Page:A Pair of Silk Stockings.pdf/9

594

Presently he thought, “Poor little creature, she will be crying because she has lost her ball. I think after all I will throw it back over the wall.”

Then he came out of the arbour carrying the ball, but stood petrified with horror to see that the little girl had scrambled up one of the masons’ ladders and was on the wall, standing looking down into Philip’s garden for her ball.

When Philip recovered from the shock of seeing her, he called out, “Penelope, sit down, sit down. Wait till I bring you the ball. I have it. Sit down, do not be afraid.”

The child obeyed, and one little purple leg hung down on Philip's side of the wall—purple the legs were, with white clocks on the stockings.

Philip ran to where was a garden ladder, and brought it to the spot, planted it against the wall, and began to ascend it, speaking encouragingly to the little girl who looked down at him and then turned her head and looked down into her father’s garden, and one purple leg with white clocks on the stocking depended on that side also.

Mr. Hezekiah Heckmondwyke, as soon as he saw from the window the perilous situation of his child, ran down stairs, and without his hat flew into the garden and ascended the ladder.

“Penelope,” he said, “sit quiet, do not stir. For goodness’ sake do not lose your head. Shut your eyes and wait till I lay hold of you.”

The child however did not seem at all afraid; she looked laughingly from her father on one side, to her uncle on the other.

Simultaneously each seized her by an ankle.

“Don’t be afraid. Don’t stir! I have the ball,” said Philip.

“Keep still, I will lift you down,” said her father.

Each mounted a step, then cautiously another, then each suddenly put an arm round the child, and unexpectedly both faces met over the top of the wall in front of the child.

“Your ladder is too upright, you will be unable to carry Penelope down,” said Philip, after the first recoil of surprise.

“Your ladder is too weak, it will not support the double weight,” said Hezekiah, when he had recovered himself from the shock of almost knocking noses with his brother and adversary.

“I seized her first,” said Philip.

“She is my child,” answered Hezekiah.

“Let go, I know you will fall with her,” exclaimed Philip. “You shall have our great-grandmother’s valuables if you will let me carry her down on my side.”