Page:Arthur Stringer-The Loom of Destiny.djvu/207

The Heart's Desire He watched his chance, dodged out among the hurrying carriages and hansoms, and deliberately flung himself in front of one bay team. He shut his eyes and waited.

Davis, the coachman, had been brought over from London, and Davis knew his business. He cursed with a good British oath, and brought the two bays around in a sharp semicircle that swung the right-hand wheels completely off the ground. They missed the boy by three inches. Davis was on the point of cutting at him with the long coach whip, when he caught the girl's eye. The Angel remembered him.

"Davis, help that little boy into the carriage, please," she said quietly.

The scandalised Davis got down and did so.

"Now we'll drive this little boy to his home, Davis, if you please."

The child was mute, limp, and miserable. He almost wished he was dead, for a moment, until the delicious consciousness that he was near her fully dawned on him.

The Angel took him on her knee and 195