Chapter XIV.
The Recal.
That same Evening, at Dusk, as we sat round the Fire, roasting Chestnuts and Raisins, in comes young Mr. Heavitree, buttoned to the Chin; and his Eyes and Cheeks in such a Glow with Exercise that I could not help thinking to myself, "What a nice-looking young Man you are!" He shook Hands very heartily all round, first with Mrs. Bowerbank, next with me; and, addressing me first, "Mrs. Patty," says he, "I come to repair and excuse the Negligence of my stupid Fellow, who forgot he had taken up at the Post-office two Letters for this House, and brought one addressed to you on to Roaring House."
I eagerly received it; and seeing Prue's Hand, hastily broke the Seal. At the same Instant, Mrs. Bowerbank, in a lamentable Voice, says, "Oh, Mr. Heavitree! only think of our Gatty taking the Small-Pox!"
He turned so deadly white, that I saw in a Moment how it was with him, and hastily cried, "Lady Betty, you mean, Ma'am, not Gatty!"
"But Gatty has no doubt taken it by this Time," says her Mother, "since she is constantly with Lady Betty."
Seeing Mr. Heavitree look much agitated, and supposing he might like to be alone with Mrs. Bowerbank, I rose and left the Room, to read my Letter up-Stairs, thinking she might send the Girls away if she wished. On running through Prudence's Letter, I was quite disappointed to find it contain so little, whether of News or Affection. Mr. Fenwick and Tom, she never so much as named; my Mother, she said, was pretty well, my Father the same as usual; there were sundry little Details about our Business, but not a Word I cared to hear; ending with the same comfortless Burthen, "We can get on perfectly well without you." I was so tired of the Country, that I had hoped there would have been some Wish expressed for my Company, which would have been a decent Pretext for my Return; but no! Nothing of the Sort! I remained musing over my Letter with great Mortification till I got quite numbed with Cold, and was roused by hearing the Gate shut. I saw Mr. Heavitree going away; and when I went down, Mrs. Bowerbank was not in the Room, and the Girls and their Brother were still roasting their Chestnuts.
The next Day was much like the preceding, except that a rapid Thaw set in. On the Day following that, a Post was due, and Joe was sent through Mud and Mire to see if there were any Letter from Gatty. There was not; but there was one for me; that made me think I would never wantonly desire a Pretext for a Recal again. It was from Prudence; but oh, in how different a Spirit from the other! She wrote in the utmost Hurry and Distress to tell me that my Father had fallen down Stairs and broken his Leg, and had likewise injured his Head so much, that Dr. Elwes thought there was a Concussion of the Brain. My dear Mother and Prue were incessantly in Attendance on him, and considered him in great Danger; they hoped I would return as soon as I possibly could.
With my Eyes full of Tears, I went to communicate my bad News to Mrs. Bowerbank, who was vastly distressed for me, and would say Nothing to delay my Journey, especially now that the Thaw rendered the Roads much safer. So I packed up at once, and, the next Morning, left them all with many Thanks for their Kindness. Joe, who had become quite my little Cavalier, accompanied me to the Corner, where we met the Coach, carrying for me a Basket of the large Cat's-head Apples that some call "Go-no-farther." I was the only Passenger, and was two Days on the Road instead of one; but performed the Journey in perfect Safety.