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Speaker 1: The Pea Sag by Juliana Horatia ewing One. Everyone ought

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to be happy at Christmas, but there are many things

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which ought to be and yet are not, And people

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are sometimes sad, even in the Christmas holidays. The captain

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and his wife were sad though it was Christmas Eve.

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Sad though they were in the prime of life, blessed

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with good health, devoted to each other and to their children,

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with competent means, a comfortable house on a little freehold,

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property of their own, and one might say everything that

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heart could desire. Sad though they were good people, whose

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peace of mind had a firmer foundation than their earthly

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goods alone. Contented people too, with plenty of occupation for

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mind and body, sad, and in the nursery this was

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held to be past all reason. Though the children were

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performing that ancient and most entertaining play or Christmas Mystery,

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known as the Peace eg for their benefit and behoof alone.

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The play was none the worse that most of the

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actors were too young to learn parts, so that there

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was very little of the rather tedious dialogue, only plenty

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of dress and ribbons, and of fighting with the wooden swords.

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But though Robert, the eldest of the five children, looked

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bonny enough to warm any father's heart as he marched

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up and down with an air learned by watching many

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a parade in Barrack Square and drill ground. And though

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Nicholas did not cry in spite of falling hard, and Dora,

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who took the part of the doctor, treading accidentally on

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his little finger and picking him up, still the captain

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and his wife sighed nearly as often as they smiled,

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and the mother dropped tears as well as pennies into

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the cap which tom As, the King of Egypt, brought

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round after the performance. Two many many years back. The

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captain's wife had been a child herself, and had laughed

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to see the village mummers act the peace Egg, and

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had been quite happy on Christmas Eve, happy though she

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had no mother, Happy though her father was a stern man,

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very fond of his only child, but with an obstinate

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will that not even she dared thwart. She had lived

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to thwart it, and he had never forgiven her. It

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was when she married the captain. The old man had

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a prejudice against soldiers, which was quite reason enough in

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his opinion, for his daughter to sacrifice the happiness of

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her future life by giving up the soldier she loved.

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At last, he gave her her choice between the captain

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and his own favor and money. She chose the captain

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and was disowned and disinherited. The captain bore a high

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character and was a good and clever officer, but that

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went for nothing against the old man's whim. He made

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a very good husband, too, But even this did not

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move his father in law, who had never held any

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intercourse with him or his wife since the day of

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their marriage, and who had never seen his own grandchildchildren.

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Amid the ups and downs of their wanderings, the discomforts

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of shipboard and of stations in the colonies, bad servants,

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and unwonted sicknesses, the Captain's tenderness never failed. If the

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life was rough, the captain was ready. He had been,

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by turns in one straight or another, sick nurse, doctor, carpenter,

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nurse maid, and cooked to his family, and had moreover

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an idea that nobody filled these offices quite so well

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as himself. Withal. His very profession kept him neat, well dressed,

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and active in the roughest of their ever changing quarters.

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He was a smart man and never changed his manner

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from that of the lover of his wife's young days.

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As years went and children came, the captain and his

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wife grew tired of traveling. New scenes were small comfort

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when they heard of the death of old friends. One

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foot of the dear old, dull home sky was dearer

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after all than miles of the unclouded heavens of the south.

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The gray hills and overgrown lanes of her old home

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haunted the captain's wife by night and day, and homesickness,

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that weariest of all sicknesses, began to take the light

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out of her eyes. Before their time. It preyed upon

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the captain too now and then he would say, fretfully,

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I should like a resting place in our own country,

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however small before everybody is dead. But the children's prospects

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have to be considered. The continued estrangement from the old

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man was an abiding sorrow also, and they had hopes

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that if only they could get home, he might be

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persuaded to peace and charity. This time, at last they

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were sent home, but the hard old father still would

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not relent. He returned their letters unopened This bitter disappointment

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made the captain's wife so ill that she almost died,

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and in one month the captain's hair became iron gray.

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He reproached himself for having ever taken the daughter from

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her father to kill her at last, as he said,

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and thinking of his own children, he even reproached himself

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for having robbed the old widower of his only child.

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After two years at home, his regiment was ordered again

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on foreign duty. He failed to effect in exchange, and

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they prepared to move once more from Chatham to Calcutta.

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Never before had the packing to which she was so

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well accustomed been so bitter a task to the captain's wife.

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It was at the darkest hour of this gloomy time

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that the captain came in, waving above his head a

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letter which changed all their plans. Now close by the

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old home of the captain's wife there had lived a

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man much older than herself, who yet had loved her

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with a devotion as great as that of the young captain.

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She never knew it, for when he saw that she

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had given her heart to his younger rival, he kept silence,

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and he never asked for what he knew he might

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have had the old man's authority in his favor. So

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generous was the affection which he could never conquer, that

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he constantly tried to reconcile the father to his children

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whilst he lived, And when he died he bequeathed his

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house and small estate to the woman he had loved.

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It will be a legacy of peace, he thought on

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his death bed. The old man cannot hold out when

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she and her children are constantly in sight. And it

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may please God that I shall know of the reunion

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I have not been permitted to see with my eyes.

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And thus it came about that the captain's regiment went

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to India without him, and that the captain's wife and

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her father lived on opposite sides of the same road. Three.

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The eldest of the captain's children was a boy. He

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was named Robert after his grandfather, and seemed to have

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inherited a good deal of the old gentleman's character mixed

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with gentler traits. He was a fair fine boy, tall

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and stout for his age, with the captain's regular features,

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and he flattered himself the Captain's firm step and marshal bearing.

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He was apt, like his grandfather to hold his own

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will to be other people's law, and happily for the

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peace of the nursery. This opinion was devoutly shared by

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his brother Nicholas. Though the Captain had left the army,

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Robin continued to command an irregular force of volunteers in

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the nursery, and never was Colonel more despotic. His brothers

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and sisters were, by turn infantry, cavalry, engineers, and artillery.

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According to his whim, the captain alone was a match

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for his strong willed son. If you please, sir, said

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Sarah one morning, flouncing in upon the Captain, just as

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he was about to start for the neighboring town. If

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you please, sir, I wish you'd speak to Master Robert.

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He's past my powers. I've no doubt about it, thought

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the captain. But he only said, Well, what's the matter?

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Night after night do I put him to bed? Said Sarah?

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And night after night does he get up as soon

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as I'm out of the room, and says he's orderly

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officer for the evening and goes about in his night

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shirt and his feet as bare as boards. The captain

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fingered his heavy mustache to hide a smile, but he

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listened patiently to Sarah's complaints. It ain't so much ham

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I should mind, Sir, she continued, But he goes round

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the beds and wakes up the other young gentleman and

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Miss Dora, one after another. And when I speak to him,

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he gives me all the sauce he can lay his

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tongue to and says he's going round the guards. The

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other night, I tried to put him back in his bed,

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but he got away and ran all over the house,

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ME hunting him everywhere, and not a sign of him

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till he jumps out on me from the garret stairs

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and nearly knocks me down. I visited the outposts, Sarah

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says he all's well, and off he goes to bed

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bowl as brass. Have you spoken to your mistress, asked

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the captain. Yes, Sir, said Sarah, and Missus spoke to him,

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and he promised not to go round the guards again.

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Has he broken his promise? Asked the captain, with a

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look of anger and also of surprise. When I opened

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the door last night, Sir, continued Sarah in her shrill trouble.

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What should I see in the dark? But Master robert

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a walking up and down with the carpet brush stuck

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in his arm. Who goes there, says he? You are dashes, boy,

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says I didn't you promise Erma you'd leave off them tricks.

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I'm not going round the guards, says he. I promised not.

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But I'm for sentry duty to night and say what

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I would to him. All he had for me was

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you mustn't speak to a sentry on dirty so I says,

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as sure as I lived till morning, I'll go to

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your pa, for he pays no more attention to his

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mod than to me, nor to any one else. Please

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to see that the bed is taken out of my

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dressing room, said the captain. I will attend to Master Robert.

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With this, Sarah had to con herself and she went

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back to the nursery. Robert was nowhere to be seen

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and made no reply to her summons. On this, the

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unwary nursemaid flounced into the bedroom to look for him,

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when Robert, who was hidden beneath the table, darted forth

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and promptly locked her in. You're under a rest, he

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shouted through the keyhole. Let me out, shrieked Sarah. I'll

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send a file of the guard to fetch you to

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the orderly room, by and by, said Robert, for preferring

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frivolous complaints, and he departed to the farm yard to

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look at the ducks. That night, when Robert went up

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to bed, the captain quietly locked him into his dressing room,

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from which the bed had been removed. You're for sentry

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duty to night, said the captain. The carpet brushes in

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the corner. Good evening. As his father anticipated, Robert was

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soon tired of the sentry game in these new circumstances,

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and long before the knight had half worn away, he

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wished himself safely undressed and in his own comfortable bed.

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At half past two o'clock, he felt as if he

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could bear it no longer, and knocked at the captain's door.

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Who goes there? Said the captain. Mayn't I go to bed, please?

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Whined poor Robert. Certainly not, said the captain. You're on duty.

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And on duty, poor Robert had to remain, for the

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captain had a will as well as his son. So

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he rolled himself up in his father's railway rug and

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slept on the floor. The next night, he was very

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glad to go quietly to bed and remained there. Four

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the captain's children sat at breakfast in a large, bright nursery.

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It was the room where the old bachelor had died,

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and now her children made it merry. This was just

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what he would have wished. They all sat around the table,

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for it was breakfast time. There were five of them,

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and five bowls of boiled bread and milk smoked before them. Sarah,

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a foolish gossiping girl who acted as nurse till better

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could be found, was waiting on them, and by the

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table sat Darky, the black retriever, his long curly back

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swaying slightly from the difficulty of holding himself up, and

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his solemn hazel eyes fixed very intently on each and

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all of the breakfast bowls. He was as silent and

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sagacious as Sarah was talkative and empty headed. Though large,

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he was unassuming packs The pug, on the contrary, who

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came up to the first joint of Darky's legs, stood

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defiantly on his dignity and his short stumps. He always

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placed himself in front of the bigger dog and made

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a point of hustling him in doorways and of going

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first downstairs. Robert's tongue was seldom idle, even at meals Sarah,

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Who is that tall old gentleman at church in the

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seat near the pulpit, he asked. He wears a cloak

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like what the blues were, only all blue, and is

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tall enough for a lifeguardsman. He stood when we were

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kneeling down and said, Almighty and most merciful Father, louder

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than anybody. Sarah knew who the old gentleman was, and

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knew also that the children did not know, and that

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their parents did not see fit to tell them as yet.

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But she had a passion for telling and hearing news,

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and would rather gossip with the child than not gossip

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at all. Never you mind, master Robin, she said, nodding sagaciously.

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Little boys aren't to know everything. Ah. Then I know

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you don't know, replied Robert. If you did, you'd tell

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I do, said Sarah. You don't, said Robin. Your mass

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forbid you to contradict, Master Robin, said Sarah, And if

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you do, I shall tell her. I know well enough

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who the old gentleman is, and perhaps I might tell you.

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Only you'd go straight off and tell again. No, No,

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I wouldn't, shouted Robin. I can keep a secret. Indeed,

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I can pinch my little finger and try. Do do

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tell me Sarah, there's a dear Sarah, and then I

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shall know you know? And he danced round her, catching

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at her skirts. To keep a secret was beyond Sarah's powers.

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Do let my dress be, master Robin, she said, you're

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ripping out all the gathers, and listen while I whispered,

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as sure as your boy, the gentleman's your own grandpapa.

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Robin lost his hold on Sarah's dress. His arms fell

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by his side, and he stood with his brows knit

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for some minutes thinking. Then he said, emphatically, what lies

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you do? Tell Sarah? Oh, Robin, cried Nicholas, who had

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drawn near his thick curls, standing stark with curiosity. Mamma said,

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lies wasn't a proper word, and you promised not to

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say it again. I forgot, said Robin. I didn't mean

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to break my promise, but she does tell ahem. You

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know what, you wicked boy, cried the enraged Sarah. How

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dare you say such a thing? And everybody in the

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place knows he's your ma's own pa. I'll go and

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ask her, said Robin, and he was at the door

255
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in a moment, but Sarah, alarmed by the thought of

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getting into a scrape herself, caught him by the arm.

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Don't you go, Love, it'll only make your ma angry.

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There it was all my nonsense. Then it's not true,

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said Robin indignantly. What did you tell me so for

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it was all my jokes and nonsense, said the unscrupulous Sarah.

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But your ma wouldn't like to know I've said such

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a thing. And Master Robert wouldn't be so mean as

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to tell tales, would he Love. I'm not mean, said

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Robin stoutly. And I don't tell tales, but you do,

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and you tell you know what. Besides, however, I won't

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go this time, but I'll tell you what if you

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tell tales of me to Papa any more, I'll tell

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him what you said about the old gentleman in the

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blue cloak, with which parting threat, Robin strode off to

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join his brothers and sisters. Five after Robert left the nursery,

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he strolled out of doors, and peeping through the gate

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at the end of the drive, he saw a party

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of boys going through what looked like a military exercise

274
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with sticks and a good deal of stamping, but instead

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of mere words of command, they all spoke by turns,

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as in a play. Not being at all shy, he

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joined them and asked so many questions that he soon

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got to know all about it. They were practicing a

279
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Christmas mumming play called thee Why it was called thus,

280
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they could not tell him, as there was nothing whatever

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about eggs in it, and so far from being a

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play of peace, it was made up of a series

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of battles between certain valiant knights and princes. The rehearsal

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being over, Robin went with the boys to the sexton's house.

285
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He was fathered to one of the characters, called the

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King of Egypt, where they showed him the dresses they

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were to wear. These were made of gay colored materials

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and covered with ribbons, except that of the Black Prince

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of Paradine, which was black as became his title. The

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boys also showed him the book from which they learned

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their parts, and which was to be bought at the

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post office store. Then are you the mummers who come

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around at Christmas and act in people's kitchens and people

294
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give them money that Mamma used to tell us about,

295
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said Robin. The boy hesitated a moment, and then said, well,

296
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I suppose we are, And do you go out in

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the snow from one house to another at night? And oh,

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don't you enjoy it? Cried Robin. We like it well enough,

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the lad admitted. Robin bought a copy of The Peace Egg.

300
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He was resolved to have a nursery performance and to

301
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take the chief part himself. The others were willing for

302
00:17:11,039 --> 00:17:14,480
what he wished. But there were difficulties. In the first place,

303
00:17:14,519 --> 00:17:16,960
there are eight characters in the play, and there were

304
00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,640
only five children. They decided among themselves to leave out

305
00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:24,119
the Fool, and Mamma said that another character was not

306
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to be acted by any of them, or indeed mentioned

307
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the little one who comes in at the end. Robin explained.

308
00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:34,119
Mamma had her reasons, and these were always good. She

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had not been altogether pleased that Robin had bought the play.

310
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It was a very old thing, she said, and very queer,

311
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not adapted for a child's play. If Mamma thought the

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parts not quite fit for the children to learn, they

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found them much too long. So in the end she

314
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picked out some bits for each which they learned easily,

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and which with a good deal of fighting, made quite

316
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as good a story of it as if they had

317
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done the whole. What may have been wanting otherwise was

318
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made up for by the dresses, which were charming. Robin

319
00:18:03,839 --> 00:18:08,279
was Saint George, Nicholas, the valiant slasher, Dora the doctor,

320
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and the other two Hector and the King of Egypt.

321
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And now we've no black prince, cried Robin in dismay.

322
00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,839
Let Darky be the black Prince, said Nicholas. When you

323
00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:21,119
wave your stick, he'll jump for it. Then you can

324
00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:23,880
pretend to fight with him. It's not a stick, it's

325
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a sword, said Robin. However, Darky may be the black Prince.

326
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And what's packs to be, asked Dora, For you know

327
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he will come. If Darky does, and he'll run in

328
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before everybody else too, then he must be the fool,

329
00:18:37,039 --> 00:18:39,319
said Robin. And it will do very well, for the

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fool comes in before the rest, and packs can have

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his red coat on and the collar with the little bells. Six.

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Robin thought that Christmas would never come to the Captain

333
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and his wife. It seemed to come too fast. They

334
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have hoped it might bring reconciliation with the old man,

335
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but it seemed they had hoped in vain. There were

336
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times now that the Captain almost regretted the old bachelor's bequest.

337
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The familiar scenes of her old home sharpened his wife's grief.

338
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To see her father every Sunday in church, with marks

339
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of age and infirmity on him, but with not a

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look of tenderness for his only child. This tried her sorely.

341
00:19:17,279 --> 00:19:20,119
She felt it less abroad, thought the Captain, a home

342
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in which she frets herself. The death is, after all,

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no great boon. Christmas Eve came. I'm sure it's quite

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Christmas enough now, said Robin. We'll have the peace egg

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to night. So as the Captain and his wife sat

346
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sadly over their fire, the door opened and packs ran in,

347
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shaking bells, followed by the nursery mummers. The performance was

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most successful. It was by no means pathetic, and yet,

349
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as has been said, the captain's wife shed tears. What

350
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is the matter, mamma, said Robert, abruptly, dropping his sword

351
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and running up to her. Don't tease mamma with questions,

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said the captain. She is not very well and rather sad.

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We must all be very kind and good to poor

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dear Mamma, and the Captain raised his wife's hand to

355
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his lips as he spoke. Robin seized the other hand

356
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and kissed it tenderly. He was very fond of his mother.

357
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At this moment, Pax took a little run and jumped

358
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onto Mamma's lap, where sitting facing the company, he opened

359
00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,880
his black mouth and yawned with a ludicrous inappropriateness worthy

360
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of any clown. It made everybody laugh. And now we'll

361
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go act in the kitchen, said Nicholas. Supper at nine o'clock, remember,

362
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shouted the captain, and we are going to have real

363
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frum and tea and yule cakes, such as Mamma used

364
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to tell us of when we were abroad. Hooray, shouted

365
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the mummers, and they ran off packs, leaping from his

366
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seat just in time to hustle the black prints in

367
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the doorway. When the dining room door was shut, Robert

368
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raised his hand and shouted hush. The mummers pricked their ears,

369
00:20:51,839 --> 00:20:54,359
but there was only a distant, harsh and scraping sound

370
00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:58,759
as of stones rubbed together. They're cleaning the passages, Robert

371
00:20:58,839 --> 00:21:00,759
went on, and Sarah told told me they meant to

372
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finish the missiletoe and have everything cleaned up by supper time.

373
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They don't want us, I know. Look here, we'll go

374
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real mumming instead. That will be fun. Nicholas grinned with delight.

375
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But will Mamma let us, he inquired. Oh it will

376
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be all right if we're back by supper time, said

377
00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:21,640
Robert hastily. Only, of course, we must take care not

378
00:21:21,759 --> 00:21:24,680
to catch cold. Come and help me get some wraps.

379
00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:28,400
The old oak chest in which spare shawls, rugs and

380
00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,480
coats were kept, was soon ransacked, and the mummers gay

381
00:21:31,599 --> 00:21:35,640
dresses hidden by motley wrappers. But no sooner did Darkian

382
00:21:35,759 --> 00:21:38,400
packs behold the coats, et cetera, than they at once

383
00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:41,039
began to leap and bark, as it was their custom

384
00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:44,039
to do when they saw anyone dressing to go out.

385
00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,279
Robin was sorely afraid that this would betray them, But

386
00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,680
though the captain and his wife heard the barking, they

387
00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,920
did not guess the cause. So the front door being

388
00:21:53,039 --> 00:21:58,720
very gently opened and closed, the nursery mummers stole away. Seven.

389
00:21:59,759 --> 00:22:02,640
It was a very fine night. The snow was well

390
00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:05,200
trodden on the drive, so that it did not wet

391
00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:07,519
their feet, but on the trees and shrubs it hung

392
00:22:07,599 --> 00:22:11,000
soft and white. It's much jollier being out at night

393
00:22:11,079 --> 00:22:14,759
than in the daytime, said Robin, much, responded Nicholas with

394
00:22:14,839 --> 00:22:19,039
intense feeling. We'll go a wastling next week, said Robin.

395
00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:21,400
I know all about it, and perhaps we shall get

396
00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,200
a good lot of money, and then we'll buy tin

397
00:22:23,279 --> 00:22:26,640
swords with scabbards for next year. I don't like these sticks,

398
00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,599
Oh dear, I wish it wasn't so long between one

399
00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,160
Christmas and another. Where shall we go first, asked Nicholas,

400
00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,720
as they turned into the high road. This is the

401
00:22:35,759 --> 00:22:38,960
first house, he said. We'll act here and all pressed

402
00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,079
in as quickly as possible. Once safe within the grounds,

403
00:22:42,079 --> 00:22:45,839
they shouldered their sticks and marched with composure. You're going

404
00:22:45,839 --> 00:22:48,200
to the front door, said Nicholas. Mummers ought to go

405
00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,559
to the back. We don't know where it is, said Robin,

406
00:22:51,599 --> 00:22:54,000
and he rang the front door bell. There was a pause,

407
00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,680
then lights shone, steps were heard, and at last a

408
00:22:56,799 --> 00:23:00,200
sound of much unbarring, unbolting, and unlocking. It might in

409
00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,839
a prison. Then the door was opened by an elderly,

410
00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,920
timid looking woman who held a tallow candle above her head.

411
00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:10,559
Who's there, she said? At this time of night, we're

412
00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:13,720
Christmas mummers, said Robin stoutly. We didn't know the way

413
00:23:13,799 --> 00:23:16,519
to the back door, but and don't you know better

414
00:23:16,559 --> 00:23:18,920
than to come here, said the woman. Be off with

415
00:23:19,039 --> 00:23:22,200
you as fast as you can. You're only the servant,

416
00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:24,680
said Robin. Go and ask your master and mistress if

417
00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:26,680
they wouldn't like to see us act, we'd do it

418
00:23:26,839 --> 00:23:30,880
very well, you impudent boy, Be off with you, repeated

419
00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,640
the woman. Master'd no more let you, nor any other

420
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such rubbish set foot in this house. Woman shouted a

421
00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:40,160
voice close behind her, which made her start as if

422
00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:43,039
she had been shot. Who authorizes you to say? What's

423
00:23:43,079 --> 00:23:46,039
your master will or will not do? Before you? Asked them?

424
00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:49,200
The boy is right, you are the servant, and it

425
00:23:49,319 --> 00:23:51,799
is not your business to choose for me whom I

426
00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,519
shall or shall not see. I'm int no harm, sir,

427
00:23:55,599 --> 00:23:58,480
I'm sure, said the housekeeper. But I thought you'd never

428
00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,319
my good woman, said her master. If I had wanted

429
00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,200
somebody to think for me, you're the last person I

430
00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,599
should have employed. I hire you to obey orders, not

431
00:24:08,759 --> 00:24:12,599
to think. I'm sure, sir, said the housekeeper, whose only

432
00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:16,000
form of argument was reiteration. I never thought you would

433
00:24:16,039 --> 00:24:19,440
have seen them. Then you were wrong, shouted the master.

434
00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:23,240
I will see them, bring them in. He was a tall,

435
00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:26,480
gaunt old man, and Robin stared at him for some minutes,

436
00:24:26,599 --> 00:24:29,480
wondering where he could have seen somebody very like him.

437
00:24:30,079 --> 00:24:33,880
At last he remembered it was the old gentleman of

438
00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:37,400
the blue cloak. The children threw off their wraps, the

439
00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:42,799
housekeeper helping them and chattering ceaselessly from sheer nervousness. Well

440
00:24:42,839 --> 00:24:46,039
to be sure, said she. Their dresses are pretty too,

441
00:24:46,319 --> 00:24:48,799
and they seem quite a better sort of children. They

442
00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,680
talk quite genteel. I might have known they weren't like

443
00:24:51,759 --> 00:24:54,720
common mummers, but I was so flustrated hearing the bell

444
00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:58,079
goes so late. And are the reddies, said the old man,

445
00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:00,400
who stood like a ghost in the dim light of

446
00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:04,359
the flaring tallow candle, grimly watching the proceedings. Yes, sir,

447
00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:07,119
shall I take them to the kitchen, sir, for you

448
00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,079
and the other idle hussies to gape in grinette. No,

449
00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:13,799
bring them to the library, he snapped, and then stalked off,

450
00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:17,119
leading the way. The housekeeper accordingly led them to the

451
00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,440
library and then withdrew, nearly falling on her face as

452
00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,359
she left the room by stumbling over Darky, who slipped

453
00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:26,440
in last like a black shadow. The old man was

454
00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:29,680
seated in a carved oak chair by the fire. I

455
00:25:29,799 --> 00:25:32,160
never said the dogs were to come in, he said,

456
00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,759
But we can't do without them. Please, said Robin boldly.

457
00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,039
You see, there are eight people in the Peace Egg,

458
00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:40,359
and there are only five of us. So Darky has

459
00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:42,359
to be the Black Prince, and Packs has to be

460
00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:45,240
the fools. So we have to have them. Five and

461
00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:48,039
two make seven, said the old man, with a grim smile.

462
00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:50,759
What do you do for the eighth? Oh that's the

463
00:25:50,799 --> 00:25:54,039
one at the end, said Robin confidently. Mamma said we

464
00:25:54,039 --> 00:25:56,880
weren't to mention him. But I think that's because we're children.

465
00:25:57,119 --> 00:25:59,000
You're grown up, you know. So I'll show you the

466
00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:01,079
book and you can see for yourself. He went on,

467
00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,440
drawing the Peace Egg from his pocket. There that's the

468
00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,039
picture of him on the last page, black with horns

469
00:26:07,039 --> 00:26:10,559
and a tail. The old man's stern face relaxed into

470
00:26:10,599 --> 00:26:13,880
a broad smile as he examined the grotesque wood cut,

471
00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:16,279
but when he turned to the first page. The smile

472
00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:19,039
vanished into a deep frown, and his eyes shone like

473
00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:23,759
hot coals with anger. He had seen Robin's name. Oh

474
00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:26,759
sent you here, he asked, in a hoarse voice. Speak

475
00:26:26,799 --> 00:26:29,039
and speak the truth. Did your mother send you here?

476
00:26:29,799 --> 00:26:32,039
Robin thought the old man was angry with them for

477
00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:36,400
playing truant, he said slowly. N No, she didn't exactly

478
00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:38,640
send us, but I don't think she'll mind our having

479
00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:41,200
come if we get back in time for supper. Mamma

480
00:26:41,279 --> 00:26:44,599
never forbid our going mumming. You know, I don't suppose

481
00:26:44,599 --> 00:26:47,319
she ever thought of it, Nicholas said, candidly, wagging his

482
00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:50,599
curly head from side to side. She knows we're mummers,

483
00:26:50,599 --> 00:26:53,079
said Robin, for she helped us when we were abroad.

484
00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:55,279
You know. She used to tell us about the mummers

485
00:26:55,319 --> 00:26:58,000
acting at Christmas when she was a little girl. So

486
00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,759
we thought we'd be mummers, and so we acted to

487
00:27:00,799 --> 00:27:03,279
Papa and Maman. So we thought we'd act to the maids,

488
00:27:03,559 --> 00:27:05,960
but they were cleaning the passages, so we thought we'd

489
00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:08,559
really go mumming. And we'd got several other houses to

490
00:27:08,599 --> 00:27:11,480
go to before supper time. We'd better begin, I think,

491
00:27:11,559 --> 00:27:14,079
said Robin, and without more ado, he began to march

492
00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,720
round and round, raising his sword, and the performance went

493
00:27:16,759 --> 00:27:20,759
off quite as creditably as before. As the children acted,

494
00:27:20,759 --> 00:27:23,799
the old man's anger wore off. He watched them with

495
00:27:23,839 --> 00:27:26,960
an interest he could not repress. When Nicholas took some

496
00:27:27,079 --> 00:27:30,319
hard wax from Robert without flinching, the old man clapped

497
00:27:30,319 --> 00:27:33,279
his hands, and after the encounter was over he said

498
00:27:33,319 --> 00:27:36,720
he would not have had the dogs excluded on any consideration.

499
00:27:37,319 --> 00:27:39,640
It was just at the end, when they were all

500
00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:42,599
marching round and round, holding on by each other's swords

501
00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:45,920
over the shoulder, and singing a mumming we will go,

502
00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:49,000
et cetera, that Nicholas suddenly brought the circle to a

503
00:27:49,039 --> 00:27:51,759
standstill by stopping dead short and staring up at the

504
00:27:51,799 --> 00:27:55,599
wall before him. What are you stopping for, said Robert,

505
00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:59,680
turning indignantly around. Look there, cried Nicholas, pointing to a

506
00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:03,359
little painting which hung above the old man's head. Robin

507
00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:07,799
looked and said, abruptly, it's Dora. What is Dora, asked

508
00:28:07,799 --> 00:28:11,480
the old man in a strange, sharp tone. Here she is,

509
00:28:11,559 --> 00:28:14,039
said Robin and Nicholas in one breath, as they dragged

510
00:28:14,039 --> 00:28:17,359
her forward, she's the doctor, said Robin, and you can't

511
00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:20,079
see her face for her things. Dora, take off your

512
00:28:20,079 --> 00:28:22,799
cap and pull back that hood. There, Oh, it is

513
00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,839
like her. It was the portrait of her mother as

514
00:28:25,839 --> 00:28:28,640
a child. But of this the nursery mummers knew nothing.

515
00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:31,319
The old man looked as the peaked cap and hood

516
00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:34,039
fell away from Dora's face and fair curls, and then

517
00:28:34,079 --> 00:28:36,440
he uttered a sharp cry and buried his head upon

518
00:28:36,519 --> 00:28:40,200
his hands. The boy stood stupefied, but Dora ran up

519
00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:43,160
to him, and, putting her little hands on his arms, said,

520
00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:47,240
in childish pitying tones, Oh, I am so sorry. Have

521
00:28:47,359 --> 00:28:50,039
you got a headache? May Robin put the shovel in

522
00:28:50,119 --> 00:28:53,160
the fire for you. Mamma has hot shovels for her

523
00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:56,440
head aches. And though the old man did not speak

524
00:28:56,519 --> 00:28:59,440
or move, she went on coaxing him and stroking his head,

525
00:28:59,599 --> 00:29:02,759
on which the hair was white. At this moment, Pax

526
00:29:02,799 --> 00:29:05,559
took one of his unexpected runs and jumped onto the

527
00:29:05,599 --> 00:29:08,839
old man's knee in his own particular fashion, and then

528
00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:11,920
yawned at the company. The old man was startled and

529
00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:16,240
lifted his face. Suddenly it was wet with tears. Why

530
00:29:16,279 --> 00:29:20,759
you're crying, exclaimed the children with one breath. It's very odd,

531
00:29:20,799 --> 00:29:23,880
said Robin fretfully. I can't think what's the matter tonight.

532
00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:26,759
Mamma was crying too when we were acting, and Papa

533
00:29:26,799 --> 00:29:29,079
said we weren't to tease her with questions, and he

534
00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,480
kissed her hand, and I kissed her hand too, and

535
00:29:31,559 --> 00:29:33,640
Papa said we must all be very good and kind

536
00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:36,200
to dear poor mamma, and so I mean to be.

537
00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:38,839
She's so good, and I think we'd better go home,

538
00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,480
or perhaps she'll be frightened. Robin added. She's so good,

539
00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:45,400
is she? Asked the old man. He had put packs

540
00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:48,279
off his knee and taken Dora on to it. Oh,

541
00:29:48,359 --> 00:29:51,240
isn't she said Nicholas, swaying his curly head from side

542
00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:55,559
to side. As usual. She is always good, said Robin emphatically.

543
00:29:55,599 --> 00:29:58,599
And so's Papa. But I'm always doing something I oughtn't to,

544
00:29:58,759 --> 00:30:01,680
he added slowly. But then you know I don't pretend

545
00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,319
to obey Sarah. I don't care a fig for Sarah,

546
00:30:04,319 --> 00:30:07,680
and I won't obey any woman. But mamma, who's Sarah?

547
00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:11,680
Asked grandfather. She's our nurse, said Robin, And she tells

548
00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:14,480
I mustn't say what she tells, but it's not the truth.

549
00:30:14,799 --> 00:30:17,279
She told one about you the other day, he added,

550
00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:20,839
about me, said the old man, she said that you

551
00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:23,880
were our grandpapa. So then I knew she was telling you.

552
00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:26,799
Know what? How did you know it wasn't true? The

553
00:30:26,799 --> 00:30:29,960
old man asked why? Of course, said Robin. If you

554
00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:32,640
were our mamma's father, you'd know her and be very

555
00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:34,720
fond of her and come to see her, And then

556
00:30:34,759 --> 00:30:37,359
you'd be our grandfather too, and you'd have us to

557
00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,279
see you, and perhaps give us Christmas boxes. I wish

558
00:30:40,319 --> 00:30:42,519
you were, Robin added, with a sigh. It would be

559
00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:46,440
very nice, would you like it, asked the old man

560
00:30:46,519 --> 00:30:50,160
of Dora. And Dora, who was half asleep and very comfortable,

561
00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,759
put her little arms about his neck, as she was

562
00:30:52,799 --> 00:30:56,359
wont to put them around the captain's, and said very much.

563
00:30:57,039 --> 00:31:00,359
He put her down at last, very tenderly, almost unwill willingly,

564
00:31:00,519 --> 00:31:03,519
and left the children alone. By and by He returned

565
00:31:03,599 --> 00:31:06,119
dressed in the blue cloak, and took Dora up again.

566
00:31:06,799 --> 00:31:09,720
I will see you home, he said. The children had

567
00:31:09,759 --> 00:31:12,680
not been missed. The clock had only just struck nine

568
00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:14,480
when there came a knock in the door of the

569
00:31:14,559 --> 00:31:17,079
dining room, where the captain and his wife still sat

570
00:31:17,119 --> 00:31:21,519
by the yule log. She said, come in, wearily, thinking

571
00:31:21,559 --> 00:31:23,960
it was the frum and ty in the Christmas cakes.

572
00:31:24,279 --> 00:31:28,640
But it was her father and her child in his arms. Eight.

573
00:31:29,599 --> 00:31:31,920
The captain had many friends who knew of the sad

574
00:31:32,039 --> 00:31:35,200
estrangement between his wife and her father. Some of them

575
00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:37,640
were in church the next day, which was Christmas Day,

576
00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:40,880
when the captain's wife came in. They would have hid

577
00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:43,519
their faces but for the startling sight that met the

578
00:31:43,519 --> 00:31:47,559
gaze of the congregation. The old grandfather walked into church

579
00:31:47,599 --> 00:31:51,200
abreast of the captain. They've met in the porch, whispered

580
00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:54,319
one under the shelter of his hat. They can't quarrel

581
00:31:54,359 --> 00:31:57,279
publicly in a place of worship, said another, turning pale.

582
00:31:57,759 --> 00:31:59,680
She has gone into his seat, cried a girl in

583
00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:03,039
a sh whisper, and the children after her, added her

584
00:32:03,079 --> 00:32:07,440
sister incautiously aloud. There was now no doubt about the matter.

585
00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:10,240
The old man, in his blue cloak, stood for a

586
00:32:10,279 --> 00:32:13,960
few moments, politely disputing the question of precedence with his

587
00:32:14,079 --> 00:32:17,400
handsome son in law. Then the captain bowed and passed in,

588
00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:20,440
and the old man followed him. By the time the

589
00:32:20,519 --> 00:32:24,039
service was ended, everybody knew of the happy peacemaking and

590
00:32:24,279 --> 00:32:27,759
was glad. One old friend after another came up with

591
00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:31,960
blessings and good wishes. This was a proper Christmas. Indeed,

592
00:32:32,039 --> 00:32:35,960
they said there was a general rejoicing, but only the

593
00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,039
grandfather and his children knew that. It was hatched from

594
00:32:39,279 --> 00:32:45,519
the piece egg and of the peace egg by Juliana

595
00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:47,079
Horatia Ewing