Part 13 (1/2)

”Thank you; _very_ much better,” she replied, with a sweet smile; ”and how shall I ever express my debt of grat.i.tude to you, Mr Mellon?”

She extended her delicate hand. I grasped it; she shook mine heartily.

That shake fixed my fate. No doubt it was the simple and natural expression of a grateful heart for a really important service; but I cared nothing about that. She blushed as I looked at her, and stooped to pat the jealous and impatient Dumps.

”Sit here, darling, on this easy-chair,” said Mrs McTougall; ”you know the doctor allows you only half an hour--or an hour at most--to-night; you may be up longer to-morrow. There; and you are not to speak much, remember.--Mr Mellon, you must address yourself to me. Lilly is only allowed to listen.

”Yes, as you truly said, Mr Mellon,” continued the good lady, who was somewhat garrulous, ”her descent was rough, and indeed, so was mine.

Oh! I shall never forget that rough monster into whose arms you thrust me that awful night; but he was a brave and strong monster too. He just gathered me up like a bundle of clothes, and went cras.h.i.+ng down the blazing stair, through fire and smoke--and through bricks and mortar too, it seemed to me, from the noise and shocks. But we came out safe, thank G.o.d, and I had not a scratch, though I noticed that my monster's hair and beard were on fire, and his face was cut and bleeding. I can't think how he carried me so safely.”

”Ah! the firemen have a knack of doing that sort of thing,” said I, speaking to Mrs McTougall, but looking at Lilly Blythe.

”So I have heard. The brave, n.o.ble men,” said Lilly, speaking to Mrs McTougall, but looking at me.

I know not what we conversed about during the remainder of that hour.

Whether I talked sense or nonsense I cannot tell. The only thing I am quite sure of is that I talked incessantly, enthusiastically, to Mrs McTougall, but kept my eyes fixed on Lilly Blythe all the time; and I know that Lilly blushed a good deal, and bent her pretty head frequently over her ”darling Pompey,” and fondled him to his heart's content.

That night my leg violently resented the treatment it had received.

When I slept I dreamed that I was on the rack, and that Miss Blythe, strange to say, was the chief tormentor, while Dumps quietly looked on and laughed--yes, deliberately laughed--at my sufferings.

CHAPTER NINE.

ON THE SCENT, BUT PUZZLED.

It was a considerable time after the fire before my leg permitted me to resume my studies and my duties among the poor. Meanwhile I had become a regularly-established inmate of Mr Dobson's house, and was half-jocularly styled ”Dr McTougall's a.s.sistant.”

I confess that I had some hesitation at first in accepting such generous hospitality, but, feeling that I could not help myself till my leg should recover, I became reconciled to it. Then, as time advanced, the doctor--who was an experimental chemist, as well as a Jack-of-all-trades--found me so useful to him in his laboratory, that I felt I was really earning my board and lodging. Meanwhile Lilly Blythe had been sent to visit an aunt of Dr McTougall's in Kent for the benefit of her health.

This was well. I felt it to be so. I knew that her presence would have a disturbing influence on my studies, which were by that time nearly completed. I felt, also, that it was madness in me to fall in love with a girl whom I could not hope to marry for years, even if she were willing to have me at all, which I very much doubted.

I therefore resolved to put the subject away from me, and devote myself heartily to my profession, in the spirit of that Word which tells us that whatsoever our hands find to do we should do it with our might.

Success attended my efforts. I pa.s.sed all my examinations with credit, and became not only a fixture in the doctor's family, but as he earnestly a.s.sured me, a very great help to him.

Of course I did not mention the state of my feelings towards Lilly Blythe to any one--not being in the habit of having confidants--except indeed, to Dumps. In the snug little room just over the front door, which had been given to me as a study, I was wont to pour out many of my secret thoughts to my doggie, as he sat before me with c.o.c.ked ears and demonstrative tail.

”You've been the making of me, Dumps,” said I, one evening, not long after I had reached the first round of the ladder of my profession. ”It was you who introduced me to Lilly Blythe, and through her to Dr McTougall, and you may be sure I shall never forget that! Nay, you must not be too demonstrative. When your mistress left you under my care she said, half-jocularly, no doubt that I was not to steal your heart from her. Wasn't that absurd, eh? As if any heart could be stolen from _her_! Of course I cannot regain your heart, Dumps, and I will not even attempt it--`Honour bright,' as Robin Slidder says. By the way, that reminds me that I promised to go down to see old Mrs Willis this very night, so I'll leave you to the tender mercies of the little McTougalls.”

As I walked down the Strand my last remark to Dumps recurred to me, and I could not help smiling as I thought of the ”tender mercies” to which I had referred. The reader already knows that the juvenile McTougalls were somewhat bloodthirsty in their notions of play. When Dumps was introduced to their nursery--by that time transferred from Dobson's dining-room to an upper floor--they at once adopted him with open arms.

Dumps seemed to be willing, and, fortunately, turned out to be a dog of exceptionally good-nature. He was also tough. No amount of squeezing, bruising, pulling of the ears or tail, or falling upon him, either accidentally or on purpose, could induce him to bite. He did, indeed, yell hideously at times, when much hurt, and he snarled, barked, yelped, growled, and showed his teeth continually, but it was all in play, for he was dearly fond of romps.

Fortunately, the tall nurse had been born without nerves. She was wont to sit serene in a corner, darning innumerable socks, while a tornado was going on around her. Dumps became a sort of continual sacrifice.

On all occasions when a criminal was to be decapitated, a burglar hanged, or a martyr burned, Dumps was the victim; and many a time was he rescued from impending and real death by the watchful nurse, who was too well aware of the innocent ignorance of her ferocious charges to leave Dumps entirely to their tender mercies.

On reaching Mrs Willis's little dwelling, I found young Slidder officiating at the tea-table. I could not resist watching him a moment through a crack in the door before entering.

”Now then,” said he, ”'ere you are! Set to work, old Sneezer, with a will!”