“But,” said Mildred, “I don’t think these other things are ours, any more than they ever were. Nobody ever gave them to us. They have belonged to somebody else;—to somebody that may be wondering at this moment where they are.”
“Nonsense, Mildred!” exclaimed Ailwin. “Who gave you the harness that braces the raft, or the meal you have been living on these two days, I wonder: and how do you know but somebody is hungry, and longing for it, at this minute?”
“I wish they had it, then,” replied Mildred. “But, Oliver, were we wrong to use the meal? I never thought of that.”
“Nor I: but I think we were right enough there. The meal would all have been spoiled presently; and meal (and the harness too) is a sort of thing that we can pay for, or make up for in some way, if ever we can meet with the people who lost that chest.”
“And George, and all of us, might have starved without it.”
“Yes: we must take what we want to eat, when it comes in our way, and there is nobody to ask leave of: and, if ever we get out of this place, we can inquire who lost a meal-chest or set of harness, and offer to pay for what we took. But I do think it is different with these things.”
“So do I,” said Mildred. “Those table-cloths, and that embroidered cap,—somebody has taken pains to make them, and might not like to sell them. And look! Look at Roger! He has pulled out a great heavy bag of money.”
“Now, Roger, put that bag where you found it,” said Oliver. “It is none of yours.”
“How do I know that I shall find it again, the next time I look?” replied Roger, walking off with the bag.
Mildred was afraid of Oliver’s following him, and of another quarrel happening. She put her arm within her brother’s, and he could easily guess why.