HOME AGAIN.
The nurse had spoken truly enough. William Hender did not die, and he got
back to his home in time for Christmas. All through September and October
the children kept up their hopes, each week they felt sure the next would
bring the news that he was well enough to return to them; but the weeks
went by, September had slipped into October, and October into November,
and still he did not come.
The heat had suddenly broken up at the end of September, and the weather
turned wet and stormy and depressing. Bella and Tom found the work in the
garden almost beyond their power, and they longed for their father's help
and advice; but week after week went by, and still he could not come, and
the work had to be done somehow, by somebody.
Then, in November, the blow that some had feared all along fell on them.
The doctor told Miss Hender that her brother might return to his home in a
few weeks' time, but that he would never again be fit for hard work.
He would be able to walk about a little, but he would always be a cripple
and an invalid, and quite unable to carry on his old occupation.
The news fell on them all with crushing force. Miss Hender fell into her
gloomiest mood, and drew the most miserable pictures of the future, with
six to feed and clothe, rent to pay, an invalid man to keep, and only the
children's earnings to do it all on.
Bella saw only her poor father's sad fate--a helpless cripple for the rest
of his life, tied to the house, and with nothing to occupy his time,
he who had always been so strong and active, who had never been able to
stay patiently indoors for an hour, unless he had something to do.
And she felt that her heart would break with her sorrow and love for him.
Little Margery realised only the joy of having him back, and instantly
became full of preparations for his coming. She had a new rose to show
him, and her Sunday-school prize, and she had five shillings in her
money-box, about the spending of which she wanted his advice.
Tom, watching her plans to give their invalid a happy welcome, decided
that Margery, after all, was the one to imitate, and he tried to throw off
the sickening sense of misery which had overwhelmed him since he had heard
the stunning news, and to follow her example.
"We've got to make the best of it for his sake," he said to Bella and
Charlie, as they worked away together, turning over an empty strip of
ground. "It is worst of all for him, and if he sees we are all miserable,
he'll feel it is his fault, and it will make it harder than ever for him."
"I don't believe father'll be a cripple always," said Charlie sturdily;
"he's sure to get better some day, and there's certain to be something he
can do."
"But the doctors say he mustn't do anything," said Bella despondently.
"Doctors don't know everything! Everybody makes mistakes some time,"
he added quickly, for the doctor at the hospital was one of his special
heroes.
It was a comfort to the others even to be unable to contradict him.
"Anyhow," said Tom, "we will go on as though we thought he was going to be
better soon, and he'll be able to tell us what to do in the garden, and
how to do it, and p'raps by degrees he'll find little things that he can
do without hurting himself." And so by making plans to help the poor
invalid to be happy and comfortable, they made themselves happier too.
"I don't think we can do better than go on as we are," said Bella. "If I
was to go out to service, or Tom was to get work anywhere, it would be one
less to feed, but we shouldn't be able to earn as much for the rest as we
do now."
They all agreed on that point, and Aunt Maggie, who was called in to talk
matters over, agreed with them. "I think you've got a good opening that
it would be a sin to waste," she said heartily. "I think the best thing
you can do is to try to increase your business all you can."
"If I could have a bit more of the garden for a run, and could get the
money to put up a bigger house for my fowls," said Aunt Emma eagerly,
"I believe I could do very well with them."
"I am sure you could," agreed Mrs. Langley warmly. She did not add that
this was just what she had been wanting to suggest, but was afraid to,
lest it should give offence.
Emma Hender's face quite lit up with pleasure. "If it isn't too damp for
you, I wish you would come down the garden with me and see what I think
would be a good place to have a house."
"I'd like to come," said Aunt Maggie warmly, only too glad to be friendly
if Miss Hender would let her. "Shall we go now?"
Down the garden they all trooped, for, of course, Margery must be in
everything, and Charlie was more interested in ducks and fowls, or any
other live creature, than he was in flowers or fruit. They examined the
present poky fowl-house and run, and then they surveyed the land, and each
one gave an opinion on the matter.
"I think if we were to put the new house next to the old one it would be
best, don't you?" said Aunt Emma.
Aunt Maggie looked about her for a minute thoughtfully. "Well, no," she
said at last. "I think, if it was mine, I should have a new house close
there by the orchard, and give them a run that would go right through the
hedge, so that they could have the run of the orchard too. They would
enjoy that, and it would keep them healthy, and they could pick up so much
food you wouldn't need to feed them more than twice a day. What do you
think about it?"
Miss Hender looked thoughtful for a minute. "Yes, I think it might be a
good plan," she said. She did not speak very heartily, but it was a
wonderful change for her to agree at all with any suggestion made by
Mrs. Langley. "But there," she sighed, dropping back into her usual
melancholy manner, "what does it matter? I don't suppose it will ever be
my lot to get it. I don't see where the money is to come from," and she
returned to the house with all the air of a much injured woman.
That afternoon, as Tom and Bella went round shutting up the hot-beds,
Tom confided a new plan he had formed. "I am going to learn carpentering
this winter," he said eagerly, "just plain carpentering, you know.
I want to see if we can't build Aunt Emma her fowl-house by the spring.
I'm sure she'd make it pay, and I believe she'd be better-tempered if
she'd got something of her own to look after, and earn a little by."
"I believe she would," said Bella soberly. "I know I was."
It was only a few days later than this that William Hender came back once
more to the house he had been absent from for a quarter of a year.
The day before Christmas Eve was fixed on for his return, and in the
double joy of Christmas and of having their father back, the children
forgot for the time the trouble that hung over them all. To them his
return made the season seem a more than usually joyful one; but Aunt Emma
felt that, because of the trouble, Christmas should be ignored by them
that year, and not kept up in any way.
"I am sure your poor father won't feel up to eating any Christmas dinner,
or having any fun, or anything," she said gloomily. "We'd better let
Christmas go by just like any other time. I've worries enough on my mind
to keep me from rejoicing, and your poor father the same."
Bella felt her temper rising. "As if the trouble isn't more to me than it
is to her," she thought impatiently. "A fine thing it would be if all sat
down and groaned and cried!"
Tom looked puzzled. He felt that they ought at any rate to try to seem
bright and cheerful for their father's sake, but he didn't want to seem
unfeeling; yet the trouble would not grow less by looking miserable about
it, and making every one else miserable too.
"We shall have father back," he said quietly, "that'll be enough to be
glad about. I think we ought to keep it up a bit this year, just to show
how glad we are."
"Can't you say you're glad when you see him? Won't that be enough?"
Charlie put his own feelings quite plainly. "Oh, Aunt Emma, we've never
let Christmas go by yet; do let's keep it up this year! Let's have a nice
dinner and some fun! Aunt Emma, do. P'raps we shan't all be here by
another one."
Charlie was Miss Hender's favourite, and, as a rule, got what he asked
for, though not, perhaps, the first time. Miss Hender was impressed by
his last words. "P'raps we shan't all be here by another, one."
He had only meant that perhaps one of them might be out in service, but to
her mind came only the thought of a longer and a final parting, such as
they had so narrowly escaped, and the thought touched and awed her.
"Very well," she said at last; "if you are all set on a Christmas dinner,
I'll cook it for you. I can't undertake more, my hands'll be full
'tending on your father."
"I can 'tend on father," Bella was about to say, and sharply, but
fortunately she checked herself in time, as she remembered that there were
many hours and some whole days in each week when she could do nothing for
him, and he must be left entirely to Aunt Emma's care, and depend on her
for all his comfort. So she said nothing, and she and Tom went off to
their work, feeling thankful to Charlie for having gained so much for
them, and determined to think of some other way also in which to keep up
the happy season.
This was on the Monday, and on the Wednesday the invalid was to return,
so that already there were great bustle and excitement at the cottage,
preparing and making ready, for there really was a great deal to do.
The room which had always been used as a parlour was now to be turned out
and whitewashed and papered, and turned into a bedroom for the invalid,
that he might not have to go up and down the stairs. Indeed, the whole
house was made sweet and bright inside and out, the garden rails and the
front door were given a coat of paint, and the garden itself made as neat
as a December garden could be, though it was robbed of some of Bella's
finest chrysanthemums to decorate the house on the longed-for day.
Their father was to leave the hospital soon after the midday meal there,
reaching home early in the afternoon before the light began to wane,
but by one o'clock the four children had taken up their position at the
top of the lane to watch for the coming carriage.
As the time drew near when it might be expected, Aunt Maggie came and
joined them, and further along the road they saw Mrs. Carter waiting to
wave a welcome to their invalid, and presently others came, until there
was quite a little gathering, anxious to show their neighbour how glad
they were to see him back.
When the long-looked-for carriage came in sight, and Tom and the children
darted forward to meet it, Bella could not go with them. Such a lump rose
in her throat, such blinding tears to her eyes, such a feeling of love and
pity and sorrow welled up in her heart, she could scarcely restrain
herself from sobbing aloud, and turning quickly she walked stumblingly
back to the empty house.
Mrs. Langley saw her go, but she did not follow, something in Bella's face
told her she would rather be alone; but when Tom and Margery, missing her,
ran back after her, Aunt Maggie did not stop them. She thought it best to
let them go.
Charlie, as usual, went his own way, and when the carriage drove slowly
down the lane and drew up at the gate, he was riding triumphantly on the
step, the door-handle in his hand, ready to open it.
Bella stood by, nervously dreading the alterations she might see.
Tom looked on, very grave and silent, but Margery, forgetting everything
but that her father was come back, rushed towards him with a glad cry of
welcome, "Oh, daddy, daddy! I'm so glad you've come back," and, flinging
her arms about him, drew his face down to be kissed.
In spite of the suffering inseparable from it, it was a very happy
home-coming. The invalid was helped into the house and put in his chair
by the fire; but before they could begin to tell or hear all there was to
tell or hear, the carriage had to be unloaded and all his belongings
brought in; so, to get it done quickly and come back to him, they all
trooped out to help.
And what a cry of excitement went up at the sight of what the carriage
contained! For, first and foremost, on the seat that had been facing him,
they found a real little Christmas-tree.
"I saw it!" cried Charlie; "I saw it directly I got on the step."
But no one paid any heed to Charlie's shouts, for they were bringing in
the tree in triumph. Tom flew off to get a big pot to stand it in,
and when he had planted it and brought it in and stood it in the place of
honour in the kitchen, how cheery it looked, and how fragrantly the scent
of it filled the cosy, warm room, and how excitedly they all discussed
what should be hung on its branches, until their father, sorting out one
box from the rest of his luggage, opened it and displayed little
glittering candlesticks and pretty glass ornaments which were for nothing
in the world but to hang on a Christmas-tree, and make it look perfectly
beautiful.
There was a bright blue peacock with a spun-glass tail, and a top-knot of
the same on his head, a rosy apple and a yellow pear, a bunch of grapes,
and two balls that flashed and glittered, and all were as pretty as pretty
could be, as they caught the glow of the fire and flashed it back in
dozens of different lights.
"The Sister gave them to me; they had a lot sent them for the hospital
tree--more than they could use, and she thought you would like some."
"Oh!" sighed Margery, breathless with delight, "I wish it was to-morrow
now, and that there wasn't any night, for I'm afraid if I go to sleep I
shall wake up and find it is only a dream."
Night came, though, and the next day, when Tom and Bella had to go to
Norton--for the market was to be held on the Thursday, Christmas Eve,
rather than on the Bank Holiday--and never, since they began, had the two
found it so hard to start off on their day's work. There was so much to
talk over and to do at home, so much to show their father; things they had
done in the garden, and things they meant to do. He consoled them a
little, though, by promising that he would not look at anything until they
were there to show him round; and then, to cheer them in their work, there
was his interest in the donkey and cart, and the packing up of their load,
and his astonishment at the number of different things they carried in it
now.
To-day there were holly and ivy and mistletoe, as well as all the usual
things.
The weather was ideal Christmas weather, and the drive in was so
beautiful, no one's spirits could go on remaining low. In the town, too,
all was bustle and excitement. Every one seemed to be pleased and full of
pleasant mysteries and nice secrets. The shop windows were full of lovely
things, and the shops full of people buying them.
"I don't suppose we shall find any one at home," said Bella ruefully, as
she dismounted first, as usual, at Mrs. Watson's door, and, indeed, Mrs.
Watson was out 'shopping,' the maid said, but she had left an order for
some chrysanthemums, and two shillingsworth of holly, if they had any.
Then, how glad Tom was that he and Charlie had spent that long day on
Monday gathering Christmas decorations! It was Charlie's suggestion, and
Charlie was to have half the profits.
Bella rejoiced doubly at every branch of holly that was sold, for, in the
first place, it had been anything but pleasant as a travelling companion,
and, in the second, the money it sold for helped to fill up her purse, and
now, more than ever, were they anxious to earn every penny they could.
The next place they stopped at was Mrs. Adamson's. Here they found Joan
and her mother both at home. Joan's face was full of excitement when
Bella was shown into her own little private room; but Bella thought it was
all on account of a pot of hyacinths that she was bringing her, to give to
her mother as a Christmas present. Joan had ordered them weeks before,
and Bella had taken special pains to bring them on nicely, and now they
were to be handed over to the little owner, and hidden until the next day.
Bella soon found that it was not the hyacinths only that were causing
Joan's excitement. "I've got something for you, too," she said eagerly,
and she drew out from amongst her cushions and under her rug several
interesting-looking parcels.
"They are secrets, and you mustn't look inside them until you get home,"
she said firmly. "That one is for your father, and that is for your
aunt, and this is for you; that is for Tom, and that for Charlie, and this
one is for Margery. I can't help your seeing it is a dolly, for I can't
wrap it up any better, it is so big and bulgy."
Bella tried her hardest to thank the kind little invalid as warmly as she
felt, but her surprise and delight nearly robbed her altogether of speech.
"Oh, and they shall all go on father's tree!" she gasped delightedly, as
the idea suddenly came to her. Then, of course, Joan had to be told about
the little tree that their father had brought home with him, and she grew
almost as excited as Bella herself.
"Do put my parcels on it, and don't, please, tell them anything about them
until the tree is lighted up. Have you got candles for it?"
Bella shook her head. She had not thought about lighting up the tree.
"Will you, please, pass me that box on the table?" asked Joan, and when
Bella had done so, she opened it and took from it six little Christmas
candles. "I have lots," she said; "do, please, have these."
"I do think Christmas is the most lovely time of all the year!" said Bella
to Tom, as, with her parcels carefully hidden at the bottom of her big
basket, they drove on again, and Tom agreed.
Inside the shops and outside the Christmas spirit reigned that day.
Buyers and sellers all seemed possessed with it, and so busy was every one
that there was no dawdling over the making of purchases, and the children,
though they had an even larger supply than usual, had sold out their store
quite early.
"We could start for home at once," said Bella, as the clock struck one,
"but I would like to take home just one or two little things for the
Christmas tree, and some oranges and nuts--and oh, I wish we could get
some nice little present for father, and something for Aunt Emma.
Do you think we might, Tom?"
"Yes," said Tom, without hesitation; "we'll spend the holly money--my
share of it, I mean. You see, it won't be like wasting it; we will get
them something useful."
"Let's go and look at the shops," cried Bella delightedly. "Oh, won't it
be fine when they see the things on the tree! We won't let them know
anything about it till then, will we?"
They went down the street, and up, and down again, looking in at every
shop window most intently, but quite unable to decide on what to lay out
their money. They wanted two things that must be cheap, and must be
useful, and must suit their father and aunt.
At last Tom grew impatient. "Look here, we've got to make up our minds
and settle on something, for it's time we were getting home."
They were standing outside a drapery store at that moment--the kind of
store where they sell not only drapery, but all kinds of things--and
almost as Tom spoke the shop and window burst into a blaze of light.
Being Christmas Eve, they were going to spare no expense in making the
place look attractive.
Tom and Bella drew near for another look, and almost at the same moment
their eyes fell on the very thing they wanted, a pair of soft warm felt
slippers. "Those will do for father, they'll be splendid!" they exclaimed
in one breath; and the next moment Bella was in the shop, so afraid was
she that some one else would be before her in securing them.
Having made sure of them, she was able to look about her, and, hanging
over the counter, she caught sight of some little grey woollen turnovers.
"One of those will be just the thing for Aunt Emma," she whispered to Tom,
"to put over her shoulders when she goes down to the fowls."
So a shawl was purchased, too, and, almost too excited and pleased to know
what they were about, the children hurried off for Rocket and the cart,
and started for home.