CHAPTER XXXIX.
NEEDFUL RETURNS.
Now it happened that none of these people, thus rejoicing in the libertyof the subject, had heard of the very sad state of things, mainly causedby their own acts, and now prevailing at _Old Barn_. Tremlett knew thathe had struck a vicious blow, at the head of a man who had grappled him,but he thought he had missed it and struck something else, a bag, or ahat, or he knew not what, in the pell mell scuffle and the darkness. Histurn of mind did not incline him to be by any means particular as to hisconduct, in a hot and hard personal encounter; but knowing his vaststrength he generally abstained from the use of heavy weapons, while histemper was his own. But in this hot struggle, he had met with a mutuallyshattering blow from a staff, as straight as need be upon his right-handknuckles; and the pain from this, coupled with the wrath aroused at theaccess of volunteer enemies, had carried him--like the raging elementsoutside--out of all remembrance of the true "sacredness of humanity." Hestruck out, with a sense of not doing the right thing, which is alwaysstrengthened afterwards; and his better stars being ablink in the gale,and the other man's gone into the milky way, he hit him too hard; whichis a not uncommon error.
Many might have reasoned (and before all others, Harvey Tremlett's wife,if still within this world of reason; and a bad job it was for him thatshe was now outside it) that nothing could be nobler, taking people aswe find them--and how else can we get the time to take them?--than thebehaviour of this champion wrestler. But, without going into such sweetlogic of affinity, and rhetoric of friends (whose minds have been madeup in front of it) there was this crushing fact to meet, that aninnocent man's better arm was in a smash.
No milder word, however medical, is fit to apply to Frank Gilham's poorfore-arm. They might call it the _ulna_--for a bit of Latin is a solace,to the man who feels the pain in a brother Christian's member--and theymight enter nobly into fine nerves of anatomy; but the one-sideddifficulty still was there--they had got to talk about it; he had got tobear it.
Not that he made any coward outcry of it. A truer test of manliness (ashas been often said, by those who have been through either trial), truerthan the rush of blood and reckless dash of battle, is the calm,open-eyed, and firm-fibred endurance of long, ever-grinding,never-graduating pain. The pain that has no pang, or paroxysm, nogenerosity to make one cry out "Well done!" to it, and be thankful tothe Lord that it must have done its worst; but a fluid that keeps up aslow boil, by day and night, and never lifts the pot-lid, and neverwhirls about, but keeps up a steady stew of flesh, and bone, and marrow.
"I fear there is nothing for it, but to have it off," Dr. Gronow said,upon the third day of this frightful anguish. He had scarcely left thepatient for an hour at a time; and if he had done harsh things in hisbetter days, no one would believe it of him, who could see him now. "Itwas my advice at first, you know; but you would not have it, Jemmy. Youare more of a surgeon than I am. But I doubt whether you should risk hislife, like this."
"I am still in hopes of saving it. But you see how little I can do,"replied Fox, whose voice was very low, for he was suffering still fromthat terrible concussion, and but for the urgency of Gilham's case, hewould now have been doctoring the one who pays the worst for it. "If Ihad my proper touch, and strength of nerve, I never should have let itcome to this. There is a vile bit of splinter that won't come in, and Iam not firm enough to make it. I wish I had left it to you, as youoffered. After all, you know much more than we do."
"No, my dear boy. It is your special line. Such a case as Lady Waldron'sI might be more at home with. I should have had the arm off long ago.But the mother--the mother is such a piteous creature? What has becomeof all my nerve? I am quite convinced that fly-fishing makes a man toogentle. I cannot stand half the things I once thought nothing of.By-the-by, couldn't you counteract her? You know the old proverb--
'One woman rules the men; Two makes them think again,'
It would be the best thing you could do."
"I don't see exactly what you mean," answered Jemmy, who had lost nearlyall of his sprightliness.
"Plainer than a pikestaff. Send for your sister. You owe it to yourself,and her; and most of all to the man who has placed his life in peril, tosave yours. It is not a time to be too finical."
"I have thought of it once or twice. She would be of the greatestservice now. But I don't much like to ask her. Most likely she wouldrefuse to come, after the way in which I packed her off."
"My dear young friend," said Dr. Gronow, looking at him steadfastly, "ifthat is all you have to say, you don't deserve a wife at all worthy ofthe name. In the first place, you won't sink your own little pride; andin the next, you have no idea what a woman is."
"Young Farrant is the most obliging fellow in the world," replied Fox,after thinking for a minute. "I will put him on my young mare _Perle_,who knows the way; and he'll be at Foxden before dark. If Chris likes tocome, she can be here well enough, by twelve or one o'clock to-morrow."
"Like, or no like, I'll answer for her coming; and I'll answer for hernot being very long about it," said the senior doctor; and on bothpoints he was right.
Christie was not like herself, when she arrived, but pale, and timid,and trembling. Her brother had not mentioned Frank in his letter,doubting the turn she might take about it, and preferring that sheshould come to see to himself, which was her foremost duty. But youngMr. Farrant, the Churchwarden's son, and pretty Minnie's brother, had noembargo laid upon his tongue; and had there been fifty, what could theyhave availed to debar such a clever young lady? She had cried herselfto sleep, when she knew all, and dreamed it a thousand times worse thanit was.
Now she stood in the porch of the _Old Barn_, striving, and sternlydetermined to show herself rational, true to relationship, sisterly, andnothing more. But her white lips, quick breath, and quivering eyelids,were not altogether consistent with that. Instead of amazement, whenMrs. Gilham came to meet her, and no Jemmy, she did not even feign to besurprised, but fell into the bell-sleeves (which were fine things forembracing) and let the deep throbs of her heart disclose a tale that isbetter felt than told.
"My dearie," said the mother, as she laid the damask cheek against thewrinkled one, and stroked the bright hair with the palm of her hand,"don't 'e give way, that's a darling child. It will all be so differentnow you are come. It was what I was longing for, day and night, butcould not bring myself to ask. And I felt so sure in my heart, my dear,how sorry you would be for him."
"I should think so. I can't tell you. And all done for Jemmy, who was soungrateful! My brother would be dead, if your son was like him. Therehas never been anything half so noble, in all the history of the world."
"My dear, you say that, because you think well of our Frankie--I havenot called him that, since Tuesday now. But you do think well of him,don't you now?"
"Don't talk to me of thinking well indeed! I never can endure those weakexpressions. When I like people, I do like them."
"My dear, it reminds me quite of our own country, to hear you speak outso hearty. None of them do it up your way, much; according to what Ihear of them. I feel it so kind of you, to like Frank Gilham."
"Well! am I never to be understood? Is there no meaning in the Englishlanguage? I don't like him only. But with all my heart, I love him."
"He won't care if doctors cut his arm off now, if he hath one left to goround you."
The mother sobbed a little, with second fiddle in full view; but beingstill a mother, wiped her eyes, and smiled with content at theinevitable thing.
"One thing remember," said the girl, with a coaxing domestic smile, andyet a lot of sparkle in her eyes; "if you ever tell him what you twistedout of me, in a manner which I may call--well, too circumstantial--I amafraid that I never should forgive you. I am awfully proud, and I can betremendous. Perhaps he would not even care to hear it. And then whatwould become of me? Can you tell me that?"
"My dear, you know better. You know, as well as I do, that ever since hesaw you, he has
thought of nothing else. It has made me feel ashamed,that I should have a son capable of throwing over all the worldbeside----"
"But don't you see, that is the very thing I like? Noble as he is, if itwere not for that, I--well, I won't go into it; but you ought tounderstand. He can't think half so much of me, as I do of him."
"Then there is a pair of you. And the Lord has made you so. But neverfear, my pretty. Not a whisper shall he have. You shall tell him allabout it, with your own sweet lips."
"As if I could do that indeed! Why, Mrs. Gilham, was that what you usedto do, when you were young? I thought people were ever so much moreparticular in those days."
"I can hardly tell, my dear. Sometimes I quite forget, because it seemsso long ago; and at other times I'm not fit to describe it, because I amdoing it over again. But for pretty behaviour, and nice ways--nicepeople have them in every generation; and you may take place with thebest of them. But we are talking, as if nothing was the matter. And youhave never asked even how we are going on!"
"Because I know all about it, from the best authority. Coming up thehill we met Dr. Gronow, and I stopped the chaise to have a talk withhim. He does not think the arm will ever be much good again; but heleaves it to younger men, to be certain about anything. That was meantfor Jemmy, I suppose. He would rather have the pain, than not, he says;meaning of course in the patient--not himself. It shows healthyaction--though I can't see how--and just the proper quantity ofinflammation, which I should have thought couldn't be too little. He hascome round to Jemmy's opinion this morning, that if one--something orother--can be got to stay in its place, and not do something orother--the poor arm may be saved, after all; though never as strong asit was before. He says it must have been a frightful blow. I hope thatman will be punished for it heavily."
"I hope so too, with all my heart; though I am not revengeful. Mr.Penniloe was up here yesterday, and he tried to make the best of it. Iwas so vexed that I told him, he would not be quite such a Christianabout it perhaps, if he had the pain in his own arm. But he has made theman promise to give himself up, if your brother, or my son, require it.I was for putting him in jail at once, but the others think it better towait a bit. But as for his promise, I wouldn't give much for that.However, men manage those things, and not women. Did the doctor saywhether you might see my Frankie?"
"He said I might see Jemmy; though Jemmy is very queer. But as forFrank, if I saw him through a chink in the wall, that would be quiteenough. But he must not see me, unless it was with a telescope through atwo-inch door. That annoyed me rather. As if we were such babies! But hesaid that you were a most sensible woman, and that was the advice yougave him."
"What a story! Oh my dear, never marry a doctor--though I hope you willnever have the chance--but they really don't seem to care what they say.It was just the same in my dear husband's time. Dr. Gronow said tome--'if she comes when I am out, don't let her go near either of them.She might do a lot of mischief. She might get up an argument, orsomething.' And so, I said----"
"Oh, Mrs. Gilham, that is a great deal worse than telling almost anystory. An argument! Do I ever argue? I had better have stayed away, ifthat is the way they think of me. A telescope and a two-inch door, andnot be allowed perhaps to open my mouth! There is something exceedinglyunjust in the opinions men entertain of women."
"Not my Frank, my dear. That is where he differs from all the otheryoung men in the world. He has the most correct and yet exalted views;such as poets had, when there were any. If you could only hear him goingon about you, before he got that wicked knock I mean, of course,--hisopinions not only of your hair and face, nor even your eyes, though allperfectly true, but your mind, and your intellect, and disposition, andpower of perceiving what people are, and then your conversation--almosttoo good for us, because of want of exercise--and then, well I reallyforget what came next."
"Oh, Mrs. Gilham, it is all so absurd! How could he talk such nonsense?I don't like to hear of such things; and I cannot believe there could beanything, to come next."
"Oh yes, there was, my dear, now you remind me of it. It was about thesmall size of your ears, and the lovely curves inside them. He had foundout in some ancient work,--for I believe he could hold his own in Greekand Latin, even with Mr. Penniloe,--that a well-shaped ear is one of therarest of all feminine perfections. That made him think no doubt ofyours, for men are quite babies when they are in love; and he foundyours according to the highest standard. Men seem to make all thoserules about us, simply according to their own ideas! What rules do weever make about them?"
"I am so glad that you look at things in that way," Christie answered,with her fingers going slyly up her hair, to let her ears know what wasthought of them; "because I was afraid that you were too much--wellperhaps that thinking so much of your son, you might look at thingsone-sidedly. And yet I might have known from your unusual commonsense--but I do believe Dr. Gronow is coming back; and I have not evengot my cloak off! Wait a bit, till things come round a little. Atelescope, and a two-inch door! One had better go about in a coal-sack,and curl-papers. Not that I ever want such things,--curves enough in myears perhaps. But really I must make myself a little decent. They havetaken my things up to my old room, I suppose. Try to keep him here, tillI come back. He says that I get up arguments. Let me get up one withhim."
"My orders are as stern as they are sensible;" Dr. Gronow declared, whenshe had returned, beautifully dressed and charming, and had thusattacked him with even more of blandishment than argument; "Your brotheryou may see, but not to talk much at one time to him; for his head isin a peculiar state, and he does much more than he ought to do. Heinsists upon doing everything, which means perpetual attention to hisfriend. But he does it all as if by instinct, apparently without knowingit; and that he should do it all to perfection, is a very noble proof ofthe thoroughness of his grounding. The old school, the old school oftraining--there is nothing like it after all. Any mere sciolist, anyempiric, any smatterer of the new medical course--and where would FrankGilham's arm be now? Not in a state of lenitive pain, sanative, and insome degree encouraging, but in a condition of incipient mortification.For this is a case of compound comminuted fracture; so severe that myown conviction was--however no more of that to you two ladies. Only feelassured that no more could be done for the patient in the best hospitalin London. And talking of upstart schools indeed, and new-fanglededucation, have you heard what the boys have done at Perlycross? I heardthe noise upstairs, and I was obliged to shut the window, although it issuch a soft spring-day. I was going down the hill to stop it, when I metMiss Fox. It is one of the most extraordinary jokes I ever knew."
"Oh, do tell us. We have not heard a word about it. But I am beginningto think that this is not at all a common place. I am never surprised atanything that happens at Perlycross." This was not a loyal speech on thepart of the fair Christie.
"From what I have heard of that Moral Force-man," Mrs. Gilham remarked,with slow shake of her head; "I fear that his system would work betterin a future existence, than as we are now. From what my son told me,before his accident, I foresaw that it must lead up to something quiteoutrageous. Nothing ever answers long, that goes against all the wisdomof our ancestors."
"Excuse me for a minute; I must first see how things are going onupstairs. As soon as I am at liberty, I will tell you what I saw. ThoughI like the march of intellect, when discipline directs it."
Dr. Gronow, who was smiling, which he seldom was, except after whirlingout a two-ounce trout, went gently upstairs and returned in a fewminutes, and sat down to tell his little tale.
"Every thing there going on as well as can be. Your brother isdelighted to hear that you are come. But the other patient must not heara word about it yet. We don't want any rapid action of the heart. Well,what the young scamps have done is just this. The new schoolmaster hasabolished canes, you know, and birches, and every kind of physicalcompulsion. He exclaims against coercion, and pronounces that boys areto be guided by their hearts, instead of being governe
d by their--pardonme, a word not acknowledged in the language of these loftier days. Thisgentleman seems to have abolished the old system of the puerile body andmind, without putting anything of cogency in its place. He hasintroduced novelties, very excellent no doubt, if the boys would onlytake to them, with intellects as lofty as his own. But that is the verything the boys won't do. I am a Liberal--so far as feelings go, when notoverpowered by the judgment--but I must acknowledge that the bestextremes of life, the boyhood made of nature, and the age made ofexperience, are equally staunch in their Toryism. But this man's greatword is--Reform. As long as the boys thought it meant their benches, andexpected to have soft cushions on them, they were highly pleased, andlooked forward to this tribute to a part which had hitherto beenanything but sacred. Their mothers too encouraged it, on account of wearand tear; but their fathers could not see why they should sit softer attheir books, than they had to do at their trenchers.
"But yesterday unluckily the whole of it came out. There arrived a greatpackage, by old Hill the carrier, who has had his van mended that wasblown over, and out rushed the boys, without asking any leave, to bringin their comfortable cushions. All they found was a great blackboard,swinging on a pillar, with a socket at the back, and a staple and chainto adjust it. Toogood expected them to be in raptures, but instead ofthat they all went into sulks; and the little fellows would not look atit, having heard of black magic and witchcraft. Toogood called it a'Demonstration-table, for the exhibition of Object-lessons.'
"Mr. Penniloe, as you may suppose, had long been annoyed and unhappyabout the new man's doings, but he is not supreme in the week-dayschool, as he is on Sunday; and he tried to make the best of it, tillthe right man should come home. And I cannot believe that he went awayon purpose to-day, in order to let them have it out. But the boys foundout that he was going, and there is nobody else they care twopence for.
"Everybody says, except their mothers, that they must have put theirheads together over-night, or how could they have acted with such unityand precision? Not only in design but in execution, the accomplishedtactician stands confessed. Instead of attacking the enemy at once, whenmany might have hastened to his rescue, they deferred operations untilto-day, and even then waited for the proper moment. They allowed him toexhaust all the best of his breath in his usual frothy oration--for likemost of such men he can spout for ever, and finds it much easier thancareful teaching.
"Then as he leaned back, with pantings in his chest, and eyes turned upat his own eloquence, two of the biggest boys flung a piece ofclothes-line round his arms from behind, and knotted it, while anotherslipped under the desk, and buckled his ankles together with asatchel-strap, before he knew what he was doing. Then as he began toshout and bellow, scarcely yet believing it, they with much panting andblowing, protrusion of tongues, and grunts of exertion, some working athis legs, and some shouldering at his loins, and others hauling on theclothes-line, but all with perfect harmony of action, fetched theirpreceptor to the Demonstration-board, and laying him with his back flatagainst it, strapped his feet to the pedestal; then pulling out thestaple till the board was perpendicular, they secured his coat-collar tothe shaft above it, and there he was--as upright as need be, but withoutthe power to move, except at his own momentous peril. Then to make quitesure of him, a clever little fellow got upon a stool, and drew back hishair, bright red, and worn long like a woman's, and tied it with abook-tape behind the pillar. You may imagine how the poor preceptorlooks. Any effort of his to release himself will crush him beneath thegreat Demonstration, like a mouse in a figure-of-four trap."
"But are we to believe, Dr. Gronow," asked Christie, "that you cameaway, and left the poor man in that helpless state?"
"Undoubtedly I did. It is no concern of mine. And the boys had only justgot their pea-shooters. He has not had half enough to cure him yet.Besides, they had my promise; for the boys have got the keys, they arecharging a penny for a view of this Reformer; but they won't let any onein without a promise of strict neutrality. I gave a shilling, for I amsure they have deserved it. Somebody will be sure to cast him loose, inplenty of time for his own good. This will be of the greatest service tohim, and cure him for a long time of big words."
"But suppose he falls forward upon his face, and the board falls uponhim and suffocates him. Why, it would be the death of Mr. Penniloe. Youare wanted here of course, Dr. Gronow; but I shall put my bonnet on, andrush down the hill, to the release of the Higher Education."
"Don't rush too fast, Miss Fox. There's a tree blown down across thelane, after you turn out of the one you came by. We ought to have had itcleared, but they say it will take a fortnight to make some of the mainroads passable again. I would not go, if I were you. Somebody will haveset him free, before you get there. I'll go out and listen. With thewind in the north, we can hear their hurrah-ing quite plainly at thegate. You can come with me, if you like."
"Oh, it is no hurrahing, Dr. Gronow! How can you deceive me so? It is avery sad sound indeed;" said Christie, as they stood at the gate, andshe held her pretty palms to serve as funnels for her much admired ears."It sounds like a heap of boys weeping and wailing. I fear thatsomething sadly vindictive has been done. One never can have a bit oftriumph, without that."
She scarcely knew the full truth of her own words. It was indeed anepoch of Nemesis. This fourth generation of boys in that village arebeginning to be told of it, on knees that shake, with time, as well asmemory. And thus it befell.
"What, lock me out of my own school-door! Can't come in, without I paya penny! May do in Spain; but won't do here."
A strong foot was thrust into the double of the door, a rattle of thehandle ran up the lock and timber, and conscience made a coward of theboy that took the pennies. An Odic Force, as the present quaky periodcalls it, permeated doubtless from the Master hand. Back went the boy,and across him strode a man, rather tall, wiry, torve of aspect,hyporrhined with a terse moustache, hatted with a vast sombrero. At aglance he had the whole situation in his eye, and his heart,--worst ofall, in his strong right arm. He flung off a martial cloak, that mighthave cumbered action, stood at the end of the long desk, squared hisshoulders and eyebrows, and shouted--
"Boys, here's a noise!"
As this famous battle-cry rang through the room, every mother's darlingknew what was coming. Consternation is too weak a word. Grinning mouthsfell into graves of terror, castaway pea-shooters quivered on the floor,fat legs rattled in their boots, and flew about, helter-skelter,anywhere, to save their dear foundations. Vain it was; no vanishingpoint could be discovered. Wisdom was come, to be justified of herchildren.
The schoolmaster of the ancient school marched with a grim smile to thedoor, locked it, and pocketed the key. Three little fellows, untaught asyet the expediency of letting well alone, had taken the bunch of keys,and brought forth, and were riding disdainfully the three canes dormantunder the new dispensation. "Bring me those implements," commandedSergeant Jakes, "perhaps they may do--to begin with." He arranged themlovingly, and then spoke wisely.
"My dear young friends, it is very sad to find, that while I have beenin foreign parts, you have not been studying discipline. The gentleman,whom you have treated thus, will join me, I trust, by the time I havedone, in maintaining that I do not bear the rod in vain. Any boy whocrawls under a desk may feel assured that he will get it ten timesworse."
Pity draws a mourning veil, though she keeps a place to peep through,when her highly respected cousin, Justice, is thus compelled to assertherself. Enough that very few indeed of the highly cultured boys ofPerlycross showed much aptitude that week for sedentary employment.