The MS. in a Red Box

by John A. Hamilton

  CHAPTER XII

  Martha opened the door to us so quickly as to give me the notion shehad been waiting behind it in expectation of our coming. She showed meinto a room which looked wondrous comfortable after the one I had justleft; and a cold chicken, bread, and a bottle of wine were pleasantthings to see, for I had the hunger of a famishing dog. Anna came in,and compelled me to sit down to eat and drink, untidy and dirty as Iwas, with the horse-blanket round my body. She would not suffer me totalk much, and Martha bustled in with fresh supplies until I declared Icould eat no more. Then the doctor came to examine my arm. Hewhistled as he laid it bare.

  "How droll you English are!" he exclaimed. "To think of using an armin this condition! But, after all, it is fortunate you did."

  Then, with much learned language, he endeavoured to explain to me howwell it was that my wound had broken out afresh. He bathed andcleansed the arm, anointed and tied it up, talking all the time to Annaand Martha, who stood by to hand him things he wanted; but I was tooheavy to pay attention, being half asleep before he had done with me.I felt some surprise at the appearance of Luke on the scene, but he hadme speedily to bed.

  Late the next day I awoke, brighter and fresher than I had been formany days, but exceedingly feeble. Luke brought me a draught of somestrange kind of beer, which revived me greatly, and when I had takenit, he told me how he had returned late yesterday from Doncaster withthe physician, and found everybody at Temple Belwood in much troubleabout my disappearance. No one had surmised I might be gone toSandtoft, but Luke naturally guessed my purpose; so, taking pole,lantern and cleat-boards, he made off to Belshaw, where he heard of mydoings, and struck across the fen in a bee-line for the settlement. Hehad only to make the signals which had been agreed on between him andMartha, a whistle like that of the grey plover, followed by an owl'scry, to bring his sweetheart to their trysting place, but wasconfounded to learn that nothing had been seen or heard of me at DoctorGoel's. Prowling cautiously about, Martha keeping watch, he found thepunt, and having this assurance of my being in the neighbourhood, hereturned to Martha. As they entered within the palisade through anopening concealed by a clump of willows, a flare of cressets andtorches showed me and my conductors going from the guard-room to thegallows, and they hurried to the doctor's house with the news. Whatfollowed is already written.

  When I spoke of going home, the doctor took a tone of authority, andvowed he would detain me, by force, if need were, until he hadsatisfied himself I ran no more danger of losing my arm. I made nostout resistance, but despatched Luke to Temple to set my father's mindat ease, and bring me a change of clothing and other matters of which Istood in need, and settled myself down in the doctor's household mostcontentedly. A marvellous change had come over me, which may have beendue to the removal of the venom from my blood, as the doctor affirmed,or to my being under the same roof with Anna, as I inclined to believe.No one seemed to apprehend further trouble from Vliet, and I began todoubt whether my experience of the previous evening had been real oronly a nightmare. Doctor Goel sat in his own room, pipe in mouth, overleaves and roots and such like rubbish, now and then coming out to askme questions, giving as his reason for so doing that I had a quick eye,and a habit of observation remarkable in one unskilled in the sciences,but I thought his true intent was to hinder my being alone with hisdaughter, albeit there was small chance of that, for Anna hadhousewifely duties (or made them), which caused her to be going andcoming continually. Now it was to make up medicine for her father'spatients; now to confer with Martha about kitchen matters; now to lookout old clothing for some of the poorer sort among the settlers; alwayssomething to break off our converse as I approached the topic nearestmy heart. So, despairing of a talk with her for the present, I madebold to interrupt the doctor in his curious pastime. He bore theinterruption courteously, though he sighed as he put down his glass andceased to pore over the stuff on the table. I asked him whether Vliethad abandoned his drunken freak at Mistress Goel's intercession.

  "Freak? That is joke, is it not?" he replied. "It was no joke, Mr.Vavasour. Sebastian was enraged by the mischief done on the previousnight, and he would have hanged you, but for my daughter'sintervention. Oh yes. Perhaps he would have endangered his own neck.I know not. The law appears to be in abeyance in this part of England.But Sebastian would have taken his chance of that. It was inconvenientfor you at the time, but what says your proverb? 'All's well that endswell.' My daughter was at hand to save your life. I was at hand tosave your arm. I have the satisfaction to be of some service to agentleman who has laid me under obligation. And there is now an end toa misunderstanding between my daughter and her affianced husband. Shehas consented to marriage within three months, and I have some hope ofbeing permitted to return to my own country by that time. So 'all'swell,'" the doctor concluded, smiling.

  Married within three months! I wished Luke had lost his way, or Vliethad been more stubborn. What was my life worth to me, Anna being lost?But chained to a drunken ruffian! Better far, if I had been strangledlast night. It could not be. It should not be.

  I know not how my outward bearing betrayed my feelings, but the doctorperceived something of them, for he went on--

  "There is a little irregularity, almost impropriety, in what I am aboutto say, but there will be mutual advantage, perhaps. I am aware youadmire my daughter, and imagine yourself in love with her. Stay:listen to me for a short time. Doubtless you would describe yourfeeling in stronger terms. We will say you love her. Consider, willyou, please, how impossible it is that her father should entertain aproposal of marriage from you. Your inheritance of your father'sestate depends on your father's pleasure, if I am rightly informed?"(Who had informed him? I asked myself, as I nodded.) "The estate isheavily burdened, or so I am told?" Again I nodded, and wondered."But, supposing your prospects were as good as they appear to be bad,could I consent to my daughter's being buried in a half-savage regionlike this? Could I allow her, esteemed as an ornament of the mostintellectual society of Europe, to become the despised associate of fatfarmers' wives, to whom the sale of poultry and butter is the mainbusiness of life, and whose amusements are coarse and frivolous in theextreme? It would be an unheard of folly on my part, even if therewere no precontracted arrangement for my daughter's settlement in life.But it so happens she is affianced to a gentleman of large fortune, whohas shown the sincerity of his attachment by striking proofs" ("Andparticularly last night," I murmured to myself), "not the least beingthat he has forsaken agreeable scenes and companions to endure exile tobe near the lady of his choice."

  I could hold my tongue no longer.

  "You have brought Mynherr Vliet into discussion, doctor, so you mustpardon me for asking whether you believe any lady can love the drunkenbrute? And, if not----"

  "There is no need to treat the matter hypothetically," the doctorinterrupted. "I can assure you my daughter has all the affection forMynherr Vliet which her betrothed could reasonably look for. We aresomewhat indelicate to touch on such a subject, but as I desire toclear away any delusion which may exist in your mind, I give you myword that any inclination toward yourself which you may have imagined,was nothing more than a passing sentiment. Young women of a certainturn of mind, nourished by poetry and the drama, are apt to entertain atransient fancy for a handsome young man, encountered in new scenes,especially when they are somewhat piqued by the supposed desertion ofthe accepted lover."

  I looked at the old gentleman, who smiled on me benignly, as ifconfident in his knowledge of the heart of woman, and wondered whetherhe could by any possibility be right. Or was he deluding himself abouthis daughter's happiness, because he longed so much himself to berestored to home and friends and congenial pursuits? It might be trueenough that Anna did not really love me, that I could well believe; butit was incredible she could love a beast like Vliet. While I satsilent, word was brought of Vermuijden's arrival, and of his wish tosee the doctor and Anna. So I was left alone to ruminate. Some t
hingswhich the doctor had said puzzled me not a little. As for what he hadspoken against the Isle, I cared not a jot, nor was I much troubledabout the low state of my fortune, which, in my youthful confidence, Ihoped to mend in no long time. Could he be speaking truth when he saidthat Anna really chose to become the wife of Vliet? That was thequestion. I could not but think that her avoidance of me pointed thatway. And yet, what passed near the gallows looked rather as if shegave her word to Vliet out of pure desire to save my life. But thatpromise, extorted under threat, and a threat which Vliet himself couldnot in his sober senses attempt to justify, could not be held binding.It was absurd to think it a sacred pledge. Nor could I believe Annalight-minded and fickle, even if her father accused her. Only onething was clear to me--that I must have speech with Anna. While I satpondering, I heard a knock at the door, and the buxom Martha came in tosay Luke had returned and awaited my pleasure. Her bright, honest facewas good to see, and I fell into talk with her. I asked her whethershe had heard what passed between Mistress Goel and Vliet last evening.

  "Nearly all, sir," she answered, "and wished I was a man for the firsttime in my life."

  "Why so?"

  "That I might have the strength to kill him then and there fortorturing the brightest, sweetest lady on earth."

  "He demanded a promise that she would marry him within three months,did he not?"

  "Oh yes. He took no heed of reason or warning. He said you shoulddie, whatever might afterwards happen to him, unless she gave him herword on the spot before witnesses."

  "And Doctor Goel can think his daughter will be happy with him!" I saidto myself, in amazement.

  "Oh, the doctor!" cried Martha contemptuously. "He has wasted hisbrains on weeds and creeping things, until he has none left tounderstand his fellow-creatures with. He thinks of Sebastian Vliet ashe used to be, before his cheeks were bloated and his hands shaky.Then the doctor has lost his money, or as good as lost it, in this madbusiness, and he wants to make up the loss to my mistress. He thinksVliet has plenty of it, and hasn't sense to see that money melts likesnow in April, when it is in the hands of a drunken gambler. And thatis what Vliet is. Every night, when Vermuijden is away, he is topingand playing--and losing, for the men he plays with know all his tricksand more. Then he is rooked by the lord who comes to see him, and byanother rascal who fetches and carries for the lord. Vliet's money isgoing at a great rate. But what does Vliet matter?"

  "He seems to be of some importance, since he has Mistress Goel's wordto marry him, and her father is well pleased it should be so."

  "And what does that avail against a gentleman who loves her? Everylover I've heard of snapped his fingers at foolish old people, pinkedhis rival, and rode off with the lady."

  "Unluckily," thought I, "one needs a purse as well as a rapier forthat, and somewhere to ride to." What I said was: "But the lady mustconsent before even the hero of a ballad can run away with her."

  "Consent!" repeated Martha. "And what's a lover good for, if he doesnot save her the trouble of consenting, cut all arguments short bystopping her mouth, and have it out with her parents when the ring ison her finger and the happy blush on her cheek? You may think me abold hussy to talk so. But I know what I know. And my heart is soreto hear sobbing and praying all last night, and to see the dear angelwith swollen eyelids, and a pitiful quiver on her lips this morning.One thing is certain, Sebastian Vliet will never call her wife. If heescapes drunken surfeit, shooting by the men he bullies, the knife of aboozing companion, the Almighty's lightning, I'll put rats-bane in hismeat myself."

  She looked as if she meant it, her face pale, her eyes glowing.

  "Shall I send Luke to you, sir?" she asked in another voice.

  Luke had much to tell me, but the sum of it was that my father'sdispleasure over my visit to Sandtoft and my continuance there wasgreat; and Mr. Butharwick had charged Luke to entreat me to returnwithout delay, the good old man being much alarmed by my father'sanger. Neither had heard of my narrow escape from the gallows, as Ihad forbidden Luke to mention it.

  Not until the evening of the next day did I get five minutes talk withAnna, who avoided me with astonishing skill; but, by Martha's help, Icontrived to meet her as she came out of a house which was used as ahospital for sick and wounded Dutchmen. Even then she tried to escapeme, but I would take no nay. She must go with me where there might bea talk without interruption, and that was on the river. When she hadyielded, and we had got into a boat, she began to speak of her hopethat the feud between the Dutch and the Islonians might be abated by ameasure agreed upon at the council held the previous evening. Largepay was to be offered to such of the natives as could be induced tolabour in cutting trenches, rearing embankments and carrying material.If the labour should not be directly profitable, the employment of itmight help toward more amicable feeling. I suffered her to speak on,well knowing who had advised this course, until we came to a broadwater with a small bank in mid-stream, on which grew an old birch tree.I ran the boat close under the tree, gave the painter a twist or tworound an overhanging bough, shipped the oars, and took my turn to speak.

  "The questions between Dutch and Islonians will keep, but not thequestion between us two. You know I love you, Anna. I can't tell youso in fine language, but never man loved woman more since the beginningof the world, or ever will to the end of it. I am a plain, roughfellow, and I have nothing to offer you but my love--not money, orland, or rank, or anything; but I will make or cut my way to something,please God, if you will come to me when I've done it. I think you loveme, but you have never said so. Say 'I love you, Frank,' and----"

  She stopped my long speech with one word--"Cruel!" and burst intoweeping.

  Then I nearly capsized the boat. It was a slight crazy thing, and myweight considerable, but I scrambled to her side, and, putting my armround her, drew her head on to my breast. She did not see how narrowlywe escaped an overturn, nor did she resist my embrace, but went onsobbing, as though her heart would break.

  Then I found out that one can be heavenly happy and full of sorrow atthe same time, for every sob of hers seemed to tear my bosom, while Iknew not how to contain my joy. When she had recovered breath alittle, she made as if to withdraw herself, but that I would not allow.

  "But, Frank, I shall be doubly, trebly perjured, and grieve and shamemy father beyond endurance."

  "Say 'I love you, Frank,'" I insisted.

  At last she did, and hid her blushing face against my breast. Then Itold her--what I shall not repeat. And in a great trembling, I gaveher a blundering, clumsy kiss. How long I should have talked in myrapture, trying to hearten my love, I know not, but the sun set withoutour perceiving it, until the deepening dusk made Anna exclaim about thetime. So I took the oars and rowed away from the loveliest islet inthe world. Martha stood at the door, watching for our coming, and aswe entered the house, she seized my hand and lifted it to her lips.