Part 7 (1/2)
”One of them skulking poachers--they're always in here after the rabbits. If I hadn't a-had you to look after and had my thick stick I would a-been after him.”
”But you wouldn't have hurt him?”
”I should have taught him a lesson, that I should!”
”But, Maxwell, you mustn't, really! Only think, he might be--Tommy coming home! You couldn't see who it was, could you? It would be dreadful if you chased away Tommy.”
”No fear o' that,” Maxwell said in a quieter tone. ”My own son wouldn't skulk along like that. He was a ragged vagabond, that's what he was.”
”Prodigal sons are nearly always ragged. He might have been some one's prodigal son, Maxwell.”
”He was just a poacher, my dear, and I think I know the chap. He's staying at the Blue Dragon, and has been a-watching this place for some time.”
”Perhaps he is one of G.o.d's prodigal sons,” said Milly softly, ”like Jack was.”
To this Maxwell made no reply, but when he set her down in the brightly-lighted hall a little later, he said,--
”Don't you fret about our Tommy. I should know him fast enough. He wouldn't run from his own father.”
And Milly went in, and that night added another pet.i.tion to her prayers:--
”And please G.o.d, if the man who ran away from Maxwell is a prodigal son, bring him back to his father for Jesus' sake. Amen.”
CHAPTER VII.
CROSS-EXAMINATION.
”Nurse, where is Miss Millicent? I haven't seen her for days. Fetch her in here this afternoon, and you go and get a little fresh air; I am well enough to be left alone now.”
Sir Edward's tone was impatient. He was getting to the convalescent stage, and nurse found him a most trying patient. Nothing would please him, and he wearied both himself and her with his perpetual complaints.
”I thought she would only worry you, sir. She has been asking me every day to come in and see you. I will fetch her at once.”
Milly shortly appeared in a clean pinafore, her little face radiant with smiles. As she climbed up into the chair by the bedside and gently stroked the hand that was given her, she said with sparkling eyes,--
”Nurse says I may stay here all alone with you, uncle; won't that be lovely? May I give you your medicines, and be your nurse?”
”I can't promise that, but you may sit there and talk to me.”
”What shall I talk about?”
”Anything you like. You never seem to be at a loss for conversation.”
Milly considered for a moment.
”I've had so few people to talk to lately, you see; I generally talk most to Fritz. He understands, I'm sure, but he doesn't talk back. When will you be quite well again, uncle?”
”Not this side of Christmas, I'm afraid.”