by L. T. Meade
moment.
"Oh, Ralph!" she said, with a sob. "I am about the nastiest girl in allthe world. But I do, I do love you! Oh Ralph, Ralph!"
She flung her arms around him, dropping on her knees to come nearer tohim. Just for a minute, she gave him a fierce kiss; then she let himgo.
"It is Robina I hate," she said; "it is not you." Ralph gave a sigh.
"I am glad you don't hate me," he said, "'cause you see I love you."
"And why aren't you with the others?" said Harriet, suddenly.
"Couldn't," said Ralph, shaking his head. "Stayed a-hint 'cause of you;wanted to be with you--couldn't go."
"Then you do really love me?"
"I has said so," answered Ralph.
A warm glow such as a fire might make entered Harriet's heart. She sankdown on the mossy turf and drew Ralph to sit near her.
"You are very nice," she said. "I am very, very glad you stayed. Butwhat did your father--what did he do?"
"Father?" said Ralph, in a surprised tone. "Nothing, in course."
"But he wanted you to go, surely?"
"I said to father I must stay home this morning 'cause of one of myschool-mothers."
"And then?" said Harriet.
"Father--he said, `Send Bluefeather back to the stables.'"
"Then, Ralph?--and was that all?" asked Harriet.
"'Course," said Ralph. "Father don't question 'less at something verynaughty."
"Oh," answered Harriet. After a pause, she said: "He didn't ask youwhich of your school-mothers?"
"No," said Ralph. "Think he guessed, though."
"Did your father go with the others to the sea-shore?"
"Oh, yes: he went in the governess cart. He drove the donkey that drewthe governess cart his own self."
"You must have been very sorry to give up your fun," said Harriet.
"'Course," said Ralph.
"But you did it for me?"
"'Course," said Ralph again. He concealed nothing, denied nothing. Helooked full now into Harriet's face.
"What is the matter?" she asked.
"You said you hated Robina and me; then you said afterwards that you didnot hate me--you loved me, but you hated Robina. I want you to love usboth. By the time Robina comes back, I want you to be a-loving of heras hard as you're a-loving of me."
"Well, I can't do that," said Harriet, "so there is no use wishing it."
Ralph sighed. "She is very, very good," he said. "Ralph," saidHarriet, suddenly; "there are some things I cannot bear."
"What?" asked the little boy.
"I love you, and I can't bear you to be fondest of Robina."
"Very sorry," said Ralph, shaking his curly head.
"Don't you think," said Harriet, drawing him close to her and fondlinghis chubby hand, "that you could manage to love me best? I want yourlove more than Robina does."
"Sorry," said Ralph again.
"Then you do love her best?"
"'Course," said Ralph, "much best."
Harriet pushed him away.
"Then I don't want to sit with you," she said, "nor talk to you. Go toRobina altogether. I--I suppose I am jealous; it is a horrid thing tobe, but I suppose I am. You needn't have stayed at home for me thismorning. I don't hate you; I was in a passion when I said I did; I loveyou very much but--I can't stand a love like yours, the greater part ofwhich is given to Robina."
"Shall I tell you why I love her?" said Ralph. "'Cause she is strongand good and brave, and she teaches I lots of things; and she lets Ilook into her face; and she tells stories--wonderful stories!"
"Yes," said Harriet. She was gazing intently at the child.
"Now you doesn't," said Ralph. "You did one day when I was with you,one day when you gave me picnic breakfast and we went to town and boughtthings for a picnic tea. But Robina does it every day; and I feel thatshe is strong, and--and--I can't help it--I have to love her best."
"I will tell you what I am," said Harriet; "you had best know me forwhat I really am. I don't like Robina just for the simple reason thatshe is stronger than me, and she can tell better stories, and she hasgot Bo-peep and I have not; and she is cleverer than me and has taken myplace in the form. I was happy enough before she came to school, but Iam not happy now."
"I am _so_ sorry," said Ralph. "It seems an awfu' pity, 'cause shecan't help being clever. My father's clever: he can't help it. Doesyou hate him 'cause of his big, big brains?"
"Oh, no, no--it's quite different. You don't understand what friendshipmeans, Ralph."
"Yes, I do: Robina tells me. When your friend isn't happy, you're nothappy; that's one thing 'bout friendship. And you would do anything foryour friend--anything: that's another. I heard father once speak ofthat. He did a wonderful big thing for a friend of his. I am alwayswanting to do a big thing for Robina, and a big thing for you. I knowit isn't much, but I did stay home for you this morning."
"So you did; and you are a dear little boy; and I wish I wasn't such ahorror myself," said Harriet suddenly. "Leave me, now. Ralph: afterall, there is nothing you can do for me. I am cross, I suppose, butI'll be better by-and-by."
Ralph went away very sadly. He could not understand Harriet. Hisbeautiful morning was wasted. Suddenly, he found himself back again bythe round pond. The lilies were looking more lovely than ever in thesun. A dragon fly had just got out of his chrysalis, and Ralph watchedhim for a moment as he poised for flight.
All of a sudden, the wish to pick some water-lilies for Harriet returnedto him. He would show her by this means how truly he loved her. Shedid want the lilies, he knew it, for he had seen her tugging so hard atone. "And she just lost her balance," he said to himself. "Poor, poorHarriet: It would have been horrid if she had falled into the pond!"
The thought of getting some lilies for Harriet restored the little boy'ssense of happiness. He was his father's own son, and knew no fear.Harriet was one of his school-mothers--the school-mother he loved secondbest. He made up his mind quickly to pluck three yellow lilies for her,and four white ones. That would be seven in all. Someone had told himthat seven made a perfect number. He could easily reach the lilies ifhe climbed the willow tree, and gently pushed himself along that branchwhich bent over the pond.
No sooner did the thought come than he proceeded to put it into action.The supple bough, however, bent very low beneath his weight. Ralph wasbut a little boy, however, and the bough would undoubtedly hold him ifhe did not go too far along its slender stem. He had plucked one lily,and his little hand had grasped a second, when all of a sudden there wasan ominous crack at the further end of the bough. It bent so low intothe water now that Ralph's balance was upset, and he found himselfstruggling in the deep pond. Ralph was not a minute in the water beforeHarriet, who was really not far off, rushed to the spot. Into the pondshe plunged, seized the boy by his collar and dragged him with someslight difficulty to the shore. They were both very wet, but neither ofthem in the least hurt. Harriet stood by, dripping from head to foot.
"Oh, Ralph, Ralph!" she cried. "Did you do that to show that you lovedme?"
"Yes; oh yes;" said Ralph. "Why, I nearly died for you, and you nearlydied for me!"
"We must be the best and greatest of friends now," said Harriet, quickto seize the opportunity. "But come into the house at once; you mustget all your things off, or you will catch cold. Oh, and Ralph; promiseme one thing--this shall be a secret between you and me. You will nevertell anybody that you risked your life to get me the flowers, and I willnever tell a soul that I risked mine to save you."
"Oh--but you are splendid!" said Ralph. "Why, I should be dead now butfor you, Harriet."
"Of course you would, Ralph," she answered; but she took care not totell him that she was an excellent swimmer and had not risked her lifein the very least when she sprang into the pond to save the little boy.
Book 2--CHAPTER SEVEN.
MR DURRANT'S NEW PLAN.
Harriet took Ralph to her own room.
There she changed all his thingsand made him get into her bed until she could fetch some fresh ones forhim. He was cold, and shivering a great deal, but Harriet, quiteunacquainted with the illnesses of young children, was not in the leastalarmed. She ransacked Ralph's wardrobe for another little drill suit,and he was dressed in new, dry clothes, and all