CHAPTER XIX. A SUMMER NIGHT.

Thehourwasnowthatofdusk.Aclearairfavouredthekindlingofthestars. "Therewillbejustlightenoughtoshowmethewayhome,"saidMissKeeldar,asshepreparedtotakeleaveofCarolineattherectorygardendoor. "Youmustnotgoalone,ShirleyFannyshallaccompanyyou." "Thatsheshallnot.OfwhatneedIbeafraidinmyownparish?IwouldwalkfromFieldheadtothechurchanyfinemidsummernight,threehourslaterthanthis,forthemerepleasureofseeingthestarsandthechanceofmeetingafairy." "Butjustwaittillthecrowdisclearedaway." "Agreed.TherearethefiveMissesArmitagestreamingby.HerecomesMrs.Sykes'sphaeton,Mr.Wynne'sclosecarriage,Mrs.Birtwhistle'scar.Idon'twishtogothroughtheceremonyofbiddingthemallgood-bye,sowewillstepintothegardenandtakeshelteramongstthelaburnumsforaninstant." Therectors,theircurates,andtheirchurchwardensnowissuedfromthechurchporch.Therewasagreatconfabulation,shakingofhands,congratulationonspeeches,recommendationtobecarefulofthenightair,etc.Bydegreesthethrongdispersed,thecarriagesdroveoff.MissKeeldarwasjustemergingfromherfloweryrefugewhenMr.Helstoneenteredthegardenandmether. "Oh,Iwantyou!"hesaid."Iwasafraidyouwerealreadygone.—Caroline,comehere." Carolinecame,expecting,asShirleydid,alectureonnothavingbeenvisibleatchurch.Othersubjects,however,occupiedtherector'smind. "Ishallnotsleepathometo-night,"hecontinued."Ihavejustmetwithanoldfriend,andpromisedtoaccompanyhim.Ishallreturnprobablyaboutnoonto-morrow.Thomas,theclerk,isengaged,andIcannotgethimtosleepinthehouse,asIusuallydowhenIamabsentforanight.Now——" "Now,"interruptedShirley,"youwantmeasagentleman—thefirstgentlemaninBriarfield,inshort—tosupplyyourplace,bemasteroftherectoryandguardianofyournieceandmaidswhileyouareaway?" "Exactly,captain.Ithoughtthepostwouldsuityou.WillyoufavourCarolinesofarastobeherguestforonenight?WillyoustayhereinsteadofgoingbacktoFieldhead?" "AndwhatwillMrs.Pryordo?sheexpectsmehome." "Iwillsendherword.Come,makeupyourmindtostay.Itgrowslatethedewfallsheavily.YouandCarolinewillenjoyeachother'ssociety,Idoubtnot." "Ipromiseyou,then,tostaywithCaroline,"repliedShirley."Asyousay,weshallenjoyeachother'ssociety.Wewillnotbeseparatedto-night.Now,rejoinyouroldfriend,andfearnothingforus." "Ifthereshouldchancetobeanydisturbanceinthenight,captainifyoushouldhearthepickingofalock,thecuttingoutofapaneofglass,astealthytreadofstepsaboutthehouse(andIneednotfeartotellyou,whobearawell-tempered,mettlesomeheartunderyourgirl'sribbonsash,thatsuchlittleincidentsareverypossibleinthepresenttime),whatwouldyoudo?" "Don'tknowfaint,perhaps—falldown,andhavetobepickedupagain.But,doctor,ifyouassignmethepostofhonour,youmustgivemearms.Whatweaponsarethereinyourstronghold?" "Youcouldnotwieldasword?" "NoIcouldmanagethecarving-knifebetter." "Youwillfindagoodoneinthedining-roomsideboard—alady'sknife,lighttohandle,andassharp-pointedasaponiard." "ItwillsuitCaroline.Butyoumustgivemeabraceofpistols.Iknowyouhavepistols." "Ihavetwopairs.OnepairIcanplaceatyourdisposal.Youwillfindthemsuspendedoverthemantelpieceofmystudyinclothcases." "Loaded?" "Yes,butnotonthecock.Cockthembeforeyougotobed.Itispayingyouagreatcompliment,captain,tolendyouthese.Wereyouoneoftheawkwardsquadyoushouldnothavethem." "Iwilltakecare.Youneeddelaynolonger,Mr.Helstone.Youmaygonow.—Heisgracioustometolendmehispistols,"sheremarked,astherectorpassedoutatthegardengate."Butcome,Lina,"shecontinued,"letusgoinandhavesomesupper.IwastoomuchvexedatteawiththevicinageofMr.SamWynnetobeabletoeat,andnowIamreallyhungry." Enteringthehouse,theyrepairedtothedarkeneddining-room,throughtheopenwindowsofwhichapartmentstoletheeveningair,bearingtheperfumeofflowersfromthegarden,theverydistantsoundoffar-retreatingstepsfromtheroad,andasoft,vaguemurmurwhoseoriginCarolineexplainedbytheremark,utteredasshestoodlisteningatthecasement,"Shirley,IhearthebeckintheHollow." Thensherangthebell,askedforacandleandsomebreadandmilk—MissKeeldar'susualsupperandherown.Fanny,whenshebroughtinthetray,wouldhaveclosedthewindowsandtheshutters,butwasrequestedtodesistforthepresent.Thetwilightwastoocalm,itsbreathtoobalmytobeyetexcluded.Theytooktheirmealinsilence.Carolineroseoncetoremovetothewindow-sillaglassofflowerswhichstoodonthesideboard,theexhalationfromtheblossomsbeingsomewhattoopowerfulforthesultryroom.Inreturningshehalfopenedadrawer,andtookfromitsomethingthatglitteredclearandkeeninherhand. "Youassignedthistome,then,Shirley,didyou?Itisbright,keen-edged,finelytapereditisdangerous-looking.Ineveryetfelttheimpulsewhichcouldmovemetodirectthisagainstafellow-creature.Itisdifficulttofancythatcircumstancescouldnervemyarmtostrikehomewiththislongknife." "Ishouldhatetodoit,"repliedShirley,"butIthinkIcoulddoit,ifgoadedbycertainexigencieswhichIcanimagine."AndMissKeeldarquietlysippedherglassofnewmilk,lookingsomewhatthoughtfulandalittlepalethough,indeed,whendidshenotlookpale?Shewasneverflorid. Themilksippedandthebreadeaten,Fannywasagainsummoned.SheandElizawererecommendedtogotobed,whichtheywerequitewillingtodo,beingwearyoftheday'sexertions,ofmuchcuttingofcurrant-buns,andfillingofurnsandteapots,andrunningbackwardsandforwardswithtrays.Erelongthemaids'chamberdoorwasheardtoclose.Carolinetookacandleandwentquietlyalloverthehouse,seeingthateverywindowwasfastandeverydoorbarred.Shedidnotevenevadethehauntedbackkitchennorthevault-likecellars.Thesevisited,shereturned. "Thereisneitherspiritnorfleshinthehouseatpresent,"shesaid,"whichshouldnotbethere.Itisnowneareleveno'clock,fullybedtimeyetIwouldrathersitupalittlelonger,ifyoudonotobject,Shirley.Here,"s