Part 30 (2/2)
The first person to speak of Miss Chase without tears was Peter He was lying in their private sitting-room, and suddenly he said,--
”I say, where's Aunt Dorothy?”
He had asked before, but in his weakness the subject had easily been changed
”She is not here, dear,” said Mrs Orban
”That's funny,” said Peter, in his old talkative way; ”she distinctly said she was coot up fro out of the
”Did she, Peter?” said Mr Orban quickly ”When?”
”Why, on the boat,” said Peter; ”when she put the life-belt round me”
”Oh, she put the life-belt round you, did she?” said Mr Orban
”And what did she say?”
Every one leant forward eagerly It was the first tiuessed he could possibly know anything of Miss Chase
”She said,” was his clear reply, ”'That's right, Peter Perky Now le, but lie on your back'--Bob,” he broke off, ”lucky you taught me to float, wasn't it?”
”Yes, yes,” said Bob; ”never mind about that Go on about Dorothy”
Eustace stared at his back in wonder For the first time in his life he heard Bob irritable
”She said,” Peter went on obediently, ”'Don't be frightened; I a too'”
”Well?” prompted Mr Orban
”Then she took me up, and we jumped overboard I don't knohat happened next”
”Try to think,” said Bob in a hard voice
”I can't,” said Peter; ”everything was noise and blackness Ask Aunt Dorothy; she'll tell you”
There was a solemn hush--so solerave faces Bob turned and walked heavily out of the room Nesta buried her head in her hands
”Why, what's the matter?” asked Peter sharply
He had to be told then, and he wept as if his heart would break; but he could re after the jump into the sea It appeared that he was all by himself at the other side of the shi+p, very unhappy because he thought it was all his fault Becky had been hurt Then ca what had happened, when Aunt Dorothy ca, ”Peter, Peter, where are you?” And then followed the putting on of the life-belt It was so easy to picture her talking to him all the time, to reassure him, in that quick, cheery way of hers
”O Eustace,” Nesta said afterwards, ”wasn't she splendid? I guess Bob must be sorry he teased her so now”