Beryl's Triumph by Eglanton Thorne

WITH the united help of Mr. Hollys and Andrew, Percy was at last able to get back to the house; but not without much suffering. Every movement gave him pain, and though he limped along bravely, and tried to bear up like a man, his strength was almost gone by the time they reached home. Beryl's heart grew tender with pity as she watched him. Her feelings towards Percy had been undergoing a rapid change within the last hour. She felt so sorry, that for the time she quite forgot how he had teased and plagued her since he came to Egloshayle.

The fortitude with which he endured his pain seemed to Beryl quite heroic. She was conscious only of compassionate admiration as she lingered by his side during the long half-hour whilst they awaited the coming of the doctor. There were actually tears in her eyes as she stood there, and it was only by exercising strong self-control that she could keep from crying aloud.

She did not think that Percy saw her tears, but he did.

At last the doctor came, and then Beryl was banished from the dining-room where Percy lay, and bidden to keep herself out of the way, like a good child. But, like many other children, she had a great objection to keeping out of the way, "like a good child," and she and Coral hung about the hall, and finally took up a position at the top of the staircase, whence they could watch the dining-room door, and observe and question all who passed in or out of it.

It was exciting to see how many things the servants handed in at that door. Hot and cold water, sponges, towels, linen-rags, Eau de Cologne, a scent bottle, cotton-wool, plaster, scissors, such were the articles called for from time to time, and supplied as quickly as possible. It was generally Miss Burton who opened the door, and took them in.

She seemed to be affording active help in this emergency.

Miss Hollys' nerves made her useless at such a time. All she could now do was to shut herself up in the drawing-room, and sob hysterically.

"I wish they had let me stay in the room to help," remarked Beryl, in rather an injured tone.

"Could you have helped? " asked Coral. "Wouldn't it have made you feel bad? His foot was bleeding dreadfully when he came in. You can see the marks now on the doorstep."

"Yes, I know," said Beryl; "there was a cut just above his boot. I tied my handkerchief round it. Aunt Cecilia said it made her feel faint to see the blood; but I should not be like that. What would be the good? If every one felt like that, there would be no doctors, I should think. Miss Burton does not mind it, you see."

"Do you think he will be able to go to London to-morrow? " asked Coral.

"I am afraid not," said Beryl, suddenly remembering how she had counted on his departure.

"You don't think he will stay till Friday? " asked Coral anxiously. "It will be tiresome if we have to give up the birthday party."

"Yes; I've just thought of that," said Beryl, looking grave; "I can't tell at all how it will be. I shall be vexed if we have to give it up. And we have told the children about it-oh dear!"

Beryl drew a deep sigh, and was silent for a few moments.

"After all, Coral," she added presently, in a softer voice, "it is worse for Percy than for us. I am sure he must be in dreadful pain. And he will be sorry not to go to-morrow, for his school begins on Tuesday, and I heard him say that he likes to be there on the first day."

It seemed to the children, as they waited anxiously on the staircase, that the doctor was a very long time attending to Percy. But at last they saw Mr. Hollys come out of the dining-room, followed by the medical man. The two gentlemen went into the library for a little private talk, and Beryl, judging that operations were suspended for a time, crept quietly downstairs to inquire into Percy's condition. She was pleased to learn that he was in less pain, and that the doctor hoped that his injuries were not serious. After hearing this news, Beryl consented to take her tea in the nursery, though before she had decidedly negatived Lucy's suggestion that she must be feeling hungry and faint.

Percy passed a night of pain, and was far from being in condition for a journey on the following day. But happily no bones were broken, and though his foot was badly bruised and cut, and his ankle slightly sprained, there seemed no cause for great anxiety concerning him. Miss Burton was his careful nurse, and shoved great skill in dressing and bandaging his wounded foot. He kept in his room all day. Beryl continued to feel the deepest interest in his sad case, and harassed her governess with innumerable questions regarding him at every opportunity.

Beryl did not suppose for a moment that she should be allowed to see Percy, and it was a great surprise to her when Miss Burton said that evening, "Beryl, Percy says that he would like to see you, if you will go into his room for a little while."

"Me, Miss Burton? " she exclaimed in surprise. "Are you quite sure he said he should like to see me?"