Audley and a strange man. And so great a
horror came over her, that, regardless of her toilette, and the hair
that had fallen over the jacket on her shoulders, she dropped at once
among them as they were bearing the senseless form into Mr. Audley's
bed-room, with a low but piteous cry, 'Felix! Felix! oh, what has
happened?'
'It is not Felix, my dear,' said Mr. Audley; 'he is safe--he is gone
for the doctor. This poor boy has fallen from a window. You can help
us, Wilmet; call Martha, and get some water made hot. The fire is
getting under.'
Wilmet needed no second hint. She was up, reassuring Cherry at one
moment; then breaking into Martha's heavy slumbers, impressing upon
her the necessity of not shrieking, then downstairs again, reviving
the dying kitchen fire, and finding that, as usual, there was some
water not yet cold. For, as she now saw, it was not yet one o'clock.
She durst not go to her mother's room, where ready means of heating
food were always to be found. As she brought the jug to the door,
Felix came in with Mr. Rugg, who, living in a street out of sight,
and having ears for no sound but his own night-bell, had been ready
at once to obey the call.
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