Part 4 (1/2)
Geraldine, one arm imprisoning Nada's waist, walked coolly in between them:
”Don't let's fight any more. The thing to do is to get Mrs. Bramton to give you enough for four to eat and bring it back here. Scott, please shake hands with Duane.”
”I wasn't licked,” muttered Scott.
”Neither was I,” said Duane.
”n.o.body was licked by anybody,” announced Geraldine. ”Do get something to eat, Scott; Nada and I are starving!”
After some hesitation the boys touched gloves respectfully, and Scott shook off his mitts, and started for the kitchen.
And there, to his horror and surprise, he was confronted by Mrs. Severn, black hat, c.r.a.pe veil, and gloves still on, evidently that instant arrived from those occult and, as the children supposed, distant bournes of Staten Island, where the supreme mystery of all had been at work.
”Oh, Scott!” she exclaimed tremulously, ”what on earth has happened?
What is all this that Mrs. Farren and Howker have been telling me?”
The boy stood petrified. Then there surged over him the memory of his brief happiness in these new companions--a happiness now to be s.n.a.t.c.hed away ere scarcely tasted. Into the child's dirty, disfigured face came a hunted expression; he looked about for an avenue of escape, and Kathleen Severn caught him at the same instant and drew him to her.
”What is it, Scott? Tell me, darling!”
”Nothing.... Yes, there is something. I opened the front door and let a strange boy and girl in to play with us, and I've just been fighting with him, and we were having such good times--I--” his voice broke--”I can't bear to have them go--so soon----”
Kathleen looked at him for a moment, speechless with consternation.
Then:
”Where are they, Scott?”
”In the--the hedge.”
”Out _there_?”
”Yes.”
”_Who_ are they?”
”Their names are Duane Mallett and Nada Mallett. We got them to run away from their nurse. Duane's such a bully fellow.” A sob choked him.
”Come with me at once,” said Kathleen.
Behind the rhododendrons smiling peace was extending its pinions; Duane had produced a pocketful of jack-stones, and the three children were now seated on the gra.s.s, Nada manipulating the jacks with soiled but deft fingers.
Duane was saying to Geraldine:
”It's funny that you didn't know you were rich. Everybody says so, and all the nurses in the Park talk about it every time you and Scott walk past.”
”If I'm rich,” said Geraldine, ”why don't I have more money?”
”Don't they let you have as much as you want?”
”No--only twenty-five cents every month.... It's my turn, Nada! Oh, bother! I missed. Go on, Duane----”