The habit of obedience was fixed, but not the habit of conquering annoyance, and Lucilla went off doggedly. Honora would have accompanied her to soothe away her troubles, but her cousin Ratia ran after her, and Captain Charteris stood in the way, disposed to talk. ‘Discipline,’ he said, approvingly.
‘Harsh discipline, I fear, it seemed to her, poor child,’ said Honor; ‘but she is so excitable that I must try to keep her as quiet as possible.’
‘Right,’ said the captain; ‘I like to see a child a child still. You must have had some tussles with that little spirit.’
‘A few,’ she said, smiling. ‘She is a very good girl now, but it has been rather a contrast with her brother.’
‘Ha!’ quoth the captain; and mindful of the milk-sop charge, Honora eagerly continued, ‘You will soon see what a spirit he has! He rides very well, and is quite fearless. I have always wished him to be with other boys, and there are some very nice ones near us—they think him a capital cricketer, and you should see him run and vault.’
‘He is an active-looking chap,’ his uncle granted.
‘Every one tells me he is quite able to make his way at school; I am only anxious to know which public school you and your brother would prefer.’
‘How old is he?’
‘Only twelve last month, though you would take him for fifteen.’
‘Twelve; then there would be just time to send him to Portsmouth, get him prepared for a naval cadetship, then, when I go out with Sir David Horfield, I could take him under my own eye, and make a man of him at once.’