about the stranger who had called at Number Two, Zion Place. I
was in doubt even about the
landlord of the inn. Never did I know
what real
suffering from
suspense was, until that night, Whatever
my apprehensions might have been, they were none of them realized
the next morning.
Nobody followed me on my way to Zion Place, and no stranger had
called there before me a second time, when I made inquiries on
entering the house. I found Alicia blushing, and Mrs. Baggs
impenetrably wrapped up in
dignified sulkiness. After informing
me with a lofty look that she intended to go to Scotland with us,
and to take my five-pound note--partly under protest, and partly
out of
excessiveaffection for Alicia--she
retired to pack up.
The time consumed in performing this process, and the further
delay occasioned by paying small
outstanding debts to
tradespeople, and settling with the owner of the house, detained
us till nearly noon before we were ready to get into the
landlord's cart.
I looked behind me
anxiously" target="_blank" title="ad.挂念地;渴望地">
anxiously at starting, and often afterward on
the road; but never saw anything to
excite my suspicions. In
settling matters with the
landlord over night, I had arranged
that we should be
driven to the nearest town at which a
post-chaise could be obtained. My resources were just as likely
to hold out against the expenses of posting, where public
conveyances could not be obtained, as against the expense of
waitingprivately at hotels, until the right coaches might start.
According to my calculations, my money would last till we got to
Scotland. After that, I had my watch, rings, shirtpin, and Mr.
Batterbury, to help in replenishing my purse. Anxious,
therefore,
as I was about other things, money matters, for once in a way,
did not cause me the smallest uneasiness.
CHAPTER XV.
WE posted five-and-thirty miles, then stopped for a couple of
hours to rest, and wait for a night coach
running northward.
On getting into this
vehicle we were
fortunate enough to find the
fourth inside place not occupied. Mrs. Baggs showed her sense of
the freedom from
restraint thus obtained by tying a huge red
comforter round her head like a
turban, and immediately falling
fast asleep. This gave Alicia and me full liberty to talk as we
pleased. Our conversation was for the most part of that
particular kind which is not of the smallest importance to any
third person in the whole world. One
portion of it, however, was
an
exception to this general rule. It had a very positive
influence on my fortunes, and it is,
therefore, I hope, of
sufficient importance to bear being
communicated to the reader.
We had changed horses for the fourth time, had seated ourselves
comfortably in our places, and had heard Mrs. Baggs resume the
kindred occupations of
sleeping and snoring, when Alicia
whispered to me:
"I must have no secrets, now, from you-- must I, Frank?"
"You must have anything you like, do anything you like, and say
anything you like. You must never ask leave--but only grant it!"
"Shall you always tell me that, Frank?"
I did not answer in words, but the conversation suffered a
momentary
interruption. Of what nature,
susceptible people will
easily imagine. As for the hard-hearted I don't write for them.
"My secret need not alarm you," Alicia went on, in tones that
began to sound rather sadly; "it is only about a tiny pasteboard
box that I can carry in the bosom of my dress. But it has got
three diamonds in it, Frank, and one beautiful ruby. Did you ever
give me credit for having so much that was
valuable about
me?--shall I give it you to keep for me?"
I remembered directly Old File's story of Mrs. Dulcifer's
elopement, and of the jewels she had taken with her. It was easy
to guess, after what I had heard, that the poor woman had
secretly preserved some of her little property for the benefit of