Tom Browning's Schooldays
By
Joel
Chapter Thirteen
Benjy was awake first and I didn't hear him leave the bed. He woke me at seven with the usual pitcher of hot water and the news that the two lads had also slept well and the boy said his hand was not throbbing. Benjy had made sure it was still bandaged and had instructed Eamonn not to let the boy fetch and empty the chamber pots but just to carry the hot dishes to the breakfast room.
Father was in a very good mood at breakfast. He said he was going hunting with Squire Matthews and two of the tenant farmers and had to make a decision as to who would be put in charge of Cobblers Farm. I said I had plenty to do as I wanted to see if Lancelot's cure was working. I would also go to visit Miss Barnes and do some of my schoolwork. As soon as he finished eating he was off and within moments I was joined by a tired-looking Lancelot.
"I've just returned from a poor woman's child-bed. She's just had another child." He puffed his cheeks with a look of exasperation. "I think it's her seventh and the father earns little on the farm but the mother needs good food. I want you to go to my Mother at the Rectory and tell her as I have three others to see straight away this morning." He shook his head. "Christmas is a bad time of the year for some, especially for the old folk. They do not keep warm, they have coughs and colds and, like old man Jennings, perish."
Lancelot never seemed to stop. As soon as he was replete he said he would inspect both the boy Paul's hand and Eamonn's rash. I went with him to the dairy room when the two lads had been summoned. He looked at Paul's hand first and repeated the treatment of hot salt water of the night before. He showed me the hand and pointed out the redness had diminished but he would repeat his remedy for at least three days more and the boy was not to get any dirt near the hand which would be bandaged tightly anyway. As we waited for the boy's hand to soak Lancelot told Eamonn to lower his trousers. He looked at his back hole first with a thin metal rod and said he thought the worms were gone. The redness at the front was certainly less and he was instructed to wash carefully down there and smear more of the ointment twice a day. I looked at Benjy who, no doubt, would delight in helping the boy in that task but he kept a very straight face.
I rode up to the Rectory and left a message for Aunt Matty. Uncle Alfred was in his study with Liam and Niall. He was testing their reading and also their Latin which to his surprise had been learned more than just by rote. They were certainly two different boys from that time at the forge. He gave me a new copy of a big Greek Lexicon and said it was a Christmas Box to be shared by Robin and me. I wondered how much it had cost as I had seen a copy like it in Mr Ridley's study.
On returning to the Hall I took the book up to my room but the twins appeared with my school chest which Benjy's father had brought on his cart. I emptied the chest while the boys were there so they could take any dirty clothes down to the laundry-maids. They sniffed as if my clothes were smelly. I said that was a good way of not getting a Christmas Box but I knew them well and I said I had outgrown quite a few things which might be handed on. I knew I had better also visit the village shops to stock up on gifts. That would mean making quite a list of people. I would have to see what money I had in my purse and my hidey-hole by the grate which I could spend. Father was always adamant that one did not owe money especially to any tradespeople who were supplying goods. He paid his bills monthly without fail and said if one was prompt with payments it earned great respect.
I checked my apothecary's box and made a note to ask Lancelot if I could have replenishments for all the things I had used. I was missing Robin and I hadn't taken great pleasure this morning so my unruly pizzle was urging me to put my hand to it. I wondered if all boys found themselves ruled by the demands of that object between their legs. Thinking of such things made me loosen my britches and I tried to take my pleasure as slowly as possible. That could not be so as my poor hand had to speed up and I grimaced and squirted copiously all over the hearth. I breathed deeply for a moment or two, buttoned up then took an old handkerchief I kept for such occasions and quickly mopped up my juices. It was not something I wanted the maids to find when they came to clean my fireplace and tidy my room.
It was a good thing I had done that as there was a knock on the door. Two maids were there ready for their cleaning tasks. I parcelled up some of my schoolbooks and went down to the Library where there was a good fire and settled down to read and answer the questions set. I was fidgety though. I wanted to see Isaac and Jacob at the forge to tell them more about the two cousins who would be coming along to apologise. I hadn't seen Timmy yesterday either and I thought he might like to ride out with me on Tarquin if Mr Bottom had no work for him. I was also thinking of that peculiar carving and I would have to make another visit to old Miss Barnes to try to examine it. Then there was that head in Lancelot's study and those foal's balls to dissect. Perhaps I could take Benjy to the church so he could pump the organ while I played. Oh! There were so many things I wanted to do.
I thought I'd better go to the forge first of all to explain about the boys. Timmy was in the kitchen when I went through. Mrs Gray said she was so pleased with the receipt he'd suggested for the sucking pig she had tried it with a small piece of pork which they had had the previous evening in the Servants' Hall and it was thought to be most tasty. She had sent Rowley to Stamford to the apothecary there to see if he had a better selection of herbs than she had. So Timmy had permission to accompany me on my travels! One of the maids had found him a more useful riding cloak than the fur-lined one he had ridden here in.
Timmy was so pleased and I felt he would be a good friend once he had got over the fact we were supposed to be from different stations in life. Once he lost his diffidence, as I had seen in the kitchen with Mrs Gray and also my mother, I could discern he had a strength of character. My Father had also recognised he had gifts especially in the way the horses responded to him. I would test him further today as we would also ride down to the main stables and see the draughthorse foals and their dams.
Tarquin whinnied loudly as he entered our small stable. I had given Timmy an apple to feed to him. I was amazed. Instead of taking the apple into his mouth as a whole the horse bit it in half as Timmy offered it to him and then nudged the other half towards Timmy. He took the hint and took a small bite himself then gave the rest to Tarquin who then accepted it. That was something to relate to Father. Bobby was quite astounded and said he would be out of a job if Timmy could work with horses so well. Timmy just said that he and Tarquin understood each other since they had both had the same bad master but now they were free. I would have to explain all that to Bobby.
We rode first to the forge where Isaac and Jacob were as busy as ever. Timmy was enthralled with all the ironwork around and also with the bellows. The lads said he was welcome to come and help as I did. I think Timmy looked at me rather wonderingly. The Master's son pumping the bellows? I said I would come and pump sometime but I had a story to tell. As they worked I went over the tale of Liam and Niall. They knew the 'uncle' was on his way to Lincoln Castle gaol and had heard a rather garbled account of the two boys being interviewed by my uncle in the inn. I said they were not really like the two ruffians who had appeared at the forge. They laughed and said they hoped the sore arses had helped to cure them. I said they would be coming to apologise and they must accept them willingly and my Uncle Dodd might be with them. "We will take them as they come," said Isaac, "If they are penitent we must accept them and I trust your Uncle to know the truth."
That visit set Timmy off with questions when we rode away. He said that night at the inn on the way back from Ashbourne had made him wonder if all boys were the same even though of different stations in life. He saw Rowley as superior to him with Robin and me above and smiled and asked if this was so. I said I was not sure but knew that people made careful distinctions. In the village Mr Hine the draper was considered to be above Mr Venables who was a good shoemaker but had only a small shop. I think Robin's foster- father, Steven Goodhew, was above both as he was a master mason and had a trained apprentice, Abel Munnings, now a journeyman mason, and a man and a boy who toiled moving the stone around. That reminded me, Abel Munnings was getting ready to leave for work on a cathedral up North. Steven Goodhew would need a new apprentice to carry on the craft. I would have to suggest something to Aunt Matty Dodd!
Timmy said he had noticed how the villagers where he lived always bowed their heads when the old woman he had lived with walked along the street. She said it was because they respected her skills as a healer and not because she was of higher station though she could trace her descent from a monk who had been turned out from his monastery where he had been in charge of the herb garden. He had then married a girl from the village and his skills had been passed on from daughter to daughter. Timmy said she was full of stories, even of how her grandmother had been accused of being a witch, but because she had cured Milady of the time of something she had been pardoned and it was the accusers who were punished.
I was curious about where Timmy's ancestors had come from but did not think I had better ask him yet. From just listening to him I knew he was a clever boy and I would have to talk to Uncle Dodd about him. That meant I might be an influence in the lives of two deserving characters.
We rode down to the main stables and were welcomed jovially by the stable lads and grooms. I took Timmy into the stable where the two young draughthorse foals were still quartered. Their huge mothers had their muzzles stroked and the foals took the carrots offered and I saw Timmy was captivated by them.
"Mother Campion is often asked for cures for horses and she keeps a special book for those," he said, "She says that foals should have good green food as soon as possible as it keeps their blood pure." He shook his head. "It is winter and there is little good green grass but she would say it was necessary."
I wondered if I should say anything. I knew Mr Jarvis quite well and thought I might ask him about the quality of the feed. As things transpired we were just walking towards one of the main stables when Mr Jarvis came out. He still had one arm in a sling but he was smiling as he saw us.
"I haven't thanked you, Master Tom, for helping Dr Lancelot when I was stabbed."
"Is it healing?" I asked.
"Very well," he said, "I have great faith in his skills. That salt water stung but it cleansed my head and there is no poison in the wound in my arm." He looked at Timmy who was standing just behind me. "And this is John Bottom's new assistant, eh? The Master says you have a way with horses, too, and that steed of yours is a fine piece of horseflesh."
Timmy bowed his head slightly. "Sir," he said, "I have just seen the two new foals here. May I ask if you feed them any green grass."
Mr Jarvis laughed. "I know, my boy, why you ask. The stablehand has been instructed to scythe as much as he can from the hedgerow but it is scanty at the moment and we add it to the good hay we have in store. It will be better once this snow goes but we must not let them have too much when the new grass grows or they might bloat. Is that not so?"
"Sir, that is true, but they will be quite grown when the Spring comes, but it is until then they will need that greenness. If Mr Bottom allows I would also grow some herbs which I have heard are good."
"If you do then I will be pleased to know. The old horse doctor we call on often has a bundle of herbs he gives a sick horse but he will never say what they are."
Timmy laughed. "I will remember to be the same. There are secrets in every trade."
Mr Jarvis was much amused. "Too right, my boy. I will have to watch and see what I can spy, though!"
I think young Timmy had made a friend there. I was sure he knew a lot about herbs and that would stand him in good stead especially with the number of horses who got sick, usually it seemed as Father said, for no good reason at all. I would also have to talk to Lancelot as I knew he made concoctions from various things he gathered from the hedgerow. Perhaps, if Timmy was allowed a portion of the walled garden then he could grew even more herbs.
As it was well past mid-morning I took Timmy along to the office where Father's secretary and his accountant worked. They both said they were very pleased about Father buying Cobblers Farm as it would add much-needed acres to our holdings. They wanted to know about Timmy and how he was settling in. I knew both had sons of about his age and they still attended Aunt Matty's Dame School. Knowing that Timmy was still wanting to make headway with his reading and calculation I thought it would be good for him to join young Billy Temple and his friend Georgie Mead. Another little job to do for me!
It was time for the stablehands and grooms to have their midday meal. We found a corner and had good bowls of tasty hot soup and slabs of bread with a beaker of small beer and I joined in the banter and said I hoped they would all be enjoying the Village Feast next week. "Depends how many wenches are there," one of the more uncouth fellows said. "Wouldn't make any difference for you," another called out, "That thing of yours is too bent and shrivelled you can only piss sideways!" There was a general shushing. I suppose in case the Master's son might be embarrassed!
Anyway, I was determined for us to visit old Miss Barnes. I had put my flute box in my saddle-bag and if we rode not too slowly we could be at her house just after her luncheon and before she had her afternoon nap.
We rode to the back of the house and one of the old maidservants was brushing the snow from the steps. I knew her well, Miss Gibbs, as she had also worked for my Mother when I was much younger. She greeted us warmly but must have thought Timmy was Robin as I think her eyesight was not too good. It was only after we were ushered into the kitchen and took our cloaks and hats off she stared rather bemusedly at him.
"There and I though you were young Robin," she said, "Cook told us there was a new boy come from strange lands." She called out "Jessie, come here, we have visitors!" She shook her head. "I fear she is more than a little deaf."
I knew Cook as well - another Mrs but without an attendant Mr - she was Mrs Pargetter and was even older than Miss Gibbs. She came waddling out of the larder carrying a covered platter.
"Ah, Master Tom," she said, she looked carefully at Timmy, "And you must be the boy at Margery Bottom's?"
"Yes, ma'am, I'm Timmy Turner," he said very politely. "Master Tom has rescued me and I am so pleased I have a place here."
I held up my flute box. "Is Miss Barnes receiving?" I asked.
Mrs Pargetter pointed at Miss Gibbs. "Take Master Tom and his companion to the parlour. Tell the Mistress and I shall send Daisy with refreshments for the boys."
I noted that Timmy was not held back in the kitchen. He was my 'companion' and thus was worthy of more superior treatment.
Timmy was going to be as intrigued as I always was with the contents of Miss Barnes's parlour. All the eastern ornaments and pictures in there and those two quaint carvings up on the wall outside.
We were busy looking at some decorated plates strewn on a table when Daisy came in with a tray of small cakes and two tankards of cordial. All that soon disappeared and we went on with our snooping. Timmy was looking at a carving of a youth about a foot high. It was behind a portrait on a stand and I hadn't noticed it before. The lad was unclothed except for the carved cloak over one shoulder. We both stared as between his legs there was a short cock sticking out with a small sack below.
"Mother Campion has a statue like that," Timmy said. "She nursed my mother when she was ill and she gave it to her before she died." He sniffed. "My mother said it came from Africa many years before."
I reached out and took his hand. "Perhaps it was from your people." I knew that slaves had been taken from Africa to Jamaica where the sugar was grown.
"I do not know but it is strange that there is this one here," he said bending down to take a closer look. "They are alike. Let me tell you something." He pointed at the jutting prick. "Jemmie Meacher says that boy has had his skin cut off there like the Jewish boys he has seen on his travels. He's Mother Campion's grandson and is in the Navy. He says the statue is not a Jewish boy but like the African boys he has seen on the docks, I think he said at the Cape." He smiled. "Perhaps one day I might travel, too."
We were interrupted then by Miss Barnes who was arrayed as always in a collection of shawls and scarves. Yes, the old house was draughty but there were roaring fires in the grates. We straightened up and I pointed at the portrait so she wouldn't think we had been staring at a boy's unmentionables.
"Dear Tom," she said, "You have come to entertain an old lady." She peered at Timmy. "Do I know your companion?"
"This is Master Timmy Turner, ma'am," I said not wishing for him to be thought just as a menial, "He is newly arrived and is to help Mr Bottom in my mother's walled garden. He has good knowledge of herbs as well."
That caught Miss Barnes's attention. "Bottom has a good hand with the garden. I find him useful as my gardeners seem not to know a nettle from a carnation at times. He has advised me on many occasions."
I was not surprised that she thought her gardeners were useless. She was a well- known miser as far as paying good wages to keep good workers but her gardens were neat and tidy as she kept behind them all the time instructing them of her wants. I would have to warn Timmy not to do any work where he was not recompensed in some way. At least today he had cakes and cordial!
I took my flute from it's box and put it together. I thought if I played first then made an excuse to visit the privy she could talk about herbs with Timmy and I would make an attempt at getting closer to that carving.
She clapped when I finished the first piece a little fragment of a concerto for flute which Aunt Fanny Wright had given me last year. Timmy was smiling and clapped, too. "I wish I had your skill," he said.
Miss Barnes looked at him keenly. "If you promise to learn and Mr Venables will teach you I may be able to help." She went over to a cupboard hung with a rather faded tapestry. She struggled with the latch and I went over and held the tapestry up and almost choked with the dust. She seemed not to notice. I saw the cupboard had two boxes like my flute box and a fiddle case and some strange round objects on handles. She picked up one of these and shook it and it made a weird rattling sound. She laughed then took one of the boxes and indicated I should drop the tapestry and shut the cupboard door.
She placed the box on the table and wiped a layer of dust from it's top with the end of one of her scarves. "I have not seen in there for some years," she said opening the box. Oh, my! In there was a black wooden flute in it's pieces. "My father's Indian servant learned to play this but was not good. My father said he was more used to making snakes dance." She pointed to the box. "Please show me if it plays."
I carefully took the pieces and they slotted together perfectly. I wiped the mouth hole clean and played a scale. It had a very mellow and sweet tone. It sounded better than my flute. If it was to be Timmy's it would be a very valuable gift I was sure.
She turned to Timmy. "If you have the flute I expect to hear you play. I am certain young Tom will show you how to play and I will send a message to Mr Venables."
Timmy was quite overwhelmed. "Ma'am, I will try my best. Perhaps Master Tom will play to us."
The instrument seemed almost to play itself as I played an air and variations by Mr Handel. I must say I was a mite jealous but seeing Timmy's face as I played dispelled those feelings.
I carefully took the flute to pieces and put it back in it's box. The conversation then turned to herbs as Miss Barnes always had a good border of lavender, rosemary and sage and even I knew those names. I excused myself and went out. I was just peering up at the peculiar carving when Miss Carrie, another of Miss Barnes's rather aged retainers, came along with a feather duster on a thin pole. She was flicking it round portraits which were about eight feet from the ground and she was raising dust as well.
"Oh, Master Tom," she said on spying me, "There is too much work for us to do. I am too old to climb the steps now and some of those other paintings are too high for me to reach."
My opportunity! I was well away. "Oh, Miss Carrie, show me the steps and I will do the climbing. I can see that painting there has quite a layer of dust."
She pointed to the door of the Library and I found a set of library steps which unfolded from a chair. I wheeled it out as near below the carving as I dared. I took the feather duster from her and she said she would find a soft cloth to take up any dust. Good! She went off and I climbed up quickly and was within a few inches of the base of the carving. I could see it was marble or some sort of stone. I brushed it a bit and my desires were fulfilled! I would be able to tell my dear brother that truly this one was of two men, both with thick, erect pricks. The one behind the other had his fixed between the buttocks of the one in front and his right hand was clasping the other fellow's solid cock. I quickly brushed the dust from that and the other carving which showed a man and a woman facing each other and his fat weapon inserted between her legs. Unfortunately her head was almost all missing though he seemed to have a satisfied look on his face. I was busy brushing dust away from two of the paintings when Miss Carrie came back.
"Oh, Master Tom! There is too much dust. Come down. I will have to get Saunders to go all around."
As Saunders, Miss Barnes's butler, was also ancient I wondered if it would be safe for him to climb on steps. But I had satisfied my curiosity. It was also something to tell Robin on his return!
I went back to the parlour where Timmy was looking at a book laid out on another table and chatting to Miss Barnes as he pointed at pictures of fruit and plants.
Miss Barnes was all enthusiasm. "You must bring young Timmy again. He has been telling me about Lord Harford's glasshouses and the growing of peaches and melons. I would have liked a bigger glasshouse but have to make do and my gardeners do not seem to know what would grow best anyway. Your mother is very lucky."
We thanked her for the refreshment and especially for the gift of the flute. On the way back to Careby Hall Timmy said he would see Mr Venables as soon as possible as Miss Barnes was sending him a message. I said he would be seeing her again the next evening as she would be attending the dinner and he would probably be in his livery again. He smiled.
"I did enjoy that," he said, "I may be a servant but Mr Jackson and Master Benjy were so helpful and I felt very smart in that fine coat and britches."
I said there would at least twenty-four for dinner as my mother had decided others should be invited so he would be busy and would learn a lot.
"I will come early tomorrow morning and find what I have to do. I know Mrs Bottom is helping Mrs Gray so I hope I can be useful." He smiled. "Will that boy be there who stood on the dog? I do not know what happened but every time he is mentioned the maids laugh."
"I don't think his parents are invited. This dinner is for three of our tenant farmers and their grown up children and, I think, other neighbours like Squire Matthews and Miss Barnes. I expect my Uncle and Aunt will be there and my cousins."
"Benjy says your cousin the doctor is very clever but he is scared of going into his room at the Rectory."
I laughed. "My cousin has many things in bottles and jars and makes things go bang or flame and he made Benjy jump when he showed us how gunpowder is made."
After we had left our horses with Bobby in the stable Timmy thanked me for taking him and showing him around. He held out the flute box and shook his head. "This is another gift to a poor boy who does not deserve it. I can only hope I will be able to learn to play. I would be glad if you would look after it for me and I would like to hear you play it again."
I said as soon as Mr Venables had his message I would return it but if we had time I would show him how to make the sounds and that would start him off.
The kitchen was very busy as we went in. Mrs Gray was taking baked pies from the big oven and the twins were busy scraping potatoes and cutting up carrots and putting them in buckets of water. The maids were carrying platters in and out of the larder and two of the laundry-maids were hanging newly washed cloths on the rails hanging from the ceiling. I saw a board with a long list of all the things required for the next night's dinner. 'Roast sucking pig' was one item and my belly began to rumble. It was no good looking for food but my mother would be in her boudoir with afternoon tea. Just then Mr Clements came in and Timmy was whisked away for instruction on table duties. I scuttled out and went upstairs.
I left the two flute boxes in my room and went along to my mother's rooms. Good! She was alone except for her personal maid who was combing out her hair.
I tapped on the door and she could see me in the mirror on her dressing-table. "Come in, Tom, your old mother is just making herself look beautiful," she said.
"More beautiful than ever," I said and we both laughed.
I had to tell her of all the things I had done during the day and Marie carried on combing and brushing. There was a hurried conversation in French and Marie stopped and went over to the table where the tea things stood.
"Monsieur, une tasse de th‚? Les petits gateaux sont trŠs delicieux."
I needed no prompting. I thanked her in my best French, which set my mother nodding, and perched on a small chair by the table and set to with gusto. Mother's nodding turned to shaking. I looked. I had eaten all but two of the small cakes. One each for mother and Marie. I tried to look contrite but both laughed and Marie said I was a growing boy, 'un gar‡on qui grandit'.
Marie had been with my mother since she was a young girl and was the daughter of my Grandmama's maid. I think the other maids were rather wary of her as she and my mother shared all sorts of secret jokes and spoke French together all the time. I liked Marie who had nursed me as a small boy and always said I was like her little brother. As her real little brother was over six foot and a senior constable in Chester where my Grandmama lived he was another boy who had grown!
Mother said there would be a simple meal this evening as all effort was being made for the gathering tomorrow. I said my father would be very hungry being out hunting all day. She just sniffed and said he was just like all boys, ever hungry!
Not too worry. The table was well-stocked later. Two raised pies and ham carved from the bone followed by an egg custard flavoured with cinnamon. We had just Jackson with Timmy as servers. Mr Clements and Benjy had been lent to Aunt Matty as the Archdeacon was visiting the Rectory. I must say Timmy acquitted himself well especially as he filled my glass with red wine twice.
I was well-filled and content as I went up to bed. A little surprise. Of course it was Timmy who brought my pitcher of hot water and I congratulated him on his new role as under footman.
"Mr Jackson said I am to be your manservant tonight. He said I was to be your 'valley' but I didn't understand and he said it was French, is that so?"
I explained and he smiled. "I must learn French as well as the flute."
He stayed the night and first I showed him how to put his flute together and to blow carefully over the mouthpiece 'like blowing a feather off the palm of your hand' I told him. He was quick to learn that and made a good sound. I said he had to breathe carefully then showed him the first three notes of the scale by making him raise the correct fingers from the holes. He was so pleased and said he would practise hard.
Instead of sleeping on the truckle bed I made him join me in my bed as I said I would teach him some French words as well. He learned quickly, 'eye, ear, nose, mouth', 'oeil, oreille, nez, bouche'. He giggled over 'nombril' for belly-button and fell silent after repeating 'queue' for that stiff, thick thing which rose quite naturally like mine as we named it. I said he mustn't say that in company as it was French for 'tail' really, but boys said it for our English 'prick' or 'pizzle'. I said my brother Terence had taught me that word but didn't say where I had learned what happened next. Two boys shared that most momentous of feelings as our tails were stroked and yielded up two spurting streams of our seed.
I held him tightly to me as we savoured those sensations which follow such outflowings. "Master Tom," he whispered, "Do all boys share like that?"
"I do not know," I said quite truthfully, "I have shared with you and Robin and with Rowley as you know. There are others from the village but at school I know others take pleasure but I haven't shared with anyone there."
He said he had been frightened when it had first happened to him as he was alone in bed at Mother Campion's but he had listened to what boys in the village there had said and had watched two of them in an orchard one day. He had seen what they did and copied them that night.
"How old were you then?" I asked.
"I was just twelve."
My! He had been much younger than either Robin or me. I wondered if I might say something to Lancelot.
We slept soundly side by side but when I woke he was curled in front of me. My left arm was under him holding him to me while my right hand was clasping a hardness and my own erect pizzle was nestled between his arsecheeks. It was exactly like that carving! I let go and rolled away just as the church clock struck six. He woke and yawned.
"I must get dressed and be away," he whispered as I stirred by his side. He slipped out of bed and put two small logs on the smouldering fire. As they flamed I watched as he found his day clothes he had brought to the room. He stretched his arms above his head and I thought his body was very beautiful for it's leanness and litheness. I sat up and watched as he quickly put on his nether garment, shirt and britches and slipped his bare feet into his shoes.
"I will bring your hot water soon," he said.
"Bring enough for you, too," I said, "I have some fine soap we can share."
I dozed for a while and he returned with two pitchers of hot water. He stripped off and we stood together on towels and washed each other's backs and legs and grinned as both had unruly pizzles which stood and then spurted freely under our hands onto our spread-out towels.
"I think all boys are the same," I said, "Perhaps some need to do it more, though."
He looked relieved. I wondered about it. I would have to discuss it with Robin.
"I know I and Robin have pleasure twice most days," I said.
He dropped his eyes. "Three times," he said softly, "Will I do harm?"
"I doubt it." I laughed. "You will meet Jabez Bottom one day and he boasted it was often up to five times."
He smiled. "I must meet him. His mother talks of him and his brother Caleb all the time. She says I am quiet, not like Jabez, but helpful like Caleb. I said when I can write better I will pen her letters for her. I did read the one which arrived yesterday. He writes a clear hand and said he had been on the coach box with the coachman when Lady Wright went to the theatre. He said he smuggled his way in and saw part of the play. That must be very grand."
"Trust Jabez to do that," I said, "He has a good tongue on him and would wheedle his way into the Palace, I'm sure." I laughed. "I'm jealous as I was left behind when the others when to a play last year. My Aunty Fanny said it was not suitable for me but I did go on that new railway in recompense."
"Is Lady Wright your aunt?" he asked.
"Yes, she is my father's sister."
"Is your Uncle a lord?"
"No, he is a baronet and is Sir Digby Wright."
Timmy nodded. "I understand now. I did not like to ask Mrs Bottom as she wept as I read the letter and she said she misses her Jabez, then she hugged me and kissed me and said I was a good boy and she would love me like a son." Two tears ran down his cheek. "I miss my mother."
Poor boy. His mother had died. I put my arms round him and his chest heaved as he wept, too. "Timmy," I said, stroking his back, "Mrs Bottom needs you as much as you need her. She is kind and so are you. Be a good son to her."
"I will," he whispered.
He dried his eyes on his towel and smiled. "Thank you, Master Tom, I know I can talk to you."
I slapped his back. "I am only 'Master Tom' when there is company or I will have to shout out 'Turner!' and make you tie my bootlaces."
After we had dressed he said he had a list of things to do for the day which Mr Clements had written up in the Servants' Hall. I said I would keep out of the way and see my cousin Lancelot if possible. I didn't say I wanted to see that head again but I also wanted to use a scalpel on one those poor foal's balls.
I was also very hungry and hurried to the breakfast room. Father was there looking hale and hearty. I asked about the hunting. He said they had caught nothing other than two hares and hoped Squire Matthews would tell his keepers to find a good fox for the Boxing Day Hunt. "That'll be a disaster I can forecast. He has only six couples of hounds which are fit and that hunter of his is past his best." He looked at me. "And you are not riding anything mettlesome. I'm not having you with broken limbs like that brother of yours."
I said it wasn't his fault. I said Terence insisted that some idiot had blown a loud blast on his horn and startled his mount just before a fence and ditch. Father laughed.
"That idiot was Sir Montgomery Wagstaffe, with an 'e'. He has apologised enough times and has bought several hunters and ponies so, though his brains are addled, we must forgive him. I warn you, though, do not ride near him and tell Robin the same."
Father was in a good mood and I said I had heard Mrs Gray was roasting the sucking pig with a stuffing that Timmy had suggested.
Father laughed again. "Jarvis tells me he has asked if he feeds the foals properly."
I said how Tarquin had bitten the apple then pushed it towards him to share.
Father shook his head. "We must nurture that boy."
We had almost finished eating when cousin Lancelot came rushing in. Father and he always got on well so he was soon telling us about the Archdeacon who was dour and dismal and last night's dinner had been quite miserable as Mrs Reynolds had forgotten to put sugar in the main pudding. He said the two boys had been dressed in a good grey livery and had impressed him with their behaviour. Of course, my father had to hear how they had confessed and I said they seemed to be good lads and not like the blustering louts who had upset Isaac and Jacob.
"There's another thing," Lancelot said, "Keep this under your hats but that fool Rogers has decided he wants to move and take over his father's position as verger of Rass's church. Old man Rogers has his own cottage and we think that Rogers has his eye on that. It would be no loss to us but we would need a good parish constable in his stead."
"Who would do?" My father asked. "That man Johnson is a deputy but he is more interested in being a good horseman or a farmer. I have been thinking of trying him at Cobblers Farm. His father is a tenant of friend Wagstaffe so he's had experience of farming from boyhood and his wife's a good woman and knows how to run a household."
"Isaac Barker will be eighteen in January," I said, "Would he be too young?"
Father laughed. "No villain would get past that lad. I do not know. We must ask your father, Lancelot."
I hoped I had put in a good word. Father said nothing was to be discussed and we would have to see what happened between now and New Year. He said he was too busy anyway to sit gossiping as he had work to do. I screwed my face up and he said I might fix like that but flicked a half-crown at me. "Buy those kitchen-boys some sweetmeats as Mrs Gray will be working their arses to a frenzy today!" My father had a very kind heart.
He was off and left Lancelot and me giggling together. "I must inspect those two boys then you can accompany me on my rounds. There is a boy I have to examine as he is very listless and pale I am told. Another case of a family too poor to feed their children properly."
Young Eamonn's rash was almost gone and a yawning Benjy was told to make sure he was anointed over the weekend. The other boy's hand was much better. Benjy was also instructed to supervise the hot salt water treatment for the next two mornings and to see the boy kept his hands clean. I said Benjy could set himself up then as a physician but he said he did not like the sight of blood. As Lancelot went off to see Mrs Gray, who was complaining of another backache, Benjy told me Mr Simpson had complimented him on his deportment and seemed much more accepting of the two boys.
"That Liam," he said, "He can imitate Mr Simpson perfectly and then did the same for that strange clergyman who was there. Poor Mrs Reynolds was in tears as that stupid daughter of hers hadn't done as she was told when mixing the things for the main pudding. Luckily there were two other dishes and Dr Lancelot managed to get the pudding off the table. I stayed and helped the boys wash the dishes so I slept in the kitchen and had to run here so as not to be late."
I said he had better try to get a rest sometime as he would be busy again tonight. He smiled.
"I do not mind the work," he said, "I am glad I'm not like some of those poor boys who have no places. Your aunt was saying there is another travelling family in one of the hovels by the river and all the children seem to be ill."
To be continued: