EXPECTATION.
Very bright and beautiful was the day on which Dame Desley returned to
her family. The sun rose in the morning in full glory, all surrounded
with rosy clouds. The breath of the air was soft and sweet as that of
balmy Spring, and Autumn could only be known by the splendid mantle of
yellow, red, and brown, which she had thrown over the trees and bushes.
Even brook Bother itself seemed to sparkle and dance in the sunbeams,
and the white houses of Education reflected the cheerful light.
Nelly rose early, her heart bounding with delight, and made everything
ready in her cottage to welcome the mother whom she loved. As she was
busily rubbing up some of her furniture-facts till they shone as
brightly as mirrors, poor Lubin joined his sister, looking disconsolate
and dull.
"Nelly," said he, rubbing his forehead, "I'm afraid that my cottage is
not well furnished. I've no table, and scarcely a chair, my carpet is
all in a muddle, and I'm afraid that my dear mother will be
disappointed--even disgusted."
Nelly did not know what to reply, so she only shook her head gravely.
"Do you think, Nelly, that I'd have time to rush off to Education this
morning and bring back a table, bed, and a couple of chairs on my back?"
Though Nelly was really sorry for her brother, she could hardly help
smiling at the idea of fat little Lubin puffing, panting, and blowing,
under such a formidable burden. "I fear that you have no time to-day,"
she replied, "for even one journey to the town of Education. We expect
our dear mother early, and we all, except poor Dick, who is not strong
enough yet, are going to meet her on the road."
Lubin rubbed his forehead harder than before. "Had it not been for that
thief Procrastination!" he exclaimed,--
"And Amusement Bazaar," suggested Nelly.
"Oh," exclaimed Lubin, half ready to cry, "what a stupid donkey I have
been!"
"I wish," said the pitying Nelly, "that we were allowed to help each
other more. Not that I have much furniture to spare, but how gladly
would I give of that little!"
"That's impossible," sighed poor Lubin; "and even if you could stuff my
empty cottage with a dozen or so of your facts, that would not hide the
horrible DUNCE which Mr. Learning scrawled on my wall. To think of
mother's seeing it! ugh! how dreadfully shocked she will be!" and Lubin
gave his forehead an actual bang, as if to punish it for his own
neglect.
"Well, Lubin dear," said Nelly in a soothing tone, "we may regret the
mistakes of the past, but let them only make us more anxious to do more
with our future hours. You will begin to work hard to-morrow, and carry
away a good store from Arithmetic or General Knowledge."
"I believe the first thing that I should do," observed the rueful boy,
"is to master that ladder of Spelling."
"True, you will never get on without that," said Nelly. "I daresay with
patience and pains you will get a well-furnished house after all."
Poor Lubin looked only half comforted; but hearing a slow, feeble step,
he hastened with Nelly to support Dick, and lead him to his comfortable
arm-chair.
"So mother is coming to-day, and you are all going to meet her," said
the pale boy, with a languid smile.
"You will wait and welcome her here, dear brother," said Nelly.
"No," replied Dick, with quiet sadness; "I will await her in my own poor
cottage, it is there that she expects to see me. Will you kindly support
me thither? I have just enough strength to cross the sward."
"But--" began Lubin, and stopped short.
"Why should you go there," said Nelly, "when you are so welcome to
remain where you are? and--"
"I know what you are thinking," observed Dick; "you think that I will
not be able to bear looking on the change and the ruin. But it is
better, Nelly, that I should see all. I have needed the bitter lesson. I
would rather go thither at once, and accustom myself to the sight before
my dear mother arrives."
As the boy was evidently in earnest, Lubin and Nelly made no further
objections. Dick, supported by them on either side, soon crossed over to
his cottage, and was placed in one of the chairs which had been brought
out of his own little kitchen, that room having quite escaped the
effects of the fire. Dick looked sadly but calmly around him.
"See," said Nelly, "matters are not so bad after all. The curtains are
gone, and some of the facts, but the grate, fire-irons, and fender are
as good as ever, they only want a little rubbing up. A great part of the
carpet is safe, and all your purchases from Grammar's Bazaar happened to
be stowed in the kitchen, so you see that they have not suffered at all.
When you get a little strength, dear Dick, you will soon make everything
right; a few new purchases will render your cottage as beautiful as it
was before the fire."
Dick smiled, and pressed the hand of his sister.
Matty now rushed in, all in a flutter. "I'm so glad that you have not
started!" she exclaimed. "I could not have endured not to have been
amongst the first to welcome my mother!"
"Go then, go all," said Dick.
"I do not like to leave you alone here," observed Nelly, lingering by
the chair of her brother.
"I shall not be dull," replied Dick; "the bird Content is singing in
your home, and I shall listen here to his strains. I should rather be
alone for awhile; there is little chance now that my quiet will be
disturbed either by Pride or Miss Folly."
So Lubin and his sisters departed, Dick remaining behind, rather
thoughtful than sad. He was a changed boy from what he had been at the
time when he had bounded over the brook, bearing the ladder of Spelling
aloft; or when he had laughed at Lubin for his struggle with Alphabet,
the strong little dwarf. Dick had become weak, so he could feel for
weakness; an accident had swept away the best part of his wealth, so
that he had a fellow-feeling for the poor. Dick had become more gentle,
more humble, more kind; that which he had deemed a terrible misfortune,
that which had laid him on a bed of sickness, had been in truth one of
the happiest events of his life. He had gained much more than he had
lost.
Dick sat for some time in eager expectation of his mother's arrival,
listening to every noise, and keeping his watchful eye on the road which
he could see through the open door. At last there was a sound as of
advancing steps and eager voices; weak as he still was, Dick sprang to
his feet, and in another minute, to his great delight, he was clasped to
the heart of his mother.