Now being in the most dreadful fright, because I was
so near the top, and hope was beating within me, I
laboured hard with both legs and arms, going like
a mill and grunting. At last the rush of forked
water, where first it came over the lips of the fall,
drove me into the middle, and I stuck awhile with
my toe-balls on the slippery links of the pop-weed,
and the world was green and gliddery, and I durst not
look behind me. Then I made up my mind to die
at last; for so my legs would ache no more, and my
breath not pain my heart so; only it did seem such
a pity after fighting so long to give in, and the
light was coming upon me, and again I fought towards
it; then suddenly I felt fresh air, and fell into
it headlong.
A BOY AND A GIRL
[Illustration: 062.jpg Illustrated Capital]
When I came to myself again, my hands were full of
young grass and mould, and a little girl kneeling at
my side was rubbing my forehead tenderly with a dock-leaf
and a handkerchief.
“Oh, I am so glad,” she whispered softly,
as I opened my eyes and looked at her; “now
you will try to be better, won’t you?”
I had never heard so sweet a sound as came from between
her bright red lips, while there she knelt and gazed
at me; neither had I ever seen anything so beautiful
as the large dark eyes intent upon me, full of pity
and wonder. And then, my nature being slow, and
perhaps, for that matter, heavy, I wandered with my
hazy eyes down the black shower of her hair, as to
my jaded gaze it seemed; and where it fell on the turf,
among it (like an early star) was the first primrose
of the season. And since that day I think of
her, through all the rough storms of my life, when
I see an early primrose. Perhaps she liked my
countenance, and indeed I know she did, because she
said so afterwards; although at the time she was too
young to know what made her take to me. Not that
I had any beauty, or ever pretended to have any, only
a solid healthy face, which many girls have laughed
at.
Thereupon I sate upright, with my little trident still
in one hand, and was much afraid to speak to her,
being conscious of my country-brogue, lest she should
cease to like me. But she clapped her hands, and
made a trifling dance around my back, and came to
me on the other side, as if I were a great plaything.
[Illustration: 063.jpg Sate upright]
“What is your name?” she said, as if she
had every right to ask me; “and how did you
come here, and what are these wet things in this great
bag?”
“You had better let them alone,” I said;
“they are loaches for my mother. But I
will give you some, if you like.”
“Dear me, how much you think of them! Why,
they are only fish. But how your feet are bleeding!
oh, I must tie them up for you. And no shoes nor
stockings! Is your mother very poor, poor boy?”
“No,” I said, being vexed at this; “we
are rich enough to buy all this great meadow, if we
chose; and here my shoes and stockings be.”
