by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER XLV.
THE PRINCE TO THE RESCUE.
Hannah was doing well in her little shop at Teckford. She had alwaysbeen a most saving body, and although Mrs. Mainwaring had never beenable to pay her high wages, she had managed to put the greater portionof what she received away. Hannah was one of those fortunateindividuals on whom even a shabby dress will look neat. Her bootslasted twice as long as any one else's, her caps retained their starchand their whiteness long after another servant's would have had to beresigned to a fresh cleaning process. Hannah therefore required littleor no money to spend on dress, and in consequence, when the Mainwaringgirls went away, she had a little nest-egg laid by to stock a shop.She found a suitable little house at Teckford, laid in her littlestore of provisions with care, for she argued wisely that however poorpeople were they required food, and was living very comfortably on theproceeds of her sales. Hannah, as a rule, had a smooth and unruffledbrow; she was a careful woman, but not a troubled one. At the presentmoment, however it could scarcely be said of this good soul that shewas without cares. The neighbors who came in to buy their bacon, andfresh eggs, and candles, and tea, remarked that Hannah had no longer acheery word and a pleasant smile to give them, and the children, whenthey tumbled out their halfpennies and asked for "a little piece oftaffy, please, ma'am," noticed that Hannah's eyes had red rims roundthem, and they wondered if she was naughty, and that was why shecried.
Yes, poor Hannah had a troubled heart during those early summer days,for Daisy lay so weak and languid, and indifferent to all externalthings, on her tiny little bed, never giving Hannah any information asto why she had wandered alone to Rosebury, never saying anything aboutthe weight of sorrow which rested on her little heart, only now andthen moaning out that she must get up and go to Mrs. Ellsworthy, andnow and then feebly saying that she wished so very much that thePrince was there.
Hannah knew all about Mrs. Ellsworthy, and how she had taken the girlsup, and tried to help them, after their mother's death; but who wasthe Prince?
Finding that the child continued slightly feverish, and mostunnaturally weak--finding that the dainties she prepared were onlyjust tasted by the little sufferer--Hannah looked well into her littlestore of hardly-earned money, and finding that she had sufficient topay him, called in the village doctor.
Of course, with his limited experience, this good man could littleunderstand Daisy's case. He ordered medicine for her, and plenty ofcooling drinks, and said that he could not find anything very much thematter, only she was most unnaturally weak.
"It's my thinking, sir," said Hannah, "that this is the kind ofweakness that ends in death. My little lady is all on the pine forsomething or some one, and unless she gets what she wants soon shewill die."
Hannah's view of the case was rather puzzling to the doctor, whostared at her, and considered her from that day forward a veryfanciful woman. He repeated his injunctions to give Daisy plenty ofmilk, and to see that she took her tonic three times a day; and thenhe took his leave.
When he was gone Hannah went to her next-door neighbor and asked herif she would be so very kind as to go and sit in the child's room fora couple of hours. Then she put on her bonnet and neat black cloak,and started off on foot to Rosebury. She had made up her mind to getMrs. Ellsworthy's address from some one, and to write to her aboutDaisy. In due time she arrived at the lodge, saw the woman who keptthe gates, obtained from her without much difficulty Mrs. Ellsworthy'saddress, and then prepared to return home. Just as she reached thestile, however, which led into the field where she had found Daisy, athought struck her--she had no writing-paper in the house, and whatcould be bought at Teckford was almost too bad to use. Hannah made upher mind to go to Rosebury, which was a much more important villagethan Teckford, and get a few sheets of note-paper, and an envelope ortwo. She walked very fast, for she did not like to leave Daisy so longby herself, and, panting and hurried, she at last arrived at thelittle stationer's shop. The stationer's wife knew Hannah, and greetedher with effusion.
"I'm truly pleased to see you, Mrs. Martin," she said. "Why you'requite a stranger in these parts, and I did not expect to see you roundnow, with one of your young ladies returned and all."
Hannah heaved a profound sigh.
"She's very, very ill, poor darling," she said. "Very dangerously weakand ill; and I must trouble you to hasten with the paper, Mrs. Jones.One penn'orth of your most shining note, and two envelopes to match.Mind you, give me a paper with a good gloss on it, Mrs. Jones."
Mrs. Jones stared at Hannah Martin; but fetching down a box ofnote-paper, prepared to wrap some sheets in tissue paper.
"I shouldn't say Miss Primrose was ill," she remarked as she did so,"though she do seem worried, dear young lady."
When the shop-woman made this observation Hannah's pence tumbled downon the counter with a crash.
"Goodness gracious me, ma'am!" she exclaimed, "you don't mean to tellme that Miss Primrose Mainwaring is at Rosebury?"
"Why, of course, ma'am; why, don't you know? why you said but now howweak and ill she was."
"Never mind the paper," answered Hannah, "and never mind a word I saidabout anybody; just have the goodness to tell me where I'll find MissPrimrose."
"She was staying with Miss Martineau but yesterday and there's agentleman come down, too--a very 'ansome, harristocratic-looking youngman, I call him, and for all the world as like our pretty Miss Jasmineas if he was own brother to her--and they two and Miss Martineau arefairly scouring the place for that poor little tot Miss Daisy, who itseems 'as run away from home. Why, Hannah--Hannah Martin, woman! areyou daft?"
For Hannah had rushed from the shop while Mrs. Jones was speaking,leaving her neglected paper and two or three pence behind her on thecounter. A few moments later the good soul was knocking at MissMartineau's door, and very soon Primrose and Arthur Noel too were inpossession of all the facts that Hannah could give them.
"Oh, Hannah! it is so good to think you were the one to save her andfind her," said Primrose, as she kissed her old nurse, and shed somethankful tears.
"You had better come back with me now, Miss Primrose," said Hannah,"and perhaps the gentleman or Miss Martineau will send a telegraphicmessage to poor Miss Jasmine."
But Primrose's difficulties had not come to an end. She instantlystarted to walk across the fields with Hannah; but when Daisy heardshe had come she absolutely refused to see her, and cried sopiteously, and got into such an excited state, that Primrose feltherself obliged to yield to the child's caprice, and to keep out ofthe room.
"I can't see her, Hannah," poor little Daisy said. "Of all people inall the world, I can't see my own Primrose. Oh, if only I were wellenough to go to Mrs. Ellsworthy, or if only the Prince would come!"
Primrose heard Daisy's weak little voice through the thin walls ofHannah's cottage.
"Hannah," she said, "I know who Daisy means by the Prince. The Princeis that kind Mr. Noel, who has been helping me to find the littledarling. If he has not gone back to London, for he said he would goback at once after he knew we had found Daisy, he could come to her.Oh, Hannah," continued poor Primrose, "I cannot think what hashappened to your dear baby, Daisy. I begin to believe what Mr. Noelhas been hinting to me--that some one has got a secret influence overher."
"We had better see and find this Mr. Noel at once, miss, now," saidpractical Hannah. "We can think of secret influences and all that sortof thing when we have found the gentleman whom the dear child ispining to see. If Mr. Noel is still at Rosebury you had better put onyour hat, Miss Primrose, and walk across the fields to the village,and bring him back with you. I'll stay with Miss Daisy and soothe herthe best way I can. She's dreadful agitated and very weak andtrembling ever since you came in, miss."
Primrose said she would go back to Rosebury directly, and she was sofortunate as to meet Noel as he was starting for London.
"You must come with me," she said earnestly. "I fear our dear littleDaisy is even worse than Hannah represented her to be. She hasabsol
utely refused to see me, and talks only about you and Mrs.Ellsworthy. I don't know what she can want with either of you, but itis quite evident that she thinks you can help her and save her fromsome great trouble. Poppy said she wanted Mrs. Ellsworthy to give hermoney; I suppose to replace what she lost of mine. Well, Mrs.Ellsworthy is not here; so can you come to see her to-night?"
"I will come at once, Miss Mainwaring," answered Noel. "If we walkdown this street we shall pass the post-office, and I can send atelegram to Mrs. Ellsworthy and also to my servant, Lawson. I must tryand get into town some time to-morrow, however, for I have got toattend the trial of no less a person than your old landlord, Dove. Hewas apprehended for stealing a bank-note and a ring from mymantle-piece."
"I never liked that man," said Primrose; "indeed, I never thoughteither of the Doves quite honest. Mrs. Dove made a rule of keepingback a little of the money she borrowed from me on all occasions."
Then Primrose and Noel walked as quickly as they could down thevillage street. Noel despatched his necessary telegram, and in a shorttime they both found themselves in Hannah's humble cottage.
"She is asleep," said Hannah, as she came out to meet them. "She ismoaning in her sleep, and she gives sighs enough to break your heart.You had better, both of you, stay in my little sitting-room until sheawakes."
"If you will allow me," said Noel, "I will go and sit beside her bed;she is accustomed to me. I will promise to be very careful in mydealings with her. I believe I can talk to her without startling herin the least."
Hannah looked dubious, but Primrose interposed in her gentle voice--
"Yes, Hannah, Mr. Noel will not startle Daisy; he has always had amost happy influence over her."
Poor little Daisy! the sight of her wan face, the anxious expressionwhich seemed indelibly stamped on her childish brow, gave Noel sostrong a sense of pain and indignation that he sincerely longed tosecure for Dove as severe a punishment as the law would give. He satdown gently by the humble little bed, and when the child moaned andtossed in her sleep he laid his cool hand on her forehead. That handhad a magnetic effect--even in her sleep Daisy seemed to know it. Shemurmured, "The Prince, has he come?" and a moment after she opened herdark blue eyes and fixed them on Noel, while a very faint smileflitted across her little face.
"You have come at last, Mr. Prince. I am very, very glad; I havewanted you," she said.
"I have wanted you, Daisy; I have been looking for you everywhere. Ihave been in great trouble about you," answered Noel, in his gentlesttones.
"Have you?" said little Daisy; "I am sorry you have been in trouble.Do you know that Primrose came to-day and I could not see her? I cansee you, but not Primrose. Please let me hold your hand. I don't feelso dreadfully weak when I hold your hand. Will you stoop down, and letme talk to you. I can't talk at all loud, for I'm dreadfully weak. Doyou know, Mr. Prince, that I'm going to die?"
"No, Daisy, I don't think you are," answered Noel. I am the Prince whodelivers little girls from ogres. I never heard of a little girl dyingafter she was delivered from the ogre."
"Wicked little girls are not delivered," answered Daisy. "I was sodreadfully cowardly. I was afraid of a dark dungeon, and so--andso--but I mustn't tell you. I did lose Primrose's money, and I was acoward, but I haven't been so bad yet as to tell a lie. You mustn'task me to tell you what it all means, Mr. Prince, for I can't. I hopevery much you'll forgive me for being a cowardly little girl; God has,long ago, for I asked Him, and I am not really afraid to die. Ishouldn't feel a bit afraid or unhappy about it if I thought Primroseand Jasmine could have their money."
Here Daisy's voice quite failed her, and she looked so dreadfullywhite and weak that Noel began to fear there was some truth in herpoor little words. He saw that their interview must not be prolonged,and that he must give the child relief as soon as possible.
"Daisy, you have got to listen to me," he said. "You need say verylittle yourself, but you can listen to my words. I know why you wantto see Mrs. Ellsworthy--yes, dear, you can hold my hand as tightly aspossible. No, don't tremble; you want Mrs. Ellsworthy to give you somemoney. She is not here; I know she would help you, and feel sorry foryou, but there are others who do that. Daisy, suppose I give you backyour money instead of Mrs. Ellsworthy? Give me your little hand, dear,and let me put the money into it. Here; it makes quite a smallparcel--a ten-pound note, a five-pound note, two sovereigns and ahalf. Now, Daisy, shall we keep this as a little secret betweenourselves? Primrose will ask no questions if you beg of her not, andwhen you have put that money into her hand will you not be able tohave her with you again?"
Daisy's little hot hand closed tightly over the money. She did notspeak, or even attempt to thank Noel, but her eyes, wider and wideropen each moment, were fixed intently on his face.
"That is settled, then, Daisy," continued Noel, "and we need not thinkof Mrs. Ellsworthy just at present, for you do not now need herservices. Of course a Prince is the right person to deliver a littlegirl from a dreadful ogre. I don't see that Mrs. Ellsworthy shouldhave anything to do with it. Now, my dear, I'm going to say one or twoother things to you--you need not feel the least frightened."
"May I really keep the money?" whispered Daisy at last.
"Of course, I said so. We will not say any more on this subject atpresent. I have given you the money to-night, because I want you tohave Primrose sitting by your side and nursing you and comforting you.When Primrose is with you again you will cease to think those gloomythoughts about dying. Now I have something else to add before I leaveyou."
Noel had now taken a very firm hold of Daisy's little hand. She hadbeen trembling a good deal, but she had certainly grown calmer.Perhaps the knowledge that she really did possess some money to giveto Primrose was comforting her. Noel felt a sense of distress atdisturbing even for her eventual good the child's present calm. Itmust be done, however, and he thought a moment how he could mostgently deal with her.
"I'm going to tell you a story, Daisy," he said--"a very sad story,and, alas, a true one. There lives a little girl, I will not tell hername, although I know it, who has been unfortunate enough to get intothe power of a very bad man. The man is very, very bad, but I willnot mention his name here, although I know it also. The man came tothe little girl and talked to her, and no doubt he threatened her, andat last he made her promise him something--what, I cannot say. Fromthe moment this little girl made this promise she became thin andwhite, and anxious and unhappy. She struggled against the terriblepromise which seemed to bind her with fetters of iron, but she couldnever get away from it, and the man appeared like a terrible ogre toher, and she longed for a Prince to come and deliver her from him. Thewicked man having terrified this poor little girl, did his best to usehis influence over her to his own ends. At one time she lived in thehouse with him, but although she struggled against it her friendsinduced her to go elsewhere. Even in the new palace, however, she wasnot safe from the terrible ogre; he followed her, and, it is to befeared, although nothing is absolutely known, that he used cruelthreats to induce her to give him some money which was not hers togive. The poor little weak girl was afraid to consult any one onaccount of her promise. It was quite natural she should think it rightto keep her promise, although it was very sad. She was so completelyunder the power of the wicked man, or the ogre, as we will call him,that she gave him her sister's money--the money that was to supportthem all for some months, and then in her great despair she ranaway." Here Noel paused--Daisy's eyes were fixed on him. Her face waswhite as death.
"You see, dear, it is a painful story," he said, "but it is not quitefinished yet. The poor little girl ran away, but she never knew whatwas happening to the ogre. That wicked man was not allowed to continuehis evil ways without punishment. At the present moment he is lockedup safely in prison, where he can hurt no one. He was put therebecause he stole a five-pound note and a ring from the gentleman whomthe little girl used to call the Prince. It is believed, though ofcourse nothing is certainly known, nor will be until the littl
e girlis taken out of the thraldom of the ogre and confesses what hashappened, that this wicked man has also stolen a good deal of moneyfrom an envelope which the elder sister used to consider her'Emergency Fund' envelope. In short, it is thought that his one objectin frightening the poor little girl was simply to rob her and hersisters. Now that he is in prison, however, and quite out of the wayof harming any one, it is greatly hoped by those who love her that thepoor little one, who was made to suffer so cruelly, will be releasedfrom the thraldom of the wicked ogre, and be made to see that thereare times and circumstances during which even the most truthful littlegirl would do better to break her word than to keep it. Now, Daisy,that is the end of my story; I've got nothing more to say about it,for at present I know nothing more. Good-night, dear--I will sendPrimrose to you. I will come to you when you want me again."