Maybe the Colonel was more pleased to meet his Water Lily friends again than they were to see him. But Aunt Betty hid her disappointment under her usual courteous demeanor and was glad that the angry mood in which he had left them had not remained. Upon her, she knew would fall the task of entertaining him; and after breakfast was over and Billy been led to the deepest pasture available, she invited him to sit with her on the little deck that ran around the cabin, or saloon, and opened conversation with the remark:

“We’ve been very happy here in the Copse. Except, of course, we were worried about our sick guest, Gerald, till Dr. Jabb informed us he was out of danger. He seems a fine man, the doctor, and I’m thankful to have a physician so near. Why – what – are you ill, Colonel?”

At the mention of the practitioner her visitor had risen, his eyes ablaze with anger, his gaunt frame trembling with excitement.

“Madam! MADAM! Do you mention that hated name to me? Don’t you know – Ah! hum. I suppose you don’t but, if he – HE – poisons this atmosphere – I will bid you good morning.”

He was turning away in a far more furious mood than had seemed possible to so easy-going a man, and his hostess hastily laid a detaining hand upon his arm.

“My dear sir, what have I said? Do you know this doctor and dislike him? I’m sorry. Forget him, then, please and just enjoy this wonderful air which nobody could possibly ‘poison.’ It’s perfect to-day, with just enough crispness in it to remind us it is really autumn and our picnicking days are numbered. The young folks have felt it dull, sometimes, lingering so long in the Copse, but it’s been a restful, happy time to me. One has to get away from home worries once in a while to keep things in their right proportion. And, after all, what does it matter where we live or what we have so long as there is peace and good will in one’s heart? Not much, do you think?”

Aunt Betty was herself in happy mood and had talked on more to prevent the guest’s departure than to “preach,” as she called such little dissertations. She had gained her point. The Colonel settled back again in the familiar chair he had appropriated on his first visit and gradually the lines of anger left his face. An expression of intense sadness took their place, and after a moment he sighed:

“Ah! hum. I hadn’t a right to get huffy. I reckon you don’t know – some facts. You couldn’t. Nobody could, without explainin’ an’ I cayn’t explain. This much I’ll say. I haven’t set foot in this yeah region sence – in a right smart while. I never meant to again. But – I lost my wallet an’ I came to seek it. I’ve cause to think, Madam, ’t one your folks has it. If so, they must deliver real soon. To me it’s vallyble. Also, it might concern Miss Dorothy. She an’ me – an’ you, of course, Mrs. Calvert, bein’ a Calvert – Well, it’s an old story an’ I’ll wait till after dinner, thank ye, ma’am. And if you don’t mind, I’ll just lean back an’ take my ‘forty winks.’ I hain’t rested none too well, lately. I’ve been thinkin’. Ah! hum. A man’s no right to think. He cayn’t an’ be real comf’table. Beg pahdon.”

Aunt Betty watched him, smiling. He was a bore who, at times, was amusing. She knew that he had been well educated and had still a fondness for books, as was proved by his habitual use of “Marcus Aurelius;” but like many other cultured southern people he lapsed into the speech of the colored folks, with whom his life had been passed. His “yeah,” and “cayn’t,” “right smart,” and “soon” for early, were musical as he uttered them; and under all his laziness and carelessness he had the instincts of a gentleman.

“Poor old fellow! I wish I could do something for him, before we finally part company. I’m glad he didn’t go away again in anger, though he doesn’t ‘stay mad,’ as Dolly says. And I wonder what that scrip of paper in that old wallet does mean! My young folks are greatly excited over it, and Dolly told me some ridiculous story about her great-great-grandfather and his great-great-grandmother that seems to be the beginning of things. Anyway, though they found it, or Metty did, the Colonel claims it and I must see that it is returned.”

So reflected Mrs. Calvert, watching her guest’s peaceful slumber; then, resuming her own book, forgot him and his affairs, at least for the time being.

“Where did Elsa take those monks? It’s all well enough for her to train ’em, but they aren’t hers and she needn’t think so. I’d like to take a hand in that business, myself. Wouldn’t you, Melvin? They belong to you and me, you know. And I say isn’t this the beastliest slow-poke of a hole you ever saw? How on earth do you put in your time? All these days what have you done?” demanded Gerald, moving restlessly from tender to shore, and already heartily sick of the quiet Copse.

“Well, we fish, the Captain and I. We search the woods for berries and grapes. We go to the farmhouses nearest for supplies; and right here, Gerald Blank, let me warn you. Don’t you go expecting fine living on the Lily. You see there wasn’t much capital to start on, not for so many folks; and the other day what was left was lost.”

“Lost? Lost! How could a fellow lose anything in this hole, even if he tried? What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I say. Mrs. Bruce has held the purse of the company and the other day she and Dorothy were counting up their money and – that’s the last anybody has seen of it. They kept it in a little empty tin box, that marsh-mallows came in; and Chloe called Mrs. Bruce over to the galley to see about some cooking, and Mrs. Calvert called Dorothy for something else, don’t you know? Well, sir, when they came back to finish their counting there wasn’t a thing left but the tin box – empty as your hat.”

“Somebody stole it, course. Who do they suspect?”

“Look here, Gerry, that’s a question comes pretty near home, I know that Mrs. Calvert and Dorothy suspect nobody. I can’t say as much for Mrs. Bruce and the rest. The money was there – the money is gone. We’re all in the same boat – literally, you know. There wasn’t a peddler here that day, nobody around but just ourselves. You and Jim are out of it, course, because you were away; but – it might be me, it might be Mabel, it might be Metty – Ephraim – Chloe – no not her, for she wasn’t out of Mrs. Bruce’s sight – and it might be your own sister Aurora.”

“What’s that? How dare you?” angrily demanded Gerald.

But Melvin smiled, a little sadly, indeed, and shrugged his shoulders.

“Not so fast, Gerry. I’m not accusing her, nobody is accusing anybody. But the money’s gone, and maybe it’s just as well so much of it went for you.”

“For me? What do you mean by that?”

“Cap’n Jack reckoned you’d cost the exchequer about fifty dollars. Dorothy had the very choicest things, poultry, cream, fruit and things, besides the doctor’s bills. And the farmers down here aren’t so low in their charges as nearer Jimpson’s. Mrs. Bruce got furious against them, they took advantage so. But the doctor said you were a very sick boy, for only measles, and must be built up, so good-hearted little Dolly dipped into the marsh-mallow box for you. You – ”

“Hush! Don’t say another word! I’m so mad I can’t breathe. I wish I’d never come on this cruise. Cruise? It’s nothing better ’n being buried alive. Thought we might get some fun out of it, hunting for that ‘buried treasure’ and now, up pops that old stick-in-the-mud and claims the whole business. Pshaw! I’ll go home if I have to walk there.”

“How? You couldn’t. But I’ll tell you what you could do. Hunt up Elsa and the monks. I want to see if this harness I’ve made out of a fur-rug they destroyed will fit either. Dolly proposes to make them some clothes and get up a little ‘show.’ Thinks she and Elsa could exhibit them for pennies, when the people come to sell stuff, and that would help pay for it.”

Gerald considered. Many troubled thoughts passed through his mind, but the strongest feeling was anger. He had been so self-sufficient until this “beastly trip.” Now he was learning the sometimes bitter lesson that nobody in the world can be actually independent. He had begun by lording it over his mates, and even his hostesses, and now here he was dependent upon them for the very food he ate and the medicine he had taken. He ceased to feel himself an invited guest but rather a burden and a debtor.

“Of course, Popper’ll pay everything back if we ever get home. But – Oh! dear! How I hate it all!”

For down in his heart he realized that no amount of money could cover his obligation to these friends, and he started off in a most unhappy frame of mind.

“I’ll find that girl and teach her to mind her own business. The idea of her training those monkeys – my monkeys! Course, she’s done it all wrong, and it’s harder to unlearn a thing than learn it right first off. When they’re trained they ought to be worth ten times as much as we paid for them. I might sell ’em to an organ-grinder, if Popper’d buy out Melvin’s share.”

But at this stage of thought it occurred to him that he couldn’t picture his dandyish father dealing with organ-grinders. Indeed, the idea was so absurd that it made him laugh, and in that laughter his ill-temper vanished, or nearly so. After all, it was good to be alive! Even the freedom of the woods, after the stuffy cabin he had left, was delightful. He’d rather have had it the freedom of the city streets, but this was better than nothing.

He began to whistle, imitating the call of a bird in the tree overhead, and with such fair success that he was proud of himself. The bird ceased, startled, then flew onward. Gerald followed, still practicing that wild, sweet note, till suddenly his music was interrupted by another cry, which was neither bird nor joyous, but one of keen anxiety; then, as if it had come out of the ground, a girl begged:

“Oh! whoever you are, come quick!”

“Why, Elsa! I was looking – Hello! Of all things!”

Almost hidden by the great ferns amid which she sat Elsa held, lying across her lap, a little figure in faded gingham.

“Saint Augustine! The boy I heard ’em say was lost! How did he get here? It must be a long way from his house.”

Elsa pointed pityingly to the bare little feet and legs, cruelly scratched and with dark bruises.

“I don’t know. I found him just this way.”

“Sainty! Wake up! My! How sound he sleeps! And how red his face is!”

“He’s sick. I’m sure. I found him all curled up, his little arms under his head. He moans, sometimes, but he doesn’t know anything that I say.”

At that moment a hoarse yell made Gerald look away from the boy and a leap of something to his shoulder made him yell in response.

“Jocko! Down! Behave! Oh! he’ll hurt you. They’ve both been asleep in that spot where the sun shines through. Oh! Stop – stop!”

The monkey was attacking Gerald’s face, snapping at his ears, pulling his hair, and almost frightening him into a fit. But Elsa laid Saint Augustine gently on the ground and went to the rescue. With sharp slaps of her thin hands she soon reduced Jocko to submission and, as if fearing punishment herself, Joan crouched behind a bush and peered cautiously out.

“Pshaw! How’d you do it? I was coming after the monkeys, they’re mine you know – or half mine, but – do they act that way often?”

“Yes, rather too often. That’s what makes everybody afraid to handle them. They’ll get better natured after a time, I hope. But no matter about them. They’re nothing but animals while this darling little boy – I don’t know as I can carry him. You’ve been sick and so can’t either, I suppose. Yet we can’t leave him here. Will you go back to the Lily and get more help? If you brought a hammock we might put him in that. He’s awfully sick. I’m afraid – he’ll die – and his mother – ”

Gerald had stood looking upon the little lad while she said this, wondering what would best be done, and annoyed that he should be put to the bother of the matter. His decision was made rather suddenly as again Jocko leaped upon his back and resumed his angry chattering.

“Call him off! I’ll carry the child. Which is the way home?”

“I don’t – know. It all looks alike – but not like – I mean, I haven’t the least idea where we are, except that it must be a good ways from the boat. Don’t you really know, either?”

For a moment Gerald looked about. Then answered frankly:

“No. I was pretty cross when I came out, for Melvin had just told me about that lost money and about Dorothy’s paying for me – So horrid, that! I heard a bird whistle and whistling’s my gift, some folks think. I’ve whistled for entertainments at school and I like to learn new notes. Following that wretched bird I didn’t notice.”

“And looking for a walking-fern I didn’t either. But we can’t stop here. We must go on – some way.”

“Let’s try the children’s way: ‘My – mother – told – me – this!’”

Elsa laughed. She had known so little of childish things that each new one delighted her. Gerald had uttered the few words, turning from point to point with each, and now finishing with an outstretched forefinger in a direction where the trees were less thick and crowding than elsewhere.

Fortunately, “his – mother – had – told – him” the right one. This was almost the end of the forest behind Corny Stillwell’s cabin; a short-cut to the long way around by which Gerald had gone to Deer-Copse. He didn’t know that when he lifted Saint Augustine in his arms and started forward. The child was small and thin, else Gerald would have had to pause oftener than he did for rest; but even so it was a severe task he had set himself.

But somehow the burden in his arms seemed to lift the burden from his heart, as is always the case when one unselfishly helps another. Also, he feared that the illness of Saint Augustine was the result of his own; so that when Elsa once limped up to where he had paused to rest and asked:

“What do you suppose it is that ails him?” he had promptly answered:

“Measles. Caught ’em from me. Ain’t that the limit?”

But Elsa who knew no slang understood him literally, and said:

“No, it isn’t, I had them once and the doctor scared my father dreadfully, telling him that folks could have them four times! Think of that! He said most people had them only once and the younger the lighter. So I guess Saint Augustine won’t be very ill. But – my heart! Do you suppose the monkeys can catch it? Wouldn’t that be awful!”

“I hope they will and die of them! Nasty little brutes! They keep my nerves on the jump all the time, hearing them chatter and yell right behind me so. You keep real far back, won’t you? I don’t know how you can stand them; but don’t – please don’t let them hop on me again. I know they’re too heavy for you but I’m too nervous for words. I wish I’d never heard of ’em, the little gibbering idiots!”

Again Elsa laughed, this time so merrily that Gerald got angry.

“I don’t see anything so very funny in this predicament! Not so very amusing! My arms ache fit to break and all a girl cares about a fellow is to giggle at him.”

And now, indeed, was the “giggle” so prolonged that its victim had to join in it, and had Mrs. Calvert been there to hear she would have rejoiced to see shy Elsa behaving just like any other happy girl. Yet, after a moment, she sobered and begged:

“Don’t mind my doing that, but I couldn’t help it. It seems so funny for a boy to have ‘nerves’ or to be afraid of monkeys. Papa has a song:

“‘The elephant now goes round and round,
The band begins to play;
The little boys under the monkeys’ cage,
Had better get out of the way – the way —
Would better get out of the way!’”

Elsa had so far forgotten her self-consciousness that she sang her quotation in a sweet, clear treble which made Gerald turn around and stare at her in surprise.

“Why, I didn’t know you could sing.”

“I can’t – much, only for Papa, sometimes. He’s a fine singer. He belongs to the Oratorio Society. He’s one of its best tenors, takes solos, you know. I’m very proud of Papa’s voice. His being poor doesn’t keep him out of that Society.”

“Then he ought to get yours cultivated. You might make money that way.”

“Maybe, but money isn’t much. Anyway, he hasn’t the money to pay for lessons.”

“Look here. You’re so smart with those detestable monks, suppose you go on training ’em and exhibit when you get back to town? I’d let you have ’em on trust till you could pay for them. What do you say?”

Was this the poor, timid Elsa who now faced him with flashing eyes? Had this down-trodden “worm” actually “turned”?

“Say? What do I say? That you’re the horridest boy in this whole world and I’ve a mind to fling your old monkeys straight at you! I – I – ” then she sobbed, fatigue overcoming her and her wrath dying as swiftly as it had arisen. “I – I see a house over there. We better go to it and ask.”

She was trembling now and her lame foot dragged painfully. She had made no complaint of the long distance and the troublesome little animals she sometimes led and sometimes carried, though Gerald had grumbled incessantly.

Now all the best of his nature came to the front, and he had never felt more bitterly ashamed of himself than when he realized that his thoughtless proposition had been an insult to the afflicted, shrinking girl. Warmed by the love and appreciation of her Water Lily friends she “had come out of her shell” of reserve and been most happy. Now this boy had forced her back again; to remembering that after all she was but a very poor girl, deformed, despised, and considered simply fit to make a mountebank of herself, going about the city streets with apes! Oh! it was very dimly that Elsa could see the outlines of a whitewashed cabin in the fields, because of the tears which filled her eyes.

“Hold on, Elsa! Forgive me if you can. I’m ashamed of myself. I don’t know what makes me such a cad, I don’t! You know. Except I’ve been brought up to think I was a rich boy and that a rich boy can do no harm. I could kick myself from here to Halifax. Please don’t mind. Why, you’re the cleverest girl of the lot, you are, you know. Nobody else dared tackle – ”

He caught himself up sharply. Not for his life would he again utter that hateful word “monkey” to her. But he added with real sincerity, “I’m so sorry I’ll do anything in the world to prove it, that you ask me to do. I will, upon honor.”

Elsa couldn’t hold malice against anybody and in her heart had already forgiven him his hurt of her, with her habitual thought: “He didn’t mean it.” So she smiled again and accepted his statement as truth.

“Well I don’t know as I shall ever want you to do anything to ‘prove it’, but if I do I’ll tell you. Sure.”

Little did Gerald dream how rash a promise he had made. The cabin in the fields was the one in which he had lain so helpless. As he recognized it he exclaimed:

“Good! I’ll try that childish ‘charm’ every time! ‘My – mother – told – me – right’. That’s home to this little shaver and I’m mighty glad we’re there.”

But it seemed a very different home from that which had sheltered him so well. The children were grouped about the door, only Wesley and Saint Anne daring to enter the room where poor Lucetta lay prone on the floor, looking so white and motionless that, for a moment, the newcomers believed that she was dead.

Saint Anne lifted a quivering face toward them but could not speak, Wesley hid his face in his arm and blubbered audibly.

Then did all the little woman in Elsa’s nature respond to this sudden need.

“Lay Saint Augustine on that bench, where somebody must have slept. Help me to lift the lady to the bed. Don’t cry, little girl. She’ll soon be all right. It’s just a faint, I’m sure. I’ve fainted myself, often and often. I guess she’s overdone. Isn’t there a man here?”

“No, ma’am. Papa he comed home an’ Mamma she tol’ him how Sa – Saint Augustine had run away and he frew down his gun an’ all them games, an’ – an’ – just hollered out loud! ‘Oh! my God’! an’ run off, too. Mamma was gone all night, lookin’ after little brother an’ when she heard papa say that she fell right down there and she don’t speak when we call her. Where’d you find him, our little brother? Was he down in Tony’s Eddy?”

Well, Gerald felt in that state when “anybody could knock him down with a feather.” He was obeying Elsa implicitly, already “proving” he had meant his promise. He felt such an access of manly strength that it was almost unaided he lifted Lucetta and laid her on the bed. In reality, she was already regaining consciousness, and slightly aided him herself. Then he ran to the spring and brought the “cold water – coldest you can find” which Elsa ordered, and lifted Mrs. Stillwell’s shoulders while the girl held the tin cup to her lips; and indeed did so many little things so deftly that he didn’t recognize himself.

Even in her half-stupor Lucetta was her own sweet self, for when she had swallowed the water she smiled upon her nurse and tried to speak. Elsa anticipated what she knew would be the one great longing of that mother’s heart, and said with an answering smile:

“We’ve brought your little son safe home. If you can turn your head you’ll see. Right yonder on that bench. He’s tired out and, maybe, a little sick but he’s safe. Do you mean you want him right beside you?”

Lucetta made an effort to sit up and opened her arms.

“Lie right still. Don’t you fret for one moment. Here’s your baby. Now I’m going home and we’ll get a doctor some way and quick. But you won’t be alone. Gerald, whom you took care of when he was ill, is here. He’ll stay and take care of you in turn now. Good-bye. Don’t worry.”

She was gone before Gerald could even protest, calling the monkeys to follow her and limping away faster than anybody else, with two sound feet, could run. She had taken him at his word, indeed!