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summer weather （and Mary additionally pleased with the virtues of
Lance as minutely recorded in the second volume of 〃The Pillars of
the House〃）； were both in the most amiable of tempers。 No； it must
be something inside Jeremy himself。
He waited until the end of breakfast to ask his question：
〃Can I go and see Mother； Miss Jones？〃
Mary and Helen looked across at him inquisitively。
〃What do you want to see your mother for now； Jeremy？ You always see
her at twelve o'clock。〃 Miss Jones pushed her spectacles lower upon
her nose and continued her reading。
〃I want to。〃
〃Well； you can't now。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because I say notthat's enough。〃
But Jeremy was gentle to…day。 He got off his chair； went round to
Miss Jones's chair； and； looking up at her out of his bruised eye；
said in the most touching voice：
〃But； please； Miss Jones； I want to。 I really do。〃
Then she said what he had known all the time was coming：
〃I'm afraid you won't see your mother to…day； dear。 She's not well。
She's in bed。〃
〃Why？ Is she ill？〃
〃She's tired after her journey yesterday； I expect。〃
He said no more。
He tried during the whole of that day not to think of his mother；
and he found that； for the first time in his life； he could do
nothing else but think of her。 During the morning he sat very
silently over his lessons； did all that he was told； did not once
kick Mary under the table； nor ask Miss Jones to sharpen his pencil；
nor make faces at Hamlet。 Once or twice； in a way that he had； he
leaned his head on his hand as though he were an ancient professor
with a whole library of great works behind him； and when Miss Jones
asked him whether he had a headache he said： 〃No； thank you；〃
instead of seizing on the wonderful opportunity of release that such
a question offered him。 When they all went for a walk in the
afternoon； he sprang for a moment into something of his natural
vivacity。 They came upon a thin； ill…shaven tramp dressed as a
sailor； with a patch over one eye； producing terrible discordance
from a fiddle。 This individual held in one hand a black tin cup； and
at his side crouched a mongrel terrier； whose beaten and dishevelled
appearance created at once hopes in the breast of the flamboyant
Hamlet。 This couple were posted just outside Mr。 Poole's second…hand
bookshop； close to the 〃2d。〃 box； and for a moment Jeremy was
enthralled。 He wanted to give the hero his week's penny； and upon
finding that his week's penny was not； owing to sweet purchases on
the previous day； he began elaborate bargainings with Miss Jones as
to the forestalling of future pennies。 Meanwhile； Hamlet leapt； with
every sign of joyful expectation； upon the pauper dog； the blind
sailor began to hit wildly about with his stick； Mr。 Poole's 〃2d。〃
box was upset； and the sailor's black patch fell off； revealing him
as the possessor of two beautiful eyes； just like any other
gentleman； and a fine； vigorous stock of the best Glebeshire
profanities。 Mr。 Poole； an irascible old man； himself came out； a
policeman approached； two old ladies from the Close； well known to
Jeremy； were shocked by the tramp； and the Cathedral bell； as though
it had just awoken up to its real responsibilities； suddenly began
to ring。
All this was； of course； delightful to Jeremy； and offered so many
possible veins of interest that he could have stayed there for
hours。 He wanted very badly to ask the sailor why he covered up a
perfectly wholesome eye with a black patch； and he would have liked
to see what Hamlet could do in the direction of eating up the
scattered remnants of Mr。 Poole's 〃2d。〃 box； but he was dragged away
by the agitated hand of Miss Jones； having to console himself
finally with a wink from the august policeman； who； known throughout
Polchester as Tom Noddy； was a kindly soul and liked gentlemanly
little boys； but persecuted the street sort。
For a moment this exciting adventure carried him away； and he even
listened for a minute or two to Mary； who； seizing her opportunity；
began hurriedly： 〃Once upon a time there lived a sailor； very thin；
and he never washed； and he had a dog and a violin〃 But soon he
remembered； and sighed and said： 〃Oh； bother； Mary！〃 and then walked
on by himself。 And still； all through that hot afternoon； when even
the Rope Walk did not offer any shade； and when the Pol was of so
clear a colour that you could see trout and emerald stones and
golden sand as under glass； and when Hamlet was compelled to run
ahead and find a piece of shade and lie there stretched； panting；
with his tongue out； until they came up to himeven all these signs
of a true and marvellous summer did not relieve Jeremy of his
burden。 Something horrible was going to happen。 He knew it with such
certainty that he wondered how Mary and Helen could be so gaily
light… hearted； and despised them for their carelessness。 This was
connected in some way with the hot weather； he felt as though； were
a cold breeze suddenly to come； and rain to fall； he would be happy
again。 There had been once a boy； older than he； called Jimmy Bain；
a fat； plump boy； who had lived next door to the Coles。 Whenever he
had the opportunity he bullied Jeremy； pinching his arms； putting
pins into his legs； and shouting suddenly into his ears。 Jeremy； who
had feared Johnny Bain； had always 〃felt〃 the stout youth's arrival
before he appeared。 The sky had seemed to darken； the air to
thicken； the birds to gather in the 〃rooky〃 wood。
He had trembled and shaken； his teeth had chattered and his throat
grown dry for no reason at all。 As he had once felt about Johnny
Bain so now he felt about life in general。 Something horrible was
going to happen。 。 。。 Something to do with Mother。 。 。。 As he came
up the road to their house his heart beat so that he could not hear
his own steps。
II
They entered the house； and at once even Mary； preoccupied as she
was with her story about the sailor； noticed that something was
wrong。
〃Rose！ Rose！〃 she called out loudly。
〃Hush！〃 said Miss Jones。 〃You must be quiet； dear。〃
〃Why？〃 said Mary。 〃I want Rose to〃
〃Your mother isn't at all well； dear。 I〃
And she was interrupted by Rose； who； coming suddenly downstairs；
with a face very different from her usual cheerful one； said
something to Miss Jones in a low voice。
Miss Jones gave a little cry： 〃So soon？ 。 。 。 A girl。 。 。 。〃 And
then added： 〃How is she ？〃
Then Rose said something more； which the children could not catch；
and vanished。
〃Very quietly； children；〃 said Miss Jones； in a voice that trembled；
〃and you mustn't leave the schoolroom till I tell you。 Your mother
〃 She broke off as though she were afraid of showing emotion。
〃What is it？〃 said Jeremy in a voice that seemed new to them all
older； more resolute； strangely challenging for so small a boy。
〃Your mother's very ill； Jeremy； dear。 You must be a very good boy；
and help your sisters。〃
〃Mightn't I go for just a minute？〃
〃No； certainly not。〃
They all went upstairs。 Then； in the schoolroom； Miss Jones said an
amazing thing。 She said：
〃I must tell you all； children； that you've got a new little
sister。〃
〃A new sister！〃 sc