I blame her quite as much as I do him;from what I know.If a woman is going to live with a man,there are times when she's got to put her foot down--flat--most unmercifully flat!""Ain't she though!"said Mrs.Freshett;then she and mother just laughed.
There!What did I tell you?I feel as good as if father had patted me on the head and bragged on me a lot.I THOUGHT mother wouldn't think that Mr.Pryor was ALL to blame,and she didn't.
I figured that out by myself,too.
Every minute Mr.Pryor grew better.He breathed easier,and mother tilted on her toes and waved her hands,when he moved his feet,threw back his head,lifted his hand to it,and acted like he was almost over it,and still in shape to manage himself.She hurried to tell Mrs.Pryor,and I know mother didn't like it when she never even said she was glad,or went to see for herself.
Laddie and the Princess watched him,while every one else went to supper.Laddie picked up Mrs.Pryor's chair,carried her to the dining-room,and set her in my place beside father.He placed Dr.Fenner next her,and left Robert to sit with Shelley.Idon't think Mrs.Pryor quite liked that,but no one asked her.
I watched and listened until everything seemed to be going right there,and then I slipped into the parlour,where Laddie and the Princess were caring for Mr.Pryor.With one hand Laddie held hers,the other grasped Mr.Pryor's wrist.Laddie never took his eyes from that white,drawn face,except to smile at her,and squeeze her hand every little while.At last Mr.Pryor turned over and sighed,pretty soon he opened his eyes,and looked at Laddie,then at the Princess,and it was nothing new to see them,so he smiled and dozed again.After a while he opened them wider,then he saw the piano--that was an eye-opener for any one--and the strange room,so he asked,most as plain as he ever talked,why he was at our house again,and then he began to remember.He struggled to sit up and the colour came into his face.So Laddie let go the Princess,and held him down while he said:"Mr.Pryor,answer me this.Do you want to spend the remainder of your life in an invalid's chair,or would you like to walk abroad and sit a horse again?"He glared at Laddie,but he heard how things were plainly enough.
Laddie held him,while he explained what a fight we had to unlock his muscles,and start him going again,and how,if we hadn't loved him,and wanted him so,and had left him untouched until the Doctor came,very likely he'd have been paralyzed all the rest of his life,if he hadn't died;and he said he wished he HAD,and he didn't THANK any one for saving him.
"Oh yes you do!"said Laddie,the same as he'd have talked to Leon."You can't stuff me on that,and you needn't try.Being dead is a cold,clammy proposition,that all of us put off as long as we can.You know you want to see Pamela in her own home.
You know you are interested in how I come out with those horses.
You know you want the little people you spoke of,around you.
You know the pain and suspense you have borne have almost driven you insane,and it was because you cared so deeply.Now lie still,and keep quiet!All of us are tired and there's no sense in making us go through this again,besides the risk of crippling yourself that you run.Right here in this house are the papers to prove that your nephew took your money,and hid it in your son's clothing,as he already had done a hundred lesser things,before,purposely to estrange you.Hold steady!You must hear this!The sooner you know it,the better you'll feel.You remember,don't you,that before your nephew entered your home,you idolized your son.You thought the things he did were amusing.A boy is a boy,and if he's alive,he's very apt to be lively.Mother could tell you a few pranks that Leon has put us through;but they're only a boy's foolishness,they are not unusual or unforgivable.I've gone over the evidence your son brings,with extreme care,so has father.Both of us are quite familiar with common law.He has every proof you can possibly desire.You can't get around it,even if your heart wasn't worn out with rebellion,and you were not crazy to have the loving sympathy of your family again.""I don't believe a word of it!"
"You have got to!I tell you it is PROOF,man!The documents are in this house now.""He forged them,or stole them,as he took the money!"Laddie just laughed.
