Johnny Ludlow, Second Series

e quarter opened. Singular, because I heard and saw more of the boy I am going to tell of than I otherwise might

e back to school there and then. Not from any fear of my taking it; I had had it, and Tod too (and both of us were well again, I recollect, within a week or so); but if once the disease had really sh

ot a single boy had stayed the holidays that summer, and the doctor and I were alone. The school would open the following day, when masters an

mark. Now the doctor, learned man though he was in classics and what not, could make nothing of French. Carrying the letter

can't, I confess. But the paper's so thin, and the ink so pale, an

t the writer's Christian name. Monsieur Van Rheyn wrote to say that he was about to consign his son, Charles Aberleigh Van Rheyn, to Dr. Frost's care, and that he would arrive quickly after the letter, having already departed on h

tinued, as if trying to recollect something, and bending his spectacles over the letter. "She must have been

s sent for. Dr. Frost asked her what

Miss Aberleigh and Miss Emma Aberleigh. Good fortunes the young ladies had, sir, and both of them, I remember,

he was Dutch-or Flemish; not

t. The young ladies never came back to their home after the wedding-day, and the place was sold. Captai

ere his home was? In

e name. Not long ago I heard it said that poor Miss Emma w

h," remarked the doctor, when Hall was dismissed. "You must help to make things pleasant for him, Johnny: it

d to lament every day that he had not a plate of

in an appearance, I caught sight of the first. He was walking up from the Plough and Harrow Inn, and must have come by the omnibus that p

l. His trousers and vest were nankeen, his coat was a sort of open blouse, and flew out behind him; the hat he wore was a

. This is, I believe, t

ds, told me who it was. For a minute or two I really could not answer for staring at him.

not have put a pin's point between them. Really and truly it was the most remarkable figure ever seen out of a picture. I could

" I said then, holding out my hand to w

d honest grey eyes, that I liked him from that hour, in spite of the clothes and the freckles and the shorn head. He had crossed to Folkestone by the nig

rs and masters. The doctor shook hands. The first thing Van Rheyn did on entering the reception-parlour, was to produce from some inner pocket a large, square letter, sealed with two flaming red seals and a coat of arms; which he handed to the docto

re, sir, not knowing what it would be," said young Van Rheyn. "And there

to remit this," said the doctor, smiling. "It i

sir, I assure you. And, bes

hing of your mother's family," said Dr. Frost. "Ho

g me at it. And an English gentleman who came lately to Rouen spoke of it-he

had thought-the son of Miss Emma Abe

or a Roman Catholic?

her was. We attended the église of Monsieur

, and he chose a glass of eau sucrée. The mal-de-mer had bee

the water and sugar, she stood by to watch Van Rheyn mix it, her face sour, her lips drawn in. I am sure it gave her p

igh you once knew, Hall," spoke the doctor, with a view

crustily. "He favours h

had very nice e

ng at me gratefully. "Thank you for say

Aberleigh?" asked Hall of Van Rheyn. "The young lady wh

She is quite well. She and the major and the chi

that day would be early. Van Rheyn said he should like to unpack his box, and we went upstairs together. Growing confidential

elles de Tocqueville, whom his Aunt Claribelle did not like. His Aunt Claribelle, his father's sister, had come to live at the chateau when his mother died; but if that Thérèsine de Tocqueville came into the house she would quit it. The Demoiselles de Tocqueville had hardly any dot,-which would be much against the marriage, Aunt Claribelle thought, and bad for his father; because when he, Charles, should be the age of twenty-one, the money came to him; it had been his mother's, and was

terrupted at this juncture, see

s counting. He seemed to have the tidiest ways i

ou can talk away with him in your native

nch," debated he, looking at me seriously. "My father wishes m

it very wel

t is not my native tongu

es

it without that-as the Engl

his future life. "What are you

be a rentier-I don't know what you call that in English; it means a gent

iest! Do you m

n the English tongue. My mother used to t

s, Van

e French names for things since my mother died. It was neith

men, pe

er coming home from classe, and we talked together, our two selves. I should have much money, she said, when I grew to be a man, and could lead an idle life. But she would not like that: sh

e might have spoken of going for a ride. There could be no mistaking

ving over here, Van Rheyn

mamma's country, and she loved it. There was mo

have been a good

ist of tears. "Oh, she was so good, so good! You can nev

id she

e was dead at night. Not that she was strong ever. It w

t of

ere crowded. We looked back at the noise, and saw many horses, without riders, galloping along towards us; men were running after them, shouting and calling; and the people, mad with fright, tumbled over one another in the effort to get away. Later, we heard that these horses, frightened by something, had broken out of an hotel post-yard. Well, mamma gave just a cry of fear and held my hand tighter, as we set off to run with the rest, the horses stamping wildly after us. But the people pushed between us, and I lost her. She was at home before me, and was sitting at the side of the fountain, inside the chateau entrance-gate, when I got up,

What was t

they said it was feeble. Oh, how we cried, papa and I! He cried for

rong: he was not to be allowed to do gymnastics or "boxing," or to play at rough games, or take violent exercise of any kind; and a small glass of milk was to be given him at night when he went to bed. If the clothes sent over with him were not suitable to the

peared to give nothing but indications of robust health. The doctor questioned him in what way he was not strong-whether he was subject to

into a muscular Englishman, hence t

Van Rheyn is quite beyond me. It seemed that they never meant to leave off staring. Some of them gave him a little chaff, even that first night. Van Rhey

uch for him-it takes a long time to bring matters round-if they ever are brought round at all. When his hair began to sprout, it looked exactly li

st perpetual butt. Any mistake in the pronunciation of an English word-Van Rheyn never made a mistake as to its meaning-they hissed and groaned at. I shall never forget one occasion. Being asked when that Indian lot intended to arrive (meaning the Scotts)

e carriage three times a week. Was he a girl? roared the boys. Did he do patchwork? Not now; he had left off sewing when he was nine, answered Van Rheyn innocently, unconscious of the storm of mockery the avowal would invoke. "Pray, were you born a young lady?-or did they change you at nurse?"

into our English mode. "It was bad enough to have to teach a stupid boy Latin," grumbled the under Latin master (under Dr. Frost), "bu

eap-frog. Some of them were at it in the

giving him a push. "There is to be a round or two a

" replied Van Rheyn, who invariably answered al

dn't? Who

, when I was starting to come here, my

end you over in petticoats? Never was such a thing heard of, you know, as for a gir

o me for ever? I am not a

for our games. Come! Try this. Leap-frog's especially edi

at with that, and what with their stinging ridicule, poor Van Rheyn was goaded out of his obedience to hom

rhaps they will let me alone," he said to me that sa

of the games: running, leaping, and climbin

es, fight each other?" he asked. "They would not have to figh

uld not shake him there. He was of right blue blood; never caving-in before

disappeared over here. His complexion lost its redness also, becoming fresh and fair, with a brightish colou

do you know that

them in my ear as we stood up for prayers before b

he matter

wered Bill. "He i

looked pale as he lay, and said he had been sick. Hall declared it was

a sick headache, I su

aine. I have h

I wouldn't say as much to any of them. Let them suppose you are regularly ill. Y

red; "my head is in much pain.

ning hot. But that went wit

expression of countenance, as she gazed down on him, staring at something with all her eyes. Van Rheyn was asleep, and looked better; his face flushed and moist, his brown hair, still uncommonly short compared with ours, pushed back. He lay with his hands outside the bed, as if the clothes were heavy-the weather was fie

nce of sugar. But she had also many prejudices. And, of all her prejudices, none was s

e, pointing her finger straight at the little cross

little cross; the face of our Saviour-an exquisite face in its expression of suffering and patient humility-one that

with horror, snatching her fingers from the cross as if

e no doubt alik

ndments in class here, standing up before

an Rheyn had suddenly opened his

said, with a smile. "The

id Hall, resentfully, taking the spoon out of the saucer, and holding it withi

o our view as far as the ribbon allowed, and speaking

aid, stoopi

anic sex?" demande

ask?" he broke off to question me,

are a Roman Cat

to her. "My father is a Roman Catholi

do you wear such a idol

hing! it is not an i

a brazen image next the skin!-right under the flannel

oor Aunt Annette's. The last time we went to the Aunt Claribelle's to see her, when the

Rheyn, it's just a braze

was calling on mamma, and told him it was a gift to me of the poor Tante Annette. Mon

n images was not in her nature. Or on any matter as far as that went, that concerned us boys.

t for me always in her little shell-box that had the silver crest on it; but when she died, I said I would put the cro

f ever I saw new ribbon," cried Hall, w

n. I have another piece in my trunk

ance to it. Leastways before she lived among them foreign French folks," added Hall, virtually dropping the contest, as Van Rheyn slipped the cross out of

es. Hall took back the cup and tucked him up again, telling him to get a bit more sleep and he would be all

ellows, here's a lark. Bristles thi

he water looked too pleasant not to be plunged into. The rule at Dr. Frost's was, that no boy should be compelled to bathe against

ction, Miss Charl

ld water at home," was the patient

lasting pussy-cat you are, Miss Charlotte! We've

" said poor Van Rheyn, speaking patiently as usual, though he must

of waterproofs to put over his shoes? Just gi

him up in a

who had just leaped in. "It's as warm as new milk. What on

Miss Charlotte has no ambition that way. Girls p

g at the river irresolutely, and thinking

the water. "It is indeed

nued to be the best of comrades, and I never went in for teasing him

out. One of Dr. Frost's rules in regard to bathing was stringent-that no boy should remain in the water more than three mi

ant," he exclaimed. "

great baby!"

ere flung down any way. His things were laid smoothly one upon another, in the order he to

! What'

e words. Jessup, buttoning his braces, was standing by Van Rheyn's heap, looking down at it.

and at the moment Van Rheyn, finding all the rest

Whitney had brought. In point of fact, it had been against rules also, for we were not expected to go into the river without the presence of a master. But just at this bend it was pe

u say it is

old c

tell us to our face

ys," freely ans

om one to another. They did not ridicule the cross-I think t

ce round about Charley. "He found the natives sporting no end of charms and amulets-nearly all the attire the

t, please," ple

horne. "And I've heard-I have heard, Bristles-that any fellow who arms himself with a pen'orth of blue-sto

ered poor helpless Charley, who had never the smallest notion of t

s and shirt, and stood with his hand

a child's caul for sale," cried Snepp. "Any gentleman or lady buying that caul and taking it to

randmother, M

e," said he patiently. "My father would

write and tell

answered Charley. "I can bear. And he doe

suppose?" said Bill W

gold," answe

thieves, then. They might ease you of i

my aunt say. Will you be so good as to give

ct; and we had to make a race for the house. Van

ockery. But it did not. Once go in wholesale for putting upon some particular fellow in a school, and the tyranny gains

appeared. An hour later, going into Whitney's room for something Bill asked me to fetch, I came upon Charles Van Rheyn-who also slept there. He was sit

e grievance

eturned he, dashing away his tears. "I

w. But they don't mean anything: it is done in sport, not malice. The

sed to be. I had such a happy home; I never had one sorrow when my mother was

holding out my hand. "I know

ess. As he thanked me with a glad look of hope in his eyes, I saw that he had been

, who loved me so, is in heaven; my father has married M

married that Thérès

the letter clos

ys. The French bringing-tip is different from ours: perhaps it lay in that. On the other hand, a French boy, generally speaking, possesses a very shallow sense of religion. But Van Rheyn had

treated as a girl, sheltered from the world's roughness, all that coddling must have become to him as second nature; and the remembrance lay with him still. Over here he was suddenl

er he thought he could not (he having a great deal of weight in the school) make things pleasanter for him. Tod responded that I should never

the reigning politics we never knew. One Saturday afternoon, when old Fontaine had taken V

fe out of him: and he put the question deliberately to us (and made us answer it), how we, if consigned alone to a foreign home, all its inmates strangers, would liked to be served so. He did not wish, he went on, to think he had pitiful, ill-disposed boys, lacking hearts and common kindne

unsel was held to determine whether we had a sneak amongst us-else how could Frost have known?-that Charley himself had not spoken, his worst enemy felt sure of. But not

his names of Bristles and Miss Charlotte; but virtually the sting was gone. Charley was as grateful as could be, and seemed to become quite happy; and upon the arrival of a hamper by grande vitesse

er all, that Van Rheyn.

g in for this, Van Rheyn, unless

you know," res

n you keep t

y n

e or four hours, peltin

eeping up," said Van

rig

Van Rheyn had never seen hare and hounds: it had been let alone during the hotter weather: and it was Tod who now warned him that he might

n his quaintly-turned phrase. And I

is for the scent. The hare fills his pockets with it, and drops a piece of it every now and th

questioned

e game i

if you not

ikes to do is to double upon us cunni

hat there is

and stiles, and hedges. Or, if the hedg

body could get through them," debated Van Rhe

have to find some other w

at you say q

one. And neither of us, nor any one else, had

other at the last moment, and backed out of it. He made the bes

derably, for we had to be in at six to tea. On that account, perhaps, Millichip thought he must get over the ground the quicker; for I don't think we had ever made so swi

nd by the scent: but we could neither see him nor catch him. Later, I chanced to come to grief in a treacherous ditch, lost my straw hat, and tore the sleeve of my jacket. This threw me b

What's up? The pace

aid he, when he could

the run's nearly over: we shall so

e in at what the

ath to-day: the ha

the stile. "I said I could keep up, and do what

e other end. We were doing our best to catch them up, when I distinctly saw a heavy stone flung into their midst. Looking at the direction it came from, there crept a dirty ra

ng to his dog. We knew the young scamp well: and could never decide whether he was a whole scamp, or half a natural. At any rate, he was vilely bad, was the pest of the ne

u throw thos

e. Didn't thro

are about, Mr. Raddy, unless

!" grinn

ghtest compunction. Turning to go on my way, I was in time to see Van Rheyn tumble over the stile and disappear within the coppice. The rest must have nearly sho

ad more than half a field's start of me. It must have been close upon six, for the sun was setting i

red light lingering in my eyes, I could hardly see the narrow path; the trees were dark, thick, and met overhead. I r

om the open field, there was Charles Van Rheyn on the ground, his back against the trunk of a tree, his arms stretched up, clasping it. But for that clasp,

what's t

as though every gasp would be his last. What on earth

id he, at length, with a lo

t do

o his chest-towar

t yourself?

use I not able to run more. It is t

yet I did not like to leave him. But what if delay

it me!" he cried out, puttin

ou," I said in an agony, "I can't do anyth

hould not like to

all the more necessary I should make a rush for Dr. Frost and Featherston. Never had I

stile. It was like a godsend. I knew it quite well for that viciou

, Van Rheyn. I

f his dilapidated trousers, that hung in fringes below the knee. He was whistling to his dog in the coppice. They must have struck through the tangles and briars higher up, whi

rning at the sound of me,

te him in my great need, "I want you to do something for

s, his interruption was the worst

's lying here, and I cannot leave him. Hush, Raddy! I want to tell you,"-advancing a

advanced, he retreated. "You've got a ambush in that there coppy-

he one I speak of. I say I fear he is dying. He is lying helpless. I

trick of his when feeling particul

m. "I will give it you when

it f

ould be only the sixpence thrown away. Paid beforehand, Raddy

!" And he passed off in

ble to persuade him! If Charles Va

y to care for, Raddy? Did

d I be glad on't. Her beated me, her

; if you ever did anybody a good turn in all your life, you will help th

ts to get me in there, ye doe

you go for the sixpence, if I gi

been?" dealing his dog a savage kick, as it came u

pocket; all its store. Bringing

I sent you-you know my name, Johnny Ludlow-sent you to tell them that the French boy is in the coppice dying;" for I thought it best to put it stro

member it i

's another sixpence. It is all the money I have. That

he did not stun me with a blow, and take the two. Perhaps he could not entirely divest himself of that idea of

rself that he is there, and that no trickery is meant. And, Raddy," I added, slowly opening the hand again, "perhaps you may

it round me to do it, glanced at Van Rheyn, and then made straight off in the ri

tching the tree-trunk. Nevertheless, there was that in his face that gave me an awful fear and made my breath for a mom

harley? I hope the

with a happy smile-and, opening his han

gh he meant to imply he knew he was dying, a

my face-which no doubt was desperate. "I have kept the

You can't think yo

Sunday, might not be long after her. She drew me close to her, and held

cried out in my pain and dread. "If

just to show me the cross. "My mother has seen how good you have always been for me: she said she s

quietly-helpless. Dying! And I could do nothing to stay him! Oh, why d

well. Chancing to see the surgeon pass down the road as he was delivering the message at the house, he ran and arrested him. He put his ill-looking face over the stile, as

the ground and put his head flat down upon it. But oh, there could be no mistake. He was dying: ne

n, but smiling faintly his grateful smile. "Do not be sorrowful. I shall

in answer. His heart

guard it to my memory: a keepsake. My mother would give it to him-

ssage for his father, his voice grew feeble, his face more blue, and the lids slowly closed over his eyes. Dr

dieu, all. Johnny, say my very best adieux to the boys; tell them it has been very pleasant lately; say they have

ing, so that we could no longer very well see his features in the dark coppice. My tears were dropping fa

another after an interval, and all was over. It seemed like a d

written restrictions on the score of violent exercise. But, as Dr. Frost angrily observed, why did the father not distinctly warn him against that special danger: how was it to be suspected in a lad of hearty and healthy appearance? Mons

he coppice, and I gave them Van Rheyn's message. They knew som

orse, speaking up amidst the general consternation, "we would

imes, when looking at it, a fancy comes over me