that event； no doubt； he would establish the Jarndyce Institution
and the Summerson Alm…houses； and a little annual Corporation
Pilgrimage to St。 Alban’s。 He had no doubt； he said； that our
young friend was an excellent boy in his way； but his way was not
the Harold Skimpole way； what Harold Skimpole was； Harold
Skimpole had found himself； to his considerable surprise； when he
first made his own acquaintance； he had accepted himself with all
his failings； and had thought it sound philosophy to make the best
of the bargain； and he hoped we would do the same。
Charley’s last report was； that the boy was quiet。 I could see；
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from my window； the lantern they had left him burning quietly；
and I went to bed very happy to think that he was sheltered。
There was more movement and more talking than usual a little
before daybreak； and it awoke me。 As I was dressing； I looked out
of my window； and asked one of our men who had been among the
active sympathisers last night； whether there was anything wrong
about the house。 The lantern was still burning in the loft…window。
“It’s the boy； miss；” said he。
“Is he worse？” I inquired。
“Gone； miss。”
“Dead！”
“Dead； miss？ No。 Gone clean off。”
At what time of the night he had gone； or how； or why； it
seemed hopeless ever to divine。 The door remaining as it had been
left； and the lantern standing in the window； it could only be
supposed that he had got out by a trap in the floor which
communicated with an empty cart…house below。 But he had shut it
down again； if that were so； and it looked as if it had not been
raised。 Nothing of any kind was missing。 On this fact being clearly
ascertained； we all yielded to the painful belief that delirium had
come upon him in the night； and that； allured by some imaginary
object； or pursued by some imaginary horror； he had strayed away
in that worse than helpless state；—all of us； that is to say； but Mr
Skimpole； who repeatedly suggested； in his usual easy light style；
that it had occurred to our young friend that he was not a safe
inmate； having a bad kind of fever upon him； and that he had； with
great natural politeness； taken himself off。
Every possible inquiry was made； and every place was
searched。 The brick kilns were examined； the cottages were
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visited； the two women were particularly questioned； but they
knew nothing of him； and nobody could doubt that their wonder
was genuine。 The weather had for some time been too wet； and
the night itself had been too wet； to admit of any tracing by
footsteps。 Hedge and ditch； and wall； and rick and stack； were
examined by our men for a long distance round； lest the boy
should be lying in such a place insensible or dead； but nothing was
seen to indicate that he had ever been near。 From the time when
he was left in the loft…room； he vanished。
The search continued for five days。 I do not mean that it ceased；
even then； but that my attention was then diverted into a current
very memorable to me。
As Charley was at her writing again in my room in the evening；
and as I sat opposite to her at work； I felt the table tremble。
Looking up I saw my little maid shivering from head to foot。
“Charley；” said I “are you so cold？”
“I think I am； miss；” she replied。 “I don’t know what it is。 I can’t
hold myself still。 I felt so yesterday； at about this same time； miss。
Don’t be uneasy； I think I’m ill。”
I heard Ada’s voice outside； and I hurried to the door of
communication between my room and our pretty sitting…room；
and locked it。 Just in time； for she tapped at it while my hand was
yet upon the key。
Ada called to me to let her in； but I said； “Not now； my dearest。
Go away。 There’s nothing the matter； I will come to you
presently。” Ah！ it was a long； long time； before my darling girl and
I were companions again。
Charley fell ill。 In twelve hours she was very ill。 I moved her to
my room； and laid her in my bed； and sat down quietly to nurse
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her。 I told my Guardian all about it； and why I felt it was necessary
that I should seclude myself； and my reason for not seeing my
darling above all。 At first she came very often to the door； and
called to me； and even reproached me with sobs and tears； but I
wrote her a long letter； saying that she made me anxious and
unhappy； and imploring her； as she loved me； and wished my
mind to be at peace； to come no nearer than the garden。 After that；
she came beneath the window； even oftener than she had come to
the door； and； if I had learnt to love her dear sweet voice before
when we were hardly ever apart； how did I learn to love it then；
when I stood behind the window…curtain listening and replying；
but not so much as looking out！ How did I learn to love it
afterwards； when the harder time came！
They put a bed for me in our sitting…room； and by keeping the
door wide open； I turned the two rooms into one； now that Ada
had vacated that part of the house； and kept them always fresh
and airy。 There was not a servant； in or about the house； but was
so good that they would all most gladly have come to me at any
hour of the day or night； without the least fear or unwillingness；
but I thought it best to choose one worthy woman who was never
to see Ada； and whom I could trust to come and go with all
precaution。 Through her means； I got out to take the air with my
Guardian； when there was no fear of meeting Ada； and wanted for
nothing in the way of attendance； any more than in any other
respect。
And thus poor Charley sickened and grew worse； and fell into
heavy danger of death； and lay severely ill for many a long round
of day and night。 So patient she was； so uncomplaining； and
inspired by such a gentle fortitude； that very often as I sat by
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Charley； holding her head in my arms—repose would come to her；
so； when it would come to her in no other attitude—I silently
prayed to our Father in heaven that I might not forget the lesson
which this little sister taught me。
I was very sorrowful to think that Charley’s pretty looks would
change and be disfigured； even if she recovered—she was such a
child with her dimpled face—but that thought was； for the greater
part； lost in her greater peril。 When she was at the worst； and her
mind rambled again to the cares of her father’s sick bed； and the
little children； she still knew me so far as that she would be quiet
in my arms when she could lie quiet nowhere else； and murmur
out the wanderings of her mind less restlessly。 At those times I
used to think how should I ever tell the two remaining babies that
the baby who had learned of her faithful heart to be a mother to
them in their need； was dead！
There were other times when Charley knew me well； and talked
to me： telling me that she sent her love to Tom and Emma； and
that she was sure Tom would grow up to be a good man。 At those
times Charley would speak to me of what she had read to her
father as well as she could； to comfort him； of that young man
carried out to be buried； who was the only son of his mother and
she was a widow； of the ruler’s daughter raised up by the gracious
hand upon her bed of death。 And Charley told me that when her
father died； she had kneeled down and prayed in her first sorrow
that he likewise might be raised up； and given back to his poor
children； and that if she should never get better； and should die
too； she thought it likely that it might come into Tom’s mind to
offer the same prayer for her。 Then would I show Tom how those
people of old days had been brought back to life on earth； only that
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we might know our hope to be restored in Heaven！
But of all the various times there were in Charley’s illness；
there was not one
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