按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Since that is settled； perhaps I had better go up to the doctor；〃
said Alan； 〃I don't like leaving Flora alone with him；〃 and he was
gone。
〃How fortunate that that youth is here；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot〃he seems
to be quite taking Richard's place。〃
〃And to feel it as much；〃 said Mr。 Ward。 〃He has been invaluable
with his sailor's resources and handiness。〃
〃Well； what shall I tell poor Richard？〃 asked Mr。 Wilmot。
〃Tell him there is no reason his father should not do very well； if
we can keep him from agitationbut there's the point。 He is of so
excitable a constitution； that his faculties being so far confused is
the best thing； perhaps； that could be。 Mr。 Ernescliffe manages him
very wellused to illness on that African coast； and the doctor is
very fond of him。 As to Miss May； one can't tell what to say about
her yetthere's no fracture； at leastit must be a work of time to
judge。〃
Flora at that moment half…opened the door； and called Mr。 Ward；
stopping for a moment to say it was for nothing of any consequence。
Mr。 Wilmot and Norman were left together。 Norman put his hands over
his face and groanedhis master looked at him with kind anxiety； but
did not feel as if it were yet time to speak of consolation。
〃God bless and support you； and turn this to your good； my dear boy；〃
said he affectionately； as he pressed his hand； 〃I hope to bring your
brother to…morrow。〃
〃Thank you； sir；〃 was all Norman could say； and as Mr。 Wilmot went
out by the front door； he slowly went up again； and； lingering on the
landing…place； was met by Mr。 Ward； who told him to his relieffor
the mere thinking of it renewed the faint sensationthat he had
better not go to his father's room。
There was nothing to be done but to return to Ethel and Harry； and
tell them all； with some humiliation at being helpless； where Flora
was doing so much； and to leave their father to be watched by a
stranger。 If he had been wanted； Norman might have made the effort；
but being told that he would be worse than useless； there was nothing
for him but to give way。
They sat together in Ethel's room till somewhere between eight and
nine o'clock； when good old nurse； having put her younger ones to
bed； came in search of them。 〃Dear； dear！ poor darlings；〃 said she；
as she found them sitting in the dark； she felt their cold hands； and
made them all come into the nursery； where Mary was already； and；
fondling them； one by one； as they passively obeyed her； she set them
down on their little old stools round the fire； took away the high
fender； and gave them each a cup of tea。 Harry and Mary ate enough
to satisfy her； from a weary craving feeling； and for want of
employment； Norman sat with his elbow on his knee； and a very aching
head resting on his hand； glad of drink； but unable to eat； Ethel
could be persuaded to do neither； till she found old nurse would let
her have no peace。
The nurse sent them all to bed； taking the two girls to their own
room； undressing them； and never leaving them until Mary was in a
fair way of crying herself to sleepfor saying her prayers had
brought the tears； while Ethel lay so wide awake that it was of no
use to wait for her； and then she went to the boys； tucked them each
in； as when they were little children； and saying； 〃Bless your dear
hearts！〃 bestowed on each of them a kiss which came gratefully to
Norman's burning brow； and which even Harry's boyish manliness could
not resist。
Flora was in Margaret's room； too useful to be spared。
So ended that dreadful Saturday。
CHAPTER IV。
They may not mar the deep repose
Of that immortal flower：
Though only broken hearts are found
To watch her cradle by；
No blight is on her slumbers found；
No touch of harmful eye。
LYRA INNOCENTIUM。
Such a strange sad Sunday！ No going to church； but all the poor
children moving in awe and oppression about the house； speaking under
their breath； as they gathered in the drawing…room。 Into the study
they might not go； and when Blanche would have asked why； Tom pressed
her hand and shuddered。
Etheldred was allowed to come and look at Margaret； and even to sit
in the room for a little while； to take the place of Miss Winter； but
she was not sensible of sufficient usefulness to relieve the burden
of fear and bewilderment in the presence of that still； pale form；
and； what was almost worse； the sight of the familiar objects； the
chair by the fire； the sofa； the books； the work…basket； the letter…
case； the dressing things； all these were too oppressive。 She sat
crouched up； with her face hidden in her hands； and the instant she
was released； hastened back to Norman。 She was to tell him that he
might go into the room； but he did not move； and Mary alone went in
and out with messages。
Dr。 May was not to be visited； for he was in the same half…conscious
state； apparently sensible only of bodily suffering； though he
answered when addressed； and no one was trusted to speak to him but
Flora and Ernescliffe。
The rest wore through the day as best they might。 Harry slept a good
deal； Ethel read to herself； and tried to get Norman to look at
passages which she liked； Mary kept the little ones from being
troublesome； and at last took them to peep behind the school…room
blinds for Richard's coming。
There was a simultaneous shout when； at four o'clock； they caught
sight of him； and though； at Ethel's exclamation of wonder； Mary and
Tom hung their heads at having forgotten themselves； the association
of gladness in seeing Richard was refreshing； the sense of being
desolate and forsaken was relieved； and they knew that now they had
one to rely on and to comfort them。
Harry hastened to open the front door； and Richard； with his small
trim figure； and fresh； fair young face； flushed； though not
otherwise agitated； was among them； almost devoured by the younger
ones； and dealing out quiet caresses to them； as he caught from the
words and looks of the others that at least his father and sister
were no worse。 Mr。 Wilmot had come with him； but only stayed to hear
the tidings。
〃Can I see papa？〃 were Richard's first audible wordsall the rest
had been almost dumb show。
Ethel thought not； but took him to Margaret's room； where he stood
for many minutes without speaking； then whispered to Flora that he
must go to the others； she should call him ifand went down；
followed by Ethel。
Tom and Blanche had fallen into teasing tricks； a sort of melancholy
play to relieve the tedium。 They grew cross。 Norman was roused to
reprove sharply； and Blanche was beginning to cry。 But Richard's
entrance set all at peacehe sat down among them； and； with soft
voice and arm round Blanche； as she leaned against him； made her good
in a moment； and she listened while he talked over with Norman and
Ethel all they could bear to speak of。
Late in the day Flora came into her father's room； and stood gazing
at him； as he lay with eyes closed； breathing heavily； and his brows
contracted by pain。 She watched him with piteous looks； as if
imploring him to return to his children。 Poor girl； to…day's quiet；
after the last evening's bustle； was hard to bear。 She had then been
distracted from thought by the necessity of exertion； but it now
repaid itself； and she knew not how to submit to do nothing but wait
and watch。
〃No change？〃 enquired Alan Ernescliffe； looking kindly in her face。
〃No；〃 replied she in a low； mournful tone。 〃She only once said；
thank you。〃
A voice which she did not expect； asked inquiringly； 〃Margaret？〃 and
her heart beat as if it would take away her breath； as she saw her
father's eyes intently fixed on her。 〃Did you speak of her？〃 he
repeated。
〃Yes； dear papa；〃 said Flora； not losing presence of mind； though in
extreme fear of what the next question might be。 〃She is quiet and
comfortable； so don't be uneasy； pray。〃
〃Let me hear；〃 he said； and his whole voice and air showed him to be
entirely roused。 〃There is injury？ What is it〃
He continued his inquiries till Flora was obliged fully to explain
her sister's condition； and then he dismayed her by saying he would
get up and go to see her。 Much distressed； she begged him not to
think of it； and appealed to Alan； who added his entreaties that he
would at least wait for Mr。 Ward； but the doctor would not relinquish
his purpose； and sent her to give notice that he was coming。
Mr。 Ernescliffe followed her out of the room； and tried to console
her； as she looked at him in despair。
〃You see he is quite himself； quite collected；〃 he said； 〃you heard
now clear and coherent his questions were。〃
〃Can't it be helped？ Do try to stop him till I can send to Mr。
Ward。〃
〃I will try； but I think he is in a state to judge for himself。
I do； upon my word； and I believe trying to prevent him would be more
likely to do him harm than letting him satisfy himself。 I really
think you need not be alarmed。〃
〃But you know；〃 said Flora； coming nearer； and almost gasping as she
whispered and signed towards the door； 〃she is thereit is mamma's
room； that will tell all。〃
〃I believe he knows；〃 said Alan。 〃It was that which ma