But he did not notice her, and by and by
the tears dried up. After she had tried to make him talk;--of Dr.
Lavendar, of school, of his old home;--without drawing anything more
from him than "yes ma'am," or "no ma'am," she gave it up and waited
until he should be tired of the rabbits. The sun was warm, the smell
of the crushed dock leaves heavy in the sheltered corner behind the
barn; it was so silent that they could hear the nibbling of the two
prisoners, who kept glancing at them with apprehensive eyes that
gleamed with pale red fires. David sighed with joy.
"What are their names?" he said at last in a low voice.
"They haven't any names; you can name them if you like."
"I shall call them Mr. and Mrs. Smith," he said with decision. And
then fell silent again.
"You came to Old Chester in the stage with Mr. Pryor," she said after
a while; "he told me you were a very nice little boy."
"How did he know?" demanded David.
"He is very nice himself," Helena said smiling.
David meditated. "Is that gentleman my enemy?"
"Of course not! he isn't anybody's enemy," she told him reprovingly.
David turned silently to his rabbits.
"Why did you think he was your enemy?" she persisted.
"I only just hoped he wasn't; I don't want to love him."
"What!"
"If he was my enemy, I'd have to love him, you know," David explained
patiently.
Helena in her confused astonishment knew not what to reply.
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