CHAPTER VII.

WALTER'S TREAT.

"WHO likes donkey rides?" asked Walter the next morning.

Plenty of voices answered, "Oh, I do!"

"Who has heard of Melton Castle, three miles from here?"

"I think we all have," said mamma.

"Who likes rolled tongue and pickled salmon?"

"What nonsense!" exclaimed Ada. "You are only trying to take us in. Though there are donkeys and Melton Castle, there are certainly no rolled tongue and pickled salmon."

"Are there not? So much you know, Miss Ada."

"But, Walter, you should not tell them your bill of fare so early in the day," said Nellie, laughing.

"Well, anyone who likes all these dainties combined, must be at this door at half-past eleven precisely."

"What for?" asked Netta with wide-open eyes.

"You will see. By the bye, Netta, do you like a saddle or a chair?"

"A saddle, of course," answered Netta with dignity; "should not you, Isabel? That is, if you mean for a donkey ride."

"But what are you going to do, Walter?" asked Arthur; "but I guess."

"A picnic!" growled Walter in a sepulchral tone.

They all laughed joyfully.

"But mamma, how can she go? And Tom?"

"All arranged for. You shall behold at half-past eleven," said Walter.

"I believe Nellie is in the secret," said Ada a little jealously.

"Nellie is always in all my secrets," said Walter, smiling at her.

Nellie blushed with pleasure; but she only said, "But mamma is in the secret too."

"Of course," said Isabel; "nothing could be done without mamma."

Before half-past eleven the children were all assembled; and five minutes before that time, six donkeys came up and took their stand near the door.

The children counted and counted, but could not make out how six would be enough to "go round." Walter was lying under a tree in the orchard, and all he did was to laugh at all their questions and leave them unanswered.

Still, he kept his eye on them all, and when an open carriage drove up, he leapt from the ground and hurried across the road.

"Nellie is going to condescend to a donkey," he said, laughing, "and so I shall choose the best for her."

[Illustration: Next came Arthur and Ada, and the riding party were all ready.]

She came out at the moment, and he mounted her first of all. And then Dolly was placed in a little arm-chair; Netta and Isabel, with their curls dancing in the sunshine, had saddles; but Walter had discovered there were some to be obtained with a sort of hoop round them, and with these they seemed delighted.

Next came Arthur and Ada, and the riding party were all ready.

Mrs. Arundel, Tom, and the baby, with the two servants and two hampers, were packed into the carriage.

"Where are you going to ride?" asked Isabel anxiously.

"Oh, I walk! No donkeys for me, thank you," answered Walter; "my legs are too long."

"So they are," said Dolly; "they would touch."

Mrs. Ross and Alfy came to the door to see them off. The carriage started at the pace of the donkeys, Walter generally walking by Nellie, and holding Dolly's bridle.

Shouts, screams, and laughter filled the air as the donkeys jogged their riders up and down. Tom leaned as far as he dared to see the merry party, and could not help enjoying their pleasure, though he kept on telling himself "it was very hard."

Arthur managed to urge his donkey alongside of the carriage. "Where are the 'goodies'?" he asked mysteriously of his mother.

She pointed to the coachman's seat.

"Pickled salmon?"

His mother laughed. "No questions, sir," she said.

By-and-by the ruins of the old castle appeared against the sky, and very soon the carriage pulled up at a low boundary-wall, after which they would have to walk.

Tom's perambulator had been fastened to the back of the carriage, and he was now placed on it. The coachman and the donkey-boy were engaged to carry the hampers up the hill for them, and Walter took Tom in charge; while shawls, rugs, and baskets occupied most of the others.

They found the hill in the burning sun rather fatiguing, but were rewarded when they reached the top by finding that part of the inside of the castle was in deep shade, and that overhanging the moat there were two fine old trees, which looked very inviting. Baskets, wraps, and hampers were quickly deposited, and the young people soon spread over the ruins in every direction.

Mrs. Arundel, with Nellie's help, aided by the two servants, now began to unpack the hampers. Tom, very interested, lay looking at them, suggesting where the viands were to be put.

"Who lent you the cloth?" he asked.

"It is one of ours, from home," said his mother.

"I am so thirsty!" he said, as he saw sundry bottles of water and lemonade lifted out.

"Wait till they come, dear," said his mother.

The servants had a little "nursery table," as Mrs. Arundel called it, spread at a short distance for baby and Dolly; but on this at present was laid nothing but some very tempting-looking rolls, with some tarts and cakes. As to Tom, he felt so dreadfully hungry that he held his whistle in his hand, only waiting a word from his mother to give the promised signal.

"Now, dear," said Mrs. Arundel, "we are all ready."

And before she had time to finish the sentence, Tom gave a whistle, which woke the echoes and brought the hungry party trooping back.

"You can do something, you see," said Nellie, smiling.

"Well, I declare," said Arthur, walking round the table-cloth, and surveying the viands. "Here's a spread! Well done, mother!"

"It is 'well done, Walter,'" said Mrs. Arundel; "more than half this came from London!"

"Pickled salmon, tongue, chickens, tarts, salad, rolls, blanc-mange, cakes, lemonade, and a lot more! Well done, Walter!"

"I'm glad you are satisfied; now then to enjoy it. But first we will ask a blessing." He raised his hat reverently, and calling to Dolly to be still a moment, he thanked God for giving them all this pleasure.

Mrs. Arundel said she should begin by helping the "nursery table," and sent a goodly supply by Arthur, who was head waiter. After that they all fell to, and did ample justice to all that Walter and Mrs. Arundel had prepared.

"There is no water left, Nellie," said Netta. "What shall we do? I am so thirsty."

"I know where we can get some more," said Ada. "I saw a little cottage down the other side, and there was a board up, 'Water or tea to be obtained here.'"

"Capital!" said Walter. "Where are the empty bottles?"

"We will fetch it, won't we, Arthur?" said Ada, jumping up.

"All right," said Arthur, taking a last bite of a nice tart. "And look here, mother, I don't think I have quite finished. Don't you clear it all away!" And with a laugh, he and Ada scampered off.

"Supposing we sing to pass away the time," suggested Walter.

"Mamma can sing," said Isabel, "and so can Nellie."

"Well, perhaps they will sing a duet first."

They willingly complied; and the sweet sound filled the old ruin, and seemed to float away on the wind. Walter lay with closed eyes; and when they had finished, no one spoke for a moment.

"Now you sing," said Dolly, getting up from her little table, and trotting round to her eldest brother.

He started up. "I? Well I will sing a funny one; and then when the others come we will see if we can sing something all together."

"Mamma," said Ada, when they came back breathless, and Nellie was pouring out the cool fresh water, "it is such a nice little cottage, and such a nice woman; she has a table under a great mulberry tree; and she said, 'Should we want tea? Because of putting on the water.'"

"Yes; we will go down there presently and tell her. I thought I had heard there was a cottage."

"So nice!" said Ada.

Arthur sat down by his mother and pretended he had not finished dinner; but after one more tart, he protested the run had taken away his appetite, and turned from the table.

"We were going to have some more singing," said Mrs. Arundel.

"Oh, that was what we heard!" answered Ada. "We could not think what it was."

"What shall we sing, Walter?" asked Mrs. Arundel. "See, I have a few hymn sheets here. The first is, 'O God, our help in ages past.'"

"That is dear papa's favourite," said Mrs. Arundel; "how I wish he were here!"

"Yes," said Ada, sighing; "I often think of him all alone, only it spoils one's pleasure so to think about it."

"We will sing it, then, in remembrance of him," said Walter.

Mary, the nurse, sang a nice second, and they all drew together into one circle, and the familiar words sounded wonderfully sweet with all the voices.

On the back of this hymn sheet was printed another, on hearing the name of which Dolly exclaimed: "That's my hymn; we'll have that now!"

Everybody was willing, and the voices rose in "There is a happy land, far, far away!"

When Dolly's hymn was finished, they all dispersed. Simmons told Mrs. Arundel that she would clear up the dinner things, and see to their being packed safely. Baby had fallen asleep; Tom's eyes looked heavy; so leaving the spot where they had dined, Mrs. Arundel and Ada, followed by Netta and Isabel, walked down to the cottage to see about tea. Arthur began to climb the old castle walls; and Nellie and Walter found a little nook half way up the old tower, from which they could see the sea, and enjoy a really cosy chat—the first quiet time the brother and sister had yet had.

"Oh, Walter," said Nellie, looking up in his face, "I am so glad to see you again!"

"Dear Nellie!" he answered, putting his arm round her, and drawing her to him. "So am I. And how have you been getting on these three years? You were almost a little girl when I left, and now you are quite a little woman."

"Yes, nineteen," said Nellie gravely.

"I do not think I need ask how you have been getting on; your face, your whole life, shows that it is well with you."

"Yes; Walter, I am very happy. I have plenty to do—teaching the little ones, helping mamma, and all that; but it is happy work, and they do all love me so."

"I am sure they do," he answered warmly; "and I know by your letters that you, like myself, have found our Saviour, Nellie, during these three years; or been found of Him, for I am afraid we should never have looked for Him, if He had not looked for us first."

"No, I suppose not, Walter. It was your going away that led me. Oh, I was so miserable at first! And then, when I was reading one day, those words in the gospel of John seemed to shine out from the page:

"'Thy brother shall rise again.'

"And then I thought, Walter, that, whatever you might do, I was not sure of rising again; and this increased my unhappiness tenfold. So I went back to my chapter to see if the words were there, and then there flashed out on me a new sentence:

"'I am the resurrection, and the life: whoso believeth on Me shall never die.

"I think those words rang in my ears for more than a week, and then—somehow—so wonderfully, God in His mercy helped me to believe on Him."

"Yes, darling, it is very wonderful, and so kind of our Father to draw us both at the same time. And you have no secrets, Nellie?" he asked, looking in her sweet face.

"No; how should I?" she answered, surprised. "I always tell you everything, Walter."

He pressed her closely. "You are a dear, dear little sister!" he said.

Tea at the cottage was another pleasure. It was spread on a long narrow table, under the shade of the mulberry tree. The woman produced cream and milk and mulberries, besides as much boiling water as they required.

All were very glad of their tea, and the chat was very merry. Tom was propped up as high as possible, and pushed close up to the table, and for once felt himself one of the party. His eyes shone with pleasure, and his mother thought the sea air must be doing him good. He even stretched out one of his little thin hands to help pass the cups to his mamma, and all looked delighted at the success with which he managed it.

When they were nearly through tea, Walter said, with a meaning look, "Well, now I want to know what you are all doing."

"Doing!" echoed Ada. "Why enjoying ourselves."

Still, he looked at them with the same enquiring glance; and then, not getting any exact reply, he said, "Now, I'll begin with the youngest."

"That's baby!" said Dolly, who was sitting next him.

"Well baby can't answer," said Arthur, "so I'll answer for him: 'Eats and sleeps.'"

"Good. Now, Dolly, what do you do?"

"Do as I am told," said Dolly deliberately.

The others laughed. And Netta and Isabel began blushing and hanging their heads in anticipation of their turns coming.

"And you?" he said, looking towards them.

"Play with our dolls, and dig, and help Dolly over the shingle."

"And you, Tom dear?"

"Lie here," said Tom, gruffly.

"Ah, the hardest of all!" said Walter compassionately. "But we shall see, Tom."

"And you, Arthur?"

"I'm like Dolly—do as I am bid!"

"I daresay!" said Walter. "And now you, Ada?"

"Walk, and dig, and carry baby, and sleep, and eat, and bathe, and enjoy myself."

"Now it is Nellie's turn!" they all burst out.

"Well, Nellie?" said Walter affectionately.

Nellie blushed. "I don't know, Walter, but I guess what you mean, and I should like to do anything I could."

"I should think, if you really mean sensible duties," said Arthur, "that Nellie has no need to be ashamed, as she is always helping everybody, and being just as kind as she can be."

"Arthur always praises me," said Nellie; "but now, Walter, we will question you. What are you going to do?"

"Ah, that's it, is it? Well and good; but I do not mean to tell you that to-day. Is that hard? I am only going to give you a hint, which will last you till to-morrow to think about. I shall not even explain a word about it, and just leave you this text to think of. I will tell you my little plans to-morrow."

He drew from his pocket a well-worn little Bible, and turning over the leaves soon found these words: "'Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.'"

* * * * * * *

After tea, Walter proposed a game at rounders. Ada and Arthur were capital players; Netta and Isabel were not to be despised; and the game went on with great spirit. Nellie said she would rather watch, and she held the baby while the nurse and Simmons did the final packing up; and then she sent them to explore the castle.

At seven o'clock the carriage and the donkeys came up the road leading to the cottage, and Tom was told to give a loud whistle to collect the party. The advent of the donkeys was a fresh delight. The children did not need much telling as to which steed to choose. They were soon off; the donkeys were on their homeward road, and knew it; and the children had plenty of jogging before they had done. Bump, bump, they went, until Nellie said she should be too stiff to walk to-morrow. Ada and Arthur declared they did not mind a bit, and let the animals go at any pace they chose; only sorry that they soon distanced the others, and had to bump along without the pleasant sympathy of fellow-sufferers. It was all fun, however, and perhaps the greatest enjoyment of that enjoyable day.

By the time all reached the farm, they were pretty well tired out. Tom was carried up to his mother's room, and she and Simmons quickly and tenderly undressed him, and laid him in his little bed. Nurse meanwhile did the same for her baby; Dolly had a few tears, but denied that she was the least tired. Nevertheless, before Nellie had well tucked her up, she was fast asleep. The rest were glad to take arm-chairs, sofas, or stools, and to rest quietly; while Mrs. Arundel took out the interesting book she was reading to them and offered to begin.

"You are as tired as anybody, mamma?" said Ada, yawning.

"No; I have not been shaken to pieces by a delightful donkey!" answered Mrs. Arundel. "I can easily read, if you all like. We will have supper early, and go to bed soon. Netta and Isabel, do you care to sit up?"

"Oh, yes, please mamma! We would not miss that book for anything!"

"Very well; just one chapter then."

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