Chapter VI: Una's Accident

THE garden which surrounded Coombe Villa was what is generally called a wilderness garden, because plants and flowers of all descriptions and colours grew together, and flourished unchecked. On the morning following that day when Una had been told the secret which had given her so much joy she arose early, and went into the garden to have a run before breakfast with Crack. The little girl and her dog raced round the garden paths together till both were tired, and presently Mr. Manners joined them.

"Come and look at the flowers, Una," he said, "and gather a bouquet for the breakfast table. We will have some of these pansies to begin with. I believe there are some lilies of the valley in that shady corner!"

Una darted away to look, and returned with a few sprays.

"How sweet they are!" she exclaimed. "Father, I do love flowers, don't you?"

"Yes, my dear, certainly I do. Some one once called them the 'poetry of the Creator'; was not that a beautiful thought?"

"Granfer does not care for flowers much," Una remarked; "that seems strange, does it not?"

"To you, no doubt; but there are a great many people who do not like flowers, just as others do not like poetry or music. By the same rule, there are those who cannot admire a fine view, but I am glad my little girl loves beauty and can appreciate the crowning works of God."

Una glanced up into her father's face, and, meeting his smile with one equally bright and loving, she cried:

"Oh, father dear, I am so happy to-day! I can't help thinking of Granfer, and of how glad he will be when his son comes home! I hope he will come very soon!"

Mr. Manners was silent, but he kissed his little daughter's upturned face tenderly; and then they went indoors to see if breakfast was ready, and Una busied herself in arranging her flowers in the little glasses that always ornamented the table at meal times.

The morning passed uneventfully. Una learnt her lessons as usual, and in the afternoon went for a long walk with Nanny, returning by way of Lowercoombe Farm, where they found only Mrs. Maple at home, Granfer having gone to the village, and the little girls not having as yet returned from school.

Mrs. Maple and Nanny enjoyed a long chat together, during which Una was allowed to wander where she pleased. She inspected the fowl-houses and cowsheds and stables, finally venturing to climb a few rungs of the ladder which led to the hay loft. But she was unaccustomed to climbing, and grew dizzy when she looked down and realised she was some feet from the ground. She commenced to retrace her way, feeling rather nervous and shaky, when suddenly she made a false step, missed her footing, and fell upon the hard stone floor of the stable, with one foot doubled back under her.

At first she was too faint to utter a sound, but presently when she tried to move, and a sharp twinge of pain in her foot told her she had injured it, she called aloud for assistance. Mrs. Maple and Nanny came running to her immediately, the latter in a terrible fright when she caught sight of the little girl's pale face.

"Oh, my darling!" cried the faithful woman. "What has happened?"

"I fell off the ladder, Nanny," Una responded faintly, her lips quivering with pain, "and I have hurt my foot!"

Nanny lifted the child in her strong arms and forthwith carried her into the house, followed by Mrs. Maple, and placed her on the settle in the kitchen whilst she proceeded to draw off the boot and stocking from the injured limb. The foot was already beginning to swell, and Nanny's face was full of concern as she examined it, and poor Una winced at every touch.

"It is a bad sprain, I fear," Mrs. Maple said. "She cannot possibly walk home!"

"And she is too heavy for me to carry!" Nanny exclaimed. "What is to be done?"

"Why, she must stay here with us," Mrs. Maple answered promptly. "We will do the best we can for her!"

"Oh no, no!" Una cried; then, fearing she appeared rude and ungrateful, she looked appealingly at Mrs. Maple and exclaimed: "I would so much rather go home, please, because father would be so lonely without me. If Nanny would go and tell him that I have hurt my foot, and cannot walk, he would come and carry me back."

"Yes, I think that would be the best plan," Nanny agreed. "Is the pain very bad, dearie?"

Una nodded. Her eyes were full of tears, but she bravely tried not to cry, and to smile cheerfully.

"I will start at once," Nanny continued. "Keep up your spirits, Miss Una, I shall not be long!"

After her nurse had gone Mrs. Maple brought Una a glass of milk and a slice of home-made cake. The little girl sipped the milk and tried to eat the cake, but she was in too much pain to do more than nibble a small bit, and Mrs. Maple, seeing the state of the case, did not press her to eat, but talked to her in her bright, cheerful fashion till Una smiled in spite of her suffering. Then, Nellie and Bessie returned from school, and were much concerned to find their little friend had met with an accident, and asked her scores of questions.

"Why, I've been up and down that ladder ever so many times," Nellie declared, "and I never fell off once! It's not in the least difficult to climb!"

"Ah, but Miss Una is not used to climbing, I expect," Mrs. Maple put in kindly.

"No," Una agreed with a rueful smile, "and I wish I had never tried!"

Nanny was as good as her word, and was not long absent. She returned in less than half an hour with her master. At the sight of her father all Una's fortitude gave way, so that when he sat down on the settle and lifted her upon his knee she laid her head upon his shoulder, and burst into a flood of tears.

He consoled her as best he could.

"Don't cry, my darling," he whispered, "you'll make yourself ill if you do, and though you have given your foot a nasty twist, I dare say you'll soon be running about as well as ever again."

Una tried to suppress her sobs, and Mr. Manners turned to Mrs. Maple with a smile.

"It was good of you to offer to keep my little girl here," he said courteously, "and I am most deeply grateful to you for your kindness; but I think I had better carry her home. She is not used to being away from me, for you see she is my only child, and we have never been parted."

"That I can understand, sir," Mrs. Maple replied. "I know she must be very dear to you."

"Perhaps you will allow Nellie and Bessie to come and see her every day until her foot is better?"

"Yes, certainly, sir!"

"Thank you. Now Una, my darling, you must try to be brave, because I am going to carry you home, and however gentle I am, I fear I shall hurt your poor foot a little. Say good-bye to your friends now!"

Una lifted her face from her father's shoulders, and turned it towards the motherly countenance of Mrs. Maple. The kind woman kissed the little girl affectionately.

"I hope you will soon be well again, my dear," she said gently. "Good-bye!"

"Good-bye," Una answered, "and please give my best love to Granfer!"

Then she was borne off in her father's arms, whilst Nanny hurried on in front to make preparations for the little invalid. Mrs. Maple, with Nellie and Bessie at her side, stood at the door watching the retreating figures.

"Isn't he a nice gentleman, mother?" Bessie said. Then, receiving no reply, asked: "What are you thinking about, mother?"

"I was thinking that Mr. Manners is very like someone I used to know years ago," she answered with a sigh. "When he spoke, I declare the sound of his voice gave me quite a shock, and I could have almost thought it was my brother David, especially when he was talking to his little girl!"

"Is Mr. Manners really like Uncle David?" Nellie enquired eagerly. "If so, I think I should love Uncle David dearly!"

Mrs. Maple smiled, but her face remained thoughtful, and all that evening she was puzzling over the wonderful likeness between Una's father and her lost brother. She was unusually silent, and said but little about Mr. Manners to Granfer; but when she was alone with her husband she told him how she had been struck by the artist's appearance and voice.

The farmer listened in surprise.

"Why surely, Mary, you do not mean to say you think this Mr. Manners is your brother David?" he exclaimed in incredulous accents.

"I do not know what to think," she replied; "perhaps I am foolish and fanciful, but he was so like what David might be if he were alive! Oh, if God would only send David home!"