“Was me Pat all right?” was her first query, and when she had received a reply in the affirmative, the little woman added: “It’s bakin’ I’ve been all the arternoon, Miss Virginia, for I was thinkin’ as thar’d be many to feed.”
“Thank you for you thoughtfulness,” the young mistress of V. M. said, with sincere appreciation.
Margaret assisted Mrs. Mahoy to spread the many good things on the long kitchen table that the miners who had accompanied them might have a hearty supper before their return to Second Peak.
Uncle Tex and Virginia meanwhile helped Malcolm into his own bed, and for the first time in many years the lad turned toward his sister and said: “Virgie, I’m so tired, tired clear through.”
“I know you are brother, dear,” Virginia said, as she knelt by his side and held his listless hand to her cheek. “I haven’t mothered you as much as I should have done, but from now on you are going to just rest. I don’t know yet what we’re going to do, but it’s going to be something different and wonderful.”
CHAPTER XXVI
MAKING PLANS
“Where, Oh where shall we take my brother for a complete rest?” Virginia had softly closed the door of Malcolm’s bedroom, having told that giant of a lad that he must sleep all of the afternoon.
He had laughed at the suggestion. It did indeed seem preposterous. In all of his nineteen years, he had never slept in the day-time. When his sister had left him, he determined to rise, dress and steal out of the window and down to the corral, but when he had tried to stand, he found that he was not as strong as he had supposed, and he was actually glad to lie down again, and, being truly weak and weary, he was soon asleep.
Margaret looked up from her sewing. She and Virginia were planning to cut over two of their dresses that were still pretty, but which they had outgrown. Megsy’s was to be for six year old Jane Wallace, while Virg was to make one for ten year old Sari.
“Are we really going to take my guardian somewhere?” she asked eagerly, adding at once. “I do hope so, Virg! What a heavy burden of responsibility he has had since your father died. I don’t know where you would find another boy, only sixteen as he was then, who would have the courage to attempt to run a big ranch and compete with men old enough to be his father.” Margaret’s voice had a ring of enthusiasm in which there was mingled much of admiration and perhaps something more.