CHAPTER IV. THE GRANDMAMMA

seewhatconfoundedworkyou’remakingofthecarpet?”(thecarpetwasaplainbrowndrugget).“MissGrey,didyouknowwhattheyweredoing?” “Yes,sir.” “Youknewit?” “Yes.” “Youknewit!andyouactuallysatthereandpermittedthemtogoonwithoutawordofreproof!” “Ididn’tthinktheyweredoinganyharm.” “Anyharm!Why,lookthere!Justlookatthatcarpet,andsee—wasthereeveranythinglikeitinaChristianhousebefore?Nowonderyourroomisnotfitforapigsty—nowonderyourpupilsareworsethanalitterofpigs!—nowonder—oh!Ideclare,itputsmequitepastmypatience”andhedeparted,shuttingthedoorafterhimwithabangthatmadethechildrenlaugh. “Itputsmequitepastmypatiencetoo!”mutteredI,gettingupand,seizingthepoker,Idasheditrepeatedlyintothecinders,andstirredthemupwithunwontedenergythuseasingmyirritationunderpretenceofmendingthefire. Afterthis,Mr.Bloomfieldwascontinuallylookingintoseeiftheschoolroomwasinorderand,asthechildrenwerecontinuallylitteringthefloorwithfragmentsoftoys,sticks,stones,stubble,leaves,andotherrubbish,whichIcouldnotpreventtheirbringing,orobligethemtogatherup,andwhichtheservantsrefusedto“cleanafterthem,”Ihadtospendaconsiderableportionofmyvaluableleisuremomentsonmykneesuponthefloor,inpainsfullyreducingthingstoorder.OnceItoldthemthattheyshouldnottastetheirsuppertilltheyhadpickedupeverythingfromthecarpetFannymighthaveherswhenshehadtakenupacertainquantity,MaryAnnwhenshehadgatheredtwiceasmany,andTomwastoclearawaytherest.Wonderfultostate,thegirlsdidtheirpartbutTomwasinsuchafurythatheflewuponthetable,scatteredthebreadandmilkaboutthefloor,struckhissisters,kickedthecoalsoutofthecoal-pan,attemptedtooverthrowthetableandchairs,andseemedinclinedtomakeaDouglas-larderofthewholecontentsoftheroom:butIseizeduponhim,and,sendingMaryAnntocallhermamma,heldhim,inspiteofkicks,blows,yells,andexecrations,tillMrs.Bloomfieldmadeherappearance. “Whatisthematterwithmyboy?”saidshe. Andwhenthematterwasexplainedtoher,allshedidwastosendforthenursery-maidtoputtheroominorder,andbringMasterBloomfieldhissupper. “Therenow,”criedTom,triumphantly,lookingupfromhisviandswithhismouthalmosttoofullforspeech.“Therenow,MissGrey!youseeI’vegotmysupperinspiteofyou:andIhaven’tpickedupasinglething!” Theonlypersoninthehousewhohadanyrealsympathyformewasthenurseforshehadsufferedlikeafflictions,thoughinasmallerdegreeasshehadnotthetaskofteaching,norwasshesoresponsiblefortheconductofhercharge. “Oh,MissGrey!”shewouldsay,“youhavesometroublewiththemchilder!” “Ihave,indeed,BettyandIdaresayyouknowwhatitis.” “Ay,Idoso!ButIdon’tvexmyselfo’er’emasyoudo.Andthen,yousee,Ihit’emaslapsometimes:andthemlittle’uns—Igives’emagoodwhippingnowandthen:there’snothingelsewilldofor’em,aswhattheysay.Howsoever,I’velostmyplaceforit.” “Haveyou,Betty?Iheardyouweregoingtoleave.” “Eh,blessyou,yes!Missisgavemewarningathreewiksin”.ShetoldmeaforeChristmashowitmudbe,ifIhit’emagainbutIcouldn’tholdmyhandoff’ematnothing.Iknownothowyoudo,forMissMaryAnn’sworsebythehalfnorhersisters!”