Humphrey had his carpenters' tools; and although
at first he had many failures, and wasted nails and wood, by degrees
he learned to use his tools with more dexterity, and made several
little useful articles. Little Edith could now do something, for she
made and baked all the oatmeal cakes, which saved Alice a good deal of
time and trouble in watching them. It was astonishing how much the
children could do, now that there was no one to do it for them; and
they had daily instruction from Jacob. In the evening Alice sat down
with her needle and thread to mend the clothes; at first they were not
very well done, but she improved every day. Edith and Humphrey learned
to read while Alice worked, and then Alice learned; and thus passed
the winter away so rapidly, that, although they had been five months
at the cottage, it did not appear as if they had been there as many
weeks. All were happy and contented, with the exception, perhaps, of
Edward, who had fits of gloominess, and occasionally showed signs of
impatience as to what was passing in the world, of which he remained
in ignorance.
That Edward Beverley had fits of gloominess and impatience is not
surprising. Edward had been brought up as the heir of Arnwood; and a
boy at a very early age imbibes notions of his position, if it
promises to be a high one.
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