The heat of the day was over at last, a perfect summer's evening had set in.
"When are they all likely to be back?" asked Annie.
"Not until night, dark night," said Boris with a little sigh.
"What are you sighing for?" asked Annie. "You look quite sad, and I don't like you sad; I like you with your eyes smiling and your face puckered8 up with laughter. Nell looks pale and sad, too. What is it Nell? what is it Boris?"
"I'd like to be at the picnic now," said Boris, "I didn't mind it in the daytime when it was so hot; [Pg 72]but now they're lighting9 another bonfire and they're going to have tea, and after tea Guy will tell stories."
"All about bogies," struck up Nell; "yes, I wish I were there."
Annie looked at them both reflectively. She never cared to be with children unless she could succeed in making them almost boisterously10 happy.
"But it doesn't matter a bit," said Nell, seeing the shadow cross her face; "I shouldn't be very happy in any case to-night."
"Why?" said Annie.
"I'd rather not say, please. You have been good to us; you have helped us to have a beautiful day; we are grateful to you, aren't we, Boris?"
"We love her," said Boris.
"You are two darlings," said Annie. "Well, now, suppose we have a bit of fun on our own account. How far is it from here to the Grange?"
"By the road, three miles," said Boris; "but across the fields, only a mile and a half."
"We'll go to the Grange across the fields," said Annie. "I heard Hester say this morning that she was going to try and induce you all to come back to the Grange to supper, so we three will join the rest of the party at supper, and if we start at once well be ready to welcome them when they arrive."
"What a spiffin' plan," said Boris; "do let's start at once."
Nell clapped her hands.
"Now I've made you happy again, that's all right," said Annie. She took a hand of each child, and they started on their pleasant walk. Boris was very messy and untidy, his face was stained with fruit and his hands were dirty. Nell's blue [Pg 73]cotton frock was also considerably11 out at the gathers round the waist, but the children did not give a thought to their clothes or personal appearance in the sudden rapture12 with which they hailed Annie's suggestion.
The walk across the fields in the sweet freshness of the summer's evening was all that was delightful13, and in an incredibly short space of time, the three found themselves at the other side of the turnstile which led into the grounds of the Grange.
"We'll be there long before the others," said Boris. "Suppose we light a great bonfire on the lawn to welcome them." But even wild Annie did not see the propriety14 of this suggestion.
"No, we won't do that," she said. "If the Grange were our own place we would. We'll just go and sit on the terrace and watch for them."
"Won't Kitty jump when she sees us?" said Boris, a look of satisfaction radiating all over his face. "She'll see that we have had our lark15 as well as the rest of them; oh, I call it real spiffin' fine."
They were walking rapidly through the shrubbery now, and as Boris finished his speech they came out on the broad sweep in front of the house.
Just before the entrance a brougham was standing16, and instead of solitude17 they found themselves surrounded by familiar figures.
Kitty was the first to observe them. She gave a stifled18 sort of scream, and pushing aside Boris, who was prepared to rush into her arms, came up to Annie, took one of her hands, and looked into her face.
"I kept the secret true as true," she said; "but it almost killed me, and it has nearly quite killed [Pg 74]Nora." Her poor little voice broke with these last words, and she burst into the frantic19 sobs20 which she had bravely kept back until now.
"What in the world is the matter?" said Annie, kneeling down and putting her arm round the excited child.
"Why, that's Dr. Jervis's carriage," shouted Boris. "What can be up?"
"Why are you back so early from the picnic?" asked Nell.
She felt the comfort of Annie's arms round her, and presently she laid her hot, flushed, little face on Annie's neck and wetted her frill with her plentiful22 tears, but no information could be got at present from poor Kitty's lips.
"There's Molly, and there's Hester," exclaimed Boris, "they'll tell us; oh, and there's Nan, too. Hullo Nan, come here and tell us what the rumpus is about."
Nan rushed up excitedly.
"Nora is nearly killed," she said; "she fell from a tree over twenty feet from the ground, and her back is hurt awfully23, and Hester said she'd better come here, and she's lying in the library and Dr. Jervis is there. I haven't the faintest idea how it happened," continued Nan; "only it seems to be your fault, Annie; it seems to have something to do with you and a secret, only Kitty won't tell."
Kitty ceased to cry; she raised her face and looked at Annie. Annie struggled to her feet.
"Oh, Annie," she said, "where have you been all [Pg 75]day? We have been dreadfully anxious about you; and poor Nora has been hurt, and Kitty seems in trouble of some sort, and says that she won't tell her secret. What can it all mean?"
"Well, really!" said Annie. She paused a minute; the rich colour mantled26 her cheeks; her bright eyes seemed to flash fire.
"I'm awfully sorry about Nora," she said; "but I fail to see how I am to blame. From your manner, Nan, and yours, Hester, I seem to be accused of something. What is it, pray?"
"Oh, it's nothing, indeed," said Molly, who had come up now and joined Hester. "What does it matter, Hetty, when we are all so awfully wretched? Poor Annie did not mean anything. Do let her alone!"
"I did not mean anything?" echoed Annie. "I'm afraid I can't allow myself to be let alone. I must find out what I'm accused of. Kitty, you say you kept my secret safely. Speak now and tell everybody."
"I can't stay to listen," said Molly, turning away; "it's too—too trivial!"
Hester and Nan, however, still stood facing Annie, and the boys, Guy and Harry27, also came and joined the group.
"Speak, Kitty," said Annie.
"You were kind," said Kitty; "it's wicked to say you weren't kind. You found out that Boris hadn't come to the picnic, and you said you'd go back for him; you'd walk back all in the heat, and you didn't mind the bull, nor the bull-dog, nor—nor—anything; and you said I wasn't to tell, and 'twould be a surprise when you came back with Boris and, perhaps, Nell, [Pg 76]too—and I promised. Then we had dinner, and you weren't there, and everybody asked for you and everybody wondered where you could be; but Hester said you were a sort of 'centric girl, and that you was grown up and we needn't fret28; and Nan said you was nothing if you wasn't unexpected; so nobody fretted29, and I kept my secret locked up tight. But Nora wanted you more than the others, and she saw my lips shut tight and my eyes watching for you through the trees, and she guessed I had a secret; and I said I had, but I wouldn't tell; and she said she'd take me to mother, and that mother would make me tell, and so I climbed up into the beech-tree to get away from her; and I was naughty and cross, and she was naughty and cross, too, and she followed me up into the beech-tree, and I got out upon a rotten bough30, where I thought she'd be sure not to come; but she did come, cause I was real naughty and I taunted31 her; and the bough broke and she fell, but I didn't fall 'cause I caught on to a bough higher up. It's been dreadful ever since," continued Kitty, pressing her hands tightly together. "Worse than when I forgot to give water to Harry's canary and it died, and worse than when I pulled up all Guy's canariensis in mistake for weeds; its been awful, but I did keep the secret."
"Is that all?" said Annie.
"Yes, that's all," replied Kitty. "I did keep the secret."
"I understand," said Annie. "I should have come back, of course. I did not remember that I might get you into trouble, Kitty; it did not occur to me that you were the plucky32 sort of child you are."
"Plucky?" echoed Guy with some scorn. "I don't [Pg 77]call it plucky to be just decently honourable33. We don't tell lies. Kitty would have told a lie if she had broken her word."
"And I promised to come back, and I broke my word," said Annie. "Yes, I fully24 understand; it's just like me."
"Leave her alone, children," said Hester to the astonished children, who were preparing to follow her. "I knew it would cut her to the heart, but it can't be helped. She'll be all right by-and-by, but she can't stand any of you now; you must leave her alone."
Boris came up to Kitty, put his arms round her neck, and kissed her. His kiss was of the deepest consolation35 to her; she walked away with him slowly, and Nell took Hester's hand. Nell's face was like a little white sheet; she was trembling in her agitation36.
"Oh, what is the matter?" she gasped37. "Is Nonie awfully hurt? Is it dangerous? Oh, Hetty, it's worse than the colts! Oh, I felt bad this morning, but it was nothing to this—nothing! May I stay with you for the present, Hetty?"
"Yes, darling," said Hester in her kindest voice. "Come into the house with me. We are all very anxious until we get the doctor's opinion. Your father and mother are both with Nora; and Dr. Jervis is there and Jane. Everything is being done that can be done, and we know nothing at present. Come, Nell, we must be brave—and here is Molly; she is just as anxious as you."
Nell looked at Molly, who was standing in the porch; she flew to her eldest38 sister's side, clasped her [Pg 78]arms round her neck, and shed a few of those silent, rare tears which only came to her now and then, for Nell was no ordinary child, and rarely showed her deepest feelings.
"I don't know how I'm to live through this suspense," said poor Molly.
But even as she spoke it came to an end.
Mr. Lorrimer came out of the study, closing the door softly behind him. He strode quickly through the hall, and entered the porch where the three girls were standing. Molly stepped forward quickly and seized his arm.
"Well?" she asked.
He gave her a quick look; his face was very pale, and a sudden contraction39 of pain flitted across his brow.
"Well, my loves," he said, "we must all try to be as cheerful as we can and not break down; there isn't a bit of use in breaking down."
"But how is she, father?" asked Molly. "What does Dr. Jervis say?"
"He says, Molly, that poor Nora is very seriously hurt; but it is impossible to form a reliable opinion on her case so soon. He wishes us to get Dr. Bentinck from London to see her, and I am going to drive to Nortonbury to telegraph to him to come at once. Now, don't keep me, my dears. By the way, Molly, mother says you had better take the children home as soon as ever you can."
"Oh, may I not stay?" asked Molly.
"No, my dear, I think not; there must be some head at home. Jane Macalister will stay and help your mother to-night until we can get the services of a proper nurse. Take the children back as soon as you can, Molly. God bless you, my love."
[Pg 79]
The Squire40 stepped into the doctor's brougham and was driven rapidly away. Molly raised her hand to her forehead.
"I feel stunned," she said. "Nora was the gayest and the brightest and the prettiest of us all. Nothing ever seemed to happen to Nora, and now she is so ill that I may not even see her."
"She will be better to-morrow, I am sure," said Hester.
"Oh, Hetty, if I could only stay here," cried poor Molly.
"I wish you could, Molly, with all my heart."
"We'll know nothing of how she's getting on at the Towers," continued Molly. "I think it will drive me mad not to know."
"I'll come over very early in the morning and tell you, and perhaps something may be arranged to-morrow so that you can stay here."
"I might stay instead of Jane. I know I could help mother far better than Jane can. But there, I suppose I must have patience. Come, Nell."
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1
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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3
supremely
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| adv.无上地，崇高地 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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7
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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8
puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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boisterously
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| adv.喧闹地，吵闹地 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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12
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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13
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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18
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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26
mantled
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| 披着斗篷的，覆盖着的 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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30
bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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31
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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34
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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35
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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contraction
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| n.缩略词，缩写式，害病 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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