Part 16 (1/2)

Clara, who had listened to this little Napoleon in petticoats with breathless interest, now clasped her hands in a wild ecstasy of joy and exclaimed:

”I will try it! Oh, Capitola I will try it! Heaven bless you for the counsel!”

”Be quick, then; change your dress! provide yourself with a purse of money, and I will give you particular directions how to make a short cut for Tip Top. Ha, ha, ha!, when they come for the bride she will be already rolling on the turnpike between Tip Top and Staunton!”

”But you! Oh, you, my generous deliverer?”

”I shall dress myself in your clothes and stay here in your place to keep you from being missed, so as to give you full time to make your escape.”

”But--you will place yourself in the enraged lion's jaws! You will remain in the power of two men who know neither justice nor mercy! Who, in their love or their hate, fear neither G.o.d nor man! Oh, Capitola!

how can I take an advantage of your generosity, and leave you here in such extreme peril? Capitola, I cannot do it!”

”Well, then, I believe, you must be anxious to marry Craven Le Noir!”

”Oh, Capitola!”

”Well, if you are not, hurry and get ready; there is no time to be lost!”

”But you! but you, my generous friend!”

”Never mind me. I shall be safe enough! I am not afraid of the Le Noirs. Bless their wigs; I should like to see them make me blanch. On the contrary, I desire above all things to be pitted against these two!

How I shall enjoy their disappointment and rage! Oh, it will be a rare frolic!”

While Capitola was speaking she was also busily engaged doing. She went softly to the door and turned the key in the lock, to prevent any one from looking through the keyhole, murmuring as she did it:

”I wasn't brought up among the detective policemen for nothing!”

Then she began to take off her riding-habit. Quickly she dressed Clara, superintending all the details of her disguise as carefully as though she were the costumer of a new debutante. When Clara was dressed she was so nearly of the same size and shape of Capitola that from behind no one would have suspected her ident.i.ty.

”There, Clara! tuck your light hair out of the way; pull your cap over your eyes; gather your veil down close; draw up your figure; throw back your head; walk with a little springy sway and swagger, as if you didn't care a damson for anybody, and--there! I declare no one could tell you from me!” exclaimed Capitola in delight, as she completed the disguise and the instructions of Clara.

Then Capitola dressed herself in Clara's deep mourning robes. And then the two girls sat down to compose themselves for a few minutes, while Capitola gave new and particular directions for Clara's course and conduct, so as to insure as far as human foresight could do it, the safe termination of her perilous adventure. By the time they had ended their talk the hall clock struck twelve.

”There! it is full time you should be off! Be calm, be cool, be firm, and G.o.d bless you, Clara! Dear girl! if I were only a young man I would deliver you by the strength of my own arms, without subjecting you to inconvenience or danger!” said Cap, gallantly, as she led Clara to the chamber door and carefully gathered her thick veil in close folds over her face, so as entirely to conceal it.

”Oh, may the Lord in heaven bless and preserve and reward you, my brave, my n.o.ble, my heroic Capitola!” said Clara, fervently, with the tears rus.h.i.+ng to her eyes.

”Bos.h.!.+” said Cap. ”If you go doing the sentimental you won't look like me a bit, and that will spoil all. There! keep your veil close, for it's windy, you know; throw back your head and fling yourself along with a swagger, as if you didn't care, ahem! for anybody, and--there you are!” said Cap, pus.h.i.+ng Clara out and shutting the door behind her.

Clara paused an instant to offer up one short, fervent prayer for her success and Capitola's safety, and then following her instructions, went on.

Nearly all girls are clever imitators, and Clara readily adopted Capitola's light, springy, swaying walk, and met old Dorcas Knight in the hall, without exciting the slightest suspicion of her ident.i.ty.

”Humph!” said the woman; ”so you are going! I advise you not to come back again!”

Clara threw up her head with a swagger, and went on.

”Very well, you may scorn my words, but if you know your own good you'll follow my advice!” said Dorcas Knight, harshly.