put yourself in his place-第13部分

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ham　at　the　gate。　　Come；　put　him　into　it；　and　I'll　take　him　to　the　infirmary。〃

〃No；〃　said　Little；　〃I　won't　go　there；　my　mother　would　hear　of　it。〃

〃Oh；　then　your　mother　is　not　to　know？〃

〃Not　for　all　the　world！　　She　has　had　trouble　enough。　　I'll　just　wash　my　face　and　buy　a　clean　shirt；　and　she'll　never　know　what　has　happened。　　It　would　kill　her。　　Oh；　yes；　it　would　kill　her！〃

The　doctor　eyed　him　with　warm　approval。　　〃You　are　a　fine　young　fellow。　　I'll　see　you　safe　through　this；　and　help　you　throw　dust　in　your　mother's　eyes。　　If　you　go　to　her　with　that　scratched　face；　we　are　lost。　　Come；　get　into　my　carriage；　and　home　with　me。〃

〃Mayn't　I　wash　my　face　first？　　And　look　at　my　shirt：　as　black　as　a　cinder。〃

〃Wash　your　face；　by　all　means：　but　you　can　button　your　coat　over　your　shirt。〃

The　coat　was　soon　brought；　and　so　was　a　pail　of　water　and　a　piece　of　yellow　soap。　　Little　dashed　his　head　and　face　into　the　bucket；　and　soon　inked　all　the　water。　　The　explosion　had　filled　his　hair　with　black　dust；　and　grimed　his　face　and　neck　like　a　sweep's。　　This　ablution　made　him　clean；　but　did　not　bring　back　his　ruddy　color。　　He　looked　pale　and　scratched。

The　men　helped　him　officiously　into　the　carriage；　though　he　could　have　walked　very　well　alone。

Henry　asked　leave　to　buy　a　clean　shirt。　　The　doctor　said　he　would　lend　him　one　at　home。

While　Henry　was　putting　it　on　Dr。　Amboyne　ordered　his　dog…cart　instead　of　his　brougham；　and　mixed　some　medicines。　　And　soon　Henry　found　himself　seated　in　the　dog…cart；　with　a　warm　cloak　over　him；　and　whisking　over　the　stones　of　Hillsborough。

All　this　had　been　done　so　rapidly　and　unhesitatingly　that　Henry；　injured　and　shaken　as　he　was；　had　yielded　passive　obedience。　　But　now　he　began　to　demur　a　little。　　〃But　where　are　we　going；　sir？〃　he　asked。

〃To　change　the　air　and　the　scene。　　I'll　be　frank　with　youyou　are　man　enough　to　bear　the　truthyou　have　received　a　shock　that　will　very　likely　bring　on　brain…fever；　unless　you　get　some　sleep　tonight。　But　you　would　not　sleep　in　Hillsborough。　　You'd　wake　a　dozen　times　in　the　night；　trembling　like　an　aspen　leaf；　and　fancying　you　were　blown　up　again。〃

〃Yes；　but　my　mother；　sir！　　If　I　don't　go　home　at　seven　o'clock；　she'll　find　me　out。〃

〃If　you　went　crazy　wouldn't　she　find　you　out？　　Come；　my　young　friend；　trust　to　my　experience；　and　to　the　interest　this　attempt　to　murder　you；　and　your　narrow　escape；　have　inspired　in　me。　　When　I　have　landed　you　in　the　Temple　of　Health；　and　just　wasted　a　little　advice　on　a　pig…headed　patient　in　the　neighborhood　（he　is　the　squire　of　the　place）；　I'll　drive　back　to　Hillsborough；　and　tell　your　mother　some　story　or　other：　you　and　I　will　concoct　that　together　as　we　go。〃

At　this　Henry　was　all　obedience；　and　indeed　thanked　him；　with　the　tears　in　his　eyes；　for　his　kindness　to　a　poor　stranger。

Dr。　Amboyne　smiled。　　〃If　you　were　not　a　stranger；　you　would　know　that　saving　cutlers'　lives　is　my　hobby；　and　one　in　which　I　am　steadily　resisted　and　defeated；　especially　by　the　cutlers　themselves：　why；　I　look　upon　you　as　a　most　considerate　and　obliging　young　man　for　indulging　me　in　this　way。　　If　you　had　been　a　Hillsborough　hand；　you　would　insist　upon　a　brain…fever；　and　a　trip　to　the　lunatic　asylum；　just　to　vex　me；　and　hinder　me　of　my　hobby。〃

Henry　stared。　　This　was　too　eccentric　for　him　to　take　it　all　in　at　once。　　〃What！〃　said　Dr。　Amboyne；　observing　his　amazement；　〃Did　you　never　hear　of　Dr。　Doubleface？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

〃Never　hear　of　the　corpulent　lunatic；　who　goes　about　the　city　chanting；　like　a　cuckoo；　'Put　yourself　in　his　placeput　yourself　in　her　placein　their　place？'

〃No；　sir；　I　never　did。〃

〃Then　such　is　fame。　　Well；　never　mind　that　just　now；　there's　a　time　for　every　thing。　　Please　observe　that　ruined　house：　the　ancient　family　to　whom　it　belongs　are　a　remarkable　example　of　the　vicissitude　of　human　affairs。〃　　He　then　told　him　the　curious　ups　and　downs　of　that　family；　which；　at　two　distant　periods；　had　held　vast　possessions　in　the　county；　but　were　now　represented　by　the　shell　of　one　manor　house；　and　its　dovecote；　the　size　of　a　modern　villa。　　Next　he　showed　him　an　obscure　battlefield；　and　told　him　that　story；　and　who　were　the　parties　engaged；　and　so　on。　　Every　mile　furnished　its　legend；　and　Dr。　Amboyne　related　them　all　so　graphically　that　the　patient's　mind　was　literally　stolen　away　from　himself。　　At　last；　after　a　rapid　drive　of　eleven　miles　through　the　pure　invigorating　air；　they　made　a　sudden　turn；　and　entered　a　pleasant　and　singularly　rural　village：　they　drew　up　at　a　rustic　farmhouse；　clad　with　ivy；　and　Dr。　Amboyne　said；　〃This　is　the　temple：　here　you　can　sleep　as　safe　from　gunpowder　as　a　field…marshal　born。〃

The　farmer's　daughter　came　out；　and　beamed　pleasure　at　sight　of　the　doctor：　he　got　down；　and　told　her　the　case；　privately；　and　gave　her　precise　instructions。　　She　often　interrupted　the　narrative　with　〃Lawkadaisies；〃　and　other　rural　interjections；　and　simple　exclamations　of　pity。　　She　promised　faithful　compliance　with　his　orders。

He　then　beckoned　Henry　in；　and　said；　〃This　picture　of　health　was　a　patient　of　mine　once；　as　you　are　now；　there's　encouragement　for　you。　I　put　you　under　her　charge。　　Get　a　letter　written　to　your　mother；　and　I'll　come　back　for　it　in　half　an　hour。　　You　had　a　headache；　and　were　feverish；　so　you　consulted　a　doctor。　　He　advised　immediate　rest　and　change　of　air；　and　he　drove　you　at　once　to　this　village。　　Write　you　that；　and　leave　the　rest　to　me。　　We　doctors　are　dissembling　dogs。　　We　have　still　something　to　learn　in　curing　diseases；　but　at　making　light　of　them　to　the　dying；　and　other　branches　of　amiable　mendacity；　we　are　masters。

As　soon　as　he　was　gone；　the　comely　young　hostess　began　on　her　patient。　　〃Dear　heart；　sir；　was　it　really　you　as　was　blowed　up　with　gunpowder？〃

〃Indeed　it　was；　and　not　many　hours　ago。　　It　seems　like　a　dream。〃

〃Well；　now；　who'd　think　that；　to　look　at　you？　　Why；　you　are　none　the　worse　for；　by　a　scratch　or　two；　and　dear　heart；　I've　seen　a　young　chap　bring　as　bad　home；　from　courting；　in　these　parts；　and　wed　the　lass　as　marked　himwithin　the　year。〃

〃Oh；　it　is　not　the　scratches；　but　feel　my　hand；　how　it　trembles。　And　it　used　to　be　as　firm　as　a　rock；　for　I　never　drink。〃

〃So　it　do；　I　declare。　　Why；　you　do　tremble　all　over；　and　no　wonder；　poor　soul。　　Come　you　in　this　minut；　and　sit　down　a　bit　by　the　fire；　while　I　go　and　make　the　room　ready　for　you。〃

But；　as　soon　as　he　was　seated　by　the　fire；　the　current　began　to　flow　again。　　〃Well；　I　never　liked　Hillsborough　folk　muchpoor；　mean…　visaged　tykes　they　bebut　now　I　do　hate　'em。　　What；　blow　up　a　decent　young　man　like　you；　and　a　well…favored；　and　hair　like　jet；　and　eyes　in　your　head　like　sloes！　　But　that's　their　ground　of　spite；　I　warrant　me；　the　nasty；　ugly；　dirty　dogs。　　Well；　you　may　just　snap　your　fingers　at　'em　all　now。　　They　don't　come　out　so　far　as　this；　and；　if　they　did；　stouter　men　grows　in　this　village　than　any　in　Hillsborough：　and　I've　only　to　hold　up　my　finger；　for　as　little　as　I　be；　and　they'd　all　be　well　ducked　in　father's　horsepond；　and　then　flogged　home　again　with　a　good　cart…whip　well　laid　on。　　And；　another　thing；　whatever　we　do；　Squire；　he　will　make　it　good　in　law：　he　is　gentle；　and　we　are　simple；　but　our　folk　and　his　has　stood　by　each　other　this　hundred　year　and　more。　　But；　la；　I　run　on　so；　and　you　was　to　write　a　letter　again　the　doctor　came　back。　　I'll　fetch　you　some　paper　this　minut。〃

She　brought　him　writing　materials；　and　stood　by　him　with　this　apology；　〃If　'twas　to　your　sweetheart　I'd　be　off。　　But　'tis　to　your　mother。〃　　（With　a　side　glance）；　〃She　have　been　a　handsome　woman　in　her　day；　I'll　go　bail。〃

〃She　is　as　beautiful　as　ever　in　my　eyes；〃　said　Henry；　tenderly。　〃And；　oh；　heaven！　give　me　the　sense　to　write　to　her　without　frightening　her。〃

〃Then　I　won't　hinder　you　no　more　with　my　chat；〃　said　his　hostess；　with　kindly　good　humor；　and　slipped　away　upstairs。　　She　lighted　a　great　wood　fire　in　the　bedroom；　and　laid　the　bed　and　the　blankets　all　round　it；　and　opened　the　window；　and　took　the　homespun　linen　sheets　out　of　a　press；　and　made　the　room　very　tidy。　　Then　she　went　down　again；　and　the　moment　Henry　saw　her；　he　said　〃I　feel　your　kindness；　miss；　but　I　don't　know　your　name；　nor　where　in　the　world　I　am。〃　　His　hostess　smiled。　　〃That　is　no　secret。　　I'm　Martha　Denceat　your　service：　and　this　is　Cairnhope　town。〃

〃Cairnhope！〃　cried　Henry；　and　started　back；　so　that　his　wooden　chair　made　a　loud　creak　upon　the　stones　of　the　farmer's　kitchen。

Martha　Dence　stared；　but　said　nothing；　for　almost　at　that　moment　the　doctor　returned；　all　in　a　hurry；　for　the　letter。

Henry　begged　him　to　look　at　it；　and　see　if　it　would　do。

The　doctor　read　it。　　〃Hum！〃　said　he；　〃it　is　a　very　pretty；　filial　letter；　and　increases　my　interest　in　you；　give　me　your　hand：　there。　Well；　it　won't　do：　too　shaky。　　If　your　mother　once　sees　this；　I　may　talk　till　doomsday；　she'll　not　believe　a　word。　　You　must　put　off　writing　till　to…morrow　night。　　Now　give　me　her　address；　for　I　really　must　get　home。〃

〃She　lives　on　the　second　floor；　No。　13　Chettle　Street。〃

〃Her　name？〃

〃Sir；　if　you　ask　for　the　lady　that　lodges　on　the　second　floor；　you　will　be　sure　to　see　her。〃

Dr。　Amboyne　looked　a　little　surprised；　and　not　very　well　pleased；　at　what　seemed　a　want　of　confidence。　　But　he　was　a　man　singularly　cautious　and　candid　in　forming　his　judgments；　so　he　forbore　all　comment；　and　delivered　his　final　instructions。　　〃Here　is　a　bottle　containing　only　a　few　drops　of　faba　Ignatii　in　water；　it　is　an　innocent　medicine；　and　has　sometimes　a　magical　effect　in　soothing　the　mind　and　nerves。　　A　table…spoonful　three　times　a　day。　　And　THIS　is　a　sedative；　which　you　can　take　if　you　find　yourself　quite　unable　to　sleep。　　But　I　wouldn't　have　recourse　to　it　unnecessarily；　for　these　sedatives　are　uncertain　in　their　operation；　and；　when　a　man　is　turned　upside　down；　as　you　have　been；　they　sometimes　excite。　　Have　a　faint　light　in　your　bedroom。　　Tie　a　cord　to　the　bell…rope；　and　hold　it　in　your　hand　all　night。　　Fix　your　mind　on　that　cord；　and　keep　thinking；　'This　is　to　remind　me　that　I　am　eleven　miles　from　Hillsborough；　in　a　peaceful　village；　safe　from　all　harm。'　　To…　morrow；　walk　up　to　the　top　of　Cairnhope　Peak；　and　inhale　the　glorious　breeze；　and　look　over　four　counties。　　Write　to　you