For a while no difficulty was felt in obeying the kind lady’s command. The flowers were quite safe on their stalks, not a foot touched a strawberry blossom. But, unfortunately, Jack Higgins had brought his bat, and nothing would please either his brother or him but the idea of a game of cricket.
“If we had a field to play in,” said Edmund Butler, “there is nothing that I should like better; but there is hardly room for such a game here, for it is very likely indeed that the ball would be sent into the forbidden ground. The strawberry bed would be in danger.”
“It certainly would,” added Joseph.
“I wish that it stood anywhere but where it does!” exclaimed Tom, preparing two stumps for the wicket; “but I don’t believe that we’ll do any harm, and I’m quite resolved to have a game!”
There was instantly a division amongst the boys, some deciding to obey the wishes of their kind friend, some to follow their own amusement. I am happy to say that the greater number decided to run no risk of offending her, so that Jack began to fear that he could hardly collect enough of companions to enable him to play at cricket.
“I wonder at you all!” he cried. “It’s the manliest game going, and the only one fit for Englishmen! You’ll join us, Joe Ashton, I know that you will—there’s nobody bowls like you!”
Again the weak boy doubted and hesitated, afraid to do wrong, but without courage to do right. Much rather would he have joined his companions now playing at “hunt the ring;” but the hand of Jack was upon his shoulder; Tom was laughing at his scruples; both urging him to join them; and the struggle ended with him as it usually ended—he could not withstand the persuasion of others.
Joseph was very successful in his bowling; and in the pleasure and excitement of the game thought little of the strawberry bed. As the game proceeded his position in it was changed; he was now one of those who stood to catch the ball, and was eagerly watching the success of his side, ready, like a greyhound, to bound forward if required, when a strong blow from Jack Higgins, who then happened to be batsman, sent the ball right into the midst of the strawberries! Instantly the young player rushed after it: on his quickness the whole game might hang, for the bowler was taking his run. As he reached the ball Joseph’s foot tripped, and down he fell, at the very moment when Mrs. Graham and a party of ladies, having come from the house to witness the sports, stood by the edge of the parterre!
“I hope that you have not hurt yourself!” said one of the ladies, as Joseph, flushed and panting, scrambled to his feet.
“He has hurt himself,” replied Mrs. Graham’s displeased voice. Joseph did not venture to lift up his eyes to her face. “He who has disregarded my wishes, and, at the very time when he was experiencing my kindness, wilfully disobeyed my command, has little right to expect more indulgence at my hand. I came prepared with another invitation to the young friends who have visited me to-day. I intended to ask them all to return here again when the summer sun shall have ripened those strawberries, when they shall be welcome to gather them for themselves; but as for Joseph, he has already had more than his share in the blossoms which he has destroyed, which never can bear any fruit—there is no use in his coming to look on while others enjoy what might have been his, if he could have learned the duty of obedience!”