CHAPTER SIX.
DAN TO THE RESCUE.
There were no bones broken; she was not seriously hurt; but one has totry for oneself the experiment of running at full tilt, and while sodoing to pitch forward at full length on the ground, to realise howextremely disagreeable and disconcerting it can be. Darsie draggedherself slowly to a sitting position, and sat dazed and stupefied, aforlorn, dust-encrusted figure, with hat tilted rakishly on one side,and the palm of her right hand scratched to bleeding where it haddragged along the stony ground. She blinked and stared, andmechanically brushed at her blackened skirts, but it was several momentsbefore remembrance of her position returned to her brain, and with itthe realisation of the consequences of delay. She scrambled to herfeet, ran forward for a few paces, and stopped short with a sharp groanof pain. She had bruised her knees as well as her hand, and the rapidmovement was quite startlingly painful; she fell into a limp, strainingher head upwards to peep over the hedgerow at the road beyond. Andthen, clear and distinct after the interval of silence, came anothersharp whistle, another laborious puff, puff, puff.
The train was leaving the station, and she was left behind!
Darsie stopped short, and leaned against the hedge. There was no longerany need to hurry. Either her absence had been discovered or it hadnot, and a few minutes' time would settle that question once for all.It soothed her to pretend that there was a chance that she might findsome one waiting her arrival on the platform, but at the bottom of herheart she had little hope of such a possibility. As members of a largefamily whose parents were not rich enough to pay for the modern plethoraof nurses and governesses, the Garnetts and Vernons had been brought upto be independent, and to fend for themselves, hence the two motherswould not be so anxious to count the number of their brood, to see thateach member was safe and sound, as would have been the parents ofsmaller, more indulged families.
There would be a rush for tickets, a hurried glance around on emergingfrom the office, the signal of waving hands, and bobbing heads from halfa dozen windows, a quick leap into the nearest seats, and off they wouldall steam, panting and puffing, congratulating themselves on theirescape.
No, Darsie told herself, it was stupid to pretend; certainly, quitecertainly she was left behind; nevertheless, when two or three minuteslater she reached the top of the railway bridge and peered over thestone wall, it was with quite a big pang of dismay that she beheld theempty platform. Not a soul! Not a single soul except a cross-lookingporter sitting astride a barrow, with his hands thrust into his trouserspockets.
Anything less promising in the shape of a forlorn hope it would bedifficult to imagine, but the circumstances offered no alternative.Darsie took her courage in both hands and marched boldly towards him.
"Please will you tell me the time of the next train from town?"
The porter rolled his eye sideways, surveyed her up and down, formed anevidently poor opinion, and without a change of position muttered a curtreply--
"Ten-thirty."
"Ten-thirty!" Dismay at the lateness of the hour struggled with woundedpride at the man's lack of respect. Half-past ten before any one couldcome to the rescue; three long hours of chill and darkness, with no oneto speak to, and nowhere to go! Darsie threw the thought aside with theimpetuous incredulity of youth.
"When's the next train to town?"
"Nine-ten."
That was better! Nine-ten. If she could manage to travel by that trainshe would arrive at the terminus in abundance of time to prevent any onestarting by the next stopping train. It was all easy--perfectly easy,except for the want of a miserable eightpence, but, alas! for the momenteightpence seemed as inaccessible as eighty pounds. Darsie bent ascrutinising glance upon the porter's downcast face. "He looks about asdisagreeable as he can be, but he's a human creature; he must have_some_ heart! Perhaps he's in trouble, too, and it's soured hisdisposition. It would mine! I just _hate_ it when things go wrong. Idon't in the least see why I shouldn't have a ticket on account! I'llsee what I can do."
She coughed and ventured tentatively--
"I missed the last train."
"Did ye!" said the porter coldly. It was not a question; there was noflicker of the interest of a question in his voice, only a drearyindifference which seemed to demand what in the world you were thinkingof to trouble him about a stupidity which had happened twenty times aday throughout twenty years of his service on the line. Darsie drewherself up with a feeling of affront. He was a rude, ill-mannered man,who ought to be taught how to speak to ladies in distress. She wouldask her father to complain to the railway!
What were porters paid for but to make themselves useful to passengers?She drew herself up in haughty fashion, then as suddenly collapsed asher eye rested on her dusty boots and blackened, bloodstained skirt.Ridiculous to act the grand lady with such handicaps as these! She drewa sharp breath, and said in a voice of childlike appeal--
"I'm left behind! My friends have gone on. It's very awkward!"
"Are ye?" asked the porter indifferently. He took one hand out of hispocket and pointed woodenly to the right. "Waiting-room first door. Yecan sit there!"
Of all the callous, cold-blooded--! Darsie turned with a swing andmarched forward into the bleak little cell which had the audacity tocall itself a first-class waiting-room, seated herself on a leather-covered bench which seemed just the most inhospitable thing in the wayof furniture which the mind of man could conceive, and gave herself upto thought. Never, never so long as she lived would she ever againleave home without some money in her pocket! How in the name of allthat was mysterious could she contrive to possess herself of eightpencewithin the next hour? "Our old woman" would lend it with pleasure, butDarsie shrank from the idea of the darkening country road with the dreadof the town-dweller who in imagination sees a tramp lurking behind everybush. No, this first and most obvious suggestion must be put on oneside, and even if she could have humbled herself to beg from the porter,Darsie felt an absolute conviction that he would refuse. At the fartherside of the station there stretched a small straggling village. Surelysomehow in that village--! With a sudden inspiration Darsie leaped toher feet and approached the porter once more. Into her mind had dartedthe remembrance of the manner in which poor people in books possessedthemselves of money in critical moments of their history.
"Porter, will you please tell me the way to the nearest pawnshop?"
"P-p--!" Now, indeed, if she had wished to rouse the porter toanimation, she had succeeded beyond her wildest dreams! He spun round,and gaped at her with a stupefaction of surprise. "Pawnshop, did yesay? P-awn! What do _you_ want with a pawnshop, a slip of a girl likeyou?"
"That's my business!" returned Darsie loftily. Since he had been sounsympathetic and rude, she was certainly not going to satisfy hiscuriosity. Her dear little watch would provide her with money, andsomehow--she didn't understand why--pawnbrokers gave things back afterpaying for them, in the most amiable and engaging of fashions.
"That's my business! If you would kindly direct me--"
"We haven't got no pawnshop," said the porter gruffly. He stared at herslowly up and down, down and up, appeared to awake to a suspiciousinterest, and opined gruffly, "You'd better go 'ome!"
"Just what I'm trying to do," sighed poor Darsie to herself. She turnedand went slowly back to her leather seat, and a second disconsolatereview of the situation. In time to come this experience would rank asan adventure, and became an oft-told tale. She would chill herlisteners with hints of The Tramp, evoke shrieks of laughter at herimitation of the porter. Darsie realised the fact, but for the momentit left her cold. Summer evenings have a trick of turning chill anddamp after the sun is set, and the vault-like waiting-room was drearyenough to damp the highest spirits. _How was she going to obtain thateightpence for a ticket_?
The station clock struck nine; the porter took a turn along the platformand peered curiously through the dusty window; a luggage train rattledslowly past, a
n express whizzed by with thunderous din. The stationclock struck the quarter, and still the problem was as far as ever fromsolution.
"Well," sighed Darsie miserably, "I must just wait. I'm perished withcold already. In two more hours I shall be frozen. Rheumatic fever, Isuppose, or galloping decline. It will settle Aunt Maria, that's _one_good thing! but it's hard all the same, in the flower of my youth! Tothink of all that a human creature can suffer for the sake of amiserable eightpence!"
She got up stiffly and pressed her face against the pane. People werebeginning to assemble for the nine-ten. An old man with a satchel oftools, two old women with baskets. "The poor are always generous to thepoor. Suppose I ask them? Twopence three farthings each would not killthem!" But when one is not used to begging, it is extraordinary howdifficult it is to begin. Darsie tried to think of the words in whichshe would proffer her request, and blushed in discomfort. No! she_could_ not. Of the two disagreeables it really seemed easier to shivertwo hours, and retain one's pride intact, and then, suddenly, the doorof the waiting-room opened with a bang, and Dan's heavy figure stood onthe threshold! The cry of delight, of breathless incredulity with whichDarsie leaped to her feet, must have been heard to the end of theplatform. She rushed forward, clutched his arm, and hugged it fast inthe rapture of relief.
"Oh, Dan--you angel--you angel! Have you dropped down straight from theskies?"
"Not I! Nothing so easy. Scorched along bad roads on a ricketymachine. Would you be kind enough to let go my arm and stop shrieking!You'll have the whole village here in a moment. So _you're_ all right,I see! Sitting quietly here, after scaring us half out of our wits--"
"I think _I'm_ the one to be scared! You were all ready enough to goon, and leave me stranded by myself. I've gone through a martyrdom.Dan! tell me, when did you miss me first?"
Dan gave an expressive grimace. He looked hot and dusty, and thankfulto sit down on the leather bench.
"Well, it was too much of a scrimmage to think of anything for the firstfew miles, but things have a way of printing themselves on one's brain,and when I _did_ begin to think, there seemed something missing! Iremembered Vie's face--the colour of a beetroot, and Clemence limping inthe rear. I remembered John and Russell hauling up Hannah by her arms,and the two mothers were safely in their carriage--I'd made sure ofthat, but--I couldn't remember a thing about _you_! Then I asked Vie,and she said you were a long way behind, and I began to guess what hadhappened. At the first stop I did a rush round, and--there you weren't!So of course I came back."
"But how--how? There was no train. Did you cycle? Where did you getyour machine?"
"Borrowed him from the stationmaster, and left my watch in exchange, incase I never went back. Jolly good exchange for him, too. It's theworst machine I ever rode, and that's saying a good deal. I told yourmother I'd bring you back all right, and persuaded her to go home. Whaton earth possessed you to be such a muff?"
Darsie tossed her head, gratitude giving place to wounded pride.
"Muff, indeed! You don't know what you are talking about, or youwouldn't be so unkind. I ran like the rest, but I fell--caught my footon something, and fell on my face. I believe I fainted." There was anirrepressible note of pride in her voice as she made this laststatement, for fainting, being unknown in the healthy Garnett family,was regarded as a most interesting and aristocratic accomplishment. "Ido believe I fainted, for for several minutes I didn't know where I was.And I hurt myself, too; look at my hand!"
Dan looked and whistled.
"Skinned it properly, haven't you! Reminds me of the days of my youth.Better sponge it clean with your handkerchief and some of that water.And when you _did_ remember, the train had gone--."
"Yes--and not another until after ten, and not a halfpenny in my pocketto buy a ticket, and no one but a callous wretch of a porter to consult.Oh, Dan, I _was_ wretched--I'll bless you all my life for coming backlike this!"
"Rot!" said Dan briskly. "I was the only man. Couldn't do anythingelse. I say, you know, it was your doing that I came to this blessedold picnic at all, and you _have_ let me in for a day! Eleven to elevenbefore we've done with it--twelve solid hours! I've had about as muchpicnic as I want for the rest of my natural life."
"I'm sorry. I thought it would be so nice. I'm sorry I bothered you,Dan." Darsie was tired and cold, in a condition of physical depressionwhich made her peculiarly sensitive to a slighting mood. She leaned herhead against the ugly wall, and shut her lids over her smarting eyes.Her cheeks were white. Her lips quivered like a wearied child's, butshe made a charming picture all the same, her inherent picturesquenessshowing itself even in this moment of collapse.
Dan's gaze grew first sympathetic, then thoughtful, as he looked. In adim, abstract way he had been conscious that Darsie Garnett was what hewould have described as "a pretty kid," but the charm of her personalityhad never appealed to him until this moment. Now, as he looked at thedark eyelashes resting on the white cheek, the droop of the curved redlips, the long, slim throat that seemed to-night almost too frail tosupport the golden head, a feeling of tenderness stirred at his heart.She was such a tiny scrap of a thing, and she had been tired andfrightened. What a brute he was to be so gruff and ungracious! "Buckup, Darsie! Only ten minutes more to wait. I'll get you a cup ofcoffee when we arrive. Your mother said we were to take a cab, so allthe worry's over and nothing but luxury ahead."
But Darsie, quick to note the soothing effect of her prostration,refused to "buck up," and looked only more worn and pathetic thanbefore. The opportunity of lording it over Dan was too precious to beneglected, so she blinked at him with languid eyes, and said faintly--
"I'll try, but I'm so _very_ tired! Do you think you could talk to me,Dan, and amuse me a little bit? That would pass the time. Tell meabout yourself, and all you are going to do when you go up toCambridge."
And to his own astonishment Dan found himself responding to her request.His was one of the silent, reserved natures which find it difficult tospeak of the subjects which lie nearest to the heart, but even silentpeople have their moments of expansion, and when once Dan had broken theice, he found it unexpectedly easy to talk, with Darsie's big eyes fixedon his in eloquent understanding. She was a capital little listener;never interrupted at the wrong moment, indulged in senselessejaculations, or fidgety, irritating movement. Nothing about her moved,hardly even the blue eyes, so fixed and absorbed was their gaze, whileDan spoke in low, rapid tones of the course of work which lay ahead, ofthe ambitions and dreams which were to crown his efforts. He must takefirst-class honours at Cambridge; nothing less than first-class honourswould do--honours so distinguished that he would have no difficulty inobtaining a good post as schoolmaster to tide him over the next fewyears. "Teaching's the thing for me--for it leaves four months over formy own work, the real work of my life--scientific study and research!That's the only thing worth living for from my point of view, and Ishall plump for that. I don't care for money, I don't want to marry,I'd be content to make enough to keep body and soul together, if I couldonly help on the cause of humanity. I am not going up to Cambridge fortwo years. I can do better grinding quietly at home, and the governordoesn't mind. In fact, he is just as well pleased to think I shall havemore time to run when Hannah goes up to Newnham."
Darsie drew her breath sharply.
"Oh, Dan! how fortunate you are--how fortunate Hannah is, to be able todo as you like! I would give my ears to go up to Newnham, too, butfather says it's impossible. He can't afford it with the boys'education getting more expensive every year. I shall have to stay athome, and turn into a miserable morning governess, teaching wretchedlittle kids to read, and taking them for a walk round the park. Oh, oh!it makes me _ill_ to think about it."
Dan laughed shortly.
"Excuse me! it makes you well. You look quite like yourself again.I'll give you a bit of advice if you like: don't believe that anything'simpossible in this world, because it isn't! Put the n
ursery governessidea out of your mind, and fire ahead for Newnham. There's always thechance of a scholarship, and even if that didn't come off, who can tellwhat may happen in three years' time? The way may clear in a dozenways; it probably _will_ clear, if you get ready yourself. There areprecious few things one can't gain by steady slogging ahead."
Darsie looked at him with a kindling glance, her lips set, a spot of redshowed on either cheek.
"Right!" she said briefly, and at that moment the train steamed into thestation and the conference was at an end.