The Midnight Queen [32]
crowd-a small mob of a dozen or so-answered all at once: "She is
delirious with the plague; she was running through the streets;
we gave chase, but she out-stepped us, and is now at the bottom
of the Thames."
Ormiston, waited to hear no more, but rushed precipitately down
to the waters edge. The alarm has now reached the boats on the
river, and many eyes within them were turned in the direction
whence she had gone down. Soon she reappeared on the dark
surface - something whiter than snow, whiter than death; shining
like silver, shone the glittering dress and marble face of the
bride. A small batteau lay close to where Ormiston stood; in two
seconds he had sprang in, shoved it off, and was rowing
vigorously toward that snow wreath in the inky river. But he was
forestalled, two hands white and jeweled as her own, reached over
the edge of a gilded barge, and, with the help of the boatmen,
lifted her in. Before she could be properly established on the
cushioned seats, the batteau was alongside, and Ormiston turned a
very white and excited face toward the Earl of Rochester.
"I know that lady, my lord! She is a friend of mine, and you
must give her to me!"
"Is it you, Ormiston? Why what brings you here alone on the
river, at this hour?"
"I have come for her," said Ormiston, pressing over to lift the
lady. "May I beg you to assist me, my lord, in transferring her
to my boat?"
"You must wait till I see her first," said Rochester, partly
raising her head, and holding a lamp close to her face, "as I
have picked her out, I think I deserve it. Heavens! what an
extraordinary likeness!"
The earl had glanced at the lady, then at his page, again at the
lady, and lastly at Ormiston, his handsome countenance fall of
the most unmitigated wonder. "To whom?" asked Ormiston, who had
very little need to inquire.
"To Hubert, yonder. Why, don't you see it yourself? She might
be his twin-sister!"
"She might be, but as she is not, you will have the goodness to
let me take charge of her. She has escaped from her friends, and
I meet bring her back to them."
He half lifted her as he spoke; and the boatman, glad enough to
get rid of one sick of the plague, helped her into the batteau.
The lady was not insensible, as might be supposed, after her cold
bath, but extremely wide-awake, and gazing around her with her
great,
black, shining eyes. But she made no resistance; either she was
too faint or frightened for that, and suffered herself to be
hoisted about, "passive to all changes." Ormiston spread his
cloak in the stern of the boat, and laid her tenderly upon it,
and though the beautiful, wistful eyes were solemnly and
unwinkingly fixed on his face, the pale, sweet lips parted not -
uttered never a word. The wet bridal robes were drenched and
dripping about her, the long dark hair hung in saturated masses
over her neck and arms, and contrasted vividly with a face,
Ormiston thought at once, the whitest, most beautiful, and most
stonelike he had ever seen.
"Thank you, my man; thank you, my lord," said Ormiston, preparing
to push off.
Rochester, who had been leaning from the barge, gazing in mingled
curiosity, wonder, and admiration at the lovely face, turned now
to her champion.
"Who is she, Ormiston?" he said, persuasively.
But Ormiston only laughed, and rowed energetically for the shore.
The crowd was still lingering; and half a dozen hands were
extended to draw the boat up to the landing. He lifted the light
form in his arms and bore it from the boat; but before he could
proceed farther with his armful of beauty, a faint but imperious
voice spoke: "Please put me down. I am not a baby, and can walk
myself."
Ormiston was so surprised, or rather dismayed, by this unexpected
address, that he complied at once, and placed her on her own
pretty feet. But the young lady's sense of