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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19136-h.zip b/19136-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1a8f78c --- /dev/null +++ b/19136-h.zip diff --git a/19136-h/19136-h.htm b/19136-h/19136-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6861979 --- /dev/null +++ b/19136-h/19136-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3706 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Hayslope Grange, by Emma Leslie + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hayslope Grange, by Emma Leslie + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hayslope Grange + A Tale of the Civil War + +Author: Emma Leslie + +Release Date: August 28, 2006 [EBook #19136] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HAYSLOPE GRANGE *** + + + + +Produced by David Clarke, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/p1.jpg"><img src="images/p1.jpg" alt=""/></a> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>HAYSLOPE GRANGE</h1> + +<h3>A TALE OF THE CIVIL WAR</h3> + +<h2>BY EMMA LESLIE</h2> + +<h4>AUTHOR OF "THE CAPTIVES," "CONSTANCIA'S HOUSEHOLD," "THE ORPHAN AND +FOUNDLING."</h4> + +<h4>LONDON:<br /> +Sunday School Union.<br /> +56, OLD BAILEY<br /> +THOS. NELSON & SONS, 42, BLEECKER ST., NEW YORK</h4> + + +<h4>THE GRESHAM PRESS<br /> +LONDON & CHILWORTH</h4> + +<h4>UNWIN BROTHERS,<br /> +PRINTERS BY WATER TOWER.</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. THE DRURY FAMILY</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. HARRY'S ANNOUNCEMENT</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. TRAITOR OR HERO</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. CROMWELL'S IRONSIDES</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. MAUD HARCOURT</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. THE HAYSLOPE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. THE REVEL</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. BESSIE'S DISTRESS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. THE WOUNDED MESSENGER</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. "ON, CAVALIER, ON!"</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. MYSTERIES</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. HARRY'S RETURN</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<p><a href="#p15">"HARRY'S ANNOUNCEMENT."</a></p> + +<p><a href="#p29">"HARRY DRIVEN FROM THE GRANGE."</a></p> + +<p><a href="#p39">"A RIDE TO THE NORTH."</a></p> + +<p><a href="#p53">""HE HAS DISGRACED US ALL!""</a></p> + +<p><a href="#p63">"DAME COPPINS."</a></p> + +<p><a href="#p79">"THE STRANGER AT THE SMITHY."</a></p> + +<p><a href="#p85">"BESSIE'S GRIEF FOR HARRY."</a></p> + +<p><a href="#p99">"MASTER DRURY TAKES DOWN HIS SWORD."</a></p> + +<p><a href="#p107">""ON CAVALIER, ON!""</a></p> + +<p><a href="#p125">"ABDUCTION OF MAUD."</a></p> + +<p><a href="#p133">"MEETING OF MAUD AND HARRY."</a></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>THE DRURY FAMILY.</h3> + + +<p>It was a sweet spring day, soft and balmy as summer, and any one looking +across the green meadows and smiling uplands of Hayslope, now so full of +the promise of early fruitfulness, would have wondered what could make +the farm-labourers appear so gloomy, and the women-folk sigh instead of +singing at their work, if he knew nothing of what was going on a few +miles away.</p> + +<p>It was the year 1644, and for two long years civil war had been raging +in England, and now two rival Parliaments were sitting, the one presided +over by the King meeting at Oxford, while that in London was engaged +upon the trial of Archbishop Laud, and levying war against the King, so +that it was not to be wondered at that men looked gloomy and sorrowful, +for they were dark, sad times for everybody.</p> + +<p>Hayslope was a little village on the borders of Essex, but quite out of +the high road usually taken by travellers going from London northward, +so that when a young man came riding in towards the middle of the day, +everybody turned from their work to look at him. They did not make a +very close inspection before they raised their hats and cheered; but +this greeting, pleasant as it was, scarcely brought a smile to his lips +as he rode on up to the principal house in the place—Hayslope Grange. +This was a large, rambling, roomy building, half farm-house, half +mansion, standing in the midst of an old-fashioned garden, surrounded by +fields, and enclosed with a moat. The moat was dry now, and had been for +some years, and a permanent bridge of planks had been laid across, +leading to the village; Master Drury would not have it filled up. "It +might be useful yet," he would say, when his son Harry pressed him to +make the alteration.</p> + +<p>As the traveller reached the old moss-grown bridge he paused for a +minute or two, and looked down at the broad deep trench. "God grant it +never may be wanted," he murmured; and then he threw back his long brown +curls that clustered round his head, and spurred his horse on at a +quicker pace. He was a fine, tall, handsome young man, about twenty-two, +with a thoughtful brow that would have made him look almost stern, but +for the genial smile that played around his mouth, and the kindly eyes +that looked as ready to cry as a girl's at a tale of suffering. Before +he was half-way across the fields he was met with the glad cry of, +"Harry, Harry, I am so glad you have come home!"</p> + +<p>That he was a general favourite at home was evident enough, for his +younger sister and brother received him with screams of delight, and his +elder sister, Mary, forgot all her stateliness in the warmth of her +welcome. Only one of the group walking in the fields failed to run +forward to meet him—a fact Harry was not slow to notice.</p> + +<p>"So Maud would not come to greet me," he said, holding out his hand when +he reached the spot where she was standing. He had sprung from his +horse, and left the animal to find his own way to the stable.</p> + +<p>The young lady coloured and looked down as Harry stopped before her. "I +am very glad to see you," she said.</p> + +<p>"But not quite so glad as my sisters here," said Harry.</p> + +<p>"I am not your sister," said Maud, hardly knowing what to say.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Maud," muttered little Bessie, "Harry is as much your brother as he +is mine. Why, you have lived with us all your life, and if your name +does happen to be Maud Harcourt instead of Maud Drury, it does not +matter. I'm sure you can love Harry just the same."</p> + +<p>"Yes, so I can," said Maud, smiling, and feeling greatly relieved by +Bessie's little passionate outburst.</p> + +<p>But Harry looked rather disappointed still.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid my return is not very welcome to you, Maud," he said, as he +placed himself at her side to walk towards the house.</p> + +<p>"Why?" she said, quickly, in a tone of pain.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, only you don't seem glad to see me this time. You did not +come to meet me as the others did," replied Harry.</p> + +<p>Maud looked down, but did not answer; and indeed there was no +opportunity to do so, for Bertram, thinking he had been neglected long +enough, pressed forward to his brother's side.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen Prince Rupert, Harry?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The young man's brow grew dark at the question. "Don't ask about Prince +Rupert, Bertie," he said.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" exclaimed the boy. "He's a great soldier, come to fight the +King's battles against the wicked Parliament men. Do tell me about him?" +he added, coaxingly.</p> + +<p>"Harry will tell us all by-and-by," said Mary. "You must remember, he +has not seen father yet. Let us make haste indoors," she added, turning +to Harry, who still kept close to Maud.</p> + +<p>But Bertram was determined not to miss hearing of Prince Rupert's +valorous deeds, and fearing this account would be given to his father +alone, he took his brother's hand, resolving to keep close to him. +Prince Rupert's name, however, was not mentioned, and indeed Harry +seemed strangely reserved in speaking of public affairs; and, as soon as +he could get away, wandered off to a copse-like corner of the garden, +where he stayed until he was summoned to prayers, late in the evening.</p> + +<p>He looked pale and agitated as he came in. The family were all +assembled—his father at the head of the table, with the Bible open +before him, and the maid-servants and serving-men at the other end of +the room; and Harry felt that every eye was upon him as he took his +accustomed place.</p> + +<p>After the chapter was read they all knelt down, and then any one might +know how deeply and truly Master Drury loved his King, although he +rarely spoke of it at any other time. Now, however, the man's whole soul +was poured out before God in impassioned pleading for his royal master, +while his hatred of the Parliament and those who were leading the +rebellion could only find expression in the words of David against his +enemies. A deep "Amen" followed, uttered by every one in the room except +Harry,—an omission that was noticed by more than one present.</p> + +<p>"Harry was asleep," whispered Bessie, who had had some difficulty in +keeping her own eyes open.</p> + +<p>Maud, to whom this was confided, did not contradict the little girl, but +she knew it was not so, and she wondered why Harry had not responded to +what everybody must wish for, she thought—at least every true +Englishman. No one saw anything of Harry after he left the room that +night, and Maud did not see him until the following afternoon. She +thought he was offended with her, and that this was the reason he kept +away from everybody, and when she saw him leaning on the fence of the +farm-yard, she determined to go and speak to him.</p> + +<p>"I'm very sorry, Harry, if I have offended you," she said, as she drew +near the spot.</p> + +<p>Harry started. "Maud, Maud, what shall I do?" he said, impulsively, +turning towards her and taking her hand.</p> + +<p>Maud was only a year younger than himself, but she could not help +feeling alarmed at his words.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" she said. "Prithee, tell me all about what is +troubling you."</p> + +<p>But Harry shook his head, and tried to smile away her fears. "I have +been wishing to be a chicken, and by my faith I do wish it too," he +said.</p> + +<p>"Marry, that is an old wish of mine," said Maud, trying to smile, but +looking down as the colour stole into her cheeks.</p> + +<p>"You wish to be a chicken!" uttered Harry in astonishment. "By my troth, +I did not think you were so foolish, Maud."</p> + +<p>"And wherefore not, wise sir? since you would nathless enter +chickenhood."</p> + +<p>But instead of replying in the same gay, bantering tone, Harry sighed +deeply, and, still holding her hand, drew her into the field.</p> + +<p>"It is quite true, Maud," he said. "I was actually wishing to be a +chicken, or anything but what I am—Harry Drury, of Hayslope Grange."</p> + +<p>"Prithee, now tell me wherefore you wished this," said Maud.</p> + +<p>Harry had always told her his secrets since she first came, a little +delicate girl, to live at the Grange.</p> + +<p>"Now, marry, I can scarcely do that. But life is such a puzzle—such a +tangle—men seem to be put in the wrong places."</p> + +<p>"And you think you have one of the wrong places?" said Maud.</p> + +<p>Harry nodded. "I am beginning to feel sure of it," he said, sadly.</p> + +<p>"Then put yourself in the right place," said Maud, quickly, without in +the least knowing to what he referred.</p> + +<p>"By my faith, I cannot," he said, huskily.</p> + +<p>"Cannot?" she uttered. "Cannot do right? Be truthful and just—true to +yourself. Harry, you cannot mean you are afraid to do this?"</p> + +<p>She thought she knew what was passing in his mind. He had been away from +home for several weeks, in London and in the North, and she thought he +longed to serve his King by taking up arms and joining actively in the +fray. Her spirit stirred and swelled within her, as she almost wished +that she, too, was a man, that she might follow him to the field and +fight by his side.</p> + +<p>"Harry, you will do it," she said; "you will be brave and true, and tell +your father all that is passing in your mind."</p> + +<p>Harry looked at her astonished, almost bewildered. "By my troth, Maud, +this is more wonderful than anything else," he said.</p> + +<p>"Marry, that _I+ should tell you to be true to yourself and your own +conscience," said Maud, in a deeply injured tone.</p> + +<p>"Nay, but I did not mean to grieve you, dearest Maud," said Harry; "but +I did not think—I dared not hope—you would see matters as I do."</p> + +<p>"But I do see, that, whatever the cost may be——"</p> + +<p>"Maud, the cost will not be half so great as I thought it half an hour +since. I have your sympathy," interrupted Harry.</p> + +<p>"But is your father _sure+ to oppose your wishes in this?" said Maud.</p> + +<p>Harry looked at her in some perplexity. "Can you ask it?" he said, "when +he——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know he refuses to take any public part in——" At this moment +Maud was in her turn interrupted by Bessie rushing up to them with the +announcement that a visitor had just arrived from London who desired to +see Harry.</p> + +<p>"It is a friend to whom I have spoken of the things we have been talking +about," he said in a lower tone, to Maud; and finding Bessie was +inclined to take his place by her side, he left them, and returned at +once to the house.</p> + +<p>"Has Harry been telling you about Prince Rupert?" asked Bessie, when +they were left alone.</p> + +<p>"No, dear," answered Maud; and then she relapsed into silence, for her +thoughts were busy about Harry, and she wondered why he could be so +afraid of mentioning his wish to become a soldier to his father.</p> + +<p>Bessie waited a few minutes, and then she said,—"Has Harry told you +anything about Prince Rupert, to-day, Maud?"</p> + +<p>Maud smiled. "We have so often talked about Prince Rupert, you know, +Bessie, that I think we have heard all Harry can tell us about his +winning the King's battles for him," she said.</p> + +<p>"Marry, but we have not, though," said Bessie, earnestly. "Harry told +Bertie this morning that he was a fierce, cruel man, one of the greatest +robbers that ever lived; and that he justly deserved the title the +King's enemies had given him, 'Prince of Plunderers.'"</p> + +<p>Maud looked down at the eager upturned face, feeling somewhat puzzled, +but she thought Harry might have heard something that seemed to him very +cruel—something that the great Prince had been obliged to do to save +the King, perhaps, which yet had roused Harry's anger, feeling so keenly +as he did for everybody's distress. At all events, Harry was right, and +Prince Rupert was right too, she had no doubt, if things could only be +explained; and in this way she contrived to silence Bessie, if she did +not convince her; and the little girl went to tell Bertie that Maud did +not think his soldier-hero a bad man after all; while Maud pursued her +walk through the fields, indulging in very happy thoughts, in spite of +the danger she was anticipating for Harry when he should join the King's +army.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>HARRY'S ANNOUNCEMENT.</h3> + + +<p>Gilbert Clayton, Harry's friend, was a stranger to the rest of the +family; but Master Drury no sooner heard of his arrival than he invited +him to stay as long as he pleased, or as long as his business would +permit; and this was so warmly seconded by Harry, that young Clayton +could not but remain. He was the more willing to do this, as he had been +ordered by the doctors to leave London and reside in the country before +joining the army again, for he had received a dangerous wound the +previous summer in the battle of Chalgrove, where his kinsman, the brave +and pious John Hampden, was mortally wounded. It was by talking of John +Hampden that Harry first became acquainted with Gilbert Clayton, and now +he wanted to hear more of him and the gentle Sir Bevil Granville, who +had so bravely led on his pikemen at the battle of Lansdowne.</p> + +<p>The talks about these heroes generally took place in the most quiet part +of the garden; for Gilbert Clayton, knowing his host's political +opinions differed from his own, was too courteous to bring forward the +subject before him and his family. Master Drury himself rarely talked of +public matters with any one, and loved his books and the quiet of his +study too well to take any active part in such affairs; and he said he +could help the King's cause more by his prayers than anything else; so +the two young men were left to amuse themselves as they pleased, and by +a sort of tacit understanding, these conversations were never carried on +in the presence of Mary or Maud.</p> + +<p>Master Drury's household was managed by his sister, an elderly lady, who +looked after children and servants with the greatest watchfulness, lest +a moment of their time should be wasted. It was the rule of the +household that as soon as breakfast was over Mistress Mabel should take +her place in the high-backed chair at the head of the table in the +"keeping room," or general sitting-room, and with Bessie and Bertram on +each side of her, at their lessons, a huge basket of work was brought to +her side by one of the maids, and Mary and Maud were each set to work, +making or mending garments for the family. Fancy-work was never heard of +in those days, and Mistress Mabel would not have allowed any to be +brought forward in her presence, if it had been. Sometimes, as a rare +treat, when the lessons were well learned, a book was fetched from the +library, not a story-book—that would have been a waste of time, +according to this lady's rule—but a learned treatise on some abstruse +science, which generally set Bessie and Bertram yawning, so that the +reading was not much of a treat to them. Talking was not allowed from +any one until the children's lessons were learned, and not greatly +indulged in then. Later in the day, after the dairy had been visited and +the kitchen inspected, the spinning-wheels were brought out, and the +maids, who had finished their household and dairy work, were set down to +spin.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/p24.jpg"><img src="images/p24.jpg" alt=""/></a> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Harry had escaped from his aunt's dominion now, but his idle life was a +great eyesore to her, so that she took care no one else should share it. +Under these circumstances it is easy to understand that, without at all +intending it, a sort of suppression of what was really going on between +the two young men took place when they were with the rest of the family. +That Gilbert Clayton was as staunch a Cavalier as themselves was taken +for granted; while he thought they fully understood his principles and +the cause he was engaged in, and believed it was from refinement of +feeling that the matter was never referred to in his presence.</p> + +<p>That he was helping his friend to see that the cause of the Parliament +was a just, honest cause, and one that must be espoused if civil and +religious liberty were ever to be secured for England, he knew full +well; but in doing this he believed he was only doing his duty, since +Harry had come to him first to talk about these matters.</p> + +<p>So the days and weeks went quietly on at Hayslope Grange, and the pure +country air had so invigorated Gilbert Clayton that he began to talk of +returning to London, to make preparations for joining Lord Kimbolton's +army. Maud had heard that he was a soldier, and fully expected Harry +would speak to his father, and go to London with his friend.</p> + +<p>She felt rather jealous of young Clayton, if the truth must be told, for +he quite monopolised Harry's society, so there had been no opportunity +of resuming the conversation that his arrival had interrupted, or she +might have discovered the mistake she had made. Hearing nothing of this, +and the day for Clayton's departure being fixed, she determined to seek +some opportunity of speaking to Harry. She was a noble, unselfish girl, +and though she knew his going would cost her the bitterest pang she had +ever felt, and be followed probably by weeks and months of anxious +suspense and dread, she would not hold him back—nay, she would urge him +to go at the call of duty, though all the sunshine of her life would +depart when he went; for months might pass before she heard of him +again, and he might be wounded, dying, or dead, and the tidings never +reach Hayslope Grange.</p> + +<p>News travelled slowly in those days, and in the unsettled state of +affairs could not always be relied upon; but tidings reached Hayslope +just now that the Parliament had seized the Archbishop of Canterbury, +and his trial was now going on, the charges against him being that he +had tried to subvert civil and religious liberty in England, had been +the author of illegal and tyrannical proceedings in the court of Star +Chamber, and had suppressed godly ministers and godly preaching.</p> + +<p>But to the family at Hayslope Grange these charges were as nothing +compared to the guilt the Parliament had incurred in seizing an anointed +prelate.</p> + +<p>Master Drury lifted up his hands in silent horror when he heard it, and +Mistress Mabel burst into tears. The sight of their stern aunt crying +seemed to make more impression upon Bessie and Bertram than the fate of +the archbishop.</p> + +<p>"Was he very wicked?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>This was enough to drive back Mistress Mabel's tears. "Wicked!" she +repeated, in anger. "Never let me hear you ask such a question about one +of the Lord's anointed, Bessie, unless you would share in the sin of +those who have laid violent hands upon him."</p> + +<p>"It is sacrilege," uttered Master Drury, slowly and solemnly.</p> + +<p>Mistress Mabel, who did not often talk, found her tongue now, and used +it too, denouncing in the strongest terms the doings of the Parliament. +"What is to be the end of this evil generation, that worketh such +wickedness?" she said at last; and then, as if answering the query, went +on, "The land shall be desolate, and all the people perish." Bessie and +Bertram looked frightened. "What does that mean?" whispered the little +girl; "won't the people in the village have anything to eat, because +they are cruel to the archbishop?"</p> + +<p>It was almost the first time any one at the Grange had thought of their +poor neighbours, and the burden they were silently bearing under these +great changes. Taxes were high, food was scarce, and many of the men had +joined the King's army; but none of the Drurys had thought of these +things except Harry, and it was the little scraps of news he heard in +the village that first led him to doubt whether the royal cause were the +just one.</p> + +<p>He and Gilbert Clayton were absent when the news concerning the +archbishop first reached Hayslope; but when they returned in the evening +Harry knew that something had happened, by the look of anxious trouble +on his father's face, and the querulous restlessness of his aunt.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Mary?" he asked, in an anxious whisper.</p> + +<p>But Mary only held up her finger warningly. "The servants are coming +in," she murmured; and at the same moment Mistress Mabel placed the +Bible in front of the high-backed chair at the head of the table, and +Master Drury slowly took his seat.</p> + +<p>Prayers for the King, Gilbert and Harry could both join in; for they +hoped God would change his heart, and teach him that it was most +unkingly to break his promises again and again, as he had done. But +to-night it seemed that Master Drury could think of nothing but of the +evil-doing of the Parliament in bringing the archbishop to trial; and he +prayed that all their plans might be frustrated, the King brought back +to his throne, and the archbishop restored to his charge; while those +who had troubled them might be visited with dire calamities and +afflictions.</p> + +<p>His prayer was not concluded when Harry started from his knees and said, +in a hoarse voice, "Stop, my father, I pray you; you know not for what +you are asking."</p> + +<p>All turned to look at him in silent, speechless wonder—all but Gilbert +Clayton, who rose from his knees and laid his hand upon Harry's +shoulder. "Come away," he whispered.</p> + +<p>But Harry would not stir. "My father must not pray thus," he said, loud +enough for any one to hear.</p> + +<p>Master Drury and the rest slowly rose from their knees.</p> + +<p>"Harry, my boy, you are ill," said the gentleman, in a tone of +compassion.</p> + +<p>"Prithee, now tell me where you have been racing all the day, to get +your head so disordered," said Mistress Mabel; and she despatched Mary +to her store closet for some herb tea for Harry to take at once.</p> + +<p>"I don't want the herb tea, aunt," said Harry, in a clear, calm voice. +"I am quite well; the sun has not affected my head, and I know quite +well what I am about."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mabel looked incredulous; but his father, losing the fear of +illness, sat down in his chair, a dim feeling of a sorer trouble than +this coming over him as he looked at Harry. "Sit down," he said, in a +tone of command to the rest, who stood just as they had risen from their +knees—"sit down and listen to the reason my son has to give for +interrupting our godly exercise this evening." And he looked towards +Harry as if waiting for his answer.</p> + +<p>The young man instinctively drew a step nearer to Maud, as if mutely +asking her sympathy and support; but she was looking down upon the oaken +floor, utterly unable to comprehend what Harry could mean by this +strange proceeding.</p> + +<p>Harry seemed to feel that he had acted unwisely in yielding to his +impulse; and he said, slowly, "Prithee, father, let me tell it to +yourself alone."</p> + +<p>"By my faith, that cannot be now, Harry," said Master Drury, +energetically. "We have all been hindered in our devotions by your +froward speech, and each has an equal right to hear your reason for it."</p> + +<p>The men and maid-servants gathered at the end of the room pitied poor +Harry in his confusion, and would have retreated, trusting to have their +curiosity gratified afterwards by the tell-tale tongue of Bessie or +Bertram; but Mistress Mabel's eye was upon them, and they knew they +dared not go away.</p> + +<p>Harry's face changed from an ashy whiteness to crimson as his father +spoke, and then he went pale again as he said, "My father, do not force +me to speak out now; let me go to your study, and I will tell you all +that has been passing in my mind of late."</p> + +<p>But Master Drury was inexorable when once he had made up his mind. "My +son, we are waiting," was all he said in reply to Harry's entreaty.</p> + +<p>Harry drew himself up, and casting a hasty glance at Maud's bowed +figure, he said, "Father, I have resolved to cast in my lot with the +patriots who are striving to rescue this country from the grasp of +tyrants; they are not the evil-doers you think them. It is the King and +archbishop and their advisers who are traitors, not the Parliament, or +the brave, true men who are fighting for it."</p> + +<p>He might have been hurried into saying much more, but at this moment +Maud fell to the ground with a piercing shriek; and at the same instant +Gilbert Clayton seized Harry's arm and dragged him from the room.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="p15" id="p15"></a> +<img src="images/p15.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>HARRY'S ANNOUNCEMENT.</h3> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>TRAITOR OR HERO?</h3> + + +<p>The confusion and dismay into which the orderly household of Hayslope +Grange was thrown by Harry's untimely and hasty confession baffles all +description. Fainting among young ladies was not so common in those +days, and the only orthodox remedy known to Mistress Mabel being burnt +feathers, these had to be fetched from the poultry-yard, and singed at +the kitchen fire, before anything else could be done for Maud, who still +lay unconscious on the floor; while Bessie and Bertram, thinking of +their aunt's words of the morning, cried and screamed, "Prithee, tell +them to let the archbishop go; poor Maud will die if you don't!"</p> + +<p>Clayton had some difficulty in keeping Harry outside the house, whither +they had retreated when he heard that Maud was ill; but thinking that +his presence would only add to the confusion in the keeping-room if he +went in again, he prevailed upon him to remain where he was until Master +Drury came out and fetched them both into the study.</p> + +<p>His face was white and rigid, with such a look of helpless woe about the +lines of his mouth that it touched Gilbert more deeply than the fiercest +expression of anger could have done. Harry's misery seemed complete when +he looked at his father's face in the dim light of the study lamp, and +falling on his knees, he exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"Oh, my father, forgive me!"</p> + +<p>But his father drew back hastily from the outstretched hands.</p> + +<p>"Rise from your knees, Harry Drury!" he said, sternly, "and tell me what +you mean by the froward words you have this night spoken."</p> + +<p>"My father, I spoke hastily and unadvisedly," said Harry, humbly. "I +should have come to you alone, and confessed that my opinions of the +King's doings had greatly changed of late, and begged your permission to +join the army now fighting for the Parliament."</p> + +<p>"And do you think I would have given it, traitor-caitiff?" said Master +Drury, sternly.</p> + +<p>"I have angered you," said Harry; "but, my father, you will suffer me to +speak to you of this to-morrow, and hear me when I say that Gilbert +Clayton here hath not sought to draw me to this way of thinking. I had +some converse upon it with Mistress Maud before his arrival."</p> + +<p>Master Drury glanced at Clayton suspiciously; he had not noticed his +presence before.</p> + +<p>"If you are clear of this thing, young man," he said, "you can abide +here until the morning; but Harry Drury departs from Hayslope Grange +this night."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="p29" id="p29"></a> +<img src="images/p29.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>HARRY DRIVEN FROM THE GRANGE.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Harry started in blank astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Marry then, where am I to tarry?" he said.</p> + +<p>"That I know not; but traitors cannot abide under this honest roof, that +has never sheltered any but true and loyal men since it was raised by +Roger Drury ninety years ago."</p> + +<p>"But, my father——"</p> + +<p>"Call me not by that name," interrupted the old man, "unless you are +ready to return, and willing to do true and loyal service to your King +and country."</p> + +<p>"My country I am willing to serve; but, my father, this King is trying +to enslave it," said Harry, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Prithee! what will you say next? But hold, I am not here to banter +words with you. Will you enter the King's service, and fight his battles +under Prince Rupert?" demanded Master Drury.</p> + +<p>"Serve under that Prince of Plunderers?—never!" said Harry, in a +determined tone.</p> + +<p>"It is enough," said his father. "I give you this purse, which contains +enough to keep you from starving for a few days, and for the rest you +must look to yourself. You have no further part or lot in Hayslope +Grange. I cast you off for ever."</p> + +<p>But Harry did not attempt to touch the purse, which his father had +placed on the table beside him. Throwing himself again on his knees, he +begged his father to revoke the dreadful words he had just uttered.</p> + +<p>"I will remain at home, and never again seek to serve the Parliament, if +you forbid it," he said.</p> + +<p>Master Drury looked down at him, and his lips quivered with emotion.</p> + +<p>"Say you will renounce these new opinions and serve the King, and you +are my son still," he said.</p> + +<p>But Harry started back.</p> + +<p>"Give up my principles! all that I have learned to see is just and true +and honest! My father, you cannot ask me to do this?" said Harry.</p> + +<p>"I ask you to give up all traitorous friendships, and return to your +allegiance and duty to your King," said his father.</p> + +<p>"But I should be a traitor to my conscience. I should sell my +convictions of right and duty for your favour. My father, you would not +have your son a slave?"</p> + +<p>"I would that I had no son at all!" groaned the old man, covering his +eyes with his hands.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, oh, forgive me the pain I have caused you, my father; and +let me remain at home with you still; only don't ask me to be a traitor +to my conscience!" implored Harry.</p> + +<p>"I _ask+ you nothing," said Master Drury. "I _command+ you to swear this +moment that you will enter the King's service without delay; and if you +do not obey me, you leave this house at once, and I have no son from +this night."</p> + +<p>Harry slowly rose from his knees with bowed head.</p> + +<p>"I cannot swear," he said. "I will serve my country, not sell her into +the power of tyrants," and he turned to leave the room. But at the door +he paused for a moment, and then turned back. "You will give me your +blessing once more, my father, before I depart?" he said; and he would +have knelt to receive it, but the old man waved him off.</p> + +<p>"Leave me, leave me at once, lest I curse you!" he said, in a hoarse +voice; and Harry, without glancing at the purse, which still lay on the +table, retreated from that look of stern wrath which had settled on his +face.</p> + +<p>The two young men walked straight out into the fields, and for some time +neither spoke; but at length Harry said,—</p> + +<p>"What are we to do, Clayton?"</p> + +<p>"We had better get round to the barn for to-night, and sleep there," +replied Gilbert, "and then to-morrow you had better see your father +again."</p> + +<p>But Harry shook his head sadly.</p> + +<p>"Marry, it will be of no use," he said.</p> + +<p>"By my troth, I would try, though you cannot marvel that he is angry, +speaking as you did," said Gilbert, warmly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know I was wrong; but you do not know my father, Gilbert, or you +would not advise me to thrust myself into his presence again for a +while. No, no; I must go to London now, and seek my fortune there."</p> + +<p>"But you will stay here to-night?" said his friend.</p> + +<p>"Yes, to-night," sighed Harry; "for I must see Maud to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Clayton hoped that Master Drury's anger might be somewhat appeased by +the next day, and he resolved to see him, if possible, when he went to +the house for his things, which in the hurry and confusion had been left +behind.</p> + +<p>Anxiety kept Harry awake as much as his strange quarters that night; but +Clayton, who had many times slept out in the open field when upon the +march, did not feel much inconvenience from sleeping on the barn floor. +He awoke about the usual time, but would not stir, for fear of +disturbing Harry. At length, however, one of the men pushed open the +door, and not recognising the intruders, at once ordered them off in a +loud, rough voice.</p> + +<p>Harry started to his feet, crying, "Maud, Maud, I will save you!" and +then rubbed his eyes to see if it was true that the man was staring and +Gilbert laughing at him.</p> + +<p>"Marry, but you have been dreaming," said Clayton, rising and stretching +himself.</p> + +<p>"Is it my young master?" uttered the man, slowly, as if scarcely able to +believe the evidence of his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is me; Harry Drury," said Harry. "Have you heard how Mistress +Maud is this morning?" he asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"But sadly, I hear," said the man, shaking his head. "Marry, but 'tis a +bad business, this, Master Harry," he added.</p> + +<p>"Will you go and tell one of the maids to ask Mistress Maud to come to +me?" said Harry, in a tone of impatience.</p> + +<p>"Mistress Maud has not yet left her room," said the man. "I heard——"</p> + +<p>"Then go and ask if I can see her in the painted gallery," interrupted +Harry. "Stop!" he cried, as the man was moving off; "you are not to go +to Mistress Mabel, but ask Jane, or one of the other maids."</p> + +<p>The man gave a knowing nod, and departed on his errand, determined to +accomplish it too, for he had no doubt but that the visit to Maud was to +ask her to intercede with Master Drury; and Harry being a general +favourite with the servants, they had all felt sorry for his dilemma, +although they did not understand it.</p> + +<p>He slowly followed the man round to a small entrance at the side of the +house, and presently the door opened and Jane beckoned him to enter. A +staircase close to the door led direct to one end of the painted +gallery, which was close to Maud's room, and here Harry sat down in the +broad window-seat to wait her coming. He did not have to wait long. In a +minute or two her chamber-door opened, and the young lady stepped into +the gallery, looking very pale and sad, but almost as stern as Master +Drury himself.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Maud, forgive me!" burst forth Harry, starting forward when he saw +her.</p> + +<p>But she coldly waved him off.</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to forgive," she said.</p> + +<p>Harry paused in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Prithee, tell me what is the matter," he said; "are you ill, Maud?"</p> + +<p>"Prithee, no," said Maud, lightly (which was not quite the truth).</p> + +<p>Harry advanced a step nearer, and Maud drew further back.</p> + +<p>"Do not seek to touch me," she said, proudly. "I give not my hand to +traitors."</p> + +<p>"But I am not a traitor," said Harry. "I have followed your advice, and +told my father I must go on in——"</p> + +<p>"Followed my advice!" repeated Maud. "By my faith, I never advised you!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, did you not understand me when I conversed with you?"</p> + +<p>"I understand you now, Master Drury," interrupted Maud, "but I choose +not to hold converse with a traitor;" and with a haughty gesture she +turned and went into her own room, leaving Harry overwhelmed with +surprise and distress.</p> + +<p>He went down-stairs, and out of the little unused door into the sunny +fields, without knowing where he was, and he wandered up and down, +trying to collect his bewildered thoughts, and think over what had +happened, until Gilbert Clayton overtook him.</p> + +<p>He had collected the few belongings he brought with him to Hayslope +Grange, and now carried them in his hand, but he had utterly failed in +his mission to Master Drury. The old man was more bitter this morning +than he had been the previous evening, and vowed he would never own his +son again, unless he took service under King Charles.</p> + +<p>"Let us get away from here as fast as we can," said Harry, as his friend +joined him.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen Mistress Maud?" asked Gilbert, hoping that she at least +had spoken a word of comfort to him.</p> + +<p>"Prithee, do not ask me," said Harry, in a hoarse voice. "I am an +outcast from my father's house; every one spurns me."</p> + +<p>"Say not so, Harry," said Gilbert, in a gentle tone. "Remember the word +of the Lord, 'When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will +take me up.'"</p> + +<p>"But I know not that I have the right to that promise," said Harry, +moodily.</p> + +<p>"But you confess that you need it," said Gilbert.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I need it," said Harry.</p> + +<p>"Then Christ came to satisfy the needy, whatever their wants might be. +He came to show us the love of the Father that it was inexhaustible, not +like the love of earthly friends, which is often cold and changeful, but +ever full, free, and unchangeable."</p> + +<p>Harry sighed.</p> + +<p>"I feel utterly desolate and deserted," he said.</p> + +<p>"Then will you not go to Him who is waiting to take you up and adopt you +into His family, and make you His son in Christ Jesus? He wishes to do +so. He is waiting to be gracious."</p> + +<p>"Go on," said Harry, when Gilbert paused. "I am listening; your words +are like water to a thirsty soul;" and Gilbert went on until they +reached the village, where Gilbert bought a loaf of rye bread, and after +eating this, and drinking some water from the spring, they started on +their journey to London; for although Gilbert was not a poor man, they +had not much money with them, not enough to buy a horse, and +stage-coaches were unheard of in those days.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/p36.jpg"><img src="images/p36.jpg" alt=""/></a> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>CROMWELL'S IRONSIDES.</h3> + + +<p>Gilbert Clayton and Harry Drury kept on their weary tramp to London, and +at length reached the little village of Whitechapel, which was outside +the city walls. They had run some risks from highwaymen and footpads; +but now they thought all danger was over, for they had almost reached +their destination. But just as they were about to leave the village, a +party of the King's pikemen rode in, and at once seized upon the +travellers, to compel them to enter the King's service.</p> + +<p>This was a dilemma neither of them had foreseen. To declare they were in +favour of the Parliament would be the signal for their arrest as +traitors to his Majesty; and to escape on any other pretext, without +telling an actual lie, seemed equally impossible. Gilbert was seized +first, and asked his name and condition. The latter was not easy to +comply with, as he had left the army on account of his wounds, and was +not at all sure that he should be received back again. He therefore gave +his former occupation—a mercer of the city of London. Harry gave his as +a farmer, for although he did not look much like one, he spoke of that +being his occupation. After a few more questions had been asked and +answered, they were marched off to the captain of the band, who began +his examination by asking Harry his name.</p> + +<p>"Drury!" he repeated. "Are you one of the Hayslope Drurys?"</p> + +<p>"My father lives at Hayslope Grange," said Harry.</p> + +<p>"Ay, a right true and trusty servant of the King's is Master Drury. I +marvel that he has not sent you to do service for the King ere this," +said the officer.</p> + +<p>"My father meddleth not with public matters," said Harry, pondering what +would come next.</p> + +<p>"I trow not, I trow not," said the soldier, shaking his head; "but I +must have a word with Master Drury on this same matter as I pass through +the village, and I doubt not he will bid you wield your arms for King +Charles after your visit to London. You may pursue your journey now, +young man; but nathless you will speed your return, for the King needs +trusty men to do him service in these troublous times. But we wish not +to force our friends too much in this matter, therefore will I suffer +you both to depart."</p> + +<p>All the time he was speaking he eyed Gilbert most narrowly, as if trying +to recall where he had seen that face before, as in truth he had, for +they had met in the first battle fought between Charles and his +Parliament, at Edgehill, on the borders of Warwickshire.</p> + +<p>Gilbert remembered Captain Stanhope quite well, for he had been his +prisoner for a little while, until an exchange of prisoners took place. +Long illness had, however, altered Gilbert far more than the two years' +campaign had altered the captain; and he rode away, thinking his eyes +had played him false for once. Perhaps his being in the company of one +whose family was known to be so strongly attached to the royal cause +helped his escape; for he could not think it possible that a Drury would +hold any intimacy with the Claytons.</p> + +<p>"We have had a narrow escape, Harry, and we must not stay long in +London," said Gilbert, as they left the village, and saw the soldiers +ride out towards Essex; and then he told his companion of his former +acquaintance with Captain Stanhope.</p> + +<p>Harry could not help laughing, in spite of his sorrow, and quite agreed +that their stay in London should be as short as possible. They would +only stay a few hours to rest, to replenish their purses, and ascertain +where Lieutenant Cromwell was now with his army, and then hasten to join +him. The long tramp from Essex to London in the heat and dust had +somewhat wearied Harry, unused to such exertion; but no sooner did he +hear that horses had been provided, than he was anxious to start again, +and they were soon on the great road leading to Yorkshire, where Lord +Kimbolton and his lieutenant, Cromwell, were mustering their forces.</p> + +<p>It was sad to pass along the edge of uncultivated fields in this bright +summer weather; and yet, what encouragement was there for the farmer to +plant or sow, when crops might be trodden down by the feet of horses and +soldiers, or, if allowed to ripen, to see the grain cut down by that +lawless Prince Rupert and his band of soldier-robbers. Truly the land +might be said to mourn as well as the inhabitants, although as yet they +had not reached the scene of actual strife.</p> + +<p>Gilbert was anxious to reach his kinsman Cromwell as soon as possible, +and so pressed on with all speed, making inquiries now and then at the +villages where they slept, or of people they met on the road, as to the +whereabouts of the two armies. It seems almost incredible in these days +of rapid communication that this necessary intelligence could not be +furnished in London, but that both forces lay somewhere in or near +Yorkshire was the utmost Gilbert could learn about them.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="p39" id="p39"></a> +<img src="images/p39.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>A RIDE TO THE NORTH.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The farther they travelled northwards the more people did they meet, and +it soon became plain that these were many of them fugitives flying from +impending ruin. The tales they told were of course conflicting, and in +their fright and anxiety to escape and save their families, often +confused. But Gilbert was able to make out that the Scots army, which +had marched over the Border to the help of the Parliament, had been shut +up in Sunderland by the Royalists under the Earl of Newcastle; but the +Parliamentary forces under Fairfax coming to their relief, the Earl had +retired to York, and the English and Scotch together had now laid siege +to that city.</p> + +<p>As they drew near to Yorkshire, evidence of the commotion became still +more apparent. The roads were strewed with beds and bedding, and various +articles of household furniture, which the fugitives had attempted to +take with them, but afterwards had thrown away; for the rumour had gone +abroad that Prince Rupert was coming, and enough had been heard of his +atrocities in Cheshire and Lancashire to make the people dread his +approach as they would the plague. At length, as they neared the +besieged city, they heard that Lord Kimbolton's army was in the +neighbourhood, and Gilbert was not long in discovering the encampment +and seeking out Lieutenant Cromwell.</p> + +<p>He warmly welcomed his young kinsman, and at once accepted his services +and that of his companion. Harry Drury was not unused to arms. He had +been taught fencing as a part of his education, and would use the +singlestick, arquebus, and crossbow, while the fashion of every +gentleman wearing a sword had rendered it necessary that this weapon +should be handled skilfully. The necessary drill was therefore soon +learned by Harry, and he was admitted to serve in the same corps as his +friend.</p> + +<p>Every addition to the army was welcome now, and the work of drilling the +recruits went on all day, and often far into the night too. The life of +a soldier here in Cromwell's camp was very different from the gay scene +of revel he had sometimes heard the Royalist troopers describe. There +was no rioting or drunkenness, no shouting or brawling, for these were +sober-minded earnest men, who felt they had a real work to do, and +sacrificed much in the doing of it. None had been forced to come here; +but they had left home, and wife, and little ones, of their own accord, +to fight their country's battles and set all England free. No wonder +that they were earnest when they thought of the dear ones far away. They +were not like the paid soldiers of the regular army; they could not +afford to trifle and lose their time in play when they might be at work +preparing for the battle; and so when not at drill, the cleaning of +armour and furbishing of arms went on ceaselessly, and the clatter of +this and the ring of the blacksmith's tools were broken only by the +singing of some pious hymn or the voice of one reading to his comrade +from the Word of Life. The day was begun and closed with prayer, and but +for the tramp of the sentry, when once the word of command had been +given that all work should cease, all the camp was as quiet and still, +as a sleeping village.</p> + +<p>Harry joyfully took his share of the labour going forward; he was +willing to do anything, or bear any fatigue, to prepare himself to take +part in the expected action when Prince Rupert should show himself. July +was drawing near now, and they had almost reached the united armies +besieging York, and it was expected that when Prince Rupert came into +the field a battle would be fought. Scouts were sent out in all +directions to give timely notice of his approach, but they were able to +reach the forces of Fairfax before he came. But, however, only just in +time. On the second of July, Prince Rupert came upon them by way of +Marston Moor, but Kimbolton and his lieutenants were prepared for his +coming.</p> + +<p>A desperate battle was fought, and for some time it seemed that the +Royalists must be victorious, for Prince Rupert fought with the most +desperate bravery, driving several generals from the field, and thus +disconcerting all their plans. He tried to do the same with Cromwell's +cavalry, but they kept together like an iron phalanx, and all Rupert's +dashing charges and feigned retreats failed to throw them into disorder. +They were rightly named the Ironsides, for they kept the field and +turned the tide of battle in favour of the Parliamentarians, and when +once the Royalists saw that the day was lost their rout was complete. +They retired from the field, leaving all their artillery, military +stores, and baggage to the enemy.</p> + +<p>The battle of Marston Moor decided the Royalist cause in the north. That +was lost to Charles for ever, and there might well be hymns of rejoicing +and solemn thanksgiving for the victory, for the cause of the Parliament +had looked desperate enough only a short time before.</p> + +<p>But in these rejoicings neither Gilbert nor Harry could take part. +Gilbert had again been seriously wounded, and Harry, fighting by his +side, had shared the same fate. The news was carried to Cromwell just as +he was giving the last instructions to the messenger who was to bear the +despatches to London giving information of the victory. "Clayton and +young Drury of Hayslope wounded!" he repeated. "I will come and see them +soon;" and then he went on giving instructions how Prince Rupert's +retreating troops should be avoided, by the messenger taking an easterly +course through Essex, instead of following the more direct road to +London at the risk of being robbed. Cromwell was as clever a man of +business as he was a soldier, and although the nominal head of the army +was Lord Kimbolton, it was well known that the actual direction of +affairs rested with his lieutenant, and all the men looked up to him as +their leader. Cromwell's Ironsides, as his troops were now called, were +everywhere spoken of as having gained the battle of Marston Moor, and he +was daily rising into greater prominence, and was more frequently +consulted as to the general direction of affairs.</p> + +<p>But he did not forget his young kinsman lying sick and wounded. +Provision had been made for this beforehand. Medicaments—hospital +stores we should call them—had been secured, and now Cromwell went +round to see those who had been carried from that awful battle-field +where four thousand lay dead. Many an arm was raised when he was seen +approaching, and many a feeble voice attempted to cheer; but Gilbert lay +quiet and unconscious, while Harry was talking in the delirium of fever, +moaning out the one name, "Maud, Maud!" or imploring his father's +forgiveness.</p> + +<p>Cromwell made particular inquiries into the case of each, and directed +the doctors to let the two friends be as near to each other as possible +when they were sensible, and this was the most he could do for them at +present. The doctors could give no opinion as to their recovery yet, for +they were both severely wounded; but Harry's case seemed the most +dangerous, from the fever running so high.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/p47.jpg"><img src="images/p47.jpg" alt=""/></a> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>MAUD HARCOURT.</h3> + + +<p>Mistress Mabel, with all her sternness, had some difficulty in parrying +the children's questions about Harry, when they assembled in the keeping +room the morning of his departure. Mary, too, felt anxious about her +brother; but she dared not question her aunt as the children did; and +from her answers to them little could be gathered beyond this, that +Harry had disgraced himself through making unworthy friendships, and the +children at once jumped to the conclusion that it was Gilbert Clayton to +whom their aunt referred. Mary, however, indignantly repelled this +insinuation. She had had several conversations with Clayton, and had +learned to esteem him very highly, so that how Harry could have +disgraced himself while with him, or what the wild words he had uttered +the previous evening fully meant, she could not tell.</p> + +<p>At dinner time Maud came down looking very pale but quite calm, until +Master Drury, noticing that Harry's chair had been placed at the table +as usual, ordered it to be carried away without mentioning his name, and +said, "That seat will not be wanted again." Then Maud trembled with +agitation, and Bertram asked quickly, "Where has brother Harry gone?"</p> + +<p>"My boy, you have no brother," said Master Drury, coldly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Harry's dead!" screamed Bessie, pushing aside her pewter plate, and +laying her head on the table in a burst of uncontrollable anguish.</p> + +<p>Maud, however, knew that he was not dead, but without noticing Bessie's +distress or Mary's look of mute agony, she rose from her seat, and +walking round to the side of Master Drury, she said, "You will tell me +where Harry has gone."</p> + +<p>It was a demand rather than a question, and Mistress Mabel, as well as +her brother, opened her eyes wide with astonishment on hearing it. "He +has disgraced himself and all who bear his name," said the lady, +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Prithee, Maud, go and sit down," said Master Drury, tenderly.</p> + +<p>But Maud shook her head. "You will tell me where Harry is, first," she +said, still in the same quiet tone of command.</p> + +<p>"I know not, unless he be travelling towards London with his false +friend, who has turned his head with his stories of the traitor +Parliament. He hath done this much; he confessed it to me this morning +ere they departed," added Master Drury.</p> + +<p>He thought this would satisfy Maud, and all questioning would be at an +end now, but the young lady asked, "What did you mean, Master Drury, by +saying Bertram had no brother now?"</p> + +<p>Mistress Mabel looked horrified at the impertinence of the question, but +Maud stood still and waited for an answer.</p> + +<p>Calming his emotion with a violent effort, he turned to Maud and said, +"By my faith, you should be thankful this day that you are not a Drury, +to be disgraced by this traitor caitiff, who was my son. This must be +the last time he is ever spoken of in this house, for I have renounced +him—cast him off for ever; and you children must do the same," he said, +turning towards Bertram and Bessie.</p> + +<p>The little girl had dried her tears, and both sat with white frightened +faces gazing at Maud and their father.</p> + +<p>Maud staggered back to her seat and bowed her face in her hands, and the +dinner went on in silence among those who cared to eat. Maud and Mary +sat with their plates before them, but left the table without tasting +anything, and as soon as they could escape went up to their own room.</p> + +<p>Here Maud's firmness quite forsook her, and laying her head on Mary's +shoulder, she burst into tears, moaning, "Oh, Mary, what shall I do? I +cast him off as well."</p> + +<p>Mary could not understand her. "I think you ought to be very glad you +are not a Drury, to share in his disgrace," she said, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>Maud lifted her face, her eyes flashing with indignation. "Glad!" she +said; "nay, nay, I wish I were a Drury, that I might go and seek him +now. Think of it, Mary; all have cast him off."</p> + +<p>"He has disgraced us all," said Mary. "I have heard my father say it was +his proudest boast that the Drurys had ever been true to the king and +state, and never taken part with any riotous mob, and now Harry has +dragged our family honour to the very dust. Everybody will know it soon, +and every village wench will pity me because I am the sister of a +traitor. I shall never hold up my head again," and Mary burst into tears +at the picture of humiliation she had drawn.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="p53" id="p53"></a> +<img src="images/p53.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"HE HAS DISGRACED US ALL!"</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Maud was quite incapable of understanding this self-pity, and seating +herself at the little table by the window, she indulged her own +self-reproachful thoughts on her conduct of the morning. She had no idea +then that his father had treated him so harshly, or she would have been +more tender, and her heart was sad as she thought of his words, that he +must be true to his conscience.</p> + +<p>But her musing was broken in upon by Mary saying, "It is so wicked, so +wilful, to rebel against the King."</p> + +<p>"But suppose he had to do this, or rebel against his conscience," said +Maud, giving some expression to her own thoughts.</p> + +<p>Mary started. "What can you mean? prithee, it cannot be right for us to +rebel against the King?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not for us," said Maud. "But we are not to make ourselves a +conscience to other people; and if Harry sees that serving the King +would be wrong——"</p> + +<p>"But it cannot be wrong," interrupted Mary. "God's Word says, 'Fear God, +honour the king.'"</p> + +<p>"Yes, fearing God comes first," said Maud, but speaking more to herself +than to Mary; "and it seems to me that it is out of this fear Harry has +been led to adopt these new views. I can't see how they are right; but +then I suppose living here in this quiet village, and having everything +we want, we do not understand things as men do who go out into the world +and learn what Acts of Parliament mean."</p> + +<p>"Maud, you are half a traitor yourself," interrupted Mary, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, Mary! I am not that," said Maud. "I love the King, from what +I have heard of his gentle courteous bearing and his loving care of his +children; but even Master Drury denies not that he has oft-times broken +his solemn promise, and 'tis said that his subsidies and exactions have +well nigh ruined the nation."</p> + +<p>"Maud, Maud! said I not that you were a traitor; and by my troth you +must be, to speak thus of the King."</p> + +<p>"Nay, I am no traitor. I would that I could speak to King Charles +myself, and tell him how sorely grieved many of his subjects are at his +want of truth and honest dealing," replied Maud, warmly.</p> + +<p>"But the King cannot do evil," said Mary, in a tone of expostulation.</p> + +<p>Maud put her hand to her forehead in some perplexity. "I know not what +to think, sometimes," she said. "I like not to think it possible that +the King can do wrong; but what am I to think when he breaks the Divine +laws of truth and uprightness. He is not above these, if he is above +those of the land, that he can make and unmake at his will."</p> + +<p>"We have no business to think about such things at all," said Mary, +impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Marry, you may be right," answered Maud; "for women-folk have but little +wit to the understanding of such weighty matters; but for men it is +different, and that is why so many are carried away to the defending +this rebellious Parliament, I trow."</p> + +<p>"But they should not be carried away, now that they know how evil are +its doings, and how it has laid violent hands on the Archbishop; and +herein is Harry's sin the greater."</p> + +<p>"Oh, say not so, Mary. Harry is right, I trow, although you and I see +not how that may be," said Maud.</p> + +<p>At this moment there was a knock at the door, and Bessie's tearful face +appeared. Mistress Mabel had found it impossible to settle down to her +usual spinning to-day, and telling the children she must look after the +maids, to see they did not get gossiping about the family affairs, she +had dismissed them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Maud, I have no brother Harry now," sobbed the little girl, +throwing herself into her arms.</p> + +<p>"But Harry is not dead," said Maud, smoothing back the tumbled hair from +her hot forehead. "He has only gone away from home, and you can love him +still."</p> + +<p>"That's what Bertram says," sobbed the child; "but it isn't just the +same; he was my brother before—my very own, and now"—and she burst +into another passionate flood of tears.</p> + +<p>"Prithee, now hush," said Maud. "Harry loves you all the same, I am +sure, and you can love him; so that it need make no difference to you, +Bessie."</p> + +<p>"But it does make a difference," passionately exclaimed Bessie. "You +said it did a little while ago."</p> + +<p>Maud had forgotten the circumstance to which the girl referred, until +she went on—"You said Harry was not your real brother, and now I am not +his real sister. Has Harry got another name?" she suddenly asked.</p> + +<p>Maud smiled, but Mary shook her head sorrowfully. "No, his name is Drury +still," she said, "and he has disgraced it, Bessie—disgraced the good +old name that you and I bear."</p> + +<p>Bessie looked at Maud. "Are you glad your name is not Drury?" she said.</p> + +<p>Maud shook her head. "I wish it was," she said, "and then I could make +you understand better that I do not think Harry has disgraced it."</p> + +<p>"Then it can be, can't it?" said Bessie, drying her tears.</p> + +<p>"What, dear?"</p> + +<p>"Drury. You can change your name, can't you?"</p> + +<p>A momentary blush overspread Maud's pale face, but it quickly faded, and +a sadder look than ever came into her eyes as she shook her head and +said, "No, dear, I shall never change my name now." Then, seeing that +her sadness had brought back the tears to Bessie's eyes, she asked where +Bertram had gone.</p> + +<p>"To look after Harry's horse," answered Bessie. "Aunt Mabel says it is +to be his, now; but Bertram says he will never ride it, for it will be +like robbing Harry."</p> + +<p>"Suppose we go and look at Cavalier, too," said Maud. "He will miss his +master almost as much as you do, Bessie," she added, trying to speak +cheerfully.</p> + +<p>They went through the painted gallery and out of the side door, as Harry +went in the morning, the little girl wondering why they went that way. +Bertram had sobbed out the first portion of his grief to his brother's +dumb favourite, and now stood stroking its silky chestnut coat; but as +Maud entered the paddock the noble creature pricked up its ears and gave +a pleased whining of recognition.</p> + +<p>"It is not Harry, Cavalier," said Bertram, sadly.</p> + +<p>"Prithee, Cavalier is almost as fond of Maud as he is of Harry," said +Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Maud, then you have him," said Bertram, with a fresh burst of +tears. "He is mine now, Aunt Mabel says; but I shall never be able to +ride him, for thinking of Harry; but he'll like to have you on his back, +and Harry will like it too, I know."</p> + +<p>That Harry would like it Maud knew full well, but the appropriation of +his things in this way she did not approve of at all; but Bertram's next +words settled the matter.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Mabel says Cavalier shall be sold, and a pony bought for me, if I +don't like it; and I can't bear to part with Cavalier," sobbed the +little boy.</p> + +<p>"We won't part with it, Bertie," said Maud. "I will have Cavalier, and +ride him every day, and I will buy you a pony instead, and you can ride +with me."</p> + +<p>Mistress Maud Harcourt possessed the sole right to a large fortune, and +so she could do as she pleased in such a small matter as keeping a horse +for her individual use. Mistress Mabel grumbled a little when she heard +of this arrangement, but it did not alter matters, and in a few days +Bertram's pony arrived.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE HAYSLOPE WITCH.</h3> + + +<p>There had never been much communication between the villagers of +Hayslope and the family living at the Grange. Mistress Mabel believed +that the villagers existed solely for the convenience of the family, but +never troubled herself to consider their wants or necessities, and +brought up her niece Mary upon the same principle. Maud appeared to be +of a similar opinion; but sharing Harry's confidence in everything, she +knew he went about among his poorer neighbours, and began to take an +interest in them herself, although not very actively.</p> + +<p>Now, however, she determined to follow Harry's example, and take up his +work; and, mounted on Cavalier, she went out the very next day to make +inquiries after an old woman whom she knew Harry had often befriended. +She inquired at the blacksmith's shed for Dame Coppins, but was +surprised by the man coming to the door, and instead of pointing out the +way to the cottage, saying, "We'll do it, Mistress Harcourt! We'll have +justice on the old witch that's done the mischief!"</p> + +<p>"What mischief?" asked Maud, in some surprise, patting Cavalier to make +him stand still.</p> + +<p>"What mischief should it be but sending away Master Harry Drury to the +Parliament wars, as though the king hadn't had enough of the lads from +Hayslope?"</p> + +<p>"But this poor old woman did not send Harry away," said Maud, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Marry, but she bewitched him. I see it with my own eyes," said the man. +"If I had but known it then I'd have ducked her in the horse-pond, and +broken the spell."</p> + +<p>Maud shivered. The belief in witchcraft was universal then, and she +began to fear whether Harry had been under Satanic influence. At length +she said, "I should like to see this old woman, if she be a witch, and +ask her where Master Harry has gone."</p> + +<p>"Prithee, be not so venturesome, lest she send thee after him," said the +blacksmith, in some consternation.</p> + +<p>Maud thought this would not be so much of a calamity, perhaps, until the +man added, "Nobody will ever hear aught of Master Harry again, and if +thou dost go to the witch, thou wilt disappear too."</p> + +<p>The young lady looked undecided when she heard this, but she could +hardly restrain Cavalier from turning down a narrow lane close by, which +the blacksmith observing, said, "Now, you may be sure mistress, that the +old witch has worked her spells; for Cavalier there is under them, and +is bidden by her to take thee to be bewitched too."</p> + +<p>It seemed that the horse was determined to take her somewhere, whether +she would or no, and the next minute was trotting down the lane, Maud +scarcely knowing what to make of the proceeding. After trotting about +half a mile he paused, and then turned in at a broken-down gateway, and +walked up to the window of a cottage, where he stopped and looked round, +as if telling Maud to dismount.</p> + +<p>"The horse certainly is bewitched," said Maud, half aloud, determined +not to move from her seat, and trying to turn Cavalier's head in the +opposite direction.</p> + +<p>But Cavalier seemed obstinately bent on looking in at the window, and +would not move; and Maud's consternation was complete when the door +slowly opened, and an old woman, leaning on a crutched stick, came +hobbling out. She was in the presence of the witch herself, and, with a +cry of horror, Maud dropped the reins and covered her face with her +hands. Finding the witch did not attempt to drag her into the house, now +that she had her in her power, Maud ventured to look up in a minute or +two, and saw a venerable-looking old woman standing on the threshold, +looking very pale and ill, and quite as frightened as she herself did.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="p63" id="p63"></a> +<img src="images/p63.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>DAME COPPINS.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>But the old woman was the first to recover herself, and she said, "You +have come to tell me about Master Harry Drury? The Lord reward you for +your kindness to a poor old woman."</p> + +<p>Maud hardly knew what to say. She felt ashamed of her fright now, and +yet an idea had entered her head that Cavalier could see Harry in the +cottage, and she said, "Nay, but I have come to ask _you+ about Harry."</p> + +<p>The poor old woman trembled visibly when she heard this. "Prithee, but I +cannot tell you that," she said, speaking as calmly as she could. "I +have not seen him these three days," she went on, "and sorely have I +missed him, for not a word of the Book can I read now. He's been eyes to +me ever since my own boy went away to fight for the King."</p> + +<p>"What book did he read to you?" asked Maud.</p> + +<p>"Marry, and what should it be but God's word?" said Dame Coppins. "It's +been open at the place where he left off these three days, for it is +sore hard to believe I sha'n't hear his voice again." Tears choked the +old woman here, and Maud, quite forgetting her reputation as a witch, +jumped off her horse, saying, "Shall I read a chapter for you, as Harry +used?"</p> + +<p>"Then it is true he's gone away?" said the old woman.</p> + +<p>Maud nodded. The tears were in her eyes now. "We don't know where he has +gone," she said.</p> + +<p>"Poor lamb, it is a sore trial for you; but it will be worse for me, I +trow," and the old woman sighed heavily.</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Maud, entering the cottage, where, on a little table lay a +Bible open at the Gospel of St. John. There was nothing remarkable in +this book, she knew, for she recognised it as an old one of Harry's, +which they had read from together many times, until she gave him a new +one on his birthday once, when the old one disappeared.</p> + +<p>After she had read part of the sixth chapter, the old woman begged for a +few verses more about the "mansions," and Maud read part of the +fourteenth.</p> + +<p>"I'll keep that in mind when the time comes," murmured the old woman; +"and if I never see you again, Mistress Harcourt——"</p> + +<p>"But I will come and see you again," interrupted Maud.</p> + +<p>The old woman shook her head. "It'll be all over soon; I couldn't bear +it again," she said.</p> + +<p>"What will be all over?" asked Maud. "You are not ill, are—at least, +not very ill—not likely to die yet," she added, hastily.</p> + +<p>"If I waited till the Lord called me by disease I'd may be wait a good +while yet, for I'm strong when I'm well; but the people hereabout say I +am a witch, and but for Master Harry I should have been tried before +last night."</p> + +<p>"Last night!" uttered Maud. "What did they do to you?" for she had lost +all fear of her as a witch now.</p> + +<p>The poor old creature looked round fearfully. "They did it," she said, +"tried me for a witch. They took me to the horse-pond and ducked me, but +there was not enough water to drown me. They'd have done it before if +Master Harry had not been my protector, but now he is gone nothing will +save me, for they say I've sent him away; as if I should want to lose my +best friend," and the old woman burst into tears again.</p> + +<p>Maud was indignant. "Prithee, do not be afraid," she said. "I will +protect you, they shall not hurt you!"</p> + +<p>For a minute the old woman looked up glad and grateful, but then she +shook her head sadly. "You can't do it, they are coming again to-night," +she said, "and the ill-usage will kill me;" and she pushed up the sleeve +of her gown and showed how her arms were cut and bruised.</p> + +<p>"You must be protected," said Maud, "it will be murder. I will go to +Master Drury at once and tell him about it," and without waiting another +minute, Maud mounted Cavalier and cantered up the lane.</p> + +<p>At the top, clustered round the blacksmith's shed, were a group of +soldiers, who made way for her to pass, but the blacksmith sprang +forward and stopped her horse.</p> + +<p>"These soldiers have seen Master Harry Drury Mistress Harcourt," he +said.</p> + +<p>"Then you will not repeat the cowardly attack on Dame Coppins, I trow!" +said the young lady, burning with anger still.</p> + +<p>The blacksmith drew back somewhat ashamed, and Maud, forgetting all +else, turned to the soldiers and said, "Tell me where you met Master +Harry Drury."</p> + +<p>The man doffed his cap respectfully, for he could see Maud was a lady. +"It was near by the gate of London," he said. "Our leader, Captain +Stanhope, has now gone to the Grange, bearing tidings of it."</p> + +<p>Maud urged Cavalier into a sharp canter when she left the soldiers, for +she wished to be in time to hear the Captain's account of his meeting +with Harry, which she was likely to lose for ever if not in time to hear +it given to Master Drury. Captain Stanhope and his troopers had been to +Hayslope before, and the Captain knowing the importance of his meeting +with Harry, would be most likely to speak of it at supper time, when +they were all assembled in the dining-hall.</p> + +<p>Before supper, however, she wanted to consult Master Drury about +protecting Dame Coppins from the village mob, and as soon as Cavalier +had been left to Roger she went in search of that gentleman. But he was +not in the study or the keeping-room, and thinking he must have gone out +with Captain Stanhope, she went into the garden to watch for his return.</p> + +<p>Walking noiselessly over the velvet turf, she was close to the +quaintly-cut leafy screen that sheltered the arbour from the garden, +when she heard voices close by, and some one say, "Then we are to arrest +him as a traitor, wherever he may be found?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," faintly answered Master Drury's voice.</p> + +<p>Maud felt as though she were rooted to the spot. Could it be Harry they +were talking of? All uncertainty about this was set aside by Master +Drury's next words. "He has disgraced the family name by this, and I +would you had taken him prisoner ere he entered London to finish his +rebellion."</p> + +<p>"That might not be, Master Drury, seeing I knew not wherefore he was +journeying there," said Captain Stanhope.</p> + +<p>Maud disdained to listen to what was not intended for her ears, and +rapidly walked away in a tumult of passion against her guardian for his +cruelty to his son.</p> + +<p>When she entered the keeping-room Mistress Mabel and Mary looked up from +their work of spinning, but she did not heed the command to come and sit +down at her wheel with them. Passing up to her own room, she took out +some warm wraps, and then went round to the stable in search of Roger, +to whom she gave some directions about coming to the village with a +basket of provisions a little later in the evening.</p> + +<p>She then set out on her walk back to Dame Coppins' cottage, determined +to stay there all night, and protect the old woman by her presence. She +was likewise anxious to tell her of this fresh danger threatening Harry, +for she was the only one to whom she could speak about it, and she knew +the old woman would sympathise with her in her sorrow.</p> + +<p>The poor old woman could give more than sympathy, she found she could +give strength and comfort by her apt quotations from God's Word, for she +herself had tasted sorrow and learned their power. Then they fell into a +conversation about Harry, which lasted until Roger arrived with the +basket, and a message from Master Drury that he and Captain Stanhope +were coming to the cottage shortly.</p> + +<p>Maud was not in a humour to thank either her guardian or the soldier for +anything they might do now, but when they arrived she told them what had +taken place the night before; and on the gentlemen promising to ride +back to the village and make inquiries into the matter, to prevent its +recurrence, she was obliged to promise to return to the Grange, upon +Roger being sent down as a guard for Dame Coppins for this night. But +she was very ungracious in her bearing towards the young soldier, +although it was evident that he greatly wished to please her.</p> + +<p>It was Captain Stanhope's business just now to get fresh men to recruit +his Majesty's army, and he readily consented to Master Drury's +proposition that he should make Hayslope Grange his head-quarters for +the present. His men could be lodged in the village, and they could make +short expeditions into the surrounding country in search of recruits, +and thus business could be combined with pleasure on the part of the +Captain, while it would afford the Royalist leaders a proof that Master +Drury of the Grange was still a staunch Cavalier, should they hear of +the defection of his son; and thus the matter was settled to the +satisfaction of all parties—at least, all but Maud, and the arrangement +vexed her exceedingly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>THE REVEL.</h3> + + +<p>May-day had not been kept with its usual festivity at Hayslope this +year, and so in this month of June it was proposed to have a junketing +on the village green in honour of Captain Stanhope and his soldiers. +Maud, and many another as sad-hearted as she, were in no humour for +revelry when their dear ones were away at the war, and Bertram was quite +indignant that Mary should wish it if Captain Stanhope did, and loudly +declared he would not join in the fun. The horns of ale passed freely +from hand to hand that day, and the soldiers kept up the excitement +among the villagers by occasionally giving them a fanfare from their +trumpets, drinking with them, and telling them stories of "glorious +war." It had the desired effect. Before the night closed in half-a-dozen +lads had enlisted, and among them Master Drury's trusty groom, Roger.</p> + +<p>This was rather more than the gentleman had bargained for, and he was +very angry when he heard it, but he could not say much to Captain +Stanhope, lest the sincerity of his principles should be doubted. But it +seemed that Roger was not the only prize the young soldier coveted, for +the day following the revel he asked the hand of Mary Drury in marriage. +Master Drury knew not what to say to this, for all the household had +seen the marked attentions he paid to Maud—attentions which she +repelled with cold disdain.</p> + +<p>It had been remarked by many in the village that Mistress Harcourt had +kept aloof as much as possible from the revelry. She had been obliged to +come down with the family, but instead of joining in the sport, she went +about among those who were on the outskirts of the crowd—the mothers +with babies in their arms, widows, whose lives this civil war had made +desolate, and sad-eyed maidens widowed already in heart and affection +through the intolerance of King Charles. Among these, Maud had already +made herself known, and now her rich robes of cherry-colour flowered +satin might be seen in close neighbourhood with the blue serge and +linsey-woolsey petticoats and linen jackets of her poorer neighbours. +The children liked to look at her pretty dress—that of itself was a +show to them—but the sad and sorrowful had began to love her for the +kindly words and sympathy she gave them.</p> + +<p>From these she heard that it was whispered she was likely to become +Mistress Stanhope shortly—a rumour that annoyed her exceedingly. +Captain Stanhope, it seems, had heard the same. Some one had ventured to +remark that the bride-elect did not join the dancers, and he resolved to +speak to Maud that very night, and ask her to become his wife, although +he had received so little encouragement to hope for a favourable answer.</p> + +<p>On his way back to the Grange, therefore, he contrived to join her, and +in a few words begged her to favour his suit. Maud hardly knew whether +to be angry or sorry, but she contrived to make him understand most +clearly that it was useless to press her on that subject, and begged him +not to allow any one else to know that he had asked her hand.</p> + +<p>She need not have feared this. Captain Stanhope was too proud to let any +one know of his rejection, and his chief annoyance arose from the fact +that many had already seen and remarked his preference. Musing on this, +he saw Mary and Bertram at a little distance, and the idea at once +entered his head that this annoyance could be got over by at once +proposing to Mary, when it would be thought he was only playing with +Maud, while in reality he was attached to Mary. So he contrived to +dismiss Bertram from his sister's side, and in a gentle tone begged her +to walk in the garden with him; and then when they reached the arbour he +made the same proposal as he had made to Maud but a few minutes before.</p> + +<p>Mary was surprised, but pleased; not that she loved the young soldier, +she had not thought of such a thing. But he was handsome, and could be a +pleasant companion; and then she had felt herself so disgraced since +Harry had gone away, that she would gladly exchange the name of Drury +for Stanhope. She did not tell her lover this, she only said something +about thinking he liked Maud best, on which he muttered that Maud was +too proud and cold for him, when she shyly said he must speak to her +father, when, if he gave his consent, she was willing to ratify it.</p> + +<p>Master Drury hardly knew what to say when asked for his permission. In +reality he felt the loss of his son more than he chose to own even to +himself, and did not care to part with his eldest daughter just now, but +he resolved to let Mary decide the matter; and so, telling Captain +Stanhope that he should receive his answer in the evening, he sent for +Mary.</p> + +<p>The young lady blushed as she entered her father's presence, for she +guessed what he wished to speak to her about.</p> + +<p>"Prithee now, tell me truly Mary of this business with Captain Stanhope. +Dost thou wish to leave the old Grange, my child?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I wish to change my name, father," said Mary, with a deep blush.</p> + +<p>"And wherefore art thou so anxious about this?"</p> + +<p>"Canst thou ask, when it has been so deeply disgraced?" said Mary.</p> + +<p>The old man bowed his head. Truly his family pride was bearing bitter +fruit, if he were to lose his children through it in this way. He saw +that his daughter did not love the man that had sought her hand in +marriage, and he did not believe that he loved her; but he was powerless +to withhold his consent if Mary wished it, which she evidently did. "It +will be better so, my father," she said. "The Stanhopes have ever been +true and loyal, I have heard you say, and this marriage may help to wipe +the traitor stain from our escutcheon."</p> + +<p>"True, my daughter," said the old man, but it was said very sadly, for +he knew it was not thus he had chosen her mother, or been accepted by +her. But the matter seemed to have been settled by Mary without his +interference, and he yielded rather than gave his consent when Captain +Stanhope came again in the evening.</p> + +<p>After leaving her father Mary went to inform Maud of what had taken +place. She had expected some surprise, but not the look of blank +astonishment with which her news was received.</p> + +<p>"Mary, you cannot mean to do it," she uttered, as soon as she was able +to speak.</p> + +<p>"By my troth, I know not what you mean, Maud," said Mary, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Prithee, tell me it is not true, dear; that it is all a fable about +your marrying Captain Stanhope," said Maud, soothingly.</p> + +<p>"Marry, but it is true—true as that your name is Maud Harcourt," +replied Mary.</p> + +<p>Maud rose from her seat and paced up and down the room, and Mary, +looking at her, could only think that she was disappointed. "Tell me, +when did this take place?" said Maud, pausing in her walk and looking +earnestly in Mary's face.</p> + +<p>"Marry, but I know not why you should ask this question," said Mary, +indignantly. "Did he propose to you?" she asked, in a tone of bitter +sarcasm.</p> + +<p>Maud blushed crimson and turned away, but only for a minute. "Tell me +when he asked you this?" she cried. "Prithee, tell me, Mary. I wish not +to vex you, but this I would know."</p> + +<p>"Marry, you may know, it was last night," said Mary, speaking calmly.</p> + +<p>"As he walked from the village?" asked Maud.</p> + +<p>"Nay, in the garden, after Bertram had left me," said Mary. "I saw him +walking with you from the village," she added.</p> + +<p>"Then it must have been after I came indoors," said Maud.</p> + +<p>Mary bowed her head. "Even so," she replied. Maud resumed her walk up +and down the room, and Mary sat gazing at her until Maud came and threw +herself on a cushion at her feet, and, forgetting the bitter words that +had been spoken only a minute or two before, she stooped and kissed +Mary's hands. This touched the proud girl's heart, and she said, "I hope +I have not offended you, Maud."</p> + +<p>"Prithee, no," said Maud. "But I want you to tell me, Mary, do you love +this Captain Stanhope?" Mary drew back.</p> + +<p>"Why do you ask this question?" she said.</p> + +<p>"Marry, because I greatly fear he loves not you," said Maud, slowly.</p> + +<p>"But tell me does he love you?" said Mary, in a tone of sarcasm.</p> + +<p>Maud did not reply to this. She expected the young lady would be angry, +but she was determined to do what she believed to be her duty. "Mary, +sweetheart, we have been as sisters," she said, "and I would you knew +how much I loved you; and by my faith, it is because of this I would bid +you be not too hasty in binding yourself to this Captain Stanhope! It is +pride, not love, that has made him seek you."</p> + +<p>"Marry, then we are even," said Mary, with a bitter laugh. "I thank you, +Mistress Maud, for telling me of this," she said, with a mock reverence, +"for you have removed the last scruple I had in accepting him." Whether +this was true, or whether the gay manner was only put on, Maud could not +tell, but it made her very unhappy, and instead of going down to the +keeping-room, to be watched by Mistress Mabel, she went to pay her usual +visit to Dame Coppins at once, instead of later on in the day.</p> + +<p>As she reached the blacksmith's corner she saw a little crowd gathered +round, and heard the sound of women crying; and when she drew near she +found it was the soldiers leaving with the spoil of the previous day's +revel—the six men who had taken service for the King.</p> + +<p>She had heard of it before she left home; but the thought that Roger +might meet and fight against the young master whom he loved almost +overcame her now, and she could hardly restrain her tears when the +downcast-looking man ventured to say farewell as she was passing.</p> + +<p>"Farewell Roger, and Godspeed to you, and quickly bring this war to a +close, and you back to us. You will not forget to be kind to Master +Harry if ever he should need it," added Maud; for it might be that as a +royalist soldier Roger would have that power some day, she thought; and +then she rode on down the lane, while the poor fellows who were going +away bade wives and sisters cheer up and take example by Mistress Maud, +whose lover would soon have to go to the wars too, for the villagers had +quite settled the affair for Captain Stanhope to their own satisfaction.</p> + +<p>As Maud went on to the cottage she wondered when the marriage was to +take place between Mary and Captain Stanhope. It could not be for some +time, she thought—not until this dreadful war was over, and then she +sighed as she thought of the misery this was causing.</p> + +<p>When she reached the cottage she found the old woman looking very weak +and ill, and so feeble she could hardly speak. Maud was alarmed. "What +is the matter," she said; "are you ill?"</p> + +<p>The poor old creature shook her head—"Not ill," she gasped, "but, oh, +so hungry." Maud ran to the cupboard; there was not a bit of anything in +the shape of food, but a little pile of halfpence in one corner.</p> + +<p>Maud took these into her hand. "Why did you not buy yourself a rye +loaf?" she said. Dame Coppins shook her head. "They will not sell +anything to me," she said.</p> + +<p>It was true enough; the villagers had determined to starve out the witch +if they could not drown her, and so every one had refused to supply her +with food, until the poor creature was brought to the verge of +starvation.</p> + +<p>To remedy this, Maud now had either to bring the old woman's food from +the Grange, or make her purchases herself in the village, so that a day +seldom passed without her being seen near the blacksmith's shed.</p> + +<p>One day when she was passing, a stranger rode up whose horse had lost a +shoe, and he was obliged to stop to get the damage repaired. The man +looked travel-stained and tired, and the blacksmith, with his usual love +of gossip, wanted him to drink a horn of ale before he shod the horse.</p> + +<p>"Nay, that may not be, friend blacksmith, for I bear tidings of weighty +import. There has been a great battle in Yorkshire." Maud, pausing to +speak to a child close by, heard these words.</p> + +<p>"A battle, sir traveller: can you tell me aught about it?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Marry, and I should be able, seeing I was in it, and fought with +Lieutenant Cromwell's Ironsides," said the man. "Is not this Hayslope?" +he asked.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="p79" id="p79"></a> +<img src="images/p79.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>THE STRANGER AT THE SMITHY.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The blacksmith nodded. "But we be all King Charles's men here," he said.</p> + +<p>"Marry, that may be, so all who are here," said the traveller. "But one +Harry Drury cometh from Hayslope, and he fought right bravely with the +Parliament men at Marston Moor, and now lieth sorely wounded and +grievously sick."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>BESSIE'S DISTRESS.</h3> + + +<p>Maud did not wait to hear anything more that the messenger had to tell; +whether the Royalists had gained the victory or had to mourn defeat she +did not know, and hardly cared. This one fact was enough for her; Harry +was wounded—wounded and ill—perhaps dying among strangers. It might be +he was prisoner even, and then an ignominious traitor's death awaited +him. All the darkest possibilities of his fate rushed to her mind as she +walked down the lane to the cottage.</p> + +<p>Here her grief was shared by Dame Coppins, who hardly knew what to say +to comfort her under such a trial, and could only point her to Him who, +having "borne our griefs and carried our sorrows," can sympathise and +comfort under the sorest trials.</p> + +<p>On reaching the Grange, Maud found that the news had travelled thither +before her—news of humiliation, that had put Captain Stanhope quite out +of temper.</p> + +<p>"By my faith, I cannot believe it!" he was saying, as Maud entered the +keeping-room. "Prince Rupert defeated by that son of a brewer and his +handful of sorry prentice lads? Master Drury, what think you is likely +to happen, forsooth?"</p> + +<p>"This varlet messenger, may be, is mistelling the news," said Master +Drury, hoping it might be so, for he had thought the rebel troops well +nigh crushed out.</p> + +<p>Maud wondered whether he had heard the news concerning Harry, and looked +across at Mistress Mabel, but that stern, impassive face told nothing, +and Mary's, in its proud resolve, no more; and she dared not utter the +forbidden name before so many, and so went in search of the children, to +ascertain from them what news had come.</p> + +<p>She saw in a moment that they had heard both items, for Bessie was +sitting in a corner of the garden crying bitterly, while Bertram was +marching up and down, telling her what he would do to rescue Harry when +he was a man.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="p85" id="p85"></a> +<img src="images/p85.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>BESSIE'S GRIEF FOR HARRY.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>She sat down beside the little girl and tried to comfort her, but Bessie +would not be comforted. "It's very kind of you, Maud," she sobbed, "but +you are not Harry's sister—not a Drury, like Mary and I. If Mary would +only be a little sorry for him, I shouldn't cry so much, but now he's +only got me and Bertram to be sorry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bessie, think you not that I am sorry, too?" said Maud.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are sorry, Maud, I know," said the little girl, hardly knowing +how to express herself; "but you know you are not his sister, and so he +won't expect you to cry for him."</p> + +<p>"Marry, will he not," said Maud, scarce able to keep from laughing. "And +will he expect you to cry for him a great deal?" asked Maud, as the +tears broke out afresh.</p> + +<p>"Mary won't," sobbed Bessie; and she seemed bent upon doing her sister's +share for her.</p> + +<p>Maud could not help shedding a few tears in company, and Bessie threw +her arms round her neck and kissed her for them. At length Maud said, +"If Harry does not expect me to cry for him, there is something else he +will expect me to do, and that is to comfort his little sister;" and she +took the little girl in her arms, and laid the hot tear-stained cheek +against hers, and whispered gentle loving words, that soothed the +troubled heart. It was just what Harry would have done—just what he +would have her do, she knew, and she did it as though he were near and +watching her.</p> + +<p>For the next few days Captain Stanhope was in a restless state of +impatience to ascertain whether the news brought to the village was +correct, but they were not the days of newspapers, and an army might be +within a few miles of Hayslope itself, and the inhabitants none the +wiser; so it was not strange that he could hear nothing of the movements +of an army away in Yorkshire.</p> + +<p>But all suspense was at an end in a day or two. A messenger arrived +bearing despatches for Captain Stanhope, and in them mention was made of +the disastrous battle of Marston Moor. These despatches were commands +for the Captain to collect all the men he had been able to get in his +recruiting tour, and join the main body of the army in the west of +England.</p> + +<p>So Mary's marriage, which was to have taken place in a few weeks, had to +be postponed until the autumn, or rather winter, for there could be no +certainty of his returning to Hayslope until then. There was always a +truce of a few months during winter. Wars could not be carried on +regardless of weather, as they are now, and thus it was that they often +lasted years.</p> + +<p>After the departure of the Captain, life seemed to pass more slowly and +monotonously than ever at Hayslope Grange. Out of the direct main road, +strangers rarely came that way, and so little was known of how events +were tending in the mortal strife going on so near them.</p> + +<p>The trial of Archbishop Laud was still being carried on by the London +Parliament; Oxford was supporting the King in the combat with his +subjects, the north having yielded to Fairfax, the Parliamentary +general. This was all the news that came to Hayslope through all the +remaining days of July and the sultry weeks of August. No word came from +Harry Drury, not a syllable that Maud was hungering to hear with a +hunger that paled her cheek and was wasting her strength.</p> + +<p>The harvest—what there was—had to be gathered in by women for the most +part; and when Maud looked at these going out to their unwonted toil, a +baby in one hand and a reaping-hook in the other, and thought of the +burden of sorrow they had to carry as well, she reproached herself for +weakly yielding to her grief; and yet it was hard to combat sometimes.</p> + +<p>She had been compelled to rebel against Mistress Mabel's command to sit +more closely to her spinning and sewing. Not that she disliked preparing +Mary's house linen, but because she could not endure the scrutiny of +those hard cold eyes, and to get away from them she did as Harry had +done many a time before—mounted Cavalier, and cantered away miles over +the fields, and then back to the village, to visit her friends there.</p> + +<p>The months of September and October passed slowly enough, but about the +middle of November Roger and a few of the other men came back to the +village for the winter. It could not be said that they were not welcome, +and yet provisions were now so dear, owing to the scanty harvest and +heavy taxes, that every extra mouth to fill was felt as a heavy burden +by their distressed families; and then, being winter time, there was +scarcely any work they could do in the fields and gardens.</p> + +<p>Maud had hoped that she should hear something of Harry when the men came +back, and how much her returning health and strength had depended upon +this she did not know until the hope was taken away and the faint +sickening languor again stole over her frame. It might have grown upon +her more than it did, but the wants of the poor people in the village, +and the demands of Mistress Mabel, that she should assist in the +preparations for Mary's wedding, left her very little time to spend in +sitting alone and thinking of Harry.</p> + +<p>Mary was to be married at Christmas, and go with Captain Stanhope to +Oxford. The two seemed mutually pleased with each other, and quite +satisfied with their bargain, but Maud could not tell whether they loved +each other. She hoped they did, but Mary never gave her an opportunity +of speaking upon this subject, and indeed the preparations for the +coming event seemed to occupy her mind so fully that she had no thought +for anything else.</p> + +<p>This wedding afforded the villagers the most satisfaction, perhaps, for +Master Drury was to give them an ox to be roasted on the green, and the +prospect of a good dinner was very pleasant to them under the present +circumstances. Captain Stanhope gave them a barrel of ale in which to +drink his bride's health, but Mary seemed to think no one wanted +anything but herself.</p> + +<p>She packed up all the books and little trifles lying about that had +belonged to Harry, and when Maud ventured to remonstrate with her about +this, saying that Bertram would want them by-and-by if Harry did not +return, she retorted, "Harry Drury never will return to this house, +Maud, and Bertram will be expelled too if you continue to encourage him +in thinking Harry right in what he has done."</p> + +<p>Maud looked surprised. "What can you mean?" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Marry, nothing but what is true. You are teaching Bertram to think +Harry right in rebelling against the King, and his father, too," +retorted Mary.</p> + +<p>"I do not think Harry is wrong in following the guidance of his +conscience," said Maud, slowly; "but I have not sought to teach Bertram +that Harry's way is right for him. I have only told him to keep the fear +of God before his eyes, and follow the teaching of His Holy Spirit, as I +believe Harry has done."</p> + +<p>"And so you think it is this that has made Harry a traitor," said Mary, +with rising anger.</p> + +<p>"I don't think Harry is a traitor," said Maud, calmly. "It is the King +who has——"</p> + +<p>"By my troth I will not listen to such dreadful words," interrupted +Mary, and she went out of the room; but she evidently did not alter her +opinion, for she confiscated to her own use every article that had +formerly belonged to her brother.</p> + +<p>After the wedding festivities were over, and Mistress Mary Stanhope had +departed with her husband to Oxford, the house seemed more dull than +ever, and Mistress Mabel more severe and exacting.</p> + +<p>About the middle of January came news that thrilled every one with +horror, and put Master Drury into a fever of mingled anger and sorrow. A +man had stopped at the blacksmith's shed on his way from London, and +brought the news that Archbishop Laud had been beheaded on Tower Hill +the day before he left.</p> + +<p>Mistress Mabel was speechless with indignation for a few minutes, and +her first act was to take the bright cherry-coloured bow off Bessie's +hair.</p> + +<p>The little girl looked up in surprise, and saw her aunt taking the +ruffles from her own neck and wrists. "This is not the time for such +bravery as this," said the lady, looking angrily at the ribbons and +ruffles. Bessie wondered what they had to do with it, while Mistress +Mabel stood upright, watching her brother as he walked up and down the +room, murmuring, "They have slain the Archbishop—murdered the Lord's +anointed."</p> + +<p>"For which all good Christians ought to fast and mourn," put in Mistress +Mabel; "and I hope, brother, that you will see to it that your household +is not lacking in this matter," she added.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, I leave all such to you," said Master Drury; "order whatever +is seemly at this time. I know not what has come to this evil-minded +generation," he added.</p> + +<p>"An evil generation they are, as you say," quoth Mistress Mabel. "Where +will their iniquity end? They will put forth their hand against the King +next, I trow."</p> + +<p>Bertram and Bessie shivered at the bare idea of such a thing, and Maud, +who felt she must say something in defence of the Parliament, said, +"Nay, nay, Mistress Mabel, they will not put forth their hand against +the King's majesty."</p> + +<p>"But they will, I trow, if they have the power," said the lady. "And +that God may rescue this nation from their hands, it behoves us to +appear before Him in decent raiment of mourning at this time."</p> + +<p>"Are we all to go into mourning?" asked Bessie, in some surprise.</p> + +<p>"Would you be wearing ribbons and ruffles, and such light vanities at +this time?" angrily demanded the lady.</p> + +<p>Bessie looked down, feeling very much ashamed of herself, but hardly +knowing how she had offended, until Bertram asked, "Will everybody wear +mourning for the Archbishop, aunt?"</p> + +<p>"Every honest Christian soul will nathless wish to do so," replied +Mistress Mabel, with a severe look at Bessie.</p> + +<p>The little girl felt the reproof, and when she went upstairs she put +away all her bright ribbons and the gay dresses that had been worn at +her sister's wedding. "I don't mind wearing the black hood and wimple, +Maud," she said; "but then I thought people wore mourning because they +felt sorry, and I can't feel so sorry about the Archbishop as I did +about Harry going away."</p> + +<p>"Of course not, dear, because——"</p> + +<p>"But aunt seems to think we ought," interrupted the little girl; "and +father never looked so sorry about Harry as he did to-day about the +Archbishop."</p> + +<p>"Your father may not let us see how sorry he is about Harry," said Maud, +"but I am sure he is often thinking of him."</p> + +<p>Maud spoke of this as though she were sure it was so, as in truth she +was. She had noticed a great alteration in her guardian lately. His hair +was rapidly changing from brown to silver white, his tall erect form was +bowed as with the weight of an added twenty years; and she thought with +a keen pang that if Harry did not soon come he would never see his +father again. And then arose the question, where was Harry?—for no news +had come but that one voice from the battle-field, telling them he was +sick and wounded.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/p93.jpg"><img src="images/p93.jpg" alt=""/></a> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>THE WOUNDED MESSENGER.</h3> + + +<p>There was little fear that no fasts would be kept the month that the +Archbishop was executed. So many were compelled to fast for want of food +throughout England, that all the land might be said to mourn, although +they did not put on the outward semblance of it, as Mistress Mabel did.</p> + +<p>Just as the men were thinking of leaving their homes again in the early +spring, came a faint rumour that peace might be established, and many a +heart beat high with hope that the commissioners who were to meet at +Uxbridge, and negotiate a reconciliation between the King and his +people, might be able to conclude terms of adjustment satisfactory to +both parties. Maud felt sure that peace would be established at last +when she heard the news, and Bertram asked her in a whisper if Harry +would come home then; but to this question she could only shake her head +and look up at the clouds racing across the stormy February sky, and +think that Harry had probably gone to the Father's home where ambition +and injustice could never mar the peace of the one great family.</p> + +<p>She had come to this conclusion, because she thought if he were living +he would surely have tried to see or communicate with his father before +this, in spite of what had happened.</p> + +<p>The meeting at Uxbridge took place just as the first spring blossoms +began to whisper that the earth was not the cold, lifeless thing it +looked; that God had not forgotten the seeds in the time of their +darkness, but that out of this He had made them spring forth, and +through this He had made them strong. Thus thinking as she walked +through the fields, Maud sometimes wondered whether these dark times was +England's winter, out of which righteousness and truth would spring, and +be more strong for the struggle they had endured. Of course to her this +meant that the people would return to the King, and be more firm in +their allegiance than ever, and she hoped that the first promise of such +a result had already taken place.</p> + +<p>But alas, for her, and the hopes of thousands like her, who had to +endure silently, and witness misery they could not alleviate! the +commission broke up without anything being done, and men were hurried +from their homes to take up the sword, leaving the plough to be guided +by women's hands. Roger and the rest of his companions again left +Hayslope, and Maud went in and out and tried to comfort the women for +their loss.</p> + +<p>Master Drury seemed to feel the failure of the Uxbridge commission most +keenly, although he did not say much about it; yet even Mistress Mabel +could not fail to notice the whitening hair and the failing strength of +her brother, and spoke to Maud about it too. She had noted the change +long since, and now she felt sure that secret grief for Harry was +preying upon her guardian's heart, and bowing him down with premature +old age, and yet she dare not mention the name it would have been a +relief for both to utter and to hear spoken.</p> + +<p>So the spring passed into summer without any outward change at Hayslope +Grange, except a short visit from Mistress Mary Stanhope. At the end of +June came tidings of a battle that had been fought a fortnight before at +Naseby, in Northamptonshire, where the King's army had been completely +defeated, leaving on the field five thousand prisoners, an immense +quantity of war material; and what was worse than all for the Royalists, +the King's private cabinet of papers and letters was captured. This news +came from Captain Stanhope, who had himself barely escaped being taken +prisoner by Cromwell's Ironsides, and had got back to Oxford without +even his sword.</p> + +<p>This news seemed to affect Master Drury most deeply, and one day he +suddenly announced to Mistress Mabel that he should join the royal +troops and fight for King Charles. The lady looked as if she had not +heard aright, and said something about herb tea and going to bed; but +Master Drury silenced her by taking down his sword from where it hung +against the wall, and ordering one of the servants to fetch his +jack-boots.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="p99" id="p99"></a> +<img src="images/p99.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>MASTER DRURY TAKES DOWN HIS SWORD.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"Marry, but you are not going to the King now," said Mistress Mabel, in +affright.</p> + +<p>"I am going to Oxford," calmly spoke Master Drury; and during the +remainder of the day he was occupied in making preparations for his +departure.</p> + +<p>When Mistress Mabel found her brother was bent upon leaving them, and +fully determined to join the army, she suddenly professed to be in great +fear of the Parliament gaining all England, and begged her brother to +remain and protect them—have the moat filled at once, and barricades +placed round the house, for fear of an attack from Cromwell's army; for +Cromwell's name began to be the more prominent now, although Fairfax was +the commander-in-chief.</p> + +<p>But Master Drury shook his head. "Cromwell will never come into Essex," +he said. "You forget King Charles has the Divine right to this land and +its people. He will be the more firmly seated on his throne by-and-by +for these troubles," he added.</p> + +<p>Before his departure he spoke to Maud, bidding her come to him at Oxford +if anything happened needing his presence at home. She could ride well +now, he said, and Cavalier could bring her the whole journey.</p> + +<p>Maud looked almost as surprised to hear this as Mistress Mabel had done +when her brother first announced his intention of joining the army, for +she had never been to Oxford in her life, and travelling was not very +safe even for a man now Prince Rupert's wild troopers were about. But +she felt thankful for the permission to do this, though at the same time +she hoped that she should not need it.</p> + +<p>Harvest-time was drawing near again now, and Mistress Mabel was more +busy than ever among the maids, and Maud spent all her time between the +two children and the village. Sometimes Bessie and Bertram went with her +on her visits of charity, and one or other occasionally read to Dame +Coppins from Harry's old Bible, or listened while the old woman told +them some story of his kindness to her. One day as they were returning +from a visit to the cottage, they were startled to see a crowd of women +gathered round the blacksmith's shed, and Bertram, in his usual +impetuous fashion, ran forward to see what was the matter. Maud was +mounted on Cavalier, and Bessie on her brother's pony, while Bertram, +being on foot, managed to edge himself to the front of the little crowd, +and presently came running back, crying, "Maud, Maud, the man is dying! +somebody has been beating him." Several of the women were coming towards +her by this time, and she sprang from her horse and stepped forward to +meet them.</p> + +<p>"Prithee, what is the matter?" she asked, seeing their anxious faces. +"Is the poor man much hurt?"</p> + +<p>"By my faith, I think he's dying; but he says he _must+ get to Oxford +first, to deliver up some papers he is bearing to the King," said one of +the women.</p> + +<p>"And what saith the blacksmith to his going on his journey?" asked Maud.</p> + +<p>"That he will not live an hour with the wound he has received in his +side. Nought but keeping him quite still, as well as careful dressing, +will stanch the bleeding, Martin says, and he knows of such matters."</p> + +<p>"Then he must not suffer the poor man to depart," said Maud, in the tone +of one accustomed to be obeyed, as she stepped up to the blacksmith. She +spoke loud enough for the stranger to hear, as she had intended; but he +feebly shook his head, while Martin completed the temporary bandaging of +his wound.</p> + +<p>"Marry, stranger, you had better tarry here awhile, for your life will +pay for this journey if you do not," said the blacksmith.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, I must away to Oxford. I have been sore hindered already, and +lives more valuable than mine depend upon the speedy delivery of these +papers;" and as he spoke he attempted to rise, but fell back into the +blacksmith's arms with a faint groan.</p> + +<p>"He must not undertake this journey," said Maud; and she ordered him to +be carried into a cottage near, saying she would come and speak to him +about the papers as soon as he had somewhat revived. Meanwhile she +ordered Martin to look to Cavalier, while the women attended to the +stranger; and then she sent Bertram home with Bessie, and a message to +Mistress Mabel not to be alarmed if she did not come back to the Grange +that night.</p> + +<p>By that time the traveller had recovered from the fainting fit, and Maud +went into the cottage. "I am Mistress Maud Harcourt, and Master Drury of +the Grange is my guardian," she said. "He is at Oxford just now, but if +you will entrust your despatches to me, I will take them to him there, +and he will place them in the hands of those to whom they are directed."</p> + +<p>The stranger looked at the young lady's glowing resolute face, and laid +his hands upon the papers "I could trust you," he said, "but will you +swear that these shall not pass out of your hands, save to those +directed to receive them?"</p> + +<p>"I swear," said Maud, solemnly.</p> + +<p>"It seemeth I must perforce stay here," sighed the man. "Prince Rupert's +troops have chased me miles out of my way, or I should have reached +Oxford ere this; and if it were not for the faintness that comes over me +when I move, I would even now continue my journey."</p> + +<p>"I will explain all that," said Maud, "but time presses. Now give me the +papers, for my horse is in readiness, and I would fain depart ere +messengers come from Mistress Mabel to hinder me."</p> + +<p>It was a large packet, sealed with the seal of the Parliament, that the +stranger delivered into her hands, and which she contrived to conceal +within her dress. Then the stranger gave her directions for her journey, +for he it seemed was well acquainted with the road; and carefully noting +these in her mind, and looking at her purse to see she had money with +her, she took her departure, the villagers scarcely comprehending that +she was going to Oxford until she was out of sight.</p> + +<p>Then it was suggested that one of the lads could have gone instead, and +a message came from Mistress Mabel, ordering Maud to return to the +Grange at once; but she was some miles on her way by this time, for +Cavalier was fresh, and inclined for a sharp canter, and Maud kept him +at full speed, for the pressure of those papers was a constant reminder +that life or death hung upon their speedy delivery.</p> + +<p>Whether it was the life of friend or foe she did not think. Whoever it +was, he was dear to some heart doubtless—dear as Harry was to her, and +that thought was enough to keep down all fatigue, and make her urge +Cavalier forward whenever he seemed inclined to lag. It never occurred +to her that if Prince Rupert's troops had driven the messenger so far +out of the usual route, it would be impossible for her to escape them, +neither did she think, even if she knew, the distance she had to travel. +Hour after hour she urged her good horse forward, and as it was fine dry +weather, the usual muddy, unkept roads were comparatively easy to +travel, and she had accomplished a good portion of the journey before +the evening closed in.</p> + +<p>She halted at a little village where the people were in a terribly +frightened condition on account of the doings of Prince Rupert in the +neighbourhood. Some of his followers had fired a farm-house the night +before, after carrying off all that they wanted; and the numbers of +people—quiet dwellers in lonely houses—or travellers, whom his +troopers had wantonly killed, were very numerous, it seemed, and there +was great surprise that Maud should have undertaken such a journey.</p> + +<p>Maud felt surprised herself, now that something of the excitement was +over; she felt stiff and tired, too, with her long ride; and now these +tales about Prince Rupert made her shudder with fear as she knelt down +in the little strange bedroom to thank God for His mercy, and ask it too +for Harry if he was still in this world. She prayed too that she might +be kept through the remainder of her journey—that Prince Rupert might +be kept from her road, and nothing be allowed to hinder her from +reaching Oxford in time to save the lives of these unknown prisoners.</p> + +<p>Then she laid down, and in total forgetfulness of Prince Rupert and his +brutal troopers went to sleep, not waking until the morning, when she +recommenced her journey in renewed hope, and with a calm trust in God's +protecting care.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>"ON, CAVALIER, ON!"</h3> + + +<p>To Maud's great joy, the stately towers and ancient buildings of Oxford +at length rose before her. As she rode into the principal street of the +city she was met by a crowd of people who were talking loudly and +eagerly, so that Maud had but little difficulty in making out the words. +"Down with all parliament men! Shoot the traitors, and all the rebel +army!" and many other speeches, convinced Maud something unusual had +taken place, or was about to take place.</p> + +<p>Her cheeks grew pale with anxious fear as the bridle of her horse was at +length seized, and she was forced back against a wall; and then for the +first time she noticed that a body of soldiers were drawing near, and +beyond them marched a number of downcast-looking men, evidently +prisoners. Could it be that they were already on their way to +execution?—that the delivery of her papers would be too late to save +them? This thought almost maddened her, and turning her horse's head, +she said, "On, Cavalier, on!" and at the same moment drew out her +packet, and held it high above her head.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="p107" id="p107"></a> +<img src="images/p107.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"ON CAVALIER, ON!"</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The effect of her words seemed magical—not upon her horse, but upon the +soldiers by whom she was now surrounded. The officer in command bowed as +she uttered the ringing words, "On, Cavalier, on!" and instead of +turning her back to the wall, called upon his men to halt, while Maud +passed through their midst, holding high the official-looking document +which she thought had gained her this privilege, but which in reality +the officer had hardly noticed.</p> + +<p>Quite unconsciously, Maud had used their password in addressing her +horse, and to this she owed it that she was allowed to pass through the +ranks, the officer believing she came with orders from the King to those +in charge of the prisoners. She heeded not the looks of the soldiers; +indeed, she scarcely saw them, but rode straight on to where an officer +stood waiting to demand her business, and why the cavalcade had been +stopped.</p> + +<p>Maud handed him her packet. "It concerneth the prisoners," she said, +panting with excitement.</p> + +<p>The officer took it from her hand, and rode back to another officer +after glancing at the address, and Maud, then face to face with the +pale, weary-looking prisoners, glanced at them for the first time. One +was looking at her and her horse most earnestly, but she did not +recognise him; and when the officer came back she rode on, wondering +whether she had been in time to save them after all. The papers had been +sent to the residence of the general in command, and they were still +halting, to know the result of his reading them; and Maud was detained, +lest she should be wanted too. They had not to wait long. In a few +minutes a soldier rode up with a note from the general. The prisoners +were to be taken back to their prison and the messenger released; and +Maud was allowed to go on her way, while the whole cavalcade turned +back, to the great disappointment of the Oxford crowd, who would fain +have testified their loyalty to the King by making a holiday over the +execution of these rebels.</p> + +<p>Maud had no other care than to get out of the way of the crowd and the +detachments of soldiers; but as soon as a by-street was gained, and she +was left in comparative quiet, weariness and exhaustion almost overcame +her, and for the first time she noticed that Cavalier had fallen lame +with his exertions. To get back to Hayslope Grange, as she had at first +intended, was therefore impossible, and she resolved to ask the +hospitality of Mistress Stanhope for a few days. She hoped Master Drury +was there, but of this she could not feel sure; but whether or no he was +there, she must go, and she made instant inquiry of a bystander for +Captain Stanhope's house. After some little difficulty she found it, and +to her joy heard that Master Drury was there. He seemed much astonished +to see Maud, and Mistress Stanhope was in no little alarm at her +travel-stained appearance.</p> + +<p>"Has the rebel army appeared before Hayslope?" he asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Maud, faintly smiling. "Nothing had happened to Hayslope +when I left."</p> + +<p>"Then wherefore hast thou come here?" asked Master Drury. "Has anything +happened to Mistress Mabel or the children?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, they are all well," said Maud. "I came as a messenger, to bring +certain letters from London to the King."</p> + +<p>"Marry, now be truthful, Mistress Maud," said Mary, "and tell us thou +art come to see the gay city of Oxford."</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay; I came not for that," said Maud. "I have ridden hard to reach +here in time, so hard that Cavalier hath fallen lame with his journey, +and needs rest more than I do."</p> + +<p>"Then I will order Cavalier's rest and refreshment while Mary looketh to +your wants," said Master Drury; and he went out at once, leaving the two +ladies alone. Mistress Stanhope was proud to play the hostess to her old +companion, and as soon as she had changed her dress, and had some +refreshment, she insisted upon showing her new and fashionable house, in +spite of Maud's evident weariness. At length she was allowed to take up +a book and sit down in peace, for some other visitors had called, and +Mary was obliged to go to them.</p> + +<p>The book Maud had taken up was quite a new one, just published, and +written by Master John Milton, a schoolmaster of London. It was a volume +of poems, and Maud was soon absorbed in reading "Penseroso." Mary +suddenly entering the room some time afterwards quite startled her, and +the book slipped from her hand on to the floor. But Mary did not stay, +she had only come for something to show her visitor; and as Maud picked +up the book, she went out again, and did not see how pale Maud had +suddenly grown, as she sat and stared at the inner cover of the book.</p> + +<p>There was nothing very remarkable there,—only, "Mistress Stanhope, from +an old friend. Oxford, 1645." But Maud knew that Harry's hand had traced +those letters, and she wondered how it was he was at Oxford, and whether +he was there now. When Mary came back Maud was still staring at her name +in the book.</p> + +<p>"Marry, what are you looking at?" asked the young matron, glancing over +her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Harry wrote this?" gasped Maud.</p> + +<p>"I suppose he did," coolly spoke Mary; "but he had the grace to conceal +the fact that I was his sister."</p> + +<p>Maud had noticed that he wrote "friend" instead of "brother."</p> + +<p>"Why should he do this?" she said.</p> + +<p>"Prithee, Maud, will you never see how he has disgraced our name?" said +Mary, impatiently. "Nay, nay, you have not seen my father's misery since +he hath been here, and how closely he hath kept himself shut up, lest +any should hear his name."</p> + +<p>"But why should he do this?" asked Maud.</p> + +<p>"Why?" uttered Mary, "when all men are talking of the traitor rebel, +Harry Drury, who was this day to be executed."</p> + +<p>Her voice faltered as she said the last words, although she tried to +appear unmoved as she added, "But the execution is postponed, I hear."</p> + +<p>"Only postponed!" gasped Maud, who sat with widely staring eyes.</p> + +<p>"The letters were to save their lives, I heard."</p> + +<p>"What letters?" asked Mary.</p> + +<p>"Those I brought from Hayslope, where the parliament messenger lies +sorely wounded," said Maud.</p> + +<p>Mary did not wait to hear more, but went to meet her husband, who was +coming up the stairs. The gaily dressed officer bowed to Maud as he +entered a few minutes afterwards, but she could see he looked annoyed.</p> + +<p>"Good-morrow, lady messenger," he said. "You did but reach Oxford in +time, and if you had been an hour later 'twere better for his Majesty, I +trow."</p> + +<p>"Prithee, tell me why?" said Maud.</p> + +<p>"There would have been six stout-hearted rebels the less to fight +against King Charles," said Captain Stanhope.</p> + +<p>"Are the prisoners released?" asked Maud, with an exclamation of joy.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, not yet; but we cannot afford to execute them, for the rebel +army hath five thousand of our loyal troopers, and they propose to +exchange some of these for the handful we have here in our prison, and +Harry Drury is specially named as one of them—Harry Drury and Gilbert +Clayton, whom Prince Rupert's men captured some time since."</p> + +<p>To describe Maud's feelings when she heard how near Harry had been to an +ignominious death would be impossible. For a time she could only bow her +head in her hands, and weep out her thanksgiving to God for His great +mercy; but by degrees the hope that she should soon see him gradually +stole over her, until she recollected that Harry would scarcely venture +to call upon them, even though he had seen her in the town; for she +doubted not but that the prisoner who had looked at her so closely was +Harry, although she had failed to recognise him.</p> + +<p>When Master Drury came in soon afterwards, it was evident he had heard +the news, although Harry's name was not mentioned.</p> + +<p>"Maud," he said, drawing his chair close to hers as soon as they were +left alone, "you heard that the King's cabinet had been captured at the +battle of Naseby?"</p> + +<p>Maud bowed. "Hath it been retaken?" she asked.</p> + +<p>Master Drury shook his head. "Prithee, I would it had never existed," he +said, "or that I knew not aught of it."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen the King's letters?" asked Maud.</p> + +<p>"All the world will see them shortly," sighed the gentleman. "The rebels +have published some of his papers, calling it 'The King's Cabinet +Opened.'"</p> + +<p>"Then all the world will know what a just and gentle monarch he is," +said Maud.</p> + +<p>"Alas! they will see that what these rebels say of him is true; that he +hath tried to sell his people to a foreign foe," groaned Master Drury. +"All his doings with the Irish rebels, and his negotiations with foreign +princes to bring troops over here, are given in these papers."</p> + +<p>Maud started to her feet, flushed with indignation. "It is not true," +she said. "It would be unkingly—beneath the majesty of our royal +Charles. It is a fabrication of the Parliament rebels."</p> + +<p>"I would fain think so if I could," sighed Master Drury; "but, Maud, I +have heard from those who knew all the King's matters that these letters +are true copies of what were in the cabinet."</p> + +<p>Maud dropped into her seat as though she had been shot. "The King is +false and untrue, then," she gasped, "and Harry is right after all."</p> + +<p>"Hush, prithee, hush!" said Master Drury. "You know not what you say, +Maud;" but he did not speak as though he were angry that Harry's name +had been uttered.</p> + +<p>"Marry, but I cannot hold my peace when true and noble men are risking +their lives to fight for this false king," said Maud.</p> + +<p>"I will not fight," quietly spoke Master Drury. "I will go back with you +to Hayslope."</p> + +<p>"Prithee, but you will see Harry before you leave Oxford?" said Maud, a +faint colour stealing into her cheek as she spoke.</p> + +<p>Master Drury was deeply moved. It was evident he was longing to see his +son, but he said in a faint voice, "Nay, nay, I dare not see him. Mary +Stanhope has spread the report that I have cast him off as a traitor +rebel, and my loyalty to the King would be suspected if I were to see +him now;" and he heaved a deep sigh as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"But it is true that you think the King false?" said Maud. "Harry did +the same, and avowed it."</p> + +<p>Master Drury winced at the implied reproach. "Nay, nay, I cannot go so +far as that," he said; "if I were I should be a rebel."</p> + +<p>"Then you must be false to yourself to _seem+ true to the King," said +Maud, boldly; "and that is why there are so many true and honest men +among the rebels, and why they are so strong. It is not their hatred of +oppression only, nor their wish to save England's liberties, as they +say; but they cannot do otherwise if they would be true to +themselves—true to God, who has said, 'Fear God,' first, and then +'Honour the king.'"</p> + +<p>Maud was speaking for Harry, and that gave her courage, or she would +never dared to have said so much to her guardian. But it was all in +vain. Family honour demanded the sacrifice of principle—at least, so +thought Master Drury—and he would not allow Maud to seek an interview +with Harry, or claim acquaintance with the all but executed traitor.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/p116.jpg"><img src="images/p116.jpg" alt=""/></a> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>MYSTERIES.</h3> + + +<p>As soon as Maud had sufficiently rested she returned to Hayslope with +Master Drury, who, now that he had made up his mind to do so, was all +impatient to return home. His visit to Oxford had been a very painful +one, for his faith in the King had been completely broken, and yet he +had been forced to hear of his son's condemnation to an ignominious +death, for principles he began dimly to see were right.</p> + +<p>The last lingering remnants of loyalty forbade his seeking to see that +son, as much as the fear of offending his son-in-law, and yet he longed +to fold Harry in his arms and look in his face once more.</p> + +<p>When the travellers reached Hayslope they found the villagers in a +wildly excited state. Many of their relatives who had been fighting at +Naseby were held prisoners by the Parliament, and of course could not +return home this winter; and lads too young to serve as soldiers, and +the women, with Martin the blacksmith at their head, were wildly +clamouring for the destruction of the Parliament and all the rebels. The +poor wounded messenger had most mysteriously disappeared, Maud heard, +but on questioning some of them more closely, it seemed that he had more +than once been threatened by Martin, if he would not swear to serve the +King, while he stoutly refused, and at last he left the village with his +wound only half healed.</p> + +<p>Poor old Dame Coppins was of course accused of having some hand in this +business. Without the help of witchcraft the man could not have escaped, +the women said, and for once Maud felt thankful to the unknown witch, +whoever she might be, who had done this service. She believed in +witchcraft almost as fully as the ignorant villagers, but she did not +believe Dame Coppins was a witch simply because she did not choose to +tell all the village her business—where she had come from, and what had +induced her to take the lonely cottage outside Hayslope,—and this was +the only reason they had for supposing her a witch.</p> + +<p>Maud had tried to reason them out of this, had told them she was a poor +widow who had seen a great deal of trouble, and preferred a solitary +life; that she loved the Bible and feared God as much as any of them; +but it was all of no avail. That any one could exist without gossip was +to them impossible to understand, and they shook their heads sadly, and +thought Maud bewitched herself when she talked about Dame Coppins.</p> + +<p>So the cottage in the lane was as lonely as ever, in spite of the +patronage extended to the widow by Maud and the two children at the +Grange.</p> + +<p>For a day or two after her return Maud was not able to go to the +cottage, for Master Drury had scarcely reached home when he was taken +seriously ill, and Mistress Mabel's herbs and decoctions failed to +relieve his sickness for some time. Bertram and Bessie, however, went +each day, and brought back the report that the widow had seemed very +joyful when she heard that Maud had returned, and that her errand had +been so successful as to gain the prisoners their freedom.</p> + +<p>Maud smiled when she heard this. "Marry, but their freedom is not gained +yet," she said, with something of a sigh.</p> + +<p>"Dame Coppins says they are free, and on their way to London," said +Bessie.</p> + +<p>Maud opened her eyes. Was the old woman a witch after all? Bertram's +next words quite confirmed her in this wild notion. "Maud," he said in a +whisper, "do you know that Harry was one of the prisoners."</p> + +<p>"Who told you so?" asked Maud, quickly, for it had been agreed that this +intelligence should not reach the children, or even Mistress Mabel.</p> + +<p>"Dame Coppins told me," replied Bertram; "she said he would have been +shot if you had not gone to Oxford with those papers," he added.</p> + +<p>Maud actually shuddered with horror as the boy said this. "Bertram, you +must not go to Dame Coppins again," she said, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Bertram, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Prithee, I scarce can tell you, but—but you will keep it quite a +secret, Bertram, even from Bessie," said Maud—"this dreadful thing I am +going to tell you."</p> + +<p>Bertram nodded. "Isn't she a good old woman?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Bertie, she's a witch," whispered Maud, in a tone of horror.</p> + +<p>Bertram started back pale with fright. "I don't believe it, Maud," he +said: "she couldn't talk about God taking care of Harry, and pray for +Him to do it, if she was a wicked old witch. I do believe God took you +safe to Oxford in time because she prayed so much about it, and that +He's kept Harry safe in all the battles, that he might come home to us +again in answer to Dame Coppins's prayers."</p> + +<p>Bertram spoke quickly, almost passionately, but Maud only shook her head +sadly. "I thought she was a good woman," she said, "but how could she +know what happened at Oxford if she was not a witch? Nobody here knows +that Harry was in prison—not even Mistress Mabel or the servants, so +that no one could tell her about it."</p> + +<p>But Bertram was still unwilling to believe in Dame Coppins's wickedness, +until Maud said pettishly, "I do believe she has bewitched you, Bertie, +and you must not go to see her again."</p> + +<p>"But I will go," said Bertram, beginning to lose his temper.</p> + +<p>"Then I shall ask Mistress Mabel to forbid you going beyond the moat," +said Maud.</p> + +<p>This threat, which Bertram knew she would put into execution, made him +give the required promise not to go and see Dame Coppins until Maud had +discovered who had told her about Harry; which Maud feeling sure was a +dark mystery, that no one would ever be able to penetrate, made up her +mind not to try, now that she had extorted this promise from Bertram.</p> + +<p>Some thoughts of the poor old woman's anxiety troubled her after she +left Bertram, and she wondered what effect their neglect might have upon +the mind of the villagers; but on this she resolved to keep eyes and +ears alike open whenever she went amongst them, so that she might +protect her from violence should any be attempted or contemplated.</p> + +<p>But it seemed that the people had forgotten the witch in their rage +against the "Parliament rebels," and Maud could not discover whether the +old woman was being supplied with food or not; and very soon the fear +that she would be starved to death began to take possession of her mind. +To satisfy herself upon this point she resolved to walk down the lane +late one afternoon, when she would not be expected. Before she had +reached the cottage, however, she saw a litter borne between two men +carried into the garden, and then from this was lifted what looked like +a huge roll of cloth, and taken into the house, while Dame Coppins came +and looked all round to make sure no one was in the lane. She did not +see Maud, for she had concealed herself behind a tree, but the young +lady had a good view of the old woman's face, and saw that there was +little fear of her dying of starvation yet. As soon as she could she +slipped out of her hiding-place and walked quickly up the lane. She was +afraid of going near the cottage now, and she wondered what fresh +wickedness Dame Coppins had been at. No wonder the people were afraid of +her when such mysterious doings as that were going on.</p> + +<p>Maud thought she had more than sufficient evidence to prove that Dame +Coppins was a witch now, and began seriously to consider whether she +ought not to inform against her; and she might have done this, only +Master Drury was taken ill again. Maud began to think this must be the +witch's work, when all Mistress Mabel's remedies failed, but she dared +not say so, for fear the servants should tell the villagers, and they +should attempt to drown her again; and so she suggested that a physician +should be sent for to see her guardian. Mistress Mabel looked scornful +at first, but finally relented, and a boy was despatched to the town, +and returned with the grave-looking doctor, in plumed hat, scarlet +cloak, and immense ruffles at his wrists. He looked grand enough to do +anything if grandeur would do it, but he shook his head when he heard +all Master Drury's ailments. Beyond this he would not commit himself, +and so very little information was gained from his visit, and they could +only wait in hope that his medicine would soon effect some improvement +on the patient.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile news had arrived that Prince Rupert had been compelled to +surrender Bristol and several other places in the west, and that another +battle disastrous to Charles had been fought at Rowton Moor. The King +had been completely defeated, and compelled to retire to Oxford for the +winter, and Captain Stanhope and his wife were coming to Hayslope. This +was the news brought by one or two of the men who came back to the +village to tell of the death or imprisonment of others who had gone +forth with them that sweet spring day a few months before. So the winter +came in gloomy enough, and men grew fiercer each day about the strife +that was raging in the land. In Hayslope all the rage was against the +London Parliament, and many vowed that if one of Cromwell's troopers +showed himself there he should be killed, whoever he might be. This +threat did not disturb Maud much, even if she heard it, for she did not +think it was likely any of the Parliament men would come there, and she +could only feel glad that the messenger had gone away before the arrival +of these half-frenzied men. She still visited occasionally among the +villagers, and contributed to their wants as far as she could; but a +good deal of her time was occupied with Master Drury now, and Dame +Coppins was almost forgotten, apparently.</p> + +<p>She was therefore greatly surprised one day to receive a message from a +village lad, saying she was wanted down the lane. She had no doubt who +wanted her, but she did not intend going; she would not give Dame +Coppins the opportunity of bewitching her any more; and so merely +saying, "Prithee, I will think about it," she walked home as fast as she +could.</p> + +<p>That evening, about six o'clock, just as they were about to assemble for +supper, one of the maids came to her and whispered that she was wanted; +a man, who refused to say who he was or where he came from, demanded to +see her.</p> + +<p>Maud shivered: such mysterious messages were disagreeable, and she was +just about to say she would not go, when Mistress Mabel appearing in the +passage settled the matter; for had she heard her refuse, there would +have been an instant inquiry, and the lady would not have rested until +she found out all about the supposed witch and Maud's charities in the +village.</p> + +<p>So to prevent this she threw a cloak over her head, and followed the +maid, without speaking, to where a muffled figure stood outside the +door. She had only stepped off the threshold, when a gust of wind blew +the door close, and at the same moment her wrist was seized, and she was +dragged away from the house; and before she could even scream, or give +any alarm, she was lifted on to a horse, and the man sprang up before +her, and galloped away into the village.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="p125" id="p125"></a> +<img src="images/p125.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>ABDUCTION OF MAUD.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>All the horrible tales Maud had ever heard of people being carried off +by witches rushed to her mind when she saw that they were turning round +by the blacksmith's shed. All was dark and still, but she tried to +scream, in hopes of raising some alarm; but fear had paralyzed her +tongue, and she could not utter a sound. She was like one in all the +horrors of a nightmare, and believed she was on a phantom horse, +although she could hear it splashing though the wet mud, precisely as +Cavalier did the day before, when she was out riding with Mistress +Stanhope.</p> + +<p>At length they stopped just opposite the widow's cottage, as Maud +expected, for she had no doubt that this ride was of the witch's +planning; and feeling powerless to resist, she suffered herself to be +lifted down, and expected to be carried into the house. But instead of +this, a familiar, though scarcely remembered, but very human voice, +said, "Go in, Mistress Maud, I will look after Cavalier." But Maud did +not move, although the man stepped to the horse's head. Before she could +make up her mind, however, to run away, the cottage door opened, and a +weak, quivering voice, said, "Roger, Roger, is that you?"</p> + +<p>Without answering, the man left the horse and came to Maud. "Prithee, be +not so sorrowful," he said; "there's hope for him yet, if we can only +get a physician to him soon, and Dame Coppins says——"</p> + +<p>But Maud staggered back as he would have led her into the house. "Tell +me what it is, and who you are," she gasped.</p> + +<p>The man was perplexed. "Marry, but you know me, Mistress Maud. I'm +Roger, Master Drury's servant, and the letter told all about the rest, I +trow."</p> + +<p>What the "rest" was Maud had not time to ask, for at that moment the +cottage door opened again, and Dame Coppins drew her inside.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/p128.jpg"><img src="images/p128.jpg" alt=""/></a> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>HARRY'S RETURN.</h3> + + +<p>Suddenly stepping out of the darkness into the lighted room, Maud could +not distinguish any object at first, and only heard as in a dream Dame +Coppins's words, "Be calm, Mistress Maud, for he is very weak, I trow." +Then, looking across the room, she saw some one lying on a bed with +hands eagerly outstretched towards her, and a faint voice uttered, +"Maud, Maud, come to me; let me hold your hand once more." The sound of +that feeble pleading voice brought back Maud's bewildered senses. +"Harry," she gasped, "Oh, my Harry!" and she was kneeling by the low +bed, kissing the thin white hands.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="p133" id="p133"></a> +<img src="images/p133.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>MEETING OF MAUD AND HARRY.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>For a few minutes no one came near them, and Maud knelt there sobbing, +for her overstrained feelings would have vent, in spite of her effort to +control them.</p> + +<p>Harry was the first to regain composure, and smoothing the soft braids +of her hair, he said, "I began to fear you would never forgive me, Maud; +and I could not die without your forgiveness."</p> + +<p>"Forgive you!" repeated Maud. "I have wanted to ask you to forgive me +for speaking as I did the morning you went away."</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to forgive," said Harry. "You could not but believe I +was a traitor, as you said, in refusing to serve the King."</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, but I ought to have believed you were acting conscientiously, +although I could not see things as you saw them. I was hard, +uncharitable, cruel, Harry."</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, Maud; cruel, when at Oxford you saved my life?"</p> + +<p>"I did not know it was to save you," murmured Maud.</p> + +<p>Harry looked disappointed, and dropped the hand he was holding. "Maud, +when I saw you there, riding through the soldiers, I thought it was for +me you came, although you had given your heart and hand to another."</p> + +<p>Maud stared. "Given heart and hand to another!" she repeated.</p> + +<p>"Hush! hush!" said Harry, "my secret shall die with me. I would not even +ask about you when I came here, but suffer me to call you Maud the +little while I stay."</p> + +<p>"What other name should I be called?" asked Maud, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, I cannot play now, Maud," said Harry, "I would not even +suffer a word to be spoken about you until I heard Captain Stanhope and +his wife were coming from Oxford, and then I roused myself to write that +letter, for I longed to see you once again, as the companion of my +childhood and the friend——"</p> + +<p>"Prithee, I have received no letter," said Maud.</p> + +<p>"Marry, but I sent one, and the messenger said he had delivered it into +the hand of Mistress Stanhope herself," said Harry.</p> + +<p>"But I am not Mistress Stanhope," said Maud, smiling.</p> + +<p>Harry raised himself in bed, and looked earnestly into her face. "You +are not the wife of Captain Stanhope?" he repeated.</p> + +<p>"No, it is Mary who is married," said Maud.</p> + +<p>Harry fell back on his pillow, and Roger and Dame Coppins were obliged +to administer some restoratives; but the moment he had revived he looked +round for Maud, and feebly murmured her name.</p> + +<p>"I am with you, Harry dear," she whispered, and took his hand, while +Dame Coppins told the story of how he had been brought there in a litter +some weeks before by Roger and the messenger, who had fled to her +cottage from the violence of the villagers. The man had remained with +her until he recovered from his wound, and had told her who were the +prisoners at Oxford, and the certainty of their release if the letters +were only delivered in time; and the old woman's joy on hearing from +Bertram that Maud had reached Oxford as she did, unloosed her tongue +and thus brought upon herself the charge of witchcraft. Maud felt +heartily ashamed of her hasty judgment now, and when she heard how +greatly Harry had longed to see her, she felt more grieved than ever +that she had stayed away from the cottage. Dame Coppins had felt +anxious, when day after day passed and no one came from the Grange, for +she began to fear some of them had heard she had strange visitors, for +it was the messenger who had been with her that informed Harry it was +dangerous for him to go to the village even to see his father, and +persuaded him to come to Dame Coppins's cottage, and wait for some +chance to send to his father secretly. Roger came with him, for Harry +was too ill when he left London to travel alone, and all Dame Coppins's +herb tea had failed to do him any good; and so at last, feeling sure he +had not long to live, he wrote a letter to Maud, enclosing one to be +given to his father, asking his forgiveness, and begging he would come +and see him. This was addressed to Mistress Stanhope, and delivered to +her, but which she took care no one else should hear of, destroying her +father's letter as well as her own.</p> + +<p>Maud did not hear this all at once. Harry could say but little more that +night beyond how he had longed for her after the letter was sent, and +how disappointed he was that she did not come.</p> + +<p>"But what made you think I was Mistress Stanhope?" asked Maud.</p> + +<p>"Roger told me you were about to be married when he left the village +last summer. We met in a slight skirmish soon after I recovered from my +wounds, and enemies though we ought to have been, we could not help +exchanging a few friendly words; and it was because I knew he loved me +truly, despite of the King's quarrel, that I asked his release, to +attend me when I came home."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Harry, you must come home," said Maud, in a determined tone.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am almost there," murmured Harry; "but it is harder to leave +now, Maud, than before I saw you, and heard about this mistake."</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, but it is to the Grange you must come, Harry," said Maud, +with a faint blush. "Your father is ill, but the sight of you will do +him more good than all the physician can do; and if you are there the +doctor can attend to your wants as well."</p> + +<p>But Harry shook his head. "I have longed to see my father and the old +Grange, Maud; but you must ask his forgiveness and blessing now. I +cannot move from here."</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, but you must try, Harry," said Maud, almost wildly; "for my +sake," she added, in a whisper.</p> + +<p>Harry looked at the pleading face. "You forget," he said, "I have vowed +never to set foot inside the Grange again. I came to Hayslope to ask my +father's forgiveness, but not to go to the Grange."</p> + +<p>"It was a proud, rash vow," said Maud. "Your father has much to give up +in receiving you, and it is but right you should first seek him."</p> + +<p>Harry did not know how much he had indulged this proud, bitter spirit, +until now, and it was only after much pleading from Maud that he +consented to give it up. She obtained a promise from him, however, that +he would come to the Grange before she left, and then she went home +again, under Roger's guidance, to perform the more difficult task of +winning a welcome for him there. As Cavalier trotted along her brain was +busy upon the question how she should do this, and at length she +resolved to mention what had happened to no one but Master Drury. To +Mistress Mabel's questioning she would answer she had been to see some +one who was ill in the village, for if she and Mary heard Harry was +likely to return to his home, they would oppose it, she knew. The +household had become somewhat accustomed to Maud's erratic doings by +this time, and so little wonder was expressed that she did not come into +the keeping-room to supper. Every one supposed she was in her own room, +and so at the usual hour the watch dogs were set upon their guard and +the house locked up, and by the time Maud got there every light was +extinguished but the little lamp burning in Master Drury's room. The +approach of Cavalier, therefore, at that unseasonable hour, was the +signal for all the dogs to set up a furious barking, and all the +household was aroused. Captain Stanhope was the first to make his +appearance at an open window, and demand the reason of the disturbance, +warning the intruders that if they came a step nearer the house he would +discharge his musket at them.</p> + +<p>Maud hardly knew what to do, but begged Roger to let her reply, hoping +the gentleman would recognise her voice; but he failed to do this for +some time, until, assured it was a woman who was speaking, he consented +to come down and open the door, as soon as all the servants were armed +to resist any attack that might be made.</p> + +<p>Maud could not help laughing, and yet the dilemma was a serious one just +now, as she knew she should have to give an account of herself to +everybody. At length the door was opened, and Maud walked in past the +row of servants, and upstairs to where Mistress Mabel, with Bertram and +Bessie, were shivering in the gallery with fright and cold.</p> + +<p>Mistress Mabel was speechless with anger, and seizing Maud's wrist, +marched her into Master Drury's room at once. "Now, Master Drury, you +will nathless make this wilful girl give an account of herself," said +the lady, and she sat down; while Captain Stanhope and the rest came +into the room, and the servants crowded round the door to hear what had +happened.</p> + +<p>"Marry, I would speak to Master Drury alone," said Maud.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, you must speak out before us all, unless it is some shameful +deed you would tell of," said Mistress Mabel and Mary both in a breath.</p> + +<p>Maud turned and looked at Mary. "You know what I have to tell," she +said, angrily, "for you had a letter from Harry, telling his father he +was dying, and craved his forgiveness."</p> + +<p>Master Drury raised himself in bed. "You have seen my son—my Harry!" he +exclaimed, eagerly, looking at Maud.</p> + +<p>But Captain Stanhope stepped forward. "You forget," he whispered, "you +have no children but Mary and Bessie. Even the boy Bertram has turned to +follow his brother's way of thinking."</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay," said the old man, pleadingly. "I must see my son, my Harry, +before I die. Where is he? Where is he?" he asked of Maud.</p> + +<p>"He will come to-morrow," replied Maud; "he is ill—very ill, but may +get better if he has a physician."</p> + +<p>"Tell me all about him, Maud; you saved his life, I know."</p> + +<p>Bertram and Bessie were almost as eager as their father to hear all +about their brother, and so in the hearing of them all, Maud told how +she had been fetched to the cottage that evening to see Harry.</p> + +<p>Master Drury would have had him brought to the Grange that night, had it +been possible, but was at length persuaded to wait until the morning, on +Maud promising to go down and prepare him for the removal as soon as it +was light.</p> + +<p>Captain Stanhope and his wife were the only ones who did not rejoice at +the thought of Harry's return, and it was easy to see why they were so +disappointed. The Captain, having an eye to Mary's wealth when he +married her, had done all he could to increase Master Drury's anger +against his son, and even persuaded him to disinherit Bertram in favour +of Mary. Now the hopes this had raised were all crushed, and the next +day, before the litter arrived with Harry, the disappointed pair had +left for Oxford. Mistress Mabel, finding her nephew's return was +inevitable, wisely made the best of it, and accorded a grim welcome, +hoping they would not all be beheaded by-and-by for sheltering a +traitor.</p> + +<p>The meeting between the long-estranged father and son we will pass over +in silence. Harry had not been at the Grange long before he began to +improve, and soon hinted that, instead of a funeral, there would have to +be a wedding for him. Master Drury too began to grow stronger, but the +overthrow of his faith in King Charles was a blow he could not recover +entirely; and although he confessed to his son that he believed he was +right in espousing the cause of the Parliament, yet he begged him not to +leave the Grange again while he lived, a promise Harry was the more +willing to give since his health would not allow him to join the army +again, and Maud had consented to be his wife early in the spring.</p> + +<p>Mistress Mabel's fear of being beheaded for receiving her nephew was +quite groundless, and even Captain Stanhope was glad to ask the interest +and protection of the man he had sought to injure when the Royalists +were ultimately defeated and the Commonwealth established. Before this, +however, Harry succeeded his father as Master Drury of Hayslope Grange, +for the old man never held up his head after the death of King Charles, +and died a few months after the King was beheaded. His last days were +calm and tranquil. "By the grace of Christ," he was wont to say—"he had +conquered his pride and prejudice, which had brought such misery to +Hayslope Grange."</p> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/p140.jpg"><img src="images/p140.jpg" alt=""/></a> +</div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hayslope Grange, by Emma Leslie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HAYSLOPE GRANGE *** + +***** This file should be named 19136-h.htm or 19136-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/1/3/19136/ + +Produced by David Clarke, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hayslope Grange + A Tale of the Civil War + +Author: Emma Leslie + +Release Date: August 28, 2006 [EBook #19136] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HAYSLOPE GRANGE *** + + + + +Produced by David Clarke, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + HAYSLOPE GRANGE + + A TALE OF THE CIVIL WAR + + BY EMMA LESLIE + +AUTHOR OF "THE CAPTIVES," "CONSTANCIA'S HOUSEHOLD," "THE ORPHAN AND +FOUNDLING." + + LONDON: + Sunday School Union. + 56, OLD BAILEY + THOS. NELSON & SONS, 42, BLEECKER ST., NEW YORK + + THE GRESHAM PRESS + LONDON & CHILWORTH + + UNWIN BROTHERS, + PRINTERS BY WATER TOWER. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. THE DRURY FAMILY + + CHAPTER II. HARRY'S ANNOUNCEMENT + + CHAPTER III. TRAITOR OR HERO + + CHAPTER IV. CROMWELL'S IRONSIDES + + CHAPTER V. MAUD HARCOURT + + CHAPTER VI. THE HAYSLOPE + + CHAPTER VII. THE REVEL + + CHAPTER VIII. BESSIE'S DISTRESS + + CHAPTER IX. THE WOUNDED MESSENGER + + CHAPTER X. "ON, CAVALIER, ON!" + + CHAPTER XI. MYSTERIES + + CHAPTER XII. HARRY'S RETURN + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE DRURY FAMILY. + + +It was a sweet spring day, soft and balmy as summer, and any one looking +across the green meadows and smiling uplands of Hayslope, now so full of +the promise of early fruitfulness, would have wondered what could make +the farm-labourers appear so gloomy, and the women-folk sigh instead of +singing at their work, if he knew nothing of what was going on a few +miles away. + +It was the year 1644, and for two long years civil war had been raging +in England, and now two rival Parliaments were sitting, the one presided +over by the King meeting at Oxford, while that in London was engaged +upon the trial of Archbishop Laud, and levying war against the King, so +that it was not to be wondered at that men looked gloomy and sorrowful, +for they were dark, sad times for everybody. + +Hayslope was a little village on the borders of Essex, but quite out of +the high road usually taken by travellers going from London northward, +so that when a young man came riding in towards the middle of the day, +everybody turned from their work to look at him. They did not make a +very close inspection before they raised their hats and cheered; but +this greeting, pleasant as it was, scarcely brought a smile to his lips +as he rode on up to the principal house in the place--Hayslope Grange. +This was a large, rambling, roomy building, half farm-house, half +mansion, standing in the midst of an old-fashioned garden, surrounded by +fields, and enclosed with a moat. The moat was dry now, and had been for +some years, and a permanent bridge of planks had been laid across, +leading to the village; Master Drury would not have it filled up. "It +might be useful yet," he would say, when his son Harry pressed him to +make the alteration. + +As the traveller reached the old moss-grown bridge he paused for a +minute or two, and looked down at the broad deep trench. "God grant it +never may be wanted," he murmured; and then he threw back his long brown +curls that clustered round his head, and spurred his horse on at a +quicker pace. He was a fine, tall, handsome young man, about twenty-two, +with a thoughtful brow that would have made him look almost stern, but +for the genial smile that played around his mouth, and the kindly eyes +that looked as ready to cry as a girl's at a tale of suffering. Before +he was half-way across the fields he was met with the glad cry of, +"Harry, Harry, I am so glad you have come home!" + +That he was a general favourite at home was evident enough, for his +younger sister and brother received him with screams of delight, and his +elder sister, Mary, forgot all her stateliness in the warmth of her +welcome. Only one of the group walking in the fields failed to run +forward to meet him--a fact Harry was not slow to notice. + +"So Maud would not come to greet me," he said, holding out his hand when +he reached the spot where she was standing. He had sprung from his +horse, and left the animal to find his own way to the stable. + +The young lady coloured and looked down as Harry stopped before her. "I +am very glad to see you," she said. + +"But not quite so glad as my sisters here," said Harry. + +"I am not your sister," said Maud, hardly knowing what to say. + +"Oh, Maud," muttered little Bessie, "Harry is as much your brother as he +is mine. Why, you have lived with us all your life, and if your name +does happen to be Maud Harcourt instead of Maud Drury, it does not +matter. I'm sure you can love Harry just the same." + +"Yes, so I can," said Maud, smiling, and feeling greatly relieved by +Bessie's little passionate outburst. + +But Harry looked rather disappointed still. + +"I am afraid my return is not very welcome to you, Maud," he said, as he +placed himself at her side to walk towards the house. + +"Why?" she said, quickly, in a tone of pain. + +"I don't know, only you don't seem glad to see me this time. You did not +come to meet me as the others did," replied Harry. + +Maud looked down, but did not answer; and indeed there was no +opportunity to do so, for Bertram, thinking he had been neglected long +enough, pressed forward to his brother's side. + +"Have you seen Prince Rupert, Harry?" he asked. + +The young man's brow grew dark at the question. "Don't ask about Prince +Rupert, Bertie," he said. + +"Why not?" exclaimed the boy. "He's a great soldier, come to fight the +King's battles against the wicked Parliament men. Do tell me about him?" +he added, coaxingly. + +"Harry will tell us all by-and-by," said Mary. "You must remember, he +has not seen father yet. Let us make haste indoors," she added, turning +to Harry, who still kept close to Maud. + +But Bertram was determined not to miss hearing of Prince Rupert's +valorous deeds, and fearing this account would be given to his father +alone, he took his brother's hand, resolving to keep close to him. +Prince Rupert's name, however, was not mentioned, and indeed Harry +seemed strangely reserved in speaking of public affairs; and, as soon as +he could get away, wandered off to a copse-like corner of the garden, +where he stayed until he was summoned to prayers, late in the evening. + +He looked pale and agitated as he came in. The family were all +assembled--his father at the head of the table, with the Bible open +before him, and the maid-servants and serving-men at the other end of +the room; and Harry felt that every eye was upon him as he took his +accustomed place. + +After the chapter was read they all knelt down, and then any one might +know how deeply and truly Master Drury loved his King, although he +rarely spoke of it at any other time. Now, however, the man's whole soul +was poured out before God in impassioned pleading for his royal master, +while his hatred of the Parliament and those who were leading the +rebellion could only find expression in the words of David against his +enemies. A deep "Amen" followed, uttered by every one in the room except +Harry,--an omission that was noticed by more than one present. + +"Harry was asleep," whispered Bessie, who had had some difficulty in +keeping her own eyes open. + +Maud, to whom this was confided, did not contradict the little girl, but +she knew it was not so, and she wondered why Harry had not responded to +what everybody must wish for, she thought--at least every true +Englishman. No one saw anything of Harry after he left the room that +night, and Maud did not see him until the following afternoon. She +thought he was offended with her, and that this was the reason he kept +away from everybody, and when she saw him leaning on the fence of the +farm-yard, she determined to go and speak to him. + +"I'm very sorry, Harry, if I have offended you," she said, as she drew +near the spot. + +Harry started. "Maud, Maud, what shall I do?" he said, impulsively, +turning towards her and taking her hand. + +Maud was only a year younger than himself, but she could not help +feeling alarmed at his words. + +"What is the matter?" she said. "Prithee, tell me all about what is +troubling you." + +But Harry shook his head, and tried to smile away her fears. "I have +been wishing to be a chicken, and by my faith I do wish it too," he +said. + +"Marry, that is an old wish of mine," said Maud, trying to smile, but +looking down as the colour stole into her cheeks. + +"You wish to be a chicken!" uttered Harry in astonishment. "By my troth, +I did not think you were so foolish, Maud." + +"And wherefore not, wise sir? since you would nathless enter +chickenhood." + +But instead of replying in the same gay, bantering tone, Harry sighed +deeply, and, still holding her hand, drew her into the field. + +"It is quite true, Maud," he said. "I was actually wishing to be a +chicken, or anything but what I am--Harry Drury, of Hayslope Grange." + +"Prithee, now tell me wherefore you wished this," said Maud. + +Harry had always told her his secrets since she first came, a little +delicate girl, to live at the Grange. + +"Now, marry, I can scarcely do that. But life is such a puzzle--such a +tangle--men seem to be put in the wrong places." + +"And you think you have one of the wrong places?" said Maud. + +Harry nodded. "I am beginning to feel sure of it," he said, sadly. + +"Then put yourself in the right place," said Maud, quickly, without in +the least knowing to what he referred. + +"By my faith, I cannot," he said, huskily. + +"Cannot?" she uttered. "Cannot do right? Be truthful and just--true to +yourself. Harry, you cannot mean you are afraid to do this?" + +She thought she knew what was passing in his mind. He had been away from +home for several weeks, in London and in the North, and she thought he +longed to serve his King by taking up arms and joining actively in the +fray. Her spirit stirred and swelled within her, as she almost wished +that she, too, was a man, that she might follow him to the field and +fight by his side. + +"Harry, you will do it," she said; "you will be brave and true, and tell +your father all that is passing in your mind." + +Harry looked at her astonished, almost bewildered. "By my troth, Maud, +this is more wonderful than anything else," he said. + +"Marry, that _I_ should tell you to be true to yourself and your own +conscience," said Maud, in a deeply injured tone. + +"Nay, but I did not mean to grieve you, dearest Maud," said Harry; "but +I did not think--I dared not hope--you would see matters as I do." + +"But I do see, that, whatever the cost may be----" + +"Maud, the cost will not be half so great as I thought it half an hour +since. I have your sympathy," interrupted Harry. + +"But is your father _sure_ to oppose your wishes in this?" said Maud. + +Harry looked at her in some perplexity. "Can you ask it?" he said, "when +he----" + +"Yes, I know he refuses to take any public part in----" At this moment +Maud was in her turn interrupted by Bessie rushing up to them with the +announcement that a visitor had just arrived from London who desired to +see Harry. + +"It is a friend to whom I have spoken of the things we have been talking +about," he said in a lower tone, to Maud; and finding Bessie was +inclined to take his place by her side, he left them, and returned at +once to the house. + +"Has Harry been telling you about Prince Rupert?" asked Bessie, when +they were left alone. + +"No, dear," answered Maud; and then she relapsed into silence, for her +thoughts were busy about Harry, and she wondered why he could be so +afraid of mentioning his wish to become a soldier to his father. + +Bessie waited a few minutes, and then she said,--"Has Harry told you +anything about Prince Rupert, to-day, Maud?" + +Maud smiled. "We have so often talked about Prince Rupert, you know, +Bessie, that I think we have heard all Harry can tell us about his +winning the King's battles for him," she said. + +"Marry, but we have not, though," said Bessie, earnestly. "Harry told +Bertie this morning that he was a fierce, cruel man, one of the greatest +robbers that ever lived; and that he justly deserved the title the +King's enemies had given him, 'Prince of Plunderers.'" + +Maud looked down at the eager upturned face, feeling somewhat puzzled, +but she thought Harry might have heard something that seemed to him very +cruel--something that the great Prince had been obliged to do to save +the King, perhaps, which yet had roused Harry's anger, feeling so keenly +as he did for everybody's distress. At all events, Harry was right, and +Prince Rupert was right too, she had no doubt, if things could only be +explained; and in this way she contrived to silence Bessie, if she did +not convince her; and the little girl went to tell Bertie that Maud did +not think his soldier-hero a bad man after all; while Maud pursued her +walk through the fields, indulging in very happy thoughts, in spite of +the danger she was anticipating for Harry when he should join the King's +army. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HARRY'S ANNOUNCEMENT. + + +Gilbert Clayton, Harry's friend, was a stranger to the rest of the +family; but Master Drury no sooner heard of his arrival than he invited +him to stay as long as he pleased, or as long as his business would +permit; and this was so warmly seconded by Harry, that young Clayton +could not but remain. He was the more willing to do this, as he had been +ordered by the doctors to leave London and reside in the country before +joining the army again, for he had received a dangerous wound the +previous summer in the battle of Chalgrove, where his kinsman, the brave +and pious John Hampden, was mortally wounded. It was by talking of John +Hampden that Harry first became acquainted with Gilbert Clayton, and now +he wanted to hear more of him and the gentle Sir Bevil Granville, who +had so bravely led on his pikemen at the battle of Lansdowne. + +The talks about these heroes generally took place in the most quiet part +of the garden; for Gilbert Clayton, knowing his host's political +opinions differed from his own, was too courteous to bring forward the +subject before him and his family. Master Drury himself rarely talked of +public matters with any one, and loved his books and the quiet of his +study too well to take any active part in such affairs; and he said he +could help the King's cause more by his prayers than anything else; so +the two young men were left to amuse themselves as they pleased, and by +a sort of tacit understanding, these conversations were never carried on +in the presence of Mary or Maud. + +Master Drury's household was managed by his sister, an elderly lady, who +looked after children and servants with the greatest watchfulness, lest +a moment of their time should be wasted. It was the rule of the +household that as soon as breakfast was over Mistress Mabel should take +her place in the high-backed chair at the head of the table in the +"keeping room," or general sitting-room, and with Bessie and Bertram on +each side of her, at their lessons, a huge basket of work was brought to +her side by one of the maids, and Mary and Maud were each set to work, +making or mending garments for the family. Fancy-work was never heard of +in those days, and Mistress Mabel would not have allowed any to be +brought forward in her presence, if it had been. Sometimes, as a rare +treat, when the lessons were well learned, a book was fetched from the +library, not a story-book--that would have been a waste of time, +according to this lady's rule--but a learned treatise on some abstruse +science, which generally set Bessie and Bertram yawning, so that the +reading was not much of a treat to them. Talking was not allowed from +any one until the children's lessons were learned, and not greatly +indulged in then. Later in the day, after the dairy had been visited and +the kitchen inspected, the spinning-wheels were brought out, and the +maids, who had finished their household and dairy work, were set down to +spin. + +Harry had escaped from his aunt's dominion now, but his idle life was a +great eyesore to her, so that she took care no one else should share it. +Under these circumstances it is easy to understand that, without at all +intending it, a sort of suppression of what was really going on between +the two young men took place when they were with the rest of the family. +That Gilbert Clayton was as staunch a Cavalier as themselves was taken +for granted; while he thought they fully understood his principles and +the cause he was engaged in, and believed it was from refinement of +feeling that the matter was never referred to in his presence. + +That he was helping his friend to see that the cause of the Parliament +was a just, honest cause, and one that must be espoused if civil and +religious liberty were ever to be secured for England, he knew full +well; but in doing this he believed he was only doing his duty, since +Harry had come to him first to talk about these matters. + +So the days and weeks went quietly on at Hayslope Grange, and the pure +country air had so invigorated Gilbert Clayton that he began to talk of +returning to London, to make preparations for joining Lord Kimbolton's +army. Maud had heard that he was a soldier, and fully expected Harry +would speak to his father, and go to London with his friend. + +She felt rather jealous of young Clayton, if the truth must be told, for +he quite monopolised Harry's society, so there had been no opportunity +of resuming the conversation that his arrival had interrupted, or she +might have discovered the mistake she had made. Hearing nothing of this, +and the day for Clayton's departure being fixed, she determined to seek +some opportunity of speaking to Harry. She was a noble, unselfish girl, +and though she knew his going would cost her the bitterest pang she had +ever felt, and be followed probably by weeks and months of anxious +suspense and dread, she would not hold him back--nay, she would urge him +to go at the call of duty, though all the sunshine of her life would +depart when he went; for months might pass before she heard of him +again, and he might be wounded, dying, or dead, and the tidings never +reach Hayslope Grange. + +News travelled slowly in those days, and in the unsettled state of +affairs could not always be relied upon; but tidings reached Hayslope +just now that the Parliament had seized the Archbishop of Canterbury, +and his trial was now going on, the charges against him being that he +had tried to subvert civil and religious liberty in England, had been +the author of illegal and tyrannical proceedings in the court of Star +Chamber, and had suppressed godly ministers and godly preaching. + +But to the family at Hayslope Grange these charges were as nothing +compared to the guilt the Parliament had incurred in seizing an anointed +prelate. + +Master Drury lifted up his hands in silent horror when he heard it, and +Mistress Mabel burst into tears. The sight of their stern aunt crying +seemed to make more impression upon Bessie and Bertram than the fate of +the archbishop. + +"Was he very wicked?" asked Bessie. + +This was enough to drive back Mistress Mabel's tears. "Wicked!" she +repeated, in anger. "Never let me hear you ask such a question about one +of the Lord's anointed, Bessie, unless you would share in the sin of +those who have laid violent hands upon him." + +"It is sacrilege," uttered Master Drury, slowly and solemnly. + +Mistress Mabel, who did not often talk, found her tongue now, and used +it too, denouncing in the strongest terms the doings of the Parliament. +"What is to be the end of this evil generation, that worketh such +wickedness?" she said at last; and then, as if answering the query, went +on, "The land shall be desolate, and all the people perish." Bessie and +Bertram looked frightened. "What does that mean?" whispered the little +girl; "won't the people in the village have anything to eat, because +they are cruel to the archbishop?" + +It was almost the first time any one at the Grange had thought of their +poor neighbours, and the burden they were silently bearing under these +great changes. Taxes were high, food was scarce, and many of the men had +joined the King's army; but none of the Drurys had thought of these +things except Harry, and it was the little scraps of news he heard in +the village that first led him to doubt whether the royal cause were the +just one. + +He and Gilbert Clayton were absent when the news concerning the +archbishop first reached Hayslope; but when they returned in the evening +Harry knew that something had happened, by the look of anxious trouble +on his father's face, and the querulous restlessness of his aunt. + +"What is the matter, Mary?" he asked, in an anxious whisper. + +But Mary only held up her finger warningly. "The servants are coming +in," she murmured; and at the same moment Mistress Mabel placed the +Bible in front of the high-backed chair at the head of the table, and +Master Drury slowly took his seat. + +Prayers for the King, Gilbert and Harry could both join in; for they +hoped God would change his heart, and teach him that it was most +unkingly to break his promises again and again, as he had done. But +to-night it seemed that Master Drury could think of nothing but of the +evil-doing of the Parliament in bringing the archbishop to trial; and he +prayed that all their plans might be frustrated, the King brought back +to his throne, and the archbishop restored to his charge; while those +who had troubled them might be visited with dire calamities and +afflictions. + +His prayer was not concluded when Harry started from his knees and said, +in a hoarse voice, "Stop, my father, I pray you; you know not for what +you are asking." + +All turned to look at him in silent, speechless wonder--all but Gilbert +Clayton, who rose from his knees and laid his hand upon Harry's +shoulder. "Come away," he whispered. + +But Harry would not stir. "My father must not pray thus," he said, loud +enough for any one to hear. + +Master Drury and the rest slowly rose from their knees. + +"Harry, my boy, you are ill," said the gentleman, in a tone of +compassion. + +"Prithee, now tell me where you have been racing all the day, to get +your head so disordered," said Mistress Mabel; and she despatched Mary +to her store closet for some herb tea for Harry to take at once. + +"I don't want the herb tea, aunt," said Harry, in a clear, calm voice. +"I am quite well; the sun has not affected my head, and I know quite +well what I am about." + +Aunt Mabel looked incredulous; but his father, losing the fear of +illness, sat down in his chair, a dim feeling of a sorer trouble than +this coming over him as he looked at Harry. "Sit down," he said, in a +tone of command to the rest, who stood just as they had risen from their +knees--"sit down and listen to the reason my son has to give for +interrupting our godly exercise this evening." And he looked towards +Harry as if waiting for his answer. + +The young man instinctively drew a step nearer to Maud, as if mutely +asking her sympathy and support; but she was looking down upon the oaken +floor, utterly unable to comprehend what Harry could mean by this +strange proceeding. + +Harry seemed to feel that he had acted unwisely in yielding to his +impulse; and he said, slowly, "Prithee, father, let me tell it to +yourself alone." + +"By my faith, that cannot be now, Harry," said Master Drury, +energetically. "We have all been hindered in our devotions by your +froward speech, and each has an equal right to hear your reason for it." + +The men and maid-servants gathered at the end of the room pitied poor +Harry in his confusion, and would have retreated, trusting to have their +curiosity gratified afterwards by the tell-tale tongue of Bessie or +Bertram; but Mistress Mabel's eye was upon them, and they knew they +dared not go away. + +Harry's face changed from an ashy whiteness to crimson as his father +spoke, and then he went pale again as he said, "My father, do not force +me to speak out now; let me go to your study, and I will tell you all +that has been passing in my mind of late." + +But Master Drury was inexorable when once he had made up his mind. "My +son, we are waiting," was all he said in reply to Harry's entreaty. + +Harry drew himself up, and casting a hasty glance at Maud's bowed +figure, he said, "Father, I have resolved to cast in my lot with the +patriots who are striving to rescue this country from the grasp of +tyrants; they are not the evil-doers you think them. It is the King and +archbishop and their advisers who are traitors, not the Parliament, or +the brave, true men who are fighting for it." + +He might have been hurried into saying much more, but at this moment +Maud fell to the ground with a piercing shriek; and at the same instant +Gilbert Clayton seized Harry's arm and dragged him from the room. + +[Illustration: HARRY'S ANNOUNCEMENT.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TRAITOR OR HERO? + + +The confusion and dismay into which the orderly household of Hayslope +Grange was thrown by Harry's untimely and hasty confession baffles all +description. Fainting among young ladies was not so common in those +days, and the only orthodox remedy known to Mistress Mabel being burnt +feathers, these had to be fetched from the poultry-yard, and singed at +the kitchen fire, before anything else could be done for Maud, who still +lay unconscious on the floor; while Bessie and Bertram, thinking of +their aunt's words of the morning, cried and screamed, "Prithee, tell +them to let the archbishop go; poor Maud will die if you don't!" + +Clayton had some difficulty in keeping Harry outside the house, whither +they had retreated when he heard that Maud was ill; but thinking that +his presence would only add to the confusion in the keeping-room if he +went in again, he prevailed upon him to remain where he was until Master +Drury came out and fetched them both into the study. + +His face was white and rigid, with such a look of helpless woe about the +lines of his mouth that it touched Gilbert more deeply than the fiercest +expression of anger could have done. Harry's misery seemed complete when +he looked at his father's face in the dim light of the study lamp, and +falling on his knees, he exclaimed-- + +"Oh, my father, forgive me!" + +But his father drew back hastily from the outstretched hands. + +"Rise from your knees, Harry Drury!" he said, sternly, "and tell me what +you mean by the froward words you have this night spoken." + +"My father, I spoke hastily and unadvisedly," said Harry, humbly. "I +should have come to you alone, and confessed that my opinions of the +King's doings had greatly changed of late, and begged your permission to +join the army now fighting for the Parliament." + +"And do you think I would have given it, traitor-caitiff?" said Master +Drury, sternly. + +"I have angered you," said Harry; "but, my father, you will suffer me to +speak to you of this to-morrow, and hear me when I say that Gilbert +Clayton here hath not sought to draw me to this way of thinking. I had +some converse upon it with Mistress Maud before his arrival." + +Master Drury glanced at Clayton suspiciously; he had not noticed his +presence before. + +"If you are clear of this thing, young man," he said, "you can abide +here until the morning; but Harry Drury departs from Hayslope Grange +this night." + +[Illustration: HARRY DRIVEN FROM THE GRANGE.] + +Harry started in blank astonishment. + +"Marry then, where am I to tarry?" he said. + +"That I know not; but traitors cannot abide under this honest roof, that +has never sheltered any but true and loyal men since it was raised by +Roger Drury ninety years ago." + +"But, my father----" + +"Call me not by that name," interrupted the old man, "unless you are +ready to return, and willing to do true and loyal service to your King +and country." + +"My country I am willing to serve; but, my father, this King is trying +to enslave it," said Harry, earnestly. + +"Prithee! what will you say next? But hold, I am not here to banter +words with you. Will you enter the King's service, and fight his battles +under Prince Rupert?" demanded Master Drury. + +"Serve under that Prince of Plunderers?--never!" said Harry, in a +determined tone. + +"It is enough," said his father. "I give you this purse, which contains +enough to keep you from starving for a few days, and for the rest you +must look to yourself. You have no further part or lot in Hayslope +Grange. I cast you off for ever." + +But Harry did not attempt to touch the purse, which his father had +placed on the table beside him. Throwing himself again on his knees, he +begged his father to revoke the dreadful words he had just uttered. + +"I will remain at home, and never again seek to serve the Parliament, if +you forbid it," he said. + +Master Drury looked down at him, and his lips quivered with emotion. + +"Say you will renounce these new opinions and serve the King, and you +are my son still," he said. + +But Harry started back. + +"Give up my principles! all that I have learned to see is just and true +and honest! My father, you cannot ask me to do this?" said Harry. + +"I ask you to give up all traitorous friendships, and return to your +allegiance and duty to your King," said his father. + +"But I should be a traitor to my conscience. I should sell my +convictions of right and duty for your favour. My father, you would not +have your son a slave?" + +"I would that I had no son at all!" groaned the old man, covering his +eyes with his hands. + +"Forgive me, oh, forgive me the pain I have caused you, my father; and +let me remain at home with you still; only don't ask me to be a traitor +to my conscience!" implored Harry. + +"I _ask_ you nothing," said Master Drury. "I _command_ you to swear this +moment that you will enter the King's service without delay; and if you +do not obey me, you leave this house at once, and I have no son from +this night." + +Harry slowly rose from his knees with bowed head. + +"I cannot swear," he said. "I will serve my country, not sell her into +the power of tyrants," and he turned to leave the room. But at the door +he paused for a moment, and then turned back. "You will give me your +blessing once more, my father, before I depart?" he said; and he would +have knelt to receive it, but the old man waved him off. + +"Leave me, leave me at once, lest I curse you!" he said, in a hoarse +voice; and Harry, without glancing at the purse, which still lay on the +table, retreated from that look of stern wrath which had settled on his +face. + +The two young men walked straight out into the fields, and for some time +neither spoke; but at length Harry said,-- + +"What are we to do, Clayton?" + +"We had better get round to the barn for to-night, and sleep there," +replied Gilbert, "and then to-morrow you had better see your father +again." + +But Harry shook his head sadly. + +"Marry, it will be of no use," he said. + +"By my troth, I would try, though you cannot marvel that he is angry, +speaking as you did," said Gilbert, warmly. + +"Yes, I know I was wrong; but you do not know my father, Gilbert, or you +would not advise me to thrust myself into his presence again for a +while. No, no; I must go to London now, and seek my fortune there." + +"But you will stay here to-night?" said his friend. + +"Yes, to-night," sighed Harry; "for I must see Maud to-morrow." + +Clayton hoped that Master Drury's anger might be somewhat appeased by +the next day, and he resolved to see him, if possible, when he went to +the house for his things, which in the hurry and confusion had been left +behind. + +Anxiety kept Harry awake as much as his strange quarters that night; but +Clayton, who had many times slept out in the open field when upon the +march, did not feel much inconvenience from sleeping on the barn floor. +He awoke about the usual time, but would not stir, for fear of +disturbing Harry. At length, however, one of the men pushed open the +door, and not recognising the intruders, at once ordered them off in a +loud, rough voice. + +Harry started to his feet, crying, "Maud, Maud, I will save you!" and +then rubbed his eyes to see if it was true that the man was staring and +Gilbert laughing at him. + +"Marry, but you have been dreaming," said Clayton, rising and stretching +himself. + +"Is it my young master?" uttered the man, slowly, as if scarcely able to +believe the evidence of his eyes. + +"Yes, it is me; Harry Drury," said Harry. "Have you heard how Mistress +Maud is this morning?" he asked, anxiously. + +"But sadly, I hear," said the man, shaking his head. "Marry, but 'tis a +bad business, this, Master Harry," he added. + +"Will you go and tell one of the maids to ask Mistress Maud to come to +me?" said Harry, in a tone of impatience. + +"Mistress Maud has not yet left her room," said the man. "I heard----" + +"Then go and ask if I can see her in the painted gallery," interrupted +Harry. "Stop!" he cried, as the man was moving off; "you are not to go +to Mistress Mabel, but ask Jane, or one of the other maids." + +The man gave a knowing nod, and departed on his errand, determined to +accomplish it too, for he had no doubt but that the visit to Maud was to +ask her to intercede with Master Drury; and Harry being a general +favourite with the servants, they had all felt sorry for his dilemma, +although they did not understand it. + +He slowly followed the man round to a small entrance at the side of the +house, and presently the door opened and Jane beckoned him to enter. A +staircase close to the door led direct to one end of the painted +gallery, which was close to Maud's room, and here Harry sat down in the +broad window-seat to wait her coming. He did not have to wait long. In a +minute or two her chamber-door opened, and the young lady stepped into +the gallery, looking very pale and sad, but almost as stern as Master +Drury himself. + +"Oh, Maud, forgive me!" burst forth Harry, starting forward when he saw +her. + +But she coldly waved him off. + +"I have nothing to forgive," she said. + +Harry paused in amazement. + +"Prithee, tell me what is the matter," he said; "are you ill, Maud?" + +"Prithee, no," said Maud, lightly (which was not quite the truth). + +Harry advanced a step nearer, and Maud drew further back. + +"Do not seek to touch me," she said, proudly. "I give not my hand to +traitors." + +"But I am not a traitor," said Harry. "I have followed your advice, and +told my father I must go on in----" + +"Followed my advice!" repeated Maud. "By my faith, I never advised you!" + +"Nay, nay, did you not understand me when I conversed with you?" + +"I understand you now, Master Drury," interrupted Maud, "but I choose +not to hold converse with a traitor;" and with a haughty gesture she +turned and went into her own room, leaving Harry overwhelmed with +surprise and distress. + +He went down-stairs, and out of the little unused door into the sunny +fields, without knowing where he was, and he wandered up and down, +trying to collect his bewildered thoughts, and think over what had +happened, until Gilbert Clayton overtook him. + +He had collected the few belongings he brought with him to Hayslope +Grange, and now carried them in his hand, but he had utterly failed in +his mission to Master Drury. The old man was more bitter this morning +than he had been the previous evening, and vowed he would never own his +son again, unless he took service under King Charles. + +"Let us get away from here as fast as we can," said Harry, as his friend +joined him. + +"Have you seen Mistress Maud?" asked Gilbert, hoping that she at least +had spoken a word of comfort to him. + +"Prithee, do not ask me," said Harry, in a hoarse voice. "I am an +outcast from my father's house; every one spurns me." + +"Say not so, Harry," said Gilbert, in a gentle tone. "Remember the word +of the Lord, 'When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will +take me up.'" + +"But I know not that I have the right to that promise," said Harry, +moodily. + +"But you confess that you need it," said Gilbert. + +"Yes, I need it," said Harry. + +"Then Christ came to satisfy the needy, whatever their wants might be. +He came to show us the love of the Father that it was inexhaustible, not +like the love of earthly friends, which is often cold and changeful, but +ever full, free, and unchangeable." + +Harry sighed. + +"I feel utterly desolate and deserted," he said. + +"Then will you not go to Him who is waiting to take you up and adopt you +into His family, and make you His son in Christ Jesus? He wishes to do +so. He is waiting to be gracious." + +"Go on," said Harry, when Gilbert paused. "I am listening; your words +are like water to a thirsty soul;" and Gilbert went on until they +reached the village, where Gilbert bought a loaf of rye bread, and after +eating this, and drinking some water from the spring, they started on +their journey to London; for although Gilbert was not a poor man, they +had not much money with them, not enough to buy a horse, and +stage-coaches were unheard of in those days. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CROMWELL'S IRONSIDES. + + +Gilbert Clayton and Harry Drury kept on their weary tramp to London, and +at length reached the little village of Whitechapel, which was outside +the city walls. They had run some risks from highwaymen and footpads; +but now they thought all danger was over, for they had almost reached +their destination. But just as they were about to leave the village, a +party of the King's pikemen rode in, and at once seized upon the +travellers, to compel them to enter the King's service. + +This was a dilemma neither of them had foreseen. To declare they were in +favour of the Parliament would be the signal for their arrest as +traitors to his Majesty; and to escape on any other pretext, without +telling an actual lie, seemed equally impossible. Gilbert was seized +first, and asked his name and condition. The latter was not easy to +comply with, as he had left the army on account of his wounds, and was +not at all sure that he should be received back again. He therefore gave +his former occupation--a mercer of the city of London. Harry gave his as +a farmer, for although he did not look much like one, he spoke of that +being his occupation. After a few more questions had been asked and +answered, they were marched off to the captain of the band, who began +his examination by asking Harry his name. + +"Drury!" he repeated. "Are you one of the Hayslope Drurys?" + +"My father lives at Hayslope Grange," said Harry. + +"Ay, a right true and trusty servant of the King's is Master Drury. I +marvel that he has not sent you to do service for the King ere this," +said the officer. + +"My father meddleth not with public matters," said Harry, pondering what +would come next. + +"I trow not, I trow not," said the soldier, shaking his head; "but I +must have a word with Master Drury on this same matter as I pass through +the village, and I doubt not he will bid you wield your arms for King +Charles after your visit to London. You may pursue your journey now, +young man; but nathless you will speed your return, for the King needs +trusty men to do him service in these troublous times. But we wish not +to force our friends too much in this matter, therefore will I suffer +you both to depart." + +All the time he was speaking he eyed Gilbert most narrowly, as if trying +to recall where he had seen that face before, as in truth he had, for +they had met in the first battle fought between Charles and his +Parliament, at Edgehill, on the borders of Warwickshire. + +Gilbert remembered Captain Stanhope quite well, for he had been his +prisoner for a little while, until an exchange of prisoners took place. +Long illness had, however, altered Gilbert far more than the two years' +campaign had altered the captain; and he rode away, thinking his eyes +had played him false for once. Perhaps his being in the company of one +whose family was known to be so strongly attached to the royal cause +helped his escape; for he could not think it possible that a Drury would +hold any intimacy with the Claytons. + +"We have had a narrow escape, Harry, and we must not stay long in +London," said Gilbert, as they left the village, and saw the soldiers +ride out towards Essex; and then he told his companion of his former +acquaintance with Captain Stanhope. + +Harry could not help laughing, in spite of his sorrow, and quite agreed +that their stay in London should be as short as possible. They would +only stay a few hours to rest, to replenish their purses, and ascertain +where Lieutenant Cromwell was now with his army, and then hasten to join +him. The long tramp from Essex to London in the heat and dust had +somewhat wearied Harry, unused to such exertion; but no sooner did he +hear that horses had been provided, than he was anxious to start again, +and they were soon on the great road leading to Yorkshire, where Lord +Kimbolton and his lieutenant, Cromwell, were mustering their forces. + +It was sad to pass along the edge of uncultivated fields in this bright +summer weather; and yet, what encouragement was there for the farmer to +plant or sow, when crops might be trodden down by the feet of horses and +soldiers, or, if allowed to ripen, to see the grain cut down by that +lawless Prince Rupert and his band of soldier-robbers. Truly the land +might be said to mourn as well as the inhabitants, although as yet they +had not reached the scene of actual strife. + +Gilbert was anxious to reach his kinsman Cromwell as soon as possible, +and so pressed on with all speed, making inquiries now and then at the +villages where they slept, or of people they met on the road, as to the +whereabouts of the two armies. It seems almost incredible in these days +of rapid communication that this necessary intelligence could not be +furnished in London, but that both forces lay somewhere in or near +Yorkshire was the utmost Gilbert could learn about them. + +[Illustration: A RIDE TO THE NORTH.] + +The farther they travelled northwards the more people did they meet, and +it soon became plain that these were many of them fugitives flying from +impending ruin. The tales they told were of course conflicting, and in +their fright and anxiety to escape and save their families, often +confused. But Gilbert was able to make out that the Scots army, which +had marched over the Border to the help of the Parliament, had been shut +up in Sunderland by the Royalists under the Earl of Newcastle; but the +Parliamentary forces under Fairfax coming to their relief, the Earl had +retired to York, and the English and Scotch together had now laid siege +to that city. + +As they drew near to Yorkshire, evidence of the commotion became still +more apparent. The roads were strewed with beds and bedding, and various +articles of household furniture, which the fugitives had attempted to +take with them, but afterwards had thrown away; for the rumour had gone +abroad that Prince Rupert was coming, and enough had been heard of his +atrocities in Cheshire and Lancashire to make the people dread his +approach as they would the plague. At length, as they neared the +besieged city, they heard that Lord Kimbolton's army was in the +neighbourhood, and Gilbert was not long in discovering the encampment +and seeking out Lieutenant Cromwell. + +He warmly welcomed his young kinsman, and at once accepted his services +and that of his companion. Harry Drury was not unused to arms. He had +been taught fencing as a part of his education, and would use the +singlestick, arquebus, and crossbow, while the fashion of every +gentleman wearing a sword had rendered it necessary that this weapon +should be handled skilfully. The necessary drill was therefore soon +learned by Harry, and he was admitted to serve in the same corps as his +friend. + +Every addition to the army was welcome now, and the work of drilling the +recruits went on all day, and often far into the night too. The life of +a soldier here in Cromwell's camp was very different from the gay scene +of revel he had sometimes heard the Royalist troopers describe. There +was no rioting or drunkenness, no shouting or brawling, for these were +sober-minded earnest men, who felt they had a real work to do, and +sacrificed much in the doing of it. None had been forced to come here; +but they had left home, and wife, and little ones, of their own accord, +to fight their country's battles and set all England free. No wonder +that they were earnest when they thought of the dear ones far away. They +were not like the paid soldiers of the regular army; they could not +afford to trifle and lose their time in play when they might be at work +preparing for the battle; and so when not at drill, the cleaning of +armour and furbishing of arms went on ceaselessly, and the clatter of +this and the ring of the blacksmith's tools were broken only by the +singing of some pious hymn or the voice of one reading to his comrade +from the Word of Life. The day was begun and closed with prayer, and but +for the tramp of the sentry, when once the word of command had been +given that all work should cease, all the camp was as quiet and still, +as a sleeping village. + +Harry joyfully took his share of the labour going forward; he was +willing to do anything, or bear any fatigue, to prepare himself to take +part in the expected action when Prince Rupert should show himself. July +was drawing near now, and they had almost reached the united armies +besieging York, and it was expected that when Prince Rupert came into +the field a battle would be fought. Scouts were sent out in all +directions to give timely notice of his approach, but they were able to +reach the forces of Fairfax before he came. But, however, only just in +time. On the second of July, Prince Rupert came upon them by way of +Marston Moor, but Kimbolton and his lieutenants were prepared for his +coming. + +A desperate battle was fought, and for some time it seemed that the +Royalists must be victorious, for Prince Rupert fought with the most +desperate bravery, driving several generals from the field, and thus +disconcerting all their plans. He tried to do the same with Cromwell's +cavalry, but they kept together like an iron phalanx, and all Rupert's +dashing charges and feigned retreats failed to throw them into disorder. +They were rightly named the Ironsides, for they kept the field and +turned the tide of battle in favour of the Parliamentarians, and when +once the Royalists saw that the day was lost their rout was complete. +They retired from the field, leaving all their artillery, military +stores, and baggage to the enemy. + +The battle of Marston Moor decided the Royalist cause in the north. That +was lost to Charles for ever, and there might well be hymns of rejoicing +and solemn thanksgiving for the victory, for the cause of the Parliament +had looked desperate enough only a short time before. + +But in these rejoicings neither Gilbert nor Harry could take part. +Gilbert had again been seriously wounded, and Harry, fighting by his +side, had shared the same fate. The news was carried to Cromwell just as +he was giving the last instructions to the messenger who was to bear the +despatches to London giving information of the victory. "Clayton and +young Drury of Hayslope wounded!" he repeated. "I will come and see them +soon;" and then he went on giving instructions how Prince Rupert's +retreating troops should be avoided, by the messenger taking an easterly +course through Essex, instead of following the more direct road to +London at the risk of being robbed. Cromwell was as clever a man of +business as he was a soldier, and although the nominal head of the army +was Lord Kimbolton, it was well known that the actual direction of +affairs rested with his lieutenant, and all the men looked up to him as +their leader. Cromwell's Ironsides, as his troops were now called, were +everywhere spoken of as having gained the battle of Marston Moor, and he +was daily rising into greater prominence, and was more frequently +consulted as to the general direction of affairs. + +But he did not forget his young kinsman lying sick and wounded. +Provision had been made for this beforehand. Medicaments--hospital +stores we should call them--had been secured, and now Cromwell went +round to see those who had been carried from that awful battle-field +where four thousand lay dead. Many an arm was raised when he was seen +approaching, and many a feeble voice attempted to cheer; but Gilbert lay +quiet and unconscious, while Harry was talking in the delirium of fever, +moaning out the one name, "Maud, Maud!" or imploring his father's +forgiveness. + +Cromwell made particular inquiries into the case of each, and directed +the doctors to let the two friends be as near to each other as possible +when they were sensible, and this was the most he could do for them at +present. The doctors could give no opinion as to their recovery yet, for +they were both severely wounded; but Harry's case seemed the most +dangerous, from the fever running so high. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +MAUD HARCOURT. + + +Mistress Mabel, with all her sternness, had some difficulty in parrying +the children's questions about Harry, when they assembled in the keeping +room the morning of his departure. Mary, too, felt anxious about her +brother; but she dared not question her aunt as the children did; and +from her answers to them little could be gathered beyond this, that +Harry had disgraced himself through making unworthy friendships, and the +children at once jumped to the conclusion that it was Gilbert Clayton to +whom their aunt referred. Mary, however, indignantly repelled this +insinuation. She had had several conversations with Clayton, and had +learned to esteem him very highly, so that how Harry could have +disgraced himself while with him, or what the wild words he had uttered +the previous evening fully meant, she could not tell. + +At dinner time Maud came down looking very pale but quite calm, until +Master Drury, noticing that Harry's chair had been placed at the table +as usual, ordered it to be carried away without mentioning his name, and +said, "That seat will not be wanted again." Then Maud trembled with +agitation, and Bertram asked quickly, "Where has brother Harry gone?" + +"My boy, you have no brother," said Master Drury, coldly. + +"Oh, Harry's dead!" screamed Bessie, pushing aside her pewter plate, and +laying her head on the table in a burst of uncontrollable anguish. + +Maud, however, knew that he was not dead, but without noticing Bessie's +distress or Mary's look of mute agony, she rose from her seat, and +walking round to the side of Master Drury, she said, "You will tell me +where Harry has gone." + +It was a demand rather than a question, and Mistress Mabel, as well as +her brother, opened her eyes wide with astonishment on hearing it. "He +has disgraced himself and all who bear his name," said the lady, +quickly. + +"Prithee, Maud, go and sit down," said Master Drury, tenderly. + +But Maud shook her head. "You will tell me where Harry is, first," she +said, still in the same quiet tone of command. + +"I know not, unless he be travelling towards London with his false +friend, who has turned his head with his stories of the traitor +Parliament. He hath done this much; he confessed it to me this morning +ere they departed," added Master Drury. + +He thought this would satisfy Maud, and all questioning would be at an +end now, but the young lady asked, "What did you mean, Master Drury, by +saying Bertram had no brother now?" + +Mistress Mabel looked horrified at the impertinence of the question, but +Maud stood still and waited for an answer. + +Calming his emotion with a violent effort, he turned to Maud and said, +"By my faith, you should be thankful this day that you are not a Drury, +to be disgraced by this traitor caitiff, who was my son. This must be +the last time he is ever spoken of in this house, for I have renounced +him--cast him off for ever; and you children must do the same," he said, +turning towards Bertram and Bessie. + +The little girl had dried her tears, and both sat with white frightened +faces gazing at Maud and their father. + +Maud staggered back to her seat and bowed her face in her hands, and the +dinner went on in silence among those who cared to eat. Maud and Mary +sat with their plates before them, but left the table without tasting +anything, and as soon as they could escape went up to their own room. + +Here Maud's firmness quite forsook her, and laying her head on Mary's +shoulder, she burst into tears, moaning, "Oh, Mary, what shall I do? I +cast him off as well." + +Mary could not understand her. "I think you ought to be very glad you +are not a Drury, to share in his disgrace," she said, with a sigh. + +Maud lifted her face, her eyes flashing with indignation. "Glad!" she +said; "nay, nay, I wish I were a Drury, that I might go and seek him +now. Think of it, Mary; all have cast him off." + +"He has disgraced us all," said Mary. "I have heard my father say it was +his proudest boast that the Drurys had ever been true to the king and +state, and never taken part with any riotous mob, and now Harry has +dragged our family honour to the very dust. Everybody will know it soon, +and every village wench will pity me because I am the sister of a +traitor. I shall never hold up my head again," and Mary burst into tears +at the picture of humiliation she had drawn. + +[Illustration: "HE HAS DISGRACED US ALL!"] + +Maud was quite incapable of understanding this self-pity, and seating +herself at the little table by the window, she indulged her own +self-reproachful thoughts on her conduct of the morning. She had no idea +then that his father had treated him so harshly, or she would have been +more tender, and her heart was sad as she thought of his words, that he +must be true to his conscience. + +But her musing was broken in upon by Mary saying, "It is so wicked, so +wilful, to rebel against the King." + +"But suppose he had to do this, or rebel against his conscience," said +Maud, giving some expression to her own thoughts. + +Mary started. "What can you mean? prithee, it cannot be right for us to +rebel against the King?" + +"Certainly not for us," said Maud. "But we are not to make ourselves a +conscience to other people; and if Harry sees that serving the King +would be wrong----" + +"But it cannot be wrong," interrupted Mary. "God's Word says, 'Fear God, +honour the king.'" + +"Yes, fearing God comes first," said Maud, but speaking more to herself +than to Mary; "and it seems to me that it is out of this fear Harry has +been led to adopt these new views. I can't see how they are right; but +then I suppose living here in this quiet village, and having everything +we want, we do not understand things as men do who go out into the world +and learn what Acts of Parliament mean." + +"Maud, you are half a traitor yourself," interrupted Mary, indignantly. + +"Nay, nay, Mary! I am not that," said Maud. "I love the King, from what +I have heard of his gentle courteous bearing and his loving care of his +children; but even Master Drury denies not that he has oft-times broken +his solemn promise, and 'tis said that his subsidies and exactions have +well nigh ruined the nation." + +"Maud, Maud! said I not that you were a traitor; and by my troth you +must be, to speak thus of the King." + +"Nay, I am no traitor. I would that I could speak to King Charles +myself, and tell him how sorely grieved many of his subjects are at his +want of truth and honest dealing," replied Maud, warmly. + +"But the King cannot do evil," said Mary, in a tone of expostulation. + +Maud put her hand to her forehead in some perplexity. "I know not what +to think, sometimes," she said. "I like not to think it possible that +the King can do wrong; but what am I to think when he breaks the Divine +laws of truth and uprightness. He is not above these, if he is above +those of the land, that he can make and unmake at his will." + +"We have no business to think about such things at all," said Mary, +impatiently. + +"Marry, you may be right," answered Maud; "for women-folk have but little +wit to the understanding of such weighty matters; but for men it is +different, and that is why so many are carried away to the defending +this rebellious Parliament, I trow." + +"But they should not be carried away, now that they know how evil are +its doings, and how it has laid violent hands on the Archbishop; and +herein is Harry's sin the greater." + +"Oh, say not so, Mary. Harry is right, I trow, although you and I see +not how that may be," said Maud. + +At this moment there was a knock at the door, and Bessie's tearful face +appeared. Mistress Mabel had found it impossible to settle down to her +usual spinning to-day, and telling the children she must look after the +maids, to see they did not get gossiping about the family affairs, she +had dismissed them. + +"Oh, Maud, I have no brother Harry now," sobbed the little girl, +throwing herself into her arms. + +"But Harry is not dead," said Maud, smoothing back the tumbled hair from +her hot forehead. "He has only gone away from home, and you can love him +still." + +"That's what Bertram says," sobbed the child; "but it isn't just the +same; he was my brother before--my very own, and now"--and she burst +into another passionate flood of tears. + +"Prithee, now hush," said Maud. "Harry loves you all the same, I am +sure, and you can love him; so that it need make no difference to you, +Bessie." + +"But it does make a difference," passionately exclaimed Bessie. "You +said it did a little while ago." + +Maud had forgotten the circumstance to which the girl referred, until +she went on--"You said Harry was not your real brother, and now I am not +his real sister. Has Harry got another name?" she suddenly asked. + +Maud smiled, but Mary shook her head sorrowfully. "No, his name is Drury +still," she said, "and he has disgraced it, Bessie--disgraced the good +old name that you and I bear." + +Bessie looked at Maud. "Are you glad your name is not Drury?" she said. + +Maud shook her head. "I wish it was," she said, "and then I could make +you understand better that I do not think Harry has disgraced it." + +"Then it can be, can't it?" said Bessie, drying her tears. + +"What, dear?" + +"Drury. You can change your name, can't you?" + +A momentary blush overspread Maud's pale face, but it quickly faded, and +a sadder look than ever came into her eyes as she shook her head and +said, "No, dear, I shall never change my name now." Then, seeing that +her sadness had brought back the tears to Bessie's eyes, she asked where +Bertram had gone. + +"To look after Harry's horse," answered Bessie. "Aunt Mabel says it is +to be his, now; but Bertram says he will never ride it, for it will be +like robbing Harry." + +"Suppose we go and look at Cavalier, too," said Maud. "He will miss his +master almost as much as you do, Bessie," she added, trying to speak +cheerfully. + +They went through the painted gallery and out of the side door, as Harry +went in the morning, the little girl wondering why they went that way. +Bertram had sobbed out the first portion of his grief to his brother's +dumb favourite, and now stood stroking its silky chestnut coat; but as +Maud entered the paddock the noble creature pricked up its ears and gave +a pleased whining of recognition. + +"It is not Harry, Cavalier," said Bertram, sadly. + +"Prithee, Cavalier is almost as fond of Maud as he is of Harry," said +Bessie. + +"Oh, Maud, then you have him," said Bertram, with a fresh burst of +tears. "He is mine now, Aunt Mabel says; but I shall never be able to +ride him, for thinking of Harry; but he'll like to have you on his back, +and Harry will like it too, I know." + +That Harry would like it Maud knew full well, but the appropriation of +his things in this way she did not approve of at all; but Bertram's next +words settled the matter. + +"Aunt Mabel says Cavalier shall be sold, and a pony bought for me, if I +don't like it; and I can't bear to part with Cavalier," sobbed the +little boy. + +"We won't part with it, Bertie," said Maud. "I will have Cavalier, and +ride him every day, and I will buy you a pony instead, and you can ride +with me." + +Mistress Maud Harcourt possessed the sole right to a large fortune, and +so she could do as she pleased in such a small matter as keeping a horse +for her individual use. Mistress Mabel grumbled a little when she heard +of this arrangement, but it did not alter matters, and in a few days +Bertram's pony arrived. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE HAYSLOPE WITCH. + + +There had never been much communication between the villagers of +Hayslope and the family living at the Grange. Mistress Mabel believed +that the villagers existed solely for the convenience of the family, but +never troubled herself to consider their wants or necessities, and +brought up her niece Mary upon the same principle. Maud appeared to be +of a similar opinion; but sharing Harry's confidence in everything, she +knew he went about among his poorer neighbours, and began to take an +interest in them herself, although not very actively. + +Now, however, she determined to follow Harry's example, and take up his +work; and, mounted on Cavalier, she went out the very next day to make +inquiries after an old woman whom she knew Harry had often befriended. +She inquired at the blacksmith's shed for Dame Coppins, but was +surprised by the man coming to the door, and instead of pointing out the +way to the cottage, saying, "We'll do it, Mistress Harcourt! We'll have +justice on the old witch that's done the mischief!" + +"What mischief?" asked Maud, in some surprise, patting Cavalier to make +him stand still. + +"What mischief should it be but sending away Master Harry Drury to the +Parliament wars, as though the king hadn't had enough of the lads from +Hayslope?" + +"But this poor old woman did not send Harry away," said Maud, quickly. + +"Marry, but she bewitched him. I see it with my own eyes," said the man. +"If I had but known it then I'd have ducked her in the horse-pond, and +broken the spell." + +Maud shivered. The belief in witchcraft was universal then, and she +began to fear whether Harry had been under Satanic influence. At length +she said, "I should like to see this old woman, if she be a witch, and +ask her where Master Harry has gone." + +"Prithee, be not so venturesome, lest she send thee after him," said the +blacksmith, in some consternation. + +Maud thought this would not be so much of a calamity, perhaps, until the +man added, "Nobody will ever hear aught of Master Harry again, and if +thou dost go to the witch, thou wilt disappear too." + +The young lady looked undecided when she heard this, but she could +hardly restrain Cavalier from turning down a narrow lane close by, which +the blacksmith observing, said, "Now, you may be sure mistress, that the +old witch has worked her spells; for Cavalier there is under them, and +is bidden by her to take thee to be bewitched too." + +It seemed that the horse was determined to take her somewhere, whether +she would or no, and the next minute was trotting down the lane, Maud +scarcely knowing what to make of the proceeding. After trotting about +half a mile he paused, and then turned in at a broken-down gateway, and +walked up to the window of a cottage, where he stopped and looked round, +as if telling Maud to dismount. + +"The horse certainly is bewitched," said Maud, half aloud, determined +not to move from her seat, and trying to turn Cavalier's head in the +opposite direction. + +But Cavalier seemed obstinately bent on looking in at the window, and +would not move; and Maud's consternation was complete when the door +slowly opened, and an old woman, leaning on a crutched stick, came +hobbling out. She was in the presence of the witch herself, and, with a +cry of horror, Maud dropped the reins and covered her face with her +hands. Finding the witch did not attempt to drag her into the house, now +that she had her in her power, Maud ventured to look up in a minute or +two, and saw a venerable-looking old woman standing on the threshold, +looking very pale and ill, and quite as frightened as she herself did. + +[Illustration: DAME COPPINS.] + +But the old woman was the first to recover herself, and she said, "You +have come to tell me about Master Harry Drury? The Lord reward you for +your kindness to a poor old woman." + +Maud hardly knew what to say. She felt ashamed of her fright now, and +yet an idea had entered her head that Cavalier could see Harry in the +cottage, and she said, "Nay, but I have come to ask _you_ about Harry." + +The poor old woman trembled visibly when she heard this. "Prithee, but I +cannot tell you that," she said, speaking as calmly as she could. "I +have not seen him these three days," she went on, "and sorely have I +missed him, for not a word of the Book can I read now. He's been eyes to +me ever since my own boy went away to fight for the King." + +"What book did he read to you?" asked Maud. + +"Marry, and what should it be but God's word?" said Dame Coppins. "It's +been open at the place where he left off these three days, for it is +sore hard to believe I sha'n't hear his voice again." Tears choked the +old woman here, and Maud, quite forgetting her reputation as a witch, +jumped off her horse, saying, "Shall I read a chapter for you, as Harry +used?" + +"Then it is true he's gone away?" said the old woman. + +Maud nodded. The tears were in her eyes now. "We don't know where he has +gone," she said. + +"Poor lamb, it is a sore trial for you; but it will be worse for me, I +trow," and the old woman sighed heavily. + +"Why?" asked Maud, entering the cottage, where, on a little table lay a +Bible open at the Gospel of St. John. There was nothing remarkable in +this book, she knew, for she recognised it as an old one of Harry's, +which they had read from together many times, until she gave him a new +one on his birthday once, when the old one disappeared. + +After she had read part of the sixth chapter, the old woman begged for a +few verses more about the "mansions," and Maud read part of the +fourteenth. + +"I'll keep that in mind when the time comes," murmured the old woman; +"and if I never see you again, Mistress Harcourt----" + +"But I will come and see you again," interrupted Maud. + +The old woman shook her head. "It'll be all over soon; I couldn't bear +it again," she said. + +"What will be all over?" asked Maud. "You are not ill, are--at least, +not very ill--not likely to die yet," she added, hastily. + +"If I waited till the Lord called me by disease I'd may be wait a good +while yet, for I'm strong when I'm well; but the people hereabout say I +am a witch, and but for Master Harry I should have been tried before +last night." + +"Last night!" uttered Maud. "What did they do to you?" for she had lost +all fear of her as a witch now. + +The poor old creature looked round fearfully. "They did it," she said, +"tried me for a witch. They took me to the horse-pond and ducked me, but +there was not enough water to drown me. They'd have done it before if +Master Harry had not been my protector, but now he is gone nothing will +save me, for they say I've sent him away; as if I should want to lose my +best friend," and the old woman burst into tears again. + +Maud was indignant. "Prithee, do not be afraid," she said. "I will +protect you, they shall not hurt you!" + +For a minute the old woman looked up glad and grateful, but then she +shook her head sadly. "You can't do it, they are coming again to-night," +she said, "and the ill-usage will kill me;" and she pushed up the sleeve +of her gown and showed how her arms were cut and bruised. + +"You must be protected," said Maud, "it will be murder. I will go to +Master Drury at once and tell him about it," and without waiting another +minute, Maud mounted Cavalier and cantered up the lane. + +At the top, clustered round the blacksmith's shed, were a group of +soldiers, who made way for her to pass, but the blacksmith sprang +forward and stopped her horse. + +"These soldiers have seen Master Harry Drury Mistress Harcourt," he +said. + +"Then you will not repeat the cowardly attack on Dame Coppins, I trow!" +said the young lady, burning with anger still. + +The blacksmith drew back somewhat ashamed, and Maud, forgetting all +else, turned to the soldiers and said, "Tell me where you met Master +Harry Drury." + +The man doffed his cap respectfully, for he could see Maud was a lady. +"It was near by the gate of London," he said. "Our leader, Captain +Stanhope, has now gone to the Grange, bearing tidings of it." + +Maud urged Cavalier into a sharp canter when she left the soldiers, for +she wished to be in time to hear the Captain's account of his meeting +with Harry, which she was likely to lose for ever if not in time to hear +it given to Master Drury. Captain Stanhope and his troopers had been to +Hayslope before, and the Captain knowing the importance of his meeting +with Harry, would be most likely to speak of it at supper time, when +they were all assembled in the dining-hall. + +Before supper, however, she wanted to consult Master Drury about +protecting Dame Coppins from the village mob, and as soon as Cavalier +had been left to Roger she went in search of that gentleman. But he was +not in the study or the keeping-room, and thinking he must have gone out +with Captain Stanhope, she went into the garden to watch for his return. + +Walking noiselessly over the velvet turf, she was close to the +quaintly-cut leafy screen that sheltered the arbour from the garden, +when she heard voices close by, and some one say, "Then we are to arrest +him as a traitor, wherever he may be found?" + +"Yes," faintly answered Master Drury's voice. + +Maud felt as though she were rooted to the spot. Could it be Harry they +were talking of? All uncertainty about this was set aside by Master +Drury's next words. "He has disgraced the family name by this, and I +would you had taken him prisoner ere he entered London to finish his +rebellion." + +"That might not be, Master Drury, seeing I knew not wherefore he was +journeying there," said Captain Stanhope. + +Maud disdained to listen to what was not intended for her ears, and +rapidly walked away in a tumult of passion against her guardian for his +cruelty to his son. + +When she entered the keeping-room Mistress Mabel and Mary looked up from +their work of spinning, but she did not heed the command to come and sit +down at her wheel with them. Passing up to her own room, she took out +some warm wraps, and then went round to the stable in search of Roger, +to whom she gave some directions about coming to the village with a +basket of provisions a little later in the evening. + +She then set out on her walk back to Dame Coppins' cottage, determined +to stay there all night, and protect the old woman by her presence. She +was likewise anxious to tell her of this fresh danger threatening Harry, +for she was the only one to whom she could speak about it, and she knew +the old woman would sympathise with her in her sorrow. + +The poor old woman could give more than sympathy, she found she could +give strength and comfort by her apt quotations from God's Word, for she +herself had tasted sorrow and learned their power. Then they fell into a +conversation about Harry, which lasted until Roger arrived with the +basket, and a message from Master Drury that he and Captain Stanhope +were coming to the cottage shortly. + +Maud was not in a humour to thank either her guardian or the soldier for +anything they might do now, but when they arrived she told them what had +taken place the night before; and on the gentlemen promising to ride +back to the village and make inquiries into the matter, to prevent its +recurrence, she was obliged to promise to return to the Grange, upon +Roger being sent down as a guard for Dame Coppins for this night. But +she was very ungracious in her bearing towards the young soldier, +although it was evident that he greatly wished to please her. + +It was Captain Stanhope's business just now to get fresh men to recruit +his Majesty's army, and he readily consented to Master Drury's +proposition that he should make Hayslope Grange his head-quarters for +the present. His men could be lodged in the village, and they could make +short expeditions into the surrounding country in search of recruits, +and thus business could be combined with pleasure on the part of the +Captain, while it would afford the Royalist leaders a proof that Master +Drury of the Grange was still a staunch Cavalier, should they hear of +the defection of his son; and thus the matter was settled to the +satisfaction of all parties--at least, all but Maud, and the arrangement +vexed her exceedingly. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE REVEL. + + +May-day had not been kept with its usual festivity at Hayslope this +year, and so in this month of June it was proposed to have a junketing +on the village green in honour of Captain Stanhope and his soldiers. +Maud, and many another as sad-hearted as she, were in no humour for +revelry when their dear ones were away at the war, and Bertram was quite +indignant that Mary should wish it if Captain Stanhope did, and loudly +declared he would not join in the fun. The horns of ale passed freely +from hand to hand that day, and the soldiers kept up the excitement +among the villagers by occasionally giving them a fanfare from their +trumpets, drinking with them, and telling them stories of "glorious +war." It had the desired effect. Before the night closed in half-a-dozen +lads had enlisted, and among them Master Drury's trusty groom, Roger. + +This was rather more than the gentleman had bargained for, and he was +very angry when he heard it, but he could not say much to Captain +Stanhope, lest the sincerity of his principles should be doubted. But it +seemed that Roger was not the only prize the young soldier coveted, for +the day following the revel he asked the hand of Mary Drury in marriage. +Master Drury knew not what to say to this, for all the household had +seen the marked attentions he paid to Maud--attentions which she +repelled with cold disdain. + +It had been remarked by many in the village that Mistress Harcourt had +kept aloof as much as possible from the revelry. She had been obliged to +come down with the family, but instead of joining in the sport, she went +about among those who were on the outskirts of the crowd--the mothers +with babies in their arms, widows, whose lives this civil war had made +desolate, and sad-eyed maidens widowed already in heart and affection +through the intolerance of King Charles. Among these, Maud had already +made herself known, and now her rich robes of cherry-colour flowered +satin might be seen in close neighbourhood with the blue serge and +linsey-woolsey petticoats and linen jackets of her poorer neighbours. +The children liked to look at her pretty dress--that of itself was a +show to them--but the sad and sorrowful had began to love her for the +kindly words and sympathy she gave them. + +From these she heard that it was whispered she was likely to become +Mistress Stanhope shortly--a rumour that annoyed her exceedingly. +Captain Stanhope, it seems, had heard the same. Some one had ventured to +remark that the bride-elect did not join the dancers, and he resolved to +speak to Maud that very night, and ask her to become his wife, although +he had received so little encouragement to hope for a favourable answer. + +On his way back to the Grange, therefore, he contrived to join her, and +in a few words begged her to favour his suit. Maud hardly knew whether +to be angry or sorry, but she contrived to make him understand most +clearly that it was useless to press her on that subject, and begged him +not to allow any one else to know that he had asked her hand. + +She need not have feared this. Captain Stanhope was too proud to let any +one know of his rejection, and his chief annoyance arose from the fact +that many had already seen and remarked his preference. Musing on this, +he saw Mary and Bertram at a little distance, and the idea at once +entered his head that this annoyance could be got over by at once +proposing to Mary, when it would be thought he was only playing with +Maud, while in reality he was attached to Mary. So he contrived to +dismiss Bertram from his sister's side, and in a gentle tone begged her +to walk in the garden with him; and then when they reached the arbour he +made the same proposal as he had made to Maud but a few minutes before. + +Mary was surprised, but pleased; not that she loved the young soldier, +she had not thought of such a thing. But he was handsome, and could be a +pleasant companion; and then she had felt herself so disgraced since +Harry had gone away, that she would gladly exchange the name of Drury +for Stanhope. She did not tell her lover this, she only said something +about thinking he liked Maud best, on which he muttered that Maud was +too proud and cold for him, when she shyly said he must speak to her +father, when, if he gave his consent, she was willing to ratify it. + +Master Drury hardly knew what to say when asked for his permission. In +reality he felt the loss of his son more than he chose to own even to +himself, and did not care to part with his eldest daughter just now, but +he resolved to let Mary decide the matter; and so, telling Captain +Stanhope that he should receive his answer in the evening, he sent for +Mary. + +The young lady blushed as she entered her father's presence, for she +guessed what he wished to speak to her about. + +"Prithee now, tell me truly Mary of this business with Captain Stanhope. +Dost thou wish to leave the old Grange, my child?" he asked. + +"I wish to change my name, father," said Mary, with a deep blush. + +"And wherefore art thou so anxious about this?" + +"Canst thou ask, when it has been so deeply disgraced?" said Mary. + +The old man bowed his head. Truly his family pride was bearing bitter +fruit, if he were to lose his children through it in this way. He saw +that his daughter did not love the man that had sought her hand in +marriage, and he did not believe that he loved her; but he was powerless +to withhold his consent if Mary wished it, which she evidently did. "It +will be better so, my father," she said. "The Stanhopes have ever been +true and loyal, I have heard you say, and this marriage may help to wipe +the traitor stain from our escutcheon." + +"True, my daughter," said the old man, but it was said very sadly, for +he knew it was not thus he had chosen her mother, or been accepted by +her. But the matter seemed to have been settled by Mary without his +interference, and he yielded rather than gave his consent when Captain +Stanhope came again in the evening. + +After leaving her father Mary went to inform Maud of what had taken +place. She had expected some surprise, but not the look of blank +astonishment with which her news was received. + +"Mary, you cannot mean to do it," she uttered, as soon as she was able +to speak. + +"By my troth, I know not what you mean, Maud," said Mary, indignantly. + +"Prithee, tell me it is not true, dear; that it is all a fable about +your marrying Captain Stanhope," said Maud, soothingly. + +"Marry, but it is true--true as that your name is Maud Harcourt," +replied Mary. + +Maud rose from her seat and paced up and down the room, and Mary, +looking at her, could only think that she was disappointed. "Tell me, +when did this take place?" said Maud, pausing in her walk and looking +earnestly in Mary's face. + +"Marry, but I know not why you should ask this question," said Mary, +indignantly. "Did he propose to you?" she asked, in a tone of bitter +sarcasm. + +Maud blushed crimson and turned away, but only for a minute. "Tell me +when he asked you this?" she cried. "Prithee, tell me, Mary. I wish not +to vex you, but this I would know." + +"Marry, you may know, it was last night," said Mary, speaking calmly. + +"As he walked from the village?" asked Maud. + +"Nay, in the garden, after Bertram had left me," said Mary. "I saw him +walking with you from the village," she added. + +"Then it must have been after I came indoors," said Maud. + +Mary bowed her head. "Even so," she replied. Maud resumed her walk up +and down the room, and Mary sat gazing at her until Maud came and threw +herself on a cushion at her feet, and, forgetting the bitter words that +had been spoken only a minute or two before, she stooped and kissed +Mary's hands. This touched the proud girl's heart, and she said, "I hope +I have not offended you, Maud." + +"Prithee, no," said Maud. "But I want you to tell me, Mary, do you love +this Captain Stanhope?" Mary drew back. + +"Why do you ask this question?" she said. + +"Marry, because I greatly fear he loves not you," said Maud, slowly. + +"But tell me does he love you?" said Mary, in a tone of sarcasm. + +Maud did not reply to this. She expected the young lady would be angry, +but she was determined to do what she believed to be her duty. "Mary, +sweetheart, we have been as sisters," she said, "and I would you knew +how much I loved you; and by my faith, it is because of this I would bid +you be not too hasty in binding yourself to this Captain Stanhope! It is +pride, not love, that has made him seek you." + +"Marry, then we are even," said Mary, with a bitter laugh. "I thank you, +Mistress Maud, for telling me of this," she said, with a mock reverence, +"for you have removed the last scruple I had in accepting him." Whether +this was true, or whether the gay manner was only put on, Maud could not +tell, but it made her very unhappy, and instead of going down to the +keeping-room, to be watched by Mistress Mabel, she went to pay her usual +visit to Dame Coppins at once, instead of later on in the day. + +As she reached the blacksmith's corner she saw a little crowd gathered +round, and heard the sound of women crying; and when she drew near she +found it was the soldiers leaving with the spoil of the previous day's +revel--the six men who had taken service for the King. + +She had heard of it before she left home; but the thought that Roger +might meet and fight against the young master whom he loved almost +overcame her now, and she could hardly restrain her tears when the +downcast-looking man ventured to say farewell as she was passing. + +"Farewell Roger, and Godspeed to you, and quickly bring this war to a +close, and you back to us. You will not forget to be kind to Master +Harry if ever he should need it," added Maud; for it might be that as a +royalist soldier Roger would have that power some day, she thought; and +then she rode on down the lane, while the poor fellows who were going +away bade wives and sisters cheer up and take example by Mistress Maud, +whose lover would soon have to go to the wars too, for the villagers had +quite settled the affair for Captain Stanhope to their own satisfaction. + +As Maud went on to the cottage she wondered when the marriage was to +take place between Mary and Captain Stanhope. It could not be for some +time, she thought--not until this dreadful war was over, and then she +sighed as she thought of the misery this was causing. + +When she reached the cottage she found the old woman looking very weak +and ill, and so feeble she could hardly speak. Maud was alarmed. "What +is the matter," she said; "are you ill?" + +The poor old creature shook her head--"Not ill," she gasped, "but, oh, +so hungry." Maud ran to the cupboard; there was not a bit of anything in +the shape of food, but a little pile of halfpence in one corner. + +Maud took these into her hand. "Why did you not buy yourself a rye +loaf?" she said. Dame Coppins shook her head. "They will not sell +anything to me," she said. + +It was true enough; the villagers had determined to starve out the witch +if they could not drown her, and so every one had refused to supply her +with food, until the poor creature was brought to the verge of +starvation. + +To remedy this, Maud now had either to bring the old woman's food from +the Grange, or make her purchases herself in the village, so that a day +seldom passed without her being seen near the blacksmith's shed. + +One day when she was passing, a stranger rode up whose horse had lost a +shoe, and he was obliged to stop to get the damage repaired. The man +looked travel-stained and tired, and the blacksmith, with his usual love +of gossip, wanted him to drink a horn of ale before he shod the horse. + +"Nay, that may not be, friend blacksmith, for I bear tidings of weighty +import. There has been a great battle in Yorkshire." Maud, pausing to +speak to a child close by, heard these words. + +"A battle, sir traveller: can you tell me aught about it?" she asked. + +"Marry, and I should be able, seeing I was in it, and fought with +Lieutenant Cromwell's Ironsides," said the man. "Is not this Hayslope?" +he asked. + +[Illustration: THE STRANGER AT THE SMITHY.] + +The blacksmith nodded. "But we be all King Charles's men here," he said. + +"Marry, that may be, so all who are here," said the traveller. "But one +Harry Drury cometh from Hayslope, and he fought right bravely with the +Parliament men at Marston Moor, and now lieth sorely wounded and +grievously sick." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +BESSIE'S DISTRESS. + + +Maud did not wait to hear anything more that the messenger had to tell; +whether the Royalists had gained the victory or had to mourn defeat she +did not know, and hardly cared. This one fact was enough for her; Harry +was wounded--wounded and ill--perhaps dying among strangers. It might be +he was prisoner even, and then an ignominious traitor's death awaited +him. All the darkest possibilities of his fate rushed to her mind as she +walked down the lane to the cottage. + +Here her grief was shared by Dame Coppins, who hardly knew what to say +to comfort her under such a trial, and could only point her to Him who, +having "borne our griefs and carried our sorrows," can sympathise and +comfort under the sorest trials. + +On reaching the Grange, Maud found that the news had travelled thither +before her--news of humiliation, that had put Captain Stanhope quite out +of temper. + +"By my faith, I cannot believe it!" he was saying, as Maud entered the +keeping-room. "Prince Rupert defeated by that son of a brewer and his +handful of sorry prentice lads? Master Drury, what think you is likely +to happen, forsooth?" + +"This varlet messenger, may be, is mistelling the news," said Master +Drury, hoping it might be so, for he had thought the rebel troops well +nigh crushed out. + +Maud wondered whether he had heard the news concerning Harry, and looked +across at Mistress Mabel, but that stern, impassive face told nothing, +and Mary's, in its proud resolve, no more; and she dared not utter the +forbidden name before so many, and so went in search of the children, to +ascertain from them what news had come. + +She saw in a moment that they had heard both items, for Bessie was +sitting in a corner of the garden crying bitterly, while Bertram was +marching up and down, telling her what he would do to rescue Harry when +he was a man. + +[Illustration: BESSIE'S GRIEF FOR HARRY.] + +She sat down beside the little girl and tried to comfort her, but Bessie +would not be comforted. "It's very kind of you, Maud," she sobbed, "but +you are not Harry's sister--not a Drury, like Mary and I. If Mary would +only be a little sorry for him, I shouldn't cry so much, but now he's +only got me and Bertram to be sorry." + +"Oh, Bessie, think you not that I am sorry, too?" said Maud. + +"Yes, you are sorry, Maud, I know," said the little girl, hardly knowing +how to express herself; "but you know you are not his sister, and so he +won't expect you to cry for him." + +"Marry, will he not," said Maud, scarce able to keep from laughing. "And +will he expect you to cry for him a great deal?" asked Maud, as the +tears broke out afresh. + +"Mary won't," sobbed Bessie; and she seemed bent upon doing her sister's +share for her. + +Maud could not help shedding a few tears in company, and Bessie threw +her arms round her neck and kissed her for them. At length Maud said, +"If Harry does not expect me to cry for him, there is something else he +will expect me to do, and that is to comfort his little sister;" and she +took the little girl in her arms, and laid the hot tear-stained cheek +against hers, and whispered gentle loving words, that soothed the +troubled heart. It was just what Harry would have done--just what he +would have her do, she knew, and she did it as though he were near and +watching her. + +For the next few days Captain Stanhope was in a restless state of +impatience to ascertain whether the news brought to the village was +correct, but they were not the days of newspapers, and an army might be +within a few miles of Hayslope itself, and the inhabitants none the +wiser; so it was not strange that he could hear nothing of the movements +of an army away in Yorkshire. + +But all suspense was at an end in a day or two. A messenger arrived +bearing despatches for Captain Stanhope, and in them mention was made of +the disastrous battle of Marston Moor. These despatches were commands +for the Captain to collect all the men he had been able to get in his +recruiting tour, and join the main body of the army in the west of +England. + +So Mary's marriage, which was to have taken place in a few weeks, had to +be postponed until the autumn, or rather winter, for there could be no +certainty of his returning to Hayslope until then. There was always a +truce of a few months during winter. Wars could not be carried on +regardless of weather, as they are now, and thus it was that they often +lasted years. + +After the departure of the Captain, life seemed to pass more slowly and +monotonously than ever at Hayslope Grange. Out of the direct main road, +strangers rarely came that way, and so little was known of how events +were tending in the mortal strife going on so near them. + +The trial of Archbishop Laud was still being carried on by the London +Parliament; Oxford was supporting the King in the combat with his +subjects, the north having yielded to Fairfax, the Parliamentary +general. This was all the news that came to Hayslope through all the +remaining days of July and the sultry weeks of August. No word came from +Harry Drury, not a syllable that Maud was hungering to hear with a +hunger that paled her cheek and was wasting her strength. + +The harvest--what there was--had to be gathered in by women for the most +part; and when Maud looked at these going out to their unwonted toil, a +baby in one hand and a reaping-hook in the other, and thought of the +burden of sorrow they had to carry as well, she reproached herself for +weakly yielding to her grief; and yet it was hard to combat sometimes. + +She had been compelled to rebel against Mistress Mabel's command to sit +more closely to her spinning and sewing. Not that she disliked preparing +Mary's house linen, but because she could not endure the scrutiny of +those hard cold eyes, and to get away from them she did as Harry had +done many a time before--mounted Cavalier, and cantered away miles over +the fields, and then back to the village, to visit her friends there. + +The months of September and October passed slowly enough, but about the +middle of November Roger and a few of the other men came back to the +village for the winter. It could not be said that they were not welcome, +and yet provisions were now so dear, owing to the scanty harvest and +heavy taxes, that every extra mouth to fill was felt as a heavy burden +by their distressed families; and then, being winter time, there was +scarcely any work they could do in the fields and gardens. + +Maud had hoped that she should hear something of Harry when the men came +back, and how much her returning health and strength had depended upon +this she did not know until the hope was taken away and the faint +sickening languor again stole over her frame. It might have grown upon +her more than it did, but the wants of the poor people in the village, +and the demands of Mistress Mabel, that she should assist in the +preparations for Mary's wedding, left her very little time to spend in +sitting alone and thinking of Harry. + +Mary was to be married at Christmas, and go with Captain Stanhope to +Oxford. The two seemed mutually pleased with each other, and quite +satisfied with their bargain, but Maud could not tell whether they loved +each other. She hoped they did, but Mary never gave her an opportunity +of speaking upon this subject, and indeed the preparations for the +coming event seemed to occupy her mind so fully that she had no thought +for anything else. + +This wedding afforded the villagers the most satisfaction, perhaps, for +Master Drury was to give them an ox to be roasted on the green, and the +prospect of a good dinner was very pleasant to them under the present +circumstances. Captain Stanhope gave them a barrel of ale in which to +drink his bride's health, but Mary seemed to think no one wanted +anything but herself. + +She packed up all the books and little trifles lying about that had +belonged to Harry, and when Maud ventured to remonstrate with her about +this, saying that Bertram would want them by-and-by if Harry did not +return, she retorted, "Harry Drury never will return to this house, +Maud, and Bertram will be expelled too if you continue to encourage him +in thinking Harry right in what he has done." + +Maud looked surprised. "What can you mean?" she exclaimed. + +"Marry, nothing but what is true. You are teaching Bertram to think +Harry right in rebelling against the King, and his father, too," +retorted Mary. + +"I do not think Harry is wrong in following the guidance of his +conscience," said Maud, slowly; "but I have not sought to teach Bertram +that Harry's way is right for him. I have only told him to keep the fear +of God before his eyes, and follow the teaching of His Holy Spirit, as I +believe Harry has done." + +"And so you think it is this that has made Harry a traitor," said Mary, +with rising anger. + +"I don't think Harry is a traitor," said Maud, calmly. "It is the King +who has----" + +"By my troth I will not listen to such dreadful words," interrupted +Mary, and she went out of the room; but she evidently did not alter her +opinion, for she confiscated to her own use every article that had +formerly belonged to her brother. + +After the wedding festivities were over, and Mistress Mary Stanhope had +departed with her husband to Oxford, the house seemed more dull than +ever, and Mistress Mabel more severe and exacting. + +About the middle of January came news that thrilled every one with +horror, and put Master Drury into a fever of mingled anger and sorrow. A +man had stopped at the blacksmith's shed on his way from London, and +brought the news that Archbishop Laud had been beheaded on Tower Hill +the day before he left. + +Mistress Mabel was speechless with indignation for a few minutes, and +her first act was to take the bright cherry-coloured bow off Bessie's +hair. + +The little girl looked up in surprise, and saw her aunt taking the +ruffles from her own neck and wrists. "This is not the time for such +bravery as this," said the lady, looking angrily at the ribbons and +ruffles. Bessie wondered what they had to do with it, while Mistress +Mabel stood upright, watching her brother as he walked up and down the +room, murmuring, "They have slain the Archbishop--murdered the Lord's +anointed." + +"For which all good Christians ought to fast and mourn," put in Mistress +Mabel; "and I hope, brother, that you will see to it that your household +is not lacking in this matter," she added. + +"Nay, nay, I leave all such to you," said Master Drury; "order whatever +is seemly at this time. I know not what has come to this evil-minded +generation," he added. + +"An evil generation they are, as you say," quoth Mistress Mabel. "Where +will their iniquity end? They will put forth their hand against the King +next, I trow." + +Bertram and Bessie shivered at the bare idea of such a thing, and Maud, +who felt she must say something in defence of the Parliament, said, +"Nay, nay, Mistress Mabel, they will not put forth their hand against +the King's majesty." + +"But they will, I trow, if they have the power," said the lady. "And +that God may rescue this nation from their hands, it behoves us to +appear before Him in decent raiment of mourning at this time." + +"Are we all to go into mourning?" asked Bessie, in some surprise. + +"Would you be wearing ribbons and ruffles, and such light vanities at +this time?" angrily demanded the lady. + +Bessie looked down, feeling very much ashamed of herself, but hardly +knowing how she had offended, until Bertram asked, "Will everybody wear +mourning for the Archbishop, aunt?" + +"Every honest Christian soul will nathless wish to do so," replied +Mistress Mabel, with a severe look at Bessie. + +The little girl felt the reproof, and when she went upstairs she put +away all her bright ribbons and the gay dresses that had been worn at +her sister's wedding. "I don't mind wearing the black hood and wimple, +Maud," she said; "but then I thought people wore mourning because they +felt sorry, and I can't feel so sorry about the Archbishop as I did +about Harry going away." + +"Of course not, dear, because----" + +"But aunt seems to think we ought," interrupted the little girl; "and +father never looked so sorry about Harry as he did to-day about the +Archbishop." + +"Your father may not let us see how sorry he is about Harry," said Maud, +"but I am sure he is often thinking of him." + +Maud spoke of this as though she were sure it was so, as in truth she +was. She had noticed a great alteration in her guardian lately. His hair +was rapidly changing from brown to silver white, his tall erect form was +bowed as with the weight of an added twenty years; and she thought with +a keen pang that if Harry did not soon come he would never see his +father again. And then arose the question, where was Harry?--for no news +had come but that one voice from the battle-field, telling them he was +sick and wounded. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE WOUNDED MESSENGER. + + +There was little fear that no fasts would be kept the month that the +Archbishop was executed. So many were compelled to fast for want of food +throughout England, that all the land might be said to mourn, although +they did not put on the outward semblance of it, as Mistress Mabel did. + +Just as the men were thinking of leaving their homes again in the early +spring, came a faint rumour that peace might be established, and many a +heart beat high with hope that the commissioners who were to meet at +Uxbridge, and negotiate a reconciliation between the King and his +people, might be able to conclude terms of adjustment satisfactory to +both parties. Maud felt sure that peace would be established at last +when she heard the news, and Bertram asked her in a whisper if Harry +would come home then; but to this question she could only shake her head +and look up at the clouds racing across the stormy February sky, and +think that Harry had probably gone to the Father's home where ambition +and injustice could never mar the peace of the one great family. + +She had come to this conclusion, because she thought if he were living +he would surely have tried to see or communicate with his father before +this, in spite of what had happened. + +The meeting at Uxbridge took place just as the first spring blossoms +began to whisper that the earth was not the cold, lifeless thing it +looked; that God had not forgotten the seeds in the time of their +darkness, but that out of this He had made them spring forth, and +through this He had made them strong. Thus thinking as she walked +through the fields, Maud sometimes wondered whether these dark times was +England's winter, out of which righteousness and truth would spring, and +be more strong for the struggle they had endured. Of course to her this +meant that the people would return to the King, and be more firm in +their allegiance than ever, and she hoped that the first promise of such +a result had already taken place. + +But alas, for her, and the hopes of thousands like her, who had to +endure silently, and witness misery they could not alleviate! the +commission broke up without anything being done, and men were hurried +from their homes to take up the sword, leaving the plough to be guided +by women's hands. Roger and the rest of his companions again left +Hayslope, and Maud went in and out and tried to comfort the women for +their loss. + +Master Drury seemed to feel the failure of the Uxbridge commission most +keenly, although he did not say much about it; yet even Mistress Mabel +could not fail to notice the whitening hair and the failing strength of +her brother, and spoke to Maud about it too. She had noted the change +long since, and now she felt sure that secret grief for Harry was +preying upon her guardian's heart, and bowing him down with premature +old age, and yet she dare not mention the name it would have been a +relief for both to utter and to hear spoken. + +So the spring passed into summer without any outward change at Hayslope +Grange, except a short visit from Mistress Mary Stanhope. At the end of +June came tidings of a battle that had been fought a fortnight before at +Naseby, in Northamptonshire, where the King's army had been completely +defeated, leaving on the field five thousand prisoners, an immense +quantity of war material; and what was worse than all for the Royalists, +the King's private cabinet of papers and letters was captured. This news +came from Captain Stanhope, who had himself barely escaped being taken +prisoner by Cromwell's Ironsides, and had got back to Oxford without +even his sword. + +This news seemed to affect Master Drury most deeply, and one day he +suddenly announced to Mistress Mabel that he should join the royal +troops and fight for King Charles. The lady looked as if she had not +heard aright, and said something about herb tea and going to bed; but +Master Drury silenced her by taking down his sword from where it hung +against the wall, and ordering one of the servants to fetch his +jack-boots. + +[Illustration: MASTER DRURY TAKES DOWN HIS SWORD.] + +"Marry, but you are not going to the King now," said Mistress Mabel, in +affright. + +"I am going to Oxford," calmly spoke Master Drury; and during the +remainder of the day he was occupied in making preparations for his +departure. + +When Mistress Mabel found her brother was bent upon leaving them, and +fully determined to join the army, she suddenly professed to be in great +fear of the Parliament gaining all England, and begged her brother to +remain and protect them--have the moat filled at once, and barricades +placed round the house, for fear of an attack from Cromwell's army; for +Cromwell's name began to be the more prominent now, although Fairfax was +the commander-in-chief. + +But Master Drury shook his head. "Cromwell will never come into Essex," +he said. "You forget King Charles has the Divine right to this land and +its people. He will be the more firmly seated on his throne by-and-by +for these troubles," he added. + +Before his departure he spoke to Maud, bidding her come to him at Oxford +if anything happened needing his presence at home. She could ride well +now, he said, and Cavalier could bring her the whole journey. + +Maud looked almost as surprised to hear this as Mistress Mabel had done +when her brother first announced his intention of joining the army, for +she had never been to Oxford in her life, and travelling was not very +safe even for a man now Prince Rupert's wild troopers were about. But +she felt thankful for the permission to do this, though at the same time +she hoped that she should not need it. + +Harvest-time was drawing near again now, and Mistress Mabel was more +busy than ever among the maids, and Maud spent all her time between the +two children and the village. Sometimes Bessie and Bertram went with her +on her visits of charity, and one or other occasionally read to Dame +Coppins from Harry's old Bible, or listened while the old woman told +them some story of his kindness to her. One day as they were returning +from a visit to the cottage, they were startled to see a crowd of women +gathered round the blacksmith's shed, and Bertram, in his usual +impetuous fashion, ran forward to see what was the matter. Maud was +mounted on Cavalier, and Bessie on her brother's pony, while Bertram, +being on foot, managed to edge himself to the front of the little crowd, +and presently came running back, crying, "Maud, Maud, the man is dying! +somebody has been beating him." Several of the women were coming towards +her by this time, and she sprang from her horse and stepped forward to +meet them. + +"Prithee, what is the matter?" she asked, seeing their anxious faces. +"Is the poor man much hurt?" + +"By my faith, I think he's dying; but he says he _must_ get to Oxford +first, to deliver up some papers he is bearing to the King," said one of +the women. + +"And what saith the blacksmith to his going on his journey?" asked Maud. + +"That he will not live an hour with the wound he has received in his +side. Nought but keeping him quite still, as well as careful dressing, +will stanch the bleeding, Martin says, and he knows of such matters." + +"Then he must not suffer the poor man to depart," said Maud, in the tone +of one accustomed to be obeyed, as she stepped up to the blacksmith. She +spoke loud enough for the stranger to hear, as she had intended; but he +feebly shook his head, while Martin completed the temporary bandaging of +his wound. + +"Marry, stranger, you had better tarry here awhile, for your life will +pay for this journey if you do not," said the blacksmith. + +"Nay, nay, I must away to Oxford. I have been sore hindered already, and +lives more valuable than mine depend upon the speedy delivery of these +papers;" and as he spoke he attempted to rise, but fell back into the +blacksmith's arms with a faint groan. + +"He must not undertake this journey," said Maud; and she ordered him to +be carried into a cottage near, saying she would come and speak to him +about the papers as soon as he had somewhat revived. Meanwhile she +ordered Martin to look to Cavalier, while the women attended to the +stranger; and then she sent Bertram home with Bessie, and a message to +Mistress Mabel not to be alarmed if she did not come back to the Grange +that night. + +By that time the traveller had recovered from the fainting fit, and Maud +went into the cottage. "I am Mistress Maud Harcourt, and Master Drury of +the Grange is my guardian," she said. "He is at Oxford just now, but if +you will entrust your despatches to me, I will take them to him there, +and he will place them in the hands of those to whom they are directed." + +The stranger looked at the young lady's glowing resolute face, and laid +his hands upon the papers "I could trust you," he said, "but will you +swear that these shall not pass out of your hands, save to those +directed to receive them?" + +"I swear," said Maud, solemnly. + +"It seemeth I must perforce stay here," sighed the man. "Prince Rupert's +troops have chased me miles out of my way, or I should have reached +Oxford ere this; and if it were not for the faintness that comes over me +when I move, I would even now continue my journey." + +"I will explain all that," said Maud, "but time presses. Now give me the +papers, for my horse is in readiness, and I would fain depart ere +messengers come from Mistress Mabel to hinder me." + +It was a large packet, sealed with the seal of the Parliament, that the +stranger delivered into her hands, and which she contrived to conceal +within her dress. Then the stranger gave her directions for her journey, +for he it seemed was well acquainted with the road; and carefully noting +these in her mind, and looking at her purse to see she had money with +her, she took her departure, the villagers scarcely comprehending that +she was going to Oxford until she was out of sight. + +Then it was suggested that one of the lads could have gone instead, and +a message came from Mistress Mabel, ordering Maud to return to the +Grange at once; but she was some miles on her way by this time, for +Cavalier was fresh, and inclined for a sharp canter, and Maud kept him +at full speed, for the pressure of those papers was a constant reminder +that life or death hung upon their speedy delivery. + +Whether it was the life of friend or foe she did not think. Whoever it +was, he was dear to some heart doubtless--dear as Harry was to her, and +that thought was enough to keep down all fatigue, and make her urge +Cavalier forward whenever he seemed inclined to lag. It never occurred +to her that if Prince Rupert's troops had driven the messenger so far +out of the usual route, it would be impossible for her to escape them, +neither did she think, even if she knew, the distance she had to travel. +Hour after hour she urged her good horse forward, and as it was fine dry +weather, the usual muddy, unkept roads were comparatively easy to +travel, and she had accomplished a good portion of the journey before +the evening closed in. + +She halted at a little village where the people were in a terribly +frightened condition on account of the doings of Prince Rupert in the +neighbourhood. Some of his followers had fired a farm-house the night +before, after carrying off all that they wanted; and the numbers of +people--quiet dwellers in lonely houses--or travellers, whom his +troopers had wantonly killed, were very numerous, it seemed, and there +was great surprise that Maud should have undertaken such a journey. + +Maud felt surprised herself, now that something of the excitement was +over; she felt stiff and tired, too, with her long ride; and now these +tales about Prince Rupert made her shudder with fear as she knelt down +in the little strange bedroom to thank God for His mercy, and ask it too +for Harry if he was still in this world. She prayed too that she might +be kept through the remainder of her journey--that Prince Rupert might +be kept from her road, and nothing be allowed to hinder her from +reaching Oxford in time to save the lives of these unknown prisoners. + +Then she laid down, and in total forgetfulness of Prince Rupert and his +brutal troopers went to sleep, not waking until the morning, when she +recommenced her journey in renewed hope, and with a calm trust in God's +protecting care. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +"ON, CAVALIER, ON!" + + +To Maud's great joy, the stately towers and ancient buildings of Oxford +at length rose before her. As she rode into the principal street of the +city she was met by a crowd of people who were talking loudly and +eagerly, so that Maud had but little difficulty in making out the words. +"Down with all parliament men! Shoot the traitors, and all the rebel +army!" and many other speeches, convinced Maud something unusual had +taken place, or was about to take place. + +Her cheeks grew pale with anxious fear as the bridle of her horse was at +length seized, and she was forced back against a wall; and then for the +first time she noticed that a body of soldiers were drawing near, and +beyond them marched a number of downcast-looking men, evidently +prisoners. Could it be that they were already on their way to +execution?--that the delivery of her papers would be too late to save +them? This thought almost maddened her, and turning her horse's head, +she said, "On, Cavalier, on!" and at the same moment drew out her +packet, and held it high above her head. + +[Illustration: "ON CAVALIER, ON!"] + +The effect of her words seemed magical--not upon her horse, but upon the +soldiers by whom she was now surrounded. The officer in command bowed as +she uttered the ringing words, "On, Cavalier, on!" and instead of +turning her back to the wall, called upon his men to halt, while Maud +passed through their midst, holding high the official-looking document +which she thought had gained her this privilege, but which in reality +the officer had hardly noticed. + +Quite unconsciously, Maud had used their password in addressing her +horse, and to this she owed it that she was allowed to pass through the +ranks, the officer believing she came with orders from the King to those +in charge of the prisoners. She heeded not the looks of the soldiers; +indeed, she scarcely saw them, but rode straight on to where an officer +stood waiting to demand her business, and why the cavalcade had been +stopped. + +Maud handed him her packet. "It concerneth the prisoners," she said, +panting with excitement. + +The officer took it from her hand, and rode back to another officer +after glancing at the address, and Maud, then face to face with the +pale, weary-looking prisoners, glanced at them for the first time. One +was looking at her and her horse most earnestly, but she did not +recognise him; and when the officer came back she rode on, wondering +whether she had been in time to save them after all. The papers had been +sent to the residence of the general in command, and they were still +halting, to know the result of his reading them; and Maud was detained, +lest she should be wanted too. They had not to wait long. In a few +minutes a soldier rode up with a note from the general. The prisoners +were to be taken back to their prison and the messenger released; and +Maud was allowed to go on her way, while the whole cavalcade turned +back, to the great disappointment of the Oxford crowd, who would fain +have testified their loyalty to the King by making a holiday over the +execution of these rebels. + +Maud had no other care than to get out of the way of the crowd and the +detachments of soldiers; but as soon as a by-street was gained, and she +was left in comparative quiet, weariness and exhaustion almost overcame +her, and for the first time she noticed that Cavalier had fallen lame +with his exertions. To get back to Hayslope Grange, as she had at first +intended, was therefore impossible, and she resolved to ask the +hospitality of Mistress Stanhope for a few days. She hoped Master Drury +was there, but of this she could not feel sure; but whether or no he was +there, she must go, and she made instant inquiry of a bystander for +Captain Stanhope's house. After some little difficulty she found it, and +to her joy heard that Master Drury was there. He seemed much astonished +to see Maud, and Mistress Stanhope was in no little alarm at her +travel-stained appearance. + +"Has the rebel army appeared before Hayslope?" he asked, anxiously. + +"No," answered Maud, faintly smiling. "Nothing had happened to Hayslope +when I left." + +"Then wherefore hast thou come here?" asked Master Drury. "Has anything +happened to Mistress Mabel or the children?" + +"Nay, they are all well," said Maud. "I came as a messenger, to bring +certain letters from London to the King." + +"Marry, now be truthful, Mistress Maud," said Mary, "and tell us thou +art come to see the gay city of Oxford." + +"Nay, nay; I came not for that," said Maud. "I have ridden hard to reach +here in time, so hard that Cavalier hath fallen lame with his journey, +and needs rest more than I do." + +"Then I will order Cavalier's rest and refreshment while Mary looketh to +your wants," said Master Drury; and he went out at once, leaving the two +ladies alone. Mistress Stanhope was proud to play the hostess to her old +companion, and as soon as she had changed her dress, and had some +refreshment, she insisted upon showing her new and fashionable house, in +spite of Maud's evident weariness. At length she was allowed to take up +a book and sit down in peace, for some other visitors had called, and +Mary was obliged to go to them. + +The book Maud had taken up was quite a new one, just published, and +written by Master John Milton, a schoolmaster of London. It was a volume +of poems, and Maud was soon absorbed in reading "Penseroso." Mary +suddenly entering the room some time afterwards quite startled her, and +the book slipped from her hand on to the floor. But Mary did not stay, +she had only come for something to show her visitor; and as Maud picked +up the book, she went out again, and did not see how pale Maud had +suddenly grown, as she sat and stared at the inner cover of the book. + +There was nothing very remarkable there,--only, "Mistress Stanhope, from +an old friend. Oxford, 1645." But Maud knew that Harry's hand had traced +those letters, and she wondered how it was he was at Oxford, and whether +he was there now. When Mary came back Maud was still staring at her name +in the book. + +"Marry, what are you looking at?" asked the young matron, glancing over +her shoulder. + +"Harry wrote this?" gasped Maud. + +"I suppose he did," coolly spoke Mary; "but he had the grace to conceal +the fact that I was his sister." + +Maud had noticed that he wrote "friend" instead of "brother." + +"Why should he do this?" she said. + +"Prithee, Maud, will you never see how he has disgraced our name?" said +Mary, impatiently. "Nay, nay, you have not seen my father's misery since +he hath been here, and how closely he hath kept himself shut up, lest +any should hear his name." + +"But why should he do this?" asked Maud. + +"Why?" uttered Mary, "when all men are talking of the traitor rebel, +Harry Drury, who was this day to be executed." + +Her voice faltered as she said the last words, although she tried to +appear unmoved as she added, "But the execution is postponed, I hear." + +"Only postponed!" gasped Maud, who sat with widely staring eyes. + +"The letters were to save their lives, I heard." + +"What letters?" asked Mary. + +"Those I brought from Hayslope, where the parliament messenger lies +sorely wounded," said Maud. + +Mary did not wait to hear more, but went to meet her husband, who was +coming up the stairs. The gaily dressed officer bowed to Maud as he +entered a few minutes afterwards, but she could see he looked annoyed. + +"Good-morrow, lady messenger," he said. "You did but reach Oxford in +time, and if you had been an hour later 'twere better for his Majesty, I +trow." + +"Prithee, tell me why?" said Maud. + +"There would have been six stout-hearted rebels the less to fight +against King Charles," said Captain Stanhope. + +"Are the prisoners released?" asked Maud, with an exclamation of joy. + +"Nay, nay, not yet; but we cannot afford to execute them, for the rebel +army hath five thousand of our loyal troopers, and they propose to +exchange some of these for the handful we have here in our prison, and +Harry Drury is specially named as one of them--Harry Drury and Gilbert +Clayton, whom Prince Rupert's men captured some time since." + +To describe Maud's feelings when she heard how near Harry had been to an +ignominious death would be impossible. For a time she could only bow her +head in her hands, and weep out her thanksgiving to God for His great +mercy; but by degrees the hope that she should soon see him gradually +stole over her, until she recollected that Harry would scarcely venture +to call upon them, even though he had seen her in the town; for she +doubted not but that the prisoner who had looked at her so closely was +Harry, although she had failed to recognise him. + +When Master Drury came in soon afterwards, it was evident he had heard +the news, although Harry's name was not mentioned. + +"Maud," he said, drawing his chair close to hers as soon as they were +left alone, "you heard that the King's cabinet had been captured at the +battle of Naseby?" + +Maud bowed. "Hath it been retaken?" she asked. + +Master Drury shook his head. "Prithee, I would it had never existed," he +said, "or that I knew not aught of it." + +"Have you seen the King's letters?" asked Maud. + +"All the world will see them shortly," sighed the gentleman. "The rebels +have published some of his papers, calling it 'The King's Cabinet +Opened.'" + +"Then all the world will know what a just and gentle monarch he is," +said Maud. + +"Alas! they will see that what these rebels say of him is true; that he +hath tried to sell his people to a foreign foe," groaned Master Drury. +"All his doings with the Irish rebels, and his negotiations with foreign +princes to bring troops over here, are given in these papers." + +Maud started to her feet, flushed with indignation. "It is not true," +she said. "It would be unkingly--beneath the majesty of our royal +Charles. It is a fabrication of the Parliament rebels." + +"I would fain think so if I could," sighed Master Drury; "but, Maud, I +have heard from those who knew all the King's matters that these letters +are true copies of what were in the cabinet." + +Maud dropped into her seat as though she had been shot. "The King is +false and untrue, then," she gasped, "and Harry is right after all." + +"Hush, prithee, hush!" said Master Drury. "You know not what you say, +Maud;" but he did not speak as though he were angry that Harry's name +had been uttered. + +"Marry, but I cannot hold my peace when true and noble men are risking +their lives to fight for this false king," said Maud. + +"I will not fight," quietly spoke Master Drury. "I will go back with you +to Hayslope." + +"Prithee, but you will see Harry before you leave Oxford?" said Maud, a +faint colour stealing into her cheek as she spoke. + +Master Drury was deeply moved. It was evident he was longing to see his +son, but he said in a faint voice, "Nay, nay, I dare not see him. Mary +Stanhope has spread the report that I have cast him off as a traitor +rebel, and my loyalty to the King would be suspected if I were to see +him now;" and he heaved a deep sigh as he spoke. + +"But it is true that you think the King false?" said Maud. "Harry did +the same, and avowed it." + +Master Drury winced at the implied reproach. "Nay, nay, I cannot go so +far as that," he said; "if I were I should be a rebel." + +"Then you must be false to yourself to _seem_ true to the King," said +Maud, boldly; "and that is why there are so many true and honest men +among the rebels, and why they are so strong. It is not their hatred of +oppression only, nor their wish to save England's liberties, as they +say; but they cannot do otherwise if they would be true to +themselves--true to God, who has said, 'Fear God,' first, and then +'Honour the king.'" + +Maud was speaking for Harry, and that gave her courage, or she would +never dared to have said so much to her guardian. But it was all in +vain. Family honour demanded the sacrifice of principle--at least, so +thought Master Drury--and he would not allow Maud to seek an interview +with Harry, or claim acquaintance with the all but executed traitor. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +MYSTERIES. + + +As soon as Maud had sufficiently rested she returned to Hayslope with +Master Drury, who, now that he had made up his mind to do so, was all +impatient to return home. His visit to Oxford had been a very painful +one, for his faith in the King had been completely broken, and yet he +had been forced to hear of his son's condemnation to an ignominious +death, for principles he began dimly to see were right. + +The last lingering remnants of loyalty forbade his seeking to see that +son, as much as the fear of offending his son-in-law, and yet he longed +to fold Harry in his arms and look in his face once more. + +When the travellers reached Hayslope they found the villagers in a +wildly excited state. Many of their relatives who had been fighting at +Naseby were held prisoners by the Parliament, and of course could not +return home this winter; and lads too young to serve as soldiers, and +the women, with Martin the blacksmith at their head, were wildly +clamouring for the destruction of the Parliament and all the rebels. The +poor wounded messenger had most mysteriously disappeared, Maud heard, +but on questioning some of them more closely, it seemed that he had more +than once been threatened by Martin, if he would not swear to serve the +King, while he stoutly refused, and at last he left the village with his +wound only half healed. + +Poor old Dame Coppins was of course accused of having some hand in this +business. Without the help of witchcraft the man could not have escaped, +the women said, and for once Maud felt thankful to the unknown witch, +whoever she might be, who had done this service. She believed in +witchcraft almost as fully as the ignorant villagers, but she did not +believe Dame Coppins was a witch simply because she did not choose to +tell all the village her business--where she had come from, and what had +induced her to take the lonely cottage outside Hayslope,--and this was +the only reason they had for supposing her a witch. + +Maud had tried to reason them out of this, had told them she was a poor +widow who had seen a great deal of trouble, and preferred a solitary +life; that she loved the Bible and feared God as much as any of them; +but it was all of no avail. That any one could exist without gossip was +to them impossible to understand, and they shook their heads sadly, and +thought Maud bewitched herself when she talked about Dame Coppins. + +So the cottage in the lane was as lonely as ever, in spite of the +patronage extended to the widow by Maud and the two children at the +Grange. + +For a day or two after her return Maud was not able to go to the +cottage, for Master Drury had scarcely reached home when he was taken +seriously ill, and Mistress Mabel's herbs and decoctions failed to +relieve his sickness for some time. Bertram and Bessie, however, went +each day, and brought back the report that the widow had seemed very +joyful when she heard that Maud had returned, and that her errand had +been so successful as to gain the prisoners their freedom. + +Maud smiled when she heard this. "Marry, but their freedom is not gained +yet," she said, with something of a sigh. + +"Dame Coppins says they are free, and on their way to London," said +Bessie. + +Maud opened her eyes. Was the old woman a witch after all? Bertram's +next words quite confirmed her in this wild notion. "Maud," he said in a +whisper, "do you know that Harry was one of the prisoners." + +"Who told you so?" asked Maud, quickly, for it had been agreed that this +intelligence should not reach the children, or even Mistress Mabel. + +"Dame Coppins told me," replied Bertram; "she said he would have been +shot if you had not gone to Oxford with those papers," he added. + +Maud actually shuddered with horror as the boy said this. "Bertram, you +must not go to Dame Coppins again," she said, quickly. + +"Why not?" asked Bertram, in surprise. + +"Prithee, I scarce can tell you, but--but you will keep it quite a +secret, Bertram, even from Bessie," said Maud--"this dreadful thing I am +going to tell you." + +Bertram nodded. "Isn't she a good old woman?" he asked. + +"Bertie, she's a witch," whispered Maud, in a tone of horror. + +Bertram started back pale with fright. "I don't believe it, Maud," he +said: "she couldn't talk about God taking care of Harry, and pray for +Him to do it, if she was a wicked old witch. I do believe God took you +safe to Oxford in time because she prayed so much about it, and that +He's kept Harry safe in all the battles, that he might come home to us +again in answer to Dame Coppins's prayers." + +Bertram spoke quickly, almost passionately, but Maud only shook her head +sadly. "I thought she was a good woman," she said, "but how could she +know what happened at Oxford if she was not a witch? Nobody here knows +that Harry was in prison--not even Mistress Mabel or the servants, so +that no one could tell her about it." + +But Bertram was still unwilling to believe in Dame Coppins's wickedness, +until Maud said pettishly, "I do believe she has bewitched you, Bertie, +and you must not go to see her again." + +"But I will go," said Bertram, beginning to lose his temper. + +"Then I shall ask Mistress Mabel to forbid you going beyond the moat," +said Maud. + +This threat, which Bertram knew she would put into execution, made him +give the required promise not to go and see Dame Coppins until Maud had +discovered who had told her about Harry; which Maud feeling sure was a +dark mystery, that no one would ever be able to penetrate, made up her +mind not to try, now that she had extorted this promise from Bertram. + +Some thoughts of the poor old woman's anxiety troubled her after she +left Bertram, and she wondered what effect their neglect might have upon +the mind of the villagers; but on this she resolved to keep eyes and +ears alike open whenever she went amongst them, so that she might +protect her from violence should any be attempted or contemplated. + +But it seemed that the people had forgotten the witch in their rage +against the "Parliament rebels," and Maud could not discover whether the +old woman was being supplied with food or not; and very soon the fear +that she would be starved to death began to take possession of her mind. +To satisfy herself upon this point she resolved to walk down the lane +late one afternoon, when she would not be expected. Before she had +reached the cottage, however, she saw a litter borne between two men +carried into the garden, and then from this was lifted what looked like +a huge roll of cloth, and taken into the house, while Dame Coppins came +and looked all round to make sure no one was in the lane. She did not +see Maud, for she had concealed herself behind a tree, but the young +lady had a good view of the old woman's face, and saw that there was +little fear of her dying of starvation yet. As soon as she could she +slipped out of her hiding-place and walked quickly up the lane. She was +afraid of going near the cottage now, and she wondered what fresh +wickedness Dame Coppins had been at. No wonder the people were afraid of +her when such mysterious doings as that were going on. + +Maud thought she had more than sufficient evidence to prove that Dame +Coppins was a witch now, and began seriously to consider whether she +ought not to inform against her; and she might have done this, only +Master Drury was taken ill again. Maud began to think this must be the +witch's work, when all Mistress Mabel's remedies failed, but she dared +not say so, for fear the servants should tell the villagers, and they +should attempt to drown her again; and so she suggested that a physician +should be sent for to see her guardian. Mistress Mabel looked scornful +at first, but finally relented, and a boy was despatched to the town, +and returned with the grave-looking doctor, in plumed hat, scarlet +cloak, and immense ruffles at his wrists. He looked grand enough to do +anything if grandeur would do it, but he shook his head when he heard +all Master Drury's ailments. Beyond this he would not commit himself, +and so very little information was gained from his visit, and they could +only wait in hope that his medicine would soon effect some improvement +on the patient. + +Meanwhile news had arrived that Prince Rupert had been compelled to +surrender Bristol and several other places in the west, and that another +battle disastrous to Charles had been fought at Rowton Moor. The King +had been completely defeated, and compelled to retire to Oxford for the +winter, and Captain Stanhope and his wife were coming to Hayslope. This +was the news brought by one or two of the men who came back to the +village to tell of the death or imprisonment of others who had gone +forth with them that sweet spring day a few months before. So the winter +came in gloomy enough, and men grew fiercer each day about the strife +that was raging in the land. In Hayslope all the rage was against the +London Parliament, and many vowed that if one of Cromwell's troopers +showed himself there he should be killed, whoever he might be. This +threat did not disturb Maud much, even if she heard it, for she did not +think it was likely any of the Parliament men would come there, and she +could only feel glad that the messenger had gone away before the arrival +of these half-frenzied men. She still visited occasionally among the +villagers, and contributed to their wants as far as she could; but a +good deal of her time was occupied with Master Drury now, and Dame +Coppins was almost forgotten, apparently. + +She was therefore greatly surprised one day to receive a message from a +village lad, saying she was wanted down the lane. She had no doubt who +wanted her, but she did not intend going; she would not give Dame +Coppins the opportunity of bewitching her any more; and so merely +saying, "Prithee, I will think about it," she walked home as fast as she +could. + +That evening, about six o'clock, just as they were about to assemble for +supper, one of the maids came to her and whispered that she was wanted; +a man, who refused to say who he was or where he came from, demanded to +see her. + +Maud shivered: such mysterious messages were disagreeable, and she was +just about to say she would not go, when Mistress Mabel appearing in the +passage settled the matter; for had she heard her refuse, there would +have been an instant inquiry, and the lady would not have rested until +she found out all about the supposed witch and Maud's charities in the +village. + +So to prevent this she threw a cloak over her head, and followed the +maid, without speaking, to where a muffled figure stood outside the +door. She had only stepped off the threshold, when a gust of wind blew +the door close, and at the same moment her wrist was seized, and she was +dragged away from the house; and before she could even scream, or give +any alarm, she was lifted on to a horse, and the man sprang up before +her, and galloped away into the village. + +[Illustration: ABDUCTION OF MAUD.] + +All the horrible tales Maud had ever heard of people being carried off +by witches rushed to her mind when she saw that they were turning round +by the blacksmith's shed. All was dark and still, but she tried to +scream, in hopes of raising some alarm; but fear had paralyzed her +tongue, and she could not utter a sound. She was like one in all the +horrors of a nightmare, and believed she was on a phantom horse, +although she could hear it splashing though the wet mud, precisely as +Cavalier did the day before, when she was out riding with Mistress +Stanhope. + +At length they stopped just opposite the widow's cottage, as Maud +expected, for she had no doubt that this ride was of the witch's +planning; and feeling powerless to resist, she suffered herself to be +lifted down, and expected to be carried into the house. But instead of +this, a familiar, though scarcely remembered, but very human voice, +said, "Go in, Mistress Maud, I will look after Cavalier." But Maud did +not move, although the man stepped to the horse's head. Before she could +make up her mind, however, to run away, the cottage door opened, and a +weak, quivering voice, said, "Roger, Roger, is that you?" + +Without answering, the man left the horse and came to Maud. "Prithee, be +not so sorrowful," he said; "there's hope for him yet, if we can only +get a physician to him soon, and Dame Coppins says----" + +But Maud staggered back as he would have led her into the house. "Tell +me what it is, and who you are," she gasped. + +The man was perplexed. "Marry, but you know me, Mistress Maud. I'm +Roger, Master Drury's servant, and the letter told all about the rest, I +trow." + +What the "rest" was Maud had not time to ask, for at that moment the +cottage door opened again, and Dame Coppins drew her inside. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +HARRY'S RETURN. + + +Suddenly stepping out of the darkness into the lighted room, Maud could +not distinguish any object at first, and only heard as in a dream Dame +Coppins's words, "Be calm, Mistress Maud, for he is very weak, I trow." +Then, looking across the room, she saw some one lying on a bed with +hands eagerly outstretched towards her, and a faint voice uttered, +"Maud, Maud, come to me; let me hold your hand once more." The sound of +that feeble pleading voice brought back Maud's bewildered senses. +"Harry," she gasped, "Oh, my Harry!" and she was kneeling by the low +bed, kissing the thin white hands. + +[Illustration: MEETING OF MAUD AND HARRY.] + +For a few minutes no one came near them, and Maud knelt there sobbing, +for her overstrained feelings would have vent, in spite of her effort to +control them. + +Harry was the first to regain composure, and smoothing the soft braids +of her hair, he said, "I began to fear you would never forgive me, Maud; +and I could not die without your forgiveness." + +"Forgive you!" repeated Maud. "I have wanted to ask you to forgive me +for speaking as I did the morning you went away." + +"I have nothing to forgive," said Harry. "You could not but believe I +was a traitor, as you said, in refusing to serve the King." + +"Nay, nay, but I ought to have believed you were acting conscientiously, +although I could not see things as you saw them. I was hard, +uncharitable, cruel, Harry." + +"Nay, nay, Maud; cruel, when at Oxford you saved my life?" + +"I did not know it was to save you," murmured Maud. + +Harry looked disappointed, and dropped the hand he was holding. "Maud, +when I saw you there, riding through the soldiers, I thought it was for +me you came, although you had given your heart and hand to another." + +Maud stared. "Given heart and hand to another!" she repeated. + +"Hush! hush!" said Harry, "my secret shall die with me. I would not even +ask about you when I came here, but suffer me to call you Maud the +little while I stay." + +"What other name should I be called?" asked Maud, in surprise. + +"Nay, nay, I cannot play now, Maud," said Harry, "I would not even +suffer a word to be spoken about you until I heard Captain Stanhope and +his wife were coming from Oxford, and then I roused myself to write that +letter, for I longed to see you once again, as the companion of my +childhood and the friend----" + +"Prithee, I have received no letter," said Maud. + +"Marry, but I sent one, and the messenger said he had delivered it into +the hand of Mistress Stanhope herself," said Harry. + +"But I am not Mistress Stanhope," said Maud, smiling. + +Harry raised himself in bed, and looked earnestly into her face. "You +are not the wife of Captain Stanhope?" he repeated. + +"No, it is Mary who is married," said Maud. + +Harry fell back on his pillow, and Roger and Dame Coppins were obliged +to administer some restoratives; but the moment he had revived he looked +round for Maud, and feebly murmured her name. + +"I am with you, Harry dear," she whispered, and took his hand, while +Dame Coppins told the story of how he had been brought there in a litter +some weeks before by Roger and the messenger, who had fled to her +cottage from the violence of the villagers. The man had remained with +her until he recovered from his wound, and had told her who were the +prisoners at Oxford, and the certainty of their release if the letters +were only delivered in time; and the old woman's joy on hearing from +Bertram that Maud had reached Oxford as she did, unloosed her tongue +and thus brought upon herself the charge of witchcraft. Maud felt +heartily ashamed of her hasty judgment now, and when she heard how +greatly Harry had longed to see her, she felt more grieved than ever +that she had stayed away from the cottage. Dame Coppins had felt +anxious, when day after day passed and no one came from the Grange, for +she began to fear some of them had heard she had strange visitors, for +it was the messenger who had been with her that informed Harry it was +dangerous for him to go to the village even to see his father, and +persuaded him to come to Dame Coppins's cottage, and wait for some +chance to send to his father secretly. Roger came with him, for Harry +was too ill when he left London to travel alone, and all Dame Coppins's +herb tea had failed to do him any good; and so at last, feeling sure he +had not long to live, he wrote a letter to Maud, enclosing one to be +given to his father, asking his forgiveness, and begging he would come +and see him. This was addressed to Mistress Stanhope, and delivered to +her, but which she took care no one else should hear of, destroying her +father's letter as well as her own. + +Maud did not hear this all at once. Harry could say but little more that +night beyond how he had longed for her after the letter was sent, and +how disappointed he was that she did not come. + +"But what made you think I was Mistress Stanhope?" asked Maud. + +"Roger told me you were about to be married when he left the village +last summer. We met in a slight skirmish soon after I recovered from my +wounds, and enemies though we ought to have been, we could not help +exchanging a few friendly words; and it was because I knew he loved me +truly, despite of the King's quarrel, that I asked his release, to +attend me when I came home." + +"Yes, Harry, you must come home," said Maud, in a determined tone. + +"Yes, I am almost there," murmured Harry; "but it is harder to leave +now, Maud, than before I saw you, and heard about this mistake." + +"Nay, nay, but it is to the Grange you must come, Harry," said Maud, +with a faint blush. "Your father is ill, but the sight of you will do +him more good than all the physician can do; and if you are there the +doctor can attend to your wants as well." + +But Harry shook his head. "I have longed to see my father and the old +Grange, Maud; but you must ask his forgiveness and blessing now. I +cannot move from here." + +"Nay, nay, but you must try, Harry," said Maud, almost wildly; "for my +sake," she added, in a whisper. + +Harry looked at the pleading face. "You forget," he said, "I have vowed +never to set foot inside the Grange again. I came to Hayslope to ask my +father's forgiveness, but not to go to the Grange." + +"It was a proud, rash vow," said Maud. "Your father has much to give up +in receiving you, and it is but right you should first seek him." + +Harry did not know how much he had indulged this proud, bitter spirit, +until now, and it was only after much pleading from Maud that he +consented to give it up. She obtained a promise from him, however, that +he would come to the Grange before she left, and then she went home +again, under Roger's guidance, to perform the more difficult task of +winning a welcome for him there. As Cavalier trotted along her brain was +busy upon the question how she should do this, and at length she +resolved to mention what had happened to no one but Master Drury. To +Mistress Mabel's questioning she would answer she had been to see some +one who was ill in the village, for if she and Mary heard Harry was +likely to return to his home, they would oppose it, she knew. The +household had become somewhat accustomed to Maud's erratic doings by +this time, and so little wonder was expressed that she did not come into +the keeping-room to supper. Every one supposed she was in her own room, +and so at the usual hour the watch dogs were set upon their guard and +the house locked up, and by the time Maud got there every light was +extinguished but the little lamp burning in Master Drury's room. The +approach of Cavalier, therefore, at that unseasonable hour, was the +signal for all the dogs to set up a furious barking, and all the +household was aroused. Captain Stanhope was the first to make his +appearance at an open window, and demand the reason of the disturbance, +warning the intruders that if they came a step nearer the house he would +discharge his musket at them. + +Maud hardly knew what to do, but begged Roger to let her reply, hoping +the gentleman would recognise her voice; but he failed to do this for +some time, until, assured it was a woman who was speaking, he consented +to come down and open the door, as soon as all the servants were armed +to resist any attack that might be made. + +Maud could not help laughing, and yet the dilemma was a serious one just +now, as she knew she should have to give an account of herself to +everybody. At length the door was opened, and Maud walked in past the +row of servants, and upstairs to where Mistress Mabel, with Bertram and +Bessie, were shivering in the gallery with fright and cold. + +Mistress Mabel was speechless with anger, and seizing Maud's wrist, +marched her into Master Drury's room at once. "Now, Master Drury, you +will nathless make this wilful girl give an account of herself," said +the lady, and she sat down; while Captain Stanhope and the rest came +into the room, and the servants crowded round the door to hear what had +happened. + +"Marry, I would speak to Master Drury alone," said Maud. + +"Nay, nay, you must speak out before us all, unless it is some shameful +deed you would tell of," said Mistress Mabel and Mary both in a breath. + +Maud turned and looked at Mary. "You know what I have to tell," she +said, angrily, "for you had a letter from Harry, telling his father he +was dying, and craved his forgiveness." + +Master Drury raised himself in bed. "You have seen my son--my Harry!" he +exclaimed, eagerly, looking at Maud. + +But Captain Stanhope stepped forward. "You forget," he whispered, "you +have no children but Mary and Bessie. Even the boy Bertram has turned to +follow his brother's way of thinking." + +"Nay, nay," said the old man, pleadingly. "I must see my son, my Harry, +before I die. Where is he? Where is he?" he asked of Maud. + +"He will come to-morrow," replied Maud; "he is ill--very ill, but may +get better if he has a physician." + +"Tell me all about him, Maud; you saved his life, I know." + +Bertram and Bessie were almost as eager as their father to hear all +about their brother, and so in the hearing of them all, Maud told how +she had been fetched to the cottage that evening to see Harry. + +Master Drury would have had him brought to the Grange that night, had it +been possible, but was at length persuaded to wait until the morning, on +Maud promising to go down and prepare him for the removal as soon as it +was light. + +Captain Stanhope and his wife were the only ones who did not rejoice at +the thought of Harry's return, and it was easy to see why they were so +disappointed. The Captain, having an eye to Mary's wealth when he +married her, had done all he could to increase Master Drury's anger +against his son, and even persuaded him to disinherit Bertram in favour +of Mary. Now the hopes this had raised were all crushed, and the next +day, before the litter arrived with Harry, the disappointed pair had +left for Oxford. Mistress Mabel, finding her nephew's return was +inevitable, wisely made the best of it, and accorded a grim welcome, +hoping they would not all be beheaded by-and-by for sheltering a +traitor. + +The meeting between the long-estranged father and son we will pass over +in silence. Harry had not been at the Grange long before he began to +improve, and soon hinted that, instead of a funeral, there would have to +be a wedding for him. Master Drury too began to grow stronger, but the +overthrow of his faith in King Charles was a blow he could not recover +entirely; and although he confessed to his son that he believed he was +right in espousing the cause of the Parliament, yet he begged him not to +leave the Grange again while he lived, a promise Harry was the more +willing to give since his health would not allow him to join the army +again, and Maud had consented to be his wife early in the spring. + +Mistress Mabel's fear of being beheaded for receiving her nephew was +quite groundless, and even Captain Stanhope was glad to ask the interest +and protection of the man he had sought to injure when the Royalists +were ultimately defeated and the Commonwealth established. Before this, +however, Harry succeeded his father as Master Drury of Hayslope Grange, +for the old man never held up his head after the death of King Charles, +and died a few months after the King was beheaded. His last days were +calm and tranquil. "By the grace of Christ," he was wont to say--"he had +conquered his pride and prejudice, which had brought such misery to +Hayslope Grange." + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hayslope Grange, by Emma Leslie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HAYSLOPE GRANGE *** + +***** This file should be named 19136.txt or 19136.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/1/3/19136/ + +Produced by David Clarke, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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