Part 46 (1/2)

”I will tell you by-and-by; I do not think I shall be here again for some days. I must be a great deal at the cottage when Humphrey is away, for Pablo will have a great charge upon him-what with the dairy, and horses, and breed of goats, and other things-more than he can attend to; but as soon as Humphrey returns, I will come to you and make preparations for our departure. Till then, farewell, both of you. We must see to provision you for three weeks or a month, before Humphrey starts.”

Edward bade them a hearty farewell, and then rode to the cottage.

Although Alice and Edith had been somewhat prepared for leaving the cottage, yet the time was so very uncertain, that the blow fell heavy upon them. They were to leave their brothers whom they loved so dearly, to go to strangers; and when they understood that they were to leave in two days, and that they should not see Edward again, their grief was very great; but Edward reasoned with Alice and consoled her, although with Edith it was a more difficult task. She not only lamented her brothers, but her cow, her pony, and her kids; all the dumb animals were friends and favorites of Edith; and even the idea of parting with Pablo, was the cause of a fresh burst of tears. Having made every arrangement with Humphrey, Edward once more took his leave, promising to come over and a.s.sist Pablo as soon as he could.

The next day Humphrey was busied in his preparations. They supplied the provisions to Clara's cottage; and when Pablo took them over in the cart, Humphrey rode to Lymington and provided a conveyance to London for the following day. We may as well observe, that they set off at the hour appointed, and arrived safely at London in three days. There, at an address given in a letter, they found the coach waiting; and having given his sisters into the charge of an elderly waiting-woman, who had come up in the coach to take charge of them, they quitted him with many tears, and Humphrey hastened back to the New Forest.

On his return, he found to his surprise that Edward had not called at the cottage as he had promised; and with a mind foreboding evil, he mounted a horse and set off across the forest to ascertain the cause. As he was close to the intendant's house he was met by Oswald, who informed him that Edward had been seized with a violent fever, and was in a very dangerous state, having been delirious for three or four days.

Humphrey hastened to dismount, and knocked at the door of the house; it was opened by Sampson, and Humphrey requested to be shown up to his brother's room. He found Edward in the state described by Oswald, and wholly unconscious of his presence; the maid, Phoebe, was by his bedside.

”You may leave,” said Humphrey, rather abruptly; ”I am his brother.”

Phoebe retired, and Humphrey was alone with his brother.

”It was, indeed, an unhappy day when you came to this house,” exclaimed Humphrey, as the tears rolled down his cheeks; ”my poor, poor Edward!”

Edward now began to talk incoherently, and attempted to rise from the bed, but his efforts were unavailing-he was too weak; but he raved of Patience Heatherstone, and he called himself Edward Beverley more than once, and he talked of his father and of Arnwood.

”If he has raved in this manner,” thought Humphrey, ”he has not many secrets left to disclose. I will not leave him, and will keep others away if I can.”

Humphrey had been sitting an hour with his brother, when the surgeon came to see his patient. He felt his pulse, and asked Humphrey if he was nursing him.

”I am his brother, sir,” replied Humphrey.

”Then, my good sir, if you perceive any signs of perspiration-and I think now that there is a little-keep the clothes on him and let him perspire freely. If so, his life will be saved.”

The surgeon withdrew, saying that he would return again late in the evening.

Humphrey remained for another two hours at the bedside, and then feeling that there was a sign of perspiration, he obeyed the injunctions of the surgeon, and held on the clothes against all Edward's endeavors to throw them off. For a short time the perspiration was profuse, and the restlessness of Edward subsided into a deep slumber.

”Thank Heaven! there are then hopes.”

”Did you say there were hopes?” repeated a voice behind him.

Humphrey turned round and perceived Patience and Clara behind him, who had come in without his observing it.

”Yes,” replied Humphrey, looking reproachfully at Patience, ”there are hopes, by what the surgeon said to me-hopes that he may yet be able to quit this house which he was so unfortunate as to enter.”

This was a harsh and rude speech of Humphrey; but he considered that Patience Heatherstone had been the cause of his brother's dangerous state, and that she had not behaved well to him.

Patience made no reply, but falling down on her knees by the bedside, prayed silently; and Humphrey's heart smote him for what he had said to her. ”She can not be so bad,” thought Humphrey, as Patience and Clara quitted the room without the least noise.

Shortly afterward the intendant came up into the room and offered his hand to Humphrey, who pretended not to see it, and did not take it.

”He has got Arnwood: that is enough for him,” thought Humphrey; ”but my hand in friends.h.i.+p he shall not receive.”

The intendant put his hand within the clothes, and feeling the high perspiration that Edward was in, said-

”I thank thee, O G.o.d! for all thy mercies, and that thou hast been pleased to spare this valuable life. How are your sisters, Master Humphrey?” said the intendant; ”my daughter bade me inquire. I will send over to them and let them know that your brother is better, if you do not leave this for the cottage yourself after the surgeon has called again.”