CHAPTER TWELVE.
BEGINS WITH LOVE, HOPE, AND JOY, AND ENDS PECULIARLY.
It may not perhaps surprise the reader to learn that after LillyBlythe's return to town, I did not prosecute my studies with as muchenthusiasm as before. In fact I divided my attentions pretty equallybetween Lilly and chemistry.
Now, I am not prone to become sentimentally talkative about my ownaffairs, but as courtship, and love, and that sort of thing areundoubted and important elements in the chemistry of human affairs, andas they influenced me and those around me to some extent, I cannot avoidmaking reference to them, but I promise the reader to do so only as faras appears necessary for the elucidation of my story.
First, then, although I knew that my prospects of success as a partnerof Dr McTougall were most encouraging, I felt that it would be foolishto think of marriage until my position was well established and myincome adequate. I therefore strove with all my might to check the flowof my thoughts towards Miss Blythe. As well might I have striven torestrain the flow of Niagara. True love cannot be stemmed! In my case,however, the proverb was utterly falsified, for my true love _did_ "runsmooth." More than that, it ran fast--very fast indeed, so much so thatI was carried, as it were, on the summit of a rushing flood-tide intothe placid harbour of Engagement. The anchorage in that harbour is withmany people uncertain. With Lilly and me it was not so. Theground-tackle was good; it had caught hold of a rock and held on.
It happened thus. After many weeks of struggling on my part to keep outof Miss Blythe's way, and to prevent the state of my feelings from beingobserved by her--struggles which I afterwards found to my confusion hadbeen quite obvious to her--I found myself standing alone, one Sundayafternoon, in the doctor's drawing-room, meditating on the joys ofchildhood, as exemplified by thunderous blows on the floor above andpiercing shouts of laughter. The children had been to church and wereworking off the steam accumulated there. Suddenly there was a deadsilence, which I knew to be the result of a meal. The meal was, I mayadd, the union of a late dinner with an early tea. It wascharacteristic of Sundays in the McTougall nursery.
The thought of this union turned my mind into another channel. Justthen Miss Blythe entered. She looked so radiant that I forgot myself,forgot my former struggles, my good resolutions--everything exceptherself--and proposed on the spot!
I was rejected--of course! More than that, I was stunned! Hope hadtold me many flattering tales. Indeed, I had felt so sure, from manylittle symptoms, that Lilly had a strong regard for me--to say theleast--that I was overwhelmed, not only by my rejection, but by thethought of my foolish self-assurance.
"I don't wonder that you look upon me as a presumptuous, vain,contemptible fellow," said I, in the bitterness of my soul.
"But I do not regard you in that light," said Lilly, with a faint smile,and then, hesitatingly, she looked down at the carpet.
"In what light do you regard me, Miss Blythe?" said I, recovering alittle hope, and speaking vehemently.
"Really, Dr Mellon, you take me by surprise; your manner--so abrupt--so--"
"Oh! never mind manner, dear Miss Blythe," said I, seizing her hand, andforcibly detaining it. "You are the soul of truth; tell me, is thereany hope for me?--_can_ you care for me?"
"Dr Mellon," she said, drawing her hand firmly away, "I cannot, shouldnot reply. You do not know all the--the circumstances of my life--mypoverty, my solitary condition in the world--my--my--"
"Miss Blythe," I exclaimed, in desperation, "if you were as poor as a--a--church rat, as solitary as--as--Adam before the advent of Eve, Iwould count it my chief joy, and--"
"Hallo! Mellon, hi! I say! where are you?" shouted the voice of thedoctor at that moment from below stairs. "Here's Dumps been in thelaboratory, and capsized some of the chemicals!"
"Coming, sir!" I shouted; then tenderly, though hurriedly, to MissBlythe, "You will let me resume this subject at--"
"Hallo! look sharp!" from below.
"Yes, yes, I'll be down directly!--Dear Miss Blythe, if you only knew--"
"Why, the dog's burning all over--help me!" roared the doctor.
Miss Blythe blushed and laughed. How could she help it? I hastilykissed her hand, and fled from the room.
That was the whole affair. There was not enough, strictly speaking, toform a ground of hope; but somehow I knew that it was all right. In thelaboratory I found Dumps smoking, and the doctor pouring water from thetap on his dishevelled body. He was not hurt, and little damage wasdone; but as I sat in my room talking to him that evening, I could nothelp reproaching him with having been the means of breaking off one ofthe most important interviews of my life.
"However, Dumps," I continued, "your good services far outweigh yourwicked deeds, and whatever you may do in the future, I will never forgetthat you were the means of introducing me to that angel, Lilly Blythe."
The angel in question went that Sunday evening at seven o'clock, as washer wont, to a Bible class which she had started for the instruction ofsome of the poor neglected boys and lads who idled about in the drearyback streets of our aristocratic neighbourhood. The boys had become sofond of her that they were eager to attend, and usually assembled roundthe door of the class-room before the hour.
My _protege_, Robin Slidder, was of course one of her warmest adherents.He was standing that night apart from the other boys, contemplating theproceedings of two combative sparrows which quarrelled over a crumb ofbread on the pavement, and had just come to the conclusion that men andsparrows had some qualities in common, when he was attracted by a lowwhistle, and, looking up, beheld the Slogger peeping round aneighbouring corner.
"Hallo! Slog--Villum I mean; how are you? Come along. Vell, I _am_glad to see you, for, d'you know, arter you failed me that day at theBlack Bull, I have bin givin' you a pretty bad character, an' callin'you no end o' bad names."
"Is that what your `angel' teaches you, Robin?"
"Vell, not exactly, but you'll hear wot she teaches for yourselfto-night, I 'ope. Come, I'm right glad to see you, Villum. What was itthat prevented you that day, eh?"
When the Slogger had explained and cleared his character, Robin askedhim eagerly if he had ascertained anything further about the girl whomhe and Brassey had robbed.
"Of course I have," said the Slogger, "and it's a curious suckumstancethat 'er place of abode--so Sally says--is in the Vest End, not wery farfrom here. She gave me the street and the name, but wasn't quite sureof the number."
"Vell, come along, let's hear all about it," said Robin impatiently.
"Wy, wot's all your 'urry?" returned the Slogger slowly; "I ain't goin'away till I've heerd wot your angel's got to say, you know. Besides, Imust go arter your meeting's over an watch the 'ouse till I see the galan' make sure that it's her, for Sally may have bin mistook, you know."
"You don't know her name, do you?" asked Robin; "it wasn't Edie Willis,now, was it?"
"'Ow should _I_ know 'er name?" answered the Slogger. "D'you think Istopped to inquire w'en I 'elped to relieve 'er of 'er propity?"
"Ah, I suppose not. Vell, I suppose you've no objection to my goin' towatch along wi' you."
"None wotsomever; on'y remember, if it do turn out to be 'er, you won'tbetray me. Honour bright! She may be revengeful, you know, an' might'ave me took up if she got 'old of me."
Robin Slidder faithfully and earnestly pledged himself. While he wasspeaking there was a general movement among the lads and boys towardsthe class-room, for Miss Blythe was seen coming towards them. The twofriends moved with the rest. Just as he was about to enter the door,Robin missed his companion, and, looking back, saw him bending down, andholding his sides as if in pain.
"Wot's wrong now?" he inquired, returning to him.
"Oh! I'm took so bad," said the Slogger, looking very red, and rubbinghimself; "a old complaint as I thought I was cured of. Oh, dear! you'll'ave to excuge me, Robin. I'll go an' take a turn, an' come in if Igits better. If not, I'll meet you round the co
rner arter it's over."
So saying, the Slogger, turning round, walked quickly away, and hislittle friend entered the class-room in a state of mind pendulatingbetween disgust and despair, for he had no expectation of seeing theslippery Slogger again that night.
When the meeting was over, Miss Blythe returned home. I saw her enterthe library. No one else was there, I knew. The gas had not yet beenlighted, and only a faint flicker from the fire illumined the room.Unable to bear the state of uncertainty under which my mind stilllaboured, I resolved to make assurance doubly sure, or quit the house--and England--for ever!
I spare the reader the details. Suffice it to say that after muchentreaty, I got her to admit that she loved me, but she refused toaccept me until she had told me her whole history.
"Then I'm sure of you now," said I, in triumph; "for, be your historywhat it may, I'll never give you up, dearest Lilly--"
"Don't call me Lilly," she said in a low, quiet tone; "it is only a petname which the little ones here gave me on my first coming to them.Call me Edith."
"I will," said I, with enthusiasm, "a far more beautiful name. I'll--"
"Hallo! hi! Mellon, are you there?"
For the second time that day Dr McTougall interrupted me, but I wasproof against annoyance now.
"Yes, I am here," I shouted, running downstairs. "Surely Dumps is notburning himself again--eh?"
"Oh no," returned my friend, with a laugh--"only a telegram. However,it's important enough to require prompt attention. The Gordons inBingley Manor--you know them--telegraph me to run down immediately; oldlady ill. Now, it unfortunately happens that I have an engagement thisevening which positively cannot be put off, so I must send you.Besides, I know well enough what it is. They're easily alarmed, and I'mconvinced it is just the old story. However, the summons must beobeyed. You will go for me. The train starts in half an hour. Youwill have plenty of time to catch it, if you make haste. You'll have tostay all night. No return train till to-morrow, being an out-of-the-wayplace. There, off with you. Put the telegram in your pocket for theaddress."
So saying, the doctor put on his hat and left the house.
Summoning Robin Slidder, I bade him pack a few things into mytravelling-bag while I wrote a note. When he had finished he told me ofhis interview with the Slogger. I was greatly interested, and asked ifhe had gone to see his friend after the meeting.
"No, sir, I didn't. I meant to, but Miss Blythe wanted me to walk 'omewith 'er, it was so dark, an' w'en I went back he had gone."
"Pity, Robin--a great pity," said I, hastily strapping up my bag, "butno doubt he'll come here again to see you.--Now, don't forget to takeover that parcel of tea and sugar, etcetera, to Mrs Willis. Go as soonas you can." Saying this, I left the house.
The new residence of the old woman being now so near to Hoboy Crescentthe parcel was soon delivered, and Robin officiated at the opening ofit, also at the preparing and consuming of some of its contents. Ofcourse he chatted vigorously, as was his wont, but was particularlycareful to make not the most distant allusion to the Slogger or hisreports, being anxious not to arouse her hopes until he should have someevidence that they were on a true scent. Indeed, he was so fearful ofletting slip some word or remark on the subject and thereby awakeningsuspicion and giving needless pain, that he abstained from all referenceto the meeting of that evening, and launched out instead into wonderfuland puzzling theological speculations, of which he was very fond.
Meanwhile I was carried swiftly into the country. The lamp in mycarriage was too dim to permit of reading; I therefore wrapped myself inmy rug and indulged in pleasant meditations.
It was past midnight when I arrived at the station for Bingley Manor,where I found a gig awaiting me. A sharp drive of half an hour and Iwas at the mansion door.
Dr McTougall was right. There was little the matter with old MrsGordon, but the family were nervous, and rich--hence my visit. I didwhat was necessary for the patient, comforted the rest by my presence,had a sound night's rest, an early breakfast, a pleasant drive in thefresh frosty air, and a brief wait of five minutes, when the punctualtrain came up.
There is something inexpressibly delightful in a ride, on a sharp frostymorning, in an express train. I have always felt a wild boundingsensation of joy in rapid motion. The pace at which we went thatmorning was exceptionally charming. Had I known that the engine-driverwas intoxicated perhaps it might not have been quite so exhilarating,but I did not know that. I sat comfortably in my corner thinking ofEdith, and gazing with placid benignity at the frosted trees and busheswhich sparkled in the red wintry sun.
Yes, it was a glorious ride! I never had a better. The part of thecountry through which we passed was lovely. One can always gazecomfortably at the _distant_ landscape from a railway carriage, howevergreat the speed. As for the immediate foreground, it reminded me of arace--houses, trees, farms, towns, villages, hamlets, horses, sheep,cattle, poultry, hayricks, brickfields, were among the competitors inthat race. They rushed in mad confusion to the rear. I exulted in thepace. Not so a stout elderly gentleman in the opposite corner, whoevidently disliked it--so true is it that "one man's meat is another'spoison."
"There is no reason to fear, sir," said I, with a smile, by way ofreassuring him. "This is a most excellently managed line--one neverhears of accidents on it."
"Too fast just now, anyhow," returned the elderly gentleman testily.
Just then the whistle was heard sounding violently.
"That is a sign of safety," said I; "shows that they are on the alert."
A severe application of the brakes caused me to stop abruptly, and theelderly man to seize the arms of his seat with a convulsive grasp.
Suddenly there was a mighty crash. The sensations in my mind thatfollowed were suggestive of cannons, rockets, bombs, fireworks,serpents, shooting-stars, and tumbling _debris_. Then--all was dark andsilent as the grave!