"'They cannot do any, sister,' said Mr. Evans, 'if they keep to their
places. They must not go into the garden, there is abundant room for
them to play in elsewhere, and they shall have as much fruit as is good
for them. Mind, boys, on honour, no going into the garden. You shall
not need, for as Mr. Low kindly leaves us the use of the fruit, you
shall have your full share.'
"'You hear, young gentlemen,' said Miss Evans; 'Master Meekin, Master
Griffith, Master Price----'
"'And Master Low,' added Mr. Evans, 'you are, on honour, not to go into
the garden.'
"'Master Low!' repeated Miss Grizzy; 'Master Low not to go into his
papa's garden?'
"Mr. Evans never disputed with his sister before the boys, and not,
indeed, very often when alone with her, for he loved peace and
quietness, and she would always have many last words; so he said no
more; and she, tapping Bernard gently on the back, said, in a low
voice:
"'That would be hard, would not it, to keep you out of your dear papa's
own garden?'
"'I should think so,' answered Bernard, in the same low voice.
"This was only the beginning; and as Miss Grizzy went on as she had
begun, in setting up Bernard, and flattering him to the very utmost in
her power, there is much reason to fear that he was not likely to be
the better for being left with her.
"Griffith, with his friends Meekin and Price, would soon have given him
a lesson or two of another kind, had not Stephen watched them; but
Stephen had been well tutored by his aunt, and as much was gained them
from Mr. Low's friendship, besides the honour of having Master Low at
school, they cared for nothing so much as keeping the naughty boy in
good humour.
"As to Mr. Evans, he was a simple, earnest man, not suspecting evil of
others, and anxious to do good. He was kind to all his pupils; he never
made a difference: and it was for his sake that any boys remained in
the house; so that he really caused the family to prosper, whilst his
sister fancied it was all her own doing.
"The next day Mr. Evans began to give his lessons; and kept them on
most regularly till the Midsummer holidays. He was not aware that
Bernard had any other indulgence but being helped first at table, which
he did not quite like; and he kept him as close as the others at his
lessons.
"But Miss Grizzy, and Stephen, and Bernard were too deep for him; and
there was no end of the indulgences given in private to the boy. He had
cakes, and puffs, and strawberries and cream given him, when nobody saw
it, by Miss Evans.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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