“Happy in this, she is not yet so old
But she may learn; happier than this,
She is not bred so dull but she can learn.”
The next day was exceedingly hot, one of those moist, breathless days that make February the most unpleasant month in the year to Sydney folks.
Every one in the house felt utterly limp and cross and miserable, and daily duties were performed in as slipshod and languid a manner as possible. The cook had made a great pan of quince jam, and brought it into the breakfast-room on a tray for Esther to tie down. And Esther was sitting in the rocking-chair trying to make up her mind to do it, and wondering whether it would be easier to use string or paste. Small Esther was making a terrible noise. She owned dolls and bricks, little [43] ]tea-services, and baby furniture—all the toys that well-regulated little girls are supposed to love; she generally tired of them, however, after a few minutes’ play.
At present she had made a tram of six heavy leather chairs, with the armchair for “motor,” and her little sweet face was scarlet and wet with the exertion of dragging them into place.
In addition to this she had taken the fire-irons out of the fender, and was rowing, or in some way propelling the train forward—to her own satisfaction, at any rate—by brandishing the tongs wildly about while she stood in the motor and shouted and cried, “Gee up!”
“Essie,” big Esther said at last, “you must be quiet. Poor mamma’s head aches. Where’s your doll? That’s not a pretty game.”
“All bwoked,” said Essie; [“gee up,] old twain.” Bang, bang, clatter, clatter.
“Essie, put those things away at once.” Esther noticed the poker for the first time. “You naughty girl, you are scratching the chairs dreadfully.”