Eleanora H. Stooke

“ It was between eleven and twelve o'clock that morning when Miss Perry's motor-car, with only Miss Perry and the chauffeur in it, drew up before the Burfords' house in Ladysmith Terrace. Tom had gone out to do an errand for his mother; but Nellie was at home, lying back in her favourite hammock chair in the shady yard, her pale little face swollen with weeping; for, since breakfast, she had been told of the change in store for her, that she was to spend three months at Broadstairs, away from her own people, and she could not reconcile herself to the idea at all. ”

“ Nellie observed by and by; "I'm sure Peter Perry doesn't look blind, does he, Mother?"
"No, my dear," Mrs. Burford replied; "his eyes are not disfigured in any way."
"What's wrong with them?" asked Tom.
"There is something amiss with the nerves at the back of them," Mrs. Burford answered; "I don't quite understand what it is, but whatever it is, is incurable."
"He will never be able to see as long as he lives," said Nellie, very solemnly; "he told me so himself." ”

“ Tim fought pluckily, but he was not evenly matched, his antagonist being bigger and stronger than himself, and in less than a minute the Irish terrier had got him under, and doubtless would have done him serious injury if a man had not come along and separated the animals; whereupon the Irish terrier, looking rather ashamed of himself, retreated to the side of his master, who had come out into the road and now hastened to fasten a leash to his collar.
"You should keep your dog under control!" cried Tom angrily and very unreasonably. "I never saw a more savage brute!" ”

“ For several minutes he did not notice Tom, so that the boy was able to have a long, steady look at him, during which he decided that he was the ugliest dwarf he had ever seen; but, on turning his newspaper, the dwarf suddenly caught sight of him, and speaking through his nose, inquired: "Hulloa, youngster, what are you doing here?"
"Nothing," answered Tom, confused at being caught staring: "that is, I was only looking at you. I beg your pardon."
"A cat may look at a king," quoted the little man, chuckling; "but a king mayn't look at me—without paying; so you may consider yourself privileged." ”

“ Nellie remarked, with a shudder; "I know it makes me shake all over, and—"
"But then you're a girl!" Tom broke in. "If you were a boy you wouldn't feel like that!"
"I believe I should! And dogs make such a frightful noise when they fight!"
Tom laughed. "The noise does no harm, Nellie. Yes, in my opinion Peter Perry's a coward. And fancy a boy as big as I am promising not to go out alone! Ah, I haven't told you about that!"
"No. Tell me, Tom, do."
He repeated the snatch of conversation he had overheard when passing Halcyon Villa on his way home, whilst she listened with amazement. ”

“ Burford answered hesitatingly; "I don't altogether approve of that sort of entertainment, because I don't believe that lions can be trained by kindness, especially forest-bred animals. And it's terrible to think that a child's life should be risked to amuse the public and for gain; it never ought to be allowed. I begin to see, Tom, that those Sordellos may have been prompted by a selfish motive when they adopted that little orphan— no doubt she adds considerably to the lion-trainer's earnings." ”

“ The train moved slowly out of the station, and a minute later was gone.
"Come, Tom!" said Mr. Burford, touching his son on the arm.
With the dog still in his arms, Tom followed his father out of the station. In the street he set Tim down. "I was afraid if I let him go before he might run after the train," he explained. "Oh, Father, won't it be strange without Nellie?" he sighed.
"Very strange," Mr. Burford agreed. "Poor little maid, her greatest trial will be when she comes to say 'Good-bye' to her mother to-morrow; she is so unaccustomed to strangers. ”

“ The more I think of him the more I feel sure he told us lies this morning, and that Grace spoke the truth."
"I told Aunt Harriet about her," said Peter; "but she thought the Sordellos must be very kind people to have adopted her, and that she must be a naughty little girl. What does your father think?"
"I haven't told him about her yet; at dinner-time we talked mostly of Nellie—she's the apple of Father's eye, you know."
"Oh, I expect so! I wish I had a sister, Tom."
"I dare say you do. It must be awfully dull for you, living alone with your father. What sort of a man is he? ”

“ He wondered if the Sordellos were searching for her; if so, there was every probability that they would find her, and his kind heart swelled with pity as he thought of her terror of Hero and the heartlessness of those who, for the sake of gain, meant to make a public exhibition of her with the lion, against her will.
"What a miserable life you must have had travelling about with that menagerie!" he remarked by and by. "I saw Mr. Dumbell this morning, and spoke to him. I call him a very rough, ill-mannered man." ”

“ To the Market Square. The shows are arriving there for the Fair next week."
"I did not know there was to be a Fair. Aunt Harriet hasn't said anything about it."
"Oh, I don't suppose she gives it a second thought! But it's rare fun, Peter. There are sweet-stalls, dozens of them, and shooting-galleries, and all sorts of shows—this year there'll be a menagerie. And there are always a dwarf, and a giant, and a fat woman; and the smallest pony in the world; and the biggest horse; and a clever donkey who does tricks and knows every word that's said to him. ”

“ If a policeman had been in your position he would no doubt have interfered and summoned the woman for using bad language, but if you told a policeman all you've told me you couldn't prove it, and—well, in short, you can't do anything in the matter, my boy."
"It's dreadful to think such a little girl should be treated so badly!" Tom cried in indignant accents, "a little girl no bigger than our Nellie! I am sure Max Sordello and his wife are cruel to her! I believe they are wicked people! ”

“ Tom said; "they get so badly treated, poor things. Those drovers ought to be taken up for driving a cow as fast as that and letting their dogs worry her; it's dreadfully cruel of them. I wonder where they're taking her? She looked terribly wild. They'll never be able to drive her through the town, if that's their intention; but perhaps they mean to put her in a field somewhere on the road. I don't suppose she'd have hurt us, but it's as well to be on the safe side of the gate, isn't it?"
"Yes, indeed," agreed Peter, who was looking very concerned. ”

“ Then Tom inquired:
"Is Miss Perry your aunt?"
"Yes, my father's sister. I'm going to spend my holidays with her."
"Jolly for you! She's awfully rich, isn't she? You'll ride about in her motor-car, and have no end of a good time! What's your name?"
"Peter Perry. And yours?"
"Tom Burford."
"Do you know my aunt?"
"Rather not. We're not rich people living in a big house, with servants to wait on us, and everything we want! We're poor!" ”

“ He saw no one as he passed Halcyon Villa on his backward journey, which he made as quickly as possible. On his arrival at home Nellie met him at the front door, a flush of excitement on her cheeks: "Oh, Tom, here you are at last!" she cried; "where have you been all the morning? I've been out with Mother, and what do you think? Peter Perry has lost his dog. There are notices in a lot of shop windows saying so, and offering a pound reward to any one who finds him, and— oh, you know all about it."
"I've seen Peter Perry, and he told me," Tom replied, gloomily; "he's awfully cut up." ”

“ Nellie answered. "Did you ask him to come?" she inquired. "He said the last time he saw me that he shouldn't call again without he was sent for, and I'm not ill, you know."
"No, not ill," Mr. Burford agreed. "But you're not very strong, are you? Didn't I hear you complaining of leg-ache last night?"
"Yes," said the little girl; "my legs are always aching now, and they feel so weak and funny sometimes, just as if they were somebody else's legs, not mine."
"Perhaps Dr. Brewer may be able to give you some medicine to put them right," suggested Tom. "He may, mayn't he, Mother?" ”

“ Burford and Nellie went to Broadstairs, and the evening of the following day saw the former at home again. Nellie had been in very low spirits when she had left her, Mrs. Burford was obliged to admit, but the little girl had promised to try to be happy and was to be trusted to keep her word.
"When she makes friends amongst the other children and begins to get stronger I expect she'll settle down comfortably and not fret," she said hopefully; "as I told her, the time will soon slip by to Christmas, and then—oh, think what a blessing it will be if she returns to us well and strong!" ”

“ Lee descended the steps of the caravan, and, with Zingra holding to her skirt, came and spoke to Tom. "Good morning, young gentleman," she said, smiling. "Look, Zingra, at the pretty doggie!"
Zingra dropped her hold of her mother's skirt, and clasped Tim around the neck. At first Tom was afraid the dog might resent this treatment, but instead of doing so he seemed much flattered by the little girl's embrace, and licked her brown cheek.
"It isn't often a dog will hurt a child," Mrs. Lee observed; "Zingra's like her father, and has a soft spot in her heart for dumb animals." ”

“ Tom said eagerly. "Really it's quite wonderful he's living! Moses Lee put in all the afternoon yesterday looking for him, and couldn't find him; but, late in the evening, after his wife and Zingra had returned, he went into the woods again. This time he came upon the hole in the old hedge I'd told him of, where Bounce had been digging, and he got down on his knees and looked in. He saw the hole led into a regular rabbit run, and that the hedge was like a honeycomb with rabbit holes. ”

“ Nellie, with Tim by her side, was curled up on the sitting-room sofa, a delicate flush on her thin cheeks, her blue eyes very bright, whilst Tom moved restlessly about the room, his hands in his trousers' pockets. By and by the boy came to the sofa and stood looking down at his sister. ”

“ Tom said; "he's too big to get between the bars like Tim. Steady, Bounce!"
With some difficulty, for Bounce was a good weight, he succeeded in lifting the dog over the gate, Peter receiving him on the other side.
"Quick, quick, Tom!" cried Peter nervously; "I believe there's a mad bull coming! Listen how it's bellowing! Oh, here you are! That's right! What a fearful noise! Can you see what's going on?"
"Yes! It's not a bull, but a cow, with two sheep-dogs and two drovers after it. How the drovers are yelling! Oh, I say, what a shame! One of the dogs bit the cow on the leg then! Oh! ”

“ Satisfied now, Tim stretched himself out on the smooth, velvety turf near the tree against the trunk of which Tom was sitting, and promptly went to sleep.
"The little beggar's tired," Tom said to himself; "well, we can rest a bit. It's awfully hot considering there's no sun. I think it must be thunder weather. I'm tired myself."
But he was a boy who never could be still very long, and, in less than ten minutes after the buns had been finished, he rose and set off with Tim on the return journey. ”

“ I say, where are you, Nellie? It's all right! Bounce is safe! He's just been brought home."
Mr. and Mrs. Burford and their little daughter were at the breakfast-table when Tom burst in on them with his news. Nellie cried: "Oh, how glad I am!" and was beginning to ask questions when her father interposed by telling Tom to sit down and have his breakfast.
"I'm sorry I'm late," the little boy said apologetically, as he took his accustomed place. "I've been to Halcyon Villa, and stayed talking to Peter Perry and his aunt. I wanted so much to know if Bounce had been found." ”

“ The little girl concluded that she had said something her brother considered silly, so put no more questions. On the strength of his two years' seniority, he sometimes treated her with an air of superiority, which she secretly disliked.
"I wish the holidays were over," Tom said presently, in a grumbling tone. "There's nothing for me to do, and no one for me to play with except you. I say, Nellie," he continued, his voice brightening, "wouldn't you like to go with me to Hatwell Green to-morrow and see the gipsies' encampment?" ”

“ He has a wife and a little daughter—younger than you—called Zingra. They've a beautiful yellow and red caravan, and it's at Hatwell Green now. Come, I'll take you to Mrs. Lee. She'll look after you, and when she hears about Hero, I know that, whatever happens, she won't let the Sordellos get hold of you again."
"Where is Hatwell Green?" Grace asked, rising with some difficulty, for her limbs were stiff and aching. An eager light was shining in her dark eyes.
"About a mile from here. Oh, good! The rain's stopped altogether. We have to cross the field to reach the road." ”

“ My wife's a fat lady. We're travelling with Dumbell's menagerie, but we're a separate show—you have to pay extra to see us."
Tom made no response to this; he was considering whether or not he should speak to Tiny Jim about little Grace Lee.
"Of course you'll come and see 'Una and the Lion,'" the dwarf continued; "that'll be the great draw, I expect. I hope—" He paused, sighed, then added, more as if speaking to himself than to Tom: "They say there's no need to be nervous, and every precaution will be made for the child's safety—yes, yes, it'll be all right, I know!" ”

“ Brewer said that a change of air would set Nellie up quicker than anything!" Tom broke in, eagerly; "you haven't forgotten that, Mother?"
Mrs. Burford shook her head, and her lips quivered. There was a minute's silence, then she said, quietly: "If it was possible, we should carry out Dr. Brewer's prescription, Tom, but it is not. We must live within our income, and we could not do that if we took a holiday under existing circumstances. ”