XXVI. “It’s Mother!”
TheirbeliefintheMagicwasanabidingthing.Afterthemorning’sincantationsColinsometimesgavethemMagiclectures.
“Iliketodoit,”heexplained,“becausewhenIgrowupandmakegreatscientificdiscoveriesIshallbeobligedtolectureaboutthemandsothisispractise.IcanonlygiveshortlecturesnowbecauseIamveryyoung,andbesidesBenWeatherstaffwouldfeelasifhewereinchurchandhewouldgotosleep.”
“Th’bestthingaboutlecturin’,”saidBen,“isthatachapcangetupan’sayaughthepleasesan’nootherchapcananswerhimback.Iwouldn’tbeagen’lecturin’abitmysel’sometimes.”
ButwhenColinheldforthunderhistreeoldBenfixeddevouringeyesonhimandkeptthemthere.Helookedhimoverwithcriticalaffection.Itwasnotsomuchthelecturewhichinterestedhimasthelegswhichlookedstraighterandstrongereachday,theboyishheadwhichhelditselfupsowell,theoncesharpchinandhollowcheekswhichhadfilledandroundedoutandtheeyeswhichhadbeguntoholdthelightherememberedinanotherpair.SometimeswhenColinfeltBen’searnestgazemeantthathewasmuchimpressedhewonderedwhathewasreflectingonandoncewhenhehadseemedquiteentrancedhequestionedhim.
“Whatareyouthinkingabout,BenWeatherstaff?”heasked.
“Iwasthinkin’”answeredBen,“asI’dwarranttha’sgoneupthreeorfourpoundthisweek.Iwaslookin’attha’calvesan’tha’shoulders.I’dliketogettheeonapairo’scales.”
“It’stheMagicand—andMrs.Sowerby’sbunsandmilkandthings,”saidColin.