"I say, Uncle Dick, do tell me what sort of a place it is."
"Oh, you'll see when you get there!"
"Uncle Jack, you tell me then; what's it like?"
"Like! What, Arrowfield? Ask Uncle Bob."
"There, Uncle Bob, I'm to ask you. Do tell me what sort of a place it
is?"
"Get out, you young nuisance!"
"What a shame!" I said. "Here are you three great clever men, who know
all about it; you've been down half a dozen times, and yet you won't
answer a civil question when you are asked."
I looked in an ill-used way at my three uncles, as they sat at the table
covered with papers; and except that one would be a little darker than
the other, I could not help thinking how very much they were alike, and
at the same time like my father, only that he had some grey coming at
the sides of his head. They were all big fine-looking men between
thirty and forty, stern enough when they were busy, but wonderfully
good-tempered and full of fun when business was over; and I'm afraid
they spoiled me.
When, as I say, business was over, they were ready for anything with me,
and though I had a great feeling of reverence, almost dread, for my
father, my three big uncles always seemed to me like companions, and
they treated me as if I were their equal.
Cricket! Ah! Many's the game we've had together. They'd take me
fishing, and give me the best pitch, and see that I caught fish if they
did not.
Tops, marbles, kite-flying, football; insect and egg collecting;
geology, botany, chemistry; they were at home with all, and I shared in
the game or pursuit as eagerly as they.
I've known the time when they'd charge into the room at Canonbury, where
I was busy with the private tutor--for I did not go to school--with "Mr
Headley, Mr Russell would like to speak to you;" and as soon as he had
left the room, seize hold of me, and drag me out of my chair with, "Come
along, Cob: work's closed for the day. _Country_!"
Then away we'd go for a delicious day's collecting, or something of the
kind.
They used to call it slackening their bands, and mine.
Time had glided on very happily till I was sixteen, and there was some
talk of my being sent to a great engineer's establishment for five or
six years to learn all I could before being taken on at our own place in
Bermondsey, where Russell and Company carried on business, and knocked
copper and brass and tin about, and made bronze, and gun-metal, and did
a great deal for other firms with furnaces, and forges, and
steam-engines, wheels, and lathes.
My father was "Russell"--Alexander--and Uncle Dick, Uncle Jack, and
Uncle Bob were "Company." The business, as I say, was in Bermondsey,
but we lived together and didn't live together at Canonbury.
That sounds curious, but I'll explain:--We had two houses next door to
each other. Captain's quarters, and the barracks.
My father's house was the Captain's quarters, where I lived with my
mother and sister. The next door, where my uncles were, they called the
barracks, where they had their bedrooms and sitting-room; but they took
all their meals at our table.
As I said before things had gone on very happily till I was sixteen--a
big sturdy ugly boy.
Uncle Dick said I was the ugliest boy he knew.
Uncle Jack said I was the most stupid.
Uncle Bob said I was the most ignorant.
But we were the best of friends all the same.
And now after a great deal of discussion with my father, and several
visits, my three uncles were seated at the table, and I had asked them
about Arrowfield, and you have read their answers.