'Me and Nobbles'

by Amy Le Feuvre

  Chapter X.

  'WE'RE GOING TO FIND A GOVERNESS!'

  Those were strange sad days to Bobby and True. But one engrossingthought helped them along, and that was how they could be a comfort totheir father. Margot ordered the household. Mr. Allonby came in andout, speaking little to anyone. He took long walks by himself, andwould shut himself up for hours in his den writing, or trying to write,the book that was going to bring him a fortune.

  Autumn crept on; the days grew short, and dark, and at last Margotventured to have a talk with her master.

  'It will be about the children's schooling,' she said hesitatingly.'Miss True is getting a big girl--and Master Bobby----'

  'Oh!' groaned her master, 'how am I to send them away from me? But Iam thinking over plans, Margot. I want to get away from this tinyhouse. I think of going to London, and perhaps going abroad again.Let the children run wild a little longer, then when we move to LondonI can settle something.'

  Margot withdrew. She had said her say, and dreaded any change herself.

  One evening after their tea was over, Mr. Allonby broached the subjectto the children himself. The little sitting-room was very cosy in thefirelight. True was sitting with an air of immense importance tryingto darn a worsted sock of her father's. Margot had been giving herlessons, and with a very big needle, and a thread that was so long thatit continually got itself into knots, she worked away at an alarminglooking hole in the heel.

  Bobby and Nobbles were lying on the hearthrug; they had been looking ata picture-book together; but directly Mr. Allonby spoke, the book wasshut and Bobby was all attention.

  'I'm afraid your idle time must soon come to an end,' he said. 'Margotis reminding me what little dunces you are. Can either of you read abook properly yet?'

  'I can,' said True. 'I read to Bobby often; but I'm rather tired of mybooks. I know them all by heart.'

  'I can nearly read,' said Bobby. 'I reads to Nobbles often.'

  'Oh, that's only your make up!' said True, a little scornfully. 'Youcan't read long words at all; you know you can't. But, dad, you won'tsend us to school, will you--not away from you?'

  'I'm afraid I must.'

  Bobby's look of horror made his father smile. He lifted him upon hisknee.

  'Every boy goes to school, Bobby. You don't want to be a baby always,do you?'

  'Mother said,' asserted Bobby gravely, 'that I was to be your littlekerpanion; she didn't want me never to leave you.'

  'You're a first-rate little companion, sonny. I shall miss you verymuch; but I must think of your good first. There don't seem to be anynice schools near here, nor do I know of anyone who would come andteach you for an hour or two. And I can't afford to live on here. Imust go to London, I think, and set to work at something. I heardto-day from an old friend of mine who wants me to join anotherexploring party. Perhaps I may do this. In any case I fear our littlehome will be broken up.'

  Bobby looked up into his father's face with a quivering under lip.

  'Are you going to send me back to grandmother? I've had such a tiny,weeny time with you. I reely don't think I'll live away from you,father, again. I couldn't expeck and expeck every day for you to comeback to me, and then have you never come. And I'll promise true andfaithful to be good if you'll take me with you.'

  'And I promised mother faithful I'd have a comf'able home for youalways, dad. She told me I was to. I don't think she'd like it at allif we was sent away from you.'

  Mr. Allonby looked at the eager children's faces thoughtfully.

  'I shouldn't be going abroad till the spring. If I could find someoneto teach you we might be together for the winter. But I can't stayhere. I must be nearer town. We never meant to stay here after theautumn. We came down because of my health. I am well now. Perhaps Ican get some cheap lodgings just out of town, where Margot would lookafter you. We will see.'

  'That will be very nice,' said True, darning away with increased speedand importance. 'I'm growing awfully fast, dad, and I'll be able tolook after the lodgings for you.'

  'And you won't never send me back to grandmother's?' said Bobbyanxiously.

  No, indeed, I won't. I heard to-day, by-the-bye, that your grandmotherwas very ill.'

  Bobby did not speak for a minute. Then he said slowly:

  'I wonder if she'd like to see me afore she dies.'

  'Oh, we won't think she is as bad as that,' said his father cheerfully.

  He went up to London the next day, and stayed away three whole days.True and Bobby felt very forlorn. They quarrelled a good deal, andMargot at last lost patience with them.

  'Ain't you ashamed of yourselves? And the grass not green yet on yourmother's grave. What must she think if she's allowed to get a glimpseof you?'

  'It's all Bobby; he's so mastering,' said True; 'and I'm the oldest;and he ought to do what I tell him.'

  'And you angerise me,' said Bobby, determined to use as long words asTrue did; 'and you make my white dress all dirty. I try to be ever sogood; but you go on and on, and I'm getting wickeder and wickeder!'

  A little sob came up in his throat. Bobby had the sincere desire to begood, but he found it very hard to knock under to True, who was quitedetermined in her own mind that she ought to be the ruler.

  They welcomed their father back joyfully. He seemed very tired, butmore cheerful than he had been for a long time.

  'I have found some rooms in West Kensington quite cheap, and I reallythink we shall be very comfortable there. It will be cheaper thanliving out of town. I can only manage three rooms; but Margot willhave one with you, True, and Bobby and I will have the other; andthere's quite a nice front sitting-room. You will be able to watch allthe traffic in the street from its window.

  'Are you very, very poor, dad?' asked True.

  'I have enough to keep you in food and clothes,' said Mr. Allonby, 'andfor schooling, I hope; but it will be a tight fit until I get my bookwritten.'

  Margot sighed when she heard they were to go to London, but True andBobby were delighted. They enjoyed the bustle of packing; and when,one dull November day, they were whirled away in the train towardstheir new home they were beside themselves with delight. It was darkwhen they got out of the train. The drive across London in a cabthrough the brilliantly lighted streets was enchanting to them; andwhen they reached their lodgings, and were allowed to sit up to a latesupper with their father, consisting of mutton-chops and cheese andpickles, Bobby informed his father that it was better than any birthdaytreat.

  They went to bed very happy but very tired, and for the next few daysthe novelty of their surroundings kept them quiet and good. Bobby hada real thirst for information, and, when his father took him out,proved a very interesting little companion. True was delighted to goshopping with Margot, who was so disgusted with the landlady's cooking,and so miserable at having so little housework to do, that she nevergave Mr. Allonby any rest till he arranged that she should have the useof the kitchen stove for a part of the day.

  It was about the second week after their arrival that Bobby heard ofhis grandmother's death. It awed him, but did not affect him much.She had never shown any love for him, and was almost a stranger to him.But he was surprised when he had a letter from his old nurse tellinghim that his uncle and aunt were going to leave the house, and hisUncle Mortimer coming home from India to take possession of it.

  'I should like to see Master Mortimer again,' Bobby said; 'me andNobbles was so very fond of him.'

  'I don't know what he will do with himself in that big house,' said Mr.Allonby. 'He ought to get married if he settles down there.'

  'It is not a very nice house,' Bobby asserted gravely; 'it's so stiffand partic'lar, and all the chairs and furnesher are so proper. Ialways have to go on tiptoe. But Master Mortimer did used to playhide-and-seek with me in the garden. But I don't want never to go backagain.'

  'It's time you were at school, sonny; your grammar doesn't improve. Iwish I could hear of someone
who would teach you; but I'm afraid itmust be school.'

  Now True and Bobby had decided together that school was a horribleplace, and at all costs they must try to keep from going to it. Theyhad many an anxious talk about it, and at last, one morning after Mr.Allonby had gone out for the day and left them to their own devices,True announced her plan.

  'We'll find a nice kind of governess ourselves, Bobby. Come and lookout of the window. Why, there must be millions and billions ofgovernesses in London! We'll go out by ourselves and find one. Waittill Margot has gone down to the kitchen, and then we won't sayanything to anyone, but will go out and get one.'

  Bobby clapped his hands. 'I should fink they would keep some in ashop,' he said; but True did not feel at all sure about this.

  They accomplished their design most satisfactorily, and, wrapped up intheir warm coats, they slipped downstairs and down into the streetwithout being noticed.

  'Now where shall we find one?' enquired Bobby.

  'We'll go in a 'bus,' said True. 'I've brought some pennies, and the'busman will tell us where to go.'

  'Let Nobbles call one,' said Bobby eagerly; 'that's what father alwaysdoes, holds up his stick, and they waits till we get in.'

  So Nobbles was waved frantically in the air when the first 'busappeared.

  And though it was not at the proper starting point, the driver saw thetwo small children and good-naturedly pulled up for them. They werehelped in by the conductor. There were only three other people inside,an old lady, a young girl, and a man. The shining, radiant faces ofTrue and Bobby attracted attention; still more their whisperedconversation.

  'She must be very cheap. Dad has _so_ little money.'

  This from True, with great emphasis.

  'And she must be very smiling, and 'stremely fond of me and Nobbles.'

  This from Bobby, with a wise nod of his curly head.

  'We'll choose the one we like best,' said True.

  And then they were asked by the conductor for their money.

  'We'll have a white ticket please,' said True grandly.

  'Oh, I likes the pink ones best,' exclaimed Bobby eagerly.

  The conductor eyed them with some amusement.

  'Where do you want to go?'

  Bobby was silent, and so was True for a minute, then she said:

  'We want to go to the place where they keep governesses.'

  The three other passengers looked at the children in astonishment; theconductor laughed.

  'Did your mother send you?' he asked.

  True looked down upon her black frock and then up at him.

  'Don't you know that mother is dead?' she said. 'That's what I wear myblack frock for.'

  'Do you know your way about London, little girl? You are very small tobe out alone.'

  It was the old lady who spoke.

  'The 'busmen and policemen always know,' said True cheerfully. 'Dadtold us so.'

  'Oh, you have a father----'

  'Come,' said the conductor, interrupting, 'give me your pennies; you'dbest get out at the next stop and go home again.'

  'We're going to find a gov'ness,' said Bobby, glaring at the conductorrather angrily.

  The young girl looked at him over the book she was reading.

  'You want a registry,' she said. 'There's a good one in KensingtonHigh Street. I'll show it to you if you get out with me.'

  True looked relieved.

  'Is that the place where you find them?' she asked.

  'I never heard of such a thing as children looking for a governess!'ejaculated the old lady. 'Poor little motherless things, their fatherought to be ashamed of himself sending them out on such an errand!'

  'Dad didn't send us,' said True, feeling she must defend her father atall costs. 'We knew he wanted us to have one, so we came ourselves.'

  'And then we won't be sent to school,' put in Bobby.

  True gave him a sharp nudge with her elbow.

  'Don't talk so much,' she said.

  Bobby subsided meekly. He felt this strange experience was ratherbewildering, and wondered at True's calm composure.

  'I'll help you to find one,' said the young girl. 'I'm studying to beone myself, so I know the sort you ought to have.'

  True looked at her with interest. She was in a shabby blue serge coatand skirt, but she wore a bunch of violets in her buttonhole. Her hatwas dark blue, her gloves were white worsted ones, and her face wasbright and smiling. Her whole appearance was pleasant. When she gotup to go, she held out her hands to them.

  'Come on. I'll show you where governesses can be found, and perhapshelp you choose one. It will be great fun!'

  True and Bobby followed her delightedly. The old lady shook her headafter them with a sigh.

  'The irresponsibility of men! It's to be hoped that young person won'tdecoy them away and rob them. I think we ought to have handed themover to the police to see them safely home.'

  The man at the farther end of the 'bus spoke for the first time. Asthe old lady addressed him he was obliged to do so.

  'The rising generation can soon dispense with their fathers,' he said.'Those are small specimens of a type.'

  Meanwhile the girl in blue serge had walked True and Bobby up a sidestreet, and in at an office door.

  'This is one of the best registries in this part of the world,' shesaid. 'Now we'll tell Mrs. Marsh what you want, and see if she knowsof one. When I get the certificates I am working for, I mean to cometo her to find me a situation.'

  An elderly woman behind a table looked up at them as they entered. Thegirl spoke to her brightly.

  'Good morning, Mrs. Marsh. I have brought you two young people whowant a governess. I don't know whether they can pay your fees. Butperhaps you can make that right with their father.'

  'We want a very cheap governess,' said True, looking up anxiously intoMrs. Marsh's face. 'Dad is very poor, but he'll pay her something.'

  'I think your father will have to write me some particulars,' said Mrs.Marsh, looking at the small children with some amusement.

  Oh, we'll be able to choose her,' cried Bobby. 'She must be 'ticularlykind and nice.'

  'And what will she have to do?'

  Bobby looked at True.

  '_You_ say. She'll teach me to read, won't she?'

  True tried hard to put on a grown-up air. She did not like Mrs.Marsh's amused smile at all.

  'Margot says we ought to have a governess to teach us in the morning,and we shan't do any lessons in the afternoon; and she mustn't stay todinner, because Margot says she doesn't know how to cook for us; weseem to eat more than we ought to. And she mustn't have a cross face,and mustn't wear spectacles.'

  'And she must be 'normously fond of Nobbles,' said Bobby, thrustingNobbles' ugly little face up close to Mrs. Marsh's.

  'And we're to learn French and sums--and--dancing,' said True, suddenlystruck with a bright thought.

  'Yes,' exclaimed Bobby, with a beaming smile, 'dancing, o' course,mostly dancing, me and Nobbles finks!'

  The young lady in a blue serge broke into a rippling laugh.

  'Oh, Mrs. Marsh, I wish I could teach them myself. Aren't theydelicious!'

  'Well, why shouldn't you?' said Mrs. Marsh, looking at the speaker withgood-natured interest.

  'But you were the one to advise me to stick to my studies,' said thegirl. 'You said I could never command any salary worth having till Iwas thoroughly certificated.'

  'Yes, I did say so, Miss Robsart; but you could give these children acouple of hours every morning and still pursue your studies.'

  The girl turned to the children.

  'Do you think I would do?' she said, a pink colour coming into hercheeks and making her look very pretty. 'I could come to you from teno'clock to half-past twelve every day. We could get through a lot oflessons in that time.'

  True looked up at her with rapturous eyes.

  'Me and Bobby would love you!' she said. 'Oh, please come straightback with us, and tell da
d you'll come.'

  Two other ladies entered the office at this juncture. Mrs. Marshdismissed the children hurriedly.

  'There, run along, my dears. There'll be no fees; and you couldn'thave a kinder lady than Miss Robsart to teach you; and tell your fatherthat her father was vicar of our church near here many years ago, andshe's the nicest young lady I know.'

  The children hurried out with their new friend.

  'There, Bobby!' True said, a little triumphantly. 'See how easy it isto find a governess!'

  And Bobby took hold of Miss Robsart's hand confidingly.

  'Me and Nobbles likes you 'ticularly,' he said.