Johnny Ludlow Third Series Part 90

"It was I who spoke," interposed the governess; and though she was fat enough for two people she had the meekest little voice in the world, and allowed herself to be made a perfect tool of at Rose Villa. "d.i.c.ky did behave very ill at supper, eating rudely of everything, and----"

"Yes, yes," broke in Charlotte, "I remember now, Macky. You said d.i.c.ky ought to be restrained, and you wondered he was not ill; and then mamma called out, 'But where is d.i.c.ky?' 'Gone to bed to sleep off his supper,'

we all told her: and she sent Sally up to see that he had put his candle out."

"And of course," interrupted Sally, thinking it was her turn to begin, "when I found the room empty, and saw by the moonlight that Master d.i.c.ky had not come to bed at all, I ran down to say so. And his mamma got angry, accusing us servants of having carelessly locked him out-of-doors. And he can't be found, sir--as Miss Lotty says."

"No, he cannot be found anywhere," added Lotty. "We have searched the house and the gardens, and been in to inquire at Lady Jenkins's; and he is _gone_. And mamma is frantic, and said we were to come to you, Arnold."

"Master d.i.c.ky's playing truant: he has gone off with some of the guests," observed Dr. Knox.

"Well, mamma is putting herself into a frightful fever over him, Arnold.

That old well in the field at the back was opened the day before yesterday; she says d.i.c.ky may have strayed there and fallen in."

"d.i.c.ky's after more mischief than that," said the doctor, sagely. "A well in a solitary field would have no charms for d.i.c.ky. I tell you, Lotty, he must have marched home with some one or other. Had you any lads up there to-night?"

"No, not any. You know mamma never will have them. Lads, _and_ d.i.c.ky, would be too much."

"If Master d.i.c.ky have really gone off, as the doctor thinks, I'd lay my next quarter's wages that it's with Captain Collinson," cried Sally.

"He is always wanting to be after the captain."

Lotty lifted her face, a gleam of intelligence flashing across it.

"Perhaps that's it," she said; "I should not wonder if it is. He has strayed off after, or with, Captain Collinson. What is to be done, Arnold?"

"Not strayed with him, I should think," observed the doctor. "Captain Collinson, if he possesses any sense or consideration, would order d.i.c.ky back at once."

"Won't you come with us to the captain's lodgings, Arnold, and see?"

cried Charlotte. "It would not do, would it, for us to go there alone at this time of night? The captain may be in bed."

Arnold Knox looked at his sister; looked at the three of them, as if he thought they were enough without him. He was nearly done up with his long day's work.

"I suppose I had better go with you, Lotty," he said. "Though I don't think Captain Collinson would kidnap any one of you if you went alone."

"Oh dear, no; it is Mina he wants to kidnap, not us," answered Lotty, freely. And Arnold glanced at her keenly as he heard the words.

Did you ever know a fellow in the hey-dey of his health and restlessness who was not ready for any night expedition--especially if it were to search after something lost? Dr. Knox took up his hat to accompany the visitors, and we three took up ours.

We proceeded in a body through the moonlit streets to Collinson's lodgings; the few stragglers we met no doubt taking us all for benighted wayfarers, trudging home from some one or other of the noted Lefford soirees. Collinson had the rooms at the hairdresser's--good rooms, famed as the best lodgings in the town. The gas was alight in his sitting-room over the shop; a pretty fair proof that the captain was yet up.

"Stay, Lotty," said Dr. Knox, arresting her impatient hand, that was lifted to pull the bell. "No need to arouse the house: I dare say Pink and his family are in bed. I will go up to Collinson."

It was easy to say so, but difficult to do it. Dr. Knox turned the handle of the door to enter, and found it fastened. He had to ring, after all.

n.o.body answered it. Another ring and another shared the same fate. Dr.

Knox then searched for some small loose stones, and flung them up at the window. It brought forth no more than the bell had.

"d.i.c.ky can't be there, or that gravel would have brought him to the window," decided Lotty. "I should say Captain Collinson is not there, either."

"He may be in his room at the back," observed Dr. Knox. And he rang again.

Presently, after a spell of at least ten minutes' waiting, and no end of ringing, an upper window was opened and a head appeared--that of the hairdresser.

"Whatever's the matter?" called out he, seeing us all below. "It's not fire, is it?"

"I am sorry to disturb you, Pink," called back Dr. Knox. "It is Captain Collinson I want. Is he in, do you know?"

"Yes, sir; he came in about twenty minutes ago, and somebody with him, for I heard him talking," answered Pink. "He must be in his sitting-room, if he is not gone to bed."

"There is a light in the room, but I don't think he can be in. I have thrown up some gravel, and he does not answer."

"I'll come down and see, sir."

Pink, the most obliging little man in the world, descended to the captain's room and thence to us at the door. Captain Collinson was not in. He had gone out again, and left his gas alight.

"You say some one came in with him, Pink. Was it a young lad?"

"I can't tell, sir. I heard the captain's latch-key, and I heard him come on upstairs, talking to somebody; but I was just dropping off to sleep, so did not take much notice."

That the somebody was young d.i.c.k, and that Captain Collinson had gone out to march d.i.c.k home again, seemed only probable. There was nothing for it but to go on to Rose Villa and ascertain; and we started for it, after a short consultation.

"I shall not have the remotest idea where to look for d.i.c.k if he is not there," remarked Dr. Knox.

"And in that case, I do believe mamma will have a fit," added Charlotte.

"A real fit, I mean, Arnold. I wish something could be done with d.i.c.ky!

The house is always in a commotion."

Captain Collinson was at Rose Villa, whether d.i.c.ky was or not. At the garden-gate, talking to Mina in the moonlight, stood he, apparently saying good-night to her.

"d.i.c.ky? oh dear, yes; I have just brought d.i.c.ky back," laughed the captain, before Dr. Knox had well spoken his young half-brother's name, while Mina ran indoors like a frightened hare. "Upon getting home to my rooms just now I found some small mortal stealing in after me, and it proved to be d.i.c.ky. He followed me home to get a top I had promised him, and which I forgot to bring up here when I came to-night."

"I hope you did not give it him," said Dr. Knox.

"Yes, I did. I should never have got him back without," added the captain. "Good-night."

He laughed again as he went away. d.i.c.ky's vagaries seemed to be rare fun for him.

d.i.c.ky was spinning the top on the kitchen table when we went in--for that's where they had all gathered: Mrs. Knox, Gerty, Kate, and the cook. A big humming-top, nearly as large and as noisy as d.i.c.k. Dr. Knox caught up the top and caught d.i.c.ky by the hand, and took both into the parlour.

"Now then, sir!" he sternly asked. "What did you mean by this night's escapade?"

"Oh, Arnold, don't scold him," implored Mrs. Knox, following them in with her hands held up. "It _was_ naughty of him, of course, and it gave me a dreadful fright; but it was perhaps excusable, and he is safe at home again. The captain was to bring the top, and did not, and poor d.i.c.ky ran after him to get it."

"You be quiet, Arnold; I am not to be scolded," put in cunning d.i.c.ky.

"You just give me my top."

"As to scolding you, I don't know that it would be of any further use: the time seems to have gone by for it, and I must take other measures,"

spoke Dr. Knox. "Come up to bed now, sir. I shall see you in it before I leave."

"But I want my top."