CHAPTER VII

PAT LEAVES US

IF only we could stop and think sometimes! We do all our worst scrapes all in a minute, and this is what happened last night, and of course, being Sunday, it made it a hundred times worse.

Puff was the one who began it. When I told him to come to bed, he ran away. He's often like that, and you can't reason with him. He rushed along the passage and got through the baize door, and of course I went after him.

The big hall downstairs was lighted up, and there were two gentlemen talking and smoking outside the drawing-room door. They went into the smoking-room after a few minutes, and I leant over the railing that goes round the gallery and looked down at the oil-pictures on the walls. They always interested me, for they were portraits of our mother's ancestors.

Suddenly I heard Lynette's giggle, and I turned round to find her and the boys, and Pat, all out on the landing. Pat was supporting himself with two sticks. Then Pat pointed to the broad balustrade on the top of the banister.

"I had a splendid slide down there once," he said.

In one second Aylwin was astride, Denys followed, Lynette, and then Puff, and—I can't explain it—the thought of Sunday went quite away—and I swung myself up. It did flash across me that I could keep Puff from going over, but it was all in a minute, and the feeling of sliding down quicker and quicker was just lovely. It was all over in two minutes, but Aylwin didn't jump clear at the bottom. We all fell in a confused heap on the floor, Puff gave a yell, and in falling, Lynette grabbed hold of Jenkins's legs. He was unfortunately passing close to the bottom of the stairs with a tray of glasses. He came to the ground with a crash, and the glasses too.

And the drawing-room door suddenly opened, and when we picked ourselves up, there was grandfather, and Aunt Isobel, and several ladies and gentlemen.

I felt as if I would like the earth to have swallowed us up, and grandfather was furious. He swore, and I have never heard such swearing before.

We said we were very sorry, and crept upstairs.

But Aunt Isobel came after us, and she scolded me and Denys most dreadfully. Of course we were the eldest ones, and were much too big to do it, and we couldn't excuse ourselves.

And when I at last went to bed, I felt perfectly miserable. Lynette would keep laughing and chuckling at the remembrance of Jenkins going down. He forgot his proper voice and shouted dreadful words, which was swearing, I suppose, but grandfather said something much worse. And Jenkins has a great big bruise on the bald part of his head this morning, and Peggy told us that the cut-glass which was broken was worth twenty pounds. Aunt Isobel said she would telegraph to the governess to come and take charge of us at once. She said to me:

"I did think, Grisel, that you were a good little girl from your talk. Remember, it is actions, not words, that speak loudest. I am bitterly disappointed in you."

And I am thoroughly ashamed of myself. How could I! Oh how could I!

Pat was the only one who kept out of disgrace, but he was really the one who put it into our heads to do it.

He came over to me this morning while I was waiting for breakfast. I was standing by the window and wishing for father again, and feeling deadly miserable.

Pat clapped his hand down on my shoulder.

"Cheer up, Madam Dumps!"

"How can I, Pat?" I said, choking down a lump in my throat. "When I think of what we did on Sunday, and Aunt Isobel's face of horror and disgust, I just feel I can never be happy again! And father told us to hold fast; why, I'm letting everything go as quickly as I can!"

"I should say it was a case of holding fast last night! Why, I heard you say it to Puff as you started on your downward career!"

I checked my inclination to laugh. Pat's face is like the sun; he always seems to warm you up, and I began to feel better.

"Well," I said with a big sigh, "it was a black day yesterday, but we've a fresh one in front of us, and I'm going to try to be an angel of goodness to-day."

"Sure! So am I," said Pat fervently.

And then he tucked my arm in his, and when the others trooped in to breakfast, we were standing up very straight and stiff together with two of the large breakfast-plates fastened behind our heads and Pat said:

"Behold St. Patrick and St. Grisel waiting to give the sinners their blessing."

Then we nearly had a regular shindy, for they all got hold of the plates and began to shy them at us. So I took mine off very quickly, and made them be quiet; at least I begged Denys to keep order, and he did.

"Do let us all try to keep out of scrapes to-day," I said.

But after breakfast, Pat began getting out his cards again, and I felt in despair. It was a lovely morning, and it seemed too awful for the boys to be staying in and trying to gamble. I almost wished that Pat would go home, and then I seized hold of Denys and got him out of the room.

"Oh, Denys," I said, "aren't you going to 'hold fast'? I shall never be able to make you, and it will be dreadful if Aylwin gets to play for money. Father hated card-playing; you know he did."

Denys looked uncomfortable.

"We won't play for money," he said; "it's awfully dull for Pat not being able to get out."

"But he can. We can have the trap and drive him, and you know he won't play unless there's money in it."

"Well, I'll see if he'll come out for a drive."

"And if he won't, do hold fast, Denys!"

Denys straightened himself.

"All right. Don't you worry."

He went back to the schoolroom, but I don't know what happened, for Peggy came up to say that I was to go downstairs to Aunt Isobel.

I found her in her own nice sitting-room. She looked very grave when she saw me.

"I hope you're ashamed of that shocking exhibition last night, Grisel. Are you two big girls accustomed to behave like tomboys?"

"We're awfully ashamed and sorry," I said. "I can't tell you now what made me do it. Lynette is always a mad-cap. It only takes me like that very very seldom. I suppose it was being shut up all day, and trying so hard to do what was right for such a long time when it was all so difficult. Then suddenly I forgot everything and let myself go. I suppose it's something like elastic being stretched out too long, and then it goes snap. I felt stretched out all day yesterday."

There was silence. Then, after a moment, Aunt Isobel said:

"Your governess will be here to-morrow. Until she comes, I wish you and your sister to be in this room with me. The boys are to remain in the schoolroom upstairs. I wish you to be kept quite apart for to-day. Go upstairs again now and fetch your sister down. I have some needlework here that you can help me with. I am making some flannel petticoats for our old alms-cottage women."

I felt quite desperate.

"If I leave the boys, they may do 'anything,'" I said; "and Puff will get awfully out of hand. It's Pat, I think, you had better send him home if you want the boys to be good."

"You can't blame Pat for your behaviour last night; he was not with you."

I was silent. What could I say? And felt very mean in blaming Pat.

"As it happens," Aunt Isobel said, "Pat is going home this afternoon. His aunt is coming over for him."

I went upstairs very slowly. The boys weren't playing cards; they were talking eagerly. Puff was trying to climb out of the window, and Lynette was busy painting a most hideous paper mask; she's very good at them, and is always making them for Puff.

I told them what Aunt Isobel wished, and Lynette was very angry.

"I won't come, Grizzy; you can go back and tell her I won't. I'm a pattern of perfection to-day. I shouldn't think of doing anything so vulgar as sliding down the banisters. Tell her my hair is tidy, my hands and nails as clean as hers. I am not even crossing my legs, or tipping my chair back. And nothing will induce me to leave the boys."

"You must come at once," I repeated. And then I hauled in Puff from the window-ledge, and fastened the window. "Denys, you must look after Puff, and don't let him get into mischief."

"You go down, both of you," said Pat, "and we'll find a way of fetching you up. I give you my word, you'll both be up in half an hour!"

Lynette wanted a good deal of coaxing even then, but she followed me down at last. And Aunt Isobel gave us two flannel petticoats to make, and we sat on two chairs and wondered what was going on upstairs.

Aunt Isobel went to her writing-desk and began to write some letters. Presently we heard a little bustle and noise outside, and then Jenkins came in.

"If you please, mem, Peggy wishes Miss Grisel to come upstairs quick, for the little master have cut his thumb frightful and won't let nobody touch it but her!"

I sprang up.

"Oh, it's Puff, aunt; I must go."

I darted out of the door and upstairs. Lynette tried to follow me, but was called back.

I dashed into the schoolroom. Peggy came along with a basin of water.

"He won't let me get near him, the naughty laddie!" she said.

And then I saw Puff lying back in a chair with the boys round him, and yelling for all he was worth, and his handkerchief seemed covered with blood.

Aylwin took the basin hastily out of Peggy's hands, and almost pushed her out of the room.

"We'll manage now, thanks." He locked the door after her.

I knelt down by Puff.

"You poor little man, how did it happen?" I asked.

Puff had his eyes tightly shut and his mouth wide open. When he heard my voice, he jumped up, and he and the boys burst into a roar of laughter.

I found his white handkerchief was-smeared with red paint, and that his thumb was not cut at all.

I felt quite bewildered.

"Now we have to get hold of Lynette," said Denys. "Why didn't she come with you?"

"Oh, boys," I said, "you must have told Peggy an awful whopper! It isn't right! And I must go back at once."

"No, you won't," said Pat, taking the key from Aylwin and pocketing it. "You'll stay here. Now, then, I'll do the rest."

He limped out of the room and down the stairs, locking the door on the outside, and taking the key with him.

I heard from Lynette, afterwards, that he appeared with a very scared face:

"Grisel says she has some sticking-plaster locked up in a drawer, and you have the key. Come on, quick!"

"And when you have given her the key come downstairs again," said Aunt Isobel very shortly.

Upstairs flew Lynette, and when she, in her turn, was locked inside by wicked Pat, she enjoyed the joke. But I couldn't laugh, though I hate the boys thinking me a prig.

"Didn't I tell you I'd fetch you up again?" said Pat triumphantly.

"Oh, you can do anything if you tell lies," I said.

Pat got very red in the face.

"Do you call meself a liar?" he said, and his eyes blazed.

But I stood my ground, for I was angry with Pat, and I was afraid he would be teaching Puff to be deceitful.

"You can't say you didn't tell a lie, for you told two, and it spoils fun to get it like that. Now, Lynette, come on down. And if you boys send down a message to say that the schoolroom is on fire, I shan't budge from my seat. Where's the key, Pat? If you don't unlock that door, I'll ring the bell."

"Grizzy is in a stew," said Aylwin, chuckling.

Pat looked at me defiantly.

"If you were a boy, I'd have you out, and give you a thorough good licking, sure I would, by—"

I put my hand on his arm.

"Now, Pat, forgive me; where's the key?"

He flung it on the floor.

I picked it up and Lynette followed me downstairs without a word.

"How did he cut himself?" Aunt Isobel asked.

And I answered straight out: "It was a joke of the boys to get us upstairs again."

Aunt Isobel looked at me sharply, then went on with her writing, and did not say another word.

Lynette and I were allowed to go upstairs to our schoolroom dinner. And the whole time we were eating it, the boys were arguing about a lie, what it was, and what it wasn't. Pat says a practical joke isn't a lie; he says to deny something you've done wrong is the only lie he knows of. Aylwin says a lie that makes a person suffer who ought not to is the worst lie of all.

Denys said a lie of any sort is not possible to a gentleman, but a joke like Pat's is more fun than earnest.

"I know a boy at school who tells the most awful yarns," Denys said, "but we don't call them lies, because we know what he is."

"Yes, but when there's something awfully important going on, you wouldn't trust his word," I said. "And I should like to feel I could trust Pat's."

"If you can't trust me, slay me!" said Pat, jumping from his seat and handing me a big knife. Then he unbuttoned his waistcoat and pretended to expose his heart.

"Here, strike, cruel maiden! Rather the cut of cold steel, than the cut of such words and looks!"

I laughed as I threw down the knife.

"Oh, Pat, you're such a nice boy that you really mustn't tell crams even in fun!"

And then none of us said any more.

Lynette and I went out for a drive with Aunt Isobel after our dinner. And when we came back, Miss Douglas had just arrived in a big old-fashioned carriage, and Pat was saying good-bye to everybody, for his aunt wouldn't stop to tea. And just before he went, he got me into a corner of the hall, and said:

"You're a game little creature, Grisel. And if you'll take me in hand, and give me a grand licking with your tongue on occasions, sure I'll make a grand man by and by!"

I didn't know what to say, so I was silent, and then I blurted out:

"I do want to like you, Pat, but I want the boys and all of us to 'hold fast,' and you mustn't keep us from doing it."

"May the de—"

I put my hand across his mouth.

"I hate you when you speak like that!"

"Ah, sure, what words can I use to make you feel I'm in raving stark earnest that I'll take a grip with you all, and hold fast through all the ages to come?"

He wouldn't be serious, but we parted friends. And when he had gone, the house felt quite dull and empty.

This afternoon Lynette and I got ready for our governess. The schoolroom gets disgracefully untidy, the boys are simply wonderful for bringing things into it, but they never take them away. They took Puff down to the beach with them directly dinner was over, and we were longing to be with them, but Peggy besought us to tidy up. She said she couldn't do it, and she would be sorry for the poor governess to arrive into such "chay-oss." I've spelt it as she pronounced it. Peggy tries to use very grand words sometimes.

Aylwin had brought an old crow's-nest in, and left it on the couch. Denys had littered half the room with chips and shavings trying to make a boat for Puff. Puff had upset his paint-box, and never picked it up.

In one corner of the room, the housemaid had collected all our things from the day before, and we had to sort out the heap. There was the long ribbon seaweed that is such a good barometer when hung up, and some stockings that Lynette had got tired of mending, and some shells, and a tangly ball of string, and Denys's fishing-tackle, and two dirty jerseys of the boys', and a pair of sand-shoes, and some pictures we had cut out of a magazine for a scrap-book, and a dead mouse that we had caught in a trap and forgotten to bury, and some fir-cones, and ever so many more things that had to be sorted and put by. When we had finished at last, we were hot and sticky and dirty, and rather cross.

Lynette threw herself on the couch.

"Good-bye to all fun now! Grisel, I know I shall hate this governess of ours. I'm bound to do it, for she is bound to see that we behave ourselves. She will expect us to be always clean and tidy, and polite to each other, and it will be:

"'Take your elbows off the table. Hold your head up. Don't giggle. Say "Thank you" when I tell you of your faults. Look grateful when I scold you for your good. Don't frown, don't fidget!'

"Oh, can't you hear her? It's a beastly shame to have somebody with us every minute of the day, and never be free from her."

"Perhaps she'll have a day off sometimes," I suggested. "I should want to get away from my pupils sometimes if I were a governess."

"She won't. No such luck for us. How I wish I was a boy. They always have a much jollier time than girls. They'll be away at school in a couple of days, playing football and hockey, and having paper-chases, and sports and concerts and all kinds of lovely things. If we went to school, we would have the same. But a governess spoils everything."

I wandered round the room, just putting a few tidy touches here and there. I felt very downhearted.

"We must do our best to like her. Father would like us to get on, and we are growing up, Lynette. Think of the time when lessons are over, and we shall have a dear little house all to ourselves, and you and I will do just as much cooking as we like, and the boys will come home and say how jolly well we do them."

"They'll be away at a war, perhaps, if they're soldiers," said Lynette, getting up from the sofa as she spoke. "The worst part of this governess is that we shall have her listening to everything we say. We'll never be alone again. Come on, Grisel, let us wash our hands."

"Wait a little. Here's all this paste left from our scrap-book. Can't we use it up on anything?"

As I looked round, I saw that in climbing to get out of the window, Puff had torn a piece of the wall-paper off. It was over a damp spot on the wall, and there was a long strip hanging down.

So we got a chair, and I got up, and Lynette was handing me the basin of paste, when somehow the chair slipped from under me, and down I fell, and caught hold of Lynette, and she tumbled with me, and that nasty basin of paste spilled itself all over the top of us. We were laughing at the most awful mess we were in, when the door opened suddenly, and there was Aunt Isobel, and behind her was our governess!

Now wasn't that a horrible hick for fate to play us? We had meant to have our hair brushed, and be so awfully spick and span that Aunt Isobel would be quite pleased to show how tidy and clean we kept ourselves. And our heads were now half covered with paste, and our faces too. We were simply a disgrace to be seen! And I wished, as story-books say, that the floor could have opened and swallowed us down out of sight.