As it was Norman’s left hand which had been hurt, he was very well able to hold a battledore, and after playing with his mamma a short time, he recovered his usual spirits, and appeared totally to forget how naughty he had been. He wondered that nobody had asked him how he had cut his finger, or spoke to him about Miss Lucy, not understanding the forgiving spirit which had induced Fanny to refrain from speaking of his conduct.
“Perhaps she is afraid of saying anything about it, because she slapped my face,” he thought.
At last, Mrs Vallery went in to get ready for dinner.
Fanny found Norman who had been sent into the drawing-room to put the battledores and shuttlecock away.
“How is your finger?” she asked, in a pitying tone.
“Oh, it smarts very much,” he answered, “though I do not think you care much about it.”
“Indeed, I do, dear Norman,” she said; “you do not know how sorry I am that I slapped your face, and granny has given me some salve and some soft linen to bind up your finger again, and if you will come here, I will try and do it very gently, and not hurt you.”
Fanny sat down in her granny’s chair. Taking off the wrapping which Mrs Norton had put on, and which was somewhat stained with blood, she replaced it with a nice soft piece covered with salve, which felt very cool, and soon took away all the pain.
Having done this Fanny affectionately kissed him.