“Thank you, Mary,” he said. “I owe you a great deal more than I can now tell you, for I have something else to say. I want you to bring me a lawyer, an honest man, if such is to be found, and his clerk must come to witness my signature. I’ll try to keep alive until he arrives, for, Mary, do you know I think that I am dying.”
“O no, I hope not, Mr Shank. You are only weak from want of food,” exclaimed Mary, who, however, was much alarmed. “I will go on to where Mr Thorpe lives, I know the way perfectly, and have heard uncle say that he is a good and honest man, and is trusted by all the people round.”
“Go then, Mary, go!” said the old man. “Don’t allow any one to stop you; and if Mr Thorpe is out, write a message requesting him to come on here immediately.”
Mary, promising Mr Shank that she would obey his wishes, hastened away. She observed that he did not close the door behind her as usual. She found Mr Thorpe at home and gave her message.
“What! old Shank the miser? I suspect that he has something worth leaving behind,” observed the lawyer. “I’ll be with him immediately, depend on that. But how are you going to get back, young lady?”
“Oh, I can walk perfectly well,” said Mary.
“No; let me drive you as far as old Shank’s, and if you like to remain I will take you on to Triton Cottage. Miss Sally will not know what has become of you.”
Mary was glad to accept this offer, and the lawyer’s gig being brought round, she took her seat between him and his clerk.
“I will wait outside,” she said when they reached Mr Shank’s door. “I can look after your horse and see it doesn’t run away, for Mr Shank may have something particular to tell you which he might not wish me to hear.”
The lawyer, appreciating Mary’s delicacy, agreed, though he did not give her the charge of his horse, as the animal was well accustomed to stand with its head fastened to a paling while he visited his clients. Mary waited and waited, sometimes walking about, at others standing beside the gig, or sitting on the hillside, on the very spot which had often been occupied by Ned. Her thoughts naturally flew away to him. Where could he be all this time? Would Mr Hanson and Charley discover him, or would they return without tidings of his fate?