The Great Unknown by Peg Kingman

Author:Peg Kingman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 2020-01-07T16:00:00+00:00

IT WAS HIGH TIME that Jemmie, nearly five years old, should be breeched: taken out of frocks and put into trousers. Mrs Chambers issued a few select invitations to this important occasion marking her son’s development from child to boy; and one Saturday afternoon, a small company of relations and tolerant, kindly friends gathered, to fill every chair ranged around the new-furnished drawing room. Jemmie and his father were not to be seen. To ease the expectant waiting, Mrs Chambers and her daughters passed trays of cold refreshments: scotch eggs; prawn paste on crisp toasts; caraway shortbread. Presently—at last!—the door opened, and Jemmie appeared in breeches and jacket for the first time in his life. Mortified, reluctant, and very near tears, he was drawn into the the room by his father.

“O the darling mannie!” and “Our braw wee chiel!” exclaimed the ladies fondly.

“It’s bonny callants they fancy themselves, every one,” said Lady Janet.

Sweets from the ladies soon quelled his bashfulness. Better still, the gentlemen offered him pennies, to be put into his new pockets. Before long, sucking upon a butter toffee, he was confident enough to show his Uncle William (a portly man, all round belly, seated upon a stout settee) the buttons of his new garment. “Very handsome buttons, to be sure; and such a great many of them!” said Uncle William.

Jemmie—gaining rapidly in the urbanity and assurance conferred by wearing trousers—asked, “And have you buttons to your breeches, Uncle William?”

“Indeed I have, young chiel!” replied Uncle William briskly, “very nearly as neat as your own!” and stood up to prove it, by showing them—to gales of laughter from all present.

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