The Trial [210]
arrival. One evening, there was a loud peal at the door-bell, and the maid-- one of Ethel's experiments of training--came in. 'Please, sir, a gentleman has brought a cockatoo and a letter and a little boy from the archdeacon.' 'Archdeacon!' cried Dr. May, catching sight of the handwriting on the letter and starting up. 'Archdeacon Norman--' 'One of Norman's stray missionaries and a Maori newly caught; oh, what fun!' cried Daisy, in ecstasy. At that moment, through the still open door, walking as if he had lived there all his life, there entered the prettiest little boy that ever was seen--a little knickerbocker boy, with floating rich dark ringlets, like a miniature cavalier coming forth from a picture, with a white cockatoo on his wrist. Not in the least confused, he went straight towards Dr. May and said, 'Good-morning, grandpapa.' 'Ha! And who may you be, my elfin prince?' said the Doctor. 'I'm Dickie--Richard Rivers May--I'm not an elfin prince,' said the boy, with a moment's hurt feeling. 'Papa sent me.' By that time the boy was fast in his grandfather's embrace, and was only enough released to give him space to answer the eager question, 'Papa--papa here?' 'Oh no; I came with Mr. Seaford.' The Doctor hastily turned Dickie over to the two aunts, and hastened forth to the stranger, whose name he well knew as a colonist's son, a favourite and devoted clerical pupil of Norman's. 'Aunt Ethel,' said little Richard, with instant recognition; 'mamma said you would be like her, but I don't think you will.' 'Nor I, Dickie, but we'll try. And who's that!' 'Yes, what am I to be like?' asked Gertrude. 'You're not Aunt Daisy--Aunt Daisy is a little girl.' Gertrude made him the lowest of curtseys; for not to be taken for a little girl was the compliment she esteemed above all others. Dickie's next speech was, 'And is that Uncle Aubrey?' 'No, that's Leonard.' Dickie shook hands with him very prettily; but then returning upon Ethel, observed, 'I thought it was Uncle Aubrey, because soldiers always cut their hair so close.' The other guest was so thoroughly a colonist, and had so little idea of anything but primitive hospitality, that he had had no notion of writing beforehand to announce his coming, and accident had delayed the letters by which Norman and Meta had announced their decision of sending home their eldest boy under his care. 'Papa had no time to teach me alone,' said Dickie, who seemed to have been taken into the family councils; 'and mamma is always busy, and I wasn't getting any good with some of the boys that come to school to papa.' 'Indeed, Mr. Dickie!' said the Doctor, full of suppressed laughter. 'It is quite true,' said Mr. Seaford; 'there are some boys that the archdeacon feels bound to educate, but who are not desirable companions for his son.' 'It is a great sacrifice,' remarked the young gentleman. 'Oh, Dickie, Dickie,' cried Gertrude, in fits, 'don't you be a prig--' 'Mamma said it,' defiantly answered Dickie. 'Only a parrot,' said Ethel, behind her handkerchief; but Dickie, who heard whatever he was not meant to hear, answered-- 'It is not a parrot, it is a white cockatoo, that the chief of (something unutterable) brought down on his wrist like a hawk to the mission-ship; and that mamma sent as a present to Uncle George.' 'I prefer the parrot that has fallen to my share,' observed the Doctor. It was by this time perched beside him, looking perfectly at ease and thoroughly at home. There was something very amusing in the aspect of the little man; he so completely recalled his mother's humming- bird title by the perfect look of finished porcelain perfection that even a journey from the Antipodes with only gentleman nursemaids had not destroyed. The ringleted rich brown hair shone like glossy silk, the cheeks were like painting, the trim well-made legs and small hands and feet looked dainty and fairy-like, yet not at all effeminate; hands and face were a healthy brown, and contrasted with the little white collar, the set of which made Ethel exclaim, 'Just look, Daisy, that's what I always told you about