"There's someone on horseback riding beside a wagon, but I don't think it's Uncle Tom," Jack continued, for Tom Chance had adopted him as nephew. "He's crawling like a snail."
But as the wagon drew nearer the outrider was without doubt their uncle, and Jack raised a shout of welcome which received no response by word or look. The clergyman's face was turned towards the wagon.
"It may be a——funeral," said Jack, under his breath. "Uncle Tom looks so solemn and sad."
Eva's rosy cheeks paled. "I think I'm going home to mummy," she said trotting off down the lane, but Jack divided between anxiety and curiosity held his ground.
"Uncle Tom, what is it? Why don't you look at me?" he said, drawing near as the wagon approached.
"A girl who's very ill; I'm taking her to the doctor. Run home now, Jack. I may see you later. If Aunt Betty is about ask her to come on to the doctor's. I know she will be of use."
Jack took in the situation with one frightened glance. The bottom of the wagon was filled with a mattress and pillows on which a girl of about thirteen or fourteen was stretched. Her eyes were closed and lines of pain were round nose and mouth, and occasionally a moan of pain broke from her lips. Pain was a new experience in his childish life, and Jack, charged with his message, turned and fled.
He soon found Aunt Betty, and told her about it, and the next minute she had put on her hat and was flying by a short cut across the paddock towards the doctor's house where the wagon had just arrived.
Dr. Wilson gave a pleased nod when he caught sight of Betty.
"Run on, will you, to Mrs. Mason's, just opposite the church. She will take in my patient if she has a bed to spare, and knows the way to look after them," and Betty with one sympathetic glance at the pretty face of the sufferer sped on her way. Mrs. Mason was at home and was able to put a room at the doctor's disposal, and Betty only waited until the girl was safely lodged there and to find out if there were any needs that she and her mother could supply, before slipping off home again. She found the family at supper, but Jack saw the face that nearly always smiled at him shadowed with anxiety.