Norman Vallery Part 19

The laird took care not to alarm them when he described what had happened.

"Sandy did not tell you that I laughed at Norman, and that made him angry," said f.a.n.n.y.

"He had no business to be angry, young lady," observed the laird. "Let me advise you, my dear Mrs Vallery, to allow him to remain in bed till he becomes more amiable. His tumble into the water may perhaps be an advantage to him, and teach him the consequences of giving way to his anger."

Mrs Vallery, however, though a.s.sured that no real harm had happened to her boy, could not refrain from running upstairs to see him.

Norman did not appear at all sensible that he had brought the accident upon himself, and declared that it was all f.a.n.n.y's fault, and that he would not stop in bed.

Mrs Vallery at last yielded to his entreaties to be allowed to get up, and obtaining some fresh clothes, led him down to dinner, after he had promised that he would tell Mr Maclean he was sorry for having disobeyed his orders. Norman did so, though not with a very good grace, and he could not help feeling for the rest of the day that he was out of favour with the laird.

Mrs Leslie did not allude to the subject, for she hoped that his mamma had said all that was necessary, and Norman congratulated himself that he had got off more cheaply altogether than he had expected.

Poor f.a.n.n.y was the chief sufferer, for she longed to say how delighted she was with the scenery, and yet she did not like, on account of her brother, to mention the subject. Norman, however, tried to look as unconcerned as possible, as if he had done nothing to be ashamed of.

f.a.n.n.y, who wished very much to carry the presents to little Robby, and to see the old sailor again, begged the next morning that she might take Norman, as had been before arranged, with the little carriage.

"But I do not know if we can trust Norman," observed the laird; "he may be scampering off by himself across the moor, and give you a great deal of trouble to catch him."

"Oh! but I am sure Norman will behave well to-day," pleaded f.a.n.n.y.

"Won't you, Norman? You will promise Mr Maclean that you will do as he tells you."

"Of course I will," answered Norman. "Because I happen to do one day what you don't like, you fancy that I must always do what you think wrong."

"If you promise me that you will obey your sister, you shall have the carriage, as I hope that I may trust to your word."

Norman promised that he would do whatever f.a.n.n.y told him.

"Will you cut me a whip, Mr Maclean?" he added, "I cannot drive a carriage without one."

"Pray let it be short then, the horse is not very far off, and a large one may tickle its shoulders and ears more than it likes," said f.a.n.n.y, looking archly at Norman, showing that though she had forgiven him, she had not forgotten the way he had treated her on their former excursion.

The laird cut a short thin wand which could not do much harm in the hands of Norman, and kindly saw them off as before on the road.

The day was fine and bright, and the pure Highland air raised f.a.n.n.y's spirits. She drew on the little carriage at a quick rate, singing merrily as she went. Norman felt unusually happy, he flourished his stick without attempting to beat f.a.n.n.y, and shouted at the top of his voice. When the ground was rough, and the carriage b.u.mped about, he held on to the sides with both his hands, but even that he thought very good fun. Quite regardless, however, of the exertion f.a.n.n.y had to make on his account, he told her to go faster and faster.

"I like the b.u.mping and tumbling. It puts me in mind of being at sea,-- go on, go on," he shouted.

f.a.n.n.y proceeded for some distance, and at last felt so tired, that she was obliged to stop.

"I must rest for a few minutes, Norman," she said, "for really it is very hard work going over this rough ground."

"Oh, nonsense! you are lazy, you see how I like it, and so you ought to keep going on, I cannot give you many minutes to rest," he replied.

"That's a good joke," said f.a.n.n.y, "if you will drag the carriage and let me get into it, you will soon find that it is not so easy as you suppose to drag it over this ground."

"You are heavier than I am, so that would not be fair, and besides, you promised to draw me, and you say you always do what you promise."

"That is true," said f.a.n.n.y; "I am much heavier than you are, and I have really no wish that you should draw me, but pray have patience, and I will go on again."

Norman got out of the carriage and ran about, he might just as well have gone on in front, and saved f.a.n.n.y the trouble of dragging him so far; that, he did not think of.

At last f.a.n.n.y proposed that he should get in again, and on they went.

The ground was, however, still rougher than what they had pa.s.sed over.

Norman cried out to f.a.n.n.y, who was going somewhat slower than at first, to move faster.

"I cannot, Norman; indeed I cannot," she answered.

"I shall run the risk of tumbling down, if I do."

"Then I'll make you," he shouted out.

As he could not reach her with his stick from where he sat, he jumped up to lean forward that he might do so. Just then the carriage gave a violent b.u.mp, and out he tumbled, falling on some hard stones. He shrieked out, fancying himself dreadfully hurt, and very angry at what had happened to him.

"You did it on purpose, I know you did," he exclaimed, as f.a.n.n.y came to pick him up.

f.a.n.n.y was a little alarmed at first, but she soon found that a slight bruise or two was all the harm he had received, so, after stopping a short time till he had ceased crying and complaining, she put him into the carriage again, and went on more carefully than before. Norman did not again insist on her moving faster, as he was occupied in feeling his elbows and shoulders and wondering whether he was much bruised.

Soon after crossing the stream, they came in sight of Alec Morrison's cottage. The ground was smooth near it, so f.a.n.n.y was able to go on pretty fast, and Norman got into better humour, and shouted and sang as at first.

As they approached the cottage they saw Robby, who had heard their voices coming out to meet them. Poor little fellow, as he did not expect visitors, and the weather was hot, he had very few clothes on, but he did not think about that.

f.a.n.n.y, stopping, made Norman get out of the carriage that she might take out the things which were placed under the seat.

"Here, Robby," she said, as the little boy came up, "we have brought you some nice fruit, and some cakes, and some picture-books, which Mrs Maclean gave us for you."

"Thank you, young lady, thank you," exclaimed Robby, receiving them with delight, as f.a.n.n.y took them out of the carriage, while Norman stood by, feeling somewhat jealous that the little beggar boy, as he chose to think Robby, should have so many things given him.

"Is your grandfather at home?" asked f.a.n.n.y. "I have been longing to come and see him, and to thank him for helping us on our way back the other day."

"No; I am keeping house alone, but grandfather will soon be back, so don't go away, please, till he comes," answered Robby, who was holding the things which f.a.n.n.y had given him in his arms. "Won't you come in, young lady, and rest?"

"No, thank you, I would rather stay outside in the shade till your grandfather comes back," said f.a.n.n.y, as she did not like to go into the old man's cottage without an invitation from him. "Do you, Robby, go in with the things, and put them away," she added, for she rather mistrusted Norman, who continued eyeing the little boy with no very kind looks.

Robby ran in with his treasures.

"Stupid little brat," observed Norman, "I wonder Mrs Maclean sent him all those things, I should have thought a piece of bread and cheese was quite enough for him."

"When we make presents we should try and give nice things, such as people who receive them will like," said f.a.n.n.y. "Old Alec could give his grandson bread and cheese, but he probably would be unable to obtain the sort of things we have brought. I wish when I make a present to give something that I myself like."

"I do not understand anything about that," answered Norman, turning away, and flouris.h.i.+ng his stick as he walked up and down.

Old Alec soon appeared, with a basket containing food for himself and Robby, which he had gone to the village to purchase.

"It does my heart good to see you and your brother," he exclaimed, as he came up.

"Grandfather!" cried Robby, "they have brought me all sorts of nice things--look here, look here!" and Robby led the old man into the cottage that he might exhibit the gifts he had received. "They would not come in themselves, but said they would wait till you returned. I think the young gentleman would like some of the fruit, for he looked at it when his sister gave it to me. Can I run out and offer it to him?

Perhaps, though, he will be offended, for he looks very proud."