Mat did not “sleep over it,” but lay awake that night thinking over the squire’s proposal. To his own way of thinking, he had not done anything so wonderful after all in the way that he had rescued Annie; though true he recollected that Dromoora had praised him in the matter, which praise, coming from the lips of that old warrior, meant a very great deal indeed. He plainly saw what a splendid opening lay before him; such a career had never occurred to him in his wildest dreams. And then he thought how splendid it would be if Tim could join him in anything of the sort; or should he go home with Tim? No, that would be no advantage to either; besides, he thought he would like to stay at Bulinda. Thus, reasoning the matter over in every possible way, in trying to come to a conclusion, he went to sleep.
Our forester was sauntering along the verandah the next day, thinking of what he should say to the squire, when Annie came softly out of Tim’s room, and Mat almost ran against her, so absorbed was he in his thoughts.
“Oh, Mat,” she said, “I was coming to look for you. Tim would like to speak to you, and after that I want you to help me get some bananas for him.”
“Is that you, Mat?” said a faint voice, as our hero entered the sick-room. “I want to talk to you about what we were saying the other day, when I wasn’t allowed to talk any more. I’m much better this morning. The doctor says I can never ride, or do anything worth doing again, that’s what pains me; ’taint the wound so much as that. But I ought to be very thankful, I know, ’taint no worse, cos t’ parson says I oughter. Oh! he is just like an angel; steals in and prays; yes, prays at night, when he thinks I’m asleep; but I can hear him whispering his prayers. And Miss Annie, she do just about take care of me; I never have to ask for anything I want. I feel better in body and in mind when those two are here, and they come different times, and never bother me with ‘How did you sleep last night?’ because they know; they tell each other. And I told t’ parson as how I’d like to get back to t’ forest, and he said the doctor told him that he wished I was back, and if I went on so well as now, I might go in a few weeks; and that is why I wanted to see you, to ask you, is there enough money as my share, do you think, for me to go?”
Tim broke down at this point from exhaustion, and Mat gave him a cooling drink from a bottle which his brother pointed out, and begged him not to talk any more.
“You only listen, Tim,” he said. “I’ve settled all about the money; you’ll have plenty, and will go home. I’ll tell you all about it another time. I am going now to get some bananas for you.”
“Will you come again after I’ve had a sleep, Mat? for I feel so much happier now I’ve seen you, I shall get to sleep and dream of home.”
Mat promised, then stepped out and rejoined Annie, and they proceeded to the garden, where he cut a large bunch of “Lady’s Finger” bananas which she showed him, and carried it back to the house.
When he had deposited his burden, Mat turned to Annie.
“I am afraid I nearly pushed you over just now, Miss Annie, when you were coming out of Tim’s room, but I never looked up in time. I was stupidly going along with my head down, thinking so much of what your father said to me last night.”