Part 10 (1/2)
”I've got a great favor to ask of you, Uncle Richard. May I go around to Culm after breakfast?”
Trafford's face grew gloomier than before.
”For what?” he asked.
”To carry something for Dirk's child,” Noll answered, meeting his uncle's stern eyes with his own pleading blue ones.
”Pshaw!” exclaimed Trafford, impatiently, ”what are these miserable fish-folks to you? I don't want you to care for them!”
”But, Uncle Richard--”
”Well?”
”Dirk's child is sick,--dying, I'm afraid!”
”So are hundreds in this world. There's misery everywhere.”
”Perhaps I might aid this misery, Uncle Richard, if you'll let me try.
Will you?”
”You will have more than your hands full if you are going to look after these Culm people,” said Trafford, coldly; ”you had better not begin.”
Noll's face grew graver and graver, and he made no reply to his uncle's last remark.
”Well,” said Trafford, after a long silence, ”do you wish anything more, Noll?”
The boy turned away, as if hurt by his uncle's coldness, and walked quickly to the library door. There he wavered--stopped--then turned about, and came back.
”Uncle Richard,” said he, tremulously, ”papa said I was to do all the good I could in the world, and never pa.s.s by any trouble that I might help, and--and I think he would tell me to go to Dirk's, if he were here.”
Trafford turned about with an impatient word upon his lips, but it was not spoken. It seemed to him as if his dead brother stood before him,--as he had known him when they were boys together,--and that those words were meant for a reproach. He put out his hand and touched Noll's shoulder, as if to make sure that it was really his nephew and no vision.
”Ah!” said he, with a sigh, ”your father looks out at me from your eyes, Noll. Turn them away from me. Go to Culm, if you like,--you have my permission.”
”Breakfas's waitin' fur ye!” said Hagar, at the door.
”But, Uncle Richard,” said Noll, in some perplexity, ”I don't like to go and have you all the time wis.h.i.+ng me at home.”
”I cannot help that,” said Trafford, as he rose to answer Hagar's call. ”I have given you permission,--go.”
The breakfast was a silent one. After it was over, and the door had closed upon the grim master of the house as he went back to his books, Hagar said,--
”Don't ye let nuffin make ye downhearted, honey! De Lord'll help ye, ef yer Uncle d.i.c.k won't. 'Tain't de might nor de money dat'll do eberyting, chile. All 'pends on whether de Lord's on yer side. Jes' come in my ole kitchen and see what I's put up fur ye to carry to dem yer mis'able folks.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”Dis yer is brof.” Page 183.]
Noll got his overcoat and cap, and followed the old housekeeper into her cozy and comfortable dominion.
”Look at dis yer,” said Hagar, taking a basket off the table; ”jes' as chock full as nuffin ye ken think ob. Dis yer is brof,--chicken-brof,--an' dat yer bundle is crackers. Dis bottle's de med'cine, an' de chile is to hab a teaspoonful ebery half an hour. Ef I could be there, de chile should hab a sweat, sure; but dis med'cine'll hev to answer! Dis yer is a teaspoon an' a teacup, 'cause ye won't find nuffin fit fur to drink nuffin out ob. Hagar knows how dem yer Culm folks lib! Now, ken ye 'member all dat, honey?”
”Yes,” said Noll, ”and I thank you a hundred times, Hagar. I'd better start at once, without waiting another minute.”