Hannah raised her eyes to the speaker. A look of intelligence passed
between the two women. The old dame nodded her head knowingly, and then
Hannah gently laid Nora back upon her pillow, for she seemed at ease
again now, and went to the old man and said: "Uncle Jovial, you had better go home now. Aunt Dinah will be anxious
about you, you know."
"Yes, honey, I knows it, and I was only awaitin' to see if I could be of
any more use," replied the old man, meekly rising to obey.
"I thank you very much, dear old Uncle Jovial, for all your goodness to
us to-night, and I will knit you a pair of nice warm socks to prove it."
"Laws, child, I don't want nothing of no thanks, nor no socks for
a-doin' of a Christian man's duty. And now, Miss Hannah, don't you be
cast down about this here misfortin'; it's nothin' of no fault of yours;
everybody 'spects you for a well-conducted young 'oman; an' you is no
ways 'countable for your sister's mishaps. Why, there was my own Aunt
Dolly's step-daughter's husband's sister-in-law's son as was took up for
stealin' of sheep. But does anybody 'spect me the less for that? No! and
no more won't nobody 'spect you no less for poor misfortinit Miss Nora.
Only I do wish I had that ere scamp, whoever he is, by the ha'r of his
head! I'd give his blamed neck one twist he wouldn't 'cover of in a
hurry," said the old man, drawing himself up stiffly as he buttoned his
overcoat.
"And now good-night, chile! I'll send my ole 'oman over early in de
mornin', to fetch Miss Nora somefin' nourishin, an' likewise to see if
she can be of any use," said Jovial, as he took up his hat to depart.
The snow had ceased to fall, the sky was perfectly clear, and the stars
were shining brightly. Hannah felt glad of this for the old man's sake,
as she closed the door behind him.
But Nora demanded her instant attention. That sufferer was in a paroxysm
of agony stronger than any that had yet preceded it.
There was a night of extreme illness, deadly peril, and fearful anxiety
in the hut.
But the next morning, just as the sun arose above the opposite heights
of Brudenell, flooding all the cloudless heavens and the snow-clad earth
with light and glory, a new life also arose in that humble hut upon the
hill.
* * * * * Hannah Worth held a new-born infant boy in her arms, and her tears fell
fast upon his face like a baptism of sorrow.