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of recovering Nell, and the delight it would be to bring her back in
triumph.
'There's only ten minutes now, mother,' said Kit when they reached
home. 'There's a bandbox. Throw in what you want, and we'll be off
directly.'
To tell how Kit then hustled into the box all sorts of things which
could, by no remote contingency, be wanted, and how he left out
everything likely to be of the smallest use; how a neighbour was
persuaded to come and stop with the children, and how the children
at first cried dismally, and then laughed heartily on being promised all
kinds of impossible and unheard-of toys; how Kit's mother wouldn't
leave off kissing them, and how Kit couldn't make up his mind to be
vexed with her for doing it; would take more time and room than you
and I can spare. So, passing over all such matters, it is sufficient to
say that within a few minutes after the two hours had expired, Kit and
his mother arrived at the Notary's door, where a post-chaise was
already waiting.
'
'
With four horses I declare!' said Kit, quite aghast at the preparations.
Well you ARE going to do it, mother! Here she is, Sir. Here's my
mother. She's quite ready, sir.'
'
That's well,' returned the gentleman. 'Now, don't be in a flutter,
ma'am; you'll be taken great care of. Where's the box with the new
clothing and necessaries for them?'
'
'
'
Here it is,' said the Notary. 'In with it, Christopher.'
All right, Sir,' replied Kit. 'Quite ready now, sir.'
Then come along,' said the single gentleman. And thereupon he gave
his arm to Kit's mother, handed her into the carriage as politely as
you please, and took his seat beside her.
Up went the steps, bang went the door, round whirled the wheels, and
off they rattled, with Kit's mother hanging out at one window waving a
damp pocket-handkerchief and screaming out a great many messages
to little Jacob and the baby, of which nobody heard a word.
Kit stood in the middle of the road, and looked after them with tears in
his eyes - not brought there by the departure he witnessed, but by the
return to which he looked forward. 'They went away,' he thought, 'on
foot with nobody to speak to them or say a kind word at parting, and
they'll come back, drawn by four horses, with this rich gentleman for
their friend, and all their troubles over! She'll forget that she taught
me to write - '
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