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Jane　was　shocked　at　their　heathenish　cruelty；　and　went　off　the　path　to　remonstrate　with　them。

On　this；　Maxley　fell　upon　her；　and　began　beating　her　about　the　head　and　shoulders　with　his　heavy　stick。

The　miserable　boys　uttered　yells　of　dismay；　but　did　nothing。

Julia　uttered　a　violent　scream；　but　flew　to　her　friend's　aid；　and　crying；　〃Oh　you　wretch！　you　wretch！〃　actually　caught　the　man　by　the　throat　and　shook　him　violently。　He　took　his　hand　off　Jane　Hardie；　who　instantly　sank　moaning　on　the　ground；　and　he　cowered　like　a　cur　at　the　voice　and　the　purple　gleaming　eyes　of　the　excited　girl。

The　air　filled　with　cries；　and　Edward　ran　out　of　the　house　to　see　what　was　the　matter；　but　on　the　spot　nobody　was　game　enough　to　come　between　the　furious　man　and　the　fiery　girl。　The　consequence　was；　her　impetuous　courage　began　to　flag　and　her　eye　to　waver；　the　demented　man　found　this　out　by　some　half　animal　instinct；　and　instantly　caught　her　by　the　shoulder　and　whirled　her　down　on　her　knees；　then　raised　his　staff　high　to　destroy　her。

She　screamed；　and　was　just　putting　up　her　hands；　womanlike；　not　to　see　her　death　as　well　as　feel　it；　when　something　dark　came　past　her　like　a　rushing　winda　blow；　that　sounded　exactly　like　that　of　a　paving　ram；　caught　Maxley　on　the　jaw：　and　there　was　Edward　Dodd　blowing　like　a　grampus　with　rage；　and　Maxley　on　his　back　in　the　road。　But　men　under　cerebral　excitement　are　not　easily　stunned；　and　know　no　pain：　he　bounded　off　the　ground；　and　came　at　Edward　like　a　Spanish　bull。　Edward　slipped　aside；　and　caught　him　another　ponderous　blow　that　sent　him　staggering；　and　his　bludgeon　flew　out　of　his　hand；　and　Edward　caught　it。　Lo！　the　maniac　flew　at　him　again　more　fiercely　than　ever；　but　the　young　Hercules　had　seen　Jane　bleeding　on　the　ground：　he　dealt　her　assailant　in　full　career　such　a　murderous　stroke　with　the　bludgeon；　that　the　people；　who　were　running　from　all　quarters；　shrieked　with　dismaynot　for　Jane；　but　for　Maxley；　and　well　they　might；　that　awful　stroke　laid　him　senseless；　motionless　and　mute；　in　a　pool　of　his　own　blood。

〃Don't　kill　him；　sir；　don't　kill　the　man；〃　was　the　cry。

〃Why　not？〃　said　Edward　sternly。　He　then　kneeled　over　his　sweetheart　and　lifted　her　in　his　arms　like　a　child。　Her　bonnet　was　all　broken；　her　eyes　were　turned　upwards　and　set；　and　a　little　blood　trickled　down　her　cheek；　and　that　cheek　seemed　streaked　white　and　red。

He　was　terrified；　agonised；　yet　he　gasped　out；　〃You　are　safe；　dear；　don't　be　frightened。〃

She　knew　the　voice。

〃Oh；　Edward！〃　she　said　piteously　and　tenderly；　and　then　moaned　a　little　on　his　broad　bosom。　He　carried　her　into　the　house　out　of　the　crowd。

Poor　old　doctor　Phillips；　coming　in　to　end　his　days　in　the　almshouse；　had　seen　it　all：　he　got　out　of　his　cart　and　hobbled　up。　He　had　been　in　the　army；　and　had　both　experience　and　skill。　He　got　her　bonnet　off；　and　at　sight　of　her　head　looked　very　grave。

In　a　minute　a　bed　was　laid　in　the　drawing…room；　and　all　the　windows　and　doors　open：　and　Edward；　trembling　now　in　every　limb；　ran　to　Musgrove　Cottage；　while　Mrs。　Dodd　and　Julia　loosened　the　poor　girl's　dress；　and　bathed　her　wounds　with　tepid　water　（the　doctor　would　not　allow　cold）；　and　put　wine　carefully　to　her　lips　with　a　teaspoon。

〃Wanted　at　your　house；　pray　what　for？〃　said　Mr。　Hardie　superciliously。

〃Oh；　sir；〃　said　Edward；　〃such　a　calamity。　Pray　come　directly。　A　ruffian　has　struck　her；　has　hurt　her　terribly；　terribly。〃

〃Her！　Who？〃　asked　Mr。　Hardie；　beginning　to　be　uneasy。

〃Who！　why　Jane；　your　daughter；　man；　and　there　you　sit　chattering；　instead　of　coming　at　once。〃

Mr。　Hardie　rose　hurriedly　and　put　on　his　hat；　and　accompanied　him；　half　confused。

Soon　Edward's　mute　agitation　communicated　itself　to　him；　and　he　went　striding　and　trembling　by　his　side。

The　crowd　had　gone　with　insensible　Maxley　to　the　hospital；　but　the　traces　of　the　terrible　combat　were　there。　Where　Maxley　fell　the　last　time；　a　bullock　seemed　to　have　been　slaughtered　at　the　least。

The　miserable　father　came　on　this；　and　gave　a　great　scream　like　a　woman；　and　staggered　back　white　as　a　sheet。

Edward　laid　his　hand　on　him；　for　he　seemed　scarce　able　to　stand。

〃No；　no；　no；〃　he　cried；　comprehending　the　mistake　at　last；　that　is　not　hersHeaven　forbid！　That　is　the　madman's　who　did　it；　I　knocked　him　down　with　his　own　cudgel。〃

〃God　bless　you！　you've　killed　him；　I　hope。〃

〃Oh；　sir；　be　more　merciful；　and　then　perhaps　He　will　be　merciful　to　us；　and　not　take　this　angel　from　us。〃

〃No！　no！　you　are　right；　good　young　man。　I　little　thought　I　had　such　a　friend　in　your　house。〃

〃Don't　deceive　yourself；　sir；〃　said　Edward；　〃it's　not　you　I　care　for：〃　then；　with　a　great　cry　of　anguish；　_〃I　love　her。_〃

At　this　blunt　declaration；　so　new　and　so　offensive　to　him；　Mr。　Hardie　winced；　and　stopped　bewildered。

But　they　were　at　the　gate；　and　Edward　hurried　him　on。　At　the　house　door　he　drew　back　once　more；　for　he　felt　a　shiver　of　repugnance　at　entering　this　hateful　house；　of　whose　happiness　he　was　the　destroyer。

But　enter　it　he　must；　it　was　his　fate。

The　wife　of　the　poor　Captain　he　had　driven　mad　met　him　in　the　passage；　her　motherly　eyes　full　of　tears　for　him；　and　both　hands　held　out　to　him　like　a　pitying　angel。　〃Oh；　Mr。　Hardie；〃　she　said　in　a　broken　voice；　and　took　him；　and　led　him；　wonder…struck；　stupefied；　shivering　with　dark　fears；　to　the　room　where　his　crushed　daughter　lay。


CHAPTER　XXXVIII

MR。　HARDIE　found　his　daughter　lying　ashy　pale　on　a　little　bed　in　the　drawing…room　of　Albion　Villa。　She　was　now　scarce　conscious。　The　old　doctor　sat　at　her　head　looking　very　grave；　and　Julia　kneeled　over　her　beloved　friend；　pale　as　herself；　with　hands　clasped　convulsively；　and　great　eyes　of　terror　and　grief。

That　vivid　young　face；　full　of　foreboding　and　woe；　struck　Mr。　Hardie　the　moment　he　entered；　and　froze　his　very　heart。　The　strong　man　quivered　and　sank　slowly　like　a　felled　tree　by　the　bedside；　and　his　face　and　the　poor　girl's；　whose　earthly　happiness　he　had　coldly　destroyed；　nearly　met　over　his　crushed　daughter。

〃Jane；　my　child；〃　he　gasped；　〃my　poor　little　Jane！〃

〃Oh　let　me　sleep；〃　she　moaned　feebly。

〃Darling；　it's　your　own　papa；〃　said　Julia　softly。

〃Poor　papa！〃　said　she；　turning　rather　to　Julia　than　to　him。　〃Let　me　sleep。〃

She　was　in　a　half　lethargic　state。

Mr。　Hardie　asked　the　doctor　in　an　agitated　whisper　if　he　might　move　her　home。　The　doctor　shook　his　head：　〃Not　by　my　advice；　her　pulse　is　scarce　perceptible。　We　must　not　move　her　nor　excite　her；　nor　yet　let　her　sink　into　lethargy。　She　is　in　great　danger；　very　great。〃

At　these　terrible　words　Mr。　Hardie　groaned：　and　they　all　began　to　speak　below　the　breath。

〃Edward；〃　murmured　Mrs。　Dodd　hurriedly；　〃run　and　put　off　the　auction：　put　it　off　altogether；　then　go　to　the　railway；　nothing　must　come　here　to　make　a　noise；　and　get　straw　put　down　directly。　Do　that　first；　dear。〃

〃You　are　kinder　to　me　than　I　deserve；〃　muttered　Mr。　Hardie　humbly；　quite　cowed　by　the　blow　that　had　fallen　on　him。　The　words　agitated　Mrs。　Dodd　with　many　thoughts；　but　she　whispered　as　calmly　as　she　could；　〃Let　us　think　of　nothing　now　but　this　precious　life。〃

Mr。　Hardie　begged　to　see　the　extent　of　the　injury。

Mrs。　Dodd　dissuaded　him；　but　he　persisted。　Then　the　doctor　showed　her　poor　head。

At　that　the　father　uttered　a　scream　and　sat　quivering。　Julia　buried　her　face　in　the　bed…clothes　directly；　and　sobbed　vehemently。　It　passed　faintly　across　the　benumbed　and　shuddering　father；　〃How　she　loves　my　child；　they　all　love　her；〃　but　the　thought　made　little　impression　at　the　time；　the　mind　was　too　full　of　terror　and　woe。　The　doctor　now　asked　for　brandy　in　a　whisper。　Mrs。　Dodd　left　the　room　with　stealthy　foot；　and　brought　it。　He　asked　for　a　quill。　Julia　went　with　swift；　stealthy　foot；　and　brought　it。　With　adroit　and　tender　hands　they　aided　the　doctor；　and　trickled　stimulants　down　her　throat。　Then　sat　like　statues　of　grief　about　the　bed；　only　every　now　and　then　eye　sought　eye；　and　endeavoured　to　read　what　the　other　thought。　Was　there　hope？　Was　there　none？　And　by…and…bye；　so　roving　is　the　mind；　especially　when　the　body　is　still；　these　statues　began　to　thrill　with　thoughts　of　the　past　as　well　as　the　absorbing　present。

Ay；　here　were　met　a　strange　party；　a　stranger；　for　its　size；　methinks；　never　yet　met　on　earth；　to　mingle　their　hearts　together　in　one　grief。

Just　think！　Of　him　who　sat　there　with　his　face　hidden　in　his　hands；　and　his　frame　shuddering；　all　the　others　were　the　victims。

Yet　the　lady；　whose　husband　he　had　robbed　and　driven　mad；　pitied　and　sympathised　with　him；　and　he　saw　it；　the　lady；　whom　he　had　insulted　at　the　altar　and　blighted　her　young　heart　and　life；　pitied　and　sympathised　with　him；　the　poor　old　doctor　pitied　and　sympathised；　and　was　more　like　an　anxious　father　than　a　physician。

Even　Jane　was　one　of　his　victims；　for　she　fell　by　the　hand　of　a　man　he　had　dishonestly　ruined　and　driven　out　of　his　senses。

Thinking　of　all　he　had　done；　and　this　the　end　of　it；　he　was　at　once　crushed　and　melted。

He　saw　with　awe　that　a　mightier　hand　than　man's　was　upon　him；　it　had　tossed　him　and　his　daughter　into　the　house　and　the　arms　of　the　injured　Dodds；　in　defiance　of　all　human　calculation；　and　he　felt　himself　a　straw　in　that　hand：　so　he　was；　and　the　great　globe　itself。　Oh；　if　Jane　should　die！　the　one　creature　he　loved；　the　one　creature；　bereaved　of　whom　he　could　get　no　joy　even　from　riches。

What　would　he　not　give　to　recall　the　past；　since　all　his　schemes　had　but　ended　in　this。　Thus　stricken　by　terror　of　the　divine　wrath；　and　touched　by　the　goodness　and　kindness　of　those　he　had　cruelly　wronged；　all　the　man　was　broken　with　remorse。　Then　he　vowed　to　undo　his　own　work　as　far　as　possible：　he　would　do　anything；　everything；　if　Heaven　would　spare　him　his　child。

Now　it　did　so　happen　that　these　resolves；　earnest　and　sincere　but　somewhat　vague；　were　soon　put　to　the　test；　and；　as　often　occurs；　what　he　was　called　on　to　do　first　was　that　which　he　would　rather　have　done　last。　Thus　it　was：　about　five　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　Jane　Hardie　opened　her　eyes　and　looked　about　her。

It　was　a　moment　of　intense　anxiety。　They　all　made　signals；　but　held　their　breath。　She　smiled　at　sight　of　Mr。　Hardie；　and　said；　〃Papa！　dear　papa！〃

There　was　great　joy：　silent　on　the　part　of