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diff --git a/17532.txt b/17532.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d431eb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/17532.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17314 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Two Knapsacks, by John Campbell + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Two Knapsacks + A Novel of Canadian Summer Life + + +Author: John Campbell + + + +Release Date: January 16, 2006 [eBook #17532] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWO KNAPSACKS*** + + +E-text prepared by Robert Cicconetti, Martin Pettit, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net/) from +page images generously made available by Early Canadiana Online +(http://www.canadiana.org/eco/index.html) + + + +Note: Images of the original pages are available through + Early Canadiana Online. See + http://www.canadiana.org/ECO/ItemRecord/00387?id=5453f8c59767d369 + + + + + +TWO KNAPSACKS: + +A Novel of Canadian Summer Life. + +by + +J. CAWDOR BELL. + + + + + + + +Toronto +The Williamson Book Co., Ltd. +Entered, according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in +the year eighteen hundred and ninety-two, by the Williamson Book +Company, Limited, in the office of the Minister of Agriculture. + + + + + +PUBLISHERS' NOTE. + + +The Publishers have extreme pleasure in placing this novel, by a new and +promising native author, before the reading public of Canada. They will +be greatly disappointed if it does not at once take its place among the +best products of Canadian writers. While the work has peculiar interest +for Torontonians and dwellers in the districts so graphically described, +its admirable character drawings of many "sorts and conditions" of our +people--its extremely clever dialect, representing Irish, Scotch, +English, Canadian, French, Southern and Negro speech, and the working +out of its story, which is done in such a way as would credit an +experienced romancer--should insure the book a welcome in very many +homes. The literary flavour is all that can be desired; the author +evidencing a quite remarkable acquaintance with English Literature, +especially with Wordsworth, the Poet of the Lake Country. + + + + +TWO KNAPSACKS: + +A Novel of Canadian Summer Life. + +by + +J. CAWDOR BELL. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern + Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical + Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay. + + +Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and +fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society. Thither, on +Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their +way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of +like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two. In various +degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read +essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from +popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to +the Society's manuscript magazine. Wilkinson, the older and more sedate +of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, +was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools. +Coristine was a lawyer in full practice, but his name did not appear on +the card of the firm which profited by his services. He was taller than +his friend, more jauntily dressed, and was of a more mercurial +temperament than the schoolmaster, for whom, however, he entertained a +profound respect. Different as they were, they were linked together by +an ardent love of literature, especially poetry, by scientific pursuits, +Coristine as a botanist, and Wilkinson as a dabbler in geology, and by +a firm determination to resist, or rather to shun, the allurements of +female society. Many lady teachers wielded the pointer in rooms not far +removed from those in which Mr. Wilkinson held sway, but he did not +condescend to be on terms even of bowing acquaintance with any one of +them. There were several young lady typewriters of respectable city +connections in the offices of Messrs. Tyler, Woodruff and White, but the +young Irish lawyer passed them by without a glance. These bachelors were +of the opinion that women were bringing the dignity of law and education +to the dogs. + +It was a Wednesday evening in the beginning of July, and the heat was +still great in the city. Few people ventured out to the evening +services, and fewer still found their way to the Victoria and Albert +hall; in fact, there was not a quorum, and, as the constitution stated +that, in such a case, the meeting should be adjourned, it was adjourned +accordingly. Coristine lit a cigar in the porch, and Wilkinson, who did +not smoke, but said he liked the odour of good tobacco, took his arm for +a walk along the well-lit streets. They agreed that it was time to be +out of town. Coristine said: "Let us go together; I'll see one of the +old duffers and get a fortnight's leave." Wilkinson had his holidays, so +he eagerly answered: "Done! but where shall we go? Oh, not to any female +fashion resort." At this Coristine put on the best misanthropic air he +could call up, with a cigar between his lips, and then, as if struck by +a happy thought, dug his elbow into his companion's side and ejaculated: +"Some quiet country place where there's good fishing." Wilkinson +demurred, for he was no fisherman. The sound of a military band stopped +the conversation. It came into sight, the bandsmen with torches in their +headgear, and, after it, surrounded and accompanied by all the small +boys and shop-girls in the town, came the Royals, in heavy marching +order. The friends stood in a shop doorway until the crowd passed by, +and then, just as soon as a voice could be distinctly heard, the +schoolmaster clapped his companion on the shoulder and cried, "Eureka!" +Coristine thought the music had been too much for his usually staid and +deliberate friend. "Well, old Archimedes, and what is it you've found? +Not any new geometrical problems, I hope." "Listen to me," said the +dominie, in a tone of accustomed authority, and the lawyer listened. + +"You've heard Napoleon or somebody else say that every soldier of France +carries a marshal's baton in his knapsack?" + +"Never heard the gentleman in my life, and don't believe it, either." + +"Well, well, never mind about that; but I got my idea out of a +knapsack." + +"Now, what's the use of your saying that, when its myself knows that you +haven't got such a thing to bless yourself with?" + +"I got it out of a soldier's--a volunteer's knapsack, man." + +"O, you thief of the world! And where have you got it hid away?" + +"In my head." + +"O rubbish and nonsense--a knapsack in your head!" + +"No, but the idea." + +"And where's the knapsack?" + +"On the grenadier's back." + +"Then the grenadier has the knapsack, and you the idea: I thought you +said the idea was in the knapsack." + +"So it was; but I took it out, don't you see? My idea is the idea of a +knapsack on a man's back--on two men's backs--on your back and on mine." + +"With a marshal's baton inside?" + +"No; with an extra flannel shirt inside--and some socks, and a flask, +and some little book to read by the way; that's what I want." + +"It'll be mortal heavy and hot this boiling weather." + +"Not a bit. You can make one out of cardboard and patent cloth, just as +light as a feather, and costing you next to nothing." + +"And where will you be going with your knapsack? Will it be parading +through the streets with the volunteers you would be after?" + +"Go? We will go on a pedestrian tour through the finest scenery +available." This was said correctly and with great dignity. It had the +effect of sobering the incredulous Coristine, who said: "I tell ye, +Farquhar, my boy, that's a fine idea of yours, barring the heat; but I +suppose we can rest where we like and go when we like, and, if the +knapsacks get to be a nuisance, express 'em through, C.O.D. Well, I'll +sleep over it, and let you know to-morrow when I can get away." So the +pair separated, to retire for the night and dream a knapsack nightmare. + +Coristine's leave did not come till the following Tuesday, so that +Friday, Saturday and Monday--or parts of them, at least--could be +devoted to the work of preparation. Good, strong, but not too heavy, +tweed walking suits were ordered, and a couple of elegant flannel shirts +that would not show the dirt were laid in; a pair of stout, easy boots +was picked out, and a comfortable felt hat, with brim enough to keep off +the sun. Then the lawyer bought his cardboard and his patent cloth and +straps, and spent Saturday evening with his friend and a sharp penknife, +bringing the knapsacks into shape. The scientists made a mistake in +producing black and shiny articles, well calculated to attract the heat. +White canvas would have been far better. But Wilkinson had taken his +model from the military, hence it had to be black. The folded ends of +the patent cloth, which looked like leather, were next to the wearer's +back, so that what was visible to the general public was a very +respectable looking flat surface, fastened round the shoulders with +becoming straps, equally dark in hue. "Sure, Farquhar, it's pack-men the +ignorant hayseeds will be taking us for," said Coristine, when the +prospective pedestrians had strapped on their shiny baggage holders. "I +do not agree with you there," replied the schoolmaster; "Oxford and +Cambridgemen, and the best _litterateurs_ of England, do Wales and +Cornwall, the Lakes and the Trossachs, to say nothing of Europe, dressed +just as we are." "All right, old man, but I'm thinking I'll add a +bandanna handkerchief and a blackthorn. They'll come in handy to carry +the fossils over your shoulder. There now, I've forgot the printers' +paper and the strap flower press for my specimens. True, there's Monday +for that; but I'm afraid I'll have to shave the boards of the flower +press down, or it'll be a sorry burden for a poor, tired botanist. Good +night to you, my bouchal boy, and it's a pack you might throw into a +corner of your sack." "Cards!" replied Wilkinson; "no sir, but my +pocket chess box will be at your service." "Chess be hanged," said the +lawyer; "but, see here, are they checkers when you turn them upside +down? If they are, it's I'm your man." + +On Tuesday morning, about eight o'clock, there appeared at the Brock +Street Station of the Northern Railway, two well-dressed men with shiny +knapsacks on their shoulders. They had no blackthorns, for Wilkinson had +said it would be much more romantic to cut their own sticks in the bush, +to which Coristine had replied that, if the bush was as full of +mosquitos as one he had known, he would cut his stick fast enough. They +were the astonishment, rather than the admiration, of all beholders, who +regarded them as agents, and characterized the way in which they carried +their samples as the latest thing from the States. For a commencement, +this was humiliating, so that the jaunty lawyer twisted his moustache +fiercely, and felt inclined to quarrel with the self-possessed, +clean-shaven space between Wilkinson's elaborate side-whiskers. But the +pedagogue, in his suavest manner, remarked that Cicero, in his _De +Natura Deorum_, makes Cotta call the common herd both fools and +lunatics, whose opinion is of no moment whatever. "Why, then," he asked, +"should we trouble our minds with what it pleases them to think? It is +for us to educate public opinion--to enlighten the darkness of the +masses. Besides, if you look about, you will see that those who are +doing the giggling are girls, sir, positively girls." + +"Your hand on that, Farquhar, my boy; if it keeps the hussies off, I'll +wear a knapsack every day of my life." + +Coristine did not know where he was going, being subject to the superior +wisdom and topographical knowledge of his companion, who appeared in the +row that besieged the window of the ticket office. "Two for Belle +Ewart," he demanded, when his turn came. + +"Trains don't run to Belle Ewart now; you had better take Lefroy, the +nearest point." + +"All right; two for Lefroy." + +The ticket agent looked at the attire of the speaker, and was about to +produce the cardboard slips, then hesitated as he glanced at the straps +and the top of the black erection on Wilkinson's shoulders, and +enquired, "Second class, eh?" The dominie was angry, his face +crimsoned, his hand shook with indignation. Being a moral man, he would +not use bad language, but he roared in his most stentorian academic +tone, a tone which appalled the young agent with rapid visions of +unfortunate school days, "Second Tom-cats! Does the company put you +there to insult gentlemen?" It was the agent's turn to redden, and then +to apologize, as he mildly laid the tickets down, without the usual +slap, and fumbled over their money. The feminine giggling redoubled, and +Coristine, who had regained his equilibrium, met his friend with a +hearty laugh, and the loud greeting, "O Lord, Wilks, didn't I tell you +the fools would be taking us for bagmen?" But Wilkinson's irritation was +deep, and he marched to the incoming train, ejaculating, "Fool, idiot, +puppy; I shall report him for incivility, according to the printed +invitation of the company. Second! ach! I was never so insulted in my +life." + +There was room enough inside the car to give the travellers a double +seat, half for themselves and the other for their knapsacks. These +impedimenta being removed the occupants of the carriage became aware +that they were in the company of two good-looking men, of refined +features, and in plain but gentlemanly attire. The lady passengers +glanced at them, from time to time, with approbation not unmingled with +amusement, but no responsive glance came from the bachelors. Wilkinson +had opened his knapsack, and had taken out his pocket Wordsworth, the +true poet, he said, for an excursion. Coristine had a volume of Browning +in his kit, but left it there, and went into the smoking-car for an +after breakfast whiff. The car had been swept out that morning by the +joint efforts of a brakesman and the newsagent, so that it was less +hideously repulsive than at a later stage in the day, when tobacco +juice, orange peel, and scraps of newspapers made it unfit for a decent +pig. The lawyer took out his plug, more easily carried than cut tobacco, +and whittled it down with his knife to fill his handsome Turk's head +meerschaum. When all was ready, he discovered, to his infinite disgust, +that he had no matches nor pipe-lights of any description. The news +agent, Frank, a well-known character on the road, supplied him with a +box of Eddy's manufacture, for which he declined to receive payment. +However, he pressed his wares upon the grateful Coristine, recommending +warmly the Samantha books and Frank Stockton's stories. "Are there any +women in them?" asked the smoker. "Full of them," replied Frank; "Why, +Samantha is a woman." "Take them away, and bring me something +different." The news agent returned with a volume made up of cartoons +and other illustrations from _Puck_, and soon the Irishman was shaking +his sides over the adventures of Brudder Sunrise Waterbury and similar +fictitious characters. So absorbed was he in this trivial literature +that he failed to notice the entrance of an old man, respectably dressed +who took a seat on the opposite side of the aisle, and was preparing to +smoke his three inches of clay. He was aroused by the salutation and +request:-- + +"Good marnin', Sor, an' moight Oi be afther thrubblin' yeez for a loight +to my poipe?" + +"Certainly, with pleasure; glad to be of any use to a fellow +countryman," replied Coristine, looking up, and perceiving that his new +acquaintance, though old and stooped, had a soldierly air. "You have +been in service?" he continued. + +"Troth I have, puff, puff, now she's goin' aisy. Oi was in the Furren +Laygion in South Ameriky, an' my cornel was the foinest man you iver +see. It was Frinch he was by his anshesters, an' his name it was +Jewplesshy. Wan toime we was foightin' wid the Spanyerds an' the poor +deluded haythen Injuns, when a shpint bullet rickyshayed an' jumped into +my mouth, knockin' out the toot' ye'll percaive is missin' here. Will, +now, the cornel he was lookin' at me, an', fwhen Oi shput out the bullet +and the broken toot' on the ground, he roides up to me, and says, says +he, 'It's a brave bhoy, yeez are, Moikle Terry, an' here's a' suverin to +get a new toot' put in whin the war is over, says he. Oh, that suverin +wint to kape company wid a lot more that Oi'd be proud to see the face +av in my owld age. But, sorra a toot' did the dintist put in for me, for +fwhere wud the nate hole for the poipe have been thin, till me that, +now?" + +Mr. Coristine failed to answer this conundrum, but continued the +conversation with the old soldier. He learnt that Michael had +accompanied his colonel to Canada, and, after serving him faithfully for +many years, had wept over his grave. One of the old man's sons was a +sergeant in the Royal Artillery, and his daughter was married to a +Scotch farmer named Carruthers, up in the County of Grey. + +"She was a good gyurl, as nate an' swate as a picter, whin she lift the +cornel's lady's sarvice, an' wint an' tuk up wid Carruthers, a foine man +an' a sponsible, not a bit loike the common Scotch. Carruthers and her, +they axed me wud Oi go an' pay thim a visit, an' say to the comfort av +her young lady on the way." + +"What young lady?" asked Coristine, and immediately repented the +question. + +"Miss Jewplesshy, to be sure, the cornel's darter, and an illigant wan +she is, av she has to make her livin' by the wroitin'." + +At this juncture, the lawyer, with lively satisfaction, hailed the +arrival of Frank, who came straight towards him. + +"Are you Mr. Coristine, the lawyer?" he half whispered. "Yes; that's my +name," his victim replied, thinking that Wilkinson had sent him a +message. + +"Well, there's a lady in the rear car wanted to know, and I said I'd +find out." + +"Fwhat's that you'll be sayin' av a lady in the rare car, my lad?" +questioned the old soldier, who had overheard part of the conversation. + +"It's the tall girl in the travelling duster and the blue ribbons that +wants to know if Mr. Coristine is here." + +"Fwhat? my own dare young mishtress, Miss Ceshile Jewplesshy; shure it's +her that do have the blue ribbins, an' the dushter. Do yeez know that +swate young crathur, Sor?" + +"I do not," replied Coristine abruptly, and added, _sotto voce_, "thank +goodness!" Then he relit his pipe, and buried his head in the Puck book, +from the contemplation of which the Irish veteran was too polite to seek +to withdraw his attention. In a few minutes, the door opened and closed +with a slam, and Wilkinson, pale and trembling, stood before him. + +"Eugene, my dear friend," he stammered, "I'll never forgive myself for +leading you and me into a trap, a confounded, diabolical, deep-laid +trap, sir, a gin, a snare, a woman's wile. Let us get off anywhere, at +Aurora, Newmarket, Holland Landing, Scanlans, anywhere to escape these +harpies." + +"What's the matter, old man?" enquired Coristine, with a poor attempt at +calmness. + +"Matter!" replied Wilkinson, "it's this matter, that they have found us +out, and the girl with the cream coloured ribbons and crimson wrapper +has asked that villainous news-agent if my name is not Wilkinson, and if +I don't teach in the Sacheverell Street School. The rascal says her name +is Miss Marjorie Carmichael, the daughter of old Dr. Carmichael, that +was member for Vaughan, and that her friend, the long girl with the blue +ribbons, knows you. O, my dear friend, this is awful. Better be back in +Toronto than shut up in a railway car with two unblushing women." + +"Stay here," said Coristine, making way for his friend, "they'll never +dare come into this car after us." Yet his eye followed the retreating +form of the South American warrior with apprehension. What if he should +bring his 'dare young misthress' and her friend into the atmosphere of +stale tobacco after their lawful game? Wilkinson sat down despairingly +and coughed. "I feel very like the least little nip," he said faintly, +"but it's in my knapsack, and I will not enter that car of foul +conspiracy again for all the knapsacks and flasks in the world." + +Now, Coristine had smoked two big pipes, and felt that it was dry work, +but loyalty to his friend made him braver than any personal necessity +would have done. "It's sick you're looking, Farquhar, my dear," he said, +"and it's no friend of your's I'd be, and leave you without comfort in +such a time of trouble. Here's for the knapsack, and woe betide the man +or woman that stops me." So up he rose, and strode out of the car, +glowering fiercely at the second-class passengers and all the rest, till +he reached the vacated seats, from which he silently, and in deep inward +wrath, gathered up the creations of cardboard and patent cloth, and +retreated, grinding his teeth as he heard the veteran call out behind +him, "Would yeez moind comin' this way a bit, Mishter?" He paid no +attention to that officious old man, but hurried back to the +smoking-car, where he extracted Wilkinson's flask from its flannel +surroundings, removed the metal cup, poured out a stiff horn, and +diluted it at the filter. "Take this, old man," he said sternly, +pressing it to the lips of the sufferer, "it'll set you up like a new +pin." So the schoolmaster drank and was comforted, and Coristine took a +nip also, and they felt better, and laughed and joked, and said +simultaneously, "It's really too absurd about these girls, ha, ha!" + +Apprehension made the time seem long to the travellers, who gazed out of +the windows upon a fine agricultural country, with rolling fields of +grain, well-kept orchards and substantial houses and barns. They admired +the church on the hill at Holland Landing, and the schoolmaster told his +friend of a big anchor that had got stuck fast there on its way to the +Georgian Bay in 1812. "I bet you the sailors wouldn't have left it +behind if it had been an anchor of Hollands," said Coristine, whereupon +Wilkinson remarked that his puns were intolerable. At Bradford the track +crossed the Holland River, hardly flowing between its flat, marshy banks +towards Lake Simcoe. "This," said the schoolmaster, "is early +Tennysonian scenery, a Canadian edition of the fens of Lincolnshire," +but he regretted uttering the words when the lawyer agreed with him that +it was an of-fens-ive looking scene. But Lake Simcoe began to show up in +the distance to the right, and soon the gentlemanly conductor took their +tickets. "Leefroy," shouted the brakesman. They gathered up their +knapsacks, dropped off the smoker, and sped inside the station, out of +the windows of which they peered cautiously to see that no attempt at a +pursuit was made by the ladies and their military protector. The train +sped on its way northward, and feeling that, for a time, they were safe, +the pedestrians faced each other with a deep-drawn sigh of relief. The +station-master told them to walk back along the track till they met the +old side-line that used to go to Belle Ewart. So they helped each other +to strap on their knapsacks, and virtually began their pedestrian tour. +The station-master would have liked to detain them for explanations, but +they were unwilling to expose themselves to further misunderstanding. +Walking on a railway track is never very pleasant exercise, but this +old Belle Ewart track was an abomination of sand and broken rails and +irregular sleepers. Coristine tried to step in time over the rotting +cedar and hemlock ties, but, at the seventh step, stumbled and slid down +the gravel bank of the road-bed. "Where did the seven sleepers do their +sleeping, Wilks?" he enquired. "At Ephesus," was the curt reply. "Well, +if they didn't efface us both, they nearly did for one of us." +"Coristine, if you are going to talk in that childlish way, we had +better take opposite ends of the track; there are limits, sir." + +"That's just what's troubling me; there are far too many limits. If this +is what you call pedestrianizing, I say, give me a good sidewalk or the +loan of an uneven pair of legs. It's dislocation of the hip or +inflammatory rheumatism of the knee-joint I'll be getting with this hop +and carry one navigation." Wilkinson plodded on in dignified silence, +till the sawmills of the deserted village came in sight, and, beyond it, +the blue green waters of Lake Simcoe. "Now," he said, "we shall take to +the water." "What?" enquired Coristine, "on our knapsacks?" to which his +companion answered, "No, on the excellent steamer _Emily May_." + +There was no excellent steamer _Emily May_; there had not been for a +long time; it was a memory of the past. The railway had ruined +navigation. What was to be done? It would never do to retrace their +steps over the railroad ties, and the roads about Belle Ewart led +nowhere, while to track it along the hot lake shore was not to be +thought of. Wilkinson's plans had broken down; so Coristine left him at +the village hostelry, and sallied forth on exploration bent. In the +course of his wanderings he came to a lumber wharf, alongside which lay +an ancient schooner. + +"Schooner ahoy!" he shouted, when a shock-headed man of uncertain middle +age poked his head up through a hatchway, and answered: "Ahoy yourself, +and see how you like it." This was discouraging, but not to a limb of +the law. Coristine half removed his wide awake, and said: "I have the +pleasure of addressing the captain of the ship _Susan Thomas_," the name +he had seen painted in gold letters on the stern. + +"Not adzackly," replied the shock headed mariner, much mollified; "he's +my mate, and he'll be along as soon as he's made up his bundle. I'm +waitin' for him to sail this yere schooner." + +"Where is the _Susan Thomas_ bound for?" + +"For Kempenfeldt Bay, leastways Barrie." + +"Could you take a couple of passengers, willing to pay properly for +their passage?" + +"Dassent; it's agin the law; not but what I'd like to have yer, fer its +lonesome, times. Here comes the old man hisself; try him." + +A stout grizzled man of between fifty and sixty came walking along the +wharf, with his bundle over his shoulder, and Coristine tried him. The +Captain was a man of few words, so, when the situation was explained, he +remarked: "Law don't allow freight boats to take money off passengers, +but law don't say how many hands I have to have, nor what I'm to pay 'em +or not to pay 'em. If you and your friend want to ship for the trip to +Barrie, you'd better hurry up, for we're going to start right away." + +Coristine was filled with the wildest enthusiasm. He dashed back to the +hotel, the bar of which was covered with maps and old guide-books, +partly the property of Wilkinson, partly of mine host, who was lazily +helping him to lay out a route. "Hurry, hurry!" cried the excited +lawyer, as he swept the maps into his friend's open knapsack. Then he +yelled "hurroo!" and sang:-- + + For the ship, it is ready, and the wind is fair, + And I am bound for the sea, Mary Ann. + +Like a whirlwind he swept Wilkinson and the two knapsacks out of the +hotel door, along the sawdust paths and on to the wharf just in time to +see the first sail set. "What in the name of common sense is the meaning +of this conduct?" asked the amazed schoolmaster as soon as he got his +breath. + +"Meaning! why, we're indentured, you and I, as apprentice mariners on +board the good ship _Susan Thomas_, bound for Kempenfeldt Bay. + + Brave Kempenfeldt is gone, + His victories are o'er; + And he and his eight hundred + Shall plough the waves no more. + +But we'll plough them, Wilks, my boy. We'll splice the spanker boom, +and port the helm to starboard, and ship the taffrail on to the lee +scuppers of the after hatch, and dance hornpipes on the mizzen peak. +Hulloa, captain, here's my mate, up to all sorts of sea larks; he can +box the compass and do logarithm sums, and work navigation by single or +double entry." The schoolmaster blushed for his companion, at whose +exuberant spirits the sedate captain smiled, while the shock-headed man, +whom Coristine named The Crew, displayed a large set of fairly preserved +yellowish teeth, and guffawed loud and long. + +"Do I understand, Captain, that you are willing to take us to Barrie in +your--ah--vessel?" asked Wilkinson, politely. + +"Aye, aye, my man," answered the ancient mariner, "get your leg aboard, +for we're going to sail right away. Hi, you, Sylvanus there, give +another haul on them halliards afore you're too mighty ready to belay, +with your stupid cackle." + +So the indentured apprentices and their knapsacks got on board, while +Sylvanus, _alias_ The Crew, stopped laughing, and put a pound or two +extra on to the halliards. "Wilks," said Coristine, "it'll puzzle the +women to find us out on our ocean home." + +Wilkinson saw the captain hauling at the halliards of the after-mainsail +and went to his assistance, while Coristine, doffing his coat, lent a +hand to The Crew, when, by their combined efforts, the sails were all +hoisted and the schooner floated away from the pier. The lawyer walked +over the deck with a nautical air, picking up all loose ends of rope and +coiling them neatly over his left arm. The coils he deposited carefully +about the feet of the masts, to the astonishment of Wilkinson, who +regarded his friend as a born seaman, and to the admiration of the +captain and The Crew. The schoolmaster felt that Wordsworth was not the +thing for the water; he should have brought Falconer or Byron. So he +stuck to the captain, who was a very intelligent man of his class, and +discussed with him the perils and advantages of lake navigation. They +neither of them smoked, nor, said the captain, did he often drink; when +he did, he liked to have it good. Thereupon Wilkinson produced what +remained in his flask, which his commanding officer took down neat at a +gulp, signifying, as he ruefully gazed upon the depleted vessel, that a +man might go long before he'd get such stuff as that. Then the +conversation turned on the prohibitory Scott Act, which opened the vials +of the old man's wrath, for making "the biggest lot of hypocrites and +law-breakers and unlicensed shebeens and drunkards the country had ever +seen." The schoolmaster, as in duty bound, tried to defend the Act, but +all in vain, so he was glad to change the subject and discuss the crops, +politics, and education. This conversation took place at what the +captain called "the hellum", against the tiller of which he occasionally +allowed his apprentice to lean his back while he attended to other work. +Wilkinson was proud. This was genuine navigation, this steering a large +vessel with your back; any mere landsman, he now saw, could coil up +ropes like Coristine. The subject of this reflection was quite happy in +the bow, chumming with The Crew. Smoking their pipes together, Sylvanus +confided to his apprentice that a sailor's life was the lonesomest life +out of jail, when the cap'n was that quiet and stand off like as one he +knowed that wasn't far away, nuther. Coristine sympathized with him. +"The bossest time that ever was on this yere old _Susan Thomas_," he +continued, "was last summer wonst when the cap'n's niece, she come along +fer a trip. There was another gal along with her, a regular stunner, she +was. Wot her name was I raley can't tell, 'cos that old owl of a cap'n, +whenever he'd speak to her, allers said Miss Do Please. I reckon that's +what she used to say to him, coaxin' like, and he kep' it up on her. +Well, we was becalmed three days right out on the lake, and I had to row +the blessed dingy in the bilin' sun over to Snake Island to get bread +and meat from the Snakes." + +"From the snakes!" ejaculated Coristine, "why this beats Elijah's ravens +all to nothing." + +"Oh, the Snakes is Injuns, and Miss Carmichael, that's the cap'n's gal, +says their rale name is Kinapick." + +"Look here, Sylvanus, what did you say the captain's name is?" + +"Oh, the old pill's name is Thomas, like the schooner, but, you see, he +married one of the pretty Carruthers gals, and a good match it was; for, +I tell ye, them Carruthers gals hold their heads mighty high. Why, the +ansomest of them married Dr. Carmichael that was member, and, of they +did say he married below him, there wasn't a prouder nor a handsomer +woman in all the country. There's a brother of the Carruthers gals lives +on a farm out in Grey, and he took up with a good lookin' Irish gal that +was lady's maid or some such truck. That's marryin' below yourself ef +you like, but, bless you, Miss Carmichael don't bear him no spite for +it. She goes and stays with him times in the holidays, just like she +does along o' the old man here. My! what a three days o' singin' and fun +it was when them two gals was aboard; never see nothing like it afore +nor sence." + +"By George!" groaned the lawyer. + +"What's up, Mister? turned sick, eh? smell o' the tar too much fer your +narves? It do make some city folks a bit squarmish. Wish I'd a drop o' +stuff for you, but we don't carry none; wouldn't do, you know." +Coristine was touched by the good fellow's kindness, and opened his +flask for their joint benefit, after which he felt better, and The Crew +said it made him like a four-year-old. + +"Hi, Sylvanus, come aft here to your dog watch," cried the captain, and +The Crew retired, while his superior officer and Wilkinson came forward. +The former went down into the hold, leaving the dominie free for +conversation with his friend. "It's all up again, Wilks," said Coristine +sadly; "those two girls were on board this very schooner, no later than +last summer, and the one that spotted you is the captain's niece." + +"I know," groaned Wilkinson; "did he not tell me that he had a niece, a +wonderfully fine girl, if he did say it, in the public schools, and made +me promise to look her up when I go back to town! This kind of thing +will be the death of me, Corry. Tell me, is your friend at the helm +another uncle?" + +"Oh, no," laughed Coristine, "he's a simple-hearted, humble sort of +creature, who worships the boards these girls trod upon. He has a +tremendous respect for the Carmichaels. What a lucky thing it is they +didn't come on board at Belle Ewart! Do you think they'll be on hand at +Barrie?" + +"I shouldn't wonder." + +"Then, Wilks, I tell you what it is, we must slope. When it gets dark, +I'll slip over the stern into the dingy and bring her round to the side +for you; then we'll sail away for parts unknown." + +"Corry, I am ashamed of you for imagining that I would lend myself to +base treachery, and robbery, or piracy rather, on the high seas, laying +us open, as you, a lawyer, must know, to penalties that would blast our +reputations and ruin our lives. No, sir, we must face our misfortune +like men. In the meanwhile, I will find out, from the captain, where his +niece and her friend are likely to be." + +Coristine walked aft to The Crew, and served his apprenticeship to +sitting on the tiller and propelling the rudder thereby in the desired +direction. When he went wrong, while The Crew was lighting his pipe, the +flapping of the sails warned him to back the tiller to its proper place. +When hauling at the halliards, he had sung to his admiring companion in +toil the "Sailor's Shanty":-- + + My Polly said she'd marry me when I came home, + Yo hee, yo ho, haul all together; + But when I came I found she'd been and took my messmate Tom, + Yo hee, yo ho, haul all together. + +Now, therefore, The Crew was urgent for a song to cheer up the +lonesomeness a bit, and the lawyer, nothing loath, sang with genuine +pathos:-- + + A baby was sleeping; + Its mother was weeping. + For her husband was far on the wide rolling sea. + +When he came to the sea-ee-ee-ee-ee at the end of the third line, The +Crew, who had been keeping time with one foot on the deck and with one +hand on the tiller, aided him in rolling it forth, and, when the singing +was over, he characterized it as "pooty and suitin' like," by which he +meant that the references to the howling tempest and the raging billow +were appropriate to the present nautical circumstances. After much +persuasion The Crew was induced to add to the harmony of the evening. +His voice was strong, but, like many strong things, under imperfect +control; his tune was nowhere, and his intended pathetic unction was +simply maudlin. Coristine could recall but little of the long ballad to +which he listened, the story of a niggardly and irate father, who +followed and fought with the young knight that had carried off his +daughter. Two verses, however, could not escape his memory, on account +of the disinterested and filial light in which they made the young lady +appear:-- + + "O stay your hand," the old man cried, + A-lying on the ground, + "And you shall have my daughter, + And twenty thousand pound." + + "Don't let him up, dear sweetheart, + The portion is too small." + "O stay your hand," the old man said, + "And you shall have it all." + +The lawyer was loud in his admiration of this classical piece, and what +he afterwards found was The Crew's original and only tune. "That was the +kind of wife for a poor man," remarked Sylvanus, meditatively; "but she +was mighty hard on her old dad." + +"They're a poor lot, the whole pack of them," said the lawyer, savagely, +thinking of the quandary in which he and his friend were placed. + +"Who is?" asked The Crew. + +"Why, the women, to be sure." + +"Look here, Mister, my name may be Sylvanus, but I know I'm pretty +rough, for all that. But, rough as I am, I don't sit quiet and let any +man, no, not as good friends as you and me has been, say a word agin the +wimmen. When I think o' these yere gals as was in this blessed schooner +last summer, I feel it my juty, bein' I'm one o' them as helped to sail +her then, to stand up fer all wimmen kind, and, no offence meant. I +guess your own mother's one o' the good sort, now wasn't she?" + +"I should say she is," replied Coristine; "there are splendid women in +the world, but they're all married." + +"That don't stand to reason, nohow," said The Crew, with gravity, "'cos +there was a time wonst when they wasn't married, and if they was good +arter they was good afore. And, moreover, what was, is, and ever shall +be, Amen!" + +"All right, Sylvanus, we won't quarrel over them, and to show I bear no +malice, I'll sing a song about the sex," whereupon he trolled out: +"Here's to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen." Wilkinson came running aft +when he heard the strain, and cried: "Good heavens! Coristine, whatever +has got into you, are you mad or intoxicated?" + +"I'll bet you your boots and your bottom dollar that he ain't that, +Mister," interposed The Crew, "fer you couldn't scare up liquor enough +on this yere _Susan Thomas_ to turn the head of a canary." + +"We are exchanging musical treats," said Coristine in defence. "Sylvanus +here favoured me with an old ballad, not in the Percy collection, and I +have been giving him one of the songs from the dramatists." + +"But about women!" protested the dominie. + +"There ain't no songs that ain't got somethin' about women in 'em that's +wuth a cent," indignantly replied The Crew, and Wilkinson sullenly +retired to the bow. + +When the captain emerged from the hold he was hardly recognizable. +Instead of his common sleeved waist coat and overalls, he was attired in +a dark blue suit of broadcloth, the vest and frock coat of which were +resplendent with gilt buttons. These clothes, with a befitting peaked +cap and a pair of polished boots, had evidently come out of the large +bundle he had brought from Belle Ewart, where the garments had probably +done Sunday duty, for a smaller bundle, which he now threw upon the +deck, contained his discarded working dress. Wilkinson was confirmed, by +the spectacle presented, in his dire suspicion that the captain's niece +would appear at Barrie, and, then and there, begin an acquaintance with +him that might have the most disastrous consequences. But hope springs +eternal in the human breast, as the poet says, so the schoolmaster +tackled the commander, congratulated him on his fine appearance, and +began to pump him as to the whereabouts of Miss Carmichael. The old +gentleman, for such he looked now, was somewhat vain in an off-hand sort +of way, and felt that he was quite the dominie's equal. He was cheerful, +even jovial, in spite of the contrary assertions of The Crew, as he +replied to Wilkinson's interrogations. + +"Ah, you sly young dog," he said, "I see what you're at now. You'd like +to hear that the pair of them are waiting for us at Barrie; but they're +not. They've gone to stay with my brother-in-law, Carruthers, in the +County of Grey, where I'll go and see their pretty faces myself in a few +days." + +Wilkinson swallowed the "sly young dog" for the sake of the +consolation, and, hurriedly making his way aft, communicated the joyful +news to Coristine. That gentleman much amused The Crew by throwing an +arm round the schoolmaster's waist and waltzing his unwilling partner +over the deck. All went merry as a marriage bell till the waltzers +struck a rope coil, when, owing to the dominie's struggles, they went +down together. Recovering themselves, they sat on deck glaring at each +other. + +"You're a perfect idiot, Coristine." + +"You're a regular old muff, Wilkinson." + +The Crew, thinking this was a special pantomime got up impromptu for his +benefit, roared with laughter, and applauded on the tiller. He was about +to execute a hoedown within tiller limits to testify his sympathy with +the fun, when the captain appeared in all his Sunday finery. + +"Let her away, you laughing hyena," he yelled to the unlucky Sylvanus, +who regained his mental balance and laid his back to the tiller the +other way. + +"Sorry I've no chairs for you gentlemen," he remarked to the seated +travellers; "but I guess the deck's as soft as the wooden kind." + +"Don't mention it, my dear captain," said Coristine, as he sprang to his +feet; "we were only taking the latitude and longitude, but it's hard +work on the bones." + +"You allow yourself too much latitude, sir, both in your actions and in +your unjustifiable remarks," muttered the pedagogue, more slowly +assuming the perpendicular. + +"Now, captain," cried the lawyer, "I leave it you, sir, as a judge of +language, good and bad. What is the worst thing to call a man, a muff or +an idiot!" + +The captain toyed with the lanyard of his tortoise shell rimmed glasses, +then put them deliberately across his nose, coughed judiciously, and +gave his opinion:-- + +"An ijit is a man that's born without sense and can't keep himself, d'ye +see? But a muff is that stupid, like Sylvanus here, that he can't use +the sense he's got. That being the case, a muff is worse than an ijit." + +"Mr. Wilkinson, I bow, as in duty bound, to the verdict of the court, +and humbly apologize for having called you something worse than an +idiot. In my poor opinion, sir, you are not worse than the unfortunate +creature thus described." + +Wilkinson was about to retort, when The Crew called out that the +schooner was in the Bay, and that the lights of Barrie could be seen in +the distance. + +"Keep to your helm, Sylvanus," growled the captain; "there's three pair +of eyes here as good as yourn, and I hope with more sense abaft 'em." + +Sylvanus relapsed into silence of a modified kind, merely whistling in a +soft way his original copyright tune. As the travellers had never seen +Kempenfeldt Bay before, they admired it very much, and forgot their +little misunderstanding, while arm in arm they leaned over the bulwarks, +and quoted little snatches of poetry in one another's ears. The +twinkling lights of the town upon the cliffs suggested many a pleasing +passage, so that Wilkinson told his dear Corry he was more than repaid +for the trouble incident on their expedition by the sweet satisfaction +of gazing on such a scene in company with a kindred spirit of poesy. To +this his comrade replied, "Wilks, my dear boy, next to my mother you're +the best friend I ever hope to have." + +"Let us cherish these sentiments for one another, kind friend, and the +cloud on the horizon of our tour will never rise to darken its happy +future," after which the learned dominie recited the words of Ducis:-- + +"_Noble et tendre amitie, je te chante en mes vers_." + +"Murder!" cried Coristine, "Do you know that that Miss Jewplesshy, or Do +Please, or whatever her name is, is French?" + +"O, Corry, Corry, how could you break in upon a scene of purest +friendship and nature worship like this with your wretched misses? O, +Corry, be a man!" + +"The anchor's agoin' out," remarked The Crew, as he passed by; so the +travellers rushed to the capstan and got hold of the spikes. Out went +the cable, as Coristine sang:-- + + Do! my Johnny Boker, + I'm a poo-er sailor, + Do! my Johnny Boker, + Do!!! + +The ship made fast, the captain said, "Sylvanus will take you gentlemen +ashore in the dingy. It only holds three, so I'll wait till he comes +back." The pedestrians protested, but in vain. Sylvanus should take them +ashore first. So they bade the captain good-bye with many thanks and +good wishes, and tumbled down into the dingy, which The Crew brought +round. The captain shouted from the bulwarks in an insinuating way, +"I'll keep my eye on you, Mr Wilkinson, trying to steal an old man's +niece away from him," at which the victim shuddered. Away went the dingy +some fifty yards or more, when Coristine called out, "Have you got the +knapsacks, Farquhar, my dear?" + +"Why, bless me, no," he answered. "I thought you had them." "Row back +for your life, Sylvanus, to get the blessed knapsacks;" and Sylvanus, +patient creature, did as he was told. The captain threw them over the +side with another farewell speech, and then the dingy made for the bank, +while Coristine sang in a rich voice:-- + + Pull for the shore, sailor, + Pull for the shore. + +They landed, and, much against The Crew's will, he was compelled to +receive a dollar from each of his passengers. + +"I'll see you again," he said, as he rowed back for the captain. "I'll +see you again up in Grey, along of the old man and the gals, mark my +word if I don't." + +"Glad to see you, Sylvy, old fresh (he was going to say 'old salt,' but +corrected himself in time), glad to see you anywhere," bawled the +lawyer, "but we've made a vow to dispense with female society in our +travels. Ta, ta!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Barrie--Next of Kin--Nightmare--On the Road--Strawberries and + Botany--Poetry and Sentiment--The Virago--Luncheon and + Wordsworth--Waterplants, Leeches and Verse--Cutting Sticks--Rain, + Muggins and Rawdon. + + +The travellers carried their knapsacks in their hands by the straps, to +the nearest hotel, where, after brief delay, a special supper was set +for them. Having discussed the frugal meal, they repaired to the +combined reading and smoking room, separate from the roughish crowd at +the bar. Wilkinson glanced over a Toronto paper, while his companion, +professing an interest in local news, picked up an organ of the town and +read it through, advertisements and all, in which painstaking effort he +was helped by his pipe. Suddenly he grasped the paper, and, holding it +away from his face, exclaimed, "Is it possible that they are the same?" + +"Who, who?" ejaculated Wilkinson; "do not tell me that the captain was +mistaken, that they are really here." + +"Do you know old Carmichael's initials, the doctor's, that was member +for Vaughan?" his friend asked, paying no attention to the +schoolmaster's question. + +"James D.," replied that authority; "I remember, because I once made the +boys get up the members' names along with their constituencies, so as to +give the latter a living interest." + +"Now, listen to this: 'Next of kin; information wanted concerning the +whereabouts of James Douglas Carmichael, or his heirs at law. He left +the University of Edinburgh, where he was in attendance on the Faculty +of Medicine, in the spring of 1848, being at the time twenty-one years +of age. The only trace of his farther life is a fragment of a letter +written by him to a friend two years later, when he was serving as a +soldier in the military station of Barrief, Upper Canada. Reward offered +for the same by P.R. MacSmaill, W.S., 19 Clavers Row, Edinburgh.' If +James Douglas Carmichael, ex-medical student, wasn't the member and the +father of that girl of yours, I'm a Dutchman." + +"Mr. Coristine, I insist, sir, before another word passes between us, +that you withdraw and apologize for the deeply offensive expression, +which must surely have escaped your lips unperceived, 'that girl of +yours.'" + +"Oh, there, now, I'm always putting my foot in it. I meant the girl you +are interested in--no, it isn't that other--the girl that's interested +in you--oh, wirra wisha! it's not that at all--it's the girl the captain +was joking you about." + +"A joke from a comparatively illiterate man like the captain of the +schooner, to whom we were under travelling obligations, and a joke from +my equal, a scholar and a gentleman, are two distinct things. I wish the +expression, 'that girl of yours,' absolutely and forever withdrawn." + +"Well, well, I consent to withdraw it absolutely and apologize for +saying it, but that 'forever' clause goes against my legal judgment. If +the late Dr. Carmichael's heiress comes in for a fortune, we might +repent that 'forever.'" + +"What has that to do with me, sir, fortune or no fortune? Your +insinuations are even more insulting than your open charges of +infidelity to our solemn compact." + +It was Coristine's turn to be angry. He rose from the table at which he +had been sitting, with the paper still in his hand, and said: "You make +mountains out of molehills, Wilkinson. I've made you a fair and full +apology, and shall do no more, if you sulk your head off." So saying, he +stalked out of the room, and Wilkinson was too much angered to try to +stop him. + +The lawyer asked the landlord if he would spare him the newspaper for an +hour and supply him with pen and ink and a few sheets of paper. Then he +took his lamp and retired to his room. "Poor old Farquhar," he +soliloquized, as he arranged his writing materials; "he'll feel mighty +bad at being left all alone, but it's good for his health, and business +is business. Let me see, now. Barrie was never a military station, +besides the letter had Barrief on it, a name that doesn't exist. But the +letter was torn there, or the corner worn away in a man's pocket. By the +powers, it's Barriefield at Kingston, and there's the military station +for you. I'll write our correspondent there, and I'll set one of the +juniors to work up Dr. Carmichael's record in Vaughan County, and I'll +notify MacSmaill, W.S., that I am on the track, and--shall I write the +girl, there's the rub?" The three letters were written with great care +and circumspection, but not the fourth. When carefully sealed, directed +and stamped, he carried them to the post-office and personally deposited +them in the slit for drop-letters. Returning to the hotel, he restored +the newspaper to the table of the reading-room, minus the clipped +advertisement to the next of kin, which he stowed away in his +pocketbook. This late work filled the lawyer with a satisfaction that +crowned the pleasures of the day, and he longed to communicate some of +it to his friend, but that gentleman, the landlord said, had retired for +the night, looking a bit put out--he hoped supper had been to his +liking. Coristine said the supper was good. "What was the number of Mr. +Wilkinson's room?" + +Mine host replied that it was No. 32, the next to his own. Before +retiring, Coristine looked at the fanlight over the door of No. 32; it +was dark. Nevertheless he knocked, but failed to evoke a response. +"Farquhar, my dear," he whispered in an audible tone, but still there +was no answer. So he heaved a sigh, and, returning to his apartment, +read a few words out of his pocket prayer-book, and went to bed. There +he had an awful dream, of the old captain leading Wilkinson by the +collar and tail of his coat up to the altar, where Miss Carmichael +stood, resplendent in pearls and diamonds, betokening untold wealth; of +an attempt at rescue by himself and The Crew, which was nipped in the +bud by the advent of the veteran, his daughter and Miss Jewplesshy. The +daughter laid violent hands upon The Crew and waltzed him out of the +church door, while the veteran took Coristine's palsied arm and placed +that of his young mistress upon it, ordering them, with military words +of command, to accompany the victims, as bridesmaid and groomsman. When +the dreamer recovered sufficiently to look the officiating clergyman +full in the face, he saw that this personage was no other than Frank, +the news-agent, whereupon he laughed immediately and awoke. + +"Corry, Corry, my dear fellow, are you able to get up, or shall I break +the door in?" were the words that greeted his ear on awaking. + +"The omadhaun!" he said to himself under the bedclothes; "it would be a +good thing to serve him with the sauce of silence, as he did me last +night." But better counsels prevailed in his warm Irish heart, and he +arose to unlock the door, when suddenly it flew open, and Wilkinson, +with nothing but a pair of trousers added to his night attire, fell +backwards into his arms. It was broad daylight as each looked into the +other's face for explanations. + +"But you're strong, Wilks!" said the lawyer with admiration. + +"Corry, when I heard you groan that way, I was sure you were in a fit." + +"Oh, it was nothing," replied his friend, who found it hard to keep from +laughing, "only a bad nightmare." + +"What were you dreaming about to bring it on?" + +Now, this was just what Coristine dared not tell, for the truth would +bring up all last night's misunderstanding. So he made up a story of +Wilkinson's teaching The Crew navigation and the use of the globes, when +the captain interfered and threatened to kick master and pupil +overboard. Then he, Coristine, interposed, and the captain fell upon +him. "And you know, Wilks, he's a heavy man." + +"Well, I am heartily glad it is no worse. Get a wash and get your +clothes on, and come down to breakfast, like a good boy, for I hear the +bell ringing." + +Over their coffee and toast, eggs and sausages, the two were as kind and +attentive to one another's wants, as if no dispute had ever marred their +friendship. The dominie got out his sketch map of a route and opened it +between them. "We shall start straight for the bush road into the north, +if that suits you," he said, "and travel by easy stages towards +Collingwood, where we shall again behold one of our inland seas. But, as +it may be sometime before we reach a house of entertainment, it may be +as well to fill the odd corners of our knapsacks with provisions for the +way." + +"I say amen to that idea," replied the lawyer, and the travellers arose, +paid their bill, including the price of the door-lock, seized their +knapsacks by the straps and sallied forth. They laid in a small stock of +captain's biscuits, a piece of good cheese, and some gingersnaps for +Wilkinson's sweet tooth; they also had their flask refilled, and +Coristine invested in some pipe-lights. Then they sallied forth, not +into the north as Wilkinson had said, it being a phrase he was fond of, +but, at first, in a westerly, and, on the whole, in a north-westerly +direction. + +When the last house on the outskirts was left behind them, they helped +each other on with their knapsacks, and felt like real pedestrians. The +bush enclosed them on either side of the sandy road, so that they had +shade whenever they wanted it. Occasionally a wayfarer would pass them +with a curt "good morning," or a team would rattle by, its driver +bestowing a similar salutation. The surface of the country was flat, but +this did not hinder Wilkinson reciting:-- + + Mount slowly, sun! and may our journey lie + Awhile within the shadow of this hill, + This friendly hill, a shelter from thy beams! + +"That reminds me," said Coristine, "of a fellow we had in the office +once, whose name was Hill. He was a black-faced, solemn-looking genius, +and the look of him would sink the spirits of a skylark down to zero. +'What's come over you?' said Woodruff to me one fine afternoon, when I +was feeling a bit bilious. 'Oh,' said I, 'I've been within the shadow of +this Hill,' and he laughed till he was black in the face." + +"Corry, if I were not ashamed of making a pun, or, as we say in academic +circles, being guilty of antanaclasis, I would say that you are +in-corri-gible." + +Coristine laughed, and then remarked seriously, "Here am I, with a +strap-press full of printing paper in my knapsack, and paying no +attention to science at all. We must begin to take life in airnest now, +Wilks, my boy, and keep our eyes skinned for specimens. Sorry I am I +didn't call and pay my respects to my botanical friend at the Barrie +High School. He could have given us a pointer or two about the flowers +that grow round here." + +"Flowers are scarce in July," said the schoolmaster, "they seem to take +a rest in the hot weather. The spring is their best time. Of course you +know that song about the flowers in spring?" + +"Never heard it in my life; sing it to us, Farquhar, like a darlin'." + +Now, the dominie was not given to singing, but thus adjured, and the +road being clear, he sang in a very fair voice:-- + + We are the flowers, + The fair young flowers + That come with the voice of Spring, + Tra la la, la la la, la la, + Tra la, tra la a a a. + +Coristine revelled in the chorus, which, at the "a a a," went up to the +extreme higher compass of the human voice and beyond it. He made his +friend repeat the performance, called him a daisy, and tra la la'd to +his heart's content. Then he sat down on a grassy bank by the wayside +and laughed loud and long. "Oh, it's a nice pair of fair young flowers +we are, coming with the voice of spring; but we're not hayseeds, +anyway." When the lawyer turned himself round to rise, Wilkinson asked +seriously, "Did you hurt yourself then, Corry?" + +"Never a bit, except that I'm weak with the laughing; and for why?" + +"Because there is some red on your trousers, and I thought it might be +blood--that you had sat down on some sharp thing." + +"It'll be strawberry blite, I'll wager, _Blitum capitatum_, and a fine +thing it is. Mrs. Marsh, that keeps our boarding house, has a garden +where it grows wild in among the peas. She wanted some colouring for the +icing of a cake, and hadn't a bit of cochineal or anything of the kind +in the house. She was telling me her trouble, for it was a holiday and +the shops were shut, and she's always that friendly with me; when, says +I, 'There is no trouble about that.' So I went to the garden and got two +lovely stalks of _Blitum capitatum_. 'Is it poison?' said she. 'Poison!' +said I; 'and it belonging to the _Chenopodiaceae_, the order that owns +beets and spinach, and all the rest of them. Trust a botanist, ma'am,' I +said. It made the sweetest pink icing you ever saw, and Mrs. Marsh is +for ever deeply grateful, and rears that _Blitum_ with fond and anxious +care." + +"I would like to see that plant," said Wilkinson. So they retraced +their steps to the bank, over which Coristine leaned tenderly, picking +something which he put into his mouth. "Come on, Wilks," he cried; "it +isn't blite, but something better. It's wild strawberries themselves, +and lashings of them. Sure any fool might have known them by the leaves, +even if he was a herald, the worst fool of all, and only knew them from +a duke's coronet." + +For a time there was silence, for the berries were numerous, and, +although small, sweet and of delicate flavour. + +"Corry, they are luscious; this is Arcadia and Elysium." + +"Foine, Wilks, foine," mumbled the lawyer, with his mouth full of +berries. + +"This folly of mine, sitting down on the blessings of +Providence--turning my back upon them, so to speak," he remarked, after +the first hunger was over, "reminds me of a man who took the gold medal +in natural science. He had got his botany off by rote, so, when he was +travelling between Toronto and Hamilton, a friend that was sitting +beside him said, 'Johnson, what's in that field out there?' Johnson +looked a bit put out, but said boldly, 'It's turnips.' There was an old +farmer in the seat behind him, and he spoke up and said, 'Turmuts!' said +he, 'them's hoats--ha, ha, ha!'" + +As they tramped along, the botanist found some specimens: two lilies, +the orange and the Turk's cap; the willow herb, the showy ladies' +slipper, and three kinds of milkweed. He opened his knapsack, took out +the strap press, and carefully bestowed his floral treasures between +sheets of unglazed printers' paper. Wilkinson took a friendly interest +in these proceedings, and insisted on being furnished with the botanical +names of all the specimens. + +"That willow-herb, now, _Epilobium angustifolium_, is called fire-weed," +said the botanist, "and is an awful nuisance on burnt ground. There was +a Scotchman out here once, about this time of the year, and he thought +it was such a pretty pink flower that he would take some home with him. +So, when the downy-winged seeds came, he gathered a lot, and, when he +got back to Scotland, planted them. Lord! the whole country about Perth +got full of the stuff, till the farmers cursed him for introducing the +American Saugh." + +"The American what?" demanded Wilkinson. + +"Saugh; it's an old Scotch word for willow, and comes from the French +_saule_, I suppose." + +"I am not sorry for them," said Wilkinson; "they say that pest, the +Canada thistle, came from the Old Country." + +"Yes, that's true; and so did Pusley, which Warner compares with +original sin; and a host of other plants. Why, on part of the Hamilton +mountain you won't find a single native plant. It is perfectly covered, +from top to bottom, with dusty, unwholesome-looking weeds from Europe +and the Southern States. But we paid them back." + +"How was that?" + +"You know, a good many years ago, sailing vessels began to go from the +Toronto harbour across the Atlantic to British ports. There's a little +water-plant that grows in Ashbridge's Bay, called the Anacharis, and +this little weed got on to the bottom of the ocean vessels. Salt water +didn't kill it, but it lived till the ships got to the Severn, and there +it fell off and took root, and blocked up the canals with a solid mass +of subaqueous vegetation that made the English canal men dredge night +and day to get rid of it. I tell you we've got some pretty hardy things +out here in Canada." + +"Do you not think," asked Wilkinson, "that our talk is getting too like +that of Charles and his learned father in Gosse's 'Canadian +Naturalist'?" + +"All right, my boy, I'll oppress you no longer with a tender father's +scientific lore, but, with your favourite poet, say:-- + + "To me the meanest flower that blows can give + Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears." + +"That is because of their associations, a merely relative reason," said +the dominie. + +"It isn't though, at least not altogether. Listen, now, to what Tennyson +says, or to something like what he says:-- + + Little flower in the crannied wall, + Peeping out of the crannies, + I hold you, root and all, in my hand; + Little flower, if I could understand + What you are, root and all, and all in all, + I should know what God and man is. + +There's no association nor relation in that; the flower brings you at +once face to face with infinite life. Do you know what these +strawberries brought to me?" + +"A pleasant feast I should say." + +"No, they made me think how much better it would have been if I had had +somebody to gather them for; I don't say a woman, because that's tabooed +between us, but say a child, a little boy or girl. There's no +association or relation there at all; the strawberries called up love, +which is better than a pleasant feast." + +"According to Wordsworth, the flower in the crannied wall and the +strawberry teach the same lesson, for does he not say:-- + + That life is love and immortality. + + * * * * * + + Life, I repeat, is energy of love, + Divine or human, exercised in pain, + In strife and tribulation, and ordained, + If so approved and sanctified, to pass + Through shades and silent rest, to endless joy? + +At any rate, that is what he puts into his Parson's lips. + +"Farquhar, my boy, I think we'd better stop, for I'm weakening fast. +It's sentimental the flowers and the fruit are making me. I mind, when I +was a little fellow in the old sod, my mother gathering wild flowers +from the hedges and putting them all round the ribbon of my straw hat. I +can't pay her the debt of that mark of love the same way, but I feel I +should pay it to somebody. You never told me about your mother." + +"No, because she is dead and gone long ago, and my father married again, +and brought a vixen, with two trollops of girls, to take the place of an +angel. These three women turned my stomach at all the sex. Look, there's +a pretty woman for you!" + +They had reached a clearing in the bush, consisting of a corn patch and +a potato field, in which a woman, with a man's hat on her head and a +pair of top-boots upon her nether extremities, looking a veritable guy, +was sprinkling the potato plants with well-diluted Paris green. The +shanty pertaining to the clearing was some little distance from the +road, and, hoping to get a drink of water there, Coristine prepared to +jump the rail fence and make his way towards it. The woman, seeing what +he was about, called: 'Hi, Jack, Jack!' and immediately a big mongrel +bull-dog came tearing towards the travellers, barking as he ran. + +"Come back, Corry, for heaven's sake, or he'll bite you!" cried +Wilkinson. + +"Never a fear," answered the lately sentimental botanist; "barking dogs +don't bite as a rule." So he jumped the fence in earnest, and said +soothingly, as if he were an old friend: "Hullo, Jack, good dog!" +whereupon the perfidious Jack grovelled at his feet and then jumped up +for a caress. But the woman came striding along, picking up a grubbing +hoe by the way to take the place of the treacherous defender of the +house. + +"Hi, git out o' that, quick as yer legs'll take yer; git out now! we +don't want no seeds, ner fruit trees, ner sewin' machines, ner fambly +Bibles. My man's jist down in the next patch, an' if yer don't git, I'll +set him on yer." + +"Madam," said Coristine, lifting his hat, "permit me to explain--" + +"Go 'long, I tell yer; that's the way they all begin, with yer madam an' +explainin'; I'll explain this hoe on yer if yer take another step." + +"We are not agents, nor tramps, nor tract distributors, nor collectors +for missions," cried Coristine, as soon as he had a chance to speak. "My +friend, here, is a gentleman engaged in education, and I am a lawyer, +and all we want is a glass of water." + +"A liyer, eh?" said the Amazon, in a very much reduced tone; "Why didn't +yer say so at wonst, an' not have me settin' that good for nuthin' brute +on yer? I never see liyers with a pack on their backs afore. Ef yer +wants a drink, why don't yer both come on to the house?" + +Wilkinson, at this not too cordial invitation, vaulted over the fence +beside his companion, and they walked housewards, the woman striding on +ahead, and the dog sniffing at Wilkinson's heels in the rear. A rather +pretty red-haired girl of about fifteen was washing dishes, evidently +in preparation for the mid-day meal. Her the woman addressed as Anna +Maria, and ordered her to go and get a pail of fresh water for the +gentlemen. But Wilkinson, who felt he must do something to restore his +credit, offered to get the water if Anna Maria would show him the well +or pump that contained it. The girl gave him a tin pail, and he +accompanied her to the back of the house, where the well and a bucket +with a rope were. In vain he tried to sink that bucket; it would not +sink. At last the girl took it out of his hands, turned the bucket +upside down, and, letting it fall with a vicious splash, brought it up +full of deliciously cool water, which she transferred to the pail. + +"You are very clever to do that the first time," remarked the +schoolmaster, wishing to be polite to the girl, who looked quite +pleasant and comely, in spite of her bare feet and arms. + +"There ain't no cleverness about it," she replied, with a harsh nasal +accent; "any fool most could do as much." Wilkinson carried the tin pail +to the shanty disillusioned, took his drink out of a cup that seemed +clean enough, joined his friend in thanking mother and daughter for +their hospitality, and retired to the road. + +"Do you find your respect for the fair sex rising?" he asked Coristine, +cynically. + +"The mother's an awful old harridan--" + +"Yes, and when the daughter is her age she will be a harridan, too, the +gentle rustic beauties have gone out of date, like the old poets. The +schoolmaster is much needed here to teach young women not to compare +gentlemen even if they are pedestrianizing, to 'any fool most.'" + +"Oh, Wilks, is that where you're hit? I thought you and she were long +enough over that water business for a case of Jacob and Rachel at the +well, ha, ha!" + +"Come, cease this folly, Coristine, and let us get along." + +Sentiment had received a rude shock. It met with a second when Coristine +remarked "I'm hungry." Still, he kept on for another mile or so, when +the travellers sighted a little brook of clear water rippling over +stones. A short distance to the left of the road it was shaded by trees +and tall bushes, not too close together, but presenting, here and +there, little patches of grass and the leaves of woodland flowers. +Selecting one of these patches, they unstrapped their knapsacks, and +extracted from them a sufficiency of biscuits and cheese for luncheon. +Then one of the packs, as they had irreverently been called, was turned +over to make a table. The biscuits and cheese were moistened with small +portions from the contents of the flasks, diluted with the cool water of +the brook. The meal ended, Wilkinson took to nibbling ginger snaps and +reading Wordsworth. The day was hot, so that a passing cloud which came +over the face of the sun was grateful, but it was grateful to beast as +well as to man, for immediately a swarm of mosquitoes and other flies +came forth to do battle with the reposing pedestrians. Coristine's pipe +kept them from attacking him in force, but Wilkinson got all the more in +consequence. He struck savagely at them with Wordsworth, anathematized +them in choice but not profane language, and, at last, rose to his feet, +switching his pocket handkerchief fiercely about his head. Coristine +picked up the deserted Wordsworth, and laughed till the smoke of his +pipe choked him and the tears came into his eyes. + +"I see no cause for levity in the sufferings of a fellow creature," said +the schoolmaster, curtly. + +"Wilks, my darling boy, it's not you I'm laughing at; it's that old +omadhaun of a Wordsworth. Hark to this, now:-- + + He said, ''Tis now the hour of deepest noon. + At this still season of repose and peace, + This hour, when all things which are not at rest + Are cheerful; while this multitude of flies + Is filling all the air with melody; + Why should a tear be in an old man's eye?' + +O Wilks, but this beats cock-fighting; 'Why should a tear be in an old +man's eye?' Sorra a bit do I know, barring it's the multitude of flies. +O Wordy, Wordy, bard of Rydal Mount, it's sick with laughing you'll be +making me. All things not at rest are cheerful. Dad, if he means the +flies, they're cheerful enough, but if it's my dear friend, Farquhar +Wilkinson, it's a mistake the old gentleman is making. See, this is more +like it, at the very beginning of 'The Excursion':-- + + Nor could my weak arm disperse + The host of insects gathering round my face, + And ever with me as I paced along. + +That's you, Wilks, you to a dot. What a grand thing poetic instinct is, +that looks away seventy years into the future and across the Atlantic +Ocean, to find a humble admirer in the wilds of Canada, and tell how he +looked among the flies. 'Why should a tear be in an old man's eye?' O, +holy Moses, that's the finest line I've sighted in a dog's age. Cheer +up, old man, and wipe that tear away, for I see the clouds have rolled +by, Jenny." + +"Man, clod, profaner of the shrine of poesy, cease your ignorant +cackle," cried the irate dominie. Silently they bathed faces and hands +in the brook, donned their knapsacks, and took to the road once more. + +The clouds had not all passed by as the pedestrians found to their cost, +for, where there are clouds over the bush in July, there also are +mosquitoes. Physically as well as psychically, Wilkinson was +thin-skinned, and afforded a ready and appetizing feast to the +blood-suckers. His companion still smoked his pipe in defence, but for a +long time in silence. "The multitude of flies" made him gurgle +occasionally, as he gazed upon the schoolmaster, whose blue and yellow +silk handkerchief was spread over the back of his head and tied under +his chin. To quote Wordsworth then would have been like putting a match +to a powder magazine. The flies were worst on the margin of a pond +formed by the extension of a sluggish black stream. "Go on, Wilks, my +boy, out of the pests, while I add some water plants to my collection;" +but this, Wilkinson's chivalrous notions of friendship would not allow +him to do. He broke off a leafy branch from a young maple, and slashed +it about him, while the botanist ran along the edge of the pond looking +for flowers within reach. As usual, they were just out of reach and no +more. So he had to take off shoes and socks, turn up the legs of his +trousers, and wade in after them. "Look at that now!" he said with pride +as he returned with his booty, "Nymphaea odorata, Nuphar advena, and +Brasenia peltata; aren't they beauties?" + +"What is that black object on your leg?" the dominie managed to gasp. + +"I'm thankful to you for saying that, my kind friend, for it's a +murdering leech." + +"Salt is the only thing to take them off with," remarked Wilkinson +really interested; "and that is just what we are deficient in." + +"I say, Wilks, try a drop of the crater on him; don't waste the +blessings of Providence, but just let the least particle fall on his +nose, while I scrape him off." + +The surgical operation succeeded, and the schoolmaster half forgot his +own troubles in doing good to his friend. While the latter was +reclothing his feet, and pressing his specimens, the maple branch ceased +working, and its owner finely apostrophized the field of white and +yellow blossoms. + + There sits the water lily like a sovereign, + Her little empire is a fairy world, + The purple dragon-fly above it hovering, + As when her fragile ivory uncurled, + A thousand years ago. + +"Bravo, Wilks, if you are poaching on my preserves; but I wish that same +purple dragon-fly would hover round here in thousands for a minute. It's +a pleasure to see them sail along and gobble up the mosquitoes." + +The dominie continued:-- + + To-day I saw the dragon-fly + Come from the wells where he did lie. + + An inner impulse rent the veil + Of his old husk; from head to tail + Came out clear plates of sapphire mail. + + He dried his wings: like gauze they grew, + Thro' crofts and pastures wet with dew + A living flash of light he flew. + +"Hurroo!" cried Coristine, as with knapsack readjusted, he took his +companion by the arm and resumed the journey; "Hurroo again, I say, it's +into the very heart of nature we're getting now. Bless the mosquito and +the leech for opening the well of English undefiled." + +Wilkinson was wound up to go, and repeated with fine conversational +effect:-- + + But now, perplexed by what th' old man had said, + My question eagerly did I renew + How is it that you live, and what is it you do? + + He, with a smile, did then his words repeat; + And said, that, gathering leeches far and wide, + He travell'd; stirring thus about his feet + The waters of the ponds where they abide. + "Once I could meet with them on every side; + But they have dwindled long by slow decay; + Yet still I persevere, and find them where I may." + +"Dad, if the old man had been here, he might have made his fortune by +this time. 'Stirring thus about his feet the waters of the ponds where +they abide' may be fine employment, but the law's good enough for me, +seeing they're bound to dwindle long by slow decay. You don't happen to +have a scrap on a botanist, do you?" + +"Yes," replied the schoolmaster, "and on a blind one, too:-- + + And he knows all shapes of flowers: the heath, the fox-glove with + its bells, + The palmy fern's green elegance, fanned in soft woodland smells; + The milkwort on the mossy turf his nice touch fingers trace, + And the eye-bright, though he sees it not, he finds it in its place." + +"A blind botanist, and in the Old Country, too; well that's strange! +True, a blind man could know the lovely wallflowers and hyacinths and +violets and all these sweet-scented things by their smell. But to know +the little blue milkwort and the Euphrasia by touch, bangs me. If it was +our fine, big pitcher plant, or the ladies' slipper, or the +giant-fringed orchis, or the May apple, I could understand it; but +perhaps he knew the flowers before he got to be blind. I think I could +find my way blindfolded to some spots about Toronto where special plants +grow. I believe, Wilks, that a man couldn't name a subject you wouldn't +have a quotation for; you're wonderful!" + +Wilkinson was delighted. This flattery was meat and drink to him. +Holding the arm of his admiring friend, he poured out his soul in verse, +allowing his companion, from time to time, the opportunity of +contributing a little to the poetic feast. The two virtually forgot to +notice the level, sandy road and tame scenery, the clouded sun, the +troublesome flies. For the time being, they were everything, the one to +the other. By their own spirits were they deified, or thought they were, +at the moment. + +Though the schoolmaster was revelling in the appreciation of his friend, +he could not fail to perceive that he limped a little. "You have hurt +your foot, Corry, my dear fellow, and never told me." + +"Oh, it's nothing," replied the light-hearted lawyer; "I trod on a stick +in that pond where I got the Brasenia and things, and my big toe's a bit +sore, that's all." + +"Corry, we have forgotten the blackthorns. Now, in this calm hour, +sacred to friendship, let us present each other with nature's staff, a +walking-stick cut from the bush, humble tokens of our mutual esteem." + +Coristine agreed, and the result was a separation and careful scrutiny +of the underbrush on both sides of the road, which ended in the finding +of a dogwood by the lawyer, and of a striped maple by the dominie--both +straight above and curled at the root. These, having removed from the +bush, they brought into shape with their pocket-knives. Then Coristine +carved "F.W." on the handle of his, while Wilkinson engraved "E.C." on +the one he carried. This being done, each presented his fellow with +"this utterly inadequate expression of sincere friendship," which was +accepted "not for its intrinsic worth, but because of the generous +spirit which prompted the gift." "Whenever my eye rests on these letters +by friendship traced," said the dominie, "my pleasant companion of this +happy day will be held in remembrance." + +"And when my fingers feel 'E.C.' on the handle," retorted the lawyer, +"I'll be wishing that my dear friend's lot, that gave it me, may be easy +too. Faith but that's a hard pun on an Irishman." + +"Seriously, now, Corry, does it give you any satisfaction to be guilty +of these--ah--rhetorical figures?" + +"All the delight in the world, Wilks, my boy." + +"But it lowers the tone of your conversation; it puts you on a level +with common men; it grieves me." + +"If that last is the case, Farquhar, I'll do my best to fight against my +besetting sin. You'll admit I've been very tender of your feelings with +them." + +"How's your foot now?" + +"Oh, splendid! This stick of yours is a powerful help to it. + + Jog on, jog on, the footpath way, + And merrily hent the stile-a: + A merry heart goes all the day, + Your sad tires in a mile-a. + +Shakespeare's songs remind me of young Witherspoon. There was a party at +old Tylor's, and a lady was singing 'Tell me where is fancy bred?' when +young Witherspoon comes up to the piano in a hurry, and says: 'Why, +don't you know?--at Nasmith's and Webb's.' + +"Lord! how savage old Tylor was! I thought he would have kicked the +young ass out." + +"That is just what we lovers of literature have to endure from the +Philistines. But, Corry, my dear fellow, here is the rain!" + +The rain fell, at first drop by drop, but afterwards more smartly, +forcing the pedestrians to take refuge under some leafy pines. There +they sat quietly for a time, till their interest was excited by a deep +growl, which seemed to come round a jog in the road just ahead. + +"Is that a bear or a wolf, Corry?" the dominie asked in a whisper. + +"More like a wild cat or a lynx," cheerfully responded his friend. + +The growl was repeated, and then a human like voice was heard which +quieted the ferocious animal. + +"Whatever it is, it's got a keeper," whispered Coristine, "so we needn't +be afraid." + +Then the sun shone forth brightly and a rainbow spanned the sky. + +"The rainbow comes and goes," said the lawyer, which gave the +schoolmaster occasion to recite:-- + + My heart leaps up when I behold + A rainbow in the sky. + So was it when my life began; + So is it now I am a man; + So be it when I shall grow old + Or let me die! + The child is father of the man; + And I could wish my days to be + Bound each to each by natural piety. + +"Brayvo, well done, ancore!" cried a cheery and cheeky voice coming +round the jog; "oo'd a thought of meetin' a play hactor 'ere in the +bush! Down, Muggins, down," the latter to a largish and wiry-looking +terrier, the author of the ominous growls. + +"I beg your pardon, sir," said Wilkinson with dignity, "I have nothing +to do with the stage, beyond admiring the ancient ornaments of the +English drama." + +"Hall right, no hoffence meant and none taken, I 'ope. But you did it +well, sir, devilish well, I tell you. My name is Rawdon, and I'm a +workin' geologist and minerologist hon the tramp." + +The stranger, who had thus introduced himself, was short, about five +feet five, fairly stout, with a large head covered with curly reddish +hair, his whiskers and goatee of the same hue, his eyes pale grayish, +his nose retrousse, and his mouth like a half-moon lying on its back. He +was dressed in a tweed suit of a very broad check; his head was crowned +with a pith hat, almost too large even for it; and he wore gaiters. But, +what endeared him to the pedestrians was his knapsack made of some kind +of ribbed brown waterproof cloth. + +"Either of you gents take any hinterest in science?" he asked affably, +whereupon the schoolmaster took it upon himself to reply. + +"I, as an educationist, dabble a little in geology, mineralogy, and +palaeontology. My friend is a botanist. You are Mr. Rawdon. Allow me, Mr. +Rawdon, to introduce my friend Mr. Eugene Coristine, of Osgood Hall, +Barrister, and my humble self, Farquhar Wilkinson, of the Toronto +Schools." + +Mr. Rawdon bowed and shook hands, then threw himself into a stage +attitude, and said: "His it possible that I am face to face with +Farquhar Wilkinson, the describer of a hentirely new species of +Favosites? Sir, this is a perroud day for a workin' geologist. Your +servant, Dr. Coristine!" + +"I'm no doctor, Mr. Rawdon," replied the lawyer, a bit angrily; "I +passed all my examinations in the regular way." + +"Hif it's a fair question, gents, ware are you a goin'"? asked the +working geologist. + +"We intend, if nothing intervenes, to spend the night at the village of +Peskiwanchow," answered Wilkinson, whose heart warmed to the knapsack +man that knew his great discovery. + +"Beastly 'ole!" remarked Mr. Rawdon; "but, as I'm a long way hoff +Barrie, I'll go there with you, if Mr. Currystone is hagreeable. I don't +want to miss the hopportunity of making your better hacquaintance, Dr. +Wilkinson." + +"I am sure that my friend and I will be charmed with your excellent +society, as a man, a fellow pedestrian and a lover of science," the +dominie effusively replied. + +"Well, Muggins, we're a-goin' back, hold dog, along o' two gents as +haint above keepin' company wi' you and me," whereat Muggins barked and +sought to make friends with his new companions. Coristine liked Muggins, +but he did not love Muggins' master. Sotto voce, he said: "A cheeky +little cad!" + +Mr. Rawdon and Wilkinson forged on ahead. Coristine and Muggins brought +up the rear. + +"What are you working at now, Mr. Rawdon?" asked the schoolmaster. + +"I'm workin' hup the Trenton and Utica, the Udson River and Medina +formations. They hall crop hup between 'ere and Collin'wood. It's the +limestone I'm hafter, you know," he said, sinking his voice to a +whisper, "the limestone grits, dolomites, and all that sort of thing. +Wen I can get a good grinstun quarry, I'll be a made man." + +"Grinstun?" queried Wilkinson, helplessly. + +"Yes, you know, g, r, i, n, d, s, t, o, n, e, grinstun, for sharpenin' +tools on; turn 'em with a handle and pour water on top. Now, sir, hevery +farm 'ouse 'as got to 'ave a grinstun, and there's 'ow many farm 'ouses +in Canidy? wy, 'undreds of thousands. You see, there's money in it. Let +me find a grinstun quarry and I'm a made man. And wot's more, I've found +the grinstun quarry." + +"You have? Where?" asked the dominie. + +The working geologist drew off, and playfully planted the forefinger of +his right hand on the side of his upturned nose, saying "Walker!" Then +he relented, and, reapproaching his companion, said: "Honour bright, +now, you're no workin' geologist, lookin' out for the blunt? You're a +collector of Favosites Wilkinsoma, Stenopora fibrosa, Asaphus +Canadensis, Ambonychia radiata, Heliopora fragilis, and all that rot, +ain't you now?" + +"I certainly seek to make no money out of science, and am a lover of the +fossil records of ancient life in our planet, but, above all, I assure +you that I would no more think of betraying your confidence than of +picking your pocket. If you have any doubts, do not make me your +confidant." + +"Hall right, hold cock, I mean, my dear sir. You're safe has a church. +There's a 'undred hacre lot hup in the township of Flanders, has full +of grinstuns as a hegg's full of meat. It belongs to a Miss Do +Please-us, but who the dooce she is, I dunno. That's just wot I'm +a-goin' to find hout. If she hain't paid her taxes, bein' hon the +non-resident roll, I maybe hable to pick hup the land for less than ten +dollars, and it'll bring me hin tens of thousands. Then I'll skip back +to hold Hingland and cut it fat." + +Coristine was not so taken up with Muggins that he failed to overhear +the conversation. He did not catch it all, but he learned that a lady, a +maiden lady, whose name mediated between Jewplesshy and Do Please, owned +valuable mineral lands, of which the working geologist intended to +deprive her by unfair means. Miss Do-Please-us was nothing to him, but +justice was something, and the man Rawdon was an unutterable cad. How +Wilkinson could take any pleasure in his society he could not +understand. He had a good mind to chuck the dominie's stick into the +next creek and let it float to Jericho. He did throw it away along the +road, but Muggins brought it back. Deserted by his bosom friend for a +common, low down cad like that; Oh, by Jove! He strode along in silence, +while Muggins, his only friend, came and rubbed himself against his leg. +No, he would not give in to fate in the shape of a Rawdon. He had +important secrets regarding the welfare of two women, that Providence +seemed to have thrown in his way, in his possession. If Wilks turned +traitor, he could break the pact, and make one of these women happy. +Pity he wasn't a Turk to take care of the pair of them. Night had +fallen, but the moon shone out and the stars, and it was very pleasant +walking, if only Wilkinson would give the least hint that he was +conscious of his friend's existence. But the schoolmaster was happy with +the mining adventurer, who knew his man well enough to mix a few fossils +with the grinstuns. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Peskiwanchow Tavern--Bad Water--A Scrimmage and Timotheus--The + Wigglers--Pure Water and Philosophy--Archaeology and Muggins--Mrs. + Thomas and Marjorie--Dromore--Rawdon's Insolence and Checks--On the + Road and Tramp's Song--Maguffin and the Pole-cart. + + +"Ere's this beastly 'ole of a Peskiwanchow," said Mr. Rawdon as the +pedestrians came to a rather larger clearing than usual, prominent in +which was the traditional country tavern. + +"Is it clean?" asked Wilkinson. + +"Well, there hain't hany pestilence that walketh hin darkness there, not +to my knowledge; though they say hif you keep your lamp lit hall night, +they won't come near you; but then, the blessed lamp brings the +mosquitoes, don't you see?" + +Mr. Wilkinson did see, but was glad of the information, as the look of +the hotel was not reassuring. + +"Ullo, Matt!" cried his new friend to the coatless landlord. "I'm back, +you see, hand 'ave brought you a couple of guests. Look sharp with +supper, for we're hall 'ungry as 'awks." + +The ham which they partook of, with accompanying eggs and lukewarm +potatoes, was very salt, so that in spite of his three cups of tea +Wilkinson was thirsty. He went to the bar, situated in the only common +room, except the dining-room, in the house, and asked for a glass of +water. A thick, greenish fluid was handed to him, at which, as he held +it to the light, he looked aghast. Adjusting his eye-glass, he looked +again, and saw not only vegetable and minute animal organisms, but also +unmistakable hairs. + +"Where do you get this water?" he asked in a very serious tone. + +"Out of the well," was the answer. + +"Are you aware that it is one mass of animal and vegetable impurities, +and that you are liable to typhoid and every other kind of disease as +the natural effect of drinking such filth?" + +The landlord stared, and then stammered that he would have the well +cleaned out in the morning, not knowing what sort of a health officer +was before him. But the crowd at the bar said it was good enough for +them, as long as the critters were well killed off with a good drop of +rye or malt. Wilkinson asked for a glass of beer, which came out sour +and flat. "See me put a head on that," said the landlord, dropping a +pinch of soda into the glass and stirring it in with a spoon. The +schoolmaster tried to drink the mixture, but in vain; it did not quench +the thirst, but produced a sickening effect. He felt like a man in a +strange land, like a wanderer in the desert, a shipwrecked mariner. Oh, +to be on the _Susan Thomas_, with miles of pure water all round! Or even +at home, where the turning of a tap brought all Lake Ontario to one's +necessities. + +"Is there no other water than this about?" he asked in despair. + +"Wy, yees," answered Matt; "thay's the crick a ways down the track, but +it's that black and masshy I guess you wouldn't like it no better." + +"Well, get us some from there, like a good man, to wash with if we +cannot drink it, and have it taken up to our room," for it had appeared +that the two pedestrians were to inhabit a double-bedded apartment. + +"'Ere, you Timotheus, look spry and go down to the crick and fetch a +pail of water for No. 6." + +A shambling man, almost a hobbledehoy, of about twenty five, ran out to +obey the command, and, when he returned from No. 6, informed Wilkinson +civilly that the water was in his room. Something in his homely but +pleasant face, in his shock head and in his voice, seemed familiar to +the dominie, yet he could not place his man; when Coristine came along +and said, "You've got a brother on the _Susan Thomas_, haven't you, and +his name is Sylvanus?" The young man shuffled with his feet, opened a +mouth the very counterpart of "The Crew's," and answered: "Yes, mister, +he's my oldest brother, is Sylvanus; do you happen to know Sylvanus?" + +"Know him?" said the unblushing lawyer, "like a brother; sailed all over +Lake Simcoe with him." + +The lad was proud, and went to his menial tasks with a new sense of the +dignity of his family. He was called for on all sides, and appeared to +be the only member of the household in perpetual request; but, though +many liberties were taken with him personally, none were taken with his +name, which was always given in full, "Ti-mo-the-us!" Wilkinson was too +tired, thirsty and generally disgusted to do anything but sit, as he +never would have sat elsewhere, on a chair tilted against the wall. +Coristine would fain have had a talk with "The Crew's" brother, but that +worthy was ever flitting about from bar-room to kitchen, and from well +to stable; always busy and always cheerful. + +The Grinstun man came swaggering up after treating all hands at the bar +to whisky, in which treat the pedestrians were included by invitation, +declined with thanks, and suggested a game of cards--any game they +liked--stakes to be drinks; or, if the gents preferred it, cigars. +Coristine somewhat haughtily refused, and Wilkinson, true to his +principles, but in a more conciliatory tone, said that he did not play +them. He was obliged, therefore, to get the landlord, Matt, and a couple +of bar-room loafers to take hands with him. + +"Wilks, my dear boy, get out your draft-board and I'll play you a game," +said Coristine. + +The board was produced, the flat, cardboard chessmen turned upside down, +and the corner of a table, on which a few well-thumbed newspapers lay, +utilized for the game. The players were so interested in making moves +and getting kings that, at first, they did not notice the talk of the +card players which was directed against them; for Matt, being called +away to his bar, was replaced by a third loafer. Gradually there came to +their ears the words, "conceited, offish, up-settin', pedlars, tramps, +pious scum," with condemnatory and other adjectives prefixed, and then +they knew that their characters and occupations were undergoing +unfavourable review. Mr. Rawdon was too "hail fellow well met" with the +loafers to offer any protest. He joined in the laugh that greeted each +new sally of vulgar abuse, and occasionally helped his neighbours on by +such remarks as, "We musn't be too 'ard on 'em, they hain't used to such +company as hus," which was followed by a loud guffaw. Wilkinson was +playing badly, for he felt uncomfortable. Coristine chewed his +moustache and became red in the face. The landlord looked calmly on. At +last the card players, having had their third drink since the game +began, came over to the little table. One of the roughest and +worst-tongued of the three picked up a pile of dirty newspapers, looked +at one of them for a moment, pshawed as if there was nothing in them, +and threw the pile down with a twist of his hand fair on to the +draft-board, sweeping it half off the table and all the cardboard men to +the floor. In a moment Coristine was up, and laid hold of the fellow by +the shoulder. Pale but resolute, the schoolmaster, who had done physical +duty by unruly boys, stood beside him. The working geologist and the +landlord, Matt, looked on to see the fun of a fight between two city men +and three country bullies. + +"Get down there," said Coristine to his man, trembling with indignation, +"get down there, and pick up all these chessmen, or I'll wring your neck +for you." The fellow made a blow at him with his free hand, a blow that +Coristine parried, and then the Irishman, letting go of his antagonist's +arm, gave him a sounding whack with all the might of his right fist, +that sent him sprawling to the ground. + +"Pile in on 'im, boys!" cried the prostrate ruffian, who had lost a +tooth and bled freely at the nose. The other two prepared to pile, when +the schoolmaster faced one of them, and kept him off. It is hard to say +how matters would have gone, had not a tornado entered the bar room in +the shape of Timotheus. How he did it, no one could tell, but, in less +than two minutes, the two standing bullies and the prostrate one were +all outside the tavern door, which was locked behind them. Peace once +more reigned in the hotel, and it was in order for Matt and the Grinstun +man to congratulate Coristine on his knock down blow. He showed no +desire for their commendation, but, with his friend, whom Timotheus +helped to pick up the chessmen, retired to his room. The Crew's brother +had disappeared before he had had a chance to thank him. + +Before retiring for the night, the lawyer was determined to be upsides +with Mr. Rawdon. He asked his roomfellow if he had any writing +materials, and was at once provided with paper, envelopes, and a +fountain pen. + +"I hope I'm not depriving you of these, Wilks, my dear," he said, when +the party thus addressed almost threw himself upon his neck, saying, +"Corry, my splendid, brave fellow, everything I have is at your absolute +disposal, 'supreme of heroes--bravest, noblest, best!'" for he could not +forget his Wordsworth. Coristine wrote to the clerk of the municipality +of Flanders, to know where Miss Jewplesshy or Do Please-us had a lot, +and whether the taxes on it had been paid. He directed him to answer to +his office in Toronto, and also wrote to his junior, instructing him how +to act upon this reply. These letters being written and prepared for the +post, he and the dominie read together out of the little prayer book, +left the window open and the lamp burning, and went to bed. Before they +fell asleep, they heard the barking of a dog. "It's that poor brute, +Muggins," said Coristine; "I'll go, and let him in, if that brute of a +master of his won't." So, in spite of Wilkinson's remonstrances, he +arose and descended the stairs to the bar-room. Nobody was there but +Timotheus sleeping in a back tilted chair. He slipped quietly along in +his bare feet, but Timotheus, though sleeping, was on guard. The Crew's +brother awoke, soon as he tried the door, and in a moment, was on his +back. "It's I, my good Timotheus," said the lawyer, and at once the grip +relaxed. "I want to let that poor dog, Muggins, in." Then Timotheus +unlocked the door, and Coristine whistled, and called "Hi Muggins, +Muggins, Muggy, Mug, Mug, Mug, Mug!" when the mongrel came bounding in, +with every expression of delight. Coristine warmly thanked The Crew's +brother, pressed a dollar on his acceptance, and then retired to No. 6. +Muggins followed him, and lay down upon the rag carpet outside that +apartment, to keep watch and ward for the rest of the night, entirely +ignoring his owner, the Grinstun man. + +There was a pail of swamp water in the middle of the room, at the bottom +of which lay some little black things. As this water became warm, these +little fellows began to rise and become frolicksome. Like minute +porpoises or dolphins, they joined in the mazy dance, and rose higher +and higher. All night long, by the light of the kerosene lamp, they +indulged in silent but unceasing hilarity. The snores of the sleepers, +the watchful dream-yaps of Muggins, did not affect them. They were bound +to have a good time, and they were having it. Morning came, and the sun +stole in through the window. Then, the wiggler grew tired, and came, +like many tired beings, to the top. For a time he was quiescent, but +soon the sun's rays gave force to the inner impulse which "rent the veil +of his old husk," and transformed it into a canoe or raft, containing a +draggle-tailed-looking creature with a big head and six staggery legs. +Poising itself upon the raft, the outcome of the wiggler sunned its +crumplety wings, till "like gauze they grew," and then all of it, a +whole pailful of it, made for the sleepers, to help its more mature +relations, which had come in through the open window to the light, to +practice amateur phlebotomy upon them. The pedestrians awoke to feel +uncomfortable, and rub and scratch their faces, heads, necks, and hands. +"It's clean devoured I am, Wilks," cried Coristine. "The plagues of +Egypt have visited us," replied the dominie. So, they arose and dressed +themselves, and descended to the noisome bar-room. There they found +Timotheus, awake and busy, while, at their heels, frisking about and +looking for recognition, was their night guard Muggins. Timotheus +informed them that he had already been out probing the well with a pike +pole, and had brought up the long defunct bodies of a cat and a hen, +with an old shoe and part of a cabbage, to say nothing of other things +as savoury. They decided to take no more meals cooked with such water in +that house, paid their bill to Timotheus, buckled on their knapsacks, +and, with staff in hand, sallied forth into the pure outside air of the +morning. Coristine ran over to the store in which the post office was +kept, and posted his two letters. There was no sign of Matt, the +landlord, of Mr. Rawdon, or of their assailants of the night before. +Muggins, however, followed them, and no entreaties, threats, or stones +availed to drive the faithful creature back to his master and the hotel +where he slept. + +The pedestrians passed the black, sluggish creek, out of which the +wigglers had come, and struck into a country, flat but more interesting +than that they had left behind them. After they had gone a couple of +miles they came to a clear running stream, in which they had a splendid +wash, that tended to allay the irritation of the mosquito bites. Then +they brought forth the remains of their biscuits and cheese, and partook +of a clean meal, which Coristine called a good foundation for a smoke, +Muggins sitting upon his hind legs and catching fragments of captain's +biscuits and whole gingersnaps in his mouth, as if he had never done +anything else. It was very pleasant to sit by the brook on that bright +July morning, after the horrors of the Peskiwanchow tavern, to have +clean food and abundance of pure water. As the dominie revelled in it, +he expressed the opinion that Pindar was right when he said "ariston men +hudor," which, said the lawyer, means that water is the best of all the +elements, but how would Mr. Pindar have got along without earth to walk +on, air to breathe, and fire to cook his dinner? + +"I'm no philosopher, Wilks, like you, but it seems to me that perfection +is found in no one thing. If it was, the interdependence of the universe +would be destroyed; harmony would be gone, and love, which is just the +highest harmony, be lost. That's just why I couldn't be a unitarian of +any kind. As Tennyson says, 'one good custom would corrupt the world.'" + +"Pardon me, Corry, he does not say that, but makes Arthur say:-- + + God fulfils himself in many ways, + Lest one good custom should corrupt the world." + +"Better and better! but that's what the churches don't see, nor the +politicians, nor the socialists, nor the prohibitionists, nor the +scientists, nor anybody else hardly, it seems to me. When a man's got +two eyes to see with, why should he shut one and keep out half the view? +This 'ariston men hudor' idea--I'm not arguing against temperance, for +it's temperate enough we are both--but this one thing is best notion +would bring the beautiful harmonious world into dull, dead uniformity. +There's a friend of mine that studies his Bible without any reference to +the old systems of theology, and finds these old systems have made some +big mistakes in interpreting its sayings, when a newspaper blockhead +comes along and says if he won't conform let him go out of the church. +There's a one-eyed man for you, an ecclesiastical Polyphemus! Our +politicians are just the same, without a broad, liberal idea to clothe +their naked, thieving policies with. And the scientists! some of them +stargazing, like Thales, so that they fall into the ditch of disrepute +by failing to observe what's nearer home, and others, like Bunyan's man +in Interpreter's house, so busy with the muckrake that they are ignorant +of the crown held over their heads. Now, you and I are liberal and +broad, we can love nature and love God too, we can admire poetry and put +our hands to any kind of honest work; you can teach boys with your +wonderful patience, and, with your pluck, knock a door in, and stand up, +like a man, to fight for your friend. But, Wilks, my boy, I'm afraid +it's narrow we are, too, about the women." + +"Come, come, Corry, that subject, you know--" + +"All right, not another word," interposed the lawyer, laughing and +springing to his feet; "let us jog along + + A village schoolmaster was he, + With hair of glittering grey; + As blithe a man as you could see + On a spring holiday. + + And on that morning, through the grass, + And by the streaming rills, + We travelled merrily, to pass + A day among the hills." + +"When did you take to Wordsworth, Corry?" + +"Oh, many a time, but I refreshed my memory with that yesterday, when I +came across the tear in the old man's eye." + +"It is most appropriate, for there, on the right, are actual hills." + +As the travellers approached the rising ground, which the dominie had +perceived, the lawyer remarked that the hillocks had an artificial look. + +"And they are undoubtedly artificial," replied Wilkinson. + +"This is the township of Nottawasaga, once inhabited by the Tobacco +tribe of the Hurons, who had many villages, and grew tobacco and corn, +besides making beads, pipes, and other articles, for sale or barter. +They made their pipes out of the Trenton sandstone. A great many village +sites and ossuaries have been found in the township, the latter +containing thousands of skeletons. They have all been opened up by the +settlers for the sake of the copper kettles and other objects buried in +them. These long, narrow hillocks are earthworks, the foundation of a +rude fortification or palisade round a village. The Archaeological +Reports of the Canadian Institute contain very full and interesting +accounts of the explorations made in this very region. We are on +historic ground, Corry." + +"Poor old Lo!" ejaculated the lawyer, "whatever is that dog after? Hi, +Muggins, Muggins!" + +But Muggins would not leave the earthwork into which he was digging with +rapidly moving forepaws. As Coristine remarked, it was a regular +Forepaugh's circus. When the pedestrians came up to him, he had a large +hole made in apparently fresh dug earth, and had uncovered a tin box, +japanned above. This the pair disinterred with their walking-sticks, +amid great demonstrations from the terrier. The lawyer opened it +judicially, and found it to contain a lot of fragments of hard +limestone, individually labelled. Looking over these, his eye rested on +one marked P.B. Miss Du Plessis, lot 3, concession 2, township of +Flanders. Others were labelled T. Mulcahy, S. Storch, R. McIver, O. +Fish, with their lots, concessions and townships, and the initials F.M. +and P. + +"What is the import of this?" asked the schoolmaster. + +"Import or export, it's the Grinstun man, the owner of this sagacious +dog, that buried this box till he had time to bring a waggon for it. +These are samples of grindstone rock, and, if I am not a Dutchman, F +means fair, M, middling, P, poor, and P.B., prime boss, and that is Miss +Du Plessis. Gad! we've got her now, Jewplesshy, Do Please, Do Please-us, +are just Du Plessis. It's a pleasant sort of name, Wilks, my boy?" + +"What are you going to do with this treasure trove, might I ask?" +inquired the dominie. + +"Bury it," replied the lawyer. + +"I trust you will make no unfair use of the information it contains, +part of which was confided to me privately, and under seal of secrecy, +by Mr. Rawdon?" + +"Now, Wilks, howld your tongue about that. I ask you no questions, you +tell me no lies nor anything else. If you think I'm going to see a girl +cheated, just because she is a girl, you don't know your friend. But +you do, you honest old Wilks, don't you now?" + +"Very well, only remember I breathed no hint of this in your ear." + +"All right, old man," answered Miss Du Plessis' self-constituted +advocate, as he shovelled the earth in over the tin box. "Muggins, you +rascal, if you dig that up again, I'll starve you to death." + +The pedestrians deserted the archaeological find, and trudged away into +the north west. + +"Wilks, my dear, I feel like the black crow," said Coristine, as they +journeyed along the pleasant highway. + +"Like what?" asked the dominie, adjusting his eye-glass. + +"Like the crow, don't you know? + + Said one black crow unto his mate, + What shall we do for grub to ate? + +Faith, it'll be an awful thing if we're going to die of starvation in +the wilderness." + +"I thought you were a botanist, Corry?" + +"So I am, in a small way." + +"Then, what bushes are those in that beaver meadow?" + +In another minute, the lawyer, closely followed by Muggins, was in the +meadow, exclaiming "Vaccinium Canadense! Come on, Wilks, and have a +feast." Muggins was eating the berries with great satisfaction, and +Coristine kept him company. The dominie also partook of them, remarking: +"This is the whortleberry, or berry of the hart, vulgarly called the +huckleberry, although huckle means a hump, which is most inappropriate." + +"That reminds me of a man with a hump, though there wasn't much heart to +him," said Coristine, his mouth full of fruit. "He undertook to write on +Canada after spending a month here. He said the Canadians have no fruit +but a very inferior raspberry, and that they actually sell bilberries in +the shops. As a further proof of their destitution, he was told that +haws and acorns are exposed for sale in the Montreal markets. Such a +country, he said, is no place for a refined Englishman. I don't wonder +my countrymen rise up against the English." + +"You forget, Corry, that I am English, and proud of my descent from the +Saxon Count Witikind." + +"Beg your pardon, Wilks, but you're a good Englishman, and I never +dreamt your progenitor was that awful heathen:-- + + Save us, St. Mary, from flood and from fire, + From famine and pest, and Count Witikind's ire. + +As the Englishmen said, there is no need to hask 'ow the hell got into +your name." + +"Corry, this is most unseemly. I wonder you are not ashamed to speak +thus, with that innocent dog beside you." + +"O, dad, he's heard worse things than that; haven't you now, Muggins? +Trust him to live with a cad of a Grinstun man, and not to pick up bad +language." + +"Ullo, there, you dog-stealers!" fell upon the ears of the berry-pickers +like a thunder clap. They looked up, and saw a neat waggonette, drawn by +a team of well-kept bay horses, in which, on a back seat, sat Mr. Rawdon +and a little girl with long fair hair. On the front seat were two +well-dressed women, one of whom was driving; the other wore a widow's +cap, and had a gentle, attractive face. The waggon stopped for them to +come on to the road, which, leaving their berries, they did, taking off +their hats to the ladies as they approached. + +"We did all we could, Mr. Rawdon, to make your dog go back to the hotel, +but he insisted on following us," said Wilkinson, apologetically. + +"All very fine, my beauty, you 'ooked 'im and got 'im to shew you ware +this 'ere box was. I'm hup to your larks, and you such a hinnocent too!" + +Wilkinson was indignant, and denied having anything to do with the box. + +"Be careful what you say, Mr. Rawdon," said Coristine, "I'm a lawyer, +and may make a case, if you are not judicious in your language." + +"Oh come hoff, I don't mean no 'arm; it's just my fun. 'Ave you any +hobjection to give these 'ere gents a lift, Mrs. Thomas?" + +"None, whatever," replied the lady who was driving. + +"Then, if you don't mind, I'll get hin halongside hof your sister hin +front, hand leave them to keep company with little Marjorie 'ere," said +the working geologist; and climbed over into the front seat outside of +the attractive widow. Still, the pedestrians hesitated, till Mrs. +Thomas, a by no means uncomely woman, said: "Get in, gentlemen, we shall +be pleased to have your company." This decided them. They sprang into +the waggon, one on each side of the little girl called Marjorie. The +horses trotted along, and Muggins hovered about them, with an occasional +ecstatic bark. + +"I like you and your little dog," said Marjorie to Coristine, who +replied: "God bless you for a little darling." After this interchange of +confidence, they became great friends. Wilkinson found himself somewhat +left out, but the Grinstun man threw him an odd bone, now and then, in +the shape of a geological remark, keeping clear, however, of +grindstones. + +"What's your name, Marjorie?" asked the lawyer. + +"My name is Marjorie," she replied. + +"Yes, but what's your other name?" + +"Marjorie Carmichael." + +"Is that your father's name?" + +"No, my papa's name is Captain Thomas." + +"And has he got a ship on Lake Simcoe?" + +"Yes, how did you know? He's got a ship, and a lumber yard, and a saw +mill, and a farm, and a lot of things. Saul is on the farm, and Mr. +Pratt works the mill, and Gudgeon looks after the yard, and Sylvanus is +on the boat." + +"Who is Saul?" + +"He's the father of Sylvanus and Timotheus. Only Timotheus doesn't work +for us. He wouldn't say his catechism on Sundays, so Saul said he had to +go. I don't wonder he wouldn't say his catechism, do you? It speaks +about God's getting awful angry and cursing. God doesn't get angry with +little boys and girls and curse them, does he, Mr. What's your name?" + +"My name is Coristine, but the name my little sister would have called +me, if I had had a little sister like you, would be Eugene. No, I never +read that God cursed any little girls and boys, nor anybody, not even +the devil." + +"And he's very very bad, isn't he? My cousin Marjorie Carruthers, that +I'm called after, says Timotheus should have learned his catechism; but +she doesn't think God curses children. Then I said he oughtn't to learn +what isn't true." + +"O my darlint, but it's right you are. I wish I had you up on the dais +at the Synod, to teach the bishops and all the clergy. Is she a nice +little girl, your cousin Marjorie?" + +"She's nice, but she isn't little, not a single bit. She lives away away +in Toronto, and teaches school. Now, put your head down and I'll whisper +something in your ear." + +Coristine put his head down beside the long, fair curls, and Marjorie +whispered, pointing a finger at the same time towards the widow: "That's +my Aunt Marjorie, and she's Marjorie's mother." + +"Where is cousin Marjorie now!" + +"She's up at Uncle Carruthers', along with Miss Du Plessis. Do you know +Miss Du Plessis? Oh, she's lovely, and, do you know?--put down your head +again--that ugly little man sitting by Auntie says he's going to marry +her. Isn't it too bad?" + +"Infernal little beast! O, my dear Marjorie, I beg your pardon. I was +thinking of that rascal of a mosquito on your hand--there, he's dead! +Yes, it would be too bad, but she'll never marry such a man as that." + +"Perhaps she'll have to, because she's very poor, and he says he's going +to make heaps and heaps of money. People shouldn't marry for money, +should they?" + +"No, dear, they should marry for love, if they marry at all. Will you +marry me when you grow to be a young lady?" + +"No, you'll be too old then. Put your head down. You go and take away +Miss Du Plessis from that naughty, bad little man, and I'll love you, O, +ever so much.' + +"But perhaps she won't have me." + +"Oh, yes she will, because you would look very nice if you would take +that black stuff that scratched me off your face." + +"I will, I'll get a clean shave at Collingwood this very night." + +"Then I'll get Auntie to write to Marjorie and tell her that my own +Prince Charming, with a clean shave, is coming to take Cecile away from +the ugly little rich man that says: 'An' 'ow is my young friend?' Won't +that be nice?" + +"Oh, please don't tell your aunt to write that." + +"But I will, so there!" + +The waggonette was now in the midst of a rather pretty village situated +on a branch of the Nottawasaga River, and came to a stand still opposite +the post office. + +"If you gentlemen have business in the village, you can get out here," +said Mrs. Thomas, "but, if not, we shall be pleased to have you dine +with us." + +The pedestrians thought of their last tavern experience, and felt +disposed to accept the hospitable invitation, but Marjorie clinched +their resolution by saying: "Eugene is coming to dinner with me, and his +friend may come too," at which everybody laughed. The waggon moved on +for another half mile, and then stopped in front of a pretty and +commodious frame house, painted white, with red-brown doors and window +frames and green shutters. Porch and verandah were covered with Virginia +creeper, climbing roses and trumpet honeysuckle. Mr. Rawdon looked after +himself, but Wilkinson and Coristine helped the ladies and the little +girl to dismount, while an old man with a shock head, evidently Saul, +took the horses round. Muggins greeted the whole party with a series of +wiggles and barks, whereupon the Grinstun man gave him a savage kick +that sent the dog away yelping. + +"I said you were a naughty, bad, cruel man to my own self and to people +I like," said Marjorie with indignation, "but now I say it right out to +you, and for everybody to hear that wants to--a nasty, ugly, cruel +little man!" + +The working geologist was very angry and got very red in the face. Had +he dared, he would probably have kicked the girl too. Policy compelled +him to keep his temper outwardly, so he turned it off with a laugh, and +said: "You don't know that little beast has I do, Marjorie, or you +wouldn't go hand take 'is part. Of all the hungrateful, treacherous, +sneakin', bad-'earted curs that ever gnawed a bone, 'e's the +top-sawyer." + +"I don't believe it," answered Marjorie stoutly, and with all the +license allowed to a late and only child. + +When the ladies took off their bonnets and rejoined their guests in the +parlour, the pedestrians were much struck with their appearance and +demeanour, especially in the case of Mrs. Carmichael, than whom no lady +could have been more gentle mannered and gracious. She had evidently had +enough of Mr. Rawdon, for she turned in the most natural way to +Wilkinson and engaged him in conversation on a variety of topics. The +schoolmaster found her a charming talker and an interested listener. +Marjorie and Coristine sat on a sofa with Muggins between them, while +the working geologist banged about some photographs on a centre table. +At dinner, to which Mrs. Thomas soon summoned them, Coristine had the +post of honour with Marjorie to his right. Mrs. Carmichael sat at the +foot of the table with Wilkinson by her side, and Rawdon was at Mrs. +Thomas' left. While doing justice to an excellent repast, the lawyer +informed his hostess that he was not an entire stranger to her family, +and gave an account of his passage in the _Susan Thomas_ from Belle +Ewart to Barrie. He also referred to Sylvanus and Timotheus, and dwelt +upon the excellent service rendered by the latter. The Grinstun man +disliked the turn things were taking, as he felt himself out in the +cold, for the widow absorbed the dominie, and Marjorie would not look at +him. + +When dessert came on the table, he turned to the schoolmaster and rudely +interrupted his conversation, saying: "Look 'ere, Mr. Favosites +Wilkinsonia, I don't see as you've hany call to keep hall the widder's +talk to yourself. I move we change places," and he rose to effect the +change. + +"Really," said Wilkinson, with offended dignity, "I am not accustomed to +anything of that description at a dinner party where there are ladies; +but, if it's Mrs. Carmichael's desire that we should interchange seats, +I am ready to comply." + +Mrs. Carmichael evidently did not relish being called "the widder," nor +the society of Mr. Rawdon, for she answered, "Certainly not, Mr. +Wilkinson," and resumed her conversation with him. The baffled geologist +turned to the hostess, while Marjorie engaged Coristine's attention, and +in a petulant way stated his case. "You know the kind of man I ham, Mrs. +Thomas, I'm a man of haction. I strike wen the hiron's 'ot. By good +luck, I went back to Peskiwanchow last night, though it is a beastly +'ole, and got letters hat the post hoffice this mornin'. My hagent, at +Toronto says, Mrs. Do Please-us is pretty badly hout for want of chink, +hand that the girl's ready to jump hat hany reasonable hoffer. Now, hall +I say his, give a man a chance. If she's the stunner they say she his, +I'll marry her hinside of a week and make a lady of 'er, and hallow the +hold 'ooman a pound a week, yes, I'll go has 'igh has thirty shillin', +that's seven dollars and a 'arf. You get me a hinvite or give me a +hintroduction to your brother's 'ouse in Flanders, and get the widder to +back it hup with a good word to 'er daughter that's Miss Do Please-us's +bosom friend, and I'll give the capting the contrack to carry hall the +grinstuns shipped to Lake Simcoe ports." Then, sinking his voice to a +whisper, he continued, "I'll do one better; I'll show you ware there's +has fine a quarry of buildin' stun hon your farm 'ere has can be got +hanyware in Canidy. Then, wot's to 'inder your 'avin the best 'ouse +twixt 'ere and Collinwood?" This last stroke of policy carried his +point, and secured him the promise of an introduction, but Mrs. Thomas +could not promise for her sister. All the time, Coristine, who could not +help overhearing, twisted his moustache fiercely, and, under his breath, +called the geologist a contemptible and unspeakable little cad. + +Shortly afterwards, much to Marjorie's grief, the pedestrians put on +their knapsacks and grasped their sticks for the road. They warmly +thanked their hostess and her accomplished sister for their kind +hospitality, and for the exceedingly pleasant hours they had spent in +their company. They were cordially invited to call any time when they +were near the village, and especially when the captain was at home, as +he would never forgive himself for missing this treat. Marjorie kissed +her Eugene, telling him to be a good boy, and remember what he had +promised her about "you know who." "Ullo young 'ooman," said the +Grinstun man, "you had ort to save one of them for yours +haffectionately," at which the small lady was so indignant that she +threatened to box his ugly big ears. "O Marjorie, how rude! whatever +will these gentlemen from Toronto think!" Coristine could not bear to +leave his little friend in disgrace, without a word of comfort, so he +said: "Pardon me, Mrs. Thomas, for saying that the rudeness did not +originate with Marjorie," for which the child gave him a grateful +glance. "You had better keep your dog in, Mr. Rawdon," called out +Wilkinson, "or he will be after us again." The little man ran down the +garden walk to get a farewell kick at his property, but Muggins, +foreseeing danger, ran out of the gate, which old Saul held open for +him. "You can keep the beastly cur, I don't want 'im, hungrateful, +treacherous, long legged, 'airy brute," the last two adjectives being +put in for Coristine's benefit, as allusions to his height and his +moustache. + +"Come back, Mr. Wilkinson," called Mrs. Carmichael. The dominie +returned, and had a large fragrant rose pinned by fair hands to his +button hole, blushing violently all the time. "You come back too, +Eugene, but don't let Muggy in or he'll be kicked," cried Marjorie, who, +on her favourite's return, gave him another parting salute and pinned +two roses on his coat. Muggins waited for them till they closed the gate +finally behind them, lifted their hats three times, and began their +afternoon's journey. + +"That Mrs. Carmichael," remarked Wilkinson, "is one of the most +intelligent and lady-like women I ever met, and she is wonderfully well +read in the poets, Corry." + +"I thought that subject was tabooed between us, Wilks?" + +"Oh no, my dear fellow, I have no objection to the sex in a Platonic +way." + +"Dad, but it wasn't very platonic you looked when the pretty widow was +fastening that button hole for you. Was she talking about her daughter +at the schools?" + +"Not a word; she did not even hint that she had a daughter. She must +have been very young when the doctor married her." + +"Well, that's one thing we have to thank that howling cad of a Grinstun +man for. I'm real sorry I missed having a chat with Saul about the +catechism." + +"What is that!" So the lawyer related his conversation with Marjorie, +and Wilkinson said, "Really, Corrie, as an educationist, I must say you +do wrong to encourage such pertness in so young a child." + +"Pertness is it? It's nature's own cleverness in the sweet little lass. +Wilks, I'd give a good deal to have that little sunbeam or one like her +with me all the time." + +"Adopt one," suggested the schoolmaster. + +"Adopt one," replied the lawyer with a bitter laugh, "adopt one for +Mrs. Marsh to look after? No, when I've a house of my own and a good +housekeeper, and more time to spend on a child, I'll think over the +hint." + +The pair tramped steadily on, though the sun was hot, for there was a +pleasant breeze, and the scenery became bolder and more picturesque. +They came to rising ground, at the foot of which lay a fertile valley, +and beyond it the Blue Mountains. Gazing across at them, the dominie +exclaimed:-- + + Yon azure ridge, + Is it a perishable cloud--or there + Do we behold the frame of Erin's coast? + +"No, Wilks, no! Erin's away on the confines of Wellington and Peel, and +we are on those of Simcoe and Grey." + +"Slight man, did you not perceive that I quoted poetry, and that the +allusion is to your native isle?" + +"Faith. I wish the real Erin was over there; it's the old lady would be +in my arms as fast as I could run across. But this place deserves a +song, so here goes:-- + + Though down in yonder valley + The mist is like a sea, + Though the sun be scarcely risen, + There's light enough for me. + For, be it early morning, + Or be it late at night, + Cheerily ring our footsteps, + Right, left, right. + + We wander by the woodland + That hangs upon the hill; + Hark! the cock is tuning + His morning clarion shrill; + And hurriedly awaking + From his nest amid the spray, + Cheerily now, the blackbird, + Whistling, greets the day. + For be it early morning, etc. + + We gaze upon the streamlet, + As o'er the bridge we lean; + We watch its hurried ripples + We mark its golden green. + Oh, the men of the north are stalwart, + And the norland lasses fair; + And cheerily breathes around us + The bracing norland air. + We smoke our black old meerschaums, + We smoke from morn till night, + While cheerily ring our footsteps, + Right, left, right." + +"Well done, Corry! I thought at first it was your own composition, but +I see it is an English song." + +"Yes, it came out long ago as 'The Tramp's Song' in _Sharpe's Magazine_, +where I found it, and changed moor and moorland to north and norland, as +better suited to our purpose. It's a good song." + +"What kind of vehicle is that just in front of us?" + +"It's a pole on four wheels drawn by a team of oxen, and I'm going to +make a triumphant entry into Collingwood on it. The driver is a negro, +as black as my boots--were." Coristine soon overtook the remarkable +vehicle, and accosted the driver, telling him that he had ridden on +horses, donkeys, mules, and once each on a cow, a camel and an elephant; +in all sorts of carriages, carts and waggons, even to a gun carriage, +but never on a pole behind an ox team. Had he any objections to letting +him and his friend get aboard? The coloured gentleman showed a fine set +of ivory, and said he had no dejections in the leas', and guessed the +oxen didn't hab none. "The po-ul," he remarked, "is thar, not foh ridin' +on, but ter keep the axles apaht, so's ter load on bodes and squab +timbah. If yoh's that way inclined, the po-ul aint a gwine ter break +frew, not with yoh dismenshuns. Guess the oxen doan hab ter stop fer yoh +bof ter git aboahd?" + +"Not a bit," said Coristine, as he jumped on the pole behind the driver. +"Come on, Wilks, it's a cross between the tight rope and the tiller of +the _Susan Thomas_." But the dominie refused to be charmed or inveigled +into a position of peril or ridicule. + +"Yoh best take this yeah feed-bag ter save yoh pants and fezz'etate the +keepin' of yoh ekilibroom," said the courteous darkey, as he handed the +lawyer one of the bags that formed his own cushion. + +"Wilks, with a feed-bag under you, riding on a rail is just heavenly." + +"If it was a rai-ul, you'd know it mighty soon, boss, fer rai-uls is +angulish and shahp and hahd on the pants, but a po-ul is rounded and +smoove. How are yoh comin' along?" + +"In great shape, Mr. ----" + +"Maguffin, sah, is my applenashun. Tobias Mortimah Magrudah Maguffin. +The low down folks around, they teenames me Tobe and Toby, that's the +shanty men and mill hans. But when I goes whar they's a meetin' of the +bruddren, it's Mistah Maguffin, ebery time." + +The pole cart, as Coristine called it, was going down hill, now, and the +oxen began to run. + +"Hole on tight, Mistah, them cattle's too lazy to stop runnin' befoh +they gits to the determination ob this dercliverty," called the driver; +and the lawyer held on in spite of frantic cries from his companion. +"Come off, Coristine, come off, and do not make an object of yourself +before the whole town." Coristine held on till the bottom of the hill +was reached. Then he shook hands with his coloured brother, returned him +the feed bag, and waited for Wilkinson. In friendly converse they +entered the town of Collingwood, and put up at a clean and comfortable, +almost fashionable, hotel. There, for the night, they may be left in +safety, with this remark, that Coristine fulfilled his promise to the +little girl, and got a clean shave before retiring. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Collingwood--Colonel Morton--Maguffin Engaged--Stepping + Westward--Wild Thyme and a Bath--The Shale-works--Muggins and the + Clergymen--Durham Mustard, and Marjorie--The Squire--The Grinstun + Man--Lunch, Wordsworth and Original Poetry--Two Old People on the + Blue Mountains. + + +At supper they had, for their vis-a-vis, a tall, aristocratic-looking +man, attired airily in a mixture of jean and silk. His nose was +aquiline, his eyes grey and piercing withal, his hair grey, but +abundant, and his clean shaved mouth and chin mingled delicacy with +strength of character. + +"The weathah has been wahm, gentlemen," he remarked; to which statement +they assented. + +"I obsehved you entah the ho-tel, and pehceived that you are travelling +for pleasuhe by yo-ah knapsacks. I also am travelling, partly foh +pleasuhe, partly foh mattahs of family business. My ideahs, gentlemen, +are old fashioned, too much so foh railyoads. The Mississippi is ouah +natuhal highway from the South, but, unfohtunately, the to me unpleasant +railyoad had to connect its head watahs with Lake Michigan, by which +route I find myself heah, on my way to a city called To-hon-to. You know +it, I pehsume?" + +Wilkinson's geographical lore was now unfolded. He discussed the +Mississippi, although he had not been on that river, exhibited an +intimate acquaintance with cities and routes which had never seen him in +the flesh, and, by his quiet, gentlemanly, and, to the much older man, +deferential tone, was admitted to the confidence of Colonel Morton, of +Louisiana, South American trader, ship-owner and the possessor of a fine +estate, which, although it had suffered greatly during the war, in which +the colonel commanded a cavalry regiment, was yet productive and +remunerative. + +"I am a widowah, suh, and a childless old man," continued the colonel; +"my only boy fell in the wah ah, and it broke his mother's heaht. Pahdon +me," he said, as his voice shook a little, and the least glimmer of a +tear stood in his eye, "I rahely talk of these mattahs of a puhely +pehsonal kind, but, as you are kind enough to be intehested in my +affaiahs, I say this much by way of explanation." + +"I am sure, Colonel Morton, we deeply sympathize with you in so great a +double bereavement," interposed the dominie. + +"Indeed we do, sir, most sincerely," added the lawyer. + +"I thank you, gentlemen," answered the courteous Southerner. "I was +going to remahk that the only pehson in whom I feel a family intehest is +my lamented wife's sistah, a Madame Du Plessis, who has resided foh many +yeahs in yoah city of To-hon-to. May I enquiah, gentlemen, if you have, +either of you, heahd the name befoah?" + +Coristine replied that, incidentally, he had heard the names of both +Madame Du Plessis and her daughter. + +"I am awaah, suh, that my wife's sister has a daughtah. Can you tell me +of my sister-in-law's suhcumstances, and what her daughtah, my niece, is +like in appeahance?" + +"Only from hearsay, Colonel. Madame Du Plessis is said to be in +straightened circumstances, and I learn, from several quarters, that +Miss Du Plessis is an attractive and amiable young lady; 'illigant' is +what a countryman of mine, who served under her father, termed his young +mistress." + +"And her baptismal name, suh?" + +"Is Cecile, I think." + +"Ah, to be suah, my deah wife's name, Cecilia, gallicized. She and +Madame Du Plessis were Castilians of Lima. Du Plessis was theah in the +ahmy, I in commehcial puhsuits, and we mahhied the sistahs, the belles +of the Rimac. + + Que' es la vida? Un frenesi + Que' es la vida? Una ilusion, + Una sombra, una ficcion. + +You read Spanish, Mr. Wilkinson?" + +"A little, sir; I think I recognize Calderon in these lines." + +"Right, Mr. Wilkinson; I thank you, suh, foh yoah pleasing +companionship. Good evening, gentlemen!" With a courtly bow, the colonel +retired from the table. + +At the coloured barber's the pedestrians met Mr. Maguffin, who greeted +Coristine, saying:-- + +"Hopes yoh doan feel none the wuhse ob yoh ride on the po-ul," adding: +"Mistah Poley, what runs this yeah stablishment, he's my nuncle's oldes' +boy, and he abstracks a cohnah ob the same ter my disposhul foh ohfice +pupposes, supposin' I'm wahnted by folks as cahn't find me." + +"That's very convenient," replied the lawyer, as he settled down in the +barber's chair. + +"It am, sah. I doan' tote ox teams no moah, po-ul nor no po-ul, when I +kin drive and ride the fasses and sassies hawses that is made; no, sah, +not much!" + +"You are tired of teaming, then?" + +"I am wohn out, sah, wif bein' called Toby and a po-ul-cat. I doan find +no Scripcher reffunce foh Tobias, and yoh know what a po-ul-cat is; it's +nuffin moah no less nor a skink." + +The victims of the barber and his assistant kept the soap out of their +mouths with difficulty. As his tormentor deserted him for a moment, the +schoolmaster remarked that the Iroquois about the Lake of the Two +Mountains called the Trappist monks there by the same savoury name, on +account of some fancied resemblance between their dress and the coat of +the _Mephitis Americana_. + +Mr. Maguffin was listening intently, thinking the conversation was meant +for his edification, and politely interposed:-- + +"No, sah, I ain't no Mefferdis. I was bawn and raised a Baktis. Poley, +now, he's a Mefferdis, and I ain't a gwine ter speak no harm of no +Crishtchun bruddern what's tryin' ter do right accordin' ter they +lights. But ter be called Toby and Poul-cat by low down white tresh, +that trial ob the flesh and speerut is a fohgone conclusion, sah." + +The shaving operation completed, the travellers returned to the hotel, +and found Colonel Morton on what he called the piazza, smoking a good +Havana cigar. He opened his case for his companions of the supper table, +and Coristine accepted, while Wilkinson courteously declined. + +"I tell you what I want to do, Mr. Cohistine. I want to puhchase two +saddle hawses, a good one foh myself, and not a bad one foh my sehvant. +Unfohtunately, my boy took sick on the way, and I had to send him home +on the Mississippi steamah. That means, I must get me a new sehvant, +able to ride well and handle hawses. I pehsume it will be hahd to find a +cullahed boy, a niggro, in these pahts, so I must take whateveh can be +got that will suit." + +"Not at all, Colonel," replied Coristine, with effusion. "I think I can +get you a negro who is out of place, is a good rider, and, I imagine, a +good judge of horses. If you like, I'll go after him at once and tell +him to report to you to-morrow morning." + +"My deah suh, you are altogethah too kind." + +"Not a bit of it; when will I tell him to call upon you?" + +"Would seven o'clock be too eahly? Plantation and ahmy life have made me +a light sleepah, so that I am up befoh the genehality of hotel guests." + +"The very time. Excuse me for running away, I want to bag my man." + +So Coristine left the colonel to parade the piazza with Wilkinson, and +resought the barber shop. + +The shop was closed, but a light still burned within. Coristine knocked, +and Tobias opened the door. "You're the very man I want," cried the +lawyer. + +"Anything done gwine wrong, boss?" asked Mr. Maguffin. + +The lawyer explained the circumstances to him at length, eulogized +Colonel Morton, and told the negro to make his best appearance at the +hotel, sharp at seven next morning. + +"Do yoh say the gemman'll gib me thirty dollars a munf and cloves ter +boot, and me ridin' behine him all ober the roads on hawseback!" asked +Tobias. + +"Yes, I think I can promise those terms," replied the legal go-between. + +"Then, yoh say foh me, if he's please foh ter hab me Maguffin, not +Tobias, but Maguffin is his man, and I kin pick him out two lubby +hawses, cheap as a po-ul-caht, and I cahn't say no cheapah. My respecs +and humble expreshun ob gracious apprecherashun ter yoh, Mistah +Kerosene." + +The lawyer rushed back to the veranda, and found the colonel and Wilks +still in conversation, and, wonder of wonder, Wilkinson was actually +smoking a cigar, which he occasionally inserted between his lips, and +then held away at arm's length, while he puffed out the smoke in a thin +blue cloud. Wisely, he did not express astonishment at this unheard of +feat of his friend, but informed the colonel that he had seen the +coloured man, whose name was Tobias, but preferred to be called +Maguffin, that he was willing to engage for thirty dollars a month and +his clothes, and that he could put his new master in the way of getting +two suitable horses. "I think, Colonel, you can reckon on his being here +punctually at seven to-morrow." + +"I shall nevah cease, Mr. Cohistine, to be sensible of yoah great +kindness to an entiah styangah, suh. Oblige me by smoking anothah cigah, +if they are to yoah liking." + +So Corry lit a fresh cigar, and the three paraded the verandah till it +was very late, engaging in all manner of pleasant conversation. When the +stumps were thrown away, the colonel invited the comrades to visit his +rooms for a moment before retiring. Entering his private sitting-room, +he produced a quaintly-shaped but large glass bottle, which he flanked +with three tumblers and a carafe of water. "Help yohselves, gentlemen," +he said, courteously; "this old Bourbon is good foh countehacting the +effects of the night aiah. Some prefer Monongahela, but good old Bourbon +in modehation cahn't be suhpahssed." The pedestrians filled up, and +bowed to their host as they drank, and the colonel, doing the same, +said, "My thanks to yoh, gentlemen, foh yoah kindness to a styangah--to +yoah good health and ouah futhah pleasant acquaintance!" Then they +severally retired, and the hotel closed for the night. + +The next morning Coristine, whose room was just over the main entrance, +was awakened by a loud discussion in the hall of the hotel. "Clare out +now," cried the porter, "the bar's not opind yit, an' we don't want +naygurs round whin the guests do be comin' down the stairs; clare, now, +I tell yeez." + +"I'se heah, Mike, on bisness wif Cunnel Morting," said a well-known +voice; and continued, "yoh go and tell the cunnel that Mistah Maguffin +is waitin' foh to pay his respecs." + +"Go along wid yeez, Oi say, ye black scum av the airth, wid yer Cornel +Mortins, the loikes av you! Faix, Oi'll tache yeez who's yer betthers +wid this broom-handle." + +"Gently, my good man, gently!" said the colonel, soothingly, as he laid +his hand on Mike's shoulder. "This boy has business with me. Come in +heah, Maguffin." + +Tobias went in, with a triumphant glance at Mike, and, arrangements +being completed, was soon at work, blacking his master's boots. Then he +had a second breakfast at the servant's table, after which the colonel +sallied forth with him, to provide him with a befitting suit of clothes, +and to inspect the horses he had deemed suitable for the use of his new +employer and himself. While they were gone, Wilkinson and his friend +descended to a late breakfast, during which the hotel clerk handed the +lawyer a telegram, signed Tylor, Woodruff, and White, and containing the +words, "Look up Colonel Morton, Madame Du Plessis, 315 Bluebird Avenue, +Parkdale." So the colonel had been corresponding with his firm, and he +must either wait till that worthy returned, or leave a note for him. +"Bawderashin, anyway, when a man's out for a holiday, can't he be left +alone a bit!" Then, turning to his friend, he asked, "And, are they +troubling you with letters and telegrams, too, Wilks, my darling?" The +dominie replied, "I have only one letter about a poor lady teacher, who +is in consumption, I fear. They want an extension of holidays for her, +which is rather hard to get." + +"But you'll get it for her, Wilks, my dear?" + +"Of course I will, if I have to do her work as well as my own." + +"I knew it, Wilks, I knew it. You're as soft hearted as a girl, for all +your adamant exterior. God bless you, my dear boy!" + +"Corry, Corry, what allowances must be made for your exaggerated Irish +language! What is there like adamant about me, I should like to know?" + +"Good mawnin, gentlemen," said the soft voice of the colonel, "I am +delighted to see you looking so well. I envy you Canadian gentlemen yoah +fine fyesh complexions and yoah musical voices. We have sawft voices in +the south, but it is a soht of niggro sawftness, gained by contact I +pehsume. My sehvant and I byeakfasted some time ago." + +"I trust he is to your liking, Colonel?" enquired Coristine. + +"Suh, you have found me a jewel in Maguffin, and he has found me two +splendid roadsters that are now being fitted with saddles. We staht for +To-hon-to in an houah, gentlemen." + +"By the bye, Colonel, I have a telegram from my firm that concerns you. +It says 'Look up Colonel Morton, Madame Du Plessis, 315 Bluebird Avenue, +Parkdale." + +"But wheah is Pahkdale?" + +"It is a suburb of Toronto. You had better keep the telegram." + +"So, Mr. Cohistine, you are a lawyeh?" + +"Yes; of the firm of Tylor, Woodruff, and White, but I'm not that now, +I'm a gentleman out on a grand stravague." + +"You may be a lawyeh, suh, but you are a gentleman as well, and I hope +to meet you befoah many days are past. Good mawnin, my kind friends!" + +The knapsacks were put on boldly, in the very parlour of the hotel, and +their bearers strode along the lake road into the west, as coolly as if +they were doing Snowden or Windermere. It was a glorious morning, and +they exulted in it, rejoicing in the joy of living. The dominie had +written his letter to the vulgar school-trustees, and felt good, with +the approbation of a generous conscience. He recited with feeling:-- + + "_What, you are stepping westward?_" "_Yea_"-- + 'Twould be a wildish destiny, + If we, who thus together roam + In a strange land, and far from home, + Were in this place the guests of chance; + Yet who would stop, or fear t' advance, + Though home or shelter he had none, + With such a sky to lead him on. + + The dewy ground was dark and cold; + +"Faith, 'tis nothing of the kind, Wilks," interrupted Coristine; but the +dominie went on unheeding. + + Behind, all gloomy to behold, + And stepping westward seemed to be + A kind of heavenly destiny: + I liked the greeting; 'twas a sound + Of something without place or bound + And seemed to give me spiritual right + To travel through that region bright. + + The voice was soft, and she who spake + Was walking by her native lake; + The salutation had to me + The very sound of courtesy; + Its power was felt; and while my eye + Was fix'd upon the glorious sky, + The echo of the voice enwrought + A human sweetness with the thought + Of travelling through the world that lay + Before me in my endless way. + +"O Wilks, but you're the daisy. So you're going to travel through the +world with the human sweetness of the soft voice of courtesy? You're a +fraud, Wilks, you're as soft-hearted as a fozy turnip." + +"Corry, a little while ago you called me adamant. You are +inconsequential, sir." + +"All right, Wilks, my darling. But isn't it a joy to have the colonel +taking the bad taste of the Grinstun man out of your mouth?" + +"The colonel, no doubt, is infinitely preferable. He is a gentleman, +Corry, and that is saying a good deal." + +"Hurroo for a specimen! look at that bank on your left, beyond that wet +patch, it's thyme, it is. _Thymus serpyllum_, and Gray says it's not +native, but adventitious from Europe. Maccoun says the same; I wonder +what my dear friend, Spotton, says? But here it is, and no trace of a +house or clearing near. It's thyme, my boy, and smells sweet as honey:-- + + Old father Time, as Ovid sings, + Is a great eater up of things, + And, without salt or mustard, + Will gulp you down a castle wall, + As easily as, at Guildhall, + An alderman eats custard." + +"Drop your stupid Percy anecdote poems, Corry, and listen to this," +cried the dominie, as he sang:-- + + I know a bank whereon the wild thyme grows, + I know a bank whereon the wild thyme grows, + Where oxlips and the nodding violets blow, + Where oxlips linger, nodding violets blow, + I know a bank whereon the wild thyme grow-ow-ow-ow-ows!!! + +The lawyer joined in the chorus, encored the song, and trolled "ow ow ow +ow ows" until the blood vessels over his brain pan demanded a rest. +"Wilks," he said, "you're a thing of beauty and a joy forever." + +Soon the road trended within a short distance of the lake shore. The +blue waves were tumbling in gloriously, and swished up upon the shelving +limestone rocks. "What is the time, Corry?" asked Wilkinson. "It's +eleven by my repeater," he answered. "Then it is quite safe to bathe; +what do you say to a dip?" The lawyer unstrapped his knapsack, and +hastened off the road towards the beach. "Come on, Wilks," he cried, +"we'll make believe that it's grampusses we are." + +"What is a grampus?" enquired the dominie. + +"Dad, if I know," replied his friend. + +"A grampus, sir, etymologically is 'un grand poisson,' but, +biologically, it is no fish at all, being a mammal, mid-way between a +dolphin and a porpoise." + +"So you got off that conundrum a porpoise to make a fool of me, Wilks?" + +"O, Corry, you make me shudder with your villainous puns." + +"That's nothing to what I heard once. There were some fellows camping, +and they had two tents and some dogs for deerhunting. As it was raining, +they let the hounds sleep in one of the tents, when one of the fellows +goes round and says: 'Shut down your curtains.' 'Were you telling them +that to keep the rain out?' asked one, when the rascal answered: 'To all +in tents and purp houses.' Wasn't that awful, now?" + +The water was cold but pleasant on a hot day, and the swimmers enjoyed +striking out some distance from shore and then being washed in by the +homeward-bound waves. They sat, with their palms pressed down beside +them, on smooth ledges of rock, and let the breakers lap over them. The +lawyer was thinking it time to get out, when he saw Wilkinson back into +the waves with a scared face. "Are you going for another swim, Wilks, my +boy?" he asked. "Look behind you," whispered the schoolmaster. Coristine +looked, and was aware of three girls, truly rural, sitting on the bank +and apparently absorbed in contemplating the swimmers. "This is awful!" +he ejaculated, as he slid down into deep water; "Wilks, it's scare the +life out of them I must, or we'll never get back to our clothes. Now, +listen to me." Dipping his head once more under water till it dripped, +he let out a fearful sound, like "Gurrahow skrrr spat, you young +gurruls, an' if yeez don't travel home as fast as yer futs'll taake +yeez, it's I'll be afther yeez straight, och, garrahow skrr spat +whishtubbleubbleubble!" The rural maidens took to their heels and ran, +as Coristine swam into shore. In a minute the swimmers were into their +clothes and packs, and resumed their march, much refreshed by the cool +waters of the Georgian Bay. + +"And where is it we're bound for now, Wilks?" + +"For the abandoned shale-works at the foot of the Blue Mountains." + +"Fwhat's that, as Jimmie Butler said about the owl?" + +"The Utica formation, which crops out here, consists largely of +bituminous shales, that yield mineral oil to the extent of twenty +gallons to the ton. But, since the oil springs of the West have been in +operation, the usefulness of these shales is gone. The Indians seem to +have made large use of the shale, for a friend of mine found a hoe of +that material on an island in the Muskoka lakes. Being easily split and +worked, it was doubtless very acceptable to the metal wanting +aborigines." + +"But, if the works are closed up, what will we see?" + +"We shall meet with fossils in the shale, with trilobites, such as the +_Asaphus Canadensis_, a crustacean, closely allied to the wood-louse, +and occasionally found rolled up, like it, into a defensive ball, +together with other specimens of ancient life." + +"Wilks, my son, who's doing Gosse's Canadian Naturalist, now, I'd like +to know? Pity we hadn't the working geologist along for a lesson." + +"I am sorry if I have bored you with my talk, but I thought you were +interested in science. Does this suit you better? + + Many a little hand + Glanced like a touch of sunshine on the rocks, + Many a light foot shone like a jewel set + In the dark crag; and then we turn'd, we wound + About the cliffs, the copses, out and in, + Hammering and clinking, chattering stony names + Of shale and hornblende, rag and trap and tuff, + Amygdaloid and trachyte, till the sun + Grew broader towards his death and fell, and all + The rosy heights came out above the lawns." + +"That's better, avic. Tennyson's got the shale there, I see. But rag and +trap and tuff is the word, and tough the whole business is. Just look at +that living blue bell, there, it's worth all the stony names of rock and +fossil. + + Let the proud Indian boast of his jessamine bowers, + His garlands of roses and moss-covered dells, + While humbly I sing of those sweet little flowers, + The blue bells of Scotland, the Scottish blue bells. + We'll shout in the chorus forever and ever, + The blue bells of Scotland, the Scottish blue bells." + +"You are a nice botanist, Mr. Coristine, to confound that campanula with +the Scottish blue-bell, which is a scilla, or wild hyacinth." + +"Poetic license, my dear friend, poetic license! Hear this now:-- + + Let the Blue Mountains boast of their shale that's bituminous, + Full of trilobites, graptolites and all the rest, + It may not be so learned, or ancient, or luminous, + But the little campanula's what I love best. + So we'll shout in the chorus forever and ever, + The little campanula's worth all the rest. + +Whew! What do you think of that for an impromptu song, Wilks?" + +"I think that you are turning your back upon your own principle that +there is no best, or no one best, and that everything is best in its +place." + +"Barring old Nick and the mosquitoes, Wilks, come now?" + +"Well, an exception may be made in their favour, but what says the +poet:-- + + O yet we trust that somehow good + Will be the final goal of ill. + +Come, along, though, for we have much to see before sunset." + +"You don't think that good is going to come out of the devil and +mosquitoes?" + +"Yes I do; not to themselves, perhaps, but to humanity." + +"I saw a book once with the title "Why Doesn't God Kill the Devil?" and +sympathized with it. Why doesn't He?" + +"Because man wants the devil. As soon as the world ceases to want him, +so soon is his occupation gone." + +"Wilks, my dear, that's an awful responsibility lying on us men, and I +fear what you say is too true. So here's for the shale works." + +The pedestrians ceased their theological discussion and went towards the +deserted buildings, where, in former days, a bad smelling oil had been +distilled from the slaty-looking black stones, which lay about in large +numbers. Wilkinson picked up fossils enough, species of trilobites +chiefly, with a few graptolites, lingulas and strophomenas, to start a +museum. These, as Coristine had suggested in Toronto, he actually tied +up in his silk handkerchief, which he slung on the crook of his stick +and carried over his shoulder. The lawyer also gathered a few, and +bestowed them in the side pocket of his coat not devoted to smoking +materials. The pair were leaving the works for the ascent of the +mountain, when barks were heard, then a pattering of feet, and soon the +breathless Muggins jumped upon them with joyous demonstrations. + +"Where has he been? How came we not to miss him?" asked the dominie, and +Coristine answered rather obliquely:-- + +"I don't remember seeing him since we entered Collingwood. Surely he +didn't go back to the Grinstun man." + +"It is hard to be poetical on a dog called Muggins," remarked Wilkinson; +"Tray seems to be the favourite name. Cowper's dogs are different, and +Wordsworth has Dart and Swallow, Prince and Music, something like +Actaeon's dogs in 'Ovid.' Nevertheless, I like Muggins." + +"Oh, Tray is good, Wilks:-- + + To my dear loving Shelah, so far, far away, + I can never return with my old dog Tray; + He's lazy and he's blind, + You'll never, never find + A bigger thief than old dog Tray." + +"Corry, this is bathos of the worst description. You are like a +caterpillar; you desecrate the living leaf you touch." + +"Wilks, that's hard on the six feet of me, for your caterpillar has a +great many more. But that dog's gone back again." + +As they looked after his departing figure, the reason was obvious. Two +lightly, yet clerically, attired figures were coming up the road, and on +the taller and thinner of the twain the dog was leaping with every sign +of genuine affection. + +"I'm afraid, Wilks, that Muggins is a beastly cur, a treacherous 'ound, +a hungrateful pup; look at his antics with that cadaverous curate, +keeping company with his sleek, respectable vicar. O Muggy, Mug, Mug!" + +The pedestrians waited for the clergy, who soon came up to them, and +exchanged salutations. + +"My dawg appears to know you," said the tall cassocked cleric in a +somewhat lofty, professional tone. + +"He ought to," replied Wilkinson, "seeing that he was given to me by a +Mr. Rawdon, a working geologist, as he calls himself." + +"Ow, really now, it seems to me rather an immoral transaction for your +ah friend, Mr. Rawdon, to give away another man's property." + +"Mr. Rawdon is no friend of mine, but his dog took a fancy to us, and +followed us from Dromore to Collingwood." + +"Allow me to assure you that Muggins is not this ah Mr. Rawdon's dawg at +all. I trained him from a puppy at Tossorontio. The Bishop ordered me +from there to Flanders, and, in the hurry of moving, the dawg was lost; +but now, I should rather say stowlen. My friend, the Reverend Mr. Errol +and myself, my name is Basil Perrowne, Clerk, had business in +Collingwood last night, when Muggins, most opportunely, met us, and went +howme with me." + +"Well, Mr. Perrowne, I am very glad you have recovered your dog, which I +was only too glad to rescue from a somewhat inhuman master. My name is +Wilkinson, of the Toronto schools, my friend is Mr. Coristine, of +Osgoode Hall, barrister." + +The gentlemen exchanged formal salutations, and proceeded on their way, +Wilkinson with Perrowne, and Coristine with Erroll. Muggins was in the +seventh heaven of delight. + +"You belong to Tossorontio, Mr. Perrowne?" asked Wilkinson, by way of +starting the conversation. + +"Ow, now! I said I had trained Muggins from a pup there, but that ownly +extends owver a few years. Durham is my university, which you may have +heard of." + +"I am familiar by name with the university and the cathedral, although +the juvenile geography books say that Durham is famous for its mustard." + +"Ow, now, really, they down't, do they? Ow dear, mustard! We Durham men +can serve it out pretty hot, you know. You belong to the Church, of +course, Mr. Wilkinson?" + +"I was brought up in the Church of England, and educated in what are +called Church principles; I am fond of the Prayer Book and the Service, +but, to my way of thinking, the Church is far more extensive than our +mere Anglican communion." + +"Ow, yes, there are Christian people, who, I howpe, will get to heaven +some way through the uncovenanted mercies, in spite of their horrid +schism from the True Body. There is Errol, now, whom, out of mere +courtesy, I call reverend, but he is no more reverend than Muggins. His +orders are ridiculous, not worth a farthing candle." + +"Come, come, Mr. Perrowne, his orders are as good as those of St. +Timothy, which were laid on him by the hands of the Presbytery." + +"That is precisely what the cheeky dissenter says himself. We have +dropped that line of controversy now, for one ever so much more +practical." + +"I hope you don't take off your coats and fight it out? You have the +advantage in height and youth, but Mr. Errol seems a strong and active +man." + +"Now, we down't fight. I have set a cricket club a-gowing, and he has +turned a neglected field into a golf links. My club makes Churchmen, and +his makes Scotch dissenters." + +"I thought the Presbyterian Church was established in Scotland?" + +"Ow, down't you see, we are not in Scotland." + +"Then, in Canada, there is no established church, unless it be the Roman +Catholic in the Province of Quebec." + +"Ow, well, drop that, you know; we are the Church, and all the outside +people are dissenters. I down't antagonize him. He helped me to make my +crease, and joined my club, and I play golf with him every fine Monday +morning. But the young fellows have now true English spirit here. Errol +has twenty golfers to my six cricketers. When he and I are added, that +makes eight, not near enough, you know. As a mission agency, my club has +not succeeded yet, but every time I make a cricketer, I make a +Churchman." + +"I have known some very good cricketers that were not Anglicans." + +"Now you haven't, my dear sir; you thought you have, but you haven't; +that's the trouble with those who reject Church authority. The Methodist +plays rounder, what you call base-ball; the Independents and Baptists +played croquet and lawn tennis after other people stopped playing them; +the Presbyterian plays golf; and the Churchman plays cricket." + +"To argue with one who sweeps all experience aside with a wave of his +hand," said the schoolmaster, indignantly, "is not to argue at all. It +is a case of _Roma locuta_." + +"Ow, yes, just sow, you know, we down't argue, we simply assert the +truth." + +"How d'ye like the Durham mustard, Wilks, my boy?" put in Coristine from +the rear, where he and Mr. Errol were laughing amusedly; "it's hot, +isn't it, not much solid food, but lots of flavour? It reminds me of The +Crew, when he said what was, is, and ever shall be, Amen. Mr. Perrowne +is the owner of a splendid dog, and he is a splendid dogmatist. What he +doesn't know isn't worth knowing." + +"Ow, thanks awfully, Mr. Coristine, you are really too flattering!" +gravely and gratefully replied the parson. Wilkinson was afraid that his +friend's banter might become too apparent, as the simple egotism of the +graduate of Durham led him on, so, he changed the subject, and soon had +the cleric quoting Virgil and Mrs. Hemans. + +Meanwhile Coristine and Mr. Errol were taking one another's measure. The +lawyer recited to his companion the conversation between Marjorie and +himself relative to Timotheus. He found that Errol knew Marjorie, who +had often been in his church and Sunday school in Flanders. "She's a +comical little piece," he said; "her Sunday school teacher asked her who +killed Goliath? and what do you think was her reply!" + +"Give it up." + +"It was 'Jack,' no less than Jack the Giant-Killer." + +"The darlin'!" cried the lawyer, with admiration, and straightway won +the minister's heart. + +"Marjorie has a cousin stopping at the house of Mr. Carruthers, one of +my elders, since last Tuesday night, as blithe and bonnie a young leddy +as man could wish to see. While she's here, she's just the light of the +whole country side." + +Mr. Coristine did not care for this turn in the conversation. + +"Tell me some more about little Marjorie," he said. + +"Ah," replied the minister, "then you know that her cousin is called +Marjorie, too! Little Marjorie went to church once with Miss Du Plessis, +whom Perrowne had got to sing in the choir, that was last summer, if I +mind right, and, when the two rideeclus candles on the altar were +lighted, and the priest, as he calls himself, came in with his surplice +on, she put her face down in Miss Cecile's lap. 'What's the trouble, +Marjorie?' asked Miss Du Plessis, bending over her. 'He's going to kiss +us all good-night,' sobbed the wee thing. 'No he is not, Marjorie; he's +on his knees, praying,' replied the young leddy, soothingly. 'That's +what papa always does, when he's dressed like that, before he kisses me +good-night, but he takes off his boots and things first,' and she sobbed +again, for fear Perrowne was coming to kiss them all, put out the +candles, and go to bed. If Miss Du Plessis had not been a sober-minded +lass, she would have laughed out in the middle of the choir. As it was, +she had to hand Marjorie over to a neighbour in a back seat, before the +bit lassie would be comforted." + +"Ah! did you ever now? the little innocent!" + +"It's not that improbable that there'll be a marriage in the church +before long. Perrowne's just clean daft and infatuated with his +occasional soprano. He's sent her the 'Mirror of Devotion' and the +'Soul's Questioner,' and a lot of nicely bound trash, and walks home +with her whenever he has the chance, to the scandal and rage of all his +farmers' daughters. It's very injudeecious o' Perrowne, and has dreeven +two of his best families to the Kirk. Not that she's no a braw looking +lass, stately and deegnified, but she has na the winsomeness of Miss +Marjorie." + +"Is that your quarter, Mr. Errol?" + +"Hech, sirs, I'm an old bachelor that'll never see five and forty again; +but, as we say in Scotch or the vernacular Doric, 'an auld carle micht +dae waur.' There's not a more sensible, modest, blithesome, bonnie +lassie in all the land. It's a thousand peeties some young, handsome, +well to do steady, God-fearing man has na asked at her to be 'the light +o' his ain fireside.' Gin I were as young as you, Mr. Coristine, I would +na think twice about it." + +"Avaunt, tempter!" cried the lawyer, "such a subject as matrimony is +strictly tabooed between me and my friend." + +"I'll be your friend, I hope, but I cannot afford to taboo marriages. +Not to speak of the fees, they're the life of a well-ordered, healthy +congregation." + +A neat turn-out, similar to that of Mrs. Thomas, came rattling along the +road. "That's John Carruthers' team," remarked the minister, and such it +turned out to be. + +"Maister Errol," said its only occupant, a strong and honest-faced man +with a full brown beard, "yon's a fine hanky panky trick to play wi' +your ain elder an' session clerk." + +"Deed John," returned the minister, relapsing into the vernacular; "I +didna ken ye were i' the toon ava, but 'oor bit dander has gien us the +opportunity o' becomin' acquent wi' twa rale dacent lads." Then, turning +to the lawyer, "excuse our familiar talk, Mr. Coristine, and let me +introduce Squire Carruthers, of Flanders." The two men exchanged +salutations, and Perrowne, having turned back with Wilkinson, the same +ceremony was gone through with the latter. They were then all +courteously invited to get into the waggon. Errol and Perrowne sprang +in with an air of old proprietorship, but the two pedestrians +respectfully declined, as they were especially anxious to explore the +mountain beauties of this part of the country on foot and at their +leisure. + +"Aweel, gentlemen," cried the squire, "gin ye'll no come the noo, we'll +just expect to see ye before the Sawbath. The Church and the Kirk'll be +looking for the wayfarers, and my house, thank Providence, is big eneuch +to gie ye a kindly welcome." + +The parsons ably seconded Mr. Carruthers' peculiar mixture of English +and Lowland Scotch, on the latter of which he prided himself, but only +when in the company of someone who could appreciate it. Wilkinson looked +at Coristine, and the lawyer looked at the dominie, for here they were +invited to go straight into the jaws of the lion. Just then, they +descried, climbing painfully up the hill, but some distance behind them, +the Grinstun man; there was no mistaking him. "Hurry, and drive away," +cried Coristine, in an under tone; "that cad there, the same that stole +Muggins, is going to your house, Squire. For any sake, don't facilitate +his journey." + +"I'll no stir a hoof till ye promise to come to us, Mr. Coristine, and +you, Mr. Wilkins, tae." + +"All right, many thanks, we promise," they cried together, and the +waggon rattled away. + +"Now, Wilks, over this ditch, sharp, and into the brush, till this thief +of the world goes by. We've deprived him of a ride, and that's one good +thing done." + +Together they jumped the ditch, and squatted among the bushes, waiting +for the Grinstun man. They heard him puffing up the rising ground, saw +his red, perspiring face in full view, and heard him, as he mopped +himself with a bandanna, exclaim: "Blowed if I haint bin and lost the +chance of a lift. Teetotally blawst that hold hass of a driver, and them +two soft-'eaded Tomfools of hamateur scientists ridin' beside 'im. I +knew it was Muggins, the cur I stole, and guv a present of to that there +guy of a Favosites Wilkinsonia. I don't trust 'im, the scaly beggar, for +hall 'is fine 'eroic speeches. 'E'll be goin' and splittin' on me to +that gal, sure as heggs. And that Currystone, six feet of 'ipocrisy and +hinsolence, drat the long-legged, 'airy brute. O crikey, but it's 'ot; +'owever, I must 'urry on, for grinstuns is grinstuns, and a gal, with a +rich hold huncle, ridin' a fine 'orse, with a nigger behind 'im carryin' +his portmantle, haint to be sneezed hat. Stre'ch your pegs, Mr. Rawdon, +workin' geologist hand minerologist!" + +"By Jove!" cried Coristine, when the Grinstun man was out of sight; +"that cad has met the colonel, and has been talking to him." + +"A fine nephew-in-law he will get in him!" growled Wilkinson; "I have +half a mind--excuse me Corry." + +"I thought you were very much taken with the old Southerner." + +"Yes, that is it," and the dominie relapsed into silence. + +"It's about lunch time, Wilks, and, as there's sure to be no water on +the top of the hill, I'll fill my rubber bag at the spring down there, +and carry it up, so that we can enjoy the view while taking our +prandial." + +Wilkinson vouchsafed no reply. He was in deep and earnest thought about +something. Taking silence for consent, Coristine tripped down the hill a +few yards, with a square india rubber article in his hand. It had a +brass mouthpiece that partly screwed off, when it was desirable to +inflate it with air, as a cushion, pillow, or life-preserver, or to fill +it with hot water to take the place of a warming-pan. Now, at the spring +by the roadside, he rinsed it well out, and then filled it with clear +cold water, which he brought back to the place where the schoolmaster +was leaning on his stick and pondering. Replacing the knapsack, out of +which the india rubber bag had come, the lawyer prepared to continue the +ascent. In order to rouse his reflective friend, he said, "Wilks, my +boy, you've dropped your fossils." + +"I fear, Corry, that I have lost all interest in fossils." + +"Sure, that Grinstun man's enough to give a man a scunner at fossils for +the rest of his life." + +"It is not exactly that, Corry," replied the truthful dominie; "but I +need my staff and my handkerchief, and I think I will leave the +specimens on the road, all except these two Asaphoi, the perplexing, +bewildering relics of antiquity. This world is full of perplexities +still, Corry." So saying, the dominie sighed, emptied his bandanna of +all but the two fossils, which he transferred to his pocket, and, with +staff in hand, recommenced the upward journey. In ten minutes they were +on the summit, and beheld the far-off figure of the working geologist on +the further slope. In both directions the view was magnificent. They sat +by the roadside on a leafy bank overshaded with cool branches, and, +producing the reduplication of the Barrie stores procured the night +before at Collingwood, proceeded to lunch _al fresco_. The contents of +the india rubber bag, qualified with the spirit in their flasks, cheered +the hearts of the pedestrians and made them more inclined to look on the +bright side of life. Justice having been done to the biscuits and +cheese, Coristine lit his pipe, while the dominie took a turn at +Wordsworth. + +With musical intonation, Wilkinson read aloud:-- + + Some thought he was a lover, and did woo: + Some thought far worse of him, and judged him wrong: + But verse was what he had been wedded to; + And his own mind did like a tempest strong + Come to him thus, and drove the weary wight along. + + With him there often walked in friendly guise, + Or lay upon the moss by brook or tree, + A noticeable man with large grey eyes, + And a pale face that seemed undoubtedly + As if a blooming face it ought to be; + Heavy his low-hung lip did oft appear, + Depress'd by weight of musing phantasy; + Profound his forehead was, though not severe; + Yet some did think that he had little business here. + + He would entice that other man to hear + His music, and to view his imagery. + And, sooth, these two did love each other dear, + As far as love in such a place could be; + There did they dwell--from earthly labour free, + As happy spirits as were ever seen: + If but a bird, to keep them company, + Or butterfly sate down, they were, I ween, + As pleased as if the same had been a maiden queen. + +"That's the true stuff, Wilks, and has the right ring in it, for we love +each other dear, and are as happy spirits as were ever seen, but not a +large grey eye, pale face, or low-hung lip between us. Just hear my +music now, and view my imagery with your mind's eye:-- + + Far down the ridge, I see the Grinstun man, + Full short in stature and rotund is he, + Pale grey his watery orbs, that dare not scan + His interlocutor, and his goatee, + With hair and whiskers like a furnace be: + Concave the mouth from which his nose-tip flies + In vain attempt to shun vulgarity. + O haste, ye gods, to snatch from him the prize, + And send him hence to weep--and to geologize!" + +"The rhythm is all right, Corry, and the rhyme, but I hope you do not +call that poetry?" + +"If that isn't superior to a good many of Wordsworth's verses, Wilks, +I'll eat my hat, and that would be a pity this hot weather. Confess now, +you haythen, you," cried the lawyer, making a lunge at his companion +with his stick, which the latter warded off with his book. + +"There are some pretty poor ones," the schoolmaster granted grudgingly, +"but the work of a great poet should not be judged by fragments." + +"Wilks, apply the rule; I have only given you one stanza of the +unfinished epic, which unborn generations will peruse with admiration +and awe, 'The Grinstun Quarry Restored':-- + + I have striven hard for my high reward + Through many a changing year + Now, the goal I reach; it is mine to teach. + Stand still, O man, and hear! + + I shall wreathe my name, with the brightness of fame, + To shine upon history's pages; + It shall be a gem in the diadem + Of the past to future ages! + +Oh, Wilks for immortality!" cried the light-hearted lawyer, rising with +a laugh. + +Looking back towards the ascent, he perceived two bowed figures +struggling up the hill under largish, and, apparently, not very light +burdens. + +"Wilks, my dear, we're young and vigorous, and down there are two poor +old grannies laden like pack mules in this broiling sun. Let us leave +our knapsacks here, and give them a hoist." + +The schoolmaster willingly assented, and followed his friend, who flew +down the hill at breakneck speed, in a rapid but more sober manner. The +old couple looked up with some astonishment at a well-dressed city man +tearing down the hill towards them like a schoolboy, but their +astonishment turned to warmest gratitude, that found vent in many +thankful expressions, as the lawyer shouldered the old lady's big +bundle, and, as, a minute later, the dominie relieved her partner of +his. They naturally fell into pairs, the husband and Wilkinson leading, +Coristine and the wife following after. In different ways the elderly +pair told their twin burden-bearers the same story of their farm some +distance below the western slope of the mountain, of their son at home +and their two daughters out at service, and mentioned the fact that they +had both been schoolteachers, but, as they said with apologetic +humility, only on third-class county certificates. Old Mr. Hill insisted +on getting his load back when the top of the mountain was reached, and +the pedestrians resumed their knapsacks and staves, but the lawyer +utterly refused to surrender his bundle to the old lady's entreaties. +The sometime schoolteachers were intelligent, very well read in Cowper, +Pollock, and Sir Walter Scott, as well as in the Bible, and withal +possessed of a fair sense of humour. The old lady and Coristine were a +perpetual feast to one another. "Sure!" said he, "it's bagmen the +ignorant creatures have taken us for more than once, and it's a genuine +one I am now, Mrs. Hill," at which the good woman laughed, and recited +the Scotch ballad of the "Wee Wifukie coming frae the fair," who fell +asleep, when "by came a packman wi' a little pack," and relieved her of +her purse and placks, and "clippit a' her gowden locks sae bonnie and +sae lang." This she did in excellent taste, leaving out any +objectionable expressions in the original. When she repeated the words +of the Wifukie at the end of each verse, "This is nae me," consequent on +her discovery that curls and money were gone, the lawyer laughed +heartily, causing the pair in front, who were discussing educational +matters, to look round for the cause of the merriment. "I'm the man," +shouted Coristine to them, "the packman wi' a little pack." Then Mr. +Hill knew what it was. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + Conversation with the Hills--Tobacco--Rural Hospitality--The + Deipnosophist and Gastronomic Dilemma--Mr. Hill's + Courtship--William Rufus rouses the Dominie's Ire--Sleep--The Real + Rufus--Acts as Guide--Rawdon Discussed--The Sluggard Farmer--The + Teamsters--The Wasps--A Difference of Opinion. + + +It was very pleasant for all four, the walk down the mountain road; and +the pedestrians enjoyed the scenery all the more with intelligent guides +to point out places of interest. The old schoolteacher, having +questioned Wilkinson as to his avocation, looked upon him as a superior +being, and gratified the little corner of good-natured vanity that lies +in most teachers' hearts. Coristine told the wife that he trusted her +daughters had good places, where they would receive the respect due to +young women of such upbringing; and she replied:-- + +"O yes, sir, they are both in one family, the family of Squire +Carruthers in Flanders. Tryphena is the eldest; she's twenty-five, and +is cook and milker and helps with the washing. Tryphosa is only twenty, +and attends to the other duties of the house. Mrs. Carruthers is not +above helping in all the work herself, so that she knows how to treat +her maids properly. Still, I am anxious about them." + +"Nothing wrong with their health, I hope?" asked the lawyer. + +"No, sir; in a bodily way they enjoy excellent health." + +"Pardon me, Mrs. Hill," interrupted Coristine, "for saying that your +perfectly correct expression calls up that of a friend of mine. Meeting +an old college professor, very stiff and precise in manner and language, +he had occasion to tell him that, as a student, he had enjoyed very poor +health. 'I do not know about the enjoying of it, sir,' he answered, 'but +I know your health was very poor.' Ha, ha! but I interrupted you." + +"I was going to say, sir, that I have never been ambitious, save to keep +a good name and live a humbly useful life, with food convenient for me, +as Agur, the son of Jakeh, says in the Book of Proverbs, in which, I +suppose, he included clothing and shelter, but I did hope my girls would +look higher than the Pilgrims." + +"You don't mean John Bunyan's Christian and Christiana, and Great Heart, +and the rest of them?" + +"Oh, no!" replied the old lady, laughing, "mine are living characters, +quite unknown to the readers of books, Sylvanus and Timotheus, the sons +of old Saul Pilgrim." + +"Oh, that's their name, is it? The Crew never told me his surname, nor +did Captain Thomas." + +"You know Sylvanus' captain, then? But, has he many sailors besides +Pilgrim?" + +"No; that's why I call him The Crew. It's like a Scotch song, 'The Kitty +of Loch Goil,' that goes:-- + + For a' oor haill ship's companie, + Was twa laddy and a poy, prave poys + +Sylvanus is The Crew, who goes on a cruise, like Crusoe. O, do forgive +me, Mrs. Hill, for so forgetting myself; we have been so long away from +ladies' society," which, considering the circumstances of the preceding +day, was hardly an ingenuous statement. + +"I am not so troubled about the elder Pilgrim and Tryphena," continued +the old lady, "because Tryphena is getting up a little in years for the +country; I believe they marry later in the city, Mr. Coristine?" + +"O yes, always, very much, I'm sure," answered the lawyer, confusedly. + +"Tryphena is getting up, and--well, she takes after her father in looks, +but will make any man a good wife. Then the elder Pilgrim has good +morals, and is affectionate, soft I should be disposed to call him; and +he has regular employment all the year round, though often away from +home. He has money saved and in the bank, and has a hundred-acre farm in +the back country somewhere. He says, if Tryphena refuses him, he will +continue to risk his life among the perils of the deep, by which the +silly fellow means Lake Simcoe." Here the quondam schoolmistress broke +into a pleasant laugh that had once been musical. + +"And Miss Tryphosa, did I understand you to say you apprehend anything +in her quarter from the Pilgrims?" enquired Coristine. + +"Please say Tryphosa, sir; I do not think that young girls in service +should be miss'd." + +"But they are very much missed when they go away and get married; don't +grudge me my little joke, Mrs. Hill." + +"I would not grudge you anything so poor," she replied, shaking a +forefinger at the blushing lawyer. "You are right in supposing I +apprehend danger to Tryphosa from the younger Pilgrim. She is--well, +something like what I was when I was young, and she is only a child yet, +though well grown. Then, this younger Pilgrim has neither money nor +farm; besides, I am told, that he has imbibed infidel notions, and has +lately become the inmate of a disreputable country tavern. If you had a +daughter, sir, would you not tremble to think of her linking her lot +with so worthless a character?" Before the lawyer could reply, the old +man called back: "Mother, I think you had better give the gentleman a +rest; he must be tired of hearing your tongue go like a cow-bell in fly +time." Coristine protested, but his companion declined to continue the +conversation. + +"The mistress is as proud of wagging that old tongue of hers," remarked +the dominie's companion, "as if she had half the larnin' of the country, +and she no more nor a third class county certificut." + +"Many excellent teachers have begun on them," remarked Wilkinson. + +"But she begun and ended there; the next certificut she got was a +marriage one, and, in a few years, she had a class in her own house to +tache and slipper." + +"Your wife seems to be a very superior woman, Mr. Hill." + +"That's where the shoe pinches me. Shuparior! it's that she thinks +herself, and looks down on my book larnin' that's as good as her own. +But, I'll tell ye, sir, I've read Shakespeare and she hasn't, not a +word." + +"How is that?" + +"Her folks were a sort of Lutherian Dutch they call Brethren. They're +powerful strict, and think it a mortal sin to touch a card or read a +play. My own folks were what they called black-mouthed Prosbytarians, +from the north of Ireland, but aijewcation made me liberal-minded. It +never had that effect on the mistress, although her own taycher was an +old Scotch wife that spent her time tayching the childer Scott, and +Pollok's 'Course of Time,' and old Scotch ballads like that Packman one +she was reciting to your friend. Now, I larnt my boys and gyurls, when I +was school tayching, some pieces of Shakespeare, and got them to declaim +at the school exhibitions before the holidays. I minded some of them +after I was married, and, one day when it was raining hard, I declaimed +a lovely piece before Persis, that's the mistress' name, when the woman +began to cry, and fell on her knees by the old settle, and prayed like a +born praycher. She thought I had gone out of my mind; so, after that, I +had to keep Shakespeare to myself. Sometimes I've seen Tryphosa take up +the book and read a bit, but Rufus, that's the baby, is just like his +mother--he'll neither play a card, nor read a play, nor smoke, nor tell +lies. I dunno what to do with the boy at all, at all." + +"But it is rather a good thing, or a series of good things, not to play +cards, nor smoke, nor tell lies," remarked Wilkinson. "Perhaps the baby +is too young to smoke or read Shakespeare." + +"He's eighteen and a strapping big fellow at that, our baby Rufus. He +can do two men's work in a day all the week through, and go to meetin' +and Sunday school on Sundays; but he's far behind in general larnin' and +in spirit, not a bit like his father. Do I understand you object to +smoking, sir?" + +"Not a bit," replied his companion, "but my friend Coristine smokes a +pipe, and, as smokers love congenial company, I had better get him to +join you, and relieve him of his load." So saying, Wilkinson retired to +the silent pair in the rear, took the old lady's bundle from the lawyer +and sent him forward to smoke with the ancient schoolmaster. The latter +waxed eloquent on the subject of tobackka, after the pipes were filled +and fairly set agoing. + +"There was a fanatic of a praycher came to our meetin' one Sunday +morning last winter, and discoorsed on that which goeth out of a man. He +threeped down our throats that it was tobackka, and that it was the root +of bitterness, and the tares among the wheat, which was not rightly +translated in our English Bible. He said using tobackka was the +foundation of all sin, and that, if you counted up the letters in the +Greek tobakko, because Greek has no _c_, the number would be 483, and, +if you add 183 to that, it would make 666, the mark of the Beast; and, +says he, any man that uses tobackka is a beast! It was a powerful +sarmon, and everybody was looking at everybody else. When the meetin' +was over, I met Andrew Hislop, a Sesayder, and I said to him, 'Annerew!' +says I, 'what do you think of that blast? Must we give up the pipe or be +Christians no more?' Says Andrew, 'Come along wi' me,' and I went to his +house and he took down a book off a shelf in his settin' room. 'Look at +this, Mr. Hill,' says he, 'you that have the book larnin', 'tis written +by these godly Sesayders, Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine, and is poetry.' I +took the book and read the piece, and what do you think it was?" + +"Charles Lamb's farewell to tobacco," said Coristine wildly:-- + + Brother of Bacchus, later born, + The Old World were sure forlorn, + Wanting thee. + +'No, sir; it was a 'Gospel Sonnet on Tobackka and Pipes'; pipes, mind +you, as well--all about this Indian weed, and the pipe which is so lily +white. Oh, sir, it was most improvin'. And that fanatic of a praycher, +not fit to blacken the Erskines' shoes, even if they were Sesayders! I +went home and I says, 'Rufus, my son,' and he says, 'Yes, fayther!' Says +I, 'Rufus, am I a Christian man, though frail and human, am I a +Christian man or am I not?' Rufus says, 'You are a Christian, fayther.' +Then says I, 'What is the praycher, Rufus, my boy?' and Rufus, that uses +tobackka in no shape nor form, says, 'He's a consayted, ignerant, +bigitted bladderskite of a Pharisee!' Sir, I was proud of that boy!' + +"That was very fine of your son to stand up for his father like that. +You can't say that your foes were those of your own household. In such +cases, young people must do one of two things, despise their parents or +despise the preacher; and, when the parents go to church, the children, +unless they are young hypocrites, uniformly despise such preachers." + +"Yes, and to think I had never told Rufus a word about the 'Gospel +Sonnets of the Sesayders!' It's a great pleasure, sir, to an old man +like me to smoke a pipe with a gentleman like yourself." + +Coristine replied that it afforded him equal satisfaction, and they +puffed away with occasional remarks on the surrounding scenery. + +Meanwhile, Wilkinson was striving to draw out the somewhat offended +mistress. + +"Your husband tells me, Mrs. Hill, that you are of German parentage," he +remarked blandly. + +"Yes," she replied; "my people were what they call Pennsylvania Dutch. +Do you know German, sir?" + +"I have a book acquaintance with it," remarked the dominie. + +"Do you recognize this? + + Yo een fayter in der ayvig-eye, + Yo een fayter in der ayvig-eye, + Meen fayter rue mee, Ee moos gay + Tsoo lowwen in der ayvig-eye." + +"No; I distinctly do not, although it has a Swabian sound." + +"That is the Pennsylvania Dutch for 'I have a Father in the Promised +Land,' a Sunday School hymn." + +"Were you brought up on hymns like that?" + +"Oh, no; I can still remember some good German ones sung at our +assemblies, like:-- + + Christi Blut und Gerechtigkeit, + das ist mein Schmuck und Ehrenkleid, + damit will ich vor Gott besteh'n, + wenn ich in Himmel werd 'eingeh'n. + +Do you know that?" asked the old lady, proud of her correct recitation. + +"Yes; that is Count Zinzendorff's hymn, which Wesley translated:-- + + Jesus, thy blood and righteousness + My beauty are, my glorious dress; + Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, + With joy shall I lift up my head. + +The translation is wonderfully free, and takes unpardonable liberties +with the original." + +"Graf Zinzendorff revived our Brethren when persecution had almost +destroyed them. He was in America, too, and had his life saved by a +rattlesnake. The Indians were going to kill him, when they saw him +sleeping with the snake by his side, and thought it was his Manitou." + +"I hope that is not a snake-story, Mrs. Hill. I had a boy once in my +school who came from Illinois, and who said that his mother had seen a +snake, which had stiffened itself into a hoop, and taken its thorny tail +in its mouth, trundling along over the prairie after a man. The man got +behind a tree just in the nick of time, for the hoop unbent, and sent +the thorny tail into the tree instead of into the man. Then the man came +out and killed it. That was a snake story." + +"I give the story as I heard it from our people; you know, I suppose, +that there is a Moravian Indian Mission on the borders of the counties +of Kent and Middlesex. I once thought of going there as a missionary, +before I fell in with Mr. Hill." + +"I knew a lady who married a clergyman, with the express understanding +that he was to become a foreign missionary. His church missionary +societies refused to accept him, because of some physical defect, so he +had to settle down to a home charge. But his wife never went to hear him +conduct service. She said she could not listen to a fraud who had +married her under false pretences." + +"It is a great pity he married such a woman. If a wife has not the +missionary spirit in her own house, how can she expect to acquire it by +going abroad? Besides, there is so much mission work to be done in a new +country like this. A few years ago, this place was almost as bad as +Peskiwanchow, but now it has greatly improved." + +"There was a young man we met there, Mrs. Hill, in whom my friend and I +were much interested," said the dominie, and proceeded to give an +account of the exploit of Timotheus. He also narrated what Coristine had +told him of his hero's attitude towards the catechism, as accounting for +his present position. The old lady relented in her judgment of the +younger Pilgrim, thought that Saul, perhaps, was too severe, and that +the catechism could stand revision. Wilkinson agreed, and, the ice being +completely broken between them, they also proceeded to view the scenery +in a poetic light, or rather in two, the dame's a Cowperish, and the +dominie's a Wordsworthian reflection. Suddenly, the latter saw the +father of Tryphena and Tryphosa open a gate, and turn into a side road, +along which the lawyer seemed not quite disposed to accompany him. The +elder smoker, therefore, came back to the gate, and waited for Wilkinson +and the old lady to come forward. + +"Mother!" said the old man, as the pair came up to the halting place, +"you've got a soft blarneying Lutherian tongue in your head--" + +"Henry Cooke," she replied sharply, "how often must I tell you that +Lutherian is wrong, and that I am not a Lutheran, and have ceased even +to be a United Brother since I cast in my lot with you; moreover, it is +not pleasant for an old woman like me to be accused of blarneying, as if +I were a rough Irishman with a grin on his broad face." + +"Well, well, mother, I don't care a snuff if you were a Sesayder or even +a Tommykite--" + +"A Tommykite?" cried Coristine, anxious to extend his knowledge and +increase his vocabulary. + +"It's a man called Thomas," answered the interrupted husband, "that made +a new sect out our way, and they call his following Tommykites; I dunno +if he's a relation of the captain or not. Give a dog a bad name, they +say, and you might as well hang him; but the Tommykites are living, in +spite of their name." + +"Henry Cooke, your remarks are very unnecessary and irrevelant," said +his wife, falling into bad English over a long adjective. + +"I was just going to say, mother, that I wanted you to try and keep +these gentlemen from going beyond our house to-night, because you can +put it so much better than I can." + +The old lady, thereupon, so judiciously blended coaxing with the apology +of disparagement, that the only alternative left the pedestrians was +that of remaining; for to go on would have been to treat the +disparagement as real, and a sufficient cause for their seeking other +shelter. The house they entered was small but neat. It consisted almost +altogether of one room, called a living room, which answered all the +purposes of eating, sleeping and sitting. Outside were a summer kitchen +and a dairy or milk-house, and, a short distance off, were the barn and +the stable, the sole occupant of the latter at the time being a cow +that spent most of its leisure out of doors. Supper did not take long +preparing, and the travellers did ample justice to a very enjoyable +meal. The dominie engaged the hostess in conversation about German +cookery, Sauer Kraut, Nudeln and various kinds of Eierkuchen, which she +described with evident satisfaction. + +"Mrs. Hill and Wilkinson are regular Deipnosophists," remarked Coristine +to the host. + +"That's too deep for me," he whispered back. "But tell it to the +mistress now; she's that fond of jawbreakers she'll never forget it." + +"We were remarking, Mrs. Hill, that you and Wilkinson are a pair of +Deipnosophists." + +The old man looked quizically at his wife, and she glanced in a +questioning way at the dominie. + +"My friend is trying to show off his learning at our expense," the +latter remarked. "One Athenaeus, who lived in the second century, wrote a +book with that name, containing conversations, like those in 'Wilson's +Noctes Ambrosianae,' but upon gastronomy." + +"I was not aware," said the hostess, "that they had gas so far back as +that." + +Wilkinson bit his lip, but dared not explain, and the lawyer looked +sheepish at the turn affairs were taking. + +"It's aisy remembered, mother," put in the quondam schoolmaster. + +"Think of astronomy, and that'll give you gastronomy; and a gastronomer +is a deipnosophist. That's two new words in one day and both meaning the +same thing." + +The hostess turned to the dominie, with a little shrug of impatience at +her husband, and remarked: "The life of a deipnosophist in gastromical +works must be a very trying one, from the impure air and the soft coal +dust; do you not think so, Mr. Wilkinson?" + +That gentleman thought it must, and the lawyer first chewed his +moustache, and then blew his nose severely and long. Fortunately, the +meal was over, the host returned thanks, and the party left the table. +The old man took a pail and went to water the stock, which seemed to +consist of the cow, while the wife put away the supper things, and +prepared for the evening's milking. + +The pedestrians, being told there was nothing they could do, strolled +out into the neighbouring pasture, and pretended to look among the weeds +and stones, at the end of the fence farthest away from the stock-waterer +for botanical and geological specimens; but, in reality, they were +having a battle royal. + +"Corry, you ass, whatever put it into your stupid head to make a fool of +that kind little woman?" + +"Sauer Kraut and Speck Noodle, what did you begin with your abominable +Dutch dishes for?" + +"I had a perfect right to talk German and of German things with Mrs. +Hill. I did not insult her, like an ungrateful cur, I know." + +"I never insulted her, you blackguard, wouldn't do such a thing for my +life. I had a perfect right, too, to talk Greek to the old man, and it +was you put your ugly foot in it with your diabolical gastronomy. I +wonder you don't pray the ground to open up and swallow you." + +"I consider, sir, an apology from you to our host and hostess absolutely +necessary, and to be made without any delay." + +"I'll apologize, Wilks, for the deipnosophist part of it, but I'll be +jiggered if I'll be responsible for your nasty gastronomy." + +"That means that you are going to put all the onus of this hideous and +cruel misunderstanding on my shoulders, when I explained your expression +in charity to all parties, and to help you out." + +"Help me out, is it? I think it was helping me into the ditch and +yourself, too." + +"Will you or will you not accept the responsibility of this whole +unfortunate business? Here is my ultimatum: Decline to accept it, and I +return to Collingwood this very night." + +"Wilks, my boy, that would never do. It's dead tired you'd be, and I'd +hear of you laid up with fever and chills from the night air, or perhaps +murdered by tramps for the sake of your watch and purse." + +"It matters nothing. Right must be done. _Fiat justitia, ruat coelum._ +Every law of gratitude for hospitality cries aloud: 'Make restitution +ere the sun goes down.' I understand, sir, that you refuse." So saying, +the offended dominie moved rapidly towards the house to resume his +knapsack and staff. + +"Wilks, if you don't stop I'll stone you to death with fossils," cried +the repentant lawyer, throwing a series of trilobites from his +tobacco-less pocket at his retreating friend. The friend stopped and +said curtly: "What is it to be?" + +"Wilks, you remind me of an old darkey woman that had a mistress who was +troubled with sneezing fits. The mistress said: 'Chloe, whenever I +sneeze in public, you, as a faithful servant, should take out your +handkerchief, and pretend that it was you; you should take it upon +yourself, Chloe.' So, one day in church, the old lady made a big +tis-haw, when Chloe jumped up and cried out: 'I'll take dat sneeze my +ole missus snoze on mysef,' waving her handkerchief all around." + +"I did not delay my journey to listen to negro stories, Mr. Coristine." + +"It has a moral," answered the lawyer; "it means that I am going to take +all this trouble on myself, and hinder you making a bigger ass of yours. +I'll apologize to the pair of them for me and you." + +"That being the case, in spite of the objectionable words, 'bigger ass,' +which you will live to repent, I shall stay." + +Mrs. Hill was proceeding to milk the cow, and her husband was busy at +the wood-pile. Coristine sauntered up to the old lady, and carried the +milking pail and stool for her, the latter being of the Swiss +description, with one leg sharp enough to stick into the ground. The +lawyer adroitly remarked:-- + +"Turning to the subject of language, Mrs. Hill, one who has had your +experience in education must have observed fashion in words as in other +things, how liable speech is to change at different times and in +different places." + +Yes; Mrs. Hill had noticed that. + +"You will, I trust, not think me guilty of too great a liberty, if I +say, in reference to my friend's remark at the supper table, that +gastronomy, instead of meaning the art of extracting gas from coal, has +now come to denote the science of cookery or good living, and that the +old meaning is now quite out of date. I thought you would like to know +of the change, which, I imagine, has hardly found its way into the +country yet." + +"Certainly, sir, I am much obliged to you for setting me right so +kindly. Doubtless the change has come about through the use of gas +stoves for cooking, which I have seen advertised in our Toronto +religious paper." + +"I never thought of that," said the perfidious lawyer. "The very +uncommon word deipnosophist, hardly an English word at all, when +employed at the present day, always means a supper philosopher, one who +talks learnedly at supper, either about cookery or about other things." + +"I see it very clearly now. In town, of course, supper is taken by gas +light, so that the talker at supper is a talker by gas-light?" + +"Yes, but the word gas, even the idea of it, has gone out of fashion, +through its figurative use to designate empty, vapouring talk; +therefore, when deipnosophist and gastronomer are spoken, the former is +employed to denote learned talkers at supper, such as we were half an +hour ago, and the latter, to signify one who enjoys the culinary +pleasures of the table." + +"I am sure I am very much indebted to you, sir, for taking the trouble +to correct an old woman far behind the age, and to save her the +mortification of making mistakes in conversation with those who might +know better." + +"Do not mention it, I beg. Should I, do you think, say anything of this +to Mr. Hill?" + +"Oh, no," replied the old lady, laughingly; "he has forgotten all about +these new words already; and, even if he had not, he would never dare to +make use of them, unless they were in Shakespeare or the Bible or the +School Readers." + +By this time the milking was over, and the lawyer, relieved in part, yet +with not unclouded conscience, carried pail and stool to the milkhouse. + +The old man and Coristine sat down on a bench outside the house and +smoked their pipes. Mrs. Hill occupied a rocking-chair just inside the +doorway, and the dominie sat on the doorsill at her feet. + +"Mother," called Mr. Hill to his spouse, "whatever has become of Rufus?" + +"You know very well, Henry Cooke, that Rufus is helping Andrew Hislop +with his bee, and will not be back before morning. The young people are +to have a dance after the bee, and then a late supper, at which the +deipnosophists will do justice to Abigail's gastronomy." This was said +with an approving side glance at the lawyer. When Wilkinson looked up, +his friend perceived at once that his offence was forgiven. The husband, +without removing the pipe from between his teeth, mumbled, "Just so, to +be sure." + +"Is your son's name William Rufus, Mrs. Hill?" enquired the dominie. + +"No; it is simply Rufus. William, you know, is not a Scripture name. We +thought of baptizing him Narcissus, which comes just before Tryphena, +but my husband said, as he was the youngest, he should come lower down +in the chapter, and after Persis, which is my name." + +"I was tayching school, and a bachelor," put in the said husband, "when +there was a county meeting--they call them conventions now--that Persis +was at. They called her Miss Persis Prophayt, but it was spelled like +the English Prophet. She was that pretty and nice-spoken then I couldn't +kape my eyes off her. She's gone off her nice looks and ways a dale +since that time. Then I went back to the childer and the Scripture +readins, with a big dictionary at my elbow for the long names. 'The +beloved Persis' was forever coming up, till the gyurls would giggle and +make my face as red as a turkey cock. So I had this farrum and some +money saved, and I sent to ask the beloved Persis to put me out of my +misery and confusion of countenance." + +"Indeed he did," said the old lady, with a merry laugh, "and what do you +think was his way of popping the question?" + +"Oh, let us hear, Mrs. Hill," cried Coristine. + +"Mother, if you do," interposed the old man, "I'll put my foot down on +your convention of retired taychers at Owen Sound." But mother paid no +attention to the threat. + +"He asked if I knew the story of Mahomet and the mountain, and how +Mahomet said, if the mountain will not come to the prophet, the prophet +must go to the mountain. So, said he, you are the prophet and must come +to my house under the mountain, and be a Hill yourself. It was so funny +and clever that I came; besides I was glad to change the name Prophet. +People were never tired making the most ridiculous plays upon it. The +old Scotch schoolmistress, who taught me partly, was named Miss Lawson, +so they called us Profit and Loss; and they pronounced my Christian name +as if it was Purses, and nicknamed me Property, and took terrible +liberties with my nomenclature." At this the whole company laughed +heartily, after which the dominie said: "I see your pipe is out, Corry; +you might favour our kind friends with a song." The lawyer did not know +what to sing, but took his inspiration, finally, from Wilkinson's last +question, and sang the ballad of William Rufus, as far as:-- + + Men called him William Rufus because of his red beard, + A proud and naughty king he was, and greatly to be feared; + But an arrow from a cross-bow, sirs, hit him in the middell, + And, instead of a royal stag that day, a king of England fell. + +Then the correct ear and literary sense of the dominie were offended, +and he opened out on his friend. + +"I think, Corry, that you might at least have saved our generous hosts +the infliction of your wretched travesties. The third line, Mrs Hill, is +really:-- + + But an arrow from a cross-bow, sirs, the fiercest pride can quell. + +There is nothing so vulgar as hitting in the verse, and your ear for +poetry must tell you that _middle_ cannot rhyme with _fell_, even if it +were not a piece of the most Gothic barbarity. Thus a fine English song, +such as I love to hear, is murdered." + +"My opinion," said the host, "my opinion is that you could'nt quell a +man's pride better than by hitting him fair in the middle. It might be +against the laws of war, but it would double him up, and take all the +consayt out of him sudden. I mind when Rufus was out seeing his sisters, +there was a parson got him to play cricket, and aggravated the boy by +bowling him out, and catching his ball, and sneering at him for a good +misser and a butter-fingers; so, when he went to the bat again, he +looked carefully at the ball and got it on the tip of his bat, and, the +next thing he knowed, the parson was doubled up like a jack knife. He +had been hit fair in the middle, where the bad boy meant to do it. There +was no sarvice next Sunday, no, nor for two weeks." + +"That was very wrong of Rufus," said the old lady with a sigh, "however, +he did offer to remunerate Mr. Perrowne for his medical expenses, but +the gentleman refused to accept any equivalent, and said it was the +fortune of war, which made Rufus feel humiliated and sorry." + +Night had fallen, and the coal oil lamp was lit. The old lady deposited +a large Bible on the table, to which her husband drew in a chair, after +asking each of his guests unsuccessfully to conduct family worship. He +read with emphasis and feeling the 91st Psalm, and thereafter, falling +on his knees, offered a short but comprehensive prayer, in which the +absent children were included, and the two wayfarers were not forgotten. +While the good wife went out to the dairy to see that the milk was +covered up from an invisible cat, the men undressed, and the pedestrians +turned into a double bed, the property of the missing Rufus. The head of +the household also turned in upon his couch, and coughed, the latter +being a signal to his wife. She came in, blew out the lamp, and retired +in the darkness. Then four voices said "good-night"; and rest succeeded +the labours of the day. "No nightmares or fits to-night, Corry, an' you +love me," whispered the dominie; but the lawyer was asleep soon after +his head touched the pillow. They knew nothing till morning, when they +were awakened by the old man's suppressed laughter. When they opened +their eyes, the wife was already up and away to her outdoor tasks; and a +well-built, good-looking young fellow of the farmer type was staring in +astonishment at the two strangers in his bed. The more he stared, the +more the father laughed. "There's not a home nor a place for you, Rufus, +with you kapin' such onsaysonable hours. It's a sesayder you'll be +becoming yourself, running after Annerew Hislop's pretty daughter, and +dancing the toes out of your stockings till broad daylight. So, if +you're going to sesayde, your mother and me, we're going to take in +lodgers." + +"What are they selling?" asked the Baby. + +"Whisht! Rufus, whisht! come here now; it's not that they are at all, +but gentlemen from the city on a pedestrian tower," the father replied +in an audible whisper. + +"What do they want testering the beds for! Is that some new crank got +into the guvment?" + +"Rufus, Rufus, you'll be the death of your poor old father yet with your +ignorance. Who said anything about testing the beds? It's a pedestrian +tower, a holiday walking journey for the good of their healths, the +gentlemen are taking. Whisht, now, they're waking up. Good morning to +you, sirs; did I wake you up laughing at the Baby?" + +The roused sleepers returned the salutation, and greeted the new comer, +apologizing for depriving him of his comfortable bed. Rufus replied +civilly, with a frank, open manner that won their respect, and, when +they had hastily dressed, led them to the pump, where he placed a tin +basin, soap and towels, at their disposal. After ablutions, they +questioned him as to the events of last evening, and were soon in +nominal acquaintance with all the country side. He was indignant at the +free and easy conduct of a self-invited guest called Rodden, who wanted +to dance with all the prettiest girls and to play cards. "But when he +said cards, Annerew, that's a sesayder, told him to clare, although it +was only four in the morning, and he had to clare, and is on his way to +Flanders now." + +"I suppose you did not hear him make any enquiries regarding us?" asked +the dominie. + +"But I did, and it was only when he hard that you hadn't been past the +meetin'-house, that he stopped and said 'ee'd 'ave a lark. Do you know +him?" + +"Yes," said Coristine, "he is the Grinstun man," whereat they all +laughed; and the old lady, coming in with her milking, expressed her +pleasure at seeing them such good friends. + +After prayers and breakfast, the pedestrians prepared to leave, much to +the regret of the household. + +"Where are you bound for now?" asked Mr. Hill, to which Wilkinson +replied, with the air of a guide-book, "for the Beaver River." The Baby, +nothing the worse of last night's wakefulness, volunteered to show them +the way by a shorter and pleasanter route than the main road, and they +gladly availed themselves of his services. As the party walked on, the +guide said to Coristine, "I hard fayther say that you were a lawyer, is +that true?" Coristine answered that he was. + +"Then, sir, you ought to know something about that man Rodden; he's a +bad lot." + +"What makes you think so?" + +"He knows all the doubtfullest and shadiest settlers about, and has long +whispers with them, and gets a lot of money from them. His pocketbook is +just bulging out with bank bills." + +"Perhaps it is the payment of his grindstones, Rufus." + +"You don't tell me that a lawyer, a clever man like you, believe in his +grindstones?" + +"Why not? Doesn't he make and sell them?" + +"Yes; he makes them and sells them in bundles of half-a-dozen, but the +buyer of a bundle only has two to show, and they're no good, haven't +grit enough to sharpen a wooden spoon." + +"How do you know all this?" + +"Mostly out of big Ben Toner. He used to be a good sort of fellow, but +is going all to ruination with the drink. I saw his grindstones and what +came between 'em. It's more like a barl than anything else, but Ben kept +me off looking at it close." + +"Where does Toner live?" + +"Down at the river where you're going. There's a nice, quiet tavern +there, where you'll likely put up, and he'll be round it, likely, and +pretty well on by noon. He don't drink there, though, nor the +tavern-keeper don't buy no grindstones like he does. Well, here you are +on the track, and I must get back to help dad. Keep right on till you +come to the first clearing, and then ask your way. Good-bye, wishing you +a good time, and don't forget that man Rodden." They shook the Baby +warmly by the hand, and reciprocated his good wishes, Coristine +promising to keep his eyes and ears open for news of the Grinstun man. + +"Did you overhear our talk, Wilks, my boy?" he asked his friend. + +"No; I thought it was private, and kept in the background. I do not +consider it honourable to listen to a conversation to which one is not +invited, and doubtless it was of no interest to me." + +"But it is, Wilks; listen to this now," and volubly the lawyer poured +forth the information and his suspicions concerning Mr. Rawdon. That +gentleman's ears would have tingled could he have heard the pleasant and +complimentary things that Coristine said about him. + +The first clearing the pedestrians reached, after an hour's walk since +parting with Rufus, was a desolate looking spot. Some fallow fields were +covered with thistles, docks, fire-weed and stately mulleins, with, here +and there, an evening primrose, one or two of which the lawyer inserted +in his flower-press. There was hardly any ground under cultivation, and +the orchard bore signs of neglect. They saw a man in a barn painfully +rolling along a heavy cylindrical bundle which had just come off a +waggon. As they advanced to ask him the way, he left his work and came +to meet them, a being as unkempt as his farm, and with an unpleasant +light in his bloodshot eye. + +"What are you two spyin' around fer at this time o' day, stead o' +tendin' to your work like the rest o' folks? Ef you want anything, speak +out, 'cause I've no time to be foolin' round." + +"We were directed to ask you, sir, the way to the Beaver River," said +the dominie, politely. The man sulkily led them away out of view of the +barn, and then pointed out a footpath through his farm, which he said +would lead them to the highroad. As they were separating, Wilkinson +thanked the man, and Coristine asked him casually:-- + +"Do you happen to know if a Mr. Rawdon, who makes and sells grindstones, +has passed this way lately?" + +"No," cried the sluggard farmer; "who says he has?" Then, in a quieter +tone, he continued: "I heern tell as he passed along the meetin'-house +way yesday. What do you want of Rawdon?" + +"My friend, here, is a geologist, and so is that gentleman." + +"Rawdon a geologist!" he cried again, with a coarse laugh. "Of course he +is; allers arter trap rock, galeny, quartz and beryl. O yes, he's a +geologist! Go right along that track there. Good day." Then he rapidly +retraced his steps towards the barn, as if fearful lest some new visitor +should interrupt him before his task was completed. + +"It may be smuggling," said the lawyer, "but it's liquid of some kind, +for that dilapidated granger has given his friend away. What do +hayseeds know about galena, quartz and beryl? These are Grinstun's +little mineralogical jokes for gallon, quart and barrel, and trap rock +is another little mystery of his. What do you think of the farmer that +doesn't follow the plough, Wilks?" + +"I think he drinks," sententiously responded the schoolmaster. + +"Then he and Ben Toner are in the same box, and both are friends or +customers of the workin' geologist. I believe it's whiskey goes between +the grindstones, and that it's smuggled in from the States, somewhere up +on the Georgian Bay between Collingwood and Owen Sound. The plot is +thickening." + +When the pedestrians emerged from the path on a very pretty country road +the first objects that met their view were three stout waggons, drawn by +strong horses and driven by bleary eyed men, noisy and profane of +speech. Their waggon loads were covered with buffalo robes and +tarpaulins, which, however, did not effectually conceal the grindstones +beneath. The drivers eyed the pedestrians with suspicion, and consigned +them to the lower regions and eternal perdition. + +"Wilks, my dear," said the lawyer, in a sort of cool fever heat, +"there's a revolver and a box of cartridges in my pack that I'd like to +have in my right hand pocket for that kind of cattle." + +"I have one, too," said the dominie, quietly, "but we had better pass on +and not heed them. See, they are armed as well." + +Just as he spoke there was a report; a pistol in the hand of the first +teamster smoked, and a poor little squirrel, that had been whirring on +the limb of a basswood, dropped to the ground dead. + +"I'd as lief as not put a hole into the back of them d----d packs," said +the second teamster, whereupon the others swore at him to shut up and +save his cartridges. + +"Wilks, I could once hit a silver dollar at twenty yards. Dad, I'll get +the thing out anyway." The lawyer sat down, undid his knapsack and +primed his revolver, which he then placed with the box of cartridges in +the pocket out of which he had thrown the fossils. The dominie did the +same, all the time saying: "No violence! my dear friend; in this world +we must pretend not to see a great many things that we cannot help +seeing." The teamsters went by, and no further use for the revolver +appeared. Wilkinson would not allow his companion to shoot at birds or +chipmunks, and, on being expostulated with, the kindly lawyer confessed +that it would have been a shame to take their innocent young lives. At +last they saw a gray paper-like structure of large size on the limb of +an oak pretty high up. "I'll bet you can't hit that, Wilks," said the +lawyer. "I shall try," replied the dominie. They fired simultaneously +and both struck the grey mass, and then the warriors ran, ran as they +had hardly done since they were boys, for a hundred wasps were after +them, eager to take vengeance on the piercers of their communal home. +After two hundred yards had been done in quick time, they stopped and +faced each other. + +"I've killed three that got down my back, but the beggar that stung me +on the lip escaped," said Coristine. + +"I have one sting on the left hand and another on the right temple," +replied Wilkinson. + +"Is it safe to stop yet, Wilks?" + +"Yes; they have given up the pursuit." + +"Then, my poor boy, let us go into hospital." So he produced his flask +and bathed the dominie's temple and hand with the cooling spirit, after +which Wilkinson loosened his friend's flannel shirt and applied the same +remedy to his afflicted back, down which the three dead wasps slid to +the ground. The lawyer healed his own lip by allowing a little of the +cratur, as he termed it, to trickle over into his mouth. + +"It seems to me, Wilks, that, when a man is looking for war, he's bound +to get it." + +"Yes; I suppose that that is what is meant by 'they that take the sword +shall perish with the sword.'" + +"Bad luck to these wasps; they revolved on us." + +As the travellers continued their journey, Coristine turned to his +friend and asked him for counsel. + +"You've studied casuistry, Wilks, and I want you, as a judge of what a +loyal citizen should do, to say what is our duty in regard to the +Grinstun man." + +"What are you, Corry, a lawyer in general practice or a revenue +detective?" + +"A lawyer, of course, but a citizen too." + +"Have you, as lawyer or as citizen, a case against Mr. Rawdon?" + +"As a contributor to the revenue of the country, I think I have." + +"How?" + +"Well, he is making money by cheating the Government." + +"Where is your proof?" + +"Look at what Rufus said, at the doings of that bogus farmer, at these +three teams on the road." + +"Mere inferences based on circumstantial evidence." + +"They're things that should be looked into, though." + +"Perhaps so, but is it your business to do so? Are you a whiskey +informer?" + +"Come now, Wilks, that's a pretty bad name to call a man." + +"That may be, but it seems to denote the role you have set before +yourself." + +"I'd like to run that brute into the ground." + +"Worse and worse; you are going to prosecute, not from principle, but +from malice." + +"I'm going to show up a scoundrel." + +"If that is your work you will never lack employment. But, seriously, +Corry, _cui bono?_" + +"To keep him off Miss Du Plessis' land, to prevent him marrying her, to +hinder him corrupting the farmers and causing their farms to go to waste +with smuggled liquor." + +"As you like, but Wordsworth says:-- + + Whatever be the cause, 'tis sure that they who pry and pore + Seem to meet with little gain, seem less happy than before." + +"A fig for Wordsworth, and his tear in the old man's eye! I'll not be +happy till I bring that murdering thief of the world to justice." + +Further conversation was checked by the view of the river from the top +of the hill, challenging the admiration of the two lovers of scenery, +and they began their descent towards the hamlet that lay on either side +of the bridge which crossed the swiftly-flowing stream. Then the lawyer +commenced the recitation of a poem in one of the old Irish readers:-- + + River, river, rapid river, + +in which the dominie sharply interrupted him, recommending his tall, +mustachioed friend to put a stick of candy in his mouth and go back to +petticoats and pinafores. + +"Wilks, you remind me of a picture I saw once, in _Punch_ or somewhere +else, of a nigger sandwich man advertising baths, and a sweep looking at +him, and saying: 'It's enough to tempt one, he looks so jolly clean +hisself.' That's the way with you, always firing out Wordsworth's silly +twaddle, and objecting to a piece of genuine poetry because it's in a +reader. The pig-headed impudence of you birchers beats all." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + The Maple Inn--Mr. Bigglethorpe's Store--Dinner--Worms--Ben + Toner--The Dugout--Fishing in the Beaver River--The Upset + Suckers--The Indignant Dominie Propitiated and Clothed--Anecdotes + of Mr. Bulky--A Doctor Wanted. + + +A very clean and attractive hostelry received the travellers, and +compelled the dominie to remark cheerfully, "Now shall I take mine ease +in mine inn," which led to his lately indignant friend's response:-- + + Who'er has travell'd life's dull round, + Where'er his stages may have been, + May sigh to think he still has found + The warmest welcome at an inn. + +P. Lajeunesse was the name on the sign, which displayed a vegetable +wonder of the painter's art meant for a maple tree, for Madame +Lajeunesse kept the Maple Inn. That lady, a portly brunette, with a +pleasant smile and a merry twinkle in her eye, received the +distinguished guests in person. Wilkinson replied to her bow and curtsey +with a dignified salutation, but the lawyer shook hands with her, +saying: "I hope you're very well, Madame; it's a lovely place you have +here." Madame replied that it was lofely when the moustique was not, and +summoned Pierre to help the dominie off with his knapsack, saying +"permettit me," as she unfastened the straps of Coristine's, and removed +that burden, which she deposited upon a table in the sitting-room +adjoining the hall. Pierre, a bald-headed French-Canadian, hiding his +lack of hair under a red tuque, and sporting a white moustache of large +dimensions, arrived too late to help the schoolmaster, but he elevated +his eyebrows, grimaced, rubbed his hands, and slid his feet apart, in +pleased welcome. + +"Ze chentlemans ave come to feesh lika many in ze springa monses? +Feeshing not so coot as zen, bot in ze cool place vare is oles onder ze +trees feesh lorrik. Is zat spoken correct, zat vord lorrik? I ave learn +it from Meestare Bulky. O, a ver great feesherman." + +Wilkinson replied that lurk was an excellent word, and very expressive +of the conduct of fish in warm weather, explaining that he was no +fisherman himself, but that his friend was attached to that kind of +sport. + +"Dinnare, Messieu, in one hour," remarked Madame, as she returned to her +duties. + +"Where can I get fishing tackle, landlord?" asked the lawyer. + +"At ze store, zare is onelly one. You vill not lose yourself long in +zisa city," replied mine host with an attempt at wit. + +Wilkinson remained in the cool parlour, inspecting the plates on the +walls and a few books on a side table. The latter were chiefly poor +novels in English, left by former guests as not worth taking home, but +among them was a thoroughly French paper-bound copy of Alphonse Karr's +Voyage autour de mon Jardin. Falling into an easy chair, the +schoolmaster surrendered himself to the charming style and subtle humour +of this new found treasure. + +The lawyer went straight to Mr. Bigglethorpe's store, and found himself, +at the time, its sole customer. The proprietor was an Englishman of some +five and thirty years, tall and thin, wearing a long full beard and +overhanging moustache. He sold fishing tackle and was himself a +fisherman, the latter being the reason why he had come to the Beaver +River and set up store. It occupied him when fishing was poor, and +helped to check the consumption of his capital. Before he married, he +locked the door, when the fishing was good, and put the key in his +pocket, but now Mrs. Bigglethorpe minded the shop in his absence. Having +supplied Coristine with hooks and lines, and recommended him what kind +of a rod to cut out of the bush for ordinary still fishing, he offered +to lend him one of his own fly rods, and opened his fly book for his +inspection. Soon the pair were deep in all kinds of artificial flies and +their manufacture, Black and Red and White Hackles, Peacock Fly, +Mackerel, Green Grasshopper, Black Ant, Governor, Partridge, and a host +more. The lawyer declined the rod, as the storekeeper informed him that, +so late in the season and in the day, it was utterly useless to look for +trout. He had better get old Batiste at the Inn to dig him up some +earthworms, and go fishing with them like the boys. He would find a +canoe moored near the bridge which he could use. Who it belonged to Mr. +Bigglethorpe didn't know, but it was of no consequence, for everybody +took it that wanted it for a morning or afternoon. If Mr. Coristine +heard of any new kind of fly, perhaps he'd be good enough to remember +him and let him know, something killing for autumn use, or, as people +say here, for fall fishing. Mr. Coristine promised to remember him, and +departed with his purchases, just as a voice, feminine but decided, +called to Mr. Bigglethorpe by name to come and hold the baby, while its +owner dished the dinner. "Talk about Hackles," said the lawyer to +himself on the way Inn-wards, "I imagine he has somebody in there that +can hackle him, long beard and all." + +The dinner bell at the Maple was ringing vigorously. Monsieur Lajeunesse +had taken off his coat to ring it, and stood in the doorway in a flaming +red waistcoat, the companion of his tuque, over a spotlessly white +shirt, to let all who dwelt on the Beaver River know that the hour of +noon had arrived. The dinner, over which Madame presided, was excellent. +With the soup and the fish there was white wine, and good sound beer +with the entrees and solids. The schoolmaster spoke French to the +hostess, chiefly about the book he had been reading, and the lawyer +discussed fishing with Pierre, who constantly referred to his great +authority, Meestare Bulky. Madame, charmed that her guest could converse +with her in her mother tongue, generously filled his glasses, and +provided his plates with the most seductive morsels. Monsieur +Veelkeenson was the white-haired boy at that table, and he felt it, +yielded to the full satisfaction of it. He had dined royally, and was +fit for anything. When his friend asked him if he would go fishing, he +replied jauntily, and in a way quite unlike himself: "Why, suttenly, +which would you rather do or go fishin'?" + +"O Wilks," cried the lawyer, "you're a patent pressed brick! I feel like +old Isaac Walton's Coridon, that said, d'ye mind, 'Come, hostess, give +us more ale, and let's drink to him,' which is natural, seeing I'm +called Corry." + +The companions had a glass of ale after dinner, which was quite +indefensible, for they had had a sufficiency at that bounteous repast. +Evidently, the dominie was in for a good time. A wizened old fellow, +named Batiste, with a permanent crick in his back, dug the worms, and +presented them to the lawyer in an empty lobster tin, the outside of +which was covered with texts of Scripture. "It seems almost profane," +remarked the recipient, "to carry worms inside so much Bible language." +But the merry schoolmaster remarked that it was turn about, for he had +heard a Scotch preacher, who seemed to know the whole Bible by heart, +say in prayer, on behalf of himself and his people, "we are all poor +wurrums of the airth." "Probably, however," he continued, "he would have +objected to be treated as a worm." + +"They say even a worm will turn, which, if your parson was a large man, +might be serious enough," replied the lawyer. "I remember, when I was a +small boy, thinking that the Kings of Israel kept large men for crushing +their enemies, because they used to say, 'Go and fall upon him, and he +fell upon him and he died.' That might be the way with the human wurrum. +It's not always safe to trust these humble men." + +"Corry, you're a profane man; your treatment of sacred things is +scandalously irreverent," said the dominie. + +"Who began it?" retorted the victim. + +"You did, sir, with your textual lobster can," replied the reprover. + +"The ancient Hebrews, in the height of their pride and glory, knew not +the luxury of lobster salad," Coristine remarked, gravely, as if +reciting a piece. + +"How do you know that?" + +"Because, if I offer a prize of a Trip to the Dark Continent to the +first person buying a copy of our published travels, who finds the word +lobster in the Bible, I shall never have occasion to purchase the +ticket." + +As they moved in the direction of the river, Pierre came after them and +asked:-- + +"You make your feeshing off ze bord or in ze vatars!" + +"I prefer the board," replied Coristine, "if it's as good of its kind as +that you gave us at dinner." + +"Keep quiet, you do not understand him," interposed the schoolmaster; +"he means the shore, the bank of the river by the bord. N'est ce pas, +Monsieur?" + +"Oui, oui, M'syae, le bord, le rivauge de la riviere." + +"Non, Monsieur Pierre, nous allons prendre le bateau," answered +Wilkinson, with a dignity that his companion envied. + +The red-nightcapped host called Baptiste. + +"Vau t-en donc, Bawtiste, depeche twa, trouve deux petits bouts de +plaunche pour le canot." + +Batiste soon returned with two boards. + +"Canot 'ave no seat, you placea zem over two ends for seet down," said +Pierre, relapsing into English. + +Wilkinson assumed the responsibility of the boards and the fishermen +proceeded to the river bank near the bridge to find the canoe. It was +long, and, for a dug-out, fairly wide, but ancient and black, and moist +at the bottom, owing to an insufficiently caulked crack. Its paddles had +seen much service, and presented but little breadth of blade. + +"I should like to place these boards," said Wilkinson, as he surveyed +first them and then the dug-out; "I should like to place these boards, +one across the bow and the other across the stern, but I really cannot +decide which is the bow and which is the stern." + +"She's a sort of a fore and after, Wilks, like the slip-ferry +steamboats. I think, if you could find a bit of chalk or charcoal, and +write bow on one plank and stern on the other, it would make her +ship-shape and settle the business." + +"I have no sympathy, Corry, with makeshifts and factitious devices. I +wish to arrive at the true inwardness of this boat. At what end of a +boat is the anchor let down?" + +"In the _Susan Thomas_ it was pretty near the bow, and I think I've seen +yachts riding at anchor that way in Toronto harbour." + +"In the time of St. Paul, however, there were four anchors, if I +remember aright, cast out of the stern." + +"I don't see how the anchor is going to help us. This long Tom Coffin +has nothing of the kind." + +"You are sadly deficient in observation, Corry, or you would have +observed a rope, very much abraded indeed, but still a rope, by which +the vessel may be said, even though figuratively, to be anchored to this +stake." + +"It's you're the clever man, Wilks; education has done wonders for you. +Now, I remember that rope is the painter; that's what The Crew called it +on the dingy, and of course it was fastened to the bow." + +"But to the stern of the larger vessel." + +"Yes, but here there is no larger vessel. If you want one, for argument +sake, you'll have to imagine the post to be it. The coffin is bow on to +the shore." + +"Corry, I insist, if I am to trust myself to this craft, that you call +it by some other name." + +"Were you ever in anything of the kind before, Wilks?" + +"Never." + +"Nor I." These simple words had in them a depth of meaning. + +A young man came on to the bridge and leaned over the rail, looking at +the fishermen. He was respectably clad in a farmer's holiday suit, was +tall, strongly built, and with good features that bore unmistakable +marks of dissipation. "I'll bet you that's Ben Toner," whispered the +lawyer, who was examining the new-found bow prior to depositing his +boards. + +"Goin' fishin'?" asked the new comer, in a not unpleasant voice. + +"Yes," replied Coristine; "we're going in this--what do you call it?" + +"Dug-out, and mighty poor at that. Fishin's no good here now. River was +a pardise for Trontah folks wunst, but it's clean fished out. I seen +fellers go to a ho-ul up thayer," said the supposed Ben, pointing in the +opposite direction, "and take out a hull barl-ful afore sundown. 'Taint +to be did, not now, wuss luck! Wait to I come down, and I'll haylp you +off with that kinew." + +The speaker descended, untied the frayed painter, and hauled the +dug-out to a point where, the bank being higher, embarkation was more +easy. He dissuaded the navigators from sitting on the boards placed over +the gunwales, as likely to be, what he called, parlous, and recommended +that the boards be placed on the floor of the craft to keep the water +off their "paants." The fishermen consented, and sat down safely at each +end facing one another, with his assistance to hold the dug-out steady, +the dominie in the bow and the lawyer in the stern. They thanked their +ally, bade him good afternoon, and proceeded to paddle. Ben Toner +laughed, and cried to Coristine: "I'll lay two to one on you, Mister, +for you've got the curnt to haylp you." The dugout, in spite of the +schoolmaster's fierce paddling, was moving corkscrew-like in the +opposite direction, owing largely to the current, but partly to the +superior height of the lawyer, which gave his paddle a longer sweep. +Still, he found progress slow, till a happy thought struck him. + +"Wilks, my boy, it's paddling our own canoe we are, but too much that +way. We're a house divided against itself, Wilks. Either you must turn +round or I must, and, if I do, then you'll be the stern and I the bow." + +"I thought there was something wrong, Corry, but the excitement incident +on a new sensation absorbed my attention. Of course, I shall move, as it +would be very confusing, not to say ridiculous, to invert the relative +positions of the boat." + +"Then, Wilks dear, wait till I paddle her near the bank, for fear of +accidents." + +When the bank was reached, the dominie landed, picked up his board and +placed it farther back, then sat down gingerly, with his legs spread out +before him, and began paddling on the same side as his companion, which +zigzagged the frail craft more than ever, and finally brought it to the +shore. Ben Toner, who had been laughing at the city innocents, ran down +to a point opposite the dug-out, and told them to paddle on opposite +sides, giving directions how to steer with one of the emaciated +propellers. After that, the course of the vessel was a source of +continual self-commendatory remark by the voyageurs. + +After a while, they came to a wooden bridge, built upon piles resting in +the stream. "This," said the schoolmaster, "is the _Pons sublicius_, +like that which Ancus Martius built over the Tiber. Shall we shoot it, +Corry, or shall we call a halt and proceed to fish?" + +The dug-out bumped on the piles, and the navigators trembled, but +Wilkinson, bravely gathering his legs under him and rising to his knees +on the board, threw his arms round a pile, when, in spite of Coristine's +efforts, the craft slewed round and the stern got under the bridge ahead +of the bow. + +"Hold on, Wilks," the lawyer cried; "another bump like that and the old +thing'll split in two. Now, then, we'll drop the paddles and slip her +along the bridge to the bank. There's a hole under that birch tree +there, and some fine young birches that will do for rods back of it. +Doesn't the birch make you feel like England, home and duty, Wilks?" + +"The quotation, sir, is incorrect, as usual; it is England, home and +beauty." + +"Well, that's a beauty of a birch, anyway." + +They got ashore, and fastened the painter to a sapling on the bank, +because it was not long enough to go round a pile. Then they produced +their knives, and, proceeding to the place where the young birches grew, +cut down two famous rods, to which they attached lines with white and +green floats and small hooks with gut attachments. The lobster can was +produced, and wriggling worms fixed on the hooks. "A worm at one end and +a fool at the other," said the lawyer. "Speak for yourself, sir," +replied the dominie. The next thing was to get into the canoe, which was +safely effected. Then, the question arose, how was she to be moored in +the current? Wilkinson suggested a stake driven into the bottom for the +deep-sea mooring, and an attachment to the exposed root of the lovely +overhanging birch for that to landward. So Coristine sprang ashore, cut +a heavier birch, and trimmed one end to a point. Bringing this on board, +he handed it to his companion, and, paddling up stream, brought him +opposite the overarching tree. The dominie drove the stake deep into the +river mud and pressed it down. The stake was all that could be desired +for a deep-sea mooring, and to it the painter was attached. + +"What are you going to do about your end of the vessel, Corry?" he +asked. + +"That's all right," replied the lawyer, who, forthwith, took off coat +and waistcoat. + +"You are not going to undress, I hope," remarked his friend; "there is a +bare possibility that people, even ladies, might be walking this way, +sir, and I do not wish to be disgraced." + +"Never fear, Wilks, my boy, it's my braces I am after." With this, +Coristine took off these articles, and, fastening a button hole over a +rusty nail in the stern, tied the other end about a root of the birch. +The dug-out was securely fastened, so that the current only rocked it a +little, causing the lawyer to sing "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep." +Then they sat down on their boards and began fishing. + +They had a very pleasant hour hooking shiners and chub, and an +occasional perch that looked at a distance like a trout. The dominie, +_apropos_ of his friend's braces, told Alphonse Karr's story of the +_bretellier_ in the Jardin des Plantes, and the credulous sceptic who +did not believe that a suspender tree existed. He knew that cotton grew +on a shrub, and that caoutchouc exuded from a tree, and admitted the +possibility of their natural combination, but thought his deceivers had +reference to braces with metal attachments. + +"That reminds me," said the lawyer, "of a man from Lanark that came into +our office asking where he'd find a mining geologist. He had some +grey-looking cork and leather wrapped up in a newspaper, and said he had +dug them out of the ground where there was lots more of both of them. I +told him he had likely come on the remains of an old picnic, and that +the leather was the skin of the ham they had taken out to make +sandwiches of; but the impudent creature laughed in my face, as if any +child doesn't know that leather is the skin of beasts, and cork, of a +tree!" + +"Nevertheless, Corry, he was no doubt right, and you were wrong in your +scepticism. What are called mountain cork and mountain leather are forms +of asbestos. They are of no use, unless it be for the lining of safes. +The fibrous asbestos can be made into fire-proof clothes." + +"So, old Leather Corks had the laugh on me there! Dad, I'll apologize +for sending him to the marines next time he comes in. What a thing it +is to have the larnin' like you, Wilks!" + +"A mere mineralogical trifle, my dear Corry, nothing more." + +"Wilks, do you mind the 'Fisher's Song,' composed by the late Mr. +William Bass, that's in the 'Complete Angler'? I don't suppose it would +scare the fish much. It goes to the tune of 'The Pope, he leads a happy +life,' like this:-- + + Of recreation there is none + So free as fishing is alone; + All other pastimes do no less + Than mind and body both possess; + My hand alone my work can do, + So I can fish and study too. + + I care not, I, to fish in seas-- + Fresh rivers best my mind do please, + Whose sweet calm course I contemplate, + And seek in life to imitate: + In civil bounds I fain would keep, + And for my past offences weep. + + And when the timorous trout I wait + To take, and he devours my bait. + How poor a thing, sometimes I find, + Will captivate a greedy mind; + And when none bite, I praise the wise, + Whom vain allurements ne'er surprise. + + But yet, though while I fish I fast, + I make good fortune my repast; + And thereunto my friend invite, + In whom I more than that delight: + Who is more welcome to my dish + Than to my angle was my fish." + +"Well done, Corry--a very good song and very well sung, + + Jolly companions every one. + +Why will these wretched rhymsters couple such words as sung and one? It +is like near and tears in the American war-song, 'The Old Camp-Ground.' +Some people are like these fish; they have no ear at all. A practical +joker, like you, Corry, once corrected a young lady who was singing:-- + + Golden years ago, + In a mill beside the sea, + There dwelt a little maiden, + Who plighted her troth to me. + +He suggested Floss for sea, because of George Eliot's Mill on the +Floss, and, you would hardly believe it, did I not vouch for its truth, +she actually rhymed Floss and me. It was excruciating." + +"I can beat that, Wilks. I was out in the country on business, and +stopped at our client's house, a farmer he was. The man that led the +music in his church, an old Yank, who drawled out his words in singing, +like sweeowtest for sweetest, was teaching the farmer's daughter to play +the organ. He offered to sing for my benefit, in an informal way, one of +my national melodies; and he did. It was 'The harp that once through +Tara's halls,' and--O Wilks--he sang it to a tune called Ortonville, an +awful whining, jog-trot, Methodistical thing with a repeat. My client +asked me privately what I thought of it, and I told him that, if Mr. +Sprague had said he was going to sing it in an infernal way, he would +have been nearer the truth." + +"Your language is strong, my friend. The late Mr. William Basse, as you +designate him, would not have condescended to the use of such terms." + +"Faith, the language isn't made that's too bad for Ortonville. You've +got a big one this time, Wilks, my boy--play him!" + +The dominie succeeded in bringing in his fish, a big fellow, between a +pound and a-half and two pounds in weight, on which he gazed with +delight, as the lawyer unhooked it, and deposited it, with a smart rap +on the head, at the bottom of the canoe. + +"Is that a trout, Corry?" the Dominie asked with eager pride. + +"No; it's not a brook or speckled trout, for it has no speckles, and +it's not a relative of the late William Basse, for it isn't deep enough +in the body, nor a perch, for it's too big and has no stripes. It's +either a salmon trout or a pickerel, Wilks." + +"Is there not some fable about the latter fish?" + +"Yes; old Isaac says that it's produced from the pickerel weed, the +Pontederia, that should be coming into flower about now. I haven't seen +any yet. There's another, for me this time--ugh, it's only a perch." + +The schoolmaster, emboldened by success, declared that he was too +cramped, and, gathering his legs together, while he held on to the +sides of the dug-out, succeeded in grasping the top of the deep-sea +mooring. Then, with the other hand, he raised the board, and transferred +it to the gunwale. Sitting upon the improvised seat with his back to the +bow, he expressed satisfaction at facing his companion, for one thing, +and at being out of the way of the fish in the canoe, for another. +Coristine followed suit, and, when his plank was in position, said he +felt something like old Woodruff in a small way. + +"How is that?" asked the inquisitive dominie. + +"He's a director in ever so many institutions, and is always out, +sitting on boards. I have only one so far; as Shakespeare says, it's a +poor one, but mine own." + +"Tut, tut," replied his disgusted friend; "more desecration." + +Nevertheless he smiled, as a thought came into his mind, and he remarked +that the vessel was rather a small concern to have two boards of +direction; to which the lawyer answered that it was no worse off in that +respect than the Province of Quebec, or the Church, or the universities, +which could not trust one governing body to do their work. + +"I have another, a large fish," shouted the schoolmaster, wildly excited +and rising to his feet. The fish pulled hard up stream till the whole +extent of line and rod combined was out at arm's length. Eager to secure +the prey, and thinking nothing of the precarious foundation on which he +stood, he placed a foot upon the gunwale in order to reach still farther +out. + +"Look out, Wilks!" cried Coristine, as he also rose and grasped an +overhanging branch of the birch; but it was too late. The dug-out +tipped, the boards slid into the water, and with them went the dominie, +rod, fish, and all. When the canoe recovered its equilibrium, Wilkinson, +minus his wide awake, which was floating down the stream, was seen +apparently climbing the deep-sea mooring post, like a bear on a pole, +his clothes dripping where they were out of the water, his hair +plastered over his eyes, and his face flushed with anger. The lawyer +could not restrain his mirth, although he knew the vengeance it would +excite in the dominie's breast. + +"O Wilks, Wilks, my poor drowned rat of a friend, ha! ha! ha! O Moses! +but it's too comical you are; the nuns couldn't help it, Wilks, no, nor +the undertaker's drum-major, nor a hired butler, even. Howld on, just +one second more, till I'm fit to steady this divil of a dug-out for you +to get in. If I only had a kodak, Wilks, you would be immortal, and the +expenses of our trip would be paid. Oh, garrahow, ha! ha!" + +The dominie climbed on to the bow of the dug-out, while Coristine +balanced it, and made his silent way to the shore end, from which he +gained the bank. There he shook himself like a Newfoundland dog, and +brushed the wet hair out of his eyes. He muttered a great deal, but said +nothing loud enough to be intelligible; his tone, however, was far from +reassuring to his companion. The lawyer unmoored the dug-out at both +ends, and set forth to recover the missing articles. He found the hat +and the two boards on the shore, a short way down the river, and, in the +middle of the stream, recaptured the fishing-rod. To his great delight, +the fish was still on the hook, and he imparted the joyful news to his +shivering friend, but got no single word in reply. It was another salmon +trout, or pickerel, or some such fish, and he deposited it gleefully in +the bottom of the canoe with the others, which had not escaped in the +tip-over. Returning, he handed Wilkinson his hat, and hoped he was none +the worse of his ducking. The schoolmaster took the wide-awake, but gave +no answer. Then the lawyer invited him to take his place in the boat, +when the storm burst. + +"Am I a fool, Mr. Coristine, an abject, unthinking, infatuated fool, to +entrust my comfort, my safety, my life, to a man without the soul of a +man, to a childish, feeble-minded, giggling and guffawing player of +senseless, practical jokes, to a creature utterly wanting in heart, +selfish and brutal to a degree?" + +"Oh, Wilks, my dear boy, this is too bad. I had nothing in the mortal +world to do with your tumbling out of the old dug-out, 'pon my honour I +hadn't." + +"Kindly keep your silence, sir, and do not outrage my sufficiently +harrowed feelings by adding worse to bad. I shall go to the inn on +_terra firma_, and leave you in charge of what you seem so able to +manage in your own clownish, pantomimic way. Be good enough to bring my +fish, and do not distinguish yourself by upsetting them into their +native element." With these words, and in great apparent scorn, the +draggled dominie took his course along the bank and soon disappeared +from view. The lawyer followed in the canoe, but more slowly, as the +current was against him, and often turned the boat round. By dint of +strenuous efforts he gained the bridge, and found the supposed Ben +leaning over it. + +"I see you've drownded your man," he remarked with a laugh. + +"Yes," replied Coristine; "we had a spill." + +"Had any luck?" + +"Pretty fair," the lawyer answered, exhibiting his treasures. + +"Perch, and chub, and shiners, and them good-for-nawthun tag ends of all +creation, suckers." + +"Is that what they are?" asked the disappointed fisherman, holding up +the spoil of Wilkinson's rod. + +"That's jest what they are, flabby, bony, white-livered, or'nary +suckers. Niggers and Injuns won't touch 'em, ony in the spring; they'd +liefer eat mudcats." + +The lawyer tied his dug-out to the stake, while Ben, who informed him +that his name was Toner, got a willow twig with a crotch at the thick +end, and strung his fish on it through the gills. + +"I guess you'd better fire them suckers into the drink," he said, but +Coristine interposed to save them from such a fate. + +"They are my friend's catch," he said, "and I'll let him do what he +likes with them." + +Then, attended by Mr. Toner, carrying the string of fish, suckers +included, he bent his steps towards the Maple Inn. + +When they arrived, they found Madame standing in the doorway. She +admired the fish, and complimented Coristine on his success. He, +however, disclaimed most of them in favour of his friend, for whose +health and whereabouts he enquired with much earnestness. + +"Ze pauvre Meestare Veelkeensen retires himselfa in ze chomber to +shongje his vet habillement vit datta o' Pierre. I 'opes he catcha no +cold." + +"Better mix him a hot drink, Madame," said Mr. Toner. + +"I 'ave fear, Ben, you lofe too moch hot dreenks," replied Madame. + +"That's jest where you're out, Missus; I take my little tods cold." + +"Hot or cold, you take nossing in our salon." + +"Naw, not so long as I can get better stuff, real white wheat that ain't +seen the water barl." + +The lawyer noticed this unguarded saying of Toner's, but this did not +hinder his asking if Madame had hot water, and could mix some real Irish +punch for his afflicted friend. Madame had no Irish, but she had some +good Scotcha veesky, which Coristine said would do, only, instead of +Irish punch, the mixture would be Scotch toddy. The toddy procured, he +sprang up-stairs, two steps at a time, meeting Monsieur Lajeunesse, +descending with an armful of wet clothes. Bursting into the room to +which the dominie had been led, he found him on a chair drying himself +by detachments. Already his upper man had been rubbed by Pierre, and +clothed with a shirt, vest and velveteen coat from his wardrobe. Now he +was polishing his nether extremities with a towel, preparatory to adding +a pair of gaudy striped trousers to his borrowed gear. Striding up to +him with a ferocious air, the lawyer presented the smoking glass, +exclaiming: "Drink this down, Wilks, or I'll kill you where you sit." + +"What is it?" feebly asked the schoolmaster, feeling the weakness of his +kilted position. + +"It's toddy, whiskey toddy, Scotch whiskey toddy, the only thing that'll +save your life," cried Coristine, with firmness amounting to +intimidation. The dominie sipped the glass, stirred it with the spoon, +and gradually finished the mixture. Then, laying the tumbler on the +table beside his watch and pocketbook, he finished his rubbing-down, and +encased his legs in Pierre's Sunday trousers. As he turned up the +latter, and pulled on a pair of his own socks, he remarked to his friend +that he felt better already, and was much obliged to him for the toddy. + +"Don't mention it, my boy, I'm so glad it's done you good." + +"I fear, Corry, that I was hasty and unjust to you when I came out of +the water." + +"Oh well, Wilks darlin', let us say no more about it, or, like the late +Mr. William Basse, I'll for my past offences weep. I don't know what it +is exactly you're like now. If you had the faytures, you would do for +one of the Peoplesh. You and the grinstun man could hunt in couples. +With a billy cock-hat on the side of your head, you'd make a sporting +gent. Are you feeling pretty well, Wilks, as far as the clothes will let +you?" + +"Yes; I am all right again, I think." + +"Then I must damp the ardour of ingenuous youth, + + And dash the cup of joy to earth + Ere it be running o'er. + +Wilks, prepare yourself for a blow." + +"Quick, Corry, make no delay--has the colonel fallen from his horse? Has +his niece accepted Mr. Rawdon?" + +"No; my dear friend, but those big fish, one of which you risked your +precious life after, are--suckers. Ben Toner wanted to fire them into +the drink, but I restrained his sucker-cidal hand. You seem to bear the +news with resignation." + +The lawyer accompanied his resuscitated friend down stairs. The +velveteen waistcoat exhibited an ample shirt-front, and had pockets with +flaps like the coat. The dominie's own blue and yellow silk handkerchief +was tied in a sailor's knot round a rakish collar, that compromised +between a turn-down and a stand-up; and his nether garments began with +the dark and light blue broad-striped trousers and ended in a large pair +of felt slippers, admirable footgear, no doubt, for seasons of extreme +cold. Thus attired, Wilkinson occupied the sitting-room, and returned to +the study of Alphonse Karr. Mr. Toner had left the string of fish by the +door, where it was quite safe. There seemed to be no boys, no dogs, no +cats, about the quiet Beaver River. Once in a long while, a solitary +figure might be perceived going to or returning from the store. The only +possible thief of the fish would have been a stray mink or otter +prospecting for a new home, unless, indeed, Madame's fowls had escaped +from the poultry yard. Coristine brought the string to his disguised +companion, just as the hostess arrived to enquire after his health and +renew the French conversation. Having replied politely to her questions, +the schoolmaster expressed his regret that the fish were so poor and +especially that he had been deceived in the "suceurs." Madame did not +comprehend, and said "Plait il?" whereupon he called his friend near and +pointed out the offending fish. "Aw oui, M'syae, ce sont des mulets de +l'eau douce, un petit peu trop tawrd dons la saison, autrement un +morceau friaund." Then she proceeded to say that the smaller fish could +be cooked for supper, "comme les eperlans de law baw," pointing with her +finger eastward, to designate, by the latter words, the Gulf of St. +Lawrence. She would boil the mullets, if Monsieur did not object, and +give them to the fowls; did Monsieur take an interest in fowls? +Generously the dominie handed over all the fish, through Coristine, for +Madame to do what she liked with, and expressed an interest in various +descriptions of poultry, the names of which he was entirely ignorant of. +The interview over, he returned to his book, and the lawyer went to look +for his civil acquaintance, Mr. Toner. Him he found on the bridge, and +in a somewhat sulky humour, apparently by no means pleased at being +sought out. Not wishing to intrude, Coristine made an excuse for his +appearance in the bits of board, which he professed to have forgotten to +take out of the dug-out. "That sort of lumber don't count for much in +these parts," remarked Ben, suspiciously, and his intending companion +retired, feeling that, though a limb of the law, he was a miserable +sham. + +While in the chamber which witnessed the dominie's transformation, the +lawyer had perceived that its window commanded the bridge and the +adjoining parts of the river. Leaving his friend in the enjoyment of his +book, he ascended to the room, and watched like a detective. Soon he saw +a waggon roll up to the bridge, and, almost simultaneously, a large punt +in which was Ben Toner, come from nowhere. Three bundles of apparent +grindstones were laboriously conveyed from the waggon to the punt, after +which the waggon went back and the punt went forward, both becoming lost +to sight in the foliage of road and river. Once more the bell of the +Maple Inn sounded loudly, to inform the general public that the hour of +six had arrived, and to summon guests to the early supper. Descending to +the sitting-room, the amateur detective found his friend there, and +escorted him, with much unnecessary formality, to the tea table. The +fish were there, betrayed, even afar off, by their not unpleasant odour, +and there also was an attractive looking ham, flanked by plates of hot +cakes and other evidences of culinary skill on Madame's part. She poured +out a good cup of tea for the table quartette, while Pierre aided in +distributing the solids. The conversation turned on fish, and, as +before, the dominie spoke French to the hostess, while M. Lajeunesse +made the lawyer acquainted with some piscatorial exploits of Mr. Bulky. +Mr. Bulky had once been upset from the canoe, but, unlike Mr. Wilkinson, +he could not swim. The case might have been a very serious one, +destructive to the reputation of L'Erable ("zatta ees maybole in ze +Fraynsh langwitch," the host explained) and of city visits to the Beaver +River. + +"How was he saved?" enquired the lawyer. + +"He vas save by potting 'is foot to ze bottom," replied the host. + +"I've heard of a man putting a stone on his head and walking through a +river under water, but haven't believed it yet," continued Coristine. + +"He had not necessity of a stone; 'is head was op; ze rivare vas not so +'igh zan ze jouldares of Meestare Bulky," answered Pierre quite +seriously. + +"Then he saved himself?" + +"No, sare, 'is foot save 'im; Meestare Bulky 'ave a veray 'eavy foot. +Eef 'is foot hadda been also leetle as ze foot of M'syae, Meestare Bulky +vould 'ave drown." + +Madame's sharp ears overheard this conversation while carrying on that +with Wilkinson, and broke in upon her erring spouse:-- + +"Teh twa, Pierre! c'n'est paw trop poli d'se moquer des pieds d'un bon +pawtron." + +"Mez, Angelique, mwa, me moquer, mwa? et de M'syae Bulky? Aw, ma bonne +Angelique, fi donc!" and M. Lajeunesse withdrew from the table, +overwhelmed with the mere suspicion of such foul treachery and base +ingratitude. + +Batiste had put out three wooden arm chairs, and a rocker for Madame, on +the verandah, whither the party of the tea table retired. Coristine +asked her permission to smoke, when it appeared that Pierre had been +waiting for a sign that either of his guests indulged in the weed. As +he also filled his pipe, he remarked to his fellow smoker that "Meestare +Bulky vare good shentleman, and rest 'ere longatimes, bot ze perfume of +ze 'bonne pipe,' same of ze cigawr makea 'im seek." + +"Does that interfere with your liberty to smoke?" Wilkinson asked. + +"Aw, preciselly; zen most I go to ze stebble and tekka ze younga guestes +zat smoke not in chombres _bouchees_, vat you call zat?" + +"Literally, it means corked," replied the dominie; "but I presume you +mean, with door and window closed, as it were, hermetically sealed." + +"Preciselly; ve 'ave ze vord in ze Fraynsh langwitch, _eremitique_, zat +ees as a religious oo leeves all alone, vis person zere bot 'imselluf. I +tekka ze guestes zat lofe not ze eremitique life to ze stebble, vare ve +smale ze stingy tawbawc of Bawtiste. M'syae parle Francea, meh peutehtre +ne conneh le tawbawc puant, en Anglah _stingy_, de Bawtiste. C'n'est +paws awgreable, M'syae. Aw, non, paw de tout, je vous asshere!" + +"That is very considerate of you," remarked the schoolmaster, +approvingly. "I wish all users of the narcotic were as mindful of the +comfort and health of their neighbours. Regard for the feelings of +others is perhaps the chief distinguishing mark of a gentleman." + +"Meestare Bulky ees a shentleman, bot he 'ave no sharitay for smokinga +men," replied Pierre, ruefully. + +"That's where the shoe pinches, not your feet, Wilks," said the lawyer, +with a laugh. "You could touch bottom, like Mr. Bulky, with these +gunboats, but on all your privileged classes. Why should Bulky bulk so +large in any place of entertainment as to send everybody else to a +stable? Catch me smoking with that old garlic-perfumed Batiste! How +about the garlic, and peppermint, and musk, and sauer-kraut, and all the +other smells. Any smells about Mr. Bulky, Pierre?" + +"Aw yehs; 'ees feeshing goat smale, aw, eet smale an' smale of som stoff +he call ass-afeetiter, ze feesh liike ze smale, bot I am not a feesh." + +"See that now, Wilks. This selfish pig of a Bulky, as Monsieur says, has +no charity. He drives clean, wholesome smoke out of the hotel, and +stinks the place up with as nasty a chemical mixture as disgusting +science ever invented. He reminds me of a Toronto professor of anatomy +who wouldn't allow the poor squeamish medicals to smoke in the +dissecting room, because, he said, one bad smell was better than two. If +I had my way with Bulky I'd smoke him blue in the face, if for nothing +but to drown his abominable assafoetida, the pig!" + +"Aw, non, M'syae," interrupted Pierre, to protect the idol of the Maple +Inn; "Meestare Bulky ees not a peeg, but assafeetiter is vorse zan a +peeg-stye. N'est ce paw, Angelique?" + +"I 'ave no vord to say of M'syae Bulky," replied Madame, taking up her +mending and entering the house. She was at once recalled to the verandah +by a juvenile voice that called "Mrs. Latchness!" The speaker soon +appeared in the person of a small boy, about twelve years old, who, +hatless, coatless, and shoeless, ran up from the river bank. "Vat you +vant vis me, Tommee?" asked Madame. "I come from Widder Toner's--Ben's +dyin', she says, and can't move a stir. She wants to know if they's +anybody here as knows anything about doctorin', and, she says, hurry +awful quick!" cried the breathless youngster. + +"I 'ear you spick of medical, M'syae Coristine; do you know it? Can you +'elp ze pauvre vidow?" asked Madam. + +"It's mighty little I know, Madame, but I'll go. Wait till I get my +flask," said the lawyer, going after his knapsack in the sitting room. +Returning, he handed it to the hostess with the request that she would +fill it with the best, and add any remedy she had in the house. Soon she +came out of the railed-off bar with a filled flask and a bottle of St. +Jacob's Oil. Pocketing them both, the lawyer said, "Come on, Tommy," +and, with his guide, set out for Widow Toner's. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Ben's Sudden Sickness--The Spurious Priest--Coristine as + Doctor--Saved by the Detective--Anxiety at the Maple--A Pleasant + Evening--Sunday Morning and Ben--The Lawyer Rides--Nash and the + Dominie Talk Theology on the Road--At the Talfourds--Miss Du + Plessis the Real--The False Meets Mr. Rawdon--Mr. Terry and + Wilkinson at the Kirk. + + +"What is the matter with Ben?" asked Coristine, as they single-filed +along the narrow path by the river. + +"He's tumbled down over some grindstones, and hurt himself, and fainted +right away," replied the youthful Tommy, pulling up handfuls of tall +grass and breaking an occasional twig from a bush as he stumbled along. + +"What are you to the Toners?" + +"I ain't nuthun' to the Toners." + +"How did you come to be their messenger, then?" + +"I was runnin' to the farm to tell the widder that the priest was +comin', when she come out cryin' and sent me off. Guess the priest's +there by now." + +"What priest is it you saw?" + +"I didn't see no priest. Old Mum Sullivan, she saw him, and sent and +told mother to tell widder Toner, 'cos she's a Roman, too. She said it +was a new priest, not Father McNaughton, the old one, and she guessed he +was all right, but she didn't like his looks as well as t'other's." + +"Then you are not a Roman." + +"Naw, what are you givin' us? I play a fife on the Twelfth." + +"Oh, you are an Orangeman?" + +"Yum, Young Briton, same thing." + +"So, you Orangemen run to help the Roman Catholics when they are sick or +want to know if the priest is coming, and then, on the Twelfth, you feel +like cutting each other's throats." + +"I don't want to cut nobody's throat, but we've got to sass 'em on the +Twelfth to keep up the glorious, pious and immortal memory, and to +whistle 'em down 'The Protestant Boys.' We've got three fifes and three +drums in our lodge." + +After more of this edifying conversation, the pair arrived at a clearing +on the river, containing a house and some out buildings, not far from +its bank. These communicated by a private road with the public one, +which crossed the stream about an eighth of a mile farther on. Turning +the corner of the barn, Coristine saw a gray-haired woman, and a clean +shaven man in clerical garb, leaning over the prostrate figure of Ben. + +"Are you a doctor, sir?" asked the tearful woman, rising and coming +towards him. + +"Not exactly, Ma'am," replied the lawyer; "but perhaps I may be of use." + +He then leaned over the sick man, and saw that he not only breathed, but +had his eyes open upon the world in quite a sensible way. "What is the +matter?" he asked the reverend gentleman, who was also contemplating the +recumbent Toner. + +"He says his back is sore, paralyzed, and that he can't move a limb," +replied the priest in an unprofessional tone. + +"How did it happen, Mr. Toner?" enquired the lawyer; and Ben, in a +feebly and husky voice, replied:-- + +"I was rollin' quite a loaud on the slaant, when I got ketched with a +back sprain, and the loaud slipped and knocked me down, and rolled over +my stummick. That's all." + +"Quite enough for one time," said Coristine; "is there such a thing as a +loose door, or some boards we can make into a stretcher, anywhere +about?" Ben called to his mother to show the doctor where the door was +that he was going to put on the hen-yard. This was soon found, and, a +blanket or two being laid upon it, the clergyman and the improvised +doctor transferred the groaning patient to it, and so carried him into +the house, where they undressed him and put him to bed on his face. +"Say, doctor, I'll choke like this," came from the bed in the sick man's +muffled voice, to the lawyer, who was ordering the widow to get some hot +water and provide herself with towels or cotton cloths. "No you won't, +Toner; turn your head to one side," he called. "That's better," remarked +the patient, as he took advantage of the permission, and then +continued: "I'd like ef you'd call me Ben, doctor, not Toner; seems as +ef I'd git better sooner that way." Coristine answered, "All right, +Ben," and withdrew to a corner with the priest for consultation. "What's +the matter?" asked the priest, in a businesslike, unsympathetic tone. + +"So, you give me back my question. Well, as the water will be some time +getting ready, and it will do our man no harm to feel serious for a few +minutes more, I'll go into it with your reverence homeopathically. The +root of his trouble is a whiskey back. That accidentally led to a +muscular strain, involving something a little more paralyzing than +lumbago. He has no bones broken in that strong frame of his, but the +grindstones have bruised him abdominally. I hope my treatment for the +root of the disease will be more successful than that of the oriental +physician, who prescribed for a man that had a pain in his stomach, +caused by eating burnt bread. The physician anointed him with eye salve, +because he said the root of the disease lay in his eyes; had they been +all right, he would not have eaten the burnt bread, and consequently +would not have had the pains." + +The priest chuckled beneath his breath over the story; then, with +earnestness, asked, or rather whispered: "Will he get well soon?" + +"Well enough, I think, to sit up in half-an-hour," replied the doctor of +the moment. + +"My dear sir, may I ask you to delay your treatment until I perform a +religious office with your patient? This is a favourable time for making +an impression," said the hitherto callous priest. + +"Certainly, Father, only be short, for he is suffering physically, and +worse from apprehension." + +"I shall require all persons, but the one to whom I give the comforts of +religion, to leave the room," called the priest aloud. + +"It isn't the unction, Father?" cried Ben, piteously. + +"Oh, doctor, the boy's not going to die?" besought the mother, at the +boiler on the stove. + +"I can answer for his reverence and myself," replied the lawyer; "he +will not administer the last rites of the Church to the living, nor will +I let my patient die." + +Then he and the widow retired, as the priest took out a book, knelt by +the bedside, and opened it. The reverend gentleman, however, was in too +great a hurry to begin, and too little sensible how far his penetrating +voice would carry, for, at the first words of the prayer, Coristine made +an indignant start and frowned terribly. The words he heard were, +"Oratio pro sickibus, in articulo mortis, repentant shouldere omnes +transgressores et confessionem makere----" + +He felt inclined to rush in and turn the impudent impostor and profaner +of the sacred office out of the house neck and crop, especially as the +poor mother took him by the arm, and, with broken voice through her +tears, said: "O, doctor, doctor, it's the last words he's taking!" But +his legal training acted as a check on his impetuosity, and, standing +where he was, he answered the grief-stricken woman: "Never fear, Mrs. +Toner, you and I will pull him through," which greatly comforted the +widow's heart. + +Five minutes passed by Coristine's watch, and then he determined to +stand the nonsense no longer. He coughed, stamped his feet, and finally +walked in at the door, followed by the widow. The pseudo priest was +sitting on a chair now, listening to the penitent's confidences. "Time +is up," said the lawyer fiercely, and the impostor arose, resumed his +three-cornered black wideawake, pocketed his book, which really was a +large pocket book full of notes in pencil, and expressed his regret at +leaving, as he had another family, a very sad case, to visit that night. +As he passed Coristine, the latter refused his proffered hand and hissed +in his ear: "You are the most damnable scoundrel I ever met, and I'll +serve you out for this with the penitentiary." The masquerader grinned +unclerically, his back being to the other occupants of the house, and +whispered back, "Not much you won't, no nor the halfpenny tentiary +either; bye-bye!" + +"How are you feeling, Ben?" the lawyer asked the sick man, as he +approached his bedside. + +"Powerful weak and so-er," replied the patient. + +Coristine called the mother, poured some St. Jacob's Oil into the palm +of her hand, and bade her rub down her son's back at the small. "Rub +hard!" he said; and she rubbed it in. Three or four more doses followed, +till the back was a fine healthy colour. + +"How does that work, Ben?" + +"It smarts some, but I can wriggle my back a bit." + +Then the doctor poured some whiskey out of his flask in the same way and +it was applied. + +"Do you think you can turn round now?" he asked; and, at once, the +patient revolved, lying in a more convenient and seemly position. + +"Bring the hot clothes, Mrs. Toner, and lay them on the bruised part, as +hot as he can stand it. The patient growled a little when the clothes +were abdominally applied, one after the other, but they warmed him up, +and even, as he said, 'haylped his back.'" + +"Now, Ben, when did you take whiskey last?" + +"I ain't had nary a drop the hull of this blessed day." + +"Is that true?" + +"Gawspel truth, doctor, so haylp me." + +"If you don't promise me to quit drinking, I can do nothing for you." + +"But he will promise, doctor; won't you now, Benny dear?" eagerly asked +the mother. + +"Yaas!" groaned the sufferer, with a new hot cloth on him; "yaas; I +guess I'll have to." + +Then, the perfidious doctor emptied his flask into a glass, and poured +in enough oil to disguise its taste. Adding a little water, he gave the +dose as medicine to the unconscious victim, who took it off manfully, +and naturally felt almost himself again. + +"Have you plenty coal-oil in the house, Mrs. Toner?" enquired the family +physician; and the widow replied that she had. "Rub the afflicted parts +with it, till they will absorb no more; then let him sleep till morning, +when he can get up and go about light work. But, mind, there's to be no +lifting of heavy weights for three days, and no whiskey at all." + +With these words, Coristine received the woman's warm expressions of +gratitude, and departed. + +Tommy had gone, so the lawyer had to go back to the Inn alone, and in +the dark. He turned the barn, before which one bundle of grindstones +still lay, the one, apparently, that had floored Ben. Then he made his +way along a path bordered with dewy grass, that did not seem quite +familiar, so that he rejoiced when he arrived at the road and the +bridge. But, both road and bridge were new to him, and there was no +Maple Inn. He now saw that he had taken the wrong turning at the barn, +and was preparing to retrace his steps, when a sound of approaching +wheels and loud voices arrested him. On came the waggons, three in +number, the horses urged to their utmost by drunken drivers, in whom he +recognized the men that he and Wilkinson had met before they took the +road to the Inn. Coristine was standing on the road close by the bridge +as they drove up, but, as the man with the first team aimed a blow at +him with his whip, he drew back towards the fence. "Shoot the d----d +spy, boys," the ruffian cried to the fellows behind him, and, as they +slacked their speed, the lawyer jumped the fence to put some solid +obstacle between himself and their revolvers, which, he knew, they were +only too ready to use. At that moment a horseman rode towards the party +from the other side of the bridge, and, while aiming a blow with a stout +stick at the first scoundrel, a blow that was effectual, called to the +others, in a voice of authority, to put up their pistols "O Lord, boys, +it's Nash; drive on," called one, and they whipped up their patient +animals and rattled away in a desperate hurry. "You can come out now, +Mr. Coristine," said the horseman; "the coast is clear." + +"You have the advantage of me, sir," remarked the lawyer, as he vaulted +back again into the road. + +"No I have not," replied the other; "you called me a damnable scoundrel, +and threatened me with the penitentiary, a little while ago. How's +Toner?" + +"I am obliged for your interference just now on my behalf, but must +decline any intercourse with one who has been guilty of what I regard as +most dishonourable conduct, profaning the sacred name of religion in +order to compass some imfamous private end." + +"My ends, Mr. Coristine, are public, not private, nor are they infamous, +but for the good of the community and the individuals composing it. I +know your firm, Tylor, Woodruff and White, and your firm knows me, +Internal Revenue Detective Nash." + +"What! are you the celebrated Mr. Nash of the Penetang Bush Raid?" asked +the lawyer, curiosity, and admiration of the man's skill and courage, +overcoming his aversion to the latest detective trick. + +"The same at your service, and, as the best thing I can do for you is +to take you to your Inn, a dry way out of the dew, you can get on my +beast, and I'll walk for a rest," replied the detective, alighting. + +Coristine was tired, so, after a little pressing, he accepted the mount, +and, of course, found it impossible to refuse his confidence to the man +whose horse he was riding. + +"What did you do with your clerical garb?" he asked. + +"Have it on," replied Nash; "it's a great make up. This coat of black +cord has a lot of turned up and turned down tag ends, the same with the +vest, and the soft hat can be knocked into any shape with a dift of the +fist. With these, and three collars, and moustache, beard, and whiskers, +that I carry in my pocket, I can assume half-a-dozen characters and +more." + +"How do you justify your assumption of the priestly character?" + +"I want information, and assume any character to get it, in every case +being guilty of deception. You think my last role unjustifiable because +of the confessional. Had I simulated a Methodist parson, or a +Presbyterian minister, or a Church of England divine, you would have +thought much less of it; and yet, if there is any bad in the thing, the +one is as bad as the other. Personally, I regard the confessional as a +piece of superstitious ecclesiastical machinery, and am ready to utilize +it, like any other superstition, for the purpose of obtaining +information. Talk about personating the clergy; I have even been bold +enough to appear as a lawyer, a quaker, a college professor, a sailor, +and an actress." + +"You have certainly led me to modify my opinion of your last +performance." + +"Which nearly gave me away. So you won't send me to the penitentiary; +thanks! And now, as I said at first, how's Toner?" + +"Oh, Toner's all right, with the fieriest skin on him that ever lay +between two sheets. He has promised to give up drinking." + +"It's very likely he'll have to." + +"Why so?" + +"They don't allow refreshments so strong in gaol." + +"Be as easy as you can with the poor fellow, Mr. Nash." + +"All depends on his future behaviour, and, in some other capacity, I +shall let him know his danger." + +As the two figures came down the road toward the Inn, a voice hailed +them, the voice of the dominie. "Is Mr. Coristine there?" it shouted. + +"Yes; here am I," came from the back of the horse. + +"What bones are broken or wounds received?" was the pitiful but correct +question. + +"Not a bone nor a wound. Mr. Nash has treated me to a ride." + +"Aw ca!" ejaculated Pierre, "M'syae Nasha homme treh subtil, treh ruse, +conneh tout le monde, fait pear aux mauveh sujah." + +"What is he?" asked the schoolmaster, speaking English, in his +eagerness; and the landlord replied in the same. + +"Ee is vat you call detecteur, police offisare vis no close on 'im. +Anysing vas to go in ze custom house and goes not, he find it out. O, a +veray clevaire mann!" + +Coristine dismounted for the purpose of introducing his companion. +Personally, he would as readily have performed this office on horseback, +but he knew that the schoolmaster was a stickler for ceremony. While the +introduction was going on, Pierre took Mr. Nash's horse by the bridle, +and led the procession home. There, Madame stood in the porch eagerly +waiting for news of "ce jeune homme si courageux, si benveillont," and +was delighted to hear that he was safe, and that Mr. Nash, an old +acquaintance, was with him. When the party entered the house, Wilkinson +looked at the detective, and then, with a start, said: "Why, you are +Dowling, the Dowling who came to the Sacheverell Street School, with a +peremptory letter from the trustees, to take the lower division boys, +and disappeared in ten days." + +"The same, Mr. Wilkinson; I knew you as soon as I heard your voice." + +"You disarranged our work pretty well for us, Mr. Dow--Nash. What were +you after there, if it is a fair question?" + +"I was after the confidence of some innocent youngsters, who could give +me pointers on grindstones and their relation to the family income. As I +know you both, and our friends of the hotel are not listening, I may say +that I am so interested in this problem as to have made up my mind to go +into grindstones myself." + +These remarks led to an animated triangular conversation over the +Grinstun man, in which the two pedestrians gave the detective all the +information they possessed regarding that personage. They urged that an +immediate effort should be made to hinder his acquiring the hand and +property of Miss Du Plessis, and, thereafter, that united action should +be taken to break up his injurious commerce. Mr. Nash prepared to +accompany them on their walk to church in Flanders, and asked the lawyer +if he had any objection to ride his horse part of the way, with a bundle +behind him, if he, the detective, would carry his knapsack. Coristine +consented, on condition that his new friend would also lend him his +riding gaiters. Madame produced the wherewithal to spend a social +half-hour before retiring, and, in answer to the detective, said: "Ze +sack ees in ze commode in ze chombre of M'syae." Mr. Nash laughed, and +over his glass and clay pipe, confided to his fellow-conspirators that +he had a few little properties in that bag, and was much afraid that +some of them would compel him to desecrate the Sabbath. "You are used to +my religious performances, Mr Coristine; I hope your friend, and my old +principal, Mr. Wilkinson, will not be as hard on me as you were." + +Then the dominie was informed of the events of the evening, and the +parties separated for the night. + +Sunday morning dawned clear and cloudless, giving promise of a glorious +day. Everybody in the inn was up before six o'clock; for at seven it was +the intention of the three guests to take the road for a place of +worship in Flanders. Ben Toner was waiting on the verandah for the +appearance of Coristine; and, when that gentleman came out to taste the +morning air, greeted him with clumsy effusion, endeavouring, at the same +time, to press a two-dollar bill upon his acceptance. The lawyer +declined the money, saying that he had no license to practise, and +would, consequently, be liable to a heavy fine should he receive +remuneration for his services. He enquired after Ben's health, and was +pleased to learn that, while his heroic remedies had left the patient +"as rayd as a biled lobister," externally, he was otherwise all right, +except for a little stiffness. Mr. Nash came down-stairs, dressed in a +well-fitting suit of tweed, and sporting a moustache and full beard that +had grown up as rapidly as Jonah's gourd. Going up to the man whom he +had confessed the night before, he asked him: "Do you know me again, +Toner?" to which Ben replied: "You bet your life I do; you're the curous +coon as come smellin' round my place with a sayrch warnt two weeks ago +Friday." Satisfied that his identity in Ben's eye was safe, the +detective led him away on to the bridge, and engaged in earnest +conversation with him, which made Mr. Toner start, and wriggle, and back +down, and impart information confirmatory of that extorted the night +before, and give large promises for the future. The two returned to the +verandah, and, before the lawyer went in to breakfast, his patient bade +him an affectionate farewell, adding, "s'haylp me, Mr. Corstine, ef I +don't be true to my word to you and the old woman about that blamed +liquor. What I had I turned out o' doors this mornin', fust thing, and I +shaant take in no more. That there bailiff's done me a good turn, and I +won't ferget him, nor you nuther, Doctor, ef so be it's in my power to +haylp you any." Coristine took his leave of the simple-hearted fellow, +and went to join the company at the breakfast table. Mr. Nash was there, +but, for convenience of eating and not to astonish the host and hostess, +he had placed his beard and moustache in his pocket. It was handy, +however, and could be replaced at a moment's warning. + +Batiste brought round the detective's horse, and the lawyer, in borrowed +riding gaiters, bestrode him, hooking on to the back of the saddle a +bundle somewhat larger than a cavalry man's rolled-up cloak. The bundle +contained Mr. Nash's selected properties. That gentleman allowed Madame +to fasten the straps of Coristine's knapsack on his shoulders, while +Pierre did the same for Wilkinson. The dominie had paid the bill the +night before, as he objected to commercial transactions on Sunday, so +there was nothing to do but to say good bye, bestow a trifle on Batiste +and take to the road. The detective, after they had done half a mile's +pleasant walking, took command of the expedition, and ordered The +Cavalry, as Coristine called himself, to trot forward and make a +reconnoisance. His instructions were to get to the Carruthers' house in +advance of the pedestrians, to find out exactly who were there, and to +return with speed and report at headquarters, which would be somewhere +on the road. Saluting his friend and his superior officer, the lawyer +trotted off, his steed as well pleased as himself to travel more +speedily through the balmy atmosphere of the morning. The dominie and +his quondam assistant were thus left to pursue their journey in company. + +"Do you enjoy Wordsworth, Mr. Nash?" asked Wilkinson. + +"Oh yes," replied the detective, "the poet, you mean, We are seven, and +the primrose by the river's brim. Queer old file in the stamp business +he must have been. Wish I could make $2,500 a year like him, doing next +to nothing." + +"There is a passage that seems to my mind appropriate. It is:-- + + Us humbler ceremonies now await; + But in the bosom with devout respect, + The banner of our joy we will erect, + And strength of love our souls shall elevate; + For, to a few collected in His name. + The heavenly Father will incline His ear. + Hallowing Himself the service which they frame. + Awake! the majesty of God revere! + Go--and with foreheads meekly bow'd, + Present your prayer: go--and rejoice aloud-- + The Holy One will hear!" + +"You should have been a parson, Mr. Wilkinson; you do that well. I'd +like to take lessons from you; it would help me tremendously in my +profession. But I find it mighty hard to do the solemn. That time in +your school was almost too much for me, and your friend twigged my +make-up last night." + +"I find it hard," said the schoolmaster, "not to be solemn in such +scenery as this on such a morning. All nature seems to worship, giving +forth in scent and song its tribute of adoration to the Creator, to +whose habitation made with hands we are on our way as worshippers." + +"'Fraid I shan't do much worshipping, church or no church. You see, Mr. +Wilkinson, my business is a very absorbing one. I'll be looking for +notes, and spotting my men, and working up my clues all the time the +parson's bumming away." + +"Ah, you have read Tennyson's 'Northern Farmer'?" + +"Never heard tell of it; but I've got my eyes on some northern farmers, +and they'll have my attention soon." + +"Your expression, 'bumming away,' occurs in it, so I thought you had +found it there. It is rather a severe way in which to characterize the +modern preacher, who, take him on the whole, deserves credit for what I +regard as a difficult task, the presentation of some fresh subject of +religious thought every Sunday all the year round." + +"My mind works too fast for most of them. I can see where the conclusion +is before they have half got started. There's no fun in that, you know." + +"Do you not sometimes meet with clergymen that interest you?" + +"Now and then. The learned bloke who cuts his text into three, and +expounds them in detail, I can't stand; nor the wooden logical machine +that makes a proposition and proceeds to prove it; nor the unctuous +fellow that rambles about, and says, 'dear friends,' and makes you wish +he had studied his sermon. But, now and then, I fall in with a man who +won't let me do any private thinking till he's done. You hear his text +and his introduction, and wonder, how the dickens he is going to +reconcile the two. He carries you on and on and on, till he does it in a +grand whirl at the end, that lifts you up and away with it, like the +culminating arguments of the counsel for the prosecution, or the +peeler's joyful run in of a long-sought gaol-bird. I like that sort of a +parson; the rest are jackdaws." + +"Perhaps they suit the average mind?" + +"If they did, we ought to have graded churches as well as graded +schools. But they don't, except, in this way, that people have got +accustomed to the bumming. The preachers I like would keep up the +interest of a child. There was one I heard on the text, 'I form the +light and create darkness.' His introduction was, 'God is light and in +Him is no darkness at all.' He jerked us up into the light and banged +us down into the darkness, almost laughing one minute and crying the +next. Then he went to hunt up his man, and found him in the devil and +the devil's own, all fallen creations of God. Any schoolboy could follow +that sermon and take its lessons home with him. There was a logical +bloke, at least he thought himself logical, who took for his text +Joseph's coat of many colours, a sort of plaid kilt I should think; and +said, 'I shall now proceed to prove that this was a sacerdotal or +priestly garment. First, it occupies a prominent position in the +narrative; second, it excited the enmity of Joseph's brethren; and +third, they dipped it in blood when they sold their younger brother.' I +could have proved it as logically to be Stuart tartan, and, at the same +time, the original of the song 'Not for Joe,' because he lost it before +he became steward to Pharaoh. Bah! that's what makes people sick of +going to church. I've pretty nigh quit it." + +The pedestrians trudged on for a time silently, the detective, +doubtless, revolving schemes in his brain, the dominie inwardly sighing +over his companion's captious criticism, to which he could not well +reply, and over the absence of his legal friend, whose warm Irish heart +would have responded sympathetically to the inspiration of the Sabbath +morning walk. At last, Mr. Nash resumed the conversation, saying:-- + +"I'm afraid, Mr. Wilkinson, that you think me a pretty hard-hearted, +worldly man, and, perhaps, that my calling makes me so." + +"I have no right to judge you, Mr. Nash," answered the schoolmaster; +"but I should think that the work of hunting down law-breakers would +have the effect of deadening one's sensibilities." + +"It shouldn't, any more than the work of a clergyman, a doctor, a +teacher, or a lawyer. We all, if we are honest, want to benefit society +by correcting evils. I see a lot of the dark side of human nature, but a +little of the bright too, for, thank Heaven, there is no man so bad as +not to have some little good in him. There's that Toner, once a fine +young fellow; I hate to see him going to the dogs, wasting his property, +breaking his old mother's heart. I'd rather save that man any day than +gaol him." + +"Give me your hand, sir," said the dominie, heartily, transferring his +staff to his left, and offering the right; "I honour you for the saying, +and wish there were more officers of the law like you." + +"Oh, as for that matter," replied the detective, "I and my colleagues +have tried to save many a young fellow, but then--" + +"What is the obstacle?" + +"The obstacle is that there are men who simply won't be saved." + +"Oh, I suppose that is true theologically as well as legally." + +"Of course; if the law don't want to have a lot of criminals to hunt out +and shut up and punish, it stands to reason that the Source of all law +doesn't. But, for the good of society and the world, these criminals +have to be separated from them, and their bad work stopped. To say that +the law hates them, and takes vengeance on them like a Corsican, is +utterly to misunderstand the nature of law. Yet, that is what +nine-tenths of the parsons teach." + +"That is very unfortunate." + +"Unfortunate? it's diabolical. If I were to go into a good man's house, +and present his children with a hideous caricature of their father, so +as to terrify some and drive others clean away from him, wouldn't I +deserve to be kicked out? I should think so! Now, I say every good thing +in man must be found a million times better in man's Maker. If the +foundation principle of human law is benevolence to society, the +foundation principle of divine law must be something higher and better, +not revenge. But you know these things better than I do." + +"Not at all; I could not express myself better. What you have found out +is stated by Dr. Whewell, the famous Master of Trinity, in the Platonic +form, that every good thing in man and in the world has its archetype in +the Divine Mind. Every bad thing, such as revenge and anger, has no such +archetype, but is a falling away, a deflection, from the good." + +"How do you explain the imputation of bad things to God, such as hate, +revenge, terrorism, disease, death, beasts of prey, and all the rest?" + +"In two ways; first, as a heathen survival in Christianity, borrowed +partly from pagan national religions, partly from the misunderstood +phraseology of the Old Testament; and, second, as the necessary result +of a well-meant attempt to escape from Persian and Manichaean dualism." + +"But there is a dualism in law, in morals, in nature, and in human +nature, everywhere in this world; there's no getting over it." + +"Of course there is, but the difference between the dualism of fact and +that of the Persian system is, that the evil is not equal, but inferior +and subordinate, to the good." + +"It gets the upper hand pretty often, as far as this world is +concerned." + +"And why? Just for the same reason that bad governments and corrupt +parties often get the upper hand, namely, by the vote of the majority, +through which the minority has to suffer. Talk about vicarious +suffering! Every good man suffers vicariously." + +"These are deep things, Mr. Wilkinson, too deep for the average parson, +who doesn't trouble himself much with facts unless he find them +confirmed by his antiquated articles." + +"Yet my attention has been drawn to them by thoughtful clergymen of +different denominations." + +"Well, I don't think I'll trouble the clergymen to-day, thoughtful or +not thoughtful. I've had my sermon in the open air, a sort of walking +camp meeting. What did they call these fellows who studied on the move?" + +"Peripatetics." + +"That's it; we're a peripatetic church." + +"But, without praise or prayer or scripture lessons, which are more +important than the sermon." + +"Oh, you can do the praise and prayer part in a quiet way, as a piece of +poetry says that I learnt when I was a boy. It ends something like +this:-- + + So we lift our trusting eyes + To the hills our fathers trod, + To the quiet of the skies, + And the Sabbath of our God. + +That's pretty, now! Hallo! here's the doctor!" + +Coristine came up at the gallop, and reported that all the people he +expected to find at the Carruthers' were there, Grinstun man, Mrs. +Carmichael, and Marjorie, included, all except Miss Du Plessis, who was +staying at a house three miles this side of the farm, helping to nurse a +sick neighbour. + +"Has Rawdon seen her?" asked the detective. The lawyer did not know, but +suggested that they could find out by calling at the house of Mrs. +Talfourd, the sick woman, on the way. + +"How far are we from it?" enquired Mr. Nash. + +"About a mile or a mile and a-half," replied Coristine. + +"Then, Mr. Wilkinson, let us stir our stumps a bit. Can you sing or +whistle? There's nothing like a good tune to help a quick march." + +"Yes; sing up, Wilks," cried The Cavalry; and the dominie started +"Onward, Christian Soldiers," in which the others joined, the detective +in a soft falsetto, indistinguishable from a half-cultivated woman's +voice. He was combining business with pleasure, dissimulation with +outward praise. + +"Pretty good that for a blooming young lady of five foot ten," remarked +Mr. Nash, at the end of the hymn. + +"Blooming young ladies with a tonsure," replied Coristine, gazing on the +detective's momentarily uncovered head, "are open to suspicion." + +"Wait till you see my hair." chuckled the ex-priest. + +The mile and a-half was soon covered, and the trio stood before a roomy +farm-house. A boy, not unlike Tommy, but better dressed, was swinging on +the gate, and him the detective asked if he could see Miss Du Plessis on +important business. The boy ran into the house to enquire, and came back +to the gate, accompanied by the lady in question. She changed colour as +her eye took in The Cavalry, immovable as a life guardsman on sentry. +The detective handed her his professional card, and explained that he +and his two friends had been entrusted with the duty of protecting her +property and herself. "You need have no doubts, Miss Du Plessis, for the +Squire, as a J.P., knows me perfectly," he continued. + +"I have no fear, Mr. Nash," answered the lady, in a pleasant voice, with +just a suspicion of a foreign accent; "your name is known to me, and you +are in good company." + +Wilkinson, standing by his friend's stirrup, heard this last statement, +and blushed, while The Cavalry thought he had heard a voice like that +before. + +"Has Mr. Rawdon seen you, or have you seen him?" asked the detective. + +"Neither; but the two Marjories have been here, and have told me about +him. They do not seem to admire Mr. Rawdon." + +"The darlins!" ejaculated the lawyer; whereupon Wilkinson pinched his +leg, and made him cry "Owch!" + +The rest of the conversation between the plotters at the gate was +inaudible. At its conclusion, the lady's face was beaming with +amusement. + +"Give me that bundle for Miss Du Plessis," said Nash to Coristine, who +lifted his hat to her, and handed the parcel over. + +"Now, for instructions," continued the commander-in-chief. "The Cavalry +will go to Bridesdale, that's Squire Carruthers' place, and keep Mr. +Rawdon from going to church, or bring him back if he has started, which +isn't likely. This branch of the Service will also make sure that all +children are out of the way somewhere, and inform older people, who may +be about, that Miss Du Plessis is coming to the house during church +time, and is very much altered by night-watching and sick-nursing, so +that they need not express astonishment before Mr. Rawdon. Fasten these +knapsacks about you somehow, Horse-Doctor; put the beast up where he'll +get a drink and a feed; and go to church like a good Christian. The +Infantry will halt for the present, and afterwards act as Miss Du +Plessis' escort. Infantry, attention! Cavalry, form threes, trot!" + +Coristine took the knapsacks, made another bow, and trotted away, while +the dominie walked up to the gate, and was introduced to the fair +conspirator. + +After showing the detective and his bundle into an unoccupied apartment, +Miss Du Plessis returned to the sitting-room where she left the dominie. +In the few minutes at their disposal, he informed his new acquaintance +of his chance-meeting with her uncle, of whose arrival in Canada she was +in complete ignorance. The imparting and receiving this news established +such a bond between the two as the schoolmaster had hitherto thought +impossible should exist between himself and one of the weaker sex. Yet, +in her brief absence, he had taken pains to dust himself, and shake up +his hair and whiskers. His companion was preparing to tell how she had +heard of him from Miss Carmichael, when another young lady, almost her +counterpart in general appearance, entered the room. + +"Now," said the newcomer, in a deep but feminine voice, "now the false +Miss Du Plessis will go on with her nursing, while the real one takes +Mr. Wilkinson's arm and keeps her appointment at the Squire's." + +Miss Du Plessis clapped her hands together and laughed heartily. +Wilkinson, thinking, all the time, what a pretty, musical laugh it was, +could not help joining in the amusement, for Nash was complete from his +wig down to his boots. The colonel's niece threw a light, woolly shawl +over the detective's shoulders, and accompanied the pair to the gate, +where, before dismissing them, she warned her double not to compromise +her to Mr. Rawdon. + +"I hope soon to have the pleasure of meeting you, Mr. Wilkinson, under +more favourable circumstances," she called after that gentleman, as they +moved off, and then ran into the house to hide her laughter. + +The dominie felt his face getting red, with a pretty young lady hoping +to meet him again, on the one hand, and a not by any means ill-looking +personation of one hanging on to his arm, on the other. After a minute, +the detective withdrew his hand from his companion's arm, but continued +to practise his assumed voice upon him, in every imaginable enquiry as +to what he knew of Miss Du Plessis, of her friend Miss Carmichael, and +of the working geologist's intentions. He was thus pretty well primed, +and all promised well, till, within a quarter of a mile of the house, a +vision appeared that filled him and the disguised Nash, to whom he +communicated his fears, with grave apprehensions as to the success of +the plot. It was no less a person than the veteran, Mr. Michael Terry, +out for a Sunday walk with the Grinston man. Their dread increased as +the old man came running forward, crying: "An' it's comin' back yez are, +my darlin' Mish Ceshile. It's a throifle pale yer lookin', an' no +wonder." Saying this, Michael shook hands with Nash, and whispered: +"Niver fare, sorr, Mishter Coristine towld me all about it." + +The made-up lady introduced her father's old servant to Wilkinson, +whose apprehensions were dispelled in a similar way, so that all were +prepared to give Mr. Rawdon the reception intended. + +"Ullo, hold Favosites Wilkinsonia," cried the working geologist, +swaggering up with a cigar in his mouth, "'ow's yer bloomin' 'ealth? +That hold bloke of a Hirish haint in a 'urry to do the hamiable between +'is hold guvner's gal an' yours truly. My name, Miss, is Rawdon, +Haltamont Rawdon, workin' geologist and minerologist, and, between you +and me and the bedpost, a pretty warm man." + +"Yes; Mr. Rawdon," replied the pseudo Miss Du Plessis, "you look--well, +not pretty--but warm." + +"O, dash it hall, that haint wot I meant, Miss Do Please-us; I mean hi'm +a man that's got the dibs, the rhino, the blunt, you know, wot makes the +mare go. I don't go geologizin' round for nothin'." + +"You pick up stones, I suppose?" + +"Yes; grinstuns, limestun grit, that's the stuff to make you jolly." + +"I have heard of drawing blood out of a stone, Mr. Rawdon, but never of +extracting merriment or exhilaration from a grindstone." + +"Then you don't know my grinstuns, Miss; they're full o' fun." + +"Are they indeed? How amusing! In what way does the fun display itself?" + +"A bundle of my grinstuns, distributed at a loggin' bee, a raisin' bee, +or a campaign caucus, ware there's a lot of haxes to grind, can make +more fun than the Scott Act'll spile in a month. But silence is silence +'twixt partners, which I opes you and me is to be." + +The fictitious Miss Du Plessis, with much simpering and affectation, +quite unworthy of the original, drew the working geologist out, and +inspired him with hopes of securing her hand and property. Mr. Rawdon +spoke very freely of the wealth he had in the hand and in the bush, of +his readiness to make allowance for Madame Du Plessis, if that "haffable +hold gent," her brother in law, was not prepared to provide for her. +When they reached the house, they found that no one was at home but +Tryphena, who was confined to the kitchen by culinary duties. They, +therefore, occupied the parlour, the Grinstun man seeing no impropriety +in being there alone with a young lady whom he had met for the first +time. Indeed, he was much gratified to find that the lady was not at all +stiff and offish, as he had feared, but as "haffable as her huncle and +more." The lady laughed, and blushed at loud compliments, as loud as the +check of Mr. Rawdon's clothes, and asked flattering questions, which he +answered with a jolliky and recklessness that almost astonished himself. +Was there no romance, no spice of daring in his occupation? she had +asked, and he, remembering that he was talking to a soldier's daughter, +who would, doubtless, appreciate courage, replied enigmatically that the +grinstun business was about the riskiest business on earth, and required +'eroism of no hordinary kind. + +While this conversation was going on, the dominie and the veteran were +walking churchward, for, as the former had signified his intention of +going to a place of worship, the old man insisted on accompanying him. + +"Oi was born a Catholic, sorr, and a Catholic Oi'll doie, though my +darter is a Pratestant, and what's more, a Prosbytarian. She rades her +Boible an' Oi rade moine, an' there's sorra a bit av differance betwane +thim. If the church is good enough for her, it's good enough for the +loikes av me." + +"That is what I call being a Catholic in the truest sense of the term. +We will not deprive people of the kingdom of Heaven because they refuse +to go our way." + +"Till me now, sorr, what's that that's pertindin' to be my dear young +misthress, Miss Ceshile?" + +"An old soldier knows how to keep a secret, I am sure. It is the famous +detective, Mr. Nash." + +"Sure I hope, by my sowl, that he'll make the crathur gnash his tayth. +It was all I could do to kape my hands aff him, as we were walkin' along +to mate yez. Him to make up to the cornel's darter, the misherable, +insignifikint, bad shpokin, thavin' scrap av impidence!" + +The church bell had ceased ringing, the horses and waggons were in the +driving shed without any attendant, and, as the pair approached, they +could hear the sound of hearty singing coming through the open windows. +They entered together, the old man crossing himself as he did so, and +sat down in a pew near the door. The schoolmaster saw that the church +was that of Mr. Errol, who occupied the pulpit. He looked round, but +could not see his friend Coristine; nor was little Marjorie anywhere +visible. They must have strolled on farther to Mr. Perrowne's +consecrated edifice for the sake of the walk. Then, with reverent mind, +the dominie joined in the simple worship of the Kirk. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + The Services--Nash Routs Rawdon--The Dinner Talk--The Pedestrians + with the Ladies--Singing out of One Hymn-book--Grinstuns Again--The + Female Vagrant and the Idiot Boy--Little Marjorie--Nash's + Thoughts--The Captain and the Plot--Arrival of Rufus and Ben--To + Arms! + + +Mr. Errol's sermon was on the text, "Lord, I knew thee, that thou art an +hard man." He elaborated the unfaithful servant's harsh opinion of God, +and, before he sat down, completely exonerated the Father in Heaven from +the blasphemous judgment of those who call themselves His children. +There is a thief in the world who comes to steal and kill and destroy; +he is not God, but the enemy of God's children. The dominie's heart +warmed to the man who, though of a different communion, fulfilled St. +Paul's ideal of a clergyman, in that he arrogated no dominion over the +people's faith, but was a helper of their joy. The sermon lifted the +schoolmaster up, and brought God very near; and the hearty hymns and +reverent prayers helped him greatly. When the service was over, he +waited, and soon Carruthers presented his comely, matronly wife, while +Mrs. Carmichael recalled herself to his remembrance; and, finally, the +minister, having divested himself of gown and bands in the vestry, came +down the aisle with cheery step and voice to bid him welcome to +Flanders. Wilkinson was happy--happier than he had been for many a long +year. He seemed to have so many friends, and they were all so cordial, +so glad to see him--not a hard man or woman among them; and, therefore, +God could not be hard. He walked with the minister, who was going to +dine at Bridesdale and then ride five miles to preach at another +station. He thanked him for his sermon, and talked over it with him, +and, of course, quoted "The Excursion":-- + + If the heart + Could be inspected to its inmost folds, + By sight undazzled with the glare of praise, + Who shall be named--in the resplendent line + Of sages, martyrs, confessors--the man + Whom the best might of conscience, truth and hope, + For one day's little compass, has preserved + From painful and discreditable shocks + Of contradiction from some vague desire + Culpably cherished, or corrupt relapse + To some unsanctioned fear. + +"That's just all the trouble, Mr. Wilkinson," said the delighted +minister. "People think to honour and glorify God by being afraid of +Him, forgetting that perfect love casts out the fear that hath torment, +and he that feareth is not made perfect in love." + +With such conversation they beguiled the way till they stood at the gate +of Bridesdale, and entered the hospitable mansion, there to be received +by the odious Grinstun man. + +"What in aa' the warld, Marjorie, did Susan mean, sending us yon +godless, low-lived chairact o' a Rawdon?" asked the Squire of his +sister, Mrs. Carmichael. + +"I cannot understand it, John," she answered; "for her own Marjorie +fairly detests the little man. Perhaps it is some business affair with +the Captain." + +"Aweel, aweel, we maun keep the peace, sin' I'm a judge o't; but I do +not like thee, Dr. Fell." + +Then they all entered the house together. Wilkinson found the spurious +Miss Du Plessis gone. + +The dominie saw that the working geologist was boring Mrs. Carmichael, +after her return to the drawing-room from laying aside her walking +attire, and valorously interposed to save her. He enquired for her +niece, Marjorie, and learned that that young lady had annexed Coristine +as her lawful prey, and, introducing him to her grown-up cousin, had +arranged the triangular journey to Mr. Perrowne's church. The service +there was longer than in the kirk, so that half an hour would probably +elapse before the two Anglican perverts appeared with their captive, the +lawyer. Before the absentees made their appearance, a man--dressed in +Mr. Nash's clothes, but with the beard and moustache recognized by Ben +Toner as those of the bailiff--was ushered in and greeted by the Squire +as Mr. Chisholm. The rest of the company seemed to know the transformed +detective, including the Grinstun man, whom he rallied on his attentions +to a young lady. + +"You're a nice man, Rawdon, when every decent person has gone to church, +gallivanting with young ladies. I saw you at the Talfourds." + +"Don't care a 'ang if you did," replied Rawdon, "if Miss Do Pleas us +takes a shine to a warm man, and gives you 'and-to-mouth beggars the +go-by, that honly shows 'er common sense." + +"What has Miss Du Plessis got to do with it?" + +"She's got this to do with it, that she's promised to be my missus +before the week's hout." + +"When?" + +"Wy, this mornin'; 'ere in this blessed room." + +"Oh, come, Rawdon, you are joking. Miss Du Plessis hasn't been out of +Mrs. Talfourd's to-day." + +"Don't you try none of your larks hon me, Mr. Chisholm. You can't take a +rise hout of this kid, hinnercent has he looks." + +"But, I tell you she has not. Who do you think that girl was you brought +home Talfourd's place?" + +"Wy, Miss Do Please us, of course; 'oo else could it be?" + +Mr. Chisholm laughed loud and long, and at last ejaculated: "Miss Du +Plessis! Oh, but you're a green hand, Rawdon, to take Martha Baggs for +her; the daughter of old Baggs, in the revenue service. Hope you didn't +give your friends away, Rawdon?" + +"You think you're pretty clever, Mr. Chisholm, comin' hover me with your +Marther Baggses. Hold Hirish knows Miss Do Please-us, I should say, and +wouldn't go takin' no Marther Baggs for 'er." + +"Mr. Rawdon," interposed the Squire, "I'll thank you to speak more +respectfully of my father-in-law; as good a man, I judge, as yourself." + +"No hoffence, Squire; but I wish you'd hask the hold gent to come 'ere +and shut up this 'ere bailiff's mouth with 'is Marther Baggs." + +Mr. Terry, who preferred the society of the kitchen to that of the +parlour, was produced, and, on being asked if the lady with Mr. Rawdon +was Miss Du Plessis, answered that his "sight was gettin' bad, an' the +sinse av hairin' too, an' if it wor Miss Jewplesshy, she had changed her +vice intoirely, an' got to be cruel rough an' common in her ways. Av +coorse, it moight have been the young misthress; but Talfer's was nigh +to han', an' it was aisy axin'." + +A horrible suspicion came over the Grinstun man, and paled his rubicund +visage. He darted up to his room, and speedily re-appeared with knapsack +on back and staff in hand, ready for the road. Mr. Carruthers pressed +him to stay at least for dinner, but he was resolved to solve the +mystery by a visit to the Talfourds, and said that, if Mr. Chisholm was +right, he would not be back for a while. His retreating figure was +watched with positive pleasure by most of the company, and with still +greater satisfaction by the small party returning from the Anglican +service. + +"What garred ye fricht Rawdon awa, Mr. Chisholm?" asked the Squire. + +"I wanted to eat my dinner comfortably," replied the detective, putting +beard and moustache in his pocket, when all the company, except the +dominie who knew, cried out, "it's Mr. Nash." + +"To think of you deceiving me," exclaimed Mr. Carruthers, "and me a +justice of the peace. I've a thocht to bring you up for conspiracy." + +"There can be no conspiracy without at least two persons," answered the +detective. + +"But, man, you are two persons, that I've known off and on as Chisholm +and Nash." + +"When he was one of my masters," put in the dominie, "his name was +Dowling." + +"And this morning," remarked the man of aliases, with a smile, "I was +Miss Du Plessis or Martha Baggs, so Rawdon will have hard work to find +the lady of his affections." + +At this juncture Coristine and his fair companions entered, and, while +the young Marjorie renewed her acquaintance, Wilkinson was gravely +introduced to one of his own teachers, to the no little amusement of the +lady herself, of the lawyer, and of the company generally who were in +the secret. Miss Carmichael explained that Mr. Perrowne had declined to +come to dinner, but would look in later in the day when Cecile came +home; whereat many smiled, and the dominie frowned heavily. Mrs. +Carruthers now announced dinner, when the Squire took in his sister, +Wilkinson, her daughter, Coristine, Marjorie, and Mr. Errol, the +hostess. All the pairs agreed in congratulating themselves on the +absence of the Grinstun man, and looked with approbation on Mr. Nash, +who, all alone but cheerful, brought up the rear. There was no room at +the table for the five youthful Carruthers, who rejoiced in the fact and +held high carnival in the kitchen with Tryphena and Tryphosa and their +maternal grandfather. Mr. Errol had said grace, and dinner was in +progress, when the hall door was heard to open, and, immediately, on +went the detective's facial disguise. But the lightness of the step that +followed it reassured him, so that his smooth features once more +appeared. Shortly afterwards Miss Du Plessis entered, apologizing for +her lateness, and taking the vacant chair between the host and the +dominie. + +"I was really frightened," she said to the former, "by a dreadful little +man, with an Indian hat and a knapsack, who stopped and asked me if I +was Miss Do Please-us. When I told him that my name was Du Plessis, he +became much agitated, and cried 'Then I'm done, sold again and the money +paid,' after which he used such very bad language that I actually ran +away from him. I looked round, however, and saw him hurrying away +towards the Talfourds'." Wilkinson looked very fierce and warlike, and +attacked his food as if it were the obnoxious Rawdon. + +"Cecile," said Miss Carmichael across the indignant dominie, "I told a +fib about you this morning, but quite innocently. I said you would not +be home to dinner." + +"Neither I would, were it not that Mrs. Talfourd's sister came in after +church, and offered to stay with her the rest of the day. Whom did you +tell?" + +"Your devoted friend, Mr. Perrowne." + +Miss Du Plessis blushed a little, and the schoolmaster cut the clergyman +up several times and stuck his fork into him savagely. Then he commenced +a conversation with the Squire, into which the lady between them was +almost necessarily drawn. Mr. Nash edified Mrs. Carmichael; her +daughter conversed with the minister, to the latter's delight; while +Coristine divided his attentions between the hostess and Marjorie. + +"What was Mr. Perrowne preaching on, Marjorie?" asked Mrs. Carruthers. + +"Pillows on the ground," replied that young person. + +Her cousin laughed, and came to the rescue, saying: "It was the Church, +the pillar and ground of the truth; Marjorie seems to associate all +English Church services with bedtime." + +"There wasn't much bedtime about the service this morning," interposed +the lawyer; "the parson rattled along in grand style, and gave Miss +Carmichael, and all other broken reeds of dissenters, some piping hot +Durham mustard. Did it sting, Miss Carmichael?" + +"Is that the effect mustard has on broken reeds, Mr. Coristine?" + +"It is rather a mixing of metaphors, but you must make allowance for an +Irishman." + +Mrs. Carruthers at once conversed with her countryman, or rather her +father's countryman, on Ireland, its woes and prospects, during which +Marjorie informed Mr. Errol that she had not known what made her +cousin's cheeks so red when looking on Eugene's prayer-book. Now she +knew; it was Durham mustard that stings. There must have been some in +the book. The victim of these remarks looked severely at the culprit, +but all in vain; she was not to be suppressed with a frown. She remarked +that Saul had a hymn-book that made you sneeze, and she asked him why, +and he said it was the snuff. + +"What did Eugene put mustard in his prayer-book for?" + +"Mr. Coristine didna say he put mustard in his bookie, Marjorie," said +the minister; "he said that Mr. Perrowne put mustard in his sermon, +because it was so fiery." + +"I don't like mustard sermons; I like stories." + +"Aye, we all like them, when they're good stories and well told, but +it's no easy work getting good stories. That was the way our Saviour +taught the people, and you couldna get a higher example." + +"Why have we hardly any of that kind of teaching now?" asked Miss +Carmichael. + +"Because the preachers are afraid for one thing, and lazy, for another. +They're afraid of the most ignorant folk in their congregation, who will +be sure to charge them with childishness and a contempt for the +intellect of their people. Then, it takes very wide and varied reading +to discover suitable stories that will point a Scripture moral." + +"You seem to be on gude solid releegious groond doon there, meenister," +interrupted the master of the house; "but Miss Du Plessis and Mrs. +Carmichael here are just corruptin' the minds o' Maister Wilkinson and +Maister Nash wi' the maist un-Sawbath like havers I ever hard at an +elder's table. We had better rise, gudewife!" + +Shortly after the company returned to the parlour, Mr. Errol signified +that he must take his departure for the Lake Settlement, where his +second congregation was. At this Mr. Nash pricked up his ears, and said +he would saddle his horse and ride over with him. "Na, na!" cried the +Squire, "he'll no ride the day; I'll just get the waggon oot, and drive +ye baith there and back." Orders were given through Tryphosa, a comely, +red-cheeked damsel, who appeared in a few minutes to say that Timotheus +was at the gate. All went out to see the trio off, and there, sure +enough, was Timotheus of Peskiwanchow holding the restive horses. It +transpired that Carruthers, having lost his house servant through the +latter's misconduct, had commissioned his sister to find him a +substitute, and Marjorie's interest in Timotheus had resulted in his +being chosen to fill the vacant situation. He grinned his pleased +recognition of the two pedestrians, who bravely withstood all the +temptations to get into the waggon and visit the Lake Settlement. When +the waggon departed, Mrs. Carruthers went to her children, taking +Marjorie with her, and Mrs. Carmichael went upstairs for a read of a +religious paper and a nap. The young ladies and the tourists were the +sole occupants of the sitting-room. The lawyer went over to Miss Du +Plessis, and left his friend perforce to talk to Miss Carmichael. + +"I hear, Miss Du Plessis, that you own a farm and valuable mineral +land," said Coristine. + +"Did Messrs. Tylor, Woodruff and White give you that information?" she +asked in return. + +"No, indeed; do you know my firm?" + +"Very well, seeing I have been two years in Mr. Tylor's office." + +"Two years in Tylor's office, and me not know it?" + +"You do not seem to take much interest in feminine stenographers and +typewriters." + +"No, I don't, that's a fact; but if I had known that it was you who were +one, it would have been a different thing." + +"Now, Mr. Coristine, please make no compliments of doubtful sincerity." + +"I never was more sincere in my life. But you haven't answered me about +the land." + +"Well, I will answer you; I have no farm or valuable minerals, but my +father left me two hundred acres of water and wild land near what's +called the Lake Settlement, which he bought when Honoria married Mr. +Carruthers and took up her residence here." + +"Do you know if the taxes are paid on your land?" + +"No, I was not aware that wild land and water could be taxed." + +"Taxed is it? You don't know these municipalities. If you had a little +island in your name, no bigger than this room, they'd tax you for it, +and make you pay school rate, and do statute labour beside, though there +wasn't a school or a road within ten miles of it. For downright jewing +and most unjustifiable extortion on non-residents, commend me to a +township council. You'll be sold out by the sheriff of the county, sure +as eggs, and the Grinstun man'll buy your property for the arrears of +taxes." + +"Whatever shall I do, Mr. Coristine?" asked the alarmed young lady; "I +do not wish to lose my father's gift through negligence." + +"You should have taken advice from the junior member of Tylor, Woodruff +and White," replied the lawyer, with a peculiar smile; "but the Grinstun +man has bagged your estate." + +"Oh, do not say that, Mr Coristine. Tell me, what shall I do? And who is +the man you mean?" + +"The man I mean is the one that met you when you came here to dinner. He +is going to quarry in your farm for grindstones, and make his fortune. +But, as he wants yourself into the bargain, I imagine he can't get the +land without you, so that somebody must have paid the taxes." + +"Then it is the little wretch Marjorie told me of, the cruel creature +who kicked a poor dog?" + +"The very same; he is the Grinstun man. I've got a poem on him I'll read +you some day." + +"That will be delightful; I am very fond of good poetry." + +"Wilks says it isn't good poetry; but any man that grovels over +Wordsworth, with a tear in the old man's eye, is a poor judge." + +"I admire Wordsworth, Mr. Coristine, and am afraid that you are not in +earnest about poetry. To me it is like life, a very serious thing. But, +tell me, do you think the land is safe?" + +"Oh yes; I wrote to one of the salaried juniors, giving him instructions +to look after it, just as soon as I heard what Grinstuns had his eye +on." + +"Mr. Coristine! How shall I ever thank you for your kindness, you, of +all men, who profess to treat us workers for our living as positive +nonentities?" + +"By forgetting the past, Miss Du Plessis, and allowing me the honour of +your acquaintance in future. By the-bye, as you admire Wordsworth, and +good poetry, and airnest, serious men, I'll just go and send Wilks to +you. I have a word for Miss Carmichael. Is she constructed on the same +poetic principles as yourself?" + +"Go away then, _farceur_! No; Marjorie is inclined to frivolity." + +With a wave of her fan, she dismissed the lawyer, who began to think +lady stenographers and typewriters a class worthy of platonic attention. +"Short hand!" he muttered to himself; "hers is rather a long one and +pretty, and she is a favourable type of her kind, but I'm afraid a pun +would make her faint, when Wilks would certainly call me out and shoot +me dead with his revolver." + +"Wilks, my boy," said Coristine aloud, when he reached the stiff chair +in which the dominie sat erect, facing Miss Carmichael on a lounge at +safe distance; "Miss Du Plessis would like to hear you discuss +Wordsworth and other Sunday poets. She doesn't seem to care about +hearing my composition on the Grinstun man." + +The dominie eagerly but properly arose, answering: "Miss Du Plessis does +too much honour to my humble poetic judgment, and, in regard to your +doggrel, shows her rare good sense." He then walked across the room to +the object of his laudation, and, taking Coristine's vacated chair, +remarked that few poets preach a sermon so simply and beautifully as the +author of "The Excursion." Would Miss Du Plessis allow him to bring down +his pocket volume of the Rydal bard? Miss Du Plessis would be charmed; +so the schoolmaster withdrew, and soon reappeared with the book all +unconsciously open at "She was a phantom of delight." With guilty eyes, +he closed it, and, turning over the pages, stopped at the fifth book of +"The Excursion," announcing its subject, "The Pastor." It was now the +lady's turn to be uncomfortable, with the suggestion of Mr. Perrowne. +The lawyer, whose back had been turned to the poetic pair, looked +unutterable things at Miss Carmichael, who, not knowing to what extreme +of the ludicrous her companion might lead her, suggested a visit to the +garden, if Mr. Coristine did not think it too warm. "It's the very thing +for me," answered the lawyer, as they arose together and proceeded to +the French windows opening upon the verandah; "it's like 'Come into the +garden, Maud.'" They were outside by this time, and Miss Carmichael, +lifting a warning finger, said: "Mr. Coristine, I am a school teacher, +and am going to take you in hand as a naughty boy; you know that is not +for Sunday, don't you now?" + +"If it was only another name that begins with the same letter," replied +the incorrigible Irishman, "I'd say the line would be good for any day +of the week in fine weather; but I'm more than willing to go to school +again." + +"Sometimes," said the schoolteacher quietly, "sometimes the word +'garden' makes me sad. Papa had a great deal of trouble. He lost all his +children but me, and almost all his property, and he had quarrelled with +his relations in Scotland, or they had quarrelled with him; so that he +was, in spite of his public life, a lonely, afflicted man. When he was +dying, he repeated part of a hymn, and the refrain was 'The Garden of +Gethsemane.'" + +"Ah, Miss Carmichael, dear, forgive me, the stupid, blundering idiot +that I am, to go and vex your tender heart with my silly nonsense. I'm +ashamed, and could cry to think of it." + +"I will forgive you, Mr. Coristine," she replied, recovering from her +serious fit, and looking at the victim in a way that blended amusement +with imperiousness: "I will forgive you this once, if you promise future +good behaviour." + +An impulse came over the lawyer to shake Miss Carmichael's hand, but she +made him no shadow of an excuse for so doing. It was plain that the +mutual confidences of the girls, which embraced, using the word in a +mere logical sense, their year long distant acquaintance with the +transformed pedestrians had given maturity to the closer and more +pleasant acquaintance of the day. Little Marjorie's appropriation of the +lawyer as her Eugene added another ripening element to its growth; so +that the two garden explorers felt none of the stiffness and uncertainty +of a first introduction. What Miss Carmichael's thoughts were she only +could tell, but she knew that the impetuous and affectionate Coristine +required the merest trifle of encouragement to change the steady +decorous tide of advancing knowledge and respect into an abruptly +awkward cataract, threatening the rupture of pleasant relations or the +loss of self-respect. She would have preferred talking with Wilkinson, +as a check upon the fervour of his friend, but, although she laughed at +the dominie's culpable ignorance of her city existence, in her secret +soul it piqued her not a little. No; she would rather take refuge with +the clergy, Mr. Errol or Mr. Perrowne. + +Many roses were still in bloom, but, spite of many hints, Coristine's +button hole remained empty. He admired the pinks, the carnations, the +large-eyed pansies, "like Shakespeare's winking Mary-buds," he said, but +all in vain, save a civil answer. The Day-lilies and the sweet-scented +pure white and Japan lilies, the early Phloxes, the Honeysuckles against +the arbours, and many other floral beauties he stopped to inspect, and +wondered if Mrs. Carruthers would mind his gathering a few, although the +house was full of flowers. His companion did not satisfy his wonder, +only answering that she thought flowers looked so much better growing. +Then he pulled himself together, and answered naturally, joking on the +tall Scarlet Lychnis, now almost a garden flower of the past, which boys +call scarlet likeness and scarlet lightning, and ran on into accounts +of botanical rambles, descriptions of curious plants, with here a little +bit of reverent natural theology, and there an appropriate scrap from +some flower loving poet, or a query as to where the worshippers of +Wordsworth had got, if they had left "The Excursion" for the smaller +pieces on the Daisy, and the Celandine, the Broom, the Thorn and the +Yew. In thus talking he gained his end without knowing it, for, instead +of a mere routine lawyer and impulsive Irishman, Miss Carmichael found +in her companion an intelligent, thoughtful, and cultured acquaintance, +whose society she thoroughly enjoyed. Occasionally an unconscious and +half-timid lifting of her long eye-lashes towards his animated, handsome +face thrilled the botanist with a new, if fleeting, sensation of +delight. As they passed through a gate into a hillside meadow, at the +foot of which ran a silvery brook, they were made aware of voices in +song. The voices were two, one a sweet but somewhat drawly female +soprano, the other, a raucous, loud, overmastering shout, that almost +drowned the utterance of its companion. The masculine one furnished the +words to the promenaders, and these were:-- + + Shayll we gaythurr at thee rivverr + Whayerr bright angel feet have traw-odd? + +"Do you know who these are?" asked Miss Carmichael. + +"If I thought he knew as much tune," replied Coristine, "I should say he +was The Crew." + +"Oh, tell me, please, who is The Crew?" Thereupon the lawyer launched +out into a description of his travels, so comical a one that his fair +companion laughed until the tears stood in her eyes, and she accused him +of making her break the Sabbath. "No," she said at last; "that is not +Sylvanus, but it is his brother Timotheus with Tryphosa. They are +sitting in a ferny hollow under these birches down the hill, with a +hymn-book between them, and as grave as if they were in church. Do you +not think, Mr. Coristine, that that is a very nice and proper way for +young people to improve their acquaintance?" + +"Very much so, Miss Carmichael. May I go in and get a hymn book? I can +run like a deer, and won't take a minute over it. One will be enough, +won't it?" + +The lady laughed a little pleasant laugh, and replied: "I think not, +sir. We are not servants, at least in the same sense, and the piano and +organ are at our disposal when we wish to exercise our musical powers." + +"Snubbed again," muttered Coristine to himself; then aloud: "I wish I +were Timotheus." + +"If you prefer Tryphosa's company to mine, sir, you are at liberty to +go; but I think your champion of Peskiwanchow would object to such +rivalry." + +"Oh, I didn't mean with Tryphosa." + +"You do not know what you mean, nor anybody else. Let us return to the +house." + +As they sauntered back, the lawyer suddenly cried out: "What a forgetful +blockhead I am. I have had ever so many business questions to put to +you, and have forgotten all about them." + +"Had you not better leave business till to-morrow, Mr. Coristine?" asked +the lady, gravely, almost severely. + +"Your father's name was James Douglas Carmichael, was it not?" asked +Coristine, ignoring this quietus. + +"Yes," she answered. + +"He came to Canada in 1848, and was, for a time, in military service at +Kingston, before he completed his medical studies. Am I right?" + +"How do you happen to know these things? My father was singularly +reticent about his past life; but you are right." + +The lawyer opened his pocket-book and took out a newspaper cutting, +which he handed to his companion. "I found that at Barrie," he said, +"and trust I have not taken too great a liberty in constituting myself +your solicitor, and opening correspondence with Mr. MacSmaill, W.S., +regarding your interests." + +"It was very kind of you," she answered; "do you think it will bring us +any money, Mr. Coristine?" + +"Yes; it must bring some, as it is directed to heirs. How much, depends +upon the wealth of your father's family." + +"They were very wealthy. Papa told mamma to write home to them, but she +would not. She is too independent for that." + +"Will you sanction my action, and allow me to work this case up? Your +mother cannot be an heir, you know, save in a roundabout way; so that +you, being of age, are sole authority in the matter." + +"How do you know I am of age?" + +"I don't; but thought that, perhaps, you might be, seeing you are so +mature and circumspect in your ways." + +"Thank you for the doubtful compliment. I am of age, however." + +"Then will you authorize me to proceed?" + +"With all my heart." + +"Do you know it makes me very sorry to become your solicitor?" + +"Why?" + +"Because henceforth ours are mere business relations, and I, a +struggling junior partner, must be circumspect too, and stand in proper +awe and distant respect for a prospective heiress." + +"Do not allow your reverence to carry you too far to an opposite +extreme. You have been very good during most of our walk, and I have +enjoyed it very much." + +As she tripped in at the French window, Coristine could not reply. It is +probable that he ejaculated inwardly, "the darlin'!" but, outwardly, he +took out his pipe and sought consolation in the bowl of the Turk's head. +While patrolling the long path down towards the meadow, he heard a low +whistle, and, proceeding to the point in the fence whence it came, found +Mr. Rawdon, as pale as he well could be, and much agitated. "Look 'ere, +Mr. Currystone," he said, "I've bin down to Talfourds and a good bit +further, and I find a fellow called Nash 'as bin about, plottin' to 'urt +my business along of that brute of a Chisholm. They can't 'urt it much, +but I can 'urt them, and, wot's more, I will. 'Ow I found out wot +they're about is my haffair. I hain't got no time to lose, so you tell +the genniwin Simon Pure Miss Do Please-us as I'll hoffer 'er a thousan' +dollars cash for that there farm of 'ers till to-morrow mornin'. 'Er +hacceptance must be hat the Post-hoffice hup the road hany time before +ten o'clock, and the deed can be drawn hup between you and me and the +Squire just has soon therehafter as she pleases. Ha, ha! pretty good, +eh? Miss Do Please-us, she pleases! Bye, bye! Mr. Currystone, don't you +forget, for it's business." + +The Grinstun man stole along the meadow fence and travelled over the +fields, back way, towards the Lake Settlement. Emptying his pipe, the +lawyer found Miss Du Plessis and at once announced Mr. Rawdon's +proposal, which he urged her not to accept. She said the land was +certainly not worth any more, if it were worth that amount, and that a +thousand dollars would be of much immediate use to her mother. But +Coristine reminded her that Colonel Morton was, in all probability, with +her mother now, and begged her at least to wait until their joint +opinion could be procured. To this she agreed, and further conversation +was checked by the arrival of Marjorie, the five young Carruthers and +Mr. Michael Terry. + +The whole party sallied out of the windows on to the verandah, the lawn, +and thence out of the front gate, where they found the dominie in a +state of radiant abstraction, strutting up and down the road, and +quoting pages of his favourite poet. He had just completed the lines:-- + + And yet a spirit still, and bright + With something of an angel light. + +The lawyer went up to him before he came near and hissed at his friend, +"What about our compact?" to which the dominie, with a fierce +cheerfulness, replied, "It is broken, sir; shivered to atoms; buried in +oblivion. When a so-called honourable man takes a young lady walking in +garden and meadow alone, and breathes soft trifles in her ear, the +letter, the spirit, the whole periphery of the compact is gone. Your +conduct, sir, leaves me free to act as I please towards the world's +chief soul and radiancy. I shall do as I please, sir; I shall read +Louisa and Ruth and Laodamia and the Female Vagrant, none daring to make +me afraid. A single tress of ebon hair, a single beam of a dove-like +eye, shall be enough to fortify my heart against all your legal lore, +your scorn, your innuendos, your coward threats." + +"Wilks, you're intoxicated." + +"Such intoxication as mine is that of the soul--a thing to glory in." + +"Well, go and glory, and read what you please; only add the Idiot Boy to +the Female Vagrant and you'll be a lovely pair. I'm going to do as I +please, too, so we're both happy at last." + +Thus saying, the lawyer returned to Marjorie, while the dominie stood +stock still in the road, like a man thunderstruck, repeating: "The Idiot +Boy, the Female Vagrant, a pair?--and he was once my friend! A pair, a +pair--the Female Vagrant, the Idiot Boy!--and that slimy, crawling, +sickening caterpillar of a garden slug was once known to me! Truly, a +strange awaking!" + +It was now six o'clock, the time under ordinary circumstances for tea; +but the circumstances were extraordinary, as the Squire, Mr. Nash and +the minister had to be waited for. The party was in the road waiting for +them. "Look, Eugene!" cried Marjorie; "there's Muggins. Here Muggy, +Muggy, good doggie!" Muggins came on at full speed, and, striding at a +very respectable pace, his master followed. + +"Ow, Mr. Coristine, sow glad to see you again, I'm shore. I was +delighted to see you bringing two straye sheep into the true fowld this +morning. I howpe Miss Marjorie will turn out a good churchwoman; woun't +you now, Marjorie?" + +"I'm not a woman, and I won't be one. A woman wears dirty clothes and a +check apron and a sun-bonnet. We've had a charwoman like that in our +house, and a washerwoman; and in Collingwood there's a fish-woman and an +apple-woman. I've seen them with my very own eyes. I don't think it a +bit nice of you, Mr. Brown, to call me a charwoman." + +"I said churchwoman, my dear, not charwoman." + +"It's the same thing; they scrub out churches. I've seen them do it. And +they're as old and ugly--worse than Tryphena!" + +"Hush, hush, Marjorie!" interposed Miss Du Plessis; "you must not speak +like that of good Tryphena. Besides, Mr. Perrowne means by a churchwoman +one who is like me, and goes to the Church of England." + +"If it's to be like you, and you will marry Eugene and go to the Church +of England, I will be a churchwoman and go with you." + +Mr. Perrowne glowered at the lawyer, whom, a moment before, he had +greeted in so friendly a way. Coristine laughed, as he could afford to, +and said: "I'm sorry, Marjorie, that it cannot be as you wish. I am not +serious enough for Miss Du Plessis, nor a sufficient judge of good +poetry. Your friend wouldn't have me at any price; would you now, Miss +Du Plessis?" + +"Certainly not with that mode of asking. How unpleasantly personal +children make things." + +Muggins and the young Carruthers were having lots of fun. He sat up and +begged for bread, he ran after sticks and stones thrown by feeble hands, +he shook paws with the children, had his ears stroked and his tail +pulled with the greatest good-nature. Right under the eyes of the still +dumbfoundered dominie, his owner accompanied Miss Du Plessis into the +house, while Coristine prevailed on Marjorie to sing a hymn with a +pretty plaintive tune, commencing:-- + + Once in royal David's city + Stood a lowly cattle shed, + Where a mother laid her infant + In a manger for his bed; + Mary was that mother mild, + Jesus Christ her little child. + +The old soldier left his grandchildren with Muggins and came to hear the +hymn. "The Howly Vargin bliss the little pet," he ejaculated, and then +crooned a few notes at the end of each verse. + +"Fwat is it the Howly Scripchers says, sorr, about little childher an' +the good place?" he asked Coristine. + +The lawyer took off his hat, and reverently replied: "Of such is the +Kingdom of Heaven." + +The veteran crossed himself, and said: "There niver was a thruer word +shpoke or in wroitin', an' fwat does the childher, the innicents, know +about Pratishtants an' Cathlics, till me that now?" + +As Coristine could not, the pair refilled their pipes and smoked in +company, an ideal Evangelical Alliance. + +Soon the waggonette came rattling along the road, and Marjorie ran to +meet her Uncle John and the minister, with both of whom she was a great +favourite. Mr. Nash also had a word to say to her: "You remember +scolding me for not going to church when I was Mr. Chisholm? Well, I've +been there this afternoon, and Mr. Errol told us we are all getting +ready here for what we are to do in Heaven. Now, you're a wise little +girl, and I want you to tell me what I will be able to do when I get +there. It can't be to hunt up bad people, because there are no bad +people in Heaven. What do you think about it?" + +"I know," answered Marjorie, gravely; "play chess with dead uncles and +ministers, and teach tricks to the little children that never growed +up." + +"Out of the mouths of babes!" ejaculated Mr. Errol, who overheard the +conversation; then continued: "Could anything be truer? The training in +observation and rapid mental combinations, which has made you successful +in your profession, is the foundation of your prowess on the chess +board. Your skill in every sort of make-up enables you to manipulate +handkerchiefs and oranges for children's amusement. The same training +and skill our Father can turn to good account in the upper sanctuary." + +"Thank you, Mr. Errol, thank you, Marjorie, my dear. Perhaps the good +God will be kinder than we think, and find some use for a poor, lonely, +careless detective." Mr. Nash was unusually thoughtful, yet still had an +eye to business. He made diligent enquiries about Rawdon, and, at last, +getting on the scent through Miss Du Plessis, found out all that +Coristine and Timotheus had to tell of him. The latter had watched the +working geologist slinking off in the Lake Settlement direction across +the fields and by bush tracks. Mr. Terry and the children, having +partaken of tea, remained out in the front with Muggins, and sang some +more hymns, Marjorie leading their choir. The rest of the household, +reinforced by Mr. Perrowne, who, much to Wilkinson's disgust, +monopolized Miss Du Plessis, sat round the ample tea-table. In a +shamefaced way, as if engaged in an illegal ecclesiastical transaction, +the English clergyman mumbled: "For what we are about to receive," and +the evening meal proceeded. The Squire had ceded his end of the table to +his sister, and had taken his post at her left, where he talked to the +dominie, his next neighbour, and across the table to Mr. Errol. Perrowne +flanked the hostess on the right, and Nash on the left. Miss Du Plessis +sat between Perrowne and Wilkinson, a stately and elegant bone of +contention; while the lawyer had the detective on one side and Miss +Carmichael on the other. As that young lady had something to do with the +arrangement of the table by Tryphosa, in the matter of napkin rings, it +was, if Coristine only knew it, a mark of her confidence in him that +she permitted his presence on her right. Nevertheless he profited little +by it, as she gave all her conversation to the minister, save when the +attention of that elderly admirer was taken up by her uncle. As Perrowne +was compelled to be civil to Mrs. Carruthers, while Mr. Nash entertained +the lawyer, an opportunity was afforded the schoolmaster of improving +his acquaintance with Miss Du Plessis, of which he took joyful +advantage, feeling that in so doing with all brilliancy he was planting +thorns in the breasts of two innocent beings, whom he inwardly +characterized as a clerical puppy and an ungrateful, perfidious, +slanderous worm. Neither the puppy nor the worm were happy, as he +joyfully perceived. + +The meal was over, and they were preparing to have early evening prayers +for the sake of the children, when a vehicle drove up, and a burly form, +clad in navy blue broadcloth with a plentiful trimming of gilt buttons, +descending from it, came along the path towards the house, accompanied +by Marjorie. + +"It's papa!" she cried to Carruthers and his wife, who had gone to the +door to see who their visitor was, and call the children in. It was the +Captain, and in the buggy, holding the reins, sat The Crew. "Don't sit +grinning there, you blockhead!" shouted the ancient mariner to Sylvanus; +"hev ye been so long aboard ship ye can't tell a stable when you see it? +Drive on, you slabsided swab!" The Captain's combination of lumbering +with nautical pursuits gave a peculiar and not always congruous flavour +to his pet phrases; but Sylvanus did not mind; he drove round the lane +and met Timotheus. + +"We have just finished tea, Captain," said Mrs. Carruthers with her +pretty touch of a cultivated Irish accent; "but Marjorie will tell +Tryphosa to set yours on the table at once." + +"All right, Honoria!" growled Mr. Thomas; "I'm in port here for the +night, and I'm a goin' to make fast; so be I hev to belay on to the lee +side of a stack of shingle bolts. Now, Marjorie, my pet, give daddy +another kiss, and run away for a bit. John, I want you right away." + +With the latter words, the Captain took the Squire off to the far end of +the verandah, and sat down with his legs dangling over among the +flowers, causing his brother-in-law to do the same. "John," said he, +taking off his naval cap, and mopping his forehead, "you're all goin' to +be murdered to-night in your bunks, else I wouldn't ha' quit dock o' +Sunday." + +"Whatever do you mean, Thomas?" + +"I mean what I say, and well to you and yourn. Sylvanus was down at +Peskiwanchow, gettin' some things his brother left there, when he +shipped for you. There's a bad crew in that whiskey mill, and, fool as +he is, he was sharp enough to hear them unbeknown. Says one of 'em, +'Better get out the fire-engines from town,' and he laughed. Says +another, 'Guess the boys'll hev a nice bonefire waitin' for us, time we +get to Flanders.' Then the low-down slab-pilers got their mutinous heads +together, and says, 'The J.P. and the bailiff's got to be roasted +anyway, wisht we could heave Nash in atop.' I've left the cursing and +swearin' out, because it's useless ballast, and don't count in the deal +any more'n sawdust. Now, John, what do you think of that?" + +"It looks serious, Thomas, if your man is to be depended on." + +"My man depended on? Sylvanus Pilgrim to be depended on? There's no more +dependable able-bodied seaman and master mill-hand afloat nor ashore. +He's true as the needle to the pole and the gang-saw to the plank. Don't +you go saying wrong of Sylvanus." + +"I must take Nash into confidence with us, and call up your informant," +said the Squire, leading the Captain into the house and setting him +carefully down at the tea table, where Mrs. Carruthers waited upon him. +Then he looked up Sylvanus in the kitchen, and told him to report as +soon as he had taken his supper. "We have no time to lose, Pilgrim," he +added, "so let Tryphena alone till our talk is over. She'll keep." + +"I ain't agoin' ter persume ter tech Trypheeny, Square, an' I'll be +along in a half tack," replied The Crew. + +Next, Nash was found smoking a cigar, and talking very earnestly with +Mr. Errol about presentiments, and sudden remembrances of childhood's +days. He dropped the conversation at once when business was mentioned, +and, in a few minutes, the Squire's official room contained five men, +with very serious faces, seeking to come to a full understanding of what +seemed a diabolical plot on the part of some spiteful malefactors. Four +of these have already been indicated; the fifth was the lawyer, who +proved a useful addition for pumping Sylvanus dry and taking careful +notes. + +While the consultation was in progress, a gentle tap came to the door, +and, following it, a voice that thrilled the lawyer, saying, "May I come +in, uncle; I have some news for you?" Carruthers opened the door, when +Miss Carmichael told him that young Hill, the girls' brother, had +arrived with another man, and wanted to see him immediately on special +business that would not wait, and that they seemed to have been out +shooting. The Squire went out and returned with Rufus and Ben Toner. The +former related how Ben had gone to afternoon meetin' to tell what he +knew of the conspiracy to clean out all the scabs in Flanders, and have +trade run smooth. Coristine examined his old patient, who readily +responded, and Nash, who was now Chisholm in beard and moustache, helped +the interrogation. Toner's information, like that of Sylvanus, came from +accidentally overhearing the talk of four men in a waggon, driving +Flanders way during church time, while he was fishing in the river. + +"I heerd 'em say as they'd be a big blayuz afore mornin', and as Squier +Cruthers, and the bailiff, and Nash, and a raivenue gaal, had got to go +to kingdom come. One on 'em says he seen Mr. Nash and got a hit off his +stick. He's a goin' to lay for him straight and for them two walkin' +spies likeways." + +"What made you look up Rufus?" asked the lawyer. + +"I thort the raivenue gaal might a been one of his sisters that's here. +Besides, he's got a gun, and so have I, and I'm a goin' to be true to my +word, Doctor, to you and the bailiff too, ef I have to shoot aivery +mother's son of them vilyins." + +The Captain and Sylvanus, with Rufus and Ben, all testified to the +moving of several teams, with rough-looking characters on board, along +the roads that led towards Flanders, and the Lake Settlement in +particular. The Squire and Mr. Nash had noticed the same. + +"Ben," said the latter, taking off his disguise, "I think I can trust +you. I am the detective Nash." + +Toner started, but quickly recovered himself, and, rising, gave his hand +to the man of aliases, saying, "You kin, Mr. Nash, s'haylp me. Old man +Newcome swears he's a goin' to hev your life, but he won't ef I'm any +good." + +The detective shook hands warmly, and, taking Ben aside, found that he +had no personal knowledge of Rawdon, the Newcome of whom he spoke being +apparently the go between. The intimacy between them, which was near +ruining the young man, had come about through Toner's attention to +Newcome's daughter, Sarah Eliza. "But," continued the unhappy lover, +"the old man's been and had Serlizer off for more'n a year, and puts me +off and off and better off, till I just up and wouldn't stand it no +more. I ain't a goin' to sell his stuff, nor drink his stuff, nor hev +nawthun more to do along of his gang, but I'd like to know where +Serlizer's put to, and I'm here and my gun, with a lot of powder and +shot and slugs, for the stummik of any gallihoot as lays a finger on +you, Mr. Nash, or the doctor or the gals." + +Returning to the group, the detective urged immediate defensive action, +leaving the offensive till the morrow. The Squire at once looked up his +armoury, consisting of a rifle, a fowling piece (double-barrelled) and a +pair of heavy horse-pistols, with abundant ammunition. The Captain +reported that Sylvanus had a shotgun (single-barrelled), and that he had +brought the blunderbuss with which he fired salutes off the _Susan +Thomas_. Coristine answered for the revolvers carried by himself and the +dominie. The clergy were called in and the situation explained, when +both volunteered for service. Mr. Perrowne had a very good gun at his +lodgings; and his landlady, whose father had been in the army, possessed +a relic of him in the shape of an ancient carbine, which he was sure she +would lend to Mr. Errol, with bayonet complete. He went for them, under +escort of Rufus and Ben. When Mr. Terry was told, he begged for his son +in law's "swate-lukin' roifle," and was as cheerful as if a wedding was +in progress. Finally, Timotheus got the fowling piece and the Squire +looked to the priming of his pistols. Mr. Nash, of course, had both +revolver and dirk knife concealed somewhere about his person. Then Mr. +Errol conducted family prayers, the children were sent to bed, the +ladies briefly informed of the situation, and the garrison bidden a more +than usually affectionate good-night. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + The Squire Posts Sentries--Sylvanus Arrests Tryphosa--Change of + Watchword--Nash Leads an Advance--The Cheek of Grinstuns--The + Hound--Guard-room Conversation--Incipient Fires Extinguished--The + Idiot Boy--Grinstun's Awful Cheek--The Lawyer and the Parson + Theologize--Coristine's Hands--Doctor and Miss Halbert. + + +The full strength of the garrison was twelve able-bodied men, of whom +five carried fowling pieces, one a blunderbuss, another a carbine, +another a rifle, and four were armed with pistols. The Squire was in +supreme command, and Mr. Nash was adjutant. They decided that the +garrison as a whole should go on guard for the night, that is, from ten +o'clock till six in the morning, a period of eight hours, making, as the +Captain put it, four watches of two hours each. Thus the remaining ten +were divided into two guards of five, and, as the morning guard, from +four to six, would probably not be required, it was determined to put +those who had most need of rest on the companion one from twelve to two. +These were Captain Thomas, the veteran Terry, the two parsons, with +Wilkinson, who was thrown in simply as a pistol man, the only other of +the kind being the lawyer. With ammunition in their pockets, or slung +round their shoulders, the first guard sallied forth under the Squire's +guidance. Coristine was left to watch the front of the house behind the +shrubbery bordering the fence, and keep up communication with Nash, who +patrolled the road on horseback. Ben Toner's station was the path +running parallel with the palings on the left of the garden, beyond +which was an open field, not altogether destitute of stumps. Silvanus +was posted on the edge of the meadow, at the back of the garden and +out-houses; and Timotheus, on the right of the stables and connected +buildings. Just where the beats of the brothers met, there was a little +clump of timber, the only point affording cover to an advancing enemy, +and to that post of honour and danger Rufus was appointed. Having +placed his men, the Squire returned to the guard-room, his office, and +ordered Tryphosa to bring refreshments for the guard, to which he added +a box of cigars. The guard discussed the cold ham, the cheese and +biscuits, and, in addition, Mr. Errol indulged in some diluted sherry, +Perrowne and Wilkinson in a glass of beer, and the Captain and the +veteran in a drop of whiskey and water. The Squire took a cigar with +those who smoked, but maintained his wakefulness on cold tea. Every half +hour he was out inspecting the sentries. Coristine had suggested that +the friendly answer to a challenge should be Bridesdale, but, lest the +enemy should hear this and take advantage of it, all suspicious persons +should be required also to give the countersign, Grinstuns. The dominie +sneered at him for the latter; but, when he saw his friend sally forth +with loaded pistol to the post of danger, his enmity died, and, rising, +he silently shook hands with him at the door. Returning to the +guard-room, he breathed a silent prayer for his friend's safety, and +then fortified his inner man with the fare provided. Conversation +accompanied the impromptu supper, and the subsequent cigar or pipe, at +first led by the divines, but afterwards taken clean out of their mouths +by the Captain and the veteran, who furnished exciting accounts of their +experience in critical situations. + +The Squire had gone out for the second time to inspect the sentries. It +was eleven o'clock. Coristine, who was first visited, reported a sound +of voices at the back of the house, and Toner confirmed the report. The +commander-in-chief hastened to the gate leading into the hill meadow, +and perceived a figure struggling in the strong grasp of Sylvanus. The +sentinel's left arm was round the prisoner, and the gun was in his right +hand. As they came towards the gate, the Squire heard piteous entreaties +in a feminine voice to be let go, and the answer: "'Tain't no kind o' +use, Tryphosy, even ef ye was arter Timotheus an' not me; that ain't it, +at all. It's this: yer didn't say Bridesdale when I charlinged yer, nor +yer couldn't bar-sign Grinstuns. All suspicious carriters has got to be +took up, and, ef that ain't bein' a suspicious carriter, this mate on +the starn watch don't know what is. I'm rale sorry for yer, and I'm +sorry for Timotheus, but juty is juty and orders is strict. Come on, +now, and let us hope the Square'll be marciful." + +"What is the meaning of this nonsense, Pilgrim?" asked the commander, +angrily. + +"It's a suspicious carriter as can't give no account of itself, Square. +She might ha' been shot as like as not, ef I hadn't gone and took her +pris'ner." + +"Let the girl alone, and don't make a laughing stock of yourself. You've +already said the passwords loud enough for any lurker to hear, so that +we'll hae to change them aa because o' your stupeedity. Be serious and +keep your eyes and gun for strange folk, men or women." + +Tryphosa fled into the house, whither Tryphena--who, falling into the +same error, had crossed the beat of Timotheus--had already betaken +herself, being driven off the field by the more sensible and merciful +younger Pilgrim. When the Squire had completed his rounds, he returned +to the guard-room, and, telling the story of Sylvanus' folly, which +roused the Captain's ire, showed the necessity for new watchwords and +better instruction of sentries. + +"It maun be something the lads and all the rest o' us ken weel, Squire. +What think ye o' Cricket and Golf?" asked Mr. Errol. + +"I am afraid that Ben Toner might not know these words," put in the +dominie. + +"What?" cried Mr. Perrowne, "do you really mean to say that +this--ah--Towner needs to be towld what cricket is?" + +"I fear so," Wilkinson answered; with the effect that no heathen could +have fallen lower in the parson's estimation than did Ben. + +"I say good, ship-shape words are Starbud and Port," growled the +Captain. + +"In Sout Ameriky it was Constituthion and Libertad," suggested Mr. +Terry. + +"Pork and Beans 'll no' do; nor Burdock and Blood Bitters; nor Powder +and Shot," said the Squire, ruminating; "for the one ca's up the tither +ower nayteral like. What say ye, Maister Wilkinson?" + +Wilkinson was taken aback by the suddenness of the question, and blurted +out what had been only too much in his thoughts; "Idiot and Boy." + +"Capital!" "Well said!" "The very thing!" "Jest suits Sylvanus!" the +various voices responded; and the Squire went out to the sentries to +make the desired change. The lawyer chuckled when he received the new +words, and all the other sentinels repeated to themselves the poetic +terms "Eejut and Boy." + +It was just on the stroke of midnight, time to relieve the guards, when +the distant sound of pistol shots in rapid succession fell +simultaneously on the ears of Coristine, Ben and Sylvanus. The lawyer, +stepping hastily to the house, called out the armed inmates, and in +another minute or so Nash came galloping up. "Stay where you are, +Squire, with your sentries; and, you other men, look to your loading and +come on with me. I've been fired at by a waggon load of them." The five +unposted men hastened out into the road and away after the detective to +the left. After going a short distance, the adjutant called a halt, and +told the veteran to advance in military order. "Now, min," said Mr. +Terry quietly, "extind about tin paces from aich another to the lift, +an' Oi'll be the lifthand man. Thin kape wan eye on me an' the other +before yeez, and advance whin Oi advance undher cover av the stumps and +finces and things. Riddy now--extind!" The movement was well executed, +and, as the veteran was eager for the fray, he led them more rapidly +than it could be thought the old man had the power to run, until they +reached the spot where the waggon had halted. It was gone, without a +sign; so the gallant skirmishers re-formed in the road and marched back +to quarters. When they arrived at the gate, Coristine could not resist +the temptation of a challenge, unnecessary as it was. The dominie was +leading, and him he hailed: "Who goes there?" With momentary hesitation, +Wilkinson answered in the same undertone:-- + +"Friends." + +"The word, friends?" + +"Idiot." + +"The countersign, Idiot?" + +"Boy." + +"Pass, Idiot Boy, and all's well!" + +The schoolmaster could have boxed that sentry's ears, have slapped his +face, have caned him within an inch of his life; for there was a light +in an upper window, and he knew that bright eyes were looking down +through the slats of the closed green shutters, and that sharp ears had +caught the sound of the obnoxious words. He could detect the accents of +a voice, which he knew so well, pleading the cause of silence with +another that trembled with suppressed laughter as it made ineffectual +promises to be quiet. The two clergymen also heard the friendly +altercation at the window, so still was everything else, and chuckled as +they filed past the legal sentry, now on the broad grin. The Captain and +Mr. Terry were above taking notice of such trifles, for they were +eagerly persuading each other to take just the least drop before going +out into the heavy night dews. No sooner had the five entered the +guard-room than the Squire re-formed them and marched them off to +relieve the old sentries. The lawyer's place was taken by the dominie, +Toner's by the Captain, that of Sylvanus by Perrowne, that of Timotheus +by Errol, and Rufus' post of honour by the veteran, who would accept no +other. There was a sixth guard in the person of Muggins, who kept his +master company and behaved with the greatest propriety and silence. +Sylvanus and Timotheus, Rufus and Ben had a separate guard-house of +their own in the kitchen, where Mrs. Carmichael, who could not sleep +because of her apprehensions of evil to some unknown defender, furnished +them with bread and cheese and innocuous hot elderberry wine and cold +cider. After partaking plentifully of the refreshments, Sylvanus and Ben +lit their pipes, and the latter communicated to the company the story of +his woes in the case of Serlizer. Sylvanus related his adventure in +capturing Tryphosa, which caused Timotheus to move into a corner with +Rufus and declare solemnly and in a low tone, that "Ef Sylvanus warn't +my brother and older'n me, and the next thing t' engaged to Trypheeny, +I'd be shaved an' shampooed ef I wouldn't bust his old cocoanut open." +Rufus, however, replied that girls had no business to be about in war +times, unless it was to nurse the sick and wounded, which was only done +in hospitals, thus justifying Sylvanus' action as a pure matter of +military duty, and reconciling Timotheus to the slight put upon his lady +love. + +The Squire and Coristine were alone in the guard-room, save when Mrs. +Carmichael put her head in to ask after the welfare of the party, +especially of the older members. + +"Grandfather knows campaigning and can take care of himself," the Squire +answered; "and the Captain's used to out-door life; but there's the +minister now, puir man! Weel, weel, Marjorie, when I gang the roonds, +I'll see if he needs onything." + +Then the pair chatted away, chiefly about the Grinstun man, whom +Carruthers came to regard in the light of a spy. Though surrounded on +every side by suspicious circumstances, there was nothing definite +against him, the nearest evidence to a conviction being the geological +or mineralogical expressions which the unguarded dilapidated farmer on +the way to the Beaver River had coupled with his name, and his own +admissions to the spurious Miss Du Plessis. + +"Maister Coristine," said the Squire, "gin I thocht yon deevil, seein' +it's Monday mornin' the noo, was at the foondation o' this ploy, I'd +think naething o' spendin' five thoosand to pit an end til's tricks." + +"All right, Squire; I think I'll go into criminal law, and work it up +for you." + +"What's yon? I maun gang out, for I hear Mr. Wilkinson calling me." + +The lawyer accompanied him to the door. Nash was at the gate to report +that he had seen small parties and single individuals, some distance off +the road on both sides of the house, whose actions were more than +suspicious. Had they carried firearms larger than pistols he would have +been sure to detect the gleam of steel. He was sorry now he had drawn +the fire of the waggon on himself, and thus given the miscreants to +understand that their plot was known. Still, they were at it, and meant +mischief. As he could do no further good patrolling the road, he would +put up his horse, and help the Squire to guard the house and +outbuildings. Hardly was his horse in the stable, and himself in the +guard-room, than Mr. Errol's voice, and then the dominie's, were heard +challenging loudly. The Squire flew to the minister, and Nash to +Wilkinson. A stout but elastic figure, so far as the step went, was +coming along the road from the right, whistling "The Girl I left behind +Me." As it came near, the whistling stopped, and Rawdon, with knapsack +on back and staff in hand, appeared before the astonished eyes of the +sentinels. He started at the sight of the minister's carbine. "Wy, Mr. +Herl," he said, "wot the dooce are you a doin' of at this time o' night? +Are you lookin' for night 'awks or howls hafter the chickins, or did you +think I was a wistlin' bear. And you too, Squire! I thought the Hinjins +was all killed bout. Blowed if there haint hold Favosites Wilkinsonia, +and a man as looks like Chisholm! Are you campin' out, 'avin' summer +midnight manoovers for the fun o' the thing?" + +Nash went back to the house. "If it's a fair question, Mr. Rawdon," said +the Squire, "where are you going at this time of night?" + +"Fair enough, Squire; I'm bound for Collinwood to ketch the mornin' +train. Bye, bye! no time to lose." Off trudged the Grinstun man, once +more whistling, but this time his tune was "It's no use a knockin' at +the door." + +The Squire, the detective, and the lawyer held a council of war. + +"Pity we hadn't arrested that chap," remarked Mr. Nash. + +"Couldn't do it," said Coristine; "there is no warrant for his arrest, +no definite charge against him. A justice of the peace can't issue one +on mere suspicion, nor can he institute martial law, which would of +course cover the case." + +"If what Maister Nash has seen be as he thinks," added the Squire, "it's +as weel we laid nae han' on him, for it would just hae preceepitated +metters, and hae brocht the haill o' thae Lake Settlement deevils doon +upon us. D'ye think Rawdon's gaun to Collingwood, Nash?" + +"Not a bit of it. I believe he came past here, openly and dressed as he +was, for three reasons. First, he wants to prove an alibi for himself, +whatever happens. Second, he wanted to see how we are guarded, and by +that loud whistling has informed his confederates not far off that it is +useless to try the house from the front. Thirdly, he has circled round +to take command of the villains that fired on me out of the waggon we +couldn't find." + +"What's to be done then?" asked the Squire and the lawyer in a breath. + +"We must watch the means of access from the left to the right. You see, +there are bushes, young willows and alders, all along the bank of the +creek, behind which they can steal towards that ferny hollow under the +birches, and, from thence, either make for the bit of bush Mr. Terry is +guarding, or creep behind the scattered boulders towards the fence. Your +shrubberies about the house and live hedges and little meadow copses are +very pretty and picturesque, Squire, but a bare house on the top of a +treeless hill would be infinitely better to stand a siege." + +"Aye, aye, Nash; but I'm no gaun tae cut doon my bonnie trees an' busses +for a wheen murderin' vagabones." + +"Well, I'll get a gun from one of the men in the kitchen, and explore +the hillside below the Captain." + +Having secured Ben Toner's gun, the best of the lot, the detective +walked down the garden to the gate, where he found Perrowne vainly +endeavouring to comfort Muggins. The poor dog did not even whine, but +shivered as he stood, otherwise paralyzed with abject terror. + +"Crouch down by the fence," whispered the detective in the parson's ear, +and at once crouched down beside him. + +"Do you see that moving object coming up the hill from the birches? By +Jove! there's another crawling behind it. What is it?" + +"It's an animal of some sawrt," answered Perrowne. + +"That accounts for your dog's fear. It isn't a bear, is it? There may be +some about after early berries." + +"Now, it's not a bear, though I've been towld dawgs are very much afraid +of bears." + +Just then the animal keeled over, and immediately there followed the +report of a rifle. The crawler behind the beast slid back into the +hollow and disappeared. Then, from the left of the house came a volley +that woke the echoes all round; it was the explosion of the Captain's +blunderbuss. The detective ran along the fence to Mr. Terry's beat, and +found the veteran reloading his rifle from the muzzle. "Keep your post, +Mr. Terry," he cried, "while I run and see what it is you have bagged. I +imagine your son-in-law will look after the Captain." Mr. Nash ran down +the hill, closely followed by the lawyer, who had come out to see the +fun. All the bedroom windows were lit up, and eager eyes strained to +learn the cause of the firing, while the remaining sentinels prepared +for action. The animal shot was a large bloodhound, in life a dangerous +brute with horrid, cruel-looking fangs, but now in the agonies of death. +The detective drew his long dagger-like knife, and drove it into the +creature's heart. Then, while Coristine lifted it by the two hind legs, +he took a grasp of its collar, and they carried the trophy of the +veteran's rifle on to the lawn in front of the house. There they learned +that the Captain, being half asleep with no chance of an enemy in sight, +dreamt his ship had been saluted coming into port on a holiday, and, as +in duty bound, returned the salute. The blunderbuss had not exploded; it +always made that grand, booming, rattling, diffusive sort of a report. +The dead hound's collar was examined, and was discovered to bear the +initials A.R. "Who is A.R.?" asked the Squire; and Mr. Nash replied: "He +is no doubt my affianced bridegroom, Haltamont Rawdon." + +It was two o'clock in the morning; so the guard was relieved, and the +former sentries returned to their posts; but the Squire noticed, with a +frown, that, just as the relief arrived at Mr. Errol's beat, a female +form clothed in black darted round the stables towards the kitchen door. +Also, he saw that the minister had a most unmilitary muffler, in the +shape of a lady's cloud, round his neck, which he certainly had not when +he went on duty. His high respect for the reverend gentleman hindered +any outward expression of his combined amusement and annoyance. Muggins +came back with Mr. Perrowne, but obstinately refused to go near the dead +hound. + +"Do you think he has ever seen it before?" asked the detective. + +"I shouldn't be at all surprised," replied the clergyman. + +"I lawst Muggins, you know, at Tossorontio, and there was a man there at +the time, a short man in a pea-jacket or cowt, down't you know, who had +a big dawg. When Muggins disappeared, I thought the big dawg might have +killed him. But now I think the man with the pea-cowt saved him from the +big dawg, and that's how Muggins came to gow after him. What do you +imagine that beast was after, coming up the hill towards Muggins?" + +"I think he was coming to overpower you, Mr. Perrowne, and bring all +our forces to your aid, while the fellow behind him slipped in and fired +the house or did some similar mischief." + +"I tell you, Mr. Nash, he'd have had my two barrels first, and I'm a +pretty fair shot, down't you know? But, look here, it's dry work +mounting guard, sow I'll have another pull at the tankard." + +The Squire came in from guard mounting, somewhat fatigued. He had been +on the stretch mentally and physically ever since the Captain's arrival. +"You had better go to bed, grandfather, and take Thomas with you," he +said to the veteran. + +"Not a wink this blissid noight, Squoire," replied Mr. Terry, "the smill +av the powther has put new loife into my owld carcash. The Captin can go +iv he plazes." + +"Avast, there! I say, messmate," growled Captain Thomas, "I don't run +this mill, but my youngster's here under hatches, and I'm a goin' to +keep watch on, watch off along of any other man. I don't think that o' +yours is half up to the mark, Mr. Terry." + +"Oi was thinkin' I was a bit wake mysilf," replied the old soldier, +filling up his glass, and handing the decanter to his neighbour, who +likewise improved the occasion. + +"Oi'm suppawsin now, sorr," continued the veteran, addressing the +dominie, "that this is yer first apparance on shintry." + +"You are right, Mr. Terry, in your supposition." + +"An', sorr, it's a cridit to yeez to be shtandin' an' facin' the inimy +wid divel a thing in yer hand but a pishtil. Oi moind a big sthrappin' +liftinant av ours was called Breasel, an' sid he was discinded from the +great Breasel Breck av Oirish hishtry. Wan noight he was slapin', whin +four nagurs av Injuns kim into his tint, an' picked the sword an' +pishtils and the unifarm aff the bid he was on. Thin he woke up, an' him +havin' sorra a thing to difind himself wid but a good Oirish tongue in +his hid. But it's Tipperary the liftinant foired at the haythens, an' it +moight ha' been grape an' canister, for they dhropped the plundher and +run for loife, all but wan that got howlt av an anhevis drawin' plashter +the liftinant had for a bile an the back av his neck, an' wasn't usin' +at the toime. Someways the plashter got on to his nakid chist an' +gripped him, an' he was that wake wid froight, the other nagurs had to +carry him away. Afther that the Injuns called Breasel by the name of +Shupay, a worrud that in their spache manes the divil--savin' yer +prisence, Mishter Wilkinson." + +"One time the _Susan Thomas_ was at Belle Ewart loadin' on lumber," +growled the Captain. "Sylvanus heerd as how the Mushrats, that's the +folks acrost on t'other side of the bay, was a comin' over to fasten him +and me down in the hold and paint the schooner. They was a goin' to +paint her The Spotted Dog, than which there's no meaner kind o' fish. +So, I bid Sylvanus pile a great heap of useless, green, heavy, barky +slabs on top o' the good lumber; then we took the occasion of a little +wind, and stood her out to anchor a little ways from the dock. Sure +enough, when night come, the Mushrats came a hollerin' aand yellin'. +Unfortnitly I'd left the salutin' blunderbuss here at home, and hadn't +but one pike-pole aboard. 'How many boat loads of 'em is there, +Sylvanus?' I says. 'Two,' says he. 'All right,' says I, 'that's one +apiece. Take off your coat, and roll up your shirt sleeves, Sylvanus,' +says I, 'for you're a goin' to have heavy work slab heavin'!' On they +come to board us, one on each side. 'Fire out them or'nary useless +slabs, Sylvanus,' says I. 'But there's a boat with a lot of men in it,' +says he, a-chucklin' like an ijut. Hope I haven't given the pass word +away, John? Well, I said: 'Fire out the slabs, and let the men get out +o' the way.' And he began firing, and I kept my side a-goin', and the +slabs fell flat and heavy and fast, knockin' six at a shot, till they +cussed and swore, and hollered and yelled murder, and that was the last +we two saw of the Mushrats and the paintin' of the _Susan Thomas_." + +Subdued but hearty laughter followed these stories, and, when the +Captain ended, the veteran pushed the decanter towards him, remarking: +"A good shtory is a foine thing, Captin, dear, but it makes ye just a +throifle dhroy." The Captain responded, and told Mr. Terry that he was +neglecting himself, an omission which that gentleman proceeded to +rectify. Mr. Errol, with his muffling cloud still round his neck, was +asleep in an easy chair. In his sleep he dreamt, the dream ending in an +audible smack of his lips, and the exclamation "Very many thanks, ma'am; +the toddy's warm and comforting." When his own voice aroused him, he was +astonished to witness the extreme mirth of all parties, and was hardly +convinced when it was attributed to the stories of the veteran and the +Captain. The Squire, though amused, was resolved to have a word with his +widowed sister. + +The lawyer paced up and down in the cool night, trying to combine two +things which do not necessarily go together, warmth and wakefulness. +Everything was so quiet, that he seemed to hear Timotheus and Sylvanus +pacing about rapidly like himself, when suddenly a little spark of fire +appeared at the far end of the verandah towards the stables. Cautiously, +under cover of bushes he approached the spot, but saw nothing, although +he smelt fire. Then he knelt down and peered under the flower laden +structure. The light was there, growing. In a moment it became a flame, +and, as he rushed to the spot, a lad fell into his arms. Clutching his +collar with his left hand in spite of kicks and scratches, he hauled his +prisoner back to the verandah, and, thrusting in his right arm beneath +the floor, drew out the blazing rags and threw them on the gravel walk +or on the grass until he was sure that not one remained. Some watcher at +the front window had alarmed the guard-room, for out tumbled its +occupants, and the lad was secured by Nash, and handed over to the +Captain and Mr. Errol. Calling to Toner to keep an eye on the whole +front, the detective, taking in the situation, hastened to the stables +along with the lawyer, while the Squire and Mr. Perrowne went round the +back way on the same errand. No guard was visible, and there was fire in +two places, both happily outside sheds, one abutting on the garden +fence, the other farther to the right. The Squire went for water-pails, +while Nash and the veteran followed the course of the incendiaries +towards the bush guarded by Rufus. But the lawyer and the parson, +seizing stout poles, which were apparently Tryphena's clothes props, +knocked the blazing sheds to pieces with them, and scattered the burning +boards over the ground. Before the water came, the report of a rifle, a +fowling piece, and of several pistol shots, rang through the air. No +more signs of fire were discovered, so the water was poured upon the +still burning boards, and the firemen waited for the report of the +pursuers. While thus waiting, they heard a groan, and, going to the +place whence it proceeded, discovered Timotheus, with a gag plaster on +his mouth and an ugly wound on the back of his head, lying close to the +garden fence below the fired shed. Some water on his face revived him, +and at the same time moistened the plaster, but as it would not come +off, Coristine cut it open with his penknife between the lips of the +sufferer. Even then he could hardly articulate, yet managed to ask if +all was safe and to thank his deliverers. He was helped into the house, +and delivered over to the awakened and dressed Tryphena and Tryphosa, +the latter behaving very badly and laughing in a most unfeeling way at +the comical appearance cut by her humble swain. When Tryphena removed +the plaster, and Tryphosa, returning to duty with an effort, bathed his +head, the wounded sentry felt almost himself again, and guaised he must +ha' looked a purty queer pictur. Soon after, Rufus staggered into the +kitchen in a similar condition, and his affectionate sisters had to turn +their attention to the Baby. These were all the casualties on the part +of the garrison, and, overpowered though the two sentries had been, +their arms had not been taken by the enemy. + +The Squire went forward to see after the welfare of his father-in-law, +and found Mr. Terry carrying his own rifle and the gun of Sylvanus, +while the said Pilgrim helped the detective to carry a groaning mass of +humanity towards the kitchen hospital. + +"Oi tuk my man this toime, Squire," said Mr. Terry, gleefully; "Oi wuz +marciful wid the crathur and aimed for the legs av' im. It's a foine +nate little howl this swate roifle has dhrilled in his shkin, an' niver +a bone shplit nor a big blood vissel tapped, glory be, say Oi!" + +It appeared, on examination of the parties, that Ben Toner and Sylvanus +had indulged in a prolonged talk at the point where their beats met, +during which a party of six, including the two prisoners, creeping up +silently through the bush, prostrated Rufus with the blow of a bludgeon +on the back of the head. Then, they advanced and repeated the operation +on Timotheus, after which three of them, with cotton cloths soaked in +oil, fired the sheds and the verandah. But for the lawyer's discovery of +the spark under the latter, the fire might have been beyond control in a +few minutes, and the end of the murderous gang accomplished. The whole +household was roused; indeed, save in the case of the children, it can +hardly be said to have been asleep. Mrs. Carruthers descended, and, +sending Tryphosa to look after her young family, helped her father to +bind up the wound of the grizzled incendiary, who refused to give any +account of himself. "I know him," said the detective to the Squire; "his +name is Newcome and he's a bad lot." Soon the Captain and Mr. Errol +brought their prisoner in. The hospital and guard-room was the winter +kitchen of the house, a spacious apartment almost unused during the +summer months. When the lad was brought into it, he seemed to recognize +the place with his dull big grey eyes, and spoke the first words he had +uttered since his capture. "Bread and meat for Monty." "Why," said +Tryphena, "it's the ijut boy." "So it is," ejaculated Mrs. Carruthers, +"What is your name, Monty?" With an idiotic smile on his face, but no +light in those poor eyes, he answered: "Monty Rawn, and mother's in the +water place." Mrs. Carruthers explained that the lad had been often in +the kitchen in winter, and that she had told Tryphena to feed him well +and be kind to him, so that it is no wonder he recognized the scene of +his former enjoyment. "Puir laddie," said the Squire, "he's no' +responsible, but the born deevil that set him on should be hanged, +drawn, and quartered." + +"Squire," answered Mr. Errol, "I'm aye on the side o' maircy, but to yon +I say Amen." + +"Come, come!" Carruthers cried hastily, regaining his natural speech; +"we must take off these haverals, Sylvanus and Toner, and bring them in +to guard the prisoners. They are not fit for sentry duty." Leaving the +Captain and the veteran as temporary guards, he sallied forth, followed +by the lawyer and the two parsons. + +To the Squire's great delight, he found the dominie walking up and down +the front of the house, humming "A charge to keep I have." "Mr. +Wilkinson," he said, "you're a pairfec' treasure," and that so loud +that the schoolmaster was sure it was heard by the occupants of the +window over the porch. He marched along with redoubled pride and +devotion. Mr. Perrowne took Toner's place, and the lawyer that of +Sylvanus. Carruthers marched the two haverals to the kitchen, and placed +the prisoners in their charge, after roundly abusing them for talking on +guard. This set free the Captain and Mr. Terry, who were posted together +by the outbuildings, although the veteran was very anxious to go down to +the bush for the purpose of potting the Lake Settlement haythens. There +being no post for the minister, he was appointed hospital chaplain and +commander of the prisoners' guard. Mr. Nash, carrying Ben's gun, was +investigating the strip of bush and the clump of birches down the hill +for traces of the enemy. While so doing, two pistol bullets flew past +his head and compelled him to seek the cover of a tree trunk. Finding he +could do nothing in the imperfect light, he retired gradually towards +the sentries, and aided them in their weary watch. At length, as +daylight was coming in, and affording a pretext for the fair occupants +of the front room, whose windows hailed the beams of the rising sun, to +leave their seclusion and mingle with the wakeful ones below, the sound +of wheels was heard coming along the road to the left. Hurriedly, the +detective became Mr. Chisholm, and joined the dominie at the gate. There +were three men in the waggon, and one of them was the Grinstun man, as +cheerful as ever. What was in the waggon could not be seen, as it was +covered over with buffalo robes and tarpaulin, but the detective could +have sworn he saw it move, and give forth a sound not unlike a groan. +Mr. Rawdon jumped down, telling a certain Jones of truculent countenance +to drive on, as he guessed he'd walk the rest of the way this fine +morning. The waggon drove off accordingly and at a rapid rate, while the +working geologist accosted the sentinels. + +"Wy, wot's hup 'ere, gents? 'Ere you hare on guard yet, and Jones there +terls me 'ee 'eard shots fired has 'ee was comin' along slowly. I 'ope +there hain't no gang o' city burglars bin tryin' hany o' their larks on +the Squire. We don't want none o' that sort hout in rural parts." + +The dominie and the detective declined to satisfy him, but the former +said:-- + +"I thought you had pressing business at Collingwood, Mr. Rawdon?" + +"So I 'ad, and stand to lose two or three 'undred dollars by missin' the +mornin' train. But, wen I got quite a step on the road, all of a sudding +I remembers my hoffer to Miss Do Please-us, and 'er hanswer as was to be +hat the Post Hoffice before ten. So I turned back, hand, lucky for me, +fell in with Jones and 'is man takin' 'ome some things from town. But, +come! tell a man can't you? 'As there bin any burglary or hanythink, any +haccident, anybody 'urt? I've got an hour and more to spare, if I can be +of any 'elp." + +"I don't think we need trouble you, Rawdon," said the false Chisholm. +"Your suspicions are correct so far, that an attempt has been made to +fire the Squire's house, but by whom is a mystery, for there is no man +more respected in the neighbourhood." + +"Respected! I should say 'ee is. Fire 'is 'ouse! O Lor'! wot a bloomin' +shame! Really, I must go him, if it's honly for a hinstant to hexpress +my feelins of hindignation to the Carrutherses." + +The Grinstun man entered the gate, which was just what the detective did +not want. However, he held it open for him, saying: "You'll find the +Squire in his office talking to Nash, but I don't suppose he'll mind +being interrupted for a minute. Mrs. Carruthers is in the kitchen, and +you'll likely meet an old acquaintance of yours there, Mr. Perrowne of +Tossorontio." + +Rawdon drew back. Nash he knew: Mr. Perrowne, of Tossorontio, he did +not; but the unknown to men of his stamp is often more dreaded than the +known. He wouldn't intrude upon his friends just now, while everything +must be upset. Playfully, he asked Favosites Wilkinsonia to remind Miss +Do Please-us of that hoffer and the hanswer before ten, and straightway +resumed his journey in the direction of the Lake Settlement. + +"Of all the impudent blackguards that I have met in the course of my +experience, that fellow takes the cake," said the detective, removing +his disguise. + +"What about Jones and the waggon?" asked the dominie. + +"The waggon is the one I saw when patrolling. Jones and his man are two +of the ruffians who were in it. Old Newcome, here, is a third. The +boy--by-the-bye, what a wonderful inspiration that was of yours to give +us Idiot and Boy for passwords--well, the boy must have come from some +other quarter. But there's either one or two wounded men under these +buffaloes and bits of canvas, for I hit one in the waggon and sent the +contents of Ben's gun after another down the hill. They both squealed. +Men of that kind almost always squeal when they're hit. The impudence of +that fellow Rawdon! Pon't forget Miss Du Plessis' letter; that's our +card now. Never in all my life have I met with such colossal cheek!" + +The Squire came out and dismissed the guard. The parson and the lawyer +strolled in together after Wilkinson and Nash. Coristine remarked "The +sunshine is a glorious birth, as my friend Wilkinson would say." + +"Yes," answered Perrowne; "it brings to memory one verse of Holy Writ: +'Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to +behold the sun.' The words are very simple, but beautiful in their +simplicity. People are apt to say there's no dogma in them, and that's +why they are so acceptable to all. But that's a mistake. They contain a +double dogma; for they make a dogmatic statement about light, and +another about the relation of the sun to the human eye. In the Church we +down't get much training in dogma, outside of the dogma of the Church, +and a little in the Articles and the Catechism. Sow Mr. Enrol often +flores me with his texts. But I down't bear him any malice, you know, +nor any malice to dogma, so long as it's the dogma of the Holy +Scriptures; because that is just like the verse I quoted, it says what +is true of a thing in itself, or in its relation to man. To reject that +sort of dogma is to reject the truth." + +"Still," replied the lawyer, "a man in a burning desert, or who had been +sunstruck, might curse the sun." + +"Very true; but you know how wrong is the motto _ex uno disce omnes_. +Believe that, and we are all scoundrels, because your Grinstun man was +once under this roof." + +"There are, however, many ecclesiastical dogmas professedly taken from +the Bible, against which good men, and earnest seekers after truth, +rebel." + +"Of course! Mr. Errol says--I do wish he were a Churchman, he is such a +thoughtful, clever fellow--he says prejudice, imperfect induction, a +wrong application of deductive logic, and one-sided interpretation, +down't you know, literal, figurative, and all that sort of thing, are +causes of false dogmatic assertions." + +"My friend Wilkinson, who is a long way past me in these matters, thinks +the dogmatists forget that Revelation was a gradual thing, that the ages +it came to were like classes in a graded school, and each class got only +as much as it could understand, both mentally and morally; and as, of +course, it was able to express." + +"Yes; Errol says the same, but with exceptions; because the prophets +said a whowle lot of things they didn't understand. But, my dear fellow, +whatever is the matter with your hands and face? You're burnt, you pore +sowl, and never said a word about it. Come on here, I saye; come on!" + +Mr. Perrowne laid hold on the lawyer's arm, and dragged him into the +hall. "Miss Marjorie!" he called; "hi! Miss Carmichael, come along here, +quick, I beg of you, please." The lady invoked came running out of the +breakfast room, looking very pretty in her fright. "Look here, Miss +Marjorie, at our pore friend's hands and face, all got by saving you +ladies from being burnt alive." + +Miss Carmichael exhibited great concern, and took the patient, who +insisted his wounds were nothing to make a fuss over, into the work +room, setting him down, with the pressure of her two hands on his broad +shoulders, in a comfortable chair between a sewing machine and a small +table. Then she brought warm water, and sponged the hands, anointed the +wounds with some home-made preparation, and clothed them in a pair of +her uncle's kid gloves, which were so large and baggy that she had to +sit down and laugh at her victim, who felt very happy and very foolish. +Finally she found that Mr. Errol, whose hands were more shapely, had an +old pair of gloves in his pocket. So the Squire's were taken off, and +the discovery made that the hands needed more washing, soaping, and +anointing. Coristine said his ring, a very handsome one, hurt him; +would Miss Carmichael please take it off and keep it for him? Miss +Carmichael removed the obnoxious ring, and did not know where to put it, +but, in the meantime, to prevent its being lost, slipped it on to one of +her own fingers, which almost paralyzed the lawyer with joy. He could +have sat there forever; but the gong sounded for prayers, and he +accompanied his nurse into the dining-room. There the whole household +was assembled, even to the idiot Monty, with the exception of Tryphena, +engaged in culinary duties, and Sylvanus, who mounted guard over the +wounded Newcome. Ben Toner also was absent, having ridden off to summon +Dr. Halbert. Mr. Perrowne, at the Squire's request, read the chapter for +the day, and the minister offered a prayer, brief but fervent, returning +thanks for the deliverance of the past night, and imploring help in +every time of need, after which the entire company, Mr. Terry included, +joined in the Lord's Prayer. Adjourning to the breakfast room, the +events of the night were discussed over the porridge, the hot rolls and +coffee and the other good things provided. Mr. Terry had been induced to +desert the kitchen for once, and he and Coristine were the heroes of the +hour. The lawyer put in a good word for the parson, and the Squire for +Wilkinson, so that Miss Du Plessis and the other ladies were compelled +to smile on both gentlemen. While the dominie blushed, the Captain +settled his eye on him. "I told him when he was aboard the _Susan +Thomas_ that, with all his innercent sort of looks, he was a sly dog, +with his questions about an old man's pretty niece. I knowed I'd see him +in Flanders makin' up to the gals, the sly dog! Got set down right beam +on to their weather ports every time, even when he wasn't told to go on +watch at all, the sly dog. Wilkison is his name; it'll be Will-kiss-em +some day, ha! ha! ha! the sly dog!" + +The schoolmaster was dreadfully uncomfortable, and his lady teacher +hardly less so. It was a blessed relief when a buggy drove up to the +gate, and Mrs. Carruthers, having left her sister-in-law in charge while +she went out to meet its occupants, returned shortly with the doctor and +his blooming daughter, who, as a friend of the family, insisted on +accompanying him to offer her services if she could be of help. + +"Come, Doctor!" said the Squire, rising with the rest of the party to +greet him and his companion; "the patients are in no immediate danger, +so you and Miss Fanny must sit down and help us with breakfast." + +Miss Fanny was nothing loath to do so, after an invigorating drive, and +in the company of such a number of eligible bachelors as was rarely seen +in Flanders. She had a word for Mr. Errol, for the detective, for the +lawyer and the dominie, but to Wilkinson's great relief she finally +pitched upon Mr. Perrowne and held him captive. Then Wilkinson improved +the time with Miss Du Plessis, using as his excuse the letter or note +she was to send to Rawdon declining his offer for the present, which the +schoolmaster expressed his desire personally to take to the office. +Breakfast over, the doctor inspected his patients, Newcome, Rufus, and +Timotheus. The two latter he dismissed as all the better of a little +blood letting, recommending lots of cold water applied externally. The +case of the incendiary was more serious, but not likely to be fatal. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + Doctor Summoned to the Select Encampment--Newcome + Interviewed--Nash's Discovery--His Venture--Drop the + Handkerchief--The Dominie's Indignation--The Pedestrians + Detained--The Doctor Stays--A Trip to the Lakes--Conversation on + the Way--The Richards--Fishing--Songs--The Barrier in the + Channel--Nash's Dead Body Found--His Crazed Sister Comes to + Bridesdale. + + +It was only eight o'clock when the elders finished their breakfast, and +the children prepared to succeed them. All the party, except Mrs. +Carruthers and Mrs. Carmichael, who had domestic duties before them, and +Miss Du Plessis, who had her note to write, strolled out into the garden +in groups. Shortly, a buckboard drove up to the gate, and its occupant, +a washed out looking youth, enquired if the doctor was there, Dr. +Halbert. The subject of the enquiry went forward, and found that he was +wanted at the Select Encampment, for a man who had shot himself. + +"I tell you frankly, my man," said the doctor, "I don't care to go to +your Select Encampment; there is too much mystery about it." + +"I guess the pay's all O.K.," answered the youth. + +"Why do you not get Dr. Smallpiece to look after your man?" + +"'Cos we don't know nuthun about him, and he's too small a piece for our +boss. You best hurry up yer cakes and come on, doctor." + +Re-entering the house for his instruments, the doctor confided to +Carruthers his distaste for the work before him, on account of the +mystery surrounding it, but said he supposed it was his duty to relieve +human suffering. + +"Where is it?" asked the Squire. + +"All I can tell you is that it is out on the lakes beyond the Lake +Settlement." + +"I thocht as muckle," remarked the Squire to the detective, after the +doctor was carried away on the buckboard. + +"Let as go and see Newcome," said the detective; and the pair went round +to the kitchen, where the wounded man lay on an improvised couch, and +was waited upon by big Ben Toner, anxious for news of Serlizer. Mr. Nash +began:-- + +"The doctor says that talking won't hurt you, Newcome." + +"Dawn't spause 'twull," answered the surly fellow. + +"Setting fire to buildings with intent to take life is a hanging matter, +Newcome." + +"Oo said t'warnt?" + +"You seem prepared for your fate." + +"Ma vate was aw raight to I got t'bahl i'my laig." + +"I mean, you don't seem to care if you are going to be hanged." + +"Oo's a gaun to hahng us an' vor wat?" + +"You'll be hanged for arson with intent to kill. There are witnesses to +prove you threatened to kill me at least." + +Newcome started, and so did Ben. + +"Yaw cahn't prove nowt." + +"Yes I can. I've got your pocket book and the odd papers out of your +coat pocket." + +"Aw'll hae yaw oop vor stalun as well as shootun, zee iv I dawn't, yaw +bloody thafe!" + +"Keep a civil tongue in your head, man, or I'll send you to the lockup +at once," interposed the Squire. + +"Leave him to me Squire; I'll manage him," whispered Nash. + +Then, turning to the injurious Newcome, he continued: + +"Your daughter, Sarah Eliza, is at Rawdon's Select Encampment, where the +stuff you sell is turned out. She can give some fine evidence. The +Peskiwanchow crowd, the man that pretends to be called Jones, and the +rest of them, were picked up by you in a waggon, I know, last night. The +coal oil and fire marks are on your hands still, and this pretty rag +came out of your side pocket. What is more, I don't need to ask the +Squire here to commit you. I've got a warrant already, on the evidence +of Henry and Stokes and Steadman. I'll serve that warrant on you now, +and have you off to the county gaol, where Dr. Stapfer is bound to cut +off your leg, if you don't own up quick, for I have no time to lose." + +"Daw yaw thenk as Stapper ull ambitate ma laig?" + +"I'm sure of it. He always does; he has a perfect mania for amputation. +You know Driver?" + +"Yaas." + +"Who cut off his leg for a little bruise?" + +"T'wer Stapper." + +"And who cut of Sear's arm at the shoulder for a trifle of a rusty +nail?" + +"Stapper taw. O, aw zay, Mezder Nahsh, dawn't zend us ta naw Stappers." + +"But I will, I must, if you don't confess immediately all that the +Squire and I want to know. Turn Queen's evidence, and make a clean +breast of it. You can't save Rawdon and his gang; we have them tight. +But confess, and I'll get you out on bail, and send you home to your +wife to be nursed; and, when the trials come, I'll get you off your +liquor charge with a fine. Refuse to, and you go straight to Stapfer's +to lose your leg, and then to the gallows." + +"Aw dawn't moind chancin' t'gallas, but ma laig! Wat daw yaw wahn't ta +knaw?" + +At once all the people, Ben included, were ordered out of the hospital, +and Coristine, much to his disgust, sent for. His hands were useless +for writing, but, as he had a good memory, he could help in the +examination. So Mr. Errol was called in to act as clerk, Mr. Perrowne +refusing to do so, on the ground that all confessions made in the +presence of a clergyman are sacred. Little by little the hardened old +sinner revealed Rawdon's business, its centre and methods, his +accomplices and victims. Then the whole story of the plot which +culminated in the night attack was drawn from him, appearing blacker and +more diabolical at every new revelation of villainy. It appeared that +the Grinstun man had with him in the attack, which he conducted +personally, his own six men from the so called Encampment, together with +the idiot boy, and two lots of teamsters or distributors, the five from +Peskiwanchow brought by Newcombe, and four from another quarter. He had +thus sixteen ruffians in his force, besides himself and the boy. + +"Whose boy is that?" asked the detective, eagerly. He had been looking +closely at the lad more than once and listening to his voice. + +"Ah beeslong ta Rowdon." + +"Who is his mother?" asked Nash, with a strange light in his eye. + +"Her's cawd Tilder." + +"Is she Rawdon's wife? Speak, man!" + +"Naw, nawt az aw niver heerd." + +"What was her name before he--brought her there?" + +"Aw donno, but t'lahd's cawd Mawnta Nehgull." + +"O my God!" cried the detective, as he fell back in his chair, and +seemed to lose all power of speech. + +"Come away, Nash," said the Squire, taking one arm of the stricken man, +while Mr. Errol, handing his notes to the lawyer, took the other. They +led him tenderly to the office, where Carruthers forced a glass of wine +upon him. Nash revived, and begged that the door might be closed and +locked. + +"I may never have a chance to tell this again, so I want to tell it to +you two, and to you alone. My real name is Nagle, not Nash. I was born +in Hamilton, where my father was a wheelwright. I got a good schooling, +and went into a lawyer's office, for father wanted me to become a +lawyer. But I got reading detective books, and did a few sharp things +for the firm that got me into notice and brought me private detective +business. So I got on till I rose to be what I am, such as it is. When +my parents died they left my sister Matilda in my care. I was only +twenty then, and she, eighteen, a bright, pretty girl. She kept my rooms +for me, but I was away most of the time, so she became tired of it, as +we had no relations and hardly any friends we cared to associate with. +She insisted on leaving me and learning the millinery in Toronto; so I +had to let her go. I saw her often, and frequently sent her money. She +got good wages at last and dressed well, and seemed to have respectable +people about her. Suddenly her letters stopped. I went to her place of +business, and heard that she had left to be married to a rich man in the +country; but nobody, not even her closest acquaintances among the girls, +knew where, or who the man was. I advertised, neglected business to hunt +up every clue, travelled all over the country looking for my lost +sister, promised my dead parents never to marry till I found her. And at +last, at last, O God! I have found Matilda, and you know where, a woman +without name or character, the victim of the greatest scoundrel unhung, +the associate of brutal criminals, the unlawful mother of an idiot boy! +No! no more wine, Squire, not a drop. I want a steady head and a strong +hand this morning more than any day of my life. Open the door and the +windows now, please; and give me a little air." + +Nash, for so he may still be called, sent Coristine away to Talfourd's +for his bundle, and Miss Du Plessis, having handed the note for Rawdon +to the dominie, accompanied the hero of the gloves in the Squire's +buggy, so as to lose no time. Wilkinson was warned not to post the +letter before his comrade's return. While waiting in the office, Mr. +Errol, whose heart was deeply touched, locked the door again, saying: +"John, let us kneel down and pray our Heavenly Father to comfort our +friend in his great sorrow, and bless him in his present work." The +Squire knelt with the minister, and the detective fell on his knees +beside him, their hearts joining in the quiet but earnest supplications +of the good man of religion. When they rose from their knees, Nash, +almost tearfully, pressed their hands and bade God bless them. + +Coristine enjoyed the society of Miss Du Plessis; nevertheless he drove +fast, for the business demanded haste. The buggy returned in little over +half an hour, and the bundle was handed to the detective, who took it up +stairs, and, soon after, descended as a countryman, in flannel shirt, +light soiled coat, and overalls. The rim of his wideawake was drawn down +all round, half hiding his face disguised with a ragged beard. It could +not conceal his refined, almost aristocratic, features, but such a +country type is not uncommon in many parts of Canada, even accompanied +with perfect boorishness. His boots were small, which also was quite +Canadian, but he had rubbed the blacking off, and trusted to the dust +still further to disguise them. Smiling and courteous, he bade everybody +whom he could trust good-bye, and slipped a large pocket-book full of +money and memoranda into the hands of the Squire. "You can keep it till +I come back," he said; "if I don't, get Mr. Errol and this lawyer chap, +who seems a good fellow, to help you to make it out." Then, the dominie +expressed his readiness to take the note to the post office, and Miss Du +Plessis, a little piqued at Coristine's apparent want of attention to +her, said that, if Mr. Wilkinson had no objections, she should, above +all things, like a short walk after a cramping drive. The schoolmaster +was only too delighted, in spite of Mr. Perrowne's glance of jealousy, +which Miss Halbert saw and noted with a tap of her dainty foot on the +verandah. So, Wilkinson and his inamorata tripped along the road, and, +some distance behind them, shambled Simon Larkin, the hawbuck from away +back, alias Mr. Nash. The children came out to play, led by Marjorie. +Perrowne was still talking to Miss Halbert, Mr. Errol was closeted with +the Squire, and the Captain and the veteran, on a garden bench, were +telling yarns. "Cousin Marjorie," said her juvenile namesake, "we are +going to play drop the handkerchief, because we've got such a lot of +nice people to play it" Miss Carmichael answered: "Oh no, Marjorie, try +some other game." But Marjorie insisted. So, a ring was formed, with +Marjorie as handkerchief holder, outside. The ring consisted of the +Captain and little Susan Carruthers, Mr. Perrowne and Marjorie of the +same family, Coristine and Miss Halbert, Mr. Terry, pipe and all, and +Honoria junior, John Carruthers junior and Miss Carmichael, and baby +Michael, but with whom? Marjorie suggested the two aunties and Tryphosa, +but finally concluded that there had to be an odd one any way, so baby +Michael took the Captain's hand and Miss Carmichael's, and the game +began. Of course Marjorie dropped the handkerchief on her Eugene, and +Eugene caught her and kissed her with great gusto. Then he had to drop +it, and Honoria saluted him with effusion. Mr. Perrowne was her choice, +and the parson, tell it not in Gath, the perfidious parson gave himself +away on Miss Halbert, who captured him, blushed, and submitted. The +Captain and Mr. Terry were becoming indignant and shocked. Miss Halbert +had mercy on John Carruthers junior, who went wild with delight, and +brought out Miss Carmichael. She, pitying the Captain, gave him the +handkerchief and a long chase, but Mr. Thomas finally triumphed, and +chose Susan Carruthers as his victim. Susan took grandpa, who pocketed +his pipe, and, after a sounding smack, passed the handkerchief on to his +grandchild Marjorie. She, true to her name, chose the lawyer, and that +gentleman, emboldened by the parson's precedent, dropped the terrible +symbol on the shoulder of the girl who was all the world to him. She +pursued him, and he ran as he well could do, but at last he got weak and +tired, and she overtook him against her will and his, and Coristine was +in the seventh heaven of delight. They could take him and trample on +him, and flaunt his recreancy before Wilkinson even; he didn't want to +kiss any more, even the fresh young lips of the children. He wanted that +one impression to stay forever. + +Miss Du Plessis and the dominie were not in a hurry to get back to +Bridesdale. She had received a letter from her mother, saying that Uncle +Morton was coming to see her, and that she would try to induce him to +accompany her to the country, as she did not wish to shorten her +daughter's brief holiday by calling her home. Imparting the news to +Wilkinson, a long and interesting conversation began which branched off +into a variety of topics, treated seriously, at times poetically, by the +kindred minds. Miss Da Plessis was quite unreserved, yet dignified, and +without a trace of coquetry; nevertheless, the dominie assured himself +that Mr. Perrowne had not a ghost of a chance in that quarter. She was +pleased with the generous way in which he referred to his companion +pedestrian, in spite of the provocation which she knew the lawyer had +given his friend. The adventures of the past night, the fresh air of the +morning, the rural scenery and his delightful companionship, made the +schoolmaster eloquent; yet his sense of propriety and natural politeness +kept him from monopolizing the conversation, so that his silent +attention was even more flattering than his appeals to the lady's +intelligence and culture. Outside of the English classics and current +literature, her reading lay chiefly among French and Spanish authors, +most of which were not unknown to the studious dominie. A few ripples of +well-bred amusement were raised by his recital of his experience at the +Beaver River, where he found the Voyage autour de mon Jardin, especially +by his specimens of Lajeunesse French and the story of the dug-out. Of +course, he did not offend a lady's ear with a word so vulgar; it was +always the canoe. Too soon the pleasant morning walk was over, and they +stood before the garden gate at Bridesdale, just at the moment when +Coristine accidentally stumbled and was captured by the fair possessor +of the handkerchief. "How good of your friend to please the children by +taking part in their games," remarked Miss Du Plessis in all sincerity. +"I cannot express the depth of my humiliation," replied the dominie; "it +is scandalous--a violation of the rights of hospitality." + +"But, see! Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Perrowne is there; and Fanny also." + +"I have nothing to do, Miss Du Plessis, judging them that are without; +Mr. Coristine pertains to my inner circle, and shall know my opinion of +his shameful conduct before the sun rises much higher in the heavens." + +"Hi! there, shipmate," bawled the Captain, "come on and add a link to +this here endless chain. I told you your real name, you sly dog! Ha, ha! +Will-kiss-em, eh Marjorie? Not you, you little puss; but your cousin +there, colourin' up like a piney rose." + +"I relinquished such sports with my pinafores," answered the dominie, +grandly. + +It was very unjustifiable of Mr. Perrowne, but two things annoyed him; +one being the fact that he was equally guilty with the lawyer, the +other that Miss Du Plessis had deserted him for this prig of a +schoolmaster. Loud enough to be heard by all, he remarked:-- + +"A very learned and distinguished man was once playing with some +children, when he suddenly cried, 'Children, we must stop, for I see a +fool coming.' What do you think of that, Captain!" + +"Never said a truer word in your life," growled Mr. Thomas, and +continued, "anything as calls itself a man and can't romp with the +youngsters, nor give a joke and take it, had ought to be set in a high +chair with a bib, let alone petticuts." + +"He said pinnies, papa," Marjorie corrected. + +"Pinnies or petticuts, it's all the same thing. Me and Terry here, old +enough to be his fathers!" + +"An' it 'ud be a grate 'anner for me, anyway, to be father to a foine, +praper, illigant gintleman loike Mishter Wilkerson," put in the veteran, +anxious to keep the peace. The embers, however, were smoking on both +sides when little Marjorie ran up to the dominie and, taking his hand, +said beseechingly: "Please don't scold the poor boys and girls, Wilks, +because it was my fault--all my fault. I made them play. Now, put down +your head and kiss me, and say, 'I forgive you this once, but don't you +go to do it again'; just like papa says." + +There was no help for it, though everybody laughed to hear the terror of +the Sacheverell Street school called Wilks, and the grown-up people, +girls and boys. The dominie had to repeat the formula and seal it with a +kiss, when the perfidious child turned upon him very gravely, saying: +"Now, sir, you can't speak, for you've done it your very own self." Thus +it was that a storm was averted, and "drop the handkerchief" broke up in +good nature. + +"Corry," said his friend, "I'm going upstairs for my knapsack. You had +better get yours, and prepare to follow our route. Colonel Morton and +Miss Du Plessis are coming here, so that we, as entire strangers, ought +no longer to intrude upon the hospitality of Mrs. Carruthers." + +"All right, Wilks, my boy!" replied the tender-hearted lawyer, who felt +as if his heart was breaking. In a few minutes the pedestrians descended +ready for the road, when the Squire opened his office door and threw up +his arms in amazement. + +"What in aa conscience is the meanin' o' this?" + +Wilkinson explained, and expressed a desire to find Mrs. Carruthers, +that he might thank her for her kind hospitality. + +"Here, gudewife, and as ye four Marjories, and Miss Cecile," cried +Carruthers, lustily, "come ye as here, and garr thae twa wanderin' Jews +bide." + +Then there was a commotion, as the ladies flocked with the children into +the hall, with many exclamations of astonishment and reproach, +surrounding the recreant young men. Mr. Errol, the Captain, the veteran, +and even Mr. Perrowne, came to learn what was the matter. When they +heard the intentions of the pair, Mr. Thomas and the parson were +prepared to make the most abject apologies to the dominie, who insisted +that there was no necessity; on the contrary, he alone was to blame, but +all that was past. Mrs. Carruthers would not hear of their going just as +they were becoming so pleasantly acquainted, assured them that +Bridesdale had ample accommodation, and commanded the veteran to form a +company of his grandchildren and arrest the would-be deserters. Marjorie +clung to her Eugene's right leg. Mr. Errol accused him of stealing away +with his gloves, and finally the lawyer confided to Mrs. and Miss +Carmichael that he didn't want to go a bit, was never happier in his +life. Miss Du Plessis put a hand on the dominie's arm, a hand that +tingled away in to his very heart, and said her uncle would be so +disappointed when he arrived to find that his friends of Collingwood had +not deemed him worth waiting for. Finally, the Squire took them both +aside, and, speaking seriously, said he had no right selfishly to detain +them, but the time was critical, poor Nash was away on a dangerous +errand, and their services, already great and highly appreciated, might +yet be of the greatest importance. Besides, after the fatigue and +excitement of the past night, they were not fit to travel. The dominie +confessed that, with all the excitement and possible danger, he had +enjoyed himself amazingly, that his only motive for leaving was the fear +of trespassing upon the kindness of Mrs. Carruthers, and that, if his +humble services were of any value, he trusted the Squire would draw +upon them to the utmost. The lawyer, hearing his companion's decision, +wanted to give a wild Irish hurroo, but, checking himself, ground the +Squire's right hand with his own kid-gloved afflicted member, as if he +had been a long lost brother. When they next reached the hall, Miss +Halbert was there taking in the situation with the other young ladies. +She had already seen enough to know that neither of her fair companions +was capable of properly addressing the culprits, so she made up for +their deficiency, saying: "Go upstairs at once, you naughty boys, and +take off these pads." The naughty boys ascended, with a strangely +combined feeling of joy and smallness, and, when the knapsacks were +removed, Coristine sank into a chair laughing. "O Lord, Wilks," he said, +"she called them pads!" + +The doctor arrived in time for dinner, and reported three wounded men +instead of one. Two had pistol wounds that had evidently been attended +to from the first, the other had a gunshot in the back, and must have +dragged himself a long way after it, for he was almost gone with loss of +blood. "That'll be the chiel' puir Nash fired at wi' Ben's gun," said +Carruthers. + +"Can your wife put me and Fanny up for the night, John?" asked the +doctor, looking serious. + +"Just delighted to do so," replied the Squire; "we have more space than +we know how to fill." + +"I must tell you why. These rough fellows at the Encampment are furious, +and one of them, in his gratitude, warned me, on no account, to be in or +near your house to-night." + +"Doctor, that's another thing. I have no right to let you risk yourself +and Miss Fanny in time of danger in my house." + +"But we will, John. Come here, Fanny!" Telling his daughter the +circumstances, the doctor asked her decision, and she at once answered: +"Of course, Mr. Carruthers, we shall stay. Papa has two pistols in his +gig, and, if necessary, will lend me one. I am a good shot, am I not, +papa?" + +"Yes, John, she has a fine eye and nerve for a mark." + +At the dinner table Doctor Halbert conversed with the pedestrians about +the scenery they had passed through, and recommended them, by all +means, not to fail in visiting the Flanders' lakes. He informed them +that they constitued a long and perplexing chain, being more like a long +continuous sheet of water, narrowing every here and there into straits, +affording little more than room enough for two boats to pass through, +than an actual succession of lakes. To penetrate far in would be +dangerous, but his guide had informed him that no visitors to the first +three ran any risk of interference. + +"By the bye, Miss Cecile," interrupted the Squire, "some of these lakes +are your property, are they not?" + +"Yes, Mr. Carruthers," the lady replied; "but they would be so no longer +if a very kind friend had not paid the taxes for them." + +"Hoot toot, lassie, what's the taxes on a bittock o' wild land and +useless water?" + +"I should like above all things to see these lakes," remarked the +dominie. + +"Do you know," said Mr. Perrowne, "for sow long a time as I have been in +Flanders, I have never seen the lakes. One down't like to gow alowne, +you know." + +"I say we go this afternoon," proposed the lawyer. + +"I'm with you, sir," responded the minister. "We'll drop cricket and +golf, the day, Perrowne." Then in a whisper to Carruthers, "I'm anxious +about poor Nash." + +"Then, meenister, see that ye aa tak' your revolvers and cartridges. I +can supply you and Perrowne." + +Coristine proposed to botanize, but did not care to detain the +expedition by continually opening his knapsack, nor to incommode himself +with the burden of the strap press. He regretted that he had not brought +his vasculum, when Miss Carmichael spoke up, and said that she would +furnish him with one when the party was ready to start. After dinner the +company lounged for half an hour on the verandah and in the garden. +There the Captain made up his mind to go with the exploring party, and +take charge of Richards' scow on the first lake, that being the only +craft available. Ben Toner came round from the kitchen and asked the +Squire if he had anything for him to do, as Sylvanus wanted to stay with +old man Newcome and read the Bible to him. + +"Do you know the lakes, Toner?" asked Mr. Carruthers. + +"If you don't mind Squier, I'd sooner you'd call me Ben." + +"Well, Ben, then?" + +"Yaas, leastways I've ben at the laiuk as is nighes to han.'" + +"Do you mind taking your gun, and looking out for sport with these +gentlemen?" + +"They isn't nawthin I'd laike bettr'en that." + +So, Ben got his gun and ammunition, and the Captain was furnished with a +stout walking-cane loaded in the head. The two parsons, the dominie, and +the lawyer had pistols in their pockets. When ready to start, Miss +Carmichael came up to Coristine carrying some mysterious object behind +her back. Rapidly bringing it forward, she threw a thick green cord over +the lawyer's shoulders, from which depended a browny black japanned tin +candle-box. Of course, it was an accident that the cord was short, and +that Coristine bent his head just as the fair damsel stood on tiptoe to +adjust the improvised vasculum. + +"I hope I didn't hurt you with my awkwardness, Miss Carmichael," pleaded +the penitent knight of the order of the candle-box. + +"Not at all, Mr. Coristine, it was my fault. I am afraid your nose +suffered." + +"Ha! ha!" chuckled the Captain, "young fellows can stand a lot o' that +sort o' punishment. Reefs o' that kind don't do human vessels no harm." + +Wilkinson was getting sick of the Captain and his aggressive vulgarity. +Coristine didn't mind him; anybody belonging to Miss Carmichael was, for +the present, delightful. Nevertheless, for marching purposes, he fell in +with Toner, while the Captain accompanied Mr. Errol, and Wilkinson, Mr. +Perrowne. They had six miles to tramp, which took them a good hour and +a-half. The Captain discussed navigation in Scripture times with the +minister, and decided that the Jews might have been good at punting +round, but were a poor seafaring lot. The dominie and the parson were +deep in the philosophy of the affections, in the course of which +excursus the former quoted the words:-- + + Like Dian's kiss, unasked, unsought, + Love gives itself, it is not bought + Nor voice nor sound betrays + Its deep, impassionated gaze. + + It comes, the beautiful, the free, + The crown of all humanity, + In silence and alone. + To seek the elected one. + +Mr. Perrowne was struck with these verses, and, taking out his note +book, begged that his companion would repeat them, as he recorded their +sublime sentiment for future use. They then proceeded to eulogize Miss +Du Plessis, of whom the parson formed a very high estimate, which he +qualified by the statement that, were he not in holy orders, he would +say Miss Fanny Halbert was more fun and ever so much jollier. Mr. +Wilkinson really could not say, speaking conscientiously and without +reserve, that he regarded jollity as an essential element in true +womanhood. In his estimation it sank the peculiar grace and sacred +dignity of the sex too nearly to a level with ordinary prosaic humanity. +Mr. Perrowne concurred in a measure, but thought it was awfully nice for +men of serious occupations, like the dominie and himself, to have +somebody to liven them up a little; not too much, down't you know, but +just enough to dispel the blues. The lawyer interrogated Toner. "Well, +Ben, have you got any news of your young lady?" + +"Yaas, Doctor." + +"Never mind calling me doctor, Ben, because I'm not one yet. My name is +Coristine." + +"Then, Mr. Corsten, I heern from old man Newcome as Serlizer's out in +that there Slec Camp in the laiuks. She's cookin' for twainty dollars a +month, and that's tarble good wages for gals, ef so be she gets her +money all right." + +"Not a very nice place for a good girl to be, Ben." + +"No, it ain't; log roll and timber slide the hull consarn." + +"These are queer expressions you've got." + +"Yaas, Mr. Corsten, I waynt and promised that there priest as looked +like Mr. Nash, guaiss it must ha' bin his brother, as I wouldn't sweaur +no moer. And now, it keeps my mind workin' mornin' and night, so'st to +know what to spit out when I'm raiul mad and hoppen." + +"It must be quite an anxiety to you, Ben." + +"Anxiety? It's wearin' my life away. I've got a bit of a rest jest now +on loggin' and lumberin', but them words 'll soon be used up." + +"What's to hinder you repeating them, or leaving them out altogether? I +hardly ever feel the need of them." + +"It's the way you're broughten up, like your food. What 'ud do you for +dinner, wouldn't be nigh enough for me. Same ways in speakin', they must +be something to fill your talk out." + +"Swearing is a poor business, Ben. Our Saviour, when He was on earth, +said, Swear not at all." + +"Is that in the Bible, Mr. Corsten?" + +"Yes." + +"Wall, it may be in some, but t'aint in the one Sylvanus was readin' to +old man Newcome, fer that says in black and white as Jesus cussed the +barrn fig tree, and I'd laike to know what's odds between cussin' and +swearin'. It stands to reason and natur that He wouldn't go and tell +folks not to do things He did Himself; don't it?" + +"If you had read the chapters, there are two of them, that tell the +story of the fig tree, you would have found that the disciples called it +cursing when it was only a quiet saying: 'Let no fruit grow on thee +henceforth.' You wouldn't call that cursing, would you?" + +"O my, no, that ain't wuth callin' a cuss; they ain't no cuss about it. +Now, fer whole souled, brimstun heeled cuss words, they's----" + +"Never mind telling me any. They wouldn't do me any good, and the +clergyman forward there might hear them." + +"Do these clergy belong to the Church?" + +"They both think they do in different ways, but, strange to say, neither +of them belongs to your Church." + +"Wall, I ain't got no quarrl at 'em. I guaiss all the good folks 'll get +to Heaven somehow." + +"Amen!" answered the lawyer, and the conversation ended. + +There was no visible cart track to the lakes. If Rawdon's whiskey mill, +as Ben called it, was really somewhere among them, there must of +necessity have been a road tapping their shores at some point, for an +extensive business employing so many men could hardly exist without a +means of easy transportation. To the neighbourhood of the Lakes +Settlement, however, this road was a mystery. The party halted at a log +house by the side of the road proper, and Mr. Perrowne, who claimed +Richards as a parishioner, asked his wife if he and his friends could +have the use of her boat. Mrs. Richards gave the required permission +very graciously, and the excursionists struck into the bush path which +led to Lake No. 1, or Richards' Lake. The bush had once been +underbrushed, perhaps a long time back by the Indians who generally made +for water; but the underbrush was now replaced by a dense growth of +Canadian yew, commonly called Ground Hemlock, the crimson berry of which +is one of the prettiest objects in the vegetable world. It, and other +shrubs and small saplings, encroached on the narrow path, and, in +places, almost obliterated it. The land rose into a ridge a short +distance from the water, so that it was invisible until the crest was +reached. Then, a dark circular lake, seemingly altogether shut in by the +elsewhere dense forest, made its appearance. There were remains of a log +shelter near the shore on the left, and, between it and the somewhat +muddy beach, Toner lit a fire of drift wood to drive away the flies +which followed the party out of the bush. The punt was soon discovered +moored to a stake, a punt with three seats flush with the gunwales, one +each fore and aft, and one in the centre. + +"O, I saye," cried Mr. Perrowne, "look at that lovely little island out +there! See, you can hardly see it because of the black shadows. What a +place to fish! and here we are without a single rod." + +"Ain't no need to trouble about rods," remarked Ben; "I kin cut you +half-a-dozen in two shakes of a dead lamb's taiul." + +"And I've got three hooked lines," added the lawyer, producing part of +his Beaver River purchase from his breast pocket. The dominie did not +wish to trust himself in a doubtful craft with Coristine again, and he +distrusted the Captain, save on the _Susan Thomas_. His former success +in fishing, and his present pleasant relations with Perrowne, prompted +him to join that gentleman in practising the gentle art. But what about +bait? The question having been put to Toner, who returned with three +springy saplings, and worms having been suggested, that veteran +fisherman told Mr. Perrowne that he might as well look for a gold mine +as for worms in new land. When, however, some envelopes were produced +from various pockets, he proceeded to fill them with grasshoppers and +locusts. He also excavated a little pond near the shore, and gathered a +collection of caddice worms from the shallow border of the lake, after +which he found an old bait tin in the log shelter, that he filled with +water, into which he transferred the pond's inhabitants for +transportation. "Ef them baiuts don't suit, they's a heap o' little +frawgs in the grass of that there island," he finally remarked, before +unmooring the scow. Then the dominie and Mr. Perrowne got on board with +their rods, lines, and bait, and were poled and paddled by Ben over to +their isle of beauty. Their lines were in the water, and a bass was on +each hook, before the scow returned to the shore. + +Now the Captain took command of the craft, occupying the entire stern +thwart; while Ben, with his gun resting on the floor and pointing its +muzzles out over the bow, held that end of the vessel. The commander +would not allow the passengers who sat amidships to do any work, but +said they might talk or sing if they had a mind to. Then the lawyer +sang:-- + + The floatin' scow ob ole Virginny + I've toiled for many a day, + Workin' among de oyster beds, + To me it was but play. + +When he ended, Mr. Errol gave the company "Flow gently, Sweet Afton, +amang thy green braes," and Coristine wondered much if "My Mary" that +occurs in the song had any reference to a Marjorie, one who, as he said +inwardly, + + Shall never be thine, + But mine, but mine, so I fondly swear, + For ever and ever mine! + +After Mr. Errol's effort, which won applause from the Captain, the +lawyer waved his handkerchief as a farewell sign to the busy fishermen, +for, just at that moment, the apparently land-locked shore opened, and a +narrow channel between cliffs came into view. The second lake, into +which they soon glided, was more beautiful than the first. A few jays +and woodpeckers were flying about, and Toner was anxious to have a shot +at a golden woodpecker, which he called a Highholder, and which sat +unconcernedly on a limb within splendid range. Mr. Errol dissuaded him, +saying he had heard that the report of a gun was carried through all the +channels to the very end by the echoes, and reverberated there like the +noise of thunder; after last night, they had better be as quiet as +possible. To take his mind off the disappointment, Coristine asked Ben +if he could sing and paddle too. He guessed he could, as paddling wasn't +taking his breath away any. So Ben was pressed to sing, and at once +assumed a lugubrious air, that reminded the lawyer of The Crew. The song +was about a dying youth, who is asked what he will give in legacy to his +mother, his sister, and various other relatives. He is liberal to all, +till his lady-love's name is mentioned, and, for some unknown reason, +excites his indignation. The tune was not the same as The Crew's +copyright. + + "What will you give your sweetheart, my comfort and my joy? + What will you give your sweetheart, my darling boy?" + "Oh! a gallows to hang on! + Mother, make my bed soft; + I've a pain in my chest; + I want to lay down." + +The last line was sung in a very solemn and affecting monotone. +Coristine had to pretend to be deeply moved, to turn round facing the +Captain, and chew first his moustache and then half of his pocket +handkerchief. "Eh, Ben," said the graver minister, "I'm afraid that was +no' a very Christian spirit to die in." + +"No, your raiverence," replied the singer, "but ef I hadn't a knowed it +was old man Newcome as took Serlizer away, I'd be cant-hooked and +pike-poled ef I wouldn't ha' sung jest them words, that's ef I had a +paiun in my chaist and wanted to lay down." When they reached the third +lake, through a channel similar to the last, the Captain said sternly: +"I'm in command of this vessel, and expect orders to be obeyed. No more +singin' nor laughin' out nor loud talkin'. Doctor says it's as much as +life's worth to go beyond it. You've heerd orders; now mind 'em." +Everything was silent, save the soft dip of the paddles in the water; +the quiet was painfully oppressive. Ugly thoughts of bad men mingled +with a sense of the natural beauty of the scene. Toner in the bow +silently pointed to a square artificial-looking white object at the +entrance to the next channel, which was the limit of the voyage. At +last the punt came up to it, and its occupants found the channel barred +by a heavy grating, that passed down into the water. Above it was a +notice in the usual form, indicating the prosecution of trespassers, and +signed by order of the proprietor, Miss Du Plessis, with the name of +John Carruthers, J.P. "The villain!" ejaculated Mr. Errol. "John has +neither been here nor sent here. It's a forgery, an impudent forgery." + +"Let us take it down and carry it back with us," said the lawyer. + +"Na, na, my lad; we maun just wait till we come in force." + +"Time to 'bout ship," growled the Captain. + +"Hush!" whispered the minister, "I hear a voice, a woman's voice." + +"Come on!" said the lawyer, jumping ashore; "will you come, Ben?" + +"Don't ask me that, Doctor, I dassent," replied Toner, shivering with +superstitious fear. + +"Let me go with him," said the minister to the Captain; "we'll not be a +minute away." + +"Look sharp, then!" growled Mr. Thomas. "Are you loaded?" + +The two explorers looked to their revolvers, and then climbed the bank, +which was no easy task, as it was a mass of felled timber and dead +brush; but the notes of a woman's voice led them on, and, at last, they +found themselves on the shore of the fourth lake. They saw nothing, so +they crouched down listening for the voice. + +"Steve, Stevy dear, wake up and let us go away. Oh, why are you sleeping +when every moment is precious? He will come, Stevy, I know he will, and +kill you, dear!" The voice was very near. Simultaneously the intruders +looked up the bank, and, at the foot of a standing hemlock, saw a woman, +with gray hair hanging loose over her shoulders, who knelt by a +recumbent figure. "Steve, dear brother," she continued, "do wake up! You +used to be so good and sensible." Coristine crept nearer behind some +bushes till he was within a very short distance of the pair. With a +white, sad face, trembling in every limb, he came back as silently to +the minister, and whispered: "It's poor Nash, and she calls him brother; +Mr. Errol, he's murdered, he's dead." The warm-hearted Errol, who had +come out to look after the detective's safety, at once became a hero. + +"Bide you there, Coristine," he said, "bide there till I call you." Then +he arose and went to the spot, but the woman, though he was in full +view, took no notice of him. He stooped and touched her. For a moment +she shrank, then looked up and saw it was not the person she dreaded. +"Matilda Nagle," whispered the minister, "we must get poor Steevie away +from here." Then he saw that her intellect was gone; no wonder that she +was the mother of an idiot boy. "Oh, I am so glad you have come, Mr. +Inglis," she cried, softly; "won't you try and wake Stevy, perhaps he +will mind you better than me." The minister brushed the tears from his +eyes, and strove to keep the sobs out of his voice. "I have a friend +here and will call him," he said, "and we will carry Steevie away to the +boat, and all go home together." So he called Coristine, and they picked +the dead man up, the dead man from whose smooth, girl-like face the +disguise had been torn away, and bore him painfully but tenderly over +the rough fallen timber safely to the other side, the woman following. +Ben shivered, as he saw the strange procession come down the hill, but, +like the Captain, he uttered neither word nor cry. The bearers propped +the dead man up against the middle thwart with the face towards the bow, +and then set the woman down beside the Captain, who said: "Come along, +my dear, and we'll see you both safely home." The old man's honest face +won the poor sister's confidence, as she took her seat beside him and +left her Stevy to the care of the minister and Coristine. With all their +might and main paddled the Captain and Ben. Joyfully, all the company +saw stretch after stretch of the lake behind them, until, at last, they +passed the fishermen and landed on the shore. The minister and the +lawyer laid their coats upon the boards of the log shelter, and placed +their burden upon them. "Let him sleep a bit," said Mr. Errol to the mad +woman; "let him sleep, and you help my friend to get a few flowers to +take home with him." So Coristine took his candle-box from the floor of +the punt, and, with his strange companion, gathered the skullcaps and +loose-strifes and sundews that grew by the shore. She knew the flowers +and where to find them, and filled the lawyer's improvised vasculum +almost to overflowing with many a new specimen. He only took them to +humour her, for what cared he for all the flowers that bloom when death, +and such a death, was but a few yards away. + +Ben Toner brought the fishers back with two good strings of fish; but, +when they heard the story, they threw them into the lake. Ben was a +handy man. He cut down two stout poles, and with leather wood bark +constructed a litter, light but strong. On this the sleeping detective +was laid, and while Mr. Errol and the Captain stumbled through the +ground hemlock on either side of the now cheerful mad woman, the other +four carried their ghastly load, with scalding tears streaming from +every eye. "S'haylp me," said Ben to the lawyer, "ef I don't hunt the +man as killed him till he dies or me." After a painful journey they +reached the Richards' house, and Richards was at home. Mr. Perrowne told +him all about it, and the brave fellow answered:-- + +"Bring it in here, passon; we've a place to put it in where it'll be +safe till they send for it. I ain't scared, not I. You know my four boys +in your club; they've all got guns and can use 'em, and I've got mine to +boot." So, they left the body there, and persuaded the sister to come +with them on their six mile walk home. It was seven o'clock before they +had accomplished half the journey, and had been met by the +representatives of an anxious household, the Squire and his +father-in-law, the latter with rifle in hand, prepared for action. The +first joy at beholding them safe and sound was damped by the news they +brought. As soon as Carruthers could recover himself he spoke to the +weird woman and invited her to come and rest at Bridesdale. Then he +hastened on ahead to warn his wife and sister, and make arrangements for +the reception of the strange visitor. When the party arrived at the +house they found a large company, young and old, assembled to meet them, +for, in addition to the doctor and his daughter, there was Mrs. Du +Plessis with her daughter on one side, and, in all its soldierly +dignity, the tall form of Colonel Morton on the other. The lawyer also +noticed the ebon countenance of Mr. Maguffin peering over the palings in +the direction of the stables. Matilda Nagle was hurried away to the +back of the house by Mrs. Carruthers and her sister-in-law, there to +find her idiot boy, to partake of necessary food provided by the +compassionate Tryphena, and, for a time, altogether to forget the sad +tragedy of the day. Tryphosa prepared tea for the truants in the +breakfast room, and, after the formalities of introduction and +reacquaintance had been gone through, Miss Carmichael poured out tea for +the five, while Tryphosa did the same for Ben in the kitchen. The +Captain told how Mr. Errol and the lawyer braved the terrors of the +barred-in lakes, which appalled the stout heart of big Ben Toner. The +two heroes hastened to put all the credit on one another's shoulders, in +which, so far as one person's estimation was concerned, the minister +triumphed, for, through the tears that shimmered in her eyes, Coristine +could see that the presiding goddess was proud of him, and, with all his +simple-heartedness, he knew that such pride has its origin in +possession. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + Old Man Newcome's Escape, Arrest and Conveyance Home--The Colonel's + Plan of Campaign--He Takes Command--Maguffin's Capture by Messrs. + Hill and Hislop--The Richards' Aid Enlisted--Squire as Colonel, and + Mr. Terry, Sergeant-Major--The Skirmish--Harding + Murdered--Wilkinson and Errol Improving the Time--The Young + Incendiary--Mr. Hill Crushes Maguffin. + + +Everybody grieved for the offtaking of the detective. In the front of +the house, the Squire and the minister, who knew his history, were most +affected; in the back, Ben Toner was the corypheus of grief. An old man +on a couch in an adjoining room heard the news, and, little thinking +that his deposition and confession were safe in the Squire's possession +along with many other documents, rejoiced thereat, and conceived a +heroic project. At first, he thought of enlisting the idiot boy, but had +to give up the idea; for the boy was happy with those whom he knew, and +obstinately refused to go near the old reprobate. Sylvanus no longer +watched him; he was basking in the smiles of Tryphena, and, at the same +time, amusing Monty. There was a passage from the room he was in to the +back of the main hallway, which led into the open air, independently of +the summer kitchen. His coat was gone and his hat, both his boots were +removed, and his wounded leg was bandaged, but he was a tough old +criminal, and a bare back rider from a boy. He slipped off the couch, +and helped himself along by the wall, thankful that his boots were off +and he could move quietly. Still, simple Sylvanus, taken in by the good +old man who loved to have the Bible read to him, neglected his duty. +Newcome gained the hall, the porch, the open air, and, at last, could +hardly believe his good luck to find himself in the stable unperceived. +What a lot of horses were there with nobody to look after them! He saw +one that suited him, a handsome beast he had seen in Collingwood, the +travelling powers of which he knew. To that stall he went, and braced +himself against the partition for a spring, after he had loosed the +halter, and slipped on a bit and bridle. He backed his steed out, turned +in the passage way and made for the door. Another moment and he would be +free. No horse in the stable, even if saddled and bridled, would be able +to overtake him, once he was on the road. But, at the door he met an +obstacle in the shape of a mountain of straw, that caused the horse to +back. The desperate man dug his knees into the flanks of the beast, and +urged it on. Down went the straw mountain, and the luckless Timotheus +beneath it, and Newcome rained a few exultant curses on him, as he +forced his steed; when a well-dressed negro sprang up from nowhere, and, +seizing the rein nearest him, spoke to the intelligent animal, and +backed it to one side. In a moment Timotheus wriggled himself unhurt out +of the litter, and, by main force, pulled the escaped prisoner down; +while Mr. Maguffin remarked that "hoss thieves ain't pumculiah ter no +paht of the habitatable yeth." + +Newcome squirmed and fought as well as he was able, but to no avail. +Timotheus was simple and he was clumsy, but he was no weakling. Maguffin +led the horse back into the stable, spread his litter, and replaced the +bridle on the wall. Then he came out quite unruffled, and asked +Timotheus if he would like him to use his new boots on the prisoner, to +which that worthy replied with a grin: "I guess I've pooty nigh parlyzed +his laigs to stop his wrastlin' tricks aready." Sylvanus, in a lucid +moment, remembered his charge, and found the bird had flown. He came +out to look for his Bible-loving friend, dreading the Captain's wrath, +and great was his relief when he found him a victim in the strong arms +of his brother. "Here, Sylvanus, you hold him, so's the Square'll think +t'was you as cotched him," said the unselfish Timotheus. So Sylvanus, +nothing loath, seized the hypocrite, and Timotheus went for the Squire, +while Maguffin looked calmly on, occasionally glancing at his +heavy-soled new boots, as if regretting that there was no immediate call +for their services. The Squire was angry, for he had been kind to the +old sinner; but he saw that the prisoner was an element of weakness in +the house. What was to hinder him escaping again, committing murder, +setting the place on fire? He called up Toner. "Ben," he said, "how long +would it take you to convey Newcome to his home in a farm waggon with a +good team?" "Ef the teeum's smart, I guaiss an houer 'ud do," answered +the prospective son-in-law of the victim. Accordingly a springless +waggon was produced, some straw thrown in, and Newcome securely bound +with ropes, lying flat on his back, with his own coat and a sack or two +put under his head for a pillow. "Timotheus," continued Mr Carruthers, +"you had better go with Ben. Take your guns, both of you, and bring them +back as quick as you can." Off started the ambulance, at first gently +and humanely. When out of sight of the house, Toner grinned at +Timotheus, and Timotheus grinned back at Ben. "It can't be haylped, +Timotheus," remarked the latter in a low tone, "we're bound to git back +airly, ef they's moer guyard mountin' to be did. So here goes, Serlizer +or no Serlizer." The horses were pretty fresh, and they tore along, +enjoying the fun, and answering with their heels to every playful flick +of the whip. The road was rough and hilly; the jolting almost threw the +occupants of the box seat off the waggon that had no springs. Old man +Newcome groaned, and implored Ben, for the sake of Serlizer, to go easy +or leave him on the roadside to die. "Ef you don't laike my teamin'," +said Toner, in a simulated huff, "I'll quit. Here, Timotheus, you had +ought to know them hosses better'n me." Timotheus took the reins, and +cried: "Gerlang, we ain't no time ter lose; rattle the brimstun an' +merlasses old malufacture over the stones, he's ony a firebug as nobody +owns." The delight of The Crew's brother in getting off this new and +improved version of an ancient couplet made him reckless. He and Ben +jumped into the air like shuttlecocks, and seemed to like it. "I heern +say," remarked Toner, while moving momentarily skywards, "I heern tayll +as this here joltin' beats all the piulls and pads as ever was made for +the livyer." + +"Yaas," cheerfully responded Timotheus, coming down with a sounding +bump; "myuns is like what the doctor out our way said to fayther wunst. +Says he, 'Saul, your livyer's tawpidd.' So's myun, Ben; it's most tarble +tawpidd. Gerlang, yer lazy, good fer nawthun brutes; poor old man +Newcome won't get home this blessed night, the way yer a-goin'." + +The waggon reached the Newcome shanty. The old man was unbound and +lifted out into his own bed. Strong as he was, he had fainted, which his +charioteers were not sorry to see. "He's had an accident, Miss Newcome," +said Ben to the man's wife; "but he'll soon be all right." Fortunately, +the doctor had done his duty well, and the shaking had failed to loosen +the bandages over the wound. The drivers got into the waggon again and +drove home more gently, exchanging a few words with each other; one +being: "Guaiss old man Newcome's out o' mischief fer one night." + +While Bridesdale was being delivered from the presence of one unwelcome +guest, the welcome ones of the front were discussing with the Squire the +programme for the night. He had made out a warrant for the arrest of +Rawdon, should he again have the hardihood to turn up, and otherwise +proposed to repeat the guards of the night before. While the +excursionists were at tea, the colonel and Mr. Terry had been walking +about with an object in view; and the latter gentleman informed his +son-in-law that "the cornel has a shplindid oiday in his moind." Colonel +Morton was requested to favour the company with it, and proceeded to do +so. "From what infohmation I have had fuhnished me by my fellow-soldieh, +Mr. Tehhy, I pehsume you have pehmitted the attacking fohce to select +its own basis of opehations, and have yohselves stood almost entihely on +the defensive. With a small fohce, this is vehy often the only couhse +to puhsue. But, as I now undehstand from reeliable infohmation brought +in, the enemy's fohce of seventeen is reduced by four, while that of the +gahhison is augmented by three--the doctor, myself and my sehvant. Ah, +no; I fohgot you have had one sad casualty, as my niece infohms me, in +the fall of Mr. Nash; which leaves the strength of the gahhison fohteen, +as against thihteen of the assailants. My friend, Mr. Wilkinson, infohms +me that a small detachment of five men, well ahmed, holds a foht some +six miles in the dihection of the enemy. Now, gentlemen of the council +of wah, can we not obtain that this friendly outpost make a divehsion in +conceht with the offensive paht of our ahmy? Send a scout with +instyuctions foh them to occupy the wood neah their foht, and, eitheh +with blank or ball cahtyidge--as you, Genehal Cahhathers, may +dihect--meet the enemy as ouah troops dyive them back, and thus pehvent +them seeking the coveh of the trees against us. This being done, send a +scout, mounted if possible, to guahd against attack from the left; post +pistol sentinels round the buildings, and fohm the rest of the available +fohce into an attacking pahty occupying the strategic point examined by +Mr. Tehhy and me: I allude to the plantation to the reah of the right +wing. Just as soon as the enemy comes up to occupy that position, chahge +them like bulldogs and drive them as fah as possible towahds the road, +and at last bring them undeh the guns of our friendly foht. That, I +think, is bettah than losing heaht by watching all night long and +endangehing the safety of the ladies. Such, gentlemen, is my humble +counsel." + +"Hark till him, now, jantlemen; pay attintion till him, all av yeez," +exclaimed Mr. Terry; "fer 'tis the wurrud av a sowldjer and an +offisher." + +"Assume command, Colonel, if you please. We are all ready to obey +orders," said the Squire. "Is that not the case, friends?" + +To this the whole company answered "Yes," and Colonel Morton at once +gave his commands. + +The garrison was paraded on the lawn, its armament strengthened by two +rifles borrowed in the neighbourhood, of which the Squire carried one +and the lawyer the other. The post office had been cleared out of its +complete stock of powder and shot by Carruthers, early in the morning, +to the no little disgust of the Grinstun man when he went for his mail. +"Volunteehs foh the foht, foh mounted patyol, foh plantation +picket--three!" called out the colonel. Perrowne volunteered for the +first, as likely to have most influence with the Richards. "Blank +cartridge," said the Squire, as he rode away amid much waving of +handkerchiefs. "Oi'm yer picket, cornel," said Mr. Terry, stepping out +of the ranks with his rifle at the shoulder in true military fashion. +"Ef it's a gennelman wot knows riden, sah, and kin fiah a pistol or +revolvah, I respectuously dedercates my feeble servishes," volunteered +Mr. Maguffin, who mounted and patrolled poor Nash's beat, with a +revolver handy; while the veteran ran at a regular double to the far end +of the strip of bush. "The Squiah had bettah take the field, as he knows +the ground and I do not," said the colonel; "I will command the +gahhison. I shall want the captain, the doctah, Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. +Ehhol--four. My deah sistah-in-law can shoot; and so, I believe, can +Miss Halbeht, so we are seven." + +"There's Wordsworth for you, Wilks, my boy," Coristine remarked, nudging +his right hand man. + +"Corry, my dear fellow, whatever induced you to take that gun?" answered +the dominie, apprehensive for his friend's safety in the field. + +"It's no gun, Wilks; it's a rifle. If I only get a sight at Grinstuns, +I'll commit justifiable homicide. Then I wish the Squire would punish me +by sending me down here for thirty days." + +"The gahhison will take three paces to the fyont; quick, mahch!" +commanded the colonel. + +The four came out in pretty straggling order, and the two ladies named +fell in beside them. + +"Now, Squiah, I leave yoah command of five men, which Mr. Pehhowne will +soon augment to six, and Mr. Tehhy to seven, in yoah hands. If I have no +fuhtheh need of a mounted patyol, my sehvant will join the gahhison." + +The colonel then left to post his sentries, which he did so judiciously +that three were enough, namely, the doctor, the minister and the +dominie. The ladies kept watch by turns on the front of the house. Soon +a voice was heard at the gate calling for Colonel Morton. The colonel +answered the summons in person. It was Maguffin dismounted, and behind +him came two men, honest farmers apparently, one of whom led the +coloured man's horse, while the other held his fowling piece at the +port, ready for action in Maguffin's rear. + +"Maguffin," said the colonel, sternly, "consideh youhself undeh ahhest, +suh." + +"I doan need ter hab ter, sah; that's jess wot I is this bressid minit." + +"Good evening!" said the two farmers, amiably, and the colonel returned +the salutation. "Good evening, gentlemen! but I feah you have made a +mistake in ahhesting my sehvant." + +"When a naygur on a fine beast gallops down on two quiet folk, and +orders them to go back, disperse, and surrinder, and them coming to see +after the safety of their children and friends, the only one thing to +do, if you have your guns along, is to arrest the naygur." + +"Do I undehstand, Maguffin, that you ordehed these wohthy people to go +back, dispehse, and suhhendah without any wahhant?" + +"And presinted his pistil, too," continued the tall man, who had already +spoken, and who was the coloured man's guard. + +"Have you no answah, Maguffin?" + +"I fought, Cunnell, I was ter patterole this heah road and repawt all +the folkses I see on or off'n it." + +"Yes, repoht to me, as youh officeh, suh." + +"Oh, I fought yoh meant to repawt em wif a revolvah, sah." + +"I suppose, gentlemen, you will let my sehvant go, when I say I deplohe +his foolish mistake, and apologize foh his insolence? + +"To be shure, sir," replied the guard; "give the man his horse, +Annerew." + +Maguffin remounted, and, receiving more minute instructions from his +master, returned to his patrol duty. + +"We're just coming in to help the Squire, and me to look after my +childer, Tryphena and Tryphosa and Baby Rufus. When the Baby didn't come +back this mornin', I said to his mother, 'Persis' says I, 'I must go and +see the boy.' So here I am. My name is Hill, sir, Henry Cooke Hill, and +this is my neighbour, and some day, perhaps, Rufus's father-in law, +Annerew Hislop"--then in an undertone--"a very dacent man, sir, though a +Sesayder." + +"Is that the case?" asked the colonel with eagerness, advancing towards +Andrew. "Were you on ouah side, suh, in the wahah?" + +"Naw, naw, surr, I'm no sodjer, but a humble maimber o' the pure gospel +Secession kirk. As the fufty-fufth parryphrase says:-- + + With heevenly wappons I have focht + The baittles o' the Lord." + +"Ah yes, pahdon me my mistake. Come in, gentlemen; the Squiah will be +happy to see you." + +Maguffin's captors entered, were warmly greeted by their friends in hall +and kitchen, partook of a hasty supper, and were ready for the +engagement of the night. + +Perrowne, who was a good rider, soon made his appearance, reporting that +the Richards were only too glad to make the desired repulse of the evil +crew from their neighbourhood, and, as members formerly of a volunteer +company, understood something of military tactics. The parson also +reported that he had nearly fallen in with the advancing attacking force +of, he should say, twenty men; but, sighting them ahead, he advanced +slowly until he saw them move solidly to his left into the fields, with +the evident intention of coming at the house through the strip of bush. +The villains could not be far off. "Now, Squiah," said the colonel, +"hasten, suh, to join Mr. Tehhy; a few minutes make all the diffehence +in case of an attack." + +The Squire had now nine men under his command, including his +father-in-law, for Ben and Timotheus were safely back, having passed the +formidable Maguffin. The other six were Sylvanus and Rufus, Messrs. +Hill, Hislop, Perrowne, and Coristine. All were armed with loaded guns +and rifles; the carbine and the blunderbuss remained to guard the house. +Rapidly they reached the bush which hid them from view, and rejoiced the +veteran's heart with their array. + +"Now, grandfather," said Carruthers, "you must get us all into shape." + +"Well now, we'll make belave this is a bittillion, an' you're cornel, +an' Oi'm sargint-major. It's ten shtrong we are, an' there's three +roifles an' two double barrels anyhow. You git in the rare, Cornel an' +Mishter Coristine an' Mishter Parrowne an' Ben Toner; the rist av yeez +shtay where yeez are, till I say 'Extind!' thin, tin paces apart for the +front rank, an' tin for the rare rank; but the rare alternatin' wid the +front. Whin Oi say, 'Front rank!' that rank'll diliver it's foire, an' +go on wid its loadin' behind a three, moind! an' so on wid the rare. By +the powers, here the varmints come. Shtiddy min, lishten till me an' be +quoiet--Extind!" + +There were some loudly beating hearts at that moment, for the enemy was +in force, and partly armed with guns of some sort. Instead of advancing +across the fields, as the defenders had hoped, they descended to the +creek, in order to find cover from the bushes on its bank, until they +reached the piece of wood. The veteran, telling his command to preserve +its formation, wheeled it to the right, and ordered perfect silence. +Leaving his rifle at his post, he slipped from tree to tree like a cat, +having thrown off his shoes for the purpose. When he returned, the +enemy, moving almost as silently, had entered the bush, but, +anticipating no sentry at that point, had sought no cover. "Shtiddy, now +min," whispered the sarjint-major; "take good aim, Front Rank, Riddy!" +Five guns rolled out a challenge to the invaders, and, before they had +time to seek cover, came, "Rare Rank, Riddy," and his own rifle led the +other four weapons of the second line. "Are yeez loaded, front an' +rare?" asked the ancient warrior; and, satisfied that all were, he put +himself in the front and ordered a charge to outflank the enemy and +hinder them getting away among the bushes. All perceived his intentions, +except, perhaps, the two Pilgrims and Toner, who, however, were borne +along by the rest. Dashing through the creek, part of the force volleyed +the miscreants from there, and drove them into the open, while the +remaining part kept them from seeking refuge in the bush. The Squire's +men had the shelter of the brook alders and willows, now, and, led by +Mr. Terry, in single file, at a rate almost as rapid as that of Rawdon's +retreat, faced now and again to the left to fire, and loaded as they +ran. At last the shelter ceased, and all were in the open, both pursued +and pursuers. "Kape it up," cried the indomitable veteran; "don't give +the murtherin' blagyards a minit's resht!" Up, up the hill, they chased +the said blackguards, until they reached the road. Within the skirting +rail fences the Squire kept his men, faint but pursuing, and firing an +occasional shot to lend the speed of terror to the miscreants' heels. In +an hour from the beginning of the pursuit, the hunted Rawdonites were at +the wild lands on the lakes, and prepared to enter the forest and make a +stand or hide; when Carruthers cried: "Down flat on your faces every +man," and five reports from in front rang through the air. The Richards +were on guard, but either Perrowne had forgotten to tell them about +blank cartridge, or they did not think proper to obey the order. "Come +on a bit farther, lads, till we find where these villains turn in," +cried the Squire. In another minute the victors combined with the +Richards' party, and chased the thoroughly demoralized Rawdonites, whose +guns and pouches strewed the ground, to a desolate rocky spot beside a +swamp, where felled trees lay in indescribable confusion, over which the +fugitives scrambled in desperate haste for home. The lawyer caught sight +of a figure that he knew, far up the rocky slope, preparing to leap down +from a prostrate trunk resting on three or four others, and aimed his +rifle at it. The Squire threw up the weapon just in the nick of time. +"It's ower gude a death for the likes o' him, Coristine. Gie him time to +repent, an' let the law tak' its coarse. The cunning scoundrel! Even at +the risk o' 's life he wadna let us ken whaur his waggon road is, but +I've a thocht, man, that it's yonner whaur the rock rises oot o' the +swamp." Then the good Squire took off his hat, and thanked God for the +defeat of the evil doers. + +Light though the night was, to continue the pursuit would have been the +height of folly. The force was mustered and inspected by the so-called +Colonel Carruthers, and the Sergeant-Major Terry. Including themselves, +it was found to consist of no fewer than seventeen persons, one of whom +was a woman, and the other a lad of about fifteen years of age, Matilda +Nagle and her boy Monty. "I will show you where the road is," she said +to the Squire; "it is hard to find, but I know it. When Stevy tried to +find it, Harding and he put him to sleep, so that I couldn't wake him +up. Harding is asleep now too; I put him, and Monty helped, didn't you, +Monty?" + +Carruthers looked, and saw that the woman's right hand and that of the +idiot boy were alike stained with blood. All his own men were safe and +sound, not a scratch on any one of them. The veteran's rapid tactics had +given the enemy hardly an opportunity to return the fire, and had +destroyed their aim from the very beginning. All honour to the +sergeant-major! All had behaved well. Father Hill and his friend Hislop +felt like boys; and while the Sesayder took a fatherly interest in +Rufus, the parent of Tryphena and Tryphosa was pleased with the bearing +of the Pilgrims. Ben Toner's conscience was a little troubled about his +treatment of old man Newcome, but he also had a feeling that he was +getting nearer to Serlizer. The veteran and Mr. Perrowne were filled +with mutual admiration; and Coristine felt that that night's work had +brought to his suit, as an ordinary year's acquaintance could not have +done, the vote and influence of the Squire. The victors gathered up the +spoils of the vanquished, and, by a unanimous vote, handed them over to +the grateful Richards, whom Carruthers and Perrowne warmly thanked for +their timely aid. "It's about time, Squire, we crushed them fellows +out," said father Richards, to which the Squire replied: "If you and +your sons are ready, we'll do it to-morrow as soon as the inquest is +over." + +"Boys," asked Richards, "are you fit for a man hunt to-morrer?" + +"Fitter'n a fiddle," answered the boys; "then we can go fishin' where we +durn please." + +They bade their allies good bye, carrying their spoil with them, and +twelve persons set out for a six-mile tramp home. + +"Yeez can march at aise, march aisy, boys," ordered the veteran; and the +party broke up into groups. The woman clung to the Squire, and the boy +to Sylvanus, who had made whittled trifles to amuse him. Mr. Hill +cultivated Timotheus, and formed a high opinion of him. Rufus, of +course, addicted himself to his future father-in-law, the Sesayder. Mr. +Terry thought it his duty to hold out high hopes to Ben in regard to the +rescue of Serlizer; and Perrowne and the lawyer journeyed along like +brothers. There was a light in the post office, and the post-mistress at +the door asked if the doctor had gone home yet, for two wounded men had +sought shelter with her, and told her that one named Harding was lying +down the hill near by. The Squire promised to bring the doctor to the +wounded, and asked his father-in-law and Coristine, as if they were his +nearest friends, to go down and see if they could find the wounded +Harding. They went down and found him, but he was dead, with two of the +Bridesdale kitchen-knives planted in his heart. In part, at least, the +murder of Nash was avenged. They picked the slain assassin up and +carried him to the road, where the post office stood, and deposited the +body in an outbuilding to await the verdict of the morning. + +Meanwhile, the dominie was happy; his rival, the parson, his tormentor, +the lawyer, were away, and even that well-meaning Goth, the tired +Captain, was asleep in the guard-room, opposite a half-empty glass of +the beverage in which he indulged so rarely, but which he must have +good. The doctor's lively daughter had left Mrs. Du Plessis to guard the +front of the house, and was talking to her father on his beat, and he +had a suspicion that Mrs. Carmichael was wrapping that cloud again round +the minister's neck. When the battle commenced below, the colonel was +everywhere, directing Maguffin, inspecting the posts, guarding on all +sides against the possibility of the enemy's attack being a mere feint. +All unknown to the rest of the company, Miss Carmichael was up in the +glass-enclosed observatory at the top of the house, without a light, +watching the movements of the hostile ranks beyond the bush, and +inwardly praying for the success of the righteous cause and for the +safety of those she loved. Of course her uncle John was among them, and +the simple-hearted old grandfather of her young cousins, and even, in a +way, Mr. Perrowne, who had behaved bravely, but there was a tall, +unclerical form, which Mr. Terry and the Squire had difficulty in +keeping up with, that her eye followed more closely. Every report of the +lawyer's rifle seemed to press a warm spot on her maiden cheek, and then +make the quick blood suffuse her face, as she thought of the morning and +Mr. Wilkinson. That gentleman was happy on guard at the top of the hill +meadow, for a tall female figure, muffled up slightly as a preventive to +chill from the night dews, came down the path towards his post, eager +for news from the seat of war. + +"Be careful, Miss Du Plessis, I beg of you!" implored the dominie; +"heavy firing is going on not far off, and a stray bullet might easily +find its way hither. Permit me to conduct you to a place of safety." So +he led her with grave courtesy within the gate, and placed her on a +garden seat in front of two trees large of bole, and interceptive of +possible missiles. Of course, his own safety was a matter of no moment; +he went out of the gate and to the utmost limit of his watch to gain, by +eye and ear, tidings of the progress of the skirmish, which he returned +every minute or two to report to the anxious young lady. Thus it was +that, when the colonel came to inspect the posts, he found two sentinels +at each, pertaining to different sexes. Returning to his sister-in-law +on the verandah, he explained to that lady the peculiar difficulty of +his position. + +"You see, my deah sistah, that this is altogetheh contyahy to militahy +discipline, and I ought to ordeh all undeh ahhest, but, were I to do so, +madam, where would my sentinels come from?" Miss Du Plessis perceived +the difficulty, as she handled the colonel's silver-mounted revolver, +with an air of old practice; and proceeded to ask what her +brother-in-law knew of the young gentleman who was furnishing Cecile +with information of the fight. Thereupon the colonel launched out into a +panegyric of the dominie's noble qualities, imputing to him all that +Coristine had done on his behalf, and a chivalrous Southern exaggeration +of the school-master's learning and expressions of sympathy. "Marjorie +appears to think more highly of the other pedestrian," remarked Mrs. Du +Plessis, to which Colonel Morton replied that Mr. Coristine was indeed a +handsome and excellent young man, but lacked the correct bearing and +dignified courtesy of his friend, and, he should judge, was much his +inferior in point of education. When the tide of battle rolled away to +the right, altogether out of sight and almost out of hearing, the double +sentries were still at their posts, no doubt conversing with all +propriety, but of what, they only individually knew. Even Miss Halbert +did not confide to others the substance of a favourable criticism on Mr. +Perrowne to which she treated her worthy father. + +It was between one and two in the morning when the victorious army +returned, and was received with open arms, literally in the case of the +Squire and the veteran, and of Mr. Hill and Rufus in the kitchen, +metaphorically in that of the remaining combatants. Mr. Carruthers +released the doctor, and took him to visit the wounded at the post +office. The minister and the dominie were also relieved, and Mr. Hill +and the Sesayder, at their own request, put in their vacant places; +while Maguffin dismounted, and, being armed with a gun and set in the +doctor's post, constituted a guardian trio with his late captors. Of +course, the warriors and past sentries had to eat and drink in guard +room and kitchen, the latter apartment being more hilarious than it +would have been had the seniors on duty formed part of its company. +There was no old Bourbon for the colonel, but he managed to find a fair +substitute for it, and informed Coristine, in answer to that gentleman's +enquiry, how he happened to arrive so speedily at Bridesdale. + +"It was Satuhday, suh, when my sehvant and I ahhived in Tohonto, and I +met my deah sisteh in-law. At once, I sent Maguffin back by rail with +the hohses to Collingwood, giving them Sunday to recoveh from the +effects of the jouhney, tyavel by rail being vehy hahd on hohses. This +mohning, or, ratheh I should say yestehday mohning, Madame Du Plessis +and I went to Collingwood by rail, where my sehvant had secuhed her two +places in the mail caht, and I had the honouh of escohting her to this +pleasant place, and of beholding my chahming niece for the fihst time. I +was indeed vehy fohtunate in ahhiving when I did, to be able to +contribute a little to the secuhity of Bridesdale." + +"You are doubtless aware, Colonel, that our enemies of to-night are in +unlawful possession of Miss Du Plessis' property?" + +"Suh, you astonish me. As her natuhal guahdian, I cannot, though in a +foheign land, allow that foh a day, suh." + +"We think, at least Squire Carruthers thinks, of attacking them in +force, after the double inquest to-morrow." + +"Then, Mr. Cohistine, I shall claim the privilege of joining yoah fohce +as a volunteeh. I wish the ground were fit foh cavalhy manoeuvehs, suh." + +"We may need a few mounted men, as we hope to discover a masked road." + +"That is vehy intehesting, suh. Will you kindly explain to me the +chahacteh of the ground?" + +The lawyer told all that he knew of the region, from hearsay and from +personal experience. The supposed masked road, the actual rocky ascent +covered with felled timber, an abatis, as the colonel called it, the +access by water, and the portcullis at the narrows, were objects of +great interest to the old soldier. He enquired as to the extent of the +means of transportation, the probable numbers of the available force, +and other particulars; and, when the weary Squire returned and bade all +good people go to rest, if they could not sleep, in view of past +wakefulness and the morrow's work, he begged, as a perfectly fresh man, +to be excused and left in command of the guard, adding: "I shall study +out a thyeefold convehging attack on the enemy's position, by wateh and +by land, with cavalhy, infantry and mahines." The guard-room company +joined in a laugh at the military joke, after which they dispersed, with +the exception of the Captain, whom it was a pity to disturb, and +Carruthers, who lay down upon a sofa, while the colonel went out to +inspect his posts. + +The pedestrians occupied a large, double-bedded room at the right corner +of the house, above the verandah. The dominie was sleeping peacefully, +but the lawyer had not even removed his clothes, with the exception of +his boots, if they may be so called, as he lay down upon his bed to +rest, with a window half open in front of him. Precisely at the moment +when, the night before, he had discovered the incipient conflagration, +there came to his nostrils the smell of unctuous fire. Pocketing his +loaded revolver, he stepped out of the window on to the sloping verandah +roof, off which, in spite of his efforts, he slid heavily to the ground. +At once he was seized with no gentle hands by at least three persons, +who turned out to be Mr. Hill, the colonel, and Maguffin. "Catch that +boy," he cried, as soon as they perceived their mistake, referring to a +juvenile figure that he had seen slipping back towards the meadow. +Sentry Hislop would probably have caught him, but there was no +necessity. The idiot boy was in the arms of his wakeful mother, who, +thinking he was going to Rawdon's quarters, as he probably was, +intercepted him, saying: "Not back there, Monty, no, no, never again!" +So deeply had his unnatural father, with brutal threats, impressed the +lesson of incendiarism upon the lad that, all mechanically, he had +repeated the attempt of the previous night. Fortunately for Coristine's +hands, there was a garden rake at hand to draw out from under the +verandah two kitchen towels, well steeped in coal oil, the fierce flame +from which had already charred three or four planks of the floor. Two +pails of water relieved all apprehensions; but the Squire awoke Sylvanus +and ordered him to take Monty into his room, and, with his companions, +be responsible for his safe keeping. Then, turning to the lawyer, and +laying a friendly hand on his shoulder, he said: "If ye canna sleep, ye +had better come in and tak' the Captain's chair; he's awa til 's bed, +puir man." So Coristine entered the porch, and, as he did so, heard a +voice above say: "No, Cecile, it is not your hero; it is mine again." +"What are thae lassies gabbin' aboot at this time o' nicht?" said the +Squire, harder of hearing. "Gang awa to the land o' Nod, and dinna spoil +your beauty sleep, young leddies." The apostrophized damsels laughed +lightly, whispered a few more confidences, and then relapsed into +silence. John Carruthers had a high opinion of his niece, and said some +very nice things about her, but, so far short did they fall of the +lawyer's standard of appreciation, that he regarded them almost as +desecrations. Still, it was very pleasant to be on such friendly terms +with the Squire of the neighbourhood, the master of hospitable +Bridesdale; and Miss Carmichael's uncle. "A splendid honest fellow," he +said to himself, "as good every bit as Wilks' foreign aristocracy!" From +time to time the colonel looked in upon the pair, and remarked that the +contents of the Squire's decanter pleased him as well as Bourbon or +Monongahela. + +When daylight came, the weary sentries were dismissed to the kitchen, +where, under Tryphena's direction, the insane woman took much pleasure +in providing for their creature comforts. The restraints upon Mr. +Maguffin's eloquence being removed, it flowed in a grandiloquent stream. +"Lave the cratur to me, Annerew," whispered Mr. Hill; "lave the nagur to +me, and if I don't flummix and flabbergast his consayted voccabuelary, I +was never a taycher." Then, turning to the coloured gentleman, he +remarked in an incidental sort of way: "Were you ever in the company of +deipnosophists before, Mr. Magoffin, deipnosophists mind! enjoyin' a +gastromical repast?" + +Mr. Maguffin's eyes expanded, and his jaw dropped. + +"Yoh's got the devantidge ob yoh 'umble sarvant, Mistah Hill." + +"It's not possible that a gentleman of your larnin' is ignorant of such +simple, aisy polysyllables as them?" + +"I'se afeard yoh's got me this time, sah." + +"It stands to raison that there's limits to everybody's voccabuelary, +onless it's a great scholard like Mr. Wilkinson; but I thought, perhaps, +it was for a school taycher you would be settin' up?" + +"Oh my! no, Mistah Hill, my edurecation was passimoniously insurficient. +Most all my bettah class language I'se acquied fom clugymen ob de Baktis +pussuasion." + +"And they never tayched ye deipnosophist nor gastromical?" + +"No, sah, they didn't, I'se humblerated ter confess." + +The old schoolmaster looked at Mr. Hislop with a serious expression of +mingled incredulity and commiseration, saying: "Such ignerance, Annerew, +such ignerance!"; and somehow Mr. Maguffin did not see his way to +gathering up the broken threads of conversation. + +Timotheus was despatched by the Squire to summon a brother J.P., and the +township constable, in order that immediate action against known +criminal parties might be taken, as well as to notify the farmers +adjacent that they were expected to sit in a coroner's jury. Having made +all necessary legal arrangements, the Squire returned to the colonel, +who, from a memorandum before him, sketched the plan of campaign. He +proposed to put the five Richards as marines under the command of the +Captain to break down the grating between the third and fourth lakes, +and push on to attack the enemy from that side. He wanted four mounted +men armed with revolvers, and with stout sticks in lieu of swords, +fearless horsemen whom he could lead through swamp or over obstacles to +hold the masked road. The remaining body under the Squire, he thought, +might follow the track of the fugitives of the night, and constitute the +main besieging force. As to those who should perform the respective +duties, apart from the persons named, the Squire suggested waiting till +the inquests--which would bring some additions to the local +population--were over. He hoped much from his fellow justice of the +peace, Mr. Walker. Tom Rigby, an old pensioner, and the township +constable, would probably have his hands full looking after the +prisoners. Fortunately, the post office store of ammunition was not yet +exhausted, to say nothing of that contained in various flasks and shot +belts, and in the shape of cartridges. The colonel, apropos of warlike +weapons, bemoaned the absence of bayonets, and warmly advocated a +proposition of the lawyer's, that each combatant should carry, slung +over the shoulder or in such way as not to interfere with the handling +of his gun, a strong stick like those proposed by the commander-in-chief +for his cavalry. Toner and Rufus were immediately roused from their +slumbers, and sent to cut the requisite bludgeons, and drill them with +holes to pass a cord through. Shortly after they had departed on their +errand, the household awoke to life and activity, and, through casually +opened doors, there came the gratifying odours of breakfast in +preparation. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Mr. Bangs Accredits Himself--Silences Squire Walker--Constable + Rigby in the Kitchen--The Inquests--Arrests, and Mr. Newberry--The + Beaver River Contingent--Mr. Bangs and the Squire Consult--The Army + Prepares--Wilkinson's Heroics--Mr. Bigglethorpe on Fishing. + + +When Timotheus returned, he was not alone; a slightly built man of +medium stature, and rather flashily attired, rode beside him. The Squire +strode to the gate, to learn that the younger Pilgrim had accomplished +his various missions successfully, and to be presented by him, in his +usual clumsy way, to Mr. Bengs, a friend of Mr. Nash as was. "Yore men +is right, Squire; my neme is Bengs, Hickey Bengs, end pore Nesh sent for +me to kem end help ferret out a geng of dem excise slopers, end here I +find my pore friend merdered. I tell you, Squire, it's too dem bed, O, +too dem bed!" + +The Squire felt he must be cautious these times, but that did not hinder +him being hospitable. "Come in, Mr. Bengs, and breakfast with us. My man +will put your horse up. I have Nash's papers in my possession from his +own hand, and, if I find they confirm your story, we will all be glad to +take you into our confidence. You, of all men, understand the necessity +for caution, and will, I hope, not take my precaution amiss." + +"O Lud, no, Squire; yo're pretty shore to find letters frem me ameng +pore Nesh's papers, or some memorenda about me. H.B., you know, Hickey +Bengs." + +Timotheus led the new detective's horse away, and the gentleman himself +entered the house and office with the Squire. "Coristine," said the +latter, familiarly addressing the lawyer, "would you mind looking up +Errol quietly and sending him here?" + +Of course he didn't mind, and soon returned with the minister. Both +noticed that the Squire had two loaded pistols on the table before him, +the stranger being on the other side. "You can remain, Coristine. I must +introduce you, and the Reverend Mr. Errol, my fellow trustee in the +matter of these papers, to Mr. Bengs. Mr. Coristine is in the law, Mr. +Bengs." + +The dapper gentleman with the red tie and large scarf pin bowed amiably +to the two witnesses of the interview, and Mr. Carruthers, with the +minister by his side, proceeded to examine the papers. "Here it is," he +said, after a few minutes of painful silence, "but what in aa the +warld's the meanin' o't? B.R.--B.T.--R.C.P. The date is Saturday night." + +"I think I know," interrupted the lawyer. "How will this do: Beaver +River, Ben Toner, Roman Catholic Priest?" + +"The very thing! Well, here's Sabbath. Prom. cum S.W.L.C. sup. eq." + +Coristine had written the words down to study them. At last he said: +"It's a mixture of French, Latin, and English abbreviations; Promenade +or walk with Schoolmaster Wilkinson, Lawyer Coristine on the horse." + +"Eh, man!" ejaculated the pleased Squire; "I'll hae to turn lawyer +mysel'. Now, here's later doon, the same day--B.D.--S.C.--P.O. scripsi +H.B. ven. inst. Come, my prophetic friend." + +Triumphantly, the lawyer rolled out: "Bride's Dale, Squire Carruthers, +Post Office. I have written H.B. to come instanter." + +"Have you his letter, Mr. Bengs?" the Squire asked, and at once it was +produced with the Flanders post mark on it, written on the Bridesdale +paper, and in Nash's peculiar way. Still Mr. Carruthers doubted. How +could he be sure that the letter had fallen into the right hands, or +that this smooth-spoken swell was not a cunning agent of Rawdon's? + +"John," said the minister, stooping, and lifting something off the +carpet, "here's a bit of paper you've dropped out of the pocket-book, or +perhaps out of that bookie you're reading from." + +The Squire eyed the paper, and then, stretching his arm over the table, +shook the detective warmly by the hand. "It was very foolish of me, Mr. +Bangs, not to have seen that at first. It gives notice of your arrival, +and describes you perfectly. There's a bit of Latin, Mr. Errol, you +might ask our friend. It seems to be a sort of watchword with a +countersign." + +The minister took the paper and read, "quod quaeris?" whereupon the +detective smiled, and answered promptly, "molares ebrii." + +"What in aa the warld's yon, Coristine?" enquired the Squire. + +"Mr. Errol asked Mr. Bangs, 'What are you looking for?' and he answered, +'For full grindstones.'" + +"When a man is _ebrius_, John," continued the minister, "he's no' just +sober. Weel, weel, the catechis is over, and ye can tak' puir Nash's +frien' into our plans. Thank Providence, there's the breakfast gong." + +The ladies were astonished to see the new arrival enter the dining-room, +the breakfast-room table being too small, with his three inquisitors. He +was quite polite, however, though a little stiltedly so, as if not to +the manner born. Mr. Terry insisted on vacating his seat in Mr. Bangs +favour. He said: "There's a foine Oirishman from the narth by the name +av Hill Oi wud be plazed to have some conversation wid, so yeez 'll jist +koindly ekshcuse me all," and left for the kitchen. There were sixteen +people at the table, so when Squire Walker turned up, Marjorie, who had +been brought in to equalize the sides, had to yield her place to him, +and follow the veteran to the lower sphere, in one apartment of which +the children, under Tryphosa's rule, had a separate table. To this Mr. +Terry invited his countryman, the old schoolmaster, who, in spite of his +recent deipnosophistic repast with Mr. Maguffin, was ready for something +warm. He confidentially whispered to Mr. Terry that no doubt nagurs had +sowls and were human, but he wasn't pudden' fond of their society. In +the dining-room, Mr. Bangs and Squire Walker, in the centre of the +table, were in exile, for Wilkinson and the Captain flanked the former, +and Coristine and Mr. Perrowne the latter. Mrs. Du Plessis sat between +Carruthers and Mr. Thomas; Miss Halbert between the minister and Mr. +Perrowne; Miss Du Plessis between the dominie and the doctor; and Miss +Carmichael between Coristine and the colonel. Mrs. Carruthers, who +occupied one end of the table, had the colonel on her right, and her +sister-in-law, who took the other end, was supported in the same way by +the host. Squire Walker, a portly man, but not too heavy for exercise, +with a baldish head and large reddish whiskers, sporting a velveteen +shooting coat, high shirt collar, and large blue silk scarf with white +spots, was a man of much intelligence and a good talker. His +conversation compelled attention, and, like the glittering eye of the +ancient mariner, held, now Mr. Perrowne and now the lawyer from much +pleasanter ones with their respective ladies. He seemed to take a +fiendish pleasure in capturing Wilkinson from Miss Du Plessis, and the +Captain from her mother, and even sent his conversational shafts far off +to the Squire and the doctor, and to the presiding matrons. Mr. Errol +and the colonel were happily sheltered from him. Perhaps the new +detective perceived the state of unrest and terrible suspense in which +many of the company were on account of Squire Walker's vagaries, and +chivalrously sought to deliver them. Eyeing keenly the autocrat of the +breakfast table, he remarked, "I'm afraid you heve fergotten me, +Squire?" + +"Don't think I ever had the pleasure of your acquaintance, sir." + +"Oh, perdon me, you hed though. Two years ago, a large, stout, heavy +bearded men kem to yore ohffice, with a yeng Cuban who could herdly +speak a word of Inglish, asking you to commit him fer smeggling +cigars--" + +"Haw! haw! haw!" laughed Mr. Walker, "and you were the bearded man were +you, eh?" + +"Do please favour us with the whole story, Mr. Bangs," asked the +hostess. + +"Go on, Bangs," added its victim, "I don't mind, haw! haw!" + +"The Squire asked the big revenue detective how he knew the cigars were +smeggled, and he said that nobody could pay the duty and sell these +cigars for seven dollars a hendred. The Squire asked to see the cigars, +and while the pore yeng Cuban with the bleck mousteche stood twirling +his sombrero and looking guilty, he took one, smilt it, and then smouked +it. He said to the big detective, 'I won't let you hev a warrent for +that pore foreigner on any sech evidence, for I ken bey the very same +cigar at Beamish's for five dollars.' The detective said, 'Are you shore +the cigar is the same?' when the Squire pulled a drawer open end brought +out a box of the identical erticles. Then, the big men thenked him, +hended him a revenue card, end took the pore Cuban away. Next day +Beamish's was raided, end Nesh and I kem in for quite a rewerd." + +"Then the detective was Nash?" asked Mr Walker. + +"Yes, Nesh, with a big men's clowthes on, padded out." + +"And what were you in the matter?" + +"Oh, I wes the pore yeng Cuban thet could herdly speak Inglish." + +"I don't think he can yet," whispered Miss Carmichael to Coristine, who +thought it an immense joke. + +"So you made Squire Walker an informer against his will, Mr. Bangs," +said Carruthers. + +"Yes; but it was complimentary, too. We knew if there were any good +cigars in the village, the Squire's wes the best place to look for +them." + +"You should have had me up for having smuggled goods in my possession," +said the complimented talker. + +"No, no, Squire; you see you were the next thing to Queen's evidence, +and they always go scotfree." + +"A receiver and Queen's evidence! and the miserable little Cuban! Haw! +haw! haw!" + +That is the story of how Squire Walker was silenced. + +After breakfast there were prayers, as usual, conducted by the two +clergymen, and when they were over, the three J.P.'s, Doctor Halbert +being one, assembled for consultation in the office. Tom Rigby, the +constable, reported himself to the magistrate's court, and thereafter +adjourned to the kitchen, there to hold converse with his brother +veteran, Mr. Terry. Tom was tall, and as straight as if he had swallowed +a ramrod. He gave the military salute with great precision and +regularity. He was a widower, and a frequent visitor in the Bridesdale +servants' quarters, whence it was commonly reported that he had an eye +on Tryphena. Sylvanus had heard of this, with the effect that he lost no +opportunity of running down the trade of a soldier, and comparing it +most unfavourably with the free, rollicking life of the heaving sea. To +hear Sylvanus speak, one would imagine that the _Susan Thomas_ was +annually in the habit of circumnavigating the globe. The children's +breakfast was over, and they were all out in the garden picking certain +permitted flowers, and presenting them to their favourites among the +guests; but Mr. Terry had still remained, conversing with Mr. Hill, +whose book-larnin' was so voluminous that he made slow progress with his +breakfast, having had his cold tea thrice removed by his eldest daughter +and replaced with hot. When Rigby entered and saluted, the veteran rose +and returned the salute. "Good morning, Sergeant Terry! was it company +colour sergeant or on the staff you were, sir?" + +"Lasht noight, Carporal Rigby, Oi was sargint-major for the firsht toime +in my loife. I wuz promawted loike." + +"That would be in the volunteer service, Sergeant-major." + +"Yiss; but we had a rale cornel in command that's been through the +Amerikin war, they till me." + +"Sergeant-major, there are no American soldiers." + +"Shure, an' Oi'm thinkin', corporal," said the veteran, feeling a +metaphorical thrid on the tail av his coat. "Oi'm thinkin' there's some +pretty foine foightin's been done in Ameriky; Oi've sane it, carporal, +wid my own two eyes." + +"A dog can fight, Sergeant-major, and cats are tantamount to the same +thing; but where, I say, is the soldierly bearing, the discipline, the +spree-doo-cor, as they say in France? Sergeant-major, you know and I +know that a man cannot be a tailor today and a soldier to-morrow, and an +agent for pictorial family bibles the day after." + +"I dunno, for you see you're a conshtable an' Oi'm a hid missenger in a +governmint ahffice in the city." + +"A soldier, Sergeant-major, can always serve the country, is, even as a +soldier, a government officer; that is a very different thing, +Sergeant-major." + +"The cornel here was tillin' me there was min in his rigiment that was +merchints an' lawyers an' clerks, an' shtudints, as good sowldjers as +iver foired a carrboine or drawed a shabre on the inimy." + +"That was a case, Sergeant-major, of mob meeting mob. Did these men ever +charge as our cavalry charged at Balaclava; did they ever stand, +Sergeant-major, as we, myself included, stood at Inkerman? Never, +Sergeant-major, never! They might have made soldiers, if taken young; +but, as they were, they were no more soldiers than Sylvanus Pilgrim +here." + +"You shet up yer tater-trap, Consterble Rigby, an' don't go fer to abuse +better men nor you aint," angrily interrupted the subject of the +corporal's unflattering comparison. Then, seeing the veteran, hopeless +of convincing his opponent, retire to the garden to join the children, +Sylvanus waxed bold. "A soldier, Trypheeny, a common soldier! Ef I owned +a dawg, a yaller dawg, I wouldn't go and make the pore beast a soldier. +Old pipeclay and parade, tattoo and barricks and punishment drill, likes +ter come around here braggin' up his lazy, slavish life. Why don't he +git a dawg collar and a chain at wonst and git tied up ter his kennel. +Ef you want a man, Trypheeny, get one as knows + + A life on the ocean wave + And a home on the rollin' deep, + +none o' your stiff starched, nigger driven, cat o' nine tails, ornery +common soldiers." + +Tryphena snickered a little, but the constable went on with his +breakfast, not deigning to waste a syllable on such unmilitary trash as +Sylvanus, with whom it was impossible to reason, and to come to blows +with whom might imperil his dignity. Some day, perhaps, Pilgrim might be +his prisoner; then, the majesty of the law would be vindicated. + +A messenger came and summoned the constable to accompany the coroner, +Dr. Halbert, to Richards, and bring the body of the murdered detective +to the post office. On such an occasion, the pensioner's dignity would +not allow him to drive the waggon, so Rufus had to be pressed into the +service. Squire Walker, as the presiding magistrate, in view of +Carruthers personal connection with the death of the subject of the +jury's verdict, appointed the detective temporary clerk of the court +that should sit after the inquests were over. Fearing that few of the +settlers warned would turn out as jurors, through fear of the Select +Encampment people, the master of Bridesdale chose a sufficient number of +men for the purpose from the present sojourners at his house. These, +some time after the doctor's departure, sauntered leisurely towards the +most public place in the neighbourhood. Arrived at the post office, they +found a large unfinished room in an adjoining building prepared for the +court. This building had been begun as a boarding house, but, when +almost completed, the conviction suddenly came to the post office people +that there were no boarders to be had, all the transients of any +financial value being given free quarters in the hospitable mansion of +the Squire. Hence the house was never finished. The roof, however, was +on, and the main room floored, so that it had been utilized for church +and Sunday school purposes, for an Orange Lodge, for temperance and +magic lantern itinerant lectures, and for local hops. Now, with the dead +body of Harding laid out upon an improvised table of rough boards on +trestles, it assumed the most solemn aspect it had ever exhibited. Three +oldish men were there, whom people called Johnson, Newberry, and +Pawkins; they were all the summoned jurors who had responded. Soon, from +the other side, the waggon came in sight, and when it came forward, the +remains of Nagle, alias Nash, were lifted reverently out and into the +hall, where they were placed beside those of one of his murderers. The +elder Richards accompanied the doctor, in order to give his testimony. +The mad woman and her son were also there, in charge of Sylvanus and Ben +Toner. Just as the party prepared to constitute the coroner's court, a +stumpy figure on a high stepping horse came riding along. He was well +disguised, but several persons recognized him. "Seize him," cried Squire +Carruthers. "It's Grinstuns," said the lawyer. "Stop him!" shouted +Bangs. But, Rawdon, having seen what he wanted, wheeled his horse and +galloped away. There was neither saddled horse to pursue him, nor rifle +to bring him down. "All the better," remarked Mr. Walker to his brother +J.P.'s; "had he seen mounted men and fire-arms among us, he'd have smelt +a rat. As it is, he thinks we are on the defensive and moving slowly." +It was evident, from what people heard of the presiding magistrate's +conversation, that the court had decided in favour of measures +offensive. + +It was easy to get twelve good men and true for the first inquest. In +addition to Johnson, Newberry, and Pawkins, there were the constable and +Mr. Terry, Messrs. Hill and Hislop, Sylvanus, Timotheus, and Rufus, with +Mr. Bangs and Maguffin. The colonel was an alien, and Carruthers did not +care to sit on the jury. Dr. Halbert presided, flanked by his fellow +justices, and Wilkinson, though a minor witness, was made clerk. +Several persons identified the slain Nagle or Nash, and gave evidence as +to his relations with Rawdon's gang. Ben Toner's information and +Newcome's attested confession were noted. Mr. Errol and Coristine, +backed by the Captain and Ben, told how the body was found. Wilkinson +and Perrowne related their share in conveying the corpse to Richards' +house, and Richards confirmed their story. The coroner himself, having +examined the body, affirmed that the deceased came to his death by a +fracture of the skull, inflicted by a heavy blow from some blunt +instrument from behind, followed by a pistol shot in front through the +temple. Two persons, evidently, were concerned in the murder. Who were +they? Matilda Nagle was sworn. She repudiated the name of Rawdon. She +testified that a man called Harding brought her a note from her long +lost brother Steven, asking her to meet him at the barred gate in the +narrows at a certain hour late on Monday morning. She went, but Rawdon +would not let her go beyond the barred gate, so she called Stevy over. +He came to the foot of a tree, where Rawdon told her she must stay; and +then she saw Harding run up behind him and hit him over the head with an +iron bar, and he fell down and went to sleep. Did Rawdon shoot him? She +shivered, and didn't know, nor could any cross examination extract this +evidence from her. Harding knocked him down with the iron bar, and he +went to sleep, and she couldn't wake him. Then she went to the corpse +and cried: "Oh, Stevy, Stevy, wake up, do wake up quick, for he'll come +again." The court and jury were deeply affected. Old Mr. Newberry, the +foreman of the jury, brought in the verdict to the effect that the +deceased was murdered by a blow from an iron bar administered by one +Harding, producing fracture of the skull, and by a pistol shot in the +left temple by some unknown person. Thus the first inquest came to an +end. The second inquest would have been a matter of difficulty, on +account of the large number of people supposed to be implicated in +Harding's death, had not Ben Toner, who had been called out of court, +returned with three good men and true, namely Mr. Bigglethorpe, M. +Lajeunesse, and a certain Barney Sullivan. These three parties, moved by +the entreaties of Widow Toner, had set out early in the morning to look +up the missing Ben; and were so delighted with their success, and so +tired with their walk, that they were willing to sit on anything, even a +coroner's jury. Accordingly, a new jury was empanelled, consisting of +Messrs. Johnson, Newberry, and Pawkins, Bigglethorpe, Lajeunesse and +Sullivan, Errol, Wilkinson and Richards, with the Captain, Mr. Bangs, +and Squire Walker. The latter was chosen foreman. The coroner himself +acted as clerk. Ben Toner had seen the deceased in company with one +Newcome, and had heard him addressed as Harding. The coroner testified +to having examined the body, which exhibited no shot wound of any kind, +but the forehead was badly bruised, evidently by a stone, as gritty +particles were to be seen adhering to it, and two table knives were +still resting in the neighbourhood of the heart. The jury examined the +corpse, and, led by the foreman under guard of the constable, went out +across the road and over the fence into the field where Mr. Terry and +Coristine found the dead Harding lying. The place was well marked by the +beaten down grass, blood stains on a large boulder and on the ground, +and by the finding of a loaded revolver. Carefully examining the spot, +the detective pointed out, at last, the very root, not more than three +quarters of an inch thick, which formed a loop on the surface of the +ground, in which the unfortunate man's foot had caught, precipitating +him upon the stone. Every member of the jury having examined it, Mr. +Bangs took out his knife and cut it away in order to prevent similar +accidents in future. The coroner did not think the blow sufficient to +kill the man, though it must have rendered him insensible. The killing +was done by means of the knives. These were identified by the Squire and +Timotheus as belonging to the Bridesdale kitchen. There was neither time +nor necessity for prolonging the examination. Matilda Nagle and her son +Monty, with much satisfaction, confessed that they had followed the +Bridesdale force and had seen the man fall, that she had turned him over +on his back and struck him to the heart with the knife she carried, +which she left there, because she had no further need for it. Her son +had followed her example. The jury retired, or rather the court retired +from the jury, and, when Squire Walker called the coroner in again, he +read the second verdict, to the effect that the deceased Harding, while +in a state of insensibility owing to a fall, had been murdered by one +Matilda Nagle with a table knife, and that her son, commonly known as +Monty, was accessory to the deed. The double inquest was over, and the +bodies were transferred to coarse wooden shells, that of Nagle being +claimed by his fellow detective, and Harding's being left for a time +unburied in case some claimant should appear. + +The magistrates, and Mr. Bangs as clerk, now sat in close session for a +little over half an hour, inasmuch as they had already come to certain +conclusions in the office at Bridesdale. One result of their conference +was the arrest of the madwoman and her son, much to the regret of the +Squire, Mr. Errol, and many more. Rigby was ordered to treat them +kindly, and convey them, with a written order signed by the three +justices, to the nearest town, there to hand them over to the police +authorities to be forwarded to their appropriate lunatic asylum. Old Mr. +Newberry, whom the case had very much affected, volunteered to accompany +the criminals, as he had to go to town at any rate, and offered to drive +them and the constable there, and take his wife as company for the +insane Matilda. Accordingly, he brought round the waggon in which he had +driven up, and took the constable and his prisoners away towards his own +house, which was on the road to their destination. The Squire and his +battalion were much relieved to find that they were not responsible for +Harding's death, although the fact reflected on their aim as +sharpshooters. The two wounded men were informed that a magistrates' +court was sitting, but evinced no anxiety to lodge a complaint against +any person or persons in connection with their injuries. The coroner +paid Messrs. Johnson and Pawkins their fee as jurymen, and, with the +Squire's permission, invited them to dine at Bridesdale; but they +declined the invitation with thanks, and returned, in company, to the +bosom of their families. The lawyer, filled with military zeal as a +recruiting officer, seeing that the new Beaver River contingent was +armed, asked Carruthers if he had room for them. + +"The mair the merrier," answered the Squire, and bade him invite them. +So Coristine invited the three to dinner, and to help in the support of +the justices in the afternoon. Barney Sullivan said he wasn't going to +leave Ben. Mr. Bigglethorpe, as a fisherman, had always wanted to see +these lakes, and, if it would help the cause of good fishing, he was +ready to lend a hand to drive out poachers and pot-hunters. Pierre +doubted how Madame would take his absence; of course there was Bawtiste, +but, well yes, for the sake of the poor dead M'syae Nash and Meestare +Veelkeenson, he would stay. Que dommage, Meestare Bulky was not there, a +man so intelligent, so clever, so subtle of mind! Mr. Bigglethorpe was +introduced to the drawing-room, but Pierre, though invited, would not +enter its sacred precincts. He accompanied Barney to the kitchen, and +was introduced by Ben to the assembled company. His politeness carried +the servants' quarters by storm, and wreathed the faces of Tryphena and +Tryphosa in perpetual smiles. Mr. Hill and the Sesayder succumbed to his +genial influence, and even the disheartened Maguffin, though deploring +his poor English and lack of standing colour, confessed to Rufus that +"his ways was kind o' takin'." + +"Squire Carruthers," said the detective, as they re-entered the office, +"there is wen thing you failed to have den at the inquest." + +"What is that, Mr. Bangs?" + +"To search the bedy of the men, Herding; bet I attended to thet, and +found pore Nesh's letter to his sister. Pore Nesh mest hev lost his head +for wence, since he trested thet dem villain. I seppowse there's no such +thing as a kemera ebout here?" + +"No; what did you want a camera for?" + +"To phowtogreph this Herding; there's a mystery about him. Nesh trested +him, and he terned out a dem traitor. Nesh mest hev known him before; he +would never trest a stranger so. Is there no wey of taking his +likeness?" + +"There's a young lady staying here, you saw her at breakfast, Miss Du +Plessis, who's very clever with brush and pencil, but it's no' a very +pleasant task for a woman." + +"No, but in the interests of jestice it might be well to risk offending +her. If you will reintroduce me more formally, I will esk the lady +myself." + +Mr. Bangs was escorted to the garden, where the lady in question was +actually sketching Marjory and the young Carruthers in a variety of +attitudes. To the Squire's great astonishment, she professed her +readiness to comply with the detective's desire in the afternoon, if +somebody could be left to accompany her to the post office adjunct. + +"How long will it take, Miss Du Plessis?" he asked. "A few minutes," she +answered, "a quarter of an hour at most." + +"Then, if you will allow me, I shell be heppy to be your escort, and +indicate the features that should be emphasized for purposes of +recognition. As I ride, I ken easily overtake the perty." This being +agreed to, Mr. Bangs asked Carruthers to let him look over Nash's last +memoranda, as they might be useful, and any recently acquired papers. +Among the latter, taken from Newcome, was a paper of inestimable value +in the form of a chart, indicating, undoubtedly, the way to the abode of +Serlizer and the Select Encampment generally. In the memoranda of Nash's +note-book the detective found a late entry F. al. H. inf. sub pot. prom, +monst. via R., and drew the Squire's attention to it. "Look here, +Squire, et our dog Letin again; F. perheps Foster alias H, Herding, +informer, under my power (that's through some crime entered in this +book), premises to show the way to Rawdon's. This premise was made last +Tuesday, at Derham, a whole week ago." + +"Why is Harding called an informer?" + +"Because he belengs to an infamous cless raised up by our iniquitous +kestoms administration. These informers get no selery, bet are rewerded +with a share of the spoil they bring to the depertment. Semtimes they +accuse honest men, and ectually hev been known to get them convicted +falsely. Semtimes they take bribes from the greatest scoundrels, and +protect them in their villainy. Nesh thought he hed this fellew safe by +the law of fear; bet fear and envy and the dread of losing Rawdon's +bribes, combined in his treacherous heart to make a merderer of him." + +"But Nash couldn't have written that letter last week. He knew nothing +of his sister's whereabouts till yesterday morning." + +"Exectly; see here is the nowte, a sheet out of this very book fowlded +ep. End it says: 'Meet me at wence, not later than noon, outside the +barred chennel. You say he followed Rawdon from the powst office; then, +at sem point behind Rawdon, this Herding must hev terned ep, end, O dem +the brute if he is dead! hev cheated the cleverest fellow in the +service." + +"But why should he have killed him? Why not leave that to Rawdon?" + +"Rawdon's kenning and deep. When he knew it wes Nesh, he got a fright +himself end then frightened Herding into doing it. I'll bet you whet you +like, thet revolver found with his body is the kelibre of the bellet +wound in pore Nash's head. I'll look when I go ep this efternoon. His +trick was to lay it all on Herding; I shouldn't wender if he towld thet +med woman to kill him. It's jest like him, dem the brute!" + +In order that due preparations, in the shape of accoutrements, might be +made, and after dinner delay avoided, the Squire and the colonel +assembled the forces. Including the absent Richards family, the +upholders and vindicators of the law numbered twenty-six. The Captain +had already signified to Richards senior his willingness to take command +of the scow and its complement of five men, armed with guns, and with +axes for cutting away the barrier at the narrows. There was much romance +about this side of the campaign, so that volunteers could have been got +for marine service to any extent; but the means of transportation were +limited, and even that able-bodied seaman Sylvanus had to be enrolled +among the landsmen. Happily Tom Rigby was not there to see him descend +once more to the level of military life. The colonel, rejoicing in +Newcome's chart of the marked road, called for cavalry volunteers. +Squire Walker, Mr. Bangs and Maguffin, having their horses with them, +naturally responded. It then came to a toss-up between Mr. Perrowne and +Coristine; the parson won, and the disappointed lawyer was relegated to +the flat feet. As the doctor had been major in a volunteer regiment, the +Squire ceded the command of the infantry to him. It was proposed to have +at least one man behind as a home guard, but nobody was prepared to +volunteer for this service, Messrs. Errol, Wilkinson, and Lajeunesse, +who were severally proposed, expressing their sense of the honour, their +high regard for the ladies, and anxiety for their well-being, but +emphatically declining to be absent from the common post of duty and +danger. Miss Halbert voiced the opinion of the fair sex that, being +eight in number, including the maids, they were quite able to defend +themselves. Nevertheless, the Squire inwardly determined to send old +Styles, the post office factotum, back with Miss Du Plessis. The main +attacking force of infantry consisted of Doctor Halbert, in command, +sergeants Carruthers and Terry and their two squads, the first +comprising privates Errol, Wilkinson, Coristine, Bigglethorpe, +Lajeunesse, and Hill; the second, privates Hislop, Toner, Sullivan, Hill +junior, and the two Pilgrims. Then, arms were inspected, and the twenty +bludgeons dealt out, five for the cavalry, and fifteen for the infantry. +Most of these had attachments of stout common string, but those of the +three commanders, the Squire, the two clergymen, and the two +pedestrians, were secured with red window cord, a mark of preference +which rejoiced the hearts of three of them, namely, the younger men. +With doubtful hands the dominie received his gun, and the minister more +boldly grasped a similar weapon. At the request of the colonel the +cavalry were served with a hasty luncheon, and thereafter set forward, +with the exception of the detective, Miss Du Plessis' escort, to patrol +the road and open communication with the Richards for the purpose of +intercepting the enemy's possible scouts. Two waggons were ordered to +take the infantry to the lake settlement, so that they might be fresh +for the work before them. + +In his martial accoutrements, the dominie's soul was stirred within him. +He repeated to his bosom friend pieces from Koerner's Leyer und Schwert, +but as the lawyer's acquaintance with the Teutonic tongues was limited, +including _sauer kraut, lager bier, nix kum araus, donner-wetter_, and +similar choice expressions, he failed to make an impression. Nobody in +the house knew German, unless it were Tryphena and Tryphosa, who had +picked up a little from their mother, and, of course, he could hardly +lie in wait to get off his warlike quotations on them. Ha! he remembered +Wordsworth, and rolled forth:-- + + "Vanguard of liberty, ye men of Kent! + + * * * * * + + They from their fields can see the countenance + Of your fierce war, may ken the glittering lance, + And hear you shouting forth your brave intent." + +Still failing to awake a responsive echo in the heart that once beat in +poetic unison with his own, he turned to Mrs. Du Plessis, and, alluding +to the departed colonel, recited in her native tongue:-- + + "Honor al Caudillo, + Honor al primero, + Que el patriota acero + Oso fulminar. + La Patria afligida + Oyo' sus acentos, + Y vio' sus tormentos, + En gozo tornar." + +"That is very pretty, Mr. Wilkinson, and I thank you much for recalling +the pleasant memories of my early speech. Is there not an English +translation of these words?" + +"There is, Mrs. Du Plessis, by Sir John Bowring, It is:-- + + Hail, hail to the Chieftain, + All honour to him + Who first in the gleam + Of that light bared the sword! + The drooping land heard him, + Forgetting her fears; + And smiled through her tears, + As she hung on his word." + +The dominie had thought only to give expression to the poetic fervour +called forth by the circumstances, but accomplished a good deal more, +the establishment of a common ground between himself and the nearest +relative of a very charming and cultivated young lady. The said young +lady came up to join in the conversation, and request Mr. Wilkinson to +repeat all that he knew of the battle hymn. The lawyer was secretly of +the opinion that his friend was making an ass of himself, and that, if +he were to try that poetry quoting business on Miss Carmichael, he would +soon discover that such was the case. Yet, if the Du Plessis liked that +sort of thing, he had no right to interfere. He remembered that he had +once been just such an ass himself, and wondered how he could have so +far strayed from the path of common sense. It was worse than Tryphosa +and Timotheus sitting down to sing with a hymn-book between them. + +"What are you doing out in the garden all by yourself, Eugene?" asked a +small voice. He looked down and saw Marjorie fingering the barrel of his +rifle. "Don't you know," she continued, "that all the people have gone +in to dinner?" + +"Did the gong sound, Marjorie?" + +"To be sure it did. Tell me, what were you thinking about not to hear +it?" + +"I was thinking about a dear little girl called Marjorie," answered the +prevaricating lawyer, picking the child up and bestowing a hearty salute +upon her lips. + +"You're a very good boy now, Eugene; you get a clean shave every day. Do +you go to Collingwood for it in the night time, when I am in bed?" + +"No, Marjorie; I get the cat to lick my face," the untruthful man +replied. + +"What? our pussy Felina that spits at Muggy?" + +"The very same." + +"Then I'll ask Tryphosa's father if he would like to have the loan of +Felina. Don't you think she would do him good." + +Coristine laughed, as he thought of Mr. Hill's stubbly countenance, and +carried "the darlin'" into the house. + +At the dinner table he found himself punished for his day-dreaming. +Bangs was on one side of Miss Carmichael, and Bigglethorpe on the other, +and he was out in the cold, between the latter gentleman and the +minister. Mr. Bigglethorpe resumed the subject of fishing, and +interrogated his right hand neighbour as to his success at the River. He +laughed over the so-called mullets, and expressed a fisherman's contempt +for them as devourers of valuable spawn, relating also the fact that, in +the spring, when they swarm up into shallow parts of the stream, the +farmers shovel them out with large wooden scoops, and feed them to the +pigs or fertilize the land with them. Finding he had more than one +auditor, the fishing store-keeper questioned the Squire about the +contents of his brook, and, learning that dace, chubs, and crayfish were +its only occupants, promised to send Mrs. Carruthers a basket of trout +when the season came round. In order to give a classical turn to the +conversation, the dominie mentioned the name of Isaac Walton and +referred to his poor opinion of the chub in the river Lea. "I know the +Lea like a book," said Mr. Bigglethorpe, "and a dirty, muddy ditch it +has got to be since old Isaac's time. When I was a schoolboy I went +there fishing one afternoon with some companions, and caught not a +single fish, hardly got a nibble. We were going home disappointed, when +we saw a man at the reservoir above the river, near the Lea bridge, with +some eels in a basket. They were queer looking eels, but we bought them +for sixpence, and one of our fellows, called Wickens, put them in his +fishing can; then we maide for home. Before we could get there we had to +cross a pretty rough part of the Kingsland road. It was pretty dark, +but, of course, the shops were all lit up and we sawr a lot of boys, +common cads, coming our wy. Just in front of a public house they called +out 'Boots, Boots! fish, fish!' and out caime a stout lad of about +eighteen to lead the gang. Three of us clubbed our rods over them, +briking the top joints, of course, but Wickens wouldn't fall in with us. +So Boots ran after him, followed by a crowd. When Wickens sawr he +couldn't escype, he opened his can, took out an eel and slapped it over +Boots' fyce. The beggar just yelled, 'O, Lawr, water snykes!' and he +ran, and Wickens after the crowd like mad, slashing 'em with the water +snykes. O dear, O dear, I shall never forget those snykes to my dying +dy." + +"Are there any water snakes in our rivers in Canada?" enquired Mrs. Du +Plessis. + +"Oh yes, ma'am," answered the fisherman, "I imagine those lykes we are +going to visit this afternoon are pretty full of snykes. Mr. Bulky, +whose nyme is known to Mr. Coristine, I'm sure, wears long waterproof +boots for wyding in the Beaver River--" + +"But, Mr. Bigglethorpe," asked the fair questioner, "how can one ride in +a river?" + +"Excuse me, ma'am, I did not say riding, I said wyding, walking in the +water. Mr. Bulky was wyding, one morning, with rod in hand, when, all of +a sudden, he felt something on his leg. Looking down, he sawr a big +black water-snyke coiled round his boot, and jabbing awy at his leg. It +hung on to him like a boa-constrictor, and squeezed his leg so tight +that it gyve him a bad attack of gout. He had to get on shore and sawr +it in two with his knife before the snyke would leave go. Fortunately, +the brutes are not venomous, but that beggar's teeth scratched Mr. +Bulky's boots up pretty badly, I must sy." + +When they rose from the table, Miss Carmichael went up to the lawyer and +said: "Please forgive me for punishing myself between Mr. Bangs and Mr. +Bigglethorpe. I sigh for good English." The lawyer answered, all +unwittingly, of course, in his worst brogue: "Miss Carrmoikle, it's my +frind Wilks I'll be aafther gitten' to shtarrt a noight school to tayche +me to shpake Inglish in aal its purity." To this there could be but one +response: "Go away, you shameful, shameless, bad man!" It pleased the +lawyer better than a more elegant and complimentary remark. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + Walk to the P.O.--Harding's Portrait--The Encampment + Besieged--Wilkinson Wounded--Serlizer and Other Prisoners--No + Underground Passage Found--Bangs and Guard Remain--The Constable's + New Prisoners--Wilkinson a Hero--The Constable and Maguffin--Cards. + + +There was no room for twenty persons in two waggons, yet twenty proposed +to go, seventeen to the seat of war, and three to the post-office. As +those three were the young ladies of the house, all the warriors offered +to surrender their seats to them. They refused to accept any surrender, +preferring to walk, whereupon Messrs. Errol, Wilkinson and Coristine +thought an after-dinner walk the height of luxury. Mr. Bangs saw he was +not wanted as a fellow pedestrian, and mounted his horse instead of +having him trot behind a waggon. The vehicles, or at least one of them, +received instructions to wait at the post-office for the three members +of squad No. 1. The walk was strictly proper, Mr. Errol taking Miss +Carmichael, the dominie Miss Halbert, and the lawyer Miss Du Plessis. +"What a goose you are, Mr. Wilkinson," said his fair companion. "What a +goose you are to leave Cecile, whose footsteps you fairly worship, and +to come and walk with a girl for whose society you don't care a penny." + +"I should care more for Miss Halbert's society if she did not say such +unjustifiable things." + +"Cecile," called the young lady, "I want to change escorts with you; I +like pleasant society." + +The dominie felt as if a big school-girl had declined to receive a +reprimand from the principal, and coloured with vexation, but Miss Du +Plessis calmly turned and said: "If Mr. Wilkinson is tired of you +already, Fanny, I suppose I must send Mr. Coristine to comfort you," +whereat Mr. Errol and his companion exchanged a smile. + +"Did the villain shoot Wordsworth at you, Miss Halbert, or was it Hans +Breitmann in the original, or a Spanish _cantinella_, or some such +rubbish? If I was Miss Du Plessis I'd wear a signboard over my ears, 'No +poetical rubbish shot here;' perhaps that might fix him." + +"Cecile is sentimental: she dotes on poetry." + +"Pardon me for saying I don't believe it. I offered to recite my +original poem on the Grinstun man to her, and she didn't seem to want to +hear it." + +"How ungrateful and unsympathetic! You will favour me with it, will you +not?" + +"With the greatest pleasure in the world. You know it's awful +balderdash, but here goes." + +The original poem was recited with appropriate gestures, intended to +imitate the walk of the hero of the piece and his various features. The +people in front turned their heads to look at the performance and take +in the words. Not to laugh was almost an impossibility, but the dominie +succeeded in doing the impossible, and frowned heavily. He felt that his +unworthy friend was bringing disgrace upon the causes of poetry and +pedestrianism. When her laughter subsided, Miss Halbert said: "There is +one thing I want to ask you seriously, Mr. Coristine." "Name it," he +answered, "even to the half of my fortune." "It is to look after papa, +and see that he does not expose himself too much to danger. I asked Mr. +Perrowne too, but he is with the horsemen, you know." This last was said +with a peculiarly arch smile, which convinced the lawyer that Perrowne +was in deeper than was generally suspected. The first thought that +followed in Coristine's mind was what awful cheek he had been guilty of +in following Perrowne's precedent in drop the handkerchief. He managed, +however, to assure the lady that he would do his best to watch over the +safety of her father and Squire Carruthers, the latter words being +spoken loud enough for Miss Carmichael to hear. When the post-office was +reached Mr. Bangs dismounted, was ready to receive the ladies; and the +three escorts, shaking hands warmly with each of their fair companions, +entered the remaining waggon and drove away, the buts of their firearms +rattling on the floor, and the suspended bludgeons playfully flogging +their shoulders. + +It was ghastly work propping up the dead murderer's shoulders in the +shell, and placing a rest for his head. The jaw had been tied up, but +the eyes would not close; yet, staring though the face was, it was not a +repulsive one. The ordinary observer could not read what Bangs saw +there, greed and hypocrisy, envy, treachery, murder. While Miss Du +Plessis went on calmly sketching, the other girls turned their heads +away. No one cared to break the stillness by a word. The detective went +out and secured the services of Styles to accompany the ladies home, and +remain at Bridesdale till the armed band returned. Then he went over to +the shell in which the body of his brother detective lay, and, nobody +looking at him, allowed himself the luxury of a few tears, a silent +tribute to the man he honoured. When the sketch was completed, he warmly +thanked the artist, and told her that he never would have dreamt of +proposing such a task, but for his desire to do justice to his dead +friend, whom an informer named Flower had greatly injured in the +department. The department had faith in his cleverness all along, but +suspicions had been cast upon his honesty, which embittered his days, +along with troubles that were then only known to himself. + +Bangs was not a detective, but a man of warm, brotherly heart, as he +told the tale of the outwardly always cheerful, but inwardly +sore-hearted, Nash, cut off in the midst of his years and usefulness. +Then old Styles appeared, and, with a salute, the detective mounted and +rode away to join the forces in front, while the ladies journeyed +homeward. Mr. Bangs soliloquized as he rode rapidly on. "Boys read +detective stories, and think our life an enviable one. They dowte on +the schemes, the plots and counterplots, the risks, the triumphs, and +look beyond to fame and rewerd, but they know nothing of the miserable +envies and jealousies, the sespicions, the checks and counterchecks, and +the demnable policy of the depertment, encouraging these irresponsible +informers, dem 'em, to break up all legitimate business and merder +honest men. O Nesh, my pore dead friend, yo're avenged in a wey, bet +who's going to avenge yore pore sister, and even this devil of a Flower +or Herding, whose death lies at the door of that greater devil of a +Rawdon?" + +The expedition was waiting for him at Richards', the colonel in command. +The scow had departed in charge of the captain, who had orders to do +nothing to the barrier till he heard a signal shot; then he was to +respond with the unmistakable blunderbuss, and batter down the +obstruction. Squire Walker, Mr. Perrowne, and Maguffin had patrolled, +without meeting even a passing team or wayfarer; but the colonel judged +it best to get off the road without delay. Accordingly the waggons were +left in Richards' shed, and the infantry doubled forward after the +colonel and Bangs. When the rocky ascent was reached, over which the +fugitives of the night before had clambered, a halt was called, and the +colonel gave Dr. Halbert instructions. Just where the rock rose out of +the swamp, Sergeant Terry's squad entered, and easily wheeled round +large trunks of trees resting on stone pivots, revealing a good +waggon-track, the masked road. This the cavalry occupied, looking to the +priming of their pistols, and bringing their clubs into handy positions. +The Squire's squad scaled the height near the road, and Mr. Terry's took +ground farther to the right. The doctor led the way in front of and +between the two sections. The cavalry moved slowly, keeping pace with +the climbers. Soon the crest was reached, and the main body began to +descend gradually, when the dominie slipped and his piece went off, the +trigger having caught in his red window cord, startling the echoes. Then +came the diffusive boom and crackle of the blunderbuss, and the doctor, +inwardly anathematizing Wilkinson, hurried his men on. They heard axes +at work, as if trees were being felled; it was the Captain and the +Richards at the barrier. No enemy appeared on the rocks, but pistol +shots warned them that there was collision on the road, and the doctor +called the second squad to wheel towards it. The dominie, on the left of +the first, saw what was going on below. Revolvers were emptied and clubs +brought into requisition. He could not load his old muzzle-loading piece +to save his life, but he knew single stick. Two men were tackling the +brave old colonel, while a third lay wounded at his horse's feet. The +dominie sped down to the road like a chamois, and threw himself upon the +man on the colonel's right, the dissipated farmer. He heard a shot, felt +a sharp pain in his left arm, but with his right hit the holder of the +pistol a skull cracker over the head, then fainted and fell to the +ground. His luckless muzzle-loader was never found. The colonel had +floored his antagonist on the left, and turned to behold the dominie's +pale face. Leaving the command to the doctor, he dismounted and put a +little old Bourbon out of a pocket flask into his lips, and then +proceeded to bandage the wound. Wilkinson had saved his life; he was a +hero, a grand, cultivated, sympathetic, chivalrous man, whom the colonel +loved as his own son. When he came to, were not the very first words he +uttered enquiries for Colonel Morton's own safety? Maguffin, having +felled his man, held his master's horse. + +Squire Walker, Mr. Perrowne, and Bangs galloped on, the latter eager to +seize Rawdon. They and the infantry squads came almost simultaneously +upon the select encampment, which was simply a large stone-mason's yard, +full of grindstones in every state of preparation, and bordered by +half-a-dozen frame buildings, one of which, more pretentious than the +others, was evidently the dwelling-place of the head of the concern. Two +simple-looking men in mason's aprons stood in the doorway of another, +having retired thither when they heard the sound of firing. This was +evidently the boarding-house of the workmen, and an object of interest +to Ben Toner, who, with his friends Sullivan and Timotheus, pushed past +the two stonecutters, immediately thereafter arrested by Sergeant Terry, +and invaded the structure. Soon Ben reappeared upon the scene, +accompanied by a young woman whose proportions were little, if at all, +short of his own, and calling aloud to all the company, as if he had +accomplished the main object of the expedition, "It's all raight, boys, +I've got Serlizer!" Behind the happy pair came an old woman, gray, +wrinkled, and with features that bore unmistakable traces of sorrow and +suffering. "Hev they ben good to you, Serlizer?" asked Mr. Toner, after +he had in the most public and unblushing manner saluted his long lost +sweetheart. The large woman raised her bared arms from the elbow +significantly, and replied, with a trace of her father's gruffness, "I +didn't arst 'em; 'sides I allers had old Marm Flowers to keep 'em off." +The expedition was demoralized. The colonel and his servant were with +the dominie on the road. Ben, with Timotheus and Sullivan, was rejoicing +in Serlizer; while Mr. Hislop and Rufus were guarding the captured +stone-cutters. Sylvanus, not to be outdone by his companions of the +second squad, attached himself, partly as a protector, partly as a +prisoner's guard, to Mrs. Flower, the keeper of the boarding-house. +Sergeant Terry, without a command, followed what remained of the first +squad in its search for Rawdon. The first person he came upon, in his +way down to the water, was Monsieur Lajeunesse, who could run no +farther, and, perspiring at every pore, sat upon a log, mopping his face +with a handkerchief. + +"A such coorse 'ave I not med, Meestare Terray, sinsa zat I vas a too +ptee garsong." Mr. Terry understood, owing to large experience of +foreigners, and could not permit the opportunity of making a +philological remark to pass, "D'ye know, Mishter Lashness, that Frinch +an' the rale ould Oirish is as loike as two pays? Now, there's garsan is +as Oirish a worrud for a young bhoy as ye'll find in Connaught. But juty +is juty, moy dare sorr, so, as they say in the arrmy, 'Fag a bealach,' +lave the way." The sergeant's next discovery was the doctor, borne in +the arms of the lawyer and the dismounted parson. He had sprained his +ancle in the rapid descent to which his zeal had impelled him, and had +thus been compelled to leave the Squire in command. Mr. Hill had been +left behind on the left of the encampment with the horses of the three +dismounted cavaliers, Squire Walker, Mr. Perrowne, and the detective, so +that Sergeant Carruthers, now acting colonel, had with him a mere +corporal's guard, consisting of Messrs. Errol and Bigglethorpe. + +The junction of the land forces with those operating on the water was +effected in good order, the latter being intact under command of the +captain, but the former exhibiting, by their terribly reduced numbers, +the dreadful fatality of war. Squire Walker and Mr. Bangs alone +represented the cavalry; Carruthers and his corporal's guard, the first +squad, and the veteran all alone, the second squad of the infantry. Even +this remnant had its deserter, for, during the conversation between the +Squire and the Captain, private Bigglethorpe stole away, and when next +seen was standing far out upon a dead hemlock that had fallen into the +lake, fishing with great contentment, and a measure of success, for +bass. The numbers of the force were soon augmented by the appearance of +the doctor and his bearers. The disabled physician was accommodated with +a seat on the bottom of the scow, two of the Richards boys being +displaced in his favour. The Captain reported a prize in the shape of a +handsome varnished skiff, which he found drawn up on some skids or +rollers at the foot of a great mass of rock, that seemed as if cut all +about in regular form, in readiness for quarrying. The finding of the +boat just opposite it, the worn appearance of the ground, the absence of +moss or any other growth on the severed edges of the square mass of +limestone, led the detective to ask if there was any report of a +subterraneous passage in connection with this mysterious region. The +doctor, whom his former guide had taken by water, and insisted on +blindfolding at a certain point, was sure that he had walked some +distance on rock, and, although the lamp-lit room, in which he had seen +his patients, was lined with wood, and had blinds on apparent windows, +he doubted much that it was built in the open air. Then, Coristine +remembered how the dissipated farmer had coupled Rawdon's geology with +trap rock, as well as with galena, quartz and beryl. Knives were +produced and thrust into the seams at the top and on the two sides, as +far as the blades would go, but along the bottom there was no horizontal +incision answering to that above; it was perpendicular towards the +earth, and of no great depth. + +It was decided, in the meanwhile, to leave the Captain with Richards +senior, his youngest son, and Mr. Bigglethorpe, who declined to leave +his sport, as a guard on the skiff and the adjoining mysterious stone. +The rest of the party returned to the encampment, to consult with the +colonel and learn the reason of his absence. Pierre Lajeunesse was found +where Mr. Terry had left him, and gladly accepted an arm up the hill. +Arrived at the stone-yard, the Squire and Coristine learnt with concern +of the dominie's wound, but were rejoiced to find it was nothing more +serious, and that his was the only casualty, besides the doctor's. +Squire Walker and Mr. Bangs accompanied the colonel, whom Coristine +relieved in attendance upon the dominie, and Maguffin, to look for the +felled accomplices of Rawdon, but, of the four who certainly were +knocked insensible by the clubs, not one was to be found, nor was there +any sign that the pistols of the cavalry had taken effect on the other +three. The whole seven had escaped. Meanwhile Rawdon's house and all the +other buildings had been searched by Carruthers, without a single +incriminating thing, save a half empty keg of peculiar white spirits, +being brought to light. The stables contained many horses; and strong +waggons, such as those seen by the pedestrians at the Beaver River, were +in the sheds. The stone-cutters and the women professed to know nothing, +and, save in the case of the woman called Flower, Bangs was of opinion +that they spoke the truth. All the men could tell was that Rawdon paid +them good wages, so that they were able to live without work all winter; +that six other men worked for him elsewhere and came to the +boarding-house for their meals, but did not sleep there; that one of +them had got hurt in the back, and was away in the hospital, and that +two teamsters had left shortly before the intruders arrived, along with +the remaining five. They had also seen Rawdon ride in that morning, but +did not know where he had gone. Did they know of any underground vaults +or trap doors, or any buildings apart from those in the encampment? No, +they had seen none; but, three years ago, before they returned to work +in the spring, there must have been quarrymen about, for enormous +quantities of stone were lying ready for them, which they had not taken +out. Mrs. Flower declined to answer any questions, but did not scruple +to ask if the Squire and others had seen anything of a man called +Harding. When she learned the man's fate, as she sat in a low chair, +she rocked it to and fro and groaned, but shed no tear nor uttered an +articulate syllable. + +Bangs would not give up the search, nor would he leave the place. There +was food enough in the boarding-house, and he would remain, even if he +had to stay alone. Squire Walker had to be home for an engagement early +in the morning; the two clergymen had to prepare for Wednesday evening's +duty, and had pastoral work before them; the colonel could not leave the +man who had saved his life. The doctor and the dominie were +incapacitated; Ben Toner was worse than useless over Serlizer; Pierre +dreaded his beloved Angelique's ire if he remained away over night; and +Sullivan's folks might be kinder anxious about him. Messrs. Hill and +Hislop also thought they had better be going. Thus the army melted away. +Everybody insisted on the Squire going home, and getting a good night's +rest. When, with difficulty, persuaded to do so, he offered to leave +Timotheus as his substitute, if that worthy were willing. Timotheus +consented, whereupon Sylvanus and Rufus volunteered, it being understood +that Ben Toner and Maguffin would do their work about the kitchen and +stables, while Serlizer helped the Bridesdale maids. Two other +volunteers were Mr. Terry and the lawyer; and two of the Richards +offered to watch with Mr. Bigglethorpe on the lake shore. Thereupon, the +three members of that gallant family withdrew to the lake, and, while +one boarded the scow and helped his father and younger brother, under +the Captain's directions, to paddle home, the others hailed the +fisherman and asked if he was going to remain. "I'm here for the night, +boys," replied the man of the rod. "I'll turn up that skiff against the +wind and dew, light a fire by the water, and, early in the morning, have +the loveliest bass fishing I've had for many a day. Oh yes, I'm here. +D'ye see my gun lying about anywhere?" Mr. Bigglethorpe's gun was found, +and deposited in the skiff. While this was going on below, Ben Toner +harnessed up a team, hitched them to a waggon, for which he found seats +by depriving other waggons of their boxes, and prepared to take the +wounded dominie, his affectionate friend, the colonel, with Serlizer and +the woman Flower, to Bridesdale. The last named person insisted upon +going at once to see the dead body of Harding. The two stone-cutters +also asked to be allowed to accompany the two props of the encampment +boarding house. Mr. Hill rode the colonel's horse, and the Squire, that +of the detective. Along the once masked, but now unmasked, road, the +procession of waggon, horsemen, and footmen, passed, waving a farewell +to the allies of Mr. Bangs who held the fort. It should be added that +Sylvanus accompanied them as far as the Richards' place, to obtain the +Captain's permission for his volunteering, and to bring the borrowed +waggon back. + +At Richards' the waggons were brought out. One was devoted to the two +injured men, the dominie and the doctor, with their attendants, the +colonel and the Captain, and Barney Sullivan as driver. The other was +driven by Ben, with Serlizer beside him. It also contained the woman +Flower, Mr. Errol, Mr. Lajeunesse, and Mr. Hislop. The cavalry, +consisting of Squire Walker in command, Mr. Perrowne, Carruthers, Hill, +and Maguffin, trotted forward, and the infantry and prisoners, +comprising Tom Rigby, who turned up at the Lake Settlement, and the two +masons, followed in the rear. The constable was angry; he had lost his +prisoners of the morning. Having arrived at Mr. Newberry's hospitable +house, and being asked to take some refreshments, which, esteeming the +objects of his care to be simple souls, he had no hesitation in doing, +he was amazed, on his return to the waggon, to find his captives gone. +At once he started in pursuit, but, up to the time of his arrival at the +Lake Settlement, he had seen no trace of the fugitives. Accordingly, the +corporal made the present life of the two stone cutters a burden. He +searched them for concealed weapons, and confiscated the innocent pocket +knives with which they shred their plug tobacco; he forbade them to +smoke; and, finally, tied the left hand of the one to the right of the +other to prevent their running away, of which they disclaimed any +intention. The cavalry came first to the gate of Bridesdale, and +reported the casualties, Perrowne proudly relating that he and +Coristine, who was "now end of a good fellow," had carried the doctor to +the scow, which he called "the bowt." Ben Toner's waggon came next, +having dropped Mrs. Flower at the post office, where, a little later, +the constable landed his prisoners. Her companion Serlizer sought the +kitchen with Ben, while Mr. Errol joined his brother divine; but +Messrs. Hislop and Lajeunesse, with Mr. Hill, waited only for Sylvanus' +appearance to take their homeward journey. At last the ambulance waggon +drove slowly up, and tender hands lifted out the disabled and the +wounded. Miss Halbert and Miss Carmichael relieved the Captain of his +patient, who managed to hop cheerfully into the house, with an arm on +each of their shoulders. The Squire and the colonel helped the dominie +along, and up to a special single room which was to be his hospital, and +which Mrs. and Miss Du Plessis and Mrs. Carruthers were prepared to +enter as nurses, so soon as his bearers had put him to bed. Then the +doctor came up with his instruments, cut off the colonel's improvised +bandage and the shirt sleeve, bathed the wound, found and extracted the +bullet, and tied all up tight. The meek dominie bore it all with +patience, and apologized to his surgeon for giving him so much trouble +while he himself was suffering. The three ladies brought the wounded +hero all manner of good things that sick people are supposed to like or +to be allowed to eat and drink, and Wilkinson was in a _dolce far +niente_ elysium. Little Marjorie, having knocked timidly at the door, +came in with some square gaudily-covered books under her arm, and asked +if Mr. Wilks would like her to read to him. She offered the victim his +choice of "Puss in Boots," "Mother Goose," and "Nursery Rhymes"; but +Miss Du Plessis, who, at the sufferer's request, was looking up in +Wordsworth that cheerful theme, The Churchyard in "The Excursion," +interposed, saying, some other day, when Mr. Wilkinson had grown +stronger, he might perhaps be able to make a selection from her juvenile +library. Marjorie told her cousin that she was sure, if it had been her +Eugene who was sick, he would have liked her to stay and read to him. +She had told Eugene to marry Cecile, but she would never do so any more; +she would give him all to cousin Marjorie. + +The three squires sat in council, and agreed to dismiss the nominal +captives on condition of their promising to appear when wanted as +witnesses. This Serlizer at once agreed to. Mr. Walker rode to the post +office and exacted the promise from Mrs. Flower and the masons, thus +depriving the constable of his prey. He was compelled to untie their +hands, and restore the confiscated pocket knives. The masons were +invited to supper at Bridesdale, as was the woman; but the men proposed +to go on to the River, as they had money to pay their way; and Mrs. +Flower, who would not leave Harding's body, was given in charge to the +post mistress. The supper tables in hall and kitchen were very different +from those of the previous night. In the latter, Ben Toner, the +constable, and Maguffin had each a lady to talk to. Their superiors +missed the company of the lawyer, the detective, and Mr. Bigglethorpe, +to say nothing of Mr. Terry. The doctor was stretched out upon a sofa in +the office, where his daughter waited on him, assisted by Perrowne, who +had to carry the other articles of food while she preceded him with the +tea. Miss Du Plessis, similarly helped by the colonel, attended to the +wants of the dominie. Consequently, the steady members of the supper +circle were the three matrons and Miss Carmichael, with Squires Walker +and Carruthers, Mr. Errol, and the Captain. All agreed that Wilkinson +had done a very fine thing, and Mrs. Du Plessis was warm in his praise. +"The only men that stuck to me," said the Squire, "were Mr. Errol and +Bigglethorpe, and even Bigglethorpe went off fishing as soon as he came +to the water, so that I may say Mr. Errol was my only faithful +adherent." The ladies all looked with much approbation on the blushing +minister, and Mrs. Carmichael showed her approval by immediately +refilling his cup. Squire Walker whispered in his ear: "Fine woman, Mr. +Errol, fine woman, that Mrs. Carmichael! Is she a widow, sir?" Mr. Errol +did not like this whispering at table, especially on such a subject, but +he replied affirmatively in as brief a way as possible, and went on with +his repast. The Captain said that his mill was clean run out of gear +with all these starboard and port watches and tacks to every point of +the compass; and, when conversation lagged, Carruthers fairly nodded +over his plate. Nevertheless, after supper, the occupants of the kitchen +were called in and prayers were held, in which Mr. Errol offered +petitions for the bereaved, the suffering, and the criminal, and +committed the watchers at the post of danger and duty to the care of +their Heavenly Father, to all of which Mr. Perrowne responded with a +hearty Amen. Then, the parsons insisted on going home to their boarding +houses, and Squire Walker mounted his horse for home. Anxiously, Mrs. +Carruthers asked her husband if he anticipated danger where her father +was, and Miss Carmichael asked the Captain the same question, without +mentioning anyone, but having Coristine in view. Both endeavoured to +reassure the minds of the half tearful women, after which they carried +the doctor upstairs, and all went to bed. Fearing that the idiot boy +might repeat his double attempt to fire the verandah, Mr. Perrowne had +told Muggins to lie there and watch it, and there the faithful dog lay +the whole night through, to the satisfaction of the inmates of +Bridesdale, although happily nothing happened to test his quality as a +watch dog. + +In the kitchen, Mr. Maguffin considered himself, next to Tryphena and +Tryphosa, the representative of the family, as the deputy of Timotheus +and the servant of the colonel. Ben Toner was his ally in war, but had +no local standing, and the pensioner was simply an intruder. Yet, with +cool effrontery, the corporal sat in the place of honour beside +Tryphena, and regaled her with narratives of warfare, to which she had +listened many times already. Ben and Serlizer were still full of one +another's society. He had comforted her heart, if it needed any +comforting, over the condition of her father, whom he and Timotheus had +treated so cavalierly, and urged her not to go home any more, but to +come and help the old woman. With a bad example before her at home, and +very far from improving ones at the Select Encampment, Serlizer was yet, +though not too cultivated, an honest steady girl, and was pleased to +learn that Ben had really turned over a new leaf. She gave her +sweetheart to understand that she had kept her own money, not being such +a fool as to let the old man get his hands on it, and that it was safe +in the bundle she had brought from the boarding-house, whereupon Ben +said she had better put that bundle away in a safe place, for you +couldn't tell what kind of characters might be about. Mr. Maguffin heard +these words, and, taking them to himself, waxed indignant. + +"Ef yoh'se diloodin' ter this pressum comperny, Mistah Tonah, I wants +ter say I takes the sponsability ob these young ladies on my shouldahs, +sah, the shouldahs ob Mortimah Magrudah Maguffin, sah. Foh what remains +ober ob the mascline paht ob it, I ain't no call foh ter spress mysef. +It kin speak foh itsef." + +The corporal glowered, and smote the table with his fist. + +"Pardon my indignation, Miss Hill! This creature, with no military or +other standing that I know of, calls me, a retired non-commissioned +officer of the British army, it. In India, where I served, I called such +things _chakar_ and _banda_, the very dust beneath my feet, Miss +Tryphena; and it was as much as their life was worth to call me less +than _sahib_. And, now that I have retired on a pension, with my medals +and clasps, and am an officer of the law, a black man, a _kali_, +presumes to _it_ me. I have known a _kali chakar_ killed, yes killed, +for less. 'Corporal,' said the commanding officer to me, 'Corporal +Rigby,' said he, many a time, 'order one of your men to call up that +black dog of mine!' I assure you he did, Miss Hill." + +"I doan' take no erbuse ner nigger talk in this yere house, where I'm +takin' Timothis' place, an' where my bawss is mighty high ercount, no, +not fom consterbles nor no nuther white tresh. I didn't go foh ter call +Mistah Rigby _it_, Miss Tryphosy, I swan ter grashus I didn't. I +spressed the pinion as all the comperny as isn't ladies is it and so it +is it." + +"Ef you go a ittin' of me Maguffin," struck in Ben, "I'm buzz sawed and +shingled of I don't hit you back fer what you're ma guvin us." Then he +opened up his mouth and laughed, and Serlizer laughed, and the Hill +girls. Even Maguffin displayed his ivories, and remarked: "Mistah Tonah, +foh a gennelman what ain't trabbled none, yoh'se mighty smaht." + +"Oh, Serlizer," said Ben, "we don't go traavellin' much; we ain't like +the rollin' stones as don't gaythyer no mawss." + +"When the cunnel and me was ridin' ter Tronter, laast Sat'day," +continued Mr. Maguffin, "the cunnel he began egspashuatin' on the things +he see. 'That there mawss' says he, 'at Hogg's Holler, minds me ob two +coloured men was habin' a counterbessy on they bawsses. Says one of the +gennelmen, "My bawss," (the cunnel says massa, but that's a name I doan' +take to) "my bawss says he ain't like yoh bawss, trabellin' around all +the time and gatherin' no mawss." "No," said the other coloured +gennelman, "but my bawss gathers what yoh bawss want mighty bad, and +that's a heap ob polish."'" + +"For polish," remarked Constable Rigby, turning to Tryphena, "for +polish, Miss Hill, commend me to an English army officer." + +"My bawss," said Maguffin, "is an officer and a gennelman, and yoh +cayn't beat him foh polish nohow." + +"There are no officers and no soldiers in America," replied the +pensioner. + +"Oh, Mr. Rigby," interrupted Tryphosa, "I remember reading in my history +that the American soldiers beat the British army many times in the +Revolutionary War." + +"Flim-flam. Miss Tryphosa Hill, garbled reports! The British army never +has been beaten, never can be beaten. I belonged to the British army, +Miss Hill, I beg pardon, Miss Tryphosa, and know what I assert from +experience." + +"Le'ss stop this jaw and have a game o' keerds," suggested Serlizer. + +Ben seconded his lady love's proposal, and thought a game of euchre +would pass away the time. The constable said euchre was no game. There +was only one game at cards, and that was whist. The man or woman who +could not play whist was uneducated. Sarah Eliza professed a preference +for High, Low, Jack, and the Game; any saphead could play that. She +wasn't a saphead herself, but there might be some about. Maguffin +regretted that in the Baktis pussuasion cards were not allowed; and the +Hill girls had distinctly promised their mother to play no games of +chance. As, however, none of the parties owned a pack of cards, nor knew +where to find one, further controversy on the subject was useless. +Tryphosa, looking intelligent, left the room, and speedily returned with +a little cardboard box in her hand, labelled Countries, Cities, +Mountains, and Rivers, with which Timotheus had once presented her. She +said it was an improving game, and that all could play it. The shuffling +and dealing, of course, presented an almost unavoidable chance element, +but, apart from that, the game was a matter of science, of geographical +knowledge. Now the Hill girls were educated, as Mr. Rigby said; and he, +having travelled far as a soldier, was not deficient in geographical +lore; but what about the other three? + +"Oh!" ejaculated Miss Newcome, "at them there keerds, I guess we jist +are sapheads. Ain't that so, Ben?" + +Ben said "I guaiss"; and Mr. Maguffin added: "joggrify, entermoligy, +swinetax, and paucity was teached me, but I done clar forgit how they +run, it's so long sence." + +It was, therefore, agreed to play a triangular game, the pair having the +most books to be winners, and have the right to shuffle and deal for the +following trial of skill. The contending pairs were the pensioner and +Serlizer, Ben and Tryphosa, Maguffin and Tryphena, partners were allowed +to help each other. While the British Islands, Turkey, Russia, and India +were being played, Rigby and Miss Newcome were triumphant, but when it +came to any other part of the world, especially to America, with the +exception of Canada, where Serlizer scored her one victory, that pair +was helpless. Maguffin acquired a book by his own unaided wisdom, that +of the Southern United States; otherwise Tryphena inspired him. Ben had +an unavailing contest with Miss Newcome over Canada, and saw her make up +the book and slam it on the table with mingled feelings of pride in her, +and mortification for his own want of success. But, as he said, Tryphosa +was "a daisy and parlyzed the hull gang." Laurel after laurel she took +from the brow of the travelled pensioner; she swooped down upon Tryphena +and Maguffin, and robbed them of books wholesale, till Mr. Toner +remarked that she had "quayte a libery"; in her hands the strapping +Serlizer was helpless as a child. Magnanimously, she allowed Ben to +shuffle and Serlizer to cut, then Ben again to deal. + +The second game was more exciting. Mr. Maguffin, naturally quick and +possessing a memory cultivated by closely following the prelections of +his coloured Baptist religious instructors, rapidly seized the hitherto +unknown combinations, and astonished Tryphena with his bold independence +of action. The constable's mind worked more conservatively, as became +his rank and profession, and Serlizer was worse than useless to him, +but, by chance, they had magnificent hands. He piled up India in quick +marching time, as he hummed "The British Grenadiers," and accompanied it +with a drum beat of his right foot on the floor. Calcutta, Bombay, and +Madras, Indus, Ganges, and Godavery, Himalayas, Ghauts, and Vindhyas, +lay captured at his right hand. Ben won Ireland from him, but he +annexed England, Scotland, and Turkey. Once more Serlizer took Canada, +and, owing to Mr. Toner's imperfect shuffling, laid complete books of +Egypt, Australia, and Brazil upon the table. The stars fought against +Tryphena and Tryphosa, and, in spite of Mr. Maguffin's gallant struggle +against fate, the pensioner took the honours. Then Miss Newcome favoured +him with a friendly kick under the table, accompanied by the elegant +expression: "Bully for you, old man!" Next, the victorious damsel +shuffled, allowed Tryphena to cut, and dealt out the cards for the third +game. This time the deal was fair, and Mr. Rigby, glancing over his +partner's capacious hand, beheld there no prospect of continued good +fortune. Tryphena was on her mettle as a geographer, and Maguffin had +stowed away in his all-embracing memory the names of half the globe's +prominent features in city, river, and mountain. He wrested half India +and all Russia from the pensioner, captured the whole of the United +States, Canada, Mexico, and various states of South America. Almost the +entire continent of Europe succumbed to Tryphena. Tryphosa fought +doggedly, and encouraged Ben to continue the unequal contest, but the +constable and Serlizer yielded up card after card with the muteness of +despair. Mr. Maguffin was transported with joy, when his partner counted +up their united books, amounting to more than those of both the other +pairs put together. + +"I'se larned moah joggrify this heah bressid night nor I'd git in six +mumfs er schoolin'. Hit makes me feel kind er smaht all ober, but not +smaht enough foh ter ekal you, Miss Trypheeny, ner yoh pah. Ain't he +jest a smaht man, foolin' me on Typernosties and Gasternickle, words I +nevah knowed afoah, yah! yah! yah!" + +A new game was in progress, when a tap came to the inside door, and, +immediately thereafter, a figure in a dressing gown appeared, partly +thrust into the half-opened entrance. "Do you know Tryphena," said a +pretty voice, "that it is very late, long past midnight, and you two +girls have to be up by six o'clock at the latest! Take Sarah with you, +and go to bed. Toner, you know Timotheus' room, and had better get some +rest, which I am sure you need." As the four parties addressed somewhat +sheepishly departed, Mrs. Carmichael turned to the remaining card +players, who were standing, corporal Rigby at military attention, and +said, with a somewhat tremulous accent: "There's a large fire out in the +Lake Settlement direction, but I cannot bear to awaken Mr. Carruthers or +the other two gentlemen, for he is very tired, and they are much older +and require rest also. Perhaps, Maguffin, you will be kind enough to +saddle a horse quietly, and find out where it is and see that my father +and Mr. Coristine are safe." + +"I'se ony too pleased ter obey yoh commandemens, marm, wif percision an' +dispatches," answered the coloured gentleman, hasting stablewards. + +"As constable, ma'am, if I may be allowed to speak," said Corporal +Rigby, saluting for the second time, "as constable, it is my duty to be +present at all township fires, for the purpose of keeping order and +directing operations. I shall, therefore, with your permission, ma'am, +respectfully take my leave." + +"It is a long way, constable, and you and I are not so young as we once +were--" + +"Pardon an old soldier's interruption, ma'am, but you are as young as +ever you were, the youngest married lady I know." + +"Thank you, corporal! What I meant to say was that you had better get +Maguffin to saddle a horse for you, as the distance is great." + +"You are very good, ma'am, but I never served in the cavalry. I belonged +to Her Majesty's Foot Guards, ma'am, and could not possibly insult the +memory of my old comrades lying in Crimean graves, by putting the legs, +that a merciful Providence furnished me to march with, across the back +of a horse. Had I even served in the Artillery or in the Engineers, I +might have been able to comply with your kind request. Being what I have +been, I must proceed without delay to the seat of the conflagration. I +have the honour, ma'am, of saluting you. Good night!" + +So Maguffin quietly escaped from the stables, and rode rapidly towards +the fire, which shed its lurid light far over the clouded sky; and the +pensioner trudged after him on foot, with his official baton under his +arm, to make that conflagration acquainted with the law. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + Picnic Supper--Sentries--Sylvanus' Silence--Coristine and + Bigglethorpe Hear Sounds--Invaders Repelled--Fire and + Explosions--Victims Walled In--Water Retreat in the Rain--The + Constable Secures Mark Davis--Walk Home in the Rain--Bangs and + Matilda--Into Dry Clothes--Miss Carmichael's Mistake--A Reef in Mr. + Bangs--Ben has no Clothes--Three Young Gentlemen in a Bad Way. + + +Mr. Bangs had no fewer than eight men under his command, Bigglethorpe +and the two Richards at the water, and Coristine and the veteran, the +two Pilgrims and Rufus, up above. The latter tired themselves out, under +the detective's direction, looking for an opening in the ground, but +found none, nor anything that in the least resembled one. Some of the +searchers wondered why the chimney in Rawdon's house was so +unnecessarily large and strong, but no examination about its base +revealed any connection between it and an underground passage. The +detective, in conference with Mr. Terry and the lawyer, decided on four +sentries, namely one each at the house and the lake, as already set, one +at the road looking towards the entrance, and the other half way between +the lake and the house, to keep up the connection. Some bread and meat +and a pot of tea, with dishes, were sent down to the three men on the +shore by the hands of Timotheus, but they rejected the cold meat, having +already made a fire, and broiled the bass caught by Mr. Bigglethorpe. +They had a very jolly time, telling fish stories, till about eight +o'clock, and the fisherman of Beaver River was in wonderful spirits over +the discovery of a new fishing ground. If those lakes had only contained +brook trout he would move his store to the Lakes Settlement; as it was, +he thought of setting up a branch establishment, and getting a partner +to occupy the two places of business alternately with him. The Richards +boys were pleased to think that their new acquaintance was likely to be +a permanent one, and made Mr. Bigglethorpe many sincere offers of +assistance in his fishing, and subordinate commercial, ventures. At +eight Mr. Bangs came down the hill, and posted one of the Richards as +sentry, while the fisherman indulged in his evening smoke, preparatory +to turning in under the skiff with his friend Bill. "I went that fire +put out, gentlemen," said the detective, "net now, but say efter ten +o'clock, as it might help the enemy to spy us out," to which Bill +Richards replied: "All right, cap'n; she'll be dead black afore ten." +Rufus was placed on the hill side to communicate between the distant +posts; Timotheus overlooked the encampment; and Sylvanus was given the +station on the road. Mr. Bangs walked about nervously, and the lawyer +and Mr. Terry, bringing some clean coverlets out of the boarding-house, +spread them on the chip-covered ground, and lay down to smoke their +pipes and talk of many things. "Oi tuk to yeez, sorr," said the veteran +with warmth, "soon as Oi mit ye in the smokin' carr, and to think what a +dale av loife we've seen since, an' here's you an' me, savin' yer +prisince, as thick as thaves." + +Nothing of any moment occurred till within a quarter of ten, when +Sylvanus saw two figures suddenly start up close by him on the right. At +first, he thought of challenging them, but seeing one was a woman, and +remembering the going over the Squire gave him about capturing Tryphosa, +he resolved to await their arrival. Both figures greeted him joyfully by +his name, for it was his two proteges, the crazy woman and her son, who +had escaped the constable and lain concealed until darkness veiled their +movements. "Has Steevy woke up yet?" she asked the sentinel, quietly. + +"Not as I know on," responded the elder Pilgrim. + +"Then we will slip quietly into the house, and get some supper for +Monty, and go to bed. It's tiresome walking about all day," she +continued. + +"Don't you two go fer to make no noise, 'cos they's sentries out as +might charlinge yer with their guns," remarked the compassionate guard. + +"No," she whispered back; "we will be still as little mice, won't we, +Monty? Good night, Sylvanus!" The boy added, "Good night, Sylvy!" and +the sentinel returned the salutation, and muttered to himself: "Pore +souls, the sight on 'em breaks me all up." + +Sylvanus should have reported these arrivals, when the detective came +to relieve him, and put Mr. Terry in his place, but he did not. He had +forgotten all about them, and was wondering if that "kicked-out-of +service old ramrod, the corpular, was foolin' round about Trypheeny." +Coristine relieved Timotheus; Bill Richards, Rufus; and Mr. +Bigglethorpe, Harry Richards. The relieved men went to sleep on the +quilts and under the skiff. Mr. Bangs came up every quarter of an hour +to the lawyer, and asked if he had heard a noise about the house, to +which the sentinel replied in the affirmative every time; whereupon the +detective would take a lamp and search the building from top to bottom +without any result. Once, after such a noise, that sounded like some +heavy article being dragged along, Coristine thought he heard the words: +"Keep quiet, Tilly," and, "Take it hoff," but he was not sure. The night +was cloudy and dark, and the mosquitoes' buzzing sometimes had a human +sound, while the snoring of the Pilgrims, and the restless moving of the +horses, brought confusion to the ear, which sought to verify suspected +articulations. Had he known that Matilda Nagle was about the house, he +would not have let Bangs rest until the mystery was solved. He did not +know; and, being very tired and sleepy, was inclined to distrust the +evidence of his senses and lay it to the charge of imagination. + +Down by the water's edge Mr. Bigglethorpe sat on a stone in front of the +carved out block, thinking of the best fly for bass, and of a great +fishing party to the lakes that should include Mr. Bulky. Standing up to +stretch his legs and facing the block of limestone, he thought he saw a +narrow line of light along the left perpendicular incision. Moving over, +he saw the same perpendicular line on the right. Just then the clouds +drifted off the moon, and he convinced himself that the light lines were +reflections from the sheen that glimmered over the lake. He also thought +he heard a whining noise, such as a sick person or a child might make, +and then a rough voice saying: "Stow that now!" but Richards, like the +two Pilgrims above, was snoring, and Harry had a slight cold in his +head. "What a stoopid, superstitious being I should become," said the +fisherman to himself, "if I were out here long all alone." But, hark! +the sound of paddles softly dipping came from the left, and at once the +sentry lay down behind the upturned skiff, and, gun in hand, listened. +He poked Richards with his foot, and, as he awoke, enjoined silence. +Richards crawled out, and quietly replaced the boat in its original +position. There were now two on guard instead of one. The boat entered +the lake. It was the scow, Richards' scow, and Harry was indignant. +There were five men in it, and they were talking in a low tone. + +"Quite sure them blarsted Squire folks has all gone home, Pete?" + +"Sartin, I seen 'em, the hull gang's scattered and skee-daddled, parsons +an' all." + +"Where's the blarsted light, then?" + +"Seems to me I kin see long, thin streaks. O Lawr, boys, Rodden must ha' +been hard put, when he drapped the block into the hole. It's shet up +tight. Hev ye got the chisel and mallet?" + +"They're all right." + +"Then less git ashore and drap the block out, though it's an orful pity +to lose it in the drink." + +"Carn't we git the blarsted thing back to its place agin?" + +"Onpossible; wild horses couldn't do it." + +Harry whispered to Bigglethorpe: "What'll we do?" and the fisherman +answered: "Our duty is to fire, but we weren't told to kill anybody. +Don't you fire till I reload." + +Then Bigglethorpe called out: "Surrender in the Queen's name," and fired +above the scow. Two or three pistol shots rattled over the sentries' +heads, and flattened themselves on the rock behind. "All ready!" said +the storekeeper, and Harry let fly his duck shot into the middle of the +crowd, who paddled vigorously from the shore. Bill Richards, having +alarmed the upper sentries by the discharge of his gun, came running +down, with the Pilgrims and Rufus, led by the detective, not far behind +him. "Shove out the skiff," called Bigglethorpe. The Richards shoved it +off, and Bill rowed, when the two sentries got on board. "Go it, Bill, +after the old tub," cried Harry; "we'll soon catch up." The Rawdon gang +worked hard to get to the narrows, but found it hopeless. "Give it to +them," shouted Bangs from the shore; and in response, the guns rang out +again, while Bill strained every muscle to the utmost. The punt +grounded on the shore above the narrows, and four of the men jumped out +into the water and fled up the bank, firing their pistols as they +retired. The punt was captured, and brought back to the guarded beach, +with a wounded man and some tools in the bottom. Only by swimming, or by +a long detour of very many miles, could the four fugitives find their +way back to the shore they had sought in vain. + +The wounded man was taken out of the punt and laid on the beach. "Is he +dead?" asked Bigglethorpe. "No," answered the detective, feeling the +head of the victim, and inspecting him by the aid of matches struck by +the smoker Sylvanus; "it's a good thing for him thet yore two gens were +louded with deck shot end thet they sketter sow, else he'd a been a dead +men. He's got a few pellets in the beck of his head, jest eneugh to sten +the scoundrel for a few minutes. Ah, he's hed a creck owver the top of +his head with a cleb, the colonel's werk, very likely." + +"Do you want him kept?" enquired Mr. Bigglethorpe, as sentry. + +"Oh, dear me, yes; he's Rawdon's chief men. I wouldn't lose him fer a +hendred dollars. Rufus, do you mind blowing his brains out if he +attempts to escaype?" + +The good-natured Rufus said he didn't mind watching the prisoner, but he +imagined clubbing would be kinder than blowing out his brains. + +"All right!" answered the detective, "all right, so long as you keep him +safely." + +So Mr. Bangs went back to the house, followed by Sylvanus, Timotheus and +Bill Richards, the last of whom resumed his post, namely the trunk on +which Pierre Lajeunesse had rested. + +When the encampment was reached, Mr. Bangs asked Coristine if he had +been smoking on guard or lighting matches, but he had not. He asked Mr. +Terry the same question, which the old soldier almost took as an insult. +"An' is it to me ye come, axin' av Oi shmoke on guarrd, an' shpind my +toime loightin' matches loike a choild? Oi've sane sarvice, sorr, and +nobody knows betther fwhat his juty is." + +"I sincerely beg your pardon, Mr. Terry. Please excuse my enxiety; I +smell fire." + +"Don't mintion it, sorr, betune us. Faix, an' it's foire I shmill an' +moighty sthrong, too." + +The detective came back to the front of the house, and saw the fire that +had broken forth in a moment, and was flaming in every room of basement +and upper storey, a fire too rapidly advanced to be got under, even had +the means been at hand. + +"Quick, Sylvanus, Timotheus, get out the horses and any other live +stock," he cried; but the lawyer had been before him, and the two +Pilgrims and he were already leading the frightened animals past the +house and on to the road, where they turned their heads outward and +drove them along. Forgetting their watch, Mr. Terry and Bangs himself +helped, until every living creature, as they thought, was safely away on +the road to the Lake Settlement. Then, two figures, that the guilty +Sylvanus knew, came out of the door of the boarding house, and the +flames leaped out after them. The woman came up to Coristine, and said: +"I know you; you helped to carry poor Steevy, who is not awake yet. He +said it was cold down there, so Monty and I have made a fire to keep him +warm." The lawyer thought she meant that her dead brother was cold. As +to the fire, when he saw Monty, it did not astonish him; but how came +they both there through the guard? + +The frame buildings, their light clapboards dried by the summer sun, +burned furiously, and the flames roared in the rising wind. The sheds +and stables caught; the fire ran over the ground, in spite of the dew, +catching in shrubs and fallen timber, and even climbing up living trees. +Back the beholders were driven, as far as Bill Richards' post, by the +terrible glare and heat of the conflagration. Leaving Bigglethorpe on +sentry, and Rufus over the prisoner, Harry came running up to learn what +was the matter, and to tell of noises like human voices and hammer blows +behind the slab of rock. Then, as the fire in the house burned down to +the ground, there was an explosion that seemed to shake the earth, and a +column of fire sprang up the standing chimney, side by side with another +less lofty and more diffused from the right of the building. Report +after report followed, and the whole party, half terror-stricken, +descended to the beach. Rufus, with Bigglethorpe's help, had +considerately transferred his prisoner to the punt, and guarded him +there. The store-keeper, taking chisel and mallet in hand, was striking +off chip after chip of rock, in answer to muffled cries from within; and +now the big rock had moved half an inch. Still the brave man worked away +amid the continued explosions, and in spite of the advancing fire. The +block continued to slide, and Bigglethorpe cried: "Take the boats out of +the way, and get back from me, or you will all be crushed in a minute." +The punt was out of danger, but Bill Richards, with a single movement, +shoved off the skiff, and, kneeling on her stern, sent her far out into +the lake. Then he rowed the boat rapidly back into a place of safety. +The slab was still sliding, and had cleared the rock out of which it had +been cut by an inch. A human hand was thrust out, a dumpy, beringed +hand, bleeding with the effort; a most audible voice cried "For God's +sake, 'urry!" and then there came a perfect Babel of explosions, and the +gallant deliverer was forcibly drawn out of a fierce river of liquid +fire that streamed down into the lake, and burned even out on the water. +The fisherman was badly burnt, hair, beard and eyelashes almost singed +off; but still he thought of rescue. "Fire at that miserable little chip +that holds it," he cried; "fire, since you can't hit it otherwise. Oh, +for an asbestos suit, and I would have styed." They fired pistol and gun +with no effect, till the lawyer, out in the skiff with Bill, got his +rifle sighted to the point in the blue flame, where he thought the +preventing ridge ought to be. He fired at close range, the ball hit the +rock projection, and at once the great block slid away into the lake, +with a splash that damped the flames with a column of spray, and +revealed an awful corridor of fire. No living creature was there, but +the detective, dipping his feet in the lake, took a boat hook out of the +returning skiff, and then, standing in the flames, hauled out two +charred masses, and extinguished them in the shallow water by the shore. + +Mr. Terry came running down and crying: "Out on the wather wid yeez, +ivery mother's son av yeez; the foire's spreadin' an' the threes is +fallin'; fer yer loife, min." Mr. Bangs, still in command, asked:-- + +"How many will the skiff howld, Bill?" + +"Seven, anyway," replied the Richards of that name. + +"Mr. Coristine and Mr. Terry take commend and choose crew." + +"Come, Matilda and Monty," said the lawyer. + +"Come on, Sylvanus, Timotheus, Rufus," cried Mr. Terry. + +"I'll row," said the Irishman. + +"And me, too," added Sylvanus. + +"Look after my prisoner, Mr. Bangs," cried Rufus; and the skiff went out +to sea. + +Bill transferred himself to the scow, with his brother Harry and Mr. +Bigglethorpe. The detective lifted the two charred masses to the +opposite side of the middle thwart from that against which the prisoner +lay. Then, Bill and Bigglethorpe having taken the bow, he and Harry took +the stern, and the scow followed the skiff. For a time the two boats +stood stock still, fascinated by the awful scene. The explosions were +over, but the forest was blazing fiercely, and up towards the +smouldering buildings, but underground, blazed a vault of blue fire that +reached up to the standing brick chimney of Rawdon's house. Hundreds of +animals were in the water around them, squirrels and snakes and +muskrats, even mice, swimming for dear life. Then, pitter, patter, came +the rain, hissing on the flames. It fell more heavily; and the lawyer, +having doffed his coat to row, threw it over the woman's shoulders, +while Mr. Terry put that of Sylvanus about the boy. "Lead on, Mr. +Coristine," cried the detective; and the skiff shot through the narrows, +with the punt hard after it. The rain fell in torrents and drenched the +occupants of both vessels; but those whose faces were towards the stern +could see the bush-fire still raging. "The rain'll stop it spreadin'," +Bill called out cheerfully, and the lawyer rejoiced, because the fire +was on Miss Du Plessis' land. Long was the journey, tired were the +rowers and paddlers, and draggled was the crew, or rather draggled were +the crews, that reached the Richards' homestead. The prisoner was awake +by this time, had been so all along since he was deposited in the punt, +and a paddle had splashed his face. When walked ashore, he had made a +dash for liberty, but Mr. Bangs had brought him up short. "Yore in too +great a herry, Merk Devis," he had said; "we went you, my men, and we'll +hev you, dead or alive." So Mark Davis, since that was the name of +Wilkinson's dissipated farmer, had to fall into line and march to the +Richards' place. There the party found Maguffin and the constable. + +The colonel's servant had been much closer to the conflagration, but, +having seen no sign of any person there, nothing but a number of +startled horses, and the fire having taken possession of the sides of +the masked road, he had retired to the nearest house. He at once +enquired after the safety of Mr. Terry and the lawyer, and, finding that +they and all the rest of the party were safe, rode back at his utmost +speed to report. The constable, rejoiced at seeing his prisoners again, +was about to rearrest them, when Coristine and Sylvanus interposed, the +latter threatening to thrash the pipe-clay out of the pensioner's "old +putrified jints" if he touched the boy. The Crew meant petrified, but +the insult was no less offensive to the corporal on account of the +mistake. As a private individual in the Squire's kitchen, Mr. Rigby was +disposed to peace and unwilling to engage in a contest with big-boned +Sylvanus, but, as a constable on duty, he was prepared to face any +number of law-breakers and to fight them to the death. Drawing his +baton, he advanced, and only the commands of his legal superior, Mr. +Bangs, backed by the expostulations of the pseudo sergeant-major Terry, +induced him to refrain from recapturing his former prisoners, and from +adding to them the profane Pilgrim who had been guilty of interfering +with an officer in the discharge of his duty. Finally he was mollified +by being put in possession of a really great criminal, Mark Davis, whom +he at once searched and deprived of various articles, including a +revolver, all the chambers of which were fortunately empty. Then, +producing his own revolver, the corporal gave it to his prisoner to +smell, remarking that, if he tried any nonsense, he would have a taste +of it that he would remember. Mrs. Richards was busy reducing the +inflammation of Mr. Bigglethorpe's burns. She insisted that he should go +no farther that night, and the whole Richards family, which had greatly +taken to the fisherman, combined to hold him an honoured prisoner. Mr. +Bigglethorpe consented to remain, and the Bridesdale contingent bade him +and his hosts good night. The constable went first with his prisoner, +followed by Matilda Nagle, between the lawyer and the detective. Monty +came next, clinging to Sylvanus and Mr. Terry, while Timotheus and Rufus +brought up the rear. Mrs. Richards had furnished the woman and her boy +with two shiny waterproofs, called by the young Richards gum coats, so +that Coristine and Sylvanus got back their contributions to the wardrobe +of the insane, but, save for the look of the thing, they would have been +better without them, since they only added a clammy burden to thoroughly +water-soaked bodies. + +Still the rain fell in torrents. It trickled in many rills off the +penthouses of the pedestrians' headgear; from the lapels of coats and +from waistcoats it streamed down, concentrating itself upon soggy knees. +Broad sheets, like the flow of a water-cart, radiated from coat tails of +every description; and rivers descending trouser-legs, turned boots and +shoes into lakes, which sodden stockinged feet pumped out in returning +fountains. Happily there was no necessity for using gun or pistol, since +these weapons shared in the general pervading moisture. Yet the corporal +marched erect, with his left hand on his prisoner's shoulder. Poor +Matilda was cheerful, though shivering, and, turning round to her boy, +said; "It is a good thing, Monty, that we lit the fire when we did, for +it would be very hard to light one now;" to which the lad answered, "I +hain't a goin' to light no more fires no more." Sylvanus and the veteran +had been telling him what a bad thing it was to set houses on fire, and +the hypnotized boy, freed apparently from the mesmeric bond by the death +of his unnatural father, responded to the counsels of his new friends. +The influence lasted longer with Matilda, for as, in spite of the +absorbing rain, her companions were able to make a study of her talk, +they observed that it was controlled by one or two overmastering ideas, +which were evidently the imposition of a superior will. In his +dog-Latin, which he presumed the poor woman could not understand, Mr. +Bangs said to the lawyer: "_Oportet dicere ad Doctorem dehypnotizere +illem feminem._" To this elegant sentence Mr. Coristine briefly +answered, "_Etiam_," but soon afterwards he asked: "Where did you pick +up your Latin, Mr. Bangs." + +"I wes at school, you know where, with pore Nesh; _mulier nescit +nomen_. We both took to Letin, because we could talk without being +understood by the common crowd. You find velgar criminals thet know some +French, German, Spenish or Portegese, bet none thet know Letin. In +dealing with higher class criminals we used our own gibberish or +artificial shibboleth." + +"A sort of Volapuk?" + +"Exectly; pore Nesh was ohfelly clever et it." + +"I am going to kill Mr. Nash as soon as I can find him," interrupted the +woman, in an amiable tone of voice, as if she proposed to discharge some +pleasant duty. + +The men shuddered, and Mr. Bangs said: "You know, my dear Matilda, what +the Bible says, Thou shelt not kill. You surely would not kemmit the sin +of merder?" + +"I am not to mind what the Bible says, or what Steevy says, or what +clergymen or any other people say. I am only to do what he says, and I +must." + +"Did he tell you to light thet fire?" + +"Not that fire, but the other said it was cold down there." + +"Why did he not come up?" + +"Because I covered the trap over with the big stones, and Monty helped +me." + +"Surely he didn't tell you to dreg the stones on to the trep?" + +"Yes, he did, but not then. It was before, when Flower wanted to get up, +and crawl away and tell, because he thought he was going to die." + +"Was Flower down there with him?" + +"Yes; that's why Monty and I put the big stones on the trap." + +"Flower was hert, wesn't he, shot in the beck, I think?" + +"Yes; he crawled in all the way on his hands and knees, and I helped his +wife to tie him up, till the doctor came, the morning that I found +Steevy." + +"How do you know thet Stephen wes esleep?" + +"He told me." + +"_Deminus Coristinus, mulier non est responsibilis pro suis ectionibus. +Facit et credit omnia qua mendet enimel mertuus._" + +"_Eheu domine!_" replied the lawyer; "_sic est vita dolorosa!_" + +Bridesdale was all lit up, and the front door was open to receive the +soaked wayfarers, but no one could be induced to enter it. Mr. Terry +asked Honoria to leave his dry suit and a pair of shoes at the kitchen, +when he would take them to the carriage house, and change there. The +lawyer and the detective had no dry suit, so Mrs. Carruthers brought +them some of her husband's clothes, and two umbrellas, under which they +carried their bundles, wrapped in bath towels, to the place the veteran +had chosen. While the three drawing-room guests stripped, rubbed +themselves down with the grateful towels, and put on their dry attire, +the kitchen filled up with the humid and steaming Pilgrims, Rufus, the +idiot boy, and his mother. Constable Rigby lodged his prisoner on some +straw in an empty stall in the stable, and, producing a pair of +handcuffs, which he had left there, secured him, fastening also a stall +chain round one of his legs with a padlock. The constable was severe, +but he had lost two prisoners the previous day, had been abused by +Sylvanus Pilgrim, and was very wet and tired. To the credit of Sylvanus +be it said, that he came out with Ben Toner's clothes, and lent them to +his elderly rival, and actually carried the corporal's wet garments into +the kitchens, there to hang with a large assortment of others, drying +before the two stoves, in full blast for the purpose. The gum coats had +fairly protected the clothes of Matilda and Monty, but their feet needed +reclothing, and it took some time to dry their heads. Maguffin had taken +off his wet things, and was asleep in the loft bed, keeping one ear open +for the safekeeping of the colonel's horses. Tryphena and Tryphosa were +both up; and into their hands Rufus consigned the dripping habiliments +of their two admirers as well as his own, his fraternal relation +allowing him to appear before the ladies of the kitchen in a long white +garment with frills that had never been constructed for a man. "Guess it +ain't the last time you'll have to dry them clothes, gals," said the +sportive Rufus, skipping along in his frilled surplice, when Tryphena +chased him out of the apartment with a sounding smack between the +shoulders. Tryphena hesitated to send the mad woman into the room in +which Serlizer was sleeping, not knowing the nature of their relations +at the Select Encampment. Matilda, however, evidenced no intention of +retiring, or feeling of drowsiness. She talked, with the brightness and +cheerfulness of other days, and in a gentle, pleasant voice, but on +strange wild themes that terrified the two young women. Monty looked at +the fire and then at Tryphosa, saying: "I hain't a goin' to light no +more fires no more." "Why?" asked Tryphosa, and the answer came, which +revealed a genuine working of the intellect: "'Cos Sylvy says hit's +wicked." His mother turned, and said: "Monty, you must not mind what +Sylvanus says or anybody else; you must mind what he says." + +The boy looked his mother full in the face, and replied in a very +decided tone, "Hi'm blowed hif I do!" + +In the forepart of the house, only the ladies were up. The doctor and +the colonel, the captain and the Squire, slept the sleep of tired men +with good consciences, and the wounded dominie was enjoying a beautiful +succession of rose-coloured dreams, culminating in a service, at which a +tall soldierly man in appropriate costume gave away into his hand that +of a very elegant and accomplished lady, saying, as he did so, "Can I do +less for the heroic saver of her uncle's life?" Mr. Terry's appearance, +on entering to salute his daughter, exacted no remark. The lawyer looked +somewhat bucolic, but highly respectable. But poor little Mr. Bangs was +buried in clothing, and tripped on his overflowing trowser legs, as he +vainly strove to put his right hand outside of its coatsleeve, for the +purpose of shaking hands with the company. Mrs. Carmichael took pity on +him, and turned back his cuffs, and, his hands being thus of use to him, +he employed them to do the same with the skirts of his trousers. The +usually polite veteran took Coristine to a corner of the room, and, +between violent coughs of suppressed laughter, said: "Och, Misther +Coristine, it's the dumb aguey I'll be havin' iv his clawthes is not +droied soon. It's Bangs by name he is and bangs by natur'. Shure, this +bangs Banagher, an' Banagher bangs the world." The young ladies had not +yet entered the apartment, and the three night-watchers were busy +relating to the three matrons the terrible events of the night. The +lawyer was sitting with his back to the door, conversing with Mrs. +Carruthers, when Miss Carmichael came tripping in, followed by Miss Du +Plessis and Miss Halbert. The lawyer's hair was brown, and so was her +uncle's. The coat was the Squire's, and the white collar above it. So +she slipped softly up to the back of the chair, took the brown head +between her hands, and administered a salute on the forehead, with the +words: "Why, Uncle John!--," then suddenly turned and fled, amid the +laughter of the veteran and his daughter, and the amused blushes and +smiles of her mother. The other young ladies came forward and joined in +the conversation, but Miss Carmichael did not show her face until the +family was summoned for prayers. The colonel came down in his usual +urbane smiling way, saying that he had taken the liberty of looking in +upon his dear friend and prisoner, and was rejoiced to find that he had +spent a good night. The captain could be heard descending the staircase, +and telling somebody that he was becalmed again with a spell of foul +weather. The somebody was the Squire, who insisted that thieves had been +through his wardrobe, and then eagerly asked for news from the +encampment. All were shocked beyond measure when they heard of the +terrible tragedy. "I wished the man no good," said the Squire, with a +regretful expression on his manly face, "but, if he had been ten times +the deep dyed villain he was, I couldn't have dreamt of such an awful +fate for him." The captain remarked that in the midst of life we are in +death, that the ways of Providence are mysterious, and that where a man +makes his bed he must lie down, all of which he considered to be good +Scripture and appropriate to the occasion. "Yoah fohce met with no moah +casualties, I hope, Captain Bangs? I do not see our fishing friend, Mr. +Bigglethorpe; is he safe, suh?" These questions led to an account of the +fisherman's heroic attempt to release the self-imprisoned occupants of +the underground passage, of his wounds, and of the subsequent exploits +of the lawyer and the detective. Coristine escaped upstairs to put +himself in shape for breakfast, and to visit his wounded friend. He +found that gentleman progressing very favourably, and perfectly +satisfied with his accommodation. + +After morning prayers, conducted by the Squire with unusual solemnity, +the lawyer asked Miss Carmichael if she alone would not shake hands with +him, making no allusion to any previous encounter. She complied, with a +blush, and seemed pleased to infer that the Captain, above all, had not +heard of her mistake. The two had no time for explanations, however, as, +at the moment, Messrs. Errol and Perrowne, who had been told there was a +fire out towards the Lake Settlement, came in to learn about it, and +were compelled to sit down and add something substantial to their early +cup of coffee. They reported the rain almost over, and the fire, so far +as they could judge from the distance, the next thing to extinguished. +Once more the trays were in requisition for the invalids, and again the +colonel and Mr. Perrowne acted as aids to Miss Du Plessis and Miss +Halbert. Just as soon as he could draw her attention away from the +minister, Coristine remarked to Miss Carmichael: "I have the worst luck +of any man; I never get sick or wounded or any other trouble that needs +nursing." The young lady said in a peremptory manner, "Show me your +hands;" and the lawyer had to exhibit two not very presentable paws. She +turned them palms up, and shuddered at the scorched, blistered and +scratched appearance of them. "Where are Mr. Errol's gloves I put on +you?" + +"In the pocket of my wet coat in the kitchen." + +"Why did you dare to take them off when I put them on?" + +"Because I was like the cat in the proverb, not that I was after mice +you know, but I couldn't fire in gloves." + +"Well, your firing is done now, and I shall expect you to come to me in +the workroom, immediately after breakfast, to have these gloves put on +again. Do you hear me, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"And what else? Do you mean to obey?" + +"Oh, yes, Miss Carmichael, of course, always, with the greatest joy in +the world." + +"Nobody asked you, sir, to obey always." + +"I beg your pardon, Miss Carmichael, I'm afraid I'm a little confused." + +"Then I hope you will not put me to confusion, as you did this morning." + +"I'm awfully sorry," said the mendacious lawyer, "but it was the coat +and collar, you know." Then most illogically, he added, "I'd like to +wear this coat and this collar all the time." + +"No, you would not; they are not at all becoming to you. Oh, do look at +poor Mr. Bangs!" + +The detective's sleeves were turned back, thanks to Mrs. Carmichael, +but, as he sat at breakfast, the voluminous coat sagged over his +shoulder, and down came the eclipsing sleeve over his coffee cup. When +he righted matters with his left hand, the coat slewed round to the +other side, knocked his fork out of his hand, and fell with violence on +his omelet. The Captain looked at him, and bawled: "I say, mate, you've +got to have a reef took in your back topsel. You don't mind a bit of +reef tackle in the back of your coat, do you, John?" The Squire did not +object; so Miss Carmichael was despatched to the sewing room for two +large pins, and she and the Captain between them pinched up the back of +the coat longitudinally to the proper distance, and pinned the detective +up a little more than was necessary. + +"Whey," asked he of his nautical ally, "em I consistent es a cherecter +in bowth phases of my berrowed cowt?" + +"I know," chuckled the Captain; "'cause then you had too much slack on +your pins, and now you've got too much pins in your slack, haw! haw!" + +"Try egain." + +Coristine ventured, "Because then your hands were in your cuffies, but +now your coffee's in your hand." This was hooted down as perfectly +inadmissible, Miss Carmichael asking him how he dared to make such an +exhibition of himself. Mr. Errol was wrestling with something like +Toulouse and Toulon, but could not conquer it. Then the detective said: +"If the ledies will be kind eneugh not to listen, I should enswer, +Before I wes loose in my hebits, end now I em tight." + +Of course the Captain applauded, but the lawyer's reprover remarked to +him that she did not think that last at all a nice word. He agreed with +her that it was abominable, that no language was strong enough to +reprobate it, and then they left the table. + +There was trouble in the kitchen. Timotheus and Maguffin had each a +Sunday suit of clothes, which they had donned. Sylvanus and Rufus having +special claims on Tryphena, she had put their wet garments in a +favourable place, and, being quite dry, handed them in to her befrilled +brother, early in the morning, through a half open doorway. The +constable, attired in the garb presented to him by Sylvanus, having +fastened his prisoner securely with a second stall chain, entered the +house, and politely but stiffly wished the cook and housemaid "Good +morning." Breakfast was ready, and then the trouble began. Ben had no +clothes, and the boys enjoyed the joke. The company was again a large +one, for Serlizer and Matilda Nagle were added to the feminine part of +it, and the constable and the boy brought its male members up to six, +exclusive of the prostrate Ben. Mr. Terry had temporarily deserted the +kitchen. Mr. Toner's voice could be heard three doors off calling for +Sylvanus, Timotheus, Rufus, Mr. Rigby and Mr. Maguffin. These people +were all smilingly deaf, enjoying their hot breakfast. Then, in despair, +he called Serlizer. + +"What's the racket, Ben?" + +"My close is sto-ul, Serlizer." + +"They's some duds hangin' up here and in the back kitchen to dry. Praps +yourn's there." + +"No, Serlizer, myuns never got wayt. You don't think I was sech a blame +fooul as to go out in that there raiun do you?" + +"Didn't know but what yer might." + +"Whey's them close, anyway?" + +"I don't know nuthun 'bout yer clothes. Most men as ain't marrd looks +after they own clothes." + +"Is that you Ben?" asked the more refined voice of Tryphena, in a tone +of surprise. + +"Yaas, Trypheeny, that's jest who it is. Saay, ken you tayl me what's +come o' my close?" + +"They are here, Ben, close to the table;" whereupon all the company +glanced at Mr. Rigby, and choked. + +"Cayn't you take 'em off what they're on, and saynd one of the boys in +with 'em, Trypheeny?" + +The cook coloured up, and laughter could no longer be restrained. The +constable laughed, and the contagion spread to Matilda and her boy. + +"Dod rot it?" cried Mr. Toner, indignantly; "what are you fools and +eejuts a screechin' and yellin' at? Gimme my close, or, s'haylp me, +I'll come right out and bust some low down loafer's thinkin' mill." + +"Now, be quiet, Ben," answered Tryphena, "and I will send Rufus in with +your breakfast. You shall have your clothes when they are ready." + +So, Rufus took in a plentiful breakfast to his friend Toner, who sat up +in the big bed to enjoy it. "I'm powerful sorry for you, Ben," remarked +the Baby. "You don't think Serlizer could ha' come in and taken your +clothes out into the rain, do you?" + +"Hev they been out in the rain, Rufus?" + +"Why yes, didn't you know that much? If it hadn't been for the +constable, they might ha' been out there yet. I'd say thank ye to him if +I was you, Ben." + +"Consterble Rigby!" shouted Toner. + +"At your service, sir," replied the pensioner. + +"I'm awful obligated to you, consterble, fer bringin' in my wayt close." + +"Do not speak of it, sir," replied Mr. Rigby, with a large piece of +toast apparently in his mouth; "I am proud to do you a service, sir." + +Ben was a big man, and somewhat erratic in his ways, so the constable +retired, and came back in his own garb, which he had carried out with +him. "I think, Miss Hill," he said, "that Mr. Toner's clothes are now +dry enough for him to wear them with safety. What do you think, Miss +Newcome?" + +"Guess we kin take them off now," answered Serlizer. + +"Serlizer," growled Ben, "you're an old cat, a desprit spiteful +chessacat, to go skylarkin' on yer own feller as never did yer no harm. +Gerlong with yer!" + +Rufus came in for the breakfast things, and deposited Ben's clothes on +the bed. "It wasn't Serlizer, Ben, sure; If I was you I'd try the +nigger. Them darkies are always up to tricks." + +Mr. Toner got into his clothes, resolved to have it out with somebody, +even if Rufus himself should prove to be the traitor. When, a few +minutes later, Mr. Terry, smoking his morning pipe, foregathered with +Ben in the stable yard, and asked him what he was after now, the answer +he gave was: "Lookin' araound fer somebody to whayul!" to which the +veteran replied: "Bin, my lad, it's aisy talkin'." + +When the men were out of the kitchen, Mrs. Carruthers and her +sister-in-law came in to see the mad woman and her boy. The boy they +knew already, and had always been kind to, giving him toys and other +little presents, as well as occasional food and shelter. They were much +taken with the mother's quiet manners, and, having heard that she had +been a milliner, invited her to join them in the workroom. But, when +they unitedly arrived at the door of that apartment, they speedily +retired to the parlour, and there engaged in conversation. Mrs. Du +Plessis was upstairs, with the colonel to play propriety, sponging the +dominie's face and hands, and brushing his hair, as if he were her own +son. Every now and again Colonel Morton came up to the bedside, saying: +"Be kind to him, my deah Tehesa, and remembeh that he saved the life of +yoah poah sistah Cecilia's widowah." So the stately Spanish lady shook +up the wounded man's pillows, while the colonel put his arm around him +and held him up; and then, as he sank back again, she asked. "Are you +strong enough to have Cecile come up and read to you?" Wilkinson, sly +dog, as the Captain called him, said it was too much trouble to put Miss +Du Plessis to; but his objections were overruled. Soon a beatific vision +came once more on the scene, and Wordsworth was enthroned as the king of +poets. Miss Halbert and Mr. Perrowne were in the garden, and the +clergyman had a rose in his button hole which he had not plucked +himself. If he had not been in holy orders, he would have thought Miss +Fanny was awfully jolly. Then he said to himself, that holy orders don't +hinder a man being a man, and Miss Fanny was, really was, awfully jolly, +and boarding in the houses of uncultivated farmers was an awful bore. +But this was nothing to what was going on in the studiously avoided work +room. The lawyer's hands were being washed, because a voice from an +arch-looking face said that he was a big baby, and didn't know how to +wash himself. It was quite a big baby in size and aspect that was soaped +and glycerined, and had some other stuff rubbed into his hands by other +pretty hands, one of which wore the victim's ring. Corry felt that he +could stand it, even to the putting on of the minister's gloves. When +she had finished her work, the hospital nurse said, "that silly little +Marjorie, angry because Cecile would not allow her to read fairy +stories to Mr. Wilkinson, surrendered you to me." + +"O Marjorie, my darlin', and would you throw your lovely self away on a +poor, stupid, worthless thing like me?" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + Miss Carmichael Snubs and Thinks--The Constable and the + Prisoner--Matilda and the Doctor--The Children Botanize--Pressing + Specimens--Nomenclature--The Colonel Makes a Discovery--Miss + Carmichael Does Not Fancy Wilks--Mr. Newberry Takes Matilda--Mr. + Pawkins Makes Mischief and is Punished--Rounds on + Sylvanus--Preparations for Inquest + + +"Mr. Coristine, I never gave you permission to call me by my Christian +name, much less to think that I accepted Marjorie's foolish little +charge. I am sorry if I have led you to believe that I acted so bold, so +shameless a part." + +"Oh, Miss Carmichael, forgive me. I'm stupid, as I said, but, as the +Bible has it, I'll try and keep a watch on the door of my lips in +future. And you such an angel of mercy, too! Please, Miss Carmichael, +pardon a blundering Irishman." + +"Nonsense," she answered. "I have nothing to pardon; only, I did not +want you to misunderstand me." The gloves were on, and she shook hands +with him, and laughed a comical little insincere laugh in his face, and +ran away to her own room to have a foolish little cry. She heard her +friend Cecile reading poetry to the wounded Wilkinson, and, looking out +of her window, saw Mr. Perrowne helping her uncle to lift the doctor's +chair out into the garden, and her mother, freed from conversation with +the madwoman, plucking a flower for Mr. Errol's coat. There, too, was a +young man, his hands encased in black kid gloves, sitting down on a +bench with Mr. Terry, and with difficulty filling a meerschaum pipe. She +thought he had a quiet, disappointed look, like a man's whose warm, +generous impulses have been checked, and she felt guilty. It was true +they had not known one another long, but what was she, a teacher in a +common school, that was what people called them, to put on airs before +such a man as that? If it had been Mr. Wilkinson, now; but, no; she was +afraid of Mr. Wilkinson, the distant, the irreproachable, the autocratic +great Mogul. She looked down again, through the blinds of course. +Marjorie Thomas was on the lawyer's knee, and Marjorie Carruthers on the +veteran's. The Captain's daughter was combing Coristine's brown hair +with her fingers, and pointing the ends of his moustache, much to the +other Marjorie's amusement and the lawyer's evident satisfaction. Miss +Carmichael inwardly called her cousin a saucy little minx, resenting her +familiarities with a man who was, of course, nothing to her, in a way +that startled herself. Why had he not saved somebody's life and been +wounded, instead of that poetic fossil of a Wilkinson? But, no; it was +better not, for, had he saved the colonel's life, Cecile would have been +with him, and that she could not bear to think of. Then, she remembered +what Corry had told her of the advertisement to the next of kin. Perhaps +she would be wealthy yet, and more than his equal socially, and then she +could condescend, as a great lady, and put a treasure in those poor +gloved hands. Where would they all have been without these hands, all +scarred and blistered to save them from death? Everybody was very unkind +to little Marjorie's Eugene, and failed to recognize his claims upon +their gratitude. Oh, that saucy little minx, with her grand assumptions +of proprietorship, as if she owned him, forsooth! + +Mr. Bangs called the justices to business. There was a prisoner to +examine, and two charred masses of humanity for the coroner to sit upon. +So a messenger was sent off to summon the long-suffering Johnson, +Newberry, and Pawkins, for the coroner's inquest, and the doctor was +carried back into the office for the examination of the prisoner, Mark +Davis. The two Squires sat in appropriate chairs behind an official +table, at one side of which Mr. Bangs took his seat as clerk. Constable +Rigby produced his prisoner, loaded with fetters. "Has this man had his +breakfast, Rigby?" asked the Squire. "Certainly not, Squire," replied +the constable. "Then take him at once to the kitchen, take off these +chains and handcuffs, and let him have all that he can eat," replied the +J.P., sternly. The corporal's sense of rectitude was offended. The idea +of feeding criminals and releasing them from irons! The next thing would +be to present them with a medal and a clasp for each new offence against +society. But, orders were orders, and, however iniquitous, had to be +obeyed; so Davis was allowed to stretch his limbs, and partake of a +bountiful, if somewhat late, morning meal. "To trespass upon your +kindness, Miss Hill, with such as this," said the apologetic constable, +pointing to his prisoner, "is no act of mine; Squire Carruthers, who, no +doubt, thinks he knows best, has given orders that it has to be, and my +duty is to carry out his orders to the letter." Breakfast seemed to +infuse courage into the dissipated farmer. When it was over, he arose, +and, without a note of warning, doubled up the stiff guardian of the +peace, and made for the door, where he fell into the arms of the +incoming Serlizer. She evidently thought that Mark Davis, smitten with +her charms, was about to salute her, for, with the words "Scuse me!" and +a double turn of her powerful wrists, she deposited the assailant upon +the floor. Sadly, but officially, the constable crawled over and sat +upon the prostrate form of the would-be fugitive from justice. The +prisoner squirmed, and even struck the doubled-up corporal, but the +entrance of Ben Toner put an end to that nonsense, so that, handcuffed +and chained once more, the desperate villain was hauled into the +presence of the magistrates. In dignified, but subordinate, language, +Mr. Rigby related the prisoner's escapade, and, by implication, more +than by actual statement, gave the J.P.s to understand that they knew +nothing about the management of offenders against the law. They were, +therefore, compelled to allow the handcuffs to remain, but summoned +sufficient courage to insist on the removal of the stable chains. + +"What is your name, prisoner?" asked Squire Carruthers. + +"Samuel Wilson," answered the man. + +"Oh! kem now," interposed Mr. Bangs, "thet's a lie, you know; yore name +is Merk Devis, end yore a brether of Metthew Devis of the Peskiwenchow +tevern, end you were Rawdon's right hend men. We know you, my led, so +down't you try any alias games on us." + +"Ef you know my name so mighty well, what do you want askin' for't?" + +"To see if you can speak the truth," replied Carruthers. + +"What other prisoners hev you got asides me?" + +"That is none of your business," said the Squire. + +"If I might be ellowed to seggest, Squire," whispered the detective, "I +think I'd tell him. Whet do you sey?" + +"Go on, Mr. Bangs." + +"Well, my fine fellow, the Squire ellows me to sey thet the ethers are +Newcome, the stowne ketters, and the women." + +The name of Newcome disconcerted Mark, but he asked, "Whar's Rawdon and +old Flower?" + +"Didn't you see?" asked Mr. Bangs. + +"I seen the fire all right, but they wasn't such blame fools as to stay +there when there was a way out up atop." + +"The epper wey wes clowsed," said the detective. + +"Was they burned alive then?" + +"Yes, they were berned to eshes." + +"O Lord!" ejaculated the prisoner, and then, wildly: "What do you want +along of me anyway?" + +The magistrates and Mr. Bangs consulted, after which the doctor +answered: "We want information from you on three points: first, as to +the attempt of Rawdon's gang to burn this house; second, as to the +murder of Detective Nash; and, third, as to the whole secret of Rawdon's +business at the Select Encampment. You are not bound to incriminate +yourself, as every word of this preliminary examination may be used +against you, but, on the other hand, if you make a clean breast of what +you know on these questions, your confession will go a long way in your +favour with judge and jury." + +"Suppose'n I don't confess not a syllabub?" + +"Then, we shall commit you, all the same, to the County Gaol, to stand +your trial at the assizes." + +"That's all right, I'll stand my durned trile. You don't get nawthin +out'n me, you misable, interferin', ornary, bushwhackin' jedges!" + +"Don't strike him, Rigby!" commanded Carruthers; for the constable, +shocked and outraged by such indecorous language in a court of justice, +was about to club his man. Then he added: "The colonel's servant, +Maguffin, is going to town on business, and will drive you so far, and +help to guard your prisoner. You can tie him up as tight as you like, +without being cruel or doing him an injury. We shall have to do without +you at the inquest." + +Accordingly, while Mr. Maguffin brought round a suitable vehicle, and +received his commissions from the colonel, the commitment papers were +made out, and Constable Rigby securely fastened the worst criminal that +had ever come into his hands. The said criminal did a little hard +swearing, which called the long unused baton into active service. Davis +was quiet and sullen when the buggy, under the pensioner's command, +wheeled away in search of connections for the County Gaol. + +The two bodies were still lying in their shells, with ice about them, in +the unfinished annex of the post office. It was, therefore, decided to +hold the new inquest in the Bridesdale coach house, as also more +convenient for the doctor, whose sprain might have been aggravated by +driving. While Ben Toner was sent with a waggon to the Richards, to +bring the ghastly remains snatched from the flames out of the punt, and +to convey three members of that family to the coroner's jury, Mr. Bangs +explained to Doctor Halbert his and the lawyer's thought regarding +Matilda Nagle. The doctor consented, and the detective went to find the +patient, who was busy and cheerful in the sewing room with Mrs. +Carruthers. He told her that she was not looking well, and had better +come with him to see the doctor; but, with all the cunning of insanity, +she refused to go. He had to go after Coristine in the garden, and take +him away from Marjorie. With the lawyer she went at once, identifying +him, as she did not the detective, with her brother Stevy. Mechanically, +she sat down by the kind doctor's chair, and seemed to recognize him, +although he did not remember her. After a few enquiries as to her +health, he took one of her hands in his, and, with the other, made +passes over her face, until she fell into the mesmeric sleep. "Your +husband, Mr. Rawdon, is dead," he said; "you remember that he died by +his own hand, and left you free." The woman gave a start, and seemed to +listen more intently. "You will kill nobody, hurt nobody, not even a +fly," he continued. "Do you remember?" Another start of comprehension +was made, but nothing more; so he went on: "You will read your Bible +and go to church on Sundays, and take care of your boy, and be just the +same to everybody as you were in the old days." Then, with a few counter +passes, he released her hand, and the poor woman told him all that he +had enjoined upon her, as if they were the resolutions of her own will. +She was not sane, but she was free from the vile slavery in which her +inhuman keeper had held her. Moreover, she understood perfectly that +Rawdon was dead, yet without manifesting either joy or grief in the +knowledge. The lawyer led her back to the workroom, where she confided +her new state of mind to Mrs. Carruthers, greatly to that tender-hearted +lady's delight. The doctor did not think it necessary to practise his +art upon the lad Monty, in whom the power of Rawdon's will was already +broken, and upon whom his changed mother would, doubtless, exert a +salutary influence. + +Coristine had nothing to do, and almost dreaded meeting Miss Carmichael, +which he probably would do if he remained about the house and grounds. +Therefore he got out the improvised vasculum, and invited Marjorie and +the older Carruthers children to come with him down to the brook to look +for wild flowers. This met with the full approval of the young people, +and they prepared at once for the botanizing party. The Captain saw +Marjorie putting on her broad-brimmed straw hat, and enquired where she +was going. She answered that she was going buttonizing with Eugene, and +he said that he guessed he would button too, whatever that was. A very +merry little group frisked about the steps of the two seniors, one of +whom was explaining to the older, nautical party that he was on the hunt +for wild flowers. + +"Is it yarbs you're after?" asked the Captain. + +"Well, not exactly, although I want to get a specimen of every kind of +plant." + +"You don't want to make medicine of 'em, Mandrake, Snakeroot, Wild +Sassyperilly, Ginsing, Bearberry, Gentian, Cohosh and all that sort o' +stuff, eh?" + +"No; I want to find out their names, dry and mount them, and classify +them according to their kinds." + +"What good are they agoin' to do you?" + +"They will help me to know Nature better and to admire God's works and +His plan." + +"Keep on there, mate, fair sailin' and a good wind to you. No pay in +it, though?" + +"Not a cent in money, but lots of pleasure and health." + +"Like collectin' post stamps and old pennies, and butterflies, and +bugs." + +"Something, but you see scenery and get healthy exercise, which you +don't in stamp and coin collecting, and you inflict no suffering, as you +do in entomologizing." + +"I can tell trees when they're a growin' and timber when its cut, but I +don't know the name of one flower from another, except it's garden ones +and common at that. Hullo, little puss, what have you got there?" + +Marjorie, who had run on in advance and was not by any means ignorant of +the flora of the neighbourhood, had secured three specimens, a late +Valerian, an early spotted Touch-me-not, and a little bunch of +Blue-eyed-grass. Coristine took them from her with thanks, told her +their names and stowed them away in his candle box. The zeal to discover +and add to the collection grew upon all the party, the Captain included. +Near the water, where the Valerian and the Touch-me-not grew, Marjorie +Carruthers found the Snake-head, with its large white flowers on a +spike. Another little Carruthers brought to the botanist the purple +Monkey flower, but the Captain excelled his youthful nephew by adding to +the collection the rarer and smaller yellow one. Then the lawyer himself +discovered another yellow flower, the Gratiola or Hedge Hyssop, at the +moment when Marjorie rejoiced in the modest little Speedwell. Once more, +the Captain distinguished himself by finding in the grass the yellow +Wood-Sorrel, with its Shamrock leaves, which, when Marjorie saw, she +seemed to recognize in part. Then, crossing the stepping stones of the +brook, she ran, far up the hill on the other side, to a patch of shady +bush, from which she soon returned victorious, with a bunch of the +larger Wood-Sorrel in her hand, to exhibit the identity of its leaves, +and its delicate white blossoms with their pinky-purple veins. By the +time the other juveniles brought in the blue Vervain, pink Fireweed and +tall yellow Mullein, the botanist thought it about time to go home and +press his specimens. + +Miss Carmichael met the scientists at the door, looking, of course, for +the children and Uncle Thomas, who was never called by his Christian +name, Ezekiel. Learning the nature of the work in hand, she volunteered +the use of the breakfast-room table. The lawyer brought down his strap +press, and, carefully placing oiled paper between the dried specimens +and the semi-porous sheets that were to receive the new ones, proceeded +to lay them out. The new specimens had all to be examined by the +addition to the botanical party, their botanical and vulgar names to be +recited to her, and, then, the arranging began. This was too monotonous +work for the Captain, who carried the children off for a romp on the +verandah. Marjorie stayed for a minute or so after they were gone, and +then remembered that she had not given papa his morning button-hole. +Coristine was clumsy with the flowers, owing to the gloves he said, so +Miss Carmichael had to spread them out on the paper under his direction, +and hold them in their place, while he carefully and gradually pressed +another sheet over them. Of course his fingers could not help coming +into contact with hers. "Confound those gloves!" he thought aloud. + +"Mr. Coristine, if you are going to use such language, and to speak so +ungratefully of Mr. Errol's gloves, which I put on your hands, I shall +have to leave you to put up your specimens the best way you can." + +"O Miss Carmichael, now, please let me off this once, and I'll never do +it again. You know it's so hard working in gloves. Understand me as +saying that botanically, in a Pickwickian sense as it were, and not +really at all." + +"You must not say that, either botanically or any other way." + +"To hear the faintest whisper of your slightest command is to obey." + +It was delicate work arranging these little Speedwells, and Gratiolas, +the Wood-Sorrels, and the smaller Monkey-flower. Hands had to follow +very close on one another, and heads to be bent to examine, and +sometimes there was just a little brush of brown and golden hair that, +strange to say, sent responsive tingles along the nerves, and warm +flushes to cheek and brow. What a hopeless idiot he was not to have +foreseen the possibility of this, and to have brought home twice the +number of specimens! Alas! they were all in the press. But, a happy +thought struck him: would Miss Carmichael care to look at the dried +ones, some of which had kept their colour very well? Yes, she had a few +minutes to spare. So, he brought chairs up to the table, and they sat +down, side by side, and he told her all about the flowers and how he got +them, and the poetry Wilks and he quoted over them. Then the specimens +had to be critically examined, so as to let Miss Carmichael learn the +distinctive characteristics of the various orders, and this brought the +heads close together again, when suddenly their owners were started by +the unexpected clang of the dinner gong. "Thank you so much, Mr. +Coristine," said the lady, frankly; "you have given me a very pleasant +half hour." The lawyer bowed his acknowledgment, but said, beneath his +moustache: "Half an hour is it? I thought it was a lifetime rolled up in +two minutes, no, one." + +What did those deceitful men, Errol and Perrowne, mean, by saying they +had to go away to get up their Wednesday evening talk, and to visit +their parishioners? There they were, in their old places at the table, +Mr. Errol at Mrs. Carmichael's right, and apparently on the best of +terms with her, and Mr. Perrowne dancing attendance upon Miss Halbert +and her invalid father. Mrs. Du Plessis thought she would take up Mr. +Wilkinson's dinner with the colonel's help, as Cecile had been reading +to him so long. Accordingly, the Captain talked to that young lady, +while Mr. Bangs monopolized Mrs. Carruthers. There was a little +commotion, when Mr. Bigglethorpe walked in, and received the sympathetic +expressions of the company over his singed face and scorched hands. In +spite of these, the sufferer had been up early fishing, just after the +rain. Fortunately, he continued, there was no cleared land about the +lakes, hence there were very few grasshoppers washed in by the heavy +downpour. Had there been, he wouldn't have got a fish. But he had got +fish, a big string of them, in splendid condition. He had left some with +his kind entertainers, the Richards, but had plenty remaining, which he +had left in the kitchen in care of the young woman with the +unpronounceable Scripture name. "Now," said the fisherman, "a nime is a +very important thing to a man or a woman. Why do people give their +children such awful names? Bigglethorpe is Dinish, they say, but Felix +Isidore is as Latin as can be. They called me 'fib' at school." + +"'Tis the hoighth av impartance to have a good name, say Oi," added Mr. +Terry. "Moy fayther, glory be to his sowl, put a shaint's name an me, +an' I put her own mother's name, the Howly Vargin rist her, on Honoria +here. 'An', savin' all yer prisinces, there's no foiner Scripcher name +than John; how's that, Squoire?" + +"It suits me well enough, grandfather," replied Carruthers. The Captain +was feeling uneasy. He didn't want Ezekiel to come out, so he asked Miss +Du Plessis how her young man was. Such a question would have either +roused Miss Carmichael to indignation or have overwhelmed her with +confusion, but Miss Du Plessis, calm and unruffled, replied: "I suppose +you mean Mr. Wilkinson, Captain Thomas. He has been very much shaken by +his wound, but is doing remarkably well." + +"Fwhat's Mishter Wilkison's name, Miss Ceshile, iv it's a fair quishtyon +to ax at yeez?" + +"It is Farquhar, is it not, Mr. Coristine?" + +Mr. Coristine said it was, and that it was his mother's maiden name. She +was a Scotchwoman, he had heard, and a very lovely character. The +colonel had just returned from his ministrations. "Did I heah you +cohhectly, Mr. Cohistine, when I thought you said that ouah deah young +wounded friend's mothah's name was Fahquhah, suh?" + +"You did, Colonel Morton." + +"And of Scottish pahentage?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you know if any of her relatives were engaged in the Civil Wahah, +our civil wahah?" + +"I believe her brother Roderic ran the blockade, and fought for the +South, where he fell, in a cavalry regiment." + +"Be pleased, suh, to say that again. Rodehic Fahquhah, do you say?" + +"His full name, I have seen it among Wilkinson's papers, was Roderic +Macdonald Farquhar." + +"Tehesa, my deah," said the colonel, his voice and manner full of +emotion, as he turned towards his sister-in-law, "you have heard me +mention my bosom friend, Captain Fahquhah?" + +"Yes, indeed, many times," replied the lady addressed. + +"And ouah deah boy upstairs, the pehsehveh of my pooah life, is his +nephew, his sistah's son. I was suah there was something drawing me to +him. I shall make that brave boy my heih, my pooah deah comhade +Fahquhah's nephew. What a fohtunate discovehy. Kindly excuse me, madam, +and you my deah ladies, and you Squiah; I must go and tell my deah boy." +So the colonel bowed to Mrs. Carruthers, and went out, with his +handkerchief up to his face. + +After the colonel left the table, the Captain looked over at his niece, +saying: "Too late, Marjorie, my lass, too late! Didn't play your cards +right, so you're cut out. Shifted his sheet anchor to the t'other bow, +Marjorie." + +Miss Carmichael was annoyed with good reason, and, in order to put a +stop to such uncalled for and vulgar remarks, said, playfully, but with +a spice of malice: "Take care, Uncle Thomas, or, as that funny +theological student said to the people who were talking in church, 'I'll +call out your name before the haill congregation.'" This terrible threat +caused Ezekiel to subside, and carry on a less personal conversation +with Miss Du Plessis. Then Mr. Terry came to the fore again. + +"My little grandchilders' coushin, Mishter Coristine, do be sayin' yer +name is Eujane, an' that's Frinch, isn't it?" + +"Yes," replied the lawyer; "my mother was of Huguenot descent, and her +name was Du Moulin. Some say that the Irish Mullens were once Du +Moulins. That I don't know, but I'm not like the man-servant who applied +for a situation, saying: 'Me name is Murphy, sorr, but me family came +from France.' Coristine, I think, is good Irish." + +The name craze spread over the whole table. Miss Halbert thought Basil a +lovely name. It was Greek, wasn't it, and meant a king? Mr. Perrowne +thought that the sweetest name in the world was Frances or Fanny. Mr. +Errol affected Marjorie, and Mrs. Carmichael knew nothing superior to +Hugh. + +"What made you so savage with the Captain for coupling your name with +Wilks?" asked the lawyer in an undertone. + +"Because he is the last man in the world I should want my name to be +coupled with." + +"Oh, but that's hard on Wilks; he's a glorious fellow when you get to +know his little ways." + +"I don't want to know Mr. Wilkinson's little ways. I am sorry for his +wound, but otherwise I have not the remotest sympathy with him. He +strikes me as a selfish, conceited man." + +"Not a kinder soul breathing, Miss Carmichael." + +"Yes, there is." + +"Who, then?" + +"Yourself." + +"Miss Carmichael, you make me the proudest man in the world, but I'm not +fit to black Wilks' boots." + +"Well, I will not be so rude as to say I think you are. But, never talk +that way to me again, if you want me to like you. I will not have you +demeaning yourself, even in speech, before Cecile's friend. Now, +remember, not a word!" + +The test was a severe one between loyalty to his old friend and devoted +obedience to the girl he loved. As all the memories of past friendship +came before him, he was inclined to be obdurate. Then, he looked at the +golden hair which had brushed his awhile ago, and, as the head +straightened up, at the pretty petulant lips and the blue eyes, lustrous +with just a moist suspicion of vexation and feeling, and he wavered. He +was lost, and was glad to be lost, as he whispered: "May I say it?" + +"Yes; speak out, like a man, what you have to say." + +"It's a bargain, Marjorie; never again!" + +Somehow his right hand met her left, and she did not snatch it away too +quickly. Then he said: "You won't hate poor Wilks, my old friend, +Marjorie?" + +She answered "No," and turned her face away to ask some trivial question +of the Squire, who knew a good deal more than he saw any necessity for +telling. + +The kitchen party still kept up its numbers. True, the absence of the +constable and Maguffin left two serious blanks in the diversified talk +of the table, but the place of these gentlemen was taken by no fewer +than six persons, the three Richards and the three jurors, so that the +dinner party numbered fifteen, of whom four were women. Old whitehaired +Mr. Newberry, with the large rosy face, smooth, save for two little +white patches of side-whiskers, took possession of Matilda Nagle, and +rejoiced in her kindly ways and simple talk. He was a Methodist, and a +class-leader and local preacher, but a man against whom no tongue of +scandal wagged, and whose genuine piety and kindness of heart were so +manifest that nobody dreamt of holding up to ridicule his oft homely +utterances in the pulpit. If he could do good to the poor demented woman +and her afflicted boy, he would, and he knew that his little +quaker-bonneted wife would second him in such an effort. So he tried to +gain her confidence and the boy's, and, after a while, found that +Matilda would like to help Mrs. Newberry in her household duties, and +have Monty learn useful work on the farm. When informed by the fatherly +juror, in answer to her own questions, that she would not be expected to +hurt a fly, and would be allowed to go to church, read her Bible and +take care of her boy, she expressed her readiness to go away with him at +once. Mr. Newberry felt a few qualms of conscience in connection with +fly killing, but, having made an express stipulation that mosquitos and +black flies should not be included in the bond, he became easier in +mind, and said that, with Mrs. Carruthers and the Squire's permission, +he would drive her home in the afternoon. Mr. Johnson and the elder +Richards discussed local politics, and the tragedy calling for the +inquest; but Mr. Pawkins attached himself to the boys, and consequently +to the girls. This gentleman had brought his six feet of bone and +muscle, topped with a humorous face, from which depended a Lincoln +beard, from the States, and was now, for many years, as he said, "a +nettrelized citizen of Kennidy." This disappointment at the absence of +the constable was something pitiful, he did so want "to yank and rile +the old Britisher." Still, that was not going to deprive him of his +innocent amusement. He looked around the company and sized it up, +deciding that he would leave the old folks alone, and mercifully add to +them the crazy people; this still left him a constituency of nine, with +large possibilities for fun. + +"Rufus," remarked Mr. Pawkins, "I seen your gal, Christy Hislop, along +o' that spry sot up coon, Barney Sullivan, daown at the mill. He's a +cuttin' you aout for sutten, yes sirree, you see if he ain't." + +"What's the use of your nonsense, Mr Pawkins? Barney went home along o' +fayther and old man Hislop, and I guess he turned in to say we was all +right." + +"If Andrew knowed you'd called him old man Hislop, he'd fire you aout o' +the back door mighty suddent. When I see a spry, set up, young feller +and a likely heifer of a gal a saunterin' through the bush, sort o' +poetical like, daown to the mill, it don't take me two shakes to know +that suthin's up. You're a poor, rejected, cast off, cut aout strip o' +factory cotton." + +"What do you mean, Mr. Pawkins?" + +"I mean overalls, and it's all over with you, Rufus." Having planted +this well-meant thorn in the breast of the younger Hill, and excited the +commiseration of his sisters, the lover of innocent amusement turned to +Ben, and asked that gentleman, whose attentions to Serlizer were most +open and above board, "sence when he got another gal?" + +Mr. Toner turned angrily, and asked what Mr. Pawkins was "a givin' him." + +"I never see Bridget naow but she's a cryin' and rubbin' her eyes most +aout with her cuffs," said the cheerful Pawkins; "she allaowed to me +you'd the nighest thing to said the priest was ony waitin' for the word +to splice; and here you air, you biggermus delooder, settin' along o' +Newcome's gal as if you'd got a mortgage on her. Arter that, the sight +ain't to be sawed that'll make me ashamed o' my feller-creeters, no +sirree, boss, hull team to boot, and a big dog under the waggin!" Mr. +Pawkins sniffed vehemently, and Ben and his affianced bride blushed and +drew apart. + +"Is that so, Ben?" asked Sarah Eliza in a half whisper. + +"S'haylp me, Serlizer," replied the injured Toner in a similar voice, +"that there Pawkins is the cussidest, lyinest old puke of a +trouble-makin' Yankee as aiver come to Cannidy." + +"Are you engaged to Biddy Sullivan, Ben?" + +"No, I tell you, naiver said a word to Barney's sister I wouldn't say to +any gal." + +"Then, what did Barney come here lookin' for you for?" + +"So did the tavern keeper and the store keeper, 'cause mother axed 'em, +I suppose; you don't think they want me to marry their wives, do you?" + +"Wives an' darters is different things, Ben. Ef I'd thought you had been +havin' goins on with Biddy, I'd flog the pair of you." + +"S'haylp me, Serlizer, it ain't so. Ef it was, you could whayull me till +I was stripy as a chipmunk." + +"Talkin' abaout whalins," remarked the mischief-maker, who kept one ear +open, "Miss Newcome's paa is jest a waitin' to git up and git araound, +to give somebody, as ain't fer off'n this table, the blamedest, +kerfoundedest lammin' as ever he knowed. He wants his gal home right +straight for to nuss him, so's he kin git araound smart with that +rawhide that's singein' its ends off in the oven." + +"What's dad got agin you, Ben?" enquired Miss Newcome. + +"Oh nawthin'; it's only that Pawkins' double-treed, snaffle-bitted, +collar-bladed jaw." Mr. Pawkins smiled, but Ben and Serlizer were more +uncomfortable than Rufus and his sisters. + +The naturalized Canadian turned his attention else where. "I'm kinder +amazed," he remarked, eyeing first Sylvanus and then Timotheus, "to see +you two a settin' here, as cam as if you never done nothin' to be sorry +for. I s'pose you know, if you don't you had orter, that there's a +war'nt aout agin the two Pilgrims for stealin' aout o' the Peskiwanchow +tavern, or ho-tel, as Davis calls his haouse. I calclate the constable +'ll be back with that war'nt afore night. I'd make myself skeerce if I +was in your shoes." + +"O Sylvanus!" ejaculated Tryphosa. + +"O Timotheus!" added Tryphosa. + +"It's a lie!" cried Rufus; "it's a mill dam, boom jam, coffer-dam lie, +and I won't believe a word of it." + +"Fact all the same," said Mr. Pawkins, calmly, "they air guilty, the two +on 'em, of stealin' aout o' the Peskiwanchow ho-tel." + +"What did they steal out?" asked the Richards boys. + +"Clothes, I guess, boots, some money, books, I don't know all what, and +it don't consarn me any; but them boys had best look spry and git aout +o' this." With these words, the gentleman of American extraction +finished his last piece of pie. + +Sylvanus rose cheerfully. He was so radiant over it that Tryphena +thought him really handsome. He whispered to Rufus and to Ben; then +remarked to Timotheus that he had perhaps better remain, in case the +Squire should send for him. Next, he turned to Mr. Pawkins, and said: "A +man mought as well be hung fer a sheep as fer a lamb, Mr. Pawkins, and +sence they's a warn't out to 'raist me and Timotheus, we ain't a goin' +to put the law to no more trouble 'bout a new one. Ef you'll come +outside, I'll show you some o' them things we stoled out'n the +Peskiwanchow tav." So Sylvanus took the accuser of the brethren by one +arm, and Rufus linked his lovingly in the other, while Ben, with a +glance of intelligence at Serlizer, and another at his top boots, +followed. Mr. Pawkins, confident in his smartness and in the ignorance +of the simple-minded Canucks, went quietly with the courteous criminal +and his cut-out friend, till, passing the stables, they led him through +a broad gate into the meadow. Then he hesitated. + +"The stoled things, leastways some on 'em, 'll be at the foot o' this +yere slope soon's we will; so hurry, old man!" said Sylvanus. Mr. +Pawkins demurred. "Look here, boys," he said, "a joke's a joke, ain't +it? D'ye see, you did, the pair on you, steal aout of the hotel. I +didn't go to say you took anythin' as didn't belong to you. I reckon +your brother had clothes, and money, and books thar, and so, you and him +took 'em aout. Lem me go, boys!" + +Sylvanus and Rufus were obdurate. "Boost him, Ben," cried the former: +"we ain't no time ter spend foolin' with the likes o' him." + +Mr. Toner raised his boot and said, "One fer Serlizer!" which made the +joker proceed. He had several other ones, before he was run down to the +creek--for Timotheus and Tryphena, and Tryphosa, and Christie Hislop, +and Barney and Biddy Sullivan, and old man Newcome. Ben's boot did +capital service. With difficulty the executioners found a hole in the +creek about two and a-half feet deep, in which, at full length and with +great gravity, they deposited the exile from the States. Then, they +guessed the Squire, or the Captain, or somebody, would be wanting them, +and skipped lightly back to the house. They knew Mr. Pawkins would +follow, since he was the last man in the settlement to miss his juror's +fee of one dollar. After their return, there was a good deal of +merriment in the kitchen, and the two Richards boys roundly upbraided +the elder Pilgrim for depriving them of a share in the fun. "He baygged +an' prayed for massy," said Mr. Toner, with a grim smile, "but we was +the most onmassifullest craowd you ever see." + +Timotheus, still in Sunday garb, took his work-a-day suit, now quite +dry, and went to meet Mr. Pawkins. Introducing him to the stable, he +soon had that gentleman relieved of his wet toggery, when voices were +heard without. It was the colonel, bringing his sister-in-law to see his +horse, as a sort of relief to the strain on his feelings, consequent +upon his interview with Wilkinson. Mr. Pawkins had only got Timotheus' +flannel shirt on, when the stable door opened. "Shin up that ladder into +the loft, Mr. Pawkins," cried the benevolent Pilgrim, and the spectacle +of a pair of disappearing shanks greeted the visitors on their entrance. +Timotheus had escaped into the coach-house, but all the clothes, wet and +dry, save the shirt, lay over the sides of an empty stall. Immediately +the colonel perceived the vanishing heels of the Yankee, he interposed +his person between them and Mrs. Du Plessis. "My deah Tehesa," he said, +hastily, "I think we had bettah retiah foh the pehsent, and visit the +stables lateh in the day." Mrs. Du Plessis, however, once no mean judge +of horseflesh, was scanning the good points of her brother-in-law's +purchase, and seemed indisposed to withdraw. Soon a head and a pair of +flannel shirted arms appeared, hanging over the loft trap, and a voice +hailed the colonel. + +"Say, mister, you ain't a goin' to bring no wimmen folks up this here +ladder, be you?" + +"Cehtainly not, suh!" answered the colonel, with emphasis. + +"If it won't hurt you, I wisht you'd sling up them dry paants and things +daown there." + +The colonel looked at the man, and then at the articles, with +impatience. Then he got a pitchfork, on the prongs of which he +collected the garments, one by one, and so handed them up to Mr. +Pawkins, who was still minus necktie, socks and boots. Before, however, +he was ready for these, the visitors had retired, leaving him to +complete his toilet in private. Hearing steps again, he hurriedly picked +up his wet clothes and re-ascended the ladder. The colonel had evidently +asked Sylvanus to take the place of Maguffin about the two horses, for +he was the newcomer. Now, Mr. Pawkins bore no malice, but, when jokes +were going, he did not like to be left the chief victim. He had had some +fun out of the boys; now he would have some more. The Yankee could mew +to perfection. He began, and Sylvanus called the strange cat. It would +not come, so he climbed the ladder after it, and had almost reached the +top, when, with vicious cries, the animal flew at him, seized him by the +back of the neck, and drew blood that he could feel trickling down his +back. Tugging ineffectually at the beast, he ran out to the kitchen, +calling upon everybody to take off that mad cat that was killing him. +The cat was taken off, amid shrieks of laughter, and proved to be Mr. +Pawkins' rolled up wet trousers and vest, the water from which was the +blood imagined by Sylvanus. The owner of the garments entered +immediately behind his victim, and from his banter the elder Pilgrim +gladly escaped to resume his stable duties, feeling that he had been +demeaned in the eyes of the laughing Tryphena. + +Timotheus and Ben were busy cleaning out the coach house, putting tables +and seats into it, and generally preparing for the inquest. Mr. Bangs, +at the coroner's request, empanelled the jury, consisting of the Squire, +the captain, and the two clergymen, the three Richards, the three cited +jurors, with old Styles from the post office, and Ben Toner. The charred +masses of humanity, pervaded by a sickening smell of spirits, were taken +from the waggon, and placed in rough board shells, decently covered over +with white cloths. The woman called Flower was brought from the post +office, and kept in custody, till she gave her evidence; and Bangs +himself, with Messrs. Terry, Coristine, and Bigglethorpe, Sylvanus, +Rufus, and Timotheus were cited as witnesses. Some evidence was also +expected from Matilda and her son. When the coach house doors were +thrown open, all hilarity ceased--even the children seemed to realize +that something very solemn was going on. A weight of trouble and danger +was lifted off many hearts by the terrible tragedy, yet in no soul was +there the least feeling of exultation. The fate of the victims was too +awful, too sudden for anyone to feel aught but horror at the thought of +it, and deep sorrow for one at least who had perished in his sins. The +light-hearted lawyer took one look at the remains of him, whom, within +the past few days, he had seen so often in the full enjoyment of life +and health, and resolved that never again, in prose or verse, would he +speak of the person, whose crimes and cunning had returned so avengingly +upon his own head, as the Grinstun man. Mr. Pawkins joked no more, for, +with all his playful untruthfulness, he had a feeling heart. The most +unconcerned man outwardly was Mr. Bangs, and even he said that he would +willingly have given a hundred dollars to see his prisoner safely in +gaol with the chaplain, and afterwards decently hanged. The doctor was +carefully carried out, and set in the presiding chair as coroner over +the third inquest within two days. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + Inquest and Consequences--Orther Lom--Coolness--Evening + Service--Mr. Pawkins and the Constable--Two Songs--Marjorie, Mr. + Biggles and the Crawfish--Coristine Falls Foul of Mr. Lamb--Mr. + Lamb Falls Foul of the Whole Company--The Captain's Couplet--Miss + Carmichael Feels it Her Duty to Comfort Mr. Lamb. + + +It is unnecessary to relate the details of the inquest. By various +marks, as well as by the testimony of the woman Flower and of Mr. Bangs +and his party, the remains were identified as those of Rawdon and his +wounded henchman Flower. Some of the jurymen wished to bring in a +verdict of "Died from the visitation of God," but this the Squire, who +was foreman, would not allow. He called it flat blasphemy; so it was +altered to: "Died by the explosion of illicit spirits, through a fire +kindled by the wife of the principal victim, Altamont Rawdon." Nobody +demanded the arrest of Matilda; hence the Squire and the doctor did not +feel called upon to issue a warrant for that purpose. The widowed and +childless Mrs. Flower, for the so-called Harding was her son, claimed +his body, and what remained of her husband's; and asked Mr. Perrowne to +read the burial service over them in the little graveyard behind his +humble church. Mr. Bangs, his work over, got the use of a waggon and the +services of Ben Toner, to take his dead comrade's coffin to Collingwood. +Nobody claimed the remains of Rawdon, till old Mr. Newberry came +forward, and said he would take the shell in his waggon, with the woman +and the boy, and give it Christian burial in the plot back of the +Wesleyan church. "We can't tell," he said, "what passed between him and +his Maker when he was struggling for life. Gie un the bainifit o' the +doot." So, Ben and Serlizer rolled away with Bangs, and Nash's coffin; +and Matilda and her son accompanied Rawdon's remains, in Mr. Newberry's +waggon. At the same time, with the sad, grey-haired woman as chief +mourner, and Mrs. Carmichael beside her, a funeral procession passed +from Bridesdale to the post office, and thence to the English +churchyard, where old Styles and Sylvanus dug the double grave, around +which, in deep solemnity, stood the Captain and Mr. Terry, the minister +and the lawyer, while Mr. Perrowne read the service, and two victims of +Rawdon's crime and treachery were committed, earth to earth, dust to +dust, and ashes to ashes. Immediately the grave was covered in, the +doubly-bereaved woman slipped away, and was never again heard of. There +appeared no evidence, far or near, that she had done away with herself; +it was, therefore, concluded that she had a child or children elsewhere, +and had gone to hide the rest of her wasted life with them. The two +clergymen went their ways to their lodgings, and the Bridesdale party +walked silently and sorrowfully home. + +Mr. Bigglethorpe wanted to go back with the Richards, so that he might +have another morning's fishing; but Mrs. Carruthers thought he had +better take Mr. Bangs' room, and nurse his eyes and other burned parts +before going home. Marjorie and her young cousins dragged him off, after +his green shade was put on, to the creek, and made him rig up rods and +lines for them in the shape of light-trimmed willow boughs, to which +pieces of thread were attached with bent pins at the other ends. +Fishing with these, baited with breadcrumbs, they secured quite a number +of chub and dace, and made the valley musical with their laughter at +each success or mishap, by the time the Bridesdale people returned from +the impromptu funeral. The Squire was busy in his office, looking over +Nash's legacy, preparatory to sending it to Bangs, who had begged him to +forward the documents without delay. The only thing of note he found +was, that Rawdon did not bank his money; he had no bank account +anywhere. Where did he stow away the fortune he must have made? There +was a note of the casual conversation of an assumed miser with Rawdon, +in which Rawdon was represented as saying: "Dry sandy soil, well drained +with two slopes, under a rain-shed, will keep millions in a cigar box." +That the Squire noted; then he sealed up the rest of the papers, and +addressed them to Hickey Bangs, Esq., D.I.R., ready for the post in the +morning. The colonel, Mrs. and Miss Du Plessis were all in Wilkinson's +room. The colonel was commenting upon the four poor souls that had gone +before God's judgment seat, three of them, probably, with murder on +their hands; and thanked God that his boy had died in the war, brave and +pure and good, with no stain on his young life. "When my boy was killed, +my deah Fahquhah, I felt like the Electoh Palatine of the Rhine, when +young Duke Christopheh, his son, fell at Mookerheyde, accohding to +Motley: he said ''Twas bettah thus than to have passed his time in +idleness, which is the devil's pillow.' Suh, I honouh the Electoh +Palatine foh that. What melancholy ghaves these pooah creatuhes fill." +Then Mrs. Du Plessis wept, mildly, and Miss Du Plessis, and they all had +to wipe a few tears out of Wilkinson's eyes. Had Coristine been there, +he would have been scandalized. The lawyer's lady-love was engaged in +very prosaic work in the sewing-room, with her aunt, running a +sewing-machine to make much-needed clothes for the unhappy woman, whom +the coroner's jury, by a euphemism, called Rawdon's wife. The two had +seen her off in charge of good old Mr. Newberry, and had promised to +send her the work, which she herself had begun; and, now, they were +toiling with all their might to redeem the promise, as early as +possible, in spite of the tears that would come also into their foolish +eyes, blurring their vision and damping their material. Coristine, who +longed for a sight of fresh young life after the vision of death, did +not know what kept that young life within, and, like an unreasonable +man, was inclined to be angry. He was overwrought, poor fellow, +sleepless and tired, and emotionally excited, and, therefore, ready for +any folly under the sun. + +Mrs. Carmichael had entered the house, with the Captain and Mr. Terry. +The lawyer remained alone in the garden, waiting for something to turn +up. Something did turn up in the shape of the stage on its way to the +post office, which dropped its only passenger at the Bridesdale gate. +The passenger was a young fellow of about twenty-five, rather over than +under middle height, of good figure, and becomingly dressed. His +features were good enough, but lacked individuality, as did his combined +moustache and side whiskers, that formed a sort of imperfect W across +his face. He held his nose well up in the air, spoke what, in his +ignorance, he fondly imagined to be aristocratic English, and carried, +with an apologetic and depressed air, a small Gladstone bag. The +newcomer dusted his trouser legs with a cane utterly useless for walking +purposes; then, adjusting his eye-glass, he elevated it towards the +solitary occupant of the garden, as he entered the gate. "Haw, you sir," +he called out to him; "is this, haw, Mr. Corrothers' plaice?" Coristine +was nettled at the style of address, but commanded himself to reply as +briefly as possible that it was. "Miss Morjorie Cormichael stoying +here?" continued the stage passenger. "Miss Carmichael is here," +responded the lawyer. "Haw, I thort so. Just you run in now, will you, +ond tell Miss Morjorie thot on old friend wonts to speak to her." The +lawyer was getting furious, in spite of himself. Taking his pipe out of +his pocket, and proceeding to fill it with all apparent deliberation and +calmness, he replied: "So far as I have the honour of Miss Carmichael's +acquaintance, she is not in the habit of receiving visitors out of +doors. There are both bell and knocker on the door before you, which +servants will probably answer; but, if that door doesn't suit you, you +will probably find others at the back." With this ungracious speech, he +turned on his heel, lit his pipe, and puffed vigorously along the path +towards the meadow gate. Then, he strolled down the hill and met the +returning fishers, the two youngest in Mr. Bigglethorpe's arms, and with +their arms about his neck. Coristine indulged in a kissing bee with the +rest of them, so as to assure himself that he was the true old friend, +the genuine Codlin, while the other man was Short. "Marjorie," he said, +as that fishing young lady clung to him, "there's a duffer of a dude, +with an eye-glass, up at the house, who says he's an old friend of your +cousin Marjorie; do you know any old friend of hers?" Marjorie stopped +to think, and, after a little pause, said: "It can't be Huggins." "Who +is Huggins, Marjorie?" asked the lawyer. "He's the caretaker of +Marjorie's school." + +"Oh no, this dude is too young and gorgeous for a caretaker." + +"Then, I think I know; its Orther Lom." + +"Who is Orther Lom?" + +"I don't know; only Auntie Marjorie said, she wouldn't be astonished if +Orther Lom was to come and find cousin Marjorie out, even away up here. +It must be Orther Lom." + +This was all the information the lawyer could obtain; so he and Marjorie +joined Mr. Bigglethorpe and the other anglers, and talked about making +domestic sardines and smelts of the chub and dace they had caught. + +The summons to tea greeted the wanderers before they had had time to +cleanse their hands of fishy odours; consequently Mr. Bigglethorpe and +the lawyer were a minute or two late. They found the man of the +eye-glass seated on one side of Miss Carmichael, and, as she beckoned +the fisherman to the other, she introduced her protege to him as Mr. +Arthur Lamb, a very old friend. Miss Halbert made way for Coristine +beside her, and he congratulated her on the doctor's reappearance at the +table. + +"Mr. Coristine," said Miss Carmichael, and the lawyer, with a somewhat +worn society face, looked across. + +"Mr. Lamb, who is an old friend of ours, tells me he met you in the +garden, but you did not introduce yourself. Let me introduce you, Mr. +Lamb, Mr. Coristine." + +Coristine gave the merest nod of recognition, and went on talking to +Miss Halbert. He thought Perrowne was right; there was some +satisfaction conversing with a girl like that, a girl with no nonsense +about her. The minister's gloves had got fishy, handling Marjorie's +catch, so he had taken them off when preparing himself for tea, and had +left them in his room. Miss Carmichael looked at the burnt hands, and +felt disposed to scold him, but did not dare. Perhaps, he had taken the +gloves off intentionally. She wished that ring of his were not on her +finger. Between Mr. Lamb and Miss Halbert, she felt very uncomfortable, +and knew that Eugene, no, Mr. Coristine, was behaving abominably. The +colonel and his belongings had been so much about the wounded dominie +all afternoon, that Mrs. Carruthers insisted on her right, as a hostess, +to minister to him, while her sister-in law presided in her stead. +Coristine at once rose to help the hostess, and regained his spirits, +while rallying his old friend over the many attentions he was receiving +at the hands of the fair sex. He could hardly believe his eyes and ears +when he beheld the meek and helpless creature who had once been the +redoubtable Wilkinson. How had the mighty fallen! "We'll put you in a +glass case, Wilks, like the old gray horse that was jined to the +Methodis, and kicked so high they put him in the museum." + +"Corry," interrupted the still correct dominie, "I have no sympathy with +that rude song; but if you will quote it, please adhere to the original. +It was 'my old aunt Sal that was joined to the Methodists,' not the old +gray horse." + +"Thanks, Wilks, thanks, I'll try and remember. Any more toast or jam, +old boy?" + +"No, I have a superabundance of good things." + +"Well, see you again, sometime when I have a chance. You're pretty well +guarded you know. Au revoir." + +Coristine followed Mrs. Carruthers down stairs; while the dominie +sighed, and said: "It seems as if nothing will give that boy stability +of character and staidness of demeanour." + +"Who is going to service to-night?" asked the Squire. Mrs. Carruthers +could not, because of the children; the doctor was unfit to walk; and +the colonel and Mrs. Du Plessis had so much to say to each other over +their dear boy that they desired to be excused. Mr. Bigglethorpe said +he was a church-going man, but hardly cared to air his green shade in +public; whereupon Mr. Terry volunteered to remain and smoke a pipe with +him. Mrs. Carmichael and her daughter signified their intention of +accompanying the Squire, and Mr. Lamb at once asked permission to join +them. Miss Halbert stated that she would like to go to week service, if +anybody else was going. Of course, the lawyer offered his escort, and +Miss Du Plessis and the Captain begged to be included. Thus, four of the +party set out for Mr. Perrowne's mid-week service, and four to Mr. +Errol's prayer meeting. Mr. Lamb did not get much out of Miss Carmichael +on the way, and Miss Halbert thought her escort unusually absent-minded. +Coming home, Mr. Perrowne deprived Coristine of his fair charge, and Mr. +Errol relieved the Squire of his sister. Accordingly, the freed +cavaliers drew together and conversed upon the events of the day. Good +Mr. Carruthers was startled, when the lawyer expressed his intention of +leaving in the morning, as he could be of no further use, and felt he +had already trespassed too long upon his generous hospitality. + +"Noo, Coristine," he said, falling into his doric, "what ails ye, man, +at the lassie?" + +"My dear Squire, I have none but the kindest and most grateful thoughts +towards all the ladies." + +"Weel, weel, it's no for me to be spierin', but ye maun na gang awa +frae's on accoont o' yon daft haveral o' a Lamb." + +"Who is this Mr. Lamb?" + +"I ken naething aboot him, foreby that he's a moothin' cratur frae the +Croon Lans Depairtment, wi' no owre muckle brains." + +Dropping the subject, the Squire proceeded to tell what he had found in +Nash's papers, and proposed an expedition, ostensibly for fishing, in +which the two of them, providing themselves with tools, should prospect +for the hidden treasure of the former master of the Select Encampment. +As it was unlikely that any claimant for Rawdon's property would appear, +all that they found would belong to Matilda and her boy, unless it were +judged right to indemnify Miss Du Plessis for any injury done to her +land. There was no reason for the lawyer's departure. He had another +week of leave, which he did not know how to put in. True, he could not +remain until Wilkinson was perfectly well, but it would seem heartless +to desert him so soon after he had received his wound. He had thought of +writing the Squire about Miss Carmichael's position as her deceased +father's next of kin, but it would save trouble to talk it over. All +things considered, Mr. Carruthers did not find it a difficult task to +make his pleasant new acquaintance reconsider his decision and commit +himself to an indefinite prolongation of Bridesdale hospitality. Yet, as +he entered the gate, he almost repented his weakness, on hearing the +eye-glassed Lamb say: "What ohfully jawlly times we hod, Morjorie, when +you and I were sweethorts." He wished that he could recall some +frightfully injurious and profane expression in a foreign tongue, with +which to anathematize the wretched, familiar, conceited Crown Lands +Department cad. While the Squire joined the doctor and the Captain in +the office, he went over to a corner in which the pipes of the veteran +and Mr. Bigglethorpe were still glowing, and, lighting his own, listened +to their military and piscatorial yarns. + +Rufus had remained at Bridesdale, at the urgent entreaty of his sisters +and the Pilgrims; but the sight of the people going to prayer meeting +smote his conscience. He knew his father and mother would be at meetin' +in their own church, and that there would be a good deal of work to do. +Besides he hadn't brought home the team from Mr. Hislop's since the bee. +Nothing would stop him, therefore; he shouldered his gun, and, bidding +all good bye, started for home. Nobody was left in the kitchen but the +two maids and the two Pilgrims. Yes, there was one more, namely Mr. +Pawkins, who was afeard his duds warn't dry. The nettrelized citizen of +Kennidy was telling stories, that kept the company in peals and roars of +laughter, about an applicant for a place in a paper mill, who was set to +chewing a blue blanket into pulp, who was given a bottle of vinegar to +sharpen his teeth with, and who was ignominiously expelled from the +premises because he didn't "chaw it dry"; about a bunting billy goat; +and a powerful team of oxen, that got beyond the control of their +barn-moving driver, and planted the barn on the top of an almost +inaccessible hill. Mr. Pawkins complimented the young women, and drew +wonderful depths of knowledge out of Sylvanus and Timotheus. But, when a +vehicle rolled into the stable yard that brought the constable and +Maguffin to join the party, the quondam American citizen waxed jubilant, +and beheld endless possibilities of amusement. "Good evenin', +consterble," said Mr. Pawkins, blandly. + +"Good evening, sir, at your service," replied the pensioner. + +"Pawkins is my naum, consterble, kyind er Scotch, I reckin. They say +pawky means sorter cute an' cunnin', like in Scotch. Never was thar +myself, to speak on, but hev seed 'em." + +"The Scotch make good soldiers," said Mr Rigby. + +"Yaas; I reckin the oatmeal sorter stiffens 'em up." + +"There are military authorities who assert that the Scotch are the only +troops that can reform under fire; but that is a mistake. In that +respect, sir, the Guards are equal to any other Household Troops." + +"Fer haousehold trooeps and reformin' under fire, you had orter ha seen +aour fellers at Bull Run. When the shooten' begun, all the Bowery plug +uglies, bred to cussin' and drinkin' and wuss, dropped ther guns and +fell on ther knees a reformin'; then, when they faound they couldn't +reform so suddent, they up on ther two feet and started fer the +haoushold. Eurrup ain't got nuthin' ter ekal aour haousehold trooeps." + +"You mistake me, Mr. Pawkins; the Household Troops in infantry are the +Guards and Highlanders, whose special duty it is to guard the royal +household." + +"Is it big?" + +"Is what big, sir?" + +"Why, the household! How many storeys is ther to it besides the attic +and basement? Hev it got a mansard?" + +"The Household, sir, dwells in royal palaces of great dimensions. It is +the royal family and their attendants over whom the Guards watch." + +"That's the Black Guards, ain't it?" + +"No, sir; you are thinking of the Black Watch, a name of the +Forty-second Highlanders." + +"D'ye hear that, you Sambo? You orter go and git draafted inter that +corpse, and go araound breakin' the wimmin's hyearts in a cullud flannel +petticut." + +"There are no negroes, sir, in the Black Watch," interposed the +corporal. + +"See heah, yoh Yankee Canajiun," answered Mr. Maguffin with feeling, +"fo' de law ob this yeah kintry I'se jess es good a man as yoh is. So +yoh jess keep yoh Samboo in yoh mouf atter this. Specks yoh'se got a +mighty low down name yohsef if t'was ony knowed by respeckable pussons." + +"My name, Mr. Julius Sneezer Disgustus Quackenboss, my name is Pawkins, +great grandson of Hercules Leonidas Pawkins, as was briggidier ginral +and aijicamp to George Washington, when he drummed the haousehold +trooeps, and the hull o' the derned British army, out'n Noo Yohk to the +toon o' 'Yankee Doodle.'" + +The constable turned pale, shivered all over, and swayed about in his +chair, almost frightening the mendacious Yankee by the sight of the +mischief his words had wrought. Tryphena, however, quickly filled the +shocked corporal a hot cup of tea, and mutely pressed him to drink it. +He took off the tea at a gulp, set down the cup with a steady hand, and, +looking Mr. Pawkins in the face, said: "I regret, sir, to have to say +the word; but, sir, you are a liar." + +"That's true as death, consterble," remarked Timotheus, who did not +share the hostile feelings of Sylvanus towards Corporal Rigby; "true as +death, and the boys, they ducked him in the crick for't, but they's no +washin' the lies out'n his jaws." + +Mr. Pawkins looked as fierce as it was possible for a man with a merry +twinkle in his eyes to look, and roared, "Consterble, did you mean that, +or did you only say it fer fun like?" + +Mr Rigby, glaring defiance, answered, "I meant it." + +"Oh waall," responded the Yankee Canadian, mildly, "that's all right; +because I want you to know that I don't allaow folks to joke with me +that way. If you meant it, that's a different thing." + +"What your general character may be, I do not know. As for your remarks +on the British army, they are lies." + +"I guess, consterble, you ain't up in the histry of the United States of +Ameriky, or you'd know as your Ginral Clinton was drummed aout o' Noo +Yohk to the toon o' 'Yankee Doodle.'" + +"I know, sir, that a mob of Hanoverians and Hessians, whom the Americans +could not drive out, evacuated New York, in consequence of a treaty of +peace. If your general, as you call him, Washington, had the bad taste +to play his ugly tune after them, it was just what might be expected +from such a quarter." + +"My history," said Tryphosa, "says that the American army was driven out +of Canada by a few regulars and some French-Canadians at the same time." + +"Brayvo, Phosy!" cried Timotheus. + +"I assert now, as I have asserted before," continued Corporal Rigby, +"that the British army never has been defeated, and never can be +defeated. I belong to the British army, and know whereof I speak." + +"Were you in the American war, Mr. Pawkins?" asked Tryphena. + +"Yaas, I was thar, like the consterble, in the haouse hold trooeps. When +they come araound a draaftin', I skit aout to Kennidy. I've only got one +thing agin the war, and that is makin' every common nigger so sassy he +thinks he's the ekal of a white man. Soon's I think of that, the war +makes me sick." + +"It is the boast of our Empire," remarked the pensioner, grandly, "that +wherever its flag floats, the slave is free." + +"It's a derned pity," said Mr. Pawkins; "that there boy, Julius Sneezer +Disgustus Quackenboss, ud be wuth heaps more'n he is, if his boss jest +had the right to lick him straight along." + +"Who," shrieked Maguffin; "who'se yar Squackenbawsin' an' gibbin' nigger +lip ter? My name's Mortimah Magrudah Maguffin, an' what's yourn? +Pawkins! Oh massy! Pawkins, nex' thing ter punkins. I cud get er punkin, +an' cut a hole er two in it an' make a bettah face nor yourn, Mistah +Pawkins, candaberus, lantun jaw, down east, Yankee white tresh. What you +doin' roun' this house, anyway?" + +"Arrah, hush now, childher!" said Mr. Terry, entering from the hall. +"The aivenin's the time to make up aall dishputes, an' quoiet aal yer +angry faylins afore yeez say yer worruds an' go to shlape, wid the howly +angels gyardin' yeez. Good aivenin', Corporal." + +"Good evening, Sergeant-Major." + +"Mr. Terry," asked Tryphosa, timidly, "will you play a game at Cities, +Rivers and Mountains? We were waiting for even numbers to begin." The +veteran, who knew the game, agreed. Gallantly, the gentlemen asked the +two ladies to choose sides, whereupon Tryphena selected Mr. Pawkins, +Maguffin and Sylvanus; Mr. Terry, the constable, and Timotheus fell to +Tryphosa. Peace once more reigned, save when the great-grandson of the +brigadier general was detected in looking over his opponent's cards and +otherwise acting illegally. + +Bigglethorpe and the lawyer entered the house, not far from bed time. +The company was in the drawing-room, and a lady was at the piano +singing, and playing her own accompaniment, while Mr. Lamb was standing +beside her, pretending to turn over the music, of which he had as little +knowledge as the animal whose name he bore. The song was that beautiful +one of Burns, + + O wert thou in the cauld blast + On yonder lea, on yonder lea, + +and, though a gentleman's song, it was rendered with exquisite taste and +feeling. The singer looked up appealingly at Mr. Lamb twice, solely to +invoke his aid in turning the music leaf. But, to Coristine's jealous +soul, it was a glance of tenderness and mutual understanding. Four long +days he had known her, and she had never sung for him; and now, just as +soon as the Crown Land idiot comes along, she must favour him with her +very best. He would not be rude, and talk while the singing was going +on, but he would let Lamb do all the thanking; he wasn't going shares +with that affected dude. The music ceased, and he turned to see whom he +could talk to. Mrs. Carmichael and Miss Halbert were busy with their +clerical adorers. The colonel and Mrs. Du Plessis had evidently bid +their dear boy good night, for they were engaged in earnest +conversation, in which he called her Teresa, and she called him Paul as +often as colonel. Miss Du Plessis was turning over the leaves of an +album. He went up to her, and asked if she would not favour the company +with some music. "Instrumental or vocal, Mr. Coristine?" she asked. "Oh, +vocal, if you please, Miss Du Plessis; do you sing, 'Shall I wasting in +despair,' or anything of that kind?" Miss Du Plessis did not, but would +like to hear Mr. Coristine sing it. He objected that he had no music, +and was a poor accompanyist. Before the unhappy man knew where he was, +Miss Du Plessis was by Miss Carmichael's side, begging her dear friend +Marjorie to accompany Mr. Coristine. She agreed, for she knew the song, +and the music was in the stand. Like a condemned criminal, Coristine was +conducted to the piano; but the first few bars put vigour into him, and +he sang the piece through with credit. He was compelled, of course, to +return thanks for the excellent accompaniment, but this he did in a +stiff formal way, as if the musician was an entire stranger. Then they +had prayers, for the gentlemen had come in out of the office, and, +afterwards, the clergymen went home. As the inmates of Bridesdale +separated for the night, Miss Carmichael handed the lawyer his ring, +saying that since his hands were fit to dispense with gloves, they must +also be strong enough to bear its weight. He accepted the ring with a +sigh, and silently retired to his chamber. Before turning in for the +night, he looked in upon Wilkinson, whom he found awake. After enquiries +as to his arm and general health, he said: "Wilks, my boy, congratulate +me on being an ass; I've lost the finest woman in all the world by my +own stupidity." His friend smiled at him, and answered: "Do not be +down-hearted, Corry; I will speak to Ceci--Miss Du Plessis I mean, and +she will arrange matters for you." The lawyer fervently exclaimed: "God +bless you, Wilks!" and withdrew, not a little comforted. We cannot +intrude into the apartment of the young ladies, but there was large +comfort in their conversation for a person whose Christian name was +Eugene. If he only had known it! + +By the constable, Ben Toner, and other messengers, Mr. Bigglethorpe had +acquainted his somewhat tyrannical spouse that he was staying for a +while at the Flanders lakes to enjoy the fishing. Mr. Rigby had brought +from the store his best rods and lines and his fly-book. He was, +therefore, up early on Thursday morning, lamenting that he was not at +Richards, whence he could have visited the first lake and secured a mess +of fish before breakfast. He was sorting out his tackle in the office, +when Marjorie, an early riser, came in to see if Uncle John was there. +When she found out the occupant, she said: "Come along, Mr. Biggles, and +let us go fishing, it's so long before breakfast." Fishing children +could do anything with Bigglethorpe; he would even help them to catch +cat-fish and suckers. But he had an eye to business. "Marjorie," he +asked, "do you think you could find me a pickle bottle, an empty one, +you know?" She thought she could, and at once engaged 'Phosa and 'Phena +in the search for one. A Crosse and Blackwell wide-mouthed bottle, +bearing the label "mixed pickles," which really means gherkins, was +borne triumphantly into the office. Mr. Bigglethorpe handled it +affectionately, and said: "Put on your hat, Marjorie, and we'll go +crawfish hunting." Without rod or line, the fisherman, holding the +pickle bottle in his left hand, and taking Marjorie by the right, walked +down to the creek. On its bank he sat down, and took off his shoes and +socks, an example quickly and joyfully followed by his young companion. +Then he splashed a little water on his head, and she did the same; after +which they waded in the shallow brook, and turned up flat stones in its +bed. Sometimes the crawfish lay quite still, when Mr. Bigglethorpe, +getting his right hand, with extended thumb and forefinger, slily behind +it, grasped the unsuspecting crustacean at the back of his great +nippers, and landed him in the bottle filled with sparkling water. +Sometimes a "craw," as Marjorie called them, darted away backward in a +great hurry, and had to be looked for under another stone, and these +were generally young active fellows, which, the fisherman said, made the +best bait for bass. It was wild, exciting work, with a spice of danger +in it from the chance of a nip from those terrible claws. Marjorie +enjoyed it to the full. She laughed and shrieked, and clapped her hands +over every new addition to the pickle bottle, and Mr. Biggles was every +bit as enthusiastic as she was. Soon they were aware of a third figure +on the scene. It was the sleepless lawyer. "Come in, Eugene," cried +Marjorie; "take off your shoes and stockings, and help us to catch these +lovely craws." He had to obey, and was soon as excited as the others +over this novel kind of sport. + +Coristine looked up after securing his twelfth victim, and saw four +figures sauntering down the hill. Three were young ladies in print +morning gowns; the fourth was the ineffable dude, Lamb. At once he went +back, and put himself into socks and boots, turning down his trouser +legs, as if innocent of the childish amusement. "Haw," brayed Mr. Lamb, +"is thot you, Cawrstine? Been poddling in the wotter, to remind yoursolf +of the doys when you used to run round in your bare feet?" Outwardly +calm, the lawyer advanced to meet the invaders. Bowing somewhat too +ceremoniously to the three ladies, who looked delightfully fresh and +cool in their morning toilets, he answered his interlocutor. "I am sure, +Mr. Lamb, that it would afford Mr. Bigglethorpe and Marjorie additional +satisfaction, to know that their wading after crawfish brought up +memories of your barefooted youth. Unfortunately, I have no such +blissful period to recall." Mr. Lamb blushed, and stammered some +incoherencies, and Miss Carmichael, running past the lawyer towards +Marjorie, whispered as she flitted before him, "you rude, unkind man!" +This did not tend to make him more amiable. He snubbed the Crown Land +gentleman at every turn, and, more than usually brilliant in talk, +effectually kept his adversary out of conversation with the remaining +ladies. "Look, Cecile!" said Miss Halbert; "Marjorie is actually joining +the waders. "Mr. Lamb stroked his whisker-moustache and remarked: "Haw, +you know, thot's nothing new for Morjorie; when we were childron +together, we awften went poddling about in creeks for crowfish and +minnows." Then he had the impertinence to stroll down to the brook, and +rally the new addition to the crawfishing party. To Coristine the whole +thing was gall and wormwood. The only satisfaction he had was, that Mr. +Lamb could not summon courage enough to divest himself of shoes and +stockings and take part in the sport personally. But what an +insufferable ass he, Coristine, had been not to keep on wading, in view +of such glorious company! What was the use of complaining: had he been +there she would never have gone in, trust her for that! Wilkinson and he +were right in their old compact: the female sex is a delusion and a +snare. Thank heaven! there's the prayer gong, but will that staring, +flat-footed, hawhawing, Civil Service idiot be looking on while she +reattires herself! He had half a mind to descend and brain him on the +spot, if he had any brains, so as to render impossible the woeful +calamity. But the fates were merciful, sending Mr. Lamb up with Marjorie +and Mr. Bigglethorpe. Now was the angry man's chance, and a rare one, +but, like an angry man, he did not seize it. The other two ladies +remarked to each other that it was not very polite of three gentlemen to +allow a lady, the last of the party, to come up the hill alone. What did +he care? + +At breakfast, Miss Carmichael sat between Messrs. Bigglethorpe and Lamb, +and the lawyer between Miss Halbert and the veteran. "Who are going +fishing to the lakes," asked the Squire, to which question the doctor +replied, regretting his inability; and the colonel declined the +invitation on account of his dear boy. Mr. Lamb intimated that he had +business with Miss Du Plessis on Crown Land matters, as the department +wished to get back into its possession the land owned by her. This was a +bombshell in the camp. Miss Du Plessis declined to have any conference +on the subject, referring the civil servant to her uncle, to Squire +Carruthers, and to her solicitor, Mr. Coristine. The lawyer was disposed +to be liberal in politics, although his friend Wilkinson was a strong +Conservative; but the contemptible meanness of a Government department +attempting to retire property deeded and paid for in order to gain a few +hundred dollars or a new constituent, aroused his vehement indignation, +and his determination to fight Lamb and his masters to the bitter end of +the Privy Council. + +"Mr. Lamb," said the colonel, "is yoar business with my niece +complicated, or is it capable of being stated bhiefly?" + +"I can put it in a very few words, Colonel," replied the civil service +official; "the deportment hos received on awffer for Miss Du Plessis' +lond which it would be fawlly to refuse." + +"But," interposed the Squire, "the department has naething to dae wi' +Miss Cecile's land: it's her ain, every fit o't." + +"You don't know the deportment, Squire. It con take bock lond of its +own deed, especially wild lond, by the awffer of a reasonable equivolent +or indemnity. It proposes to return the purchase money, with five per +cent. interest to date, and the amount of municipal toxes attested by +receipts. Thot is regorded os a fair odjustment, ond on Miss Du Plessis +surrendering her deed to me, the deportment will settle the claim within +twelve months, if press of business ollows." + +"Such abominable, thieving iniquity, on the pairt o' a Government +ca'ain' itself leeberal, I never hard o' in aa my life," said the +indignant Squire. + +"Do you mean to say, Arthur," asked Mrs. Carmichael, "that your +department can take away Cecile's property in that cavalier fashion, and +without any regard to the rise in values?" + +"I'm ofraid so, Mrs. Cormichael." + +"What have you to say to that, Mr. Coristine, from a legal standpoint?" +enquired Mrs. Carruthers. + +"A deed of land made by the Government, or by a private individual, +conveys, when, as in this case, all provisions have been complied with, +an inalienable title." + +"There is such a thing as expropriation," suggested Mr. Lamb, rather +annoyed to find a lawyer there. + +"Expropriation is a municipal affair in cities and towns, or it may be +national and provincial in the case of chartered railways or national +parks, in all which cases remuneration is by arbitration, not by the +will of any expropriating body." + +"The deportment may regord this as a provincial offair. Ot any rate, it +hos octed in this way before with success." + +"I know that the department has induced people to surrender their rights +for the sake of its popularity, but by wheedling, not by law or justice, +and, generally, there has been some condition of payment, or something +else, not complied with." + +"Thot's simple enough. A few lines in the bookkeeping awffice con +involidate the deed." + +"One or two words, Mr. Lamb, and I have done; the quicker you answer, +the sooner Miss Du Plessis' decision is reached. Do you represent the +commissioner, the minister?" + +"Well, not exoctly." + +"Were you sent by his deputy, the head of the department?" + +"Not the head exoctly." + +"Is the name of the man, for whom your friend wants to expropriate Miss +Du Plessis' land, called Rawdon, Altamont Rawdon?" + +"How did you know thot? Ore you one of the deportment outriggers?" + +"No; I have nothing to do with any kind of dirty work. You go back, and +tell your man, first, that Rawdon is dead, and that in life he was a +notorious criminal; second, that Miss Du Plessis' land has been +devastated by the fire in which he perished; and, third, that if he, or +you, or any other contemptible swindler, moves a finger in this +direction, either above board or below, I'll have you up for foul +conspiracy, and make the department only too happy to send you about +your business to save its reputation before the country." + +As Ben Toner and his friends in the kitchen would have said, Mr. Lamb +was paralyzed. While the lawyer had spoken with animation, there was +something quite judicial in his manner. Miss Carmichael looked up at him +from under her long lashes with an admiration it would have done him +good to see, and a hum of approving remarks went all round the table. +Then, in an evil moment, the young lady felt it her duty to comfort the +heart of poor Orther Lom, whom everybody else regarded with something +akin to contempt. She talked to him of old times, until the man's +inflated English was forgotten, as well as his by no means reputable +errand. The young man was quite incapable of any deep-laid scheme of +wrong-doing, as he was of any high or generous impulse. He was a mere +machine, educated up to a certain point, able to write a good hand, and +express himself grammatically, but thinking more of his dress and his +spurious English than of any learning or accomplishment, and the +unreasoning tool of his official superiors. He had been checkmated by +Coristine, and felt terribly disappointed at the failure of his mission; +but the thought that he had been engaged in a most dishonest attempt did +not trouble him in the least. Yet, had he been offered a large bribe to +commit robbery in the usual ways, he would have rejected the +proposition with scorn. Miss Carmichael, knowing his character, was +sorry for him, little thinking that his returning vivacity under her +genial influence smote Coristine's heart, as the evidence of double +disloyalty on the lady's part, to her friend, Miss Du Plessis, and to +him. Tiring of her single-handed work, she turned to Mr. Bigglethorpe, +saying: "You know Mr. Lamb, do you not!" The fisherman answered: "You +were kind enough to introduce us last night, Miss Carmichael, but you +will, I hope, pardon me for saying that I do not approve of Mr. Lamb." +Then he turned away, and conversed with the Captain. When the company +rose, the only person who approached the civil servant was the colonel, +who said: "I pehsume, suh, aftah what my kind friend, Mr. Cohistine, has +spoken so well, you will not annoy my niece with any moah remahks about +her propehty. It would please that lady and me, as her guahdian, if you +will fohget Miss Du Plessis' existence, suh, so fah as you are +concehned." This was chilling, but chill did not hurt Mr. Lamb. The +little Carruthers, headed by Marjorie, were in front of the verandah +when Miss Carmichael and he went out. Marjorie had evidently been +schooling them, for, at her word of command, they began to sing, to the +tune of "Little Bo Peep," the original words:-- + + Poor Orther Lom, + He looks so glom. + +Miss Carmichael seized her namesake and shook her. "You naughty, wicked +little girl, how dare you? Who taught you these shameful words?" she +asked, boiling with indignation. Marjorie cried a little for vexation, +but would not reveal the name of the author. Some said it was the +doctor, and others, that it was his daughter Fanny; but Miss Carmichael +was sure that the lawyer, Marjorie's great friend, Eugene, was the +guilty party, that he ought to be ashamed of himself, and that the +sooner he left Bridesdale the better. Coristine was completely innocent +of the awful crime, which lay in the skirts of Marjorie's father, the +Captain, as might have been suspected from the beauty of the couplet. +The consequence of the poetic surprise was the exclusive attachment of +Miss Carmichael to the Crown Lands man, in a long walk in the garden, a +confidential talk, and the present of a perfectly beautiful button-hole +pinned in by her own hands. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + The Picnic--Treasure Trove--A Substantial Ghost + Captured--Coristine's Farewell--Ride to Collingwood--Bangs Secures + Rawdon--Off to Toronto--Coristine Meets the Captain--Grief at + Bridesdale--Marjorie and Mr. Biggles--Miss Du Plessis Frightens Mr. + Lamb--The Minister's Smoke--Fishing Picnic. + + +After his Parthian shot, the Captain ordered Sylvanus to get out the +gig, as he was going home. Leaving Marjorie in the hands of her aunt +Carmichael, he saluted his daughter, his niece, and his two sisters in +law, and took their messages for Susan. There was grief in the kitchen +at the departure of Sylvanus, who expected to be on the rolling deep +before the end of the week. Mr. Pawkins and Constable Rigby had already +taken leave, travelling homeward in an amicable way. Then, Doctor +Halbert insisted on his vehicle being brought round, as there must be +work waiting for him at home; so a box with a cushion was placed for his +sprained leg, and he and Miss Fanny were just on the eve of starting, +when Mr. Perrowne came running up in great haste, and begged to be +allowed to drive the doctor over. With a little squeezing he got in, +and, amid much waving of handkerchiefs, the doctor's buggy drove away. +Mr. Lamb exhibited no desire to leave, and Miss Carmichael was compelled +to devote herself to him, a somewhat monotonous task, in spite of his +garrulous egotism. Timotheus, by the Squire's orders, harnessed the +horses to the waggonette, and deposited therein a pickaxe and a spade. +Mr. Bigglethorpe brought out his fishing tackle, joyous over the +prospect of a day's fishing, and Mr. Terry lugged along a huge basket, +prepared by his daughter in the kitchen, with all manner of eatables and +drinkables for the picnic. The lawyer made the fourth of the party, +exclusive of Timotheus, who gave instructions to Maguffin how to behave +in his absence. The colonel was with Wilkinson, but the ladies and Mr. +Lamb came to see the expedition under way. It was arranged that +Timotheus should drive the Squire and the lawyer to the masked road and +leave them there, after which he was to take the others to Richards +place, put up the horses, and help them to propel the scow through the +lakes and channels. Accordingly, the treasure seekers got out the pick +and shovel, and trudged along to the scene of the late fire. As they +neared the Encampment, their road became a difficult and painful one, +over fallen trees blackened with fire, and through beds of sodden ashes. +At the Encampment, the ground, save where the buildings had stood, was +comparatively bare. The lofty and enormously strong brick chimney was +still standing in spite of the many explosions, and, here and there, a +horse appeared, looking wistfully at the ruins of its former home. +There, the intending diggers stood, gazing mutely for a while on the +scene of desolation. + +"'Sandy soil, draining both ways, and undercover,' is what we want, +Coristine," said the Squire. The two walked back and forward along the +ridge, rejecting rock and depression and timbered land. They searched +the foundations of houses and sheds, found the trap under Rawdon's own +house that led to the now utterly caved-in tunnel, and tried likely +spots where once the stables stood, only to find accumulations of +rubbish. A steel square such as carpenters use, was found among the +chips in the stone-yard, and of this Coristine made a primitive +surveyor's implement by which he sought to take the level of the ground. +"Bring your eye down here, Mr. Carruthers," he said. "I see," answered +the Squire; "but, man, yon's just a conglomeration o' muckle stanes." +The lawyer replied, "That's true, Squire, but it's the height of land, +and that top stone lies almost too squarely to be natural. Let us try +them at least. It will do no harm, and the day is young yet." They went +forward to a spot beyond the stone yard, on the opposite side from the +burnt stables, which they saw had once been railed off, for the +blackened stumps of the posts were still in the ground. It was a +picturesque mass of confusion, apparently an outcrop of the limestone, +not uncommon in that region. But the lawyer probed the ground all about +it. It was light dry soil, with no trace of a rocky bottom. Without a +lever, their work was hard, but they succeeded in throwing off the +large flat protecting slab, and in scattering its rocky supports. "Man, +Coristine, I believe you're richt." ejaculated the perspiring +Carruthers. Then he took the pick and loosened the ground, while the +lawyer removed the earth with his spade. "There's no' a root nor a +muckle stane in the haill o't, Coristine; this groond's been wrocht +afore, my lad." So they kept on, till at last the pick rebounded with a +metallic clang. "Let me clear it, Squire," asked the lawyer, and, at +once, his spade sent the sand flying, and revealed a box of japanned +tin, the counterpart of that discovered by Muggins, which had only +contained samples of grindstones. A little more picking, and a little +more spading, and the box came easily out. It was heavy, wonderfully +heavy, and it was padlocked. The sharp edge of the spade loosened the +lid sufficiently to admit the point of the pick, and, while Coristine +hung on to the box, the Squire wrenched it open. The tin box was full of +notes and gold. + +"There's thoosands an' thoosands here, Coristine, eneuch to keep yon +puir body o' a Matilda in comfort aa' her days. Man, it's a graun' +discovery, an' you're the chiel that's fund it," cried the Squire, with +exultation. The lawyer peered in too, when, suddenly, he heard a shot, a +bullet whizzed past his ear, and, the next moment, with a sickening +thud, Carruthers fell to the ground. Coristine rose to his feet like +lightning, and faced an apparition; the Grinstun man, with pistol in one +hand and life preserver in the other, was before him. Without a moment's +hesitation he regained his grasp of his spade, and stretched the ghost +at his feet, mercifully with the flat of it, and then relieved his +victim of pistol and loaded skull-cracker. He heard voices hailing, and +recognized them as those of the veteran and the fisherman. He replied +with a loud cry of "Hurry, hurry, help!" which roused the prostrate +spectre. It arose and made a dash for the tin box, but Coristine threw +himself upon the substantial ghost, and a struggle for life began. They +clasped, they wrestled, they fell over the poor unconscious Squire, and +upset the tin box. They clasped each other by the throat, the hair; they +kicked with their feet, and pounded with their knees. It was Grinstun's +last ditch, and he was game to hold it; but the lawyer was game too. +Sometimes he was up and had his hand on his opponent's throat, and +again, he could not tell how, he was turned over, and the heavy squat +form of Rawdon fell like an awful nightmare on his chest. But he would +not give in. He saw his antagonist reach for a weapon, pistol, +skull-cracker, he knew not what it was, but that reach released one hand +from his throat. With a tremendous effort, he turned, and lay side to +side with his enemy, when Timotheus dashed in, and, bodily picking up +the Grinstun man in his arms, hammered his head on the big flat stone, +till the breathless lawyer begged him to stop. Up came Mr. Bigglethorpe +and Mr. Terry in great consternation, and gazed with wonder upon the +lately active ghost. "Make him fast," cried Coristine with difficulty, +"while I look after the poor Squire." So, Timotheus and the fisher took +off Rawdon's coat and braces, and bound him hand and foot with his own +belongings. But the veteran had already looked to his son-in-law, and, +from the picnic stores, had poured some spirits into his lips. "Rouse +up, John, avic," he cried piteously, "rouse up, my darlint, or Honoria +'ull be breakin' her poor heart. It's good min is scarce thim toimes, +an' the good God'll niver be takin' away the bist son iver an ould man +had." The Squire came to, although the dark blood oozed out of an ugly +wound in the back of his head, and the amount of liquor his affectionate +father-in law had poured into him made him light-headed. "Glory be to +God!" said the old man, and all the others gratefully answered "Amen." + +The lawyer explained the circumstances, the excavation, the money, the +assault, to his deliverers; but the resurrection of the Grinstun man was +a mystery which he could not explain. Without being told, Timotheus, +whose arrival had been so opportune, ran all the way to Richards, and +brought from thence the waggon, along with Harry Richards, who +volunteered to accompany him, and Mr. Errol, who was visiting in the +neighbourhood. Young Richards brought an axe with him, and cleared some +of the obstructions of the once masked road, so that the vehicle was +able to get up within reasonable distance of the encampment. It was +desirable to get the Squire home, lest his injuries should be greater +than they supposed, and the prisoner ought to be in Mr. Bangs' hands at +once. Accordingly, Mr. Errol and Harry Richards offered to stay with Mr. +Bigglethorpe and carry out the original picnic, it being understood that +Timotheus would either call or send for them about four o'clock. + +"Gin I'm gaun to be oot on the splore, I maun hae a bit smokie. Wha's +gotten a bit pipe he's no usin'?" asked the usually sedate minister. +Coristine handed over to him his smoking materials, penknife included; +and Mr. Errol, taking off his coat, sat down on a stone to fill the +pipe, saying, "Nae mair pastoral veesitation for me the day. Gin any +body spiers whaur I am, just tell them I'm renewin' my youth." Timotheus +and Harry carried the prisoner to the waggon, while the veteran and the +lawyer followed, leading the Squire, and carrying the box of treasure. +The fishermen came to see them off, and, then, they descended to the +lake shore and began the sport of the day. Timotheus drove, and the +Squire sat up between him and his affectionate father-in-law. The lawyer +was in the rear seat with the prisoner, who, for greater security, was +lashed to the back of it. Rawdon's revolver was in his captor's hand, +and his skull-cracker in a handy place. Several times, shamming +insensibility, the prince of tricksters endeavoured to throw his +solitary warder off his guard, but the party reached Bridesdale without +his succeeding in loosening a single thong. There was great +consternation when Timotheus drove up to the gate. The children had been +at their old game of the handkerchief, and Miss Carmichael was actually +chasing Orther Lom, to their great glee, and to Coristine's intense +disgust. Of course, they stopped when they saw the waggon and the +Squire's pale face. The colonel, who had been smoking his morning cigar +on the verandah, came forward rapidly, and, with Mr. Terry, helped the +master of Bridesdale to alight. Then, his wife and sister took the +wounded man in charge, and led him into the house, for he was thoroughly +dazed and incapable of attending to any business. "If you will allow me, +colonel," said the lawyer, "I will take charge of legal matters in this +case," to which Colonel Morton answered, "Most cehtainly, my deah suh, +no one moah competent." + +Maguffin had come round to see if his services would be required, and +was appointed to mount guard over the prisoner in company with +Timotheus. To Mr. Terry the lawyer gave the heavy cash box, with orders +to put it in a safe place in the Squire's office. Then, Coristine went +up-stairs, washed and brushed away the traces of conflict, and knocked +at Wilkinson's door. A lady's voice told him to enter, and, on his +complying with the invitation, he beheld Miss Du Plessis sitting by the +bedside of his friend, with a book, which was not Wordsworth, in her +hand. "Please to pardon my intrusion, Miss Du Plessis; the Squire is +hurt, and we have captured Grinstuns, who was not burnt up after all. I +must see the prisoner safely caged, and have other business to attend +to, so that I have come to say good-bye. I am sure that you will take +every care of my dear friend here." After this little speech, hard to +utter, the lawyer shook his friend by the well hand, saying: "Good-bye, +Wilks, old boy, and keep up your heart; any messages for town?" Before +he had time to receive any such commissions, he shook hands warmly with +the lady, and vanished. Replacing Maguffin over Rawdon, he told him to +saddle a horse, and bring it round. His orders to Mr. Terry and +Timotheus were to secure their prisoner between them in some lighter +vehicle, and bring him with all speed to Collingwood, whither he would +precede them on horseback. He found the Squire in an easy chair in the +sitting room with three lady attendants. Shaking hands with the +half-unconscious man, he assured him that he would attend to the +business of the day, and then, with a few words of grateful recognition +to Mrs. Carruthers, bade all the ladies good-bye. "Hasten back," they +all said, and the kind hostess added: "We will think long till we see +you again." Walking back into the kitchen, he bestowed a trifle in his +most gracious manner, on Tryphena and Tryphosa, and then went forth to +look for Marjorie. As he kissed her an affectionate farewell in the +garden, the little girl intuitively guessed his absence to be no common +one, and begged her Eugene to stay, with tears in her eyes. But he was +obdurate with her and all the little Carruthers, on whom he showered +quarters to buy candy at the post office. Maguffin was there with the +horse, and, near the gate, was Miss Carmichael with that ineffable ass +Lamb. Looking at the latter as if he would dearly love to kick him, he +raised his hat to his companion, and extended his hand with the simple +words "Good-bye." Miss Carmichael did not offer hers in return; she +said: "It is hardly worth while being so formal over an absence of a few +hours." Coristine turned as if a serpent had bitten him, slipped some +money into Maguffin's hand, as that worthy held open the gate for him, +and vaulted on his horse, nor did he turn to look round so long as the +eyes of Bridesdale were on his retreating figure. + +The lawyer rode hard, for he was excited. He went by Talfourd's house +like a flash, and away through the woods he had traversed on Nash's +beast that last pleasant Sunday morning. At the Beaver River he watered +his horse, and exchanged a word with Pierre and Batiste bidding the +former look out that no attempt at rescuing the prisoner should be made +in that quarter. Away he went, with madame's eyes watching him from +afar, up the ascent, and along the road to where the Hills dwelt at the +foot of the Blue Mountains. He doffed his hat to the old lady as he +passed, then breasted the mountain side. For a moment, he stood on the +summit to take in the view once more, then clattered down the other +side, and away full pelt for the town. Soon he entered Collingwood, and +sought the police headquarters without delay. Where was Mr. Bangs? He +was told, to his great delight, that the detective was in town, and +would report at four o'clock. It was now half-past three. Putting up his +horse at the hotel, the lawyer partook of a hasty meal at a restaurant, +and returned in time to meet Bangs on the very threshold. "Whet ere you +doing here, Lawyer Coristine?" he asked. + +"You will never guess, Mr. Bangs." + +"Any more trebble et Bridesdele?" + +"No, but I'll tell you; we've caught Rawdon." + +"Why, the men's dead, berned to a cinder, you know." + +"No, he is not; that was some other man." + +"Ere you shore, Mr. Coristine?" + +"Perfectly. Mr. Terry and Timotheus are bringing him here now." + +"Whet, only the two of them, and kemming pest the Beaver too?" + +"Yes; there were no more to send. I warned Pierre Lajeunesse to be on +the lookout." + +"Is your beast fit to trevel eny more?" + +"I think so; it seems a strong animal." + +"Then get on hersebeck quick! Here, kensteble, hend me two betons, and a +kerbine!" + +When the lawyer returned with his hard-ridden steed, he found Mr. Bangs +mounted, with a baton by his side and a carbine slung behind him. Off +they went along the shore and up the hill. Descending, they saw the +buggy approaching slowly in the neighbourhood of the Hills' log shanty, +attended by four persons who seemed to be armed. Hastening down the +slope, they came up to it, and found the prisoner safe but awfully +profane. The foot guards were Ben Toner, Barney Sullivan, and Rufus +Hill, under the command of Monsieur Lajeunesse. They were relieved of +their self-imposed duty with many thanks, and Coristine shook hands with +the honest fellows, as he and the detective replaced them in escort +duty. Then Timotheus whipped up his horse, and they drove and rode into +town, an imposing spectacle for the eyes of the youth of Collingwood. + +Bangs could hardly believe his eyes, and could not conceal his delight, +on beholding the murderer of his now buried friend. No pains were spared +for the safe-keeping of the notorious criminal. In the presence of a +magistrate, Coristine and Mr. Terry made affidavit as to his crimes and +capture. The latter and Timotheus also related his attempts to bribe +them into giving him his liberty, offering large sums and promising to +leave the country. "Now, Mishter Corstine," says the veteran, "it's +hoigh toime we was gettin' home. The good payple 'ull be gettin' onaisy +about yeez, 'an spashly Miss Carrmoichael that was gravin' sore to think +she niver said good-boye to yeez. Come, now, come away, an' lave the +baste in the shtable, for it's toired roidin' ye must be." + +"I am not going back, Mr. Terry. I said good-bye to them all at +Bridesdale, and must hurry away to business. Perhaps Timotheus will ride +the horse, while you drive." + +"Thet pore enimel isn't fit fer eny more werk to-night, Mr. Coristine. +I'll tell you, Mr. Terry, whet I'll do. I shell be beck here to-morrow +evening, end will ride the horse to Bridesdele. I've got a weggon and +team of the Squire's here, which yeng Hill will drive beck for me. Then +he ken ride pore Nesh's horse, and I ken get my own. Strenge they didn't +give you one of thowse beasts instead of the colonel's, Mr. Coristine." + +"Is this the colonel's horse?" + +"I should sey it is. You down't think eny ether enimel could hev brought +you elong so fest, do you?" + +"God bless the kind old man!" ejaculated the lawyer. + +"Mishter Corstine, dear, it'll be breakin' aall the poor childer's +hearts an' some that's growed up too if you 'll be afther lavin' us this +way," continued Mr. Terry; and Timotheus, whom his Peskiwanchow friend +rewarded, added his appeal: "I wisht you wouldn't go fer to go home +jess' yet. Mister." But all entreaties were unavailing. He and Mr. Bangs +saw the buggy off, and then retired to the hotel to get some supper. On +the way thither, he invested in a briar root pipe and some tobacco to +replace those he had given to Mr. Errol. They would be home from fishing +long ago, and perhaps good Bigglethorpe would take Miss Carmichael away +from that miserable Orther Lom. After supper, the two sat over their +pipes and a decoction of some kind in the reading-room, talking over the +sad and wonderful events of the past few days. Mr. Bangs took very +kindly to the lawyer, and promised to look him up whenever he came to +town. He advised him to keep silent about the discovery of Rawdon's +money, as the crown might claim it, and thus deprive poor Matilda Nagle +of her only chance of independence. He said also that he would instruct +the Squire in the same direction on the morrow. + +That night, two gaol guards armed to the teeth arrived in police +quarters to take charge of Davis, but the bigger criminal was placed in +their care. Early in the morning there was a stir in the railway +station, when the handcuffed prisoners were marched down under strong +escort, and securely boxed up with their guards and Mr. Bangs. Many +rough characters were there, among whom the lawyer recognized Matt of +the tavern, and Bangs and he could have sworn to the identity of others, +whom the former had met in the cavalry charge on the masked road and +whom Coristine had seen and heard in the Richards' scow the night of the +catastrophe. They scowled, but attempted no rescue. Thanks to the +lawyer's generalship, things had been pushed through too quickly for +them to combine. For some time, Coristine travelled alone. There were +other people in the car, but he did not know them, nor did he care to +make any new acquaintances. All his friends were at Bridesdale, and he +was a homeless exile going back to Mrs. Marsh's boarding-house. At +Dromore, however, he caught sight of the wide-mouthed barrel of a +blunderbuss, and knew the Captain could not be far off. Soon that naval +gentleman got on board, helping Mrs. Thomas up to the platform, followed +by Sylvanus with the saluting weapon. They were to be his companions as +far as Barrie, and much the lawyer enjoyed their society. Marjorie was +the great subject of conversation, although, of course, the Captain had +to be enlightened in many points of recent history. He still thought +Wilkinson a sly dog, but wondered greatly at Coristine's going away. +Mrs. Thomas explained the relationship of Orther Lom. He had been a poor +neglected boy, when Marjorie Carmichael was a little girl, whom her +father, the member, had interested himself in, giving him an education, +and supporting him in part while at the Normal School in Toronto. Just +before he died, he exerted his influence to obtain a Government berth +for him, and that was the whole story. The lawyer saw it all now, and +learned too late what a foolish fellow he had been. Of course, there +were old times, and they had much to talk of, and she could not help +being civil to him, and being angry when he had reminded her father's +protege of his early poverty. Coristine sighed, and felt that, if Lamb +had been present, he would have apologized to him. To cheer him up, the +Captain invited him to join Mrs. Thomas and himself on a cruise in the +_Susan_. He would have enjoyed it immensely he said, but, having made so +many assertions of pressing business in the city, he had to be +consistent and miserable. At Barrie, he bade his last friends adieu, +parted affectionately with The Crew, and then gazed longingly at the +spars of the _Susan Thomas_ in Kempenfeldt Bay. If only the Captain had +brought the two Marjories for a cruise, he would have shipped with him +for a month, and have let business go to the dogs. There were no more +objects of interest till he arrived in Toronto, took a streetcar, and +deposited himself, much to that lady's astonishment, in his bachelor's +quarters at Mrs. Marsh's boarding-house. After a special lunch, he sat +down to smoke and read a little Browning. + +It was very late when Mr. Terry and Timotheus arrived at Bridesdale. All +the ladies had retired, with the exception of Mrs. Carruthers, who had +staid up to await her father's arrival. The gentlemen of the party were +the Squire, quite clear in head and not much the worse of his crack on +the skull, Mr. Bigglethorpe, and Mr. Errol, who had been induced to +continue his splore in the office. He was still renewing his youth, when +the veteran entered all alone, and said he didn't mind if he did help +Mr. Bigglethorpe with that decanter, for it was tiresome work driving. + +"Where is Mr. Coristine, grandfather?" asked the Squire. + +"It's in Collinwud he is an his way to Teranty." + +"What! do you mean to say he has left us, gone for good?" + +"That's fwhat it is. Oi prished 'em, an' porshwaded 'em, an' towld 'em +it was desprut anggery an' graved yeez wud aall be. Says he Oi've bud +'em aall good-boye an' Oi'm goin' home to bishness. It was lucky for +you, Squoire, that it wasn't lasht noight he wint." + +"It is that, grandfather. I'd have been a dead man. He maun hae focht +yon deevil like a wild cat tae get oot o' the way o's pistols and +things." + +"'Twas Timawtheus as kim up furrust an' tuk the thafe av a Rawdon out av +his arrums, for he grupped 'em good an' toight." + +"Well done, Timotheus!" said Mr. Errol. "He's a fine lad, Mr. +Bigglethorpe, though a bit clumsy in his ways." + +"We can't all be handsome, sir," answered that gentleman. "If he's got +the good principle in him, that's the mine thing, so I always say." + +Mrs. Carruthers put her head into the smoke, coughed a little, and said: +"Come, father, supper is waiting for you in the breakfast room." The +veteran followed his daughter, and, over his evening meal, gave her a +detailed account of the proceedings of the afternoon. "And to go away +without a bite to eat, and ride all that distance, and leave his +knapsack and his flowers and I don't know what else behind him, what is +the meaning of it, father?" + +"Honoria, my dear, I aalways thought women's eyes was cliverer nor +min's. There's a little gyurl they call Marjorie, an' she's not so +little as aall that, if she isn't quoite the hoighth av Miss Ceshile. +That bhoy was jist dishtracted wid the crool paice, that goes aff +philanderin wid the Shivel Sharvice shape av a Lamb. He didn't say it +moind in wurruds, but I see it was the killin' av 'em, an' he jist +coulden' shtand it no langer. Smaal blame to him say Oi!" + +So grandfather got his supper, and went back to the office to finish his +pipe and his tumbler, while Timotheus was entertaining Tryphosa in the +kitchen. Mrs. Carruthers retired, but, first, she visited the young +ladies' apartment, and said, in a tone which she meant to be reproachful +as well as regretful: "Mr. Coristine has left us never to return." The +kindest-hearted woman in the world, having thrown this drop of +bitterness into her niece's cup, left her to drink it to the dregs. +Meanwhile Orther Lom was dreaming that he could not do better than marry +the Marjorie of his youth and begin housekeeping, in spite of tailors' +bills. + +The sun rose bright on Friday morning, and, peeping in upon Mr. +Bigglethorpe in his room and upon Marjorie in the nursery bedroom, awoke +these two early birds. They met on the stairs and came down together. +The fisherman said he thought he would get his things bundled up, +meaning his gun and rods, and walk home to breakfast, but Marjorie said +he just wouldn't, for Eugene was gone, and, if he were to go, she would +have nobody. Well broken in to respect for feminine authority, save when +the fishing fit was on, Mr. Bigglethorpe had to succumb, and travel down +to the creek after crawfish, chub and dace. He told his youthful +companion fishing stories which amused her; and confided to her that he +was going to train up his little boy to be a great fisherman. "Have you +got a little boy, Mr. Biggles?" she asked, and then added: "How funny!" +as if her friend ought to have been content with other people's +children, and fish. + +"What is his name, Mr. Biggles?" she enquired. + +"He hasn't been christened yet, but I think I'll call him Isaac Walton, +or Charles Cotton, or Piscator. Don't you think these are nice nimes?" + +"No, I don't. Woollen and Cotton and what Mr. Perrowne belongs to are +not pretty. Eugene is pretty." + +Mr. Bigglethorpe laughed, and said: "I didn't say Woollen but Walton, +and I said Piscator, which is the Latin for fisher, not Episcopalian, +which Mr. Perrowne is." + +"Why do you want to call him a fisher? It is like a Sunday School story +Marjorie read me, a Yankee book, about a little baby boy that was left +on a doorstep, and the doorstep man's name was Fish, and he had him +baptized Preserved because he was preserved, and he grew up to be a good +man and was called Preserved Fish. Wasn't that awful?" + +"Oh very streinge! If my boy had been a little girl, I would have nimed +her Marjorie." + +"See, Mr. Biggles, here she comes again, and Cecile, and, O horrors! +Orther Lom." + +It was too true. The young ladies had come out to enjoy the morning air, +and, after a turn in the garden, had rushed to the hill meadow to escape +the Departmental gentleman, whose elegant morocco slippers they had +heard on the stairs. Spite of the morning dew he had pursued them, well +pleased with himself, and doubtful whom to conquer with his charms. + +"O Mr. Biggles," continued Marjorie, "that horrid man got me a naughty, +cruel shaking, and he's sent my dear Eugene away never to come back any +more. I know, because I went into aunty's room when I got up; and she +told me." + +"It's too bad, Marjorie. Who mide that little song on Mr. Lamb?" + +"You'll never tell?" + +"No." + +"'Pon your honour?" + +"'Pon my honour." + +"It was papa, you old goosey." + +"Not Mr. Coristine?" + +"No, of course not." + +"My I sy that it wasn't Mr. Coristine?" + +"O yes, don't let them think any bad things about Eugene, poor boy." + +"Good morning, Miss Carmichael," said Mr. Bigglethorpe, or rather he +bawled it; "will you come here a minute, please?" + +Miss Carmichael gladly skipped down, leaving her companion a prey to the +gentleman of the morocco slippers. + +"I want to clear our friend, Mr. Coristine, of a suspicion which you may +not have shired," said the fisherman. "He didn't mike that little piece +of poetry on Mr. Lamb that Marjorie and the other children sang +yesterday morning." + +"Thank you, Mr. Bigglethorpe; I am very glad to hear it." + +"Nasty pig!" said Marjorie to herself; "she drove Eugene away all the +same." + +Meanwhile, Mr. Lamb was conversing with Miss Du Plessis. + +"You don't seem to mind the doo, Miss Cecile." + +"Oh, but I do," she answered. + +"Your shoes are parfectly wat, sowking I should think." + +"No, they are not wet through; they are thicker than you imagine." + +"By the bye, where is his high mightiness, the lawyer, this mawrning?" + +"Mr. Coristine has returned to the city." + +"Haw, cawlled oway to some pettifogging jawb I suppowse?" + +"Such as your Crown Lands case." + +"Naw, you down't say, Miss Cecile, thot he's awff ofter thot jawb?" + +"I cannot tell what Mr. Coristine may have to do in addition to that. He +did not confide his business to me." + +"I wonder whot time the stage goes awff at!" + +"It will pass the gate," said Miss Du Plessis, consulting her watch, "in +ten minutes." + +"Haw, ofally onnoying you know, but I'll hov to pock up and leave before +breakfost. Please remember me to Morjorie, will you Cecile, if I shont +hov time to see her before I gow." + +Mr. Lamb took his morocco slippers back to the house, and soon +reappeared at the gate, Gladstone bag and cane in hand, looking at the +approaching stage. It was filled up with a roughish crowd, all except +one seat in the back, into which he jumped. The driver flicked his +horses, and Bridesdale was relieved of the presence of Orther Lom. + +"Marjorie," said Miss Du Plessis, "I have bad news for you." + +"What is it, Cecile?" + +"Your young man has called me by my Christian name, without even putting +Miss before it." + +"Have you killed him and dug his grave with those eyes of yours?" + +"No, I simply told him that Mr. Coristine had returned to Toronto, +perhaps on Crown Land business." + +"Well?" + +"It terrified him so, that he packed his valise forthwith and is gone." + +"But how?" + +"By the stage. Did you not hear the horn just now? + +"No, I was too busy with that delightful Mr. Bigglethorpe. But do you +mean to tell me that Arthur has left without a farewell word to +anybody?" + +"He said, 'Please remember me to Marjorie, will you, Cecile?' What do +you think of that?" + +"What odious impertinence! I am glad the silly creature has gone, and, +were it not for the safety of your land, I wish he had never come." + +"It was not he who saved my land, Marjorie." + +"Oh, don't I know? Don't talk to me any more! You are hateful, Cecile!" + +"If you can forget fifty acts of disinterested kindness, Marjorie, it +does not follow that I am to do the same." By which it will appear that +Miss Du Plessis had her orders to rub it in pretty hot to her friend, +and was rubbing it in accordingly, even though it did smart. Miss +Carmichael broke away from her, and ran to the house, leaving her once +dear Cecile to follow with Marjorie and Mr. Bigglethorpe. + +At breakfast the Squire appeared quite picturesque, with a silk +handkerchief tied over his head to conceal and hold on what Marjorie +called a plaster of vinegar and brown paper, having reference to the +mishaps of Jack and Jill. + +"Marjorie," said Mr. Carruthers, "ye ken what Jill got for lauchin' at +Jock's heed and the plaister." + +"Yes, Uncle John, but mother isn't here to do it." + +"Papa said I was to be your mother now, Marjorie," said Mrs. Carmichael. + +"You've got a Marjorie of your own, Auntie, that needs to be punished +worse than me." + +The colonel looked round the table anxiously, and then addressed the +hostess: "I fail to pehceive my deah friend, Mr. Cohistine, Mrs. +Cahhuthehs; I sincehely trust he is not unwell afteh his gallant fight?" + +"I am sorry to say, Colonel, that Mr. Coristine has left us, and has +gone back to Toronto." + +"O deah, that is a great loss; he was the life of our happy pahty, +always so cheehful, so considehate, ready to sacrifice himself and lend +a hand to anything. I expected him back on my hohse." + +"Timotheus tells me that Mr. Bangs is going to bring your horse over +this evening." + +"I'm gey and gled to hear 't, gudewife. I'd like weel tae hae anither +crack wi' Bangs. But it's an awfu' shame aboot Coristine; had it no' +been for his magneeficent pluck, fleein' on yon scoundrel like a lion, +I'd hae been brocht hame as deed as a red herrin'. Isna that true, +granther?" + +"It's thrue, ivery worrud av it. Savin' the company, there's not a +jantleman I iver tuk to the way I tuk to that foine man, and as +simple-harrted and condiscindin' as iv he wor a choild." + +"Where is that lazy boy Arthur, I wonder?" asked Mrs. Carmichael; +whereupon Miss Du Plessis told her story, and all joined in a hearty +laugh at Mr. Lamb's fright and sudden retreat. + +Mr. Errol, feeling none the worse of the previous day's splore, and +still renewing his youth over the fish he and Mr. Bigglethorpe had +caught, suddenly remembered and confessed: "Dear me, Mrs. Carmichael, I +forgot that I had Mr. Coristine's merschaum, and his tobacco and +penknife. Puir lad, what'll he dae withoot his pipe?" + +"You naughty man, Mr. Errol, is it possible that you smoke?" + +"Whiles, mem, whiles." + +"How many pipes a day, now, Mr. Errol?" + +"Oh, it depends. When I'm in smoking company, I can take a good many, eh +Mr. Bigglethorpe?" + +"Yesterday was a very special occaision, Mr. Errol. You called it +renewing your youth, you know, and nimed the picnic a splore." + +"I felt like a laddie again at the fishing, Mrs. Carmichael, just as +light-hearted and happy as if I were a callant on the hills." + +"And what do you generally feel like? Not an old man, I hope?" + +"I'll never be a young one again, Mrs. Carmichael." + +"Perfect nonsense, Mr. Errol! Don't let me hear you talk like that +again." + +"Hearin's obeyin'," meekly replied the minister, showing that he was +making some progress in his mature wooing. + +After breakfast, the company sat out on the verandah. The colonel had to +smoke his morning cigar, and courteously offered his cigar case to all +the gentlemen, who declined with thanks. "If it were not that I might +trouble the ladies," said the minister, "I might take a draw out of poor +Coristine's meerschaum." Mrs. Carmichael at once said: "Please do so, +Mr. Errol; the doctor smoked, so that I am quite used to it. I like to +see a good man enjoying his pipe." + +"You are quite sure, Mrs. Carmichael, that it will not be offensive? I +would cut off my right hand rather than be a smoking nuisance to any +lady." + +"Quite sure, Mr. Errol; go on and fill your pipe, unless you want me to +fill it for you. I know how to do it." + +So, Mr. Errol continued the splore, and smoked the Turk's head. Mr. +Terry lit his dudheen, and Mr. Bigglethorpe, his briar. The Squire's +head was too sore for smoking, but he said he liked the smell o' the +reek. While thus engaged, a buggy drove up, and Miss Halbert and Mr. +Perrowne alighted from it, while Maguffin, always watchful, took the +horse round to the stable yard. The doctor had heard of Rawdon's +capture, and had sent these two innocents to see that all was right at +Bridesdale. Miss Halbert sat down by Miss Du Plessis, and the parson +accepting one of the colonel's cigars, joined the smokers. He also +regretted the absence of Coristine, a splendid fellow, he said, a +perfect trump, the girl will be lucky who gets a man like that, +expressions that were not calculated to make Miss Carmichael happy. Mr. +Perrowne had proposed and had been accepted. He was in wild spirits, +when Mr. Bigglethorpe startled the company by saying, "I've got an +idear!" + +"Howld on to it, Bigglethorpe, howld on; you may never get another," +cried the parson. + +"What is it?" asked Mrs. Carruthers, who was shooing the children away +to Tryphosa. + +"It's a united picnic to the likes. Who's got to sty at home?" + +"I have for one," answered the Squire; "yon deevil o' a Rawdon has gien +me a scunner at picnics." + +"I cannot go," said his wife, "for I have him and the children to keep +me." + +"Paul, you must go, and Cecile also," interposed Mrs. Du Plessis; "I +will attend to the wants of our patient." + +"Then," spoke up the fisherman, "we shall have Mrs. Carmichael and Mr. +Errol, Miss Halbert and Mr. Perrowne, the colonel and Miss Carruthers, +Mr. Terry and Miss Du Plessis, and, please Mrs. Carmichael, Marjorie and +me. Can ten get into one waggon?" + +"O aye," replied the Squire, "the waggon'll haud nine, and Marjorie can +sit on Mr. Bigglethorpe's knees. Hi, Timotheus, get oot the biggest +waggon wi' three seats, quick, man!" + +Once more, the mighty ham was carved into sandwiches, and others were +made of sardines and marmalade. Chickens were hastily roasted, and pies +and cakes, meant for dinner and tea, stowed away in baskets, with +bottles of ale and cider and milk, and materials for tea-making, and a +huge chunk of ice out of the ice-house, and a black bottle that Mr. +Terry eyed affectionately. "This is for you old men, grandpapa," said +Mrs. Carmichael to the veteran; "now, remember, none for these boys, +Errol and Perrowne." Mr. Terry replied: "To be sure, ma'am," but thought +in his heart, would it be him that would deprive the boys of a bit of +innocent recreation at such a time. Such a looking out there was of hats +and wraps, of guns and fishing tackle. The colonel was to drive in +person. Mr. Terry was to be chief of the commissariat under Mrs. +Carmichael. Mr. Bigglethorpe was to direct fishing operations, and +bring, with the assistance of Mr. Terry, the scow and Rawdon's boat to +the Encampment lake. Marjorie was wild with delight, and insisted on +going with the grandfather and dear Mr Biggles. It was ten o'clock when +all the preparations were concluded, and Timotheus brought round the +capacious waggon. All the household assembled to see the picnic party +off, and the young Carruthers lifted up their voices and wept. The whole +ten got in, but there was no free rollicking Irish voice to sing:-- + + Wait for the waggon. + And we'll all take a ride. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + At the Encampment--Botany--Fishing--Matilda--The New + Lake--Tillycot--Luncheon--After Recreation--New Visitors to + Tillycot--Edifying Talk--Songs on the Way Home--Mr. Bigglethorpe's + Departure--Uncle and Niece--Mr. Bangs and Rufus--Ladies Catch a + Burglar--The Constable Secures Him--Muggins' Death--Burglars + Repulsed--Rebecca Toner--The Clergy Hilarious--A Young Lady Finds a + Poem. + + +Mr. Bigglethorpe, Mr. Terry and Marjorie, with part of the picnic +material, got off the waggon at the Richards' place, and proceeded to +the lake. They found the punt there, but saw no sign of the skiff. +Marjorie inherited her father's love of the water, and greatly enjoyed +even the slow progress made by the paddles of her boatmen in the +unwieldy craft. Meanwhile, the waggon arrived as near the encampment as +it was possible to get; the company descended to the blackened ground; +and Mr. Perrowne found a path for the ladies up to the ruins. The +horses, sedate, well-behaved animals, were unhitched, and allowed to +pick about where they pleased, after which the three gentlemen carried +the wraps and picnic baskets and pails to where the ladies stood, +inspecting the ravages of the fire. Muggins had come with Mr. Perrowne, +and sniffed about, rediscovering the treasure hole which had so nearly +proved fatal to the Squire. It was agreed to go down to the water's +edge, and encamp upon some green spot, near good fishing, over which the +bush fire had not run. Such a place was found to the right of the +caved-in tunnel, a broad patch of fine-leaved native grass, shaded by +oaks and maples of second growth. There the provisions were deposited, +and, the rugs being spread over the grass, the ladies sat down to await +the arrival of the boat party. A good three-quarters of an hour passed +before they heard the splash of the paddles, and Muggins ran barking to +meet the intruders upon the sabbath stillness of the scene. While +waiting, Mrs. Carmichael and Mr. Errol took a stroll in the dark woods +adjoining, and brought back some floral specimens in the shape of +Prince's Pines, Pyrolas, and Indian Pipes, which were deposited in the +lap of the finder's daughter, with a suggestiveness that young lady felt +disposed to resent. However, Marjorie's voice was heard just then, and +thoughts and conversation were turned into other channels. "Where is the +skiff?" asked the fisherman, but nobody could enlighten him; they simply +answered that it was not there. The colonel remarked that its absence +looked suspicious, and bade them be on their guard. He, accordingly, +inspected the arms of the expedition, and finding them to consist of two +fowling pieces, those of Messrs. Perrowne and Bigglethorpe, and two +pistols borne by Mr. Terry and himself, was comforted. As the fisherman +had inaugurated the picnic, it was obviously his duty to act as master +of ceremonies. He proposed making two fishing parties, one off the scow, +and another off a pier, which he and the gentlemen were about to build +out from the shore below the picnic ground. + +A large pine had been felled many years before, probably by lumbermen, +and two lengths of it, each about eight feet, had been rejected as +unsound. These the gentlemen, colonel included, got behind, and rolled +down into the water. Mr. Perrowne and the fisherman doffed their shoes +and socks, rolled up their trouser legs, and waded in to get the logs in +position as sleepers. Three spars of driftwood, bleached white, were +found along the bank, and were laid over the logs at right angles, and +kept in their places, as were the logs, by stakes hammered into the lake +bottom. Mr. Errol and Mr. Terry produced some planks, saved from the +fire that devoured the stables, and laid them over the erection, making +a substantial pier, that would have been the better of a few spikes to +steady the boards. Mr. Bigglethorpe provided rods and lines, and baited +the hooks for the ladies, with grasshoppers, frogs, crawfish and +minnows. The last were provided by Marjorie. At the fisherman's +suggestion, she had got from Tryphena a useless wire dish-cover that had +lost its handle, a parcel of oatmeal, and a two-quart tin pail. Mr. +Bigglethorpe had fastened a handle cut out of the bush to the dish +cover, thus converting it into a scoop-net. Barefooted, Marjorie stood +in the shallow water, scattering a little oatmeal, when up came a shoal +of minnows eager for the food thus provided. At one fell swoop, the +young fisherwoman netted a dozen of the shiny little creatures, and +transferred them all alive to the tin pail. Mr. Errol had a great mind +to join her in this exciting sport, but was not sure what Mrs. +Carmichael would think of it. The possibility that he might have become +Mr. Coristine's father-in-law also tended to sober the renewer of his +youth. As Marjorie had practically deserted her friend for the minnows, +Mr. Bigglethorpe invited her cousin to accompany him, with Miss Halbert +and Mr. Perrowne, in the scow, which paddled off to try how the fishing +was at the narrows. The colonel did not care to fish; it was too dirty +work for him. Neither did the remaining ladies show any appetite for it; +but Mr. Errol and the veteran manned the lately constructed pier, and +beguiled some bass that came seeking shelter from the sun beneath it. +While the gentlemen were thus engaged, the colonel lying on his back +near Marjorie's fishing ground, indulging in a second cigar, the two +ladies strolled away, followed by Muggins, to look for more flowers. +After they had gone about a hundred yards to the right, the dog ran on +before them, barking furiously. Mrs. Carmichael clutched her companion's +arm and stood still. "It may be a wild beast, Cecile, or some of those +terrible men. Let us go back at once." But Miss Du Plessis calmly +answered, "It may be only a bird or a squirrel; dogs often make a great +fuss over very little." So they stood and waited. + +Muggins' barking ceased. The reason was apparent in the sound of a +gentle voice they both knew, saying, "Poor Muggins, good doggie, has he +come back again to his old friends?" It was the voice of Matilda Nagle, +and she seemed to be alone. Taking heart, the two ladies went in its +direction, and, guided by Muggins, who came back to lead them, they +descended to a little bay with a sandy beach, where, in the skiff, sat +the woman they sought. She was neatly dressed, and wore a large straw +hat. When they greeted her, she showed no astonishment, but invited them +to enter the skiff and see the pretty place she had back there. Miss Du +Plessis hardly cared to accept the invitation, but the curiosity of the +older lady was aroused and she pressed her companion to comply. Bringing +the bow of the skiff into the shore, Matilda told them to enter the boat +and walk back to the stern. When they had taken their seats, the stern +was depressed, and the bow floated clear of the sand. Then, with every +motion of an accomplished oarswoman, she rowed the skiff along the +shore, altogether out of sight of the other picnickers in scow and on +pier. After a few strokes, she told her companions to lower their heads, +and, ducking her own, shot the boat through what had seemed a solid bank +of foliage, but which was a naturally concealed channel, out into one of +the loveliest little lakes eye ever rested upon. No fire had touched its +shores, which were wooded down to the sandy margin, the bright green +foliage of the hardwood in the foreground contrasting with the more +sombre hues of the pines and hemlocks beyond. In little bays there were +patches of white and yellow water lilies, alternating their orbed +blossoms with the showy blue spikes of the Pickerel weed, and, beyond +them, on the bank itself, grew many a crimson banner of the Cardinal +flower. Another little bay was passed with its last rocky point, and +then a clearing stood revealed, void of stump or stone or mark of fire, +covered with grass and clover, save where, in the midst of a little +neglected garden, stood the model of a Swiss chalet. "Do not be afraid!" +said the woman, catching sight of Mrs. Carmichael's apprehensive look; +"there is nobody in it or anywhere near. We are all alone; even Monty +would not leave his work to come with me." Thus reassured, the party +landed, gathered a few late roses and early sweet peas, and then +proceeded to inspect the chalet. The whole building and everything in it +was in admirable taste, even to the library smoking-room, which was only +disfigured by ugly spittoons and half-burned cigars. Many books were +there, chiefly on chemistry, geology and mineralogy, and there was a +large cabinet full of geological specimens, betokening much research and +abundant labour in their preparation and classification. + +The whole thing was so unexpected, so surprising, that the picnic ladies +had to rub their eyes to be sure that it was not a dream; but their +astonishment was increased when the woman turned to the younger one and +said, "I know you are Miss Du Plessis, for I heard you called so at +Bridesdale." Miss Du Plessis answered that she was right. Then Matilda +said, "This is all your land, and of course, the land carries the +buildings with it. I have forgotten a great many things, but I remember +that, you see. So Tillycot is yours too; besides I do not want to stay +here any more. Good-bye, I am going home to Monty." At first, the two +ladies were afraid she was going to take the skiff away and leave them +in the house, but she did not. In spite of their entreaties, she walked +quickly up the grassy slope at the back, and disappeared in the forest +beyond. "Is it not wonderful?" asked Miss Du Plessis. "Come, Cecile, +hasten back, or those poor people will be starving," answered the more +practical Mrs. Carmichael. + +On their return to the skiff, the presiding matron, while Miss Du +Plessis rowed, unfolded a long piece of yellow leno she had picked up in +one of the rooms. The channel was quite visible from, what may now be +called, the Tillycot end, but when the passengers ducked their heads and +emerged, they saw there would be difficulty in finding it from the other +side. Accordingly, Mrs. Carmichael bade her companion keep the boat +steady, while she stood up, and fastened the strip of gauze to two +saplings, one on either side of the opening, making a landmark visible +immediately the point was passed that intercepted the picnic party from +their view. Rowing round this point, the two travellers appeared, to the +astonishment of the fishers on punt and pier. The colonel was stretched +out on the grass asleep, and Marjorie, having deserted her minnows, was +tickling him about the ears with a long blade, greatly enjoying his +occasional slaps at the parts affected, and his muttered anathemas on +the flies. + +"Oi'm thinkin', Mishtress Carrmoikle, it's gettin' toime fer the aitin' +an' drhinkin', wid your lave, mum; but fwhere did yez foind the +skifft?" Brief explanations followed to the veteran and Mr. Errol, who +were at once put under orders, the one to light a fire and produce the +tea-kettle, the other to fill two pails with clean water, and put a +piece of ice in one of them. Soon the colonel and Marjorie came to help, +the cloth was laid, the sandwiches, chickens, pies and cakes, placed +upon it, and everything got in readiness for the home-coming of the +punt. "O Aunty," said Marjorie, "this would be so lovely, if only poor +Eugene were here too." + +"So it would, dear," answered the sympathetic aunt and mother, "but we +must try to make the best of it without him." + +The kettle boiled under Mr. Terry's superintendence, the tea was infused +in the little Japanese tea-pot, and the colonel, taking from his +waistcoat pocket a silver whistle that had done duty for a cavalry +trumpet in former days, blew a signal for the information of the +punters. In a minute they arrived, bearing two grand strings of fish, +only the strings that went through the gills of the bass were hazel +twigs. Then there was washing of hands without soap, Mr. Bigglethorpe +showing his companions how to improvise a substitute for Pears' by +pulling up the pretty little water-lobelia and using the unctuous clay +about its spreading roots for the purpose. All sat about the +table-cloth, Mr. Perrowne said, "For what we are about to receive," and +the _al fresco_ repast began. Mrs. Carmichael dispensed the tea, and was +displeased with Mr. Errol for declining a cup just then, because he was +busy with a corkscrew and an ale bottle. Mr. Perrowne joined him with +another; but the fisherman said ale made him bilious and his name was +not William. So Mr. Terry produced his special charge, and treated the +colonel first, then Mr. Bigglethorpe, and finally his honoured self. The +boys, as the matron had termed the two clergymen, seemed to be happy +with their beer, somewhat to his sorrow. "It takes moighty little, +cornel, to shatishfy some payple, but there's aall the more av it for +the risht av us." + +Miss Halbert said that Basil had eaten ten sandwiches, two plates of +chicken, and an extra drumstick in his hand, a whole pie, and she +couldn't count the cake. There were also some empty beer bottles at his +feet. He said he was perfectly ashamed of Fanny's appetite, and would +have to petition the Bishop for an allowance from the mission fund, if +she was going through life at the same rate. + +"If we only had ouah deah boy with us, Cecile, what a pleasuhe it would +be," remarked the colonel in a personal way, that caused even the +stately Miss Du Plessis to blush. + +"Eugene would be better than the whole lot," added Marjorie, with an +injured air, and added: "If some people I know hadn't been pigs, he +would have been here, too." Mrs. Carmichael called her niece to order, +and told the gentlemen they might go away to their pipes and cigars, +while she and the young ladies put away the things. The black bottle +trio adjourned to a shady nook by the shore, and carried three tumblers +and a pail of iced water with them. The bottle revealed its neck from +Mr. Terry's side pocket. The colonel handed his cigar case again to Mr. +Perrowne, who selected a weed, but could not be prevailed upon to fetch +a tumbler. Mr. Errol also declined the latter, having the fear of Mrs. +Carmichael before his eyes, but, withdrawing a short distance in his +brother clergyman's company, he filled the Turk's head, and said he felt +twenty years younger. All sorts of banter and pleasant talk went on +between the smoking gentlemen and the working ladies. Mr. Errol +distinguished himself above his brethren by bringing up water from the +lake and by carrying pailfuls of dishes down to it, for which he +received great commendation. Mr. Perrowne had his ears boxed twice by +Miss Halbert, it was said, for cheek. Mr. Terry was called upon to +deliver up his sacred charge, but demurred. When the ladies made a raid +upon his party to recover it, he fled, but Marjorie caught him by the +coat-tails, and the spoil was wrested from him, although not before he +had poured himself out a final three fingers in his tumbler. Filling it +up with ice-water, he drank to the success of the picnic, and especially +to absent friends. Mr. Bigglethorpe had been so long fishing in the sun +that he thought a rest would do him good. Accordingly, he lay down on +his back with his hat drawn over his eyes, and composed himself to +sleep. Finally, the clergymen went over to where Mrs. Carmichael was +sitting with Miss Halbert and Marjorie, while Miss Du Plessis, having +had a chat with Miss Carmichael, invited her uncle and the veteran to +go for a row in the skiff. At first, these gentlemen were disposed to +decline, but, when they learned that there was something to be seen, +they changed their minds, and accompanied her and Miss Carmichael to the +shore. + +The colonel was entranced with the little lake, the clearing, and the +chalet, as were Miss Carmichael and Mr. Terry. It was decided that a +guard, in the form of a caretaker, should be put over the place as soon +as possible, and it was suggested that Timotheus and Tryphena would make +an ideal pair of guardians. While much of the land round about might be +cleared to advantage, it was agreed that the wood around Tillycot lake +should be left intact, save the breadth of a road to the main highway. +Then they fell to discussing Rawdon, a man plainly of extensive reading, +of scientific attainments, of taste in architecture and +house-furnishing, and yet an utterly unprincipled and unscrupulous +villain. "One would think," said Miss Carmichael, "that the natural +beauties of a place like this would be a check upon evil passions and +the baser part of one's nature." But the colonel answered, "In the +wahah, Miss Cahmichael, I have seen soldiehs, even owah own soldiehs, +wilfully and maliciously destyoying the most chahming spots of scenehy, +without the least pohfit to themselves or matehial injuhy to the enemy. +The love of destyuction is natuhal to ouah fallen human natuhe." Mr. +Terry corroborated this statement, and added, "Faix, it sames to me +there's jist two sarts an koinds av payple in the wurruld, thim as +builds up an' thim as batthers down. For moy paart, I'd lafer build a +log shanty an' clane a bit land nor pull a palish to paces." Miss Du +Plessis assented, but drew attention to the fact that Rawdon had +cleared, built up, and beautified the place, and improved his mind on +the one hand, while he was warring against society and law, robbing and +even murdering, on the other. "Mr. Errol said once," rejoined Miss +Carmichael, "that there are two opposite natures, an old man and a new, +in all human beings, as well as in those who are converted, and that no +contradiction of the kind is too absurd for human nature." "Mistah Ehhol +is quite right, my deah Miss Mahjohie, as all expehience attests. Bret +Hahte has shewn it from a Califohnian standpoint. I have seen it in +times of wanah and of peace, bad men, the bent of whose lives was +destyuction, risking evehything to save some little memohial of a dead +motheh or of a sweetheaht, and good men, the regular couhse of whose +cahheah was to do good, guilty of an occasional outbuhst of vandalism." + +"Thrue fer yez, cornel, ivery bit. There was a little whipper-snapper av +a Shunday Shcool shuperintindent out in a lake, about a hundrid moiles +frum the city, wid some dacent lads; and, afore they knowed where they +was, the cratur had sit a foine grane oisland a foire for the fun, he +sid, av sayin' the blaze. Oi'd loike to have had the shuperintindin' av +him fer foive minutes." + +The explorers were making their way back to the skiff when the colonel, +who had gone back for his handkerchief which he had dropped, said: +"There is a pehson coming down towahds the house, a woman appahently." +Miss Du Plessis looked up the hill, and saw who it was. "It is Matilda +Nagle," she said; "see, she is going back again." At once Miss +Carmichael ran up the hill after the retreating figure, and, as she was +a good runner, and the poor wanderer was tired, she soon overtook her. +Taking both her hands in her own, and kissing the woman, she said: "Come +with us, Matilda, and we will drive you home." The half-witted creature +responded to the caress, and allowed herself to be led to the boat. "I +lost my way," she said. "It is a new road I had never been on before, +and I got turned round and came back here three times, and I am very +tired." The colonel and Mr. Terry made her enter the boat before them, +and then Miss Du Plessis and the veteran rowed the party back to the +picnic ground, Miss Carmichael, at her friend's suggestion, removing the +landmark put up by her mother as they passed out of the channel. At once +Matilda was taken to the shady retreat where Mrs. Carmichael and Miss +Halbert were, and all the ladies waited upon her with what was left of +the eatables and drinkables, in spite of Mr. Perrowne's appetite. Then, +Mr. Terry and Mr. Bigglethorpe went after the horses, and harnessed them +to the waggon. The fisherman came back to summon the party and help to +carry the baskets. Mr. Errol and Mr. Perrowne agreed to row the punt +back to the Richards, and walk the rest of the way, as the addition of +Matilda to the company would make riding uncomfortable if they did +otherwise. The picnickers were safely seated, the baskets and the +strings of fish stowed away, and the Colonel again took the reins for +his party of nine. The two clergymen returned to the scow and paddled +home, singing songs, one of which Mr. Perrowne gave in genuine cockney +style to a Primitive Methodist hymn tune + + "Oh we was rich and 'appy once, + And we paid all we was due, + But we've sold our bed to buhy some bread, + And we hain't, got nowt to do; + We're all the way from Manchesteher. + And we hain't got nowt to do. + + "Oh him as hoppresses the pooer man + Is a livin on humin' lives, + An I will be sarved in tohother land + Like Lazarius and Dives, + And will be sarved in tohother land + Like Lazarius and Dives." + +Mr. Errol applauded the song, but thought it was hardly right to put a +hymn tune to it. He said he "minded an auld Scotch song aboot the +barrin' o' the door." So he sang:-- + + "It fell aboot the Martimas time, + And a gay time it was then O, + When our gude wife got puddins to mak', + And she biled them in the pan O. + The barrin' o' oor door weel, weel, weel. + And the barrin' o' oor door, weel." + +Thus, lightening the journey, they arrived at the last lake, said +how-d'ye-do to the Richards, and tramped home. "How are you feeling now, +Mr. Errol?" asked his comrade. "Man, it's just as I tellt ye, I'm +renewin' my youth." + +It was just about six when the pedestrians arrived at Bridesdale. Mr. +Newberry had been there, anxious about his charge, and had joyfully +hailed her appearance in the waggon. Mr. Bigglethorpe insisted on going +home; so, after a whispered consultation with Miss Halbert, Mr. Perrowne +offered him the doctor's carriage, if he would call in and tell Dr. +Halbert that his daughter and all the Bridesdale people were safe, which +he agreed to do. The colonel and Miss Du Plessis were up with the dear +boy, whose name and virtues Miss Carmichael could hardly hear mentioned +with civility. Marjorie fairly wept over the leave-taking of Mr. +Biggles, but commanded herself sufficiently to beg that he would not +christen that baby Woollens, Cottons or Piscopalian. He said +emphatically that he would not, and then departed, taking home a string +of bass to propitiate Mrs. Bigglethorpe. The tea party, spite of Miss Du +Plessis' marvellous story of Tillycot, was very slow. The newly engaged +couple were full of each other. Mrs. Du Plessis, her daughter and the +colonel had Wilkinson on the brain, Mrs. Carmichael and the minister +were self-sufficient, and Mr. Terry was discoorsin' to his daughter, +Honoria. The only free person for Miss Carmichael was the Squire, and +happily she sat at his left. + +"Marjorie, lassie," said Uncle John, "you're no lookin' weel." + +"That's not very complimentary, uncle; but I am quite well." + +"Yon block o' a Lamb has been wearin' ye, I'm thinkin'." + +"Not at all, uncle; his gifts and graces are not adequate to that." + +"Did Coristine tell ye o' that adverteesment in the Barrie paper?" + +"Yes." + +"Did he say he had dune onything aboot it?" + +"Yes, he said he had written to the Edinburgh lawyer and to other people +about it." + +"That was unco gude o' the lad, Marjorie." + +"Yes, it was very kind." + +"What garred the laddie gang awa before the time, lassie?" + +"How should I know, uncle?" + +"Wha sud ken were it no you, Marjorie, my pet?" + +"I am not in Mr. Coristine's confidence." + +"I'se warrant ye, Marjorie, he's just bitin's nails to the quick at yon +Mrs. Swamp's that's he no here the nicht." + +"Oh nonsense, uncle, why should he be so foolish? If he wanted to stay, +there was no one to hinder him." + +"Weel, weel, lassie, we'll hear frae him sometime aboot yon neist o' kin +business. Aiblins, ye'll be a braw leddy wi' a gran' fortune yet, and +turn up your bonnie bit nose at puir lawyer chappies." + +"I don't want to turn up my nose at Mr. Coristine, uncle. I think it +was very splendid of him to fight for you as he did; but I knew nothing +about that when he said good-bye, and I wouldn't shake hands with him." + +The Squire put up his hand and stroked his niece's hair. "Puir lassie!" +he said, "it's a gran' peety, but ye're no feelin' half as bad as he is +the noo, gin I ken the lad, and I think I dae." + +It was ten when Mr. Bangs brought home the colonel's horse, and Rufus +rattled the missing waggon and team into the stable yard. The latter +joyfully saluted his sisters, shook hands with Timotheus, and +courteously responded to the greeting of Maguffin. Mr. Bangs, declining +any solid refreshment, entered the office, where, besides the Squire, +Mr. Errol and the veteran were established. The picnic ladies were tired +and had gone to rest, and the colonel was relating the events of the day +to the wakeful dominie. Mr. Bangs gave his company an account of the +safe lodgment of Rawdon and Davis, and mentioned incidentally that he +had seen Mr. Coristine alight from the train at Toronto and go up town. +He also cautioned the Squire against divulging the secret of the exhumed +box of money, if he wished to save it for Matilda Nagle. + +"Squire," he said, "I don't went to elerm you, bet I'm efreid there's +gowing to be more trebble to-night; I saw thet tevern-keeper from +Peskiwenchow, Devis' brether, et the stetion this merning, with sem of +the fellows we fought et the Enkempment. They're not in Kellingwood now, +end yeng Hill tells me he saw strenge men kemming this way in the +efternoon. I towld yeng Hill to bring his gen, and I brought my mounted +petrol kerbine." + +"This is terribly vexatious, Mr. Bangs, just as we thought all our +troubles were over." + +"It is, bet I think it will be their lest ettempt, a final effort to get +meney and revenge. We must wound es many ef them es we ken, end ellow +the survivors to kerry off the dead end wounded. Thet will be the end of +it. I met Toner, end he tells me old Newcome is ep and eway. Toner kent +come, for Newcome hes threatened to bern down his house." + +A gentle rap at the door interrupted the conversation. The Squire went +to open it, and saw his niece in night attire, with a pale, scared +face, hardly able to speak. "What is the matter, Marjorie?" + +"There's a man in Mr. Coristine's room, either in the cupboard-wardrobe +or under the bed," she answered, and slipped quietly upstairs to her own +apartment. + +Quickly the information was imparted, and the detective at once took +command. + +"Mr. Terry, I know you are a good shot. Tek my kerbine which is loaded, +and wetch the windows of Mr. Coristine's room outside. Give Mr. Errol a +pistol, Squire, and kem on. Ah, Mr. Perrowne, we went you, sir; bring +that lemp end follow us." + +All obeyed, and slipped up stairs with as little noise as possible. Mr. +Bangs opened the door and listened. Intuitively, he knew that Miss +Carmichael was right; somebody was in that room. Whispering to Mr. Errol +to guard the door, and to the Squire to stand by the wardrobe, he took +the lamp from Mr. Perrowne and flashed it under and over the bed. There +was nobody there. In a moment, however, the wardrobe door burst open, +the Squire was overturned, the light kicked over and extinguished, and +Mr. Errol pushed aside, when three feminine voices called: "Help, +quick!" and, tumbling over one another into the hall, the clever lookers +for burglars found their man in the grasp of three picturesque figures +in dressing gowns. They were at once relieved of their capture, and many +anxious enquiries were made as to whether they had received any injuries +from the felonious intruder. It appeared that they had not received any +of importance, and that Miss Carmichael was the first to arrest the +flight of the robber. + +The household was aroused. The colonel came down with his pistols. +Timotheus, Rufus and Maguffin awaited orders, so he ordered them to arm, +and posted them as sentries, relieving Mr. Terry from his watch on the +windows. Then the examination of the prisoner began. He was the youth +who had driven the buckboard over for the doctor on the eventful Monday +morning. His name was Rawdon, but he was not the son of Altamont Rawdon. +His father's name was Reginald, who was Altamont's brother. + +"Where is your fether?" asked Mr. Bangs. + +"I dunno," he answered, sulkily. + +"Then I ken tell you. He is dead, berned to death by yore precious encle +Eltemont." + +"O my God!" exclaimed the youth; "is that so?" + +"Esk any of these gentlemen, end they will tell you that yore fether end +old Flower were berned to death, end thet a keroner's jury set on their +remains, which are buried." + +"You say as 'ow my huncle Haltamont did that?" + +"Yes, I do, end, whet's more, you know it." + +Having terrorized his victim, and antagonized him to Rawdon, the +detective drew from him the information that five men, three of Rawdon's +old employees, the tavern-keeper Matt, and Newcome, were coming at +midnight to burglarize the house and get possession of the dug-up +treasure. He confessed that he had slipped into the house while the +party was away picnicking, and, knowing that Coristine had left without +his knapsack, had looked round till he found a room with knapsacks in +it. There he intended to remain till his confederates should require his +services to open the house to them. + +"Who towld you thet awful lie ebout Rawdon's meney being in this house?" + +"Matt knew. Uncle Monty guv it 'im by signs, I guess. Oh, he's O.K., he +is." + +"Well, sir, yore a prisoner here, end if things don't turn out es you +sey, I'll blow yore brains out." + +"For goodness sake don't be aisty, mister. I've told you the 'ole truth, +I swear." + +Mr. Bangs next found out that the robbers were coming in a waggon, which +would halt some distance to the left of the house, and that their plan +was to set one man at the end of the hall to hinder communication with +the servants' quarters, and two on the upper landing to command the +front and back stairs, while the remaining burglars ransacked the office +and any other rooms in which plunder might be found. The youth's +appointed mission was to fire the house, when the search was completed. +Hardly had this information been received when Maguffin's challenge was +heard, and a well-known voice in military accents replied "A friend." +The colonel went out, and brought in Corporal Rigby, panting for want of +breath. + +"You've been running, Rigby," said the astonished Squire. + +"Duty required it, sir," replied the constable, saluting; "I have come +at the double, with trailed arms, all the way from Squire Halbert's. +This is his rifle I am carrying. The enemy is on the move, sir, in +waggon transport." "You are jest in time, kenstable," remarked Mr. +Bangs. "Miss Kermichael and the ether ledies hev jest keptured an +impertent prisoner. Hev you yore hendkeffs?" + +"I have, sir, and everything else the law requires." Mr. Terry handed a +glass to the breathless constable, who bowed his respects to the company +generally, smacked his lips as a public token of satisfaction, and +proceeded to handcuff and search his prisoner. Several blasting +cartridges with long fuses, and other incendiary material, were the +results of the last operation. + +"If I had my way with him, sergeant-major," the constable remarked, +while taking his man under the veteran's command, to the stable, "I +would borrow an old chair from the back kitchen, not the front, +sergeant-major, tie him to it, and set off all these cattridges under +him. He would not go to heaven, sergeant-major, but they would help him +a bit in that direction. The man that would cattridge a house with +ladies in it should be made a targate out of, sergeant-major." + +"Poor, deluded crathur!" replied Mr. Terry, "it's but a shlip av a bhoy, +it is, wid a burnt up father, that's been shet on to mischief by thim as +knows betther. Kape him toight, Corporal Rigby, but be tindher wid the +benoighted gossoon." Mr. Bangs ordered all lights out, save one in the +thoroughly darkened office, and another in the closet back in the hall, +which had no window. He called in the three sentries, ordered the +constable to maintain silence in the stable, and slipped out to +reconnoitre. The colonel, the Squire and Maguffin prepared their pistols +for the first volley on the housebreakers. The clergymen, with Timotheus +and Rufus, got their guns in order for the second. It was almost on the +stroke of midnight when the detective slipped in and closed the door +after him. "They are here," he whispered; "wait for me to ect! Now, not +another word." Silent, as if themselves conspirators, the eight men +crouched in the darkened hall, listening to steps on the soft grass of +the lawn. There was the low growl of a dog, a short bark, and then a +muttered oath, a thud, and a groan that was not human. Poor Basil +Perrowne ground his teeth, for he had heard the last gasp of the +faithful Muggins. A hand was on the outside knob of the door. Mr. Bangs +turned the key and drew back the catch of the lock, when two men thrust +themselves in. "Ware's the lights, you blarsted fool?" one of the +ruffians asked. The detective drew back, and the others with him, till +all five had entered. Then Mr. Perrowne threw open the office door, and +Timotheus that of the linen closet. In the sudden light cast on the +scene the pistol men fired and the burglars tumbled back, two hanging on +to three. "Don't shoot," cried Mr. Bangs to the gunners, "but kem on, +fellow them up." After the fugitives they went, not too quickly, +although the bereaved parson was longing for a shot at the murderer of +Muggins. The burglars were on the road, and the waggon, driven by a +woman, was coming to meet them. "Now then," said the detective, as a +couple of revolver shots whizzed past him, "give the scoundrels thet +velley, before there's any denger of hitting the woman." The four guns +were emptied with terrible effect, for the woman had to descend in order +to get her load of villainy on. The detective gave but one minute for +that purpose, and then ordered a pursuit; but the waggon had turned, +and, spite of screams and oaths that made hideous the night air, the +woman drove furiously, all unconscious, apparently, that her course +betrayed itself by a trail of human blood. "Nen ere killed outright," +remarked Mr. Bangs, "bet I downt believe a single mether's sen of them +escaped without a good big merk of recognition." + +"Do you think we have seen the last of them, Bangs?" asked the Squire. + +"Certainly! This wes a lest desperate effort of a broken-up geng." + +"I wonder who that woman can have been," said Mr. Errol. "I know most of +the people about here by sight." + +"She's a very clever yeng woman," Mr. Bangs answered, evasively. + +"It'll no be Newcome's daughter?" half asked the Squire. + +The detective drew Mr. Carruthers aside, and said: "It wes to hev been +Serlizer, bet she wouldn't gow, even if Ben hed ellowed her; bet a nice +gel from wey beck, a cousin of Ben's, whom he had never seen before, end +who hed just called on Mrs. Towner in the efternoon, offered to take her +place. Her neme is Rebecca Towner, a very nice young person." + +"Losh me, Bangs, you're an awfu' man! What deevilment is this ye've been +at?" + +"I didn't went you to shoot Rebecca Towner, because, next to pore Nesh, +she is our best female personater, end her name, when she takes off +these clowthes, is Cherley Verley." + +"So, you brocht thae villains here by deputy?" + +"Yes; they hed to kem, you know, bet I didn't know anything ebout thet +boy end their plans, except in a general way. Rebecca woun't leave the +pore fellows till they're pretty sick." + +Bridesdale was lit up again, for nobody cared to go to bed. The ladies +came down to see that the belligerents were safe, and Miss Carmichael +and her brave companions received the meed of praise and thanks their +splendid services deserved. Sorry for the injuries of the would-be +robbers, and perhaps murderers, the Squire was nevertheless relieved in +mind by the success of the night's work. In his satisfaction he entered +the kitchen, and ordered late supper for his allies in that quarter. +Then he summoned Constable Rigby from the stable, bidding him bring his +prisoner with him, and give him something to eat. The constable declined +to sit in a prisoner's presence in an unofficial capacity, but had no +objection to feeding him. When, therefore, the young intruder had eaten +his supper, his gaoler standing by, he was reconducted to the separate +stable, handcuffed, chained, and locked in, the key being deposited in +the constable's pocket. Then, and only then, did Mr. Rigby unbend, and, +after supper, indulge with his five companions, male and female, in the +improving geographical game of cards. The dining room bell occasionally +called Tryphosa away, when, as a matter of course, Timotheus played for +her. The colonel, with a cigar in his lips, and a substitute for fine +old Bourbon in his hand, went up-stairs to enlighten his dear boy as to +the doings of the night, and, especially as to dear Cecile's magnificent +courage. The dominie was terribly concerned about that lady's +single-handed contest with the desperate robber, and would not be +satisfied until she came in person to let him know she was not hurt in +the least, that Marjorie deserved all the credit of the capture, and +that the unhappy youth had seemed so taken aback by the character of his +hall assailants as to be almost incapable of resistance. The colonel +smoked, and sipped, and smiled incredulously, as much as to say, You may +believe this young person if you like, my dear boy, but there is +somebody who knows better, and can make allowance for a young lady's +charming self-depreciation. Mrs. Carruthers, grateful for the safety of +her husband and her father, and Mrs. Carmichael, for that of her brother +and Mr. Errol, were prepared to be hospitable to a degree. The minister +had another opportunity of praising the toddy which the latter lady +brewed, and Mr. Perrowne said: "It isn't half bad, you know, but I +down't know what Miss Crimmage's Band of Howpe would think of it, if she +knew the two temperance champions were imbibing at three o'clock in the +morning." The minister remarked that he didn't care for all the +Crimmages in the world, nor the Crummages either, whatever he meant by +that, for there was no such name in the neighbourhood. "Basil," said +Miss Halbert, "you had better take care. I shall not allow you any +toddy, remember, but shall subscribe for the Montreal _Weekly Witness_". +Mr. Perrowne put a little out of the decanter into his tumbler, with a +practised air very unlike that of a Band of Hope patron, saying: +"Drowned the miller, Fanny! Must take time by the forelock, if you are +going to carry out your threats. But I think I'll drop you, and ask Mrs. +Carmichael to have compassion on me. She wouldn't deprive a poor man of +his toddy, would you now, Mrs. Carmichael?" + +"Mrs. Carmichael," said Mr. Errol, answering for that lady, "would hae +mair sense," which shut the parson effectually out of conversation in +that quarter. + +Miss Carmichael listened to the conversation, and beheld the minister +renewing his youth. She heard Mr. Bangs entertain her uncle with +stories about a certain Charley Varley, and Mr. Terry say to Mrs Du +Plessis, "Whin I was in Sout Ameriky wid the cornel, God save him." She +saw her friend Fanny exciting the lighter vein in the affianced +Perrowne, and knew that Cecile was upstairs, the light of the dominie's +eyes. There was a blank in the company, so she retired to the room in +which she had found the burglar, and looked at the knapsacks there. She +knew his; would it be wrong to look inside? She would not touch Mr. +Wilkinson's for wealth untold. If he had not wanted his knapsack opened, +he should not have left it behind him. But it was open; not a strap was +buckled over it. The strap press was there, and a little prayer-book, +and a pocket volume of Browning, some cartridges and tobacco, and an +empty flask, and a pair of socks and some collars. What was that? A +sheet of paper that must have fallen out of Browning. It had fluttered +to the floor, whence she picked it up, and it was poetry; perhaps the +much-talked-of poem on the Grinstun man. No, it was another, and this +was how it ran, as she read it, and hot and cold shivers ran alternately +down her neck:-- + + The while my lonely watch I keep, + Dear heart that wak'st though senses sleep + To thee my heart turns gratefully. + All it can give to thee is given. + From all besides, its heartstrings riven. + Could ne'er be reft more fatefully. + + For thou art all in all to me, + My life, my love, my Marjorie, + Dow'ring each day increasingly + With wealth of thy dear self. I swear + I'll love thee false, I'll love thee fair. + World without end, unceasingly. + +"O, Eugene, Eugene," she sobbed to herself, "why would you go away, when +everybody wanted you, and I most of all?" Then she put the things back +into the knapsack, all but the sheet of paper, which she carried away, +and thrust into the bosom of her dress, as she saw Miss Du Plessis +approaching. In common with the other ladies of the house, they retired +to their rooms and to bed, leaving the gentlemen to tell stories and +smoke, and otherwise prepare themselves for an unsatisfactory breakfast +and a general disinclination for work in the morning. In the back of +the house, geographical studies continued to flourish, the corporal and +Maguffin contending with the ladies for educational honours, now being +lifted up to the seventh heaven of success, and, now, depressed beneath +the load of many adverse books. All the time, a little bird was singing +in Miss Carmichael's sleeping ear, or rather in that which really does +the hearing, certain words like, "My life, my love, my Marjorie," and +then again "I'll love thee false, I'll love thee fair, world without +end, unceasingly." When she awoke in the morning, the girls told her she +had been crying in her sleep, and saying "O Eugene!" which she +indignantly denied, and forbade them to repeat. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + The Glory Departed--The Mail--Coristine's Letters to Miss + Carmichael, Mrs. Carruthers and the Dominie--Sylvanus to + Tryphena--Burying Muggins--A Dull Week--A Letter From Coristine and + Four to Him--Marjorie's Letter and Book--Telegram--Mr. Douglas and + Miss Graves--Reception Parties--The Colonel and Marjorie. + + +After breakfast on Saturday morning, Mr. Bangs departed, riding his own +horse, while Rufus bestrode that of his late friend Nash. As the colonel +had no need for the services of Maguffin, that gentleman drove the +constable and his prisoner in a cart between these two mounted guards. +The clergymen went home to look over their sermons for the morrow, and +to make good resolutions for pastoral duty in the week to come, not that +either of them was disposed to be negligent in the discharge of such +duty, but a week of almost unavoidable arrears had to be overtaken. The +Squire was busy all day looking after his farm hands, and laying out +work to be commenced on Monday morning; and Mr. Terry went the rounds +with him. The colonel's time was spent largely in conversation, divided +between his dear Farquhar and his dearer Teresa. When not engaged in +helping the hostess and her sister in-law in the press of Saturday's +household work, the young ladies were in consultation over the new +engagement, the ring, the day, the bridesmaids, the trousseau, and other +like matters of great importance. Marjorie took her young cousins +botanizing in honour of Eugene, and crawfishing in memory of Mr. +Biggles; then she formed them into a Sunday school class, and instructed +them feelingly in the vanity of human wishes, and the fleeting nature of +all sublunary things. Even Timotheus could not be with Tryphosa as much +as he would have desired, and had to console himself with thoughts of +the morrow, and visions of two people in a ferny hollow singing hymns +out of one hymn-book. The glory seemed to have departed from Bridesdale, +the romance to have gone out of its existence on that humdrum Saturday. +The morning passed in drudgery, the dinner table in prosaic talk, and +the hot afternoon was a weariness of the flesh and spirit. Just about +tea time the mail waggon passed the gate; there was nobody in it for +Bridesdale. When the quiet tea was over, the veteran lit his pipe, and +he and Marjorie went to the post office to enquire for letters, and +invest some of Eugene's parting donations in candy. Half the mail bag +and more was for the Squire, the post-mistress said, and it made a large +bundle, so that she had to tie it up in a huge circus poster, which, +being a very religious woman, she had declined to tack up on the +post-office wall. "Marjorie," whispered Mr. Terry, so that the +post-mistress could not hear, "I wudn't buoy any swates now, for I +belave there's a howll box iv thim in the mail for yeez." Accordingly, +they left without a purchase, to the loss of the candy account at the +store. + +The circus poster and contents were deposited on the office table, and +Mr. Carruthers called big Marjorie to sort the mail. So Miss Carmichael +appeared, and gave him his own letters and papers. There were two from +India for Mr. Terry, that had been forwarded from Toronto, and one from +the same quarter for aunt Honoria. Some United States documents were the +colonel's property, and a hotel envelope, with a Barrie postmark, bore +the name of Miss Tryphena Hill. The bulk of the mail was in one +handwriting, which the Bridesdale post-mistress had seen before. Only +two letters were there, a thick one for aunt Honoria, and one of +ordinary size for Mr Wilkinson, but there were several papers and +magazines for that invalid, and at least half a dozen illustrated papers +and as many magazines or paper-bound books for herself, which she knew +contained material of some kind in which she had expressed an interest. +Then came three large thick packages, one marked "Misses Marjorie, +Susan, and Honoria Carruthers," another "Masters John and Michael +Carruthers," and the third "Miss Marjorie C. Thomas and Co." The young +lady with the Co. laid violent hands upon her own property; but that of +the young Carruthers was given to their mother, along with her letters. +Miss Du Plessis, failing to receive anything of her own, carried the +dominie's spoil to him, and found that some of the magazines, though +sent to his name, were really meant for her, at least dear Farquhar said +so. Mrs. Carruthers opened her Toronto letter and read it over with +amusement. Then she held up an enclosure between forefinger and thumb, +saying, "You see, Marjorie, it is unsealed, so I think I must read it, +or give it to your mother to read first, in case it should not be right +for you to receive it." But Miss Carmichael made a dash at the document, +and bore it off triumphantly to her own room, along with her literary +pabulum. It was dated Friday afternoon, so that he could not have been +long in the city when he wrote it, and ran thus:-- + + _My Dear Miss Carmichael_,--I wish to apologize to you very humbly, + and, through you, but not so humbly, to Mr. Lamb, for any harsh, + and apparently cruel, things I said to or about him. Your aunt, + Mrs. Thomas, whom I met, with the Captain and Sylvanus, on their + way to the schooner, enlightened me regarding Mr. Lamb's history, + of which I was entirely ignorant while at Bridesdale. I should be + sorry to think I had been guilty of wilfully wounding the feelings + of anyone in whom you take the slightest interest, and I trust you + will pardon me for writing that, apart from my natural gratitude + for your patience with me and your kindness to me, a mere stranger, + there is no one in the world I should be more sorry to offend than + yourself. + Believe me, + + My dear Miss Carmichael, + Ever yours faithfully, + EUGENE CORISTINE. + + P.S.--I have taken the liberty of addressing to you some trifles I + thought might interest the kind friends at Bridesdale. E.C. + +The note was satisfactory so far as it went, but there was not enough of +it; no word about the gloves, the ring, the half confession, the +promise, no word about coming back. Still, it was better than nothing. +Eugene could be dignified too; she would let everybody see that letter. + +"I hope you had a nice letter, Marjorie?" asked Mrs. Carruthers. "You +would like, perhaps, to read what Mr. Coristine has to say to me." Her +niece replied that the letter was quite satisfactory, and the ladies +exchanged documents. That of Mrs. Carruthers read:-- + + _Dear Mrs. Carruthers_,--Since I left your hospitable mansion I + have been like a boy that has lost his mother, not to speak of the + rest of the family. I look at myself like the poor newsboy, who was + questioned about his parents and friends, and who, to put an end to + the enquiries, answered: "Say, mister, when you seen me, you seen + all there is on us." Please tell Marjorie Thomas, and your own + little ones, that, perhaps, if I am good and am allowed, I may run + up before the end of next month, to see if the fall flowers are + out, and if they have left any crawfish and shiners in the creek. + Will you kindly give the inclosure to Miss Carmichael, with whom, + through my foolishness, I had an awkward misunderstanding that + still troubles me a good deal. If I had known I was offending her, + I would not have done it for the world. I cannot sufficiently thank + you for your great kindness to my friend Wilkinson and me, nor + shall I soon forget the happiest days of my life in your delightful + home. Please make my sincere apologies to the Squire, and any other + dear friends whom I may have left abruptly, under the peculiar + circumstances of my departure. Remember me gratefully to Mrs. + Carmichael, Mrs. Du Plessis, and the young ladies, and give my love + to all the children. + I am, dear Mrs. Carruthers, + Very sincerely and thankfully yours, + EUGENE CORISTINE. + + P.S.--Please forgive me for sending a few bonbons for the children + by this mail. E.C. + +"That's a very nice gentlemanly letter, Marjorie," said Mrs. Carruthers, +returning it. + +"I like yours better, Aunty; it is not so stiff." + +"Nonsense, you silly girl. I am only 'dear' and you are 'my dear.' He +thinks of me as a mother, and of you as the chief person in the world. I +think you are getting vain and greedy, Marjorie. Well, I must put these +bonbons away, or the children will see them, and will be making +themselves too ill to go to church. Where is cousin Marjorie?" + +"Oh, she is off with her box. Very likely she is giving some to uncle +and grandpa. It's a great pity the Captain is not here; he has a sweet +tooth. Do you know Tryphena has a letter from Sylvanus?" + +"That accounts for her delay with the dishes. What other letters did you +get?" + +"None; only a lot of books, magazines, and illustrated papers from Mr. +Coristine for the family." + +"For the family, Marjorie?" + +"Yes; did you not read the postscript?" + +"To be sure I did; but you know better than to take that +literally,--Marjorie, I think you're deep, deep." + +"Do you think he will come here next month?" + +"I am going to command my niece, Marjorie Carmichael, or to ask +Marjorie's mother, to answer his letter for me, and to insist upon his +coming back as soon as possible." + +The aunt and niece had a kissing match, after which the latter said: +"Thank you, aunt Honoria," and went out of the room, ready for the +congratulations of the Bridesdale world. + +Meanwhile Miss Du Plessis, having laid the dominie's wealth of postal +matter before his eyes, at his request read the solitary letter. + + _My Dear Wilks_,--I hope that, under your excellent corps of nurses + and guardian angels, you are gradually recovering from your + Falstaffian encounter with Ancient Pistol. Don't let Miss Du + Plessis see this or she'll faint. I had a toughish ride to + Collingwood, and part of the way back, the latter at the suggestion + of Hickey Bangs. If I were as plucky for my size as that little + fellow is, I could face a regiment. He got the prisoner safely + caged, which is the proper thing to say about gaol birds. I came + down with him and his select party this morning, meeting Captain + and Mrs. Thomas and The Crew on the way. They wanted me to go on a + cruise. The kindness of the whole Carruthers family is like the + widow's curse; it's inexhaustible. Having been badly sold, however, + over a Lamb, and cheap, too, I was not eligible for more sail. I + write this, Wilks, more in sorrow than in anger, but I do hanker + after those jolly Bridesdale days. Mrs. Marsh received me + cordially, but not in character; she was the reverse of martial.-- + +"Really, Farquhar, this is very terrible," said Miss Du Plessis, +laughing; "I hardly know whether to go on. Who knows what dreadful +things may be before us?" + +"The taste, Cecile, is shocking; otherwise any child might read his +letters." + +"I left off at 'martial.'" + + I went to the office, very unlike the Squire's, and pulled White + _off his_ stool before he knew I was there. He told me I had just + come in the nick of time, for he wants to go to some forsaken + watering place down the Gulf--as Madame Lajeunesse said "Law + baw"--and that immediately. So, I get my two weeks next month, by + which time I hope to have got that next of kin matter straightened + out. Then, if I'm let, I'll go up and have my _golf_ with Mr. Errol + on his links. How are his links matrimonial progressing, and + Perrowne's, not to mention those of Ben Toner, Timotheus, yourself, + and other minor personages? Will you commission me to buy the ring?-- + +"Really, dear, I think I must stop." + +"Please do not, dear; there is not much more, is there?" + +"Not much, but it is so personal!" + + The York Pioneers are having an exhibition of antiques; couldn't + you get somebody to send down our two knapsacks, it seems such an + age since we started them? Ask Miss Du Plessis and Miss Carmichael + what they meant giggling at them at the Brock Street station and on + the train that Tuesday morning.-- + +"Farquhar, did he, did you think it was Marjorie and I who did that, +what he calls giggling?" + +"I certainly never thought you did, and I think it is only his banter." + +"Neither Marjorie nor I could have so disgraced ourselves. Did you not +see the school-girls behind us? I was ashamed of my sex." + +"When you write Corry for me, you must give him a talking to for that." + +"Very well; where was I, oh, yes, 'Tuesday morning.'" + + I send a few lines by post. If there is anything in the world I can + do for you, Wilks, let me know. If my presence can help you at all, + I'll run up at a moment's warning. Love to all at Bridesdale. Sorry + I made an ass of myself running away. Mail closes and must stop. + + Your affectionate friend, + EUGENE CORISTINE. + + P.S.--Tell Errol to keep that pipe as a memorial of a poor deluded + wretch who had hoped one day to call him by the paternal name. + Fancy having the good minister for a step father-in-law! No such + luck, as Toner would say. Adieu E.C. + +"Is she fond of him, Cecile?" + +"Yes, very much so." + +"Is it not a pity, when they think so much of one another, that a mere +trifle should keep them apart, perhaps for ever?" + +"Yes it is, but I am not sorry for Marjorie. Kind heart and all, she +ought to have had more sense and more forbearance than to have openly +preferred that selfish creature, Mr. Lamb, to your warm-hearted friend." + +"Corry is the soul of honour and generosity, Cecile, in spite of his +hideous taste in language." + +"That is a mere eccentricity, and does not affect his sterling +qualities. I shall make it my duty to speak to Marjorie again. Good +night, Farquhar dear!" + +"Good night, Cecile, my darling, my guardian angel, as Corry rightly +says." + +Miss Tryphena Hill was reading Sylvanus' letter in the kitchen, first to +herself. It ran as follows:-- + + _A Board_ THE SUSAN THOMAS + Friday noon. + + _My ever of thee I'm fondly dreaming, Tryphena_,--U sed my spelins + was caple of beterment so I got the tittle out of a song buk in the + cars and wrot it down in the end lefe of the litel testymint you + giv me wile the capen and the nusboy was int lukin on. How duz it + tak yor i. The capen he brung Mrs. T long for a sale. I see Mr. + Corstoene in the cars lukin poekit lik wat is the mater of him. He + wooden cum long on the skuner. Giv my luv to Tryphosa and Timotheus + i can get there names all rite out of the testymint NEW TESTAMENT + Now my ever of thee Tryphena I am orf wunc more on the oshin waive + and the hevin depe and If i never more cum bak but the blew waives + role over yor Silvanus, the TESTAMENT dont spel it with a why, i + left my wil at farthys in the yaler spelin buk on the sheluff nere + the side windy levin all my property to my saley Tryphena. I wud of + kist u of i had dard beefor I leff wen I am more prospuz i wil dar + of I get slaped for it The capen has fyred the blungeybush and i + must go ashore with the dingy and get the tavun boy to get ma a + nenblope out of the orfis + + Yore onley luving afekshunit saler boy + SYLVANUS PILGRIM. + +Just as Tryphena had finished this touching epistle, a knock came to the +kitchen door. She opened it, and Mr. Perrowne appeared. "Is Timotheus +here?" he asked. Timotheus himself answered, "Yaas sir!" when the parson +said, "Would you mind bringing a spaide to help me to bury my poor +dawg?" The willing Pilgrim rose, and went in quest of the implement, +while Mr. Perrowne walked round to the verandah, under which lay the +inanimate form of his long lost canine friend, over which he mourned +sincerely. The Squire and Miss Halbert came out to assist at the +obsequies, and were soon joined by Miss Carmichael and Mr. Terry, all of +whom regretted the loss of poor Muggins, the children's friend. + +"Do you think you will ever see your dog again, Basil?" asked the +doctor's daughter. + +"I down't know," replied the parson. "He was part of the creation that +St. Paul says is growning and waiting for the redemption of the body +from pain and disease and death. It used to be said that man ownly is +naturally and necessarily immortal, but that is rubbish, built up on a +pantheistic idea of Platow. If God continues the life of man beyond this +world, I see no reason why He should not continue that of a dawg which +has shared man's fight here below. There are some such good dawgs, don't +you know, moral, kind, faithful dawgs!" + +"Is it not the poor Indian who thinks his faithful dog shall bear him +company in another world?" asked Miss Carmichael. + +"Yes, it is Low; but really, in the great Sanscrit epic of the Bharatan +war, King Yoodistheer is represented as refusing immortality, unless the +god Indra will let him take his dawg to heaven along with him." + +"And left his wife behind, did he not? He did not even hold her +something better than his dog, a little dearer than his horse." + +"Ow, now, I think Draupadee died before him. Still, it is a strange fact +though that some people do love animals better than human beings." + +"D'ye ken why?" asked the Squire, with a glance at his niece. "It's +because they're no as exacting and fashious as beass." + +"Well, there's a lesson for you, Fanny. Good-night. I must gow to my +sermon and the hymns." So Mr. Perrowne departed, and the mourners +returned to the house. + +On Sunday it rained; nevertheless all went to their respective churches, +except the Carruthers children, whom Tryphena kept in order, and the +colonel, who sat with Wilkinson. Both clergymen preached impressively +with reference to the events of the past week, and, at the close of the +services, they both repaired to Bridesdale for dinner. In the afternoon +they rode to their respective stations, but the Squire stayed at home to +teach the children and read to them, while they devoured the contents of +the lawyer's elaborate boxes. Tryphosa and Timotheus had to do their +singing in the kitchen, in which they were joined by Tryphena and +Maguffin. The latter had a very soft rich voice, and made a great +addition to the musical performance. The colonel smoked an after dinner +cigar, and Mr. Terry a pipe, on a dry part of the verandah. The young +ladies overhauled the entire collection of literature sent to Miss +Carmichael and to Wilkinson, and read a good many things that were not +for Sunday. As to the three matrons, it is nobody's business what they +did with their afternoon. Mr. Perrowne came back to his Fanny in the +evening, and Mr. Errol, to have "a crack" with Mrs. Carmichael. Monday +was fair enough to permit of a game of golf between the parsons, with +the colonel and the veteran for spectators. Miss Halbert went home in +the evening, and so, except for the wounded dominie upstairs and the +colonel, things went on in the usual jog-trot way, for Miss Du Plessis +had been at Bridesdale before. Letters and papers came from Coristine to +the bedridden dominie, and another package for Marjorie, before Saturday +night, but none for anybody else, for the reason that Miss Du Plessis +had written him simply at Wilkinson's dictation, and Mrs. Carruthers and +Miss Carmichael had not written at all. In her round of household duties +and the care of a young family, the former had forgotten all about her +letter, and the latter did not know what to say for herself, and did not +feel disposed to humiliate her sense of self-respect by reminding her +aunt of her promise. Another Sunday passed without other incident than +Mr. Errol's visit. Mr. Perrowne spent most of his spare time at the +Halbert's. But, Monday night's post brought an official envelope, +type-written, from the offices of Tylor, Woodruff and White for Miss M. +Carmichael. She opened it, with a feeling of irritation against +somebody, and read the wretched type-writing:-- + + _Dear Madam_,--I have the honour to inform you that I have received + a cable message from Mr. P.R. Mac Smaill, W.S., of Edinburgh, to + the effect, that, as very large interests are involved in the case + which I had the honour to claim on your behalf as next of kin, his + nephew, Mr. Douglas, sailed to-day (Saturday) for Montreal, vested + with full powers to act in concert with your solicitors. As my firm + has no written instructions from you to act in the matter, I am + prepared to hand over the documents and information in my + possession to the solicitors whom you and your guardians may be + pleased to appoint to deal with Mr. Douglas on his arrival. + Awaiting your instructions, I have the honour to remain, + + Dear madam, + Your obedient servant, + EUGENE CORISTINE. + +Nothing but the signature was in his writing; this was terrible, the +worst blow of all. + +She took the letter to uncle John in the office and laid it down before +him. He read it gravely, and then bestowed a kiss of congratulation on +his niece. "I aye kennt your fayther was weel conneckit, Marjorie, but +lairge interests in the cen o' writers to the signet like Mac Smaill +means a graun' fortune, a muckle tocher, lassie. We maun caa' your +mither doon to talk it owre." So Mrs. Carmichael came to join the party. +Her daughter wished to appoint some other firm of lawyers in Toronto, or +else to leave all in the hands of Mac Smaill, but the Squire and Mrs. +Carruthers would not hear of either alternative. They knew Coristine, +and could trust him to work in the matter like one of themselves; so the +young lady's scruples were outwardly silenced, and the Squire was duly +authorized to conduct the correspondence with the lawyer. This he did in +twofold fashion. First he wrote:-- + + EUGENE CORISTINE, ESQ., + Messrs. Tylor, Woodruff and White. + + _Dear Sir_, Although my niece, Marjorie Carmichael, is of legal + age, it is her desire and that of her mother that I, in the + capacity of guardian, should authorize you or your firm, as I + hereby do in her name, to prosecute her claim as the heir of the + late Dr. James Douglas Carmichael, M.P., to the fortune advertised + by P.R. Mac Smaill, W.S., of Edinburgh as falling her late father, + and to conduct all necessary negotiations with Mr. Mac Smaill and + his clients in the case. Kindly notify me at once of your + acceptance of the trust, and make any necessary demands for funds + and documents as they may be required. Yours, + JOHN CARRUTHERS, J.P. + +The other letter was:-- + + _My Dear Coristine_, What do you mean, you scamp, by frightening + the wits out of my poor lassie with that typewritten bit of legal + formality? I have a great mind to issue a warrant for your arrest, + and send Rigby down with it, to bring you before me and Halbert and + Walker. Man, we would put you through better than Osgoode Hall! + But, seriously, we all want you to stick to this next of kin case. + Spare no expense travelling about, especially if your travel is in + this direction. I think you are not judging Marjorie fairly, not + that I would throw my bonnie niece at the head of a prince of the + blood, but I have taken a great liking to you, and I know that you + have more than a great liking for her. So, no more nonsense. + Honoria and Marjorie (Mrs. Carmichael), and all the rest of + Bridesdale, send kind love and say "come back soon." + Yours affectionately, + JOHN CARRUTHERS. + +Mrs. Carruthers also wrote a note that will explain itself:-- + + _Dear Mr. Coristine_,--Please to overlook my long delay in replying + to your kind letter and in thanking you for your goodness to the + children, who miss you very much, I intended to get Marjorie or + her mother to write for me, but in the bustle of housework, + preserving, and so on, forgot, which was not kind of me. Father + desires me to remember him to you, and says he longs for another + smoke and talk. The others have a delicacy in writing, so I am + compelled to do it myself, though a very poor correspondent. John + has told me about Mr. Douglas coming out to see about Marjorie's + fortune. As I suppose he will want to see her and her mother, will + you please bring him up yourself, and arrange to give us a long + visit. Marjorie Thomas says there are many new flowers out, and + that she and my little ones have hardly touched the creek since you + left us. + + With kind regards, + Your very sincere friend, + HONORIA CARRUTHERS. + +Coristine came home jaded on Wednesday evening. The day had been hot, +and in the absence of all the other principals, the work had been heavy. +He had interested himself, also, in lady typewriters since his return, +and had compelled some to take a much-needed holiday. Four unopened +letters from Bridesdale were in his pocket, which he had saved for after +dinner. At that meal, the young men of Mrs. Marsh's grown-up family +rallied him on his lack of appetite and general depression. He had not +made a pun for four days running, a thing unprecedented. Dinner over, he +slipped away to his rooms, lit a pipe, and read the letters, the +contents of two of which, three including the Squire's formal one, are +already known. Another, in a fine clerkly hand, was from Mr. Errol. + + _My Dear Mr. Coristine_,--A thousand thanks for the bonny pipe, + which I fear you must have missed. I shall take great care of it as + a memorial of pleasant, though exciting, days. I wish you were here + to help Perrowne and me at our cricket and golf, and to have a + little chat now and then on practical theology. My ministerial + friend is that infatuated with Miss Halbert (they are engaged, you + know) I can get very little out of him. Mrs. Carmichael sends her + kind regards. Her daughter Marjorie is looking pale and lifeless, I + do trust the dear lassie is not going like her poor father. We all + love to hear her sing, but she has got that Garden of Gethsemane + poem of his set to music. It is very beautiful but far too sad for + her young life. I have been visiting your friend Mr. Wilkinson, + pastorally, and am just delighted with him. He is a man of a very + fine mind and most devout spirit. Miss Cecile and he will suit one + another admirably. Colonel Morton is wearying for your society, and + so is the good old grandfather. If it will not be putting you to + too much trouble, will you ask your bookseller to get me a cheap + Leipsic edition of Augustine's "De Civitate Dei," as I wish to + polish up my patristic Latin, in spite of the trash written in it, + that still defiles our theological teaching. I have been visiting + Matilda Nagle, and even that old reprobate, Newcome, who got a + terrible shaking in his last nefarious adventure. Matilda is doing + remarkably well, and her boy is quite bright and intelligent. Half + a dozen cases of sickness in my two charges have kept me from + writing, especially as one was a case of infection. Haste ye back + to all your warm friends here. + + Yours very faithfully, + HUGH ERROL. + +The last was a stuffy envelope addressed correctly to Mister Eugene +Coristine, in the hand of a domestic, Tryphosa probably, and contained +some half dried flowers, among which a blue Lobelia and a Pentstemon +were recognizable, along with a scrap of a letter in large irregular +characters. + + _Derest Eugene_--Wat makes you stay sew long a way. This is meter + as Pol sed to Petre put on the gridel and take of the heter. A lot + more flours are out in bloome like the ones I send with my love so + dear fete have been in the creke sints you went a way I think that + pig is sory she made you go now the chilren granpa sed to me to + rite you to come back for a smok. Dere mister Bigls has gone too + and no nice one is left give my love to Tyler and say he must let + you go for the house is sew quite their is no more fun in it. Feena + got a funy leter from old Sil with moste orfle speling the pusy is + well but pore Mug in ded. It was verry good of you to send me + candes but I like to have you beter Your litel love + MARJORIE. + +The lawyer put this letter reverently away in a special drawer which +contained his peculiar treasures, but registered a vow to reprove his +little love for applying the word pig to a young lady. He did not know +whether to be glad or sorry that Miss Carmichael's case was left in his +hands. Of course he could not refuse it. If this man Douglas had to go +up to Bridesdale, he supposed he would have to introduce him, and watch +him on behalf of his client. A great heiress, perhaps with a title for +all he knew, would be very unlikely to take more than a passing interest +in her solicitor. Still, it cut him to the heart that the girl was as +Mr. Errol represented her. Doubtless she was quite right in not +acknowledging his business note in person. Then he laid down his pipe, +put his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands, exclaiming +bitterly, "O Marjorie, Marjorie." + +Before the end of the week, the Squire received answers to his official +and non-official letters, accepting the trust confided to him, and +regretting that Miss Carmichael had given the writer no opportunity of +more fully explaining himself. The non-official letter also stated that +the lady's position was so much changed by the prospect of a large +fortune as to make it little less than dishonourable in him to press his +suit, at least in the meantime. Mrs. Carruthers also received a promise +that the lawyer would, if practicable, accompany Mr. Douglas to +Bridesdale. Mr. Errol reported a nice letter received by him from the +same quarter, along with the "Civitate Dei" and some reviews. Wilkinson +was in clover so far as papers and magazines were concerned, and both +Miss Carmichael and Miss Du Plessis were remembered with appropriate +literary pabulum of the same nature. More bonbons for the juveniles +arrived by Saturday night, and a letter for Marjorie. + + _My Dear Little Love, Marjorie._--It was very kind of you to + remember your poor boy in his exile from home in the big, hot, + dusty city. I liked your dear little letter very much, all except + that one word about you know who. I am sure you did not think, or + you would never have written so of one so good and kind to you and + me. You will not say that any more I am sure. I have put your + letter and the flowers you were so kind as to pick and dry for me + in my best drawer where I keep my treasures. I send you a new + picture book just out, with many coloured plates of flowers in it. + When I come up you must tell me if you know their names. Please + tell your cousins' grandpapa that I would like very much if he were + here, or I were there, that we might have a nice quiet smoke and + talk together. I am sorry poor old Muggins is dead. You did not + tell me what killed him. Tryphena ought to make Sylvanus buy a + spelling book to study while he is on watch in your papa's ship. + Your papa and mamma asked me to go for a sail with them, but I had + to go to town. Now, my little love, be very kind and nice to + everybody, and above all to your dear cousins, big and little, and + when I come up and hear how good you have been, we will fish in the + creek on week days and sing some of those pretty hymns on Sunday. + Do you ever go to see my poor sick friend Wilks? I think he would + like to see a little girl some times. Try him with a bonbon and + with the poetry under the pictures of flowers in your new book. + Give my love to all the kind friends, and keep a great lot for your + dear little self. + + From your own EUGENE. + +"Where is the book?" asked Marjorie, when the letter was read to her by +the lady whom she had written so slightingly of. Miss Carmichael looked +over her own mail matter, and found a large flat volume addressed Miss +Marjorie Carmichael, while the other packages bore simply Miss +Carmichael. She opened it up, and found the book demanded. The lawyer +had been so full of the name that he had written it mechanically, +instead of Miss Marjorie Thomas. Marjorie was not well pleased that her +cousin should have usurped her book, but loyalty to Eugene made her +suppress any expression of indignation. Mr. Terry had to read that +letter through his spectacles, and Tryphosa; and on Sunday she proposed +to invade the sanctity of Mr. Wilks' chamber and interest him in both +letter and book. + +The Sunday came and went, and then the slow week dragged along. Whoever +would have thought that, a short time ago, they had been so cheerful, so +merry, even with danger threatening and death at their door. The dominie +was out of his room at last, walking about with his arm in a sling, +rejoicing in changes of raiment which Coristine had sent from his +boarding house by express and the mail waggon. The city clothes suited +him better than his pedestrian suit, and made him the fashionable man of +the neighbourhood. In conversation over his friend, he remarked that he +was pleased to find Corry toning down, writing quiet sensible letters, +without a single odious pun. "Puir laddie!" said the Squire, "if it wad +mak him blither, I could stan' a haill foolscap sheet o' them. I'm feard +the city's no' agreein' wi' him." Before noon on Friday there came a +hard rider to the Bridesdale gate, a special telegraph messenger from +Collingwood, with a telegram for Mrs. Carruthers. She took it hastily +from Timotheus, and, breaking the seal, read to the group gathered about +her: "If agreeable, Douglas and I will be with you by Saturday's stage. +Please answer by bearer. Eugene Coristine." The Squire, home a little +sooner than usual, said: "Let me answer that, Honoria," and retired to +his office. When he came out, it was with a written paper in his hand, +which he read for approval. "You and Douglas heartily welcome--will meet +you at station, so do not disappoint." This was accepted by a unanimous +vote; after which the messenger partook of a hasty meal, as did his +horse, and then galloped back to town. "The waggonette will hold six," +said the Squire; "that's Coristine, Mr. Douglas and me. Who are the +other three? Will you no come, Marjorie? The ride'll dae ye guid, lass." + +No, Miss Carmichael declined, and the Squire was inwardly wroth. Mrs. +Carmichael took the place offered to her daughter, and Marjorie Thomas +and Mr. Terry volunteered to make up the required number. It seemed +such a long time till Saturday morning, but Marjorie tried to shorten +it, by running everywhere and telling everybody that Eugene was coming. +The whole house caught the infection. Tryphena and Tryphosa were kept +busy, preparing already for a late six o'clock dinner on the morrow. +There was a putting of rooms in order for the coming guests, during +which Miss Carmichael, conscience stricken, returned the lawyer's verses +to the leaves of Browning. She dreaded meeting the author of them, and +found comfort in the fact that he was not coming alone. If she had not +been, in her own estimation, such a coward, she would have gone on a +visit to Fanny, but she dared not thus offend her uncle and aunt, and +desert her mother and Cecile. What was he coming for? She had not sent +for him. Why did she not want him to come? She did not know, and it was +the right of nobody to question her on the subject. She only knew that +she was very unhappy, and hoped she would not act stupidly before the +stranger from Edinburgh. + +That night the Squire received a letter from Coristine, written on +Thursday, saying that Mr. Douglas had arrived, and was a very fine +fellow; and that, as soon as he had made up his mind to go to +Bridesdale, a telegram would be sent. He also requested Mr. Carruthers, +if it was not trespassing too far upon his kindness, to secure the +rooms, which the postmistress had told him she had to let, for Miss +Graves, a young lady in his firm's offices, who needed complete rest and +change of scene, and who would either go up by the stage on Saturday or +accompany Mr. Douglas and him at a later date. The letter was read at +the tea table, and Miss Du Plessis said she knew Marion Graves very +well, and was glad to think she would be so near, as she was a lovely +girl; but what a strange thing for Mr. Coristine to recommend her to +come to Flanders! "Oi'm thinkin'," remarked Mr. Terry, "that av the +young lady in dilikit loike, it 'ud be a marcy to kape her aff that +rough stage; so, iv yer willin', Squoire, I'll shtay at home an' lave my +place to put the poor lady in inshtid av me." Mrs. Carruthers would not +hear of the veteran's losing the drive, and resigned her seat. Honoria +would probably want her at any rate, so it was very foolish and selfish +in her to have thought of going. "There maun be some one o' the female +persuasion, as good old Newberry calls it, to invite Miss Graves and to +keep her company, especially if she's an invalid," said the Squire. "I +will go, uncle," said Miss Carmichael, quietly. The uncle was amazed at +this new turn things were taking, and arranged in his mind to have Miss +Graves and Mr. Douglas with him in the front seat, and Coristine between +the two Marjories behind. After tea, Timotheus and Maguffin were sent to +invite Miss Halbert and the two clergymen to the Saturday evening +dinner, but, by Mrs. Carruthers' directions, the postmistress was not +notified that her rooms were wanted. If Miss Graves were all that Cecile +said of her, she had remarked, she would be better at Bridesdale, and +would also be an acceptable addition to the number of their guests. + +Saturday morning was a time of wild excitement for Marjorie. She went to +the brook by anticipation, to look at the sportive fish, and turned up a +flat stone or two, to be sure the crawfish, which the ignorant Timotheus +called crabs, were still there. She was prepared to report favourably on +the creek. Then she journeyed along the banks, looking for new flowers, +and over the stepping stones to the opposite shore, and up the hill to +the strip of brush, returning with a handful of showy wild blossoms. +Next, she visited the stable yard, and watched Timotheus and Maguffin +polishing up the waggonette and the harness of the horses. The colonel +was there, and, in answer to Marjorie's enquiry regarding his interest +in the scene, said: "You are not going to leave me behind, you little +puss, although you did not invite me. I have invited myself, and am +going to accompany you on hohseback." + +"Are you going to take Guff too, colonel?" + +"Who is Guff, my deah?" + +"Don't you know Guff?" + +"No; I am not awahe that I do." + + "Oh Guffee am de niggah + Wif de tah on his heel; + He done trabble roun' so libely + Dat he's wuff a mighty deal." + +"You do not shuhly mean Maguffin?" + +"Of course I do; who else could be Guff?" + +"No, I shall not take Maguffin, seeing we come right back. Had we been +going to put up anywheah, of couhse, he would have been indispensable." + +"What a funny name! Do you mean the waggonette?" + +"By what, Mahjohie?" + +"By this fencepail?" + +"Silly child, I did not say that. I said indispensable, which means, +cannot be done without." + +"Oh!" answered Marjorie; "it's a long word, is it?" + +There was no necessity for starting before ten, at which hour Timotheus +brought round the waggonette, and Maguffin the colonel's horse. The +Squire assisted the two Marjories to the front seat, and took his place +beside the younger. The colonel chivalrously bowed to the ladies while +on foot; then, he mounted his horse with a bound, and the transport and +escort trotted away. Mr. Terry, alone and neglected, betook himself to +the Carruthers children, who soon found many uses to which a +good-natured grandfather could be put, to the advantage and pleasure of +his grandchildren. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + The Collingwood Arrivals--Coristine Goes to the Post Office--Mr. + Perrowne is Funny--Bang's Note and the Lawyer's Fall--Coristine in + Hospital--Miss Carmichael Relents--Bangs on the Hunt--The + Barber--Mr. Rigby on Wounds--Berry-Picking with the New + Arrivals--The Lawyer's Crisis--Matilda's--Miss Carmichael in + Charge. + + +The train had just come in when Squire Carruthers' party arrived at the +station, so nicely had he timed his driving. As there was nobody to hold +the horses, he kept his seat, while Coristine, looking faultlessly neat +in his town dress, came forward and assisted Miss Carmichael and +Marjorie to alight. Having asked the former's permission, the lawyer +introduced Miss Graves, a young lady not unlike Miss Du Plessis in +stature and carriage, but with larger, though handsome, features and +lighter complexion. Then, Mr. Douglas, a fine-looking blonde man of +masculine Scottish type, was made acquainted with his fair client, and +with her nominal guardian on the box. Finally, the colonel, standing by +his horse's head, bowed with genial dignity to the new arrivals, and +warmly pressed the hand of his dear boy's friend. The Squire's little +scheme was frustrated. His niece, without asking advice or permission +from anybody, placed Miss Graves beside the driver, and established +herself on the same seat, leaving Marjorie between the two gentlemen on +the one behind, after they had bestowed their valises and Miss Graves' +portmanteau in their rear. Beyond a ceremonious handshake, Miss +Carmichael gave Coristine no recognition, although she could not have +failed to perceive his delight at once more meeting her. To Miss Graves, +however, she was all that could be desired, cheerful, even animated, and +full of pleasant conversation. Marjorie kept her Eugene and the new +gentleman busy. She reported on the creek, and presented her faded +bouquet of wild flowers, which Eugene received with all the semblance of +lively satisfaction. She made many enquiries regarding the big girl in +front, and insisted especially on knowing if she was nice. Then she +turned to Mr. Douglas and asked his name. + +"My name is Douglas," he answered. + +"Oh, I know that, even Timotheus himself knows that. I mean what's your +real name, your very own, the name your mamma calls you?" + +"She used to call me James." + +"Oh; have you got a brother called John?" + +"Yes; how did you know that?" + +"Oh, I know. Then your papa's name is Zebedee, and your mamma's is +Salome." + +"No, we are not those two James and Johns; they are dead." + +"They are the only James and John I know." + +"I don't think so. Your uncle, Dr. Carmichael, was called James Douglas, +like me." + +"Marjorie's dead papa?" + +"Yes; your cousin is a sort of far-away cousin of mine; so you must be +one of my cousins, too. What do you think of that?" + +"I think it's nice to have a growed-up man cousin. I'll call you Jim." + +"Marjorie!" said a reproving voice from the front seat; "you must not +talk to Mr. Douglas in that pert way." + +"If my cousin lets me call him Jim, it's none of your business, cousin +Marjorie. You will let me, won't you, cousin Jim?" + +"To be sure, if Miss Carmichael will allow me." + +"I don't think it's fair to let her boss the whole show." + +Mr. Douglas laughed loud and long over this expression, so novel to his +British ears. + +"Where did you learn that, Marjorie?" asked Coristine. + +"Oh, from Guff; there's heaps of fun in Guff." + +Her companions occasionally took advantage of silent intervals to +discuss the scenery, and the Canadian lawyer pointed out spots, +memorable in the great pedestrian tour, to his Scottish compeer. Miss +Carmichael never turned, nor did she give Miss Graves a chance to do so; +but the Squire managed to sit sideways, without at all incommoding the +ladies, and, keeping one eye on his horses, at the same time engaged in +conversation with Marjorie's captives. The colonel also kept close to +the vehicle, and furnished Coristine with new information concerning his +wounded friend. Miss Graves was informed that she was not to be allowed +to go to the post office, and her protests were imperiously silenced by +Marjorie's "boss of the whole show." The horses, having come out +quietly, went home at a rattling pace, and, a good hour before dinner +time, the party arrived at Bridesdale, there to be greeted by Miss +Halbert and the parsons, in addition to the occupants of the house. +Wilkinson and Mr. Terry received Coristine with enthusiasm, but all the +ladies bore down upon the latest arrival of their sex and carried her +away, leaving the man, in whom they had expressed so much interest, to +feel as if there were a plot on foot to ignore him. + +"It mast be very pleasant for you, Corry, to find all the ladies so +attentive to your lady friend," remarked the Dominie. + +"Very pleasant for Miss Graves, no doubt; I can't say the same about +myself." + +"I should have thought you would have regarded a compliment to her as +more gratifying than one to yourself." + +"Haven't reached that heavenly stage of Christian self-abnegation yet, +Wilks." + +"Perhaps I am mistaken in supposing you take a great interest in the +lady?" + +"Interest, yes; great, more than doubtful. She's the third girl I've had +to send away for the good of her health. The other two knew where to go, +and went. She didn't; so I thought of establishing her at the post +office. I never dreamt the Squire would come for us till I got his +message. I meant to accompany her in the stage, and land her in the arms +of Mrs. Tibbs; but here we are, like a bridal party, with Marjorie for +bridesmaid and Douglas for best man." + +"Thank you, Corry; you have relieved me from a great anxiety. Miss Du +Plessis thinks very highly of your ---- travelling companion." + +"Douglas, do you mean?" + +"No, the lady." + +"Oh, bother the lady! Wilks, it's a doubly grave situation. If it wasn't +for Mr. Terry and Marjorie, I'd cut my stick. As it is, I'll run and +engage that post-office room for myself, and be back in time for dinner +or whatever else is up. Au revoir." With a bound he was off the +verandah, valise in hand, and away on to the road. + +When Coristine returned, he was just in time for dinner. He had not been +missed; the entire interest of the feminine part of the community was +centred in Miss Graves. The Squire took her in, as the latest lady +arrival, while Mr. Douglas escorted the hostess. To his infinite +annoyance, Coristine, who had brought in Mrs. Du Plessis, was +ostentatiously set down by the side of his invalided type-writer, to +whom he was the next thing to uncivil. Miss Carmichael, between Mr. +Douglas and Mr. Errol, was more than usually animated and +conversational, to the worthy minister's great delight. The amusing man +of the table was Mr. Perrowne. His people were building him a house, +which Miss Halbert and he had inspected in the morning, with a view to +the addition of many cupboards, which the lady deemed indispensable to +proper housekeeping. Mr. Perrowne thought he would call the place +Cubbyholes; but Miss Du Plessis asked what it would really be, the +rectory, the vicarage or the parsonage? Miss Halbert suggested the +basilica, to which he replied that, while a good Catholic, he was +neither Fannytic nor a Franciscan. He derided his intended bride's taste +in architecture, and maintained that the income of a bishop would be +insufficient to stock half the storerooms and wardrobes, leaving all the +rest of the house unfurnished. As it was, he feared that the charming +Fanny would be in the predicament of old Mother Hubbard, while he, +unfortunately, would be in that of the dog. "In that case, Basil," said +Miss Halbert, "you would be like an inclined plane." + +"How so?" enquired Mr. Perrowne. + +"An inclined plane is a slope up, you know," answered the mischievous +bride elect. + +"Talking about dawgs," remarked the victim of the terrible conundrum, "I +asked a little girl belonging to one of my parishoners what kind her +dawg was. She said it had been given to her as a spanuel, but she +thought it was only a currier." + +"When I was at the school," said the Edinburgh gentleman, "a boy whom I +had offended some way, offered to make the like of me with a street cur +and an old gun. He said he could make 'one dowg less' in the time it +took to fire the gun." + +"What did you do to that boy, Mr. Douglas?" asked Miss Carmichael. + +"I left him alone, for he was a good deal bigger than me." + +"You were not a Boanerges then?" + +"No, I was James the Less." + +"What are you dreaming about, Mr. Coristine," called the Squire, "to let +all this wild talk go on without a word?" + +"I am sorry to say I did not hear it, Squire," replied the moody lawyer, +whose little conversation had been wholly devoted to Mrs. Du Plessis. + +After dinner, the lawyer repaired to the Squire's office, and briefly +informed him, that the fortune in funds and property to which his niece +had fallen heir was valued at 80,000 pounds sterling, and that, +fortunately, there was no sign of any contest or opposition in the +matter. He also explained that, under the circumstances, he felt +constrained to take a brief lodging at the post office, and begged Mr. +Carruthers to apologize to his wife for the desertion of Bridesdale. +Then, he sought out Mr Terry in the garden and smoked a pipe with him, +while his new friend, Mr. Douglas, was chatting on the verandah between +Miss Carmichael and Miss Graves. Nobody else seemed to want him or care +for him; he had even lost his old friend Wilks, who was absorbed in his +beloved Cecile. The colonel was as bad with Cecile's mother, and Mr. +Errol with Mrs. Carmichael. The Squire was busy, so the veteran and he +were left alone. For a time, they smoked and talked, listening all the +while, as they could not fail, to the merry badinage of the party on the +verandah. At last he could stand it no longer. He rose, bade his +companion good-night, and strolled away on to the road. Once out of +observation from the house, he walked rapidly to his new quarters. "Is +that you, Styles?" asked Mrs. Tibbs, as he entered. He assured the +postmistress that he was not Styles, and asked if there was anything he +could do for her. "There is a letter here for Squire Carruthers, marked +'immediate,' and they have not been for their mail," she answered. So, +sorely against the grain, the lawyer had to take the letter and return +with it to Bridesdale. Mr. Carruthers was still in his office. He opened +the envelope and read:-- + + COLLINGWOOD, Saturday, 12 m. + _My Dear Squire,--_ + + Rawdon and his nephew have broken gaol and escaped. Be on your + guard. Will go to you as soon as possible. + + Yours truly, + J. HICKEY BANGS. + +"This is bad news, Coristine. It seems as if we're never to hear the +last o' yon villain." + +"I'm at your service, Squire." + +"I canna thole to ask the colonel, puir man, to lose his nicht's rest, +an' I'm no ower sure o' his man. Sae, the granther an' I'll watch till +it's twal', if you wi' Timotheus 'll relieve us till two i' the mornin'. +What say ye to thon?" + +"All right, I'll be here at midnight. Could you get me the cartridges +out of my knapsack upstairs?" + +The Squire produced the cartridges, and the lawyer went back to his +post-office quarters. + +Punctually at midnight he returned, and relieved Mr. Carruthers in +front of the house, while Timotheus took Mr. Terry's place behind. It +was after one when he saw a figure, which he did not recognize as +belonging to any one in the house, steal out of the front door with a +heavy burden. He ran towards the figure, and it stole, as rapidly as +possible, down the garden to the hill meadow. He knew it now, outlined +against the heavens, and fired his revolver. He knew that he had hit his +man, and that Rawdon was wounded in the body or in the upper part of a +leg. Hurriedly he pursued, entering the strip of woodland towards the +brook, when something fell upon him, and two keen qualms of pain shot +through his breast. Then he lay insensible. Meanwhile, a lithe active +form, leaving a horse tethered at the gate, had sprung to meet a second +intruder, issuing from the front door of Bridesdale. The opposing forces +met, and Mr. Bangs had his hands upon the younger gaol breaker. A loud +shout brought Timotheus on the scene, and the prisoner was secured. The +household was aroused. The Squire found his office a scene of confusion, +his safe broken open, the hidden treasure and many of his papers gone. +Inwardly he muttered maledictions on the sentry of the watch, little +knowing that the burglars had entered the house while he was himself on +guard. In his vexation, and the general excitement, with the presence of +Miss Graves and Messrs. Douglas and Bangs, the unhappy lawyer's absence +was overlooked. His shot apparently had not been heard. The vicinity of +the house was scoured for Rawdon, but without effect. He had got away +with his own money and many incriminating papers, to be a continued +source of annoyance and danger. Those who gave any thought to Coristine +imagined him asleep at the post office, and wondered at his +indifference. Chief among them were the dominie and Miss Carmichael. +There was little more rest that night in Bridesdale. One villain at +large was sufficient to keep the whole company in a state of +uncomfortable disquiet and apprehension. It was still dark, when old +Styles came to the gate and asked for Mr. Coristine, as he said the +crazy woman was at the post office, and Mrs. Tibbs wanted to know if she +could have the use of the spare room for the rest of the night. Then the +Squire was alarmed, and a great revulsion of feeling took place. The +man almost entirely ignored was now in everybody's mind, his name on all +lips but those which had been more to him than all the rest. + +Stable lanterns were got out, and an active search began. Mr. Terry's +practiced ear caught the sound of voices down the hillside, and he +descended rapidly towards them. Soon, he came running back, tearing at +his long iron grey hair, and the tears streaming from his eyes, to the +place where his son-in law was standing. "Get a shate or a quilt or +something, John, till we take it out av that Och, sorra, sorra, the +foine, brave boy!" At once, Mr. Douglas and Timotheus accompanied the +Squire to the little wood, and beheld the owners of the voices, Mr. +Newcome and his intending son-in-law, Ben Toner. + +"Aw niver tetched un, Ben. Aw wor jest goan troo t' bush, when aw +stoombled laike over's carkidge and fall, and got t' blood on ma claws," +said the former to his captor. + +"S'haylp me," replied Ben, "ef I thunk it was you as killed the doctor, +I'd put the barl o' this here gun to your hayd and blow out your +braiuns." + +"Don't let that man go," said the Squire to Toner. + +"Ain't that what I come all this way fer?" answered the lover of +Serlizer. + +The Squire and the veteran, with terrible mental upbraidings, raised the +body from its bed of leaves and wood-mould and placed it reverently upon +the sheet, which it stained with blood at once. Then, while the colonel +held one lantern and Wilkinson the other, Mr. Douglas and Timotheus took +the other corners of the simple ambulance, and bore their burden to the +house. In his own room they laid Rawdon's victim, removed the clothing +from his wounds, washed away the clotted blood, only to despair over the +flow that still continued, and rejoiced in the fact that life was not +altogether extinct, when they handed him over to the care of the three +matrons. While the colonel was sending Maguffin in search of the doctor, +the voice of Squire Halbert was heard in the hall, saying he thought it +must have been Miss Carmichael who had summoned him, at any rate it was +a young lady from Bridesdale. He stanched the bleeding, administered +stimulants, and ordered constant watching. "The body has suffered +terribly," he said, "and has hardly any hold upon the soul, which may +slip away from us at any moment." The good doctor professed his +willingness to stay until the immediate crisis from loss of blood was +overpast. To all enquiries he answered that he had very little hope, but +he sent the kind ladies away from the death-like chamber, and +established himself there with Wilkinson, who would not leave his +friend. + +The light of a beautiful Sunday morning found Miss Du Plessis, Miss +Halbert, and Miss Graves in bitter sorrow, and little Marjorie beside +herself with grief. The very kitchen was full of lamentation; but one +young woman went about, silent and serious indeed, yet tearless. This +was Miss Carmichael. The doctor had come down to breakfast, leaving the +dominie alone with the patient, when she took a tray from Tryphena, and +carried up the morning repast of the watcher. Then, for the first time, +she got a sight of the wounded man, whose eyes the doctor had closed, +and whose jaw by gentle pressure he had brought back, till the lips were +only half parted. She could hardly speak, as she laid a timid hand on +her late principal's shoulder, directing his attention to the breakfast +tray. "Look away, please, for Cecile's sake if not for mine," she +managed to stammer, and, as he turned his head aside, she flung herself +upon her knees beside the bed, and took the apparently dead man's hand +in her own, covered it with tears and kisses, and transferred the ring +she had once worn back to her own hand, replacing it with one of her own +that would hardly slip down over the bloodless emaciated finger. Quietly +she arose, and noiselessly left the room, when the dominie returned to +his watching and administration of stimulants. When she came down +stairs, outwardly calm but looking as if she had seen a ghost, +everybody, who was in the secret of past days, knew, and respected her +silence. Even Mr. Douglas, who had thought to improve his distant +cousinship, read there the vanity of all his hopes, and bestowed a +double share of attention upon Miss Graves, charming in her genuine +sorrow over her considerate employer. Nobody cared to go to church, but +the good Squire pointed out that few could be of any service at home, +and that, if ever they had need of the comforts of religion, it was at +such a time. So Mr. Perrowne and Mr. Errol each received a quota of +grief-stricken worshippers from Bridesdale, and, at the close of their +respective services, mingled heartfelt expressions of sorrow with +theirs. The clergymen declined to intrude upon the saddened household, +until they could be of some service, so the worshippers returned as they +went. + +Mr. Bangs and the doctor were the lights of the dinner table, their +professional acquaintance with all sorts of trouble hindering them from +being overcome by anything of the kind. The former had sent for Mr. +Rigby, and had placed the two prisoners in his charge, thus releasing +Timotheus and Ben Toner. The latter reported that his patient was +restored to animation, but this restoration was accompanied with fear +and delirium, the effects of which on a rapidly enfeebled body he +greatly dreaded. If he could keep down the cerebral excitement, all +might be well, and for this he depended much on the presence with the +sufferer of his friend, Mr. Wilkinson. Just as he said this, the +dominie's voice was heard calling for assistance, and the doctor and the +Squire sprang upstairs. The patient had broken his bandages, and was +sitting up fighting with his attendant, whom in his delirium he +identified with Rawdon. It was almost ludicrous to hear him cry, as he +clutched at Wilkinson's throat: "Ah, Grinstuns, you double-dyed villain, +I've got you now. No more free circus for you, Grinstuns!" With +difficulty the three men got him down, and bandaged him again; but his +struggles were so violent that they feared for his life. He recognized +none of them. Little Marjorie heard his loud shouts, and ran to save her +friend from his murderers, as she thought them to be. The Squire would +have repelled her intrusion angrily, but Doctor Halbert said: "Come, +little girl, and tell your poor friend he must be quiet, if he wants to +live for you and the rest of us." It is hard to say what prompted her, +but she took out a little tear-soaked handkerchief and laid it on +Coristine's shoulder, calling, "Eugene, you silly boy". The silly boy +closed his staring eyes, and then opened them again upon the child. "Is +that you, pet Marjorie?" he asked feebly; and she sobbed out: "Yes, +Eugene dear, it's me; I've come to help you to get well." + +"Thank you, Marjorie; have I been sick long?" + +"No, just a little while; but the doctor says you must be very very +still, and do just what you're told. Will you, Eugene?" + +"Yes; where's your cousin, Marjorie?" + +"Can you turn your head? If you can, put it down, and I'll whisper +something in your very own ear. Now listen! don't say a word till I come +back. I'm going to bring cousin Marjorie to you." Then she slipped away +out of the room. + +"Doctor," said the Squire in a shaky voice, "we had aa better gang awa +oot o' the room till the meetin's owre." So the three men withdrew to +the hall as the two Marjories entered. + +"Eugene," whispered little Marjorie, "have you been good while I was +away, and not spoken?" + +"Not a word, Marjorie," breathed rather than spoke the enfeebled lawyer. + +"I have brought cousin Marjorie to you. You must be very good, and do +all she says. Give me your hand." She took the limp hand, with the ring +on the little finger, and placed it in her cousin's; then, with a +touching little sigh, departed, leaving the two alone. Their hands lay +clasped in one another, but they could not speak. His eyes were upon +her, all the fierce light of delirium out of them, in spite of the fever +that was burning in every limb, resting upon her face in a silly wistful +way, as if he feared the vision was deceptive, or his prize might vanish +at any moment. At last she asked: "Do you know me, Mr. Coristine?" and +he murmured: "How could I help knowing you?" But, in a minute, he +commanded himself, and said: "It is very kind of you to leave your +friends and come to a stupid sick man. It is too much trouble, it is not +right, please go away." + +"Look me straight in the face, Eugene," said Miss Carmichael, with an +effort. "Now, tell me, yes or no, nothing more, mind! Am I to go away?" +As she asked the question, her face bent towards that of the sufferer, +over which there passed a feeble flush, poor insufficient index of the +great joy within, and then, as they met, his half-breathed answer was +"No." She commanded silence, shook up his pillows, bathed his forehead, +and in many ways displayed the stolen ring. He saw it, and, for the +first time, perceived the change on his own hand. Then, she ordered him +to go to sleep, as if he were a child, smoothing his hair and chanting +in a low tone a baby's lullaby, until tired nature, with a heart at +peace, became unconscious of the outer world and slumbered sweetly. On +tiptoe, she stole to the door, and found many waiting in the hall for +news. Proudly, she called the doctor in and showed him his patient, in +his right mind and resting. "Thank God!" said the good man, "he is +saved. We must come and relieve you now, Miss Carmichael." But she +answered: "No, my place is here. If I want assistance I will call my +uncle or Mr. Wilkinson." Doctor Halbert told the joyful news to the +Squire and the assembled company. The clergymen would not arrive till +tea time, so Mr. Carruthers, as the priest of the family, gathered the +household together, and, in simple language but full of heart, thanked +God for the young life preserved. The doctor went away home, but without +Miss Fanny, and, as he drove off, remarked to the Squire, significantly: +"There is no medicine in the world like love," a sentiment with which +the Squire thoroughly agreed. + +The evening was a very pleasant one. Messrs. Errol and Perrowne rejoiced +to hear the good news from the sick room, and Mrs. Carmichael gave the +former to understand, in a vague, yet to his intelligence perfectly +comprehensible, way, that the assurance of her daughter's future +happiness would remove a large obstacle in the way of her becoming the +mistress of the manse. Mr. Perrowne appreciated Dr. Halbert's +consideration in leaving his daughter at Bridesdale. The Du Plessis +quartette were even farther advanced than the Carmichael four; and +consequently Miss Graves was left to the entertainment of Mr. Douglas. +The patient upstairs awoke, feeling very stiff and sore, but quite +rational, and almost too happy to speak, which was a good thing, as his +strength was that of a baby. He had to be lifted and turned, and propped +up and let down, which the Squire generally did for him, under the head +nurse's instructions, received from the doctor. Then he had to be fed, +and begged to have his moustache curtailed, so as to facilitate the +task. Two little hands, a comb, and a pair of scissors went to work, +and, without annihilating the hirsute adornment, so trimmed it as to +reveal a well-curved upper lip, hitherto almost invisible. It is +astonishing what a sense of proprietorship this "barberous operation," +as she termed it, developed in the heiress, who thought more of it than +of her prospective thousands. It was past ten o'clock before she +consented to yield her post to the devoted Wilkinson, who already began +to look upon her as a sister, and to whom she gave directions, with all +the gravity and superior dignity of an experienced nurse. The colonel +would willingly have taken his turn in the sick room, but Mr. Terry, Mr. +Douglas, and the Squire insisted on relieving him. Mr. Bangs was away +with Ben Toner and two guns hunting for the Grinstun man. The watchers +got along very well through the night, with the exception of the +veteran, who was a little too liberal in the application of stimulants, +which led to a reappearance of fever, and necessitated his calling in +the aid of the ever-willing and kindly Honoria. Both the clergymen had +volunteered to sit up with him, whom they were proud to call their +friend, but it was not considered fair to impose upon them after the +labours of their hardest day. + +The morning saw Miss Carmichael in the sick room again, putting things +to rights, purifying and beautifying it, as only a woman can, with the +romantic and tearful, Shakespeare loving Tryphosa in her train. Poor +little neglected Marjorie, who had performed for her young self an art +of heroic sacrifice in handing over her own Eugene to her unworthy +cousin, was allowed, a great and hitherto unheard of reward, to bring +the patient an armful of flowers from the garden, gathering any blossoms +she chose, to fill vases and slender button-hole glasses in every +corner. She was even permitted to kiss Eugene, although she protested +against the removal of that lovely moustache. She offered to bring +Felina to lick off the stubble on her friend's chin, but that friend, in +a wheezy whistling voice, begged that Maguffin might be substituted for +the cat, in case pussy might scratch him. Maguffin came with the +colonel's razors, and Marjorie looked on, while he gave the author of +his present fortunes a clean shave, and made ironical remarks about +moustache trimming. "Guess the man what trimmed yoh mustash fought he +was a bahbah, sah?" The patient smiled seraphically, and whistled in +his throat. "Never want to have a better, Maguffin." + +"It's awful, Guff, isn't it?" asked Miss Thomas, and continued, "it +quite gives me the horrows!" + +"Dey's bahbahs and dey's bahbahs," replied the coloured gentlemen, "and +I doan want ter blame a gennelum as cayn't help hisself." + +The barbering completed, Marjorie junior was dismissed with her ally +Guff, and the senior lady of that name reigned supreme. The eyes of the +feeble invalid, whose heart had been hungering and thirsting for love +during a month that had seemed a lifetime, followed her all over the +room, and almost stopped beating when she went near the door. But she +came back, and held that hot fevered hand on which her modest ring +glistened, and cooled his brow, and made him take his sloppy food, and +answered back in soft but cheery tones his deprecating whispers. She had +him now safe, and would tyrannize over him, she said; till, spite of the +weakness and the sharp pains, his eye began to twinkle with something of +the old happy light that seemed to be of so long ago, and, smilingly, he +murmured: "We are not ready for our graves yet." Miss Carmichael looked +severe, and held up a warning finger. "Repeat that, Eugene, and I will +send her to take care of you at once," she said; "that is, if she will +leave her dear Mr. Douglas for a poor bed-ridden creature like you." As +an affectionate salute followed these words, it may be presumed they +were not so harsh as they sounded. The doctor came in time for +breakfast, but, before partaking of that meal, he visited his patient, +eased his bandages, looked to the wounds, and praised the nurse. "He +could not be doing better," he said, as he cheerfully descended to the +breakfast table. + +The constable had respected the sanctity of the Sabbath, and was still +in the kitchen, while his prisoners languished in the stables. Tryphena +presided over the morning meal, at which Timotheus and Ben sat; and +Tryphosa, who had just descended from her labours in the sick room, was +giving them so touching and poetical an account of the invalid and his +nurses that Timotheus began seriously to consider the propriety of +having some frightful injury inflicted upon his own person. Mr. Toner +related for the tenth time how the spurious doctor had cured him, and +then proceeded to tell of Serlizer's wonderful skill in pulling through +her shot-riddled old reprobate of a father, till "he was eenamost as +good as new and a mighty sight heavier 'n he was, along o' the leaud in +his old carkidge." Constable Rigby laughed at the wounds of the day, and +characterized them as mere scratches, unworthy of mention in casualty +despatches. "There was a man of ours, an acting corporal, called +Brattles, in the melee at Inkerman, who broke the tip of his bagginet +off in one Rooshian, and the butt of it in another. Then he had nothing +to do but to club with what the French call the crosse. He forgot that +he had not emptied his gun of the last charge so, just as he had floored +his fourth Rooshian, the piece went off into his left breast, and the +bullet ran clear down him and came out of his boot under the hollow of +the left foot. Captain Clarkson thought he was done for; but Brattles +asked him for two champagne corks, plugged up the incoming and the +outgoing wounds with them, and stuck to it till the Rooshian bugles +sounded the retreat. That I call a wound to speak of." Tryphena, who had +listened to this story of her elderly admirer with becoming gravity, +ventured to ask: "Do officers carry champagne corks about with them on +the battle-field, Corporal Rigby?" + +"Not all officers, Miss Hill. I never heard that Lord Raglan or Sir +Colin did. But the young fellows, of course. How else could they blacken +each other's faces?" + +"Do they do that?" + +"Regular. There was a subaltern they called Baby Appleby, he was so +white-skinned and light-haired. Well, one night we had to turn out for +an alarm in the dark, and charged two miles up to the rifle pits of the +first line. When we came back, the colonel halted us for inspection +before dismiss. When he came to Mr. Appleby, he turns to his captain and +says: 'Where did you get this nigger in uniform, Ford?' The captain +looked at him and roared, for poor Mr. Appleby was as black as Maguffin. +The gentlemen had amused themselves corking him when he was asleep." + +"Yoh finds it mighty easy, consterble, ter say disrespeckshus remahks on +cullud folks," said the temporary barber, entering at that moment. "Ef +the Lawd made as dahk complected, I specks the Lawd knowed what He was +a doin', and didn't go foh ter set white folks a-sneezin' at 'em. I'se +flissertaten myself ebery day yoh cayn't cohk me inter a white folks." + +"They's whitewaush, Maguffin," interpolated Ben. "A good heavy coaut o' +whitewaush 'ud make a gashly Corkashun of you." + +"Yah! yah! yah! I'se got a brudder as perfesses whitewashin' an' +colourin'. When he's done got a job, he looks moh like the consterble's +brudder nor myuns, yah! yah! yah!" + +The corporal frowned, and went on with his breakfast, while Mr. Maguffin +gave an account of his shaving adventure, and of the sight of that poor +man whose moustache had been trimmed by a non-professional. + +Ben was soon after called by the detective to re-engage in the hunt for +Rawdon, who was now known to be wounded, and, therefore, to be lurking +somewhere in the neighbourhood. Mrs. Carmichael accompanied Mr. Errol on +a visit to Matilda Nagle at the post office. The absence of the minister +made the morning game of golf impossible, so that Mr. Perrowne had to +surrender himself to the care of Miss Halbert, which he did with a fine +grace of cheerful resignation. Mr. Douglas expressed a desire to take a +walk in the surrounding country, and the dominie echoed it, with the +condition that the ladies should share in the excursion. The Squire and +Mrs. Carruthers were busy; the doctor had his patient to look after, and +expected to be summoned to the other at the post office; and Mr. Terry +occupied himself with the children. But Mrs. Du Plessis and her +daughter, Miss Graves, Miss Halbert, and, of course the colonel and Mr. +Perrowne, were willing to be pedestrians, if the proposers of the tramp +promised not to walk too fast. There was a pretty hillside, beyond +Talfourds on the road towards the Beaver River, from which the timber +had once been removed, and which was now covered, but not too thickly, +with young second growth; and thither the party determined to wend their +way. Marjorie had intended to stay at home, in the hope of being allowed +to see Eugene again, but the doctor had begged her to leave him alone +for a day or two, and now the prospect of blackberry and thimbleberry +picking on the hillside was too much for her to resist. Gaining +permission from her aunt, she loaded Jim with baskets and little tin +pails, and led him away to the road between herself and Miss Graves. The +other gentlemen relieved the burdened Edinburghian of portions of his +load, and fell into natural pairs with the ladies, Miss Du Plessis and +Wilkinson bringing up the rear. There was a pleasant lake breeze to +temper the heat of the fine August morning, which gave the dominie +license to quote his favourite poet:-- + + And now I call the pathway by thy name, + And love the fir-grove with a perfect love. + Thither do I withdraw when cloudless suns + Shine hot, or wind blows troublesome and strong. + +Anticipating the thimbleberries, he recited:-- + + Thy luscious fruit the boy well knows, + Wild bramble of the brake. + +Miss Du Plessis liked that sort of thing. It was a blessed relief from +type-written legal business letters. So she responded in the lines of +Lamartine:-- + + Mon coeur a ce reveil du jour que Dieu renvoie, + Vers un ciel qui sourit s'eleve sar sa joie, + Et de ces dons nouveaux rendant grace au Seigneur, + Murmure en s'eveillant son hymne interieur, + Demande un jour de paix, de bonheur, d'innocence, + Un jour qui pese entier dans la sainte balance, + Quand la main qui les pese a ses poids infinis + Retranchera du temps ceux qu'il n'a pas benis! + +By this it will appear that the two were admirably suited to each other, +finding in their companion peculiar excellences they might have vainly +sought among a thousand on Canadian soil. "This is a morning of +unalloyed happiness, Farquhar," remarked Miss Du Plessis in prose, and, +in the same humble style of composition, he answered: "Thank God, +Cecile! Think what it might have been had the worst happened to poor +Corry!" + +"As it is," replied that lady, archly, "the worst has turned out for the +best." + +"As it was with me," the dominie humbly responded, and relapsed into +silence. + +Meanwhile, Marjorie trotted on ahead, and, her eyes, made observant by +former botanical expeditions on a small scale, found the purplish blue +five-flowered Gentian by the open roadside, the tall orange Asclepias +or Butterfly Weed, and the purple and yellow oak leaved Gerardias or +False Foxgloves in grassy stretches among the second growth. These she +bestowed on Jim, who begged to be allowed to present the most perfect +specimens to Miss Graves. The walkers were now on the top of the hill, +and strayed off into the overgrown clearing. A shout from Marjorie +declared that the berries had been reached, and within five minutes the +whole party was engaged in gathering, what Mr. Douglas hailed with +delight as "brammles." Marjorie accused the colonel of picking for his +own mouth, but this was a libel. He picked for Mrs. Du Plessis, whom he +established under the shade of a straggling striped maple of tender +growth. That lady received the tribute of brother Paul very gracefully, +and darkened her lips with the ripe berries, much to the colonel's +amusement and their mutual gratification. Miss Halbert stood over Basil, +and so punished him with a sunshade, whenever he abstracted fruit for +personal consumption, that the man became infatuated and persisted in +his career of wrong doing, till he was deprived of his basket, which he +only received back after an abject apology delivered on his knees, and a +solemn promise to have regard to the general weal. Miss Du Plessis and +the dominie would have done well, had not the worship of nature and +human nature, in prose and in verse, withheld their hands from labour, +and fortunately, as Mr. Perrowne remarked, from picking and stealing. +Mr. Douglas was absorbed in admiration for Miss Graves, who, thinking +nothing of the handsome picture she made, attended strictly to business, +and roused him to emulation in basket filling. Marjorie, with her +oft-replenished tin can, aided them time about impartially, as the only +honest workers worthy of recognition. Steadily, they toiled away, until +the rising sun and shortening shadows, to say nothing of stooped backs +and flushed faces, warned them to cease their labours, and prepare to +take their treasures home. Then they compared baskets, to the exultation +of some and the confusion of others. Miss Graves and Mr. Douglas were +bracketed first with a good six quarts a piece. Miss Halbert came next, +with Mr. Perrowne a little behind. Miss Du Plessis and Mr. Wilkinson had +not six quarts between them; and, when Marjorie saw the colonel's +little pail only half full, she exclaimed: "O horrows!" and said it was +a lasting disgrace. But Mrs. Du Plessis smiled sweetly with her +empurpled lips, and the colonel did not mind the disgrace a particle. +They all went home very merry and full of innocent jocularity. + +"Cecile," said the dominie, "I trust you will excuse the adjective, but +I should dearly love to hear Corry's jolly laugh just now. Poor fellow, +I think I could almost bear a pun." + +The audacious Mr. Perrowne overheard the last words, and, with great +exuberance of feeling, propounded a conundrum. + +"Mr. Wilkinson, why is a pun of our friend Coristine's like your sling? +D'ye give it up? Because there's now arm in it now. Ha! ha!" + +They had only been a few hours away, but, when they returned to +Bridesdale, it did not require clever eyes to see that a great change +had taken place. The people were in the house, even the children, but +they were all very quiet. Neither the doctor nor the Squire was visible, +and instinctively the berry-pickers feared the worst. Mrs. Carruthers +told them that excitement had been too much for the enfeebled patient. +Happily, he was not strong enough to be delirious, but he seemed +sinking, and had fallen into unconsciousness, only muttering little +incoherences in his attenuated voice. Doctor Halbert hoped much from a +strong constitution, but work and worry had reduced its vitality before +the dreadful drain came on the life blood. Soon, he came down stairs +with the Squire, both looking very solemn. "Let me go to my friend, +Doctor," pleaded Wilkinson, and many other offers of service were made, +but the doctor shook his head. "Miss Marjorie is there and will not +leave him," he answered; "and, if she cannot pull him through, nobody +else can. When she wants help, she will summon you." Then, turning to +Mr. Errol, he said: "I will go with you now, and see to that poor woman +at the post office." The minister took the good doctor's arm, and they +went away dinnerless to attend to the wants of Matilda Nagle, suddenly +smitten down with fever while on the way to obey the imperious infelt +summons of the unseen Rawdon. Mr. Newberry was with her, having been +driven over by that strange mixture of humanity, Yankee Pawkins, and +Mrs. Tibbs was acting as the soul of kindness. The woman's case was a +remarkable combination of natural and mesmeric causes, but presented no +reason for serious apprehension. The doctor prescribed, and Pawkins +drove off at breakneck speed to get the prescription filled by the +medical student at his dispensary. Then, he and the minister returned to +the sobered and melancholy company at Bridesdale. "Resting, but hardly +breathing," was the bulletin that greeted them, when they enquired after +the solitary battler for life in the upper chamber. Yet he was not +alone; one sad stricken woman's heart was bound to that poor shadow of +former vital wealth forever. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + Matilda Free--The Constable Captured--The Thunderstorm--Rawdon + Found--The Lawyer Revives--Inquest--Mr. Pawkins + Again--Expeditions--Greek--Committee of the Whole--Miss Graves and + Mr. Douglas--Weddings--The Colonel, Wilkinson and Perrowne + Off--Arrival of Saul--Errol, Douglas and Coristine + Wedded--Festivities in Hall and Kitchen--Europe--Home--Two + Knapsacks--Envoi. + + +That was a dreary Monday afternoon inside Bridesdale, in spite of the +beautiful weather without, for the shadow of death fell heavy and black +on every heart. Those who had shared in the morning's merriment felt as +if they had been guilty of sacrilege. Even Mr. Rigby exhibited his share +in the general concern by being more than usually harsh towards his +prisoners. About four o'clock there was an incident that made a little +break in the monotony of waiting for the death warrant. Old Styles +arrived, to say that the crazy woman was no longer crazy. Half an hour +before she sat up in bed and cried "Free at last!" and since then, +though the fever was still on her, her mind was quite clear. Doctor +Halbert took a note of the time, and wondered what the sudden and +beneficial change meant. Mrs. Carmichael and Mr. Errol sympathized with +him, rejoicing for the poor woman's sake. The detective and Ben Toner +came home, very tired and disgusted with their want of success. When +night came, the dominie again offered to stay with his friend, and, in +his anxiety, even forced himself into the sick room. Miss Carmichael was +very pale, but very quiet and resolute. "He is your dear friend, I +know," she said, calmly, "but he belongs to me as he does not to anybody +else in the world. I may not have him long, so please don't grudge me +the comfort of watching." Wilkinson had to go away, more pained at heart +for the sad eyed watcher awaiting the impending blow than for the +unconscious friend on whom it was to fall more mercifully. Mr. Bangs +took charge of the outside guard that night, in which the clergymen had +volunteered to serve. Mr. Rigby took a grey blanket out to the stables, +and lay down near his prisoners, with baton and pistol close at hand. +About eleven o'clock Ben Toner, on guard before the house, saw a female +figure approaching, and challenged. "Squit yer sojer foolins, Ben, and +leave me pass," came from the well known voice of Serlizer. "Is the gals +up in the kitchen?" + +"They is," replied Mr. Toner, humbly and laconically; and his ladylove +proceeded thitherward. Miss Newcome looked in upon Tryphena, Tryphosa, +and Timotheus, Mr. Maguffin being asleep, and, after a little +conversation, guessed she'd go and see Ben. She had found out that the +constable had two prisoners in charge, quite incidentally, and listened +to the news as something that did not concern her. Instead of going to +see Ben, however, she visited the stables. The corporal was evidently +tired of lying in front of his captives, and probably proposed to +himself an improving game of geography over a mug of cider in the +kitchen, for he had risen and unlocked the door. Serlizer stood by it +with a stout handkerchief in her hand, in the middle of which was +knotted a somewhat soft and unsavoury potato. As Mr. Rigby slipped out, +after a glance at his shackled charges, that potato went across his +month, and was fastened in its place by the handkerchief, firmly, though +quickly, knotted at the back of his neck. The terror of Russians and +Sepoys struggled for liberty, but he was a child in the arms of the +encampment cook. Halters, ropes, and chains of many kinds were hanging +up, and with some of these the Amazon secured her prisoner in a stall. +Then she searched him, retaliating upon the constable the indignities he +had practised on his former victims. Handcuff and padlock keys were +found in his pockets, and with these she silently freed her venerable +father, who, in his turn, delivered young Rawdon from his bonds. "Now, +you two," said the rescuer, quietly, "go round the end of the stables, +cross the road into the bush beyont, and leg out fast as ye can. I'm +a-goin' ter foller, and, ef I see ye take a step 'campment way, I'll +have ye both hung, sure pop." Mr. Newcome gave the prostrate constable +two parting kicks in the ribs, and obeyed orders, while his affectionate +daughter followed, until she saw the fugitives safely on the homeward +road. Then she strayed back to the kitchen, and guessed, seeing Ben was +all safe, she'd go home, as the night was fine. She put in half an +hour's irrelevant talk with Mr. Toner after this, and, thereafter, left +him, suggesting, as she departed, that, when his watch was over, he +might look into the stables, where the horses seemed to be restless. + +Simple-hearted Ben informed Mr. Bangs that he had heard noises in the +stables, which was not true. Proceeding thither with a lantern he found +only one prisoner, who, on examination, proved to be the constable. He +had attacked the unsavoury potato with his teeth as far as the tightness +of his gag allowed, and was now able to make an audible groan, which +sounded slushy through the moist vegetable medium. When released, he was +speechless with indignation, disappointment, and shame. Ben flashed the +lantern on the handkerchief, and recognized it as the property of a +young woman of his acquaintance, whereupon he registered an inward vow +to throw off a Newcome and take on a Sullivan. Bridget was better +looking than Serlizer anyway, and wasn't so powerful headstrong like. +Mr. Bangs came to see the disconsolate corporal, and Mr. Terry sought in +vain to comfort him. The detective was not sorry, save for the +possibility of the fugitives effecting a junction with Rawdon, who would +thus be at the head of a gang again. Otherwise, Newcome was not at all +likely to leave the country, and could be had any time, if wanted. As +for the unhappy lad, he had suffered enough, and if there were any +chance of his amending his company, Mr. Bangs was not the man to put +stumbling blocks in his way. But the demented constable, having +recovered his baton, began searching. He explored the stables, the +lofts, the coach-house, the sheds, examined every manger, and thrust a +pitchfork into every truss of hay and heap of straw. He came outside and +scrutinized the angle of every fence, poked every bush, peered under +verandahs, and, according to the untruthful and unsympathetic Timotheus, +rammed twigs down woodchucks' holes for fear the jail breakers had taken +refuge in the bowels of the earth. Ben and Maguffin brought him in by +force, lest in his despair he should do himself an injury, and sat him +down in an easy chair with the wished-for cider mug before him. He had +sense enough left to attach himself to the mug, and draw comfort from +its depths. Then he murmured: "Thomas Rigby, eighteen years in service, +promoted corporal for valour before the enemy, Crimean and Indian medals +and clasps, captured by a female young woman, bound and imprisoned by +the same, Attention! no, as you were!" Addressing Mr. Terry he +continued: "Sergeant Major, that woman, unless I find her, will bring my +grey hairs with sorrow to the grave." + +"Come, come, now, corporal dear! shure it isn't the firsht toime a foine +lukin' owld sowljer has been captivated boy the ladies. Honoria's +blissed mother, rist her sowl in heaven, tuk me prishner wid a luk av +her broight black eyes, an', iv she wor livin', she cud do it agin." + +With the morning came a thunderstorm, altogether unexpected, for +Monday's north-western breeze had promised fine and cooler weather. But +the south wind had conquered for a time, and now the two blasts were +contending in the clouds above and on the waters of the distant great +lake below. The rain fell in torrents, like hail upon the shingled roof; +the blue-forked lightning flashed viciously, followed instantaneously by +peals of thunder that rattled every casement, and made the dishes dance +on the breakfast table. The doctor had been with his patient; and as the +clergymen were about to conduct family worship, he whispered to them +that the soul might slip away during the terrors of the storm, as he had +often seen before. It was a very solemn and awful time. In vain Mrs. +Carmichael, aided by the other ladies, sought to make her daughter rest +or even partake of food. How could she? The storm outside was nothing to +that which raged in her own breast, calm as was her outward demeanour. +Marjorie crouched on the mat outside the bed-room door, and quietly +sobbed herself to sleep amid the crash of the elements. But, when +another sad dinner was over, the colonel and Mr. Terry bethought them of +asking the detective if he knew of the inner lake on the shore of which +Tillycot stood. He did not, but saw the importance of searching there. +As the last of the rain had ceased, he proposed to explore it, but told +the Squire, with whom he communicated, that the skiff his informants had +mentioned was not at the place where first found, or anywhere on that +lake. Therefore Mr. Perrowne and Mr. Douglas proposed to go with Ben +Toner to get the Richards' scow, and meet Mr. Bangs with the colonel and +Mr. Terry at the encampment. The two parties armed and drove away. One +of the Richards boys, namely Bill, joined the three watermen, and +together they propelled the punt to the extent of a punt's travelling +capacity; but it was between four and five when the explorers of +Tillycot, leaving Ben, Timotheus and Richards on the shore, entered with +difficulty through the veiled channel, into the beautiful hidden lake. +They saw the skiff on the shore near the house, and soon perceived the +numerous blood stains in it. They ran up the bank, entered the chalet, +and, at last, in the library, beheld him whom they sought, extended upon +the floor. He had died by his own hand, his fingers being still upon the +pistol whose bullet had pierced his brain. Mr. Bangs seized a scrap of +writing lying on the table, which ran thus:-- + +"Curse you, Tilly, for leaving me to die like a rat in a hole. I have +stood the pains of hell for thirty-eight hours, and can't stand them any +longer. They shan't take me alive. Box and that hound Carruthers' papers +are covered with brush and leaves under the last birch in the bush, +where I finished that meddlesome fool of a lawyer. You know why you +ought to give a lot to Regy's boy. It's all over. Curse the lot of you. +Here goes, but mind you kill that damnable Squire, or I'll come when I'm +dead and torture the life out of you." + +No compassion could follow the reading of this document. There was +nothing of legal importance in the chalet, so Mr. Bangs, aided by Mr. +Terry and Mr. Douglas, carried the dead man to the punt, and the party +in it and in the skiff returned to the Encampment lake. Richards, Ben +Toner, and Timotheus carried the body up the hill to the waggon on the +masked road. Then they returned to the scow, while Mr. Bangs drove to +the post office annex, with the colonel and Mr. Terry, Mr. Perrowne and +Mr. Douglas. Ben Toner and Timotheus arrived in the other waggon, soon +after the ghastly burden had been deposited in the unfinished hall, and +were left in charge, while the others went home to inform the Squire and +the doctor. Having done this, the detective took the former to the +little wood, and, after a little searching, found the concealed box, +which held the incriminating papers as well as the original treasure. +But for Coristine's fatal shot, these would have been carried away. On +their return, Doctor Halbert said, after consulting Mr. Bang's paper: +"He took his life the very hour Matilda exclaimed 'Free at last.' The +neighbourhood and the whole country may breathe more freely now that he +is gone. Your poor friend upstairs, John, has not died in vain." + +"But he's not dead, Halbert!" almost sobbed the Squire. + +"Not yet," replied the doctor, gravely. + +Coristine had survived the thunderstorm and the finding of Rawdon's +remains; and, now that all sympathy in the latter was forfeited, many a +one would gladly have gone to the sinking man who fired the shot to tell +him, in his own vernacular, that Grinstuns had ceased from troubling. +But few dared intrude upon the stillness of his chamber, from the door +of which Marjorie had to be carried bodily away. The villain dead, the +treasure and papers recovered, Matilda Nagle in her right mind, +confidence was restored in Bridesdale, and only one absorbing thought +filled all minds. Yet, while the colonel shared his cigar case with Mr. +Douglas, and Mr. Terry smoked his dudeen, Mr. Bangs wrote to Toronto an +account of the escaped prisoner's death, Miss Du Plessis resigned her +type writership to Messrs. Tylor, Woodruff, and White, Mr. Wilkinson +sent in to the Board of School Trustees his resignation of the +Sacheverell Street School, and the Squire, on behalf of his niece, +signified that her position in the same was vacant, and informed the +legal firm of the serious illness of their junior partner. The clergymen +returned to their lodgings and their duties, and the constable, having +no living criminal to watch over, relieved Timotheus and Ben Toner of +their care of the dead. Maguffin had summoned Messrs. Newberry, Pawkins, +and Johnson for the coroner's jury in the morning, and no excitement was +left at Bridesdale. When night came, all retired to rest, except the one +watcher by the bedside of despair. Early in the morning, when the sun +began to shine upon the night dews and peep through the casements, a tap +came to the dominie's door. He was awake, he had not even undressed, +and, therefore, answered it at once. He knew the pale figure in the +dressing gown. "Put on your pedestrian suit," she said with eagerness, +"and bring your knapsack with you as quickly as possible." He put it on, +although the arms of coat and shirt were ripped up for former surgical +reasons, and he objected to the blood marks on the sleeves. Then he took +up his knapsack, and went hastily to the sick room. His friend was lying +on his side, and looking very deathly, but he was speaking, and a wan +smile flitted over his lips. "Two knapsacks," he murmured, and, "Dear +old Wilks," and, "rum start." Miss Carmichael said: "Put yours here on +the table above his, where he can see them," and he obeyed. "Now, stand +beside them, and say 'Corry,' gently." The dominie could hardly do it +for a queer choking in his throat, but at last he succeeded in +pronouncing the abbreviation in an interrogative tone. "Wilks," wheezed +the sick man, "O Wilks, she called them pads!" and his eyes rested on +the knapsacks. "Stay with him," the nurse whispered, "while I call +Fanny." Soon Miss Halbert came, and, walking boldly but quietly up to +the bedside, asked: "Who are you calling she, you naughty boy that want +to leave us all?" With an effort, he answered: "I beg your pardon, Miss +Halbert, but you know you did call them pads." "Well, so they are, you +poor dear," she replied, bending over and kissing the white forehead, +for which it is to be hoped Mr. Perrowne absolved her; "but you must +stay here, for see, I have brought Marjorie to nurse you till you are +fit to carry a knapsack again." Then Miss Carmichael came forward, and +the patient became ceremoniously polite in a wheezing way, and was +ashamed of himself to be ill and give so much trouble; but he allowed +himself to be shaken up and receive his strengthening mixtures, and +behaved like a very feeble rational man with a little, but real, hold on +life. That was the turning point in the lawyer's career; and, when the +doctor descended from seeing him later in the morning, he announced that +the crisis was past, and that, with proper care, the Squire's +prospective nephew would live. Joy reigned once more in Bridesdale, from +Mr. Terry to Marjorie, and from the stately Mrs. Du Plessis to Maguffin +in the kitchen. + +The only thing to mar the pleasure of that day was the inquest, and even +that brought an agreeable surprise. When Matilda Nagle was called, she +refused to acknowledge the name, insisting that she was Matilda Rawdon, +and producing from her pocket a much crumpled marriage certificate, +bearing the signature of a well-known clergyman who had exercised his +sacred office in a town within thirty miles of Toronto. This she had +taken from the library on the occasion of her last visit to Tillycot. +Old Mr. Newberry's face beamed with delight, and that of Mr. Bangs was a +curious study, revealing a mind which had joyfully come to a decision it +had been struggling after in the face of serious difficulties. When the +verdict of suicide was given, the jury dismissed, and he prepared, along +with the constable, to deliver over the body of the escaped prisoner +into the gaoler's hands, he bade Mrs. Rawdon an almost affectionate +goodbye, and made touching enquiries after the welfare of her son Monty. +As an honourable woman, she was received, in spite of her late husband's +character, and her own unconscious crimes, into the Bridesdale circle, +which, however, she soon left in the company of her benevolent host. The +Squire informed her that he had a large sum of money in keeping for her +and her son, and that Miss Du Plessis would either send her all the +furniture of Tillycot, when she was prepared to receive it, or take it +from her at an equitable valuation, to either alternative of which she +strongly objectd. Before Mr. Rigby finished his midday meal, without +which it was impossible that he, at his age, could travel, Mr. Pawkins +twisted the British lion's tail several times, to which the corporal +replied sadly: "Had I still been in the British army, sir, I should have +been degraded for losing prisoners committed to my guard, but any man +who allows himself to speak as you do, sir, of what you are too ignorant +to judge of, is degraded already." The cautious Yankee was equally +unsuccessful with Ben, who met him with: "Don't give me no more lip +about Serlizer and old man Newcome, but jist you tell 'em I've waushed +the bilin' of 'em clear off'n my hands fer a gayul as Serlizer ain't a +patch on." Then Mr. Pawkins amused himself asking Tryphosa if it was +Maguffin or Timotheus was her young man, giving as his private opinion +that the nigger was the smarter man of the two. When Tryphena playfully +ordered him out of the house, he expressed intense sorrow for Sylvanus' +future, but was glad to hear he was getting a present rest, paddling his +mud barge round the Simcoe pond. Mr. Pawkins was offensively personal, +but kept the table lively, and parted with them, regretting that, having +left his catechism at home, he was unable to favour his dear children +with a little much-needed religious instruction. The door was slammed +behind him, and Mr. Rigby remarked with animation: "Very properly done, +Miss Hill, a very timely rebuke of unpardonable American insolence!" + +When evening came, the Squire and Mrs. Carmichael mastered courage, and +took Coristine's pale-faced nurse away from him with gentle force, the +mother taking the daughter's place for a time. After this, Miss +Carmichael was allowed no night duty, Wilkinson and the Squire, the +clergymen, Mr. Terry, and Mr. Douglas attending to it in turns, while +all the ladies, in the same way, relieved her during part of each day. +Very slowly, but silently and patiently, the invalid regained his lost +strength. He was grateful, sometimes with a few words of thanks, but +oftener mutely, with a deprecating look, to all who ministered to his +comfort. One day Marjorie was allowed in, and, among other wise remarks, +informed her Eugene that "cousin Marjorie wasn't you know what any +more." "My little love," he answered, "she's an angel, and always was"; +Marjorie was not at all sure of this, but did not like to cross a sick +man. During his progress towards health, there were walks and drives, +picnics to Tillycot and the Beaver River, expeditions to town, fishing +expeditions with Mr. Bigglethorpe, for whom the lawyer had brought a +bundle of new flies, which in his anxious state of mind he had forgotten +to deliver, and a four days' trip on the _Susan Thomas_, which pleased +Miss Graves and Mr. Douglas immensely. Only two days were actually spent +on the water, but, as Tryphena was there in the capacity of cook, and a +coloured lady of Maguffin's acquaintance was temporarily engaged for +Mrs. Du Plessis, the crew and the manservant were in the seventh heaven +of delight. Marjorie, of course, was present, and shared the command of +the schooner with her father. She also attached herself a good deal to +Jim, and, although resenting the attentions he bestowed upon the big +girl, carefully abstained from porcine epithets, a result of Eugene's +epistolary instructions. The great Mr. Tylor came up to Bridesdale in +person to see his junior, and was duly informed of the engagement +between him and the heiress, Miss Carmichael, "Ah, Coristine, my dear +fellow, we shall be losing you for the law, now, and, the first thing we +know, you will be in Parliament. If not, I may say White is going out of +the firm, and Woodruff and I had resolved on Tylor, Woodruff and +Coristine for the new style. Your servant, Miss Carmichael! I +congratulate my friend and partner on a friend and prospective partner, +in life as well as law, so infinitely superior, and I trust you will +allow an oldish man to congratulate you on being won by as fine a young +fellow as ever lived." When the good Q.C. left the room, the patient +remarked: "Everybody shows me so much kindness, now, Marjorie, when I +have all I want in yours." + +"Is it kindness, Eugene, only kindness?" + +"No, no, it is love, Marjorie, isn't it, undying love? Would you think +me very foolish if I were to go back for once to Wilks' and my habit of +reciting all sorts of poetry?" + +"I could not stand all sorts, Eugene. There are some that Marjorie +quotes which are simply awful. She says she gets them from Guff." + +"Oh, this isn't that kind. It is Greek, Modern Greek:-- + + O Erot' antherotate, + Glyke kai hilarotate, + Tou kosmou kybernete. + Esen ho nous, to soma mou, + To stethos, kai to stoma mou, + Latreuei kai keryttei." + +"That is very pretty, Eugene, for love in a general kind of way--love in +the aibstrac', as the metaphysical Scotch girl said." + +"What! Marjorie, you know Greek!" + +"Yes; my father taught me to read the Greek Testament, and I have read +some of it with Mr. Errol." + +"Oh, you are a treasure! But I mean your love, and my mind and body, +heart and voice." + +"That will do, you silly boy. Now lie down, and do not excite yourself +any more." But she said in her heart that she did not believe Mr. +Wilkinson could quote Greek, and, if he did, Cecile, she was sure, could +not understand him. + +One evening, by general agreement, a committee of the whole sat in the +office, the Squire in the chair. The chairman jocularly asked the +colonel, as the senior of the meeting, his intentions. "My intentions, +Misteh Chaihman, or ratheh ouah intentions, those of my deah Tehesa and +me, are to be mahhied heah, if you will pehmit, by Misteh Pehhowne, whom +we also wish to unite in holy matymony ouah daughteh Cecile to ouah deah +boy Fahquhah. Also, with yoah pehmission, we will place Timotheus and +Tryphosa, when mahhied, in chahge of Tillycot and Cecile's fahm heah; +and will then jouhney westwahd to the Mississippi, and so southwahd, to +show ouah deah childyen theih futuhe inhehitance, and save Misteh +Wilkinson's ahm the rigouhs of yoah Canadian winteh. That is all, Misteh +Chaihman, three weddings, a meeah tyifle, suh." The colonel laughed, +took a little imaginary Bourbon, and whiffed his cigar, while Mrs. Du +Plessis, her daughter, and the dominie blushed, but also smiled, to +think that explanations had been frankly made and the coast was clear. +"I suppose," said the Squire, "it will be my turn next to explain for +self and freens. The doctor says my nephew that's to be maun tak' a sea +voyage for the guid o's health, and Marjorie, wha sud be here by richts +to speak for hersel', is gaun tae kill twa birds wi' ane stane, tak care +o' her husband, and spier aifter her graun' fortune. But the meenister's +wantin' tae take her mither wi' him; sae the gudewife and me, we're +thinkin' o' sendin' aa the weans tae Susan at Dromore, and makin' a +pairty o't. We canna leave Bridesdale unproteckit, that means Sylvanus +and Tryphena 'll be pit in chairge till we're back, and they gang to +Sylvanus' ain fairm. Ony mair intentions?" Mr. Perrowne sought the +chairman's eye, and addressed him. "Mr. Chairman, unaccustomed as I am +to public speaking (derisive cheers), and unwilling as we are to obtrude +our private affairs upon what Virgil calls the _ignobile vulgus_ (hisses +from Messrs. Errol and Bangs and the doctor), nevertheless, on this +festive occasion, we owvercome our natural modesty and spirit of +self-effacement (more derision) sow far as to remark that Cubbyholes (a +dig from Miss Halbert) will be ready for our occupation in the second +week of September, about which time the Bishop will make a visitation, +including the office of howly matrimony. Meanwhile the bride elect will +look forward with pleasant expectation to those precious tyings of the +nuptial knot, which will enrich her housekeeping account with liberal +marriage fees." Here the parson was compelled to stop, since one of the +indignant Miss Fanny's hands was over his mouth, and the other actively +engaged in boxing his mercenary ears. "Ony mair intentions?" cried the +Squire again, warming to his work. "Pahdon me, Misteh Chaihman, foh +rising a second time, but I am given to undehstand by Madame Du Plessis +that Maguffin, who accompanies us, has matyimonial intentions towahds +her new maid, Sophronia Ann Trelawny Tolliveh; that is all, suh." "I see +Maister Bangs has a word for the chair," said the Squire, when the +colonel ended. The detective, for the first time in his life, looked +uneasy. "I ownly wented to sey, Mr. Chairman, thet, within a year, when +you are all beck frem yore visit, Mrs. Metilda Rawdon hes premised to +bekem Mrs. Bengs. I may also edd thet, frem kenversation with Ben +Towner, I hev learned thet the priest is soon to selemnize his union +with Miss Bridget Sellivan." The company was aghast, and cried out as +one man, "What is to become of Serlizer?" Mr. Bangs responded: "The +yeng weman, Sarah Eliza Newcome, wes the person who rebbed kenstable +Rigby of his prisoners. When he kem to know the fect, he conceived sow +high a degree of respect fer her kerrage end skill, thet he et wence +propowsed to her, end hes been eccepted. Mr. Perrowne hes been esked, I +believe, to merry them; is it net sow, Mr. Perrowne?" + +"Yes, the corporal bespowke me, as he said; but that wretched Maguffin +insists on being married by the Baktis. I'm ashamed of you, colonel, +allowing so unhallowed a marriage tie in your household." + +"I leave religion, Misteh Pehhowne, to evehy man's conscience." The +meeting then adjourned. + +Two young people had been sitting on the verandah while the matrimonial +congress was going on, and were much amused by what they occasionally +heard of the proceedings. Next morning, Marjorie carried off one of this +pair by the name of Jim to look for crawfish and shiners in the creek. +Under her able tuition, Mr. Douglas was making rapid progress in +Canadian slang, and treasured in his memory many choice extracts from +the words of supposed coloured poets, contributed originally by Guff. +The scraps of doleful ballads, taken from the stores of the Pilgrim +brothers, Marjorie objected that he did not seem to take stock in. While +up to the bared elbows in the crawfishery, the twain heard voices, those +of Miss Graves and Mr. Terry, but they kept on turning over stones and +shouting all the same. Marjorie had never had the veteran really +interested in that creek, so she ran to secure him, while her friend +pulled down his sleeves and went to meet the lady. It was a pretty +place, the bank of that creek, an ideal spot for a morning stroll, and +they were soon out of earshot of the fishers. Mr. Douglas remarked, in +allusion to the previous night's committee of the whole, that Bridesdale +was going to be Bridesdale indeed, and would soon be no place for single +people, like himself and his companion. "But I suppose we will both be +gone before then," she answered. "I should have been back a week ago, +had not Mr. Tylor kindly lengthened my holiday. It is hard to have to +leave this place." + +"Very," replied Mr. Douglas, "and harder to leave the people. I haven't +known you very long Miss Graves." + +"No, only a few weeks, but very pleasant weeks." + +"They have been so to me, and the more I see of you, the more I dislike +going away." + +"Yes, the people gathered here are delightful, almost a unique party." + +"I did not mean the people in general. I meant Miss Graves. I hope that +blunt speech doesn't offend you." + +"Not at all. It is blunt, as you say, but complimentary." + +"I don't want to make compliments, Miss Graves, until I have the right. +I want you to come home with me to Edinburgh as my wife." + +"This is very sudden and very kind, Mr. Douglas. What do you know of me, +a poor girl working for my living?" + +"I know more than you think, and honour you for your work and +independent spirit. I am not going to say I want to take you away from +drudgery, and put you in a better position, because I want you to take +me for myself, if I am worth taking, as a man." + +Miss Graves looked upon his manly honest face with eyes as honest, yet +with the merest shade of coquetry in them, and said: "You are worth +taking as a man." + +"Then, take me, Marion, and all I have." + +"You are not a bit like my picture of a Scotch wooer. You give a poor +girl no chance to hold you back." + +"But I don't want to be held back. Shall we report ourselves to the +matrimonial congress?" + +"Oh no, not yet, Mr. Douglas; you take wonderful liberties with a new +acquaintance." + +Some distance off, Mr. Terry was trying to still the voice of Marjorie. +"I saw him, granpa, I saw Jim with my very own eyes. Oh, these men will +break my heart!" + +The first parties to perpetrate matrimony were Ben Toner and Biddy +Sullivan. Mr. Toner, to use his own expressive language, was afraid +Serlizer might round on him if he delayed. Therefore, Father McNaughton +was called in, and, with the aid of Rufus Hill and Barney Sullivan, +groomsmen, Norah Sullivan and Christie Hislop, bridesmaids, and the +Bigglethorpes and Lajeunesses, spectators, the knot was tied. A +honeymoon trip of two days to Toronto, where, in their new clothes and +white cotton gloves, they were the admired of all beholders, rounded off +the affair, and delivered Ben from all fear of the redoubtable Serlizer. +Next Sunday morning there was a great commotion in the Church of St. +Cuthbert's in the Fields. Miss Newcome, gorgeous of attire, supported by +Tryphena in her very best, first marched proudly up the aisle, and then +came the corporal, in full uniform, even to his stock, and adorned with +medals and clasps which told of his warlike achievements, backed by Mr. +Terry in an unostentatious suit of black broadcloth. Shortly before the +close of the service, Mr. Perrowne, in his most ecclesiastical manner, +called the parties up, and put them through their catechism. The +corporal answered with military precision and dignity, and Serlizer, +glancing at his martial magnificence, was so proud of the bridegroom +that she felt equal to answering a bench of bishops. Mrs. Newcome, who +had given her daughter away, remarked, as all the bridal party retired +from the vestry to receive their friends' congratulations, that the +constable, for a widower, was a very proper man, and Serlizer might have +done much worse. To his best man, Mr. Terry, the corporal said: +"Sergeant-major, I have got my guard. A prisoner may slip from me, +Sergeant-major, but when that strapping woman puts her arms round him, +he'll be as helpless as a child. I shall apply to the Council for an +increase of pay." Soon afterwards, Maguffin got a holiday, went to +Dromore, where Miss Tolliver was sojourning with Mrs. Thomas, took that +lady to Collingwood, the coloured Baptist preacher of which united them, +and came home triumphantly in the stage with his bride. They received a +great ovation in the kitchen, and, Mr. Terry having joined the party, +played the geographical game till midnight, as a sober, improving, and +semi-religious way of celebrating the event. Mr. Maguffin remarked that +the Baktis preacher had promised, out of the two-dollar fee, to insert a +notice of the marriage in a leading paper, adding the words, "No Cards," +but, said Tobias, "he warn't nebber moah leff in all hees life, 'kase +here's the keerds and heaps on 'em. Yah! yah! yah!" + +The colonel was getting anxious to start for the Mississippi, and +begged his deceased wife's sister to confer with her daughter, and name +the day. The dominie was also consulted, and, seeing it was vain to hope +for his friend's restoration to the extent of performing groomsman's +duty, he acquiesced in whatever decision should be reached. Mr. Douglas +took Coristine's place, and Miss Graves that of Miss Carmichael, and, +for both of them, the Edinburgh lawyer ordered from the city handsome +wedding presents to bestow upon the two couples, a little proof of +generosity gratifying to the lady whom he now regularly called Marion. +The said Marion had definitely resigned her situation with Messrs. +Tylor, Woodruff, and White. On Thursday morning, St. Cuthbert's in the +Fields was a scene of wonder to the assembled rustics, with flowers and +favours and lighted candles. Miss Du Plessis, stately and lace bedight, +was led in by her uncle, and followed by Miss Graves and Marjorie, while +Wilkinson, in elegant morning dress, preceded Mr. Douglas and Mr. Bangs. +The colonel, with much emotion, gave his niece away, and Mr. Perrowne +made them one. Then came Mrs. Du Plessis, arm in arm with her former +husband's faithful servant, Mr. Terry, and behind her followed Miss +Halbert, training for her own approaching celebration. Mr. Errol was the +colonel's right hand man. The second couple was united, and, amid the +strains of the wedding march on the parlour organ, there went on +salutes, congratulations, and hysterical little weepings, until the +serious business of affixing signatures in the vestry called the +contracting and witnessing parties to order. Then they retired to +Bridesdale, where there was a wedding breakfast, at which Mr. Perrowne, +elated with liberal fees, was the soul of jocularity, and Mr. Douglas +let the cat out of the bag as to his relations with Miss Graves. Mr. +Bangs sang "He's a jolly good fellow" to every toast indiscriminately. +The Squire was felicitous in his presidential remarks; but Mr. Terry +broke down at the thought of parting with Madame and with Miss Ceshile +that was. Mr. Errol made a good common-sense speech, and alluded +roguishly to the colonel's setting a good example that even ministers +were not too good to follow. Marjorie, in the dignity of a bridesmaid, +slipped away to bring Cousin Marjorie down, and was accompanied by the +new brides, who hugged Miss Carmichael, and implanted motherly and +sisterly kisses on the cheek of the only man who was left out of the +festivities. Lastly, Wilkinson appeared on the scene with the colonel, +and took a most affectionate leave of his friend. "You will not forget +me, Corry?" said the late dominie. "Never, Wilks, never, nor you me I +hope. I'll tell you, let us each carry away our knapsacks, and, when we +look at them, think of each other, and the happy chance that brought us +here together." The Squire's voice rung out: "Come, come, good people, +pack up quick, for the carriage is at the door." The valises were got +down by Timotheus, who received large tips. The two ladies and Wilkinson +got in with the Squire, and the new Mrs. Maguffin occupied the hind +seat, while the colonel and his servant rode away amid much throwing of +old shoes and rice, and waving of handkerchiefs, to make steamboat +connections at Collingwood. The departure of so large a company left +quite a blank at Bridesdale. + +The Bishop, a gentlemanly cleric in orthodox hat and gaiters, arrived on +Saturday with his examining chaplain. Mr. Perrowne conducted them to Dr. +Halbert's, where the Squire, Mr. Douglas and Mr. Errol, with the ladies, +were invited to meet them. The Bishop turned out to be much more liberal +and evangelical in his views than the clergyman under visitation. On +Sunday, there was a confirmation service, and, on the following Monday, +St. Cuthbert's put on its festal robes once more. Mr. Douglas and Mr. +Errol stood by Mr. Perrowne, and Miss Graves and Miss Carmichael by Miss +Fanny, whom the doctor gave away in person. The Bishop did his duty +well, and afterwards honoured the wedding breakfast with his presence. +The sight of his diocesan kept Mr. Perrowne in order, and devolved the +jocularity on the Squire and the doctor. Mr. Terry was at home with +Coristine, describing the ceremony; and somebody at the Halbert's +hospitable table was longing for a chance to replace him. This, however, +she could not effect without its being noticed. The examining chaplain +fell foul of Mr. Errol by remarking that, when Scotch Presbyterians came +into the church, they generally did well, both in England and in Canada, +several of them having risen to the episcopate. "That minds me," +answered the minister, intentionally putting on his broad Scotch, "that +minds me o' Jockey Strachan, that was Bishop o' Toronto. He met a Kirk +man aince, frae Markham, I'm thinkin', that had a threadbare coat. +'Man,' said he till's auld freend, 'yon's a shockin' worn-out coat. Can +yer freens i' the Kirk no dae better than that by ye?' 'Toot, toot, +Jockey,' said the Kirk man, 'what ails ye at the coat? It's no turned +yet.'" The sensible Bishop saw that the chaplain, who was preparing to +reply, would probably put his foot farther in, and turned the +conversation into other channels. Then the wedding presents were +re-examined, the bride donned her travelling costume, and, amid +affectionate leave takings, the doctor drove off his daughter and +son-in-law, with the clerics, toward the distant railway station, en +route for Ottawa, Montreal and Lake George. The Bridesdale party went +home, and, while Mrs. Carmichael and Miss Graves were attended by their +respective cavaliers, Miss Carmichael flew to the bedside where Mr. +Terry kept cheerful guard. + +Everything hinged now upon the sick man's health. "He must be got away, +John, before the winter comes," the doctor had said to the Squire, and +all wrought with this end in view. Some time before Maguffin left, he +had determined, with his Marjorie's permission, to give up being shaved +and let his beard grow, and now the beard was there, long, brown and +silky, a very respectable beard. But the face above it was very pale +yet, and the cruel knife wounds were still sore, and the whole man +enfeebled in limb by long bed-keeping. One pleasant day, far on in +September, the doctor allowed him to rise, and, between the Squire and +Mr. Terry, he was raised up and dressed. Then they carried the wasted +form out into the autumn sun, and laid him on a couch on the verandah. +Marjorie and all the little Carruthers came to see him, with bouquets of +garden flowers. Timotheus ventured to pay his respects, and even +Tryphena came round to congratulate him on his recovery. "Shall I read +Wordsworth to you, dear?" asked Miss Carmichael, ironically. + +"Marjorie," answered a beard-muffled voice, "your single word's worth +more than all in that old duffer's poems," which the lady took as an +indication that her patient was improving. + +"They are all depending on us to fix the day, Eugene; when will you be +strong enough?" + +"Any time, Marjorie; what's to-day?" + +"Saturday, you foolish man, don't you smell the preparations for +Sunday?" + +"And the New York steamer sails on Saturday?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, if we are all married next Wednesday, we shall have time to get +to New York easily on Saturday morning." + +"Then I will get uncle to arrange with papa Errol, and to summon the +Captain and auntie and Sylvanus." + +"Oh yes, and Bigglethorpe and Bangs, and old Mrs. Hill. I would like to +have Ben here, too, if you wouldn't mind, Marjorie." + +"We shall have everybody, and leave here on Thursday morning, to get you +well on the sea." + +Mr. Terry came to ask if Mr. Coristine didn't think the least draw of a +pipe would do him good. The invalid thought it would, and, while the +veteran went upstairs to fetch the lawyer's long-unused briar, Miss +Carmichael left him, ostensibly offended that he preferred a pipe to her +society, yet inwardly glad that he was strong enough to relish tobacco +again. Mr. Douglas joined the smokers, and they had a very jolly time. +"What will you do, Mr. Terry, when we are all gone!" asked the Edinburgh +lawyer. "It 'ull be gone too Oi will mysilf by that toime," replied the +veteran. + +"I mean, when we are on the Atlantic." + +"Plaze God, Oi'll be an the Atlantic mysilf." + +"What, are you coming with us?" + +"Av coorse! D'ye think the departmint cud ha done so long wit'out me iv +Oi hadn't shint in my risignaation?" + +"Then you are really going across for a holiday?" + +"Oi'm goin' to lit Honoria git a shmill av the Oirish cloimate, an' a +peep at the ould shod, fwhere her anshisters is slapin' it's many a long +year." + +"What a glorious time we're going to have!" + +"Troth for you, sor, an' we'll sit this bhoy on his pins agin." + +Many letters were despatched that afternoon, and Timotheus was kept +busy, inviting parties whom the post was slow in reaching. On Sunday, +there being no service at St. Cuthbert's in the Fields, the Kirk was +crowded, and Mr. Errol announced a service of special interest on +Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock, when his co-presbyter, the Rev. Dr. +MacPhun, would officiate. His own text was "It is not good that the man +should be alone," and towards the close of the service he stated that +the Presbytery had given him leave of absence for three months, which he +intended to spend in Britain, during which time his people would have an +opportunity of hearing many profitable preachers, under Dr. MacPhun's +moderatorship _pro tem_. Monday was a day of trunk packing and other +preparations, connected with all sorts of boxes and parcels brought by +the stage during the previous week. The next day the guests arrived. Dr. +Halbert came first, excusing his early appearance by saying he felt +lonely, and wanted to see young faces again. Then the Captain drove up +in grand style, having on board Mrs. Thomas, her domestic, Malvina +McGlashan, Sylvanus, and his strict parent, Saul. Malvina was received +by the maids with great effusion, while the paternal Pilgrim eyed +Timotheus, who had come forward to shake hands with his father. "What is +the chief end of man, Timotheus?" The son answered correctly. "What is +sin?" was appropriately solved, and "What is the reason annexed to the +fifth commandment?" Then came, "What is repentance unto life," and on +the answer to this Mr. Pilgrim preached a brief homily. "With grief and +hatred of his sin, turns from it, with full purpose of, and endeavour +after, new obedience. Is that you, Timotheus?" "Yes, fayther." + +"Young women," said Saul, addressing the maids, "has the walk and +conversation of Timotheus been according to his lights, or according to +his whilom lammentable and ungodly profession?" + +Tryphena could not reply, for the audacious Sylvanus, unaffected by the +propinquity of his venerable relative, had whispered in her ear, "he's a +livyer' 'cordin' to his lights, he is;" but Tryphosa spoke up and said +that nobody, not even a minister, could have behaved better than +Timotheus. Then Saul shook hands with his repentant son, solemnly, and +producing a well-worn catechism from his tail pocket, placed it with +reverence in the shaken hand. Looking upon Tryphosa, he remarked: +"Remember, Timotheus, the words of wisdom, 'Favour is deceitful and +beauty is vain, but whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing.' Go thou +and do likewise, Amen." Further improvement of the occasion was checked +by the arrival of a well-laden waggon, driven by Rufus, and containing +his parents, Christie Hislop, Mr. Bigglethorpe and Ben. Mr. Bigglethorpe +was hailed with delight by Marjorie, who immediately carried off "dear +Mr. Biggles" to see the creek, and tell her about his little boy, who +was not yet christened, because, in the face of Marjorie's opposition, +he could not call him Walton, Cotton or Piscator, and he could not think +of any other name. She had objected to Felix as too catty like, and +Isadore she had said was as bad as Is-a-window. However, he enjoyed the +creek for a few minutes before dinner. Mrs. Hill was installed as the +mother of the kitchen. With her great conversational powers and large +knowledge of scripture, she rather overawed father Pilgrim, and her own +and her husband's abundant cheerfulness revived a company, ready to +droop under the austerities of Saul's genuine but unpleasant religion. +Ben, as a sedate married man, gave himself largely to Mr. Hill's +society, until Mr. Terry came in to see his friend from the north, and +unfold his plans of an Irish tour. Later in the day Mr. Bangs rode over, +and made excuses for Matilda, who thought it wrong to go into society so +soon after her husband's death. Finally, the constable appeared in full +regimentals, with the stalwart Mrs. Rigby on his arm. That lady bestowed +on the faithless Ben a glance of withering contempt, but the constable +shook hands with him, as if he had been his greatest earthly benefactor. + +It would take chapters to recite the goings on of that evening in either +end of the house, the jokes of father Hill, and the homilies of father +Pilgrim. Sylvanus dared and was slapped; and Timotheus followed his +example, but was more gently dealt with. Christie and Malvina, as +bridesmaids, had to inspect the trousseaus with Mrs. Hill. In spite of +Saul's protest against worldly amusements, the geographical cards were +produced, and the lady of the third-class county certificate swept the +board, although the constable maintained his right to Russia and India, +and Pilgrim pater easily secured all Palestine and Syria, owing to his +extensive study of Josephus, which he recommended to Mr. Hill as a +valuable commentar on the Old Testament Scriptures. Nor were the +occupants of the drawing-room less jolly. The Squire and the doctor, Mr. +Bangs and Mr. Bigglethorpe, kept the conversation lively, and would have +hurt the feelings of Orther Lom, who arrived by the stage, if he had had +any to hurt. The contracting parties were grave and self-contained, as +became their position; and, to look at Mr. Errol, no one could have +dreamt of his ever having gone on the splore. Dr. MacPhun came late, in +his own buggy, accompanied by his daughter Maggie, a pretty girl of +seventeen, who was just what the feminine community wanted. The reverend +doctor warmly congratulated his co-presbyter, and jocularly quoted words +to the effect that hope's blest dominion never ends, and the greatest +sinner may return, which Mrs. Carmichael regarded as an unworthy +reflection upon her intended's antiquity. Wednesday came at last, and +the Kirk was decked at morning tide, but, unlike St. Cuthbert's, the +tapers did not glimmer fair. The concourse was great, and the organ and +choir were at their best. Mrs. Carmichael was attended by Miss Graves +and Miss MacPhun, and Mr. Errol by Mr. Douglas and Mr. Lamb. When Dr. +MacPhun had united them, and spoken a few felicitous words, he retired +to the vestry, and yielded the gown and bands to the new bridegroom, +before whose bar appeared Miss Graves, supported by the two Marjories, +and Mr. Douglas with Mr. Bangs and Mr. Lamb. When little Marjorie saw +herself paired off with Orther Lom, she thought of the Captain's +couplet, and burst into a fit of laughter, which drew down upon the +culprit her cousin's reproof. The Squire had given away his sister, and +Miss Graves was handed over to Mr. Douglas by the doctor, for the reason +that her late lamented father had been a distinguished medical man. When +the wedded pairs passed out of the church, there was great cheering, in +which Mr. Terry and Mr. Bigglethorpe seemed to be rival fuglemen. At +Bridesdale, a pale young man with a long brown beard was reclining on a +couch, and looking eagerly out of a window. His dark blue frock coat, +light grey trousers, and white silk necktie, meant business, too. It +would never do for little Marjorie to be three times a bridesmaid, for +that was unlucky; so Miss MacPhun stood by Marjorie the greater, and +Bangs helped Coristine to his feet. The two divines mercifully made the +service brief, and two well mated souls obtained each its chief desire. +Mr. Errol and the Squire were very patronizing towards their new made +son and nephew. The Captain was satisfied. "I thought all along it was +that sly dog Will-kiss-em was after the old man's niece, the sly dog; +but he's off, and a good riddance to poor stuck-up rubbish, say I." The +table speeches were marvellous. Dr. MacPhun exhausted Dean Ramsay's +anecdotes, Mr. Bigglethorpe allegorized marriage as fishing in all its +branches, Doctor Halbert said the great trouble with female nurses +always was that they would go and marry their patients, and Mr. Bangs +remarked that, if he could run down somebody who was wanted as quickly +as Mr. Douglas had done, he would make his fortune. Mr. Lamb lavished +himself on Maggie MacPhun, and, as she was young, semi-rural, and unused +to the masculine production of cities, his attentions were agreeable, +much to his satisfaction; his peace of mind with himself nothing could +disturb. + +In the evening, Mr. Errol put on his gown once more, and Dr. MacPhun +stood by his side, while in front of them there was a small table on +which lay a Bible, and, a short distance off, a larger one with a +marriage register, pen and ink, and duly filled certificates. At a given +signal, Mr. Hill appeared, leading his daughter Tryphena, followed by +Christie Hislop and Malvina McGlashan. Next came Sylvanus in the grasp +of Saul Pilgrim, attended by Rufus, and the ubiquitous Mr. Bangs. +Without being asked, Mr. Pilgrim senior ostentatiously stated, after Mr. +Hill had bestowed his oldest daughter, that he gave his son to be that +woman's husband, and trusted they would bring up their family, as he had +done his, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This bombshell +excited some merriment in the rear of the procession, where Mrs. Rigby +was pushing the corporal forward to exhibit his uniform and medals. When +the ceremony was over, the bride and bridegroom remained, but the +fathers and the assistants returned to the kitchen. Tryphosa now hung +upon her father's arm, and Timotheus was hauled in by Saul, receiving +admonitions on the way. The groomsmen and bridesmaids were as before. +Mrs. Hill, who stood by Mrs. Carruthers, wept copiously, when her +favourite daughter's turn came, and Hill senior gave her away with a +qualm, especially as the parent of Timotheus presented him as the +prodigy's son come back from the swine husks. So the last ceremony was +over. "Siccan a thing as five waddins in ae day was never heard o' in +Flanders before," said the Squire, with a sigh of relief. Of course, the +people ought all to have gone away somewhere, according to all the rules +that govern civilized marriage. Mr. Errol went to his lodgings to pack +up, and took Mr. Douglas with him. As for the rest of the married +people, they simply went on with their ordinary tasks and amusements as +if nothing personal had happened. Before these two gentlemen retired, +however, they had to take part in a dance in the coach-house, at which +old Styles played the fiddle, and the constable called out the figures, +while Mr. Pilgrim groaned in the ears of Mrs. Hill over the worldly +spirit that was sapping the foundations of spiritual life. When the +drawing-room people left the festive coach-house, the ladies divested +themselves of the day's finery, and the gentlemen retired to the office, +where Mr. Errol smoked three pipes and renewed his youth. Dr. MacPhun +told more stories, as did Messrs. Bigglethorpe and Bangs, and at last +they all became so happy, that a deputation of the Squire and the +minister was sent to produce their new relative Coristine, and make him +drink a bumper of champagne to his bride's health. As the relatives +crossed arms, and, on this improvised chair, carried the bridegroom +round the table in triumph, the Captain roared: "Pour it down his +scuppers, boys, for he's the A1 clipper; and that sly dog thought he'd +have the old man's niece, with no more fun in his calf's hide than a +basswood figure head!" + +Next morning early, Messrs. Errol and Douglas appeared to claim their +brides at the Dale, and found them packed, and ready to start after +breakfast. Mrs. Thomas was left mistress of the house, with directions +to hand it over to Sylvanus and Mrs. S. Pilgrim when she wished to +return home. Timotheus and Mrs. T. Pilgrim were told to go and take +possession of Tillycot, and put in a winter of judicious clearing. Good +bye was said all round. Coristine was lifted into the second seat, +between Mrs. Carruthers and his new made wife, who looked her loveliest. +Mrs. and Mr. Errol sat by the Squire, and Mr. Bigglethorpe intruded +himself as far as the bridge on Mr. and Mrs. Douglas. Ben Toner, tired +of being haughtily glared at by Mrs. Rigby, offered to drive the trunks +in a separate vehicle, but, to the great delight of the junior Pilgrims, +the Captain ordered Saul to perform that duty. Nevertheless, Ben +accompanied Saul part of the way, and got off with Mr. Bigglethorpe. The +patient was tired when Collingwood was reached, but recovered in the +parlour car and arrived in Toronto in good condition, and able to +introduce his bride to Mrs. Marsh. Mr. Douglas and he got together their +portable effects, and Mrs. Douglas increased her travelling impedimenta. +The party then left in time to see the glorious fall scenery of the +Hudson in the morning, and reached New York in abundance of leisure. +Coristine's imperious wife insisted that he should begin at once to +spend her fortune, saying that was the only reason for her marrying him; +but the invalid, otherwise so biddable, was very firm on this point, and +represented that his bank account was far from exhausted. They were +hardly on the steamer, when Mrs. Carruthers ran forward and fell into an +old man's arms. It was Mr. Terry, who had bidden them an affectionate +farewell at Bridesdale, and had then taken the stage in their wake to +give them all a grand surprise. The weather was fine, the equinoctials +all past, and the sea gently flowing. Rugs and pillows were laid on the +deck, between camp chairs and stools, and, while the bearded lawyer lay +propped on the former, with the most beautiful woman on board kneeling +beside him, the rest of the company occupied the higher seats. The +ladies worked away at airy nothings, and the gentlemen, Squire included, +smoked cigars and pipes, all talking of the stirring events of the past, +and forecasting the pleasures of the near future. Somehow they all +seemed to miss little Marjorie, and wondered what sort of time she and +the rest of them were having at Bridesdale. + +Three months soon passed away. Mrs. Coristine's fortune was secured, and +transformed into Canadian securities by her legal husband, half being +made over to Mrs. Errol. The minister took his bride to Perth, and +introduced her to his friends, who received her as graciously as the +Edinburgh people did Mr. Douglas' queenly wife from Canada. On Princess +Street many a pedestrian stopped to look at the well-matched pair. Mr. +Carruthers looked up his Scotch relations, and then crossed the Irish +Sea to inspect the "owld shod," under Mr. Terry's proud guidance. But +the great doctors said Mrs. Coristine must take her husband away to the +south of France, to the Riviera, perhaps even to Algeria, for the +winter. Mr. Douglas, who was like a brother, saw them safely established +at Mentone, and returned to England in time to see the Flanders' five on +board their steamer at Liverpool, laden with presents for the children +and the servants, the Thomases and the Perrownes, not forgetting Mr. +Bigglethorpe and Mr. Bangs. Three more months of winter passed at +Bridesdale, then the brief spring, and at length summer came round in +all its glory. Timotheus and his men had cleared the encampment of its +scorched trees, had put many acres into crop, and had built the farm +house on the site of the burnt buildings, into which he and his blooming +wife had moved, because the Wilkinsons and the Mortons were coming to +the chalet in July. The Bridesdale people heard that the former dominie +had not been idle, but, by means of his geological knowledge, had +discovered iron and lead mines, which were already yielding him a +revenue. Mrs. Errol brought them a letter from Marjorie, saying that +Eugene was quite restored, and that they would be home early in July, +bringing that dear old lady, Eugene's mother, with them. Correspondence +had also been going on between the Wilkinsons and the Coristines on both +sides of the houses, and Mr. Terry seemed to be included in the circle. +One fine July morning he asked for the loan of the waggonette and set +off to town, whence he returned in the afternoon, with three ladies and +a coloured ladies' maid, attended by a gentleman and his servant on +horseback. Strange to say, the Errols, the Perrownes, the newly-married +Bangs, and Mr. Bigglethorpe, were at Bridesdale. Marjorie's terrier, a +new Muggins given her by Mr. Perrowne, but which she called Guff, ran +barking to meet the approaching party, and the animal's mistress, +following it, was soon in the arms of long absent friends. "Where is +Eugene?" she cried, in a tone of disappointment. "Where is Mr. +Wilkinson?" asked Mrs. Carruthers, in concern. "We have lost them for a +little while," replied the ladies, cheerfully. So they changed their +things, unpacked their trunks, dispensed many gifts, brought through all +sorts of custom houses, and assembled in the drawing-room to await the +stated six o'clock tea. The clock was on the stroke, when they all heard +singing, on the road, of two male voices:-- + + For, be it early morning, + Or be it late at night, + Cheerily ring our footsteps, + Right, left, right! + +Then two jovial pedestrians came swinging through the gate, with the old +knapsacks on their backs, and newly cut staves in their hands. They +responded heartily to the varied salutations of the company, and, as +each bowed himself over the woman he loved best, they said: "God has +been very good to us, and has sent us more than a marshal's baton +through these two knapsacks." + + * * * * * + +Pleasant were the two summer months at Bridesdale and Tillycot, with +visits to the Manse and Cubbyholes, to Bangslea and the Beaver River. +Two little Pilgrim girls and a Toner boy appeared before the visitors +went home; and, soon after their arrival at their homes, they learned +that Basil primus was marching Basil secondus in his arms, clad in a +nocturnal surplice. Mr. Bigglethorpe had had his baby christened Felix +Marjoram, regarding the latter botanical word as a masculine equivalent +of Marjorie. When, next year, the welcome visitors came to Flanders from +Toronto and the far south, they brought each a maid and a warm little +bundle. The bundle of Mrs. Coristine was called James Farquhar, and that +of Mrs. Wilkinson was Marjorie Carruthers. When they cried, Mr. +Coristine, M.P., and Dr. Wilkinson, if they were about, carried them +round, singing outlandish songs; when they were good, the parents laid +two knapsacks over a rag on the lawn, put pillows on top, and the babies +against the pillows, betting quarters as to which would kick the +highest. + +The culprits were all set free or left unmolested. The two Davis +brothers disappeared, evidently across the lines. Old man Newcome is +said to have been converted by Father Newberry and to be living a life +in keeping with the exalted station of his daughter Serlizer. Reginald +Rawdon's son was looked up by Mr. Bangs, and started in business in a +new town, as a country store-keeper, on part of his uncle's ill-gotten +money. Monty, growing a big lad, has charge of the farm at Bangslea, +and, to see him and his grey-haired, but otherwise young-looking, +mother, none would think they had ever been deprived of their reason. +The character of Nagle, alias Nash, has been amply cleared by his +friend, who has erected a suitable memorial to him at Collingwood +cemetery. Peskiwanchow is hardly recognizable in its reformed condition, +and the Beaver River, like the Flanders' lakes, is safer to visit, +though otherwise as delightful as ever, than when the Maple Inn was +invaded by two knapsacks. Mr. Bulky is still its hero, and Wilkinson, +who does not smoke, has had him up to Tillycot with Mr. Bigglethorpe and +without his fishing coat. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWO KNAPSACKS*** + + +******* This file should be named 17532.txt or 17532.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/5/3/17532 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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