The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

72 THE KING OF THE SCHOOL: OB, WHO WILL WIN? paneer en AEE ee einen r CHAPTER XIX. THE SICK BED. ABOUT eight hours after Doctor Whackley sent to Mrs. Egerton, a train, in which that lady was seated, was rapidly nearing the old city of Ballsbury. — | Swiftly though it sped along the iron-track, its speed seemed a snail’s pace to the widow lady, who pictured to herself her darling, daring, hand- some boy, lying in the agonies of death. And at the thought of the utter desolation that would follow such a cruel bereavement, her spirits fairly gave way, and floods of tears flowed from her eyes. | Her watch was frequently consulted, and her head thrust from the window to see if they were approaching the town. About half an hour’s ride from Balls- bury, the sun, which had hitherto been concealed behind some clouds, shone out, lighting up the whole of the beau- tiful couxtry. ‘“‘ T accept the omen—there is hope!” she exclaimed, pressing her hands to her throbbing temples. ah * * * * About that same moment Frank Egerton awoke from the long and death- like trance into which his wound had thrown him. Doctor and nurse were both watching, and, from the first glance, knew that he was not delirious. ““ How is the doctor? What has be- come of the burglar?” were the first questions he asked. He would have sat up, but the nurse held him back. | “Doctor Whackley has quite re- covered ; but you must be very quiet, for you have received a dangerous wound,” “A wound! Ah, I feel weak, my head throbs.” | | “‘ Lie still and be quiet.” “T want to see Pembridge—and Fitzgerald—and—” | Before he could complete the sentence he swooned again, and was unconscious when his mother arrived. The medical gentleman had at ‘first some fears for Mrs. Egerton, so excited was she. : | At length she calmed down and took up her position by the bed-side, prepared to act asnurse. Several hours elapsed, however, before any necessity for her services arose. The flame of life had been so nearly extinguished that the surgeons feared it would die out entirely. During the continuance of this second swoon, the Earl of Pembridge and Charlie Fitzgerald were permitted to come into the sick-room, which was not that in which Frank usually slept, but at the back of the house, the window overlooking the doctor’s garden. It was quite dark, and the night being somewhat sultry, the casement had beex thrown up to admit as much of the night air as possible. The light was shaded, and the boys being at supper, everything was perfectly quiet. After some whispered conversation with Mrs. Egerton, the young earl yanantly proposed to fetch her a glass or wine, Fitzecrald remained in the room, and in a9 very low tone of voice related to the lady all he knew of the manner in which Frank met his wound, and also the chase Marsham and the earl had after the would-be assassin, modestly forgetting to mention that he himself had taken part in that chase. Go NOC A) (CO mn