Left at Home Part 3

"Yes, if I am good, I know," said Arthur; "and that's just the difference.

You know, mamma, you always love me, whatever I am."

"Of course," said his mother, smiling; "but you could not expect any one to love you in the way your mother does. You would not like her to be your mother, would you?"

"No, of course not. Now, mother, tell me something about what her place is like, and where it is, and what sort of things I shall do when I am there.

I have loads of questions to ask, only I forget them now."

"Well, begin then," said his mother; "perhaps one will remind you of another."

"First of all, then, what is the name of her place?"

"Myrtle Hill, near Stanton."

"Myrtle Hill! what a funny name. Is it at all like this, mother?"

"No, dear, not much. I am afraid it is a much more orderly kind of place.

But I will try to describe it to you. It is a good many years since I was there, and I did not notice things so very much. It is a white house with myrtle trained over the lower parts, and a great many myrtle trees growing in the avenue; that is why it is called Myrtle Hill. I know there is a large garden with a good many shady places under the trees, that I remember thinking would be delightful in the summer. There is a front garden too."

"That's nice," said Arthur.

"Oh, but I don't expect your aunt will like little boys to have the run of her garden!"

"I daresay she will," said Arthur. "She is going to be very fond of me, you know."

"Well, that is question number one. Now, what is the second?"

"Yes; where does she live?"

"It is a good way from this; about six hours by the train, and five miles from Stanton."

"Oh, yes! and that reminds me of another question. How am I to learn? Will she teach me? I hope not."

"No," said Mrs. Vivyan; "we have thought you are old enough to go to school now. There is a very good school between your aunt's house and the town. It is about two miles from Myrtle Hill, and you would go there every morning and come back early in the evening."

"Ah, I like that very much," said Arthur joyfully; "that really is jolly, mother. Who keeps the school?"

"A very nice gentleman. Your father has known him for a long time."

"He is tremendously strict, I suppose?"

"Well, I daresay he likes to be obeyed," said Mrs. Vivyan; "but that is quite right, isn't it?"

"Yes, of course," Arthur answered. "What is his name, mother?"

"Mr. Carey."

"Well, I don't like that name," said Arthur emphatically; "but I suppose he can't help that. Does he wear spectacles?"

"No, I should think not," said Mrs. Vivyan, smiling; "he is not old enough. I think he is not quite so old as your father."

"I suppose he is rather young then. I am glad of that. I should never be so much afraid of youngish people as of old ones."

"Any more questions?" asked Mrs. Vivyan presently. "There is one question you have not asked, Arthur, darling, that I was expecting, and it is the one question that my heart is paining to have to answer."

"What can it be, mother?" said Arthur wonderingly. "I think I have asked a great many. What can it be?"

And then he thought for a little while very earnestly. At length a troubled look came into his eyes, and he looked at his mother, and said softly--

"I know, mother, I know, and I am rather afraid to ask; but I must, for I want to know. When am I going?" The question came out very slowly.

"Arthur, my own darling little boy," said his mother, pressing her arm very closely around him, and he could hear the quiver in her voice as she spoke, "it is very soon. We did not tell you until just at the end, when we were obliged to do it; because what was the use of making you unhappy before we need?"

"Well, when is it?" said Arthur.

"It is the day after to-morrow."

"Oh, mother, mother!" was all Arthur said; and he became very still indeed.

By and by he said, in a very troubled voice, "I wish I had known it before."

"Why, dear?"

"Because then--oh, mother!" said Arthur, bursting into tears, "I would have stayed with you all the day, and I would not have done anything you don't like."

And then the tears came into his mother's eyes, and she said tenderly--

"But I knew it, Arthur dear, and I kept you with me as much as I could.

And, my darling, you do not often do things I don't like."

"Oh, yes I do, mother, very often!" said Arthur, sobbing still.

"Well, dear, if you do, I know that with it all you really do love me."

Arthur gave her hand a pa.s.sionate squeeze, and said, "Indeed, indeed I do, mother."

And then Arthur said no more, but fell into a grave fit of musing.

Presently he roused himself, and said, "But, mamma, how can I go in two days? Are there not things to be done? Mustn't I have a lot of new clothes, and ever so many things?"

"But, don't you see," said Mrs. Vivyan with a smile, half amused and half sad, "I have known it for a long time, and I have been making arrangements that my little boy knew nothing about."

"Oh, well," said Arthur with a deep sigh.

"Would you like to see some of the things that you are going to take away with you?" asked his mother.

"Yes, I think I should," said Arthur; but he spoke so hesitatingly; for dearly as he liked preparations for a journey, he remembered with a bitter pang what the preparations were for, and what the cause of the journey was.

Mrs. Vivyan opened the door of a small room adjoining her own, which was generally kept locked, and where, Arthur knew, he was not expected to go without being allowed. There was a large table near the window; it was covered with various things; there was a leather writing-case, a new paint-box, and a Polyglot Bible; there were several new books too, and a very large pile of new clothes, but they did not take up much of Arthur's attention. His quick eyes soon detected a fis.h.i.+ng rod and cricket bat, that stood in the corner of the room near by; indeed there seemed to be nothing that his kind father and mother had not provided. He noticed something else that was there, and that was a Russia-leather purse; and when he took it to examine the inside he found that it was not empty--the first thing he saw was a five pound note!

"Oh, mamma!" said Arthur breathlessly; "who is all that money for?"