Part 24 (2/2)
”The _Tecurants You know Langhetti's extraordinary pluck, and his queer way of devoting himself for others Well, what did he do but this: as soon as the shi+p-fever broke out he left the cabin and took up his abode in the steerage with the sick erants He is very quiet about this, and merely says that he helped to nurse the sick I knohat that means
”The mortality was terrific Of all the shi+ps that came to Quebec on that fatal suest record of deaths On reaching the quarantine station Langhetti at once insisted on continuing his attendance on the sick Hands were scarce, and his offer was eagerly accepted He staid down there ever so long till the worst of the sickness was over
”Aers on the _Tecued to the superior class Their names were Brandon He took a deep interest in thee and at quarantine The na one well known both to him and to us At last they all died, or were supposed to have died, at the quarantine station Langhetti, however, found that one of them was only in a 'trance state,' and his efforts for resuscitation were successful This one was a young girl of not e After her restoration he left the quarantine bringing her with him, and came up to the city Here he lived for a month or so, until at last he heard of hted to see hiht hihto Halifax, and as he had no settled plan I irl reh her brain had been affected by disease, but the journey here had a beneficial effect on her, and during her stay she has steadily ihetti ventured to ask her all about herself
”What will you say when I tell you that she is the daughter of poor Ralph Brandon, of Brandon Hall, your father's friend, whose wretched fate hasof this, of course; but where was Thornton? Why did not he do so to prevent this horror, this unutterable cala there is in this world!
”Now, Courtenay, I come to the point This poor Edith Brandon, still half-dead frorief, has been able to tell us that she has still a relative living Her eldest brother Louis went to Australia o A feeeks before her father's death he wrote to his son telling hi hiland by this time
”I want you to hunt up Louis Brandon Spare no trouble In the name of God, and by the memory of your father, whose most intimate friend was this poor old Brandon, I entreat you to search after Louis Brandon till you find him, and let him know the fate of his friends I think if she could see hi one relative would restore her to health
”My boy, I know I have said enough Your own heart will impel you to do all that can be done for the sake of this poor young girl You can find out the best ways of learning infore Brandon Write me soon, and let me know
”Your affectionate uncle,
”HENRY DESPARD”
Despard read this letter over and over Then he put it in his pocket, and walked up and down the rooht Then he took out Mrs
Thornton's note and studied it for a long tith two o'clock ca the drawing-room, Mrs Thornton was there
”So you have come at last,” said she, as they shook hands
”As if I would not come ten times a day if I could,” was the answer, in an impetuous voice
”Still there is no reason why you should persistently avoid the Grange”
”What would you say if I followed my own impulse, and ca, Sir Still, now that you are here, you must stay”
”I will stay, whether I must or not”
”Have you recovered from the effect of ht the same one last Sunday”
”That was in order to weaken the effect Familiarity breeds contempt, you know”
”Then all I can say is, that contee things, it ht to be writing on the Mosaic Econoony”
”Cosony is such a delicious word! It has been the hope of my life to be able to introduce it in a conversation There is only one other word that compares with it”