The silence as if of death reigned for days and days at Van Heldre's
house, which, unasked, old Crampton had made his residence. In a quiet
furtive way he had taken possession of the inner office, to which he had
brought from his own house a sofa-cushion and pillow, carrying them
there one dark night unseen, and at times, no doubt, he must have lain
down and slept; but to all there it was a mystery when he did take his
rest.
If Mrs Van Heldre called him to partake of a meal he came. If he was
forgotten he ate one of a store of captain's biscuits which he kept in
his desk along with his very strong tobacco, which flavoured the said
biscuits in a way that, being a regular smoker, he did not notice, while
at ten o'clock he regularly went out into the yard to have his pipe. He
was always ready to sit up and watch, but, to his great annoyance, he
had few opportunities, the task being shared between Madelaine and her
mother.
As to the business of the office, that went on as usual as far as the
regular routine was concerned, everything fresh being put back till the
principal resumed his place at his desk. Bills of lading, the
smelting-house accounts, bank deposits, and the rest, all were attended
to, just as if Van Heldre had been there instead of lying above between
life and death. From time to time Mrs Van Heldre came down to him to
beg that he would ask for everything he wanted.
"I cannot help neglecting you, Mr Crampton," she said, with her hands
playing about the buttons of her dress.
"Never you mind about me, ma'am," he said, admonishing her with a
penholder. "I'm all right, and waiting to take my turn."
"Yes, yes, you're very good, Mr Crampton, and you will see that
everything goes on right, so that when he comes down he may find that we
have not neglected any single thing."
Crampton frowned, but his face grew smooth again as he looked at the
little anxious countenance before him.
"Don't you be afraid, ma'am. If Mr Van Heldre came down to-day
everything is ready for him--everything."
"Yes, of course, Mr Crampton. I might have known it. But I can't help
feeling anxious and worried about things."
"Naturally, ma'am, naturally; and I've been trying to take all worry
away from you about the business. Everything is quite right. Ah!" he
said as the little woman hurried away from the office, "if Miss Maddy
would only talk to me like that. But she won't forgive me, and I
suppose she never will." He made an entry and screwed up his lips, as
he dipped a pen in red ink and ruled a couple of lines, using the ebony
ruler which had laid his master low. "Poor girl! I never understood
these things; but they say love makes people blind and contrary, and so
it is that she seems to hate me, a man who wouldn't rob her father of a
penny, and in her quiet hiding sort of way worships the man who robbed
him of five hundred pounds, and nearly killed him as well. Ah! it's a
curious world."
"I've--I've brought you a glass of wine and a few biscuits, Mr
Crampton," said Mrs Van Heldre, entering and speaking in her pleasant
prattling way. Then she set down a tray, and hurried out before he
could utter his thanks.
"Good little woman," said Crampton. "Some people would have brought a
glass of wine and not the decanter. Well, yes, ma'am, I will have a
glass of wine, for I feel beat out."
He poured out a glass of good old sherry, held it up to the light, and
closed one eye.
"Your health, Mr Van Heldre," he said solemnly. "Best thing I can wish
you. Yours, Mrs Van Heldre, and may you never be a widow. Miss
Madelaine, your health, my dear, and may your eyes be opened. I'm not
such a bad man as you think."
He drank the glass of wine, and then made a grimace.
"Sweet biscuits," he said, "only fit for children. Hah, well! Eh?
What's the matter?"
He had heard a cry, and hurrying across the office, he locked the door,
and ran down the glass corridor to the house.
"Worse, ma'am, worse?" he cried, as Mrs Van Heldre came running down
the stairs and into the dining-room, where she plumped herself on the
floor, and held her hands to her lips to keep back the hysterical sobs
which struggled for vent.
"Shall I run for the doctor, ma'am?"
"No, no!" cried Mrs Van Heldre, in a stifled voice, with her mouth
still covered. "Better."
"Better?"
She nodded violently.
"Then it was very cruel of you, ma'am," said the old man plaintively.
"I thought--I thought--"
Crampton said no more, but he walked to the window with his face buried
in his great yellow silk handkerchief, blowing his nose with a
continuity and force which became at last so unbearable that Mrs Van
Heldre went out into the hall.
She went back soon into the dining-room, where Crampton was waiting
anxiously.
"He looked at me when I was in the room with my darling child, Mr
Crampton, and his lips parted, and he spoke to me, and I was obliged to
come away for fear I should do him harm."
"Come away, ma'am! and at a time like that!" said Crampton, angrily.
Mrs Van Heldre drew herself up with dignity.
"My child signed to me to go," she said quietly; and then with her eyes
brimming over with tears, "Do you think I would not have given the world
to stay?"
At that moment Madelaine came quickly and softly into the room.
"He is sleeping," she whispered excitedly; "he looked at me and smiled,
and then his eyes closed and he seemed to go into a calm sleep, not that
terrible stupor, but sleep. Mother, come and see--it must be sleep."
Old Crampton was left alone to begin pacing the room excitedly for a few
minutes, when Madelaine came down once more.
"Pray go for Dr Knatchbull!" she cried piteously.
"But isn't he--"
"We do not know--we are afraid to hope--pray, pray go."
"She hasn't spoken so gently since that night," muttered Crampton, as he
hurried down the street. "Poor girl! it is very hard; and this may be
only the change before--No, I won't think that," cried the old clerk,
and he broke into a run.
Volume 2, Chapter XVII.