Nettie started: she thought he would fancy it had it been done, if done at all, when he gave her the push at the frame-house. But she did not, dare not, answer. She said it was only that she had found a little blood on her handkerchief, and supposed she might have cut her lip when she fell on Mrs. Auguste's threshold, when she had fainted.
"Show me your handkerchief," said her father. Nettie obeyed. He looked at it, and looked close at her lips, to find where they might have been wounded; and Nettie was sorry to see how much he felt, for he even looked pale himself as he turned away from her. But he was as gentle and kind as he could be! Nettie had never seen him so; and when he went off up to bed, and Nettie was drawn into her mother's arms to go to sleep, she was very, very happy. But she did not tell her hopes or her joys to her mother; she only told her thanks to the Lord; and that she did till she fell asleep.
The next morning Nettie was well enough to get up and dress herself. That was all she was suffered to do by father or mother. Mr. Mathieson sent Barry for water and wood, and himself looked after the fire while Mrs. Mathieson was busy; all the rest he did was to take Nettie in his arms and sit holding her till breakfast was ready. He did not talk, and he kept Barry quiet: he was like a different man. Nettie, feeling indeed very weak, could only sit with her head on her father's shoulder, and wonder, and think, and repeat quiet prayers in her heart. She was very pale yet, and it distressed Mr. Mathieson to see that she could not eat. So he laid her on the bed when he was going to his work, and told her she was to stay there and be still, and he would bring her something good when he came home.
He was as good as his word, and at night brought home some oysters, to tempt Nettie's appetite; but it was much more to her that he stayed quietly at home, and never made a move towards going out. Eating was not in Nettie's line just now; the kind little Frenchwoman had been to see her in the course of the day, and brought some delicious rolls and a jug of riz-au-gras, which was what seemed to suit Nettie's appetite best of all.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE GOLDEN CITY.
"Blessed are the peacemakers."—Matt. v. 9."
