‘An’—ye hall—‘elped me so!’ he went on. ‘Oi wish oi’d ‘a done better—oi do,’ and his eyes sought Geordie, and then rested on Mrs. Mavor, who smiled back at him with a world of love in her eyes.
‘You hain’t hashamed o’ me—yore heyes saigh so,’ he said looking at her.
‘No, Billy,’ she said, and I wondered at her steady voice, ‘not a bit. Why, Billy, I am proud of you.’
He gazed up at her with wonder and ineffable love in his little eyes, then lifted his hand slightly toward her. She knelt quickly and took it in both of hers, stroking it and kissing it.
‘Oi haught t’a done better. Oi’m hawful sorry oi went back on ‘Im. Hit was the lemonaide. The boys didn’t mean no ‘arm—but hit started the ‘ell hinside.’
Geordie hurled out some bitter words.
‘Don’t be ‘ard on ‘em, Geordie; they didn’t mean no ‘arm,’ he said, and his eyes kept waiting till Geordie said hurriedly—
‘Na! na! lad—a’ll juist leave them till the Almichty.’
Then Mrs. Mavor sang softly, smoothing his hand, ‘Just as I am,’ and Billy dozed quietly for half an hour.
When he awoke again his eyes turned to Mr. Craig, and they were troubled and anxious.