Willowes. In re-entering for the fifth time to save his fellow-
creatures some fiery beams had fallen upon him, and he had been
given up for lost. He was, however, by the blessing of Providence,
recovered, with the life still in him, though he was fearfully
burnt; and by almost a miracle he seemed likely to survive, his
constitution being wondrously sound. He was, of course, unable to
write, but he was receiving the attention of several skilful
surgeons. Further report would be made by the next mail or by
private hand.
The tutor said nothing in detail of poor Willowes's sufferings, but
as soon as the news was broken to Barbara she realized how intense
they must have been, and her immediate instinct was to rush to his
side, though, on consideration, the journey seemed impossible to
her. Her health was by no means what it had been, and to post
across Europe at that season of the year, or to traverse the Bay of
Biscay in a sailing-craft, was an undertaking that would hardly be
justified by the result. But she was anxious to go till, on reading
to the end of the letter, her husband's tutor was found to hint very
strongly against such a step if it should be contemplated, this
being also the opinion of the surgeons. And though Willowes's
comrade refrained from giving his reasons, they disclosed themselves
plainly enough in the sequel.
The truth was that the worst of the wounds resulting from the fire
had occurred to his head and face--that handsome face which had won
her heart from her,--and both the tutor and the surgeons knew that
for a sensitive young woman to see him before his wounds had healed
would cause more misery to her by the shock than happiness to him by
her ministrations.
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