Read Ebook: Grandfer's wonderful garden by Stooke Eleanora H

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Ebook has 606 lines and 21996 words, and 13 pages

He took one of the little boy's hands in his work-hardened palm, and pressed it affectionately.

"Well, I never!" exclaimed Tom Turpin. "Now, why didn't I guess who he was? But he didn't say you lived at Ashleigh! And there are so many Browns! Why, we've travelled down from Paddington together and got quite friendly. And, now, how are you going to get home--by train?"

"No, sir. I've Jenny and the market trap outside the station."

"Oh, I see! Well, I'm going by train--shall be home before you most likely. Good-bye, both of you! See you again, Billy!"

"Oh, how splendid!" cried Billy. "Good-bye, Mr. Turpin! Good-bye!"

He and his grandfather watched the alert khaki-clad figure run up the stairs to get to another platform, then they looked for and found Billy's luggage--a box which William Brown shouldered quite easily. Three minutes later found them outside the station.

"Here's Jenny!" said William Brown. "Tired of waiting, eh, old girl?"

Jenny was a big white donkey, harnessed to a smart little market cart. She was very fat and very well groomed, and seemed, Billy thought, to understand what was said, for she turned her head slowly, and, having given her master a shrewd glance, fastened her gaze on his companion.

"We're going now, my beauty," William Brown told her, as he placed Billy's box in the back of the cart. "She doesn't like boys," he explained; "they tease her."

"I promise I won't!" exclaimed Billy. "What a fine donkey she is! I never saw such a large one before. Please, may I stroke her, Grandfather?"

"If you like. But don't let her nip you--she's quite capable of doing it."

Billy spoke to the donkey softly, and patted her on the side. To his grandfather's surprise Jenny stood quite still, and allowed herself to be caressed.

"She knows I won't hurt her," the little boy said. "What a long, grave face she has! And how thoughtful she looks! I am sure she is very wise."

"Aye, that she is!" William Brown agreed, taking the reins in his hand and climbing into the market cart. "Get in, Billy! The afternoons are short now, and we've nigh seven miles to drive. As it is it'll be dark before we get home. If we're late for tea the Missus will have a word to say about it. Here, give me your hand!"

Billy obeyed. The next moment found him seated by his grandfather's side, a rug thrown across his knees. Jenny gave a toss of her head and a little pleased snort, then started for home.

THE JOURNEY'S END.

BILLY sat silent and observant by his grandfather's side as he made his first journey through Exeter. The rain had come on again in a soft drizzle; but the streets were full of people, for it was market day. They passed the market and drove into High Street, the principal street, which surprised Billy by being so narrow and old; and a quarter of an hour later they had turned their backs on the city, and Jenny, who had been plodding along at a walk, suddenly began to trot.

"Why, she goes as fast as a pony!" exclaimed Billy, admiringly.

His grandfather nodded.

"I wouldn't change her for the best pony in Devonshire!" he declared. "I had her as a foal, and broke her in myself. You'll have to learn to drive her, Billy."

"Shall I?" cried Billy, his pale face aglow with pleasure.

William Brown smiled, then sighed whilst he brushed his hand across his eyes, which had suddenly become dim.

"I'm thinking of your father," he said, as the little boy looked at him inquiringly; "you're like what he was at your age, except that you're delicate looking and he was the picture of health. I'm real glad to see you, Billy, but I wish your poor mother'd come with you. Often I've wanted to invite you both to visit us, but the Missus don't take much to strangers, and--well, I let the time slip by--" He broke off, a regretful, troubled expression on his good-natured countenance.

"Who is the Missus?" inquired Billy, rather anxiously.

"My wife," was the brief response.

The little boy looked curious. He knew that his father's mother had died when his father had been a baby, and that his father had had a stepmother, but he had been told nothing about his grandfather's second wife.

"She isn't really my grandmother," he remarked, after a few minutes' thought.

"But you must try to please her and obey her as much as though she was," William Brown said quickly.

"Oh, of course I will," Billy agreed.

"She was a widow when I married her, with one little girl," his grandfather explained. "That little girl's the wife of John Dingle, the postmaster now--they keep the village shop. They've two children--Harold, about your age, and poor little May."

"Why do you say 'poor little May?'" asked Billy.

"Because she's rather wanting here," William Brown said, tapping his forehead meaningly; "not silly exactly, but--well, you'll see for yourself. Cut along, Jenny!"

There was no need to tell Jenny that. Fast and faster she trotted. By-and-by her master pulled her up, descended, and lit the lamps of the market cart. A minute later they were off again.

"I didn't know a donkey could go so well!" cried Billy, who was enjoying this new experience exceedingly.

"She's thinking of her supper," laughed his grandfather. "She'll have a good feed as soon as she gets home, and she knows it. Are you keeping warm, my boy?"

"Oh, yes, indeed, Grandfather! And I don't mind the rain at all! It's so soft! And so's the wind! Have we much further to go?"

"No. If it wasn't so misty and nearly dark you'd be able to have a good view of the Teign Valley from here. Ashleigh's in the Teign Valley, you know; but my little place--Rowley Cottage--is a mile and a half from Ashleigh Station. We shall soon be home now."

Ten minutes or so later the donkey came to a sudden stop before a field-gate in a narrow road.

"Here we are!" William Brown said, getting down and opening the gate; whereupon Jenny passed through the gateway, and began the descent of a hill.

"Stay where you are!" he commanded. "I'm going to lead Jenny down--there's a cart track through the field by the hedge which leads right into our yard. Hold tight!"

Billy, who was secretly rather nervous, did hold tight. Daylight had quite failed now, but, looking far down into what seemed dense darkness, he saw a light. As the market cart proceeded, every now and again jolting over a stone, he held his breath, fearing that it would upset or that Jenny would stumble and fall. But no accident happened. The yard was reached in safety, and the donkey came to a standstill before an open door through which a light was shining from the kitchen within.

"Here we are!" cried William Brown. "Now then, Billy, my boy!" He lifted his grandson down from the market cart, and turned to pat a sheep dog which had come out of the house.

"This is Scout," he said; "I leave him in charge here on market days when I go to Exeter. Don't be afraid of him--he won't hurt you."

Scout was sniffing Billy's legs. The little boy spoke to him, calling him by name, then extended his hand to him fearlessly. The dog sniffed the hand and licked it. At that moment a woman appeared in the doorway.

"You're later than I expected you'd be, William!" she exclaimed.

"Very sorry, my dear," William Brown answered; "I thought we were in good time--the train wasn't late."

"Your grandson's there? Yes? Then why doesn't he come in?"

"He's coming, Maria. Go in, please, Billy!"

Billy obeyed, and found himself in a large, comfortable kitchen, facing his grandfather's wife. She was a tall, handsome woman who did not look more than fifty, though she was actually much older. She smiled as she shook hands with Billy, and kissed him, but the smile was only on her lips, whilst her eyes did not soften. Somehow she gave him the impression that he was not altogether welcome.

"You can call me 'Granny' as my daughter's children do," she told him. "I've two grandchildren--that's May, the younger of them."

Billy's eyes followed the direction of her pointing finger, and saw a little girl seated on a wooden stool near the fire, into which she was gazing.

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