Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/114

98 "Why don't you get up ? Do you like your bed so much you think you 'll stay there forever? There! Don't you try to open your eyes or your mouth! Are you all right? I wish your mother could see you now. I don't believe even Claud Brown would want you. Just wait here. Don't move. I 'll be back in a minute. Stand up! That's right," she added, as Robert arose. "But don't move. Wait for me."

Darting into the house, the eager girl soon returned with broom and water, and with many exclamations of her pretended dismay at his appearance she carefully washed his face until he could once more open his eyes, and then began to brush him savagely with the broom, which she dexterously wielded. Even Robert was laughing by this time, but the laughter and the task were both sharply interrupted by the appearance of Mrs. Nott with a word that was as startling as it was unexpected.