"It can do no harm, that is certain," said Doctor Henry, "and it may be good for him, if not for Christopher."
Osric cried, and begged to be allowed to stay at home at first, but he yielded when his father represented to him that he might perhaps save Christopher's life by going to see him. He shrank back in the carriage as they drove through the village, and burst out crying at the sight of Mrs. Parsons's pale face and the sound of Christopher's voice from the room beyond.
"Listen to me, Osric," said Mrs. Parsons, sitting down and drawing Osric towards her. "I am not going to reproach you. I am sure your own conscience does that. We want you to go in and speak gently to Christopher, and try to quiet him and make him sleep. But to do this you must be very quiet yourself—not cry or be afraid. Will you try?"
"Yes, ma'am," answered Osric, choking down his sobs. "Oh, Mrs. Parsons, I am so sorry that I led Christopher off!"
"I hope you are, my poor boy! Now see what you can do to repair your fault."
The moment Christopher's eyes fell on Osric, he stretched out his hand to him.
"Oh, Ozzy, I knew you wouldn't leave me all alone to die. But what made you stay so long?"
"Never mind that now, Christopher," said his mother. "You see he has come back."
"And you won't leave me again, will you?" continued Christopher, holding Osric's hand tightly in his own. "It was very wicked to tell a lie and run away from school, but we will confess our sins and say our prayers, and when the angels come to take Miss Lilla to heaven, perhaps they will let us out if we ask them. Don't you believe they will, Ozzy?"
Osric could not bear these words, and he burst into tears, and hid his face on the pillow. His tears seemed to have a quieting effect on Christopher, who said, soothingly, "There! Don't cry. Maybe we shall get out, after all. I wish you could sing, Ozzy. It would make the time pass quicker. I would, but my voice seems all gone away."