"I don"t want it. I won"t have it!" cried Minnie. "It"s full of horrid ants and things. And it"s dreadful--and _very, very_ cruel in you to bring them up here just to _tease_ me, when you _know_ I hate them so.
Take it away! take it away! oh, do please take it away! And oh, do please go away yourself, and leave me with dear, darling Kitty. _She_ never teases me. She is _always_ kind."
Girasole turned away once more, in fresh trouble. He had the stump carried off, and then he wandered away. He was quite at a loss what to do. He was desperately in love, and it was a very small request for Minnie to make, and he was in that state of mind when it would be a happiness to grant her slightest wish; but here he found himself in a difficulty from which he could find no possible means of escape.
"And now, Kitty darling," said Minnie, after Girasole had gone--"now you see how very, very wrong you were to be so opposed to that dear, good, kind, nice Rufus K. Gunn. _He_ would never have treated me so.
_He_ would never have taken me to a place like this--a horrid old house by a horrid damp pond, without doors and windows, just like a beggar"s house--and then put me in a room without a chair to sit on when I"m so _aw_fully tired. He was _always_ kind to me, and that was the reason you hated him so, because you couldn"t bear to have people kind to me. And I"m _so_ tired."
"Come, then, poor darling. I"ll make a nice seat for you out of these skins."
And Mrs. Willoughby began to fold some of them up and lay them one upon the other.
"What is that for, Kitty dear?" asked Minnie.
"To make you a nice, soft seat, dearest."
"But I don"t want them, and I won"t sit on the horrid things," said Minnie.
"But, darling, they are as soft as a cushion. See!" And her sister pressed her hand on them, so as to show how soft they were.
"I don"t think they"re soft _at all_," said Minnie; "and I wish you wouldn"t tease me so, when I"m _so_ tired."
"Then come, darling; I will sit on them, and you shall sit on my knees."
"But I don"t want to go near those horrid furry things. They belong to cows and things. I think _every body"s_ unkind to me to-day."
"Minnie, dearest, you really wound me when you talk in that way. Be reasonable now. See what pains I take. I do all I can for you."
"But I"m _always_ reasonable, and it"s _you_ that are unreasonable, when you want me to sit on that horrid fur. It"s very, _very_ disagreeable in you, Kitty dear."
Mrs. Willoughby said nothing, but went on folding some more skins.
These she placed on the straw so that a pile was formed about as high as an ordinary chair. This pile was placed against the wall so that the wall served as a support.
Then she seated herself upon this.
"Minnie, dearest," said she.
"Well, Kitty darling."
"It"s really quite soft and comfortable. Do come and sit on it; do, just to please me, only for five minutes. See! I"ll spread my dress over it so that you need not touch it. Come, dearest, only for five minutes."
"Well, I"ll sit on it just for a little mite of a time, if you promise not to tease me."
"Tease you, dear! Why, of course not. Come."
So Minnie went over and sat by her sister"s side.
In about an hour Girasole came back. The two sisters were seated there. Minnie"s head was resting on her sister"s shoulder, and she was fast asleep, while Mrs. Willoughby sat motionless, with her face turned toward him, and such an expression in her dark eyes that Girasole felt awed. He turned in silence and went away.
CHAPTER XXV.
SEEKING FOR HELP.
The departure of the drivers with their horses had increased the difficulties of the party, and had added to their danger. Of that party Ethel was now the head, and her efforts were directed more zealously than ever to bring back Lady Dalrymple to her senses. At last these efforts were crowned with success, and, after being senseless for nearly an hour, she came to herself. The restoration of her senses, however, brought with it the discovery of all that had occurred, and thus caused a new rush of emotion, which threatened painful consequences. But the consequences were averted, and at length she was able to rise. She was then helped into her carriage, after which the question arose as to their next proceeding.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "ETHEL OBTAINED A PAIR OF SCISSORS."]
The loss of the horses and drivers was a very embarra.s.sing thing to them, and for a time they were utterly at a loss what course to adopt.
Lady Dalrymple was too weak to walk, and they had no means of conveying her. The maids had simply lost their wits from fright; and Ethel could not see her way clearly out of the difficulty. At this juncture they were roused by the approach of the Rev. Saul Tozer.
This reverend man had been bound as he descended from his carriage, and had remained bound ever since. In that state he had been a spectator of the struggle and its consequences, and he now came forward to offer his services.
"I don"t know whether you remember me, ma"am," said he to Lady Dalrymple, "but I looked in at your place at Rome; and in any case I am bound to offer you my a.s.sistance, since you are companions with me in my bonds, which I"d be much obliged if one of you ladies would untie or cut. Perhaps it would be best to untie it, as rope"s valuable."
At this request Ethel obtained a pair of scissors from one of the maids, and after vigorous efforts succeeded in freeing the reverend gentleman.
"Really, Sir, I am very much obliged for this kind offer," said Lady Dalrymple, "and I avail myself of it gratefully. Can you advise us what is best to do?"
"Well, ma"am, I"ve been turning it over in my mind, and have made it a subject of prayer; and it seems to me that it wouldn"t be bad to go out and see the country."
"There are no houses for miles," said Ethel.
"Have you ever been this road before?" said Tozer.
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
"Oh, I was thinking of the part we had pa.s.sed over."
"True; but the country in front may be different. Didn"t that brigand captain say something about getting help ahead?"
"Yes, so he did; I remember now," said Ethel.
"Well, I wouldn"t take his advice generally, but in this matter I don"t see any harm in following it; so I move that I be a committee of one to go ahead and investigate the country and bring help."
"Oh, thanks, thanks, very much. Really, Sir, this is very kind," said Lady Dalrymple.
"And I"ll go too," said Ethel, as a sudden thought occurred to her.
"Would you be afraid, aunty dear, to stay here alone?"
"Certainly not, dear. I have no more fear for myself, but I"m afraid to trust you out of my sight."
"Oh, you need not fear for me," said Ethel. "I shall certainly be as safe farther on as I am here. Besides, if we can find help I will know best what is wanted."