Chapter XIV: The Accident

DICK was no nearer the wished-for money on that Saturday afternoon when Tom went home, nor did he see any chance of clutching the prize. He was growing weary of controlling himself, and vexed and annoyed that his former friend avoided him; for when they met, Tom passed on with a few civil words of greeting, but refused to make an appointment to walk out.

Miss Pringle had not been feeling quite so well of late—not that much ailed her—but she was very tired after her day's work and extremely cross. She was sensible, too, that it cost her a greater effort than was usual to lift her gold up and down from the cupboard shelf; and determined to change some of her hardly-earned sovereigns into crisp bank-notes.

On the Sunday night which brought such pleasant dreams to Tom, she retired to her room at the usual hour. Dick did not watch his mistress count her money quite so regularly as in the first fortnight, for he knew the process so well. He was falling asleep without having first looked through the keyhole, and was startled by hearing a loud crash overhead. He jumped up and listened, for he fancied it was followed by a low moan.

Mr. Newton and his daughter Annie, who were about to separate for the night, heard the noise too, and Annie rushed to the door and opened it, when she heard the words, "Help me."

"Can you let me in?" she asked.

"No; I'm too much hurt," groaned Miss Pringle, with great difficulty.

"We must force the door," said Mr. Newton. "Can you see through the keyhole, Annie?"

"Yes, quite well. Miss Pringle is lying on the floor half in her cupboard. She must have fallen."

"You had better call Dick."

Just at this moment the boy joined them. But the united efforts of the three made no impression on the door, and Dick was sent to fetch a locksmith.

At last, admittance was gained. A stool with a broken leg revealed how the accident had happened.

Miss Pringle was quite unconscious. With the help of the locksmith, they plead her on her bed; for Mr. Newton's blindness prevented him from taking an active part.

"Now run for a doctor, Dick," said Annie. "The one who lives in the first house on the terrace is the nearest."

It was quite half an hour before the doctor came, during which time the young girl sat still and waited, not knowing what she ought to do.

Though Dick's face expressed great sorrow, he was secretly rejoicing over Miss Pringle's fall, hoping that it might in some way facilitate his wishes, and that he would gain possession of her gold.

"This is a sad business," said the doctor, after he had examined his patient. "I can scarcely tell the extent of the mischief, nor whether her arm and leg are broken or only sprained. I can do nothing until to-morrow morning, the limbs are swelling so rapidly. Has she a friend who can sit up with her? She must not be left."

"I do not think she has a single friend or relation in the world," replied Annie.

"Poor thing! She is to be pitied. I have heard she is very eccentric; but having lived so short a time in this neighbourhood, I am but little acquainted with its inhabitants."

"I will remain with her," said Annie. "I hope in the morning she will be well enough to say what she wishes to be done; and her boy is here to take any message that is necessary."

"That is sufficient. You had better not attempt to move her without help. Give her some drops that I will send you at once. Her consciousness will soon return, I hope."

When the doctor left, he was accompanied by Dick.

Then Annie took counsel of her father as to whether she should call in assistance from any of the neighbours.

"Better not, my dear," answered Mr. Newton. "Miss Pringle may turn on us, and say we must pay, as she gave no orders. You can manage with Dick to-night, and to-morrow morning the doctor must arrange, if she be too ill to be consulted."

So soon as Dick returned with the medicine, Annie persuaded her father to go to bed, knowing that any excitement or want of rest would be attended with bad after-consequences.

"Call me, Dick," she said, "if you notice any change. I shall not be long. I am going to see after papa."

"Now is my time," thought the boy. "If I can once get the box out of the cupboard and down-stairs, I am safe. When missus comes to herself, it will be too late. Now or never. I shall have time to get away from Dixtown, for she'll never say she's got money unless she's obliged; only I must be quick."

He assured himself that Miss Pringle was still unconscious ere he carried a chair into the cupboard, and lifted the bandbox on to the ground. He took out the wooden box, replaced the bandbox, and carried the chair back, leaving the cupboard door exactly as it was before.

"All right so far," he said to himself. "Three minutes more will finish my business."

Two candles were burning, so that there was light enough to see his way clearly. He took hold of the box with a firm grip, and was moving off with it, when Annie opened the door softly, and entered the room, while at the same moment Miss Pringle unclosed her eyes, gave a loud shriek, and moaned, "Oh dear, oh dear, what shall I do!"

Annie could not have explained why she appeared at this juncture, except that she had an uneasy feeling at leaving Dick alone with the spinster. Seeing him box in hand, she screamed out, "Papa, papa, Dick's stealing. Call out of the window for help."

Her sudden coming and appeal to her father, coupled with Miss Pringle's scream, made Dick loosen his hold of the box, which fell heavily; while the would-be thief pushed rudely past, rushed down-stairs, and out of the back door, as Mr. Newton called "Help, help."

"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Wilkins, who was smoking his pipe in front of his house. He and his wife had only just returned home from spending the day with friends, otherwise they would have known that something unusual had occurred next door.

"We want you and your wife here. Annie will open the door for you," said Mr. Newton.

Annie could not come at that moment, for she was by Miss Pringle's side. The sudden start she had made when she screamed, had brought on intense pain, and she lay with closed eyes again.

"Papa, I must have help," cried Annie.

"Wilkins is waiting below," answered her father, sadly.

He felt so much and almost bitterly his infirmity just then; it seemed to come before him in an appalling form; he was so helpless to render his child any assistance in her sore need.

In a few minutes, Annie unfastened the front door, and admitted the good couple.

Mrs. Wilkins had often rendered her assistance, and was ready to help any who were in distress. Her story was soon told.

"You go up and see what you can do," said Mr. Wilkins to his wife, when he had heard a few facts; "I'll search after Dick; if he's clean gone, he may go, as you've saved the property, Miss Annie. There is no fear of his ever troubling Miss Pringle again."

So soon as Mrs. Wilkins entered the spinster's room, her first care was to put the box and its contents into a place of safety. The sides were somewhat damaged by the fall, the weight of the sovereigns having loosened the nails.

"This explains much to me," she said to Annie. "See, miss, the stocking is full of money. Miss Pringle has always spoken of her poverty, and now I understand the secret of her life. The love of getting gold has mastered her. It's very, very sad."

By the time that the wooden box was deposited in the cupboard, and the broken stool removed, Mr. Wilkins tapped at the door, and said, "I find no trace of Dick. He must have run away through the fields. I've fastened the kitchen door; and I'll go home. The boy is no loss; I've known him for many years, and I warned the missus here to beware when she engaged him, and told her plainly she'd made a mistake. Good night. You can call me if you want me."

Annie and Mrs. Wilkins conversed in whispers until Miss Pringle was so far restored as to be able to take the medicine prescribed by the doctor.

"Now try and sleep," they said.

"Where am I? And what has happened?" asked Miss Pringle.

Annie answered in as few words as possible, and promised to be more explicit in the morning.

The spinster closed her eyes wearily, and her nurses had the great satisfaction of seeing her fall into a quiet sleep.

The injuries which she had received were very severe. One leg was broken, and the right arm badly sprained. It would be many weeks, even months, before she would be able to knead her bread. She would have to lie still, and be waited upon.

By degrees Miss Pringle received a full account of what had transpired. When Annie told her how nearly Dick had stolen her gold, she literally shivered with terror, and could not be quieted until her treasure was counted out before her, and she had assured herself that not one sovereign was missing.

She had many long hours of pain in the first days after her accident, but pain of mind as well as body. She was humbled and mortified when she realised that her secret was known, and that her lodgers and neighbours were aware she was a false woman, and her pretended poverty a lie invented to deceive them. Her precautions had miserably failed; her future was dark and gloomy; her dearly cherished gold must decrease; and what was more terrible was that she might be unable to work again; and what then? Had she befriended Mr. Newton in his sore need? Had she ever helped any one who was sick or in trouble? She moaned many times, as if in severe pain, when it was mental anguish that called forth the expression, and not the aching of hurt limbs.

Mrs. Wilkins was engaged for part of every day. She had no children to occupy her time, and was able to attend to her husband's wants and see to the invalid; but she could not undertake more. Miss Pringle felt her business must be left for the present—until she was well; but what if she were a cripple for life?

It was a week after the accident that Tom called to see the spinster. He did not come before, because he had been passing through a sharp conflict with himself. He had heard every particular of the trouble that had befallen her, and Dick's conduct, from Mother Crampton; for Annie had minutely described the circumstances to her old friend, and also added her own judgment in the matter.

It was this:—When the young girl had time to think and wonder how Dick came to discover that Miss Pringle had a hoard of money, she remembered how easily she had seen through the keyhole. He must have arrived at the knowledge of her secret in the same manner. She ventured at last to ask Miss Pringle if she had any particular time for counting her money, and the spinster confessed she had, and stated when it was.

"Now I understand all," said Annie to her. "Dick has watched you through the keyhole when you thought he was in bed."

This was by no means a pleasant conclusion to arrive at, so far as Miss Pringle was concerned; nevertheless, as we know, it was a correct one. When Annie told Mother Crampton, she agreed with her; and when Mother Crampton, in her turn, told Tom, it flashed into his mind that it was his fault in the first instance, for had he not housed Dick for two nights? Certainly he must have mastered the secret then, hence his behaviour to himself, and his eagerness to serve Miss Pringle. Tom saw it all so plainly that he wondered he had been blind before.

First, he felt very angry that Dick had gained his end so ignobly; then, his anger turned into thankfulness that Dick had been prevented from taking the money; and in the end one idea fixed itself, which was, that he ought to offer his services to his former mistress. This decision brought on the sharp battle with himself, for he was very happy in his new situation, and dreaded leaving his very kind master.

First, he consulted Mother Crampton, who encouraged him to go forward. She heartily pitied Miss Pringle, in spite of her many faults, and thought that even if Tom sacrificed his present position, his character would be matured by the voluntary surrender of his own wishes, because of his anxiety to be of service to one whom he thought he had wronged. She bade him speak to Mr. Jones, and come to no decision hastily.

Mr. Jones refused to settle the question by expressing a strong opinion either way. He advised Tom to ask God to help him to do right, and added, "So far as I am concerned, I shall be sorry to lose you, but I do not feel it right to throw any obstacle in the way of your carrying out what you believe to be the best."

So Tom paused for one week before he called on Miss Pringle, who was greatly surprised to hear from Mrs. Wilkins that Tom Gillies desired to see her. She had never quite forgiven his sending for his clothes, and was inclined not to receive him, for she could not be persuaded to believe, all at once, that Dick was such a wicked boy, even though she, had such good reasons for doubting anything that the latter had either said or done. Mrs. Wilkins liked Tom, and urged the spinster to allow him to have his way.

"He seems so anxious for a quiet chat with you, that I think you mustn't refuse him," she pleaded.

So he was invited to walk up.

When Tom found himself alone with his old mistress, he inquired after her health, and expressed his sorrow that so sad an accident had befallen her, but with such evident sympathy that Miss Pringle was softened towards him; and she opened the subject of the conversation which was uppermost in Tom's mind, by asking him why he left her without giving any notice.

Tom asked her to listen to his story, which she did without once interrupting him.

"And now," he said, in conclusion, "I've a good character from Mr. Jones, and I've come to say that if you'll take me back, I am ready to serve you again. I don't think you'll have cause to be sorry, for I really mean to help you; and though I'm very happy with Mr. Jones, and getting a salary, yet, if you'll give me only half what I get now, I think I could manage. I mustn't expect them at home to buy me clothes after having had three shillings a week, for then mother would blame me. I owe you something, Miss Pringle, for behaving to you as I did, and for letting Dick into your house. Probably he could never have known that you'd money, but for me, nor have tempted me to go to Lockstone, and behave as he did. Please forgive me; and to show you forgive me, let me be your boy again. There's another change come over me, which makes me think I shall do better than before: I tell God all my troubles and pleasures, and ask, in Christ's name, that His Spirit may teach me what is right, and I've found a deal of difference. I just try to untie as many knots of sin as I can, and I try to tie no fresh ones; but not in my own strength, I pray."

Tom did not know how thoroughly he conquered Miss Pringle by the simple straightforward way in which he told his story, and detailed his difficulties, and shortcomings, for she merely replied, "I forgive you, Tom, and thank you for your offer; let me have until to-morrow to decide."

Tom rose to go, but still lingered; for he had a few more words to add, which he found rather difficult to bring out. "Please, Miss Pringle, you won't be offended if I speak to you about something else," he summoned up courage to stammer out at last.

"No, Tom, you may say what you have to say freely."

"It's only this: When I was with you, I didn't feel your religion was quite real. Don't, please, be offended. You said a great deal, and you made me read the commandments to you, and you went to church, and all that; but at home you were hard, and had no kind words for me; and when I talked to Mother Crampton, I felt there was something so real in all she said, and it was just the same with my new master, Mr. Jones. I found him a Christian from morning until night; and I'm trying hard to learn that sort of religion, and I'm happier for it; and I want you to do the same. I've brought you a little book that's helped me; it has the words about tying and untying knots in it that first made me think, and I've turned down the page for you. I hope you ain't offended at my speaking."

"No, Tom," Miss Pringle answered again.

The boy stepped forward, and put the book into her hand, and saying, "Good-bye; I shall call to-morrow for your answer," left the room, but not the house, for Annie called him in to see her father.

And when he had told them what he had done, they hoped very much that Miss Pringle would accept his offer.

"She is softened already by her misfortune," said Annie. "She even told me yesterday that she had sinned in loving her money so much. Why, Tom, she has more than two hundred sovereigns! I counted them out before her. I wish she would send them to the bank."

"Do not be so impatient, Annie," answered Mr. Newton. "Miss Pringle has much to learn. I had rather that she acted after mature thought, than in such a great hurry."

When Tom closed the door on his old mistress, she fell into a long reverie. She glanced back over many years of her life, and felt the retrospect was not a pleasant one. She had lived to make money, and cut herself off from all that brings true joy in life, merely to accumulate gold. Her one thought had been to gather and to keep. And now she was lying helpless, and that which had been her idol must go to keep her from starving. Tom's words about her professions of religion came with startling truth. She had kept up a sort of sham piety all her life; she had served God formally, but had not given her heart to Him, but to her money.

She grew so restless and uneasy at last, that Annie, who came in, as was her wont, several times during the day, noticed how flushed she was, and asked, "Are you suffering much pain?"

"No, Miss Annie," she replied; "I am not suffering bodily pain, but my heart aches so. I've made a great mistake. I've lived for money, and I can't bear to think of it."

Annie left the room, and returned in a few minutes, bringing her Bible with her. She chose several passages from the Gospels, which she thought best suited to Miss Pringle's state of mind, and she read on until she found that the sacred word brought some degree of peace and rest.

Before she went back to her shells, she ventured to say, "Pray, Miss Pringle; God will hear the prayer of the penitent. There is joy in heaven over the repentant sinner."

The spinster could not sleep that night; so busy was she with herself. The next morning she sent for Mr. Newton, and told him she had made up her mind to take Tom Gillies back to carry on her business. She also asked him if he would be good enough to go to the bank and deposit her money, and concluded by begging him to forgive her unkindness and selfishness.

"I did not know what it was to be helpless when I spoke so cruelly to you," she said; "but God is teaching me. I believe being laid by will do me good, but it's early days yet for me to say this."

Tom came at noon, and was with Miss Pringle for more than one hour. The result of the interview was that he engaged to take up his quarters under the staircase on the following day, at the same salary he received from Mr. Jones. Neither Miss Pringle nor he ever spoke of that conversation to a third party, but it was quite evident that Tom and his mistress had been deeply moved, for there were traces of tears in their eyes, and from this time quite another tie existed between them. Tom was treated more like a son than an errand-boy.