Big Game - A Story for Girls

Then once more Margot floated off into unconsciousness; but this time it

was the blessed, health-restoring unconsciousness of sleep, such sleep

as she had not known for days past, and from which she awoke with rested

body and clearer brain.

When the dear father came in to kiss and greet her, a thin white hand

crept up to stroke his hair, and pull his ear in the way he loved,

whereupon he blinked away tears of thankfulness, and essayed to be

fierce and reproachful.

"So you couldn't be satisfied until you had dragged the whole family

after you, to the ends of the earth! There's no pleasing some people.

This is my reward for being such a fool as to think you could take care

of yourself!"

"Ducky Doodles!" murmured Margot fondly. As of yore, she manifested not

the faintest alarm at his pretence of severity, but twitched his ear

with complacent composure, and once more Mr Vane blinked and swallowed

a lump in his throat. There had been hours during those last days when

he had feared that he might never again hear himself called "Ducky

Doodles," and what a sad grey world that would have meant!

Then came Ron, a little embarrassed, as was natural in a lad of his

years, but truly loving and tender all the same, and Margot's brown

eyes searched his face with wistful questioning.

There was so much that she wanted to ask and to hear, and concerning

which no one had as yet vouchsafed information. Ron could tell her all

that was to be told, which it was impossible to pass another night

without knowing, yet there he sat, sublimely unconscious that she wanted

to be assured of anything but his own safety. With the energy of

despair, Margot forced herself to put a question.

"How are all--the others?"

"The Elgoods? They are all right. Awfully worried about you, you know,

and that sort of thing. Afraid the governor might think they were to

blame. The idea of your going down with pneumonia, and frightening us

all into fits! I thought you were too healthy to be bowled over so

soon, but a London life doesn't fit one for exposure. The governor was

furious with me for bringing you to the North."

But for once Margot was not interested in her father's feelings. She

turned her head on the pillow and put yet another question.

"They did not catch colds, too?"

"Oh, colds!" Ron laughed lightly. "Of course, we all had colds; what

else could you expect? We were lucky to get off so easily. The Elgoods

put off leaving until you were safely round the corner, but they are off

first thing to-morrow."