neither had mrs. price slept well. all night long she either had fitful and broken dreams, in which her small guest, sue, constantly figured; or she lay with her eyes open, thinking of her. she was surprised at the child's resolve. she recognized an heroic soul under that plain and girlish exterior.
in the morning she got up rather earlier than usual, and instead of going directly downstairs, as was her custom, she went up to sue's attic. she had promised her eccentric young son to allow him to tell his own tale in his own way; but she meant to comfort sue with some specially loving and kind greeting. having a true lady's heart, she knew how to give sue a very cheering word, and she went upstairs with that heart full.
of course there was no sue in the little chamber. the bed had been lain in, but was now cold and unoccupied. mrs. price went downstairs, considerably puzzled and disturbed. she sent for pickles and told him.
she was full of fear at sue's disappearance, and told the heedless boy that she blamed him.
"you did wrong, my lad—you did very wrong," she said. "you gave the poor thing to understand that she was to be put in prison, and now doubtless she has gone to deliver herself up."
"no, mother. she only went out to have a little exercise. cinderella 'ull be back in an hour or so," answered the boy.139
but he did not speak with his usual assurance and raillery. the fact was, the calculations in his shrewd little brain were upset by sue's disappearance. he felt disturbed, perplexed, and annoyed.
his mother being really displeased with him was a novel experience to pickles. she blamed herself much for having allowed him his own way in this matter, and the moment breakfast was over, went out to the nearest police-station to relate sue's story.
pickles stayed in until noon; then he also went out. he had cheered himself until this hour with the hope that sue had only gone out for a walk. notwithstanding all the improbabilities of his poor, frightened cinderella venturing to show herself in the street, he had clung firmly to this idea; but when the neighboring clock struck twelve he was obliged to abandon it. he was obliged to admit to his own little puzzled heart that it was on no ordinary walk that sue had gone. remorse now seized him in full measure. he could not bear the house; he must vent his feelings in exercise. for the first time in his sunny and healthy young life he walked along the streets a defeated and unhappy boy.
suddenly, however, a thought occurred to him. he stood still when it flashed across his fertile brain. then, with a cheerful shout, which caused the passers-by to turn their heads and smile, he set off running as fast as his feet would carry him.
hope would never be long absent from his horizon, and once again he was following it joyfully.
he was on his way now to harris's house. he meant to pay pretty connie a visit, and when with her he would put to her a pointed question.
it was nearly three o'clock when he reached westminster. a few minutes later he found himself on the landing outside connie's rooms. here, however, he was again a little puzzled, for he wanted to see connie and not to see giles. taking a long time about it, he managed to set the closed door ajar. he looked in. connie and giles were both within. connie was mending her father's socks; giles was reading aloud to her. neither of them had noticed the slight creaking noise he had made in opening the door. he ventured on a very slight cough.
this sound was heard; the reading ceased.
"come in," said connie.
this he must not do. he waited an instant, then creaked the door again.
"dear, dear! i made certain i had shut that door," said connie.
at this she rose unsuspiciously. "jest wait a minute, giles dear. i didn't catch that last bit."
she ran to the door to put it to. pickles placed his foot in her way.140
the obstacle caused her to look into the passage. there a boy, very red by nature, and with his natural color now much intensified by hard running, stood awaiting her.
he pointed to the door, put his finger to his lips, then rushed down the first flight of stairs, where he turned round, and beckoned to her to follow him.
"i'll be back in a minute, giles," said connie. she had ready wit enough to perceive at a glance that pickles had something to say to her which he did not wish giles to hear.
closing the door behind her, she ran downstairs. pickles could have hugged her in his gratitude.
"ain't you a perfect duck of a darlin'?" he said, gazing hard and full into her face.
"what do you want me for, pickles?" asked connie.
"fur one or two things of much private importance. first, tell me, how is the little lame chap as is fretting fur his sister wot is kept in the country?"
"he is not so well, pickles; he is not so well as he was. pickles, i don't believe that story about sue being in the country."
"you don't believe me when i opens my lips to give utterance to the words of gospel truth!" replied pickles. but his red face grew a shade redder, and his full, bold gaze was not quite so steady as usual. "why, surely, pickles, you ain't going to be troubled wid nerves!" he said to himself.
connie, watching anxiously, entreated in her softest tones: "dear pickles, you might trust me. i should like to know, and i won't tell giles."
"ay, ay, that's a woman's curiosity; but the misfortune is as it can't be gratified. no, connie. you are as rare and pretty a bit of woman as hiver i clapped heyes on. but fur hall that you ain't going to come hover this yere boy. when i tells you, connie, that sue is hin the country, please believe as she his in that year health-giving place. when 'tis conwenient fur me to confide in you farther, why, i'll do it. that time ain't at present. in the meantime, ef you want to real help them who ere in difficulty, you will let me know widout any more wasting o' precious time where yer father, peter harris, is working to-day."
"oh pickles! wot do you want wid him?"
"nothink to hurt you, pretty one. now, will you speak?
"he's at messrs —— in —— street," replied connie.
"thank yer; and now i'm off. ef you'll listen to the words o' solemn wisdom, and be guided in that same, you'll not mention this stolen interview to little giles—bless the little chap! you keep up his heart, connie. as soon as hiver this yer young man can manage it, sue shall come home. lor', now! ain't the world strange and difficult to live in? wot 'ull bring joy to one 'ull give pain to t'other, but the cause o' right must win the day. well, good-bye, connie. i'll wery like look in soon again."
