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STRETCHING
THERAPY FORSPORTAND
MANUAL THERAPIES

Jari Ylinen
FOREWORD BY

Leon Chaitow

CHURCHILL
LIVINGSTONE
ELSEVIER
STRETCHING
TH E RAPY ~~~~~~~~~~2PIES
This textbook contains valuable information for physiotherapists,
masseurs, physical education instructors and teachers, trainers,
coaches, medical doctors, osteopaths, sportsmen and all those
who use stretching in their work.
Stretching has an important part to play in the care of soft tissues
after strain at work or in sport. It is used to promote recovery of
the tendo-muscular system after exercise or post acute trauma,
to treat overstrained muscles and for relaxation.
Within physiotherapy, manual stretching is used to remove
muscle tension or spasticity and to restore normal stretchability
of soft tissues. Stretching techniques are commonly used within
all manual therapies to treat the tendo-musular system.
This book contains a review of research into the effects of
stretching and comparisons of different stretching techniques.
The theoretical background and physiologic mechanisms are
also explained. Colour photographs show clearly how stretching
is applied while anatomical drawings illustrate the location and
direction of the muscles treated so that correct hand positions
can be readily adopted and the direction of the stretch is
clear. Both static and tension-relaxation stretching techniques
are described and special attention is given to possible
complications and contraindications.
The textbook contains over 160 colour photographs and over 200
drawings.

Jari Ylinen MD, PhD, MLCOM (member of London College of Osteopathic M edicine), specialist in
physical medicine and rehabilitation and registered remedial masseur. He is head
of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Central Hospital
of Central Finland, Jyvaskyla, private practitioner and teacher of mobilization and
manipulation techniques.

ISBN 978-0-443-10127-4

CHURCHILL This product is appropriate for:

• Manual Therapy
UVI! GSTONE • Massage Therapy
ELSEVI ER
• Sports Therapy
Jari VI inen MD PHD MLCOM DO

Head of Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine,

Jyvaskyla Central Hospital,
Jyvaskyla,
Finland

FOREWORD BY

Leon Chaitow

TRANSLATED BY

Julie Nurmenniemi

ILLUSTRATIONS BY

Sandie Hill

CHURCHILL
LIVINGSTONE

ELSEVIER
Edinburgh London New York Oxford Philadelphia
SI Louis Sydney Toronlo 2008
STRETCHING
TH E RAPY ~~~~~~~~~~£PIES
I CHURCHILL Note
Every effort has been made by the Author and the Publishers to
LIVINGSTONE ensure that the descriptions of the techniques included in th is book
ELSEVIER
are accurate and in conformity with the descriptions published by
their developers. The Publishers and the Authors do not assume any
First Edition published in Finnish under the title Manuaalinen lerapia
responsibility for any injury andlor damage to persons or property
Venytystekniikat I Uhas-jannesysteemi
arising out of or related to any use of the material contained in this
© 2002 Medirehabook Oy
book. It is the responsibility of the treating practitioner, relying on
independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine
First edition published in English
the best treatment and method of application for the patient, to make
© 2008, Elsevier limited. All rights reserved.
their own evaluation of their effectiveness and to check with the
developers or teachers of the techniques they wish to use that they
The right of Jari Ylinen to be identified as author of this work has
have understood them correctly.
been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
The Publisher
Patents Act 1988.

No part of this publication may be reproduced , stored in a retrieval your source for books,
joumols and multimedia
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, in the health sciences
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without either the www.elsevierhealth.com
prior permission of the publishers or a licence permitting restricted
copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing
Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Permissions
may be sought directly from Elsevier's Health Sciences Rights
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complete your request on-line via the Elsevier homepage
(http://www.elsevier.com). by selecting 'Support and contact' and
then 'Copyright and Permission'.

First edition 2002

English edition 2008
Reprinted 2008

ISBN: 978 0 443 10127 4

British library Cat aloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

library of Congress C at aloging in Publicatio n Dat a

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of
Congress

For Elsevier

n.
",,,,,,,,, Senior Commissioning Editor. Sarena Wolfaard
policy is to use Development Editor. Claire Wilson
paper manufactured Project Manager. Andrew Palfreyman
from sustainable forests
Oesign: Erik Bigland
Printed in China I Illustrations Manager: Bruce Hogarth
 CONTENTS

Foreword vi Section 1 References 270

Preface vii Stretching Theory 1 Further Reading 274
Acknowledgements viii Section 2 Index 280
Stretching Techniques 91

Section 1 STRETCHING THEORY 1

Introduction 3 Neurophysiology of stretching 37
General joint physiology 3 Oefinitions of stretching 46
Concepts 5 Research on stretching 48
Types of joints 10 Comparison of stretching methods in
Factors affecting joint mobility 11 healthy subjects 58
Factors affecting muscle tension 12 Conclusions of stretching research 64
Stretching during immobilization 13 Proprioceptive neuromuscular
Physiotherapy treatments prior to facilitation 67
stretching 15 Muscle energy technique 68
Stretching in sports 21 Strain and counter-strain 68
Circulation in muscles during Functional stretching 69
stretching 24 Stretching in physiotherapy 69
Delayed onset muscle soreness 25 Measuring stretch force 79
Effect of strengthening exercises on Subjective and objective muscle
muscle stiffness 25 tension 80
Effect of stretching on strength 26 Motivation 83
Factors affecting mobility 29 Complications due to stretching
Muscle-tendon physiology 32 therapy 84
Physiology of stretching 36 Introduction to stretching techniques 87

Section 2 STRETCHING TECHNIQUES 91

Masticatory muscles 95
Frontal muscles of neck 97
Dorsal muscles of neck 113
Muscles of shoulder 131
Muscles of upper limb 141
Muscles of thorax 177
Back muscles 187
Rotatores breves and longi thoracis 201
Abdominal muscles 209
Muscles of lower limb 215
 FO REWORD

This text is important because, arguably for the first time, What emerges is a sense that we now know a great deal
the topic is covered comprehensively (and well) - more about the subject than previously, including
incorporating as it does all essential features including important features such as the value of minimal effort,
anatomy, physiology, methodology, safety, variations, the ideal amoun t of time stretch should be held, the most
effects and research evidence, together with excellent appropriate number of repetitions, and the importance -
muscle-by-muscle illustrations and clearly described in therapeutic terms - of the phenomenon of increased
protocols. tolerance to stretch, and viscous and elastic behaviour of
Stretching may appear a simple enough procedure, connective tissue, and how these features influence
however it is deceptively complex, and there are a great stretching (with clear evidence that sufficient, but not
many ways of getting it wrong, and/or of producing excessive, force is needed, over tilne - with tissues at the
potentially harmful outcomes, as well as a variety of right temperature - for optimal effects) .
different ways of stretching correctly - depending on the As can be seen from the comments above, the infor-
effects that are required. mation provided is satisfyingly comprehensive and
What this excellent text has managed to combine is a current, and the layout of the book aesthetically pleaSing,
broad overview of the physiology, neurophysiology An important feature is the regular placement of self-
and methodology of stretching: with discussion of assessment concepts/ questions, a useful aide-memoire of
contexts as varied as application of stretching during key features of the preceding text, as well as being
immobilization, trauma, post-surgery, cramp, joint invaluable for students and practitioners/ therapists who
inflammation and restriction, as well as in relation to are new to these methods.
specific conditions such as back and neck pain, tennis And then we have the presentation of the techniques
elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, disc problems, neural themselves.
damage and hypermobility. The illustrations are quite simply excellent, with
Most importantly the preventive features of appro- anatomical detail and technique clearly demonstrated.
priate stretching are dealt with in relation to sport, body Even experienced practitioners will find the illustrations
type, age, gender, inherited factors (hypermobility for helpful as many embrace unusual and clearly effective
example), and even the best times of day to stretch! positioning, both of the patient and the practitioner.
The effects of stretching on mobility, flexibility, strength, Whether the positions illustrated are used passively, or
muscle length, tendons, fascia, ligaments, nerves are all with the inclusion of isometric contractions, during one
evaluated. phase of the process or another, is clearly a matter of
Essential topics covered include motivation, prep- choice and previous training.
aration for stretching (including topics such as heat, cold, Each muscle is illustrated, with information provided
massage and vibration), circulatory effects, after-effects as to its nerve supply, origin, insertion and function - and
(soreness), and vitally, how to avoid complications. the technique for stretching is concisely described and
A variety of different stretching methods and systems beautifully photographed, with superimposed arrows to
are covered, including passive, active, active assisted, make absolutely sure that there is no misunderstanding
dynamic, ballistic, static, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular as to what is required. Cautions are offered wherever any
Facilitation (PNF), Muscle Energy Techniques (MET), risk might be involved - for example in stretching
Contract-Relax (C-R), Contract-Relax, Antagonist- sternocleidomastoid.
Contract (C-R A-C), as well as stretching in the context of Stretching in clinical practice can only be safer and
physiotherapy practice. more effective if this exceptional text is used as designed.
A great deal of information is provided as to the
research evidence of the effects and benefits relative to
different types of stretching. INowadays, where there is
an increasing demand for evidence relative to both safety Leon Chaitow ND DO
and the therapeutic value of the use of techniques such as Honorary Fellow,
stretching, the many pages devoted to research evidence University of Westminster,
is very welcome. London
The purpose of this book is to provide a comprehensive Since the know ledge of physiologic mechanisms of
volume of clinically well-tried stretching techniques in stretching has changed greatly during the past decade as
clear form and systematic order so that they can be easily a result of scientific research, the theory section is
adopted in studying and also used as a quick reference interesting reading for professionals having not been on
book in the clinic. the school bench lately. Thus, the first chap ter is devoted
Like joint manipulation which may be unspecific and to theory and research in stretching. It also includes
treat the whole spine or specifically directed to single recent recommendations abou t how stretching should be
joint, stretching can also be directed to the bulk of applied.
muscles or focused to a specific part of the muscle. Thus, This textbook has been wri tten with the intent to
the aim of this book is to provide more ad va need provide detailed study material for physiotherapy as
stretching techniques. well as the manual therapy profeSSions: chiropractic,
J also hope that this book will awake interest in the naprapthy, and osteopathy. However, this book is also
stud y of manual therapy, as it shows the importance of a essential reading in professions of physical education like
thorough knowledge of human anatomy for students, coach, personal trainer and PE teacher.
and thus inspires learning.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Stretching is one of the oldest therapy forms practiced insight to stretching techniques. We had many brilliant
among all ancient cultures. Manual therapy including teachers from different parts of Great Britain and even
manipulation, massage and stretching has a long some from USA. I thank them for their devoted teaching,
standing tradition in medical education. In Greece, as broad arsenal of techniques is important in practice
Hippocrates (460-377 BC), the father of medicine, even which one only fully realizes when one knows them.
prescribed its use in his writings, w hieh I discovered Since returning to Finland I have specialized in
during a course of medical history at the University of physical and rehabilitation medicine as well as pain
Turku. In the University library I found German medical treatments. Due to side effects of drugs I have become
textbooks from the beginning of the 1900s describing more and more convinced that manual therapies should
basic manual treatment techniques. In Finland, as well as be tried in many conditions before relying only on the
in many other European countries, these techniques were long-term medication for pain . I have also devoted
also taught to medical students, which they then myself to teaching manual therapy techniques to others.
commonly practiced to finance their studies. After the My students suggested that it would be easier to
Second World War, studies of manual therapy were memorize techniques if they are written. This induced
replaced by chemistry and pharmacology as well as me to write this book, and although manual therapy
constantly growing studies of many special fields made cannot be learned wholly from books I thank my
possible by the advancement of medicine. students for the initiation of this one.
However, old customs inspired me to study in private The aim is of this book is not only to show a selection
massage school, Juntunen at Lahti, and thus I become a of stretching techniques, but to systematically present the
registered remedial masseur. Thanks belong to deceased techniques found to be most effective during three
Kauko Juntunen, who was the director of the massage decades that J have taught and studied manual therapy.
school as well as the enthusiastic fellow students with As manual therapy is not 'alternative medicine' but
whom training often took place past ordinary hours. original medicine the scientific basis of the therapy is
There I found a good basis for studies in manual therapy, important. Thus, research in the area has been dealt with
anatomy and dissection studies for which I thank all my extensively. Although, there is still much to be done in
teachers and especially Professor Risto Santti. research, we now know physiologic effects of stretching
Afte~ this course J was able to obtain many good better than many medications. I want to thank all those
results in musculoskeletal disorders by treating patients researchers, who have put much effort into evaluating
with only hands using soft tissue massage and stretching physiologic mechanisms as well as the effects of
techniques. After graduation as medical doctor I worked stretching.
for a few years but still wanted to learn more about Finally, I also want to thank Julie Nurmenniemi for
manual therapy and so J entered the London College of translating tms book, originally written in Finnish and
Osteopathic Medicine. There J learned further joint called 'Venytystekniikat', to English; Hilkka Virtapohja,
mobilization and manipulation techniques as well as soft PT, MSc, specialist in manual therapy, who is the
tissue techniques used by osteopaths, which differed therapist performing the stretching techniques through-
very much from Finnish and Swedish massage out the book, and models Jouni Leppanen, Juuso Sillanpaa
techniques. I become also familiar with muscle energy and Vesa Vahiisalo.
and positional release techniques, which gave me new
 SECTION 1 STRETCHING THEORY

Introduct ion 3 Changes in mobility according to Muscle energy technique 68

General joint physiology 3 time of day 32 Strain and counter strain 68
Concepts 5 Muscle-tendon physiology 32 Functional stretching 69
Types of joints 10 Division of function in joint Stretching in physiotherapy 69
Factors affecting joint muscle-tendon system 33 Muscle injuries 70
mobility 11 Physiology of stretching 36 Muscle cramp 70
Factors affecting muscle Effects on fasciae 36 Fractures and surgery 71
tension 12 Effects on tendons 37 Trauma and burns 72
Stretching during Effects on joint ligaments 38 Spasticity 72
immobilization 13 Effects on nerves 38 Joint inflammation 72
Physiotherapy treatments prior to Neurophysiology of stretching 39 Limitations of joint mobility 73
stretching 15 Nerve supply to muscle-tendon Muscle shortening in lower
Superficial heat treatments 15 system 39 extremities 74
Deep heat treatments 15 Definitions of stretching 46 Tennis elbow 74
Cold treatments 17 Active stretching 46 Chronic back pain 74
Cryotherapy 18 Passive stretching 47 Chronic neck pain 77
Cryostretch 18 Active assisted stretching 47 Carpal tunnel syndrome 78
Massage 20 Dynamic stretching 47 Stretch as a cause of pain 78
Vibration 20 Ballistic stretching (85) 47 Muscle tightness 79
Stretching in sports 21 Static stretching (55) 48 Measuring stretch force 79
Injury prevention 22 Agonist contract stretching Subjective and objective muscle
Warm-up 23 (AC) 48 tension 80
Cooling down 24 Research on stretching 48 Non-physical muscle tension 81
Circulation in muscles during Viscous and elastic resistance of Motivation 83
stretching 24 connective tissue during Hypermobility 83
Delayed onset muscle stretch 48 Complications due to stretching
soreness 25 Research findings of 55 in healthy therapy 84
Effects of strengthening exercises subjects 50 Sprains and strains 84
on muscle stiffness 25 Contract-relax stretching (CR) 57 Nerve damage 85
Effects of stretching on Contract-relax agonist-contract Injury to blood vessels 86
strength 26 stretching (CR-AC) 57 Injury to joint and discs 86
Increasing muscle tension with Comparison of stretching methods Risk of fracture 87
training 29 in healthy subjects 58 Introduction to stretching
Factors affecting mobility 29 Electrical activity of muscles during techniques 87
Body structure and mobility 29 stretching 61 Safety concerns in stretching 88
Age and mobility 30 Conclusions of stretching Practical considerations 89
Hereditary and gender factors research 64
affecting mobility 31 Proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation 67
 GENERAL JOINT PHYSIOLOGY

maintenance of joints. The development of stiffness in

INTRODUCTION
muscles and joints is thus common.
Flexibility is considered to be an important fa ctor affect- Naturally flexible people enjoy stretching exercises,
ing physical health. Range of movement (ROM) is a which they find easy. People with an innate stiffness will
fundamental part of normal function of the musculo- find stretching distasteful and will most likely avoid it.
skeletal system (Figure 1.1). A certain amount of flexibility Consequently, those in most need of stretching seldom
is necessary for the success of all physical movements. practise it regularly.
Individual differences in physical condition and range of In particular, many physically demanding jobs require
joint movement can largely be due to innate, hereditary not only stamina and muscle strength but also good
factors. Flexibility can, however, be significantly increased mobility in the extremities and spine. The decrease in
wi th intensive training of the elastic c01U1ecti ve tissues, mobility becomes noticeable in the increasing difficulty in
even in ' naturally stiff' persons. Many sports require performing nonnal tasks. Strain-related pain due to limited
special flexibility of the spine and extremities. People ROM can be considered to be a warning sign, and one
w ith these capabilities usually choose to practice such should start to do stretching exercises to restore the full
fields of sport from early in their life. ROM. However, joint mobility may have become quietly
The general understanding of the importance of limited in those people unaccustomed to performing any
fl exibility is in regard to the prevention of injury. A exercises with full ROM. This may be because any pain and
decrease in mobility may cause changes in function, discomfort may be minimal or there has been no pain at all,
w hk h puts abnormal loading on the muscle-tendon until the condition is so severe that even movements in
system and joint structure. Thus, stretching is commonly normal daily activities can no longer be performed. The
included in the warm-up process in both training and decrease in mobility may even have become so serious that
compe tition situa tions. Furthermore, s tre tching is it is too late to restore full range of movement. Thus,
important in recovery fo llowing intense training and regular stretching exercises become increasingly important
competition. with advanced age, not only to keep fit, but also to monitor
The purpose of stretching is usually to increase joint the condition of muscles and joints.
mobility, muscle length and flexibility, as well as to relax Stretching exercises are commonly the primary focus
muscles in general. Metabolism is less efficient in stiff of physiotherapy in rehabilitation and thus a specific
muscles because of increased intramuscular pressure and stretching programme is often prepared for the patient.
decreased circulation of fluid s. Stretching, therefore, is With the rise in average life expectancy, an increase in
also used to improve metabolism. Increased flexibility muscle and joint disorders can be expected in the future.
achieved by stretching will help to prevent injury to Jo int disease and injury in volv e a decrease in the
muscles, tendons a nd joints as well as improving elasticity of connecti ve tissue surrounding joints and
performance capability. joint mobility in general. Muscle strength begins to
Physical education in schools is limited, and classes weaken after middle age at about a 1 % rate per year,
seldom systematically concentrate on the maintenance while mu scle tightness increases. This is a notice-
and! or increase of joint mobility. Alread y at adolescence able challenge to professional therapists. Ideally, they
there are some children w ith signs of muscle tension and should have skill s to preserve mobility, as well as
limitations in ROM of peripheral joints as w ell as methods of treatment to address existing limitations of
decreased spinal mobility. Thus, problems involving joint movement.
motion may already ap pear prior to the end of the
grow th period and attention to this is important during
health and posture examinations.
GENERAL ,JOINT PHYSIOLOGY
Many modern professions are not physically demanding
nor do they require even normal end ROM. Exercise The movement of any given joint is specific and depends
during leisure time has decreased with a noticeable upon joint anatomy and connective tissue structure. In
increase in watching television and sitting at a computer. addition to hereditary factors, mobility will be affected
Physical hobbies are often unilateral, and do not by nutrition and physical activity during grow th.
emphasize increase in fl exibility no r the general PhYSical stress during growth will substantially effect the
 SECTION 1 STRETCHING THEORY

development and characteristics of cOIU1ective tissue. On

• pinched nerves, as in sciatica
the other hand, the growth period is relatively short in
• central nervous system damage causing muscular
comparison to one's entire life, and therefore activity is
rigidity and shortening of muscle length
also important throughout adulthood and old age for
• shortening of muscle length due to prolonged
maintenance of musculoskeletal function.
immobilization accompanied by splints and! or
Changes in flexibility may cause biomechanical problems
plaster casts
in function of the locomotor system. Shortening of muscles
• general deterioration of tissues of joint ligaments
will restrict ROM and cause less efficient movement
and capsule with the degene rative process of aging
patterns, resulting in unnecessary stress, which can often
• exaggerated muscle tone and pain following
lead to inflammation and pain. Early detection of decreased
unusually intense workout i.e. delayed muscle
mobiUty is importan t in the prevention of physical
soreness (DOMS)
disability. With restricted mobility for an extended period of
• activa tion of pain receptors located in connective
time, elastic cmmective tissue will gradually be replaced by
tissue and the muscle-tendon system of joints due
fibrous tissue. Extensive infiltration of less elastic fibrous
to trauma and inflammation
tissue will result in permanent restriction of mobility; then
• activation of pain receptors in the connective tissue
the only means of restoring normal movement are
surrounding joints following overl y long-lasting
manipulation while the patient is anaesthetized or surgery.
stretch or stretch with excessive force.
A decrease in mobility may be caused by a variety of
factors such as: non-participation in physical hobbies;
repetitive and intense stress upon a small area of the body; Mobility can be affected with rehabilitation. Excellent
sprains, strains and inflammation; degenerative changes exercises for improving joint mobility include active and
with age; and neurological disease. The reason may also be passive stretching as well as dynamic exercises involving
iatrogenic such as excessive scar formation after radiation broad ranges of movement (Figure 1.2).
therapy and infected wounds. Long-standing inunobil- The purpose of stretching is to increase the elas ticity of
ization with a cast can lead to a decrease in mobility. muscles, tendons, fasciae, joint ligaments and joint
Decreased movement is not always caused by changes capsules. Furthermore, stretch ing exercises aim to relax
in tissue structure, but often the activation of pain receptors the neuromuscular system in general. An increase in
in coIU1ective tissue will also cause considerable limitations muscle tone will often lead to pain caused by the
by acti vating motor neurons and thereby increasing irritation of nerve endings or the increase in pressure in
muscle stiffness. Joint disorders like degeneration, inflam- and between muscles, which causes slowing of the
mation and trauma may also cause activation of motor metabolism. Symptoms of pain can be reduced with the
neurons, even though there is no sensation of pain, and relaxation of muscles by stretching exercises.
cause increased muscle tone.
Mobility

Limitations of mobility can be

caused by a variety of changes in
connective tissue:
Coordination
• tightening of connecti ve tissue fasciae, for example
( Function
following trauma, surgery, radiation damage or burns
• oedema in and around joints due to acute trauma
and infection, and an increase in connective tiss ue
in chronic conditions
• changes in joint structure resulting from fracture
• separation of the 'mus articularis' i.e. cartilage
and! or bone from the joint surface
Figure 1.1 Function of the locomotor system
• disc damage; rupture, protrusion and! or prolapsed
depends on several characteristics, which essentially
discs
depend on each other.
 CONCEPTS
With stretching one can actively affect the functioning of the
locomotor system. Changes in the length of muscles and
tendons will subsequently cause anatomical, biochemical
and physiological changes, whlch will affect both the bio-
mechanical function of joints and metabolism of soft tissues.
The vast number of terms to describe joints and their
functions are often used carelessly, without full under-
standing of their meaning. In kinesiology these terms are
clear and specific. Range of movement (ROM) can be
divided into active and passive ROM. Active mobilization
refers to that movement made possible by the primary
muscles involved in the mobility of a particular joint
(Figure 1.3). Passive mobilization involves a broader area
of movement with stretching of a given joint, to and past
the furthest point achieved by active mobilization. It
requires the use of muscles other than those directly
Figure 1.2 Overhead pulley system effectively involved in the mobility of a joint or the assistance of
stretches the muscles of the shoulder area and another individual.
shoulder joint.

Stretching is especially important to physically demand-

ing work, and competitive, as well as intensive, hobby
sports, when trying to preserve muscle balance and pre-
vent the shortening and tightening of muscles. Stretching
is equally important in the prevention of trauma in people
with stiff muscles. Prior to intense training or work,
stretching assures optimum ROM, by increasing joint
mobility in the required area of movement.
Effective stretching may not entirely remove the risk of
injury as it affects only certain specific tissue characteristics
and has several practical limitations, which are discussed
later in this book. Sudden, violent loading, for instance
in slipping or collision, may overextend normal ROM
and/ or overstress tissues causing rupture damage. It is
important that occupational and other environmental
conditions are examined and controlled for the prevention
of such accidents.

Self-assessment: mobility

• Why does mobility differ between individuals?

• How does physical loading affect mobility?
• What are the factors causing commonly
decreased mobility? Figure 1.3 Active range of movement achieved by
contraction of agonist muscles.
 SECTION 1 STRETCHING THEORY

Figure 1.5 Knee joint with normal structure.

muscles or antagonists relax to allow movement yet

remain active enough to preserve joint integrity. Dynamic
movement, therefore, does not only depend on potential
joint mobility and limitations of muscle tension, but also,
Figure 1.4 Passive range of movement achieved by and more importantly, on the ability of the assisting
static stretching. mus c1es to achieve movement regardless of tissue
resistance. Static flexibility refers to the extent of stretch
Mobility involves joint structures, their surrounding attainable, passively, w hile muscles are fully relaxed;
connective tissues and activity of the nervous system. muscle force in this case has no bearing on the results.
The term in question is used frequently in biomechanics Joint stability is equally important in joint function, as
and is essentially the same as joint flexibility. Flexibility is flexibility. For example, walking and running would
refers to the extent at which a given joint can move in not be possible if the joints of the lower extremities were
different directions and is greatly dependent on the unable to support the movement. Flexibility and stability
function of the neuromuscular system. A decrease in joint do not work against each other, but are both normal
flexibility, or resistance caused by the surrounding soft characteristics of joint function. Healthy joint function
tissue of a joint, is referred to as stiffness and results in requires both good flexibility and adequate stability to
both active and passive restriction of joint mobility. Once withstand load. Passive stability involves joint surface
again, restriction is of a biomechanical nature. The term anatomy, as well as joint capsule and ligament structure,
'stiffness' is often used to describe any type of difficulty strength and tightness. Passive stability depends usually
in achieving normal movement, and may involve only on jOint positioning and the load involved. Active stability
the individual's subjective impression of the tense state involves the combined forces of both the movers and the
of bodily tissues, yet may not actually involve any stabilizers of the muscle-tendon system of a joint.
physical restriction in mobility. Functional joint stability essentially depends on function
Dynamic flexibility refers to the ability to self-actively of the neuromuscular system. Many injuries and
move a joint u sing those muscles surrounding it. In this disorders of the central nervous system involve
situation, the agonist muscles contract to produce symptoms of increased muscle tone known as spasticity_
movement in the same direction, w hile the opposing In healthy people, stiff muscles are often wrongly
 Another Random Document on
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"A shilling," replied Rose sadly. "I took a long time to save it up. Had
you died, Miss Christian, I would have spent it on flowers for your
grave; so now I will spend it in running away with you—that I will."
"You can't do more, Rosy," said Christian. "Well, we must make our
plans, and we must not tell one single human being. We have got to
consider how we can live in the very cheapest way, for one hundred
and forty shillings will not go far. I suppose they will send the police
after us. Isn't it splendid, Rosy? Can you really believe that two
young ordinary girls are going to do such a desperate thing?"
"You aint an ordinary girl, Miss Christian."
"Well, perhaps I am not."
"You always was cut out for the part of heroine," continued Rose;
"anyone could see that with half an eye. Why, haven't you been
William Tell and Joan of Arc and Charlotte Corday for ever so long?
And afore that you were fairy queens and fairy princesses, and
witches, and such-like. You're cut for the part, miss, and now the
time has come."
"It has," said Christian, whose heart was beating fast. "We must
think out most of our plans before we go to sleep."
The two girls did think. They were both far too excited to feel sleepy.
Their voices kept on murmuring in an even, monotonous sound,
which could scarcely penetrate through the closed door of Christian's
bedroom.
After a fashion they made their plans. What Christian had only wildly
dreamt of became definite and something that could be done. Seven
pounds was seven pounds, and judiciously spent—spent, too, by a
girl of the Rosy sort, a girl who knew poverty and how to live very
small and very cheap—it would certainly go a long way.
Strange to say, Christian's conscience did not trouble her. She had
been thoroughly well brought up, but her heart was sore now. Her
mother had spoken almost coldly about parting with her one lonely
girl. She, Christian, was to be sent to an awful strict-discipline
school, where she had to stay for years and years, away from all
those she loved in the world. She would take her life into her own
hands; she would do a desperate, wicked thing, and she would not
let her conscience prick her.
"We will do it," she said over and over again to Rosy. "You, Rosy,
must find out where it is best for us to go, and then you must come
and tell me everything."
"I will," replied Rosy. "I know a girl called Judith, and I think she will
help us. Once she spent a whole winter in a gypsy's caravan. She did
enjoy herself. She had a fine time, and she had to spend nothing at
all. But they had to dye her with walnut juice; maybe you wouldn't
like that, Miss Christian."
"No, I shouldn't like that at all," said Christian, who rather prided
herself on her fair but somewhat pale complexion. "But that needn't
happen, need it?"
"Oh, no; but it happened to Judith. She was dyed with walnut-juice,
and she wore gypsy's clothes."
"I shouldn't mind that part," said Christian.
"She had a great taste for music," continued Rosy, "and she played a
tambourine and danced. They got her up as a sort of Italian gypsy
girl, and she danced wonderful pretty in the streets. She didn't seem
ever to want for money after that; she got so many pennies. You
can dance, can't you, Miss Christian? You've had lots of lessons."
"Dance!" said Christian, a sort of thrill running down to her feet and
making them move up and down even though she was in bed. "I
should just think I can dance. There's nothing in the world I love
better. Oh, Rosy, if we could make our living by dancing it would be
too scrumptious!"
"Well, I'll find out everything to-morrow and let you know," said
Rosy. "I mustn't come here, for my great-aunt would be angry; but
I'll come the day after, and I'll bring all the news with me. Let's
think. To-morrow will be Thursday; you aint to go afore Tuesday
next week. There's lots of time, only the more money you can get
the better it will be. I'll come here on Friday night at the latest."
"Well, then, perhaps we had better go to sleep now," said Christian,
who was tired at last. The very novelty of the thing made her tired.
She dropped off into a heavy slumber, dreaming all through the
night of wonderful things: of gypsies and their caravans; of Italian
girls with tambourines, and little sequins round their heads. She
fancied herself an Italian girl in a red frock. She thought how pretty
she would look, and how sweet it would be to dance. She would let
her abundance of hair fall over her neck and shoulders. A fair Italian
girl would be even more captivating than a dark one; and Rosy—
pretty Rosy—could be the dark one. Oh, they would have a good
time! They would enjoy themselves. And it couldn't be wrong; for if
father and mother chose to go to Persia and not show any grief at
parting from Christian, why should not Christian take her life in her
own hands?
She awoke in the morning and found that Rosy's place was vacant,
that astute little girl having left the side of her dearest friend and
gone back to nurse. For it would never do for nurse to guess that
the young girls were, as she would express it, hatching mischief.
Nurse was somewhat suspicious as far as her grandniece was
concerned. She knew Rose's character. She had often condoled with
her mother on having such a naughty child. Of course, Rosy was
very pretty, and she was very fond of Miss Christian; and—worse
luck—Miss Christian was very fond of her; and there never was a
more masterful child than dear young Miss Christian. Yes, even if
Rosy was nurse's own relation, she did not want Christian to see too
much of her. But this week of all weeks the child she loved should
not be crossed; she should have every single thing she wished for—
yes, every single thing; nurse herself would see to that. Nurse
considered that Miss Christian was treated shamefully: bundled off
to school just as though she were a baby; parted from the nurse
who loved her as if she were her own child; taken from the old
home and from that strange, mysterious attic where she had spent
so much of her time; torn from everyone and taken to school—to a
school a long, long way off. Nurse felt piteous tears very near her
eyes.
Mr. and Mrs. Mitford had decided to board nurse out during their
absence in Persia. The other servants were to be dismissed. Miss
Thompson, with an excellent reference and six months' salary over
and above what was owing her, would seek another situation. The
house would be let to strangers. Christian in reality would have no
home.
But when she woke the next morning, and faced the fact that her
home in Russell Square would not be hers much longer, Christian did
not feel low-spirited, for she and Rosy would certainly carry out their
plan in all its details. She was in high spirits, therefore, at breakfast,
and enjoyed getting Miss Thompson, as she expressed it, to give
herself away. Miss Thompson found it almost impossible to keep her
secret with Christian looking at her, and questioning her, and
pretending to observe nothing, and yet showing in her eyes that she
knew all.
Miss Thompson went down soon after breakfast to have an interview
with Mrs. Mitford.
"Somehow," she said—"although I don't like to say it—somehow I
think the child has an inkling of what is going on. Would it not be
better to tell her? She would be more prepared, and would not feel it
so much at the time."
"If she has an inkling she is bearing it very well," said Mrs. Mitford.
"My dear," she added, turning to her husband, who came into the
room at that moment, "Miss Thompson is talking about our dear
Christian. She says that the child seems to guess that something is
happening."
"I am sure she guesses," said Miss Thompson, blushing and
trembling a little at her own audacity. "She looks at me with such
very questioning eyes, and tries to lead me on, as it were, to betray
myself."
Mr. Mitford laughed. "Just like Chris," he said. "She always was a bit
of an oddity. But, my dear," he added, turning to his wife, "we will
not tell her, all the same. I couldn't stand the thought of the child
crying and moaning for the last few days. She may guess—although
I don't think she can really—but she is not to be told. Understand,
Miss Thompson, the child is not on any account to be told."
"Now listen," said Mrs. Mitford as Miss Thompson was leaving the
room; "you needn't keep her to her lessons. You may take her to the
Zoo or to Maskelyne and Cook's this morning—anywhere just to give
her a bit of fun. Keep her out as much as you can."
"But she will be so surprised; she knows that you are so particular
about her lessons."
"Well, tell her that I think she is looking rather pale, and that she
may have a holiday. Use some tact, Miss Thompson; you can
manage it if you like."
Miss Thompson left the room and returned to the schoolroom.
Christian was busily engaged pulling out her favorite books from
their places in the bookcase and examining them. She knew that she
and Rosy could only take one or two books away with them, and she
was undecided whether to select her new and beautiful edition of
the Arabian Nights or a battered old Shakespeare. She was
extremely fond of Shakespeare, but on the whole she felt inclined to
take the Arabian Nights.
"They will suit Rosy," she said to herself. "I don't believe Rosy has
read any of them—or at least hardly any; and Rosy is too young and
too ignorant for Shakespeare. Yes, I think I will select——"
"What in the world are you doing, Christian?" said Miss Thompson as
she entered the room.
"Pulling my books about."
"Then put them all back on the shelf at once, dear."
"I was only wondering," said Christian. "There's more reading in the
Arabian Nights, I think it will do. Do you mind my putting a little bit
of blue ribbon in my copy of the Arabian Nights, Miss Thompson?"
"But why, dear—why?"
"I shall recognize it then at once. Now I suppose we have got to do
horrid lessons."
"It's a very strange thing to me, Christian, that such an intelligent
girl as you should dislike lessons. I should have imagined that you
would love your history and your literature."
"I like Spanish history best," said Christian; "it is the most
bloodthirsty."
"My dear, that is a horrid thing to say."
"Well, it's true," answered Christian. "It's much less dull than English
history—English history, I mean, as it's written. I wish I could make
stories out of it. Wouldn't you all gape and scream and jump about,
and feel that you must fight like anything, if you listened to my
stories? Think of 'John of Gaunt'; and think of the 'Black Prince'; and
oh! think of 'Agincourt' and the 'Field of the Cloth of Gold.' Oh, dear!
oh, dear! couldn't I make the whole thing shine? And wouldn't I
just? But English history as it is written is very, very dull."
"I don't agree with you. When you are older you will know that
English history written by such men as Macaulay and Froude is most
beautiful and thrilling. Now I have news for you."
"You do look strange!" said Christian; "what can be the matter?"
"I have just been down to see your mother."
"Oh, can I see her?" said Christian, a swift change passing over her
face. "Can I? May I? I want so badly to ask her a question."
"She is going out; she does not wish to be disturbed."
"Oh, I know all about that."
"You know about it?"
"Yes; but never mind. Tell me what your secret is, Miss Thompson; I
can see it is bubbling all over your face."
"Your mother says that you are looking pale, and that you may have
a holiday."
Christian smiled. Her smile came gradually: at first it was just a little
dimple in her left cheek; then it spread to her lips; then it filled her
eyes; then a wave of color mounted to her face, and she burst into a
hearty fit of laughter. But when she ceased laughing there were
tears in her eyes.
"My dear," said her governess, "are you well?"
"Yes, I am quite well. So I am to have a holiday. Where shall we
go?"
"Where would you like to go?"
"May we go where I like?"
"Yes; but what do you think of the Zoo?"
"Oh, I know it so well."
"Would you like Maskelyne and Cook's?"
"No; I want to do something else, and it will take the whole day
long. Thompson—dear, darling—— You don't mind my calling you
Thompson, do you?"
"Well, Chris, I am accustomed to it by now, am I not?"
"Of course you are; and you are a dear!"
Christian flung her arms round her governess's neck, and rubbed her
soft cheek against Miss Thompson's somewhat lined one.
"What I should really like, Thompson dear——"
"What is that, Christian?"
"Well, to hang on your arm and walk very close to you, and chatter
all the time."
"You may."
"And not wear my best dress."
"You may wear your common dress."
"Then I do see that things are going to be heavenly! I want to walk
slowly—very slowly—up Oxford Street, and then down Regent
Street, and then down Piccadilly, and then up Bond Street; and
perhaps we might go to Baker Street. And while we are walking I
want to watch and watch, and look and look——"
"At the shops, do you mean?"
"No, no; things in the streets."
"What things, love?"
"Little Italian girls and boys with monkeys and tambourines; and
Happy Families, too. Oh, I do love Happy Families!"
"But you can see them any day in the Square."
"Yes; but I want to look at them with fresh eyes."
"Fresh eyes, Christian?"
"Yes. I dreamt about a little Italian girl last night, and I felt that I
loved her."
"We can easily see them," said Miss Thompson, "wherever we are;
and it needn't take the whole day."
"When we are tired we can have lunch somewhere," continued
Christian; "and I should like to give the Italians a lot of buns, and
the monkeys some nuts. Oh! I want to stare well at them all. I want
to see for myself what the little Italians look like, and how they do
their dancing, and how they manage their monkeys."
"You are a strange child, Christian; but there is nothing wrong in
your wish to see the Italians. Have you any other desires?"
"Well, I should like—only I'm afraid you won't do it—to go into an
awfully slummy place, and walk upstairs and see what the bedrooms
are like, and to question some of the women as to what they eat,
and how much they pay for what they eat. For, you see, even if you
have close on eight pounds, it can't be expected to last forever. Oh,
dear! what have I said? Have I said anything very, very funny, Miss
Thompson?"
"Yes, Christian, you have; but then, you are eccentric."
"So I am. Will you be such a darling as to take me into a slummy
place?"
"Certainly not. You may look at the Italians from a distance, but we
will keep in clean streets if you please. Now go and put on your
things; I will give you the best sort of day I can."
 CHAPTER IV
GRANDMOTHER'S DINNER

Christian had, on the whole, a very interesting day. She had never
been so captivated by Italian children before. She watched and
watched the pretty movements, the quick gestures, the gleam of the
white teeth, the shining dark eyes. The little monkeys, too, were all
that was pathetic. She quite made up her mind that she and Rosy
would earn their living in the future as Italian girls—that they would
have a monkey and a tambourine each, and go about and dance and
beg for money, and have a happy time.
"Only we must not do it near home," thought Christian, "for we
might be discovered. It would be indeed too terrible a fate if, when
father and mother are away in Persia, Miss Neil should catch sight of
us. I should be punished then; and poor, poor Rosy—her mother
would half kill her."
Christian's thoughts were so full of keen interest that morning that
Miss Thompson began to consider her a very delightful girl. She was
startled, however, in the midst of lunch, which they were both
enjoying immensely, by the young girl bending forward and saying in
an emphatic voice:
"If it was necessary for your career, would you greatly mind being
dyed with walnut-juice?"
"My dear Christian, what a strange remark!"
"But I wish you'd answer it," said Christian emphatically.
"I can't understand. It could not be necessary for my career."
"But if it was. If it made all the difference between success and
failure, between prison and liberty, which would you choose?"
"Oh, the walnut-juice, of course," said Miss Thompson. "But, all the
same, I fail to understand."
"I don't want you to understand any more, dear Thompson; and you
know you are quite a darling. You are coming out in the very nicest
character. I hope I shall have more and more holidays, for I do like
going about with you."
Miss Thompson was to remember Christian's remarks later on, but
certainly at the present juncture they had no meaning for her.
When the young girl came back late that evening she was informed
by nurse that Mrs. Mitford had sent her an invitation.
"You are to put on your very best company frock, Miss Christian, and
to look as nice as ever you can, for you are to go down to sit with
your mamma in her boudoir this evening. Mr. Mitford will be out, and
you are to have supper with her. She means to have supper in her
boudoir, and she says that you are to keep her company."
Nurse expected Christian to shout with delight, but she was silent
and looked rather grave.
"Aint you glad, my darling?" said the old woman.
"Nursey," said Christian, "did you ever have the feeling that you
were too glad and yet too sorry to be able to say what you felt? On
the whole, I'd rather not see too much of mumsy at present; but if I
must I must, and if I go I'd like to look nice. Make me very, very
nice, please, nursey dear."
Nurse set herself willingly to accomplish this task, and Christian in
her white silk frock, with its many ruchings and ribbons and soft
laces, and with her fair hair hanging down her back, made as
interesting and pretty a picture as the heart of mother could desire.
"There, darling!" said the old woman; "you are like no one else, my
own Miss Christian. Kiss me and go."
Christian ran up first to her attic. She had secured a broken looking-
glass, rather a large one, which she had placed in such a position
that she could see herself when she acted the parts of her different
heroes and heroines. From time to time she had induced the
housemaids to give her candle-ends, and she possessed a large box
of these interesting remnants. She lit a couple of dozen now, put
them in different positions, and was at last able to get a good view
of her own young figure. She was a rather tall and very upright girl,
and she looked her best to-night.
"Is it I or is it another girl?" thought Christian.
Her quick imagination pictured the different heroines of history.
Which should she select as her own rôle to-night? Finally, after a
steadfast glance into her face, she decided to belong to the army of
martyrs, and to imagine herself back in the time when people died
for their faith. It seemed to her that she read resolution,
determination, and unflinching self-sacrifice in her eyes.
She blew out the candles, gave a little sigh of relief, and ran
downstairs. Her mother was waiting for her. Mrs. Mitford was very
prettily dressed, the boudoir looked charming, the fire burned
brightly, the lamps were pretty with their shaded globes, but
Christian could not help giving a guilty glance towards that window
behind whose thick, soft curtains she had listened to the story of her
proposed fate.
"Only it isn't my fate," thought the child, "for I am determined—
quite determined—to choose the life of the free."
Supper was already on the table, and Christian had to take her
place.
"I hope you will like the meal I have had prepared for you, Chris,"
said her mother. "Johnston, you need not wait," she continued,
turning to the footman; "we will ring when we want anything: I have
quite thought about this little meal with you, Chris," continued Mrs.
Mitford, "and I ordered soles. You love soles, don't you?"
"Oh, yes, mumsy; we never have anything nice and tasty of that sort
in the schoolroom."
"They have got so terribly expensive," said Mrs. Mitford in a fretful
tone. "After the soles we will have pheasant; you are fond of
pheasant. And you shall pour out the coffee by-and-by. As the
sweets—children always adore sweets—I hate them myself, but I
suppose there will be something brought up for you. I ordered a
savory for myself, but left your sweets to cook."
"And I'd ever so much rather eat a bit of your savory, mother; I
don't so specially care for sweets," said Christian.
She was somewhat depressed, and yet she was happy. The
delicately served meal was quite to her taste. She said to herself:
"This will be something to remember by-and-by when Rosy and I are
eating red herrings and stale bread. I'll often talk to Rosy about this
meal. I feel to-night as though I wasn't Christian Mitford at all, but
someone else; not a poor martyr, but a sort of queen. How pretty
mother looks! I shall never be pretty like her. Yes, she has a darling,
sweet face, but——"
Christian did not follow up this "but," only it lay like a weight near
her heart.
The meal came to an end, the savory was disposed of, coffee
appeared and vanished, and presently Mrs. Mitford and her daughter
were alone.
"Now, mumsy," said Christian, "come and sit on this deep sofa and
let me cuddle up to you. Let me think that I am a very little girl once
more; I want you to pet me and stroke my face. I want to put my
head on your shoulder. You don't mind, do you, darling?"
"Oh, Christian!" said Mrs. Mitford, the tears rushing to her eyes, "I
only wish you were a little, little girl. Big girls don't suit me half as
well. I used to pet you such a lot, and you were so pretty. Don't you
remember the time when I took you out driving in your dark-blue
velvet pelisse and your blue hat? Don't you remember how the
people used to remark on my very pretty little girl?"
"Yes, mumsy," said Christian; "but you can imagine I am your very
pretty little girl again, can't you, mumsy?"
Mrs. Mitford said she could; but she was small and Christian was big,
and the weight of the child's head on her shoulder tired her.
Presently she sat up restlessly and said:
"We are wasting our time; I have a great deal to talk to you about. I
don't often see you; I am so busy, you know."
"Yes, mother," said Christian; "but it seems a pity, doesn't it?"
"It can't be helped, dear. Your father is a man of great importance,
and I am obliged to be with him all I can. And this is the time for
your education. I want you to be a very accomplished girl. I don't
care a bit about learning or anything of that sort, but I do want you
to play well—so well that people will talk and look at you, and
remark on the brilliancy of your touch. And I want you to have a
lovely voice. When you are old enough you must have the very best
instruction for that. And then I want you to paint a little, and recite;
recitations are very popular, only they must be well done. And I want
you, of course, to be a good linguist; your French must be perfect.
By-and-by you shall go to Paris to get a proper accent. German is
nice too, but not so important as French. Italian would be useful;
you are sure to spend a few years in Italy. You must dance
beautifully; but then there is no doubt on that point, for you dance
well already."
Christian sat very upright; she did not speak.
"Well," said her mother, "does my list of accomplishments appeal to
you? Do you want to be all that your mother could desire?"
"You leave out some things," said Christian—"the story part—all
about history and the lovely, lovely things that happened long ago. I
don't want just to be——"
"Just to be what, dear?"
"I can't explain myself; but when I think—oh, mumsy! I will tell you.
You mustn't be angry with me, but I don't want to be a brilliant,
accomplished girl; I want to be a heroine."
"You silly, silly child! A heroine! What do you mean?"
"I want to be the sort of girl who would do great things—who would
——"
But Mrs. Mitford interrupted her with a little scream.
"You want to be an oddity," she said, "an eccentric horror. Don't
come to me and expect my approbation if you are anything of that
sort."
Just at that moment the room door was opened, and who should
come in but Mr. Mitford. His wife gave a start when she saw him.
"I found I could get away earlier than I expected," was his remark.
"I fancied Chris would be with you, and I thought we could have a
talk. You both look very charming."
Christian sat close to her mother.
"What a contrast you both are!—you so dark and piquant, and
Christian so tall and fair and blonde. You are very like your
grandmother, Chris, and she was a very beautiful and noble woman."
Mrs. Mitford sighed. The color deepened in her cheeks.
"I believe," she said, with a laugh, "that Christian will resemble her
grandmother in more ways than one. You know what an eccentric
woman she was."
"She was a very good woman, you mean," said Mr. Mitford.
"Yes, Patrick; but eccentric—very eccentric. Do you remember when
she insisted on giving up her own dinner to send it to the invalid
who lived on the other side of the street? It was ridiculous of her."
"Do tell me!" said Christian suddenly. "Did granny give her dinner to
a sick person at the opposite side of the street?"
Mr. Mitford laughed. His dark eyes fixed themselves on Christian's
animated face. He stepped up to her, and putting his hand under her
chin, looked down at the speaking, bright features.
"You are like her," he said, with a sigh, "the same eyes, the same
determined chin, the same expression. Well, my child, I can wish
you nothing better than to be as good as your grandmother."
"But tell me about the dinner, father."
Mr. Mitford laughed; then his face grew grave.
"We kept a most perfect cook, for your grandmother was singularly
particular with regard to her food. She had a very small appetite, but
she always wanted the very best prepared for her, and she could not
worry herself about ordering her own food; she liked it to come as a
surprise. Now, Adams suited your grandmother's palate to
perfection. Day by day the most delicious little dinners were served
up. Well, one evening, I don't exactly know how she discovered it,
but your grandmother happened to know that there was a poor lady
in the opposite house who refused to eat anything. She was poor,
and the house she lived in was nothing like as large and expensive
as ours. Your grandmother feared that Mrs. Stirling had not a cook
to her taste, so that evening she sent her own special dinner to her.
When she found she liked it she sent it again every night."
"But why couldn't she have more dinner cooked for the sick
woman?" interrupted Christian.
"Ah, that was the point. Adams would only prepare this very special
and choice dinner for your grandmother. She could not be worried to
do it for anyone else. Had your grandmother told her that the special
meals were to go to Mrs. Stirling they would not have been worth
eating, so she gave her own dinner and went hungry. The thing
lasted for three weeks."
"And then?" asked Christian.
"Mrs. Stirling died. The people said afterwards that your
grandmother's dinners kept her alive for ten days, and that she
enjoyed them so much that she used to think about them all day
long until they came. The thing was just like your dear old
grandmother; she was an oddity, but most unselfish."
"It was a splendid thing to do," said Christian. "It was exactly the
very thing I mean to do. I always thought granny looked nice—I
mean from her picture—but now I am certain about it. She is a great
heroine, and I mean to copy her."
"There, Patrick!" cried his wife; "what mischief you have done by
telling Christian that absurd story! There always was a vein of oddity
in Christian. I hope you will speak seriously to her, and tell her that
during our abs—— I mean henceforward we wish her to attend to
her accomplishments, that when she is grown up, and—we have
time, we will take her out and be proud of her."
Mr. Mitford continued to stand near Christian, and once again he
looked into her face; then he said, with a sigh:
"A girl such as your mother has described would be quite acceptable
to me. But come, Chris, what have you got in your head?"
"Only that I want to be a heroine," she said.
She stood up as she spoke. Her face looked tired.
"I want to do something big; I want people to remember me when I
am dead. I'd like to have a great big obelisk put up over me, and
words written on it. And I'd like it to be pointed to, and people to
say, 'The woman in memory of whom that obelisk was erected was a
benefactress.' That is what I'd like to be, but mother wants me to be
——"
"Yes," said her father, who was frowning as well as smiling, and
looking with intense earnestness at the child, "and what does
mother want you to be?"
"A musician, and to be able to dance; a linguist, and a fine singer.
Oh! she wants common, common things——"
"They're admirable things," said the father sternly. "I agree with your
mother. But why, my dear child, should not a benefactress be able to
sing and dance, and make the world brighter all round? Don't get
confused in your mind, Christian. You can be as accomplished as
anyone in the world and yet be a noble woman."
Christian looked puzzled. "I didn't think of that," she said. "I do so
want to do something—to be a heroine—and I care so little about
being just accomplished."
"You had better go to bed now, Christian," said her mother,
beginning to yawn. "Always do your duty; that is the main thing.
Here is a sovereign for you, pet. You can go out to-morrow and buy
something."
Christian looked at it. Her face grew scarlet. Suddenly she said:
"But may I keep it? If I don't really want to spend it, may I keep it?"
"Of course you may, if you wish; but what a funny child!"
Mr. Mitford kissed his daughter with much more consideration than
he was wont to give to her. Mrs. Mitford gave her a passionate hug.
"Good-night, darling," she said.
When she left the room Christian's parents looked at each other.
"Upon my word," said Mr. Mitford, "Christian astonished me to-
night."
"I do trust she won't grow up odd!" was Mrs. Mitford's answer.
"My dear," said her husband, "don't you see that the child is a
budding genius? I always thought so, but to-night I am sure of it. I
wish I hadn't accepted that appointment, Mary. It is very sad to be
parted from that young creature, the only child we have, for six long
years."
Mrs. Mitford began to cry.
"Don't, Mary," said her husband in a distressed voice. "It is worse for
me to see you mope even than to see Christian moping."
"What I feel so awful," said Mrs. Mitford, "is her not knowing—her
thinking that we are to go on as usual. Poor Christian!"
"It is best," said her husband in a decided voice. "I could not stand
her tears; I am afraid I am a sad coward, but it's a fact. Of course,
she will get over it."
"Get over it," said Mrs. Mitford, with a laugh. "Of course she will.
She'll just fret for a bit at first. But that is a splendid school, isn't it?"
"Yes; I went to see it. I liked everything about it. Miss Peacock is a
woman in a thousand."
"She will be very happy," said Mrs. Mitford. "She wants companions,
and Miss Neil will be nice to her when she takes her there. She won't
have time to fret. Time flies when you are young. She'll be too busy
to fret; don't you think so, Patrick?"
"I hope so," he answered; "but I don't believe she is an ordinary
child. There, Mary! don't let us talk about her now any more. We
must settle other matters to-night."
He pulled some papers out of his pocket, and soon husband and
wife were absorbed in abstruse calculations.
Meanwhile Christian put her treasured sovereign into the box which
contained all her money.
"Certainly fortune seems to favor me," thought the child. "I shall
have eight sovereigns now. Won't Rosy and I have a time!"
She sat down near the fire and began to think. Presently nurse came
in.
"Tut, tut, Miss Christian!" she said; "you aint to be dreaming there
any longer. You're to go to bed."
"Nursey, I love you," said Christian suddenly.
She ran to the old woman and put her arms round her neck.
"Nursey, did you ever hear that wonderful story about my granny?"
"What story, darling?"
"About her giving her nice, lovely dinner to the dying woman."
"It was like her," said nurse.
"Did you know my granny, nurse?"
"Know her?" exclaimed nurse. "Rather! There weren't her like
anywhere to be found. She was always too good for——"
Nurse drew herself up abruptly. She had meant to say, "Too good for
the present Mrs. Mitford," but she restrained herself.
"There wasn't her like in God's world," she continued. "Dear, it were
a sorrowful day when she died."
"Was she very old?" asked Christian.
"No, lovey, not specially—a little past sixty."
"That sounds very old," exclaimed Christian.
"It aint when you come up to it," said nurse. "I'm sixty-five, and I
don't count myself such an old woman. It's wonderful what a
different view you take of sixty when you are, so to speak, nigh to
it."
Christian did not find this an interesting subject. She said after a
moment:
"Was granny like me—in appearance, I mean?"
"Well, now, darling, sometimes it has come over me that you have
got her build; but you being young and she old, it's difficult to say.
Still, I own that you have got her build."
"Father thinks that perhaps I have got her spirit."
"God be thanked if that is so, Miss Christian. It was her wish that
you should be called Christian. It was her own name; she inherited it
from the Quakers. Her grandfather was a Quaker, and a very strict
one; and her mother was called Christian, and then you were,
darling. She thought a sight of the name. She said the one thing
that fretted her in not having a daughter of her own was not being
able to call her Christian."
"Was she fond of me when I came?" asked Christian.
"Yes; she'd often take you in her arms and kiss you, and say that
she hoped the spirit of her grandfather, Quaker Joseph Bunn, would
descend upon you. But there! you aint to be stopping up any more,
so up to bed you go."
Christian went to bed. She felt very thoughtful. Her conscience did
not prick her at the thought of running away. She was still firmly
convinced that even her father, who had seemed much nicer than
usual to-night, would not mind when once she was out of sight.
"'Out of sight, out of mind' with father and mother," thought the little
girl. "And I could never, never live in a strict-discipline school."
Nevertheless Christian knew as she dropped asleep that her
grandmother would not have acted as she was going to do. Having
always held herself in strict discipline, she would not run away from
it. She would obey; she would subdue herself.
"Then I can't be like granny," thought Christian, turning restlessly
from side to side on her pillow, "for I want my own way; and I won't
go to school, for the school mother has described is a sort of
prison."
With an effort she turned her thoughts from her granny and her own
secret desire to resemble her, and she thought, until sleep visited
her, of Rosy. For the very next day Rosy was to come, and Rosy was
to tell her all she had discovered; and they were finally to make their
plans, for the time when Christian would run away from Russell
Square was close at hand.
 CHAPTER V
CHANGE OF A SOVEREIGN

When Rosy arrived on the following evening she looked very much
excited; her eyes were bright, and there was a lot of color in her
cheeks. Beside her Christian looked pale and scarcely pretty at all.
The little girl sat down on a stool near the fire in the nursery and
warmed her hands, chatted loud and long to nurse, and laughed
continually.
"One would think," said nurse after a pause, "that you did not love
Miss Christian one little bit. I never saw anyone in such riotous
spirits, and I must say it aint becoming."
"Oh, don't I love Christian?" said Rosy. "Don't you go and draw
wrong conclusions, great-aunt. I love her better nor anybody else—
there!"
"Well, child, that's all right. Here comes Miss Christian. Now listen,
Rosy. You are not to stay long; you are to go away in about half-an-
hour, for my young lady looks very peaky."
Christian sat by the fire. Nurse gathered up her work and prepared
to go into the schoolroom. She knew the children would like to be
alone, and she had promised to help Miss Thompson in her constant
search after Christian's possessions.
"A more untidy child I never saw," said Miss Thompson when the old
woman entered the room. "But there! I do pity her. I think it is
perfectly awful the way the poor child is kept in the dark. It is that
that worries me."
"Well," said nurse, "there's sense in it too. She won't have time to
fret; it will be one sharp blow and then the worst will be over. Miss
Christian has got fancies and all kinds of romances about her, and
she'd conjure up horrors like anything. Children who conjure up
ought to be kept from brooding; that's what I say."
Meanwhile the two girls in the cozy nursery were sitting side by side.
"I have eight sovereigns," began Christian. "I've got another since I
saw you last. Mother gave it to me."
"Oh, golloptious!" said Rosy.
"Do you think eight sovereigns will go a long, long way? Do you
think they will be enough till we have made our fortunes by being
tambourine and dancing girls?" exclaimed Christian.
"To be sure they will!" answered Rosy. "Now, Christian, you listen. I
have it planned splendid. You'll have to do it this way, and this alone.
My friend that I told you of aint much to look at, but she's clever. My
word! I never came across anyone with such brains. I spoke to her
last night. She is apprenticed to a dressmaker next door to mother,
and she's sick of it."
"But my eight pounds won't support three people," said Christian,
speaking hastily, and with a strong dislike to Rosy's friend rising up
at once in her heart.
"You needn't fear that," said Rosy. "Judith aint going to have
anything to do with us; she couldn't if she wished, for she's
apprenticed to a dressmaker, and her mother would be mad if she
even thought of such a thing. But what she will do is this. She'll
meet us and take us to some nice lodgings, where we can stay all by
ourselves for a couple of days. If you say the word to-night, Miss
Christian, she'll hire the little room for us. I said you wouldn't mind it
being humble, and she said she knew one in a very respectable
house—of course nowhere near here—a little room at the top, where
there'd be a cozy bed for us. Think of you and me sleeping so warm
side by side. And we could have a fire if we wanted it, and we could
cook red herrings and make our own tea."
"It would be fun," said Christian, her eyes gleaming. "Children have
done that before when they were poor, haven't they? It would be
like the old story-books about children who lived in London and
nearly starved but came out all right in the end."
"Yes, yes," said Rosy; "but you listen. She'll take the room to-
morrow if you say the word, and it will be all ready for us when we
get there on Tuesday."
"Oh," said Christian—"Tuesday! But oughtn't we to run away on
Monday?"
"No; that won't do at all. I told Judith, and she said you'd be found
out. What you must do is this. You must get to the station. You must
walk up to the book-stall. You say to that Miss Neil that you want a
picture-book——"
"Which I don't," said Christian. "I hate picture-books."
"Well, any sort; it don't matter. Then you watch your chance and mix
up with the crowd and come out, and stand outside and wait for
me."
"But how will you know what station to go to?"
Rosy laughed. "You'll say that I am very clever when I tell you," she
answered. "Do you know that I picked up a letter that your mother
had dropped, and it was from that fine school of yours—oh! I
wouldn't like to be imprisoned there—and all directions were given.
You were to go from Paddington Station; so I'll be there, and so will
Judith, and we'll take you away before Miss Neil finds out anything.
Don't you see what a splendid plan it is? Your father and mother will
be off two hours before you, and they won't be fretted at all. By the
time the news reaches them that you are lost, you may be able to
write a letter and tell 'em that you are earning your own living in
London and doing fine."
Christian's cheeks were now almost as red as Rosy's.
"It does sound too splendid," she said. "I wonder if I'll have strength
to do it."
"Why, Miss Christian, what do you mean?"
"Well, you know, Rosy, it isn't good of me; it's downright bad of me."
"Oh, I didn't know," said Rosy, "that we was to think of the virtues. I
thought you wasn't a bit that sort of goody-goody kind."
"Nor am I," said Christian, reddening. "But since I saw you I have
heard about my grandmother, and she—she was wonderfully good.
And she had spirit, too, Rosy—far more spirit than either you or I
have. But she never thought of pleasing herself; that was the
amazing thing about her."
"Well, no one can call you selfish, Miss Christian."
"But when I run away from the strict-discipline school I do please
myself, don't I?" answered Christian.
Rosy had no answer for that; but presently her little face puckered
up and she began to cry.
"I was that troubled," she began, bringing out the words through
her sobs; "and Judith Ford—I promised her five shillings; so I did. I
knew you'd pay it for getting her to hire the room and for going to
Paddington with me. And I thought I wouldn't be scolded any more,
nor have my finger pricked by the horrid needlework, nor anything
of that sort; and now——"
"Well?" said Christian.
"You are backing out of it; I can see that. You aint half nor quarter
as anxious about it as you were when last we met."
"You needn't be frightened," said Christian coldly. "I asked you to
help me, and I mean to go through with it; but as to its not being
painful—I know it will be necessary, but it is horribly painful. I can
scarcely bear to look my mother and father in the face."
"Well!" said Rosy, "I could look mother straight enough in the face. I
didn't sauce her half as much to-day, for thinking that I'd be away
from her and the horrid needlework in less than a week. Oh, I am
happy! And we'll get a little monkey and tambourines, and we'll
practise like anything in our dear, snug little room; and we'll start
walking along the streets and getting pence from the passers-by by
the end of next week."
Christian's eyes once again sparkled. The scheme was fascinating.
She found herself, as it were, between two positions. At one side
was the school, strict—very strict—far away from London, where she
would be received and, as it were, locked up in prison for years and
years and years; no holidays to look forward to, for holidays were to
be spent at school; no friends that she loved to greet her or speak to
her. She was slow in making friends, and Rosy was dearer to her
than any other girl. Certainly the other prospect was more alluring.
It did not occur to her that the small room would be anything but
spotlessly clean, with snowy sheets to the bed, and pretty, bright
furniture, and a dear little fire in the grate; and she had always
longed to taste red herrings. She thought that the food of the poor
would be nice as a change—at least for a time. Then there would be
the life in the open air, and the other tambourine-girls looking on
and envying and wondering. And the monkey should certainly be
called Jacko, for there was no other name so sweet for him. And she
would love him and teach him no end of tricks, and he would sleep
with her at night.
"Yes, Rosy, I will do it," she said. "I am sorry I seemed to hesitate.
You can't quite understand everything about me; but I'll do it safe
enough."
"That's right," said Rosy. "And now, do you think, Miss Christian, that
you could let me have five shillings?"
"What for?" asked Christian.
"Well, it's for this: Judith can't hire us a room unless she pays in
advance. She has one now in her mind's eye—a beauty—like a bird's
nest, she said—the cosiest spot on earth. She wouldn't like to lose it.
She must get it to-morrow, and we'll take possession of it on
Tuesday, but we must pay a week in advance."
"I have only got my sovereigns," said Christian. "It will seem rather
strange my changing one."
"All right," said Rosy; "only I don't suppose I dare come again. Can't
you get it for me anyhow? Great-aunt has always a lot of change, I
know."
Christian considered, and then she went into the schoolroom. Her
purse containing her treasure was in her own private desk, and that
desk stood on a little round table near one of the windows. It was
always kept locked, and Christian kept the key fastened on to her
watch-chain. She unlocked the desk now and took out the purse.
The night before she had deposited the new sovereign with its seven
companions. She looked sadly at her little store. It seemed a pity to
break it. But, after all, Rosy's request was reasonable; Judith Ford
could not be expected to get a room for them without money.
Both nurse and Miss Thompson were in the room, and they looked
attentively at Christian as she entered.
"Well, Miss Christian," said nurse, "has Rosy made herself scarce?
Quite time for her to do it, little puss!"
"Yes, Christian, you really must go to bed now," said Miss
Thompson.
Christian colored. "I want to change this," she said, and she laid the
sovereign on the table.
"Whatever for, my pet?" said nurse.
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