CHAPTER XI.
Next morning, in the middle of breakfast, a knock was heard at the door,and our landlord let himself in with the newspaper in his hand and anexpression like a sphinx on his face. He closed the door quietly afterhim, and walking up to Mr. Oldstone presented him with the paper, at thesame time silently pointing out to him a paragraph that he had alreadymarked with his thumb-nail. The door was no sooner closed than itsilently re-opened, apparently by itself, and remained some three orfour inches ajar. Few noticed this, or would have given it a thought ifthey had. Their attention was rivetted on Mr. Oldstone, as he settledhis spectacles on his nose preparatory to reading out some tit-bit ofnews.
"Eh! What!" exclaimed the antiquary, trembling, and turning pale withextreme emotion. "Just listen to this, gentlemen, all of you:--
"'CAPTURED BY THE BRIGANDS.
"'The well-known artist, Mr. Vandyke McGuilp, whose picture of "The Landlord's Daughter" caused such a _furore_ last exhibition at the Royal Academy, whilst taking a trip in the Sabine Mountains, in the vicinity of Rome, to recuperate his health, was suddenly surrounded by a band of brigands, about twelve in number, who sprang upon him from an ambush and compelled him to surrender. The painter was alone and unarmed, besides being hampered by the materials of his art. All resistance would have been worse than useless, so, finding himself perfectly defenceless, he had no choice but to "stand and deliver." They seized his gold watch and other trinkets, as well as all the coin that he carried about him. Not satisfied with this, they forced him to tramp with them high up in the fastnesses of the mountains, where he still remains in daily and hourly peril of his life. The brigand chief has demanded an exorbitant ransom, and threatens that if it does not arrive within five days they will cut off his ears and send them to his friends in a letter. Any attempt at rescue, they declare, will at once seal the fate of their captive. His position is one to cause the greatest anxiety to his friends, as the barbarity of these desperadoes is well known.'"
Our antiquary had proceeded thus far when all present were startled by asmothered shriek, which was followed by a dull thud, as from a heavyfall. All rushed to the door, and flung it open. Helen had fainted.
Need we relate with what agility Dr. Bleedem leapt to the fore; howcarefully he raised the slim form in his arms, cut her stay lace, andapplied restoratives; then, finally, with the assistance of our host,carried his patient upstairs, where he deposited her on her own littlebed, administering in every way to her comfort--this we will leave tothe imagination of the reader--whilst, in the breakfast-room below, thevarious members talked to each other in subdued tones, and Mr. Oldstonelooked thoughtful.
"Humph! I think I can see through the spoke of _that_ wheel," mutteredMr. Hardcase to his neighbour.
"Yes, a dreadful blow though, poor girl!" sighed Mr. Parnassus.
"Quite dramatic in its effect," remarked Mr. Blackdeed.
A snort came from Mr. Oldstone, who had turned his back on the group andbegun reperusing the newspaper that he had thrust into his capaciouspocket, when Dr. Bleedem re-entered the room.
"Well, doctor," inquired Professor Cyanite, "and what of your patient?"
"Recovered now, of course, but dreadfully shaken," replied our medico."The nervous system has sustained a terrible shock. Luckily, she hassuffered no injuries from her fall."
"Poor young thing!" observed Mr. Crucible, compassionately. "Well, whocan wonder at it?"
During these remarks, to which Mr. Oldstone paid no attention whatever,being absorbed in the reperusal of his newspaper, he was suddenlyobserved to flush as with pleasure. His brow cleared, his eye sparkled.Then, suddenly rising from his chair, he crumpled up his paper, thrustit again into his pocket, rubbed his hands with satisfaction, then witha relieved expression in his face he slowly left the room without aword.
"Wonder what's come over Oldstone!" muttered one of them. "He seemsquite himself again."
No sooner was our antiquary outside the door than he beckoned thelandlord aside, who was still looking grave, and asked him how he hadleft his daughter.
"Dreadful cut up like, sir, 'bout somethin' or other," replied thatworthy, "but Dr. Bleedem says as how we ain't got no call to be afeared,and that when she has finished the cordial she'll come round agin asright as a trivet."
"Now look here, Jack," began our antiquary, rubbing his hands togethercheerily, and with difficulty repressing his delight. "What'll you betthat in five minutes time I don't bring her round again, cordial or nocordial?"
"Do you think you could, sir?" asked our host, somewhat incredulously,yet becoming infected, in spite of himself, by Mr. Oldstone's assuranceand good humour.
"I do, mine host, most certainly I do," replied the antiquary.
"Can I see the patient?"
"Willingly, sir," rejoined the landlord. "There is her room," andpointed to the door.
"Now, Jack, you shall see which is the best doctor, Bleedem or I. If infive minutes I don't lead her out by the hand, smiling and in her rightmind, my name's not Obadiah Oldstone."
Here, he opened Helen's chamber door, and for the space of five minuteswas closeted with her, leaving our host completely bewildered. The girlstarted at seeing her friend and adviser enter her chamber, and lookedat him inquiringly. "Helen, my pet," he began, "I am the bearer of goodnews--news that will do you more good than any cordial Dr. Bleedem cangive you."
The girl looked hopeful, seeing her counsellor's cheerful manner, thoughher eyes were still red and swollen with weeping. "Tell me, tell me!"she cried in agony.
"Patience, patience," replied the antiquary, in the most provokingmanner; "all in due time. Well, my dear," he continued, "all that I readout in the paper this morning, and which you unfortunately overheard(Oh! you wicked puss, for playing the eavesdropper); well, child, allthat happened a fortnight ago. Since then there is later news. The boyhas been rescued by a band of carabineers who have long been on thetrack of the brigands, who were taken completely by surprise. A skirmishtook place, and the brigands were exterminated to a man; a few only ofthe carabineers being wounded. Your friend, Mr. Vandyke McGuilp, was atonce set at liberty, and he is now enjoying the best of health andspirits. So cheer up, girl."
"Oh! sir," cried Helen, half laughing and half crying, "you are nottrying to comfort me by----."
"By a false report," broke in Oldstone. "Certainly not, child. Here,read for yourself. Can't you believe me?"
Helen took up the paper with trembling hands, and ran her eyes eagerlyover the column. Then with a sweet smile and sign of relief she sankback on her cushions, crying, "Thank God." She then burst out again intoa fresh fit of weeping, from sheer weakness, which, however, soonchanged into a laugh. Then rousing herself, she leapt from her bed,bathed her face with cold water, and having dried it, she seized thehand of her aged friend and counsellor and kissed it, saying, "God blessyou, sir. You were ever my good angel."
"Then follow me downstairs, and look as beaming as you can. Your parentswill wonder at the change, but I shall say nothing." Seizing her hand,Oldstone led her down the flight of steps, at the foot of which stoodher father, watch in hand.
"There, Jack," said the antiquary in triumph, "What did I say? Have Ibeen successful? Look at her, and tell me if I am a good doctor or no."
Our host scanned his daughter's now happy features, then turning to Mr.Oldstone, he said, "Well, sir, its just wonderful! It's like witchcrafta'most. I don't know what you have been doing to her, sir, but I neversee such a change in my life."
Here Dame Hearty made her appearance, caressed her daughter, and beganto ask questions.
"Now, no questions, Dame Hearty, from either you or your husband," brokein Oldstone. "That's our secret. You may, if you like, set it down toDr. Bleedem's cordial."
"Well, we won't bother her, if as how you don't wish it, sir," answeredher father. Helen then followed her mother into the kitchen, and wassoon slaving away harder than she had ever done before in her life.
"Well,
boys," said Mr. Oldstone, cheerily, addressing his fellow-membersas they looked enquiringly at him on his return, "I suppose you want toknow the reason of the change in my countenance since the morning. Well,take this paper and read for yourselves. You will see where I havemarked it." Here he handed the paper to Mr. Hardcase, who, taking itfrom him, proceeded to read the account of our artist's fortunate rescuefrom the brigands by the carabineers, which we need not repeat.
"Ah!" observed the lawyer, at the conclusion, "this accounts foreverything. Now, Oldstone, if you had read this article first, and theother afterwards, we should have been spared a scene."
Oldstone answered with something like a snort, "Bah! who could tell thatthe girl was eavesdropping?" Then noticing the quizzical expression onthe faces of some of the members, and guessing that they were about tomake Helen's little love episode a subject for discussion or banter, heraised his hand as if in prohibition, being determined to nip it in thebud, and bringing it down with a bang on the table, he began,"Gentlemen, to change the conversation, I propose that we celebrate ouryoung friend McGuilp's miraculous escape from his captors by assemblingthis evening round a merry bowl of punch--eh, doctor?--and drinking hishealth with a three times three."
"Take care, Oldstone!" remonstrated Dr. Bleedem; but the rest of themembers applauded the proposition of the chairman, and prevailed. Infact, a merry evening was spent, when our artist's health was drunk, asproposed, as well as that of all his family and belongings. Our host wasthen called in, and had to drain a glass to the health and prosperity ofour artist. Dame Hearty was next called in, and had to do the same. Oneof the members voted for Helen also drinking the toast.
Before Oldstone could offer any opposition, our landlord called out,"Now, then, Helen, my girl, come and drink to the health and prosperityof Mr. McGuilp, your portrait painter, with a hip, hip, hip,hurrah!--d'ye hear? Come, now, you can't get out of it."
The girl would willingly have hidden herself, and had literally to bedragged in by her father, blushing and timid. Loud cheers greeted thegirl's appearance, and a glass was filled for her from the punch-bowl byMr. Oldstone himself with the silver ladle, at the bottom of which agolden guinea had been inlaid.
"All right, my girl," said Mr. Oldstone, "toss it off. No harm in justone glass. Now, then, all--to the health of our absent artist friend,Mr. Vandyke McGuilp, and all his belongings--also to his speedyreturn--with a hip, hip, hip, hurrah!"
With a charming modesty and grace, like that of a high-born lady, didthis simple country girl join in the toast proposed; then, putting downher glass on the table, she curtseyed elegantly to the company, andwishing them all good-night retired.
Loud applause followed this flying visit of Helen to their orgie, andthey would have recalled her; but a glance from Mr. Oldstone kept themin check. At midnight the party broke up, and each returned to his bedcomfortable, without having indulged to excess, and even Mr. Oldstonewalked bravely off to his bed unassisted.
Tales of the Wonder Club, Volume III Page 11