She looked sour as verjuice when my
mother and Emily entered, and gave them to understand that 'she
wasn't used to no strangers in her school, and didn't want 'em.' We
found that in Chapman's opinion she 'didn't larn 'em nothing.' She
had succeeded her aunt, who had taught him to read 'right off,' but
'her baint to be compared with she.' And now the farmers' children,
and the little aristocracy, including his own grand-children,--all
indeed who, in his phrase, 'cared for eddication,'--went to
Wattlesea.
CHAPTER XI--'THEY FORDYS.'
'Of honourable reckoning are you both,
And pity 'tis, you lived at odds so long.'
SHAKESPEARE.
My father had a good deal of business in hand, and was glad of
Clarence's help in writing and accounts,--a great pleasure, though
it prevented his being Griff's companion in his exploring and essays
at shooting. He had time, however, to make an expedition with me in
the donkey chair to inquire after the herdboy, Amos Bell, and carry
him some kitchen physic. To our horror we found him quite alone in
the wretched cottage, while everybody was out harvesting; but he did
not seem to pity himself, or think it otherwise than quite natural,
as he lay on a little bed in the corner, disabled by what Clarence
thought a dislocation. Miss Ellen had brought him a pudding, and
little Miss Anne a picture-book.
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