Doctor Syn on the High Seas - Thorndike Russell - Страница 23

surgeon bewildered their simple minds with the longest medical words at

his disposal, and the most of them were thankful that the stiffened dead

man’s hand was completely covering the actual wound.

A verdict of “Death in an Affair of Honour” was returned, and the

coroner wound up proceedings with a tribute to the young parson’s

courage, and to Captain Tappitt’s impartiality. The Captain’s behavior

had been gentlemanly throughout, and he hoped he would live long to

enjoy his sudden inheritance.

The results of the inquest brought another flood of congratulations

to Doctor Syn from all classes of the town and countryside, to which Syn

replied wistfully that he had yet to face the Bishop of The Diocese on a

charge of violating his cloth.

But the Bishop, neither wishing to fly in the face of public opinion

nor to give the appearance that he was swayed by it, pretended to be

ill, and begged the Chancellor to take over full responsibility and

advise him of the results. The Chancellor pointed out to his Lordship

that although nominally Head of the University, and conveniently

resident in Oxford, the duty of presiding over such a court must fall

upon the Vice-Chancellor, who was responsible for keeping the peace in

the colleges. Fortunately for Doctor Syn, this important official was

also his good friend, so that when two days later the young Doctor took

his stand before an assembly of clergy convened in the Sheldonian

Theater, he felt confident that the court would take no drastic steps

against him.

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The Hall was packed, not only with students, but with all the fashion

of the neighbourhood, and although the Vice-Chancellor thundered against

the evil practice of dueling, warning the students that should any of

them take part in such an affair he would be sent down in disgra ce, yet

he owned that in this particular case he felt obliged to deal mercifully

with such a brave young man.

Thus was Doctor Syn acquitted, and that very night a supper was given

in his honour by the students. Both Tony and Nicholas went with him,

and since it was held in an upper room of the old Mitre Inn, which

Doctor Syn was in no mind to check, the jolly students drank themselves

beneath the table. Neither Tony nor Nicholas could out drink Doctor

Syn, and they afterwards confessed that although he drank as much as

any, he was the only one who remained sober. Nicholas swore that such a

grand capacity was wasted in a parson. But Doctor Syn was yet to know

how useful it was to be able to consume more bottles than the next man

and yet come out clear-headed.

In the days that followed, Doctor Syn discovered that an admiration

which he had never quite resisted for Nicholas had developed into a fast

friendship. Possessed now of his uncle’s wealth, the young man began to

enjoy life with zest, and insist ed that his friends should do the same

and share his fortune with him. Nothing could daunt his kindness and

concern, and he would wave aside their continual gratitude with “I am a

friend of the family, I hope?” Imogene especially delighted in his

company, and Doctor Syn was glad of this, since, owing to the mother’s

illness, Imogene was kept somewhat a prisoner in White Friars. Nicholas

was a welcome relief to the girl from the monotony of nursing. It was

delightful to talk of her beloved Spain to someone who knew it well and

could converse in excellent Spanish. He was also a proficient performer

on the guitar, and could sing her favorite love-songs.

Seeing that Imogene loved to speak her native tongue and her it

spoken, Doctor Syn resolved to learn, and in this he was helped as much

by Nicholas as by Imogene herself. On one occasion when Nicholas had

praised him for an improved accent and an ever-growing vocabulary, the

Doctor cautioned him in jest with:

“You must take care, you know, for I shall so on be understanding all

you say to one another.” At which Nicholas laughed and said:

“I have no guilty secret, since I have always told you to your face

how much I am in love with Imogene, and one of the things that makes me

love her more is that she is in love with one for whom I have the

deepest affection. Aye, and for Tony too. He also is a man after my

own heart.”

This affection he took every means to prove, and at this time the

lovers owed him much, for when the question of their immediate marriage

had been breached, the Senora had proved querulous, complaining that her

daughter was regarding her as a hampering invalid. This unjust

accusation hurt the lovers deeply, but Nicholas, laying the blame upon

the mother’s nerves rather than any settled wish, at once began to set

the matter right, and his business in their affairs had a happy and

speedy result; for at this first argument upon the matter, he returned

and told his friends that he had persuaded her to admit that she was

fond of Christopher, though him a suitable husband, and that her chief

desire was to get well quickly in order that she could take her rightful

part in the wedding festivities.

This news delighted Tony as much as the lovers, for it had been his

idea that a double wedding would be the grandest occasion, since his

parents treated Doctor Syn as another son. But it was Nicholas who made

all the arrangements, and through his energy both sets of banns were

cried upon the

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very next Sunday at Christ Church. The invit ations were sent out

immediately, and at his own request Nicholas was appointed Best Man in

attendance under Doctor Syn.

Some days before the actual ceremony, the Pemburys and the Cobtrees

set out with a vast retinue of servants from distant Romney Mars h. All

through the preparations Doctor Syn had nothing but admiration for

Nicholas, who seemed capable of running everybody’s business and his own

as well. It was he who even arranged the two honeymoons.

“I suggest,” he said, “that Tony and his bride accept my offer of the

Iffley Farm in the Cotswolds. The house is comfortable, though remote,

and that scenery romantic. They will be well cared for by my tenants.

Then, since Sir Charles and Lady Cobtree are to be in London for their

annual visit, what better than that you, Christopher, should take

Imogene to Dymchurch? You have been offered the Court-House during the

family’s absence, and Imogene will have opportunity to know the village

which will be her future home, when you decide to leave Oxford and

become Vicar of the Marsh.”

He also undertook the convey the Senora back to Spain aboard his

trading-ship, for the Senora had decided to return to her own people

after the wedding.

Although Nicholas proved himself a “friend of the family” indeed.

Needless to dwell on the gay happiness of those festivities. Thanks

to Nicholas, all went with a swing, and when at last the radiant couples

drove off in their respective carriages, the many guests declared that

never had young married people started out upon the voyages of mutual

responsibilities under more favourable auspices. The one tinge of

sadness was Imogene’s parting from her mother, but it was understood

that as soon as times permitted, she and her husband would take passage

with Nicholas and visit her.

The days that followed were the happiest of the Doctor’s life. He

had been granted a month’s vacation from his College duties. He was

then to return to Oxford work until his induction to the Dymchurch