“Don’t talk so here, Rose, someone will
hear us,” began her sister, but the other broke
in briskly.
“No fear, a crowd is the best place for secrets.
Now remember what I say, and make your game while
the ball is rolling. Other people are careful
not to put their plans into words, but I’m no
hypocrite, and say plainly what I mean. Bear
my sage counsel in mind and act wisely. Now come
and begin.”
Treherne was sitting alone by one of the great fires,
regarding the gay scene with serious air. For
him there was neither dancing nor games; he could
only roam about catching glimpses of forbidden pleasures,
impossible delights, and youthful hopes forever lost
to him. Sad but not morose was his face, and
to Octavia it was a mute reproach which she could
not long resist. Coming up as if to warm herself,
she spoke to him in her usually frank and friendly
way, and felt her heart beat fast when she saw how
swift a change her cordial manner wrought in him.
“How pretty your holly is! Do you remember
how we used to go and gather it for festivals like
this, when we were happy children?” he asked,
looking up at her with eyes full of tender admiration.
“Yes, I remember. Everyone wears it tonight
as a badge, but you have none. Let me get you
a bit, I like to have you one of us in all things.”
She leaned forward to break a green sprig from the
branch over the chimneypiece; the strong draft drew
in her fleecy skirt, and in an instant she was enveloped
in flames.
“Maurice, save me, help me!” cried a voice
of fear and agony, and before anyone could reach her,
before he himself knew how the deed was done, Treherne
had thrown himself from his chair, wrapped the tiger
skin tightly about her, and knelt there clasping her
in his arms heedless of fire, pain, or the incoherent
expressions of love that broke from his lips.
MIRACLES
Great was the confusion and alarm which reigned for
many minutes, but when the panic subsided two miracles
appeared. Octavia was entirely uninjured, and
Treherne was standing on his feet, a thing which for
months he had not done without crutches. In the
excitement of the moment, no one observed the wonder;
all were crowding about the girl, who, pale and breathless
but now self-possessed, was the first to exclaim,
pointing to her cousin, who had drawn himself up, with
the help of his chair, and leaned there smiling, with
a face full of intense delight.
“Look at Maurice! Oh, Jasper, help him
or he’ll fall!”
Sir Jasper sprung to his side and put a strong arm
about him, while a chorus of wonder, sympathy, and
congratulations rose about them.
“Why, lad, what does it mean? Have you
been deceiving us all this time?” cried Jasper,
as Treherne leaned on him, looking exhausted but truly
happy.
“It means that I am not to be a cripple all
my life; that they did not deceive me when they said
a sudden shock might electrify me with a more potent
magnetism than any they could apply. It has,
and if I am cured I owe it all to you, Octavia.”
