Part 30 (1/2)
”The very thought which has occurred to me,” said Miss Mary, ”and I should wish to do the same.”
”I am glad to find that you agree with me, and the sooner we do so the better,” observed Miss Jane. ”I will write to Mr Shallard and beg him to come over here the first day he is at leisure. Sir Ralph ought to be able to well provide for his children, and they cannot miss our small fortune, nor has he any reason to expect that we might have left it to them.”
Scarcely had the two sisters come to this understanding than May entered the room. Her countenance, usually so bright and cheerful, looked sad.
”What is the matter, my dear May?” asked Miss Jane.
”Mrs Brown's daughter, Peggy, has just come up to say that my kind mother is very ill--the doctor has been sent for, but that she seems anxious to see me,” answered May. ”With your leave I will go to her at once, and I hope to be back before Harry leaves you, should he come to-day.”
”Had she not unwisely sent for the doctor I would have tried to accompany you, though I feel scarcely able to leave the house,” said Miss Jane. ”But I must not interfere with him.”
”I am sure that you would be welcome, as you are everywhere. But if you will allow me I will run down to mother at once and ascertain what is the matter with her.”
”Do so, my dear, and send Peggy back if you find that you must remain with Mistress Halliburt.”
May, though greatly disappointed at thus missing Harry, hurried down to the cottage with Peggy Brown, often looking in the direction of Texford in the hopes of seeing him coming along the road. Still the duty and affection she owed her kind foster-mother prompted her to hasten on.
She found the dame in bed. Seldom having been ill, the good woman was greatly alarmed about herself. She had caught a chill and was feverish and weak. Adam, and Jacob were away in the _Nancy_, and there was no one except Peggy to attend to her, as Mrs Brown had only waited for May's coming to go back to her own cottage. May regretted that Miss Jane had not accompanied her, as the dame, she thought, would probably have been benefited by her skill.
At length the doctor arrived.
”Cheer up, Mistress Halliburt, we will soon bring you round; with your fine const.i.tution you have nothing to be afraid of. I can leave you safely under charge of this young lady,” said the doctor in a cheerful tone, bowing to May. ”I will look in by-and-bye, and if I find you better, as I am sure I shall, she can return home. Send Peggy up and she will bring you back the medicine I wish you to take immediately.”
May felt greatly relieved at hearing this, though the dame shook her head, apparently not believing him. In spite, however, of her fears the dame got better by the time Adam came back, and the doctor soon afterwards looking in a.s.sured May that she might leave her mother without the slightest anxiety, for as it was Sat.u.r.day Adam was not going to sea in the evening.
May, leaving a message for Jacob who was still on board the _Nancy_, thanking him for the last sh.e.l.ls he had brought, and saying that more would be acceptable, set off on her walk home.
Jacob had ascertained, so the dame told her, that young Gaffin and his father had been seen to leave the inn some days before on horseback, with valises behind them, and that she thus need not fear being again annoyed by him. She hurried on, her heart beating quicker than usual at the thought of meeting Harry. She was sure he would have remained at Downside till her return; indeed she had fancied that he might have come down to the cottage, but perhaps the wish not to attract the attention of the inhabitants of the village induced him not to do so. She had nearly reached the gate of Downside when she saw standing before her not ten paces off, the very youth who had before given her so much annoyance.
”He will not surely dare to speak to me now,” she thought. ”If he does I can run home without replying. If I turn back it would show that I am afraid of him, and he would overtake me before I could reach any cottage.”
She had but little time, however, for consideration, so she walked steadily on, simply crossing over to the other side of the road and keeping her eyes directly before her.
Miles, however, had no intention of letting her escape so easily.
Advancing a few steps he took off his hat with an air which he intended to be full of respect, saying as he did so in a humble tone--
”I came, Miss Halliburt, to beg your pardon and to express a hope that you will forgive me for what occurred. I have been miserable ever since.”
May took no notice of this speech, but only walked somewhat faster than she had hitherto been doing towards the gate.
”Won't you deign even a reply to my humble address?” said Miles, in a half whining tone, which scarcely concealed the irritation he felt.
Still May remained silent, hoping that in another minute she should be safe within her friends' grounds.
Miles went on speaking in the same strain, but the tone of his voice showed that he was losing patience. Suddenly he changed his tone.
”Just listen to me,” he exclaimed. ”I have the means of making your fortune, and my own too. I know who you are, and if you will marry me I will enable you to gain your rights, and make you as wealthy as any lady in the land need wish to be.”
May, believing that what he said was a falsehood, merely uttered to gain her attention, hurried on as before.