Read Online Parents and Children by Ivy Compton-Burnett - Free Book Online Page B

intolerance of the creatures to whom her own life was given. ‘The nursery dinner is late. And now I must take my tray.’
    â€˜I will go up to Hatton about my hair,’ said Isabel.
    â€˜Don’t put off your lessons longer than you must,’ said Miss Mitford, in a tone of rejoinder.
    â€˜There is only one book,’ said Isabel, implying a sacrifice of opportunity to her sister.
    â€˜Why don’t they do different lessons at the same time?’ said James, without moving his eyes.
    â€˜We might find it a strain,’ said Miss Mitford.
    Mullet went to fetch the children from the garden, and Eleanor met her coming up the stairs, with the three of them clinging to her.
    â€˜Dear, dear, can’t any of you walk alone? Mullet will need to have several pairs of arms and legs.’
    â€˜Mullet help him,’ said Nevill, with a note of defiance.
    â€˜She seems to be helping the others too. I think you must all have a rest this morning,’
    â€˜Hatton sit on his little bed,’ said Nevill, as he entered the nursery.
    â€˜I have not time this morning. Mullet will stay with you for a while.’
    â€˜Mother likes us to be alone while we go to sleep,’ said Gavin.
    â€˜Her standard is too high for Nevill,’ said Hatton. ‘And I notice it sometimes is for you.’
    Honor broke into mirth.
    â€˜Don’t you mind what she says?’ said Gavin, with a note of respect.
    â€˜Hatton doesn’t mind,’ said Nevill, with tenderness and pride.
    â€˜The mistress said they were all to rest,’ said Mullet.
    â€˜Well, that is not beyond us,’ said Hatton. ‘And there need be no delay.’
    Presently Gavin awoke with a cry, and Eleanor came to his bedside. She found him sitting up, in the act of receiving a glass of water from Hatton, his demeanour accepting his situation as serious, and this view of it in others.
    â€˜What is it, my boy?’
    â€˜I want Honor to wake.’
    â€˜Did you have a dream?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Tell Mother what it is.’
    â€˜It is nothing.’
    â€˜Is it burglars?’ said Honor, suddenly sitting up straight.
    â€˜No, Gavin has had a dream and wants to tell you.’
    â€˜I don’t,’ said Gavin, turning away his head.
    â€˜What is it?’ said his sister, in a rough tone that cleared his face.
    â€˜It was a sort of a dream.’
    â€˜Were you afraid?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Will you tell me after dinner?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜It was kind of Honor to wake,’ said Eleanor.
    Gavin did not reply.
    â€˜Don’t you think it was?’
    â€˜She thought it was burglars,’ said Gavin, and turned on his side.
    â€˜What is wrong with them, Hatton?’ said Eleanor.
    â€˜Only the journey, madam. They will be themselves tomorrow.’
    â€˜I wonder the human race has been so fond of migrations, when the young take so hardly to travelling,’ said Eleanor, with her occasional dryness.
    Mullet fell into laughter and hastily left the room, as though feeling it familiar to meet an employer’s jest with the equal response of mirth. Honor looked at her mother and laughed in her turn, and Gavin surveyed them with a frown.

Chapter 3
    Eleanor went downstairs to the dining-room, where her husband, his parents and his three eldest children were assembled for luncheon.
    â€˜Hatton continues to manage the little ones in her own way. I suppose it would do no good to interfere.’
    â€˜What is wrong with the method?’ said Fulbert, seeming to gather himself together for judgement.
    â€˜A good many things that only a mother would see.’
    â€˜Then we cannot expect Hatton to be aware of them.’
    â€˜Nor the rest of us, Mother dear,’ said Luce. ‘You must not look for sympathy. I am always thankful that I had the same nurse when I was young. It takes any anxiety for the children simply off me.’
    â€˜Hatton will rule