“I told you,”—began Maud, but stopped abruptly, knowing by experience how trying it was to be reminded of past warnings. “Oh dear, the fright you gave me! To fall down with such a dangerous load. Nan, are you hurt?”
“I’m killed!” cried Nan, with a sniff. “Talk of your fright, indeed: I’m shaking all over. I’ll run away and drown myself. Always make a mess of everything I do! What will mother say?”
“Don’t worry about that, dear. You were trying to help, and being so good and kind, and half a dozen tumblers are not a deadly thing. That won’t ruin us. It might have been far worse.”
“It is!” sighed Nan. “Two water-bottles—the best ones, too. I thought they’d look so nice. Oh dear; oh dear; and just when I thought I was getting on so well! I came up so slowly, stopping at every step. You might have heard me—”
“I did; but you know, Nan, I said before—Never mind, it’s done now, so it’s no use groaning. You look so white, dear; I am afraid you have had a shock. Don’t try to do anything more, but go to your room and take some sal volatile, and lie down until dinner.”
But at that Nan rose to her feet with a laugh of derision.
“I! I act the fine lady, and go to bed for a fall? Not likely. I shall have to work harder than ever to make up for this. The knives might as well go in their places first, and then I’ll go down and get something to brush up the glass. Don’t you come: it’s dangerous walking over here, and I can do it quite well.”
“Nan, please leave it to me! I am sure you are hurt, though you won’t acknowledge it. Sit down and rest, if it’s only for five minutes.”
But Nan would not be persuaded. She picked up the knives and hobbled round the table, laying them in their places and tossing her head with an air of triumph, oblivious of the fact that a drop of blood marked each stage of her progress, leaving a vivid stain on the fresh white cloth. A groan of dismay from Maud’s lips aroused her attention, whereupon she flushed red with dismay, and stared down at her cut fingers with an air of shocked surprise.
It was really too aggravating, and even placid Maud felt aroused to irritation; but it is difficult to upbraid an offender who is herself overcome with penitence, and who lavishes such violent reproaches upon her own head, as Nan now proceeded to do.