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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40690 ***
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+Roger Kyffin's Ward, by WHG Kingston.
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+ROGER KYFFIN'S WARD, BY WHG KINGSTON.
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+A PANIC IN THE CITY.
+
+London was in commotion.  On a certain afternoon in the early part of
+the year 1797, vast numbers of persons of all ranks of society, wealthy
+merchants, sober shopkeepers, eager barristers, country squires, men of
+pleasure, dandies, and beaus, and many others of even more doubtful
+position, might have been seen hurrying up through lanes and alleys
+towards the chief centre of British commerce--the Bank of England, that
+mighty heart, in and out of which the golden stream flows to and fro
+along its numberless arteries.  Numerous carriages, also, some with
+coronets on their panels, and powdered footmen behind, rolled up from
+Cheapside.  Among their occupants were ministers of state, foreign
+ambassadors, earls and barons of the realm, members of parliament,
+wealthy country gentlemen, and other persons of distinction.  While in
+not a few were widows and spinster ladies, dowager duchesses and maids
+of honour, and other dames with money in the funds.  On the countenances
+of the larger portion of the moving throng might be traced a word of
+uncomfortable import--"Panic."
+
+It was an eventful period.  Seldom during that or the present century
+have English patriots had greater cause for anxiety.  Never, certainly,
+from the day of the explosion of the South Sea Bubble up to that period,
+had the mercantile atmosphere been more agitated.  The larger portion of
+the motley crowd turned on one side to the Bank of England, where the
+ladies, descending from their carriages, pressed eagerly forward amidst
+the people on foot, one behind the other, to reach the counters.
+Another portion entered the Royal Exchange, while a considerable number
+of the carriages proceeded along Cornhill.
+
+The appearance of the surrounding edifices was, however, different from
+that of the present day.  The old Mansion House was there, and the new
+Bank of England had been erected, but all else has been altered.  The
+then existing Royal Exchange was greatly inferior to the fine structure
+at present to be seen between the Mansion House and the Bank.  It stood
+in a confined space, surrounded by tall blocks of buildings, dark and
+dingy, though not altogether unpicturesque.  Whatever were its defects,
+it served its purpose, and would have been serving it still, probably,
+had it not been burnt down.
+
+Numerous excited groups of men now filled the greater part of the
+interior area; some were bending eagerly forward, either more forcibly
+to express an opinion, or to hear what was said by the speaker on the
+opposite side of the circle.  Others were whispering into their
+neighbours' ears, with hands lifted up, listening attentively to the
+remarks bestowed upon them, while others were hurrying to and fro
+gathering the opinion of their acquaintances, and then quickly again
+putting it forth as their own, or hastening away to act on the
+information they had received.
+
+"Terrible news!  The country will be ruined to a certainty!  The French
+will be here within a week!  Fearful disaster!  The fleet has mutinied!
+The army will follow their example!  Ireland is in open rebellion!  The
+bank is drained of specie!  Failures in every direction!  The funds at
+fifty-seven!"
+
+Such were some of the remarks flying about, and which formed the subject
+matter of the addresses delivered by the various speakers.  Many persons
+then collected were sober-minded citizens, merchants of good repute,
+trading with the West Indian Sugar Islands, Africa, the Colonies of
+North America, or the Baltic, East India directors, or others, whose
+transactions compelled them to assemble, for the negotiation of their
+bills on 'change.
+
+A considerable number, however, of those who came into the city from the
+West End did not stop at the Exchange, but continued their course a
+short distance farther, along Cornhill, where turning on one side they
+found themselves in the precincts of Change Alley.  An old writer
+describes that region: "The limits are easily surrounded in a minute and
+a half.  Step out of Jonathan's into the alley, turn your face due east,
+move on a few paces to Garraway's.  From thence go out at the other
+door, and go on still east, into Birchin Lane, and then halting at the
+Sword-blade bank, and facing the north, you will enter Cornhill, and
+visit two or three petty provinces there to the west, and thus having
+boxed your compass, and sailed round the stock-jobbing globe, you turn
+into Jonathan's again."
+
+In Jonathan's well-known coffee-house, and in its immediate
+neighbourhood, was assembled a large number of persons, varying in rank
+and appearance far more than those who were inside the Exchange.  To
+this point the coroneted carriages had been directing their course.  The
+occupants of some had got out and entered the coffee-house.  Others
+remained with their brokers at the door, eager to gain certain
+intelligence, which was to raise or depress the market.  Here too were
+to be seen persons in Eastern costume, and others in English dress, both
+however with the unmistakable features of the Jew.  There were courtiers
+and gentlemen from the fashionable parts of the metropolis, in silk
+stockings and diamond-buckled shoes, with powdered wigs, frilled shirts,
+and swords by their sides, or quakers in broad-brimmed hats and garments
+of sombre hue, such as were worn by our puritan ancestors of the
+previous century.  Here too were portly citizens with gold-headed canes
+and well-brushed beavers, their countenances anxious, but honest and
+straightforward, though many other persons were there, some in
+shabby-genteel costume, others in threadbare and almost ragged coats,
+and again, many whose sharp eager eyes and pale features showed that
+they had been long accustomed to the transactions of the place.  The two
+great parties in the State might in most cases have been distinguished
+by the difference of their costume.  The Tories, the supporters of the
+war, determined foes of the men then in power in France, generally
+retained the gay and handsome costume of their fathers, while the Whigs
+and Jacobinical party affected a republican simplicity, and dressed in
+straight-cut coats and low-crowned hats, which had been introduced in
+France.
+
+We shall have to return to Jonathan's by-and-bye, and will in the
+meantime go back to the Royal Exchange.  Among those who were making
+their way towards it from the lanes which led up from the banks of the
+river was a person not unworthy of notice.  He was a man past the
+meridian of life, of tall and commanding figure.  The leather-like skin
+of his colourless face, though free from spot or blemish, was slightly
+wrinkled, and his somewhat massive features wore a calm and unmoved
+expression, which might have surprised those who could have defined the
+feelings agitating his bosom.  No wonder that his mind was troubled.
+Those were anxious times for men engaged even in very limited
+transactions.  Stephen Coppinger's were extensive and complex.  There
+was scarcely a pie baked in those days in which he had not a finger.  He
+walked at a dignified pace, with a smile on his lips, and his bright
+eyes calm, though watchful.  His dark-coloured suit of fine cloth with
+brass buttons was carefully brushed, a small quantity of powder only
+shaken on his hair, which was fastened behind in a long queue, resting
+on his collar.  The folds of his white neck-cloth, and the frill of fine
+lace which appeared beneath his waistcoat, were scrupulously clean and
+well arranged.  Silk stockings with knee breeches, and shoes with steel
+buttons, encased his legs and feet.  In his hand he carried a thick
+gold-headed walking-stick, though scarcely requiring it to support his
+steps, while a plain cocked hat, and a spencer, for the weather was
+cold, completed his costume.  His step was firm, his head erect, as he
+walked along with a dignified air, bowing to one acquaintance, nodding
+to another, and returning with condescension the salutations of his
+inferiors.  He observed many other persons proceeding in the same
+direction, several of whom he knew, the countenances of not a few
+wearing that expression of anxiety which he took care his own should not
+exhibit.  Several of them did not notice him, as, lost in thought, with
+their heads cast down, they picked their way over the uneven pavement.
+
+Stephen Coppinger had scarcely reached his accustomed "walk" in the
+Exchange, when his acquaintance, Alderman Bycroft, bustled up to him.
+
+"Well, friend Coppinger, you look as calm as if nothing had happened!"
+exclaimed the alderman; "have you not heard the news?"
+
+"Which news?" asked the merchant in a quiet voice, without the slightest
+change of countenance; "so many reports are flying about that I believe
+none of them."
+
+"You could not have heard the news, or you would not look so abominably
+unconcerned," exclaimed the alderman, who was a somewhat fussy excitable
+gentleman.  "Why, the news is positively fearful!  A mutiny has broken
+out on board the channel fleet at Spithead!  They have murdered Lord
+Bridport and most of their officers, and threatened, if they have not
+everything their own way, to carry the ships over to the French.  The
+enemy's fleets are mustering in great force, and may be across the
+Channel, for what we can tell, at this moment.  The Irish are in
+rebellion, and are certain to join them and cut all our throats."
+
+"Terrible, if true," answered Mr. Coppinger, with a smile, which he
+could afford to bestow on his excitable friend; "but I think, my dear
+alderman, I can correct you.  The crews of the Channel fleet have
+undoubtedly refused to proceed to sea unless their very reasonable
+demands are agreed to, and I know for certain that they have treated the
+admiral and their officers with every respect.  They will, I have no
+fear, therefore, when their petition is granted, return to their duty.
+If the French come we will give them a warm reception.  In the meantime,
+however, I acknowledge we are likely to suffer by having our merchantmen
+exposed to the depredations of the enemy's ships, and this is about the
+worst danger I apprehend."
+
+"You take things too calmly, my friend!" exclaimed the alderman.
+"Suppose the fleet refuses to obey orders, what are we to do?  There's
+the question.  I am of opinion that we should call out the train-bands,
+the volunteers, and the militia, and man every vessel in the Thames, and
+sail down and capture the mutineers."
+
+"I suspect, my friend, that your proposed flotilla would very soon be
+sent to the right-about, if not to the bottom.  It would be wiser to
+inquire into the complaints of the seamen, and to redress their
+grievances.  Their pay was small enough at first during Charles the
+Second's reign, and since then all necessary articles of subsistence
+have advanced fully fifty per cent, and all the men require is, that
+their wages may be proportionably increased.  They ask also that the
+naval pensions may be augmented, as have those of Chelsea, to 13 pounds
+a year.  The Greenwich pensions still remain at 7 pounds.  They also beg
+that while in harbour they may have more liberty to go on shore, and
+that when seamen are wounded they may receive their pay till cured or
+discharged.  Their other requests are really as moderate, and though I,
+for one, would never countenance mutiny, from my heart I believe that
+their demands are just."
+
+"Can't see that," answered the alderman.  "In my opinion the country is
+going to rack and ruin.  What are we to do without gold?  Then we are to
+have more loans.  We have already lent Prussia, Sardinia, and the
+Emperor of Austria some seven or eight millions, and are now going to
+make a further loan to Portugal, and for all I know to the contrary we
+shall soon be subsidising all the rest of Europe."
+
+"If this war with France is to continue, I, for my part, shall be glad
+if we have so many friends on our side," observed Mr. Coppinger, whose
+great object at the moment was to tranquillise the minds of his City
+friends.  "We are not likely to pay money away without getting something
+for it."
+
+"Not so sure of that," replied the alderman; "John Bull is apt to throw
+his cash away with his eyes shut, and that is what we have been doing
+for some time past.  Had Lord Malmesbury been successful in his
+negotiation for peace, things might have been different, but what can be
+worse with consols down to fifty-seven, a fearful run on the Bank of
+England, and now a suspension of payment in specie altogether, with this
+dangerous mutiny of the fleet as a climax!  Then look at Ireland--half
+the country in a state of rebellion; the people shrieking out for the
+assistance of the French, and cutting each other's throats in the
+meantime.  Then these Jacobin clubs in London and throughout all our
+large towns, doing their utmost to bring about a republic in England.
+If they could imitate the French and cut off our king's head, they would
+do it.  And as to the army, I am not certain that we can put confidence
+in it.  Ah! my dear sir, the sun of England's glory has set; that is my
+opinion.  I may be wrong--I hope so--but that is my opinion."
+
+"You take too gloomy a view of the state of affairs, alderman," said Mr.
+Coppinger.  "Things are very bad, I'll own, but they may improve.  Lord
+Duncan's late victory should give us confidence.  The fate of the French
+who landed in Pembrokeshire the other day, shows that even though our
+enemies may set foot on our shores, they may not gain much by their
+impudence.  No fear about our army, that is staunch, and the navy will
+soon return to its duty, and then Old England will be well able to hold
+her own against all her enemies."
+
+Stephen Coppinger was anxious to get rid of the alderman without
+rudeness, and that worthy finding he could not frighten his friend, soon
+bustled off to communicate his alarm to some more excitable listener.
+
+The merchant, however, was very far from feeling the tranquillity he
+exhibited.  He well knew the desperate state of affairs, but at the same
+time it was important that the public mind should be tranquillised.  He
+had also several bills to negotiate and other business to transact,
+which required his own mind to be peculiarly calm and collected.  Many
+other persons addressed him, most of them as agitated as Alderman
+Bycroft.  He had to get rid of them one after the other, and having
+despatched his own business, maintaining his usual composed manner, he
+quitted the Exchange.
+
+He proceeded along Cornhill to the narrow passage which led into Change
+Alley, and with deliberate steps entered Jonathan's.  Every room in that
+once celebrated coffee-house was full.  Some persons were transacting
+private business in the smaller rooms, while in the larger, stood eager
+groups of brokers and dealers, with their books in their hands, noting
+the various transactions in which they were engaged.
+
+The news flying about had caused the funds to fall yet lower than on the
+previous day, and brokers were hurrying to and fro, receiving orders
+from their various constituents, some to buy, others to sell forthwith.
+Stephen Coppinger gave certain directions to his broker in a subdued
+tone.  It was even with greater difficulty than in the morning that he
+could command his voice, then bowing to his acquaintance as he passed,
+he took his way back to Idol Lane.
+
+He preserved his calm and dignified air, during his walk to his
+counting-house.  Passing through the public office to his private room,
+he closed the door, and throwing himself back into his arm-chair,
+pressed his hands on his brow for some minutes, lost in thought.  At
+length turning round towards his large black writing-table, and
+referring to some letters and other papers, he seized a pen which he
+mechanically mended, almost in so doing cutting through his thumb nail,
+and made some rapid calculations.  They were not apparently
+satisfactory.  He rang sharply a hand-bell by his side.  Scarcely had
+the silvery sounds died away when the heavy door of the oak-panelled
+room slowly opened, and a clerk, with a ponderous volume under his arm,
+entered.  He was dressed as became the managing clerk of a large
+establishment, with great neatness and precision, his hair being
+carefully powdered, though his side curls were somewhat smaller than
+those of his employer.  His complexion was clear, with a good colour on
+his cheeks, which betokened sound health, while his countenance wore a
+peculiarly calm expression, calculated to gain the confidence of those
+with whom he had dealings.  Roger Kyffin was highly esteemed by his
+principal as well as by all his subordinates.  His word was, in truth,
+as good as Stephen Coppinger's bond.  What Roger Kyffin said Stephen
+Coppinger would do, was done.  On the day and hour Roger Kyffin promised
+that cash should be paid, it was paid without fail.  Stephen Coppinger
+had no partner.  He scorned to throw responsibility on an unknown
+company, while, with only one exception, to no other breast than his own
+would he confide the secrets of his transactions.  That exception was
+the breast of Roger Kyffin.  Roger Kyffin placed the open folio before
+his principal, and produced a paper with the remarks he had made
+respecting certain entries.
+
+"Bad!" observed Stephen Coppinger, as he ran his eye over the book and
+paper; "but see, these letters bring worse news.  The `Belmont Castle'
+has been taken by the enemy.  The `Tiger' has foundered during a
+hurricane in the West Indies.  Jecks Tarbett and Simmons have failed;
+their debt is a large one.  Hunter and Dove's affairs are in an
+unsatisfactory condition.  I don't like Joseph Hudson's proceedings in
+Change Alley; he yesterday begged that I would renew his bill.  In
+truth, Roger Kyffin, unless matters improve..."  A groan escaped from
+Stephen Coppinger's bosom.
+
+"The amount you require must be raised," observed Roger Kyffin, taking
+half a turn across the room.  "Leave that to me.  You have so often
+aided friends in need, that I anticipate no difficulty in obtaining
+help."
+
+"It will be from no want of exertion on your part if you fail," said
+Stephen Coppinger, brightening up slightly.
+
+"Keep up your spirits, sir," said Roger Kyffin.  "The credit of your
+firm will not suffer, depend on that.  I will now set out and see what
+can be done.  I hope to bring satisfactory intelligence before evening."
+
+Saying this, Roger Kyffin left the room, carefully closing the door
+behind him.  While putting on his spencer and hat, he intimated to his
+principal subordinate, Mr. Silas Sleech, that he should probably be
+absent for some hours.  Mr. Sleech glanced after him with a pair of
+meaningless eyes, set in an immovable countenance, and saying, "Oh, very
+well," went on with his work.
+
+More respecting Mr. Silas Sleech and his doings may possibly be
+mentioned.
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+IN WHICH SEVERAL PERSONAGES ARE INTRODUCED.
+
+Roger Kyffin took his way westward.  As soon as he had got out of the
+crowded thoroughfares, he called a coach, for in those days walking in
+London was a more fatiguing operation than at present.  The progress of
+the vehicle, however, in which he took his seat was not very rapid.  It
+was a large and lumbering affair, drawn by a pair of broken-down hacks,
+the asthmatic cough of one keeping in countenance the shattered knees of
+the other.  At length he reached the door of a substantial mansion in
+the middle of Clifford Street.  The bell was answered by a servant in
+sober livery.
+
+"Is Mr. Thornborough at home?" he asked, at the same time presenting a
+card with his name in a bold hand written on it.  The servant was absent
+but a short time, when he returned, saying that his master would be glad
+to see Mr. Roger Kyffin.  The visitor was shown into a handsome parlour,
+where, seated before a fire with his buckled shoes on a footstool, was a
+venerable-looking gentleman, with his silvery locks slightly powdered
+hanging down over his shoulders.  A richly-embroidered waistcoat, a
+plum-coloured coat with mother-of-pearl buttons, knee breeches, and
+black silk stockings with clocks, completed his costume.  By his side
+sat a lady dressed in rich garments, though of somewhat sombre hue.
+
+The white curls which appeared under her high cap showed that she was
+advanced in life, and the pleasant smile on her comely features
+betokened a kind and genial disposition.  She rose from her seat, and
+kindly welcomed Roger Kyffin, directing the servant to place a chair for
+him before the fire.  The old gentleman shook his hand, but pleaded age
+as an excuse for not rising.
+
+"You have given us but little of your company for many a day, Mr.
+Kyffin," said the lady in a kind tone.  "We thought you must have left
+London altogether."
+
+"No, Mrs. Barbara, I have scarcely been beyond the sound of Bow Bells;
+but I must plead business as an excuse for my negligence.  These are
+anxious times, and mercantile men must needs pay more than double
+attention to their affairs."
+
+"If they demand more time, undoubtedly we should give it; if not, we are
+robbing other matters of their due attention," observed Mr.
+Thornborough.
+
+"I agree with you, sir," answered Mr. Kyffin; "I must confess, indeed,
+that a matter of business of great importance to a friend brought me to
+the west.  I would ask you to allow me a few minutes that I may explain
+the matter to you clearly."
+
+"Speak on, friend, I keep no secrets from Barbara, and if she does not
+know all my affairs, it is through no wish on my part to hide them from
+her.  My sister is a discreet woman, Mr. Kyffin, and that's more perhaps
+than can be said of all her sex."
+
+Mr. Kyffin bowed his acquiescence in this opinion.  He, then turning to
+the old gentleman, explained clearly the difficulties which surrounded
+his friend and principal, Mr. Stephen Coppinger.  Mr. Thornborough
+uttered two or three exclamations as Roger Kyffin went on in his
+account.
+
+"I thought that my friend Stephen had been a more prudent man," he
+observed.  "How could he enter into such a speculation?  How could he
+trust such people as Hunter and Dove?  Why, Roger Kyffin, you yourself
+should have been better informed about them.  However, if we were only
+to undertake to assist the wise and prudent we might keep our money
+chests locked and our pockets buttoned up.  Stephen Coppinger is an
+honest man, and has shown himself a kind and generous one, albeit he
+might not always have exhibited as much prudence, as was desirable.  The
+amount you mention shall, however, be at his disposal.  We must not let
+a breath of suspicion rest on his name.  I have a regard for him, and
+his six fair daughters, and it would be cruel to allow the maidens to go
+out into the world without sufficient dowers or means of maintenance,
+whereas if Stephen Coppinger tides over the present crisis, he may leave
+them all well off."
+
+"That's right, that's right," said Mrs. Barbara, looking approvingly at
+her brother.  "He gives good advice, and acts it, too, eh, Mr. Kyffin?
+And now my brother has had his say I must have mine.  What about the
+negro slave trade?  We have not seen Mr. Wilberforce nor any of his
+friends for several weeks, and my brother cannot help on the cause as he
+used to do."
+
+"It is a good cause, that will ultimately be successful," answered Roger
+Kyffin; "but, my dear Mrs. Barbara, like other good causes, we may have
+a long fight for it before we gain the day.  Just now men's minds are so
+engaged with our national affairs that the poor blacks are very little
+thought of."
+
+"Too true," answered Mistress Barbara; "I wish, however, that Mr.
+Wilberforce would call here.  I want to tell him how delighted I am with
+his new book, which I got a few days ago--his `Practical View of
+Christianity.'  It will open the eyes, I hope, of some of the upper
+classes, to the hollow and unsatisfying nature of the forms to which
+they cling.  I think, and my brother agrees with me, it's one of the
+finest books on theology that has ever been written; that is to say, it
+is more likely to bring people to a knowledge of the truth than all the
+works of the greatest divines of the past and present age.  Get the book
+and judge for yourself."
+
+Mr. Kyffin promised to do so, and after some further conversation, he
+rose to take his departure.  Mrs. Barbara did not fail to press him to
+come again as soon as his occupations would allow.
+
+"The money shall be ready for you before noon to-morrow," said Mr.
+Thornborough, shaking his hand.  Roger Kyffin hastened back to Idol
+Lane.  Mr. Coppinger had not risen from his arm-chair since he quitted
+the house.  The belief that his liabilities would be met without further
+difficulty, greatly relieved the merchant's mind, and he thanked Roger
+Kyffin again and again for the important assistance afforded him.
+
+"Say not a word about it," answered the clerk; "if I have been useful to
+you, it was my duty.  You found me in distress, and I shall never be
+able to repay the long-standing debt I owe you.  Still I wish to place
+myself under a further obligation.  I would rather have deferred
+speaking on the matter, but it will allow of no delay.  I have to plead
+for a friend, ay, more than a friend--that unhappy young man--your
+nephew.  You are mistaken as to his character.  However appearances are
+against him.  I am certain that Harry Tryon is not guilty of the crime
+imputed to him.  Some day I shall be able to unravel the mystery.  In
+the meantime I am ready to answer for his conduct, if you will reinstate
+him in the position which he so unwisely left.  He has no natural love
+for business, I grant, but he is high-spirited and excessively
+sensitive, and I am therefore sure that he will not rest satisfied
+unless he is restored to his former position, and enabled to establish
+his innocence."
+
+"You press me hard, Kyffin," answered Mr. Coppinger.  "Besides the fact
+that the lad is my great-nephew, although his grandmother and I have
+kept up very little intercourse for years, I have no prejudice against
+him, and I consider that I acted leniently in not sending after him, and
+compelling him to discover the authors of the fraud committed against my
+house.  Even should he not be guilty, he must know who are guilty."
+
+"Granted, sir, and I speak it with all respect," said Roger Kyffin, "but
+if he is innocent, and that he is I am ready to stake my existence, he
+would, had you examined him, have had an opportunity of vindicating
+himself.  I know not now what has become of the lad, and I dread that he
+may be driven into some desperate course.  I am, however, using every
+means to discover him, and I should be thankful if I could send him word
+that you are ready to look into his case."
+
+"No, no, Kyffin, I am resolved to wash my hands of the lad and his
+affairs, and I would advise you to do the same," replied Mr. Coppinger.
+"I find that he got into bad company, and was led into all sorts of
+extravagances, which of course would have made him try to supply himself
+with money.  Had he been steady and industrious, I should have been less
+willing to believe him guilty."
+
+An expression of pain and sorrow passed over Roger Kyffin's countenance
+when he heard these remarks.
+
+"It is too true, I am afraid, that the lad was drawn into bad company,
+and I must confess that appearances are against him," he answered.  "I
+judge him, knowing his right principles, and, though in a certain sense,
+he wants firmness of character, I am sure that nothing would induce, him
+to commit the act of which he is suspected.  I might tell you of many
+kind and generous things he has done.  Since he has grown up he has
+shown himself to be a brave, high-minded young man."
+
+"I do not doubt his bravery or his generosity," answered Mr. Coppinger;
+"both are compatible with extravagance and dissipated conduct.  But I am
+not prejudiced against the lad, and I would rather take your opinion of
+him than trust to my own.  I would wish you, therefore, to follow your
+own course in this matter.  If you think fit, get the lad up here.  We
+will hear what he has to say for himself, and carefully go into his
+case.  I wish that we had done so at first instead of letting him escape
+without further investigation."
+
+"Thank you, sir, thank you, Mr. Coppinger; that is all I require,"
+exclaimed Roger Kyffin.  "Where to find the lad, however, is the
+difficulty.  He has gone through numerous adventures and dangers, and
+has been mercifully preserved.  I had, indeed, given him up as lost, but
+I received a letter from him the other day, though, unfortunately, he
+neglected to date it.  He spoke of others which he had written, but
+which I have not received.  All I can hope now is that he will write
+again and let me know where he is to be found.  Of one thing I am
+certain, that when he is found he will be well able to vindicate his
+character."
+
+
+Not till a late hour was the counting-house in Idol Lane closed that
+day.  Further news of importance might arrive, and Stephen Coppinger was
+unwilling to risk not being present to receive it.  A link boy was in
+waiting to light him to his handsome mansion in Broad Street.  He had
+not yet retired, as was his custom later in the year, to his rural villa
+at Twickenham.
+
+Clerks mostly lived in the city.  Few, at that time, could enjoy a
+residence in the suburbs.  Roger Kyffin, however, had a snug little
+abode of his own at Hampstead, from and to which he was accustomed to
+walk every day.  In the winter season, however, when it was dark,
+several friends who lived in the same locality were in the habit of
+waiting for each other in order to afford mutual protection against
+footpads and highwaymen, to whose attacks single pedestrians were
+greatly exposed.  At one time, indeed, they were accompanied by a
+regular guard of armed men, so audacious had become the banditti of
+London.
+
+Roger Kyffin felt more than an ordinary interest in Mr. Coppinger's
+great-nephew--Harry Tryon--who has been spoken of.  He loved him, in
+truth, as much as if he had been his own son.
+
+When Roger Kyffin was a young man full of ardent aspirations, with no
+small amount of ambition, too, he became acquainted with a beautiful
+girl.  He loved her, and the more he saw of her, the stronger grew his
+attachment.  He had been trained for mercantile business, and had
+already attained a good situation in a counting-house.  He had thus
+every reason to believe, that by perseverance and steadiness, he should
+be able to realise a competency.  He hoped, indeed, to do more than
+this, and that wealth and honours such as others in his position had
+attained, he might be destined to enjoy.  Fanny Ashton had, from the
+first, treated him as a friend.  She could not help liking him.  Indeed,
+possibly, had his modesty not prevented him at that time offering her
+his hand, she might have become his wife.  At the same time, she
+probably had not asked herself the question as to how far her heart was
+his.  She was all life and spirits, with capacity for enjoying
+existence.  By degrees, as she mixed more and more with the gay world,
+her estimation of the humble clerk altered.  She acknowledged his
+sterling qualities, but the fashionable and brilliant cavaliers she met
+in society were more according to her taste.  An aunt, with whom she
+went to reside in London, mixed much in the world.  Roger Kyffin, who
+had looked upon himself in the light of a permitted suitor, though not
+an accepted one, naturally called at her aunt's house in the West End.
+His reception by Fanny was not as cordial as formerly.  Her manner after
+this became colder and colder, till at last when he went to her aunt's
+door he was no longer welcomed.  Still his love for Fanny and his faith
+in her excellencies were not diminished.
+
+"When she comes back to her quiet home she will be as she was before,"
+he thought to himself, and so, though somewhat sad and disappointed, he
+went on hoping that he might win her affection and become her husband.
+
+At length Fanny Ashton returned home.  Roger Kyffin, with the eye of
+love, observed a great change in her.  She was no longer lively and
+animated as before.  Her cheek was pale, and an anxious expression
+passed constantly over her countenance.  She received him kindly, but
+with more formality than usual.  Still Mr. Kyffin ventured to speak to
+her.  She appreciated his love and devotion, she said, and regretted she
+could not give her love in return.
+
+Roger Kyffin did not further press his suit, yet went as frequently to
+the house as he could.  Several times he had observed a gentleman in the
+neighbourhood.  He was a fashionably-dressed, handsome man.  There was
+something, however, in the expression of his countenance which Roger
+Kyffin did not like, for having seen him once, the second time they met
+he marked him narrowly.  What brought him to that neighbourhood?  One
+day as he was going towards Mrs. Ashton's house--Fanny's mother was a
+widow, and she was her only child--he met the stranger coming out of the
+door.  He would scarcely have been human had his jealousy not been
+aroused.  He turned homeward, for he could not bring himself to call
+that day.  The following evening, however, he went as usual, but great
+was his consternation to find that Fanny had gone to stay with her aunt.
+His worst fears were realised when, three weeks after this, he heard
+that Fanny Ashton had married Major Tryon.  He could have borne his
+disappointment better if he could have thought that Fanny had married a
+man worthy of her.
+
+To conquer his love he felt was impossible.  His affection was true and
+loyal.  He would now watch over her and be of service if he could.  His
+inquiries as to the character of Major Tryon were thoroughly
+unsatisfactory.  He was a gay man about town, well known on the turf,
+and a pretty constant frequenter of "hells" and gambling-houses.  He was
+the son of an old general, Sir Harcourt Tryon, and so far of good
+family.  Though a heartless and worthless _roue_, he seemed really to
+have fallen in love with Fanny Ashton, and having done his best to win
+her affections, he had at length resolved, as he called it, to "put his
+neck into the noose."  Roger Kyffin trembled for Fanny's happiness, not
+without reason.  Major Tryon had taken lodgings for her in London.
+Roger Kyffin discovered where he was residing.  Unknown to her, he
+watched over her like a guardian angel, a fond father, or a devoted
+brother.  In a short time her husband took her to the neighbourhood of
+Lynderton, in Hampshire, where Sir Harcourt and Lady Tryon resided, in
+the hopes, probably, that they would take notice of her.  He engaged a
+small cottage with a pretty little garden in front of it, from which a
+view of the Solent and the Isle of Wight was obtained.  Lady Tryon,
+however, and she ruled her husband, had greatly disapproved of her son's
+marriage with the penniless Fanny Ashton, and consequently refused even
+to see his young wife.
+
+In a short time Fanny was deserted by her worthless husband.  Not many
+months had passed away before she received the announcement of his death
+in a duel.  That very evening her child Harry was born.  She never quite
+recovered from the shock she had received.  Sad and dreary were the
+weeks she passed.  No one called on her, for though it was known that
+Major Tryon was married, people were not aware that his young widow was
+residing at Sea View Cottage, which, standing at a distance from any
+high road, few of them ever passed.  Her little boy was her great
+consolation.  All her affections were centred in him.  Her only visitor
+was good Dr. Jessop, the chief medical practitioner at Lynderton.  She
+called him in on one occasion when Harry was ill.  There was not much
+the matter with the child, but he saw at once that the mother far more
+required his aid.  There was a hectic flush on her cheek, a brightness
+in her eye, and a short cough which at once alarmed him, and he resolved
+to keep Master Harry on the sick list, that he might have a better
+excuse for going over to see the poor young widow.
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+THE HERO'S EARLY DAYS, AND A DESCRIPTION OF A LADY OF QUALITY.
+
+Roger Kyffin heard of Major Tryon's death soon after it occurred.  He
+was afraid that Fanny might be left badly off, and he considered how he
+could with the greatest delicacy assist her.  He would not intrude on
+her grief, but he thought that he might employ some person in the
+neighbourhood who would act as agent to take care that she was supplied
+with every comfort.
+
+That evening he was travelling down in the mail coach to Lynderton.  He
+knew his way to the cottage as well as anybody in the place.
+
+Near it was a little inn, to which he had his carpet bag conveyed.  Here
+he took up his abode.  He felt a satisfaction in being near her, but was
+nervous lest by any means she should find out that he was in the
+neighbourhood.  He soon discovered that Dr. Jessop drove by every day
+and visited the cottage, and he resolved, therefore, to stop the doctor
+and introduce himself as a friend of Mrs. Tryon's family.  If he found
+him a trustworthy and sensible person, he would employ him as his agent
+in affording the assistance he wished to render the widow.  He saw him,
+and was satisfied that Dr. Jessop was just the person he hoped to find.
+
+"I have had a long round of visits," said the worthy practitioner, "and
+would gladly put up my horse at the inn and talk the matter over with
+you."
+
+They were soon seated together in the little parlour allotted to Mr.
+Kyffin.  His wishes were easily explained.  "My interesting patient
+will, I am sure, feel grateful for the sympathy and assistance of her
+unknown friend," said the doctor; "but to be frank with you, Mr. Kyffin,
+I fear she will not enjoy it for many years.  I believe that her days
+are numbered--"
+
+He stopped suddenly, observing Roger Kyffin's countenance.
+
+"My dear sir," he exclaimed, "I was not aware how deeply I was wounding
+you, and yet, my friend, it is better to know the truth.  You may yet
+prove a friend to her boy, and should she be taken away, the poor child
+will greatly need one."
+
+It would be difficult to describe the feelings which agitated Roger
+Kyffin's kind heart.  He had one consolation.  He might, as the doctor
+suggested, prove a friend and guardian to the orphan boy.  The kind
+doctor called every day to report on the health of his patient.  He
+gladly undertook to do all in his power in carrying out Mr. Kyffin's
+wishes, and promised not to betray the donor of the money which was to
+be placed at Mrs. Tryon's disposal.
+
+Roger Kyffin could with difficulty tear himself away from the
+neighbourhood.  He received constant communications from Dr. Jessop, who
+sent him rather more favourable reports of Mrs. Tryon.  Five years
+passed by--Mrs. Tryon's mother was dead.  She had no wish to leave her
+little cottage.  Where, indeed, could she go?  Her only employment was
+that of watching over her little boy.  During this time several changes
+had taken place in the neighbourhood.  Sir Harcourt Tryon died.  Though
+he must have been aware of his grandson's existence, he had never
+expressed any wish to see him.  At length the mother caught cold.  The
+effect was serious.  Dr. Jessop became alarmed, and wrote an account of
+her state to Mr. Kyffin.  She could no longer take Harry out to walk,
+and had therefore to send him under charge of a nursemaid.
+
+
+One day he and his nurse were longer absent than usual.  What could have
+kept them?  The young mother went to the garden-gate several times, and
+looked anxiously along the road.  She felt the wind very cold.  Again
+she entered the house.  Could she have mistaken the hour?  The next time
+she threw a shawl over her shoulders, but the cold made her cough
+fearfully.  At last she saw a female figure in the distance.  It was
+Susan the nurse, but Harry was not with her.  Mrs. Tryon had to support
+herself by the gate till the girl came up.
+
+"Where is Harry? where is my child?" she exclaimed.
+
+"I could not help it, ma'am, I did my best to prevent it," answered the
+nurse, crying.
+
+Poor Fanny's heart sank within her; her knees trembled.
+
+"Prevent what?" she exclaimed; "what has happened? where is my boy?"
+
+"No harm has come to him, ma'am, though there might have been, but it is
+all right now," answered Susan.  "We were going on, Master Harry
+skipping and playing in front of me, when I saw a carriage coming along
+the road very fast.  I ran on to catch hold of him, but he darted away
+just under the horses' feet.  I screamed out, and the coachman pulled
+up.  An old lady was in the carriage, and putting her head out of the
+window she asked what was the matter?  Seeing the little boy, she wanted
+to know whose child he was.  When I told her, she ordered the footman to
+lift him into the carriage.  She looked at his face as if she was
+reading a book, then she kissed him and sat him down by her side.  I
+begged the lady to let me have him again, as I wanted to come home.
+`No,' she said, `go and tell your mistress that his grandmother has
+taken him with her, that she is pleased with his looks, and must take
+him for a short time.'  I knew, ma'am, that you would be vexed, and I
+begged the lady again and again to let me have him, but she answered
+that he must go with her, and that it would be better for him in the
+end."
+
+Poor Mrs. Tryon had been listening with breathless eagerness to this
+account of the nursemaid's.  Leaning on the girl's arm, she tottered
+back to the house, scarcely knowing whether or not she ought to be
+thankful that the boy had been seen by his grandmother.  One thing she
+knew, she longed to press him to her own bosom.  She felt, however, weak
+and ill.  While yet undecided how to act, Dr. Jessop's carriage drove up
+to the gate.  As he entered the house, she was seized with a fit of
+coughing, followed by excessive weakness.  As she was leaning back in
+the arm-chair, the doctor felt her pulse.  As soon as she could speak
+she told him what had happened.  He looked very grave.
+
+"My dear madam," he said, "I am sorry that her ladyship has carried off
+the little boy.  If you will give me authority, I will drive on and
+bring him back to you.  An old friend of yours has come down to this
+neighbourhood, and he wishes to see Harry.  He has heard that you are
+ill, and desires to know from your own lips your wishes with regard to
+your boy."
+
+"What do you mean, doctor?" asked the dying lady, looking up with an
+inquiring glance at the doctor's face.  "The child is so young that I
+should not wish to part from him for some years to come."
+
+"My dear lady," said Dr. Jessop, solemnly, "the lives of all of us are
+in God's hands.  You are suffering from a serious complaint.  It would
+be cruel in me not to warn you that you are in considerable danger."
+
+"Do you mean to say I'm going to die, doctor--that I must part from my
+boy?" gasped out poor Fanny, in a faint voice.
+
+"I should wish you to be prepared, should it be God's will to call you
+away," answered the doctor, much moved.  "If you will give authority to
+your devoted friend, Mr. Roger Kyffin, I am sure he will act the part of
+a parent to your boy.  I expect him here this evening, and as he wishes
+to see Harry, I will drive over to Lady Tryon and request her ladyship
+to allow me to bring your boy back to you.  Certainly in most cases a
+child's grandmother is a proper person to act as guardian, but though I
+attend Lady Tryon professionally when she is in the country, I am unable
+to express a satisfactory opinion as to her fitness for the task.  I
+begged my friend Tom Wallis, the solicitor at Lynderton, to ride over
+here with Mr. Kyffin; so that should you wish to place your boy under
+the legal protection of your old friend, you may be able to do so."
+
+"Surely his grandmother is a proper person to take charge of Harry;
+though I have no cause to regard her with affection," said Fanny, in a
+faint voice, "yet I could with more confidence consign him to that kind
+and generous man, Mr. Kyffin; I will do therefore as he wishes, only
+requesting that the boy may be allowed to remain as much as possible
+during his childhood with his grandmother."
+
+Poor Fanny! a lingering feeling of pride prompted this resolution.  Far
+better would it have been, in all human probability, for the boy, had
+she committed him entirely to her faithful friend's care, and not
+mentioned Lady Tryon.  The doctor knew too well that his patient had not
+many hours to live.  He hurried off to Aylestone Hall, the residence of
+Lady Tryon.  The old lady expressed herself delighted with the child,
+and was very unwilling to part with him.  Indeed, though she was told of
+her daughter-in-law's dangerous state, she positively refused to give
+him up, unless the doctor promised to bring him back again.  Harry was
+accordingly placed in the doctor's carriage, which drove rapidly back to
+Mrs. Tryon's cottage.
+
+"I can give you but little hopes," said the doctor to Roger Kyffin,
+whom, in company with Mr. Wallis, he met at the cottage gate.
+
+Roger Kyffin sighed deeply.  The little boy flew towards his mother.
+She had scarcely strength to bend forward to meet him.  The doctor held
+him while she pressed him to her bosom.
+
+"May he come in?" asked the doctor.
+
+"Yes," she whispered, "I should be glad to see him before I die; you
+were right, doctor, and kind to warn me."
+
+Roger Kyffin entered the room, but his knees trembled, and he could
+scarcely command his voice.  Fanny thanked him for all his kindness;
+"continue it," she said, "to this poor child."
+
+The doctor signed to Mr. Wallis to come forward.  He had brought writing
+materials.  Fanny expressed her wish to place her child under Roger
+Kyffin's guardianship.  She signed the paper.  She evidently wished to
+say more, but her voice failed her.  It was with difficulty she could
+gasp out the last words she had uttered.  In vain the doctor
+administered a restorative.  With her one arm flung round her boy, while
+Roger Kyffin held her other hand, her spirit took its departure.
+
+Roger Kyffin would gladly have carried Harry off to London, but no
+sooner did Lady Tryon hear of the death of her neglected
+daughter-in-law, than, driving over to the cottage, she took Harry with
+her back to Aylestone Hall.  She directed also that a proper funeral
+should be prepared; and at her request several distant members and
+connections of the family attended it.  Thus Mrs. Tryon was laid to rest
+with as much pomp and ceremony as possible, in Lynderton churchyard.
+
+With a sad heart Roger Kyffin returned to London and devoted himself
+with even more than his usual assiduity to his mercantile duties.
+
+Aylestone Hall was a red brick building, surrounded by a limited extent
+of garden and shrubbery, within half a mile of the town of Lynderton.
+The interior, for a country house, had a somewhat gloomy and
+unpicturesque aspect.  Young Harry felt depressed by the atmosphere, so
+different from the cheerful little cottage, with its flower-surrounded
+lawn, to which he had been accustomed.  He was not drawn either to his
+grandmother, though she intended to be kind to him.  She treated him
+indeed much as a child does a new plaything, constantly fondling it at
+first, and then casting it aside uncared for.  Harry was also soon
+nauseated by the old lady's caresses.  He had, too, a natural antipathy
+to musk, of which her garments were redolent.
+
+Lady Tryon was a small woman with strongly marked features, decidedly
+forbidding at first sight, though she possessed the art of smiling, and
+making herself very agreeable to her equals.  She could smile especially
+very sweetly when she had an object to gain, or wished to be
+particularly agreeable; but her countenance could also assume a very
+different aspect when she was angry.  She had bright grey eyes, which
+seemed to look through and through the person to whom she was speaking,
+while her countenance, utterly devoid of colour, was wrinkled and
+puckered in a curious way.  She always wore rouge, and was dressed in
+the height of fashion.  She very soon discarded her widow's ugly cap,
+and the gayest, of colours decked her shrivelled form, the waist almost
+close up under the arms, and the dress very low, a shawl being flung
+over her shoulders.  She could laugh and enjoy a joke, but her voice was
+discordant, and even when she wished to be most courteous there was a
+want of sincerity in its tone.  Lady Tryon had been maid of honour in
+her youth to a royal personage, and possessed a fund of anecdote about
+the Court, which was listened to with respectful delight by her country
+neighbours.  She was supposed to have very literary tastes, and to have
+read every book in existence.  The fact was that she scarcely ever
+looked into one, but she picked up a semblance of knowledge, and having
+a retentive memory was able to make the most of any information she
+obtained.  In the same way she had got by heart a large supply of
+poetry, which she was very clever in quoting, and as her audience was
+not often very critical, any mistakes of which she might have been
+guilty were rarely discovered.  Her chief talent was in letter-writing,
+and she kept up a constant epistolary correspondence with aristocratic
+friends.  No one could more elegantly turn a compliment or express
+sympathy with sorrow and disappointment.  She occasionally, too, penned
+a copy of verses.  If there was not much originality in the lines, the
+words were well chosen, and the metre correct.  She described herself as
+being a warm friend and a bitter enemy.  The latter she had undoubtedly
+proved herself on more than one occasion; but the warmth of her
+friendship depended rather upon the amount of advantage she was likely
+to gain by its exhibition than from any sensation of the heart.  In
+fact, those who knew her best had reason to doubt whether she was
+possessed of that article.  In reality, its temperature was, without
+variation, down at zero.  Poor Sir Harcourt, a warmhearted man, had
+discovered this fact before he had been very long united to her.  She,
+however, managed from the first to rule him with a rod of iron, and to
+gain her own way in everything.  Most fatally had she gained it in the
+management of her son, whom she had utterly ruined by her pernicious
+system of education.  Sir Harcourt endeavoured to make all the excuses
+for her in his power.
+
+"She is all mind!" he used to observe.  "A delightful woman--such powers
+of conversation!  We must not expect too much from people!  She has a
+wonderful command of her feelings: never saw her excited in my life!  A
+wonderful mind, a wonderful mind has Lady Tryon!"
+
+Lady Tryon had, however, one passion.  It absorbed her sufficiently to
+make her forget any annoyances.  She was fond of play.  She would sit up
+half the night at cards, and, cool and calculating, she generally
+managed to come off winner.  Of late years she had not been so
+successful.  Her mind was not so strong as it was, and all her powers of
+calculation had decreased.  Still she retained the passion as strong as
+ever.  In London she had no difficulty in gratifying it, but during her
+forced visits to the country she found few people willing to play with
+her.  At first, her country neighbours were highly flattered at being
+invited to her house, but they soon found that they had to pay somewhat
+dear for the honour.  Still her ladyship, while winning their money, was
+so agreeable, and smiled so sweetly, and spoke so softly, that like
+flies round the candle, they could not resist the temptation of
+frequenting her house.  For some years she managed to rule the
+neighbourhood with a pretty high hand.  There was only one person who
+refused to succumb to her blandishments, and of her she consequently
+stood not a little in awe.  This person was an authoress, not unknown to
+fame.  She had more than once detected the piracies of which Lady Tryon
+had been guilty in her poetical effusions, and could not resist, when
+her ladyship spoke of books, asking her in which review she had seen
+such and such remarks.  Miss Bertrand was young, not pretty, certainly,
+but very genuine and agreeable, and possessed of a large amount of
+talent.  She drew admirably, and her prose and poetical works were
+delightful.  Lady Tryon looked upon her as a rival, and hated her
+accordingly.
+
+Such was the grand-dame under whose care Harry Tryon was to be brought
+up.  Dr. Jessop was not happy about the matter.  He would far rather
+that the honest clerk had taken charge of the boy.  He resolved,
+however, as far as he had the power, to counteract the injudicious
+system he discovered that Lady Tryon was pursuing.  For this purpose he
+won the little fellow's affection, and as he was a constant visitor at
+the house in his official capacity, he was able to maintain his
+influence.  When her ladyship went to town he induced her to allow Harry
+to come and stay with him, and on these occasions he never failed to
+invite Roger Kyffin down to pay him a visit.  The worthy clerk's
+holidays were therefore always spent in the neighbourhood of Lynderton.
+The two kindly men on these occasions did their best to pluck out the
+ill weeds which had been growing up in Master Harry, while under his
+grandmother's care.  It was, however, no easy task to root them out, and
+to sow good seed in their stead.  Still, by their means Harry did learn
+the difference between good and evil, which, if left to Lady Tryon's
+instructions, he certainly would never have done.  He also became very
+much attached to the old doctor and to his younger friend, and would
+take advice from them, which he would receive from no one else.  He grew
+up a fine, manly boy, with many right and honourable feelings; and
+though his mental powers might not have been of a very high order, he
+had fair talents, and physically his development was very perfect.  Lady
+Tryon herself began to teach him to read, and as he showed a
+considerable aptitude for acquiring instruction, and gave her no
+trouble, she continued the process till he was able to read without
+difficulty by himself.  She put all sorts of books into his hands, from
+which his brain extracted a strange jumble of ideas.  He certainly
+acquired very good manners from his grandmother, and to the surprise of
+the neighbourhood, when he was ten years old there was scarcely a better
+behaved boy in Lynderton.  Dr. Jessop then suggested that he should be
+sent to Winchester School, or some other place of public instruction.
+Lady Tryon would not hear of this, though she consented that he should
+attend the grammar school at Lynderton.  For this the worthy doctor was
+not sorry.
+
+"I can look after him the better," he said to himself, "and go on with
+the process of pulling up the weeds during her ladyship's absence."
+Harry's holidays were generally spent in the country.  Twice, however,
+his grandmother had him up to London in the winter.  On these occasions,
+Mr. Kyffin got leave from her ladyship to have him to stay with him part
+of the time.  Every spare moment of the day was devoted to the lad.  He
+took him to all the sights of London, and in the evenings contrived for
+him variety of amusement.  Harry became more and more attached to Mr.
+Kyffin, and more ready to listen to his advice, and more anxious to
+please him.  Thus the boy grew on, gaining mental and physical strength,
+though without forming many associates of his own rank in life.  His
+manners were very good, and his tastes were refined, and this prevented
+him associating with the ordinary run of boys at the grammar school.
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+HARRY TRYON'S FIRST ADVENTURE.--LYNDERTON AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD.
+
+Harry Tryon in his new home had the sea constantly before his eyes.
+Sometimes he saw it blue and laughing, and dotted over with the white
+canvas of numerous vessels glistening in the sunshine.  At other times
+the stout ships were tossed by tempests, or doing battle with the
+foaming waves.  Often the boy longed for the life of a sailor, to go
+forth over that broad unknown ocean in search of adventure; but the old
+lady would not hear of it.  It was the only wish in which she thwarted
+him: she usually spoiled him, and gave him everything he asked for,
+especially if he cried loud enough for it.  But he was now getting too
+old to cry for what he wanted, and he must take some other means to
+obtain his wishes.  Poor Harry! his nursery life had been a checkered
+one; sometimes shut up by himself in a dark room, sometimes almost
+starved and frightened to death; at others pampered, stuffed with rich
+food, exhibited in the drawing-room as a prodigy, his vanity excited,
+and allowed to do exactly as he listed.  Perhaps one style of treatment
+checked the bad effects of the other.
+
+Lynderton stood on the bank of a small river.  Harry had no difficulty
+in obtaining a boat, in which he learned to row.  Lady Tryon did not
+know how he was employed, or she would probably have sent for him, and
+kept him driving about in her musk-smelling carriage, which Harry hated.
+As he grew older he managed to get trips in fishing vessels, on board
+small traders which ran between the neighbouring ports, and sometimes he
+got a trip on board a revenue cruiser--the old "Rose," well known on the
+coast.  There were not many yachts in those days; but two or three of
+the people residing at Lynderton had small vessels, and Harry was always
+a welcome guest on board them.  His love for the sea was thus partially
+gratified and fostered, and he became a first-rate hand in a boat or
+yacht.  Still he yearned for something else.
+
+One day he was standing on the quay at the foot of the town, when a
+stout sailor lad stopped near him, and putting out his hand exclaimed:
+"Well, Master Harry!  I did not know you at first: you are grown so.
+You're looking out for a sail down the river, I'll warrant?"
+
+"You are right, Jacob," answered Harry, shaking the proffered hand.  "I
+have not had a sniff of salt water for the last week.  But where have
+you been all this time?"
+
+"I have been to sea, Master Harry--to foreign lands--and if you are so
+minded I will help you to take a trip there, too."
+
+"You have not been away long enough to go to any foreign lands that I
+know of, except perhaps the coast of France or to Holland," observed
+Harry.
+
+"That's just where I have been, Master Harry, and if you like to come
+down along the quay I will show you the craft I went in.  She's not one
+a seaman need be ashamed of, let me tell you."
+
+Harry accompanied his friend.  Jacob Tuttle had been one of Harry's
+first companions in a boat, and he indeed taught him to row.  As he was
+six or eight years older than Harry, the latter looked at him with great
+respect, and considered him an accomplished seaman.  He was, indeed, a
+good specimen of the British sailor of those days, brave, open-hearted,
+and generous, but with the smallest possible amount of judgment or
+discretion.  Harry accompanied him along the bank of the river for some
+distance.
+
+"There! what do you think of her?" asked Jacob, pointing to a
+wonderfully long, narrow lugger which lay alongside the wooden quay or
+jetty.  "She measures 120 feet from the tip of her bowsprit to the end
+of her outrigger, and she sails like the wind.  We pull forty oars, and
+there is no revenue cutter can come near us, blow high or blow low."
+The vessel at which Harry and his companion were looking was indeed a
+beautiful craft.  She had fore and aft cuddies for sleeping berths, and
+was open amid-ships "for the stowage of 2,000 kegs of spirits," Jacob
+whispered in Harry's ear.  "Would you not like to take a trip in her,
+Master Harry?"
+
+Harry confessed that he should like it very much.
+
+Lady Tryon was on the point of starting for London.  Probably the "Saucy
+Sally" would not sail for two or three days.  He might make the trip and
+be back again without anybody knowing anything about it.  Tuttle would
+introduce Harry to the skipper.  He was a first-rate fellow, whether an
+Englishman or a foreigner he could not tell, but his equal was not
+easily to be found.  It was a pleasure to be with him in a gale of wind,
+and to hear him issue his orders.  Captain Falwasser was his name.  The
+"Saucy Sally" carried fifty hands, officers and crew, all told, and had
+guns too, but they were kept stowed away below, unless wanted.
+
+"But, Harry, come on board."
+
+Harry could not resist the temptation.  He reflected little about the
+rights of the thing, and even if he had, to say the truth, Captain
+Falwasser's occupation was at that time not much condemned by public
+opinion.  He soon found himself visiting every part of the "Saucy
+Sally," and being introduced to her daring skipper.  Captain Falwasser
+was a strongly-built man, but in other respects refined and gentlemanly
+in appearance.  The expression of his lips showed wonderful
+determination, and those who looked at his eye felt that they were in
+the presence of a man accustomed to command his fellows.  His cheek was
+pale and sunken, and there was on his features a settled expression of
+melancholy.  Harry was delighted with all he saw, and longed more than
+ever to take a trip on board the lugger.  Captain Falwasser, however,
+did not seem inclined to indulge him in his wish.  At last he had to go
+on shore, and return home.  A few days after this he saw the "Saucy
+Sally" with her jovial crew, loudly cheering, while she dropped down the
+river, the Custom House officers looking on.
+
+"We'll catch them one of these days, in spite of all their cunning,"
+observed one.  "They think we don't know when they are coming back.  We
+will show them their mistake."
+
+Harry kept thinking of the "Saucy Sally" and her bold skipper, and he
+still entertained the hopes of some day making a trip in her.  Two or
+three weeks passed away, and once more she lay in Lynderton river, with
+her empty hold looking as innocent as if she had been merely out for a
+few hours' pleasure trip.  There were reports of a large cargo having
+been run somewhere on the Dorsetshire coast, not far from Yarmouth, but
+of course the crew of the "Saucy Sally" knew nothing of the matter.  A
+body of yeomanry had met a large party of waggons, surrounded by two or
+three hundred men, each with pistols in their holsters, and carbines in
+their hands, proceeding northward; but the soldiers considered
+discretion, in this case, the better part of valour, being very sure,
+had they attempted to interfere with them, they would be cut down to a
+man.  It was shrewdly suspected that this cavalcade was conveying to a
+place of safety the cargo landed from the "Saucy Sally."  Harry very
+naturally went down to have a look at the lugger.  Jacob Tuttle told him
+how sorry he had felt that he could not come the last trip.
+
+"If you have a mind for it still, come on board the night before, and I
+will stow you away.  When we are fairly at sea, you can come out, and if
+the skipper is angry I will stand the blame."
+
+Harry managed to get away from Aylestone Hall, his grandmother being
+still absent, and was, unseen by any one, stowed on board the "Saucy
+Sally."  It is possible that more than once, while shut up in the close
+cuddy, he repented of his proposed exploit.  However, he was in for it,
+as the crew, most of them half-seas over, kept coming on board.  The
+next morning, if not as sober as judges, they were yet pretty well able
+to handle the lugger, and with their usual exulting shouts they manned
+their oars and pulled down the river.  They were soon at sea, and
+getting a slant of wind, the smuggler's enormous lug-sails were hoisted,
+and away she stood towards the French coast.  Jacob, according to
+promise, released Harry.  The skipper's sharp eye soon singled him out,
+though he kept forward among the crew.  He was summoned aft, and fully
+expected a severe scolding.
+
+"What made you come with us, my boy?" asked Captain Falwasser, in a kind
+tone.  "You are too young to run the dangers we have to go through.  You
+will have enough of them by-and-bye.  And so Jacob Tuttle brought you,
+did he?  I will settle that business with him.  You must be under my
+charge till I land you again at Lynderton."
+
+Jacob Tuttle not only got a severe scolding, but the captain threatened
+to dismiss him as soon as they got back to England.  Meantime the
+appearance of the lugger was being changed.  The crew, as they drew near
+the French coast, dressed as Frenchmen, and pieces of painted canvas
+were hung over the sides of the vessel, so that she no longer looked
+like the trim, dashing craft she really was.  The "Saucy Sally" dropped
+her anchor close in with the coast, just as the shades of evening fell
+over the ocean.  A boat was lowered.  Harry had been made to change his
+dress like the rest.  The skipper invited him to accompany him.
+
+"Remember you are to be dumb," said Captain Falwasser.  "If you keep
+close to me no harm will come to you."
+
+A light was shown on board the vessel, and was immediately answered by
+another on shore.  Soon afterwards a number of boats were heard
+approaching.  The captain exchanged a signal with one of them, and then
+continued his course to the shore.  After walking some distance they
+reached a town.  The captain paid several visits, and as he spoke
+French, Harry could not make out what was said.  The captain seemed
+greatly surprised and shocked at some disastrous news he heard.  He
+transacted business with some people on whom he called, and Harry saw
+him pay away the contents of a large bag of gold.  He was more silent
+than ever on his walk back to the beach.  He sighed deeply.  "Unhappy
+France, unhappy France!" he said to himself; "what is to become of you?"
+
+When they got on board the lugger again, she was deeply laden with kegs
+and bales of goods.  That instant her anchor was tripped, and sail being
+made, she stood back towards the English coast.  Daylight soon
+afterwards broke.  She made the land some time before dark, but waited
+till she could not be seen from the shore before she ran in.  Sharp eyes
+kept looking out for the expected signal: it was made.  She ran in till
+her bows almost touched the sand.  Fully three hundred people were
+waiting on the beach; with wonderful rapidity her cargo was landed, and
+each cask or bale being put on the broad shoulders of a stout fellow,
+was carried away instantly up the cliff.  Not a yard of silk, a bottle
+of brandy, nor a pound of tobacco remained on board.  Instantly the oars
+were got out, and before daylight she was once more at the mouth of
+Lynderton river.
+
+"I have only one request to make," said the captain to Harry, "that you
+will promise me faithfully not to tell to any one what you have seen.
+You came on board the `Saucy Sally,' were away a couple of nights, and
+were once again put safely on shore at Lynderton.  That's all you may
+tell, remember."
+
+Harry gave his promise; he felt grateful to.  Captain Falwasser for the
+kind treatment he had received.  Harry begged that Jacob Tuttle might be
+forgiven.  The captain replied he would consider the matter; but Jacob
+did not seem inclined to trust to him, and soon afterwards entered on
+board a man-of-war.
+
+This was Harry's first adventure.  He was somewhat disappointed in the
+result.  It was some time before he engaged in another.
+
+There were a good many country houses scattered about in the
+neighbourhood of Lynderton; and at most of them Harry, who was growing
+into a remarkably fine-looking young man, had become a great favourite.
+He danced well, could talk agreeably, and was always ready to make
+himself useful.  He was a welcome guest, especially at Stanmore Park,
+the residence of Colonel Everard.  The Colonel was one of the
+representatives of the oldest and most influential families in that part
+of the country.  General Tryon had been an old friend of his, and he was
+very glad when Lady Tryon acknowledged her grandson, and took him under
+her protecting wing.  Had the Colonel been a more acute observer than he
+was, he might not have so readily congratulated the boy on his good
+fortune.  Colonel Everard had an only daughter, Lucy; and a niece,
+Mabel, who resided with him.  The latter was the daughter of his
+brother, Captain Digby Everard, who was constantly at sea.  When he came
+on shore for a short period he took up his residence at Stanmore Park.
+A maiden sister, always called Madam Everard, who superintended his
+household, was the only other constant member of his family.  Stanmore
+Park was a fine old place of red brick, with spreading wings.  A long
+drive under an avenue of noble trees led up to the front of the house,
+and looked out on a wide extent of park land.  There was a beautiful
+view of the sea from the windows on the opposite side.  There was a
+magnificent lawn of thick shrubberies, and lofty umbrageous trees, and
+extensive lakes, across which were bits of woodland scenery, the
+graceful trees of varied foliage being reflected in the calm water.
+Altogether, Stanmore Park was a very delightful place.  Harry, however,
+although he was very fond of going there, liked the inhabitants even
+more than the place itself.  Madam Everard was a good kind woman who,
+though advanced in life, had feelings almost as fresh as those of her
+young nieces, who were pretty, attractive girls.  Harry thought so, and
+as he saw a good deal of them, he was well able to judge.  His happiest
+days were spent in their society; sometimes attending them on horseback,
+sometimes fishing with them in the lake, sometimes rowing them in a boat
+on the largest piece of water.  Captain Everard had had a miniature
+frigate placed on the lake; and Harry was present while it was being
+fitted out and rigged, so that he learnt the name of every rope and sail
+belonging to her.  It was wonderful how much nautical knowledge he
+gained on that occasion.
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+TWO YOUNG FIRE-EATERS OUT-GENERALLED.
+
+Lynderton was about that time made a depot of a foreign legion, and
+although the presence of a large body of military did not add much to
+the morality of the place, there was a considerable number of talented
+persons among the officers and their wives.  Instruction could now be
+procured in abundance, in foreign languages, dancing, singing, in the
+use of all sorts of instruments, from pianos down to flageolets, and in
+drawing and painting.  Counts and barons were glad to obtain
+remuneration for their talents, and many a butcher's or grocer's bill
+was liquidated by the instruction afforded to the female portions of the
+commercial families of the place in dancing and singing.  Colonel
+Everard engaged a very charming countess to instruct his daughter and
+niece in dancing, and as it was convenient to have a third person, Harry
+was invited over to join the lessons.  The name of the French lady who
+taught them dancing was Countess de Thaonville.  She was a very handsome
+person, but there was a deep shade of melancholy on her countenance.  No
+wonder.  Her history was a sad one, as was that of many of her
+countrywomen and countrymen, now exiles in a foreign land.  Harry
+benefited greatly by these lessons.  They contributed to civilise and
+refine him.  Had, however, Madam Everard known a little more of the
+world, as years rolled on, she would probably not have invited him so
+often to come to the house.  In his young days he had looked on Lucy and
+Mabel very much in the light of sisters, but somehow or other he began
+to prefer one to the other.  Mabel was certainly his favourite.  How it
+came to pass he could not tell, but he was happier in her society than
+in that of her cousin, or in that of anybody else.  He was only about
+two years her senior, while Lucy was several years older.  This might
+have made some difference.  Occasionally the Countess brought a young
+officer of the legion, Baron de Ruvigny, to the house to assist in the
+music, as he played the violin well.  He was a mere youth, but very
+gentlemanly and pleasing, and he became a great favourite with Madam
+Everard.  Harry did not quite like his coming; he thought he seemed
+rather too attentive to Mabel.  However, he was a very good fellow,
+although he could not play cricket or row a boat, and as Mabel certainly
+gave him no encouragement, Harry began to like him.
+
+By the time Harry was eighteen Mabel had become a lovely and an amiable
+girl.  No wonder that being much in her society he should have loved
+her.  Lady Tryon, who had always indulged him, was not long in
+discovering the state of his affections, and instead or attempting to
+check him, she encouraged him in his wish to obtain the hand of Mabel
+Everard.
+
+Colonel Everard, like many old soldiers, was an early riser.  He
+usually, in the summer, took a walk before breakfast through the
+grounds.  His figure was tall and commanding.  Although considerably
+more than seventy, he still walked with an upright carriage and
+soldier-like air.  He carried a stick in his hand, but often placed it
+under his arm, as he was wont in his youth to carry his sword.  The
+front part of his head was bald, and his silvery locks were secured
+behind in a queue, neatly tied with black ribbon.  His features were
+remarkably fine, and age had failed to dim the brightness of his blue
+eye.  His invariable morning costume was an undress military coat, which
+had seen some service, while no one could look at him without seeing
+that he was a man accustomed to courts as well as camps.  One morning he
+was stopping to look at a flower-bed lately laid out by his daughter
+Lucy, when he heard footsteps approaching him.  A turn of the walk
+concealed him from the house.
+
+"Well, Paul, what is it?" he asked, looking up.
+
+"I have something to communicate, Colonel."
+
+The speaker was a tall thin man, with a mark of a sword-cut on one of
+his well-bronzed and weather-beaten cheeks, which had not added to his
+beauty.  There was, notwithstanding this, an honest, pleasant expression
+in his countenance which was sure to command confidence.  His air was
+that of an old soldier; indeed, as he spoke, his hand went mechanically
+up to his hat, while as he halted, he drew himself as upright as one of
+the neighbouring fir-trees.  Paul Gauntlett, the Colonel's faithful
+follower and body servant, had left Lynderton with him upwards of fifty
+years before, and had been by his side in every battle in which he had
+been engaged.
+
+"There's mischief brewing, and if it is not put a stop to, harm will
+come of it," he continued.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the Colonel.
+
+"Just this, sir.  I was lying down close to the lake to draw in a night
+line I set last night, when who should come by but young Master Harry
+Tryon with his fishing-rod in his hand, and his basket by his side.  I
+was just going to get up and speak to him, for he did not see me, when I
+saw another person, who was no other than that young foreigner, the
+Baron de Ruvigny, as he calls himself.  Master Harry asked him what he
+was doing, and he said that it was no business of his, as far as I could
+make out.  Then Master Harry got very angry, and told him that he should
+not come to the park at all, and the other said that he was insulted.
+Then Master Harry asked him what business he had to write letters to
+young ladies, and the end of it was that they agreed to go into the town
+and get swords or pistols and settle the matter that way.  If they fix
+on pistols it may be all very well; but if they fight with swords,
+Master Harry's no hand with one, and the young Frenchman will pink him
+directly they cross blades."
+
+"I am glad you told me of this," observed the Colonel.  "It must be put
+a stop to, or the hot-headed lads will be doing each other a mischief.
+Who could the Frenchman have been writing to?  Not my daughter or niece
+I hope.  It will not do to have their names mixed up in a brawl."
+
+"I think we could manage it at once, sir; they have not yet left the
+grounds.  They spoke as if they did not intend to fight till the
+evening, as each of them would have to look out for his seconds.  When
+they parted, Master Harry walked on along the side of the lake and began
+to fish, looking as cool as a cucumber, while the young Frenchman went
+back into the summer-house, where he had been sitting when Master Harry
+found him, and went on writing away on a sheet of paper, he had spread
+on his hat.  Now, sir, if you go down the walk you are pretty sure to
+find him there still, and I have no doubt that I shall be able to fall
+in with Master Harry, and I can tell him you want to see him at
+breakfast, and that he must come, and make no excuse."
+
+Great was Harry's surprise to find the young Frenchman in the
+breakfast-room, where the Colonel and the rest of the party were already
+assembled.  He was, as usual, cordially welcomed, and the butler shortly
+afterwards announced that the fish he had caught would be speedily
+ready.
+
+"We are very glad you have come, Harry," said Madam Everard, "you can
+help us in arranging an important matter.  The Colonel has just heard
+that his Majesty intends honouring us with a visit in the course of a
+day or two.  The King sends word that he shall ride over from Lyndhurst,
+and that we are to make no preparations for his reception; but he is
+always pleased when there is some little surprise and above all things
+he likes to see his subjects making themselves happy."
+
+"The Baron de Ruvigny says he is certain that Colonel Lejoille will lend
+the band of the regiment, and we must have the militia and volunteer
+bands.  Will it not be delightful?" exclaimed Mabel.
+
+"We must have two large tents put up on one side of the lawn, so as not
+to shut out the view from the windows."
+
+"There must be one for dancing," said Lucy, who was especially fond of
+dancing.  "There will be no want of partners, as there used to be before
+the foreign officers came here.  How very kind of the King to say he
+will come."
+
+"Do you think that Cochut will have time to prepare a breakfast?" asked
+the Colonel, looking at his sister.  "We must send for him at once to
+receive his orders.  Baron, we must leave the bands of the regiments to
+you.  Harry, you must arrange with Mr. Savage, the sail-maker, for the
+tents."
+
+"Now, recollect you two young men are to devote all your time and
+energies to these objects," said Madam Everard, looking at them with a
+meaning glance.
+
+"I must see you both in my study before you leave," said the Colonel,
+"and now, lads, go to breakfast."
+
+The two young men looked at each other, and possibly suspected that the
+Colonel might, by some wonderful means, have heard of their quarrel.
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+ROYAL VISITORS.--THE KING AND THE MACE-BEARER.--THE FOES RECONCILED.
+
+The news of the good King's intended visit to Stanmore Park was soon
+spread abroad.  The mayor and burgesses of Lynderton resolved that they
+would request his Majesty to honour their borough by stopping on his way
+at their town-hall.  The whole place was speedily in a state of the most
+intense commotion.  While the Colonel and his womankind were making all
+the necessary preparations at the park, the lieges of Lynderton were
+engaged in the erection of triumphal arches, with a collection of
+banners of all sorts of devices, painting signboards and shop-fronts,
+and the polishing up of military accoutrements.
+
+Lynderton was got into order for the reception of royalty even before
+Stanmore Park had been prepared.  One chief reason was that there were
+many more hands in the town to undertake the work, and another was,
+there was less work to be done.  The great difficulty was to have the
+band playing at both places at once.
+
+Colonel Everard had already engaged them, and they could not on any
+account disappoint him.  Still for the honour of Lynderton it was
+necessary that a musical welcome should be wafted to the King as he
+entered the precincts of the borough.  At last it was arranged that a
+part of the foreign band should remain in the town to welcome the King,
+and then set off at a double-quick march to Stanmore, to be in readiness
+to receive him there.
+
+The eventful morning at length arrived.  It broke, however, with a
+threatening aspect.  There were clouds in the sky, which looked more
+inclined to gather than disperse.  Jacob Tuttle, who met Harry on his
+way to Stanmore, where he was to finish getting the tents in order, told
+him that it would be a rainy day.  Madam Everard was in a state of
+greater anxiety than any one else; indeed, she had many things to
+trouble her.  She was not sure that Monsieur Cochut would have performed
+his work to her satisfaction.  Then there were so many mouths to feed,
+besides the King and his attendants, that she was afraid there might not
+be sufficient provisions for them.  The tents were already erected.
+Harry had performed his part in a most satisfactory manner.  She had no
+doubt the Baron de Ruvigny would arrange the band.
+
+Not only was the King expected, but good Queen Charlotte and one or two
+of the princesses had expressed their intention of driving over to
+Stanmore.  A few select guests had been invited to meet them.  Among
+others was Lady Tryon.  There were also General Perkins and his wife,
+and the well-known couple, Sir James and Lady Wallace.  The General and
+the Admiral were old friends, and older enemies, for they had met as
+lads, when one was lieutenant of marines, and the other a midshipman,
+and had actually fought a duel, at a time when that foolish and wicked
+custom was in vogue even among youths.
+
+[The writer thinks it well at this point to state that the Royal visit
+actually took place as described; also that the main facts and
+characters in the story are taken from an unpublished diary of the time,
+in possession of a member of the family.]
+
+The great mass of the neighbourhood were invited to the grounds.  All
+the arrangements were reported complete; but Madam Everard kept looking
+up anxiously at the sky, which threatened every instant to send down its
+waters upon the earth.  The clouds gathered closer and closer, and some
+time before the hour at which the royal family were expected to arrive
+the rain began to descend.  It was melancholy to look at the tents
+growing darker and darker as the water poured down on them, and to see
+the flags which should have been blowing out joyfully drooping on the
+flagposts.  The rain pattered against the window panes, and the air blew
+in with a damp feel, which gave promise of a drenching day.  Madam
+Everard became very unhappy; even the young ladies lost their spirits.
+The Colonel was the only person who seemed unconcerned.
+
+"I have done my best," he observed, "and there is no man more ready to
+make allowance than the King, God bless him."  The Colonel had been page
+to George the Second, and had been attached to the court of the present
+King, and knew him well, and, moreover, his many trials and
+difficulties.  "`Uneasy is the head that wears a crown.'  Our good King
+finds it so, and few of his subjects have greater domestic as well as
+public trials to go through."
+
+Harry Tryon had been very busy and highly flattered by the confidence
+which the Colonel and Madam Everard had placed in him.  Whether or not
+he still contemplated fighting the Baron de Ruvigny cannot now be said.
+
+Seeing Madam Everard's anxiety, he offered in spite of the rain to mount
+a horse and gallop off to ascertain whether the royal party were coming
+or not.  His offer was accepted, and he was soon galloping away through
+the street of Lynderton on the high road to Lyndhurst, by which it was
+expected the King would come.  He met on his way an open carriage and
+four horses, full, as it seemed to him, of old women wrapped up in red
+cloaks and hoods, such as were worn by the peasantry.  He had got to the
+turnpike kept by an old woman, Mammy Pocock by name, when he inquired
+whether the royal family had come by.
+
+"Why, bless you, yes; that be they," said the old woman, pointing along
+the road.  "They stayed in here ever so long, but at last they thought
+Madam Everard would be waiting for them, and so they borrowed my cloak,
+and they sent out, and borrowed as many cloaks and shawls as could be
+found in all the cottages near.  It was curious to see the Queen and
+princesses laughing as they put them on."
+
+Harry was going to hurry back with the news, when he saw a party of four
+or five horsemen coming along the road.  By this time the rain had
+somewhat ceased.  He drew up on one side to see who the strangers were.
+He had little difficulty in recognising in the old gentleman who rode
+first with his coat buttoned up, but without any great coat, the King of
+England.  Sir George Rose and two or three other gentlemen accompanied
+his Majesty.  One of them, apparently, was urging him to stop at the
+tollgate, and dry his clothes.
+
+"A little wet won't hurt a man! a little wet won't hurt a man!" answered
+the King.  "The sun will soon come out, and answer the purpose better
+than a fire."
+
+As Harry knew that the Queen would arrive at Stanmore before he could
+get there, and that the King would be delayed for some time at Lynderton
+he followed the cavalcade at a respectful distance.
+
+As they reached the entrance of the town the rain altogether ceased, and
+the sun shone forth, and shouts of welcome rent the air, and the band
+played a joyous tune, and the Mayor and the whole corporation in state
+came forth to welcome his Majesty, and to accompany him to the entrance
+of the town-hall.  He there was ushered up, and led to a seat at the
+farther end, where he graciously received an address from the mayor,
+who, with the members of the corporation, were formally introduced.
+
+Conspicuous at the other end of the room was a gaunt personage in
+scarlet robes trimmed with yellow fringe, bearing in his hand an
+enormous gilt club, so it looked.
+
+"Who is that?" asked the King, eyeing the figure with a comical
+expression.
+
+"That's our mace-bearer, your Majesty, Jedidiah Pike."
+
+Jedidiah Pike, hearing his name announced, supposed that he was
+summoned, and advanced up the room.  Overcome, however, by his feelings,
+and awe at finding himself in the presence of majesty, down he went on
+his knees, mace and all, and prostrated himself at the King's feet,
+while, looking up with an expression of the most intense reverence, he
+endeavoured to kiss the hand of majesty.
+
+"Get up, man! get up!" exclaimed the King, scarcely refraining his
+laughter, "I am not the Grand Seignior nor a three-tailed Basha.  Get
+up, get up, man, and you shall kiss my hand, if it pleases you."  The
+King could restrain his laughter no longer, and gave way to a hearty
+cachination, in which his attendants, and even the mayor and corporation
+of Lynderton, heartily joined, greatly to the confusion of poor Pike,
+who retreated backwards, very nearly tumbling over his own gown as he
+endeavoured to escape from the royal presence.  During the remainder of
+the ceremony, the King every two minutes gave way to another hearty
+laugh, and as he descended the stairs to mount his horse, he looked
+round, and again inquired for his friend Pike.
+
+The King rode on as before, attended by the few gentlemen who had come
+with him from Lyndhurst, the populace following at a respectful
+distance.  While he rode on, either side was lined with eager
+spectators, who gave forth with cheerful voices reiterated welcomes.
+The king nodded kindly, thanking the people now and then in words as he
+rode on.
+
+Harry galloped on by a path he knew across the country, and the Colonel
+was in readiness to receive his royal guest on his arrival.
+
+Meantime, the guests who had been invited to the _fete_ on the lawn
+arrived from all quarters, while the breakfast-room which overlooked it
+had been prepared for the royal family.  They dined alone--the Colonel
+and the ladies of his family, aided by Lady Tryon, attending on them.
+Lady Tryon was delighted at being invited by the Queen to attend on her.
+She made herself especially agreeable, and took the opportunity of
+introducing her grandson to their Majesties.
+
+Harry behaved remarkably well under circumstances so novel to him, and
+Mabel, at all events, thought that she had never seen him looking so
+handsome.
+
+"He would make a charming page," Lady Tryon whispered in her ear; "I
+must try and get their Majesties to take him."
+
+Meantime the sky had cleared, the sun shone forth brightly.  The guests
+were soon seen in their gayest costumes crossing the lawn to the tents,
+the band struck up and played the most joyous tunes, and the King came
+to the window and clapped his hands with delight.
+
+It was pleasant to see their Majesties mixing among the crowd, and
+talking familiarly to many of the guests.  Several the King recognised;
+among others, Sir James Wallace, and his friend, General Perkins.
+Upwards of an hour was thus passed, when one of the gentlemen-in-waiting
+suggested to his Majesty that unless they soon commenced their homeward
+ride it would be dark before they could reach Lyndhurst.  The Queen and
+princesses had already retired, as they purposed returning by the road
+they came.
+
+"We must restore her cloak to Dame Pocock," observed the Queen, "and
+other friends who were kind enough to lend them to us."
+
+The King, however, purposed riding across the forest by a shorter cut,
+and through much beautiful woodland scenery.  Harry held the King's
+horse, while Colonel Everard assisted him to mount.
+
+"Ah!" said his Majesty, shaking the Colonel by the hand, "I am a happy
+King to be able thus to ride through a forest with only three or four
+unarmed attendants.  Is there another sovereign in Europe that could do
+the same?  I wot not, Colonel."
+
+"Perhaps this young gentleman would like to accompany us," said one of
+the gentlemen-in-waiting, turning to the Colonel.  "I know my way across
+the forest, but he probably is better acquainted with the paths on this
+side of it, and may somewhat shorten our ride.  I am anxious to get the
+King home again lest his Majesty should have suffered by remaining so
+long in his damp clothes."
+
+Harry was soon on horseback and galloping along to overtake the royal
+party.  Every path and glade in that part of the forest was well known
+to him, and he was thus able to conduct the King, not only by shorter
+paths, but to show him some especial bits of woodland scenery.  The King
+was much pleased, and complimented Harry on his taste.  Whole troops of
+deer were seen coming in from all directions towards a keeper's lodge,
+where they were accustomed to assemble every evening to be fed.
+
+"A pity to shoot such beautiful creatures," said the King; "this forest
+should be their own.  If I had to frame new forest laws I should
+certainly let the deer benefit by them.  What say you, young gentleman?"
+
+Harry had to confess he had no objection to ride after a stag with a
+pack of hounds, nor indeed to exercise his skill as a marksman on a fat
+buck.
+
+The King laughed.
+
+"We must not be too much guided by our feelings," he observed.
+
+The King conversed constantly with Harry during the ride, and told him
+that he hoped to see him again.  The young man bowed low as they reached
+Lyndhurst, and it is not surprising that his spirits should have been
+somewhat elated at the honour which had been done him.  He turned his
+horse, and galloped quickly over the soft turf back again towards
+Stanmore, eager to report the safe arrival of the King, and, it is
+possible, to enjoy another dance with Mabel.  She was not less well
+pleased than he was with the honour the King had done him, and it is not
+surprising that the young people should have thereon built up a somewhat
+lofty castle in the air, vapoury and changeable, as such castles
+invariably are.  Lady Tryon was still more pleased.  Her grandson had
+achieved a success.  She saw him in imagination basking in the smiles of
+royalty, and obtaining the advantages which such smiles occasionally
+bring.  Not always, though, as they are apt to raise up "envy, hatred,
+malice, and all uncharitableness," in the hearts of rivals.
+
+Dancing was still going on when Harry got back.  On such occasions the
+officers of the foreign legion considerably eclipsed the less
+nimble-footed Englishmen, and were proportionally favourites.  They
+were, therefore, far more popular with the ladies than with the male
+part of the community.
+
+Harry had not forgotten his quarrel with the Baron de Ruvigny, and was
+somewhat surprised that the young lieutenant looked at him in so
+unconcerned a manner.  He was not revengeful by disposition, but he
+fancied that he was in honour bound to settle the matter.
+
+"The sooner the better," he thought to himself.  "I will look out for
+him on his way to Lynderton, and see what he has to say for himself."
+
+In the meantime he danced with Lucy and Mabel, and two or three other
+young ladies, for although it had been the custom for a gentleman to
+confine himself to the same partner during the whole of the evening, the
+foreign officers had managed to break through it, and thus to divide
+their attentions more generally among the fair sex.  At length the
+_fete_ came to an end.  Everybody declared it was delightful.  Harry saw
+Lady Tryon into her carriage, and saying that he would walk home, went
+back to pay his adieus to the ladies.  Mabel looked more beautiful than
+ever, and gave him a smile which made him feel very happy.
+
+"By-the-bye," said the Colonel, drawing him aside, "if you ever have an
+`affair of honour,' you must promise to ask me to be your second.
+Remember I am an old soldier, and you could not have a better man.  I
+must exact this promise."
+
+Harry felt very foolish.  He did not know how he looked.  He could not
+help suspecting that the Colonel knew his secret; yet "how could he have
+known it?"  The Colonel, however, would not let him go till he had
+passed his word.
+
+"Perhaps I may have to call upon you sooner than you expect, sir," he
+said; "really, these foreigners try one's temper."
+
+"Perhaps you don't understand the foreigners, Harry," he said, in a
+good-natured tone.  "However, good-night;" and the old officer returned
+chuckling into the drawing-room.
+
+Harry hurried on.  He had seen the Baron de Ruvigny leave the house but
+a short time before, and he expected soon to catch him up.  He was not
+disappointed.  The moon shone brightly.  He knew the baron's figure, and
+saw him a little way ahead in company with several other officers.
+
+Harry soon overtook them, and walking up to the side of the young baron,
+touched him on the shoulder.
+
+"We had a little affair to settle the other day, baron," said Harry.
+
+The young baron hesitated.
+
+"I was labouring under a mistake.  I confess it," he answered.  "Colonel
+Everard has spoken to me, and has made me promise not to carry the
+matter further.  I did not consider that you had a right to interfere,
+and I was, therefore, angry.  I tender you my apology."
+
+Harry hesitated a moment.  Was it generosity or cowardice which made the
+young baron act in this way?  "It is the first, I am sure," thought
+Harry.  "I accept your apology gladly," he answered.
+
+The young men shook hands and walked on side by side, both probably
+feeling much happier than they did before.  They might, to be sure, have
+caused some sensation in the place had they fought; but even had one of
+them been killed, the event would probably have been no more than a
+"nine days' wonder," and even his most intimate acquaintance would soon
+have ceased to mourn.  The two after this became fast friends.
+
+The baron especially had many interesting adventures to relate,
+especially those he had undergone in escaping from France--"La belle
+France!" as he still called his native country.
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+A FAREWELL VISIT.--SAD END OF A FESTIVE SCENE.
+
+Mabel Everard and Harry Tryon stood together under the shade of the
+wide-spreading trees which extended their boughs over the edge of the
+large lake in Stanmore Park watching a couple of graceful swans which
+glided noiselessly by across the mirror-like surface of the water.
+
+"I have come to wish you good-bye, Mabel," said Harry, and his voice
+trembled slightly.  "Lady Tryon insists on my accompanying her to
+London, and I cannot refuse to obey her.  It is time, and she says truly
+that I should choose a profession; but which can I choose?  I should
+have preferred going to sea some years ago, but I am getting too old for
+that, and though I have no objection to the army, yet it would take me
+away for years, perhaps for long years, Mabel, and that I could not
+stand."
+
+
+He looked affectionately into her face as he spoke.
+
+"I should not wish you to go, Harry," she answered in a low voice, "and
+yet I know that it is right and manly to have a profession.  I should
+not like you to be in any better, yet it is so full of dangers that I
+should be very miserable."
+
+"No, I see, I must live in the country and turn farmer," said Harry, as
+if a bright idea had struck him.  "I have always been told that Lady
+Tryon is sure to leave me all her property, and that must be sufficient
+for all my wishes.  However, when I go to London I will try and learn
+what profession is likely to suit me.  I certainly don't wish to be
+idle; and the thought of winning you, and making a home fit for your
+reception, will stimulate me to exertion."
+
+"I shall be glad if it does."
+
+A boat was moored near where they stood.  Harry proposed to row Mabel
+round the lake.  They looked very interesting as they two sat in the
+boat, Harry rowing, and Mabel smiling and talking cheerfully,
+occasionally catching at a water-lily.
+
+They talked of Lucy.  The theme was a sad one.  Since the day of the
+_fete_ she had never been well.  There was a colour in her cheek and a
+brightness in her eye, which alarmed her aunt.  She communicated her
+fears to Mabel.
+
+"But dear Lucy does not consider that she is in any danger, or she would
+not urge my uncle to have the ball next week."
+
+"Perhaps your aunt is unduly alarmed," said Harry, "Lucy seems in such
+spirits that I cannot suppose there is any danger.  I was in a great
+fright at first, thinking that Lady Tryon would insist on going to
+London before the ball, but I am thankful to say she consents to stay
+till it is over.  There is only one thing I don't like in these balls.
+I say, Mabel, you must not let those French officers flirt too much with
+you.  They are marquises and barons, to be sure; but after all, except
+their pay, they have nothing to bless themselves with.  Somehow or
+other, I never can like a foreigner as much as an Englishman."
+
+"That is rather hard upon papa," said Mabel, looking up.  "You know his
+mother was a foreigner.  Did you not know that she was French?
+Grandpapa married, when he was a very young man, just as he was a
+lieutenant, a French lady.  She, too, was very young and very pretty."
+
+"That I am sure she must have been," said Harry, looking up at Mabel.
+
+"The story is a very sad one.  Poor mamma died, I believe, when I was
+born, and grandpapa had just time to carry away his boy to England, and
+to place me with Aunt Ann, when he was obliged to go to sea.  The little
+I know of the early history of our family I have learnt from Aunt Ann."
+
+They were nearing the shore when they heard a voice hailing them from
+the spot from which they set out.  They soon reached a landing-place.  A
+fine officer-like looking man was standing near it.  Mabel sprang out
+and threw herself into his arms.
+
+"Oh! papa, you have come back without giving us warning.  Oh! dear, dear
+papa, how happy you have made me!"
+
+Captain Digby Everard returned his daughter's embrace.  He looked
+inquiringly at Harry, whom he did not recognise.
+
+"This is Harry Tryon," she said.  "You remember him as a boy; but he has
+grown a good deal since then."  The Captain smiled.
+
+"I am very happy to renew my acquaintance with him," he said, holding
+out his hand, "and I am glad to see so accomplished an oarsman: it is a
+pity that he has not been bred to the sea.  However, perhaps it is not
+too late.  Lord Cochrane did not go afloat till he was as old as Harry
+is, and he has already made a name for himself."
+
+The Captain and his daughter walked on towards the house, she leaning on
+his arm, and looking up, ever and anon, into his face as he spoke
+affectionately to her.
+
+Harry, thinking that the Captain might consider him intrusive, made his
+adieus to Mabel and her father.
+
+"Aunt Ann will want you to help her in preparing for the entertainment,"
+said Mabel, as she shook hands with him.
+
+"And I should be happy to become better acquainted with you," added the
+Captain, warmly shaking him by the hand.
+
+Harry was becoming very popular in the neighbourhood: a good-looking
+young man, with apparently ample means, is certain to be so, if he is
+tolerably well behaved in other respects.  People do not pry too closely
+into the character of youths of good fortune.  Harry, however, was
+unexceptionable.  The banker and some of the tradesmen of Lynderton
+might have had their suspicions that Lady Tryon would not "cut up" as
+well as was expected; but as they had had no quarrel with her grandson,
+they did not allow this idea to go forth to his detriment.  Harry,
+therefore, dined as frequently out as at home.  Indeed, the attractions
+of Ayleston Hall were not very great, to his taste.
+
+One day, however, she insisted upon his remaining and taking a
+_tete-a-tete_ dinner with her.  Her eyes were weak, and she wanted him
+to read to her afterwards a new tale by Miss Burney.  To that he had no
+objection.  It was very romantic, and suited his humour.
+
+"Well, Harry, you must make your fortune some day by a wife," said the
+worldly old lady, "and really if you succeed with that pretty girl,
+Mabel Everard, you will do well.  Under some circumstances I might not
+have encouraged it; but as it is, I have an idea: you know Lucy's mother
+died of consumption, and if Lucy dies the Captain becomes his uncle's
+heir."
+
+"But my mother died of consumption," answered Harry, who hated the
+thought of being mercenary; "I hope Lucy may live, and that I may have
+the means of making a fortune to support a wife whenever I marry."
+
+"Silly boy, fortunes are not so easily made," said the old lady, in a
+voice which sounded somewhat harsh to Harry's ear.  "If you don't marry
+a fortune, there will probably be poverty and beggary in store for you.
+They are the most dreadful things in my opinion in this life.  Be a wise
+lad, Harry, and try and win Mabel.  You don't mean to say, boy, that you
+have no wish to marry her?"
+
+Harry hesitated to acknowledge his love to his grandmother.  The old
+lady's manner did not encourage confidence.  Instinctively he mistrusted
+her.  The old lady eyed him narrowly.
+
+"Take my advice, and be attentive to the girl.  If you follow it I shall
+be well pleased; if not, I shall act accordingly.  Or perhaps when you
+go to London you would like to be introduced to your cousins, the
+Coppinger girls.  There are a good many of them, I believe, but I have
+kept up no intercourse for some years past with my worthy brother
+Stephen.  Indeed, he and I have different notions on most subjects.
+However, if there is anything to be gained, I should have no objection
+to call on my nieces.  He is very rich, I am told, and will probably
+divide his fortune between them.  Still, though our family is a good
+one, as he has always lived in the city, a daughter of his cannot bring
+you the county influence and credit which you would derive from such a
+girl as Mabel Everard."
+
+Harry seldom acted the hypocrite.  He did so, however, on this occasion.
+He should be very happy to become acquainted with his fair cousins, and
+he did not for a moment deny the attractions of Mabel Everard, or the
+advantages which might accrue, should he be fortunate enough to win her
+hand.
+
+The old lady, with all her acuteness, did not quite understand her
+grandson.  On this occasion, however, she read his mind better than
+usual.  Had he been perfectly frank she might have doubted him, but now
+that he attempted to compete with her in hypocrisy, she read him through
+and through.
+
+"Why the lad thinks of marrying that little girl," she thought to
+herself, "and unless her father should marry again, she will be one of
+the chief heiresses of the county, should her cousin die."
+
+The intended ball was to be the largest which had yet taken place at
+Stanmore, and Lucy especially wished for it.  It was her birthday, and
+the Colonel could deny her nothing.  Besides, Captain Everard had come
+home, and it would help to do him honour.  Not only was all the
+neighbourhood asked, but people from all parts of the county.  The house
+was to be full.  As it was originally a hunting lodge, the outbuildings
+were very extensive, and could hold all the carriages and horses of the
+numerous guests.  People do not mind packing tolerably close on such
+occasions.  There was a long range of rooms in one of the wings for
+bachelors, and another similar range where a vast number of young ladies
+could be put up, with their attendant waiting-maidens.  The new
+dining-hall, in which the dancing was to take place, was very extensive.
+It was to be ornamented with wreaths of flowers, and numerous bracket
+lights on the walls.  The chandeliers were looked upon as wonderful
+specimens of art, though greatly surpassed by those of later years.  A
+considerable number of guests who came from a distance arrived the day
+before.  Lucy and Mabel had exerted themselves, especially in preparing
+the wreaths, and running about the house all the day assisting their
+aunt.  Harry, of course, had been summoned over to help, and so had the
+Baron de Ruvigny.
+
+Harry had got over his jealousy of the young Frenchman, with regard to
+Mabel.  He saw, indeed, that the Baron's attentions were devoted
+exclusively to Lucy.  He was certainly in love with her; of that there
+appeared no doubt.
+
+The Colonel invited Harry to stop to dinner.  It was more hurried than
+usual, because Lucy insisted that they should have dancing after it, to
+practise for the next day.  Those were primitive days.  Lynderton
+boasted of but one public conveyance, denominated the Fly, though it
+seldom moved out of a snail's pace, except when the driver was somewhat
+tipsy, and hurrying back to obtain a second fare.  Harry had been sent
+round a short time before dinner to invite several maiden ladies, with
+one or two other dames who were not able to attend the ball the
+following day, while three or four of the foreign officers had received
+an intimation that they would be welcome.
+
+Dinner over, and the tables cleared away, the gay young party began
+tripping it merrily to the music of harpsichord, violin, and flageolet,
+played by the foreign officers.  Lucy appeared in excellent health and
+spirits, in spite of the fatigue she had gone through in the morning.
+No one danced more eagerly or lightly after the first country dance.
+She and the young Baron stood up to perform their proposed minuet: every
+one remarked how lovely she looked, and how gracefully she moved.
+People forgot to watch the slides and bows of the young Frenchman; at
+least, some of the guests did, though he was rewarded for his exertions
+by the evident admiration of several of the young ladies.
+
+"That young Tryon, who is dancing with Mabel Everard, considering he is
+an Englishman, acquits himself very well indeed," observed the Dowager
+Countess of Polehampton, eyeing the young couple through her glass.  "If
+any creature could make a man dance, Mabel Everard would do so.  Do you
+admire her or her cousin most?"
+
+"Really, your ladyship, they are both fine girls; it is difficult to
+decide between them," answered Sir John Frodsham, an old beau who
+faithfully danced attendance on the Countess.  "If I were a young man I
+might be called upon to decide the question, and then I should certainly
+have voted in favour of the heiress; but now Lady Frodsham puts that out
+of my power."
+
+"Oh, fie!  Sir John, you men are all the same, money carries off the
+palm with young and old alike."
+
+Harry meantime was enjoying his dance with Mabel, caring very little
+what the Countess of Polehampton or Sir John Frodsham might say of him.
+
+During that evening more than one could not help remarking the rich
+colour and the sparkling eyes of the heiress of Stanmore.  Never had she
+looked so lovely; indeed, generally she carried off the palm from her
+cousin.  The dance continued, the amateur musicians exerting themselves
+to the utmost; and everybody declared that if the present impromptu
+little party went off so well, that of the next day must be a great
+success.  The Colonel was seated at the end of the room, paying
+attention to his more elderly guests, and occasionally saying a pleasant
+word or two to the young ones.  Madam Everard kept moving about and
+acting the part of an attentive hostess.  Frequently her nieces assisted
+her, when not actually engaged in dancing.  There was a question to be
+decided as to what dance should next take place.
+
+"Where is Lucy?" exclaimed Madam Everard, looking round.  Lucy had left
+the room; some minutes passed, and she did not return.  Madam Everard
+became anxious.  Mabel was again dancing, or she would have sent her to
+look for her cousin.  Madam Everard hastened from the ball-room; she
+went up-stairs, and met a servant by the way.
+
+"Miss Everard went up into her room some time ago."
+
+Madam Everard hastened forward, telling the maid to follow.
+
+The door was slightly open.  There was no sound in the room--a lamp
+burned on the table; Madam Everard's heart sank with dread.  She looked
+round.  Stretched on the floor lay her beloved niece in her gay ball
+dress, her countenance like marble, and blood flowing from her lips!
+
+"She breathes, she breathes!" she said; and she and the maid lifted her
+on to the bed.
+
+She had broken a blood-vessel.  Madam Everard knew that at a glance:
+Lucy's mother had done the same.
+
+"Dr. Jessop must be sent for immediately;" but Madam Everard did not
+wish to give the alarm to the rest of the guests.  She would let the
+visitors depart, and allow those who were to remain in the house to go
+to their rooms before the sad intelligence was conveyed to them.  She
+did all that could be done, and applied such restoratives as she
+believed would be effectual.
+
+Immediately Paul Gauntlett threw himself on horseback, and galloped off
+to fetch Dr. Jessop.  He would not even stop to put a saddle on the
+horse's back, and would have gone off with the halter.
+
+Meantime Lucy returned to consciousness, and declared that she did not
+feel ill, only somewhat tired, and would like to go to sleep.  The
+guests shortly began to take their departure.  The maid-servants of the
+maiden ladies came with their pattens and hoods, and big cloaks, some
+with huge umbrellas in addition.  There were footmen and footboys also,
+with many-coloured liveries, carrying huge stable lanterns to light
+their mistresses.  They were generally employed in the service of the
+dowagers.  The Fly was in requisition, but only for a select few.
+
+As the guests came down-stairs, the foreign officers stood in the hall,
+occasionally making themselves useful, by assisting to put on the
+ladies' hoods, cloaks, or shawls.
+
+The young Baron de Ruvigny alone lingered.  He had seen Lucy leave the
+room, and he became anxious, finding that she did not return.  He asked
+the Colonel where she was.  Just then a maid-servant came down with a
+message from Madam Everard, requesting Colonel Everard to come to his
+daughter's room.
+
+"What is the matter?" asked the young Baron of the servant, as the
+Colonel hurried off.
+
+"Our mistress is very ill, very ill indeed, and I fear there's no hope
+of her recovery," answered the girl.
+
+The young Baron entreated that he might be allowed to remain till the
+doctor had seen her.
+
+Paul had found Dr. Jessop at home.  He accompanied him back at full
+speed.  He looked very grave after he had seen Miss Lucy.
+
+"I should like my friend Dr. Musgrave to see her.  If the skill of any
+man can avail, I am sure that his will, but it would take two days to
+get him down here, and this is a case demanding immediate remedies."
+
+Paul Gauntlett had come in with the doctor, and was waiting outside Miss
+Lucy's room to hear his opinion.
+
+"I will do it, sir!" he exclaimed, "if you will tell me where Dr.
+Musgrave is to be found; I will be off and bring him down as soon as
+possible."
+
+"Stay, friend," said Dr. Jessop; "while you are taking some refreshment
+and getting your horse ready, I will write out a state of the case, and
+if Dr. Musgrave cannot come he will send by you such remedies as he may
+consider efficacious."
+
+Paul scarcely liked the delay.  He would have started on the back of the
+first horse he could lead out of the stable without thinking of food for
+himself.  Within ten minutes he was galloping along through the forest.
+He could get to Redbridge, and Southampton, and so on to Winchester
+before daybreak.  He could there get a fresh horse.  He would distance
+any post-chaise; he was sure of that.  He had left orders to have a
+fresh horse brought on for him to Southampton.  He resolved not to waste
+a moment till he had brought the remedy for his dear Miss Lucy.  His
+horse carried him nobly; he seemed to be aware that it was a matter of
+life and death.  Paul had been with his master in London on several
+occasions.  He knew the road, and being an old campaigner, without
+difficulty found his way to the doctor's house.  The doctor was out
+visiting patients.  Paul fretted and fumed more than he had ever done in
+his life before.  The servant was disposed to shut the door in his face,
+and send him to an inn.
+
+"That will not do, master," said Paul; "I must wait here till the doctor
+comes back, and you must put up my horse, and rub him down, and feed him
+well.  It's a matter of life and death;" and Paul expatiated on the
+youth and beauty and gentle disposition of his young mistress, till the
+tears rolled down his cheek, and he almost made the doctor's somewhat
+morose butler weep with him.
+
+"Oh, sir, sir, can you save her?" he exclaimed, handing Dr. Jessop's
+note to Dr. Musgrave, when he came back.  "It's impossible that so young
+and sweet a creature as Miss Lucy should be allowed to die.  It cannot
+be, sir; it cannot be; it would break the Colonel's heart, and mine,
+too."
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT.
+
+THE YOUNG HEIRESS.--HARRY COMES OUT IN LONDON NOT UNDER THE BEST OF
+AUSPICES.
+
+Mr. Musgrave threw himself into his arm-chair, and crossing his legs,
+with a frown of thought on his brow, looked over Dr. Jessop's notes.  "I
+will go down to-morrow," he said, turning to Paul, who stood before him
+eagerly watching his countenance, as if he could there read the probable
+fate of his beloved young mistress.  "I cannot possibly go to-day; I may
+be of some use, but it is doubtful.  However, I will send a medicine
+which may be efficacious, and suggest to Dr. Jessop how he may treat the
+young lady."
+
+"Oh! sir, cannot you come, cannot you save her?" exclaimed Paul, not
+understanding what the doctor had said, but only making out that he was
+unable to accompany him back.
+
+"Yes, yes, my friend," answered the doctor, touched by the old soldier's
+earnestness, "To-morrow I'll start.  I must go in a post-chaise, I
+cannot ride express as you do.  Now go down, and my man Mumford will
+attend to your wants while your horse is fed.  In the meantime, I will
+look out the medicines, and write a letter to my good friend Dr. Jessop.
+Will that satisfy you?  Now do go, my good man, do go."
+
+Paul could with difficulty get down any food, but at the same time his
+experience told him that when work was to be done the body must be fed.
+
+He thought the doctor was a long time in concocting the medicine, but
+hoped that it would be more efficacious in consequence.
+
+When once mounted, with the medicine in a case slung at his back, he did
+not spare his speed.  His only fear was falling.  A horse had been sent
+on to Winchester to meet him.  He exchanged it for his tired steed.
+Winchester was soon passed through and Southampton reached.  Shortly
+after leaving the latter place, he encountered Harry Tryon, with a led
+horse, coming to meet him.  He mounted it gladly, for his own was
+already tired, and together they galloped back through the forest.
+
+Harry was afraid that Miss Lucy was worse.  At all events, they were
+anxiously looking out for the doctor or his remedies.  The Colonel met
+them at the hall-door steps.  His face was very grave and anxious.  He
+was disappointed at not seeing the doctor, but eagerly took the case of
+medicines.
+
+"Paul, you saved my life once, and by God's providence you may be the
+means of paving my daughter's.  His will be done, whatever happens."
+
+Dr. Jessop was in attendance.  The remedies sent by the London doctor
+were administered, but Lucy was very weak.  Harry asked Dr. Jessop what
+he thought.
+
+"My boy, doctors at all times must not express their thoughts," he
+answered, evasively.  "Miss Everard is young, and youth is a great thing
+in a patient's favour.  Remember that, and make a good use of yours
+while you enjoy it."
+
+The guests with sad hearts took their departure.  The long-expected ball
+was not to be.  Messages were sent round to the residents in the
+neighbourhood, informing them that the ball was put off, but in the
+evening several who had not heard of what had occurred arrived at the
+door.  The Colonel went down to speak to them himself.  It was with
+difficulty he could command his voice, for he saw, with the eye of
+affection, that his beloved daughter was struck by the hand of death.
+Among others, a party of foreign officers arrived from a neighbouring
+town.  Captain Everard begged his uncle that he might be allowed to go
+and speak to them.  Refreshments had been placed for those who might
+come from a distance, and they were accordingly invited in.  They were
+gentlemanly men, and Captain Everard received them as a man of the
+world.  Having mentioned the serious illness of Miss Everard, he at once
+turned the conversation to other subjects.  Among the guests, he saw one
+whose face was familiar; he looked at him again and again, and was
+trying to consider where he had seen him.  The officer at length became
+aware that Captain Everard's eyes were fixed on him.
+
+"Surely we have met before," said the latter.  "Was it not at Toulon?"
+A deep melancholy came over the foreigner's countenance.
+
+"It may be, for I was there once," he answered; "would that I had died
+there, too; but my life was saved by a brave English officer, who, at
+the risk of his own, carried me away amid showers of musketry poured
+down upon us by my countrymen, and amidst exploding ships, and masses of
+burning ruin which showered down upon our heads.  Tell me, sir, are you
+that officer? for as you know well, my mind was unhinged by the dreadful
+events of that night, and though I have a dim recollection of his
+features, if you are he, you will recollect that I had scarcely
+recovered when he was compelled to send me to the hospital."
+
+"Yes, indeed," cried Captain Everard, "I had the satisfaction of saving
+the life of a French officer in the way you describe.  Captain Rochard,
+I understood, was his name, and although he remained several weeks in my
+cabin, all that time he was scarcely conscious of what was taking place
+around him."
+
+"Yes, yes, I am the very man," exclaimed the foreign officer, rising
+from his seat, and taking Captain Everard's hand in his own.  "Let me
+now express my gratitude to you, which I was at that time unable to do.
+I have since then lived a chequered and adventurous life, and though I
+dare not contemplate the past, I feel that there is still pleasure and
+satisfaction to be found in the present.  While a spark of hope remains
+in the bosom of a man, he cannot desire death."
+
+The other officers seemed much interested at the meeting between their
+friend and the English captain.  Captain Rochard, they said, had joined
+them, and one or two had known him formerly when he was in the French
+marine, and they were convinced that he would do credit to their corps.
+
+Harry Tryon had come to the house twice before in the day to inquire for
+Lucy; he now returned with the Baron de Ruvigny, who really looked
+dejected and almost heartbroken at the illness of the young lady.  Harry
+had exchanged a few words with Mabel; they were parting words, so we
+must not too curiously inquire into what was said.  He had been,
+however, anxious to remain a few days longer, but Lady Tryon insisted on
+setting off the next day for London.  He once more rejoined the Baron at
+the hall-door.  He found him standing with the foreign officers, whom he
+had invited to spend the rest of the evening at Lynderton.  Harry was of
+course asked to join the party.  Captain Everard was parting from them
+at the hall-door, and as the light fell on Captain Rochard's features
+Harry was sure that he was an old acquaintance.  Captain Rochard dropped
+a little behind his companions as they walked down the avenue, and Harry
+took this opportunity of addressing him.
+
+"We have met before, Captain Falwasser," said Harry; "I am sure that I
+am not mistaken, and you were very kind to me on one occasion when I was
+a boy."
+
+"Ah!" answered the Captain, with a start, "that was my name; I will not
+deny it; that is to say, it was my name for a time, and it may be my
+name again; but at present I must beg you will know me as Captain
+Rochard, the friend of your relative--is he not?--Captain Everard."
+
+"I will be careful to obey your wishes, Captain Rochard," said Harry;
+"but Captain Everard is not a relative."
+
+Harry felt himself blushing as he said this, for he certainly hoped that
+he might be so some day.  Harry felt very curious to know who this
+Captain Rochard could possibly be.  He had known him, apparently, as the
+commander of a smuggler; now he found him in the character of a military
+officer.  "Perhaps, after all, he may be neither one nor the other,"
+thought Harry; "there is a peculiarly commanding and dignified air about
+him."
+
+The evening was spent very pleasantly, for although the young Baron was
+sad at heart, he endeavoured to overcome his feelings, for the sake of
+entertaining his guests, and music and pleasant conversation made the
+hours pass rapidly away.  The officers of the foreign legion had neither
+the inclination nor the means of imitating the example of British
+military officers, who at that time, and on such an occasion, would have
+spent the evening in a carouse.  A few glasses of lemonade was probably
+the extent of the entertainment afforded by the host, or expected by the
+guests.
+
+The next morning Harry found himself on the box of Lady Tryon's coach,
+rumbling away towards London.  Her lady's-maid was inside.  The footman
+sat on the box with Harry.  Even the beautiful forest scenery through
+which they passed failed to raise Harry's spirits.  He was constantly
+looking back in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the chimneys of
+Stanmore; not that he could really have seen them, by-the-bye, but his
+heart flew, at all events, in the direction of his eye.  He thought,
+too, of dear sweet Lucy lying on her sick-bed, too likely, he feared, to
+prove her death-bed.
+
+The road was none of the best in those days, and Harry and the footman
+had often to get off and help the carriage along.  This was a relief,
+however.  They each had a brace of pistols, and a blunderbuss was strung
+at the back of the box.  Harry, however, had a strong suspicion that
+Simon, the footman, would be very unwilling to use it, even in defence
+of the matured charms of Miss Betsy Frizzle, her ladyship's much
+suffering and much enduring handmaiden.  Sometimes the journey occupied
+three days, but her ladyship was in a hurry, and her carriage being
+unusually light, and the roads in tolerably good order, they were only
+to sleep one night on the road.
+
+Harry had been so constantly away from home for the last few days, that
+he had had no conversation with his grandmother.  As they were seated at
+tea in their inn, the old lady again spoke of his marriage with Mabel.
+
+"I told you, Harry, that the Colonel's daughter would die.  I knew it
+long ago.  I saw it in her eye, and her voice told me that she was not
+to live many years in this world.  Thus, mark me, Miss Mabel will become
+the mistress of Stanmore.  Now, Harry, I intend to leave you all I have
+got, so that you may cut a figure in the world.  You are like your
+father in face and figure, and I love you on that account.  He was more
+a man of the world than you are, or will ever become, I suspect.  Let me
+tell you it is an important thing to know the world well.  I do, and
+have no great respect for it in consequence; but I know how to manage
+it, and that's what I want you to do.  You will have many opportunities
+in London; I must beg that you will not throw them away.  You may be the
+possessor of a large fortune, and yet unless you know how to manage it,
+it may be of little use to you.  Many a man, with three or four thousand
+a year, does more than others with thirty or forty thousand.  I would
+have you also, Harry, pay every attention to the wishes of your
+guardian, Mr. Kyffin.  He is a very respectable man, and will probably
+save money, and as far as I can learn, as he has no other relations of
+his own, he will undoubtedly leave it to you.  Thus I hope that you may
+be very well off.  Still both Mr. Kyffin and I may live for a good many
+years.  When he last called for you in London I examined his
+countenance, and considered him a remarkably hale and healthy man, while
+I myself feel as well as I ever did in my life.  However, I don't wish
+to think of the time when you will come into my property."
+
+Harry, of course, begged that the old lady would not think of such an
+event, and declared himself ready to enter some profession, by which he
+might make himself independent of the expected fortunes of his friends.
+He thought that he might like the law.  Life in London and in dusty
+chambers was not exactly what he had been accustomed to, but still,
+where an important object was to be gained, he was ready to submit to
+anything.  Lady Tryon laughed at the notion.  He might certainly eat his
+dinners at the Inns of Court and live in dusty chambers, but as to
+making anything by so doing, the idea was preposterous.  A young fellow
+like him, of good family and presentable appearance, must marry an
+heiress.  He was fit for that, and nothing else.
+
+Harry saw that there was no use discussing the matter with his
+grandmother.  He resolved, however, to talk it over with his guardian as
+soon as they met.  He saw that the old lady had some project in her
+head, which she had resolved to keep secret from him.  It must be
+confessed, he was very glad when her ladyship rang for Betsy Frizzle,
+and retired to her room.  They arrived next day late in the evening at
+Lady Tryon's house, in the middle of ---Street.
+
+Harry set off the next day to visit Mr. Roger Kyffin, of Hampstead.  He
+found that the coach ran twice in the day to that far-distant suburb.
+It was a pleasant drive, among green fields, here and there a smiling
+villa, but otherwise with few buildings.  Mr. Kyffin had not come back
+from the city when Harry arrived, but his careful housekeeper received
+him with every attention, and insisted on his partaking of some of her
+preserves and home-made wine, just to give him an appetite for supper,
+as of course her master always dined in London.
+
+At last Mr. Kyffin arrived.  He was much pleased with Harry's
+appearance.  They spent a very pleasant evening.  Harry could not help
+contrasting the conversation of his guardian with that of his
+grandmother--the man of business, so unworldly, and with a heart so full
+of warm affection, anxious for the welfare of his fellow-creatures,
+while the old lady with one foot in the grave was truly of the earth--
+earthy.  Harry did not exactly say as much as this to himself, but he
+felt it, notwithstanding.  Roger Kyffin was very much pleased to hear of
+Harry's wish to enter a profession.  "I would not have you decide in a
+hurry," he said, "and you must consider for what you are best fitted.
+You know that I, as far as I have the power, will help you to the
+utmost--on that you may depend.  Further than that, Harry, I don't wish
+to bias you."  Harry slept at Mr. Kyffin's, a pretty little cottage, and
+accompanied him the next day back to London.  He found that the mornings
+hung somewhat heavily on his hands; the evenings, too, were not spent in
+a way particularly agreeable to him, as Lady Tryon insisted on his
+accompanying her to the routs and other parties she frequented.  He had
+a dislike to cards, and could never learn to play, so she had not
+insisted on his joining her, but she spent the whole of the evening at
+the card-table.  He saw, however, from the piles of gold placed before
+her that she was playing high; how high he could not tell; but very
+often she returned home in an unusually bad humour, when he found it
+safer to keep silence than to attempt any conversation with her.
+
+At this time, ladies of fashion, as well as gentlemen, were fearfully
+addicted to the vice of gambling.  The law was doing its utmost to put
+down public hells, but it was unable in general to stop the practice in
+private houses, in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining evidence.
+
+One evening Lady Tryon had been at the house of the Countess of
+Buckinghamshire, to which Harry had, very unwillingly, been compelled to
+accompany her.  As usual, gambling went on, a gentleman of fashion
+keeping the faro-table.  Harry saw by the expression of his
+grandmother's countenance that she was a heavy loser.  The more she
+lost, the higher stakes she seemed inclined to play for.
+
+"Let the old lady have her way," he heard a gentleman near whom he was
+standing observe, "a little bleeding will do her no harm."
+
+The Countess's handsome rooms were full of people of rank and fashion.
+Tables were scattered about on each side with eager players, some
+engaged in cards, others casting the dice, while others stood round
+staking considerable sums on the turn of a card or throw of the ivory.
+All of them seemed brought together by one absorbing passion, which they
+shared with the stockbrokers of Change Alley and the frequenters of the
+lowest hells.  A few like Harry might have been compelled to go there
+against their will--young daughters to attend their mothers, who were
+leading them into vice, and a few like Harry who had no money to stake.
+As he looked at the group of excited beings with sparkling eyes, the
+rouge cheeks of the ladies, with here and there a black patch to hide a
+blemish, or to set off the fairness of their skins; the haggard faces of
+the men, with their perukes pushed on one side, their lips puckered,
+pressed close together, many of them holding the cards with trembling
+knees, evidently with one foot in the grave, Harry could not help hoping
+that he might never become like one of them, and he longed once more to
+be back at Stanmore in the company of Mabel.  He thought, too, of her
+dying cousin, for the last account which had been received gave no hopes
+of her recovery, and every day he expected to hear that she was no more.
+He was thankful when at length he received Lady Tryon's commands to
+order her coach.  She was in a worse humour even than usual.
+
+"Fortune won't desert me," she said at length, as they were nearing
+home; "there's another chance; I intend to purchase some lottery
+tickets: they can bring me through, though nothing else can, unless,
+Harry, when you marry the little heiress you take care of your old
+grand-dame; you owe her something for bringing you up as a gentleman,
+for if I had not taken you up you would have been even now a merchant's
+clerk in the city!  Faugh! that such should be the fate of a grandson of
+General Tryon."
+
+Harry did not venture to remark that her ladyship's brother was a
+merchant, and probably had been a merchant's clerk in his younger days;
+however, he thought as much.
+
+CHAPTER NINE.
+
+PLAYED OUT.--THE LAST THROW.
+
+Lady Tryon had descended to her drawing-room, to which Harry had been
+summoned to receive her commands.  He felt greatly disposed to
+emancipate himself from his thraldom.  "Better a crust of bread and a
+cup of cold water than this sort of work," he thought; "yet my
+grandmother has brought me up, she is the only relative to whom I owe
+obedience; perhaps something will turn up to free me."
+
+He thought this as he came up from his room.  The post arrived at the
+same moment.  A letter was delivered to him.  It was from Mabel,
+announcing her cousin's death.  She called him her dear Harry, and
+concluded with "ever the same."  Had he been alone he would have pressed
+the letter to his lips; as it was, he merely repeated the more important
+part of its contents to his grandmother.  Utterly worldly, and devoid of
+any higher feeling, the old lady received the news in a heartless way.
+She scarcely uttered an expression of regret; indeed, Harry could not
+help seeing that she was highly pleased.
+
+"You must marry the heiress," she said; "you must praise her to Mr.
+Kyffin, and I will back you up, and we will see what he can do for you."
+
+She suddenly seemed to think Harry appeared doubtful as to what he
+should do.
+
+"I tell you, boy, I'll cut you off to a shilling," she said, getting up
+and laying her hand on his arm.  "You will be a beggar, and a wretched
+beggar, if you don't follow my advice.  I will not say more; I have said
+enough; but remember."
+
+"Yes, your ladyship has said enough," answered Harry.  "I love Mabel too
+well to have her for the sake of her fortune, and I have no wish to see
+her father die that I may become its possessor."
+
+"Nonsense, boy!" exclaimed the old lady, in a harsh, shrill voice.
+"You're a fool, Harry."
+
+The unpleasant conversation was interrupted by a servant entering, and
+announcing a visitor.
+
+"Mr. Flockton, who is he?" asked Harry, as he looked at the card.
+
+"I know him; I am glad he has come," said Lady Tryon; "it will save me a
+long drive into the city."
+
+As she spoke, a middle-aged gentleman in fashionable costume entered the
+room.  He was a somewhat short man, broadly built, with regular
+features, and a shining bald forehead, from which his lightly-powdered
+hair was completely drawn off, and fastened behind in a pigtail.  The
+expression of his countenance was bland, with an apparently candid
+manner, a smile showing his fine white teeth; and an air of nonchalance,
+though rather evidently the result of artificial politeness than of
+natural courtesy or good breeding.  He bowed with a flourish of his hat
+to Lady Tryon, and gave a familiar nod to the young gentleman as he sank
+back in the seat placed for him by the servant.  Lady Tryon had had some
+previous transactions with Mr. Flockton, who was the great lottery
+contractor.  It was part of his business to know everybody, as well as
+their private concerns, in all parts of the United Kingdom.  Many was
+the lady of rank, a merchant's or a shopkeeper's wife in London, with
+whom Mr. Flockton had managed to scrape acquaintance, but his chief
+constituents were among the great masses of society that underlie the
+noble and the wealthy.  His baits and nets lay ready for fish of the
+smallest size, also, many who could with difficulty raise the sum of 1
+pound 11 shillings 6 pence, whereby a sixteenth share of the 20,000
+pound prize might by two lucky turns of the wheel of fortune be gained.
+He caught others by half and even whole tickets at various prices.  In
+country inns Mr. Flockton's advertisements were found fastened up among
+the political ballads on the walls of the public rooms.  They were often
+circulated by the same book-hawkers who supplied the vast numbers of
+tracts and verses then published on "The rights of man," and "Liberty,
+Equality, and Fraternity," advocated by the French Revolutionists and
+the English Jacobins.  In every manufacturing town and district they
+came round with parcels of goods and patterns, and were eagerly read by
+workpeople and masters alike.  They circulated in the servants' halls,
+even before they were read in the oak parlours and cedar galleries of
+the granges and lordly castles of the land, and many a poor clergyman
+dreamed of education for his boys and portions for his girls from the
+result of a lottery ticket.
+
+"I have called, your ladyship, to bring the ten lottery tickets you
+desired to possess.  A cheque on your bankers will pay me for them, and
+it is my belief that you will find that one of them brings you the great
+prize.  Perhaps this young gentleman would like to take two or three, a
+mere trifle will give him every prospect of a large sum, and should your
+ladyship miss it, he would have a greater chance of gaining the prize.
+What does your ladyship say?  Surely you have balance at your bankers'
+sufficient to buy fifty tickets, and, in my opinion, the wisest people
+will buy the most; the more bought, the greater the chance of success."
+
+Lady Tryon was for a moment silent.  She recollected too well that on
+the previous night she had not only lost every shilling which she had at
+her bankers', but a considerable sum above it; not only that, but she
+had raised large sums at different times of late, which if she paid the
+principal would absorb the whole of her property.  Should she pay her
+debts of honour, or buy the lottery tickets?  Mr. Flockton's confident
+and glowing descriptions decided her on the latter course.  When she got
+the lottery prize she would satisfy the debts she had incurred at cards.
+She took the tickets Mr. Flockton offered, giving him a cheque, which
+left her scarcely more that 50 pounds at her bankers'.  Her greatest
+annoyance arose from her thus being unable to indulge in gambling till
+the day for drawing the lottery.  Mr. Flockton handing the tickets to
+her ladyship, and buttoning up the cheque, took his departure.
+
+Scarcely had he gone, when a servant entered with an announcement that a
+person of a very suspicious appearance desired to see her ladyship.  "I
+told him, my lady, that you were engaged, but he would take no denial."
+
+Lady Tryon, who was constitutionally brave, having Harry by her side,
+desired that the man might be shown up.  He entered the room with a
+confident air, though perfectly respectful, and presented an
+official-looking document.
+
+"Why, it's to summon me to Bow Street police-office for gambling!"
+exclaimed Lady Tryon.  "What is this?  Are ladies and gentlemen not to
+be allowed to amuse themselves if they think fit?"
+
+"I have nothing to do with that, my lady," answered the man, "I have
+delivered the summons; this young gentleman and your servant are witness
+to that; the hour is mentioned on the paper.  I've done my duty, I wish
+your ladyship good-morning."
+
+"Fearful impertinence!" exclaimed Lady Tryon.  "What is the country
+coming to?  Ladies of rank to be treated like criminals, and ordered
+about at the pleasure of police magistrates!"
+
+Harry was naturally considerably annoyed, at the same time he could not
+forget the scene of the previous evening, and he had heard that some
+very just enactments had lately been passed to put a stop to gambling,
+both public and private.
+
+"I will go instead of you," he said, "if that will answer."
+
+"No, I must go myself," she said, looking at the paper through her
+spectacles.  "Fearful _impertinence_ of these people!  Horrible
+indignity to be subjected to!"
+
+At the time appointed Lady Tryon drove up to the police-office.  Several
+carriages were already there, their occupants fashionably-dressed
+ladies.  Lady Tryon recognised them as her acquaintances, with whom she
+had played at Lady Buckinghamshire's.  The gentleman who had acted as
+_croupier_, and kept the faro-table, was among them.  They entered
+together, looking very hot and very indignant; they were accommodated
+with seats while the evidence was read.  The witnesses against them were
+two servants, who had been dismissed from her ladyship's service, and
+had taken these means to revenge themselves.  As these ladies of rank
+had no excuse to offer, and could not deny the charge, they were each
+fined 50 pounds, while the keeper of the table, a gentleman of fashion,
+had to pay 200 pounds as a punishment for his transgression of the law.
+
+Lady Tryon drove back in even a worse temper than usual.  The 50 pounds
+she was to pay was the remainder of the balance at her banker's.  She
+was now literally penniless unless her lottery tickets should turn up
+prizes.  The eventful day of the drawing was looked forward to, not only
+by her, but by thousands more, with intense anxiety.  At length it
+arrived.  Harry set forth with his grandmother in her carriage.  The
+evening before she had sent for the doctor, and procured a quieting
+potion.  In truth she required it, for she looked very ill and excited.
+Harry saw her maid, by her directions, put into the pocket of the
+carriage two or three small bottles.
+
+"They are little draughts which I may require, Harry, to keep me up.  I
+am an old woman, you know, and my nerves are not as strong as they used
+to be."
+
+They drove on.  The crowd increased as they proceeded westward, towards
+Guildhall.  The great drawing was to take place there.
+
+"We are certain, Harry, to obtain a prize; if not the 20,000 pound
+prize, a smaller one, at all events, and that will enable me to purchase
+a few more tickets for another lottery, or to set me up at the
+card-table again.  If I get the 20,000 pound prize you shall have 1,000
+pounds, I will promise you, to cut a figure with in town, and then to go
+down and marry pretty Mabel Everard.  Ah, Harry! you are a fortunate
+fellow to have such a kind old grandmother as I am, and to be loved by
+such a sweet girl as Mabel.  I know your secret; she loves you, you
+rogue, and you have only to ask her, and she will marry you at once.  I
+can manage her father; he is a good-natured, easy man, and has a great
+respect for me."
+
+Thus Lady Tryon ran on; but she could not long keep her thoughts from
+the hope of the prize.  As they passed by Saint Paul's they found a
+dense crowd: every moment it increased.  Besides a long string of
+carriages there were numberless people on foot: not only those who
+possessed tickets, and those who had ensured them, but the friends of
+the holders, and also many idlers who came to see the drawing, and not a
+few who were there to prey on the unwary, and pick their pockets
+literally and metaphorically.  As much time would have been lost had the
+carriage attempted to reach Guildhall, Lady Tryon alighted in Cheapside,
+and leaning on the arm of her grandson, walked with eager steps towards
+the renowned hall.  Harry felt her arm tremble as she hung heavily on
+his; but not a word did she utter.  All her thoughts and feelings were
+absorbed in the prospect of the prize she hoped to obtain.  Had he known
+more than he did, he would have understood how much hung upon it.
+
+CHAPTER TEN.
+
+PRIZE OR BLANK?
+
+As they entered at the farther end of the vast hall, where civic _fetes_
+and feasts were wont to take place, and the huge figures of Gog and
+Magog looked forth from their pedestals, it was already crowded.  On
+either side were low galleries; one devoted to ladies, the other to
+gentlemen, while the centre was filled with a mixed multitude of every
+degree, among whom it was very evident that the pickpockets were already
+busy.  All were looking up towards the farther end, where a large stage
+was erected.  In the centre was a table, at which sat several grave
+personages--the commissioners of the lottery; while on either side were
+two large circular cases or wheels, in front of each of which stood a
+Bluecoat boy, from Christ's Hospital, with the sleeves of their coats
+turned up.  In front of the table were several clerks engaged in noting
+the proceedings of the day.  At either end of the table stood a man, who
+with a loud voice cried forth the names of the numbers which were drawn
+at each turn of the wheel by the Bluecoat boys.
+
+Lady Tryon pushed her way forward in the gallery that she might be as
+near as possible to the table.  Harry had to leave her.  He went round
+into the centre space, and stood under the part of the gallery where she
+at length found a seat.  With trembling hands, Lady Tryon sat with the
+numbers of her tickets before her.  She kept those also which she
+professed to give to Harry.  As the numbers were loudly proclaimed a
+change came over the countenance of the eager spectators.  When the
+tickets turned up blanks a look of satisfaction beamed on the faces of
+all, except the unhappy holder of the number, whereas when a prize was
+announced, each one present felt that his or her chance was lessened of
+obtaining the wished-for wealth.  Sometimes a _groan_ of despair
+succeeded the drawing of a number.  To purchase that number yon wretched
+man has been hoarding perhaps for months past, nearly starving himself
+and those dependent on him, or may be he has been robbing his employer,
+intending to repay when he should become the possessor of the mighty
+prize which has been the dream of his midday thoughts and nightly
+slumbers for so many weeks past.  Occasionally, at small intervals,
+shouts arose from a small group--they had divided the sixteenth part of
+a ticket among them, and it had turned up a prize.  They might be seen
+shaking hands and laughing strangely, and running into each other's
+arms, as their feelings prompted them.  Too probably, however, the
+greater part of the amount would be spent in other tickets, to turn up
+blanks.  A young man was there standing near Harry with haggard
+countenance, his eager eye fixed on the wheels.  A number was cried out.
+He gazed at a paper before him and ran out, frantically striding his
+forehead.  A pistol shot was heard outside the hall, but the sound
+scarcely moved one of the eager crowd.  Harry afterwards heard that the
+young man had shot himself, utterly ruined.  Such has been the fate of
+many a man after losing his all at a gambling-house.  Such in reality
+was the use to which the Guildhall of London was at that time put.  As
+the numbers were called out, Harry guessed by the expression of Lady
+Tryon's countenance that one after the other of those she held in her
+hand had turned up blanks.  Even the rouge on her cheeks could not
+conceal the deadly pallor which was creeping over her countenance.  Her
+hands trembled more and more.  She dropped paper after paper.  At length
+she held but one in her hand.  Some hours had already passed since they
+entered the hall: no wonder that she was fatigued.  Each time another
+number was called out she glanced at her paper.  And now, in the same
+indifferent voice as before, the crier announced another number.  A
+piercing shriek was heard.
+
+"The old lady has fainted!" cried some of the females in the gallery
+near her, and Harry saw his grandmother falling back from her chair.
+
+"Help! help!" was cried.  "She is dying!"
+
+He made his way to the gallery and lifted her in his arms.  Her head
+fell helplessly down; her hands drooped.  One hand still grasped the
+paper which had been declared a blank.  Not one of those females, most
+of them ladies of rank and supposed sensibility, offered him the
+slightest assistance.  Their numbers had not yet been drawn, and they
+would not sacrifice a moment to assist a dying fellow-creature even of
+their own station in life.  Harry exerted all his strength to get Lady
+Tryon out of the gallery.
+
+"Is there no medical man who will assist me?" he cried out.
+
+"I will, sir," exclaimed a somewhat foppishly dressed individual,
+stepping forward.
+
+"Stay, beware of him, he is a pickpocket," said a voice near him.
+
+Harry declined the services of the stranger.
+
+No medical man came forward.  A crowd, however, collected round him, and
+even before his eyes he saw the brooch and chains which his grandmother
+wore torn off and carried away by nimble fingers, at which he in vain
+attempted to grasp.  "It matters little," he thought, "she will never
+discover her loss."  He hoped to be able to carry her to her carriage,
+and as the crowd at last made way for him he bore her along the street.
+Fortunately he soon caught sight of the livery of her coachman.  She was
+placed in her carriage, and Harry took his seat by her side, telling the
+coachman to stop at the first doctor's shop they came to.  The carriage
+soon stopped in front of a window full of bright-coloured liquids, and
+before Harry had time even to get out, a gentleman bustled up to the
+carriage door.
+
+
+"Can I render any professional assistance?" he asked, looking in.
+
+"Yes," exclaimed Harry; "what can be done for this lady?"
+
+"Will she step out?" asked the medical practitioner.
+
+"She is unable, sir," said Harry.
+
+"Oh!  I beg pardon; I will feel her pulse," was the rejoinder.  The
+apothecary made a long face.
+
+"Why, do you know, sir, the old lady is dead!" he exclaimed, rather
+offended at Harry having brought him out to a dead patient.  "I can do
+nothing for her, sir."
+
+"Dead!" exclaimed Harry, with a feeling of horror.  "Are you sure that
+she is dead?"
+
+"Never was more sure of a fact in my life, sir.  You can send for her
+executors and the undertaker when you get home; that is the only advice
+I can give you."
+
+Harry told the coachman to drive on.  "But do I not owe you a fee, sir,
+for your trouble?"
+
+"Oh, no, sir, no; that would be too much," said the apothecary, thinking
+that he had been too plain-spoken with the young man, who might possibly
+be a relative of the old lady, though he was somewhat young to be her
+son.
+
+Harry fortunately recollected Lady Tryon's man of business.  He sent for
+him, as he did also for Mr. Kyffin.
+
+"I will leave you still here," said his old friend, who came that very
+evening, "and when your grandmother's affairs have been arranged you
+must come to my house.  I hope that you will find yourself left
+comfortably off.  Let me entreat you not to be idle, Harry; it is the
+very worst employment a man can engage in."  Harry shook his head.  "I
+doubt my being well off," he answered.  "We will hope for the best,"
+said Mr. Kyffin.  Harry had good reason for his doubts.  Even before his
+grandmother's body was placed in her coffin, an execution was put into
+the house.  Every article in it was seized by her creditors, and even
+after all her property had been disposed of, many were still left
+unpaid.  Harry was literally destitute.  For himself he would not have
+felt it so much, but it was a cruel thought that he must relinquish all
+his hopes of obtaining Mabel.  He had, however, one firm friend.
+
+"My dear boy," said Mr. Kyffin, "this may be, after all, the best thing
+that could have happened to you.  Had your grandmother left you well off
+you might have turned out an idler.  I have sufficient influence, I
+think, with your relative, Mr. Coppinger, to obtain a situation for you
+in his house of business.  The very fact that your unhappy grandmother
+has deceived you and left you totally unprovided for will weigh greatly
+with him."
+
+Harry wrote immediately to his great-uncle, Mr. Coppinger, and other
+relatives, announcing his grandmother's death.  The following day the
+merchant appeared.  He spoke kindly to Harry, and seemed satisfied with
+the way he expressed himself.
+
+"I have seen so little of my sister for so many years that I know
+nothing of her affairs," he observed, "but from what you tell me I am
+afraid that they are not in a satisfactory condition."
+
+Harry, at that time, was not aware how utterly his grandmother had
+ruined herself.  In a very few days, however, the merchant discovered
+that his sister had not left sufficient to pay her debts.
+
+"However, it cannot be helped now.  We must have as quiet a funeral as
+possible, and the less said about the matter the better.  I am not
+surprised, as I heard something about her habits; but for you I am
+sorry, Harry.  However, you are young, and the world is before you.  If
+you are disposed to work you can make your way, as many an honest steady
+man has done, with fewer abilities than you possess, I suspect."
+
+Harry assured his uncle that he was ready to work, but though he might
+have preferred entering the army or navy, he saw now clearly that he
+must attempt some career by which he might maintain himself.
+
+"Well, I will talk the matter over with your friend Mr. Kyffin, and he
+will communicate the result to you," said Mr. Coppinger.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+The people of Lynderton were greatly disappointed, and considered that
+they had a right to complain of Lady Tryon when they discovered that she
+was not to be interred in their churchyard with the usual
+pomp-and-ceremony of persons of her position.  Instead of that, she was
+laid to rest in the burying-ground of the parish in which she died.
+Still more aggrieved were her creditors when they found they had to
+accept only five shillings in the pound, and that they might consider
+themselves very fortunate in obtaining that amount.
+
+Roger Kyffin insisted on his young ward coming to live with him, and as
+soon as the creditors had taken charge of the house, Harry Tryon packed
+up his small possessions and removed to Hampstead.
+
+"It is all arranged, Harry," said Mr. Kyffin, the following day; "your
+uncle will receive you as a clerk at a salary of 100 pounds a year.  It
+is a very good one, let me assure you, for a beginner.  Many a young man
+has to pay a large premium to be admitted into such a house; you may
+therefore consider yourself especially fortunate.  All you have now to
+do is to be punctual, to be ready to do every thing you are required,
+and to forward to the utmost of your power your principal's interest.
+Exactness is a great thing, and above all, rigidly honourable conduct.
+You will not discredit my recommendation, Harry, I feel sure of that."
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN.
+
+"SEEING LIFE IN LONDON."
+
+Harry accompanied his kind guardian into London the following day, and
+was introduced in due form to Mr. Silas Sleech, one of the principal
+clerks under Mr. Kyffin, as well as to the other persons engaged in Mr.
+Coppinger's counting-house in Idol Lane.
+
+"You are welcome, Mr. Tryon," said Mr. Sleech, with whom Harry found
+himself left for a short time.  "I have heard of you before at
+Lynderton; indeed, I remember your countenance very well as a boy.  You
+do not probably recollect me, however.  Still you may possibly have
+heard the name of my respected father, one of the principal lawyers in
+Lynderton.  We are a very well-connected family, but we do not boast of
+that here.  While in this office, we are men of business; we sink every
+other character.  You understand me, Mr. Tryon, and if you are wise you
+will follow my advice.  Here I am your superior and director, but
+outside this door we are equals, and I hope soon to say, we are
+friends."
+
+Harry watched Mr. Sleech's countenance while he spoke.  He did not
+particularly like its expression.  It was then animated and vivacious
+enough, but directly afterwards, when Mr. Kyffin drew near, it assumed a
+peculiarly dull and inanimate look, as if he was absorbed completely in
+the books over which he was poring.
+
+Mr. Coppinger himself soon afterwards arrived, and called Harry into his
+private room.  He spoke to him much in the same way that Mr. Kyffin had
+done.
+
+"You could not be in better hands than those of your guardian," he
+observed.  "However, as after a time you may grow tired of your daily
+walk backwards and forwards to Hampstead, you shall have the room over
+the counting-house, and I shall be happy to see you at my house, where
+you can become better acquainted with your cousins."
+
+Harry thanked his uncle for his kindness, and expressed a hope that he
+should be attentive to business.  The first moment he had time he wrote
+to Mabel, telling her of his good fortune in having a situation given
+him in Mr. Coppinger's house.  He had previously written in a very
+different tone, giving an account of his grandmother's death, and the
+penury in which she had left him.  He had not, however, told Mabel that
+he would release her from her engagement to him.  While any hope yet
+lingered in his bosom he could not bring himself to do that.  Now he was
+once more in spirits, and he felt sure that fortune would smile on him.
+He had never told Mabel that it was very possible Mr. Kyffin might leave
+him his property.  He had determined never to build on such a
+possibility.  In the first place, Mr. Kyffin was not an old man, and
+might live for many years, or he might have relatives who had claims on
+him, or he might not consider it necessary, simply because he was his
+ward, to leave him anything.
+
+What a blessed thing is hope, even in regard to mere mundane matters.
+Harry had at this time nothing else to live upon.  After all the grand
+expectations he had enjoyed, to find himself at last only a merchant's
+clerk with 100 pounds a year!  Roger Kyffin's society might possibly
+have been more improving to Harry than that of his grandmother.  At the
+same time, after a few weeks, it must be owned that Harry began to wish
+for a little change.  Roger Kyffin had been in the habit of living a
+good deal by himself, and had not many acquaintances in the immediate
+neighbourhood.  Now and then a few friends came to dine with him, but he
+seemed to think it a mark of respect to Harry's grandmother not to see
+any society at his house for the first two or three weeks after her
+death.
+
+Mr. Coppinger invited him to dinner the following day.  He was to sleep
+at the counting-house, where a room had been prepared for him, which he
+could occupy whenever he pleased.
+
+"You may wish to see a little more of London and your friends," said Mr.
+Coppinger, "and you can scarcely do so if you go out to Hampstead every
+evening."
+
+Harry of course thanked his uncle for his consideration, and the next,
+day prepared with some little interest to pay his respects to his
+unknown cousins.
+
+Although at that time many persons dined early, the custom of late
+dinners was being generally introduced.  Harry arranged his toilet with
+more than usual care, and somewhat before the hour of five took his way
+to his uncle's house in Broad Street.  It was a handsome mansion.  As
+Harry knocked, the door flew open, and a couple of livery servants with
+powdered hair stood ready to receive him, and take his hat and cloak.
+He followed the servant up-stairs, and was ushered into a large
+drawing-room.  A lady came forward, not very young, according to his
+idea, but fair and good-looking, with a somewhat full figure, and a
+pleasant expression of countenance.
+
+"And are you our cousin Harry?" she said, putting out her hand.  "Why
+did you not come before?  We heard about you, and are very glad at last
+to make your acquaintance."
+
+"I scarcely liked to come without my uncle's invitation," said Harry,
+"but am very happy to have the opportunity of making his daughter's
+acquaintance.  I conclude that you are Miss Coppinger."
+
+"Yes, I am generally so called," answered the young lady, "but I am your
+cousin Martha, remember that.  You must not be formal with us.  My
+younger sisters may encourage you to be so, but you must not attend to
+their nonsense."
+
+"I should like to know something about them," said Harry, feeling
+himself quite at home with Martha, evidently a kind and sensible woman,
+and, as people would say, a bit of a character.
+
+"That's very sensible in you, Harry," she answered.  "Fortunately they
+have been all out, and only lately went up to dress, so that I shall
+have time to tell you about them.  Next to me there is Susan--she is
+like me in most respects, and some people take us for twins.  However,
+she really is two years younger.  Then there is Mary.  She has only one
+fault.  She is somewhat sentimental, and too fond of poetry--reads
+Cowper and Crabbe, and Miss Burney's novels, half-bound volumes in
+marble covers.  She sighs over Evelina, and goes into raptures with
+Clarissa.  She is dark, thin, and slight, not a bit like Susan and me.
+Then there is Maria Jane.  She is fair and addicted to laughing, and
+very good-natured, and not a bit sentimental.  Then there is Estella.
+Harry, you must take care of her.  She is something like Mary, but more
+lively and more practical too.  Mary lives in an idea of her own:
+Estella carries out her romantic notions.  Then there is our youngest
+sister, Sybella, or baby we always used to call her, but she rather
+objects to the appellation.  You must find out about her yourself.
+There, now you know us all.  You are known to us, so you will find
+yourself perfectly at home by the time you see us assembled round the
+dinner-table.  As we have no brothers we shall make a great deal of you,
+and take care that you are not spoilt.  Above all things, don't fall in
+love.  You will become hideous and useless if you do.  I don't at all
+approve of the passion, except when exhibited in gentlemen of
+comfortable incomes, nor does papa.  I warn you of that, so if you wish
+to take advantage of such hospitality as we can afford you--and we
+really desire to be kind--you have been cautioned and must act
+accordingly."
+
+Harry cordially thanked Martha for the description of her sisters, and
+with perfect sincerity promised to follow her advice.  It showed him
+that she, at all events, was not aware of his love for Mabel, and though
+he thought her a very good-natured woman, he had no intention of making
+her his confidant on that matter.
+
+Harry had soon the opportunity of discovering the correctness of her
+description of her sisters.  The youngest came in last.  There was a
+considerable amount of beauty among them, so that they passed for a
+family of pretty girls, but when he saw Sybella, he at once acknowledged
+that she surpassed them all.
+
+She was a bright little fairy, just entering womanhood.  Curiously like
+Mabel, so he thought: indeed, he would not otherwise have admired her so
+much.
+
+"I am not surprised that Martha warned me," he thought to himself.  "If
+it were not for Mabel, I should certainly have fallen in love with that
+little girl, and yet Mabel is her superior in many ways; I am sure of
+that."
+
+They were seated at the dinner-table when these thoughts came into
+Master Harry's head.  Sybella's eyes met his.  She blushed.  Could she
+have divined his thoughts?
+
+His uncle was very kind.  No man indeed appeared to better advantage at
+his dinner-table than did Mr. Coppinger.  He at once made Harry feel
+perfectly at home, and as his cousins addressed him by his Christian
+name, he soon found himself calling them by theirs in return.
+
+"We must make a great deal of use of you, Harry," said Miss Coppinger.
+"We sadly want a beau to accompany us in the evenings when we go out.
+Father cannot often come with us.  He comes home tired from business.
+We six spinsters have consequently to spend most of our time in
+solitude."
+
+"You do not look as if you had often been melancholy," said Harry.
+"However, I shall be very happy to be at your service whenever you
+choose to command me."
+
+"Very prettily spoken," answered Martha.
+
+When Harry glanced round at his six blooming cousins he felt that they
+were not likely often to be left in solitude.  There were a few other
+guests at table--Alderman Bycroft and his wife and daughter; one a
+full-blown rose, the other a bursting bud, giving promise of the same
+full proportions as her mother.
+
+There was a young gentleman, the son of a wealthy distiller, dressed in
+the height of fashion, who seemed to consider that he was greatly
+honouring Mr. Coppinger's family by his presence, and there was another
+youth of unpretending appearance, who looked as if he felt himself
+highly honoured by the invitation, though he had in reality taken a high
+degree at the University, and was the descendant of a long line of proud
+ancestors.
+
+The distiller, Mr. Gilby, was inclined to patronise Harry, especially
+when he heard Lady Tryon spoken of.
+
+"I will show you a little of London life, my boy," he whispered.  "You
+know nothing of it as yet, and unless you had a friend like me to
+introduce you, you might live ten years here and know no more of the ins
+and outs and doings of this great city than you do now."
+
+"Mr. Tryon would thereby, I suspect, be more fortunate than if he were
+introduced to the ways of London as you suggest," observed Mr. Pennant,
+the pale-faced young student.
+
+"I hope you enjoyed your dinner at your uncle's, yesterday," said Mr.
+Silas Sleech, as Harry took his seat near him at his office desk the
+next morning.  "Fine girls your cousins, don't you think?  I dine there
+sometimes, and I then always mind my P's and Q's.  I flatter myself I
+stand well there with the fairer portion of the family, and of course
+our principal has a great respect for my uprightness and integrity," and
+a curious leer came into Mr. Sleech's eyes which he could not repress.
+"Who was there, Tryon?"
+
+Harry told him.
+
+"Oh! young Gilby! was he?  He's a rollicking blade.  He offered to
+introduce you into London society, did he?  Why, he knows nothing about
+it.  Do not trust him.  He would only take you to a few low haunts,
+where you would see enough certainly of what he calls life.  He invited
+you to dine with him a week hence, did he?  Well, then, come with me
+to-night, and before that time I will enable you to show him that you
+know far more of London life than he does.  But, mum, here comes your
+respected guardian, Mr. Roger Kyffin.  Will this pen suit you, Mr.
+Tryon?" he said, in a loud voice.  "A good handwriting is an important
+matter in the qualifications of a young clerk."
+
+Harry scarcely knew what to think of Silas Sleech.  His manner offended
+him, but he seemed good-natured and obliging; so he thought to himself,
+"I will take him as I find him, and he is more likely to initiate me
+into real London life than that young fop Gilby."  Harry agreed,
+therefore, to dine with Mr. Sleech that evening at a coffee-house, and
+to accompany him afterwards to some place of amusement.
+
+Harry Tryon was not a hero of romance.  He had never got into any
+serious scrape, but then he had not been much tempted.  He was now to be
+left very much to his own resources.  His kind guardian had formed a
+higher opinion of him than he perhaps deserved.  He also held Mr. Sleech
+in considerable esteem.  It is surprising that he did so, but the fact
+was, that that individual was a most consummate hypocrite--he otherwise
+would not certainly have deceived such acute observers as Mr. Coppinger
+and his managing clerk.  Harry could not have met with a worse person as
+a companion in London.  Young Gilby might have led him into scrapes,
+while the other, by imbuing him with his own principles, and introducing
+him to profligates and designing knaves, might injure his future
+prospects, and destroy him body and soul, as many another young man has
+been destroyed.  Harry, when he accepted Mr. Sleech's proffered
+civilities, had no conception of the dangerous course into which he was
+about to lead him.  He remembered old Sleech at Lynderton, a
+smooth-spoken, oily-tongued, civil gentleman, profuse in his bows to
+gentlemen on horseback or ladies in their carriages, but very apt to
+button up his breeches pockets at the approach of a supplicant.  As to
+his character he knew nothing, except that he was looked upon as a
+lawyer of sharp practice.  Once upon a time Harry would not have wished
+to be seen walking down Lynderton Street in company with Silas Sleech,
+but now things were altered.  In London people needed not to be so
+particular as to their associates.
+
+As soon as the counting-house was closed, Harry set off with Silas
+Sleech to the West End.  That first evening was spent in a way that even
+Roger Kyffin, had he made enquiries, would probably have approved.  They
+had been to the play, and afterwards supped at a respectable chop-house,
+frequented by several actors, authors, and wits.  Silas Sleech even
+suggested that Harry should mention it to his guardian.
+
+"I don't often go to such places myself, you see," he observed
+afterwards to Mr. Kyffin, "but I thought that Harry would require
+something to divert his mind, and I rather put myself out of the way to
+amuse him."
+
+Mr. Kyffin begged that Mr. Sleech would in future take no trouble on
+that score; and at the same time he did not wish to shut Harry up
+altogether, and was much obliged to him for what he had done.
+
+"You were always kind and wise, sir," said Mr. Sleech, in his softest
+tone; "it is really a pleasure to me to enter into such scenes for the
+sake of our young friend, otherwise I confess that more sober amusements
+suit me best."
+
+It was strange, however, that Mr. Sleech should press Harry the
+following evening to spend it precisely in the same way as the former,
+though the house to which he took him after the play was of a somewhat
+different character from that of the previous evening.  He observed the
+guests occasionally slipping out of the public room and going up-stairs.
+
+"I should like to know what they are about," said Mr. Sleech to Harry;
+"what do you say, shall we try and get up?"
+
+Harry, of course, had no objection.
+
+"Follow me, then," said Sleech; "I observed the turn the others took,
+and dare say that I can find my way."
+
+Mr. Sleech had no difficulty, although there were several dark passages
+and a flight or two of stairs to be passed.  At length a light fell on
+their faces from an opening in the upper part of the wall.  Mr. Sleech
+uttered a few strange words, and a door, hitherto invisible, opening, he
+drew Harry through it.  Another passage and another door were passed
+through, and they found themselves in a room of considerable size, in
+which a number of people were assembled round a table on which dice were
+rattling, and a gentleman with a long stick was drawing up towards him
+small piles of gold placed at the edge, and occasionally paying out
+others to some bystanders.
+
+"Why, we have got into something like a hell," whispered Mr. Sleech to
+Harry.  "I had no idea of the sort of place we were coming to.  However,
+now we are here, let us stop and see the fun; it seems very exciting.
+See how eager these men watch the throws.  I say, I feel quite a longing
+to have a cast myself; it is not a right thing to do, but when one once
+is in such a place it cannot much matter."
+
+"I would rather look on," said Harry.
+
+"So, of course, would I, generally," said Sleech; "still it won't do to
+be here long without having a throw now and then; but still it is better
+you should keep to your good resolution.  If you like to take any
+refreshment, you will find plenty of it on the sideboard there.  You
+will have nothing to pay; and if it is necessary I will see about that."
+
+Harry watched the proceedings for some time.  He had too often, when
+with Lady Tryon, witnessed play going forward in private not to be too
+well acquainted with all the games in vogue.  By degrees, therefore, his
+interest was aroused.  Silas Sleech seemed unable any longer to resist
+the influence, and soon, pulling out some gold, he began to bet as the
+rest of the guests were doing.  He was the winner of a considerable sum.
+Coming round to Harry, he put ten guineas into his hand.  "There, my
+boy," he said, "just try your luck with this; if you are the winner you
+can pay me, if not, never mind.  It's luck's profits, so I shall not
+feel the loss."
+
+Harry hesitated.  He had no love for gambling, and he knew that his
+guardian would be sorry to hear that he had engaged in play.  Sleech,
+however, urged him to go on.  "You're sure to win, and you'll repent it
+if you go away without anything in your pocket."
+
+Thus persuaded, Harry staked a couple of guineas and won.  He then
+staked five, and was also successful.  He doubled his stakes--again he
+came off the winner.  It would have been better for him had he lost.  He
+was still moderate in his stakes--fortunately, for luck, as Sleech
+called it, began to go against him.  However, he left off with 100
+pounds in his pocket.  Sleech congratulated him as they wound their way
+out of the room down-stairs again.
+
+"It's a nice little sum," he whispered; "you see what can be done if a
+man is cool and calm; only there is one little piece of advice I wish to
+give you: Don't mention the matter to Mr. Kyffin.  If he asks you, just
+say that you have been to the same sort of place that you went to
+yesterday, but that you have seen enough of that sort of thing for the
+present.  You know that to-morrow you are engaged to Mr. Coppinger's; so
+you told me.  So we cannot go again for some little time."
+
+His second dinner at his uncle's went off as pleasantly as the first.
+His cousins even improved on acquaintance.  Sybella especially made
+herself agreeable to him.  She did not try; it was her artless, natural
+manner which was so attractive.  She was a sweet little creature, there
+was no doubt about that, and had not his heart been already given to
+Mabel, he would certainly have lost it to her.  The only other guest was
+Mr. Gilby.  He seemed to be a very frequent visitor at the house, but
+Harry could not discover which of his cousins was the attraction.
+Perhaps the young gentleman himself had not made up his mind.  Mr.
+Coppinger was kind and courteous, but treated Harry with quite as much
+attention as he did the wealthy Mr. Gilby.  Indeed, that gentleman knew
+perfectly well that, should he wish to secure him for one of his
+daughters, the surest way to succeed would be to show perfect
+indifference about the matter.  Harry was somewhat surprised at the
+interest his cousins took in the descriptions Mr. Gilby gave of some of
+his exploits.  He himself had never seen the fun of knocking down
+watchmen, running off with their rattles, and rousing up medical
+practitioners from their midnight slumbers, or calling reverend
+gentlemen out of their beds to visit dying people.  By his own account,
+also, he had the _entree_ behind the scenes at all the theatres, and in
+many of them his chair upon the stage.  He was a regular frequenter of
+Newmarket and the principal races in the kingdom, and there were very
+few hells and gambling-houses of every sort into which he had not found
+his way.  He, however, seemed to be aware that Mr. Coppinger could not
+approve of this part of his proceedings, and therefore only spoke of
+them out of hearing of his host.  He seemed to look down with supreme
+contempt on Harry, who had not such experiences to talk of, and again
+offered to introduce him into life.
+
+"Thank you," said Harry; "but you see I have become a man of business,
+and have very little time to spare for those sort of amusements;
+besides, I confess I care very little about them."
+
+"Well, you must take your own way," answered the young gentleman,
+"though I must say I don't think a young fellow of spirit would be
+content to live the humdrum life you do; or perhaps `still waters run
+deep,' eh? that's it, is it not?"
+
+Wherever Harry had been on the previous night, or however late he had
+been in bed, he was always at his desk directly the office was open, and
+he also got through his work very much to Roger Kyffin's satisfaction.
+Silas Sleech also always praised him.  He told him also, should he find
+any difficulty, to come to him, and on several occasions Harry had to
+take advantage of his offer.  His uncle, after some months, spoke
+approvingly to him.  "You will, I have great hopes, in time be fitted to
+fulfil an important post in my office, from the reports I hear of you,
+and the way in which I see you get on with your work.  You have your own
+fortune in your own hands, Harry, and I see no reason why you should not
+make it.  Your success is secure if you go on as you have begun."
+
+Harry was not happy, however.  He had great doubts on that subject.  Mr.
+Silas Sleech had been more cautious in his proceedings.  He suspected
+that Harry might easily have been alarmed had he attempted to initiate
+him too rapidly into London life.  For several weeks he did not take
+Harry to the gaming-house into which he had before introduced him.
+Indeed, sometimes he declined taking him out at all.
+
+"It won't do, my boy," he said; "you are knocking yourself up with
+dissipation, and I am afraid you will get a taste for those sort of
+things if I take you out too often.  Why you won more money last night
+than I have pocketed for months together.  `The pitcher which goes too
+often to the well gets broken,' and if you don't take care you will have
+a run of ill-luck, and if you lose, where is the money to come from to
+pay your debts of honour?"
+
+By these remarks it will be understood that Harry Tryon had not resisted
+the temptations to play which Silas had placed in his way, but as he had
+come off the gainer hitherto, he had in consequence suffered no
+inconvenience.  He had been too much accustomed to see his grandmother
+replenish her purse in that way to feel acutely any sense of shame at
+depriving others of their property, which happily keeps some high-minded
+men from the vice.  Silas Sleech had other baits by which he hoped to
+obtain entire power over his young companion.  There was one, however,
+with which he entirely failed, Harry would never be allured by
+meretricious beauty.  Silas was puzzled.  He took good care to conceal
+his own sins from public view.
+
+"The young one is deep," he thought to himself.  "He knows what he's
+about, I am pretty sure of that."
+
+Harry, though duped by Silas, had never made him his confidant.  He saw
+that Harry delighted in excitement, and took him once or twice to hear
+the debates in the House of Commons.  They were pretty stormy sometimes,
+when Fox, and Pitt, and Wyndham were on their feet.  Silas professed to
+be a "friend of the people."  Harry's generous heart rose in rebellion
+against anything like tyranny and oppression, and Silas easily persuaded
+him that the French Revolution had been brought about by the tyrannical
+way in which the aristocracy had treated the people.
+
+"Let me ask you, Harry," he said, "are not our own people treated very
+much in the same way?  Look at our ill-fed, ill-clad soldiers, robbed on
+all sides, and left to perish like dogs from neglect.  Then see our
+sailors.  Were you ever on board a man-of-war, Harry?  I have been.
+Just see the tough dry meat, and weevily biscuit they are fed with; the
+fearful way in which they are flogged for the slightest offence, at the
+will, often capricious, of their captains; the little care taken of them
+in sickness; the ill-paid, half-educated men sent out as surgeons; and
+the wretched pensions they receive after, if they escape death, when
+wounded in battle."
+
+So Silas talked on.  There was much truth in what he said, but his
+statements were often exaggerated.
+
+"However, I am but a poor speaker, Harry," he said; "come with me some
+evening, and you shall hear all that I have said put forth far more
+forcibly, and in far better language.  Don't tell old Kyffin where you
+have been, that's all.  He holds to old-fangled notions, and has no
+faith in Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality.  We will look in first at
+two or three of the clubs to which I belong, and there's no reason why
+he should not suppose that you have been to one of those.  There's the
+Hums'; you remember my taking you there, at the Blue Posts, in Covent
+Garden, and the `Rights of Man' Club.  I have belonged to that since I
+came to town.  Then we can look in at the Pearl Drinkers', and if by
+chance our friend presses you, tell him what you saw there.  He probably
+does not guess that I belong to more than one quiet club, and he may be
+a little astonished at first, but that won't matter.  He has no power
+over me out of the office.  Mr. Coppinger knows my merits, I flatter
+myself, too much to dispense with my services at Mr. Roger Kyffin's
+bidding."
+
+"I don't like those remarks," thought Harry to himself.  "Ought I to go
+with this man?"
+
+He very often had thought as much, and yet had followed Sleech's lead.
+The day's work was over.  Harry had thought of proposing to walk home
+with Mr. Kyffin, but he went out, and had no opportunity afterwards of
+speaking to him.  Was Roger Kyffin pleased with his ward?  Not
+altogether.  He thought that he spent too much time in going to places
+of public amusement.  He might more frequently have offered to go out to
+Hampstead.  Still he did not like to lecture the young man.
+
+"When I was young I should not have been contented with what now pleases
+me.  Harry will soon have had enough of this sort of life, and then will
+take to more useful pastimes."
+
+"Come, Harry, let's be off," said Mr. Sleech, taking him by the arm.
+
+Harry did not resist.  Mr. Sleech gave him a capital dinner at the "Blue
+Posts," and looked in afterwards at the "Pearl Drinkers' Club."
+
+"Come now," he said, "we will steer for the `Saracen's Head,' Gerard
+Street, Soho.  I will introduce you there to some liberal-minded men,
+who will make you open your eyes a little."
+
+Mr. Sleech was a rapid walker, and they quickly got over the ground.
+Giving his name, they were admitted into a large room, already full of
+persons.  A considerable number were young men, but there were some
+already advanced in life.  In address and appearance the greater number
+had imitated the French Republicans, while all, as a sign of their
+liberality, kept on their hats.  A young man was on his legs, his hair
+escaping from under his hat, hanging over his shoulders.  His eyes
+rolled wildly, while he flung his arms about in every direction, every
+now and then bringing his doubled fist down upon the palm of his other
+hand.  His oratory was fluent and bold.
+
+"The past must be buried in oblivion!" he exclaimed.  "We dare not look
+at it.  A hideous system of the domination of one class over the souls
+and minds and bodies of the vast majority.  A new era must be organised,
+but before a better system can be raised up, the ancient must be
+levelled with the dust.  On a new foundation--the whole of the people--
+we must build up a glorious temple, a superb superstructure, in which
+people of all nations, united in the bonds of fraternity, must come and
+worship together the great Goddess of Reason."
+
+CHAPTER TWELVE.
+
+IN DANGEROUS COMPANY.
+
+Harry's visit to the Jacobin Club was several times repeated.  He met
+there more than one man of note.  The members were, however, chiefly
+those who, carried away by their ardent love of freedom, which in France
+had degenerated into unbridled licence, and their hatred of tyranny,
+failed to perceive the happy mean where a settled government and just
+laws exist.
+
+It would have been surprising had Harry not felt somewhat of the
+enthusiasm of the speakers.  Silas Sleech only once or twice took a part
+in the debates, and on these occasions he advocated the most extreme
+measures; and although the assassination of the King of England was not
+mentioned, the regicides of the first Charles were lauded to the skies,
+as among the truest patriots of which history makes note.
+
+"I wonder what your old mentor would say, if he heard of your attending
+our meetings," said Sleech, as they were walking home.  "However, it's
+your own fault if he finds out.  To-morrow we'll play a different sort
+of game.  I am sadly in want of a few hundred pounds, and I have an idea
+that I shall get them; if you will stand by me, Harry, I will explain
+matters you by-and-bye."
+
+The next evening Silas led Harry to one of the haunts which they had of
+late frequented.  They entered in the same cautious way as before.  At
+that time the police were actively engaged in endeavouring to destroy
+the numerous gambling-houses, not improperly known as hells, in London.
+Harry knew very well that he had no business to be there, and nearly
+every day he persuaded himself that he would refuse to go again; but as
+the evening came round, the tempter's persuasion overcame his scruples.
+On this occasion a considerable number of well-dressed men were present,
+many of them evidently men of rank and position.  If they went, why
+should not he?  He had hitherto been wonderfully successful, and he had
+made up his mind not to stake more than he had won.  There was an
+abundance of sparkling wine and other refreshments on the sideboard.
+The room also was brilliantly lighted with wax candles, and Harry felt
+himself in remarkably good spirits.  Silas was already playing, and
+placing somewhat heavy stakes on the table.  Harry approached him, and
+followed the example of his friend.  Fortune seemed to have turned
+against him.  He lost stake after stake.  Still Silas signed to him to
+go on; a strange infatuation seized him.  He lost still more.  Suddenly
+he looked up, when he saw the countenance of young Gilby, who was
+watching him narrowly.  The young man came round to him, and placed his
+hand on his shoulder.
+
+"`Still waters run deep,' old boy.  I thought so," he whispered.  "I am
+glad to see you are not such a muff as I took you for.  I don't know
+what our friends in Broad Street would say to you, if they saw you here.
+However, mum's the word with me.  Go on and prosper."
+
+Harry felt himself abashed.  He could make no reply.
+
+"If one or two hundred pounds are of any use to you, you are welcome to
+them, young one," said Gilby, in a tone which he intended to be
+good-natured.
+
+"No, thank you," said Harry; "I don't intend to lose more than my purse
+can bear."
+
+"Oh, oh! the young one has a touch of pride about him!"  Gilby
+whispered, loud enough, however, for Harry to hear him.
+
+Harry drew out his last five guineas.  He staked them and lost.  Sleech
+came up to him, and put a roll of gold into his hand.
+
+"You can pay me at your convenience.  Don't stop now, or it would ruin
+all."
+
+Harry fully believed that he should recover his loss.  One hundred, two
+hundred pounds soon went.  Again Sleech was by his side, and repeated
+his offer.
+
+"Nonsense; I will take no refusal."
+
+Harry took the gold and lost it.  He retained his countenance
+wonderfully.  Gilby smiled.
+
+"You had better borrow of me," he whispered.
+
+"No, thank you; my friend has my purse," answered Harry, with a certain
+amount of prevarication.
+
+It was getting late.  Harry lost still more.  Sleech poured out a
+tumbler of wine, which Harry tossed off.  Silas led him away to a desk
+in a recess.
+
+"Here," he said, "between friends we do not want acknowledgment, but
+business is business."
+
+Harry signed the paper put before him.
+
+"You need not be afraid of being cross-questioned, Harry," observed
+Silas, as they walked home.  "It is a comfort to think that your
+straight-laced guardian is safe across the seas in old Ireland.  I am
+afraid you would think I was talking blasphemy, if I was to pray that he
+might never come back again, always provided he has left you his heir,
+which I have an idea he intends to do.  In that case, my boy, we each
+should benefit.  You would get his fortune, and I should step into his
+shoes."
+
+"Don't talk so, Sleech," said Harry.  "He's the best friend I ever had,
+and I don't expect to get another like him; and as to his fortune, I
+pray that he may live to a green old age, and enjoy it himself.  I only
+hope you were joking."  And Harry felt himself getting angry, not the
+less so that he could not help secretly acknowledging that he had been
+led by the nose by such an arch-hypocrite as Sleech.
+
+"Of course, of course, I was joking," said that individual, in the bland
+tone he could so well assume.  "There's no man I esteem more than our
+managing clerk, Mr. Kyffin, and I admire you for your affection for him,
+only I don't think he would be quite satisfied if he knew the way you
+spend your spare hours."
+
+Some important business with regard to a heavy mortgage on an estate had
+taken Mr. Kyffin to Ireland; and from the state of the country and other
+circumstances it seemed probable that he might be detained there for a
+considerable time.  He little thought how serious an influence his
+absence would have in the destiny of the youth in whose welfare he was
+so deeply interested.
+
+Not till the next morning did Harry reflect how completely he had put
+himself in Mr. Sleech's power.  He was to dine that day at his uncle's.
+He was far from happy; he felt ill; he looked pale.  It was not
+surprising, for he had had but little sleep.  His cousins rallied him.
+
+"A London life does not seem to suit you," said Mr. Coppinger.  "You
+stick closely to business, and I am pleased with your diligence.  If you
+apply to me I will allow you a few days' run down to Hampshire."
+
+Harry thanked his uncle.  After dinner Mr. Gilby left the table before
+the rest of the gentlemen.  Harry followed some little time afterwards.
+When he got into the drawing-room he found Mr. Gilby stationed before
+the young ladies, talking eagerly.  Looking up, they saw him.  They were
+silent.  Harry heard his own name mentioned.
+
+"I could not help it," exclaimed Gilby, as he approached.  "I have been
+telling them what a deep fellow you are, Tryon.  Why, there's not a more
+rollicking blade about town, I suspect, if we come to follow you into
+all your haunts.  I have met you two or three times when you did not see
+me.  Ah! ah! old boy.  Well, don't blush and be ashamed; I don't set up
+to be straight-laced.  I am not a punctual man of business, no prim
+knight in buckram."
+
+Harry felt very much annoyed, but he restrained his temper.
+
+"Mr. Gilby is making merry at my expense," he remarked.  "However, he is
+welcome to do so.  I can only say that I wish I had never been to some
+of the places he speaks of.  Until one has been to a place, one cannot
+tell that it is objectionable."
+
+Harry was beginning to practise some of the lessons in hypocrisy which
+he had learned from Silas Sleech.  He was very uncomfortable all the
+rest of the evening.  Gilby's mocking eye constantly fell on him, and he
+fancied that even his cousins regarded him with looks of suspicion.  He
+returned home.  Silas Sleech was sitting up for him.
+
+"I am glad you have come at last," he said.  "I have been fearfully
+troubled by a business of great importance, and I really do not know how
+to settle it.  You can help me.  Indeed, I rather think that you are
+bound to do so.  I handed over to you a pretty large sum last night.  I
+little thought that not twenty-four hours would pass before I myself
+should be in want of it."
+
+Sleech dropped his voice.
+
+"Harry, you are a good, honest fellow.  I must take you into my
+confidence.  Don't be horrified--I'm an utterly ruined man."
+
+"I'm sorry to hear it," said Harry.
+
+"There's little use expressing sorrow unless you are disposed to help
+me.  You can do it if you please, I can assure you.  All I want you to
+do is to put your name to a few bits of paper and ask no questions.  I
+know it's like begging you to put unbounded confidence in me.  Perhaps
+you will say I don't deserve it, and yet I wish you knew my heart,
+Harry, how anxious I am to serve you."
+
+Several decanters stood on the table before Mr. Sleech.  Harry had
+already taken a good deal of wine at his uncle's.  Sleech urged him to
+take more.  The weather was hot.  He felt thirsty.  Those were drinking
+days, the virtue of temperance was seldom inculcated.  On the contrary,
+the more a man could drink, the better he was thought of by his ordinary
+companions.  Sleech smiled as he saw Harry toss off tumbler after
+tumbler of wine.  It was cool claret, and tasted like water.  The
+tempter had now his victim more than ever in his hands.  The papers were
+brought out.  Harry put his name to several.
+
+"I wish you could write old Kyffin's name as well as you do your own,"
+observed Sleech, "or your uncle's.  I say, Harry, why were you not
+called Stephen Coppinger?  Your grandmother's name was Coppinger, wasn't
+it?  In my opinion it's a better name than Tryon.  Better, at all
+events, on 'change--Tryon's not worth much there, I have a notion, and
+Coppinger is worth whatever amount Stephen Coppinger chooses to put
+above it.  Don't trouble yourself about that amount you owe me--a few
+hundreds only.  You forget all about it now, very likely.  However, just
+let me get these papers in circulation, and I will never trouble you
+again about it."
+
+"Give it me," said Harry; "I wish I had never signed it," a sudden flash
+of sense coming across his mind.
+
+"So ho! boy, be calm, my dear fellow," answered Sleech.  "You will find
+that you have got to deal with your master."
+
+Harry Tryon never knew what papers he signed that fatal night, nor what
+names he had written on them.  He had a faint idea that he had moved his
+hand according to Sleech's guidance.
+
+The next day Mr. Sleech declared himself indisposed, and told Harry he
+should not go out that evening.  They were alone in the office.  It was
+the business of Mr. Sleech to see it closed.  Harry's head ached
+fearfully.  He had never felt so depressed.  Several bills had come in,
+and he had already spent every farthing of his salary for the quarter.
+Silas Sleech approached him.
+
+"I rather think, Harry Tryon, this is the last day you will be at this
+office--that is to say, if you take my advice."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
+
+"Why just this, my dear fellow, listen to reason.  There are certain
+papers to which you have put your hand.  These will be brought before
+your uncle in the course of a day or two, and will be strong evidence
+against you, that you have aided in a serious fraud.  You are in my debt
+for 500 pounds.  I have your acknowledgment.  You owe your tailor and
+other tradesmen no small amount.  Now, you don't know Mr. Coppinger as I
+do.  When he finds all this out, he will come down upon you with a
+severity to which you are little accustomed.  I tell you, Harry, he
+would, without the slightest compunction, have you shut up in Newgate,
+and see you sent to the scaffold, even though you were his own son,
+instead of his grand-nephew.  Thus you see your character is blasted,
+and all hopes of success in business cut off."
+
+Harry had sat with his hands clenched and his eyes fixed on Silas Sleech
+while he made these remarks.
+
+"Sleech, you are a villain!" he exclaimed with vehemence; "a cunning,
+hypocritical scoundrel!"
+
+"Very likely," answered the other.  "Go on, young one, what else am I?"
+
+"You have deceived me, and led me into all sorts of vice," cried Harry,
+clenching his fist.
+
+"You are quite right.  You followed my lead.  I had an object, and I
+have succeeded.  I wished to ruin you in our worthy principal's
+estimation, and you'll find by to-morrow that he looks upon you as a
+hopeless profligate.  You have no longer any chance of supplanting me.
+As to Mr. Kyffin, I rather think that he will consider himself mistaken
+with regard to you, and that you will no longer as of yore be precious
+in his sight.  Thus you see, Harry, I have check-mated you completely."
+
+"You have shown me clearly that I am a fool, and that you are a
+consummate villain," exclaimed Harry.  "I will acknowledge my own fault
+and exhibit your knavery."
+
+"As you please," said Sleech, in an unmoved tone.  "You must remember
+that in acknowledging your own folly you run the certainty of being
+convicted of felony.  I have no especial personal dislike to you, except
+that I have reason to believe you a rival in more cases than one, and
+that you have been received on friendly terms by a family who have
+looked upon me, though a relative, with haughty contempt.  You
+understand me, Harry Tryon.  There is as good blood runs in my veins as
+in yours, and do you think with that knowledge that I would consent to
+be cut out and trampled upon without taking vengeance when I have it in
+my own power?"
+
+"Sleech, are you in earnest in what you say?" asked Harry, almost aghast
+at this declaration of his companion.  "You are either mad or a most
+fearful villain."
+
+"You have called me so twice already," exclaimed Sleech, in the same
+cool tone; "I don't mind it a bit.  Again I say, stay if you like and
+brave your uncle's anger.  My character stands high with him, and I know
+too many of the secrets of the house for him to venture to quarrel with
+me, even should he wish it.  You see I know the ground I stand on, and I
+again say, take your own course.  It's really a matter of indifference
+to me."
+
+Harry dared not longer trust himself with Sleech.  Seizing his candle,
+he rushed up-stairs into his own room.  What should he do?  Had he known
+more of the world he would have remained, and, acknowledging everything
+he had done since he came to London, have repeated Mr. Sleech's threats;
+but he did not know the world, nor Mr. Coppinger's character, while he
+could not take advice of the friend who, he ought to have known, at all
+events, if he did not, would certainly have given him such advice as a
+wise father would give his best beloved son.  For a long time Harry
+could not close his eyes.  At length, overcome by the violence of his
+feelings, he dropped off to sleep.  The shutters were not closed.
+
+It will make matters more clear if the full amount of Silas Sleech's
+villainy is explained.  For several reasons he wished to get rid of
+Harry.  He had induced him to put his signature to several I O U's, not,
+however, to himself, but to different unknown persons.  On a part of the
+very same paper he had himself forged Mr. Coppinger's signature in a way
+by which it would, he thought, make it evident that it had been written
+by Harry.  This made him more than ever anxious to induce the young man
+to hurry away from London, knowing that his flight would assist in
+fixing the crime on him.  Mr. Kyffin's absence would assist his object.
+
+When Harry awoke the grey dawn was stealing into the room.  He sprang
+up.  On his table was a purse; it contained ten guineas.  By it was a
+paper, on which was written, "Take the advice of a friend, and go!"
+
+It was not signed, and the handwriting was disguised.  "He has been too
+cunning to give me the slightest proof of his villainy," he said to
+himself.
+
+"Go I must, I see it too clearly, but I will write to Mr. Kyffin, and
+tell him all."
+
+He packed a few articles of dress into a bag which he could easily
+carry, and taking a stout stick in his hand, left his room.  He knocked
+at Sleech's door as he went by.
+
+"Close the door after me, I am going out," he said.
+
+"Ah! you are wise," answered a voice from within.
+
+Harry withdrew the bars and bolts.  He waited outside till he heard them
+replaced.  Few people were in the streets at that early hour.  He walked
+on rapidly westward.  He might be in time to catch the coach, which
+started at an early hour from Piccadilly.  It would have carried him by
+night for a considerable part of the journey.  He might hire a horse for
+the following day, or proceed on foot.  He ran rather than walked along
+the streets; there were no hackney coaches out at that hour, and he had
+his legs alone to depend on.  The heavy coach was beginning to move just
+as he reached its place of departure.  There was one seat vacant.  He
+had just time to climb into it, when the vehicle commenced its rumbling,
+rolling progress to the south-west.  The inside, which carried six
+people, was full.  One person sat by the coachman on the box, and four
+others were perched up behind him.  Harry's seat was facing the guard,
+who was known by the large red coat, ornamented by yellow lace, and the
+huge blunderbuss which was slung by his side.  Harry was not inclined
+for conversation.  The guard eyed him narrowly for some time.
+
+"You are all right," he said at last.  "It is necessary to be awake,
+when people come as you did without booking their names.  We were robbed
+three days ago by a gentleman on a fine horse, and even I took him for a
+nobleman, till he cried, `Stand and deliver,' and somehow or other my
+blunderbuss would not go off, and the passengers inside only screamed
+and cried, and those outside only roared and swore.  However, if I
+thought you were up to any tricks, I would just shoot you through the
+head with my blunderbuss, as if you were a savage beast in Exeter
+Change."
+
+Harry thanked the guard for his kind intentions, and begged that he
+would keep his ammunition for another object.  As the coach moved along,
+during the day, Harry could not help looking out in the expectation of
+seeing a horseman in pursuit, sent by his uncle to bring him back.
+Again and again he cursed his folly and his weakness, for having yielded
+to the temptations thrown in his way by Silas Sleech.  As the evening
+closed in, the heavily laden vehicle reached the end of its journey.  It
+was the same inn at which he had stopped more than once with his
+grandmother, and the landlord recognised him.  He had, therefore, no
+difficulty in obtaining a horse, by which he might proceed at a more
+rapid rate to Lynderton.  He desired to be called before daylight, that
+he might start with the first streaks of dawn.  What object was to be
+gained by his going to Lynderton?  There was one person there, who he
+knew would, at all events, believe him innocent.  He wished to tell
+Mabel of the trouble into which he had been plunged; to confess his
+folly, and to entreat her, whatever she might hear, not to think too ill
+of him.  He would release her from her engagement, for what right had
+he, a penniless outcast, with his character blasted, still to hope to
+unite himself to one so lovely and pure, and the heiress of a good
+fortune.  His heart might break in the struggle.  He should never cease
+to love her, but free she must be.  Before noon next day he was
+galloping along a green glade in the New Forest.  He saw before him a
+horseman mounted on a stout cob proceeding at a leisurely pace.  He was
+about to dart past the stranger, when turning round he caught a glimpse
+of features which he remembered well.  They were those of Captain
+Falwasser, or rather of Captain Rochard.  Supposing that he was not
+recognised he was going to pass on, when the captain hailed him.
+
+"Harry Tryon, my lad, where are you going so fast?  Is it your usual
+custom thus to cut old friends?"
+
+Harry pulled up; an idea struck him.
+
+"No, indeed," he answered, "but I am afraid my old friends will cut me.
+Captain Falwasser, I am an unfortunate man.  I am in great difficulties;
+I need not tell you what they are.  I ask you, will you let me join your
+vessel as one of the crew, if you still command her?  I care not where I
+go, but I want to leave England.  I should be ready to start with you
+to-morrow, or the next day at the very furthest."
+
+"You seem in a desperate hurry to take a plunge into something, Harry,"
+answered Captain Falwasser.
+
+"I know the world better than you do, so let me advise you to reflect
+well before you leap off firm ground.  I would not ask what has gone
+wrong with you, but I will wager you are not worse off than hundreds of
+other young men have been.  Some who took leaps in the dark are bitterly
+repenting their folly.  Those who paused before they jumped are happy
+and prosperous.  Think of what I say, my dear boy.  Then, again, I
+cannot promise to receive you on board the lugger.  I command her
+occasionally, I confess.  I have my reasons for doing so, though I am
+not the lawless person you suppose.  Some day you may know more about me
+than you do now.  In the meantime, come and stay at my cottage on the
+borders of the forest, unless you are going to visit your friends at
+Lynderton."
+
+"Thank you," said Harry, "I accept your offer, for my plans are very
+uncertain.  All I want to do is to keep in hiding for some time.  If you
+are not afraid of housing me, I shall be more secure with you than with
+anybody else."
+
+"I am obliged to you for your confidence," answered the captain, "and as
+I do not believe you have been guilty of a felony, I will gladly afford
+you an asylum as long as you choose to take advantage of it.  When I am
+absent, my old housekeeper, Dame Tricot, will look after you."
+
+The captain's cottage was a very humble one.  It stood deep back in a
+recess of the forest, and was built of yellow clay dug from a
+neighbouring pit, and thickly thatched with straw.  It was, however,
+whitewashed.  In front was a neat porch, over which clematis had been
+taught to climb, while the interior was fitted up with considerable
+attention to comfort, though it had but two apartments.  One served as
+the kitchen and Dame Tricot's dormitory, the other as the owner's
+parlour and bedroom.  Harry would have guessed by the appearance of the
+room that the occupier was a gentleman.  On one side was a table with a
+handsome writing-desk.  On the other, an easel with drawing apparatus.
+On the walls were several good pictures, and in the bookcase a few
+well-bound volumes.  There was a table in the centre, which was large
+enough to admit of two or three persons sitting round it, while the
+narrow truckle bed in one corner showed that though the owner possessed
+refined tastes, his habits were far from luxurious.
+
+CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
+
+A LOOK AT THE OLD PLACE.
+
+A tidy, active, intelligent little woman placed a plain but abundant
+repast before the captain and his guest.
+
+"I have taken to English customs," said the captain, "and Dame Tricot is
+willing to please my taste, however much she may pity it.  She cannot
+talk much English, but you may talk French to her, and if you make her
+your confidant I am sure that you will win her affections.  There's
+nothing an old woman likes so much as to be trusted by the young.  I
+believe that if you had committed a highway robbery and confessed it to
+her she would not betray your confidence.  I shall have to go into
+Lynderton, and perhaps shall not return for some days; but you can
+remain here, and I'm sure she will take very good care of you."
+
+Harry, however, was anxious to see Mabel.  If he did not go at once,
+something might prevent him.  He told the captain, therefore, that he
+wished to visit his friends at Stanmore.
+
+"Ah! you'll only find the colonel and Miss Everard there, for the
+captain has got a ship, and gone away again to sea.  My young friend,
+the Baron de Ruvigny, is, I am told, a constant visitor there,
+undoubtedly attracted by the _beaux yeux_ of Miss Mabel."
+
+Harry felt uncomfortable.  He thought that his friend was wrong in his
+suspicions; at the same time, he did not like to hear them uttered.  The
+captain agreed to take his horse to Lynderton that it might be sent
+back, while he proceeded on foot towards Stanmore.  Harry set forth
+soon.  From a height which he reached he saw the blue sea stretching
+before him, the rays of the setting sun lighting up the snowy cliffs of
+the western end of the Isle of Wight, which rose like a lofty buttress
+out of the glittering ocean.  Several vessels were sailing in and out of
+the narrow passage between the island and the main land.  Some with
+lofty canvas were standing out into mid channel, others were creeping
+along in shore, lest during darkness an enemy's cruiser might approach
+and carry them off as prizes.  He was about to take a cut across the
+fields, when he saw below him a figure sitting on a stile.  A rich manly
+voice burst forth with a stave of a ditty--
+
+  "British sailors have a knack,
+  Haul away ye ho, boys,
+  Of hauling down a Frenchman's Jack
+  'Gainst any one you know, boys.
+
+  "Come three to one, right sure am I
+  If we can't beat them, still we'll try
+  To make old England's colours fly,
+  Haul away, haul away, haul away ye ho, boys."
+
+"That fellow has not much care at his heart," thought Harry, rather
+disposed to avoid the singer.
+
+Harry went on.  He had, however, to ask him to move on one side to let
+him pass.
+
+"With all the pleasure in my life, my hearty," was the answer.  "Why,
+Master Harry Tryon, on my life!" exclaimed the singer, as Harry jumped
+over the stile.  "Stop, you are not going to cut an old friend, are
+you?"
+
+"I should scarcely have known you, Jacob Tuttle, if you had not spoken
+to me," said Harry, taking the seat the other had vacated; "you are
+grown into such a big burly fellow."
+
+"Yes; a life at sea browns a fellow's phiz, and plenty of beef fills him
+out; not that ours isn't often tough enough, and more likely covered the
+bones of an old horse than an ox.  But where are you bound to, Master
+Harry?"
+
+"I am going to pay a farewell visit to some friends, and then I have a
+great mind to go to sea.  I am sick of a shore life, and wish I had gone
+three or four years ago."
+
+"Not too late now," answered Tuttle.  "You are rather old for an
+officer, and I suppose you would be too proud to go before the mast."
+
+"No, indeed I would not," answered Harry.  "I am ready to go anyhow.  If
+I'm worth anything I hope to work my way up, as others have done, and if
+I am worth nothing I must take my chance with the rest."
+
+"Very rightly said, Harry; active hands like you are wanted.  I am
+thinking of going to Portsmouth to look out for a ship, and if you take
+my advice you will volunteer on board the same.  I will soon teach you
+your duties, and you will be a petty officer before many months are
+over.  There were plenty of gentlemen's sons on board the last ship I
+served in, or at all events they said they were.  Some of them were
+pretty wild blades, to be sure, and were `King's hard bargains;' but
+that's not your style, I have a notion, and so, as I said before, come
+along with me.  I will rig you out as a seaman.  And now I come to think
+on't, you are a better one already than many a chap who has been two or
+three years afloat.  There are some cut out for sailors, and there are
+others nothing can be made of."
+
+This proposition jumped exactly with Harry's present notions.
+
+"I have no time to lose," said Harry, "and I want to get rid of my
+present long shore toggery as soon as possible."
+
+"Well, then, mate," said Jacob, "my old mother's cottage, where I am
+stopping, is not far from here, and if you like to come, I'll rig you
+out in a seaman's suit, which I only got the other day, and never yet
+put on.  You can pay me for it or not, as you think fit; you are welcome
+to it, at all events."
+
+Rapid action was to Harry's taste.  Within half an hour of the time he
+fell in with Jacob Tuttle few would have recognised in the smart, young,
+sailor-like-looking lad, the sedate London-dressed merchant's clerk.
+Harry felt freer than before in his new dress, and promising to return
+to old Dame Tuttle's cottage, he hurried away towards Stanmore.  It was
+dusk when he approached the house; but he knew every path and sylvan
+glade in the grounds, and had already thought of the best place in which
+to watch for a chance of meeting Mabel.  By climbing a high paling he
+got round to the garden side of the house.  Lights were in several
+windows.  He could, he thought, approach the drawing-room--Mabel might
+be there alone.  He would then ask her to come out and talk with him.
+The most secure approach to it was by a long straight avenue
+overshadowed by trees which led up one side of the grounds.  He hurried
+along it, keeping as much as possible on the turf on one side, that he
+might run no risk of making a noise, when he heard footsteps
+approaching, and presently a man's figure appeared in the centre of the
+walk.  Who could it be?  It might possibly, he thought, be the colonel,
+though it was not his custom to walk out at night.  Harry drew behind a
+tree by which he was completely concealed.  The person passed on, but so
+thick was the gloom that Harry could not distinguish his features.  By
+his height it was certainly not the colonel.  The person went up the
+avenue, then turned, and walked once more in the direction of the house.
+Harry did not move for fear of being discovered: he watched the person
+narrowly.  A gleam of light came through an opening in the trees.  He
+saw clearly the outline of the figure.  His jealous feelings told him at
+once that it was the Baron de Ruvigny.
+
+"I thought he loved poor Lucy," he muttered to himself.  "But Mabel! can
+it be to see her that he comes here?  I might give her up for her own
+sake, but I would never yield her to a Frenchman."
+
+He came forward from his concealment, and confronted the young
+Frenchman.
+
+"We don't allow people in England to skulk about houses," he whispered,
+seizing the young man's arm.
+
+"Why, I know that voice--you are Harry Tryon.  Surely you would not mock
+me?" answered the baron, not attempting to withdraw his arm from Harry's
+grasp.
+
+"Mock you! no; but what brings you here?  I ask," exclaimed Harry.  "I
+have a right to know that."
+
+"To indulge in my grief," answered the baron.  "I have lost one who had
+won my deepest affections, and I come here, like an uneasy spirit, to
+wander over the ground on which she trod.  Harry Tryon, I thought you
+knew how I loved her."
+
+"I thought you did, and I now feel sure you did," answered Harry, his
+anger vanishing.  "You know also that I love her cousin; I wish even now
+to see her.  I am very unhappy.  I cannot venture into the house.  Will
+you, therefore, act the part of a true friend, and bear a message from
+me to her? and also will you pass your word of honour not to try and win
+her affections during my absence?  Your attentions might annoy her, and
+yet you might be tempted to pay them."
+
+"Again you mock me, Tryon," said the young baron.  "Can you suppose that
+my affections, which are buried in the grave of her sweet cousin, should
+so soon be restored to life?  I will, however, give you my promise as
+you desire it."
+
+It is possible that the young baron's affections were not so deeply
+buried as he supposed.  However, he spoke with sincerity, and Harry
+believed him.  He agreed to go round to the front door, and enter as an
+evening visitor, and to deliver Harry's message, should he have an
+opportunity of doing so without being overheard by the colonel or Madame
+Everard.
+
+Lucy had constructed an arbour with woodwork, interspersed with flowers
+and paths winding among it.  A rustic bridge crossed a sparkling stream,
+which ran murmuring down in front towards the lake.  There was but one
+approach, so that strangers could not easily find it.  Here Harry begged
+that Mabel would come to him.  He sat down in the bower, anxiously
+waiting her approach.  More than once he started up, thinking that he
+heard her footsteps, but his senses had deceived him.  At length he
+could restrain his anxiety no longer.  Had the baron deceived him, or
+could not Mabel venture out?  He wished he had not trusted to another
+person.  He might have written, or he might, by watching patiently, have
+seen her during the day as she walked about the grounds.  He was going
+once more towards the house, when he saw a figure coming along the
+gravel walk towards him.  He was sure it was Mabel.  At the risk of
+being mistaken he hurried to meet her.
+
+"Speak, speak!  Is it Miss Everard? is it Mabel?" he asked.
+
+"Oh, Harry, your voice has relieved me, for not expecting to see you in
+the dress you wear, as the moonlight fell on you I feared that I might
+be mistaken.  Oh! tell me, what has brought you down so suddenly.  The
+Baron de Ruvigny's manner made me very anxious."
+
+"Come and sit down here, and I will tell you all," said Harry, taking
+her hand and leading her to the arbour.  "I have folly to confess.  I am
+lowered in my own sight, and I fear I must be in yours," said Harry, in
+a trembling voice, very unlike his usual tone.
+
+"What is it you have done?" asked Mabel, much agitated.  "Nothing wrong,
+surely; nothing wrong?"
+
+"Yes, I have done much that is wrong.  I was wrong to trust to a false
+friend, to visit scenes of dissipation with him, to stake money I could
+not afford to lose, to lose my senses so as no longer to have command
+over my actions.  He plied me with wine till I knew not what I was
+about, and during that time I put my name to papers which have brought
+irretrievable ruin on me.  My honour, oh!  Mabel, my honour is lost!  No
+one will again trust me."
+
+"But who is the person of whom you speak, Harry? who could gain such
+influence over you--surely not Mr. Kyffin?"
+
+"Oh! no, no.  Had I remained with him, this would not have happened.  He
+is one whose name I scarcely like to mention to you, Mabel; for he is, I
+believe, related to you.  He is Silas Sleech, the son of the lawyer at
+Lynderton."
+
+"Oh, he is a man I never could endure, even as a girl.  His countenance
+alone made me always fancy he must be a hypocrite.  But how could such a
+man gain an influence over you, Harry?"
+
+Harry had to enter more into details than he had before done.  Still,
+"blessed in the faith of woman," Mabel could not believe him as guilty
+as he was inclined to consider himself.
+
+"Such is my history," he said at last, "since I parted from you; and
+now, Mabel, I come to set you free.  I have no right to bind you to so
+lost, so penniless a wretch as I am; and yet with the thought that I
+might still be worthy of you, I feel confident that I could once more
+rise to a position in which I might be worthy of your love.  I am still
+young.  I have resolved to enter the navy, and work my way up to the
+quarter-deck.  Once there, I may rise to the rank your father holds.  He
+was a post-captain when still a young man, and why should not I be,
+Mabel?--fame and fortune are before me.  For your sake I feel sure that
+I may achieve them.  Mabel, it was this I came to tell you.  I could not
+go away without seeing you, and bidding you farewell.  Mabel, pray for
+me; pray that my life may be saved, and that I may win a name worthy to
+offer to you.  Still believe me, I could love no one but you, though you
+are free."
+
+Neither spoke for some time.
+
+"I dare not urge you to take any other course," Mabel said at last, "but
+I wish you could have consulted my kind uncle.  He is too ill, however,
+I fear, to see you; still, he would give you wise counsel, I am sure.  I
+would rather, indeed, that you had remained in London, and, braving the
+anger of Mr. Coppinger, have exposed the villainy of that wretched man,
+Silas Sleech."
+
+"It is too late now, Mabel," said Harry; "there are many things I ought
+to have done, and ought not to have done."
+
+Much more the lovers spoke to the same effect.  Mabel did not in any way
+express her thanks to Harry for offering to give her up.  On the
+contrary, she spoke as if she was more firmly bound to him than ever.
+
+At last, as they sat in the bower, forgetting everything else, the light
+of a lantern fell upon them.  They started and saw before them the tall
+figure of Paul Gauntlet.
+
+"Why, Master Harry, no one knew you were in these parts," he said,
+letting the light of the lantern fall on his face; "but you should not
+have been keeping the young lady out so long as this.  Miss Mabel, Madam
+Everard has been quite in a taking about you for the last quarter of an
+hour.  You must come in at once, and wish this young gentleman good-bye,
+unless he wants to come in, too."
+
+Harry knew very well that the old soldier would not betray him if he put
+confidence in him.  He therefore at once told him the reason of his
+visit to Stanmore.
+
+"Ah!  Master Harry," said Paul, "the only advice I can give you is to
+come in and talk the matter over with the colonel.  He will tell you
+what to do better than any other man.  That's more than I can do.  I
+have learned to obey orders, and I know how to obey them, but I never
+was much of a hand at giving orders.  You, Master Harry, as I say, just
+come and tell your troubles to the colonel.  He is so wise and good that
+he is sure to show you the best thing to be done."
+
+"I cannot, I dare not tell the colonel," answered Harry.  "I thank you
+sincerely, Gauntlett, but you don't know how he would look on these
+things."
+
+"Well, well, Mr. Tryon, you must act as you think best, if you won't
+take the advice of an old soldier who loves you as if you were his son."
+
+Saying this, Paul walked on ahead, as if to show the way with his
+lantern, though it is just possible he might have suspected the young
+people would rather be by themselves for a few minutes, without the
+bright light of his lantern falling on them.
+
+When Paul got close to the house, he stopped, intending once more to
+urge his advice on Harry, but when he looked round Mabel was alone.
+Harry had bade her a hurried farewell and rushed off, unable any longer
+to trust his feelings, and unwilling to take the advice which he
+suspected the old soldier would again proffer.
+
+Paul let Mabel come up with him before entering the house.
+
+"Do you know where he has gone to, Miss Mabel?" he asked.  "I am afraid
+he has got some wrong notion into his head, and will be doing something
+desperate when there's no necessity for it.  There are often two ways of
+looking at the same thing, and in my mind he has been looking the wrong
+way."
+
+"I think indeed that he has," answered Mabel; "but I tried also to get
+him to speak to my uncle.  His guardian, Mr. Kyffin, is away in Ireland.
+I fear they are the only two people who could have persuaded him to act
+differently.  He told me that he intended to remain for the night at the
+cottage of Dame Tuttle.  You might find him there to-morrow morning, and
+perhaps his mind may by that time be calmer."
+
+Mabel found her aunt very anxious about her long absence.  The baron had
+gone away some little time before she quitted the drawing-room, so that
+she knew that Mabel had not gone out to speak to him.  She was so
+thankful, however, at seeing her back, that she did not press her with
+questions, merely observing: "Since that fearful evening, the
+commencement of poor Lucy's illness, I have been so nervous, dear, that
+I am anxious even when you are more than a few minutes absent from me."
+
+Mabel, however, had no wish to conceal the fact of her having met Harry
+Tryon; for she knew that her aunt would sympathise with her in her
+sorrow.  She felt somewhat relieved when she had told her grief; but
+though the two ladies talked the matter over, they could see no
+immediate way of extricating Harry from his difficulties.  Mabel was for
+writing at once to Mr. Kyffin.  At length she bethought her of her
+godfather, Mr. Thornborough.  "He knows Mr. Kyffin, Harry has told me,
+and he would be able to intercede both with him and Mr. Coppinger."
+Many other plans were thought of and discussed.  The two ladies,
+however, agreed to wait till the following morning before they settled
+the one they would adopt.
+
+CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
+
+MANNING THE NAVY IN THE OLD TIME.
+
+Often during the night, as Harry lay on Widow Tuttle's spare truckle
+bed, he repented him of his resolution to start off immediately to sea.
+
+Common sense said, "Wait till you can hear from your kind guardian, or
+still better, till you have had an interview with him.  Explain the
+state of the case clearly to Mr. Coppinger, acknowledging that you were
+drunk, and put your name to papers with the contents of which you were
+not acquainted.  Let him know that Silas Sleech is a consummate
+hypocrite, and in all probability a thorough rogue.  Brave the worst.
+Surely nothing can be so bad as running away, and leaving your name and
+credit and character in the hands of such a fellow as Sleech, who has
+acknowledged himself your enemy, and who will, like his master--Satan--
+if you bravely face him, succumb before you."  Then rose up again
+Harry's desire to go to sea, his dislike of having to acknowledge his
+weakness and folly to Mr. Coppinger, and his doubts whether his uncle
+would believe his statements.  Sleep scarcely visited his eyelids.  He
+was just dozing off when he heard Tuttle's rough voice exclaiming--
+
+"Turn out there, mate, we'll have some breakfast, and then be off before
+the sun's up.  We have a long voyage before us, and only our own legs to
+depend on."  Harry had wished to go to Portsmouth by sea.
+
+"And I'll tell you what would happen if we did," said Jacob.  "As soon
+as we set foot on shore the press-gang would be upon us, and whether we
+liked it or not would carry us on board their ship to serve his Majesty.
+I was very nearly caught once; had twenty fellows after me as hard as
+they could pelt.  Fortunately it was dusk, and I bolted down an alley
+and into a court, and up a stair, and right under an old woman's bed,
+and there I lay while the whole gang hunted about without finding me.  I
+know a place or two where we can lie hid till we learn what ships are
+fitting out, and who are to command them.  It's a great thing to get a
+good captain, Harry.  There are several captains I would like to sail
+with well enough; but there are not a few whose ships are like hells
+afloat, and you may depend on't I'll stand clear of them."
+
+Jacob gave his old mother a hearty kiss, as putting a stick into his
+bundle, he threw it over his shoulder.
+
+"Don't take on, dame, now," he said.  "I'll be back soon and bring you
+no end of the rhino.  Most of it, to be sure, slipped away from me at
+the end of the last cruise before I got home; but I will take better
+care of it this time for your sake, mother."
+
+The old woman shook her head.  She had been too long accustomed to find
+that Jacob's money had slipped away before he got home to expect much,
+though he had generally contrived to bring enough for his board while he
+remained.  Harry wrote a note, which he got a boy to carry to Captain
+Falwasser, saying that he was going off to sea, and begging him to take
+care of his bag till his return.  With brisk steps, though Harry's heart
+was heavy, the two young men took their way through the forest.  They
+looked like two active young seamen any captain would be glad to get
+hold of.  They cautiously approached the village of Hythe, opposite
+Southampton, lest the press-gang might be there on the look-out for men.
+The coast being clear, they ran across the beautiful estuary of the
+Southampton Water in a wherry, and landing on the western side near
+Itchin, pushed on towards Gosport.  Night had closed in before they had
+got to the end of their journey.  Harry had seldom taken so long a walk;
+but his muscles were well knit, and he might have gone still farther.
+
+"We must keep a sharp look-out, mate," said Jacob; "the gangs are sure
+to be about, and if they were to fall in with us, we might say good-bye
+to liberty.  But come along; there's a house I know of not far off, and
+we shall be all right there if we once get inside the door."
+
+Jacob led Harry down several lanes and alleys in which scenes of
+drunkenness and vice met his eye, which, even accustomed to London as he
+was, made his heart turn sick.
+
+"And this is the way the defenders of our country spend their time on
+shore!" he said to himself.  "No wonder they are treated like brutes,
+when they live like beasts without souls."
+
+Harry's reasoning might possibly not have been correct as to what cause
+produced the effect.  Might he not more justly have reasoned, "If they
+are treated like brutes, like brutes they will live?"  That question has
+been solved in later days.  Since thought has been taken for seamen they
+have essayed, and not unsuccessfully, to attend to the welfare of their
+souls.  In those days little regard was paid to that subject.
+
+They stopped before the door of a low house with not many windows
+looking into the street.  Such as there were were closed with shutters.
+
+"She's a good old creature," whispered Jacob, "though maybe by this hour
+she's a little lushy; but you must not mind that.  She knows me and my
+ways, and will treat us well.  Her husband is sure to be drunk; but then
+he will be in bed and out of the way, and she's never so bad but what
+she can get supper ready.  We may trust Sally Hoggart for that.  You
+will see I am right."
+
+Jacob gave two or three knocks on the door, but no one came to it.
+
+"Maybe she's had a drop or two more than usual," observed Jacob.  "She
+will wake up in time, only I hope no press-gang will be coming along the
+street before she opens the door.  If we see them we must run for it,
+Harry.  You stick by me.  I know a place to hide away in."
+
+Jacob repeated his blows on the door.  At last a slide was moved in one
+of the panels, and a light streamed through it.
+
+"All right, Sally," said Jacob.  "You know me, and I have brought a
+mate.  Open the door, and let us in; we have enough to pay for our
+board, so don't be afraid."
+
+The door opened, and the two young men entered, the bolts and bars being
+instantly replaced.  The person who came to the door might have
+possessed many excellent qualities, but her appearance was not in her
+favour.  Her figure was stout and shapeless; her dress, wanting greatly
+in hooks and eyes and strings, worn and stained, looked ready to slip
+off her shoulders.  Her hair, already sprinkled with white, escaped in
+dishevelled locks from beneath her mob cap, destitute of all stiffness,
+and darkened by soot and dust, while her thick lips and watery bloodshot
+eye showed that she not unfrequently indulged in potations deep and
+strong.  Jacob, however, on entering, chucked her under the chin, and
+giving her a hearty smack on her flabby cheeks, told her to be a good
+old soul, and to get supper ready for two hungry wayfarers.  At first
+she declared that she had dressed suppers for twenty men already, and
+that she was too sleepy to put another saucepan on the fire; but Jacob,
+after a little persuasion, made her promise to exert herself, and he
+then led the way into a room at the back part of the house.  Here some
+dozen or more men were sitting round a table, most of them with pipes in
+their mouths, others with pots of ale or glasses of spirits before them,
+while several were playing at cards.  They looked up at the new comers,
+who took their seats at the other end of the table.  Jacob soon entered
+into conversation with those nearest him, and learned what ships were
+fitting out.  The characters of various captains were discussed.
+
+"The `Brilliant,' Captain Everard, has just come in to refit, and is in
+want of hands.  He's a right sort of officer.  If I wanted to go afloat,
+I would volunteer on board his ship as soon as any other," remarked a
+seaman who was sitting opposite to them.
+
+"What do you say, Harry?  Would you like to volunteer on board the
+`Brilliant'?" asked Jacob.
+
+"No, she would not suit me," answered Harry.  "I have my reasons for not
+wishing to join her."
+
+"Run from her, maybe, once in a time?" observed a seaman.
+
+"Well, then there's the `Nymph,' Captain Cook.  He's a good seaman, and
+not over-harsh with his men; and there's the `Saint Fiorenzo,' Captain
+Sir Harry Neale.  Never a man has sailed with him who's worth his salt
+who would not wish to sail with him again.  I wish there were many other
+captains in the navy like him.  We should not have cause to complain as
+we have now."
+
+Harry and Jacob agreed therefore to volunteer on board the "Saint
+Fiorenzo."  While this discussion was going on Sally placed a smoking
+supper before her two lately arrived guests.  They did ample justice to
+it, for although the cookery was of a somewhat coarser character than
+that to which Harry had been accustomed, his long walk had given him an
+appetite.  He soon began to feel a great longing to lie down and go to
+sleep.  For three nights, indeed, he had scarcely closed his eyes for
+ten minutes together.  Even before he had finished supper his head began
+to nod.  Jacob observed his condition, and asked Sally for a bed.
+
+"Why," was her reply, "every one I have got are more than full already;
+you must prick for the softest plank you can find.  Not the first time
+either of you youngsters have had to do that."
+
+Jacob knew there was no use remonstrating, and so drawing a bench up to
+a corner of the room, he placed his bundle under Harry's head, and led
+him to it.  Scarcely had Harry stretched himself on the bench, hard as
+it was, than he was fast asleep.  Jacob, however, was not so happy as he
+intended to be, and calling for come more liquor--he was not very
+particular what it was--he and his new friend opposite were soon engaged
+in plying each other with tumblers of grog.
+
+There was a knocking at the door.  Sally having by this time slept off
+some of her evening potations again went to it.  Another seaman begged
+for admittance.  He had nowhere to lodge, and he was afraid the
+press-gang who were about would be getting hold of him.  He had plenty
+of shiners to spend, as Sally should soon know by the glitter of one
+with which he would at once cross her hand.  This argument had great
+effect upon her gentle heart.  Opening the door she admitted her
+visitor.  He was a stout-looking man in a thick pea-coat, with a
+tarpaulin hat firmly fixed on his head, while his hand clutched a stout
+walking-stick.  As she was about to close the door behind him great was
+her indignation to find a crowbar inserted.  There was a trampling of
+feet.  She shrieked out with several unfeminine oaths, "Murder! murder!
+the press-gang is upon us."  Her visitor, however, very ungallantly
+seized her by the arm as she attempted to close the door, and shoved a
+thick handkerchief into her mouth.  In the meantime the door was forced
+completely back, and two or three men who had been lying down close
+under the walls, had sprung to their feet and entered with their leader.
+They were quickly joined by others of their party, who had been coming
+at a quick run down the street.  In an instant the inmates were aroused,
+and the whole house was in a fearful uproar.  Some tried to force their
+way out by a back door, but no sooner had they opened it than they found
+themselves in the power of a strong body of armed seamen.  The men who
+were in bed threw on their clothes, some trying to jump from the
+windows; but seeing by the number of the press-gang outside that they
+would be certainly caught if they did so, rushed down-stairs and joined
+in the fray which was going forward in the public room.  Some were armed
+with bludgeons, others with fire-irons; some seized chairs and benches,
+and various other articles of Sally's furniture.  She, to do her
+justice, with her female attendants, fought as heroically as her guests,
+in a vain endeavour to secure their personal safety.
+
+
+Harry had slept through the first part of the combat, but at length the
+fearful uproar aroused him.  He started to his feet, not knowing where
+he was or what had happened.  The room was almost in total darkness, for
+the lights had instantly been extinguished, and only here and there fell
+the glare of the men-of-war's men's lanterns as they held them up in the
+hopes of distinguishing friends from foes.  Harry seized Jacob's bundle
+with one hand, and the stick with which he had carried it in the other,
+and attempted to defend himself from the blows which were dealt freely
+round.  He thought he distinguished Jacob's voice not far from him, and
+he made his way up to his friend.  At that instant, however, a further
+party of the press-gang arriving, the seamen were completely
+overpowered.  In vain Sally and her attendants fought on, in the hopes
+of enabling some of their friends to escape.  Every outlet was too
+strictly guarded.  The officer and many of the men composing the
+press-gang probably knew the house as well as its inmates, and had taken
+their measures accordingly.
+
+In the course of a few minutes, although some heads had received pretty
+hard cracks, yet no blood was spilt, every man in the house, with the
+exception of old Tony Hoggart, was in the power of the press-gang.  It
+was a most successful haul.  Upwards of thirty prime seamen had been
+captured, Jacob and Harry among them.  Not till the fight was over did
+old Tony find his way down-stairs, at the foot of which he stood with a
+light in his hand, his red nightcap set on one side of his bullet head,
+his trousers held up by one suspender, his stockingless feet in shoes
+down at heel, while from his blear eyes he glared out on the intruders
+into his abode.  As if at length aware of what had occurred, he
+commenced a series of his vituperative remarks, which increased in
+vehemence as he proceeded, his curses and oaths being first directed
+towards the head of the officer in command of the party and his men, the
+captain of the ship, and the navy in general coming in for their share.
+
+"We're in for it, Harry," said Jacob; "keep up your courage, however; if
+we put a good face on the matter, we shan't be so much worse off than if
+we had volunteered.  We can tell the first-lieutenant when he examines
+us to-morrow morning that we intended to do so.  I'll just learn what
+ship we have been taken for."
+
+Jacob made the inquiry of the seaman who had charge of him.
+
+"The `Brilliant,' Captain Everard," was the answer; "he's a good
+captain, and you may bless your stars that you have been taken for his
+ship."
+
+Harry's heart sank when he heard this.
+
+He would at once be recognised by the captain.
+
+What account could he give of himself?  The boats were in waiting in the
+harbour.  The men hurried down to them immediately.  Some resisting were
+dragged along.  A cuff on the head, or a blow with the butt end of a
+pistol, generally silenced those who cried out in the hopes of being
+rescued.
+
+Harry and Jacob walked along quietly.  Neither were disposed to
+struggle.  As soon as the prisoners were got into the boats they shoved
+off.  In a quarter of an hour afterwards Harry found himself for the
+first time in his life on board a man-of-war.
+
+CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
+
+THE HERO'S FIRST TRIP TO SEA.--THE FATE OF THE "BRILLIANT."
+
+Harry and the other pressed men stood for some time on the deck of the
+frigate, awaiting the appearance of the commanding officer.  Harry
+dreaded his coming, believing that Captain Everard would immediately
+recognise him.  At length an officer appeared from below, accompanied by
+the master-at-arms, who held a ship's lantern in his hand.  The officer
+commenced his inspection at the other end of the line.  The light not
+falling on him, Harry could not see his features, but his figure was
+like that of the captain.
+
+"I must brave it out," he thought.  "What shall I call myself?  It must
+be a name I can recollect.  Andrew Brown will, do as well as any other."
+
+Jacob was standing at a little distance from him.  He had just time to
+step round and whisper, "I shall take the name of Andrew Brown," before
+the officer approached.  He was greatly relieved on finding it was not
+the captain.  Jacob Tuttle gave his real name.  He entered himself as
+Andrew Brown.
+
+As soon as the inspection was over, the men were ordered down below,
+being told that they would be entered more regularly the next morning.
+They were told that they might lie down between the guns on the main
+deck, sentries being placed over them as if they were prisoners.
+
+Harry was only too thankful to find a quiet spot where he might stretch
+his weary limbs and finish his slumbers, which had been so rudely broken
+during the first part of the night.  He was too sleepy even to think.
+He dreamed that the fray was renewed, for the most strange, wild, and
+unearthly sounds assailed his ears: shrill whistles, hoarse bawlings,
+fierce oaths, the stamping of feet and rattling of ropes, and shouts of
+all sorts, creating the wildest uproar he had ever heard.
+
+"Yes, he's alive, only drunk, maybe," said a gruff voice in his ear.
+
+"No, he's not drunk, only worn out pretty well, as you or I would be if
+we had not had a sleep for three or four nights.  He's young, you see."
+
+These words were spoken by Jacob Tuttle, who, putting his arm under
+Harry's shoulders, helped him to get up, and saved him from knocking his
+head against the gun-carriage under which he had been sleeping.  For
+some seconds he felt stupefied.  The whole ship, which was so quiet when
+he lay down, was now in a state of what appeared to him the wildest
+confusion--officers issuing their orders in no very gentle voices or
+refined language, and men rushing here and there, stamping along the
+decks with their bare feet, swaying up yards, and bending sails,
+hoisting in stores, and lowering casks and cases into the hold.  Harry,
+when he saw the number of men and size of the ship, began to hope that
+he might avoid the recognition of the captain.
+
+"I'll keep out of his way," he thought, "and if Mabel does not tell him
+of my intention of going to sea, though he may think Andrew Brown very
+like Harry Tryon, he may possibly not dream of asking questions on the
+subject."
+
+After breakfast the first-lieutenant went through the usual examination
+of the pressed men, and entered them under different ratings in the
+ship's books.  In those days muscle and activity were the qualifications
+most valued.  Harry was able to answer in a satisfactory way the
+questions put to him, and was at once rated as an able-bodied seaman,
+and, greatly to Jacob's satisfaction, was placed in the same watch and
+mess with him.
+
+"I'll show you what to do, Harry," he said, "and you'll turn out as good
+a seaman as any on board."
+
+The following day the ship went out to Spithead.
+
+Harry wrote two letters, no easy task amid the multitude of persons on
+board, male and female visitors of all sorts, at whose language and
+conduct Harry's heart sickened.  It was well that it did so.  Better be
+disgusted with vice than witness it unconcerned.  Very often our young
+sailor was interrupted, his paper saved with difficulty from profane
+hands.  Still at last the letters were finished.  One was to Mabel.  He
+did not describe the scene by which he was surrounded.  He told her
+simply that he had taken the final plunge, was now a seaman sworn to
+serve his king and country, but hoped soon to be an officer, entreating
+her not to mention his name to her father, and sent a message to Madam
+Everard and Paul Gauntlett.  He entreated her to think kindly of him,
+and assured her that his own heart would be faithful to death.
+
+Poor Mabel! the letter did not give her much pleasure.  "As if I should
+ever cease to think of him," she said to herself.  "Oh, that he had been
+better guided."
+
+He wrote also to Mr. Kyffin, directing the letter wisely to his private
+house, for he thought it more than probable that Silas Sleech would
+otherwise take possession of it.  The letter was a long one, tolerably
+coherent on the whole.  He confessed all that had occurred, made no
+excuses for himself, nor did he accuse Sleech.  He dated his letter from
+the "Brilliant," begging his guardian to reply to it, in the hope that
+an answer might reach him before the ship sailed.  Day after day passed
+by, and no answer came.
+
+Harry heard with some considerable trepidation that Captain Everard was
+expected on board.  He saw his gig coming off.  The sides were manned,
+and the captain passed through the gangway to the quarter-deck, touching
+his hat in return for the salute offered him by the marines drawn up on
+either side.  He glanced his eye aloft, and then along the deck.
+Everything was in excellent order.  Harry, who was nearer than he could
+have wished, stood his gaze steadily.  He spoke a few words of approval
+to the first-lieutenant, and then went down below.  Harry saw at a
+glance that Captain Everard on shore and Captain Everard in command of a
+frigate were two somewhat different characters.  As the captain
+disappeared, Blue Peter was run up to the mast-head.  It became
+generally known that the ship was to sail the next day; her destination,
+the North American Station and the West Indies.  Harry's heart sank when
+he heard this.
+
+"I may be away then three, perhaps four long years," he said to himself.
+"What changes may take place in the meantime!  Yet I may have better
+opportunities of distinguishing myself than on the home station.  I
+ought to be thankful."
+
+Harry, as he looked round the decks, could not conceive how order could
+ever spring out of the fearful disorder which had seemed to prevail.
+
+The ship was crowded with visitors.  Boats in great numbers hung
+alongside, in which the boatmen were quarrelling with each other, while
+eager Jews endeavoured to find their way on deck to obtain payment of
+debts which they alleged were due to them from the seamen.  Harry had
+little fear at this time of being recognised, the captain being
+generally employed in the cabin.  He was watching what was going
+forward, when he saw a wherry standing up under sail from the westward
+towards the ship.
+
+"Is that the `Brilliant'?" asked a voice from the boat, in which sat
+three persons--the boatman, his boy, and a young woman.
+
+"Ay, ay," was the answer.
+
+The sail was lowered and the boat stood up alongside.
+
+"May I come on board?" asked a gentle female voice, as the boat reached
+the gangway ladder.
+
+"That you may, and welcome," was the answer; "but you will not have long
+to stay, as the ship's going to sea directly."
+
+Harry thought he recognised the countenance of the speaker.  Assisted up
+gallantly by the quartermaster stationed at the gangway, the young woman
+stood on the deck.  She looked round with a somewhat scared and
+astonished gaze, but no sooner did her eye fall on Harry, who was
+watching her, than she ran towards him.
+
+"Oh!  Mr. Tryon, is it you, indeed?  Can you tell me if Jacob Tuttle is
+on board?  He came away without telling me that he was again going to
+join his ship, and I only heard just now from a friend of his at
+Portsmouth that he was on board the `Brilliant.'  He would never wish, I
+know, to go and leave me without one farewell, and so I cannot make it
+out."
+
+Harry recognised in the speaker Mary Cull, Mabel's trim little
+waiting-maid.  Jacob was aloft at the time, engaged in some work on the
+maintop-gallant yard.  He had been too busily occupied to see the
+different boats coming to the ship.  Now, however, the task completed,
+he happened to cast his eyes down on deck, and even at that distance
+recognised the figure though he could not have seen the pretty features
+of Mary.  He observed, however, that she was talking to Harry.  The
+knife he was using, which hung round his neck by a rope yarn, was thrust
+into the breast of his shirt, and quick as lightning he came gliding
+down the backstay close to where the two were standing.  Mary gave a
+shriek of terror when she saw him, thinking that he was falling.  Before
+even she could utter another exclamation of alarm, he sprang nimbly on
+deck and stood by her side.
+
+"Mary," he said, "have you come to look for me?  I would not have come
+away without wishing you good-bye if I had thought I was not going to be
+back again pretty soon, but I was pressed aboard this ship, and had no
+chance of going back to see you and mother.  You know I am a poor hand
+at writing, and I could not ask my friend here to trouble himself about
+the matter, and so, Mary, that's the long and the short of it.  I love
+you, girl, that I do, and love you now more than I ever thought I would;
+but, Mary, I did not think you cared for me, that's the truth on't, and
+now I know you do," and Jacob took Mary's willing hand in his, and
+looked into her eyes with an honest glance which must have convinced her
+that he spoke the truth, whatever he might before have done.
+
+"Jacob, I did not tell you I loved you before, because you did not ask
+me, but still I thought you knew I did, and as for Tom Hodson you was
+jealous of, I never cared a pin for him, and he's gone and 'listed for a
+soldier."
+
+Harry listened to this conversation not unamused.  He understood the
+whole history in a minute.  Jacob had left home in a huff, jealous of
+the attentions Mary was receiving from a rival, and now he was going
+away, to be parted from her for many years, perhaps never to return.  He
+could not help comparing Jacob's position to his own.  Poor Mary was in
+tears.  Jacob was vowing with earnestness that he would from henceforth
+ever be faithful to her.
+
+"No, Mary, no, I am going among negresses and foreigners, black and
+brown girls of all sorts, and do you think I would take up with one of
+them and leave you?"  And Jacob laughed at his own suggestion.  "No,
+that I would not, not to be made port admiral, nor a king on his throne
+either.  Mary, I was a fool to come away and leave you and poor mother,
+but it's too late now, I must go this cruise.  The king himself could
+not get me off.  There's no use asking the captain.  Why he would only
+laugh at me.  If he was to let me go, half the ship's company would want
+to go and marry their sweethearts.  I tell you a plain and solemn truth,
+Mary; but cheer up, dear girl.  Never fear, I will be true and faithful
+to you."
+
+Mary was too much occupied with her own grief to think much of Harry.
+However, she at last turned towards him.
+
+"Mr. Tryon," she said, "are you going, too?  Surely that cannot be.
+What shall I tell Miss Mabel?"
+
+"Tell her, Mary, what Jacob has said to you.  I trust the time will
+quickly pass.  I hope to do my duty faithfully to my king and country,
+and to obey my captain."
+
+Mary was about to ask further questions, but the boatswain's whistle was
+heard, uttering the stern order for all visitors to leave the ship.
+Jacob gave Mary an affectionate embrace, and assisted her down the side,
+Harry especially being very unwilling to detain her lest she should be
+seen by the captain.  She had come away, Jacob told him, having got a
+holiday for a week to see her friends.  The boatman, who knew Jacob,
+wished him farewell, for though he stared at Harry, he did not appear to
+recognise him in the dress of a seaman, so different to what he had been
+accustomed to wear.  In a few minutes afterwards the merry pipe was
+sounding.  Harry and others were tramping round with the capstan-bars,
+and the anchor was slowly hove up to the bows.  The proud frigate, under
+all sail, stood down the Solent toward the Needle passage.
+
+Harry turned his aching eyes toward Lynderton as the frigate glided by.
+Though the sea was bright, the air fresh, and everything round him
+looked beautiful, his heart sank low, and often and often he bitterly
+repented the step he had taken.  He quickly, however, learned his duty
+as a seaman, and Captain Everard more than once remarked to the
+first-lieutenant that he had seldom seen a more active and promising
+lad.
+
+"You speak of Andrew Brown, sir?" was the answer.  "Yes, he's one of our
+pressed men, but he at once seemed reconciled to his fate.  He will make
+a prime seaman."
+
+"Curious, I cannot help fancying that I have seen him before," observed
+the captain, "or else he is very like a lad I know, of a family residing
+in my part of the country.  However, that is fancy."
+
+Probably from that moment Captain Everard thought little more of the
+likeness between Andrew Brown and Harry Tryon.
+
+The frigate met with remarkably fine weather during her passage across
+the Atlantic.  As she neared the American coast, however, thick weather
+came on--such as is often found in those latitudes.  It was night.  The
+starboard watch was on deck--that to which Jacob and Harry belonged.
+The ship was under easy sail--a fresh breeze but fair.  The captain was
+below.  A bright look-out ought to have been kept, but bright look-outs
+are not always kept, even on board men-of-war.
+
+"How cold it feels," observed Harry to Jacob.  "What's that white cloud
+ahead?"
+
+Scarcely had the words left his mouth than there was a fearful crash.
+Every timber quivered.  Down came the foremast.  The bowsprit also was
+carried away.
+
+"She's on an iceberg!" was shouted out.
+
+Dismay seized the hearts of the stoutest.  In an instant all was
+confusion and disorder.  In the midst of it, a voice sounding above even
+the wild uproar ordered the men to their stations.  The ship had bounded
+off, and now glided by, leaving the iceberg on the starboard side.
+Still the sea drove her against the base.  Twice she struck with fearful
+violence.  The mainmast followed the foremast, speedily carrying the
+mizenmast with it.  The gallant frigate lay a helpless wreck on the dark
+tossing waters.  The captain ordered the carpenter and his mates to
+sound the well.  In a few short minutes he reported ten feet of water in
+the hold, increasing fast.  Starboard bow stove in, many planks
+alongside ripped off!  The ship must inevitably founder.
+
+In an unskaken voice the captain announced the dreadful fact.
+
+"Remain calm and collected, and do your duty to the last, lads," he
+cried.
+
+Orders were given to get out the boats.
+
+Rafts also must be made, though there was short time for building them.
+The crew worked with a will.  Had they been wearied out with pumping
+they might have given in.  They had good reason now for working hard.
+The ship laboured heavily.  The officers and many of the older seamen
+knew well, from the slow heavy movements, that she had not long to
+float.  The carpenter by another report confirmed their fears.  Harry,
+with other seamen, was engaged in making a raft on the quarter-deck.  It
+was smaller than the rest, and nearly completed.  The captain's voice
+was again heard ordering the boats to be lowered without delay.  While
+the men were engaged in obeying the order the stern of the frigate
+seemed to lift up.  Down sank the bows, and with one awful plunge the
+proud frigate rushed downward into the ocean depths.  A wild cry arose,
+such as even the bravest utter in a moment of extreme peril.  Jacob and
+Harry leaped on the small raft.  The grey dawn had just before broke.
+Some of the larger rafts, not yet completed, were sucked down with the
+sinking ship.  Several boats suffered the same fate.  Others were
+swamped.  The small raft was whirled round and round, a few men clinging
+to it, Harry and Jacob among them keeping their hold.  Here and there
+were despairing faces gazing their last at the sky ere they sank beneath
+the water.  Now and then an arm was seen uplifted grasping at air.
+Broken spars and planks escaped from the unfinished rafts, drowning men
+clinging to them, though many of those who clung there soon dropped off.
+
+Harry and Jacob had helped three shipmates to climb up on to the raft.
+Not far off a man was struggling to gain a spar which floated near.
+Even by that light he was seen to be an officer.
+
+"It's the captain!" cried Harry; "I must save him."
+
+Springing from the raft, he swam out towards the captain.  The officer
+was close to a spar, but his hand failed to clutch it, and he sank.
+Harry dived rapidly.  His hand grasped the captain's collar, and with an
+upward stroke he returned to the surface.  He looked around.  The spar
+was not an arm's length from him.  Placing the captain across it, he
+pushed it towards the raft.  The captain was saved from immediate death.
+But what prospect had those poor fellows, on that small raft out on the
+stormy ocean, of being saved?  No sail was in sight.  One boat only had
+escaped destruction.  She was already at some distance.  Those in her
+did not perceive the raft.  Already, probably, she was overloaded.  Soon
+a sail was hoisted and she stood away to the westward.  The saddest
+sight of all was to see the poor fellows clinging to the pieces of wreck
+one by one dropping off.  The sun rose, the mist cleared away.  Six men
+on the raft alone remained on the waste of waters.
+
+CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
+
+A NEW CLAIMANT FOR STANMORE.
+
+Colonel Everard lay on his bed propped up with pillows.  The window was
+open.  He gazed forth over the green lawn, the bright blue sea and the
+Isle of Wight smiling in the distance.  Three persons were in the room.
+Near his head stood his faithful attendant and old companion-in-arms; on
+the other side was his sister.  Tears were in her eyes, while Mabel
+stood near the foot of the bed with her hands clasped, gazing on that
+venerated countenance.  The sand of life was ebbing fast, a few grains
+alone remained.
+
+"Paul, we have fought together.  We have served our country well when we
+had youth and strength," whispered the old officer, holding the hand of
+his faithful attendant.  "You don't forget that day when our brave
+general fell.  Ere he died he heard that the enemy were put to flight,
+the victory won.  Sister, he died happy, and so do I; for I may say with
+all humbleness, I have fought the good fight.  I have tried to do my
+duty, but I trust in One mighty to save."  Then returning to old
+recollections, "You remember that day, Paul; that battle, the most
+glorious of our many fields.  And now, Paul, we shall never fight again.
+You must look after these two here, sister Ann and my sweet Mabel.
+They want a trustworthy protector.  I never knew you to fail me, Paul."
+
+His voice as he spoke was sinking lower and lower.  A few more words he
+spoke expressive of the Christian's hope.  Then his hands relaxed their
+grasp, and those who watched him knew that the noble old man was dead.
+
+The colonel's will was opened.  By his express desire no funeral pomp
+attended him to the grave.  Paul, with eight of his older tenants,
+simple cottagers, several of whom had been soldiers, bore his coffin.
+
+Seldom, however, has a longer line of mourners attended a plume-bedecked
+hearse than than which followed on foot the remains of Colonel Everard.
+Not only did all the inhabitants of Lynderton join the procession, but
+vast numbers of persons from the surrounding districts came to show
+their respect to the memory of one who had so long dwelt among them, and
+whose many virtues had won their love.
+
+The estates were entailed on the next heir-at-law, while such property
+as the colonel could leave was given to his well-beloved sister, Madam
+Everard.
+
+He had not, however, been a saving man; indeed, the expenses of his
+position had been considerable, and the sum was but small.  Mabel and
+her aunt were to remain in possession of Stanmore Park till the return
+of Captain Everard from sea.
+
+The funeral was over, and once more the household settled down into
+their usual ways.  Paul was more active than ever: his eye was
+everywhere, feeling that he was obeying his master's behests in watching
+over the interests of the captain and his daughter.
+
+The same coach which a few months before had brought Harry Tryon
+southward, had now among its passengers no less a person than Mr. Silas
+Sleech.  He was in deep mourning--a proper respect to the memory of his
+late uncle, Colonel Everard.  Yet his countenance bore no signs of
+grief.  On the contrary, some pleasant thoughts seemed to occupy his
+mind, as he frequently rubbed his hands together and smiled
+complacently.
+
+He was received with cordiality by his respected parent, the elder Mr.
+Sleech, though the rest of the family, consisting of several brothers
+and four fair sisters, welcomed him apparently with less affection.
+Silas had brought but little luggage, but he held a tin case of
+considerable size which he had never allowed to quit his hand.  The
+family greetings over, he and his father retired to the inner office.
+With intense interest they examined the contents of the case.
+
+"It's all right, father, I tell you," exclaimed Silas.  "Stanmore is
+ours, as sure as fate.  My mother was the elder sister next to the
+colonel, and the captain's father never had any marriage lines to show.
+I tell you the captain has no more right to the name of Everard than old
+Pike the mace-bearer.  If the captain has a certificate, where is it?
+Let him show it; but he has not; and that little jade Mabel, who looks
+so proudly down upon me especially, must now be brought down a peg or
+two herself.  She will be humble enough before long, or I am mistaken."
+
+"Silas, you ought to be Lord Chancellor," exclaimed his father; "you
+have managed this affair with wonderful acuteness and judgment.  I
+always thought there was a screw loose about Tom Everard's foreign
+marriage, his wife dying suddenly, and he coming home with a small baby
+and a strange nurse, who could not speak a word of English or tell
+anybody what had happened.  However, now we have got the law on our
+side, the sooner we take possession of our rights the better.  You and I
+will see to that to-morrow.  We will behave handsomely to Madam Everard.
+Indeed, I rather suspect that she won't be so badly off, and whatever
+she has will go to Mabel, so there's no use falling out too much with
+them.  However, if your mother's husband and children ought to be at
+Stanmore, why to Stanmore we will go, so that is settled."
+
+"Don't tell the rest of them, though, father," said Silas.  "They will
+be blabbing it out, and Madam Everard will be getting wind of it, and we
+shan't have the pleasure of giving them the little surprise I long for;
+come, you must not baulk me in that, daddy.  A Lord Chancellor knows
+what's what, and if I don't kick up a pretty shindy in Stanmore Park
+before long, my name's not Silas Sleech."
+
+Madam Everard and niece were seated in the study after breakfast.  It
+had been the colonel's sitting-room, and they occupied it with fond
+affection, no one, however, making use of his arm-chair.  It seemed as
+if his spirit was often there, come down from the realms of the blest,
+while they talked of him and their lost Lucy.
+
+The servant entered, and Madam Everard heard with no small
+dissatisfaction the names of her little-esteemed brother-in-law and his
+eldest son.  They entered the room not with quite so much confidence as
+might have been expected.
+
+"Why, Ann, you look somewhat solemn this fine morning," observed the
+elder, as he took a seat, not very close to Madam Everard.  Silas drew
+somewhat nearer to Mabel, but rising, she placed herself on the sofa
+near her aunt, and continued the embroidery at which she was working,
+scarcely looking up.  The elder Sleech turned his hat about several
+times.  He did not look as if he felt himself a member of the Everard
+family.
+
+Silas had more impudence than his father, and this enabled him to
+overcome a certain feeling which would intrude, in spite of his assumed
+confidence.
+
+"I have come about business, Ann," at last said Mr. Sleech the elder,
+"Silas and I.  We wish to do everything pleasant and to give no
+annoyance; but you must know, Ann, when your elder sister married me,
+she married the family lawyer that was.  You have always supposed that
+Tom Everard--the captain's father--had married abroad; at all events the
+captain was brought home as a baby by Tom, who said he was his lawful
+child.  Now it turns out that either Tom was mistaken, or else he told a
+fib--I don't like to use strong language.  If a man cannot prove his
+marriage he is not married; that's what the law says.  Now Tom to his
+death never had any marriage certificate to exhibit.  It follows,
+therefore, in the eye of the law, that he was not married, and so you
+see your sister Jane became heir-at-law of her late brother, and I, as
+her representative, am--or rather my son Silas is--the rightful
+possessor of Stanmore Park.  It's as clear as a pike-staff, Ann, and so
+there's no use making any ado about it."
+
+While Mr. Sleech, senior, was speaking, Madam Everard had maintained a
+perfect composure.  Poor Mabel's colour came and went.  She felt a
+choking sensation in her throat.  Not for herself did she care, she was
+thinking of her gallant father, away from home fighting his country's
+battles--when he returned to find himself disinherited.  It would be a
+grievous blow.  She felt, too, that she could no longer, when she gave
+her hand, endow her husband with the wealth she thought she should value
+more for his sake than for her own.
+
+"You say you called on a matter of business," said Madam Everard, with
+becoming dignity.  "As a man of business we will treat you.  I will send
+for Mr. Wallace, my late brother's solicitor, and should he be satisfied
+that you are the rightful owner of Stanmore, and that Captain Everard
+has no claim on it, my niece and I will quit the house.  Till then I
+must request you to leave us at peace.  You must be aware that the
+information you bring us is not pleasant."
+
+Mabel kept her lips pressed together.  She dared not trust her voice,
+she simply bowed her assent to her aunt's request.
+
+"Well, well, Ann, I am not surprised that you are annoyed," said Mr.
+Sleech, rising from his seat; "that is but natural.  Of course, we are
+gentlemen, and wish to treat you as ladies.  We will just take a look
+round the park and grounds.  I have a notion a good many trees should be
+cut down.  The colonel was over-squeamish about felling timber; and
+Mabel, my dear, I wish you would not look so glum.  Perhaps if you play
+your cards well, you may still be mistress of Stanmore, eh?  Silas, you
+rogue, you used to admire your pretty little cousin."
+
+Silas rolled his round eyes and gave a glance at Mabel which she, at
+least, thought bespoke very little affection, for she turned a way from
+him with a feeling of loathing, not deigning to make any remark.
+
+"You know your way," said Madam Everard; "you must do as you think fit.
+We cannot interfere."
+
+Without putting out her hand, she gave a stately bow to her
+brother-in-law and nephew.  A chuckle reached her ears as the door
+closed behind them.
+
+"Jane, Jane, what have you brought upon us?" she exclaimed,
+apostrophising her deceased sister.
+
+The marriage had been a hateful one from the first.  Old Sleech had,
+even as a young man, been almost as odious as his son, and no one could
+account for Jane Everard's infatuation and bad taste when she insisted
+on marrying him.
+
+Madam Everard rang the bell, and begged that Paul Gauntlett would come
+to her.  He obeyed the summons, and was soon afterwards trotting off on
+the horse with which he always accompanied the colonel to Lynderton.
+Mr. Wallace was at home, and very quickly made his appearance at
+Stanmore, escaping an encounter with the Sleeches, who were still making
+their round of the park, notching trees which they agreed might come
+down to advantage and clear a pretty penny.
+
+Mr. Wallace heard Madam Everard's statement with a grave face.
+
+"I do not see much that is hopeful about it, but we will try what the
+law can do.  If the law decides that Captain Everard is not the heir, we
+have no help for it.  I will look over all the deeds deposited with me,
+but to my recollection I have no certificate or copy of certificate of
+Mr. Tom Everard's marriage.  He must have been very young at the time,
+at all events.  An older man would probably have taken more care of so
+important a document.  However, I will see Mr. Sleech, and endeavour to
+persuade him that he cannot justly at present push his claims.  We must
+proceed cautiously, for although you are in possession, I fear that he
+can prove himself to be heir-at-law."
+
+Mr. Wallace had left the house some time before the Sleeches returned.
+They came in by the garden entrance, and walked without ceremony into
+the study, where Mabel and her aunt were still sitting.
+
+"Well, we have had a good look round the grounds, Ann, and I have come
+to the conclusion that the colonel did not make half as much of the
+property as he might have done.  Why, I can tell you, eight thousand
+pounds' worth of timber might be cut down--Silas says ten thousand, but
+I think that he is a little over the mark--without doing any harm to the
+place, and there are no end of improvements he and I have been
+proposing."
+
+"No one must venture to cut down timber on this property without the
+leave of my nephew, the captain," said Madam Everard, drawing herself
+up.
+
+"Well, that's as may be, Ann," answered Mr. Sleech, with a forced laugh.
+"He who has the right to the property will have the right to cut down
+the trees, or law's not law.  However, that's neither here nor there.
+What I want to know, Ann, is when you and Mabel will be ready to pack up
+bag and baggage and turn out.  There's that bow-windowed house in the
+town, half-way up the street, which would just suit you two spinster
+ladies, and the fact is that my daughters and my sons and I have rather
+a fancy to come and take up our quarters here.  We have been kept out of
+the place a pretty long number of years, and you see, in my opinion,
+it's time we had our rights."
+
+"When our legal adviser considers that we have no longer a right to
+remain in this house, Mabel and I will immediately leave it," answered
+the old lady, with dignity.  "I am sure such would be Captain Everard's
+wish.  In the meantime, I must request, Mr. Sleech, that you and your
+son will bring this interview to a conclusion.  As relatives I would
+have made you welcome; but I cannot feel that you are justified in thus
+coming to insult my niece and me.  I must therefore request that you
+will take your departure."
+
+"As you like, Ann, as you like," exclaimed Mr. Sleech, swinging about
+his hat, which he had lifted from the ground.  "It won't be for long, I
+can tell you; we shall soon be back again, I have an idea."
+
+Silas endeavoured to shake hands with Mabel with a smile which he
+intended to be insinuating, but she indignantly turned from him.
+
+"Oh, oh, proud as ever," he muttered, as he followed his father out of
+the room, at the door of which Paul was standing sentry.  He had seen
+them returning to the house, and it would have fared ill with either of
+them had they ventured to proceed much further in their insulting
+remarks to the ladies.  Not a muscle of his countenance moved as he
+opened the hall-door; but his eyes glared down upon them with an
+expression which made even Silas wince and keep close behind his
+father's heels.
+
+"Well, that old fellow's the essence of glumness," observed Silas, as
+they got beyond hearing.
+
+"She threatened me, she did," muttered his father, between his teeth,
+not attending to what Silas had said.  "But we will be even with them,
+or my name's not Tony Sleech."
+
+Lynderton was at that time a place of fashionable resort during the
+summer season.  People came down there to enjoy the sea breezes and the
+bathing in salt water, to listen to the band of the foreign legion, and
+to enjoy the pleasant society which was to be found in the town and its
+neighbourhood.  During the lifetime of his sister, Lady Tryon, Mr.
+Coppinger had declined going there; but he now acceded to the urgent
+entreaties of his daughters, and had taken a house for them, at which
+they had arrived.  He himself, however, could only occasionally get
+down.  One of the very few visitors admitted at Stanmore was the young
+Baron de Ruvigny.  He also had soon become acquainted with the Miss
+Coppingers, and from the account he gave of them, as well as from the
+way Harry had before spoken of his cousins, Mabel more than ever was
+anxious to see them.  Indeed, she consulted with her aunt whether she
+might not with propriety call upon them.  The matter was discussed
+several times; but Madam Everard could not yet bring herself to see
+strangers.
+
+"They are charming young ladies," said the young baron, "so full of life
+and spirits, and so sweet and gentle; so refined in manners, so lovely
+in appearance."
+
+"What! are the six sisters all charming?" asked Mabel, innocently.
+
+The young baron hesitated, blushed, confessed that one in particular was
+even more than he had described--a lovely pearl.  Her name Sybella--what
+a sweet name.  Her voice, too--she sang exquisitely.
+
+"I have heard of her," said Mabel, at length, "from her cousin Harry.
+He described her as a very interesting girl, so pray tell them, baron,
+that I hope soon to make their acquaintance."
+
+This was said before the visit of the Mr. Sleeches to Stanmore, which
+has just been described.
+
+The Miss Coppingers thought Lynderton a most delightful place, and were
+not at all surprised that Harry had praised it so much to them; their
+only sorrow was that he was not there.  Their father, with kind
+consideration, had not told them that he had strong grounds for
+suspecting Harry's honesty, nor had he given any reason for his absence.
+All he had said was that Harry had suddenly left the counting-house and
+had not returned, and they all thought too well of him to suspect him of
+any dishonourable conduct.  They consequently spoke of him openly at
+Lynderton as their cousin.  He seemed to have many friends, but only two
+appeared to know what had become of him: one was the Baron de Ruvigny,
+who was a very frequent visitor at their house, and the other was
+Captain Rochard, who came once or twice with the baron.  He was, he told
+them, an old friend of Captain Everard's, and was therefore particularly
+interested in the place.
+
+Silas Sleech had obtained a holiday for the purpose of visiting
+Lynderton, not at all aware at the time that Mr. Coppinger was about to
+proceed there himself.  Great was the merchant's astonishment when, the
+day after he came down, his eyes fell on his clerk, dressed in the
+height of fashion, walking up and down among the gay company assembled
+under an avenue of trees at the outside of the town to hear the band
+play.  His amazement was increased when he saw him bow with a most
+familiar glance at his own daughters.  Directly afterwards his clerk's
+eye met his.  Now Silas possessed as much impudence and assurance as
+most men, but his glance sank abashed before the stern look of the
+dignified Mr. Coppinger.  The young ladies were, they declared, utterly
+ignorant who he was.  He had introduced himself as a friend of the
+officers of the legion, on the previous evening, without giving his
+name, while they had seen him dancing with several young ladies.  Silas
+was ambitious.  He was endeavouring to work his way into good society,
+in the outside circles of which only his family had hitherto moved, in
+spite of their connection by marriage with the Everards.
+
+Meantime Roger Kyffin had returned from Ireland.  His grief at finding
+that Harry had gone away with so grievous an imputation on his character
+was very great.  Still he did not, he could not, believe Harry to be
+guilty.  He found no letter, however, from him at Idol Lane, nor was
+there one at his own house.
+
+"Surely the boy would have written to me," he thought, "and told me
+where he was going.  With all his faults, I believe he regarded me with
+sincere affection.  I am sure he would have written."
+
+On speaking to his housekeeper one day about some letter which had been
+left during his absence, she mentioned that Mr. Silas Sleech had on one
+occasion come to the house and requested to see Mr. Kyffin's letters,
+stating that he had been desired to forward some of them to him.
+
+"I never gave any such directions," said Mr. Kyffin.  "Did he take any
+letter?"
+
+"Yes, sir, there was one--a particularly thick one, too--and the
+direction was in a good bold hand, just such as I have seen Master Harry
+write.  I thought at the time, `Surely that's the very letter master
+would like to have,' so I let Mr. Sleech take it off, making sure that
+he was going to send it on to you."
+
+CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
+
+THE OLD FAMILY DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOME.
+
+Paul Gauntlett watched the Mr. Sleeches till they disappeared at the
+farther end of the avenue, amid the shadows of the trees.
+
+"I am thankful they're gone without me doing them a mischief; but the
+colonel said to me, `Paul, take charge of this place till you deliver it
+up to my nephew, the captain.'  And that is what I hope to do,"
+soliloquised the old soldier.
+
+He stood for some minutes inside the porch, with his hands clasped
+before him in a stand-at-ease position.  His plans were speedily formed.
+There were four stout fellows he could rely on generally employed about
+the grounds.  He placed them, with thick oaken cudgels in their hands,
+two at a time, to watch the approaches to the hall, while he himself,
+armed in a similar manner, continued at intervals night and day to pace
+round and round the house, to see, as he said to himself, that the
+sentries were on the alert.
+
+Once or twice Mabel caught sight of him, and wondered what he was about;
+but he did not think it necessary to inform her and her aunt of his
+plans.  His chief post was the front porch, where he would sit the
+livelong day, keeping a watchful eye up and down the avenue.  His only
+entertainment was reading the newspaper, which was brought by a man on
+horseback from Lynderton.  It was a very different production from the
+large sheet of news at the present day.
+
+Whatever were Mr. Sleech's plans, he seemed to have some hesitation in
+putting them into execution; for day after day Paul was allowed to keep
+his post unmolested.
+
+One morning the groom brought the paper which had arrived the evening
+before from London, and as the ladies were out in the grounds, Paul took
+upon himself to peruse it first.  He had spelt down two or three
+columns, when his eye fell on a paragraph in which the name of his
+Majesty's frigate the "Brilliant" was mentioned.  He read it eagerly.
+The paper trembled in his hands.  "We regret to state" (so it ran) "that
+we have received information of the loss of HúMú's frigate the
+`Brilliant,' on her passage out to the North American station.  She
+struck on an iceberg, and soon afterwards foundered, eight persons only
+in one of her boats being saved, out of the whole ship's company,
+including one lieutenant and a midshipman.  Captain Everard and the rest
+of the officers and ship's company met a watery grave."  [The names of
+the survivors were then mentioned.] "The boat reached Halifax, those in
+her having suffered fearful hardships, and they have now been brought
+home in the `Tribune.'"  The old soldier let the paper sink down by his
+side.
+
+"The captain gone!" he murmured, in a low voice--"the captain gone, and
+no one to stand by Miss Mabel; and that poor lad, too, on whom she had
+set her young heart.  He lost!  Oh, it will break it, it will break it."
+
+Paul's courage failed him when he had to tell the two ladies of their
+grievous bereavement.
+
+While still trying to bring his mind to consider what he should do, he
+saw a person approaching the house by the avenue.  He clutched his stick
+and threw up his head.  It might be Mr. Sleech or one of his myrmidons.
+He would do battle with them to the death, at all events.  The stranger
+approached; Paul kept eyeing him.  His scrutiny was more satisfactory
+than he had expected.
+
+"He does not look like one of Mr. Sleech's villains," he said to
+himself.
+
+The stranger came close up, without hesitation, to Paul, whose aspect
+was, however, somewhat threatening.
+
+"I think I know you, my friend," said the stranger, with a kind
+expression, though his look was sad.  "I have come to inquire about a
+young man in whom I am deeply interested.  I find that he was here some
+time back.  I have been enabled to trace him.  I speak of Harry Tryon.
+Do you know anything of him?"
+
+"If you will tell me who you are, sir, it may be I will answer that
+question," said Paul.
+
+"I am Roger Kyffin, Harry Tryon's guardian.  Will that satisfy you, my
+friend?" was the answer.
+
+"Ah, that it will, sir," answered Paul, in a tone of sadness which
+struck Mr. Kyffin.
+
+"Can you give me any account of the lad?" asked Mr. Kyffin, in an
+anxious voice.
+
+"He went and entered aboard the `Brilliant,' and now he's gone, sir;
+gone!" answered Paul.  "He and the captain both together.  They lie many
+fathom deep in the cold ocean out there.  I have been over the spot.
+There, sir, read what is writ there; that tells all about it."  And the
+old soldier handed Mr. Kyffin the newspaper.
+
+Roger Kyffin read it with moistened eyes, and a choking sensation came
+in his throat.
+
+"It is too true, I am afraid.  The account is fearfully circumstantial!"
+he ejaculated, as he read on, searching about for any further notice of
+the event.
+
+"But are you certain my dear boy was on board the `Brilliant'?  What
+evidence have you?"
+
+"Certain sure, sir," answered Paul.  "Our Mary, who was going to marry
+Jacob Tuttle, saw him just as the ship was sailing, and our Miss Mabel
+knows all about it.  She knew he was with the captain.  Poor dear young
+lady! it will break her heart, and Mary's, too, and Madam Everard's,
+too, and mine if it was not too tough.  I wish that I had received
+marching orders with the colonel not to see this day; and yet it is a
+soldier's duty to stand fast at his post, and that's what the colonel
+told me to do, and that's what, please God, I will do, and look after
+these poor ladies, and little Mary, too, and widow Tuttle: they will all
+want help.  Oh, sir! when a battle's fought or a ship goes down with all
+her crew it's those on shore feel it.  I used not to think about that
+when I was fighting, but now I know how poor women feel, and children
+left at home."
+
+"Rightly spoken, my friend," said Roger Kyffin, grasping Paul's hand.
+"You feel for the fatherless and widow.  It is a right feeling; it's a
+divine feeling; it's as our Father in heaven feels.  Have all my hopes
+come to this?--thus early cut off, my boy, my Harry!  Let me look at
+that paper again.  I must try and see the people who are mentioned here.
+They may tell us how it happened.  Might they, notwithstanding this
+account, by some means have escaped?"
+
+"I know what it is to be on board a foundering ship in the midst of the
+stormy ocean, darkness around, strong men crying out for fear of death,
+the boats swamped alongside.  Words of command scarcely heard, or if
+heard not attended to, and then, when the ship goes down, down, too, go
+all things floating round her.  No, sir, no, I cannot hope, and that's
+the fact of it."
+
+"Have you told the ladies?" asked Mr. Kyffin.  "It will be a fearful
+thing breaking the matter to them."
+
+"I have not, sir, and I would as lief have my head blown off at the
+cannon's mouth," answered Paul; "but it must be done, and what we have
+to do is to consider the best way of breaking it to them.  Never flinch
+from what must be done; that's what the colonel always said."
+
+Roger Kyffin at first thought of requesting Dr. Jessop to communicate
+the sad intelligence; but he was afraid lest in the meantime it might in
+a more abrupt manner reach the ears of Miss Everard and her aunt.  He
+determined, therefore, to introduce himself, and in the presence of Paul
+to mention the account he had seen in the papers, expressing at the same
+time a hope which he himself could not help entertaining, that those in
+whom they were most interested might have escaped.
+
+While Roger Kyffin and Paul were still discussing the matter, a carriage
+rapidly approached the house.  Three persons got out of it.  One of them
+started with a look of astonishment when he saw Mr. Kyffin.  It was
+Silas Sleech.  He, however, quickly recovered his self-possession.
+
+"Sad news this, sir, the death of our relative the captain," he said;
+"it's what sailors are liable to, though.  Allow me to introduce my
+father, Mr. Tony Sleech--Mr. Roger Kyffin.  Although fortune may smile
+on me, I don't purpose yet deserting business and Idol Lane.  `Business
+is business,' as you've often observed, Mr. Kyffin, and I love it for
+itself."
+
+"I really don't understand what you mean," said Mr. Kyffin.  "How can
+Captain Everard's death affect you?"
+
+"Ah!  I see you are not acquainted with the state of the case," said Mr.
+Silas.  "We won't trouble you with it.  My father and I have come to
+condole with the ladies who are now staying here, on their bereavement,
+and to tell them that we, who are heirs-at-law, beg that they will not
+trouble themselves to move for the next two or three days.  After that,
+you see, it would be very inconvenient for us to be kept out of the
+property."
+
+Silas evidently said this more for Paul Gauntlett's information than for
+Mr. Kyffin's, though his eye dared not meet that of the old soldier.
+Paul clutched the stick which seldom left his grasp.  The moment for
+action had arrived.  In another instant the Mr. Sleeches--father and
+son--would have felt its force, had not a third person, who had got out
+of the carriage, stepped forward.  He had from the first kept his eye
+upon Paul, and now saw by the movement of his hand that he meditated
+mischief.
+
+"I am an officer of the law, and have been brought to see that the law
+is respected," he said, stepping up to Paul.  "You had better not use
+that stick, that's all.  Mr. Sleech has sworn that he expects forcibly
+to be, kept out of this property, which is legally his; therefore let
+any one at his peril attempt to interfere with his proceedings."
+
+"He never swore a truer word in his life," exclaimed Paul, clutching his
+stick.  "I care for the law, and I respect the law, but I don't respect
+such sneaking scoundrels as you and he," exclaimed the old soldier,
+lifting his stick with a savage look.
+
+Silas sprang down the steps, knocking over his father in his descent.
+
+The constable eyed the old soldier.  Though his locks were grey, he
+looked like no mean antagonist.  The man seemed doubtful whether it
+would be wise to attack him.
+
+"I call all here to witness that I have been assaulted in the execution
+of my duty by this man, the attendant of the late Colonel Everard," he
+said, as he also retreated more slowly down the steps.
+
+"Do you intend to prevent the rightful owners from taking possession of
+this their rightful property?" he exclaimed, from a safe position at the
+bottom of the steps, at the top of which stood Paul, still flourishing
+his stick.
+
+"The rightful owners have got the property, and the rightful owners will
+keep it," answered Paul.
+
+The Mr. Sleeches and their companion on this retired to a distance, to
+consult apparently what steps they would next take.
+
+"You must not attempt to impede the officer in the execution of his
+duty, my friend," said Mr. Kyffin, "you will gain nothing by so doing."
+
+"I don't expect to gain anything," answered Paul.  "I am only obeying
+the colonel's orders in keeping the house against all intruders.  If
+these people aren't intruders, I don't know who are."
+
+"If they have the law with them we must not interfere," again repeated
+Mr. Kyffin.  "I am anxious to break the sad news to the ladies before
+these men do so abruptly.  I should have thought better of Silas Sleech;
+but I suppose he has been urged on by his father."
+
+"One's no better than the other, in my opinion," muttered Paul.
+"However, sir, if you will tell the poor ladies what has happened in as
+gentle a way as possible, I will bless you for it.  As for me, I could
+not do it, that I could not."
+
+With a sad heart Mr. Kyffin took his way through the grounds, hoping to
+fall in with Mabel and her aunt.  Paul Gauntlett in the meantime kept
+guard at the door, while two other stout fellows with bludgeons
+appearing round the corner of the house, induced the besiegers to keep
+at a respectful distance.
+
+Mr. Kyffin soon met the two ladies.  He had no doubt who they were, and
+at once introduced himself.  The result of his announcement, though made
+as cautiously as possible, can better be imagined than described.
+
+"If it is so, God's will be done!" said Madam Everard, whose whole
+thoughts were centred in her niece, whom she and Roger Kyffin with
+difficulty bore to the house.  The news soon flew around the place, and
+Dr. Jessop hearing it at once repaired to Stanmore, where he found his
+old friend Roger Kyffin.
+
+For several days Mabel lay almost unconscious, attended carefully by Dr.
+Jessop, through whose speedy arrival, in all human probability, her life
+had been saved.
+
+Scarcely had she begun to recover, than Mr. Sleech, armed with further
+authority, arrived at the Park.  Mr. Wallis was in consultation with
+Madam Everard.  She and her niece must remove at the bidding of her
+brother-in-law.
+
+"Nothing can be done," said Mr. Wallis.  "At all events, no attempt must
+be made to prevent his being admitted into the house."  With a heavy
+heart Paul Gauntlett heard the lawyer's decision, though even then he
+seemed very doubtful whether he ought to submit to Madam Everard's
+orders.
+
+"I would rather a thousand times have fought it out to the last, and
+died in the breach," he exclaimed, dashing his stick on the floor.
+"However, if it must be, it must be, and it's not the first time a
+scoundrel has gained the day and got into the place of an honest man."
+
+Paul had abundance of occupation for the remainder of his stay at
+Stanmore.
+
+With a countenance in which sorrow, anger, and indignation were blended,
+he assisted in packing up the property belonging to Madam Everard and
+her niece.  This was at once conveyed to Lynderton, where a house had
+been secured for them.  In as short a time as possible they removed from
+Stanmore Park with everything they possessed.  Scarcely were they out of
+the house than Mr. Sleech and his family took possession.
+
+Silas, however, lost the satisfaction of taking up his abode at the Park
+as the owner, for Mr. Coppinger informed him that he must either give up
+his situation or return to the counting-house.  He selected the latter
+alternative, greatly to Mr. Kyffin's surprise.  The estimation in which
+that gentleman held Mr. Silas Sleech had of late been considerably
+lowered.  He once had thought him a hard-working, plodding, honest
+fellow who could be thoroughly trusted--a valuable man in a
+counting-house.  Several circumstances had of late come under Mr.
+Kyffin's notice with regard to Silas Sleech's mode of life.  What he saw
+of him at Stanmore and heard of him at Lynderton had also yet further
+lowered him in his estimation.  His mind was one especially addicted to
+forming combinations.  He put several things he had seen and heard of
+Mr. Sleech together.  To this he added his own opinion on certain
+documents which Mr. Sleech had produced, with apparent unwillingness, to
+criminate Harry.
+
+He also found from the porter in Idol Lane that the two young men had
+been in the constant habit of going out together, and very often not
+returning till a late hour.  These and other circumstances which need
+not be narrated, made Mr. Kyffin resolve to watch very narrowly the
+proceedings of Mr. Sleech for the future.  Suspicion is more easily
+aroused than quieted.  On further inquiries he had no doubt that the
+letter for which Silas Sleech had called during his absence, addressed
+to his house at Hampstead, was from Harry, and that it had been
+purposely withheld, although Silas declared, when taxed with receiving
+it, that he had forwarded it to Ireland.  Altogether there was a fair
+prospect that the rogueries of Mr. Silas Sleech would be brought to
+light.  Still, however, he sat at his desk, working on with apparently
+the greatest diligence, and the same unmoved countenance as usual.
+
+In the meantime Mr. Sleech had taken possession of Stanmore for his son,
+and he and his family were making themselves thoroughly at home in their
+own fashion.  They were somewhat indignant that the neighbourhood did
+not immediately call and pay that respect which their relatives had been
+accustomed to receive.  It cannot be supposed that Mr. Wallis, nor even
+Dr. Jessop, had been silent with regard to the way Mr. Sleech had
+behaved to his sister-in-law and niece, while Paul Gauntlett took every
+opportunity of describing how he had defended the house, and how they
+had ultimately outmanoeuvred him.
+
+CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
+
+ON THE RAFT.
+
+We must now go back to a solitary raft which bore Captain Everard, Harry
+Tryon, and Jacob Tuttle tossing on the bosom of the wide Atlantic.  The
+sea, after the foundering of the frigate, had gone down, and several
+casks had floated, which had been secured by the occupants of the raft.
+One contained bread, another meat, and a third, more valuable still,
+water.  By these means there seemed a prospect that those on the raft
+might preserve their lives.  Still, as day after day passed by, and
+their provisions decreased, the fate from which they had at one time
+expected to escape, again appeared to approach them.
+
+Eagerly they strained their eyes, in the hope of seeing a sail, but the
+sun rose and the sun went down again and still they floated all lonely
+on the ocean.  The last drop of water was expended, not a particle of
+food remained.  They knew that a few days might probably end their
+existence.  Harry Tryon kept up his spirits, and endeavoured to sustain
+those of Captain Everard, who felt acutely the loss of his ship.  Harry,
+however, had not made himself known to him, while Jacob Tuttle always
+addressed him by the name of Brown.  One of their number was sinking
+fast, another poor fellow had become delirious.  It seemed too likely
+that they would drop off one by one till none remained upon the raft.
+Again the weather became threatening.  A dense mist lay over the water.
+Few of those on the raft expected to see another daybreak.  At length,
+however, the dawn appeared, but still the mist surrounded them.
+Suddenly it broke, and the bright sun burst forth and shed his rays on
+the white canvas of a vessel close to them.  They shouted and waved.
+Their voices could not have been heard, but they were seen.  The vessel
+bore down upon them, and in a few minutes they were hoisted safely on
+board.
+
+The vessel was from the Saint Lawrence, homeward bound.  They were
+treated with kindness.  The weather was fine.  For many days they made
+good progress.  They were expecting in the course of another day to
+sight the Irish coast.  A gale sprung up.  They were driven off the
+coast.  The brig was dismasted, and lay helpless on the tossing ocean.
+Just when about to get up jury masts, a strange sail hove in sight.  She
+was a French privateer, and the battered vessel became her prize.  The
+officers of the merchantman, with Captain Everard and part of the
+English crew, were taken on board the privateer; but several men, among
+whom were Jacob Tuttle and Harry, were left on board the brig to assist
+the prize-master in navigating her into port.  Fortunately, however, on
+her voyage the prize was separated from the privateer, and was
+recaptured by a British man-of-war, to whose decks Harry and Tuttle,
+with several other able-bodied seamen, were transferred, while the prize
+was sent into Falmouth.
+
+Harry soon discovered that all ships in the British navy were not alike,
+and he and Tuttle often wished themselves on board the "Brilliant,"
+under the command of Captain Everard.
+
+CHAPTER NINETEEN.
+
+THE MUTINY AT THE NORE, AND HOW THE HERO BECAME IMPLICATED IN IT.
+
+Once more Harry gazed on the coast of England.  He felt an earnest
+longing to go on shore and see Mabel.  He wished to tell her that her
+father had escaped death, and that, although a prisoner, he might soon
+return home.  The "Latona," the frigate on board which Harry found
+himself, sailed swiftly up the Channel, and rounding the Isle of Wight,
+came to an anchor at Spithead.  A large fleet lay there, under the
+command of Lord Bridport.  Harry, with several others, asked leave to go
+on shore.  He was sternly refused.  The captain of the frigate was one
+of those men who seemed to take delight in tyrannising over their crews
+and in making them miserable.  No, not although Harry pleaded his
+shipwreck and the suffering he had gone through.  The captain turned a
+deaf ear to his entreaties.  Several ships' companies had similar causes
+of complaint.
+
+Harry soon discovered that something was going forward among the men,
+but he was not trusted.  Disaffection rapidly spread among the crews of
+the ships.  At length they began to speak openly of their grievances.
+Harry, finding it impossible to get on shore, wrote two letters: one to
+Mabel, the other to Roger Kyffin.  He told Mabel, that in all the
+dangers he had gone through, he was true to her as ever.  He described
+the sinking of the ship, and his satisfaction at having been the means
+of saving her father's life.  His chief disappointment was at not
+finding himself, as yet, on the quarter-deck, but still he trusted that
+an opportunity would occur to enable him to make his way there.  To Mr.
+Kyffin he wrote as before, assuring him that he had heartily repented
+the follies he had committed, and that he trusted he might have the
+means of clearing his character from any imputation which his sudden
+flight might have cast on it.  It must be remembered that Harry was not
+aware of the accusations brought against him, and that Sleech, instead
+of defending him, had done his utmost to confirm the idea of his guilt.
+The letter addressed to Mabel reached Lynderton, but being addressed to
+Stanmore Park, was sent there by the postmaster, an especial ally of Mr.
+Sleech.  That gentleman received it, and he had an idea that it might
+contain some information: at all events, it might be worth perusal.  His
+colour changed somewhat as he read on.
+
+"The captain alive!" he exclaimed.  "So ho!  That may give trouble.  I
+wish he was fathoms deep down in the ocean.  And this young fellow, this
+Mistress Mabel loves him!  Well, if she marries him, there will be a
+couple of beggars wedded.  And she disdains my son Silas, the creature!
+We will pull her proud heart down yet, in spite of her father.  I don't
+like the captain coming to life again, though; I must consult Silas.
+Tom's a fool: there is no use talking to him.  I must send for Silas
+post haste.  He has got more wits than all the family put together."
+
+The result of the letter Mr. Kyffin received has already been seen at
+the commencement of the narrative.  Before that he had begun to fear
+that his ward was really dead.  The letter had reassured him, but left
+him very much in the dark as to where Harry was to be found.
+
+Harry had another letter to write; it was, however, not on his own
+account, but on that of his friend Jacob, who was ignorant of an art not
+generally possessed by seamen in those days.  It was addressed to Mary
+Tanner, Mabel's waiting-maid.
+
+"Well, Jacob," said Harry, as he sat down on the maindeck alongside a
+gun with a piece of board as table, "I will write, gladly, but you must
+tell me what to say."
+
+"Tell her I love her as much as ever, and that I am glad to come to life
+again, if it was only for the sake of seeking her.  And now just write
+down, `I am glad to say that fine young chap, Harry Tú (you know who I
+mean, Mary), saved our captain's life when the ship went down, and we
+were on the raft; leaped overboard, swam ever so far, and brought him
+safe to it.  The captain, however, does not know to this day who he is,
+and thinks he's one Andrew Brown.'"
+
+"I don't think I can say so much: it's like sounding my own praises,"
+observed Harry.
+
+"No, I tell you; it isn't you sounding them; it's me writing the letter,
+and you just puts down what I say; so go ahead, Harry!"
+
+Harry continued.  The letter was almost as long as his own, but he did
+not grudge the trouble.  It was at once despatched, but instead of being
+addressed to Stanmore Park, it was directed to Widow Tuttle's cottage,
+where, Jacob stated, it was his belief that Mary would frequently go,
+and she might then give his mother the first account of his safety.
+
+Sailors' letters in those days often went astray.  This, however, after
+considerable delay, reached its destination; and sure enough, on that
+very day, Mary was paying the widow a visit.  Thus her sorrow was
+quickly turned into joy; although somewhat subdued, when she found that
+Jacob had no chance of leaving his ship to come and see her.  After she
+had read the letter two or three times to the widow, she hastened back
+with it to rejoice the heart of poor Mabel.
+
+Important events were at this time taking place on board the fleet.
+Some time before, petitions had been sent up from all the line-of-battle
+ships at Portsmouth to Lord Howe, making various not unreasonable
+requests.  It had been observed, however, by one of the red-tape
+officials, that all the petitions were written by one person, and
+couched in the same language, and therefore it was believed that they
+were the productions of some factious or mad-brained individual, who was
+not worthy of notice.  They were accordingly thrown on one side, and no
+answers were returned.  After this the fleet put to sea.  On its return,
+the seamen finding that their petitions had not been replied to, were
+much irritated, justly feeling that those who were fighting their
+country's battles were worthy of respect.  Several violent and
+disaffected persons were found on board every ship, and these worked on
+the minds of the other seamen.  A general correspondence was established
+throughout the whole fleet, and at length it was unanimously agreed by
+the respective crews, that no ship should lift an anchor till a redress
+of grievances was obtained.
+
+The morning of the 13th of April arrived.  Lord Bridport ordered the
+signal for weighing to be thrown out on board the flag-ship.  Instead of
+obeying it, the seamen of the "Queen Charlotte" ran up the shrouds, and
+gave three cheers as the signal for mutiny.  This was answered in the
+same manner by every ship in the fleet.  The captains and their
+officers, although taken by surprise by this sudden act of disobedience,
+used every means in their power to persuade the men to return to their
+duty, but all their exertions were ineffectual.  They were, however,
+treated with every respect, the seamen declaring that they were ready to
+obey their orders as soon as they had received ample assurance from the
+Government that their grievances would immediately be redressed.
+
+On the following day, two delegates were appointed from each ship, to
+represent the whole fleet, and the admiral's cabin on the "Queen
+Charlotte" was fixed as a place where they should meet to hold their
+deliberations.  On the 15th every man in the fleet was sworn to support
+the cause in which he had embarked.  They next proceeded to reeve ropes
+at the foreyard-arms, as a sign that they intended to run up any who
+disobeyed them, and after this they turned all officers out of the fleet
+who had by their behaviour in any way offended them.  The day after this
+a committee of the Board of Admiralty arrived at Portsmouth, and made
+several propositions to the delegates, hoping to induce them to return
+to their duty.  Nothing, however, would satisfy the seamen, unless the
+arrangements were sanctioned by the King and Parliament, and a general
+pardon guaranteed by proclamation.  After this several admirals visited
+them with the same want of success.  Lord Bridport, in consequence,
+struck his flag, declaring that he would not again hoist it.  The ships
+on this loaded all their guns, kept watch as at sea, and put everything
+in a state of defence, confining all the officers to their respective
+ships.  Happily wise counsels prevailed on shore.  The King especially
+urged his Ministers to yield to the just demands of the seamen, and Lord
+Bridport was sent on board the fleet, informing the men that all their
+grievances were redressed, and that his Majesty had granted a pardon to
+all offenders.  These events took place while the "Latona," on board
+which Harry and Jacob then were, was at Spithead.  She was soon
+afterwards sent round to the Thames.  On her passage she encountered a
+heavy gale, and was run into by another ship, and reduced almost to a
+wreck.  Being afterwards driven on shore, she received so much damage
+that she was towed up, not without difficulty, into Sheerness, to
+undergo a thorough repair.  Her crew in the meantime were turned over to
+other ships, Harry and Jacob being sent on board the "Sandwich," then
+one of the ships forming the fleet at the Nore.  Several of the most
+mutinously disposed of the frigate's crew were also sent on board the
+same ship.
+
+Grievously had poor Harry's expectation of rising in the service been
+disappointed!  Sent about from ship to ship, he had no means of becoming
+known to his superior officers, nor had any opportunity been afforded
+him for distinguishing himself.  The romance, too, which he expected to
+find in a life at sea had terribly worn off.  He was among rough,
+uneducated men, and although many of them were kind-hearted, generous,
+and humane, there were not a few ruffians and villains of all sorts.
+
+Some of these, when they discovered that he was a gentleman by birth,
+took especial pleasure in annoying him.  He had not failed, however, in
+obtaining a certain amount of position among them, while he was
+respected by those who knew him best.  One of the men on board
+especially took notice of him: his name was Richard Parker.  He was a
+clever fellow; had been, Harry heard, a petty officer; but for
+disrespectful conduct to his superiors had been disrated.  This seemed
+to rankle in his heart.  He possessed, too, a certain amount of
+education, and he felt himself, and perhaps really was, equal in that
+respect to many officers.
+
+Parker had made it his business to discover all the most mutinously
+disposed men in his own ship, as also by degrees on board the other
+ships of the fleet--thus, in course of time, there were several hundred
+men scattered about the fleet ready to obey any commands he might issue.
+What his ultimate aims were Harry could not discover.  Parker soon saw
+that he must proceed carefully with Harry, if he wished to secure his
+assistance.  To Harry, indeed, his plans appeared very moderate, and all
+calculated really to forward the best interests of the seamen.
+
+"I must trust to you, Brown, then to help me," said Parker.  "You are
+just the fellow I want for a right-hand man, on whom I may thoroughly
+rely.  If men like you and I, and others of sense and education, don't
+watch over the welfare of our poor fellow-seamen, depend upon it they
+will soon again be treated as they were before.  To my mind, although we
+have gained something by the little outbreak of the fleet at Spithead,
+we have not gained enough, and more must be done.  Brown, I know you
+will help me.  I want to send letters round to each ship in the fleet,
+and advise the men to select delegates, as was done at Spithead."
+
+Harry saw no reason for refusing, and wrote letters, which Parker
+sighed.  His advice was implicitly followed, and in a short time
+delegates from all the ships arrived on board the "Sandwich," which at
+that time carried the flag of Vice-Admiral Buckner.  A council of
+delegates was formed, and Richard Parker was appointed president.
+Certain petitions were drawn up, which were sent to the Admiralty.  The
+principal part of them were refused, but the men were promised
+forgiveness if they would at once return to their duty.  Admiral
+Buckner, who delivered this message, was laughed at in return, and the
+boats of the fleet being instantly manned, the crews went into the
+harbour, and brought out all the gunboats, and proceeded to the Great
+Nore.  As they passed the fort at Sheerness, they fired at it in
+defiance, though without doing any damage.  On their return they struck
+the flag of Vice-Admiral Buckner, and hoisted the red flag for mutiny in
+its stead.  All the ships also which lay near Sheerness were compelled
+to drop down to the Great Nore, in order to concentrate the scene of
+their operations.  Among them was the "Saint Fiorenzo," which had just
+been fitted up to carry one of the royal princesses, just married to the
+Prince of Wurtemburg, over to Germany.  Harry and Jacob talked over the
+proceedings of their shipmates.  They could not but perceive that they
+were very dangerous, and, indeed, more serious grievances having been so
+speedily redressed, utterly unjustifiable.  Still Harry was
+unfortunately committed to the cause of the mutineers, especially from
+having written the letters, and otherwise aided Parker.
+
+Parker doubted him, but still treated him with considerable attention.
+Vain were all the efforts made by the Commissioners of the Admiralty to
+bring the crews back to obedience.  So bold, indeed, did the delegates
+become, that they landed in various places, and supplied themselves with
+the provisions they required.  It was their constant custom to land at
+Sheerness, where they held conferences with the greatest publicity, and
+afterwards paraded the streets, with flags flying and music playing,
+Parker, as the admiral of the rebel fleet, marching at the head of the
+procession.  They went on board, also, all the ships they could visit,
+persuading the crews to join them.  In spite of Harry's objections to go
+on shore, Parker insisted on several occasions that he should accompany
+him.
+
+"I tell you, my lad, I am your friend, and will bear you harmless,"
+answered the rebel chief; "and go you must.  I want you."
+
+Harry knew that it would be dangerous to disobey, but he did not
+consider the still greater danger of being seen in company with the most
+desperate of the mutineers.
+
+On one occasion, when he was on shore with Parker, after the delegates,
+as usual, had paraded the streets, they entered the dockyard, where Lord
+Keith, Sir Charles Grey, Admiral Buckner, and several other naval
+officers, who had just come down from London, were assembled.
+
+The seamen were proceeding in their usual swaggering style across the
+dockyard, when they came face to face with the venerable Admiral.  He
+fixed his stern gaze on them, asking them how mutineers and enemies of
+their king and country thus dared to enter one of the royal dockyards?
+Even Parker, bold and daring as he was, for an instant was staggered,
+and found no words to reply.  Just then, drums and fifes were heard, and
+an infantry militia regiment marched into the dockyard.  The delegates,
+nothing daunted, drew up, facing them.
+
+Parker had taken the precaution to leave orders on board the ships that
+should he and his companions be seized, two officers on board every ship
+should instantly be taken hold of, and ropes rove at the end of the
+foreyard-arm be made fast round their necks.
+
+Harry, who was among the delegates, found himself placed near several of
+the officers of the militia regiment.  Among them he saw a face he knew.
+It was that of young Gilby, he was certain.  The recognition appeared
+mutual.  Gilby nodded to him.
+
+"I heard that you were at sea, old fellow, but didn't quite expect to
+find you in such company," he cried out.
+
+Harry made no answer, and endeavoured to avoid his gaze.  Never had he
+felt so humbled and annoyed.
+
+Among the group of naval officers were the captains of some of the ships
+who had come on shore.  One of them was the captain of the "Saint
+Fiorenzo."  A young midshipman of the same ship, standing near Lord
+Keith, on seeing all the principal leaders of the mutineers together,
+exclaimed--
+
+"Why not make one bold cast, and catch them all in the same net?  It
+would quickly put a stop to the mutiny."
+
+The admiral turned round as he heard the voice:
+
+"You don't know what you are talking about youngster," he observed,
+recollecting that the mutineers had their officers in their power on the
+ships.
+
+In consequence of this they behaved with the greatest boldness and
+audacity in the presence of the Lords of the Admiralty, and in spite of
+the troops arrayed against them.  A board was held by their lordships at
+the Commissioner's house, when the delegates were invited to attend.
+All expostulations, however, proved ineffectual.  The mutineers
+increased their demands, and grew more insolent in their behaviour.  At
+length their lordships, signifying to the seamen that no further
+concessions would be granted, returned to town.
+
+
+On this, further meetings were held on board the ships, at which Harry
+was compelled by Parker to attend as his secretary.  One day, in the
+presence of Tuttle and several other seamen, Harry expostulated, telling
+Parker that he did not approve of holding out after so many concessions
+had been made.
+
+"The first man who disobeys my orders will have a bullet sent through
+his head," exclaimed Parker, drawing a pistol.  "Disobey me at your
+peril, Andrew Brown," he continued, levelling the weapon.
+
+Harry stood firm.  A murmur of disapprobation broke out among the men.
+
+"I don't care whether you agree or disagree, but I ask you again, Brown,
+whether you will attend me as I order you or not?"
+
+"I will attend you if you force me, but again protest against your
+proceedings."
+
+"Come into the cabin then," exclaimed Parker, fiercely, "and do as I
+order you."
+
+Harry was compelled to obey.
+
+The delegates having assembled, a fierce discussion took place as to
+their future proceedings.  Some were for yielding: others, led by
+Parker, determined to hold out; while a considerable number proposed, in
+case their demands were still refused, to carry the fleet over to a
+French port.  This traitorous proposition was happily over-ruled by the
+majority--indeed, many thought that if it was proposed to the men, they
+themselves would refuse to obey.  Finally it was determined to hold out,
+in the hope of compelling the Government to yield.  One of the means
+taken by the mutineers was to blockade the Thames, and several ships
+were moored across the river, to prevent a free passage up to London or
+down.  In order to concentrate their force also, the fleet which lay at
+Sheerness was compelled to drop down to the Great Nore.  The
+line-of-battle ships were then drawn up in a line, about half a mile
+from each other, with their broadsides abreast.  In the space between
+the line-of-battle ships, the merchantmen and other vessels which had
+been detained were moored.  As all communication was stopped with the
+shore, the mutineers supplied themselves with water and provisions from
+these vessels.
+
+All this time, strange as it may seem, the behaviour of the seamen
+towards their officers, with a few exceptions, was perfectly respectful.
+
+One, however, was tarred and feathered.  Two midshipmen were ducked, and
+some few officers who were especially obnoxious to the mutineers were
+sent on shore.  Four seamen also were severely flogged for speaking
+disrespectfully of the delegates.
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY.
+
+THE MUTINY QUELLED.
+
+The report of the commencement of the mutiny at Spithead had caused
+great alarm among the merchants in London, as well as throughout the
+country.  This second, and far more serious, outbreak at the Nore made
+many dread the very worst results.  The courage and determination
+exhibited by the King and others in authority soon restored confidence,
+and active measures were taken to compel the rebellious crews to submit.
+The shores on each side of the river were lined with batteries, the
+forts at Tilbury and Sheerness and Gravesend were furnished with
+furnaces for red-hot shot.  The buoys at the Nore and along the coast
+were taken up, so that the ships would have had considerable difficulty
+in getting away.  Many, indeed, would probably have been stranded in the
+attempt.
+
+Off Woolwich lay the "Neptune," a 98-gun Ship, which was manned by
+volunteers raised by the subscriptions of the merchants of London.  A
+little lower down was the "Lancaster," 64, whose crew had returned to
+their duty; as also the "Agincourt," with several gunboats.  A number of
+merchant vessels were also fitted up as gunboats, and manned by
+volunteer crews.  These were placed under the command of Sir Erasmus
+Gower, as Commodore, and ordered to drop down the river, and to proceed
+forthwith to attack the rebels.
+
+We must now return on board the "Sandwich."  Parker, who had assumed the
+title of Admiral, was still implicitly obeyed by the crews of most of
+the ships.  Notice was brought to him, however, that a few were showing
+signs of disaffection.  This, possibly, might have made him tremble for
+the stability of his power, and he resolved to collect all the ships he
+had reason to suspect closer round him.  In shore lay two ships at this
+time: the "Clyde," commanded by Captain Cunningham, and the "Saint
+Fiorenzo," commanded by Sir Harry Burrard Neale.
+
+The "Saint Fiorenzo" had sent delegates to the fleet, but they had from
+the first voted for moderate measures.  Accordingly, Parker sent an
+order to the two ships to come in and anchor close to the "Sandwich."
+Not long afterwards they were seen to get under weigh.
+
+One of them, however, the "Saint Fiorenzo," soon afterwards brought up
+again; and the other, instead of obeying Parker's orders, stood up the
+river towards Sheerness.  Parker, in a great rage, ordered a body of
+delegates to go on board the "Saint Fiorenzo," and to bring her in and
+place her between the "Inflexible" and "Director," when her sails were
+to be unbent, and her gunpowder sent on board the "Sandwich."  The
+delegates, on going on board the "Saint Fiorenzo," abused her crew for
+allowing the "Clyde" to escape them without firing into her, and
+threatened them with the vengeance of Admiral Parker, if they did not
+obey his orders.  In spite of the threatening aspect of the "Saint
+Fiorenzo's" crew, her delegates expressed their readiness to comply, and
+at length the mutineers took their departure.  A short time afterwards
+the "Saint Fiorenzo" was seen to get under weigh, and to stand out under
+all sail towards the fleet.  On she came till she got in between the two
+line-of-battle ships.  By the orders of Parker, who seems to have
+suspected her intentions, the crews of the different ships stood at
+their guns, which were double-shotted, with the lanyards in their hands,
+ready to sink her.  Her crew had been made aware of this by the
+delegates.  Suddenly all her sheets were let fly, her helm was put hard
+aport, and she shot ahead of the "Inflexible."  The moment afterwards
+her brave captain, Sir Harry Burrard Neale, sprang on deck, crying out,
+"Well done, my lads!"  A loud shout rose from the deck of the "Saint
+Fiorenzo."  On seeing this, Parker ran up the signal to fire, the
+"Sandwich" herself setting the example; and immediately the whole fleet
+of thirty-two sail began blazing away at the "Saint Fiorenzo."  The shot
+fell as thick as hail round her.  Still she stood on, though of course
+without returning the fire.  There was a strong breeze, and she was a
+fast ship.  Though so many guns were firing at her, and she was
+frequently hulled, not a rope was shot away, nor was a single man
+killed, or even hurt.
+
+On she stood, and not till she had got to some distance did Parker think
+of ordering any ship to pursue her.  He walked the deck for some minutes
+in a state of agitation.  He was afraid of getting under weigh himself,
+lest during his absence other ships might desert.  He possibly thought
+it very likely that if he ordered any other ship to pursue, her crew
+might refuse to return.  The seamen formed their own opinions on this
+transaction, and came to the conclusion that there was not that
+unanimity in the counsels of their leaders, which they boasted of
+possessing.  Even now they desired to evince their loyalty, and on the
+4th of June, which was his Majesty's birthday, the whole fleet fired a
+royal salute, and dressed the ships with flags as usual.  The red flag
+was, however, kept flying at the maintopmast head of the "Sandwich."
+
+One of the captains most beloved by the seamen was the Earl of Northesk,
+commanding the "Monmouth," a 64-gun ship.  The mutineers having their
+confidence somewhat shaken, determined to request him to try and effect
+a reconciliation with the Government.  The delegates went on board the
+"Monmouth," and invited him to meet the mutineer committee on board the
+"Sandwich."  His lordship accordingly went on board, attended by one
+officer, and found sixty delegates seated in the state cabin, with
+Parker at their head.  He undertook to carry up their terms to the
+Government, pledging his honour to return on board, with a clear and
+positive answer, within fifty-four hours.  He told them, however, that
+from the unreasonableness of their demands, they must not expect
+success.  He immediately proceeded to London, where, after conferring
+with the Admiralty, he accompanied Earl Spencer to the King.
+
+As might have been expected, the demands of the seamen were rejected as
+exorbitant and unreasonable.  An officer immediately carried down the
+refusal of the Lords of the Admiralty to the rebel fleet.  Soon after
+this was known, several ships attempted to make their escape from the
+mutineers.  One, the "Leopard," succeeded and got up the Thames.
+Another, the "Repulse," unfortunately ran aground, when she was fired on
+by the "Monmouth;" and one of the officers lost his leg, and a seaman
+was wounded.  The "Ardent," the third ship, effected her escape, but
+passing the "Monmouth" was fired at, and several of her crew were killed
+and wounded.  Confusion and discord now pervaded the rebel councils.  On
+the 10th of June, many other mutinous ships struck the red flag, and the
+merchant vessels were allowed to proceed up the river.  On the 12th,
+most of the other ships also hauled down the rebel flag, only seven
+keeping it flying.  The next day the remainder intimated an inclination
+to submit.  However, the crews in all cases were not unanimous, and many
+desperate struggles took place on board the ships between the partisans
+of the officers and those who still wished to hold out.  Happily at this
+juncture of affairs an officer arrived on board the "Sandwich," with the
+King's proclamations and Acts of Parliament, of which it appeared that
+Parker had kept the crews ignorant.
+
+The deception which had been practised on the men by the delegates so
+enraged them, that the crew of the "Sandwich" carried the ship under the
+guns of the fort of Sheerness.  As soon as she anchored, a boat with a
+guard of soldiers came off, and making their way on deck, ordered Parker
+to deliver himself up.  As they appeared, one of the delegates belonging
+to the "Standard," who was on board, pointing a pistol at his own head,
+shot himself dead.  Parker, as soon as he heard that a boat had come
+off, placed himself under the protection of four of the ship's crew, the
+rest of the seamen threatening forthwith to hang him.  He and about
+thirty more delegates were immediately handed over to the soldiers, and
+they were landed amidst the hisses of the surrounding multitude, and
+committed to the prison in the garrison of Sheerness.  The first batch
+of mutineers having been so easily captured, the rest of the
+ringleaders, and all others in any way implicated in the mutiny on board
+the various ships, were immediately placed under arrest.  In the list of
+the unhappy men to be tried for their lives was the name of Andrew
+Brown.
+
+Poor Harry! he felt grievously his position.  He had protested against
+the proceedings of the mutineers, but how could he prove this?  He could
+not deny that he had written out a number of documents issued by Parker,
+and the excuse that he had done so under compulsion was too commonly
+made by others to allow him to have much hope of its being believed in
+his case.  Up the Thames was the prison ship.  Here Harry, with a number
+of mutineers, was conveyed.  Many of his companions were desperate
+characters, who seemed only to dread the punishment they might receive.
+He felt that unless he could be proved innocent, death was the only
+alternative he could desire.  Yet it was hard to die.  He had looked
+forward to a life of happiness with one to whom his undivided heart was
+given; one well worthy of the affections of the best of men.  His honour
+was gone.  His name, if it was known, would be blasted, and he must die
+the death of the worst of criminals.  One gleam of hope alone remained.
+As he was led off by the soldiers sent to apprehend the mutineers, Jacob
+Tuttle had shaken his hand, and though he did not speak, had given him a
+significant look, which had evidently been intended to keep up his
+spirits.  Happily Tuttle had taken no part in the mutiny, and had been
+among the first to urge his shipmates to return to their duty.  Still
+how could an illiterate seaman, unable even to write, be able to help
+him?
+
+The trial of Richard Parker very soon after this took place on board the
+"Neptune," of 98 guns, off Greenhithe, a few days having been allowed
+him to prepare for his defence.  No trial could have been more fair or
+just.  Parker defended himself with considerable ability.  Nothing,
+however, could be stronger than the evidence brought to prove that he
+was one of the chief instigators of the mutiny, and that he had acted as
+the chief of the mutineers.  The court accordingly adjudged him to
+death.  Parker heard his sentence with a degree of fortitude and
+composure which excited the astonishment of all present.  He submitted,
+he said, still asserting the rectitude of his intention.
+
+"Whatever offences may have been committed," he added, "I hope my life
+will be the only sacrifice.  Pardon, I beseech you, the other men.  I
+know that they will return with alacrity to their duty."
+
+On the 29th of June, Parker was conveyed on board the "Sandwich," the
+ship on board which he had acted _so_ prominent a part.  On being
+conducted to the quarter-deck, the chaplain informed him that he had
+selected two psalms appropriate to his situation.  Parker assenting,
+said, "And with your permission, sir, I will add a third," and named
+Psalm thirty-one.  Prayers being ended, he arose from his knees and
+asked the captain if he might be indulged with a glass of white wine.
+On its being presented to him, he exclaimed, lifting up his eyes, "I
+drink, first, to the salvation of my soul; and next, to the forgiveness
+of all my enemies."  He then begged that Captain Moss would shake hands
+with him.  This the captain did.  He then desired that he might be
+remembered to his companions on board the "Neptune," with his last dying
+entreaty to them to prepare for their destiny and to refrain from
+unbecoming levity.  On being led to the scaffold on the forecastle, he
+asked whether he might be allowed to speak.
+
+"I am not going to address the ship's company," he added; "I only wish
+to acknowledge the justice of the sentence under which I suffer, and to
+pray that my death may be considered a sufficient atonement for the
+lives of others."
+
+Turning round, he then asked if any person would lend him a white
+handkerchief.  This, after a little delay, was handed to him.  He then
+begged that a minute might be allowed him to recollect himself, when he
+kneeled down about that space of time.  Then rising up, he said, with
+considerable dignity, and perfect coolness, "I am ready," and firmly
+walked to the extremity of the scaffold.  For an instant he stood there,
+full of life and strength, with a head to plan, and nerve to carry out
+his objects.  He dropped his handkerchief, the gun was fired, and he was
+run up to the yard-arm.  A struggle, and he was dead.
+
+For more than a month the court-martial continued sitting and trying the
+other mutineers.  A considerable number received sentence of death;
+among them was Andrew Brown.  Several were ordered to be flogged from
+ship to ship, and others were confined in the Marshalsea prison for
+certain periods.
+
+Parker's was the first death, but many of the other ringleaders were
+directly afterwards executed at the yard-arms of their respective ships.
+The prisoners were tried in succession, and the sentence was forthwith
+carried out on those who were condemned to death.  Harry fully expected
+ere long to be called forth to undergo his sentence, and he came to the
+resolution of not attempting any effort to escape his doom.
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
+
+MABEL'S RESOLVE.
+
+Mabel and her aunt had taken up their residence for some time at the
+small bow-windowed house in the upper part of the town of Lynderton.  It
+had been described as a very genteel residence for a spinster lady.  To
+say that it had neat wooden railings before it, and steps leading up to
+the front door, kept scrupulously clean, will be sufficient to give an
+idea of Mabel's new abode.  The style of life the two ladies led was
+very different to what they had been accustomed to.  Mary remained as
+general servant, while the cook, who had grown fat and aged at Stanmore,
+entreated that she might accompany her old mistress.  Paul Gauntlett
+declared that the day he should be separated from them would be his
+last.  So he also was allowed to take up his abode in the bow-windowed
+house, though his accommodation was limited in the extreme.  All he
+wanted was house-room.  Wages he would not receive, and he had been too
+long accustomed to forage for himself to require being fed.  It cannot
+be said that the family were reduced to complete poverty, still their
+means were very scanty.  Mabel had literally nothing, but an annuity had
+been secured to Madam Everard on the Stanmore estates, which Mr. Sleech
+could not touch, though he did his best to make it as small as possible
+by putting her to considerable expense before she could obtain it.
+
+Strange to say, when Mabel heard that her father and Harry were still
+alive, her regret for her loss of property was greater than it had been
+previously.  She had formed all sorts of plans for her future career.
+As long as her aunt lived, she would attend to her.  When she was called
+away she would go out and teach, or enter some family as a governess.
+Now, however, the case was altered.  Her father would never consent to
+her doing that, while she could no longer hope, as she had hoped, to
+become the well-dowered wife of Harry Tryon.  She loved him--that she
+knew.  Would he continue to love her?  She had no doubt about that, but
+would he have the power of giving her a home?  Would he be able to
+return to the position he had abandoned in Mr. Coppinger's
+counting-house, and, with the assistance of his guardian, labour till he
+had gained an independence?  She thought Harry would be capable of
+anything.  Her father would, at all events, be ready to help him by
+every means in his power.  He surely could refuse nothing to the man who
+had saved his life so bravely at the risk of his own.  Her father had
+always been looked upon as a man of great influence.  It did not occur
+to her that this arose from his being supposed to be the heir of
+Stanmore--the owner of the borough, who could return two members at his
+will.  Poor girl!  Captain Everard as he had been, and Captain Everard,
+though a very good officer, without a vote in Parliament, and with his
+pay only to support him, were very different persons.
+
+The Everards had always been Tories.  Mr. Sleech supported the opposite
+party, and was now giving all his influence to the Whig interest.
+
+The people in the neighbourhood, however, called very frequently at
+Madam Everard's door to inquire after her.  Among the few admitted was
+the Baron de Ruvigny.  Each time he came he talked more and more of the
+Coppingers, and Mabel could not help discovering that he was completely
+captivated by the charms of Sybella Coppinger.  He brought also all the
+news of the day.  From Paul Gauntlett, however, who read the paper
+through, they learned chiefly the progress of the mutiny.
+
+Mabel at length became very anxious about Harry.  She did not know in
+what ship he was serving, and though she felt sure that he would not
+join the mutineers, she could not help dreading that he might be placed
+in danger in consequence of what was occurring.  Her anxiety was
+increased by not hearing from him as she had expected.  She was certain
+that he had not forgotten her.  Her confidence, indeed, in his faith and
+love remained unshaken.  At last Mary received a letter in an unknown
+hand.  It was very unlike the one which Harry had written at Tuttle's
+dictation, but this also professed to be from Jacob.  It was short, for
+the writer was evidently not much accustomed to the use of the pen.  It
+ran thus: "Dear Mary,--This comes to tell you that we're in a mess.
+Some of our fellows have been holding out against the Government, and
+have got nothing for their pains.  We have had a number of delegates
+going about from ship to ship, and they have been and got some of
+themselves hung, and not a few flogged round the fleet.  Sarves them
+right, say I.  I should not mind it, if it was not for a shipmate, you
+knows who, who has been put in limbo.  His name abroad is Andrew Brown,
+but your young lady knows him, and knows that that is not his name.
+Worser still, he's going to be hung.  If I could get liberty, I'd go and
+see you and tell you all.  It's a sad thing, and I would give my eyes to
+save the young chap.--Yours to command, Jacob Tuttle--his cross X."
+
+Mary, who had not deciphered the letter very clearly, brought it to her
+mistress.  As Mabel finished it, the paper fell from her hands.  A
+deadly pallor overspread her countenance, and she fell back fainting
+into the arms of her attendant.  Happily, Paul at that moment came into
+the sitting-room, and assisted the damsel in placing her mistress on a
+sofa.  While Mary ran to get restoratives, and to call Madam Everard,
+his eye fell on the paper.  Seeing the rough style of handwriting, he
+thought that he might with propriety read it over.
+
+"That's it," he said to himself; "it's that young gentleman, he's gone
+and done something desperate.  We must get him out of the scrape, or it
+will be the death of Miss Mabel."
+
+Mabel quickly returned to consciousness and found Paul and Mary standing
+near her.  Madam Everard had gone out.
+
+"I know all about it, Miss Mabel," said Paul, "and I want to help you."
+
+"Do you think this can allude to Harry?" she asked; "I mean Mr. Tryon."
+
+"Too likely," said Paul; "I won't deny it, because it's clear to my mind
+that something must be done to save him.  Cheer up, Miss Mabel.  We will
+do it if it can be done.  There's that old gentleman who takes an
+interest in Master Harry--his guardian, you call him.  I would go to
+him.  He would be the best man to say what can be done, and I am sure he
+would do it."
+
+"Oh! that he would, for I am confident that Harry is innocent.  He never
+would have done anything worthy of death.  I will go up to the Admiralty
+and plead for him; I will tell them who he is.  They would never allow
+him to be executed; or if they will not listen to me, I will go to the
+King himself.  I will plead with his Majesty; he will surely have power
+to save him."
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
+
+UNEXPECTED EVIDENCE.
+
+At an early hour of the day, towards the end of June, two persons on
+horseback might have been seen proceeding through the New Forest.  The
+sun, just rising, cast his rays amid the boughs of the trees, throwing
+long shadows over the greensward.  Here and there light-footed deer,
+cropping the dewy grass, started as they heard the footsteps of the
+horses, and went bounding away farther into the depths of the forest.
+One of the persons was a young lady mounted on a light, active palfrey;
+while the other, a tall old man, bestrode a large, strong steed, well
+capable of bearing his weight.  A brace of formidable-looking pistols
+were stuck in his holsters, while another pair of smaller dimensions
+were placed in the belt he wore round his waist.  In his hand he carried
+a thick stick, which might have proved no bad substitute for a
+broadsword.
+
+"It was indeed thoughtful of you, Paul," said the young lady, looking
+round at her companion, without in any way checking the rapid speed at
+which she was proceeding.  "I little expected to mount Beauty again, and
+could not have accomplished our journey so well, I am sure, on any other
+horse."
+
+"Why, Miss Mabel, do you see, when we had to surrender Stanmore to Old
+Sleech, I thought to myself, neither he nor any of his young cubs shall
+ever mount the horse my dear young mistress has ridden; so as soon as it
+was dark one night, I trotted him off to my good friend Farmer Gilpin,
+and says I to the farmer, `You take care of this horse, and let no one
+have him till I come and fetch him away; he's not stolen, and you need
+not be afraid of the halter.  I will pay you for his keep when I fetch
+him away.'  Mr. Sleech, cunning as he is, had not made a list of the
+horses, so did not miss Beauty; besides, she was yours, and not his,
+though he would have claimed her; and that's the long and short of my
+story, Miss Mabel."
+
+"Thank you, thank you, indeed," answered Mabel.  "Do you think Beauty
+will get through the journey in a couple of days?"
+
+"I am afraid not, Miss Mabel," answered Paul.  "I would advise you to
+sleep twice on the road, and then you will get in fresh the third day,
+and be able at once to go to Mr. Thornborough's.  He was a friend of the
+colonel, I know, and from what you tell me, I am sure he will give you
+as much assistance as anybody."
+
+Madame Everard, when she heard the dangerous situation in which Harry
+Tryon was placed, could not bring herself to refuse Mabel's wish to set
+off immediately to try what could be done to assist him.  She, however,
+had advised her going at once to her godfather, Mr. Thornborough, who,
+being a man of influence, and possessing great knowledge of the world,
+was able to render her more help than Mr. Kyffin could.  She had,
+however, wisely written to Harry's guardian, telling him what she knew,
+and also her purpose of going to the house of Mr. Thornborough.  She was
+too anxious to speak much during her ride.
+
+From the rapid rate at which she proceeded it was evident that she knew
+the road thoroughly, as she had never even to ask her companion which
+way to take.  The two travellers had nearly reached the confines of the
+forest, when suddenly she came upon a large party of men, surrounding
+several light waggons.  They were sitting on the ground with bottles and
+provisions near them, while their horses stood tethered at green spots
+close at hand.
+
+On being suddenly surprised by Mabel and old Paul, several of them
+started up and seized their bridles.  Paul's stick was instantly raised
+in the air, as if about to come down on the heads of his assailants.
+
+"Avast there, mate!" sung out one of the men, "we're not going to
+ill-treat you if you behave peaceably, but we want to know where you and
+the young lady are going."
+
+"Oh, pray let us go!" exclaimed Mabel; "we are simply going to London on
+a matter of great importance, and whoever you are we cannot do you any
+harm."
+
+"Well, young lady, that may be true enough," answered one of the men;
+"but you must just come and have a word with our captain.  If he has no
+objection, we don't want to keep you."
+
+"Pray let him come and see us immediately," said Mabel; "we are anxious
+to be liberated without delay."
+
+The men, without heeding her request, led her horse and that of Paul a
+little distance on one side, where, seated on the grass, enjoying a long
+pipe, with a book at his elbow, and a cup of coffee before him, was a
+person whose appearance betokened nothing of the smuggler or brigand.
+As soon as he saw Mabel he started up, and inquired if he could be of
+any service to her.  She told him of the interruption she and her
+attendant had received, and begged that she might be no longer detained.
+"Yes, sir, I say it's a great shame, and times are very bad when a
+young lady like Miss Everard, with her attendant, cannot ride through
+the forest without being stopped by a gang of smugglers."
+
+"Miss Everard, I beg you many pardons," exclaimed the smuggler captain.
+"My scoundrels are unable to distinguish one person from another.  If
+you will allow me I will accompany you some way on your road, so that I
+may protect you from any similar annoyances."
+
+Saying this the captain sent for his horse, which he immediately
+mounted, and rode alongside Mabel through the remainder of the forest.
+
+"I must ask your confidence, Miss Everard," he said; "I am an especial
+friend of your father's.  Indeed, I owe my life to his courage and
+gallantry, and I shall be thankful of an opportunity to render you any
+service in my power."
+
+"I know, sir, what you say is true," observed Paul, glancing at the
+stranger.  "I remember your coming to Stanmore that sad night, when Miss
+Lucy was taken ill, and I was close by when Captain Everard and you were
+speaking together.  Are you not Captain Rochard?"
+
+"You are right, my friend," said the stranger.  "By that name Captain
+Everard knew me.  Necessity, and not my will, compels me to associate
+with these people," he continued; "not for the sake of making money, but
+for another motive, believe me.  You do not suppose that your father
+would allow me his friendship did he believe that I was the leader of a
+band of outlaws.  I may some day tell you my motives of associating with
+these men.  To your father I owe my life, and that alone would make me
+take an interest in you, young lady; but I may also tell you that I have
+another reason.  We are related, although not very nearly.  Your
+father's mother was a relation of my father.  I never saw her, for she
+died when I was very young; indeed, I am but a few years older than your
+father."
+
+"You related to us?  You know then the facts of the marriage of my
+grandfather to my grandmother.  How little did I expect to hear this.
+You may be of the very greatest assistance to us."
+
+Captain Rochard assured Mabel that it would be a great satisfaction to
+him to be so.  She then told him of the loss of the certificate, and the
+successful scheme which their relative Mr. Sleech had set up for
+obtaining possession of the property.
+
+"For my own sake," she observed, "I care little for what has occurred;
+but it will be a bitter thing for my father when he returns to find that
+he has been deprived of the property he thought his own."
+
+Captain Rochard was silent for some minutes; then turning to Paul, he
+asked suddenly--
+
+"Do you know in what year the colonel's brother married?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I mind it well; it was the beginning of the war with France,
+and much about the time that Frederick of Prussia opened his seven
+years' war, and Admiral Byng did not beat the French in the first
+action, and was shot in consequence.  A difficult job Lieutenant Everard
+had, too, to bring home his young baby, and escape the French cruisers.
+I mind his coming home as well as if it had been yesterday, and Madam
+Everard taking care of the little motherless boy, that's the captain
+now--this young lady's father--as if he had been her own child, and the
+poor lieutenant going to sea, and getting shot the next year.  He died
+as a brave officer might wish to die, on the deck of his ship, lashing
+the enemy's bowsprit to his own mainmast, that she might not get away--"
+
+"But I forget dates; in what year was that?" asked Captain Rochard,
+interrupting the old man, who might otherwise have run on to a much
+further length in his recollections.
+
+"That was in the year '56 or '57 to the best of my mind," answered Paul.
+"The captain's a little above forty, and it's about that time ago."
+
+"Thank you, my friend," said Captain Rochard; "I shall remember the
+dates, and will put them down by-and-by.  Your grandfather, I believe,"
+he continued, addressing Mabel, "married in the south of France, where
+my relatives were residing at the time.  Alas! this fearful revolution
+has swept off many of them; but still some few, especially among the
+older ones, survive.  The young, and strong, and healthy were the chief
+victims.  I'll say no more.  I'll do my best to aid your father, and
+enable him to recover his rights.  I wish that he was in England at
+present, that I might consult with him first.  I am quite willing, at
+all risks, to go over to France, and to endeavour to bring over the
+witnesses to the marriage, or the documents which may prove it."
+
+Mabel expressed her thanks to Captain Rochard, who now inquired what
+business took her to London.  She hesitated for some time.  At last she
+thought, "He's true and kind, and though he may not be able to assist
+me, I shall have his sympathy and good wishes."  She then told him
+frankly of the dangerous position in which Harry Tryon was placed, of
+course asserting her belief in his innocence.
+
+"That fine young fellow?  I know him well," said the captain.  "I am
+sure he would not commit an unworthy action.  I have more power to help
+him than you may suppose.  Give me all the particulars with which you
+are acquainted, and I will try what can be done.  Do you, however,
+proceed in your undertaking; I have great hopes that your efforts will
+not be without a happy result.  That boy must not be put to death.  I
+would go through anything to save him."
+
+By this time they had reached the confines of the forest.  Captain
+Rochard said he must go back to his companions.  He bade Mabel a kind
+farewell, when she and Paul continued their journey towards London.
+Beauty seemed to understand that he was on an important journey, for
+never had he trotted so swiftly over the ground.  Mabel knew the
+importance of reserving his strength too much to allow him to break into
+a canter, or to push him on in a gallop, though her own feelings might
+have prompted her to do so.  It was absolutely necessary during the heat
+of the day to rest.  A small inn appeared close to the road.  Mabel
+threw herself down on a little sofa in the room appropriated to her, at
+the door of which Paul kept ward and watch till it was time again to
+start.  The horses, well groomed and fed, were then led forth, looking
+almost as fresh as when they started in the morning.  Thus, before
+nightfall a large portion of the distance to London had been
+accomplished.
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
+
+IN MR. COPPINGER'S COUNTING-HOUSE.
+
+Mr. Stephen Coppinger had been for some time in town, leaving his family
+at Lynderton.  It was not a time when a mercantile man could neglect his
+business.  There was a great deal to do, for confidence had been
+restored in the mercantile world after the mutiny of the fleet had been
+completely put down.
+
+Silas Sleech was at his desk, and, like the rest of his companions,
+busily employed.
+
+Mr. Kyffin did his best to attend to business, but his mind was greatly
+disturbed.  He could gain no tidings of his ward.  All he could learn
+was that he had left the ship in which he had returned to England, and
+had gone on board another man-of-war.  Too probably she was one of the
+mutinous fleet.  Mr. Kyffin heard of many men losing their lives in the
+scuffles which ensued on board the ships when the loyal part of the crew
+were struggling to restore the power into the hands of their officers.
+Too probably Harry, on one side or the other--he hoped on the loyal
+side--might have lost his life in one of these scuffles.  He was sure
+otherwise that the lad would have written to him.  One letter might
+possibly have miscarried, but he would not have gone so long without
+writing a second or a third time.  He was instituting, in the meantime,
+all the inquiries in his power, but he could not hear the name of Harry
+Tryon on board any of the ships.  He was not aware, of course, that
+Harry had changed his name, nor that it was a common custom with seamen
+in those days to do so, for various reasons.  Had he known of the
+existence of Jacob Tuttle he might have applied to him, and he therefore
+had not the same means of learning about him which Mabel possessed.
+
+On the arrival of the post one morning at Idol Lane Mr. Sleech received
+a letter from his "respected father."  The ordinary observer would have
+discovered nothing in the countenance of Silas to indicate its contents.
+He, however, folding it up, put it in his pocket, and forthwith betook
+himself to the door of Mr. Coppinger's private room, at which he humbly
+knocked.  On being admitted, he explained to his principal that he had
+received notice of the illness of his father and one of his sisters, and
+that his presence, as the eldest son of the family, would be greatly
+required.  He therefore entreated that Mr. Coppinger would allow him to
+set forth without delay for Stanmore.
+
+Mr. Coppinger was a kind-hearted man, and would on no account detain him
+if Mr. Kyffin could manage to have his duties performed during his
+absence.
+
+Silas, thanking his principal, withdrew, and in a humble tone of voice
+entreated Mr. Kyffin to make the necessary arrangements.  The head clerk
+looked hard at Silas, who, though not easily abashed, let his eyes drop
+before him.
+
+"Yes; if Mr. Coppinger gives you leave, I will certainly not detain
+you," answered Mr. Kyffin.
+
+Silas was in a great hurry to be off.  Quickly putting the books at
+which he had been working in their places, he closed his desk and
+hurried out of the office.  Mr. Kyffin looked after him.
+
+"So great a villain never darkened that door before," he said to
+himself.  "May it be the last time he ever passes through it!"
+
+Under where Silas Sleech's hat and cloak had hung Mr. Kyffin saw a bunch
+of keys.  He had evidently dropped them in his hurry to leave the house.
+
+"I am the fittest person to take charge of these," said Mr. Kyffin to
+himself, and he forthwith retired with them into Mr. Coppinger's room.
+He there held a consultation of some length; then once more entering the
+office, he waited till the hour of closing.  The clerks were dismissed.
+He and Mr. Coppinger alone remained in the office.  Mr. Sleech's desk
+was opened with one of the keys.  Within was a strange assortment of
+articles, and among others a small iron box, with Mr. Silas Sleech's
+name painted outside.  There were lottery tickets, and pawnbrokers'
+duplicates, and packs of cards--some curiously marked--and dice which
+had a suspicious tendency to fall with the higher numbers uppermost, and
+letters from dames of scarcely doubtful character.
+
+"I have suspected as much for long," said Mr. Kyffin, "but I could not
+well bring the proof home.  This, however, will convince you that Silas
+Sleech is not a trustworthy person."
+
+"Indeed it does," exclaimed Mr. Coppinger; "but see what this strong box
+contains.  Probably if he leaves such articles as this scattered about,
+without thinking it necessary to conceal them, the contents of that box
+are of a more damaging character."
+
+The box was opened by one of the keys of the bunch.
+
+"Ah!" exclaimed Mr. Kyffin, "here is a letter directed to me.  It is the
+one I have long missed from my unfortunate young ward, Harry Tryon.
+Excuse me, sir, while I read its contents."
+
+Mr. Kyffin ran his eye over the letter.
+
+"The poor lad here gives an explanation of his conduct, and his reasons
+for quitting London.  He weakly yielded to the temptation thrown in his
+way by Silas Sleech, that is very evident, but in no other respect do I
+believe that he was criminal.  However, we will look over the remainder
+of these papers, and I trust then we shall have the means of exonerating
+him still further.  What do you think of these papers?" asked Mr.
+Kyffin, holding a sheet up to Mr. Coppinger.
+
+On it was written over and over again the name of the firm, as signed by
+Mr. Coppinger himself.  Evidently the writer had been endeavouring to
+imitate Mr. Coppinger's signature.  He had done so very successfully.
+Indeed, another paper was found containing a signature which Mr.
+Coppinger declared to be genuine.  It was clearly the copy for the
+others.
+
+"Now I feel sure," said Mr. Kyffin, "that Silas Sleech forged that paper
+which he wished it to be supposed Harry had forged, while it's very
+possible that he may also have forged Harry's signature to some of the
+bills which he showed us when he endeavoured to prove Harry's guilt."
+
+"I indeed think your account very likely to be true," said Mr.
+Coppinger.  "I am ashamed at having allowed such a scoundrel as Mr.
+Sleech undoubtedly is, to have remained so long in my office undetected;
+yet so plausible are his manners, that had this evidence against him not
+been discovered, I should have been unwilling to believe him guilty."
+
+"You will not let him escape, surely, sir," said Mr. Kyffin; "justice
+demands that he should be brought to trial, so that the character of
+your nephew may be vindicated."
+
+The two gentlemen examined all the papers thoroughly, making notes of
+their contents, and then locked them carefully up in the safe in Mr.
+Coppinger's room.  Mr. Kyffin having accompanied Mr. Coppinger to Broad
+Street, and supped with him, returned at night to the office, where he
+occasionally occupied a bedroom.  He had been in bed for some time,
+though not asleep, thinking over Harry's affairs, when he was aroused by
+a knocking at the door.  He heard the porter go out of his room and
+admit some one.  It immediately struck him that it was Silas Sleech; for
+as the porter knew nothing of his proceedings, he would naturally,
+without hesitation, admit him.  Rapidly dressing, therefore, he struck a
+light, and putting the pistol, which he usually carried to and from
+Hampstead, in his pocket, he proceeded down-stairs.  The person who had
+come in did not go to Mr. Sleech's room; but after a few minutes'
+conversation entered the counting-house.  Mr. Kyffin heard him wish the
+porter good-night, and say that he should not be long.
+
+"Call me at an early hour, there's a good fellow, for I have to be off
+betimes," he added.
+
+Mr. Kyffin waited a minute, and then proceeded down-stairs into the
+office.  A light was burning on the desk.  By it he saw Mr. Sleech
+hunting about in all directions, evidently looking for his keys.  The
+search was, of course, in vain.  He seemed to think so, for producing a
+cold iron from his pocket, with as little noise as possible he wrenched
+open the desk.  He seized the light and looked in.  Dismay was depicted
+on his countenance.  At that instant Mr. Kyffin entered the room.
+
+"Wretched scoundrel, confess your villainies!" he exclaimed.  "Was it to
+betray an honest youth, and to blast his character through a miserable
+feeling of jealousy and revenge, that you pretended to be his friend?
+Confess what you have done, or prepare to be given over into the hands
+of justice."
+
+On hearing Mr. Kyffin's voice Silas dropped the lid of the desk, and
+slipping off his stool, went down on his knees, holding up his hands
+with a look of the most abject terror.  "I did not intend to injure him,
+indeed I did not!" he exclaimed, in a whining voice.
+
+"Oh!  Mr. Kyffin, you know how long I have toiled for the house, and how
+our employer's interests were as dear to me as my own; then how can you
+accuse me of doing such things as you say I have done?"
+
+"Don't kneel to me," answered Mr. Kyffin, sternly; "don't add additional
+falsehood to your other villainies.  Expect no leniency from me.  Of all
+bad characters, I hate a hypocrite the most.  I will make no promise,
+but if you will confess in a court of justice what you have done, I may
+possibly endeavour to have your punishment mitigated, and no other
+promise can I make."
+
+"I will do all you ask, indeed I will," answered Silas, "only don't look
+so fierce; don't shoot me," he exclaimed, looking at the pistol which,
+unconsciously, Mr. Kyffin had taken from his pocket.
+
+"I have no intention of shooting you, but again say I will make no
+promises.  Mr. Coppinger will decide what is to be done with the man who
+has robbed him, and so cruelly treated his nephew."
+
+Saying this, Mr. Kyffin returned the pistol to his pocket.  The round
+eyes of Silas had been watching him all the time.  He now hung down his
+head as if ashamed to meet Mr. Kyffin's glance.  His eye, however, was
+glancing upward all the time.  Suddenly he made a spring, and rushed
+towards Mr. Kyffin.
+
+
+"I will have my revenge!" he exclaimed, grappling with him.
+
+Mr. Kyffin, though advanced in life, was as active as ever.  His muscles
+and nerves had never been unstrung by dissipation, as were those of
+Silas, who found that he had met almost his match.  The young man,
+however, struggled desperately, as a fierce desire seized him to destroy
+his opponent.  He felt for the pistol in his pocket.  With insane
+satisfaction he grasped it, and was drawing it forth, with a
+determination of shooting the owner, when he found his arm seized, and
+directly afterwards he lay on the ground with the sturdy porter and Mr.
+Kyffin standing over him.
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
+
+A BALL AT STANMORE, AND WHAT TOOK PLACE AT IT.
+
+Mr. Sleech and his family were enjoying their possession of Stanmore.
+He had begun to cut down the trees which he and his son had marked, and
+as many of them were very fine and old, he was delighted to find that
+they would fetch the full amount he had anticipated.  This encouraged
+him to proceed further.
+
+"I have often heard that trees about houses are not wholesome," he
+observed.  "The more space we can clear away the better, and really a
+five-pound note to my mind is better than an old tree, with its boughs
+spreading far and wide over the ground, and shutting out the sunlight.
+Nothing will grow under old trees except fungi, and the ground may be
+much better occupied."
+
+A sufficient time had now elapsed, in the opinion of Mr. Sleech, since
+the death of Colonel Everard, his predecessor, to allow him to give a
+party at Stanmore without impropriety.  The Misses Sleech were busily
+employed in sending out invitations.  They asked everybody, whether they
+had called or not.  "The chances are they will come," they observed,
+"and it will not do to be too particular."  They were rather surprised
+to find that several of the principal families in the neighbourhood
+declined.  However, their rooms were sure to be filled, there was no
+doubt of that.  The foreign officers had no scruple about coming, and at
+a distance there were several families with whom Mr. Sleech was more or
+less acquainted, who would be glad to accept the invitation.  Miss
+Sleech, Miss Anna Maria Sleech, and Miss Martha, who were out, were very
+anxious to have their brother Silas.  They agreed to write to get him
+down.  They could not ask Mr. Coppinger to allow him to come merely for
+the sake of a ball; they therefore begged their father from his fertile
+brain to invent an excuse, which that gentleman had no scruple whatever
+in doing.  The result of that letter has been seen.  At the hour he was
+expected to arrive, the carriage was sent over to meet the coach, but
+neither in the inside nor on the out was Silas Sleech to be seen.
+
+"Of course he will come to-morrow in plenty of time for the ball,"
+observed his sisters, consoling themselves.  Old Mr. Sleech, however,
+wanted his son's advice and assistance.
+
+The morning before the intended _fete_, when workmen were busy in
+different parts of the house preparing the rooms, placing tents outside
+the windows, and arranging flowers and taking up the carpets, a carriage
+drove up to the door.  A gentleman stepped out of it in a naval undress.
+He looked about him with an air of mute astonishment.
+
+"Who is here? what is taking place?" he asked of the servant who opened
+the door.
+
+"Why, we are going to have a ball to-night," was the answer.  "Who do
+you want to see?"
+
+"A ball!" exclaimed the stranger.  "My aunt and daughter giving a ball!
+Has Colonel Everard so completely recovered?"
+
+"Why, bless you, Colonel Everard has been dead ever so long, and the
+Misses Everard are not in the house.  My master is Mr. Sleech, the owner
+of Stanmore.  If you want to see him I will take in your name."
+
+"Are you mocking me, man?" exclaimed the stranger.  "Where are Madam and
+Miss Everard?"
+
+"Why, I rather fancy they have gone to live in the town since they were
+turned out of this," answered the man, with an impudent look.
+
+"Let me see Mr. Sleech immediately, then," said the stranger, entering
+the house.  "I must learn clearly what has taken place without delay.
+Where is Mr. Sleech?"
+
+"Who wants me?" asked a voice from the study, the door of which faced
+the entrance.  The stranger, advancing with rapid step, entered the
+room.
+
+"I am Captain Everard, sir," he said, facing Mr. Sleech, who had risen
+from his chair with a newspaper in his hand.  "Let me know, I entreat
+you, by what means you have come into possession of Stanmore, and tell
+me did I hear rightly that my uncle is dead?"
+
+"Dead as a door-mat," answered Mr. Sleech, "you may depend on that; and
+as to how I came into possession of Stanmore, I came in by right of law.
+I don't want to hurt your feelings, Captain Everard, but you know that
+legitimacy takes precedence over illegitimacy.  It is not a man's fault
+when his mother has forgotten to get the marriage ceremony performed;
+but her children have to take the consequences.  You understand me, I
+need not be more explicit."
+
+"What do you mean?" exclaimed Captain Everard, leaning on a chair to
+support himself, for though a strong man, late events had shaken him.
+He was yet more completely overcome by the news he had just heard.
+
+"Mean, sir, that your father, Lieutenant Everard, of the Royal Navy,
+brother of the late Colonel Everard, and of my beloved and departed
+wife, was never married to your French mother; no witnesses are to be
+found, and no documents exist to prove that any such marriage ever took
+place.  By right of law, therefore, when my excellent brother-in-law,
+Colonel Everard, departed this life, I, as the representative of his
+sister--he having no direct heir--became possessed of this very fine and
+beautiful estate.  It is not my fault that your father was not married;
+it is not your fault; nor could I forego the privileges and advantages
+which accrue from possessing this estate."
+
+"You should know, sir, that my father was married.  The colonel always
+believed that he was, and treated me as his heir," answered Captain
+Everard, with all the calmness he could command.  "But, as you say, the
+law must decide, and if it decide against me, I must submit.  You, by
+some means, have got into possession; I cannot, therefore, turn you out.
+I can only judge of the way you have treated those dear to me by the
+manner in which you have received me."
+
+The captain drew himself up, and was about to retire from the room.
+
+"Come, we are relations, though you bear the name of Everard by
+courtesy," said Mr. Sleech, putting out his hand; "I don't want to
+quarrel about the matter; your ill-luck is my good fortune; that's the
+view of the case I take."
+
+Captain Everard drew back his hand.
+
+"No, sir, no.  I cannot impute wrong motives to you; but, at the same
+time, I cannot pretend friendship to a person who, without apology,
+casts a stigma on the names of my father and mother."
+
+"_As_ you please, as you please," said Mr. Sleech, in an apparently
+indifferent tone; "I wish to do you good, but I cannot make a silk purse
+out of a sow's ear.  If you won't receive my kindness, that's your
+look-out, and not mine."
+
+Captain Everard had always felt an especial dislike to his aunt's
+husband; it now, very naturally, increased considerably.  Still he spoke
+calmly.
+
+"I must bid you good-day, sir," he said.  "For my daughter's sake and my
+own, you must expect that I will use every means to regain the property
+which I believe to be rightfully mine."
+
+"And I will do my best to keep what I have got, and I rather think I
+shall succeed," answered the attorney, as the captain left the room
+without deigning to cast another look upon his relative.
+
+The door had been left open, and the conversation had been heard by
+several of the servants and workmen.  They were mostly creatures of Mr.
+Sleech, for he only patronised those he thought likely to serve him in
+any way he might require.  They had collected in the hall as the captain
+passed through it--some to gaze at him with curiosity, not unmixed
+perhaps with pity; others holding their hands to their mouths, as if to
+hide their laughter.
+
+"I told you what was true, captain, although you did not believe me,"
+said the man who had admitted him.  "I hope you won't be for doubting a
+gentleman's word again when he speaks the truth."
+
+The captain made no answer to the fellow's insolence; but, stepping into
+the post-chaise, ordered the man to drive instantly to Lynderton.
+
+Madam Everard received her nephew with an anxious countenance.
+
+"Where is Mabel?" he exclaimed; "has anything, too, happened to her?"
+
+"She is alive, and I hope well," answered his aunt.  "The poor girl, her
+feelings have been sorely tried, first by her anxiety about you, and
+then by the fearful position in which Harry Tryon has been placed."
+
+She then told him of the mutiny, and of the way in which Harry had been
+implicated.
+
+"She knows also that he saved your life, and that of course has not
+tended to decrease her love for him."
+
+"Harry Tryon saved my life!" exclaimed the captain.  "I have not seen
+him since I met him at Stanmore, that I am aware of."
+
+"But you knew a young seaman called Andrew Brown; did you not recognise
+Harry Tryon in him?"
+
+"How extraordinary!" exclaimed the captain.  "I several times saw the
+likeness, but could not believe in the possibility of his having come to
+sea with me.  Yes, indeed, he did save my life in a gallant way, and I
+longed to hear of the lad again, that I might show my gratitude."
+
+"I fear that if he suffers, Mabel's heart will break," said Madam
+Everard.  "Executions of the misguided men are taking place every day.
+She has, therefore, had no time to lose, for we know not how soon the
+unhappy young man may have to share the fate of his companions.  My
+heart sickens at having to utter such words.  A week has passed since
+she left me, and I have not since heard of her.  I am very anxious as it
+is, but I should be still more so were she not under the charge of so
+trustworthy an attendant as Paul Gauntlett."
+
+Captain Everard had been so anxious to hear about his daughter that he
+had not hitherto inquired of Madam Everard further particulars regarding
+the circumstances which had compelled her and his daughter to leave
+Stanmore.  They were briefly told.
+
+"I must see Wallace," he said, "and ascertain whether any certificate of
+my father's marriage exists."
+
+While he was speaking the servant entered, to say that two gentlemen
+were at the door, and the Baron de Ruvigny and Captain Rochard were
+announced.  The latter in his delight, as he entered, seized Captain
+Everard in his arms.
+
+"My dear friend, I am overjoyed to meet you!" he exclaimed.  "What have
+I heard?  Ah! it is too true that you have been deprived of your estate;
+but though the sun be hidden by a thick cloud, it is sure to burst forth
+again.  Be not troubled about it; I have longed to show how deeply
+grateful I feel to you for saving my life.  Your daughter has told me
+that you require evidence of your father's marriage to my relative, and
+I trust that, even now, though so many years have passed, it may be
+obtained.  It shall be my care, at every risk, to search for it.  You
+could not possibly travel in my distracted country.  There may be danger
+for me, but less danger than there would be for you.  If I do not return
+you will know that I have fallen, and you must then get some one to
+supply my place.  Believe me, though, that it will be my joy and
+satisfaction to serve you."
+
+"I trust you, count; I feel sure that you will not fail to do your
+utmost for me."
+
+It was with somewhat painful feelings, not unmixed with contempt, that
+Madam Everard watched the carriages proceeding down the street towards
+Stanmore, on the evening of the ball.  The spinster ladies had either to
+walk or to club together to hire the only public vehicle in the place,
+which was constantly kept moving backwards and forwards, from the first
+moment at which they could with decency appear at the hall, till a late
+hour in the evening.  Miss Sleech, and Miss Anna Maria Sleech and her
+sisters, of all ages, were dressed out in what they conceived the height
+of fashion to receive their guests.  A few ladies in pattens and high
+hoods, attended by their maid-servants with umbrellas and lanterns,
+arrived at an early hour.  The Misses Sleech were not afraid of them, as
+they were their old acquaintances, and they now treated them with that
+condescending kindness which they felt was due from themselves in their
+position.  Their dresses were admired; the roses on their cheeks and the
+patches which they had stuck on their faces.  They had time also to
+exhibit the decorations, and the alterations which they had made in the
+rooms.  Mr. Sleech, in small clothes and pumps, his hair freshly
+powdered, a huge frill to his shirt, and the neck-cloth of many turns
+round his throat, with a coat, put on for the first time, with a high
+collar, almost hiding his ears, stood ready to make his bows to those he
+considered worthy of receiving them.  For a few minutes he stood
+practising flourishes with his cocked hat, having received lately a few
+private lessons from his daughter's dancing-master, to fit him, as he
+hoped, for his exalted situation.  One thing only was wanting to fill up
+his cup of happiness, his satisfaction, and pride.  He could not help
+wishing that the eldest scion of his house--the heir of Stanmore--had
+been present.  Even now he thought it possible he might come.  At length
+some guests of greater distinction began to arrive.  The officers of the
+foreign legion of course came, although they were perfectly well aware
+of the difference between the old and new families; but there was no
+reason why they should lose an evening's entertainment.  The Misses
+Coppinger also came with an aunt, a Mrs. Simmons, who always went out as
+their chaperone.  They were not aware of the connection between their
+host and their father's clerk.  It is just possible, had they been so,
+they might have declined the invitation, that gentleman not standing in
+any way high in their estimation.  Before long, Admiral Wallace hobbled
+in, his voice sounding loud and cheery through the half-filled rooms, as
+Mr. Sleech bowed and salaamed to him with due respect, and the Misses
+Sleech performed the courtesies they had learned from Mú Millepied,
+their dancing-master.
+
+"Well, Sleech, you have done the thing well," cried the admiral.  "I
+little thought to see anybody else than an Everard in this house.
+However, the world's turned upside down; rogues get into honest men's
+places, and honest men come to the wall--that's the way affairs go at
+present."
+
+"I am obliged to you for the compliment, Sir James," answered Mr.
+Sleech, again bowing, and not knowing whether to take offence.
+
+"I don't mean to call you a rogue, Sleech, of course," answered the
+admiral, intending to exculpate himself.  "Never think of calling a man
+a rogue in his own house, whatever I may think about the matter."
+
+Happily for both parties, the conversation was cut short by the entrance
+of General and Mrs. Perkins, whose tall figures completely overwhelmed
+that of the somewhat diminutive lawyer.  Again he bowed as before, now
+to the lady, now to the gentleman, who returned his salutations in a
+somewhat cold manner, and passed on, looking round the rooms with
+inquisitive glances, and making remarks as they passed along.  The
+Misses Sleech curtseyed as before.  Mrs. Perkins returned their salutes
+with one of her stiffest bows.  Now the people came trooping in more
+rapidly, and the music at length struck up, to call the dancers into the
+ball-room, where Mú Millepied had been engaged as master of the
+ceremonies.  Bowing to the guests, he assumed his responsible office.
+Still Mr. Sleech looked round in vain for those he would most have
+delighted to see.  There were several whose names he would not have
+valued much at the back of a bill, and not a few ladies whose characters
+would certainly have ill borne any very minute examination.  Still he
+hoped that they would not be observed in the crowd, or attempt to make
+themselves conspicuous.  Vain hope.  Their names were quickly buzzed
+about, and they took good care to be seen dancing with the most dashing
+of the officers, while they paid constant and especial attention to the
+Misses Sleech.
+
+At length a real English countess arrived.
+
+She had lately come to Lynderton, and knew very little of the politics
+of the place, but having received the Misses Sleech's card and an
+invitation to Stanmore, which she knew to be the principal house in the
+neighbourhood, her ladyship had accepted the invitation.  It is possible
+that she might have been surprised at the appearance of Mr. Sleech and
+his family, but was certainly too well-bred to exhibit her opinion.  She
+passed on with her daughters, hoping to take up a retired position,
+where she could observe what was going on without herself attracting
+attention.  Mr. Sleech, however, was far too delighted at the honour
+done him to allow her to carry out her intention, and every instant he
+was coming up and making one of his flourishing bows, either with offers
+of refreshment, or with a request of being allowed the honour of
+introducing most eligible partners to Lady Mary and Lady Grace.  They,
+however, from the first, declined dancing, after which, even had they
+desired it, they could not, without offending those who had first
+offered, have accepted other partners.
+
+Mr. Sleech was on his way, for about the twentieth time, to the
+countess, when his eldest daughter came up to him, and, in a hurried
+voice, said that a person wished to see him on important business.
+
+"Tell him to come in, then; I cannot come out to see him.  If he has got
+any message to deliver he must deliver it here," answered Mr. Sleech,
+scarcely knowing what he was saying.
+
+His daughter hurried off.  Soon afterwards a man was seen in a
+horseman's suit passing among the gaily-dressed throng towards the
+master of the house.
+
+"Who do you come from?" asked Mr. Sleech, eyeing him narrowly.
+
+"From Mr. Coppinger," answered the messenger.  "It is about a matter of
+importance, and he told me to see you immediately."
+
+"What is it?  Is it about my son?" asked Mr. Sleech, in a nervous voice.
+
+"I believe so; but that will tell you," said the man, delivering the
+letter he held in his hand.  Mr. Sleech, in his eagerness, tore it open,
+forgetting at the moment by whom he was surrounded.  His eyes ran
+rapidly over the paper.  With unrepressed anger he broke silence,
+exclaiming--
+
+"My son accused of forgery!  It is a lie.  Mr. Coppinger is a base liar;
+I will bring an action against him for defamation of character."
+
+The Misses Coppinger, unfortunately, were standing near at the time, and
+were very naturally indignant at hearing their father thus spoken of.
+
+"The letter says true enough, I have no doubt," observed Mr. Gilby, who
+had been dancing with one of the young ladies.  "If the son he speaks of
+is Silas Sleech, a more arrant rogue does not exist.  I am very certain
+that he led that young Harry Tryon purposely into all sorts of scrapes,
+and drove him off at last to sea.  Poor fellow!  I don't think I told
+you what I know about him."
+
+His remarks were cut short by the confusion which ensued in consequence
+of Mr. Sleech's behaviour.  The letter he had received, although sent in
+kindness, had completely overcome him.  Had he been in his usual state
+of composure he would probably have put it in his pocket, and kept its
+contents secret; but being already excited, having paid constant visits
+to the refreshment-room in order to keep up his spirits, it drove him
+beside himself.  In vain his friends tried to pacify him.  He rushed
+round the room, exclaiming again, "It is a lie!  It is a base lie!  My
+son a rogue!  The heir of Stanmore accused of forgery!  It is
+impossible; it is impossible!  I defy any one to prove it."
+
+Thus the wretched man went on proclaiming his son's infamy and his own
+disgrace.  Several of the guests, who had been somewhat unwilling to
+come, on this ordered their carriages.  Even the most heartless felt
+that they could not with propriety remain, and thus the greater part of
+the company followed the example of the first.
+
+The Misses Coppinger and their aunt got away immediately, attended by
+Mr. Gilby; and in a short time the gaily-bedecked and highly-lighted
+rooms were deserted by all the guests, while his children could with
+difficulty get their father to his room, still but little pacified.  The
+people said, not without reason, that the balls at Stanmore were
+destined to have a disastrous termination.
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
+
+A JOURNEY, AND WHAT BEFELL THE TRAVELLERS.--A VISIT TO WINDSOR, AND ITS
+RESULT.
+
+The days were long, the weather was fine, and Mabel and her companion
+hoped by starting at dawn to reach London at an early hour on the third
+day of their journey.  They were crossing Hounslow Heath, a part of the
+country, in those days especially, and even in later years, notorious
+for the number of robberies committed on travellers.  In the far
+distance were seen dangling in the air two objects, the wretched
+remnants of humanity, suspended in chains, intended as a warning to
+evil-doers, but having about as much effect as scarecrows have generally
+on bold birds who have discovered that they can do them no harm.  Mabel
+turned away her eyes to avoid the hideous spectacle.  Paul said nothing,
+but pulled out his pistols one by one, carefully surveying their locks.
+Then restoring them to their holsters, he continued trotting on at a
+rapid pace behind his young mistress.
+
+"We shall be in town, Miss Mabel, long before your godfather sits down
+to his early dinner, I hope," observed Paul.  "You might spare Beauty a
+little, for we shall have some steep bits of road soon, and a steady
+pace will bring us to our journey's end, maybe, as soon as a rapid one."
+
+As Paul spoke he caught sight of three men crouching down under some
+bushes a short distance ahead.  Had he been alone, he would have dashed
+forward and easily have eluded them, should they prove to be footpads,
+as he thought likely.  He was afraid, however, should Mabel make the
+attempt, that they might succeed in stopping her horse, and then, if
+going at full speed, he would be less able to take steady aim, or to
+defend her.  At the same time, he did not wish to alarm her before it
+was necessary.  She, however, directly afterwards caught sight of the
+same objects.  They were not left long in doubt as to the intention of
+those they saw, for as they approached, live men sprang up, and rushing
+forward seized Mabel's rein.  Paul, drawing a pistol, fired.  One of his
+assailants fell, but this did not deter the others from their purpose.
+While one of the ruffians held Mabel's horse, the other three attacked
+him, endeavouring to pull him from his saddle.  Before they had time to
+seize his arm, he drew another pistol.  He fired, but it flashed in the
+pan.  He endeavoured to reprime it, but having no time to do so, he
+seized it by the muzzle, and began to lay about him with right good
+will, striking one fellow on the head and another on the shoulder, and
+compelling them to let go their hold, at the same time shouting at the
+top of his voice, "To the rescue! to the rescue!  Off with you,
+villains!" and similar cries, which were not without the effect of
+distracting the attention of his assailants.  Still, as they were three
+to one, and had also firearms, though they had not hitherto used them,
+it was too evident that they must ultimately succeed in their purpose.
+Still undaunted, however, the old soldier fought on, continuing to
+strike with a rapidity which astonished his assailants.  One, however,
+more savage than the others, springing back, drew a pistol from his
+belt, and was levelling it at Paul, when his eye caught sight of two
+men, who, at that instant had jumped out of a gravel-pit a little way
+ahead, and were rushing towards them, flourishing thick sticks which
+they held in their hands.
+
+"Don't let the fellows sheer off, Paul, and we will make prizes of the
+whole," shouted one of the new comers, springing forward and bringing
+his thick stick down on the head of one of Paul's assailants.  The
+fellow dropped as if shot, when the other three men, seeing that their
+opponents were even in number, let go the horses' reins and took to
+flight.
+
+The men who had so opportunely arrived were dressed as sailors.  In the
+most active of them Paul recognised his old acquaintance, Jacob Tuttle.
+The other was a stranger.
+
+"Well, this is fortunate!" exclaimed Jacob, in astonishment.  "Why, Mr.
+Gauntlett, I little thought to see you and Miss Mabel out here.  Why,
+please miss, you are the very lady I was coming all the way to Lynderton
+to see.  Only yesterday I could get leave from my ship to come ashore,
+and started away up to London, where we stopped a few houts, and then
+came along south-west, keeping a course for Lynderton."
+
+Mabel had been so agitated by the attack of the footpads that she had
+been unable to speak.  She now eagerly asked Jacob why he wished to see
+her.
+
+"It is about a shipmate of mine, please you, miss, as true-hearted a lad
+as ever stepped--one Harry Tryon, though in speaking to you, miss, I
+ought to call him Master Harry."
+
+"Go on, I entreat you," said Mabel, eagerly.
+
+"You have heard talk of the mutiny, miss, and how the seamen thought
+they had not got their rights, and how they held out against their
+officers?  Well, the chief of the mutineers, and I have not much to say
+in his favour, was aboard our ship, and because Harry was a gentleman
+and could write a good hand, he made him act as his secretary.  Now do
+you see Harry did not wish to do so, to my certain knowledge, but
+somehow or other, after Parker, who was the chief in the business, was
+tried and hung, Harry was brought in guilty of helping him.  I don't
+know how it was I was not called as a witness, or I could have proved
+that Parker held a pistol to Harry's head and made him write what he
+told him.  The long and short, however, of it is that poor Harry has
+been condemned to death, and lies on board the prison ship with a number
+of other fellows, to be run up one of these days to the yard-arm.  Now I
+thought to myself, he has got friends down at Lynderton who I know would
+help him.  As I could not get away from the ship to give the news, I got
+a messmate, howsomdever, to write to my Mary, you know her, miss, and
+tell her all about it.  At last, however, yesterday morning, Jack Veal
+here and I got leave to come ashore and spend a fortnight at home.  We
+lost no time as soon as we stepped on shore, you may depend on it, miss,
+but came along as fast as our two legs would carry us, and a pretty good
+job it is we did come, or we should have missed the chance of knocking
+those fellows on the head and doing you a service, miss."
+
+"It is indeed most fortunate, and I have to thank you very heartily,"
+answered Mabel; "and if, instead of going on to Lynderton you will
+accompany us, you may be of still greater service.  I am going up to
+London, on purpose to see what can be done for Mr. Tryon.  If nobody
+else can assist me, I will go to our good King, and ask him to grant his
+pardon.  If you are able to bear evidence that he did not willingly join
+the mutineers, I am sure his Majesty will grant our request."
+
+"With all the pleasure in life, miss," answered Jacob.  "I would go a
+hundred miles to give a helping hand to any shipmate, much more to so
+true-hearted a chap as Harry Tryon, or Andrew Brown, for that's the name
+he goes by.  I told you when I wrote through him to Mary how he had
+saved your honoured father's life, and if he was in England all things
+would go right, for he would be able to prove what an obedient
+well-behaved seaman Harry always was with him."
+
+"I am right glad to hear you say that, Jacob," put in Paul.  "To my
+mind, Miss Mabel, it is fortunate we fell in with these two lads, but
+let us lose no further time.  They must keep alongside our horses till
+we can get a cart or coach of some sort to carry them on.  It is very
+clear there is no time to be lost, and if we get in early to London
+something may be done even to-day."
+
+"Make sail ahead, then," cried Jacob; "Jack and I will keep up with you,
+and if we can we will lay hands on a craft of some sort to carry us on."
+
+They had not gone far when they saw the footpads return and carry off
+their wounded companions.  Under other circumstances Paul would have
+given notice of what had occurred, but he knew by so doing they might
+have to undergo considerable delay, which for Harry's sake it was most
+important should be avoided.  They therefore pushed on till they arrived
+at a small inn on the London side of the heath, where Paul had on
+several occasions stopped.  The landlord knew him, and he was able,
+therefore, without difficulty, to hire a horse on which the two sailors
+might proceed.  It was the only one in the stable, but as it had an
+unusually long back, Jacob and Jack agreed that it would answer their
+purpose quite as well as two.
+
+"Each can take his trick at the helm by turns," observed Jacob, "though
+seeing that when a little boy I used often to ride the horses to water,
+I may be the better hand of the two."
+
+The stable boy was about to put on a saddle.
+
+"No, no, off with that thing," observed Jacob, throwing himself on the
+animal's back.  "Here, Jack, give us your hand.  Now sit yourself
+astern.  That will do.  Good-bye, Master Gibson, we will send the horse
+back to you safe and sound, never fear."
+
+Saying this, Jack and his companion rode out of the stable-yard, and
+followed Mabel and Gauntlett, who had just before left it.
+
+As Mabel approached London, her eagerness to see her godfather and Mr.
+Kyffin increased.  She could scarcely refrain from urging on her steed
+to its topmost speed, though restrained every now and then by Paul's
+voice requesting her to proceed at a more leisurely pace, both for her
+own sake and for that of Jacob and his companion, who were following on
+their rough-trotting horse.  Before noon she drew rein at the door of
+Mr. Thornborough's house.  She threw herself from her horse, and ran up
+the steps.  Miss Thornborough stood ready to receive her in her arms.
+
+"My dear Mabel, we have heard all about it from Mr. Kyffin," she said.
+"He is up-stairs with your godfather, and will do all he can; but, my
+dear child, what a journey for you to take!"
+
+Mabel, thanking her kind old friend, explained that she had brought
+companions who might be of great service, and begged that they and their
+horses might be looked after.
+
+"That shall be attended to.  And now, my dear Mabel, you must come and
+rest yourself, and after dinner you shall hear what your friends propose
+doing."
+
+"Oh, let me hear at once," answered Mabel, unconsciously lifting up her
+hands to Miss Thornborough; "I cannot endure any longer this suspense.
+Do they think that Harry can be saved?  I must see my godfather and Mr.
+Kyffin, and hear what they propose from their own lips."
+
+Mistress Barbara accordingly conducted Mabel up-stairs.  Mr. Kyffin came
+forward in a kind and courteous manner to conduct her to a seat, before
+taking which, however, she hurried up to her godfather, who kissed her
+affectionately.
+
+"You must not be cast down, my child," he said; "Harry's guardian and I
+will do all that we can for the lad."
+
+Mabel felt her spirits somewhat raised on hearing this.  Still she saw
+that Mr. Kyffin's countenance was very grave, as if his hopes of success
+were but small.  As, however, she described having fallen in with Jacob
+Tuttle and another shipmate of Harry's, his looks brightened somewhat.
+
+"Yes, I see it," he answered; "there is hope if we have them as
+witnesses, but we must be quick in our movements."
+
+"Oh! yes, yes," exclaimed Mabel.  "I am ready to go down to Windsor at
+once, where I hear the King is.  He may remember me.  I little thought
+that his visit to Stanmore would have been of so much consequence."
+
+"You will be over-fatiguing yourself, young lady," said Mr. Kyffin,
+looking compassionately at Mabel.  "After a ride of nearly one hundred
+miles, you are scarcely fit to undertake another journey."
+
+"Oh, yes, I would mount my horse this instant," answered Mabel.  "I care
+not for food or rest, when Harry's life hangs in the balance."
+
+"To relieve your mind we will go at once, then, I promise you," answered
+Mr. Kyffin.  "A coach and four will be in readiness within an hour.  In
+the meantime you must take some refreshment and rest, and we shall be in
+time to see the King this very afternoon.  After that we must be guided
+by his Majesty's reply."
+
+The road from London to Windsor, as it was traversed frequently by
+royalty, was in those days one of the best in the country.
+
+A carriage was proceeding along it in the early part of the afternoon,
+drawn by four horses galloping at a furious rate.  Its passengers were
+Mabel, Mistress Barbara, who had come to take care of her, and Mr.
+Kyffin, while outside was Paul Gauntlett, who would not lose sight of
+his young mistress, and Jacob Tuttle with his companion, who sat on the
+box and frequently leant forward urging the postillions to drive faster
+and faster.
+
+The more Jacob thought of the peril in which Harry was placed, the more
+anxious he became about him.  He had already seen many unhappy men run
+up at the yard-arms of their respective ships in consequence of their
+active participation in the dangerous mutiny lately quelled, and he
+could not help feeling that Harry Tryon might be among the next victims.
+Many of them were young men, strong, active, intelligent fellows,
+misled by designing knaves.  It is especially painful to see such men,
+who, though criminal, differ greatly from ordinary culprits, suddenly
+launched into eternity.  Such has been the fate demanded by stern
+justice of many fine seamen, and undoubtedly those executions had struck
+a wholesome terror into the minds of British seamen generally.  From
+that day forward no mutiny of any consequence has ever occurred in the
+British fleet.
+
+At length the numerous towers of Windsor's proud castle were seen by the
+travellers.  Mabel's heart beat even quicker than before as the carriage
+dashed on.  At length they reached the foot of the ascent which leads to
+the terrace.  On one side were the walls of the castle, on the other
+stretched away the greensward, the wide-spreading trees, and the long
+glades of Windsor forest.  Along the terrace were scattered numerous
+groups of persons, some standing on either side, others walking slowly
+up and down in conversation, now bowing to those they passed, now
+stopping to speak a few words to acquaintances.  Below, the park was
+crowded with persons of every degree, all of them in gala costume.  The
+eyes of the greater number turned frequently up towards the terrace,
+where some object especially attracted their attention.  Mistress
+Barbara and Mabel, with Mr. Kyffin, had no difficulty in passing the
+guards, but their attendants were stopped and told that they could not
+be admitted on the terrace.
+
+"Oh, but we want them especially to come; it is a matter of greatest
+importance," exclaimed Mabel.  "We want them to see the King."
+
+"What is it? who do you want to see?" said a middle-aged gentleman,
+stepping forward from among several younger people by whom he was
+surrounded.
+
+"The King," answered Mabel, advancing.  "Your Majesty--it is yourself!"
+she added, looking up and discovering that she was in the presence of
+George the Third, who, with several of his own family and three or four
+of his favourite courtiers and visitors, had just reached the end of the
+terrace.
+
+"Ah! surely I have seen your face, young lady," said the King, in his
+kind, gentle way.  "Tell me all about it."
+
+"I had the honour of seeing your Majesty at Stanmore, the house of my
+uncle, Colonel Everard," answered Mabel, "when your Majesty was last
+there."
+
+"Ah, yes, and I never forget a face," said the King; "and how is your
+uncle?--he is an old friend of mine."
+
+"He has been called hence, your Majesty," answered Mabel; "he is dead."
+
+"Ah! dear, dear," said the King; "I had heard of it; my friends die
+quickly, and there are few to replace them; I ought to have remembered.
+But tell me what you require of me--what can I do for you?"
+
+Mabel endeavoured to explain in a few words, and as clearly as possible,
+the object of her visit to the King.  He listened attentively.
+
+"A sad thing that mutiny, though; but are you certain that young man is
+not guilty?  Can you prove it?  There's the question," said the King.
+"People want proofs in these matters.  We must not be governed by our
+feelings."
+
+"Oh, yes, your Majesty, I know, I am sure he is not guilty!" exclaimed
+Mabel, clasping her hands, and looking up imploringly at the King.  "My
+liege, you have the power of saving him; oh! let me entreat you to do
+so.  Exert your royal prerogative, and save the life of one who is
+innocent of the fearful charges brought against him."
+
+"I should like to do so, young lady, indeed I should," said the King,
+kindly, "but I want proofs.  Those are what the lawyers require.  What
+proofs can you bring forward?"
+
+"Here, your Majesty, are two men who were on board the ship in which Mr.
+Tryon served, and they are able to bear evidence that he was compelled
+by the ringleader to perform the acts for which he has been condemned."
+
+"Ah! let them come forward, and I will hear what they have to say," said
+the King.  "Are those the men outside who came with you?  Let them be
+admitted immediately!"
+
+On this Jacob and Jack Veal were allowed instantly to go on the terrace,
+Paul Gauntlett slipping in with them.  The King beckoned them forward.
+Doffing their hats, they stood in a row before his Majesty, Paul a
+little behind the others ready to make a military salute, while Jacob
+and Jack kept hauling away at one of the love-locks with which their
+foreheads were bedecked.
+
+"Let me hear all about it.  What have you got to say, my man?" asked the
+King, looking at Jacob.
+
+"Please your Majesty, he no more wanted to mutiny against your Majesty
+than the babe unborn," began Jacob.  "Please your Majesty, there's not a
+more loyal subject of your Majesty's in England, not except old Pike,
+whom your Majesty recollects at Lynderton, and who used to get drunk
+regularly on your Majesty's birthday drinking your Majesty's health."
+
+"What, do you know old Pike?" exclaimed the King, laughing; "I hope he
+is well."
+
+"Oh! bless you, your Majesty, he was well and as merry as a cricket when
+I was last at home.  I have been foreign since then, and have not seen
+him or my old mother for many a day."
+
+"Ah, well, I wish all my subjects were as loyal as old Pike," observed
+the King, turning round and narrating the anecdote of the prostration
+performed by the old mace-bearer before him.  "And now about this young
+man, you say he is innocent, but how can you prove it?"
+
+"Why, your Majesty, I can swear my Bible oath that I saw Richard Parker
+clap a pistol to his head and tell him if he did not obey orders he
+would blow his brains out.  Now, your Majesty, do you see, he thought to
+himself, `If my brains are blown out I can never serve the King again,
+and if I merely write as I am made to do there can be no great harm in
+that, and the time will come when I may be able to serve my good King as
+before.'  Now, your Majesty, I ask if a man was to treat you like that,
+whether you would not think it was wiser to obey him than to kick up a
+row about it?"
+
+"As to that, it would depend very much upon what the man wanted me to
+do," answered the King.  "However, it is clear your young friend acted
+on compulsion, if your oath is of any value; and what does your shipmate
+there say?"
+
+"Please your Majesty, I can swear the same thing," answered Jack Veal,
+"and what is more, we can bring several other men to prove that what we
+say is the truth."
+
+"And what do you say, my tall friend?" said the King, looking up at
+Paul.
+
+"Please your Majesty, I have known the lad from his boyhood.  He is true
+and loyal to the backbone," answered Paul, making a salute.  "His
+grandfather, General Tryon, served your Majesty, and perhaps your
+Majesty remembers the ride he took with you through the forest after
+your Majesty's visit to Stanmore."
+
+"Ah! yes, yes, let me see.  I remember the youth well," said the King.
+"A well-mannered, intelligent lad.  It would be a great pity to have him
+hung, of course it would," he remarked, turning round, to the Queen and
+princesses who were standing with him.  "But, my dear young lady, I
+cannot act in this matter without the advice of my ministers.  You must
+go and see Mr. Pitt, and learn what he has to say.  If he consents, I
+will pardon the lad with all my heart."
+
+"Most deeply do I thank your Majesty for those kind words," answered
+Mabel; "but time is precious.  Any instant he may be led out to
+execution, and some time would pass before we could apply to the
+minister."
+
+"Oh, that gentleman will help you," answered the King, turning to Mr.
+Kyffin, "he looks like a lawyer, a clever man, I am sure.  You will help
+the young lady, will you not?" said the King.
+
+"Armed with a line signed by your Majesty I certainly could do so,"
+answered Mr. Kyffin, bowing.  "We will hasten back to town and see Mr.
+Pitt, and in the meantime, provided with the order to stay the
+execution, we will proceed to the ship where the prisoner is confined."
+
+"Come along, then," said the King, with a kind encouraging glance at
+Mabel.  "You shall have the paper; I hope it is not unconstitutional.
+What is the lad's name?"
+
+"Harry Tryon," answered Mabel.
+
+"Please your Majesty, that is his real name," put in Jacob Tuttle,
+hearing the answer; "but the name he is to be hung by is Andrew Brown;
+and please your Majesty, if you only give the order to stop Harry Tryon
+being hung, poor Andrew Brown may be hung up notwithstanding."
+
+"I see, I see," said the King.  "Well, then, as you are in a hurry, my
+dear young lady, we will draw out the paper."
+
+On this the King, with several members of the royal family, attended by
+Mabel and Mr. Kyffin, entered the castle by the side door.  The King
+walked rapidly on through several passages till he entered his private
+room.  Sitting down at a desk he began to write, the rest of the party
+standing at a respectful distance round him.
+
+"There, my dear young lady, this, I believe, will have its effect," he
+observed, as he finished the papers and handed them to Mabel.  "You will
+not lose them, eh?  The one you can send on board the ship and the other
+to the minister.  He will attend to my request, I hope.  Now speed ye
+well, and God bless you."
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
+
+THE PRISON SHIP.--THE GREAT MINISTER.--A GLEAM OF SUNSHINE.
+
+
+Some way up the Thames lay a large hulk.  Her decks were housed in, her
+hulk was black; she bore but little resemblance to the stout ship she
+had once been, except from the ports which were to be seen on either
+side.  They were very thickly grated.  It was the prison ship.  Low down
+in one of the dark cells below the water-line, with manacles on his
+ankles, lay Harry Tryon.  His cheeks had become pale, his eye had lost
+much of its brightness, but hope had not altogether died within him.
+Still he was fully sensible of the dangerous position in which he was
+placed.  He had become of late a wiser and a sadder man than he had ever
+been before.  Still as day after day passed by and no friends came near
+him, his spirits sank lower and lower.
+
+"Have they all deserted me?" he said to himself, clasping his hands.
+"Mr. Kyffin would not, I am sure, and Mabel--she knows nothing of my
+desperate state.  Would that I had written to her.  Some effort might
+have been made to save me; but I could not bear the thought of writing
+to her as a felon, to let her hand touch the paper smelling of this foul
+prison.  Better far that I should die unknown.  When the wretched Andrew
+Brown is run up to the yard-arm there will be no one to mourn him, and
+Harry Tryon may disappear without a stain of disgrace upon the name."
+
+He attempted to rise--he could do so with difficulty--to take a few
+turns up and down the narrow cell.  Scarcely ever was he left in
+silence.  There was the ripple of the water against the ship's side;
+above him the steps of other prisoners as they, like him, paced to and
+fro.  Now and then there were shouts and cries of men driven to despair
+by their approaching fate, others singing and shouting with careless
+indifference.  It was weary work, that prison walk, for the chains were
+heavy.  The gyves hurt his legs.  Again he sat himself down, and clasped
+his hands upon his knees.
+
+"Death! death will be welcome!" he exclaimed, "the only termination to
+my misery and shame."
+
+As he thus sat his ears caught the sound of footsteps moving along the
+passage outside.  The lock in the heavy door moved, it opened, and a
+bright light which dazzled his eyes burst in.
+
+"They are come," he thought, "to carry me off."
+
+"I am ready," he said, starting up, expecting to see the gaoler and the
+guard of soldiers.  Instead, as his eyes recovered their vision, he saw
+standing before him his ever faithful guardian Roger Kyffin.  He sprang
+forward, then stopped for a moment and hung down his head.
+
+"You cannot come to own a wretched convict like me," he exclaimed, in a
+tone of sadness.
+
+"Do not say that, Harry," answered Mr. Kyffin, stepping forward and
+taking his hands.  "Not a moment's rest or happiness have I enjoyed
+since I learned the dangerous position in which you were placed.  Do not
+doubt the regard I must ever have for you.  I have discovered how you
+have been deceived, and how you were induced to desert your truest
+friend; I have therefore every excuse for you.  I have learned that even
+in this instance you are guiltless of disloyalty, and, believe me,
+Harry, however guilty you have been, I should still have looked upon you
+as a son."
+
+"You make me desire once more to live," exclaimed Harry, for the first
+time perhaps in his life bursting into tears.  "I thought no one cared
+for me.  I was prepared to die unknown and unlamented; and oh! tell me,
+Mr. Kyffin, does Mabel know of my condition?--has she discarded me?"
+
+His voice trembled.  He looked eagerly in his guardian's face for a
+reply.
+
+"No, Harry, indeed she has not discarded you.  She is true-hearted."
+
+"Is there any hope for me--must I suffer as so many unhappy men have
+done?" gasped out Harry.
+
+"There is hope, my boy.  I cannot say for a certainty that you will be
+saved.  Mabel herself obtained from the King a request to his ministers
+that your life should be spared, and I have seen the governor of the
+prison, and he believes it confers sufficient authority on him not to
+deliver you up till his Majesty's pleasure shall be further known."
+
+Mr. Kyffin then explained to Harry more clearly the particulars of which
+the reader is already aware.  Harry Tryon sank down on his knees, and
+thanked Heaven from the depth of his heart for the prospect of a release
+from the ignominious death for which he had been prepared.  Alas! he had
+not often truly prayed.  His grandmother had not attempted to teach him
+even a form of prayer, and seldom, during the life he spent in London
+had he ever dared to kneel to ask a blessing of his Heavenly Father.  He
+had now, however, learned an important lesson.  He had felt his utter
+helplessness and weakness, and had discovered that when lifting up his
+heart to God he received a strength and courage which he could by no
+other means have obtained.
+
+"And Mabel! bless her for what she has done for me!  But oh!  Mr.
+Kyffin, tell me where is she, how is she?"
+
+"She bears up wonderfully," answered Mr. Kyffin, "and even now she and
+her kind friend Mrs. Barbara Thornborough have gone to Mr. Pitt to
+endeavour, if possible, to see him, and obtain his warrant for your
+liberation."
+
+"Then I am sure she will succeed," exclaimed Harry, joyfully.
+
+"Do not raise your hopes too high, my boy, and yet I would wish to
+support and encourage you," remarked Mr. Kyffin.  "My stay with you now
+must be short, as I promised to meet Miss Everard after she had had an
+interview with the minister.  Even should he refuse, we must not lose
+heart.  We must bring other influence to bear on him.  However, Harry, I
+know you too well to think that there is any necessity to urge you not
+to despair.  And now farewell.  I purpose to return before long.  I hope
+to bring good news, but you must not be disappointed if it is not as
+good as we wish.  This mutiny, so happily quelled has been very serious,
+and might have proved most disastrous to the country.  The nation
+therefore is naturally little inclined to look with leniency on those
+who took a part in it, especially on the leaders; and from your having
+been associated with Parker, you, in the ordinary course, could scarcely
+expect a pardon."
+
+Mr. Kyffin was gone, and Harry was once more left to his own thoughts.
+The hours passed wearily by, they seemed longer than any during his
+imprisonment.  Sleep would not visit his eyelids.  Anxiously he listened
+for every sound, hoping for the speedy return of his friend.
+
+Meantime Mabel, who had parted from Mr. Kyffin at Mr. Thornborough's
+house after their return from Windsor, prepared to set out with Mrs.
+Barbara, attended by the two seamen and Paul,--to Mr. Pitt's house at
+Putney.  She waited but a short time to obtain a little refreshment
+which Mistress Barbara urged on her, and together they drove towards the
+residence of the minister, while Mr. Kyffin proceeded down the river to
+pay the visit to Harry which has been described.
+
+It was late in the evening when they arrived at the villa.  The two
+ladies, sending up their names, earnestly requested that they might be
+admitted.  Mr. Pitt was very much engaged, and could receive no
+visitors.
+
+"Is Lady Hester at home?" asked Mrs. Barbara.  "Her Ladyship may
+remember me," she observed, turning to Mabel; "if she does, she will, I
+think, see us, and through her we may press our suit on her uncle."
+
+The two ladies waited anxiously for the return of the servant.
+
+"Lady Hester will see you, ladies," was the reply, and Mabel and her
+friend descended from the carriage.
+
+They were ushered into a handsome drawing-room, where Lady Hester was
+seated alone at a writing-table.
+
+"I remember you, Mistress Thornborough," she said, rising and coming
+forward in a gracious manner.  "Tell me, to what cause am I indebted for
+the honour of this visit?"
+
+"My young friend here will explain it to you," said Mrs. Barbara, now
+introducing Mabel.  "One in whom she is deeply interested has been
+implicated in the late mutiny at the Nore, and in consequence of proper
+evidence not having been brought forward which would have proved that he
+acted under compulsion, he has been condemned to death.  We have seen
+his Majesty, who was acquainted with the young gentleman, and have now
+come, wishing to see Mr. Pitt, with two seamen of the ship on board
+which he served, who can clearly prove that he was an unwilling
+participator in what took place.  Still time is pressing."
+
+"I can hold out but slight hopes of Mr. Pitt's interference," answered
+Lady Hester.  "He sees the importance of preventing the recurrence of
+such a mutiny by striking a wholesome terror into the minds of the
+seamen."
+
+"But surely he would not wish an innocent person to suffer!" exclaimed
+Mabel.  "He can be proved innocent, believe me, your ladyship.  The King
+himself is convinced that he is so.  Let me entreat you to beg Mr. Pitt
+to grant a pardon to this young man."
+
+"You take a warm interest in him," said Lady Hester, looking at Mabel
+somewhat harshly.
+
+"Yes, indeed I do, I have known him from his youth," answered Mabel.
+"He is true and loyal, and would never have aided so dangerous a
+conspiracy as this appears to have been, to destroy the naval power of
+England."
+
+Lady Hester seemed to relent as she gazed at the young girl.  "I am
+ready to believe you," she answered, "that this young man is innocent.
+Tell me, how came he to be on board ship in the capacity of an ordinary
+seaman?"
+
+Mabel blushed and hesitated.
+
+"Oh, I see how it was," said Lady Hester; "and now you repent.  I will
+see Mr. Pitt, and give him your statement of the case."
+
+"Then may I beg you to deliver this letter from his Majesty at the same
+time?" said Mabel, presenting the King's note.
+
+Lady Hester took the paper, and remarked, as she rose to leave the room,
+"It may have weight with my uncle, but, at the same time, even the King
+himself cannot turn him from his will when he has once made up his
+mind."
+
+Once more the ladies were left in doubt and anxiety.  Mabel could not
+hope much from Lady Hester's manner.  Mrs. Barbara, who had seen her
+before, argued favourably.  Lady Hester was some time absent.
+
+At length the door opened, and she returned, followed by a
+slightly-built gentleman, scarcely yet of middle age, whose bright eye
+and broad forehead betokened intellect of no ordinary kind.  His manner
+was somewhat stiff and formal as, bowing to the ladies, who had risen at
+the entrance of Lady Hester, he took his seat near them.
+
+"You come with a request from his Majesty, I understand, to beg me to
+interfere in the case of one of the mutineers of the Nore.  His
+Majesty's commands have always great influence with me; at the same
+time, you must understand that the matter is one of a most serious
+character.  A great many men have been pardoned who really took a part
+in the mutiny by supporting their leaders.  If the leaders themselves
+are pardoned, the men will think that, after all, the crime they
+committed was a slight one," he observed, in a tone of voice which made
+Mabel's heart sink within her.
+
+"But, oh! sir," she exclaimed, pressing her hands before her in a
+pleading attitude, "but this young man, Andrew Brown, for by that name
+he is known, was not guilty of any evil intentions."
+
+Mabel repeated the statement she had already made to the King.
+
+"You plead his cause earnestly young lady," said the minister, "and
+right well, too.  Let me see these witnesses, and if they give a
+satisfactory statement, I will recommend the young man as a fit subject
+for his Majesty's clemency.  I cannot reverse the judgment of the court,
+you must remember.  If that condemned him, condemned he must be, but his
+Majesty can exert his prerogative of mercy, and both save his life and
+obtain his release."
+
+"Oh! thank you, sir, thank you," exclaimed Mabel, expressing by her
+looks more than by her words what she felt.
+
+The minister rang the bell, and ordered the two seamen to be admitted.
+In a short time there was a scuffling outside.  The door opened, and
+Jacob Tuttle and Jack Veal appeared, one urging on the other, as if
+neither liked to be the first to enter.  They held their hats in their
+hands, pulling away at their locks as they would have done addressing an
+officer on the quarter-deck.  Lady Hester looked on with an amused
+countenance as the minister cross-questioned them as to the part their
+shipmate had taken in the mutiny.
+
+"He took no part at all, please you, sir, for I don't call writing
+letters with a pistol held at a man's head taking part in the mutiny,
+and I know for certain that he hated it as much as any one.  Besides,
+sir, when we proposed striking the red flag, and carrying the ship up
+the river, he heartily joined the loyal part of the crew, and a pretty
+severe tussle we had, too, before we got possession of the ship and
+handed it over to the officers."
+
+Jack Veal corroborated what Jacob had said, and Mr. Pitt drew forth a
+considerable amount of further evidence which satisfied him that if
+these witnesses spoke the truth, Andrew Brown's guilt was not of a
+nature to merit death.  At last he turned to Mabel.
+
+"I have no hesitation in recommending his Majesty to pardon the young
+man in whom you are interested.  His story is, I have no doubt, a
+romantic one, and I do not wish to add to the romance by allowing him to
+finish his career at the yard-arm.  You need have no fear, therefore,
+young lady, on that score.  I will send down a reprieve, and will also
+give you a paper, which will secure a full pardon for your friend on
+being signed by his Majesty.  I must wish you good evening, and I am
+glad that my niece, Lady Hester, who is staying with me for a few days,
+has brought the matter before my notice."
+
+Without waiting to hear the expressions of gratitude which Mabel and
+Mrs. Barbara felt disposed to pour forth, the great minister left the
+room.  Lady Hester warmly congratulated them on the success of their
+mission, and assured them that she cordially sympathised with them.
+Jacob, forgetting where he was, on hearing that Harry was to be
+pardoned, threw up his hat, and in his delight uttered a loud shout
+exclaiming--
+
+"Bless you, my lady!  Bless Mr. Pitt, and the King, and all the Royal
+Family!  If I had as many lives as a cat, I would gladly spend them all
+in the service of so good a King and so noble a minister."
+
+On entering the carriage, Mabel sank back into the arms of Mrs. Barbara,
+and gave way to her feelings in a flood of tears.
+
+"Oh, he will be saved!" she exclaimed; "I scarcely dared hope it till
+now."
+
+At length Mabel appeared somewhat to recover her composure, and worn out
+by anxiety of mind and the fatigue she had gone through, at length sank
+to sleep in the arms of her friend.  They did not reach home till a late
+hour.  Scarcely conscious, Mabel was carried to bed.  Her dreams were
+far more happy than they had been for many a day.  She and her kind
+friend looked forward with anxiety to the return of Mr. Kyffin on the
+following day.  He arrived before noon with the intelligence that the
+governor of the prison had received the minister's reprieve for Harry.
+That afternoon had been fixed for the review of the volunteers in Hyde
+Park.  Mabel felt sure that his Majesty would, if he had an opportunity,
+immediately sign the pardon which the minister had given her.
+
+It was a lovely day.  The sun shone brightly forth from an unclouded
+sky, and from the various avenues of approach troops marched up to the
+ground preceded by their bands of music and colours flying--infantry,
+cavalry, and artillery.  The most numerous corps was that of the City
+Light Horse.  Some of the companies, however, were dismounted and
+marched on foot.  Others came in long cars, with their rifles between
+their knees, while a band of well-equipped horsemen rode up at the head
+of the regiment, their glittering arms and handsome dresses
+distinguishing them from the men of other corps.  The privates, as well
+as the officers, were all gentlemen, a considerable number of them men
+of fortune and independence.  One spirit animated every regiment alike--
+ardent love of their country, and a determination, if called upon, to
+fight bravely and to die in her defence.
+
+Mr. Kyffin and Mabel waited for a favourable opportunity of approaching
+the King, for Mabel's anxiety would brook no delay, and she was afraid
+that he might return to Windsor without signing the paper.
+
+At length the King drew up, preparatory to the troops marching past.
+The time seemed favourable, as there was an open space near his Majesty
+by which she could approach.  Dressed in deep mourning, and leaning on
+Mr. Kyffin's arm, her countenance radiant with beauty, her colour
+heightened by excitement, she drew near to the King.  One of the
+equerries observing her, inquired what she wanted.
+
+"It is not the right moment to approach his Majesty," he answered.
+
+The King, hearing what was said, turned his head, and seeing her,
+exclaimed--
+
+"Ah! my dear young lady, how can I help you?  What is it?  Will not Mr.
+Pitt advise me to pardon the young mutineer?"
+
+"Oh! yes, your Majesty.  He has given me a proper document which only
+requires your Majesty's signature, but every moment is of consequence.
+It is cruel to have him kept in that dreadful prison, and I dread lest
+by any mistake he may be carried off and executed."
+
+Mabel could scarcely bring herself to utter these words.  The King
+smiled.
+
+"No fear of that, I trust, my sweet young lady, but I will sign the
+paper.  Go and wait for me at Saint James's; as soon as this affair is
+over I will come there.  Lord So-and-so," he said, turning to one of his
+equerries, "remind me that I have a paper to sign; it is for that young
+lady; you will not forget it now."
+
+The equerry turned to Mabel and bowed low.
+
+The colour which had left her cheeks rose again in them, for the look
+cast on her was full of intense admiration.  Mr. Kyffin whispered to
+Mabel that she must not press the matter further, and bowing to the
+King, who gave a kind parting word to Mabel, they retired from among the
+glittering throng of military officers.
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
+
+SILAS SLEECH DEPARTS FROM THE SCENE.--HOW MR. SLEECH ENJOYED HIS
+POSSESSION OF STANMORE.
+
+Prisons even in those days were fearful dens, although considerably
+improved by the exertions of the noble Howard.  In an ill-ventilated
+room with grated windows, on a straw pallet, sat a young man.  His
+cheeks had gained the prison paleness.  A frown was on his brow, and an
+expression on his countenance, which betokened numerous bad passions.
+Several other persons were in the room, which was closed by a strong
+door, barred and locked.  Five or six other pallets, a rickety table,
+and several three-legged stools completed the furniture of the
+apartment.  The young man's companions had apparently been amusing
+themselves at his expense.  The more angry he became, the more they
+laughed and jeered.
+
+"Laugh while you may," he growled out.  "You will laugh on the wrong
+side of your mouth when dragged out to Tyburn.  I can, even now, fancy I
+see you dangling on the gibbet, and more thorough jailbirds have never
+been taken out to be hung!"
+
+These remarks, of course, produced retorts of equal bitterness.
+
+"As to me, I have no fear of the sort," at length exclaimed the young
+man.  "To be accused of a crime and to be proved guilty are two
+different things.  No evidence can be brought against me--of that I am
+certain."
+
+While he was speaking, the door opened, and the jailer appeared, a
+couple of armed guards standing behind him.  The prisoners gazed at him
+anxiously; although none of them were convicted, yet all of them in that
+chamber were accused of capital offences, and each supposed that it
+might be his turn to be led forth for trial.  Most of them knew pretty
+well that it would be the last scene but one of their existence.  The
+last would be on the scaffold at Tyburn.
+
+"It is an old gentleman wants to see you," said the jailer, looking at
+the young man on the pallet bed.  "Now you others, behave civilly to
+him, or I will be down upon you," he added, turning to the other
+prisoners.
+
+As he spoke, Mr. Sleech, the owner of Stanmore, entered the prison room.
+
+"Oh! is it you?" said the young man, looking at Mr. Sleech.  "Well, I am
+glad you have come at last.  Here, there's room for two of us; sit down.
+It is not a handsome reception-room, and my attendants are somewhat
+noisy.  We must take things as they are.  Well, what news?"
+
+Old Mr. Sleech was no stranger to similar scenes.  He had often visited
+jails professionally to consult with his clients, but the case in this
+instance was somewhat altered.  The prisoner he now came to see was his
+own son Silas.  It might have occurred to him that he had not brought
+him up in the way that an honest man should go.  The other prisoners,
+hardened villains most of them, were gathering round with the intention
+of mocking at the old man.
+
+"He is my father!" said Silas, rising with a greater approach to dignity
+than he had yet exhibited.  "Some of you have fathers.  If one of them
+was to come and see you, you would not like the others to stand round
+and see him insulted."
+
+The address had its effect, and the ruffians, in spite of the
+inclination exhibited by one or two to continue their sport, retired to
+the farther end of the room, where they sat down at the rickety table.
+One of them pulling out a greasy pack of cards, they commenced playing.
+
+"How did you manage to get yourself into this trouble?" asked old
+Sleech; "I thought you were too wise for that."
+
+"My wisdom will be shown in getting out of it," answered Silas.  "I
+played a somewhat bold game, and might have made a false move or two,
+but it cannot be helped now.  There will be no evidence brought against
+me, I am very sure of that Young Harry Tryon went aboard ship, you know
+that.  Well, besides, he was on board the `Sandwich,' and Parker mixed
+him well up in the mutiny.  He was seen with him at the dockyard at
+Sheerness.  I learned all that from an acquaintance of mine--young
+Gilby.  He saw him with his own eyes, so there's no doubt about it."
+
+"He may have been mistaken," observed old Sleech.
+
+"Not a bit of it," said his son, "he knows Harry almost as well as I do.
+He has met him scores of times, both at Mr. Coppinger's house and at
+some of the places which Harry used to frequent.  Never fear, it is all
+right; I shall soon be out of this, and down at Stanmore to enjoy
+myself.  I say, father, we shall want a little ready money to keep up
+the game.  We must make the old trees fall right and left, and you know,
+at a pinch, you and I can sell a few dirty acres.  In my opinion there
+is nothing like enjoying a thing when we have got it."
+
+The further conversation between the father and his estimable son need
+not be repeated.  Silas had fallen considerably in his parent's
+estimation since he had so committed himself as to get into prison.  He
+was, also, not quite so sanguine as his son was as to the result of the
+trial; but he performed a parent's part in securing the best counsel to
+be obtained.  He also made interest with the governor to procure a
+better room and superior food for his son.  Silas did not, however,
+exhibit the gratitude which might have been expected.
+
+"It would not do to let the heir of Stanmore dangle on a gibbet, eh,
+dad, would it?" he observed, when his father told him what he had done.
+"No chance of that, or I could not joke on the subject."
+
+The day of the trial arrived.  Silas Sleech stood at the bar.  He gazed
+round the court with an air of confidence, and nodded familiarly to some
+of his acquaintances.  His eye fell for a moment as he encountered the
+stern glance of Mr. Coppinger, Mr. Kyffin, and other persons who had
+been brought in as evidence against him.  The case was gone into.  He
+was ably defended, and his counsel laid great stress on the
+non-appearance of the person whose signature he was said to have forged,
+and whose ruin it appeared he had taken great pains to effect.  Silas
+smiled as he heard these remarks, and attempted to throw an expression
+of injured innocence into his countenance.  The counsel for the Crown
+replied; but the defence made by the defendant's counsel seemed to have
+great weight with the jury, when there was a slight movement in the
+court.  A slip of paper was put into the hand of the Crown counsel.  He
+turned round and spoke a few words to a well-dressed young man, who had
+at that time entered.
+
+"The defendant declares," he observed, "that no evidence can be brought
+forward to prove that he forged the signature of Mr. Stephen Coppinger,
+asserting that it was the act of another person.  Here stands that other
+person, whose statement you will hear.  I produce him as a witness;
+should you consider him unworthy of belief, you will acquit the
+prisoner; if not, I am ready to prove that no other person than Silas
+Sleech, the prisoner at the bar, could have committed the forgery."
+
+As Silas caught sight of the countenance of the young man, he gazed at
+him as at one risen from the dead, and a sudden tremor seized his frame.
+
+"He knows I did not do it; he knows I did not," he gasped out; but Harry
+Tryon took no notice of him.
+
+Harry briefly and clearly gave an account of the circumstances with
+which the reader is already acquainted.
+
+The jury were perfectly satisfied of the guilt of the prisoner.
+
+"But he is a convicted felon, he cannot be brought as evidence against
+me.  He was one of the mutineers of the Nore.  He ought to have been
+hung with his companion Parker."
+
+"The prisoner is mistaken, my lord," said Mr. Kyffin; "the young
+gentleman is as free as any one in this court.  He is my ward, and I am
+sure that his name will not be found among the mutineers of the Nore."
+
+The jury returned a verdict of guilty, but recommended the prisoner to
+mercy.  In spite of Sleech's criminality, Mr. Coppinger and others
+exerted themselves, and the sentence of death was commuted to that of
+transportation for life, and Mr. Silas Sleech was among the next batch
+of prisoners shipped off on board a convict ship for Botany Bay.  Mr.
+Tony Sleech did not allow his heart to break at the loss of his son.  He
+was legally dead, and his next boy must, therefore, be the heir of
+Stanmore.  He was of a somewhat more hopeful character than Silas,
+though not possessing the same amount of talent.  He was a dunce,
+indeed, in his father's estimation, and had been so in that of his
+school companions.  He had, however, sense enough to appreciate the
+change of position from a younger son to that of the heir of a fine
+estate, and very soon gave himself so many airs that his brothers and
+sisters could not help having a secret wish that he might be despatched
+after Silas.
+
+The cost of his son's defence had been very considerable, and Mr. Sleech
+therefore considered it desirable to repay himself by cutting down more
+of the Stanmore trees, although the proceeds were not to be expended in
+the way Silas had proposed.
+
+He was one day, soon after his return to Stanmore, superintending this
+proceeding, when Mr. Wallace arrived at the park, and proceeded into the
+grounds to look for him.  The two lawyers bowed stiffly to each other.
+
+"I have come, Mr. Sleech," said the other, "on the part of my client, to
+_warn_ you of the danger of your proceeding.  For every tree that falls
+you will be made responsible.  I have thorough confidence that Captain
+Everard will ere long prove his right to the property."
+
+"No danger at all about the matter, my good sir," answered Mr. Sleech,
+with an air of indifference which he did not altogether feel.  "I have a
+right over these trees, and have determined to cut them down, and
+therefore, I say, let any man interfere with me if he dare."
+
+"We are not going to proceed by force, Mr. Sleech," answered Mr.
+Wallace, "we are not driven to that; but I again repeat that, not only
+will you be compelled to pay the value of every tree which you cut down,
+but also you will be heavily fined for the damage which you have
+committed on the property."
+
+"I will stand the consequences," repeated Sleech, but his voice somewhat
+failed him as he spoke.
+
+Mr. Wallace marked it.
+
+"Well," he said, "my good sir, we are fellow-townsmen, and though often
+professionally opposed to each other, I speak to you as a friend.  Be
+warned in time.  Your son has been dealt leniently with, and has escaped
+death, but depend upon it, if you persist in injuring this estate, you
+will be made to pay heavily in purse.  No mercy will be shown you, I can
+assure you."
+
+Saying this, Mr. Wallace bowed to his brother lawyer, and without
+further ceremony took his way back to the house.  Mr. Sleech soon
+afterwards proceeded in the same direction, doubtful, apparently, what
+course to pursue.
+
+"I won't be bullied," he said to himself, "and yet they seem pretty
+confident.  I don't quite like the look of matters."
+
+Scarcely had Mr. Sleech left the wood when another person appeared on
+the scene.  Paul Gauntlett was well known to all the labourers around.
+He walked up, armed as usual with a stout cudgel.  He might have been
+seen day after day since his return from London walking round and round
+the grounds, just outside, evidently considering that he was acting in
+some way as guardian of the place.
+
+Madam Everard had warned him that he could not legally enter it.  As,
+however, he saw from a distance the tall boughs of the trees falling
+towards the ground, he could resist no longer.
+
+"You are employed on a fine work, my friends," he said, gazing round
+him.  "What now would you say if you saw the colonel standing in the
+midst of you?  He would be wonderfully pleased at seeing these shady
+trees which he loved so well cut down one after the other at the beck of
+a pettifogging attorney.  That is what Mr. Sleech is, even though he has
+got into the big house here.  That is what he will ever remain.  But I
+tell you what, lads, he will not hold Stanmore long.  Of that I am very
+certain.  The captain will have his own again before many weeks are
+over, mark me.  Now I say, I don't want to take the bread out of your
+mouths, but if any of you can get better work than this, I say go and
+take it.  I shall mark every man who stays on here, and he may never
+expect another day's work on Stanmore as long as I live, if he lays his
+hand against one of these trees after I have warned him.  There never
+was a better master than the colonel; and the captain, his nephew, is
+likely to be every bit as good a one.  Now, boys, just take your own
+course, you have heard what I have got to say.  What will you do?  There
+is Farmer Giles and Farmer Jobson, and Mr. Timmins, down at the mill,
+and twenty others want hands.  You will all get as good wages as this
+old skinflint can pay you, and be employed in an honest way."
+
+Paul's address had a great effect among the labourers.  They consulted
+together for some time, and one after the other agreed that they would
+not again lay an axe against the root of one of the trees of Stanmore.
+A few held out.  They had got work and did not see why some old trees
+should not come down at the bidding of one man as well as that of
+another.
+
+"Take your own way," answered Paul.  "If the trees fall, some one will
+have to pay, and you will not forget my words."
+
+Several of the men shouldered their axes and prepared to move.
+
+"I would sooner lose a week's work than offend the captain," exclaimed
+one.
+
+"Well said, John Hobby, you are a true man," exclaimed Paul.  "To my
+mind none of you will have to lose a day's work.  I don't make promises
+for other people, but my opinion is that a generous, open-handed man
+like the captain would not let a fellow suffer for being true to him."
+
+"Hurrah!  I will not lift an axe against another tree in this place till
+the captain orders me," cried Hobby.
+
+"Nor I, nor I, nor I," answered others.
+
+The whole party with one accord, headed by Paul Gauntlett, marched off
+the ground, leaving four or five trees where they lay, with their
+branches still attached to them.  There seemed no probability of more of
+the timber of Stanmore being felled that day, or perhaps for some days
+to come.
+
+We must now return to Mr. Thornborough's house in London.  Mabel was
+staying with her godfather and his kind sister.  After she had obtained
+the King's signature for his pardon, though feeling certain that he
+would be released, her nerves at length gave way, and she was utterly
+unable to accompany Mr. Kyffin, as she wished to do, to carry the pardon
+down to him.  She therefore returned to Mr. Thornborough's house, while
+Mr. Kyffin again went down the banks of the Thames to the prison ship.
+Mr. Kyffin had a double reason for haste.  He was less anxious,
+possibly, than Mabel, on account of Harry's safety, for he felt sure
+that that was secured; but the next day had been fixed for the trial of
+Silas Sleech, and he wished to obtain his ward's evidence, without which
+he foresaw that the conviction of the culprit was very uncertain.  Harry
+could scarcely believe that he was at liberty, though he saw the prison
+door open, and his guardian, accompanied by the governor of the prison
+and other officials who had come to set him at liberty.  They were soon
+on shore, and at the inn where Mr. Kyffin had left his carriage.  He had
+thoughtfully brought a suit of clothes for Harry, who, with a
+satisfaction which can be best understood by those who have suffered as
+he had done, having gone through a thorough ablution, once more dressed
+himself as a gentleman.  He was pale, but in other respects greatly
+improved.  His figure was fuller, and his appearance more manly.  His
+arrival in court, in time to secure Silas Sleech's conviction, has
+already been described.  Mabel was all day in a state of nervous
+agitation.  Frequently when Mrs. Barbara addressed her she scarcely
+understood what was said.  When she took up a book, her eyes ran over
+the pages without reading a line.  She tried to work, but her fingers
+refused to move.  Mrs. Barbara observed her state.  "Poor girl," she
+thought, "how wonderful it is that she should love that young man so
+much."  A carriage stopped at the door.  She endeavoured to rise, but
+found it impossible to move.  She drew her breath quickly.  The door
+opened, and a middle-aged gentleman entered.  She lifted up her head.
+In an instant she was in his arms.
+
+"Oh! papa, this is almost too much for me," she exclaimed, as Captain
+Everard returned her embrace.  In a few words he told her what had
+occurred.  "But the loss of Stanmore is a severe blow," he observed.
+
+"Oh! for me it is nothing," answered Mabel; "I feel for you, though that
+cannot take away your position as a post-captain."
+
+"No, indeed," answered the captain, "it is a position a man may well be
+proud of."
+
+"And as for the fortune, my little god-daughter must not be without
+something," observed Mr. Thornborough.  "Here, Barbara, give her that
+paper.  A present is better than a bequest, and I have had the amount
+transferred to her name in the funds."
+
+Mabel's eyes were too full of tears to distinguish clearly what was
+written on the paper, though she could make out the sum of 10,000
+pounds.  She was springing forward to thank her godfather, when another
+carriage drove up to the door.  Again the drawing-room door opened, and
+two gentlemen entered.  This time Mabel did not spring into the arms of
+either of them, but she stood for an instant motionless till the
+youngest advanced towards her.  Then unconsciously forgetting that any
+one else was present, she lifted up her arms and let them fall on the
+young man's shoulders.
+
+"What!  Andrew Brown, the brave seaman who saved my life?" exclaimed
+Captain Everard.  "But can it be?  I wonder that all that time I did not
+recognise my young friend Harry Tryon."
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
+
+THE WRECK OF THE LUGGER, AND WHAT CAME OF IT.
+
+For upwards of a week Roger Kyffin had been absent from Idol Lane,
+during which time he had never left his house at Hampstead.  The doctor,
+however, paid frequent visits, sometimes thrice a day; once he remained
+during the greater part of the night.  The Misses Coppinger also
+frequently drove over, and on one occasion Mr. Coppinger himself rode
+all the way to Hampstead to inquire for Mr. Kyffin's sick friend, for
+Mr. Kyffin himself was in perfect health; indeed, he had never had an
+hour's illness since he was a boy.  No mother could have attended a
+child with more care and solicitude than did Roger Kyffin his guest.
+That guest was Harry Tryon.  The day after his release from the prison
+ship he was seized with illness--his tongue was parched, his limbs
+ached, he was unable to raise his head from his pillow.  The doctor
+thought that he was suffering, it might be, from the jail fever.
+Harry's nerves had also been severely tried.  What with the fatigue and
+anxiety he had gone through, the feeling of shame and remorse for his
+folly had at length completely overcome him.  For several days he
+appeared to be hovering between life and death.
+
+"Oh!  Mr. Kyffin, I am unworthy of you, I feel that I have disgraced
+you, and Mabel, too; when she knows about me, she, too, will see that I
+am unworthy of her love.  How can she ever have confidence in a man who
+has shown himself so weak, who has committed so many follies, and who
+has been so easily led astray by designing knaves?  How could I for a
+moment have trusted such a person as that unhappy man Sleech?  Why did I
+not at once perceive the aims of Parker, who, however, was a thousand
+times superior to the other fellow?"
+
+"My dear boy," said Mr. Kyffin, "`let bygones be bygones.'  You have had
+a good deal of experience in life, and have paid dearly for it, and now
+I pray God that you may be restored to health and be wiser for the
+future."
+
+"I see no hope for life in me," answered Harry, "Mabel can never be
+mine."
+
+This was said as the fever was coming upon him before he broke down
+altogether.  Mr. Kyffin saw that reasoning or expostulation under the
+circumstances would avail nothing.  He did his best therefore merely to
+soothe the poor lad.  From his heart he pitied him, and loved him more
+than ever.  Mabel had returned to Lynderton with her father.  She was
+not told of Harry's desperate illness.  Indeed, she could not be
+permitted to see him for fear of catching the fever.  She had fully
+expected that he would write, and perhaps she suffered more from being
+left in doubt than if she had been told the truth.  At length, a fine
+constitution, under the doctor's care, by God's mercy brought him
+through.  As soon as he was sufficiently recovered to be moved, Mr.
+Kyffin was anxious to give him change of air.  The cottage where he was
+born was vacant, and Mr. Kyffin begged his old friend Doctor Jessop to
+fit it up for him.  "His native air, and the doctor who knows him so
+well, will afford him the best chance of perfect recovery," the kind man
+thought to himself, so he and Harry set forth towards Lynderton.  Once
+more Harry took up his abode at the cottage where he first saw the
+light.  He sat in the room with his old friend where his mother had
+died.  A faint recollection of her came across him.  He could even fancy
+he saw her slight figure as she sat in the porch watching his gambols on
+the lawn, or as she stood at the gate while he and the nursemaid set
+forth on their daily walk.  The fresh autumn air soon restored vigour to
+his limbs and sent new life through his veins.  Doctor Jessop prescribed
+frequent walks on the open downs above the cliffs.
+
+"All fear of infection will by that time be blown away," he observed.
+"For my part, I believe there has been no real danger since you left
+London.  However, we cannot be too cautious in such matters."
+
+"And may I then see Mabel--Miss Everard?" he asked.
+
+The doctor smiled.
+
+"That may be as her father wishes," he answered.  "Certainly you will
+run no risk of giving her the fever, if that is what you mean.  Perhaps
+I may be able to drive you there some day, not just yet though, and you
+are certainly not strong enough to walk so far."
+
+The weather had changed lately, and become very boisterous, but the
+stronger it blew the more Harry enjoyed his walks on the cliffs.--
+Generally Mr. Kyffin accompanied him.  One evening, however, it having
+rained all the afternoon, he went out later than usual.  The air was
+fresh and pure, and he was tempted to continue his walk much farther
+than he generally went.  At length, growing somewhat weary, he sat
+himself down in a hollow of the downs.  The sun had hitherto been
+concealed, but at length it shone forth below a mass of clouds which
+hung overhead, and appeared floating as it were above the horizon, a
+vast ball of liquid fire.  Gradually it sank over Portland Head, leaving
+the western sky glowing with a ruddy hue.  Harry sat on, lost in
+thought.  Now a fresh bank of clouds rose out of the horizon, and
+joining those that hung overhead, completely obscured the sky.  Twilight
+came on more rapidly than usual, it seemed, as the wind increased, and
+the clouds rushed by in thick masses overhead.  At last Harry became
+conscious that time had sped by, and the waning light warned him of the
+rapid approach of night.  He knew the way well enough.  At the same time
+there were several difficult places which he would have preferred
+passing in daylight.  He hurried homeward along the cliff, but the
+darkness increased, and at length, reaching a path which led down to the
+beach, and recollecting that the tide was out, he descended by it,
+intending to continue his walk that way homeward.  It was soon so dark
+that he could with difficulty see his way along the shore.  Still, he
+found it somewhat tedious work walking along the beach, and upwards of
+an hour passed away after it became dark before, according to his
+calculation, he had reached that part of the beach which lay below the
+cottage.  Just as he was about to turn away inland the sound of a gun
+came in from the sea.  Another and another report followed.  He stood
+for a few minutes wondering from what vessel the guns were fired.
+Presently his eye caught sight of the flashes.  Several others followed.
+The vessel firing was drawing nearer and nearer.  He could not bring
+himself to leave the shore, hoping that Mr. Kyffin would not be alarmed
+by his absence.  The wind whistled loudly.  The seas came rolling in
+heavily on the beach, bursting with loud roars, throwing up the white
+spray, which was driven in showers inland.  Harry was soon pretty well
+drenched, but he had been too much accustomed to a wet jacket to think
+of it.  Suddenly the clouds parted, and the moon burst forth, shedding a
+pale light over the wild, dancing waters.  Just on the spot where her
+beams fell he distinguished a vessel running in towards the shore.  That
+short glance showed him that she was a lugger.  She seemed to be
+carrying a press of sail, considering the heavy gale blowing.  Again the
+clouds parted, and at some distance astern of her, his keen seaman's eye
+caught sight of a larger vessel.  It was from her the guns were fired,
+for at that instant a flash was soon followed by the dull report of a
+gun, sounding even above the roar of the ocean.  The position of both
+vessels was perilous in the extreme.  In a few minutes the lugger must
+inevitably run on shore; but being probably a light craft, by being
+driven high upon the beach her crew might be saved; but if the larger
+vessel struck, it would be at a considerable distance farther out, and
+the seas would with terrific force instantly break over her and wash all
+the people off her decks.  He longed to have the means of making a
+signal to the vessels of their danger.  That seemed impossible.  At no
+great distance were several cottages inhabited by fishermen and other
+seafaring people.
+
+"I will go and collect them," Harry said to himself, "and get them to
+bring ropes and spars.  We may save the lives of some of these poor
+fellows.  Without help they must nearly all be washed off again, even
+should they be thrown on the beach."
+
+Harry was not mistaken as to his position, and after some time, though
+not without difficulty, he found his way up the cliff and saw a light
+burning in one of the cottages which he was endeavouring to reach.  He
+shouted out to the inmates, and at length a door opened and a light
+streamed forth.  By its means he got to the front of the cottage, and
+told the men what was likely to occur.  In a short time they were all on
+foot and hurrying down with him to the beach, laden with the poles and
+ropes he advised them to bring.  At that moment a light burst forth from
+the top of a neighbouring cliff, and it was repeated by another from a
+beacon a little way inland.  The guns then had been heard by the
+coastguards.  By the time Harry had returned to the beach, a number of
+persons were collecting from all sides.  Numerous other beacons in a
+short time blazed forth.  The crowd were uttering various cries and
+exclamations.
+
+"It is a French fleet," cried one; "the French are coming."
+
+"To arms! to arms!" shouted others.
+
+"What is to be done?" asked some of the more timid.  Several hurried
+back, declaring it was time to get out of harm's way.  Harry was glad at
+last to hear Mr. Kyffin's voice.  He made his way up to him.  "I was
+afraid you would be anxious about me," he said; "but I felt that I ought
+not to come home to let you know till I had collected the people, in
+case there should be a shipwreck, to help the sufferers."
+
+"She will be lost to a certainty," cried the seamen in the crowd.
+
+Just then the dark sail of the lugger was seen, now lifted up, as she
+rose on the top of the sea, now sinking down into the trough.  On she
+came.  Those on board must have been well aware of the fate awaiting
+them.  Still they made no attempt to haul off.
+
+Harry, calling to the people assembled, formed a party of men with ropes
+and spars who, secured one to the other, were to rush into the sea, and
+endeavour to drag out those who were washed overboard.  Others were to
+stand by, ready to carry them up the beach out of the reach of the
+waves.  The arrangements were made not a moment too soon.  With a loud
+crash the lugger was seen rushing up the beach.  In another instant, the
+following sea, with a loud roar, washed completely over her, and she was
+driven broadside on to the shore.
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.
+
+HAPPY NEWS.
+
+Several persons were carried off the decks of the wreck, and had it not
+been for the hardihood of those who rushed into the water, would
+inevitably have been swept away.  Some of the crew, as the sea receded,
+leaped overboard and endeavoured to gain the shore.  They also were
+helped in the same manner.  Several poor fellows, however, were unable
+to reach the friendly hands held out to them, and were carried out by
+the waves.  One of the number was, in another minute, dimly seen to be
+struggling forward on the curling summit of a foaming sea.  Harry, who
+had ever been a bold swimmer, casting a rope about himself, now dashed
+in towards the almost exhausted man.  Bravely he swam forward.  He
+clasped him in his arms, and then shouting to his companions, was hauled
+up the beach in safety.  A few more seas, came rushing in, and scarce a
+plank or timber of the lugger hung together.  The greater number of the
+persons on board had been saved.  They seemed, however, to be no
+strangers to most of the people on the beach.  For some minutes Harry
+had been so busily engaged in rescuing others that he had not had time
+to speak to the person he had drawn out of the water.  Great was his
+surprise, on returning to the drier part of the beach, when the light of
+a lantern fell on a man's countenance he recognised--the features of his
+old acquaintance, Captain Falwasser.  Several other persons were seated
+near him: one was a female, and the other an old man.
+
+"What, my friend Harry Tryon!" exclaimed the captain, grasping him.  "My
+life, I know, is not the first you have saved.  Harry, I have news for
+you," he said, as if recollecting himself.  "You shall have it
+by-and-bye.  But these poor people require to be housed.  They are
+shivering with the cold, and I must confess that I should like to find
+myself before a warm fire."
+
+"Our cottage is at the service of as many as can get into it," said Mr.
+Kyffin, coming up to the captain.  "Our friends here will, I have no
+doubt, take care of the rest."
+
+The lugger had come across empty, greatly to the disappointment of most
+of the bystanders.
+
+"As fine a craft as ever floated has come to her end this night,"
+observed one of them.  "Well, lads, there is nothing more to be done, so
+we will back to our homes and get some of these poor fellows put into
+warm beds."
+
+The captain and two old French people, with two or three more persons,
+accompanied Mr. Kyffin and Harry to the cottage.  As they reached the
+top of the cliffs, they saw, far and near, the beacon fires bursting
+forth, and heard the sound of guns firing in the distance.
+
+"Why the people must suppose that the French are coming," observed Mr.
+Kyffin.  "Depend upon it that is the idea.  We shall have the whole army
+of volunteers down upon us before long, and when they find that you,
+captain, and your two old friends are the only invaders, they may be apt
+to feel rather irate; our safest plan will be to get housed comfortably
+before they come.  It will do the young soldiers no harm to give them
+some useful exercise.  I only hope, should the enemy ever come, that the
+guardians of our native land may be as wide awake as they appear to be
+to-night."
+
+The cottage was shortly reached.  Susan, Harry's old nurse, now grown
+into a comely matron, acted as housekeeper; a blazing fire in the
+kitchen soon restored warmth to their limbs, while all the garments
+which the house could furnish were brought forth to supply them with dry
+clothes.  A steaming hot supper was after this placed on the table,
+round which Mr. Kyffin's guests thankfully assembled.
+
+"Well, Harry, you wish to know the news I have brought, I doubt not,"
+said the captain, when at length he was sufficiently recovered to find
+the use of his tongue.  "Had you not come down to-night to assist in
+saving me and these two country people of mine, in all human probability
+your friend Captain Everard would not have recovered possession of
+Stanmore.  I am thankful to say, after much risk and anxiety, I
+succeeded in getting a copy of the marriage certificate which was of
+such importance, and to make security doubly sure, I brought over these
+two old people who were witnesses to his father's marriage."
+
+"How can he ever repay you sufficiently?" said Harry; "I must set out
+immediately to let him know the result of your mission."
+
+"No, no, my dear boy, you have gone through sufficient fatigue
+to-night," said Mr. Kyffin.  "You must do no such thing.  The captain
+will not be the worse for spending another night without knowing that he
+can regain his property, and to-morrow morning we will go in due form,
+when, perhaps, as the gale last night must have blown away all your
+fever, you may be admitted into the presence of Mistress Mabel."
+
+Harry's countenance lighted up with pleasure at this suggestion of his
+guardian.  "Do you think she will see me?" he exclaimed.  "She will not
+deem me unworthy to appear in her presence?"
+
+"I don't know what the young lady will think of your past doings, Master
+Harry," observed Captain Falwasser, "but I rather think that, as you
+will take her a pretty fair certificate of your good conduct, you may
+have reason to hope that she will receive you condescendingly.  I tell
+you, in my opinion, had it not been for you, Stanmore would have
+remained in the possession of the Sleech family as long as any of that
+sweet-sounding name exists.  But see, my old friends, who do not
+understand the words that have been said, are nodding.  Your kind
+housekeeper will, I dare say, see them put to roost."
+
+Before day had dawned, the sound of drums and fifes was heard, and
+looking out of the window, Harry saw approaching from various
+directions, and forming on the downs, numerous companies of volunteers.
+Several officers on horseback rode along the cliff at a rapid rate,
+stopping every now and then, sweeping with their spy-glasses the distant
+horizon.  Not a sail, however, was to be seen.  They consulted together,
+and were evidently disconcerted at finding no enemy to resist.  He was
+about to go out and meet them, but remembering his guardian's remarks on
+the previous evening, he thought that they might possibly cause some
+annoyance to the French captain.
+
+"They may as well find out all about the lugger by themselves," he
+thought.
+
+After a time several of the coastguard appeared, when the military
+having fired their muskets towards the south in defiance of their
+expected invaders, once more wheeled about, and marched away to their
+respective homes.
+
+"I like to see that sort of thing," observed Mr. Kyffin.  "Englishmen
+will ever be found ready to defend their native shores."
+
+Mr. Kyffin had sent in for a carriage at an early hour to Lynderton, and
+soon after breakfast he, with Harry and their three visitors, set forth
+for that town.  They stopped before the bow-windowed house where Captain
+Everard was residing with his aunt and daughter.  Madam Everard was on
+the steps preparing to go out, and just behind her stood Mabel.  As
+Harry descended from the carriage, why did Mabel start back and retreat
+a little within the passage?  Madam Everard kindly took Harry's hand,
+and shook that of Mr. Kyffin.  She cast an inquiring glance at the
+captain, whom at first she did not recognise.
+
+"May we come in?" asked Harry, looking up eagerly towards Mabel.  For an
+instant he hesitated, then sprang up the steps past the old lady.  Madam
+Everard detained Mr. Kyffin and the captain for some minutes by making
+inquiries and receiving answers.
+
+"Come in, come in," at length she answered.  "Little did I expect to
+receive such joyful intelligence.  Accept my gratitude, Captain Rochard,
+on my own account, and doubly thankful I am that by your means my dear
+nephew and his daughter will recover their rights."
+
+A minute afterwards Mary was seen tripping down the street to the
+news-room to summon the captain.  He had gone there to read the account
+just received of Lord Duncan's great victory at Camperdown.
+
+"Oh, sir!" exclaimed Mary, as she saw the captain, "it is happy news,
+sir, happy news, better news than that about the battle.  The French
+captain has come back and brought two old country people with him, and
+Madam Everard says we shall all get back to Stanmore."
+
+Mr. Wallace was in the room at the time, and the captain, scarcely
+crediting the news, begged the lawyer to accompany him home.
+
+"The evidence is complete," observed Mr. Wallace, after he had looked
+over the document brought by Captain Rochard, and by the help of that
+gentleman had examined the old French people.  "We can go with perfect
+confidence of victory into a court of law, should Mr. Sleech venture to
+oppose the claims of Captain Everard."
+
+"I trust that everything may be done in a peaceable way," observed Madam
+Everard.  "I cannot pretend to have any regard for that unhappy man, Mr.
+Sleech, though his children are, it must be owned, my nephews and
+nieces.  I trust, however, that he will yield without opposition."
+
+Mr. Wallace promised to manage matters in as gentle a way as possible,
+and that no time might be lost, he set out forthwith for Stanmore.  Paul
+Gauntlett, who very soon heard what was taking place, begged to
+accompany him.
+
+"No, no," said the lawyer.  "You, my friend, are a man of war.  We will
+call you in if it is necessary to proceed by ejectment, but at present I
+hope the enemy will capitulate without an assault."
+
+The answer satisfied Paul.
+
+At that moment Dr. Jessop looked in to pay a professional visit to
+Mabel.
+
+"I think she scarcely requires your services, doctor," observed Madam
+Everard; "but if you, as a friend of the family, will accompany Mr.
+Wallace, perhaps you may be able to aid him in his delicate and somewhat
+painful mission."
+
+"Come, brother physic, come along then," said Mr. Wallace, as they
+stepped into the carriage which had brought the party from Sea View
+Cottage.  "The sooner this matter is settled the better."
+
+Mr. Sleech was seated in his study in a flowery dressing-gown, the
+hairdresser from Lynderton having just curled and powdered his peruke,
+when a footman in the Stanmore livery, which he had lately assumed,
+announced the lawyer and doctor.
+
+"What can they want with me?" he exclaimed.  "Really, a man of rank and
+position can scarcely call his time his own.  Let them in, however."
+
+At that moment the Misses Sleech and one of their brothers came in from
+the grounds.
+
+"Papa," exclaimed the young Mr. Sleech, "those fellows have not cut down
+another tree.  They say they don't mind putting the fences in order and
+digging out the ditches, but that not one of them will lay an axe to a
+root."
+
+"Impertinent fellows!" exclaimed Mr. Sleech.  "I will see how they dare
+disobey me."
+
+At that moment the visitors entered the room.
+
+"Your servant, gentlemen," said the master of Stanmore, performing one
+of his newly-learned bows.  "To what cause am I indebted for the honour
+of this visit?  Doctor, you are always welcome, whether you come as a
+visitor or professionally," he added, holding out his hand, at the same
+time turning a dark frown towards his brother lawyer, who took his seat
+in silence.
+
+"As you ask me, Mr. Sleech," said Dr. Jessop, "I come now as a friend--
+as a friend of your family and that of the Everards.  I wish that you
+could have heard the expressions uttered but lately by your excellent
+sister-in-law, Madam Everard.  You must be aware that it was very
+painful to her to leave Stanmore.  The law allowed you to take
+possession, it being supposed that no marriage had taken place between
+Captain Everard's father and mother, notwithstanding the assertion of
+the former that he had married in France.  Of course Captain Everard has
+taken every means to prove his legitimacy, and I must ask you now to be
+prepared to receive the information, that not only is he in possession
+of the certificate of the marriage, properly attested by the French
+authorities, but that actually two French persons of respectability who
+were present are at this moment in England, indeed at Lynderton."
+
+Mr. Sleech gasped for breath as the doctor proceeded, turning his
+rolling eyeballs first at him and then at the lawyer.
+
+"Is it true what he says?  Is it true, Wallace?  Tell me," he exclaimed.
+
+"Perfectly true, Mr. Sleech," answered the lawyer.  "You have no more
+right to be in this house than I have; at the same time, the owners
+desire that you should be treated with every kindness and
+consideration."
+
+Mr. Sleech rose from his seat, and appeared as if he were about to rush
+on his brother lawyer.
+
+"It is false!  It is a vile conspiracy!  They are impostors!" he
+exclaimed.  "I will not yield: I will die first!"
+
+"My good sir," exclaimed the doctor, placing himself between Mr. Sleech,
+whose doubled fist was raised to strike Mr. Wallace, "let me entreat you
+to becalm.  This violence will do you no good, and is discreditable to
+you."
+
+The unfortunate man stopped and gasped, and had not the doctor held him
+up, he would have sunk to the ground.  He was placed in a chair.
+Restoratives were administered, and at length he recovered.
+
+"I yield," at last he said; "I played for a high stake, and I have lost.
+They will have pity on me.  That wretched boy of mine, his fate has
+well-nigh broken my heart."
+
+In a few days Mr. Sleech and his family returned to the old red brick
+building with the high roof in the High Street of Lynderton, which he
+had inhabited since he entered business.
+
+The bells rang merrily out when Captain Everard and his daughter,
+accompanied by Madam Everard and several friends, drove up the avenue
+once more to Stanmore.  Harry Tryon, however, never became its master.
+The charms of Miss Coppinger had for some time before captured the heart
+of the gallant captain, and in a short time after this she became his
+bride, and, ultimately, the mother of a considerable number of fine sons
+and girls, of whom, notwithstanding, Mabel was not in the slightest
+degree jealous, as she by that time could boast of an equal number of
+her own.  The fortune her godfather had given her, and a very handsome
+settlement made by Mr. Kyffin, enabled her to accept Harry Tryon's hand.
+At the same time, the Baron de Ruvigny consoled himself for his past
+disappointments by marrying Sybella Coppinger, and both he and Harry
+joined Mr. Coppinger's firm, and by the time a permanent peace was once
+more restored to Europe, had become among the first merchants of London.
+With regard to Captain Falwasser, or Rochard, as he also called
+himself, he was a true patriot, though a royalist, and had for some
+political cause been compelled to leave France before the outbreak of
+the revolution.  He had been introduced to Mr. Pitt, and had been
+employed by him in gaining information of proceedings in France.  For
+this purpose he had engaged the famous smuggling lugger, from which he
+could land without observation on either coast.  Disguised in a variety
+of ways, he had been able to traverse France.  Had he been captured, he
+knew well that his life would have been sacrificed.  For many years he
+persevered, and at length, escaping all dangers, settled down at
+Lynderton, where he was ever an honoured guest at Stanmore.  Paul
+Gauntlett once more took up his former office at the park, which he held
+to a green old age; and Jacob Tuttle came home with the loss of an arm,
+and married his faithful Mary.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Roger Kyffin's Ward, by W.H.G. Kingston
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40690 ***