XII

ItisthepracticeofProvidenceoftentoignoretheclaimsofpoeticjustice.Properly,theSymfordchildrenoughttohavebeenchokedbyPriscilla'scakesandiftheyhadbeen,theparentswhohadsentthemmerrymakingonaSundaywouldhavebeenwellpunishedbytheundeniableawfulnessofpossessingchokedchildren.Butnobodywaschokedandwhenintheearlydaysofthefollowingweektherewereinnearlyeverycottagepangsbeingassuaged,theyweresonaturallytheconsequenceofthestrangethingsthathadbeeneatenthatonlyMrs.MorrisonwasabletoseeinthemweaponsbeingwieldedbyProvidenceinthecauseofeternalright.She,however,sawitsoplainlythateachtimeduringthenextfewdaysthataworriedmothercameandaskedadvice,sheleftherworkorhermealswithoutamurmur,andwenttothecastor-oilcupboardwithanalacritythatwasalmostcheerfulandseldom,Isuppose,havesuchbigdosesbeensuppliedandadministeredastheonessheprescribedforsufferingSymford. ButonthisdarksideofthepictureIdonotcaretolooktheparty,anyhow,hadbeenagreatsuccess,andPriscillabecameatonestrokeaspopularamongthepoorofSymfordasshehadbeeninLothen-Kunitz.Itssuccessitistruewaschieflyowingtotheimmensevarietyofthingstoeatshehadprovidedfortheconjuror,merry-go-round,andcocoa-nutstobeshiedatthatshehadtoldyoungVickertontobringwithhimfromMinehead,hadallbeenabandonedonTussie'searnestadvice,whoinstructedherinnocentGermanmindthattheseamusements,undoubtedlyadmirableinthemselvesandonweekdays,werelookeduponaskanceinEnglandonSundays. "Why?"askedPriscilla,ingreatsurprise. "It'snotkeepingthedayholy,"saidTussie,blushing. "Howfunny,"saidPriscilla. "Oh,Idon'tknow." "Why,"saidPriscilla,"inKun—"butshepulledherselfupjustasshewasabouttogivehimadescriptionofthevariednatureofSundayafternoonsinKunitz. "Youmusthavenoticed,"saidTussie,"asyouhavelivedsolonginLondon,thateverything'sshutonSundays.Therearenotheatresandthings—certainlynococoa-nuts." "No,Idon'trememberanycocoa-nuts,"musedPriscilla,hermemorygoingoverthosepastSundaysshehadspentinEngland. Tussietriedtomakeamendsforhavingobstructedherplansbyexertinghimselftotheutmosttoentertainthechildrenasfarasdecorumallowed.Heencouragedthemtosing,hewhofelteveryuglinessinsoundlikeablowheurgedthemtoreciteforprizesofsixpences,heonwhosesoulCasabiancaandExcelsiorhadmuchtheeffectofscourgesonatenderskinheledthemoutintoafieldbetweenteaandsupperandmadethemrunraces,himselfsettingtheexample,hewhocaughtcoldsoeasilythatheknewitprobablymeantaweekinbed.Robinhelpedtoo,buthisexertionswereconfinedtothenearneighbourhoodofPriscilla.Hismotherhadbeenveryangrywithhim,andhehadbeenveryangrywithhismotherforbeingangry,andhehadcomeawayfromthevicaragewithabadtasteinhismouthandagreatdefianceinhisheart.Itwasthefirsttimehehadsaidhardthingstoher,andithadbeenashockingmoment,—amomentsometimesinevitableinthelivesofparentsandchildrenofstrongcharacterandopposeddesires.Hehadfoundhimselfquiteunableinhisangertoclothehishardsayingsinformsofspeechthatwouldhavehiddentheirbrutalforce,andhehadturnedhisbackatlastonheransweringbitternessandfl