Chapter Thirteen
Finally, with all the introductions done, they were ready to sit down to table. "We were hoping you would all come today," Sateen said at last, steering everyone to seats, giving the younger children a sharp look so that they would know to leave the dining table for the older ones. "Let me get you some tea. You can tell us all about your trip and we can discuss the rest of the plans. Hemiola, you and the other girls can come and help me."
"I want to stay by Spiller," Actina said, climbing onto his lap and staring at her mother with wide blue eyes.
"She's all right with me," Spiller said hastily, sitting back in his chair and letting her lean against his arm.
"Didn't know you had two girlfriends, Spiller," Hendreary said slyly, which made them all laugh.
They soon had tea and cherry pies on the table and everyone settled down to eat. After Sateen and Hemiola had passed pie and cups to the girls sitting on the parlor carpet, they could finally sit and relax themselves.
"You have a lovely home," Lupy said, once she had a few sips of tea. "This reminds me of the house I grew up in. The human house was bigger but the borrowers all had cozy homes like this."
"Yes, we love it," Sateen said, "but it gets a bit crowded with five daughters at times. And when Spiller lived with us as a boy there was never a dull moment."
"I can imagine that," Lupy said, giving him a martyred look. He could tell she still hadn't forgiven him for Tom Goodenough. She began to tell them about the trip, and they all oohed and aahed at their bravery, for trusting a human being to get them to the wedding.
"He's really quite tame," Arrietty assured them. "I just wish we knew when he would be coming back. We'll have to check outside every morning to see if we can see his wagon.'
"Quiet!" Daubery said suddenly, and they all went still. Faint voices were coming from upstairs and the occasional shuffling of feet.
"I think that's your human talking to ours. We should be able to figure out when he comes back for you. Ours aren't usually up in the kitchen this time of day. This time of year they're outside most days getting the garden ready for winter. There'll be frost soon. We'll know when your ride is here."
"After tea we can put on the rest of the food for the wedding dinner," Sateen said. "We thought we'd do the wedding and then have dinner."
"Hemiola has her things packed," Halberd said. "After dinner we're going to take my raft down the river to the stove."
"Are you sure you want to do that tonight?" Spiller asked, not sure about Halberd's raft holding that much.
"I checked this morning. The river was as smooth as glass," Halberd answered, reaching for a second piece of pie. "I reinforced the raft a few days ago and I'm confident it will hold. Hemiola and I would like to get there as soon as possible and unpack. We need to begin as we mean to go on."
When he said that, Arrietty smiled. That was the standard phrase for borrowers who wanted to go their own way no matter what their friends and family wished for them to do. After their tea, Sateen gave Hendreary and Lupy the spare bedroom to prepare for the wedding, as Daubery and Halberd withdrew to discuss some finer points of the ceremony as the girls washed up the tea things and got everything organized for the wedding dinner.
Having a rare moment to themselves as everyone else scattered, Arrietty turned to Spiller. "I can't believe Halberd and Hemiola are setting out for the stove tonight! Are you sure that's safe?"
His black eyes sparkling with amusement, Spiller drew his chair closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Just so you know, I have no intention of spending my wedding night with your mother, either."
Arrietty wanted to look stern, but didn't succeed. She leaned against him and smothered a giggle behind her hand. "I'll have to remember that."
Once the tea things were cleared away and washed, and the food put on the stove that needed to be heated for the wedding dinner, Sateen gave out bathroom assignments and explained to Arrietty how the girls would be using their large combined room as a dressing room to get ready for the ceremony.
"We have two washstands in there. I put in plenty of washcloths and towels. You can get dressed first, Arrietty. I'm sure you're more used to having privacy when you dress than my girls are. After Daubery gets dressed I'm going to use our bedroom to get ready and to get Hemiola ready."
Her voice dropped. "Wait until you see what we did with the beads! She's going to look stunning. I have plenty left, though, so you can take some more to your mother."
She then glanced at Spiller. "Try to keep Halberd calm before the ceremony, won't you? Stay with him after he's done getting dressed. I hope you've given some thought as to what you want to say in the ceremony. Halberd wants you right beside him."
"Does he? He never said anything to me about that." Spiller looked puzzled.
"Who else did you think he would want to stand with him? You're the only spare man we've got. Just say something nice about the happy couple when the ceremony starts. It doesn't have to be long."
Spiller groaned. "Not a good talker."
Arrietty went to his side and slipped an arm around him. "You're the one who started this whole thing, Spiller. You should be able to acknowledge it. If it doesn't have to be long, don't make it long. I think you should be able to manage."
Soon everyone was doing a wash and brush up. They graciously let Lupy and Hendreary have first use of the bathroom since they were guests. He had brought his best suit and Lupy was soon wearing a dark green dress with lighter green sleeves and a light green band that went down the back of the bodice that Spiller had never seen her in before.
Knowing that Spiller never spent long in a bathroom they let him go next. He surprised them all by taking his time washing, shaving, trimming the shagginess out of his hair and putting on the new suit that Homily had made for him. It was a good fit, roomy and comfortable.
He had a bit of difficulty with the braces since he had never worn suspenders before but he had a mechanical mind and soon figured it out. When he came into the parlor he got impudent whistles from Sennet and Semplice, who were waiting with the other girls for a turn to get dressed.
They were quite taken aback. "I've never seen you look so elegant, Spiller. Wherever did you get that suit?" Semplice asked.
"Arrietty's mother made it for me," Spiller admitted, standing straight and shoving his hands into the deep pockets of his trousers. Couldn't be the only one here who didn't dress up."
"Why, Spiller," Lupy said, "Homily did that? She really did a good job. It's very unusual, but it suits you. Practical, but neat."
Arrietty appeared then in her blue silk and Spiller was struck dumb by her beauty. The dress had rather a high-necked bodice and the skirt was covered with flounces. She came straight to him smiling, and took his hand. "You look very handsome."
"You look beautiful," he told her.
"We were just telling Spiller how fine he looks," Hendreary said. "I've never seen him in such formal clothes before. You're a fine match for him in that dress. I wish your parents could see the two of you decked out like that. There'd be no more doubt in Homily's mind that you've grown up."
"I'm as tall as Mother now," Arrietty told him.
Daubery came out to admire the wedding attire of their guests but Sateen had to go and help the girls finish dressing. Daubery and Hendreary started a conversation about various places they'd lived over the years and the complex art of borrowing in and out of doors. They had a lot in common and got along well, especially when Daubery praised Halberd as the perfect son-in-law to be. Halberd arrived in a new suit of his own just in time to catch the end of this conversation. He was both touched and embarrassed.
Before they had time to think too much about it, it was time for Daubery to go join his wife and daughters as Lupy, Hendreary, Arrietty and Spiller, with Halberd next to him, formed a half circle in the parlor. The others would complete it.
Actina appeared first in a pink dress that made her look very fairy-like as she skipped into the room. She stood next to Arrietty as Elegancy came out in dress the same shade of pink, longer than Actina's, but still not to the floor. Sennet and Semplice came out in the same pink dresses, but to the floor as befitted their age.
When Daubery and Sateen came out with Hemiola between them Arrietty and Lupy gasped at the sight of the wedding dress. The white satin cravat had made a lovely dress, with a sweetheart neckline and long sleeves that were puffy from the elbow up and narrow from the elbow down. The crystal beads had been sewn around the waist and around the bottom of the dress and they glittered like small stars. Hemiola had never looked lovelier.
Every sister solemnly spoke of what Hemiola meant to her and how happy they were to have Halberd for a brother. Arrietty wished her cousin and his new wife every happiness. Spiller managed to say how much he thought they suited each other. Lupy and Hendreary each spoke, giving their son to Hemiola. Lupy was in tears but she managed to say what she needed to.
Sateen entrusted her daughter into Halberd's care and Daubery was the most eloquent of all, telling everyone that he was thrilled to have them there for such a happy occasion. "I'd like to welcome Halberd to the family, and Lupy and Hendreary, too. This is a very special day for my wife and for me. Seeing you all here to honor of our little girl just reminds me of how special she is to us. May Halberd and Hemiola remember this day forever!"
Hemiola promised Halberd to be the best wife she could possibly be and told him how proud she was to be marrying him. Then Halberd promised Hemiola to be a good husband and to love her for the rest of his life and put the ring that Spiller had made for her on. When it was on they kissed and everyone cheered.
Then everyone was kissing and hugging, and Arrietty was getting teary thinking about how happy Halberd and Hemiola looked, and also thinking about herself. She knew when she married Spiller it would be a much smaller affair but she was wondering if possibly Lupy and Hendreary and the cousins might be able to attend that wedding. That would be so lovely.
They went to dinner and everyone had a glass of blackberry wine to toast the happy couple. Even Actina had a spoonful of it in her water, which made her feel very grown up. Everyone talked and laughed a lot. Lupy and Hendreary told Sateen and Daubery about the other children back at the groundskeeper's cottage, and Hendreary told several stories from the Firbank days, about what Halberd had been like as a boy and Arrietty as a tot.
They talked a lot about Spiller, praising him for his cleverness and generosity. Hendreary talked about how Spiller had taken them in and let them live in the stove that Halberd was now going to be using, and Daubery and Sateen said they'd like to see it someday.
Daubery. Lupy and Hendreary had several more glasses of wine since they didn't have to worry about going anywhere that night and got quite maudlin when Hemiola and Halberd went to change into their traveling clothes. There were more hugs and kisses when they said goodbye, and then they were running hand in hand down to the river.
"Lovely wedding," Lupy said, wiping her eyes.
"Was at that," Spiller said, helping himself to another slice of wedding cake.
Lupy and Hendreary eventually retired to Spiller's old room, Arrietty to Hemiola's old bed, and Spiller to Halberd's. He lay on the bed with his hands folded behind his head, and wondered how far Halberd had gotten downriver. Then he thought about Arrietty and what their wedding might be like. He thought the ring at the other end of the chain at Little Fordham just might make a wedding ring for her when the time came. Smiling, he went to sleep and dreamed his favorite dream, the one where he was holding Arrietty in his arms and standing by the river looking at the sunset.
The next day Little Fordham was on his mind when he finally got out of bed. Everyone in the house had slept nigh onto noon so they had a sort of brunch as they all came straggling to the kitchen. Lupy actually helped Sateen and Elegancy with the breakfast, which Arrietty and Spiller, who was in a good mood since he was back in his normal clothes and feeling more like himself, thought was very nice of her, until Spiller pointed out in a whisper that Lupy seemed to be paying a lot more attention to Elegancy and Actina than to the twins.
"Want to bet she thinks those two would be a good match for Grego and Timmis?"
Arrietty considered this. "I suppose it's possible and that would be a neat package, but I think they should let their own hearts decide what's best for them when the time is right, just like we did." She paused to peer into the kitchen where Elegancy was explaining to Lupy how she and her mother had made the icing for the wedding cake. "They won't want both of the boys to leave, though. They'd expect at least one of the girls to come live with them."
"Good," Spiller said, pouring himself more tea. "I certainly don't know where I'd put them." That made Arrietty laugh.
Daubery wanted to go borrowing in the old couple's kitchen upstairs, wanting to show his domain to Hendreary, but heavy footsteps were moving over their head and didn't stop. "They're never in the kitchen this late in the day," he fumed. "She usually goes into the front room and knits or sews by the window, so she can see who's passing on the road and he usually goes out to the garden or to the shed to do woodworking. I wonder what's going on?"
"Let's go up and have a listen," Spiller said. "We can get right close."
From their position under the floor, Spiller, Hendreary and Daubery were indeed able to listen to the whole conversation between the human spouses. They had been delighted by Tom's visit, saddened by his grandfather's condition, and the old woman had promised if he returned in a few days, to have some pickled vegetables to give to him. Apparently Tom's grandfather loved her pickled beets, cucumbers and other vegetables.
"I should have finished up the canning long ago," she told her husband. "It's getting late in the year for the garden."
"The cucumbers will go until the first frost," he said, "and the root vegetables are still fine. I'll pick and dig and you just keep canning. We might as well get it done."
"This reminds me of Pod and Homily's place under the kitchen at Firbank," Hendreary whispered. Daubery shrugged.
Looking through the crack, Spiller saw the large flat basket of beets right in front of him. "Want a beet? I think I could get one."
Both older men were alarmed. "Too dangerous," Hendreary said.
"It is," Daubery said, "much as I'd love some of Sateen's beet soup."
"Not," Spiller answered. "The old man's going out to the garden now. The old woman's going into the pantry. I can get one. I'm sure of it. Just be ready to push the board open wide enough for it when I do.
He slipped out before they could argue further and got hold of the top of a beet. The leaves and stems seemed strong enough to withstand a tug so he braced himself and pulled. The round, ruby red beet tumbled out of the basket and onto the floor. The thump made the men wince but by the time the old woman, puzzled, had walked back into the kitchen for a look around the borrowers had the beet under the floor.
"I've never seen someone with your nerve, Spiller," Daubery said admiringly, "but one of these days you're going to get caught."
"If not here, then by the gypsies," Hendreary added.
Spiller just shrugged. "Know what I can do and what I can't."
They dragged the beet to Sateen and explained what had happened and what they had heard. Sateen thought beet soup was a wonderful idea. Over dinner that night they discussed Tom's return. Arrietty and Spiller were happy to know that he hadn't even had to think of a reason, since the old humans had offered him an excuse to return with no problems. But after they had finished the leftover wedding cake and were sitting in the parlor, Arrietty had to agree with the men.
As she cuddled beside him on the sofa, enjoying the feel of his arm around her, she said, "Spiller, you really must be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you."
He sighed. "Ari, I can't stop borrowing. We can't live on what I hunt and gather."
"I know," she sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I just worry about you. I'm just afraid of losing you."
"Spiller never gets lost," Actina said, looking up from the floor, where she was playing with some leftover beads, rolling them as if they were marbles. They all laughed at that.
Even though everyone was getting along Spiller was glad two days later when he went out to check the front of the house after breakfast and saw Tom coming down the street with his gelding and wagon. He stopped at the front of the house and lifted out his basket. Spiller ran back in and told everyone it was time, but they already knew it. They could hear voices being raised upstairs and Tom being invited in for tea. Lupy, Hendreary and Arrietty had already packed most of their things knowing that this day was coming. They gathered their last few odds and ends, as did Spiller. He was leaving his suit behind for now, though. Sateen had promised to wash and press the shirt for him.
There were many hugs and kisses and promises of future visits before they got out and were able to start moving carefully along the hedge to the front yard. They scurried behind the basket so no one could see them climbing in and managed to get inside with no problems. Lupy was less afraid and while she wasn't a natural climber, she managed on her own this time. Then they waited.
When Tom came out, carrying several jars of canned vegetables, he said in a low voice as he put them in the wagon, "Ready to go?"
"Ready," Spiller said, and he was. He wasn't used to spending so much time indoors with so many people, and he knew when they got back to the groundskeeper's cottage it would just be more of the same. Everyone would want to hear about the wedding. He hoped at least Eggletina would have a good supper waiting, because when it was done, he'd be ready to head out down the drain with Arrietty.
They arrived in good time, and to everyone's surprise, even Lupy thanked Tom when they got out of the basket. He grinned and thanked all of them. "Granddad will love these pickles and beets. It was nice to catch up with his friends again."
When they got back into the wall, Eggletina and the boys came running to greet them and there were almost as many hugs as there had been at Daubery's house. Eggletina went to put on the kettle and warm up some soup and slice some bread as Lupy sank down on a chair wearily, and took off her hat and shawl. "It's nice to be home," she said in a heartfelt way.
After a quick wash and brush up, they all sat down to supper. All of the wedding guests talked about it. Between the four of them, Arrietty thought they covered just about everything. Hendreary couldn't say nice things enough about Daubery, Sateen and the girls.
"Will we ever get to meet them?" Timmis asked. "I'd like that. I'd like to meet them all. Will we ever see Halberd again?"
"I don't see why not," Arrietty exclaimed, leaning over to hug him, and Spiller, who was seated on Arrietty's other side assured him as well.
"I'll take you when you get a bit older, or I'll bring them here for a visit. Who knows? Maybe there will be a new nephew or niece for you to meet sometime."
"Not too soon, I hope!" Lupy cried. "I'm not used to being a mother-in-law yet, never mind being a grandmother!" She took a sip of tea. "Spiller, when are you and Arrietty leaving? Will you go tonight?"
"Might," Spiller conceded, looking at Arrietty. He was getting a headache and wanted nothing more than to move on. "What do you want to do?"
"I want to get back and tell Mother and Papa all about the wedding," Arrietty answered. "Will you be too tired, though, if we go tonight?"
"Maybe I'll take a nap after supper," Spiller said, "until it's completely dark. Feel more tired than usual for some reason."
"I should do that, too," Arrietty admitted, thinking of the long walk they had ahead of them down the drain.
Lupy looked alarmed. "Are you both going upstairs?'
When Arrietty looked at her, puzzled, Spiller said hastily, "When I've been spending the night I've been staying upstairs in your old place, Ari." He looked at Lupy. "Nothing to worry about. I promise."
When they walked out of the drawing room, Lupy looked at Hendreary and he shrugged. "Not our place to say anything," he told her.
When they got off the ladder, Arrietty looked at Spiller. "Why have you been staying up here? You never used to stay at Lupy's at all."
He rubbed the back of his neck, and looked down at the cardboard floor. "Liked having my own entrance, and all right, I admit it. When I missed you being up here made me feel better. So which bed do you want?"
"We can both sleep in the double bed," Arrietty said. "I trust you, Spiller, and it's always nice to be near you." So they went into the bedroom Pod and Homily used to share and curled up together. Spiller had to admit to himself that being there with his arm around her was much nicer than being in the small bed by the landing just trying to breathe in her scent. They talked quietly for awhile and then dozed off.
When he woke up he was still tired even though he had slept soundly. That was odd. As they were checking their packs getting ready to leave Lupy insisted on feeding them again. He hoped a little more food might give him a little more energy. He even drank coffee, which he normally avoided.
Then they put on the packs, said goodbye, and headed down to the hole in the wainscot. When they stepped out Tom wasn't there so they just headed toward the washhouse. Spiller got the drain open and they let down their packs once Arrietty had taken off her shoes and tied them to her pack so they wouldn't get wet and muddy in the drain.
Spiller was worried about Arrietty's pack. It seemed heavy but she was going to have to carry it. He couldn't carry both and lead the way at the same time. She pulled it onto her shoulders in a determined way, and they set off.
Soon Arrietty longed for Spiller's small soapbox boat. It would have been wonderful to have it to carry their gear. She thought of how she had napped most of the way the first time they had gone down the drain and woken to see her mother smiling at her. She was not afraid, not with Spiller beside her, but her pack was heavy and she was getting tired of pulling her feet out of the soap scum.
She was glad when they got to Holmcroft, because after that the air got cleaner and there was less scum and mud. They sat for awhile on the ledge and rested. Spiller told her how brave she was, she told him how clever he was, and they kissed a bit, but as always they stopped quickly, knowing it was not the best place or time for that. They began their weary trek again, wanting to get out of the drain by morning bath time. Besides, he still had a headache and his throat was starting to hurt. It was getting annoying. The mornings were chilly now and neither of them wanted to get soaking wet.
When Arrietty smelled grass and earth she strained her eyes looking ahead for the pinpoint of light that meant they were almost at the end of the drain, and soon saw it. "It's dawn," she said, and Spiller nodded wearily.
"We made good time. When we get out we can have a drink of water and a nice long sleep at the boat. I could use a bit of both." When they emerged she stopped to adjust her shawl against the wind and headed toward the second beach while he looked around. He was pleased to find a razor blade. When he caught up to her just as the knifebox boat became visible, he sighed with relief. "It's here. Glad, I am."
"Where would it go?" Arrietty said a bit crossly. She was tired and thirsty and didn't understand why he was still so keen about picking up leavings from the drain when all they had to do was ask Abel Pott and they could have all the razor blades they wanted. But then she bit her tongue knowing how much his independence meant to him.
"You never know," he said, climbing aboard. "Things happen. Remember the kettle."
They dumped their packs, and after leaning off the stern and taking a long drink of clean water they crawled into the sheep's wool under the canopy and collapsed. When Arrietty woke up it was late afternoon and Spiller was sitting across from her cracking open a nut.
"Didn't sleep well so decided to make myself useful." He offered her a piece, and she took it gratefully. She was hungry. She looked out at the beach, at the river and then at Spiller's pile of nuts.
"This reminds me of when we first came to the Spinney," she said wistfully.
"You got there before it got this cold," Spinner said, stretching out his legs in their new winter trousers and looking at the boots Pod had made for him. He had put them on since he was feeling chilled. "It's almost November. Do you want to go back to Little Fordham and see Miss Menzies? I need to collect those baby things she made and take 'em to Burgonet and Arista. Think your parents will worry?
"I think they will worry but not too much. It might be better if we did that. If I go home I don't think they'll want me to leave again this close to winter. They don't know how long any of your trips take because it depends on weather and what you do when you get there. For all they know we're helping Halberd and Hemiola move."
"Let's do it, then. Let's leave for Little Fordham at dusk. We can get there in two days with the river running the way it is. Then we can spend a day with the humans and then go on down the river to Burgonet's place. Then when we get done there I'll take you back to the mill." He looked up at her. "Once we get there though, I'm not staying, not yet. I do want to take one more trip to the stove to see how Halberd and Hemiola are settling in. By that time it will be probably snow a bit and I agree. I don't think your parents will want you setting out with me again. But I'll come back as soon as I know things are all right at the gypsy camp."
"You'll spend the winter with us?" Arrietty asked, her eyes shining.
"I hope to, but it all depends. If the snow flies early and gets deep it may take me awhile to get back, but I promise I will as soon as I'm able." He leaned over for a kiss and then cracked another nut, but when he took a piece and popped it into his mouth, it stuck in his throat and made it even sorer than it had been to start with. He hastily drank some water, but it was so cold it wasn't very soothing. He longed for some hot tea, or even coffee would have been all right.
When they started back downriver Spiller had his hands full. The river was running hard and icy cold and he had to fight with it until they got down to Little Fordham. Spiller's headache was back and his throat hurt worse than ever. He was so tired he was practically shaking on his feet and they were both sick of nuts and wheat grains moistened in cold water.
They left their things at Vine Cottage, since Arrietty wanted to see it again, and went straight to Pott's house to borrow some supper. Abel Pott and Miss Menzies were just sitting down to eat but she got hastily to rinse off the doll dishes and get them some beef stew, bread and tea.
As Arrietty gratefully gulped her tea, Spiller took the seafood fork and began chopping up the beef and vegetables, knowing he needed to eat even if he didn't feel like it. The stew was soft and warm in his throat and he was grateful for that. They told Miss Menzies and Mr. Pott all about Halberd's wedding and that they'd come back to Little Fordham to pick up the baby presents.
Miss Menzies, with Mr. Pott adding a word here or there, told them about how dear Aubrey's son-in-law was going to be moving to Little Fordham in the spring to take on Mr. Pott's old job on the railroad. The man who had replaced Pott was retiring and he would be standing in the signal box, as Pott used to do. His wife and daughter would be moving to town.
They had apple pie for dessert and Miss Menzies promised to take the baby gifts down to Spiller's boat when he was ready to leave. Then Miss Menzies, leaning down to pour more tea, frowned. "Spiller, your face is flushed. It's very noticeable with your dark complexion. Are you all right?"
"Tired," he admitted, "just tired."
Arrietty, who had been concentrating on her food and the conversation looked at him carefully and laid a hand on his forehead. "Spiller, you feel very warm. I think you're getting ill. We need to get you back to the cottage and to bed!"
"Are you at Vine Cottage?" Miss Menzies asked, anxiously. "I'll bring you food tomorrow so that Spiller can have breakfast in bed and get some rest." She gave them some tea so Arrietty could make it if Spiller started feeling chilled again. Spiller and Arrietty said goodnight then and went back to the cottage. Spiller was definitely feeling even shakier at that point. As Arrietty started a fire in the stove he looked around and sighed.
"Don't feel as pert as I ought. This is what happens when I spend so much time in a crowd. Hope you don't get whatever it is."
"I feel fine. I'll be fine, but you do need to rest. I'll take care of you. Go sleep in the double bed Mother and Papa used to use. I'll put water in the pitcher for you."
She did that, and he washed up a bit just out of new found habit, and crawled into the bed. The minute he put his head on the pillow, he was out like a light. He was sick with headache, sore throat and fever for several days.
Arrietty cared for him as best as she could with Miss Menzies helping. Spiller had never been so fussed over in his life. Arrietty sat with him, wiped his brow, arranged his blankets, emptied his chamber pot and brought up the food Miss Menzies made. Wonderful food it was…chicken soup, different types of tea, and fruits humans buy that Spiller had never tasted before. He got poached egg and orange juice for breakfast every morning, and got to try exotic things like grapefruit and pineapple.
Miss Menzies also brought Arrietty a wonderful Victorian miniature book of poetry called "A Tribute to Flowers" by John McCoy, MD, and Arrietty read to Spiller when he started to feel better and began to get bored in bed. One poem was called "The Old Homestead". They both liked that one. Spiller closed his eyes as Arrietty read to him:
Oh whether the brooks be tinged with flowers
Or whether the dead leaves fall,
And whether the air be full of songs
Or never a song at all.
And whether the vines of strawberries
Or frosts through the grasses run,
And whether it rain or whether it shines
It is all to me as one.
For bright as brightest sunshine
The light of memory streams,
Round the old fashioned homestead,
Where I dreamed my earliest dreams.
"Ari, that was a treat. You really can read! I'd like to have a home like that for you and me some day, something that we can feel that way about. However do you do it?" Spiller said when she was done.
Smiling, she sat by his bedside and told him about how she had learned to read from books just like this one, and how she had learned to write from copying the letters that Pod and Homily had used for wallpaper.
"Until I heard you, I thought all borrowers who could read were snobs," he admitted. "Never held much store in reading and poetry and all that."
Arrietty laughed. "According to Mother, the only borrowers that are snobs are Harpiscords and Overmantles. She said Aunt Lupy got snobby when she married a Harpsicord. She was only a Rainpipe before that?"
"Overmantle?" Spiller asked, alarmed.
"Arrietty didn't understand why he seemed so upset. "Well, that's what Mother said. I never met one, though. Spiller, are you getting feverish again? You lie back and I'll read you another poem." He fell asleep while she was doing it, but she didn't mind.
She just sat next to his bed while he slept and kept looking at the book. She hadn't realized how much she missed books and reading. She was so happy with Miss Menzies for giving her this chance that Arrietty didn't know how she'd ever thank her.
The next day Spiller's fever had broken and his voice was less hoarse but Arrietty made him stay in bed all day to be sure he was really on the mend. The next day he was definitely starting to feel better and able to come downstairs to eat.
He told Arrietty over his poached egg and orange juice that they should move on the next morning. "Tarried too long we have. After breakfast can you go to Miss Menzies and tell her we're going to go tomorrow?"
Arrietty did, and Miss Menzies was glad to hear that Spiller was feeling better and agreed to take the baby gifts down to the boat for them. When Arrietty held out the book to return it, Miss Menzies said, "Take the book with you, Arrietty. It will give you something to do through the long winter months. I'll miss you both," she said wistfully.
"We'll be back in the spring," Arrietty promised, wishing she could somehow hug this gentle human friend.
What leftover food they didn't eat they packed up for the trip down river. Spiller was glad to be aboard his boat again and eager to reach the vicarage.
When they got to Burgonet's place it was a shock to see how pregnant Arista was. When Burgonet went with Spiller to unload the boat, Arrietty asked her friend anxiously how she was feeling.
Arista said it had gotten much better once she had stopped feeling so poorly in the mornings, but now she was feeling ugly and awkward and couldn't wait for the baby to come. "I can't wait to come back in the spring and see it," Arrietty exclaimed. "We can't come in the winter. It's too hard to travel."
When Spiller and Burgonet carefully wrestled the glass baby bed into the flat, Arista almost swooned with joy, and she was just as delighted with all of the rest of the baby things Miss Menzies had made. After they had been through all the gifts, Arista and Arrietty put a good dinner on the table and talked about them while they ate. Spiller, who had his appetite back, ate voraciously. When Burgonet commented on how it looked like Spiller had lost weight, Spiller grimaced.
"I was pretty sick there for awhile. Don't know exactly what it was. Lucky we got as far as Little Fordham where it was easy for Arrietty to take care of me. Never been that sick in my life! She was a really good nurse."
"He was a very patient patient," Arrietty said, making them all laugh, "but I'd like to see him get to bed early. He's still getting his strength back from the fever he had."
He good naturedly said, "Aye, Aye, Captain!" and went down the hall, but when Arrietty got done washing the dishes and went to join him in their little bedroom a cold wind was blowing through the hall. The wire gate was open and he was standing at the end of the hall with the board swung up, looking outside toward the river at the setting sun.
"Are you all right?" Arrietty asked drawing her shawl around her shoulders.
"I've seen that sunset before. I dream about it. I keep seeing it…that perfect, blazing red sunset over the water."
Arrietty considered this. "What are you doing in the dream?"
"Holding you," Spiller admitted.
He let down the board and turned to her. Then she was in his arms for real and they were kissing deeply and she didn't feel cold anymore at all. She felt his warmth and it was quickly turning into greater heat. He pulled her down the hall into their bedroom so Burgonet wouldn't come down the hall and catch them snogging. Spiller didn't want to stop because he had missed this so much and neither did she. Arrietty was the one who pushed the door closed with her foot because she didn't want to let go of him for a moment.
The wedding had been so sweet and romantic, and Spiller had looked so handsome that Arrietty couldn't help being proud that he was hers. She had taken such good care of him that Spiller couldn't help but be proud of her compassion, her caring and kind heart that now belonged to him. Burgonet and Arista looked so happy and excited that the excitement of being part of a couple radiated from around them both and both Arrietty and Spiller could feel it.
When they lay down for a cuddle they didn't think anything of it. They were happy just to be together, and each felt so good to the other. What they didn't realize was that there actually is a point of no return, and once found it is the work of a moment to cross it.