"Good, Jack," said Mr. Chillingworth; "very good: let us begin to beat
our retreat at once." "Very good," said Jack. They both rose and approached the picture, which stood up in one corner,
half reclining against the wall; the light, at least so much as there
was, fell upon it, and gave it a ghastly and deathly hue, which made Mr.
Chillingworth feel an emotion he could not at all understand; but, as
soon as he could, he withdrew his eyes from off the picture, and they
proceeded to secure it with some cord, so that they might carry it
between them the easier--with less trouble and more safety. These preparations did not take long in making, and, when completed,
they gave another inquiring look round the chamber, and Mr.
Chillingworth again approached the window, and gazed out upon the garden
below, but saw nothing to attract his attention. Turning away, he came to the picture, with which Jack Pringle had been
standing. They proceeded towards the stairs, adopting every precaution
they could take to prevent any surprise and any attempt upon the object
of their solicitude. Then they came to the great hall, and, having opened the door, they
carried it out; then shutting the door, they both stood outside of
Bannerworth Hall; and, before taking the picture up in their hands, they
once more looked suspiciously around them. There was nothing to be seen, and so, shouldering the ominous portrait,
they proceeded along the garden till they conveyed it into the roadway. "Now," said Jack, "we are off; we can scud along under press of sail,
you know." "I would rather not," said the doctor, "for two reasons; one of which
is, I can't do it myself, and the other is, we should run the risk of
injuring the picture; besides this, there is no reason for so doing." "Very well," said Jack, "make it agreeable to yourself, doctor. See you,
Jack's alive, and I am willing to do all I can to help you." "I am very glad of your aid," said Mr. Chillingworth; "so we will
proceed slowly. I shall be glad when we are there; for there are few
things more awkward than this picture to carry." "It is not heavy," said Jack, giving it a hitch up, that first pulled
the doctor back, and then pushed him forward again. "No; but stop, don't do that often, Jack, or else I shall be obliged to
let go, to save myself from falling," said the doctor. "Very sorry," said Jack; "hope it didn't inconvenience you; but I could
carry this by myself." "And so could I," returned Mr. Chillingworth; "but the probability is
there would be some mischief done to it, and then we should be doing
more harm than good." "So we should," said Jack. They proceeded along with much care and caution. It was growing late
now, and no one was about--at least, they met none. People did not roam
about much after dark, especially since the reports of the vampyre
became current, for, notwithstanding all their bravery and violence
while in a body, yet to meet and contend with him singly, and unseen,
was not at all a popular notion among them; indeed, they would sooner go
a mile out of their way, or remain in doors, which they usually did. The evening was not precisely dark, there was moonlight enough to save
it from that, but there was a mist hanging about, that rendered objects,
at a short distance, very indistinct. Their walk was uninterrupted by any one, and they had got through half
the distance without any disturbance or interruption whatever. When they arrived at the precincts of the village, Jack Pringle said to
Dr. Chillingworth, "Do you intend going through the village, doctor?" "Why not? there will be nobody about, and if there should be, we shall
be safe enough from any molestation, seeing there are none here who
would dare to harm us; it is the shortest way, too." "Very good," said Jack; "I am agreeable, and as for any one harming me,
they know better; but, at all events, there's company, and there's less
danger, you know, doctor; though I'm always company to myself, but
haven't any objection to a messmate, now and then." They pursued their way in silence, for some distance, the doctor not
caring about continuing the talk of Jack, which amounted to nothing;
besides, he had too much to do, for, notwithstanding the lightness of
the picture, which Jack had endeavoured to persuade the doctor of, he
found it was heavy and ungainly; indeed, had he been by himself he would
have had some trouble to have got it away. "We are nearly there," said Jack, putting down his end of the picture,
which brought Doctor Chillingworth to a standstill. "Yes, we are; but what made you stop?" "Why, you see," said Jack, giving his trowsers a hitch, "as I said
before, we are nearly there." "Well, what of that? we intended to go there, did we not?" inquired
Chillingworth. "Yes, exactly; that is, you intended to do so, I know, but I didn't." "What do you mean by that?" inquired Chillingworth; "you are a complete
riddle to-night, Jack; what is the matter with you?" "Nothing; only, you see, I don't want to go into the cottage, 'cause,
you see, the admiral and I have had what you may call a bit of a growl,
and I am in disgrace there a little, though I don't know why, or
wherefore; I always did my duty by him, as I did by my country. The ould
man, however, takes fits into his head; at the same time I shall take
some too; Jack's as good as his master, ashore, at all events." "Well, then, you object to go in?" said Chillingworth. "That is the state of the case; not that I'm afraid, or have any cause
to be ashamed of myself; but I don't want to make anybody else
uncomfortable, by causing black looks." "Very well, Jack," said the doctor. "I am much obliged to you, and, if
you don't like to come, I won't press you against your inclination." "I understand, doctor. I will leave you here, if you can manage the rest
of the way by yourself; there are not two hundred yards now to go, so
you are all safe; so good bye." "Good bye, Jack," said Doctor Chillingworth, who stood wiping his
forehead, whilst the picture was standing up against the poles. "Do you want a hand up first?" "No, thank you; I can get it up very well without any trouble--it's not
so heavy." "Good bye, then," said Jack; and, in a few moments more, Jack Pringle
was out of sight, and the doctor was alone with the ominous picture. He
had not far to go, and was within hail of the cottage; but it was late,
and yet he believed he should find them up, for the quietude and
calmness of the evening hour was that which most chimed with their
feelings. At such a time they could look out upon the face of nature,
and the freedom of thought appeared the greater, because there was no
human being to clash with the silence and stillness of the scene. "Well," muttered Chillingworth, "I'll go at once to the cottage with my
burthen. How they will look at me, and wonder what could induce me to
bring this away. I can hardly help smiling at the thought of how they
will look at the apparition I shall make."