She flew downstairs, and electrified Edward and Sampson with the news. “Oh, promise me not to betray him!” she cried.
“Hut!” said the doctor, starting to his feet, “what should we betray him for? I'll cure him for you. I can cure any lunatic that has lucid intervals. Where is he?”
“Follow me,” gasped Julia. “Stay. I'll get rid of the servants first. I'll not play the fool, and betray him to his enemies.” She sent Sarah eastward, and Jane westward, and then led the way through the kitchen door into the yard.
They all searched about, and found nothing. Then Julia begged them to be silent. She whispered, “Alfred!” And instantly a faint voice issued from the top of a waggon laden with hay and covered with a tarpaulin. “Julia.”
They all stood staring.
“Who are those with you?” asked Alfred uneasily.
“Only friends, dear! Edward and Dr. Sampson.”
“Ned, old fellow,” groaned Alfred, “you pulled me out of the fire, won't you help me out of this? I think my leg is broken.”
At this Julia wrung her hands, and Edward ran into the house for his rope, and threw it over the waggon. He told Julia and Sampson to hold on by one end, and seizing the other, was up on the waggon in a moment. He felt about till he came to a protuberance; and that was Alfred under the tarpaulin, in which he had cut breathing-holes with his penknife. Edward sent Julia in for a carving-knife, and soon made an enormous slit: through this a well-known figure emerged into the moonlight, and seemed wonderfully tall to have been so hidden. His hands being uninjured, he easily descended the rope, and stood on one leg, holding it. Then Sampson and Edward put each an arm under his, and helped him into the house.
After the body the mind. That is the rule throughout creation. They examined, not his reason, but his leg. Julia stood by with clasped hands, and a face beaming with pity and anxiety, that repaid his pain. Sampson announced there were no bones broken, but a bad sprain, and the limb very red and swollen. “Now,” inquired he briskly of the company, “what is the practice in sprains? Why, leeches and cold water.”