Scenes and Characters, or, Eighteen Months at Beechcroft Part 39

'Run and make friends with your nephew, Phyllis,' said Mr.

Hawkesworth; 'do not greet us with crying.'

'First tell me what is become of Maurice,' said Claude, 'is he blown up too?'

'No, he is at the Old Court,' said Phyllis. 'Shall I tell him that you are come?'

'I will look for him,' said Claude, and out he went.

The others dispersed in different directions, and did not a.s.semble again for nearly half an hour, when they all met in the drawing-room to drink tea; Claude and Maurice were the last to appear, and, on entering, the first thing the former said was, 'Where is Phyllis?'

'In the nursery,' said Jane; 'she has had her supper, and chooses to stay with Ada.'

'Has any one found out the history of the accident?' said William.

'I have vainly been trying to make sense of Maurice's account,' said Claude.

'Sense!' said William, 'there is none.'

'I am perfectly bewildered,' said Lily; 'every one has a different story, only consenting in making Phyllis the victim.'

'And,' added Claude, 'I strongly suspect she is not in fault.'

'Why should you doubt what she says herself?' said Eleanor.

'What does she say herself?' said William, 'nothing but that she shut the door, and what does that amount to?--Nothing.'

'She says she touched the powder,' interposed Jane.

'That is another matter,' said William; 'no one told me of her touching the powder. But why do you not ask her? She is publicly condemned without a hearing.'

'Who accuses her?' said Mr. Mohun.

'I can hardly tell,' said Emily; 'she met us, saying she was very sorry. Yes, she accuses herself. Every one has believed it to be her.'

'And why?'

There was a pause, but at last Emily said, 'How would you account for it otherwise?'

'I have not yet heard the circ.u.mstances. Maurice, I wish to hear your account. I will not now ask how you procured the powder.

Whoever was the immediate cause of the accident, you are chiefly to blame. Where was the powder?'

Maurice gave his theory and his facts, ending with the powder-horn being driven out of the window upon the green.

'I hear,' said Mr. Mohun. 'But, Maurice, did you not say that Phyllis touched the powder? How do you reconcile that with this incomprehensible statement?'

'She might have done that before,' said Maurice.

'Now call Phyllis,' said his father.

'Is it not very formidable for her to be examined before such an a.s.sembly?' said Emily.

'The accusation has been public, and the investigation shall be the same,' said Mr. Mohun.

'Then you do not think she did it, papa?' cried Lily.

'Not by shutting the door,' said William.

Phyllis entered, and Mr. Mohun, holding out both hands to her, drew her towards him, and placing her with her back to the others, still retained her hands, while he said, 'Phyllis, do not be frightened, but tell me where you were when the powder exploded?'

'Coming into the room,' said Phyllis, in a trembling voice.

'Where had you been?'

'Fetching a wafer out of the drawing-room.'

'What was the wafer for?'

'To put on Emily's letter, which she told us to send.'

'And where was Ada?'

'In the schoolroom, reading the direction of the letter.'

'Tell me exactly what happened when you came back.'

'I opened the door, and there was a flash, and a bang, and a smoke, and Ada tumbled down.'

'I have one more question to ask. When did you touch the powder?'

'Then,' said Phyllis.

'When it had exploded? Take care what you say.'

'Was it naughty? I am very sorry,' said Phyllis, beginning to cry.

'What powder did you touch? I do not understand you, tell me quietly.'

'I touched the powder-horn. What went off was only a little in a paper on the table, and there was a great deal more. When the rocket blew up there was a great noise, and Ada and I both screamed, and Hannah ran in and took up Ada in her arms. Then I saw a great fire, and looked, and saw Emily's music-book, and all the papers blazing.

So I thought if it got to the powder it would blow up again, and I laid hold of the horn and threw it out of the window. That is all I know, papa, only I hope you are not very angry with me.'

She looked into his face, not knowing how to interpret the unusual expression she saw there.

'Angry with you!' said he. 'No, my dear child, you have acted with great presence of mind. You have saved your sister and Hannah from great danger, and I am very sorry that you have been unjustly treated.'

He then gave his little daughter a kiss, and putting his hand on her head, added, 'Whoever caused the explosion, Phyllis is quite free from blame, and I wish every one to understand this, because she has been unjustly accused, without examination, and because she has borne it patiently, and without attempting to justify herself.'

'Very right,' observed Eleanor.