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diff --git a/40690-0.txt b/40690-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ed7b12 --- /dev/null +++ b/40690-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8378 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40690 *** + +Roger Kyffin's Ward, by WHG Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +________________________________________________________________________ +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 *** |