_The Recal._
That same Evening, at Dusk, as we sat round the Fire, roasting
Chestnuts and Raisins, in comes young Mr. _Heavitree_, buttoned to the
Chin; and his Eyes and Cheeks in such a Glow with Exercise that I could
not help thinking to myself, "What a nice-looking young Man you are!"
He shook Hands very heartily all round, first with Mrs. _Bowerbank_,
next with me; and, addressing me first, "Mrs. _Patty_," says he, "I
come to repair and excuse the Negligence of my stupid Fellow, who
forgot he had taken up at the Post-office two Letters for this House,
and brought one addressed to you on to _Roaring House_."
I eagerly received it; and seeing _Prue's_ Hand, hastily broke the
Seal. At the same Instant, Mrs. _Bowerbank_, in a lamentable Voice,
says, "Oh, Mr. _Heavitree_! only think of our _Gatty_ taking the
Small-Pox!"
He turned so deadly white, that I saw in a Moment how it was with him,
and hastily cried, "Lady _Betty_, you mean, Ma'am, not _Gatty_!"
"But _Gatty_ has no doubt taken it by this Time," says her _Mother_,
"since she is constantly with Lady _Betty_."
Seeing Mr. _Heavitree_ look much agitated, and supposing he might like
to be alone with Mrs. _Bowerbank_, I rose and left the Room, to read my
Letter up-Stairs, thinking she might send the Girls away if she wished.
On running through _Prudence's_ Letter, I was quite disappointed to
find it contain so little, whether of News or Affection. Mr. _Fenwick_
and _Tom_, she never so much as named; my _Mother_, she said, was
pretty well, my _Father_ the same as usual; there were sundry little
Details about our Business, but not a Word I cared to hear; ending with
the same comfortless Burthen, "We can get on perfectly well without
you." I was so tired of the Country, that I had hoped there would have
been some Wish expressed for my Company, which would have been a decent
Pretext for my Return; but no! Nothing of the Sort! I remained musing
over my Letter with great Mortification till I got quite numbed with
Cold, and was roused by hearing the Gate shut. I saw Mr. _Heavitree_
going away; and when I went down, Mrs. _Bowerbank_ was not in the Room,
and the Girls and their Brother were still roasting their Chestnuts.
The next Day was much like the preceding, except that a rapid Thaw
set in. On the Day following that, a Post was due, and _Joe_ was sent
through Mud and Mire to see if there were any Letter from _Gatty_.
There was not; but there was one for me; that made me think I would
never wantonly desire a Pretext for a Recal again. It was from
_Prudence_; but oh, in how different a Spirit from the other! She wrote
in the utmost Hurry and Distress to tell me that my _Father_ had fallen
down Stairs and broken his Leg, and had likewise injured his Head so
much, that Dr. _Elwes_ thought there was a Concussion of the Brain. My
dear _Mother_ and _Prue_ were incessantly in Attendance on him, and
considered him in great Danger; they hoped I would return as soon as I
possibly could.
With my Eyes full of Tears, I went to communicate my bad News to Mrs.
_Bowerbank_, who was vastly distressed for me, and would say Nothing
to delay my Journey, especially now that the Thaw rendered the Roads
much safer. So I packed up at once, and, the next Morning, left them
all with many Thanks for their Kindness. _Joe_, who had become quite my
little Cavalier, accompanied me to the Corner, where we met the Coach,
carrying for me a Basket of the large Cat's-head Apples that some call
"Go-no-farther." I was the only Passenger, and was two Days on the Road
instead of one; but performed the Journey in perfect Safety.
It was quite dark when I reached Home. _Prudence_, hearing my Voice,
flew down Stairs and threw her Arms round my Neck all in Tears. I
wept too, and never was there a more sisterly Meeting. She told me
my dear _Father_ was still very bad; and though my _Mother_ kept up
wonderfully, she was exerting herself so much for him that she would
probably experience a dangerous Re-action. "But what can I do?" says
_Prue_ weeping, "I've hovered about him continually and done my very
best; but whenever he's himself, he doesn't like my Nursing, and says,
'There, let me have your _Mother_ till _Patty_ comes back!'" And she
cried bitterly.
I said, "Dear _Prue_, People when they are ill will take unaccountable
Fancies; and we have a divided Duty, between the Sick-Room and the
Shop. Let us each take that which suits us best; do you attend to the
Business, which you understand so well, and I will help my _Mother_ to
nurse my _Father_."
She said, still crying, "I suppose that will be best; but I love him as
well as you do, and you must let me take my Turn now and then, or my
Heart will break."
I said, "I will, I will;" and all this While I was taking off my Wraps,
and making ready to go up Stairs; but _Prudence_ would make me take a
Dish of Tea first, which was ready poured out, saying, that when I was
once up-Stairs I should be close Prisoner, and my _Father_ could not
bear so much as the Click of a Spoon. She added, "Dr. _Elwes_ is not
afraid of the Brain now; but my _Father_ is of such an inflammatory
Habit that his Fever runs very high, and he is not always himself."
"And Mr. _Fenwick_?" said I. "Is not he truly concerned about it?"
"Mr. _Fenwick_?" cries she, "Why, Mr. _Fenwick_ is not here now!"
"Not here now?" I exclaimed.
"Oh no, he returned to his Parish the Day before _Father's_ Accident,
thinking himself well enough to do Duty now, and we have not heard of
him since."
I was struck dumb. I looked full at _Prudence_, who spoke and carried
herself quite composedly. Seeing me look so hard at her, however, she
blushed all over; Cheek, Neck, and Brow, one hot Flush; and started up
to busy herself about some Trifle.
I felt a Pang, but it was for her, not myself. Poor _Prue_ found
herself deserted! All my old Love for her resumed its Strength; but
there was no Time now for Pity or Complaint--I rose up, saying, "Well,
I will go up-Stairs now; keep yourself up, dear _Prue_; there's no
knowing how much your Strength may be wanted."
"There is not, indeed," said she, bursting into Tears afresh. I could
not stand this--I said, "Come, _Prue_, come, ..." and put my Arm about
her, and she laid her Head on my Shoulder. I was obliged to gulp down
my own Tears, but I said gently, "This will never do--we must not give
way--Only think how much more poor _Father_, and dear _Mother_ too,
have to bear than we have. You must give over Crying, for indeed I
cannot go up till you do."
"You may go now," says she, wiping her Eyes and smiling up at me, "for,
strange as it may seem to you, I'm the better for this Cry. Go up now,
go softly; and send dear _Mother_ down to me presently, if you can, for
she needs Rest and Refreshment."
I said, "I will," and went up. My _Father_ was dozing when I
entered--my _Mother_ sitting beside him, with her Hands clasped
on her Knee. As soon as she saw me, she mutely held out her Arms
without rising; and the next Instant I was folded to her Heart. We
spoke a little in Whispers; and for a While I thought not nor desired
to persuade her to go. At length I did; and she, after a little
Resistance, yielded; for she was very much exhausted. I quietly took
her Place, and remained in it a long While, inactive in Body, but with
a Mind how busy!
Home, at last! and to a Scene how changed! Everything as still and
quiet as on _Larkfield_ Moor! He that had been the Life of many a
noisy, convivial Party, laid low--perhaps rapidly drawing nigh an
unknown World. My _Mother_, roused from her incapable State by strong
Affection; _Prue_, loving me again, and in Tears--Mr. _Fenwick_ gone!
What a Dream this World seems sometimes! Besides, my Head was mazed
with my Journey, and I was stiff with so much Jolting, and the
Closeness and Warmth of the Chamber after the biting Cold of the outer
Air made me feel drowsy. But I would not yield to it.
A Coffin flew out of the Fire. I was thankful not to be superstitious.
But yet I'd as lief it had been a Purse.
I thought of _Gatty's_ lone Watch; and how much harder her Post was
than mine. I was not incurring personal Danger in the Service of an
imperious, unfeeling Patient; I was not separated from a Mother and
Sister whom I loved; I was watching over some one very dear to me.
Thinking of her and of my _Father_ and _Mother_, I framed my Thoughts
to Prayer. Suddenly my _Father_, without opening his Eyes, murmured,
"_Delia!_ Give me your Hand!... Poor _Delia_, I have been very untoward
to thee--"
Silently, I placed my Hand in his. _Cordelia_ was my _Mother's_ Name,
but he was accustomed to call her _Delia_ for short; or rather, _had_
been accustomed, in their old Days of Love and Harmony. I took it for
a good Sign, his calling her so again; it showed that his Illness and
her Tenderness had melted him. I always liked his Abbreviation of her
Name, myself, though _Prue_ thought it only fit for a China Shepherdess.
"Who have I got hold of?" says he. "This isn't _Delia's_ Hand!--Ah,
I see the Shadow of _Patty's_ Nose against the Bed-curtain. Welcome,
Child! come, kiss thy poor old _Dad_."
Daddy, again, was a Word he never used but lovingly. I stooped over
him, and kissed him two or three Times; then set him completely to
rights, for his Head had slipped off the Pillow, and he was lying very
uncomfortably, without the Power to right himself.
"You're a prime one!" says he. "Thy dear _Mother_ has no Strength to
handle me, though the Will's ne'er a-wanting; and I can't bear her to
move me for fear of her doing herself a Hurt. As for _Prue_, she does
nought but sit by the Fire and sigh! But thou'rt able and willing both,
_Patty_; so keep about me all you can."
I promised him I would, and he soon became again quiet. _Prudence_
presently stole in; and in dumb Show bade me go down to sup with my
_Mother_. As my _Father_ seemed sleeping, I did so, and had a long Talk
with dear _Mother_; after which, I prevailed with her to sleep with
_Prue_, and let me keep Watch, assuring her I was quite fresh. She
consented at length, from sheer Incapacity to hold out any longer; and,
after a good Meal, I went up and took my Sister's Place. Shortly, the
House became perfectly silent, and the distant Clocks struck Twelve.
I sate by the Fire, musing on many Things and Persons, and a good deal
of Mr. _Fenwick_; and, before I was aware, large Tears were quietly
rolling down my Face. I was not pleased with my late Conduct of my own
Mind, and resolved on more Self-control and Self-discipline. While
framing these seasonable Resolutions, a Strain of low, sweet, solemn
Music stole through the Air. The Christmas Waits were playing beneath
some distant Window, and at the End of their soft Melody, I could make
out by the Rhythm, though not by the Articulation, the poor Musicians
crying out:
"_The Chelsea Waits make bold to call,
Good-morrow to you; Masters and Mistresses all._"
I dreaded their waking my _Father_ as they drew nearer, but there
was no Help for it. I rested my Head against the high Back of the
Nursing-chair, in a Kind of dreamy, lazy Luxury, listening to the
lovely Sounds; and called to Mind the old Text, "Ye shall have a Song
in the Night; as when some holy Solemnity is kept."
Ah, thought I, we are apt to fancy ourselves in the Blackness of
Darkness, when any Sorrow or Bereavement comes over us, and yet our
good GOD sends us a Song in the Night!--The poor Shepherds in the
Fields of _Bethlehem_ lay watching their Flocks by Night, when all
seemed dark and dreary, but suddenly a Light shone upon them, and they
heard sweet Music in the Air, even sweeter than that which I hear now.
Then I thought of the Manger, and the holy Child, and the Mother; and
the wise Men following the Star. The Folds of the Window-curtains were
a little apart, and I could see the Stars glimmering.
All at once, my _Father_, in a hurried Voice, exclaims, "They're moving
now!"
"What, dear _Father_?" said I softly, looking in on him.
"Cover them up! cover them up!" cries he rapidly; "tie their Legs, or
they'll set my Head spinning--Hey, diddle diddle! the Cat plays the
Fiddle; and the Shepherdess is _gavotting_ with the Turnspit! Lock 'em
up, I say! Dash them in Pieces! Break them!"
"Hush, dear _Father_, hush--" said I gently; but he was quite
unconscious of my Presence, or of anything about him, and grew more
and more light-headed. Had I not previously nursed _Gatty_ in her
Deliration, I should have been even more terrified than I was: at all
Events, it was awful Work; it was more fearful to hear a strong Man
raving than the lunatic Ramblings of a gentle Girl. But what Help was
there for it? I must e'en do the best I could. He tossed his Arms about
wildly; and once or twice made as though he would start up; but the
Splint on his Leg prevented that. Then he groaned heavily, gnashed
his Teeth, called for Drink, rolled his Eyes, shuddered, and finally
subsided into fitful Mutterings. Gradually these yielded to Stupor;
I looked in on him from Time to Time, hoping to find him asleep, but
there were his half-open, unwinking Eyes, glaring at me, without any
Token of Recognition. I do not know that my Strength was ever more
sorely tried.
Towards Day-dawn he slumbered. I am ashamed to say, I dropped asleep
too; it was not for long, I believe, yet when I woke up, the Fire
was nearly out; and _Prue_, in her Dressing-Jacket, was on her Knees
before it, stealthily reviving it. She put her Finger on her Lips, then
came to me and kissed me. The snapping of a very small Stick woke my
restless _Father_, who, no longer in his Fever-fit, and excessive low
and sinking, cries in a feeble Voice, "Who's there? _Prue_, I know, by
her Sighing! Go, get me some spiced Wine and Toast, for I'm ebbing away
as fast as I can."
"He always talks like that, when he comes to," whispers _Prue_, seeing
me look frightened. "We dare not give him Wine, but Tea and Toast he
shall have. I will bring it him directly; and then you shall go down
and have some too, while I stay with him, for you look completely worn
out."
In fact, I felt so just then; and though quite ashamed to be knocked
up with one Night's Nursing, yet my two Days' Journey began to tell
upon me; and I felt, that to husband my Strength for what probably
lay before me, I must take common Precautions. Therefore, when _Prue_
brought up my _Father's_ Breakfast, I went down to mine.
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