Part 17 (2/2)

Flukey was too ill, as he stumbled along, to dread the outcome of their act of theft. He realized only that a beautiful lady was leading Flea to a place where her hunger could be satisfied, and, as he felt the warmth of Ann's fingers permeate his own famished body, a great courage urged him forward. He would never again steal at Lon's command, and Flea would have to dread Lem no more! Something infinitely sweet, like new-coming life, entered his soul. It was the first exquisite joy that had come to Flukey Cronk. He stopped and disengaged his hand, to press it to his side as a pain made him gasp for breath. Then of a sudden he sank to the polished floor, still clinging to s.n.a.t.c.het.

”Missus,” he muttered, ”I can't walk no more. Jest ye leave me here and git the grub for Flea.”

Flea turned sharply. ”I don't eat when ye're sick, Fluke. The Prince says as how ye can sleep in the barn, and mebbe--mebbe he'll let me work for the victuals s.n.a.t.c.het and Squeaky stole.”

Flea added this hopefully.

”Children,” said Ann in a smothered voice, ”listen to me! You're both welcome to all you've had, and more. The little dog and pig were welcome too.”

Tears rose under her lids, and she turned her head away, that the twins might not see them. Ann Sh.e.l.lington, like her brother, had never before seen human misery depicted in small lives. At the mention of his dog, Flukey opened his eyes and turned his gaze upward.

”Thank ye, Lady,” said he, ”thank ye for what ye said about s.n.a.t.c.het.

Ain't he a pink peach of a dorg, Ma'm?”

Ann inclined her head gently, glancing dubiously over the yellow pup.

She could not openly admit that s.n.a.t.c.het resembled anything beautiful she had ever seen, when the boy, his lips twitching with agony, held his pet up toward her.

”Ye can take him, Ma'm,” groaned Flukey. ”He only bites bad 'uns like Lem Crabbe.”

s.n.a.t.c.het, feeling the importance of the moment, lifted his head and shot forth a slavering tongue. As it came in contact with her fingers, Miss Sh.e.l.lington drew back a little. She had been used to slender-limbed, soft-coated dogs; this small, s.h.i.+vering mongrel, touching her flesh with a tongue roughly beaded, sent a tremor of disgust over her. Flea stepped forward, took s.n.a.t.c.het from her brother, and tucked him away under the arm opposite the one Squeaky occupied.

”Ye'll go to the barn, Fluke,” she said, ”and ye'll go d.a.m.n quick! The lady'll let ye, and s.n.a.t.c.het'll go with ye. Squeaky sleeps with me.”

Ann coughed embarra.s.sedly. ”Children,” she began, ”we couldn't let the dog and pig sleep in the house; neither could we allow you to sleep in the barn. So, if you will let the coachman take your pets, I'll see that you, Boy, go into a warm bed, and you,” Ann turned to Flea, ”must have some supper and other clothes. Your brother is very ill, I believe, and I think we ought to have a doctor.”

Flea p.r.i.c.ked up her ears, and a sad smile crossed her lips. ”Ye mean, Ma'm,” said she, ”that Flukey can sleep in a real bed and have doctor's liniments for his bones?”

Ann nodded. ”Yes. Now then hurry!... Look at that poor little boy!”

Flukey was on his knees, leaning against the wall, his feverish fingers clutching his curls.

”Horace! Horace!” called Ann.

Sh.e.l.lington opened the dining-room door and went out hurriedly, leaving Everett Brimbecomb and Katherine Vandecar still surveying the disarranged table.

”It all seems strange to me, Katherine; I mean--this,” said Everett, waving his hand. ”I scarcely believed Horace when he said he had allowed it.”

As he spoke, he approached the table and lifted the soiled cloth between his fingers.

”You can see for yourself,” he said, ”the marks of the pig's feet on the linen.”

Katherine examined the spots. ”But it really doesn't matter, does it?”

she said. ”The poor little animals were hungry, and Horace has such a big heart!” and she sighed.

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