第45章 CHAPTER IX(4)

I think she enjoys even the little change made by my going and coming.She sits up half the night to read the library books I bring,but she is so stubborn she won't even admit that she touches them.Tell me more about my father.""Wait until I see if I can find the violin."So Elnora went home in suspense,and that night she added to her prayers:"Dear Lord,be merciful to my father,and oh,do help Aunt Margaret to get his violin."Wesley and Billy came in to supper tired and hungry.

Billy ate heartily,but his eyes often rested on a plate of tempting cookies,and when Wesley offered them to the boy he reached for one.Margaret was compelled to explain that cookies were forbidden that night.

"What!"said Wesley."Wrong words been coming again.

Oh Billy,I do wish you could remember!I can't sit and eat cookies before a little boy who has none.

I'll have to put mine back,too."Billy's face twisted in despair.

"Aw go on!"he said gruffly,but his chin was jumping,for Wesley was his idol.

"Can't do it,"said Wesley."It would choke me."Billy turned to Margaret."You make him,"he appealed.

"He can't,Billy,"said Margaret."I know how he feels.

You see,I can't myself."

Then Billy slid from his chair,ran to the couch,buried his face in the pillow and cried heart-brokenly.Wesley hurried to the barn,and Margaret to the kitchen.When the dishes were washed Billy slipped from the back door.

Wesley piling hay into the mangers heard a sound behind him and inquired,"That you,Billy?""Yes,"answered Billy,"and it's all so dark you can't see me now,isn't it?""Well,mighty near,"answered Wesley.

"Then you stoop down and open your mouth."Sinton had shared bites of apple and nuts for weeks,for Billy had not learned how to eat anything without dividing with Jimmy and Belle.Since he had been separated from them,he shared with Wesley and Margaret.So he bent over the boy and received an instalment of cooky that almost choked him.

"Now you can eat it!"shouted Billy in delight.

"It's all dark!I can't see what you're doing at all!"Wesley picked up the small figure and set the boy on the back of a horse to bring his face level so that they could talk as men.He never towered from his height above Billy,but always lifted the little soul when important matters were to be discussed.

"Now what a dandy scheme,"he commented."Did you and Aunt Margaret fix it up?""No.She ain't had hers yet.But I got one for her.

Ist as soon as you eat yours,I am going to take hers,and feed her first time I find her in the dark.""But Billy,where did you get the cookies?You know Aunt Margaret said you were not to have any.""I ist took them,"said Billy,"I didn't take them for me.

I ist took them for you and her."

Wesley thought fast.In the warm darkness of the barn the horses crunched their corn,a rat gnawed at a corner of the granary,and among the rafters the white pigeon cooed a soft sleepy note to his dusky mate.

"Did--did--I steal?"wavered Billy.

Wesley's big hands closed until he almost hurt the boy.

"No!"he said vehemently."That is too big a word.

You made a mistake.You were trying to be a fine little man,but you went at it the wrong way.You only made a mistake.All of us do that,Billy.The world grows that way.When we make mistakes we can see them;that teaches us to be more careful the next time,and so we learn.""How wouldn't it be a mistake?"

"If you had told Aunt Margaret what you wanted to do,and asked her for the cookies she would have given them to you.""But I was 'fraid she wouldn't,and you ist had to have it.""Not if it was wrong for me to have it,Billy.I don't want it that much.""Must I take it back?"

"You think hard,and decide yourself."

"Lift me down,"said Billy,after a silence,"I got to put this in the jar,and tell her."Wesley set the boy on the floor,but as he did so he paused one second and strained him close to his breast.

Margaret sat in her chair sewing;Billy slipped in and crept beside her.The little face was lined with tragedy.

"Why Billy,whatever is the matter?"she cried as she dropped her sewing and held out her arms.Billy stood back.

He gripped his little fists tight and squared his shoulders.

"I got to be shut up in the closet,"he said.

"Oh Billy!What an unlucky day!What have you done now?""I stold!"gulped Billy."He said it was ist a mistake,but it was worser 'an that.I took something you told me I wasn't to have.""Stole!"Margaret was in despair."What,Billy?""Cookies!"answered Billy in equal trouble.

"Billy!"wailed Margaret."How could you?""It was for him and you,"sobbed Billy."He said he couldn't eat it 'fore me,but out in the barn it's all dark and I couldn't see.I thought maybe he could there.

Then we might put out the light and you could have yours.

He said I only made it worse,cos I mustn't take things,so I got to go in the closet.Will you hold me tight a little bit first?He did."Margaret opened her arms and Billy rushed in and clung to her a few seconds,with all the force of his being,then he slipped to the floor and marched to the closet.

Margaret opened the door.Billy gave one glance at the light,clinched his fists and,walking inside,climbed on a box.Margaret closed the door.

Then she sat and listened.Was the air pure enough?

Possibly he might smother.She had read something once.

Was it very dark?What if there should be a mouse in the closet and it should run across his foot and frighten him into spasms.Somewhere she had heard--Margaret leaned forward with tense face and listened.

Something dreadful might happen.She could bear it no longer.She arose hurriedly and opened the door.

Billy was drawn up on the box in a little heap,and he lifted a disapproving face to her.

"Shut that door!"he said."I ain't been in here near long enough yet!"