Secret in St. Something

by Barbara Brooks Wallace

  “Fletcher, would you be kind enough to bring in the four young gentlemen now in the kitchen?” Jonathan Highcrofft asked his butler, who had now arrived.

  And it was but a few minutes before Fletcher returned with his small parade of boys, who, now filled with roast chicken and cream cake, came jauntily through the doorway, only to freeze into four stone statues as soon as they entered the grand drawing room. Only their round eyes moved, roaming around the room until they happily lighted on something they knew, Robin and Danny.

  “Grandfather,” said Jonathan Highcrofft, “I’d like to introduce you to Danny’s Uncle Piggy, his Uncle Duck, his Uncle Mouse, and his Uncle Spider. I’m sorry I still don’t know which is which, but Robin, would you like to do the honors?”

  Robin went over to the boys, and with an enormous grin on his face, held a hand over each boy’s head as he put the right name to it.

  “I want you to know, Grandfather,” said Jonathan Highcrofft, “that these boys, who all ran away from homes where their fathers beat them on a regular basis, used to live under a pier. I still have to learn how it was accomplished, but they recently took up residence in the cellar of our church.”

  “You mean St. Katherine’s?” asked the astonished old man.

  At this point, it suddenly beecame too much for the boys to stand by with their mouths hanging open listening to someone tell their story.

  “We calls it St. Somethin’!” Duck burst out.

  “And where did that name come from?” inquired the curious senior Mr. Highcrofft.

  “We ain’t able ter read n’r write,” said Mouse. “So we wasn’t able ter read the sign wot’s in front o’ the church. But most churches wot we knowed was St. Somethin’ or other, so St. Somethin’ ’s wot we called the one we was livin’ in.”

  “I see,” said old Mr. Highcrofft, who was now resting his chin on his folded hands and staring at the boys with a bemused expression on his face.

  “But Robin were teachin’ us our letters ’fore he got caught by Hawker,” said Spider. “We been practicin’ ’em whilst you was gone, Robin.”

  “Only thing we never done were finish sewin’ our clothes like you was doin’,” said Piggy. “You done sich good work, none o’ us wanted ter sperl it.”

  “But one thing we done, Robin, were start worshin’ our clothes. You might o’ seen as how we was lookin’ cleaner,” Spider said. “Weren’t easy doin’ it, cause we ain’t got no changes, but we done it.”

  “Duck’s put it in them promises we made ter the Landlord,” said Mouse. “Now it’s no lyin’, no cheatin’, no gamblin’, an’ keepin’ clean.”

  Jonathan Highcrofft exchanged a puzzled look with his wife. “What’s this about a landlord?” he asked. “Robin never got around to telling me about that.”

  Duck jerked a thumb upwards. “Him wot’s Landlord o’ the church,” he said. “I said ter Him if He’d leave us stay there, it’s how it were goin’ ter be with us. We ain’t never gone back on them promises neither. An’, Mr. Highcroff’, you said as how you’d be fixin’ ter git us ’nother place ter go. I’m sayin’ ter you now, anyplace we go, we’ll be keepin’ them promises.”

  “I’m glad to hear that, Duck,” said Jonathan Highcrofft. “Well, Grandfather, I think you can see the cut of these boys.”

  “I can indeed,” the old man replied.

  “At any rate,” Jonathan Highcrofft continued, “one of the reasons I wanted you to meet these young men was not just because I wanted you to know who had taken in your baby great-grandson and his brother, nothing asked of them, and probably saved their lives. But you have a very creative mind, and I thought you might be able to help me find them a new home as I promised them I would do. I think you can understand why, now that I know about it, I can’t let them continue living in the church cellar. But I’m certainly not going to have them sent back to live under a pier, or to fathers who beat them, or even, heaven forbid, to the workhouse.”

  “Did you have anything at all in mind, Jonathan?” asked his grandfather.

  “Nothing,” he replied. “But among all your friends I don’t suppose you could think of anyone with a big house that has eight or so bedrooms in it, and a heart as big as the house, who might consider taking in these splendid young fellows, do you?”

  Old Mr. Highcrofft shook his head. “Not in a million years, I’m afraid. That’s a very big order, Jonathan. Why, I have a house with the eight bedrooms you suggest, but I wouldn’t even think of—”

  “Well now, Grandfather,” interrupted his grandson. “Adelaide and I were rather hoping you’d mention those eight bedrooms.”

  Old Mr. Highcrofft threw up his hands. “Oh, no, no, no! Now I’m beginning to see where this is all going, and I tell you it’s not possible. I couldn’t even begin to consider it.”

  “Why not, Grandfather?” said his determined grandson. “You’ve been rattling around in that mausoleum ever since Grandmother died. You don’t even entertain any more. Mrs. Delbert has been complaining she doesn’t properly earn her housekeeper’s pay, nor do any of that army of servants you have there. Whom, I might add, you won’t let go because, though you’d never admit it, you do have a very big heart, Grandfather.”

  “But four boys!” he groaned. “Have you no mercy, Jonathan?”

  “None in this case,” replied his cold-hearted grandson. “Oh, and Grandfather, did I forget to mention your seven-bedroom ‘cottage’ in the country, and at the shore your—”

  “Enough! Enough!” moaned old Mr. Highcrofft. “You have made your point. And to think I let myself be led right into this. I’ve always prided myself on being a fairly crafty fellow, but you’ve certainly beaten me at my own game. Well, all right then, but how do we know these boys would even want to come and live with an old codger like me?”

  Jonathan Highcrofft laughed aloud. “Old codger indeed! You’re younger than most men half your age. And having these boys around will make you younger yet. Anyway, boys, do you or do you not wish to go and live with this old codger?”

  “We ain’t never been arsked,” replied Duck.

  “Well then, for heaven’s sake, I’m arsking you,” grumped old Mr. Highcrofft.

  “Wot we usual do ’bout most stuff is hold a meetin’,” replied Duck. “But don’t think we need a meetin’ fer this. We accepts yer invite.”

  “When do you think they could come to me, Jonathan?” asked old Mr. Highcrofft, who looked rather as if he had been struck on the head with a very hard instrument.

  “Why not tonight?” replied his heartless grandson.

  “But don’t they at least need to return to the church to pick up their belongings?” inquired Mr. Highcrofft hopefully.

  “We got some valuables back there,” said Duck. “We got us a saucepot, an’ some cups an’ saucers.”

  “But they come from the dump,” Mouse reminded him.

  “Still them things been valuables ter us,” said Duck. “Also got a lef’ over piece o’ bread. Got them ends o’ pencils an’ paper wot Robin got fer us.” He paused a moment. “But I think ’stead o’ goin’ back fer them things, an’ if Robin don’t mind ’bout bits o’ pencils, we like ’em ter be gived ter the poor.”

  “The poor, eh?” said old Mr. Highcrofft, thoughtfully reviewing the boys’ clothes, which despire Robin’s best sewing efforts, were still little better than rags, not to mention their shoes with flapping soles, holes cut out for toes, and held together with pieces of string.

  “Yer church gives ter the poor, don’t it?” asked Mouse. “They got this box upstairs wot’s full o’ money fer the poor. We know ’cause we shocked it an’ foun’ out.”

  “Did anything fall out when you … er … shooked the box?” asked old Mr. Highcrofft with great interest.

  “It did,” said Spider. “A whole ten cents! But we put it right back in the hole where it come out.”

  “Why didn’t you keep it?” asked the old man.

  “Keepin’ it would o’ been stealin�
� from the poor,” said Piggy. “Even ’fore we stopped stealin’ on ’count o’ them promises we maked ter the Landlord, we ain’t never stealed from the poor. Stealin’ from the poor ain’t right.”

  “You’re quite right, Piggy, it isn’t. I’m sure I don’t know why I even suggested you might do such a thing,” said old Mr. Highcrofft, turning to his grandson. “You know, Jonathan, I must say I like these boys’ style. We might just make it.”

  “Oh, I think you will, Grandfather,” replied his grandson. “But I think it’s now really very late, and you’d better all pack yourself into the carriage and head for home.”

  “Yes, and figure where to put everyone when we get there,” said old Mr. Highcrofft.

  “You don’t need ter worry none ’bout puttin’ us anywheres,” said Duck. “Jist give us a rag or two ter put under our heads, an’ we c’n sleep anyplace you c’n find a piece o’ floor ter put us.”

  “I think we can do a bit better than that, Duck,” said old Mr. Highcrofft. “I’m sure Mrs. Delbert …” he stopped, throwing a hand to his forehead. “Mrs. Delbert! I don’t look forward to seeing the look on her face when I return bringing this group with me.”

  “Why, I’ve often heard her say she loved boys,” said his grandson, with a mischievous grin.

  “Oh yes, I’m sure! Thank you so much for your support, Jonathan,” said his grandfather. “She will especially love having these four descending on her practically in the middle of the night. Well, come on boys, we’ll bear the lioness in her den together.”

  “Ain’t you comin’ with us, Robin?” asked Piggy. “I brung yer jacket from the kitchen with mine. It’s in the hall.”

  “Robin will be staying here with us, Piggy,” said Jonathan Highcrofft. “I’m sure we’ll all be getting together tomorrow, and we’ll explain everything to you then. Come on, Robin. I won’t ring for Fletcher. We’ll see them out ourselves.”

  So after old Mr. Highcrofft had looked down once more on his great-grandson and kissed the baby’s mother lightly on the cheek, he herded the boys from the drawing room into the hall.

  As Robin and Jonathan Highcrofft stood waiting for the boys to wiggle into their jackets, they heard Spider saying to Mouse, “Wonder if the place wot we’re goin’ ter is near as grand as this place.”

  “Nah, couldn’t be,” replied Mouse.

  “Got eight bedrooms,” said Piggy.

  “Probable jist countin’ big closicks,” said Mouse. “Ain’t no one in the world got eight bedrooms.”

  “Oh my,” Jonathan Highcrofft said quietly to Robin. “If they think this place is grand, wait until they see Grandfather’s house!”

  “I expect I’ll hear about it tomorrow,” said Robin.

  “Oh yes indeed, I expect you will!” said Jonathan Highcrofft.

  Then as the boys went parading out the door behind old Mr. Highcrofft, this conversation came drifting back to Jonathan Highcrofft and Robin:

  SPIDER’S VOICE: “Can’t b’lieve wot’ happenin’ ter us. Must o’ been all that holy water we been drinkin’.”

  DUCK’S VOICE: “Aw shut up, Spider. Ain’t you over that? Wot’s holy ’bout drinkin’ sink water, I arsks you?”

  MOUSE’S VOICE: “Well, I jist thinks as how we got ter be dreamin’. Pinch me, Piggy.”

  (pause)

  MOUSE’S VOICE: “Ouch! You don’t need ter go pinchin’ me so hard, Piggy. It were only dreamin’ I arsked to be waked from, not the dead.”

  PIGGY’S VOICE: “Sorry, Mouse. But now leastways you know you ain’t neither.”

  “Robin, I think we are in for some interesting times, indeed!” said Jonathan Highcrofft.

  Chapter XXI

  Quite a Story Indeed

  When Robin returned to the hall with Jonathan Highcrofft, it was also in the company of Adelaide Highcrofft and Danny. They were now ready to go up the winding staircase to the bedrooms, where arrangements were to be made for Danny and Robin.

  “Would you like me to send Mrs. Beckett up to you, Adelaide?” Jonathan Highcrofft asked. “I think she can be of great help to you until we find a nurse for Danny.”

  “Oh, please do send her, Jonathan,” said Danny’s mother eagerly. “You know, Robin, I confess I don’t know the first thing about baby care.”

  “I can help,” Robin said quickly. “Mama taught me how to care for Danny, and I did it when she was so sick before she died. Then after that I took care of him all by myself. If I didn’t know how to do it, I might not have dared to run away with him.”

  All of which reminded Robin of something, and he looked around on the walls for a clock. Unable to find one, he went to where his jacket hung on the coat rack, and pulled out Hawker Doak’s watch, which was still in the same pocket. “Danny should be waking up now for his milk,” Robin said, after consulting the watch. “We brought his bottles and diapers in the bag that’s over there.”

  “You can’t imagine how grateful I am for that,” said Danny’s mother. “Where would we have found anyplace to get those things tonight? Jonathan, would you please ask Mrs. Beckett to bring along some milk when she comes? Should it be warmed a bit, Robin?”

  “Oh, yes!” said Robin, the baby expert. “And you put a drop on your wrist to make certain it’s not too hot. Piggy and I always remembered to do that. And put a bit of syrup in with the milk.”

  “You boys are a wonder!” said Adelaide Highcrofft.

  “But Adelaide,” said her husband, “do you think you can manage without Robin’s help for a few minutes? Mrs. Beckett will be up at once, I’m sure. I have the feeling that with all that’s gone on, Robin didn’t put away a very big supper and might have room for a little more of that cake, if there’s any left. And I’d like to have some with him.”

  “There was a little bit left,” said Robin.

  “Then you two run along,” said Adelaide Highcrofft. “I’ll be fine.” She came over and kissed her husband lightly on the cheek, then came and did the same to Robin, which caused his heart to skip a beat. Her kiss felt like a butterfly’s wings brushing his cheek. And it was done so simply and easily, it was as if she had been doing the same thing all of his life.

  “Come along, Robin, let’s go summon Mrs. Beckett, and then help ourselves to that good cake,” said Jonathan Highcrofft.

  “Mr. Highcrofft,” said Robin, “may I ask you something?”

  “Only if you promise me something,” he replied. “We can’t have you going around calling us Mr. and Mrs. Highcrofft. It just won’t do. I know this has all been very sudden, but you’ll just have to get used to calling us Mama and Papa, for that’s what we’re about to be. Do you think you can arrange with yourself to do that?”

  “R-right now?” said Robin.

  “Why not right now?” asked Jonathan Highcrofft. “It’s as good a time as any. And I know it would please Adelaide a great deal.”

  The delighted Robin took a big swallow. “Then … then, Papa, may I ask you something?”

  “Fire away,” said Jonathan Highcrofft.

  “It’s about this watch,” said Robin, still holding it in his hand. “It belonged to Hawker. He loaned it to me because he sold my watch, the one that belonged to my … my first papa. Would you see to it that Hawker’s friends Quill and Maggot get it? I expect he would have liked one of them to have it.”

  “Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing which one,” said Jonathan Highcrofft. “And from what I could tell from my brief encounter with those two, I would expect there to be some unpleasantness over it. But I’ll do as you ask. You say Hawker sold your papa’s watch? Do you know to whom he sold it?”

  “He sold it to Mr. Slyke, who has a pawnshop,” replied Robin.

  Jonathan Highcrofft’s eyebrows rose. “Slyke? I know of the man. A very shady character, I understand. Some of my friends’ stolen jewelry has turned up at his place of business. I believe he’s a dealer in stolen goods. But I’m going to see about getting your watch back for you.”

  “Mr. Slyke said
the watch is only nickel plate,” said Robin. “Once I thought I had to sell it myself, because when Hawker sent me to collect rents, one of the people didn’t pay enough. Hawker said I had to go back, and I didn’t want to. But I was afraid of what he’d do to me, so I took my watch to Mr. Slyke. He said it was only worth twenty-five cents to him. I needed fifty, so I didn’t sell it to him. But he only gave Hawker fifteen cents for it, because Hawker didn’t care. He only sold it to punish me. But I don’t think anyone who buys it from Mr. Slyke should pay much more than that.”

  “Well, I expect that watch is worth a fair amount more than twenty-five cents. But I don’t care what it’s worth, because I don’t intend to pay Mr. Slyke a single cent for it. And by the time I get through with him, he’ll be begging me to take the watch and offering to pay me for the privilege. Furthermore, I won’t be accepting anything like twenty-five cents. No, he’ll be expected to do a great deal better than that! And son,” said Jonathan Highcrofft, putting an arm around Robin’s shoulders, “that watch is going to be an heirloom you can tell your little brother about some day.”

  Robin hesitated, and then put his own skinny arm around his new papa’s waist, only to feel an answering tightening of the arm around his shoulders. He could hardly wait for the time when he could tell Danny about the watch. For it would have quite a story behind it. Quite a story indeed!