CHAPTER XVI. THE INVITATION TO LAUGHTON.
That day, when he called at Brompton, Percival reported to MadameDalibard his interview with the eccentric Mr. Tomkins. Lucretia seemedchafed and disconcerted by the inquiries with which that gentleman hadhonoured her, and as soon as Percival had gone, she sent for Varney. Hedid not come till late; she repeated to him what St. John had said ofthe stranger. Varney participated in her uneasy alarm. The name, indeed,was unknown to them, nor could they conjecture the bearer of so ordinarya patronymic; but there had been secrets enough in Lucretia's lifeto render her apprehensive of encountering those who had known her inearlier years; and Varney feared lest any rumour reported to St. Johnmight create his mistrust, or lessen the hold obtained upon a victimheretofore so unsuspicious. They both agreed in the expediency ofwithdrawing themselves and St. John as soon as possible from London, andfrustrating Percival's chance of closer intercourse with the stranger,who had evidently aroused his curiosity.
The next day Helen was much indisposed; and the symptoms grew so gravetowards the evening that Madame Dalibard expressed alarm, and willinglysuffered Percival (who had only been permitted to see Helen for a fewminutes, when her lassitude was so extreme that she was obliged toretire to her room) to go in search of a physician. He returned with oneof the most eminent of the faculty. On the way to Brompton, in replyto the questions of Dr. ----, Percival spoke of the dejection to whichHelen was occasionally subject, and this circumstance confirmed Dr.----, after he had seen his patient, in his view of the case. Inaddition to some feverish and inflammatory symptoms which he trusted hisprescriptions would speedily remove, he found great nervous debility,and willingly fell in with the casual suggestion of Varney, who waspresent, that a change of air would greatly improve Miss Mainwaring'sgeneral health, as soon as the temporary acute attack had subsided. Hedid not regard the present complaint very seriously, and reassuredpoor Percival by his cheerful mien and sanguine predictions. Percivalremained at the house the whole day, and had the satisfaction, beforehe left, of hearing that the remedies had already abated the fever, andthat Helen had fallen into a profound sleep. Walking back to town withVarney, the last said hesitatingly,--
"You were saying to me the other day that you feared you should have togo for a few days both to Vernon Grange and to Laughton, as your stewardwished to point out to you some extensive alterations in the managementof your woods to commence this autumn. As you were so soon coming ofage, Lady Mary desired that her directions should yield to your own.Now, since Helen is recommended change of air, why not invite MadameDalibard to visit you at one of these places? I would suggest Laughton.My poor mother-in-law I know longs to revisit the scenes of her youth,and you could not compliment or conciliate her more than by such aninvitation."
"Oh," said Percival, joyfully, "it would realize the fondest dream of myheart to see Helen under the old roof-tree of Laughton; but as my motheris abroad, and there is therefore no lady to receive them, perhaps--"
"Why," interrupted Varney, "Madame Dalibard herself is almost the veryperson whom les bienseances might induce you to select to do the honoursof your house in Lady Mary's absence, not only as kinswoman to yourself,but as the nearest surviving relative of Sir Miles,--the most immediatedescendant of the St. Johns; her mature years and decorum of life, herjoint kindred to Helen and yourself, surely remove every appearance ofimpropriety."
"If she thinks so, certainly; I am no accurate judge of suchformalities. You could not oblige me more, Varney, than in pre-obtainingher consent to the proposal. Helen at Laughton! Oh, blissful thought!"
"And in what air would she be so likely to revive?" said Varney; but hisvoice was thick and husky.
The ideas thus presented to him almost banished anxiety from Percival'sbreast. In a thousand delightful shapes they haunted him during thesleepless night; and when, the next morning, he found that Helen wassurprisingly better, he pressed his invitation upon Madame Dalibard witha warmth that made her cheek yet more pale, and the hand, which the boygrasped as he pleaded, as cold as the dead. But she briefly consented,and Percival, allowed a brief interview with Helen, had the raptureto see her smile in a delight as childlike as his own at the news hecommunicated, and listen with swimming eye when he dwelt on the walksthey should take together amidst haunts to become henceforth dear to heras to himself. Fairyland dawned before them.
The visit of the physician justified Percival's heightened spirits. Allthe acuter symptoms had vanished already. He sanctioned his patient'sdeparture from town as soon as Madame Dalibard's convenience wouldpermit, and recommended only a course of restorative medicines tostrengthen the nervous system, which was to commence with the followingmorning, and be persisted in for some weeks. He dwelt much on the effectto be derived from taking these medicines the first thing in the day, assoon as Helen woke. Varney and Madame Dalibard exchanged a rapid glance.Charmed with the success that in this instance had attended the skillof the great physician, Percival, in his usual zealous benevolence, noweagerly pressed upon Madame Dalibard the wisdom of consulting Dr.---- for her own malady; and the doctor, putting on his spectacles anddrawing his chair nearer to the frowning cripple, began to question herof her state. But Madame Dalibard abruptly and discourteously put a stopto all interrogatories: she had already exhausted all remedies art couldsuggest; she had become reconciled to her deplorable infirmity, and lostall faith in physicians. Some day or other she might try the baths atEgra, but till then she must be permitted to suffer undisturbed.
The doctor, by no means wishing to undertake a case of chronicparalysis, rose smilingly, and with a liberal confession that the Germanbaths were sometimes extremely efficacious in such complaints, pressedPercival's outstretched hand, then slipped his own into his pocket, andbowed his way out of the room.
Relieved from all apprehension, Percival very good-humouredly receivedthe hint of Madame Dalibard that the excitement through which she hadgone for the last twenty-four hours rendered her unfit for his society,and went home to write to Laughton and prepare all things for thereception of his guests. Varney accompanied him. Percival found Beckin the hall, already much altered, and embellished, by a new suit oflivery. The ex-sweeper stared hard at Varney, who, without recognizing,in so smart a shape, the squalid tatterdemalion who had lighted him upthe stairs to Mr. Grabman's apartments, passed him by into Percival'slittle study, on the ground-floor.
"Well, Beck," said Percival, ever mindful of others, and attributing hisgroom's astonished gaze at Varney to his admiration of that gentleman'sshowy exterior, "I shall send you down to the country to-morrow with twoof the horses; so you may have to-day to yourself to take leave ofyour nurse. I flatter myself you will find her rooms a little morecomfortable than they were yesterday."
Beck heard with a bursting heart; and his master, giving him a cheeringtap on the shoulder, left him to find his way into the streets and toBecky's abode.
He found, indeed, that the last had already undergone the magictransformation which is ever at the command of godlike wealth. Mrs.Mivers, who was naturally prompt and active, had had pleasure inexecuting Percival's commission. Early in the morning, floors had beenscrubbed, the windows cleaned, the ventilator fixed; then followedporters with chairs and tables, and a wonderful Dutch clock, and newbedding, and a bright piece of carpet; and then came two servantsbelonging to Mrs. Mivers to arrange the chattels; and finally, when allwas nearly completed, the Avatar of Mrs. Mivers herself, to give thelast finish with her own mittened hands and in her own housewifelyapron.
The good lady was still employed in ranging a set of teacups on theshelves of the dresser when Beck entered; and his old nurse, in theoverflow of her gratitude, hobbled up to her foundling and threw herarms round his neck.
"That's right!" said Mrs. Mivers, good-humouredly, turning round, andwiping the tear from her eye. "You ought to make much of him, poorlad,--he has turned out a godsend indeed; and, upon my word, he looksvery respectable in his new clothes. But what is this,--a child'scoral?" as, opening a
drawer in the dresser, she discovered Beck'streasure. "Dear me, it is a very handsome one; why, these bellslook like gold!" and suspicion of her protege's honesty for a momentcontracted her thoughtful brow. "However on earth did you come by this,Mrs. Becky?"
"Sure and sartin," answered Becky, dropping her mutilated courtesy, "Ibe's glad it be found now, instead of sum days afore, or I might havebeen vicked enough to let it go with the rest to the pop-shop; and I'msure the times out of mind ven that 'ere boy was a h-urchin that I'veristed the timtashung and said, 'No, Becky Carruthers, that maun't go tomy h-uncle's!'"
"And why not, my good woman?"
"Lor' love you, marm, if that curril could speak, who knows vot it mightsay,--eh, lad, who knows? You sees, marm, my good man had not a longbeen dead; I could not a get no vork no vays. 'Becky Carruthers,' saysI, 'you must go out in the streets a begging!' I niver thought Ishould a come to that. But my poor husband, you sees, marm, fell from ascaffol',--as good a man as hever--"
"Yes, yes, you told me all that before," said Mrs. Mivers, growingimpatient, and already diverted from her interest in the coral by anew cargo, all bright from the tinman, which, indeed, no lessinstantaneously, absorbed the admiration both of Beck and his nurse.And what with the inspection of these articles, and the comments eachprovoked, the coral rested in peace on the dresser till Mrs. Mivers,when just about to renew her inquiries, was startled by the sound of theDutch clock striking four,--a voice which reminded her of the lapse oftime and her own dinner-hour. So, with many promises to call again andhave a good chat with her humble friend, she took her departure, amidstthe blessings of Becky, and the less noisy, but not less grateful,salutations of Beck.
Very happy was the evening these poor creatures passed together overtheir first cup of tea from the new bright copper kettle and the almostforgotten luxury of crumpets, in which their altered circumstancespermitted them without extravagance to indulge. In the course ofconversation Beck communicated how much he had been astonished byrecognizing the visitor of Grabman, the provoker of the irritablegrave-stealer, in the familiar companion of his master; and when Beckytold him how often, in the domestic experience her vocation of charinghad accumulated, she had heard of the ruin brought on rich young men bygamblers and sharpers, Beck promised to himself to keep a sharp eye onGrabman's showy acquaintance. "For master is but a babe, like," said he,majestically; "and I'd be cut into mincemeat afore I'd let an 'air onhis 'ead come to 'arm, if so be's h-as 'ow I could perwent it."
We need not say that his nurse confirmed him in these good resolutions.
"And now," said Beck, when the time came for parting, "you'll keep fromthe gin-shop, old 'oman, and not shame the young master?"
"Sartin sure," answered Becky; "it is only ven vun is down in the vorldthat vun goes to the Ticker-shop. Now, h-indeed,"--and she looked roundvery proudly,--"I 'as a 'spectable stashion, and I vould n't go for tolower it, and let 'em say that Becky Carruthers does not know how toconduct herself. The curril will be safe enuff now; but p'r'aps you hadbest take it yourself, lad."
"Vot should I do vith it? I've had enuff of the 'sponsibility. Put it upin a 'ankerchiff, and p'r'aps ven master gets married, and 'as a babbyvots teethin', he vil say, 'Thank ye, Beck, for your curril.' Vould notthat make us proud, mammy?"
Chuckling heartily at that vision, Beck kissed his nurse, and tryinghard to keep himself upright, and do credit to the dignity of his cloth,returned to his new room over the stables.