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She created so much confusion in the congregation, that if Squire Allworthy had not silenced it, it would have interrupted the service: for I was once about to stop in the middle of the first lesson. Howbeit, nevertheless, after prayer was over, and I was departed home, this occasioned a battle in the churchyard, where, amongst other mischief, the head of a travelling fidler was very much broken.
I am glad that in so serious a matter you kept your own counsel. I don't think David would speak. Eh? Yes, Mrs Fidler, we have quite done. Come along, Tom. We'll go over into the workshop." Uncle Richard led the way, gazing keenly up at the little gallery as they crossed the mill-yard. "Tut tut tut!" he ejaculated. "Why, Tom, you might have broken your neck."
The sight the boy saw was startling. "Oh dear!" he half groaned; "what will Mrs Fidler say and uncle?"
Then Mrs Fidler entered the room, and dinner commenced, with Uncle Richard looking very thoughtful. It was impossible to say anything before Mrs Fidler, Tom thought, for if he was to be in any way blamed, he determined that it should be when alone. In addition, he felt that he should not like to speak of David's delinquency before the housekeeper.
The next week a short acknowledgment came from Sam, to say that his father was nearly well, and had gone down to Bournemouth for a change. "I think, Tom, we may as well finish the telescope," said Uncle Richard dryly. "Let's set to work at once." That same day Mrs Fidler, who had heard the news, seized an opportunity to deliver her opinions to Tom.
"What was the matter with you, my boy?" said Uncle Richard, suddenly dropping the letter he was reading, and looking searchingly at his nephew. "Matter, uncle?" "Yes, when Mrs Fidler wanted to physic you. There must have been something wrong or she would not have noticed it. Too much fruit?" "Oh no, uncle," cried Tom eagerly. "She saw how dull and tired I looked after that night in the mill."
"Nyste sort of a job, Master Tom," he said, "clearing up the bits arter robbers and thieves; but there you never knows what you may come to in this life." The next moment Tom had to duck his head to avoid a blow as the ladder was swung round; and that morning Mrs Fidler, who knew nothing of what had happened, took Tom aside directly after breakfast.
This is our room, mind, where we can be quite independent, and make it as littery as we like without being called to account by Mrs Fidler every time there is a mess." As he spoke Uncle Richard unlocked the old walnut bureau, and took the large envelope from his breast the document which Tom had handed to him over-night being within. "Your papers, Tom," he said, rather huskily.
"It's of no use," he said to himself, as the conversation went on at the table; and though he heard but little, he knew that it was about the guest departing that morning for his home in Surrey. "Yes," said Uncle Richard, "I must get back, for I'm very busy." "And not stay another night?" said Aunt Fanny sweetly. "No, not this visit, thanks. I'll get back in good time, and astonish Mrs Fidler.
So home, and there found, as I expected, Mrs. Pierce and Mr. Batelier; he went for Mrs. Jones, but no Mrs. Knipp come, which vexed me, nor any other company. So with one fidler we danced away the evening, but I was not well contented with the littleness of the room, and my wife's want of preparing things ready, as they should be, for supper, and bad. So not very merry, though very well pleased.
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