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Philip Price, the tutor, sat in the dining-room of the Bunk with but one pupil facing him at the table. Geoff, faithful to his promise, had apologised in a manly, straightforward fashion for his unruly behaviour on the day of the 'Great Rebellion, as the Carnegys had secretly christened their outbreak. No sooner had the boy so done than he was freely forgiven.
'I wish, dear, you had never seen that family, the Carnegys, she said plaintively. It was a chance shot, of course, but Philip started up alert. 'I've been told a good deal about them, only to-day, went on the widow, taking up some fleecy knitting. The mother and son were sitting in the twilight, and knitting needed no spectacles.
When the Carnegys sat down to dinner that day there was that subtle air of constraint which is the result of family jars an electric disturbance in the home atmosphere which each and all feel. Theo, at the head of the table, looked grave and pained. Geoff was uncomfortable also, and, in his awkwardness, overtalked himself, in a frantic desire to smooth matters.
Are you to act as father's sons, as Carnegys of the old stock, or, to put it in another way, as Christians who have given offence, and know that there is but one way of making up for it? Will you apologise? Theo spoke with urgent persuasiveness. 'I shall! Geoff stood up straight, and his face was pale and set, as he confronted Theo bravely.
Consequently, punishments and detentions and complaints were the order of the day at the Bunk, to the despair of their tutor, Philip Price, a quiet, not over robust-looking young man, who had qualified for the Church, but as yet had failed in getting a living. Meantime he taught the young Carnegys every morning, and made up a slender income by giving afternoon lessons elsewhere.
The ceaseless tussel he had to induce these refractory vegetables to make a fair show was one of the minor crosses of the old man's life. Of the two Carnegys, Alick was the least reasonable, if the word reasonable could be applied to either of 'them young limbs, as Northbourne privately called the captain's boys.
A treat indeed, and a rare one, it was to be permitted to pass an evening in the curiosity-room of the Vicarage. From their childhood this museum had been the most interesting spot to the young Carnegys.
A large part of the Carnegys' lives was spent in the tea-house, for as a family they loved the open air. It was Queenie's schoolroom, in spring, summer, and autumn. The two fair heads raised at the sound of Philip's voice belonged to Theo and her pupil.
But there was good stuff in Theo, gentle and yielding though she looked, with her sweet, soft face, and the fair waving hair surrounding it. She was the one of all the Carnegys who had deliberately given her heart to God's service.
In due time the new vicar and his mother, two proud and happy people, settled down in the Vicarage house which stares across the bay at the Bunk. In the Carnegys' home the only changes are most happy ones. Since the captain gave up allowing his hobby to be his master, and has taken a keener interest in his boys' and girls' daily life, all things are brighter at the Bunk.
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