Chapter XI.

Southland Times, Issue 15171, 15 February 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

Chapter XI.

HOW CHRISTMAS CAME TO BBANT.

Christmas was almost within sight. Liberary «ork was progressing famously all round, Robert the parroc was in voluble health, Lady Welde wa* happy, and Brant was possessed of a spirit of active contentment. Sir James fluog a sudden bombshell into their midst, jast se^en days before Christmas Day, by the announcement thai be must leave for London the next morning, in connection with a trusteeship in whion n* was interested.

Lady Welde viewed the idea with oonst:rnation. Could it not wait till warmer weather ? Could he not do his business by letter 1 Could not the other people come to Brant ? Could not half a dozan other utterly impossible things be done to obrtate his going ? • Bn% my dear,' said the Judge, ' it's quite impossible. Old Tantallon ie 82, and he'a got goat, and rheumatism, and sciatica, and weak heart, and no lunga, and incipient paralysis. It nearly kills him to get oat of bed of a morning. There are certain things we most diecnss before he goes, and he can't last long. Tbat harumscarum grandson of his will need a pretty tight haud,and I don'o intend to take him bodily on my shoulders. I'll be back inside four days, and, Bless me 1 Fm not in my dotage.' ♦ At all events, you'll take Bagot with you? He looked across at her humorously, and then whimsically at Bellenger. ' My sister got so accustomed to mothering me when I was a iiule chap, you see, Beilenger, that she never quite recognises the fact that I am now of age and can look after myself.' Little Lady Welde glanced deprccatingly at Bellenger, and he understood perfectly what wa9 in her mind.

' I have no doubt you would find Bagot an assistance, air. Is fact,' he said with a smile, • I doubt very much if he would consent to be left behind/ and Lady Welde threw him a grateful look. * Ob, well, I'll take him and look after him as well as I can,' said the Judge, laughing, ' You're evidently all of one mind ia the matter.'

4 If you will -entrust me with the journal yon are at, Sir James,' eaid Bellenger, when they were in the study that evening, *I will fet on with tbe work while you we away, c%n make the most of it out, I think, and we could correct) mistakes when yon get back/ ' I would trust you with anything, my boy,' Baid the Judge, as he lit his cigar. •But the journal can't waib very long, and I want yon to get on with your own wotk. By the wayi how are you getting on with your payments to that man Bartram ?' ' I have sent £20 since I came here. That leaves me £25 still to pay before I am clear. Seventeen weeks will do it.'

• And what news have you of your boy 1 He is keeping all right and happy f 4 Mra Platfc reports him strong and hearty. She is a faithful eld soul. 1 would have been very badly off without her, and so would Jackie.'

* Homely virtues flourish best in homely soil. In fact, I'm not sure that one might not drop the first qualification altogether and pat it that virtues flourish bett in homely BoiL Which is a somewhat grave reflection on the so-called classes. Bat undoubtedly my own experience is that if the preponderance oi crime— let as say discovered crime — is among the lower olasees — and that is largely due to their environ* meats and their temptations— the balancing virtnes, generosity, eelf-eacrifice and the moet wonderful unselfishness have far larger place among them than among the well-to-do. I have seen many extraordinary instances of it. The more a man gets the le6B generous he is, as a rale. If be gives it is of his superfluity. If you want to see pare generosity, by which I mean sharing with another what you need for yourself, you • must go right down to the gaiters and ditches. 1 After delivering himself of which discourse he sat smoking for a while in silence and with his eyes fixed on the fire. ' Do you know what is the greatest factor in the making of criminals, Belleoger ?' be he aaked. after a while. >

•Evil sar/oandings, heredity, sudden «tre»s, I should say,' said Bolleng r, quietly. « Nd — opportttnifcy. Those o here balk largely, of coarse, bat opportunity makes criminals.'

• Tnat is rather a bad look-out, sir. Opportunities must always exist.' • Yes — therefore you can never cure crime by restriction and punishment. That is 'he mistake well -meaning people make. Man is a free agent, aod opportunity will never be wanting. Until you go right to the root and raise him above the inclination to take advantage of the opportunity you are only tinkering the wind.' • Yes,' eaid Belleoger, thoughtfully. ' I Bnppoae it comes to tbat. The outlook is not very cheerful. 9 llt will become more so when people tackle it properly. The old commandments were all 4 Dontf s.' The new ones are all •Do's.' There is a world of difference between them, yet the good folks will hammer away on the old restrictive lines and close their eyes to the fact that salvation lies along the new road. I'll rub it into them in my new book. * They've had some lively cases. They ean stand a bit of preaching.' Sir Jamee left for London the following morning, and in his absence, with all bis time at his own disposal, Bellecger flang himself into bis story with all the absorption of novel and much enjoyed work, fle had his meals with Lady Welde, who rftsarked plaintively on her bt other's absence «*ch time they met. BeHenger did bis bear to aapply his place with oneerfol talk and anuguai interest in the sayings and doings of Robert, » subject on which the little l»dy was never tired of enlarging. Between meals she raw nothing of him, and indeed he never left his desk from early morning till late at night except for these absolutely necessary Juat* two days before Christmas he woke -with a start to the fact that he had got no Christmas presents for Jackie; and stfc out immediately after lunch to walk into Wytham to remedy the default. It was a bright, crisp day, with a dry sprinkling of *now which made the land wherever it had been ploughed, look like the top of sugar powdered plum cake. After his late oon pnement and inactivity* One sharp m and

quick motion were a new delight, and sent the blood spinning through his veins. He felt suddenly more alive; and some points in his story, which had been confronting him for days past, cleared themselves up ot their own accord, and be went on his way ingHe was half-way to Wytham when he met a telegraph boy loitering slowly along, between intervals devoted to the cows and seagall* and much discriminating choice Of stones for their benefit;.

' Now, you little rascal, is that telegram for Brant ?'

• Yus 1'

* Let me see it 1' and the boy, who was a new beginner, drew it out somewhat doubtfolly. ' That's all right/ said Ballenger, as be saw his own name.

It was from the Judge-— • An iving 2.45 train. Send dogcart.' He eoribbled a message on the back to Kenyon, telling him to inform Lady Welde and to cone on with the trap at once. • Now, Bee here, my boy, if you take this on to the house and give it to the man in the stable, he'll give you a lift home in the Judge's dogcart. Bat you must go quick.' ' I'll go,' and he set off at a trot, and Bellenger walked on. They caught him up just outside Wytham, and he swuog up to the back seat, bat got down again at the toy shop in the High Street.

' You may go on, Kenyon,' he said, 'if the train's late I may be in time to go homo with you. But bee; Sir James not to wait a moment for me. I've some shopping to do,' and he went in and bought Jaokie's modest Christmas presents,— a book with coloured pictures, a box of coloured chalks, a very small box of tin soldier* — and he slipped into the letter he had written & bright new shilling he had been keeping for weeks for the purpose. He had all his purohasea made into a parcel, and borrowed a pen, and addressed it to Master Jack BslluDger, No. 5, Marriot's Cottages, Cuddiford, and went along to the post office to send it off. He met the trap coming down the High Street, the Judge driving, Kenyon and Bagot behind. The Judge was evidently in the best of spirit?. His faca was all aglow, and his eyes sparkling. • Hello, Bellenger ! Jusb in time. Jump in. Going to the poßt 1 Oh, never mind that just now. Pva got something for you. In you come. We'll see to the post later on.' And BeUenger perforoe climbed in, Kenyon and Bagob grinning welcomingly over their shoulders.

' Well, and how are you ? And how's Lady Welde and Robert? Brant still stands where it did, I Buppose ? And how's the work been getting on ? Steady there, my lad,' to Bay Ronald. ' Never seen a donkey before!'

They were out oo the high road by this time, and Sir James bad been rattling on at such a pace that Bellenger could not get in a word. He felt Bomefching (scratching hiß leg under the seat and moved it slightly. Another scrape and he bent down too feel. • What on earth hare you got down there , Sir James Vhe asked. ' A monkey ?' and the Judge gave a great hearty laugh. Iwo little hands caught hold of his groping fingers, and with a shriek of delight his own little lad struggled up between bis knees — springs in his feet, his round face and blue eye9 blazing with excitement,h ; s yellow bair tossing wild and free since his cap was under the seat. Sir James had slowed do vn to walk lest Bay Ronald should catch the infection and bolt, and Jackie clambered up on to bis father's knee and flung his arms round his neck. • My dear little lad 1' eaid Bellenger with difficulty, as he ki^ed him heartily. Then he turned to Sir Jamea. 'It is like yon, sir, but I never dreamt of anythfog bo good as this.'

' Was I a a' prise, father?' shouted Jaokie. ' The very best surprise in tbe world,

« Ah, we thought we'd s'prise him, didn't we, Jackie ?' taid tbe Judge. • And we did— didn'b we, Serra James V • I rather think we did, my man.' ' Bub he liked it, Serra-James ? • Well, by the kok of bis face I should Bay he did.' , m3 'Now I want to seer the horse, 3 Baid Jackie. 'What's his name, Serra- James,?' 'He's called Bay Ron*ld.' 'That's a nice name,' said Jackie. 'Why's be oalled that name, Serra- James V

'Oh, now you're beginning again,' laughed the Judge. 'He has an insatiable appetite for knowledge,' he said to B llenger. 'I'm afraid yon must have found him a trouble, sir.' 'The result is eminently satisfactory,' said the Judge. 'He has been a great eDJ >ymeDt to me, and we're very good friende— aren't we, Jackie f •Of course,' said Jackie, with emphasis. Lady Welde received the new arrival with courteously veiled surprise, bob with no aigas of disapproval. Her relief at having tbe Judge safe borne again overlaid all her other feelings. She bad said nothing to Bellenger about it, but her anxiety had been apparent, and be quite understood that. Bbe was worrying herself with all kinda of f are of what might be happening to him. But Bagot had brought him back in safety, aad her joy aad satisfaction were great, and her welcome warm and inclusive.

Dinner was served early for the benefit of the travellers. Sir James was in huge epirita, and the ring of bi* hearty laugh tuned them all to equal gaiety. He cold them stories of the times he had bad with old Lord TantalloD, who, he said, in addition to all his other disabilities had become aa deaf as a post and as stubborn as a mule since he saw him last. He had set his mind on certain utterly impossible arrangements for the contravention of his un uly grandson, and it had taken Sir James ail his time and breath and energy to get him on to the rails again. He had dined and lunched and sopped with ho£>t9 of his old friends at his club, and was fall to the brim of their looks and sayings and doings. Jackie, under his father's watehful supervision, behaved with most exemplary propriety, though everything was about as different from good old Martha Platt's modest menage as it could possibly be. Bar Martha had her own strong ideas of propriety of behaviour, and by dint of much precept and a rigidity of personal practice, which must have sat oddly, not to say painfully, upon the kinch old soul, she had even suoceeded in inßtilling them into her little charge. He might be as wild a boy as he chose ou:side at his play. That was good for him, and made for health and happineaß. But at table he must be 'a little gentleman' — according to Martha PlaU's idea of what was necesEary thereto. And since these ran in the straight lines of modesty of demeanour, and general restraint of desire, and very clearly expressed thanks for whatver he received, his manners were beyond his years. He very distinctly "Serra James'd" Sir James. 'If you please, Scrta-Jameß.'

'Thaak you, Serra-Oames.' 'No, thank you, Serra Jamee,' in his clear little voice every time the Judge addressed him. A fresh smile flitted across the kind old face each time the words slipped out, and he seemed to enjoy the sonnd of them. His father noticed the peculiarity cf his method of addressing the Judge, and promised himself to correct it at the fi.sc opportunity. There was^an appearance of familiarity in it which ho knew was unintentional, but he feared it might give offence. Lady Welde, too, caught the strangeness of it, and peered curiously at the small boy with her bright little eyes, and said at last, •What is it be calls you, James ?' 'Sarah Jame?,l think it is,' said the Judge with a humourous t« inkle. 'Bud he meiinu well, don't you, Jackie?' But this was rather beyond the young maD, and he only Btared with wide blue eyes. 'Now d< n'r any of you stop if,' said ►.he Judge, looking poinledly at Belleogr. '1 like to hear him. He'a as fresh aa a daisy.'

B lleng- r himself put the boy to bed, and ameiryiima they had over it — J*okie iueiruoiing his father with shriek* ot laughter in the cirreei ordering of ibiugs aud arriving at la«t be ween t>be shett-t iu a state bordering on hysteiL-a at the whole parform»nce.

He Bobered down sufficiently to repeat his prayers, however, in a well-known tormula into which he interpolated, after the names of bis father and Martha and Martha's sis er a special petition for 'Serra James and the little old lady and the dear little dog called Flick.'

Wh»n Ballanger got dowa to the study, his be art biimn.ing with th<* gladnes* of the feel of tbat dear little scrap of humanity up--Btaire,he was for attempting agaiu to exprtss whao was in him. BaC the Judge stopped him at once. 'I know all yon feel about it, my boy, and I believe I am enj >ying this alausc as much as you are yourotlf. We won't talk about it. Where's your story ? I want to read it ab once.' He read the chapters Bellenger had been woiking at in his absence, and approved and enjoyed them all except the l*st one. 'Ttiat drags a bit to my thinking,' he eaid. 'I suppose you were working from dawn till dewy eve each day and barely had time to eat. Now confess. Did you have one Bingle walk while I was away ?' 'Well, no, I did pot, air — except the ona to Wyiham when I met you and Jaokie,at\d then I rode half way.'

♦Exactly. And thio'— tapping the man u " ecript—'showß it. The human brain is like any other machine — all the better for an occasional rest. It can do prodigious things afc timeß, but ordinarily its best work will be done under the most reasonable conditione. I should be inclined to s*y three boars at a time is a long enough etretch without a break, then s!ack ott, till the cords have eaßed themselves, and then on again. Fur creative work eix hoars a day I think ought to suffice Try it. Now I've got Rome news for you. I was dining »t the Carlton with my old friend Coleshill of the Westetn C»r cuit, and in the smoking-room afterwards he introduced Maeßrains the publisher to me. I'd been telling Colethill 1 was employing my leJßore in writing a book, and he booked a free copy on the spot. I had a long oh at with Maoßraine, and he's anxious to have a reading of it. He's an extremely good f-1---low, and a man of very good position and influence, and I promised him first go ac it. Tnen I thought it would be a gicd plan to sound him as to yours. I gave him an idea of it, and I am quite sure I spoke moderately enough. Ho seemed taken with what I told him. and begged me to secure him the first reading of that one too. So I think our ways seem fairly clear.'

'I never can thank you, Sir James, for all you are doing for me—' began Bellenger. •Make a sucoess of your life, my boy, and I shall be more than repaid.'

'By God's help I will,' Baid Bellenger, in a voice that told its own story.

When Bellenger orept quietly in beside his boy that night, and drew the warm round little body into his arms, and hugged it as tight) as he dared, and felt the soft rise aud fall of its even breathing against his own full heart, hiß gratitude for this crowning mercy could find no words. His heart had ached with longing for this, and now ib was filled to overflowing. When Jackie's unconscious neels landed spasmodic kicks in his Bide they were like the baling fcoucn of heavenly fingers. His wordless thanks went up on tfce soft breathings of his boy and he fell asleep at last to that, gentle music. The Judge peremptorily locked up all manuscripts till after Chrietmaa. •A life sentence,' he said briskly, 'for any one who touches pen or paper in this home till Santa CUus has come and g< ne.'

And eo they made merry, and the old gray house rang with the shouts and langbte. of youthful spirits whose ages ranged from four-and-a-half to seventy. And the twinkling legs and merry eyes of the latest arrival quickened all their heaits and- brightened all their lives. So th*t Ftiok and Lassie and the old black spaniel found their bodies quite too email for their feelings, and Robert, the parrot.talked to the wide round eyes of tlvs new appreciative andienoe a9 he had never talked in his life before, and little Lady Welde's long bereft motherly arms captured the mercurial 6gure whenever they could, and there were tears in the Mtle brown eyes as ehe kissed him. And even Bagot the *ged was one time discovered running— actually running— dowDßtairs to e'c»pe ttie bloodthirsty pursuit of a band of Wild Indiana enpased in one pair of very short blue serge knickerbockers. At which sight Bir James buried himself in his study oh»ir in convulsions of laughter— for Bagot bad never run a step for twenty yeare,and would not have quickened his paoe for t^e Lord Chief Justioe or the Prince of Wales himstlf.

And the merry walks they had !— through the enchantments of the frost-nmed woodß, and away along the iron-bound flats, with the sea like a streak of lead behind the further barks.and the sun a winging in the grey eky like a blood orange, and the seagullscreaming overhead as fchoy flew to battle with the crows for She pickings of the hinterland. A light merry time, a time of times— Christmas time !

On Chrißtmau Eve Jackie duly hungup hii Btooking.and Sir James aod Lady Welde, who had neither of them teb eyes on that moat beautiful expression of a hopeful heart for very many years, both made pilgrimages to it, and paid their devoirs to euch good pnrpoae that Obristmaß Burning came in at Brant as it should come in everywhere where child hearts can be made happy at so small a cost, with shouts of amazement and delight, and thanks that tumbled headlong in their haste.

And for John Bellenger there was one small envelope addressed in the Judge's hieroglyphics, and iaside it were two sheets of paper, one from Sir James himself, inscribed* 'With kindosb regardß and beat

wishes,' the other a receipt in full from Silas Bartram for the balance of the amount due to him on the old debt. And when Belleoger saw what it was he managed to dress Jackie somehow, though his handi shook so that he could hardly button a button, and when he had packed him off to carry hia own thanks to the Judge,he turned the key in the door and knelt down beside his bed.

God be thanked for Christmas bimi, aod tho widening and enlarging of hearts that it brings !