Chapter XIV.
'NEARLY DROWNED.'
The winter was nearly over when a sudden sharp frost set in. Bobby andTrue were delighted to see the snow fall, and walk out when thepavements and roads were slippery with ice; and, when their father tookthem to the Serpentine to see the skating on the ice they wereenchanted. Then, as the frost continued, he got them each a pair ofskates, and gave them their first lessons in the art. He himself was abeautiful skater, as he had done a great deal of such sport in America;and then one Saturday he announced to them at breakfast that he shouldtake them by train to a large piece of water in the country, and theyshould stay there the whole day.
'We will have a winter picnic; Margot must pack us up some sandwiches,and we shall not come back till dark.'
It was the first time he had proposed a whole day out, and the childrenwere of course delighted.
As they were starting Mr. Allonby looked at his little son, who hadskates in one hand, Nobbles in the other.
'I think you had better leave Nobbles at home, my boy; he will be inyour way.'
'Oh, please let me take him! He would be so 'normously disappointed ifI left him behind; he does love the country.'
Mr. Allonby laughed.
'Have your own way then.'
They set off in high spirits. Every bit of the day was a keen pleasureto them--the train journey, the walk from the station to the oldcountry house belonging to Mr. Allonby's friend, and then theadjournment to the artificial lake in the park, where a large number ofskaters were assembled. There were other children there who at oncemade friends with Bobby and True, and, when luncheon time came, theywere asked to come up to the house. This, however, Mr. Allonbydeclined, and a few others besides themselves preferred to lunch on thebanks of the bit of water.
'I like this much the best,' said Bobby, snuggling close to his father;'it's as hot as fire, isn't it?'
His father looked at his rosy cheeks with content.
'I wish I could give you children an out-of-door country life,' hesaid; 'that's what you ought to have.'
'Yes,' said True; 'I don't like houses at all. I should like to be agipsy!'
'When we grows up, father, we'll come over the sea with you, won't we?And couldn't we go to the North Pole and skate? Miss Robsart wastelling us yesterday about the poor little fat Eskims--I forgets thename of them--who're in the dark so much. I should like to see themand the whales.'
'I should like the hot places best,' said True, 'where you lie in thesun, and monkeys and parrots swing in the trees above you, and you eatcocoanuts and dates!'
'Yes,' said Mr. Allonby; 'we'll do some travels together later if we'respared. But the North Pole would be a big order, Bobby; it has neverbeen found yet.'
'I espec's God has got hold of it in His hand, and twists the worldround with it,' said Bobby with knitted brows.
His father laughed.
'Finish your lunch, sonny, and we'll be moving; your theories are quitebeyond me.'
So they took to the ice again, and Bobby flew here and there on hisskates, one of the jolliest little figures to be seen.
Later in the afternoon a certain piece of the ice was roped off asbeing unsafe. Mr. Allonby warned the children not to go near it; andthen, only a short time afterwards, a cry and a crash startled everyonenear. A daring schoolboy had ventured beyond the rope and crashedthrough the ice into deep water. Mr. Allonby was close by with Bobby;in an instant he had dashed forwards, and after a breathless minute ortwo to Bobby, and before others had hardly taken in what was happening,he had dragged the boy safely up again. But, to Bobby's horror, as hisfather was coming back, the ice gave way in a fresh place under hisfeet, and he disappeared.
The child raised an agonising cry.
'Father's drowing! Father's drowing!'
Then ensued wild confusion. Ladies shrieked and rushed to the banks,there were loud cries for a ladder or a rope, but, as is often the casein private places, none were forthcoming in the spot in which they wererequired. In an instant one little figure went to the rescue, strongin his own willingness to save. He reached his father first. Holdingout Nobbles to him, he cried:
'Catch hold, quick, quick, father! I'll pull you out! Oh, catch hold!'
Mr. Allonby was struggling to raise himself, but the ice kept breakingunder his grip.
'Go back!' he shouted to Bobby. 'Go back!
But for once the child disobeyed.
When he saw his father sink before his eyes he raised a most piercingcry. In the distance they were bringing a ladder. Men were rushingfrantically back to get it.
'Father! Father! Don't sink! Oh, do catch hold of Nobbles!'
'Hi, you little chap, you'll be going in yourself! Come back! Give meyour stick! Here, Allonby, catch hold!'
Mr. Allonby's head appeared above the surface again, and in an instantthe man behind Bobby had placed Nobbles across the hole in the ice.Exhausted as he was, Mr. Allonby gripped it, keeping himself afloattill a few men and boys formed a human ladder, and he was slowly drawnout of his perilous position. Bobby meanwhile was struggling madly inthe grip of a youth.
'You little fool, keep still! Do you want to drown yourself! You werewithin an ace of it a minute ago! Your father will be all right in aminute. See--that's--the way. Hurrah, Selwyn--he's got him. Now pulltogether--hurrah! He's out, and none the worse, I bet!'
Bobby was screaming frantically: 'I wants to save him. Me and Nobblescan save him!' but when he saw his father rescued he stopped hisscreams and struggled to get to him. His little face was white to thelips. His father stooped to reassure him.
'I'm all right, sonny. Here's your stick! Come along up to the housewith me! I'm too wet to stand about. They'll give me a change.'
He took hold of Bobby's hand and led him to the bank whilst they tookoff their skates together, and then they walked through the park, youngAlan Daubeney, the son of the house, accompanying them.
'It was that little brute, Jim Carlton, he always disobey orders if hecan! I'm thankful you were on the spot, Allonby, though it would havebeen a near case for you if we hadn't got at you when we did. Fatherwill be furious with the gardeners. They were told to have ladders asa precaution, but it seems they left them at the other end.'
'Well, no harm's done. I don't think much of a sousing. I dare sayyou'll give me a change.'
'Of course.'
Then young Daubeney looked at Bobby.
'Your stick proved useful, youngster; a good thing you were by.'
'Yes,' said Mr. Allonby, with a little smile, 'it was all the support Ineeded. I should have gone entirely under if I had not had it at thatidentical minute.'
Bobby did not answer, but he tried to smile. It had been more of ashock to him than to his father, and it was not till he and True werein the train coming home that he ventured to speak of it.
'Father, you were nearly drownded!'
'I suppose I was, sonny, or I might have been.'
'Oh, what should I've done! what should I've done! That awful cracklyice!'
'I wish I'd seen it,' said True; 'a lady had such tight hold of myhand, she wouldn't let me go, and I never knewed it was dad tumbled in.I saw a boy come along dripping wet, and he looked awful frightened.If I'd known it was dad I'd have screamed!'
'Nobbles saved father,' said Bobby in an awestruck whisper. 'I believehe reely did!'
'I think he really did, my boy,' said Mr. Allonby, putting his armround Bobby and drawing him to him; 'he and you together. We littlethought this morning, when I told you to leave him at home, what hewould be the means of doing.'
A slow smile spread over Bobby's face. The joy of this discovery quitewiped out the horror of the scene from his mind. He laid his curlyhead against his father's strong arm in infinite content.
'Me and Nobbles is 'stremely happy,' he said.
And then Mr. Allonby stooped and kissed him.
'Oh, Bobby, what a pity it is that lessons must separate us.'
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But Bobby was too absorbed in his happiness to heed what his fathersaid.
When they reached home Margot had to be told the whole story, and thenext morning it was poured into Miss Robsart's ears, and then anexpedition was made to Curly's crossing to tell him about it.
'For acourse you ought to know,' said Bobby, 'for you saved Nobble'slife, and he saved father's, so it's got to do with you as well as me.'
And then True suggested that Lady Isobel should be written and toldabout it.
'And we'll make it up like a story, Bobby, for it's quite fit for abook, and I'll help you write it.'
Three afternoon's hard work in the sitting-room produced the followingepistle, which went down to the country and greeted Lady Isobel onemorning at breakfast:
'MY VERY DERE ANT ISBEL,--
'Father says you are my ant now. A wunderfull day hapend. Father andTrue and me and Nobbles went on our skats to skat in the cuntry. Itwas a very big pond, and a lot of pepul, and we went in the trane.Nobbles kam with us. The ice began to brake when a boy went on itwhere he was told not, and he went thro. It was an orful moment. Andfather and me saw him do it. Father gumped in the water and kort himand lifted him up, and he krawled out, and Father kam out too, andthere was anuther crack, and Father went down and onley his headremaned and sum fingers. Me and Nobbles nerely burst with terrerr, butwe went up very quik, and I held Nobbles out to dere father, and we wasgoing to pull him out, but it was orfull, and sum men came up, andNobbles was tuk and lade on his chest flat across the hole in the ice.Father's head had gorn down twice for the ice crakkeled in his fingers,but he tuk hold of Nobbles, and Nobbles smild and held him fast for hesso strong, and then a man lade down on his chest flat and held out hishand to Father and anuther man pulled hold of his legs, and anuther manpulled him, and I was pushed away for I wanted to pull too, but I didnot cry but I was 'normusly fritend, and at larst Father was pulled outsafe, but they saide if Nobbles had not been there he wood havedrownded, so dont you think that me and Nobbles saved Father's life?He saide we did, and I am so glad for I luv him the best in the wurld,him and God in Heaven. It was an orful excedent, and Margot says wewere nerely orfans, and me and Nobbles dremes of it nerely every night,so Nobbles is a herro, wich True says is anybuddy who saves life, and Ihelped him to do it. Plese rite to me soon.
Your luving little BOBBY.'
Lady Isobel handed this letter to her husband.
'Oh, Mortimer! we must have him here. I simply ache to have him everytime I go up to his nursery.'
'Patience, my lady!' said her husband, laughing as he read Bobby'squaint production.
'"All things come to him who waits," and a bride of two months'standing ought not to ache for anyone but her husband!'
Bobby got a long and loving letter back from his new aunt, and heshowed it to his father with great pride.
Lady Isobel's last sentence in her letter was, 'Ask father to tell youmy plan that I talked to you about the day before I was married.'
'What is it, father?' asked Bobby.
I'll tell you this evening,' his father responded. 'True and you and Iwill have a confab over it.'
These confabs were a delight to the children. They had many of them onthe hearthrug in the firelight, their father leaning back in his chairand smoking his pipe whilst he listened and talked.
'A plan is sure to be nice,' said True, 'and Lady Isobel's will be muchbetter than the ones we make up, Bobby.'
So all that day they puzzled their heads over what it could be. Andwhen at last the happy moment arrived they sat in rapt anticipation oftheir father's disclosure.
'I hope to sail away from England about the middle of May,' Mr. Allonbysaid, looking at the children gravely.
Bobby's lower lip began to quiver at once.
'I knewed that drefful day would be coming,' he said; 'but me andNobbles tries to forget it.'
'This plan has to do with that day,' his father said cheerfully. 'Whatis going to become of you when I go off, do you think?'
'Oh,' said True, 'we've plans for that. Miss Robsart is coming to livewith us, and she and Margot will look after us till you come back.'
Mr. Allonby shook his head.
'No, that won't work,' he said.
'Shall we be sented to school?' asked Bobby in a trembling voice.
'Now, listen! Your Uncle Mortimer and Aunt Isobel have said they willtake care of you and True whilst I am away. Your Aunt wants you backin the old house, Bobby, and Miss Robsart is to go down there too, andgo on teaching you till you've mastered your Latin declensions, and areready for school.'
True clapped her hands delightedly, and a smile broke over Bobby'sserious face.
'And will Miss Robsart's sick sister come too? She always said if shegot into the country she could paint again.'
'I believe the idea is that she should go too. Your uncle has acottage near that he is going to let them have. Margot will takecharge of you still in the nursery, and I shall feel that you are beinglooked after well whilst I'm away. Do you think the plan will work?'
'Yes,' the children cried simultaneously; for Bobby had outgrown hisdread of the silent house now, and the idea of going back there, andshowing True all his old haunts filled him with delight.
'I wish,' said Bobby slowly, 'as we're all going there, that Curlycould come too. Do you think, father dear, we could make a confababout him?'
'Go ahead, then. From your account he is quite a reformed character;but I don't see how he could form one of your party.'
'He's so very clean now,' continued Bobby earnestly; 'and Miss Robsarthas got him into a shop. He dusts and sweeps and runs errands, but hetold me yesterday he wants a run into the country awful bad. He wouldlike to come with us.'
'Yes, he might black our boots and work in the garden,' said True.'Will Lady Is'bel ask him, do you think, father?'
'No, I think she is doing quite enough if she takes charge of you twoyoung pickles.'
'I shan't like leaving my friend behind,' said Bobby solemnly. 'Yousee, he saved Nobbles' life. He deserves me to remember him, and notgo away and forget him.'
'You send him one of your letters,' said his father smiling, 'or apresent. You needn't forget him because you're away from him. Is thatwhat you are going to do with me?'
A look from Bobby was sufficient reply to this. Then, lapsing into hisworst grammar, in his excitement he said, 'I never forgetted you oneday since I was borned! It's like a bit of my puzzle map,' went onBobby after a pause. 'It's a plan with a piece left out, and it isn'tfinished till it's putted in. Curly must be in our plan, father dear.'
'He may be in yours, but not in Lady Isobel's, I think,' said Mr.Allonby.
'We'll make a confab with Lady Is'bel about him when we get to herhouse,' suggested True. 'I believe she'll find a way to have him.'
Bobby cheered up at once.
'I believe she will. We'll ask her.'
And then, dismissing the one flaw in the delightful plan, they talkedof Bobby's old home with enthusiasm till Margot came to take them tobed.
Chapter XV.
THE OLD HOUSE AGAIN.
It was a typical spring day. The old house stood in the midst of itsrhododendrons and azaleas; the red brick wall round the kitchen gardenwas almost hidden by the masses of pink and white bloom upon it; theorchard was a picture of beauty, whilst the flower-beds in front weremasses of late bulbs and forget-me-nots. The house itself was thesame, and yet not the same. It seemed as if it were waking up from along sleep. Every-one of the windows was open; the hall was filledwith the scent of flowers, and, as the dock in it struck five, LadyIsobel came to the door, and shading her eyes with her hands looked outalong the drive. The sun was getting low, but it sent its slantinggolden rays across her pretty blue gown. Her face had lost much of itssadness, and her lips were parted in smiling expectancy now, for shehad caught the sound of wheels. In another moment a big dogcart swungup to the house, and the cheery voice of her husband call
ed to her.
'Here they are safe and sound! And Margot is following with theluggage cart.'
The next minute two pairs of childish arms were embracing her.
'Oh Aunt Is'bel, we're so glad to come!'
'And Bobby hasn't cried a tear since dad went away, for we mean to beso happy.'
'That is splendid, my darling! Come along in and see some changes wehave made, and then Bobby shall take us to the nursery and tell us howhe likes it, and whether he thinks Margot will be happy in it.'
Bobby looked about him with eager delighted eyes. There was noquestion of his not noticing the changes. He remarked on every one.
'You've got new stair carpets; the walls are papered quite different.You've got flowers in the staircase window. Oh, what pretty pictures!'
He was upstairs like lightning, none of the rooms appealed to him likehis nursery. The green baize door was there still, but when he cameinto his old domain he drew a long breath. Pretty chintz curtains werein the windows. There was a thick soft red carpet under foot, abookcase with delightful looking story-books, a stand of flowers, aglobe of goldfish, and several fresh pictures on the walls, which hadbeen papered with pink roses to match the chintz.
'It's like a fairy book!' said the delighted Bobby. 'She waves herwand--the fairy, you know--and all the old things come new, and theugly things come pretty!'
'Lady Isobel is the fairy,' said True. She was looking about her withgreat curiosity.
'I never have lived in quite such a big house,' she said, as, afterhaving seen the nursery, she followed Lady Isobel downstairs again, andthey went in and out of all the rooms.
Bobby was still exclaiming as he went about.
'Look, True, those were the pictures which used to frown on me in thedining-room when I went in. Me and Nobbles finked we heard them say,"Run away; you've no business here." But they seem quite smiling now,and what lovely flowers on the dinner-table! There never used to besuch pretty ones when I sawed them before. And the blinds are up, andthe sun is coming in, and, oh! do come to the libr'ry and see what it'slike now. There, look, True! those horrid blind heads are nearly allgone; and it's got a new carpet and pretty curtains and flowers. Oh,it's so 'normously diff'rent!'
'We are not going to have any gloomy rooms here if we can help it,'said Lady Isobel smiling; 'and now come into the drawing-room. You aregoing to have tea with us there for a treat.'
It looked quite a new room to Bobby. All the furniture had beenaltered; magazines and books, work, and flowers gave the impressionthat it was a room to be lived in. It seemed to reflect some of LadyIsobel's sweet cheerfulness upon those who came inside it.
Bobby wandered round it, noting all the changes, and touching withreverent fingers many of Lady Isobel's pretty knick-knacks.
'It looks like your pretty house that I sawed when I went to tea withyou long ago,' he said.
Lady Isobel nodded.
'I hoped you would like it, Bobby, darling. Your uncle and I want tohave a happy home, with plenty of sunshine in it.'
'Will it be always summer?' asked True reflectively.
'Always in our hearts, I hope,' answered Lady Isobel.
Bobby sat down in a low, cushioned seat and put on his thinking cap.Past and present presented many pictures. His uncle coming in noticeda gravity about his small face that he wished to remove. He spoke tohim with a twinkle in his eye.
'Will you promise me not to put marbles in my boots to-morrow morning?'
Bobby started; then he chuckled.
'You finked it was Nobbles. I needn't hide from peoples now. Me andNobbles can walk over the house, where we likes. Aunt Is'bel says so.'
'Do you like coming back to the old house again, darling?' asked LadyIsobel, for she had noted a certain wistfulness in Bobby's gaze.
'Yes,' he said; 'but it's a new house to me. The old one has died withgrandmother; and Jenkins has gone, and Jane. Is Tom here?'
'Yes, Tom is here still, and looking forward to see you so much.'
'And the apple-tree is here,' said Mr. Egerton.
Bobby's eyes shone.
'I'll teach True how to sit on it and look over the wall,' he said.
The children ran out to the garden directly their tea was finished.Old Tom seized hold of Bobby by both hands.
'Ay, the good old times are coming back to this house,' he said.
'I think these are new times,' said Bobby.
'No, no. I mind when the house were full of children's voices andlaughter before the old master died. There's a stir that does my heartgood, Master Bobby; and the master be right down hearty with all on us.He be the proper man to be here, sure enough!'
True's delight at exploring the gardens and climbing into theapple-tree infected Bobby.
'I never had no one to play with before,' he said. 'Me and Nobblesused to make up plenty, but we wanted someone else to do it.'
He showed her all his old haunts with the greatest pride, then, tiredout with their journey and excitement, they returned to the house andwillingly went to bed. Lady Isobel paid Bobby a visit the last thingat night.
'I hope you will be happy, darling, here.'
Bobby clasped both arms round her neck.
'Me and Nobbles have been talking about it. We did feel a little funnywhen we comed in. I was so 'fraid in this house before, but it's allquite, quite different!'
'I hope it is. I don't want you to feel that you have to creep abouton tiptoe and keep out of sight. I shall like to hear your steps andvoices all over the house. Isn't it strange, Bobby, that you and Ishould be here together? How little we thought it would come to pass!'
'I was always looking out for father,' said Bobby slowly. 'I shan't beable to do that now, acause I knows he won't be back for free years.'
'No; but you can be learning lessons as fast as you can so as to begetting ready for the time when you will be with him again. And thenyou'll have to write him letters, Bobby, and he will write to you.That you could never do before!'
'No. That will be lovelly! And please Aunt Is'bel, may I ask youabout Curly? He was so dreadful sorry to say good-bye, for MissRobsart teached him on Sunday, and we talked to him always when he wason his crossing. Me and Nobbles is 'ticularly fond of him, and Truesays he could work in the garden here. You would like him; he hascurly hair, and he can whistle any tune you ask for, and--and--he'svery mis'able we've all gone away from him.'
'How did you come to know him?' asked Lady Isobel with interest. SoBobby plunged into the story of the rescue of Nobbles, and she listenedto it with smiling sympathy.
'I must talk to Miss Robsart about him when she comes here. Now go tosleep like a good boy, and to-morrow morning, if it is fine, you mustcome with me and see the dear little cottage that Miss Robsart is goingto live in.'
So Bobby gave her a hug and kiss, and, clasping Nobbles in his arms,laid his head upon his pillow, murmuring:
'Me and Nobbles is 'stremely glad to be in the house where we growed upin, and it's much better than we ever especked!'
The nursery breakfast the next morning was a very cheery one. Margot'sround smiling face was a picture.
'Ah!' she said, 'there's a verse in the Bible about lines falling inpleasant places, and that is just what I feel like now. I won't deny Iwas getting a bit old for much housework, and as to that crowded dirtyLondon, I only hope I shan't ever set foot in it again! And I won'tdeny that a house, where every penny has not to be thought of, is avery pleasant place to live in!'
We're going to see Miss Robsart's little cottage after breakfast,' saidTrue. 'Will you come too, Margot?'
'Oh, no, I'm going to unpack you both, and settle your things in allthe nice drawers and cupboards we have. Dear heart! I begin to thinkit was a good day that brought Master Bobby to us!'
A short time afterwards both children were walking with Lady Isobeldown the road to see the cottage. Bobby eagerly pointed out to themfamiliar landmarks.
'That's where that ho
rrid boy broke poor Nobbles! And that's ourmilkman's house, and there's the chestnut tree where I pick upchestnuts when they drop.'
Then Lady Isobel turned up a lane out of the high-road. A little whitegate stood in the quickset hedge, which Lady Isobel opened, and there,in a pretty rustic garden, was a white-washed cottage with a thatchedroof and old-fashioned casement windows. A jasmine and rose climbedover its porch. The door was painted green, and everything lookedfresh and clean. Lady Isobel unlocked the door, and Bobby and Truestepped in with exclamations of delight. One sunny sitting-room oneither side of the door, a tiny kitchen behind, and three bedroomsabove, were all the rooms the cottage contained, but it had a sweet oldkitchen garden behind, and three apple-trees were brightening thebackground with their snowy blossoms. It was on a hill, and the viewfrom the front looked over a lovely expanse of buttercup meadows, andthe river beyond.
Bobby's little face looked solemn for his years as he turned and facedhis aunt.
'It's a _beautiful_ place. Miss Robsart's sister will be able to painther trees again. I fink, Aunt Is'bel, you'll be filling us too full ofhappiness.'
'There's just one person more who ought to be here,' said True.
'Yes, I've tolded 'bout him; and when Miss Robsart comes it will betalked about. Then we shall all be, like Margot says, a happy fam'ly.'
'A country happy family,' said True.
Lady Isobel laughed merrily.
'Did you never see this cottage before, Bobby? I believe yourgrandmother's coachman lived here?'
'He was a cross man,' said Bobby promptly. 'I never comed near him.He said he couldn't bear boys, and nurse wouldn't take me to anycottages--grandmother said she wasn't to. I never comed up this laneonce.'
Then they went back to the house, and Lady Isobel left them in thegarden to play. In the afternoon they drove into the town with her andhelped to choose a pretty invalid couch for the eldest Miss Robsart.
'I shall have it put in the window ready for her,' Lady Isobel said.'And she can lie on it and paint her pretty pictures, Bobby.'
The days that followed were delicious ones to the children; and in duetime the Miss Robsarts came down with their pretty old furniture andtook possession of the cottage. The children were allowed to runbackwards and forwards, and help with the move. When they werethoroughly settled in, lessons began. Lady Isobel had put aside aspecial room for the schoolroom; and though at first Bobby and Truefound it a little irksome to get into their regular hours of workagain, they soon became reconciled to it.
Miss Robsart was as happy as the day was long, and as for her invalidsister, she could not express her thankfulness. She broke down whenLady Isobel went to see her.
'I never expected such bliss in this life,' she said. 'I don't knowwhat we have done for you to do all this for us.'
But the crowning joy to Bobby and True was when Lady Isobel told themthat she was going to have Curly down, and let him help old Tom in thegarden.
'If he likes it, and works well, we will keep him. He is coming on amonth's trial, and he will live with Tom and his wife.'
'I'm afraid we shall soon have the whole of London swooping down uponus,' said Mr. Egerton when he heard the news.
'How many more friends have you, Bobby? For I see your aunt is goingto grant you every desire of your heart.'
'I haven't any more friends,' said Bobby gravely. 'You don't make manyin London, but Curly ought to come, because he saved Nobbles' life.'
'I believe Nobbles is at the bottom of everything,' said his uncle; andBobby nodded, well pleased.
'Yes, Nobbles is very erportant to me,' he said; 'and if Curly hadn'tsaved him, my heart would have broke!'
It was Sunday afternoon. Lady Isobel was sitting in the drawing-room,and the children were by her side.
'It makes me think of mother,' said True, with a little choke in hervoice. 'She always used to give us Sunday lessons.'
'I want to follow her teaching, darling. I am going to keep this hourespecially for you. Now, what shall we talk about this first Sunday?Would you like to choose a Bible story?'
True looked at Bobby. He thought deeply for a minute, then he said:
'May we look at the lovely Talian Bible?
'Yes. Go to the library and bring it here. True can help you to carryit.'
Away they ran, and soon returned with the precious Book, which theyplaced upon a small table by her side. Then Bobby reverently andcarefully turned over its pages till he came to the picture of thegolden gates. He and True hung over it with admiring eyes.
'Talk to us about heaven,' said Bobby, 'because mother is there, and welove it.'
Lady Isobel did so. She read them verses of its beauty, of thewhite-robed throng who were singing the praises of the Lamb of God, ofthe tears that would be wiped away, and the darkness that would be madelight, and of the happiness of all gathered there.
'I would like Curly to hear about it,' said Bobby with a sigh.
'You must tell him about it, darling.'
'I will say my tex' to him, and make him learn it, and und'stand it.'
'Does blessed mean happy?' asked True.
'Yes.'
'I didn't think I'd ever be happy again when mother went away, but Ifeel a little better now. Will you take us one day to see her grave,or is it too far?'
'I think we must manage it one day, dear,' said Lady Isobel drawing thelittle motherless girl near her. 'We might go by train a part of theway.'
'I would like to see her grave very much,' said Bobby, 'because fatherwent to put my tex' upon it. He liked my tex' very much.'
'I think we all like it, Bobby.'
'I wonder which is God's favourite text in the Bible,' said True.
Lady Isobel was silent; the children sometimes puzzled her.
'God never makes any faverits,' said Bobby. 'My old nurse telled methat once. He loves ev'rybodies and all alike, doesn't he, AuntIs'bel?'
Then without waiting for her to reply he proceeded:
'I try to love ev'rybodies alike, but I love God first, and then myfather.'
'And who next?' asked True curiously.
'I finks,' said Bobby, hesitating, 'truthfully, I finks I loves Nobblesnext best.'
'I'm sure you oughtn't to,' said True; 'he's just a stick.'
Bobby shook his head. 'I loves you, Aunt Is'bel, and Master Mortimer,and True, but Nobbles comed to me first, and I couldn't stop lovinghim. He's a kind of part of me, you see, and ev'ryfing I does he doestoo.'
'He's only a stick,' repeated True.
'Who saved father's life?' said Bobby with sudden warmth.
'Well,' said True, slowly, 'it was you who put Nobbles on the ice.'
'Yes,' said Bobby, 'it was what I'd been longing and wanting to do, andI was always finking and finking how it could be done, and then all ofa sudden it comed, and who saved father's life? Why, me and Nobbles.'
True was crushed. Lady Isobel said softly:
'Shall we repeat the text together, children, in this old Bible, andask God to make us not only love it ourselves, but pass it on to thosewho do not know how they can have a right to enter in through the gatesinto the City?'
'Are there many bodies that don't know that?' questioned Bobby.
'A great, great many. Some who miss the happiness that God means themto have in this world by not knowing it.'
'We must try and tell them,' said Bobby earnestly. 'It's a pity ifthey don't understand prop'ly.'
Then slowly and softly the children repeated their text after LadyIsobel:
'Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, thatthey may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gatesinto the City.'
FINIS.
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