| 322 | 323 | 324 | 325 | 326 |
| 1 | 133 | 265 | 398 | 530 |
|
Chapter XLVI
It was the poor schoolmaster. No other than the poor schoolmaster.
Scarcely less moved and surprised by the sight of the child than she
had been on recognising him, he stood, for a moment, silent and
confounded by this unexpected apparition, without even the presence
of mind to raise her from the ground.
But, quickly recovering his self-possession, he threw down his stick
and book, and dropping on one knee beside her, endeavoured, by
such simple means as occurred to him, to restore her to herself; while
her grandfather, standing idly by, wrung his hands, and implored her
with many endearing expressions to speak to him, were it only a word.
'
She is quite exhausted,' said the schoolmaster, glancing upward into
his face. 'You have taxed her powers too far, friend.'
'She is perishing of want,' rejoined the old man. 'I never thought how
weak and ill she was, till now.'
Casting a look upon him, half-reproachful and half-compassionate,
the schoolmaster took the child in his arms, and, bidding the old man
gather up her little basket and follow him directly, bore her away at
his utmost speed.
There was a small inn within sight, to which, it would seem, he had
been directing his steps when so unexpectedly overtaken. Towards
this place he hurried with his unconscious burden, and rushing into
the kitchen, and calling upon the company there assembled to make
way for God's sake, deposited it on a chair before the fire.
The company, who rose in confusion on the schoolmaster's entrance,
did as people usually do under such circumstances. Everybody called
for his or her favourite remedy, which nobody brought; each cried for
more air, at the same time carefully excluding what air there was, by
closing round the object of sympathy; and all wondered why
somebody else didn't do what it never appeared to occur to them
might be done by themselves.
The landlady, however, who possessed more readiness and activity
than any of them, and who had withal a quicker perception of the
merits of the case, soon came running in, with a little hot brandy and
water, followed by her servant-girl, carrying vinegar, hartshorn,
smelling-salts, and such other restoratives; which, being duly
administered, recovered the child so far as to enable her to thank
them in a faint voice, and to extend her hand to the poor
schoolmaster, who stood, with an anxious face, hard by. Without
suffering her to speak another word, or so much as to stir a finger any
Page
Quick Jump
|