CHAPTER XVI. "Go, bid the needle his dear north forsake, Go bid th' ambitious flames no more ascend: COWLEY. AT the earliest dawn Rebecca was up and dressed, and many were the kind caresses that she had to bestow upon her companion, ere she could impart that wakefulness to her which was necessary to bring to the conference they had to hold, upon what was next to be done with the wanderer imprisoned in the bed-room. The young heiress was all activity and energy; whilst Miss Belmont's morning reflections told her that they had committed a very rash step, and one that would go far to compromise their reputations. For Rebecca's sake, she repented not of what they had done; yet the alarm that pervaded her, having thrown a benumbing influence over her faculties, made her incapable of advising, and action irksome to her. Her only wish, now, was to share the responsibility with Mr. Underdown, or, at least, with either of the elder ladies of the household, Mrs. Oliphant, or her not exceedingly wise sister, Miss Matilda Bacuissart. To neither of these propositions would her friend listen for a moment. However, the bird in the cage must not only be concealed effectually, but also fed. This was an embarrassing di lemma; but if young ladies will lock young gentlemen up in their bed-rooms, they must not suppose that they are making a bed of roses for themselves. Eight o'clock had arrived, and the family were all astir, and yet nothing was concluded upon. "You must go and see, my Rosebud, if dear Augustus be awake. You know it won't do for me to be seen knocking at the outside of my own bed-room door, whilst I am supposed to be comfortably within." "I should think not," said Rosa, taking the key, for they had turned the lock upon him. Well, and if his lordship is awake, what shall I say to him?" "Unlock the door quietly, give him my love and the key, and tell him we will bring him up breakfast directly." "I am curious to know how, my dear Becky." "O that's to be thought of. We'll manage it, no doubt." Miss Belmont went to the room door, and returned with looks of dismay. "What in heaven has happened, Rosa?" "Happened! The young man is snoring like a band of ill-played kettle-drums, and nothing less than a sledgehammer will awaken him. I have already knocked the skin off my knuckles. Do all men make this horrid noise when they sleep? Heigho! Positively, my dear, he will alarm the house." Rosa, you are quite disagreeable this morning. Sweet, gentle Augustus! What a severe cold in the head he must have!" "At all events, he cannot have a very guilty conscience. He should be made captain of the seven snorers-I beg pardon-sleepers." "Ah, you may say any thing, Rosa, if you will but assist us." "Well, my little blue-eyed sapience, what would you have me do?' Rosa, you must feign sickness; you must keep your room-you must even go to bed again; but you must be afflicted with a craving, a tremendous appetite-a longing for beefsteaks and pots of coffee. It will be my duty to breakfast with you-I am myself excessively hungry. Go to bed-there's a love. I will go down and report ow ill you are." "I will do it-yes-certainly; but only remember what a bad actress I am. Do let us make Mr. Underdown a party to all this; or else I may have to keep my bed for a week, and my reputation for an intolerable eater the rest of my life. Is this Augustus of yours as great at swallowing as he is at snoring?" "Come, Rosa, my dearest, to bed with you." "And the sun shining so brightly!" Rebecca descended, and joined the rest of the family in the breakfast-parlour. Contrary to her custom of bursting in and running round with a face of joy to salute every one, she attempted to mask her emotions by a stateliness of deportment and a constrained politeness, not quite natural to her. She looked scrutinizingly into every face, but the examination did not add to her sources of alarm. The countenance of the person whom she most feared betrayed unusual pleasure and satisfaction. After the usual salutations had been exchanged, Mr. Underdown said kindly to Rebecca, "My beauty, this is the first time that you are last." Peter Drivel, who was just then in attendance, pricked up his ears like an old charger at the sound of the trumpet; however, he had the discretion to clap his hand upon his mouth, and thus stop the utterance of his absurdity. O that punsters had more of Peter's wisdom! "Did you hear the deep baying of Carlo last night, Rebecca? Your window looks out upon the lawn." 'I sleep soundly," was the scarcely articulate reply, the carnation of her face exceeding the brilliancy of the damask-rose. "I can easily believe you, Rebecca, for when I passed your room-door, not a quarter of an hour ago, I heard some of the most unsophisticated snoring that ever chorussed sleep. But where, my dear, is Rosa? Does she sleep soundly too?" This last question afforded Rebecca a little relief; for, before, she felt so confused, that she could not very well tell whether it were herself, or the room that was turning round. She believed that one or the other was spinning like a teetotum. I am very sorry to tell you that Rosa is very much indisposed, and, after rising this morning, I compelled her to go to bed again. I have promised to breakfast and spend the rest of the day with her." At this announcement, the rest of the ladies were ready clamorously to rush up-stairs, in order to administer to the patient quiet and consolation. This Rebecca opposed, saying that she was sure that, just now, Miss Belmont would prefer being left alone. Mr. Underdown said very drily-and Rebecca thought rather suspiciously-that he was sure she would;" and thus, influenced by his authority, the ladies resumed their seats. He then quietly asked them if they had heard the news. This excited their utmost attention. He then read a letter from the old Commodore, dated from town, in which he said that he was sorry that he should be detained, perhaps for another week, on very important private business. He sent his love and his blessing to Rebecca-indeed, it was a very charming and peacebreathing letter, considering who was its writer. Mr. Underdown, however, did not read the whole of it. Then there were the official accounts of his recent splendid victory to be read, and the various comments to be made and listened to upon it; so that a full half-hour was consumed, and poor Miss Belmont left, as Peter would have said, embedded in suspense and anxiety. Poor Rebecca was the only person present who seemed not fully to enter into the triumphant feelings of the rest of the party; and, when Mrs. Oliphant exclaimed, "How happy must now be my brother Octavius!" she sighed and said, "Would to heaven he were here! I could make him happier than could a thousand victories." "Hey day!" cried out Mr. Underdown, "our heroine speaks in parables. Becky, it is a dangerous style of talking. O Rebecca, look at your linnet; we should never neglect or endanger our captives-especially when they are willing ones." The poor girl trembled from head to foot, as she went to tend her bird; and, though she did not say so, she thought that her reprover could himself speak in mysteries tremendously. Could he suspect any thing? she asked herself, and grew sick at heart at the question. Whilst the rest of the company were nearly wild with joy, at the news that they had just heard, and with the hopes of seeing their relatives, Sir Octavius and Captain Oliphant, Rebecca sat silent, perplexed, and absent. She appeared to have lost her consciousness of every thing around her; she did not even see the mingled glances of pity and approval that Mr. Underdown, from time to time, cast upon her. At length, he ordered a most substantial breakfast to be prepared, and taken up to the sick lady's room; saying, to the astonishment of every one, that he would take the opportunity of himself paying her a visit, if Miss Belmont had no objection. This certainly aroused Rebecca; but she was mute with alarm. "Go, my dear Rebecca, and give my regards and compliments to Miss Belmont; and tell her, that if she does not object to an old man like myself, who has also had much practice in medicine, visiting her, as her physician, I will do myself the honour to prescribe for her, until we get other and better advice. Go; and return to me immediately. Rebecca, mark me-the case may be dangerous." Roused by the last word, she flew up into Rosa's room, who, hearing somebody coming up-stairs, tumbled into her bed as quickly as she could, with her clothes on. When the almost breathless Rebecca had delivered Mr. Underdown's message, Miss Belmont was almost convulsed with laughter. Any thing in the world that I can do for you, I will. But how, in the name of all that's difficult, am I to look pale and ugly? And your lover locked up in the next room, too. There-thick as are the party walls, I vow and declare I think I hear him snoring still. Really, this is too ridiculous." "Do not thus sport with my misery. Betray us both -but do not mock us." My sweet child, I will not. Send up my doctorguardian. I will turn my face to the wall, and look as pale and with as little life in me, as a boiled parsnip-if I can. Now, go down, and bring the good man up." She returned, afterwards, with Mr. Underdown and an exceedingly substantially furnished breakfast-tray. The servant who bore it was ordered to remain. During all this time, Rebecca, with her eyes filled with tears, looked most imploringly and inquiringly into the face of the quiet gentleman; and every moment the words, "You know all?" trembled upon her lips. If Mr. Underdown knew or suspected any thing, he kept his secret and his gravity admirably. He approached the bed of the supposed patient with due decorum. He hemmed, as a physician should hem who is overflowing |