Page:Cornelia Meigs-The Pirate of Jasper Peak.djvu/144

 the light of the purpose it was to serve. A sudden change of feeling overcame Hugh, filling him with shame for his blind ill-temper.

He ran back to the top of the hill to see Oscar just about to disappear into the forest. It was too far for a shout to carry, but, yes, Oscar looked  back just as he plunged into the wood. Hugh raised his arm high in a gesture of farewell and  Oscar waved his woolen cap in generous-hearted  understanding. Thus good feeling was reëstablished between them before they parted, parted for a longer time than either of them could have  thought.

Hugh went back to attend to Hulda’s wants for the day. She was a patient cow, but even she looked around at him in reproachful surprise over the awkwardness of his good offices.

“And I suppose I will have to try to milk her to-night,” he reflected with some misgiving. He was not sure that her patience and forbearance  were great enough for him to attempt such a feat.

As he returned to the cabin he was wondering how he was to spend the lonely day. There were,