A God and His Gifts by Ivy Compton-Burnett Read Free Book Online

Hereward are enough for each other. I only hope there will be something over for the wife. Well, she will not ask too much. She is a good, unexacting girl. I hope I did her justice. I hope I did not give a wrong impression.”
    â€œNo, you gave the right one. Now all you can do is to erase it, knowing it can never be wholly effaced. I saw Hereward carrying it away with him.”
    â€œTell me what you feel, Joanna.”
    â€œI could not tell anyone else. I am too ashamed of it. I am glad that Hereward can’t like his wife any better than me. Because I don’t see how he can. And glad that we may have grandchildren. All this selfish gladness, and then to have failed my son!”
    â€œWell, Galleon,” said Sir Michael. “You have not heard our news. Or have you heard? You look rather full of something.”
    â€œSome stray words did reach me, Sir Michael. I don’t know if I gained the right impression.”
    â€œI daresay you did. So tell us what you feel.”
    â€œWell, it was a case of proximity, Sir Michael. That is how things must ensue, as I believe was said.”
    â€œSo you listened to it all.”
    â€œI mentioned that some stray words reached me, Sir Michael. That happened to be one of them. I could have supplied it.”
    â€œWe could not be more pleased with the marriage than we are.”
    â€œNo, Sir Michael; it is a line of safety. There is the familiarity with everything. And so no uncertainty to come.”
    â€œMiss Ada is proud of Mr. Hereward’s place in letters.”
    â€œWell, Sir Michael, it is even better, going so far.”
    â€œYou would not go to the length yourself?”
    â€œWell, Sir Michael, I have learned to go some way. I must suppress any personal bias. Sufferance is the badge of all my tribe.”

Chapter IV
    â€œRing-a-ring-a-roses,
    A pocket full of posies,
    A-tish-a, a-tish-a,
    All fall down.”
    Sir Michael Egerton sank to the ground, and assisted his wife to do the same, an example that was followed by their three grandsons, with mirth in inverse proportion to their age.
    â€œGalleon fall down too,” said the third, observing that the butler was at leisure.
    â€œNo, Master Reuben, I have other things to do.”
    â€œNo,” said Reuben, as if seeing this was not the case.
    â€œYou can do them afterwards,” said the second grandson.
    â€œNo, Master Merton, I have no time to waste.”
    â€œIt seems as if you have,” said the eldest.
    â€œI know what I am doing, Master Salomon. You are not old enough to understand.”
    â€œI am not, if you are really doing something.”
    â€œGalleon fall down too!” said Reuben, more insistently.
    Sir Michael made a sign to Galleon, who complied with openly simulated liveliness, resorting to the aid of a chair, as if unconsciously.
    â€œThat is not falling,” said Merton.
    â€œPoor Galleon!” said Reuben, looking at him.
    â€œIt must be easy to be a butler,” said Salomon. “It would make other things seem hard.”
    â€œNuts in May!” said Reuben, suddenly.
    â€œYes, that is an idea,” said Sir Michael. “We must choose our sides.”
    â€œDo we have to fall down?” said Joanna.
    â€œNo, my lady. Merely move forward and backward to the jingle,” said Galleon, his choice of word shedding its light.
    â€œOh, what a good game! I wonder who invented it.”
    â€œI cannot say, my lady. Or to what purpose.”
    â€œThere are not enough of us for sides,” said Salomon.
    â€œYes, I think there are,” said his grandfather. “You and I and Galleon on one, and Grandma and the little ones on the other.”
    â€œSalomon little too,” said Ruben, at once.
    â€œNot as little as you,” said Merton.
    â€œYes, all the same,” said Reuben, shrilly.
    â€œYes, all the same,” said Salomon, in a pacific tone.
    â€œAlways all the same,” said Reuben,