“Och, murther!” cried Pat, at last. “Sure it’s bothered I am, and dead bate intirely. Whativer I’ll do now it ud take more’n me to tell. Sure an I’ve made all the noise I know. What’ll I do now? There’s the feed; he said so, he did, an I’ll thry it.”
It was Pat’s last resort, and he tried it. The bowl was there where Captain Corbet had pointed it out. Pat seized it, and taking the spoon, offered it to the baby. But the baby treated his offer with scorn. He opened his mouth indeed, but it was only to let forth a yell so loud, so long, and withal so passionate, that the spoon fell from Pat’s hands upon the floor, while the bowl which he had been trying to balance on his knee, followed with a crash.
Pat jumped up, still holding the baby, and walked wildly about, singing at the top of his voice, and renewing the useless racket. He went to the door and looked wildly down the road, hoping to see some signs of Captain Corbet, though time had not yet elapsed sufficient for him to reach the schooner. Then he returned to the room. Then he tried the cradle again, then walking, and again the cradle, and then once more walking.
So the time passed.
At length, on looking down the road, he saw a female. She was walking up it, and would soon come near the house. On this woman he hung all his hopes. Perhaps she was Mrs. Corbet herself. The thought filled him with joy. If not, if she was a stranger, he determined to arrest her, and make her soothe the frantic child.
The house stood back from the road about fifty yards. Pat watched through the window the motions of the approaching female, himself unseen. She drew nearer. At last her ears caught the cries of the baby. Her brows contracted. She walked faster. She reached the gate. She turned in.
“I’t’s herself!” cried Pat.
He sprang to the cradle, and laid the screaming child inside. Then he sprang to the back door, and, closing it, stood outside, peeping through the key-hole to see the result.
The woman entered with surprise on her face. She looked all around. She called “Corbet! Corbet!” in an angry voice. But no Corbet replied. Then she went to the cradle, and took the baby in her arms, looking around with wonder in her eyes. Then she soothed the baby, which speedily became quiet.
“It’s Mrs. Corbet!” muttered Pat. “It’s herself! I’m safe! I’m free! I’ll run! Hurroo!”