In a few hours things had fallen naturally and easily into place. Joris

and Bram and Hyde sat talking of the formation of a regiment. Little

Joris leaned on his grandfather's shoulder listening. Lysbet and

Katherine were busy unpacking trunks full of fineries and pretty things;

occasionally stopping to give instructions to Dinorah, who was preparing

an extra tea, as Batavius and Joanna were coming to spend the evening.

"And to the elder and Janet Semple I have sent a message, also," said

Lysbet; "for I see not why anger should be nursed, or old friendships

broken, for politics."

Katherine had asked at once, with eager love, for Joanna; she had

expected that she would be waiting to welcome her. Lysbet smiled faintly

at the supposition. "She has a large family, then, and Batavius, and her

house. Seldom comes she here now."

But about four o'clock, as Katherine and Hyde were dressing, Joanna and

Batavius and all their family arrived. In a moment, their presence

seemed to diffuse itself through the house. There was a sense of

confusion and unrest, and the loud crying of a hungry baby determined to

be attended to. And Joanna was fulfilling this duty, when Katherine

hastened to meet her. Wifehood and motherhood had greatly altered the

slim, fair girl of ten years before. She had grown stout, and was untidy

in her dress, and a worried, anxious expression was continually on her

countenance. Batavius kept an eye on the children; there were five of

them beside the baby,--fat, rosy, round-faced miniatures of himself, all

having a fair share of his peculiar selfish traits, which each expressed

after its individual fashion.

Hyde met his brother-in-law with a gentlemanly cordiality; and Batavius,

who had told Joanna "he intended to put down a bit that insolent

Englishman," was quite taken off his guard, and, ere he was aware of his

submission, was smoking amicably with him, as they discussed the

proposed military organization. Very soon Hyde asked Batavius, "If he

were willing to join it?"

"When such a family a man has," he answered, waving his hand

complacently toward the six children, "he must have some prudence and

consideration. I had been well content with one child; but we must have

our number, there is no remedy. And I am a householder, and I pay my

way, and do my business. It is a fixed principle with me not to meddle

with the business of other people."

"But, sir, this is your business, and your children's business also."

"I think, then, that it is King George's business."




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024