The Island School — page 182: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

EVELINE AND JIM. 153 fate was almost certain. He was as one going to the death, perhaps, so that others might live. They could not understand it as a body, but Martin knew what was in his brave young heart, and he wrung Jim’s hand with silent fervour, that was more potent than mere words. “T must now,” said Jim, “ pay a short visit to Mrs. Farrell and her daughter, and after that my place is -outside.” He now observed for the first time that Chorker was not among the men, and he was about to ask where he was, when it flashed upon him that he had little time to spare, and Chorker, anyway, was not of much account, so without referring to the absence of the man, he left the room. CHAPTER LXXXII. EVELINE AND JIM.—A LAST LOOK ROUND.—THE COMING OF NIGHT. \EFORE Jim could 4 reach the private Rie > \ room of Mrs. ee Farrell he was intercepted by ; B55 Romeo, who was evi- dently on the lookout for him. “Miss Eveline in the linen-room, Marse Gordon,” he whispered ; Marse Gordon, you know If you go out to-night, why ALi dd “‘ want to see you ‘tickler. me, and me know you. a not take me ?” “ You may come if you like,” moment’s reflection. might be of service. “ Fader and grandfader,” whispered Romeo, “ am all replied Jim, after a It occurred to him that Romeo ‘Ob a jelly in de kitchen. blank mange.” “Do not laugh at your aged friends,” said Jim, at- tempting to look severe; but he could not help re- sponding in part to Romeo’s grin of delight. The linen-room was upstairs at the back, a barren apartment, save for the cupboards in which the linen was kept. Eveline was waiting for Jim, very quiet but pale, and with a redness about the eyes that showed she had been weeping. “Jim,” she said, ‘I overheard all you said to the men and boys. Tellme what 1 ought to do.” “Keep with Mrs. Farrell, and do not let her be more alarmed than you can help. If Martin should come to you, or send, later in the evening, be guided by what he says ought to be done.” Dey be easy made into ‘And where will you be ?” asked EHveline. “ Oh, I,” said Jim, lightly, “ will be skulking out- side, watching the movements of those blackguards. Morse and Romeo will be with me. I shall be all right.” : “You say that so that my mind may be at rest, Jim.” | ‘“‘ And what good purpose would be served by my disturbing you, Eveline ?” “‘None,” she said, thoughtfully, ‘and you need not worry about me. You won't, will you?” “Not if I can help it. By the way, what has be- come of Mr. Farrell P” ‘He was in his room a short time ago with Mr. Turner and Mr. Storeby.” | “Holding a council of war, perhaps,” said Jim, with a.smile. ‘ Well, for the present, good-bye, Eveline.” “Say au revoir,’ she answered; “it does not sound so much like parting—for a long while—as good-bye.” Jim shifted his adieu to the desired point of the parting compass, and hurried off. The sun was gone, and in a few minutes the night would be fully there, Then he would have to be abroad, awaiting the return of Morse. First of all he went below, and entered the kitchen. Seeing nobody there, he was passing through, when he heard a slight scuffing in an adjoining cupboard, and a muffled voice exclaimed: ‘Keep you woolly head out ob de way, dar.” “Dis chile see as well as you,” returned another voice. “It am only Marse Gordon. You needn't pray for marcy yet.” Jim walked to the cupboard and threw open the door. Packed among candles and other unpalatable groceries, he saw Macbeth and Hamlet. They stared at him with a ludicrous attempt to appear at ease. “ Why are you there ?” asked Jim. “We was jus—jus’,” said Macbeth, hesitating, jus’ counting up dé groceries !” “‘Dere am two candles short,” added Hamlet, fol- lowing up the cue of his aged father. * Come out,” said Jim, ‘and make yourself useful in some way. Romeo sets you a good example. Where did he get his pluck from ?” ‘We was allus a brave fambly,” said Macbeth, sliding feet first out of the cupboard; “but now itam time for me to retire from de battle-field.” ‘Me was jus’ lookin’ affer dis pore ole man,’ asserted Hamlet; “ fileral duty afore eberything.”’ “You will find the kitchen chimney safer,’ said Jim, drily; “as we burn wood here, you will not spoil your complexions with soot.” He walked into the scullery, where Hillyard was in command. The window had just been barricaded up, and, with tables and other things, looked strong enough to withstand the shock of a cannon-ball. Jim examined the work, and having approved of if, Eom (Si 900 ES Eom