Part 3 (2/2)
”'Ah, but I don't think the doctor will allow you to do that,' I replied; 'I fear he must remain here for some weeks.'
”'He seems very anxious to get home, poor boy. I cannot make it out,'
said Vea. 'He says he will tell me the reason once he finds himself in his own bed at Aunt Berkley's. I wonder who this boat belongs to.'
”'Polly said it belonged to Martha's father,' I replied; 'she told me so just before they left me to go home.'
”'Polly, I hope, has quite made up her mind not to run away,' said Vea.
”'Oh yes, I think she has given up that idea; indeed, I heard her say to Rachel she would try to bear it a little longer.'
”'There is d.i.c.k returned already,' said Vea; and she scrambled out of the boat, and ran down to the beach to meet d.i.c.k, who was coming from the doctor's house with a basket containing medicines for the sick boy.
[Ill.u.s.tration: d.i.c.k RETURNING WITH THE MEDICINE.]
”'Oh, you are a good boy, d.i.c.k,' said Vea. 'How fast you must have gone!'
”'Well, yes, miss, I did go fast,' said d.i.c.k, pleased with Vea's speech apparently. 'I went by the beach, the tide being out, and it is nigher that way by a good mile. I would go faster than most folks for the young master.'
”'Why, has Patrick been kind to you too, d.i.c.k!' said Vea, in much surprise.
”'That he has, miss,' said d.i.c.k gratefully. 'When I lost grandfather's knife, didn't he buy me a new one with the new half-crown his aunt gave him to spend at the fair! And didn't he let grandfather think he had broken the gla.s.s in the window, when all the time it was me, and n.o.body else! And hasn't he often and often brought me a bit of his own dinner tied up in his handkerchief, or a pie he would find lying handy in the pantry, when he knowed I'd had nothing for my dinner that day at all!'
”Vea said nothing, but she evidently thought her brother was a very curious boy, and that she had not understood him at all.
”When Natilie had returned with the things required by the sick boy and his attendants, Uncle John and I set off home, he promising that we would return the next afternoon to inquire after Patrick. The sun was just shedding its last rays of golden light over the sea, lighting it up with a strange lurid light, which, with the stillness of the scene, and the great rocks on the coast, left a strange impression on my mind.
”'And you say you have enjoyed yourself, my dear!' said Uncle John, after we had walked on in silence for some time.
[Ill.u.s.tration: GOING HOME WITH UNCLE JOHN.]
”'Oh, very much indeed, uncle,' I replied. 'I like Vea so much, and Alfred is such a funny boy. Isn't it a pity that Patrick is so fond of mischief, when he seems to have such a kind heart?'
”'I've always liked that boy Patrick,' said my uncle; 'and, what is more,' he continued, as if to himself, 'I never liked Alfred.'
”'That is very strange, uncle,' I replied; 'he is such a polite boy, and so quiet in the drawing-room. He is so funny too; he nearly set me off laughing at the funny faces he made behind his aunt's back; and he can speak just like her, in that queer low drawling tone.'
”'Exactly,' said my uncle; 'that is the very thing I dislike about him.
He has the power of mimicry, and is also able to keep a grave face when others are forced to laugh--a thing poor Patrick is not able to do, and the consequence is he gets into sad disgrace for laughing, and, to save his brother, won't tell what he is laughing at. Alfred is a mean boy, for twice I have seen him allow his brother to be punished, when, by simply telling he was the cause of it, the punishment might have been avoided. Now, who do you think was the actual culprit who cut that nice table in the summer-house?'
”'It must have been Patrick, uncle; he never denied it,' I replied.
”'That is the strange thing, dear. Patrick is greatly to blame in this, that he will not tell upon his brother, but is so easy-minded, that, rather than exert himself to make his friends think well of him, he allows every one to suppose that he is the offender; and, as I said before, Alfred is so mean, that, knowing this, he plays the tricks and lets his brother take the blame. A tale-teller is to be despised; but a boy who is so lazy that he cannot say a good word for himself when his character is concerned, is almost as bad.'
”'But how did you find all this out, uncle?' I inquired.
”'Well, I overheard the two boys speaking about it in the shrubbery; and what struck me most was, even when Patrick had an opportunity to reprove his younger brother he did not do so, though a good word costs nothing, and might save his brother much misery in the end. I am half glad he has met with this accident; it will give him time to think.'
”At this moment a boat sailed past, filled with gay company, who waved their handkerchiefs to us, and cheered most l.u.s.tily. One little girl held up her doll, and made it wave its hat to Uncle John's polite bow, which made them all laugh very much.
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