|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
 |
||||
|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
|
|
||||
|
191 and fetch a cloak you will see there.’ Again I ran, and again returned, bearing an immense mantle lined and edged with fur. ‘Now, I’ve another errand for you,’ said my untiring master; you must away to my room again. What a mercy you are shod with velvet, Jane!- a clod-hopping messenger would never do at this juncture. You must open the middle drawer of my toilet-table and take out a little phial and a little glass you will find there,quick!’ I flew thither and back, bringing the desired vessels. ‘That’s well! Now, doctor, I shall take the liberty of administering a dose myself, on my own responsibility. I got this cordial at Rome, of an Italian charlatana fellow you would have kicked, Carter. It is not a thing to be used indiscriminately, but it is good upon occasion: as now, for instance. Jane, a little water.’ He held out the tiny glass, and I half-filled it from the water-bottle on the washstand. ‘That will do;- now wet the lip of the phial.’ I did so; he measured twelve drops of a crimson liquid, and presented it to Mason. ‘Drink, Richard: it will give you the heart you lack, for an hour or so.’ ‘But will it hurt me?- is it inflammatory?’ ‘Drink! drink! drink!’ Mr. Mason obeyed, because it was evidently useless to resist. He was dressed now: he still looked pale, but he was no longer gory and sullied. Mr. Rochester let him sit three minutes after he had swallowed the liquid; he then took his arm‘Now I am sure you can get on your feet,’ he said-‘try.’ The patient rose. ‘Carter, take him under the other shoulder. Be of good cheer, Richard; step out-that’s it!’ ‘I do feel better,’ remarked Mr. Mason. ‘I am sure you do. Now, Jane, trip on before us away to the backstairs; unbolt the side-passage door, and tell the driver of the post-chaise you will see in the yard-or just outside, for I told him not to drive his rattling wheels over the pavement-to be ready; we are coming: and, Jane, if any one is about, come to the foot of the stairs and hem.’ It was by this time half-past five, and the sun was on the point of rising; but I found the kitchen still dark and silent. The side-passage door was fastened; I opened it with as little noise as possible: all the yard was quiet; but the gates stood wide open, and there was a post-chaise, with horses ready harnessed, and driver seated on the box, stationed outside. I approached him, and said the gentlemen were coming; he nodded: then I looked carefully round and listened. The stillness of early morning slumbered everywhere; the curtains were yet drawn over the servants’ chamber windows; little birds were just twittering in the blossom-blanched orchard trees, whose boughs drooped like white garlands over the wall enclosing one side of the yard; the carriage |
