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While the fowl simmered in the pot, and the cakes lay toasting on the hob, Ailwin busied herself in making the beds, and then in rubbing, with her strong arm, everything in the room, helping the floor, the walls, and the furniture to dry from the wetting of yesterday. From the smell, she said, she should have thought that everything in the house was growing mouldy before her face.
Ailwin thought but little of it it was such a trifle; and Oliver allowed that it might be a mere accident, arising from the flood having found some new vent about the house; but still, the water had sunk; and that was a sight full of hope. "Have you heard the cow low, Roger?" asked Oliver. "Yes, to be sure. She may well low; for she must be hungry enough."
He made a sign to her to stay when Ailwin went home; and they two sat down on the grass above the bank, and read together that part of the Scripture in which Jesus desires his followers not to let their hearts be troubled, but to believe in God and in him. Mildred was soon quite happy; and Oliver was cheered to see her so. He even began, after a time, to talk of the future.
He moaned and rocked himself about, so that, even in the first moments of their grief, the brother and sister looked at each other with awe. "Come away with me, dear," whispered Oliver to his sister. "Ailwin, give George to me. Let me have him in my arms." "Bless you, my dears; it is not George any longer. It is a poor little dead body. You must not call it George." "Give him to me," said Oliver.
Ailwin might wonder, for Oliver was indeed very restless. While waiting the moment when he might again cross to the staircase, he could not even stand still under a tree. The secret of his having seen the boat was too heavy a one to be borne when he was no longer busy.
Come here, Roger." They went out again into the yard, and Oliver, now quite overcome, laid down his head on his arms, and cried bitterly. "Here's your cup, however," said Ailwin, now released by Roger's being employed elsewhere. "This bit of plaster is the only thing they have laid hands on that they have not ruined."
You shall both have a drop of my cherry-brandy too." Mildred said she had rather have a draught of milk; but Ailwin said there was no milk. She had not been able to reach the cow, to milk her. What had poor little George done, then? He had had some that had been left from the morning.
If you thought you could row the raft, I am sure I could carry a great many things down-stairs, and land them on the hill." Ailwin had no doubt she could row, in such a narrow and gentle stream as now ran through the garden. She made the trial first when Oliver was on board, and several other times with Mildred, succeeding always very well.
Neither he nor Mildred could mention their father to Ailwin to-night, even if Roger had been out of the way. Roger probably thought what Oliver did say very silly; for he sat laughing as he heard it, and for some time after.
"Why, Ailwin, what nonsense!" cried Mildred from her bed, trembling all over as she spoke. "How could a boy make a flood?" "And you see what he has done, instead of carrying us off," observed Oliver. "Well, it is almost worth my cherry-brandy to see him lie so, dead drunk, only it would be better still to see him really dead.
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