He could
therefore now run off to the village, try to find a doctor, get him
to come to Cecile, and then, when he saw that there was a chance of
her wants being attended to rush off himself to do what he had made
up his mind to accomplish some time earlier in the day. This was to
find Anton, and getting back the little piece of paper, then give
himself up to his old life of hardship and slavery.
"You set there, Maurice," he said, now addressing the bewildered
little boy; "Cecile is ill; and you must not leave her. You set quite
close to her, and when she asks for it, let her have a drink of
water; and, Toby, you take care on them both."
"But, Joe, I'm _starving_ hungry," said Maurice; "and why must
I stay alone when Cecile is so queer, and not a bit glad to see me,
though she is calling for me all the time? Why are you going away? I
think 'tis very nasty of you, Joe."
"I must go, Maurice; I must find a doctor for Cecile; the reason
Cecile goes on like that is because she is so dreadful ill. Ef I
don't get a doctor, why she'll die like my little comrade died when
his leg wor broke. You set nigh her, Maurice, and yere's a bit of
bread."
Then Joe, going up to the sick child and kneeling down by her, took
one of the burning hands in his.
"Missie, Missie, dear," he said, "I know as yer desperate ill, and
you can't understand me. But still I'd like fur to say as I give hup
my old mother, Missie. I wor starving fur my mother, and I thought as
I'd see her soon, soon.
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