CHAPTER IV. THE GRANDMAMMA

utofthewindow!”criedhe:andmypreciousdesk,containingmylettersandpapers,mysmallamountofcash,andallmyvaluables,wasabouttobeprecipitatedfromthethree-storeywindow.Iflewtorescueit.MeanwhileTomhadlefttheroom,andwasrushingdownthestairs,followedbyFanny.Havingsecuredmydesk,Irantocatchthem,andMaryAnncamescamperingafter.Allthreeescapedme,andranoutofthehouseintothegarden,wheretheyplungedaboutinthesnow,shoutingandscreaminginexultantglee. WhatmustIdo?IfIfollowedthem,Ishouldprobablybeunabletocaptureone,andonlydrivethemfartherawayifIdidnot,howwasItogetthemin?Andwhatwouldtheirparentsthinkofme,iftheysaworheardthechildrenrioting,hatless,bonnetless,gloveless,andbootless,inthedeepsoftsnow?WhileIstoodinthisperplexity,justwithoutthedoor,trying,bygrimlooksandangrywords,toawethemintosubjection,Iheardavoicebehindme,inharshlypiercingtones,exclaiming,— “MissGrey!Isitpossible?What,inthedevil’sname,canyoubethinkingabout?” “Ican’tgetthemin,sir,”saidI,turninground,andbeholdingMr.Bloomfield,withhishaironend,andhispaleblueeyesboltingfromtheirsockets. “ButIINSISTupontheirbeinggotin!”criedhe,approachingnearer,andlookingperfectlyferocious. “Then,sir,youmustcallthemyourself,ifyouplease,fortheywon’tlistentome,”Ireplied,steppingback. “Comeinwithyou,youfilthybratsorI’llhorsewhipyoueveryone!”roaredheandthechildreninstantlyobeyed.“There,yousee!—theycomeatthefirstword!” “Yes,whenyouspeak.” “Andit’sverystrange,thatwhenyou’vethecareof’emyou’venobettercontrolover’emthanthat!—Now,theretheyare—goneupstairswiththeirnastysnowyfeet!Dogoafter’emandseethemmadedecent,forheaven’ssake!” Thatgentleman’smotherwasthenstayinginthehouseand,asIascendedthestairsandpassedthedrawing-roomdoor,Ihadthesatisfactionofhearingtheoldladydeclaimingaloudtoherdaughter-in-lawtothiseffect(forIcouldonlydistinguishthemostemphaticwords)— “Graciousheavens!—neverinallmylife—!—gettheirdeathassureas—!Doyouthink,mydear,she’saproperperson?Takemywordforit—” Iheardnomorebutthatsufficed. TheseniorMrs.BloomfieldhadbeenveryattentiveandciviltomeandtillnowIhadthoughtheranice,kind-hearted,chattyoldbody.Shewouldoftencometomeandtalkinaconfidentialstrainnoddingandshakingherhead,andgesticulatingwithhandsandeyes,asacertainclassofoldladiesarewonttodothoughIneverknewonethatcarriedthepeculiaritytosogreatanextent.ShewouldevensympathisewithmeforthetroubleIhadwiththechildren,andexpressattimes,byhalfsentences,interspersedwithnodsandknowingwinks,hersenseoftheinjudiciousconductoftheirmammainsorestrictingmypower,andneglectingtosupportmewithherauthority.SuchamodeoftestifyingdisapprobationwasnotmuchtomytasteandIgenerallyrefusedtotakeitin,orunderstandanythingmorethanwasopenlyspokenatleast,Ineverwentfartherthananimpliedacknowledgmentthat,ifmatterswereotherwiseorderedmytaskwouldbealessdifficultone,andIshouldbebetterabletoguideandinstructmychargebutnowImustbedoublycautious.Hitherto,thoughIsawtheoldladyhadherdefects(ofwhichonewasaprone