"But my child!--my daughter!she's asleep!"--expostulated the woman;but Bill was already swiftly splashing through the darkness.
Jeff,left to himself,hastily examined the coach:on the back seat a slight small figure,enveloped in a shawl,lay motionless.Jeff threw the bear-skin over it gently,lifted it on one arm,and gathering a few travelling bags and baskets with the other,prepared to follow his quickly disappearing leader.A few feet from the coach the water appeared to deepen,and the bear-skin to draggle.Jeff drew the figure up higher,in vain.
"Sis,"he said softly.
No reply.
"Sis,"shaking her gently.
There was a slight movement within the wrappings.
"Couldn't ye climb up on my shoulder,honey?that's a good child!"There were one or two spasmodic jerks of the bear-skin,and,aided by Jeff,the bundle was presently seated on his shoulder.
"Are you all right now,Sis?"
Something like a laugh came from the bear-skin.Then a childish voice said,"Thank you,I think I am!""Ain't you afraid you'll fall off?"
"A little."
Jeff hesitated.It was beginning to blow again.
"You couldn't reach down and put your arm round my neck,could ye,honey?""I am afraid not!"--although there WAS a slight attempt to do so.
"No?"
"No!"
"Well,then,take a good holt,a firm strong holt,o'my hair!
Don't be afraid!"
A small hand timidly began to rummage in Jeff's thick curls.
"Take a firm holt;thar,just back o'my neck!That's right."The little hand closed over half a dozen curls.The little figure shook,and giggled.
"Now don't you see,honey,if I'm keerless with you,and don't keep you plump level up thar,you jist give me a pull and fetch me up all standing!""I see!"
"Of course you do!That's because you're a little lady!"Jeff strode on.It was pleasant to feel the soft warm fingers in his hair,pleasant to hear the faint childish voice,pleasant to draw the feet of the enwrapped figure against his broad breast.
Altogether he was sorry when they reached the dry land and the lee of the "Half-way House,"where a slight movement of the figure expressed a wish to dismount.
"Not yet,missy,"said Jeff;"not yet!You'll get blown away,sure!And then what'll they say?No,honey!I'll take you right in to your papa,just as ye are!"A few steps more and Jeff strode into the hall,made his way to the sitting-room,walked to the sofa,and deposited his burden.The bear-skin fell back,the shawl fell back,and Jeff--fell back too!
For before him lay a small,slight,but beautiful and perfectly formed woman.
He had time to see that the meek man,no longer meek,but apparently a stern uncompromising parent,was standing at the head of the sofa;that the elderly and nervous female was hovering at the foot,that his aunt,with every symptom of religious and moral disapproval of his conduct,sat rigidly in one of the rigid chairs--he had time to see all this before the quick,hot blood,flying to his face,sent the water into his eyes,and he could see nothing!
The cause of all this smiled--a dazzling smile though a faint one--that momentarily lit up the austere gloom of the room and its occupants."You must thank this gentleman,papa,"said she,languidly turning to her father,"for his kindness and his trouble.