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'
'
Yes, sir.'
We may make some others - not better in themselves, but with better
means perhaps,' said the bachelor. 'Let us see now, let us see.'
Nell accompanied him into the other little rooms, and over both the
houses, in which he found various small comforts wanting, which he
engaged to supply from a certain collection of odds and ends he had at
home, and which must have been a very miscellaneous and extensive
one, as it comprehended the most opposite articles imaginable. They
all came, however, and came without loss of time; for the little old
gentleman, disappearing for some five or ten minutes, presently
returned, laden with old shelves, rugs, blankets, and other household
gear, and followed by a boy bearing a similar load. These being cast on
the floor in a promiscuous heap, yielded a quantity of occupation in
arranging, erecting, and putting away; the superintendence of which
task evidently afforded the old gentleman extreme delight, and
engaged him for some time with great briskness and activity. When
nothing more was left to be done, he charged the boy to run off and
bring his schoolmates to be marshalled before their new master, and
solemnly reviewed.
'
As good a set of fellows, Marton, as you'd wish to see,' he said,
turning to the schoolmaster when the boy was gone; 'but I don't let
em know I think so. That wouldn't do, at all.'
'
The messenger soon returned at the head of a long row of urchins,
great and small, who, being confronted by the bachelor at the house
door, fell into various convulsions of politeness; clutching their hats
and caps, squeezing them into the smallest possible dimensions, and
making all manner of bows and scrapes, which the little old
gentleman contemplated with excessive satisfaction, and expressed
his approval of by a great many nods and smiles. Indeed, his
approbation of the boys was by no means so scrupulously disguised
as he had led the schoolmaster to suppose, inasmuch as it broke out
in sundry loud whispers and confidential remarks which were
perfectly audible to them every one. 'This first boy, schoolmaster,' said
the bachelor, 'is John Owen; a lad of good parts, sir, and frank,
honest temper; but too thoughtless, too playful, too light-headed by
far. That boy, my good sir, would break his neck with pleasure, and
deprive his parents of their chief comfort - and between ourselves,
when you come to see him at hare and hounds, taking the fence and
ditch by the finger-post, and sliding down the face of the little quarry,
you'll never forget it. It's beautiful!'
John Owen having been thus rebuked, and being in perfect
possession of the speech aside, the bachelor singled out another boy.
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