‘Perhaps you would not require to be separated from her; but all that can be arranged by-and-by.’
As Madge quitted the vine-house, she was aware that Sam was meditatively rubbing his head with his cap, and she heard him muttering: ‘Ay, ay, it wasna the geraaniums after a’. Weel, weel, weel; I daursay it’s natural.’ He always returned to his native dialect when speaking familiarly, or when under the influence of emotion whether of affection or rage.
The washing-house was a small erection jutting out from the back of the cottage, and thither Madge hastened with the agreeable news, which she believed was to make two young people ‘happy ever after.’ The door stood wide open as she approached, but a mist of steam hid everything within, and boiling water running over the floor prevented her from entering. A figure appeared in the mist—stooped—groped for something—and presently darted out, stumbling against Madge.
‘Why, Pansy, what in the world is the matter?’
The girl was flushed and panting with excitement.
‘I am so stupid to-day.—I hope I did not hurt you,’ she gasped. ‘The tap of the boiler—I forgot to turn it off; and the place was full of steam in a minute, and I’ve upset the tub on the floor, and dirtied all the clothes. O dear!’
‘Never mind about the clothes. You might have been suffocated or scalded to death. Are you burned?’
‘I don’t know. I think my hand was a little, when I turned off the tap just now.... O dear! I am so stupid to-day.’
The left hand was already puffed up with a white swelling, which looked more dangerous than it was in reality. Madge hurried her into the cottage, and poured oil over the scalded hand into a bowl. When the bowl was half-full of oil, she bade the girl keep her hand in it. Pansy submitted with a patience that was akin to indifference; but as she continued at intervals to utter little cries of distress, it was some time before Madge became aware that they had nothing to do with the injury the girl had sustained. She did not look at her hand at all, but stared at the window, as if she saw something outside that made her unhappy.
‘I suppose you have not got any lint in the house. Well, you must find a bit of soft rag; and when we have steeped it in the oil, I will fasten it on your hand until we get Dr Joy to dress it properly. You can walk down to the village with me.’