The Black Moth: A Romance of the XVIIIth Century Read online

  CHAPTER XII

  MY LORD DICTATES A LETTER AND RECEIVES A VISITOR

  My lord came sighing back to life. He opened his eyes wearily, andturned his head. A faint feeling of surprise stole over him. He was in aroom he had never been in before, and by the window, busy with someneedlework, sat a little old lady who was somehow vaguely familiar.

  "Who--are--you?" he asked, and was annoyed to find his voice so weak.

  The little lady jumped, and came across to him.

  "Praise be to God!" she ejaculated. "Likewise, bless the boy! The feveris passed." She laid a thin hand on his brow, and smiled down into hiswondering eyes.

  "As cool as a cucumber, dear boy. What a mercy!"

  It was a long time since anyone had called Jack dear, or boy. Hereturned the smile feebly and closed his eyes.

  "I--do not--understand--anything," he murmured drowsily.

  "Never trouble your head then. Just go to sleep."

  He considered this gravely for a moment. It seemed sensible enough, andhe was so very, very tired. He shut his eyes with a little sigh.

  * * * * *

  When he awoke again it was morning of the next day, and the sun streamedin the window, making him blink.

  Someone rustled forward, and he saw it was the lady who had called himdear and bidden him go to sleep.

  He smiled, and a very thin hand came out of the bedclothes.

  "But who are you?" he demanded a little querulously.

  Miss Betty patted his hand gently.

  "Still worrying your poor head over that? I am Di's Aunt Betty--though,to be sure, you don't know who Di is!"

  Remembrance was coming back to my lord.

  "Why--why--you are the lady in the coach!--Tracy--I remember!"

  "Well, I know nought of Tracy, but I'm the lady in the coach."

  "And the other--"

  "That was Diana Beauleigh, my niece--the pet. You will see her when youare better."

  "But--but--where am I, madam?"

  "Now don't get excited, dear boy!"

  "I'm thirty!" protested Jack with a wicked twinkle.

  "I should not have thought it, but thirty's a boy to me, in any case!"retorted Miss Betty, making him laugh. "You are in Mr. Beauleigh'shouse--Di's father, and my brother. And here you will stay until you arequite recovered!"

  Jack raised himself on his elbow, grimacing at the pain the movementcaused him.

  "Egad, madam! have I been here long?" he demanded.

  Very firmly was he pushed back on to his pillows.

  "Will you be still? A nice thing 'twould be if you were to aggravatethat wound of yours! You will have been here a week to-morrow. Bless myheart, what ails the boy?" For Jack's face took on an expression ofincredulous horror.

  "A _week_, madam? Never say so!"

  "'Tis as true as I stand here. And a nice fright you have given us, whatwith nearly dying, and raving about your Dicks and your Jims!"

  My lord glanced up sharply.

  "Oh! So I--talked?"

  "Talk? Well, yes, if you can call all that mixture of foreign jargontalking. Now you must be still and wait till the doctor comes again."

  For a while Carstares lay in silence. He thought of Jim and smiled alittle. "I could not have thought of a better punishment had I tried,"he told himself, and then frowned. "Poor fellow! He'll be off his headwith fright over me. Miss--er--Betty?"

  "Well, and are you not asleep yet?"

  "Asleep, Madam? Certainly not!" he said with dignity. "I must write aletter."

  "'Deed, an' you shall not!"

  "But I must! 'Tis monstrous important, madam."

  She shook her head resolutely.

  "Not until Mr. Jameson gives permission," she said firmly.

  Jack struggled up, biting his lip.

  "Then I shall get up!" he threatened.

  In an instant she was by his side.

  "No, no! Now lie down and be good!"

  "I will not lie down and be good!"

  "Then I shan't let you touch a pen for weeks!"

  Jack became very masterful and frowned direfully upon her.

  "Madam, I insist on being allowed to write that letter!"

  "Sir, I insist on your lying down!"

  He controlled a twitching lip.

  "Woe betide you unless you bring me pen and paper, Miss Betty!"

  "But, dear boy, reflect! You could not use your arm."

  "I will use it!" replied Jack indomitably, but he sank back on to thepillows with his eyes closed and a tiny furrow of pain between hisstraight brows.

  "I told you so!" scolded Miss Betty, not without a note of triumph inher voice, and proceeded to rearrange the disorderly coverlet.

  The blue eyes opened wide, pleadingly.

  "Madam, indeed 'tis very important."

  She could not withstand that look.

  "Well," she compromised, "I'll not let you write yourself, that'scertain--but could you not dictate to me?"

  Jack brightened, and caught her hand to his lips.

  "Miss Betty, you are an angel!" he told her.

  "Ah now, get along with you!" She hurried away to fetch paper and ink.

  When she returned she found him plucking impatiently at the sheet, andfrowning.

  "I am ready," she said.

  "Thank you, madam. 'Tis very kind in you--"

  "Nonsense!"

  He laughed weakly.

  "I want you to write to my servant, to bid him bring my baggage to thenearest inn--"

  "That will I not! I shall tell him to bring it here."

  "But, Miss Betty, I cannot possibly trespass upon--"

  "Will you have done? Trespass indeed!"

  "I perceive I shall be much put upon," sighed Jack, and watched herlightning smile.

  "You BOY! Will you dictate?"

  "Very well, ma'am. No, I have changed my mind. I'll have it writ to afriend, please: 'Dear Miles.... True to my promise.... I write toyou.... In case ... you should be worried ... over my disappearance ...be it known ... that I am at'--pray, madam, where am I?"

  "Horton Manor, Littledean," she replied, writing it down.

  "Thank you. 'I had the misfortune to injure my shoulder in a--"

  "'And arm,'" put in the scribe, inexorably.

  "'And arm, in a fight ... and a certain very ... kind lady--'"

  "I refuse to write that rubbish! 'One of the ladies whom I rescued--'"

  "Good heavens, madam, you've not put that?" cried Jack horrified.

  She smiled reassuringly.

  "I have not. I have put: 'My nurse is writing this for me.'"

  "Madam, you are of a teasing disposition," reproved my lord."M--yes--'When you take Jenny--over to Trencham ... will you please tellJim to bring my baggage ... here at once?' Have you that, Miss Betty?"

  "Yes."

  "Remember me to Lady ... Molly, I beg ... and accept my apologies ...and thanks.'" He paused. "Will you sign it J.C., please, and address itto Sir Miles O'Hara, Thurze House, Maltby?"

  "Sir Miles O'Hara! Is he your friend, Mr.--Mr.--I do not know yourname."

  "Car--" began Jack, and stopped, biting his lip. "Carr," he continuedimperturbably, "John Carr. Do you know O'Hara, Miss Betty?"

  "Me? No! Will he come to see you, do you think?"

  "If you let him in, madam!"

  "Gracious! Well, well! I'll tell Thomas to ride over with this at once."

  "Miss Betty, you are marvellously good. I vow I can never thank--"

  "Bless the boy! And what about yourself, pray? I shudder to think ofwhat might have happened to Di if you had not come up! 'Tis we can neverthank you enough."

  Jack reddened boyishly and uncomfortably.

  "Indeed, you exaggerate--"

  "Tut, tut! Well, go to sleep, and never worry about anything till Ireturn. And you won't try and get up?"

  He shook with laughter.

  "I swear I will not! Even an you never return, I will lie here, wastingaway--" But he spoke to sp