’Stay, stay!’ exclaimed Mirelle, interposing with vehemence. ’He shall not—he shall never go thither. Never, so long as I am mistress there.’
’Is he to lie here on the snow?’ asked Genefer. ’You will have to give an account of it if he do, and die in consequence.’
’Where be we to carry un to, then?’ asked Pentecost.
’If he die, I’m danged if it be fair if you deny us the ten guineas. He has life in him now, and if he lose it, it will be your fault, young lady. We’ve done our parts and earned our money.’
’Take him where you will, but not to Welltown.’
’Here,’ said Mirelle, her hand trembling: ’here is the key; take him into the slate-quarry office. There is a bed there.’
’Ay, let him go there,’ said Genefer; ’he can be cared for there just as well as at Welltown.’
The men stooped and raised the unconscious man again. Mirelle covered her eyes—the man saved was Sampson Tramplara.
She had promised ten guineas—and that ten guineas had saved his worthless life. Well for her had she at this juncture offered fifty to have him tossed back into the sea. The men would not have done it for twenty—there were too many present; they would have hesitated for thirty. But for fifty, he would have troubled her no more.
Next day Orange arrived. Mirelle had sent for her; she could not remain longer alone at Welltown, especially now that young Sampson was so near. She did not go to the office on Willapark to see him; she did not inquire after him. But she told Genefer that he was to be supplied with whatever he needed, and was to remain where he was till he was well enough to leave, and then he was to go his way.
As soon as Orange arrived Mirelle told her that Sampson had been saved from drowning after shipwreck, and was at the office; and Orange went immediately to see him.
Sampson was now quite recovered from his submersion. The fire was lighted in the stove, and the room was warm.
’Oh! you have come, have you?’ he asked, when Orange entered. ’Not wise, I reckon, unless you are bent on bringing observation on me. What is this I hear? I am on Herring’s land and in his office! This is a queer state of affairs; but the wheel of fate in its revolutions lands one in strange places, and places where one would least like to be. How came you here?’