hard cash-第51章

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ill　meet　him　in　consultation。〃

〃I　regret　that　resolution；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　quietly；　〃as　it　will　deprive　me　of　the　advantage　of　your　skill。〃

Dr。　Short　bowed　stifly。　〃I　shall　be　at　your　service；　madam；　when　that　empiric　has　given　the　patient　up。〃　And　he　drove　away。

Osmond；　finding　Sampson　installed；　took　the　politic　line；　he　contrived　to　glide　by　fine　gradations　into　the　empiric's　opinions；　without　recanting　his　own；　which　were　diametrically　opposed。

Sampson；　before　he　shot　back　to　town；　asked　him　to　provide　a　good　reliable　nurse。

He　sent　a　young　woman　of　iron。　She　received　Sampson's　instructions；　and　assumed　the　command　of　the　sick…room；　and　was　jealous　of　Mrs。　Dodd　and　Julia；　looked　on　them　as　mere　rival　nurses；　amateurs；　who；　if　not　snubbed；　might　ruin　the　professionals。　She　seemed　to　have　forgotten　in　the　hospitals　all　about　the　family　affections　and　their　power　of　turning　invalids　themselves　into　nurses。

The　second　night　she　got　the　patient　all　to　herself　for　four　hours；　from　eleven　till　two。

The　ladies　having　consented　to　this　arrangement　its　order　to　recruit　themselves　for　the　work　they　were　not　so　mad　as　to　intrust　wholly　to　a　hireling；　nurse's　feathers　smoothed　themselves　perceptibly。

At　twelve　the　patient　was　muttering　and　murmuring　incessantly　about　wrecks；　and　money；　and　things：　of　which　vain　babble　nurse　showed　her　professional　contempt　by　nodding。

At　12。30　she　slept

At　1。20　she　snored　very　loud；　and　woke　instantly　at　the　sound。

She　took　the　thief　out　of　the　candle；　and　went　like　a　good　sentinel　to　look　at　her　charge。

He　was　not　there。

She　rubbed　her　eyes；　and　held　the　candle　over　the　place　where　he　ought　to　bewhere；　in　fact；　he　must　be；　for　he　was　far　too　weak　to　move。

She　tore　the　bedclothes　down：　she　beat　and　patted　the　clothes　with　her　left　hand；　and　the　candle　began　to　shake　violently　in　her　right。

The　bed　was　empty。


Mrs。　Dodd　was　half　asleep　when　a　hurried　tap　came　to　her　door：　she　started　up　in　a　moment　and　great　dread　fell　on　her；　was　David　sinking？

〃Ma'am！　Ma'am！　Is　he　here？〃

〃He！　Who？〃　cried　Mrs。　Dodd；　bewildered。

〃Why；　_him！_　He　can't　be　far　off〃

In　a　moment　Mrs。　Dodd　had　opened　the　door；　and　her　tongue　and　the　nurse's　seemed　to　dash　together；　so　fast　came　the　agitated　words　from　each　in　turn；　and　crying；　〃Call　my　son！　Alarm　the　house！〃　Mrs。　Dodd　darted　into　the　sickroom。　She　was　out　again　in　a　moment；　and　up　in　the　attics　rousing　the　maids；　while　the　nurse　thundered　at　Edward's　door　and　Julia's；　and　rang　every　bell　she　could　get　at。　The　inmates　were　soon　alarmed；　and　flinging　on　their　clothes：　meantime　Mrs。　Dodd　and　the　nurse　scoured　the　house　and　searched　every　nook　in　it　down　to　the　very　cellar：　they　found　no　David。

But　they　found　something。

The　street　door　ajar。


It　was　a　dark　drizzly　night。

Edward　took　one　road；　Mrs。　Dodd　and　Elizabeth　another。

They　were　no　sooner　gone；　than　Julia　drew　the　nurse　into　a　room　apart　and　asked　her　eagerly　if　her　father　had　said　nothing。

〃Said　nothing；　Miss？　Why　he　was　a…talking　all　the　night　incessant。〃

〃Did　he　say　anything　particular？　think　now。〃

〃No；　Miss：　he　went　on　as　they　all　do　just　before　a　change。　I　never　minds　'em；　I　hear　so　much　of　it。〃

〃Oh；　nurse！　nurse！　have　pity　on　me；　try　and　recollect。〃

〃Well；　Miss；　to　oblige　you　then；　it　was　mostly　fights　this　timeand　wrecksand　villainsand　bankersand　sharks。〃

〃Bankers？？！〃　asked　Julia　eagerly。

〃Yes；　Miss；　and　villains；　they　come　once　or　twice；　but　most　of　the　time　it　was　sharks；　and　ships；　and　money；　andhotch…potch　I　call　it　the　way　they　talk。　Bless　your　heart；　they　know　no　better：　everything　they　ever　saw；　or　read；　or　heard　tell　of　it　all　comes　out　higgledy…piggledy　just　before　they　goes　off。　We　that　makes　it　a　business　never　takes　no　notice　of　what　they　says；　Miss；　and　never　repeats　it　out　of　one　sick　house　into　another；　that　you　_may_　rely　on。〃

Julia　scarcely　heard　this：　her　hands　were　tight　to　her　brow　as　if　to　aid　her　to　think　with　all　her　force。

The　result　was；　she　told　Sarah　to　put　on　her　bonnet　and　rushed　upstairs。

She　was　not　gone　three　minutes；　but　in　that　short　interval　the　nurse's　tongue　and　Sarah's　clashed　together　swiftly　and　incessantly。

Julia　heard　them。　She　came　down　with　a　long　cloak　on；　whipped　the　hood　over　her　head；　beckoned　Sarah　quickly；　and　darted　out。　Sarah　followed　instinctively；　but　ere　they　had　gone　many　yards　from　the　house；　said；　〃Oh；　Miss；　nurse　thinks　you　had　much　better　not　go。〃

〃Nurse　thinks！　Nurse　thinks！　What　does　she　know　of　me　and　my　griefs？〃

〃Why；　Miss；　she　is　a　very　experienced　woman；　and　she　saysOh；　dear！　oh；　dear！　And　such　a　dark　cold　night　for　you　to　be　out！〃

〃Nurse？　Nurse？　What　did　she　say？〃

〃Oh；　I　haven't　the　heart　to　tell　you：　if　you　would　but　come　back　home　with　me！　She　says　as　much　as　that　poor　master's　troubles　will　be　over　long　before　we　can　get　to　him。〃　And　with　this　Sarah　burst　out　sobbing。

〃Come　quicker；〃　cried　Julia　despairingly。　But　after　a　while　she　said；　〃Tell　me；　only　don't　stop　me。〃

〃Miss；　she　says　she　nursed　Mr。　Campbell；　the　young　curate　that　died　last　harvest…time　but　one；　you　know；　and　he　lay　just　like　master；　and　she　expecting　a　change　every　hour：　and　oh；　Miss；　she　met　him　coming　down…stairs　in　his　nightgown：　and　he　said；　'Nurse；　I　am　all　right　now；'　says　he；　and　died　momently　in　her　arms　at　the　stair…foot。　And　she　nursed　an　old　farmer　that　lay　as　weak　as　master；　and　just　when　they　looked　for　him　to　go；　lo！　and　behold　him　dressed　and　out　digging　potatoes；　and　fell　down　dead　before　they　could　get　hands　on　him　mostly：　and　nurse　have　a　friend；　that　have　seen　more　than　she　have；　which　she　is　older　than　nurse；　and　says　a　body's　life　is　all　one　as　a　rushlight；　flares　up　strong　momently　just　before　it　goes　out　altogether。　Dear　heart！　where　ever　are　we　going　to　in　the　middle　of　the　night？〃

〃Don't　you　see？　To　the　quay。〃

〃Oh；　don't　go　there；　Miss；　whatever！　I　can't　abide　the　sight　of　the　water　when　a　body's　in　trouble。〃　Here　a　drunken　man　confronted　them；　and　asked　then　if　they　wanted　a　beau；　and　on　their　slipping　past　him　in　silence；　followed　them；　and　offered　repeatedly　to　treat　them。　Julia　moaned　and　hurried　faster。　〃Oh；　Miss；〃　said　Sarah；　〃what　could　you　expect；　coming　out　at　this　time　of　night？　I'm　sure　the　breath　is　all　out　of　me；　you　do　tear　along　so。〃

〃Tear？　we　are　crawling。　Ah！　Sarah；　you　are　not　his　daughter。　There；　follow　me！　I　cannot　go　so　slow。〃　And　she　set　off　to　run。

Presently　she　passed　a　group　of　women　standing　talking　at　a　corner　of　the　street；　and　windows　were　open　with　nightcapped　heads　framed　in　them。

She　stopped　a　moment　to　catch　the　words；　they　were　talking　about　a　ghost　which　was　said　to　have　just　passed　down　the　street；　and　discussing　whether　it　was　a　real　ghost　or　a　trick　to　frighten　people。

Julia　uttered　a　low　cry　and　redoubled　her　speed；　and　was　soon　at　Mr。　Richard　Hardie's　door；　but　the　street　was　deserted；　and　she　was　bewildered；　and　began　to　think　she　had　been　too　hasty　in　her　conjecture。　A　chill　came　over　her　impetuosity。　The　dark；　drizzly；　silent　night；　the　tall　masts；　the　smell　of　the　riverhow　strange　it　all　seemed：　and　she　to　be　there　alone　at　such　an　hour！

Presently　she　heard　voices　somewhere　near。　She　crossed　over　to　a　passage　that　seemed　to　lead　towards　them；　and　then　she　heard　the　voices　plainly；　and　among　them　one　that　did　not　mingle　with　the　others；　for　it　was　the　voice　she　loved。　She　started　back　and　stood　irresolute。　Would　he　be　displeased　with　her？

Feet　came　trampling　slowly　along　the　passage。

His　voice　came　with　them。

She　drew　back　and　looked　round　for　Sarah。

While　she　stood　fluttering；　the　footsteps　came　close；　and　there　emerged　from　the　passage　into　the　full　light　of　the　gas…lamp　Alfred　and　two　policemen　carrying　a　silent　senseless　figure　in　a　night…gown；　with　a　great…coat　thrown　over　part　of　him。

It　was　her　father；　mute　and　ghastly。


The　policemen　still　tell　of　that　strange　meeting　under　the　gaslight　by　Hardie's　Bank；　and　how　the　young　lady　flung　her　arms　round　her　father's　head；　and　took　him　for　death；　and　kissed　his　pale　cheeks；　and　moaned　over　him；　and　how　the　young　gentleman　raised　her　against　her　will；　and　sobbed　over　her；　and　how　they；　though　policemen；　cried　like　children。　And　to　them　I　must　refer　the　reader：　I　have　not　the　skill　to　convey　the　situation。


They　got　more　policemen　to　help；　and　carried　him　to　Albion　Villa。

On　the　way　something　cold　and　mysterious　seemed　to　have　come　between　Julia　and　Alfred。　They　walked　apart　in　gloomy　silence；　broken　only　by　foreboding　sighs。

I　pass　over　the　tempest　of　emotions　under　which　that　sad　burden　entered　Albion　Villa；　and　hurry　to　the　next　marked　event。

Next　day　the　patient　had　lost　his　extreme　pallor；　and　wore　a　certain　uniform　sallow　hue；　and　at　noon；　just　before　Sampson's　return；　he　opened　his　eyes　wide；　and　fixed　them　on　Mrs。　Dodd　and　Julia；　who　were　now　his　nurses。　They　hailed　this　with　delight；　and　held　their　breath　to　hear　him　speak　to　them　the　first　sweet　words　of　reviving　life　and　love。

But　soon；　to　their　surprise　and　grief；　they　found　he　did　not　know　them。　They　spoke　to　him；　each　in　turn；　and　told　him　piteously　who　they　were；　and　implored　him　with　tears　to　know　them　and　speak　to　them。　But　no；　he　fixed　a　stony　gaze　on　them　that　made　them　shudder；　and　their　beloved　voices　passed　over　him　like　an　idle　wind。

Sampson；　when　he　came；　found　the　ladies　weeping　by　the　bedside。

They　greeted　him　with　affection；　Julia　especially：　the　boisterous　controversialist　had　come　out　a　gentle；　zealous　artist　in　presence　of　a　real　danger。

Dr。　Sampson　knew　nothing　of　what　had　happened　in　his　absence。　He　stepped　to　the　bedside　cheerfully；　and　the　ladies'　eyes　were　bent　keenly　on　his　face　in　silence。

He　had　no　sooner　cast　eyes　on　David　than　his　countenance　fell；　and　his　hard　but　expressive　features　filled　with　concern。

That　was　enough　for　Mrs。　Dodd。　〃And　he　does　not　know　me；〃　she　cried：　〃he　does　not　know　my　voice。　_His_　voice　would　call　me　back　from　the　grave　itself。　He　is　dying。　He　will　never　speak　to　me　again。　Oh；　my　poor　orphan　girl！〃

〃No！　no！〃　said　Samson；　〃you　are　quite　mistaken：　he　will　not　die。　But〃

His　tongue　said　no　more。　His　grave　and　sombre　face　spoke　volumes。



CHAPTER　XXII

To　return　to　the　bank。　Skinner　came　back　from　the　Dodds'　that　miserable　afternoon　in　a　state　of　genuine　agitation　and　regret。　He　was　human；　and　therefore　mixed；　and　their　desolation　had　shocked　him。

The　footman　told　him　Mr。　Hardie　was　not　at　home；　gone　to　London；　he　believed。　Skinner　walked　away　dejected。　What　did　this　mean？　Had　he　left　the　country？

He　smiled　at　his　fears；　and　felt　positive　Mr。　Hardie　had　misled　the　servants；　and　was　quietly　waiting　for　him　in　the　bank　parlour。

It　was　now　dusk：　he　went　round　to　that　little　dark　nook　of　the　garden　the　parlour　window　opened　on；　and　tapped：　there　was　no　reply；　the　room　looked　empty。　He　tried　the　sash：　it　yielded。　Mr。　Hardie　had　been　too　occupied　with　embezzling　another's　property　to　take　common　precautions　in　defence　of　his　own；　never　in　his　life　before　had　he　neglected　to　fasten　the　iron　shutters　with　his　own　hand；　and　to…day　he　had　left　the　very　window　unfastened。　This　augured　ill。　〃He　is　off：　he　has　done　me　along　with　the　rest；〃　thought　Skinner。　He　stepped　into　t