CHAPTER IX

THE CONQUERING HERO COMES

THE clear bright beauty of the day, combined with the attraction of a stranger coming to fill so important a situation as master of fox-hounds, drew many to the Datton Railway Station who were previously unacquainted even with the name of “Jorrocks”; though it is but right to state that the ignorant portion consisted principally of the fair sex; most men, whether sportsmen or not, having heard of his fame and exploits.

All the flys, hack horses, donkeys, and ponies were bespoke as usual; and many set out at noon to secure good berths at the station. Precisely at two o’clock Captain Doleful appeared at Miss Jelly’s door, attired in a dress that would puzzle the “property man” of a theatre. It was nearly the same as he exhibited himself in on the memorable opening day of the committee of management. The old single-breasted militia coat, denuded of its facings and trappings, with a sky-blue collar and sky-blue linings, and a short, shrivelled, buff kerseymere waistcoat, with mother-of-pearl buttons, old white moleskin breeches, well darned and patched at the knees, and badly-cleaned Hessian boots and black heel spurs.—His hands were covered with a pair of dirty-white kid gloves; and in his right one he carried a large hunting-whip. An oil-skin-covered hat, secured to a button-hole of his waistcoat by a yard-of sky-blue penny ribbon, completed the rigging of this sporting dandy.

Having withdrawn his countenance and custom from Sam Slickem after the affair of the kicking mare (the effect of which had been considerably to impoverish Mr. Sam), of course all the other proprietors of hack horses were on the alert to please the great M.C., and on this day he was mounted by Duncan Nevin on his white mare, Fair Rosamond, who was generally honoured by carrying pretty Miss Lovelace, once the head beauty of the place—but who being unable to ride this day, it came into the hands of the Captain.

To make the mare more complete, although in winter time, its ears were decorated with white fly-nets and dangling tassels, and from the saddle hung a large net of the same colour and texture, with a broad fringe, completely covering her hind quarters and reaching below her hocks.

Doleful eyed the whole with a grin of satisfied delight, and never did field-marshal mount his charger for review with a more self-complacent air than sat upon the brow of this distinguished character. Having steadied himself in his stirrups, and gathered up the reins, he cast an eye between the barley-sugar and cake cans in Miss Jelly’s window, and hissing at the mare through his teeth with a jerk of the reins, went off in a canter. A rare-actioned beast it was too! Up and down, up and down it went, so light and so easy, and making so little progress withal, that Ducrow himself might have envied the possession of it.

Thus Doleful went tip-tup-ping along through the silent streets, to the infinite delight of all the Johns and Jennies, who were left to flatten their noses against the windows during their masters’ and mistresses’ absence, and here and there exciting the anger of a butcher’s dog, or farmer’s cur, that flew at the mare’s heels, with an indignant bark as she passed.

Having timed himself to a nicety, our gallant M.C. arrived at the station just as the last fly and flight of donkeys drew up outside the iron railing that runs along the railroad from the station-house, and, in the absence of Mr. Jorrocks, of course he was the object of attraction. “Good morning, Captain Doleful,” exclaimed a dozen sweet voices from all sorts of vehicles, for women will toady a Master of Ceremonies, be he what he may; and thereupon the Captain gave one of his feature-wrinkling grins, and raised his oil-skin-covered hat as high as the yard of penny ribbon would allow, while all the little boys and girls, for whom he had obtained half-holiday, burst into loud acclamations, as they stood or sat on Lily-white-sand barrels, hazel bundles, and other miscellaneous articles waiting for conveyance by the railway. “Now, children, mind, be orderly, and attend to what I told you,” said the Captain, eyeing his juvenile friends as though he were marshalling them for a quadrille. “It now wants but ten minutes to the coming of the train, so be getting yourselves in order, unfurl the flags; and you, musicians,” turning to the promenade band, who were hard at work with some XX, “be getting your instruments ready, to welcome Mr. Jorrocks with ‘See the conquering hero comes!”’ As the minutes flew, the scene became more inspiriting. Eyes were stained up the railway in the direction he was to come, and ears were open to catch the first sound of the engine. All was anxiety and expectation. Hope and fear vacillated on every countenance. “Should he not come, what a bore!” “Oh, but he’s certain to arrive, and Mrs. Jorrocks too, arn’t they, Captain?” The Captain looked thoughtful and mysterious, as all great men should, but deigned no reply.

Precisely at three-quarters of a minute before three, a wild shrill whistle, that seemed to issue from the bowels of the earth and to run right up into mid-air, was heard at the back of Shavington Hill, and, in an instant, the engine and long train rounded the base, the engine smoking and snorting like an exasperated crocodile. Nearer and nearer it comes, with a thundering sort of hum that sounds throughout the country. The wondering ploughman stops his team. The cows and sheep stand staring with astonishment, while the horses take a look, and then gallop about the fields, kicking up their heels and snorting with delight. The guard’s red coat on the engine is visible—next his gold hat-band appears—now we read the Hercules on the engine, and anon it pulls up with a whiff, a puff, and a whistle, under the slate-covered shed, to give the Hercules his water, and set down and take up passengers and goods. Seven first-class passenger carriages follow the engine, all smart, clean, and yellow, with appropriate names on each door panel—The Prince Albert, Queen Victoria, and the Prince of Wales, The Venus, The Mercury, The Comet, and The Star; next come ten second-class ones, green, with covered tops and half-covered sides, but in neither set is there anything at all like the Jorrocks’ party. Cattle-pens follow, holding sheep, swine, donkeys, and poultry; then came an open platform with a broken britzka, followed by a curious-looking nondescript one-horse vehicle, containing a fat man in a low-crowned hat, and a versatio or reversible coat, with the preferable side outwards. Along with him were two ladies muffled up in cloaks, and at the back was a good-looking servant-maid. From the bottom of the carriage swung a couple of hams and a large warming-pan.

“Pray is Mr. Jorrocks here?” inquired the elegant M.C., who had persuaded the station-master to let him in upon the line, riding his white charger near the door of the first-class carriage, and raising his hat as he spoke; but getting no answer, he continued his interrogatory down the whole set until he came to the end, when casting a despairing glance at the cattle pens, he was about to wheel round, when the gentleman in the versatio coat, in a very stentorian voice, roared out, “I say, Sir! Baint this the ’Andley Cross station?”

“It is, Sir,” replied Captain Doleful, in his most dignified manner, “the Datton station for Handley Cross at least.”

“Then I want to land,” responded the same sweet voice.

“Here’s a gentleman wants to be down,” observed Captain Doleful to the scarlet-coated guard, who came bustling past with a pen of Cochin-Chinas to put upon the train.

“Yes, a gentleman and two ladies,” roared our friend; “Mister and Missis Jorrocks, in fact, and Miss Jorrocks!”

“Bless my heart,” exclaimed Captain Doleful in ecstasies, “how delighted I am to see you! I really thought you were not coming,” and thereupon the Captain raised his hat to the ladies, and offered his hand most cordially to Mr. Jorrocks.

“What, you knows me, do you?” replied Mr. Jorrocks, with the sort of doubtful shake of the hand that a person gives when he thinks the next moment may discover a mistake. “You knows me, do you?” repeated he; “you have the adwantage of me—pray who are you?”

“Captain Doleful, M.C.,” responded our worthy, presenting his glazed card to the ladies; and thereupon Mr. Jorrocks, with a chuckle on his good-humoured countenance, as he gazed at the Captain’s incongruous habiliments, seized his hand and wrung it heartily, saying, “’Ow are ye, Doleful? ’Ow do ye do? Werry glad to see you—werry glad indeed; ’ow’s the Nabob?”

“Middling, thank you,” replied the Captain, with a faint blush on his cadaverous countenance. “But hadn’t you better alight and get your carriage and things off the train?” inquired he, glad to turn the conversation, “they’ll be off with you if you don’t mind,” and thereupon the Captain beckoned the guard, and Mr. Jorrocks, standing up in the vehicle, looking very like a hay-stack with a hat on the top, bounded to the ground. Mrs. Jorrocks, in a black velvet bonnet, lined with pink satin, and her body all shrouded in a sea-green silk cloak, then accepted the offer of the Captain’s arm, and descended with caution and due state; while Belinda, with the spring of youth and elasticity in her limbs, bounded on to the footway beyond the rail. Benjamin, who was asleep in the horse-box, being considerately kicked awake by Mr. Jorrocks, the porters cut off the last joints of the train, when away it went, hissing and snorting through the quiet country, leaving our party to the undisturbed observation of the Handley Cross company.