Agnes Giberne

“ He says he would give his right hand to undo the past."
"The man must be a wretch! Why, he ought to have known your father better!" declared Mrs. Cragg. Like most persons of suspicious temperament, she was voluble in condemning others for doing what she would have done herself.
"I think he ought; but it is easy for us to say that now. I suppose it was not easy for him to feel sure then. My father never spoke a hard word of Mr. Peterson."
"And your father will never know that the truth is found out. I do think that's too bad."
Cragg was silent, watching the light on Pattie's face. ”

“ Cragg, I didn't marry you to be kept in as close as this, and lectured as if I was a school-girl. And I don't mean to bear it. You've been worse than ever since Pattie came—and that's the truth."
"I shall have to be worse," Cragg answered coldly. "I cannot afford this sort of thing, and that's the long and short of the matter. If you run into debt, you must manage for yourself. But it's no use speaking to you. You don't choose to understand." And he left the room as Pattie came in. ”

“ Why, dear me, what rubbish! How can I tell that you're a proper person to have in the house, if you won't say more, or a nice companion for Dot? I never heard such nonsense in my life! Of course you've got to tell whatever we want to know. Your father might have been—anything—" as Pattie's quiet eyes gave a slight flash. "There mustn't be any mysteries. I shall just speak to Mr. Cragg." ”

“ If she likes to look after Dot, she's welcome; so long as she don't spoil the child worse than she's spoilt already. You've done enough that way, I hope. There's no managing her when she hears your voice. Not a child in the town is worse spoilt than Dot. And I say it's a shame."
"My dear, she's an uncommon good child. Why, Dot never cries."
"If she don't cry, she gets her own way a lot too much. You're for ever fussing about her. And if Pattie Dale is going to do the same, she'll be unbearable."
"Come, come, my dear. If people want a grievance, they can always make one." ”

“ Cragg was puzzled how to answer. He could not make out Pattie, and he found himself saying involuntarily:
"I wonder whether you are older than I have fancied?"
"I was sixteen on my last birthday."
"You were! Really! I have thought of you as only—well, about thirteen."
"No; I am sixteen. People have often taken me for less. Old enough to be independent." And a curious smile flickered over her small face.
"We must see about that. I am not sure. You would not find it so easy as you may think to make your way—unaided."
"No. But people would help me. People are always so kind." ”

“ You ought to be able. Other people can talk to her about God; but you can show her what the talking means, by what you are to her yourself. There's no love in the world so near to the love of God as a mother's love. And Dot can never have another mother,—so it all depends upon you."
"Pattie—you don't mean—"
"I mean just what I'm saying," Pattie replied quietly. "If you don't show her what is meant by the love of God, she may learn it in some other way; but she can't learn it in the best way of all. It isn't so much a question of what you say or don't say to Dot, as of what you are to her. ”

“ Cragg expressed little gratitude, for she felt none. She was still jealous of Pattie's position in the sick-room, still offended at having been compelled to submit.
With Dot's rally came, as was to be expected, a spirit of fractiousness; no bad sign, the nurse said. Children getting better from an illness were always fractious. The little one was not old enough to exercise self-control, as a grown person might have done; though in truth grown persons often fail egregiously in this matter. ”

“ What could Pattie say? She could not deny the truth of his words.
Cragg sighed and passed on. To an upright man, it is a terrible feeling that he cannot trust his own wife, that she has not even so far the sense of honesty as to be ashamed of her own meanness when she has acted meanly. ”

“ Once or twice a groan travelled up, and Pattie sank on her knees, unable to stand, while her eyes grew wild and sad.
At length the signal was given to "pull," and with a will the men bent to their task.
Slowly the rope was hauled in, and slowly Jim Waters, with his heavy burden, rose to the surface. The rope proved strong enough to bear them both, but moment by moment the fear was present of the front wall falling. Not till the two men were safely landed on firm ground, and all had retreated to a safer distance, did any one draw an easy breath.
Mr. Dale had to be carried. ”

“ He could not, unhappily, feel sure that no cause existed for Dot's remarks, nor could he throw himself unreservedly into the defence of his wife. By this time he knew, only too well, that Mrs. Cragg was by no means always true in her utterances, that very often she was guilty of what Dot called "a tory." He was therefore the more anxious to divert attention at this moment.
"Why, Pattie, you've been crying!"
"One must—sometimes—cry a little," admitted Pattie, not trying to deny so patent a fact.
"Being a girl, perhaps one must. And it is nothing that I can set right? You are sure?" ”

“ Has Pattie said anything to you about her father's papers?"
Mrs. Cragg reddened.
"Why should she? What have I got to do with them? Of all suspicious men, you are the very most—"
"My dear, what can you mean?" Cragg gazed in surprise. "I do not see anything to vex you in what I have said. Nor do I understand what you have in mind. There is no suspicion. I have asked a simple question. Has Pattie said anything?"
"Nothing particular. Why should she?"
"I do not understand her feeling about that box. She objects to examining the contents." ”

“ Dot stopped and gave him a perfunctory kiss, then returned to Pattie.
"Pay glames and lead," she repeated. "Tome along."
Pattie looked at Mrs. Cragg.
"May I go?" she asked. "May I take care of Dot sometimes for you?"
Mrs. Cragg assented, not too graciously, and Pattie vanished, led by the fat little hands of Dot. Cragg looked at his wife.
"Well?" he said.
Mrs. Cragg tossed her head.
"Well, I just say the same, Mr. Cragg. I hold that a man's duty is to his own, and not to a pack of strangers. But if she's got to be here, she may as well be useful. ”

“ Pattie knows that her father was a scamp, and she doesn't want to make it known, that's all."
"My dear! Do you know what you are saying? What reason can you have for such a notion?"
"I know! There's a lot too much mystery. People don't go hiding up things when there's nothing to hide. I believe he was a downright bad man. And I believe Pattie knows it too. That's why she won't tell us about him, and why she pretends she doesn't want to read his papers. It's because she knows things will come out, and she doesn't want to have to tell."
Cragg was silent. ”

“ I think books are such friends, don't you? The only friends you and I are likely to have."
"But why? Why shouldn't we make new friends in Putworth? There are nice people everywhere."
Mr. Dale shook his head. Then he surveyed the ceiling with doubtful eyes.
"Seems to me this house is not too well built," he remarked. "Just look at those cracks. A house that hasn't been standing six months! I don't understand it. Wonder I didn't see them sooner."
"It is a cracky house altogether," laughed Pattie. "There are cracks in the sitting-room as well, and all up the side of the passage. ”

“ It would be easy to work his way round outside Putworth.
The ruse was of small avail. Mrs. Cragg watched him go, and tossed her head.
"As if I didn't know!" she said aloud. "He's crazed about those people. He'll go to-night before he comes home if it takes him two hours to get there. He's as obstinate as an old mule, once he takes a notion into his head. We poor women have a lot to put up with in the men, and no mistake! Anyway, I'm sure I have."
It never occurred to Mrs. Cragg that her husband might also find a great deal to put up with in her. ”

“ I am strong enough for nursing. It comes to me naturally."
"Mr. Cragg gave me to understand that he could not ask it of you— that—in fact—"
"That I am no relative," suggested Pattie readily. "No, I am not. But Mr. Cragg has been a kind friend to me; and I love Dot. I would do anything for her."
"Well, I confess you relieve my mind. I do not imagine Mrs. Cragg is capable of much. And I am told that there is not a servant in the house who can be trusted. If you are willing to sit up this night, it will be a great help. I shall telegraph to know if a nurse can arrive to-morrow. ”

“ Cragg, warned by the doctor, had taken the matter in hand, and had insisted on his wife's compliance. The doctor had spoken to Mrs. Cragg also, telling her plainly that Dot's life might hang upon the question of absolute quiet, and desiring that Pattie should be allowed to decide who might or might not be present. "She seems a sensible girl," he said, "and evidently knows a good deal about nursing. Let her use her commonsense, and I do not think it will lead her astray." ”

“ Smithers. "I'd like to hear my husband talking like that."
"Your husband isn't Cragg," observed Mrs. Cragg, with truth.
"If he was Mr. Cragg I wouldn't let him. People ought to have sense."
Mrs. Smithers' eyes roved, and Mrs. Cragg saw that another subject was about to be introduced.
"Nobody can tell you anything about Pattie except me."
"But what do you know about her? thought they came here as strangers."
"All the same, I know something." Mrs. Cragg's air was of fascinating mystery.
"Tell me, there's a good woman. What do you know?"
"Well, I know one thing—that her father was a scamp." ”

“ Cragg, you must not behave like this," she said. "It will not do. You are hurting Dot. She cannot bear the movement. Go out of the room, please, until you can be quiet."
Mrs. Cragg's only concession was to move a few paces off, and there to stand, holding now to the table, and sobbing still in a strident fashion. Pattie went again to Dot, and leant over her, and held her little hand very tenderly. Then, to her relief, Cragg came in, bringing the doctor, a young man with a kind manner, who lived in the next street. Happily, Cragg had found him at home. ”

“ And both he and the nurse say she has done more for Dot than either of them."
"Dadda!" murmured Dot, clinging to his hand, as he sat beside her.
"Dear little Dot!—But you see, don't you?"
"I see that Pattie manages to get the upper hand of you men somehow! I'm sick and tired to death of hearing of nothing but Pattie's goodness. If she'd condescend to be bad for once, I could put up with her better."
"You would probably be the first to blame her," rejoined Cragg, aware how useless it was to answer his wife, yet for once unable to resist doing so. "There are bad people in plenty. ”

“ She's got the upper hand of Mr. Cragg—twists him round her little finger. And Dot won't look at anybody else."
"Well, I wouldn't have it so, if I were you. I'd make a stand. She's got a conceited look."
"Conceited! I should think she was. There's nobody in the world that's Pattie's equal, if you believe Pattie."
"And nobody knows wherever she came from," reflected Mrs. Smithers.
Mrs. Cragg pursed up her lips with a meaning air.
"Well, you may know, but nobody else does. What is Pattie Dale? Your husband's been going about saying she wants to find a situation. ”

“ He began to mount the staircase, and Pattie followed slowly. She wanted to see all the best points in their new home, not the worst, and she knew her father's tendency to get into a mournful mood over small discomforts. Naturally these big cracks, which oddly enough had made no previous impression, seemed less important to a young girl than to a man. ”

“ Isn't it sweet?"
"My dear, a man has to be easy in himself before he can enjoy birds' singing."
"Do you think so? They comfort me. Poor little things—they all seem so happy."
"For how long, I wonder?"
Pattie was silent, and Mr. Dale made a doleful attempt at a rally.
"Come—this won't do. I get a fit of the dumps now and then—not much wonder if I do, considering! But you mustn't mind me, my dear. Things can't be helped. How are you doing in the house? Got everything ship-shape?"
"I have just finished the books. They look nice. Come and see them." ”

“ The latter soon returned.
"The doctor wants a word with you, Pattie. I'll stay here," said Cragg. He had left his wife elsewhere, still violently sobbing, half with genuine distress and half with annoyance at being ordered away.
Pattie found the doctor alone.
"Is Dot badly hurt?" she asked.
"It is too early to say much. We shall know better in a few hours. I do not find tokens of actual injury, beyond a blow to the head— hardly severe enough to account for the symptoms. At all events, no bones are broken. My fear is that the spine may have sustained some injury. ”