Chapter 19.3 - Shirley

"'Exactly, Captain. I thought the post would suit you. Will you favour Caroline so far as to be her guest for one night? Will you stay here instead of going back to Field Head?' "'And what will Mrs. Pryor do?' "'She expects me home. I will send her word. Come. Make up your mind to stay. It grows late. The dew falls heavily. You and Caroline will enjoy each other's society, I doubt not.' "'I promise you then to stay with Caroline,' replied Shirley. "'As you say. We shall enjoy each other's society. We will not be separated tonight. Now rejoin your old friend and fear nothing for us. If there should chance to be any disturbance in the night, Captain, if you should hear the picking of a lock, the cutting out of a pane of glass, stealthy tread of steps about the house, and I need not fear to tell you, who bear a well-tempered, mettlesome heart under your girl's ribbon sash, that such little incidents are very possible in the present time, what would you do?' "'Don't know. Faint, perhaps. Fall down and have to be picked up again. But, Doctor, if you assign me the post of honour, you must give me arms. What weapons are there in your stronghold? You could not wield a sword?' "'No.' "'I could manage the carving knife better. You will find a good one in the dining-room sideboard. A lady's knife, light to handle, and sharp-pointed as a poignard.' "'It will suit Caroline. But you must give me a brace of pistols. I know you have pistols.' "'I have two pairs. One pair I can place at your disposal. You will find them suspended over the mantelpiece of my study, in cloth cases.' "'Loaded?' "'Yes, but not on the cock. Cut them before you go to bed. It is paying you a great compliment, Captain, to lend you these. Were you one of the Orkwood squad, you should not have them.' "'I will take care. You need delay no longer, Mr. Hellstone. You may go now.' "'He is gracious to lend me his pistols,' she remarked as the rector passed out at the garden-gate. "'But come, Lena,' she continued. "'Let us go in and have some supper. I was too much vexed at tea, with the vicinage of Mr. Sam Wynne, to be able to eat, and now I am really hungry.'"