Part 15 (2/2)

Jael's fingers trembled at her bonnet-strings, and, turning a look of piteous supplication on Grace, she faltered out, ”If you please, miss, might I stay over to-day?”

”Of course. And then he will tell you all about your people, and that will do just as well as you going to see them; and better.”

Off came Jael's bonnet with wonderful celerity.

”Get the whole story out of him,” said Dr. Amboyne. ”It is well worth your attention. As for me, I must go as soon as I have prescribed for you. What is the matter?”

”The matter is that there's nothing the matter; prescribe for that. And that I'm a goose--prescribe for that--and don't read the newspapers; prescribe for that.”

”Well, then, I prescribe the Hillsborough Liberal. It has drawn a strong picture of this outrage, and shown its teeth to the Trades. And, if I might advise a lady of your age and experience, I would say, in future always read the newspapers. They are, compared with books, what machinery is compared with hand-labor. But, in this one instance, go to the fountain-head, and ask Mr. Henry Little there, to tell you his own tragedy, with all the ins and outs.”

”Ah! if he would,” said Grace, turning her eyes on Henry. ”But he is not so communicative to poor us. Is he, Jael?”

”No, miss.”

”He never even told us his name. Did he, Jael?”

”No, miss. He is very close.”

”Open him then,” said the doctor. ”Come, come, there are a pair of you; and evidently disposed to act in concert; if you can not turn a man inside out, I disown you; you are a discredit to your s.e.x.” He then shook hands with all three of them, and rolled away.

”Jael,” said Miss Carden, ”oblige me by ringing the bell.”

A servant entered.

”Not at home to any human creature,” said the young lady.

The servant retired.

”And, if they see me at the window, all the worse--for THEM. Now, Mr.

Little?”

Henry complied, and told the whole story, with the exception of the threat to his sweetheart; and pa.s.sed two delightful hours. Who is so devoid of egotism as not to like to tell his own adventures to sympathizing beauty? He told it in detail, and even read them portions of the threatening letters; and, as he told it, their lovely eyes seemed on fire; and they were red, and pale, by turns. He told it, like a man, with dignity, and sobriety, and never used an epithet. It was Miss Carden who supplied the ”Monsters!” ”Villains!” ”Cowards!” ”Wretches!”

at due intervals. And once she started from her seat, and said she could not bear it. ”I see through it all,” she cried. ”That Jobson is a hypocrite; and he is at the bottom of it all. I hate him; and Parkin worse. As for the a.s.sa.s.sin, I hope G.o.d, who saw him, will punish him.

What I want to do is to kill Jobson and Parkin, one after another; kill them--kill them--kill them--I'll tell papa.”

As for Jael, she could not speak her mind, but she panted heavily, and her fingers worked convulsively, and clutched themselves very tight at last.

When he had done his narrative, he said sadly, ”I despise these fellows as much as you do; but they are too many for me. I am obliged to leave Hillsborough.”

”What, let the wretches drive you away? I would never do that--if I was a man.”

”What would you do, then?” asked Henry, his eye sparkling.

”Do? Why fight them; and beat them; and kill them, it is not as if they were brave men. They are only cunning cowards. I'd meet cunning with cunning. I'd outwit them somehow. I'd change my lodging every week, and live at little inns and places. I'd lock up every thing I used, as well as the rooms. I'd consult wiser heads, the editor of the Liberal, and the Head of the police. I'd carry fire-arms, and have a bodyguard, night and day; but they should never say they had frightened me out of Hillsborough--if I was a man.”

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