The nurse broke in upon the scene, which she feared would agitate Edwin too much; and with red eyes and heavy hearts the boys left, only whispering, “We will come again to-morrow, Edwin!”

They came the next day, and many days, and got to talk quite cheerfully with him, and read to him.  They loved this occupation more than any game, and devoted themselves to it.  The sorrow of the sick-room more than repaid them for the glad life without, when they heard Russell’s simple and heartfelt thanks.  “Ah! how good of you, dear fellows,” he would say, “to give up the merry playground for a wretched cripple,” and he would smile cheerfully to show that his trial had not made him weary of life.  Indeed, he often told them that he believed they felt for him more than he did himself.

One day Eric brought him a little bunch of primroses and violets.  He seemed much better, and Eric’s spirits were high with the thoughts and hopes of the coming holidays.  “There, Edwin,” he said, as the boy gratefully and eagerly took the flowers, “don’t they make you glad?  They are one of our three signs, you know, of the approaching holidays.  One sign was the first sight of the summer steamer going across the bay; another was May eve, when these island-fellows light big gorse fires all over the mountains, and throw yellow marsh-lilies at their doors to keep off the fairies.  Do you remember, Eddy, gathering some last May eve, and sitting out in the playground till sunset, watching the fires begin to twinkle on Cronck-Irey and Barrule for miles away?  What a jolly talk we had that evening about the holidays; but my father and mother were here then, you know, and we were all going to Fairholm.  But the third sign—­the first primrose and violet—­was always the happiest.  You can’t think how I grabbed at the first primrose this year; I found it by a cave on the Ness.  And though these are rather the last than the first, yet I knew you’d like them, Eddy, so I hunted for them everywhere.  And how much better you’re looking too; such shining eyes, and, yes!  I positively declare, quite a ruddy cheek like your old one.  You’ll soon be out among us again, that’s clear——­”

He stopped abruptly:  he had been rattling on just in the merry way that Russell now most loved to hear, but, as he was talking, he caught the touch of sadness on Russell’s face, and saw his long, abstracted, eager look at the flowers.

“Dear fellow, you’re not worse, are you?” he said quickly.  “What a fool I am to chatter so; it makes you ill.”

“No, no, Eric, talk on; you can’t think how I love to hear you.  Oh, how very beautiful these primroses are!  Thank you, thank you, for bringing them.”  And he again fixed on them the eager dreamy look which had startled Eric—­as though he were learning their color and shape by heart.

“I wish I hadn’t brought them, though,” said Eric, “they are filling your mind with regrets.  But, Eddy, you’ll be well by the holidays—­a month hence, you know—­or else I shouldn’t have talked so gladly about them.”