CHAPTER XX. TO-MORROW.

quietlythoughandasquietlyheorderedbasketafterbaskettobetakenfromthecart,andremandedvesselaftervesseltothecellar. "Therectormusthearofthis,"hesaid"hewillmakeagoodstoryofit.WhatanexcellentarmycontractorMissKeeldarwouldhavebeen!"Againhelaughed,adding,"ItispreciselyasIconjectured." "Yououghttobethankful,"saidShirley,"andnotmockme.WhatcouldIdo?HowcouldIgaugeyourappetitesornumberyourband?ForaughtIknew,theremighthavebeenfiftyofyouatleasttovictual.Youtoldmenothingandthenanapplicationtoprovisionsoldiersnaturallysuggestslargeideas." "Itappearsso,"remarkedMoore,levellinganotherofhiskeen,quietglancesatthediscomfitedShirley.—"Now,"hecontinued,addressingthecarter,"IthinkyoumaytakewhatremainstotheHollow.YourloadwillbesomewhatlighterthantheoneMissKeeldardestinedyoutocarry." Asthevehiclerumbledoutoftheyard,Shirley,rallyingherspirits,demandedwhathadbecomeofthewounded. "Therewasnotasinglemanhurtonourside,"wastheanswer. "Youwerehurtyourself,onthetemples,"interposedaquick,lowvoice—thatofCaroline,who,havingwithdrawnwithintheshadeofthedoor,andbehindthelargepersonofMrs.Gill,hadtillnowescapedMoore'snotice.Whenshespoke,hiseyesearchedtheobscurityofherretreat. "Areyoumuchhurt?"sheinquired. "Asyoumightscratchyourfingerwithaneedleinsewing." "Liftyourhairandletussee." Hetookhishatoff,anddidashewasbid,disclosingonlyanarrowslipofcourt-plaster.Carolineindicated,byaslightmovementofthehead,thatshewassatisfied,anddisappearedwithintheclearobscureoftheinterior. "HowdidsheknowIwashurt?"askedMoore. "Byrumour,nodoubt.Butitistoogoodinhertotroubleherselfaboutyou.Formypart,itwasofyourvictimsIwasthinkingwhenIinquiredafterthewounded.Whatdamagehaveyouropponentssustained?" "Oneoftherioters,orvictimsasyoucallthem,waskilled,andsixwerehurt." "Whathaveyoudonewiththem?" "Whatyouwillperfectlyapprove.Medicalaidwasprocuredimmediatelyandassoonaswecangetacoupleofcoveredwagonsandsomecleanstraw,theywillberemovedtoStilbro'." "Straw!Youmusthavebedsandbedding.Iwillsendmywagondirectly,properlyfurnishedandMr.Yorke,Iamsure,willsendhis." "Youguesscorrectlyhehasvolunteeredalready.AndMrs.Yorke—who,likeyou,seemsdisposedtoregardtheriotersasmartyrs,andme,andespeciallyMr.Helstone,asmurderers—isatthismoment,Ibelieve,mostassiduouslyengagedinfittingitupwithfeather-beds,pillows,bolsters,blankets,etc.Thevictimslacknoattentions,Ipromiseyou.Mr.Hall,yourfavouriteparson,hasbeenwiththemeversincesixo'clock,exhortingthem,prayingwiththem,andevenwaitingonthemlikeanynurseandCaroline'sgoodfriend,MissAinley,thatveryplainoldmaid,sentinastockoflintandlinen,somethingintheproportionofanotherlady'sallowanceofbeefandwine." "Thatwilldo.Whereisyoursister?" "Wellcaredfor.IhadhersecurelydomiciledwithMissMann.ThisverymorningthetwosetoutforWormwoodWells[anotedwatering-place],andwillstaytheresomeweeks." "SoMr.Helstonedomiciledmeattherectory!Mightycleveryougentlementhinkyouare!Imakeyouheartilywelcometotheidea,andhopeitssavour,asyouchewthecudofreflectionuponit,givesyoupleasure.Acuteandastute,whyareyounotalsoomniscient?Howisitthateventstranspire,underyourverynoses,ofwhichyouhavenosuspicion?Itshouldbeso,otherwisetheexquisitegratificationofoutman?uvringyouwouldbeunknown.Ah,friend,youmaysearchmycountenance,butyoucannotreadit." Moore,indeed,lookedasifhecouldnot. "Youthinkmeadangerousspecimenofmysex.Don'tyounow?" "Apeculiarone,atleast." "ButCaroline—isshepeculiar?" "Inherway—yes." "Herway!Whatisherway?" "YouknowheraswellasIdo." "Andknowingher,Iassertthatsheisneithereccentricnordifficultofcontrol.Isshe?" "Thatdepends——" "However,thereisnothingmasculineabouther?" "Whylaysuchemphasisonher?Doyouconsiderheracontrast,inthatrespect,toyourself?" "Youdo,nodoubtbutthatdoesnotsignify.Carolineisneithermasculine,norofwhattheycallthespiritedorderofwomen." "Ihaveseenherflashout." "SohaveI,butnotwithmanlyfire.Itwasashort,vivid,tremblingglow,thatshotup,shone,vanished——" "Andleftherscaredatherowndaring.YoudescribeothersbesidesCaroline." "ThepointIwishtoestablishis,thatMissHelstone,thoughgentle,tractable,andcandidenough,isstillperfectlycapableofdefyingevenMr.Moore'spenetration." "Whathaveyouandshebeendoing?"askedMooresuddenly. "Haveyouhadanybreakfast?" "Whatisyourmutualmystery?" "Ifyouarehungry,Mrs.Gillwillgiveyousomethingtoeathere.Stepintotheoakparlour,andringthebell.Youwillbeservedasifataninnor,ifyoulikebetter,gobacktotheHollow." "ThealternativeisnotopentomeImustgoback.Good-morning.ThefirstleisureIhaveIwillseeyouagain."