Holiday House: A Series of Tales

by Catherine Sinclair

  CHAPTER VII.

  THE MAD BULL.

  There's something in a noble boy, A brave, free-hearted, careless one; With his uncheck'd, unbidden joy, His dread of books and love of fun. And in his clear and ready smile, Unshaded by a thought of guile And unrepress'd by sadness,-- Which brings me to my childhood back, As if I trod its very track, And felt its very gladness.

  Willis.

  One evening, when Harry and Laura came down to dessert, they weresurprised to observe the two little plates usually intended for them,turned upside down, while uncle David pretended not to notice anything,though he stole a glance to see what would happen next. On lifting upthese mysterious plates, what did they see lying underneath, but twoletters with large red seals, one directed to "Master Harry Graham," andthe other to "Miss Laura Graham."

  "A letter for me!!" cried Harry, in a tone of delighted astonishment,while he tore open the seal, and his hand shook with impatience, so thathe could hardly unfold the paper. "What can it be about! I like gettinga letter very much! Is it from papa? Did the postman bring it?"

  "Yes, he did," said uncle David: "and he left a message that you mustpay a hundred pounds for it to-morrow."

  "Very likely, indeed," said Laura; "you should pay that for telling mesuch a fine story; but my letter is worth more than a hundred pounds,for it is inviting me to spend another delightful week at HolidayHouse."

  "I am asked too! and not Mrs. Crabtree!" cried Harry, looking at hisletter, and almost screaming out for joy, whilst he skipped about theroom, rubbing his hands together, and ended by twirling Laura round andround, till they both fell prostrate on the floor.

  "If that be meant as a specimen of how you intend to behave at HolidayHouse, we had better send your apology at once," observed Lady Harriet,smiling. "Lord Rockville is very particular about never hearing anynoise, and the slamming of a door, or even the creaking of a pair ofunruly shoes, would put him distracted."

  "Yes!" added uncle David, "Holiday House is as quiet as Harry's drumwith a hole in it. If a pin drops in any part of the mansion, LordRockville becomes annoyed, and the very wasps scarcely dare to buz athis window so loud as at any other person's. You will feel quitefish-out-of-water-ish, trying to be quiet and hum-drum for a whole week,so let me advise you not to go."

  "The meaning of advice always is something that one would rather wishnot to do," observed Laura, gravely. "I never in my life was advised toenjoy anything pleasant! Taking physic--or learning lessons--or stayingat home, are very often advised, but never playing--or having aholiday--or amusing ourselves!"

  "You know, Laura! that Harry's little Shetland pony, Tom Thumb, in myfield, is of no use at present, but kicks, and capers, and runs aboutall day; yet presently he will be led out fastened to a rope, and madeto trot round and round in a circle, day after day, till he has nolonger a will of his own,--that is education. Afterwards he shall have abridle put in his mouth, which some little girls would be much thebetter of also, when he shall be carefully guided ever afterwards in thebest ways; and you likewise will go much more steadily for all thereining-in and whipping you have got from Mrs. Crabtree and me, whichmay, perhaps, make you keep in the road of duty more easily hereafter."

  "Uncle David!" said Harry, laughing, "we have read in the ArabianNights, about people being turned into animals, but I never thought youwould turn Laura into a horse! What shall we do with my little Shetlandpony if I go away next week?"

  "I have thought of a capital plan for making Tom Thumb useful during thewhole winter! Your grandmama wants a watch-dog in the country, so weshall build him a kennel--put a chain round his neck, and get some oneto teach him to bark."

  "Uncle David should be Professor of Nonsense at the University," saidLady Harriet, smiling. "But, my dear children, if you are allowed to paythis visit at Holiday House, I hope you will endeavour to behavecreditably?"

  "Yes," added Major Graham, "I understand that Lord Rockville wished tohave some particularly quiet children there, for a short time, so hefixed upon Harry and Laura! Poor, mistaken Lord Rockville! But, my goodfriends, try not to break all his china ornaments the first day--spare afew jars and tea-cups--leave a pane of glass or two in the windows, andthrow none of your marbles at the mirrors."

  "I remember hearing," said Lady Harriet, "that when Miss Pelham wasmarried last year, her old aunt, Mrs. Bouverie, sent for her and said,that as she could not afford to give baubles or trinkets, she would giveher a very valuable piece of advice; and what do you think it was,Laura?"

  "I have no idea! Do tell me."

  "Then I shall bestow it on you, as the old lady did on her niece--'Becareful of china, paper and string, for they are all very transitorypossessions in this world!'"

  "Very true! and most judicious!" observed Major Graham, laughing. "Icertainly know several persons who must have served an apprenticeshipunder that good lady. Many gentlemen now, who despatch all theirepistles from the club, because there the paper costs them nothing, anda number of ladies, who, for the same good reason, never write letterstill they are visiting in a country house."

  Having received so many warnings and injunctions about behaving well,Harry and Laura became so quiet during the first few days at HolidayHouse, that they were like shadows flitting through the rooms, goingalmost on tiptoe, scarcely speaking above a whisper, and observing thatvaluable rule for children, to let themselves be seen, but not heard.Lord Rockville was quite charmed with such extreme good conduct, forthey were both in especial awe of him, and thought it a greatcondescension if he even looked at them, he was so tall, so grand, andso grave, wearing a large powdered wig and silver spectacles, which gavehim a particularly venerable appearance, though Harry was one day verynear getting into disgrace upon that subject. His Lordship had a habitof always carrying two pairs of spectacles in his pocket, and often,after thrusting one pair high on his forehead, he forgot where theywere, and put the others on his nose, which had such a droll appearance,that the first time Harry saw it, he felt quite taken by surprise, andburst into a fit of laughter, upon which Lord Rockville gave him such acomical look of surprise and perplexity, that Harry's fit of laughinggot worse and worse. The more people know they are wrong, and try tostop, the more convulsive it becomes, and the more difficult to lookgrave again, so at last, after repeated efforts to appear serious andcomposed, Harry started up, and in his hurry to escape, very nearlyslammed the door behind him, which would have given the last finish tohis offences.

  Both the little visitors found Lady Rockville so extremely indulgent andkind, that she seemed like another grandmama, therefore they graduallyventured to talk some of their own nonsense before her, and even to trysome of their old ways, and frolicsome tricks, which she seldom foundany fault with, except when Harry one day eloped with Lord Rockville'sfavourite walking-stick, to be used as a fishing-rod among the minnows,with a long thread at the end for a line, and a crooked pin to representthe hook, while, on the same day, Laura privately mounted the ass thatgave Lord Rockville's ass's milk, and rode it all round the park, whilehe sat at home expecting his usual refreshing tumbler. Still they bothpassed muster for being very tolerable children, and his Lordship washeard once to say, in a voice of great approbation, that Master and MissGraham were so punctual at dinner, and so perfectly quiet, he reallyoften forgot they were in the house. Indeed, Harry's complaisance on theday after he had laughed so injudiciously about the spectacles, wasquite unheard of, as he felt anxious to make up for his misconduct; andwhen Lord Rockville asked if he would like a fire in the play-room, asthe evening was chilly, he answered very politely, "Thank you, my Lord!We are ready to think it hot or cold, just as you please!"

  All this was too good to last! One morning, when Harry and Laura lookedout of the window, it was a most deplorably wet day. The whole skylooked like a large grey cotton umbrella, and the clouds were so lowthat Harry thought he could almost have touched them. In short, as LordRockville remarked, "it rained cats and dogs," so his Lor
dship knittedhis brows, and thrust his hands into his waistcoat pockets, walking upand down the room in a perfect fume of vexation, for he was soaccustomed to be obeyed, that it seemed rather a hardship when even theweather contradicted his wishes. To complete his vexation, as "singlemisfortunes never come alone," his valet, when carelessly drying theMorning Post at a large kitchen fire, had set it in flames, so that allthe wonderful news it contained became reduced to ashes, therefore LordRockville might well have given notice, that, for this day at least, hehad a right to be in extremely bad humour.

  Lady Rockville privately recommended Harry and Laura to sit quietly downand play at cat's cradle, which accordingly they did, and when thatbecame no longer endurable, some dominos were produced. Thus the morningwore tediously away till about two o'clock, when suddenly the rainstopped, the sun burst forth with prodigious splendour, every leaf inthe park glittered, as if it had been sprinkled with diamonds, and ahundred birds seemed singing a chorus of joy, while bees and butterfliesfluttered at the windows and flew away rejoicing.

  Harry was the first to observe this delightful change, and with anexclamation of delight, he sprang from his seat, pulled Laura from hers,upset the domino-table, and rushed out of the room, slamming the doorwith a report like twenty cannons. Away they both flew to the forest,Laura swinging her bonnet in her hand, and Harry tossing his cap in theair, while Lord Rockville watched them angrily from the drawing-roomwindow, saying, in a tone of extreme displeasure, "That boy has a voicethat might do for the town-crier! He laughs so loud, it is enough tocrack every glass in the room! I wish he were condemned to pass a weekin those American prisons where no one is allowed to speak. In short, hewould be better anywhere than here, for I might as well live with ahammer and tongs, as with the two children together. They are morerestless than the quicksilver figures from China, and I wish they wereas quiet, but my only comfort is, that at any rate they come homepunctually to dinner at five. Nothing is so intolerable as peopledropping in too late and disordering the table."

  Meantime, the woods at Holiday House rung with sounds of mirth andgaiety, while Harry scrambled up the trees like a squirrel, and swungupon the branches, gathering walnuts and crab-apples for Laura, afterwhich they both cut their names upon the bark of Lord Rockville'sfavourite beech, so that every person who passed that way must observethe large distinct letters. They were laughing and chatting over thisexploit, both talking at once, as noisy and happy as possible, andexpecting nothing particular to happen, when, all on a sudden, Lauraturned pale, and grasped hold of Harry's arm, saying, in a lowfrightened voice,

  "Hush, Harry!--hush!--I hear a very strange noise. It sounds like somewild beast! What can that be?"

  Harry listened as if he had ten pair of ears, and nearly cracked hiseye-balls staring round him, to see what could be the matter. A curiousdeep growling sound might be heard at some distance, while there was thenoise of something trampling heavily on the ground, and of branchesbreaking off the trees, as if some large creature was forcing his waythrough. Harry and Laura now stood like a couple of little statues, notdaring to breathe, they felt so terrified! The noise grew louder andlouder, while it gradually came nearer and nearer, till at length alarge black bull burst into view, with his tail standing high in theair, while he tore up the ground with his horns, bellowing as loudly ashe could roar, and galloping straight towards the place where theystood.

  Laura's knees tottered under her, and she instantly dropped on theground with terror, feeling as if she would die the next minute offright, while, as for attempting to escape, it never entered her head tothink that possible. Harry felt quite differently, for he was a boldboy, not easily scared out of his senses, and instantly saw thatsomething must be done, or they would both be lost. Many selfish peoplewould have run away alone, without caring for the safety of any one butthemselves, which was not at all the case with Harry, who thought firstof his poor frightened companion. "Hollo, Laura! are you hiding in acart rut?" he exclaimed, pulling her hastily off the ground. "The bullwill soon find you there! Come! come! as fast as possible! we must havea race for it yet! That terrible beast can scarcely make his way throughthe trees and branches, they grow so closely! Perhaps we may get on asfast as he!"

  All this time, Harry was dragging Laura along, and running himself intothe thickest part of the plantation; but it was very difficult to makeany progress, as she had become quite faint and bewildered with fright.

  "Oh, Harry!" cried she, trembling all over, "you must get on alone! I amso weak with terror, it is impossible to run a step farther."

  "Do not waste your breath with talking," answered Harry, still pushingon at full speed. "How can you suppose I would be so shabby as to makemy escape without you! No! no! we must either both be caught, or bothget off!"

  Laura felt so grateful to Harry when he said this, that she seemed for amoment almost to forget the bull, which was still coming furiously onbehind, while she now made a desperate exertion to run faster than shehad been able to do before, clearing the ground almost as rapidly asHarry could have done, though he still held her firmly by the hand, toencourage her.

  The trampling noise continued, the breaking of branches, and thefrightful bellowing of this dreadful animal, when at last Harry caughtsight of a wooden paling, which he silently pointed out to Laura, beingquite unable now to speak. Having rushed forward to it, with almostfrantic haste, Harry threw himself over the top, after which he helpedLaura to squeeze herself through underneath, when they proceeded rathermore leisurely onwards.

  "That fence will puzzle Mr. Bull," said Harry triumphantly, yet gaspingfor breath. "We can push through places where his great hoof couldscarcely be thrust! I saw him coming along, with his heels high in theair, and his head down, like an enormous wheel-barrow."

  Scarcely had Harry spoken, before the infuriated animal advanced at fullgallop towards the fence, and after running along the side a little way,he suddenly tore up the paling with his horns, as if it had been made ofpaper, and rushed forward more rapidly than ever.

  Harry now began to fear that indeed all was over, for his strength hadbecome nearly exhausted, when, to his great joy, he espied a large,rough stone wall, not very far off, which was as welcome a sight as landto a shipwrecked sailor.

  "Run for your life, Laura!" he cried, pointing it out, to encourage her."There is safety, if we reach it."

  On they both flew, faster than the wind, and Harry having scrambled upthe wall, like a grasshopper, pulled Laura up beside him, and there theyboth stood at last, encamped quite beyond the reach of danger, thoughthe enemy arrived a few minutes afterwards, pawing the air, and foamingand bellowing with disappointment.

  "Laura!" said Harry, after she had a little recovered from her fright,and was walking slowly homewards, while she cast an alarmed glancefrequently behind, thinking she still heard the bull in pursuit, "yousee, as uncle David says, whatever danger people are in, it is foolishto be quite in despair, but we should rather think what it is best todo, and do it directly."

  "Yes, Harry! and I shall never forget that you would not forsake me,but risked your own life, like a brave brother, in my defence. I shouldlike to do as much for you another time!"

  "Thank you, Laura, as much as if you had, but I hope we shall never bein such a scrape again! If Frank were here, he would put us both in mindto thank a merciful God for taking so much care of us, and bringing ussafely home!"

  "Yes, Harry! It is perhaps a good thing being in danger sometimes, toremind us that we cannot be safe or happy an hour without God's care, soin our prayers to-night we must remember what has happened, and returnthanks very particularly."

  It was long past five before Harry and Laura reached Holiday House,where Lord Rockville met them at the drawing-room door, looking taller,and grander, and graver than ever, while Lady Rockville rose from hersofa, and came up to them, saying, in a tone of gentle reproach,

  "My dear children! you ought to return home before the dinner hour, andnot keep his Lordship waiting!"

&nb
sp; The very idea of Lord Rockville waiting dinner was too dreadful ever tohave entered their heads till this minute; but Harry and Lauraimmediately explained how exceedingly sorry they were for what hadoccurred, and to show that it was their misfortune rather than theirfault, they told the whole frightful story of the mad bull, to whichLady Rockville listened, as if her very hair were standing upon end, tohear of such doings. She even turned up her eyes with astonishment tothink what a wonderful escape they had made; but his Lordship frownedthrough his spectacles, and leaned his chin upon his stick, looking, asHarry thought, very like a bear upon a pole.

  "Pshaw!--nonsense!" exclaimed Lord Rockville impatiently. "The bullwould have done you no harm! He is a most respectable, quiet,well-disposed animal, and brought an excellent character from his lastplace! I never heard a complaint of him before!"

  "It is curious," observed Laura, "that all bulls are reckoned peaceableand tame, till they have tossed two or three people, and killed them!"

  "I thought," added Lord Rockville, looking very grand and contemptuous,"that Harry was grown more a man than to be so easily put to flight.When a bull, another time, threatens to toss you, seize hold of histail,--or toss him!--or, in short, do anything rather than run away thefirst time an animal looks at you. This is a mere cock-and-a-bull story,to excuse your keeping me waiting almost a quarter of an hour for mydinner!--you should be made guard of a mail-coach for a month, to teachyou punctuality, Master Graham."

  Lord Rockville gravely looked at his watch, while Harry luckilyconsidered how often his grandmama had recommended him to make no answerwhen he was scolded, so he nearly bit off the tip of his tongue to keepit quiet, while he could not but wish, in his own mind, that my Lordhimself saw how very fierce the bull had looked.

  Laura felt more vexed on Harry's account than her own, and the dinnerwent on as uncomfortably as possible; for even when a French cook hasdressed it, if ill-humour be the sauce, any dish becomes unpalatable.Nothing was to be seen reflected on the surface of many fine silvercovers, but very cross, or very melancholy faces; while Lady Rockvilletried to make her own countenance look both cheerful and good-natured.She told Harry and Laura, to divert them, that old Mrs. Bouverie hadonce been pursued by a furious milch cow, along a lane, flanked on bothsides by such very high walls, that escape seemed impossible, so thegood lady, who was fat and breathless, became so desperate, that withouta hope of getting off, she seized the enraged animal by the horns, andscreamed in its face, till the cow herself became frightened. Thecreature stared, stepping backwards and backwards, with increasingalarm, till at last, to the old lady's great relief and surprise, shefairly turned her tail and ran off.

  In the evening, Lord Rockville had not yet recovered his equanimity, andwent out, rather in bad humour, to take his usual walk before supper.Without once remembering about Harry and the bull, he strolled a greatway into the woods, marking several trees to be cut down, and admiring afine forest which he had planted himself long ago, but withoutparticularly considering what way he turned. It was beginning, at last,to grow very dark and gloomy, so Lord Rockville had some thoughts ofreturning home, when he became suddenly startled by hearing a loud roarnot far off, and a moment afterwards the furious bull dashed out of aneighbouring thicket, raging and foaming, and tearing the ground withhis horns, exactly as Harry had described in the morning, while poorLord Rockville, who seldom moved faster than a very dignified walk,instantly quickened his pace, in an opposite direction, striding awayfaster and faster, till at last,--it must be confessed,--his Lordshipended by running!!!

  In spite of all Lord Rockville's exertions, the bull continued rapidlyto gain upon him, for his Lordship, being rather corpulent and easilyfatigued, stopped every now and then to gasp for breath; till at last,feeling it impossible to get on faster, though the stables were nowwithin sight, he seized the branch of a large oak tree, which sweptnearly to the ground, and contrived, with great difficulty, to scrambleout of reach.

  The enraged bull gazed up into the tree and bellowed with fury, when hesaw Lord Rockville so judiciously perched overhead, and he remained forhalf-an-hour, watching to see if his Lordship would venture down again.At last the tormenting animal began leisurely eating grass under thetree, but gradually he moved away, turning his back while he fed, tillLord Rockville vainly deluded himself with the hope of stealing offunobserved. Being somewhat rested and refreshed, while the enemy waslooking in another direction, he descended cautiously, as if he had beengoing to tread upon needles and pins; but, unaccustomed to suchmovements, he jumped so heavily upon the ground, that the bull hearing anoise, turned round, and set up a loud furious roar, when he saw hisintended victim again within reach.

  Now the race began once more with redoubled agility! The odds seemedgreatly in favour of the bull, and Lord Rockville thought he alreadyfelt the animal's horns in his side, when a groom, who saw the partyapproaching, instantly seized a pitchfork and flew to the rescue of hismaster. Lord Rockville never stopped his career till he reached thestable, and ran up into a loft, from the window of which he gave thealarm and called for more assistance, when several ploughmen andstable-boys assembled, who drove the animal with great difficulty, intoa stall, where he continued so ungovernable, that iron chains were putround his neck, and some days afterwards, seeing no one could managehim, Lord Rockville ordered the bull to be shot, and his carcase turnedinto beef for the poor of the parish, who all, consequently, rejoiced athis demise; though the meat turned out so tough, that it required theirbest teeth to eat it with.

  Meantime, on that memorable evening of so many adventures, Harry, Laura,and Lady Rockville, wondered often what had become of his Lordship, and,at last, when supper appeared at the usual hour, his absence becamestill more unaccountable!

  "What can be the matter?" exclaimed Lady Rockville, anxiously. "This isvery odd! His Lordship is as punctual as the postman in general!especially for supper; and here is Lord Rockville's favourite dish ofsago and wine, which will become uneatably cold in ten minutes, if hedoes not return home to enjoy it!"

  Scarcely had she finished speaking, when the door opened and LordRockville walked majestically into the room. There was something sodifferent from usual in his manner and appearance, however, that Harryand Laura exchanged looks of astonishment; his neckcloth was loose--hisface excessively red--and his hand shook, while he breathed so hard,that he might have been heard at the porter's lodge. Lady Rockvillegazed with amazement at all she saw, and then asked what he chose forsupper; but when Lord Rockville tried to speak, the words died on hislips, so he could only point in silence to the sago and wine.

  "What in all the world has happened to you this evening, my Lord?"exclaimed Lady Rockville, unable to restrain her curiosity a momentlonger. "I never saw you in such a way before! Your eyes are perfectlyblood-shot--your dress strangely disordered--and you seem so hot and sofatigued! Tell me!--what is the matter?"

  "Nothing!" answered Lord Rockville, drawing himself up, while he triedto look grander and graver than ever, though his Lordship could not helppanting for breath--putting his hands to his sides--and wiping hisforehead with his pocket-handkerchief in an agony of fatigue. Harryobserved all this for some time, as eagerly and intently as a catwatches a bird on a tree. He saw that something extraordinary hadoccurred, and he began to have hopes that it really was the very thinghe wished; because, seeing Lord Rockville now perfectly safe, he wouldnot have grudged him a pretty considerable fright from his friend thebull. At last, unable any longer to control his impatience, Harrystarted off his chair, gazing so earnestly at Lord Rockville, that hiseyes almost sprung out of their sockets, while he rubbed his hands withecstacy, saying,

  "I guess you've seen the bull? Oh! I am sure you did! Pray tell us ifyou have? Did he run after you,--and did you run away?"

  Lord Rockville tried more than he had ever done in his life to lookgrave, but it would not do. Gradually his face relaxed into a smile,till at last he burst into loud peals of laughter, joined most heartilyby Harry, Laura, and Lady Roc
kville. Nobody recovered any gravity duringthe rest of that evening, for whenever they tried to think or talkquietly about anything else, Harry and Laura were sure to burst forthagain upon the subject, and even after being safely stowed in their bedsfor the night, they both laughed themselves to sleep at the idea of LordRockville himself having been obliged, after all, to run away from that"most respectable, quiet, well-disposed animal,

  "THE MAD BULL!"