There was pleasure in his honest eyes because he had been summoned to do this service for the injured girl, and the ring of affection in his voice as he entered with his cheery, “Jehuwhittaker! This is how ye make things spin, is it? Don’t make no more o’ breakin’ a bone er two ’an some folks does o’ prickin’ their finger! Wal, I hope ye’ve counted the cost, afore ye set sail ter keep house along o’ Melville. He’s a critter ’at likes his own paddock, an’ no interference, I tell ye. Ye’re brave enough ter tackle a team o’ wild hosses, but ye better think twict afore ye tackle Melville Capers.”
“I don’t dare think twice, Mr. Abraham; I’m going right quick, while my first courage lasts. Now don’t you or Aunt Ruth say another word, but just wheel ahead! I’ll shut my teeth hard and not groan once, if you do hurt me.”
But the well-oiled castors of the little bed ran smoothly, and the wide doorways and corridors seemed especially made for moving beds about, so Octave fancied; and in a few minutes the passage to Melville’s sitting-room was made, his door opened, and Octave’s narrow couch pushed in.
The cripple was so astonished that he almost sat upright. “What in thunder!” he exclaimed.
“Good afternoon!” said Octave, merrily.
“What does this mean?”
“That you are not very civil.”
Octave made a significant gesture, and both her smiling, anxious attendants withdrew to an invisible distance, leaving the two bed-ridden cousins to stare one another down.
CHAPTER X.
From that silent contest of wills Octave came out conqueror. There was no resisting her merry audacity, with its underlying principle to strengthen it, and Melville was the first to speak. He did so in his own peculiar fashion, and his cousin answered after hers.