Me and Nobbles Part 32

Bobby cheered up at once.

'I believe she will. We'll ask her.'

And then, dismissing the one flaw in the delightful plan, they talked of Bobby's old home with enthusiasm till Margot came to take them to bed.

Chapter XV.

THE OLD HOUSE AGAIN.

It was a typical spring day. The old house stood in the midst of its rhododendrons and azaleas; the red brick wall round the kitchen garden was almost hidden by the ma.s.ses of pink and white bloom upon it; the orchard was a picture of beauty, whilst the flower-beds in front were ma.s.ses of late bulbs and forget-me-nots. The house itself was the same, and yet not the same. It seemed as if it were waking up from a long sleep. Every-one of the windows was open; the hall was filled with the scent of flowers, and, as the dock in it struck five, Lady Isobel came to the door, and shading her eyes with her hands looked out along the drive. The sun was getting low, but it sent its slanting golden rays across her pretty blue gown. Her face had lost much of its sadness, and her lips were parted in smiling expectancy now, for she had caught the sound of wheels. In another moment a big dogcart swung up to the house, and the cheery voice of her husband called to her.

'Here they are safe and sound! And Margot is following with the luggage cart.'

The next minute two pairs of childish arms were embracing her.

'Oh Aunt Is'bel, we're so glad to come!'

'And Bobby hasn't cried a tear since dad went away, for we mean to be so happy.'

'That is splendid, my darling! Come along in and see some changes we have made, and then Bobby shall take us to the nursery and tell us how he likes it, and whether he thinks Margot will be happy in it.'

Bobby looked about him with eager delighted eyes. There was no question of his not noticing the changes. He remarked on every one.

'You've got new stair carpets; the walls are papered quite different.

You've got flowers in the staircase window. Oh, what pretty pictures!'

He was upstairs like lightning, none of the rooms appealed to him like his nursery. The green baize door was there still, but when he came into his old domain he drew a long breath. Pretty chintz curtains were in the windows. There was a thick soft red carpet under foot, a bookcase with delightful looking story-books, a stand of flowers, a globe of goldfish, and several fresh pictures on the walls, which had been papered with pink roses to match the chintz.

'It's like a fairy book!' said the delighted Bobby. 'She waves her wand--the fairy, you know--and all the old things come new, and the ugly things come pretty!'

'Lady Isobel is the fairy,' said True. She was looking about her with great curiosity.

'I never have lived in quite such a big house,' she said, as, after having seen the nursery, she followed Lady Isobel downstairs again, and they went in and out of all the rooms.

Bobby was still exclaiming as he went about.

'Look, True, those were the pictures which used to frown on me in the dining-room when I went in. Me and n.o.bbles finked we heard them say, "Run away; you've no business here." But they seem quite smiling now, and what lovely flowers on the dinner-table! There never used to be such pretty ones when I sawed them before. And the blinds are up, and the sun is coming in, and, oh! do come to the libr'ry and see what it's like now. There, look, True! those horrid blind heads are nearly all gone; and it's got a new carpet and pretty curtains and flowers. Oh, it's so 'normously diff'rent!'

'We are not going to have any gloomy rooms here if we can help it,'

said Lady Isobel smiling; 'and now come into the drawing-room. You are going to have tea with us there for a treat.'

It looked quite a new room to Bobby. All the furniture had been altered; magazines and books, work, and flowers gave the impression that it was a room to be lived in. It seemed to reflect some of Lady Isobel's sweet cheerfulness upon those who came inside it.

Bobby wandered round it, noting all the changes, and touching with reverent fingers many of Lady Isobel's pretty knick-knacks.

'It looks like your pretty house that I sawed when I went to tea with you long ago,' he said.

Lady Isobel nodded.

'I hoped you would like it, Bobby, darling. Your uncle and I want to have a happy home, with plenty of suns.h.i.+ne in it.'

'Will it be always summer?' asked True reflectively.

'Always in our hearts, I hope,' answered Lady Isobel.

Bobby sat down in a low, cus.h.i.+oned seat and put on his thinking cap.

Past and present presented many pictures. His uncle coming in noticed a gravity about his small face that he wished to remove. He spoke to him with a twinkle in his eye.

'Will you promise me not to put marbles in my boots to-morrow morning?'

Bobby started; then he chuckled.

'You finked it was n.o.bbles. I needn't hide from peoples now. Me and n.o.bbles can walk over the house, where we likes. Aunt Is'bel says so.'

'Do you like coming back to the old house again, darling?' asked Lady Isobel, for she had noted a certain wistfulness in Bobby's gaze.

'Yes,' he said; 'but it's a new house to me. The old one has died with grandmother; and Jenkins has gone, and Jane. Is Tom here?'

'Yes, Tom is here still, and looking forward to see you so much.'

'And the apple-tree is here,' said Mr. Egerton.

Bobby's eyes shone.

'I'll teach True how to sit on it and look over the wall,' he said.

The children ran out to the garden directly their tea was finished.

Old Tom seized hold of Bobby by both hands.

'Ay, the good old times are coming back to this house,' he said.

'I think these are new times,' said Bobby.

'No, no. I mind when the house were full of children's voices and laughter before the old master died. There's a stir that does my heart good, Master Bobby; and the master be right down hearty with all on us.

He be the proper man to be here, sure enough!'

True's delight at exploring the gardens and climbing into the apple-tree infected Bobby.

'I never had no one to play with before,' he said. 'Me and n.o.bbles used to make up plenty, but we wanted someone else to do it.'

He showed her all his old haunts with the greatest pride, then, tired out with their journey and excitement, they returned to the house and willingly went to bed. Lady Isobel paid Bobby a visit the last thing at night.

'I hope you will be happy, darling, here.'

Bobby clasped both arms round her neck.