CHAPTER LXI.
GENERAL ROLLESTON and his daughter sat at breakfast in the hotel. GeneralRolleston was reading the _Times,_ and his eye lighted on something thatmade him start. He looked toward Helen, and his first impulse was tocommunicate it to her. But, on second thoughts, he preferred to put aquestion to her first.
"You have never told the Wardlaws what those sailors said?"
"No, papa. I still think they ought to have been told; but you know youpositively forbade me."
"Of course I did. Why afflict the old gentleman with such a tale? Acouple of common sailors, who chose to fancy the ship was destroyed."
"Who are better judges of such a thing than sailors?"
"Well, my child, if you think so, I can't help it. All I say is, sparethe old gentleman such a report. As for Arthur, to tell you the truth, Ihave mentioned the matter to him."
"Ah, papa! Then why forbid me to tell him? What did he say?"
"He was very much distressed. 'Destroy the ship my Helen was in,' saidhe. 'If I thought Wylie had done that, I'd kill him with my own hand,though I was hanged for it next minute.' I never saw the young fellowfire up so before. But when he came to think calmly over it a littlewhile, he said: "I hope this slander will never reach my father's ears;it would grieve him deeply. I only laugh at it.'"
"Laugh at it! and yet talk of killing?"
"Oh, people say they laugh at a thing when they are very angry all thetime. However, as you are a good girl, and mind what you are told, I'llread you an advertisement that will make you stare. Here is Joseph Wylie,who, you say, wrecked the _Proserpine,_ actually invited by MichaelPenfold to call on him, and hear of something to his advantage."
"Dear me!" said Helen, "how strange! Surely Mr. Penfold cannot know thecharacter of that man. Stop a minute! Advertise for him? Then nobodyknows where he lives? There, papa. You see he is afraid to go near ArthurWardlaw; he knows he destroyed the ship. What a mystery it all is! And soMr. Penfold is at home, after all; and not to send me a single line. Inever met with so much unkindness and discourtesy in all my life."
"Ah, my dear," said the general, "you never defied the world before, asyou are doing now."
Helen sighed; but, presently recovering her spirit, said she had donewithout the world on her dear island, and she would not be its slave now.
As she was always as good as her word, she declined an invitation to playthe lion, and, dressing herself in plain merino, went down that veryevening to Michael Penfold's cottage.
We run thither a little before her, to relate briefly what had takenplace there.
Nancy Rouse, as may well be imagined, was not the woman to burn twothousand pounds. She locked the notes up; and after that night becamevery reserved on that head, so much so that, at last, Mr. Penfold saw itwas an interdicted topic, and dropped it in much wonder.
When Nancy came to think of it in daylight, she could not help suspectingWylie had some hand in it; and it occurred to her that the old gentleman,who lodged next door, might be an agent of Wylie's and a spy on her.Wylie must have told him to push the 2,000 pounds into her room; but whata strange thing to do! To be sure, he was a sailor, and sailors had beenknown to make sandwiches of bank-notes and eat them. Still, her goodsense revolted against this theory, and she was sore puzzled; for, afterall, there was the money, and she had seen it come through the wall. Onething appeared certain, Joe had not forgotten her; he was thinking of heras much as ever, or more than ever; so her spirits rose, she begansinging and whistling again, and waited cunningly till Joe shouldreappear and explain his conduct. Hostage for his reappearance she heldthe 2,000 pounds. She felt so strong and saucy she was half sorry she hadallowed Mr. Penfold to advertise; but, after all, it did not much matter;she could always declare to Joe she had never missed him, for her part,and the advertising was a folly of poor Mr. Penfold's.
Matters were in this condition when the little servant came up oneevening to Mr. Penfold and said there was a young lady to see him.
"A young lady for _me?"_ said he.
"Which she won't eat you, while I am by," said the sharp little girl. "Itis a lady, and the same what come before."
"Perhaps she will oblige me with her name," said Michael, timidly.
"I won't show her up till she do," said this mite of a servant, who hadbeen scolded by Nancy for not extracting that information on Helen's lastvisit.
"Of course, I must receive her," said Michael, half consulting the mite;it belonged to a sex which promptly assumes the control of such gentlecreatures as he was.
"Is Miss Rouse in the way?" said he.
The mite laughed, and said:
"She is only gone down the street. I'll send her in to take care on you."
With this she went off, and in due course led Helen up the stairs. Sheran in, and whispered in Michael's ear--
"It is Miss Helen Rolleston."
Thus they announced a lady at No. 3.
Michael stared with wonder at so great a personage visiting him; and thenext moment Helen glided into the room, blushing a little, and evenpanting inaudibly, but all on her guard. She saw before her a ratherstately figure, and a face truly venerable, benignant and beautiful,though deficient in strength. She cast a devouring glance on him as shecourtesied to him; and it instantly flashed across her, "But for youthere would be no Robert Penfold." There was an unconscious tenderness inher voice as she spoke to him, for she had to open the interview.
"Mr. Penfold, I fear my visit may surprise you, as you did not write tome. But, when you hear what I am come about, I think you will not bedispleased with me for coming."
"Displeased, madam! I am highly honored by your visit--a lady who, Iunderstand, is to be married to my worthy employer, Mr. Arthur. Pray beseated, madam."
"Thank you, sir."
Helen began in a low, thrilling voice, to which, however, she gavefirmness by a resolute effort of her will.
"I am come to speak to you of one who is very dear to you, and to all whoreally know him."
"Dear to me? It is my son. The rest are gone. It is Robert."
And he began to tremble.
"Yes, it is Robert," said she, very softly; then turning her eyes awayfrom him, lest his emotion should overcome her, she said-- "He has laidme and my father under deep obligations."
She dragged her father in; for it was essential not to show Mr. Penfoldshe was in love with Robert.
"Obligations to my Robert? Ah, madam, it is very kind of you to say that,and cheer a desolate father's heart with praise of his lost son! But howcould a poor unfortunate man in his position serve a lady like you?"
"He defended me against robbers, single-handed."
"Ah," said the old man, glowing with pride, and looking more beautifulthan ever, "he was always as brave as a lion."
"That is nothing; he saved my life again, and again, and again."
"God bless him for it! and God bless you for coming and telling me of it!Oh, madam, he was always brave, and gentle, and just, and good; so noble,so unfortunate."
And the old man began to cry.
Helen's bosom heaved, and it cost her a bitter struggle not to throw herarms around the dear old man's neck and cry with him. But she cameprepared for a sore trial of her feelings, and she clinched her hands andteeth, and would not give way an inch.
"Tell me how he saved your life, madam."
"He was in the ship, and in the boat, with me."
"Ah, madam," said Michael, "that must have been some other RobertPenfold; not my son. He could not come home. His time was not up, youknow."
"It was Robert Penfold, son of Michael Penfold."
"Excuse me a moment," said Michael; and he went to a drawer, and broughther a photograph of Robert. "Was it this Robert Penfold?"
The girl took the photograph, and eyed it, and lowered her head over it.
"Yes," she murmured.
"And he was coming home in the ship with you. Is he mad? More trouble!more trouble!"
"Do not alarm yourself," sai
d Helen; "he will not land in England foryears"--here she stifled a sob--"and long ere that we shall have restoredhim to society."
Michael stared at that, and shook his head.
"Never," said he; "that is impossible."
"Why impossible?"
"They all say he is a felon."
"They all _shall_ say that he is a martyr."
"And so he is; but how can that ever be proved?"
"I don't know. But I am sure the truth can always be proved, if peoplehave patience and perseverance."
"My sweet young lady," said Michael sadly, "you don't know the world."
"I am learning it fast, though. It may take me a few years, perhaps, tomake powerful friends, to grope my way among forgers, and spies, andwicked, dishonest people of all sorts, but so surely as you sit thereI'll clear Robert Penfold before I die."
The good feeble old man gazed on her with admiration and astonishment.
She subdued her flashing eye, and said with a smile: "And you shall helpme. Mr. Penfold, let me ask you a question. I called here before; but youwere gone to Edinburgh. Then I wrote to you at the office, begging you tolet me know the moment you returned. Now, do not think I am angry; butpray tell me why you would not answer my letter."
Michael Penfold was not burdened with _amour propre,_ but who has not gota little of it in some corner of his heart? "Miss Rolleston," said he, "Iwas born a gentleman, and was a man of fortune once, till false friendsruined me. I am in business now, but still a gentleman; and neither as agentleman nor as a man of business could I leave a lady's letterunanswered. I never did such a thing in all my life. I never got yourletter," he said, quite put out; and his wrath was so like a dove's thatHelen smiled and said, "But I posted it myself. And my address was in it;yet it was not returned."
"Well, madam, it was not delivered, I assure you.
"It was intercepted, then."
He looked at her. She blushed, and said: "Yes, I am getting suspicious,ever since I found I was followed and watched. Excuse me a moment." Shewent to the window and peered through the curtains. She saw a man walkingslowly by; he quickened his pace the moment she opened the curtain.
"Yes," said she, "it was intercepted, and I am watched wherever I go."
Before she could say any more a bustle was heard on the stairs, and inbounced Nancy Rouse, talking as she came. "Excuse me, Mr. Penfolds, but Ican't wait no longer with my heart a bursting; it _is!_ it _is!_ Oh, mydear, sweet young lady; the Lord be praised! You really are here aliveand well. Kiss you I must and shall; come back from the dead;there--there--there!"
"Nancy! my good, kind Nancy," cried Helen, and returned her embracewarmly.
Then followed a burst of broken explanations; and at last Helen made outthat Nancy was the landlady, and had left Lambeth long ago.
"But, dear heart!" said she, "Mr. Penfolds, I'm properly jealous of you.To think of her coming here to see you, and not me!"
"But I didn't know you were here, Nancy." Then followed a stream ofinquiries, and such warm-hearted sympathy with all her dangers andtroubles, that Helen was led into revealing the cause of it all.
"Nancy," said she, solemnly, "the ship was willfully cast away; there wasa villain on board that made holes in her on purpose, and sunk her."
Nancy lifted up her hands in astonishment. But Mr. Penfold was far moresurprised and agitated.
"For Heaven's sake, don't say that!" he cried.
"Why not, sir?" said Helen; "it is the truth; and I have got thetestimony of dying men to prove it."
"I am sorry for it. Pray don't let anybody know. Why, Wardlaws would losethe insurance of 160,000 pounds."
"Arthur Wardlaw knows it. My father told him."
"And he never told me," said Penfold, with growing surprise.
"Goodness me! what a world it is!" cried Nancy. "Why, that was murder,and no less. It is a wonder she wasn't drownded, and another friend intothe bargain that I had in that very ship. Oh, I wish I had the villainhere that done it, I'd tear his eyes out."
Here the mite of a servant bounded in, radiant and giggling, gave Nancy atriumphant glance, and popped out again, holding the door open, throughwhich in slouched a seafaring man, drawn by Penfold's advertisement, anddecoyed into Nancy's presence by the imp of a girl, who thought to pleaseher mistress.
Nancy, who for some days had secretly expected this visit, merely gave alittle squeak; but Helen uttered a violent scream; and, upon that, Wylierecognized her, and literally staggered back a step or two, and thesewords fell out of his mouth--
"The sick girl!"
Helen caught them.
"Ay!" cried she; "but she is alive in spite of you. Alive to denounce youand to punish you."
She darted forward, and her eyes flashed lightning.
"Look at this man, all of you," she cried. "Look at him well. THIS IS THEWRETCH THAT SCUTTLED THE _Proserpine!"_
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