"I shall learn the habits of the genuine species, British farmer,"
said he, as his mother kissed him, and declared him the best and most
conformable of boys.
Old Mr. Gould would not be denied driving her home in his gig, and
when she thought about it, she found she had a strange relaxed aching
of the knees, which made her glad of kindness for herself and the
little ones. In the fine old kitchen she found that Armine had had
an overpowering fit of crying, which had been kindly soothed by
motherly Mrs. Gould, and the whole party were partaking of a
luxurious tea, enlivened by mince pies and rosy-cheeked apples, which
had diverted his attention to the problem why the next year's
prosperity should depend on the number of mince pies consumed before
Christmas.
Bobus was not among them, having marched off in his contempt of the
bone-setter, and his mother was not without fears that he might bring
a real surgeon down on her at any moment, so she quickly drank off
her cup of tea, and took her seat in Farmer Gould's gig with Babie as
bodkin in front, and Joe and Armine in the little seat behind. Robin
and the two Johns were to stilt themselves home, while she was taken
so long and rugged a way, that at every jolt she was ready to renew
her thanks for sparing it to her son's shoulder; and they were at
home before her.
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