping Aunt Mary's neck,kissing her, and offering their most sincere and loving good wishes, thelatter looking on the while, with no less kindly feeling, and with thehonest tears of a faithful and devoted heart in her eyes.
Punctually at nine, a cab drove up to the garden-gate of Oak Villa,which Bridget stood ready to open, while Clara and Mabel waited at thehall-door, to receive the joyful little party, and Aunt Mary formed thebackground of the scene.
'How smart you are, Freddy,' remarked Clara, as she handed that younggentleman out of the cab; 'why, I never saw you in that dress before.'
'We were kept waiting some time,' said his mamma, 'because he would nothave his other clothes on. I was afraid we should be too late, so I lethim have his own way.'
'As usual, my dear sister,' said Aunt Mary, smiling, as she kissed andwelcomed her sister. 'I'm afraid Freddy's light clothes will come togrief before the day is over, but he must take care.'
'Oh, how beautifully you have set out the table!' was the generalexclamation as they all entered the breakfast-room together; and really,it was a very imposing sight, and the juveniles thought a veryappetising sight, for ham, and eggs, and tongue, and chicken, and cakes,and buns, make a strong appeal for their share of commendation, evenwhere the more delicate and refined tastes are attracted by beautifulcolours and delicious odours.
It is really a very pleasant party that sits round this well-appointedtable, though the kind and hospitable hostess regrets much that herbrother-in-law, Mr. Ellis, was not able to be of the company. Aunt Maryknew who it was that kept order at home, and much, very much did shewish that her sister would be guided by her husband in the management oftheir children. But now there is nothing but bright looks and smilinghappy faces, if we except that of Master Fred, who is looking round atthe several dainties, apparently considering which he shall choose fromfirst.
Unfortunately for the peace of society, Aunt Mary helped Freddy to someham without being asked, and before that young gentleman had made uphis mind as to what he should choose. This was indeed a sad mistake,though done without the slightest suspicion of giving offence; but theoffence was very quickly manifested.
'I didn't want ham,' said the rude boy, as he pushed his plate from him;'I wanted some tongue.'
'That is not a proper way to speak, my dear,' said his aunt; 'and youmust eat what I have given you first, then you shall have some tongue.'
This was strange language to the wayward boy; he resented it by anotherpush of his plate, and leaning back in his chair with the determinationof a martyr.
Wonderful, he thought it, that no one at the breakfast-table, not evenmamma, took the slightest notice of him, or seemed to care whether hehad any breakfast or not. The fact was that a very significant look fromAunt Mary had imposed silence upon mamma, and sisters, and cousins, andthe little ones were far too busy on their own account to give heed toFreddy, who was quarrelling with his bread and butter. In short, neitherby word nor look had any effort been made to soothe the perturbed spiritof the really hungry boy.
This state of things, however, was not to be endured; so thought Fred,when, after waiting a considerable time, and casting furtive glancesaround to see if there were any signs in his favour, but perceivingnone, he pushed his chair away from the table and rushed out of theroom, quite unable longer to suppress his passion or his tears. This wasthe signal for Mrs. Ellis to remonstrate, which she had all along wishedto do.
'Really, Mary, you are too severe on the poor boy,' she began, but wasimmediately, though kindly, silenced by Miss Livesay.
'Not now, if you please, dear,' said Aunt Mary; 'we will not discussthis point before the juveniles, we will talk it over by-and-by. In themeantime, Freddy has, I hear, gone into the garden, where he can amusehimself without getting into mischief.'
The latter part of this speech might have been omitted with propriety,but we must not forestall. The absence of the high-spirited younggentleman did not seem at all to lessen the enjoyment of the littlepeople, who really behaved remarkably well, being for the most partu
nder the management of a good nursery-maid, except when they werehaving their little lessons with Julia. Mrs. Ellis did not like thetrouble of children herself, but through her weak-mindedness shecertainly did what she could to make them a trouble to other people. Thebreakfast-party were just on the eve of breaking up, when a violentscreaming in the back garden seemed to upset Aunt Mary's idea thatFreddy could not get into any mischief there, and soon the whole partywere in the back garden to ascertain the cause of the disturbance.There, at the large rain-water barrel, covered with wet and dirt, yetholding fast by the top, stood the unfortunate Fred, his face crimsonwith fear and excitement, while he still tried with all his might toturn back the tap which he had so unluckily loosened, and which now,like himself, refused to submit to a weak hand, but was readily reducedto order by a strong one; for Bridget was at the scene of action, andset free the boy, now completely shamed, if not subdued, by having toappear before the whole party as an object of commiseration, if notridicule.
Of course there were no boy's habiliments at Oak Villa, and Fred had toundergo the further humiliation of being put into his sister's bed inone of her nightdresses, while his own clothes were drying.
It must be confessed that a great reaction had taken place since thecold water had been thrown on the fiery young spirit, for there had beenmore than the mere wetting of the body. Fasting also had done itsbeneficial work; the craving stomach seemed to be resisting the defiantwill. And when Freddy found himself quietly between the sheets, withonly his sister Mabel--who had brought some breakfast up--to witness hishumiliation, he very gladly, I might almost say thankfully, turned _to_the tempting viands which he had so short a time ago turned _from_ withdisgust. Yes, the piece of ham was there, and this time it was notpushed back; but there was no tongue, which had been desired and deniedbefore. Aunt Mary never did things by halves.
Here we will leave this graceless Freddy; he will have no lack ofamusement while his clothes are drying, for Mabel and Clara have broughthim books and pictures, and some old toys which had been put by: butAunt Mary insists that Freddy is to be left to himself, after she hasseen him, and kindly, but forcibly, shown him the foolishness, as wellas the wickedness, of indulging in pride and evil temper. After all, MayDay was at Oak Villa a very happy day to all who were there.