“There is no use in making it worse, Lily. I cannot afford to be buying new clothes. We must do the best we can with the old.”
“Nurse says that she has no time for mending.”
“I think that these lazy little fingers might make themselves useful,” said Mrs. Ellerslie, with a gentle smile; “those who mar things ought at least to mend them.”
“I cannot mend such a frock!”
“Then I must,” said the lady.
Lily glanced at her mother’s face for a moment; perhaps she saw something there that pricked her conscience a little, for she said in an altered tone, “Dear mamma, I should like to be useful, but I do not like mending at all!”
“Nor do I, my love,” answered her mother.
There was nothing more said on the subject at that time. The lessons proceeded as usual. Lily, whose thoughts were very full of the expected arrival of her brother, broke off several times in the midst of her tasks, when she heard the sound of a carriage, and rushed to the window, whither she always was followed by Eddy, though assured each time that it was impossible that George could arrive till after early dinner.
If Lily had known all that I knew, I cannot but think that for once she would have shown some consideration for the teacher, whose mind was so full of troubles and cares; I cannot but think that she would have known her verse correctly, held up her head, and kept her finger-ends still; but, as it was, the old story was repeated again, and when lesson-time was over, the child did not even seem conscious that she had been doing anything wrong!
But oh! the bustle and commotion that there were when a cab, with a black trunk on the coachman’s box, did at length actually drive up to the door! The whole house resounded with the cry, “It is George! it is George! he has come!” I heard little Eddy swinging himself downstairs so fast, that it must have been at the peril of his neck; I believe the coachman had not even time to ring, so eagerly the door was opened; and there was such a medley of eager voices in the hall, that all the neighbourhood must have known of the arrival! I soon saw Mrs. Ellerslie enter the drawing-room, with a colour on her cheek and a sparkle in her eye; her arm was round the neck of her son, and she surveyed him with mingled pride and joy!