212520_The_Adve ... _Way_Through_The_World.pdf - OUDL Home

ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 435
that Uncle Mac is quite melted, and takes the child to his arms,
and says, " What is it, my dear ?" And he quite forgets that he
proposes to blow her father's brains out in the morning. " How
hot your little hands are !"
" Uncle, uncle !" she says, in a swift febrile whisper, " you're
come to take me away, I know. I heard you and papa, I heard
mamma and Aunt Emily speaking quite loud ! But if I go—I'll
—I'll never love any but him !"
"But whom, dear ?"
" But Philip, uncle."
" By George, Char, no more you shall !" says the Major. And
herewith the poor child, who had been sitting up on her bed whilst
this quarrelling of sisters,—whilst this brawling of majors, generals,
colonels, — whilst this coming of hackney-coaches,—whilst this
arrival and departure of visitors on horseback,—had been taking
place, gave a fine hysterical scream, and fell into her uncle's arms
laughing and crying wildly.
This outcry, of course, brought the gentlemen from their adjacent
room, and the ladies from theirs.
" What are you making a fool of yourself about ?" growls Mrs.
Baynes, in her deepest bark.
" By George, Eliza, you are too bad!" says the General, quite
white.
" Eliza, you are a brute!" cries Mrs. MacWhirter.
" So SHE IS !" shrieks Mrs. Bunch from the landing-place overhead,
where other lady-boarders were assembled looking down on
this awful family battle.
Eliza Baynes knew she had gone too far. Poor Charly was
scarce conscious by this time, and wildly screaming, "Never,
never !" . . . When, as I live, who should burst into the premises
but a young man with fair hair, with flaming whiskers, with
flaming eyes, who calls out, "What is it ? I am here, Charlotte,
Charlotte !"
Who is that young man ? We had a glimpse of him, prowling
about the Champs Elysées just now, and dodging behind a tree
when Colonel Bunch went out in search of his second. Then the
young man caw the MacWhirter hackney-coach approach the house.
Then he waited and waited, looking to that upper window behind
which we know his beloved was not reposing. Then he beheld
Bunch and Dr. Martin arrive. Then he passed through the wicket
into the garden, and heard Mrs. Mac and Mrs. Baynes fighting.
Then there came from the passage—where, you see, this battle was
going on—that ringing dreadful laugh and scream of poor Charlotte ;
and Philip Firmin burst like a bombshell into the midst of the hall