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Miss Shellington's maid had been instructed to relieve Flea of her boy's attire and clothe her in some of Ann's garments. Horace led his sister to the room where Flukey lay, and suggested that Flea be called. A servant appeared at the touch of the bell. "Tell the boy's sister to come here," said Horace. When Flea knocked at the door a few minutes later, he bade her enter.
"When my leg ain't lame I'm strong enough to lick Lem, if if " "Nope; I ain't no notion for ye to lick him yet, Fluke. Do ye believe in the sayin's of Screech Owl?" "Ye mean " "Do ye believe what she says when the bats be a flyin' round in her head, and when she sees the good land for you and myself, Flukey?" "Did she say somethin' 'bout a good land for us, Flea?" "Yep." "Where's the good land?"
"So he ought to die!" said another. "He were hungry," explained Flukey, turning on Snatchet's accuser. "Mister, if ye'll let my dorg live " Before he could finish the child had interrupted him. "That dog ought to die for killing my Bess!" Flea pushed past Flukey and stood before the little girl.
My bones be stiff, and my blood's nothin' but water, and my eyes ain't seein' nothin'." "Don't they see things in the dark," asked the girl, superstitiously, "ghosts and things?" "Aye, Flea; and the things I see now I'll tell ye if they be good or bad mind ye, good or bad!" "Good or bad," repeated Flea. At length, after a silence, the girl broke forth. "Air Flukey in yer eyes, Screechy?"
"Down behind the college hill, many a stretch for yer short legs from the squatter's settlement, and many a day when bread's short and water's plenty, many a night when the cold'll bite yer legs, and many a tear " "Be we leavin' Pappy Lon?" demanded the girl. "Yep." "Forever and forever?" "For Flukey, yep; but for yerself " Flea stared in speechless wonder and fright.
If we had that yeller gold-piece we coughed up for that damn brown hen, we'd eat. But I'd ruther have Snatchet, Fluke." "I'd ruther have him, too; but we need money " "And when we get it," interrupted Flea, "Snatchet'll have a hunk of meat, and Prince Squeaky a bucket of buttermilk, and ye'll have liniment for yer legs, Fluke." "Ye'll eat yerself first, Flea," said Flukey.
Flukey can stay there if he wants to, if you come. Make up yer mind, and don't ye tell any man that I writ this letter. Come to Lem's scow in the river, or ye know what I does to Flukey. Fledra folded up the letter and opened the other one dazedly. It was written with a masterly pen-stroke, and the girl, without reading it, looked at the signature. It was signed, "Everett Brimbecomb."
The long, dreary country marches were over; the cold nights and bare fields were things of the past. For Flukey, there were tender hands that would ease his pain; for her, a home unmenaced by Lem. She had looked her last upon horrors that had bound her to a life she hated. Shellington spoke to her. "Look at me, child!" said he. "I want to tell you what the doctor said."
He bowed awkwardly to Shellington, and essayed to speak; but Horace interrupted: "Do you wish to see me?" "Yep," answered Lon, glancing sullenly over the young lawyer. "I've come for my brats." "Your what?" "My kids, Flea and Flukey Cronk." Horace felt something clutch at his heart.
Then again they set forth, and it was late in the afternoon when they drew up before the high fence encircling the fair-grounds at Dryden. The fall fair was in full blast. Crowds were passing in and out of the several gates. With longing heart, first Flea, then Flukey, placed an eye to a knothole, to watch the proceedings inside.
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