Part 12 (1/2)

”I hope so,” Fergus replied. ”Mother says I mustn't expect ever to be quite strong. But they say I'm getting better. That's why mother brought me here. Do you know I can eat ever so much more than when I came? If I can get well enough to play--even on a piano--I wouldn't mind so much. I could make up all sorts of things for myself then--I could make pictures even of the moorland and Four Winds Farm, I think, Gratian.”

”I'll try to tell you them--I'll try to make some of my fancies into stories and pictures,” said Gratian; ”then afterwards, when you get well and can play, you can make them into music.”

Just then the door opened, and Fergus's mother came in.

”Tea is ready,” she said, ”and Andrew is going to carry you into the library, Fergus.”

She looked at the boy a little anxiously as she spoke, and Gratian saw that a slight shadow of pain or fear crept over Fergus's face.

”Mother,” he said, ”would it perhaps be better to stay here after all?

You could show Gratian the pictures.”

The lady looked very disappointed.

”The tea is so nicely set out,” she said, ”and you know you can't hear the organ well from here. And Andrew doesn't hurt you--he is very careful.”

Gratian looked on, anxious too. He understood that it must be good for Fergus to go into another room, otherwise his mother would not wish it.

Fergus caught sight of the eagerness on Gratian's face, and it carried the day.

”I will go,” he said; ”here, Andrew.”

A man-servant, with a good-humoured face and a strong pair of arms, came forward and lifted the child carefully.

”You walk beside me, Gratian, and hold my hand. If it hurts much I will pinch you a little, but don't let mother know,” he said in a whisper; and thus the little procession moved out of the room right across the hall and down another corridor.

”There must be a window open,” said Fergus; ”don't you feel the air blowing in? Oh don't shut it, mother,” as the lady started forward, ”it's such nice soft air--scented as if they were making hay. Oh, it's delicious.”

His mother seemed a little surprised.

”There is no window open, dear,” she said. ”It must be that you feel the change from the warm room to the hall. Perhaps I should have covered you up.”

”Oh no, no,” repeated Fergus. ”I'm not the least cold. It's not a cold wind at all. Gratian, don't _you_ feel it?”

”Yes,” said Gratian, holding Fergus's hand firmly. But his eyes had a curious look in them, as if he were smiling inwardly to himself.

”Golden-wings, you darling,” he murmured, ”I know you're there--thank you so much for blowing away his pain.”

In another moment Fergus was settled on a couch in the library--a lofty room with rows and rows of books on every side, nearly up to the ceiling. It would have looked gloomy and dull but for the cheerful fire in one corner and the neat tea-table drawn up before it; as it was, the sort of solemn mystery about it was very pleasing to Gratian.

”Isn't it nice here?” said Fergus. ”I'm so glad I came. And do you know it didn't hurt me a bit. The fresh air that came in seemed to blow the pain away.”

”I think you really must be getting stronger,” said his mother, with a smile of hopefulness on her face, as she busied herself with the tea-table; ”you have brought us good luck, Gratian.”

”I believe he has,” said Fergus. ”Mother, do you know what he has been telling me? He was born where the four winds meet--he _must_ be a lucky child, mustn't he, mother?”

”I should say so, certainly,” said the lady with a smile. ”I wonder if it is as good as being born on a Sunday.”

”Oh far better, mother,” said Fergus; ”there are lots of children born on Sundays, but I never heard of one before that was born at the winds'