"
"I'll go at once," said Hamish. Nothing loth was he, on his own part,
to pay a visit to Mr. Huntley's.
Hamish overtook Mr. Huntley close to his own home. He was returning
from the town. Had he been home earlier, he would have heard the news
from Harry. But Harry had now had his dinner and was gone again. He did
not dine at the later hour.
"I have brought you some news, sir," said Hamish, as they entered
together.
"News again! It cannot be very great, by the side of what we were
favoured with last night from Mr. Roland," was the remark of Mr.
Huntley.
"But indeed it is. Greater news even than that. We have found Charley,
Mr. Huntley."
Mr. Huntley sprang from the chair he was taking. "Found Charley! Have
you really? Where has he--Hamish, I see by your countenance that the
tidings are good. He must be alive."
"He is alive and well. At least, well, comparatively speaking. A barge
was passing down the river at the time he fell in, and the man leaped
overboard and saved him. Charley has been in the barge ever since, and
has had brain fever."
"And how did he come home?" wondered Mr. Huntley, when he had
sufficiently digested the news.
"The barge brought him back. It is on its way up again. Charley arrived
under escort of the barge-woman, a red handkerchief on his head in lieu
of his trencher, which, you know, he lost that night," added Hamish,
laughing. "Lady Augusta, who was going out of the house as he entered,
was frightened into the belief that it was his ghost, and startled them
all with her cries to that effect, including the bishop, who was with
my father in the drawing-room.
Pages:
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745