his jealousy of the young Frenchman, with regard toMabel. He saw, indeed, that the Baron's attentions were devotedexclusively to Lucy. He was certainly in love with her; of that thereappeared no doubt.
The Colonel invited Harry to stop to dinner. It was more hurried thanusual, because Lucy insisted that they should have dancing after it, topractise for the next day. Those were primitive days. Lyndertonboasted of but one public conveyance, denominated the Fly, though itseldom moved out of a snail's pace, except when the driver was somewhattipsy, and hurrying back to obtain a second fare. Harry had been sentround a short time before dinner to invite several maiden ladies, withone or two other dames who were not able to attend the ball thefollowing day, while three or four of the foreign officers had receivedan intimation that they would be welcome.
Dinner over, and the tables cleared away, the gay young party begantripping it merrily to the music of harpsichord, violin, and flageolet,played by the foreign officers. Lucy appeared in excellent health andspirits, in spite of the fatigue she had gone through in the morning.No one danced more eagerly or lightly after the first country dance.She and the young Baron stood up to perform their proposed minuet: everyone remarked how lovely she looked, and how gracefully she moved.People forgot to watch the slides and bows of the young Frenchman; atleast, some of the guests did, though he was rewarded for his exertionsby the evident admiration of several of the young ladies.
"That young Tryon, who is dancing with Mabel Everard, considering he isan Englishman, acquits himself very well indeed," observed the DowagerCountess of Polehampton, eyeing the young couple through her glass. "Ifany creature could make a man dance, Mabel Everard would do so. Do youadmire her or her cousin most?"
"Really, your ladyship, they are both fine girls; it is difficult todecide between them," answered Sir John Frodsham, an old beau whofaithfully danced attendance on the Countess. "If I were a young man Imight be called upon to decide the question, and then I should certainlyhave voted in favour of the heiress; but now Lady Frodsham puts that outof my power."
"Oh, fie! Sir John, you men are all the same, money carries off thepalm with young and old alike."
Harry meantime was enjoying his dance with Mabel, caring very littlewhat the Countess of Polehampton or Sir John Frodsham might say of him.
During that evening more than one could not help remarking the richcolour and the sparkling eyes of the heiress of Stanmore. Never had shelooked so lovely; indeed, generally she carried off the palm from hercousin. The dance continued, the amateur musicians exerting themselvesto the utmost; and everybody declared that if the present impromptulittle party went off so well, that of the next day must be a greatsuccess. The Colonel was seated at the end of the room, payingattention to his more elderly guests, and occasionally saying a pleasantword or two to the young ones. Madam Everard kept moving about andacting the part of an attentive hostess. Frequently her nieces assistedher, when not actually engaged in dancing. There was a question to bedecided as to what dance should next take place.
"Where is Lucy?" exclaimed Madam Everard, looking round. Lucy had leftthe room; some minutes passed, and she did not return. Madam Everardbecame anxious. Mabel was again dancing, or she would have sent her tolook for her cousin. Madam Everard hastened from the ball-room; shewent up-stairs, and met a servant by the way.
"Miss Everard went up into her room some time ago."
Madam Everard hastened forward, telling the maid to follow.
The door was slightly open. There was no sound in the room--a lampburned on the table; Madam Everard's heart sank with dread. She lookedround. Stretched on the floor lay her beloved niece in her gay balldress, her countenance like marble, and blood flowing from her lips!
"She breathes, she breathes!" she said; and she and the maid lifted heron to the bed.
She had broken a blood-vessel. Madam Everard knew that at a glance:Lucy's mother had done the same.
"Dr. Jessop must be sent for immediately;" but Madam Everard did notwish to give the alarm to the rest of the guests. She would let thevisitors depart, and allow those who were to remain in the house to goto their rooms before the sad intelligence was conveyed to them. Shedid all that could be done, and applied such restoratives as shebelieved would be effectual.
Immediately Paul Gauntlett threw himself on horseback, and galloped offto fetch Dr. Jessop. He would not even stop to put a saddle on thehorse's back, and would have gone off with the halter.
Meantime Lucy returned to consciousness, and declared that she did notfeel ill, only somewhat tired, and would like to go to sleep. Theguests shortly began to take their departure. The maid-servants of themaiden ladies came with their pattens and hoods, and big cloaks, somewith huge umbrellas in addition. There were footmen and footboys also,with many-coloured liveries, carrying huge stable lanterns to lighttheir mistresses. They were generally employed in the service of thedowagers. The Fly was in requisition, but only for a select few.
As the guests came down-stairs, the foreign officers stood in the hall,occasionally making themselves useful, by assisting to put on theladies' hoods, cloaks, or shawls.
The young Baron de Ruvigny alone lingered. He had seen Lucy leave theroom, and he became anxious, finding that she did not return. He askedthe Colonel where she was. Just then a maid-servant came down with amessage from Madam Everard, requesting Colonel Everard to come to hisdaughter's room.
"What is the matter?" asked the young Baron of the servant, as theColonel hurried off.
"Our mistress is very ill, very ill indeed, and I fear there's no hopeof her recovery," answered the girl.
The young Baron entreated that he might be allowed to remain till thedoctor had seen her.
Paul had found Dr. Jessop at home. He accompanied him back at fullspeed. He looked very grave after he had seen Miss Lucy.
"I should like my friend Dr. Musgrave to see her. If the skill of anyman can avail, I am sure that his will, but it would take two days toget him down here, and this is a case demanding immediate remedies."
Paul Gauntlett had come in with the doctor, and was waiting outside MissLucy's room to hear his opinion.
"I will do it, sir!" he exclaimed, "if you will tell me where Dr.Musgrave is to be found; I will be off and bring him down as soon aspossible."
"Stay, friend," said Dr. Jessop; "while you are taking some refreshmentand getting your horse ready, I will write out a state of the case, andif Dr. Musgrave cannot come he will send by you such remedies as he mayconsider efficacious."
Paul scarcely liked the delay. He would have started on the back of thefirst horse he could lead out of the stable without thinking of food forhimself. Within ten minutes he was galloping along through the forest.He could get to Redbridge, and Southampton, and so on to Winchesterbefore daybreak. He could there get a fresh horse. He would distanceany post-chaise; he was sure of that. He had left orders to have afresh horse brought on for him to Southampton. He resolved not to wastea moment till he had brought the remedy for his dear Miss Lucy. Hishorse carried him nobly; he seemed to be aware that it was a matter oflife and death. Paul had been with his master in London on severaloccasions. He knew the road, and being an old campaigner, withoutdifficulty found his way to the doctor's house. The doctor was outvisiting patients. Paul fretted and fumed more than he had ever done inhis life before. The servant was disposed to shut the door in his face,and send him to an inn.
"That will not do, master," said Paul; "I must wait here till the doctorcomes back, and you must put up my horse, and rub him down, and feed himwell. It's a matter of life and death;" and Paul expatiated on theyouth and beauty and gentle disposition of his young mistress, till thetears rolled down his cheek, and he almost made the doctor's somewhatmorose butler weep with him.
"Oh, sir, sir, can you save her?" he exclaimed, handing Dr. Jessop'snote to Dr. Musgrave, when he came back. "It's impossible that so youngand sweet a creature as Miss Lucy should be allowed to die. It cannotbe, sir; it cann
ot be; it would break the Colonel's heart, and mine,too."
CHAPTER EIGHT.
THE YOUNG HEIRESS.--HARRY COMES OUT IN LONDON NOT UNDER THE BEST OFAUSPICES.
Mr. Musgrave threw himself into his arm-chair, and crossing his legs,with a frown of thought on his brow, looked over Dr. Jessop's notes. "Iwill go down to-morrow," he said, turning to Paul, who stood before himeagerly watching his countenance, as if he could there read the probablefate of his beloved young mistress. "I cannot possibly go to-day; I maybe of some use, but it is doubtful. However, I will send a medicinewhich may be efficacious, and suggest to Dr. Jessop how he may treat theyoung lady."
"Oh! sir, cannot you come, cannot you save her?" exclaimed Paul, notunderstanding what the doctor had said, but only making out that he wasunable to