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Updated: May 5, 2025
"'And who is Natilie? inquired Uncle John, lifting the little girl from the donkey at her request. "'Oh, Natilie is our French maid, and she is so nice; even the boys like Natilie. But what is your name, please? she continued, turning to me. 'Mine is Vivian Berkley, but the boys and all my friends call me Vea. "'My name is Lilian, but I am called Lily at home Lily Ashton, I replied.
"'You have no idea how happy you have made me, Polly, said Vea. 'Aunt Mary always says there is a great deal of good in Patrick, only his love of mischief sometimes chokes the good seed. It is very strange he never lets us see him doing a kind or a generous action. "At this moment Natilie opened the cottage door and called to her young mistress to come up.
"While Natilie prepared the bed in the old fisherman's hut, Patrick was being carried by the men who had been summoned from the boats. The poor boy was still in a fainting state, and it was not till after he had been laid on the bed that he opened his eyes and showed signs of consciousness.
"'Oh no, sir, she replied; 'but they are boys, and you know girls are not allowed to do exactly what they do, so I am often alone. "'And what do you do when you are alone? said Uncle John, evidently amused with the precise though sweet tone of voice of little Vea. "'I play with my doll Edith, and I read my story-books, and I talk to Natilie.
When these were ready, he turned to look at his patient, and bidding every one leave the hut but the two fishermen and Natilie, he shut the door against them himself, and secured it firmly. "'Oh, please, doctor, let me stay, Vea had said pitifully. 'I'm sure Patrick would like me to stay.
"'I should like to get some flowers so much, said Vea, after I had arrived. 'Patrick is so fond of flowers; but he likes the wild ones best. He says the hot-house ones smell oppressively, but the wild ones make him comfortable. "'Then why can't we get him some? I inquired. "'Aunt doesn't like us to go to the wood by ourselves; and Natilie is engaged to-day, replied Vea.
"When Natilie had returned with the things required by the sick boy and his attendants, Uncle John and I set off home, he promising that we would return the next afternoon to inquire after Patrick.
"Then Natilie came and called to me to come up also; and there I found Patrick lying very quiet and still on the bed, and Vea sitting by the side of it holding his hand.
"'Oh, said Vea, laughing, 'Aunt Mary was so cunning about it, she wouldn't tell us a word, but said we must learn our French very fast, and that then Natilie would tell it for herself; and as Aunt Mary said it was far more interesting than any we could read in our story-books, we did try to understand what she said to us very hard indeed.
Do you know, sir, she said, letting my hand loose and taking my uncle's as we mounted up the steep slope to the road above, while the donkey was led round by another way, followed by the boys, 'poor Natilie, when she came to stay with us, could not speak a word of English, and she was so sad.
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