"Well, come on now," said one. "Yes--yes--come along," said another;
"we've waited long enough for you to get back."
"I'm not coming," declared Tom, shortly.
"Not coming back? Well--" One of the young men said something under his
breath, and the first speaker turned on his heel, tossing his cigarette
over the railing.
"No," said Tom, "I'm not coming. Did you hear me?"
"I believe I had that pleasure," said the last named, "as I am not
deaf. Come on, fellows; our little boy has got to wait on his
Grandpappy. Good-by, kid!" He snapped his fingers; the other two
laughed derisively, and sauntered off down the deck as they came.
Tom shook with passion. "I'd like to walk," he said, drawing a long
breath, and setting off unsteadily.
"All right," said Jasper, falling into step beside him.
Meantime the old gentleman, in his large handsome state-room, showed no
sign of returning to the consciousness that had come back for a brief
moment. And he held to Polly's hand so tightly, as she sat at the head
of the berth, that there was no chance of withdrawing her fingers had
she so desired. And Father Fisher with whom Dr. Jones had of course
made acquaintance, before the steamer fairly sailed, sat there keeping
watch too, in a professional way, the ship's doctor having called him
in consultation over the case. And Phronsie, who had been in deep
penitence because she had wandered off from the library with another
little girl, to gaze over the railing upon the steerage children below,
thereby missing Polly, was in such woe over it all that she was allowed
to cuddle up against Polly's side and hold her other hand.
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