Two Worlds and Their Ways Read Online Free PDF Page A

I was hoping that Oliver might buy it back one day.”
    â€œOr wishing that Sefton could,” said Mr. Firebrace.
    â€œWishing he could himself,” said Oliver. “Hoping that Maria would. I hardly know where the farm lies, or where to look for it. And I don’t think I knew that the place had a heart.”
    â€œOh, you are not my son,” said Sir Roderick, saying the last thing he would have had himself say.
    â€œThat has been so since Sefton was born,” said Mr. Firebrace. “But no one need be a thing twice over, and he has been mine.”
    â€œAldom’s mother wants to sell the farm,” said Sir Roderick. “Or so Aldom tells me; I have never seen the woman. She wants to have a shop in the village. I live in fear that someone will buy it and put it from my reach.”
    â€œWhy did you sell it?” said Oliver.
    â€œCome, my boy, you can guess as much as that,” said Mr. Firebrace.
    â€œI wonder what it is like to lead a simple life with only one marriage involved in it,” said Maria. “It is odd to think that most people have it.”
    â€œYour qualities would be wasted, if there was no demand on them,” said her husband.
    â€œI suppose they were wasted in Mary’s case, if she had them. Well, it is no good to go on for ever.”
    â€œNone at all,” said Mr. Firebrace.
    â€œWhy did Father marry twice?” said Sefton.
    â€œHe got very fond of someone twice,” said Maria.
    â€œIt is a good thing it did not happen with both at the same time,” said Clemence.
    â€œShouldn’t we be here, if the first wife had not died?” said Sefton.
    â€œOf course not. Things are like that with second marriages. Anything that happens brings a lot of other things with it. And marriages do it especially.”
    â€œThirteen and three-quarters,” said Maria in a low tone. putting her finger-tips together and looking into space.
    â€œThen is Father sorry we are here, glad that she is dead?”
    â€œNo, no, my little son,” said Maria. “Having you makes up to him for what he lost.”
    â€œIf you are sure of that, you are sure of all you need to be,” said Mr. Firebrace.
    â€œThat is true,” said Maria, meeting his eyes. “Now Lesbia and Juliet want to come on a visit next week. I must write and say they will be welcome.”
    â€œAnd not the other governess?”
    â€œLucius will come with Juliet, if that is what you mean.”
    â€œThen we shall have four with Miss Petticott. And only one genuine example among them.”
    â€œI hope I am that one, Mr. Firebrace?” said Miss Petticott, almost with archness.
    â€œYes, yes, that is so. I never mind the real thing.”
    â€œYou children may run upstairs now,” said Maria, willing for a withdrawal that included Miss Petticott. “We have had two pairs of eyes fixed on us long enough. And what has been happening to two pairs of ears, I do not dare to think.”
    Miss Petticott rose and clapped her hands to marshal her pupils, and withdrew the third pair of eyes and ears with deliberation and ease. She allowed a group to gather on a landing without appearing to notice it. It consisted of her pupils, their nurse and Aldom, who had left the dining-room with an air of sudden purpose. The four voices, full and clear and with an undeniably similar note, followed her to the schoolroom, but she had learned when eyes and ears should cease to function.
    â€œSo school is in the wind again,” said Aldom. “I am glad I cannot be sent to right and left at other people’s will. I belong to myself.”
    â€œAnd to Sir Roderick and her ladyship, while you are in this house,” said Adela. “And you can be sent where they like, as far as I can see. And you will soon be sent for to the dining-room. What do you think you are?”
    â€œA prince in disguise,” said Aldom.
    â€œWell, the disguise goes deep