Don"t think that in New Zealand we are quite ignorant of the world, Eva."
The conversation upset the girl sadly. She was vain of her voice and anxious to make the most of it. She went into the kitchen to make a pie, heedless that Jack had found a jar of raisins and was doing his best to empty it as fast as he could, and that Charlie was too quiet to be out of mischief. The paste was made according to her ability, certainly neither light nor digestible, and was ready for the oven, when suddenly a giggle behind her made her turn to behold that wretched boy Charlie dressed in her blue velvet dress, best hat, and parasol.
"You wicked boy, how dare you?" she cried, stamping her foot, but the boy fled, leaving the skirt on the floor. Picking it up, she gave chase to recover the hat, and when at last she returned to her pie, she found that Jack had forestalled her and made cakes for himself out of it and a marble tart for her.
Eva did not trust herself with the boys that morning; she literally hated them. Still, she must master herself before she could master them, and show once and for all that she was able to deal with the situation.
Shutting herself into the parlour, she sat quiet, trying to think and plan, but in vain--she could not calm herself.
She took up a book and attempted to read and forget her annoyances in losing herself in the story, but that, too, failed. Her trials were countless. Not sufficient were to be found in the house, but that interfering Mrs. Meadows must criticise her singing.
She opened the piano, determined to listen to herself and judge what truth there was in the remark. She ran over a few scales, but was interrupted by a rough-looking man shouting, "Stop that noise, and come here! It"d be better if you looked after the bits of bairns than sit squealing there like a pig getting killed. Don"t stare so daft; where"s yer father?"
Eva rose in anger, but going up to the man, words died on her lips--her heart seemed to stand still, for in his arms he held Babs, white and limp.
"What has happened--is she dead?"
"Don"t know; get her to bed." But Eva"s hands trembled too much to move them, so the old Scotch shepherd pushed her aside, muttering, "Yer f.e.c.kless as yer bonny; get out of the way." Tenderly his rough hands cared for the little one, undressing and laying her in her bed.
"She"s always after the chickens and things on our place, and I think she"s had a kick or a fall, for I found her lying in a paddock."
"Where were you, Eva? Hadn"t you missed Babs? I thought at any rate she would be safe with you," said her father.
Eva"s remorse was real. Her mother dying, perhaps, the children entrusted to her, and she--wrapped up in herself and her own grievances--what use was she in the world? But oh! if Babs were only spared how different she would be! If she died, Eva told herself, she would never be happy again.
She went downstairs wretched and helpless, and once more found Jessie Meadows in possession of the kitchen. "How is Babs?"
"Conscious, I think--but I don"t know," and the girl buried her face and wept pa.s.sionately.
"There, there, Eva, we"ve all got to learn lessons, and some are mighty hard. Take life as you find it, and don"t make trouble. The change was a big one, I know, but you"ll find warm hearts and willing hands wherever men and women are. I just brought over a pie and a few cakes I found in my pantry----"
"I can"t accept them after being so rude."
[Sidenote: A Short Memory]
"Were you rude, dear? A short memory is an advantage sometimes. But we"ll kiss and be friends, as the children say, and I will take turns with you in nursing Babs."
What Eva would have done without the capable woman would be hard to say, for the child lay on the borders of the spirit land for weeks. When the crisis was past her first words were, "Evie, Evie!" and never before had Eva listened with such joy and thankfulness to her name. The child could not bear her out of sight; "pretty sister" was doctor, nurse, and mother in one. Unwearied in care, and patient with the whims of the little one, she was a treasure to her father, whose hara.s.sed face began to wear a happier expression.
"I have great news to tell," he began one evening when, with Babs in his arms and the boys hanging around in their usual fashion, they were sitting together after tea.
"Tell, tell!" shouted the audience; but the doctor shook his head, while his eyes rested on Eva.
"Is it about mother?" she whispered, and he nodded.
"Mother is well, and coming home."
"Mother"s coming back!" was echoed throughout the house to the accompaniment of a war dance of three excited kangaroos until sleep closed all eyes.
[Ill.u.s.tration: MRS. MEADOWS" BROTHER ARRIVED.]
The day of the arrival was memorable in many ways to the young girl. In the morning came an invitation to sing at a concert, an hour later Mrs.
Meadows" brother arrived, laden with good things for the returning invalid, and with a letter from an editor in Wellington, which brought a flush of delighted surprise to Eva"s face.
Mrs. Meadows herself came over later.
"The editor is a friend of mine, Eva," she said; "and in rescuing a story of yours from Jack, I found him a contributor. Not for what you have done, but for what I"m certain you can do if you will write of life and not sentimental rubbish. You are not offended, are you?"
Eva"s eyes glistened. "Offended with _you_--_you_ who have laden me with kindness, and helped me to find all that is worth having in life! I have learned now to see myself with other eyes than my own."
Eva"s doubts were set to rest once and for ever when she saw the frail mother she had really forgotten, and felt her arms around her as she said, "My daughter--thank Heaven for such a treasure!"
[Sidenote: Rosette was a girl of singular resolution. Through what perils she pa.s.sed unscathed this story will tell.]
Rosette in Peril
A Story of the War of La Vendee
BY
M. LEFUSE
A loud knocking sounded at the door.
"Jean Paulet," cried a voice, "how much longer am I to stand and knock?
Unbar the door!"
"Why, it is Monsieur de Marigny!" exclaimed the farmer, and hurried to let his visitor in.
"Ah, Jean Paulet! You are no braver than when I saw you last!" laughed the tall man who entered, wrapped in a great cloak that fell in many folds. "I see you have not joined those who fight for freedom, but have kept peacefully to your farm. "Tis a comfortable thing to play the coward in these days! And I would that you would give a little of the comfort to this small comrade of mine." From beneath the shelter of his cloak a childish face peered out at the farmer and his wife.
"Ah, Monsieur! that is certainly your little Rosette!" exclaimed Madame Paulet. "Yes, yes, I have heard of her--how you adopted the poor little one when her father was dead of a bullet and her mother of grief and exposure; and how, since, you have loved and cared for her and kept her ever at your side!"
"Well, that is finished. We are on the eve of a great battle--G.o.d grant us victory!" he said reverently--"and I have brought the little one to you to pray you guard and shelter her till I return again. What, Jean Paulet! You hesitate? Before this war I was a good landlord to you. Will you refuse this favour to me now?" asked de Marigny, looking sternly down on the farmer from his great height.
"I--I do not say that I refuse--but I am a poor defenceless man; "tis a dangerous business to shelter rebels--ah, pardon! loyalists--in these times!" stammered Jean Paulet.
"No more dangerous than serving both sides! Some among this republic"s officers would give much to know who betrayed them, once, not long ago.
You remember, farmer? What if _I_ told tales?" asked de Marigny grimly.
"Eh! but you will not!" exclaimed the terrified man. "No, no! I am safe in your hands; you are a man of honour, Monsieur--and the child shall stay! Yes, yes; for your sake!"
De Marigny caught up Rosette and kissed her. "Sweetheart, you must stay here in safety. What? You are "not afraid to go"? No, but I am afraid to take you, little one. Ah, vex me not by crying; I will soon come to you again!" He took a step towards the farmer. "Jean Paulet, I leave my treasure in your hands. If aught evil happen to her, I think I should go mad with grief," he said slowly. "And a madman is dangerous, my friend; he is apt to be unreasonable, to disbelieve excuses, and to shoot those whom he fancies have betrayed him! So pray you that I find Rosette in safety when I come again. Farewell!"
But before he disappeared into the night, he turned smiling to the child. "Farewell, little one. In the brighter days I will come for thee again. Forget me not!"