Augustus took his crutches and started to follow them. His father was
ahead, thus did not see the boy's agitation and paleness, but Alice did,
and said, "Don't you think Augustus had better stay with mother and me
while you work, Professor?"
William did not turn his head, but said, "No, Alice; he wants to be with
me."
Alice said no more; it seemed to her that it was anything but a joyous
expression upon Augustus' face. She was accustomed to obey the professor
implicitly and without comment. It did not occur to her that the boy was
afraid. She thought he was displeased.
William had just begun to work upon Merle. As he said "You are waking,
Merle?" he heard a noise behind him, but did not turn in time to prevent
Augustus from falling. He was insensible when his father reached him.
William's first thought was "What will Clarissa do if he is dead!" He
had not realized the terror the child felt at seeing a comrade pass
through the successive stages between consciousness and trance
obedience. Custom had inured William to such scenes, but fear pictured
each transition in intensified colors to Augustus. When he saw the
pallor and rigidity which Merle assumed, he could not help but think he
was dead, and fell forward, without a word, in a deep swoon.
Merle was forgotten for the moment, and William was aghast at the
condition in which he found Augustus. He called quickly and sharply and
both Mrs. Millard and Alice responded. Augustus looked worse than Merle.
William rubbed him vigorously and continuously, calling "Come,
Augustus;--Augustus; wake up my boy, wake up. Mother is waiting for us."
They gave him air, water and stimulants, and finally he began to show
signs of life. William continued to talk to him. "Augustus, my
boy,--Augustus, look at me."
Finally, as William raised him, his eyes opened and looked into his
father's, then wandered to Merle. Such a piercing cry rang out as they
will never forget, and he sank back, rigid and still. William, the calm
man of science, was visibly disturbed. Anxiety was plainly written upon
his countenance, and, holding Augustus closely to him, he bade Merle
awake.
Merle was very soon himself again, and astonished at seeing Augustus in
his father's arms, with Mrs. Millard and Alice rubbing him. The
condition was very soon explained to him, and he took his stand directly
beside the boy, so when he regained consciousness he would be relieved
of his fears, finding Merle well and smiling.
When Augustus finally revived from this second swoon, and saw all the
loving solicitude upon the faces around him, his first feeling was of
shame he had shown fear, and although he had a weak body, he had a
strong will when he set about a thing, and the thought caused him to try
to raise himself. He threw his arms around William's neck, trying thus
to support himself, and looking earnestly into his father's eyes, said:
"I do not want to be a coward."
"Do not think about it, Augustus;--Mrs. Millard, will you and Merle and
Alice leave us alone for a little while? There, boy; rest. Keep
perfectly quiet. You shall not be frightened so again."
William lifted the child, and seating himself in a chair, held him
closely to him. The boy's head drooped upon his shoulder and everything
was quiet. After a long pause, Augustus spoke, but without lifting his
head.
"Father, are you very much ashamed of me?"
"Not a bit, boy. I only regret I caused you to suffer so. You are a
brave little fellow to stand so much without a word. I am proud of you.
Try to calm yourself; then we will do whatever you wish."
With a sigh of relief, Augustus relapsed into silence, and William
communed with himself. By the expression upon his face it was evident
that his thoughts were not altogether to his liking. He had many
questions to ask himself that could not be answered satisfactorily.
Where now was his boasted calmness? Even now, it was only by the
exercise of all his force of will that he kept from trembling, and all
because a boy had swooned.
That it was his boy was no reasonable excuse, for love should have made
him stronger instead of weaker. Why was it that he could not mesmerize
Augustus, who ought to be an unusually good subject? Why did Clarissa
draw away from him and Augustus at the time of all others when she
should be most dependent upon them for love and care?
If, before his family returned to him, another man had come to him with
similar difficulties, he would, without hesitation, have explained the
cause and offered to adjust the condition. He had tried all the methods
he knew upon his wife and child, and instead of bringing about the
desired results, Clarissa shrank more and more from him. He knew that it
was not because she did not love him. There was no other way to account
for it than by her physical condition.
He felt an almost irresistible impulse to give vent to a sarcastic
laugh. "Science baffled by a pregnant woman's whim and a child's fear.
Wonderful exponent of it I am!" As he thought this, William threw his
head back quickly and scornfully. Augustus said:
"What is it, father?"
"Nothing, my little man. How are you feeling now?"
"Better. I wish I could go riding out of doors."
"You may. There are your crutches. Go ahead of me, and ask Merle and
Alice to join us. They will feel relieved to know that you are well
enough to come to them; they were very anxious."
"Father, I would not want mamma and Dinah to know that I was afraid."
"All right, boy. You go and ask Merle and Alice to go with us, and I
will go and get a carriage."