Part 98 (1/2)

She came to her senses, and stared at him a long time.

Then she looked down at her wet clothes. Then she s.n.a.t.c.hed her hand away, and covered her face with both hands, and began to rock and moan, and finally turned round and hid her face against the very floor as if she would grovel and burrow into it.

”Are you better, my dear?” said the doctor, quietly.

No reply. And the face still crushed against the floor.

”The next time you faint away, don't let it be on the banks of a river.

You have been going too long without food; and you fainted away and fell into the river. Luckily it was not very deep or it might have been serious. You have given us a fine fright, I can tell you.”

While these words were being uttered, Jael, who did not miss a syllable, began to look very, very slowly round with scared and troubled eyes, and to defend herself. ”I remember naught,” said she, doggedly. ”Who took me out?”

”Mr. Raby.”

She looked timidly at him, and saw his wet clothes.

”Oh, squire, why did you spoil your clothes for me?” and she laid her head on his knee and began to cry.

”My clothes!” said Raby. ”The girl wants to break my heart.”

”Eh, dear! and I've spoiled the beautiful carpet,” said Jael, piteously.

”D--n the carpet!” said Raby, nearly blubbering.

All this time Amboyne was putting himself in Jael's Dence's place.

”Is there a good fire in her room?” asked he, with a significant look.

Raby took the hint, and said he would go and see.

As soon as he was out of the room, the transmigrator began to talk very fast to Jael. ”Now look here, Jael, that poor man is alone in the world now, and very sad; he wants you to keep his house for him. He has been sending messages all day after you, and your room has been ready ever so long.”

”My room in this house?”

”Yes. But we could not find you. However, here you are. Now you must not go back to the farm. The poor squire won't be quite so sad if he sees you about him. You know he was always fond of you Dences. You should have seen him cry over you just now when he thought you were dead.”

”I am more cared for than I thought,” said Jael, softly.

”Yes, but not more than you deserve, my dear.” He dipped a sponge-cake in wine. ”Oblige me by eating that.”

She took it submissively.

”Now another.”

She ate another, and a third.

”It's a very wicked la.s.s you are so good to,” said she, softly, and some gentle tears began to flow.

”Stuff and nonsense!” said the doctor. ”What do you know about wickedness? I'm a better judge of that than you, and I say you are the best girl and the most unselfish girl in the world; and the proof is that, instead of sitting down and nursing your own griefs, you are going to pluck up courage, and be a comfort to poor Mr. Raby in his lonely condition.”