CHAPTER II
PAT AND PETS
Aunt Mattie smiled again to herself at Justin's last words. She felt very much inclined to say that in her opinion the two youngest boys were much less likely to get into mischief if left by themselves than under the elders' care. But just now, for Rosamond's sake, she thought it better to say nothing which would lead to any more discussions. So after a moment's thought she turned again to Justin.
'I will stay here with the little ones,' she said, 'if you take Rosamond out to see your pets – '
'Oh!' interrupted Miss Mouse. 'It's pets you mean! I didn't think of pets when you said "animals."'
"Pets" is a girl's word, you see,' said Justin loftily, for he was already quite getting over his aunt's snub.
'Now, Justin,' said Aunt Mattie quietly, 'I haven't finished. If you take Rosamond out, she is under your charge, you understand? You mustn't let the dogs jump on her, or let her be teased or frightened in any way.'
'All right,' said Justin. 'Come along, Miss Mouse.'
Rosamond got up and half timidly took the hand which the boy held out to her.
'I'm coming too,' said Archie, at which the little girl's face brightened up.
'Don't till – ' began Justin, stopping short, however, when he caught his aunt's eye, for Aunt Mattie's control over the boys was no new thing.
'Yes,' she said. 'Archie may go too, certainly, and remember, both of you, that you are on your honour to have no squabbling or fighting of any kind while Rosamond is with you.'
The trio set off. Rosamond between the boys, holding a hand of each. Aunt Mattie smiling and nodding encouragingly, for there was still a half-frightened look on the little face.
'It is best,' thought she, 'to test them, for they are not bad boys at heart, and she is far from childish for her age. But if they are really too rough, our plan must be given up. I am very much afraid that Miss Ward is not a success. Patrick,' she said aloud, 'I didn't want to keep on finding fault this first time of Rosamond's seeing you all, but I must say to you, now that we are alone, that I am surprised at your not knowing that it is not polite to go on reading in a corner when any one comes to see you. It is not polite even to me.'
'I didn't know you'd come to see me,' said Pat gruffly, 'and I don't like girls.'
'I really don't care whether you like them or not,' said his aunt, getting rather angry in spite of herself, 'and that is not the question. The point is that you should and must behave like a gentleman to any visitors in your father's house, and I shall certainly insist on your doing so to any I bring here.'
Pat did not reply. He had left off reading, but he sat still, with the book open on his knees and a far from amiable look on his face.
Aunt Mattie felt troubled. Of all the boys, Pat, she well knew, was the most difficult to understand, but during the years that her home had been with her sister, Mrs. Hervey, she had come to be like a second mother to the children, and Pat, every one said, was more manageable by 'Miss Mattie' than by any one else. And now he was as sulky and disagreeable to her as ever he had been to old nurse, whom he was always fighting with, or to any one.
'Pat,' she said suddenly, 'come over here. Hec, you and Ger can go back to your own corner,' for there was one specially counted 'the kids',' where the old toy cupboard stood, and where the elder ones were not allowed to interfere with them, on the principle that an Englishman's house is his castle, I suppose.
'Us diddun want to play with Jus and Pat,' said Ger, 'but they made us be "'orses."'
'Never mind,' said Hector, 'Aunt Mattie won't let us be teased any more. We was tidyin' the cupboard,' he went on; 'it wanted tidyin' awful bad.' Hec was that very uncommon thing, a neat little boy.
So Mrs. Mattie and her nephew were as good as alone.
'Pat,' she began again, 'why are you so surly to me?'
Pat got red and mumbled something about 'not meaning.'
'But you must mean the words you say,' said his aunt. 'It wasn't kind or nice to tell me you hated – or "didn't like" – girls, when I had brought my little niece to make friends with you all.'
Pat stood silent, but his face had softened a little.
'She'd not make friends with me,' he said,' nobody does. She can make friends with Jus and Archie. Besides, what does it matter – she's not going to live here.'
'No, not exactly. But we have been thinking of planning for her to come here every day to have lessons with Miss Ward. And of course it would be nice for her to be friends with you all if she was so much here. On half-holidays, for instance, Justin and you could sometimes let her be with you and take part in your pleasures. There are lots of things that a little girl can join in, and she is a very sensible little girl as well as a sweet one.'
Pat shuffled about, first on one foot, then on the other. He did not want to vex his aunt, and he was rather pleased by her talking to him in this way, but he did not care to make friends with Miss Mouse, and he wanted to get back to his book.
'I'm not going to hurt her,' he said. 'I don't want to be rude to her, but it's no good humbugging. I don't like girls and I don't think I like anybody – not much. She'll be all right with Jus and Archie. Why don't you tell them to be nice to her?'
'Because,' said Aunt Mattie slowly, 'I want you all to be nice to her, and in some ways I had thought you would suit her the best, Pat. You are quieter than Jus and Archie, and little Rosamond has not been used to boys, or indeed to playfellows at all. And she is fond of reading, like you.'
'I'm always being scolded for reading,' grumbled Pat. 'It's often that that Jus and I fight about, and then mamma takes for granted it's all my fault, and they call me surly and ill-natured and all that. And it's like that at school too – only – '
'Only what?' asked his aunt, delighted to get him to speak out to her in the old way.
'I – I didn't mind so much when – when you were here and I could tell you things,' said Pat. 'I've nobody now – nobody who cares. O auntie, I do so wish you hadn't gone and got married.'
Aunt Mattie's face had grown very kind and gentle. She had sometimes fancied that, little though he said about it, Pat really did care for her.
'I'm not so far away after all,' she said, 'and I'm sure you know that I'm always ready to talk to you, or to help you in any way I can.'
'Oh, but it's different,' said Pat. 'It's not like living in the house, and taking my part a little, and explaining to them – oh! it's quite different, and then – there's Uncle Ted – '
A little smile crept into Mattie's eyes at this; she had suspected more than once that Pat was rather jealous of his new uncle.
'Of course,' she said, 'I know it can't be quite the same, but it might be a good deal worse; I might have had to go to India, like Rosamond's father and mother. And if you knew Uncle Ted better, you would find him awfully kind and understanding about boys.'
Pat grunted.
'He likes the others, I know,' he said gloomily.
His aunt's face grew graver again. This touch of jealousy in Pat made her anxious about him.
'It is such a pity,' she said, 'that you get these ideas into your head – of people not liking you or liking the others better, and uncomfortable fancies of that kind.'
'They are not fancies,' said Pat; 'they are true.'
'Well, if they are true, make them not true,' was the reply. 'Try to be a little brighter and pleasanter to other people, especially to your own people, and see if that doesn't make a difference. Just try, for my sake, and as far as Rosamond is concerned I am sure you won't find the trying difficult.'
Pat did not