Was it not all her eyes could do
to hinder palpable smiles in the sermon, and her monkey from playing
tricks on his bear, who, by some fatality, always sat in front, with
his irresistible broad back, down which, in spite of all her
vigilance, Jock had once thrust a large bluebottle fly. She also
knew that both her husband and his mother would have thought she
ought to go to Church, and that if matters went amiss with her boy,
she should reproach herself with the omission. Her children, too,
influenced her, though very oppositely, for Janet was found preparing
to start for River Hollow, and on being told that she must wait, to
go with her mother, till after Church, declared defiantly that "she
saw no sense in staying at home to hear Rigdum when she did not know
how ill Allen might be."
"You would not have said that to grandmamma," said Carey.
"Well, if you like to go to Church, you can. I can go alone."
"No, I will not have you take that long walk alone."
"Then I will take one of the boys."
"No, Janet, I mean to be obeyed. Go and put on your other hat, and
do not make us late for Church."
Janet was forced to submit, for she never came to the point of actual
disobedience to her mother. Caroline's ruffled feelings were soothed
by little Armine, who ran in from feeding his rabbits to ask to have
the place in his Prayer-book shown to him where he should pray for
poor Allen.
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