Patsy lighted the lamp upon the table, wondering anxiously why his
brother was so late. He put more coals upon the fire, which was burning
low, and made the tea for David's supper. He set out the loaf of bread,
the cold meat, the cheese, upon the table, then resumed his chair and
his eager listening for footsteps that were so long in coming. It seemed
to Patsy he had waited for hours and hours, and suddenly his heart
stopped beating and his eyes distended in terror as a thought occurred
to him. Suppose David did not come at all! What, what would happen then?
But there, that was David's step and all would be well now. The child
looked up eagerly as his brother entered the room, then, nearly cried
aloud in his bitter disappointment. David was not alone. One of the gang
was with him, and this was a contingency for which Patsy had made no
allowance. What was he to do now? How could he tell his brother, how
warn him, in the presence of that dreadful man?
For the first time in his life David was so preoccupied that he paid no
heed to the little cripple who had now withdrawn to the darkest corner
of the room and crouched there in abject terror. The two men made a
hasty meal and then sat by the table talking in tones so low that Patsy
heard scarcely a word of what was said. Anyway, he cared nothing for
their plans now; he had spoiled everything for them.
Pages:
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82