The Runaways by Elizabeth Goudge Read Free Book Online

conditions and they knew very well that Uncle Ambrose did notdislike them. Does a man buy muffins and strawberry jam for those whom he dislikes? In the study Uncle Ambrose stood with his back to the fire and motioned the children to sit down. He looked very awe-inspiring, he was so tall, and Hector on his shoulder made him look taller than ever, for Hector had a way of elongating himself when he wanted to look alarming. By stretching he could add five inches to his height, and when he did this on Uncle Ambrose’s shoulder, the feathers on the top of his head nearly touched the ceiling.
    ‘It appears,’ said Uncle Ambrose, ‘that you children wish to live with me. Why, I cannot imagine. It also appears that I am willing that you should do so, and that not only to relieve my poor old mother of the exhaustion of your society. I must tell you that I have a devouring passion, not for children themselves, for I abominate children, but for educating them. For thirty years I educated boys. When I retired from my labours I had caned more boys into bishoprics and the Cabinet, and on to the Woolsack, than any headmaster living. My boys lived to bless me for their sore backsides and I’ve lived to miss them. Yes, I’ve missed my boys these last five years. You live with your Uncle Ambrose only on condition that he educates you. Is that understood?’
    Nan replied steadily, ‘You can do what you like with us so long as you let us stay with you and each other and Absolom. Grandmama was going to send me and Robert to boarding school, and give Absolom away because of fleas, and that’s partly why we ran away. We have to stay with each other.’
    ‘Nan to boarding school?’ ejaculated Uncle Ambrose.‘By Hector, no! I don’t hold with boarding schools for girls. Home’s the place for girls, though they should have a classical education there. I have always maintained that women would not be the feather-headed fools they are, were they given a classical education from earliest infancy.’ He shot out a finger at Betsy. ‘Can she read?’
    ‘No,’ said Nan.
    ‘What’s her age?’
    ‘Six,’ said Nan.
    ‘Six and not read? I could read Homer at four. She’ll read him by eight. As for you, Robert, the excellent Miss Bolt tells me that you can read and write, but no more. Do you suppose I will send you to boarding school, to bring shame upon the name of Linnet, until I have given you a thorough grounding in at least the rudiments of a gentlemanly education? I shall not. Now, children, which is it to be? Education or your Uncle Edgar at Birmingham?’
    They replied in unison, ‘Education,’ but they all looked a little pale and Timothy enquired in a brave but slightly wavering voice, ‘For how long every day are we to be educated?’
    ‘Nine till one,’ said Uncle Ambrose promptly.
    ‘Not nine till one for Betsy?’ asked Nan.
    ‘Certainly. Why not? She shall have milk and a ginger biscuit at eleven.’
    ‘Will there be homework?’ asked Robert, and he looked a bit miserable, for he hated learning anything.
    ‘For yourself and Nan, yes. It will be of an hour’s duration, 6 p.m. until 7 p.m., and will take place undermy personal supervision, and if you do not come home in time for it you will go supperless to bed. For the rest of each day you will be free to go where you like and do what you like. Only don’t disturb me, for in the intervals between my parochial duties I am writing a book, a study of the Dialogues of Plato, and if you don’t know who he is you soon will. Your education will start tomorrow at nine sharp. Now we will each have a peppermint lozenge.’
    Inserting finger and thumb into a waistcoat pocket, he produced a white package and handed it round. The peppermints were good, but a bit on the strong side and Absolom’s eyes watered before he could get his down. Hector did not try to swallow his. He said ‘Hick’, and sent it to the top of the grandfather clock.
    ‘I shall now take a short nap,’