The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 128: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

122 THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. is I I a ee SS He had to wait fifteen minutes before the boat started. It was unearthly torture to him. He could plainly see his house, on the south side of the river, which appeared to be no more than a few hundred yards distant. He sought for a row-boat, but none was at hand. He felt as if he could have jumped across the river, and paced up and down, like one demented. Just as the regular boat was about to leave the ferry wharf, old Sir Richard appeared, and in com- pany with one of the best physicians of the city, He had been informed by the same messenger of the critical nature of the case, had left the India House on the instant, and had forced his old friend, Dr. Stevens, to accompany him. “Never mind your engagements, doctor—this is a case of life or death. I would not have her die for thousands !” Within a few moments the boat started, and the three gentlemen were soon landed on the other side, Two minutes’ walk sufficed to bring them to | Charley’s residence, Charley rushed upstairs, and would have entered yl his wife’s apartment, Mistress Haylark, looking double her ordinary size, stood outside the door, blocking up the door, and denied him entrance. “Go in there, sir,” she said, pointing majestically to a back room with her right hand, holding a basin of gruel in the left. ““Go in there, sir!” she repeated, with awful | solemnity of voice and manner, ‘‘and stay until you’re called, and don’t dare come in the room !”” Charley, the young and anxious husband, was stupefied, but mechanically obeyed. He had not remained long in suspense, when the connecting door between the back and front bed- rooms opened, and Dame Worthington, all smiles and tears, appeared with something in her arms, | which, rolled up in flannels and shawls, appeared to be an armful of newly-made muffins. Pa 7 “Look at that, my dear! look at your own dear | boy, and kiss him !” Old Sir Richard, Charley, and Dr. Stevens gazed upon the tiny face of the babe, who, with its little fists tightly closed, half-opened its eyes and began to.ery right lustily. Dame Worthington gave old Sir Richard a pecu- liar look, and that respectable old gentleman smiled, shook Charley by the hand, took a pinch of snuff, and turned aside. t Dr. Stevens pronounced it “an extraordinary in- fant,” and said it must have weighed ten pounds. While Charley, overjoyed to hear of Clara’s safety, took his first-born from the good old lady’s arms, kissed it, and, going into the front room, placed it beside its mother. Poor Clara, weak, faint, pale, and suffering, lan- guidly opened her eyes, faintly smiled, and sighed. Charley kissed her, of course, very fondly, and would have remained by her side, but the merry, laughing old dame, and the august, solemn-spoken mother-in-law bade her daughter dry up her tears, and remember she was ‘one of the Haylark’s,” and quickly hustled poor Charley out of the room. Full of excitement, he knew not what 'to do. For the first time'in his life, he determined to pay court to Bacchus, and old Sir Richard, apparently appearing nothing ‘loth, they both sat down ‘to a substantial meal, and beguiled the rest of ‘the even- ing by paying exclusive attention to a’ box of havannahbs and some excellent cognac. In his merriment and ‘good ‘humour, ‘he kissed everybody ; even his mother-in-law, whom -he dis- covered coming up stairs with medicines and gruel ; but that majestic lady, in her cap well stocked with flaming ribbons, frowned, and said he ought to be ashamed of himself, and should have more “ dignity,” a quality he would have doubtless pos- sessed in superabundance, only he was unfortunately not one of “the Haylarks.” Mr. Warbeck had no sooner become a father, than he began to look and and act like a much different man. Es . He was gay and lively as ever, it is true, and, if anything, far more so ; but he began to assume the air and bearing of one upon whose shoulders rested serious *‘ responsibilities.” He went to the office every morning with cheer- fullness and alacrity ; and there his chief thought during the day was for the approach of evening, when he might hurry homewards, to enjoy the be delights of his own fireside, in the company of his wife and child. lara, it must be confessed, soon recovered from her illness, and moyed about the house with great grace and amiability, looking more comely and eaptivating than ever. With “baby” in her arms, she would walk up and down the parlour singing all manner of pretty ditties to solace the child to sleep, and, it had scarcely closed its little eyes, ere she would com- mence to kiss and hug it, and to talk to it in baby prattle, and wake it again, and then begin to scold some imaginary being for having disturbed its slum- When the day of christening arrived there was much controyersy as to the name it should bear. Charles proposed that it should be named “ Charles Warbeck,” but to this proposition the mother-1n- law made vehement resistance. ; It was one of “the Haylarks,’ she said, and should be so named ; so that to quiet the old lady, and to prevent any more quarrelings, and historical lectures regarding her illustrious relatives, both father and mother agreed it should be named “Charles Kdyward ington Haylark Warbeck. CHAPTER XXXVI. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND—CAPTAIN JACK’S ADVEN- TURES, WueEn Phillip Redgill found himself safely locked in his prison cell, deep, dark remorse took posses- sion of his wicked heart. | He could not sleep, he could not eat. All he could do was to walk about the stone chamber, and curse everything and everbody. He called the gaoler-and spoke to him. “They accuse me of fearful crimes,” said Phillip, faintly attempting to smile; ‘but mere accusation will not avail much, they must prove all they say.” “There can’t be much difficulty about doing that,” said the old gaoler, “when such men as Colonel Blood and Captain Jack take the affair in hand, for Captain Jack can prove anything if he likes.” “Yes ; and perhaps .can disprove anything also if he thinks proper, eh ?” “T don’t’ know what you mean,” said the turnkey, with a knowing grin. : “Perhaps not,” said Phillip, with a sad smile ; “but I dare say you might give‘a rough guess.” “No one has any right to guess about such things,” said the turnkey, “and, besides, you must icomichbooks co 3