Lost Sir Massingberd: A Romance of Real Life. v. 1/2 Read online

  CHAPTER VII.

  AT THE DOVECOT.

  After an interval, which doubtless appeared much longer than it reallywas, there issued from the gate a groom and butler, bearing between thema small sofa, and accompanied by a young and lovely girl. The scene thatpresented itself was enough to shock persons even of strong nerves, andI hastily exclaimed, "The young lady had better not see this." But shecame on nevertheless.

  "I am not afraid of blood," said she, "and perhaps I may be of use."Then she directed her servants how to handle the wounded man; and whenhe was gently lifted on to the couch, she applied a handkerchief dippedin Eau-de-Cologne to his forehead, and walked by his side regulating thepace of his bearers, like some Miss Nightingale of a generation and ahalf ago. "Let him be placed in your master's room, James: and then takemy pony, Thomas, and ride as fast as you can for Dr. Sitwell; and as youcome back--but think of nothing but bringing the doctor first--call atthe nursery-garden for your master; he said he should go there aboutthose roses." And some other directions she gave, as the men moved onwith their ghastly burden, like one who knew the value of time.Notwithstanding this presence of mind, her anxious eyes betrayed thatshe was not wanting in sensibility, and with every groan which themotion of the fitter extracted from the sufferer, her own lip quivered.I dare say that I saw nothing of her exceeding beauty at that dreadfultime; but while I write of Lucy Gerard now, a vision of surpassingloveliness perforce presents itself before me. A tall, lithe, gracefulform; a face, nay, rather a soft, sad smile overspreading and pervadingevery feature--a smile that I never saw surpassed save on her own faircountenance after Love had taken her sweet soul captive--a smile thereflex of all good and kindly thoughts that dwelt within. There are someso great and noble that they smile, where other good folks can only weepand wail; the true sympathizer with human griefs wears no lugubriousaspect; the angels smile when they weep over human wretchedness--theyknow that it is only for a little while, for that the gates of heavenare standing open very, very near; and some such knowledge, or happyfaith, seems to influence the best of mortals, or how should they gosmiling through this world?

  So Marmaduke was carried along the gravel-drive, and across a littleflower-studded lawn, to the room in Mr. Gerard's house which was calledthe master's room, it being half a sleeping-chamber, and half a library,which Lucy's father used both night and day. This was so evident fromthe appearance of the place, that when I had, with James' help, putMarmaduke to bed there, where he lay breathing heavily, but quiteunconscious, I went to the young lady of the house, and expressed myapprehension that my poor friend, being in that apartment, would causeadditional inconvenience in the household.

  "I understand," said I, "that it is Mr. Gerard's room."

  "Ah, sir," said she, with a glance of pride more becoming, if that werepossible, than even her ordinary modest look, "you do not know myfather. When I say that it will give him the greatest pleasure to findthat his favourite room has been of service to your friend, I use aconventional phrase which literally expresses what he will feel Pleaseto forget that there is anybody in this house but yourselves; it is onlyright that sickness should be considered before health; though, alas!every room to those who are ill is but an hospital. This littledrawing-room, which your glance tells me you think pretty, with itsconservatory and fountain, and the rest, my poor young sister was very,very weary of before she died, on yonder sofa, after fourteen months ofthe gay prison."

  Her voice trembled as she spoke, and I thought I detected in it thatshade of bitterness with which some affectionate persons speak of thesufferings of those they love, as though they would almost arraign thatProvidence for unnecessary harshness, which might inflict any miseryupon, themselves without evoking one impatient thought.

  "Then you are left all alone here, Miss Gerard. With such a sadreminiscence, this spot must--"

  "Alone!" interrupted she, with astonishment. "What! when I have myfather? See, he is coming through the shrubbery now, and Dr. Sitwellwith him. Let us meet them. How glad I am that he has lost no time."

  It was easy to distinguish the doctor, with his cane, his ruffles, andstiff professional appearance, a little impaired, however, by hot haste;moreover, his companion indicated him with his finger as we rapidlyapproached one another, exclaiming, "This is your man, young gentleman;don't waste one word on me at present."

  So, rapidly detailing what had happened as we went, I took the man ofphysic to Marmaduke's bedside. As we entered the room, and first caughtsight of his pale features distorted with pain, my companion stood foran instant aghast. "Great Heaven!" murmured he, "I thought the horse hadtrodden upon the poor lad's forehead; but now, I see it is an old scar."

  "No," returned I; "it is not a scar; it is only a mark which in momentsof pain or anger comes out more distinctly than at other times. All theHeath family have it. This is Mr. Marmaduke Heath, the nephew of SirMassingberd."

  "Indeed--indeed, sir!" exclaimed the doctor with an accession ofsympathy. "Dear me, how sad! What a fine property to risk losing at histime of life. But the eye, you see, gives us hope; the brain hassuffered but slightly. He has not been sick, you say--not been sick; hehas not been sick, sir."

  It was the worthy doctor's habit to reiterate his last sentence in anarrogant manner, as though he had been contradicted on a matter of fact,while in reality his mind was entirely occupied by quite other thoughts.Thus, at the present speaking, he was engaged in manipulatingMarmaduke's head, and examining his ribs and limbs with the greatestattention. I waited for his verdict in anxious silence, and presently itwas delivered. "It is my opinion, sir, that the young man will live tobe a baronet."

  Life and Death, the immortalities of Heaven and Hell, were matters thathad but small space in Doctor Sitwell's mind compared to thisall-important futurity; he was accustomed to them in connection withthe merest paupers and persons of no sort of consequence; but it was notevery day in the week that a gentleman of Marmaduke's condition waspitched on his head within the Crittenden doctor's professional orbit.

  "Mr. Marmaduke Heath must be kept perfectly quiet; he must not be movedfrom hence upon any consideration--it may be, for weeks. What sciencecan do, through my humble agency, shall be done for the young gentleman;but rest and quiet are essential. Sir Massingberd should be sent forinstantly; the responsibility upon my shoulders would otherwise be toogreat. He will doubtless yearn to be by the bedside of his belovednephew. You had better arrange with Mr. Gerard for this being done, as Ihave my round to make, which to-day is all-important. The Hon. Mrs.Flinthert--widow of the late admiral, you know--she requires constantsupervision; nature has to be supported; but for brandy, she must havesunk before this. Then Mr. Broadacres, who lives Fairburn way--by theby, that is a very curious case. However, my post is here, of course,until my assistant arrives, who will remain in my absence. You may leaveyour friend now without the least anxiety. When he awakes toconsciousness, you shall be sent for--you shall be sent for, sir."

  Upon this, I returned to the drawing-room to give a much more cheerfulreport of the patient's case than I had ventured to anticipate. I foundour host issuing orders for his comfort and attendance, as though he hadquite made up his mind to make him his guest for a lengthened period. Anoble-looking gentleman he was, as like his daughter as an old man canbe to a young girl. Harvey Gerard's face was wrinkled neither by yearsnor care, though marked here and there with those deep lines whichindicate the Thinker--one whom the gods have placed above the drudgeryof life, with a disposition to philosophize--a man among men rather thanof them, who stands apart from the high-road somewhere half-way up thehill of Fortune, and watches the toilers above and below with a quietbut not cynical smile. "The news you bring me of our patient, Mr.Meredith," said he, "is most welcome; but I think we should still loseno time in communicating with his friends."

  "That is also the opinion of Dr. Sitwell, sir; he, too, recommends thatmy poor friend's nearest relative should be sent for; but incircumstances of this kind, it would be wrong not to say at once t
hatthat relative and the invalid here are on the worst of terms, and thathis coming would most certainly aggravate any bad symptoms, and retardhis cure."

  "I am sorry to hear," returned Mr. Gerard, gravely, "that the younggentleman is not on good terms with his own flesh and blood; that is abad sign."

  "However that maybe, sir, generally," replied I, with warmth, "it is notso in this instance. Mr. Long, the rector of Fairburn, and tutor to myfriend, will certify to his being a most well-conducted and excellentyouth. His uncle, however, Sir Massingberd Heath--"

  "I will not have that person under my roof," interrupted Mr. Gerard,"under any circumstances whatsoever." This he said without the leasttrace of irritation, but with a firmness and decision which left menothing to apprehend upon Marmaduke's account. Then turning to hisdaughter, as if in explanation, he added, "The man I speak of, my love,is a wicked ruffian--worse than any poor fellow who has ever dangledyonder outside of Crittenden jail."

  Miss Gerard did not answer except by a look of gentle remonstrance,which seemed to me to murmur, "But, dear papa, for all we know, thisgentleman may be a friend of his."

  I hastened, therefore, to observe with energy, that Mr. Gerard's view ofthe baronet's character was a perfectly just one, as far as I knew, or,if anything, rather lenient. I recommended that Mr. Long should beapprised of what had happened, and that he should give Sir Massingberdto understand that while his nephew was receiving every attention at theDovecot--for so I had learned the house was called--its doors wereimmutably closed against himself. It was not a pleasant task to imposeupon the good rector, but it was a necessary one; for, independently ofMr. Gerard's determination, I felt it was absolutely essential toMarmaduke's life that his uncle should be kept away from his bedside. Ifin health his presence terrified him, how much worse would it be for himin his prostrate and perilous condition! It was arranged, too, that Ishould remain to look after my sick friend, and the messenger wasinstructed to bring back with him all that we required from the Rectoryand the Hall. Mr. Long arrived at the Dovecot late that same afternoon,in a state of great anxiety. He had come away almost on the instantafter receiving the news of Marmaduke's mis-chance, and without seeingSir Massingberd, who had not yet returned from shooting; but he had lefta letter for him, explaining the circumstances as well as he could. "Myonly fear," said he, after visiting his pupil, who still lay in alethargic slumber, "is that he will come here immediately, and insist onseeing his nephew--a desire that would appear to be natural enough topersons who are unacquainted with the circumstances."

  "Nay," said I; "but surely he cannot do this in the face of Mr. Gerard'sprohibition."

  "Ah, my boy, you do not know Sir Massingberd yet," observed my tutor,gravely; "he will come where and when he will."

  "Nay," returned I; "but neither do you know Mr. Harvey Gerard. From whatI have seen of that gentleman, he understands how to say 'No,' and tosuit to the word the action. When the strong man armed keepeth hishouse, his goods, including his sick guest, are in peace."

  "But where a stronger than he cometh," added the rector, shaking hishead, "what then?"

  "We shall see," said I, "what will happen. It is plain, at all events,that our host is well aware of the sort of man with whom he has to deal.Mr. Gerard is a most pleasant person, and his daughter is charmingbeyond measure: they are far the most interesting people I have yet seenabout Fairburn. How is it I have never heard any mention of them?"

  "The Gerards have always lived a very retired life," returned my tutor."The old gentleman entertains, it is said, some strange opinions. Infact, I have never met them myself but once, and that on some publicoccasion; so you must introduce me, Peter."

  I had been watching for Mr. Long at the entrance-gate, and taken himstraight into Marmaduke's room upon his arrival, so that he had seenneither our host nor hostess; and I thought it strange that my tutor didnot speak of them with more enthusiasm, after their great kindness toMarmaduke; something evidently a little chilled his feelings towardsthem. When he and Mr. Gerard met, I thought there was more cordialityupon the part of the latter than of the former; the expression of Mr.Long's gratitude was earnest, but not genial. His admiration of MissLucy, although not to be concealed, was mitigated, as it seemed, by somesort of compassion; he regarded her with a shade of sadness. Boy as Iwas, it was evident to me that some antagonism existed between myhost--for whom I naturally entertained most kindly feelings--and myrespected tutor; and this troubled me more than I should have liked tosay.

  Miss Lucy presently left the drawing-room, and then I was continuallyappealed to by one or the other, on various trifling matters, as thoughthey found a third party a relief to their conversation. At last Mr.Long requested me to narrate particularly the circumstances ofMarmaduke's accident, and I did so, down to the period when I found himbleeding on the road.

  "Well," observed my tutor, "I am totally at a loss to account for poorPanther's behaviour. I confess, upon the first day I saw him, I did notlike the look of his eye: you remember, Peter, that I made Marmadukeexchange horses with me, and endeavoured, by every means in my power, tofind out the peculiarities of the animal. I wish Sir Massingberd hadpermitted me to choose a horse for his nephew myself, when I bought yourhonest brown."

  "Sir Massingberd selected his nephew's horse himself, did he?" inquiredMr. Gerard, carelessly.

  "Yes," replied my tutor; "he sent for him from town a few weeks ago. Hewas a mettlesome frisky creature, it is true; but his curb was a verypowerful one, and seemed quite sufficient to subdue him."

  "Does Sir Massingberd himself ride when he is in the field?" observedour host. "He must be a great weight for a shooting pony."

  "Well, if you had asked me yesterday, I should have said he almost neverrides; but it so happens that he did take the keeper's nag with him thismorning. His great stables are all empty now, for, as probably you areaware, things are not kept up as they used to be at the Hall. Old Dobbinis the only representative of the magnificent stud that was oncemaintained there, now that Panther is dead. By the by, what has beendone with him?"

  "The carcass has been taken into the town," said Mr. Gerard. "He musthave been a fine creature."

  "His mouth, however, was of iron," said I. "Poor Marmaduke had nocontrol over him whatever, at last; he had almost pulled his arms off."

  "Notwithstanding the powerful bit?" observed Mr. Gerard.

  "Yes," replied my tutor; "the bit was not only powerful, I should havealmost called it cruel; but Sir Massingberd is a very good judge of allthings belonging to a horse, and seems to have known that, at allevents, no less was required. It was a town-made article, and came downfrom London with the animal."

  "Ah, indeed," remarked Mr. Gerard. "But you have never told us, Mr.Meredith, how you managed to give the alarm here, without leaving yourpoor friend."

  I am ashamed to say I had never given the old gipsy crone a thought fromthe moment that help arrived, although it was of her sending.

  "The very woman whose appearance frightened the horse, repaired, as faras she could accomplish it, that mischief. She left in my hands, too,this fine old case-bottle, of which I should be sorry to rob her; andvery curious is it that it has the Heath griffin, or some crest verylike that, upon its stopper."

  "It is the very crest," said the rector. "I am quite sure of that,although it is long since it last saw plate-powder. It is but too likelythat the dark lady came wrongfully by it."

  "Let us not be hasty to impute crime," observed Mr. Gerard, gravely."This is a shooting-flask carried about the person; and gipsies arerarely pickpockets. When the owner is at home, it lies in someplace ofsafety; and gipsies are not burglars."

  "Ably reasoned," observed Mr. Long. "It may, however, have been a caseof 'findings, keepings,' as the school-boys say. I should think theCingari claimed for themselves all flotsam and jetsam."

  "It is too heavy, and has too much bulk, not to have been missed by himwho carried it as soon as it fell," continued Mr. Gerard, taking up theflask. "It has but very little
spirit left in it--see--and yet how--"

  Here the butler entered somewhat hurriedly, and was about to speak, whena figure brushed by him, and set him aside. The daylight was beginningto wane; but it was impossible to mistake that herculean form, and itsirresistible motion, even if I had not heard the harsh decisive voiceof Sir Massingberd saying, "By your leave, sirrah; but in this goodcompany I will announce myself!"