The Heiress of Wyvern Court | Page 9

of duty and love of pleasing you?" suggested Inna.
"That's where it is. I think if he had a sister--now, if you were to get him to love you, you'd be able to do anything with him. Love for anybody is a mighty power, though 'tis said to be like a silk thread--something not seen, but felt--you see, 'tis stronger than it seems."
"Yes," sighed Inna; "mamma says a loving heart will find work to do anywhere. Yes, mamma, I will try," said she inwardly, thinking of her last talk with her dear mother, and that only on the evening before yesterday, so short, and yet so long a time ago.
Well, Oscar did not come, so the two went in, leaving the fire to flare itself out. Neither did Dr. Willett and Mr. Barlow return. It was quiet anxious work, sitting there by the log-fire, hearkening to the ticking of the old clock, waiting for someone who did not come--someone up to mischief, as Mrs. Grant said. Out she went again, with her apron over her head.
"Burnt to the ground, dearie--burnt to a tinder, is the farm: so Sam, our carter, says; and 'twas done by some idle boys lighting a bonfire of dry furze near." This was her report when she returned to the kitchen.
Then they heard the master and Mr. Barlow come in, and the housekeeper went to carry them in supper. Ten o'clock, and they were going out again, Inna heard them say. The little girl now stole out herself to the back gates; there, in the shadow of the wall, she saw a moving shadow.
"Oscar!" She spoke his name; and Oscar stepped out into the moonlight beside her.
"Where have you been?" she ventured.
"Where I like."
"Yes; but have you seen the fire?"
"Yes, I suppose I have."
"Did you--did you have----"
"Did I have a hand in setting it alight? Ah yes! there you go--you're all alike."
"No, Oscar; no, but----" her small hands were clinging to his arm.
"Hands off!" cried he, shaking her off, as if he could not bear her even to touch him.
His sleeve was in tatters, she felt, before he shook himself free.
"I want you to do something for me," said he, gloomily enough.
A startled "Yes," was the reply.
"Go and get some oil and some flour, and come up to my room--you know your way in the dark, don't you?"
"Yes, I think----"
"Think! be sure, and be quick!" With this grumpy injunction he swung himself away, hugging the shadows, and so into the house and upstairs.
Tap! tap! Gentle little Samaritan--she had the oil, if not the wine; and when he bade her enter, she saw that she had indeed to bind up his wounds. He stood with his arm bare to the elbow--a poor scorched arm, from which charred skin was hanging.
"Now, see here: mix some flour and oil into a paste in this pomatum-pot, and spread it on this handkerchief; then bind it on to my arm, and hold your tongue. Can you do it, do you think?"
"Yes;" and the small girlish hands soon had the plaster ready.
"Poor arm!" said she, as the boy winced at her kindly but bungling dressing.
"Fudge!" scoffed he.
"Oh, I wish you hadn't had anything to do with it!" tearing a handkerchief into strips to bind it on with.
"Yes, that's all you know about it. What has Mother Peggy been saying about me? I'm the dog with a bad name; I suppose she's hanged me."
"No; she said only kind words of you--at least, what she thought were kind."
"Oh, ay! everybody is kind after that fashion, I suppose. Now, about holding your tongue?"
"Do you mean I mustn't say anything about your burnt arm?"
"Yes."
"I won't, if I can help it."
"We know you can help it. Good night."
He let her go out, and she stole down to the kitchen, there to tell Mrs. Grant, when she came in from the dining-room, that Oscar was in, and gone to bed, without saying anything of what she had done.
"I say, come up here, and help me on with my jacket," called Oscar, the next morning, from above stairs, to Inna below in the hall.
Up she ran, like a willing little friend in need, to the needy boy.
"This is my best jacket," said he, when the injured arm was safe in its sleeve. "Now you hear what Mother Peggy will say when she sees me adorned with it."
"Yes," returned Inna; "has it pained you to-night?"
"Well, yes; I never slept a wink till 'twas almost get-up time."
She looked at him; his face was worn, his eyes wild.
"Tell Uncle Jonathan, and let him see to it, or let me tell him."
"At your peril, if you do!" said he, like a very despot. "And besides, 'tis more like Billy Barlow's job than the doctor's."
"Let me tell Mr. Barlow, then," she pleaded.
"I tell you, you