The Story of Antony Grace Part 8

"Is that Mr William Revitts," I asked, "the policeman?"

"Yes; but he wouldn't come down here as a policeman, but as a gentleman, and he'd soon teach Mr Blakeford what he ought to--Yes! What is it?"

This was in answer to a shrill call for Mary in Mrs Blakeford's voice, and that lady came in immediately after, to Mary's great disgust.

"You must get hot water ready directly, Mary," she began in an ill-used way. "I'm sure _I_ don't know what I shall do. He's very bad indeed."

"Oh, there's lots of hot water," said Mary shortly. "Biler's full, and kettle's full, and I'll put on the great black saucepan and light the copper if you like."

As she spoke Mary seized the big poker, and began stoking and hammering away at the fire in a most vicious manner, as if determined to vent her spleen upon Mr Blakeford's coals.

"Your poor master's dreadfully bad," said Mrs Blakeford again, and she kept on looking at me in a way that seemed quite to indicate that I alone was to blame.

"Oh, yes, mum, I dessay he is, and so's other people too, and wuss. I dessay he'll get better again if he don't die."

Mrs Blakeford stared at Mary in a half-terrified way, and backed to the door.

"You ring the bell when you want it, and I'll bring you a can of water upstairs," continued Mary ungraciously.

"And couldn't you help me a little in attending upon your master, Mary?"

"No, I couldn't, mum," she said shortly, "for I'm the worst nuss as ever was; and besides, I've got my kitchen work to do; and if you wants a nuss, there's Mrs Jumfreys over the way would be glad to come, I dessay, only I ain't going to have her here in my kitchen."

Mrs Blakeford hastily backed out of the kitchen and retreated upstairs, while Mary's rough mask dropped off as soon as she had gone.

"I wasn't going to tell her as I nussed an invalid lady two years 'fore I came here," she said, smiling. "Besides, I didn't want to have nothing to do with him, for fear I should be tempted to give him his lotion 'stead of his physic, he aggravates me so. Lotions is pison, you know--outward happlication only."

That night I had a bed made up down in the kitchen, and pa.s.sed a weary, feverish time; but towards morning a pleasant feeling of drowsiness came over me. I fell asleep to dream that I was at home once more, and all was bright and suns.h.i.+ny as I sat half asleep in the summer-house, when my mother came and laid her hand upon my forehead, and I opened my eyes to find it was Mary, ready to ask me whether I was better; and though the sweet, bright dream had gone, there was something very tender in the eyes that looked in mine.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

DREAMS OF THE GREAT MAGNET.

I was very stiff and sore, and there was a peculiar giddiness ready to a.s.sail me as soon as I moved, so Mary, in her double capacity of doctor and nurse, decided that I was not to attempt to walk about that day.

The consequence was that she made no scruple about dragging a little couch out of the parlour into the kitchen, and after I was dressed, making me lie down near the fire.

"If they don't like it about the sofy, they must do the other thing,"

she said, laughing. "I say, do you know what time it is?"

"No," I replied.

"Half-past ten, and I've been waiting breakfast till you woke. You _have_ had a sleep. I wouldn't wake you, for I thought it would do you good."

"I am better, a great deal," I said.

"Yes; so you are. He ain't, or pretends he ain't. Miss Hetty's been catching it."

"Has she?"

"Yes; for wanting to know about you. Missus told her you were a wicked young wretch, and had half killed your master, and she was never to mention your name again."

I was decidedly better, and in the course of the afternoon I got up and found that the various objects had ceased to waltz around. I made my way up to my bedroom, and for the first time had a look at myself in the gla.s.s, where I found that a sore feeling upon my face was caused by a couple of black marks which crossed each other at a sharp angle, and that high up above my temple, and just where the hair would cover it, there was a patch of black court-plaister, which was placed across and across in strips to cover a long and painful cut.

The days glided by; the weals on my face changed colour and began to fade, while the cut on my head grew less painful. I was thrown a good deal with Mary, for no work had been set me in the office, and Mr Blakeford kept his bed, being regularly attended by the doctor.

I found--Mary being my informant--that there was to be quite a serious case made of it, and Mrs Blakeford had told her that I was to be an important witness to the a.s.sault.

A fortnight had pa.s.sed; and as I sat alone day after day in the office thinking of a plan that had suggested itself to my mind, but fearing to put it into execution, I had two visitors who completely altered my career in life.

The first came one morning as I was writing a letter to my uncle--a letter destined never to reach him--in the shape of the big farmer, Mr Wooster, who rapped sharply at the office door, and gazed sternly at me as I opened it and stood in the little pa.s.sage.

"Where's Blakeford?" he said sharply.

"Ill in bed, sir," I said.

"It's a lie, you young rascal," he cried, catching me by the collar.

"Here, how old are you?"

"Thirteen, sir."

"And you can tell lies like that, eh? and without blus.h.i.+ng?"

"It is not a lie, sir," I said stoutly. "Mr Blakeford hasn't been down since--since--"

"I thrashed him, eh?" he said, laughing. "It was a good thras.h.i.+ng too, eh, youngster? But, hallo! what's the matter with your head?"

"A cut, sir."

"What! Did you tumble down?"

"No, sir. It was done the day you--you beat Mr Blakeford."

"How?"

I was silent.

"He--he didn't dare to do it, did he?"

I was still silent.

"Look here, youngster, tell me the truth and I'll give you a s.h.i.+lling."

"I never told a lie yet, sir," I said stoutly, "and I don't want your s.h.i.+lling."

He looked at me intently for a few moments, and then held out his hand.