Was Todd satisfied with Johanna's excuse about the toothache? Was he satisfied of the good foible of the supposed Charley Green, by the readiness with which she had come into the parlour? We shall see. If he were not satisfied, he was staggered in his suspicions sufficiently to delay—and delay just then was to Sweeney Todd—one of the most fatal things that could be imagined. There are crumbs of consolation under all circumstances. When Johanna was best sent out of the shop, upon the occasion of the visit of Mrs. Lovett to Todd, she had scarcely got a half dozen steps from the door of the barber's, when a man in passing her, and without pausing a moment, said— "Miss Oakley, be so good as to follow me."
Johanna at once obeyed the mandate. The man walked rapidly on until a fruiterer's shop was gained, into which he at once walked.
"Mr. Oston," he said to a man behind the counter, "is your parlour vacant?"
"Yes, Sir Richard, and quite at your service," said the fruiterer.
By this Johanna found that she had made no mistake, and that the person she had followed was no other than Sir Richard Blunt, the magistrate, who was interesting himself so much for her safety, as well as for the discovery of what had befallen Mark Ingestrie. The fruiterer's parlour was a prettily fitted up place, where a couple of lovers might in a very romantic manner, if they chose, eat strawberries and cream, and quite enjoy each other's blissful society, in whispered nothing the while. Sir Richard handed Johanna a seat as he said—"Miss Oakley, I am very much pleased, indeed, to have this opportunity of seeing you, and of saying a few words to you."
"Ah, Sir, how much do I owe you."
"Nay, Miss Oakley, you owe me nothing. When once I happily become aware of your situation, it becomes my duty as well as my inclination to protect you in every way against what, I am sure you will forgive me, for calling your rashness."
"Call it what you will, sir."
"Well, Miss Oakley, we will dismiss that part of the subject. Are you going upon any errand, or have you a little time to spare."
"I have some time."
"Then it is a very proper thing that you should enjoy it in taking some proper refreshment."
"I want nothing."
"Nay, but you shall have something whether you want it or not, before I say any more to you about Todd and his affairs."
Johanna, whose mental excitement had prevented her completely from feeling the amount of exhaustion, which otherwise must by that time have come over her, would still have protested that she wanted nothing, but Sir Richard Blunt opened the door of the parlour, and called out—
"Mr. Orton, is your daughter at home?"
"Yes, Sir Richard, Ann is up stairs."
"Very good. My young friend here can find the way, I dare say. Is it the first floor?"
"Yes, don't you hear her practising upon her spinet."
The tinkling sounds of a spinet, then all the fashion; came upon their ears, and Sir Richard, said to Johanna—
"Go up stairs, now, to that young lady. She is about your own age, and her father's housekeeper. She will find you something to eat and drink, and then come down to me, as soon as you can."
Sir Richard nodded to Mr. Orton, who nodded in return, and then Johanna seeing that it was all right, ascended the staircase, and guided by the sound of the spinet, soon found herself in a tolerably handsome room, upon the first floor.
A young girl with a profusion of chesnut curls hanging down her back, was seated at the spinet. Johanna made up to her at once, and throwing her arms round her neck, said—
"And will you say a kind word to me?"
The girl gave a slight scream, and rose.
"Well, I'm sure, you impertinant—handsome—"
"Girl," said Johanna.
"Boy," faltered Miss Orton.
"No, girl," added Johanna. "Your father sent me to you, and Sir Richard Blunt suggested it. Shall I leave you again."
"Oh, no—no," said Ann Orton, as she sprang towards Johanna, and kissed her on both cheeks, "you are Miss Johanna Oakley."
"How is it that you know me?"
"My father is an old friend of Sir Richard's, and he has told us all your story. How truly delighted I am to see you. And so you have escaped from that odious Todd, and—"
"Immediate refreshment, my dear, and all the attention you can cram into a very short space of time to Miss Oakley, my dear," said Mr. Orton, just putting his head so far into the room as to make himself plainly and distinctly heard.
"Yes, father, yes."
"How kind you all are," said Johanna.
"No—no—at least we wish to be, but what I mean is that we are no kinder than we ought to be. My father is so good, I have no mother."
"And I, too, am motherless."
"Yes, I—I heard that Mrs. Oakley—"
"Lived, you would say; and yet am I motherless."
Johanna burst into tears. The sense of desolation that came over the young girl's heart whenever she thought how little of a mother the fanatical personage who owned that title was to her, generally overcame all her firmness, as upon the present occasion. Ann flung her arms around Johanna, and the two young creatures wept in unison. We will leave them to their sacred intercourse.
Sir Richard Blunt remained in conversation with Mr. Orton for about a quarter of an hour, and then both Johanna and Ann came down stairs. Johanna looked calmer and happier. Ann had said some kind things to her—such as none but a young girl can say to a young girl.
"I am ready," said Johanna.
"Ready for what?" enquired Sir Richard Blunt, with a look of earnest affection in the face of the beautiful heroine—for if ever there were a heroine, we really think Johanna Oakley was one, and we are quite sure that you agree with us.
"For my mission," said Johanna, "I am ready."
"And can you really find courage to go again to that—that—"
Sir Richard could not find a fitting name for Todd's home, but Johanna understood him, and she replied gently—
"I may not pause now. It is my duty."
"Your duty?"
"Yes. Oh, Mark—Mark, I cannot restore you from the dead, but in the sacred cause o............