Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/430

"No, my love; I have none whatever."

"Well, then," resumed the reverend gentleman, "suppose we make up our minds to go?"

"I am quite willing," replied Aunt Eleanor.

"Then we'll go," said the reverend gentleman—"we'll go. I have much to tell you on the road; and much more to tell you both when we get home. I feel assured that all will be right. At present I must say no more. I have to go into the City on a little matter of business, but I shall very soon be back. Good bye. God bless you both. Keep up your spirits. We shall very soon get over this: very soon: I'm sure of it. I'll be back—let me see—in an hour and a half."

Their departure in the morning having thus been decided upon, Sylvester and his aunt, whom the important communication of Mr. Scholefield had greatly relieved, went to make a few farewell calls, and returned to the doctor's to dinner. Mr. Scholefield joined them, and so did Tom—who was in the highest possible spirits—and everything passed off cheerfully. Even Mrs. Delolme was seen to smile, for she now for the first time thought it possible that Sylvester was innocent!—which was charitable—very!—and hence couldn't fail to be appreciated.

Having spent an agreeable evening, Tom, as usual, claimed his "prisoder;" and when he had promised to deliver him and his chains into the hands of the reverend gentleman in the morning, he retired, and took Sylvester home with him, and gave him a most recherche supper.

"Add dow, by boy," said he, having explained to Sylvester that he was going with Scholefield to have an interview with Sir Charles, "how do you bead to badage batters whed you get hobe?"

"Manage matters?"

"Aye. How do you bead to secure yourself at dight?"

"Oh! I understand. Why, I scarcely know how I'm to manage down there."

"You dodt thidk of sleepidg with the reveredd swell, I suppose?"

"Not exactly."

"Doe: I should say that's he's ad out add out sdorer!"

"I don't know about that, but I thought of being secured every night to the bed-post."

"You had better have sobe wud id the roob. What do you thidk of wud of the baids?"

"I'd better have them both!" returned Sylvester, smiling. "But I don't see the necessity for having any one at all."

"If you have dot you are perfectly sure to get away. Sobdabbulists are the bost idgedious fellows alive. If left by thebselves they cad dever be safe. You, for exabple, bight ibagide that you were id prisod, add if you at the sabe tibe felt boudd to break out of it, I dodt thidk that you have ady roob id your cottage sufficiedtly strodg to prevedt you."

"Well, then, I'd better have Judkins in the room."

"Who's Judkids?"

"The gardener."

"Have Judkids thed. But as doe cobbod scrubbidg ever got a gar-