Part 19 (2/2)
”Father would not say so now: never after you had had Geordie on your knees and made him fond of you, as you did.”
”Do you really think so?”
”I am almost sure of it. But he could not help thinking badly of you if you keep that money.”
”I am not going to keep it. Do you go and find it, if you like, for I can't. It is in a hollow elm that stands between two beeches, on the other side of the wood. There is a little cross cut in the bark, on the south side--that will help you to find it. But don't you go till you have got me to the tent.”
Oliver helped him home, amidst lightning and splas.h.i.+ng rain, explaining as they went why the tent was down, but thinking it best to say nothing of the boat to one so weak-spirited as Roger was now. He then ran off, and found the money-bag. He wished the weather would clear, that he might look out again: but, meanwhile, he felt that he was not losing time in collecting together all the goods that were on the hill; for the tempest so darkened and filled the air, that he knew he could not have seen a furlong into the distance, if he had been on his perch at this moment. He wore his mother's watch in his pocket, feeling as if it promised that he should meet her again, to put it back into her hands.
”Now, Oliver,” said Ailwin, ”I am vexed with you that you did not sleep while you might, before this growling, splas.h.i.+ng weather came on, and while there was something of a shelter over your head. If you don't go to sleep the minute this tempest is over, I must see what I must do to you: for you will be having the fever else; and then what is to become of me, among you all, I should like to know? I wish you would creep in now between the mattresses under the tree, and never think of the storm, but go to sleep like a good boy. It is hardly likely that the lightning should strike that particular tree, just while you are under it.”
”But if you should chance to find me a cinder, when you thought it time for me to be waking, Ailwin--would not that be as bad as my having the fever?”
”Oliver! How can you talk so? How dare you think of such a shocking thing?”
”You put it into my head, Ailwin. But come--let me tell you a thing I want you to do, if I should be away when it stops raining. Here are Roger's old clothes, safe and dry here between the beds. When it leaves off raining, make him pull off his wet finery, and put on his own dry things; and keep that finery somewhere out of his way, that I may put it back into the chest, where it ought to be lying now. Will you do this, Ailwin?”
”Why, I'll see. If I was quite sure that he had nothing to do with this storm, I might manage him as I could any other boy.”
”Anybody may manage him to-day, with a little kindness. He is ill and weak-spirited; and you can touch his heart with a word. If you only remember how George cried after him, you will be gentle with him, I know.”
”Well, that's true: and I doubt whether a lord would have spoken with him, if he had been so dangerous as he seems sometimes. Now, as to dinner to-day, Oliver--I really don't like to give Mildred such food as the game on the island now is. I am sure it is downright unwholesome.
Bird and beast, they are all dying off faster than we can kill them.”
”The fowls are not all done, I hope. I thought we had some meal-fed fowls left.”
”Just two; and that is all: and the truth is, I don't like to part those two poor things, enjoying the meal-picking together; and then, they are the last of our wholesome food.”
”Then let us have them while they are wholesome. Boil one to-day, and make the broth as nice as you can for Mildred. We will cook the other to-morrow.”
”And what next day?”
”We will see to that when the day comes. Oh dear! When will these clouds have emptied themselves? Surely they cannot pour down at this rate long.”
”The thunder and lightning are just over, and that's a comfort,” said Ailwin. ”You might stand under any tree, now, Oliver; and you go wandering about, as if you were a duck in your heart, and loved the rain.”
Ailwin might wonder, for Oliver was indeed very restless. While waiting the moment when he might again cross to the staircase, he could not even stand still under a tree. The secret of his having seen the boat was too heavy a one to be borne when he was no longer busy. He felt that he should tell, if he remained beside his sister and Ailwin; so he wandered off, through the wood, to try how far he could see over the waters to the south, now that the tempest was pa.s.sing away.
Through the trees he saw some one--a tall person, walking on the gra.s.s by the water-side. He ran--he flew. There was a boat lying against the bank, and two or three men walking towards the wood. The foremost was Pastor Dendel. Oliver sprang into his arms, clung round his neck for a moment, and then fainted away.
CHAPTER TWELVE.
NEWS.
Oliver soon recovered. The strong, manly caress of the pastor seemed to revive him, even more than the water the others threw on his face. His first word was ”Mother.”
”She is safe, my boy: and she will be well when I take you to her. Are you alone here, Oliver?”
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