“Go to him, go to him,” cried Anne,“for heaven’s sake go to him. I can support her myself.Leave me, and go to him. Rub her hands,rub her temples; here are salts; take them, take them.”
Captain Benwick obeyed, and Charles at the same moment,disengaging himself from his wife,they were both with him;and Louisa was raised up and supported more firmly between them,and everything was done that Anne had prompted,but in vain; while Captain Wentworth,staggering against the wall for his support,exclaimed in the bitterest agony—
“Oh God!her father and mother!”
“A surgeon!” said Anne.
He caught the word; it seemed to rouse him at once,and saying only—“True, true, a surgeon this instant,” was darting away, when Anne eagerly suggested—
“Captain Benwick, would not it be better for Captain Benwick?He knows where a surgeon is to be found.”
Every one capable of thinking felt the advantage of the idea,and in a moment (it was all done in rapid moments) Captain Benwick had resigned the poor corpse-like figure entirely to the brother’s care, and was off for the town with the utmost rapidity.
As to the wretched party left behind,it could scarcely be said which of the three,who were completely rational, was suffering most:Captain Wentworth, Anne, or Charles, who,really a very affectionate brother,hung over Louisa with sobs of grief,and could only turn his eyes from one sister,to see the other in a state as insensible,or to witness the hysterical agitations of his wife,calling on him for help which he could not give.
Anne, attending with all the strength and zeal,and thought, which instinct supplied, to Henrietta,still tried, at intervals,to suggest comfort to the others, tried to quiet Mary,to animate Charles,to assuage the feelings of Captain Wentworth.Both seemed to look to her for directions.
“Anne, Anne,” cried Charles, “What is to be done next?What, in heaven’s name, is to be done next?”
Captain Wentworth’s eyes were also turned towards her.
“Had not she better be carried to the inn?Yes, I am sure: carry her gently to the inn.”
“Yes, yes, to the inn,” repeated Captain Wentworth,comparatively collected,and eager to be doing something.“I will carry her myself. Musgrove,take care of the others.”
By this time the report of the accident had spread among the workmen and boatmen about the Cobb, and many were collected near them, to be useful if wanted, at any rate, to enjoy the sight of a dead young lady, nay, two dead young ladies, for it proved twice as fine as the first report. To some of the best-looking of these good people Henrietta was consigned, for, though partially revived, she was quite helpless; and in this manner, Anne walking by her side, and Charles attending to his wife, they set forward, treading back with feelings unutterable, the ground, which so lately, so very lately, and so light of heart, they had passed along.
They were not off the Cobb,before the Harvilles met them.Captain Benwick had been seen flying by their house,with a countenance which showed something to be wrong;and they had set off immediately,informed and directed as they passed, towards the spot.Shocked as Captain Harville was,he brought senses and nerves that could be instantly useful;and a look between him and his wife decided what was to be done.She must be taken to their house;all must go to their house;and await the surgeon’s arrival there.They would not listen to scruples: he was obeyed;they were all beneath his roof; and while Louisa,under Mrs Harville’s direction, was conveyed up stairs,and given possession of her own bed, assistance,cordials, restoratives were supplied by her husband to all who needed them.
Louisa had once opened her eyes,but soon closed them again,without apparent consciousness.This had been a proof of life, however,of service to her sister; and Henrietta,though perfectly incapable of being in the same room with Louisa,was kept, by the agitation of hope and fear,from a return of her own insensibility. Mary, too, was growing calmer.
The surgeon was with them almost before it had seemed possible.They were sick with horror, while he examined;but he was not hopeless.The head had received a severe contusion,but he had seen greater injuries recovered from:he was by no means hopeless; he spoke cheerfully.
That he did not regard it as a desperate case,that he did not say a few hours must end it,was at first felt, beyond the hope of most;and the ecstasy of such a reprieve, the rejoicing,deep and silent, after a few fervent ejaculations of gratitude to Heaven had been offered, may be conceived.
The tone, the look, with which “Thank God!” was uttered by Captain Wentworth,Anne was sure could never be forgotten by her;nor the sight of him afterwards,as he sat near a table,leaning over it with folded arms and face concealed,as if overpowered by the various feelings of his soul,and trying by prayer and reflection to calm them.
Louisa’s limbs had escaped.There was no injury but to the head.
It now became necessary for the party to consider what was best to be done,as to their general situation.They were now able to speak to each other and consult.That Louisa must remain where she was,however distressing to her friends to be involving the Harvilles in such trouble, did not admit a doubt. Her removal was impossible. The Harvilles silenced all scruples; and, as much as they could, all gratitude. They had looked forward and arranged everything before the others began to reflect. Captain Benwick must give up his room to them, and get another bed elsewhere; and the whole was settled. They were only concerned that the house could accommodate no more; and yet perhaps, by “putting the children away in the maid’s room, or swinging a cot somewhere,” they could hardly bear to think of not finding room for two or three besides, supposing they might wish to stay; though, with regard to any attendance on Miss Musgrove, there need not be the least uneasiness in leaving her to Mrs Harville’s care entirely. Mrs Harville was a very experienced nurse, and her nursery-maid, who had lived with her long, and gone about with her everywhere, was just such another. Between these two, she could want no possible attendance by day or night. And all this was said with a truth and sincerity of feeling irresistible.
Charles, Henrietta, and Captain Wentworth were the three in consultation,and for a little while it was only an interchange of perplexity and terror.“Uppercross, the necessity of some one’s going to Uppercross;the news to be conveyed;how it could be broken to Mr and Mrs Musgrove;the lateness of the morning;an hour already gone since they ought to have been off;the impossibility of being in tolerable time.” At first, they were capable of nothing more to the purpose than such exclamations; but, after a while, Captain Wentworth, exerting himself, said—