“How can you talk so, Roger, and keep your anger so, when we are all so unhappy? I did not wonder much before, when Ailwin had to help Oliver... That was enough to make you or anybody be angry. But now, when I come to tell you how sorry I am, and that I know, if I ask Oliver, that he will be glad to forget everything, and that you should come to supper with us, instead of lying here in the dark, with nothing to eat, I do think you ought to forgive and forget; to forgive me, and forget all about thrashing Oliver.”
Roger made no answer.
“Good-bye, Roger,” said Mildred. “I am sorry that you choose to lie here, hungry and cold, instead of...”
“What business have you in my island?” interrupted Roger, fiercely. “How dared you settle upon my ground, to mock me with your fire and your supper? I’ll have my fire and my supper too.”
“I hope you will, if you will not come to ours. We were obliged to settle here—the house is all cracking, and falling to pieces. We were very sorry to come,—we were all so tired;—but we dared not stay in the house.”
Roger uttered an exclamation which showed that a new light had broken upon him, as to the causes of their removal.
“Poor Geordie is so ill, we were most sorry to have to move him. The time will come, Roger, though you don’t think so now, when you will be vexed that while we cannot tell whether father and mother are alive or dead, and whether George will live or die, you put the pain of quarrels upon us too.”
“Well, get you gone now!” said Roger, not immediately discovering that she was some paces on her way home again before he said that much.
Mildred heard Ailwin calling her to supper, as she drew near the tent. She did not say where she had been; but perhaps she was more on the watch, in consequence of what had passed. She soon saw that Roger was sauntering under the trees; and indeed what she had said, and what he now saw together, had altered Roger’s mind. He was hungry, and once more tired of being alone and sulky. He was thinking how comfortable the fire and the steaming kettle looked, and considering how he should make his approach, when Mildred jumped up, and came running to him.
“They don’t know that I came to find you,” said she. “Oliver will think it so kind of you to come and be friends! He will be so pleased! And there is plenty of supper for everybody.”