Part 39 (2/2)

”Thee didn't lose thy senses, Richard, till after thee was sick. 'Twas mighty lucky thee wasn't struck,” explained the matter-of-fact Reuben.

”You must permit me to echo the young lad's sentiment,” said Mr. Hearn, feelingly. ”It was really a providence that you escaped, and kept such a cool, clear head.”

I fear I made another very wry face as I looked out of the window.

Reuben evidently had not liked the term ”young lad,” but as he saw my expression he burst out laughing as he said:

”What's the matter, Richard? I guess thee thinks thee had the worst of it after all.”

”So thee has,” broke out Mr. Yocomb. ”Thee didn't know what an awful sc.r.a.pe I was getting thee into when I brought thee home from meeting.

Never was a stranger so taken in before. I don't believe thee'll ever go to Friends' meeting again,” and the old gentleman laughed heartily, but tears stood in his eyes.

In spite of myself my color was rising, and I saw that Mrs. Yocomb and Miss Warren looked uncomfortably conscious of what must be in my mind; but I joined in his laugh as I replied:

”You are mistaken. Had I a prophet's eye, I would have come home with you. The kindness received in this home has repaid me a thousand times.

With a sick bear on their hands, Mrs. Yocomb and Miss Adah were in a worse sc.r.a.pe than I.”

”Well, thee hasn't growled as much as I expected,” laughed Mrs. Yocomb; ”and now thee's a very amiable bear indeed, and shall have thy supper at once,” and she turned to depart, smiling to herself, but met in the doorway Adah and the little stranger--a girl of about the same age as Zillah, with large, vivid black eyes, and long dark hair. Zillah was following her timidly, with a face full of intense interest in her new companion; but the moment she saw me she ran and sprang into my arms, and, forgetful of all others, cried gladly:

”Oh, I'm so glad--I'm so glad thee's well!”

The impulse must have been strong to make so shy a child forget the presence of strangers.

I whispered in her ear, ”I told you that your kiss would make me well.”

”Yes; but thee said Emily Warren's roses too,” protested the little girl.

”Did I?” I replied, laughing. ”Well, there's no escaping the truth in this house.”

I dared not look at Miss Warren, but saw that Mr. Hearn's eyes were on her.

”Confound him!” I thought. ”Can he be fool enough to be jealous?”

Adah still stood hesitatingly in the doorway, as if she dared not trust herself to enter. I put Zillah down, and crossing the room in a free, frank manner, I took her hand cordially as I said:

”Miss Adah, I must thank you next to Mrs. Yocomb that I am able to be down this evening, and that I am getting well so fast. You have been the best of nurses, and just as kind and considerate as a sister. I'm going to have the honor of taking you out to supper.” I placed her hand on my arm, and its thrill and tremble touched my very soul. In my thoughts I said, ”It's all a wretched muddle, and, as the banker said, mysterious enough to be a providence”; but at that moment the ways of Providence seemed very bright to the young girl, and she saw Mr. Hearn escorting Miss Warren with undisguised complacency.

As the latter took her seat I ventured to look at her, and if ever a woman's eyes were eloquent with warm, approving friendliness, hers were. I seemingly had done the very thing she would have wished me to do. As we bowed our heads in grace, I was graceless enough to growl, under my breath, ”My attentions to Adah are evidently very satisfactory. Can she imagine for a moment--does she take me for a weather-vane?”

When grace was over, I glanced toward her again, a trifle indignantly; but her face now was quiet and pale, and I was compelled to believe that for the rest of the evening she avoided my eyes and all references to the past.

”Why, mother!” exclaimed Mr. Yocomb from the head of the table, ”thy cheeks are as red--why, thee looks like a young girl.”

”Thee knows I'm very much pleased to-night,” she said. ”Does thee remember, Richard, when thee first sat down to supper with us?”

”Indeed I do. Never shall I forget my trepidation lest Mr. Yocomb should discover whom, in his unsuspecting hospitality, he was harboring.”

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