Read Ebook: England in America 1580-1652 by Tyler Lyon Gardiner

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Ebook has 911 lines and 82893 words, and 19 pages

CHAPTER

MOUSEY

A FAMILY CONFERENCE

THE funeral was over, and the mourners had returned to the small villa which had been the abode of Mrs. Abbot and her little daughter to discuss what was to be done with the few bits of poor furniture, and to decide where Mousey was to make her future home. Mousey, whose real name was Arabella, but who had always been called Mousey on account of her quiet ways and soft brown eyes, was beginning to awaken from the dream-like feeling which had mercifully dulled her senses since her mother's death four days before, and to realise her loss, which was indeed great, for her father had died when she had been a baby, and she had neither sister nor brother to share her grief.

Poor little girl! When she had stood by the open grave that afternoon, and had heard the earth fall upon her mother's coffin, she had felt as though her heart must break; but she had bravely choked down her sobs, and restrained her tears as much as possible, so that her Aunt Eliza, her mother's sister, who had held her hand, had thought her a strange child not to show more signs of emotion.

Now, as Mousey sat by her aunt's side on the horse-hair sofa in the sitting-room, she looked timidly around on the faces which were turned towards her full of pity, conscious that this was a crisis in her life. Opposite to her, in the one easy-chair the room possessed, was Uncle Dick, Aunt Eliza's husband, who smiled at the little girl encouragingly whenever his eyes met hers. There were also present a few other relatives, including an elderly man whom Mousey knew must be her mother's cousin, Robert Harding, a watchmaker and jeweller, living in a neighbouring town. Mrs. Abbot had often spoken of her Cousin Robert to Mousey, telling her how he was a bachelor who lived a penurious life, and was supposed to have saved a lot of money. He had a reputation for being very mean, and had never been known to spend twopence when a single penny would do. In appearance he was tall and thin and shrivelled, with a face like a dried apple, and a pair of twinkling beady eyes which had an uncommonly sharp way of looking at one.

"I suppose my poor sister's furniture will have to be sold by auction," remarked Aunt Eliza, casting a glance around the room, and shaking her head. "The things won't make much--there'll be little enough for the child!"

"Was my lamented cousin entirely without means?" inquired Mr. Harding in a gruff voice. "I am aware her husband was a poor man, but she was a careful, hard-working woman. Did she save nothing?"

"It was as much as she could do to support herself and Mousey," Uncle Dick responded; "she let lodgings, and took in plain sewing, and slaved from morning to night, but folks don't make fortunes that way!"

Mousey's eyes filled with tears, and her slight frame shook with sobs. All day she had been endeavouring to restrain her sorrow, but now it was overcoming her.

"Come, my dear, you mustn't cry like that!" exclaimed Uncle Dick, looking much distressed.

"You mustn't grieve for her, Mousey," said Aunt Eliza; "you must remember she's far better off now than she was here on earth."

Mousey knew that right well; but she thought of Him who wept when he heard of the death of Lazarus, and the remembrance was like balm to her aching heart, for it brought the consciousness of the presence of the Divine consoler, and she was comforted.

"Come here, child," said Mr. Harding. "I want to have a good look at you."

Mousey obeyed, and the old man held her in front of him whilst he regarded her gravely.

"So they call you Mousey, do they?" he said. "Well, I think the name suits you. How old are you, eh?"

"Ten years old, sir."

"You can call me Cousin Robert. You know your poor mother was a cousin of mine. Are you a good girl, eh?"

"I--I try to be good," she answered falteringly.

"That's well. You've lost the best friend you ever had! It's very sad to be left alone and unprovided for."

Mousey thought so too, and to be reminded of the fact was almost more than she could bear. At this point Uncle Dick interposed in his kindly way--

"Never mind, child! You've always one friend in the world so long as I'm alive, remember. What do you say, Eliza; shall we take this little maid home with us to-night, and let her share with our young ones?"

"I--I suppose that will be the best plan," responded his wife doubtfully, as she thought how difficult she and her good-natured husband found it to make both ends meet, and feed and clothe their own children. "Yes," she continued more cordially, "Mousey shall make her home with us; she's my own sister's child, and it shall never be said I begrudged her aught I had."

Mousey ran to her aunt's side, and kissed her with passionate gratitude and affection; after which she turned to Uncle Dick, and hugged and kissed him too.

"Oh, how I love you!" she cried. "Oh, how good you are!"

Mr. Harding, who had been looking on in silence, now interposed again.

"Cousin Eliza," he said dryly, "I should have thought you and your husband would have had enough on your hands already without burdening yourselves with another person's child, even though she is near akin to you. However, you know your own business best, of course! No doubt you are in a position to educate and provide for the little girl, eh?"

There was a touch of sarcasm in the old man's voice, which brought an indignant flush to Uncle Dick's face, and caused him to glance uneasily at his wife, who answered--

"You well know, Cousin Robert, that my husband is only a struggling man in a small way of business, and not able to promise much for Mousey; but she shall share with our children, if there is nothing better in store for her."

"And if there is something better in store for her, eh?"

Aunt Eliza glanced at the old man questioningly, but made no reply.

"What if I offer Mousey a home?" he proceeded. "What if I promise to board, feed, clothe, and educate the child?"

"Do you really mean that?" Aunt Eliza asked in astonishment.

"I do. It is not an ungenerous offer, I take it!" and Mr. Harding looked around at his relations as though courting their approval, which he received with a gratified smile that deepened the wrinkles on his withered countenance.

Mousey, who had seated herself on the horse-hair sofa, clung to her aunt in great agitation, and whispered pleadingly--

"Oh, I would so much rather live with you and Uncle Dick, and I will share with my cousins--only, they shall have the best of everything, and I will always do what you tell me--and--and--"

The little girl broke down completely, and hid her tear-stained face against her aunt's shoulder.

"The last few days have been too much for her," remarked Uncle Dick, glancing apprehensively at Mr. Harding, who nodded, and tapped one foot impatiently on the floor.

When Mousey's distress had abated somewhat, the old man called her to him again, and addressed her as follows--

"Listen to me, child! You are left alone in the world, and unprovided for. Your aunt and her husband-- very foolish people in my estimation-- are willing to undertake the charge of you. If you become a member of their household, you cannot be anything but a burden to them for many a year to come."

"No, no!" interposed Uncle Dick.

The old man proceeded as though he had not heard the interruption.

"I don't think you should take advantage of your aunt and uncle's kindness. I'm a man of my word, and when I say a thing I mean it. I'll provide for you, and you shall have a comfortable home. Come now, what do you say?" Mousey lifted her eyes timidly, and answered in a voice which trembled pitifully--

"I--I don't know what to say. You are very kind, but--but-- Please, Aunt Eliza, will you speak for me?"

"Let Mousey return with us to-night, Cousin Robert," Aunt Eliza said, after a few moments' consideration, "and, with your permission, we'll take a little time to think the matter over. In the course of a few days I will write to you, if you will keep your kind offer open so long."

"Very well," Mr. Harding replied. "I stick to what I've said, remember. If I can be of any use in settling your sister's affairs, I'm at your service. It's no good my staying here any longer, so I'll say good-bye. Have you a kiss to spare for your cousin, Mousey?"

The little girl smiled through her tears as she lifted her pale face and kissed the old man's withered cheek.

"Think over what I've said, my dear," he whispered; "and mind! You're to call me Cousin Robert."

He shook hands with the rest of his relations in a brisk, business-like way, gave a parting nod to Mousey and took his departure.

WITH AUNT ELIZA AND UNCLE DICK

MR. DAWSON, Mousey's Uncle Dick, was a market gardener. His house was about half a mile from the town where Mousey had spent her short life. It had been the little girl's greatest pleasure to visit Aunt Eliza and Uncle Dick, when she had delighted in the gardens, and nurseries full of seedlings and plants.

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