Chapter V: A Stray Child

TOMINA rested all the following day. In the afternoon, she was sitting in her easy-chair in the back garden, when Susan came flying towards her.

"A gentlemen has called, ma'am, and would like to see you. Here is his card."

Tomina hardly glanced at it.

"I am not at home, Susan."

Susan looked astonished.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I asked him in and told him you were in the garden."

"You had no business to do either. I am not going to see him."

Susan stood irresolute.

"Please, ma'am, what can I say?"

"I have told you what to say."

Tomina's tone was calmness itself. She took up her book and went on reading, but the words danced before her eyes. Susan went back to the house with slow unwilling steps.

And when she was out of sight, Tomina let her feelings get the better of her.

"How dare he!"

Thor looked up and began to growl. He had been lying at her feet, but it seemed as if he scented an unwelcome intruder.

"Quiet, Thor! He will see that I mean what I say. What has possessed him, of all people, to come into this part of the country?"

Tomina was much perturbed, but nobody but Thor had the clue to her thoughts.

Susan went about with an offended face. She was angry that she had "been made a fool of," so she told Mary Anne when talking it over with her.

"And such a handsome set-up gentleman, quite a stranger, and when I went back to him with her message, I felt like a dog with my tail between my legs.

"'Won't she see me?' he says.

"And I says, 'She's not well enough for company this afternoon, sir.'

"'Did you give her my card?' he says.

"And I says, 'Yes.'

"With that, he walks off like a haughty duke, and I do call it a shame of her!"

Tomina was conscious of Susan's disapproval, but was only amused at it.

The next morning, she had another visitor, and this time it was Mrs. Judd, who kept the general shop in the village.

"What does she want to see me for?" Tomina asked Susan.

She was having rather a late breakfast, it being ten o'clock, but she had slept badly, and so did not hurry to get up.

"I think she'll prefer to tell you that herself, ma'am," said Susan, a little grandly.

"Let her come in; perhaps she wants to be paid. We do owe her for some sugar, don't we?"

Mrs. Judd was announced. She was a stout woman with very small features, her eyes were almost hidden by her cheeks, and she now appeared red and uncomfortable.

"Good morning, Mrs. Judd," said Tomina, graciously.

"Morning, ma'am. You'll excuse me; I'm a person who always acts prompt. My dear departed father always brought me up so.

"'M'ria, if you knows a step to be right, take it, and take it quick. If you dilly-dallies you be lost!'

"He used to say that times without number, and if 'tis a bit disagreeable for you, ma'am, you'll face it and see the right is on my side."

She paused.

Tomina looked up expectantly.

"Yes, what is the matter?"

"'Tisn't to be expected you gentry knows how the working folk toils from morn to night, and gathers their pennies with the sweat of their brow! I've built up my business with a load of care and trouble, and just when I'm ridin' on the crest of the wave, so to speak, you comes along and with thoughtlessness and carelessness, and with smiles to everybody, you knocks it all down in the dust!"

"My dear woman, what do you mean? For goodness' sake don't beat about so, but say out plainly what your grievance is. How can I knock down your business?"

Mrs. Judd's portly bosom heaved; she put her apron up to her eyes and began to cry.

"I see it a-coming. I've sugared Mrs. Tabbs and Mrs. Goss for these eight years, and I hear tell they've bought seven pound each in Damerton because they could get it cheaper. And I've teaed Mrs. Crabbe for longer than they, and she hasn't come near me all yesterday, which is her day for droppin' in for sixpennorth of tea and chat. And my niece have told me all the groceries hidden under the seat so as she shouldn't report it to me, and I do think it's most un-Christian and unkind to drive my custom away from me in your van to Damerton every week!"

Tomina looked blankly at her. At first, she nearly laughed, but Mrs. Judd's tears and tragic face warned her that this was no laughing matter.

"My dear soul, I'm most awfully sorry. I wouldn't hurt your custom for the world! Now dry your tears, and sit down and let's talk it over. Have a cup of coffee? It will pull you together!"

Mrs. Judd accepted the coffee. Tomina knew how to win hearts, and before long, she had Mrs. Judd in a smiling mood again. She suggested to her that she or her niece should get supplies from Damerton themselves, instead of trusting to a traveller to buy for them.

"You will get everything far cheaper, and will see all kinds of novelties that you may feel inclined to invest in. Then, if you can do some things a little cheaper, your customers won't leave you. And I promise to get all my supplies from you. We won't let you suffer. Why, what would the village do without you! I think your shop is a marvel! And it does one good to go in and see your smiling happy face. Oh, you can be quite sure my van will help your trade, not hinder it."

So Tomina talked, and Mrs. Judd finally departed with the conviction that the carrier's van was going to make her fortune.

Tomina was thoroughly discussed in the shop that same afternoon.

"She has manners," said Mrs. Goss. "'Twas quite parlour manners when us got in.

"'Will you sit here, Mrs. Goss,' she says to me, 'so as to rest your back here?'

"And she had a pretty word for every one. But where she lacks is in strength. Us do want a man to heave of us up and our parcels. And when all's said and done, 'tis more racy-like to have a man a-drivin,' and not a bit of a girl!"

"But if us can't get a man, us must be thankful for her!" said Mrs. Tabbs. "And when she gets hold of a horse, she knows right well how to manage 'im!"

Then her family history was surmised, and her health and appearance criticised, and the final verdict was that she "were makin' things a bit livelier in the village, and liked to spend her money."

When Friday came round, Tomina started out again. This time she had fewer passengers. Only five from Little Honeycombe. But she took up four on the way, and Bill Short was amongst them. Tomina suddenly evolved the idea of engaging him to come with her every time, for she saw that she ought to have some one to lift the different baskets and bundles in and out.

Bill responded gladly to her suggestion. She told him she would give him two-and-sixpence a day and his food, and he said he would be delighted to come with her for that.

When St. Martha's Cross was reached, Tomina was as interested as her passengers in seeing the quaint little old-fashioned town. She called at the railway station late in the afternoon and there found a small boy sitting on a bundle waiting for her. A woman by his side was voluble in her explanation.

"'Tis little 'Arry Chuggs. An orphan he be, no father or mother, and I used to be nex' door neighbour to his granny. He lives with his granny. She were taken ill and sent him to me, but I be called over to London to see my darter. Her boy be two days old, and there be complications; and she be very bad, so back to his granny he must go. And you pass her house. 'Tis halfway to Little Honeycombe back from the road—Mrs. Chuggs her be. I'm hopin' she be up and about agen by this time."

Tomina promised to deliver the small boy safely. Something in his tiny face and mass of dark brown curls appealed to her. And when he insisted on sitting up by her side and chatted to her in a most quaint and friendly fashion, Tomina ended by losing her heart to him.

"Have you ever seed God?" he asked her, as they slowly drove up a long hill. He was gazing up into the blue evening sky with a seraphic innocence as he spoke.

"No," said Tomina.

"I have," he said, with a pleased nod. "He's always on top of us, you know, and Satan is under. I seed God las' night when I was in bed and 'twas black with the dark. He was jus' hangin' over me, and He smiled."

"But how could you see Him in the dark?" questioned Tomina.

"Oh, some people see quite well in the dark," replied Harry, quickly. "God and me sees quite as well as in the day. We look at each other quite easy."

There was a pause. Tomina was unused to children. She did not know whether she ought to reprove him or not. He gave her a side look through his long black eyelashes, and continued—

"Satan is very angry when I see God. He tries to get in the way, and then I stamp on him hard, and he crackles up like coal does!"

"What will granny say when she sees you? Does she know that you're coming?" asked Tomina, thinking it best to change the conversation.

Harry snuggled closer to her, and laid his head against her arm.

"I do love you!" he said. "I wis' granny lived with you."

Then his small hand stretched out for the reins, and Tomina weakly gave them into his hand.

In an instant he was sitting upright, his big eyes blazing with pride and joy.

"I could drive you to Lunnon," he asserted. "He's my horse, and this is my cart, and I'm going to sell you all to the market."

"Who would buy us?" asked Tomina, enjoying this child as she hadn't enjoyed anything for a long time.

"I'll sell you for a shilling each to a farmer to fatten for Chris'mas; he'll keep you in a sty, but not you. I'll whisper in your ear. Bend down."

So Tomina bent.

"I'll buy you back and take you home with me, and to-morrow we'll go and look over the edge of the world."

His talk so fascinated Tomina that she was quite sorry when his grandmother's was reached.

She got down herself when they arrived at the cottage, and took him up to the door. A woman opened it immediately, and exclaimed when she saw Harry—

"Why, his granny died this morning! Poor little chap! 'Tis no use for him to come here. Me and my darter have been seeing to the poor soul. She were took sudden at the end. Was quite herself yesterday, and then when the doctor left yesternight, went unconscious like and died at five o'clock this morn. Would you like to come in and look at her, miss? She's beautiful to see!"

But Tomina shrank back in horror.

"I wouldn't come in for worlds!" she said frankly. "But now, what's to be done with this poor child?"

"He'd best go back where he came from," said the woman, shortly.

She was hurt and offended at Tomina's refusal to see the dead, and said within herself that she was not going to be bothered with other people's children.

For an instant, Tomina stood still considering. Then she seized Harry by the hand, and took him back to the van.

"You shall come home with me, Harry, to-night. I'll find you a bed. You amuse me."

When the inmates of the van heard of what had happened, they were loud in talk and lamentation. One of them claimed an acquaintance with Harry's grandmother.

"She was a good woman, and a favourite with Mrs. Francis, and I've heard tell that the little lad were often up at Hall. Mrs. Francis took a likin' to him. Pity she be still away!"

"Well," said Tomina, "if you hear of any one who can offer him a home, let me know. Till then, he stays with me."

When Tomina finally reached home, and placed Harry in Susan's arms, that good woman was almost stunned.

"A child, ma'am! Well, you do really beat all! I always did feel you were never cut out for a carrier!"

"He'll have to stay till we get him a home," said Tomina. "Give him some supper and make him up a bed somewhere, Susan. He's getting sleepy now, but he's the most entertaining little creature I've ever met."

Later on, when Tomina was enjoying her own dinner, Susan came to her.

"I foresee, ma'am, we shall have a handful. He's sitting on the floor crying for you. He's ready for bed, but won't get in."

Tomina went into Susan's room where Harry was to sleep. He looked a disconsolate little figure in his scanty shirt as he sat cross-legged on the floor. Seeing Tomina, he held out his arms. And Tomina gathered him to herself with almost a mother's tenderness.

"What is it, lambkin?"

He pointed his small finger at Susan accusingly, whilst his under lip still quivered, and big teardrops hung on his eyelashes.

"Her says 'tis no use to say 'God bless granny,' 'cause granny is dead. I can't go to sleep till I've said my prayers, and my prayers is 'God bless granny.' Where is granny? Is she where God can't bless her?"

Tomina was ignorant of religious doctrines and orthodoxy.

"Of course you can say 'God bless granny.' Come and say it now."

So Harry dropped on his knees with a smile through his tears.

"O God, bless granny and make Harry a good boy, and—and love him when
he's naughty, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."

Then he got up and stared solemnly at Tomina with his big eyes.

"Aunt Jane said God didn't love naughty boys, but He will if I ask Him, won't he?"

"I expect there would be very few in the world left to love if He did not," said Tomina gravely.

Then she lifted him into the little bed made up for him and kissed him.

And when she was in her sitting-room alone, the colporteur's words suddenly came back to her.

"People talk of there being no devil! It's sheer proof of his presence and handiwork when young gentle things like you scoff at the One Who made them, and sacrificed Himself for them, and loves them now with a deep undying love!"

"I suppose God loves us all," she mused. "I've never thought much about it. I should like to meet that Bible pedlar again, he seemed so happy and certain. And I liked that about the sap rising. I suppose if one could be religious as he was, it mightn't be such a gloomy affair after all."

She thought about it when she went to bed, and when she at last slept, she had a strange dream. She dreamed that Harry and she were walking hand-in-hand through a strange country, and they came to a deep blue lake. On the other side were lights and people, but darkness seemed gathering round them, and Tomina heard herself saying anxiously—

"We must get home, Harry! We must get home!"

And then Harry pulled her down to the water.

"Let's come through it quick, and then we'll get home."

But when her feet touched the cold water, she shrank back and shivered.

"I can't, Harry, I can't. We shall be drowned. We must wait for a boat."

But Harry pulled her forwards.

"It isn't cold water, it's full of God's love."

And when she hesitated, he went into the lake, and she watched his laughing face and curly head bobbing up above the water and calling to her to follow him.

"It's quite easy—come!" he called.

She looked round for a boat, but there was none, the darkness of a coming storm was behind her and around her. She tried to move after the child, but her feet stuck to the ground, and then she called out in terror, and awoke.

Beads of perspiration were on her brow. It was early morning. Birds were singing outside her window.

"Oh!" she gasped. "What a comfort it is to wake from a frightful dream!"

Then she turned again on her pillow, and slept till Susan called her.

At breakfast, when Harry sat opposite to her, her dream recurred to her.

"Do you ever have dreams, Harry?" she asked.

Harry was in a very matter of fact mood this morning.

"Some more sugar in my tea, please," he asked, "and may I go in the garden with the big dog?"

"If you aren't interesting, I shan't keep you," said Tomina, rather severely.

Harry opened his eyes.

"What's intellessing?"

"I want you to amuse me."

Harry shook his head.

"I want 'you' to 'muse 'me,'" he said.

Tomina gave him up for the time with an impatient sigh.

But after breakfast, when he had had a scamper in the garden with Thor, he came back to her with a most coaxing face.

"Tell me a story like Mrs. Francis does."

"What kind of stories does she tell you?"

Harry gazed up into the sky with rapturous eyes.

"'Bout the Home for little children in the blue sky."

"I'm afraid I don't know much about it," said Tomina. "You tell me what you know."

"It's where granny has gone, isn't it? Jesus stands at the door to shake hands, you know—"

Harry's eyes grew dreamy.

"When I take His hand, I shall cry because of the hole in it. It's a pity He let them be so cruel to Him, wasn't it? But Mrs. Francis said it had to be. Can you sing that hymn about a green hill?"

"I think I used to once, but I've forgotten the words."

"The story I like best is David and Goliar. Do you know that? Tell it to me."

He had twined his small fingers round hers and was leaning against her knee. Tomina felt almost mesmerised. She began at once, in rather halting words, to tell the old Bible story, but Harry knew it better than she did, and prompted her every minute.

She was sitting by the open window, when suddenly a voice interrupted them.

"Good morning. May I come in?"

It was Dr. Merton.