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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6006-h.zip b/6006-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a446ddf --- /dev/null +++ b/6006-h.zip diff --git a/6006-h/6006-h.htm b/6006-h/6006-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ab0baec --- /dev/null +++ b/6006-h/6006-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9015 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<title> + Under the Storm, + by Charlotte M. Yonge +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body { text-align:justify} + P { margin:15%; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; } + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + .play { margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; text-align: justify; font-size: 100%; } + img {border: 0;} + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;} + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 1%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: left; + color: gray; + } /* page numbers */ + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 10%; margin-left: 1%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; + margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 5%; margin-bottom: .75em; font-size: 110%;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 5%;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + PRE { font-family: Times; font-style: italic; font-size: 100%; margin-left: 25%;} + --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Storm, by Charlotte M. Yonge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Under the Storm + Steadfast's Charge + +Author: Charlotte M. Yonge + +Release Date: July, 2004 +Posting Date: September 30, 2009 [EBook #6006] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE STORM *** + + + + +Produced by Sandra Laythorpe, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br><br> + +<h1> + UNDER THE STORM +</h1> +<h4> +or +</h4> +<h2> +STEADFAST'S CHARGE +</h2><br> + +<h2> +By Charlotte M. Yonge +</h2> +<h4> +Author of "The Heir of Redclyffe," &c. +</h4> + +<a name="image-0001"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/underthestorm.jpg" height="668" width="448" +alt="Cover +"> +</center> + + + + + +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h2>Contents</h2> + + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + <a href="#2HCH0001"> +CHAPTER I. </a></td><td>THE TRUST +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0002"> +CHAPTER II. </a></td><td>THE STRAGGLERS +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0003"> +CHAPTER III. </a></td><td>KIRK RAPINE +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0004"> +CHAPTER IV. </a></td><td>THE GOOD CAUSE +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0005"> +CHAPTER V. </a></td><td>DESOLATION +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0006"> +CHAPTER VI. </a></td><td>LEFT TO THEMSELVES +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0007"> +CHAPTER VII. </a></td><td>THE HERMIT'S GULLEY +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0008"> +CHAPTER VIII. </a></td><td>STEAD IN POSSESSION +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0009"> +CHAPTER IX. </a></td><td>WINTRY TIMES +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0010"> +CHAPTER X. </a></td><td>A TERRIBLE HARVEST DAY +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0011"> +CHAPTER XI. </a></td><td>THE FORTUNES OF WAR +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0012"> +CHAPTER XII. </a></td><td>FAREWELL TO THE CAVALIERS +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0013"> +CHAPTER XIII. </a></td><td>GODLY VENN'S TROOP +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0014"> +CHAPTER XIV. </a></td><td>THE QUESTION +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0015"> +CHAPTER XV. </a></td><td>A TABLE OF LOVE IN THE WILDERNESS +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0016"> +CHAPTER XVI. </a></td><td>A FAIR OFFER +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0017"> +CHAPTER XVII. </a></td><td>THE GROOM IN GREY +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0018"> +CHAPTER XVIII. </a></td><td>JEPH'S GOOD FORTUNE +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0019"> +CHAPTER XIX. </a></td><td>PATIENCE +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0020"> +CHAPTER XX. </a></td><td>EMLYN'S SERVICE +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0021"> +CHAPTER XXI. </a></td><td>THE ASSAULT OF THE CAVERN +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0022"> +CHAPTER XXII. </a></td><td>EMLYN'S TROTH +</td></tr><tr><td> + <a href="#2HCH0023"> +CHAPTER XXIII. </a></td><td>FULFILMENT +</td></tr><tr><td> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h2>List of Illustrations</h2> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0001"> +Cover +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0002"> +The Hiding of the Casket +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0003"> +Stead Stirring the Porridge. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0004"> +Finding of Emlyn +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0005"> +Farewell to the Cavaliers +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0006"> +Emlyn at the Market +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0007"> +Stead Before the Roundheads +</a></p> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br><a name="2HCH0001"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br> + + + + +<h1>UNDER THE STORM:</h1> + +<h4>OR</h4> + +<h2> +STEADFAST'S CHARGE. +</h2> + +<br><br><br> + +<h2> + CHAPTER I. THE TRUST. +</h2> +<pre> + "I brought them here as to a sanctuary." + SOUTHEY. +</pre> +<p> +Most of us have heard of the sad times in the middle of the seventeenth +century, when Englishmen were at war with one another and quiet villages +became battlefields. +</p> +<p> +We hear a great deal about King and Parliament, great lords and able +generals, Cavaliers and Roundheads, but this story is to help us to +think how it must have gone in those times with quiet folk in cottages +and farmhouses. +</p> +<p> +There had been peace in England for a great many years, ever since the +end of the wars of the Roses. So the towns did not want fortifications +to keep out the enemy, and their houses spread out beyond the old walls; +and the country houses had windows and doors large and wide open, with +no thought of keeping out foes, and farms and cottages were freely +spread about everywhere, with their fields round them. +</p> +<p> +The farms were very small, mostly held by men who did all the work +themselves with the help of their families. +</p> +<p> +Such a farm belonged to John Kenton of Elmwood. It lay at the head of a +long green lane, where the bushes overhead almost touched one another +in the summer, and the mud and mire were very deep in winter; but that +mattered the less as nothing on wheels went up or down it but the hay +or harvest carts, creaking under their load, and drawn by the old mare, +with a cow to help her. +</p> +<p> +Beyond lay a few small fields, and then a bit of open ground scattered +with gorse and thorn bushes, and much broken by ups and downs. There, +one afternoon on a big stone was seated Steadfast Kenton, a boy of +fourteen, sturdy, perhaps loutish, with an honest ruddy face under his +leathern cap, a coarse smock frock and stout gaiters. He was watching +the fifteen sheep and lambs, the old goose and gander and their nine +children, the three cows, eight pigs, and the old donkey which got their +living there. +</p> +<p> +From the top of the hill, beyond the cleft of the river Avon, he could +see the smoke and the church towers of the town of Bristol, and beyond +it, the slime of the water of the Bristol Channel; and nearer, on one +side, the spire of Elmwood Church looked up, and, on the other, the +woods round Elmwood House, and these ran out as it were, lengthening and +narrowing into a wooded cleft or gulley, Hermit's Gulley, which broke +the side of the hill just below where Steadfast stood, and had a little +clear stream running along the bottom. +</p> +<p> +Steadfast's little herd knew the time of day as well as if they all had +watches in their pockets, and they never failed to go down and have a +drink at the brook before going back to the farmyard. +</p> +<p> +They did not need to be driven, but gathered into the rude steep path +that they and their kind had worn in the side of the ravine. Steadfast +followed, looking about him to judge how soon the nuts would be ripe, +while his little rough stiff-haired dog Toby poked about in search of +rabbits or hedgehogs, or the like sport. +</p> +<p> +Steadfast liked that pathway home beside the stream, as boys do love +running water. Good stones could be got there, water rats might be +chased, there were strawberries on the banks which he gathered and +threaded on stalks of grass for his sisters, Patience and Jerusha. They +used to come with him and have pleasant games, but it was a long time +since Patience had been able to come out, for in the winter, a grievous +trouble had come on the family. The good mother had died, leaving a +little baby of six weeks old, and Patience, who was only thirteen, had +to attend to everything at home, and take care of poor little sickly +Benoni with no one to help her but her little seven years old sister. +</p> +<p> +The children's lives had been much less bright since that sad day; and +Steadfast seldom had much time for play. He knew he must get home as +fast as he could to help Patience in milking the cows, feeding the pigs +and poultry, and getting the supper, or some of the other things that +his elder brother Jephthah called wench-work and would not do. +</p> +<p> +He could not, however, help looking up at the hole in the side of the +steep cliff, where one might climb up to such a delightful cave, in +which he and Patience had so often played on hot days. It had been their +secret, and a kind of palace to them. They had sat there as king and +queen, had paved it with stones from the brook, and had had many plans +for the sports they would have there this summer, little thinking that +Patience would have been turned into a grave, busy little housewife, +instead of a merry, playful child. +</p> +<p> +Toby looked up too, and began to bark. There was a rustling in the +bushes below the cave, and Steadfast, at first in dismay to see his +secret delight invaded, beheld between the mountain ash boughs and ivy, +to his great surprise, a square cap and black cassock tucked up, and +then a bit of brown leathern coat, which he knew full well. It was the +Vicar, Master Holworth, and his father John Kenton was Churchwarden, +so it was no wonder to see him and the Parson together, but what could +bring them here—into Steadfast's cave? and with a dark lantern too! +They seemed as surprised, perhaps as vexed as he was, at the sight of +him, but his father said, "'Tis my lad, Steadfast, I'll answer for him." +</p> +<p> +"And so will I," returned the clergyman. "Is anyone with you, my boy?" +</p> +<p> +"No, your reverence, no one save the beasts." +</p> +<p> +"Then come up here," said his father. "Someone has been playing here, I +see." +</p> +<p> +"Patience and I, father, last summer." +</p> +<p> +"No one else?" +</p> +<p> +"No, no one. We put those stones and those sticks when we made a fire +there last year, and no one has meddled with them since." +</p> +<p> +"Thou and Patience," said Mr. Holworth thoughtfully. "Not Jephthah nor +the little maid?" +</p> +<p> +"No, sir," replied Steadfast, "we would not let them know, because we +wanted a place to ourselves." +</p> +<p> +For in truth the quiet ways and little arrangements of these two had +often been much disturbed by the rough elder brother who teased and +laughed at them, and by the troublesome little sister, who put her +fingers into everything. +</p> +<p> +The Vicar and the Churchwarden looked at one another, and John Kenton +muttered, "True as steel." +</p> +<p> +"Your father answers for you, my boy," said the Vicar. "So we will e'en +let you know what we are about. I was told this morn by a sure hand that +the Parliament men, who now hold Bristol Castle, are coming to deal with +the village churches even as they have dealt with the minster and with +St. Mary's, Redcliffe." +</p> +<p> +"A murrain on them!" muttered Kenton. +</p> +<p> +"I wot that in their ignorance they do it," gently quoted the Vicar. +"But we would fain save from their hands the holy Chalice and paten +which came down to our Church from the ancient times—and which bearing +on them, as they do, the figure of the Crucifixion of our blessed Lord, +would assuredly provoke the zeal of the destroyers. Therefore have we +placed them in this casket, and your father devised hiding them within +this cave, which he thought was unknown to any save himself—" +</p> +<p> +"Yea," said John, "my poor brother Will and I were wont to play there +when we herded the cattle on the hill. It was climbing yon ash tree that +stands out above that he got the fall that was the death of him at +last. I've never gone nigh the place with mine own good will since that +day—nor knew the children had done so—but methought 'twas a lonesome +place and on mine own land, where we might safest store the holy things +till better times come round." +</p> +<p> +"And so I hope they will," said Mr. Holworth. +</p> +<p> +"I hear good news of the King's cause in the north." +</p> +<p> +Then they began to consult where to place the precious casket. They had +brought tinder and matches, and Steadfast, who knew the secrets of the +cave even better than his father, showed them a little hollow, far back, +which would just hold the chest, and being closed in front with a big +stone, fast wedged in, was never likely to be discovered readily. +</p> +<a name="image-0002"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/hidingcasket.jpg" height="348" width="590" +alt="The Hiding of the Casket +"> +</center> + +<p> +"This has been a hiding place already." +</p> +<p> +"Methinks this has once been a chapel," said the clergyman presently, +pointing to some rude carvings—one something like a cross, and a large +stone that might have served as an altar. +</p> +<p> +"Belike," said Kenton, "there's an old stone pile, a mere hovel, down +below, where my grandfather said he remembered an old monk, a hermit, or +some such gear—a Papist—as lived in hiding. He did no hurt, and was +a man from these parts, so none meddled with him, or gave notice to the +Queen's officers, and our folk at the farm sold his baskets at the town, +and brought him a barley loaf twice a week till he died, all alone in +his hut. Very like he said his mass here." +</p> +<p> +John wondered to find that the minister thought this made the place +more suitable. The whole cavern was so low that the two men could hardly +stand upright in it, though it ran about twelve yards back. There were +white limestone drops like icicles hanging above from the roof; and +bats, disturbed by the light, came flying about the heads of their +visitors, while streamers of ivy and old man's beard hung over the +mouth, and were displaced by the heads of the men. +</p> +<p> +"None is like to find the spot," said John Kenton, as he tried to +replace the tangled branches that had been pushed aside. +</p> +<p> +"God grant us happier days for bringing it forth," said the clergyman. +</p> +<p> +All three bared their heads, and Mr. Holworth uttered a few words of +prayer and blessing; then let John help him down the steep scramble +and descent, and looked up to see whether any sign of the cave could be +detected from the edge of the brook. Kenton shook his head reassuringly. +</p> +<p> +"Ah!" said Mr. Holworth, "it minds me that none ever found again the +holy Ark of the Covenant that King Josiah and the Prophet Jeremiah hid +in a cavern within Mount Pisgah! and our sins be many that have provoked +this judgment! Mayhap the boy will be the only one of us who will see +these blessed vessels restored to their Altar once more! He may +have been sent hither to that very end. Now, look you, Steadfast +Kenton—Steadfast thou hast ever been, so far as I have known thee, in +nature as well as in name. Give me thy word that thou wilt never give up +the secret of yonder cavern to any save a lawfully ordained minister of +the church." +</p> +<p> +"No doubt poor old Clerk North will be in distress about the loss," said +Kenton. +</p> +<p> +"True, but he had best not be told. His mind is fast going, and he +cannot safely be trusted with such a mighty secret." +</p> +<p> +"Patience knows the cavern," murmured Steadfast to his father. +</p> +<p> +"Best have no womenfolk, nor young maids in such a matter," said the +Vicar. +</p> +<p> +"My wench takes after her good mother," said John, "and I ever found my +secrets were safer in her breast than in mine own. Not that I would have +her told without need. But she might take little Rusha there, or make +the place known to others an she be not warned." +</p> +<p> +"Steadfast must do as he sees occasion, with your counsel, Master +Kenton," said the Vicar. "It is a great trust we place in you, my son, +to be as it were in charge of the vessels of the sanctuary, and I would +have thy hand and word." +</p> +<p> +"And," said his father, "though he be slower in speech than some, your +reverence may trust him." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast gave his brown red hand, and with head bare said, "I promise, +after the minister and before God, never to give up that which lies +within the cave to any man, save a lawfully ordained minister of the +Church." +</p> +<a name="2HCH0002"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER II. THE STRAGGLERS. +</h2> +<pre> + "Trust me, I am exceedingly weary." + SHAKESPEARE. +</pre> +<p> +John Kenton, though a Churchwarden, was, as has been said, a very small +farmer, and the homestead was no more than a substantial cottage, built +of the greystone of the country, with the upper story projecting a +little, and reached by an outside stair of stone. The farm yard, with +the cowsheds, barn, and hay stack were close in front, with only a +narrow strip of garden between, for there was not much heed paid to +flowers, and few kitchen vegetables were grown in those days, only a few +potherbs round the door, and a sweet-brier bush by the window. +</p> +<p> +The cows had made their way home of their own accord, and Patience was +milking one of them already, while little Rusha held the baby, which was +swaddled up as tightly as a mummy, with only his arms free. He stretched +them out with a cry of gladness as he saw his father, and Kenton +took the little creature tenderly in his arms and held him up, while +Steadfast hurried off to fetch the milking stool and begin upon the +other cow. +</p> +<p> +"Is Jeph come home?" asked the father, and Rusha answered "No, daddy, +though he went ever so long ago, and said he would bring me a cake." +</p> +<p> +Upon this Master Kenton handed little Benoni back to Rusha, not without +some sounds of fretfulness from the baby, but the pigs had to be shut up +and fed, and the other evening work of the farmyard done; and it was +not till all this was over, and Patience had disposed of the milk in the +cool cellars, that the father could take him again. +</p> +<p> +Meantime Steadfast had brought up a bucket of water from the spring, +and after washing his own hands and face, set out the table with a very +clean, though coarse cloth, five brown bowls, three horn spoons and two +wooden ones, one drinking horn, a couple of red earthen cups and two +small hooped ones of wood, a brown pitcher of small ale, a big barley +loaf, and a red crock, lined with yellow glazing, into which Patience +presently proceeded to pour from a cauldron, where it had been simmering +over the fire, a mess of broth thickened with meal. This does not sound +like good living, but the Kentons were fairly well-to-do smock-frock +farmers, and though in some houses there might be greater plenty, +there was not much more comfort beneath the ranks of the gentry in the +country. +</p> +<p> +As for seats, the father's big wooden chair stood by the fire, and there +was a long settle, but only stools were used at the table, two being the +same that had served the milkers. Just as Rusha, at her father's sign, +had uttered a short Grace, there stood in the doorway a tall, stout, +well-made lad of seventeen, with a high-crowned wide-brimmed felt hat, +a dark jerkin with sleeves, that, like his breeches and gaiters, were of +leather, and a belt across his shoulder with a knife stuck in it. +</p> +<p> +"Ha! Jeph," said Kenton, "always in time for meat, whatever else you +miss." +</p> +<p> +"I could not help it, father," said Jephthah, "the red coats were at +their exercise!" +</p> +<p> +"And thou couldst not get away from the gape-seed, eh! Come, sit down, +boy, and have at thy supper." +</p> +<p> +"I wish I was one of them," said Jeph as he sat down. +</p> +<p> +"And thou'dst soon wish thyself back again!" returned his father. +</p> +<p> +"How much did you get for the fowls and eggs?" demanded Patience. +</p> +<p> +Jephthah replied by producing a leathern bag, while Rusha cried out for +her cake, and from another pocket came, wrapped in his handkerchief, two +or three saffron buns which were greeted with such joy that his father +had not the heart to say much about wasting pence, though it appeared +that the baker woman had given them as part of her bargain for a couple +of dozen of eggs, which Patience declared ought to have brought two +pence instead of only three halfpence. +</p> +<p> +Jephthah, however, had far too much news to tell to heed her +disappointment as she counted the money. He declared that the price +of eggs and butter would go up gallantly, for more soldiers were daily +expected to defend Bristol, and he had further to tell of one of the +captains preaching in the Minster, and the market people flocking in to +hear him. Jeph had been outside, for there was no room within, but he +had scrambled upon an old tombstone with a couple of other lads, and +through the broken window had seen the gentleman holding forth in his +hat and feather, buff coat and crimson scarf, and heard him call on all +around to be strong and hew down all their enemies, even dragging the +false and treacherous woman and her idols out to the horse gate and +there smiting them even to the death. +</p> +<p> +"Who was the false woman?" asked Steadfast. +</p> +<p> +"I wot not! There was something about Aholah, or some such name, but +just then a mischievous little jackanapes pulled me down by the leg, +and I had to thrash him for it, and by the time I had done, Dick, the +butcher's lad, had got my place and I heard no more." +</p> +<p> +Whether the Captain meant Aholah or Athaliah, or alluded to Queen +Henrietta Maria, or to the English Church, Jeph's auditors never knew. +The baby began to cry, and Patience to feed him with the milk and water +that had been warmed at the fire; his father and the boys went out to +finish the work for the night, little Rusha running after them. +</p> +<p> +Presently, she gave a cry and darted up to her father "The soldiers! +the soldiers!" and in fact three men with steel caps, buff coats, and +musquets slung by broad belts were coming into the yard. +</p> +<p> +Kenton took up his little girl in his arms and went forward to meet +them, but he soon saw they did not look dangerous, they were dragging +along as if very tired and footsore and as if their weapons were a heavy +weight. +</p> +<p> +"It's the goodman," said the foremost, a red-faced, good-natured looking +fellow more like a hostler than a soldier, "have you seen Captain +Lundy's men pass this way?" +</p> +<p> +"Not I!" said Kenton, "we lie out of the high road, you see." +</p> +<p> +"But I saw them, a couple of hours agone, marching into Bristol," said +Jephthah coming forward. +</p> +<p> +"There now," said the man, "we did but stop at the sign of the 'Crab' +the drinking of a pottle, and to bathe Jack's foot near there, and we +have never been able to catch them up again! How far off be Bristol?" +</p> +<p> +"A matter of four mile across the ferry. You may see it from the hill +above." +</p> +<p> +He looked stout enough though he gave a heavy sigh of weariness, and the +other two, who were mere youths, not much older than Jeph, seemed quite +spent, and heard of the additional four miles with dismay. +</p> +<p> +"Heart alive, lads," said their comrade, "ye'll soon be in good +quarters, and mayhap the goodman here will give you a drink to carry ye +on a bit further for the Cause." +</p> +<p> +"You are welcome to a draught for civility's sake," said Kenton, making +a sign to his sons, who ran off to the house, "but I'm a plain man, and +know nought about the Cause." +</p> +<p> +"Well, Master," said the straggler, as he leant his back against the +barn, and his two companions sat down on the ground in the shelter, +"I have heard a lot about the Cause, but all I know is that my Lord +of Essex sent to call out five-and-twenty men from our parish, and the +squire, he was in a proper rage with being rated to pay ship money, +so—as I had fallen out with my master, mine host of the 'Griffin,' more +fool I—I went with the young gentleman, and a proper ass I was to do +so." +</p> +<p> +"Father said 'twas rank popery railing in the Communion table, when it +was so handy to sit on or to put one's hat on," added one of the youths +looking up. "So he was willing for me to go, and I thought I'd like to +see the world, but I'd fain be at home again." +</p> +<p> +"So would not I," muttered the other lad. +</p> +<p> +"No," said the ex-tapster humorously, "for thou knowst the stocks be +gaping for thee, Dick." +</p> +<p> +By this time Jeph and Stead had returned with a jug of small beer, a +horn cup, and three hunches of the barley loaf. The men ate and drank, +and then the tapster returning hearty thanks, called the others on, +observing that if they did not make the best speed, they might miss +their billet, and have to sleep in the streets, if not become acquainted +with the lash. +</p> +<p> +On then unwillingly they dragged, as if one foot would hardly come after +the other. +</p> +<p> +"Poor lads!" said Kenton, as he looked after them, "methinks that's +enough to take the taste for soldiering out of thy mouth, son Jeph." +</p> +<p> +"A set of poor-spirited rogues," returned Jeph contemptuously, as he +nevertheless sauntered on so as to watch them down the lane. +</p> +<p> +"Be they on the right side or the wrong, father?" asked Steadfast, as he +picked up the pitcher and the horn. +</p> +<p> +"They be dead against our parson, lad," returned Kenton, "and he says +they be against the Church and the King, though they do take the King's +name, it don't look like the right side to be knocking out church +windows, eh?" +</p> +<p> +"Nay!" said Steadfast, "but there's them as says the windows be popish +idols." +</p> +<p> +"Never you mind 'em, lad, ye don't bow down to the glass, nor worship +it. Thy blessed mother would have put it to you better than I can, and +she knew the Bible from end to end, but says she 'God would have His +worship for glory and for beauty in the old times, why not now?'" +</p> +<p> +John Kenton had an immense reverence for his late wife. She had been far +more educated than he, having been born and bred up in the household +of one of those gentlemen who held it as their duty to provide for the +religious instruction of their servants. +</p> +<p> +She had been serving-woman to the lady, who in widowhood went to reside +at Bristol, and there during her marketings, honest John Kenton had won +her by his sterling qualities. +</p> +<p> +Puritanism did not mean nonconformity in her days, and in fact everyone +who was earnest and scrupulous was apt to be termed a Puritan. Goodwife +Kenton was one of those pious and simple souls who drink in whatever is +good in their surroundings; and though the chaplain who had taught her +in her youth would have differed in controversy with Mr. Holworth, she +never discovered their diversity, nor saw more than that Elmwood +Church had more decoration than the Castle Chapel. Whatever was done by +authority she thought was right, and she found good reason for it in +the Bible and Prayer-book her good lady had given her. She had named her +children after the prevailing custom of Puritans because she had heard +the chaplain object to what he considered unhallowed heathenish names, +but she had been heartily glad that they should be taught and catechised +by the good vicar. Happily for her, in her country home, she did not +live to see the strife brought into her own life. +</p> +<p> +She had taught her children as much as she could. Her husband was +willing, but his old mother disapproved of learning in that station of +life, and aided and abetted her eldest grandson in his resistance, so +that though she had died when he was only eleven or twelve years old, +Jephthah could do no more than just make out the meaning of a printed +sentence, whereas Steadfast and Patience could both read easily, and did +read whatever came in their way, though that was only a broadside ballad +now and then besides their mother's Bible and Prayer-book, and one or +two little black books. +</p> +<p> +The three eldest had been confirmed, when the Bishop of Bath and Wells +had been in the neighbourhood. That was only a fortnight after their +mother died, and even Jeph was sad and subdued. +</p> +<p> +Since that sad day when the good mother had blessed them for the last +time, there had been little time for anything. Patience had to be the +busy little housewife, and what she would have done without Steadfast +she could not tell. Jeph would never put a hand to what he called maids' +work, but Stead would sweep, or beat the butter, or draw the water, +or chop wood, or hold the baby, and was always ready to help her, even +though it hindered him from ever going out to fish, or play at base +ball, or any of the other sports the village boys loved. +</p> +<p> +His quiet, thoughtful ways had earned his father's trust, though he was +much slower of speech and less ready than his elder brother, and looked +heavy both in countenance and figure beside Jeph, who was tall, slim, +and full of activity and animation. He had often made his mother uneasy +by wild talk about going to sea, and by consorting with the sailors at +Bristol, which was their nearest town, though on the other side of the +Avon, and in a different county. +</p> +<p> +It was there that the Elmwood people did their marketing, often leaving +their donkeys hobbled on their own side of the river, being ferried over +and carrying the goods themselves the latter part of the way. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0003"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER III. KIRK RAPINE. +</h2> +<pre> + "When impious men held sway and wasted Church and shrine." + LORD SELBORNE. +</pre> +<p> +Patience, in her tight little white cap, sat spinning by the door, +rocking the cradle with her foot, while Rusha sometimes built what she +called houses with stones, sometimes trotted to look down the lane to +see whether father and the lads were coming home from market. +</p> +<p> +Presently she brought word, "Stead is coming. He is leading Whitefoot, +but I don't see father and Jeph." +</p> +<p> +Patience jumped up to put her wheel out of the way, and soon she saw +that it was only Steadfast leading the old mare with the large crooks or +panniers on either side. She ran to meet him, and saw he looked rather +pale and dazed. +</p> +<p> +"What is it, Stead? Where's daddy?" +</p> +<p> +"Gone up to Elmwood! They told us in town that some of the soldiers and +the folk of that sort were gone out to rabble cur church and our parson, +and father is Churchwarden, you know. So he said he must go to see what +was doing. And he bade me take Whitefoot home and give you the money," +said Steadfast, producing a bag which Patience took to keep for her +father. +</p> +<p> +She watched very anxiously, and so did Stead, while relieving Whitefoot +of her panniers and giving her a rub down before turning her out to get +her supper. +</p> +<p> +It was not long however before Kenton and Jeph both appeared, the one +looking sad, the other sulky. "Too late," Jeph muttered, "and father +won't let me go to see the sport." +</p> +<p> +"Sport, d'ye call it?" said Kenton. "Aye, Stead, you may well gape at +what we have seen—our good parson with his feet tied to his stirrups on +a sorry nag, being hauled off to town like a common thief!" +</p> +<p> +"Oh!" broke from the children, and Patience ventured to ask, "But what +for, father?" +</p> +<p> +"They best know who did it," said the Churchwarden. "Something they said +of a scandalous minister, as though his had not ever been a godly life +and preaching. These be strange times, children, and for the life of me, +I know not what it all means. How now, Jeph, what art idling there +for? There's the waggon to be loaded for to-morrow with the faggots I +promised Mistress Lightfoot." +</p> +<p> +Jeph moved away, murmuring something about fetching up the cows, to +which his father replied, "That was Steadfast's work, and it was not +time yet." +</p> +<p> +In fact Jeph was very curious to know what was going on in the village. +If there was any kind of uproar, why should not he have his part in +it? It was just like father to hinder him, and he had a great mind to +neglect the faggots and go off to the village. He was rather surprised, +and a good deal vexed to see his father walking along on the way to the +pasture with Steadfast. +</p> +<p> +It was for the sake of saying "Aye, boy, best not go near the sorry +sight! They would not let good Master Holworth speak with me; but I +saw he meant to warn me to keep aloof lest Tim Green or the like should +remember as how I'm Churchwarden." +</p> +<p> +"Did they ask after those things?" inquired Steadfast in a lowered +voice. +</p> +<p> +"I can't say. But on your life, lad, not a word of them!" +</p> +<p> +After work was done for the evening, Jeph and Stead were too eager +to know what had happened to stay at home. They ran across the bit of +moorland to the village street and the grey church, whose odd-shaped +steeple stood up among the trees. Already they could see that the great +west window was broken, all the glass which bore the picture of the Last +Judgment, and the Archangel Michael weighing souls in the balance was +gone! +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said Tom Oates, leaping over two or three tombstones to get to +them. "'Twas rare sport, Jeph Kenton. Why were you not there too?" +</p> +<p> +"At Bristol with father," replied Jeph. +</p> +<p> +"Worse luck for you. The red coat shot the big angel right in the eye, +and shivered him through, and we did the rest with stones. I sent one +that knocked the wing of him right off. You should have seen me, Stead! +And old Clerk North was running about crying all the time like a baby. +He'll never whack us over the head again!" +</p> +<p> +"What was the good?" said Steadfast. +</p> +<p> +"You never saw better sport," said the boys. +</p> +<p> +And indeed, since, when once begun, destruction and mischief are apt to +be only too delightful to boys, they had thoroughly and thoughtlessly +delighted in knocking down the things they had been taught to respect. A +figure of a knight in a ruff kneeling on a tomb had had its head +knocked off, and one of the lads heaved the bits up to throw at the last +fragment of glass in the window. +</p> +<p> +"What do you do that for?" asked Stead. +</p> +<p> +"'Tis worshipping of idols," said a somewhat graver lad. "'Break down +their idols,' the man in the black gown said, 'and burn their graven +images in the fire.'" +</p> +<p> +"But we never worshipped them," said Stead. +</p> +<p> +"Pious preacher said so," returned the youth, "and mighty angered was +he with the rails." (Jeph and Will were sparring with two fragments of +them.) "'Down with them,' he cried out, so as it would have done your +heart good to hear him." +</p> +<p> +"And the parson is gone! There will be no hearing the catechism on +Sundays!" cried Ralph Wilkes, making a leap over the broken font. +</p> +<p> +"Good luck for you, Ralph," cried the others. "You, that never could +tell how many commandments there be." +</p> +<p> +"Put on your hat, Stead," called out another lad. "We've done with all +that now, and the parson is gone to prison for it." +</p> +<p> +"No, no," shouted Tom Oates, "'twas for making away with the Communion +things." +</p> +<p> +"I heard the red coat say they had a warrant against scandalous +ministers," declared Ralph Wilkes. +</p> +<p> +"I heard the man with the pen and ink-horn ask for the popish vessels, +as he called them, and not a word would the parson say," said Oates. +</p> +<p> +"I'd take my oath he has hid them somewheres," replied Jack Beard, an +ill-looking lad. +</p> +<p> +"What a windfall they would be for him as found them!" observed Wilkes. +</p> +<p> +"I'd like to look over the parsonage house," said Jeph. +</p> +<p> +"No use. Old dame housekeeper has locked herself in, as savage as a bear +with a sore head." +</p> +<p> +"Besides, they did turn over all the parson's things and made a bonfire +of all his popish books. The little ones be dancing their rounds about +it still!" +</p> +<p> +Stead had heard quite enough to make him very uneasy, and wish to get +home with his tidings to his father. There was a girl standing by with a +baby in her arms, and she asked: +</p> +<p> +"What will they do to our minister?" +</p> +<p> +"Put him in Little Ease for a scandalous minister," was the ready +answer. "But he <i>is</i> a good man. He gave us all broth when father had +the fever!" +</p> +<p> +"And who will give granny and me our Sunday dinner?" said a little boy. +</p> +<p> +"But there'll be no more catechising. Hurrah!" cried Oates, "hurrah!" +</p> +<p> +"'Tis rank superstition, said the red coat, Hurrah!" and up went their +caps. "Halloa, Stead Kenton, not a word to say?" +</p> +<p> +"He likes being catechised, standing as he does like a stuck pig, and +answering never a word," cried Jack. +</p> +<p> +"I do," said Steadfast, "and why not?" +</p> +<p> +"Parson's darling! Parson's darling!" shouted the boys. "A malignant! +Off with him." They had begun to hustle him, when Jeph threw himself +between and cried: +</p> +<p> +"Hit Steadfast, and you must hit me first." +</p> +<p> +"A match, a match!" they cried, "Jeph and Jack." +</p> +<p> +Stead had no fears about Jeph conquering, but while the others stood +round to watch the boxing, he slipped away, with his heart perplexed and +sad. He had loved his minister, and he never guessed how much he cared +for his church till he saw it lying desolate, and these rude lads +rejoicing in the havoc; while the words rang in his ears, "And now they +break down all the carved work thereof with axes and with hammers." +</p> +<a name="2HCH0004"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER IV. THE GOOD CAUSE. +</h2> +<pre> + "And their Psalter mourneth with them + O'er the carvings and the grace, + Which axe and hammer ruin + In the fair and holy place." + Bp. CLEVELAND COXE. +</pre> +<p> +When next John Kenton went into Bristol to market he tried to discover +what had become of Mr. Holworth, but could only make out something about +his being sent up to London with others of his sort to answer for being +Baal worshippers! Which, as he observed, he could not understand. +</p> +<p> +There seemed likely to be no service at the church on Sunday, but John +thought himself bound to walk thither with his sons to see what was +going on, and they heard such a noise that they looked at each other +in amazement. It was not preaching, but shouting, laughing, screaming, +stamping, and running. The rude village children were playing at +hide-and-seek, and Jenny Oates was hidden in the pulpit. But at Master +Kenton's loud "How now, youngsters" they all were frightened, some ran +out headlong, some sneaked out at the little north door, and the +place was quiet, but in sad confusion and desolation, the altar-table +overthrown, the glass of the windows lying in fragments on the pavement, +the benches kicked over. +</p> +<p> +Kenton, with his boys' help, put what he could straight again, and +then somewhat to their surprise knelt down with bowed head, and said +a prayer, for they saw his lips moving. Then he locked up the church +doors, for the keys had been left in them, and slowly and sadly went +away. +</p> +<p> +"Thy mother would be sad to see this work," he said to Steadfast, as +he stopped by her grave. "They say 'tis done for religion's sake, but I +know not what to make of it." +</p> +<p> +The old Parish Clerk, North, had had a stroke the night after the +plunder of the church, and lay a-dying and insensible. His wife gave +his keys to Master Kenton, and on the following Sunday there was a +hue-and-cry for them, and Oates the father, the cobbler, a meddling +fellow, came down with a whole rabble of boys after him to the farm to +demand them. "A preacher had come out from Bristol," he said, "a captain +in the army, and he was calling for the keys to get into the church and +give them a godly discourse. It would be the worse for Master Kenton if +he did not give them up." +</p> +<p> +John had just sat down in the porch in his clean Sunday smock with the +baby on his knee, and Rusha clinging about him waiting till Stead had +cleaned himself up, and was ready to read to them from the mother's +books. +</p> +<p> +When he understood Gates' message he slowly said, "I be in charge of the +keys for this here parish." +</p> +<p> +"Come, come, Master Kenton, this wont do, give 'un up or you'll be made +to. Times are changed, and we don't want no parsons nor churchwardens +now, nor no such popery!" +</p> +<p> +"I'm accountable to the vestry for the church," gravely said Kenton. +"I will come and see what is doing, and open the church if so be as the +parish require it." +</p> +<p> +"Don't you see! The parish does—" +</p> +<p> +"I don't call you the parish, Master Gates, nor them boys neither," said +Kenton, getting up however, and placing the little one in the cradle, as +he called out to Patience to keep back the dinner till his return. The +two boys and Rusha followed him to see what would happen. +</p> +<p> +Long before they reached the churchyard they heard the sound of a +powerful voice, and presently they could see all the men and women of +the parish as it seemed, gathered about the lych gate, where, on the +large stone on which coffins were wont to be rested, stood a tall thin +man, in a heavy broad-brimmed hat, large bands, crimson scarf, and buff +coat, who was in fiery and eager words calling on all those around to +awaken from the sleep of sloth and sin, break their bonds and fight for +freedom and truth. He waved his long sword as he spoke and dared the +armies of Satan to come on, and it was hard to tell which he really +meant, the forces of sin, or the armies of men whom he believed to be +fighting on the wrong side. +</p> +<p> +Someone told him that the keys of the church were brought, but he heeded +not the interruption, except to thunder forth "What care I for your +steeple house! The Church of God is in the souls of the faithful. Is +it not written 'The kingdom of heaven is within you?' What, can ye not +worship save between four walls?" And then he went on with the utmost +fervour and vehemence, calling on all around to set themselves free from +the chains that held them and to strive even to the death. +</p> +<p> +He meant all he said. He really believed he was teaching the only way of +righteousness, and so his words had a force that went home to people's +hearts as earnestness always does, and Jephthah, with tears in his eyes, +began begging and praying his father to let him go and fight for the +good Cause. +</p> +<p> +"Aye, aye," said Kenton, "against the world, the flesh, and the devil, +and welcome, my son." +</p> +<p> +"Then I'll go and enlist under Captain Venn," cried Jeph. +</p> +<p> +"Not so fast, my lad. What I gave you leave for was to fight with the +devil." +</p> +<p> +"You said the good Cause!" +</p> +<p> +"And can you tell me which be the good Cause?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, this here, of course. Did not you hear the Captain's good words, +and see his long sword, and didn't they give five marks for Croppie's +bull calf?" +</p> +<p> +"Fine words butter no parsnips," slowly responded Kenton. +</p> +<p> +"But," put in Steadfast, "butter is risen twopence the pound." +</p> +<p> +"Very like," said Kenton, "but how can that be the good Cause that +strips the Churches and claps godly ministers into jail?" +</p> +<p> +Jephthah thought he had an answer, but fathers in those times did not +permit themselves to be argued with. +</p> +<p> +Prices began going up still higher, for the Cavaliers were reported +to be on their way to besiege Bristol, and the garrison wanted all the +provisions they could lay in, and paid well for them. When Kenton +and his boys went down to market, they found the old walls being +strengthened with earth and stones, and sentries watching at the gates, +but as they brought in provisions, and were by this time well known, no +difficulty was made about admitting them. +</p> +<p> +One day, however, as they were returning, they saw a cloud of dust in +the distance, and heard the sounds of drums and fifes playing a joyous +tune. Kenton drew the old mare behind the bank of a high hedge, and the +boys watched eagerly through the hawthorns. +</p> +<p> +Presently they saw the Royal Standard of England, though indeed that did +not prove much, for both sides used it alike, but there were many lesser +banners and pennons of lords and knights, waving on the breeze, and as +the Kentons peeped down into the lane below they saw plumed hats, +and shining corslets, and silken scarves, and handsome horses, whose +jingling accoutrements chimed in with the tramp of their hoofs, and the +notes of the music in front, while cheerful voices and laughter could be +heard all around. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, father! these be gallant fellows," exclaimed Jephthah. "Will you +let me go with these?" +</p> +<p> +Kenton laughed a little to himself. "Which is the good Cause, eh, son +Jeph?" +</p> +<p> +He was, however, not at all easy about the state of things. "There is +like to be fighting," he said to Steadfast, as they were busy together +getting hay into the stable, "and that makes trouble even for quiet +folks that only want to be let alone. Now, look you here," and he +pulled out a canvas bag from the corner of the bin. "This has got pretty +tolerably weighty of late, and I doubt me if this be the safest place +for it." +</p> +<p> +Stead opened his eyes. The family all knew that the stable was used as +the deposit for money, though none of the young folks had been allowed +to know exactly where it was kept. There were no banks in those days, +and careful people had no choice but either to hoard and hide, or to +lend their money to someone in business. +</p> +<p> +The farmer poured out a heap of the money, all silver and copper, but he +did not dare to wait to count it lest he should be interrupted. He tied +up one handful, chiefly of pence, in the same bag, and put the rest into +a bit of old sacking, saying, "You can get to the brook side, to the +place you wot of, better than I can, Stead. Take you this with you and +put it along with the other things, and then you will have something +to fall back on in case of need. We'll put the rest back where it was +before, for it may come handy." +</p> +<p> +So Steadfast, much gratified, as well he might be, at the confidence +bestowed on him by his father, took the bag with him under his smock +when he went out with the cows, and bestowed it in a cranny not far from +that in which that more precious trust resided. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0005"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER V. DESOLATION. +</h2> +<pre> + "They shot him dead at the Nine Stonerig, + Beside the headless Cross; + And they left him lying in his blood, + Upon the moor and moss." + SURTEES. +</pre> +<p> +More and more soldiers might be seen coming down the roads towards the +town, not by any means always looking as gay as that first troop. +Some of the feathers were as draggled as the old cock's tail after +a thunderstorm, some reduced even to the quill, the coats looked +threadbare, the scarves stained and frayed, the horses lean and bony. +</p> +<p> +There was no getting into the town now, and the growling thunder of a +cannon might now and then be heard. Jeph would have liked to spend all +his time on the hill-side where he could see the tents round the town, +and watch bodies of troops come out, looking as small as toy soldiers, +and see the clouds of smoke, sometimes the flashes, a moment or two +before the report. +</p> +<p> +He longed to go down and see the camp, taking a load of butter and +eggs, but the neighbours told his father that these troops were bad +paymasters, and that there were idle fellows lurking about who might +take his wares without so much as asking the price. +</p> +<p> +However, Jeph grew suddenly eager to herd the cattle, because thus he +had the best chance of watching the long lines of soldiers drawn out +from the camp, and seeing the smoke of the guns, whose sound made poor +Patience stay and tremble at home, and hardly like to have her father +out of her sight. +</p> +<p> +There was worse coming. Jeph had been warned to keep his cattle well out +of sight from any of the roads, but when he could see the troops moving +about he could not recollect anything else, and one afternoon Croppie +strayed into the lane where the grass grew thick and rank, and the +others followed her. Jeph had turned her back and was close to the +farmstead when he heard shouts and the clattering of trappings. +Half-a-dozen lean, hungry-looking troopers were clanking down the lane, +and one called out, "Ha! good luck! Just what we want! Beef and forage. +Turn about, young bumpkin, I say. Drive your cattle into camp. For the +King's service." +</p> +<p> +"They are father's," sturdily replied Jeph, and called aloud for +"Father." +</p> +<p> +He was answered with a rude shout of derision, and poor Croppie was +pricked with the sword's point to turn her away. Jeph was wild with +passion, and struck back the sword with his stick so unexpectedly that +it flew out of the trooper's hand. Of course, more than one stout man +instantly seized the boy, amid howls of rage; and one heavy blow had +fallen on him, when Kenton dashed forward, thrusting himself between his +son, and the uplifted arm, and had begun to speak, when, with the words +"You will, you rebel dog?" a pistol shot was fired. +</p> +<p> +Jeph saw his father fall, but felt the grasp upon himself relax, and +heard a voice shouting, "How now, my men, what's this?" +</p> +<p> +"He resisted the King's requisition, your Grace," said one of the +troopers, as a handsome lad galloped up. +</p> +<p> +"King's requisition! Your own robbery. What have you done to the poor +man, you Schelm? See here, Rupert," he added, as another young man rode +hastily up. +</p> +<p> +"Rascals! How often am I to tell you that this is not to be made a place +for your plunder and slaughter," thundered the new comer, rising in his +stirrups, and striking at the troopers with the flat of his sword, so +that they fell back with growls about "soldiers must live," and "curs of +peasants." +</p> +<p> +The younger brother had leapt from his horse, and was trying to help +Jephthah raise poor Kenton's head, but it fell back helplessly, deaf +to the screams of "Father, father," with which Patience and Rusha had +darted out, as a cloud of smoke began to rise from the straw yard. Poor +children, they screamed again at what was before them. Rusha ran wildly +away at sight of the soldiers, but Patience, with the baby in her arms, +came up. She did not see her father at first, and only cried aloud to +the gentlemen. +</p> +<p> +"O sir, don't let them do it. If they take our cows, the babe will die. +He has no mother!" +</p> +<p> +"They shall not, the villains! Brother, can nothing be done?" cried +the youth, with a face of grief and horror. And then there was a great +confusion. +</p> +<p> +The two young officers were vehemently angry at sight of the fire, and +shouted fierce orders to the guard of soldiers who had accompanied them +to endeavour to extinguish it, themselves doing their best, and making +the men release Steadfast, whom they had seized upon as he was trying to +trample out the flame, kindled by a match from one of the soldiers +who had scattered themselves about the yard during the struggle with +Jephthah. +</p> +<p> +But either the fire was too strong, or the men did not exert themselves; +it was soon plain that the house could not be saved, and the elder +remounted, saying in German, "'Tis of no use, Maurice, we must not +linger here." +</p> +<p> +"And can nothing be done?" again asked Prince Maurice. "This is as bad +as in Germany itself." +</p> +<p> +"You are new to the trade, Maurice. You will see many such sights, +I fear, ere we have done; though I hoped the English nature was more +kindly." +</p> +<p> +Then using the word of command, sending his aides-de-camp, and with much +shouting and calling, Prince Rupert got the troop together again, very +sulky at being baulked of their plunder. They were all made to go out of +the farm yard, and ride away before him, and then the two princes halted +where the poor children, scarce knowing that their home was burning +behind them, were gathered round their father, Patience stroking his +face, Steadfast chafing his hands, Jephthah standing with folded arms, +and a terrible look of grief and wrath on his face. +</p> +<p> +"Is there no hope?" asked Prince Maurice, sorrowfully. +</p> +<p> +"He is dead. That's all," muttered Jeph between his clenched teeth. +</p> +<p> +"Mark," said Prince Rupert, "this mischance is by no command of the +King or mine. The fellow shall be brought to justice if you can swear to +him." +</p> +<p> +"I would have hindered it, if I could," said the other prince, in much +slower, and more imperfect English. "It grieves me much. My purse has +little, but here it is." +</p> +<p> +He dropped it on the ground while setting spurs to his horse to follow +his brother. +</p> +<p> +And thus the poor children were left at first in a sort of numb dismay +after the shock, not even feeling that a heavy shower had begun to fall, +till the baby, whom Patience had laid on the grass, set up a shriek. +</p> +<p> +Then she snatched him up, and burst into a bitter cry herself—wailing +"father was dead, and he would die," in broken words. Steadfast then +laid a hand on her, and said "He won't die, Patience, I see Croppie +there, I'll get some milk. Take him." +</p> +<p> +There were only smoking walls, but the fire was burning down under the +rain, and had not touched the stable, the wind being the other way. +"Take him there," the boy said. +</p> +<p> +"But father—we can't leave him." +</p> +<p> +Without more words Jephthah and Steadfast took the still form between +them and bore it into the stable, the baby screaming with hunger all the +time, so that Jephthah hotly said— +</p> +<p> +"Stop that! I can't bear it." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast then said he would milk the cow if Jeph would run to the next +cottage and get help. People would come when they knew the soldiers were +gone. +</p> +<p> +There was nothing but Steadfast's leathern cap to hold the milk, and +he felt as if his fingers had no strength to draw it; but when he had +brought his sister enough to quiet little Ben, she recollected Rusha, +and besought him to find her. She could hardly sit still and feed the +little one while she heard his voice shouting in vain for the child, +and all the time she was starting with the fancy that she saw her father +move, or heard a rustling in the straw where her brothers had laid him. +</p> +<p> +And when little Ben was satisfied, she was almost rent asunder between +her unwillingness to leave unwatched all that was left of her father, +still with that vain hopeless hope that he might revive, all could not +have been over in such a moment, and her terrible anxiety about her +little sister. Could she have run back into the burning house? Or could +those dreadful soldiers have killed her too? +</p> +<p> +Steadfast presently came back, having found some of the startled cattle +and driven them in, but no Rusha. Patience was sure she could find her, +and giving the baby to Steadfast ran out in the rain and smouldering +smoke calling her; all in vain. Then she heard voices and feet, and in a +fresh fright was about to turn again, when she knew Jephthah's call. He +had the child in his arms. He had been coming back from the village with +some neighbours, when they saw the poor little thing, crouched like a +hare in her form under a bush. No sooner did she hear them, than like a +hare, she started up to run away; but stumbling over the root of a tree, +she fell and lay, too much frightened even to scream till her brother +picked her up. +</p> +<p> +Kind motherly arms were about the poor girls. Old Goody Grace, who had +been with them through their mother's illness, had hobbled up on hearing +the terrible news. She looked like a witch, with a tall hat, short +cloak, and nose and chin nearly meeting, but all Elmwood loved and +trusted her, and the feeling of utter terror and helplessness almost +vanished when she kissed and grieved over the orphans, and took the +direction of things. She straightened and composed poor John Kenton's +limbs, and gave what comfort she could by assuring the children that the +passage must have been well nigh without pain. "And if ever there was +a good man fit to be taken suddenly, it was he," she added. "He be in +a happier place than this has been to him since your good mother was +took." +</p> +<p> +Several of the men had accompanied her, and after some consultation, it +was decided that the burial had better take place that very night, even +though there was no time to make a coffin. +</p> +<p> +"Many an honest man will be in that same case," said Harry Blane, the +smith, "if they come to blows down there." +</p> +<p> +"And He to Whom he is gone will not ask whether he lies in a coffin, or +has the prayers said over him," added Goody, "though 'tis pity on him +too, for he always was a man for churches and parsons and prayers." +</p> +<p> +"Vain husks, said the pious captain," put in Oates. +</p> +<p> +"Well," said Harry Blane, "those could hardly be vain husks that made +John Kenton what he was. Would that the good old times were back again; +when a sackless man could not be shot down at his own door for nothing +at all." +</p> +<p> +Reverently and carefully John Kenton's body was borne to the churchyard, +where he was laid in the grave beside his much loved wife. No knell was +rung: Elmwood, lying far away over the hill side in the narrow wooded +valley with the river between it and the camp, had not yet been visited +by any of the Royalist army, but a midnight toll might have attracted +the attention of some of the lawless stragglers. Nor did anyone feel +capable of uttering a prayer aloud, and thus the only sound at that +strange sad funeral was the low boom of a midnight gun fired in the +beleaguered city. +</p> +<p> +Then Patience with Rusha and the baby were taken home by kind old Goody +Grace, while the smith called the two lads into his house. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0006"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VI. LEFT TO THEMSELVES. +</h2> +<pre> + "One look he cast upon the bier, + Dashed from his eye the gathering tear, + Then, like the high bred colt when freed + First he essays his fire and speed, + He vanished—-" + SCOTT. +</pre> +<p> +Steadfast was worn and wearied out with grief and slept heavily, knowing +at first that his brother was tossing about a good deal, but soon losing +all perception, and not waking till on that summer morning the sun had +made some progress in the sky. +</p> +<p> +Then he came to the sad recollection of the last dreadful day, and knew +that he was lying on Master Blane's kitchen floor. He picked himself up, +and at the same moment heard Jephthah calling him from the outside. +</p> +<p> +"Stead," he said, "I am going!" +</p> +<p> +"Going!" said poor Stead, half asleep. +</p> +<p> +"Yes. I shall never rest till I have had a shot at those barbarous +German princes and the rest of the villains. My father's blood cries to +me from the ground for vengeance." +</p> +<p> +"Would father have said like that?" said the boy, bewildered, but +conscious of something defective, though these were Bible words. +</p> +<p> +"That's not the point! Captain Venn called every man to take the sword +and hew down the wicked, and slay the ungodly and the murderers. I +will!" cried Jeph, "none shall withhold me." +</p> +<p> +He had caught more phrases from these fiery preachers than he himself +knew, and they broke forth in this time of excitement. +</p> +<p> +"But, Jeph, what is to become of us? The girls, and the little one! You +are the only one of us who can do a man's work." +</p> +<p> +"I could not keep you together!" said Jeph. "Our house burnt by those +accursed sons of Belial, all broken up, and only a lubber like you to +help! No, Goody Grace or some one will take in the girls for what's left +of the stock, and you can soon find a place—a strong fellow like you; +Master Blane might take you and make a smith of you, if you be not too +slow and clumsy." +</p> +<p> +"But Jeph—" +</p> +<p> +"Withhold me not. Is it not written—" +</p> +<p> +"I wish you would not say is it not written," broke in Stead, "I know it +is, but you don't say it right." +</p> +<p> +"Because you are yet in darkness," said Jeph, contemptuously. "Hold your +tongue. I must be off at once. Market folk can get into the town by the +low lane out there, away from the camp of the spoilers, early in the +morning, and I must hasten to enlist under Captain Venn. No, don't call +the wenches, they would but strive to daunt my spirit in the holy work +of vengeance on the bloodthirsty, and I can't abide tears and whining. +See here, I found this in the corn bin. I'm poor father's heir. You +won't want money, and I shall; so I shall take it, but I'll come back +and make all your fortunes when I am a captain or a colonel. I wonder +this is not more. We got a heap of late. Maybe father hid it somewhere +else, but 'tis no use seeking now. If you light upon it you are welcome +to do what you will with it. Fare thee well, Steadfast. Do the best you +can for the wenches, but a call is laid on me! I have vowed to avenge +the blood that was shed." +</p> +<p> +He strode off into the steep woodland path that clothed the hill side, +and Steadfast looked after him, and felt more utterly deserted than +before. Then he looked up to the sky, and tried to remember what was +the promise to the fatherless children. That made him wonder whether +the Bible and Prayer-book had been burnt, and then his morning's duty of +providing milk for the little ones' breakfast pressed upon him. He took +up a pail of Mrs. Blane's which he thought he might borrow and went off +in search of the cows. So, murmuring the Lord's Prayer as he walked, +and making the resolution not to be dragged away from his trust in the +cavern, nor to forsake his little sister—he heard the lowing of the +cows as he went over the hill, and found them standing at the gate of +the fold yard, waiting to be eased of their milk. Poor creatures, they +seemed so glad to welcome him that it was the first thing that brought +tears to his eyes, and they came with such a rush that he had much ado +to keep them from dropping into the pail as he leant his head against +Croppie's ruddy side. +</p> +<p> +There was a little smouldering smoke; but the rain had checked the fire, +and though the roof of the house was gone and it looked frightfully +dreary and wretched, the walls were still standing and the pigs were +grunting about the place. However, Steadfast did not stop to see what +was left within, as he knew Ben would be crying for food, but he carried +his foaming pail back to Goody Grace's as fast as he could, after +turning out the cows on the common, not even stopping to count the sheep +that were straggling about. +</p> +<p> +His sisters were watching anxiously from the door of Goody Grace's +hovel, and eagerly cried out "Where's Jeph?" +</p> +<p> +Then he had to tell them that Jeph was gone for a soldier, to have his +revenge for his father's death. +</p> +<p> +"Jeph gone too!" said poor Patience, looking pale. "Oh, what shall we +ever do?" +</p> +<p> +"He did not think of that, I'll warrant, the selfish fellow," said Goody +Grace. "That's the way with lads, nought but themselves." +</p> +<p> +"It was because of what they did to poor father," replied Stead. +</p> +<p> +"And if he, or the folks he is gone to, call that the Christian +religion, 'tis more than I do!" rejoined the old woman. "I wish I had +met him, I'd have given him a bit of my mind about going off to his +revenge, as he calls it, without ever a thought what was to become of +his own flesh and blood here." +</p> +<p> +"He did say I might go to service (not that I shall), and that some one +would take you in for the cattle's sake." +</p> +<p> +"O don't do that, Stead," cried Patience, "don't let us part!" He had +only just time to answer, "No such thing," for people were coming about +them by this time, one after another emerging from the cottages that +stood around the village green. The women were all hotly angry with Jeph +for going off and leaving his young brothers and sisters to shift for +themselves. +</p> +<p> +"He was ever an idle fellow," said one, "always running after the +soldiers and only wanting an excuse." +</p> +<p> +"Best thing he could do for himself or them," growled old Green. +</p> +<p> +"Eh! What, Gaffer Green! To go off without a word or saying by your +leave to his poor little sister before his good father be cold in his +grave," exclaimed a whole clamour of voices. +</p> +<p> +"Belike he knew what a clack of women's tongues there would be, and +would fain be out of it," replied the old man shrewdly. +</p> +<p> +It was a clamour that oppressed poor Patience and made her feel sick +with sorrow and noise. Everybody meant to be very kind and pitiful, but +there was a great deal too much of it, and they felt quite bewildered +by the offers made them. Farmer Mill's wife, of Elmwood Cross, two miles +off, was reported by her sister to want a stout girl to help her, but +there was no chance of her taking Rusha or the baby as well as Patience. +Goody Grace could not undertake the care of Ben unless she could have +Patience, because she was so often called away from home, nor could she +support them without the cows. Smith Blane might have taken Stead, but +his wife would not hear of being troubled with Rusha. And Dame Oates +might endure Rusha for the sake of a useful girl like Patience, but +certainly not the baby. It was an utter Babel and confusion, and in the +midst of it all, Patience crept up to her brother who stood all the +time like a stock, and said "Oh! Stead, I cannot give up Ben to anyone. +Cannot we all keep together?" +</p> +<p> +"Hush, Patty! That's what I mean to do, if you will stand by me," he +whispered, "wait till all the clack is over." +</p> +<p> +And there he waited with Patience by his side while the parish seemed +to be endlessly striving over them. If one woman seemed about to make a +proposal, half-a-dozen more fell on her and vowed that the poor orphans +would be starved and overworked; till she turned on the foremost with +"And hadn't your poor prentice lad to go before the justices to shew the +weals on his back?" "Aye, Joan Stubbs, and what are you speaking up +for but to get the poor children's sheep? Hey, you now, Stead +Kenton—Lack-a-day, where be they?" +</p> +<p> +For while the dispute was at its loudest and hottest, Stead had taken +Rusha by the hand, made a sign to Patience, and the four deserted +children had quietly gone away together into the copsewood that led +to the little glen where the brook ran, and where was the cave that +Steadfast looked on as his special charge. Rusha, frightened by the loud +voices and angry gestures, had begun to cry, and beg she might not be +given to anyone, but stay with her Patty and Stead. +</p> +<p> +"And so you shall, my pretty," said Steadfast, sitting down on the stump +of a tree, and taking her on his knee, while Toby nuzzled up to them. +</p> +<p> +"Then you think we can go on keeping ourselves, and not letting them +part us," said Patience, earnestly. "If I have done the house work all +this time, and we have the fields, and all the beasts. We have only lost +the house, and I could never bear to live there again," she added, with +a shudder. +</p> +<p> +"No," said Steadfast, "it is too near the road while these savage +fellows are about. Besides—" and there he checked himself and added, +"I'll tell you, Patty. Do you remember the old stone cot down there in +the wood?" +</p> +<p> +"Where the old hermit lived in the blind Popish times?" +</p> +<p> +"Aye. We'll live there. No soldiers will ever find us out there, Patty." +</p> +<p> +"Oh! oh! that is good," said Patience. "We shall like that, shan't we, +Rusha?" +</p> +<p> +"And," added Steadfast, "there is an old cowshed against the rock +down there, where we could harbour the beasts, for 'tis them that the +soldiers are most after." +</p> +<p> +"Let us go down to it at once," cried the girl, joyfully. +</p> +<p> +But Steadfast thought it would be wiser to go first to the ruins of +their home; before, as he said, anyone else did so, to see what could be +saved therefrom. +</p> +<p> +Patience shrank from the spectacle, and Rusha hung upon her, saying the +soldiers would be there, and beginning to cry. At that moment, however, +Tom Gates' voice came near shouting for "Stead! Stead Kenton!" +</p> +<p> +"Come on, Stead. You'll be prentice-lad to Dick Stiggins the tailor, if +so be you bring Whitefoot and the geese for your fee; and Goodman Bold +will have the big wench; and Goody Grace will make shift with the little +ones, provided she has the kine!" +</p> +<p> +"We don't mean to be beholden to none of them," said Steadfast, +sturdily, with his hands in his pockets. "We mean to keep what belongs +to us, and work for ourselves." +</p> +<p> +"And God will help us," Patience added softly. +</p> +<p> +"Ho, ho!" cried Tom, and proud of having found them, he ran before them +back to the village green, and roared out, "Here they be! And they say +as how they don't want none of you, but will keep themselves. Ha! ha!" +</p> +<p> +Anyone who saw those four young orphans would not have thought their +trying to keep themselves a laughing matter; and the village folk, who +had been just before so unwilling to undertake them, now began scolding +and blaming them for their folly and ingratitude. +</p> +<p> +Nothing indeed makes people so angry as when a kindness which has cost +them a great effort turns out not to be wanted. +</p> +<p> +"Look for nothing from us," cried Dame Bold. "I'd have made a good +housewife of you, you ungrateful hussy, and now you may thank yourself, +if you come to begging, I shall have nothing for you." +</p> +<p> +"Beggary and rags," repeated the tailor. "Aye, aye; 'tis all very fine +strolling about after the sheep with your hands in your pockets in +summer weather, but you'll sing another song in winter time, and be +sorry you did not know when you had a good offer." +</p> +<p> +"The babe will die as sure as 'tis born," added Jean Oates. +</p> +<p> +"If they be not all slain by the mad Prince's troopers up in that place +by the roadside," said another. +</p> +<p> +Blacksmith Blane and Goody Grace were in the meantime asking the +children what they meant to do, and Stead told them in a few words. +Goody Grace shook her head over little Ben, but Blane declared that +after all it might be the best thing they could do to keep their land +and beasts together. Ten to one that foolish lad Jephthah would come +back with his tail between his legs, and though it would serve him +right, what would they do if all were broken up? Then he slapped Stead +on the back, called him a sensible, steady lad, and promised always to +be his friend. +</p> +<p> +Moreover he gave up his morning's work to come with the children to +their homestead, and see what could be saved. It was a real kindness, +not only because his protection made Patience much less afraid to go +near the place, and his strong arm would be a great help to them, but +because he was parish constable and had authority to drive away the +rough lads whom they found already hanging about the ruins, and who had +frightened Patience's poor cat up into the ash tree. +</p> +<p> +The boys and two curs were dancing round the tree, and one boy was +stripping off his smock to climb up and throw poor pussy down among them +when Master Blane's angry shout and flourished staff put them all to +flight, and Patience and Rusha began to coax the cat to come down to +them. +</p> +<p> +Hunting her had had one good effect, it had occupied the boys and +prevented them from carrying anything off. The stable was safe. What had +been burnt was the hay rick, whence the flames had climbed to the house. +The roof had fallen in, and the walls and chimney stood up blackened and +dismal, but there was a good deal of stone about the house, the roof was +of shingle, and the heavy fall, together with the pouring rain, had +done much to choke the fire, so that when Blane began to throw aside the +charred bits of beams and of the upper floor, more proved to be unburnt, +or at least only singed, than could have been expected. +</p> +<p> +The great black iron pot still hung in the chimney with the very meal +and kail broth that Patience had been boiling in it, and Rusha's little +stool stood by the hearth. Then the great chest, or ark as Patience +called it, where all the Sunday clothes were kept, had been crushed +in and the upper things singed, but all below was safe. The beds and +bedding were gone; but then the best bed had been only a box in the wall +with an open side, and the others only chaff or straw stuffed into a +sack. +</p> +<p> +Patience's crocks, trenchers, and cups were gone too, all except one +horn mug; but two knives and some spoons were extracted from the ashes. +Furniture was much more scanty everywhere than now. There was not much +to lose, and of that they had lost less than they had feared. +</p> +<p> +"And see here, Stead," said Patience joyfully holding up a lesser box +kept within the other. +</p> +<p> +It contained her mother's Bible and Prayer-book. The covers were turned +up, a little warped by the heat, and some of the corners of the leaves +were browned, but otherwise they were unhurt. +</p> +<p> +"I was in hopes 'twas the money box," said Blane. +</p> +<p> +"Jeph has got the bag," said Patience. +</p> +<p> +"More shame for him," growled their friend. Steadfast did not think it +necessary to say that was not all the hoard. +</p> +<p> +Another thing about which Patience was very anxious was the meal chest. +With much difficulty they reached it. It had been broken in by the fall +of the roof, and some of the contents were scattered, but enough was +gathered up in a pail fetched from the stable to last for some little +time. There were some eggs likewise in the nests, and altogether Goodman +Blane allowed that, if the young Kentons could take care of themselves, +and keep things together, they had decided for the best; if they could, +that was to say. And he helped them to carry their heavier things to +the glen. He wanted to see if it were fit for their habitation, but +Steadfast was almost sorry to show anyone the way, in spite of his trust +and gratitude to the blacksmith. +</p> +<p> +However, of course, it was not possible to keep this strange +hiding-place a secret, so he led the way by the path the cattle had +trodden out through the brushwood to the open space where they drank, +and where stood the hermit's hut, a dreary looking den built of big +stones, and with rough slates covering it. There was a kind of hole for +the doorway, and another for the smoke to get out at. Blane whistled +with dismay at the sight of it, and told Stead he could not take the +children to such a place. +</p> +<p> +"We will get it better," said Stead. +</p> +<p> +"That we will," returned Patience, who felt anything better than being +separated from her brother. +</p> +<p> +"It is weather-tight," added Stead, "and when it is cleaned out you will +see!" +</p> +<p> +"And the soldiers will never find it," added Patience. +</p> +<p> +"There is something in that," said Blane. "But at any rate, though it be +summer, you can never sleep there to-night." +</p> +<p> +"The girls cannot," said Stead, "but I shall, to look after things." +</p> +<p> +These were long days, and by the evening many of the remnants of +household stuff had been brought, the cows and Whitefoot had been +tied up in their dilapidated shed, with all the hay Stead could gather +together to make them feel at home. There was a hollow under the rock +where he hoped to keep the pigs, but neither they nor the sheep could +be brought in at present. They must take their chance, the sheep on the +moor, the pigs grubbing about the ruins of the farmyard. The soldiers +must be too busy for marauding, to judge by the constant firing that had +gone on all day, the sharp rattle of the musquets, and now and then the +grave roll of a cannon. +</p> +<p> +Stead had been too busy to attend, but half the village had been +watching from the height, which accounted perhaps for the move from the +farm having been so uninterrupted after the first. +</p> +<p> +It was not yet dark, when, tired out by his day's hard work, Stead +sat himself down at the opening of his hut with Toby by his side. The +evening gold of the sky could hardly be seen through the hazel and +mountain-ash bushes that clothed the steep opposite bank of the glen and +gave him a feeling of security. The brook rippled along below, plainly +to be heard since all other sounds had ceased except the purring of a +night-jar and the cows chewing their cud. There was a little green glade +of short grass sloping down to the stream from the hut where the rabbits +were at play, but on each side the trees and brushwood were thick, with +only a small path through, much overgrown, and behind the rock rose like +a wall, overhung with ivy and traveller's joy. Only one who knew the +place could have found the shed among the thicket where the cows were +fastened, far less the cavern half-way up the side of the rock where +lay the treasures for which Steadfast was a watchman. He thought for a +moment of seeing if all were safe, but then decided, like a wise boy, +that to disturb the creepers, and wear a path to the place, was the +worst thing he could do if he wished for concealment. He had had his +supper at the village, and had no more to do, and after the long day +of going to and fro, even Toby was too much tired to worry the rabbits, +though he had had no heavy weights to carry. Perhaps, indeed, the poor +dog had no spirits to interfere with their sports, as they sat upright, +jumped over one another, and flashed their little white tails. He missed +his old master, and knew perfectly well that his young master was in +trouble and distress, as he crept close up to the boy's breast, and +looked up in his face. Stead's hand patted the rough, wiry hair, and +there was a sort of comfort in the creature's love. But how hard it was +to believe that only yesterday he had a father and a home, and that now +his elder brother was gone, and he had the great charge on him of being +the mainstay of the three younger ones, as well as of protecting that +treasure in the cavern which his father had so solemnly entrusted to +him. +</p> +<p> +The boy knelt down to say his prayers, and as he did so, all alone in +the darkening wood, the words "Father of the fatherless, Helper of the +helpless," came to his aid. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0007"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VII. THE HERMIT'S GULLEY. +</h2> +<pre> + "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, + They were twa bonnie lasses— + They digged a bower on yonder brae, + And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes." BALLAD. +</pre> +<p> +Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side +till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of +his rude little hovel. +</p> +<p> +When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be +done. He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own +boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in +which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the +bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without +soap. +</p> +<p> +Then he milked the cows, for happily his own buckets had been at the +stable and thus were safe. He had just released Croppie and seen her +begin her breakfast on the grass, when Patience in her little red hood +came tripping through the glen with a broom over her shoulder, and +without the other children. Goody Grace had undertaken to keep them for +the day, whilst Patience worked with her brother, and had further lent +her the broom till she could make another, for all the country brooms +of that time were home-made with the heather and the birch. She had +likewise brought a barley cake, on which and on the milk the pair made +their breakfast, Goody providing for the little ones. +</p> +<p> +"We must use it up," said Patience, "for we have got no churn." +</p> +<p> +"And we could not get into the town to sell the butter if we had," +returned her brother. "We had better take it up to some one in the +village who might give us something for it, bread or cheese maybe." +</p> +<p> +"I would like to make my own butter," sighed Patience, whose mother's +cleanly habits had made her famous for it. +</p> +<p> +"So you shall some day, Patty," said her brother, "but there's no +getting into Bristol to buy one or to sell butter now. Hark! they are +beginning again," as the growl of a heavy piece of cannon shook the +ground. +</p> +<p> +"I wonder where our Jeph is," said the little girl sadly. "How could he +like to go among all those cruel fighting men? You won't go, Stead?" +</p> +<p> +"No, indeed, I have got something else to do." +</p> +<p> +The children were hard at work all the time. They cleared out the inside +of their hovel, which had a floor of what was called lime ash, trodden +hard, and not much cracked. Probably other hermits in earlier times +had made the place habitable before the expelled monk whom the +Kentons' great-grandfather recollected; for the cell, though rude, was +wonderfully strong, and the stone walls were very stout and thick, after +the fashion of the middle ages. There was a large flat stone to serve as +a hearth, and an opening at the top for smoke with a couple of big slaty +stones bent towards one another over it as a break to the force of the +rain. The children might have been worse off though there was no window, +and no door to close the opening. That mattered the less in the summer +weather, and before winter came, Stead thought he could close it with +a mat made of the bulrushes that stood up in the brook, lifting their +tall, black heads. +</p> +<p> +Straw must serve for their beds till they could get some sacking to +stuff it into, and as some of the sheep would have to be killed and +salted for the winter, the skins would serve for warmth. Patience +arranged the bundles of straw with a neat bit of plaiting round them, +at one corner of the room for herself and Rusha, at the opposite one for +Stead. For the present they must sleep in their clothes. +</p> +<p> +Life was always so rough, and, to present notions, comfortless, that +all this was not nearly so terrible to the farmer's daughter of two +centuries ago as it would be to a girl of the present day. Indeed, +save for the grief for the good father, the sense of which now and then +rushed on them like a horrible, too true dream, Steadfast and Patience +would almost have enjoyed the setting up for themselves and all their +contrivances. Some losses, however, besides that of the churn were +very great in their eyes. Patience's spinning wheel especially, and the +tools, scythe, hook, and spade, all of which had been so much damaged, +that Smith Blane had shaken his head over them as past mending. +</p> +<p> +Perhaps, however, Stead might borrow and get these made for him. As to +the wheel, that must, like the churn, wait till the siege was over. +</p> +<p> +"But will not those dreadful men burn the town down and not leave one +stone on another, if Jeph and the rest of them don't keep them out?" +asked Patience. +</p> +<p> +"No," said Stead. "That is not the way in these days—at least not +always. So poor father said last time we went into Bristol, when he had +been talking to the butter-merchant's man. He said the townsfolk would +know the reason why, if the soldiers were for holding out long enough to +get them into trouble." +</p> +<p> +"Then perhaps there will not be much fighting and they will not hurt +Jeph," said Patience, to whom Jeph was the whole war. +</p> +<p> +"There's no firing to-day. Maybe they are making it up," said Steadfast. +</p> +<p> +"I never heeded," said Patience, "we have been so busy! But Stead, how +shall we get the things? We have no money. Shall we sell a sheep or a +pig?" +</p> +<p> +Stead looked very knowing, and she exclaimed "Have you any, Stead? I +thought Jeph took it all away." +</p> +<p> +Then Stead told her how his father had entrusted him with the bulk of +the savings, in case of need, and had made it over to the use of the +younger ones. +</p> +<p> +"It was well you did not know, Patty," he added. "You told no lie, and +Jeph might have taken it all." +</p> +<p> +"O! he would not have been so cruel," cried Patience. "He would not want +Rusha and Ben to have nothing." +</p> +<p> +Stead did not feel sure, and when Patience asked him where the hoard +was, he shook his head, looked wise, and would not tell her. And then he +warned her, with all his might and main against giving a hint to anyone +that they had any such fund in reserve. She was a little vexed and hurt +at first, but presently she promised. +</p> +<p> +"Indeed Stead, I won't say one word about it, and you don't think I +would ever touch it without telling you." +</p> +<p> +"No, Patty, you wouldn't, but don't you see, if you know nothing, you +can't tell if people ask you." +</p> +<p> +In truth, Stead was less anxious about the money than about the other +treasure, and when presently Patience proposed that the cave where they +used to play should serve for the poultry, so as to save them from the +foxes and polecats, he looked very grave and said "No, no, Patty, don't +you ever tell anyone of that hole, nor let Rusha see it." +</p> +<p> +"Oh! I know then!" cried Patience, with a little laugh, "I know what's +there then." +</p> +<p> +"There's more than that, sister," and therewith Stead told in her ear of +the precious deposit. +</p> +<p> +She looked very grave, and said "Why then it is just like church! O no, +Stead, I'll never tell till good Mr. Holworth comes back. Could not we +say our prayers there on Sundays?" +</p> +<p> +Stead liked the thought but shook his head. +</p> +<p> +"We must not wear a path up to the place," he said, "nor show the little +ones the way." +</p> +<p> +"I shall say mine as near as I can," said Patience. "And I shall ask God +to help us keep it safe." +</p> +<p> +Then the children became absorbed in seeking for a place where their +fowls could find safe shelter from the enemies that lurked in the wood, +and ended by an attempt of Stead's to put up some perches across the +beam above the cow-shed. +</p> +<p> +Things were forward enough for Rusha and Ben to be fetched down to their +new home that night; when Patience went to fetch them, she heard that +the cessation of firing had really been because the troops within the +town were going to surrender to the King's soldiers outside. +</p> +<p> +"Then there will be no more fighting," she anxiously asked of Master +Blane. +</p> +<p> +"No man can tell," he answered. +</p> +<p> +"And will Jeph come back?" +</p> +<p> +But that he could tell as little, and indeed someone else spoke to him, +and he paid the child no more attention. +</p> +<p> +Rusha had had a merry day among the children of her own age in the +village; she fretted at coming away, and was frightened at turning +into so lonely a path through the hazel stems, trotting after Patience +because she was afraid to turn back alone, but making a low, peevish +moan all the time. +</p> +<a name="image-0003"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/stirringporridge.jpg" height="500" width="300" +alt="Stead Stirring the Porridge. +"> +</center> + +<p> +Patience hoped she would be comforted when they came out on their little +glade, and she saw Stead stirring the milk porridge over the fire he had +lighted by the house. For he had found the flint and steel belonging +to the matchlock of his father's old gun, and there was plenty of dry +leaves and half-burnt wood to serve as tinder. The fire for cooking +would be outside, whenever warmth and weather served, to prevent indoor +smoke. And to Patience's eyes it really looked pleasant and comfortable, +with Toby sitting wisely by his young master's side, and the cat +comfortably perched at the door, and Whitefoot tied to a tree, and the +cows in their new abode. But Jerusha was tired and cross, she said it +was an ugly place, and she was afraid of the foxes and the polecats, she +wanted to go home, she wanted to go back to Goody Grace. +</p> +<p> +Stead grew angry, and threatened that she should have no supper, and +that made her cry the louder, and shake her frock at him; but Patience, +who knew better how to deal with her, let her finish her cry, and come +creeping back, promising to be good, and glad to eat the supper, which +was wholesome enough, though very smoky: however, the children were used +to smoke, and did not mind it. +</p> +<p> +They said their prayers together while the sun was touching the tops of +the trees, crept into their hut, curled themselves up upon their straw +and went to sleep, while Toby lay watchful at the door, and the cat +prowled about in quest of a rabbit or some other evening wanderer for +her supper. +</p> +<p> +The next day Patience spent in trying to get things into somewhat better +order, and Steadfast in trying to gather together his live stock, which +he had been forced to leave to take care of themselves. Horse, donkey, +and cows were all safe round their hut; but he could find only three of +the young pigs and the old sow at the farmyard, and it plainly was +not safe to leave them there, though how to pen them up in their new +quarters he did not know. +</p> +<p> +The sheep were out on the moor, and only one of them seemed to be +missing. The goat and the geese had likewise taken care of themselves +and seemed glad to see him. He drove them down to their new home, and +fed them there with some of the injured meal. "But what can we do with +the pigs? There's no place they can't get out of but this," said Stead, +looking doubtfully. +</p> +<p> +"Do you think I would have pigs in here? No, I am not come to that!" +</p> +<p> +It ended in Stead's going to consult Master Blane, who advised that the +younger pigs should be either sold, or killed and salted, and nothing +left but the sow, who was a cunning old animal, and could pretty well +take care of herself, besides that she was so tough and lean that one +must be very hungry indeed to be greatly tempted by her bristles. +</p> +<p> +But how sell the pigs or buy the salt in such days as these? There was, +indeed, no firing. +</p> +<p> +There was a belief that treaties were going on, but leisure only left +the besiegers more free to go wandering about in search of plunder; and +Stead found all trouble saved him as to disposing of his pigs. They were +quite gone next time he looked for them, and the poor old sow had been +lamed by a shot; but did not seem seriously hurt, and when with some +difficulty she had been persuaded to be driven into the glen, she seemed +likely to be willing to stay there in the corner of the cattle shed. +</p> +<p> +The children were glad enough to be in their glen, with all its bareness +and discomfort, when they heard that a troop of horse had visited +Elmwood, and made a requisition there for hay and straw. They had used +no violence, but the farmers were compelled to take it into the camp +in their own waggons, getting nothing in payment but orders on the +treasury, which might as well be waste paper. And, indeed, they were +told by the soldiers that they might be thankful to get off with their +carts and horses. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0008"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VIII. STEAD IN POSSESSION. +</h2> +<pre> + "At night returning, every labour sped, + He sits him down, the monarch of a shed." + GOLDSMITH. +</pre> +<p> +Another day made it certain that the garrison of Bristol had surrendered +to the besiegers. A few shots were heard, but they were only fired in +rejoicing by the Royalists, and while Steadfast was studying his barley +field, already silvered over by its long beards, and wondering how soon +it would be ripe, and how he should get it cut and stacked, his name +was shouted out, and he saw Tom Oates and all the rest of the boys +scampering down the lane. +</p> +<p> +"Come along, Stead Kenton, come on and see, the Parliament soldiers come +out and go by." +</p> +<p> +Poor Steadfast had not much heart for watching soldiers, but it struck +him that he might see or hear something of Jephthah, so he came with the +other boys to the bank, where from behind a hedge they could look down +at the ranks of soldiers as they marched along, five abreast, the road +was not wide enough to hold more. They had been allowed to keep their +weapons, so the officers had their swords, and the men carried their +musquets. Most of them looked dull and dispirited, and the officers had +very gloomy, displeased faces. In fact, they were very angry with their +commander, Colonel Fiennes, for having surrendered so easily, and he was +afterwards brought to a court-martial for having done so. +</p> +<p> +Stead did not understand this, he thought only of looking under each +steel cap or tall, slouching hat for Jephthah. Several times a youthful, +slender figure raised his hopes, and disappointed him, and he began to +wonder whether Jeph could have after all stayed behind in the town, or +if he could have been hurt and was ill there. +</p> +<p> +By-and-by came a standard, bearing a Bible lying on a sword, and behind +it rode a grave looking officer, with long hair, and a red scarf, whom +the lads recognised as the same who had preached at Elmwood. His men +were in better order than some of the others, and as Steadfast eagerly +watched them, he was sure that he knew the turn of Jeph's head, in spite +of his being in an entirely new suit of clothes, and with a musquet over +his shoulder. +</p> +<p> +Stead shook the ash stem he was leaning against, the men looked up, he +saw the well-known face, and called out "Jeph! Jeph!" But some of the +others laughed, Jeph frowned and shook his head, and marched on. Stead +was disappointed, but at any rate he could carry back the assurance to +Patience that Jeph was alive and well, though he seemed to have lost all +care for his brothers and sisters. Yet, perhaps, as a soldier he could +not help it, and it might not be safe to straggle from the ranks. +</p> +<p> +There was no more fighting for the present in the neighbourhood. The +princes and their army departed, only leaving a garrison to keep the +city, and it was soon known in the village that the town was in its +usual state, and that it was safe to go in to market as in former times. +Stead accordingly carried in a basket of eggs, which was all he could +yet sell. He was ferried across the river, and made his way in. It was +strange to find the streets looking exactly as usual, and the citizens' +wives coming out with their baskets just as if nothing had happened. +</p> +<p> +There was the good-natured face of Mistress Lightfoot, who kept a +baker's shop at the sign of the Wheatsheaf, and was their regular +customer. +</p> +<p> +"Ha, little Kenton, be'st thou there? I'm right glad to see thee. They +said the mad fellows had burnt the farm and made an end of all of +you, but I find 'em civil enow, and I'm happy to see 'twas all +leasing-making." +</p> +<p> +"It is true, mistress," said Stead, "that they burnt our house and shot +poor father." +</p> +<p> +"Eh, you don't say so, my poor lad?" and she hurried her kind questions, +tears coming into her eyes, as she thought of the orphans deserted by +their brother. She was very anxious to have Patience butter-making again +and promised to come with Stead to give her assistance in choosing both +a churn and a spinning wheel if he would come in the next day, for he +had not ventured on bringing any money with him. She bought all his eggs +for her lodger, good Doctor Eales, who could hardly taste anything and +had been obliged to live cooped up in an inner chamber for fear of the +Parliament soldiers, who were misbehaved to Church ministers though +civil enough to women; while these new comers were just the other way, +hat in hand to a clergyman, but apt to be saucy to the lasses. But she +hoped the Doctor would cheer up again, now that the Cathedral was set in +order, so far as might be, and prayers were said there as in old times. +In fact the bells were ringing for morning prayer, and Stead was so glad +to hear them that he thought he might venture in and join in the brief +daily service. There were many others who had done so, for these anxious +days had quickened the devotion of many hearts, and people had felt what +it was to be robbed of their churches and forbidden the use of their +prayer-books. Moreover, some had sons or brothers or husbands fighting +on the one side or the other, and were glad to pray for them, so that +Stead found himself in the midst of quite a congregation, though the +choir had been too much dispersed and broken up for the musical service, +and indeed the organ had been torn to pieces by the Puritan soldiers, +who fancied it was Popish. +</p> +<p> +But Stead found himself caring for the Psalms and Prayers in a manner he +had never done before, and which came of the sorrow he had felt and the +troubles that pressed upon him. He fancied all would come right now, and +that soon Mr. Holworth would be back, and he should be able to give up +his charge; and he went home, quite cheered up. +</p> +<p> +When he came into the gulley he heard voices through the bushes, and +pressing forward anxiously he saw Blane and Oates before the hovel door, +Patience standing there crying, with the baby in her arms, and Rusha +holding her apron, and an elderly man whom Stead knew as old Lady +Elmwood's steward talking to the other men, who seemed to be persuading +him to something. +</p> +<p> +As soon as Stead appeared, the other children ran up to him, and Rusha +hid herself behind him, while Patience said "O Stead, Stead, he has come +to turn us all out! Don't let him!" +</p> +<p> +"Nay, nay, little wench, not so fast," said the steward, not unkindly. +"I am but come to look after my Lady's interests, seeing that we heard +your poor father was dead, God have mercy on his soul (touching his hat +reverently), and his son gone off to the wars, and nothing but a pack of +children left." +</p> +<p> +"But 'tis all poor father's," muttered Stead, almost dumbfounded. +</p> +<p> +"It is held under the manor of Elmwood," explained the steward, "on the +tenure of the delivery of the prime beast on the land on the demise of +lord or tenant, and three days' service in hay and harvest time." +</p> +<p> +What this meant Steadfast and Patience knew as little as did Rusha or +Ben, but Goodman Blane explained. +</p> +<p> +"The land here is all held under my Lady and Sir George, Stead—mine +just the same—no rent paid, but if there's a death—landlord or +tenant—one has to give the best beast as a fee, besides the work in +harvest." +</p> +<p> +"And the question is," proceeded the steward, "who and what is there to +look to. The eldest son is but a lad, if he were here, and this one is a +mere child, and the house is burnt down, and here they be, crouching in +a hovel, and how is it to be with the land. I'm bound to look after the +land. I'm bound to look after my Lady's interest and Sir George's." +</p> +<p> +"Be they ready to build up the place if you had another tenant?" asked +Blane, signing to Stead to hold his peace. +</p> +<p> +"Well—hum—ha! It might not come handy just now, seeing that Sir George +is off with the King, and all the money and plate with him and most +of the able-bodied servants, but I'm the more bound to look after his +interests." +</p> +<p> +That seemed to be Master Brown's one sentence. But Blane took him up, +"Look you here, Master Brown, I, that have been friend and gossip this +many years with poor John Kenton—rest his soul—can tell you that your +lady is like to be better served with this here Steadfast, boy though he +be, than if you had the other stripling with his head full of drums and +marches, guns and preachments, and what not, and who never had a good +day's work in him without his father's eye over him. This little fellow +has done half his share and his own to boot long ago. Now they are +content to dwell down here, out of the way of the soldiering, and don't +ask her ladyship to be at any cost for repairing the farm up there, but +will do the best they can for themselves. So, I say, Master Brown, it +will be a real good work of charity, without hurt to my Lady and Sir +George to let them be, poor things, to fight it out as they can." +</p> +<p> +"Well, well, there's somewhat in what you say Goodman Blane, but I'm +bound to look after my Lady's interests and Sir George's." +</p> +<p> +"I would come and work like a good one at my Lady's hay and harvest," +said Stead, "and I shall get stronger and bigger every year." +</p> +<p> +"But the beast," said the steward, "my Lady's interests must come first, +you see." +</p> +<p> +"O don't let him take Croppie," cried Patience. "O sir, not the cows, or +baby will die, and we can't make the butter." +</p> +<p> +"You see, Master Brown," explained Blane, "it is butter as is their +chief stand-by. Poor Dame Kenton, as was took last spring, was the best +dairywoman in the parish, and this little maid takes after her. Their +kine are their main prop, but there's the mare, there's not much good +that she can do them." +</p> +<p> +"Let us look!" said the steward. "A sorry jade enow! But I don't +know but she will serve our turn better than the cow. There was a +requisition, as they have the impudence to call it, from the Parliament +lot that took off all our horses, except old grey Dobbin and the colt, +and this beast may come in handy to draw the wood. So I'll take her, and +you may think yourself well off, and thank my Lady I'm so easy with you. +'Be not hard on the orphans,' she said. 'Heaven forbid, my Lady,' says +I, 'but I must look after your interests.'" +</p> +<p> +The children hung round old Whitefoot, making much of her for the last +time, and Patience and Rusha both cried sadly when she was led away; +and it was hard to believe Master Blane, who told them it was best for +Whitefoot as well as for themselves, since they would find it a hard +matter to get food even for the more necessary animals in the winter, +and the poor beast would soon be skin and bone; while for themselves +the donkey could carry all they wanted to market; and it might be more +important than they understood to be thus regularly accepted as tenants +by the manor, so that no one could turn them out. +</p> +<p> +And Stead, remembering the cavern, knew that he ought to be thankful, +while the two men went away, Brown observing, "One can scarce turn 'em +out, poor things, but such a mere lubber as that boy is can do no good! +If the elder one had thought fit to stay and mind his own business now!" +</p> +<p> +"A good riddance, I say," returned Blane. "Stead's a good-hearted lad, +though clownish, and I'll do what I can for him." +</p> +<a name="2HCH0009"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER IX. WINTRY TIMES. +</h2> +<pre> + "Thrice welcome may such seasons be, + But welcome too the common way, + The lowly duties of the day." +</pre> +<p> +There was of course much to do. Steadfast visited his hoard and took +from thence enough to purchase churn, spinning wheel, and the few tools +that he most needed; but it was not soon that Patience could sit down to +spin. That must be for the winter, and their only chance of light was in +making candles. +</p> +<p> +Rusha could gather the green rushes, though she could not peel them +without breaking them; and Patience had to take them out of her hands +and herself strip the white pith so that only one ribbon of green was +left to support it. +</p> +<p> +The sheep, excepting a few old ewes, were always sold or killed before +the winter, and by Blane's advice, Stead kept only three. The butcher +Oates took some of the others, and helped Stead to dispose of four more +in the market. Two were killed at different intervals for home use, but +only a very small part was eaten fresh, as a wonderful Sunday treat, +the rest was either disposed of among the neighbours, who took it in +exchange for food of other kinds; or else was salted and dried for the +winter's fare, laid up in bran in two great crocks which Stead had been +forced to purchase, and which with planks from the half-burnt house laid +over them served by turns as tables or seats. The fat was melted up in +Patience's great kettle, and the rushes dipped in it over and over again +till they had such a coating of grease as would enable them to be burnt +in the old horn lantern which had fortunately been in the stable and +escaped the fire. +</p> +<p> +Kind neighbours helped Stead to cut and stack his hay, and his little +field of barley. All the grass he could cut on the banks he also saved +for the animals' winter food, and a few turnips, but these were rare and +uncommon articles only used by the most advanced farmers, and his father +had only lately begun to grow them, nor had potatoes become known except +in the gardens of the curious. +</p> +<p> +The vexation was that all the manor was called to give their three days' +labour to Lady Elmwood's crops just as all their own were cut, and as, +of course, Master Brown had chosen the finest weather, every one went +in fear and trembling for their own, and Oates and others grumbled so +bitterly at having to work without wage, that Blane asked if they called +their own houses and land nothing. +</p> +<p> +There was fresh grumbling too that the food sent out to the labourers in +the field was not as it used to be, good beef and mutton, but only bread +and very hard cheese, and bowls of hasty pudding, with thin, sour small +beer to wash it down. Oates growled and vowed he would never come again +to be so scurvily used; and perhaps no one guessed that my lady was far +more impoverished than her tenants, and had a hard matter to supply even +such fare as this. +</p> +<p> +Happily the weather lasted good long enough to save the Kentons' little +crop, though there was a sad remembrance of the old times, when the +church bell gave the signal at sunrise for all the harvesters to come to +church for the brief service, and then to start fair in their gleaning. +The bell did still ring, but there were no prayers. The vicar had never +come back, and it was reported that he had been sent to the plantations +in America. There was no service on Sunday nearer than Bristol. It +was the churchwardens' business to find a minister, and of these, poor +Kenton was dead, and the other, Master Cliffe, was not likely to do +anything that might put the parish to expense. +</p> +<p> +Goodman Blane, and some of the other more seriously minded folk used to +walk into Bristol to church when the weather was tolerably fine. If it +were wet, the little stream used to flood the lower valley so that +it was not possible to get across. Steadfast was generally one of the +party. Patience could not go, as it was too far for Rusha to walk, or +for the baby to be carried. +</p> +<p> +Once, seeing how much she wished to go again to church, Stead undertook +to mind the children, the cattle, and the dinner in her place; but +what work he found it! When he tried to slice the onions for the broth, +little Ben toddled off, and had to be caught lest he should tumble into +the river. Then Rusha got hold of the knife, cut her hand, and rolled it +up in her Sunday frock, and Steadfast, thinking he had got a small bit +of rag, tied it up in Patience's round cap, but that he did not know +till afterwards, only that baby had got out again, and after some search +was found asleep cuddled up close to the old sow. And so it went on, +till poor Steadfast felt as if he had never spent so long a day. As to +reading his Bible and Prayer-book, it was quite impossible, and he never +had so much respect for Patience before as when he found what she did +every day without seeming to think anything of it. +</p> +<p> +She did not get home till after dark, but the Blanes had taken her to +rest at the friends with whom they spent the time between services, and +they had given her a good meal. +</p> +<p> +"Somehow," said Patience, "everybody seems kinder than they used to be +before the fighting began—and the parsons said the prayers as if they +had more heart in them." +</p> +<p> +Patience was quite right. These times of danger were making everyone +draw nearer together, and look up more heartily to Him in Whom was there +true help. +</p> +<p> +But winter was coming on and bringing bad times for the poor children +in their narrow valley, so close to the water. It was not a very cold +season, but it was almost worse, for it was very wet. The little brook +swelled, turned muddy yellow, and came rushing and tumbling along, far +outside its banks, so that Patience wondered whether there could be any +danger of its coming up to their hut and perhaps drowning them. +</p> +<p> +"I think there is no fear," said Steadfast. "You see this house has been +here from old times and never got washed away." +</p> +<p> +"It wouldn't wash away very easily," said Patience, "I wish we were in +one of the holes up there." +</p> +<p> +"If it looks like danger we might get up," said Steadfast, and to please +her he cleared a path to a freshly discovered cave a little lower down +the stream, but so high up on the rocky sides of the ravine as to be +safe from the water. +</p> +<p> +Once Patience, left at home watching the rushing of the stream, became +so frightened that she actually took the children up there, and set +Rusha to hold the baby while she dragged up some sheepskins and some +food. +</p> +<p> +Steadfast coming home asked what she was about and laughed at her, +showing her, by the marks on the trees, that the flood was already going +down. Such alarms came seldom, but the constant damp was worse. Happily +it was always possible to keep up a fire, wood and turf peat was +plentiful and could be had for the cutting and carrying, and though the +smoke made their eyes tingle, perhaps it hindered the damp from hurting +them, when all the walls wept, in spite of the reed mats which they had +woven and hung over them. And then it was so dark, Patience's rushes did +not give light enough to see to do anything by them even when they did +not get blown out, and when the sun had set there was nothing for it, +but as soon as the few cattle had been foddered in their shed and cave, +to draw the mat and sheepskins that made a curtain by way of door, +fasten it down with a stone, share with dog and cat the supper of broth, +or milk, or porridge which Patience had cooked, and then lie down on +the beds of dried leaves stuffed into sacking, drawing over them the +blankets and cloaks that had happily been saved in the chest, and +nestling on either side of the fire, which, if well managed, would +smoulder on for hours. There the two elder ones would teach Rusha her +catechism and tell old stories, and croon over old rhymes till both the +little ones were asleep, and then would hold counsel on their affairs, +settle how to husband their small stock of money, consider how soon it +would be expedient to finish their store of salted mutton and pork to +keep them from being spoilt by damp, and wonder when their hens would +begin to lay. +</p> +<p> +It could hardly be a merry Christmas for the poor children, though they +did stick holly in every chink where it would go, but there were not +many berries that year, and as Rusha said, "there were only thorns." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast walked to Bristol through slush and mire and rain, not even +Smith Blane went with him, deeming the weather too bad, and thinking, +perhaps, rather over much of the goose at home. +</p> +<p> +Bristol people were keeping Christmas with all their might, making the +more noise and revelry because the Parliament had forbidden the feast to +be observed at all. It was easy to tell who was for the King and who for +the Parliament, for there were bushes of holly, mistletoe, and ivy, at +all the Royalist doors and windows, and from many came the savoury steam +of roast beef or goose, while the other houses were shut up as close as +possible and looked sad and grim. +</p> +<p> +All the bells of all the churches were ringing, and everybody seemed to +be trooping into them. As Steadfast was borne along by the throng, there +was a pause, and a boy of his own age with a large hat and long feather, +beneath which could be seen curls of jet-black hair, walked at the head +of a party of gentlemen. Everyone in the crowd uncovered and there was +a vehement outcry of "God save the King! God save the Prince of Wales!" +Everyone thronged after him, and Steadfast had a hard struggle to +squeeze into the Cathedral, and then had to stand all the time with +his back against a pillar, for there was not even room to kneel down at +first. +</p> +<p> +There was no organ, but the choir men and boys had rallied there, and +led the Psalms which went up very loudly and heartily. Then the Dean +went up into the pulpit and preached about peace and goodwill to men, +and how all ought to do all in their power to bring those blessed gifts +back again. A good many people dropped off during the sermon, and more +after it, but Steadfast remained. He had never been able to come to the +Communion feast since the evil times had begun, and he had thought much +about it on his lonely walk, and knew that it was the way to be helped +through the hard life he was living. +</p> +<p> +When all was over he felt very peaceful, but so hungry and tired with +standing and kneeling so long after his walk, that he was glad to lean +against the wall and take out the piece of bread that Patience had put +in his wallet. +</p> +<p> +Presently a step came near, and from under a round velvet skull-cap a +kind old face looked at him which he knew to be that of the Dean. +</p> +<p> +"Is that all your Christmas meal, my good boy?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +"I shall have something for supper, thank your reverence," replied +Steadfast, taking off his leathern cap. +</p> +<p> +"Well, mayhap you could away with something more," said the Dean. "Come +with me." +</p> +<p> +And as Steadfast obeyed, he asked farther, "What is your name, my child? +I know your face in church, but not in town." +</p> +<p> +"No, sir, I do not live here. I am Steadfast Kenton, and I am from +Elmwood, but we have no prayers nor sermon there since they took the +parson away." +</p> +<p> +"Ah! good Master Holworth! Alas! my child, I fear you will scarce see +him back again till the King be in London once more, which Heaven grant. +And, meantime, Sir George Elmwood being patron, none can be intruded +into his room. It is a sore case, and I fear me the case of many a +parish besides." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast was so much moved by the good Dean's kindness as to begin to +consider whether it would be betraying the trust to consult him about +that strange treasure in the cave, but the lad was never quick of +thought, and before he could decide one of the canons joined the Dean, +and presently going up the steps to the great hall of the Deanery, +Steadfast saw long tables spread with snowy napkins, trenchers laid all +round, and benches on which a numerous throng were seating themselves, +mostly old people and little children, looking very poor and ragged. +Steadfast held himself to be a yeoman in a small way, and somewhat above +a Christmas feast with the poor, but the Dean's kindness was enough to +make him put away his pride, and then there was such a delicious steam +coming up from the buttery hatch as was enough to melt away all nonsense +of that sort from a hungry lad. +</p> +<p> +Grand joints of beef came up in clouds of vapour, and plum puddings +smoked in their rear, to be eaten with them, after the fashion of these +days, when of summer vegetables there were few, and of winter vegetables +none. The choirmen and boys, indeed all the Cathedral clergy who were +unmarried, were dining there too, but the Dean and his wife waited on +the table where the poorest were. Horns of ale were served to everyone, +and then came big mince pies. Steadfast felt a great longing to take +his home to his sisters, but he was ashamed to do it, even though he saw +that it was permissible, they were such beggarly-looking folks who set +the example. +</p> +<p> +However, the Dean's wife came up to him with a pleasant smile and asked +if he had no appetite or if he were thinking of someone at home, and +when he answered, she kindly undertook to lend him a basket, for which +he might call after evensong, and in the basket were also afterwards +found some slices of the beef and a fine large cake. +</p> +<p> +Then the young Prince and his suite came in, and he stood at the end of +the hall, smiling and looking amused as everyone's cup was filled with +wine—such wine as the Roundhead captains had left, and the Dean at the +head of the table gave out the health of his most sacred Majesty King +Charles, might God bless him, and confound all his enemies! The Prince +bared his black shining locks and drank, and there was a deep Amen, +and then a hurrah enough to rend the old vaulted ceiling; and equally +enthusiastically was the Prince's health afterwards drunk. +</p> +<p> +Stead heard the servants saying that such a meal had been a costly +matter, but that the good Dean would have it so in order that one more +true merry Christmas should be remembered in Bristol. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0010"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER X. A TERRIBLE HARVEST DAY. +</h2> +<pre> + "There is a reaper, whose name is death." + LONGFELLOW. +</pre> +<p> +Spring came at last, cold indeed but dry, and it brought calves, and +kids, and lambs, and little pigs, besides eggs and milk. The creatures +prospered for two reasons no doubt. One was that Stead and Patience +always prayed for a blessing on them, and the other was that they were +almost as tender and careful over the dumb things as they were over +little Ben, who could now run about and talk. All that year nothing +particular happened to the children. Patience's good butter and fresh +eggs had come to be known in Bristol, and besides, Stead and Rusha used +to find plovers' eggs on the common, for which the merchants' ladies +would pay them, or later for wild strawberries and for whortleberries. +Stead could also make rush baskets and mats, and they were very glad of +such earnings, some of which they spent on clothes, and on making their +hut more comfortable, while some was stored up in case of need in the +winter. +</p> +<p> +For another year things went on much in the same manner, Bristol was +still kept by the King's troops; but when Steadfast went into the place +there was less cheerfulness among the loyal folk, and the Puritans began +to talk of victories of their cause, while in the Cathedral the canon's +voice trembled and grew choked in the prayer for the King, and the +sermons were generally about being true and faithful to King and church +whatever might betide. The Prince of Wales had long since moved away, +indeed there were reports that the plague was in some of the low, +crowded streets near the water, and Patience begged her brother to take +care of himself. +</p> +<p> +There had been no Christmas feast at the Deanery, it was understood that +the Dean thought it better not to bring so many people together. +</p> +<p> +Then as harvest time was coming on more soldiers came into the place. +They looked much shabbier than the troops of a year ago, their coats +were worn and soiled, and their feathers almost stumps, but they made up +for their poverty by swagger and noise, and Steadfast was thankful +that it was unlikely that any of them should find the way to his little +valley with what they called requisitions for the King's service, but +which meant what he knew too well. Some of the villagers formed into +bands, and agreed to meet at the sound of a cowhorn, to drive anyone off +on either side, who came to plunder, and they even had a flag with the +motto— +</p> +<pre> + "If you take our cattle + We will give you battle." +</pre> +<p> +And they really did drive off some stragglers. Stead, however, accepted +the offer from Tom Gates of a young dog, considerably larger and +stronger than poor old Toby, yellow and somewhat brindled, and known as +Growler. He looked very terrible, but was very civil to those whom he +knew, and very soon became devoted to all the family, especially to +little Ben. However, most of the garrison and the poorer folk of the +town were taken up with mending the weak places in the walls, and +digging ditches with the earth of which they made steep banks, and there +were sentries at the gates, who were not always civil. Whatever the +country people brought into the town was eagerly bought up, and was paid +for, not often in the coin of the realm, but by tokens made of tin or +some such metal with odd stamps upon them, and though they could be used +as money they would not go nearly so far as the sums they were held to +represent—at least in anyone's hands but those of the officers. +</p> +<p> +There were reports that the Parliament army was about to besiege the +town, and Prince Rupert was coming to defend it. Steadfast was very +anxious, and would not let his sisters stir out of the valley, keeping +the cattle there as much as possible. +</p> +<p> +One day, when he had been sent for to help to gather in Lady Elmwood's +harvest, in the afternoon the reaping and binding were suddenly +interrupted by the distant rattle of musketry, such as had been heard +two years ago, in the time of the first siege but it was in quite +another direction from the town. Everyone left off work, and made what +speed they could to the top of the sloping field, whence they could see +what was going on. +</p> +<p> +"There they be!" shouted Tom Gates. "I saw 'em first! Hurrah! They be at +Luck's mill." +</p> +<p> +"Hush! you good-for-nothing," shrieked Bess Hart, throwing her apron +over her head. "When we shall all be killed and murdered." +</p> +<p> +"Not just yet, dame," said Master Brown. "They be a long way off, and +they have enow to do with one another. I wonder if Sir George be there. +He writ to my lady that he hoped to see her ere long." +</p> +<p> +"And my Roger," called out a woman. "He went with Sir George." +</p> +<p> +"And our Jack," was the cry of another; while Steadfast thought of +Jephthah, but knew he must be on the opposite side. From the top of the +field, they could see a wide sweep of country dipping down less than two +miles from them where there was a bridge over a small river, a mill, and +one or two houses near. On the nearer side of the river could be seen +the flash of steel caps, and a close, dark body of men, on the further +side was another force, mostly of horsemen, with what seemed like +waggons and baggage horses in the rear. They had what by its +colours seemed to be the English banner, the others had several +undistinguishable standards. Puffs of smoke broke from the windows of +the mill. +</p> +<p> +"Aye!" said Goodman Blane. "I would not be in Miller Luck's shoes just +now. I wonder where he is, poor rogue. Which side have got his mill, +think you, Master Brown?" +</p> +<p> +"The round-headed rascals for certain," said Master Brown, "and the +bridge too, trying to hinder the King's men from crossing bag and +baggage to relieve the town." +</p> +<p> +"See, there's a party drawing together. Is it to force the bridge?" +</p> +<p> +"Aye, aye, and there's another troop galloping up stream. Be they +running off, the cowards?" +</p> +<p> +"Not they. Depend on it some of our folks have told them of Colham ford. +Heaven be with them, brave lads." +</p> +<p> +"Most like Sir George is there, I don't see 'em." +</p> +<p> +"No, of course not, stupid, they'll be taking Colham Lane. See, see, +there's a lot of 'em drawn up to force the bridge. Good luck be with +them." +</p> +<p> +More puffs of smoke from the mill, larger ones from the bank, and a +rattle and roll came up to the watchers. There was a moment's shock and +pause in the assault, then a rush forward, and the distant sound of a +cheer, which those on the hill could not help repeating. But from the +red coats on and behind the bridge, proceeded a perfect cloud of smoke, +which hid everything, and when it began to clear away on the wind, there +seemed to be a hand-to-hand struggle going on upon the bridge, smaller +puffs, as though pistols were being used, and forms falling over +the parapet, at which sight the men held their breath, and the women +shrieked and cried "God have mercy on their poor souls." And then the +dark-coated troops seemed to be driven back. +</p> +<p> +"That was a feint, only a feint," cried Master Brown. "See there!" +</p> +<p> +For the plumed troop of horsemen had indeed crossed, and came galloping +down the bank with such a jingling and clattering, and thundering of +hoofs as came up to the harvest men above, and Master Brown led the +cheer as they charged upon the compact mass of red coats behind the +bridge, and broke and rode them down by the vehemence of the shock. +</p> +<p> +"Hurrah!" cried Blane. "Surely they will turn now and take the fellows +on the bridge in the rear. No. Ha! they are hunting them down on to +their baggage! Well done, brave fellows, hip! hip!—" +</p> +<p> +But the hurrah died on his lips as a deep low hum—a Psalm tune sung by +hundreds of manly voices—ascended to his ears, to the accompaniment +of the heavy thud of horsehoofs, and from the London Road, between +the bridge and the Royalist horsemen, there emerged a compact body of +troopers, in steel caps and corslets. Forming in ranks of three abreast, +they charged over the bridge, and speedily cleared off the Royalists who +were struggling to obtain a footing there. +</p> +<p> +There was small speech on the hill side, as the encounter was watched, +and the Ironsides forming on the other side, charged the already broken +troops before they had time to rally, and there was nothing to be +seen but an utter dispersion and scattering of men, looking from that +distance like ants when their nest has been broken into. +</p> +<p> +It was only a skirmish, not to be heard of in history, but opening the +way for the besiegers to the walls of Bristol, and preventing any of +the supplies from reaching the garrison, or any of the intended +reinforcements, except some of the eager Cavaliers, who galloped on +thither, when they found it impossible to return and guard the bridge +for their companions. +</p> +<p> +The struggle was over around the bridge in less than two hours, but no +more of Lady Elmwood's harvest was gathered in that evening. The people +watched as if they could not tear themselves from the contemplation +of the successful bands gathering together in their solid masses, and +marching onwards in the direction of Bristol, leaving, however, a strong +guard at the bridge, over which piled waggons and beasts of burthen +continued to pass, captured no doubt and prevented from relieving the +city. It began to draw towards evening, and Master Brown was beginning +to observe that he must go and report to my lady, poor soul; and as to +the corn, well, they had lost a day gaping at the fight, and they must +come up again to-morrow, he only hoped they were not carting it for the +round-headed rogues; when at that moment there was a sudden cry, first +of terror, then of recognition, "Roger, Hodge Fitter! how didst come +here?" +</p> +<p> +For a weary, worn-out trooper, with stained buff coat, and heavy boots, +stood panting among them. "I thought 'twas our folks," he said. "Be +mother here?" +</p> +<p> +"Hodge! My Hodge! Be'st hurt, my lad?" cried the mother, bursting +through the midst and throwing herself on him, while his father +contented himself with a sort of grunt. "All right, Hodge. How com'st +here?" +</p> +<p> +"And where's my Jack?" exclaimed Goody Bent. +</p> +<p> +"And where's our Harry?" was another cry from Widow Lakin. +</p> +<p> +While Stead longed to ask, but could not be heard in the clamour, +whether his brother had been there. +</p> +<p> +Hodge could tell little—seen less than the lookers on above. He had +been among those who had charged through the enemy, and ridden towards +Bristol, but his horse had been struck by a stray shot, and killed under +him. He had avoided the pursuers by scrambling through a hedge, and then +had thought it best to make his way through the fields to his own home, +until, seeing the party on the hill, he had joined them, expecting to +find his parents among them. +</p> +<p> +Sir George he knew to be on before him, and probably almost at Bristol +by this time. Poor Jack had been left weeks ago on the field of Naseby, +though there had been no opportunity of letting his family know. "Ill +news travels fast enough!" And as to Harry, he had been shot down by a +trooper near about the bridge, but mayhap might be alive for all that. +</p> +<p> +"And my brother, Jeph Kenton," Steadfast managed to say. "Was he there?" +</p> +<p> +"Jeph Kenton! Why, he's a canting Roundhead. The only Elmwood man as is! +More shame for him." +</p> +<p> +"But was he there?" demanded Stead. +</p> +<p> +"There! Well, Captain Venn's horse were there, and he was in them! I +have seen him more than once on outpost duty, prating away as if he had +a beard on his chin. I'd a good mind to put a bullet through him to stop +his impudence, for a disgrace to the place." +</p> +<p> +"Then he was in the fight?" reiterated Steadfast. +</p> +<p> +"Aye, was he. And got his deserts, I'll be bound, for we went smack +smooth through Venn's horse, like a knife through a mouldy cheese, and +left 'em lying to the right and left. If the other fellows had but stuck +by us as well, we'd have made a clean sweep of the canting dogs." +</p> +<p> +Hodge's eloquence was checked by the not unwelcome offer of a drink of +cider. +</p> +<p> +"Seems quiet enough down there," said Nanny Lakin, peering wistfully +over the valley where the shadows of evening were spreading. "Mayhap if +I went down I might find out how it is with my poor lad." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, I'll go, mother," said a big, loutish youth, hitherto silent; +"mayn't be so well for womenfolk down there." +</p> +<p> +"What's that to me, Joe, when my poor Harry may be lying a bleeding his +dear life out down there?" +</p> +<p> +"There's no fear," said Hodge. "To give them their due, the Roundheads +be always civil to country folk and women—leastways unless they take +'em for Irish—and thinking that, they did make bloody work with the +poor ladies at Naseby. But the dame there will be safe enough," he +added, as she was already on the move down hill. "Has no one a keg of +cider to give her? I know what 'tis to lie parching under a wound." +</p> +<p> +Someone produced one, and as her son shouted "Have with you, mother," +Steadfast hastily asked Tom Oates to let Patience know that he was gone +to see after Jephthah, and joined Ned Lakin and his mother. +</p> +<p> +Jeph had indeed left his brothers and sisters in a strange, wild way, +almost cruel in its thoughtlessness; but to Stead it had never seemed +more than that elder brotherly masterfulness that he took as a matter of +course, and there was no resting in the thought of his lying wounded and +helpless on the field—nay, the assurance that Hodge shouted out that +the rebel dogs took care of their own fell on unhearing or unheeding +ears, as Steadfast and Ned Lakin dragged the widow through a gap in the +hedge over another field, and then made their way down a deep stony lane +between high hedges. +</p> +<p> +It was getting dark, in spite of the harvest moon, by the time they +came out on the open space below, and began to see that saddest of all +sights, a battlefield at night. +</p> +<p> +A soldier used to war would perhaps have scorned to call this a battle, +but it was dreadful enough to these three when they heard the sobbing +panting, and saw the struggling of a poor horse not quite dead, and his +rider a little way from him, a fine stout young man, cold and stiff, as +Nanny turned up his face to see if it was her Harry's. +</p> +<p> +A little farther on lay another figure on his back, but as Nanny stooped +over it, a lantern was flashed on her and a gruff voice called out, +"Villains, ungodly churls, be you robbing the dead?" and a tall man +stood darkly before them, pistol in hand. +</p> +<p> +"No, sir; no, sir," sobbed out Nanny. "I am only a poor widow woman, +come down to see whether my poor lad be dead or alive and wanting his +mother." +</p> +<p> +"What was his regiment?" demanded the soldier in a kinder voice. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, sir, your honour, don't be hard on him—he couldn't help it—he +went with Sir George Elmwood." +</p> +<p> +"That makes no odds, woman, when a man's down," said the soldier. +"Unless 'tis with the Fifth Monarchy sort, and I don't hold with them. I +have an uncle and a cousin or two among the malignants, as good fellows +as ever lived—no Amalekites and Canaanites—let Smite-them Derry say +what he will. Elmwood! let's see—that was the troop that forded higher +up, and came on Fisher's corps. This way, dame. If your son be down, +you'll find him here; that is, unless he be carried into the mill or one +of the houses. Most of the wounded lie there for the night, but the poor +lads that are killed must be buried to-morrow. Take care, dame," as poor +Nanny cried out in horror at having stumbled over a dead man's legs. He +held his lantern so that she could see the face while she groaned out, +"Poor soul." And thus they worked their sad way up to the buildings +about the water mill. There was a shed through the chinks of which light +could be seen, and at the door of which a soldier exclaimed— +</p> +<p> +"Have ye more wounded, Sam? There's no room for a dog in here. They lie +as thick as herrings in a barrel." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, 'tis a poor country woman come to look for her son. What's his +name? Is there a malignant here of the name of Harry Lakin?" +</p> +<p> +The question was repeated, and a cry of gladness, "Mother! mother!" +ended in a shriek of pain in the distance within. +</p> +<p> +"Aye, get you in, mother, get you in. A woman here will be all the +better, be she who she may." +</p> +<p> +The permission was not listened to. Nanny had already sprung into the +midst of the mass of suffering towards the bloody straw where her son +was lying. +</p> +<p> +Steadfast, who had of course looked most anxiously at each of the still +forms on the way, now ventured to say:— +</p> +<p> +"So please you, sir, would you ask after one Jephthah Kenton? On your +own side, sir, in Captain Venn's troop? I am his brother." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, ho! you are of the right sort, eh?" said the soldier. "Jephthah +Kenton. D'ye know aught of him, Joe?" +</p> +<p> +"I heard him answer to the roll call before Venn's troop went off to +quarters," replied the other man. "He is safe and sound, my lad, and +Venn's own orderly." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast's heart bounded up. He longed still to know whether poor Harry +Lakin was in very bad case, but it was impossible to get in to discover, +and he was pushed out of the way by a party carrying in another wounded +man, whose moans and cries were fearful to listen to. He thought it +would be wisest to make the best of his way home to Patience, and set +her likewise at rest, for who could tell what she might not have heard. +</p> +<p> +The moon was shining brightly enough to make his way plain, but the +scene around was all the sadder and more ghastly in that pallid light, +which showed out the dark forms of man and horse, and what was worse the +white faces turned up, and those dark pools in which once or twice he +had slipped as he saw or fancied he saw movements that made him shudder, +while a poor dog on the other side of the stream howled piteously from +time to time. +</p> +<p> +Presently, as he came near a hawthorn bush which cast a strangely shaped +shadow, he heard a sobbing—not like the panting moan of a wounded man, +but the worn out crying of a tired child. He thought some village little +one must have wandered there, and been hemmed in by the fight, and he +called out— +</p> +<p> +"Is anyone there?" +</p> +<p> +The sobbing ceased for a moment and he called again, "Who is it? I won't +hurt you," for something white seemed to be squeezing closer into the +bush. +</p> +<p> +"Who are you for?" piped out a weak little voice. +</p> +<p> +"I'm no soldier," said Steadfast. "Come out, I'll take you home +by-and-by." +</p> +<p> +"I have no home!" was the answer. "I want father." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast was now under the tree, and could see that it was a little +girl who was sheltering there of about the same size as Rusha. He tried +to take her hand, but she backed against the tree, and he repeated "Come +along, I wouldn't hurt you for the world. Who is your father? Where +shall we find him?" +</p> +<p> +"My father is Serjeant Gaythorn of Sir Harry Blythedale's troopers," +said the child, somewhat proudly, then starting again, "You are not a +rebel, are you?" +</p> +<p> +"No, I am a country lad," said Steadfast; "I want to help you. Come, you +can't stay here." +</p> +<p> +For the little hand she had yielded to him was cold and damp with the +September dews. His touch seemed to give her confidence, and when he +asked, "Can't I take you to your mother?" she answered— +</p> +<p> +"Mother's dead! The rascal Roundheads shot her over at Naseby." +</p> +<p> +"Poor child! poor child!" said Steadfast. "And you came on with your +father." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, he took me on his horse over the water, and told me to wait by the +bush till he came or sent for me, but he has not come, and the firing is +over and it is dark, and I'm so hungry." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast thought the child had better come home with him, but she +declared that father would come back for her. He felt convinced that +her father, if alive, must be in Bristol, and that he could hardly come +through the enemy's outposts, and he explained to her this view. To +his surprise she understood in a moment, having evidently much more +experience of military matters than he had, and when he further told +her that Hodge was at Elmwood, and would no doubt rejoin his regiment +at Bristol the next day, she seemed satisfied, and with the prospect of +supper before her, trotted along, holding Steadfast's hand and munching +a crust which he had found in his pouch, the remains of the interrupted +meal, but though at first it seemed to revive her a good deal, the poor +little thing was evidently tired out, and she soon began to drag, and +fret, and moan. The three miles was a long way for her, and tired as he +was, Steadfast had to take her on his back, and when at last he reached +home, and would have set her down before his astonished sisters, she was +fast asleep with her head on his shoulder. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0011"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XI. THE FORTUNES OF WAR. +</h2> +<pre> + "Hear and improve, he pertly cries, + I come to make a nation wise." + GAY +</pre> +<p> +Very early in the morning, before indeed anyone except Patience was +stirring, Steadfast set forth in search of Roger Fitter to consult him +about the poor child who was fast asleep beside Jerusha; and propose to +him to take her into Bristol to find her father. +</p> +<p> +Hodge, who had celebrated his return by a hearty supper with his +friends, was still asleep, and his mother was very unwilling to call +him, or to think of his going back to the wars. However, he rolled down +the cottage stair at last, and the first thing he did was to observe— +</p> +<p> +"Well, mother, how be you? I felt like a boy again, waking up in the old +chamber. Where's my back and breast-piece? Have you a cup of ale, while +I rub it up?" +</p> +<p> +"Now, Hodge, you be not going to put on that iron thing again, when +you be come back safe and sound from those bloody wars?" entreated his +mother. +</p> +<p> +"Ho, ho! mother, would you have me desert? No, no! I must to my colours +again, or Sir George and my lady might make it too hot to hold you here. +Hollo, young one, Stead Kenton, eh? Didst find thy brother? No, I'll be +bound. The Roundhead rascals have all the luck." +</p> +<p> +"I found something else," said Steadfast, and he proceeded to tell about +the child while Dame Fitter stood by with many a pitying "Dear heart!" +and "Good lack!" +</p> +<p> +Hodge knew Serjeant Gaythorn, and knew that the poor man's wife had been +shot dead in the flight from Naseby; but he demurred at the notion +of encumbering himself with the child when he went into the town. He +suspected that he should have much ado to get in himself, and if he +could not find her father, what could he do with her? +</p> +<p> +Moreover, he much doubted whether the serjeant was alive. He had been +among those on whom the sharpest attack had fallen, and not many of them +had got off alive. +</p> +<p> +"What like was he?" said Steadfast. "We looked at a many of the poor +corpses that lay there. They'll never be out of my eyes again at night!" +</p> +<p> +"A battlefield or two would cure that," grimly smiled Hodge. +"Gaythorn—he was a man to know again—had big black moustaches, and +had lost an eye, had a scar like a weal from a whip all down here from a +sword-cut at Long Marston." +</p> +<p> +"Then I saw him," said Stead, in a low voice. "Did he wear a green +scarf?" +</p> +<p> +"Aye, aye. Belonged to the Rangers, but they are pretty nigh all gone +now." +</p> +<p> +"Under the rail of the miller's croft," added Stead. +</p> +<p> +"Just so. That was where I saw them make a stand and go down like +skittles." +</p> +<p> +"Poor little maid. What shall I tell her?" +</p> +<p> +"Well, you can never be sure," said Hodge. "There was a man now I +thought as dead as a door nail at Newbury that charged by my side only +yesterday. You'd best tell the maid that if I find her father I'll send +him after her; and if not, when the place is quiet, you might look at +the mill and see if he is lying wounded there." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast thought the advice good, and it saved him from what he had no +heart to do, though he could scarcely doubt that one of those ghastly +faces had been the serjeant's. +</p> +<p> +When he approached his home he was surprised to hear, through the +copsewood, the sound of chattering, and when he came in sight of the +front of the hut, he beheld Patience making butter with the long handled +churn, little Ben toddling about on the grass, and two little girls +laughing and playing with all the poultry round them. +</p> +<p> +One, of course, was stout, ruddy, grey-eyed Rusha, in her tight round +cap, and stout brown petticoat with the homespun apron over it; +the other was like a fairy by her side; slight and tiny, dressed in +something of mixed threads of white and crimson that shone in the +sun, with a velvet bodice, a green ribbon over it, and a gem over the +shoulder that flashed in the sun, a tiny scarlet hood from which such +a quantity of dark locks streamed as to give something the effect of a +goldfinch's crown, and the face was a brilliant little brown one, with +glowing cheeks, pretty little white teeth, and splendid dark eyes. +</p> +<p> +Patience could have told that this bright array was so soiled, rumpled, +ragged, and begrimed, that she hardly liked to touch it, but to +Steadfast, who had only seen the child in the moonlight, she was a +wonderful vision in the morning sunshine, and his heart was struck with +a great pity at her clear, merry tones of laughter. +</p> +<p> +As he appeared in the open space, Toby running before him, the little +girl looked up and rushed to him crying out— +</p> +<p> +"It's you. Be you the country fellow who took me home? Where's father?" +</p> +<p> +Stead was so sorry for her that he took her up in his arms and said— +</p> +<p> +"Hodge Fitter is gone into town to look for him, my pretty. You must +wait here till he comes for you," and he would have kissed her, but she +turned her head away, pouted, and said, "I didn't give you leave to do +that, you lubber lad." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast was much diverted. He was now a tall sturdy youth of sixteen, +in a short smock frock, long leathern gaiters, and a round straw hat +of Patience's manufacture, and he felt too clumsy for the dainty little +being, whom he hastened to set on her small feet—in once smart but very +dilapidated shoes. His sisters were somewhat shocked at her impertinence +and Rusha breathed out "Oh—!" +</p> +<p> +"I am to wait here for Serjeant Gaythorn," observed the little damsel +somewhat consequentially. "Well! it is a strange little makeshift of a +place, but 'tis the fortune of war, and I have been in worse." +</p> +<p> +"It is beautiful!" said Rusha, "now we have got a glass window—and +a real door—and beds—" all which recent stages in improvement she +enumerated with a gasp of triumph and admiration between each. +</p> +<p> +"So you think," said little Mistress Gaythorn. "But I have lived in a +castle." +</p> +<p> +She was quite ready to tell her history. Her name was Emlyn, and the +early part of the eight years of her life had been spent at Sir Harry +Blythedale's castle, where her father had been butler and her mother my +lady's woman. Sir Harry had gone away to the wars, and in his absence +my lady had held out the castle (perhaps it was only a fortified house) +against General Waller, hoping and hoping in vain for Lord Goring to +come to her relief. +</p> +<p> +"That was worst of all," said Emlyn, "we had to hide in the cellars when +they fired at us—and broke all the windows, and a shot killed my +poor dear little kitten because she wouldn't stay down with me. And +we couldn't get any water, except by going out at night; young Master +George was wounded at the well. And they only gave us a tiny bit of +dry bread and salt meat every day, and it made little Ralph sick and he +died. And at last there was only enough for two days more—and a great +breach—that's a hole," she added condescendingly,—"big enough to drive +my lady's coach-and-six through in the court wall. So then my lady +sent out Master Steward with one of the best napkins on the end of a +stick—that was a flag of truce, you know—and all the rascal Roundheads +had to come in, and we had to go out, with only just what we could +carry. My lady went in her coach with Master George, because he was +hurt, and the young ladies, and some of the maids went home; but the +most of us kept with my lady, to guard her to go to his Honour and the +King at Oxford. Father rode big Severn, and mother was on a pillion +behind him, with baby in her arms, and I sat on a cushion in front." +</p> +<p> +After that, it seemed that my lady had found a refuge among her kindred, +but that the butler had been enrolled in his master's troop of horse, +and there being no separate means of support for his wife and children, +they had followed the camp, a life that Emlyn had evidently enjoyed, +although the baby died of the exposure. She had been a great pet and +favourite with everybody, and no doubt well-cared for even after the sad +day when her mother had perished in the slaughter at Naseby. Patience +wondered what was to become of the poor child, if her father never +appeared to claim her; but it was no time to bring this forward, for +Steadfast, as soon as he had swallowed his porridge, had to go off to +finish his day's labour for the lady of the manor, warning his sisters +that they had better keep as close as they could in the wood, and not +let the cattle stray out of their valley. +</p> +<p> +He had not gone far, however, before he met a party of his fellow +labourers running home. Their trouble had been saved them. The Roundhead +soldiers had taken possession of waggons, horses, corn and all, as the +property of a malignant, and were carrying them off to their camp before +the town. +</p> +<p> +Getting up on a hedge, Stead could see these strange harvestmen loading +the waggons and driving them off. He also heard that Sir George had +come late in the evening, and taken old Lady Elmwood and several of the +servants into Bristol for greater safety. Then came the heavy boom of a +great gun in the distance. +</p> +<p> +"The Parliament men are having their turn now—as the King's men had +before," said Gates. +</p> +<p> +And all who had some leisure—or made it—went off to the church tower +to get a better view of the white tents being set up outside the city +walls, and the compact bodies of troops moving about as if impelled by +machinery, while others more scattered bustled like insects about the +camp. +</p> +<p> +Steadfast, however, went home, very anxious about his own three cows, +and seven sheep with their lambs, as well as his small patches of corn, +which, when green, had already only escaped being made forage of by the +Royalist garrison, because he was a tenant of the loyal Elmwoods. These +fields were exposed, though the narrow wooded ravine might protect the +small homestead and the cattle. +</p> +<p> +He found his new guest very happy cracking nuts, and expounding to Rusha +what kinds of firearms made the various sounds they heard. Patience had +made an attempt to get her to exchange her soiled finery for a sober +dress of Rusha's; but "What shall I do, Stead?" said the grave +elder sister, "I cannot get her to listen to me, she says she is +no prick-eared Puritan, but truly she is not fit to be seen." Stead +whistled. "Besides that she might bring herself and all of us into +danger with those gewgaws." +</p> +<p> +"That's true," said Stead. "Look you here, little maid—none can say +whether some of the rebel folk may find their way here, and they don't +like butterflies of your sort, you know. If you look a sober little +brown bee like Rusha here, they will take no notice, but who knows what +they might do it they found you in your bravery." +</p> +<p> +"Bravery," thought Patience, "filthy old rags, me seems," but she had +the prudence not to speak, and Emlyn nodded her head, saying, "I'll do +it for you, but not for her." +</p> +<p> +And when all was done, and she was transformed into a little +russet-robed, white-capped being, nothing would serve her, but to +collect all the brightest cranesbill flowers she could find, and stick +them in her own bodice and Rusha's. +</p> +<p> +Patience could not at all understand the instinct for bright colours, +but even little Ben shouted "Pretty, pretty." +</p> +<p> +Perhaps it was well that the delicate pink blossoms were soon faded and +crushed, and that twilight veiled their colours, for just as the cattle +were being foddered for the night, there was a gay step on the narrow +path, and with a start of terror, Patience beheld a tall soldier, in +tall hat, buff coat, and high boots before her; while Growler made a +horrible noise, but Toby danced in a rapture of delight. +</p> +<p> +"Ha! little Patience, is't thou?" +</p> +<p> +"Jephthah," she cried, though the voice as well as the form were greatly +changed in these two years between boyhood and manhood. +</p> +<p> +"Aye, Jephthah 'tis," he said, taking her hand, and letting her kiss +him. "My spirit was moved to come and see how it was with you all, and +to shew how Heaven had prospered me, so I asked leave of absence +after roll-call, and could better be spared, as that faithful man, +Hold-the-Faith Jenkins, will exhort the men this night. I came up by +Elmwood to learn tidings of you. Ha, Stead! Thou art grown, my lad. May +you be as much grown in grace." +</p> +<p> +"You are grown, too," said Patience, almost timidly. "What a man you +are, Jeph! Here, Rusha, you mind Jeph, and here is little Benoni." +</p> +<p> +"You have reared that child, then," said Jeph, as the boy clung to his +sister's skirts, "and you have kept things together, Stead, as I hardly +deemed you would do, when I had the call to the higher service." It was +an odd sort of call, but there was no need to go into that matter, and +Stead answered gravely, "Yes, I thank God. He has been very good to us, +and we have fared well. Come in, Jeph, and see, and have something to +eat! I am glad you are come home at last." +</p> +<p> +Jephthah graciously consented to enter the low hut. He had to bend his +tall figure and take off his steeple-crowned hat before he could enter +at the low doorway, and then they saw his closely cropped head. +</p> +<p> +Patience tarried a moment to ask Rusha what had become of Emlyn. +</p> +<p> +"She is hiding in the cow shed," was the answer. "She ran off as soon as +she saw Jeph coming, and said he was a crop-eared villain." +</p> +<p> +This was not bad news, and they all entered the hut, where the fire was +made up, and one of Patience's rush candles placed on the table with +a kind of screen of plaited rushes to protect it from the worst of the +draught. Jeph had grown quite into a man in the eyes of his brothers +and sisters. He looked plump and well fed, and his clothes were good and +fresh, and his armour bright, a contrast to Steadfast's smock, stained +with weather and soil, and his rough leathern leggings, although +Patience did her best, and his shirt was scrupulously clean every Sunday +morning. +</p> +<p> +The soldier was evidently highly satisfied. "So, children, you have done +better than I could have hoped. This hovel is weather-tight and quite +fit to harbour you. You have done well to keep together, and it is well +said that he who leaves all in the hands of a good Providence shall have +his reward." +</p> +<p> +Jeph's words were even more sacred than these, and considerably overawed +Patience, who, as he sat before her there in his buff coat and belt, +laying down the law in pious language, was almost persuaded to believe +that their present comfort and prosperity (such as it was) was owing to +the faith which he said had led to his desertion of his family, though +she had always thought it mere impatience of home work fired by revenge +for his father's death. +</p> +<p> +No doubt he believed in this reward himself, in his relief at finding +his brothers and sisters all together and not starving, and considered +their condition a special blessing due to his own zeal, instead of to +Steadfast's patient exertion. +</p> +<p> +He was much more disposed to talk of himself and the mercies he had +received, but which the tone of his voice showed him to consider as +truly his deserts. Captain Venn had, it seemed, always favoured him from +the time of his enlistment and nothing but his youth prevented him from +being a corporal. He had been in the two great battles of Marston Moor +and Naseby, and come off unhurt from each, and moreover grace had been +given him to interpret the Scriptures in a manner highly savoury and +inspiriting to the soldiery. +</p> +<p> +Here Patience, in utter amaze, could not help crying out "Thou, Jeph! +Thou couldst not read without spelling, and never would." +</p> +<p> +He waved his hand. "My sister, what has carnal learning to do with +grace?" And taking a little black Bible from within his breastplate, he +seemed about to give them a specimen, when Emlyn's impatience and hunger +no doubt getting the better of her prudence, she crept into the room, +and presently was seen standing by Steadfast's knee, holding out her +hand for some of the bread and cheese on the table. +</p> +<a name="image-0004"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/findingemlyn.jpg" height="500" width="300" +alt="Finding of Emlyn +"> +</center> + +<p> +"And who is this little wench?" demanded Jeph, somewhat displeased +that his brother manifested a certain inattention to his exhortation +by signing to Patience to supply her wants. Stead made unusual haste to +reply to prevent her from speaking. +</p> +<p> +"She is biding with us till she can join her father, or knows how it is +with him." +</p> +<p> +"Humph! She hath not the look of one of the daughters of our people." +</p> +<p> +"Nay," said Steadfast. "I went down last night to the mill, Jeph, to see +whether perchance you might be hurt and wanting help, and after I had +heard that all was well with you, I lighted on this poor little maid +crouching under a bush, and brought her home with me for pity's sake +till I could find her friends." +</p> +<p> +"The child of a Midianitish woman!" exclaimed Jeph, "one of the Irish +idolaters of whom it is written, 'Thou shalt smite them, and spare +neither man, nor woman, infant, nor suckling.'" "But I am not Irish," +broke out Emlyn, "I am from Worcestershire. My father is Serjeant +Gaythorn, butler to Sir Harry Blythedale. Don't let him kill me," she +cried in an access of terror, throwing herself on Steadfast's breast. +</p> +<p> +"No, no. He would not harm thee, on mine hearth. Fear not, little one, +he <i>shall</i> not." +</p> +<p> +"Nay," said Jephthah, who, to do him justice, had respected the rights +of hospitality enough not to touch his weapon even when he thought +her Irish, "we harm not women and babes save when they are even as the +Amalekites. Let my brother go, child. I touch thee not, though thou +be of an ungodly seed; and I counsel thee, Steadfast, touch not the +accursed thing, but rid thyself thereof, ere thou be defiled." +</p> +<p> +"I shall go so soon as father comes," exclaimed Emlyn. "I am sure I +do not want to stay in this mean, smoky hovel a bit longer than I can +help." +</p> +<p> +"Such are the thanks of the ungodly people," said Jeph, gravely rising. +"I must be on my way back. We are digging trenches about this great +city, assuredly believing that it shall be delivered into our hands." +</p> +<p> +"Stay, Jeph," said Patience. "Our corn! Will your folk come and cart it +away as they have done my lady's?" +</p> +<p> +"The spoil of the wicked is delivered over to the righteous," said Jeph. +"But seeing that the land is mine, a faithful servant of the good cause, +they may not meddle therewith." +</p> +<p> +"How are they to know that?" said Steadfast, not stopping to dispute +what rather startled him, since though Jeph was the eldest son, the land +had been made over to himself. To save the crop was the point. +</p> +<p> +"Look you here," said Jeph, "walk down with me to my good Captain's +quarters, and he will give you a protection which you may shew to any +man who dares to touch aught that is ours, be it corn or swine, ox or +ass." +</p> +<p> +It was a long walk, but Steadfast was only too glad to take it for the +sake of such security, and besides, there was a real pleasure in being +with Jeph, little as he seemed like the same idle, easy-going brother, +except perhaps in those little touches of selfishness and boastfulness, +which, though Stead did not realise them, did recall the original Jeph. +</p> +<p> +All through the moonlight walk Jeph expounded his singular mercies, +which apparently meant his achievements in killing Cavaliers, and the +commendations given to him. One of these mercies was the retention of +the home and land, though he kindly explained that his brothers and +sisters were welcome to get their livelihood there whilst he was serving +with the army, but some day he should come home "as one that divideth +the spoil," and build up the old house, unless, indeed, and he glanced +towards the sloping woods of Elmwood Manor, "the house and fields of the +malignants should be delivered to the faithful." +</p> +<p> +"My lady's house," said Steadfast under his breath. +</p> +<p> +"Wherefore not? Is it not written 'Goodly houses that ye builded not.' +Thou must hear worthy Corporal Hold-the-Faith expound the matter, my +brother." +</p> +<p> +They crossed the ferry and reached the outposts at last, and Stead was +much startled when the barrel of a musquet gleamed in the moonlight, and +a gruff voice said "Stand." +</p> +<p> +"The jawbone of an ass," promptly answered Jephthah. +</p> +<p> +"Pass, jawbone of an ass," responded the sentry, "and all's well. But +who have you here, comrade!" +</p> +<p> +Jeph explained, and they passed up the narrow lane, meeting at the end +of it another sentinel, with whom the like watchword was exchanged, and +then they came out on a large village green, completely changed from its +usual aspect by rows of tents, on which the moonlight shone, while Jeph +seemed to know his way through them as well as if he were in the valley +of Elmwood. Most of the men seemed to be asleep, for snores issued +from sundry tents. In others there were low murmurings, perhaps of +conversation, perhaps of prayer, for once Stead heard the hum of an +"Amen." One or two men were about, and Jeph enquired of one if the +Captain were still up, and heard that he was engaged in exercise with +the godly Colonel Benbow. +</p> +<p> +Their quarters were in one of the best houses of the little village, +where light gleamed from the window, and an orderly stood within the +door, to whom Jeph spoke, and who replied that they were just in time. +In fact two officers in broad hats and cloaks were just coming out, +and Stead admired Jeph's military salute to them ere he entered the +farmhouse kitchen, where two more gentlemen sat at the table with a +rough plan of the town laid before them. +</p> +<p> +"Back again, Kenton," said his captain in a friendly tone. "Hast heard +aught of thy brethren?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, I have found them well and in good heart, and have brought +one with me." +</p> +<p> +"A helper in the good cause? Heaven be gracious to thee, my son. Thou +art but young, yet strength is vouchsafed to the feeble hands." +</p> +<p> +"Please, sir," said Steadfast, who was twisting his hat about, "I've got +to mind the others, and work for them." +</p> +<p> +"Yea, sir," put in Jeph, "there be three younger at home whom he cannot +yet leave. I brought him, sir, to crave from you a protection for the +corn and cattle that are in a sort mine own, being my father's eldest +son. They are all the poor children have to live on." +</p> +<p> +"Thou shalt have it," said the captain, drawing his writing materials +nearer to him. "There, my lad. It may be thou dost serve thy Maker as +well by the plough as by the sword." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast pulled his forelock, thanked the captain, was reminded of the +word for the night, and safely reached home again. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0012"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XII. FAREWELL TO THE CAVALIERS. +</h2> +<a name="image-0005"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/farewellcavaliers.jpg" height="500" width="306" +alt="Farewell to the Cavaliers +"> +</center> + +<pre> + "If no more our banners shew + Battles won and banners taken, + Still in death, defeat, and woe, + Ours be loyalty unshaken." + SCOTT +</pre> +<p> +The next day the whole family turned out to gather in the corn. Rusha +was making attempts at reaping, while Emlyn played with little Ben, who +toddled about, shouting and chasing her in and out among the shocks. Now +and again they paused at the low, thunderous growl of the great guns +in the distance, in strange contrast to their peaceful work, and once a +foraging party of troopers rode up to the gate of the little field, but +Steadfast met them there, and showed the officer Captain Venn's paper. +</p> +<p> +"So you belong to Kenton of Venn's Valiants? It is well. A blessing on +your work!" said the stern dark-faced officer, and on he went, happily +not seeing Emlyn make an ugly face and clench her little fist behind +him. +</p> +<p> +"How can you, Stead?" she cried. "I'd rather be cursed than blessed by +such as he!" +</p> +<p> +Stead shook his head slowly. "A blessing is better than a curse any +way," said he, but his mind was a good deal confused between the piety +and good conduct of these Roundheads, in contrast with their utter +contempt of the Church, and rude dealing with all he had been taught to +hold sacred. +</p> +<p> +His harvest was, however, the matter in hand, and the little patch of +corn was cut and bound between him and his sisters, without further +interruption. The sounds of guns had ceased early in the day, and a +neighbour who had ventured down to the camp to offer some apples for +sale leant over the gate to wonder at the safety of the crop, "though to +be sure the soldiers were very civil, if they would let alone preaching +at you;" adding that there was like to be no more fighting, for one of +the gentlemen inside had ridden out with a white flag, and it was said +the Prince was talking of giving in. +</p> +<p> +"Give in!" cried Emlyn setting her teeth. "Never. The Prince will soon +make an end of the rebels, and then I shall ride-a-cock horse with our +regiment again! I shall laugh to see the canting rogues run!" +</p> +<p> +But the first thing Steadfast heard the next day was that the royal +standard had come down from the Cathedral tower. He had gone up to +Elmwood to get some provisions, and Tom Oates, who spent most of his +time in gazing from the steeple, assured him that if he would come up, +he would see for himself that the flags were changed. Indeed some of the +foot soldiers who had been quartered in the village to guard the roads +had brought the certain tidings that the city had surrendered and that +the malignants, as they called the Royalists, were to march out that +afternoon, by the same road as that by which the parliamentary army had +gone out two years before. +</p> +<p> +This would be the only chance for Emlyn to rejoin her father or to +learn his fate. The little thing was wild with excitement at the news. +Disdainfully she tore off what she called Rusha's Puritan rags, though +as that offended maiden answered "her own were <i>real</i> rags in spite +of all the pains Patience had taken with them. Nothing would make them +tidy," and Rusha pointed to a hopeless stain and to the frayed edges +past mending. +</p> +<p> +"I hate tidiness. Only Puritan rebels are tidy!" +</p> +<p> +"We are not Puritans!" cried Rusha. +</p> +<p> +Emlyn laughed. "Hark at your names," she said. "And what's that great +rebel rogue of a brother of yours?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh! he is Jeph! He ran away to the wars! But Stead isn't a Puritan," +cried Rusha, growing more earnest. "He always goes to church—real +church down in Bristol. And poor father was churchmartin, and knew all +the parson's secrets." +</p> +<p> +"Hush, Rusha," said Patience, not much liking this disclosure, however +Jerusha might have come by the knowledge, "you and Emlyn don't want to +quarrel when she is just going to say good-bye!" +</p> +<p> +This touched the little girls. Rusha had been much enlivened by the +little fairy who had seen so much of the world, and had much more +playfulness than the hard-worked little woodland maid; and Emlyn, who +in spite of her airs, knew that she had been kindly treated, was drawn +towards a companion of her own age, was very fond of little Ben, and +still more so of Steadfast. +</p> +<p> +Ben cried, "Em not go;" and Rusha held her hand and begged her not to +forget. +</p> +<p> +"O no, I won't forget you," said Emlyn, "and when we come back with the +King and Prince, and drive the Roundhead ragamuffins out of Bristol, +then I'll bring Stead a protection for Croppie and Daisy and all, a +silver bodkin for you, and a Flanders lace collar for Patience, and a +gold chain for Stead, and—But oh! wasn't that a trumpet? Stead! Stead! +We must go, or we shall miss them." Then as she hugged and kissed them, +"I'll tell Sir Harry and my lady how good you have been to me, and get +my lady to make you a tirewoman, Rusha. And dear, dear little Ben shall +be a king's guard all in gold." +</p> +<p> +Ben had her last smothering kiss, and Rusha began to cry and sob as the +gay little figure, capering by Stead's side, disappeared between +the stems of the trees making an attempt, which Steadfast instantly +quenched, at singing, +</p> +<pre> + "The king shall enjoy his own again." +</pre> +<p> +Patience did not feel disposed to cry. She liked the child, and was +grieved to think what an uncertain lot was before the merry little +being, but her presence had made Rusha and Ben more troublesome than +they had ever been in their lives before, and there was also the anxiety +lest her unguarded tongue should offend Jeph and his friends. +</p> +<p> +Emlyn skipped along by Steadfast's side, making him magnificent +promises. They paused by the ruins of the farm where Stead still kept up +as much of the orchard and garden as he could with so little time and +so far from home, and Emlyn filled her skirt with rosy-cheeked apples, +saying in a pretty gentle manner, "they were such a treat to our poor +rogues on a dusty march," and Stead aided her by carrying as many as he +could. +</p> +<p> +However, an occasional bugle note, clouds of dust on the road far below +in the valley, and a low, dull tramp warned them to come forward, and +station themselves in the hedge above the deep lane where Steadfast had +once watched for his brother. Only a few of the more adventurous village +lads were before them now, and when Stead explained that the little +wench wanted to watch for her father, they were kind in helping him to +perch her in the hollow of a broken old pollard, where she could see, +and not be seen. For the poor camp maiden knew the need of caution. She +drew Steadfast close to her, and bade him not show himself till she +told him, for some of the wilder sort would blaze away their pistols +at anything, especially when they had had any good ale, or were out of +sorts. +</p> +<p> +Poor fellows, there was no doubt of their being out of sorts, as they +tramped along, half hidden in dust, even the officers, who rode before +them, with ragged plumes and slouched hats. The silken banners, which +they had been allowed to carry out, because of their prompt surrender, +hung limp and soiled, almost like tokens of a defeat, and if any one +of those spectators behind the hawthorns had been conversant with Roman +history, it would have seemed to them like the passing under the yoke, +so dejected, nay, ashamed was the demeanour of the gentlemen. Emlyn +whispered name after name as they went by, but even she was hushed and +overawed by the spectacle, as four abreast these sad remnants of the +royal army marched along the lane, one or two trying to whistle, a few +more talking in under tones, but all soon dying away, as if they were +too much out of heart to keep anything up. +</p> +<p> +She scarcely stirred while the infantry, who were by far the most +numerous, were going by, only naming corps or officer to Stead, then +there came an interval, and the tread of horses and clank of their +trappings could be heard. Then she almost forgot her precautions in her +eagerness to crane forward. "They are coming!" she said. "All there are +of them will be a guard for the Prince." +</p> +<p> +Stead felt a strange thrill of pain as he remembered the terrible scene +when he had last beheld that tall, slight young figure, and dark face, +now far sterner and sadder than in those early days, as Rupert went to +meet the bitterest hour of his life. +</p> +<p> +Several gentlemen rode with him, whom Emlyn named as his staff, and +then came more troopers, not alike in dress, being, in fact, remnants of +shattered regiments. She was trembling all over with eagerness, standing +up, and so leaning forward, that she might have tumbled into the lane, +had not Steadfast held her. +</p> +<p> +At last came a scream. "There's Sir Harry! There's Dick! There's +Staines! Oh! Dick, Dick, where's father?" +</p> +<p> +There was a halt, and bronzed faces looked up. +</p> +<p> +"Ha! Who's there?" +</p> +<p> +"I! I! Emlyn. Oh! Dick, is father coming?" +</p> +<p> +"Hollo, little one! Art thou safe after all?" +</p> +<p> +"I am, I am. Father! father! Come! Where is he?" +</p> +<p> +"It is poor Gaythorn's little wench," explained one of the soldiers, as +Sir Harry, a grey-haired man, looking worn and weary, turned back, while +Steadfast helped the child out on the bank with some difficulty, for +her extreme haste had nearly brought her down, and she stood curtseying, +holding out her arms, and quivering with hope that began to be fear. +</p> +<p> +"Poor child!" were the old gentleman's first words. "And where were +you?" +</p> +<p> +"Please your honour, father left me in the thorn brake," said Emlyn, +"and said he would come for me, but he did not; it got dark, and this +country lad found me, and took me home. Is father coming, your honour?" +</p> +<p> +"Ah! my poor little maid, your father will never come again," said Sir +Harry, sadly. "He went down by the mill stream. I saw him fall. What is +to be done for her?" he added, turning to a younger gentleman, who rode +by him, as the child stood as it were stunned for a moment. "This is the +worst of it all. Heaven knows we freely sacrifice ourselves in the cause +of Church and King, but it is hard to sacrifice others. Here are these +faithful servants, their home broken up with ours, their children dying, +and themselves killed—she, by the brutes after Naseby, he, in this last +skirmish. 'Tis enough to break a man's heart. And what is to become of +this poor little maid?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh! I'll go with your honour," cried Emlyn, stretching out her arms. +"I can ride behind Dick, and I'll give no one any trouble. Oh! take me, +sir." +</p> +<p> +"It cannot be done, my poor child," said Sir Harry. "We have no women +with us now, and we have to make our way to Newark by forced marches to +His Majesty. I have no choice but to bestow you somewhere till better +times come. Hark you, my good lad, she says you found her, and have been +good to her. Would your mother take charge of her? I'll leave what I can +with you, and when matters are quiet, my wife, or the child's kindred, +will send after her. Will your father and mother keep her for the +present?" +</p> +<p> +"I have none," said Steadfast. "My father was killed in his own yard by +some soldiers who wanted to drive our cows. Mother had died before, but +my sister and I made a shift to take care of the little ones in a poor +place of our own." +</p> +<p> +"And can you take the child in? You seem a good lad." +</p> +<p> +"We will do our best for her, sir." +</p> +<p> +"What's your name?" and "Where do you live?" followed. And as Steadfast +replied the old Cavalier took out his tablets and noted them, adding, +"Then you and your sister will be good to her till we can send after +her." +</p> +<p> +"We will treat her like our little sister, sir." +</p> +<p> +"And here's something for her keep for the present, little enough I am +afraid, but we poor Cavaliers have not much left. The King's men +were well to do when I heard last of them, and they will make it up +by-and-by. Or if not, my boy, can you do this for the love of God?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," said Steadfast, looking up with his honest eyes, and +touching his forelock at the holy Name. +</p> +<p> +"Here, then," and Sir Harry held out two gold pieces, to which his +companion added one, and two or three of the troopers, saying something +about poor Gaythorn's little maid, added some small silver coins. There +was something in Steadfast's mind that would have preferred declining +all payment, but he was a little afraid of Patience's dismay at having +another mouth to provide for all the winter, and he thought too that +Jeph's anger at the adoption of the Canaanitish child might be averted +if it were a matter of business and payment, so he accepted the sum, +thanked Sir Harry and the rest, and renewed his promise to do the best +in his power for the little maiden. He rather wondered that no questions +were asked as to which side he held; but Sir Harry had no time to +inquire, and could only hope that the honest, open face, respectful +manner, clean dress, and the kindness which had rescued the child on +the battlefield were tokens that he might be trusted to take care of +the poor little orphan. Besides, many of the country people were too +ignorant to understand the difference between the sides, but only took +part with their squire, or if they loved their clergyman, clung to him. +So the knight would not ask any questions, and only further called out +"Fare thee well, then, poor little maid, we will send after thee when +we can," and then giving a sharp, quick order, all the little party +galloped off to overtake the rest. +</p> +<p> +Emlyn had been bred up in too much awe of Sir Harry to make objections, +but as her friends rode off she gave a sharp shriek, screamed out one +name after another, and finally threw herself down on the road bank in a +wild passion of grief, anger, and despair, and when Steadfast would +have lifted her up and comforted her, she kicked and fought him away. +Presently he tried her again, begging her to come home. +</p> +<p> +"I won't! I won't go to your vile, tumble-down, roundhead, crop-eared +hole!" she sobbed out. +</p> +<p> +"But, Sir Harry—" +</p> +<p> +"I won't! I say." +</p> +<p> +He was at his wits' end, but after all, the sound of other steps coming +up startled her into composing herself and sitting up. +</p> +<p> +"Hollo, Stead Kenton! Got this little puppet on your hands?" said young +Gates. "Hollo, mistress, you squeal like a whole litter of pigs." +</p> +<p> +"I am to take charge of her till her friends can send for her," said +Stead, with protecting dignity. +</p> +<p> +"And that will be a long day! Ho, little wench, where didst get that +sweet voice?" +</p> +<p> +"Hush, Tom! the child has only just heard that her father is dead." +</p> +<p> +This silenced the other lads, and Emlyn's desire to get away from them +accomplished what Steadfast wished, she put her hand into his and let +him lead her away, and as there were sounds of another troop of cavalry +coming up the lane, the boys did not attempt to follow her. She made no +more resistance, though she broke into fresh fits of moaning and crying +all the way home, such as went to Steadfast's heart, though he could not +find a word to comfort her. +</p> +<p> +Patience was scarcely delighted when Rusha darted in, crying out that +Emlyn had come back again, but perhaps she was not surprised. She took +the poor worn-out little thing in her arms, and rocked her, saying kind, +tender little words, while Steadfast looked on, wondering at what girls +could do, but not speaking till, finding that Emlyn was fast asleep, +Patience laid her down on the bed without waking her, and then had time +to listen to Stead's account of the interview with Sir Harry Blythedale. +</p> +<p> +"I could not help it, Patience," he said, "we couldn't leave the poor +fatherless child out on the hedge-side." +</p> +<p> +"No," said Patience, "we can't but have her, as the gentleman said, for +the love of God. He has taken care of us, so we ought to take care of +the fatherless—like ourselves." +</p> +<p> +"That's right, Patience," said Steadfast, much relieved in his mind, +"and see here!" +</p> +<p> +"I wonder you took that, Stead, and the poor gentlemen so ill off +themselves." +</p> +<p> +"Well, Patience, I thought if you would not have her, Goody Grace might +for the pay, but then who knows when any more may come?" +</p> +<p> +"Aye," said Patience, "we must keep her, though she will be a handful. +Anyway, all this must be laid out for her, and the first chance I have, +some shall be in decent clothes. I can't a-bear to see her in those +dirty gewgaws." +</p> +<a name="2HCH0013"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XIII. GODLY VENN'S TROOP. +</h2> +<pre> + "Ye abbeys and ye arches, + Ye old cathedrals dear, + The hearts that love you tremble, + And your enemies have cheer." + BP. CLEVELAND COXE. +</pre> +<p> +"What would Jeph say?" was the thought of both Steadfast and Patience, +as Emlyn ran about with Rusha and Ben, making herself tolerably happy +and enlivening them all a good deal. After one fight she found that she +must obey Patience, though she made no secret that she liked the sober +young mistress of the hut much less than the others, and could even +sometimes get Steadfast to think her hardly used, but he seldom showed +that feeling, for he had plenty of sense, and could not bear to vex his +sister; besides, he saw there would be no peace if her authority was not +supported. It was a relief that there was no visit from Jeph for some +little time, though the fighting was all over, and people were going in +and out of Bristol as before. +</p> +<p> +Stead took the donkey with the panniers full of apples and nuts on +market day, and a pile of fowls and ducks on its back, while he carried +a basket of eggs on his arm, and in his head certain instructions from +Patience about the grogram and linen he was to purchase for Emlyn, in +the hope of making her respectable before Jeph's eyes should rest upon +her. Stead's old customers were glad to see him again, especially Mrs. +Lightfoot, who had Dr. Eales once again in her back rooms, keeping +out of sight, while the good Dean was actually in prison for using the +Prayer-book. Three soldiers were quartered upon her at the Wheatsheaf, +and though, on the whole, they were more civil and much less riotous +than some of her Cavalier lodgers had been, she was always in dread of +their taking offence at the doctor and hauling him off to gaol. +</p> +<p> +Steadfast confided to her Patience's commission, which she undertook +to execute herself. It included a spinning-wheel, for Patience was +determined to teach Emlyn to spin, an art of which no respectable woman +from the Queen downwards was ignorant in those days. As to finding his +brother, the best way would be to ask the soldiers who were smoking in +the kitchen where he was likely to be. +</p> +<p> +They said that the faithful and valiant Jephthah Kenton of Venn's horse +would be found somewhere about the great steeple house, profanely +called the Cathedral, for there the troops were quartered; and thither +accordingly Stead betook himself, starting as he saw horses gearing or +being groomed on the sward in the close which had always been kept in +such perfect order. Having looked in vain outside for his brother, he +advanced into the building, but he had only just had a view of horses +stamping between the pillars, the floor littered down with straw, a +fire burning in one of the niches, and soldiers lying about, smoking or +eating, in all manner of easy, lounging attitudes, when suddenly there +was a shout of "Prelatist, Idolater, Baal-worshipper, Papist," and +to his horror he found it was all directed towards himself. They were +pointing to his head, and two of them had caught him by the shoulders, +when another voice rose "Ha! Let him alone. I say, Bill! Faithful! It's +my brother. He knows no better!" Then dashing up, Jeph rammed the great +hat down over Stead's brow, eyes and all, and called out, "Whoever +touches my brother must have at me first." +</p> +<p> +"There," said one of the others, "the old Adam need not be so fierce in +thee, brother Jephthah! No one wants to hurt the lad, young prelatist +though he be, so he will make amends by burning their superstitious +books on the fire, even as Jehu burnt the worshippers of Baal." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast felt somewhat as Christians of old may have felt when called +on to throw incense on the altar of Jupiter, as a handful of pages torn +from a Prayer-book was thrust into his hands. Words did not come +readily to him, but he shook his head and stood still, perhaps stolid in +resistance. +</p> +<p> +"Come," said Jeph, laying hold of his shoulder to drag him along. +</p> +<p> +"I cannot; 'tis Scripture," said Stead, as in his distress his eye fell +on the leaves in his hand, and he read aloud to prove it— +</p> +<p> +"Thy Word is a lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my path." +</p> +<p> +There was one moment's pause. Perhaps the men had absolutely forgotten +how much of their cherished Bible was integral in the hated Prayer-book; +at any rate they were enough taken aback to enable Jeph to pull his +brother out at the door, not without a fraternal cuff or two, as he +exclaimed: +</p> +<p> +"Thou foolish fellow! ever running into danger for very dullness." +</p> +<p> +"What have I done, Jeph?" asked poor Stead, still bewildered. +</p> +<p> +"Done! Why, doffed thy hat, after the superstitious and idolatrous +custom of our fathers." +</p> +<p> +"How can it be idolatrous? 'Twas God's house," said Stead. +</p> +<p> +"Aye, there thou art in the gall of bitterness. Know'st thou not that no +house is more holy than another?" and Jeph would have gone on for +some time longer, but that he heard sounds which made him suspect +that someone had condemned the version of the Psalms as prelatical and +profane, and that his comrades might yet burst forth to visit their +wrath upon his young brother, whom he therefore proceeded to lead out +of sight as fast as possible into the Dean's garden, where he had the +entree as being orderly to Captain Venn, who, with other officers, abode +in the Deanery. +</p> +<p> +There, controversy being dropped for the moment, Stead was able to tell +his brother of his expedition, and how he had been obliged to keep the +child, for very pity's sake, even if her late father's master had not +begged him to do so, and given an earnest of the payment. +</p> +<p> +Jeph laughed a little scornfully at the notion of a wild Cavalier ever +paying, but he was not barbarous, and allowed that there was no choice +in the matter, as she could not be turned out to starve. When he heard +that Stead had come with market produce he was displeased at it not +having been brought up for the table of his officers, assuring Stead +that they were not to be confounded with the roistering, penniless +malignants, who robbed instead of paying. Stead said he always supplied +Mistress Lightfoot, but this was laughed to scorn. "The rulers of the +army of saints had a right to be served first, above all before one who +was believed to harbour the idolater, even the priest of the groves." +</p> +<p> +Jeph directed that the next supply should come to the Deanery, as one +who had the right of ownership, and Stead submitted, only with the +secret resolve that Dr. Eales should not want his few eggs nor his pat +of fresh butter. +</p> +<p> +Jeph was not unkind to Stead, and took him to dine with the other +attendants of the officers in the very stone hall where he had eaten +that Christmas dinner some twenty months before. There was a very +long grace pronounced extempore, and the guests were stout, resolute, +grave-looking men, who kept on their steeple-crowned hats all the +time and conversed in low, deep voices, chiefly, as far as Stead could +gather, on military matters, but they seemed to appreciate good beef and +ale quite as much as any Cavalier trooper could have done. One of them +noticing Stead asked whether he had come to take service with the saints +and enjoy their dominion, but Jeph answered for him that his call lay at +home among those of his own household, until his heart should be whole +with the cause. +</p> +<p> +On the whole Stead was proud to see Jeph holding his own, though the +youngest among these determined-looking men. These two years had made +a man of the rough, idle, pleasure-loving boy, and a man after the +Ironsides' fashion, grave, self-contained, and self-depending. Stead had +been more like the elder than the younger brother in old times, but he +felt Jeph immeasurably his elder in the new, unfamiliar atmosphere; and +yet the boy had a strong sense that all was not right; that these were +interlopers in the kind old Dean's house; that the talk about Baal was +mere absurdity; and the profanation of the Cathedral would have been +utterly shocking to his good father. His mind, however, worked slowly, +and he would have had nothing to say even if he could have ventured to +speak; but he was very anxious to get away; and when Jeph would have +kept him to hear the serjeant expound a chapter of Revelation, he +pleaded the necessity of getting home in time to milk the cows, and made +his escape. +</p> +<p> +On the whole it was a relief that Jeph was too much occupied with his +military duties to make visits to his home. It might not have been over +easy to keep the peace between him and Emlyn, fiery little Royalist as +she was, and too much used to being petted and fascinating everyone by +her saucy audacity to be likely to be afraid of him. +</p> +<p> +If Patience crossed her she would have recourse to Stead, and he could +seldom resist her coaxing, or be entirely disabused of the notion that +his sister expected too much of her. And perhaps it was true. Patience +was scarcely likely to understand differences of character and +temperament, and not merely to recollect that Emlyn was only eighteen +months younger than she had been when she had been forced into the +position of the house mother. So, while Emlyn's wayward fancies were a +great trial, Steadfast's sympathy with them was a greater one. +</p> +<p> +Stead continued to see Jeph when taking in the market produce, for which +he was always duly paid. Jeph also wished the whole family to come in +on Sunday to profit by the preaching of some of the great Independent +lights; but Stead, after trying it once, felt so sure that Patience +would be miserable at anything so unaccustomed, so thunderous, and, as +it seemed to him, so abusive, that he held to it that the distance was +too great, and that the cattle could not be left. The soldiery seemed to +him to spend their spare time in defacing the many churches of the city, +chiefly in order to do what they called purifying them from all idols, +in which term they included every sort of carving or picture, or even +figures on monuments. +</p> +<p> +And in this work of destruction a chest containing church plate had been +come upon, making their work greedy instead of only mischievous. +</p> +<p> +When all the churches in Bristol had been ransacked, they began to +extend their search to the parish churches in the neighbourhood, and +Stead began to be very anxious, though he hoped and believed that the +cave was a perfectly safe place. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0014"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XIV. THE QUESTION. +</h2> +<pre> + "Dogged as does it."—TROLLOPE. +</pre> +<p> +"Stead, Stead," cried Rusha, running up to him, as he was slowly digging +over his stubble field to prepare it for the next crop, "the soldiers +are in Elmwood." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said Emlyn, coming up at the same time, "they are knocking about +everything in the church and pulling up the floor." +</p> +<p> +"Patience sent us to get some salt," explained Rusha, "and we saw them +from Dame Redman's door. She told us we had better be off and get home +as fast as we could." +</p> +<p> +"But I thought we would come and tell you," added Emlyn, "and then +you could get out the long gun and shoot them as they come into the +valley—that is if you can take aim—but I would load and show you how, +and then they would think it was a whole ambush of honest men." +</p> +<p> +"Aye, and kill us all—and serve us right," said Stead. "They don't +want to hurt us if we don't meddle with them. But there's a good wench, +Rusha, drive up the cows and sheep this way so that I can have an eye on +them, and shew Captain Venn's paper, if any of those fellows should take +a fancy to them." +</p> +<p> +"They are digging all over old parson's garden," said Rusha, as she +obeyed. +</p> +<p> +"Was Jeph there?" asked Stead. +</p> +<p> +"I didn't see him," said the child. +</p> +<p> +Steadfast was very uneasy. That turning up the parson's garden looked +as if they might be in search of the silver belonging to the Church, but +after all they were unlikely to connect him with it, and it was wiser +to go on with his regular work, and manifest no interest in the matter; +besides that, every spadeful he heaved up, every chop he gave the +stubble, seemed to be a comfort, while there was a prayer on his soul +all the time that he might be true to his trust. +</p> +<p> +By-and-by he saw Tom Oates running and beckoning to him, "Stead, Stead +Kenton, you are to come." +</p> +<p> +"What should I come for?" said Stead, gruffly. +</p> +<p> +"The soldiers want you." +</p> +<p> +"What call have they to me?" +</p> +<p> +"They be come to cleanse the steeple house, they says, and take the +spoil thereof, and they've been routling over the floor and parson's +garden like so many hogs, and are mad because they can't find nothing, +and Thatcher Jerry says, says he, 'Poor John Kenton as was shot was +churchwarden and was very great with Parson. If anybody knows where the +things is 'tis Steadfast Kenton.' So the corporal says, 'Is this so, +Jephthah Kenton?' and Jeph, standing up in his big boots, says, 'Aye, +corporal, my father was yet in the darkness of prelacy, and was what in +their blindness they call a Churchwarden, but as to my brother, that's +neither here nor there, he were but a boy and not like to know more than +I did.' But the corporal said, 'That we will see. Is the lad here?' So +I ups and said nay, but I'd seen you digging your croft, and then they +bade me fetch you. So you must come, willy-nilly, or they may send worse +after you." +</p> +<p> +Stead was a little consoled by hearing that his brother was there. He +suspected that Jeph would have consideration enough for his sisters and +for the property that he considered his own to be unwilling to show the +way to their valley; and he also reflected that it would be well that +whatever might happen to himself should be out of sight of his sisters. +Therefore he decided on following Oates, going through on the way the +whole question whether to deny all knowledge, and yet feeling that +the things belonging to God should not be shielded by untruth. His +resolution finally was to be silent, and let them make what they would +out of that, and Stead, though it was long since he had put it on, had a +certain sullen air of stupidity such as often belongs to such natures as +his, and which Jeph knew full well in him. +</p> +<p> +They came in sight of the village green where the soldiers were +refreshing themselves at what once had been the Elmwood Arms, for though +not given to excess, total abstinence formed no part of the discipline +of the Puritans; and one of the men started forward, and seizing hold of +Steadfast by the shoulder exclaimed— +</p> +<p> +"As I live, 'tis the young prelatist who bowed himself down in the house +of Rimmon! Come on, thou seed of darkness, and answer for thyself." +</p> +<p> +If he had only known it, he was making the part of dogged silence and +resistance infinitely easier to Steadfast by the rudeness and abuse, +which, even in a better cause, would have made it natural to him to act +as he was doing now, giving the soldier all the trouble of dragging him +onward and then standing with his hands in his pockets like an image of +obstinacy. +</p> +<p> +"Speak," said the corporal, "and it shall be the better for thee. Hast +thou any knowledge where the priests of Baal have bestowed the vessels +of their mockery of worship." +</p> +<p> +Stead moved not a muscle of his face. He had no acquaintance with +priests of Baal or their vessels, so that he was not in the least +bound to comprehend, and one of them exclaimed "The oaf knows not your +meaning, corporal. Speak plainer to his Somerset ears. He knows not the +tongue of the saints." +</p> +<p> +"Ho, then, thou child of darkness. Know'st thou where the mass-mongering +silver and gold of this church be hidden from them of whom it is written +'haste to the spoil.' Come, speak out. A crown if thou dost speak—the +lash if thou wilt not answer, thou dumb dog." +</p> +<p> +Stead was really not far removed from a dumb dog. All his faculties were +so entirely wrought up to resistance that he had hardly distinguished +the words. +</p> +<p> +"Come, come, Stead," said Jeph, "thou art too old for thine old sulky +moods. Speak up, and tell if thou know'st aught of the Communion Cup and +dish, or it will be the worse for thee. Yes or no?" +</p> +<p> +Stead made a move with his shoulder to push away his brother, and still +stood silent. +</p> +<p> +"There," said Jeph, "it is all Faithful's fault for his rough handling. +His back is set up. It was always so from a boy, and you'll get nought +out of him." +</p> +<p> +"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction +shall drive it far from him," quoted the Corporal, taking up a +waggoner's whip which stood by the inn door, and the like of which had +no doubt once been a more familiar weapon to him than the sword. +</p> +<p> +"Speak lad—or—" and as no speech came, the lash descended on Stead's +shoulders, not, however, hurting him much save where it grazed the skin +of his face. +</p> +<p> +"Now? Not a word? Take off his leathern coat, Faithful, then shall he +feel the reward of sullenness." +</p> +<p> +That Jeph did not interfere, while Faithful and another soldier tugged +off his leathern coat, buffeting and kicking him roughly as they did so, +brought additional hardness to Stead. He had been flogged in his time +before, and not without reason, and had taken a pride in not giving in, +or crying out for pain; and the ancient habit acquired in a worse cause, +came to his help. He scarcely recollected the cause of his resistance; +all his powers were concentrated in holding out, and when after another +"Now, vile prelatic spawn, is thy heart still hardened? Yes or no?" the +terrible whip came stinging and biting down on his shoulders and +back, only protected by his shirt, he was entirely bound up in the +determination to endure the pain without a groan or cry. +</p> +<p> +But after blows enough had fallen to mark the shirt with streaks of +blood, Jeph could bear it no longer. +</p> +<p> +"Hold!" he said. "You will never make him speak that way. Father and +mother never could. Strokes do but harden him." +</p> +<p> +"The sure token of a fool," said the corporal, and prepared for another +lash. +</p> +<p> +"'Tis plain he knows," said one of the others. "He would never stand +this if a word would save him." +</p> +<p> +"Mere malice and obstinacy," said Faithful, "and wilfulness. He will +not utter a word. I would beat it out of him, as I was wont with our old +ass." +</p> +<p> +Another stroke descended, worse than all the others after the brief +interval, but Jeph again spoke, "Look you, I know the lad of old and +you'll get no more that way than if you were flogging the sign-post +there. Whether he knows where the things are or not, the temper that is +in him will never answer while you beat him, were it to save his life. +Leave him to me, and I'll be bound to get an answer from him." +</p> +<p> +"And I am constable, and I must say," said Blacksmith Blane, moving +forwards, with a bar of iron in his hand, and four or five stout men +behind him, "that to come and abuse and flog a hard-working, fatherless +lad, that never did you no harm, nor anyone else, is not what honest men +look for from soldiers that talk so big about Parliament and rights and +what not!" +</p> +<p> +"'Twas for contumacy," began the corporal. +</p> +<p> +"Contumacy forsooth, as though 'twas the will of the honest gentlemen in +Parliament that boys should be misused for nothing at all!" +</p> +<p> +"If the young dog would have spoken," began the corporal, but somehow he +did not like the look of Blane's iron bar, and thought it best to look +up at the sun, and discover that it was time to depart if the party were +to be in time for roll-call. As it was a private marauding speculation, +it might not be well to have complaints made to Captain Venn, who never +sanctioned plunder nor unnecessary violence. Even Jeph had to march off, +and Steadfast, who had no mind to be pitied, nor asked by the neighbours +what was the real fact, had picked up his spade and jerkin, and was out +of sight while the villagers were watching the soldiers away. +</p> +<p> +The first thing he did was to give thanks in heart that he had been +aided thus far not to betray his trust, and then to feel that Corporal +Dodd's flogging was a far severer matter than the worst chastisement he +had ever received from his father, even when he kept Jeph's secret about +the stolen apples. Putting on his coat was impossible, and he was so +stiff and sore that he could not hope to conceal his condition from +Patience. +</p> +<p> +At home all were watching for him. They ran up in anxiety, for one +of the ever ready messengers of evil had rushed down the glen to tell +Patience that the soldiers were beating Stead shamefully, and Jeph +standing by not saying one word. Little Ben broke out with "Poor, poor!" +and Rusha burst into tears at sight of the blood, while Emlyn said "Just +what comes of going among the rascal Roundheads," and Patience looked up +at him and said "Was it—?" he nodded, and she quietly said "I'm glad." +He added, "Jeph's coming soon," and she knew that the trial was not +over. The brother and sister needed very few words to understand one +another, and they were afraid to say anything that the younger ones +could understand. Patience washed the weals with warm water and milk, +and wrapped a cloak round him, but even the next morning, he could not +use his arms without fresh bleeding, and the hindrance to the work +was serious. He could do nothing but herd the cattle, and he was much +inclined to drive them to the further end of the moorland where Jephthah +would hardly find him, but then he recollected that Patience would be +left to bear the brunt of the attack, so that he would not go far +off, never guessing, poor fellow, that in his dull, almost blundering +fashion, he was doing like the heroes and the martyrs, but only feeling +that he must keep his trust at all costs. Jeph, however, did not come +that day or the next, so that inwardly, the wound-up feeling had passed +into a weariness of expectation, and outwardly the stripes had healed +enough for Stead to go about his work as usual only a little stiffly. +He went into Bristol on market day as usual, and then it was, on his way +out that Jeph joined him, saying it was to bid Patience and the little +ones farewell, since the marching orders were for the morrow. He was +unusually kind and good-natured; he had a load of comfits for Rusha and +Ben, and a stout piece of woollen stuff for Patience which he said was +such as he was told godly maidens wore, and which possibly the terror of +his steel cap and corslet had cheapened at the mercer's; also he had +a large packet of tractates for Stead's own reading, and he enquired +whether they possessed a Bible. +</p> +<p> +Stead wondered whether all this was out of regret at the treatment he +had undergone, or whether it was to put him off his guard, and this +occupied him when Jeph began to preach, as he did uninterruptedly for +the last mile, without any of the sense, if there were any, reaching the +mind of the auditor. +</p> +<p> +They reached the hut, the gifts were displayed; and when the young ones, +who were all a little afraid of the elder brother, had gone off to feast +upon the sweets, Jeph began with enquiries after Steadfast's back, and +he replied that it was mending fast, while Patience exclaimed at the +cruelty and wickedness of so using him. +</p> +<p> +"Why wouldn't he speak then?" said Jeph. "Yea or nay would have ended it +in a moment, but that's Stead's way. He looks like it now!" and he did, +elbows on knees, and chin on hands. +</p> +<p> +"Come now, Stead, thou canst speak to me! Was it all because Faithful +hauled thee about?" +</p> +<p> +"He did, and he had no call to," said Stead, surlily. +</p> +<p> +"Well, that's true, but I'm not hauling thee. Tell me, Stead, I mind now +that thou wast out with father that last day ere the Parson was taken +to receive his deserts. I don't believe that even thy churlishness +would have stood such blows if thou hadst known naught of the idolatrous +vessels, and couldst have saved thy skin by saying so! No answer. Why, +what have these malignants done for thee that thou shouldst hold by +them? Slain thy father! Burnt thine house! No fault of theirs that thou +art alive this day! Canst not speak?" +</p> +<p> +Jeph's temper giving way at the provocation, he forgot his conciliatory +intentions and seizing Stead by the collar shook him violently. Growler +almost broke his chain with rage, Patience screamed and flew to the +rescue, just as she had often done when they were all children together, +and Jeph threw his brother from him so that he fell on the root of a +tree, and lay for a moment or two still, then picked himself up again +evidently with pain, though he answered Patience cheerfully that it was +nought. +</p> +<p> +"Thou art enough to drive a man mad with thy surly silence," exclaimed +Jeph, whom this tussle had rendered much more like his old self, "and +after all, knowing that even though thou art not one of the holy ones, +thou wilt not tell a lie, it comes to the same thing. I know thou +wottest where these things are, and it is only thy sullen scruples that +hinder thee from speaking. Nevertheless, I shall leave no stone unturned +till I find them! For what is written 'Thou shalt break down their +altars.'" +</p> +<p> +"Jeph," said Stead, firmly. "You left home because of your grief and +rage at father's death. Would you have me break the solemn charge he +laid on me?" +</p> +<p> +"Father was a good man after his light," said Jeph, a little staggered, +"but that light was but darkness, and we to whom the day itself is +vouchsafed are not bound by a charge laid on us in ignorance. Any +way, he laid no bonds on me, but I must needs leave thee alone in thy +foolishness of bondage! Come, Patience, wench, and aid me, I know +this rock is honeycombed with caves, like a rabbit warren, no place so +likely." +</p> +<p> +"I help thee—no indeed'" cried Patience. "Would I aid thee to do what +would most grieve poor father, that thou once mad'st such a work about! +I should be afraid of his curse." +</p> +<p> +Possibly if Jeph had not pledged himself to his comrades to overcome +his brother's resistance, and bring back the treasures, he might have +desisted; but what he did was to call to Rusha to bring him a lantern, +and show him the holes, promising her a tester if she would. She brought +the lantern, but she was a timid, little, unenterprising thing, and was +mortally afraid of the caverns, a fear that Patience had thought it well +not to combat. Emlyn who had already scrambled all over the face of the +slope, and peeped into all, could have told him a great deal more about +them; but she hated the sight of a rebel, and sat on the ground making +ugly faces and throwing little stones after him whenever his back was +turned. +</p> +<p> +Stead, afraid to betray by his looks of anxiety, when Jeph came near the +spot, sat all the time with his elbows on his knees, and his hands +over his face, fully trusting to what all had agreed at the time of the +burial of the chest, that there was no sign to indicate its whereabouts. +</p> +<p> +He felt rather than saw that Jeph, after tumbling out the straw and fern +that served for fodder in the lower caves, where the sheep and pigs +were sheltered in winter, had scrambled up to the hermit's chapel, when +suddenly there was a shout, but not at all of exultation, and down among +the bushes, lantern and all came the soldier, tumbling and crashing into +the midst of an enormous bramble, whence Stead pulled him out with the +lantern flattened under him, and his first breathless words were— +</p> +<p> +"Beelzebub himself!" Then adding, as he stood upright, "he made full at +me, and I saw his eyes glaring. I heard him groaning. It is an unholy +popish place. No wonder!" +</p> +<p> +Patience and Rusha were considerably impressed, for it was astonishing +to see how horribly terrified and shaken was the warrior, who had been +in two pitched battles, and Ben screamed, and needed to be held in +Stead's arms to console him. +</p> +<p> +Jeph had no mind to pursue his researches any further. He only tarried +long enough to let Patience pick out half-a-dozen thorns from his cheeks +and hands, and to declare that if he had not to march to-morrow, he +should bring that singular Christian man, Captain Venn, to exorcise the +haunt of Apollyon. Wherewith he bade them all farewell, with hopes that +by the time he saw them again, they would have come to the knowledge of +the truth. +</p> +<p> +No sooner was he out of sight among the bushes than Emlyn seized on +Rusha, and whirled her round in a dance as well as her more substantial +proportions would permit, while Steadfast let his countenance expand +into the broad grin that he had all this time been stifling. +</p> +<p> +"What <i>do</i> you think it was?" asked Patience, still awestruck. +</p> +<p> +"Why—the old owl—and his own bad conscience. He might talk big, but he +didn't half like going against poor father. Thank God! He has saved His +own, and that's over!" +</p> +<a name="2HCH0015"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XV. A TABLE OF LOVE IN THE WILDERNESS. +</h2> +<pre> + "Yet along the Church's sky + Stars are scattered, pure and high; + Yet her wasted gardens bear + Autumn violets, sweet and rare, + Relics of a Spring-time clear, + Earnests of a bright New Year." KEBLE +</pre> +<p> +No more was heard or seen of Jephthah, or of Captain Venn's troop. The +garrison within Bristol was small and unenterprising, and in point of +fact the war was over. News travelled slowly, but Stead picked up scraps +at Bristol, by which he understood that things looked very bad for the +King. Moreover, Sir George Elmwood died of his wounds; poor old Lady +Elmwood did not long survive him, and the estate, which had been left +to her for her life, was sequestrated by the Parliament, and redeemed +by the next heir after Sir George, so that there was an exchange of +the Lord of the Manor. The new squire was an elderly man, hearty and +good-natured, who did not seem at all disposed to interfere with any one +on the estate. He was a Presbyterian, and was shocked to find that +the church had been unused for three years. He had it cleaned from the +accumulation of dirt and rubbish, the broken windows mended with plain +glass, and the altar table put down in the nave, as it had been before +Mr. Holworth's time; and he presented to the living Mr. Woodley, a +scholarly-looking person, who wore a black gown and collar and bands. +</p> +<p> +The Elmwood folk were pleased to have prayers and sermon again, and +Patience was glad that the children should not grow up like heathens; +but her first church going did not satisfy her entirely. +</p> +<p> +"It is all strange," she said to Stead, who had stayed with the cattle. +"He had no book, and it was all out of his own head, not a bit like old +times." +</p> +<p> +"Of course not," said Emlyn. "He had got no surplice, and I knew him for +a prick-eared Roundhead! I should have run off home if you had not held +me, Patience. I'll never go there again." +</p> +<p> +"I am sure you made it a misery to me, trying to make Rusha and Ben as +idle and restless as yourself," said Patience. +</p> +<p> +"They ought not to listen to a mere Roundhead sectary," said Emlyn, +tossing her head. "I couldn't have borne it if I had not had the young +ladies to look at. They had got silk hoods and curls and lace collars, +so as it was a shame a mere Puritan should wear." +</p> +<p> +"O Emlyn, Emlyn, it is all for the outside," said Patience. "Now, I +did somehow like to hear good words, though they were not like the old +ones." +</p> +<p> +"Good, indeed! from a trumpery Puritan." +</p> +<p> +Stead went to church in the afternoon. He was eighteen now, and that +great struggle and effort had made him more of a man. He thought much +when he was working alone in the fields, and he had spent his time on +Sundays in reading his Bible and Prayer-book, and comparing them with +Jeph's tracts. Since Emlyn had come, he had made a corner of the cowshed +fit to sleep in, by stuffing the walls with dry heather, and the +sweet breath of the cows kept it sufficiently warm, and on the winter +evenings, he took a lantern there with one of Patience's rush lights, +learnt a text or two anew, and then repeated passages to himself and +thought over them. What would seem intolerably dull to a lad now, was +rest to one who had been rendered older than his age by sorrow and +responsibility, and the events that were passing led people to consider +religious questions a great deal. +</p> +<p> +But Stead was puzzled. The minister was not like the soldiers whom he +had heard raving about the reign of the saints, and abusing the church. +He prayed for the King's having a good deliverance from his troubles, +and for the peace of the kingdom, and he gave out that there was to be +a week of fasting, preaching, and preparation for the Sacrament of the +Lord's Supper. +</p> +<p> +The better sort of people in the village were very much pleased, nobody +except Goody Grace was dissatisfied, and people told her that was only +because she was old and given to grumbling at everything new. Blane the +Smith tapped Stead on the shoulder, and said, "Hark ye, my lad. If it +be true that thou wast in old Parson's secrets, now's the time for thou +know'st what." +</p> +<p> +Stead's mouth was open, and his face blank, chiefly because he did not +know what to do, and was taken by surprise, and Blane took it for an +answer. +</p> +<p> +"Oh! if you don't know, that's another thing, but then 'twas for nothing +that the troopers flogged you? Well," he muttered, as Stead walked +off, "that's a queer conditioned lad, to let himself be flogged, as I +wouldn't whip a dog, all out of temper, because he wouldn't answer a +question. But he's a good lad, and I'll not bring him into trouble by a +word to squire or minister." +</p> +<p> +The children went off to gather cowslips, and Stead was able to talk it +over with Patience, who at first was eager to be rid of the dangerous +trust, and added, with a sigh, "That she had never taken the Sacrament +since the Easter before poor father was killed, and it must be nigh upon +Whitsuntide now." +</p> +<p> +"That's true," said Stead, "but nobody makes any count of holy days now. +It don't seem right, Patience." +</p> +<p> +"Not like what it used to be," said Patience. "And yet this minister is +surely a godly man." +</p> +<p> +"Father and parson didn't say ought about a godly man. They made me take +my solemn promise that I'd only give the things to a lawfully ordained +minister." +</p> +<p> +"He is a minister, and he comes by law," argued Patience. "Do be +satisfied, Stead. I'm always in fear now that folks guess we have +somewhat in charge; and Emlyn is such a child for prying and chattering. +And if they should come and beat thee again, or do worse. Oh, Stead! +surely you might give them up to a good man like that; Smith Blane says +you ought!" +</p> +<p> +"I doubt me! I know that sort don't hold with Bishops, and, so far as +I can see, by father's old Prayer-book, a lawful minister must have a +Bishop to lay hands on him," said Stead, who had studied the subject +as far as his means would allow, and had good though slow brains of his +own, matured by responsibility. "I'll tell you what, Patience, I'll go +and see Dr. Eales about it. I wot he is a minister of the old sort, that +father would say I might trust to." +</p> +<p> +Dr. Eales was still living in Mrs. Lightfoot's lodgings, at the sign of +the Wheatsheaf, or more properly starving, for he had only ten pounds a +year paid to him out of the benefice that had been taken away from him; +and though that went farther then than it would do now, it would not +have maintained him, but that his good hostess charged him as little as +she could afford, and he also had a few pupils among the gentry's sons, +but there were too many clergymen in the same straits for this to be a +very profitable undertaking. There were no soldiers in Mrs. Lightfoot's +house now, and the doctor lived more at large, but still cautiously, for +in the opposite house, named the "Ark," whose gable end nearly met the +Wheatsheaf's, dwelt a rival baker, a Brownist, whose great object seemed +to be to spy upon the clergyman, and have something to report against +him, nor was Mrs. Lightfoot's own man to be trusted. Stead lingered +about the open stall where the bread was sold till no customer was at +hand, and then mentioned under his breath to the good dame his desire to +speak with her lodger. +</p> +<p> +"Certainly," she said, but the Doctor was now with his pupils at +Mistress Rivett's. He always left them at eleven of the clock, more +shame of Mrs. Rivett not to give the good man his dinner, which she +would never feel. Steadfast had better watch for him at the gate which +opened on the down, for there he could speak more privately and securely +than at home. +</p> +<p> +He took the advice, and passed away the time as best he could, learning +on the way that a news letter had been received stating that the King +was with the Scottish army at Newcastle, and that it was expected that +on receiving their arrears of pay, the Scots would surrender him to the +Parliament, a proceeding which the folk in the market-place approved or +disapproved according to their politics. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Rivett's house stood a little apart from the town, with a court and +gates opening on the road over the down; and just as eleven strokes were +chiming from the town clock below, a somewhat bent, silver-haired man, +in a square cap and black gown, leaning on a stick, came out of it. +Stead, after the respectful fashion of his earlier days, put his knee to +the ground, doffed his steeple-crowned hat and craved a blessing, both +he and the Doctor casting a quick glance round so as to be sure there +was no one in sight. +</p> +<p> +Dr. Eales gave it earnestly, as one to whom it was a rare joy to find a +country youth thus demanding it, and as he looked at the honest face he +said: +</p> +<p> +"You are mine hostess' good purveyor, methinks, to whom I have often +owed a wholesome meal." +</p> +<p> +"Steadfast Kenton, so please your reverence. There is a secret matter on +which I would fain have your counsel, and Mistress Lightfoot thought I +might speak to you here with greater safety." +</p> +<p> +"She did well. Speak on, my good boy, if we walk up and down here we +shall be private. It does my heart good to commune with a faithful young +son of the Church." +</p> +<p> +Steadfast told his story, at which the good old Canon was much affected. +His brother Holworth, as he called him, was not in prison but in the +Virginian plantations. He was still the only true minister of Elmwood, +and Mr. Woodley, though owned by the present so-called law of the land, +was not there rightly by the law of the Church, and, therefore, Stead +was certainly not bound to surrender the trust to him, but rather the +contrary. +</p> +<p> +The Doctor could have gone into a long disquisition about Presbyterian +Orders, contradicting the arguments many good and devout people adduced +in favour of them, but there was little time, so he only confirmed with +authority Stead's belief that a Bishop's Ordination was indispensable +to a true pastor, "the only door by which to enter to the charge of the +fold." +</p> +<p> +Then came the other question of attendance on his ministry, and whether +to attend the feast given out for the Sunday week, after the long-forced +abstinence: Patience's, ever since the break-up of the parish; +Steadfast's, since the siege of Bristol. Dr. Eales considered, "I cannot +bid you go to that in the efficacy of which neither you nor I believe, +my son," he said. "It would not be with faith. Here, indeed, I have +ministered privately to a few of the faithful in their own houses, but +the risk is over great for you and your sister to join us, espied as we +are. How is it with your home?" +</p> +<p> +"O, sir, would you even come thither?" exclaimed Steadfast, joyfully, +and he described his ravine, which was of course known to the Elmwood +neighbours, but very seldom visited by them, never except in the +middle of the day, and where the thicket and the caverns afforded every +facility for concealment. +</p> +<p> +Whitsun Day was coming, and Dr. Eales proposed to come over to the glen +and celebrate the Holy Feast in the very early morning before anyone was +astir. There were a few of his Bristol flock who would be thankful for +the opportunity of meeting more safely than they could do in the city, +since at Easter they had as nearly as possible been all arrested in a +pavilion in Mr. Rivett's garden which they had thought unsuspected. +</p> +<p> +There would be one market day first, and on that Stead would come and +explain his preparations, and hear what the Doctor had arranged. And +so it was. The time was to be three o'clock, the very dawn of the long +summer day, the time when sleep is deepest. Dr. Eales and Mrs. Lightfoot +would come out the night before, he not returning after his lesson to +the Rivetts, and she making some excuse about going to see friends for +the Sunday. +</p> +<p> +The Rivetts, living outside the gates where sentries still kept guard, +could start in the morning, and so could the four others who were to +form part of the congregation. Goody Grace was the only person near home +whom Patience wished to invite, for she too had grieved over the great +deprivation, and had too much heart for the Church to be satisfied with +Mr. Woodley's ministrations. Perhaps even she did not understand the +difference, but she could be trusted, and the young people knew how +happy it would make her. +</p> +<p> +Little can we guess what such an opportunity was to the faithful +children of the Church in those sad days. Goody Grace folded her hands +and murmured, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace," when +Patience told her of the invitation, and Patience, though she had all +her ordinary work to do, went quietly about it, as if she had some great +thought of peace and awe upon her. +</p> +<p> +"Why, Patience, you seem as if you were making ready for some guest, the +Prince of Wales at least!" said Emlyn, on Saturday night. +</p> +<p> +Patience smiled a sweet little happy smile and in her heart she said +"And so I am, and for a greater far!" but she did say "Yes, Emlyn, Dr. +Eales is coming to sleep here to-night, and he will pray with us in the +early morning." +</p> +<p> +It had been agreed that the Celebration should take place first, and +then after a short pause, the Morning Service. Jerusha was eleven years +old, and a very good girl, and since Confirmation was impossible, her +brother and sister would have asked for her admission to the Holy Feast +without it, but she could not be called up without the danger of awaking +Emlyn; and Patience was so sure that it was not safe to trust that +damsel with the full knowledge of the treasure that, though Steadfast +always thought his sister hard on her, he was forced to give way. The +children were to be admitted to Matins, for if any idea oozed out that +this latter service had been held, no great danger was likely to come +of it. Dr. Eales arrived in the evening, Steadfast meeting him to act +as guide, and Patience set before him of her best. A fowl, which she had +been forced to broil for want of other means of dressing it; bread baked +in a tin with a fire of leaves and small sticks heaped over it; roasted +eggs, excellent butter and milk. She apologised for not having dared +to fetch any ale for fear of exciting suspicion, but the doctor set her +quite at ease by his manifest enjoyment of her little feast, declaring +that he had not made so good a meal since Bristol was taken. +</p> +<p> +Then he catechised the children. Little Ben could say the Lord's Prayer, +the Belief, and some of the shorter Commandments, and the doctor patted +his little round white cap, and gave him two Turkey figs as a reward. +</p> +<p> +Jerusha, when she got over her desperate fright enough to speak above a +whisper, was quite perfect from her name down to "charity with all men," +but Emlyn stumbled horribly over even the first answers, and utterly +broke down in the Fourth Commandment; but she smiled up in the doctor's +face in her pretty way, and blushed as she said "The chaplain at +Blythedale had taught us so far, your reverence." +</p> +<p> +"And have you learnt no further?" +</p> +<p> +"If you were here to teach me, sir, I would soon learn it," said the +little witch, but she did not come over him as she did with most people. +</p> +<p> +"You have as good an instructor as I for your needs, in this discreet +maiden," said Dr. Eales, and as something of a pout descended on +the sparkling little face, "when you know all the answers, perchance +Steadfast here may bring you to my lodgings and I will hear you." +</p> +<p> +"I could learn them myself if I had the book," said Emlyn. +</p> +<p> +The fact being that the Catechism was taught by Patience from memory +in those winter evenings when all went to bed to save candle light, but +that when Steadfast retired to the cow-house, Emlyn either insisted +on playing with the others or pretended to go to sleep; and twitted +Patience with being a Puritan. However, the hopes of going into Bristol +might be an incentive, though she indulged in a grumble to Rusha, and +declared that she liked a jolly chaplain, and this old doctor was not a +bit better than a mere Puritan. +</p> +<p> +Rusha opened her big eyes. She never did understand Emlyn, and perhaps +that young maiden took delight in shocking her. They were ordered off to +bed much sooner than they approved on that fair summer night, when the +half-moon was high and the nightingales were singing all round—not that +they cared for that, but there was a sense about them that something +mysterious was going on, and Emlyn was wild with curiosity and vexation +at being kept out of it. +</p> +<p> +She would have kept watch and crept out; but that Patience came in, and +lay down, so close to the door that it was impossible to get out without +waking her, and besides if Emlyn did but stir, she asked what was the +matter. +</p> +<p> +"They mean something!" said Emlyn to herself, "and I'll know what it +is. They have no right to keep me out of the plot; I am not like +stupid little Rusha! I have been in a siege, and four battles, besides +skirmishes! I'll watch till they think I'm asleep, if I pull all the +hulls out of my bed! Then they will begin." +</p> +<p> +But nothing moved that Emlyn could hear or see. She woke and slept, but +was quite aware when Patience rose up after a brief doze, and found the +first streaks of dawn in the sky, a cuckoo calling as if for very life +in the nearest tree, and Steadfast quietly sweeping the dew from the +grass in a little open space shut in by rocks, trees, and bushes, close +to the bank of the brook. +</p> +<p> +A chest which he kept in the cow-shed, and which bore traces of the fire +in the old house, had been brought down to serve as an Altar, and it was +laid over, for want of anything better, with one of poor Mrs. Kenton's +best table-cloths, which Patience had always thought too good for use. +</p> +<p> +The next thing was to meet the rest of the scanty congregation at the +entrances of the wood, and guide them to the spot. This was safely done, +Goody Grace knew the way, and had guided one of the old Elmwood maid +servants whom she had managed to shelter for the night. Mrs. Lightfoot +was there with Mrs. Rivett, her daughter, elder son, and a grave-looking +man servant, Mr. Henshaw, a Barbados merchant, with his wife, and a very +worn battered shabby personage, but unmistakably a gentleman of quality, +and wounded in the wars, for he was so lame that the merchant had to +help him over the rough paths. +</p> +<p> +It was a wonderful Whitsun-day morning that none of the little party +could ever forget. The sunrise could not be seen in that deep, narrow +place, but the sky was of a strange pale shining blue, and the tender +young green of the trees overhead was touched with gold, the glades +of the wood were intensely blue with hyacinths, and with all sorts of +delicate greens twined above in the bushes over them. A wild cherry, all +silver white, was behind their Altar, the green floor was marbled with +cuckoo flowers and buttercups, and the clear little stream whose voice +murmured by was fringed with kingcups and forget-me-nots. The scents +were of the most delicious dewy freshness; and as to the sounds! Larks +sang high up in the sky, wood pigeons cooed around, nightingales, +thrushes, every bird of the wood seemed to be trying to make music and +melody. +</p> +<p> +And in the midst the grey-haired priest stood close to an ivy-covered +rock, with the white covered Altar, and the bright golden vessels which +he had carefully looked to in the night, and the little congregation +knelt close round him on cloaks and mats, the women hooded, the old +Cavalier's long thin locks, the merchant's dark ones, and the close +cropped heads of the servant and of Steadfast bared to the morning +breeze in its pure, dewy, soft freshness, fit emblem of the Comforter. +No book was produced, all was repeated from memory. They durst not raise +their voices, but the birds were their choir, and as they murmured +their <i>Gloria in Excelsis</i>, the sweet notes rang out in that unconscious +praise. +</p> +<p> +When the blessing of peace had been given there was a long hush, and no +one rose till after the vessels had been replaced in their casket, and +Stead was climbing up with it again to the hiding place. Then there +was a move to the front of the hut, where Rusha was just awakening, and +Emlyn feigned to be still asleep. It was not yet four o'clock, but the +sweet freshness was still around everything. Young Mistress Alice Rivett +and her brother were enchanted to gather flowers, and ran after their +hosts to see the cows milked, and the goats, pigs, and poultry fed, +sights new to them; but the elder ladies shivered and were glad to warm +themselves at the little fire Patience hastily lighted, after cleaning +the hut as fast as she could, by rolling up the bedding, and fairly +carrying Ben out to finish his night's rest in the cow-house. +</p> +<p> +The guests had brought their provisions, and insisted that their young +hosts should eat with them, accepting only the warm milk that Patience +brought in her pail, and they drank from the horn cups of the family. +Dr. Eales observed to the Cavalier that it was a true <i>Agape</i> or +love-feast like those of the ancient Church, and the gentleman's +melancholy, weather-beaten face relaxed into a smile as he sighed and +hoped that the same endurance as that of the Christians of old would be +granted in this time of persecution. +</p> +<p> +Emlyn was gratified at being a good deal noticed by the company as so +unlike the others. She was not shy and frightened like Rusha, who hung +her head and had not a word to say for herself, but chattered away to +the young Rivetts, showing them the kid, the calves, and the lambs, +taking Mistress Alice to the biggest cowslips and earliest wild roses, +and herself making a sweet posy for each of the ladies. The old Cavalier +himself, Colonel Harford, was even amused with the pretty little maid, +who, he told Dr. Eales, resembled Mirth as Master John Milton had +depicted her, ere he took up with General Cromwell and his crew; and was +a becoming figure for this early morn. +</p> +<p> +On learning the child's history, he turned out to know Sir Harry +Blythedale, but not to have heard of him since they had parted at +Newark, he to guard the king to Oxford, Sir Harry to join Lord Astley, +and he much feared that the old knight had been killed at Stowe, in the +fight between Astley and Brereton. This would account for nothing having +been heard from him about Emlyn, but Colonel Harford promised, if any +opportunity should offer, to communicate with Lady Blythedale, whom he +believed to be living at Worcester; and he patted Emlyn on the head, +called her a little loyal veteran, accepted a tiny posy of forget-me-not +from her, and after fumbling in his pocket, gave her a crown piece. +Steadfast and Patience were afraid it was his last, and much wished +she had contrived not to take it, but she said she should keep it for a +remembrance. +</p> +<p> +After this rest, the beautiful Whitsuntide Matins was said in the fair +forest church, and before six o'clock this strange and blessed festival +had ended, though not the peace and thankfulness in the hearts of the +little flock. +</p> +<p> +Indeed, instead of a sermon, Dr. Eales's parting words were "And he went +in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights." +</p> +<a name="2HCH0016"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XVI. A FAIR OFFER. +</h2> +<pre> + "We be content," the keepers said, + "We three and you no less, + Then why should we of you be afraid, + As we never did transgress." + ROBIN HOOD BALLAD. +</pre> +<p> +Steadfast was busy weeding the little patch of barley that lay near the +ruins of the old farm house with little Ben basking round him. The great +carefulness as to keeping the ground clear had been taught him by his +father, and was one reason why his fields, though so small, did not +often bear a bad crop. He heard his name called over the hedge, and +looking up saw the Squire, Mr. Elmwood, on horseback. +</p> +<p> +He came up, respectfully taking off his hat and standing with it in his +hand as was then the custom when thus spoken to. "What is this I hear, +Kenton," said the squire, "that you have been having a prelatist service +on your ground?" +</p> +<p> +Steadfast was dismayed, but did not speak, till Mr. Elmwood added, "Is +it true?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," he answered resolutely. +</p> +<p> +"Did you know it was against the law to use the Book of Common Prayer?" +</p> +<p> +"There was no book, sir." +</p> +<p> +"But you do not deny it was the same superstitious and Popish ceremony +and festival abolished by law." +</p> +<p> +"No, sir," Stead allowed, though rather by gesture than word. +</p> +<p> +"Now, look you here, young Kenton, I ask no questions. I do not want +to bring anyone into trouble, and you are a hard-working, honest lad +by what they tell me, who have a brother fighting in the good Cause +and have suffered from the lawless malignants yourself. Was it not +the Prince's troopers that wrought this ruin?" pointing towards the +blackened gable, "and shot down your father? Aye! The more shame you +should hold with them! I wish you no harm I say, nor the blinded folk +who must have abused your simplicity: but I am a justice of the peace, +and I will not have laws broken on my land. If this thing should happen +again, I shall remember that you have no regular or lawful tenure of +this holding, and put you forth from it." +</p> +<p> +He waited, but a threat always made silent resistance easy to Steadfast, +and there was no answer. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Elmwood, however, let that pass, for he was not a hard or a +fanatical man, and he knew that to hold such a service was not such an +easy matter that it was likely to be soon repeated. He looked round at +the well-mended fences, the clean ground, and the tokens of intelligent +industry around, and the clean homespun shirt sleeves that spoke of the +notable manager at home. "You are an industrious fellow, my good lad," +he said, "how long have you had this farm to yourself?" +</p> +<p> +"Getting on for five years, your honour," said Steadfast. +</p> +<p> +"And is that your brother?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, please your honour," picking Ben up in his arms to prevent the +barley from being pulled up by way of helping him. +</p> +<p> +"How many of you are there?" +</p> +<p> +"Five of us, sir, but my eldest brother is in Captain Venn's troop." +</p> +<p> +"So I heard, and what is this about a child besides?" +</p> +<p> +"An orphan, sir, I found after the skirmish at the mill stream, who was +left with us till her friends can send after her." +</p> +<p> +"Well, well. You seem a worthy youth," said Mr. Elmwood, who was +certainly struck and touched by the silent uncomplaining resolution +of the mere stripling who had borne so heavy a burthen. "If you were +heartily one of us, I should be glad to make you woodward, instead of +old Tomkins, and build up yonder house for you, but I cannot do it for +one who is hankering after prelacy, and might use the place for I know +not what plots and conspiracies of the malignants." +</p> +<p> +Again Steadfast took refuge in a little bow of acknowledgment, but kept +his lips shut, till again the squire demanded, "What do you think of it? +There's a fair offer. What have you to say for yourself?" +</p> +<p> +He had collected himself and answered, "I thank you, sir. You are very +good. If you made me woodward, I would serve your honour faithfully, and +have no plots or the like there. But, your honour, I was bred up in the +Church and I cannot sell myself." +</p> +<p> +"Why, you foolish, self-conceited boy, what do you know about it? Is not +what is good enough for better men than you fit to please you?" +</p> +<p> +To this Stead again made no answer, having said a great deal for him. +</p> +<p> +"Well," said Mr. Elmwood, angered at last, "if ever I saw a dogged +moon-calf, you are one! However, I let you go scot free this time, in +regard for your brother's good service, and the long family on your +hands, but mind, I shall put in an active woodward instead of old +Tomkins, who has been past his work these ten years, and if ever I hear +of seditious or prelatical doings in yonder gulley again, off you go." +</p> +<p> +He rode off, leaving Steadfast with temper more determined, but mind +not more at ease. The appointment of a woodward was bad news, for the +copsewood and the game had been left to their fate for the last few +years, and what were the rights of the landlord over them Stead did not +know, so that there might be many causes of trouble, especially if the +said woodward considered him a person to be specially watched. Indeed, +the existence of such a person would make a renewal of what Mr. Elmwood +called the prelatist assembly impossible, and with a good deal of sorrow +he announced the fact on the next market day to Mrs. Lightfoot. He could +not see Dr. Eales, but when next he came in, she gave him a paper on +which was simply marked "Ps. xxxvii, 7." He looked out the reference and +found "Hold thee still in the Lord and abide patiently upon Him." Stead +hoped that Patience and the rest would never know what an offer had been +made to him, but Master Brown, who had recommended him, and who did not +at all like the prospect of a strange woodward, came to expostulate with +him for throwing away such a chance for a mere whim, telling Patience +she was a sensible wench and ought to persuade her brother to see what +was for his own good and the good of all, holding up himself as an +example. +</p> +<p> +"I never missed my church and had the parson's good word all along, +and yet you see I am ready to put up with this good man without setting +myself up to know more than my elders and betters! Eh! Hast not a +word to say for thyself? Then I'll tell the squire, who is a good and +friendly gentleman to all the old servants, that you have thought better +of it, and will thankfully take his kindness, and do your best." +</p> +<p> +"I cannot go against father," said Steadfast. +</p> +<p> +"And what would he have done, good man, but obey them that have the +rule, and let wiser folk think for thee. But all the young ones are +pig-headed as mules now-a-days, and must think for themselves, one +running off to the Independents, and one to the Quakers and Shakers, and +one to the Fifth Monarchy men, and you, Steadfast Kenton, that I thought +better things of, talking of the Church and offending the squire with +thy prelatic doings, that have been forbidden by Act of Parliament. +What say you to that, my lad? Come, out with it," for Stead had more +difficulty in answering Master Brown, who had been a great authority +throughout his life, than even the Squire himself. +</p> +<p> +"Parson said there was higher law than Parliament." +</p> +<p> +"Eh! What, the King? He is a prisoner, bless him, but they will never +let him go till they have bent him to their will, and what will you do +then?" +</p> +<p> +"Not the King," muttered Steadfast. +</p> +<p> +"Eh! what! If you have come to pretending to know the law of God better +than your elders, you are like the rest of them, and I have done with +you." And away tramped the steward in great displeasure, while Patience +put her apron over her head and cried bitterly. +</p> +<p> +She supposed Stead might be right, but what would it not have been to +have the old house built up, and all decent about them as it was in +mother's time, and fit places to sleep in, now that the wenches were +growing bigger? +</p> +<p> +"But you know, Patty, we are saving for that." +</p> +<p> +"Aye, and how long will it take? And now this pestilent woodward will be +always finding fault—killing the fowls and ducks, and seizing the swine +and sheep, and very like slaughtering the dogs and getting us turned out +of house and home; for now you have offended the squire, he will believe +anything against us." +</p> +<p> +"Come, Patty, you know I could not help it. This is sorest of all, you +that have always stood by me and father's wish." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes," sobbed Patience. "I wot you are right, Stead. I'll hold to +you, though I wish—I wish you would think like other folk." +</p> +<p> +Yet Patience knew in her secret soul that then he would not be her own +Steadfast, and she persuaded him no more, though the discomforts and +deficiencies of their present home tried her more and more as the family +grew older. Stead had contrived a lean-to, with timbers from the old +house, and wattled sides stuffed with moss, where he and little Ben +slept in summer time, and they had bought or made some furniture—a +chair and table, some stools, bedding, and kitchen utensils, and she +toiled to keep things clean, but still it was a mere hovel, with the +door opening out into the glade. Foxes and polecats prowled, owls +hooted, and the big dog outside was a needful defender, even in summer +time, and in winter the cold was piteous, the wet even worse, and they +often lost some of their precious animals—chickens died of cold, +and once three lambs had been carried away in a sudden freshet. Yet +Patience, when she saw Steadfast convinced, made up her mind to stand by +him, and defended him when the younger girls murmured. +</p> +<p> +Rusha was of a quiet, acquiescent, contented nature, and said little, as +Emlyn declared, "She knew nothing better;" but Emlyn was more and more +weary of the gulley, and as nothing was heard of her friends, and she +was completely one of the home, she struggled more with the dullness +and loneliness. She undertook all errands to the village for the sake of +such change as a chatter with the young folk there afforded her, or for +the chance of seeing the squire's lady or sons and daughters go by; and +she was wild to go on market days to Bristol. +</p> +<a name="image-0006"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/emlynmarket.jpg" height="500" width="301" +alt="Emlyn at the Market +"> +</center> + +<p> +In spite of Puritan greyness, soldiers, sailors, gentlemen, ladies, and +even fashions, such as they were, could be seen there, and news picked +up, and Emlyn would fain have persuaded Steadfast that she should be +the most perfect market woman, if he would only let her ride in on the +donkey between the panniers, in a broad hat, with chickens and ducks +dangling round, eggs, butter, and fruit or nuts, and even posies, +according to the season, and sit on the steps of the market-place among +the other market women and girls. +</p> +<p> +Steadfast would have been the last to declare that her laughing dark +eyes, and smiling lips, and arch countenance would not bring many a +customer, but he knew well that his mother would never have sent his +sister to be thus exposed, and he let her pout, or laughed away her +refusal by telling her that he was bound not to let a butler's daughter +demean herself to be stared at by all the common folk, who would cheapen +her wares. +</p> +<p> +And when she did coax him to take her to Bristol on any errand she +could invent, to sell her yarns, or buy pins, or even a ribbon, he was +inexorable in leaving her under Mrs. Lightfoot's care, and she had to +submit, even though it sometimes involved saying her catechism to Dr. +Eales. Yet that always ended in the old man's petting her. It was only +from her chatter that the old clergyman ever knew of the proposal that +Stead had rejected for conscience's sake. It vexed the lad so much that +he really could not bear to think of it, and it would come over him now +and then, was it all for nothing? Would the Church ever lift up her head +again? or would Mr. Woodley be always in possession at Elmwood Church, +where everyone seemed to be content with him. The Kentons went thither. +It was hardly safe to abstain, for a fine upon absence was still the +law of the land, though seldom enforced; and Dr. Eales who considered +Presbyterianism by far the least unorthodox and most justifiable sect, +had advised Stead not to allow himself or the others altogether to lose +the habit of public worship, but to abstain from Communions which might +be an act of separation from the Church, and which could not be accepted +by her children as genuine. Such was the advice of most of the divines +of the English Church in this time of eclipse; and though Stead, and +still less Patience, did not altogether follow the reasoning, they +obeyed, while aware that they incurred suspicion from the squire by not +coming to "the table." +</p> +<p> +The new woodward, Peter Pierce, was not one of the villagers as usual, +but had been a soldier in one of the regiments of the Earl of Essex, in +which Mr. Elmwood's eldest son had served. +</p> +<p> +Instead of succeeding to old Tomkins's lodge in the great wood, he had +a new one built for him, so as to command the opening of Hermit's Gulley +towards the village, and one of the Bristol roads. Could this be for the +sake of watching over anything so insignificant as the Kentons? +</p> +<p> +The copse on their side of the brook was their own, free to do what they +chose with except cutting down the timber trees, but the further side +was the landlord's, as they had now to remember; and as, when the brook +was at its lowest, their pigs and goats were by no means likely to +recollect; though Steadfast was extremely anxious to give no occasion +for the mistrust and ill-will with which Pierce regarded him, as a +squatter, trespasser, and poacher, almost as a matter of course, and +likewise a prelatist and plotter. +</p> +<p> +Once he did find a kid on the wrong side, standing on a rock, browsing +a honeysuckle, and was about either to seize it or shoot it, as it went +off in three bounds, when Emlyn darted out, and threw herself between. +It was her darling kid, it should never trespass again, she would—she +would thank him ever more—if he would spare it this once. +</p> +<p> +And Emlyn as usual had touched the soft place in the heart of even a +woodward. He told her not to cry, and contented himself with growling a +tremendous warning to Steadfast and Patience. +</p> +<p> +There were several breezes about Growler, who was only too apt to use +his liberty in pursuing rabbits on the wrong side, and whom Peter more +than once condemned; but Emlyn and Ben begged him off, and he was kept +well chained up. At last, however, he won even the woodward's favour by +the slaughter of a terrible wild cat and her brood, after all Peter's +dogs had returned with bleeding faces from the combat. +</p> +<p> +The woodward had another soft place in his heart. He had a pretty young +wife and a little son. Nanny Pierce was older in years, but far more +childish than Patience, and the life in this gulley seemed to her utter +solitude and desolation, and if Patience had been ten times a poacher +and a prelatist, she could not have helped making friends with the only +creature of her own kind within a mile. And when Patience's experience +with Ben and other older babes at rest in the churchyard, had aided the +poor little helpless woman through a convulsion fit of her baby's before +Goody Grace could arrive, Peter himself owned that "the Kenton wench +was good for somewhat," though he continued to think Steadfast's great +carefulness not to transgress, only a further proof that "he was a deep +one"—all the more because he refused to let anyone but himself have a +search for a vanished polecat in "them holes," which Peter was persuaded +contained some mystery, though Steadfast laid it, and not untruly, on +the health of the young stock he kept penned in the caves, which were +all, he hoped, of which Peter was aware. +</p> +<p> +All this was harassing, but a greater trouble came in the second winter. +Good Dr. Eales was failing, and the tidings of the King's execution were +a blow that he never recovered. Mrs. Lightfoot had tears in her eyes +when Stead asked after him, week by week, and she could only say that he +was feebler, and spent all his days in prayer—often with tears. +</p> +<p> +At last came peace. He lay still and calm, and sent a message that young +Kenton should be brought to him for a last farewell. +</p> +<p> +And as Stead stood sorrowful and awed by his bed side, he bade the +youth never despair or fall away from his hope of the restoration of the +Church. +</p> +<p> +"Remember," he said, "she is founded on a rock, and the gates of hell +shall never prevail against her. She shall stand forth for evermore as +the moon, which wanes but to wax again; and I have good hope that thou +wilt see it, my son. He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall +be saved." +</p> +<p> +Then Dr. Eales pointed to a small parcel of books, which he had caused +Mrs. Lightfoot to put together, telling Steadfast that he had selected +them alike for devotion and for edification, and that if he studied +them, he would have no doubt when he might deliver up his trust to a +true priest of the Church. +</p> +<p> +"And if none should return in my time?" asked Steadfast. +</p> +<p> +"Have I not told thee never to despair of God's care for His Church? Yet +His time is not as our time, and it may be—that young as thou art—the +days of renewal may not be when thou shalt see them. Should it thus be, +my son, leave the secret with one whom thou canst securely trust. Better +the sacred vessels should lie hidden than that thou shouldst show thy +faith wanting by surrendering them to any, save according to the terms +of thy vow. See, Steadfast, among these books is a lighter one, a +romance of King Arthur, that I loved well in my boyhood, and which may +not only serve thee as fair pastime in the winter nights, but will mind +thee of thine high and holy charge, for it goeth deeper than the mere +outside." +</p> +<p> +His voice was growing weak. Mrs. Lightfoot gave him a cordial, and Stead +knelt by his bedside, felt his hand on his head, and heard his blessing +for the last time. The next market day, when he called at the good +bakester's stall, she told him in floods of tears that the guest who had +brought a blessing on her house, was gone to his rest. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0017"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XVII. THE GROOM IN GREY. +</h2> +<pre> + "Heroes and kings, in exile forced to roam, + Leave swelling phrase and seven-leagued words at home." + SCOTT. +</pre> +<p> +Another summer and winter had gone by and harvest time had come again, +when Steadfast with little Ben, now seven years old, for company, took +two sacks of corn to be ground at the mill, where the skirmish had been +fought in which Emlyn's father had been killed. +</p> +<p> +The sacks were laid across a packsaddle on a stout white horse, with +which, by diligent saving, Steadfast had contrived to replace Whitefoot, +Ben was promised a ride home when the sacks should have been emptied, +and trotted along in company with Growler by his brother's side, +talking more in an hour than Stead did in a week, and looking with great +interest to be shown the hawthorn bush where Emlyn had been found. +For Stead and Ben were alike in feeling the bright, merry, capricious, +laughing, teasing Emlyn the charm and delight of home. In trouble, or +for real aid, they went to Patience, but who was like Emlyn for drollery +and diversion? Who ever made Stead laugh as she could, or who so played +with Ben, and never, like Rusha, tried to be maidenly, discreet, nay, +dull? +</p> +<p> +It was very inconvenient that just as they reached the famous thorn +bush, the white horse began to demonstrate that his shoe was loose. They +were very near the mill, and after disposing of the sacks, the brothers +led the horse on to a forge, about a furlong beyond. It was not a place +of which Stead was fond, as the smith was known to be strong for the +Covenant, and he could not help wishing that the shoe had come off +nearer to his good friend Smith Blane. +</p> +<p> +Original-Sin Hopkins, which was the name of the blacksmith, was in great +excitement, as he talked of the crowning mercy vouchsafed at Worcester, +and how the son of the late man, Charles Stewart, had been utterly +defeated, and his people scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Three +or four neighbours were standing about, listening to the tidings he had +heard from a messenger on the way to Bristol. One was leaning on the +unglazed window frame, and a couple of old men basking, even in that +September day, in the glow of the fire, while a few women and children +loitered around, thinking it rather fine to hear Master Original-Sin +declaim on the backsliding of the Scots in upholding the son of the +oppressor. +</p> +<p> +The shoeing of Stead Kenton's horse seemed a trivial matter beneath the +attention of such an orator; but he vouchsafed to bid his lad drive in a +few nails; and just as the task was commenced, there came to the forge +a lady in a camlet riding dress and black silk hood, walking beside +a stout horse, which a groom was leading with great care, for it had +evidently lost a shoe. And it had a saddle with a pillion on which they +had been riding double, after the usual fashion of travelling for young +and healthy gentlewomen in those days of bad roads. +</p> +<p> +The lady, a quiet, self-possessed person, not in her first youth, came +forward, and in the first pause in the blacksmith's declamation, begged +that he would attend to her horse. +</p> +<p> +He gave a nod as if intending her to wait till Steadfast's work was +done, and went on. "And has it not been already brought about that the +man of blood hath—" +</p> +<p> +"So please you," interrupted the lady, "to shoe my horse at once. I +am on my way to Abbotsleigh, and my cousin, Mr. Norton, knows that my +business brooks no delay." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Norton, though a Royalist, was still the chief personage in that +neighbourhood, and his name produced sufficient effect on Original-Sin +to make him come forward, look at the hoof, and select a shoe from those +hung on the walls of his forge. Little Ben looked on, highly delighted +to watch the proceedings, and Steadfast, as he waited, glanced towards +the servant, a well-made young man, in a trim, sober suit of grey cloth, +with a hat a good deal slouched over a dark swarthy face, that struck +Stead as having been seen by him before. +</p> +<p> +After all, the lady's horse was the first finished. Hopkins looked at +all the other three shoes, tapped them with his hammer, and found +them secure, received the money from the lady, but gave very slight +salutations as the pair remounted, and rode away. +</p> +<p> +Then he twisted up his features and observed, "Here is a dispensation! +As I am a living soul, this horse shoe was made at Worcester. I know the +make. My cousin was apprenticed there." +</p> +<p> +"Well, outlandish work goes against one's stomach," said one of the +bystanders, "but what of that, man?" +</p> +<p> +"Seest thou not, Jabez Holt? Is not the young man there one of them who +trouble Israel, and the lady is striving for his escape. Mr. Norton is +well known as a malignant at heart, and his man Pope hath been to and +fro these last days as though evil were being concerted. I would that +good Master Hatcham were here." +</p> +<p> +"Poor lad. Let him alone. 'Tis hard he should not get off," said one of +the bystanders. +</p> +<p> +"I tell thee he is one of the brood of Satan, who have endeavoured to +break up the godly peace of the saints, and fill this goodly land with +blood and fire. Is it not said 'Root them out that they be no more a +people?'" +</p> +<p> +"Have after them, then," said another of the company. "We want no more +wars, to be taking our cows and killing our pigs. After them, I say!" +</p> +<p> +"You haven't got no warrant, 'Riginal," said a more cautious old man. +"Best be on the safe side. Go after constable first, and raise the +hue-and-cry. You'll easy overtake them. Breakneck Hill be sore for +horseflesh." +</p> +<p> +"I'd fain see Master Hatcham," said the smith, scratching his head. +</p> +<p> +Stead had meantime been listening as he paid his pence. It flashed over +him now where he had beheld those intensely dark eyes, and the very +peculiar cut of features, though they had then been much more boyish. +It was when he had seen the Prince of Wales going to the Cathedral on +Christmas Day, in the midst of all his plumed generals, with their gay +scarfs, and rich lace collars. +</p> +<p> +He had put little Ben on horseback, and turned away into the long, +dirty lane, or rather ditch, that led homeward, before, through his +consternation, there dawned on him what to do. A gap in the hedge lay +near, through which he dragged the horse into a pasture field, to the +great amazement of Ben, saying "See here, Ben, those folk want to take +yonder groom in grey. We will go and warn them." +</p> +<p> +Ben heartily assented. +</p> +<p> +"I like the groom," he said. "He jumped me five times off the +horseblock, and he patted Growler and called him a fine fellow, who +didn't deserve his name—worth his salt he was sure. We won't give +Growler salt, Stead, but don't let that ugly preaching man get the good +groom!" +</p> +<p> +Steadfast was by this time on the horse behind his little brother, +pressing through the fields, which by ancient custom were all thrown +open from harvest time till Christmas; and coming out into the open bit +of common that the travellers had to pass before arriving at Breakneck +Hill, he was just in time to meet them as they trotted on. He hardly +knew what he said, as he doffed his hat, and exclaimed— +</p> +<p> +"Madam, you are pursued." +</p> +<p> +"Pursued!" Both at once looked back. +</p> +<p> +"There's time," said Steadfast; "but Smith Hopkins said one of the shoes +was Worcester make, and he is gone to fetch the constable and raise the +hue-and-cry." +</p> +<p> +"And you are a loyal—I mean an honest lad—come to warn us," said the +groom. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir. I think, if you will trust me, they can be put off the +track." +</p> +<p> +"Trusty! Your face answers for you. Eh, fair Mistress Jane?" +</p> +<p> +"Sir, it must be as you will." +</p> +<p> +"This way then, sir," said Steadfast, who was off his own horse by this +time, and leading it into a rough track through a thicket whence some +timber had been drawn out in the summer. +</p> +<p> +"They will see where we turned off," whispered the lady. +</p> +<p> +"No, ma'am, not unless you get off the hard ground. Besides they will go +on the way to Breakneck Hill. Hark! I hear a hallooing. Not near—no—no +fear, madam." +</p> +<p> +They were by this time actually hidden from the common by the copsewood, +and the distant shouts of the hue-and-cry kept all silent till they were +fairly out beyond it, not far from Stead's own fields. +</p> +<p> +Happily they had hitherto met no one, but there was danger now of +encountering gleaners, and indeed Stead's white horse could be seen from +a distance, and might attract attention to his companions. +</p> +<p> +"Hallo!" exclaimed the groom, as they halted under shelter of a pollard +willow. "I've heard tell that a white horse is the surest mark for a +bullet in a battle, and if that be Breakneck Hill, as you call it, your +beast may bring the sapient smith down on us. Had we not best part?" +</p> +<p> +"Aye," said Steadfast. "I was thinking what was best. Whither were you +going?" +</p> +<p> +He blurted it out, not knowing to whom to address himself, or how to +frame his speech. The lady hesitated, but her companion named Castle +Carey. +</p> +<p> +"Then, please your honour," said Stead, impartially addressing both, +"methinks the best course would be, if this—" +</p> +<p> +"Groom William," suggested that personage. +</p> +<p> +"Would go down into yonder covert with my little brother here, where my +poor place is, and where my sister can show a safe hiding-place, in case +Master Hopkins suspects me, and follows; but I scarce think he will. +Then meanwhile, if the lady will trust herself to me—" +</p> +<p> +"O! there is no danger for me," she said. +</p> +<p> +"Go on, my Somerset Solomon," said the groom. +</p> +<p> +"Then would I take the lady on for a short space to a good woman in +Elmwood there. And on the way this horse shall lose his Worcester shoe, +and I will get Smith Blane, who is an honest fellow, to put on another; +and when the chase is like to be over, I will come back for him and put +you on the cross lane for Castle Carey, which don't join with the road +you came by, till just ere you get into the town." +</p> +<p> +"There's wit as well as cheese in Somerset. What say you, my guardian +angel?" said Groom William. +</p> +<p> +"It sounds well," she reluctantly answered. "Does Mr. Norton know you, +young man?" +</p> +<p> +"No, madam," said Stead, with much stumbling. "But I have seen him in +Bristol. My Lady Elmwood knew of me, and Sir George Elmwood too, and the +Dean could say I was honest." +</p> +<p> +"Which the face of you says better than your tongue," said the groom. +"Have with you then, my bold little elf," he added, taking the bridle of +the horse on which Ben was still seated. "Or one moment more. You knew +me, my lad—are there any others like to do so?" +</p> +<p> +"I had seen you, sir, at Bristol, and that is why I would not have you +shew yourself in Elmwood. But my sister has never seen you, and the only +neighbours who ever come in are the woodward and his wife. He served in +my Lord of Essex's army, but he has never seen you. Moreover, he was to +be at the squire's to-day helping to stack his corn. Ben, do you tell +Patience that <i>he</i>"—again taking refuge in a pronoun—"is a gentleman +in danger, and she must see to his safety for an hour or two till I come +back for him." +</p> +<p> +"A gentleman in danger," repeated Ben, anxious to learn his lesson. +</p> +<p> +"He and I will take care of that," said the grey-coated groom gaily, as +he turned the horse's head, and waved his hat in courtly fashion to the +lady so that Steadfast saw that his hair was cropped into black stubble. +</p> +<p> +"Ah!" said the lady with a sigh, for the loss of a Cavalier's locks was +a dreadful thing. "You know him then." +</p> +<p> +"I have seen him at Bristol," said Steadfast, with considerably less +embarrassment, though still in the clownish way he could not shake off. +</p> +<p> +"And you know how great is the trust you—nay, we have undertaken. But, +as he says, he has learnt the true fidelity of a leathern jerkin." +</p> +<p> +Then Jane Lane told Steadfast of the King's flight from Worcester, and +adventures at Boscobel with the Penderells, and how she had brought him +to Abbotsleigh, in hopes of finding a ship at Bristol, but that failing, +it was too perilous for him to remain there, so that she was helping him +as far as Castle Carey on his way to Trent. +</p> +<p> +Before they were clear of the wood, Stead asked her to pause. He knocked +off the tell-tale shoe with the help of a stone, threw it away into the +middle of a bramble, and then after a little consultation, she decided +on herself encountering the smith, not perhaps having much confidence in +the readiness of speech or invention of her companion. +</p> +<p> +When they arrived at the forge, where good-humoured, brawny Harry Blane +was no small contrast to his gaunt compeer Original-Sin Hopkins, she +averred that she was travelling from her relations, and having been +obliged to send her servant back for a packet that had been forgotten, +this good youth, who had come to her help when her horse had cast a +shoe, had undertaken to guide her to the smith's, and to take her +again to meet her man, if he did not come for her himself. Might she be +allowed in the meantime to sit with Master Blane's good housewife? +</p> +<p> +Master Blane was only too happy, and Mistress Jane Lane was accordingly +introduced to the pleasant kitchen, with sanded floor, and big +oak table, open hearth, and beaupots in the oriel window where the +spinning-wheel stood, and where the neat and hospitable Dame Blane made +her kindly welcome. +</p> +<p> +Steadfast, marvelling at her facility of speech, and glad the king's +safety did not depend on his uttering such a story, told Blane that he +must go after his cattle and should look after the groom on the way. +</p> +<p> +As he walked through the wood, and drew near the glade, he was dismayed +to hear voices, and to see Peter Pierce leaning against the wall of the +house, but Rusha came running up to him exclaiming, "Oh! Stead, here is +this good stranger that you met, telling us all about brother Jeph." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, my kind host," said the grey-coated guest, with a slight nasal +intonation, rising as Stead came near, "I find that you are the very lad +my friend and brother Jephthah Kenton, that singular Christian man, bade +me search out. 'If you go near Bristol, beloved,' quoth he,' search +me out my brothers Steadfast and Benoni, and my sisters, Patience and +Jerusha, and greet them well from me, and bear witness of me to them. +They dwell, said he, in a lonely hut in the wood side, and with them +a fair little maiden, sprung of the evil and idolatrous seed of the +malignants, but whom their pious nurture may yet bring to a knowledge of +the truth,' and by that token, I knew that it was the same." There was +an odd little twinkle towards Emlyn just then. +</p> +<p> +"And Stead, Jeph is an officer," said Patience, who was busied in +setting before the visitor on a little round table, the best ale, bread, +cheese, and butter that her hut afforded, together with an onion, which, +he declared, was "what his good grandfather, a valiant man for the +godly, had ever loved best." +</p> +<p> +"An officer! Aye is he. A captain of his Ironside troop, very like to be +Colonel ere long." +</p> +<p> +Stead was absolutely bewildered, and could not find speech, beyond an +awkward "Where?" +</p> +<p> +"Where was he when I last saw him? Charging down the main street of +Worcester, where the malignants and Charles Stewart made their last +stand. Smiting them hip and thigh with the sword of Gedaliah, nay, my +tongue tripped, 'twas Gideon I would say." +</p> +<p> +"Aye," said the woodward, "Squire had the tidings two days back in a +news letter. It was a mighty victory of General Cromwell." +</p> +<p> +"In sooth it was," returned the groom; "and I hear he hath ordered a +solemn thanksgiving therefore." +</p> +<p> +"But Jephthah," put in Patience, "you are sure he was not hurt?" +</p> +<p> +"The hand of Heaven protecteth the godly," again through his nose spoke +the guest. "He was well when I left him; being sent south by my master +to attend my mistress, and so being no more among them that divide the +spoil." +</p> +<p> +"Where have you served, sir?" demanded the woodward. +</p> +<p> +"I am last from Scotland," was the answer. "A godly land!" +</p> +<p> +"Ah! I know nought of Scotland," said the woodward. "I was disbanded +when my Lord Essex gave up the command, more's the pity, for he was for +doing things soberly and reasonably, and ever in the name of the poor +King that is gone! You look too young to have seen fire at Edgehill or +Exeter, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Did I not?" said the youth. "Aye, I was with my father, though only as +a boy apart on a hill." +</p> +<p> +The reminiscences that were exchanged astonished Steadfast beyond +measure, and really made him doubt whether what had previously passed +had not been all a dream. The language was so like Jephthah's own too, +all except that one word "fair" applied to Emlyn; and Patience, Rusha, +and the Pierces were entirely without a suspicion, that their guest was +other than he seemed. How much must have been picked out of little Ben, +without the child's knowing it, to make such acting possible? +</p> +<p> +And how was the woodward, who was so much delighted with the visitor, to +be shaken off? Stead stood silent, puzzled, anxious, and wondering +what to do next, a very heavy and awkward host, so that even Patience +wondered what made him so shy. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly, however, a whistle, and the sharp yap of a dog was heard +across the stream. Nanny Pierce exclaimed, "There are those rascal lads +after the rabbits again!" and the gamekeeper's instinct awoke. Pierce +shook hands with his fellow soldier, regretted he could not see more of +him, and received his promise that if he came that way again, he would +share a pottle of ale at the lodge; and then tramped off after his +poachers over the stream. +</p> +<p> +Groom William then kissed the young women (the usual mode of salutation +then), Nanny Pierce and all, thanked Patience, and looked about for the +goodly little malignant, as he called Emlyn, but she was nowhere to be +seen, and Stead hurried him off through the wood. +</p> +<p> +"Ho! ho! sly rascal," said Charles, as they turned away. "You're +jealous! You would keep the game to yourself." +</p> +<p> +Stead had no answer to make to this banter, the very notion of Emlyn as +aught but the orphan in his charge was new to him. +</p> +<p> +They were not yet beyond the gulley when from between the hazel stems, +out sprang Emlyn, and kneeling on the ground caught the King's hand and +kissed it. +</p> +<p> +"Fairy-haunted wood!" cried Charles, and indeed it was done with great +natural grace, and the little figure with the glowing cheeks, her hood +flying back so as to shew her brilliant eyes sparkling with delight and +enthusiasm, was a truly charming vision. "It is like one of the masques +of the merry days of old." And as he retained her hand and returned the +salute on her lips, "Queen Mab herself, for who else saw through thy +poor brother sovereign's mean disguise?" +</p> +<p> +"I had seen your Majesty with the army," replied Emlyn, modestly +blushing a good deal. +</p> +<p> +"Ah! The Fates have provided me with a countenance the very worst for +straits like mine. But that matters the less since it is only my worthy +subjects who see through the grey coat. I would lay my crown, if I had +it, to one of those crispy ringlets of yours, that Queen Mab was the +poacher who drew off the crop-eared keeper." +</p> +<p> +"'Tis Robin Goodfellow, please your Majesty, who leads clowns astray," +said Emlyn in the same tone. +</p> +<p> +"Sometimes a horse I'll be, sometimes a hound," quoted the King. +</p> +<p> +Stead could only listen in amazement without a word to say for himself. +Near the confines of the wood, he had to leave Emlyn to guide the King +over a field-path while he fetched Mrs. Jane Lane and the horse to meet +them beyond, as it was wiser for the King not to shew himself in the +village. Again Charles jested on his supposed jealousy of leaving the +fair Queen Mab alone in such company, and on his blunt answer, "I only +feared the saucy child might be troublesome, sir." +</p> +<p> +At which the King laughed the more, and even Emlyn smiled a little. +</p> +<p> +All was safely accomplished, and when Steadfast had brought Mrs. Lane to +the deep lane, they found the King and Emlyn standing by the stile, and +could hear the laughter of both as they approached. +</p> +<p> +"He can always thus while away his cares," said Jane Lane in quite a +motherly tone. "And well it is that he is of so joyous a nature." +</p> +<p> +Perhaps it was said as a kind of excuse for the levity of one in so much +danger chattering to the little woodland maid so mirthfully, and like +one on an equality. When they appeared, Charles bestowed a kiss on +Emlyn's lips, and shook hands cordially with Steadfast, lamenting that +he had no reward, nor even a token to leave with them. +</p> +<p> +Stead made his rustic bow, pinched his hat, and muttered, "It is enough +to—" +</p> +<p> +"Enough reward to have served your Majesty," said Emlyn, "he would say." +</p> +<p> +"Yea, and it is your business to find words for him, pretty one," said +the King. "A wholesome partnership—eh? He finds worth, and you find +wit! And so we leave the fairy buried in the woodland." +</p> +<p> +And on the wanderers rode, while Steadfast and Emlyn turned back over +the path through the fields; and she eagerly told that the King had +slept at Blythedale on his way to Worcester, and that though Sir Harry +was dead, his son was living in Holland. "And if the King gets there +safely, he will tell Master George, and if my uncle is with him, no +doubt he will send for me, or mayhap, come and fetch me." +</p> +<p> +There was a shock of pain in Steadfast's heart. +</p> +<p> +"You would be glad?" +</p> +<p> +"Poor old Stead. I would scarce be glad to quit you. I doubt me if the +Hague, as they call it, would show me any one I should care for as much +as for your round shoulders, you good old lubber! But you should come +too, and the King would give you high preferment, when he comes to his +own again, and then we won't be buried alive in this Hermit's Gulley." +</p> +<p> +She danced about in exultation, hardly knowing what wild nonsense she +talked, and Stead was obliged to check her sharply in an attempt to sing +</p> +<pre> + "The king shall enjoy his own again." +</pre> +<p> +"But Stead," asked Ben, after long reflection, "how could Groom William +know all about brother Jeph?" +</p> +<p> +A question Stead would not hear, not wishing to destroy confidence in +His Majesty's veracity. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0018"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. JEPH'S GOOD FORTUNE. +</h2> +<pre> + "Still sun and rain made emerald green the loveliest fields on earth, + And gave the type of deathless hope, the little shamrock, birth." + IRISH BALLAD. +</pre> +<p> +The King's visit left traces. Emlyn had become far more restless and +consciously impatient of the dullness and seclusion of the Hermit's +Gulley. Not only did she, as before, avail herself of every pretext for +going into the village, or for making expeditions to Bristol, but she +openly declared the place a mere grave, intolerable to live in, and she +confided to Jerusha that the King had declared that it was a shame to +hide her there—such charms were meant for the world. +</p> +<p> +The only way of getting into the world that occurred to her was going +into service at Bristol, and she talked of this whenever she specially +hated her spinning, or if Patience ventured to complain of her gadding +about, gossipping with Nanny Pierce or Kitty Blane, or getting all the +young lads in Elmwood round her, to be amused and teased by her lively +rattle. +</p> +<p> +Patience began to be decidedly of opinion that it would be much better +for all parties that the girl should be under a good mistress. Both she +and Rusha were over sixteen years old; and though it was much improved, +the house was hardly fit for so many inhabitants, and both Goody Grace +and Dame Blane had told Patience that it would be better, both for +the awkward Rusha and the gay Emlyn, if they could have some household +training. +</p> +<p> +Mistress Elmwood, at the Hall, had noted the family at church, and +observed their perfect cleanliness and orderliness, and it was intimated +that at the Ladyday hiring, she would take Rusha among her maidens. +</p> +<p> +Shy Rusha cried a great deal, and wished Emlyn would go instead, but +Mrs. Elmwood would not have hired that flighty damsel on any account, +and Emlyn was sure it would be but mopish work to live under a starched +old Puritan. Mrs. Lightfoot was therefore applied to, to find a service +for Emlyn Gaythorn, and she presently discovered one Mistress Sloggett, +a haberdasher's wife of wealth and consideration, who wanted a young +maidservant. +</p> +<p> +Emlyn was presented to her by the bakester, undertook for everything, +and was hired by the twelvemonth, going off in high glee at the variety +and diversion she expected to enjoy at the sign of the "Sheep and +Shears," though clinging with much tenderness to her friends as they +parted. +</p> +<p> +"Remember, Emlyn, this is the home where you will always be welcome," +said Stead. +</p> +<p> +"As if I wanted to <i>remember</i> it," said Emlyn, with her sweet smile. "As +if I did not know where be kind hearts." +</p> +<p> +The hovel seemed greatly deserted when the two young girls were gone. +Patience sorely missed Rusha, her diligent little helper, and latterly +her companion too; and the lack of Emlyn's merry tongue made all around +seem silent and tedious. Steadfast especially missed the girl. Perhaps +it was due to the King's gibes that her absence fully opened to him the +fact that he knew not how to do without her. After his usual fashion, +he kept the discovery to himself, not even talking to Patience about it, +being very shamefaced at the mere thought, which gave a delicious warmth +to his heart, though it made him revolve schemes of saving up till he +had a sufficient sum, with which to go to the squire and propose to meet +him half-way in rebuilding the old house; not such an expensive matter +as it would be in these days. There, in full view of all that passed +down Elmwood Lane, Emlyn could not complain of solitude, he thought! But +there was this difficulty in the way, that Jephthah had never resigned +his claims as eldest son, and might come home at any time, and take +possession of all the little farm at which Steadfast had worked for +seven years. +</p> +<p> +The war was over, and nothing had been heard of Jeph, except the +king's apocryphal history, since his visit after the taking of Bristol. +Patience had begun to call him "poor Jeph," and thought he must have +been killed, but Stead had ascertained that the army had not been +disbanded, and believed him still to be employed. +</p> +<p> +At length, one market day, Mrs. Lightfoot told him, "There has been +one asking for you, Kenton, Seth Coleman, the loriner's son, that went +soldiering when your brother did. He landed last week from Ireland with +a wooden leg, and said he, 'Where shall I come to the speech of one +Steadfast Kenton? I have a greeting from his brother, the peculiarly +favoured,' or some such word, 'Jephthah Kenton, who told me I should +hear tidings of him from Mrs. Bakester Lightfoot, at the sign of the +"Wheatsheaf."' I told him where you abode, and he said he knew as much +from your brother, but he could not be tramping out to Elmwood on a +wooden leg. So says I 'I will send Steadfast Kenton to you next market +day.' You will find him at the sign at the 'Golden Bridle,' by the Wharf +Stairs." +</p> +<p> +Stead had no sooner disposed of his wares than he went in search of +the loriner's shop, really one for horse furniture. There was a bench +outside, looking out on the wharf and shipping, and on it was seated +the returned soldier, with a little party round him, to whom he was +expounding what sounded more military than religious: +</p> +<p> +"And so, the fort having been summoned and quarter promised, if so be +no resistance were made, always excepting Popish priests, and—Eh! What +now? Be you an old neighbour? I don't remember your face." +</p> +<p> +"I have seen you, though. I am Jephthah Kenton's brother, that you asked +for." +</p> +<p> +"I mind you were but a stripling in those days, and yet in gross +darkness. Yea, I have a letter for thee from my comrade, who is come to +high preferment." +</p> +<p> +"Jeph!" +</p> +<p> +"Yea, things have prospered with him. He was a serjeant even before we +sailed for Ireland, and there he did such good service in hunting +out Popish priests and rebels in their lurking places in the bogs and +mountains, that the Lord General hath granted him the land that he +took with his sword and his bow, even a meadow land fat and fertile, +Ballyshea by name, full of the bulls of Bashan, goodly to look at. And +to make all sure, he hath taken to wife the daughter of the former owner +of the land a damsel fair to look upon." +</p> +<p> +"Jeph! But sure—the Irish are Papists." +</p> +<p> +"Not the whole of them. There are those that hold to Prelacy and call +themselves King's men, following the bloody and blinded Duke of Ormond. +Of them was this maid's father, whom we slew at the taking of Clonmel, +where I got this wound and left my good right leg. So is the race not to +the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but time and chance happeneth +to all. When I could hobble about once more on crutches, I found that +the call had come to divide and possess the gate of the enemy, and that +the meads of Ballyshea had fallen to Serjeant Kenton. Moreover, in the +castle hard by, dwelt the widow and her daughter, who cried to General +Lambert for their land, and what doth he say to Jephthah, but 'Make it +sure, Kenton. Take the maid to wife, and so none will disturb you in the +fair heritage.' Yea, and mine old comrade would have me sojourn with him +till I was quite restored, so far as a man with one limb short may be. I +tell you 'tis a castle, man." +</p> +<p> +"Our Jeph lord of a castle?" +</p> +<p> +"Aye, even so. Twice as big as Elmwood Hall, if half were not in ruins, +and the other half the rats run over like peas out of a bag. While as to +the servants, there are dozens of them, mostly barefoot and in rags, who +will run at the least beck from the old mistress or the young mistress, +though they scowl at the master. But he is taking order with them, and +teaching them who is to be obeyed." +</p> +<p> +"Then our Jephthah is a great man?" +</p> +<p> +"You may say that—a bigger man than the squire at Elmwood, or at Leigh +I can tell you. Only I would give all that bare mountain and bog, full +of wild, Popish, red-haired kernes for twenty yards in a tidy street at +Bristol, with decent godly folk around me. Murdering or being murdered, +I have marvelled more than once whether the men of Israel were as sick +of it in Canaan as I was at Drogheda, but the cry ever was, 'Be not +slack in the work.' But I will bring you Jephthah's letter. He could not +write when he went off, but he could not be a serjeant without, so we +taught him—I and Corporal Faith-Wins." +</p> +<p> +Jephthah's handwriting was of a bold description doing honour to his +tutors, but the letter was very brief, though to the purpose— +</p> +<p> +"Dear Brothers and Sisters, +</p> +<p> +"This is to do you, to wit, that by the grace of Heaven on my poor +endeavours I am come to high preferment. A goodly spoil hath fallen +unto me, namely, the castle and lands of Ballyshea, and therewith +the daughter of the owner, deceased, by name Ellen Roche, whom I have +espoused in marriage, and am bringing to the light of truth. I have +castle, lands, flocks and herds, men-servants and maid-servants in +abundance, and I give thanks to Him who hath rewarded His servant. +</p> +<p> +"Therefore I wholly resign to you, my brethren, Steadfast and Benoni, +any rights of heirship that may be mine in respect of the farmstead of +Elmwood, and will never, neither I nor my heirs, trouble you about it +further. Yet if Ben, or my sisters Patience and Jerusha, be willing to +cross over to me in this land of promise they shall be kindly welcome, +and I shall find how to bestow them well in marriage. Mine old comrade, +Seth Coleman, will tell them how to reach the Castle of Ballyshea, and +how to find safe convoy, and tell you more of the estate wherewith it +has pleased Heaven to reward my poor services. +</p> +<p> +"And so commending you to His holy keeping, no more from your loving +brother, +</p> +<center> +"JEPHTHAH KENTON." +</center> +<p> +The spelling of this was queer, even according to the ways of the time, +but it was not hard to understand, and it might well fill Steadfast with +amazement. +</p> +<p> +He longed to share the tidings with Emlyn, but he did not feel as if it +would be right to let anyone hear before Patience. Only as he went back +and called again at Mrs. Lightfoot's for his basket, she asked +whether he had found Seth Coleman, and if his brother had come to such +preferment as was reported. +</p> +<p> +"Yea," said Steadfast, "he hath a grant of land, and a castle, and a +wife." +</p> +<p> +"Eh, now! Lack-a-day! 'Tis alway the most feather-pated that fly +highest." +</p> +<p> +Cromwell's Ironsides feather-pated! But that did not trouble Steadfast, +who all the way home, as he rode his donkey, was thinking of the +difference it made in his prospects, and in what he had to offer Emlyn +to be able to feel his tenure so much more secure. +</p> +<p> +Patience and Ben listened in utter amazement ending in a not +complimentary laugh on the part of the former. "Our Jeph lord of a +castle? I'd like to see him." +</p> +<p> +"Would you? He has a welcome and a husband ready for you and Rusha +both?" +</p> +<p> +"D'ye think I would go and leave you for Jeph, if he were lord of ten +castles?" +</p> +<p> +And Ben, whose recollections of Jeph were very dim, exclaimed, "Lord of +a castle! I shall have a crow over Nick Blane now!" +</p> +<p> +Rusha, who was well content with her service at the hall, had no mind +for such a terrible enterprise as a journey "beyond seas" to Ireland, +and mayhap Jeph's prospective husband was a less tempting idea, because +a certain young groom had shown symptoms of making her his sweetheart. +</p> +<p> +Steadfast thought often of telling the great secret of his heart to his +faithful sister Patience, but his extreme shyness and modesty, and the +reserve in which he always lived, seemed to make it impossible to him +to broach the subject, and there might be a certain consciousness that +Emlyn, while his own pet, had been very troublesome to Patience. +</p> +<p> +Stead was two-and-twenty, a sturdy well-grown fellow, but the hard work +he had been obliged to do as a growing lad, had rounded his shoulders, +and he certainly did not walk like the men who had been drilled for +soldiers. His face was healthy and sunburnt, with fair short hair and +straightforward grey eyes. At the first glance people would say, "What +a heavy-looking, clownish young man," but at the second there was +something that made a crying child in the street turn to him for help +in distress, and made the marketing dames secure that he told the truth +about his wares. +</p> +<p> +Patience was rather startled by seeing him laboriously tying up a posy +of wild rose, honeysuckle, and forget-me-not, and told him the Bristol +folks would not buy those common wild flowers. +</p> +<p> +"They are for none of them," replied Stead, a little gruffly, and +colouring hotly at being caught. +</p> +<p> +"Oh!" said Patience, in her simplicity. "Are they for Emlyn? I do not +think her mistress will let you see her." +</p> +<p> +"I shall," said Stead. "She ought to know of our good fortune." +</p> +<p> +"He has forgotten that Emlyn is not our sister after all," said +Patience, as she went back to her washing. +</p> +<p> +"She might as well," said Ben, who could not remember the hut without +Emlyn. +</p> +<p> +Stead had better luck than Patience foreboded from a household where the +servants were kept very strictly, for there was a good deal of curiosity +in Bristol about the report that a lad from the neighbourhood had won an +Irish heiress and castle, and when Stead presented himself at the +door of the house under the overhanging gable, and begged to see Emlyn +Gaythorn to give her some tidings, the maid who opened it exclaimed, "Is +it anent the castle in Ireland?" +</p> +<p> +Stead awkwardly said "Aye, mistress." And as it became evident that the +readiest way of learning the facts would be his admission, he was let +into the house into a sort of wainscotted hall, where he found the +mistress herself superintending three or four young sempstresses who +were making shirts for the gentlemen of the garrison. Emlyn was among +them, and sprang up looking as if white seams were not half so congenial +as nutting in the gulley, but she looked prettier than ever, as the +little dark curls burst out of the prim white cap, she sniffed the +flowers with ecstasy, and her eyes danced with delight that did Stead's +heart good to see. He needed it, for to stand there hat in hand before +so many women all staring at him filled him with utter confusion, +so that he could scarcely see, and stumbled along when Mrs. Sloggett +called, "Come here, young man. Is it true that it is your brother who +has won a castle and a countess in Ireland?" +</p> +<p> +"Not a countess, ma'am," said Stead, gruff with shyness, "but a castle." +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Sloggett put him through a perfect catechism on Jeph and his +fortunes, which he answered at first almost monosyllabically, though +afterwards he could speak a little more freely, when the questions +did not go quite beyond his knowledge. Finally he succeeded in asking +permission to take Emlyn and show her his brother's letter. Mrs. +Sloggett was gracious to the brother of the lord of a castle, even in +Ireland, and moreover Emlyn was viewed in the light of one of the Kenton +family. +</p> +<p> +So leave was granted to take Master Kenton (he had never been so called +before) out into the garden of pot-herbs behind the house, and Emlyn +with her dancing step led the way, by a back door down a few steps into +a space where a paved walk led between two beds of vegetables, bordered +with a narrow edge of pinks, daisies, and gilliflowers, to a seat under +the shade of an old apple tree, looking out, as this was high ground, +over the broad river full of shipping. +</p> +<p> +"Stead! Stead, good old Stead," she cried, "to come just as I was half +dead with white seam and scolding! Emlyn here! Emlyn there! And she's +ready with her fingers too. She boxed mine ears till they sang again +yesterday." +</p> +<p> +"The jade," muttered Stead. "What for?" +</p> +<p> +"Only for looking out at window," said Emlyn. "How could I help it, when +there were six outlandish sailors coming up the street leading a big +black bear. Well, Stead, and are you all going to live with Jeph in his +castle, and will you take me?" +</p> +<p> +"He asks me not," said Stead, and began to read the letter, to which +Emlyn listened with many little remarks. "So Patience and Rusha wont go. +I marvel at them, yet 'tis like sober-sided old Patty! And mayhap among +the bogs and hills 'tis lonelier than in the gulley. I mind a trooper +who had served in Ireland telling my father it was so desolate he would +not banish a dog there. But what did he say about home, Stead, I thought +it was all yours?" +</p> +<p> +Stead explained, and also the possibility of endeavouring to rebuild the +farmhouse. If he could go to Mr. Elmwood with thirty pounds he thought +it might be done. "And then, Emlyn, when that is saved (and I have five +pounds already), will you come and make it your home for good and all?" +</p> +<p> +"Stead! oh Stead! You don't mean it—you—Why, that's sweethearting!" +</p> +<p> +"Well, so it is, Emlyn," said Stead, a certain dignity taking the place +of his shyness now it had come to the point. "I ask you to be my little +sweetheart now, and my wife when I have enough to make our old house +such as it was when my good mother was alive." +</p> +<p> +"Stead, Stead, you always were good to me! Will it take long, think +you? I would save too, but I have but three crowns the year, and that +sour-faced Rachel takes all the fees." +</p> +<p> +"The thing is in the hands of God. It must depend on the crops, but +with this hope before me, I will work as never man worked before," said +Stead. +</p> +<p> +"And I will be mistress there!" cried Emlyn. +</p> +<p> +"My wife will be mistress wherever I am sweet." +</p> +<p> +"Ah, ha!" she laughed, "now I have something to look to, I shall heed +little when the dame flouts me and scolds me, and Joan twits me with her +cousin the 'prentice." +</p> +<p> +They had only just time to go through the ceremony of breaking a tester +between them before a shrill call of "Emlyn" resounded down the garden. +Mrs. Sloggett thought quite time enough had been wasted over the young +man, and summoned the girl back to her sewing. +</p> +<p> +Emlyn made a face of disgust, very comical and very joyous, but as the +good dame was actually coming in search of her no more could pass. +</p> +<p> +Stead went away overflowing with happiness, and full of plans of raising +the means of bringing back this sunshine of his hearth. Perhaps it was +well that, though slow of thought, Patience still had wit enough in the +long hours of the day to guess that the nosegay boded something. She +could not daunt or damp Steadfast's joy—nay, she had affection enough +for the pretty little being she had cherished for seven years to think +she shared it—but she knew all the time that there would be no place +in that new farmhouse for her, and there was a chill over her faithful +heart at times. But what would that signify, she thought, provided that +Stead was happy? +</p> +<a name="2HCH0019"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XIX. PATIENCE. +</h2> +<pre> + "I'm the wealthy miller yet." + TENNYSON. +</pre> +<p> +Most devoted was the diligence with which Steadfast toiled and saved +with the hope before him. Since the two young girls were no longer at +home, and Ben had grown into a strong lad, Stead held that many little +indulgences might be dispensed with, one by one, either because they +cost money or prevented it from being acquired. No cheese was bought +now, and he wanted to sell all the butter and all the apples that were +not defective. +</p> +<p> +Patience contrived that Ben should never be stinted of his usual fare; +and she would, not allow that he needed no warm coat for the winter, but +she said nothing about the threadbare state of her own petticoat, and +she stirred nothing but the thinnest buttermilk into her own porridge, +and not even that when the little pigs required it. It was all for +Stead. +</p> +<p> +Patience at twenty was not an uncomely maiden so far as kindly blue +eyes, fresh healthy cheeks, and perfect neatness could make her +agreeable to look at, but there was an air of carefulness, and of having +done a great deal of hard work, which had made her seem out of the reach +of the young men who loitered and talked with the maidens on the village +green, and looked wistfully at the spot where the maypole had once +stood. +</p> +<p> +Patience was the more amazed by a visit from the Miller Luck and his +son. The son was a fine looking young man of three or four and twenty, +who had about three years before married a farmer's daughter, and had +lost her at the birth of her second child. There he stood, almost as +bashful as Stead himself could have been under the circumstances, while +his father paid the astonished Patience the compliment of declaring that +they had put their heads together, and made up their minds that there +was no wench in those parts so like to be a good mother to the babes, +nor so thrifty a housewife as she; and, that, though there were plenty +of maids to be had who could bring something in their hands, her ways +were better than any portion she could bring. +</p> +<p> +It really was a splendid offer. The position of miller's wife was very +prosperous, and the Lucks were highly respected. The old miller was good +and kindly, Andrew Luck the steadiest of young men, and though not seen +to much advantage as he stood sheepishly moving from leg to leg, he +was a very fine, tall, handsome youth, with a certain sweetness and +wistfulness in his countenance. Patience had no scruples about previous +love and courtship. That was not the point as she answered— +</p> +<p> +"Thank you, Master Luck, you are very good; but I cannot leave my +brothers." +</p> +<p> +"Let the big one get a wife of his own then," and, as Patience shook her +head, and glanced at where Ben, shy of strangers, was cutting rushes, +"and if you be tender on the young one, there would be work for him +about the place. I know you have been a good mother to him, you'd be +the same to our little ones. Come, Andrew, can't ye say a word for +yourself?" +</p> +<p> +"Come, Patience, do 'ee come!" pleaded poor Andrew, and the tears even +sprang to his eyes. "I'd be very good to thee, and I know thou would'st +be to my poor babes." +</p> +<p> +Patience's heart really warmed to him, and still more to the babes, but +she could only hold out. +</p> +<p> +"You must find another," she said. +</p> +<p> +"Come, you need not be coy, my lass," said the old miller. "You'll not +get a better offer, and Andrew has no time nor heart either for running +about courting. What he wants is a good wife to cheer him up, and see to +the poor little children." +</p> +<p> +It was powerful pleading, and Patience felt it. +</p> +<p> +"Aye, Master Miller," she said, "but you see I'm bound not to leave +Steadfast till he is married. He could not get on no ways without me." +</p> +<p> +"Then why—a plague on it—don't he wed and have done with it?" +</p> +<p> +"He cannot," said Patience, "till he has made up enough to build up our +old house, but that won't be yet awhile—for years maybe; and he could +not do it without me to help him." +</p> +<p> +"And what's to become of you when you've let your best years go by +a-toiling for him, and your chance is gone by, and his wife turns you to +the door?" said Master Luck, not very delicately. +</p> +<p> +"That God will provide," said Patience, reverently. "Anyway, I must +cleave to Steadfast though 'tis very good of you, Master Luck and Master +Andrew, and I never could have thought of such a thing, and I am right +sorry for the little ones." +</p> +<p> +"If you would only come and see them!" burst out the poor young father. +"You never see such a winsome little poppet as Bess. And they be so +young now, they'd never know you were not their own mother." +</p> +<p> +"Don't, don't, Master Andrew!" cried Patience, "I tell you I'd come if I +could, but you can't wait, and they can't wait; and you must find a good +mother at once for them, for I have passed my word to hold by Stead till +he is married, and I must keep to it." +</p> +<p> +"Very well, my lass," said the miller, grimly. "There's wenches better +portioned and better favoured than you, and I hope you won't have to +repent of missing a good offer." +</p> +<p> +Of course he said it as if he hoped she would. Patience cried heartily +when they were gone. Ben came up to her and glowered after them, +declaring he wouldn't have his Patty go to be only a step-mother to +troublesome brats; but Stead, when he came to know of it, looked grave, +and said it was very good of Pat; but he wished she could have kept the +young fellow in play till she was ready for him. +</p> +<p> +Goody Grace, who was looking after the children till the stepmother +could be found, came and expostulated with Patience, telling her she was +foolish to miss such a chance, and that she would find out her mistake +when Stead married and that little flighty, light-headed wench made the +place too hot to hold her. What would she do then? +</p> +<p> +"Come and help you nurse the folk, Goody," said Patience, cheerfully. +</p> +<p> +Her heart would fail her sometimes at the outlook, but she was too busy +to think much about it. Only the long evenings had been pleasanter when +Stead used to teach Ben to read Dr. Eales's books and tell her bits such +as she could understand than now when he grudged a candle big enough +to be of any use, and was only plaiting rushes and reckoning up what +everything would bring. +</p> +<p> +Ben was a bright little fellow, and could read as well as his brother. +He longed for school, for when boys were not obliged to learn, some of +them wished to do so. There was a free grammar school about three +miles off to which he wanted to go, and Patience, who was proud of his +ability, wished to send him, neither of them thinking anything of the +walk. +</p> +<p> +Stead, however, could see no use in more learning than he had himself. +Neither he nor Jeph had been to school. Why should the child go? He +could not be spared just as he was getting old enough to be of some use +and save time, which was money. +</p> +<p> +And when the little fellow showed his disappointment, Stead was even +surly in telling him "they wanted no upstarts." +</p> +<p> +It was a hard winter, and the frost was followed by a great deal of wet. +One of the sheep was swept away by the flood; three or four lambs +died; and Stead, for about the first time in his life, caught a severe +feverish cold in looking after the flock, and was laid by for a day or +two, very cross and fretful at everything going wrong without him. +</p> +<p> +Poor little Ben was more railed at for those few days than ever he had +been before, and next he broke down and had to be nursed; and then came +Patience's turn. She was ill enough to frighten her brothers; and Goody +Grace, who came to see to her, finding how thin her blanket was, and how +long it was since she had had any food but porridge, gave Steadfast +a thorough good scolding, told him he would be the death of a better +sister than he deserved, and set before him how only for his sake +Patience might be living on the fat of the land at the mill. +</p> +<p> +To all appearance, Stead listened sulkily enough, but by-and-by Goody +found a fowl killed and laid ready for use. It was an old hen, whose +death set Patience crying in her weakness. Nevertheless, it was stewed +down into broth which heartened her up considerably, and a blanket that +came home rolled up on the donkey's back warmed her heart as much as her +limbs. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Elmwood spared Rusha for a week, and it was funny to see how the +girl wondered at its having been possible to live in such a den. She +absolutely cried when Ben told her how hard they had been living, and +said she did not think Stead would ever have used Patience so. +</p> +<p> +"Then why did she make as if she liked it?" said Stead, gruffly. +</p> +<p> +But for all that Stead was too sound-hearted not to be grieved at +himself, and to see that his love and impatience had led him into +unkindness to those who depended on him; and when Master Woodley +preached against love of money he felt pricked at the heart, though it +had not been the gain in itself that he aimed at. And when he had to go +to the mill, the sight of the comfortable great kitchen, with the +open hearth, glowing fire, seats on either side, tall settle, and the +flitches of bacon on the rafters, seemed to reproach him additionally. +The difficulties there had been staved off by the old miller himself +marrying a stout, motherly widow, who had a real delight in the charge +of a baby. +</p> +<p> +"For," said Master Luck, "Andrew and I could agree on no one for him." +</p> +<p> +Moreover, Stead ceased to grunt contemptuously when Patience, with Goody +Grace to back her, declared that Ben was too young and slight for farm +work. +</p> +<p> +The boy was allowed to trudge his daily three miles to school, and there +his progress was the wonder and delight of his slower-witted brother and +sister. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0020"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XX. EMLYN'S SERVICE. +</h2> +<pre> + "Oh, blind mine eye that would not trace, + And deaf mine ear that would not heed + The mocking smile upon her face, + The mocking voice of greed." + LEWIS CARROLL. +</pre> +<p> +When Lady-day came round, Steadfast found to his delight and surprise a +little figure dancing out to meet him from Mrs. Lightfoot's. +</p> +<p> +"There, Master Stead. Are not you glad to see me, or be you too +dumbfounded to get out a word, like good old Jenny?" stroking the +donkey's cars. "Posies of primroses! How sweet they be! You must spare +me one." +</p> +<p> +"As many as you will, sweetheart. They be all for you, whether given or +sold. And you've got a holiday for Lady-day." +</p> +<p> +"Have a care! I got my ears boxed for such a Popish word. 'Tis but +quarter day, you know, being that, hang, draw, and quarter is more +to the present folks' mind than ladies or saints. I have changed my +service, you must know, as poor Dick used to sing:— +</p> +<pre> + "Have a new master, be a new man." +</pre> +<p> +"You have not heard from your own folk," cried Stead, this being what he +most dreaded. +</p> +<p> +"Nay. But I can away no more with Dame Sloggett, and Cross-patch Rachel, +white seam and salmon, and plain collars. So I bade her farewell at the +end of the year, and I've got a new mistress." +</p> +<p> +Stead stood with open mouth. To change service at the end of a year was +barely creditable in those days, and to do so without consultation with +home was unkind and alarming. +</p> +<p> +"There now, don't be crooked about it. I had not time to come out and +tell you and Patience, the old crones kept me so close, stitching at +shirts for a captain that is to sail next week, and I knew you would be +coming in." +</p> +<p> +"Where is it?" was all Stead uttered. +</p> +<p> +"What think you of Master Henshaw's, the great merchant, and an honest +well-wisher to King and Church to boot?" +</p> +<p> +"Master Henshaw, the West Indian merchant? His is a good, well-ordered +household, and he holds with the old ways." +</p> +<p> +"Yes. He was out that Whitsun morning we wot of," said Emlyn. "I wist +well you would be pleased." +</p> +<p> +"But I thought his good lady was dead," said Steadfast. +</p> +<p> +"So she is. She that came out to the gully, but there's a new Mistress +Henshaw, a sweet young lady, of a loyal house, the Ayliffes of Calfield. +And I am to be her own woman." +</p> +<p> +"Own woman," said Mrs. Lightfoot, for they were by this time among the +loaves in her stall. "Merchants' wives did not use to have women of +their own in my time." +</p> +<p> +For this was the title of a lady's maid, and rules as to household +appointments were strictly observed before the rebellion. +</p> +<p> +"Mistress Henshaw is gentlewoman born," returned Emlyn, with a toss of +her head. "She ought to have all that is becoming her station in return +for being wedded to an old hunks like that! And 'tis very well she +should have one like <i>me</i> who has seen what becomes good blood! So +commend me to Patience and Rusha, and tell Ben maybe I shall have an +orange to send him one of these days. And cheer up, Stead. I shall get +five crowns and two gowns a year, and many a fee besides when there is +company, so we may build the house the sooner, and I shall not be mewed +up, and shall see the more of thee. 'Tis all for you. So never look so +gloomy on it, old Sobersides." +</p> +<p> +And she turned her sweet face to him, and coaxed and charmed him +into being satisfied that all was well, dwelling on the loyalty and +excellence of the master of the house. +</p> +<p> +He found it true that it was much easier to see Emlyn than before. Mrs. +Henshaw, a pretty young creature, not much older than Emlyn, was pleased +to do her own marketing, and came out attended by Emlyn, and a little +black slave boy carrying a basket. She generally bought all that +Steadfast had to sell, and then gave smiling thanks when he offered to +help carry home her purchases. She would join company with some of her +acquaintance, and leave the lovers to walk together, only accompanied by +little Diego, or Diggo as they called him, whose English was of the most +rudimentary description. +</p> +<p> +Emlyn certainly was very happy in her new quarters. Neither her lady nor +herself was arrayed with the rigid plainness exacted by Puritanism, and +many disapproving glances were cast upon the fair young pair, mistress +and maid, by the sterner matrons. Waiting women could not indulge in +much finery, but whatever breast knots and tiny curls beyond her little +tight cap could do, Emlyn did without fear of rebuke. Stead tried to +believe that the disapproving looks and words, by which Mrs. Lightfoot +intimated that she heard reports unfavourable to the household were only +due to the general distrust and dislike to the bright and lively Emlyn. +Mrs. Lightfoot was no Puritan herself, but her gossips were, and he +received her observations with a dull, stony look that vexed her, by +intimating that it was no business of hers. +</p> +<p> +Still it was borne in upon him that, good man as Mr. Henshaw certainly +was, the household was altered. It had been poverty and distress which +had led the Ayliffe family to give their young sister to a man so much +her elder, and inferior in position; and perhaps still more a desire to +confirm the Royalist footing in the city of Bristol. The lady's brothers +were penniless Cavaliers, and one of them made her house his home, and +a centre of Royalist plots and intelligences, which excited Emlyn very +much by the certainty that something was going on, though what it was, +of course, she did not know; and at any rate there was coming and going, +and all sorts of people were to be seen at the merchant's hospitable +table, all manner of news to be had here, there, and everywhere, with +which she delighted to entertain Steadfast, and show her own importance. +</p> +<p> +It was not often good news as regarded the Cavalier cause, for Cromwell +was fixing himself in his seat; and every endeavour to hatch a scheme +against him was frustrated, and led to the flight or death of those +concerned in it. However, so long as Emlyn had something to tell, it +made little difference whether the tidings were good or bad, whether +they concerned Admiral Blake's fleet, or her mistress's little Italian +greyhound. By-and-by however instead of Mrs. Henshaw, there came to +market Madam Ayliffe, her mother, a staid, elderly lady, all in black, +who might as well, Emlyn said, have been a Puritan. +</p> +<p> +She looked gravely at Stead, and said, "Young man, I am told that you +are well approved and trustworthy, and that my daughter suffers you to +walk home with this maiden, you being troth plight to her." +</p> +<p> +Stead assented. +</p> +<p> +"I will therefore not forbid it, trusting that if you be, as I hear, +a prudent youth, you may bring her to a more discreet and obedient +behaviour than hath been hers of late." +</p> +<a name="image-0007"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/steadroundheads.jpg" height="362" width="590" +alt="Stead Before the Roundheads +"> +</center> + +<p> +So saying, Mrs. Ayliffe joined company with the old Cavalier Colonel +and went on her way as Emlyn made that ugly face that Stead knew of old, +clenched her hand and muttered, "Old witch! She is a Puritan at heart, +after all! She is turning the house upside down, and my poor mistress +has not spirit to say 'tis her own, with the old woman and the old hunks +both against her! Why, she threatened to beat me because, forsooth, the +major's man was but giving me the time of day on the stairs!" +</p> +<p> +"Was that what she meant?" asked Stead. +</p> +<p> +"Assuredly it was. Trying to set you against me, the spiteful old +make-bate, and no one knows how long she will be here, falling on the +poor lads if they do but sing a song in the hall after supper, as if she +were a very Muggletonian herself. I trow she is no better." +</p> +<p> +"Did you not tell me how she held out her house against the Roundheads, +and went to prison for sheltering Cavaliers?" +</p> +<p> +"I only wish they had kept her there. All old women be Puritans at +heart. I say Stead, I'll have done with service. Let us be wed at once." +</p> +<p> +Stead could hardly breathe at this proposition. "But I have only nine +pounds and two crowns and—" he began. +</p> +<p> +"No matter, there be other ways," she went on. "Get the house built, and +I'll come, and we will have curds and whey all the summer, and mistress +and all her friends will come out and drink it, and eat strawberries!" +</p> +<p> +"But the Squire will never build the place up unless I bring more in +hand." +</p> +<p> +"You 'but' enough to butt down a wall, you dull-pated old Stead," said +Emlyn, "you know where to get at more, and so do I." +</p> +<p> +Stead's grey eyes fixed on her in astonishment and bewilderment. +</p> +<p> +"Numskull!" she exclaimed, but still in that good humoured voice of +banter that he never had withstood, "you know what I mean, though maybe +you would not have me say it in the street, you that have secrets." +</p> +<p> +"How do you know of it?" +</p> +<p> +"Have not I eyes, though some folk have not? Could not I look out at a +chink on a fine summer morning, when you thought the children asleep? +Could not I climb up to your precious cave as well as yourself; and hear +the iron clink under the stone. Ha, ha! and you and Patience thought no +one knew but yourselves." +</p> +<p> +"I trust no one else does." +</p> +<p> +"No, no, I'm no gad-about, whatever you may be pleased to think me. They +say everything comes of use in seven years, and it must be over that +now." +</p> +<p> +"Ten since 'twas hidden, nigh seven since that Whitsuntide. There's +never a parson who could come out, is there? Besides, with Peter +Woodward nigh, 'tis not safe to meet." +</p> +<p> +"That's what your head is running on. No, no. They will never have it +out again that fashion. The old Prayer-book is banished for ever and a +day! I heard master and the Captain say that now old Noll has got his +will, he will soon call himself king, and there's no hope of churches +or parsons coming back; and old madam sat and cried. The Jack Presbyters +and the rest of the sectaries have got it all their own way." +</p> +<p> +"Dr. Eales said I had no right to give it to Master Woodley, or any that +was not the right sort." +</p> +<p> +"So why should you go on keeping it there rotting for nothing, when +it might just hinder us from wearing our very lives out while you are +plodding and saving?" +</p> +<p> +Stead stood stock still, as her meaning dawned on him, "Child, you know +not what you say," at last he uttered. +</p> +<p> +"Ah well, you are slow to take things in; but you'll do it at last." +</p> +<p> +"I am slow to take in this," said Stead. "Would you have me rob God?" +</p> +<p> +"No, only the owls and the bats," said Emlyn. "If they are the better +for the silver and gold under them! What good can it do to let it lie +there and rot?" +</p> +<p> +"Gold rots not!" growled Stead. +</p> +<p> +"Tarnishes, spoils then!" said Emlyn pettishly. "Come, what good is't to +any mortal soul there?" +</p> +<p> +"It is none of mine." +</p> +<p> +"Not after seven years? Come, look you now, Stead, 'tis not only being +tired of service and sharp words, and nips and blows, but I don't like +being mocked for having a clown and a lubber for my sweetheart. Oh +yes! they do, and there's a skipper and two mates, and a clerk, and a +well-to-do locksmith, besides gentlemen's valets and others, I don't +account of, who would all cut off their little fingers if I'd only once +look at them as I am doing at you, you old block, who don't heed it, and +I don't know that I can hold out against them all," she added, looking +down with a sudden shyness; "specially the mates. There's Jonah +Richards, who has a ship building that he is to have of his own, and he +wants to call it the 'Sprightly Emlyn,' and the other sailed with Prince +Rupert, and made ever so many prizes, and how am I to stand out when you +don't value me the worth of an old silver cup?" +</p> +<p> +"Come, come, Em, that's only to frighten a man." But she knew in his +tone that he was frightened. +</p> +<p> +"Not a bit! I should be ever so much better off in a tidy little house +where I could see all that came and went than up in your lane with +nought to go by but the market folk. 'Tis not everyone that would have +kept true to a big country lout like you, like that lady among the +salvage men that the King spoke of; and I get nothing by it but wait, +wait, wait, when there's stores of silver ready to your hand." +</p> +<p> +"Heaven knows, and you know, Emlyn, 'tis not for want of love." +</p> +<p> +"Heaven may know, but I don't." +</p> +<p> +"I gave my solemn word." +</p> +<p> +"And you have kept it these ten years, and all is changed." Then +altering her tone, "There now, I know it takes an hour to beat a notion +into that slow brain of yours, and here we be at home, and I shall have +madam after me. I'll leave you to see the sense of it, and if I do not +hear of something before long, why then I shall know how much you care +for poor little Emlyn." +</p> +<p> +With which last words she flitted within the gates, leaving Steadfast +still too much stunned to realise all she meant, as he turned homewards; +but all grew on him in time, the idea that Emlyn, his Emlyn, his orphan +of the battlefield, bereaved for the sake of King and Church, should be +striving to make him betray his trust! "The silver is Mine and the +gold is Mine," rang in his ears, and yet was it not cruel that when she +really loved him best, and sought to return to him as a refuge from the +many temptations to her lively spirit, he should be forced to leave her +in the midst of them—against her own warning and even entreaty, and +not only himself lose her, but lose her to one of those godless riotous +sailors who were the dread and bane of the neighbourhood? Was not a +human soul worth as much as a consecrated Chalice? +</p> +<p> +These were the debates in Steadfast's much tormented soul. He could +think, though he could not clothe his thoughts in words, and day after +day, night after night he did think, while Patience wondered at the +heavy moodiness that seemed to have come over him. He would not open his +lips to ask her counsel, being quite certain of what it would be, and +not choosing to hear her censure of Emlyn for what he managed to excuse +by the poor child's ignorance and want of training, and by her ardent +desire to be under his wing and escape from temptation. +</p> +<p> +He recollected a thousand pleas that he might have used with her, to +show it was not want of love but a sacred pledge that withheld him, and +market day after market day he went in, priming himself all the way +with arguments that were to confirm her constancy, arm her against +temptation, and assure her of his unalterable love, though he might not +break his vow, nor lay his hand upon sacred things. +</p> +<p> +But whether Emlyn would not, or could not, meet him, he did not know, +for a week or two went by before he saw her, and then she was carrying +a great fan for her young mistress, who was walking with a Cavalier, +as gay as Cavaliers ever ventured to be, and another young lady, whose +waiting woman had paired with Emlyn. They were mincing along, gazing +about them, and uttering little contemptuous titters, and Stead could +only too well guess what kind of remarks Emlyn's companion might make +upon him. +</p> +<p> +Near his stand, however, the other lady beckoned her maid to adjust +something in her dress; and Stead could approach Emlyn. She looked up +with her bright, laughing eyes with a certain wistfulness in them. +</p> +<p> +"Have you made up your mind to cheat the owls?" she asked. +</p> +<p> +"Emlyn, if you would not speak so lightly, I could show cause—" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, that's enough," she answered hastily, turning as the other maid +joined her; and Stead caught the shrill, pert voice demanding if that +was her swain with clouted shoes. Emlyn's reply he could not hear, but +he saw the twist of the shoulders. +</p> +<p> +There are bitter moments in everyone's life, and that was one of the +very bitterest of Steadfast Kenton's. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0021"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XXI. THE ASSAULT OF THE CAVERN. +</h2> +<pre> + "By all description this should be the place. + Who's here?" + SHAKESPEARE. +</pre> +<p> +Harvest was over, and the autumn evenings were darkening. It was later +than the usual bed time, but Patience had a piece of spinning which she +was anxious to finish for the weaver who took all her yarn, and Stead +was reading Dr. Eales's gift of the Morte d'Arthur, which had great +fascination for him, though he never knew whether to regard it as truth +or fable. He wanted to drive out the memory of what Mrs. Lightfoot had +told him about the Henshaw household, where the youngest of the lady's +brothers had lately arrived from beyond seas, bringing with him habits +of noise and riot, which greatly scandalised the neighbours. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly Growler started up with pricked ears, and emitted a sound like +thunder. Patience checked her wheel. There was an unmistakable sound of +steps. Stead sprang up. Growler rushed at the door with a furious volley +of barking. Stead threw it open, catching up a stout stick as he did so, +and the dog dashed out, but was instantly driven back with an oath and +a blow. It was a bright moonlight night, and Stead beheld three tall men +evidently well armed. +</p> +<p> +"Ho, you fellow there," one called out, "keep back your cur, we don't +want to hurt him nor you." +</p> +<p> +"Then what are you doing here?" demanded Stead. +</p> +<p> +"We are come for what you wot of. For the King's service." +</p> +<p> +"Who sent you?" asked Stead, for the moment somewhat dazed. +</p> +<p> +One of them laughed and said, "As if you did not know." +</p> +<p> +There was a sickening perception, but Stead's powers were alert enough +for him to exclaim, "Then you have no warrant." +</p> +<p> +"My good fellow, don't stickle about such trifles. For the King's +service it is, and that should be enough for all loyal hearts. Hollo, +what's that? Silence your dog, I say," as Growler's voice resounded +through the gulley, "or it will be the worse for you and him." +</p> +<p> +Stead took hold of the dog's collar, and amidst his choked grumbles, +said, "I do nought but on true warrant." +</p> +<p> +"Hark ye, blockhead," said the foremost. "I'm an officer of His +Majesty's, with power to make requisitions for his service." +</p> +<p> +"Shew it," said Stead, quite convinced that this was sheer robbery. +</p> +<p> +"You addle-pated, insolent clown, to dispute terms with gentlemen in His +Majesty's service. Stand aside. I've done you only too much honour by +parleying with you. Out of the way. We don't want to take a stick of +your own trumpery, I say." +</p> +<p> +"Sir, it is Church plate." +</p> +<p> +"Ha, ha! Church plate is His Most Sacred Majesty's plate. Don't ye know +that, you ass? Here! we'll throw you back something for yourself if you +will show us the cave and save us trouble, for we know which it is by +the token of the red stone and twisted ash. Ho! take—What's become of +the clown? He has run off. Discreet fellow!" +</p> +<p> +For Stead had disappeared in the black darkness behind the hut. He +remembered Jephthah's discomfiture by the owl, and it struck him that +from within the cavern it would be quite possible to keep the robbers at +bay, if they tried without knowing the way to climb up among the bushes. +He was not afraid for his brother and sister, as the marauders evidently +did not want anything but the plate. Indeed, his whole soul was so +concentrated on the defence of his charge that he had no room for +anything else. +</p> +<p> +Knowing the place perfectly, Stead had time to swing himself, armed with +a stout bludgeon, up into the hermit's cave, and even to drag after him +Growler, a very efficient ally. The contrasts of moonlight were all in +his favour, the lights almost as bright as in sunshine, the shadows so +very dark. He could see through the overhanging ivy and travellers' joy +the men peering about with their dark lantern, looking into the caves +where the pigs were, among the trees, and he held Growler's mouth +together lest the grim murmurs that were rolling in the beast's throat +should serve as a guide. +</p> +<p> +Then he heard them shout to Patience to come and guide them since her +coward of a brother had made off, and he heard her answer, "Not I, 'tis +no business of mine." +</p> +<p> +"We'll see about that. D'ye know how folks are made to speak, my lass?" +</p> +<p> +Then Stead recollected with horror that he had left her to her fate. +Would he be obliged to come down to her help? At that moment, however, +there was a call from the fellow who bore the lantern. "Here's the red +stone. That must be the ash. Now then!" +</p> +<p> +"You first, Nick." Then came a crackling and rustling of boughs, a head +appeared, and at that moment Stead loosed Growler and would have dealt +a blow with his stick, but that the assault of the dog had sufficed to +send the assailant, roaring and cursing, headlong down the crag. +</p> +<p> +Furious threats came up to him and his dog, but he heard them in +silence, though Growler's replies were vociferous. Stead gathered that +the fall had in some degree hurt the man for he made an exclamation of +pain, and the others bade him stay there and keep back the wench. +</p> +<p> +"We'll have you down though we smoke you out like a wasps' nest, you +disloyal adder, you," was one of the threats. +</p> +<p> +"Or serve him like the Spaniard at Porto Santo," said another. +</p> +<p> +Presently after numerous threats and warnings that they had firearms +and were determined to use them, two of the men began climbing much more +cautiously, holding by the trees, so as not to be suddenly overthrown. +However the furious attack of such a dog as Growler, springing from +utter darkness was a formidable matter, and the man against whom he had +launched himself could not but fall in his turn, but the dog went after +him, and the companion, being on his guard, was not overthrown. Stead +aimed a blow at the fellow with all his might, but the slouching hat +warded off the full force of the bludgeon. Then Stead sprang at him and +grappled with him. There was the report of a pistol, and both rolled +headlong among the bushes, but at that moment a fresh shout was heard—a +cry of "Villains, traitors, robbers—what be at?" and a rush of feet, +while in the moonlight appeared Peter Pierce with his fowling piece, +another man, Ben, and four or five dogs. +</p> +<p> +The robbers never waited to see how small the reinforcement was, and +it made noise enough for the whole hue-and-cry of the parish. Off they +dashed, through the wood, the new comers after them. +</p> +<p> +But all Patience knew was that Steadfast was lying senseless at the +bottom of the cliff, with poor Growler moaning by him, and licking his +face, and that her hands were wet with what must be blood. +</p> +<p> +It was too dark to see anything, but she could hardly bear to leave him, +as she hurried back to the hut for the lantern. All this had taken but +few minutes, so that she had only to catch it up from the table where +Stead's book still lay. +</p> +<p> +By the time she came back, he had opened his eyes, and his hand was on +Growler's head. +</p> +<p> +"Are they gone?" he asked faintly. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, and Peter after them. Oh! Stead, you are badly hurt." +</p> +<p> +"They have not got it?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh no, no, you saved it." +</p> +<p> +"Thank God. Is Ben safe?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, after them with Peter. I sent him out while you were talking to +call Peter." +</p> +<p> +"Good—" and his eyes closed again. "Good Growler, poor Growl—" he +added, fondling the big head, as the dog moaned. "See to him, Pat." +</p> +<p> +"I must see to you first. Oh! Stead, is it very bad?" +</p> +<p> +"I'll try to get in, if you'll help me." +</p> +<p> +He raised himself, but this effort brought a rush of blood to the lips, +which greatly terrified Patience. To her great relief, however, Nanny +Pierce having satisfied herself that all was quiet round the hut, here +called out to ask where Patience was. She was profuse in "Lack-a-daisy!" +"Dear heart!" and "Poor soul!" and was quite sure Stead was as good as +a dead man; but she had strong arms, and so had Patience, and when they +had done what they could to stanch the wound in his side, which however, +was not bleeding much externally, they carried him in between them +to Patience's bed which had been Emlyn's, and therefore was the least +uncomfortable. Poor Growler crept after, bleeding a good deal, and +Steadfast would not rest till his faithful comrade was looked to. There +was a dagger cut in his chest, which Nanny, used to dog doctoring, bound +up, after which the creature came close to his master, and fell asleep +under his hand. +</p> +<p> +It was a very faint hand. Movement or speech alike brought blood to the +mouth, and Stead's ruddy checks were becoming deadly white. He struggled +to say, "You and Ben guard it! Say a prayer, Pat," and then the two +women really thought that in the gush that followed all was over, and +Nanny marvelled at the stunned calm in which Patience went over the +Lord's Prayer, and such Psalms as she could remember. +</p> +<p> +Steps came, and Nanny shrieked. Then she saw it was her husband and the +other two men. +</p> +<p> +"Made off to the town," said Peter, gruffly. +</p> +<p> +"How now—hurt?" +</p> +<p> +"O, Peter, they have made an end of the poor lad. Died like a lamb, even +now." +</p> +<p> +"No, no," said Peter, as he came close to the bed with his more +experienced eye; "he ain't dead. 'Tis but a swoon. Hast any strong +waters, Pat? No, I'll be bound. Ho, you now, Bill, run and knock them up +at the Elmwood Arms, and bring down a gill." +</p> +<p> +"And call Goody Grace," entreated Patience, "she will know best what to +do." +</p> +<p> +On the whole, Peter's military experience was more hopeful, if not more +helpful than Goody Grace's. He was the only person who persisted in +declaring that such wounds were not always mortal, though he agreed +in owning that the inward bleeding was the worst sign. Stead did not +attempt to speak again, but lay there deadly white and with a stricken +look on his face, which Patience could not bear to see, and she ascribed +to the conviction that the wretched little Emlyn must have betrayed his +secret. +</p> +<p> +The hut was over-full of volunteers of assistance and enquiry the next +day, including the squire and Master Woodley; but nobody seemed to guess +at the real object of the robbers' attack, everybody thinking they +had come for the savings which Stead was known to be making towards +rebuilding the farmhouse. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Elmwood was very indignant and took Pierce, and Blane the constable, +into Bristol to see whether the felons could be captured and brought to +justice, but they proved to have gone down to the wharf, and to have got +on board a vessel which had dropped down the river in the early morning. +They were also more than suspected of being no other than buccaneers who +plied their trade of piracy in the West Indies. The younger Ayliffe had +gone with them, and was by no means above suspicion. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Elmwood also brought out a barber surgeon to see young Kenton, a +thing which his sister would not have dared to propose. But there was +not much to be done, the doctor decided that the bullet was where the +attempt at extraction would be fatal, and that the only hope of even +partial recovery was in perfect stillness and silence—and this Patience +could promise to ensure as far as in her lay. Instructions on dressing +the wound were given to her, and she was to send in to the barber's shop +if ointment or other appliances were needed. This was all that she was +to expect, and more indeed than she had thought feasible; for folks of +their condition were sick and got well, lived or died without the aid of +practitioners above the skill of Goody Grace. However, he gave her very +little hope, though he would not pronounce that her brother was dying. A +few days would decide, and quiet was the only chance. +</p> +<p> +Scarcely however were the visitors gone, and Stead left to what rest +pain would allow him after being handled by the surgeon, when a sound of +sobbing was heard outside. "Oh! oh! I'm afraid to go in! Ben! Oh! tell +me, is he not dead? I'm the most miserable maid in the world if he is." +</p> +<p> +"He's alive, small thanks to you," responded Ben, who had somehow +arrived at a knowledge of the facts, while Rusha, who was milking, +buried her head in Daisy's side, and would not even look at her. +Patience felt in utter despair, and longed to misunderstand Stead's +signs to her to open the door. She tried to impress the need of quiet, +but Emlyn darted in, her hood pushed back, her hair flying, her dress +disordered, looking half wild, and dropping on the floor, she crouched +there with clasped hands, crying "Oh! oh! he looks like death. He'll die +and I'm the most—" +</p> +<p> +"If you make all that noise and tumult he will," said Patience, who +could bear no more. "Are you come here to finish what you have done? Do +go away." +</p> +<p> +"Oh! but I must tell you! They said it was for the King, and that he had +the right. Yes they did, and they swore that they would hurt no one." +</p> +<p> +Stead looked to a certain extent pleased, but Patience broke out, "As if +you did not know he would rather die than give up his trust." +</p> +<p> +"I thought he would never know—" +</p> +<p> +"Robber!" said Patience. "Go! You have done harm enough already." +</p> +<p> +"But I must tell you," persisted Emlyn. "I used to see Dick Glass among +Lord Goring's troopers, and he is from our parts, and he has been with +Prince Rupert. There was a plot, I know there is, and both the Master +Ayliffes are in it, and we were to go and raise Worcestershire, only +they wanted money, and Dick was to—to wed me—and set us across the +river this morning, when they had got the treasure. 'Twas for the King. +And now they are all gone, Master Philip and all, and master says they +are flibustiers, and pirates, and robbers; and Mrs. Lightfoot's boy came +and said Stead Kenton was shot dead at his house door, and then I was +neither to have nor to hold, but I ran off here like one distraught, for +I never loved anyone like you Stead." +</p> +<p> +"Pretty love!" said Patience. "Oh! if you think you love him, go and let +him be at peace." +</p> +<p> +"I do! I do!" cried the girl, quite unmanageable. "Only it made me mad +that he should heed an old chest and a musty parson more than me, and +so I took up with Dick, and he over persuaded me with his smooth tongue +that we would raise folk for the King." +</p> +<p> +Stead held out his hand. +</p> +<p> +"Oh! Stead, Stead, you are always kinder than Patience! You forgive me, +dear old Stead, do not you? And I'll tend you day and night, and you +shall not die, and I'll wed you, if you have nought but the shirt to +your back." +</p> +<p> +Patience felt nearly distracted at the notion of Emlyn there day and +night, but at that instant Goody Grace, who had been to her home in +preparation for spending the night in nursing, walked in. +</p> +<p> +"How now, mistress, what are you about here?" +</p> +<p> +"She wants to stay and tend him, and I don't know whether she has come +with her mistress's knowledge," sighed Patience. +</p> +<p> +"Fine tendance!" said the old woman. "My lady wants to kill him +outright. Nay, nay, my young madam, we want none of your airs and +flights here. You can do no good, except by making yourself scarce—you +that can't hold your tongue a moment." +</p> +<p> +Stead here whispered, "Her mistress, will she forgive her?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, yes, no fear but that she will," said Emlyn, who perhaps had +revolved in her mind, since her first impulse, what it would be to nurse +Stead in that hovel, with two such displeased companions as Goody and +Patience. More to pacify Steadfast's uneasy eyes than for her own sake, +Patience gave her a drink of milk and a piece of bread, and Peter coming +just then to ask if he could help Ben with the cattle, undertook to +see her safely on her way, since twilight was coming on. Sobered and +awestruck by the silence and evident condemnation of all around, she +ended by flinging herself on her knees by the bed, and saying "Stead, +Stead, you forgive me, though no one else does?" +</p> +<p> +"Poor child—I do—as I hope—" +</p> +<p> +"The blood again. You've done it now," exclaimed Goody Grace. "Away with +you!" +</p> +<p> +Peter fairly dragged her out, while the women attended to Stead. +</p> +<p> +But he let her wait outside till they heard, "Not dead, but not far from +it." +</p> +<a name="2HCH0022"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XXII. EMLYN'S TROTH. +</h2> +<pre> + "Woman's love is writ in water, + Woman's faith is traced in sand." + AYTOUN. +</pre> +<p> +Day after day Steadfast Kenton lingered between life and death, and +though the external wound healed, there was little relief to the deeper +injury which could not be reached, and which the damps and chills of +autumn and winter could only aggravate. +</p> +<p> +He could move little, and speak even less; and suffered much, both from +pain and difficulty of breathing, as he lay against sacks and pillows +on his bed, or sat up in an elbow chair which Mrs. Elmwood lent him. +Everybody was very kind in those days of danger. Mrs. Elmwood let Rusha +come on many an afternoon to help her sister, and always bringing some +posset, or cordial, or dainty of some sort to tempt the invalid. Goody +Grace, Mrs. Blane, Dame Oates, Nanny Pierce vied with each other in +offers of sitting up with him; Andrew, the young miller, came out of his +way to bring a loaf of white bread, and to fetch the corn to be ground. +Peter Pierce, Rusha's lover, and more old comrades than Patience quite +desired, offered their services in aiding Ben with the cattle and +other necessary labours, but as the first excitement wore off, these +volunteers became scantier, and when nothing was to be heard but "just +the same," nothing to be seen but a weak, wan figure sitting wrapped +by the fire, the interest waned, and the gulley was almost as little +frequented as before. Poor Ben's schooling had, of course, to be given +up, and it was well that he was nearly as old as Stead had been when +they were first left to themselves. Happily his fifteen months of study +had not made him outgrow his filial obedience and devotion to the less +instructed elder brother and sister, who had taken the place of the +parents he had never known. Benoni, child of sorrow, he had been named, +and perhaps his sickly babyhood and the mournful times around had tended +to make him a quiet boy, without the tearing spirits that would have +made him eager to join the village lads in their games. Indeed they +laughed at him for his poverty and scholarship, and called him Jack +Presbyter, Puritan, bookworm, and all the opprobrious names they could +think of, though no one ever less merited sectarian nicknames than he, +as far as doctrine went. For, bred up on Dr. Eales' books, and obliged +to look out on the unsettled state of religious matters, he was +as staunch a churchman as his brother, and fairly understood +the foundations of his faith. Poor boy, the check to his studies +disappointed him, and he spent every leisure moment over his Latin +accidence or in reading. Next to the stories in the Bible, he loved +the Maccabees, because of the likeness to the persecuted state of the +Church; and he knew the Morte d'Arthur almost by heart, and thought it +part of the history of England. Especially he loved the part that tells +of the Holy Grail, the Sacred Cup that was guarded by the maimed King +Pelles, and only revealed to the pure in heart and life. Stead had fully +confided to him the secret of the cave, in case he should be the +one left to deliver up the charge; and, in some strange way, the boy +connected the treasure with the Saint Grail, and his brother with the +maimed king. So he worked very hard, and Patience was capable of a good +deal more than in her earlier days. Stead, helpless as he was, did +not require constant attendance, and knew too well how much was on his +sister's hands to trouble her when he could possibly help doing so. Thus +they rubbed on; though it was a terrible winter, and they often had to +break in on the hoard which was to have built the house, sometimes for +needments for the patient, sometimes to hire help when there was work +beyond the strength of Patience and Ben, who indeed was too slender to +do all that Stead had done. +</p> +<p> +Ben did not shine in going to market. He was not big enough to hold his +own against rude lads, and once came home crying with his donkey beaten +and his eggs broken; moreover, he was apt to linger at stalls of books +and broadsheets. As soon as Patience could venture to leave her brother, +she was forced to go to market herself; and there was a staidness and +sobriety about her demeanour that kept all impertinence at a distance. +Poor Patience, she was not at all the laughing rustic beauty that Emlyn +would have been at market. She would never have been handsome, and +though she was only a few years over twenty, she was beginning to look +weather-beaten and careworn, like the market women about her, mothers of +half-a-dozen children. +</p> +<p> +Now and then she saw Emlyn in all her young, plump beauty, but looking +much quieter, and always coming to her for news of Steadfast. There were +even tears in those bright eyes when she heard how much he suffered. +The girl had evidently been greatly sobered by the results of her +indiscretion, and the treachery into which it had led her. She probably +cared more for Steadfast than for anyone else except herself, and was +shocked and grieved at his condition; and she had moreover discovered +how her credulity had been played upon, and that she had had a narrow +escape of being carried off by a buccaneer. +</p> +<p> +Her master too had been called to order by the authorities, fined and +threatened for permitting Royalist plots to be hatched in his house. He +had been angered by the younger Ayliffe's riotous doings, and his wife +had been terrified. There had been a general reformation in which Emlyn +had only escaped dismissal through her mistress's favour, pleading her +orphanhood, her repentance, and her troth plight to the good young man +who had been attacked by those dissolute fellows, though Mrs. Henshaw +little knew how accountable was her favourite maid for the attack. +</p> +<p> +So good and discreet was Emlyn, so affectionate her messages to Stead, +and so much brightness shone in his face on hearing them; there was so +much pleasure when she sent him an orange and he returned the snowdrops +he had made Rusha gather, that Patience began to believe that Stead was +right—that the shock was all the maiden needed to steady her—and that +all would end as he hoped, when he should be able to resume his labours, +and add to the sadly reduced hoard. +</p> +<p> +It was not, however, till the March winds were over that Stead made any +decided step towards recovery, and began to prefer the sun to the fire, +and to move feebly and slowly about the farmyard, visiting the animals, +too few in number, for his skilled attention had been missed. As summer +came on he was able to do a little more, herd them with Growler's help, +and gradually to undertake what required no exertion of strength or +speed, and there he stopped short—all the sunny months of summer could +do no more for him than make him fit to do such work as an old man of +seventy might manage. +</p> +<p> +He was persuaded, much against his will, to ride the white horse into +Bristol at a foot-pace to consult once more the barber surgeon. That +worthy, who was unusually sagacious for his time and had had experience +in the wars, told him that his recovery was a marvel, but that with the +bullet where it was lodged, he could scarcely hope to enjoy much more +health or comfort than at present. It could not be reached, but it might +shift, when either it would prove fatal or become less troublesome; and +as a friend and honest man, he counselled the poor youth not to waste +his money nor torture himself by having recourse to remedies or doctors +who could do no real good. +</p> +<p> +Stead thanked the barber, paid his crown, and slowly made his way to +Mrs. Lightfoot's, where he was to rest, dine, and see Emlyn. +</p> +<p> +Kind Mrs. Lightfoot shed tears when she saw the sturdy, ruddy youth +grown so thin and pale; and as to Emlyn, she actually stood silent for +three minutes. +</p> +<p> +The two were left together in Mrs. Lightfoot's kitchen, for Patience was +at market, and their hostess had to mind her trade. +</p> +<p> +Stead presently told Emlyn somewhat of the doctor's opinion, and then, +producing his portion of the tester, and with lips that trembled in +spite of himself, said that he had come to give Emlyn back her troth +plight. +</p> +<p> +"Oh! Stead, Stead," she cried, bursting into tears. "I thought you had +forgiven me." +</p> +<p> +"Forgiven you! Yea, truly, poor child, but—" +</p> +<p> +"But only when you were sick! You cast me off now you are whole." +</p> +<p> +"I shall never be whole again, Emlyn." +</p> +<p> +"I don't believe Master Willis. He is nought but a barber," she +exclaimed passionately. "I know there are physicians at the Bath who +would cure you; or there's the little Jew by the wharf; or the wise man +on Durdham Down. But you always are so headstrong; when you have made +up your mind no one can move you, and you don't care whose heart you +break," she sobbed. +</p> +<p> +"Hearken, little sweet," said Stead. "'Tis nought but that I wot that it +would be ill for you to be bound to a poor frail man that will never be +able to keep you as you should be kept. All I had put by is well nigh +gone, and I'm not like to make it up again for many a year, even if I +were as strong as ever." +</p> +<p> +"And you won't go to the Jew, or the wise man, or the Bath?" +</p> +<p> +"I have not the money." +</p> +<p> +"But I will—I will save it for you!" cried Emlyn, who never had saved +in her life. "Or look here. Master Henshaw might give you a place in +his office, and then there would be no need to dwell in that nasty, damp +gulley, but we could be in the town. I'll ask my mistress to crave it +from him." +</p> +<p> +Stead could not but smile at her eagerness, but he shook his head. +</p> +<p> +"It would be bootless, sweetheart, I cannot carry weights." +</p> +<p> +"No, but you can write." +</p> +<p> +"Very scurvily, and I cannot cypher." +</p> +<p> +For Stead, like everyone else at Elmwood, kept his accounts by tally and +in his head, and the mysteries of the nine Arabic figures were perfectly +unknown to him. However, Emlyn stuck to the hope, and he was so far +inspired by it that he ceased to insist on giving up the pledges of the +betrothal, and he lay on the settle in quiet enjoyment of Emlyn's castle +building, as she sat on a stool by his side, his hand on her shoulder, +somewhat as it was wont to lie on Growler's head. And in spite of +Master Willis's opinion, he rode home to the gulley a new man, assuring +Patience, on the donkey by his side, that there was more staunchness +and kindness in little Emlyn than ever they had thought for. Even the +ferryman who put them over the river declared that the doctor must +have done Master Kenton a power of good, and Stead smiled and did not +contradict him. +</p> +<p> +Stead actually consulted Mr. Woodley how to learn cyphering beyond what +Ben had acquired at school; and the minister lent him a treatise, over +which he pored with a board and a burnt stick for many an hour when he +was out on the common with the cattle, or on the darkening evenings in +the hut. Ben saw his way into those puzzles with no more difficulty than +whetted his appetite, worked out sum after sum, and explained them +to his brother, to the admiration of both his elders, till frowns of +despair and long sighs from Stead brought Patience to declare he was +mazing himself, and insist on putting out the light. +</p> +<p> +Stead had more time for his studies than he could wish, for the cold +of winter soon affected the injured lungs; and, moreover, the being no +longer able to move about rapidly caused the damp and cold of the +ravine to produce rheumatism and attendant ills, of which, in his former +healthy, out-of-door life, he had been utterly ignorant, and he had to +spend many an hour breathless, or racked with pain in the poor little +hovel, sometimes trying to give his mind to the abstruse mysteries of +multiplication of money, but generally in vain, and at others whiling +away the time with his books, for though there were only seven of them, +including Bible and Prayer-book, a very little reading could be the text +of so much musing, that these few perfectly sufficed him. And then he +was the nurse of any orphaned lamb or sick chicken that Patience was +anxious about, and his care certainly saved many of those small lives. +</p> +<p> +The spring, when he came forth again, found him on a lower level, less +strong and needing a stick to aid his rheumatic knee. +</p> +<p> +Not much was heard of Emlyn that spring. She did not come to market +with her mistress, and Patience was not inclined to go in quest of her, +having a secret feeling that no news might be better for Stead than +anything she was likely to hear; while as to any chance of their coming +together, the Kentons had barely kept themselves through this winter, +and Steadfast's arithmetic was not making such progress as would give +him a place at a merchant's desk. +</p> +<p> +Patience, however, was considerably startled when, one fine June +day, she saw Mrs. Henshaw's servant point her out to two tall +soldierly-looking men, apparently father and son. +</p> +<p> +"Good morrow to you, honest woman," said the elder. "I am told it is you +who have been at charges for many years for my brother's daughter, Emlyn +Gaythorn." +</p> +<p> +Patience assented. +</p> +<p> +"You have been right good to her, I hear; and I thank you for that same, +and will bear what we may of the expense," he added, taking out a heavy +bag from his pouch. +</p> +<p> +He went on to explain that he and his son having gone abroad with his +master had been serving with the Dutch, and had made some prize money. +Learning on the peace that a small inheritance in Worcestershire had +fallen to the family, they had returned, and found from Lady Blythedale +that the brother's daughter was supposed to be alive somewhere near +Bristol. She had a right to half, and being honourable men, they had +set out in search of her, bringing letters from the lady to Mr. Henshaw, +whose house was still a centre of inquiry for persons in the Cavalier +interest. There, of course, they had discovered Emlyn; and Master +Gaythorn proceeded to say that it had been decided that the estate +should not be broken up, but that his son should at once wed her and +unite their claims. +</p> +<p> +"But, sir," exclaimed Patience, "she is troth plight to my brother." +</p> +<p> +"So she told me, but likewise that he is a broken man and sickly, and +had offered to restore her pledge." +</p> +<p> +Patience could not deny it, though she felt hotly indignant. +</p> +<p> +"She charged me to give it back to you," added the uncle; "and to bid +you tell the young man that we are beholden to you both; but that since +the young folk are to be wedded to-morrow morn, and then to set forth +for Worcestershire, there is no time for leave-takings." +</p> +<p> +"I do not wonder!" exclaimed Patience, "that she has no face to see us. +She that has been like a child or a sister to us, to leave us thus! O my +brother!" +</p> +<p> +"Come, come, my good woman, best not make a pother." Poor Patience's +homely garb and hard-worked looks shewed little of the yeoman class to +which she belonged. "You've done your duty by the maid and here's the +best I have to make it up." +</p> +<p> +Patience could not bring herself to take the bag, and he dropped it +into her basket "I am sorry for the young man, your brother, but he knew +better than to think to wed her as he is. And 'tis better for all there +should be no women's tears and foolishness over it." +</p> +<p> +"Is she willing?" Patience could not but ask. +</p> +<p> +"Willing?" Both men laughed. "Aye, what lass is not willing to take a +fine, strapping husband, and be a landed dame? She gave the token back +of her own free will, eh, Humfrey; and what did she bid us say?" +</p> +<p> +"Her loving greetings to—What were their Puritanical names?" said the +son contemptuously. "Aye, and that she pitied the poor clown down there, +but knew he would be glad of what was best for her." +</p> +<p> +"So farewell, good mistress," said Master Gaythorn, and off they clanked +together; and Patience, looking after them, could entirely believe that +the handsome buff coat, fringed belt, high boots, and jauntily cocked +hat would have driven out the thought of Stead in his best days. And now +that he was bent, crippled, weak, helpless,—"and all through her, what +hope was then," thought Patience, "yet if she had loved him, or there +had been any truth in her, she could have wedded him now, and he would +have been at ease through life! A little adder at our hearth! We are +well quit of her, if he will but think so, but how shall I ever tell +him?" +</p> +<p> +She did not rush in with the tidings but came home slowly, drearily, +so that Stead, who was sitting outside by the door, peeling rushes, +gathered that something was amiss, and soon wormed it out of her, while +her tears dropped fast for him. Still, as ever, he spoke little. He said +her uncle was right in sparing tears and farewells, no doubt reserving +to himself the belief that it was against her will. And when Patience +could not help declaring that the girl might have made him share her +prosperity, he said, "I'm past looking after her lands. Her uncle would +say so. 'Tis his doing; I am glad of what is best for my darling as was. +There's an end of it, Patience—joy and grief. And I thank God that the +child is safely cared for at last." +</p> +<p> +He tried to be as usual, but he was very ill that night. +</p> +<p> +Patience found the money in her basket. She hated it and put it aside, +and it was only some time after that she was constrained to use it, only +then telling Stead whence it came, when he could endure to hear that the +uncle had done his best to be just. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0023"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XXIII. FULFILMENT. +</h2> +<pre> + "My spirit heats her mortal bars, + As down dark tides the glory glides, + And mingles with the stars." + TENNYSON. +</pre> +<p> +The year 1660 had come, and in the autumn, just as harvest was over, and +the trees on the slopes were taking tints of red, yellow, and brown, an +elderly clergyman, staff in hand, came slowly up the long lane leading +to Elmwood, whence he had been carried, bound to his horse, seventeen +years before. +</p> +<p> +He had not suffered as much as some of his fellow priests. After a term +of imprisonment in London, he had been transported to the plantations, +namely, the American settlements, and had fallen in with friends, who +took him to Virginia. This was chiefly colonized by people attached to +the Church, who made him welcome, and he had ministered among them till +the news arrived of the Restoration of Charles II, and likewise that the +lawful incumbents of benefices, who had been driven out, were reinstated +by Act of Parliament. Mr. Holworth's Virginian friends would gladly have +kept him with them, but he felt that his duty was to his original flock, +and set out at once for England, landing at Bristol. There, however, he +waited, like the courteous man he was, to hold communication with his +people, till he had written to Mr. Elmwood, and made arrangements with +him and Master Woodley. +</p> +<p> +They were grieved, but they were both men who had a great respect for +law and parliament, so they made no difficulties. Mr. and Mrs. Woodley +retired to the hall and left the parsonage vacant, after the minister +had preached a farewell sermon in the church which made everyone cry, +for he was a good man and had made himself loved, and there were very +few in the parish who could understand that difference between the true +Church and a body without bishops. Mr. Holworth had in the meantime gone +to Wells to see his own Bishop Piers, an old man of eighty-six, and it +was from thence that he was now returning. He had not chosen to enter +his parish till the intruded minister had resigned the charge, but he +had been somewhat disappointed that none of his old flock, not even +any Kentons, who had so much in charge, had come in to see him. He now +arrived in this quiet way, thinking that it would not be delicate to +the feelings of the squire and ex-minister to let the people get up any +signs of joy or ring the bells, if they were so inclined. Indeed, he was +much afraid from what he had been able to learn that it would be only +the rougher sort, who hated Puritan strictness and wanted sport and +revelry, who would give him an eager welcome. +</p> +<p> +So he first went quietly up to the church, which he found full of +benches and pews, with the Altar table in the middle of the nave, and +the squire's comfortable cushioned seat at the east end. He knelt on the +step for a long time, then made a brief visit to his own house, where +the garden was in beautiful order, but only a room or two were furnished +with goods he had bought from the Woodleys, and these were in charge of +a servant he had hired at Bristol. +</p> +<p> +Thence the old man went out into the village, and his first halt was +at the forge, where Blane, who had grown a great deal stouter and more +grizzled, started at sight of his square cap. +</p> +<p> +"Eh! but 'tis the old minister! You have come in quietly, sir! I am +afraid your reverence has but a sorry welcome." +</p> +<p> +"I do not wonder you are grieved to part with Master Woodley." +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir, he be a good man and a powerful preacher, though no doubt +your reverence has the best right, and for one, I'm right glad to see +an old face again. We would have rung the bells if we had known you were +coming." +</p> +<p> +"That would have been hard on Master Woodley. I am only glad they are +not melted. But how is it with all my old friends, Harry? Poor Sir +George writ me that old clerk North died of grief of the rifling of the +church; and that John Kenton had been killed by some stragglers. What +became of his children?" +</p> +<p> +"That eldest lad went off to the Parliament army, and came swaggering +here in his buff coat and boots like my Lord Protector himself, they say +he has got a castle and lands in Ireland. Men must be scarce, say I, if +they have had to make a gentleman of Jeph Kenton." +</p> +<p> +"And the rest?" +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir, I'm afraid that poor lad, Stead, is in poor plight. You +mind, he was always a still, steady, hard-working lad, and when his +father was killed, and his house burnt, and his brother ran away, the +way he and his sister turned to was just wonderful. They went to live +in an old hut in the gulley down there, and they have made the place so +tidy as it does your heart good to look at it. They bred up the young +ones, and the younger girl is well married to one of the Squire's +folks, and everyone respected them. But, as ill-luck would have it, some +robbers from Bristol seem to have got scent of their savings. Some said +that the Communion Cup was hid somewhere there." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Holworth made an anxious sound of interrogation. +</p> +<p> +"Well, I did see the corporal, when the Parliament soldiers were at +Bristol, flog Stead shamefully to know where it was, and never get a +word out of him, whether or no; and as he was a boy who would never tell +a lie, it stands to reason he knew where they were." +</p> +<p> +"But how did anyone guess at his knowing?" asked Mr. Holworth. +</p> +<p> +"His brother might have thought it likely, poor John being thick with +your reverence," said Blane. "After that I thought, myself, that he +ought to give them up to Master Woodley, if so be he had them; but I +could never get a hint from him. The talk went that old Dr. Eales, you +mind him, sir, before he died, came out and held a prelatist service, +begging your pardon, sir, and that the things were used. Stead got into +trouble with Squire about it." +</p> +<p> +"But the robbers, how was that? You said he was hurt!" +</p> +<p> +"Sore hurt, sir; and he has never got the better of it, though 'tis nigh +upon four years ago. There was a slip of a wench he picked up as a child +after the fight by Luck's mill, and bred up; a fair lass she grew up +to look on, but a light-headed one. She went to service at Bristol, and +poor Stead was troth plight to her, hoped to save and build up the house +again, never knowing, not he, poor rogue, of her goings on with the +sailors and all the roistering lads about her master's house. 'Tis my +belief she put those rascals on the track, whether she meant it or not. +Stead made what defence he could, stood up like a man against the odds, +three to one, and got a shot in the side, so that he was like to die +then. Better for him, mayhap, if he had at once, for it has been nought +but a lingering ever since, never able to do a day's work, though that +wench, Patience, and the young lad, Ben, have fought it out wonderfully. +That I will say." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Holworth had tears in his eyes, and trembled with emotion. +</p> +<p> +"The dear lad," he said. "Where is he? I must go and see him." +</p> +<p> +"He bides in the gulley, sir; he has been there ever since the +farm-house was burnt." +</p> +<p> +Ere long Mr. Holworth was on his way to the gulley. What had been only a +glade reaching from rock to stream, hidden in copsewood, was now an open +space trodden by cattle, with the actual straw-yard more in the rear, +but with a goat tethered on it and poultry running about. It was a sunny +afternoon, and in a wooden chair placed so as to catch the warmth, with +feet on a stool, sat, knitting, a figure that Mr. Holworth at first +thought was that of an aged man; but as he emerged from the wood, and +the big dog sprang up and barked, there was a looking up, an instant +silencing of the dog, a rising with manifest effort, a doffing of the +broad-brimmed hat, and the clergyman beheld what seemed to him his +old Churchwarden's face, only in the deadly pallor of long-continued +illness, and with the most intense, unspeakable look of happiness and +welcome afterwards irradiating it, a look that in after years always +came before Mr. Holworth with the "Nunc dimittis." +</p> +<p> +Dropping the knitting, and holding by the chair, he stood trembling and +quivering with gladness, while, summoned by the dog's bark, Patience, +pail in hand, appeared on one side, and Ben, tall and slight, with his +flail, on the other. +</p> +<p> +"My dear lad," was all Mr. Holworth could say, as he took the thin, +blanched hand, put his arm round the shoulders, and reseated Stead, +still speechless with joy. Patience, curtseying low, came up anxiously, +showing the same honest face as of old, though work and anxiety had +traced their lines on the sun-burnt complexion, and Ben stood blushing, +and showing his keener, more cultivated face, as the stranger turned to +greet them so as to give Steadfast time to recover himself. +</p> +<p> +"Oh! sir, but we are glad to see your reverence," cried Patience. "Will +you go in, or sit by Stead? Ben, fetch a chair." +</p> +<p> +"And is this fine strapping fellow, the sickly babe that you were never +to rear, Patience?" +</p> +<p> +"God has been very good to us, sir," said Patience. +</p> +<p> +"And this is best of all," said Stead, recovering breath and speech. "I +thank Him that I have lived to see this day! It is all safe, sir." +</p> +<p> +"And you, you faithful guardian, you have suffered for it." +</p> +<p> +If it had not been for Blane's partial revelations, Mr. Holworth never +would have extracted the full story of how for that sacred trust, +Steadfast Kenton had endured threats and pain, and had foregone ease, +prosperity, latterly happiness, and how finally it had cost him health, +nay life itself, for he was as surely dying of the buccaneer's pistol +shot, as though he had been slain on the spot. +</p> +<p> +Long illness, with all the thought and reflection it had brought, had so +far changed and refined Stead that his awkward bashfulness and lack of +words had passed from him, and when he saw the clergyman overcome with +emotion at the thought of all he had undergone he said, +</p> +<p> +"Never heed it, your reverence, it has come to be all joy to me to have +had a little to bear for the Master! 'Tis hard on Patience and Ben, but +they are very good to me; and being sick gives time for such comforts as +God sends me. It is more than all I could have had here." +</p> +<p> +"I am sure of that, my dear boy. I was not grieving that I gave you +the trust, but thinking what a blessed thing it is to have kept it thus +faithfully." +</p> +<p> +Two Sundays later, the Feast was again meetly spread in Elmwood Church, +the Altar restored to its place, and all as reverently arranged as it +could yet be among the broken carved work. +</p> +<p> +In some respects it was a mournful service, few there were who after the +lapse of seventeen years even remembered the outlines of the old forms; +and the younger people knew not when to kneel or stand. There were +few who could read, and even for those who could there were only four +Prayer-books in the church, the clergyman's, the clerk's, the Kentons', +and one discovered by an old Elmwood servant. The Squire's family +came not; Goody Grace was dead, and though Rusha tried to instruct her +husband and her little girl, she herself was much at a loss. +</p> +<p> +To Mr. Holworth it was almost like that rededication of the Temple when +the old men wept at the thought of the glory of the former house, but +there were some on whom his eye rested with joy and peace. There were +Blane and his wife, good and faithful though ignorant; there were the +old miller and his son, who had come all that distance since there +had as yet been no restoration in their church, and the goings on of +Original-Sin Hopkins and his friends had thoroughly disgusted them, and +made the old man yearn towards the church of his youth, and there was +the little group of three, the toil-worn but sweet-faced sister, calm +and restful, though watchful; the tall youth with thoughtful, earnest, +awe-struck face, come for his first Communion, for which through those +many years he had been taught to pray and long, and between them the +wasted form and wan features lighted up with that wonderful radiance +that had come on them with the sense that the trust was fulfilled, only +it was brighter, calmer, higher, than even at the greeting of the vicar. +Did Steadfast see only the burnished gold of the Chalice and paten he +had guarded for seventeen years at the cost of toil, danger, suffering, +love, and life itself? Did he not see and feel far beyond those outward +visible signs in which others, who had not yet endured to the end, could +only as yet put their trust by faith? +</p> +<p> +Mr. Holworth, as he stood over him and saw the upturned eye, was sure it +was so. No doubt indeed Ben thought so too, but poor imaginative Ben +had somehow fancied it would be with his brother as with the King +who guarded that other sacred Cup, and when all was over, was quite +disappointed that Stead needed his strong arm as much as ever, nay more, +for on coming out into the air and sunshine a faintness and exhaustion +came on, and they had to rest him in the porch before he could move. +</p> +<p> +"O Stead, I thought it would have healed you," the lad said. +</p> +<p> +Stead slightly smiled. "Healed? I shall soon be healed altogether, Ben," +he said. He had with great difficulty and very slowly walked to church, +and Mr. Holworth wished him to come and rest at the Vicarage, but he was +very anxious to get home, and after he had taken a little food, Andrew +Luck offered to share with Ben and Rusha's husband the carrying him back +between them on an elbow chair. +</p> +<p> +This pleased him, and he looked up to Andrew and said, "You are in the +same mind as long ago?" +</p> +<p> +"I never found anyone else I could lay my mind to, since my poor Kitty," +said Andrew. +</p> +<p> +"She will come to you—soon," said Stead. "She'll have a sore heart, but +you will be good to her." +</p> +<p> +"That I will. And little Bess and Kate shall come and tell her how they +want her." +</p> +<p> +Stead smiled and his lips moved in thankfulness. +</p> +<p> +"And if Ben would come with her," added Andrew, "I'd be a brother to +him." +</p> +<p> +"Parson wants Ben," said Stead. "He says he can make a scholar of him, +and maybe a parson, and it will not be so lonesome in the vicarage." +</p> +<p> +"And your farm?" +</p> +<p> +"Rusha and her man take that. They have saved enough to build the house. +Yes, all is well. It is great peace and thankfulness." +</p> +<p> +Patience returned with the cushions she had borrowed and they brought +Steadfast home, very much exhausted, and not speaking all the way. +Perhaps the unusual motion and exertion had made the bullet change its +place, for he hardly uttered another word, and that night, as he had +said to Ben, he was healed for ever of all his ills. +</p> +<p> +The funeral sermon that Mr. Holworth preached the next Sunday, was on +the text so dear to all the loyal hearts who remembered the White King's +coronation text— +</p> +<p> +"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." +</p> +<center> +THE END +</center> + +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Storm, by Charlotte M. 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Yonge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Under the Storm + Steadfast's Charge + +Author: Charlotte M. Yonge + +Release Date: July, 2004 +Posting Date: September 30, 2009 [EBook #6006] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE STORM *** + + + + +Produced by Sandra Laythorpe + + + + + +UNDER THE STORM + +or + +STEADFAST'S CHARGE + + +By Charlotte M. Yonge + +Author of "The Heir of Redclyffe," &c. + + +[Illustration: Cover] + + +CONTENTS. + +Chapter I.--The Trust + + " II.--The Stragglers + + " III.--Kirk Rapine + + " IV.--The Good Cause + + " V.--Desolation + + " VI.--Left to Themselves + + " VII.--The Hermit's Gulley + + " VIII.--Stead in Possession + + " IX.--Wintry Times + + " X.--A Terrible Harvest Day + + " XI.--The Fortunes of War + + " XII.--Farewell to the Cavaliers + + " XIII.--Godly Venn's Troop + + " XIV.--The Question + + " XV.--A Table of Love in the Wilderness + + " XVI.--A Fair Offer + + " XVII.--The Groom in Grey + + " XVIII.--Jeph's Good Fortune + + " XIX.--Patience + + " XX.--Emlyn's Service + + " XXI.--The Assault of the Cavern + + " XXII.--Emlyn's Troth + + " XXIII.--Fulfilment + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + Farewell to the Cavaliers + The Hiding of the Casket + Stead Stirring the Porridge + Finding of Emlyn + Stead before the Roundheads + Emlyn at Market + + + +UNDER THE STORM: + +OR + +STEADFAST'S CHARGE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. THE TRUST. + + + + "I brought them here as to a sanctuary." + SOUTHEY. + + +Most of us have heard of the sad times in the middle of the seventeenth +century, when Englishmen were at war with one another and quiet villages +became battlefields. + +We hear a great deal about King and Parliament, great lords and able +generals, Cavaliers and Roundheads, but this story is to help us to +think how it must have gone in those times with quiet folk in cottages +and farmhouses. + +There had been peace in England for a great many years, ever since the +end of the wars of the Roses. So the towns did not want fortifications +to keep out the enemy, and their houses spread out beyond the old walls; +and the country houses had windows and doors large and wide open, with +no thought of keeping out foes, and farms and cottages were freely +spread about everywhere, with their fields round them. + +The farms were very small, mostly held by men who did all the work +themselves with the help of their families. + +Such a farm belonged to John Kenton of Elmwood. It lay at the head of a +long green lane, where the bushes overhead almost touched one another +in the summer, and the mud and mire were very deep in winter; but that +mattered the less as nothing on wheels went up or down it but the hay +or harvest carts, creaking under their load, and drawn by the old mare, +with a cow to help her. + +Beyond lay a few small fields, and then a bit of open ground scattered +with gorse and thorn bushes, and much broken by ups and downs. There, +one afternoon on a big stone was seated Steadfast Kenton, a boy of +fourteen, sturdy, perhaps loutish, with an honest ruddy face under his +leathern cap, a coarse smock frock and stout gaiters. He was watching +the fifteen sheep and lambs, the old goose and gander and their nine +children, the three cows, eight pigs, and the old donkey which got their +living there. + +From the top of the hill, beyond the cleft of the river Avon, he could +see the smoke and the church towers of the town of Bristol, and beyond +it, the slime of the water of the Bristol Channel; and nearer, on one +side, the spire of Elmwood Church looked up, and, on the other, the +woods round Elmwood House, and these ran out as it were, lengthening and +narrowing into a wooded cleft or gulley, Hermit's Gulley, which broke +the side of the hill just below where Steadfast stood, and had a little +clear stream running along the bottom. + +Steadfast's little herd knew the time of day as well as if they all had +watches in their pockets, and they never failed to go down and have a +drink at the brook before going back to the farmyard. + +They did not need to be driven, but gathered into the rude steep path +that they and their kind had worn in the side of the ravine. Steadfast +followed, looking about him to judge how soon the nuts would be ripe, +while his little rough stiff-haired dog Toby poked about in search of +rabbits or hedgehogs, or the like sport. + +Steadfast liked that pathway home beside the stream, as boys do love +running water. Good stones could be got there, water rats might be +chased, there were strawberries on the banks which he gathered and +threaded on stalks of grass for his sisters, Patience and Jerusha. They +used to come with him and have pleasant games, but it was a long time +since Patience had been able to come out, for in the winter, a grievous +trouble had come on the family. The good mother had died, leaving a +little baby of six weeks old, and Patience, who was only thirteen, had +to attend to everything at home, and take care of poor little sickly +Benoni with no one to help her but her little seven years old sister. + +The children's lives had been much less bright since that sad day; and +Steadfast seldom had much time for play. He knew he must get home as +fast as he could to help Patience in milking the cows, feeding the pigs +and poultry, and getting the supper, or some of the other things that +his elder brother Jephthah called wench-work and would not do. + +He could not, however, help looking up at the hole in the side of the +steep cliff, where one might climb up to such a delightful cave, in +which he and Patience had so often played on hot days. It had been their +secret, and a kind of palace to them. They had sat there as king and +queen, had paved it with stones from the brook, and had had many plans +for the sports they would have there this summer, little thinking that +Patience would have been turned into a grave, busy little housewife, +instead of a merry, playful child. + +Toby looked up too, and began to bark. There was a rustling in the +bushes below the cave, and Steadfast, at first in dismay to see his +secret delight invaded, beheld between the mountain ash boughs and ivy, +to his great surprise, a square cap and black cassock tucked up, and +then a bit of brown leathern coat, which he knew full well. It was the +Vicar, Master Holworth, and his father John Kenton was Churchwarden, +so it was no wonder to see him and the Parson together, but what could +bring them here--into Steadfast's cave? and with a dark lantern too! +They seemed as surprised, perhaps as vexed as he was, at the sight of +him, but his father said, "'Tis my lad, Steadfast, I'll answer for him." + +"And so will I," returned the clergyman. "Is anyone with you, my boy?" + +"No, your reverence, no one save the beasts." + +"Then come up here," said his father. "Someone has been playing here, I +see." + +"Patience and I, father, last summer." + +"No one else?" + +"No, no one. We put those stones and those sticks when we made a fire +there last year, and no one has meddled with them since." + +"Thou and Patience," said Mr. Holworth thoughtfully. "Not Jephthah nor +the little maid?" + +"No, sir," replied Steadfast, "we would not let them know, because we +wanted a place to ourselves." + +For in truth the quiet ways and little arrangements of these two had +often been much disturbed by the rough elder brother who teased and +laughed at them, and by the troublesome little sister, who put her +fingers into everything. + +The Vicar and the Churchwarden looked at one another, and John Kenton +muttered, "True as steel." + +"Your father answers for you, my boy," said the Vicar. "So we will e'en +let you know what we are about. I was told this morn by a sure hand that +the Parliament men, who now hold Bristol Castle, are coming to deal with +the village churches even as they have dealt with the minster and with +St. Mary's, Redcliffe." + +"A murrain on them!" muttered Kenton. + +"I wot that in their ignorance they do it," gently quoted the Vicar. +"But we would fain save from their hands the holy Chalice and paten +which came down to our Church from the ancient times--and which bearing +on them, as they do, the figure of the Crucifixion of our blessed Lord, +would assuredly provoke the zeal of the destroyers. Therefore have we +placed them in this casket, and your father devised hiding them within +this cave, which he thought was unknown to any save himself--" + +"Yea," said John, "my poor brother Will and I were wont to play there +when we herded the cattle on the hill. It was climbing yon ash tree that +stands out above that he got the fall that was the death of him at +last. I've never gone nigh the place with mine own good will since that +day--nor knew the children had done so--but methought 'twas a lonesome +place and on mine own land, where we might safest store the holy things +till better times come round." + +"And so I hope they will," said Mr. Holworth. + +"I hear good news of the King's cause in the north." + +Then they began to consult where to place the precious casket. They had +brought tinder and matches, and Steadfast, who knew the secrets of the +cave even better than his father, showed them a little hollow, far back, +which would just hold the chest, and being closed in front with a big +stone, fast wedged in, was never likely to be discovered readily. + +[Illustration: The Hiding Of The Casket] + +"This has been a hiding place already." + +"Methinks this has once been a chapel," said the clergyman presently, +pointing to some rude carvings--one something like a cross, and a large +stone that might have served as an altar. + +"Belike," said Kenton, "there's an old stone pile, a mere hovel, down +below, where my grandfather said he remembered an old monk, a hermit, or +some such gear--a Papist--as lived in hiding. He did no hurt, and was +a man from these parts, so none meddled with him, or gave notice to the +Queen's officers, and our folk at the farm sold his baskets at the town, +and brought him a barley loaf twice a week till he died, all alone in +his hut. Very like he said his mass here." + +John wondered to find that the minister thought this made the place +more suitable. The whole cavern was so low that the two men could hardly +stand upright in it, though it ran about twelve yards back. There were +white limestone drops like icicles hanging above from the roof; and +bats, disturbed by the light, came flying about the heads of their +visitors, while streamers of ivy and old man's beard hung over the +mouth, and were displaced by the heads of the men. + +"None is like to find the spot," said John Kenton, as he tried to +replace the tangled branches that had been pushed aside. + +"God grant us happier days for bringing it forth," said the clergyman. + +All three bared their heads, and Mr. Holworth uttered a few words of +prayer and blessing; then let John help him down the steep scramble +and descent, and looked up to see whether any sign of the cave could be +detected from the edge of the brook. Kenton shook his head reassuringly. + +"Ah!" said Mr. Holworth, "it minds me that none ever found again the +holy Ark of the Covenant that King Josiah and the Prophet Jeremiah hid +in a cavern within Mount Pisgah! and our sins be many that have provoked +this judgment! Mayhap the boy will be the only one of us who will see +these blessed vessels restored to their Altar once more! He may +have been sent hither to that very end. Now, look you, Steadfast +Kenton--Steadfast thou hast ever been, so far as I have known thee, in +nature as well as in name. Give me thy word that thou wilt never give up +the secret of yonder cavern to any save a lawfully ordained minister of +the church." + +"No doubt poor old Clerk North will be in distress about the loss," said +Kenton. + +"True, but he had best not be told. His mind is fast going, and he +cannot safely be trusted with such a mighty secret." + +"Patience knows the cavern," murmured Steadfast to his father. + +"Best have no womenfolk, nor young maids in such a matter," said the +Vicar. + +"My wench takes after her good mother," said John, "and I ever found my +secrets were safer in her breast than in mine own. Not that I would have +her told without need. But she might take little Rusha there, or make +the place known to others an she be not warned." + +"Steadfast must do as he sees occasion, with your counsel, Master +Kenton," said the Vicar. "It is a great trust we place in you, my son, +to be as it were in charge of the vessels of the sanctuary, and I would +have thy hand and word." + +"And," said his father, "though he be slower in speech than some, your +reverence may trust him." + +Steadfast gave his brown red hand, and with head bare said, "I promise, +after the minister and before God, never to give up that which lies +within the cave to any man, save a lawfully ordained minister of the +Church." + + + + +CHAPTER II. THE STRAGGLERS. + + + + "Trust me, I am exceedingly weary." + SHAKESPEARE. + + +John Kenton, though a Churchwarden, was, as has been said, a very small +farmer, and the homestead was no more than a substantial cottage, built +of the greystone of the country, with the upper story projecting a +little, and reached by an outside stair of stone. The farm yard, with +the cowsheds, barn, and hay stack were close in front, with only a +narrow strip of garden between, for there was not much heed paid to +flowers, and few kitchen vegetables were grown in those days, only a few +potherbs round the door, and a sweet-brier bush by the window. + +The cows had made their way home of their own accord, and Patience was +milking one of them already, while little Rusha held the baby, which was +swaddled up as tightly as a mummy, with only his arms free. He stretched +them out with a cry of gladness as he saw his father, and Kenton +took the little creature tenderly in his arms and held him up, while +Steadfast hurried off to fetch the milking stool and begin upon the +other cow. + +"Is Jeph come home?" asked the father, and Rusha answered "No, daddy, +though he went ever so long ago, and said he would bring me a cake." + +Upon this Master Kenton handed little Benoni back to Rusha, not without +some sounds of fretfulness from the baby, but the pigs had to be shut up +and fed, and the other evening work of the farmyard done; and it was +not till all this was over, and Patience had disposed of the milk in the +cool cellars, that the father could take him again. + +Meantime Steadfast had brought up a bucket of water from the spring, +and after washing his own hands and face, set out the table with a very +clean, though coarse cloth, five brown bowls, three horn spoons and two +wooden ones, one drinking horn, a couple of red earthen cups and two +small hooped ones of wood, a brown pitcher of small ale, a big barley +loaf, and a red crock, lined with yellow glazing, into which Patience +presently proceeded to pour from a cauldron, where it had been simmering +over the fire, a mess of broth thickened with meal. This does not sound +like good living, but the Kentons were fairly well-to-do smock-frock +farmers, and though in some houses there might be greater plenty, +there was not much more comfort beneath the ranks of the gentry in the +country. + +As for seats, the father's big wooden chair stood by the fire, and there +was a long settle, but only stools were used at the table, two being the +same that had served the milkers. Just as Rusha, at her father's sign, +had uttered a short Grace, there stood in the doorway a tall, stout, +well-made lad of seventeen, with a high-crowned wide-brimmed felt hat, +a dark jerkin with sleeves, that, like his breeches and gaiters, were of +leather, and a belt across his shoulder with a knife stuck in it. + +"Ha! Jeph," said Kenton, "always in time for meat, whatever else you +miss." + +"I could not help it, father," said Jephthah, "the red coats were at +their exercise!" + +"And thou couldst not get away from the gape-seed, eh! Come, sit down, +boy, and have at thy supper." + +"I wish I was one of them," said Jeph as he sat down. + +"And thou'dst soon wish thyself back again!" returned his father. + +"How much did you get for the fowls and eggs?" demanded Patience. + +Jephthah replied by producing a leathern bag, while Rusha cried out for +her cake, and from another pocket came, wrapped in his handkerchief, two +or three saffron buns which were greeted with such joy that his father +had not the heart to say much about wasting pence, though it appeared +that the baker woman had given them as part of her bargain for a couple +of dozen of eggs, which Patience declared ought to have brought two +pence instead of only three halfpence. + +Jephthah, however, had far too much news to tell to heed her +disappointment as she counted the money. He declared that the price +of eggs and butter would go up gallantly, for more soldiers were daily +expected to defend Bristol, and he had further to tell of one of the +captains preaching in the Minster, and the market people flocking in to +hear him. Jeph had been outside, for there was no room within, but he +had scrambled upon an old tombstone with a couple of other lads, and +through the broken window had seen the gentleman holding forth in his +hat and feather, buff coat and crimson scarf, and heard him call on all +around to be strong and hew down all their enemies, even dragging the +false and treacherous woman and her idols out to the horse gate and +there smiting them even to the death. + +"Who was the false woman?" asked Steadfast. + +"I wot not! There was something about Aholah, or some such name, but +just then a mischievous little jackanapes pulled me down by the leg, +and I had to thrash him for it, and by the time I had done, Dick, the +butcher's lad, had got my place and I heard no more." + +Whether the Captain meant Aholah or Athaliah, or alluded to Queen +Henrietta Maria, or to the English Church, Jeph's auditors never knew. +The baby began to cry, and Patience to feed him with the milk and water +that had been warmed at the fire; his father and the boys went out to +finish the work for the night, little Rusha running after them. + +Presently, she gave a cry and darted up to her father "The soldiers! +the soldiers!" and in fact three men with steel caps, buff coats, and +musquets slung by broad belts were coming into the yard. + +Kenton took up his little girl in his arms and went forward to meet +them, but he soon saw they did not look dangerous, they were dragging +along as if very tired and footsore and as if their weapons were a heavy +weight. + +"It's the goodman," said the foremost, a red-faced, good-natured looking +fellow more like a hostler than a soldier, "have you seen Captain +Lundy's men pass this way?" + +"Not I!" said Kenton, "we lie out of the high road, you see." + +"But I saw them, a couple of hours agone, marching into Bristol," said +Jephthah coming forward. + +"There now," said the man, "we did but stop at the sign of the 'Crab' +the drinking of a pottle, and to bathe Jack's foot near there, and we +have never been able to catch them up again! How far off be Bristol?" + +"A matter of four mile across the ferry. You may see it from the hill +above." + +He looked stout enough though he gave a heavy sigh of weariness, and the +other two, who were mere youths, not much older than Jeph, seemed quite +spent, and heard of the additional four miles with dismay. + +"Heart alive, lads," said their comrade, "ye'll soon be in good +quarters, and mayhap the goodman here will give you a drink to carry ye +on a bit further for the Cause." + +"You are welcome to a draught for civility's sake," said Kenton, making +a sign to his sons, who ran off to the house, "but I'm a plain man, and +know nought about the Cause." + +"Well, Master," said the straggler, as he leant his back against the +barn, and his two companions sat down on the ground in the shelter, +"I have heard a lot about the Cause, but all I know is that my Lord +of Essex sent to call out five-and-twenty men from our parish, and the +squire, he was in a proper rage with being rated to pay ship money, +so--as I had fallen out with my master, mine host of the 'Griffin,' more +fool I--I went with the young gentleman, and a proper ass I was to do +so." + +"Father said 'twas rank popery railing in the Communion table, when it +was so handy to sit on or to put one's hat on," added one of the youths +looking up. "So he was willing for me to go, and I thought I'd like to +see the world, but I'd fain be at home again." + +"So would not I," muttered the other lad. + +"No," said the ex-tapster humorously, "for thou knowst the stocks be +gaping for thee, Dick." + +By this time Jeph and Stead had returned with a jug of small beer, a +horn cup, and three hunches of the barley loaf. The men ate and drank, +and then the tapster returning hearty thanks, called the others on, +observing that if they did not make the best speed, they might miss +their billet, and have to sleep in the streets, if not become acquainted +with the lash. + +On then unwillingly they dragged, as if one foot would hardly come after +the other. + +"Poor lads!" said Kenton, as he looked after them, "methinks that's +enough to take the taste for soldiering out of thy mouth, son Jeph." + +"A set of poor-spirited rogues," returned Jeph contemptuously, as he +nevertheless sauntered on so as to watch them down the lane. + +"Be they on the right side or the wrong, father?" asked Steadfast, as he +picked up the pitcher and the horn. + +"They be dead against our parson, lad," returned Kenton, "and he says +they be against the Church and the King, though they do take the King's +name, it don't look like the right side to be knocking out church +windows, eh?" + +"Nay!" said Steadfast, "but there's them as says the windows be popish +idols." + +"Never you mind 'em, lad, ye don't bow down to the glass, nor worship +it. Thy blessed mother would have put it to you better than I can, and +she knew the Bible from end to end, but says she 'God would have His +worship for glory and for beauty in the old times, why not now?'" + +John Kenton had an immense reverence for his late wife. She had been far +more educated than he, having been born and bred up in the household +of one of those gentlemen who held it as their duty to provide for the +religious instruction of their servants. + +She had been serving-woman to the lady, who in widowhood went to reside +at Bristol, and there during her marketings, honest John Kenton had won +her by his sterling qualities. + +Puritanism did not mean nonconformity in her days, and in fact everyone +who was earnest and scrupulous was apt to be termed a Puritan. Goodwife +Kenton was one of those pious and simple souls who drink in whatever is +good in their surroundings; and though the chaplain who had taught her +in her youth would have differed in controversy with Mr. Holworth, she +never discovered their diversity, nor saw more than that Elmwood +Church had more decoration than the Castle Chapel. Whatever was done by +authority she thought was right, and she found good reason for it in +the Bible and Prayer-book her good lady had given her. She had named her +children after the prevailing custom of Puritans because she had heard +the chaplain object to what he considered unhallowed heathenish names, +but she had been heartily glad that they should be taught and catechised +by the good vicar. Happily for her, in her country home, she did not +live to see the strife brought into her own life. + +She had taught her children as much as she could. Her husband was +willing, but his old mother disapproved of learning in that station of +life, and aided and abetted her eldest grandson in his resistance, so +that though she had died when he was only eleven or twelve years old, +Jephthah could do no more than just make out the meaning of a printed +sentence, whereas Steadfast and Patience could both read easily, and did +read whatever came in their way, though that was only a broadside ballad +now and then besides their mother's Bible and Prayer-book, and one or +two little black books. + +The three eldest had been confirmed, when the Bishop of Bath and Wells +had been in the neighbourhood. That was only a fortnight after their +mother died, and even Jeph was sad and subdued. + +Since that sad day when the good mother had blessed them for the last +time, there had been little time for anything. Patience had to be the +busy little housewife, and what she would have done without Steadfast +she could not tell. Jeph would never put a hand to what he called maids' +work, but Stead would sweep, or beat the butter, or draw the water, +or chop wood, or hold the baby, and was always ready to help her, even +though it hindered him from ever going out to fish, or play at base +ball, or any of the other sports the village boys loved. + +His quiet, thoughtful ways had earned his father's trust, though he was +much slower of speech and less ready than his elder brother, and looked +heavy both in countenance and figure beside Jeph, who was tall, slim, +and full of activity and animation. He had often made his mother uneasy +by wild talk about going to sea, and by consorting with the sailors at +Bristol, which was their nearest town, though on the other side of the +Avon, and in a different county. + +It was there that the Elmwood people did their marketing, often leaving +their donkeys hobbled on their own side of the river, being ferried over +and carrying the goods themselves the latter part of the way. + + + + +CHAPTER III. KIRK RAPINE. + + + + "When impious men held sway and wasted Church and shrine." + LORD SELBORNE. + + +Patience, in her tight little white cap, sat spinning by the door, +rocking the cradle with her foot, while Rusha sometimes built what she +called houses with stones, sometimes trotted to look down the lane to +see whether father and the lads were coming home from market. + +Presently she brought word, "Stead is coming. He is leading Whitefoot, +but I don't see father and Jeph." + +Patience jumped up to put her wheel out of the way, and soon she saw +that it was only Steadfast leading the old mare with the large crooks or +panniers on either side. She ran to meet him, and saw he looked rather +pale and dazed. + +"What is it, Stead? Where's daddy?" + +"Gone up to Elmwood! They told us in town that some of the soldiers and +the folk of that sort were gone out to rabble cur church and our parson, +and father is Churchwarden, you know. So he said he must go to see what +was doing. And he bade me take Whitefoot home and give you the money," +said Steadfast, producing a bag which Patience took to keep for her +father. + +She watched very anxiously, and so did Stead, while relieving Whitefoot +of her panniers and giving her a rub down before turning her out to get +her supper. + +It was not long however before Kenton and Jeph both appeared, the one +looking sad, the other sulky. "Too late," Jeph muttered, "and father +won't let me go to see the sport." + +"Sport, d'ye call it?" said Kenton. "Aye, Stead, you may well gape at +what we have seen--our good parson with his feet tied to his stirrups on +a sorry nag, being hauled off to town like a common thief!" + +"Oh!" broke from the children, and Patience ventured to ask, "But what +for, father?" + +"They best know who did it," said the Churchwarden. "Something they said +of a scandalous minister, as though his had not ever been a godly life +and preaching. These be strange times, children, and for the life of me, +I know not what it all means. How now, Jeph, what art idling there +for? There's the waggon to be loaded for to-morrow with the faggots I +promised Mistress Lightfoot." + +Jeph moved away, murmuring something about fetching up the cows, to +which his father replied, "That was Steadfast's work, and it was not +time yet." + +In fact Jeph was very curious to know what was going on in the village. +If there was any kind of uproar, why should not he have his part in +it? It was just like father to hinder him, and he had a great mind to +neglect the faggots and go off to the village. He was rather surprised, +and a good deal vexed to see his father walking along on the way to the +pasture with Steadfast. + +It was for the sake of saying "Aye, boy, best not go near the sorry +sight! They would not let good Master Holworth speak with me; but I +saw he meant to warn me to keep aloof lest Tim Green or the like should +remember as how I'm Churchwarden." + +"Did they ask after those things?" inquired Steadfast in a lowered +voice. + +"I can't say. But on your life, lad, not a word of them!" + +After work was done for the evening, Jeph and Stead were too eager +to know what had happened to stay at home. They ran across the bit of +moorland to the village street and the grey church, whose odd-shaped +steeple stood up among the trees. Already they could see that the great +west window was broken, all the glass which bore the picture of the Last +Judgment, and the Archangel Michael weighing souls in the balance was +gone! + +"Yes," said Tom Oates, leaping over two or three tombstones to get to +them. "'Twas rare sport, Jeph Kenton. Why were you not there too?" + +"At Bristol with father," replied Jeph. + +"Worse luck for you. The red coat shot the big angel right in the eye, +and shivered him through, and we did the rest with stones. I sent one +that knocked the wing of him right off. You should have seen me, Stead! +And old Clerk North was running about crying all the time like a baby. +He'll never whack us over the head again!" + +"What was the good?" said Steadfast. + +"You never saw better sport," said the boys. + +And indeed, since, when once begun, destruction and mischief are apt to +be only too delightful to boys, they had thoroughly and thoughtlessly +delighted in knocking down the things they had been taught to respect. A +figure of a knight in a ruff kneeling on a tomb had had its head +knocked off, and one of the lads heaved the bits up to throw at the last +fragment of glass in the window. + +"What do you do that for?" asked Stead. + +"'Tis worshipping of idols," said a somewhat graver lad. "'Break down +their idols,' the man in the black gown said, 'and burn their graven +images in the fire.'" + +"But we never worshipped them," said Stead. + +"Pious preacher said so," returned the youth, "and mighty angered was +he with the rails." (Jeph and Will were sparring with two fragments of +them.) "'Down with them,' he cried out, so as it would have done your +heart good to hear him." + +"And the parson is gone! There will be no hearing the catechism on +Sundays!" cried Ralph Wilkes, making a leap over the broken font. + +"Good luck for you, Ralph," cried the others. "You, that never could +tell how many commandments there be." + +"Put on your hat, Stead," called out another lad. "We've done with all +that now, and the parson is gone to prison for it." + +"No, no," shouted Tom Oates, "'twas for making away with the Communion +things." + +"I heard the red coat say they had a warrant against scandalous +ministers," declared Ralph Wilkes. + +"I heard the man with the pen and ink-horn ask for the popish vessels, +as he called them, and not a word would the parson say," said Oates. + +"I'd take my oath he has hid them somewheres," replied Jack Beard, an +ill-looking lad. + +"What a windfall they would be for him as found them!" observed Wilkes. + +"I'd like to look over the parsonage house," said Jeph. + +"No use. Old dame housekeeper has locked herself in, as savage as a bear +with a sore head." + +"Besides, they did turn over all the parson's things and made a bonfire +of all his popish books. The little ones be dancing their rounds about +it still!" + +Stead had heard quite enough to make him very uneasy, and wish to get +home with his tidings to his father. There was a girl standing by with a +baby in her arms, and she asked: + +"What will they do to our minister?" + +"Put him in Little Ease for a scandalous minister," was the ready +answer. "But he _is_ a good man. He gave us all broth when father had +the fever!" + +"And who will give granny and me our Sunday dinner?" said a little boy. + +"But there'll be no more catechising. Hurrah!" cried Oates, "hurrah!" + +"'Tis rank superstition, said the red coat, Hurrah!" and up went their +caps. "Halloa, Stead Kenton, not a word to say?" + +"He likes being catechised, standing as he does like a stuck pig, and +answering never a word," cried Jack. + +"I do," said Steadfast, "and why not?" + +"Parson's darling! Parson's darling!" shouted the boys. "A malignant! +Off with him." They had begun to hustle him, when Jeph threw himself +between and cried: + +"Hit Steadfast, and you must hit me first." + +"A match, a match!" they cried, "Jeph and Jack." + +Stead had no fears about Jeph conquering, but while the others stood +round to watch the boxing, he slipped away, with his heart perplexed and +sad. He had loved his minister, and he never guessed how much he cared +for his church till he saw it lying desolate, and these rude lads +rejoicing in the havoc; while the words rang in his ears, "And now they +break down all the carved work thereof with axes and with hammers." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. THE GOOD CAUSE. + + + + "And their Psalter mourneth with them + O'er the carvings and the grace, + Which axe and hammer ruin + In the fair and holy place." + Bp. CLEVELAND COXE. + + +When next John Kenton went into Bristol to market he tried to discover +what had become of Mr. Holworth, but could only make out something about +his being sent up to London with others of his sort to answer for being +Baal worshippers! Which, as he observed, he could not understand. + +There seemed likely to be no service at the church on Sunday, but John +thought himself bound to walk thither with his sons to see what was +going on, and they heard such a noise that they looked at each other +in amazement. It was not preaching, but shouting, laughing, screaming, +stamping, and running. The rude village children were playing at +hide-and-seek, and Jenny Oates was hidden in the pulpit. But at Master +Kenton's loud "How now, youngsters" they all were frightened, some ran +out headlong, some sneaked out at the little north door, and the +place was quiet, but in sad confusion and desolation, the altar-table +overthrown, the glass of the windows lying in fragments on the pavement, +the benches kicked over. + +Kenton, with his boys' help, put what he could straight again, and +then somewhat to their surprise knelt down with bowed head, and said +a prayer, for they saw his lips moving. Then he locked up the church +doors, for the keys had been left in them, and slowly and sadly went +away. + +"Thy mother would be sad to see this work," he said to Steadfast, as +he stopped by her grave. "They say 'tis done for religion's sake, but I +know not what to make of it." + +The old Parish Clerk, North, had had a stroke the night after the +plunder of the church, and lay a-dying and insensible. His wife gave +his keys to Master Kenton, and on the following Sunday there was a +hue-and-cry for them, and Oates the father, the cobbler, a meddling +fellow, came down with a whole rabble of boys after him to the farm to +demand them. "A preacher had come out from Bristol," he said, "a captain +in the army, and he was calling for the keys to get into the church and +give them a godly discourse. It would be the worse for Master Kenton if +he did not give them up." + +John had just sat down in the porch in his clean Sunday smock with the +baby on his knee, and Rusha clinging about him waiting till Stead had +cleaned himself up, and was ready to read to them from the mother's +books. + +When he understood Gates' message he slowly said, "I be in charge of the +keys for this here parish." + +"Come, come, Master Kenton, this wont do, give 'un up or you'll be made +to. Times are changed, and we don't want no parsons nor churchwardens +now, nor no such popery!" + +"I'm accountable to the vestry for the church," gravely said Kenton. +"I will come and see what is doing, and open the church if so be as the +parish require it." + +"Don't you see! The parish does--" + +"I don't call you the parish, Master Gates, nor them boys neither," said +Kenton, getting up however, and placing the little one in the cradle, as +he called out to Patience to keep back the dinner till his return. The +two boys and Rusha followed him to see what would happen. + +Long before they reached the churchyard they heard the sound of a +powerful voice, and presently they could see all the men and women of +the parish as it seemed, gathered about the lych gate, where, on the +large stone on which coffins were wont to be rested, stood a tall thin +man, in a heavy broad-brimmed hat, large bands, crimson scarf, and buff +coat, who was in fiery and eager words calling on all those around to +awaken from the sleep of sloth and sin, break their bonds and fight for +freedom and truth. He waved his long sword as he spoke and dared the +armies of Satan to come on, and it was hard to tell which he really +meant, the forces of sin, or the armies of men whom he believed to be +fighting on the wrong side. + +Someone told him that the keys of the church were brought, but he heeded +not the interruption, except to thunder forth "What care I for your +steeple house! The Church of God is in the souls of the faithful. Is +it not written 'The kingdom of heaven is within you?' What, can ye not +worship save between four walls?" And then he went on with the utmost +fervour and vehemence, calling on all around to set themselves free from +the chains that held them and to strive even to the death. + +He meant all he said. He really believed he was teaching the only way of +righteousness, and so his words had a force that went home to people's +hearts as earnestness always does, and Jephthah, with tears in his eyes, +began begging and praying his father to let him go and fight for the +good Cause. + +"Aye, aye," said Kenton, "against the world, the flesh, and the devil, +and welcome, my son." + +"Then I'll go and enlist under Captain Venn," cried Jeph. + +"Not so fast, my lad. What I gave you leave for was to fight with the +devil." + +"You said the good Cause!" + +"And can you tell me which be the good Cause?" + +"Why, this here, of course. Did not you hear the Captain's good words, +and see his long sword, and didn't they give five marks for Croppie's +bull calf?" + +"Fine words butter no parsnips," slowly responded Kenton. + +"But," put in Steadfast, "butter is risen twopence the pound." + +"Very like," said Kenton, "but how can that be the good Cause that +strips the Churches and claps godly ministers into jail?" + +Jephthah thought he had an answer, but fathers in those times did not +permit themselves to be argued with. + +Prices began going up still higher, for the Cavaliers were reported +to be on their way to besiege Bristol, and the garrison wanted all the +provisions they could lay in, and paid well for them. When Kenton +and his boys went down to market, they found the old walls being +strengthened with earth and stones, and sentries watching at the gates, +but as they brought in provisions, and were by this time well known, no +difficulty was made about admitting them. + +One day, however, as they were returning, they saw a cloud of dust in +the distance, and heard the sounds of drums and fifes playing a joyous +tune. Kenton drew the old mare behind the bank of a high hedge, and the +boys watched eagerly through the hawthorns. + +Presently they saw the Royal Standard of England, though indeed that did +not prove much, for both sides used it alike, but there were many lesser +banners and pennons of lords and knights, waving on the breeze, and as +the Kentons peeped down into the lane below they saw plumed hats, +and shining corslets, and silken scarves, and handsome horses, whose +jingling accoutrements chimed in with the tramp of their hoofs, and the +notes of the music in front, while cheerful voices and laughter could be +heard all around. + +"Oh, father! these be gallant fellows," exclaimed Jephthah. "Will you +let me go with these?" + +Kenton laughed a little to himself. "Which is the good Cause, eh, son +Jeph?" + +He was, however, not at all easy about the state of things. "There is +like to be fighting," he said to Steadfast, as they were busy together +getting hay into the stable, "and that makes trouble even for quiet +folks that only want to be let alone. Now, look you here," and he +pulled out a canvas bag from the corner of the bin. "This has got pretty +tolerably weighty of late, and I doubt me if this be the safest place +for it." + +Stead opened his eyes. The family all knew that the stable was used as +the deposit for money, though none of the young folks had been allowed +to know exactly where it was kept. There were no banks in those days, +and careful people had no choice but either to hoard and hide, or to +lend their money to someone in business. + +The farmer poured out a heap of the money, all silver and copper, but he +did not dare to wait to count it lest he should be interrupted. He tied +up one handful, chiefly of pence, in the same bag, and put the rest into +a bit of old sacking, saying, "You can get to the brook side, to the +place you wot of, better than I can, Stead. Take you this with you and +put it along with the other things, and then you will have something +to fall back on in case of need. We'll put the rest back where it was +before, for it may come handy." + +So Steadfast, much gratified, as well he might be, at the confidence +bestowed on him by his father, took the bag with him under his smock +when he went out with the cows, and bestowed it in a cranny not far from +that in which that more precious trust resided. + + + + +CHAPTER V. DESOLATION. + + + "They shot him dead at the Nine Stonerig, + Beside the headless Cross; + And they left him lying in his blood, + Upon the moor and moss." + SURTEES. + + +More and more soldiers might be seen coming down the roads towards the +town, not by any means always looking as gay as that first troop. +Some of the feathers were as draggled as the old cock's tail after +a thunderstorm, some reduced even to the quill, the coats looked +threadbare, the scarves stained and frayed, the horses lean and bony. + +There was no getting into the town now, and the growling thunder of a +cannon might now and then be heard. Jeph would have liked to spend all +his time on the hill-side where he could see the tents round the town, +and watch bodies of troops come out, looking as small as toy soldiers, +and see the clouds of smoke, sometimes the flashes, a moment or two +before the report. + +He longed to go down and see the camp, taking a load of butter and +eggs, but the neighbours told his father that these troops were bad +paymasters, and that there were idle fellows lurking about who might +take his wares without so much as asking the price. + +However, Jeph grew suddenly eager to herd the cattle, because thus he +had the best chance of watching the long lines of soldiers drawn out +from the camp, and seeing the smoke of the guns, whose sound made poor +Patience stay and tremble at home, and hardly like to have her father +out of her sight. + +There was worse coming. Jeph had been warned to keep his cattle well out +of sight from any of the roads, but when he could see the troops moving +about he could not recollect anything else, and one afternoon Croppie +strayed into the lane where the grass grew thick and rank, and the +others followed her. Jeph had turned her back and was close to the +farmstead when he heard shouts and the clattering of trappings. +Half-a-dozen lean, hungry-looking troopers were clanking down the lane, +and one called out, "Ha! good luck! Just what we want! Beef and forage. +Turn about, young bumpkin, I say. Drive your cattle into camp. For the +King's service." + +"They are father's," sturdily replied Jeph, and called aloud for +"Father." + +He was answered with a rude shout of derision, and poor Croppie was +pricked with the sword's point to turn her away. Jeph was wild with +passion, and struck back the sword with his stick so unexpectedly that +it flew out of the trooper's hand. Of course, more than one stout man +instantly seized the boy, amid howls of rage; and one heavy blow had +fallen on him, when Kenton dashed forward, thrusting himself between his +son, and the uplifted arm, and had begun to speak, when, with the words +"You will, you rebel dog?" a pistol shot was fired. + +Jeph saw his father fall, but felt the grasp upon himself relax, and +heard a voice shouting, "How now, my men, what's this?" + +"He resisted the King's requisition, your Grace," said one of the +troopers, as a handsome lad galloped up. + +"King's requisition! Your own robbery. What have you done to the poor +man, you Schelm? See here, Rupert," he added, as another young man rode +hastily up. + +"Rascals! How often am I to tell you that this is not to be made a place +for your plunder and slaughter," thundered the new comer, rising in his +stirrups, and striking at the troopers with the flat of his sword, so +that they fell back with growls about "soldiers must live," and "curs of +peasants." + +The younger brother had leapt from his horse, and was trying to help +Jephthah raise poor Kenton's head, but it fell back helplessly, deaf +to the screams of "Father, father," with which Patience and Rusha had +darted out, as a cloud of smoke began to rise from the straw yard. Poor +children, they screamed again at what was before them. Rusha ran wildly +away at sight of the soldiers, but Patience, with the baby in her arms, +came up. She did not see her father at first, and only cried aloud to +the gentlemen. + +"O sir, don't let them do it. If they take our cows, the babe will die. +He has no mother!" + +"They shall not, the villains! Brother, can nothing be done?" cried +the youth, with a face of grief and horror. And then there was a great +confusion. + +The two young officers were vehemently angry at sight of the fire, and +shouted fierce orders to the guard of soldiers who had accompanied them +to endeavour to extinguish it, themselves doing their best, and making +the men release Steadfast, whom they had seized upon as he was trying to +trample out the flame, kindled by a match from one of the soldiers +who had scattered themselves about the yard during the struggle with +Jephthah. + +But either the fire was too strong, or the men did not exert themselves; +it was soon plain that the house could not be saved, and the elder +remounted, saying in German, "'Tis of no use, Maurice, we must not +linger here." + +"And can nothing be done?" again asked Prince Maurice. "This is as bad +as in Germany itself." + +"You are new to the trade, Maurice. You will see many such sights, +I fear, ere we have done; though I hoped the English nature was more +kindly." + +Then using the word of command, sending his aides-de-camp, and with much +shouting and calling, Prince Rupert got the troop together again, very +sulky at being baulked of their plunder. They were all made to go out of +the farm yard, and ride away before him, and then the two princes halted +where the poor children, scarce knowing that their home was burning +behind them, were gathered round their father, Patience stroking his +face, Steadfast chafing his hands, Jephthah standing with folded arms, +and a terrible look of grief and wrath on his face. + +"Is there no hope?" asked Prince Maurice, sorrowfully. + +"He is dead. That's all," muttered Jeph between his clenched teeth. + +"Mark," said Prince Rupert, "this mischance is by no command of the +King or mine. The fellow shall be brought to justice if you can swear to +him." + +"I would have hindered it, if I could," said the other prince, in much +slower, and more imperfect English. "It grieves me much. My purse has +little, but here it is." + +He dropped it on the ground while setting spurs to his horse to follow +his brother. + +And thus the poor children were left at first in a sort of numb dismay +after the shock, not even feeling that a heavy shower had begun to fall, +till the baby, whom Patience had laid on the grass, set up a shriek. + +Then she snatched him up, and burst into a bitter cry herself--wailing +"father was dead, and he would die," in broken words. Steadfast then +laid a hand on her, and said "He won't die, Patience, I see Croppie +there, I'll get some milk. Take him." + +There were only smoking walls, but the fire was burning down under the +rain, and had not touched the stable, the wind being the other way. +"Take him there," the boy said. + +"But father--we can't leave him." + +Without more words Jephthah and Steadfast took the still form between +them and bore it into the stable, the baby screaming with hunger all the +time, so that Jephthah hotly said-- + +"Stop that! I can't bear it." + +Steadfast then said he would milk the cow if Jeph would run to the next +cottage and get help. People would come when they knew the soldiers were +gone. + +There was nothing but Steadfast's leathern cap to hold the milk, and +he felt as if his fingers had no strength to draw it; but when he had +brought his sister enough to quiet little Ben, she recollected Rusha, +and besought him to find her. She could hardly sit still and feed the +little one while she heard his voice shouting in vain for the child, +and all the time she was starting with the fancy that she saw her father +move, or heard a rustling in the straw where her brothers had laid him. + +And when little Ben was satisfied, she was almost rent asunder between +her unwillingness to leave unwatched all that was left of her father, +still with that vain hopeless hope that he might revive, all could not +have been over in such a moment, and her terrible anxiety about her +little sister. Could she have run back into the burning house? Or could +those dreadful soldiers have killed her too? + +Steadfast presently came back, having found some of the startled cattle +and driven them in, but no Rusha. Patience was sure she could find her, +and giving the baby to Steadfast ran out in the rain and smouldering +smoke calling her; all in vain. Then she heard voices and feet, and in a +fresh fright was about to turn again, when she knew Jephthah's call. He +had the child in his arms. He had been coming back from the village with +some neighbours, when they saw the poor little thing, crouched like a +hare in her form under a bush. No sooner did she hear them, than like a +hare, she started up to run away; but stumbling over the root of a tree, +she fell and lay, too much frightened even to scream till her brother +picked her up. + +Kind motherly arms were about the poor girls. Old Goody Grace, who had +been with them through their mother's illness, had hobbled up on hearing +the terrible news. She looked like a witch, with a tall hat, short +cloak, and nose and chin nearly meeting, but all Elmwood loved and +trusted her, and the feeling of utter terror and helplessness almost +vanished when she kissed and grieved over the orphans, and took the +direction of things. She straightened and composed poor John Kenton's +limbs, and gave what comfort she could by assuring the children that the +passage must have been well nigh without pain. "And if ever there was +a good man fit to be taken suddenly, it was he," she added. "He be in +a happier place than this has been to him since your good mother was +took." + +Several of the men had accompanied her, and after some consultation, it +was decided that the burial had better take place that very night, even +though there was no time to make a coffin. + +"Many an honest man will be in that same case," said Harry Blane, the +smith, "if they come to blows down there." + +"And He to Whom he is gone will not ask whether he lies in a coffin, or +has the prayers said over him," added Goody, "though 'tis pity on him +too, for he always was a man for churches and parsons and prayers." + +"Vain husks, said the pious captain," put in Oates. + +"Well," said Harry Blane, "those could hardly be vain husks that made +John Kenton what he was. Would that the good old times were back again; +when a sackless man could not be shot down at his own door for nothing +at all." + +Reverently and carefully John Kenton's body was borne to the churchyard, +where he was laid in the grave beside his much loved wife. No knell was +rung: Elmwood, lying far away over the hill side in the narrow wooded +valley with the river between it and the camp, had not yet been visited +by any of the Royalist army, but a midnight toll might have attracted +the attention of some of the lawless stragglers. Nor did anyone feel +capable of uttering a prayer aloud, and thus the only sound at that +strange sad funeral was the low boom of a midnight gun fired in the +beleaguered city. + +Then Patience with Rusha and the baby were taken home by kind old Goody +Grace, while the smith called the two lads into his house. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. LEFT TO THEMSELVES. + + + "One look he cast upon the bier, + Dashed from his eye the gathering tear, + Then, like the high bred colt when freed + First he essays his fire and speed, + He vanished---" + SCOTT. + + +Steadfast was worn and wearied out with grief and slept heavily, knowing +at first that his brother was tossing about a good deal, but soon losing +all perception, and not waking till on that summer morning the sun had +made some progress in the sky. + +Then he came to the sad recollection of the last dreadful day, and knew +that he was lying on Master Blane's kitchen floor. He picked himself up, +and at the same moment heard Jephthah calling him from the outside. + +"Stead," he said, "I am going!" + +"Going!" said poor Stead, half asleep. + +"Yes. I shall never rest till I have had a shot at those barbarous +German princes and the rest of the villains. My father's blood cries to +me from the ground for vengeance." + +"Would father have said like that?" said the boy, bewildered, but +conscious of something defective, though these were Bible words. + +"That's not the point! Captain Venn called every man to take the sword +and hew down the wicked, and slay the ungodly and the murderers. I +will!" cried Jeph, "none shall withhold me." + +He had caught more phrases from these fiery preachers than he himself +knew, and they broke forth in this time of excitement. + +"But, Jeph, what is to become of us? The girls, and the little one! You +are the only one of us who can do a man's work." + +"I could not keep you together!" said Jeph. "Our house burnt by those +accursed sons of Belial, all broken up, and only a lubber like you to +help! No, Goody Grace or some one will take in the girls for what's left +of the stock, and you can soon find a place--a strong fellow like you; +Master Blane might take you and make a smith of you, if you be not too +slow and clumsy." + +"But Jeph--" + +"Withhold me not. Is it not written--" + +"I wish you would not say is it not written," broke in Stead, "I know it +is, but you don't say it right." + +"Because you are yet in darkness," said Jeph, contemptuously. "Hold your +tongue. I must be off at once. Market folk can get into the town by the +low lane out there, away from the camp of the spoilers, early in the +morning, and I must hasten to enlist under Captain Venn. No, don't call +the wenches, they would but strive to daunt my spirit in the holy work +of vengeance on the bloodthirsty, and I can't abide tears and whining. +See here, I found this in the corn bin. I'm poor father's heir. You +won't want money, and I shall; so I shall take it, but I'll come back +and make all your fortunes when I am a captain or a colonel. I wonder +this is not more. We got a heap of late. Maybe father hid it somewhere +else, but 'tis no use seeking now. If you light upon it you are welcome +to do what you will with it. Fare thee well, Steadfast. Do the best you +can for the wenches, but a call is laid on me! I have vowed to avenge +the blood that was shed." + +He strode off into the steep woodland path that clothed the hill side, +and Steadfast looked after him, and felt more utterly deserted than +before. Then he looked up to the sky, and tried to remember what was +the promise to the fatherless children. That made him wonder whether +the Bible and Prayer-book had been burnt, and then his morning's duty of +providing milk for the little ones' breakfast pressed upon him. He took +up a pail of Mrs. Blane's which he thought he might borrow and went off +in search of the cows. So, murmuring the Lord's Prayer as he walked, +and making the resolution not to be dragged away from his trust in the +cavern, nor to forsake his little sister--he heard the lowing of the +cows as he went over the hill, and found them standing at the gate of +the fold yard, waiting to be eased of their milk. Poor creatures, they +seemed so glad to welcome him that it was the first thing that brought +tears to his eyes, and they came with such a rush that he had much ado +to keep them from dropping into the pail as he leant his head against +Croppie's ruddy side. + +There was a little smouldering smoke; but the rain had checked the fire, +and though the roof of the house was gone and it looked frightfully +dreary and wretched, the walls were still standing and the pigs were +grunting about the place. However, Steadfast did not stop to see what +was left within, as he knew Ben would be crying for food, but he carried +his foaming pail back to Goody Grace's as fast as he could, after +turning out the cows on the common, not even stopping to count the sheep +that were straggling about. + +His sisters were watching anxiously from the door of Goody Grace's +hovel, and eagerly cried out "Where's Jeph?" + +Then he had to tell them that Jeph was gone for a soldier, to have his +revenge for his father's death. + +"Jeph gone too!" said poor Patience, looking pale. "Oh, what shall we +ever do?" + +"He did not think of that, I'll warrant, the selfish fellow," said Goody +Grace. "That's the way with lads, nought but themselves." + +"It was because of what they did to poor father," replied Stead. + +"And if he, or the folks he is gone to, call that the Christian +religion, 'tis more than I do!" rejoined the old woman. "I wish I had +met him, I'd have given him a bit of my mind about going off to his +revenge, as he calls it, without ever a thought what was to become of +his own flesh and blood here." + +"He did say I might go to service (not that I shall), and that some one +would take you in for the cattle's sake." + +"O don't do that, Stead," cried Patience, "don't let us part!" He had +only just time to answer, "No such thing," for people were coming about +them by this time, one after another emerging from the cottages that +stood around the village green. The women were all hotly angry with Jeph +for going off and leaving his young brothers and sisters to shift for +themselves. + +"He was ever an idle fellow," said one, "always running after the +soldiers and only wanting an excuse." + +"Best thing he could do for himself or them," growled old Green. + +"Eh! What, Gaffer Green! To go off without a word or saying by your +leave to his poor little sister before his good father be cold in his +grave," exclaimed a whole clamour of voices. + +"Belike he knew what a clack of women's tongues there would be, and +would fain be out of it," replied the old man shrewdly. + +It was a clamour that oppressed poor Patience and made her feel sick +with sorrow and noise. Everybody meant to be very kind and pitiful, but +there was a great deal too much of it, and they felt quite bewildered +by the offers made them. Farmer Mill's wife, of Elmwood Cross, two miles +off, was reported by her sister to want a stout girl to help her, but +there was no chance of her taking Rusha or the baby as well as Patience. +Goody Grace could not undertake the care of Ben unless she could have +Patience, because she was so often called away from home, nor could she +support them without the cows. Smith Blane might have taken Stead, but +his wife would not hear of being troubled with Rusha. And Dame Oates +might endure Rusha for the sake of a useful girl like Patience, but +certainly not the baby. It was an utter Babel and confusion, and in the +midst of it all, Patience crept up to her brother who stood all the +time like a stock, and said "Oh! Stead, I cannot give up Ben to anyone. +Cannot we all keep together?" + +"Hush, Patty! That's what I mean to do, if you will stand by me," he +whispered, "wait till all the clack is over." + +And there he waited with Patience by his side while the parish seemed +to be endlessly striving over them. If one woman seemed about to make a +proposal, half-a-dozen more fell on her and vowed that the poor orphans +would be starved and overworked; till she turned on the foremost with +"And hadn't your poor prentice lad to go before the justices to shew the +weals on his back?" "Aye, Joan Stubbs, and what are you speaking up +for but to get the poor children's sheep? Hey, you now, Stead +Kenton--Lack-a-day, where be they?" + +For while the dispute was at its loudest and hottest, Stead had taken +Rusha by the hand, made a sign to Patience, and the four deserted +children had quietly gone away together into the copsewood that led +to the little glen where the brook ran, and where was the cave that +Steadfast looked on as his special charge. Rusha, frightened by the loud +voices and angry gestures, had begun to cry, and beg she might not be +given to anyone, but stay with her Patty and Stead. + +"And so you shall, my pretty," said Steadfast, sitting down on the stump +of a tree, and taking her on his knee, while Toby nuzzled up to them. + +"Then you think we can go on keeping ourselves, and not letting them +part us," said Patience, earnestly. "If I have done the house work all +this time, and we have the fields, and all the beasts. We have only lost +the house, and I could never bear to live there again," she added, with +a shudder. + +"No," said Steadfast, "it is too near the road while these savage +fellows are about. Besides--" and there he checked himself and added, +"I'll tell you, Patty. Do you remember the old stone cot down there in +the wood?" + +"Where the old hermit lived in the blind Popish times?" + +"Aye. We'll live there. No soldiers will ever find us out there, Patty." + +"Oh! oh! that is good," said Patience. "We shall like that, shan't we, +Rusha?" + +"And," added Steadfast, "there is an old cowshed against the rock +down there, where we could harbour the beasts, for 'tis them that the +soldiers are most after." + +"Let us go down to it at once," cried the girl, joyfully. + +But Steadfast thought it would be wiser to go first to the ruins of +their home; before, as he said, anyone else did so, to see what could be +saved therefrom. + +Patience shrank from the spectacle, and Rusha hung upon her, saying the +soldiers would be there, and beginning to cry. At that moment, however, +Tom Gates' voice came near shouting for "Stead! Stead Kenton!" + +"Come on, Stead. You'll be prentice-lad to Dick Stiggins the tailor, if +so be you bring Whitefoot and the geese for your fee; and Goodman Bold +will have the big wench; and Goody Grace will make shift with the little +ones, provided she has the kine!" + +"We don't mean to be beholden to none of them," said Steadfast, +sturdily, with his hands in his pockets. "We mean to keep what belongs +to us, and work for ourselves." + +"And God will help us," Patience added softly. + +"Ho, ho!" cried Tom, and proud of having found them, he ran before them +back to the village green, and roared out, "Here they be! And they say +as how they don't want none of you, but will keep themselves. Ha! ha!" + +Anyone who saw those four young orphans would not have thought their +trying to keep themselves a laughing matter; and the village folk, who +had been just before so unwilling to undertake them, now began scolding +and blaming them for their folly and ingratitude. + +Nothing indeed makes people so angry as when a kindness which has cost +them a great effort turns out not to be wanted. + +"Look for nothing from us," cried Dame Bold. "I'd have made a good +housewife of you, you ungrateful hussy, and now you may thank yourself, +if you come to begging, I shall have nothing for you." + +"Beggary and rags," repeated the tailor. "Aye, aye; 'tis all very fine +strolling about after the sheep with your hands in your pockets in +summer weather, but you'll sing another song in winter time, and be +sorry you did not know when you had a good offer." + +"The babe will die as sure as 'tis born," added Jean Oates. + +"If they be not all slain by the mad Prince's troopers up in that place +by the roadside," said another. + +Blacksmith Blane and Goody Grace were in the meantime asking the +children what they meant to do, and Stead told them in a few words. +Goody Grace shook her head over little Ben, but Blane declared that +after all it might be the best thing they could do to keep their land +and beasts together. Ten to one that foolish lad Jephthah would come +back with his tail between his legs, and though it would serve him +right, what would they do if all were broken up? Then he slapped Stead +on the back, called him a sensible, steady lad, and promised always to +be his friend. + +Moreover he gave up his morning's work to come with the children to +their homestead, and see what could be saved. It was a real kindness, +not only because his protection made Patience much less afraid to go +near the place, and his strong arm would be a great help to them, but +because he was parish constable and had authority to drive away the +rough lads whom they found already hanging about the ruins, and who had +frightened Patience's poor cat up into the ash tree. + +The boys and two curs were dancing round the tree, and one boy was +stripping off his smock to climb up and throw poor pussy down among them +when Master Blane's angry shout and flourished staff put them all to +flight, and Patience and Rusha began to coax the cat to come down to +them. + +Hunting her had had one good effect, it had occupied the boys and +prevented them from carrying anything off. The stable was safe. What had +been burnt was the hay rick, whence the flames had climbed to the house. +The roof had fallen in, and the walls and chimney stood up blackened and +dismal, but there was a good deal of stone about the house, the roof was +of shingle, and the heavy fall, together with the pouring rain, had +done much to choke the fire, so that when Blane began to throw aside the +charred bits of beams and of the upper floor, more proved to be unburnt, +or at least only singed, than could have been expected. + +The great black iron pot still hung in the chimney with the very meal +and kail broth that Patience had been boiling in it, and Rusha's little +stool stood by the hearth. Then the great chest, or ark as Patience +called it, where all the Sunday clothes were kept, had been crushed +in and the upper things singed, but all below was safe. The beds and +bedding were gone; but then the best bed had been only a box in the wall +with an open side, and the others only chaff or straw stuffed into a +sack. + +Patience's crocks, trenchers, and cups were gone too, all except one +horn mug; but two knives and some spoons were extracted from the ashes. +Furniture was much more scanty everywhere than now. There was not much +to lose, and of that they had lost less than they had feared. + +"And see here, Stead," said Patience joyfully holding up a lesser box +kept within the other. + +It contained her mother's Bible and Prayer-book. The covers were turned +up, a little warped by the heat, and some of the corners of the leaves +were browned, but otherwise they were unhurt. + +"I was in hopes 'twas the money box," said Blane. + +"Jeph has got the bag," said Patience. + +"More shame for him," growled their friend. Steadfast did not think it +necessary to say that was not all the hoard. + +Another thing about which Patience was very anxious was the meal chest. +With much difficulty they reached it. It had been broken in by the fall +of the roof, and some of the contents were scattered, but enough was +gathered up in a pail fetched from the stable to last for some little +time. There were some eggs likewise in the nests, and altogether Goodman +Blane allowed that, if the young Kentons could take care of themselves, +and keep things together, they had decided for the best; if they could, +that was to say. And he helped them to carry their heavier things to +the glen. He wanted to see if it were fit for their habitation, but +Steadfast was almost sorry to show anyone the way, in spite of his trust +and gratitude to the blacksmith. + +However, of course, it was not possible to keep this strange +hiding-place a secret, so he led the way by the path the cattle had +trodden out through the brushwood to the open space where they drank, +and where stood the hermit's hut, a dreary looking den built of big +stones, and with rough slates covering it. There was a kind of hole for +the doorway, and another for the smoke to get out at. Blane whistled +with dismay at the sight of it, and told Stead he could not take the +children to such a place. + +"We will get it better," said Stead. + +"That we will," returned Patience, who felt anything better than being +separated from her brother. + +"It is weather-tight," added Stead, "and when it is cleaned out you will +see!" + +"And the soldiers will never find it," added Patience. + +"There is something in that," said Blane. "But at any rate, though it be +summer, you can never sleep there to-night." + +"The girls cannot," said Stead, "but I shall, to look after things." + +These were long days, and by the evening many of the remnants of +household stuff had been brought, the cows and Whitefoot had been +tied up in their dilapidated shed, with all the hay Stead could gather +together to make them feel at home. There was a hollow under the rock +where he hoped to keep the pigs, but neither they nor the sheep could +be brought in at present. They must take their chance, the sheep on the +moor, the pigs grubbing about the ruins of the farmyard. The soldiers +must be too busy for marauding, to judge by the constant firing that had +gone on all day, the sharp rattle of the musquets, and now and then the +grave roll of a cannon. + +Stead had been too busy to attend, but half the village had been +watching from the height, which accounted perhaps for the move from the +farm having been so uninterrupted after the first. + +It was not yet dark, when, tired out by his day's hard work, Stead +sat himself down at the opening of his hut with Toby by his side. The +evening gold of the sky could hardly be seen through the hazel and +mountain-ash bushes that clothed the steep opposite bank of the glen and +gave him a feeling of security. The brook rippled along below, plainly +to be heard since all other sounds had ceased except the purring of a +night-jar and the cows chewing their cud. There was a little green glade +of short grass sloping down to the stream from the hut where the rabbits +were at play, but on each side the trees and brushwood were thick, with +only a small path through, much overgrown, and behind the rock rose like +a wall, overhung with ivy and traveller's joy. Only one who knew the +place could have found the shed among the thicket where the cows were +fastened, far less the cavern half-way up the side of the rock where +lay the treasures for which Steadfast was a watchman. He thought for a +moment of seeing if all were safe, but then decided, like a wise boy, +that to disturb the creepers, and wear a path to the place, was the +worst thing he could do if he wished for concealment. He had had his +supper at the village, and had no more to do, and after the long day +of going to and fro, even Toby was too much tired to worry the rabbits, +though he had had no heavy weights to carry. Perhaps, indeed, the poor +dog had no spirits to interfere with their sports, as they sat upright, +jumped over one another, and flashed their little white tails. He missed +his old master, and knew perfectly well that his young master was in +trouble and distress, as he crept close up to the boy's breast, and +looked up in his face. Stead's hand patted the rough, wiry hair, and +there was a sort of comfort in the creature's love. But how hard it was +to believe that only yesterday he had a father and a home, and that now +his elder brother was gone, and he had the great charge on him of being +the mainstay of the three younger ones, as well as of protecting that +treasure in the cavern which his father had so solemnly entrusted to +him. + +The boy knelt down to say his prayers, and as he did so, all alone in +the darkening wood, the words "Father of the fatherless, Helper of the +helpless," came to his aid. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. THE HERMIT'S GULLEY. + + + "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, + They were twa bonnie lasses-- + They digged a bower on yonder brae, + And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes." BALLAD. + + +Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side +till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of +his rude little hovel. + +When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be +done. He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own +boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in +which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the +bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without +soap. + +Then he milked the cows, for happily his own buckets had been at the +stable and thus were safe. He had just released Croppie and seen her +begin her breakfast on the grass, when Patience in her little red hood +came tripping through the glen with a broom over her shoulder, and +without the other children. Goody Grace had undertaken to keep them for +the day, whilst Patience worked with her brother, and had further lent +her the broom till she could make another, for all the country brooms +of that time were home-made with the heather and the birch. She had +likewise brought a barley cake, on which and on the milk the pair made +their breakfast, Goody providing for the little ones. + +"We must use it up," said Patience, "for we have got no churn." + +"And we could not get into the town to sell the butter if we had," +returned her brother. "We had better take it up to some one in the +village who might give us something for it, bread or cheese maybe." + +"I would like to make my own butter," sighed Patience, whose mother's +cleanly habits had made her famous for it. + +"So you shall some day, Patty," said her brother, "but there's no +getting into Bristol to buy one or to sell butter now. Hark! they are +beginning again," as the growl of a heavy piece of cannon shook the +ground. + +"I wonder where our Jeph is," said the little girl sadly. "How could he +like to go among all those cruel fighting men? You won't go, Stead?" + +"No, indeed, I have got something else to do." + +The children were hard at work all the time. They cleared out the inside +of their hovel, which had a floor of what was called lime ash, trodden +hard, and not much cracked. Probably other hermits in earlier times +had made the place habitable before the expelled monk whom the +Kentons' great-grandfather recollected; for the cell, though rude, was +wonderfully strong, and the stone walls were very stout and thick, after +the fashion of the middle ages. There was a large flat stone to serve as +a hearth, and an opening at the top for smoke with a couple of big slaty +stones bent towards one another over it as a break to the force of the +rain. The children might have been worse off though there was no window, +and no door to close the opening. That mattered the less in the summer +weather, and before winter came, Stead thought he could close it with +a mat made of the bulrushes that stood up in the brook, lifting their +tall, black heads. + +Straw must serve for their beds till they could get some sacking to +stuff it into, and as some of the sheep would have to be killed and +salted for the winter, the skins would serve for warmth. Patience +arranged the bundles of straw with a neat bit of plaiting round them, +at one corner of the room for herself and Rusha, at the opposite one for +Stead. For the present they must sleep in their clothes. + +Life was always so rough, and, to present notions, comfortless, that +all this was not nearly so terrible to the farmer's daughter of two +centuries ago as it would be to a girl of the present day. Indeed, +save for the grief for the good father, the sense of which now and then +rushed on them like a horrible, too true dream, Steadfast and Patience +would almost have enjoyed the setting up for themselves and all their +contrivances. Some losses, however, besides that of the churn were +very great in their eyes. Patience's spinning wheel especially, and the +tools, scythe, hook, and spade, all of which had been so much damaged, +that Smith Blane had shaken his head over them as past mending. + +Perhaps, however, Stead might borrow and get these made for him. As to +the wheel, that must, like the churn, wait till the siege was over. + +"But will not those dreadful men burn the town down and not leave one +stone on another, if Jeph and the rest of them don't keep them out?" +asked Patience. + +"No," said Stead. "That is not the way in these days--at least not +always. So poor father said last time we went into Bristol, when he had +been talking to the butter-merchant's man. He said the townsfolk would +know the reason why, if the soldiers were for holding out long enough to +get them into trouble." + +"Then perhaps there will not be much fighting and they will not hurt +Jeph," said Patience, to whom Jeph was the whole war. + +"There's no firing to-day. Maybe they are making it up," said Steadfast. + +"I never heeded," said Patience, "we have been so busy! But Stead, how +shall we get the things? We have no money. Shall we sell a sheep or a +pig?" + +Stead looked very knowing, and she exclaimed "Have you any, Stead? I +thought Jeph took it all away." + +Then Stead told her how his father had entrusted him with the bulk of +the savings, in case of need, and had made it over to the use of the +younger ones. + +"It was well you did not know, Patty," he added. "You told no lie, and +Jeph might have taken it all." + +"O! he would not have been so cruel," cried Patience. "He would not want +Rusha and Ben to have nothing." + +Stead did not feel sure, and when Patience asked him where the hoard +was, he shook his head, looked wise, and would not tell her. And then he +warned her, with all his might and main against giving a hint to anyone +that they had any such fund in reserve. She was a little vexed and hurt +at first, but presently she promised. + +"Indeed Stead, I won't say one word about it, and you don't think I +would ever touch it without telling you." + +"No, Patty, you wouldn't, but don't you see, if you know nothing, you +can't tell if people ask you." + +In truth, Stead was less anxious about the money than about the other +treasure, and when presently Patience proposed that the cave where they +used to play should serve for the poultry, so as to save them from the +foxes and polecats, he looked very grave and said "No, no, Patty, don't +you ever tell anyone of that hole, nor let Rusha see it." + +"Oh! I know then!" cried Patience, with a little laugh, "I know what's +there then." + +"There's more than that, sister," and therewith Stead told in her ear of +the precious deposit. + +She looked very grave, and said "Why then it is just like church! O no, +Stead, I'll never tell till good Mr. Holworth comes back. Could not we +say our prayers there on Sundays?" + +Stead liked the thought but shook his head. + +"We must not wear a path up to the place," he said, "nor show the little +ones the way." + +"I shall say mine as near as I can," said Patience. "And I shall ask God +to help us keep it safe." + +Then the children became absorbed in seeking for a place where their +fowls could find safe shelter from the enemies that lurked in the wood, +and ended by an attempt of Stead's to put up some perches across the +beam above the cow-shed. + +Things were forward enough for Rusha and Ben to be fetched down to their +new home that night; when Patience went to fetch them, she heard that +the cessation of firing had really been because the troops within the +town were going to surrender to the King's soldiers outside. + +"Then there will be no more fighting," she anxiously asked of Master +Blane. + +"No man can tell," he answered. + +"And will Jeph come back?" + +But that he could tell as little, and indeed someone else spoke to him, +and he paid the child no more attention. + +Rusha had had a merry day among the children of her own age in the +village; she fretted at coming away, and was frightened at turning +into so lonely a path through the hazel stems, trotting after Patience +because she was afraid to turn back alone, but making a low, peevish +moan all the time. + +[Illustration: Stead Stirring The Porridge.] + +Patience hoped she would be comforted when they came out on their little +glade, and she saw Stead stirring the milk porridge over the fire he had +lighted by the house. For he had found the flint and steel belonging +to the matchlock of his father's old gun, and there was plenty of dry +leaves and half-burnt wood to serve as tinder. The fire for cooking +would be outside, whenever warmth and weather served, to prevent indoor +smoke. And to Patience's eyes it really looked pleasant and comfortable, +with Toby sitting wisely by his young master's side, and the cat +comfortably perched at the door, and Whitefoot tied to a tree, and the +cows in their new abode. But Jerusha was tired and cross, she said it +was an ugly place, and she was afraid of the foxes and the polecats, she +wanted to go home, she wanted to go back to Goody Grace. + +Stead grew angry, and threatened that she should have no supper, and +that made her cry the louder, and shake her frock at him; but Patience, +who knew better how to deal with her, let her finish her cry, and come +creeping back, promising to be good, and glad to eat the supper, which +was wholesome enough, though very smoky: however, the children were used +to smoke, and did not mind it. + +They said their prayers together while the sun was touching the tops of +the trees, crept into their hut, curled themselves up upon their straw +and went to sleep, while Toby lay watchful at the door, and the cat +prowled about in quest of a rabbit or some other evening wanderer for +her supper. + +The next day Patience spent in trying to get things into somewhat better +order, and Steadfast in trying to gather together his live stock, which +he had been forced to leave to take care of themselves. Horse, donkey, +and cows were all safe round their hut; but he could find only three of +the young pigs and the old sow at the farmyard, and it plainly was +not safe to leave them there, though how to pen them up in their new +quarters he did not know. + +The sheep were out on the moor, and only one of them seemed to be +missing. The goat and the geese had likewise taken care of themselves +and seemed glad to see him. He drove them down to their new home, and +fed them there with some of the injured meal. "But what can we do with +the pigs? There's no place they can't get out of but this," said Stead, +looking doubtfully. + +"Do you think I would have pigs in here? No, I am not come to that!" + +It ended in Stead's going to consult Master Blane, who advised that the +younger pigs should be either sold, or killed and salted, and nothing +left but the sow, who was a cunning old animal, and could pretty well +take care of herself, besides that she was so tough and lean that one +must be very hungry indeed to be greatly tempted by her bristles. + +But how sell the pigs or buy the salt in such days as these? There was, +indeed, no firing. + +There was a belief that treaties were going on, but leisure only left +the besiegers more free to go wandering about in search of plunder; and +Stead found all trouble saved him as to disposing of his pigs. They were +quite gone next time he looked for them, and the poor old sow had been +lamed by a shot; but did not seem seriously hurt, and when with some +difficulty she had been persuaded to be driven into the glen, she seemed +likely to be willing to stay there in the corner of the cattle shed. + +The children were glad enough to be in their glen, with all its bareness +and discomfort, when they heard that a troop of horse had visited +Elmwood, and made a requisition there for hay and straw. They had used +no violence, but the farmers were compelled to take it into the camp +in their own waggons, getting nothing in payment but orders on the +treasury, which might as well be waste paper. And, indeed, they were +told by the soldiers that they might be thankful to get off with their +carts and horses. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. STEAD IN POSSESSION. + + + "At night returning, every labour sped, + He sits him down, the monarch of a shed." + GOLDSMITH. + + +Another day made it certain that the garrison of Bristol had surrendered +to the besiegers. A few shots were heard, but they were only fired in +rejoicing by the Royalists, and while Steadfast was studying his barley +field, already silvered over by its long beards, and wondering how soon +it would be ripe, and how he should get it cut and stacked, his name +was shouted out, and he saw Tom Oates and all the rest of the boys +scampering down the lane. + +"Come along, Stead Kenton, come on and see, the Parliament soldiers come +out and go by." + +Poor Steadfast had not much heart for watching soldiers, but it struck +him that he might see or hear something of Jephthah, so he came with the +other boys to the bank, where from behind a hedge they could look down +at the ranks of soldiers as they marched along, five abreast, the road +was not wide enough to hold more. They had been allowed to keep their +weapons, so the officers had their swords, and the men carried their +musquets. Most of them looked dull and dispirited, and the officers had +very gloomy, displeased faces. In fact, they were very angry with their +commander, Colonel Fiennes, for having surrendered so easily, and he was +afterwards brought to a court-martial for having done so. + +Stead did not understand this, he thought only of looking under each +steel cap or tall, slouching hat for Jephthah. Several times a youthful, +slender figure raised his hopes, and disappointed him, and he began to +wonder whether Jeph could have after all stayed behind in the town, or +if he could have been hurt and was ill there. + +By-and-by came a standard, bearing a Bible lying on a sword, and behind +it rode a grave looking officer, with long hair, and a red scarf, whom +the lads recognised as the same who had preached at Elmwood. His men +were in better order than some of the others, and as Steadfast eagerly +watched them, he was sure that he knew the turn of Jeph's head, in spite +of his being in an entirely new suit of clothes, and with a musquet over +his shoulder. + +Stead shook the ash stem he was leaning against, the men looked up, he +saw the well-known face, and called out "Jeph! Jeph!" But some of the +others laughed, Jeph frowned and shook his head, and marched on. Stead +was disappointed, but at any rate he could carry back the assurance to +Patience that Jeph was alive and well, though he seemed to have lost all +care for his brothers and sisters. Yet, perhaps, as a soldier he could +not help it, and it might not be safe to straggle from the ranks. + +There was no more fighting for the present in the neighbourhood. The +princes and their army departed, only leaving a garrison to keep the +city, and it was soon known in the village that the town was in its +usual state, and that it was safe to go in to market as in former times. +Stead accordingly carried in a basket of eggs, which was all he could +yet sell. He was ferried across the river, and made his way in. It was +strange to find the streets looking exactly as usual, and the citizens' +wives coming out with their baskets just as if nothing had happened. + +There was the good-natured face of Mistress Lightfoot, who kept a +baker's shop at the sign of the Wheatsheaf, and was their regular +customer. + +"Ha, little Kenton, be'st thou there? I'm right glad to see thee. They +said the mad fellows had burnt the farm and made an end of all of +you, but I find 'em civil enow, and I'm happy to see 'twas all +leasing-making." + +"It is true, mistress," said Stead, "that they burnt our house and shot +poor father." + +"Eh, you don't say so, my poor lad?" and she hurried her kind questions, +tears coming into her eyes, as she thought of the orphans deserted by +their brother. She was very anxious to have Patience butter-making again +and promised to come with Stead to give her assistance in choosing both +a churn and a spinning wheel if he would come in the next day, for he +had not ventured on bringing any money with him. She bought all his eggs +for her lodger, good Doctor Eales, who could hardly taste anything and +had been obliged to live cooped up in an inner chamber for fear of the +Parliament soldiers, who were misbehaved to Church ministers though +civil enough to women; while these new comers were just the other way, +hat in hand to a clergyman, but apt to be saucy to the lasses. But she +hoped the Doctor would cheer up again, now that the Cathedral was set in +order, so far as might be, and prayers were said there as in old times. +In fact the bells were ringing for morning prayer, and Stead was so glad +to hear them that he thought he might venture in and join in the brief +daily service. There were many others who had done so, for these anxious +days had quickened the devotion of many hearts, and people had felt what +it was to be robbed of their churches and forbidden the use of their +prayer-books. Moreover, some had sons or brothers or husbands fighting +on the one side or the other, and were glad to pray for them, so that +Stead found himself in the midst of quite a congregation, though the +choir had been too much dispersed and broken up for the musical service, +and indeed the organ had been torn to pieces by the Puritan soldiers, +who fancied it was Popish. + +But Stead found himself caring for the Psalms and Prayers in a manner he +had never done before, and which came of the sorrow he had felt and the +troubles that pressed upon him. He fancied all would come right now, and +that soon Mr. Holworth would be back, and he should be able to give up +his charge; and he went home, quite cheered up. + +When he came into the gulley he heard voices through the bushes, and +pressing forward anxiously he saw Blane and Oates before the hovel door, +Patience standing there crying, with the baby in her arms, and Rusha +holding her apron, and an elderly man whom Stead knew as old Lady +Elmwood's steward talking to the other men, who seemed to be persuading +him to something. + +As soon as Stead appeared, the other children ran up to him, and Rusha +hid herself behind him, while Patience said "O Stead, Stead, he has come +to turn us all out! Don't let him!" + +"Nay, nay, little wench, not so fast," said the steward, not unkindly. +"I am but come to look after my Lady's interests, seeing that we heard +your poor father was dead, God have mercy on his soul (touching his hat +reverently), and his son gone off to the wars, and nothing but a pack of +children left." + +"But 'tis all poor father's," muttered Stead, almost dumbfounded. + +"It is held under the manor of Elmwood," explained the steward, "on the +tenure of the delivery of the prime beast on the land on the demise of +lord or tenant, and three days' service in hay and harvest time." + +What this meant Steadfast and Patience knew as little as did Rusha or +Ben, but Goodman Blane explained. + +"The land here is all held under my Lady and Sir George, Stead--mine +just the same--no rent paid, but if there's a death--landlord or +tenant--one has to give the best beast as a fee, besides the work in +harvest." + +"And the question is," proceeded the steward, "who and what is there to +look to. The eldest son is but a lad, if he were here, and this one is a +mere child, and the house is burnt down, and here they be, crouching in +a hovel, and how is it to be with the land. I'm bound to look after the +land. I'm bound to look after my Lady's interest and Sir George's." + +"Be they ready to build up the place if you had another tenant?" asked +Blane, signing to Stead to hold his peace. + +"Well--hum--ha! It might not come handy just now, seeing that Sir George +is off with the King, and all the money and plate with him and most +of the able-bodied servants, but I'm the more bound to look after his +interests." + +That seemed to be Master Brown's one sentence. But Blane took him up, +"Look you here, Master Brown, I, that have been friend and gossip this +many years with poor John Kenton--rest his soul--can tell you that your +lady is like to be better served with this here Steadfast, boy though he +be, than if you had the other stripling with his head full of drums and +marches, guns and preachments, and what not, and who never had a good +day's work in him without his father's eye over him. This little fellow +has done half his share and his own to boot long ago. Now they are +content to dwell down here, out of the way of the soldiering, and don't +ask her ladyship to be at any cost for repairing the farm up there, but +will do the best they can for themselves. So, I say, Master Brown, it +will be a real good work of charity, without hurt to my Lady and Sir +George to let them be, poor things, to fight it out as they can." + +"Well, well, there's somewhat in what you say Goodman Blane, but I'm +bound to look after my Lady's interests and Sir George's." + +"I would come and work like a good one at my Lady's hay and harvest," +said Stead, "and I shall get stronger and bigger every year." + +"But the beast," said the steward, "my Lady's interests must come first, +you see." + +"O don't let him take Croppie," cried Patience. "O sir, not the cows, or +baby will die, and we can't make the butter." + +"You see, Master Brown," explained Blane, "it is butter as is their +chief stand-by. Poor Dame Kenton, as was took last spring, was the best +dairywoman in the parish, and this little maid takes after her. Their +kine are their main prop, but there's the mare, there's not much good +that she can do them." + +"Let us look!" said the steward. "A sorry jade enow! But I don't +know but she will serve our turn better than the cow. There was a +requisition, as they have the impudence to call it, from the Parliament +lot that took off all our horses, except old grey Dobbin and the colt, +and this beast may come in handy to draw the wood. So I'll take her, and +you may think yourself well off, and thank my Lady I'm so easy with you. +'Be not hard on the orphans,' she said. 'Heaven forbid, my Lady,' says +I, 'but I must look after your interests.'" + +The children hung round old Whitefoot, making much of her for the last +time, and Patience and Rusha both cried sadly when she was led away; +and it was hard to believe Master Blane, who told them it was best for +Whitefoot as well as for themselves, since they would find it a hard +matter to get food even for the more necessary animals in the winter, +and the poor beast would soon be skin and bone; while for themselves +the donkey could carry all they wanted to market; and it might be more +important than they understood to be thus regularly accepted as tenants +by the manor, so that no one could turn them out. + +And Stead, remembering the cavern, knew that he ought to be thankful, +while the two men went away, Brown observing, "One can scarce turn 'em +out, poor things, but such a mere lubber as that boy is can do no good! +If the elder one had thought fit to stay and mind his own business now!" + +"A good riddance, I say," returned Blane. "Stead's a good-hearted lad, +though clownish, and I'll do what I can for him." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. WINTRY TIMES. + + + "Thrice welcome may such seasons be, + But welcome too the common way, + The lowly duties of the day." + + +There was of course much to do. Steadfast visited his hoard and took +from thence enough to purchase churn, spinning wheel, and the few tools +that he most needed; but it was not soon that Patience could sit down to +spin. That must be for the winter, and their only chance of light was in +making candles. + +Rusha could gather the green rushes, though she could not peel them +without breaking them; and Patience had to take them out of her hands +and herself strip the white pith so that only one ribbon of green was +left to support it. + +The sheep, excepting a few old ewes, were always sold or killed before +the winter, and by Blane's advice, Stead kept only three. The butcher +Oates took some of the others, and helped Stead to dispose of four more +in the market. Two were killed at different intervals for home use, but +only a very small part was eaten fresh, as a wonderful Sunday treat, +the rest was either disposed of among the neighbours, who took it in +exchange for food of other kinds; or else was salted and dried for the +winter's fare, laid up in bran in two great crocks which Stead had been +forced to purchase, and which with planks from the half-burnt house laid +over them served by turns as tables or seats. The fat was melted up in +Patience's great kettle, and the rushes dipped in it over and over again +till they had such a coating of grease as would enable them to be burnt +in the old horn lantern which had fortunately been in the stable and +escaped the fire. + +Kind neighbours helped Stead to cut and stack his hay, and his little +field of barley. All the grass he could cut on the banks he also saved +for the animals' winter food, and a few turnips, but these were rare and +uncommon articles only used by the most advanced farmers, and his father +had only lately begun to grow them, nor had potatoes become known except +in the gardens of the curious. + +The vexation was that all the manor was called to give their three days' +labour to Lady Elmwood's crops just as all their own were cut, and as, +of course, Master Brown had chosen the finest weather, every one went +in fear and trembling for their own, and Oates and others grumbled so +bitterly at having to work without wage, that Blane asked if they called +their own houses and land nothing. + +There was fresh grumbling too that the food sent out to the labourers in +the field was not as it used to be, good beef and mutton, but only bread +and very hard cheese, and bowls of hasty pudding, with thin, sour small +beer to wash it down. Oates growled and vowed he would never come again +to be so scurvily used; and perhaps no one guessed that my lady was far +more impoverished than her tenants, and had a hard matter to supply even +such fare as this. + +Happily the weather lasted good long enough to save the Kentons' little +crop, though there was a sad remembrance of the old times, when the +church bell gave the signal at sunrise for all the harvesters to come to +church for the brief service, and then to start fair in their gleaning. +The bell did still ring, but there were no prayers. The vicar had never +come back, and it was reported that he had been sent to the plantations +in America. There was no service on Sunday nearer than Bristol. It +was the churchwardens' business to find a minister, and of these, poor +Kenton was dead, and the other, Master Cliffe, was not likely to do +anything that might put the parish to expense. + +Goodman Blane, and some of the other more seriously minded folk used to +walk into Bristol to church when the weather was tolerably fine. If it +were wet, the little stream used to flood the lower valley so that +it was not possible to get across. Steadfast was generally one of the +party. Patience could not go, as it was too far for Rusha to walk, or +for the baby to be carried. + +Once, seeing how much she wished to go again to church, Stead undertook +to mind the children, the cattle, and the dinner in her place; but +what work he found it! When he tried to slice the onions for the broth, +little Ben toddled off, and had to be caught lest he should tumble into +the river. Then Rusha got hold of the knife, cut her hand, and rolled it +up in her Sunday frock, and Steadfast, thinking he had got a small bit +of rag, tied it up in Patience's round cap, but that he did not know +till afterwards, only that baby had got out again, and after some search +was found asleep cuddled up close to the old sow. And so it went on, +till poor Steadfast felt as if he had never spent so long a day. As to +reading his Bible and Prayer-book, it was quite impossible, and he never +had so much respect for Patience before as when he found what she did +every day without seeming to think anything of it. + +She did not get home till after dark, but the Blanes had taken her to +rest at the friends with whom they spent the time between services, and +they had given her a good meal. + +"Somehow," said Patience, "everybody seems kinder than they used to be +before the fighting began--and the parsons said the prayers as if they +had more heart in them." + +Patience was quite right. These times of danger were making everyone +draw nearer together, and look up more heartily to Him in Whom was there +true help. + +But winter was coming on and bringing bad times for the poor children +in their narrow valley, so close to the water. It was not a very cold +season, but it was almost worse, for it was very wet. The little brook +swelled, turned muddy yellow, and came rushing and tumbling along, far +outside its banks, so that Patience wondered whether there could be any +danger of its coming up to their hut and perhaps drowning them. + +"I think there is no fear," said Steadfast. "You see this house has been +here from old times and never got washed away." + +"It wouldn't wash away very easily," said Patience, "I wish we were in +one of the holes up there." + +"If it looks like danger we might get up," said Steadfast, and to please +her he cleared a path to a freshly discovered cave a little lower down +the stream, but so high up on the rocky sides of the ravine as to be +safe from the water. + +Once Patience, left at home watching the rushing of the stream, became +so frightened that she actually took the children up there, and set +Rusha to hold the baby while she dragged up some sheepskins and some +food. + +Steadfast coming home asked what she was about and laughed at her, +showing her, by the marks on the trees, that the flood was already going +down. Such alarms came seldom, but the constant damp was worse. Happily +it was always possible to keep up a fire, wood and turf peat was +plentiful and could be had for the cutting and carrying, and though the +smoke made their eyes tingle, perhaps it hindered the damp from hurting +them, when all the walls wept, in spite of the reed mats which they had +woven and hung over them. And then it was so dark, Patience's rushes did +not give light enough to see to do anything by them even when they did +not get blown out, and when the sun had set there was nothing for it, +but as soon as the few cattle had been foddered in their shed and cave, +to draw the mat and sheepskins that made a curtain by way of door, +fasten it down with a stone, share with dog and cat the supper of broth, +or milk, or porridge which Patience had cooked, and then lie down on +the beds of dried leaves stuffed into sacking, drawing over them the +blankets and cloaks that had happily been saved in the chest, and +nestling on either side of the fire, which, if well managed, would +smoulder on for hours. There the two elder ones would teach Rusha her +catechism and tell old stories, and croon over old rhymes till both the +little ones were asleep, and then would hold counsel on their affairs, +settle how to husband their small stock of money, consider how soon it +would be expedient to finish their store of salted mutton and pork to +keep them from being spoilt by damp, and wonder when their hens would +begin to lay. + +It could hardly be a merry Christmas for the poor children, though they +did stick holly in every chink where it would go, but there were not +many berries that year, and as Rusha said, "there were only thorns." + +Steadfast walked to Bristol through slush and mire and rain, not even +Smith Blane went with him, deeming the weather too bad, and thinking, +perhaps, rather over much of the goose at home. + +Bristol people were keeping Christmas with all their might, making the +more noise and revelry because the Parliament had forbidden the feast to +be observed at all. It was easy to tell who was for the King and who for +the Parliament, for there were bushes of holly, mistletoe, and ivy, at +all the Royalist doors and windows, and from many came the savoury steam +of roast beef or goose, while the other houses were shut up as close as +possible and looked sad and grim. + +All the bells of all the churches were ringing, and everybody seemed to +be trooping into them. As Steadfast was borne along by the throng, there +was a pause, and a boy of his own age with a large hat and long feather, +beneath which could be seen curls of jet-black hair, walked at the head +of a party of gentlemen. Everyone in the crowd uncovered and there was +a vehement outcry of "God save the King! God save the Prince of Wales!" +Everyone thronged after him, and Steadfast had a hard struggle to +squeeze into the Cathedral, and then had to stand all the time with +his back against a pillar, for there was not even room to kneel down at +first. + +There was no organ, but the choir men and boys had rallied there, and +led the Psalms which went up very loudly and heartily. Then the Dean +went up into the pulpit and preached about peace and goodwill to men, +and how all ought to do all in their power to bring those blessed gifts +back again. A good many people dropped off during the sermon, and more +after it, but Steadfast remained. He had never been able to come to the +Communion feast since the evil times had begun, and he had thought much +about it on his lonely walk, and knew that it was the way to be helped +through the hard life he was living. + +When all was over he felt very peaceful, but so hungry and tired with +standing and kneeling so long after his walk, that he was glad to lean +against the wall and take out the piece of bread that Patience had put +in his wallet. + +Presently a step came near, and from under a round velvet skull-cap a +kind old face looked at him which he knew to be that of the Dean. + +"Is that all your Christmas meal, my good boy?" he asked. + +"I shall have something for supper, thank your reverence," replied +Steadfast, taking off his leathern cap. + +"Well, mayhap you could away with something more," said the Dean. "Come +with me." + +And as Steadfast obeyed, he asked farther, "What is your name, my child? +I know your face in church, but not in town." + +"No, sir, I do not live here. I am Steadfast Kenton, and I am from +Elmwood, but we have no prayers nor sermon there since they took the +parson away." + +"Ah! good Master Holworth! Alas! my child, I fear you will scarce see +him back again till the King be in London once more, which Heaven grant. +And, meantime, Sir George Elmwood being patron, none can be intruded +into his room. It is a sore case, and I fear me the case of many a +parish besides." + +Steadfast was so much moved by the good Dean's kindness as to begin to +consider whether it would be betraying the trust to consult him about +that strange treasure in the cave, but the lad was never quick of +thought, and before he could decide one of the canons joined the Dean, +and presently going up the steps to the great hall of the Deanery, +Steadfast saw long tables spread with snowy napkins, trenchers laid all +round, and benches on which a numerous throng were seating themselves, +mostly old people and little children, looking very poor and ragged. +Steadfast held himself to be a yeoman in a small way, and somewhat above +a Christmas feast with the poor, but the Dean's kindness was enough to +make him put away his pride, and then there was such a delicious steam +coming up from the buttery hatch as was enough to melt away all nonsense +of that sort from a hungry lad. + +Grand joints of beef came up in clouds of vapour, and plum puddings +smoked in their rear, to be eaten with them, after the fashion of these +days, when of summer vegetables there were few, and of winter vegetables +none. The choirmen and boys, indeed all the Cathedral clergy who were +unmarried, were dining there too, but the Dean and his wife waited on +the table where the poorest were. Horns of ale were served to everyone, +and then came big mince pies. Steadfast felt a great longing to take +his home to his sisters, but he was ashamed to do it, even though he saw +that it was permissible, they were such beggarly-looking folks who set +the example. + +However, the Dean's wife came up to him with a pleasant smile and asked +if he had no appetite or if he were thinking of someone at home, and +when he answered, she kindly undertook to lend him a basket, for which +he might call after evensong, and in the basket were also afterwards +found some slices of the beef and a fine large cake. + +Then the young Prince and his suite came in, and he stood at the end of +the hall, smiling and looking amused as everyone's cup was filled with +wine--such wine as the Roundhead captains had left, and the Dean at the +head of the table gave out the health of his most sacred Majesty King +Charles, might God bless him, and confound all his enemies! The Prince +bared his black shining locks and drank, and there was a deep Amen, +and then a hurrah enough to rend the old vaulted ceiling; and equally +enthusiastically was the Prince's health afterwards drunk. + +Stead heard the servants saying that such a meal had been a costly +matter, but that the good Dean would have it so in order that one more +true merry Christmas should be remembered in Bristol. + + + + +CHAPTER X. A TERRIBLE HARVEST DAY. + + + "There is a reaper, whose name is death." + LONGFELLOW. + + +Spring came at last, cold indeed but dry, and it brought calves, and +kids, and lambs, and little pigs, besides eggs and milk. The creatures +prospered for two reasons no doubt. One was that Stead and Patience +always prayed for a blessing on them, and the other was that they were +almost as tender and careful over the dumb things as they were over +little Ben, who could now run about and talk. All that year nothing +particular happened to the children. Patience's good butter and fresh +eggs had come to be known in Bristol, and besides, Stead and Rusha used +to find plovers' eggs on the common, for which the merchants' ladies +would pay them, or later for wild strawberries and for whortleberries. +Stead could also make rush baskets and mats, and they were very glad of +such earnings, some of which they spent on clothes, and on making their +hut more comfortable, while some was stored up in case of need in the +winter. + +For another year things went on much in the same manner, Bristol was +still kept by the King's troops; but when Steadfast went into the place +there was less cheerfulness among the loyal folk, and the Puritans began +to talk of victories of their cause, while in the Cathedral the canon's +voice trembled and grew choked in the prayer for the King, and the +sermons were generally about being true and faithful to King and church +whatever might betide. The Prince of Wales had long since moved away, +indeed there were reports that the plague was in some of the low, +crowded streets near the water, and Patience begged her brother to take +care of himself. + +There had been no Christmas feast at the Deanery, it was understood that +the Dean thought it better not to bring so many people together. + +Then as harvest time was coming on more soldiers came into the place. +They looked much shabbier than the troops of a year ago, their coats +were worn and soiled, and their feathers almost stumps, but they made up +for their poverty by swagger and noise, and Steadfast was thankful +that it was unlikely that any of them should find the way to his little +valley with what they called requisitions for the King's service, but +which meant what he knew too well. Some of the villagers formed into +bands, and agreed to meet at the sound of a cowhorn, to drive anyone off +on either side, who came to plunder, and they even had a flag with the +motto-- + + + "If you take our cattle + We will give you battle." + + +And they really did drive off some stragglers. Stead, however, accepted +the offer from Tom Gates of a young dog, considerably larger and +stronger than poor old Toby, yellow and somewhat brindled, and known as +Growler. He looked very terrible, but was very civil to those whom he +knew, and very soon became devoted to all the family, especially to +little Ben. However, most of the garrison and the poorer folk of the +town were taken up with mending the weak places in the walls, and +digging ditches with the earth of which they made steep banks, and there +were sentries at the gates, who were not always civil. Whatever the +country people brought into the town was eagerly bought up, and was paid +for, not often in the coin of the realm, but by tokens made of tin or +some such metal with odd stamps upon them, and though they could be used +as money they would not go nearly so far as the sums they were held to +represent--at least in anyone's hands but those of the officers. + +There were reports that the Parliament army was about to besiege the +town, and Prince Rupert was coming to defend it. Steadfast was very +anxious, and would not let his sisters stir out of the valley, keeping +the cattle there as much as possible. + +One day, when he had been sent for to help to gather in Lady Elmwood's +harvest, in the afternoon the reaping and binding were suddenly +interrupted by the distant rattle of musketry, such as had been heard +two years ago, in the time of the first siege but it was in quite +another direction from the town. Everyone left off work, and made what +speed they could to the top of the sloping field, whence they could see +what was going on. + +"There they be!" shouted Tom Gates. "I saw 'em first! Hurrah! They be at +Luck's mill." + +"Hush! you good-for-nothing," shrieked Bess Hart, throwing her apron +over her head. "When we shall all be killed and murdered." + +"Not just yet, dame," said Master Brown. "They be a long way off, and +they have enow to do with one another. I wonder if Sir George be there. +He writ to my lady that he hoped to see her ere long." + +"And my Roger," called out a woman. "He went with Sir George." + +"And our Jack," was the cry of another; while Steadfast thought of +Jephthah, but knew he must be on the opposite side. From the top of the +field, they could see a wide sweep of country dipping down less than two +miles from them where there was a bridge over a small river, a mill, and +one or two houses near. On the nearer side of the river could be seen +the flash of steel caps, and a close, dark body of men, on the further +side was another force, mostly of horsemen, with what seemed like +waggons and baggage horses in the rear. They had what by its +colours seemed to be the English banner, the others had several +undistinguishable standards. Puffs of smoke broke from the windows of +the mill. + +"Aye!" said Goodman Blane. "I would not be in Miller Luck's shoes just +now. I wonder where he is, poor rogue. Which side have got his mill, +think you, Master Brown?" + +"The round-headed rascals for certain," said Master Brown, "and the +bridge too, trying to hinder the King's men from crossing bag and +baggage to relieve the town." + +"See, there's a party drawing together. Is it to force the bridge?" + +"Aye, aye, and there's another troop galloping up stream. Be they +running off, the cowards?" + +"Not they. Depend on it some of our folks have told them of Colham ford. +Heaven be with them, brave lads." + +"Most like Sir George is there, I don't see 'em." + +"No, of course not, stupid, they'll be taking Colham Lane. See, see, +there's a lot of 'em drawn up to force the bridge. Good luck be with +them." + +More puffs of smoke from the mill, larger ones from the bank, and a +rattle and roll came up to the watchers. There was a moment's shock and +pause in the assault, then a rush forward, and the distant sound of a +cheer, which those on the hill could not help repeating. But from the +red coats on and behind the bridge, proceeded a perfect cloud of smoke, +which hid everything, and when it began to clear away on the wind, there +seemed to be a hand-to-hand struggle going on upon the bridge, smaller +puffs, as though pistols were being used, and forms falling over +the parapet, at which sight the men held their breath, and the women +shrieked and cried "God have mercy on their poor souls." And then the +dark-coated troops seemed to be driven back. + +"That was a feint, only a feint," cried Master Brown. "See there!" + +For the plumed troop of horsemen had indeed crossed, and came galloping +down the bank with such a jingling and clattering, and thundering of +hoofs as came up to the harvest men above, and Master Brown led the +cheer as they charged upon the compact mass of red coats behind the +bridge, and broke and rode them down by the vehemence of the shock. + +"Hurrah!" cried Blane. "Surely they will turn now and take the fellows +on the bridge in the rear. No. Ha! they are hunting them down on to +their baggage! Well done, brave fellows, hip! hip!--" + +But the hurrah died on his lips as a deep low hum--a Psalm tune sung by +hundreds of manly voices--ascended to his ears, to the accompaniment +of the heavy thud of horsehoofs, and from the London Road, between +the bridge and the Royalist horsemen, there emerged a compact body of +troopers, in steel caps and corslets. Forming in ranks of three abreast, +they charged over the bridge, and speedily cleared off the Royalists who +were struggling to obtain a footing there. + +There was small speech on the hill side, as the encounter was watched, +and the Ironsides forming on the other side, charged the already broken +troops before they had time to rally, and there was nothing to be +seen but an utter dispersion and scattering of men, looking from that +distance like ants when their nest has been broken into. + +It was only a skirmish, not to be heard of in history, but opening the +way for the besiegers to the walls of Bristol, and preventing any of +the supplies from reaching the garrison, or any of the intended +reinforcements, except some of the eager Cavaliers, who galloped on +thither, when they found it impossible to return and guard the bridge +for their companions. + +The struggle was over around the bridge in less than two hours, but no +more of Lady Elmwood's harvest was gathered in that evening. The people +watched as if they could not tear themselves from the contemplation +of the successful bands gathering together in their solid masses, and +marching onwards in the direction of Bristol, leaving, however, a strong +guard at the bridge, over which piled waggons and beasts of burthen +continued to pass, captured no doubt and prevented from relieving the +city. It began to draw towards evening, and Master Brown was beginning +to observe that he must go and report to my lady, poor soul; and as to +the corn, well, they had lost a day gaping at the fight, and they must +come up again to-morrow, he only hoped they were not carting it for the +round-headed rogues; when at that moment there was a sudden cry, first +of terror, then of recognition, "Roger, Hodge Fitter! how didst come +here?" + +For a weary, worn-out trooper, with stained buff coat, and heavy boots, +stood panting among them. "I thought 'twas our folks," he said. "Be +mother here?" + +"Hodge! My Hodge! Be'st hurt, my lad?" cried the mother, bursting +through the midst and throwing herself on him, while his father +contented himself with a sort of grunt. "All right, Hodge. How com'st +here?" + +"And where's my Jack?" exclaimed Goody Bent. + +"And where's our Harry?" was another cry from Widow Lakin. + +While Stead longed to ask, but could not be heard in the clamour, +whether his brother had been there. + +Hodge could tell little--seen less than the lookers on above. He had +been among those who had charged through the enemy, and ridden towards +Bristol, but his horse had been struck by a stray shot, and killed under +him. He had avoided the pursuers by scrambling through a hedge, and then +had thought it best to make his way through the fields to his own home, +until, seeing the party on the hill, he had joined them, expecting to +find his parents among them. + +Sir George he knew to be on before him, and probably almost at Bristol +by this time. Poor Jack had been left weeks ago on the field of Naseby, +though there had been no opportunity of letting his family know. "Ill +news travels fast enough!" And as to Harry, he had been shot down by a +trooper near about the bridge, but mayhap might be alive for all that. + +"And my brother, Jeph Kenton," Steadfast managed to say. "Was he there?" + +"Jeph Kenton! Why, he's a canting Roundhead. The only Elmwood man as is! +More shame for him." + +"But was he there?" demanded Stead. + +"There! Well, Captain Venn's horse were there, and he was in them! I +have seen him more than once on outpost duty, prating away as if he had +a beard on his chin. I'd a good mind to put a bullet through him to stop +his impudence, for a disgrace to the place." + +"Then he was in the fight?" reiterated Steadfast. + +"Aye, was he. And got his deserts, I'll be bound, for we went smack +smooth through Venn's horse, like a knife through a mouldy cheese, and +left 'em lying to the right and left. If the other fellows had but stuck +by us as well, we'd have made a clean sweep of the canting dogs." + +Hodge's eloquence was checked by the not unwelcome offer of a drink of +cider. + +"Seems quiet enough down there," said Nanny Lakin, peering wistfully +over the valley where the shadows of evening were spreading. "Mayhap if +I went down I might find out how it is with my poor lad." + +"Nay, I'll go, mother," said a big, loutish youth, hitherto silent; +"mayn't be so well for womenfolk down there." + +"What's that to me, Joe, when my poor Harry may be lying a bleeding his +dear life out down there?" + +"There's no fear," said Hodge. "To give them their due, the Roundheads +be always civil to country folk and women--leastways unless they take +'em for Irish--and thinking that, they did make bloody work with the +poor ladies at Naseby. But the dame there will be safe enough," he +added, as she was already on the move down hill. "Has no one a keg of +cider to give her? I know what 'tis to lie parching under a wound." + +Someone produced one, and as her son shouted "Have with you, mother," +Steadfast hastily asked Tom Oates to let Patience know that he was gone +to see after Jephthah, and joined Ned Lakin and his mother. + +Jeph had indeed left his brothers and sisters in a strange, wild way, +almost cruel in its thoughtlessness; but to Stead it had never seemed +more than that elder brotherly masterfulness that he took as a matter of +course, and there was no resting in the thought of his lying wounded and +helpless on the field--nay, the assurance that Hodge shouted out that +the rebel dogs took care of their own fell on unhearing or unheeding +ears, as Steadfast and Ned Lakin dragged the widow through a gap in the +hedge over another field, and then made their way down a deep stony lane +between high hedges. + +It was getting dark, in spite of the harvest moon, by the time they +came out on the open space below, and began to see that saddest of all +sights, a battlefield at night. + +A soldier used to war would perhaps have scorned to call this a battle, +but it was dreadful enough to these three when they heard the sobbing +panting, and saw the struggling of a poor horse not quite dead, and his +rider a little way from him, a fine stout young man, cold and stiff, as +Nanny turned up his face to see if it was her Harry's. + +A little farther on lay another figure on his back, but as Nanny stooped +over it, a lantern was flashed on her and a gruff voice called out, +"Villains, ungodly churls, be you robbing the dead?" and a tall man +stood darkly before them, pistol in hand. + +"No, sir; no, sir," sobbed out Nanny. "I am only a poor widow woman, +come down to see whether my poor lad be dead or alive and wanting his +mother." + +"What was his regiment?" demanded the soldier in a kinder voice. + +"Oh, sir, your honour, don't be hard on him--he couldn't help it--he +went with Sir George Elmwood." + +"That makes no odds, woman, when a man's down," said the soldier. +"Unless 'tis with the Fifth Monarchy sort, and I don't hold with them. I +have an uncle and a cousin or two among the malignants, as good fellows +as ever lived--no Amalekites and Canaanites--let Smite-them Derry say +what he will. Elmwood! let's see--that was the troop that forded higher +up, and came on Fisher's corps. This way, dame. If your son be down, +you'll find him here; that is, unless he be carried into the mill or one +of the houses. Most of the wounded lie there for the night, but the poor +lads that are killed must be buried to-morrow. Take care, dame," as poor +Nanny cried out in horror at having stumbled over a dead man's legs. He +held his lantern so that she could see the face while she groaned out, +"Poor soul." And thus they worked their sad way up to the buildings +about the water mill. There was a shed through the chinks of which light +could be seen, and at the door of which a soldier exclaimed-- + +"Have ye more wounded, Sam? There's no room for a dog in here. They lie +as thick as herrings in a barrel." + +"Nay, 'tis a poor country woman come to look for her son. What's his +name? Is there a malignant here of the name of Harry Lakin?" + +The question was repeated, and a cry of gladness, "Mother! mother!" +ended in a shriek of pain in the distance within. + +"Aye, get you in, mother, get you in. A woman here will be all the +better, be she who she may." + +The permission was not listened to. Nanny had already sprung into the +midst of the mass of suffering towards the bloody straw where her son +was lying. + +Steadfast, who had of course looked most anxiously at each of the still +forms on the way, now ventured to say:-- + +"So please you, sir, would you ask after one Jephthah Kenton? On your +own side, sir, in Captain Venn's troop? I am his brother." + +"Oh, ho! you are of the right sort, eh?" said the soldier. "Jephthah +Kenton. D'ye know aught of him, Joe?" + +"I heard him answer to the roll call before Venn's troop went off to +quarters," replied the other man. "He is safe and sound, my lad, and +Venn's own orderly." + +Steadfast's heart bounded up. He longed still to know whether poor Harry +Lakin was in very bad case, but it was impossible to get in to discover, +and he was pushed out of the way by a party carrying in another wounded +man, whose moans and cries were fearful to listen to. He thought it +would be wisest to make the best of his way home to Patience, and set +her likewise at rest, for who could tell what she might not have heard. + +The moon was shining brightly enough to make his way plain, but the +scene around was all the sadder and more ghastly in that pallid light, +which showed out the dark forms of man and horse, and what was worse the +white faces turned up, and those dark pools in which once or twice he +had slipped as he saw or fancied he saw movements that made him shudder, +while a poor dog on the other side of the stream howled piteously from +time to time. + +Presently, as he came near a hawthorn bush which cast a strangely shaped +shadow, he heard a sobbing--not like the panting moan of a wounded man, +but the worn out crying of a tired child. He thought some village little +one must have wandered there, and been hemmed in by the fight, and he +called out-- + +"Is anyone there?" + +The sobbing ceased for a moment and he called again, "Who is it? I won't +hurt you," for something white seemed to be squeezing closer into the +bush. + +"Who are you for?" piped out a weak little voice. + +"I'm no soldier," said Steadfast. "Come out, I'll take you home +by-and-by." + +"I have no home!" was the answer. "I want father." + +Steadfast was now under the tree, and could see that it was a little +girl who was sheltering there of about the same size as Rusha. He tried +to take her hand, but she backed against the tree, and he repeated "Come +along, I wouldn't hurt you for the world. Who is your father? Where +shall we find him?" + +"My father is Serjeant Gaythorn of Sir Harry Blythedale's troopers," +said the child, somewhat proudly, then starting again, "You are not a +rebel, are you?" + +"No, I am a country lad," said Steadfast; "I want to help you. Come, you +can't stay here." + +For the little hand she had yielded to him was cold and damp with the +September dews. His touch seemed to give her confidence, and when he +asked, "Can't I take you to your mother?" she answered-- + +"Mother's dead! The rascal Roundheads shot her over at Naseby." + +"Poor child! poor child!" said Steadfast. "And you came on with your +father." + +"Yes, he took me on his horse over the water, and told me to wait by the +bush till he came or sent for me, but he has not come, and the firing is +over and it is dark, and I'm so hungry." + +Steadfast thought the child had better come home with him, but she +declared that father would come back for her. He felt convinced that +her father, if alive, must be in Bristol, and that he could hardly come +through the enemy's outposts, and he explained to her this view. To +his surprise she understood in a moment, having evidently much more +experience of military matters than he had, and when he further told +her that Hodge was at Elmwood, and would no doubt rejoin his regiment +at Bristol the next day, she seemed satisfied, and with the prospect of +supper before her, trotted along, holding Steadfast's hand and munching +a crust which he had found in his pouch, the remains of the interrupted +meal, but though at first it seemed to revive her a good deal, the poor +little thing was evidently tired out, and she soon began to drag, and +fret, and moan. The three miles was a long way for her, and tired as he +was, Steadfast had to take her on his back, and when at last he reached +home, and would have set her down before his astonished sisters, she was +fast asleep with her head on his shoulder. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. THE FORTUNES OF WAR. + + + "Hear and improve, he pertly cries, + I come to make a nation wise." + GAY + + +Very early in the morning, before indeed anyone except Patience was +stirring, Steadfast set forth in search of Roger Fitter to consult him +about the poor child who was fast asleep beside Jerusha; and propose to +him to take her into Bristol to find her father. + +Hodge, who had celebrated his return by a hearty supper with his +friends, was still asleep, and his mother was very unwilling to call +him, or to think of his going back to the wars. However, he rolled down +the cottage stair at last, and the first thing he did was to observe-- + +"Well, mother, how be you? I felt like a boy again, waking up in the old +chamber. Where's my back and breast-piece? Have you a cup of ale, while +I rub it up?" + +"Now, Hodge, you be not going to put on that iron thing again, when +you be come back safe and sound from those bloody wars?" entreated his +mother. + +"Ho, ho! mother, would you have me desert? No, no! I must to my colours +again, or Sir George and my lady might make it too hot to hold you here. +Hollo, young one, Stead Kenton, eh? Didst find thy brother? No, I'll be +bound. The Roundhead rascals have all the luck." + +"I found something else," said Steadfast, and he proceeded to tell about +the child while Dame Fitter stood by with many a pitying "Dear heart!" +and "Good lack!" + +Hodge knew Serjeant Gaythorn, and knew that the poor man's wife had been +shot dead in the flight from Naseby; but he demurred at the notion +of encumbering himself with the child when he went into the town. He +suspected that he should have much ado to get in himself, and if he +could not find her father, what could he do with her? + +Moreover, he much doubted whether the serjeant was alive. He had been +among those on whom the sharpest attack had fallen, and not many of them +had got off alive. + +"What like was he?" said Steadfast. "We looked at a many of the poor +corpses that lay there. They'll never be out of my eyes again at night!" + +"A battlefield or two would cure that," grimly smiled Hodge. +"Gaythorn--he was a man to know again--had big black moustaches, and +had lost an eye, had a scar like a weal from a whip all down here from a +sword-cut at Long Marston." + +"Then I saw him," said Stead, in a low voice. "Did he wear a green +scarf?" + +"Aye, aye. Belonged to the Rangers, but they are pretty nigh all gone +now." + +"Under the rail of the miller's croft," added Stead. + +"Just so. That was where I saw them make a stand and go down like +skittles." + +"Poor little maid. What shall I tell her?" + +"Well, you can never be sure," said Hodge. "There was a man now I +thought as dead as a door nail at Newbury that charged by my side only +yesterday. You'd best tell the maid that if I find her father I'll send +him after her; and if not, when the place is quiet, you might look at +the mill and see if he is lying wounded there." + +Steadfast thought the advice good, and it saved him from what he had no +heart to do, though he could scarcely doubt that one of those ghastly +faces had been the serjeant's. + +When he approached his home he was surprised to hear, through the +copsewood, the sound of chattering, and when he came in sight of the +front of the hut, he beheld Patience making butter with the long handled +churn, little Ben toddling about on the grass, and two little girls +laughing and playing with all the poultry round them. + +One, of course, was stout, ruddy, grey-eyed Rusha, in her tight round +cap, and stout brown petticoat with the homespun apron over it; +the other was like a fairy by her side; slight and tiny, dressed in +something of mixed threads of white and crimson that shone in the +sun, with a velvet bodice, a green ribbon over it, and a gem over the +shoulder that flashed in the sun, a tiny scarlet hood from which such +a quantity of dark locks streamed as to give something the effect of a +goldfinch's crown, and the face was a brilliant little brown one, with +glowing cheeks, pretty little white teeth, and splendid dark eyes. + +Patience could have told that this bright array was so soiled, rumpled, +ragged, and begrimed, that she hardly liked to touch it, but to +Steadfast, who had only seen the child in the moonlight, she was a +wonderful vision in the morning sunshine, and his heart was struck with +a great pity at her clear, merry tones of laughter. + +As he appeared in the open space, Toby running before him, the little +girl looked up and rushed to him crying out-- + +"It's you. Be you the country fellow who took me home? Where's father?" + +Stead was so sorry for her that he took her up in his arms and said-- + +"Hodge Fitter is gone into town to look for him, my pretty. You must +wait here till he comes for you," and he would have kissed her, but she +turned her head away, pouted, and said, "I didn't give you leave to do +that, you lubber lad." + +Steadfast was much diverted. He was now a tall sturdy youth of sixteen, +in a short smock frock, long leathern gaiters, and a round straw hat +of Patience's manufacture, and he felt too clumsy for the dainty little +being, whom he hastened to set on her small feet--in once smart but very +dilapidated shoes. His sisters were somewhat shocked at her impertinence +and Rusha breathed out "Oh--!" + +"I am to wait here for Serjeant Gaythorn," observed the little damsel +somewhat consequentially. "Well! it is a strange little makeshift of a +place, but 'tis the fortune of war, and I have been in worse." + +"It is beautiful!" said Rusha, "now we have got a glass window--and +a real door--and beds--" all which recent stages in improvement she +enumerated with a gasp of triumph and admiration between each. + +"So you think," said little Mistress Gaythorn. "But I have lived in a +castle." + +She was quite ready to tell her history. Her name was Emlyn, and the +early part of the eight years of her life had been spent at Sir Harry +Blythedale's castle, where her father had been butler and her mother my +lady's woman. Sir Harry had gone away to the wars, and in his absence +my lady had held out the castle (perhaps it was only a fortified house) +against General Waller, hoping and hoping in vain for Lord Goring to +come to her relief. + +"That was worst of all," said Emlyn, "we had to hide in the cellars when +they fired at us--and broke all the windows, and a shot killed my +poor dear little kitten because she wouldn't stay down with me. And +we couldn't get any water, except by going out at night; young Master +George was wounded at the well. And they only gave us a tiny bit of +dry bread and salt meat every day, and it made little Ralph sick and he +died. And at last there was only enough for two days more--and a great +breach--that's a hole," she added condescendingly,--"big enough to drive +my lady's coach-and-six through in the court wall. So then my lady +sent out Master Steward with one of the best napkins on the end of a +stick--that was a flag of truce, you know--and all the rascal Roundheads +had to come in, and we had to go out, with only just what we could +carry. My lady went in her coach with Master George, because he was +hurt, and the young ladies, and some of the maids went home; but the +most of us kept with my lady, to guard her to go to his Honour and the +King at Oxford. Father rode big Severn, and mother was on a pillion +behind him, with baby in her arms, and I sat on a cushion in front." + +After that, it seemed that my lady had found a refuge among her kindred, +but that the butler had been enrolled in his master's troop of horse, +and there being no separate means of support for his wife and children, +they had followed the camp, a life that Emlyn had evidently enjoyed, +although the baby died of the exposure. She had been a great pet and +favourite with everybody, and no doubt well-cared for even after the sad +day when her mother had perished in the slaughter at Naseby. Patience +wondered what was to become of the poor child, if her father never +appeared to claim her; but it was no time to bring this forward, for +Steadfast, as soon as he had swallowed his porridge, had to go off to +finish his day's labour for the lady of the manor, warning his sisters +that they had better keep as close as they could in the wood, and not +let the cattle stray out of their valley. + +He had not gone far, however, before he met a party of his fellow +labourers running home. Their trouble had been saved them. The Roundhead +soldiers had taken possession of waggons, horses, corn and all, as the +property of a malignant, and were carrying them off to their camp before +the town. + +Getting up on a hedge, Stead could see these strange harvestmen loading +the waggons and driving them off. He also heard that Sir George had +come late in the evening, and taken old Lady Elmwood and several of the +servants into Bristol for greater safety. Then came the heavy boom of a +great gun in the distance. + +"The Parliament men are having their turn now--as the King's men had +before," said Gates. + +And all who had some leisure--or made it--went off to the church tower +to get a better view of the white tents being set up outside the city +walls, and the compact bodies of troops moving about as if impelled by +machinery, while others more scattered bustled like insects about the +camp. + +Steadfast, however, went home, very anxious about his own three cows, +and seven sheep with their lambs, as well as his small patches of corn, +which, when green, had already only escaped being made forage of by the +Royalist garrison, because he was a tenant of the loyal Elmwoods. These +fields were exposed, though the narrow wooded ravine might protect the +small homestead and the cattle. + +He found his new guest very happy cracking nuts, and expounding to Rusha +what kinds of firearms made the various sounds they heard. Patience had +made an attempt to get her to exchange her soiled finery for a sober +dress of Rusha's; but "What shall I do, Stead?" said the grave +elder sister, "I cannot get her to listen to me, she says she is +no prick-eared Puritan, but truly she is not fit to be seen." Stead +whistled. "Besides that she might bring herself and all of us into +danger with those gewgaws." + +"That's true," said Stead. "Look you here, little maid--none can say +whether some of the rebel folk may find their way here, and they don't +like butterflies of your sort, you know. If you look a sober little +brown bee like Rusha here, they will take no notice, but who knows what +they might do it they found you in your bravery." + +"Bravery," thought Patience, "filthy old rags, me seems," but she had +the prudence not to speak, and Emlyn nodded her head, saying, "I'll do +it for you, but not for her." + +And when all was done, and she was transformed into a little +russet-robed, white-capped being, nothing would serve her, but to +collect all the brightest cranesbill flowers she could find, and stick +them in her own bodice and Rusha's. + +Patience could not at all understand the instinct for bright colours, +but even little Ben shouted "Pretty, pretty." + +Perhaps it was well that the delicate pink blossoms were soon faded and +crushed, and that twilight veiled their colours, for just as the cattle +were being foddered for the night, there was a gay step on the narrow +path, and with a start of terror, Patience beheld a tall soldier, in +tall hat, buff coat, and high boots before her; while Growler made a +horrible noise, but Toby danced in a rapture of delight. + +"Ha! little Patience, is't thou?" + +"Jephthah," she cried, though the voice as well as the form were greatly +changed in these two years between boyhood and manhood. + +"Aye, Jephthah 'tis," he said, taking her hand, and letting her kiss +him. "My spirit was moved to come and see how it was with you all, and +to shew how Heaven had prospered me, so I asked leave of absence +after roll-call, and could better be spared, as that faithful man, +Hold-the-Faith Jenkins, will exhort the men this night. I came up by +Elmwood to learn tidings of you. Ha, Stead! Thou art grown, my lad. May +you be as much grown in grace." + +"You are grown, too," said Patience, almost timidly. "What a man you +are, Jeph! Here, Rusha, you mind Jeph, and here is little Benoni." + +"You have reared that child, then," said Jeph, as the boy clung to his +sister's skirts, "and you have kept things together, Stead, as I hardly +deemed you would do, when I had the call to the higher service." It was +an odd sort of call, but there was no need to go into that matter, and +Stead answered gravely, "Yes, I thank God. He has been very good to us, +and we have fared well. Come in, Jeph, and see, and have something to +eat! I am glad you are come home at last." + +Jephthah graciously consented to enter the low hut. He had to bend his +tall figure and take off his steeple-crowned hat before he could enter +at the low doorway, and then they saw his closely cropped head. + +Patience tarried a moment to ask Rusha what had become of Emlyn. + +"She is hiding in the cow shed," was the answer. "She ran off as soon as +she saw Jeph coming, and said he was a crop-eared villain." + +This was not bad news, and they all entered the hut, where the fire was +made up, and one of Patience's rush candles placed on the table with +a kind of screen of plaited rushes to protect it from the worst of the +draught. Jeph had grown quite into a man in the eyes of his brothers +and sisters. He looked plump and well fed, and his clothes were good and +fresh, and his armour bright, a contrast to Steadfast's smock, stained +with weather and soil, and his rough leathern leggings, although +Patience did her best, and his shirt was scrupulously clean every Sunday +morning. + +The soldier was evidently highly satisfied. "So, children, you have done +better than I could have hoped. This hovel is weather-tight and quite +fit to harbour you. You have done well to keep together, and it is well +said that he who leaves all in the hands of a good Providence shall have +his reward." + +Jeph's words were even more sacred than these, and considerably overawed +Patience, who, as he sat before her there in his buff coat and belt, +laying down the law in pious language, was almost persuaded to believe +that their present comfort and prosperity (such as it was) was owing to +the faith which he said had led to his desertion of his family, though +she had always thought it mere impatience of home work fired by revenge +for his father's death. + +No doubt he believed in this reward himself, in his relief at finding +his brothers and sisters all together and not starving, and considered +their condition a special blessing due to his own zeal, instead of to +Steadfast's patient exertion. + +He was much more disposed to talk of himself and the mercies he had +received, but which the tone of his voice showed him to consider as +truly his deserts. Captain Venn had, it seemed, always favoured him from +the time of his enlistment and nothing but his youth prevented him from +being a corporal. He had been in the two great battles of Marston Moor +and Naseby, and come off unhurt from each, and moreover grace had been +given him to interpret the Scriptures in a manner highly savoury and +inspiriting to the soldiery. + +Here Patience, in utter amaze, could not help crying out "Thou, Jeph! +Thou couldst not read without spelling, and never would." + +He waved his hand. "My sister, what has carnal learning to do with +grace?" And taking a little black Bible from within his breastplate, he +seemed about to give them a specimen, when Emlyn's impatience and hunger +no doubt getting the better of her prudence, she crept into the room, +and presently was seen standing by Steadfast's knee, holding out her +hand for some of the bread and cheese on the table. + +[Illustration: Finding of Emlyn] + +"And who is this little wench?" demanded Jeph, somewhat displeased +that his brother manifested a certain inattention to his exhortation +by signing to Patience to supply her wants. Stead made unusual haste to +reply to prevent her from speaking. + +"She is biding with us till she can join her father, or knows how it is +with him." + +"Humph! She hath not the look of one of the daughters of our people." + +"Nay," said Steadfast. "I went down last night to the mill, Jeph, to see +whether perchance you might be hurt and wanting help, and after I had +heard that all was well with you, I lighted on this poor little maid +crouching under a bush, and brought her home with me for pity's sake +till I could find her friends." + +"The child of a Midianitish woman!" exclaimed Jeph, "one of the Irish +idolaters of whom it is written, 'Thou shalt smite them, and spare +neither man, nor woman, infant, nor suckling.'" "But I am not Irish," +broke out Emlyn, "I am from Worcestershire. My father is Serjeant +Gaythorn, butler to Sir Harry Blythedale. Don't let him kill me," she +cried in an access of terror, throwing herself on Steadfast's breast. + +"No, no. He would not harm thee, on mine hearth. Fear not, little one, +he _shall_ not." + +"Nay," said Jephthah, who, to do him justice, had respected the rights +of hospitality enough not to touch his weapon even when he thought +her Irish, "we harm not women and babes save when they are even as the +Amalekites. Let my brother go, child. I touch thee not, though thou +be of an ungodly seed; and I counsel thee, Steadfast, touch not the +accursed thing, but rid thyself thereof, ere thou be defiled." + +"I shall go so soon as father comes," exclaimed Emlyn. "I am sure I +do not want to stay in this mean, smoky hovel a bit longer than I can +help." + +"Such are the thanks of the ungodly people," said Jeph, gravely rising. +"I must be on my way back. We are digging trenches about this great +city, assuredly believing that it shall be delivered into our hands." + +"Stay, Jeph," said Patience. "Our corn! Will your folk come and cart it +away as they have done my lady's?" + +"The spoil of the wicked is delivered over to the righteous," said Jeph. +"But seeing that the land is mine, a faithful servant of the good cause, +they may not meddle therewith." + +"How are they to know that?" said Steadfast, not stopping to dispute +what rather startled him, since though Jeph was the eldest son, the land +had been made over to himself. To save the crop was the point. + +"Look you here," said Jeph, "walk down with me to my good Captain's +quarters, and he will give you a protection which you may shew to any +man who dares to touch aught that is ours, be it corn or swine, ox or +ass." + +It was a long walk, but Steadfast was only too glad to take it for the +sake of such security, and besides, there was a real pleasure in being +with Jeph, little as he seemed like the same idle, easy-going brother, +except perhaps in those little touches of selfishness and boastfulness, +which, though Stead did not realise them, did recall the original Jeph. + +All through the moonlight walk Jeph expounded his singular mercies, +which apparently meant his achievements in killing Cavaliers, and the +commendations given to him. One of these mercies was the retention of +the home and land, though he kindly explained that his brothers and +sisters were welcome to get their livelihood there whilst he was serving +with the army, but some day he should come home "as one that divideth +the spoil," and build up the old house, unless, indeed, and he glanced +towards the sloping woods of Elmwood Manor, "the house and fields of the +malignants should be delivered to the faithful." + +"My lady's house," said Steadfast under his breath. + +"Wherefore not? Is it not written 'Goodly houses that ye builded not.' +Thou must hear worthy Corporal Hold-the-Faith expound the matter, my +brother." + +They crossed the ferry and reached the outposts at last, and Stead was +much startled when the barrel of a musquet gleamed in the moonlight, and +a gruff voice said "Stand." + +"The jawbone of an ass," promptly answered Jephthah. + +"Pass, jawbone of an ass," responded the sentry, "and all's well. But +who have you here, comrade!" + +Jeph explained, and they passed up the narrow lane, meeting at the end +of it another sentinel, with whom the like watchword was exchanged, and +then they came out on a large village green, completely changed from its +usual aspect by rows of tents, on which the moonlight shone, while Jeph +seemed to know his way through them as well as if he were in the valley +of Elmwood. Most of the men seemed to be asleep, for snores issued +from sundry tents. In others there were low murmurings, perhaps of +conversation, perhaps of prayer, for once Stead heard the hum of an +"Amen." One or two men were about, and Jeph enquired of one if the +Captain were still up, and heard that he was engaged in exercise with +the godly Colonel Benbow. + +Their quarters were in one of the best houses of the little village, +where light gleamed from the window, and an orderly stood within the +door, to whom Jeph spoke, and who replied that they were just in time. +In fact two officers in broad hats and cloaks were just coming out, +and Stead admired Jeph's military salute to them ere he entered the +farmhouse kitchen, where two more gentlemen sat at the table with a +rough plan of the town laid before them. + +"Back again, Kenton," said his captain in a friendly tone. "Hast heard +aught of thy brethren?" + +"Yes, sir, I have found them well and in good heart, and have brought +one with me." + +"A helper in the good cause? Heaven be gracious to thee, my son. Thou +art but young, yet strength is vouchsafed to the feeble hands." + +"Please, sir," said Steadfast, who was twisting his hat about, "I've got +to mind the others, and work for them." + +"Yea, sir," put in Jeph, "there be three younger at home whom he cannot +yet leave. I brought him, sir, to crave from you a protection for the +corn and cattle that are in a sort mine own, being my father's eldest +son. They are all the poor children have to live on." + +"Thou shalt have it," said the captain, drawing his writing materials +nearer to him. "There, my lad. It may be thou dost serve thy Maker as +well by the plough as by the sword." + +Steadfast pulled his forelock, thanked the captain, was reminded of the +word for the night, and safely reached home again. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. FAREWELL TO THE CAVALIERS. + +[Illustration: Farewell To The Cavaliers] + + + "If no more our banners shew + Battles won and banners taken, + Still in death, defeat, and woe, + Ours be loyalty unshaken." + SCOTT + + +The next day the whole family turned out to gather in the corn. Rusha +was making attempts at reaping, while Emlyn played with little Ben, who +toddled about, shouting and chasing her in and out among the shocks. Now +and again they paused at the low, thunderous growl of the great guns +in the distance, in strange contrast to their peaceful work, and once a +foraging party of troopers rode up to the gate of the little field, but +Steadfast met them there, and showed the officer Captain Venn's paper. + +"So you belong to Kenton of Venn's Valiants? It is well. A blessing on +your work!" said the stern dark-faced officer, and on he went, happily +not seeing Emlyn make an ugly face and clench her little fist behind +him. + +"How can you, Stead?" she cried. "I'd rather be cursed than blessed by +such as he!" + +Stead shook his head slowly. "A blessing is better than a curse any +way," said he, but his mind was a good deal confused between the piety +and good conduct of these Roundheads, in contrast with their utter +contempt of the Church, and rude dealing with all he had been taught to +hold sacred. + +His harvest was, however, the matter in hand, and the little patch of +corn was cut and bound between him and his sisters, without further +interruption. The sounds of guns had ceased early in the day, and a +neighbour who had ventured down to the camp to offer some apples for +sale leant over the gate to wonder at the safety of the crop, "though to +be sure the soldiers were very civil, if they would let alone preaching +at you;" adding that there was like to be no more fighting, for one of +the gentlemen inside had ridden out with a white flag, and it was said +the Prince was talking of giving in. + +"Give in!" cried Emlyn setting her teeth. "Never. The Prince will soon +make an end of the rebels, and then I shall ride-a-cock horse with our +regiment again! I shall laugh to see the canting rogues run!" + +But the first thing Steadfast heard the next day was that the royal +standard had come down from the Cathedral tower. He had gone up to +Elmwood to get some provisions, and Tom Oates, who spent most of his +time in gazing from the steeple, assured him that if he would come up, +he would see for himself that the flags were changed. Indeed some of the +foot soldiers who had been quartered in the village to guard the roads +had brought the certain tidings that the city had surrendered and that +the malignants, as they called the Royalists, were to march out that +afternoon, by the same road as that by which the parliamentary army had +gone out two years before. + +This would be the only chance for Emlyn to rejoin her father or to +learn his fate. The little thing was wild with excitement at the news. +Disdainfully she tore off what she called Rusha's Puritan rags, though +as that offended maiden answered "her own were _real_ rags in spite +of all the pains Patience had taken with them. Nothing would make them +tidy," and Rusha pointed to a hopeless stain and to the frayed edges +past mending. + +"I hate tidiness. Only Puritan rebels are tidy!" + +"We are not Puritans!" cried Rusha. + +Emlyn laughed. "Hark at your names," she said. "And what's that great +rebel rogue of a brother of yours?" + +"Oh! he is Jeph! He ran away to the wars! But Stead isn't a Puritan," +cried Rusha, growing more earnest. "He always goes to church--real +church down in Bristol. And poor father was churchmartin, and knew all +the parson's secrets." + +"Hush, Rusha," said Patience, not much liking this disclosure, however +Jerusha might have come by the knowledge, "you and Emlyn don't want to +quarrel when she is just going to say good-bye!" + +This touched the little girls. Rusha had been much enlivened by the +little fairy who had seen so much of the world, and had much more +playfulness than the hard-worked little woodland maid; and Emlyn, who +in spite of her airs, knew that she had been kindly treated, was drawn +towards a companion of her own age, was very fond of little Ben, and +still more so of Steadfast. + +Ben cried, "Em not go;" and Rusha held her hand and begged her not to +forget. + +"O no, I won't forget you," said Emlyn, "and when we come back with the +King and Prince, and drive the Roundhead ragamuffins out of Bristol, +then I'll bring Stead a protection for Croppie and Daisy and all, a +silver bodkin for you, and a Flanders lace collar for Patience, and a +gold chain for Stead, and--But oh! wasn't that a trumpet? Stead! Stead! +We must go, or we shall miss them." Then as she hugged and kissed them, +"I'll tell Sir Harry and my lady how good you have been to me, and get +my lady to make you a tirewoman, Rusha. And dear, dear little Ben shall +be a king's guard all in gold." + +Ben had her last smothering kiss, and Rusha began to cry and sob as the +gay little figure, capering by Stead's side, disappeared between +the stems of the trees making an attempt, which Steadfast instantly +quenched, at singing, + + "The king shall enjoy his own again." + +Patience did not feel disposed to cry. She liked the child, and was +grieved to think what an uncertain lot was before the merry little +being, but her presence had made Rusha and Ben more troublesome than +they had ever been in their lives before, and there was also the anxiety +lest her unguarded tongue should offend Jeph and his friends. + +Emlyn skipped along by Steadfast's side, making him magnificent +promises. They paused by the ruins of the farm where Stead still kept up +as much of the orchard and garden as he could with so little time and +so far from home, and Emlyn filled her skirt with rosy-cheeked apples, +saying in a pretty gentle manner, "they were such a treat to our poor +rogues on a dusty march," and Stead aided her by carrying as many as he +could. + +However, an occasional bugle note, clouds of dust on the road far below +in the valley, and a low, dull tramp warned them to come forward, and +station themselves in the hedge above the deep lane where Steadfast had +once watched for his brother. Only a few of the more adventurous village +lads were before them now, and when Stead explained that the little +wench wanted to watch for her father, they were kind in helping him to +perch her in the hollow of a broken old pollard, where she could see, +and not be seen. For the poor camp maiden knew the need of caution. She +drew Steadfast close to her, and bade him not show himself till she +told him, for some of the wilder sort would blaze away their pistols +at anything, especially when they had had any good ale, or were out of +sorts. + +Poor fellows, there was no doubt of their being out of sorts, as they +tramped along, half hidden in dust, even the officers, who rode before +them, with ragged plumes and slouched hats. The silken banners, which +they had been allowed to carry out, because of their prompt surrender, +hung limp and soiled, almost like tokens of a defeat, and if any one +of those spectators behind the hawthorns had been conversant with Roman +history, it would have seemed to them like the passing under the yoke, +so dejected, nay, ashamed was the demeanour of the gentlemen. Emlyn +whispered name after name as they went by, but even she was hushed and +overawed by the spectacle, as four abreast these sad remnants of the +royal army marched along the lane, one or two trying to whistle, a few +more talking in under tones, but all soon dying away, as if they were +too much out of heart to keep anything up. + +She scarcely stirred while the infantry, who were by far the most +numerous, were going by, only naming corps or officer to Stead, then +there came an interval, and the tread of horses and clank of their +trappings could be heard. Then she almost forgot her precautions in her +eagerness to crane forward. "They are coming!" she said. "All there are +of them will be a guard for the Prince." + +Stead felt a strange thrill of pain as he remembered the terrible scene +when he had last beheld that tall, slight young figure, and dark face, +now far sterner and sadder than in those early days, as Rupert went to +meet the bitterest hour of his life. + +Several gentlemen rode with him, whom Emlyn named as his staff, and +then came more troopers, not alike in dress, being, in fact, remnants of +shattered regiments. She was trembling all over with eagerness, standing +up, and so leaning forward, that she might have tumbled into the lane, +had not Steadfast held her. + +At last came a scream. "There's Sir Harry! There's Dick! There's +Staines! Oh! Dick, Dick, where's father?" + +There was a halt, and bronzed faces looked up. + +"Ha! Who's there?" + +"I! I! Emlyn. Oh! Dick, is father coming?" + +"Hollo, little one! Art thou safe after all?" + +"I am, I am. Father! father! Come! Where is he?" + +"It is poor Gaythorn's little wench," explained one of the soldiers, as +Sir Harry, a grey-haired man, looking worn and weary, turned back, while +Steadfast helped the child out on the bank with some difficulty, for +her extreme haste had nearly brought her down, and she stood curtseying, +holding out her arms, and quivering with hope that began to be fear. + +"Poor child!" were the old gentleman's first words. "And where were +you?" + +"Please your honour, father left me in the thorn brake," said Emlyn, +"and said he would come for me, but he did not; it got dark, and this +country lad found me, and took me home. Is father coming, your honour?" + +"Ah! my poor little maid, your father will never come again," said Sir +Harry, sadly. "He went down by the mill stream. I saw him fall. What is +to be done for her?" he added, turning to a younger gentleman, who rode +by him, as the child stood as it were stunned for a moment. "This is the +worst of it all. Heaven knows we freely sacrifice ourselves in the cause +of Church and King, but it is hard to sacrifice others. Here are these +faithful servants, their home broken up with ours, their children dying, +and themselves killed--she, by the brutes after Naseby, he, in this last +skirmish. 'Tis enough to break a man's heart. And what is to become of +this poor little maid?" + +"Oh! I'll go with your honour," cried Emlyn, stretching out her arms. +"I can ride behind Dick, and I'll give no one any trouble. Oh! take me, +sir." + +"It cannot be done, my poor child," said Sir Harry. "We have no women +with us now, and we have to make our way to Newark by forced marches to +His Majesty. I have no choice but to bestow you somewhere till better +times come. Hark you, my good lad, she says you found her, and have been +good to her. Would your mother take charge of her? I'll leave what I can +with you, and when matters are quiet, my wife, or the child's kindred, +will send after her. Will your father and mother keep her for the +present?" + +"I have none," said Steadfast. "My father was killed in his own yard by +some soldiers who wanted to drive our cows. Mother had died before, but +my sister and I made a shift to take care of the little ones in a poor +place of our own." + +"And can you take the child in? You seem a good lad." + +"We will do our best for her, sir." + +"What's your name?" and "Where do you live?" followed. And as Steadfast +replied the old Cavalier took out his tablets and noted them, adding, +"Then you and your sister will be good to her till we can send after +her." + +"We will treat her like our little sister, sir." + +"And here's something for her keep for the present, little enough I am +afraid, but we poor Cavaliers have not much left. The King's men +were well to do when I heard last of them, and they will make it up +by-and-by. Or if not, my boy, can you do this for the love of God?" + +"Yes, sir," said Steadfast, looking up with his honest eyes, and +touching his forelock at the holy Name. + +"Here, then," and Sir Harry held out two gold pieces, to which his +companion added one, and two or three of the troopers, saying something +about poor Gaythorn's little maid, added some small silver coins. There +was something in Steadfast's mind that would have preferred declining +all payment, but he was a little afraid of Patience's dismay at having +another mouth to provide for all the winter, and he thought too that +Jeph's anger at the adoption of the Canaanitish child might be averted +if it were a matter of business and payment, so he accepted the sum, +thanked Sir Harry and the rest, and renewed his promise to do the best +in his power for the little maiden. He rather wondered that no questions +were asked as to which side he held; but Sir Harry had no time to +inquire, and could only hope that the honest, open face, respectful +manner, clean dress, and the kindness which had rescued the child on +the battlefield were tokens that he might be trusted to take care of +the poor little orphan. Besides, many of the country people were too +ignorant to understand the difference between the sides, but only took +part with their squire, or if they loved their clergyman, clung to him. +So the knight would not ask any questions, and only further called out +"Fare thee well, then, poor little maid, we will send after thee when +we can," and then giving a sharp, quick order, all the little party +galloped off to overtake the rest. + +Emlyn had been bred up in too much awe of Sir Harry to make objections, +but as her friends rode off she gave a sharp shriek, screamed out one +name after another, and finally threw herself down on the road bank in a +wild passion of grief, anger, and despair, and when Steadfast would +have lifted her up and comforted her, she kicked and fought him away. +Presently he tried her again, begging her to come home. + +"I won't! I won't go to your vile, tumble-down, roundhead, crop-eared +hole!" she sobbed out. + +"But, Sir Harry--" + +"I won't! I say." + +He was at his wits' end, but after all, the sound of other steps coming +up startled her into composing herself and sitting up. + +"Hollo, Stead Kenton! Got this little puppet on your hands?" said young +Gates. "Hollo, mistress, you squeal like a whole litter of pigs." + +"I am to take charge of her till her friends can send for her," said +Stead, with protecting dignity. + +"And that will be a long day! Ho, little wench, where didst get that +sweet voice?" + +"Hush, Tom! the child has only just heard that her father is dead." + +This silenced the other lads, and Emlyn's desire to get away from them +accomplished what Steadfast wished, she put her hand into his and let +him lead her away, and as there were sounds of another troop of cavalry +coming up the lane, the boys did not attempt to follow her. She made no +more resistance, though she broke into fresh fits of moaning and crying +all the way home, such as went to Steadfast's heart, though he could not +find a word to comfort her. + +Patience was scarcely delighted when Rusha darted in, crying out that +Emlyn had come back again, but perhaps she was not surprised. She took +the poor worn-out little thing in her arms, and rocked her, saying kind, +tender little words, while Steadfast looked on, wondering at what girls +could do, but not speaking till, finding that Emlyn was fast asleep, +Patience laid her down on the bed without waking her, and then had time +to listen to Stead's account of the interview with Sir Harry Blythedale. + +"I could not help it, Patience," he said, "we couldn't leave the poor +fatherless child out on the hedge-side." + +"No," said Patience, "we can't but have her, as the gentleman said, for +the love of God. He has taken care of us, so we ought to take care of +the fatherless--like ourselves." + +"That's right, Patience," said Steadfast, much relieved in his mind, +"and see here!" + +"I wonder you took that, Stead, and the poor gentlemen so ill off +themselves." + +"Well, Patience, I thought if you would not have her, Goody Grace might +for the pay, but then who knows when any more may come?" + +"Aye," said Patience, "we must keep her, though she will be a handful. +Anyway, all this must be laid out for her, and the first chance I have, +some shall be in decent clothes. I can't a-bear to see her in those +dirty gewgaws." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. GODLY VENN'S TROOP. + + + "Ye abbeys and ye arches, + Ye old cathedrals dear, + The hearts that love you tremble, + And your enemies have cheer." + BP. CLEVELAND COXE. + + +"What would Jeph say?" was the thought of both Steadfast and Patience, +as Emlyn ran about with Rusha and Ben, making herself tolerably happy +and enlivening them all a good deal. After one fight she found that she +must obey Patience, though she made no secret that she liked the sober +young mistress of the hut much less than the others, and could even +sometimes get Steadfast to think her hardly used, but he seldom showed +that feeling, for he had plenty of sense, and could not bear to vex his +sister; besides, he saw there would be no peace if her authority was not +supported. It was a relief that there was no visit from Jeph for some +little time, though the fighting was all over, and people were going in +and out of Bristol as before. + +Stead took the donkey with the panniers full of apples and nuts on +market day, and a pile of fowls and ducks on its back, while he carried +a basket of eggs on his arm, and in his head certain instructions from +Patience about the grogram and linen he was to purchase for Emlyn, in +the hope of making her respectable before Jeph's eyes should rest upon +her. Stead's old customers were glad to see him again, especially Mrs. +Lightfoot, who had Dr. Eales once again in her back rooms, keeping +out of sight, while the good Dean was actually in prison for using the +Prayer-book. Three soldiers were quartered upon her at the Wheatsheaf, +and though, on the whole, they were more civil and much less riotous +than some of her Cavalier lodgers had been, she was always in dread of +their taking offence at the doctor and hauling him off to gaol. + +Steadfast confided to her Patience's commission, which she undertook +to execute herself. It included a spinning-wheel, for Patience was +determined to teach Emlyn to spin, an art of which no respectable woman +from the Queen downwards was ignorant in those days. As to finding his +brother, the best way would be to ask the soldiers who were smoking in +the kitchen where he was likely to be. + +They said that the faithful and valiant Jephthah Kenton of Venn's horse +would be found somewhere about the great steeple house, profanely +called the Cathedral, for there the troops were quartered; and thither +accordingly Stead betook himself, starting as he saw horses gearing or +being groomed on the sward in the close which had always been kept in +such perfect order. Having looked in vain outside for his brother, he +advanced into the building, but he had only just had a view of horses +stamping between the pillars, the floor littered down with straw, a +fire burning in one of the niches, and soldiers lying about, smoking or +eating, in all manner of easy, lounging attitudes, when suddenly there +was a shout of "Prelatist, Idolater, Baal-worshipper, Papist," and +to his horror he found it was all directed towards himself. They were +pointing to his head, and two of them had caught him by the shoulders, +when another voice rose "Ha! Let him alone. I say, Bill! Faithful! It's +my brother. He knows no better!" Then dashing up, Jeph rammed the great +hat down over Stead's brow, eyes and all, and called out, "Whoever +touches my brother must have at me first." + +"There," said one of the others, "the old Adam need not be so fierce in +thee, brother Jephthah! No one wants to hurt the lad, young prelatist +though he be, so he will make amends by burning their superstitious +books on the fire, even as Jehu burnt the worshippers of Baal." + +Steadfast felt somewhat as Christians of old may have felt when called +on to throw incense on the altar of Jupiter, as a handful of pages torn +from a Prayer-book was thrust into his hands. Words did not come +readily to him, but he shook his head and stood still, perhaps stolid in +resistance. + +"Come," said Jeph, laying hold of his shoulder to drag him along. + +"I cannot; 'tis Scripture," said Stead, as in his distress his eye fell +on the leaves in his hand, and he read aloud to prove it-- + +"Thy Word is a lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my path." + +There was one moment's pause. Perhaps the men had absolutely forgotten +how much of their cherished Bible was integral in the hated Prayer-book; +at any rate they were enough taken aback to enable Jeph to pull his +brother out at the door, not without a fraternal cuff or two, as he +exclaimed: + +"Thou foolish fellow! ever running into danger for very dullness." + +"What have I done, Jeph?" asked poor Stead, still bewildered. + +"Done! Why, doffed thy hat, after the superstitious and idolatrous +custom of our fathers." + +"How can it be idolatrous? 'Twas God's house," said Stead. + +"Aye, there thou art in the gall of bitterness. Know'st thou not that no +house is more holy than another?" and Jeph would have gone on for +some time longer, but that he heard sounds which made him suspect +that someone had condemned the version of the Psalms as prelatical and +profane, and that his comrades might yet burst forth to visit their +wrath upon his young brother, whom he therefore proceeded to lead out +of sight as fast as possible into the Dean's garden, where he had the +entree as being orderly to Captain Venn, who, with other officers, abode +in the Deanery. + +There, controversy being dropped for the moment, Stead was able to tell +his brother of his expedition, and how he had been obliged to keep the +child, for very pity's sake, even if her late father's master had not +begged him to do so, and given an earnest of the payment. + +Jeph laughed a little scornfully at the notion of a wild Cavalier ever +paying, but he was not barbarous, and allowed that there was no choice +in the matter, as she could not be turned out to starve. When he heard +that Stead had come with market produce he was displeased at it not +having been brought up for the table of his officers, assuring Stead +that they were not to be confounded with the roistering, penniless +malignants, who robbed instead of paying. Stead said he always supplied +Mistress Lightfoot, but this was laughed to scorn. "The rulers of the +army of saints had a right to be served first, above all before one who +was believed to harbour the idolater, even the priest of the groves." + +Jeph directed that the next supply should come to the Deanery, as one +who had the right of ownership, and Stead submitted, only with the +secret resolve that Dr. Eales should not want his few eggs nor his pat +of fresh butter. + +Jeph was not unkind to Stead, and took him to dine with the other +attendants of the officers in the very stone hall where he had eaten +that Christmas dinner some twenty months before. There was a very +long grace pronounced extempore, and the guests were stout, resolute, +grave-looking men, who kept on their steeple-crowned hats all the +time and conversed in low, deep voices, chiefly, as far as Stead could +gather, on military matters, but they seemed to appreciate good beef and +ale quite as much as any Cavalier trooper could have done. One of them +noticing Stead asked whether he had come to take service with the saints +and enjoy their dominion, but Jeph answered for him that his call lay at +home among those of his own household, until his heart should be whole +with the cause. + +On the whole Stead was proud to see Jeph holding his own, though the +youngest among these determined-looking men. These two years had made +a man of the rough, idle, pleasure-loving boy, and a man after the +Ironsides' fashion, grave, self-contained, and self-depending. Stead had +been more like the elder than the younger brother in old times, but he +felt Jeph immeasurably his elder in the new, unfamiliar atmosphere; and +yet the boy had a strong sense that all was not right; that these were +interlopers in the kind old Dean's house; that the talk about Baal was +mere absurdity; and the profanation of the Cathedral would have been +utterly shocking to his good father. His mind, however, worked slowly, +and he would have had nothing to say even if he could have ventured to +speak; but he was very anxious to get away; and when Jeph would have +kept him to hear the serjeant expound a chapter of Revelation, he +pleaded the necessity of getting home in time to milk the cows, and made +his escape. + +On the whole it was a relief that Jeph was too much occupied with his +military duties to make visits to his home. It might not have been over +easy to keep the peace between him and Emlyn, fiery little Royalist as +she was, and too much used to being petted and fascinating everyone by +her saucy audacity to be likely to be afraid of him. + +If Patience crossed her she would have recourse to Stead, and he could +seldom resist her coaxing, or be entirely disabused of the notion that +his sister expected too much of her. And perhaps it was true. Patience +was scarcely likely to understand differences of character and +temperament, and not merely to recollect that Emlyn was only eighteen +months younger than she had been when she had been forced into the +position of the house mother. So, while Emlyn's wayward fancies were a +great trial, Steadfast's sympathy with them was a greater one. + +Stead continued to see Jeph when taking in the market produce, for which +he was always duly paid. Jeph also wished the whole family to come in +on Sunday to profit by the preaching of some of the great Independent +lights; but Stead, after trying it once, felt so sure that Patience +would be miserable at anything so unaccustomed, so thunderous, and, as +it seemed to him, so abusive, that he held to it that the distance was +too great, and that the cattle could not be left. The soldiery seemed to +him to spend their spare time in defacing the many churches of the city, +chiefly in order to do what they called purifying them from all idols, +in which term they included every sort of carving or picture, or even +figures on monuments. + +And in this work of destruction a chest containing church plate had been +come upon, making their work greedy instead of only mischievous. + +When all the churches in Bristol had been ransacked, they began to +extend their search to the parish churches in the neighbourhood, and +Stead began to be very anxious, though he hoped and believed that the +cave was a perfectly safe place. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. THE QUESTION. + + + "Dogged as does it."--TROLLOPE. + + +"Stead, Stead," cried Rusha, running up to him, as he was slowly digging +over his stubble field to prepare it for the next crop, "the soldiers +are in Elmwood." + +"Yes," said Emlyn, coming up at the same time, "they are knocking about +everything in the church and pulling up the floor." + +"Patience sent us to get some salt," explained Rusha, "and we saw them +from Dame Redman's door. She told us we had better be off and get home +as fast as we could." + +"But I thought we would come and tell you," added Emlyn, "and then +you could get out the long gun and shoot them as they come into the +valley--that is if you can take aim--but I would load and show you how, +and then they would think it was a whole ambush of honest men." + +"Aye, and kill us all--and serve us right," said Stead. "They don't +want to hurt us if we don't meddle with them. But there's a good wench, +Rusha, drive up the cows and sheep this way so that I can have an eye on +them, and shew Captain Venn's paper, if any of those fellows should take +a fancy to them." + +"They are digging all over old parson's garden," said Rusha, as she +obeyed. + +"Was Jeph there?" asked Stead. + +"I didn't see him," said the child. + +Steadfast was very uneasy. That turning up the parson's garden looked +as if they might be in search of the silver belonging to the Church, but +after all they were unlikely to connect him with it, and it was wiser +to go on with his regular work, and manifest no interest in the matter; +besides that, every spadeful he heaved up, every chop he gave the +stubble, seemed to be a comfort, while there was a prayer on his soul +all the time that he might be true to his trust. + +By-and-by he saw Tom Oates running and beckoning to him, "Stead, Stead +Kenton, you are to come." + +"What should I come for?" said Stead, gruffly. + +"The soldiers want you." + +"What call have they to me?" + +"They be come to cleanse the steeple house, they says, and take the +spoil thereof, and they've been routling over the floor and parson's +garden like so many hogs, and are mad because they can't find nothing, +and Thatcher Jerry says, says he, 'Poor John Kenton as was shot was +churchwarden and was very great with Parson. If anybody knows where the +things is 'tis Steadfast Kenton.' So the corporal says, 'Is this so, +Jephthah Kenton?' and Jeph, standing up in his big boots, says, 'Aye, +corporal, my father was yet in the darkness of prelacy, and was what in +their blindness they call a Churchwarden, but as to my brother, that's +neither here nor there, he were but a boy and not like to know more than +I did.' But the corporal said, 'That we will see. Is the lad here?' So +I ups and said nay, but I'd seen you digging your croft, and then they +bade me fetch you. So you must come, willy-nilly, or they may send worse +after you." + +Stead was a little consoled by hearing that his brother was there. He +suspected that Jeph would have consideration enough for his sisters and +for the property that he considered his own to be unwilling to show the +way to their valley; and he also reflected that it would be well that +whatever might happen to himself should be out of sight of his sisters. +Therefore he decided on following Oates, going through on the way the +whole question whether to deny all knowledge, and yet feeling that +the things belonging to God should not be shielded by untruth. His +resolution finally was to be silent, and let them make what they would +out of that, and Stead, though it was long since he had put it on, had a +certain sullen air of stupidity such as often belongs to such natures as +his, and which Jeph knew full well in him. + +They came in sight of the village green where the soldiers were +refreshing themselves at what once had been the Elmwood Arms, for though +not given to excess, total abstinence formed no part of the discipline +of the Puritans; and one of the men started forward, and seizing hold of +Steadfast by the shoulder exclaimed-- + +"As I live, 'tis the young prelatist who bowed himself down in the house +of Rimmon! Come on, thou seed of darkness, and answer for thyself." + +If he had only known it, he was making the part of dogged silence and +resistance infinitely easier to Steadfast by the rudeness and abuse, +which, even in a better cause, would have made it natural to him to act +as he was doing now, giving the soldier all the trouble of dragging him +onward and then standing with his hands in his pockets like an image of +obstinacy. + +"Speak," said the corporal, "and it shall be the better for thee. Hast +thou any knowledge where the priests of Baal have bestowed the vessels +of their mockery of worship." + +Stead moved not a muscle of his face. He had no acquaintance with +priests of Baal or their vessels, so that he was not in the least +bound to comprehend, and one of them exclaimed "The oaf knows not your +meaning, corporal. Speak plainer to his Somerset ears. He knows not the +tongue of the saints." + +"Ho, then, thou child of darkness. Know'st thou where the mass-mongering +silver and gold of this church be hidden from them of whom it is written +'haste to the spoil.' Come, speak out. A crown if thou dost speak--the +lash if thou wilt not answer, thou dumb dog." + +Stead was really not far removed from a dumb dog. All his faculties were +so entirely wrought up to resistance that he had hardly distinguished +the words. + +"Come, come, Stead," said Jeph, "thou art too old for thine old sulky +moods. Speak up, and tell if thou know'st aught of the Communion Cup and +dish, or it will be the worse for thee. Yes or no?" + +Stead made a move with his shoulder to push away his brother, and still +stood silent. + +"There," said Jeph, "it is all Faithful's fault for his rough handling. +His back is set up. It was always so from a boy, and you'll get nought +out of him." + +"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction +shall drive it far from him," quoted the Corporal, taking up a +waggoner's whip which stood by the inn door, and the like of which had +no doubt once been a more familiar weapon to him than the sword. + +"Speak lad--or--" and as no speech came, the lash descended on Stead's +shoulders, not, however, hurting him much save where it grazed the skin +of his face. + +"Now? Not a word? Take off his leathern coat, Faithful, then shall he +feel the reward of sullenness." + +That Jeph did not interfere, while Faithful and another soldier tugged +off his leathern coat, buffeting and kicking him roughly as they did so, +brought additional hardness to Stead. He had been flogged in his time +before, and not without reason, and had taken a pride in not giving in, +or crying out for pain; and the ancient habit acquired in a worse cause, +came to his help. He scarcely recollected the cause of his resistance; +all his powers were concentrated in holding out, and when after another +"Now, vile prelatic spawn, is thy heart still hardened? Yes or no?" the +terrible whip came stinging and biting down on his shoulders and +back, only protected by his shirt, he was entirely bound up in the +determination to endure the pain without a groan or cry. + +But after blows enough had fallen to mark the shirt with streaks of +blood, Jeph could bear it no longer. + +"Hold!" he said. "You will never make him speak that way. Father and +mother never could. Strokes do but harden him." + +"The sure token of a fool," said the corporal, and prepared for another +lash. + +"'Tis plain he knows," said one of the others. "He would never stand +this if a word would save him." + +"Mere malice and obstinacy," said Faithful, "and wilfulness. He will +not utter a word. I would beat it out of him, as I was wont with our old +ass." + +Another stroke descended, worse than all the others after the brief +interval, but Jeph again spoke, "Look you, I know the lad of old and +you'll get no more that way than if you were flogging the sign-post +there. Whether he knows where the things are or not, the temper that is +in him will never answer while you beat him, were it to save his life. +Leave him to me, and I'll be bound to get an answer from him." + +"And I am constable, and I must say," said Blacksmith Blane, moving +forwards, with a bar of iron in his hand, and four or five stout men +behind him, "that to come and abuse and flog a hard-working, fatherless +lad, that never did you no harm, nor anyone else, is not what honest men +look for from soldiers that talk so big about Parliament and rights and +what not!" + +"'Twas for contumacy," began the corporal. + +"Contumacy forsooth, as though 'twas the will of the honest gentlemen in +Parliament that boys should be misused for nothing at all!" + +"If the young dog would have spoken," began the corporal, but somehow he +did not like the look of Blane's iron bar, and thought it best to look +up at the sun, and discover that it was time to depart if the party were +to be in time for roll-call. As it was a private marauding speculation, +it might not be well to have complaints made to Captain Venn, who never +sanctioned plunder nor unnecessary violence. Even Jeph had to march off, +and Steadfast, who had no mind to be pitied, nor asked by the neighbours +what was the real fact, had picked up his spade and jerkin, and was out +of sight while the villagers were watching the soldiers away. + +The first thing he did was to give thanks in heart that he had been +aided thus far not to betray his trust, and then to feel that Corporal +Dodd's flogging was a far severer matter than the worst chastisement he +had ever received from his father, even when he kept Jeph's secret about +the stolen apples. Putting on his coat was impossible, and he was so +stiff and sore that he could not hope to conceal his condition from +Patience. + +At home all were watching for him. They ran up in anxiety, for one +of the ever ready messengers of evil had rushed down the glen to tell +Patience that the soldiers were beating Stead shamefully, and Jeph +standing by not saying one word. Little Ben broke out with "Poor, poor!" +and Rusha burst into tears at sight of the blood, while Emlyn said "Just +what comes of going among the rascal Roundheads," and Patience looked up +at him and said "Was it--?" he nodded, and she quietly said "I'm glad." +He added, "Jeph's coming soon," and she knew that the trial was not +over. The brother and sister needed very few words to understand one +another, and they were afraid to say anything that the younger ones +could understand. Patience washed the weals with warm water and milk, +and wrapped a cloak round him, but even the next morning, he could not +use his arms without fresh bleeding, and the hindrance to the work +was serious. He could do nothing but herd the cattle, and he was much +inclined to drive them to the further end of the moorland where Jephthah +would hardly find him, but then he recollected that Patience would be +left to bear the brunt of the attack, so that he would not go far +off, never guessing, poor fellow, that in his dull, almost blundering +fashion, he was doing like the heroes and the martyrs, but only feeling +that he must keep his trust at all costs. Jeph, however, did not come +that day or the next, so that inwardly, the wound-up feeling had passed +into a weariness of expectation, and outwardly the stripes had healed +enough for Stead to go about his work as usual only a little stiffly. +He went into Bristol on market day as usual, and then it was, on his way +out that Jeph joined him, saying it was to bid Patience and the little +ones farewell, since the marching orders were for the morrow. He was +unusually kind and good-natured; he had a load of comfits for Rusha and +Ben, and a stout piece of woollen stuff for Patience which he said was +such as he was told godly maidens wore, and which possibly the terror of +his steel cap and corslet had cheapened at the mercer's; also he had +a large packet of tractates for Stead's own reading, and he enquired +whether they possessed a Bible. + +Stead wondered whether all this was out of regret at the treatment he +had undergone, or whether it was to put him off his guard, and this +occupied him when Jeph began to preach, as he did uninterruptedly for +the last mile, without any of the sense, if there were any, reaching the +mind of the auditor. + +They reached the hut, the gifts were displayed; and when the young ones, +who were all a little afraid of the elder brother, had gone off to feast +upon the sweets, Jeph began with enquiries after Steadfast's back, and +he replied that it was mending fast, while Patience exclaimed at the +cruelty and wickedness of so using him. + +"Why wouldn't he speak then?" said Jeph. "Yea or nay would have ended it +in a moment, but that's Stead's way. He looks like it now!" and he did, +elbows on knees, and chin on hands. + +"Come now, Stead, thou canst speak to me! Was it all because Faithful +hauled thee about?" + +"He did, and he had no call to," said Stead, surlily. + +"Well, that's true, but I'm not hauling thee. Tell me, Stead, I mind now +that thou wast out with father that last day ere the Parson was taken +to receive his deserts. I don't believe that even thy churlishness +would have stood such blows if thou hadst known naught of the idolatrous +vessels, and couldst have saved thy skin by saying so! No answer. Why, +what have these malignants done for thee that thou shouldst hold by +them? Slain thy father! Burnt thine house! No fault of theirs that thou +art alive this day! Canst not speak?" + +Jeph's temper giving way at the provocation, he forgot his conciliatory +intentions and seizing Stead by the collar shook him violently. Growler +almost broke his chain with rage, Patience screamed and flew to the +rescue, just as she had often done when they were all children together, +and Jeph threw his brother from him so that he fell on the root of a +tree, and lay for a moment or two still, then picked himself up again +evidently with pain, though he answered Patience cheerfully that it was +nought. + +"Thou art enough to drive a man mad with thy surly silence," exclaimed +Jeph, whom this tussle had rendered much more like his old self, "and +after all, knowing that even though thou art not one of the holy ones, +thou wilt not tell a lie, it comes to the same thing. I know thou +wottest where these things are, and it is only thy sullen scruples that +hinder thee from speaking. Nevertheless, I shall leave no stone unturned +till I find them! For what is written 'Thou shalt break down their +altars.'" + +"Jeph," said Stead, firmly. "You left home because of your grief and +rage at father's death. Would you have me break the solemn charge he +laid on me?" + +"Father was a good man after his light," said Jeph, a little staggered, +"but that light was but darkness, and we to whom the day itself is +vouchsafed are not bound by a charge laid on us in ignorance. Any +way, he laid no bonds on me, but I must needs leave thee alone in thy +foolishness of bondage! Come, Patience, wench, and aid me, I know +this rock is honeycombed with caves, like a rabbit warren, no place so +likely." + +"I help thee--no indeed'" cried Patience. "Would I aid thee to do what +would most grieve poor father, that thou once mad'st such a work about! +I should be afraid of his curse." + +Possibly if Jeph had not pledged himself to his comrades to overcome +his brother's resistance, and bring back the treasures, he might have +desisted; but what he did was to call to Rusha to bring him a lantern, +and show him the holes, promising her a tester if she would. She brought +the lantern, but she was a timid, little, unenterprising thing, and was +mortally afraid of the caverns, a fear that Patience had thought it well +not to combat. Emlyn who had already scrambled all over the face of the +slope, and peeped into all, could have told him a great deal more about +them; but she hated the sight of a rebel, and sat on the ground making +ugly faces and throwing little stones after him whenever his back was +turned. + +Stead, afraid to betray by his looks of anxiety, when Jeph came near the +spot, sat all the time with his elbows on his knees, and his hands +over his face, fully trusting to what all had agreed at the time of the +burial of the chest, that there was no sign to indicate its whereabouts. + +He felt rather than saw that Jeph, after tumbling out the straw and fern +that served for fodder in the lower caves, where the sheep and pigs +were sheltered in winter, had scrambled up to the hermit's chapel, when +suddenly there was a shout, but not at all of exultation, and down among +the bushes, lantern and all came the soldier, tumbling and crashing into +the midst of an enormous bramble, whence Stead pulled him out with the +lantern flattened under him, and his first breathless words were-- + +"Beelzebub himself!" Then adding, as he stood upright, "he made full at +me, and I saw his eyes glaring. I heard him groaning. It is an unholy +popish place. No wonder!" + +Patience and Rusha were considerably impressed, for it was astonishing +to see how horribly terrified and shaken was the warrior, who had been +in two pitched battles, and Ben screamed, and needed to be held in +Stead's arms to console him. + +Jeph had no mind to pursue his researches any further. He only tarried +long enough to let Patience pick out half-a-dozen thorns from his cheeks +and hands, and to declare that if he had not to march to-morrow, he +should bring that singular Christian man, Captain Venn, to exorcise the +haunt of Apollyon. Wherewith he bade them all farewell, with hopes that +by the time he saw them again, they would have come to the knowledge of +the truth. + +No sooner was he out of sight among the bushes than Emlyn seized on +Rusha, and whirled her round in a dance as well as her more substantial +proportions would permit, while Steadfast let his countenance expand +into the broad grin that he had all this time been stifling. + +"What _do_ you think it was?" asked Patience, still awestruck. + +"Why--the old owl--and his own bad conscience. He might talk big, but he +didn't half like going against poor father. Thank God! He has saved His +own, and that's over!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. A TABLE OF LOVE IN THE WILDERNESS. + + + "Yet along the Church's sky + Stars are scattered, pure and high; + Yet her wasted gardens bear + Autumn violets, sweet and rare, + Relics of a Spring-time clear, + Earnests of a bright New Year." KEBLE + + +No more was heard or seen of Jephthah, or of Captain Venn's troop. The +garrison within Bristol was small and unenterprising, and in point of +fact the war was over. News travelled slowly, but Stead picked up scraps +at Bristol, by which he understood that things looked very bad for the +King. Moreover, Sir George Elmwood died of his wounds; poor old Lady +Elmwood did not long survive him, and the estate, which had been left +to her for her life, was sequestrated by the Parliament, and redeemed +by the next heir after Sir George, so that there was an exchange of +the Lord of the Manor. The new squire was an elderly man, hearty and +good-natured, who did not seem at all disposed to interfere with any one +on the estate. He was a Presbyterian, and was shocked to find that +the church had been unused for three years. He had it cleaned from the +accumulation of dirt and rubbish, the broken windows mended with plain +glass, and the altar table put down in the nave, as it had been before +Mr. Holworth's time; and he presented to the living Mr. Woodley, a +scholarly-looking person, who wore a black gown and collar and bands. + +The Elmwood folk were pleased to have prayers and sermon again, and +Patience was glad that the children should not grow up like heathens; +but her first church going did not satisfy her entirely. + +"It is all strange," she said to Stead, who had stayed with the cattle. +"He had no book, and it was all out of his own head, not a bit like old +times." + +"Of course not," said Emlyn. "He had got no surplice, and I knew him for +a prick-eared Roundhead! I should have run off home if you had not held +me, Patience. I'll never go there again." + +"I am sure you made it a misery to me, trying to make Rusha and Ben as +idle and restless as yourself," said Patience. + +"They ought not to listen to a mere Roundhead sectary," said Emlyn, +tossing her head. "I couldn't have borne it if I had not had the young +ladies to look at. They had got silk hoods and curls and lace collars, +so as it was a shame a mere Puritan should wear." + +"O Emlyn, Emlyn, it is all for the outside," said Patience. "Now, I +did somehow like to hear good words, though they were not like the old +ones." + +"Good, indeed! from a trumpery Puritan." + +Stead went to church in the afternoon. He was eighteen now, and that +great struggle and effort had made him more of a man. He thought much +when he was working alone in the fields, and he had spent his time on +Sundays in reading his Bible and Prayer-book, and comparing them with +Jeph's tracts. Since Emlyn had come, he had made a corner of the cowshed +fit to sleep in, by stuffing the walls with dry heather, and the +sweet breath of the cows kept it sufficiently warm, and on the winter +evenings, he took a lantern there with one of Patience's rush lights, +learnt a text or two anew, and then repeated passages to himself and +thought over them. What would seem intolerably dull to a lad now, was +rest to one who had been rendered older than his age by sorrow and +responsibility, and the events that were passing led people to consider +religious questions a great deal. + +But Stead was puzzled. The minister was not like the soldiers whom he +had heard raving about the reign of the saints, and abusing the church. +He prayed for the King's having a good deliverance from his troubles, +and for the peace of the kingdom, and he gave out that there was to be +a week of fasting, preaching, and preparation for the Sacrament of the +Lord's Supper. + +The better sort of people in the village were very much pleased, nobody +except Goody Grace was dissatisfied, and people told her that was only +because she was old and given to grumbling at everything new. Blane the +Smith tapped Stead on the shoulder, and said, "Hark ye, my lad. If it +be true that thou wast in old Parson's secrets, now's the time for thou +know'st what." + +Stead's mouth was open, and his face blank, chiefly because he did not +know what to do, and was taken by surprise, and Blane took it for an +answer. + +"Oh! if you don't know, that's another thing, but then 'twas for nothing +that the troopers flogged you? Well," he muttered, as Stead walked +off, "that's a queer conditioned lad, to let himself be flogged, as I +wouldn't whip a dog, all out of temper, because he wouldn't answer a +question. But he's a good lad, and I'll not bring him into trouble by a +word to squire or minister." + +The children went off to gather cowslips, and Stead was able to talk it +over with Patience, who at first was eager to be rid of the dangerous +trust, and added, with a sigh, "That she had never taken the Sacrament +since the Easter before poor father was killed, and it must be nigh upon +Whitsuntide now." + +"That's true," said Stead, "but nobody makes any count of holy days now. +It don't seem right, Patience." + +"Not like what it used to be," said Patience. "And yet this minister is +surely a godly man." + +"Father and parson didn't say ought about a godly man. They made me take +my solemn promise that I'd only give the things to a lawfully ordained +minister." + +"He is a minister, and he comes by law," argued Patience. "Do be +satisfied, Stead. I'm always in fear now that folks guess we have +somewhat in charge; and Emlyn is such a child for prying and chattering. +And if they should come and beat thee again, or do worse. Oh, Stead! +surely you might give them up to a good man like that; Smith Blane says +you ought!" + +"I doubt me! I know that sort don't hold with Bishops, and, so far as +I can see, by father's old Prayer-book, a lawful minister must have a +Bishop to lay hands on him," said Stead, who had studied the subject +as far as his means would allow, and had good though slow brains of his +own, matured by responsibility. "I'll tell you what, Patience, I'll go +and see Dr. Eales about it. I wot he is a minister of the old sort, that +father would say I might trust to." + +Dr. Eales was still living in Mrs. Lightfoot's lodgings, at the sign of +the Wheatsheaf, or more properly starving, for he had only ten pounds a +year paid to him out of the benefice that had been taken away from him; +and though that went farther then than it would do now, it would not +have maintained him, but that his good hostess charged him as little as +she could afford, and he also had a few pupils among the gentry's sons, +but there were too many clergymen in the same straits for this to be a +very profitable undertaking. There were no soldiers in Mrs. Lightfoot's +house now, and the doctor lived more at large, but still cautiously, for +in the opposite house, named the "Ark," whose gable end nearly met the +Wheatsheaf's, dwelt a rival baker, a Brownist, whose great object seemed +to be to spy upon the clergyman, and have something to report against +him, nor was Mrs. Lightfoot's own man to be trusted. Stead lingered +about the open stall where the bread was sold till no customer was at +hand, and then mentioned under his breath to the good dame his desire to +speak with her lodger. + +"Certainly," she said, but the Doctor was now with his pupils at +Mistress Rivett's. He always left them at eleven of the clock, more +shame of Mrs. Rivett not to give the good man his dinner, which she +would never feel. Steadfast had better watch for him at the gate which +opened on the down, for there he could speak more privately and securely +than at home. + +He took the advice, and passed away the time as best he could, learning +on the way that a news letter had been received stating that the King +was with the Scottish army at Newcastle, and that it was expected that +on receiving their arrears of pay, the Scots would surrender him to the +Parliament, a proceeding which the folk in the market-place approved or +disapproved according to their politics. + +Mrs. Rivett's house stood a little apart from the town, with a court and +gates opening on the road over the down; and just as eleven strokes were +chiming from the town clock below, a somewhat bent, silver-haired man, +in a square cap and black gown, leaning on a stick, came out of it. +Stead, after the respectful fashion of his earlier days, put his knee to +the ground, doffed his steeple-crowned hat and craved a blessing, both +he and the Doctor casting a quick glance round so as to be sure there +was no one in sight. + +Dr. Eales gave it earnestly, as one to whom it was a rare joy to find a +country youth thus demanding it, and as he looked at the honest face he +said: + +"You are mine hostess' good purveyor, methinks, to whom I have often +owed a wholesome meal." + +"Steadfast Kenton, so please your reverence. There is a secret matter on +which I would fain have your counsel, and Mistress Lightfoot thought I +might speak to you here with greater safety." + +"She did well. Speak on, my good boy, if we walk up and down here we +shall be private. It does my heart good to commune with a faithful young +son of the Church." + +Steadfast told his story, at which the good old Canon was much affected. +His brother Holworth, as he called him, was not in prison but in the +Virginian plantations. He was still the only true minister of Elmwood, +and Mr. Woodley, though owned by the present so-called law of the land, +was not there rightly by the law of the Church, and, therefore, Stead +was certainly not bound to surrender the trust to him, but rather the +contrary. + +The Doctor could have gone into a long disquisition about Presbyterian +Orders, contradicting the arguments many good and devout people adduced +in favour of them, but there was little time, so he only confirmed with +authority Stead's belief that a Bishop's Ordination was indispensable +to a true pastor, "the only door by which to enter to the charge of the +fold." + +Then came the other question of attendance on his ministry, and whether +to attend the feast given out for the Sunday week, after the long-forced +abstinence: Patience's, ever since the break-up of the parish; +Steadfast's, since the siege of Bristol. Dr. Eales considered, "I cannot +bid you go to that in the efficacy of which neither you nor I believe, +my son," he said. "It would not be with faith. Here, indeed, I have +ministered privately to a few of the faithful in their own houses, but +the risk is over great for you and your sister to join us, espied as we +are. How is it with your home?" + +"O, sir, would you even come thither?" exclaimed Steadfast, joyfully, +and he described his ravine, which was of course known to the Elmwood +neighbours, but very seldom visited by them, never except in the +middle of the day, and where the thicket and the caverns afforded every +facility for concealment. + +Whitsun Day was coming, and Dr. Eales proposed to come over to the glen +and celebrate the Holy Feast in the very early morning before anyone was +astir. There were a few of his Bristol flock who would be thankful for +the opportunity of meeting more safely than they could do in the city, +since at Easter they had as nearly as possible been all arrested in a +pavilion in Mr. Rivett's garden which they had thought unsuspected. + +There would be one market day first, and on that Stead would come and +explain his preparations, and hear what the Doctor had arranged. And +so it was. The time was to be three o'clock, the very dawn of the long +summer day, the time when sleep is deepest. Dr. Eales and Mrs. Lightfoot +would come out the night before, he not returning after his lesson to +the Rivetts, and she making some excuse about going to see friends for +the Sunday. + +The Rivetts, living outside the gates where sentries still kept guard, +could start in the morning, and so could the four others who were to +form part of the congregation. Goody Grace was the only person near home +whom Patience wished to invite, for she too had grieved over the great +deprivation, and had too much heart for the Church to be satisfied with +Mr. Woodley's ministrations. Perhaps even she did not understand the +difference, but she could be trusted, and the young people knew how +happy it would make her. + +Little can we guess what such an opportunity was to the faithful +children of the Church in those sad days. Goody Grace folded her hands +and murmured, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace," when +Patience told her of the invitation, and Patience, though she had all +her ordinary work to do, went quietly about it, as if she had some great +thought of peace and awe upon her. + +"Why, Patience, you seem as if you were making ready for some guest, the +Prince of Wales at least!" said Emlyn, on Saturday night. + +Patience smiled a sweet little happy smile and in her heart she said +"And so I am, and for a greater far!" but she did say "Yes, Emlyn, Dr. +Eales is coming to sleep here to-night, and he will pray with us in the +early morning." + +It had been agreed that the Celebration should take place first, and +then after a short pause, the Morning Service. Jerusha was eleven years +old, and a very good girl, and since Confirmation was impossible, her +brother and sister would have asked for her admission to the Holy Feast +without it, but she could not be called up without the danger of awaking +Emlyn; and Patience was so sure that it was not safe to trust that +damsel with the full knowledge of the treasure that, though Steadfast +always thought his sister hard on her, he was forced to give way. The +children were to be admitted to Matins, for if any idea oozed out that +this latter service had been held, no great danger was likely to come +of it. Dr. Eales arrived in the evening, Steadfast meeting him to act +as guide, and Patience set before him of her best. A fowl, which she had +been forced to broil for want of other means of dressing it; bread baked +in a tin with a fire of leaves and small sticks heaped over it; roasted +eggs, excellent butter and milk. She apologised for not having dared +to fetch any ale for fear of exciting suspicion, but the doctor set her +quite at ease by his manifest enjoyment of her little feast, declaring +that he had not made so good a meal since Bristol was taken. + +Then he catechised the children. Little Ben could say the Lord's Prayer, +the Belief, and some of the shorter Commandments, and the doctor patted +his little round white cap, and gave him two Turkey figs as a reward. + +Jerusha, when she got over her desperate fright enough to speak above a +whisper, was quite perfect from her name down to "charity with all men," +but Emlyn stumbled horribly over even the first answers, and utterly +broke down in the Fourth Commandment; but she smiled up in the doctor's +face in her pretty way, and blushed as she said "The chaplain at +Blythedale had taught us so far, your reverence." + +"And have you learnt no further?" + +"If you were here to teach me, sir, I would soon learn it," said the +little witch, but she did not come over him as she did with most people. + +"You have as good an instructor as I for your needs, in this discreet +maiden," said Dr. Eales, and as something of a pout descended on +the sparkling little face, "when you know all the answers, perchance +Steadfast here may bring you to my lodgings and I will hear you." + +"I could learn them myself if I had the book," said Emlyn. + +The fact being that the Catechism was taught by Patience from memory +in those winter evenings when all went to bed to save candle light, but +that when Steadfast retired to the cow-house, Emlyn either insisted +on playing with the others or pretended to go to sleep; and twitted +Patience with being a Puritan. However, the hopes of going into Bristol +might be an incentive, though she indulged in a grumble to Rusha, and +declared that she liked a jolly chaplain, and this old doctor was not a +bit better than a mere Puritan. + +Rusha opened her big eyes. She never did understand Emlyn, and perhaps +that young maiden took delight in shocking her. They were ordered off to +bed much sooner than they approved on that fair summer night, when the +half-moon was high and the nightingales were singing all round--not that +they cared for that, but there was a sense about them that something +mysterious was going on, and Emlyn was wild with curiosity and vexation +at being kept out of it. + +She would have kept watch and crept out; but that Patience came in, and +lay down, so close to the door that it was impossible to get out without +waking her, and besides if Emlyn did but stir, she asked what was the +matter. + +"They mean something!" said Emlyn to herself, "and I'll know what it +is. They have no right to keep me out of the plot; I am not like +stupid little Rusha! I have been in a siege, and four battles, besides +skirmishes! I'll watch till they think I'm asleep, if I pull all the +hulls out of my bed! Then they will begin." + +But nothing moved that Emlyn could hear or see. She woke and slept, but +was quite aware when Patience rose up after a brief doze, and found the +first streaks of dawn in the sky, a cuckoo calling as if for very life +in the nearest tree, and Steadfast quietly sweeping the dew from the +grass in a little open space shut in by rocks, trees, and bushes, close +to the bank of the brook. + +A chest which he kept in the cow-shed, and which bore traces of the fire +in the old house, had been brought down to serve as an Altar, and it was +laid over, for want of anything better, with one of poor Mrs. Kenton's +best table-cloths, which Patience had always thought too good for use. + +The next thing was to meet the rest of the scanty congregation at the +entrances of the wood, and guide them to the spot. This was safely done, +Goody Grace knew the way, and had guided one of the old Elmwood maid +servants whom she had managed to shelter for the night. Mrs. Lightfoot +was there with Mrs. Rivett, her daughter, elder son, and a grave-looking +man servant, Mr. Henshaw, a Barbados merchant, with his wife, and a very +worn battered shabby personage, but unmistakably a gentleman of quality, +and wounded in the wars, for he was so lame that the merchant had to +help him over the rough paths. + +It was a wonderful Whitsun-day morning that none of the little party +could ever forget. The sunrise could not be seen in that deep, narrow +place, but the sky was of a strange pale shining blue, and the tender +young green of the trees overhead was touched with gold, the glades +of the wood were intensely blue with hyacinths, and with all sorts of +delicate greens twined above in the bushes over them. A wild cherry, all +silver white, was behind their Altar, the green floor was marbled with +cuckoo flowers and buttercups, and the clear little stream whose voice +murmured by was fringed with kingcups and forget-me-nots. The scents +were of the most delicious dewy freshness; and as to the sounds! Larks +sang high up in the sky, wood pigeons cooed around, nightingales, +thrushes, every bird of the wood seemed to be trying to make music and +melody. + +And in the midst the grey-haired priest stood close to an ivy-covered +rock, with the white covered Altar, and the bright golden vessels which +he had carefully looked to in the night, and the little congregation +knelt close round him on cloaks and mats, the women hooded, the old +Cavalier's long thin locks, the merchant's dark ones, and the close +cropped heads of the servant and of Steadfast bared to the morning +breeze in its pure, dewy, soft freshness, fit emblem of the Comforter. +No book was produced, all was repeated from memory. They durst not raise +their voices, but the birds were their choir, and as they murmured +their _Gloria in Excelsis_, the sweet notes rang out in that unconscious +praise. + +When the blessing of peace had been given there was a long hush, and no +one rose till after the vessels had been replaced in their casket, and +Stead was climbing up with it again to the hiding place. Then there +was a move to the front of the hut, where Rusha was just awakening, and +Emlyn feigned to be still asleep. It was not yet four o'clock, but the +sweet freshness was still around everything. Young Mistress Alice Rivett +and her brother were enchanted to gather flowers, and ran after their +hosts to see the cows milked, and the goats, pigs, and poultry fed, +sights new to them; but the elder ladies shivered and were glad to warm +themselves at the little fire Patience hastily lighted, after cleaning +the hut as fast as she could, by rolling up the bedding, and fairly +carrying Ben out to finish his night's rest in the cow-house. + +The guests had brought their provisions, and insisted that their young +hosts should eat with them, accepting only the warm milk that Patience +brought in her pail, and they drank from the horn cups of the family. +Dr. Eales observed to the Cavalier that it was a true _Agape_ or +love-feast like those of the ancient Church, and the gentleman's +melancholy, weather-beaten face relaxed into a smile as he sighed and +hoped that the same endurance as that of the Christians of old would be +granted in this time of persecution. + +Emlyn was gratified at being a good deal noticed by the company as so +unlike the others. She was not shy and frightened like Rusha, who hung +her head and had not a word to say for herself, but chattered away to +the young Rivetts, showing them the kid, the calves, and the lambs, +taking Mistress Alice to the biggest cowslips and earliest wild roses, +and herself making a sweet posy for each of the ladies. The old Cavalier +himself, Colonel Harford, was even amused with the pretty little maid, +who, he told Dr. Eales, resembled Mirth as Master John Milton had +depicted her, ere he took up with General Cromwell and his crew; and was +a becoming figure for this early morn. + +On learning the child's history, he turned out to know Sir Harry +Blythedale, but not to have heard of him since they had parted at +Newark, he to guard the king to Oxford, Sir Harry to join Lord Astley, +and he much feared that the old knight had been killed at Stowe, in the +fight between Astley and Brereton. This would account for nothing having +been heard from him about Emlyn, but Colonel Harford promised, if any +opportunity should offer, to communicate with Lady Blythedale, whom he +believed to be living at Worcester; and he patted Emlyn on the head, +called her a little loyal veteran, accepted a tiny posy of forget-me-not +from her, and after fumbling in his pocket, gave her a crown piece. +Steadfast and Patience were afraid it was his last, and much wished +she had contrived not to take it, but she said she should keep it for a +remembrance. + +After this rest, the beautiful Whitsuntide Matins was said in the fair +forest church, and before six o'clock this strange and blessed festival +had ended, though not the peace and thankfulness in the hearts of the +little flock. + +Indeed, instead of a sermon, Dr. Eales's parting words were "And he went +in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. A FAIR OFFER. + + + "We be content," the keepers said, + "We three and you no less, + Then why should we of you be afraid, + As we never did transgress." + ROBIN HOOD BALLAD. + + +Steadfast was busy weeding the little patch of barley that lay near the +ruins of the old farm house with little Ben basking round him. The great +carefulness as to keeping the ground clear had been taught him by his +father, and was one reason why his fields, though so small, did not +often bear a bad crop. He heard his name called over the hedge, and +looking up saw the Squire, Mr. Elmwood, on horseback. + +He came up, respectfully taking off his hat and standing with it in his +hand as was then the custom when thus spoken to. "What is this I hear, +Kenton," said the squire, "that you have been having a prelatist service +on your ground?" + +Steadfast was dismayed, but did not speak, till Mr. Elmwood added, "Is +it true?" + +"Yes, sir," he answered resolutely. + +"Did you know it was against the law to use the Book of Common Prayer?" + +"There was no book, sir." + +"But you do not deny it was the same superstitious and Popish ceremony +and festival abolished by law." + +"No, sir," Stead allowed, though rather by gesture than word. + +"Now, look you here, young Kenton, I ask no questions. I do not want +to bring anyone into trouble, and you are a hard-working, honest lad +by what they tell me, who have a brother fighting in the good Cause +and have suffered from the lawless malignants yourself. Was it not +the Prince's troopers that wrought this ruin?" pointing towards the +blackened gable, "and shot down your father? Aye! The more shame you +should hold with them! I wish you no harm I say, nor the blinded folk +who must have abused your simplicity: but I am a justice of the peace, +and I will not have laws broken on my land. If this thing should happen +again, I shall remember that you have no regular or lawful tenure of +this holding, and put you forth from it." + +He waited, but a threat always made silent resistance easy to Steadfast, +and there was no answer. + +Mr. Elmwood, however, let that pass, for he was not a hard or a +fanatical man, and he knew that to hold such a service was not such an +easy matter that it was likely to be soon repeated. He looked round at +the well-mended fences, the clean ground, and the tokens of intelligent +industry around, and the clean homespun shirt sleeves that spoke of the +notable manager at home. "You are an industrious fellow, my good lad," +he said, "how long have you had this farm to yourself?" + +"Getting on for five years, your honour," said Steadfast. + +"And is that your brother?" + +"Yes, please your honour," picking Ben up in his arms to prevent the +barley from being pulled up by way of helping him. + +"How many of you are there?" + +"Five of us, sir, but my eldest brother is in Captain Venn's troop." + +"So I heard, and what is this about a child besides?" + +"An orphan, sir, I found after the skirmish at the mill stream, who was +left with us till her friends can send after her." + +"Well, well. You seem a worthy youth," said Mr. Elmwood, who was +certainly struck and touched by the silent uncomplaining resolution +of the mere stripling who had borne so heavy a burthen. "If you were +heartily one of us, I should be glad to make you woodward, instead of +old Tomkins, and build up yonder house for you, but I cannot do it for +one who is hankering after prelacy, and might use the place for I know +not what plots and conspiracies of the malignants." + +Again Steadfast took refuge in a little bow of acknowledgment, but kept +his lips shut, till again the squire demanded, "What do you think of it? +There's a fair offer. What have you to say for yourself?" + +He had collected himself and answered, "I thank you, sir. You are very +good. If you made me woodward, I would serve your honour faithfully, and +have no plots or the like there. But, your honour, I was bred up in the +Church and I cannot sell myself." + +"Why, you foolish, self-conceited boy, what do you know about it? Is not +what is good enough for better men than you fit to please you?" + +To this Stead again made no answer, having said a great deal for him. + +"Well," said Mr. Elmwood, angered at last, "if ever I saw a dogged +moon-calf, you are one! However, I let you go scot free this time, in +regard for your brother's good service, and the long family on your +hands, but mind, I shall put in an active woodward instead of old +Tomkins, who has been past his work these ten years, and if ever I hear +of seditious or prelatical doings in yonder gulley again, off you go." + +He rode off, leaving Steadfast with temper more determined, but mind +not more at ease. The appointment of a woodward was bad news, for the +copsewood and the game had been left to their fate for the last few +years, and what were the rights of the landlord over them Stead did not +know, so that there might be many causes of trouble, especially if the +said woodward considered him a person to be specially watched. Indeed, +the existence of such a person would make a renewal of what Mr. Elmwood +called the prelatist assembly impossible, and with a good deal of sorrow +he announced the fact on the next market day to Mrs. Lightfoot. He could +not see Dr. Eales, but when next he came in, she gave him a paper on +which was simply marked "Ps. xxxvii, 7." He looked out the reference and +found "Hold thee still in the Lord and abide patiently upon Him." Stead +hoped that Patience and the rest would never know what an offer had been +made to him, but Master Brown, who had recommended him, and who did not +at all like the prospect of a strange woodward, came to expostulate with +him for throwing away such a chance for a mere whim, telling Patience +she was a sensible wench and ought to persuade her brother to see what +was for his own good and the good of all, holding up himself as an +example. + +"I never missed my church and had the parson's good word all along, +and yet you see I am ready to put up with this good man without setting +myself up to know more than my elders and betters! Eh! Hast not a +word to say for thyself? Then I'll tell the squire, who is a good and +friendly gentleman to all the old servants, that you have thought better +of it, and will thankfully take his kindness, and do your best." + +"I cannot go against father," said Steadfast. + +"And what would he have done, good man, but obey them that have the +rule, and let wiser folk think for thee. But all the young ones are +pig-headed as mules now-a-days, and must think for themselves, one +running off to the Independents, and one to the Quakers and Shakers, and +one to the Fifth Monarchy men, and you, Steadfast Kenton, that I thought +better things of, talking of the Church and offending the squire with +thy prelatic doings, that have been forbidden by Act of Parliament. +What say you to that, my lad? Come, out with it," for Stead had more +difficulty in answering Master Brown, who had been a great authority +throughout his life, than even the Squire himself. + +"Parson said there was higher law than Parliament." + +"Eh! What, the King? He is a prisoner, bless him, but they will never +let him go till they have bent him to their will, and what will you do +then?" + +"Not the King," muttered Steadfast. + +"Eh! what! If you have come to pretending to know the law of God better +than your elders, you are like the rest of them, and I have done with +you." And away tramped the steward in great displeasure, while Patience +put her apron over her head and cried bitterly. + +She supposed Stead might be right, but what would it not have been to +have the old house built up, and all decent about them as it was in +mother's time, and fit places to sleep in, now that the wenches were +growing bigger? + +"But you know, Patty, we are saving for that." + +"Aye, and how long will it take? And now this pestilent woodward will be +always finding fault--killing the fowls and ducks, and seizing the swine +and sheep, and very like slaughtering the dogs and getting us turned out +of house and home; for now you have offended the squire, he will believe +anything against us." + +"Come, Patty, you know I could not help it. This is sorest of all, you +that have always stood by me and father's wish." + +"Yes, yes," sobbed Patience. "I wot you are right, Stead. I'll hold to +you, though I wish--I wish you would think like other folk." + +Yet Patience knew in her secret soul that then he would not be her own +Steadfast, and she persuaded him no more, though the discomforts and +deficiencies of their present home tried her more and more as the family +grew older. Stead had contrived a lean-to, with timbers from the old +house, and wattled sides stuffed with moss, where he and little Ben +slept in summer time, and they had bought or made some furniture--a +chair and table, some stools, bedding, and kitchen utensils, and she +toiled to keep things clean, but still it was a mere hovel, with the +door opening out into the glade. Foxes and polecats prowled, owls +hooted, and the big dog outside was a needful defender, even in summer +time, and in winter the cold was piteous, the wet even worse, and they +often lost some of their precious animals--chickens died of cold, +and once three lambs had been carried away in a sudden freshet. Yet +Patience, when she saw Steadfast convinced, made up her mind to stand by +him, and defended him when the younger girls murmured. + +Rusha was of a quiet, acquiescent, contented nature, and said little, as +Emlyn declared, "She knew nothing better;" but Emlyn was more and more +weary of the gulley, and as nothing was heard of her friends, and she +was completely one of the home, she struggled more with the dullness +and loneliness. She undertook all errands to the village for the sake of +such change as a chatter with the young folk there afforded her, or for +the chance of seeing the squire's lady or sons and daughters go by; and +she was wild to go on market days to Bristol. + +[Illustration: Emlyn at the Market] + +In spite of Puritan greyness, soldiers, sailors, gentlemen, ladies, and +even fashions, such as they were, could be seen there, and news picked +up, and Emlyn would fain have persuaded Steadfast that she should be +the most perfect market woman, if he would only let her ride in on the +donkey between the panniers, in a broad hat, with chickens and ducks +dangling round, eggs, butter, and fruit or nuts, and even posies, +according to the season, and sit on the steps of the market-place among +the other market women and girls. + +Steadfast would have been the last to declare that her laughing dark +eyes, and smiling lips, and arch countenance would not bring many a +customer, but he knew well that his mother would never have sent his +sister to be thus exposed, and he let her pout, or laughed away her +refusal by telling her that he was bound not to let a butler's daughter +demean herself to be stared at by all the common folk, who would cheapen +her wares. + +And when she did coax him to take her to Bristol on any errand she +could invent, to sell her yarns, or buy pins, or even a ribbon, he was +inexorable in leaving her under Mrs. Lightfoot's care, and she had to +submit, even though it sometimes involved saying her catechism to Dr. +Eales. Yet that always ended in the old man's petting her. It was only +from her chatter that the old clergyman ever knew of the proposal that +Stead had rejected for conscience's sake. It vexed the lad so much that +he really could not bear to think of it, and it would come over him now +and then, was it all for nothing? Would the Church ever lift up her head +again? or would Mr. Woodley be always in possession at Elmwood Church, +where everyone seemed to be content with him. The Kentons went thither. +It was hardly safe to abstain, for a fine upon absence was still the +law of the land, though seldom enforced; and Dr. Eales who considered +Presbyterianism by far the least unorthodox and most justifiable sect, +had advised Stead not to allow himself or the others altogether to lose +the habit of public worship, but to abstain from Communions which might +be an act of separation from the Church, and which could not be accepted +by her children as genuine. Such was the advice of most of the divines +of the English Church in this time of eclipse; and though Stead, and +still less Patience, did not altogether follow the reasoning, they +obeyed, while aware that they incurred suspicion from the squire by not +coming to "the table." + +The new woodward, Peter Pierce, was not one of the villagers as usual, +but had been a soldier in one of the regiments of the Earl of Essex, in +which Mr. Elmwood's eldest son had served. + +Instead of succeeding to old Tomkins's lodge in the great wood, he had +a new one built for him, so as to command the opening of Hermit's Gulley +towards the village, and one of the Bristol roads. Could this be for the +sake of watching over anything so insignificant as the Kentons? + +The copse on their side of the brook was their own, free to do what they +chose with except cutting down the timber trees, but the further side +was the landlord's, as they had now to remember; and as, when the brook +was at its lowest, their pigs and goats were by no means likely to +recollect; though Steadfast was extremely anxious to give no occasion +for the mistrust and ill-will with which Pierce regarded him, as a +squatter, trespasser, and poacher, almost as a matter of course, and +likewise a prelatist and plotter. + +Once he did find a kid on the wrong side, standing on a rock, browsing +a honeysuckle, and was about either to seize it or shoot it, as it went +off in three bounds, when Emlyn darted out, and threw herself between. +It was her darling kid, it should never trespass again, she would--she +would thank him ever more--if he would spare it this once. + +And Emlyn as usual had touched the soft place in the heart of even a +woodward. He told her not to cry, and contented himself with growling a +tremendous warning to Steadfast and Patience. + +There were several breezes about Growler, who was only too apt to use +his liberty in pursuing rabbits on the wrong side, and whom Peter more +than once condemned; but Emlyn and Ben begged him off, and he was kept +well chained up. At last, however, he won even the woodward's favour by +the slaughter of a terrible wild cat and her brood, after all Peter's +dogs had returned with bleeding faces from the combat. + +The woodward had another soft place in his heart. He had a pretty young +wife and a little son. Nanny Pierce was older in years, but far more +childish than Patience, and the life in this gulley seemed to her utter +solitude and desolation, and if Patience had been ten times a poacher +and a prelatist, she could not have helped making friends with the only +creature of her own kind within a mile. And when Patience's experience +with Ben and other older babes at rest in the churchyard, had aided the +poor little helpless woman through a convulsion fit of her baby's before +Goody Grace could arrive, Peter himself owned that "the Kenton wench +was good for somewhat," though he continued to think Steadfast's great +carefulness not to transgress, only a further proof that "he was a deep +one"--all the more because he refused to let anyone but himself have a +search for a vanished polecat in "them holes," which Peter was persuaded +contained some mystery, though Steadfast laid it, and not untruly, on +the health of the young stock he kept penned in the caves, which were +all, he hoped, of which Peter was aware. + +All this was harassing, but a greater trouble came in the second winter. +Good Dr. Eales was failing, and the tidings of the King's execution were +a blow that he never recovered. Mrs. Lightfoot had tears in her eyes +when Stead asked after him, week by week, and she could only say that he +was feebler, and spent all his days in prayer--often with tears. + +At last came peace. He lay still and calm, and sent a message that young +Kenton should be brought to him for a last farewell. + +And as Stead stood sorrowful and awed by his bed side, he bade the +youth never despair or fall away from his hope of the restoration of the +Church. + +"Remember," he said, "she is founded on a rock, and the gates of hell +shall never prevail against her. She shall stand forth for evermore as +the moon, which wanes but to wax again; and I have good hope that thou +wilt see it, my son. He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall +be saved." + +Then Dr. Eales pointed to a small parcel of books, which he had caused +Mrs. Lightfoot to put together, telling Steadfast that he had selected +them alike for devotion and for edification, and that if he studied +them, he would have no doubt when he might deliver up his trust to a +true priest of the Church. + +"And if none should return in my time?" asked Steadfast. + +"Have I not told thee never to despair of God's care for His Church? Yet +His time is not as our time, and it may be--that young as thou art--the +days of renewal may not be when thou shalt see them. Should it thus be, +my son, leave the secret with one whom thou canst securely trust. Better +the sacred vessels should lie hidden than that thou shouldst show thy +faith wanting by surrendering them to any, save according to the terms +of thy vow. See, Steadfast, among these books is a lighter one, a +romance of King Arthur, that I loved well in my boyhood, and which may +not only serve thee as fair pastime in the winter nights, but will mind +thee of thine high and holy charge, for it goeth deeper than the mere +outside." + +His voice was growing weak. Mrs. Lightfoot gave him a cordial, and Stead +knelt by his bedside, felt his hand on his head, and heard his blessing +for the last time. The next market day, when he called at the good +bakester's stall, she told him in floods of tears that the guest who had +brought a blessing on her house, was gone to his rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. THE GROOM IN GREY. + + + "Heroes and kings, in exile forced to roam, + Leave swelling phrase and seven-leagued words at home." + SCOTT. + + +Another summer and winter had gone by and harvest time had come again, +when Steadfast with little Ben, now seven years old, for company, took +two sacks of corn to be ground at the mill, where the skirmish had been +fought in which Emlyn's father had been killed. + +The sacks were laid across a packsaddle on a stout white horse, with +which, by diligent saving, Steadfast had contrived to replace Whitefoot, +Ben was promised a ride home when the sacks should have been emptied, +and trotted along in company with Growler by his brother's side, +talking more in an hour than Stead did in a week, and looking with great +interest to be shown the hawthorn bush where Emlyn had been found. +For Stead and Ben were alike in feeling the bright, merry, capricious, +laughing, teasing Emlyn the charm and delight of home. In trouble, or +for real aid, they went to Patience, but who was like Emlyn for drollery +and diversion? Who ever made Stead laugh as she could, or who so played +with Ben, and never, like Rusha, tried to be maidenly, discreet, nay, +dull? + +It was very inconvenient that just as they reached the famous thorn +bush, the white horse began to demonstrate that his shoe was loose. They +were very near the mill, and after disposing of the sacks, the brothers +led the horse on to a forge, about a furlong beyond. It was not a place +of which Stead was fond, as the smith was known to be strong for the +Covenant, and he could not help wishing that the shoe had come off +nearer to his good friend Smith Blane. + +Original-Sin Hopkins, which was the name of the blacksmith, was in great +excitement, as he talked of the crowning mercy vouchsafed at Worcester, +and how the son of the late man, Charles Stewart, had been utterly +defeated, and his people scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Three +or four neighbours were standing about, listening to the tidings he had +heard from a messenger on the way to Bristol. One was leaning on the +unglazed window frame, and a couple of old men basking, even in that +September day, in the glow of the fire, while a few women and children +loitered around, thinking it rather fine to hear Master Original-Sin +declaim on the backsliding of the Scots in upholding the son of the +oppressor. + +The shoeing of Stead Kenton's horse seemed a trivial matter beneath the +attention of such an orator; but he vouchsafed to bid his lad drive in a +few nails; and just as the task was commenced, there came to the forge +a lady in a camlet riding dress and black silk hood, walking beside +a stout horse, which a groom was leading with great care, for it had +evidently lost a shoe. And it had a saddle with a pillion on which they +had been riding double, after the usual fashion of travelling for young +and healthy gentlewomen in those days of bad roads. + +The lady, a quiet, self-possessed person, not in her first youth, came +forward, and in the first pause in the blacksmith's declamation, begged +that he would attend to her horse. + +He gave a nod as if intending her to wait till Steadfast's work was +done, and went on. "And has it not been already brought about that the +man of blood hath--" + +"So please you," interrupted the lady, "to shoe my horse at once. I +am on my way to Abbotsleigh, and my cousin, Mr. Norton, knows that my +business brooks no delay." + +Mr. Norton, though a Royalist, was still the chief personage in that +neighbourhood, and his name produced sufficient effect on Original-Sin +to make him come forward, look at the hoof, and select a shoe from those +hung on the walls of his forge. Little Ben looked on, highly delighted +to watch the proceedings, and Steadfast, as he waited, glanced towards +the servant, a well-made young man, in a trim, sober suit of grey cloth, +with a hat a good deal slouched over a dark swarthy face, that struck +Stead as having been seen by him before. + +After all, the lady's horse was the first finished. Hopkins looked at +all the other three shoes, tapped them with his hammer, and found +them secure, received the money from the lady, but gave very slight +salutations as the pair remounted, and rode away. + +Then he twisted up his features and observed, "Here is a dispensation! +As I am a living soul, this horse shoe was made at Worcester. I know the +make. My cousin was apprenticed there." + +"Well, outlandish work goes against one's stomach," said one of the +bystanders, "but what of that, man?" + +"Seest thou not, Jabez Holt? Is not the young man there one of them who +trouble Israel, and the lady is striving for his escape. Mr. Norton is +well known as a malignant at heart, and his man Pope hath been to and +fro these last days as though evil were being concerted. I would that +good Master Hatcham were here." + +"Poor lad. Let him alone. 'Tis hard he should not get off," said one of +the bystanders. + +"I tell thee he is one of the brood of Satan, who have endeavoured to +break up the godly peace of the saints, and fill this goodly land with +blood and fire. Is it not said 'Root them out that they be no more a +people?'" + +"Have after them, then," said another of the company. "We want no more +wars, to be taking our cows and killing our pigs. After them, I say!" + +"You haven't got no warrant, 'Riginal," said a more cautious old man. +"Best be on the safe side. Go after constable first, and raise the +hue-and-cry. You'll easy overtake them. Breakneck Hill be sore for +horseflesh." + +"I'd fain see Master Hatcham," said the smith, scratching his head. + +Stead had meantime been listening as he paid his pence. It flashed over +him now where he had beheld those intensely dark eyes, and the very +peculiar cut of features, though they had then been much more boyish. +It was when he had seen the Prince of Wales going to the Cathedral on +Christmas Day, in the midst of all his plumed generals, with their gay +scarfs, and rich lace collars. + +He had put little Ben on horseback, and turned away into the long, +dirty lane, or rather ditch, that led homeward, before, through his +consternation, there dawned on him what to do. A gap in the hedge lay +near, through which he dragged the horse into a pasture field, to the +great amazement of Ben, saying "See here, Ben, those folk want to take +yonder groom in grey. We will go and warn them." + +Ben heartily assented. + +"I like the groom," he said. "He jumped me five times off the +horseblock, and he patted Growler and called him a fine fellow, who +didn't deserve his name--worth his salt he was sure. We won't give +Growler salt, Stead, but don't let that ugly preaching man get the good +groom!" + +Steadfast was by this time on the horse behind his little brother, +pressing through the fields, which by ancient custom were all thrown +open from harvest time till Christmas; and coming out into the open bit +of common that the travellers had to pass before arriving at Breakneck +Hill, he was just in time to meet them as they trotted on. He hardly +knew what he said, as he doffed his hat, and exclaimed-- + +"Madam, you are pursued." + +"Pursued!" Both at once looked back. + +"There's time," said Steadfast; "but Smith Hopkins said one of the shoes +was Worcester make, and he is gone to fetch the constable and raise the +hue-and-cry." + +"And you are a loyal--I mean an honest lad--come to warn us," said the +groom. + +"Yes, sir. I think, if you will trust me, they can be put off the +track." + +"Trusty! Your face answers for you. Eh, fair Mistress Jane?" + +"Sir, it must be as you will." + +"This way then, sir," said Steadfast, who was off his own horse by this +time, and leading it into a rough track through a thicket whence some +timber had been drawn out in the summer. + +"They will see where we turned off," whispered the lady. + +"No, ma'am, not unless you get off the hard ground. Besides they will go +on the way to Breakneck Hill. Hark! I hear a hallooing. Not near--no--no +fear, madam." + +They were by this time actually hidden from the common by the copsewood, +and the distant shouts of the hue-and-cry kept all silent till they were +fairly out beyond it, not far from Stead's own fields. + +Happily they had hitherto met no one, but there was danger now of +encountering gleaners, and indeed Stead's white horse could be seen from +a distance, and might attract attention to his companions. + +"Hallo!" exclaimed the groom, as they halted under shelter of a pollard +willow. "I've heard tell that a white horse is the surest mark for a +bullet in a battle, and if that be Breakneck Hill, as you call it, your +beast may bring the sapient smith down on us. Had we not best part?" + +"Aye," said Steadfast. "I was thinking what was best. Whither were you +going?" + +He blurted it out, not knowing to whom to address himself, or how to +frame his speech. The lady hesitated, but her companion named Castle +Carey. + +"Then, please your honour," said Stead, impartially addressing both, +"methinks the best course would be, if this--" + +"Groom William," suggested that personage. + +"Would go down into yonder covert with my little brother here, where my +poor place is, and where my sister can show a safe hiding-place, in case +Master Hopkins suspects me, and follows; but I scarce think he will. +Then meanwhile, if the lady will trust herself to me--" + +"O! there is no danger for me," she said. + +"Go on, my Somerset Solomon," said the groom. + +"Then would I take the lady on for a short space to a good woman in +Elmwood there. And on the way this horse shall lose his Worcester shoe, +and I will get Smith Blane, who is an honest fellow, to put on another; +and when the chase is like to be over, I will come back for him and put +you on the cross lane for Castle Carey, which don't join with the road +you came by, till just ere you get into the town." + +"There's wit as well as cheese in Somerset. What say you, my guardian +angel?" said Groom William. + +"It sounds well," she reluctantly answered. "Does Mr. Norton know you, +young man?" + +"No, madam," said Stead, with much stumbling. "But I have seen him in +Bristol. My Lady Elmwood knew of me, and Sir George Elmwood too, and the +Dean could say I was honest." + +"Which the face of you says better than your tongue," said the groom. +"Have with you then, my bold little elf," he added, taking the bridle of +the horse on which Ben was still seated. "Or one moment more. You knew +me, my lad--are there any others like to do so?" + +"I had seen you, sir, at Bristol, and that is why I would not have you +shew yourself in Elmwood. But my sister has never seen you, and the only +neighbours who ever come in are the woodward and his wife. He served in +my Lord of Essex's army, but he has never seen you. Moreover, he was to +be at the squire's to-day helping to stack his corn. Ben, do you tell +Patience that _he_"--again taking refuge in a pronoun--"is a gentleman +in danger, and she must see to his safety for an hour or two till I come +back for him." + +"A gentleman in danger," repeated Ben, anxious to learn his lesson. + +"He and I will take care of that," said the grey-coated groom gaily, as +he turned the horse's head, and waved his hat in courtly fashion to the +lady so that Steadfast saw that his hair was cropped into black stubble. + +"Ah!" said the lady with a sigh, for the loss of a Cavalier's locks was +a dreadful thing. "You know him then." + +"I have seen him at Bristol," said Steadfast, with considerably less +embarrassment, though still in the clownish way he could not shake off. + +"And you know how great is the trust you--nay, we have undertaken. But, +as he says, he has learnt the true fidelity of a leathern jerkin." + +Then Jane Lane told Steadfast of the King's flight from Worcester, and +adventures at Boscobel with the Penderells, and how she had brought him +to Abbotsleigh, in hopes of finding a ship at Bristol, but that failing, +it was too perilous for him to remain there, so that she was helping him +as far as Castle Carey on his way to Trent. + +Before they were clear of the wood, Stead asked her to pause. He knocked +off the tell-tale shoe with the help of a stone, threw it away into the +middle of a bramble, and then after a little consultation, she decided +on herself encountering the smith, not perhaps having much confidence in +the readiness of speech or invention of her companion. + +When they arrived at the forge, where good-humoured, brawny Harry Blane +was no small contrast to his gaunt compeer Original-Sin Hopkins, she +averred that she was travelling from her relations, and having been +obliged to send her servant back for a packet that had been forgotten, +this good youth, who had come to her help when her horse had cast a +shoe, had undertaken to guide her to the smith's, and to take her +again to meet her man, if he did not come for her himself. Might she be +allowed in the meantime to sit with Master Blane's good housewife? + +Master Blane was only too happy, and Mistress Jane Lane was accordingly +introduced to the pleasant kitchen, with sanded floor, and big +oak table, open hearth, and beaupots in the oriel window where the +spinning-wheel stood, and where the neat and hospitable Dame Blane made +her kindly welcome. + +Steadfast, marvelling at her facility of speech, and glad the king's +safety did not depend on his uttering such a story, told Blane that he +must go after his cattle and should look after the groom on the way. + +As he walked through the wood, and drew near the glade, he was dismayed +to hear voices, and to see Peter Pierce leaning against the wall of the +house, but Rusha came running up to him exclaiming, "Oh! Stead, here is +this good stranger that you met, telling us all about brother Jeph." + +"Yes, my kind host," said the grey-coated guest, with a slight nasal +intonation, rising as Stead came near, "I find that you are the very lad +my friend and brother Jephthah Kenton, that singular Christian man, bade +me search out. 'If you go near Bristol, beloved,' quoth he,' search +me out my brothers Steadfast and Benoni, and my sisters, Patience and +Jerusha, and greet them well from me, and bear witness of me to them. +They dwell, said he, in a lonely hut in the wood side, and with them +a fair little maiden, sprung of the evil and idolatrous seed of the +malignants, but whom their pious nurture may yet bring to a knowledge of +the truth,' and by that token, I knew that it was the same." There was +an odd little twinkle towards Emlyn just then. + +"And Stead, Jeph is an officer," said Patience, who was busied in +setting before the visitor on a little round table, the best ale, bread, +cheese, and butter that her hut afforded, together with an onion, which, +he declared, was "what his good grandfather, a valiant man for the +godly, had ever loved best." + +"An officer! Aye is he. A captain of his Ironside troop, very like to be +Colonel ere long." + +Stead was absolutely bewildered, and could not find speech, beyond an +awkward "Where?" + +"Where was he when I last saw him? Charging down the main street of +Worcester, where the malignants and Charles Stewart made their last +stand. Smiting them hip and thigh with the sword of Gedaliah, nay, my +tongue tripped, 'twas Gideon I would say." + +"Aye," said the woodward, "Squire had the tidings two days back in a +news letter. It was a mighty victory of General Cromwell." + +"In sooth it was," returned the groom; "and I hear he hath ordered a +solemn thanksgiving therefore." + +"But Jephthah," put in Patience, "you are sure he was not hurt?" + +"The hand of Heaven protecteth the godly," again through his nose spoke +the guest. "He was well when I left him; being sent south by my master +to attend my mistress, and so being no more among them that divide the +spoil." + +"Where have you served, sir?" demanded the woodward. + +"I am last from Scotland," was the answer. "A godly land!" + +"Ah! I know nought of Scotland," said the woodward. "I was disbanded +when my Lord Essex gave up the command, more's the pity, for he was for +doing things soberly and reasonably, and ever in the name of the poor +King that is gone! You look too young to have seen fire at Edgehill or +Exeter, sir." + +"Did I not?" said the youth. "Aye, I was with my father, though only as +a boy apart on a hill." + +The reminiscences that were exchanged astonished Steadfast beyond +measure, and really made him doubt whether what had previously passed +had not been all a dream. The language was so like Jephthah's own too, +all except that one word "fair" applied to Emlyn; and Patience, Rusha, +and the Pierces were entirely without a suspicion, that their guest was +other than he seemed. How much must have been picked out of little Ben, +without the child's knowing it, to make such acting possible? + +And how was the woodward, who was so much delighted with the visitor, to +be shaken off? Stead stood silent, puzzled, anxious, and wondering +what to do next, a very heavy and awkward host, so that even Patience +wondered what made him so shy. + +Suddenly, however, a whistle, and the sharp yap of a dog was heard +across the stream. Nanny Pierce exclaimed, "There are those rascal lads +after the rabbits again!" and the gamekeeper's instinct awoke. Pierce +shook hands with his fellow soldier, regretted he could not see more of +him, and received his promise that if he came that way again, he would +share a pottle of ale at the lodge; and then tramped off after his +poachers over the stream. + +Groom William then kissed the young women (the usual mode of salutation +then), Nanny Pierce and all, thanked Patience, and looked about for the +goodly little malignant, as he called Emlyn, but she was nowhere to be +seen, and Stead hurried him off through the wood. + +"Ho! ho! sly rascal," said Charles, as they turned away. "You're +jealous! You would keep the game to yourself." + +Stead had no answer to make to this banter, the very notion of Emlyn as +aught but the orphan in his charge was new to him. + +They were not yet beyond the gulley when from between the hazel stems, +out sprang Emlyn, and kneeling on the ground caught the King's hand and +kissed it. + +"Fairy-haunted wood!" cried Charles, and indeed it was done with great +natural grace, and the little figure with the glowing cheeks, her hood +flying back so as to shew her brilliant eyes sparkling with delight and +enthusiasm, was a truly charming vision. "It is like one of the masques +of the merry days of old." And as he retained her hand and returned the +salute on her lips, "Queen Mab herself, for who else saw through thy +poor brother sovereign's mean disguise?" + +"I had seen your Majesty with the army," replied Emlyn, modestly +blushing a good deal. + +"Ah! The Fates have provided me with a countenance the very worst for +straits like mine. But that matters the less since it is only my worthy +subjects who see through the grey coat. I would lay my crown, if I had +it, to one of those crispy ringlets of yours, that Queen Mab was the +poacher who drew off the crop-eared keeper." + +"'Tis Robin Goodfellow, please your Majesty, who leads clowns astray," +said Emlyn in the same tone. + +"Sometimes a horse I'll be, sometimes a hound," quoted the King. + +Stead could only listen in amazement without a word to say for himself. +Near the confines of the wood, he had to leave Emlyn to guide the King +over a field-path while he fetched Mrs. Jane Lane and the horse to meet +them beyond, as it was wiser for the King not to shew himself in the +village. Again Charles jested on his supposed jealousy of leaving the +fair Queen Mab alone in such company, and on his blunt answer, "I only +feared the saucy child might be troublesome, sir." + +At which the King laughed the more, and even Emlyn smiled a little. + +All was safely accomplished, and when Steadfast had brought Mrs. Lane to +the deep lane, they found the King and Emlyn standing by the stile, and +could hear the laughter of both as they approached. + +"He can always thus while away his cares," said Jane Lane in quite a +motherly tone. "And well it is that he is of so joyous a nature." + +Perhaps it was said as a kind of excuse for the levity of one in so much +danger chattering to the little woodland maid so mirthfully, and like +one on an equality. When they appeared, Charles bestowed a kiss on +Emlyn's lips, and shook hands cordially with Steadfast, lamenting that +he had no reward, nor even a token to leave with them. + +Stead made his rustic bow, pinched his hat, and muttered, "It is enough +to--" + +"Enough reward to have served your Majesty," said Emlyn, "he would say." + +"Yea, and it is your business to find words for him, pretty one," said +the King. "A wholesome partnership--eh? He finds worth, and you find +wit! And so we leave the fairy buried in the woodland." + +And on the wanderers rode, while Steadfast and Emlyn turned back over +the path through the fields; and she eagerly told that the King had +slept at Blythedale on his way to Worcester, and that though Sir Harry +was dead, his son was living in Holland. "And if the King gets there +safely, he will tell Master George, and if my uncle is with him, no +doubt he will send for me, or mayhap, come and fetch me." + +There was a shock of pain in Steadfast's heart. + +"You would be glad?" + +"Poor old Stead. I would scarce be glad to quit you. I doubt me if the +Hague, as they call it, would show me any one I should care for as much +as for your round shoulders, you good old lubber! But you should come +too, and the King would give you high preferment, when he comes to his +own again, and then we won't be buried alive in this Hermit's Gulley." + +She danced about in exultation, hardly knowing what wild nonsense she +talked, and Stead was obliged to check her sharply in an attempt to sing + + "The king shall enjoy his own again." + +"But Stead," asked Ben, after long reflection, "how could Groom William +know all about brother Jeph?" + +A question Stead would not hear, not wishing to destroy confidence in +His Majesty's veracity. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. JEPH'S GOOD FORTUNE. + + + "Still sun and rain made emerald green the loveliest fields on earth, + And gave the type of deathless hope, the little shamrock, birth." + IRISH BALLAD. + + +The King's visit left traces. Emlyn had become far more restless and +consciously impatient of the dullness and seclusion of the Hermit's +Gulley. Not only did she, as before, avail herself of every pretext for +going into the village, or for making expeditions to Bristol, but she +openly declared the place a mere grave, intolerable to live in, and she +confided to Jerusha that the King had declared that it was a shame to +hide her there--such charms were meant for the world. + +The only way of getting into the world that occurred to her was going +into service at Bristol, and she talked of this whenever she specially +hated her spinning, or if Patience ventured to complain of her gadding +about, gossipping with Nanny Pierce or Kitty Blane, or getting all the +young lads in Elmwood round her, to be amused and teased by her lively +rattle. + +Patience began to be decidedly of opinion that it would be much better +for all parties that the girl should be under a good mistress. Both she +and Rusha were over sixteen years old; and though it was much improved, +the house was hardly fit for so many inhabitants, and both Goody Grace +and Dame Blane had told Patience that it would be better, both for +the awkward Rusha and the gay Emlyn, if they could have some household +training. + +Mistress Elmwood, at the Hall, had noted the family at church, and +observed their perfect cleanliness and orderliness, and it was intimated +that at the Ladyday hiring, she would take Rusha among her maidens. + +Shy Rusha cried a great deal, and wished Emlyn would go instead, but +Mrs. Elmwood would not have hired that flighty damsel on any account, +and Emlyn was sure it would be but mopish work to live under a starched +old Puritan. Mrs. Lightfoot was therefore applied to, to find a service +for Emlyn Gaythorn, and she presently discovered one Mistress Sloggett, +a haberdasher's wife of wealth and consideration, who wanted a young +maidservant. + +Emlyn was presented to her by the bakester, undertook for everything, +and was hired by the twelvemonth, going off in high glee at the variety +and diversion she expected to enjoy at the sign of the "Sheep and +Shears," though clinging with much tenderness to her friends as they +parted. + +"Remember, Emlyn, this is the home where you will always be welcome," +said Stead. + +"As if I wanted to _remember_ it," said Emlyn, with her sweet smile. "As +if I did not know where be kind hearts." + +The hovel seemed greatly deserted when the two young girls were gone. +Patience sorely missed Rusha, her diligent little helper, and latterly +her companion too; and the lack of Emlyn's merry tongue made all around +seem silent and tedious. Steadfast especially missed the girl. Perhaps +it was due to the King's gibes that her absence fully opened to him the +fact that he knew not how to do without her. After his usual fashion, +he kept the discovery to himself, not even talking to Patience about it, +being very shamefaced at the mere thought, which gave a delicious warmth +to his heart, though it made him revolve schemes of saving up till he +had a sufficient sum, with which to go to the squire and propose to meet +him half-way in rebuilding the old house; not such an expensive matter +as it would be in these days. There, in full view of all that passed +down Elmwood Lane, Emlyn could not complain of solitude, he thought! But +there was this difficulty in the way, that Jephthah had never resigned +his claims as eldest son, and might come home at any time, and take +possession of all the little farm at which Steadfast had worked for +seven years. + +The war was over, and nothing had been heard of Jeph, except the +king's apocryphal history, since his visit after the taking of Bristol. +Patience had begun to call him "poor Jeph," and thought he must have +been killed, but Stead had ascertained that the army had not been +disbanded, and believed him still to be employed. + +At length, one market day, Mrs. Lightfoot told him, "There has been +one asking for you, Kenton, Seth Coleman, the loriner's son, that went +soldiering when your brother did. He landed last week from Ireland with +a wooden leg, and said he, 'Where shall I come to the speech of one +Steadfast Kenton? I have a greeting from his brother, the peculiarly +favoured,' or some such word, 'Jephthah Kenton, who told me I should +hear tidings of him from Mrs. Bakester Lightfoot, at the sign of the +"Wheatsheaf."' I told him where you abode, and he said he knew as much +from your brother, but he could not be tramping out to Elmwood on a +wooden leg. So says I 'I will send Steadfast Kenton to you next market +day.' You will find him at the sign at the 'Golden Bridle,' by the Wharf +Stairs." + +Stead had no sooner disposed of his wares than he went in search of +the loriner's shop, really one for horse furniture. There was a bench +outside, looking out on the wharf and shipping, and on it was seated +the returned soldier, with a little party round him, to whom he was +expounding what sounded more military than religious: + +"And so, the fort having been summoned and quarter promised, if so be +no resistance were made, always excepting Popish priests, and--Eh! What +now? Be you an old neighbour? I don't remember your face." + +"I have seen you, though. I am Jephthah Kenton's brother, that you asked +for." + +"I mind you were but a stripling in those days, and yet in gross +darkness. Yea, I have a letter for thee from my comrade, who is come to +high preferment." + +"Jeph!" + +"Yea, things have prospered with him. He was a serjeant even before we +sailed for Ireland, and there he did such good service in hunting +out Popish priests and rebels in their lurking places in the bogs and +mountains, that the Lord General hath granted him the land that he +took with his sword and his bow, even a meadow land fat and fertile, +Ballyshea by name, full of the bulls of Bashan, goodly to look at. And +to make all sure, he hath taken to wife the daughter of the former owner +of the land a damsel fair to look upon." + +"Jeph! But sure--the Irish are Papists." + +"Not the whole of them. There are those that hold to Prelacy and call +themselves King's men, following the bloody and blinded Duke of Ormond. +Of them was this maid's father, whom we slew at the taking of Clonmel, +where I got this wound and left my good right leg. So is the race not to +the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but time and chance happeneth +to all. When I could hobble about once more on crutches, I found that +the call had come to divide and possess the gate of the enemy, and that +the meads of Ballyshea had fallen to Serjeant Kenton. Moreover, in the +castle hard by, dwelt the widow and her daughter, who cried to General +Lambert for their land, and what doth he say to Jephthah, but 'Make it +sure, Kenton. Take the maid to wife, and so none will disturb you in the +fair heritage.' Yea, and mine old comrade would have me sojourn with him +till I was quite restored, so far as a man with one limb short may be. I +tell you 'tis a castle, man." + +"Our Jeph lord of a castle?" + +"Aye, even so. Twice as big as Elmwood Hall, if half were not in ruins, +and the other half the rats run over like peas out of a bag. While as to +the servants, there are dozens of them, mostly barefoot and in rags, who +will run at the least beck from the old mistress or the young mistress, +though they scowl at the master. But he is taking order with them, and +teaching them who is to be obeyed." + +"Then our Jephthah is a great man?" + +"You may say that--a bigger man than the squire at Elmwood, or at Leigh +I can tell you. Only I would give all that bare mountain and bog, full +of wild, Popish, red-haired kernes for twenty yards in a tidy street at +Bristol, with decent godly folk around me. Murdering or being murdered, +I have marvelled more than once whether the men of Israel were as sick +of it in Canaan as I was at Drogheda, but the cry ever was, 'Be not +slack in the work.' But I will bring you Jephthah's letter. He could not +write when he went off, but he could not be a serjeant without, so we +taught him--I and Corporal Faith-Wins." + +Jephthah's handwriting was of a bold description doing honour to his +tutors, but the letter was very brief, though to the purpose-- + + +"Dear Brothers and Sisters, + +"This is to do you, to wit, that by the grace of Heaven on my poor +endeavours I am come to high preferment. A goodly spoil hath fallen +unto me, namely, the castle and lands of Ballyshea, and therewith +the daughter of the owner, deceased, by name Ellen Roche, whom I have +espoused in marriage, and am bringing to the light of truth. I have +castle, lands, flocks and herds, men-servants and maid-servants in +abundance, and I give thanks to Him who hath rewarded His servant. + +"Therefore I wholly resign to you, my brethren, Steadfast and Benoni, +any rights of heirship that may be mine in respect of the farmstead of +Elmwood, and will never, neither I nor my heirs, trouble you about it +further. Yet if Ben, or my sisters Patience and Jerusha, be willing to +cross over to me in this land of promise they shall be kindly welcome, +and I shall find how to bestow them well in marriage. Mine old comrade, +Seth Coleman, will tell them how to reach the Castle of Ballyshea, and +how to find safe convoy, and tell you more of the estate wherewith it +has pleased Heaven to reward my poor services. + +"And so commending you to His holy keeping, no more from your loving +brother, + +"JEPHTHAH KENTON." + + +The spelling of this was queer, even according to the ways of the time, +but it was not hard to understand, and it might well fill Steadfast with +amazement. + +He longed to share the tidings with Emlyn, but he did not feel as if it +would be right to let anyone hear before Patience. Only as he went back +and called again at Mrs. Lightfoot's for his basket, she asked +whether he had found Seth Coleman, and if his brother had come to such +preferment as was reported. + +"Yea," said Steadfast, "he hath a grant of land, and a castle, and a +wife." + +"Eh, now! Lack-a-day! 'Tis alway the most feather-pated that fly +highest." + +Cromwell's Ironsides feather-pated! But that did not trouble Steadfast, +who all the way home, as he rode his donkey, was thinking of the +difference it made in his prospects, and in what he had to offer Emlyn +to be able to feel his tenure so much more secure. + +Patience and Ben listened in utter amazement ending in a not +complimentary laugh on the part of the former. "Our Jeph lord of a +castle? I'd like to see him." + +"Would you? He has a welcome and a husband ready for you and Rusha +both?" + +"D'ye think I would go and leave you for Jeph, if he were lord of ten +castles?" + +And Ben, whose recollections of Jeph were very dim, exclaimed, "Lord of +a castle! I shall have a crow over Nick Blane now!" + +Rusha, who was well content with her service at the hall, had no mind +for such a terrible enterprise as a journey "beyond seas" to Ireland, +and mayhap Jeph's prospective husband was a less tempting idea, because +a certain young groom had shown symptoms of making her his sweetheart. + +Steadfast thought often of telling the great secret of his heart to his +faithful sister Patience, but his extreme shyness and modesty, and the +reserve in which he always lived, seemed to make it impossible to him +to broach the subject, and there might be a certain consciousness that +Emlyn, while his own pet, had been very troublesome to Patience. + +Stead was two-and-twenty, a sturdy well-grown fellow, but the hard work +he had been obliged to do as a growing lad, had rounded his shoulders, +and he certainly did not walk like the men who had been drilled for +soldiers. His face was healthy and sunburnt, with fair short hair and +straightforward grey eyes. At the first glance people would say, "What +a heavy-looking, clownish young man," but at the second there was +something that made a crying child in the street turn to him for help +in distress, and made the marketing dames secure that he told the truth +about his wares. + +Patience was rather startled by seeing him laboriously tying up a posy +of wild rose, honeysuckle, and forget-me-not, and told him the Bristol +folks would not buy those common wild flowers. + +"They are for none of them," replied Stead, a little gruffly, and +colouring hotly at being caught. + +"Oh!" said Patience, in her simplicity. "Are they for Emlyn? I do not +think her mistress will let you see her." + +"I shall," said Stead. "She ought to know of our good fortune." + +"He has forgotten that Emlyn is not our sister after all," said +Patience, as she went back to her washing. + +"She might as well," said Ben, who could not remember the hut without +Emlyn. + +Stead had better luck than Patience foreboded from a household where the +servants were kept very strictly, for there was a good deal of curiosity +in Bristol about the report that a lad from the neighbourhood had won an +Irish heiress and castle, and when Stead presented himself at the +door of the house under the overhanging gable, and begged to see Emlyn +Gaythorn to give her some tidings, the maid who opened it exclaimed, "Is +it anent the castle in Ireland?" + +Stead awkwardly said "Aye, mistress." And as it became evident that the +readiest way of learning the facts would be his admission, he was let +into the house into a sort of wainscotted hall, where he found the +mistress herself superintending three or four young sempstresses who +were making shirts for the gentlemen of the garrison. Emlyn was among +them, and sprang up looking as if white seams were not half so congenial +as nutting in the gulley, but she looked prettier than ever, as the +little dark curls burst out of the prim white cap, she sniffed the +flowers with ecstasy, and her eyes danced with delight that did Stead's +heart good to see. He needed it, for to stand there hat in hand before +so many women all staring at him filled him with utter confusion, +so that he could scarcely see, and stumbled along when Mrs. Sloggett +called, "Come here, young man. Is it true that it is your brother who +has won a castle and a countess in Ireland?" + +"Not a countess, ma'am," said Stead, gruff with shyness, "but a castle." + +Mrs. Sloggett put him through a perfect catechism on Jeph and his +fortunes, which he answered at first almost monosyllabically, though +afterwards he could speak a little more freely, when the questions +did not go quite beyond his knowledge. Finally he succeeded in asking +permission to take Emlyn and show her his brother's letter. Mrs. +Sloggett was gracious to the brother of the lord of a castle, even in +Ireland, and moreover Emlyn was viewed in the light of one of the Kenton +family. + +So leave was granted to take Master Kenton (he had never been so called +before) out into the garden of pot-herbs behind the house, and Emlyn +with her dancing step led the way, by a back door down a few steps into +a space where a paved walk led between two beds of vegetables, bordered +with a narrow edge of pinks, daisies, and gilliflowers, to a seat under +the shade of an old apple tree, looking out, as this was high ground, +over the broad river full of shipping. + +"Stead! Stead, good old Stead," she cried, "to come just as I was half +dead with white seam and scolding! Emlyn here! Emlyn there! And she's +ready with her fingers too. She boxed mine ears till they sang again +yesterday." + +"The jade," muttered Stead. "What for?" + +"Only for looking out at window," said Emlyn. "How could I help it, when +there were six outlandish sailors coming up the street leading a big +black bear. Well, Stead, and are you all going to live with Jeph in his +castle, and will you take me?" + +"He asks me not," said Stead, and began to read the letter, to which +Emlyn listened with many little remarks. "So Patience and Rusha wont go. +I marvel at them, yet 'tis like sober-sided old Patty! And mayhap among +the bogs and hills 'tis lonelier than in the gulley. I mind a trooper +who had served in Ireland telling my father it was so desolate he would +not banish a dog there. But what did he say about home, Stead, I thought +it was all yours?" + +Stead explained, and also the possibility of endeavouring to rebuild the +farmhouse. If he could go to Mr. Elmwood with thirty pounds he thought +it might be done. "And then, Emlyn, when that is saved (and I have five +pounds already), will you come and make it your home for good and all?" + +"Stead! oh Stead! You don't mean it--you--Why, that's sweethearting!" + +"Well, so it is, Emlyn," said Stead, a certain dignity taking the place +of his shyness now it had come to the point. "I ask you to be my little +sweetheart now, and my wife when I have enough to make our old house +such as it was when my good mother was alive." + +"Stead, Stead, you always were good to me! Will it take long, think +you? I would save too, but I have but three crowns the year, and that +sour-faced Rachel takes all the fees." + +"The thing is in the hands of God. It must depend on the crops, but +with this hope before me, I will work as never man worked before," said +Stead. + +"And I will be mistress there!" cried Emlyn. + +"My wife will be mistress wherever I am sweet." + +"Ah, ha!" she laughed, "now I have something to look to, I shall heed +little when the dame flouts me and scolds me, and Joan twits me with her +cousin the 'prentice." + +They had only just time to go through the ceremony of breaking a tester +between them before a shrill call of "Emlyn" resounded down the garden. +Mrs. Sloggett thought quite time enough had been wasted over the young +man, and summoned the girl back to her sewing. + +Emlyn made a face of disgust, very comical and very joyous, but as the +good dame was actually coming in search of her no more could pass. + +Stead went away overflowing with happiness, and full of plans of raising +the means of bringing back this sunshine of his hearth. Perhaps it was +well that, though slow of thought, Patience still had wit enough in the +long hours of the day to guess that the nosegay boded something. She +could not daunt or damp Steadfast's joy--nay, she had affection enough +for the pretty little being she had cherished for seven years to think +she shared it--but she knew all the time that there would be no place +in that new farmhouse for her, and there was a chill over her faithful +heart at times. But what would that signify, she thought, provided that +Stead was happy? + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. PATIENCE. + + + "I'm the wealthy miller yet." + TENNYSON. + + +Most devoted was the diligence with which Steadfast toiled and saved +with the hope before him. Since the two young girls were no longer at +home, and Ben had grown into a strong lad, Stead held that many little +indulgences might be dispensed with, one by one, either because they +cost money or prevented it from being acquired. No cheese was bought +now, and he wanted to sell all the butter and all the apples that were +not defective. + +Patience contrived that Ben should never be stinted of his usual fare; +and she would, not allow that he needed no warm coat for the winter, but +she said nothing about the threadbare state of her own petticoat, and +she stirred nothing but the thinnest buttermilk into her own porridge, +and not even that when the little pigs required it. It was all for +Stead. + +Patience at twenty was not an uncomely maiden so far as kindly blue +eyes, fresh healthy cheeks, and perfect neatness could make her +agreeable to look at, but there was an air of carefulness, and of having +done a great deal of hard work, which had made her seem out of the reach +of the young men who loitered and talked with the maidens on the village +green, and looked wistfully at the spot where the maypole had once +stood. + +Patience was the more amazed by a visit from the Miller Luck and his +son. The son was a fine looking young man of three or four and twenty, +who had about three years before married a farmer's daughter, and had +lost her at the birth of her second child. There he stood, almost as +bashful as Stead himself could have been under the circumstances, while +his father paid the astonished Patience the compliment of declaring that +they had put their heads together, and made up their minds that there +was no wench in those parts so like to be a good mother to the babes, +nor so thrifty a housewife as she; and, that, though there were plenty +of maids to be had who could bring something in their hands, her ways +were better than any portion she could bring. + +It really was a splendid offer. The position of miller's wife was very +prosperous, and the Lucks were highly respected. The old miller was good +and kindly, Andrew Luck the steadiest of young men, and though not seen +to much advantage as he stood sheepishly moving from leg to leg, he +was a very fine, tall, handsome youth, with a certain sweetness and +wistfulness in his countenance. Patience had no scruples about previous +love and courtship. That was not the point as she answered-- + +"Thank you, Master Luck, you are very good; but I cannot leave my +brothers." + +"Let the big one get a wife of his own then," and, as Patience shook her +head, and glanced at where Ben, shy of strangers, was cutting rushes, +"and if you be tender on the young one, there would be work for him +about the place. I know you have been a good mother to him, you'd be +the same to our little ones. Come, Andrew, can't ye say a word for +yourself?" + +"Come, Patience, do 'ee come!" pleaded poor Andrew, and the tears even +sprang to his eyes. "I'd be very good to thee, and I know thou would'st +be to my poor babes." + +Patience's heart really warmed to him, and still more to the babes, but +she could only hold out. + +"You must find another," she said. + +"Come, you need not be coy, my lass," said the old miller. "You'll not +get a better offer, and Andrew has no time nor heart either for running +about courting. What he wants is a good wife to cheer him up, and see to +the poor little children." + +It was powerful pleading, and Patience felt it. + +"Aye, Master Miller," she said, "but you see I'm bound not to leave +Steadfast till he is married. He could not get on no ways without me." + +"Then why--a plague on it--don't he wed and have done with it?" + +"He cannot," said Patience, "till he has made up enough to build up our +old house, but that won't be yet awhile--for years maybe; and he could +not do it without me to help him." + +"And what's to become of you when you've let your best years go by +a-toiling for him, and your chance is gone by, and his wife turns you to +the door?" said Master Luck, not very delicately. + +"That God will provide," said Patience, reverently. "Anyway, I must +cleave to Steadfast though 'tis very good of you, Master Luck and Master +Andrew, and I never could have thought of such a thing, and I am right +sorry for the little ones." + +"If you would only come and see them!" burst out the poor young father. +"You never see such a winsome little poppet as Bess. And they be so +young now, they'd never know you were not their own mother." + +"Don't, don't, Master Andrew!" cried Patience, "I tell you I'd come if I +could, but you can't wait, and they can't wait; and you must find a good +mother at once for them, for I have passed my word to hold by Stead till +he is married, and I must keep to it." + +"Very well, my lass," said the miller, grimly. "There's wenches better +portioned and better favoured than you, and I hope you won't have to +repent of missing a good offer." + +Of course he said it as if he hoped she would. Patience cried heartily +when they were gone. Ben came up to her and glowered after them, +declaring he wouldn't have his Patty go to be only a step-mother to +troublesome brats; but Stead, when he came to know of it, looked grave, +and said it was very good of Pat; but he wished she could have kept the +young fellow in play till she was ready for him. + +Goody Grace, who was looking after the children till the stepmother +could be found, came and expostulated with Patience, telling her she was +foolish to miss such a chance, and that she would find out her mistake +when Stead married and that little flighty, light-headed wench made the +place too hot to hold her. What would she do then? + +"Come and help you nurse the folk, Goody," said Patience, cheerfully. + +Her heart would fail her sometimes at the outlook, but she was too busy +to think much about it. Only the long evenings had been pleasanter when +Stead used to teach Ben to read Dr. Eales's books and tell her bits such +as she could understand than now when he grudged a candle big enough +to be of any use, and was only plaiting rushes and reckoning up what +everything would bring. + +Ben was a bright little fellow, and could read as well as his brother. +He longed for school, for when boys were not obliged to learn, some of +them wished to do so. There was a free grammar school about three +miles off to which he wanted to go, and Patience, who was proud of his +ability, wished to send him, neither of them thinking anything of the +walk. + +Stead, however, could see no use in more learning than he had himself. +Neither he nor Jeph had been to school. Why should the child go? He +could not be spared just as he was getting old enough to be of some use +and save time, which was money. + +And when the little fellow showed his disappointment, Stead was even +surly in telling him "they wanted no upstarts." + +It was a hard winter, and the frost was followed by a great deal of wet. +One of the sheep was swept away by the flood; three or four lambs +died; and Stead, for about the first time in his life, caught a severe +feverish cold in looking after the flock, and was laid by for a day or +two, very cross and fretful at everything going wrong without him. + +Poor little Ben was more railed at for those few days than ever he had +been before, and next he broke down and had to be nursed; and then came +Patience's turn. She was ill enough to frighten her brothers; and Goody +Grace, who came to see to her, finding how thin her blanket was, and how +long it was since she had had any food but porridge, gave Steadfast +a thorough good scolding, told him he would be the death of a better +sister than he deserved, and set before him how only for his sake +Patience might be living on the fat of the land at the mill. + +To all appearance, Stead listened sulkily enough, but by-and-by Goody +found a fowl killed and laid ready for use. It was an old hen, whose +death set Patience crying in her weakness. Nevertheless, it was stewed +down into broth which heartened her up considerably, and a blanket that +came home rolled up on the donkey's back warmed her heart as much as her +limbs. + +Mrs. Elmwood spared Rusha for a week, and it was funny to see how the +girl wondered at its having been possible to live in such a den. She +absolutely cried when Ben told her how hard they had been living, and +said she did not think Stead would ever have used Patience so. + +"Then why did she make as if she liked it?" said Stead, gruffly. + +But for all that Stead was too sound-hearted not to be grieved at +himself, and to see that his love and impatience had led him into +unkindness to those who depended on him; and when Master Woodley +preached against love of money he felt pricked at the heart, though it +had not been the gain in itself that he aimed at. And when he had to go +to the mill, the sight of the comfortable great kitchen, with the +open hearth, glowing fire, seats on either side, tall settle, and the +flitches of bacon on the rafters, seemed to reproach him additionally. +The difficulties there had been staved off by the old miller himself +marrying a stout, motherly widow, who had a real delight in the charge +of a baby. + +"For," said Master Luck, "Andrew and I could agree on no one for him." + +Moreover, Stead ceased to grunt contemptuously when Patience, with Goody +Grace to back her, declared that Ben was too young and slight for farm +work. + +The boy was allowed to trudge his daily three miles to school, and there +his progress was the wonder and delight of his slower-witted brother and +sister. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. EMLYN'S SERVICE. + + + "Oh, blind mine eye that would not trace, + And deaf mine ear that would not heed + The mocking smile upon her face, + The mocking voice of greed." + LEWIS CARROLL. + + +When Lady-day came round, Steadfast found to his delight and surprise a +little figure dancing out to meet him from Mrs. Lightfoot's. + +"There, Master Stead. Are not you glad to see me, or be you too +dumbfounded to get out a word, like good old Jenny?" stroking the +donkey's cars. "Posies of primroses! How sweet they be! You must spare +me one." + +"As many as you will, sweetheart. They be all for you, whether given or +sold. And you've got a holiday for Lady-day." + +"Have a care! I got my ears boxed for such a Popish word. 'Tis but +quarter day, you know, being that, hang, draw, and quarter is more +to the present folks' mind than ladies or saints. I have changed my +service, you must know, as poor Dick used to sing:-- + + "Have a new master, be a new man." + +"You have not heard from your own folk," cried Stead, this being what he +most dreaded. + +"Nay. But I can away no more with Dame Sloggett, and Cross-patch Rachel, +white seam and salmon, and plain collars. So I bade her farewell at the +end of the year, and I've got a new mistress." + +Stead stood with open mouth. To change service at the end of a year was +barely creditable in those days, and to do so without consultation with +home was unkind and alarming. + +"There now, don't be crooked about it. I had not time to come out and +tell you and Patience, the old crones kept me so close, stitching at +shirts for a captain that is to sail next week, and I knew you would be +coming in." + +"Where is it?" was all Stead uttered. + +"What think you of Master Henshaw's, the great merchant, and an honest +well-wisher to King and Church to boot?" + +"Master Henshaw, the West Indian merchant? His is a good, well-ordered +household, and he holds with the old ways." + +"Yes. He was out that Whitsun morning we wot of," said Emlyn. "I wist +well you would be pleased." + +"But I thought his good lady was dead," said Steadfast. + +"So she is. She that came out to the gully, but there's a new Mistress +Henshaw, a sweet young lady, of a loyal house, the Ayliffes of Calfield. +And I am to be her own woman." + +"Own woman," said Mrs. Lightfoot, for they were by this time among the +loaves in her stall. "Merchants' wives did not use to have women of +their own in my time." + +For this was the title of a lady's maid, and rules as to household +appointments were strictly observed before the rebellion. + +"Mistress Henshaw is gentlewoman born," returned Emlyn, with a toss of +her head. "She ought to have all that is becoming her station in return +for being wedded to an old hunks like that! And 'tis very well she +should have one like _me_ who has seen what becomes good blood! So +commend me to Patience and Rusha, and tell Ben maybe I shall have an +orange to send him one of these days. And cheer up, Stead. I shall get +five crowns and two gowns a year, and many a fee besides when there is +company, so we may build the house the sooner, and I shall not be mewed +up, and shall see the more of thee. 'Tis all for you. So never look so +gloomy on it, old Sobersides." + +And she turned her sweet face to him, and coaxed and charmed him +into being satisfied that all was well, dwelling on the loyalty and +excellence of the master of the house. + +He found it true that it was much easier to see Emlyn than before. Mrs. +Henshaw, a pretty young creature, not much older than Emlyn, was pleased +to do her own marketing, and came out attended by Emlyn, and a little +black slave boy carrying a basket. She generally bought all that +Steadfast had to sell, and then gave smiling thanks when he offered to +help carry home her purchases. She would join company with some of her +acquaintance, and leave the lovers to walk together, only accompanied by +little Diego, or Diggo as they called him, whose English was of the most +rudimentary description. + +Emlyn certainly was very happy in her new quarters. Neither her lady nor +herself was arrayed with the rigid plainness exacted by Puritanism, and +many disapproving glances were cast upon the fair young pair, mistress +and maid, by the sterner matrons. Waiting women could not indulge in +much finery, but whatever breast knots and tiny curls beyond her little +tight cap could do, Emlyn did without fear of rebuke. Stead tried to +believe that the disapproving looks and words, by which Mrs. Lightfoot +intimated that she heard reports unfavourable to the household were only +due to the general distrust and dislike to the bright and lively Emlyn. +Mrs. Lightfoot was no Puritan herself, but her gossips were, and he +received her observations with a dull, stony look that vexed her, by +intimating that it was no business of hers. + +Still it was borne in upon him that, good man as Mr. Henshaw certainly +was, the household was altered. It had been poverty and distress which +had led the Ayliffe family to give their young sister to a man so much +her elder, and inferior in position; and perhaps still more a desire to +confirm the Royalist footing in the city of Bristol. The lady's brothers +were penniless Cavaliers, and one of them made her house his home, and +a centre of Royalist plots and intelligences, which excited Emlyn very +much by the certainty that something was going on, though what it was, +of course, she did not know; and at any rate there was coming and going, +and all sorts of people were to be seen at the merchant's hospitable +table, all manner of news to be had here, there, and everywhere, with +which she delighted to entertain Steadfast, and show her own importance. + +It was not often good news as regarded the Cavalier cause, for Cromwell +was fixing himself in his seat; and every endeavour to hatch a scheme +against him was frustrated, and led to the flight or death of those +concerned in it. However, so long as Emlyn had something to tell, it +made little difference whether the tidings were good or bad, whether +they concerned Admiral Blake's fleet, or her mistress's little Italian +greyhound. By-and-by however instead of Mrs. Henshaw, there came to +market Madam Ayliffe, her mother, a staid, elderly lady, all in black, +who might as well, Emlyn said, have been a Puritan. + +She looked gravely at Stead, and said, "Young man, I am told that you +are well approved and trustworthy, and that my daughter suffers you to +walk home with this maiden, you being troth plight to her." + +Stead assented. + +"I will therefore not forbid it, trusting that if you be, as I hear, +a prudent youth, you may bring her to a more discreet and obedient +behaviour than hath been hers of late." + +[Illustration: Stead before the Roundheads] + +So saying, Mrs. Ayliffe joined company with the old Cavalier Colonel +and went on her way as Emlyn made that ugly face that Stead knew of old, +clenched her hand and muttered, "Old witch! She is a Puritan at heart, +after all! She is turning the house upside down, and my poor mistress +has not spirit to say 'tis her own, with the old woman and the old hunks +both against her! Why, she threatened to beat me because, forsooth, the +major's man was but giving me the time of day on the stairs!" + +"Was that what she meant?" asked Stead. + +"Assuredly it was. Trying to set you against me, the spiteful old +make-bate, and no one knows how long she will be here, falling on the +poor lads if they do but sing a song in the hall after supper, as if she +were a very Muggletonian herself. I trow she is no better." + +"Did you not tell me how she held out her house against the Roundheads, +and went to prison for sheltering Cavaliers?" + +"I only wish they had kept her there. All old women be Puritans at +heart. I say Stead, I'll have done with service. Let us be wed at once." + +Stead could hardly breathe at this proposition. "But I have only nine +pounds and two crowns and--" he began. + +"No matter, there be other ways," she went on. "Get the house built, and +I'll come, and we will have curds and whey all the summer, and mistress +and all her friends will come out and drink it, and eat strawberries!" + +"But the Squire will never build the place up unless I bring more in +hand." + +"You 'but' enough to butt down a wall, you dull-pated old Stead," said +Emlyn, "you know where to get at more, and so do I." + +Stead's grey eyes fixed on her in astonishment and bewilderment. + +"Numskull!" she exclaimed, but still in that good humoured voice of +banter that he never had withstood, "you know what I mean, though maybe +you would not have me say it in the street, you that have secrets." + +"How do you know of it?" + +"Have not I eyes, though some folk have not? Could not I look out at a +chink on a fine summer morning, when you thought the children asleep? +Could not I climb up to your precious cave as well as yourself; and hear +the iron clink under the stone. Ha, ha! and you and Patience thought no +one knew but yourselves." + +"I trust no one else does." + +"No, no, I'm no gad-about, whatever you may be pleased to think me. They +say everything comes of use in seven years, and it must be over that +now." + +"Ten since 'twas hidden, nigh seven since that Whitsuntide. There's +never a parson who could come out, is there? Besides, with Peter +Woodward nigh, 'tis not safe to meet." + +"That's what your head is running on. No, no. They will never have it +out again that fashion. The old Prayer-book is banished for ever and a +day! I heard master and the Captain say that now old Noll has got his +will, he will soon call himself king, and there's no hope of churches +or parsons coming back; and old madam sat and cried. The Jack Presbyters +and the rest of the sectaries have got it all their own way." + +"Dr. Eales said I had no right to give it to Master Woodley, or any that +was not the right sort." + +"So why should you go on keeping it there rotting for nothing, when +it might just hinder us from wearing our very lives out while you are +plodding and saving?" + +Stead stood stock still, as her meaning dawned on him, "Child, you know +not what you say," at last he uttered. + +"Ah well, you are slow to take things in; but you'll do it at last." + +"I am slow to take in this," said Stead. "Would you have me rob God?" + +"No, only the owls and the bats," said Emlyn. "If they are the better +for the silver and gold under them! What good can it do to let it lie +there and rot?" + +"Gold rots not!" growled Stead. + +"Tarnishes, spoils then!" said Emlyn pettishly. "Come, what good is't to +any mortal soul there?" + +"It is none of mine." + +"Not after seven years? Come, look you now, Stead, 'tis not only being +tired of service and sharp words, and nips and blows, but I don't like +being mocked for having a clown and a lubber for my sweetheart. Oh +yes! they do, and there's a skipper and two mates, and a clerk, and a +well-to-do locksmith, besides gentlemen's valets and others, I don't +account of, who would all cut off their little fingers if I'd only once +look at them as I am doing at you, you old block, who don't heed it, and +I don't know that I can hold out against them all," she added, looking +down with a sudden shyness; "specially the mates. There's Jonah +Richards, who has a ship building that he is to have of his own, and he +wants to call it the 'Sprightly Emlyn,' and the other sailed with Prince +Rupert, and made ever so many prizes, and how am I to stand out when you +don't value me the worth of an old silver cup?" + +"Come, come, Em, that's only to frighten a man." But she knew in his +tone that he was frightened. + +"Not a bit! I should be ever so much better off in a tidy little house +where I could see all that came and went than up in your lane with +nought to go by but the market folk. 'Tis not everyone that would have +kept true to a big country lout like you, like that lady among the +salvage men that the King spoke of; and I get nothing by it but wait, +wait, wait, when there's stores of silver ready to your hand." + +"Heaven knows, and you know, Emlyn, 'tis not for want of love." + +"Heaven may know, but I don't." + +"I gave my solemn word." + +"And you have kept it these ten years, and all is changed." Then +altering her tone, "There now, I know it takes an hour to beat a notion +into that slow brain of yours, and here we be at home, and I shall have +madam after me. I'll leave you to see the sense of it, and if I do not +hear of something before long, why then I shall know how much you care +for poor little Emlyn." + +With which last words she flitted within the gates, leaving Steadfast +still too much stunned to realise all she meant, as he turned homewards; +but all grew on him in time, the idea that Emlyn, his Emlyn, his orphan +of the battlefield, bereaved for the sake of King and Church, should be +striving to make him betray his trust! "The silver is Mine and the +gold is Mine," rang in his ears, and yet was it not cruel that when she +really loved him best, and sought to return to him as a refuge from the +many temptations to her lively spirit, he should be forced to leave her +in the midst of them--against her own warning and even entreaty, and +not only himself lose her, but lose her to one of those godless riotous +sailors who were the dread and bane of the neighbourhood? Was not a +human soul worth as much as a consecrated Chalice? + +These were the debates in Steadfast's much tormented soul. He could +think, though he could not clothe his thoughts in words, and day after +day, night after night he did think, while Patience wondered at the +heavy moodiness that seemed to have come over him. He would not open his +lips to ask her counsel, being quite certain of what it would be, and +not choosing to hear her censure of Emlyn for what he managed to excuse +by the poor child's ignorance and want of training, and by her ardent +desire to be under his wing and escape from temptation. + +He recollected a thousand pleas that he might have used with her, to +show it was not want of love but a sacred pledge that withheld him, and +market day after market day he went in, priming himself all the way +with arguments that were to confirm her constancy, arm her against +temptation, and assure her of his unalterable love, though he might not +break his vow, nor lay his hand upon sacred things. + +But whether Emlyn would not, or could not, meet him, he did not know, +for a week or two went by before he saw her, and then she was carrying +a great fan for her young mistress, who was walking with a Cavalier, +as gay as Cavaliers ever ventured to be, and another young lady, whose +waiting woman had paired with Emlyn. They were mincing along, gazing +about them, and uttering little contemptuous titters, and Stead could +only too well guess what kind of remarks Emlyn's companion might make +upon him. + +Near his stand, however, the other lady beckoned her maid to adjust +something in her dress; and Stead could approach Emlyn. She looked up +with her bright, laughing eyes with a certain wistfulness in them. + +"Have you made up your mind to cheat the owls?" she asked. + +"Emlyn, if you would not speak so lightly, I could show cause--" + +"Oh, that's enough," she answered hastily, turning as the other maid +joined her; and Stead caught the shrill, pert voice demanding if that +was her swain with clouted shoes. Emlyn's reply he could not hear, but +he saw the twist of the shoulders. + +There are bitter moments in everyone's life, and that was one of the +very bitterest of Steadfast Kenton's. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. THE ASSAULT OF THE CAVERN. + + + "By all description this should be the place. + Who's here?" + SHAKESPEARE. + + +Harvest was over, and the autumn evenings were darkening. It was later +than the usual bed time, but Patience had a piece of spinning which she +was anxious to finish for the weaver who took all her yarn, and Stead +was reading Dr. Eales's gift of the Morte d'Arthur, which had great +fascination for him, though he never knew whether to regard it as truth +or fable. He wanted to drive out the memory of what Mrs. Lightfoot had +told him about the Henshaw household, where the youngest of the lady's +brothers had lately arrived from beyond seas, bringing with him habits +of noise and riot, which greatly scandalised the neighbours. + +Suddenly Growler started up with pricked ears, and emitted a sound like +thunder. Patience checked her wheel. There was an unmistakable sound of +steps. Stead sprang up. Growler rushed at the door with a furious volley +of barking. Stead threw it open, catching up a stout stick as he did so, +and the dog dashed out, but was instantly driven back with an oath and +a blow. It was a bright moonlight night, and Stead beheld three tall men +evidently well armed. + +"Ho, you fellow there," one called out, "keep back your cur, we don't +want to hurt him nor you." + +"Then what are you doing here?" demanded Stead. + +"We are come for what you wot of. For the King's service." + +"Who sent you?" asked Stead, for the moment somewhat dazed. + +One of them laughed and said, "As if you did not know." + +There was a sickening perception, but Stead's powers were alert enough +for him to exclaim, "Then you have no warrant." + +"My good fellow, don't stickle about such trifles. For the King's +service it is, and that should be enough for all loyal hearts. Hollo, +what's that? Silence your dog, I say," as Growler's voice resounded +through the gulley, "or it will be the worse for you and him." + +Stead took hold of the dog's collar, and amidst his choked grumbles, +said, "I do nought but on true warrant." + +"Hark ye, blockhead," said the foremost. "I'm an officer of His +Majesty's, with power to make requisitions for his service." + +"Shew it," said Stead, quite convinced that this was sheer robbery. + +"You addle-pated, insolent clown, to dispute terms with gentlemen in His +Majesty's service. Stand aside. I've done you only too much honour by +parleying with you. Out of the way. We don't want to take a stick of +your own trumpery, I say." + +"Sir, it is Church plate." + +"Ha, ha! Church plate is His Most Sacred Majesty's plate. Don't ye know +that, you ass? Here! we'll throw you back something for yourself if you +will show us the cave and save us trouble, for we know which it is by +the token of the red stone and twisted ash. Ho! take--What's become of +the clown? He has run off. Discreet fellow!" + +For Stead had disappeared in the black darkness behind the hut. He +remembered Jephthah's discomfiture by the owl, and it struck him that +from within the cavern it would be quite possible to keep the robbers at +bay, if they tried without knowing the way to climb up among the bushes. +He was not afraid for his brother and sister, as the marauders evidently +did not want anything but the plate. Indeed, his whole soul was so +concentrated on the defence of his charge that he had no room for +anything else. + +Knowing the place perfectly, Stead had time to swing himself, armed with +a stout bludgeon, up into the hermit's cave, and even to drag after him +Growler, a very efficient ally. The contrasts of moonlight were all in +his favour, the lights almost as bright as in sunshine, the shadows so +very dark. He could see through the overhanging ivy and travellers' joy +the men peering about with their dark lantern, looking into the caves +where the pigs were, among the trees, and he held Growler's mouth +together lest the grim murmurs that were rolling in the beast's throat +should serve as a guide. + +Then he heard them shout to Patience to come and guide them since her +coward of a brother had made off, and he heard her answer, "Not I, 'tis +no business of mine." + +"We'll see about that. D'ye know how folks are made to speak, my lass?" + +Then Stead recollected with horror that he had left her to her fate. +Would he be obliged to come down to her help? At that moment, however, +there was a call from the fellow who bore the lantern. "Here's the red +stone. That must be the ash. Now then!" + +"You first, Nick." Then came a crackling and rustling of boughs, a head +appeared, and at that moment Stead loosed Growler and would have dealt +a blow with his stick, but that the assault of the dog had sufficed to +send the assailant, roaring and cursing, headlong down the crag. + +Furious threats came up to him and his dog, but he heard them in +silence, though Growler's replies were vociferous. Stead gathered that +the fall had in some degree hurt the man for he made an exclamation of +pain, and the others bade him stay there and keep back the wench. + +"We'll have you down though we smoke you out like a wasps' nest, you +disloyal adder, you," was one of the threats. + +"Or serve him like the Spaniard at Porto Santo," said another. + +Presently after numerous threats and warnings that they had firearms +and were determined to use them, two of the men began climbing much more +cautiously, holding by the trees, so as not to be suddenly overthrown. +However the furious attack of such a dog as Growler, springing from +utter darkness was a formidable matter, and the man against whom he had +launched himself could not but fall in his turn, but the dog went after +him, and the companion, being on his guard, was not overthrown. Stead +aimed a blow at the fellow with all his might, but the slouching hat +warded off the full force of the bludgeon. Then Stead sprang at him and +grappled with him. There was the report of a pistol, and both rolled +headlong among the bushes, but at that moment a fresh shout was heard--a +cry of "Villains, traitors, robbers--what be at?" and a rush of feet, +while in the moonlight appeared Peter Pierce with his fowling piece, +another man, Ben, and four or five dogs. + +The robbers never waited to see how small the reinforcement was, and +it made noise enough for the whole hue-and-cry of the parish. Off they +dashed, through the wood, the new comers after them. + +But all Patience knew was that Steadfast was lying senseless at the +bottom of the cliff, with poor Growler moaning by him, and licking his +face, and that her hands were wet with what must be blood. + +It was too dark to see anything, but she could hardly bear to leave him, +as she hurried back to the hut for the lantern. All this had taken but +few minutes, so that she had only to catch it up from the table where +Stead's book still lay. + +By the time she came back, he had opened his eyes, and his hand was on +Growler's head. + +"Are they gone?" he asked faintly. + +"Yes, and Peter after them. Oh! Stead, you are badly hurt." + +"They have not got it?" + +"Oh no, no, you saved it." + +"Thank God. Is Ben safe?" + +"Yes, after them with Peter. I sent him out while you were talking to +call Peter." + +"Good--" and his eyes closed again. "Good Growler, poor Growl--" he +added, fondling the big head, as the dog moaned. "See to him, Pat." + +"I must see to you first. Oh! Stead, is it very bad?" + +"I'll try to get in, if you'll help me." + +He raised himself, but this effort brought a rush of blood to the lips, +which greatly terrified Patience. To her great relief, however, Nanny +Pierce having satisfied herself that all was quiet round the hut, here +called out to ask where Patience was. She was profuse in "Lack-a-daisy!" +"Dear heart!" and "Poor soul!" and was quite sure Stead was as good as +a dead man; but she had strong arms, and so had Patience, and when they +had done what they could to stanch the wound in his side, which however, +was not bleeding much externally, they carried him in between them +to Patience's bed which had been Emlyn's, and therefore was the least +uncomfortable. Poor Growler crept after, bleeding a good deal, and +Steadfast would not rest till his faithful comrade was looked to. There +was a dagger cut in his chest, which Nanny, used to dog doctoring, bound +up, after which the creature came close to his master, and fell asleep +under his hand. + +It was a very faint hand. Movement or speech alike brought blood to the +mouth, and Stead's ruddy checks were becoming deadly white. He struggled +to say, "You and Ben guard it! Say a prayer, Pat," and then the two +women really thought that in the gush that followed all was over, and +Nanny marvelled at the stunned calm in which Patience went over the +Lord's Prayer, and such Psalms as she could remember. + +Steps came, and Nanny shrieked. Then she saw it was her husband and the +other two men. + +"Made off to the town," said Peter, gruffly. + +"How now--hurt?" + +"O, Peter, they have made an end of the poor lad. Died like a lamb, even +now." + +"No, no," said Peter, as he came close to the bed with his more +experienced eye; "he ain't dead. 'Tis but a swoon. Hast any strong +waters, Pat? No, I'll be bound. Ho, you now, Bill, run and knock them up +at the Elmwood Arms, and bring down a gill." + +"And call Goody Grace," entreated Patience, "she will know best what to +do." + +On the whole, Peter's military experience was more hopeful, if not more +helpful than Goody Grace's. He was the only person who persisted in +declaring that such wounds were not always mortal, though he agreed +in owning that the inward bleeding was the worst sign. Stead did not +attempt to speak again, but lay there deadly white and with a stricken +look on his face, which Patience could not bear to see, and she ascribed +to the conviction that the wretched little Emlyn must have betrayed his +secret. + +The hut was over-full of volunteers of assistance and enquiry the next +day, including the squire and Master Woodley; but nobody seemed to guess +at the real object of the robbers' attack, everybody thinking they +had come for the savings which Stead was known to be making towards +rebuilding the farmhouse. + +Mr. Elmwood was very indignant and took Pierce, and Blane the constable, +into Bristol to see whether the felons could be captured and brought to +justice, but they proved to have gone down to the wharf, and to have got +on board a vessel which had dropped down the river in the early morning. +They were also more than suspected of being no other than buccaneers who +plied their trade of piracy in the West Indies. The younger Ayliffe had +gone with them, and was by no means above suspicion. + +Mr. Elmwood also brought out a barber surgeon to see young Kenton, a +thing which his sister would not have dared to propose. But there was +not much to be done, the doctor decided that the bullet was where the +attempt at extraction would be fatal, and that the only hope of even +partial recovery was in perfect stillness and silence--and this Patience +could promise to ensure as far as in her lay. Instructions on dressing +the wound were given to her, and she was to send in to the barber's shop +if ointment or other appliances were needed. This was all that she was +to expect, and more indeed than she had thought feasible; for folks of +their condition were sick and got well, lived or died without the aid of +practitioners above the skill of Goody Grace. However, he gave her very +little hope, though he would not pronounce that her brother was dying. A +few days would decide, and quiet was the only chance. + +Scarcely however were the visitors gone, and Stead left to what rest +pain would allow him after being handled by the surgeon, when a sound of +sobbing was heard outside. "Oh! oh! I'm afraid to go in! Ben! Oh! tell +me, is he not dead? I'm the most miserable maid in the world if he is." + +"He's alive, small thanks to you," responded Ben, who had somehow +arrived at a knowledge of the facts, while Rusha, who was milking, +buried her head in Daisy's side, and would not even look at her. +Patience felt in utter despair, and longed to misunderstand Stead's +signs to her to open the door. She tried to impress the need of quiet, +but Emlyn darted in, her hood pushed back, her hair flying, her dress +disordered, looking half wild, and dropping on the floor, she crouched +there with clasped hands, crying "Oh! oh! he looks like death. He'll die +and I'm the most--" + +"If you make all that noise and tumult he will," said Patience, who +could bear no more. "Are you come here to finish what you have done? Do +go away." + +"Oh! but I must tell you! They said it was for the King, and that he had +the right. Yes they did, and they swore that they would hurt no one." + +Stead looked to a certain extent pleased, but Patience broke out, "As if +you did not know he would rather die than give up his trust." + +"I thought he would never know--" + +"Robber!" said Patience. "Go! You have done harm enough already." + +"But I must tell you," persisted Emlyn. "I used to see Dick Glass among +Lord Goring's troopers, and he is from our parts, and he has been with +Prince Rupert. There was a plot, I know there is, and both the Master +Ayliffes are in it, and we were to go and raise Worcestershire, only +they wanted money, and Dick was to--to wed me--and set us across the +river this morning, when they had got the treasure. 'Twas for the King. +And now they are all gone, Master Philip and all, and master says they +are flibustiers, and pirates, and robbers; and Mrs. Lightfoot's boy came +and said Stead Kenton was shot dead at his house door, and then I was +neither to have nor to hold, but I ran off here like one distraught, for +I never loved anyone like you Stead." + +"Pretty love!" said Patience. "Oh! if you think you love him, go and let +him be at peace." + +"I do! I do!" cried the girl, quite unmanageable. "Only it made me mad +that he should heed an old chest and a musty parson more than me, and +so I took up with Dick, and he over persuaded me with his smooth tongue +that we would raise folk for the King." + +Stead held out his hand. + +"Oh! Stead, Stead, you are always kinder than Patience! You forgive me, +dear old Stead, do not you? And I'll tend you day and night, and you +shall not die, and I'll wed you, if you have nought but the shirt to +your back." + +Patience felt nearly distracted at the notion of Emlyn there day and +night, but at that instant Goody Grace, who had been to her home in +preparation for spending the night in nursing, walked in. + +"How now, mistress, what are you about here?" + +"She wants to stay and tend him, and I don't know whether she has come +with her mistress's knowledge," sighed Patience. + +"Fine tendance!" said the old woman. "My lady wants to kill him +outright. Nay, nay, my young madam, we want none of your airs and +flights here. You can do no good, except by making yourself scarce--you +that can't hold your tongue a moment." + +Stead here whispered, "Her mistress, will she forgive her?" + +"Oh, yes, no fear but that she will," said Emlyn, who perhaps had +revolved in her mind, since her first impulse, what it would be to nurse +Stead in that hovel, with two such displeased companions as Goody and +Patience. More to pacify Steadfast's uneasy eyes than for her own sake, +Patience gave her a drink of milk and a piece of bread, and Peter coming +just then to ask if he could help Ben with the cattle, undertook to +see her safely on her way, since twilight was coming on. Sobered and +awestruck by the silence and evident condemnation of all around, she +ended by flinging herself on her knees by the bed, and saying "Stead, +Stead, you forgive me, though no one else does?" + +"Poor child--I do--as I hope--" + +"The blood again. You've done it now," exclaimed Goody Grace. "Away with +you!" + +Peter fairly dragged her out, while the women attended to Stead. + +But he let her wait outside till they heard, "Not dead, but not far from +it." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. EMLYN'S TROTH. + + + "Woman's love is writ in water, + Woman's faith is traced in sand." + AYTOUN. + + +Day after day Steadfast Kenton lingered between life and death, and +though the external wound healed, there was little relief to the deeper +injury which could not be reached, and which the damps and chills of +autumn and winter could only aggravate. + +He could move little, and speak even less; and suffered much, both from +pain and difficulty of breathing, as he lay against sacks and pillows +on his bed, or sat up in an elbow chair which Mrs. Elmwood lent him. +Everybody was very kind in those days of danger. Mrs. Elmwood let Rusha +come on many an afternoon to help her sister, and always bringing some +posset, or cordial, or dainty of some sort to tempt the invalid. Goody +Grace, Mrs. Blane, Dame Oates, Nanny Pierce vied with each other in +offers of sitting up with him; Andrew, the young miller, came out of his +way to bring a loaf of white bread, and to fetch the corn to be ground. +Peter Pierce, Rusha's lover, and more old comrades than Patience quite +desired, offered their services in aiding Ben with the cattle and +other necessary labours, but as the first excitement wore off, these +volunteers became scantier, and when nothing was to be heard but "just +the same," nothing to be seen but a weak, wan figure sitting wrapped +by the fire, the interest waned, and the gulley was almost as little +frequented as before. Poor Ben's schooling had, of course, to be given +up, and it was well that he was nearly as old as Stead had been when +they were first left to themselves. Happily his fifteen months of study +had not made him outgrow his filial obedience and devotion to the less +instructed elder brother and sister, who had taken the place of the +parents he had never known. Benoni, child of sorrow, he had been named, +and perhaps his sickly babyhood and the mournful times around had tended +to make him a quiet boy, without the tearing spirits that would have +made him eager to join the village lads in their games. Indeed they +laughed at him for his poverty and scholarship, and called him Jack +Presbyter, Puritan, bookworm, and all the opprobrious names they could +think of, though no one ever less merited sectarian nicknames than he, +as far as doctrine went. For, bred up on Dr. Eales' books, and obliged +to look out on the unsettled state of religious matters, he was +as staunch a churchman as his brother, and fairly understood +the foundations of his faith. Poor boy, the check to his studies +disappointed him, and he spent every leisure moment over his Latin +accidence or in reading. Next to the stories in the Bible, he loved +the Maccabees, because of the likeness to the persecuted state of the +Church; and he knew the Morte d'Arthur almost by heart, and thought it +part of the history of England. Especially he loved the part that tells +of the Holy Grail, the Sacred Cup that was guarded by the maimed King +Pelles, and only revealed to the pure in heart and life. Stead had fully +confided to him the secret of the cave, in case he should be the +one left to deliver up the charge; and, in some strange way, the boy +connected the treasure with the Saint Grail, and his brother with the +maimed king. So he worked very hard, and Patience was capable of a good +deal more than in her earlier days. Stead, helpless as he was, did +not require constant attendance, and knew too well how much was on his +sister's hands to trouble her when he could possibly help doing so. Thus +they rubbed on; though it was a terrible winter, and they often had to +break in on the hoard which was to have built the house, sometimes for +needments for the patient, sometimes to hire help when there was work +beyond the strength of Patience and Ben, who indeed was too slender to +do all that Stead had done. + +Ben did not shine in going to market. He was not big enough to hold his +own against rude lads, and once came home crying with his donkey beaten +and his eggs broken; moreover, he was apt to linger at stalls of books +and broadsheets. As soon as Patience could venture to leave her brother, +she was forced to go to market herself; and there was a staidness and +sobriety about her demeanour that kept all impertinence at a distance. +Poor Patience, she was not at all the laughing rustic beauty that Emlyn +would have been at market. She would never have been handsome, and +though she was only a few years over twenty, she was beginning to look +weather-beaten and careworn, like the market women about her, mothers of +half-a-dozen children. + +Now and then she saw Emlyn in all her young, plump beauty, but looking +much quieter, and always coming to her for news of Steadfast. There were +even tears in those bright eyes when she heard how much he suffered. +The girl had evidently been greatly sobered by the results of her +indiscretion, and the treachery into which it had led her. She probably +cared more for Steadfast than for anyone else except herself, and was +shocked and grieved at his condition; and she had moreover discovered +how her credulity had been played upon, and that she had had a narrow +escape of being carried off by a buccaneer. + +Her master too had been called to order by the authorities, fined and +threatened for permitting Royalist plots to be hatched in his house. He +had been angered by the younger Ayliffe's riotous doings, and his wife +had been terrified. There had been a general reformation in which Emlyn +had only escaped dismissal through her mistress's favour, pleading her +orphanhood, her repentance, and her troth plight to the good young man +who had been attacked by those dissolute fellows, though Mrs. Henshaw +little knew how accountable was her favourite maid for the attack. + +So good and discreet was Emlyn, so affectionate her messages to Stead, +and so much brightness shone in his face on hearing them; there was so +much pleasure when she sent him an orange and he returned the snowdrops +he had made Rusha gather, that Patience began to believe that Stead was +right--that the shock was all the maiden needed to steady her--and that +all would end as he hoped, when he should be able to resume his labours, +and add to the sadly reduced hoard. + +It was not, however, till the March winds were over that Stead made any +decided step towards recovery, and began to prefer the sun to the fire, +and to move feebly and slowly about the farmyard, visiting the animals, +too few in number, for his skilled attention had been missed. As summer +came on he was able to do a little more, herd them with Growler's help, +and gradually to undertake what required no exertion of strength or +speed, and there he stopped short--all the sunny months of summer could +do no more for him than make him fit to do such work as an old man of +seventy might manage. + +He was persuaded, much against his will, to ride the white horse into +Bristol at a foot-pace to consult once more the barber surgeon. That +worthy, who was unusually sagacious for his time and had had experience +in the wars, told him that his recovery was a marvel, but that with the +bullet where it was lodged, he could scarcely hope to enjoy much more +health or comfort than at present. It could not be reached, but it might +shift, when either it would prove fatal or become less troublesome; and +as a friend and honest man, he counselled the poor youth not to waste +his money nor torture himself by having recourse to remedies or doctors +who could do no real good. + +Stead thanked the barber, paid his crown, and slowly made his way to +Mrs. Lightfoot's, where he was to rest, dine, and see Emlyn. + +Kind Mrs. Lightfoot shed tears when she saw the sturdy, ruddy youth +grown so thin and pale; and as to Emlyn, she actually stood silent for +three minutes. + +The two were left together in Mrs. Lightfoot's kitchen, for Patience was +at market, and their hostess had to mind her trade. + +Stead presently told Emlyn somewhat of the doctor's opinion, and then, +producing his portion of the tester, and with lips that trembled in +spite of himself, said that he had come to give Emlyn back her troth +plight. + +"Oh! Stead, Stead," she cried, bursting into tears. "I thought you had +forgiven me." + +"Forgiven you! Yea, truly, poor child, but--" + +"But only when you were sick! You cast me off now you are whole." + +"I shall never be whole again, Emlyn." + +"I don't believe Master Willis. He is nought but a barber," she +exclaimed passionately. "I know there are physicians at the Bath who +would cure you; or there's the little Jew by the wharf; or the wise man +on Durdham Down. But you always are so headstrong; when you have made +up your mind no one can move you, and you don't care whose heart you +break," she sobbed. + +"Hearken, little sweet," said Stead. "'Tis nought but that I wot that it +would be ill for you to be bound to a poor frail man that will never be +able to keep you as you should be kept. All I had put by is well nigh +gone, and I'm not like to make it up again for many a year, even if I +were as strong as ever." + +"And you won't go to the Jew, or the wise man, or the Bath?" + +"I have not the money." + +"But I will--I will save it for you!" cried Emlyn, who never had saved +in her life. "Or look here. Master Henshaw might give you a place in +his office, and then there would be no need to dwell in that nasty, damp +gulley, but we could be in the town. I'll ask my mistress to crave it +from him." + +Stead could not but smile at her eagerness, but he shook his head. + +"It would be bootless, sweetheart, I cannot carry weights." + +"No, but you can write." + +"Very scurvily, and I cannot cypher." + +For Stead, like everyone else at Elmwood, kept his accounts by tally and +in his head, and the mysteries of the nine Arabic figures were perfectly +unknown to him. However, Emlyn stuck to the hope, and he was so far +inspired by it that he ceased to insist on giving up the pledges of the +betrothal, and he lay on the settle in quiet enjoyment of Emlyn's castle +building, as she sat on a stool by his side, his hand on her shoulder, +somewhat as it was wont to lie on Growler's head. And in spite of +Master Willis's opinion, he rode home to the gulley a new man, assuring +Patience, on the donkey by his side, that there was more staunchness +and kindness in little Emlyn than ever they had thought for. Even the +ferryman who put them over the river declared that the doctor must +have done Master Kenton a power of good, and Stead smiled and did not +contradict him. + +Stead actually consulted Mr. Woodley how to learn cyphering beyond what +Ben had acquired at school; and the minister lent him a treatise, over +which he pored with a board and a burnt stick for many an hour when he +was out on the common with the cattle, or on the darkening evenings in +the hut. Ben saw his way into those puzzles with no more difficulty than +whetted his appetite, worked out sum after sum, and explained them +to his brother, to the admiration of both his elders, till frowns of +despair and long sighs from Stead brought Patience to declare he was +mazing himself, and insist on putting out the light. + +Stead had more time for his studies than he could wish, for the cold +of winter soon affected the injured lungs; and, moreover, the being no +longer able to move about rapidly caused the damp and cold of the +ravine to produce rheumatism and attendant ills, of which, in his former +healthy, out-of-door life, he had been utterly ignorant, and he had to +spend many an hour breathless, or racked with pain in the poor little +hovel, sometimes trying to give his mind to the abstruse mysteries of +multiplication of money, but generally in vain, and at others whiling +away the time with his books, for though there were only seven of them, +including Bible and Prayer-book, a very little reading could be the text +of so much musing, that these few perfectly sufficed him. And then he +was the nurse of any orphaned lamb or sick chicken that Patience was +anxious about, and his care certainly saved many of those small lives. + +The spring, when he came forth again, found him on a lower level, less +strong and needing a stick to aid his rheumatic knee. + +Not much was heard of Emlyn that spring. She did not come to market +with her mistress, and Patience was not inclined to go in quest of her, +having a secret feeling that no news might be better for Stead than +anything she was likely to hear; while as to any chance of their coming +together, the Kentons had barely kept themselves through this winter, +and Steadfast's arithmetic was not making such progress as would give +him a place at a merchant's desk. + +Patience, however, was considerably startled when, one fine June +day, she saw Mrs. Henshaw's servant point her out to two tall +soldierly-looking men, apparently father and son. + +"Good morrow to you, honest woman," said the elder. "I am told it is you +who have been at charges for many years for my brother's daughter, Emlyn +Gaythorn." + +Patience assented. + +"You have been right good to her, I hear; and I thank you for that same, +and will bear what we may of the expense," he added, taking out a heavy +bag from his pouch. + +He went on to explain that he and his son having gone abroad with his +master had been serving with the Dutch, and had made some prize money. +Learning on the peace that a small inheritance in Worcestershire had +fallen to the family, they had returned, and found from Lady Blythedale +that the brother's daughter was supposed to be alive somewhere near +Bristol. She had a right to half, and being honourable men, they had +set out in search of her, bringing letters from the lady to Mr. Henshaw, +whose house was still a centre of inquiry for persons in the Cavalier +interest. There, of course, they had discovered Emlyn; and Master +Gaythorn proceeded to say that it had been decided that the estate +should not be broken up, but that his son should at once wed her and +unite their claims. + +"But, sir," exclaimed Patience, "she is troth plight to my brother." + +"So she told me, but likewise that he is a broken man and sickly, and +had offered to restore her pledge." + +Patience could not deny it, though she felt hotly indignant. + +"She charged me to give it back to you," added the uncle; "and to bid +you tell the young man that we are beholden to you both; but that since +the young folk are to be wedded to-morrow morn, and then to set forth +for Worcestershire, there is no time for leave-takings." + +"I do not wonder!" exclaimed Patience, "that she has no face to see us. +She that has been like a child or a sister to us, to leave us thus! O my +brother!" + +"Come, come, my good woman, best not make a pother." Poor Patience's +homely garb and hard-worked looks shewed little of the yeoman class to +which she belonged. "You've done your duty by the maid and here's the +best I have to make it up." + +Patience could not bring herself to take the bag, and he dropped it +into her basket "I am sorry for the young man, your brother, but he knew +better than to think to wed her as he is. And 'tis better for all there +should be no women's tears and foolishness over it." + +"Is she willing?" Patience could not but ask. + +"Willing?" Both men laughed. "Aye, what lass is not willing to take a +fine, strapping husband, and be a landed dame? She gave the token back +of her own free will, eh, Humfrey; and what did she bid us say?" + +"Her loving greetings to--What were their Puritanical names?" said the +son contemptuously. "Aye, and that she pitied the poor clown down there, +but knew he would be glad of what was best for her." + +"So farewell, good mistress," said Master Gaythorn, and off they clanked +together; and Patience, looking after them, could entirely believe that +the handsome buff coat, fringed belt, high boots, and jauntily cocked +hat would have driven out the thought of Stead in his best days. And now +that he was bent, crippled, weak, helpless,--"and all through her, what +hope was then," thought Patience, "yet if she had loved him, or there +had been any truth in her, she could have wedded him now, and he would +have been at ease through life! A little adder at our hearth! We are +well quit of her, if he will but think so, but how shall I ever tell +him?" + +She did not rush in with the tidings but came home slowly, drearily, +so that Stead, who was sitting outside by the door, peeling rushes, +gathered that something was amiss, and soon wormed it out of her, while +her tears dropped fast for him. Still, as ever, he spoke little. He said +her uncle was right in sparing tears and farewells, no doubt reserving +to himself the belief that it was against her will. And when Patience +could not help declaring that the girl might have made him share her +prosperity, he said, "I'm past looking after her lands. Her uncle would +say so. 'Tis his doing; I am glad of what is best for my darling as was. +There's an end of it, Patience--joy and grief. And I thank God that the +child is safely cared for at last." + +He tried to be as usual, but he was very ill that night. + +Patience found the money in her basket. She hated it and put it aside, +and it was only some time after that she was constrained to use it, only +then telling Stead whence it came, when he could endure to hear that the +uncle had done his best to be just. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. FULFILMENT. + + + "My spirit heats her mortal bars, + As down dark tides the glory glides, + And mingles with the stars." + TENNYSON. + + +The year 1660 had come, and in the autumn, just as harvest was over, and +the trees on the slopes were taking tints of red, yellow, and brown, an +elderly clergyman, staff in hand, came slowly up the long lane leading +to Elmwood, whence he had been carried, bound to his horse, seventeen +years before. + +He had not suffered as much as some of his fellow priests. After a term +of imprisonment in London, he had been transported to the plantations, +namely, the American settlements, and had fallen in with friends, who +took him to Virginia. This was chiefly colonized by people attached to +the Church, who made him welcome, and he had ministered among them till +the news arrived of the Restoration of Charles II, and likewise that the +lawful incumbents of benefices, who had been driven out, were reinstated +by Act of Parliament. Mr. Holworth's Virginian friends would gladly have +kept him with them, but he felt that his duty was to his original flock, +and set out at once for England, landing at Bristol. There, however, he +waited, like the courteous man he was, to hold communication with his +people, till he had written to Mr. Elmwood, and made arrangements with +him and Master Woodley. + +They were grieved, but they were both men who had a great respect for +law and parliament, so they made no difficulties. Mr. and Mrs. Woodley +retired to the hall and left the parsonage vacant, after the minister +had preached a farewell sermon in the church which made everyone cry, +for he was a good man and had made himself loved, and there were very +few in the parish who could understand that difference between the true +Church and a body without bishops. Mr. Holworth had in the meantime gone +to Wells to see his own Bishop Piers, an old man of eighty-six, and it +was from thence that he was now returning. He had not chosen to enter +his parish till the intruded minister had resigned the charge, but he +had been somewhat disappointed that none of his old flock, not even +any Kentons, who had so much in charge, had come in to see him. He now +arrived in this quiet way, thinking that it would not be delicate to +the feelings of the squire and ex-minister to let the people get up any +signs of joy or ring the bells, if they were so inclined. Indeed, he was +much afraid from what he had been able to learn that it would be only +the rougher sort, who hated Puritan strictness and wanted sport and +revelry, who would give him an eager welcome. + +So he first went quietly up to the church, which he found full of +benches and pews, with the Altar table in the middle of the nave, and +the squire's comfortable cushioned seat at the east end. He knelt on the +step for a long time, then made a brief visit to his own house, where +the garden was in beautiful order, but only a room or two were furnished +with goods he had bought from the Woodleys, and these were in charge of +a servant he had hired at Bristol. + +Thence the old man went out into the village, and his first halt was +at the forge, where Blane, who had grown a great deal stouter and more +grizzled, started at sight of his square cap. + +"Eh! but 'tis the old minister! You have come in quietly, sir! I am +afraid your reverence has but a sorry welcome." + +"I do not wonder you are grieved to part with Master Woodley." + +"Well, sir, he be a good man and a powerful preacher, though no doubt +your reverence has the best right, and for one, I'm right glad to see +an old face again. We would have rung the bells if we had known you were +coming." + +"That would have been hard on Master Woodley. I am only glad they are +not melted. But how is it with all my old friends, Harry? Poor Sir +George writ me that old clerk North died of grief of the rifling of the +church; and that John Kenton had been killed by some stragglers. What +became of his children?" + +"That eldest lad went off to the Parliament army, and came swaggering +here in his buff coat and boots like my Lord Protector himself, they say +he has got a castle and lands in Ireland. Men must be scarce, say I, if +they have had to make a gentleman of Jeph Kenton." + +"And the rest?" + +"Well, sir, I'm afraid that poor lad, Stead, is in poor plight. You +mind, he was always a still, steady, hard-working lad, and when his +father was killed, and his house burnt, and his brother ran away, the +way he and his sister turned to was just wonderful. They went to live +in an old hut in the gulley down there, and they have made the place so +tidy as it does your heart good to look at it. They bred up the young +ones, and the younger girl is well married to one of the Squire's +folks, and everyone respected them. But, as ill-luck would have it, some +robbers from Bristol seem to have got scent of their savings. Some said +that the Communion Cup was hid somewhere there." + +Mr. Holworth made an anxious sound of interrogation. + +"Well, I did see the corporal, when the Parliament soldiers were at +Bristol, flog Stead shamefully to know where it was, and never get a +word out of him, whether or no; and as he was a boy who would never tell +a lie, it stands to reason he knew where they were." + +"But how did anyone guess at his knowing?" asked Mr. Holworth. + +"His brother might have thought it likely, poor John being thick with +your reverence," said Blane. "After that I thought, myself, that he +ought to give them up to Master Woodley, if so be he had them; but I +could never get a hint from him. The talk went that old Dr. Eales, you +mind him, sir, before he died, came out and held a prelatist service, +begging your pardon, sir, and that the things were used. Stead got into +trouble with Squire about it." + +"But the robbers, how was that? You said he was hurt!" + +"Sore hurt, sir; and he has never got the better of it, though 'tis nigh +upon four years ago. There was a slip of a wench he picked up as a child +after the fight by Luck's mill, and bred up; a fair lass she grew up +to look on, but a light-headed one. She went to service at Bristol, and +poor Stead was troth plight to her, hoped to save and build up the house +again, never knowing, not he, poor rogue, of her goings on with the +sailors and all the roistering lads about her master's house. 'Tis my +belief she put those rascals on the track, whether she meant it or not. +Stead made what defence he could, stood up like a man against the odds, +three to one, and got a shot in the side, so that he was like to die +then. Better for him, mayhap, if he had at once, for it has been nought +but a lingering ever since, never able to do a day's work, though that +wench, Patience, and the young lad, Ben, have fought it out wonderfully. +That I will say." + +Mr. Holworth had tears in his eyes, and trembled with emotion. + +"The dear lad," he said. "Where is he? I must go and see him." + +"He bides in the gulley, sir; he has been there ever since the +farm-house was burnt." + +Ere long Mr. Holworth was on his way to the gulley. What had been only a +glade reaching from rock to stream, hidden in copsewood, was now an open +space trodden by cattle, with the actual straw-yard more in the rear, +but with a goat tethered on it and poultry running about. It was a sunny +afternoon, and in a wooden chair placed so as to catch the warmth, with +feet on a stool, sat, knitting, a figure that Mr. Holworth at first +thought was that of an aged man; but as he emerged from the wood, and +the big dog sprang up and barked, there was a looking up, an instant +silencing of the dog, a rising with manifest effort, a doffing of the +broad-brimmed hat, and the clergyman beheld what seemed to him his +old Churchwarden's face, only in the deadly pallor of long-continued +illness, and with the most intense, unspeakable look of happiness and +welcome afterwards irradiating it, a look that in after years always +came before Mr. Holworth with the "Nunc dimittis." + +Dropping the knitting, and holding by the chair, he stood trembling and +quivering with gladness, while, summoned by the dog's bark, Patience, +pail in hand, appeared on one side, and Ben, tall and slight, with his +flail, on the other. + +"My dear lad," was all Mr. Holworth could say, as he took the thin, +blanched hand, put his arm round the shoulders, and reseated Stead, +still speechless with joy. Patience, curtseying low, came up anxiously, +showing the same honest face as of old, though work and anxiety had +traced their lines on the sun-burnt complexion, and Ben stood blushing, +and showing his keener, more cultivated face, as the stranger turned to +greet them so as to give Steadfast time to recover himself. + +"Oh! sir, but we are glad to see your reverence," cried Patience. "Will +you go in, or sit by Stead? Ben, fetch a chair." + +"And is this fine strapping fellow, the sickly babe that you were never +to rear, Patience?" + +"God has been very good to us, sir," said Patience. + +"And this is best of all," said Stead, recovering breath and speech. "I +thank Him that I have lived to see this day! It is all safe, sir." + +"And you, you faithful guardian, you have suffered for it." + +If it had not been for Blane's partial revelations, Mr. Holworth never +would have extracted the full story of how for that sacred trust, +Steadfast Kenton had endured threats and pain, and had foregone ease, +prosperity, latterly happiness, and how finally it had cost him health, +nay life itself, for he was as surely dying of the buccaneer's pistol +shot, as though he had been slain on the spot. + +Long illness, with all the thought and reflection it had brought, had so +far changed and refined Stead that his awkward bashfulness and lack of +words had passed from him, and when he saw the clergyman overcome with +emotion at the thought of all he had undergone he said, + +"Never heed it, your reverence, it has come to be all joy to me to have +had a little to bear for the Master! 'Tis hard on Patience and Ben, but +they are very good to me; and being sick gives time for such comforts as +God sends me. It is more than all I could have had here." + +"I am sure of that, my dear boy. I was not grieving that I gave you +the trust, but thinking what a blessed thing it is to have kept it thus +faithfully." + +Two Sundays later, the Feast was again meetly spread in Elmwood Church, +the Altar restored to its place, and all as reverently arranged as it +could yet be among the broken carved work. + +In some respects it was a mournful service, few there were who after the +lapse of seventeen years even remembered the outlines of the old forms; +and the younger people knew not when to kneel or stand. There were +few who could read, and even for those who could there were only four +Prayer-books in the church, the clergyman's, the clerk's, the Kentons', +and one discovered by an old Elmwood servant. The Squire's family +came not; Goody Grace was dead, and though Rusha tried to instruct her +husband and her little girl, she herself was much at a loss. + +To Mr. Holworth it was almost like that rededication of the Temple when +the old men wept at the thought of the glory of the former house, but +there were some on whom his eye rested with joy and peace. There were +Blane and his wife, good and faithful though ignorant; there were the +old miller and his son, who had come all that distance since there +had as yet been no restoration in their church, and the goings on of +Original-Sin Hopkins and his friends had thoroughly disgusted them, and +made the old man yearn towards the church of his youth, and there was +the little group of three, the toil-worn but sweet-faced sister, calm +and restful, though watchful; the tall youth with thoughtful, earnest, +awe-struck face, come for his first Communion, for which through those +many years he had been taught to pray and long, and between them the +wasted form and wan features lighted up with that wonderful radiance +that had come on them with the sense that the trust was fulfilled, only +it was brighter, calmer, higher, than even at the greeting of the vicar. +Did Steadfast see only the burnished gold of the Chalice and paten he +had guarded for seventeen years at the cost of toil, danger, suffering, +love, and life itself? Did he not see and feel far beyond those outward +visible signs in which others, who had not yet endured to the end, could +only as yet put their trust by faith? + +Mr. Holworth, as he stood over him and saw the upturned eye, was sure it +was so. No doubt indeed Ben thought so too, but poor imaginative Ben +had somehow fancied it would be with his brother as with the King +who guarded that other sacred Cup, and when all was over, was quite +disappointed that Stead needed his strong arm as much as ever, nay more, +for on coming out into the air and sunshine a faintness and exhaustion +came on, and they had to rest him in the porch before he could move. + +"O Stead, I thought it would have healed you," the lad said. + +Stead slightly smiled. "Healed? I shall soon be healed altogether, Ben," +he said. He had with great difficulty and very slowly walked to church, +and Mr. Holworth wished him to come and rest at the Vicarage, but he was +very anxious to get home, and after he had taken a little food, Andrew +Luck offered to share with Ben and Rusha's husband the carrying him back +between them on an elbow chair. + +This pleased him, and he looked up to Andrew and said, "You are in the +same mind as long ago?" + +"I never found anyone else I could lay my mind to, since my poor Kitty," +said Andrew. + +"She will come to you--soon," said Stead. "She'll have a sore heart, but +you will be good to her." + +"That I will. And little Bess and Kate shall come and tell her how they +want her." + +Stead smiled and his lips moved in thankfulness. + +"And if Ben would come with her," added Andrew, "I'd be a brother to +him." + +"Parson wants Ben," said Stead. "He says he can make a scholar of him, +and maybe a parson, and it will not be so lonesome in the vicarage." + +"And your farm?" + +"Rusha and her man take that. They have saved enough to build the house. +Yes, all is well. It is great peace and thankfulness." + +Patience returned with the cushions she had borrowed and they brought +Steadfast home, very much exhausted, and not speaking all the way. +Perhaps the unusual motion and exertion had made the bullet change its +place, for he hardly uttered another word, and that night, as he had +said to Ben, he was healed for ever of all his ills. + +The funeral sermon that Mr. Holworth preached the next Sunday, was on +the text so dear to all the loyal hearts who remembered the White King's +coronation text-- + +"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." + + + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Storm, by Charlotte M. 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Yonge + +Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6006] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 15, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE STORM *** + + + + +This Project Gutenberg Ebook of Under the Storm: or Steadfast's Charge by +Charlotte M Yonge was prepared by Sandra Laythorpe laythorpe@btinternet.com. +A web page for Charlotte M Yonge will be found at www.menorot.com/cmyonge.htm. + + + + + + + +UNDER THE STORM + +or + +STEADFAST'S CHARGE + +by + +CHARLOTTE M YONGE + +Author of "The Heir of Redclyffe," &c. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +Chapter I.--The Trust + + " II.--The Stragglers + + " III.--Kirk Rapine + + " IV.--The Good Cause + + " V.--Desolation + + " VI.--Left to Themselves + + " VII.--The Hermit's Gulley + + " VIII.--Stead in Possession + + " IX.--Wintry Times + + " X.--A Terrible Harvest Day + + " XI.--The Fortunes of War + + " XII.--Farewell to the Cavaliers + + " XIII.--Godly Venn's Troop + + " XIV.--The Question + + " XV.--A Table of Love in the Wilderness + + " XVI.--A Fair Offer + + " XVII.--The Groom in Grey + + " XVIII.--Jeph's Good Fortune + + " XIX.--Patience + + " XX.--Emlyn's Service + + " XXI.--The Assault of the Cavern + + " XXII.--Emlyn's Troth + + " XXIII.--Fulfilment + + + + + +UNDER THE STORM: + +OR + +STEADFAST'S CHARGE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE TRUST. + + + +"I brought them here as to a sanctuary." + SOUTHEY. + + +Most of us have heard of the sad times in the middle of the +seventeenth century, when Englishmen were at war with one another and +quiet villages became battlefields. + +We hear a great deal about King and Parliament, great lords and able +generals, Cavaliers and Roundheads, but this story is to help us to +think how it must have gone in those times with quiet folk in +cottages and farmhouses. + +There had been peace in England for a great many years, ever since +the end of the wars of the Roses. So the towns did not want +fortifications to keep out the enemy, and their houses spread out +beyond the old walls; and the country houses had windows and doors +large and wide open, with no thought of keeping out foes, and farms +and cottages were freely spread about everywhere, with their fields +round them. + +The farms were very small, mostly held by men who did all the work +themselves with the help of their families. + +Such a farm belonged to John Kenton of Elmwood. It lay at the head +of a long green lane, where the bushes overhead almost touched one +another in the summer, and the mud and mire were very deep in winter; +but that mattered the less as nothing on wheels went up or down it +but the hay or harvest carts, creaking under their load, and drawn by +the old mare, with a cow to help her. + +Beyond lay a few small fields, and then a bit of open ground +scattered with gorse and thorn bushes, and much broken by ups and +downs. There, one afternoon on a big stone was seated Steadfast +Kenton, a boy of fourteen, sturdy, perhaps loutish, with an honest +ruddy face under his leathern cap, a coarse smock frock and stout +gaiters. He was watching the fifteen sheep and lambs, the old goose +and gander and their nine children, the three cows, eight pigs, and +the old donkey which got their living there. + +From the top of the hill, beyond the cleft of the river Avon, he +could see the smoke and the church towers of the town of Bristol, and +beyond it, the slime of the water of the Bristol Channel; and nearer, +on one side, the spire of Elmwood Church looked up, and, on the +other, the woods round Elmwood House, and these ran out as it were, +lengthening and narrowing into a wooded cleft or gulley, Hermit's +Gulley, which broke the side of the hill just below where Steadfast +stood, and had a little clear stream running along the bottom. + +Steadfast's little herd knew the time of day as well as if they all +had watches in their pockets, and they never failed to go down and +have a drink at the brook before going back to the farmyard. + +They did not need to be driven, but gathered into the rude steep path +that they and their kind had worn in the side of the ravine. +Steadfast followed, looking about him to judge how soon the nuts +would be ripe, while his little rough stiff-haired dog Toby poked +about in search of rabbits or hedgehogs, or the like sport. + +Steadfast liked that pathway home beside the stream, as boys do love +running water. Good stones could be got there, water rats might be +chased, there were strawberries on the banks which he gathered and +threaded on stalks of grass for his sisters, Patience and Jerusha. +They used to come with him and have pleasant games, but it was a long +time since Patience had been able to come out, for in the winter, a +grievous trouble had come on the family. The good mother had died, +leaving a little baby of six weeks old, and Patience, who was only +thirteen, had to attend to everything at home, and take care of poor +little sickly Benoni with no one to help her but her little seven +years old sister. + +The children's lives had been much less bright since that sad day; +and Steadfast seldom had much time for play. He knew he must get +home as fast as he could to help Patience in milking the cows, +feeding the pigs and poultry, and getting the supper, or some of the +other things that his elder brother Jephthah called wench-work and +would not do. + +He could not, however, help looking up at the hole in the side of the +steep cliff, where one might climb up to such a delightful cave, in +which he and Patience had so often played on hot days. It had been +their secret, and a kind of palace to them. They had sat there as +king and queen, had paved it with stones from the brook, and had had +many plans for the sports they would have there this summer, little +thinking that Patience would have been turned into a grave, busy +little housewife, instead of a merry, playful child. + +Toby looked up too, and began to bark. There was a rustling in the +bushes below the cave, and Steadfast, at first in dismay to see his +secret delight invaded, beheld between the mountain ash boughs and +ivy, to his great surprise, a square cap and black cassock tucked up, +and then a bit of brown leathern coat, which he knew full well. It +was the Vicar, Master Holworth, and his father John Kenton was +Churchwarden, so it was no wonder to see him and the Parson together, +but what could bring them here--into Steadfast's cave? and with a +dark lantern too! They seemed as surprised, perhaps as vexed as he +was, at the sight of him, but his father said, "'Tis my lad, +Steadfast, I'll answer for him." + +"And so will I," returned the clergyman. "Is anyone with you, my +boy?" + +"No, your reverence, no one save the beasts." + +"Then come up here," said his father. "Someone has been playing +here, I see." + +"Patience and I, father, last summer." + +"No one else?" + +"No, no one. We put those stones and those sticks when we made a +fire there last year, and no one has meddled with them since." + +"Thou and Patience," said Mr. Holworth thoughtfully. "Not Jephthah +nor the little maid?" + +"No, sir," replied Steadfast, "we would not let them know, because we +wanted a place to ourselves." + +For in truth the quiet ways and little arrangements of these two had +often been much disturbed by the rough elder brother who teased and +laughed at them, and by the troublesome little sister, who put her +fingers into everything. + +The Vicar and the Churchwarden looked at one another, and John Kenton +muttered, "True as steel." + +"Your father answers for you, my boy," said the Vicar. "So we will +e'en let you know what we are about. I was told this morn by a sure +hand that the Parliament men, who now hold Bristol Castle, are coming +to deal with the village churches even as they have dealt with the +minster and with St. Mary's, Redcliffe." + +"A murrain on them!" muttered Kenton. + +"I wot that in their ignorance they do it," gently quoted the Vicar. +"But we would fain save from their hands the holy Chalice and paten +which came down to our Church from the ancient times--and which +bearing on them, as they do, the figure of the Crucifixion of our +blessed Lord, would assuredly provoke the zeal of the destroyers. +Therefore have we placed them in this casket, and your father devised +hiding them within this cave, which he thought was unknown to any +save himself--" + +"Yea," said John, "my poor brother Will and I were wont to play there +when we herded the cattle on the hill. It was climbing yon ash tree +that stands out above that he got the fall that was the death of him +at last. I've never gone nigh the place with mine own good will +since that day--nor knew the children had done so--but methought +'twas a lonesome place and on mine own land, where we might safest +store the holy things till better times come round." + +"And so I hope they will," said Mr. Holworth. + +"I hear good news of the King's cause in the north." + +Then they began to consult where to place the precious casket. They +had brought tinder and matches, and Steadfast, who knew the secrets +of the cave even better than his father, showed them a little hollow, +far back, which would just hold the chest, and being closed in front +with a big stone, fast wedged in, was never likely to be discovered +readily. + +***the hiding of the casket*** + +"This has been a hiding place already." + +"Methinks this has once been a chapel," said the clergyman presently, +pointing to some rude carvings--one something like a cross, and a +large stone that might have served as an altar. + +"Belike," said Kenton, "there's an old stone pile, a mere hovel, down +below, where my grandfather said he remembered an old monk, a hermit, +or some such gear--a Papist--as lived in hiding. He did no hurt, and +was a man from these parts, so none meddled with him, or gave notice +to the Queen's officers, and our folk at the farm sold his baskets at +the town, and brought him a barley loaf twice a week till he died, +all alone in his hut. Very like he said his mass here." + +John wondered to find that the minister thought this made the place +more suitable. The whole cavern was so low that the two men could +hardly stand upright in it, though it ran about twelve yards back. +There were white limestone drops like icicles hanging above from the +roof; and bats, disturbed by the light, came flying about the heads +of their visitors, while streamers of ivy and old man's beard hung +over the mouth, and were displaced by the heads of the men. + +"None is like to find the spot," said John Kenton, as he tried to +replace the tangled branches that had been pushed aside. + +"God grant us happier days for bringing it forth," said the +clergyman. + +All three bared their heads, and Mr. Holworth uttered a few words of +prayer and blessing; then let John help him down the steep scramble +and descent, and looked up to see whether any sign of the cave could +be detected from the edge of the brook. Kenton shook his head +reassuringly. + +"Ah!" said Mr. Holworth, "it minds me that none ever found again the +holy Ark of the Covenant that King Josiah and the Prophet Jeremiah +hid in a cavern within Mount Pisgah! and our sins be many that have +provoked this judgment! Mayhap the boy will be the only one of us +who will see these blessed vessels restored to their Altar once more! +He may have been sent hither to that very end. Now, look you, +Steadfast Kenton--Steadfast thou hast ever been, so far as I have +known thee, in nature as well as in name. Give me thy word that thou +wilt never give up the secret of yonder cavern to any save a lawfully +ordained minister of the church." + +"No doubt poor old Clerk North will be in distress about the loss," +said Kenton. + +"True, but he had best not be told. His mind is fast going, and he +cannot safely be trusted with such a mighty secret." + +"Patience knows the cavern," murmured Steadfast to his father. + +"Best have no womenfolk, nor young maids in such a matter," said the +Vicar. + +"My wench takes after her good mother," said John, "and I ever found +my secrets were safer in her breast than in mine own. Not that I +would have her told without need. But she might take little Rusha +there, or make the place known to others an she be not warned." + +"Steadfast must do as he sees occasion, with your counsel, Master +Kenton," said the Vicar. "It is a great trust we place in you, my +son, to be as it were in charge of the vessels of the sanctuary, and +I would have thy hand and word." + +"And," said his father, "though he be slower in speech than some, +your reverence may trust him." + +Steadfast gave his brown red hand, and with head bare said, "I +promise, after the minister and before God, never to give up that +which lies within the cave to any man, save a lawfully ordained +minister of the Church." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE STRAGGLERS. + + + +"Trust me, I am exceedingly weary." + SHAKESPEARE. + + +John Kenton, though a Churchwarden, was, as has been said, a very +small farmer, and the homestead was no more than a substantial +cottage, built of the greystone of the country, with the upper story +projecting a little, and reached by an outside stair of stone. The +farm yard, with the cowsheds, barn, and hay stack were close in +front, with only a narrow strip of garden between, for there was not +much heed paid to flowers, and few kitchen vegetables were grown in +those days, only a few potherbs round the door, and a sweet-brier +bush by the window. + +The cows had made their way home of their own accord, and Patience +was milking one of them already, while little Rusha held the baby, +which was swaddled up as tightly as a mummy, with only his arms free. +He stretched them out with a cry of gladness as he saw his father, +and Kenton took the little creature tenderly in his arms and held him +up, while Steadfast hurried off to fetch the milking stool and begin +upon the other cow. + +"Is Jeph come home?" asked the father, and Rusha answered "No, daddy, +though he went ever so long ago, and said he would bring me a cake." + +Upon this Master Kenton handed little Benoni back to Rusha, not +without some sounds of fretfulness from the baby, but the pigs had to +be shut up and fed, and the other evening work of the farmyard done; +and it was not till all this was over, and Patience had disposed of +the milk in the cool cellars, that the father could take him again. + +Meantime Steadfast had brought up a bucket of water from the spring, +and after washing his own hands and face, set out the table with a +very clean, though coarse cloth, five brown bowls, three horn spoons +and two wooden ones, one drinking horn, a couple of red earthen cups +and two small hooped ones of wood, a brown pitcher of small ale, a +big barley loaf, and a red crock, lined with yellow glazing, into +which Patience presently proceeded to pour from a cauldron, where it +had been simmering over the fire, a mess of broth thickened with +meal. This does not sound like good living, but the Kentons were +fairly well-to-do smock-frock farmers, and though in some houses +there might be greater plenty, there was not much more comfort +beneath the ranks of the gentry in the country. + +As for seats, the father's big wooden chair stood by the fire, and +there was a long settle, but only stools were used at the table, two +being the same that had served the milkers. Just as Rusha, at her +father's sign, had uttered a short Grace, there stood in the doorway +a tall, stout, well-made lad of seventeen, with a high-crowned wide- +brimmed felt hat, a dark jerkin with sleeves, that, like his breeches +and gaiters, were of leather, and a belt across his shoulder with a +knife stuck in it. + +"Ha! Jeph," said Kenton, "always in time for meat, whatever else you +miss." + +"I could not help it, father," said Jephthah, "the red coats were at +their exercise!" + +"And thou couldst not get away from the gape-seed, eh! Come, sit +down, boy, and have at thy supper." + +"I wish I was one of them," said Jeph as he sat down. + +"And thou'dst soon wish thyself back again!" returned his father. + +"How much did you get for the fowls and eggs?" demanded Patience. + +Jephthah replied by producing a leathern bag, while Rusha cried out +for her cake, and from another pocket came, wrapped in his +handkerchief, two or three saffron buns which were greeted with such +joy that his father had not the heart to say much about wasting +pence, though it appeared that the baker woman had given them as part +of her bargain for a couple of dozen of eggs, which Patience declared +ought to have brought two pence instead of only three halfpence. + +Jephthah, however, had far too much news to tell to heed her +disappointment as she counted the money. He declared that the price +of eggs and butter would go up gallantly, for more soldiers were +daily expected to defend Bristol, and he had further to tell of one +of the captains preaching in the Minster, and the market people +flocking in to hear him. Jeph had been outside, for there was no +room within, but he had scrambled upon an old tombstone with a couple +of other lads, and through the broken window had seen the gentleman +holding forth in his hat and feather, buff coat and crimson scarf, +and heard him call on all around to be strong and hew down all their +enemies, even dragging the false and treacherous woman and her idols +out to the horse gate and there smiting them even to the death. + +"Who was the false woman?" asked Steadfast. + +"I wot not! There was something about Aholah, or some such name, but +just then a mischievous little jackanapes pulled me down by the leg, +and I had to thrash him for it, and by the time I had done, Dick, the +butcher's lad, had got my place and I heard no more." + +Whether the Captain meant Aholah or Athaliah, or alluded to Queen +Henrietta Maria, or to the English Church, Jeph's auditors never +knew. The baby began to cry, and Patience to feed him with the milk +and water that had been warmed at the fire; his father and the boys +went out to finish the work for the night, little Rusha running after +them. + +Presently, she gave a cry and darted up to her father "The soldiers! +the soldiers!" and in fact three men with steel caps, buff coats, and +musquets slung by broad belts were coming into the yard. + +Kenton took up his little girl in his arms and went forward to meet +them, but he soon saw they did not look dangerous, they were dragging +along as if very tired and footsore and as if their weapons were a +heavy weight. + +"It's the goodman," said the foremost, a red-faced, good-natured +looking fellow more like a hostler than a soldier, "have you seen +Captain Lundy's men pass this way?" + +"Not I!" said Kenton, "we lie out of the high road, you see." + +"But I saw them, a couple of hours agone, marching into Bristol," +said Jephthah coming forward. + +"There now," said the man, "we did but stop at the sign of the 'Crab' +the drinking of a pottle, and to bathe Jack's foot near there, and we +have never been able to catch them up again! How far off be +Bristol?" + +"A matter of four mile across the ferry. You may see it from the +hill above." + +He looked stout enough though he gave a heavy sigh of weariness, and +the other two, who were mere youths, not much older than Jeph, seemed +quite spent, and heard of the additional four miles with dismay. + +"Heart alive, lads," said their comrade, "ye'll soon be in good +quarters, and mayhap the goodman here will give you a drink to carry +ye on a bit further for the Cause." + +"You are welcome to a draught for civility's sake," said Kenton, +making a sign to his sons, who ran off to the house, "but I'm a plain +man, and know nought about the Cause." + +"Well, Master," said the straggler, as he leant his back against the +barn, and his two companions sat down on the ground in the shelter, +"I have heard a lot about the Cause, but all I know is that my Lord +of Essex sent to call out five-and-twenty men from our parish, and +the squire, he was in a proper rage with being rated to pay ship +money, so--as I had fallen out with my master, mine host of the +'Griffin,' more fool I--I went with the young gentleman, and a proper +ass I was to do so." + +"Father said 'twas rank popery railing in the Communion table, when +it was so handy to sit on or to put one's hat on," added one of the +youths looking up. "So he was willing for me to go, and I thought +I'd like to see the world, but I'd fain be at home again." + +"So would not I," muttered the other lad. + +"No," said the ex-tapster humorously, "for thou knowst the stocks be +gaping for thee, Dick." + +By this time Jeph and Stead had returned with a jug of small beer, a +horn cup, and three hunches of the barley loaf. The men ate and +drank, and then the tapster returning hearty thanks, called the +others on, observing that if they did not make the best speed, they +might miss their billet, and have to sleep in the streets, if not +become acquainted with the lash. + +On then unwillingly they dragged, as if one foot would hardly come +after the other. + +"Poor lads!" said Kenton, as he looked after them, "methinks that's +enough to take the taste for soldiering out of thy mouth, son Jeph." + +"A set of poor-spirited rogues," returned Jeph contemptuously, as he +nevertheless sauntered on so as to watch them down the lane. + +"Be they on the right side or the wrong, father?" asked Steadfast, as +he picked up the pitcher and the horn. + +"They be dead against our parson, lad," returned Kenton, "and he says +they be against the Church and the King, though they do take the +King's name, it don't look like the right side to be knocking out +church windows, eh?" + +"Nay!" said Steadfast, "but there's them as says the windows be +popish idols." + +"Never you mind 'em, lad, ye don't bow down to the glass, nor worship +it. Thy blessed mother would have put it to you better than I can, +and she knew the Bible from end to end, but says she 'God would have +His worship for glory and for beauty in the old times, why not now?'" + +John Kenton had an immense reverence for his late wife. She had been +far more educated than he, having been born and bred up in the +household of one of those gentlemen who held it as their duty to +provide for the religious instruction of their servants. + +She had been serving-woman to the lady, who in widowhood went to +reside at Bristol, and there during her marketings, honest John +Kenton had won her by his sterling qualities. + +Puritanism did not mean nonconformity in her days, and in fact +everyone who was earnest and scrupulous was apt to be termed a +Puritan. Goodwife Kenton was one of those pious and simple souls who +drink in whatever is good in their surroundings; and though the +chaplain who had taught her in her youth would have differed in +controversy with Mr. Holworth, she never discovered their diversity, +nor saw more than that Elmwood Church had more decoration than the +Castle Chapel. Whatever was done by authority she thought was right, +and she found good reason for it in the Bible and Prayer-book her +good lady had given her. She had named her children after the +prevailing custom of Puritans because she had heard the chaplain +object to what he considered unhallowed heathenish names, but she had +been heartily glad that they should be taught and catechised by the +good vicar. Happily for her, in her country home, she did not live +to see the strife brought into her own life. + +She had taught her children as much as she could. Her husband was +willing, but his old mother disapproved of learning in that station +of life, and aided and abetted her eldest grandson in his resistance, +so that though she had died when he was only eleven or twelve years +old, Jephthah could do no more than just make out the meaning of a +printed sentence, whereas Steadfast and Patience could both read +easily, and did read whatever came in their way, though that was only +a broadside ballad now and then besides their mother's Bible and +Prayer-book, and one or two little black books. + +The three eldest had been confirmed, when the Bishop of Bath and +Wells had been in the neighbourhood. That was only a fortnight after +their mother died, and even Jeph was sad and subdued. + +Since that sad day when the good mother had blessed them for the last +time, there had been little time for anything. Patience had to be +the busy little housewife, and what she would have done without +Steadfast she could not tell. Jeph would never put a hand to what he +called maids' work, but Stead would sweep, or beat the butter, or +draw the water, or chop wood, or hold the baby, and was always ready +to help her, even though it hindered him from ever going out to fish, +or play at base ball, or any of the other sports the village boys +loved. + +His quiet, thoughtful ways had earned his father's trust, though he +was much slower of speech and less ready than his elder brother, and +looked heavy both in countenance and figure beside Jeph, who was +tall, slim, and full of activity and animation. He had often made +his mother uneasy by wild talk about going to sea, and by consorting +with the sailors at Bristol, which was their nearest town, though on +the other side of the Avon, and in a different county. + +It was there that the Elmwood people did their marketing, often +leaving their donkeys hobbled on their own side of the river, being +ferried over and carrying the goods themselves the latter part of the +way. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +KIRK RAPINE. + + + +"When impious men held sway and wasted Church and shrine." + LORD SELBORNE. + + +Patience, in her tight little white cap, sat spinning by the door, +rocking the cradle with her foot, while Rusha sometimes built what +she called houses with stones, sometimes trotted to look down the +lane to see whether father and the lads were coming home from market. + +Presently she brought word, "Stead is coming. He is leading +Whitefoot, but I don't see father and Jeph." + +Patience jumped up to put her wheel out of the way, and soon she saw +that it was only Steadfast leading the old mare with the large crooks +or panniers on either side. She ran to meet him, and saw he looked +rather pale and dazed. + +"What is it, Stead? Where's daddy?" + +"Gone up to Elmwood! They told us in town that some of the soldiers +and the folk of that sort were gone out to rabble cur church and our +parson, and father is Churchwarden, you know. So he said he must go +to see what was doing. And he bade me take Whitefoot home and give +you the money," said Steadfast, producing a bag which Patience took +to keep for her father. + +She watched very anxiously, and so did Stead, while relieving +Whitefoot of her panniers and giving her a rub down before turning +her out to get her supper. + +It was not long however before Kenton and Jeph both appeared, the one +looking sad, the other sulky. "Too late," Jeph muttered, "and father +won't let me go to see the sport." + +"Sport, d'ye call it?" said Kenton. "Aye, Stead, you may well gape +at what we have seen--our good parson with his feet tied to his +stirrups on a sorry nag, being hauled off to town like a common +thief!" + +"Oh!" broke from the children, and Patience ventured to ask, "But +what for, father?" + +"They best know who did it," said the Churchwarden. "Something they +said of a scandalous minister, as though his had not ever been a +godly life and preaching. These be strange times, children, and for +the life of me, I know not what it all means. How now, Jeph, what +art idling there for? There's the waggon to be loaded for to-morrow +with the faggots I promised Mistress Lightfoot." + +Jeph moved away, murmuring something about fetching up the cows, to +which his father replied, "That was Steadfast's work, and it was not +time yet." + +In fact Jeph was very curious to know what was going on in the +village. If there was any kind of uproar, why should not he have his +part in it? It was just like father to hinder him, and he had a +great mind to neglect the faggots and go off to the village. He was +rather surprised, and a good deal vexed to see his father walking +along on the way to the pasture with Steadfast. + +It was for the sake of saying "Aye, boy, best not go near the sorry +sight! They would not let good Master Holworth speak with me; but I +saw he meant to warn me to keep aloof lest Tim Green or the like +should remember as how I'm Churchwarden." + +"Did they ask after those things?" inquired Steadfast in a lowered +voice. + +"I can't say. But on your life, lad, not a word of them!" + +After work was done for the evening, Jeph and Stead were too eager to +know what had happened to stay at home. They ran across the bit of +moorland to the village street and the grey church, whose odd-shaped +steeple stood up among the trees. Already they could see that the +great west window was broken, all the glass which bore the picture of +the Last Judgment, and the Archangel Michael weighing souls in the +balance was gone! + +"Yes," said Tom Oates, leaping over two or three tombstones to get to +them. "'Twas rare sport, Jeph Kenton. Why were you not there too?" + +"At Bristol with father," replied Jeph. + +"Worse luck for you. The red coat shot the big angel right in the +eye, and shivered him through, and we did the rest with stones. I +sent one that knocked the wing of him right off. You should have +seen me, Stead! And old Clerk North was running about crying all the +time like a baby. He'll never whack us over the head again!" + +"What was the good?" said Steadfast. + +"You never saw better sport," said the boys. + +And indeed, since, when once begun, destruction and mischief are apt +to be only too delightful to boys, they had thoroughly and +thoughtlessly delighted in knocking down the things they had been +taught to respect. A figure of a knight in a ruff kneeling on a tomb +had had its head knocked off, and one of the lads heaved the bits up +to throw at the last fragment of glass in the window. + +"What do you do that for?" asked Stead. + +"'Tis worshipping of idols," said a somewhat graver lad. "'Break +down their idols,' the man in the black gown said, 'and burn their +graven images in the fire.'" + +"But we never worshipped them," said Stead. + +"Pious preacher said so," returned the youth, "and mighty angered was +he with the rails." (Jeph and Will were sparring with two fragments +of them.) "'Down with them,' he cried out, so as it would have done +your heart good to hear him." + +"And the parson is gone! There will be no hearing the catechism on +Sundays!" cried Ralph Wilkes, making a leap over the broken font. + +"Good luck for you, Ralph," cried the others. "You, that never could +tell how many commandments there be." + +"Put on your hat, Stead," called out another lad. "We've done with +all that now, and the parson is gone to prison for it." + +"No, no," shouted Tom Oates, "'twas for making away with the +Communion things." + +"I heard the red coat say they had a warrant against scandalous +ministers," declared Ralph Wilkes. + +"I heard the man with the pen and ink-horn ask for the popish +vessels, as he called them, and not a word would the parson say," +said Oates. + +"I'd take my oath he has hid them somewheres," replied Jack Beard, an +ill-looking lad. + +"What a windfall they would be for him as found them!" observed +Wilkes. + +"I'd like to look over the parsonage house," said Jeph. + +"No use. Old dame housekeeper has locked herself in, as savage as a +bear with a sore head." + +"Besides, they did turn over all the parson's things and made a +bonfire of all his popish books. The little ones be dancing their +rounds about it still!" + +Stead had heard quite enough to make him very uneasy, and wish to get +home with his tidings to his father. There was a girl standing by +with a baby in her arms, and she asked: + +"What will they do to our minister?" + +"Put him in Little Ease for a scandalous minister," was the ready +answer. "But he _is_ a good man. He gave us all broth when father +had the fever!" + +"And who will give granny and me our Sunday dinner?" said a little +boy. + +"But there'll be no more catechising. Hurrah!" cried Oates, +"hurrah!" + +"'Tis rank superstition, said the red coat, Hurrah!" and up went +their caps. "Halloa, Stead Kenton, not a word to say?" + +"He likes being catechised, standing as he does like a stuck pig, and +answering never a word," cried Jack. + +"I do," said Steadfast, "and why not?" + +"Parson's darling! Parson's darling!" shouted the boys. "A +malignant! Off with him." They had begun to hustle him, when Jeph +threw himself between and cried: + +"Hit Steadfast, and you must hit me first." + +"A match, a match!" they cried, "Jeph and Jack." + +Stead had no fears about Jeph conquering, but while the others stood +round to watch the boxing, he slipped away, with his heart perplexed +and sad. He had loved his minister, and he never guessed how much he +cared for his church till he saw it lying desolate, and these rude +lads rejoicing in the havoc; while the words rang in his ears, "And +now they break down all the carved work thereof with axes and with +hammers." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE GOOD CAUSE. + + + +"And their Psalter mourneth with them + O'er the carvings and the grace, + Which axe and hammer ruin + In the fair and holy place." + Bp. CLEVELAND COXE. + + +When next John Kenton went into Bristol to market he tried to +discover what had become of Mr. Holworth, but could only make out +something about his being sent up to London with others of his sort +to answer for being Baal worshippers! Which, as he observed, he +could not understand. + +There seemed likely to be no service at the church on Sunday, but +John thought himself bound to walk thither with his sons to see what +was going on, and they heard such a noise that they looked at each +other in amazement. It was not preaching, but shouting, laughing, +screaming, stamping, and running. The rude village children were +playing at hide-and-seek, and Jenny Oates was hidden in the pulpit. +But at Master Kenton's loud "How now, youngsters" they all were +frightened, some ran out headlong, some sneaked out at the little +north door, and the place was quiet, but in sad confusion and +desolation, the altar-table overthrown, the glass of the windows +lying in fragments on the pavement, the benches kicked over. + +Kenton, with his boys' help, put what he could straight again, and +then somewhat to their surprise knelt down with bowed head, and said +a prayer, for they saw his lips moving. Then he locked up the church +doors, for the keys had been left in them, and slowly and sadly went +away. + +"Thy mother would be sad to see this work," he said to Steadfast, as +he stopped by her grave. "They say 'tis done for religion's sake, +but I know not what to make of it." + +The old Parish Clerk, North, had had a stroke the night after the +plunder of the church, and lay a-dying and insensible. His wife gave +his keys to Master Kenton, and on the following Sunday there was a +hue-and-cry for them, and Oates the father, the cobbler, a meddling +fellow, came down with a whole rabble of boys after him to the farm +to demand them. "A preacher had come out from Bristol," he said, "a +captain in the army, and he was calling for the keys to get into the +church and give them a godly discourse. It would be the worse for +Master Kenton if he did not give them up." + +John had just sat down in the porch in his clean Sunday smock with +the baby on his knee, and Rusha clinging about him waiting till Stead +had cleaned himself up, and was ready to read to them from the +mother's books. + +When he understood Gates' message he slowly said, "I be in charge of +the keys for this here parish." + +"Come, come, Master Kenton, this wont do, give 'un up or you'll be +made to. Times are changed, and we don't want no parsons nor +churchwardens now, nor no such popery!" + +"I'm accountable to the vestry for the church," gravely said Kenton. +"I will come and see what is doing, and open the church if so be as +the parish require it." + +"Don't you see! The parish does--" + +"I don't call you the parish, Master Gates, nor them boys neither," +said Kenton, getting up however, and placing the little one in the +cradle, as he called out to Patience to keep back the dinner till his +return. The two boys and Rusha followed him to see what would +happen. + +Long before they reached the churchyard they heard the sound of a +powerful voice, and presently they could see all the men and women of +the parish as it seemed, gathered about the lych gate, where, on the +large stone on which coffins were wont to be rested, stood a tall +thin man, in a heavy broad-brimmed hat, large bands, crimson scarf, +and buff coat, who was in fiery and eager words calling on all those +around to awaken from the sleep of sloth and sin, break their bonds +and fight for freedom and truth. He waved his long sword as he spoke +and dared the armies of Satan to come on, and it was hard to tell +which he really meant, the forces of sin, or the armies of men whom +he believed to be fighting on the wrong side. + +Someone told him that the keys of the church were brought, but he +heeded not the interruption, except to thunder forth "What care I for +your steeple house! The Church of God is in the souls of the +faithful. Is it not written 'The kingdom of heaven is within you?' +What, can ye not worship save between four walls?" And then he went +on with the utmost fervour and vehemence, calling on all around to +set themselves free from the chains that held them and to strive even +to the death. + +He meant all he said. He really believed he was teaching the only +way of righteousness, and so his words had a force that went home to +people's hearts as earnestness always does, and Jephthah, with tears +in his eyes, began begging and praying his father to let him go and +fight for the good Cause. + +"Aye, aye," said Kenton, "against the world, the flesh, and the +devil, and welcome, my son." + +"Then I'll go and enlist under Captain Venn," cried Jeph. + +"Not so fast, my lad. What I gave you leave for was to fight with +the devil." + +"You said the good Cause!" + +"And can you tell me which be the good Cause?" + +"Why, this here, of course. Did not you hear the Captain's good +words, and see his long sword, and didn't they give five marks for +Croppie's bull calf?" + +"Fine words butter no parsnips," slowly responded Kenton. + +"But," put in Steadfast, "butter is risen twopence the pound." + +"Very like," said Kenton, "but how can that be the good Cause that +strips the Churches and claps godly ministers into jail?" + +Jephthah thought he had an answer, but fathers in those times did not +permit themselves to be argued with. + +Prices began going up still higher, for the Cavaliers were reported +to be on their way to besiege Bristol, and the garrison wanted all +the provisions they could lay in, and paid well for them. When +Kenton and his boys went down to market, they found the old walls +being strengthened with earth and stones, and sentries watching at +the gates, but as they brought in provisions, and were by this time +well known, no difficulty was made about admitting them. + +One day, however, as they were returning, they saw a cloud of dust in +the distance, and heard the sounds of drums and fifes playing a +joyous tune. Kenton drew the old mare behind the bank of a high +hedge, and the boys watched eagerly through the hawthorns. + +Presently they saw the Royal Standard of England, though indeed that +did not prove much, for both sides used it alike, but there were many +lesser banners and pennons of lords and knights, waving on the +breeze, and as the Kentons peeped down into the lane below they saw +plumed hats, and shining corslets, and silken scarves, and handsome +horses, whose jingling accoutrements chimed in with the tramp of +their hoofs, and the notes of the music in front, while cheerful +voices and laughter could be heard all around. + +"Oh, father! these be gallant fellows," exclaimed Jephthah. "Will +you let me go with these?" + +Kenton laughed a little to himself. "Which is the good Cause, eh, +son Jeph?" + +He was, however, not at all easy about the state of things. "There +is like to be fighting," he said to Steadfast, as they were busy +together getting hay into the stable, "and that makes trouble even +for quiet folks that only want to be let alone. Now, look you here," +and he pulled out a canvas bag from the corner of the bin. "This has +got pretty tolerably weighty of late, and I doubt me if this be the +safest place for it." + +Stead opened his eyes. The family all knew that the stable was used +as the deposit for money, though none of the young folks had been +allowed to know exactly where it was kept. There were no banks in +those days, and careful people had no choice but either to hoard and +hide, or to lend their money to someone in business. + +The farmer poured out a heap of the money, all silver and copper, but +he did not dare to wait to count it lest he should be interrupted. +He tied up one handful, chiefly of pence, in the same bag, and put +the rest into a bit of old sacking, saying, "You can get to the brook +side, to the place you wot of, better than I can, Stead. Take you +this with you and put it along with the other things, and then you +will have something to fall back on in case of need. We'll put the +rest back where it was before, for it may come handy." + +So Steadfast, much gratified, as well he might be, at the confidence +bestowed on him by his father, took the bag with him under his smock +when he went out with the cows, and bestowed it in a cranny not far +from that in which that more precious trust resided. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +DESOLATION. + + + +"They shot him dead at the Nine Stonerig, + Beside the headless Cross; + And they left him lying in his blood, + Upon the moor and moss." + SURTEES. + + +More and more soldiers might be seen coming down the roads towards +the town, not by any means always looking as gay as that first troop. +Some of the feathers were as draggled as the old cock's tail after a +thunderstorm, some reduced even to the quill, the coats looked +threadbare, the scarves stained and frayed, the horses lean and bony. + +There was no getting into the town now, and the growling thunder of a +cannon might now and then be heard. Jeph would have liked to spend +all his time on the hill-side where he could see the tents round the +town, and watch bodies of troops come out, looking as small as toy +soldiers, and see the clouds of smoke, sometimes the flashes, a +moment or two before the report. + +He longed to go down and see the camp, taking a load of butter and +eggs, but the neighbours told his father that these troops were bad +paymasters, and that there were idle fellows lurking about who might +take his wares without so much as asking the price. + +However, Jeph grew suddenly eager to herd the cattle, because thus he +had the best chance of watching the long lines of soldiers drawn out +from the camp, and seeing the smoke of the guns, whose sound made +poor Patience stay and tremble at home, and hardly like to have her +father out of her sight. + +There was worse coming. Jeph had been warned to keep his cattle well +out of sight from any of the roads, but when he could see the troops +moving about he could not recollect anything else, and one afternoon +Croppie strayed into the lane where the grass grew thick and rank, +and the others followed her. Jeph had turned her back and was close +to the farmstead when he heard shouts and the clattering of +trappings. Half-a-dozen lean, hungry-looking troopers were clanking +down the lane, and one called out, "Ha! good luck! Just what we +want! Beef and forage. Turn about, young bumpkin, I say. Drive +your cattle into camp. For the King's service." + +"They are father's," sturdily replied Jeph, and called aloud for +"Father." + +He was answered with a rude shout of derision, and poor Croppie was +pricked with the sword's point to turn her away. Jeph was wild with +passion, and struck back the sword with his stick so unexpectedly +that it flew out of the trooper's hand. Of course, more than one +stout man instantly seized the boy, amid howls of rage; and one heavy +blow had fallen on him, when Kenton dashed forward, thrusting himself +between his son, and the uplifted arm, and had begun to speak, when, +with the words "You will, you rebel dog?" a pistol shot was fired. + +Jeph saw his father fall, but felt the grasp upon himself relax, and +heard a voice shouting, "How now, my men, what's this?" + +"He resisted the King's requisition, your Grace," said one of the +troopers, as a handsome lad galloped up. + +"King's requisition! Your own robbery. What have you done to the +poor man, you Schelm? See here, Rupert," he added, as another young +man rode hastily up. + +"Rascals! How often am I to tell you that this is not to be made a +place for your plunder and slaughter," thundered the new comer, +rising in his stirrups, and striking at the troopers with the flat of +his sword, so that they fell back with growls about "soldiers must +live," and "curs of peasants." + +The younger brother had leapt from his horse, and was trying to help +Jephthah raise poor Kenton's head, but it fell back helplessly, deaf +to the screams of "Father, father," with which Patience and Rusha had +darted out, as a cloud of smoke began to rise from the straw yard. +Poor children, they screamed again at what was before them. Rusha +ran wildly away at sight of the soldiers, but Patience, with the baby +in her arms, came up. She did not see her father at first, and only +cried aloud to the gentlemen. + +"O sir, don't let them do it. If they take our cows, the babe will +die. He has no mother!" + +"They shall not, the villains! Brother, can nothing be done?" cried +the youth, with a face of grief and horror. And then there was a +great confusion. + +The two young officers were vehemently angry at sight of the fire, +and shouted fierce orders to the guard of soldiers who had +accompanied them to endeavour to extinguish it, themselves doing +their best, and making the men release Steadfast, whom they had +seized upon as he was trying to trample out the flame, kindled by a +match from one of the soldiers who had scattered themselves about the +yard during the struggle with Jephthah. + +But either the fire was too strong, or the men did not exert +themselves; it was soon plain that the house could not be saved, and +the elder remounted, saying in German, "'Tis of no use, Maurice, we +must not linger here." + +"And can nothing be done?" again asked Prince Maurice. "This is as +bad as in Germany itself." + +"You are new to the trade, Maurice. You will see many such sights, I +fear, ere we have done; though I hoped the English nature was more +kindly." + +Then using the word of command, sending his aides-de-camp, and with +much shouting and calling, Prince Rupert got the troop together +again, very sulky at being baulked of their plunder. They were all +made to go out of the farm yard, and ride away before him, and then +the two princes halted where the poor children, scarce knowing that +their home was burning behind them, were gathered round their father, +Patience stroking his face, Steadfast chafing his hands, Jephthah +standing with folded arms, and a terrible look of grief and wrath on +his face. + +"Is there no hope?" asked Prince Maurice, sorrowfully. + +"He is dead. That's all," muttered Jeph between his clenched teeth. + +"Mark," said Prince Rupert, "this mischance is by no command of the +King or mine. The fellow shall be brought to justice if you can +swear to him." + +"I would have hindered it, if I could," said the other prince, in +much slower, and more imperfect English. "It grieves me much. My +purse has little, but here it is." + +He dropped it on the ground while setting spurs to his horse to +follow his brother. + +And thus the poor children were left at first in a sort of numb +dismay after the shock, not even feeling that a heavy shower had +begun to fall, till the baby, whom Patience had laid on the grass, +set up a shriek. + +Then she snatched him up, and burst into a bitter cry herself-- +wailing "father was dead, and he would die," in broken words. +Steadfast then laid a hand on her, and said "He won't die, Patience, +I see Croppie there, I'll get some milk. Take him." + +There were only smoking walls, but the fire was burning down under +the rain, and had not touched the stable, the wind being the other +way. "Take him there," the boy said. + +"But father--we can't leave him." + +Without more words Jephthah and Steadfast took the still form between +them and bore it into the stable, the baby screaming with hunger all +the time, so that Jephthah hotly said-- + +"Stop that! I can't bear it." + +Steadfast then said he would milk the cow if Jeph would run to the +next cottage and get help. People would come when they knew the +soldiers were gone. + +There was nothing but Steadfast's leathern cap to hold the milk, and +he felt as if his fingers had no strength to draw it; but when he had +brought his sister enough to quiet little Ben, she recollected Rusha, +and besought him to find her. She could hardly sit still and feed the +little one while she heard his voice shouting in vain for the child, +and all the time she was starting with the fancy that she saw her +father move, or heard a rustling in the straw where her brothers had +laid him. + +And when little Ben was satisfied, she was almost rent asunder +between her unwillingness to leave unwatched all that was left of her +father, still with that vain hopeless hope that he might revive, all +could not have been over in such a moment, and her terrible anxiety +about her little sister. Could she have run back into the burning +house? Or could those dreadful soldiers have killed her too? + +Steadfast presently came back, having found some of the startled +cattle and driven them in, but no Rusha. Patience was sure she could +find her, and giving the baby to Steadfast ran out in the rain and +smouldering smoke calling her; all in vain. Then she heard voices +and feet, and in a fresh fright was about to turn again, when she +knew Jephthah's call. He had the child in his arms. He had been +coming back from the village with some neighbours, when they saw the +poor little thing, crouched like a hare in her form under a bush. No +sooner did she hear them, than like a hare, she started up to run +away; but stumbling over the root of a tree, she fell and lay, too +much frightened even to scream till her brother picked her up. + +Kind motherly arms were about the poor girls. Old Goody Grace, who +had been with them through their mother's illness, had hobbled up on +hearing the terrible news. She looked like a witch, with a tall hat, +short cloak, and nose and chin nearly meeting, but all Elmwood loved +and trusted her, and the feeling of utter terror and helplessness +almost vanished when she kissed and grieved over the orphans, and +took the direction of things. She straightened and composed poor +John Kenton's limbs, and gave what comfort she could by assuring the +children that the passage must have been well nigh without pain. +"And if ever there was a good man fit to be taken suddenly, it was +he," she added. "He be in a happier place than this has been to him +since your good mother was took." + +Several of the men had accompanied her, and after some consultation, +it was decided that the burial had better take place that very night, +even though there was no time to make a coffin. + +"Many an honest man will be in that same case," said Harry Blane, the +smith, "if they come to blows down there." + +"And He to Whom he is gone will not ask whether he lies in a coffin, +or has the prayers said over him," added Goody, "though 'tis pity on +him too, for he always was a man for churches and parsons and +prayers." + +"Vain husks, said the pious captain," put in Oates. + +"Well," said Harry Blane, "those could hardly be vain husks that made +John Kenton what he was. Would that the good old times were back +again; when a sackless man could not be shot down at his own door for +nothing at all." + +Reverently and carefully John Kenton's body was borne to the +churchyard, where he was laid in the grave beside his much loved +wife. No knell was rung: Elmwood, lying far away over the hill side +in the narrow wooded valley with the river between it and the camp, +had not yet been visited by any of the Royalist army, but a midnight +toll might have attracted the attention of some of the lawless +stragglers. Nor did anyone feel capable of uttering a prayer aloud, +and thus the only sound at that strange sad funeral was the low boom +of a midnight gun fired in the beleaguered city. + +Then Patience with Rusha and the baby were taken home by kind old +Goody Grace, while the smith called the two lads into his house. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +LEFT TO THEMSELVES. + + + +"One look he cast upon the bier, + Dashed from his eye the gathering tear, + Then, like the high bred colt when freed + First he essays his fire and speed, + He vanished---" + SCOTT. + + +Steadfast was worn and wearied out with grief and slept heavily, +knowing at first that his brother was tossing about a good deal, but +soon losing all perception, and not waking till on that summer +morning the sun had made some progress in the sky. + +Then he came to the sad recollection of the last dreadful day, and +knew that he was lying on Master Blane's kitchen floor. He picked +himself up, and at the same moment heard Jephthah calling him from +the outside. + +"Stead," he said, "I am going!" + +"Going!" said poor Stead, half asleep. + +"Yes. I shall never rest till I have had a shot at those barbarous +German princes and the rest of the villains. My father's blood cries +to me from the ground for vengeance." + +"Would father have said like that?" said the boy, bewildered, but +conscious of something defective, though these were Bible words. + +"That's not the point! Captain Venn called every man to take the +sword and hew down the wicked, and slay the ungodly and the +murderers. I will!" cried Jeph, "none shall withhold me." + +He had caught more phrases from these fiery preachers than he himself +knew, and they broke forth in this time of excitement. + +"But, Jeph, what is to become of us? The girls, and the little one! +You are the only one of us who can do a man's work." + +"I could not keep you together!" said Jeph. "Our house burnt by +those accursed sons of Belial, all broken up, and only a lubber like +you to help! No, Goody Grace or some one will take in the girls for +what's left of the stock, and you can soon find a place--a strong +fellow like you; Master Blane might take you and make a smith of you, +if you be not too slow and clumsy." + +"But Jeph--" + +"Withhold me not. Is it not written--" + +"I wish you would not say is it not written," broke in Stead, "I know +it is, but you don't say it right." + +"Because you are yet in darkness," said Jeph, contemptuously. "Hold +your tongue. I must be off at once. Market folk can get into the +town by the low lane out there, away from the camp of the spoilers, +early in the morning, and I must hasten to enlist under Captain Venn. +No, don't call the wenches, they would but strive to daunt my spirit +in the holy work of vengeance on the bloodthirsty, and I can't abide +tears and whining. See here, I found this in the corn bin. I'm poor +father's heir. You won't want money, and I shall; so I shall take +it, but I'll come back and make all your fortunes when I am a captain +or a colonel. I wonder this is not more. We got a heap of late. +Maybe father hid it somewhere else, but 'tis no use seeking now. If +you light upon it you are welcome to do what you will with it. Fare +thee well, Steadfast. Do the best you can for the wenches, but a +call is laid on me! I have vowed to avenge the blood that was shed." + +He strode off into the steep woodland path that clothed the hill +side, and Steadfast looked after him, and felt more utterly deserted +than before. Then he looked up to the sky, and tried to remember +what was the promise to the fatherless children. That made him +wonder whether the Bible and Prayer-book had been burnt, and then his +morning's duty of providing milk for the little ones' breakfast +pressed upon him. He took up a pail of Mrs. Blane's which he thought +he might borrow and went off in search of the cows. So, murmuring +the Lord's Prayer as he walked, and making the resolution not to be +dragged away from his trust in the cavern, nor to forsake his little +sister--he heard the lowing of the cows as he went over the hill, and +found them standing at the gate of the fold yard, waiting to be eased +of their milk. Poor creatures, they seemed so glad to welcome him +that it was the first thing that brought tears to his eyes, and they +came with such a rush that he had much ado to keep them from dropping +into the pail as he leant his head against Croppie's ruddy side. + +There was a little smouldering smoke; but the rain had checked the +fire, and though the roof of the house was gone and it looked +frightfully dreary and wretched, the walls were still standing and +the pigs were grunting about the place. However, Steadfast did not +stop to see what was left within, as he knew Ben would be crying for +food, but he carried his foaming pail back to Goody Grace's as fast +as he could, after turning out the cows on the common, not even +stopping to count the sheep that were straggling about. + +His sisters were watching anxiously from the door of Goody Grace's +hovel, and eagerly cried out "Where's Jeph?" + +Then he had to tell them that Jeph was gone for a soldier, to have +his revenge for his father's death. + +"Jeph gone too!" said poor Patience, looking pale. "Oh, what shall +we ever do?" + +"He did not think of that, I'll warrant, the selfish fellow," said +Goody Grace. "That's the way with lads, nought but themselves." + +"It was because of what they did to poor father," replied Stead. + +"And if he, or the folks he is gone to, call that the Christian +religion, 'tis more than I do!" rejoined the old woman. "I wish I +had met him, I'd have given him a bit of my mind about going off to +his revenge, as he calls it, without ever a thought what was to +become of his own flesh and blood here." + +"He did say I might go to service (not that I shall), and that some +one would take you in for the cattle's sake." + +"O don't do that, Stead," cried Patience, "don't let us part!" He +had only just time to answer, "No such thing," for people were coming +about them by this time, one after another emerging from the cottages +that stood around the village green. The women were all hotly angry +with Jeph for going off and leaving his young brothers and sisters to +shift for themselves. + +"He was ever an idle fellow," said one, "always running after the +soldiers and only wanting an excuse." + +"Best thing he could do for himself or them," growled old Green. + +"Eh! What, Gaffer Green! To go off without a word or saying by your +leave to his poor little sister before his good father be cold in his +grave," exclaimed a whole clamour of voices. + +"Belike he knew what a clack of women's tongues there would be, and +would fain be out of it," replied the old man shrewdly. + +It was a clamour that oppressed poor Patience and made her feel sick +with sorrow and noise. Everybody meant to be very kind and pitiful, +but there was a great deal too much of it, and they felt quite +bewildered by the offers made them. Farmer Mill's wife, of Elmwood +Cross, two miles off, was reported by her sister to want a stout girl +to help her, but there was no chance of her taking Rusha or the baby +as well as Patience. Goody Grace could not undertake the care of Ben +unless she could have Patience, because she was so often called away +from home, nor could she support them without the cows. Smith Blane +might have taken Stead, but his wife would not hear of being troubled +with Rusha. And Dame Oates might endure Rusha for the sake of a +useful girl like Patience, but certainly not the baby. It was an +utter Babel and confusion, and in the midst of it all, Patience crept +up to her brother who stood all the time like a stock, and said "Oh! +Stead, I cannot give up Ben to anyone. Cannot we all keep together?" + +"Hush, Patty! That's what I mean to do, if you will stand by me," he +whispered, "wait till all the clack is over." + +And there he waited with Patience by his side while the parish seemed +to be endlessly striving over them. If one woman seemed about to +make a proposal, half-a-dozen more fell on her and vowed that the +poor orphans would be starved and overworked; till she turned on the +foremost with "And hadn't your poor prentice lad to go before the +justices to shew the weals on his back?" "Aye, Joan Stubbs, and what +are you speaking up for but to get the poor children's sheep? Hey, +you now, Stead Kenton--Lack-a-day, where be they?" + +For while the dispute was at its loudest and hottest, Stead had taken +Rusha by the hand, made a sign to Patience, and the four deserted +children had quietly gone away together into the copsewood that led +to the little glen where the brook ran, and where was the cave that +Steadfast looked on as his special charge. Rusha, frightened by the +loud voices and angry gestures, had begun to cry, and beg she might +not be given to anyone, but stay with her Patty and Stead. + +"And so you shall, my pretty," said Steadfast, sitting down on the +stump of a tree, and taking her on his knee, while Toby nuzzled up to +them. + +"Then you think we can go on keeping ourselves, and not letting them +part us," said Patience, earnestly. If I have done the house work +all this time, and we have the fields, and all the beasts. We have +only lost the house, and I could never bear to live there again," she +added, with a shudder. + +"No," said Steadfast, "it is too near the road while these savage +fellows are about. Besides--" and there he checked himself and +added, "I'll tell you, Patty. Do you remember the old stone cot down +there in the wood?" + +"Where the old hermit lived in the blind Popish times?" + +"Aye. We'll live there. No soldiers will ever find us out there, +Patty." + +"Oh! oh! that is good," said Patience. "We shall like that, shan't +we, Rusha?" + +"And," added Steadfast, "there is an old cowshed against the rock +down there, where we could harbour the beasts, for 'tis them that the +soldiers are most after." + +"Let us go down to it at once," cried the girl, joyfully. + +But Steadfast thought it would be wiser to go first to the ruins of +their home; before, as he said, anyone else did so, to see what could +be saved therefrom. + +Patience shrank from the spectacle, and Rusha hung upon her, saying +the soldiers would be there, and beginning to cry. At that moment, +however, Tom Gates' voice came near shouting for "Stead! Stead +Kenton!" + +"Come on, Stead. You'll be prentice-lad to Dick Stiggins the tailor, +if so be you bring Whitefoot and the geese for your fee; and Goodman +Bold will have the big wench; and Goody Grace will make shift with +the little ones, provided she has the kine!" + +"We don't mean to be beholden to none of them," said Steadfast, +sturdily, with his hands in his pockets. "We mean to keep what +belongs to us, and work for ourselves." + +"And God will help us," Patience added softly. + +"Ho, ho!" cried Tom, and proud of having found them, he ran before +them back to the village green, and roared out, "Here they be! And +they say as how they don't want none of you, but will keep +themselves. Ha! ha!" + +Anyone who saw those four young orphans would not have thought their +trying to keep themselves a laughing matter; and the village folk, +who had been just before so unwilling to undertake them, now began +scolding and blaming them for their folly and ingratitude. + +Nothing indeed makes people so angry as when a kindness which has +cost them a great effort turns out not to be wanted. + +"Look for nothing from us," cried Dame Bold. "I'd have made a good +housewife of you, you ungrateful hussy, and now you may thank +yourself, if you come to begging, I shall have nothing for you." + +"Beggary and rags," repeated the tailor. "Aye, aye; 'tis all very +fine strolling about after the sheep with your hands in your pockets +in summer weather, but you'll sing another song in winter time, and +be sorry you did not know when you had a good offer." + +"The babe will die as sure as 'tis born," added Jean Oates. + +"If they be not all slain by the mad Prince's troopers up in that +place by the roadside," said another. + +Blacksmith Blane and Goody Grace were in the meantime asking the +children what they meant to do, and Stead told them in a few words. +Goody Grace shook her head over little Ben, but Blane declared that +after all it might be the best thing they could do to keep their land +and beasts together. Ten to one that foolish lad Jephthah would come +back with his tail between his legs, and though it would serve him +right, what would they do if all were broken up? Then he slapped +Stead on the back, called him a sensible, steady lad, and promised +always to be his friend. + +Moreover he gave up his morning's work to come with the children to +their homestead, and see what could be saved. It was a real +kindness, not only because his protection made Patience much less +afraid to go near the place, and his strong arm would be a great help +to them, but because he was parish constable and had authority to +drive away the rough lads whom they found already hanging about the +ruins, and who had frightened Patience's poor cat up into the ash +tree. + +The boys and two curs were dancing round the tree, and one boy was +stripping off his smock to climb up and throw poor pussy down among +them when Master Blane's angry shout and flourished staff put them +all to flight, and Patience and Rusha began to coax the cat to come +down to them. + +Hunting her had had one good effect, it had occupied the boys and +prevented them from carrying anything off. The stable was safe. What +had been burnt was the hay rick, whence the flames had climbed to the +house. The roof had fallen in, and the walls and chimney stood up +blackened and dismal, but there was a good deal of stone about the +house, the roof was of shingle, and the heavy fall, together with the +pouring rain, had done much to choke the fire, so that when Blane +began to throw aside the charred bits of beams and of the upper +floor, more proved to be unburnt, or at least only singed, than could +have been expected. + +The great black iron pot still hung in the chimney with the very meal +and kail broth that Patience had been boiling in it, and Rusha's +little stool stood by the hearth. Then the great chest, or ark as +Patience called it, where all the Sunday clothes were kept, had been +crushed in and the upper things singed, but all below was safe. The +beds and bedding were gone; but then the best bed had been only a box +in the wall with an open side, and the others only chaff or straw +stuffed into a sack. + +Patience's crocks, trenchers, and cups were gone too, all except one +horn mug; but two knives and some spoons were extracted from the +ashes. Furniture was much more scanty everywhere than now. There +was not much to lose, and of that they had lost less than they had +feared. + +"And see here, Stead," said Patience joyfully holding up a lesser box +kept within the other. + +It contained her mother's Bible and Prayer-book. The covers were +turned up, a little warped by the heat, and some of the corners of +the leaves were browned, but otherwise they were unhurt. + +"I was in hopes 'twas the money box," said Blane. + +"Jeph has got the bag," said Patience. + +"More shame for him," growled their friend. Steadfast did not think +it necessary to say that was not all the hoard. + +Another thing about which Patience was very anxious was the meal +chest. With much difficulty they reached it. It had been broken in +by the fall of the roof, and some of the contents were scattered, but +enough was gathered up in a pail fetched from the stable to last for +some little time. There were some eggs likewise in the nests, and +altogether Goodman Blane allowed that, if the young Kentons could +take care of themselves, and keep things together, they had decided +for the best; if they could, that was to say. And he helped them to +carry their heavier things to the glen. He wanted to see if it were +fit for their habitation, but Steadfast was almost sorry to show +anyone the way, in spite of his trust and gratitude to the +blacksmith. + +However, of course, it was not possible to keep this strange hiding- +place a secret, so he led the way by the path the cattle had trodden +out through the brushwood to the open space where they drank, and +where stood the hermit's hut, a dreary looking den built of big +stones, and with rough slates covering it. There was a kind of hole +for the doorway, and another for the smoke to get out at. Blane +whistled with dismay at the sight of it, and told Stead he could not +take the children to such a place. + +"We will get it better," said Stead. + +"That we will," returned Patience, who felt anything better than +being separated from her brother. + +"It is weather-tight," added Stead, "and when it is cleaned out you +will see!" + +"And the soldiers will never find it," added Patience. + +"There is something in that," said Blane. "But at any rate, though +it be summer, you can never sleep there to-night." + +"The girls cannot," said Stead, "but I shall, to look after things." + +These were long days, and by the evening many of the remnants of +household stuff had been brought, the cows and Whitefoot had been +tied up in their dilapidated shed, with all the hay Stead could +gather together to make them feel at home. There was a hollow under +the rock where he hoped to keep the pigs, but neither they nor the +sheep could be brought in at present. They must take their chance, +the sheep on the moor, the pigs grubbing about the ruins of the +farmyard. The soldiers must be too busy for marauding, to judge by +the constant firing that had gone on all day, the sharp rattle of the +musquets, and now and then the grave roll of a cannon. + +Stead had been too busy to attend, but half the village had been +watching from the height, which accounted perhaps for the move from +the farm having been so uninterrupted after the first. + +It was not yet dark, when, tired out by his day's hard work, Stead +sat himself down at the opening of his hut with Toby by his side. +The evening gold of the sky could hardly be seen through the hazel +and mountain-ash bushes that clothed the steep opposite bank of the +glen and gave him a feeling of security. The brook rippled along +below, plainly to be heard since all other sounds had ceased except +the purring of a night-jar and the cows chewing their cud. There was +a little green glade of short grass sloping down to the stream from +the hut where the rabbits were at play, but on each side the trees +and brushwood were thick, with only a small path through, much +overgrown, and behind the rock rose like a wall, overhung with ivy +and traveller's joy. Only one who knew the place could have found +the shed among the thicket where the cows were fastened, far less the +cavern half-way up the side of the rock where lay the treasures for +which Steadfast was a watchman. He thought for a moment of seeing if +all were safe, but then decided, like a wise boy, that to disturb the +creepers, and wear a path to the place, was the worst thing he could +do if he wished for concealment. He had had his supper at the +village, and had no more to do, and after the long day of going to +and fro, even Toby was too much tired to worry the rabbits, though he +had had no heavy weights to carry. Perhaps, indeed, the poor dog had +no spirits to interfere with their sports, as they sat upright, +jumped over one another, and flashed their little white tails. He +missed his old master, and knew perfectly well that his young master +was in trouble and distress, as he crept close up to the boy's +breast, and looked up in his face. Stead's hand patted the rough, +wiry hair, and there was a sort of comfort in the creature's love. +But how hard it was to believe that only yesterday he had a father +and a home, and that now his elder brother was gone, and he had the +great charge on him of being the mainstay of the three younger ones, +as well as of protecting that treasure in the cavern which his father +had so solemnly entrusted to him. + +The boy knelt down to say his prayers, and as he did so, all alone in +the darkening wood, the words "Father of the fatherless, Helper of +the helpless," came to his aid. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE HERMIT'S GULLEY. + + + +"O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, + They were twa bonnie lasses-- + They digged a bower on yonder brae, + And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes." BALLAD. + + +Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side +till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks +of his rude little hovel. + +When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to +be done. He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good +mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking +off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath +in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a +wash as he could without soap. + +Then he milked the cows, for happily his own buckets had been at the +stable and thus were safe. He had just released Croppie and seen her +begin her breakfast on the grass, when Patience in her little red +hood came tripping through the glen with a broom over her shoulder, +and without the other children. Goody Grace had undertaken to keep +them for the day, whilst Patience worked with her brother, and had +further lent her the broom till she could make another, for all the +country brooms of that time were home-made with the heather and the +birch. She had likewise brought a barley cake, on which and on the +milk the pair made their breakfast, Goody providing for the little +ones. + +"We must use it up," said Patience, "for we have got no churn." + +"And we could not get into the town to sell the butter if we had," +returned her brother. "We had better take it up to some one in the +village who might give us something for it, bread or cheese maybe." + +"I would like to make my own butter," sighed Patience, whose mother's +cleanly habits had made her famous for it. + +"So you shall some day, Patty," said her brother, "but there's no +getting into Bristol to buy one or to sell butter now. Hark! they +are beginning again," as the growl of a heavy piece of cannon shook +the ground. + +"I wonder where our Jeph is," said the little girl sadly. "How could +he like to go among all those cruel fighting men? You won't go, +Stead?" + +"No, indeed, I have got something else to do." + +The children were hard at work all the time. They cleared out the +inside of their hovel, which had a floor of what was called lime ash, +trodden hard, and not much cracked. Probably other hermits in +earlier times had made the place habitable before the expelled monk +whom the Kentons' great-grandfather recollected; for the cell, though +rude, was wonderfully strong, and the stone walls were very stout and +thick, after the fashion of the middle ages. There was a large flat +stone to serve as a hearth, and an opening at the top for smoke with +a couple of big slaty stones bent towards one another over it as a +break to the force of the rain. The children might have been worse +off though there was no window, and no door to close the opening. +That mattered the less in the summer weather, and before winter came, +Stead thought he could close it with a mat made of the bulrushes that +stood up in the brook, lifting their tall, black heads. + +Straw must serve for their beds till they could get some sacking to +stuff it into, and as some of the sheep would have to be killed and +salted for the winter, the skins would serve for warmth. Patience +arranged the bundles of straw with a neat bit of plaiting round them, +at one corner of the room for herself and Rusha, at the opposite one +for Stead. For the present they must sleep in their clothes. + +Life was always so rough, and, to present notions, comfortless, that +all this was not nearly so terrible to the farmer's daughter of two +centuries ago as it would be to a girl of the present day. Indeed, +save for the grief for the good father, the sense of which now and +then rushed on them like a horrible, too true dream, Steadfast and +Patience would almost have enjoyed the setting up for themselves and +all their contrivances. Some losses, however, besides that of the +churn were very great in their eyes. Patience's spinning wheel +especially, and the tools, scythe, hook, and spade, all of which had +been so much damaged, that Smith Blane had shaken his head over them +as past mending. + +Perhaps, however, Stead might borrow and get these made for him. As +to the wheel, that must, like the churn, wait till the siege was +over. + +"But will not those dreadful men burn the town down and not leave one +stone on another, if Jeph and the rest of them don't keep them out?" +asked Patience. + +"No," said Stead. "That is not the way in these days--at least not +always. So poor father said last time we went into Bristol, when he +had been talking to the butter-merchant's man. He said the townsfolk +would know the reason why, if the soldiers were for holding out long +enough to get them into trouble." + +"Then perhaps there will not be much fighting and they will not hurt +Jeph," said Patience, to whom Jeph was the whole war. + +"There's no firing to-day. Maybe they are making it up," said +Steadfast. + +"I never heeded," said Patience, "we have been so busy! But Stead, +how shall we get the things? We have no money. Shall we sell a +sheep or a pig?" + +Stead looked very knowing, and she exclaimed "Have you any, Stead? +***I thought Jeph took it all away." + +Then Stead told her how his father had entrusted him with the bulk of +the savings, in case of need, and had made it over to the use of the +younger ones. + +"It was well you did not know, Patty," he added. "You told no lie, +and Jeph might have taken it all." + +"O! he would not have been so cruel," cried Patience. "He would not +want Rusha and Ben to have nothing." + +Stead did not feel sure, and when Patience asked him where the hoard +was, he shook his head, looked wise, and would not tell her. And +then he warned her, with all his might and main against giving a hint +to anyone that they had any such fund in reserve. She was a little +vexed and hurt at first, but presently she promised. + +"Indeed Stead, I won't say one word about it, and you don't think I +would ever touch it without telling you." + +"No, Patty, you wouldn't, but don't you see, if you know nothing, you +can't tell if people ask you." + +In truth, Stead was less anxious about the money than about the other +treasure, and when presently Patience proposed that the cave where +they used to play should serve for the poultry, so as to save them +from the foxes and polecats, he looked very grave and said "No, no, +Patty, don't you ever tell anyone of that hole, nor let Rusha see +it." + +"Oh! I know then !" cried Patience, with a little laugh, "I know +what's there then." + +"There's more than that, sister," and therewith Stead told in her ear +of the precious deposit. + +She looked very grave, and said "Why then it is just like church! O +no, Stead, I'll never tell till good Mr. Holworth comes back. Could +not we say our prayers there on Sundays?" + +Stead liked the thought but shook his head. + +"We must not wear a path up to the place," he said, "nor show the +little ones the way." + +"I shall say mine as near as I can," said Patience. "And I shall ask +God to help us keep it safe." + +Then the children became absorbed in seeking for a place where their +fowls could find safe shelter from the enemies that lurked in the +wood, and ended by an attempt of Stead's to put up some perches +across the beam above the cow-shed. + +Things were forward enough for Rusha and Ben to be fetched down to +their new home that night; when Patience went to fetch them, she +heard that the cessation of firing had really been because the troops +within the town were going to surrender to the King's soldiers +outside. + +"Then there will be no more fighting," she anxiously asked of Master +Blane. + +"No man can tell," he answered. + +"And will Jeph come back?" + +But that he could tell as little, and indeed someone else spoke to +him, and he paid the child no more attention. + +Rusha had had a merry day among the children of her own age in the +village; she fretted at coming away, and was frightened at turning +into so lonely a path through the hazel stems, trotting after +Patience because she was afraid to turn back alone, but making a low, +peevish moan all the time. + +***Stead stirring the porridge. + +Patience hoped she would be comforted when they came out on their +little glade, and she saw Stead stirring the milk porridge over the +fire he had lighted by the house. For he had found the flint and +steel belonging to the matchlock of his father's old gun, and there +was plenty of dry leaves and half-burnt wood to serve as tinder. The +fire for cooking would be outside, whenever warmth and weather +served, to prevent indoor smoke. And to Patience's eyes it really +looked pleasant and comfortable, with Toby sitting wisely by his +young master's side, and the cat comfortably perched at the door, and +Whitefoot tied to a tree, and the cows in their new abode. But +Jerusha was tired and cross, she said it was an ugly place, and she +was afraid of the foxes and the polecats, she wanted to go home, she +wanted to go back to Goody Grace. + +Stead grew angry, and threatened that she should have no supper, and +that made her cry the louder, and shake her frock at him; but +Patience, who knew better how to deal with her, let her finish her +cry, and come creeping back, promising to be good, and glad to eat +the supper, which was wholesome enough, though very smoky: however, +the children were used to smoke, and did not mind it. + +They said their prayers together while the sun was touching the tops +of the trees, crept into their hut, curled themselves up upon their +straw and went to sleep, while Toby lay watchful at the door, and the +cat prowled about in quest of a rabbit or some other evening wanderer +for her supper. + +The next day Patience spent in trying to get things into somewhat +better order, and Steadfast in trying to gather together his live +stock, which he had been forced to leave to take care of themselves. +Horse, donkey, and cows were all safe round their hut; but he could +find only three of the young pigs and the old sow at the farmyard, +and it plainly was not safe to leave them there, though how to pen +them up in their new quarters he did not know. + +The sheep were out on the moor, and only one of them seemed to be +missing. The goat and the geese had likewise taken care of +themselves and seemed glad to see him. He drove them down to their +new home, and fed them there with some of the injured meal. "But +what can we do with the pigs? There's no place they can't get out of +but this," said Stead, looking doubtfully. + +"Do you think I would have pigs in here? No, I am not come to that!" + +It ended in Stead's going to consult Master Blane, who advised that +the younger pigs should be either sold, or killed and salted, and +nothing left but the sow, who was a cunning old animal, and could +pretty well take care of herself, besides that she was so tough and +lean that one must be very hungry indeed to be greatly tempted by her +bristles, + +But how sell the pigs or buy the salt in such days as these? There +was, indeed, no firing. + +There was a belief that treaties were going on, but leisure only left +the besiegers more free to go wandering about in search of plunder; +and Stead found all trouble saved him as to disposing of his pigs. +They were quite gone next time he looked for them, and the poor old +sow had been lamed by a shot; but did not seem seriously hurt, and +when with some difficulty she had been persuaded to be driven into +the glen, she seemed likely to be willing to stay there in the corner +of the cattle shed. + +The children were glad enough to be in their glen, with all its +bareness and discomfort, when they heard that a troop of horse had +visited Elmwood, and made a requisition there for hay and straw. +They had used no violence, but the farmers were compelled to take it +into the camp in their own waggons, getting nothing in payment but +orders on the treasury, which might as well be waste paper. And, +indeed, they were told by the soldiers that they might be thankful to +get off with their carts and horses. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +STEAD IN POSSESSION. + + + +"At night returning, every labour sped, + He sits him down, the monarch of a shed." + GOLDSMITH. + + +Another day made it certain that the garrison of Bristol had +surrendered to the besiegers. A few shots were heard, but they were +only fired in rejoicing by the Royalists, and while Steadfast was +studying his barley field, already silvered over by its long beards, +and wondering how soon it would be ripe, and how he should get it cut +and stacked, his name was shouted out, and he saw Tom Oates and all +the rest of the boys scampering down the lane. + +"Come along, Stead Kenton, come on and see, the Parliament soldiers +come out and go by." + +Poor Steadfast had not much heart for watching soldiers, but it +struck him that he might see or hear something of Jephthah, so he +came with the other boys to the bank, where from behind a hedge they +could look down at the ranks of soldiers as they marched along, five +abreast, the road was not wide enough to hold more. They had been +allowed to keep their weapons, so the officers had their swords, and +the men carried their musquets. Most of them looked dull and +dispirited, and the officers had very gloomy, displeased faces. In +fact, they were very angry with their commander, Colonel Fiennes, for +having surrendered so easily, and he was afterwards brought to a +court-martial for having done so. + +Stead did not understand this, he thought only of looking under each +steel cap or tall, slouching hat for Jephthah. Several times a +youthful, slender figure raised his hopes, and disappointed him, and +he began to wonder whether Jeph could have after all stayed behind in +the town, or if he could have been hurt and was ill there. + +By-and-by came a standard, bearing a Bible lying on a sword, and +behind it rode a grave looking officer, with long hair, and a red +scarf, whom the lads recognised as the same who had preached at +Elmwood. His men were in better order than some of the others, and +as Steadfast eagerly watched them, he was sure that he knew the turn +of Jeph's head, in spite of his being in an entirely new suit of +clothes, and with a musquet over his shoulder. + +Stead shook the ash stem he was leaning against, the men looked up, +he saw the well-known face, and called out "Jeph! Jeph!" But some of +the others laughed, Jeph frowned and shook his head, and marched on. +Stead was disappointed, but at any rate he could carry back the +assurance to Patience that Jeph was alive and well, though he seemed +to have lost all care for his brothers and sisters. Yet, perhaps, as +a soldier he could not help it, and it might not be safe to straggle +from the ranks. + +There was no more fighting for the present in the neighbourhood. The +princes and their army departed, only leaving a garrison to keep the +city, and it was soon known in the village that the town was in its +usual state, and that it was safe to go in to market as in former +times. Stead accordingly carried in a basket of eggs, which was all +he could yet sell. He was ferried across the river, and made his way +in. It was strange to find the streets looking exactly as usual, and +the citizens' wives coming out with their baskets just as if nothing +had happened. + +There was the good-natured face of Mistress Lightfoot, who kept a +baker's shop at the sign of the Wheatsheaf, and was their regular +customer. + +"Ha, little Kenton, be'st thou there? I'm right glad to see thee. +They said the mad fellows had burnt the farm and made an end of all +of you, but I find 'em civil enow, and I'm happy to see 'twas all +leasing-making." + +"It is true, mistress," said Stead, "that they burnt our house and +shot poor father." + +"Eh, you don't say so, my poor lad?" and she hurried her kind +questions, tears coming into her eyes, as she thought of the orphans +deserted by their brother. She was very anxious to have Patience +butter-making again and promised to come with Stead to give her +assistance in choosing both a churn and a spinning wheel if he would +come in the next day, for he had not ventured on bringing any money +with him. She bought all his eggs for her lodger, good Doctor Eales, +who could hardly taste anything and had been obliged to live cooped +up in an inner chamber for fear of the Parliament soldiers, who were +misbehaved to Church ministers though civil enough to women; while +these new comers were just the other way, hat in hand to a clergyman, +but apt to be saucy to the lasses. But she hoped the Doctor would +cheer up again, now that the Cathedral was set in order, so far as +might be, and prayers were said there as in old times. In fact the +bells were ringing for morning prayer, and Stead was so glad to hear +them that he thought he might venture in and join in the brief daily +service. There were many others who had done so, for these anxious +days had quickened the devotion of many hearts, and people had felt +what it was to be robbed of their churches and forbidden the use of +their prayer-books. Moreover, some had sons or brothers or husbands +fighting on the one side or the other, and were glad to pray for +them, so that Stead found himself in the midst of quite a +congregation, though the choir had been too much dispersed and broken +up for the musical service, and indeed the organ had been torn to +pieces by the Puritan soldiers, who fancied it was Popish. + +But Stead found himself caring for the Psalms and Prayers in a manner +he had never done before, and which came of the sorrow he had felt +and the troubles that pressed upon him. He fancied all would come +right now, and that soon Mr. Holworth would be back, and he should be +able to give up his charge; and he went home, quite cheered up. + +When he came into the gulley he heard voices through the bushes, and +pressing forward anxiously he saw Blane and Oates before the hovel +door, Patience standing there crying, with the baby in her arms, and +Rusha holding her apron, and an elderly man whom Stead knew as old +Lady Elmwood's steward talking to the other men, who seemed to be +persuading him to something. + +As soon as Stead appeared, the other children ran up to him, and +Rusha hid herself behind him, while Patience said "O Stead, Stead, he +has come to turn us all out! Don't let him!" + +"Nay, nay, little wench, not so fast," said the steward, not +unkindly. "I am but come to look after my Lady's interests, seeing +that we heard your poor father was dead, God have mercy on his soul +(touching his hat reverently), and his son gone off to the wars, and +nothing but a pack of children left." + +"But 'tis all poor father's," muttered Stead, almost dumbfounded. + +"It is held under the manor of Elmwood," explained the steward, "on +the tenure of the delivery of the prime beast on the land on the +demise of lord or tenant, and three days' service in hay and harvest +time." + +What this meant Steadfast and Patience knew as little as did Rusha or +Ben, but Goodman Blane explained. + +"The land here is all held under my Lady and Sir George, Stead--mine +just the same--no rent paid, but if there's a death--landlord or +tenant--one has to give the best beast as a fee, besides the work in +harvest." + +"And the question is," proceeded the steward, "who and what is there +to look to. The eldest son is but a lad, if he were here, and this +one is a mere child, and the house is burnt down, and here they be, +crouching in a hovel, and how is it to be with the land. I'm bound +to look after the land. I'm bound to look after my Lady's interest +and Sir George's." + +"Be they ready to build up the place if you had another tenant?" +asked Blane, signing to Stead to hold his peace. + +"Well--hum--ha! It might not come handy just now, seeing that Sir +George is off with the King, and all the money and plate with him and +most of the able-bodied servants, but I'm the more bound to look +after his interests." + +That seemed to be Master Brown's one sentence. But Blane took him +up, "Look you here, Master Brown, I, that have been friend and gossip +this many years with poor John Kenton--rest his soul--can tell you +that your lady is like to be better served with this here Steadfast, +boy though he be, than if you had the other stripling with his head +full of drums and marches, guns and preachments, and what not, and +who never had a good day's work in him without his father's eye over +him. This little fellow has done half his share and his own to boot +long ago. Now they are content to dwell down here, out of the way of +the soldiering, and don't ask her ladyship to be at any cost for +repairing the farm up there, but will do the best they can for +themselves. So, I say, Master Brown, it will be a real good work of +charity, without hurt to my Lady and Sir George to let them be, poor +things, to fight it out as they can." + +"Well, well, there's somewhat in what you say Goodman Blane, but I'm +bound to look after my Lady's interests and Sir George's." + +"I would come and work like a good one at my Lady's hay and harvest," +said Stead, "and I shall get stronger and bigger every year." + +"But the beast," said the steward, "my Lady's interests must come +first, you see." + +"O don't let him take Croppie," cried Patience. "O sir, not the +cows, or baby will die, and we can't make the butter." + +"You see, Master Brown," explained Blane, "it is butter as is their +chief stand-by. Poor Dame Kenton, as was took last spring, was the +best dairywoman in the parish, and this little maid takes after her. +Their kine are their main prop, but there's the mare, there's not +much good that she can do them." + +"Let us look!" said the steward. "A sorry jade enow! But I don't +know but she will serve our turn better than the cow. There was a +requisition, as they have the impudence to call it, from the +Parliament lot that took off all our horses, except old grey Dobbin +and the colt, and this beast may come in handy to draw the wood. So +I'll take her, and you may think yourself well off, and thank my Lady +I'm so easy with you. 'Be not hard on the orphans,' she said. +'Heaven forbid, my Lady,' says I, 'but I must look after your +interests.'" + +The children hung round old Whitefoot, making much of her for the +last time, and Patience and Rusha both cried sadly when she was led +away; and it was hard to believe Master Blane, who told them it was +best for Whitefoot as well as for themselves, since they would find +it a hard matter to get food even for the more necessary animals in +the winter, and the poor beast would soon be skin and bone; while for +themselves the donkey could carry all they wanted to market; and it +might be more important than they understood to be thus regularly +accepted as tenants by the manor, so that no one could turn them out. + +And Stead, remembering the cavern, knew that he ought to be thankful, +while the two men went away, Brown observing, "One can scarce turn +'em out, poor things, but such a mere lubber as that boy is can do no +good! If the elder one had thought fit to stay and mind his own +business now!" + +"A good riddance, I say," returned Blane. "Stead's a good-hearted +lad, though clownish, and I'll do what I can for him." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WINTRY TIMES. + + + +"Thrice welcome may such seasons be, + But welcome too the common way, + The lowly duties of the day." + + +There was of course much to do. Steadfast visited his hoard and took +from thence enough to purchase churn, spinning wheel, and the few +tools that he most needed; but it was not soon that Patience could +sit down to spin. That must be for the winter, and their only chance +of light was in making candles. + +Rusha could gather the green rushes, though she could not peel them +without breaking them; and Patience had to take them out of her hands +and herself strip the white pith so that only one ribbon of green was +left to support it. + +The sheep, excepting a few old ewes, were always sold or killed +before the winter, and by Blane's advice, Stead kept only three. The +butcher Oates took some of the others, and helped Stead to dispose of +four more in the market. Two were killed at different intervals for +home use, but only a very small part was eaten fresh, as a wonderful +Sunday treat, the rest was either disposed of among the neighbours, +who took it in exchange for food of other kinds; or else was salted +and dried for the winter's fare, laid up in bran in two great crocks +which Stead had been forced to purchase, and which with planks from +the half-burnt house laid over them served by turns as tables or +seats. The fat was melted up in Patience's great kettle, and the +rushes dipped in it over and over again till they had such a coating +of grease as would enable them to be burnt in the old horn lantern +which had fortunately been in the stable and escaped the fire. + +Kind neighbours helped Stead to cut and stack his hay, and his little +field of barley. All the grass he could cut on the banks he also +saved for the animals' winter food, and a few turnips, but these were +rare and uncommon articles only used by the most advanced farmers, +and his father had only lately begun to grow them, nor had potatoes +become known except in the gardens of the curious. + +The vexation was that all the manor was called to give their three +days' labour to Lady Elmwood's crops just as all their own were cut, +and as, of course, Master Brown had chosen the finest weather, every +one went in fear and trembling for their own, and Oates and others +grumbled so bitterly at having to work without wage, that Blane asked +if they called their own houses and land nothing. + +There was fresh grumbling too that the food sent out to the labourers +in the field was not as it used to be, good beef and mutton, but only +bread and very hard cheese, and bowls of hasty pudding, with thin, +sour small beer to wash it down. Oates growled and vowed he would +never come again to be so scurvily used; and perhaps no one guessed +that my lady was far more impoverished than her tenants, and had a +hard matter to supply even such fare as this. + +Happily the weather lasted good long enough to save the Kentons' +little crop, though there was a sad remembrance of the old times, +when the church bell gave the signal at sunrise for all the +harvesters to come to church for the brief service, and then to start +fair in their gleaning. The bell did still ring, but there were no +prayers. The vicar had never come back, and it was reported that he +had been sent to the plantations in America. There was no service on +Sunday nearer than Bristol. It was the churchwardens' business to +find a minister, and of these, poor Kenton was dead, and the other, +Master Cliffe, was not likely to do anything that might put the +parish to expense. + +Goodman Blane, and some of the other more seriously minded folk used +to walk into Bristol to church when the weather was tolerably fine. +If it were wet, the little stream used to flood the lower valley so +that it was not possible to get across. Steadfast was generally one +of the party. Patience could not go, as it was too far for Rusha to +walk, or for the baby to be carried. + +Once, seeing how much she wished to go again to church, Stead +undertook to mind the children, the cattle, and the dinner in her +place; but what work he found it! When he tried to slice the onions +for the broth, little Ben toddled off, and had to be caught lest he +should tumble into the river. Then Rusha got hold of the knife, cut +her hand, and rolled it up in her Sunday frock, and Steadfast, +thinking he had got a small bit of rag, tied it up in Patience's +round cap, but that he did not know till afterwards, only that baby +had got out again, and after some search was found asleep cuddled up +close to the old sow. And so it went on, till poor Steadfast felt as +if he had never spent so long a day. As to reading his Bible and +Prayer-book, it was quite impossible, and he never had so much +respect for Patience before as when he found what she did every day +without seeming to think anything of it. + +She did not get home till after dark, but the Blanes had taken her to +rest at the friends with whom they spent the time between services, +and they had given her a good meal. + +"Somehow," said Patience, "everybody seems kinder than they used to +be before the fighting began--and the parsons said the prayers as if +they had more heart in them." + +Patience was quite right. These times of danger were making everyone +draw nearer together, and look up more heartily to Him in Whom was +there true help. + +But winter was coming on and bringing bad times for the poor children +in their narrow valley, so close to the water. It was not a very +cold season, but it was almost worse, for it was very wet. The +little brook swelled, turned muddy yellow, and came rushing and +tumbling along, far outside its banks, so that Patience wondered +whether there could be any danger of its coming up to their hut and +perhaps drowning them. + +"I think there is no fear," said Steadfast. "You see this house has +been here from old times and never got washed away." + +"It wouldn't wash away very easily," said Patience, "I wish we were +in one of the holes up there." + +"If it looks like danger we might get up," said Steadfast, and to +please her he cleared a path to a freshly discovered cave a little +lower down the stream, but so high up on the rocky sides of the +ravine as to be safe from the water. + +Once Patience, left at home watching the rushing of the stream, +became so frightened that she actually took the children up there, +and set Rusha to hold the baby while she dragged up some sheepskins +and some food. + +Steadfast coming home asked what she was about and laughed at her, +showing her, by the marks on the trees, that the flood was already +going down. Such alarms came seldom, but the constant damp was +worse. Happily it was always possible to keep up a fire, wood and +turf peat was plentiful and could be had for the cutting and +carrying, and though the smoke made their eyes tingle, perhaps it +hindered the damp from hurting them, when all the walls wept, in +spite of the reed mats which they had woven and hung over them. And +then it was so dark, Patience's rushes did not give light enough to +see to do anything by them even when they did not get blown out, and +when the sun had set there was nothing for it, but as soon as the few +cattle had been foddered in their shed and cave, to draw the mat and +sheepskins that made a curtain by way of door, fasten it down with a +stone, share with dog and cat the supper of broth, or milk, or +porridge which Patience had cooked, and then lie down on the beds of +dried leaves stuffed into sacking, drawing over them the blankets and +cloaks that had happily been saved in the chest, and nestling on +either side of the fire, which, if well managed, would smoulder on +for hours. There the two elder ones would teach Rusha her catechism +and tell old stories, and croon over old rhymes till both the little +ones were asleep, and then would hold counsel on their affairs, +settle how to husband their small stock of money, consider how soon +it would be expedient to finish their store of salted mutton and pork +to keep them from being spoilt by damp, and wonder when their hens +would begin to lay. + +It could hardly be a merry Christmas for the poor children, though +they did stick holly in every chink where it would go, but there were +not many berries that year, and as Rusha said, "there were only +thorns." + +Steadfast walked to Bristol through slush and mire and rain, not even +Smith Blane went with him, deeming the weather too bad, and thinking, +perhaps, rather over much of the goose at home. + +Bristol people were keeping Christmas with all their might, making +the more noise and revelry because the Parliament had forbidden the +feast to be observed at all. It was easy to tell who was for the +King and who for the Parliament, for there were bushes of holly, +mistletoe, and ivy, at all the Royalist doors and windows, and from +many came the savoury steam of roast beef or goose, while the other +houses were shut up as close as possible and looked sad and grim. + +All the bells of all the churches were ringing, and everybody seemed +to be trooping into them. As Steadfast was borne along by the +throng, there was a pause, and a boy of his own age with a large hat +and long feather, beneath which could be seen curls of jet-black +hair, walked at the head of a party of gentlemen. Everyone in the +crowd uncovered and there was a vehement outcry of "God save the +King! God save the Prince of Wales!" Everyone thronged after him, +and Steadfast had a hard struggle to squeeze into the Cathedral, and +then had to stand all the time with his back against a pillar, for +there was not even room to kneel down at first. + +There was no organ, but the choir men and boys had rallied there, and +led the Psalms which went up very loudly and heartily. Then the Dean +went up into the pulpit and preached about peace and goodwill to men, +and how all ought to do all in their power to bring those blessed +gifts back again. A good many people dropped off during the sermon, +and more after it, but Steadfast remained. He had never been able to +come to the Communion feast since the evil times had begun, and he +had thought much about it on his lonely walk, and knew that it was +the way to be helped through the hard life he was living. + +When all was over he felt very peaceful, but so hungry and tired with +standing and kneeling so long after his walk, that he was glad to +lean against the wall and take out the piece of bread that Patience +had put in his wallet. + +Presently a step came near, and from under a round velvet skull-cap a +kind old face looked at him which he knew to be that of the Dean. + +"Is that all your Christmas meal, my good boy?" he asked. + +"I shall have something for supper, thank your reverence," replied +Steadfast, taking off his leathern cap. + +"Well, mayhap you could away with something more," said the Dean. +"Come with me." + +And as Steadfast obeyed, he asked farther, "What is your name, my +child? I know your face in church, but not in town." + +"No, sir, I do not live here. I am Steadfast Kenton, and I am from +Elmwood, but we have no prayers nor sermon there since they took the +parson away." + +"Ah! good Master Holworth! Alas! my child, I fear you will scarce +see him back again till the King be in London once more, which Heaven +grant. And, meantime, Sir George Elmwood being patron, none can be +intruded into his room. It is a sore case, and I fear me the case of +many a parish besides." + +Steadfast was so much moved by the good Dean's kindness as to begin +to consider whether it would be betraying the trust to consult him +about that strange treasure in the cave, but the lad was never quick +of thought, and before he could decide one of the canons joined the +Dean, and presently going up the steps to the great hall of the +Deanery, Steadfast saw long tables spread with snowy napkins, +trenchers laid all round, and benches on which a numerous throng were +seating themselves, mostly old people and little children, looking +very poor and ragged. Steadfast held himself to be a yeoman in a +small way, and somewhat above a Christmas feast with the poor, but +the Dean's kindness was enough to make him put away his pride, and +then there was such a delicious steam coming up from the buttery +hatch as was enough to melt away all nonsense of that sort from a +hungry lad. + +Grand joints of beef came up in clouds of vapour, and plum puddings +smoked in their rear, to be eaten with them, after the fashion of +these days, when of summer vegetables there were few, and of winter +vegetables none. The choirmen and boys, indeed all the Cathedral +clergy who were unmarried, were dining there too, but the Dean and +his wife waited on the table where the poorest were. Horns of ale +were served to everyone, and then came big mince pies. Steadfast +felt a great longing to take his home to his sisters, but he was +ashamed to do it, even though he saw that it was permissible, they +were such beggarly-looking folks who set the example. + +However, the Dean's wife came up to him with a pleasant smile and +asked if he had no appetite or if he were thinking of someone at +home, and when he answered, she kindly undertook to lend him a +basket, for which he might call after evensong, and in the basket +were also afterwards found some slices of the beef and a fine large +cake. + +Then the young Prince and his suite came in, and he stood at the end +of the hall, smiling and looking amused as everyone's cup was filled +with wine--such wine as the Roundhead captains had left, and the Dean +at the head of the table gave out the health of his most sacred +Majesty King Charles, might God bless him, and confound all his +enemies! The Prince bared his black shining locks and drank, and +there was a deep Amen, and then a hurrah enough to rend the old +vaulted ceiling; and equally enthusiastically was the Prince's health +afterwards drunk. + +Stead heard the servants saying that such a meal had been a costly +matter, but that the good Dean would have it so in order that one +more true merry Christmas should be remembered in Bristol. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A TERRIBLE HARVEST DAY. + + + +"There is a reaper, whose name is death." + LONGFELLOW. + + +Spring came at last, cold indeed but dry, and it brought calves, and +kids, and lambs, and little pigs, besides eggs and milk. The +creatures prospered for two reasons no doubt. One was that Stead and +Patience always prayed for a blessing on them, and the other was that +they were almost as tender and careful over the dumb things as they +were over little Ben, who could now run about and talk. All that +year nothing particular happened to the children. Patience's good +butter and fresh eggs had come to be known in Bristol, and besides, +Stead and Rusha used to find plovers' eggs on the common, for which +the merchants' ladies would pay them, or later for wild strawberries +and for whortleberries. Stead could also make rush baskets and mats, +and they were very glad of such earnings, some of which they spent on +clothes, and on making their hut more comfortable, while some was +stored up in case of need in the winter. + +For another year things went on much in the same manner, Bristol was +still kept by the King's troops; but when Steadfast went into the +place there was less cheerfulness among the loyal folk, and the +Puritans began to talk of victories of their cause, while in the +Cathedral the canon's voice trembled and grew choked in the prayer +for the King, and the sermons were generally about being true and +faithful to King and church whatever might betide. The Prince of +Wales had long since moved away, indeed there were reports that the +plague was in some of the low, crowded streets near the water, and +Patience begged her brother to take care of himself. + +There had been no Christmas feast at the Deanery, it was understood +that the Dean thought it better not to bring so many people together. + +Then as harvest time was coming on more soldiers came into the place. +They looked much shabbier than the troops of a year ago, their coats +were worn and soiled, and their feathers almost stumps, but they made +up for their poverty by swagger and noise, and Steadfast was thankful +that it was unlikely that any of them should find the way to his +little valley with what they called requisitions for the King's +service, but which meant what he knew too well. Some of the +villagers formed into bands, and agreed to meet at the sound of a +cowhorn, to drive anyone off on either side, who came to plunder, and +they even had a flag with the motto-- + + + "If you take our cattle + We will give you battle." + + +And they really did drive off some stragglers. Stead, however, +accepted the offer from Tom Gates of a young dog, considerably larger +and stronger than poor old Toby, yellow and somewhat brindled, and +known as Growler. He looked very terrible, but was very civil to +those whom he knew, and very soon became devoted to all the family, +especially to little Ben. However, most of the garrison and the +poorer folk of the town were taken up with mending the weak places in +the walls, and digging ditches with the earth of which they made +steep banks, and there were sentries at the gates, who were not +always civil. Whatever the country people brought into the town was +eagerly bought up, and was paid for, not often in the coin of the +realm, but by tokens made of tin or some such metal with odd stamps +upon them, and though they could be used as money they would not go +nearly so far as the sums they were held to represent--at least in +anyone's hands but those of the officers. + +There were reports that the Parliament army was about to besiege the +town, and Prince Rupert was coming to defend it. Steadfast was very +anxious, and would not let his sisters stir out of the valley, +keeping the cattle there as much as possible. + +One day, when he had been sent for to help to gather in Lady +Elmwood's harvest, in the afternoon the reaping and binding were +suddenly interrupted by the distant rattle of musketry, such as had +been heard two years ago, in the time of the first siege but it was +in quite another direction from the town. Everyone left off work, +and made what speed they could to the top of the sloping field, +whence they could see what was going on. + +"There they be!" shouted Tom Gates. "I saw 'em first! Hurrah! They +be at Luck's mill." + +"Hush! you good-for-nothing," shrieked Bess Hart, throwing her apron +over her head. "When we shall all be killed and murdered." + +"Not just yet, dame," said Master Brown. "They be a long way off, +and they have enow to do with one another. I wonder if Sir George be +there. He writ to my lady that he hoped to see her ere long." + +"And my Roger," called out a woman. "He went with Sir George." + +"And our Jack," was the cry of another; while Steadfast thought of +Jephthah, but knew he must be on the opposite side. From the top of +the field, they could see a wide sweep of country dipping down less +than two miles from them where there was a bridge over a small river, +a mill, and one or two houses near. On the nearer side of the river +could be seen the flash of steel caps, and a close, dark body of men, +on the further side was another force, mostly of horsemen, with what +seemed like waggons and baggage horses in the rear. They had what by +its colours seemed to be the English banner, the others had several +undistinguishable standards. Puffs of smoke broke from the windows +of the mill. + +"Aye!" said Goodman Blane. "I would not be in Miller Luck's shoes +just now. I wonder where he is, poor rogue. Which side have got his +mill, think you, Master Brown?" + +"The round-headed rascals for certain," said Master Brown, "and the +bridge too, trying to hinder the King's men from crossing bag and +baggage to relieve the town." + +"See, there's a party drawing together. Is it to force the bridge?" + +"Aye, aye, and there's another troop galloping up stream. Be they +running off, the cowards?" + +"Not they. Depend on it some of our folks have told them of Colham +ford. Heaven be with them, brave lads." + +"Most like Sir George is there, I don't see 'em." + +"No, of course not, stupid, they'll be taking Colham Lane. See, see, +there's a lot of 'em drawn up to force the bridge. Good luck be with +them." + +More puffs of smoke from the mill, larger ones from the bank, and a +rattle and roll came up to the watchers. There was a moment's shock +and pause in the assault, then a rush forward, and the distant sound +of a cheer, which those on the hill could not help repeating. But +from the red coats on and behind the bridge, proceeded a perfect +cloud of smoke, which hid everything, and when it began to clear away +on the wind, there seemed to be a hand-to-hand struggle going on upon +the bridge, smaller puffs, as though pistols were being used, and +forms falling over the parapet, at which sight the men held their +breath, and the women shrieked and cried "God have mercy on their +poor souls." And then the dark-coated troops seemed to be driven +back. + +"That was a feint, only a feint," cried Master Brown. "See there!" + +For the plumed troop of horsemen had indeed crossed, and came +galloping down the bank with such a jingling and clattering, and +thundering of hoofs as came up to the harvest men above, and Master +Brown led the cheer as they charged upon the compact mass of red +coats behind the bridge, and broke and rode them down by the +vehemence of the shock. + +"Hurrah!" cried Blane. "Surely they will turn now and take the +fellows on the bridge in the rear. No. Ha! they are hunting them +down on to their baggage! Well done, brave fellows, hip! hip!--" + +But the hurrah died on his lips as a deep low hum--a Psalm tune sung +by hundreds of manly voices--ascended to his ears, to the +accompaniment of the heavy thud of horsehoofs, and from the London +Road, between the bridge and the Royalist horsemen, there emerged a +compact body of troopers, in steel caps and corslets. Forming in +ranks of three abreast, they charged over the bridge, and speedily +cleared off the Royalists who were struggling to obtain a footing +there. + +There was small speech on the hill side, as the encounter was +watched, and the Ironsides forming on the other side, charged the +already broken troops before they had time to rally, and there was +nothing to be seen but an utter dispersion and scattering of men, +looking from that distance like ants when their nest has been broken +into. + +It was only a skirmish, not to be heard of in history, but opening +the way for the besiegers to the walls of Bristol, and preventing any +of the supplies from reaching the garrison, or any of the intended +reinforcements, except some of the eager Cavaliers, who galloped on +thither, when they found it impossible to return and guard the bridge +for their companions. + +The struggle was over around the bridge in less than two hours, but +no more of Lady Elmwood's harvest was gathered in that evening. The +people watched as if they could not tear themselves from the +contemplation of the successful bands gathering together in their +solid masses, and marching onwards in the direction of Bristol, +leaving, however, a strong guard at the bridge, over which piled +waggons and beasts of burthen continued to pass, captured no doubt +and prevented from relieving the city. It began to draw towards +evening, and Master Brown was beginning to observe that he must go +and report to my lady, poor soul; and as to the corn, well, they had +lost a day gaping at the fight, and they must come up again to- +morrow, he only hoped they were not carting it for the round-headed +rogues; when at that moment there was a sudden cry, first of terror, +then of recognition, "Roger, Hodge Fitter! how didst come here?" + +For a weary, worn-out trooper, with stained buff coat, and heavy +boots, stood panting among them. "I thought 'twas our folks," he +said. "Be mother here?" + +"Hodge! My Hodge! Be'st hurt, my lad?" cried the mother, bursting +through the midst and throwing herself on him, while his father +contented himself with a sort of grunt. "All right, Hodge. How +com'st here?" + +"And where's my Jack?" exclaimed Goody Bent. + +"And where's our Harry?" was another cry from Widow Lakin. + +While Stead longed to ask, but could not be heard in the clamour, +whether his brother had been there. + +Hodge could tell little--seen less than the lookers on above. He had +been among those who had charged through the enemy, and ridden +towards Bristol, but his horse had been struck by a stray shot, and +killed under him. He had avoided the pursuers by scrambling through +a hedge, and then had thought it best to make his way through the +fields to his own home, until, seeing the party on the hill, he had +joined them, expecting to find his parents among them. + +Sir George he knew to be on before him, and probably almost at +Bristol by this time. Poor Jack had been left weeks ago on the field +of Naseby, though there had been no opportunity of letting his family +know. "Ill news travels fast enough!" And as to Harry, he had been +shot down by a trooper near about the bridge, but mayhap might be +alive for all that. + +"And my brother, Jeph Kenton," Steadfast managed to say. "Was he +there?" + +"Jeph Kenton! Why, he's a canting Roundhead. The only Elmwood man +as is! More shame for him." + +"But was he there?" demanded Stead. + +"There! Well, Captain Venn's horse were there, and he was in them! +I have seen him more than once on outpost duty, prating away as if he +had a beard on his chin. I'd a good mind to put a bullet through him +to stop his impudence, for a disgrace to the place." + +"Then he was in the fight?" reiterated Steadfast. + +"Aye, was he. And got his deserts, I'll be bound, for we went smack +smooth through Venn's horse, like a knife through a mouldy cheese, +and left 'em lying to the right and left. If the other fellows had +but stuck by us as well, we'd have made a clean sweep of the canting +dogs." + +Hodge's eloquence was checked by the not unwelcome offer of a drink +of cider. + +"Seems quiet enough down there," said Nanny Lakin, peering wistfully +over the valley where the shadows of evening were spreading. "Mayhap +if I went down I might find out how it is with my poor lad." + +"Nay, I'll go, mother," said a big, loutish youth, hitherto silent; +"mayn't be so well for womenfolk down there." + +"What's that to me, Joe, when my poor Harry may be lying a bleeding +his dear life out down there?" + +"There's no fear," said Hodge. "To give them their due, the +Roundheads be always civil to country folk and women--leastways +unless they take 'em for Irish--and thinking that, they did make +bloody work with the poor ladies at Naseby. But the dame there will +be safe enough," he added, as she was already on the move down hill. +"Has no one a keg of cider to give her? I know what 'tis to lie +parching under a wound." + +Someone produced one, and as her son shouted "Have with you, mother," +Steadfast hastily asked Tom Oates to let Patience know that he was +gone to see after Jephthah, and joined Ned Lakin and his mother. + +Jeph had indeed left his brothers and sisters in a strange, wild way, +almost cruel in its thoughtlessness; but to Stead it had never seemed +more than that elder brotherly masterfulness that he took as a matter +of course, and there was no resting in the thought of his lying +wounded and helpless on the field--nay, the assurance that Hodge +shouted out that the rebel dogs took care of their own fell on +unhearing or unheeding ears, as Steadfast and Ned Lakin dragged the +widow through a gap in the hedge over another field, and then made +their way down a deep stony lane between high hedges. + +It was getting dark, in spite of the harvest moon, by the time they +came out on the open space below, and began to see that saddest of +all sights, a battlefield at night. + +A soldier used to war would perhaps have scorned to call this a +battle, but it was dreadful enough to these three when they heard the +sobbing panting, and saw the struggling of a poor horse not quite +dead, and his rider a little way from him, a fine stout young man, +cold and stiff, as Nanny turned up his face to see if it was her +Harry's. + +A little farther on lay another figure on his back, but as Nanny +stooped over it, a lantern was flashed on her and a gruff voice +called out, "Villains, ungodly churls, be you robbing the dead?" and +a tall man stood darkly before them, pistol in hand. + +"No, sir; no, sir," sobbed out Nanny. "I am only a poor widow woman, +come down to see whether my poor lad be dead or alive and wanting his +mother." + +"What was his regiment?" demanded the soldier in a kinder voice. + +"Oh, sir, your honour, don't be hard on him--he couldn't help it--he +went with Sir George Elmwood." + +"That makes no odds, woman, when a man's down," said the soldier. +"Unless 'tis with the Fifth Monarchy sort, and I don't hold with +them. I have an uncle and a cousin or two among the malignants, as +good fellows as ever lived--no Amalekites and Canaanites--let Smite- +them Derry say what he will. Elmwood! let's see--that was the troop +that forded higher up, and came on Fisher's corps. This way, dame. +If your son be down, you'll find him here; that is, unless he be +carried into the mill or one of the houses. Most of the wounded lie +there for the night, but the poor lads that are killed must be buried +to-morrow. Take care, dame," as poor Nanny cried out in horror at +having stumbled over a dead man's legs. He held his lantern so that +she could see the face while she groaned out, "Poor soul." And thus +they worked their sad way up to the buildings about the water mill. +There was a shed through the chinks of which light could be seen, and +at the door of which a soldier exclaimed-- + +"Have ye more wounded, Sam? There's no room for a dog in here. They +lie as thick as herrings in a barrel." + +"Nay, 'tis a poor country woman come to look for her son. What's his +name? Is there a malignant here of the name of Harry Lakin?" + +The question was repeated, and a cry of gladness, "Mother! mother!" +ended in a shriek of pain in the distance within. + +"Aye, get you in, mother, get you in. A woman here will be all the +better, be she who she may." + +The permission was not listened to. Nanny had already sprung into +the midst of the mass of suffering towards the bloody straw where her +son was lying. + +Steadfast, who had of course looked most anxiously at each of the +still forms on the way, now ventured to say:-- + +"So please you, sir, would you ask after one Jephthah Kenton? On +your own side, sir, in Captain Venn's troop? I am his brother." + +"Oh, ho! you are of the right sort, eh?" said the soldier. "Jephthah +Kenton. D'ye know aught of him, Joe?" + +"I heard him answer to the roll call before Venn's troop went off to +quarters," replied the other man. "He is safe and sound, my lad, and +Venn's own orderly." + +Steadfast's heart bounded up. He longed still to know whether poor +Harry Lakin was in very bad case, but it was impossible to get in to +discover, and he was pushed out of the way by a party carrying in +another wounded man, whose moans and cries were fearful to listen to. +He thought it would be wisest to make the best of his way home to +Patience, and set her likewise at rest, for who could tell what she +might not have heard. + +The moon was shining brightly enough to make his way plain, but the +scene around was all the sadder and more ghastly in that pallid +light, which showed out the dark forms of man and horse, and what was +worse the white faces turned up, and those dark pools in which once +or twice he had slipped as he saw or fancied he saw movements that +made him shudder, while a poor dog on the other side of the stream +howled piteously from time to time. + +Presently, as he came near a hawthorn bush which cast a strangely +shaped shadow, he heard a sobbing--not like the panting moan of a +wounded man, but the worn out crying of a tired child. He thought +some village little one must have wandered there, and been hemmed in +by the fight, and he called out-- + +"Is anyone there?" + +The sobbing ceased for a moment and he called again, "Who is it? I +won't hurt you," for something white seemed to be squeezing closer +into the bush. + +"Who are you for?" piped out a weak little voice. + +"I'm no soldier," said Steadfast. "Come out, I'll take you home by- +and-by." + +"I have no home!" was the answer. "I want father." + +Steadfast was now under the tree, and could see that it was a little +girl who was sheltering there of about the same size as Rusha. He +tried to take her hand, but she backed against the tree, and he +repeated "Come along, I wouldn't hurt you for the world. Who is your +father? Where shall we find him?" + +"My father is Serjeant Gaythorn of Sir Harry Blythedale's troopers," +said the child, somewhat proudly, then starting again, "You are not a +rebel, are you?" + +"No, I am a country lad," said Steadfast; "I want to help you. Come, +you can't stay here." + +For the little hand she had yielded to him was cold and damp with the +September dews. His touch seemed to give her confidence, and when he +asked, "Can't I take you to your mother?" she answered-- + +"Mother's dead! The rascal Roundheads shot her over at Naseby." + +"Poor child! poor child!" said Steadfast. "And you came on with your +father." + +"Yes, he took me on his horse over the water, and told me to wait by +the bush till he came or sent for me, but he has not come, and the +firing is over and it is dark, and I'm so hungry." + +Steadfast thought the child had better come home with him, but she +declared that father would come back for her. He felt convinced that +her father, if alive, must be in Bristol, and that he could hardly +come through the enemy's outposts, and he explained to her this view. +To his surprise she understood in a moment, having evidently much +more experience of military matters than he had, and when he further +told her that Hodge was at Elmwood, and would no doubt rejoin his +regiment at Bristol the next day, she seemed satisfied, and with the +prospect of supper before her, trotted along, holding Steadfast's +hand and munching a crust which he had found in his pouch, the +remains of the interrupted meal, but though at first it seemed to +revive her a good deal, the poor little thing was evidently tired +out, and she soon began to drag, and fret, and moan. The three miles +was a long way for her, and tired as he was, Steadfast had to take +her on his back, and when at last he reached home, and would have set +her down before his astonished sisters, she was fast asleep with her +head on his shoulder. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE FORTUNES OF WAR. + + + +"Hear and improve, he pertly cries, + I come to make a nation wise." + GAY + + +Very early in the morning, before indeed anyone except Patience was +stirring, Steadfast set forth in search of Roger Fitter to consult +him about the poor child who was fast asleep beside Jerusha; and +propose to him to take her into Bristol to find her father. + +Hodge, who had celebrated his return by a hearty supper with his +friends, was still asleep, and his mother was very unwilling to call +him, or to think of his going back to the wars. However, he rolled +down the cottage stair at last, and the first thing he did was to +observe-- + +"Well, mother, how be you? I felt like a boy again, waking up in the +old chamber. Where's my back and breast-piece? Have you a cup of +ale, while I rub it up?" + +"Now, Hodge, you be not going to put on that iron thing again, when +you be come back safe and sound from those bloody wars?" entreated +his mother. + +"Ho, ho! mother, would you have me desert? No, no! I must to my +colours again, or Sir George and my lady might make it too hot to +hold you here. Hollo, young one, Stead Kenton, eh? Didst find thy +brother? No, I'll be bound. The Roundhead rascals have all the +luck." + +"I found something else," said Steadfast, and he proceeded to tell +about the child while Dame Fitter stood by with many a pitying "Dear +heart!" and "Good lack!" + +Hodge knew Serjeant Gaythorn, and knew that the poor man's wife had +been shot dead in the flight from Naseby; but he demurred at the +notion of encumbering himself with the child when he went into the +town. He suspected that he should have much ado to get in himself, +and if he could not find her father, what could he do with her? + +Moreover, he much doubted whether the serjeant was alive. He had +been among those on whom the sharpest attack had fallen, and not many +of them had got off alive. + +"What like was he?" said Steadfast. "We looked at a many of the poor +corpses that lay there. They'll never be out of my eyes again at +night!" + +"A battlefield or two would cure that," grimly smiled Hodge. +"Gaythorn--he was a man to know again--had big black moustaches, and +had lost an eye, had a scar like a weal from a whip all down here +from a sword-cut at Long Marston." + +"Then I saw him," said Stead, in a low voice. "Did he wear a green +scarf?" + +"Aye, aye. Belonged to the Rangers, but they are pretty nigh all +gone now." + +"Under the rail of the miller's croft," added Stead. + +"Just so. That was where I saw them make a stand and go down like +skittles." + +"Poor little maid. What shall I tell her?" + +"Well, you can never be sure," said Hodge. "There was a man now I +thought as dead as a door nail at Newbury that charged by my side +only yesterday. You'd best tell the maid that if I find her father +I'll send him after her; and if not, when the place is quiet, you +might look at the mill and see if he is lying wounded there." + +Steadfast thought the advice good, and it saved him from what he had +no heart to do, though he could scarcely doubt that one of those +ghastly faces had been the serjeant's. + +When he approached his home he was surprised to hear, through the +copsewood, the sound of chattering, and when he came in sight of the +front of the hut, he beheld Patience making butter with the long +handled churn, little Ben toddling about on the grass, and two little +girls laughing and playing with all the poultry round them. + +One, of course, was stout, ruddy, grey-eyed Rusha, in her tight round +cap, and stout brown petticoat with the homespun apron over it; the +other was like a fairy by her side; slight and tiny, dressed in +something of mixed threads of white and crimson that shone in the +sun, with a velvet bodice, a green ribbon over it, and a gem over the +shoulder that flashed in the sun, a tiny scarlet hood from which such +a quantity of dark locks streamed as to give something the effect of +a goldfinch's crown, and the face was a brilliant little brown one, +with glowing cheeks, pretty little white teeth, and splendid dark +eyes. + +Patience could have told that this bright array was so soiled, +rumpled, ragged, and begrimed, that she hardly liked to touch it, but +to Steadfast, who had only seen the child in the moonlight, she was a +wonderful vision in the morning sunshine, and his heart was struck +with a great pity at her clear, merry tones of laughter. + +As he appeared in the open space, Toby running before him, the little +girl looked up and rushed to him crying out-- + +"It's you. Be you the country fellow who took me home? Where's +father?" + +Stead was so sorry for her that he took her up in his arms and said-- + +"Hodge Fitter is gone into town to look for him, my pretty. You must +wait here till he comes for you," and he would have kissed her, but +she turned her head away, pouted, and said, "I didn't give you leave +to do that, you lubber lad." + +Steadfast was much diverted. He was now a tall sturdy youth of +sixteen, in a short smock frock, long leathern gaiters, and a round +straw hat of Patience's manufacture, and he felt too clumsy for the +dainty little being, whom he hastened to set on her small feet--in +once smart but very dilapidated shoes. His sisters were somewhat +shocked at her impertinence and Rusha breathed out "Oh--!" + +"I am to wait here for Serjeant Gaythorn," observed the little damsel +somewhat consequentially. "Well! it is a strange little makeshift of +a place, but 'tis the fortune of war, and I have been in worse." + +"It is beautiful!" said Rusha, "now we have got a glass window--and a +real door--and beds--" all which recent stages in improvement she +enumerated with a gasp of triumph and admiration between each. + +"So you think," said little Mistress Gaythorn. "But I have lived in +a castle." + +She was quite ready to tell her history. Her name was Emlyn, and the +early part of the eight years of her life had been spent at Sir Harry +Blythedale's castle, where her father had been butler and her mother +my lady's woman. Sir Harry had gone away to the wars, and in his +absence my lady had held out the castle (perhaps it was only a +fortified house) against General Waller, hoping and hoping in vain +for Lord Goring to come to her relief. + +"That was worst of all," said Emlyn, "we had to hide in the cellars +when they fired at us--and broke all the windows, and a shot killed +my poor dear little kitten because she wouldn't stay down with me. +And we couldn't get any water, except by going out at night; young +Master George was wounded at the well. And they only gave us a tiny +bit of dry bread and salt meat every day, and it made little Ralph +sick and he died. And at last there was only enough for two days +more--and a great breach--that's a hole," she added condescendingly, +--"big enough to drive my lady's coach-and-six through in the court +wall. So then my lady sent out Master Steward with one of the best +napkins on the end of a stick--that was a flag of truce, you know-- +and all the rascal Roundheads had to come in, and we had to go out, +with only just what we could carry. My lady went in her coach with +Master George, because he was hurt, and the young ladies, and some of +the maids went home; but the most of us kept with my lady, to guard +her to go to his Honour and the King at Oxford. Father rode big +Severn, and mother was on a pillion behind him, with baby in her +arms, and I sat on a cushion in front." + +After that, it seemed that my lady had found a refuge among her +kindred, but that the butler had been enrolled in his master's troop +of horse, and there being no separate means of support for his wife +and children, they had followed the camp, a life that Emlyn had +evidently enjoyed, although the baby died of the exposure. She had +been a great pet and favourite with everybody, and no doubt well- +cared for even after the sad day when her mother had perished in the +slaughter at Naseby. Patience wondered what was to become of the +poor child, if her father never appeared to claim her; but it was no +time to bring this forward, for Steadfast, as soon as he had +swallowed his porridge, had to go off to finish his day's labour for +the lady of the manor, warning his sisters that they had better keep +as close as they could in the wood, and not let the cattle stray out +of their valley. + +He had not gone far, however, before he met a party of his fellow +labourers running home. Their trouble had been saved them. The +Roundhead soldiers had taken possession of waggons, horses, corn and +all, as the property of a malignant, and were carrying them off to +their camp before the town. + +Getting up on a hedge, Stead could see these strange harvestmen +loading the waggons and driving them off. He also heard that Sir +George had come late in the evening, and taken old Lady Elmwood and +several of the servants into Bristol for greater safety. Then came +the heavy boom of a great gun in the distance. + +"The Parliament men are having their turn now--as the King's men had +before," said Gates. + +And all who had some leisure--or made it--went off to the church +tower to get a better view of the white tents being set up outside +the city walls, and the compact bodies of troops moving about as if +impelled by machinery, while others more scattered bustled like +insects about the camp. + +Steadfast, however, went home, very anxious about his own three cows, +and seven sheep with their lambs, as well as his small patches of +corn, which, when green, had already only escaped being made forage +of by the Royalist garrison, because he was a tenant of the loyal +Elmwoods. These fields were exposed, though the narrow wooded ravine +might protect the small homestead and the cattle. + +He found his new guest very happy cracking nuts, and expounding to +Rusha what kinds of firearms made the various sounds they heard. +Patience had made an attempt to get her to exchange her soiled finery +for a sober dress of Rusha's; but "What shall I do, Stead?" said the +grave elder sister, "I cannot get her to listen to me, she says she +is no prick-eared Puritan, but truly she is not fit to be seen." +Stead whistled. "Besides that she might bring herself and all of us +into danger with those gewgaws." + +"That's true," said Stead. "Look you here, little maid--none can say +whether some of the rebel folk may find their way here, and they +don't like butterflies of your sort, you know. If you look a sober +little brown bee like Rusha here, they will take no notice, but who +knows what they might do it they found you in your bravery." + +"Bravery," thought Patience, "filthy old rags, me seems," but she had +the prudence not to speak, and Emlyn nodded her head, saying, "I'll +do it for you, but not for her." + +And when all was done, and she was transformed into a little russet- +robed, white-capped being, nothing would serve her, but to collect +all the brightest cranesbill flowers she could find, and stick them +in her own bodice and Rusha's. + +Patience could not at all understand the instinct for bright colours, +but even little Ben shouted "Pretty, pretty." + +Perhaps it was well that the delicate pink blossoms were soon faded +and crushed, and that twilight veiled their colours, for just as the +cattle were being foddered for the night, there was a gay step on the +narrow path, and with a start of terror, Patience beheld a tall +soldier, in tall hat, buff coat, and high boots before her; while +Growler made a horrible noise, but Toby danced in a rapture of +delight. + +"Ha! little Patience, is't thou?" + +"Jephthah," she cried, though the voice as well as the form were +greatly changed in these two years between boyhood and manhood. + +"Aye, Jephthah 'tis," he said, taking her hand, and letting her kiss +him. "My spirit was moved to come and see how it was with you all, +and to shew how Heaven had prospered me, so I asked leave of absence +after roll-call, and could better be spared, as that faithful man, +Hold-the-Faith Jenkins, will exhort the men this night. I came up by +Elmwood to learn tidings of you. Ha, Stead! Thou art grown, my lad. +May you be as much grown in grace." + +"You are grown, too," said Patience, almost timidly. "What a man you +are, Jeph! Here, Rusha, you mind Jeph, and here is little Benoni." + +"You have reared that child, then," said Jeph, as the boy clung to +his sister's skirts, "and you have kept things together, Stead, as I +hardly deemed you would do, when I had the call to the higher +service." It was an odd sort of call, but there was no need to go +into that matter, and Stead answered gravely, "Yes, I thank God. He +has been very good to us, and we have fared well. Come in, Jeph, and +see, and have something to eat! I am glad you are come home at +last." + +Jephthah graciously consented to enter the low hut. He had to bend +his tall figure and take off his steeple-crowned hat before he could +enter at the low doorway, and then they saw his closely cropped head. + +Patience tarried a moment to ask Rusha what had become of Emlyn. + +"She is hiding in the cow shed," was the answer. "She ran off as +soon as she saw Jeph coming, and said he was a crop-eared villain." + +This was not bad news, and they all entered the hut, where the fire +was made up, and one of Patience's rush candles placed on the table +with a kind of screen of plaited rushes to protect it from the worst +of the draught. Jeph had grown quite into a man in the eyes of his +brothers and sisters. He looked plump and well fed, and his clothes +were good and fresh, and his armour bright, a contrast to Steadfast's +smock, stained with weather and soil, and his rough leathern +leggings, although Patience did her best, and his shirt was +scrupulously clean every Sunday morning. + +The soldier was evidently highly satisfied. "So, children, you have +done better than I could have hoped. This hovel is weather-tight and +quite fit to harbour you. You have done well to keep together, and +it is well said that he who leaves all in the hands of a good +Providence shall have his reward." + +Jeph's words were even more sacred than these, and considerably +overawed Patience, who, as he sat before her there in his buff coat +and belt, laying down the law in pious language, was almost persuaded +to believe that their present comfort and prosperity (such as it was) +was owing to the faith which he said had led to his desertion of his +family, though she had always thought it mere impatience of home work +fired by revenge for his father's death. + +No doubt he believed in this reward himself, in his relief at finding +his brothers and sisters all together and not starving, and +considered their condition a special blessing due to his own zeal, +instead of to Steadfast's patient exertion. + +He was much more disposed to talk of himself and the mercies he had +received, but which the tone of his voice showed him to consider as +truly his deserts. Captain Venn had, it seemed, always favoured him +from the time of his enlistment and nothing but his youth prevented +him from being a corporal. He had been in the two great battles of +Marston Moor and Naseby, and come off unhurt from each, and moreover +grace had been given him to interpret the Scriptures in a manner +highly savoury and inspiriting to the soldiery. + +Here Patience, in utter amaze, could not help crying out "Thou, Jeph! +Thou couldst not read without spelling, and never would." + +He waved his hand. "My sister, what has carnal learning to do with +grace?" And taking a little black Bible from within his breastplate, +he seemed about to give them a specimen, when Emlyn's impatience and +hunger no doubt getting the better of her prudence, she crept into +the room, and presently was seen standing by Steadfast's knee, +holding out her hand for some of the bread and cheese on the table. + +"And who is this little wench?" demanded Jeph, somewhat displeased +that his brother manifested a certain inattention to his exhortation +by signing to Patience to supply her wants. Stead made unusual haste +to reply to prevent her from speaking. + +"She is biding with us till she can join her father, or knows how it +is with him." + +"Humph! She hath not the look of one of the daughters of our +people." + +"Nay," said Steadfast. "I went down last night to the mill, Jeph, to +see whether perchance you might be hurt and wanting help, and after I +had heard that all was well with you, I lighted on this poor little +maid crouching under a bush, and brought her home with me for pity's +sake till I could find her friends." + +"The child of a Midianitish woman!" exclaimed Jeph, "one of the Irish +idolaters of whom it is written, 'Thou shalt smite them, and spare +neither man, nor woman, infant, nor suckling.'" "But I am not +Irish," broke out Emlyn, "I am from Worcestershire. My father is +Serjeant Gaythorn, butler to Sir Harry Blythedale. Don't let him +kill me," she cried in an access of terror, throwing herself on +Steadfast's breast. + +"No, no. He would not harm thee, on mine hearth. Fear not, little +one, he _shall_ not." + +"Nay," said Jephthah, who, to do him justice, had respected the +rights of hospitality enough not to touch his weapon even when he +thought her Irish, "we harm not women and babes save when they are +even as the Amalekites. Let my brother go, child. I touch thee not, +though thou be of an ungodly seed; and I counsel thee, Steadfast, +touch not the accursed thing, but rid thyself thereof, ere thou be +defiled." + +"I shall go so soon as father comes," exclaimed Emlyn. "I am sure I +do not want to stay in this mean, smoky hovel a bit longer than I can +help." + +"Such are the thanks of the ungodly people," said Jeph, gravely +rising. "I must be on my way back. We are digging trenches about +this great city, assuredly believing that it shall be delivered into +our hands." + +"Stay, Jeph," said Patience. "Our corn! Will your folk come and +cart it away as they have done my lady's?" + +"The spoil of the wicked is delivered over to the righteous," said +Jeph. "But seeing that the land is mine, a faithful servant of the +good cause, they may not meddle therewith." + +"How are they to know that?" said Steadfast, not stopping to dispute +what rather startled him, since though Jeph was the eldest son, the +land had been made over to himself. To save the crop was the point. + +"Look you here," said Jeph, "walk down with me to my good Captain's +quarters, and he will give you a protection which you may shew to any +man who dares to touch aught that is ours, be it corn or swine, ox or +ass." + +It was a long walk, but Steadfast was only too glad to take it for +the sake of such security, and besides, there was a real pleasure in +being with Jeph, little as he seemed like the same idle, easy-going +brother, except perhaps in those little touches of selfishness and +boastfulness, which, though Stead did not realise them, did recall +the original Jeph. + +All through the moonlight walk Jeph expounded his singular mercies, +which apparently meant his achievements in killing Cavaliers, and the +commendations given to him. One of these mercies was the retention +of the home and land, though he kindly explained that his brothers +and sisters were welcome to get their livelihood there whilst he was +serving with the army, but some day he should come home "as one that +divideth the spoil," and build up the old house, unless, indeed, and +he glanced towards the sloping woods of Elmwood Manor, "the house and +fields of the malignants should be delivered to the faithful." + +"My lady's house," said Steadfast under his breath. + +"Wherefore not? Is it not written 'Goodly houses that ye builded +not.' Thou must hear worthy Corporal Hold-the-Faith expound the +matter, my brother." + +They crossed the ferry and reached the outposts at last, and Stead +was much startled when the barrel of a musquet gleamed in the +moonlight, and a gruff voice said "Stand." + +"The jawbone of an ass," promptly answered Jephthah. + +"Pass, jawbone of an ass," responded the sentry, "and all's well. +But who have you here, comrade!" + +Jeph explained, and they passed up the narrow lane, meeting at the +end of it another sentinel, with whom the like watchword was +exchanged, and then they came out on a large village green, +completely changed from its usual aspect by rows of tents, on which +the moonlight shone, while Jeph seemed to know his way through them +as well as if he were in the valley of Elmwood. Most of the men +seemed to be asleep, for snores issued from sundry tents. In others +there were low murmurings, perhaps of conversation, perhaps of +prayer, for once Stead heard the hum of an "Amen." One or two men +were about, and Jeph enquired of one if the Captain were still up, +and heard that he was engaged in exercise with the godly Colonel +Benbow. + +Their quarters were in one of the best houses of the little village, +where light gleamed from the window, and an orderly stood within the +door, to whom Jeph spoke, and who replied that they were just in +time. In fact two officers in broad hats and cloaks were just coming +out, and Stead admired Jeph's military salute to them ere he entered +the farmhouse kitchen, where two more gentlemen sat at the table with +a rough plan of the town laid before them. + +"Back again, Kenton," said his captain in a friendly tone. "Hast +heard aught of thy brethren?" + +"Yes, sir, I have found them well and in good heart, and have brought +one with me." + +"A helper in the good cause? Heaven be gracious to thee, my son. +Thou art but young, yet strength is vouchsafed to the feeble hands." + +"Please, sir," said Steadfast, who was twisting his hat about, "I've +got to mind the others, and work for them." + +"Yea, sir," put in Jeph, "there be three younger at home whom he +cannot yet leave. I brought him, sir, to crave from you a protection +for the corn and cattle that are in a sort mine own, being my +father's eldest son. They are all the poor children have to live +on." + +"Thou shalt have it," said the captain, drawing his writing materials +nearer to him. "There, my lad. It may be thou dost serve thy Maker +as well by the plough as by the sword." + +Steadfast pulled his forelock, thanked the captain, was reminded of +the word for the night, and safely reached home again. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +FAREWELL TO THE CAVALIERS. + + + +"If no more our banners shew + Battles won and banners taken, + Still in death, defeat, and woe, + Ours be loyalty unshaken." + SCOTT + + +The next day the whole family turned out to gather in the corn. +Rusha was making attempts at reaping, while Emlyn played with little +Ben, who toddled about, shouting and chasing her in and out among the +shocks. Now and again they paused at the low, thunderous growl of +the great guns in the distance, in strange contrast to their peaceful +work, and once a foraging party of troopers rode up to the gate of +the little field, but Steadfast met them there, and showed the +officer Captain Venn's paper. + +"So you belong to Kenton of Venn's Valiants? It is well. A blessing +on your work!" said the stern dark-faced officer, and on he went, +happily not seeing Emlyn make an ugly face and clench her little fist +behind him. + +"How can you, Stead?" she cried. "I'd rather be cursed than blessed +by such as he!" + +Stead shook his head slowly. "A blessing is better than a curse any +way," said he, but his mind was a good deal confused between the +piety and good conduct of these Roundheads, in contrast with their +utter contempt of the Church, and rude dealing with all he had been +taught to hold sacred. + +His harvest was, however, the matter in hand, and the little patch of +corn was cut and bound between him and his sisters, without further +interruption. The sounds of guns had ceased early in the day, and a +neighbour who had ventured down to the camp to offer some apples for +sale leant over the gate to wonder at the safety of the crop, "though +to be sure the soldiers were very civil, if they would let alone +preaching at you;" adding that there was like to be no more fighting, +for one of the gentlemen inside had ridden out with a white flag, and +it was said the Prince was talking of giving in. + +"Give in!" cried Emlyn setting her teeth. "Never. The Prince will +soon make an end of the rebels, and then I shall ride-a-cock horse +with our regiment again! I shall laugh to see the canting rogues +run!" + +But the first thing Steadfast heard the next day was that the royal +standard had come down from the Cathedral tower. He had gone up to +Elmwood to get some provisions, and Tom Oates, who spent most of his +time in gazing from the steeple, assured him that if he would come +up, he would see for himself that the flags were changed. Indeed +some of the foot soldiers who had been quartered in the village to +guard the roads had brought the certain tidings that the city had +surrendered and that the malignants, as they called the Royalists, +were to march out that afternoon, by the same road as that by which +the parliamentary army had gone out two years before. + +This would be the only chance for Emlyn to rejoin her father or to +learn his fate. The little thing was wild with excitement at the +news. Disdainfully she tore off what she called Rusha's Puritan +rags, though as that offended maiden answered "her own were _real_ +rags in spite of all the pains Patience had taken with them. Nothing +would make them tidy," and Rusha pointed to a hopeless stain and to +the frayed edges past mending. + +"I hate tidiness. Only Puritan rebels are tidy!" + +"We are not Puritans!" cried Rusha. + +Emlyn laughed. "Hark at your names," she said. "And what's that +great rebel rogue of a brother of yours?" + +"Oh! he is Jeph! He ran away to the wars! But Stead isn't a +Puritan," cried Rusha, growing more earnest. "He always goes to +church--real church down in Bristol. And poor father was +churchmartin, and knew all the parson's secrets." + +"Hush, Rusha," said Patience, not much liking this disclosure, +however Jerusha might have come by the knowledge, "you and Emlyn +don't want to quarrel when she is just going to say good-bye!" + +This touched the little girls. Rusha had been much enlivened by the +little fairy who had seen so much of the world, and had much more +playfulness than the hard-worked little woodland maid; and Emlyn, who +in spite of her airs, knew that she had been kindly treated, was +drawn towards a companion of her own age, was very fond of little +Ben, and still more so of Steadfast. + +Ben cried, "Em not go;" and Rusha held her hand and begged her not to +forget. + +"O no, I won't forget you," said Emlyn, "and when we come back with +the King and Prince, and drive the Roundhead ragamuffins out of +Bristol, then I'll bring Stead a protection for Croppie and Daisy and +all, a silver bodkin for you, and a Flanders lace collar for +Patience, and a gold chain for Stead, and --But oh! wasn't that a +trumpet? Stead! Stead! We must go, or we shall miss them." Then +as she hugged and kissed them, "I'll tell Sir Harry and my lady how +good you have been to me, and get my lady to make you a tirewoman, +Rusha. And dear, dear little Ben shall be a king's guard all in +gold." + +Ben had her last smothering kiss, and Rusha began to cry and sob as +the gay little figure, capering by Stead's side, disappeared between +the stems of the trees making an attempt, which Steadfast instantly +quenched, at singing, + + "The king shall enjoy his own again." + +Patience did not feel disposed to cry. She liked the child, and was +grieved to think what an uncertain lot was before the merry little +being, but her presence had made Rusha and Ben more troublesome than +they had ever been in their lives before, and there was also the +anxiety lest her unguarded tongue should offend Jeph and his friends. + +Emlyn skipped along by Steadfast's side, making him magnificent +promises. They paused by the ruins of the farm where Stead still +kept up as much of the orchard and garden as he could with so little +time and so far from home, and Emlyn filled her skirt with rosy- +cheeked apples, saying in a pretty gentle manner, "they were such a +treat to our poor rogues on a dusty march," and Stead aided her by +carrying as many as he could. + +However, an occasional bugle note, clouds of dust on the road far +below in the valley, and a low, dull tramp warned them to come +forward, and station themselves in the hedge above the deep lane +where Steadfast had once watched for his brother. Only a few of the +more adventurous village lads were before them now, and when Stead +explained that the little wench wanted to watch for her father, they +were kind in helping him to perch her in the hollow of a broken old +pollard, where she could see, and not be seen. For the poor camp +maiden knew the need of caution. She drew Steadfast close to her, +and bade him not show himself till she told him, for some of the +wilder sort would blaze away their pistols at anything, especially +when they had had any good ale, or were out of sorts. + +Poor fellows, there was no doubt of their being out of sorts, as they +tramped along, half hidden in dust, even the officers, who rode +before them, with ragged plumes and slouched hats. The silken +banners, which they had been allowed to carry out, because of their +prompt surrender, hung limp and soiled, almost like tokens of a +defeat, and if any one of those spectators behind the hawthorns had +been conversant with Roman history, it would have seemed to them like +the passing under the yoke, so dejected, nay, ashamed was the +demeanour of the gentlemen. Emlyn whispered name after name as they +went by, but even she was hushed and overawed by the spectacle, as +four abreast these sad remnants of the royal army marched along the +lane, one or two trying to whistle, a few more talking in under +tones, but all soon dying away, as if they were too much out of heart +to keep anything up. + +She scarcely stirred while the infantry, who were by far the most +numerous, were going by, only naming corps or officer to Stead, then +there came an interval, and the tread of horses and clank of their +trappings could be heard. Then she almost forgot her precautions in +her eagerness to crane forward. "They are coming!" she said. "All +there are of them will be a guard for the Prince." + +Stead felt a strange thrill of pain as he remembered the terrible +scene when he had last beheld that tall, slight young figure, and +dark face, now far sterner and sadder than in those early days, as +Rupert went to meet the bitterest hour of his life. + +Several gentlemen rode with him, whom Emlyn named as his staff, and +then came more troopers, not alike in dress, being, in fact, remnants +of shattered regiments. She was trembling all over with eagerness, +standing up, and so leaning forward, that she might have tumbled into +the lane, had not Steadfast held her. + +At last came a scream. "There's Sir Harry! There's Dick! There's +Staines! Oh! Dick, Dick, where's father?" + +There was a halt, and bronzed faces looked up. + +"Ha! Who's there?" + +"I! I! Emlyn. Oh! Dick, is father coming?" + +"Hollo, little one! Art thou safe after all?" + +"I am, I am. Father! father! Come! Where is he?" + +"It is poor Gaythorn's little wench," explained one of the soldiers, +as Sir Harry, a grey-haired man, looking worn and weary, turned back, +while Steadfast helped the child out on the bank with some +difficulty, for her extreme haste had nearly brought her down, and +she stood curtseying, holding out her arms, and quivering with hope +that began to be fear. + +"Poor child!" were the old gentleman's first words. "And where were +you?" + +"Please your honour, father left me in the thorn brake," said Emlyn, +"and said he would come for me, but he did not; it got dark, and this +country lad found me, and took me home. Is father coming, your +honour?" + +"Ah! my poor little maid, your father will never come again," said +Sir Harry, sadly. "He went down by the mill stream. I saw him fall. +What is to be done for her?" he added, turning to a younger +gentleman, who rode by him, as the child stood as it were stunned for +a moment. "This is the worst of it all. Heaven knows we freely +sacrifice ourselves in the cause of Church and King, but it is hard +to sacrifice others. Here are these faithful servants, their home +broken up with ours, their children dying, and themselves killed-- +she, by the brutes after Naseby, he, in this last skirmish. 'Tis +enough to break a man's heart. And what is to become of this poor +little maid?" + +"Oh! I'll go with your honour," cried Emlyn, stretching out her +arms. "I can ride behind Dick, and I'll give no one any trouble. +Oh! take me, sir." + +"It cannot be done, my poor child," said Sir Harry. "We have no +women with us now, and we have to make our way to Newark by forced +marches to His Majesty. I have no choice but to bestow you somewhere +till better times come. Hark you, my good lad, she says you found +her, and have been good to her. Would your mother take charge of +her? I'll leave what I can with you, and when matters are quiet, my +wife, or the child's kindred, will send after her. Will your father +and mother keep her for the present?" + +"I have none," said Steadfast. "My father was killed in his own yard +by some soldiers who wanted to drive our cows. Mother had died +before, but my sister and I made a shift to take care of the little +ones in a poor place of our own." + +"And can you take the child in? You seem a good lad." + +"We will do our best for her, sir." + +"What's your name?" and "Where do you live?" followed. And as +Steadfast replied the old Cavalier took out his tablets and noted +them, adding, "Then you and your sister will be good to her till we +can send after her." + +"We will treat her like our little sister, sir." + +"And here's something for her keep for the present, little enough I +am afraid, but we poor Cavaliers have not much left. The King's men +were well to do when I heard last of them, and they will make it up +by-and-by. Or if not, my boy, can you do this for the love of God?" + +"Yes, sir," said Steadfast, looking up with his honest eyes, and +touching his forelock at the holy Name. + +"Here, then," and Sir Harry held out two gold pieces, to which his +companion added one, and two or three of the troopers, saying +something about poor Gaythorn's little maid, added some small silver +coins. There was something in Steadfast's mind that would have +preferred declining all payment, but he was a little afraid of +Patience's dismay at having another mouth to provide for all the +winter, and he thought too that Jeph's anger at the adoption of the +Canaanitish child might be averted if it were a matter of business +and payment, so he accepted the sum, thanked Sir Harry and the rest, +and renewed his promise to do the best in his power for the little +maiden. He rather wondered that no questions were asked as to which +side he held; but Sir Harry had no time to inquire, and could only +hope that the honest, open face, respectful manner, clean dress, and +the kindness which had rescued the child on the battlefield were +tokens that he might be trusted to take care of the poor little +orphan. Besides, many of the country people were too ignorant to +understand the difference between the sides, but only took part with +their squire, or if they loved their clergyman, clung to him. So the +knight would not ask any questions, and only further called out "Fare +thee well, then, poor little maid, we will send after thee when we +can," and then giving a sharp, quick order, all the little party +galloped off to overtake the rest. + +Emlyn had been bred up in too much awe of Sir Harry to make +objections, but as her friends rode off she gave a sharp shriek, +screamed out one name after another, and finally threw herself down +on the road bank in a wild passion of grief, anger, and despair, and +when Steadfast would have lifted her up and comforted her, she kicked +and fought him away. Presently he tried her again, begging her to +come home. + +"I won't! I won't go to your vile, tumble-down, roundhead, crop- +eared hole!" she sobbed out. + +"But, Sir Harry--" + +"I won't! I say." + +He was at his wits' end, but after all, the sound of other steps +coming up startled her into composing herself and sitting up. + +"Hollo, Stead Kenton! Got this little puppet on your hands?" said +young Gates. "Hollo, mistress, you squeal like a whole litter of +pigs." + +"I am to take charge of her till her friends can send for her," said +Stead, with protecting dignity. + +"And that will be a long day! Ho, little wench, where didst get that +sweet voice?" + +"Hush, Tom! the child has only just heard that her father is dead." + +This silenced the other lads, and Emlyn's desire to get away from +them accomplished what Steadfast wished, she put her hand into his +and let him lead her away, and as there were sounds of another troop +of cavalry coming up the lane, the boys did not attempt to follow +her. She made no more resistance, though she broke into fresh fits +of moaning and crying all the way home, such as went to Steadfast's +heart, though he could not find a word to comfort her. + +Patience was scarcely delighted when Rusha darted in, crying out that +Emlyn had come back again, but perhaps she was not surprised. She +took the poor worn-out little thing in her arms, and rocked her, +saying kind, tender little words, while Steadfast looked on, +wondering at what girls could do, but not speaking till, finding that +Emlyn was fast asleep, Patience laid her down on the bed without +waking her, and then had time to listen to Stead's account of the +interview with Sir Harry Blythedale. + +"I could not help it, Patience," he said, "we couldn't leave the poor +fatherless child out on the hedge-side." + +"No," said Patience, "we can't but have her, as the gentleman said, +for the love of God. He has taken care of us, so we ought to take +care of the fatherless--like ourselves." + +"That's right, Patience," said Steadfast, much relieved in his mind, +"and see here!" + +"I wonder you took that, Stead, and the poor gentlemen so ill off +themselves." + +"Well, Patience, I thought if you would not have her, Goody Grace +might for the pay, but then who knows when any more may come?" + +"Aye," said Patience, "we must keep her, though she will be a +handful. Anyway, all this must be laid out for her, and the first +chance I have, some shall be in decent clothes. I can't a-bear to +see her in those dirty gewgaws." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +GODLY VENN'S TROOP. + + + +"Ye abbeys and ye arches, + Ye old cathedrals dear, + The hearts that love you tremble, + And your enemies have cheer." + BP. CLEVELAND COXE. + + +"What would Jeph say?" was the thought of both Steadfast and Patience, +as Emlyn ran about with Rusha and Ben, making herself tolerably happy +and enlivening them all a good deal. After one fight she found that +she must obey Patience, though she made no secret that she liked the +sober young mistress of the hut much less than the others, and could +even sometimes get Steadfast to think her hardly used, but he seldom +showed that feeling, for he had plenty of sense, and could not bear +to vex his sister; besides, he saw there would be no peace if her +authority was not supported. It was a relief that there was no visit +from Jeph for some little time, though the fighting was all over, and +people were going in and out of Bristol as before. + +Stead took the donkey with the panniers full of apples and nuts on +market day, and a pile of fowls and ducks on its back, while he +carried a basket of eggs on his arm, and in his head certain +instructions from Patience about the grogram and linen he was to +purchase for Emlyn, in the hope of making her respectable before +Jeph's eyes should rest upon her. Stead's old customers were glad to +see him again, especially Mrs. Lightfoot, who had Dr. Eales once +again in her back rooms, keeping out of sight, while the good Dean +was actually in prison for using the Prayer-book. Three soldiers +were quartered upon her at the Wheatsheaf, and though, on the whole, +they were more civil and much less riotous than some of her Cavalier +lodgers had been, she was always in dread of their taking offence at +the doctor and hauling him off to gaol. + +Steadfast confided to her Patience's commission, which she undertook +to execute herself. It included a spinning-wheel, for Patience was +determined to teach Emlyn to spin, an art of which no respectable +woman from the Queen downwards was ignorant in those days. As to +finding his brother, the best way would be to ask the soldiers who +were smoking in the kitchen where he was likely to be. + +They said that the faithful and valiant Jephthah Kenton of Venn's +horse would be found somewhere about the great steeple house, +profanely called the Cathedral, for there the troops were quartered; +and thither accordingly Stead betook himself, starting as he saw +horses gearing or being groomed on the sward in the close which had +always been kept in such perfect order. Having looked in vain +outside for his brother, he advanced into the building, but he had +only just had a view of horses stamping between the pillars, the +floor littered down with straw, a fire burning in one of the niches, +and soldiers lying about, smoking or eating, in all manner of easy, +lounging attitudes, when suddenly there was a shout of "Prelatist, +Idolater, Baal-worshipper, Papist," and to his horror he found it was +all directed towards himself. They were pointing to his head, and +two of them had caught him by the shoulders, when another voice rose +"Ha! Let him alone. I say, Bill! Faithful! It's my brother. He +knows no better!" Then dashing up, Jeph rammed the great hat down +over Stead's brow, eyes and all, and called out, "Whoever touches my +brother must have at me first." + +"There," said one of the others, "the old Adam need not be so fierce +in thee, brother Jephthah! No one wants to hurt the lad, young +prelatist though he be, so he will make amends by burning their +superstitious books on the fire, even as Jehu burnt the worshippers +of Baal." + +Steadfast felt somewhat as Christians of old may have felt when +called on to throw incense on the altar of Jupiter, as a handful of +pages torn from a Prayer-book was thrust into his hands. Words did +not come readily to him, but he shook his head and stood still, +perhaps stolid in resistance. + +"Come," said Jeph, laying hold of his shoulder to drag him along. + +"I cannot; 'tis Scripture," said Stead, as in his distress his eye +fell on the leaves in his hand, and he read aloud to prove it-- + +"Thy Word is a lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my path." + +There was one moment's pause. Perhaps the men had absolutely +forgotten how much of their cherished Bible was integral in the hated +Prayer-book; at any rate they were enough taken aback to enable Jeph +to pull his brother out at the door, not without a fraternal cuff or +two, as he exclaimed: + +"Thou foolish fellow! ever running into danger for very dullness." + +"What have I done, Jeph?" asked poor Stead, still bewildered. + +"Done! Why, doffed thy hat, after the superstitious and idolatrous +custom of our fathers." + +"How can it be idolatrous? 'Twas God's house," said Stead. + +"Aye, there thou art in the gall of bitterness. Know'st thou not +that no house is more holy than another?" and Jeph would have gone on +for some time longer, but that he heard sounds which made him suspect +that someone had condemned the version of the Psalms as prelatical +and profane, and that his comrades might yet burst forth to visit +their wrath upon his young brother, whom he therefore proceeded to +lead out of sight as fast as possible into the Dean's garden, where +he had the entree as being orderly to Captain Venn, who, with other +officers, abode in the Deanery. + +There, controversy being dropped for the moment, Stead was able to +tell his brother of his expedition, and how he had been obliged to +keep the child, for very pity's sake, even if her late father's +master had not begged him to do so, and given an earnest of the +payment. + +Jeph laughed a little scornfully at the notion of a wild Cavalier +ever paying, but he was not barbarous, and allowed that there was no +choice in the matter, as she could not be turned out to starve. When +he heard that Stead had come with market produce he was displeased at +it not having been brought up for the table of his officers, assuring +Stead that they were not to be confounded with the roistering, +penniless malignants, who robbed instead of paying. Stead said he +always supplied Mistress Lightfoot, but this was laughed to scorn. +"The rulers of the army of saints had a right to be served first, +above all before one who was believed to harbour the idolater, even +the priest of the groves." + +Jeph directed that the next supply should come to the Deanery, as one +who had the right of ownership, and Stead submitted, only with the +secret resolve that Dr. Eales should not want his few eggs nor his +pat of fresh butter. + +Jeph was not unkind to Stead, and took him to dine with the other +attendants of the officers in the very stone hall where he had eaten +that Christmas dinner some twenty months before. There was a very +long grace pronounced extempore, and the guests were stout, resolute, +grave-looking men, who kept on their steeple-crowned hats all the +time and conversed in low, deep voices, chiefly, as far as Stead +could gather, on military matters, but they seemed to appreciate good +beef and ale quite as much as any Cavalier trooper could have done. +One of them noticing Stead asked whether he had come to take service +with the saints and enjoy their dominion, but Jeph answered for him +that his call lay at home among those of his own household, until his +heart should be whole with the cause. + +On the whole Stead was proud to see Jeph holding his own, though the +youngest among these determined-looking men. These two years had +made a man of the rough, idle, pleasure-loving boy, and a man after +the Ironsides' fashion, grave, self-contained, and self-depending. +Stead had been more like the elder than the younger brother in old +times, but he felt Jeph immeasurably his elder in the new, unfamiliar +atmosphere; and yet the boy had a strong sense that all was not +right; that these were interlopers in the kind old Dean's house; that +the talk about Baal was mere absurdity; and the profanation of the +Cathedral would have been utterly shocking to his good father. His +mind, however, worked slowly, and he would have had nothing to say +even if he could have ventured to speak; but he was very anxious to +get away; and when Jeph would have kept him to hear the serjeant +expound a chapter of Revelation, he pleaded the necessity of getting +home in time to milk the cows, and made his escape. + +On the whole it was a relief that Jeph was too much occupied with his +military duties to make visits to his home. It might not have been +over easy to keep the peace between him and Emlyn, fiery little +Royalist as she was, and too much used to being petted and +fascinating everyone by her saucy audacity to be likely to be afraid +of him. + +If Patience crossed her she would have recourse to Stead, and he +could seldom resist her coaxing, or be entirely disabused of the +notion that his sister expected too much of her. And perhaps it was +true. Patience was scarcely likely to understand differences of +character and temperament, and not merely to recollect that Emlyn was +only eighteen months younger than she had been when she had been +forced into the position of the house mother. So, while Emlyn's +wayward fancies were a great trial, Steadfast's sympathy with them +was a greater one. + +Stead continued to see Jeph when taking in the market produce, for +which he was always duly paid. Jeph also wished the whole family to +come in on Sunday to profit by the preaching of some of the great +Independent lights; but Stead, after trying it once, felt so sure +that Patience would be miserable at anything so unaccustomed, so +thunderous, and, as it seemed to him, so abusive, that he held to it +that the distance was too great, and that the cattle could not be +left. The soldiery seemed to him to spend their spare time in +defacing the many churches of the city, chiefly in order to do what +they called purifying them from all idols, in which term they +included every sort of carving or picture, or even figures on +monuments. + +And in this work of destruction a chest containing church plate had +been come upon, making their work greedy instead of only mischievous. + +When all the churches in Bristol had been ransacked, they began to +extend their search to the parish churches in the neighbourhood, and +Stead began to be very anxious, though he hoped and believed that the +cave was a perfectly safe place. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE QUESTION. + + + +"Dogged as does it."--TROLLOPE. + + +Stead, Stead," cried Rusha, running up to him, as he was slowly +digging over his stubble field to prepare it for the next crop, "the +soldiers are in Elmwood." + +"Yes," said Emlyn, coming up at the same time, "they are knocking +about everything in the church and pulling up the floor." + +"Patience sent us to get some salt," explained Rusha, "and we saw +them from Dame Redman's door. She told us we had better be off and +get home as fast as we could." + +"But I thought we would come and tell you," added Emlyn, "and then +you could get out the long gun and shoot them as they come into the +valley--that is if you can take aim--but I would load and show you +how, and then they would think it was a whole ambush of honest men." + +"Aye, and kill us all--and serve us right," said Stead. "They don't +want to hurt us if we don't meddle with them. But there's a good +wench, Rusha, drive up the cows and sheep this way so that I can have +an eye on them, and shew Captain Venn's paper, if any of those +fellows should take a fancy to them." + +"They are digging all over old parson's garden," said Rusha, as she +obeyed. + +"Was Jeph there?" asked Stead. + +"I didn't see him," said the child. + +Steadfast was very uneasy. That turning up the parson's garden +looked as if they might be in search of the silver belonging to the +Church, but after all they were unlikely to connect him with it, and +it was wiser to go on with his regular work, and manifest no interest +in the matter; besides that, every spadeful he heaved up, every chop +he gave the stubble, seemed to be a comfort, while there was a prayer +on his soul all the time that he might be true to his trust. + +By-and-by he saw Tom Oates running and beckoning to him, "Stead, +Stead Kenton, you are to come." + +"What should I come for?" said Stead, gruffly. + +"The soldiers want you." + +"What call have they to me?" + +"They be come to cleanse the steeple house, they says, and take the +spoil thereof, and they've been routling over the floor and parson's +garden like so many hogs, and are mad because they can't find +nothing, and Thatcher Jerry says, says he, 'Poor John Kenton as was +shot was churchwarden and was very great with Parson. If anybody +knows where the things is 'tis Steadfast Kenton.' So the corporal +says, 'Is this so, Jephthah Kenton?' and Jeph, standing up in his big +boots, says, 'Aye, corporal, my father was yet in the darkness of +prelacy, and was what in their blindness they call a Churchwarden, +but as to my brother, that's neither here nor there, he were but a +boy and not like to know more than I did.' But the corporal said, +'That we will see. Is the lad here?' So I ups and said nay, but I'd +seen you digging your croft, and then they bade me fetch you. So you +must come, willy-nilly, or they may send worse after you." + +Stead was a little consoled by hearing that his brother was there. +He suspected that Jeph would have consideration enough for his +sisters and for the property that he considered his own to be +unwilling to show the way to their valley; and he also reflected that +it would be well that whatever might happen to himself should be out +of sight of his sisters. Therefore he decided on following Oates, +going through on the way the whole question whether to deny all +knowledge, and yet feeling that the things belonging to God should +not be shielded by untruth. His resolution finally was to be silent, +and let them make what they would out of that, and Stead, though it +was long since he had put it on, had a certain sullen air of +stupidity such as often belongs to such natures as his, and which +Jeph knew full well in him. + +They came in sight of the village green where the soldiers were +refreshing themselves at what once had been the Elmwood Arms, for +though not given to excess, total abstinence formed no part of the +discipline of the Puritans; and one of the men started forward, and +seizing hold of Steadfast by the shoulder exclaimed-- + +"As I live, 'tis the young prelatist who bowed himself down in the +house of Rimmon! Come on, thou seed of darkness, and answer for +thyself." + +If he had only known it, he was making the part of dogged silence and +resistance infinitely easier to Steadfast by the rudeness and abuse, +which, even in a better cause, would have made it natural to him to +act as he was doing now, giving the soldier all the trouble of +dragging him onward and then standing with his hands in his pockets +like an image of obstinacy. + +"Speak," said the corporal, "and it shall be the better for thee. +Hast thou any knowledge where the priests of Baal have bestowed the +vessels of their mockery of worship." + +Stead moved not a muscle of his face. He had no acquaintance with +priests of Baal or their vessels, so that he was not in the least +bound to comprehend, and one of them exclaimed "The oaf knows not +your meaning, corporal. Speak plainer to his Somerset ears. He +knows not the tongue of the saints." + +"Ho, then, thou child of darkness. Know'st thou where the mass- +mongering silver and gold of this church be hidden from them of whom +it is written 'haste to the spoil.' Come, speak out. A crown if +thou dost speak--the lash if thou wilt not answer, thou dumb dog." + +Stead was really not far removed from a dumb dog. All his faculties +were so entirely wrought up to resistance that he had hardly +distinguished the words. + +"Come, come, Stead," said Jeph, "thou art too old for thine old sulky +moods. Speak up, and tell if thou know'st aught of the Communion Cup +and dish, or it will be the worse for thee. Yes or no?" + +Stead made a move with his shoulder to push away his brother, and +still stood silent. + +"There," said Jeph, "it is all Faithful's fault for his rough +handling. His back is set up. It was always so from a boy, and +you'll get nought out of him." + +"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of +correction shall drive it far from him," quoted the Corporal, taking +up a waggoner's whip which stood by the inn door, and the like of +which had no doubt once been a more familiar weapon to him than the +sword. + +"Speak lad--or--" and as no speech came, the lash descended on +Stead's shoulders, not, however, hurting him much save where it +grazed the skin of his face. + +"Now? Not a word? Take off his leathern coat, Faithful, then shall +he feel the reward of sullenness." + +That Jeph did not interfere, while Faithful and another soldier +tugged off his leathern coat, buffeting and kicking him roughly as +they did so, brought additional hardness to Stead. He had been +flogged in his time before, and not without reason, and had taken a +pride in not giving in, or crying out for pain; and the ancient habit +acquired in a worse cause, came to his help. He scarcely recollected +the cause of his resistance; all his powers were concentrated in +holding out, and when after another "Now, vile prelatic spawn, is thy +heart still hardened? Yes or no?" the terrible whip came stinging +and biting down on his shoulders and back, only protected by his +shirt, he was entirely bound up in the determination to endure the +pain without a groan or cry. + +But after blows enough had fallen to mark the shirt with streaks of +blood, Jeph could bear it no longer. + +"Hold!" he said. "You will never make him speak that way. Father +and mother never could. Strokes do but harden him." + +"The sure token of a fool," said the corporal, and prepared for +another lash. + +"'Tis plain he knows," said one of the others. "He would never stand +this if a word would save him." + +"Mere malice and obstinacy," said Faithful, "and wilfulness. He will +not utter a word. I would beat it out of him, as I was wont with our +old ass." + +Another stroke descended, worse than all the others after the brief +interval, but Jeph again spoke, "Look you, I know the lad of old and +you'll get no more that way than if you were flogging the sign-post +there. Whether he knows where the things are or not, the temper that +is in him will never answer while you beat him, were it to save his +life. Leave him to me, and I'll be bound to get an answer from him." + +"And I am constable, and I must say," said Blacksmith Blane, moving +forwards, with a bar of iron in his hand, and four or five stout men +behind him, "that to come and abuse and flog a hard-working, +fatherless lad, that never did you no harm, nor anyone else, is not +what honest men look for from soldiers that talk so big about +Parliament and rights and what not!" + +"'Twas for contumacy," began the corporal. + +"Contumacy forsooth, as though 'twas the will of the honest gentlemen +in Parliament that boys should be misused for nothing at all!" + +"If the young dog would have spoken," began the corporal, but somehow +he did not like the look of Blane's iron bar, and thought it best to +look up at the sun, and discover that it was time to depart if the +party were to be in time for roll-call. As it was a private +marauding speculation, it might not be well to have complaints made +to Captain Venn, who never sanctioned plunder nor unnecessary +violence. Even Jeph had to march off, and Steadfast, who had no mind +to be pitied, nor asked by the neighbours what was the real fact, had +picked up his spade and jerkin, and was out of sight while the +villagers were watching the soldiers away. + +The first thing he did was to give thanks in heart that he had been +aided thus far not to betray his trust, and then to feel that +Corporal Dodd's flogging was a far severer matter than the worst +chastisement he had ever received from his father, even when he kept +Jeph's secret about the stolen apples. Putting on his coat was +impossible, and he was so stiff and sore that he could not hope to +conceal his condition from Patience. + +At home all were watching for him. They ran up in anxiety, for one +of the ever ready messengers of evil had rushed down the glen to tell +Patience that the soldiers were beating Stead shamefully, and Jeph +standing by not saying one word. Little Ben broke out with "Poor, +poor!" and Rusha burst into tears at sight of the blood, while Emlyn +said "Just what comes of going among the rascal Roundheads," and +Patience looked up at him and said "Was it--?" he nodded, and she +quietly said "I'm glad." He added, "Jeph's coming soon," and she +knew that the trial was not over. The brother and sister needed very +few words to understand one another, and they were afraid to say +anything that the younger ones could understand. Patience washed the +weals with warm water and milk, and wrapped a cloak round him, but +even the next morning, he could not use his arms without fresh +bleeding, and the hindrance to the work was serious. He could do +nothing but herd the cattle, and he was much inclined to drive them +to the further end of the moorland where Jephthah would hardly find +him, but then he recollected that Patience would be left to bear the +brunt of the attack, so that he would not go far off, never guessing, +poor fellow, that in his dull, almost blundering fashion, he was +doing like the heroes and the martyrs, but only feeling that he must +keep his trust at all costs. Jeph, however, did not come that day or +the next, so that inwardly, the wound-up feeling had passed into a +weariness of expectation, and outwardly the stripes had healed enough +for Stead to go about his work as usual only a little stiffly. He +went into Bristol on market day as usual, and then it was, on his way +out that Jeph joined him, saying it was to bid Patience and the +little ones farewell, since the marching orders were for the morrow. +He was unusually kind and good-natured; he had a load of comfits for +Rusha and Ben, and a stout piece of woollen stuff for Patience which +he said was such as he was told godly maidens wore, and which +possibly the terror of his steel cap and corslet had cheapened at the +mercer's; also he had a large packet of tractates for Stead's own +reading, and he enquired whether they possessed a Bible. + +Stead wondered whether all this was out of regret at the treatment he +had undergone, or whether it was to put him off his guard, and this +occupied him when Jeph began to preach, as he did uninterruptedly for +the last mile, without any of the sense, if there were any, reaching +the mind of the auditor. + +They reached the hut, the gifts were displayed; and when the young +ones, who were all a little afraid of the elder brother, had gone off +to feast upon the sweets, Jeph began with enquiries after Steadfast's +back, and he replied that it was mending fast, while Patience +exclaimed at the cruelty and wickedness of so using him. + +"Why wouldn't he speak then?" said Jeph. "Yea or nay would have +ended it in a moment, but that's Stead's way. He looks like it now!" +and he did, elbows on knees, and chin on hands. + +"Come now, Stead, thou canst speak to me! Was it all because +Faithful hauled thee about?" + +"He did, and he had no call to," said Stead, surlily. + +"Well, that's true, but I'm not hauling thee. Tell me, Stead, I mind +now that thou wast out with father that last day ere the Parson was +taken to receive his deserts. I don't believe that even thy +churlishness would have stood such blows if thou hadst known naught +of the idolatrous vessels, and couldst have saved thy skin by saying +so! No answer. Why, what have these malignants done for thee that +thou shouldst hold by them? Slain thy father! Burnt thine house! +No fault of theirs that thou art alive this day! Canst not speak?" + +Jeph's temper giving way at the provocation, he forgot his +conciliatory intentions and seizing Stead by the collar shook him +violently. Growler almost broke his chain with rage, Patience +screamed and flew to the rescue, just as she had often done when they +were all children together, and Jeph threw his brother from him so +that he fell on the root of a tree, and lay for a moment or two +still, then picked himself up again evidently with pain, though he +answered Patience cheerfully that it was nought. + +"Thou art enough to drive a man mad with thy surly silence," +exclaimed Jeph, whom this tussle had rendered much more like his old +self, "and after all, knowing that even though thou art not one of +the holy ones, thou wilt not tell a lie, it comes to the same thing. +I know thou wottest where these things are, and it is only thy sullen +scruples that hinder thee from speaking. Nevertheless, I shall leave +no stone unturned till I find them! For what is written 'Thou shalt +break down their altars.'" + +"Jeph," said Stead, firmly. "You left home because of your grief and +rage at father's death. Would you have me break the solemn charge he +laid on me?" + +"Father was a good man after his light," said Jeph, a little +staggered, "but that light was but darkness, and we to whom the day +itself is vouchsafed are not bound by a charge laid on us in +ignorance. Any way, he laid no bonds on me, but I must needs leave +thee alone in thy foolishness of bondage! Come, Patience, wench, and +aid me, I know this rock is honeycombed with caves, like a rabbit +warren, no place so likely." + +"I help thee--no indeed'" cried Patience. "Would I aid thee to do +what would most grieve poor father, that thou once mad'st such a work +about! I should be afraid of his curse." + +Possibly if Jeph had not pledged himself to his comrades to overcome +his brother's resistance, and bring back the treasures, he might have +desisted; but what he did was to call to Rusha to bring him a +lantern, and show him the holes, promising her a tester if she would. +She brought the lantern, but she was a timid, little, unenterprising +thing, and was mortally afraid of the caverns, a fear that Patience +had thought it well not to combat. Emlyn who had already scrambled +all over the face of the slope, and peeped into all, could have told +him a great deal more about them; but she hated the sight of a rebel, +and sat on the ground making ugly faces and throwing little stones +after him whenever his back was turned. + +Stead, afraid to betray by his looks of anxiety, when Jeph came near +the spot, sat all the time with his elbows on his knees, and his +hands over his face, fully trusting to what all had agreed at the +time of the burial of the chest, that there was no sign to indicate +its whereabouts. + +He felt rather than saw that Jeph, after tumbling out the straw and +fern that served for fodder in the lower caves, where the sheep and +pigs were sheltered in winter, had scrambled up to the hermit's +chapel, when suddenly there was a shout, but not at all of +exultation, and down among the bushes, lantern and all came the +soldier, tumbling and crashing into the midst of an enormous bramble, +whence Stead pulled him out with the lantern flattened under him, and +his first breathless words were-- + +"Beelzebub himself!" Then adding, as he stood upright, "he made full +at me, and I saw his eyes glaring. I heard him groaning. It is an +unholy popish place. No wonder!" + +Patience and Rusha were considerably impressed, for it was +astonishing to see how horribly terrified and shaken was the warrior, +who had been in two pitched battles, and Ben screamed, and needed to +be held in Stead's arms to console him. + +Jeph had no mind to pursue his researches any further. He only +tarried long enough to let Patience pick out half-a-dozen thorns from +his cheeks and hands, and to declare that if he had not to march to- +morrow, he should bring that singular Christian man, Captain Venn, to +exorcise the haunt of Apollyon. Wherewith he bade them all farewell, +with hopes that by the time he saw them again, they would have come +to the knowledge of the truth. + +No sooner was he out of sight among the bushes than Emlyn seized on +Rusha, and whirled her round in a dance as well as her more +substantial proportions would permit, while Steadfast let his +countenance expand into the broad grin that he had all this time been +stifling. + +"What _do_ you think it was?" asked Patience, still awestruck. + +"Why--the old owl--and his own bad conscience. He might talk big, +but he didn't half like going against poor father. Thank God! He +has saved His own, and that's over!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A TABLE OF LOVE IN THE WILDERNESS. + + + +"Yet along the Church's sky + Stars are scattered, pure and high; + Yet her wasted gardens bear + Autumn violets, sweet and rare, + Relics of a Spring-time clear, + Earnests of a bright New Year." KEBLE + + +No more was heard or seen of Jephthah, or of Captain Venn's troop. +The garrison within Bristol was small and unenterprising, and in +point of fact the war was over. News travelled slowly, but Stead +picked up scraps at Bristol, by which he understood that things +looked very bad for the King. Moreover, Sir George Elmwood died of +his wounds; poor old Lady Elmwood did not long survive him, and the +estate, which had been left to her for her life, was sequestrated by +the Parliament, and redeemed by the next heir after Sir George, so +that there was an exchange of the Lord of the Manor. The new squire +was an elderly man, hearty and good-natured, who did not seem at all +disposed to interfere with any one on the estate. He was a +Presbyterian, and was shocked to find that the church had been unused +for three years. He had it cleaned from the accumulation of dirt and +rubbish, the broken windows mended with plain glass, and the altar +table put down in the nave, as it had been before Mr. Holworth's +time; and he presented to the living Mr. Woodley, a scholarly-looking +person, who wore a black gown and collar and bands. + +The Elmwood folk were pleased to have prayers and sermon again, and +Patience was glad that the children should not grow up like heathens; +but her first church going did not satisfy her entirely. + +"It is all strange," she said to Stead, who had stayed with the +cattle. "He had no book, and it was all out of his own head, not a +bit like old times." + +"Of course not," said Emlyn. "He had got no surplice, and I knew him +for a prick-eared Roundhead! I should have run off home if you had +not held me, Patience. I'll never go there again." + +"I am sure you made it a misery to me, trying to make Rusha and Ben +as idle and restless as yourself," said Patience. + +"They ought not to listen to a mere Roundhead sectary," said Emlyn, +tossing her head. "I couldn't have borne it if I had not had the +young ladies to look at. They had got silk hoods and curls and lace +collars, so as it was a shame a mere Puritan should wear." + +"O Emlyn, Emlyn, it is all for the outside," said Patience. "Now, I +did somehow like to hear good words, though they were not like the +old ones." + +"Good, indeed! from a trumpery Puritan." + +Stead went to church in the afternoon. He was eighteen now, and that +great struggle and effort had made him more of a man. He thought +much when he was working alone in the fields, and he had spent his +time on Sundays in reading his Bible and Prayer-book, and comparing +them with Jeph's tracts. Since Emlyn had come, he had made a corner +of the cowshed fit to sleep in, by stuffing the walls with dry +heather, and the sweet breath of the cows kept it sufficiently warm, +and on the winter evenings, he took a lantern there with one of +Patience's rush lights, learnt a text or two anew, and then repeated +passages to himself and thought over them. What would seem +intolerably dull to a lad now, was rest to one who had been rendered +older than his age by sorrow and responsibility, and the events that +were passing led people to consider religious questions a great deal. + +But Stead was puzzled. The minister was not like the soldiers whom +he had heard raving about the reign of the saints, and abusing the +church. He prayed for the King's having a good deliverance from his +troubles, and for the peace of the kingdom, and he gave out that +there was to be a week of fasting, preaching, and preparation for the +Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. + +The better sort of people in the village were very much pleased, +nobody except Goody Grace was dissatisfied, and people told her that +was only because she was old and given to grumbling at everything +new. Blane the Smith tapped Stead on the shoulder, and said, "Hark +ye, my lad. If it be true that thou wast in old Parson's secrets, +now's the time for thou know'st what." + +Stead's mouth was open, and his face blank, chiefly because he did +not know what to do, and was taken by surprise, and Blane took it for +an answer. + +"Oh! if you don't know, that's another thing, but then 'twas for +nothing that the troopers flogged you? Well," he muttered, as Stead +walked off, "that's a queer conditioned lad, to let himself be +flogged, as I wouldn't whip a dog, all out of temper, because he +wouldn't answer a question. But he's a good lad, and I'll not bring +him into trouble by a word to squire or minister." + +The children went off to gather cowslips, and Stead was able to talk +it over with Patience, who at first was eager to be rid of the +dangerous trust, and added, with a sigh, "That she had never taken +the Sacrament since the Easter before poor father was killed, and it +must be nigh upon Whitsuntide now." + +"That's true," said Stead, "but nobody makes any count of holy days +now. It don't seem right, Patience." + +"Not like what it used to be," said Patience. "And yet this minister +is surely a godly man." + +"Father and parson didn't say ought about a godly man. They made me +take my solemn promise that I'd only give the things to a lawfully +ordained minister." + +"He is a minister, and he comes by law," argued Patience. "Do be +satisfied, Stead. I'm always in fear now that folks guess we have +somewhat in charge; and Emlyn is such a child for prying and +chattering. And if they should come and beat thee again, or do +worse. Oh, Stead! surely you might give them up to a good man like +that; Smith Blane says you ought!" + +"I doubt me! I know that sort don't hold with Bishops, and, so far +as I can see, by father's old Prayer-book, a lawful minister must +have a Bishop to lay hands on him," said Stead, who had studied the +subject as far as his means would allow, and had good though slow +brains of his own, matured by responsibility. "I'll tell you what, +Patience, I'll go and see Dr. Eales about it. I wot he is a minister +of the old sort, that father would say I might trust to." + +Dr. Eales was still living in Mrs. Lightfoot's lodgings, at the sign +of the Wheatsheaf, or more properly starving, for he had only ten +pounds a year paid to him out of the benefice that had been taken +away from him; and though that went farther then than it would do +now, it would not have maintained him, but that his good hostess +charged him as little as she could afford, and he also had a few +pupils among the gentry's sons, but there were too many clergymen in +the same straits for this to be a very profitable undertaking. There +were no soldiers in Mrs. Lightfoot's house now, and the doctor lived +more at large, but still cautiously, for in the opposite house, named +the "Ark," whose gable end nearly met the Wheatsheaf's, dwelt a rival +baker, a Brownist, whose great object seemed to be to spy upon the +clergyman, and have something to report against him, nor was Mrs. +Lightfoot's own man to be trusted. Stead lingered about the open +stall where the bread was sold till no customer was at hand, and then +mentioned under his breath to the good dame his desire to speak with +her lodger. + +"Certainly," she said, but the Doctor was now with his pupils at +Mistress Rivett's. He always left them at eleven of the clock, more +shame of Mrs. Rivett not to give the good man his dinner, which she +would never feel. Steadfast had better watch for him at the gate +which opened on the down, for there he could speak more privately and +securely than at home. + +He took the advice, and passed away the time as best he could, +learning on the way that a news letter had been received stating that +the King was with the Scottish army at Newcastle, and that it was +expected that on receiving their arrears of pay, the Scots would +surrender him to the Parliament, a proceeding which the folk in the +market-place approved or disapproved according to their politics. + +Mrs. Rivett's house stood a little apart from the town, with a court +and gates opening on the road over the down; and just as eleven +strokes were chiming from the town clock below, a somewhat bent, +silver-haired man, in a square cap and black gown, leaning on a +stick, came out of it. Stead, after the respectful fashion of his +earlier days, put his knee to the ground, doffed his steeple-crowned +hat and craved a blessing, both he and the Doctor casting a quick +glance round so as to be sure there was no one in sight. + +Dr. Eales gave it earnestly, as one to whom it was a rare joy to find +a country youth thus demanding it, and as he looked at the honest +face he said: + +"You are mine hostess' good purveyor, methinks, to whom I have often +owed a wholesome meal." + +"Steadfast Kenton, so please your reverence. There is a secret +matter on which I would fain have your counsel, and Mistress +Lightfoot thought I might speak to you here with greater safety." + +"She did well. Speak on, my good boy, if we walk up and down here we +shall be private. It does my heart good to commune with a faithful +young son of the Church." + +Steadfast told his story, at which the good old Canon was much +affected. His brother Holworth, as he called him, was not in prison +but in the Virginian plantations. He was still the only true +minister of Elmwood, and Mr. Woodley, though owned by the present so- +called law of the land, was not there rightly by the law of the +Church, and, therefore, Stead was certainly not bound to surrender +the trust to him, but rather the contrary. + +The Doctor could have gone into a long disquisition about +Presbyterian Orders, contradicting the arguments many good and devout +people adduced in favour of them, but there was little time, so he +only confirmed with authority Stead's belief that a Bishop's +Ordination was indispensable to a true pastor, "the only door by +which to enter to the charge of the fold." + +Then came the other question of attendance on his ministry, and +whether to attend the feast given out for the Sunday week, after the +long-forced abstinence: Patience's, ever since the break-up of the +parish; Steadfast's, since the siege of Bristol. Dr. Eales +considered, "I cannot bid you go to that in the efficacy of which +neither you nor I believe, my son," he said. "It would not be with +faith. Here, indeed, I have ministered privately to a few of the +faithful in their own houses, but the risk is over great for you and +your sister to join us, espied as we are. How is it with your home?" + +"O, sir, would you even come thither?" exclaimed Steadfast, joyfully, +and he described his ravine, which was of course known to the Elmwood +neighbours, but very seldom visited by them, never except in the +middle of the day, and where the thicket and the caverns afforded +every facility for concealment. + +Whitsun Day was coming, and Dr. Eales proposed to come over to the +glen and celebrate the Holy Feast in the very early morning before +anyone was astir. There were a few of his Bristol flock who would be +thankful for the opportunity of meeting more safely than they could +do in the city, since at Easter they had as nearly as possible been +all arrested in a pavilion in Mr. Rivett's garden which they had +thought unsuspected. + +There would be one market day first, and on that Stead would come and +explain his preparations, and hear what the Doctor had arranged. And +so it was. The time was to be three o'clock, the very dawn of the +long summer day, the time when sleep is deepest. Dr. Eales and Mrs. +Lightfoot would come out the night before, he not returning after his +lesson to the Rivetts, and she making some excuse about going to see +friends for the Sunday. + +The Rivetts, living outside the gates where sentries still kept +guard, could start in the morning, and so could the four others who +were to form part of the congregation. Goody Grace was the only +person near home whom Patience wished to invite, for she too had +grieved over the great deprivation, and had too much heart for the +Church to be satisfied with Mr. Woodley's ministrations. Perhaps +even she did not understand the difference, but she could be trusted, +and the young people knew how happy it would make her. + +Little can we guess what such an opportunity was to the faithful +children of the Church in those sad days. Goody Grace folded her +hands and murmured, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in +peace," when Patience told her of the invitation, and Patience, +though she had all her ordinary work to do, went quietly about it, as +if she had some great thought of peace and awe upon her. + +"Why, Patience, you seem as if you were making ready for some guest, +the Prince of Wales at least!" said Emlyn, on Saturday night. + +Patience smiled a sweet little happy smile and in her heart she said +"And so I am, and for a greater far!" but she did say "Yes, Emlyn, +Dr. Eales is coming to sleep here to-night, and he will pray with us +in the early morning." + +It had been agreed that the Celebration should take place first, and +then after a short pause, the Morning Service. Jerusha was eleven +years old, and a very good girl, and since Confirmation was +impossible, her brother and sister would have asked for her admission +to the Holy Feast without it, but she could not be called up without +the danger of awaking Emlyn; and Patience was so sure that it was not +safe to trust that damsel with the full knowledge of the treasure +that, though Steadfast always thought his sister hard on her, he was +forced to give way. The children were to be admitted to Matins, for +if any idea oozed out that this latter service had been held, no +great danger was likely to come of it. Dr. Eales arrived in the +evening, Steadfast meeting him to act as guide, and Patience set +before him of her best. A fowl, which she had been forced to broil +for want of other means of dressing it; bread baked in a tin with a +fire of leaves and small sticks heaped over it; roasted eggs, +excellent butter and milk. She apologised for not having dared to +fetch any ale for fear of exciting suspicion, but the doctor set her +quite at ease by his manifest enjoyment of her little feast, +declaring that he had not made so good a meal since Bristol was +taken. + +Then he catechised the children. Little Ben could say the Lord's +Prayer, the Belief, and some of the shorter Commandments, and the +doctor patted his little round white cap, and gave him two Turkey +figs as a reward. + +Jerusha, when she got over her desperate fright enough to speak above +a whisper, was quite perfect from her name down to "charity with all +men," but Emlyn stumbled horribly over even the first answers, and +utterly broke down in the Fourth Commandment; but she smiled up in +the doctor's face in her pretty way, and blushed as she said "The +chaplain at Blythedale had taught us so far, your reverence." + +"And have you learnt no further?" + +"If you were here to teach me, sir, I would soon learn it," said the +little witch, but she did not come over him as she did with most +people. + +"You have as good an instructor as I for your needs, in this discreet +maiden," said Dr. Eales, and as something of a pout descended on the +sparkling little face, "when you know all the answers, perchance +Steadfast here may bring you to my lodgings and I will hear you." + +"I could learn them myself if I had the book," said Emlyn. + +The fact being that the Catechism was taught by Patience from memory +in those winter evenings when all went to bed to save candle light, +but that when Steadfast retired to the cow-house, Emlyn either +insisted on playing with the others or pretended to go to sleep; and +twitted Patience with being a Puritan. However, the hopes of going +into Bristol might be an incentive, though she indulged in a grumble +to Rusha, and declared that she liked a jolly chaplain, and this old +doctor was not a bit better than a mere Puritan. + +Rusha opened her big eyes. She never did understand Emlyn, and +perhaps that young maiden took delight in shocking her. They were +ordered off to bed much sooner than they approved on that fair summer +night, when the half-moon was high and the nightingales were singing +all round--not that they cared for that, but there was a sense about +them that something mysterious was going on, and Emlyn was wild with +curiosity and vexation at being kept out of it. + +She would have kept watch and crept out; but that Patience came in, +and lay down, so close to the door that it was impossible to get out +without waking her, and besides if Emlyn did but stir, she asked what +was the matter. + +"They mean something!" said Emlyn to herself, "and I'll know what it +is. They have no right to keep me out of the plot; I am not like +stupid little Rusha! I have been in a siege, and four battles, +besides skirmishes! I'll watch till they think I'm asleep, if I pull +all the hulls out of my bed! Then they will begin." + +But nothing moved that Emlyn could hear or see. She woke and slept, +but was quite aware when Patience rose up after a brief doze, and +found the first streaks of dawn in the sky, a cuckoo calling as if +for very life in the nearest tree, and Steadfast quietly sweeping the +dew from the grass in a little open space shut in by rocks, trees, +and bushes, close to the bank of the brook. + +A chest which he kept in the cow-shed, and which bore traces of the +fire in the old house, had been brought down to serve as an Altar, +and it was laid over, for want of anything better, with one of poor +Mrs. Kenton's best table-cloths, which Patience had always thought +too good for use. + +The next thing was to meet the rest of the scanty congregation at the +entrances of the wood, and guide them to the spot. This was safely +done, Goody Grace knew the way, and had guided one of the old Elmwood +maid servants whom she had managed to shelter for the night. Mrs. +Lightfoot was there with Mrs. Rivett, her daughter, elder son, and a +grave-looking man servant, Mr. Henshaw, a Barbados merchant, with his +wife, and a very worn battered shabby personage, but unmistakably a +gentleman of quality, and wounded in the wars, for he was so lame +that the merchant had to help him over the rough paths. + +It was a wonderful Whitsun-day morning that none of the little party +could ever forget. The sunrise could not be seen in that deep, +narrow place, but the sky was of a strange pale shining blue, and the +tender young green of the trees overhead was touched with gold, the +glades of the wood were intensely blue with hyacinths, and with all +sorts of delicate greens twined above in the bushes over them. A +wild cherry, all silver white, was behind their Altar, the green +floor was marbled with cuckoo flowers and buttercups, and the clear +little stream whose voice murmured by was fringed with kingcups and +forget-me-nots. The scents were of the most delicious dewy +freshness; and as to the sounds! Larks sang high up in the sky, wood +pigeons cooed around, nightingales, thrushes, every bird of the wood +seemed to be trying to make music and melody. + +And in the midst the grey-haired priest stood close to an ivy-covered +rock, with the white covered Altar, and the bright golden vessels +which he had carefully looked to in the night, and the little +congregation knelt close round him on cloaks and mats, the women +hooded, the old Cavalier's long thin locks, the merchant's dark ones, +and the close cropped heads of the servant and of Steadfast bared to +the morning breeze in its pure, dewy, soft freshness, fit emblem of +the Comforter. No book was produced, all was repeated from memory. +They durst not raise their voices, but the birds were their choir, +and as they murmured their _Gloria in Excelsis_, the sweet notes rang +out in that unconscious praise. + +When the blessing of peace had been given there was a long hush, and +no one rose till after the vessels had been replaced in their casket, +and Stead was climbing up with it again to the hiding place. Then +there was a move to the front of the hut, where Rusha was just +awakening, and Emlyn feigned to be still asleep. It was not yet four +o'clock, but the sweet freshness was still around everything. Young +Mistress Alice Rivett and her brother were enchanted to gather +flowers, and ran after their hosts to see the cows milked, and the +goats, pigs, and poultry fed, sights new to them; but the elder +ladies shivered and were glad to warm themselves at the little fire +Patience hastily lighted, after cleaning the hut as fast as she +could, by rolling up the bedding, and fairly carrying Ben out to +finish his night's rest in the cow-house. + +The guests had brought their provisions, and insisted that their +young hosts should eat with them, accepting only the warm milk that +Patience brought in her pail, and they drank from the horn cups of +the family. Dr. Eales observed to the Cavalier that it was a true +_Agape_ or love-feast like those of the ancient Church, and the +gentleman's melancholy, weather-beaten face relaxed into a smile as +he sighed and hoped that the same endurance as that of the Christians +of old would be granted in this time of persecution. + +Emlyn was gratified at being a good deal noticed by the company as so +unlike the others. She was not shy and frightened like Rusha, who +hung her head and had not a word to say for herself, but chattered +away to the young Rivetts, showing them the kid, the calves, and the +lambs, taking Mistress Alice to the biggest cowslips and earliest +wild roses, and herself making a sweet posy for each of the ladies. +The old Cavalier himself, Colonel Harford, was even amused with the +pretty little maid, who, he told Dr. Eales, resembled Mirth as Master +John Milton had depicted her, ere he took up with General Cromwell +and his crew; and was a becoming figure for this early morn. + +On learning the child's history, he turned out to know Sir Harry +Blythedale, but not to have heard of him since they had parted at +Newark, he to guard the king to Oxford, Sir Harry to join Lord +Astley, and he much feared that the old knight had been killed at +Stowe, in the fight between Astley and Brereton. This would account +for nothing having been heard from him about Emlyn, but Colonel +Harford promised, if any opportunity should offer, to communicate +with Lady Blythedale, whom he believed to be living at Worcester; and +he patted Emlyn on the head, called her a little loyal veteran, +accepted a tiny posy of forget-me-not from her, and after fumbling in +his pocket, gave her a crown piece. Steadfast and Patience were +afraid it was his last, and much wished she had contrived not to take +it, but she said she should keep it for a remembrance. + +After this rest, the beautiful Whitsuntide Matins was said in the +fair forest church, and before six o'clock this strange and blessed +festival had ended, though not the peace and thankfulness in the +hearts of the little flock. + +Indeed, instead of a sermon, Dr. Eales's parting words were "And he +went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A FAIR OFFER. + + + +"We be content" the keepers said, + "We three and you no less, + Then why should we of you be afraid, + As we never did transgress." + ROBIN HOOD BALLAD. + + +Steadfast was busy weeding the little patch of barley that lay near +the ruins of the old farm house with little Ben basking round him. +The great carefulness as to keeping the ground clear had been taught +him by his father, and was one reason why his fields, though so +small, did not often bear a bad crop. He heard his name called over +the hedge, and looking up saw the Squire, Mr. Elmwood, on horseback. + +He came up, respectfully taking off his hat and standing with it in +his hand as was then the custom when thus spoken to. "What is this I +hear, Kenton," said the squire, "that you have been having a +prelatist service on your ground?" + +Steadfast was dismayed, but did not speak, till Mr. Elmwood added, +"Is it true?" + +"Yes, sir," he answered resolutely. + +"Did you know it was against the law to use the Book of Common +Prayer?" + +"There was no book, sir." + +"But you do not deny it was the same superstitious and Popish +ceremony and festival abolished by law." + +"No, sir," Stead allowed, though rather by gesture than word. + +"Now, look you here, young Kenton, I ask no questions. I do not want +to bring anyone into trouble, and you are a hard-working, honest lad +by what they tell me, who have a brother fighting in the good Cause +and have suffered from the lawless malignants yourself. Was it not +the Prince's troopers that wrought this ruin?" pointing towards the +blackened gable, "and shot down your father? Aye! The more shame +you should hold with them! I wish you no harm I say, nor the blinded +folk who must have abused your simplicity: but I am a justice of the +peace, and I will not have laws broken on my land. If this thing +should happen again, I shall remember that you have no regular or +lawful tenure of this holding, and put you forth from it." + +He waited, but a threat always made silent resistance easy to +Steadfast, and there was no answer. + +Mr. Elmwood, however, let that pass, for he was not a hard or a +fanatical man, and he knew that to hold such a service was not such +an easy matter that it was likely to be soon repeated. He looked +round at the well-mended fences, the clean ground, and the tokens of +intelligent industry around, and the clean homespun shirt sleeves +that spoke of the notable manager at home. 'You are an industrious +fellow, my good lad," he said, "how long have you had this farm to +yourself?" + +"Getting on for five years, your honour," said Steadfast. + +"And is that your brother?" + +"Yes, please your honour," picking Ben up in his arms to prevent the +barley from being pulled up by way of helping him. + +"How many of you are there?" + +"Five of us, sir, but my eldest brother is in Captain Venn's troop." + +"So I heard, and what is this about a child besides?" + +"An orphan, sir, I found after the skirmish at the mill stream, who +was left with us till her friends can send after her." + +"Well, well. You seem a worthy youth," said Mr. Elmwood, who was +certainly struck and touched by the silent uncomplaining resolution +of the mere stripling who had borne so heavy a burthen. "If you were +heartily one of us, I should be glad to make you woodward, instead of +old Tomkins, and build up yonder house for you, but I cannot do it +for one who is hankering after prelacy, and might use the place for I +know not what plots and conspiracies of the malignants." + +Again Steadfast took refuge in a little bow of acknowledgment, but +kept his lips shut, till again the squire demanded, "What do you +think of it? There's a fair offer. What have you to say for +yourself?" + +He had collected himself and answered, "I thank you, sir. You are +very good. If you made me woodward, I would serve your honour +faithfully, and have no plots or the like there. But, your honour, I +was bred up in the Church and I cannot sell myself." + +"Why, you foolish, self-conceited boy, what do you know about it? Is +not what is good enough for better men than you fit to please you?" + +To this Stead again made no answer, having said a great deal for him. + +"Well," said Mr. Elmwood, angered at last, "if ever I saw a dogged +moon-calf, you are one! However, I let you go scot free this time, +in regard for your brother's good service, and the long family on +your hands, but mind, I shall put in an active woodward instead of +old Tomkins, who has been past his work these ten years, and if ever +I hear of seditious or prelatical doings in yonder gulley again, off +you go." + +He rode off, leaving Steadfast with temper more determined, but mind +not more at ease. The appointment of a woodward was bad news, for +the copsewood and the game had been left to their fate for the last +few years, and what were the rights of the landlord over them Stead +did not know, so that there might be many causes of trouble, +especially if the said woodward considered him a person to be +specially watched. Indeed, the existence of such a person would make +a renewal of what Mr. Elmwood called the prelatist assembly +impossible, and with a good deal of sorrow he announced the fact on +the next market day to Mrs. Lightfoot. He could not see Dr. Eales, +but when next he came in, she gave him a paper on which was simply +marked "Ps. xxxvii, 7." He looked out the reference and found "Hold +thee still in the Lord and abide patiently upon Him." Stead hoped +that Patience and the rest would never know what an offer had been +made to him, but Master Brown, who had recommended him, and who did +not at all like the prospect of a strange woodward, came to +expostulate with him for throwing away such a chance for a mere whim, +telling Patience she was a sensible wench and ought to persuade her +brother to see what was for his own good and the good of all, holding +up himself as an example. + +"I never missed my church and had the parson's good word all along, +and yet you see I am ready to put up with this good man without +setting myself up to know more than my elders and betters! Eh! Hast +not a word to say for thyself? Then I'll tell the squire, who is a +good and friendly gentleman to all the old servants, that you have +thought better of it, and will thankfully take his kindness, and do +your best." + +"I cannot go against father," said Steadfast. + +"And what would he have done, good man, but obey them that have the +rule, and let wiser folk think for thee. But all the young ones are +pig-headed as mules now-a-days, and must think for themselves, one +running off to the Independents, and one to the Quakers and Shakers, +and one to the Fifth Monarchy men, and you, Steadfast Kenton, that I +thought better things of, talking of the Church and offending the +squire with thy prelatic doings, that have been forbidden by Act of +Parliament. What say you to that, my lad? Come, out with it," for +Stead had more difficulty in answering Master Brown, who had been a +great authority throughout his life, than even the Squire himself. + +"Parson said there was higher law than Parliament." + +"Eh! What, the King? He is a prisoner, bless him, but they will +never let him go till they have bent him to their will, and what will +you do then?" + +"Not the King," muttered Steadfast. + +"Eh! what! If you have come to pretending to know the law of God +better than your elders, you are like the rest of them, and I have +done with you." And away tramped the steward in great displeasure, +while Patience put her apron over her head and cried bitterly. + +She supposed Stead might be right, but what would it not have been to +have the old house built up, and all decent about them as it was in +mother's time, and fit places to sleep in, now that the wenches were +growing bigger? + +"But you know, Patty, we are saving for that." + +"Aye, and how long will it take? And now this pestilent woodward +will be always finding fault--killing the fowls and ducks, and +seizing the swine and sheep, and very like slaughtering the dogs and +getting us turned out of house and home; for now you have offended +the squire, he will believe anything against us." + +"Come, Patty, you know I could not help it. This is sorest of all, +you that have always stood by me and father's wish." + +"Yes, yes," sobbed Patience. "I wot you are right, Stead. I'll hold +to you, though I wish--I wish you would think like other folk." + +Yet Patience knew in her secret soul that then he would not be her +own Steadfast, and she persuaded him no more, though the discomforts +and deficiencies of their present home tried her more and more as the +family grew older. Stead had contrived a lean-to, with timbers from +the old house, and wattled sides stuffed with moss, where he and +little Ben slept in summer time, and they had bought or made some +furniture--a chair and table, some stools, bedding, and kitchen +utensils, and she toiled to keep things clean, but still it was a +mere hovel, with the door opening out into the glade. Foxes and +polecats prowled, owls hooted, and the big dog outside was a needful +defender, even in summer time, and in winter the cold was piteous, +the wet even worse, and they often lost some of their precious +animals--chickens died of cold, and once three lambs had been carried +away in a sudden freshet. Yet Patience, when she saw Steadfast +convinced, made up her mind to stand by him, and defended him when +the younger girls murmured. + +Rusha was of a quiet, acquiescent, contented nature, and said little, +as Emlyn declared, "She knew nothing better;" but Emlyn was more and +more weary of the gulley, and as nothing was heard of her friends, +and she was completely one of the home, she struggled more with the +dullness and loneliness. She undertook all errands to the village +for the sake of such change as a chatter with the young folk there +afforded her, or for the chance of seeing the squire's lady or sons +and daughters go by; and she was wild to go on market days to +Bristol. + +In spite of Puritan greyness, soldiers, sailors, gentlemen, ladies, +and even fashions, such as they were, could be seen there, and news +picked up, and Emlyn would fain have persuaded Steadfast that she +should be the most perfect market woman, if he would only let her +ride in on the donkey between the panniers, in a broad hat, with +chickens and ducks dangling round, eggs, butter, and fruit or nuts, +and even posies, according to the season, and sit on the steps of the +market-place among the other market women and girls. + +Steadfast would have been the last to declare that her laughing dark +eyes, and smiling lips, and arch countenance would not bring many a +customer, but he knew well that his mother would never have sent his +sister to be thus exposed, and he let her pout, or laughed away her +refusal by telling her that he was bound not to let a butler's +daughter demean herself to be stared at by all the common folk, who +would cheapen her wares. + +And when she did coax him to take her to Bristol on any errand she +could invent, to sell her yarns, or buy pins, or even a ribbon, he +was inexorable in leaving her under Mrs. Lightfoot's care, and she +had to submit, even though it sometimes involved saying her catechism +to Dr. Eales. Yet that always ended in the old man's petting her. +It was only from her chatter that the old clergyman ever knew of the +proposal that Stead had rejected for conscience's sake. It vexed the +lad so much that he really could not bear to think of it, and it +would come over him now and then, was it all for nothing? Would the +Church ever lift up her head again? or would Mr. Woodley be always in +possession at Elmwood Church, where everyone seemed to be content +with him. The Kentons went thither. It was hardly safe to abstain, +for a fine upon absence was still the law of the land, though seldom +enforced; and Dr. Eales who considered Presbyterianism by far the +least unorthodox and most justifiable sect, had advised Stead not to +allow himself or the others altogether to lose the habit of public +worship, but to abstain from Communions which might be an act of +separation from the Church, and which could not be accepted by her +children as genuine. Such was the advice of most of the divines of +the English Church in this time of eclipse; and though Stead, and +still less Patience, did not altogether follow the reasoning, they +obeyed, while aware that they incurred suspicion from the squire by +not coming to "the table." + +The new woodward, Peter Pierce, was not one of the villagers as +usual, but had been a soldier in one of the regiments of the Earl of +Essex, in which Mr. Elmwood's eldest son had served. + +Instead of succeeding to old Tomkins's lodge in the great wood, he +had a new one built for him, so as to command the opening of Hermit's +Gulley towards the village, and one of the Bristol roads. Could this +be for the sake of watching over anything so insignificant as the +Kentons? + +The copse on their side of the brook was their own, free to do what +they chose with except cutting down the timber trees, but the further +side was the landlord's, as they had now to remember; and as, when +the brook was at its lowest, their pigs and goats were by no means +likely to recollect; though Steadfast was extremely anxious to give +no occasion for the mistrust and ill-will with which Pierce regarded +him, as a squatter, trespasser, and poacher, almost as a matter of +course, and likewise a prelatist and plotter. + +Once he did find a kid on the wrong side, standing on a rock, +browsing a honeysuckle, and was about either to seize it or shoot it, +as it went off in three bounds, when Emlyn darted out, and threw +herself between. It was her darling kid, it should never trespass +again, she would--she would thank him ever more--if he would spare it +this once. + +And Emlyn as usual had touched the soft place in the heart of even a +woodward. He told her not to cry, and contented himself with +growling a tremendous warning to Steadfast and Patience. + +There were several breezes about Growler, who was only too apt to use +his liberty in pursuing rabbits on the wrong side, and whom Peter +more than once condemned; but Emlyn and Ben begged him off, and he +was kept well chained up. At last, however, he won even the +woodward's favour by the slaughter of a terrible wild cat and her +brood, after all Peter's dogs had returned with bleeding faces from +the combat. + +The woodward had another soft place in his heart. He had a pretty +young wife and a little son. Nanny Pierce was older in years, but +far more childish than Patience, and the life in this gulley seemed +to her utter solitude and desolation, and if Patience had been ten +times a poacher and a prelatist, she could not have helped making +friends with the only creature of her own kind within a mile. And +when Patience's experience with Ben and other older babes at rest in +the churchyard, had aided the poor little helpless woman through a +convulsion fit of her baby's before Goody Grace could arrive, Peter +himself owned that "the Kenton wench was good for somewhat," though +he continued to think Steadfast's great carefulness not to +transgress, only a further proof that "he was a deep one"--all the +more because he refused to let anyone but himself have a search for a +vanished polecat in "them holes," which Peter was persuaded contained +some mystery, though Steadfast laid it, and not untruly, on the +health of the young stock he kept penned in the caves, which were +all, he hoped, of which Peter was aware. + +All this was harassing, but a greater trouble came in the second +winter. Good Dr. Eales was failing, and the tidings of the King's +execution were a blow that he never recovered. Mrs. Lightfoot had +tears in her eyes when Stead asked after him, week by week, and she +could only say that he was feebler, and spent all his days in prayer +--often with tears. + +At last came peace. He lay still and calm, and sent a message that +young Kenton should be brought to him for a last farewell. + +And as Stead stood sorrowful and awed by his bed side, he bade the +youth never despair or fall away from his hope of the restoration of +the Church. + +"Remember," he said, "she is founded on a rock, and the gates of hell +shall never prevail against her. She shall stand forth for evermore +as the moon, which wanes but to wax again; and I have good hope that +thou wilt see it, my son. He that shall endure unto the end, the +same shall be saved." + +Then Dr. Eales pointed to a small parcel of books, which he had +caused Mrs. Lightfoot to put together, telling Steadfast that he had +selected them alike for devotion and for edification, and that if he +studied them, he would have no doubt when he might deliver up his +trust to a true priest of the Church. + +"And if none should return in my time?" asked Steadfast. + +"Have I not told thee never to despair of God's care for His Church? +Yet His time is not as our time, and it may be--that young as thou +art--the days of renewal may not be when thou shalt see them. Should +it thus be, my son, leave the secret with one whom thou canst +securely trust. Better the sacred vessels should lie hidden than +that thou shouldst show thy faith wanting by surrendering them to +any, save according to the terms of thy vow. See, Steadfast, among +these books is a lighter one, a romance of King Arthur, that I loved +well in my boyhood, and which may not only serve thee as fair pastime +in the winter nights, but will mind thee of thine high and holy +charge, for it goeth deeper than the mere outside." + +His voice was growing weak. Mrs. Lightfoot gave him a cordial, and +Stead knelt by his bedside, felt his hand on his head, and heard his +blessing for the last time. The next market day, when he called at +the good bakester's stall, she told him in floods of tears that the +guest who had brought a blessing on her house, was gone to his rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE GROOM IN GREY. + + + +"Heroes and kings, in exile forced to roam, + Leave swelling phrase and seven-leagued words at home." + SCOTT. + + +Another summer and winter had gone by and harvest time had come +again, when Steadfast with little Ben, now seven years old, for +company, took two sacks of corn to be ground at the mill, where the +skirmish had been fought in which Emlyn's father had been killed. + +The sacks were laid across a packsaddle on a stout white horse, with +which, by diligent saving, Steadfast had contrived to replace +Whitefoot, Ben was promised a ride home when the sacks should have +been emptied, and trotted along in company with Growler by his +brother's side, talking more in an hour than Stead did in a week, and +looking with great interest to be shown the hawthorn bush where Emlyn +had been found. For Stead and Ben were alike in feeling the bright, +merry, capricious, laughing, teasing Emlyn the charm and delight of +home. In trouble, or for real aid, they went to Patience, but who +was like Emlyn for drollery and diversion? Who ever made Stead laugh +as she could, or who so played with Ben, and never, like Rusha, tried +to be maidenly, discreet, nay, dull? + +It was very inconvenient that just as they reached the famous thorn +bush, the white horse began to demonstrate that his shoe was loose. +They were very near the mill, and after disposing of the sacks, the +brothers led the horse on to a forge, about a furlong beyond. It was +not a place of which Stead was fond, as the smith was known to be +strong for the Covenant, and he could not help wishing that the shoe +had come off nearer to his good friend Smith Blane. + +Original-Sin Hopkins, which was the name of the blacksmith, was in +great excitement, as he talked of the crowning mercy vouchsafed at +Worcester, and how the son of the late man, Charles Stewart, had been +utterly defeated, and his people scattered like sheep without a +shepherd. Three or four neighbours were standing about, listening to +the tidings he had heard from a messenger on the way to Bristol. One +was leaning on the unglazed window frame, and a couple of old men +basking, even in that September day, in the glow of the fire, while a +few women and children loitered around, thinking it rather fine to +hear Master Original-Sin declaim on the backsliding of the Scots in +upholding the son of the oppressor. + +The shoeing of Stead Kenton's horse seemed a trivial matter beneath +the attention of such an orator; but he vouchsafed to bid his lad +drive in a few nails; and just as the task was commenced, there came +to the forge a lady in a camlet riding dress and black silk hood, +walking beside a stout horse, which a groom was leading with great +care, for it had evidently lost a shoe. And it had a saddle with a +pillion on which they had been riding double, after the usual fashion +of travelling for young and healthy gentlewomen in those days of bad +roads. + +The lady, a quiet, self-possessed person, not in her first youth, +came forward, and in the first pause in the blacksmith's declamation, +begged that he would attend to her horse. + +He gave a nod as if intending her to wait till Steadfast's work was +done, and went on. "And has it not been already brought about that +the man of blood hath--" + +"So please you," interrupted the lady, "to shoe my horse at once. I +am on my way to Abbotsleigh, and my cousin, Mr. Norton, knows that my +business brooks no delay." + +Mr. Norton, though a Royalist, was still the chief personage in that +neighbourhood, and his name produced sufficient effect on Original- +Sin to make him come forward, look at the hoof, and select a shoe +from those hung on the walls of his forge. Little Ben looked on, +highly delighted to watch the proceedings, and Steadfast, as he +waited, glanced towards the servant, a well-made young man, in a +trim, sober suit of grey cloth, with a hat a good deal slouched over +a dark swarthy face, that struck Stead as having been seen by him +before. + +After all, the lady's horse was the first finished. Hopkins looked +at all the other three shoes, tapped them with his hammer, and found +them secure, received the money from the lady, but gave very slight +salutations as the pair remounted, and rode away. + +Then he twisted up his features and observed, "Here is a +dispensation! As I am a living soul, this horse shoe was made at +Worcester. I know the make. My cousin was apprenticed there." + +"Well, outlandish work goes against one's stomach," said one of the +bystanders, "but what of that, man?" + +"Seest thou not, Jabez Holt? Is not the young man there one of them +who trouble Israel, and the lady is striving for his escape. Mr. +Norton is well known as a malignant at heart, and his man Pope hath +been to and fro these last days as though evil were being concerted. +I would that good Master Hatcham were here." + +"Poor lad. Let him alone. 'Tis hard he should not get off," said +one of the bystanders. + +"I tell thee he is one of the brood of Satan, who have endeavoured to +break up the godly peace of the saints, and fill this goodly land +with blood and fire. Is it not said 'Root them out that they be no +more a people?'" + +"Have after them, then," said another of the company. "We want no +more wars, to be taking our cows and killing our pigs. After them, I +say!" + +"You haven't got no warrant, 'Riginal," said a more cautious old man. +"Best be on the safe side. Go after constable first, and raise the +hue-and-cry. You'll easy overtake them. Breakneck Hill be sore for +horseflesh." + +"I'd fain see Master Hatcham," said the smith, scratching his head. + +Stead had meantime been listening as he paid his pence. It flashed +over him now where he had beheld those intensely dark eyes, and the +very peculiar cut of features, though they had then been much more +boyish. It was when he had seen the Prince of Wales going to the +Cathedral on Christmas Day, in the midst of all his plumed generals, +with their gay scarfs, and rich lace collars. + +He had put little Ben on horseback, and turned away into the long, +dirty lane, or rather ditch, that led homeward, before, through his +consternation, there dawned on him what to do. A gap in the hedge +lay near, through which he dragged the horse into a pasture field, to +the great amazement of Ben, saying "See here, Ben, those folk want to +take yonder groom in grey. We will go and warn them." + +Ben heartily assented. + +"I like the groom," he said. "He jumped me five times off the +horseblock, and he patted Growler and called him a fine fellow, who +didn't deserve his name--worth his salt he was sure. We won't give +Growler salt, Stead, but don't let that ugly preaching man get the +good groom!" + +Steadfast was by this time on the horse behind his little brother, +pressing through the fields, which by ancient custom were all thrown +open from harvest time till Christmas; and coming out into the open +bit of common that the travellers had to pass before arriving at +Breakneck Hill, he was just in time to meet them as they trotted on. +He hardly knew what he said, as he doffed his hat, and exclaimed-- + +"Madam, you are pursued." + +"Pursued!" Both at once looked back. + +"There's time," said Steadfast; "but Smith Hopkins said one of the +shoes was Worcester make, and he is gone to fetch the constable and +raise the hue-and-cry." + +"And you are a loyal--I mean an honest lad--come to warn us," said +the groom. + +"Yes, sir. I think, if you will trust me, they can be put off the +track." + +"Trusty! Your face answers for you. Eh, fair Mistress Jane?" + +"Sir, it must be as you will." + +"This way then, sir," said Steadfast, who was off his own horse by +this time, and leading it into a rough track through a thicket whence +some timber had been drawn out in the summer. + +"They will see where we turned off," whispered the lady. + +"No, ma'am, not unless you get off the hard ground. Besides they +will go on the way to Breakneck Hill. Hark! I hear a hallooing. +Not near--no--no fear, madam." + +They were by this time actually hidden from the common by the +copsewood, and the distant shouts of the hue-and-cry kept all silent +till they were fairly out beyond it, not far from Stead's own fields. + +Happily they had hitherto met no one, but there was danger now of +encountering gleaners, and indeed Stead's white horse could be seen +from a distance, and might attract attention to his companions. + +"Hallo!" exclaimed the groom, as they halted under shelter of a +pollard willow. "I've heard tell that a white horse is the surest +mark for a bullet in a battle, and if that be Breakneck Hill, as you +call it, your beast may bring the sapient smith down on us. Had we +not best part?" + +"Aye," said Steadfast. "I was thinking what was best. Whither were +you going?' + +He blurted it out, not knowing to whom to address himself, or how to +frame his speech. The lady hesitated, but her companion named Castle +Carey. + +"Then, please your honour," said Stead, impartially addressing both, +"methinks the best course would be, if this--" + +"Groom William," suggested that personage. + +"Would go down into yonder covert with my little brother here, where +my poor place is, and where my sister can show a safe hiding-place, +in case Master Hopkins suspects me, and follows; but I scarce think +he will. Then meanwhile, if the lady will trust herself to me--" + +"O! there is no danger for me," she said. + +"Go on, my Somerset Solomon," said the groom. + +"Then would I take the lady on for a short space to a good woman in +Elmwood there. And on the way this horse shall lose his Worcester +shoe, and I will get Smith Blane, who is an honest fellow, to put on +another; and when the chase is like to be over, I will come back for +him and put you on the cross lane for Castle Carey, which don't join +with the road you came by, till just ere you get into the town." + +"There's wit as well as cheese in Somerset. What say you, my +guardian angel?" said Groom William. + +"It sounds well," she reluctantly answered. "Does Mr. Norton know +you, young man?" + +"No, madam," said Stead, with much stumbling. "But I have seen him +in Bristol. My Lady Elmwood knew of me, and Sir George Elmwood too, +and the Dean could say I was honest." + +"Which the face of you says better than your tongue," said the groom. +"Have with you then, my bold little elf," he added, taking the bridle +of the horse on which Ben was still seated. "Or one moment more. +You knew me, my lad--are there any others like to do so?" + +"I had seen you, sir, at Bristol, and that is why I would not have +you shew yourself in Elmwood. But my sister has never seen you, and +the only neighbours who ever come in are the woodward and his wife. +He served in my Lord of Essex's army, but he has never seen you. +Moreover, he was to be at the squire's to-day helping to stack his +corn. Ben, do you tell Patience that _he_"--again taking refuge in a +pronoun--"is a gentleman in danger, and she must see to his safety +for an hour or two till I come back for him." + +"A gentleman in danger," repeated Ben, anxious to learn his lesson. + +"He and I will take care of that," said the grey-coated groom gaily, +as he turned the horse's head, and waved his hat in courtly fashion +to the lady so that Steadfast saw that his hair was cropped into +black stubble. + +"Ah!" said the lady with a sigh, for the loss of a Cavalier's locks +was a dreadful thing. "You know him then." + +"I have seen him at Bristol," said Steadfast, with considerably less +embarrassment, though still in the clownish way he could not shake +off. + +"And you know how great is the trust you--nay, we have undertaken. +But, as he says, he has learnt the true fidelity of a leathern +jerkin." + +Then Jane Lane told Steadfast of the King's flight from Worcester, +and adventures at Boscobel with the Penderells, and how she had +brought him to Abbotsleigh, in hopes of finding a ship at Bristol, +but that failing, it was too perilous for him to remain there, so +that she was helping him as far as Castle Carey on his way to Trent. + +Before they were clear of the wood, Stead asked her to pause. He +knocked off the tell-tale shoe with the help of a stone, threw it +away into the middle of a bramble, and then after a little +consultation, she decided on herself encountering the smith, not +perhaps having much confidence in the readiness of speech or +invention of her companion. + +When they arrived at the forge, where good-humoured, brawny Harry +Blane was no small contrast to his gaunt compeer Original-Sin +Hopkins, she averred that she was travelling from her relations, and +having been obliged to send her servant back for a packet that had +been forgotten, this good youth, who had come to her help when her +horse had cast a shoe, had undertaken to guide her to the smith's, +and to take her again to meet her man, if he did not come for her +himself. Might she be allowed in the meantime to sit with Master +Blane's good housewife? + +Master Blane was only too happy, and Mistress Jane Lane was +accordingly introduced to the pleasant kitchen, with sanded floor, +and big oak table, open hearth, and beaupots in the oriel window +where the spinning-wheel stood, and where the neat and hospitable +Dame Blane made her kindly welcome. + +Steadfast, marvelling at her facility of speech, and glad the king's +safety did not depend on his uttering such a story, told Blane that +he must go after his cattle and should look after the groom on the +way. + +As he walked through the wood, and drew near the glade, he was +dismayed to hear voices, and to see Peter Pierce leaning against the +wall of the house, but Rusha came running up to him exclaiming, "Oh! +Stead, here is this good stranger that you met, telling us all about +brother Jeph." + +"Yes, my kind host," said the grey-coated guest, with a slight nasal +intonation, rising as Stead came near, "I find that you are the very +lad my friend and brother Jephthah Kenton, that singular Christian +man, bade me search out. 'If you go near Bristol, beloved,' quoth +he,' search me out my brothers Steadfast and Benoni, and my sisters, +Patience and Jerusha, and greet them well from me, and bear witness +of me to them. They dwell, said he, in a lonely hut in the wood +side, and with them a fair little maiden, sprung of the evil and +idolatrous seed of the malignants, but whom their pious nurture may +yet bring to a knowledge of the truth,' and by that token, I knew +that it was the same." There was an odd little twinkle towards Emlyn +just then. + +"And Stead, Jeph is an officer," said Patience, who was busied in +setting before the visitor on a little round table, the best ale, +bread, cheese, and butter that her hut afforded, together with an +onion, which, he declared, was "what his good grandfather, a valiant +man for the godly, had ever loved best." + +"An officer! Aye is he. A captain of his Ironside troop, very like +to be Colonel ere long." + +Stead was absolutely bewildered, and could not find speech, beyond an +awkward "Where?" + +"Where was he when I last saw him? Charging down the main street of +Worcester, where the malignants and Charles Stewart made their last +stand. Smiting them hip and thigh with the sword of Gedaliah, nay, +my tongue tripped, 'twas Gideon I would say." + +"Aye," said the woodward, "Squire had the tidings two days back in a +news letter. It was a mighty victory of General Cromwell." + +"In sooth it was," returned the groom; "and I hear he hath ordered a +solemn thanksgiving therefore." + +"But Jephthah," put in Patience, "you are sure he was not hurt?" + +"The hand of Heaven protecteth the godly," again through his nose +spoke the guest. "He was well when I left him; being sent south by +my master to attend my mistress, and so being no more among them that +divide the spoil." + +"Where have you served, sir?" demanded the woodward. + +"I am last from Scotland," was the answer. "A godly land!" + +"Ah! I know nought of Scotland," said the woodward. "I was disbanded +when my Lord Essex gave up the command, more's the pity, for he was +for doing things soberly and reasonably, and ever in the name of the +poor King that is gone! You look too young to have seen fire at +Edgehill or Exeter, sir." + +"Did I not?" said the youth. "Aye, I was with my father, though only +as a boy apart on a hill." + +The reminiscences that were exchanged astonished Steadfast beyond +measure, and really made him doubt whether what had previously passed +had not been all a dream. The language was so like Jephthah's own +too, all except that one word "fair" applied to Emlyn; and Patience, +Rusha, and the Pierces were entirely without a suspicion, that their +guest was other than he seemed. How much must have been picked out +of little Ben, without the child's knowing it, to make such acting +possible? + +And how was the woodward, who was so much delighted with the visitor, +to be shaken off? Stead stood silent, puzzled, anxious, and +wondering what to do next, a very heavy and awkward host, so that +even Patience wondered what made him so shy. + +Suddenly, however, a whistle, and the sharp yap of a dog was heard +across the stream. Nanny Pierce exclaimed, "There are those rascal +lads after the rabbits again!" and the gamekeeper's instinct awoke. +Pierce shook hands with his fellow soldier, regretted he could not +see more of him, and received his promise that if he came that way +again, he would share a pottle of ale at the lodge; and then tramped +off after his poachers over the stream. + +Groom William then kissed the young women (the usual mode of +salutation then), Nanny Pierce and all, thanked Patience, and looked +about for the goodly little malignant, as he called Emlyn, but she +was nowhere to be seen, and Stead hurried him off through the wood. + +"Ho! ho! sly rascal," said Charles, as they turned away. "You're +jealous! You would keep the game to yourself." + +Stead had no answer to make to this banter, the very notion of Emlyn +as aught but the orphan in his charge was new to him. + +They were not yet beyond the gulley when from between the hazel +stems, out sprang Emlyn, and kneeling on the ground caught the King's +hand and kissed it. + +"Fairy-haunted wood!" cried Charles, and indeed it was done with +great natural grace, and the little figure with the glowing cheeks, +her hood flying back so as to shew her brilliant eyes sparkling with +delight and enthusiasm, was a truly charming vision. "It is like one +of the masques of the merry days of old." And as he retained her +hand and returned the salute on her lips, "Queen Mab herself, for who +else saw through thy poor brother sovereign's mean disguise?" + +"I had seen your Majesty with the army," replied Emlyn, modestly +blushing a good deal. + +"Ah! The Fates have provided me with a countenance the very worst +for straits like mine. But that matters the less since it is only my +worthy subjects who see through the grey coat. I would lay my crown, +if I had it, to one of those crispy ringlets of yours, that Queen Mab +was the poacher who drew off the crop-eared keeper." + +"'Tis Robin Goodfellow, please your Majesty, who leads clowns +astray," said Emlyn in the same tone. + +"Sometimes a horse I'll be, sometimes a hound," quoted the King. + +Stead could only listen in amazement without a word to say for +himself. Near the confines of the wood, he had to leave Emlyn to +guide the King over a field-path while he fetched Mrs. Jane Lane and +the horse to meet them beyond, as it was wiser for the King not to +shew himself in the village. Again Charles jested on his supposed +jealousy of leaving the fair Queen Mab alone in such company, and on +his blunt answer, "I only feared the saucy child might be +troublesome, sir." + +At which the King laughed the more, and even Emlyn smiled a little. + +All was safely accomplished, and when Steadfast had brought Mrs. Lane +to the deep lane, they found the King and Emlyn standing by the +stile, and could hear the laughter of both as they approached. + +"He can always thus while away his cares," said Jane Lane in quite a +motherly tone. "And well it is that he is of so joyous a nature." + +Perhaps it was said as a kind of excuse for the levity of one in so +much danger chattering to the little woodland maid so mirthfully, and +like one on an equality. When they appeared, Charles bestowed a kiss +on Emlyn's lips, and shook hands cordially with Steadfast, lamenting +that he had no reward, nor even a token to leave with them. + +Stead made his rustic bow, pinched his hat, and muttered, "It is +enough to--" + +"Enough reward to have served your Majesty," said Emlyn, "he would +say." + +"Yea, and it is your business to find words for him, pretty one," +said the King. "A wholesome partnership--eh? He finds worth, and +you find wit! And so we leave the fairy buried in the woodland." + +And on the wanderers rode, while Steadfast and Emlyn turned back over +the path through the fields; and she eagerly told that the King had +slept at Blythedale on his way to Worcester, and that though Sir +Harry was dead, his son was living in Holland. "And if the King gets +there safely, he will tell Master George, and if my uncle is with +him, no doubt he will send for me, or mayhap, come and fetch me." + +There was a shock of pain in Steadfast's heart. + +"You would be glad?" + +"Poor old Stead. I would scarce be glad to quit you. I doubt me if +the Hague, as they call it, would show me any one I should care for +as much as for your round shoulders, you good old lubber! But you +should come too, and the King would give you high preferment, when he +comes to his own again, and then we won't be buried alive in this +Hermit's Gulley." + +She danced about in exultation, hardly knowing what wild nonsense she +talked, and Stead was obliged to check her sharply in an attempt to +sing + + + "The king shall enjoy his own again." + + +"But Stead," asked Ben, after long reflection, "how could Groom +William know all about brother Jeph?" + +A question Stead would not hear, not wishing to destroy confidence in +His Majesty's veracity. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +JEPH'S GOOD FORTUNE. + + + +"Still sun and rain made emerald green the loveliest fields on earth, + And gave the type of deathless hope, the little shamrock, birth." + IRISH BALLAD. + + +The King's visit left traces. Emlyn had become far more restless and +consciously impatient of the dullness and seclusion of the Hermit's +Gulley. Not only did she, as before, avail herself of every pretext +for going into the village, or for making expeditions to Bristol, but +she openly declared the place a mere grave, intolerable to live in, +and she confided to Jerusha that the King had declared that it was a +shame to hide her there--such charms were meant for the world. + +The only way of getting into the world that occurred to her was going +into service at Bristol, and she talked of this whenever she +specially hated her spinning, or if Patience ventured to complain of +her gadding about, gossipping with Nanny Pierce or Kitty Blane, or +getting all the young lads in Elmwood round her, to be amused and +teased by her lively rattle. + +Patience began to be decidedly of opinion that it would be much +better for all parties that the girl should be under a good mistress. +Both she and Rusha were over sixteen years old; and though it was +much improved, the house was hardly fit for so many inhabitants, and +both Goody Grace and Dame Blane had told Patience that it would be +better, both for the awkward Rusha and the gay Emlyn, if they could +have some household training. + +Mistress Elmwood, at the Hall, had noted the family at church, and +observed their perfect cleanliness and orderliness, and it was +intimated that at the Ladyday hiring, she would take Rusha among her +maidens. + +Shy Rusha cried a great deal, and wished Emlyn would go instead, but +Mrs. Elmwood would not have hired that flighty damsel on any account, +and Emlyn was sure it would be but mopish work to live under a +starched old Puritan. Mrs. Lightfoot was therefore applied to, to +find a service for Emlyn Gaythorn, and she presently discovered one +Mistress Sloggett, a haberdasher's wife of wealth and consideration, +who wanted a young maidservant. + +Emlyn was presented to her by the bakester, undertook for everything, +and was hired by the twelvemonth, going off in high glee at the +variety and diversion she expected to enjoy at the sign of the "Sheep +and Shears," though clinging with much tenderness to her friends as +they parted. + +"Remember, Emlyn, this is the home where you will always be welcome," +said Stead. + +"As if I wanted to _remember_ it," said Emlyn, with her sweet smile. +"As if I did not know where be kind hearts." + +The hovel seemed greatly deserted when the two young girls were gone. +Patience sorely missed Rusha, her diligent little helper, and +latterly her companion too; and the lack of Emlyn's merry tongue made +all around seem silent and tedious. Steadfast especially missed the +girl. Perhaps it was due to the King's gibes that her absence fully +opened to him the fact that he knew not how to do without her. After +his usual fashion, he kept the discovery to himself, not even talking +to Patience about it, being very shamefaced at the mere thought, +which gave a delicious warmth to his heart, though it made him +revolve schemes of saving up till he had a sufficient sum, with which +to go to the squire and propose to meet him half-way in rebuilding +the old house; not such an expensive matter as it would be in these +days. There, in full view of all that passed down Elmwood Lane, +Emlyn could not complain of solitude, he thought! But there was this +difficulty in the way, that Jephthah had never resigned his claims as +eldest son, and might come home at any time, and take possession of +all the little farm at which Steadfast had worked for seven years. + +The war was over, and nothing had been heard of Jeph, except the +king's apocryphal history, since his visit after the taking of +Bristol. Patience had begun to call him "poor Jeph," and thought he +must have been killed, but Stead had ascertained that the army had +not been disbanded, and believed him still to be employed. + +At length, one market day, Mrs. Lightfoot told him, "There has been +one asking for you, Kenton, Seth Coleman, the loriner's son, that +went soldiering when your brother did. He landed last week from +Ireland with a wooden leg, and said he, 'Where shall I come to the +speech of one Steadfast Kenton? I have a greeting from his brother, +the peculiarly favoured,' or some such word, 'Jephthah Kenton, who +told me I should hear tidings of him from Mrs. Bakester Lightfoot, at +the sign of the "Wheatsheaf."' I told him where you abode, and he +said he knew as much from your brother, but he could not be tramping +out to Elmwood on a wooden leg. So says I 'I will send Steadfast +Kenton to you next market day.' You will find him at the sign at the +'Golden Bridle,' by the Wharf Stairs." + +Stead had no sooner disposed of his wares than he went in search of +the loriner's shop, really one for horse furniture. There was a +bench outside, looking out on the wharf and shipping, and on it was +seated the returned soldier, with a little party round him, to whom +he was expounding what sounded more military than religious: + +"And so, the fort having been summoned and quarter promised, if so be +no resistance were made, always excepting Popish priests, and-- Eh! +What now? Be you an old neighbour? I don't remember your face." + +"I have seen you, though. I am Jephthah Kenton's brother, that you +asked for." + +"I mind you were but a stripling in those days, and yet in gross +darkness. Yea, I have a letter for thee from my comrade, who is come +to high preferment." + +"Jeph!" + +"Yea, things have prospered with him. He was a serjeant even before +we sailed for Ireland, and there he did such good service in hunting +out Popish priests and rebels in their lurking places in the bogs and +mountains, that the Lord General hath granted him the land that he +took with his sword and his bow, even a meadow land fat and fertile, +Ballyshea by name, full of the bulls of Bashan, goodly to look at. +And to make all sure, he hath taken to wife the daughter of the +former owner of the land a damsel fair to look upon." + +"Jeph! But sure--the Irish are Papists." + +"Not the whole of them. There are those that hold to Prelacy and +call themselves King's men, following the bloody and blinded Duke of +Ormond. Of them was this maid's father, whom we slew at the taking +of Clonmel, where I got this wound and left my good right leg. So is +the race not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but time and +chance happeneth to all. When I could hobble about once more on +crutches, I found that the call had come to divide and possess the +gate of the enemy, and that the meads of Ballyshea had fallen to +Serjeant Kenton. Moreover, in the castle hard by, dwelt the widow +and her daughter, who cried to General Lambert for their land, and +what doth he say to Jephthah, but 'Make it sure, Kenton. Take the +maid to wife, and so none will disturb you in the fair heritage.' +Yea, and mine old comrade would have me sojourn with him till I was +quite restored, so far as a man with one limb short may be. I tell +you 'tis a castle, man." + +"Our Jeph lord of a castle?" + +"Aye, even so. Twice as big as Elmwood Hall, if half were not in +ruins, and the other half the rats run over like peas out of a bag. +While as to the servants, there are dozens of them, mostly barefoot +and in rags, who will run at the least beck from the old mistress or +the young mistress, though they scowl at the master. But he is +taking order with them, and teaching them who is to be obeyed." + +"Then our Jephthah is a great man?" + +"You may say that--a bigger man than the squire at Elmwood, or at +Leigh I can tell you. Only I would give all that bare mountain and +bog, full of wild, Popish, red-haired kernes for twenty yards in a +tidy street at Bristol, with decent godly folk around me. Murdering +or being murdered, I have marvelled more than once whether the men of +Israel were as sick of it in Canaan as I was at Drogheda, but the cry +ever was, 'Be not slack in the work.' But I will bring you +Jephthah's letter. He could not write when he went off, but he could +not be a serjeant without, so we taught him--I and Corporal Faith- +Wins." + +Jephthah's handwriting was of a bold description doing honour to his +tutors, but the letter was very brief, though to the purpose-- + + +"Dear Brothers and Sisters, + +"This is to do you, to wit, that by the grace of Heaven on my poor +endeavours I am come to high preferment. A goodly spoil hath fallen +unto me, namely, the castle and lands of Ballyshea, and therewith the +daughter of the owner, deceased, by name Ellen Roche, whom I have +espoused in marriage, and am bringing to the light of truth. I have +castle, lands, flocks and herds, men-servants and maid-servants in +abundance, and I give thanks to Him who hath rewarded His servant. + +"Therefore I wholly resign to you, my brethren, Steadfast and Benoni, +any rights of heirship that may be mine in respect of the farmstead +of Elmwood, and will never, neither I nor my heirs, trouble you about +it further. Yet if Ben, or my sisters Patience and Jerusha, be +willing to cross over to me in this land of promise they shall be +kindly welcome, and I shall find how to bestow them well in marriage. +Mine old comrade, Seth Coleman, will tell them how to reach the +Castle of Ballyshea, and how to find safe convoy, and tell you more +of the estate wherewith it has pleased Heaven to reward my poor +services. + +"And so commending you to His holy keeping, no more from your loving +brother, + "JEPHTHAH KENTON." + + +The spelling of this was queer, even according to the ways of the +time, but it was not hard to understand, and it might well fill +Steadfast with amazement. + +He longed to share the tidings with Emlyn, but he did not feel as if +it would be right to let anyone hear before Patience. Only as he +went back and called again at Mrs. Lightfoot's for his basket, she +asked whether he had found Seth Coleman, and if his brother had come +to such preferment as was reported. + +"Yea," said Steadfast, "he hath a grant of land, and a castle, and a +wife." + +"Eh, now! Lack-a-day! 'Tis alway the most feather-pated that fly +highest." + +Cromwell's Ironsides feather-pated! But that did not trouble +Steadfast, who all the way home, as he rode his donkey, was thinking +of the difference it made in his prospects, and in what he had to +offer Emlyn to be able to feel his tenure so much more secure. + +Patience and Ben listened in utter amazement ending in a not +complimentary laugh on the part of the former. "Our Jeph lord of a +castle? I'd like to see him." + +"Would you? He has a welcome and a husband ready for you and Rusha +both?" + +"D'ye think I would go and leave you for Jeph, if he were lord of ten +castles?" + +And Ben, whose recollections of Jeph were very dim, exclaimed, "Lord +of a castle! I shall have a crow over Nick Blane now!" + +Rusha, who was well content with her service at the hall, had no mind +for such a terrible enterprise as a journey "beyond seas" to Ireland, +and mayhap Jeph's prospective husband was a less tempting idea, +because a certain young groom had shown symptoms of making her his +sweetheart. + +Steadfast thought often of telling the great secret of his heart to +his faithful sister Patience, but his extreme shyness and modesty, +and the reserve in which he always lived, seemed to make it +impossible to him to broach the subject, and there might be a certain +consciousness that Emlyn, while his own pet, had been very +troublesome to Patience. + +Stead was two-and-twenty, a sturdy well-grown fellow, but the hard +work he had been obliged to do as a growing lad, had rounded his +shoulders, and he certainly did not walk like the men who had been +drilled for soldiers. His face was healthy and sunburnt, with fair +short hair and straightforward grey eyes. At the first glance people +would say, "What a heavy-looking, clownish young man," but at the +second there was something that made a crying child in the street +turn to him for help in distress, and made the marketing dames secure +that he told the truth about his wares. + +Patience was rather startled by seeing him laboriously tying up a +posy of wild rose, honeysuckle, and forget-me-not, and told him the +Bristol folks would not buy those common wild flowers. + +"They are for none of them," replied Stead, a little gruffly, and +colouring hotly at being caught. + +"Oh!" said Patience, in her simplicity. "Are they for Emlyn? I do +not think her mistress will let you see her." + +"I shall," said Stead. "She ought to know of our good fortune." + +"He has forgotten that Emlyn is not our sister after all," said +Patience, as she went back to her washing. + +"She might as well," said Ben, who could not remember the hut without +Emlyn. + +Stead had better luck than Patience foreboded from a household where +the servants were kept very strictly, for there was a good deal of +curiosity in Bristol about the report that a lad from the +neighbourhood had won an Irish heiress and castle, and when Stead +presented himself at the door of the house under the overhanging +gable, and begged to see Emlyn Gaythorn to give her some tidings, the +maid who opened it exclaimed, "Is it anent the castle in Ireland?" + +Stead awkwardly said "Aye, mistress." And as it became evident that +the readiest way of learning the facts would be his admission, he was +let into the house into a sort of wainscotted hall, where he found +the mistress herself superintending three or four young sempstresses +who were making shirts for the gentlemen of the garrison. Emlyn was +among them, and sprang up looking as if white seams were not half so +congenial as nutting in the gulley, but she looked prettier than +ever, as the little dark curls burst out of the prim white cap, she +sniffed the flowers with ecstasy, and her eyes danced with delight +that did Stead's heart good to see. He needed it, for to stand there +hat in hand before so many women all staring at him filled him with +utter confusion, so that he could scarcely see, and stumbled along +when Mrs. Sloggett called, "Come here, young man. Is it true that it +is your brother who has won a castle and a countess in Ireland?" + +"Not a countess, ma'am," said Stead, gruff with shyness, "but a +castle." + +Mrs. Sloggett put him through a perfect catechism on Jeph and his +fortunes, which he answered at first almost monosyllabically, though +afterwards he could speak a little more freely, when the questions +did not go quite beyond his knowledge. Finally he succeeded in +asking permission to take Emlyn and show her his brother's letter. +Mrs. Sloggett was gracious to the brother of the lord of a castle, +even in Ireland, and moreover Emlyn was viewed in the light of one of +the Kenton family. + +So leave was granted to take Master Kenton (he had never been so +called before) out into the garden of pot-herbs behind the house, and +Emlyn with her dancing step led the way, by a back door down a few +steps into a space where a paved walk led between two beds of +vegetables, bordered with a narrow edge of pinks, daisies, and +gilliflowers, to a seat under the shade of an old apple tree, looking +out, as this was high ground, over the broad river full of shipping. + +"Stead! Stead, good old Stead," she cried, "to come just as I was +half dead with white seam and scolding! Emlyn here! Emlyn there! +And she's ready with her fingers too. She boxed mine ears till they +sang again yesterday." + +"The jade," muttered Stead. "What for?" + +"Only for looking out at window," said Emlyn. "How could I help it, +when there were six outlandish sailors coming up the street leading a +big black bear. Well, Stead, and are you all going to live with Jeph +in his castle, and will you take me?" + +"He asks me not," said Stead, and began to read the letter, to which +Emlyn listened with many little remarks. "So Patience and Rusha wont +go. I marvel at them, yet 'tis like sober-sided old Patty! And +mayhap among the bogs and hills 'tis lonelier than in the gulley. I +mind a trooper who had served in Ireland telling my father it was so +desolate he would not banish a dog there. But what did he say about +home, Stead, I thought it was all yours?" + +Stead explained, and also the possibility of endeavouring to rebuild +the farmhouse. If he could go to Mr. Elmwood with thirty pounds he +thought it might be done. "And then, Emlyn, when that is saved (and +I have five pounds already), will you come and make it your home for +good and all?" + +"Stead! oh Stead! You don't mean it--you-- Why, that's +sweethearting!" + +"Well, so it is, Emlyn," said Stead, a certain dignity taking the +place of his shyness now it had come to the point. "I ask you to be +my little sweetheart now, and my wife when I have enough to make our +old house such as it was when my good mother was alive." + +"Stead, Stead, you always were good to me! Will it take long, think +you? I would save too, but I have but three crowns the year, and +that sour-faced Rachel takes all the fees'" + +"The thing is in the hands of God. It must depend on the crops, but +with this hope before me, I will work as never man worked before," +said Stead. + +"And I will be mistress there!" cried Emlyn. + +"My wife will be mistress wherever I am sweet." + +"Ah, ha!" she laughed, "now I have something to look to, I shall heed +little when the dame flouts me and scolds me, and Joan twits me with +her cousin the 'prentice." + +They had only just time to go through the ceremony of breaking a +tester between them before a shrill call of "Emlyn" resounded down +the garden. Mrs. Sloggett thought quite time enough had been wasted +over the young man, and summoned the girl back to her sewing. + +Emlyn made a face of disgust, very comical and very joyous, but as +the good dame was actually coming in search of her no more could +pass. + +Stead went away overflowing with happiness, and full of plans of +raising the means of bringing back this sunshine of his hearth. +Perhaps it was well that, though slow of thought, Patience still had +wit enough in the long hours of the day to guess that the nosegay +boded something. She could not daunt or damp Steadfast's joy--nay, +she had affection enough for the pretty little being she had +cherished for seven years to think she shared it--but she knew all +the time that there would be no place in that new farmhouse for her, +and there was a chill over her faithful heart at times. But what +would that signify, she thought, provided that Stead was happy? + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +PATIENCE. + + + +"I'm the wealthy miller yet." + TENNYSON. + + +Most devoted was the diligence with which Steadfast toiled and saved +with the hope before him. Since the two young girls were no longer +at home, and Ben had grown into a strong lad, Stead held that many +little indulgences might be dispensed with, one by one, either +because they cost money or prevented it from being acquired. No +cheese was bought now, and he wanted to sell all the butter and all +the apples that were not defective. + +Patience contrived that Ben should never be stinted of his usual +fare; and she would, not allow that he needed no warm coat for the +winter, but she said nothing about the threadbare state of her own +petticoat, and she stirred nothing but the thinnest buttermilk into +her own porridge, and not even that when the little pigs required it. +It was all for Stead. + +Patience at twenty was not an uncomely maiden so far as kindly blue +eyes, fresh healthy cheeks, and perfect neatness could make her +agreeable to look at, but there was an air of carefulness, and of +having done a great deal of hard work, which had made her seem out of +the reach of the young men who loitered and talked with the maidens +on the village green, and looked wistfully at the spot where the +maypole had once stood. + +Patience was the more amazed by a visit from the Miller Luck and his +son. The son was a fine looking young man of three or four and +twenty, who had about three years before married a farmer's daughter, +and had lost her at the birth of her second child. There he stood, +almost as bashful as Stead himself could have been under the +circumstances, while his father paid the astonished Patience the +compliment of declaring that they had put their heads together, and +made up their minds that there was no wench in those parts so like to +be a good mother to the babes, nor so thrifty a housewife as she; +and, that, though there were plenty of maids to be had who could +bring something in their hands, her ways were better than any portion +she could bring. + +It really was a splendid offer. The position of miller's wife was +very prosperous, and the Lucks were highly respected. The old miller +was good and kindly, Andrew Luck the steadiest of young men, and +though not seen to much advantage as he stood sheepishly moving from +leg to leg, he was a very fine, tall, handsome youth, with a certain +sweetness and wistfulness in his countenance. Patience had no +scruples about previous love and courtship. That was not the point +as she answered-- + +"Thank you, Master Luck, you are very good; but I cannot leave my +brothers." + +"Let the big one get a wife of his own then," and, as Patience shook +her head, and glanced at where Ben, shy of strangers, was cutting +rushes, "and if you be tender on the young one, there would be work +for him about the place. I know you have been a good mother to him, +you'd be the same to our little ones. Come, Andrew, can't ye say a +word for yourself?" + +"Come, Patience, do 'ee come!" pleaded poor Andrew, and the tears +even sprang to his eyes. "I'd be very good to thee, and I know thou +would'st be to my poor babes." + +Patience's heart really warmed to him, and still more to the babes, +but she could only hold out. + +"You must find another," she said. + +"Come, you need not be coy, my lass," said the old miller. "You'll +not get a better offer, and Andrew has no time nor heart either for +running about courting. What he wants is a good wife to cheer him +up, and see to the poor little children." + +It was powerful pleading, and Patience felt it. + +"Aye, Master Miller," she said, "but you see I'm bound not to leave +Steadfast till he is married. He could not get on no ways without +me." + +"Then why--a plague on it--don't he wed and have done with it?" + +"He cannot," said Patience, "till he has made up enough to build up +our old house, but that won't be yet awhile--for years maybe; and he +could not do it without me to help him." + +"And what's to become of you when you've let your best years go by a- +toiling for him, and your chance is gone by, and his wife turns you +to the door?" said Master Luck, not very delicately. + +"That God will provide," said Patience, reverently. "Anyway, I must +cleave to Steadfast though 'tis very good of you, Master Luck and +Master Andrew, and I never could have thought of such a thing, and I +am right sorry for the little ones." + +"If you would only come and see them!" burst out the poor young +father. "You never see such a winsome little poppet as Bess. And +they be so young now, they'd never know you were not their own +mother." + +"Don't, don't, Master Andrew!" cried Patience, "I tell you I'd come +if I could, but you can't wait, and they can't wait; and you must +find a good mother at once for them, for I have passed my word to +hold by Stead till he is married, and I must keep to it." + +"Very well, my lass," said the miller, grimly. "There's wenches +better portioned and better favoured than you, and I hope you won't +have to repent of missing a good offer." + +Of course he said it as if he hoped she would. Patience cried +heartily when they were gone. Ben came up to her and glowered after +them, declaring he wouldn't have his Patty go to be only a step- +mother to troublesome brats; but Stead, when he came to know of it, +looked grave, and said it was very good of Pat; but he wished she +could have kept the young fellow in play till she was ready for him. + +Goody Grace, who was looking after the children till the stepmother +could be found, came and expostulated with Patience, telling her she +was foolish to miss such a chance, and that she would find out her +mistake when Stead married and that little flighty, light-headed +wench made the place too hot to hold her. What would she do then? + +"Come and help you nurse the folk, Goody," said Patience, cheerfully. + +Her heart would fail her sometimes at the outlook, but she was too +busy to think much about it. Only the long evenings had been +pleasanter when Stead used to teach Ben to read Dr. Eales's books and +tell her bits such as she could understand than now when he grudged a +candle big enough to be of any use, and was only plaiting rushes and +reckoning up what everything would bring. + +Ben was a bright little fellow, and could read as well as his +brother. He longed for school, for when boys were not obliged to +learn, some of them wished to do so. There was a free grammar school +about three miles off to which he wanted to go, and Patience, who was +proud of his ability, wished to send him, neither of them thinking +anything of the walk. + +Stead, however, could see no use in more learning than he had +himself. Neither he nor Jeph had been to school. Why should the +child go? He could not be spared just as he was getting old enough +to be of some use and save time, which was money. + +And when the little fellow showed his disappointment, Stead was even +surly in telling him "they wanted no upstarts." + +It was a hard winter, and the frost was followed by a great deal of +wet. One of the sheep was swept away by the flood; three or four +lambs died; and Stead, for about the first time in his life, caught a +severe feverish cold in looking after the flock, and was laid by for +a day or two, very cross and fretful at everything going wrong +without him. + +Poor little Ben was more railed at for those few days than ever he +had been before, and next he broke down and had to be nursed; and +then came Patience's turn. She was ill enough to frighten her +brothers; and Goody Grace, who came to see to her, finding how thin +her blanket was, and how long it was since she had had any food but +porridge, gave Steadfast a thorough good scolding, told him he would +be the death of a better sister than he deserved, and set before him +how only for his sake Patience might be living on the fat of the land +at the mill. + +To all appearance, Stead listened sulkily enough, but by-and-by Goody +found a fowl killed and laid ready for use. It was an old hen, whose +death set Patience crying in her weakness. Nevertheless, it was +stewed down into broth which heartened her up considerably, and a +blanket that came home rolled up on the donkey's back warmed her +heart as much as her limbs. + +Mrs. Elmwood spared Rusha for a week, and it was funny to see how the +girl wondered at its having been possible to live in such a den. She +absolutely cried when Ben told her how hard they had been living, and +said she did not think Stead would ever have used Patience so. + +"Then why did she make as if she liked it?" said Stead, gruffly. + +But for all that Stead was too sound-hearted not to be grieved at +himself, and to see that his love and impatience had led him into +unkindness to those who depended on him; and when Master Woodley +preached against love of money he felt pricked at the heart, though +it had not been the gain in itself that he aimed at. And when he had +to go to the mill, the sight of the comfortable great kitchen, with +the open hearth, glowing fire, seats on either side, tall settle, and +the flitches of bacon on the rafters, seemed to reproach him +additionally. The difficulties there had been staved off by the old +miller himself marrying a stout, motherly widow, who had a real +delight in the charge of a baby. + +"For," said Master Luck, "Andrew and I could agree on no one for +him." + +Moreover, Stead ceased to grunt contemptuously when Patience, with +Goody Grace to back her, declared that Ben was too young and slight +for farm work. + +The boy was allowed to trudge his daily three miles to school, and +there his progress was the wonder and delight of his slower-witted +brother and sister. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +EMLYN'S SERVICE. + + + +"Oh, blind mine eye that would not trace, + And deaf mine ear that would not heed + The mocking smile upon her face, + The mocking voice of greed." + LEWIS CARROLL. + + +When Lady-day came round, Steadfast found to his delight and surprise +a little figure dancing out to meet him from Mrs. Lightfoot's. + +"There, Master Stead. Are not you glad to see me, or be you too +dumbfounded to get out a word, like good old Jenny?" stroking the +donkey's cars. "Posies of primroses! How sweet they be! You must +spare me one." + +"As many as you will, sweetheart. They be all for you, whether given +or sold. And you've got a holiday for Lady-day." + +"Have a care! I got my ears boxed for such a Popish word. 'Tis but +quarter day, you know, being that, hang, draw, and quarter is more to +the present folks' mind than ladies or saints. I have changed my +service, you must know, as poor Dick used to sing:-- + + "Have a new master, be a new man." + +"You have not heard from your own folk," cried Stead, this being what +he most dreaded. + +"Nay. But I can away no more with Dame Sloggett, and Cross-patch +Rachel, white seam and salmon, and plain collars. So I bade her +farewell at the end of the year, and I've got a new mistress." + +Stead stood with open mouth. To change service at the end of a year +was barely creditable in those days, and to do so without +consultation with home was unkind and alarming. + +"There now, don't be crooked about it. I had not time to come out +and tell you and Patience, the old crones kept me so close, stitching +at shirts for a captain that is to sail next week, and I knew you +would be coming in." + +"Where is it?" was all Stead uttered. + +"What think you of Master Henshaw's, the great merchant, and an +honest well-wisher to King and Church to boot?" + +"Master Henshaw, the West Indian merchant? His is a good, well- +ordered household, and he holds with the old ways." + +"Yes. He was out that Whitsun morning we wot of," said Emlyn. "I +wist well you would be pleased." + +"But I thought his good lady was dead," said Steadfast. + +"So she is. She that came out to the gully, but there's a new +Mistress Henshaw, a sweet young lady, of a loyal house, the Ayliffes +of Calfield. And I am to be her own woman." + +"Own woman," said Mrs. Lightfoot, for they were by this time among +the loaves in her stall. "Merchants' wives did not use to have women +of their own in my time." + +For this was the title of a lady's maid, and rules as to household +appointments were strictly observed before the rebellion. + +"Mistress Henshaw is gentlewoman born," returned Emlyn, with a toss +of her head. "She ought to have all that is becoming her station in +return for being wedded to an old hunks like that! And 'tis very +well she should have one like _me_ who has seen what becomes good +blood! So commend me to Patience and Rusha, and tell Ben maybe I +shall have an orange to send him one of these days. And cheer up, +Stead. I shall get five crowns and two gowns a year, and many a fee +besides when there is company, so we may build the house the sooner, +and I shall not be mewed up, and shall see the more of thee. 'Tis +all for you. So never look so gloomy on it, old Sobersides." + +And she turned her sweet face to him, and coaxed and charmed him into +being satisfied that all was well, dwelling on the loyalty and +excellence of the master of the house. + +He found it true that it was much easier to see Emlyn than before. +Mrs. Henshaw, a pretty young creature, not much older than Emlyn, was +pleased to do her own marketing, and came out attended by Emlyn, and +a little black slave boy carrying a basket. She generally bought all +that Steadfast had to sell, and then gave smiling thanks when he +offered to help carry home her purchases. She would join company +with some of her acquaintance, and leave the lovers to walk together, +only accompanied by little Diego, or Diggo as they called him, whose +English was of the most rudimentary description. + +Emlyn certainly was very happy in her new quarters. Neither her lady +nor herself was arrayed with the rigid plainness exacted by +Puritanism, and many disapproving glances were cast upon the fair +young pair, mistress and maid, by the sterner matrons. Waiting women +could not indulge in much finery, but whatever breast knots and tiny +curls beyond her little tight cap could do, Emlyn did without fear of +rebuke. Stead tried to believe that the disapproving looks and +words, by which Mrs. Lightfoot intimated that she heard reports +unfavourable to the household were only due to the general distrust +and dislike to the bright and lively Emlyn. Mrs. Lightfoot was no +Puritan herself, but her gossips were, and he received her +observations with a dull, stony look that vexed her, by intimating +that it was no business of hers. + +Still it was borne in upon him that, good man as Mr. Henshaw +certainly was, the household was altered. It had been poverty and +distress which had led the Ayliffe family to give their young sister +to a man so much her elder, and inferior in position; and perhaps +still more a desire to confirm the Royalist footing in the city of +Bristol. The lady's brothers were penniless Cavaliers, and one of +them made her house his home, and a centre of Royalist plots and +intelligences, which excited Emlyn very much by the certainty that +something was going on, though what it was, of course, she did not +know; and at any rate there was coming and going, and all sorts of +people were to be seen at the merchant's hospitable table, all manner +of news to be had here, there, and everywhere, with which she +delighted to entertain Steadfast, and show her own importance. + +It was not often good news as regarded the Cavalier cause, for +Cromwell was fixing himself in his seat; and every endeavour to hatch +a scheme against him was frustrated, and led to the flight or death +of those concerned in it. However, so long as Emlyn had something to +tell, it made little difference whether the tidings were good or bad, +whether they concerned Admiral Blake's fleet, or her mistress's +little Italian greyhound. By-and-by however instead of Mrs. Henshaw, +there came to market Madam Ayliffe, her mother, a staid, elderly +lady, all in black, who might as well, Emlyn said, have been a +Puritan. + +She looked gravely at Stead, and said, "Young man, I am told that you +are well approved and trustworthy, and that my daughter suffers you +to walk home with this maiden, you being troth plight to her." + +Stead assented. + +"I will therefore not forbid it, trusting that if you be, as I hear, +a prudent youth, you may bring her to a more discreet and obedient +behaviour than hath been hers of late." + +So saying, Mrs. Ayliffe joined company with the old Cavalier Colonel +and went on her way as Emlyn made that ugly face that Stead knew of +old, clenched her hand and muttered, "Old witch! She is a Puritan at +heart, after all! She is turning the house upside down, and my poor +mistress has not spirit to say 'tis her own, with the old woman and +the old hunks both against her! Why, she threatened to beat me +because, forsooth, the major's man was but giving me the time of day +on the stairs!" + +"Was that what she meant?" asked Stead. + +"Assuredly it was. Trying to set you against me, the spiteful old +make-bate, and no one knows how long she will be here, falling on the +poor lads if they do but sing a song in the hall after supper, as if +she were a very Muggletonian herself. I trow she is no better." + +"Did you not tell me how she held out her house against the +Roundheads, and went to prison for sheltering Cavaliers?" + +"I only wish they had kept her there. All old women be Puritans at +heart. I say Stead, I'll have done with service. Let us be wed at +once." + +Stead could hardly breathe at this proposition. "But I have only +nine pounds and two crowns and--" he began. + +"No matter, there be other ways," she went on. "Get the house built, +and I'll come, and we will have curds and whey all the summer, and +mistress and all her friends will come out and drink it, and eat +strawberries!" + +"But the Squire will never build the place up unless I bring more in +hand." + +"You 'but' enough to butt down a wall, you dull-pated old Stead," +said Emlyn, "you know where to get at more, and so do I." + +Stead's grey eyes fixed on her in astonishment and bewilderment. + +"Numskull!" she exclaimed, but still in that good humoured voice of +banter that he never had withstood, "you know what I mean, though +maybe you would not have me say it in the street, you that have +secrets." + +"How do you know of it?" + +"Have not I eyes, though some folk have not? Could not I look out at +a chink on a fine summer morning, when you thought the children +asleep? Could not I climb up to your precious cave as well as +yourself; and hear the iron clink under the stone. Ha, ha! and you +and Patience thought no one knew but yourselves." + +"I trust no one else does." + +"No, no, I'm no gad-about, whatever you may be pleased to think me. +They say everything comes of use in seven years, and it must be over +that now." + +"Ten since 'twas hidden, nigh seven since that Whitsuntide. There's +never a parson who could come out, is there? Besides, with Peter +Woodward nigh, 'tis not safe to meet." + +"That's what your head is running on. No, no. They will never have +it out again that fashion. The old Prayer-book is banished for ever +and a day! I heard master and the Captain say that now old Noll has +got his will, he will soon call himself king, and there's no hope of +churches or parsons coming back; and old madam sat and cried. The +Jack Presbyters and the rest of the sectaries have got it all their +own way." + +"Dr. Eales said I had no right to give it to Master Woodley, or any +that was not the right sort." + +"So why should you go on keeping it there rotting for nothing, when +it might just hinder us from wearing our very lives out while you are +plodding and saving?" + +Stead stood stock still, as her meaning dawned on him, "Child, you +know not what you say," at last he uttered. + +"Ah well, you are slow to take things in; but you'll do it at last." + +"I am slow to take in this," said Stead. "Would you have me rob +God?" + +"No, only the owls and the bats," said Emlyn. "If they are the +better for the silver and gold under them! What good can it do to +let it lie there and rot?" + +"Gold rots not!" growled Stead. + +"Tarnishes, spoils then!" said Emlyn pettishly. "Come, what good +is't to any mortal soul there?" + +'It is none of mine." + +"Not after seven years? Come, look you now, Stead, 'tis not only +being tired of service and sharp words, and nips and blows, but I +don't like being mocked for having a clown and a lubber for my +sweetheart. Oh yes! they do, and there's a skipper and two mates, +and a clerk, and a well-to-do locksmith, besides gentlemen's valets +and others, I don't account of, who would all cut off their little +fingers if I'd only once look at them as I am doing at you, you old +block, who don't heed it, and I don't know that I can hold out +against them all," she added, looking down with a sudden shyness; +"specially the mates. There's Jonah Richards, who has a ship +building that he is to have of his own, and he wants to call it the +'Sprightly Emlyn,' and the other sailed with Prince Rupert, and made +ever so many prizes, and how am I to stand out when you don't value +me the worth of an old silver cup?" + +"Come, come, Em, that's only to frighten a man." But she knew in his +tone that he was frightened. + +"Not a bit! I should be ever so much better off in a tidy little +house where I could see all that came and went than up in your lane +with nought to go by but the market folk. 'Tis not everyone that +would have kept true to a big country lout like you, like that lady +among the salvage men that the King spoke of; and I get nothing by it +but wait, wait, wait, when there's stores of silver ready to your +hand." + +"Heaven knows, and you know, Emlyn, 'tis not for want of love." + +"Heaven may know, but I don't." + +"I gave my solemn word." + +"And you have kept it these ten years, and all is changed." Then +altering her tone, "There now, I know it takes an hour to beat a +notion into that slow brain of yours, and here we be at home, and I +shall have madam after me. I'll leave you to see the sense of it, +and if I do not hear of something before long, why then I shall know +how much you care for poor little Emlyn." + +With which last words she flitted within the gates, leaving Steadfast +still too much stunned to realise all she meant, as he turned +homewards; but all grew on him in time, the idea that Emlyn, his +Emlyn, his orphan of the battlefield, bereaved for the sake of King +and Church, should be striving to make him betray his trust! "The +silver is Mine and the gold is Mine," rang in his ears, and yet was +it not cruel that when she really loved him best, and sought to +return to him as a refuge from the many temptations to her lively +spirit, he should be forced to leave her in the midst of them-- +against her own warning and even entreaty, and not only himself lose +her, but lose her to one of those godless riotous sailors who were +the dread and bane of the neighbourhood? Was not a human soul worth +as much as a consecrated Chalice? + +These were the debates in Steadfast's much tormented soul. He could +think, though he could not clothe his thoughts in words, and day +after day, night after night he did think, while Patience wondered at +the heavy moodiness that seemed to have come over him. He would not +open his lips to ask her counsel, being quite certain of what it +would be, and not choosing to hear her censure of Emlyn for what he +managed to excuse by the poor child's ignorance and want of training, +and by her ardent desire to be under his wing and escape from +temptation. + +He recollected a thousand pleas that he might have used with her, to +show it was not want of love but a sacred pledge that withheld him, +and market day after market day he went in, priming himself all the +way with arguments that were to confirm her constancy, arm her +against temptation, and assure her of his unalterable love, though he +might not break his vow, nor lay his hand upon sacred things. + +But whether Emlyn would not, or could not, meet him, he did not know, +for a week or two went by before he saw her, and then she was +carrying a great fan for her young mistress, who was walking with a +Cavalier, as gay as Cavaliers ever ventured to be, and another young +lady, whose waiting woman had paired with Emlyn. They were mincing +along, gazing about them, and uttering little contemptuous titters, +and Stead could only too well guess what kind of remarks Emlyn's +companion might make upon him. + +Near his stand, however, the other lady beckoned her maid to adjust +something in her dress; and Stead could approach Emlyn. She looked +up with her bright, laughing eyes with a certain wistfulness in them. + +"Have you made up your mind to cheat the owls?" she asked. + +"Emlyn, if you would not speak so lightly, I could show cause--" + +"Oh, that's enough," she answered hastily, turning as the other maid +joined her; and Stead caught the shrill, pert voice demanding if that +was her swain with clouted shoes. Emlyn's reply he could not hear, +but he saw the twist of the shoulders. + +There are bitter moments in everyone's life, and that was one of the +very bitterest of Steadfast Kenton's. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE ASSAULT OF THE CAVERN. + + + +"By all description this should be the place. + Who's here?" + SHAKESPEARE. + + +Harvest was over, and the autumn evenings were darkening. It was +later than the usual bed time, but Patience had a piece of spinning +which she was anxious to finish for the weaver who took all her yarn, +and Stead was reading Dr. Eales's gift of the Morte d'Arthur, which +had great fascination for him, though he never knew whether to regard +it as truth or fable. He wanted to drive out the memory of what Mrs. +Lightfoot had told him about the Henshaw household, where the +youngest of the lady's brothers had lately arrived from beyond seas, +bringing with him habits of noise and riot, which greatly scandalised +the neighbours. + +Suddenly Growler started up with pricked ears, and emitted a sound +like thunder. Patience checked her wheel. There was an unmistakable +sound of steps. Stead sprang up. Growler rushed at the door with a +furious volley of barking. Stead threw it open, catching up a stout +stick as he did so, and the dog dashed out, but was instantly driven +back with an oath and a blow. It was a bright moonlight night, and +Stead beheld three tall men evidently well armed. + +"Ho, you fellow there," one called out, "keep back your cur, we don't +want to hurt him nor you." + +"Then what are you doing here?" demanded Stead. + +"We are come for what you wot of. For the King's service." + +"Who sent you?" asked Stead, for the moment somewhat dazed. + +One of them laughed and said, "As if you did not know." + +There was a sickening perception, but Stead's powers were alert +enough for him to exclaim, "Then you have no warrant." + +"My good fellow, don't stickle about such trifles. For the King's +service it is, and that should be enough for all loyal hearts. +Hollo, what's that? Silence your dog, I say," as Growler's voice +resounded through the gulley, "or it will be the worse for you and +him." + +Stead took hold of the dog's collar, and amidst his choked grumbles, +said, "I do nought but on true warrant." + +"Hark ye, blockhead," said the foremost. "I'm an officer of His +Majesty's, with power to make requisitions for his service." + +"Shew it," said Stead, quite convinced that this was sheer robbery. + +"You addle-pated, insolent clown, to dispute terms with gentlemen in +His Majesty's service. Stand aside. I've done you only too much +honour by parleying with you. Out of the way. We don't want to take +a stick of your own trumpery, I say." + +"Sir, it is Church plate." + +"Ha, ha! Church plate is His Most Sacred Majesty's plate. Don't ye +know that, you ass? Here! we'll throw you back something for +yourself if you will show us the cave and save us trouble, for we +know which it is by the token of the red stone and twisted ash. Ho! +take-- What's become of the clown? He has run off. Discreet +fellow!" + +For Stead had disappeared in the black darkness behind the hut. He +remembered Jephthah's discomfiture by the owl, and it struck him that +from within the cavern it would be quite possible to keep the robbers +at bay, if they tried without knowing the way to climb up among the +bushes. He was not afraid for his brother and sister, as the +marauders evidently did not want anything but the plate. Indeed, his +whole soul was so concentrated on the defence of his charge that he +had no room for anything else. + +Knowing the place perfectly, Stead had time to swing himself, armed +with a stout bludgeon, up into the hermit's cave, and even to drag +after him Growler, a very efficient ally. The contrasts of moonlight +were all in his favour, the lights almost as bright as in sunshine, +the shadows so very dark. He could see through the overhanging ivy +and travellers' joy the men peering about with their dark lantern, +looking into the caves where the pigs were, among the trees, and he +held Growler's mouth together lest the grim murmurs that were rolling +in the beast's throat should serve as a guide. + +Then he heard them shout to Patience to come and guide them since her +coward of a brother had made off, and he heard her answer, "Not I, +'tis no business of mine." + +"We'll see about that. D'ye know how folks are made to speak, my +lass?" + +Then Stead recollected with horror that he had left her to her fate. +Would he be obliged to come down to her help? At that moment, +however, there was a call from the fellow who bore the lantern. +"Here's the red stone. That must be the ash. Now then!" + +"You first, Nick." Then came a crackling and rustling of boughs, a +head appeared, and at that moment Stead loosed Growler and would have +dealt a blow with his stick, but that the assault of the dog had +sufficed to send the assailant, roaring and cursing, headlong down +the crag. + +Furious threats came up to him and his dog, but he heard them in +silence, though Growler's replies were vociferous. Stead gathered +that the fall had in some degree hurt the man for he made an +exclamation of pain, and the others bade him stay there and keep back +the wench. + +"We'll have you down though we smoke you out like a wasps' nest, you +disloyal adder, you," was one of the threats. + +"Or serve him like the Spaniard at Porto Santo," said another. + +Presently after numerous threats and warnings that they had firearms +and were determined to use them, two of the men began climbing much +more cautiously, holding by the trees, so as not to be suddenly +overthrown. However the furious attack of such a dog as Growler, +springing from utter darkness was a formidable matter, and the man +against whom he had launched himself could not but fall in his turn, +but the dog went after him, and the companion, being on his guard, +was not overthrown. Stead aimed a blow at the fellow with all his +might, but the slouching hat warded off the full force of the +bludgeon. Then Stead sprang at him and grappled with him. There was +the report of a pistol, and both rolled headlong among the bushes, +but at that moment a fresh shout was heard--a cry of "Villains, +traitors, robbers--what be at?" and a rush of feet, while in the +moonlight appeared Peter Pierce with his fowling piece, another man, +Ben, and four or five dogs. + +The robbers never waited to see how small the reinforcement was, and +it made noise enough for the whole hue-and-cry of the parish. Off +they dashed, through the wood, the new comers after them. + +But all Patience knew was that Steadfast was lying senseless at the +bottom of the cliff, with poor Growler moaning by him, and licking +his face, and that her hands were wet with what must be blood. + +It was too dark to see anything, but she could hardly bear to leave +him, as she hurried back to the hut for the lantern. All this had +taken but few minutes, so that she had only to catch it up from the +table where Stead's book still lay. + +By the time she came back, he had opened his eyes, and his hand was +on Growler's head. + +"Are they gone?" he asked faintly. + +"Yes, and Peter after them. Oh! Stead, you are badly hurt." + +"They have not got it?" + +"Oh no, no, you saved it." + +"Thank God. Is Ben safe?" + +"Yes, after them with Peter. I sent him out while you were talking +to call Peter." + +"Good--" and his eyes closed again. "Good Growler, poor Growl--" he +added, fondling the big head, as the dog moaned. "See to him, Pat." + +"I must see to you first. Oh! Stead, is it very bad?" + +"I'll try to get in, if you'll help me." + +He raised himself, but this effort brought a rush of blood to the +lips, which greatly terrified Patience. To her great relief, +however, Nanny Pierce having satisfied herself that all was quiet +round the hut, here called out to ask where Patience was. She was +profuse in "Lack-a-daisy!" "Dear heart!" and "Poor soul!" and was +quite sure Stead was as good as a dead man; but she had strong arms, +and so had Patience, and when they had done what they could to stanch +the wound in his side, which however, was not bleeding much +externally, they carried him in between them to Patience's bed which +had been Emlyn's, and therefore was the least uncomfortable. Poor +Growler crept after, bleeding a good deal, and Steadfast would not +rest till his faithful comrade was looked to. There was a dagger cut +in his chest, which Nanny, used to dog doctoring, bound up, after +which the creature came close to his master, and fell asleep under +his hand. + +It was a very faint hand. Movement or speech alike brought blood to +the mouth, and Stead's ruddy checks were becoming deadly white. He +struggled to say, "You and Ben guard it! Say a prayer, Pat," and +then the two women really thought that in the gush that followed all +was over, and Nanny marvelled at the stunned calm in which Patience +went over the Lord's Prayer, and such Psalms as she could remember. + +Steps came, and Nanny shrieked. Then she saw it was her husband and +the other two men. + +"Made off to the town," said Peter, gruffly. + +"How now--hurt?" + +'O, Peter, they have made an end of the poor lad. Died like a lamb, +even now." + +"No, no," said Peter, as he came close to the bed with his more +experienced eye; "he ain't dead. 'Tis but a swoon. Hast any strong +waters, Pat? No, I'll be bound. Ho, you now, Bill, run and knock +them up at the Elmwood Arms, and bring down a gill." + +"And call Goody Grace," entreated Patience, "she will know best what +to do." + +On the whole, Peter's military experience was more hopeful, if not +more helpful than Goody Grace's. He was the only person who +persisted in declaring that such wounds were not always mortal, +though he agreed in owning that the inward bleeding was the worst +sign. Stead did not attempt to speak again, but lay there deadly +white and with a stricken look on his face, which Patience could not +bear to see, and she ascribed to the conviction that the wretched +little Emlyn must have betrayed his secret. + +The hut was over-full of volunteers of assistance and enquiry the +next day, including the squire and Master Woodley; but nobody seemed +to guess at the real object of the robbers' attack, everybody +thinking they had come for the savings which Stead was known to be +making towards rebuilding the farmhouse. + +Mr. Elmwood was very indignant and took Pierce, and Blane the +constable, into Bristol to see whether the felons could be captured +and brought to justice, but they proved to have gone down to the +wharf, and to have got on board a vessel which had dropped down the +river in the early morning. They were also more than suspected of +being no other than buccaneers who plied their trade of piracy in the +West Indies. The younger Ayliffe had gone with them, and was by no +means above suspicion. + +Mr. Elmwood also brought out a barber surgeon to see young Kenton, a +thing which his sister would not have dared to propose. But there +was not much to be done, the doctor decided that the bullet was where +the attempt at extraction would be fatal, and that the only hope of +even partial recovery was in perfect stillness and silence--and this +Patience could promise to ensure as far as in her lay. Instructions +on dressing the wound were given to her, and she was to send in to +the barber's shop if ointment or other appliances were needed. This +was all that she was to expect, and more indeed than she had thought +feasible; for folks of their condition were sick and got well, lived +or died without the aid of practitioners above the skill of Goody +Grace. However, he gave her very little hope, though he would not +pronounce that her brother was dying. A few days would decide, and +quiet was the only chance. + +Scarcely however were the visitors gone, and Stead left to what rest +pain would allow him after being handled by the surgeon, when a sound +of sobbing was heard outside. "Oh! oh! I'm afraid to go in! Ben! +Oh! tell me, is he not dead? I'm the most miserable maid in the +world if he is." + +"He's alive, small thanks to you," responded Ben, who had somehow +arrived at a knowledge of the facts, while Rusha, who was milking, +buried her head in Daisy's side, and would not even look at her. +Patience felt in utter despair, and longed to misunderstand Stead's +signs to her to open the door. She tried to impress the need of +quiet, but Emlyn darted in, her hood pushed back, her hair flying, +her dress disordered, looking half wild, and dropping on the floor, +she crouched there with clasped hands, crying "Oh! oh! he looks like +death. He'll die and I'm the most--" + +"If you make all that noise and tumult he will," said Patience, who +could bear no more. "Are you come here to finish what you have done? +Do go away." + +"Oh! but I must tell you! They said it was for the King, and that he +had the right. Yes they did, and they swore that they would hurt no +one." + +Stead looked to a certain extent pleased, but Patience broke out, "As +if you did not know he would rather die than give up his trust." + +"I thought he would never know--" + +"Robber!" said Patience. "Go! You have done harm enough already." + +"But I must tell you," persisted Emlyn. "I used to see Dick Glass +among Lord Goring's troopers, and he is from our parts, and he has +been with Prince Rupert. There was a plot, I know there is, and both +the Master Ayliffes are in it, and we were to go and raise +Worcestershire, only they wanted money, and Dick was to--to wed me-- +and set us across the river this morning, when they had got the +treasure. 'Twas for the King. And now they are all gone, Master +Philip and all, and master says they are flibustiers, and pirates, +and robbers; and Mrs. Lightfoot's boy came and said Stead Kenton was +shot dead at his house door, and then I was neither to have nor to +hold, but I ran off here like one distraught, for I never loved +anyone like you Stead." + +"Pretty love!" said Patience. "Oh! if you think you love him, go and +let him be at peace." + +"I do! I do!" cried the girl, quite unmanageable. "Only it made me +mad that he should heed an old chest and a musty parson more than me, +and so I took up with Dick, and he over persuaded me with his smooth +tongue that we would raise folk for the King." + +Stead held out his hand. + +"Oh! Stead, Stead, you are always kinder than Patience! You forgive +me, dear old Stead, do not you? And I'll tend you day and night, and +you shall not die, and I'll wed you, if you have nought but the shirt +to your back." + +Patience felt nearly distracted at the notion of Emlyn there day and +night, but at that instant Goody Grace, who had been to her home in +preparation for spending the night in nursing, walked in. + +"How now, mistress, what are you about here?" + +"She wants to stay and tend him, and I don't know whether she has +come with her mistress's knowledge," sighed Patience. + +"Fine tendance!" said the old woman. "My lady wants to kill him +outright. Nay, nay, my young madam, we want none of your airs and +flights here. You can do no good, except by making yourself scarce-- +you that can't hold your tongue a moment" + +Stead here whispered, "Her mistress, will she forgive her?" + +"Oh, yes, no fear but that she will," said Emlyn, who perhaps had +revolved in her mind, since her first impulse, what it would be to +nurse Stead in that hovel, with two such displeased companions as +Goody and Patience. More to pacify Steadfast's uneasy eyes than for +her own sake, Patience gave her a drink of milk and a piece of bread, +and Peter coming just then to ask if he could help Ben with the +cattle, undertook to see her safely on her way, since twilight was +coming on. Sobered and awestruck by the silence and evident +condemnation of all around, she ended by flinging herself on her +knees by the bed, and saying "Stead, Stead, you forgive me, though no +one else does?" + +"Poor child--I do--as I hope--" + +"The blood again. You've done it now," exclaimed Goody Grace. "Away +with you!" + +Peter fairly dragged her out, while the women attended to Stead. + +But he let her wait outside till they heard, "Not dead, but not far +from it" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +EMLYN'S TROTH. + + + +"Woman's love is writ in water, + Woman's faith is traced in sand." + AYTOUN. + + +Day after day Steadfast Kenton lingered between life and death, and +though the external wound healed, there was little relief to the +deeper injury which could not be reached, and which the damps and +chills of autumn and winter could only aggravate. + +He could move little, and speak even less; and suffered much, both +from pain and difficulty of breathing, as he lay against sacks and +pillows on his bed, or sat up in an elbow chair which Mrs. Elmwood +lent him. Everybody was very kind in those days of danger. Mrs. +Elmwood let Rusha come on many an afternoon to help her sister, and +always bringing some posset, or cordial, or dainty of some sort to +tempt the invalid. Goody Grace, Mrs. Blane, Dame Oates, Nanny Pierce +vied with each other in offers of sitting up with him; Andrew, the +young miller, came out of his way to bring a loaf of white bread, and +to fetch the corn to be ground. Peter Pierce, Rusha's lover, and +more old comrades than Patience quite desired, offered their services +in aiding Ben with the cattle and other necessary labours, but as the +first excitement wore off, these volunteers became scantier, and when +nothing was to be heard but "just the same," nothing to be seen but a +weak, wan figure sitting wrapped by the fire, the interest waned, and +the gulley was almost as little frequented as before. Poor Ben's +schooling had, of course, to be given up, and it was well that he was +nearly as old as Stead had been when they were first left to +themselves. Happily his fifteen months of study had not made him +outgrow his filial obedience and devotion to the less instructed +elder brother and sister, who had taken the place of the parents he +had never known. Benoni, child of sorrow, he had been named, and +perhaps his sickly babyhood and the mournful times around had tended +to make him a quiet boy, without the tearing spirits that would have +made him eager to join the village lads in their games. Indeed they +laughed at him for his poverty and scholarship, and called him Jack +Presbyter, Puritan, bookworm, and all the opprobrious names they +could think of, though no one ever less merited sectarian nicknames +than he, as far as doctrine went. For, bred up on Dr. Eales' books, +and obliged to look out on the unsettled state of religious matters, +he was as staunch a churchman as his brother, and fairly understood +the foundations of his faith. Poor boy, the check to his studies +disappointed him, and he spent every leisure moment over his Latin +accidence or in reading. Next to the stories in the Bible, he loved +the Maccabees, because of the likeness to the persecuted state of the +Church; and he knew the Morte d'Arthur almost by heart, and thought +it part of the history of England. Especially he loved the part that +tells of the Holy Grail, the Sacred Cup that was guarded by the +maimed King Pelles, and only revealed to the pure in heart and life. +Stead had fully confided to him the secret of the cave, in case he +should be the one left to deliver up the charge; and, in some strange +way, the boy connected the treasure with the Saint Grail, and his +brother with the maimed king. So he worked very hard, and Patience +was capable of a good deal more than in her earlier days. Stead, +helpless as he was, did not require constant attendance, and knew too +well how much was on his sister's hands to trouble her when he could +possibly help doing so. Thus they rubbed on; though it was a +terrible winter, and they often had to break in on the hoard which +was to have built the house, sometimes for needments for the patient, +sometimes to hire help when there was work beyond the strength of +Patience and Ben, who indeed was too slender to do all that Stead had +done. + +Ben did not shine in going to market. He was not big enough to hold +his own against rude lads, and once came home crying with his donkey +beaten and his eggs broken; moreover, he was apt to linger at stalls +of books and broadsheets. As soon as Patience could venture to leave +her brother, she was forced to go to market herself; and there was a +staidness and sobriety about her demeanour that kept all impertinence +at a distance. Poor Patience, she was not at all the laughing rustic +beauty that Emlyn would have been at market. She would never have +been handsome, and though she was only a few years over twenty, she +was beginning to look weather-beaten and careworn, like the market +women about her, mothers of half-a-dozen children. + +Now and then she saw Emlyn in all her young, plump beauty, but +looking much quieter, and always coming to her for news of Steadfast. +There were even tears in those bright eyes when she heard how much he +suffered. The girl had evidently been greatly sobered by the results +of her indiscretion, and the treachery into which it had led her. +She probably cared more for Steadfast than for anyone else except +herself, and was shocked and grieved at his condition; and she had +moreover discovered how her credulity had been played upon, and that +she had had a narrow escape of being carried off by a buccaneer. + +Her master too had been called to order by the authorities, fined and +threatened for permitting Royalist plots to be hatched in his house. +He had been angered by the younger Ayliffe's riotous doings, and his +wife had been terrified. There had been a general reformation in +which Emlyn had only escaped dismissal through her mistress's favour, +pleading her orphanhood, her repentance, and her troth plight to the +good young man who had been attacked by those dissolute fellows, +though Mrs. Henshaw little knew how accountable was her favourite +maid for the attack. + +So good and discreet was Emlyn, so affectionate her messages to +Stead, and so much brightness shone in his face on hearing them; +there was so much pleasure when she sent him an orange and he +returned the snowdrops he had made Rusha gather, that Patience began +to believe that Stead was right--that the shock was all the maiden +needed to steady her--and that all would end as he hoped, when he +should be able to resume his labours, and add to the sadly reduced +hoard. + +It was not, however, till the March winds were over that Stead made +any decided step towards recovery, and began to prefer the sun to the +fire, and to move feebly and slowly about the farmyard, visiting the +animals, too few in number, for his skilled attention had been +missed. As summer came on he was able to do a little more, herd them +with Growler's help, and gradually to undertake what required no +exertion of strength or speed, and there he stopped short--all the +sunny months of summer could do no more for him than make him fit to +do such work as an old man of seventy might manage. + +He was persuaded, much against his will, to ride the white horse into +Bristol at a foot-pace to consult once more the barber surgeon. That +worthy, who was unusually sagacious for his time and had had +experience in the wars, told him that his recovery was a marvel, but +that with the bullet where it was lodged, he could scarcely hope to +enjoy much more health or comfort than at present. It could not be +reached, but it might shift, when either it would prove fatal or +become less troublesome; and as a friend and honest man, he +counselled the poor youth not to waste his money nor torture himself +by having recourse to remedies or doctors who could do no real good. + +Stead thanked the barber, paid his crown, and slowly made his way to +Mrs. Lightfoot's, where he was to rest, dine, and see Emlyn. + +Kind Mrs. Lightfoot shed tears when she saw the sturdy, ruddy youth +grown so thin and pale; and as to Emlyn, she actually stood silent +for three minutes. + +The two were left together in Mrs. Lightfoot's kitchen, for Patience +was at market, and their hostess had to mind her trade. + +Stead presently told Emlyn somewhat of the doctor's opinion, and +then, producing his portion of the tester, and with lips that +trembled in spite of himself, said that he had come to give Emlyn +back her troth plight. + +"Oh! Stead, Stead," she cried, bursting into tears. "I thought you +had forgiven me." + +"Forgiven you! Yea, truly, poor child, but--" + +"But only when you were sick! You cast me off now you are whole." + +"I shall never be whole again, Emlyn." + +"I don't believe Master Willis. He is nought but a barber," she +exclaimed passionately. "I know there are physicians at the Bath who +would cure you; or there's the little Jew by the wharf; or the wise +man on Durdham Down. But you always are so headstrong; when you have +made up your mind no one can move you, and you don't care whose heart +you break," she sobbed. + +"Hearken, little sweet," said Stead. "'Tis nought but that I wot +that it would be ill for you to be bound to a poor frail man that +will never be able to keep you as you should be kept. All I had put +by is well nigh gone, and I'm not like to make it up again for many a +year, even if I were as strong as ever." + +"And you won't go to the Jew, or the wise man, or the Bath?" + +"I have not the money." + +"But I will--I will save it for you!" cried Emlyn, who never had +saved in her life. "Or look here. Master Henshaw might give you a +place in his office, and then there would be no need to dwell in that +nasty, damp gulley, but we could be in the town. I'll ask my +mistress to crave it from him." + +Stead could not but smile at her eagerness, but he shook his head. + +"It would be bootless, sweetheart, I cannot carry weights." + +"No, but you can write." + +"Very scurvily, and I cannot cypher." + +For Stead, like everyone else at Elmwood, kept his accounts by tally +and in his head, and the mysteries of the nine Arabic figures were +perfectly unknown to him. However, Emlyn stuck to the hope, and he +was so far inspired by it that he ceased to insist on giving up the +pledges of the betrothal, and he lay on the settle in quiet enjoyment +of Emlyn's castle building, as she sat on a stool by his side, his +hand on her shoulder, somewhat as it was wont to lie on Growler's +head. And in spite of Master Willis's opinion, he rode home to the +gulley a new man, assuring Patience, on the donkey by his side, that +there was more staunchness and kindness in little Emlyn than ever +they had thought for. Even the ferryman who put them over the river +declared that the doctor must have done Master Kenton a power of +good, and Stead smiled and did not contradict him. + +Stead actually consulted Mr. Woodley how to learn cyphering beyond +what Ben had acquired at school; and the minister lent him a +treatise, over which he pored with a board and a burnt stick for many +an hour when he was out on the common with the cattle, or on the +darkening evenings in the hut. Ben saw his way into those puzzles +with no more difficulty than whetted his appetite, worked out sum +after sum, and explained them to his brother, to the admiration of +both his elders, till frowns of despair and long sighs from Stead +brought Patience to declare he was mazing himself, and insist on +putting out the light. + +Stead had more time for his studies than he could wish, for the cold +of winter soon affected the injured lungs; and, moreover, the being +no longer able to move about rapidly caused the damp and cold of the +ravine to produce rheumatism and attendant ills, of which, in his +former healthy, out-of-door life, he had been utterly ignorant, and +he had to spend many an hour breathless, or racked with pain in the +poor little hovel, sometimes trying to give his mind to the abstruse +mysteries of multiplication of money, but generally in vain, and at +others whiling away the time with his books, for though there were +only seven of them, including Bible and Prayer-book, a very little +reading could be the text of so much musing, that these few perfectly +sufficed him. And then he was the nurse of any orphaned lamb or sick +chicken that Patience was anxious about, and his care certainly saved +many of those small lives. + +The spring, when he came forth again, found him on a lower level, +less strong and needing a stick to aid his rheumatic knee. + +Not much was heard of Emlyn that spring. She did not come to market +with her mistress, and Patience was not inclined to go in quest of +her, having a secret feeling that no news might be better for Stead +than anything she was likely to hear; while as to any chance of their +coming together, the Kentons had barely kept themselves through this +winter, and Steadfast's arithmetic was not making such progress as +would give him a place at a merchant's desk. + +Patience, however, was considerably startled when, one fine June day, +she saw Mrs. Henshaw's servant point her out to two tall soldierly- +looking men, apparently father and son. + +"Good morrow to you, honest woman," said the elder. "I am told it is +you who have been at charges for many years for my brother's +daughter, Emlyn Gaythorn." + +Patience assented. + +"You have been right good to her, I hear; and I thank you for that +same, and will bear what we may of the expense," he added, taking out +a heavy bag from his pouch. + +He went on to explain that he and his son having gone abroad with his +master had been serving with the Dutch, and had made some prize +money. Learning on the peace that a small inheritance in +Worcestershire had fallen to the family, they had returned, and found +from Lady Blythedale that the brother's daughter was supposed to be +alive somewhere near Bristol. She had a right to half, and being +honourable men, they had set out in search of her, bringing letters +from the lady to Mr. Henshaw, whose house was still a centre of +inquiry for persons in the Cavalier interest. There, of course, they +had discovered Emlyn; and Master Gaythorn proceeded to say that it +had been decided that the estate should not be broken up, but that +his son should at once wed her and unite their claims. + +"But, sir," exclaimed Patience, "she is troth plight to my brother." + +"So she told me, but likewise that he is a broken man and sickly, and +had offered to restore her pledge." + +Patience could not deny it, though she felt hotly indignant. + +"She charged me to give it back to you," added the uncle; "and to bid +you tell the young man that we are beholden to you both; but that +since the young folk are to be wedded to-morrow morn, and then to set +forth for Worcestershire, there is no time for leave-takings." + +"I do not wonder!" exclaimed Patience, "that she has no face to see +us. She that has been like a child or a sister to us, to leave us +thus! O my brother!" + +"Come, come, my good woman, best not make a pother." Poor Patience's +homely garb and hard-worked looks shewed little of the yeoman class +to which she belonged. "You've done your duty by the maid and here's +the best I have to make it up." + +Patience could not bring herself to take the bag, and he dropped it +into her basket "I am sorry for the young man, your brother, but he +knew better than to think to wed her as he is. And 'tis better for +all there should be no women's tears and foolishness over it." + +"Is she willing?" Patience could not but ask. + +"Willing?" Both men laughed. "Aye, what lass is not willing to take +a fine, strapping husband, and be a landed dame? She gave the token +back of her own free will, eh, Humfrey; and what did she bid us say?" + +"Her loving greetings to-- What were their Puritanical names?" said +the son contemptuously. "Aye, and that she pitied the poor clown +down there, but knew he would be glad of what was best for her." + +"So farewell, good mistress," said Master Gaythorn, and off they +clanked together; and Patience, looking after them, could entirely +believe that the handsome buff coat, fringed belt, high boots, and +jauntily cocked hat would have driven out the thought of Stead in his +best days. And now that he was bent, crippled, weak, helpless,--"and +all through her, what hope was then," thought Patience, "yet if she +had loved him, or there had been any truth in her, she could have +wedded him now, and he would have been at ease through life! A +little adder at our hearth! We are well quit of her, if he will but +think so, but how shall I ever tell him?" + +She did not rush in with the tidings but came home slowly, drearily, +so that Stead, who was sitting outside by the door, peeling rushes, +gathered that something was amiss, and soon wormed it out of her, +while her tears dropped fast for him. Still, as ever, he spoke +little. He said her uncle was right in sparing tears and farewells, +no doubt reserving to himself the belief that it was against her +will. And when Patience could not help declaring that the girl might +have made him share her prosperity, he said, "I'm past looking after +her lands. Her uncle would say so. 'Tis his doing; I am glad of +what is best for my darling as was. There's an end of it, Patience-- +joy and grief. And I thank God that the child is safely cared for at +last." + +He tried to be as usual, but he was very ill that night. + +Patience found the money in her basket. She hated it and put it +aside, and it was only some time after that she was constrained to +use it, only then telling Stead whence it came, when he could endure +to hear that the uncle had done his best to be just. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +FULFILMENT. + + + +"My spirit heats her mortal bars, + As down dark tides the glory glides, + And mingles with the stars." + TENNYSON. + + +The year 1660 had come, and in the autumn, just as harvest was over, +and the trees on the slopes were taking tints of red, yellow, and +brown, an elderly clergyman, staff in hand, came slowly up the long +lane leading to Elmwood, whence he had been carried, bound to his +horse, seventeen years before. + +He had not suffered as much as some of his fellow priests. After a +term of imprisonment in London, he had been transported to the +plantations, namely, the American settlements, and had fallen in with +friends, who took him to Virginia. This was chiefly colonized by +people attached to the Church, who made him welcome, and he had +ministered among them till the news arrived of the Restoration of +Charles II, and likewise that the lawful incumbents of benefices, who +had been driven out, were reinstated by Act of Parliament. Mr. +Holworth's Virginian friends would gladly have kept him with them, +but he felt that his duty was to his original flock, and set out at +once for England, landing at Bristol. There, however, he waited, +like the courteous man he was, to hold communication with his people, +till he had written to Mr. Elmwood, and made arrangements with him +and Master Woodley. + +They were grieved, but they were both men who had a great respect for +law and parliament, so they made no difficulties. Mr. and Mrs. +Woodley retired to the hall and left the parsonage vacant, after the +minister had preached a farewell sermon in the church which made +everyone cry, for he was a good man and had made himself loved, and +there were very few in the parish who could understand that +difference between the true Church and a body without bishops. Mr. +Holworth had in the meantime gone to Wells to see his own Bishop +Piers, an old man of eighty-six, and it was from thence that he was +now returning. He had not chosen to enter his parish till the +intruded minister had resigned the charge, but he had been somewhat +disappointed that none of his old flock, not even any Kentons, who +had so much in charge, had come in to see him. He now arrived in +this quiet way, thinking that it would not be delicate to the +feelings of the squire and ex-minister to let the people get up any +signs of joy or ring the bells, if they were so inclined. Indeed, he +was much afraid from what he had been able to learn that it would be +only the rougher sort, who hated Puritan strictness and wanted sport +and revelry, who would give him an eager welcome. + +So he first went quietly up to the church, which he found full of +benches and pews, with the Altar table in the middle of the nave, and +the squire's comfortable cushioned seat at the east end. He knelt on +the step for a long time, then made a brief visit to his own house, +where the garden was in beautiful order, but only a room or two were +furnished with goods he had bought from the Woodleys, and these were +in charge of a servant he had hired at Bristol. + +Thence the old man went out into the village, and his first halt was +at the forge, where Blane, who had grown a great deal stouter and +more grizzled, started at sight of his square cap. + +"Eh! but 'tis the old minister! You have come in quietly, sir! I am +afraid your reverence has but a sorry welcome." + +"I do not wonder you are grieved to part with Master Woodley." + +"Well, sir, he be a good man and a powerful preacher, though no doubt +your reverence has the best right, and for one, I'm right glad to see +an old face again. We would have rung the bells if we had known you +were coming." + +"That would have been hard on Master Woodley. I am only glad they +are not melted. But how is it with all my old friends, Harry? Poor +Sir George writ me that old clerk North died of grief of the rifling +of the church; and that John Kenton had been killed by some +stragglers. What became of his children?" + +"That eldest lad went off to the Parliament army, and came swaggering +here in his buff coat and boots like my Lord Protector himself, they +say he has got a castle and lands in Ireland. Men must be scarce, +say I, if they have had to make a gentleman of Jeph Kenton." + +"And the rest?" + +"Well, sir, I'm afraid that poor lad, Stead, is in poor plight. You +mind, he was always a still, steady, hard-working lad, and when his +father was killed, and his house burnt, and his brother ran away, the +way he and his sister turned to was just wonderful. They went to +live in an old hut in the gulley down there, and they have made the +place so tidy as it does your heart good to look at it. They bred up +the young ones, and the younger girl is well married to one of the +Squire's folks, and everyone respected them. But, as ill-luck would +have it, some robbers from Bristol seem to have got scent of their +savings. Some said that the Communion Cup was hid somewhere there." + +Mr. Holworth made an anxious sound of interrogation. + +"Well, I did see the corporal, when the Parliament soldiers were at +Bristol, flog Stead shamefully to know where it was, and never get a +word out of him, whether or no; and as he was a boy who would never +tell a lie, it stands to reason he knew where they were." + +"But how did anyone guess at his knowing?" asked Mr. Holworth. + +"His brother might have thought it likely, poor John being thick with +your reverence," said Blane. "After that I thought, myself, that he +ought to give them up to Master Woodley, if so be he had them; but I +could never get a hint from him. The talk went that old Dr. Eales, +you mind him, sir, before he died, came out and held a prelatist +service, begging your pardon, sir, and that the things were used. +Stead got into trouble with Squire about it." + +"But the robbers, how was that? You said he was hurt!" + +"Sore hurt, sir; and he has never got the better of it, though 'tis +nigh upon four years ago. There was a slip of a wench he picked up +as a child after the fight by Luck's mill, and bred up; a fair lass +she grew up to look on, but a light-headed one. She went to service +at Bristol, and poor Stead was troth plight to her, hoped to save and +build up the house again, never knowing, not he, poor rogue, of her +goings on with the sailors and all the roistering lads about her +master's house. 'Tis my belief she put those rascals on the track, +whether she meant it or not. Stead made what defence he could, stood +up like a man against the odds, three to one, and got a shot in the +side, so that he was like to die then. Better for him, mayhap, if he +had at once, for it has been nought but a lingering ever since, never +able to do a day's work, though that wench, Patience, and the young +lad, Ben, have fought it out wonderfully. That I will say." + +Mr. Holworth had tears in his eyes, and trembled with emotion. + +"The dear lad," he said. "Where is he? I must go and see him." + +"He bides in the gulley, sir; he has been there ever since the farm- +house was burnt." + +Ere long Mr. Holworth was on his way to the gulley. What had been +only a glade reaching from rock to stream, hidden in copsewood, was +now an open space trodden by cattle, with the actual straw-yard more +in the rear, but with a goat tethered on it and poultry running +about. It was a sunny afternoon, and in a wooden chair placed so as +to catch the warmth, with feet on a stool, sat, knitting, a figure +that Mr. Holworth at first thought was that of an aged man; but as he +emerged from the wood, and the big dog sprang up and barked, there +was a looking up, an instant silencing of the dog, a rising with +manifest effort, a doffing of the broad-brimmed hat, and the +clergyman beheld what seemed to him his old Churchwarden's face, only +in the deadly pallor of long-continued illness, and with the most +intense, unspeakable look of happiness and welcome afterwards +irradiating it, a look that in after years always came before Mr. +Holworth with the "Nunc dimittis." + +Dropping the knitting, and holding by the chair, he stood trembling +and quivering with gladness, while, summoned by the dog's bark, +Patience, pail in hand, appeared on one side, and Ben, tall and +slight, with his flail, on the other. + +"My dear lad," was all Mr. Holworth could say, as he took the thin, +blanched hand, put his arm round the shoulders, and reseated Stead, +still speechless with joy. Patience, curtseying low, came up +anxiously, showing the same honest face as of old, though work and +anxiety had traced their lines on the sun-burnt complexion, and Ben +stood blushing, and showing his keener, more cultivated face, as the +stranger turned to greet them so as to give Steadfast time to recover +himself. + +"Oh! sir, but we are glad to see your reverence," cried Patience. +"Will you go in, or sit by Stead? Ben, fetch a chair." + +"And is this fine strapping fellow, the sickly babe that you were +never to rear, Patience?" + +"God has been very good to us, sir," said Patience. + +"And this is best of all," said Stead, recovering breath and speech. +"I thank Him that I have lived to see this day! It is all safe, +sir." + +"And you, you faithful guardian, you have suffered for it." + +If it had not been for Blane's partial revelations, Mr. Holworth +never would have extracted the full story of how for that sacred +trust, Steadfast Kenton had endured threats and pain, and had +foregone ease, prosperity, latterly happiness, and how finally it had +cost him health, nay life itself, for he was as surely dying of the +buccaneer's pistol shot, as though he had been slain on the spot. + +Long illness, with all the thought and reflection it had brought, had +so far changed and refined Stead that his awkward bashfulness and +lack of words had passed from him, and when he saw the clergyman +overcome with emotion at the thought of all he had undergone he said, + +"Never heed it, your reverence, it has come to be all joy to me to +have had a little to bear for the Master! 'Tis hard on Patience and +Ben, but they are very good to me; and being sick gives time for such +comforts as God sends me. It is more than all I could have had +here." + +"I am sure of that, my dear boy. I was not grieving that I gave you +the trust, but thinking what a blessed thing it is to have kept it +thus faithfully." + +Two Sundays later, the Feast was again meetly spread in Elmwood +Church, the Altar restored to its place, and all as reverently +arranged as it could yet be among the broken carved work. + +In some respects it was a mournful service, few there were who after +the lapse of seventeen years even remembered the outlines of the old +forms; and the younger people knew not when to kneel or stand. There +were few who could read, and even for those who could there were only +four Prayer-books in the church, the clergyman's, the clerk's, the +Kentons', and one discovered by an old Elmwood servant. The Squire's +family came not; Goody Grace was dead, and though Rusha tried to +instruct her husband and her little girl, she herself was much at a +loss. + +To Mr. Holworth it was almost like that rededication of the Temple +when the old men wept at the thought of the glory of the former +house, but there were some on whom his eye rested with joy and peace. +There were Blane and his wife, good and faithful though ignorant; +there were the old miller and his son, who had come all that distance +since there had as yet been no restoration in their church, and the +goings on of Original-Sin Hopkins and his friends had thoroughly +disgusted them, and made the old man yearn towards the church of his +youth, and there was the little group of three, the toil-worn but +sweet-faced sister, calm and restful, though watchful; the tall youth +with thoughtful, earnest, awe-struck face, come for his first +Communion, for which through those many years he had been taught to +pray and long, and between them the wasted form and wan features +lighted up with that wonderful radiance that had come on them with +the sense that the trust was fulfilled, only it was brighter, calmer, +higher, than even at the greeting of the vicar. Did Steadfast see +only the burnished gold of the Chalice and paten he had guarded for +seventeen years at the cost of toil, danger, suffering, love, and +life itself? Did he not see and feel far beyond those outward +visible signs in which others, who had not yet endured to the end, +could only as yet put their trust by faith? + +Mr. Holworth, as he stood over him and saw the upturned eye, was sure +it was so. No doubt indeed Ben thought so too, but poor imaginative +Ben had somehow fancied it would be with his brother as with the King +who guarded that other sacred Cup, and when all was over, was quite +disappointed that Stead needed his strong arm as much as ever, nay +more, for on coming out into the air and sunshine a faintness and +exhaustion came on, and they had to rest him in the porch before he +could move. + +"O Stead, I thought it would have healed you," the lad said. + +Stead slightly smiled. "Healed? I shall soon be healed altogether, +Ben," he said. He had with great difficulty and very slowly walked +to church, and Mr. Holworth wished him to come and rest at the +Vicarage, but he was very anxious to get home, and after he had taken +a little food, Andrew Luck offered to share with Ben and Rusha's +husband the carrying him back between them on an elbow chair. + +This pleased him, and he looked up to Andrew and said, "You are in +the same mind as long ago?" + +"I never found anyone else I could lay my mind to, since my poor +Kitty," said Andrew. + +"She will come to you--soon," said Stead. "She'll have a sore heart, +but you will be good to her." + +"That I will. And little Bess and Kate shall come and tell her how +they want her." + +Stead smiled and his lips moved in thankfulness. + +"And if Ben would come with her," added Andrew, "I'd be a brother to +him." + +"Parson wants Ben," said Stead. "He says he can make a scholar of +him, and maybe a parson, and it will not be so lonesome in the +vicarage." + +"And your farm?" + +"Rusha and her man take that. They have saved enough to build the +house. Yes, all is well. It is great peace and thankfulness." + +Patience returned with the cushions she had borrowed and they brought +Steadfast home, very much exhausted, and not speaking all the way. +Perhaps the unusual motion and exertion had made the bullet change +its place, for he hardly uttered another word, and that night, as he +had said to Ben, he was healed for ever of all his ills. + +The funeral sermon that Mr. Holworth preached the next Sunday, was on +the text so dear to all the loyal hearts who remembered the White +King's coronation text-- + +"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." + + + +THE END + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Storm, by Charlotte M. 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Yonge + +Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6006] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 15, 2002] +[Most recently updated May 8, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE STORM *** + + + + +This Project Gutenberg Ebook of Under the Storm: or Steadfast's Charge by +Charlotte M Yonge was prepared by Sandra Laythorpe laythorpe@btinternet.com. +A web page for Charlotte M Yonge will be found at www.menorot.com/cmyonge.htm. + + +</pre> + + +<center><h1>UNDER THE STORM:<br> +OR<br> +STEADFAST'S CHARGE</h1> +<h2>by<br> +CHARLOTTE M YONGE</h2> +<h3>Author of "The Heir of Redclyffe," &c.</h3> +<p> </p> +<h3>WITH SIX FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS</h3></center> + +<p align="center"><img src="underthestorm.jpg" alt="underthestorm"></p> + +<h3>CONTENTS.</h3> + +<blockquote> +<p><b>Chapter I.--The Trust<br> +Chapter II.--The Stragglers<br> +Chapter III.--Kirk Rapine<br> +Chapter IV.--The Good Cause<br> +Chapter V.--Desolation<br> +Chapter VI.--Left to Themselves<br> +Chapter VII.--The Hermit's Gulley<br> +Chapter VIII.--Stead in Possession<br> +Chapter IX.--Wintry Times<br> +Chapter X.--A Terrible Harvest Day<br> +Chapter XI.--The Fortunes of War<br> +Chapter XII.--Farewell to the Cavaliers<br> +Chapter XIII.--Godly Venn's Troop<br> +Chapter XIV.--The Question<br> +Chapter XV.--A Table of Love in the Wilderness<br> +Chapter XVI.--A Fair Offer<br> +Chapter XVII.--The Groom in Grey<br> +Chapter XVIII.--Jeph's Good Fortune<br> +Chapter XIX.--Patience<br> +Chapter XX.--Emlyn's Service<br> +Chapter XXI.--The Assault of the Cavern<br> +Chapter XXII.--Emlyn's Troth<br> +Chapter XXIII.--Fulfilment</b></p></blockquote> + +<h3>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h3> + +<blockquote> +<p><b>Farewell to the Cavaliers<br> +The Hiding of the Casket<br> +Stead Stirring the Porridge<br> +Finding of Emlyn<br> +Stead before the Roundheads<br> +Emlyn at Market</b></p></blockquote> + +<center><h2>UNDER THE STORM:<br> +OR<br> +STEADFAST'S CHARGE.</h2> +<p> </p> + +<h3>CHAPTER I.<br> +THE TRUST.</h3> + +<p>"I brought them here as to a sanctuary."<br> +SOUTHEY.</p></center> + +<p>Most of us have heard of the sad times in the middle of the seventeenth +century, when Englishmen were at war with one another and quiet villages became +battlefields.</p> + +<p>We hear a great deal about King and Parliament, great lords and able +generals, Cavaliers and Roundheads, but this story is to help us to think how it +must have gone in those times with quiet folk in cottages and farmhouses.</p> +<p>There had been peace in England for a great many years, ever since the end of +the wars of the Roses. So the towns did not want fortifications to keep out the +enemy, and their houses spread out beyond the old walls; and the country houses +had windows and doors large and wide open, with no thought of keeping out foes, +and farms and cottages were freely spread about everywhere, with their fields +round them.</p> + +<p>The farms were very small, mostly held by men who did all the work themselves +with the help of their families.</p> + +<p>Such a farm belonged to John Kenton of Elmwood. It lay at the head of a long +green lane, where the bushes overhead almost touched one another in the summer, +and the mud and mire were very deep in winter; but that mattered the less as +nothing on wheels went up or down it but the hay or harvest carts, creaking +under their load, and drawn by the old mare, with a cow to help her.</p> + +<p>Beyond lay a few small fields, and then a bit of open ground scattered with +gorse and thorn bushes, and much broken by ups and downs. There, one afternoon +on a big stone was seated Steadfast Kenton, a boy of fourteen, sturdy, perhaps +loutish, with an honest ruddy face under his leathern cap, a coarse smock frock +and stout gaiters. He was watching the fifteen sheep and lambs, the old goose +and gander and their nine children, the three cows, eight pigs, and the old +donkey which got their living there.</p> + +<p>From the top of the hill, beyond the cleft of the river Avon, he could see +the smoke and the church towers of the town of Bristol, and beyond it, the slime +of the water of the Bristol Channel; and nearer, on one side, the spire of +Elmwood Church looked up, and, on the other, the woods round Elmwood House, and +these ran out as it were, lengthening and narrowing into a wooded cleft or +gulley, Hermit's Gulley, which broke the side of the hill just below where +Steadfast stood, and had a little clear stream running along the bottom.</p> + +<p>Steadfast's little herd knew the time of day as well as if they all had +watches in their pockets, and they never failed to go down and have a drink at +the brook before going back to the farmyard.</p> + +<p>They did not need to be driven, but gathered into the rude steep path that +they and their kind had worn in the side of the ravine. Steadfast followed, +looking about him to judge how soon the nuts would be ripe, while his little +rough stiff-haired dog Toby poked about in search of rabbits or hedgehogs, or +the like sport.</p> + +<p>Steadfast liked that pathway home beside the stream, as boys do love running +water. Good stones could be got there, water rats might be chased, there were +strawberries on the banks which he gathered and threaded on stalks of grass for +his sisters, Patience and Jerusha. They used to come with him and have pleasant +games, but it was a long time since Patience had been able to come out, for in +the winter, a grievous trouble had come on the family. The good mother had died, +leaving a little baby of six weeks old, and Patience, who was only thirteen, had +to attend to everything at home, and take care of poor little sickly Benoni with +no one to help her but her little seven years old sister.</p> + +<p>The children's lives had been much less bright since that sad day; and +Steadfast seldom had much time for play. He knew he must get home as fast as he +could to help Patience in milking the cows, feeding the pigs and poultry, and +getting the supper, or some of the other things that his elder brother Jephthah +called wench-work and would not do.</p> + +<p>He could not, however, help looking up at the hole in the side of the steep +cliff, where one might climb up to such a delightful cave, in which he and +Patience had so often played on hot days. It had been their secret, and a kind +of palace to them. They had sat there as king and queen, had paved it with +stones from the brook, and had had many plans for the sports they would have +there this summer, little thinking that Patience would have been turned into a +grave, busy little housewife, instead of a merry, playful child.</p> + +<p>Toby looked up too, and began to bark. There was a rustling in the bushes +below the cave, and Steadfast, at first in dismay to see his secret delight +invaded, beheld between the mountain ash boughs and ivy, to his great surprise, +a square cap and black cassock tucked up, and then a bit of brown leathern coat, +which he knew full well. It was the Vicar, Master Holworth, and his father John +Kenton was Churchwarden, so it was no wonder to see him and the Parson together, +but what could bring them here--into Steadfast's cave? and with a dark lantern +too! They seemed as surprised, perhaps as vexed as he was, at the sight of him, +but his father said, "'Tis my lad, Steadfast, I'll answer for him."</p> + +<p>"And so will I," returned the clergyman. "Is anyone with you, +my boy?"</p> + +<p>"No, your reverence, no one save the beasts."</p> + +<p>"Then come up here," said his father. "Someone has been +playing here, I see."</p> + +<p>"Patience and I, father, last summer."</p> + +<p>"No one else?"</p> + +<p>"No, no one. We put those stones and those sticks when we made a fire +there last year, and no one has meddled with them since."</p> + +<p>"Thou and Patience," said Mr. Holworth thoughtfully. "Not +Jephthah nor the little maid?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," replied Steadfast, "we would not let them know, +because we wanted a place to ourselves."</p> + +<p>For in truth the quiet ways and little arrangements of these two had often +been much disturbed by the rough elder brother who teased and laughed at them, +and by the troublesome little sister, who put her fingers into everything.</p> + +<p>The Vicar and the Churchwarden looked at one another, and John Kenton +muttered, "True as steel."</p> + +<p>"Your father answers for you, my boy," said the Vicar. "So we +will e'en let you know what we are about. I was told this morn by a sure hand +that the Parliament men, who now hold Bristol Castle, are coming to deal with +the village churches even as they have dealt with the minster and with St. +Mary's, Redcliffe."</p> + +<p>"A murrain on them!" muttered Kenton.</p> + +<p>"I wot that in their ignorance they do it," gently quoted the +Vicar. "But we would fain save from their hands the holy Chalice and paten +which came down to our Church from the ancient times--and which bearing on them, +as they do, the figure of the Crucifixion of our blessed Lord, would assuredly +provoke the zeal of the destroyers. Therefore have we placed them in this +casket, and your father devised hiding them within this cave, which he thought +was unknown to any save himself--"</p> + +<p>"Yea," said John, "my poor brother Will and I were wont to +play there when we herded the cattle on the hill. It was climbing yon ash tree +that stands out above that he got the fall that was the death of him at last. +I've never gone nigh the place with mine own good will since that day--nor knew +the children had done so--but methought 'twas a lonesome place and on mine own +land, where we might safest store the holy things till better times come +round."</p> + +<p>"And so I hope they will," said Mr. Holworth.</p> + +<p>"I hear good news of the King's cause in the north."</p> + +<p>Then they began to consult where to place the precious casket. They had +brought tinder and matches, and Steadfast, who knew the secrets of the cave even +better than his father, showed them a little hollow, far back, which would just +hold the chest, and being closed in front with a big stone, fast wedged in, was +never likely to be discovered readily.</p> + + +<p align="center"><img src="hidingcasket.jpg" alt="hidingcasket"></p> + + +<p>"This has been a hiding place already."</p> + +<p>"Methinks this has once been a chapel," said the clergyman +presently, pointing to some rude carvings--one something like a cross, and a +large stone that might have served as an altar.</p> + +<p>"Belike," said Kenton, "there's an old stone pile, a mere +hovel, down below, where my grandfather said he remembered an old monk, a +hermit, or some such gear--a Papist--as lived in hiding. He did no hurt, and was +a man from these parts, so none meddled with him, or gave notice to the Queen's +officers, and our folk at the farm sold his baskets at the town, and brought him +a barley loaf twice a week till he died, all alone in his hut. Very like he said +his mass here."</p> + +<p>John wondered to find that the minister thought this made the place more +suitable. The whole cavern was so low that the two men could hardly stand +upright in it, though it ran about twelve yards back. There were white limestone +drops like icicles hanging above from the roof; and bats, disturbed by the +light, came flying about the heads of their visitors, while streamers of ivy and +old man's beard hung over the mouth, and were displaced by the heads of the men.</p> + +<p>"None is like to find the spot," said John Kenton, as he tried to +replace the tangled branches that had been pushed aside.</p> + +<p>"God grant us happier days for bringing it forth," said the +clergyman.</p> + +<p>All three bared their heads, and Mr. Holworth uttered a few words of prayer +and blessing; then let John help him down the steep scramble and descent, and +looked up to see whether any sign of the cave could be detected from the edge of +the brook. Kenton shook his head reassuringly.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Mr. Holworth, "it minds me that none ever found +again the holy Ark of the Covenant that King Josiah and the Prophet Jeremiah hid +in a cavern within Mount Pisgah! and our sins be many that have provoked this +judgment! Mayhap the boy will be the only one of us who will see these blessed +vessels restored to their Altar once more! He may have been sent hither to that +very end. Now, look you, Steadfast Kenton--Steadfast thou hast ever been, so far +as I have known thee, in nature as well as in name. Give me thy word that thou +wilt never give up the secret of yonder cavern to any save a lawfully ordained +minister of the church."</p> + +<p>"No doubt poor old Clerk North will be in distress about the loss," +said Kenton.</p> + +<p>"True, but he had best not be told. His mind is fast going, and he +cannot safely be trusted with such a mighty secret."</p> + +<p>"Patience knows the cavern," murmured Steadfast to his father.</p> + +<p>"Best have no womenfolk, nor young maids in such a matter," said +the Vicar.</p> + +<p>"My wench takes after her good mother," said John, "and I ever +found my secrets were safer in her breast than in mine own. Not that I would +have her told without need. But she might take little Rusha there, or make the +place known to others an she be not warned."</p> + +<p>"Steadfast must do as he sees occasion, with your counsel, Master +Kenton," said the Vicar. "It is a great trust we place in you, my son, +to be as it were in charge of the vessels of the sanctuary, and I would have thy +hand and word."</p> + +<p>"And," said his father, "though he be slower in speech than +some, your reverence may trust him."</p> + +<p>Steadfast gave his brown red hand, and with head bare said, "I promise, +after the minister and before God, never to give up that which lies within the +cave to any man, save a lawfully ordained minister of the Church."</p> +<p> </p> + + +<center><h3>CHAPTER II.<br> +THE STRAGGLERS.</h3> + +<p>"Trust me, I am exceedingly weary."<br> +SHAKESPEARE.</p></center> + +<p>John Kenton, though a Churchwarden, was, as has been said, a very small +farmer, and the homestead was no more than a substantial cottage, built of the +greystone of the country, with the upper story projecting a little, and reached +by an outside stair of stone. The farm yard, with the cowsheds, barn, and hay +stack were close in front, with only a narrow strip of garden between, for there +was not much heed paid to flowers, and few kitchen vegetables were grown in +those days, only a few potherbs round the door, and a sweet-brier bush by the +window.</p> + +<p>The cows had made their way home of their own accord, and Patience was +milking one of them already, while little Rusha held the baby, which was +swaddled up as tightly as a mummy, with only his arms free. He stretched them +out with a cry of gladness as he saw his father, and Kenton took the little +creature tenderly in his arms and held him up, while Steadfast hurried off to +fetch the milking stool and begin upon the other cow.</p> + +<p>"Is Jeph come home?" asked the father, and Rusha answered "No, +daddy, though he went ever so long ago, and said he would bring me a cake."</p> + +<p>Upon this Master Kenton handed little Benoni back to Rusha, not without some +sounds of fretfulness from the baby, but the pigs had to be shut up and fed, and +the other evening work of the farmyard done; and it was not till all this was +over, and Patience had disposed of the milk in the cool cellars, that the father +could take him again.</p> + +<p>Meantime Steadfast had brought up a bucket of water from the spring, and +after washing his own hands and face, set out the table with a very clean, +though coarse cloth, five brown bowls, three horn spoons and two wooden ones, +one drinking horn, a couple of red earthen cups and two small hooped ones of +wood, a brown pitcher of small ale, a big barley loaf, and a red crock, lined +with yellow glazing, into which Patience presently proceeded to pour from a +cauldron, where it had been simmering over the fire, a mess of broth thickened +with meal. This does not sound like good living, but the Kentons were fairly +well-to-do smock-frock farmers, and though in some houses there might be greater +plenty, there was not much more comfort beneath the ranks of the gentry in the +country.</p> + +<p>As for seats, the father's big wooden chair stood by the fire, and there was +a long settle, but only stools were used at the table, two being the same that +had served the milkers. Just as Rusha, at her father's sign, had uttered a short +Grace, there stood in the doorway a tall, stout, well-made lad of seventeen, +with a high-crowned wide-brimmed felt hat, a dark jerkin with sleeves, that, +like his breeches and gaiters, were of leather, and a belt across his shoulder +with a knife stuck in it.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Jeph," said Kenton, "always in time for meat, whatever +else you miss."</p> + +<p>"I could not help it, father," said Jephthah, "the red coats +were at their exercise!"</p> + +<p>"And thou couldst not get away from the gape-seed, eh! Come, sit down, +boy, and have at thy supper."</p> + +<p>"I wish I was one of them," said Jeph as he sat down.</p> + +<p>"And thou'dst soon wish thyself back again!" returned his father.</p> + +<p>"How much did you get for the fowls and eggs?" demanded Patience.</p> + +<p>Jephthah replied by producing a leathern bag, while Rusha cried out for her +cake, and from another pocket came, wrapped in his handkerchief, two or three +saffron buns which were greeted with such joy that his father had not the heart +to say much about wasting pence, though it appeared that the baker woman had +given them as part of her bargain for a couple of dozen of eggs, which Patience +declared ought to have brought two pence instead of only three halfpence.</p> + +<p>Jephthah, however, had far too much news to tell to heed her disappointment +as she counted the money. He declared that the price of eggs and butter would go +up gallantly, for more soldiers were daily expected to defend Bristol, and he +had further to tell of one of the captains preaching in the Minster, and the +market people flocking in to hear him. Jeph had been outside, for there was no +room within, but he had scrambled upon an old tombstone with a couple of other +lads, and through the broken window had seen the gentleman holding forth in his +hat and feather, buff coat and crimson scarf, and heard him call on all around +to be strong and hew down all their enemies, even dragging the false and +treacherous woman and her idols out to the horse gate and there smiting them +even to the death.</p> + +<p>"Who was the false woman?" asked Steadfast.</p> + +<p>"I wot not! There was something about Aholah, or some such name, but +just then a mischievous little jackanapes pulled me down by the leg, and I had +to thrash him for it, and by the time I had done, Dick, the butcher's lad, had +got my place and I heard no more."</p> + +<p>Whether the Captain meant Aholah or Athaliah, or alluded to Queen Henrietta +Maria, or to the English Church, Jeph's auditors never knew. The baby began to +cry, and Patience to feed him with the milk and water that had been warmed at +the fire; his father and the boys went out to finish the work for the night, +little Rusha running after them.</p> + +<p>Presently, she gave a cry and darted up to her father "The soldiers! the +soldiers!" and in fact three men with steel caps, buff coats, and musquets +slung by broad belts were coming into the yard.</p> + +<p>Kenton took up his little girl in his arms and went forward to meet them, but +he soon saw they did not look dangerous, they were dragging along as if very +tired and footsore and as if their weapons were a heavy weight.</p> + +<p>"It's the goodman," said the foremost, a red-faced, good-natured +looking fellow more like a hostler than a soldier, "have you seen Captain +Lundy's men pass this way?"</p> + +<p>"Not I!" said Kenton, "we lie out of the high road, you +see."</p> + +<p>"But I saw them, a couple of hours agone, marching into Bristol," +said Jephthah coming forward.</p> + +<p>"There now," said the man, "we did but stop at the sign of the +'Crab' the drinking of a pottle, and to bathe Jack's foot near there, and we +have never been able to catch them up again! How far off be Bristol?"</p> + +<p>"A matter of four mile across the ferry. You may see it from the hill +above."</p> + +<p>He looked stout enough though he gave a heavy sigh of weariness, and the +other two, who were mere youths, not much older than Jeph, seemed quite spent, +and heard of the additional four miles with dismay.</p> + +<p>"Heart alive, lads," said their comrade, "ye'll soon be in +good quarters, and mayhap the goodman here will give you a drink to carry ye on +a bit further for the Cause."</p> + +<p>"You are welcome to a draught for civility's sake," said Kenton, +making a sign to his sons, who ran off to the house, "but I'm a plain man, +and know nought about the Cause."</p> + +<p>"Well, Master," said the straggler, as he leant his back against +the barn, and his two companions sat down on the ground in the shelter, "I +have heard a lot about the Cause, but all I know is that my Lord of Essex sent +to call out five-and-twenty men from our parish, and the squire, he was in a +proper rage with being rated to pay ship money, so--as I had fallen out with my +master, mine host of the 'Griffin,' more fool I--I went with the young +gentleman, and a proper ass I was to do so."</p> + +<p>"Father said 'twas rank popery railing in the Communion table, when it +was so handy to sit on or to put one's hat on," added one of the youths +looking up. "So he was willing for me to go, and I thought I'd like to see +the world, but I'd fain be at home again."</p> + +<p>"So would not I," muttered the other lad.</p> + +<p>"No," said the ex-tapster humorously, "for thou knowst the +stocks be gaping for thee, Dick."</p> + +<p>By this time Jeph and Stead had returned with a jug of small beer, a horn +cup, and three hunches of the barley loaf. The men ate and drank, and then the +tapster returning hearty thanks, called the others on, observing that if they +did not make the best speed, they might miss their billet, and have to sleep in +the streets, if not become acquainted with the lash.</p> + +<p>On then unwillingly they dragged, as if one foot would hardly come after the +other.</p> + +<p>"Poor lads!" said Kenton, as he looked after them, "methinks +that's enough to take the taste for soldiering out of thy mouth, son Jeph."</p> + +<p>"A set of poor-spirited rogues," returned Jeph contemptuously, as +he nevertheless sauntered on so as to watch them down the lane.</p> + +<p>"Be they on the right side or the wrong, father?" asked Steadfast, +as he picked up the pitcher and the horn.</p> + +<p>"They be dead against our parson, lad," returned Kenton, "and +he says they be against the Church and the King, though they do take the King's +name, it don't look like the right side to be knocking out church windows, +eh?"</p> + +<p>"Nay!" said Steadfast, "but there's them as says the windows +be popish idols."</p> + +<p>"Never you mind 'em, lad, ye don't bow down to the glass, nor worship +it. Thy blessed mother would have put it to you better than I can, and she knew +the Bible from end to end, but says she 'God would have His worship for glory +and for beauty in the old times, why not now?'"</p> + +<p>John Kenton had an immense reverence for his late wife. She had been far more +educated than he, having been born and bred up in the household of one of those +gentlemen who held it as their duty to provide for the religious instruction of +their servants.</p> + +<p>She had been serving-woman to the lady, who in widowhood went to reside at +Bristol, and there during her marketings, honest John Kenton had won her by his +sterling qualities.</p> + +<p>Puritanism did not mean nonconformity in her days, and in fact everyone who +was earnest and scrupulous was apt to be termed a Puritan. Goodwife Kenton was +one of those pious and simple souls who drink in whatever is good in their +surroundings; and though the chaplain who had taught her in her youth would have +differed in controversy with Mr. Holworth, she never discovered their diversity, +nor saw more than that Elmwood Church had more decoration than the Castle +Chapel. Whatever was done by authority she thought was right, and she found good +reason for it in the Bible and Prayer-book her good lady had given her. She had +named her children after the prevailing custom of Puritans because she had heard +the chaplain object to what he considered unhallowed heathenish names, but she +had been heartily glad that they should be taught and catechised by the good +vicar. Happily for her, in her country home, she did not live to see the strife +brought into her own life.</p> + +<p>She had taught her children as much as she could. Her husband was willing, +but his old mother disapproved of learning in that station of life, and aided +and abetted her eldest grandson in his resistance, so that though she had died +when he was only eleven or twelve years old, Jephthah could do no more than just +make out the meaning of a printed sentence, whereas Steadfast and Patience could +both read easily, and did read whatever came in their way, though that was only +a broadside ballad now and then besides their mother's Bible and Prayer-book, +and one or two little black books.</p> + +<p>The three eldest had been confirmed, when the Bishop of Bath and Wells had +been in the neighbourhood. That was only a fortnight after their mother died, +and even Jeph was sad and subdued.</p> + +<p>Since that sad day when the good mother had blessed them for the last time, +there had been little time for anything. Patience had to be the busy little +housewife, and what she would have done without Steadfast she could not tell. +Jeph would never put a hand to what he called maids' work, but Stead would +sweep, or beat the butter, or draw the water, or chop wood, or hold the baby, +and was always ready to help her, even though it hindered him from ever going +out to fish, or play at base ball, or any of the other sports the village boys +loved.</p> + +<p>His quiet, thoughtful ways had earned his father's trust, though he was much +slower of speech and less ready than his elder brother, and looked heavy both in +countenance and figure beside Jeph, who was tall, slim, and full of activity and +animation. He had often made his mother uneasy by wild talk about going to sea, +and by consorting with the sailors at Bristol, which was their nearest town, +though on the other side of the Avon, and in a different county.</p> + +<p>It was there that the Elmwood people did their marketing, often leaving their +donkeys hobbled on their own side of the river, being ferried over and carrying +the goods themselves the latter part of the way.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER III.<br> +KIRK RAPINE.</h3> + +<p>"When impious men held sway and wasted Church and shrine."<br> +LORD SELBORNE.</p></center> + +<p>Patience, in her tight little white cap, sat spinning by the door, rocking +the cradle with her foot, while Rusha sometimes built what she called houses +with stones, sometimes trotted to look down the lane to see whether father and +the lads were coming home from market.</p> + +<p>Presently she brought word, "Stead is coming. He is leading Whitefoot, +but I don't see father and Jeph."</p> + +<p>Patience jumped up to put her wheel out of the way, and soon she saw that it +was only Steadfast leading the old mare with the large crooks or panniers on +either side. She ran to meet him, and saw he looked rather pale and dazed.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Stead? Where's daddy?"</p> + +<p>"Gone up to Elmwood! They told us in town that some of the soldiers and +the folk of that sort were gone out to rabble cur church and our parson, and +father is Churchwarden, you know. So he said he must go to see what was doing. +And he bade me take Whitefoot home and give you the money," said Steadfast, +producing a bag which Patience took to keep for her father.</p> + +<p>She watched very anxiously, and so did Stead, while relieving Whitefoot of +her panniers and giving her a rub down before turning her out to get her supper.</p> + +<p>It was not long however before Kenton and Jeph both appeared, the one looking +sad, the other sulky. "Too late," Jeph muttered, "and father +won't let me go to see the sport."</p> + +<p>"Sport, d'ye call it?" said Kenton. "Aye, Stead, you may well +gape at what we have seen--our good parson with his feet tied to his stirrups on +a sorry nag, being hauled off to town like a common thief!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" broke from the children, and Patience ventured to ask, +"But what for, father?"</p> + +<p>"They best know who did it," said the Churchwarden. "Something +they said of a scandalous minister, as though his had not ever been a godly life +and preaching. These be strange times, children, and for the life of me, I know +not what it all means. How now, Jeph, what art idling there for? There's the +waggon to be loaded for to-morrow with the faggots I promised Mistress +Lightfoot."</p> + +<p>Jeph moved away, murmuring something about fetching up the cows, to which his +father replied, "That was Steadfast's work, and it was not time yet."</p> + +<p>In fact Jeph was very curious to know what was going on in the village. If +there was any kind of uproar, why should not he have his part in it? It was just +like father to hinder him, and he had a great mind to neglect the faggots and go +off to the village. He was rather surprised, and a good deal vexed to see his +father walking along on the way to the pasture with Steadfast.</p> + +<p>It was for the sake of saying "Aye, boy, best not go near the sorry +sight! They would not let good Master Holworth speak with me; but I saw he meant +to warn me to keep aloof lest Tim Green or the like should remember as how I'm +Churchwarden."</p> + +<p>"Did they ask after those things?" inquired Steadfast in a lowered +voice.</p> + +<p>"I can't say. But on your life, lad, not a word of them!"</p> + +<p>After work was done for the evening, Jeph and Stead were too eager to know +what had happened to stay at home. They ran across the bit of moorland to the +village street and the grey church, whose odd-shaped steeple stood up among the +trees. Already they could see that the great west window was broken, all the +glass which bore the picture of the Last Judgment, and the Archangel Michael +weighing souls in the balance was gone!</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Tom Oates, leaping over two or three tombstones to get +to them. "'Twas rare sport, Jeph Kenton. Why were you not there too?"</p> +<p>"At Bristol with father," replied Jeph.</p> + +<p>"Worse luck for you. The red coat shot the big angel right in the eye, +and shivered him through, and we did the rest with stones. I sent one that +knocked the wing of him right off. You should have seen me, Stead! And old Clerk +North was running about crying all the time like a baby. He'll never whack us +over the head again!"</p> + +<p>"What was the good?" said Steadfast.</p> + +<p>"You never saw better sport," said the boys.</p> + +<p>And indeed, since, when once begun, destruction and mischief are apt to be +only too delightful to boys, they had thoroughly and thoughtlessly delighted in +knocking down the things they had been taught to respect. A figure of a knight +in a ruff kneeling on a tomb had had its head knocked off, and one of the lads +heaved the bits up to throw at the last fragment of glass in the window.</p> + +<p>"What do you do that for?" asked Stead.</p> + +<p>"'Tis worshipping of idols," said a somewhat graver lad. +"'Break down their idols,' the man in the black gown said, 'and burn their +graven images in the fire.'"</p> + +<p>"But we never worshipped them," said Stead.</p> + +<p>"Pious preacher said so," returned the youth, "and mighty +angered was he with the rails." (Jeph and Will were sparring with two +fragments of them.) "'Down with them,' he cried out, so as it would have +done your heart good to hear him."</p> + +<p>"And the parson is gone! There will be no hearing the catechism on +Sundays!" cried Ralph Wilkes, making a leap over the broken font.</p> + +<p>"Good luck for you, Ralph," cried the others. "You, that never +could tell how many commandments there be."</p> + +<p>"Put on your hat, Stead," called out another lad. "We've done +with all that now, and the parson is gone to prison for it."</p> + +<p>"No, no," shouted Tom Oates, "'twas for making away with the +Communion things."</p> + +<p>"I heard the red coat say they had a warrant against scandalous +ministers," declared Ralph Wilkes.</p> + +<p>"I heard the man with the pen and ink-horn ask for the popish vessels, +as he called them, and not a word would the parson say," said Oates.</p> + +<p>"I'd take my oath he has hid them somewheres," replied Jack Beard, +an ill-looking lad.</p> + +<p>"What a windfall they would be for him as found them!" observed +Wilkes.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to look over the parsonage house," said Jeph.</p> + +<p>"No use. Old dame housekeeper has locked herself in, as savage as a bear +with a sore head."</p> + +<p>"Besides, they did turn over all the parson's things and made a bonfire +of all his popish books. The little ones be dancing their rounds about it +still!"</p> + +<p>Stead had heard quite enough to make him very uneasy, and wish to get home +with his tidings to his father. There was a girl standing by with a baby in her +arms, and she asked:</p> + +<p>"What will they do to our minister?"</p> + +<p>"Put him in Little Ease for a scandalous minister," was the ready +answer. "But he <i>is</i> a good man. He gave us all broth when father had the +fever!"</p> + +<p>"And who will give granny and me our Sunday dinner?" said a little +boy.</p> + +<p>"But there'll be no more catechising. Hurrah!" cried Oates, +"hurrah!"</p> + +<p>"'Tis rank superstition, said the red coat, Hurrah!" and up went +their caps. "Halloa, Stead Kenton, not a word to say?"</p> + +<p>"He likes being catechised, standing as he does like a stuck pig, and +answering never a word," cried Jack.</p> + +<p>"I do," said Steadfast, "and why not?"</p> + +<p>"Parson's darling! Parson's darling!" shouted the boys. "A +malignant! Off with him." They had begun to hustle him, when Jeph threw +himself between and cried:</p> + +<p>"Hit Steadfast, and you must hit me first."</p> + +<p>"A match, a match!" they cried, "Jeph and Jack."</p> + +<p>Stead had no fears about Jeph conquering, but while the others stood round to +watch the boxing, he slipped away, with his heart perplexed and sad. He had +loved his minister, and he never guessed how much he cared for his church till +he saw it lying desolate, and these rude lads rejoicing in the havoc; while the +words rang in his ears, "And now they break down all the carved work +thereof with axes and with hammers."</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER IV.<br> +THE GOOD CAUSE.</h3> + +<p>"And their Psalter mourneth with them<br> +O'er the carvings and the grace,<br> +Which axe and hammer ruin<br> +In the fair and holy place."<br> +Bp. CLEVELAND COXE.</p></center> + +<p>When next John Kenton went into Bristol to market he tried to discover what +had become of Mr. Holworth, but could only make out something about his being +sent up to London with others of his sort to answer for being Baal worshippers! +Which, as he observed, he could not understand.</p> + +<p>There seemed likely to be no service at the church on Sunday, but John +thought himself bound to walk thither with his sons to see what was going on, +and they heard such a noise that they looked at each other in amazement. It was +not preaching, but shouting, laughing, screaming, stamping, and running. The +rude village children were playing at hide-and-seek, and Jenny Oates was hidden +in the pulpit. But at Master Kenton's loud "How now, youngsters" they +all were frightened, some ran out headlong, some sneaked out at the little north +door, and the place was quiet, but in sad confusion and desolation, the +altar-table overthrown, the glass of the windows lying in fragments on the +pavement, the benches kicked over.</p> + +<p>Kenton, with his boys' help, put what he could straight again, and then +somewhat to their surprise knelt down with bowed head, and said a prayer, for +they saw his lips moving. Then he locked up the church doors, for the keys had +been left in them, and slowly and sadly went away.</p> + +<p>"Thy mother would be sad to see this work," he said to Steadfast, +as he stopped by her grave. "They say 'tis done for religion's sake, but I +know not what to make of it."</p> + +<p>The old Parish Clerk, North, had had a stroke the night after the plunder of +the church, and lay a-dying and insensible. His wife gave his keys to Master +Kenton, and on the following Sunday there was a hue-and-cry for them, and Oates +the father, the cobbler, a meddling fellow, came down with a whole rabble of +boys after him to the farm to demand them. "A preacher had come out from +Bristol," he said, "a captain in the army, and he was calling for the +keys to get into the church and give them a godly discourse. It would be the +worse for Master Kenton if he did not give them up."</p> + +<p>John had just sat down in the porch in his clean Sunday smock with the baby +on his knee, and Rusha clinging about him waiting till Stead had cleaned himself +up, and was ready to read to them from the mother's books.</p> + +<p>When he understood Gates' message he slowly said, "I be in charge of the +keys for this here parish."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Master Kenton, this wont do, give 'un up or you'll be made +to. Times are changed, and we don't want no parsons nor churchwardens now, nor +no such popery!"</p> + +<p>"I'm accountable to the vestry for the church," gravely said +Kenton. "I will come and see what is doing, and open the church if so be as +the parish require it."</p> + +<p>"Don't you see! The parish does--"</p> + +<p>"I don't call you the parish, Master Gates, nor them boys neither," +said Kenton, getting up however, and placing the little one in the cradle, as he +called out to Patience to keep back the dinner till his return. The two boys and +Rusha followed him to see what would happen.</p> + +<p>Long before they reached the churchyard they heard the sound of a powerful +voice, and presently they could see all the men and women of the parish as it +seemed, gathered about the lych gate, where, on the large stone on which coffins +were wont to be rested, stood a tall thin man, in a heavy broad-brimmed hat, +large bands, crimson scarf, and buff coat, who was in fiery and eager words +calling on all those around to awaken from the sleep of sloth and sin, break +their bonds and fight for freedom and truth. He waved his long sword as he spoke +and dared the armies of Satan to come on, and it was hard to tell which he +really meant, the forces of sin, or the armies of men whom he believed to be +fighting on the wrong side.</p> + +<p>Someone told him that the keys of the church were brought, but he heeded not +the interruption, except to thunder forth "What care I for your steeple +house! The Church of God is in the souls of the faithful. Is it not written 'The +kingdom of heaven is within you?' What, can ye not worship save between four +walls?" And then he went on with the utmost fervour and vehemence, calling +on all around to set themselves free from the chains that held them and to +strive even to the death.</p> + +<p>He meant all he said. He really believed he was teaching the only way of +righteousness, and so his words had a force that went home to people's hearts as +earnestness always does, and Jephthah, with tears in his eyes, began begging and +praying his father to let him go and fight for the good Cause.</p> +<p>"Aye, aye," said Kenton, "against the world, the flesh, and +the devil, and welcome, my son."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll go and enlist under Captain Venn," cried Jeph.</p> +<p>"Not so fast, my lad. What I gave you leave for was to fight with the +devil."</p> + +<p>"You said the good Cause!"</p> + +<p>"And can you tell me which be the good Cause?"</p> + +<p>"Why, this here, of course. Did not you hear the Captain's good words, +and see his long sword, and didn't they give five marks for Croppie's bull +calf?"</p> + +<p>"Fine words butter no parsnips," slowly responded Kenton.</p> + +<p>"But," put in Steadfast, "butter is risen twopence the +pound."</p> + +<p>"Very like," said Kenton, "but how can that be the good Cause +that strips the Churches and claps godly ministers into jail?"</p> + +<p>Jephthah thought he had an answer, but fathers in those times did not permit +themselves to be argued with.</p> + +<p>Prices began going up still higher, for the Cavaliers were reported to be on +their way to besiege Bristol, and the garrison wanted all the provisions they +could lay in, and paid well for them. When Kenton and his boys went down to +market, they found the old walls being strengthened with earth and stones, and +sentries watching at the gates, but as they brought in provisions, and were by +this time well known, no difficulty was made about admitting them.</p> + +<p>One day, however, as they were returning, they saw a cloud of dust in the +distance, and heard the sounds of drums and fifes playing a joyous tune. Kenton +drew the old mare behind the bank of a high hedge, and the boys watched eagerly +through the hawthorns.</p> + +<p>Presently they saw the Royal Standard of England, though indeed that did not +prove much, for both sides used it alike, but there were many lesser banners and +pennons of lords and knights, waving on the breeze, and as the Kentons peeped +down into the lane below they saw plumed hats, and shining corslets, and silken +scarves, and handsome horses, whose jingling accoutrements chimed in with the +tramp of their hoofs, and the notes of the music in front, while cheerful voices +and laughter could be heard all around.</p> + +<p>"Oh, father! these be gallant fellows," exclaimed Jephthah. +"Will you let me go with these?"</p> + +<p>Kenton laughed a little to himself. "Which is the good Cause, eh, son +Jeph?"</p> + +<p>He was, however, not at all easy about the state of things. "There is +like to be fighting," he said to Steadfast, as they were busy together +getting hay into the stable, "and that makes trouble even for quiet folks +that only want to be let alone. Now, look you here," and he pulled out a +canvas bag from the corner of the bin. "This has got pretty tolerably +weighty of late, and I doubt me if this be the safest place for it."</p> + +<p>Stead opened his eyes. The family all knew that the stable was used as the +deposit for money, though none of the young folks had been allowed to know +exactly where it was kept. There were no banks in those days, and careful people +had no choice but either to hoard and hide, or to lend their money to someone in +business.</p> + +<p>The farmer poured out a heap of the money, all silver and copper, but he did +not dare to wait to count it lest he should be interrupted. He tied up one +handful, chiefly of pence, in the same bag, and put the rest into a bit of old +sacking, saying, "You can get to the brook side, to the place you wot of, +better than I can, Stead. Take you this with you and put it along with the other +things, and then you will have something to fall back on in case of need. We'll +put the rest back where it was before, for it may come handy."</p> + +<p>So Steadfast, much gratified, as well he might be, at the confidence bestowed +on him by his father, took the bag with him under his smock when he went out +with the cows, and bestowed it in a cranny not far from that in which that more +precious trust resided.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER V.<br> +DESOLATION.</h3> + +<p>"They shot him dead at the Nine Stonerig,<br> +Beside the headless Cross;<br> +And they left him lying in his blood,<br> +Upon the moor and moss."<br> +SURTEES.</p></center> + +<p>More and more soldiers might be seen coming down the roads towards the town, +not by any means always looking as gay as that first troop. Some of the feathers +were as draggled as the old cock's tail after a thunderstorm, some reduced even +to the quill, the coats looked threadbare, the scarves stained and frayed, the +horses lean and bony.</p> + +<p>There was no getting into the town now, and the growling thunder of a cannon +might now and then be heard. Jeph would have liked to spend all his time on the +hill-side where he could see the tents round the town, and watch bodies of +troops come out, looking as small as toy soldiers, and see the clouds of smoke, +sometimes the flashes, a moment or two before the report.</p> + +<p>He longed to go down and see the camp, taking a load of butter and eggs, but +the neighbours told his father that these troops were bad paymasters, and that +there were idle fellows lurking about who might take his wares without so much +as asking the price.</p> + +<p>However, Jeph grew suddenly eager to herd the cattle, because thus he had the +best chance of watching the long lines of soldiers drawn out from the camp, and +seeing the smoke of the guns, whose sound made poor Patience stay and tremble at +home, and hardly like to have her father out of her sight.</p> + +<p>There was worse coming. Jeph had been warned to keep his cattle well out of +sight from any of the roads, but when he could see the troops moving about he +could not recollect anything else, and one afternoon Croppie strayed into the +lane where the grass grew thick and rank, and the others followed her. Jeph had +turned her back and was close to the farmstead when he heard shouts and the +clattering of trappings. Half-a-dozen lean, hungry-looking troopers were +clanking down the lane, and one called out, "Ha! good luck! Just what we +want! Beef and forage. Turn about, young bumpkin, I say. Drive your cattle into +camp. For the King's service."</p> + +<p>"They are father's," sturdily replied Jeph, and called aloud for +"Father."</p> + +<p>He was answered with a rude shout of derision, and poor Croppie was pricked +with the sword's point to turn her away. Jeph was wild with passion, and struck +back the sword with his stick so unexpectedly that it flew out of the trooper's +hand. Of course, more than one stout man instantly seized the boy, amid howls of +rage; and one heavy blow had fallen on him, when Kenton dashed forward, +thrusting himself between his son, and the uplifted arm, and had begun to speak, +when, with the words "You will, you rebel dog?" a pistol shot was +fired.</p> + +<p>Jeph saw his father fall, but felt the grasp upon himself relax, and heard a +voice shouting, "How now, my men, what's this?"</p> + +<p>"He resisted the King's requisition, your Grace," said one of the +troopers, as a handsome lad galloped up.</p> + +<p>"King's requisition! Your own robbery. What have you done to the poor +man, you Schelm? See here, Rupert," he added, as another young man rode +hastily up.</p> + +<p>"Rascals! How often am I to tell you that this is not to be made a place +for your plunder and slaughter," thundered the new comer, rising in his +stirrups, and striking at the troopers with the flat of his sword, so that they +fell back with growls about "soldiers must live," and "curs of +peasants."</p> + +<p>The younger brother had leapt from his horse, and was trying to help Jephthah +raise poor Kenton's head, but it fell back helplessly, deaf to the screams of +"Father, father," with which Patience and Rusha had darted out, as a +cloud of smoke began to rise from the straw yard. Poor children, they screamed +again at what was before them. Rusha ran wildly away at sight of the soldiers, +but Patience, with the baby in her arms, came up. She did not see her father at +first, and only cried aloud to the gentlemen.</p> + +<p>"O sir, don't let them do it. If they take our cows, the babe will die. +He has no mother!"</p> + +<p>"They shall not, the villains! Brother, can nothing be done?" cried +the youth, with a face of grief and horror. And then there was a great +confusion.</p> + +<p>The two young officers were vehemently angry at sight of the fire, and +shouted fierce orders to the guard of soldiers who had accompanied them to +endeavour to extinguish it, themselves doing their best, and making the men +release Steadfast, whom they had seized upon as he was trying to trample out the +flame, kindled by a match from one of the soldiers who had scattered themselves +about the yard during the struggle with Jephthah.</p> + +<p>But either the fire was too strong, or the men did not exert themselves; it +was soon plain that the house could not be saved, and the elder remounted, +saying in German, "'Tis of no use, Maurice, we must not linger here."</p> + +<p>"And can nothing be done?" again asked Prince Maurice. "This +is as bad as in Germany itself."</p> + +<p>"You are new to the trade, Maurice. You will see many such sights, I +fear, ere we have done; though I hoped the English nature was more kindly."</p> + +<p>Then using the word of command, sending his aides-de-camp, and with much +shouting and calling, Prince Rupert got the troop together again, very sulky at +being baulked of their plunder. They were all made to go out of the farm yard, +and ride away before him, and then the two princes halted where the poor +children, scarce knowing that their home was burning behind them, were gathered +round their father, Patience stroking his face, Steadfast chafing his hands, +Jephthah standing with folded arms, and a terrible look of grief and wrath on +his face.</p> + +<p>"Is there no hope?" asked Prince Maurice, sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>"He is dead. That's all," muttered Jeph between his clenched teeth.</p> + +<p>"Mark," said Prince Rupert, "this mischance is by no command +of the King or mine. The fellow shall be brought to justice if you can swear to +him."</p> + +<p>"I would have hindered it, if I could," said the other prince, in +much slower, and more imperfect English. "It grieves me much. My purse has +little, but here it is."</p> + +<p>He dropped it on the ground while setting spurs to his horse to follow his +brother.</p> + +<p>And thus the poor children were left at first in a sort of numb dismay after +the shock, not even feeling that a heavy shower had begun to fall, till the +baby, whom Patience had laid on the grass, set up a shriek.</p> + +<p>Then she snatched him up, and burst into a bitter cry herself--wailing +"father was dead, and he would die," in broken words. Steadfast then +laid a hand on her, and said "He won't die, Patience, I see Croppie there, +I'll get some milk. Take him."</p> + +<p>There were only smoking walls, but the fire was burning down under the rain, +and had not touched the stable, the wind being the other way. "Take him +there," the boy said.</p> + +<p>"But father--we can't leave him."</p> + +<p>Without more words Jephthah and Steadfast took the still form between them +and bore it into the stable, the baby screaming with hunger all the time, so +that Jephthah hotly said--</p> + +<p>"Stop that! I can't bear it."</p> + +<p>Steadfast then said he would milk the cow if Jeph would run to the next +cottage and get help. People would come when they knew the soldiers were gone.</p> + +<p>There was nothing but Steadfast's leathern cap to hold the milk, and he felt +as if his fingers had no strength to draw it; but when he had brought his sister +enough to quiet little Ben, she recollected Rusha, and besought him to find her. +She could hardly sit still and feed the little one while she heard his voice +shouting in vain for the child, and all the time she was starting with the fancy +that she saw her father move, or heard a rustling in the straw where her +brothers had laid him.</p> + +<p>And when little Ben was satisfied, she was almost rent asunder between her +unwillingness to leave unwatched all that was left of her father, still with +that vain hopeless hope that he might revive, all could not have been over in +such a moment, and her terrible anxiety about her little sister. Could she have +run back into the burning house? Or could those dreadful soldiers have killed +her too?</p> + +<p>Steadfast presently came back, having found some of the startled cattle and +driven them in, but no Rusha. Patience was sure she could find her, and giving +the baby to Steadfast ran out in the rain and smouldering smoke calling her; all +in vain. Then she heard voices and feet, and in a fresh fright was about to turn +again, when she knew Jephthah's call. He had the child in his arms. He had been +coming back from the village with some neighbours, when they saw the poor little +thing, crouched like a hare in her form under a bush. No sooner did she hear +them, than like a hare, she started up to run away; but stumbling over the root +of a tree, she fell and lay, too much frightened even to scream till her brother +picked her up.</p> + +<p>Kind motherly arms were about the poor girls. Old Goody Grace, who had been +with them through their mother's illness, had hobbled up on hearing the terrible +news. She looked like a witch, with a tall hat, short cloak, and nose and chin +nearly meeting, but all Elmwood loved and trusted her, and the feeling of utter +terror and helplessness almost vanished when she kissed and grieved over the +orphans, and took the direction of things. She straightened and composed poor +John Kenton's limbs, and gave what comfort she could by assuring the children +that the passage must have been well nigh without pain. "And if ever there +was a good man fit to be taken suddenly, it was he," she added. "He be +in a happier place than this has been to him since your good mother was +took."</p> + +<p>Several of the men had accompanied her, and after some consultation, it was +decided that the burial had better take place that very night, even though there +was no time to make a coffin.</p> + +<p>"Many an honest man will be in that same case," said Harry Blane, +the smith, "if they come to blows down there."</p> + +<p>"And He to Whom he is gone will not ask whether he lies in a coffin, or +has the prayers said over him," added Goody, "though 'tis pity on him +too, for he always was a man for churches and parsons and prayers."</p> + +<p>"Vain husks, said the pious captain," put in Oates.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Harry Blane, "those could hardly be vain husks +that made John Kenton what he was. Would that the good old times were back +again; when a sackless man could not be shot down at his own door for nothing at +all."</p> + +<p>Reverently and carefully John Kenton's body was borne to the churchyard, +where he was laid in the grave beside his much loved wife. No knell was rung: +Elmwood, lying far away over the hill side in the narrow wooded valley with the +river between it and the camp, had not yet been visited by any of the Royalist +army, but a midnight toll might have attracted the attention of some of the +lawless stragglers. Nor did anyone feel capable of uttering a prayer aloud, and +thus the only sound at that strange sad funeral was the low boom of a midnight +gun fired in the beleaguered city.</p> + +<p>Then Patience with Rusha and the baby were taken home by kind old Goody +Grace, while the smith called the two lads into his house.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER VI.<br> +LEFT TO THEMSELVES.</h3> + +<p>"One look he cast upon the bier,<br> +Dashed from his eye the gathering tear,<br> +Then, like the high bred colt when freed<br> +First he essays his fire and speed,<br> +He vanished---"<br> +SCOTT.</p></center> + +<p>Steadfast was worn and wearied out with grief and slept heavily, knowing at +first that his brother was tossing about a good deal, but soon losing all +perception, and not waking till on that summer morning the sun had made some +progress in the sky.</p> + +<p>Then he came to the sad recollection of the last dreadful day, and knew that +he was lying on Master Blane's kitchen floor. He picked himself up, and at the +same moment heard Jephthah calling him from the outside.</p> + +<p>"Stead," he said, "I am going!"</p> + +<p>"Going!" said poor Stead, half asleep.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I shall never rest till I have had a shot at those barbarous +German princes and the rest of the villains. My father's blood cries to me from +the ground for vengeance."</p> + +<p>"Would father have said like that?" said the boy, bewildered, but +conscious of something defective, though these were Bible words.</p> + +<p>"That's not the point! Captain Venn called every man to take the sword +and hew down the wicked, and slay the ungodly and the murderers. I will!" +cried Jeph, "none shall withhold me."</p> + +<p>He had caught more phrases from these fiery preachers than he himself knew, +and they broke forth in this time of excitement.</p> + +<p>"But, Jeph, what is to become of us? The girls, and the little one! You +are the only one of us who can do a man's work."</p> + +<p>"I could not keep you together!" said Jeph. "Our house burnt +by those accursed sons of Belial, all broken up, and only a lubber like you to +help! No, Goody Grace or some one will take in the girls for what's left of the +stock, and you can soon find a place--a strong fellow like you; Master Blane +might take you and make a smith of you, if you be not too slow and clumsy."</p> + +<p>"But Jeph--"</p> + +<p>"Withhold me not. Is it not written--"</p> + +<p>"I wish you would not say is it not written," broke in Stead, +"I know it is, but you don't say it right."</p> + +<p>"Because you are yet in darkness," said Jeph, contemptuously. +"Hold your tongue. I must be off at once. Market folk can get into the town +by the low lane out there, away from the camp of the spoilers, early in the +morning, and I must hasten to enlist under Captain Venn. No, don't call the +wenches, they would but strive to daunt my spirit in the holy work of vengeance +on the bloodthirsty, and I can't abide tears and whining. See here, I found this +in the corn bin. I'm poor father's heir. You won't want money, and I shall; so I +shall take it, but I'll come back and make all your fortunes when I am a captain +or a colonel. I wonder this is not more. We got a heap of late. Maybe father hid +it somewhere else, but 'tis no use seeking now. If you light upon it you are +welcome to do what you will with it. Fare thee well, Steadfast. Do the best you +can for the wenches, but a call is laid on me! I have vowed to avenge the blood +that was shed."</p> + +<p>He strode off into the steep woodland path that clothed the hill side, and +Steadfast looked after him, and felt more utterly deserted than before. Then he +looked up to the sky, and tried to remember what was the promise to the +fatherless children. That made him wonder whether the Bible and Prayer-book had +been burnt, and then his morning's duty of providing milk for the little ones' +breakfast pressed upon him. He took up a pail of Mrs. Blane's which he thought +he might borrow and went off in search of the cows. So, murmuring the Lord's +Prayer as he walked, and making the resolution not to be dragged away from his +trust in the cavern, nor to forsake his little sister--he heard the lowing of +the cows as he went over the hill, and found them standing at the gate of the +fold yard, waiting to be eased of their milk. Poor creatures, they seemed so +glad to welcome him that it was the first thing that brought tears to his eyes, +and they came with such a rush that he had much ado to keep them from dropping +into the pail as he leant his head against Croppie's ruddy side.</p> + +<p>There was a little smouldering smoke; but the rain had checked the fire, and +though the roof of the house was gone and it looked frightfully dreary and +wretched, the walls were still standing and the pigs were grunting about the +place. However, Steadfast did not stop to see what was left within, as he knew +Ben would be crying for food, but he carried his foaming pail back to Goody +Grace's as fast as he could, after turning out the cows on the common, not even +stopping to count the sheep that were straggling about.</p> + +<p>His sisters were watching anxiously from the door of Goody Grace's hovel, and +eagerly cried out "Where's Jeph?"</p> + +<p>Then he had to tell them that Jeph was gone for a soldier, to have his +revenge for his father's death.</p> + +<p>"Jeph gone too!" said poor Patience, looking pale. "Oh, what +shall we ever do?"</p> + +<p>"He did not think of that, I'll warrant, the selfish fellow," said +Goody Grace. "That's the way with lads, nought but themselves."</p> + +<p>"It was because of what they did to poor father," replied Stead.</p> + +<p>"And if he, or the folks he is gone to, call that the Christian +religion, 'tis more than I do!" rejoined the old woman. "I wish I had +met him, I'd have given him a bit of my mind about going off to his revenge, as +he calls it, without ever a thought what was to become of his own flesh and +blood here."</p> + +<p>"He did say I might go to service (not that I shall), and that some one +would take you in for the cattle's sake."</p> + +<p>"O don't do that, Stead," cried Patience, "don't let us +part!" He had only just time to answer, "No such thing," for +people were coming about them by this time, one after another emerging from the +cottages that stood around the village green. The women were all hotly angry +with Jeph for going off and leaving his young brothers and sisters to shift for +themselves.</p> + +<p>"He was ever an idle fellow," said one, "always running after +the soldiers and only wanting an excuse."</p> + +<p>"Best thing he could do for himself or them," growled old Green.</p> + +<p>"Eh! What, Gaffer Green! To go off without a word or saying by your +leave to his poor little sister before his good father be cold in his +grave," exclaimed a whole clamour of voices.</p> + +<p>"Belike he knew what a clack of women's tongues there would be, and +would fain be out of it," replied the old man shrewdly.</p> + +<p>It was a clamour that oppressed poor Patience and made her feel sick with +sorrow and noise. Everybody meant to be very kind and pitiful, but there was a +great deal too much of it, and they felt quite bewildered by the offers made +them. Farmer Mill's wife, of Elmwood Cross, two miles off, was reported by her +sister to want a stout girl to help her, but there was no chance of her taking +Rusha or the baby as well as Patience. Goody Grace could not undertake the care +of Ben unless she could have Patience, because she was so often called away from +home, nor could she support them without the cows. Smith Blane might have taken +Stead, but his wife would not hear of being troubled with Rusha. And Dame Oates +might endure Rusha for the sake of a useful girl like Patience, but certainly +not the baby. It was an utter Babel and confusion, and in the midst of it all, +Patience crept up to her brother who stood all the time like a stock, and said +"Oh! Stead, I cannot give up Ben to anyone. Cannot we all keep +together?"</p> + +<p>"Hush, Patty! That's what I mean to do, if you will stand by me," +he whispered, "wait till all the clack is over."</p> + +<p>And there he waited with Patience by his side while the parish seemed to be +endlessly striving over them. If one woman seemed about to make a proposal, +half-a-dozen more fell on her and vowed that the poor orphans would be starved +and overworked; till she turned on the foremost with "And hadn't your poor +prentice lad to go before the justices to shew the weals on his back?" +"Aye, Joan Stubbs, and what are you speaking up for but to get the poor +children's sheep? Hey, you now, Stead Kenton--Lack-a-day, where be they?"</p> + +<p>For while the dispute was at its loudest and hottest, Stead had taken Rusha +by the hand, made a sign to Patience, and the four deserted children had quietly +gone away together into the copsewood that led to the little glen where the +brook ran, and where was the cave that Steadfast looked on as his special +charge. Rusha, frightened by the loud voices and angry gestures, had begun to +cry, and beg she might not be given to anyone, but stay with her Patty and +Stead.</p> + +<p>"And so you shall, my pretty," said Steadfast, sitting down on the +stump of a tree, and taking her on his knee, while Toby nuzzled up to them.</p> + +<p>"Then you think we can go on keeping ourselves, and not letting them +part us," said Patience, earnestly. If I have done the house work all this +time, and we have the fields, and all the beasts. We have only lost the house, +and I could never bear to live there again," she added, with a shudder.</p> + +<p>"No," said Steadfast, "it is too near the road while these +savage fellows are about. Besides--" and there he checked himself and +added, "I'll tell you, Patty. Do you remember the old stone cot down there +in the wood?"</p> + +<p>"Where the old hermit lived in the blind Popish times?"</p> + +<p>"Aye. We'll live there. No soldiers will ever find us out there, +Patty."</p> + +<p>"Oh! oh! that is good," said Patience. "We shall like that, +shan't we, Rusha?"</p> + +<p>"And," added Steadfast, "there is an old cowshed against the +rock down there, where we could harbour the beasts, for 'tis them that the +soldiers are most after."</p> + +<p>"Let us go down to it at once," cried the girl, joyfully.</p> + +<p>But Steadfast thought it would be wiser to go first to the ruins of their +home; before, as he said, anyone else did so, to see what could be saved +therefrom.</p> + +<p>Patience shrank from the spectacle, and Rusha hung upon her, saying the +soldiers would be there, and beginning to cry. At that moment, however, Tom +Gates' voice came near shouting for "Stead! Stead Kenton!"</p> + +<p>"Come on, Stead. You'll be prentice-lad to Dick Stiggins the tailor, if +so be you bring Whitefoot and the geese for your fee; and Goodman Bold will have +the big wench; and Goody Grace will make shift with the little ones, provided +she has the kine!"</p> + +<p>"We don't mean to be beholden to none of them," said Steadfast, +sturdily, with his hands in his pockets. "We mean to keep what belongs to +us, and work for ourselves."</p> + +<p>"And God will help us," Patience added softly.</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho!" cried Tom, and proud of having found them, he ran before +them back to the village green, and roared out, "Here they be! And they say +as how they don't want none of you, but will keep themselves. Ha! ha!"</p> + +<p>Anyone who saw those four young orphans would not have thought their trying +to keep themselves a laughing matter; and the village folk, who had been just +before so unwilling to undertake them, now began scolding and blaming them for +their folly and ingratitude.</p> + +<p>Nothing indeed makes people so angry as when a kindness which has cost them a +great effort turns out not to be wanted.</p> + +<p>"Look for nothing from us," cried Dame Bold. "I'd have made a +good housewife of you, you ungrateful hussy, and now you may thank yourself, if +you come to begging, I shall have nothing for you."</p> + +<p>"Beggary and rags," repeated the tailor. "Aye, aye; 'tis all +very fine strolling about after the sheep with your hands in your pockets in +summer weather, but you'll sing another song in winter time, and be sorry you +did not know when you had a good offer."</p> + +<p>"The babe will die as sure as 'tis born," added Jean Oates.</p> + +<p>"If they be not all slain by the mad Prince's troopers up in that place +by the roadside," said another.</p> + +<p>Blacksmith Blane and Goody Grace were in the meantime asking the children +what they meant to do, and Stead told them in a few words. Goody Grace shook her +head over little Ben, but Blane declared that after all it might be the best +thing they could do to keep their land and beasts together. Ten to one that +foolish lad Jephthah would come back with his tail between his legs, and though +it would serve him right, what would they do if all were broken up? Then he +slapped Stead on the back, called him a sensible, steady lad, and promised +always to be his friend.</p> + +<p>Moreover he gave up his morning's work to come with the children to their +homestead, and see what could be saved. It was a real kindness, not only because +his protection made Patience much less afraid to go near the place, and his +strong arm would be a great help to them, but because he was parish constable +and had authority to drive away the rough lads whom they found already hanging +about the ruins, and who had frightened Patience's poor cat up into the ash +tree.</p> + +<p>The boys and two curs were dancing round the tree, and one boy was stripping +off his smock to climb up and throw poor pussy down among them when Master +Blane's angry shout and flourished staff put them all to flight, and Patience +and Rusha began to coax the cat to come down to them.</p> + +<p>Hunting her had had one good effect, it had occupied the boys and prevented +them from carrying anything off. The stable was safe. What had been burnt was +the hay rick, whence the flames had climbed to the house. The roof had fallen +in, and the walls and chimney stood up blackened and dismal, but there was a +good deal of stone about the house, the roof was of shingle, and the heavy fall, +together with the pouring rain, had done much to choke the fire, so that when +Blane began to throw aside the charred bits of beams and of the upper floor, +more proved to be unburnt, or at least only singed, than could have been +expected.</p> + +<p>The great black iron pot still hung in the chimney with the very meal and +kail broth that Patience had been boiling in it, and Rusha's little stool stood +by the hearth. Then the great chest, or ark as Patience called it, where all the +Sunday clothes were kept, had been crushed in and the upper things singed, but +all below was safe. The beds and bedding were gone; but then the best bed had +been only a box in the wall with an open side, and the others only chaff or +straw stuffed into a sack.</p> + +<p>Patience's crocks, trenchers, and cups were gone too, all except one horn +mug; but two knives and some spoons were extracted from the ashes. Furniture was +much more scanty everywhere than now. There was not much to lose, and of that +they had lost less than they had feared.</p> + +<p>"And see here, Stead," said Patience joyfully holding up a lesser +box kept within the other.</p> + +<p>It contained her mother's Bible and Prayer-book. The covers were turned up, a +little warped by the heat, and some of the corners of the leaves were browned, +but otherwise they were unhurt.</p> + +<p>"I was in hopes 'twas the money box," said Blane.</p> + +<p>"Jeph has got the bag," said Patience.</p> + +<p>"More shame for him," growled their friend. Steadfast did not think +it necessary to say that was not all the hoard.</p> + +<p>Another thing about which Patience was very anxious was the meal chest. With +much difficulty they reached it. It had been broken in by the fall of the roof, +and some of the contents were scattered, but enough was gathered up in a pail +fetched from the stable to last for some little time. There were some eggs +likewise in the nests, and altogether Goodman Blane allowed that, if the young +Kentons could take care of themselves, and keep things together, they had +decided for the best; if they could, that was to say. And he helped them to +carry their heavier things to the glen. He wanted to see if it were fit for +their habitation, but Steadfast was almost sorry to show anyone the way, in +spite of his trust and gratitude to the blacksmith.</p> + +<p>However, of course, it was not possible to keep this strange hiding-place a +secret, so he led the way by the path the cattle had trodden out through the +brushwood to the open space where they drank, and where stood the hermit's hut, +a dreary looking den built of big stones, and with rough slates covering it. +There was a kind of hole for the doorway, and another for the smoke to get out +at. Blane whistled with dismay at the sight of it, and told Stead he could not +take the children to such a place.</p> + +<p>"We will get it better," said Stead.</p> + +<p>"That we will," returned Patience, who felt anything better than +being separated from her brother.</p> + +<p>"It is weather-tight," added Stead, "and when it is cleaned +out you will see!"</p> + +<p>"And the soldiers will never find it," added Patience.</p> + +<p>"There is something in that," said Blane. "But at any rate, +though it be summer, you can never sleep there to-night."</p> + +<p>"The girls cannot," said Stead, "but I shall, to look after +things."</p> + +<p>These were long days, and by the evening many of the remnants of household +stuff had been brought, the cows and Whitefoot had been tied up in their +dilapidated shed, with all the hay Stead could gather together to make them feel +at home. There was a hollow under the rock where he hoped to keep the pigs, but +neither they nor the sheep could be brought in at present. They must take their +chance, the sheep on the moor, the pigs grubbing about the ruins of the +farmyard. The soldiers must be too busy for marauding, to judge by the constant +firing that had gone on all day, the sharp rattle of the musquets, and now and +then the grave roll of a cannon.</p> + +<p>Stead had been too busy to attend, but half the village had been watching +from the height, which accounted perhaps for the move from the farm having been +so uninterrupted after the first.</p> + +<p>It was not yet dark, when, tired out by his day's hard work, Stead sat +himself down at the opening of his hut with Toby by his side. The evening gold +of the sky could hardly be seen through the hazel and mountain-ash bushes that +clothed the steep opposite bank of the glen and gave him a feeling of security. +The brook rippled along below, plainly to be heard since all other sounds had +ceased except the purring of a night-jar and the cows chewing their cud. There +was a little green glade of short grass sloping down to the stream from the hut +where the rabbits were at play, but on each side the trees and brushwood were +thick, with only a small path through, much overgrown, and behind the rock rose +like a wall, overhung with ivy and traveller's joy. Only one who knew the place +could have found the shed among the thicket where the cows were fastened, far +less the cavern half-way up the side of the rock where lay the treasures for +which Steadfast was a watchman. He thought for a moment of seeing if all were +safe, but then decided, like a wise boy, that to disturb the creepers, and wear +a path to the place, was the worst thing he could do if he wished for +concealment. He had had his supper at the village, and had no more to do, and +after the long day of going to and fro, even Toby was too much tired to worry +the rabbits, though he had had no heavy weights to carry. Perhaps, indeed, the +poor dog had no spirits to interfere with their sports, as they sat upright, +jumped over one another, and flashed their little white tails. He missed his old +master, and knew perfectly well that his young master was in trouble and +distress, as he crept close up to the boy's breast, and looked up in his face. +Stead's hand patted the rough, wiry hair, and there was a sort of comfort in the +creature's love. But how hard it was to believe that only yesterday he had a +father and a home, and that now his elder brother was gone, and he had the great +charge on him of being the mainstay of the three younger ones, as well as of +protecting that treasure in the cavern which his father had so solemnly +entrusted to him.</p> + +<p>The boy knelt down to say his prayers, and as he did so, all alone in the +darkening wood, the words "Father of the fatherless, Helper of the +helpless," came to his aid.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER VII.<br> +THE HERMIT'S GULLEY.</h3> + +<p>"O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey,<br> +They were twa bonnie lasses--<br> +They digged a bower on yonder brae,<br> +And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes." BALLAD.</p></center> + +<p>Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the +morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little +hovel.</p> + +<p>When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done. +He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by +kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had +slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried +guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.</p> + +<p>Then he milked the cows, for happily his own buckets had been at the stable +and thus were safe. He had just released Croppie and seen her begin her +breakfast on the grass, when Patience in her little red hood came tripping +through the glen with a broom over her shoulder, and without the other children. +Goody Grace had undertaken to keep them for the day, whilst Patience worked with +her brother, and had further lent her the broom till she could make another, for +all the country brooms of that time were home-made with the heather and the +birch. She had likewise brought a barley cake, on which and on the milk the pair +made their breakfast, Goody providing for the little ones.</p> + +<p>"We must use it up," said Patience, "for we have got no +churn."</p> + +<p>"And we could not get into the town to sell the butter if we had," +returned her brother. "We had better take it up to some one in the village +who might give us something for it, bread or cheese maybe."</p> + +<p>"I would like to make my own butter," sighed Patience, whose +mother's cleanly habits had made her famous for it.</p> + +<p>"So you shall some day, Patty," said her brother, "but there's +no getting into Bristol to buy one or to sell butter now. Hark! they are +beginning again," as the growl of a heavy piece of cannon shook the ground.</p> + +<p>"I wonder where our Jeph is," said the little girl sadly. "How +could he like to go among all those cruel fighting men? You won't go, +Stead?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, I have got something else to do."</p> + +<p>The children were hard at work all the time. They cleared out the inside of +their hovel, which had a floor of what was called lime ash, trodden hard, and +not much cracked. Probably other hermits in earlier times had made the place +habitable before the expelled monk whom the Kentons' great-grandfather +recollected; for the cell, though rude, was wonderfully strong, and the stone +walls were very stout and thick, after the fashion of the middle ages. There was +a large flat stone to serve as a hearth, and an opening at the top for smoke +with a couple of big slaty stones bent towards one another over it as a break to +the force of the rain. The children might have been worse off though there was +no window, and no door to close the opening. That mattered the less in the +summer weather, and before winter came, Stead thought he could close it with a +mat made of the bulrushes that stood up in the brook, lifting their tall, black +heads.</p> + +<p>Straw must serve for their beds till they could get some sacking to stuff it +into, and as some of the sheep would have to be killed and salted for the +winter, the skins would serve for warmth. Patience arranged the bundles of straw +with a neat bit of plaiting round them, at one corner of the room for herself +and Rusha, at the opposite one for Stead. For the present they must sleep in +their clothes.</p> + +<p>Life was always so rough, and, to present notions, comfortless, that all this +was not nearly so terrible to the farmer's daughter of two centuries ago as it +would be to a girl of the present day. Indeed, save for the grief for the good +father, the sense of which now and then rushed on them like a horrible, too true +dream, Steadfast and Patience would almost have enjoyed the setting up for +themselves and all their contrivances. Some losses, however, besides that of the +churn were very great in their eyes. Patience's spinning wheel especially, and +the tools, scythe, hook, and spade, all of which had been so much damaged, that +Smith Blane had shaken his head over them as past mending.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, however, Stead might borrow and get these made for him. As to the +wheel, that must, like the churn, wait till the siege was over.</p> + +<p>"But will not those dreadful men burn the town down and not leave one +stone on another, if Jeph and the rest of them don't keep them out?" asked +Patience.</p> + +<p>"No," said Stead. "That is not the way in these days--at least +not always. So poor father said last time we went into Bristol, when he had been +talking to the butter-merchant's man. He said the townsfolk would know the +reason why, if the soldiers were for holding out long enough to get them into +trouble."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps there will not be much fighting and they will not hurt +Jeph," said Patience, to whom Jeph was the whole war.</p> + +<p>"There's no firing to-day. Maybe they are making it up," said +Steadfast.</p> + +<p>"I never heeded," said Patience, "we have been so busy! But +Stead, how shall we get the things? We have no money. Shall we sell a sheep or a +pig?"</p> + +<p>Stead looked very knowing, and she exclaimed "Have you any, Stead? I +thought Jeph took it all away."</p> + +<p>Then Stead told her how his father had entrusted him with the bulk of the +savings, in case of need, and had made it over to the use of the younger ones.</p> + +<p>"It was well you did not know, Patty," he added. "You told no +lie, and Jeph might have taken it all."</p> + +<p>"O! he would not have been so cruel," cried Patience. "He +would not want Rusha and Ben to have nothing."</p> + +<p>Stead did not feel sure, and when Patience asked him where the hoard was, he +shook his head, looked wise, and would not tell her. And then he warned her, +with all his might and main against giving a hint to anyone that they had any +such fund in reserve. She was a little vexed and hurt at first, but presently +she promised.</p> + +<p>"Indeed Stead, I won't say one word about it, and you don't think I +would ever touch it without telling you."</p> + +<p>"No, Patty, you wouldn't, but don't you see, if you know nothing, you +can't tell if people ask you."</p> + +<p>In truth, Stead was less anxious about the money than about the other +treasure, and when presently Patience proposed that the cave where they used to +play should serve for the poultry, so as to save them from the foxes and +polecats, he looked very grave and said "No, no, Patty, don't you ever tell +anyone of that hole, nor let Rusha see it."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I know then !" cried Patience, with a little laugh, "I +know what's there then."</p> + +<p>"There's more than that, sister," and therewith Stead told in her +ear of the precious deposit.</p> + +<p>She looked very grave, and said "Why then it is just like church! O no, +Stead, I'll never tell till good Mr. Holworth comes back. Could not we say our +prayers there on Sundays?"</p> + +<p>Stead liked the thought but shook his head.</p> + +<p>"We must not wear a path up to the place," he said, "nor show +the little ones the way."</p> + +<p>"I shall say mine as near as I can," said Patience. "And I +shall ask God to help us keep it safe."</p> + +<p>Then the children became absorbed in seeking for a place where their fowls +could find safe shelter from the enemies that lurked in the wood, and ended by +an attempt of Stead's to put up some perches across the beam above the cow-shed.</p> + +<p>Things were forward enough for Rusha and Ben to be fetched down to their new +home that night; when Patience went to fetch them, she heard that the cessation +of firing had really been because the troops within the town were going to +surrender to the King's soldiers outside.</p> + +<p>"Then there will be no more fighting," she anxiously asked of +Master Blane.</p> + +<p>"No man can tell," he answered.</p> + +<p>"And will Jeph come back?"</p> + +<p>But that he could tell as little, and indeed someone else spoke to him, and +he paid the child no more attention.</p> + +<p>Rusha had had a merry day among the children of her own age in the village; +she fretted at coming away, and was frightened at turning into so lonely a path +through the hazel stems, trotting after Patience because she was afraid to turn +back alone, but making a low, peevish moan all the time.</p> + + +<p align="center"><img src="stirringporridge.jpg" alt="stirringporridge"></p> + + +<p>Patience hoped she would be comforted when they came out on their little +glade, and she saw Stead stirring the milk porridge over the fire he had lighted +by the house. For he had found the flint and steel belonging to the matchlock of +his father's old gun, and there was plenty of dry leaves and half-burnt wood to +serve as tinder. The fire for cooking would be outside, whenever warmth and +weather served, to prevent indoor smoke. And to Patience's eyes it really looked +pleasant and comfortable, with Toby sitting wisely by his young master's side, +and the cat comfortably perched at the door, and Whitefoot tied to a tree, and +the cows in their new abode. But Jerusha was tired and cross, she said it was an +ugly place, and she was afraid of the foxes and the polecats, she wanted to go +home, she wanted to go back to Goody Grace.</p> + +<p>Stead grew angry, and threatened that she should have no supper, and that +made her cry the louder, and shake her frock at him; but Patience, who knew +better how to deal with her, let her finish her cry, and come creeping back, +promising to be good, and glad to eat the supper, which was wholesome enough, +though very smoky: however, the children were used to smoke, and did not mind +it.</p> + +<p>They said their prayers together while the sun was touching the tops of the +trees, crept into their hut, curled themselves up upon their straw and went to +sleep, while Toby lay watchful at the door, and the cat prowled about in quest +of a rabbit or some other evening wanderer for her supper.</p> + +<p>The next day Patience spent in trying to get things into somewhat better +order, and Steadfast in trying to gather together his live stock, which he had +been forced to leave to take care of themselves. Horse, donkey, and cows were +all safe round their hut; but he could find only three of the young pigs and the +old sow at the farmyard, and it plainly was not safe to leave them there, though +how to pen them up in their new quarters he did not know.</p> + +<p>The sheep were out on the moor, and only one of them seemed to be missing. +The goat and the geese had likewise taken care of themselves and seemed glad to +see him. He drove them down to their new home, and fed them there with some of +the injured meal. "But what can we do with the pigs? There's no place they +can't get out of but this," said Stead, looking doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I would have pigs in here? No, I am not come to +that!"</p> + +<p>It ended in Stead's going to consult Master Blane, who advised that the +younger pigs should be either sold, or killed and salted, and nothing left but +the sow, who was a cunning old animal, and could pretty well take care of +herself, besides that she was so tough and lean that one must be very hungry +indeed to be greatly tempted by her bristles,</p> + +<p>But how sell the pigs or buy the salt in such days as these? There was, +indeed, no firing.</p> + +<p>There was a belief that treaties were going on, but leisure only left the +besiegers more free to go wandering about in search of plunder; and Stead found +all trouble saved him as to disposing of his pigs. They were quite gone next +time he looked for them, and the poor old sow had been lamed by a shot; but did +not seem seriously hurt, and when with some difficulty she had been persuaded to +be driven into the glen, she seemed likely to be willing to stay there in the +corner of the cattle shed.</p> + +<p>The children were glad enough to be in their glen, with all its bareness and +discomfort, when they heard that a troop of horse had visited Elmwood, and made +a requisition there for hay and straw. They had used no violence, but the +farmers were compelled to take it into the camp in their own waggons, getting +nothing in payment but orders on the treasury, which might as well be waste +paper. And, indeed, they were told by the soldiers that they might be thankful +to get off with their carts and horses.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER VIII.<br> +STEAD IN POSSESSION.</h3> + +<p>"At night returning, every labour sped,<br> +He sits him down, the monarch of a shed."<br> +GOLDSMITH.</p></center> + +<p>Another day made it certain that the garrison of Bristol had surrendered to +the besiegers. A few shots were heard, but they were only fired in rejoicing by +the Royalists, and while Steadfast was studying his barley field, already +silvered over by its long beards, and wondering how soon it would be ripe, and +how he should get it cut and stacked, his name was shouted out, and he saw Tom +Oates and all the rest of the boys scampering down the lane.</p> + +<p>"Come along, Stead Kenton, come on and see, the Parliament soldiers come +out and go by."</p> + +<p>Poor Steadfast had not much heart for watching soldiers, but it struck him +that he might see or hear something of Jephthah, so he came with the other boys +to the bank, where from behind a hedge they could look down at the ranks of +soldiers as they marched along, five abreast, the road was not wide enough to +hold more. They had been allowed to keep their weapons, so the officers had +their swords, and the men carried their musquets. Most of them looked dull and +dispirited, and the officers had very gloomy, displeased faces. In fact, they +were very angry with their commander, Colonel Fiennes, for having surrendered so +easily, and he was afterwards brought to a court-martial for having done so.</p> + +<p>Stead did not understand this, he thought only of looking under each steel +cap or tall, slouching hat for Jephthah. Several times a youthful, slender +figure raised his hopes, and disappointed him, and he began to wonder whether +Jeph could have after all stayed behind in the town, or if he could have been +hurt and was ill there.</p> + +<p>By-and-by came a standard, bearing a Bible lying on a sword, and behind it +rode a grave looking officer, with long hair, and a red scarf, whom the lads +recognised as the same who had preached at Elmwood. His men were in better order +than some of the others, and as Steadfast eagerly watched them, he was sure that +he knew the turn of Jeph's head, in spite of his being in an entirely new suit +of clothes, and with a musquet over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>Stead shook the ash stem he was leaning against, the men looked up, he saw +the well-known face, and called out "Jeph! Jeph!" But some of the +others laughed, Jeph frowned and shook his head, and marched on. Stead was +disappointed, but at any rate he could carry back the assurance to Patience that +Jeph was alive and well, though he seemed to have lost all care for his brothers +and sisters. Yet, perhaps, as a soldier he could not help it, and it might not +be safe to straggle from the ranks.</p> + +<p>There was no more fighting for the present in the neighbourhood. The princes +and their army departed, only leaving a garrison to keep the city, and it was +soon known in the village that the town was in its usual state, and that it was +safe to go in to market as in former times. Stead accordingly carried in a +basket of eggs, which was all he could yet sell. He was ferried across the +river, and made his way in. It was strange to find the streets looking exactly +as usual, and the citizens' wives coming out with their baskets just as if +nothing had happened.</p> + +<p>There was the good-natured face of Mistress Lightfoot, who kept a baker's +shop at the sign of the Wheatsheaf, and was their regular customer.</p> + +<p>"Ha, little Kenton, be'st thou there? I'm right glad to see thee. They +said the mad fellows had burnt the farm and made an end of all of you, but I +find 'em civil enow, and I'm happy to see 'twas all leasing-making."</p> + +<p>"It is true, mistress," said Stead, "that they burnt our house +and shot poor father."</p> + +<p>"Eh, you don't say so, my poor lad?" and she hurried her kind +questions, tears coming into her eyes, as she thought of the orphans deserted by +their brother. She was very anxious to have Patience butter-making again and +promised to come with Stead to give her assistance in choosing both a churn and +a spinning wheel if he would come in the next day, for he had not ventured on +bringing any money with him. She bought all his eggs for her lodger, good Doctor +Eales, who could hardly taste anything and had been obliged to live cooped up in +an inner chamber for fear of the Parliament soldiers, who were misbehaved to +Church ministers though civil enough to women; while these new comers were just +the other way, hat in hand to a clergyman, but apt to be saucy to the lasses. +But she hoped the Doctor would cheer up again, now that the Cathedral was set in +order, so far as might be, and prayers were said there as in old times. In fact +the bells were ringing for morning prayer, and Stead was so glad to hear them +that he thought he might venture in and join in the brief daily service. There +were many others who had done so, for these anxious days had quickened the +devotion of many hearts, and people had felt what it was to be robbed of their +churches and forbidden the use of their prayer-books. Moreover, some had sons or +brothers or husbands fighting on the one side or the other, and were glad to +pray for them, so that Stead found himself in the midst of quite a congregation, +though the choir had been too much dispersed and broken up for the musical +service, and indeed the organ had been torn to pieces by the Puritan soldiers, +who fancied it was Popish.</p> + +<p>But Stead found himself caring for the Psalms and Prayers in a manner he had +never done before, and which came of the sorrow he had felt and the troubles +that pressed upon him. He fancied all would come right now, and that soon Mr. +Holworth would be back, and he should be able to give up his charge; and he went +home, quite cheered up.</p> + +<p>When he came into the gulley he heard voices through the bushes, and pressing +forward anxiously he saw Blane and Oates before the hovel door, Patience +standing there crying, with the baby in her arms, and Rusha holding her apron, +and an elderly man whom Stead knew as old Lady Elmwood's steward talking to the +other men, who seemed to be persuading him to something.</p> + +<p>As soon as Stead appeared, the other children ran up to him, and Rusha hid +herself behind him, while Patience said "O Stead, Stead, he has come to +turn us all out! Don't let him!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, little wench, not so fast," said the steward, not +unkindly. "I am but come to look after my Lady's interests, seeing that we +heard your poor father was dead, God have mercy on his soul (touching his hat +reverently), and his son gone off to the wars, and nothing but a pack of +children left."</p> + +<p>"But 'tis all poor father's," muttered Stead, almost dumbfounded.</p> + +<p>"It is held under the manor of Elmwood," explained the steward, +"on the tenure of the delivery of the prime beast on the land on the demise +of lord or tenant, and three days' service in hay and harvest time."</p> + +<p>What this meant Steadfast and Patience knew as little as did Rusha or Ben, +but Goodman Blane explained.</p> + +<p>"The land here is all held under my Lady and Sir George, Stead--mine +just the same--no rent paid, but if there's a death--landlord or tenant--one has +to give the best beast as a fee, besides the work in harvest."</p> + +<p>"And the question is," proceeded the steward, "who and what is +there to look to. The eldest son is but a lad, if he were here, and this one is +a mere child, and the house is burnt down, and here they be, crouching in a +hovel, and how is it to be with the land. I'm bound to look after the land. I'm +bound to look after my Lady's interest and Sir George's."</p> + +<p>"Be they ready to build up the place if you had another tenant?" +asked Blane, signing to Stead to hold his peace.</p> + +<p>"Well--hum--ha! It might not come handy just now, seeing that Sir George +is off with the King, and all the money and plate with him and most of the +able-bodied servants, but I'm the more bound to look after his interests."</p> + +<p>That seemed to be Master Brown's one sentence. But Blane took him up, +"Look you here, Master Brown, I, that have been friend and gossip this many +years with poor John Kenton--rest his soul--can tell you that your lady is like +to be better served with this here Steadfast, boy though he be, than if you had +the other stripling with his head full of drums and marches, guns and +preachments, and what not, and who never had a good day's work in him without +his father's eye over him. This little fellow has done half his share and his +own to boot long ago. Now they are content to dwell down here, out of the way of +the soldiering, and don't ask her ladyship to be at any cost for repairing the +farm up there, but will do the best they can for themselves. So, I say, Master +Brown, it will be a real good work of charity, without hurt to my Lady and Sir +George to let them be, poor things, to fight it out as they can."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, there's somewhat in what you say Goodman Blane, but I'm +bound to look after my Lady's interests and Sir George's."</p> + +<p>"I would come and work like a good one at my Lady's hay and +harvest," said Stead, "and I shall get stronger and bigger every +year."</p> + +<p>"But the beast," said the steward, "my Lady's interests must +come first, you see."</p> + +<p>"O don't let him take Croppie," cried Patience. "O sir, not +the cows, or baby will die, and we can't make the butter."</p> + +<p>"You see, Master Brown," explained Blane, "it is butter as is +their chief stand-by. Poor Dame Kenton, as was took last spring, was the best +dairywoman in the parish, and this little maid takes after her. Their kine are +their main prop, but there's the mare, there's not much good that she can do +them."</p> + +<p>"Let us look!" said the steward. "A sorry jade enow! But I +don't know but she will serve our turn better than the cow. There was a +requisition, as they have the impudence to call it, from the Parliament lot that +took off all our horses, except old grey Dobbin and the colt, and this beast may +come in handy to draw the wood. So I'll take her, and you may think yourself +well off, and thank my Lady I'm so easy with you. 'Be not hard on the orphans,' +she said. 'Heaven forbid, my Lady,' says I, 'but I must look after your +interests.'"</p> + +<p>The children hung round old Whitefoot, making much of her for the last time, +and Patience and Rusha both cried sadly when she was led away; and it was hard +to believe Master Blane, who told them it was best for Whitefoot as well as for +themselves, since they would find it a hard matter to get food even for the more +necessary animals in the winter, and the poor beast would soon be skin and bone; +while for themselves the donkey could carry all they wanted to market; and it +might be more important than they understood to be thus regularly accepted as +tenants by the manor, so that no one could turn them out.</p> + +<p>And Stead, remembering the cavern, knew that he ought to be thankful, while +the two men went away, Brown observing, "One can scarce turn 'em out, poor +things, but such a mere lubber as that boy is can do no good! If the elder one +had thought fit to stay and mind his own business now!"</p> + +<p>"A good riddance, I say," returned Blane. "Stead's a +good-hearted lad, though clownish, and I'll do what I can for him."</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER IX.<br> +WINTRY TIMES.</h3> + +<p>"Thrice welcome may such seasons be,<br> +But welcome too the common way,<br> +The lowly duties of the day."</p></center> + +<p>There was of course much to do. Steadfast visited his hoard and took from +thence enough to purchase churn, spinning wheel, and the few tools that he most +needed; but it was not soon that Patience could sit down to spin. That must be +for the winter, and their only chance of light was in making candles.</p> + +<p>Rusha could gather the green rushes, though she could not peel them without +breaking them; and Patience had to take them out of her hands and herself strip +the white pith so that only one ribbon of green was left to support it.</p> + +<p>The sheep, excepting a few old ewes, were always sold or killed before the +winter, and by Blane's advice, Stead kept only three. The butcher Oates took +some of the others, and helped Stead to dispose of four more in the market. Two +were killed at different intervals for home use, but only a very small part was +eaten fresh, as a wonderful Sunday treat, the rest was either disposed of among +the neighbours, who took it in exchange for food of other kinds; or else was +salted and dried for the winter's fare, laid up in bran in two great crocks +which Stead had been forced to purchase, and which with planks from the +half-burnt house laid over them served by turns as tables or seats. The fat was +melted up in Patience's great kettle, and the rushes dipped in it over and over +again till they had such a coating of grease as would enable them to be burnt in +the old horn lantern which had fortunately been in the stable and escaped the +fire.</p> + +<p>Kind neighbours helped Stead to cut and stack his hay, and his little field +of barley. All the grass he could cut on the banks he also saved for the +animals' winter food, and a few turnips, but these were rare and uncommon +articles only used by the most advanced farmers, and his father had only lately +begun to grow them, nor had potatoes become known except in the gardens of the +curious.</p> + +<p>The vexation was that all the manor was called to give their three days' +labour to Lady Elmwood's crops just as all their own were cut, and as, of +course, Master Brown had chosen the finest weather, every one went in fear and +trembling for their own, and Oates and others grumbled so bitterly at having to +work without wage, that Blane asked if they called their own houses and land +nothing.</p> + +<p>There was fresh grumbling too that the food sent out to the labourers in the +field was not as it used to be, good beef and mutton, but only bread and very +hard cheese, and bowls of hasty pudding, with thin, sour small beer to wash it +down. Oates growled and vowed he would never come again to be so scurvily used; +and perhaps no one guessed that my lady was far more impoverished than her +tenants, and had a hard matter to supply even such fare as this.</p> + +<p>Happily the weather lasted good long enough to save the Kentons' little crop, +though there was a sad remembrance of the old times, when the church bell gave +the signal at sunrise for all the harvesters to come to church for the brief +service, and then to start fair in their gleaning. The bell did still ring, but +there were no prayers. The vicar had never come back, and it was reported that +he had been sent to the plantations in America. There was no service on Sunday +nearer than Bristol. It was the churchwardens' business to find a minister, and +of these, poor Kenton was dead, and the other, Master Cliffe, was not likely to +do anything that might put the parish to expense.</p> + +<p>Goodman Blane, and some of the other more seriously minded folk used to walk +into Bristol to church when the weather was tolerably fine. If it were wet, the +little stream used to flood the lower valley so that it was not possible to get +across. Steadfast was generally one of the party. Patience could not go, as it +was too far for Rusha to walk, or for the baby to be carried.</p> + +<p>Once, seeing how much she wished to go again to church, Stead undertook to +mind the children, the cattle, and the dinner in her place; but what work he +found it! When he tried to slice the onions for the broth, little Ben toddled +off, and had to be caught lest he should tumble into the river. Then Rusha got +hold of the knife, cut her hand, and rolled it up in her Sunday frock, and +Steadfast, thinking he had got a small bit of rag, tied it up in Patience's +round cap, but that he did not know till afterwards, only that baby had got out +again, and after some search was found asleep cuddled up close to the old sow. +And so it went on, till poor Steadfast felt as if he had never spent so long a +day. As to reading his Bible and Prayer-book, it was quite impossible, and he +never had so much respect for Patience before as when he found what she did +every day without seeming to think anything of it.</p> + +<p>She did not get home till after dark, but the Blanes had taken her to rest at +the friends with whom they spent the time between services, and they had given +her a good meal.</p> + +<p>"Somehow," said Patience, "everybody seems kinder than they +used to be before the fighting began--and the parsons said the prayers as if +they had more heart in them."</p> + +<p>Patience was quite right. These times of danger were making everyone draw +nearer together, and look up more heartily to Him in Whom was there true help.</p> + +<p>But winter was coming on and bringing bad times for the poor children in +their narrow valley, so close to the water. It was not a very cold season, but +it was almost worse, for it was very wet. The little brook swelled, turned muddy +yellow, and came rushing and tumbling along, far outside its banks, so that +Patience wondered whether there could be any danger of its coming up to their +hut and perhaps drowning them.</p> + +<p>"I think there is no fear," said Steadfast. "You see this +house has been here from old times and never got washed away."</p> +<p>"It wouldn't wash away very easily," said Patience, "I wish we +were in one of the holes up there."</p> + +<p>"If it looks like danger we might get up," said Steadfast, and to +please her he cleared a path to a freshly discovered cave a little lower down +the stream, but so high up on the rocky sides of the ravine as to be safe from +the water.</p> + +<p>Once Patience, left at home watching the rushing of the stream, became so +frightened that she actually took the children up there, and set Rusha to hold +the baby while she dragged up some sheepskins and some food.</p> + +<p>Steadfast coming home asked what she was about and laughed at her, showing +her, by the marks on the trees, that the flood was already going down. Such +alarms came seldom, but the constant damp was worse. Happily it was always +possible to keep up a fire, wood and turf peat was plentiful and could be had +for the cutting and carrying, and though the smoke made their eyes tingle, +perhaps it hindered the damp from hurting them, when all the walls wept, in +spite of the reed mats which they had woven and hung over them. And then it was +so dark, Patience's rushes did not give light enough to see to do anything by +them even when they did not get blown out, and when the sun had set there was +nothing for it, but as soon as the few cattle had been foddered in their shed +and cave, to draw the mat and sheepskins that made a curtain by way of door, +fasten it down with a stone, share with dog and cat the supper of broth, or +milk, or porridge which Patience had cooked, and then lie down on the beds of +dried leaves stuffed into sacking, drawing over them the blankets and cloaks +that had happily been saved in the chest, and nestling on either side of the +fire, which, if well managed, would smoulder on for hours. There the two elder +ones would teach Rusha her catechism and tell old stories, and croon over old +rhymes till both the little ones were asleep, and then would hold counsel on +their affairs, settle how to husband their small stock of money, consider how +soon it would be expedient to finish their store of salted mutton and pork to +keep them from being spoilt by damp, and wonder when their hens would begin to +lay.</p> + +<p>It could hardly be a merry Christmas for the poor children, though they did +stick holly in every chink where it would go, but there were not many berries +that year, and as Rusha said, "there were only thorns."</p> + +<p>Steadfast walked to Bristol through slush and mire and rain, not even Smith +Blane went with him, deeming the weather too bad, and thinking, perhaps, rather +over much of the goose at home.</p> + +<p>Bristol people were keeping Christmas with all their might, making the more +noise and revelry because the Parliament had forbidden the feast to be observed +at all. It was easy to tell who was for the King and who for the Parliament, for +there were bushes of holly, mistletoe, and ivy, at all the Royalist doors and +windows, and from many came the savoury steam of roast beef or goose, while the +other houses were shut up as close as possible and looked sad and grim.</p> + +<p>All the bells of all the churches were ringing, and everybody seemed to be +trooping into them. As Steadfast was borne along by the throng, there was a +pause, and a boy of his own age with a large hat and long feather, beneath which +could be seen curls of jet-black hair, walked at the head of a party of +gentlemen. Everyone in the crowd uncovered and there was a vehement outcry of +"God save the King! God save the Prince of Wales!" Everyone thronged +after him, and Steadfast had a hard struggle to squeeze into the Cathedral, and +then had to stand all the time with his back against a pillar, for there was not +even room to kneel down at first.</p> + +<p>There was no organ, but the choir men and boys had rallied there, and led the +Psalms which went up very loudly and heartily. Then the Dean went up into the +pulpit and preached about peace and goodwill to men, and how all ought to do all +in their power to bring those blessed gifts back again. A good many people +dropped off during the sermon, and more after it, but Steadfast remained. He had +never been able to come to the Communion feast since the evil times had begun, +and he had thought much about it on his lonely walk, and knew that it was the +way to be helped through the hard life he was living.</p> + +<p>When all was over he felt very peaceful, but so hungry and tired with +standing and kneeling so long after his walk, that he was glad to lean against +the wall and take out the piece of bread that Patience had put in his wallet.</p> + +<p>Presently a step came near, and from under a round velvet skull-cap a kind +old face looked at him which he knew to be that of the Dean.</p> + +<p>"Is that all your Christmas meal, my good boy?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I shall have something for supper, thank your reverence," replied +Steadfast, taking off his leathern cap.</p> + +<p>"Well, mayhap you could away with something more," said the Dean. +"Come with me."</p> + +<p>And as Steadfast obeyed, he asked farther, "What is your name, my child? +I know your face in church, but not in town."</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I do not live here. I am Steadfast Kenton, and I am from +Elmwood, but we have no prayers nor sermon there since they took the parson +away."</p> + +<p>"Ah! good Master Holworth! Alas! my child, I fear you will scarce see +him back again till the King be in London once more, which Heaven grant. And, +meantime, Sir George Elmwood being patron, none can be intruded into his room. +It is a sore case, and I fear me the case of many a parish besides."</p> + +<p>Steadfast was so much moved by the good Dean's kindness as to begin to +consider whether it would be betraying the trust to consult him about that +strange treasure in the cave, but the lad was never quick of thought, and before +he could decide one of the canons joined the Dean, and presently going up the +steps to the great hall of the Deanery, Steadfast saw long tables spread with +snowy napkins, trenchers laid all round, and benches on which a numerous throng +were seating themselves, mostly old people and little children, looking very +poor and ragged. Steadfast held himself to be a yeoman in a small way, and +somewhat above a Christmas feast with the poor, but the Dean's kindness was +enough to make him put away his pride, and then there was such a delicious steam +coming up from the buttery hatch as was enough to melt away all nonsense of that +sort from a hungry lad.</p> + +<p>Grand joints of beef came up in clouds of vapour, and plum puddings smoked in +their rear, to be eaten with them, after the fashion of these days, when of +summer vegetables there were few, and of winter vegetables none. The choirmen +and boys, indeed all the Cathedral clergy who were unmarried, were dining there +too, but the Dean and his wife waited on the table where the poorest were. Horns +of ale were served to everyone, and then came big mince pies. Steadfast felt a +great longing to take his home to his sisters, but he was ashamed to do it, even +though he saw that it was permissible, they were such beggarly-looking folks who +set the example.</p> + +<p>However, the Dean's wife came up to him with a pleasant smile and asked if he +had no appetite or if he were thinking of someone at home, and when he answered, +she kindly undertook to lend him a basket, for which he might call after +evensong, and in the basket were also afterwards found some slices of the beef +and a fine large cake.</p> + +<p>Then the young Prince and his suite came in, and he stood at the end of the +hall, smiling and looking amused as everyone's cup was filled with wine--such +wine as the Roundhead captains had left, and the Dean at the head of the table +gave out the health of his most sacred Majesty King Charles, might God bless +him, and confound all his enemies! The Prince bared his black shining locks and +drank, and there was a deep Amen, and then a hurrah enough to rend the old +vaulted ceiling; and equally enthusiastically was the Prince's health afterwards +drunk.</p> + +<p>Stead heard the servants saying that such a meal had been a costly matter, +but that the good Dean would have it so in order that one more true merry +Christmas should be remembered in Bristol.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER X.<br> +A TERRIBLE HARVEST DAY.</h3> + +<p>"There is a reaper, whose name is death."<br> +LONGFELLOW.</p></center> + +<p>Spring came at last, cold indeed but dry, and it brought calves, and kids, +and lambs, and little pigs, besides eggs and milk. The creatures prospered for +two reasons no doubt. One was that Stead and Patience always prayed for a +blessing on them, and the other was that they were almost as tender and careful +over the dumb things as they were over little Ben, who could now run about and +talk. All that year nothing particular happened to the children. Patience's good +butter and fresh eggs had come to be known in Bristol, and besides, Stead and +Rusha used to find plovers' eggs on the common, for which the merchants' ladies +would pay them, or later for wild strawberries and for whortleberries. Stead +could also make rush baskets and mats, and they were very glad of such earnings, +some of which they spent on clothes, and on making their hut more comfortable, +while some was stored up in case of need in the winter.</p> + +<p>For another year things went on much in the same manner, Bristol was still +kept by the King's troops; but when Steadfast went into the place there was less +cheerfulness among the loyal folk, and the Puritans began to talk of victories +of their cause, while in the Cathedral the canon's voice trembled and grew +choked in the prayer for the King, and the sermons were generally about being +true and faithful to King and church whatever might betide. The Prince of Wales +had long since moved away, indeed there were reports that the plague was in some +of the low, crowded streets near the water, and Patience begged her brother to +take care of himself.</p> + +<p>There had been no Christmas feast at the Deanery, it was understood that the +Dean thought it better not to bring so many people together.</p> +<p>Then as harvest time was coming on more soldiers came into the place. They +looked much shabbier than the troops of a year ago, their coats were worn and +soiled, and their feathers almost stumps, but they made up for their poverty by +swagger and noise, and Steadfast was thankful that it was unlikely that any of +them should find the way to his little valley with what they called requisitions +for the King's service, but which meant what he knew too well. Some of the +villagers formed into bands, and agreed to meet at the sound of a cowhorn, to +drive anyone off on either side, who came to plunder, and they even had a flag +with the motto--</p> + +<center><p>"If you take our cattle<br> +We will give you battle."</p></center> + +<p>And they really did drive off some stragglers. Stead, however, accepted the +offer from Tom Gates of a young dog, considerably larger and stronger than poor +old Toby, yellow and somewhat brindled, and known as Growler. He looked very +terrible, but was very civil to those whom he knew, and very soon became devoted +to all the family, especially to little Ben. However, most of the garrison and +the poorer folk of the town were taken up with mending the weak places in the +walls, and digging ditches with the earth of which they made steep banks, and +there were sentries at the gates, who were not always civil. Whatever the +country people brought into the town was eagerly bought up, and was paid for, +not often in the coin of the realm, but by tokens made of tin or some such metal +with odd stamps upon them, and though they could be used as money they would not +go nearly so far as the sums they were held to represent--at least in anyone's +hands but those of the officers.</p> + +<p>There were reports that the Parliament army was about to besiege the town, +and Prince Rupert was coming to defend it. Steadfast was very anxious, and would +not let his sisters stir out of the valley, keeping the cattle there as much as +possible.</p> + +<p>One day, when he had been sent for to help to gather in Lady Elmwood's +harvest, in the afternoon the reaping and binding were suddenly interrupted by +the distant rattle of musketry, such as had been heard two years ago, in the +time of the first siege but it was in quite another direction from the town. +Everyone left off work, and made what speed they could to the top of the sloping +field, whence they could see what was going on.</p> + +<p>"There they be!" shouted Tom Gates. "I saw 'em first! Hurrah! +They be at Luck's mill."</p> + +<p>"Hush! you good-for-nothing," shrieked Bess Hart, throwing her +apron over her head. "When we shall all be killed and murdered."</p> + +<p>"Not just yet, dame," said Master Brown. "They be a long way +off, and they have enow to do with one another. I wonder if Sir George be there. +He writ to my lady that he hoped to see her ere long."</p> + +<p>"And my Roger," called out a woman. "He went with Sir +George."</p> + +<p>"And our Jack," was the cry of another; while Steadfast thought of +Jephthah, but knew he must be on the opposite side. From the top of the field, +they could see a wide sweep of country dipping down less than two miles from +them where there was a bridge over a small river, a mill, and one or two houses +near. On the nearer side of the river could be seen the flash of steel caps, and +a close, dark body of men, on the further side was another force, mostly of +horsemen, with what seemed like waggons and baggage horses in the rear. They had +what by its colours seemed to be the English banner, the others had several +undistinguishable standards. Puffs of smoke broke from the windows of the mill.</p> + +<p>"Aye!" said Goodman Blane. "I would not be in Miller Luck's +shoes just now. I wonder where he is, poor rogue. Which side have got his mill, +think you, Master Brown?"</p> + +<p>"The round-headed rascals for certain," said Master Brown, +"and the bridge too, trying to hinder the King's men from crossing bag and +baggage to relieve the town."</p> + +<p>"See, there's a party drawing together. Is it to force the bridge?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, and there's another troop galloping up stream. Be they +running off, the cowards?"</p> + +<p>"Not they. Depend on it some of our folks have told them of Colham ford. +Heaven be with them, brave lads."</p> + +<p>"Most like Sir George is there, I don't see 'em."</p> + +<p>"No, of course not, stupid, they'll be taking Colham Lane. See, see, +there's a lot of 'em drawn up to force the bridge. Good luck be with them."</p> + +<p>More puffs of smoke from the mill, larger ones from the bank, and a rattle +and roll came up to the watchers. There was a moment's shock and pause in the +assault, then a rush forward, and the distant sound of a cheer, which those on +the hill could not help repeating. But from the red coats on and behind the +bridge, proceeded a perfect cloud of smoke, which hid everything, and when it +began to clear away on the wind, there seemed to be a hand-to-hand struggle +going on upon the bridge, smaller puffs, as though pistols were being used, and +forms falling over the parapet, at which sight the men held their breath, and +the women shrieked and cried "God have mercy on their poor souls." And +then the dark-coated troops seemed to be driven back.</p> + +<p>"That was a feint, only a feint," cried Master Brown. "See +there!"</p> + +<p>For the plumed troop of horsemen had indeed crossed, and came galloping down +the bank with such a jingling and clattering, and thundering of hoofs as came up +to the harvest men above, and Master Brown led the cheer as they charged upon +the compact mass of red coats behind the bridge, and broke and rode them down by +the vehemence of the shock.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried Blane. "Surely they will turn now and take the +fellows on the bridge in the rear. No. Ha! they are hunting them down on to +their baggage! Well done, brave fellows, hip! hip!--"</p> + +<p>But the hurrah died on his lips as a deep low hum--a Psalm tune sung by +hundreds of manly voices--ascended to his ears, to the accompaniment of the +heavy thud of horsehoofs, and from the London Road, between the bridge and the +Royalist horsemen, there emerged a compact body of troopers, in steel caps and +corslets. Forming in ranks of three abreast, they charged over the bridge, and +speedily cleared off the Royalists who were struggling to obtain a footing +there.</p> + +<p>There was small speech on the hill side, as the encounter was watched, and +the Ironsides forming on the other side, charged the already broken troops +before they had time to rally, and there was nothing to be seen but an utter +dispersion and scattering of men, looking from that distance like ants when +their nest has been broken into.</p> + +<p>It was only a skirmish, not to be heard of in history, but opening the way +for the besiegers to the walls of Bristol, and preventing any of the supplies +from reaching the garrison, or any of the intended reinforcements, except some +of the eager Cavaliers, who galloped on thither, when they found it impossible +to return and guard the bridge for their companions.</p> + +<p>The struggle was over around the bridge in less than two hours, but no more +of Lady Elmwood's harvest was gathered in that evening. The people watched as if +they could not tear themselves from the contemplation of the successful bands +gathering together in their solid masses, and marching onwards in the direction +of Bristol, leaving, however, a strong guard at the bridge, over which piled +waggons and beasts of burthen continued to pass, captured no doubt and prevented +from relieving the city. It began to draw towards evening, and Master Brown was +beginning to observe that he must go and report to my lady, poor soul; and as to +the corn, well, they had lost a day gaping at the fight, and they must come up +again to-morrow, he only hoped they were not carting it for the round-headed +rogues; when at that moment there was a sudden cry, first of terror, then of +recognition, "Roger, Hodge Fitter! how didst come here?"</p> + +<p>For a weary, worn-out trooper, with stained buff coat, and heavy boots, stood +panting among them. "I thought 'twas our folks," he said. "Be +mother here?"</p> + +<p>"Hodge! My Hodge! Be'st hurt, my lad?" cried the mother, bursting +through the midst and throwing herself on him, while his father contented +himself with a sort of grunt. "All right, Hodge. How com'st here?"</p> + +<p>"And where's my Jack?" exclaimed Goody Bent.</p> + +<p>"And where's our Harry?" was another cry from Widow Lakin.</p> + +<p>While Stead longed to ask, but could not be heard in the clamour, whether his +brother had been there.</p> + +<p>Hodge could tell little--seen less than the lookers on above. He had been +among those who had charged through the enemy, and ridden towards Bristol, but +his horse had been struck by a stray shot, and killed under him. He had avoided +the pursuers by scrambling through a hedge, and then had thought it best to make +his way through the fields to his own home, until, seeing the party on the hill, +he had joined them, expecting to find his parents among them.</p> + +<p>Sir George he knew to be on before him, and probably almost at Bristol by +this time. Poor Jack had been left weeks ago on the field of Naseby, though +there had been no opportunity of letting his family know. "Ill news travels +fast enough!" And as to Harry, he had been shot down by a trooper near +about the bridge, but mayhap might be alive for all that.</p> + +<p>"And my brother, Jeph Kenton," Steadfast managed to say. "Was +he there?"</p> + +<p>"Jeph Kenton! Why, he's a canting Roundhead. The only Elmwood man as is! +More shame for him."</p> + +<p>"But was he there?" demanded Stead.</p> + +<p>"There! Well, Captain Venn's horse were there, and he was in them! I +have seen him more than once on outpost duty, prating away as if he had a beard +on his chin. I'd a good mind to put a bullet through him to stop his impudence, +for a disgrace to the place."</p> + +<p>"Then he was in the fight?" reiterated Steadfast.</p> + +<p>"Aye, was he. And got his deserts, I'll be bound, for we went smack +smooth through Venn's horse, like a knife through a mouldy cheese, and left 'em +lying to the right and left. If the other fellows had but stuck by us as well, +we'd have made a clean sweep of the canting dogs."</p> + +<p>Hodge's eloquence was checked by the not unwelcome offer of a drink of cider.</p> + +<p>"Seems quiet enough down there," said Nanny Lakin, peering +wistfully over the valley where the shadows of evening were spreading. +"Mayhap if I went down I might find out how it is with my poor lad."</p> + +<p>"Nay, I'll go, mother," said a big, loutish youth, hitherto silent; +"mayn't be so well for womenfolk down there."</p> + +<p>"What's that to me, Joe, when my poor Harry may be lying a bleeding his +dear life out down there?"</p> + +<p>"There's no fear," said Hodge. "To give them their due, the +Roundheads be always civil to country folk and women--leastways unless they take +'em for Irish--and thinking that, they did make bloody work with the poor ladies +at Naseby. But the dame there will be safe enough," he added, as she was +already on the move down hill. "Has no one a keg of cider to give her? I +know what 'tis to lie parching under a wound."</p> + +<p>Someone produced one, and as her son shouted "Have with you, +mother," Steadfast hastily asked Tom Oates to let Patience know that he was +gone to see after Jephthah, and joined Ned Lakin and his mother.</p> + +<p>Jeph had indeed left his brothers and sisters in a strange, wild way, almost +cruel in its thoughtlessness; but to Stead it had never seemed more than that +elder brotherly masterfulness that he took as a matter of course, and there was +no resting in the thought of his lying wounded and helpless on the field--nay, +the assurance that Hodge shouted out that the rebel dogs took care of their own +fell on unhearing or unheeding ears, as Steadfast and Ned Lakin dragged the +widow through a gap in the hedge over another field, and then made their way +down a deep stony lane between high hedges.</p> + +<p>It was getting dark, in spite of the harvest moon, by the time they came out +on the open space below, and began to see that saddest of all sights, a +battlefield at night.</p> + +<p>A soldier used to war would perhaps have scorned to call this a battle, but +it was dreadful enough to these three when they heard the sobbing panting, and +saw the struggling of a poor horse not quite dead, and his rider a little way +from him, a fine stout young man, cold and stiff, as Nanny turned up his face to +see if it was her Harry's.</p> + +<p>A little farther on lay another figure on his back, but as Nanny stooped over +it, a lantern was flashed on her and a gruff voice called out, "Villains, +ungodly churls, be you robbing the dead?" and a tall man stood darkly +before them, pistol in hand.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; no, sir," sobbed out Nanny. "I am only a poor widow +woman, come down to see whether my poor lad be dead or alive and wanting his +mother."</p> +<p>"What was his regiment?" demanded the soldier in a kinder voice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, sir, your honour, don't be hard on him--he couldn't help it--he +went with Sir George Elmwood."</p> + +<p>"That makes no odds, woman, when a man's down," said the soldier. +"Unless 'tis with the Fifth Monarchy sort, and I don't hold with them. I +have an uncle and a cousin or two among the malignants, as good fellows as ever +lived--no Amalekites and Canaanites--let Smite-them Derry say what he will. +Elmwood! let's see--that was the troop that forded higher up, and came on +Fisher's corps. This way, dame. If your son be down, you'll find him here; that +is, unless he be carried into the mill or one of the houses. Most of the wounded +lie there for the night, but the poor lads that are killed must be buried +to-morrow. Take care, dame," as poor Nanny cried out in horror at having +stumbled over a dead man's legs. He held his lantern so that she could see the +face while she groaned out, "Poor soul." And thus they worked their +sad way up to the buildings about the water mill. There was a shed through the +chinks of which light could be seen, and at the door of which a soldier +exclaimed--</p> + +<p>"Have ye more wounded, Sam? There's no room for a dog in here. They lie +as thick as herrings in a barrel."</p> + +<p>"Nay, 'tis a poor country woman come to look for her son. What's his +name? Is there a malignant here of the name of Harry Lakin?"</p> + +<p>The question was repeated, and a cry of gladness, "Mother! mother!" +ended in a shriek of pain in the distance within.</p> + +<p>"Aye, get you in, mother, get you in. A woman here will be all the +better, be she who she may."</p> + +<p>The permission was not listened to. Nanny had already sprung into the midst +of the mass of suffering towards the bloody straw where her son was lying.</p> +<p>Steadfast, who had of course looked most anxiously at each of the still forms +on the way, now ventured to say:--</p> + +<p>"So please you, sir, would you ask after one Jephthah Kenton? On your +own side, sir, in Captain Venn's troop? I am his brother."</p> + +<p>"Oh, ho! you are of the right sort, eh?" said the soldier. +"Jephthah Kenton. D'ye know aught of him, Joe?"</p> + +<p>"I heard him answer to the roll call before Venn's troop went off to +quarters," replied the other man. "He is safe and sound, my lad, and +Venn's own orderly."</p> + +<p>Steadfast's heart bounded up. He longed still to know whether poor Harry +Lakin was in very bad case, but it was impossible to get in to discover, and he +was pushed out of the way by a party carrying in another wounded man, whose +moans and cries were fearful to listen to. He thought it would be wisest to make +the best of his way home to Patience, and set her likewise at rest, for who +could tell what she might not have heard.</p> + +<p>The moon was shining brightly enough to make his way plain, but the scene +around was all the sadder and more ghastly in that pallid light, which showed +out the dark forms of man and horse, and what was worse the white faces turned +up, and those dark pools in which once or twice he had slipped as he saw or +fancied he saw movements that made him shudder, while a poor dog on the other +side of the stream howled piteously from time to time.</p> + +<p>Presently, as he came near a hawthorn bush which cast a strangely shaped +shadow, he heard a sobbing--not like the panting moan of a wounded man, but the +worn out crying of a tired child. He thought some village little one must have +wandered there, and been hemmed in by the fight, and he called out--</p> + +<p>"Is anyone there?"</p> + +<p>The sobbing ceased for a moment and he called again, "Who is it? I won't +hurt you," for something white seemed to be squeezing closer into the bush.</p> +<p>"Who are you for?" piped out a weak little voice.</p> + +<p>"I'm no soldier," said Steadfast. "Come out, I'll take you +home by-and-by."</p> + + +<p align="center"><img src="findingemlyn.jpg" alt="findingemlyn"></p> + + +<p>"I have no home!" was the answer. "I want father."</p> + +<p>Steadfast was now under the tree, and could see that it was a little girl who +was sheltering there of about the same size as Rusha. He tried to take her hand, +but she backed against the tree, and he repeated "Come along, I wouldn't +hurt you for the world. Who is your father? Where shall we find him?"</p> + +<p>"My father is Serjeant Gaythorn of Sir Harry Blythedale's +troopers," said the child, somewhat proudly, then starting again, "You +are not a rebel, are you?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am a country lad," said Steadfast; "I want to help you. +Come, you can't stay here."</p> + +<p>For the little hand she had yielded to him was cold and damp with the +September dews. His touch seemed to give her confidence, and when he asked, +"Can't I take you to your mother?" she answered--</p> + +<p>"Mother's dead! The rascal Roundheads shot her over at Naseby."</p> + +<p>"Poor child! poor child!" said Steadfast. "And you came on +with your father."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he took me on his horse over the water, and told me to wait by the +bush till he came or sent for me, but he has not come, and the firing is over +and it is dark, and I'm so hungry."</p> + +<p>Steadfast thought the child had better come home with him, but she declared +that father would come back for her. He felt convinced that her father, if +alive, must be in Bristol, and that he could hardly come through the enemy's +outposts, and he explained to her this view. To his surprise she understood in a +moment, having evidently much more experience of military matters than he had, +and when he further told her that Hodge was at Elmwood, and would no doubt +rejoin his regiment at Bristol the next day, she seemed satisfied, and with the +prospect of supper before her, trotted along, holding Steadfast's hand and +munching a crust which he had found in his pouch, the remains of the interrupted +meal, but though at first it seemed to revive her a good deal, the poor little +thing was evidently tired out, and she soon began to drag, and fret, and moan. +The three miles was a long way for her, and tired as he was, Steadfast had to +take her on his back, and when at last he reached home, and would have set her +down before his astonished sisters, she was fast asleep with her head on his +shoulder.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XI.<br> +THE FORTUNES OF WAR.</h3> + +<p>"Hear and improve, he pertly cries,<br> +I come to make a nation wise."<br> +GAY</p></center> + +<p>Very early in the morning, before indeed anyone except Patience was stirring, +Steadfast set forth in search of Roger Fitter to consult him about the poor +child who was fast asleep beside Jerusha; and propose to him to take her into +Bristol to find her father.</p> + +<p>Hodge, who had celebrated his return by a hearty supper with his friends, was +still asleep, and his mother was very unwilling to call him, or to think of his +going back to the wars. However, he rolled down the cottage stair at last, and +the first thing he did was to observe--</p> + +<p>"Well, mother, how be you? I felt like a boy again, waking up in the old +chamber. Where's my back and breast-piece? Have you a cup of ale, while I rub it +up?"</p> + +<p>"Now, Hodge, you be not going to put on that iron thing again, when you +be come back safe and sound from those bloody wars?" entreated his mother.</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho! mother, would you have me desert? No, no! I must to my colours +again, or Sir George and my lady might make it too hot to hold you here. Hollo, +young one, Stead Kenton, eh? Didst find thy brother? No, I'll be bound. The +Roundhead rascals have all the luck."</p> + +<p>"I found something else," said Steadfast, and he proceeded to tell +about the child while Dame Fitter stood by with many a pitying "Dear +heart!" and "Good lack!"</p> + +<p>Hodge knew Serjeant Gaythorn, and knew that the poor man's wife had been shot +dead in the flight from Naseby; but he demurred at the notion of encumbering +himself with the child when he went into the town. He suspected that he should +have much ado to get in himself, and if he could not find her father, what could +he do with her?</p> + +<p>Moreover, he much doubted whether the serjeant was alive. He had been among +those on whom the sharpest attack had fallen, and not many of them had got off +alive.</p> + +<p>"What like was he?" said Steadfast. "We looked at a many of +the poor corpses that lay there. They'll never be out of my eyes again at +night!"</p> + +<p>"A battlefield or two would cure that," grimly smiled Hodge. +"Gaythorn--he was a man to know again--had big black moustaches, and had +lost an eye, had a scar like a weal from a whip all down here from a sword-cut +at Long Marston."</p> + +<p>"Then I saw him," said Stead, in a low voice. "Did he wear a +green scarf?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye. Belonged to the Rangers, but they are pretty nigh all gone +now."</p> + +<p>"Under the rail of the miller's croft," added Stead.</p> + +<p>"Just so. That was where I saw them make a stand and go down like +skittles."</p> + +<p>"Poor little maid. What shall I tell her?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you can never be sure," said Hodge. "There was a man +now I thought as dead as a door nail at Newbury that charged by my side only +yesterday. You'd best tell the maid that if I find her father I'll send him +after her; and if not, when the place is quiet, you might look at the mill and +see if he is lying wounded there."</p> + +<p>Steadfast thought the advice good, and it saved him from what he had no heart +to do, though he could scarcely doubt that one of those ghastly faces had been +the serjeant's.</p> + +<p>When he approached his home he was surprised to hear, through the copsewood, +the sound of chattering, and when he came in sight of the front of the hut, he +beheld Patience making butter with the long handled churn, little Ben toddling +about on the grass, and two little girls laughing and playing with all the +poultry round them.</p> + +<p>One, of course, was stout, ruddy, grey-eyed Rusha, in her tight round cap, +and stout brown petticoat with the homespun apron over it; the other was like a +fairy by her side; slight and tiny, dressed in something of mixed threads of +white and crimson that shone in the sun, with a velvet bodice, a green ribbon +over it, and a gem over the shoulder that flashed in the sun, a tiny scarlet +hood from which such a quantity of dark locks streamed as to give something the +effect of a goldfinch's crown, and the face was a brilliant little brown one, +with glowing cheeks, pretty little white teeth, and splendid dark eyes.</p> +<p>Patience could have told that this bright array was so soiled, rumpled, +ragged, and begrimed, that she hardly liked to touch it, but to Steadfast, who +had only seen the child in the moonlight, she was a wonderful vision in the +morning sunshine, and his heart was struck with a great pity at her clear, merry +tones of laughter.</p> + +<p>As he appeared in the open space, Toby running before him, the little girl +looked up and rushed to him crying out--</p> + +<p>"It's you. Be you the country fellow who took me home? Where's +father?"</p> + +<p>Stead was so sorry for her that he took her up in his arms and said--</p> + +<p>"Hodge Fitter is gone into town to look for him, my pretty. You must +wait here till he comes for you," and he would have kissed her, but she +turned her head away, pouted, and said, "I didn't give you leave to do +that, you lubber lad."</p> + +<p>Steadfast was much diverted. He was now a tall sturdy youth of sixteen, in a +short smock frock, long leathern gaiters, and a round straw hat of Patience's +manufacture, and he felt too clumsy for the dainty little being, whom he +hastened to set on her small feet--in once smart but very dilapidated shoes. His +sisters were somewhat shocked at her impertinence and Rusha breathed out +"Oh--!"</p> + +<p>"I am to wait here for Serjeant Gaythorn," observed the little +damsel somewhat consequentially. "Well! it is a strange little makeshift of +a place, but 'tis the fortune of war, and I have been in worse."</p> + +<p>"It is beautiful!" said Rusha, "now we have got a glass +window--and a real door--and beds--" all which recent stages in improvement +she enumerated with a gasp of triumph and admiration between each.</p> + +<p>"So you think," said little Mistress Gaythorn. "But I have +lived in a castle."</p> + +<p>She was quite ready to tell her history. Her name was Emlyn, and the early +part of the eight years of her life had been spent at Sir Harry Blythedale's +castle, where her father had been butler and her mother my lady's woman. Sir +Harry had gone away to the wars, and in his absence my lady had held out the +castle (perhaps it was only a fortified house) against General Waller, hoping +and hoping in vain for Lord Goring to come to her relief.</p> + +<p>"That was worst of all," said Emlyn, "we had to hide in the +cellars when they fired at us--and broke all the windows, and a shot killed my +poor dear little kitten because she wouldn't stay down with me. And we couldn't +get any water, except by going out at night; young Master George was wounded at +the well. And they only gave us a tiny bit of dry bread and salt meat every day, +and it made little Ralph sick and he died. And at last there was only enough for +two days more--and a great breach--that's a hole," she added +condescendingly,--"big enough to drive my lady's coach-and-six through in +the court wall. So then my lady sent out Master Steward with one of the best +napkins on the end of a stick--that was a flag of truce, you know--and all the +rascal Roundheads had to come in, and we had to go out, with only just what we +could carry. My lady went in her coach with Master George, because he was hurt, +and the young ladies, and some of the maids went home; but the most of us kept +with my lady, to guard her to go to his Honour and the King at Oxford. Father +rode big Severn, and mother was on a pillion behind him, with baby in her arms, +and I sat on a cushion in front."</p> + +<p>After that, it seemed that my lady had found a refuge among her kindred, but +that the butler had been enrolled in his master's troop of horse, and there +being no separate means of support for his wife and children, they had followed +the camp, a life that Emlyn had evidently enjoyed, although the baby died of the +exposure. She had been a great pet and favourite with everybody, and no doubt +well-cared for even after the sad day when her mother had perished in the +slaughter at Naseby. Patience wondered what was to become of the poor child, if +her father never appeared to claim her; but it was no time to bring this +forward, for Steadfast, as soon as he had swallowed his porridge, had to go off +to finish his day's labour for the lady of the manor, warning his sisters that +they had better keep as close as they could in the wood, and not let the cattle +stray out of their valley.</p> + +<p>He had not gone far, however, before he met a party of his fellow labourers +running home. Their trouble had been saved them. The Roundhead soldiers had +taken possession of waggons, horses, corn and all, as the property of a +malignant, and were carrying them off to their camp before the town.</p> + +<p>Getting up on a hedge, Stead could see these strange harvestmen loading the +waggons and driving them off. He also heard that Sir George had come late in the +evening, and taken old Lady Elmwood and several of the servants into Bristol for +greater safety. Then came the heavy boom of a great gun in the distance.</p> + +<p>"The Parliament men are having their turn now--as the King's men had +before," said Gates.</p> + +<p>And all who had some leisure--or made it--went off to the church tower to get +a better view of the white tents being set up outside the city walls, and the +compact bodies of troops moving about as if impelled by machinery, while others +more scattered bustled like insects about the camp.</p> + +<p>Steadfast, however, went home, very anxious about his own three cows, and +seven sheep with their lambs, as well as his small patches of corn, which, when +green, had already only escaped being made forage of by the Royalist garrison, +because he was a tenant of the loyal Elmwoods. These fields were exposed, though +the narrow wooded ravine might protect the small homestead and the cattle.</p> + +<p>He found his new guest very happy cracking nuts, and expounding to Rusha what +kinds of firearms made the various sounds they heard. Patience had made an +attempt to get her to exchange her soiled finery for a sober dress of Rusha's; +but "What shall I do, Stead?" said the grave elder sister, "I +cannot get her to listen to me, she says she is no prick-eared Puritan, but +truly she is not fit to be seen." Stead whistled. "Besides that she +might bring herself and all of us into danger with those gewgaws."</p> + +<p>"That's true," said Stead. "Look you here, little maid--none +can say whether some of the rebel folk may find their way here, and they don't +like butterflies of your sort, you know. If you look a sober little brown bee +like Rusha here, they will take no notice, but who knows what they might do it +they found you in your bravery."</p> + +<p>"Bravery," thought Patience, "filthy old rags, me seems," +but she had the prudence not to speak, and Emlyn nodded her head, saying, +"I'll do it for you, but not for her."</p> + +<p>And when all was done, and she was transformed into a little russet-robed, +white-capped being, nothing would serve her, but to collect all the brightest +cranesbill flowers she could find, and stick them in her own bodice and Rusha's.</p> + +<p>Patience could not at all understand the instinct for bright colours, but +even little Ben shouted "Pretty, pretty."</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was well that the delicate pink blossoms were soon faded and +crushed, and that twilight veiled their colours, for just as the cattle were +being foddered for the night, there was a gay step on the narrow path, and with +a start of terror, Patience beheld a tall soldier, in tall hat, buff coat, and +high boots before her; while Growler made a horrible noise, but Toby danced in a +rapture of delight.</p> + +<p>"Ha! little Patience, is't thou?"</p> + +<p>"Jephthah," she cried, though the voice as well as the form were +greatly changed in these two years between boyhood and manhood.</p> + +<p>"Aye, Jephthah 'tis," he said, taking her hand, and letting her +kiss him. "My spirit was moved to come and see how it was with you all, and +to shew how Heaven had prospered me, so I asked leave of absence after +roll-call, and could better be spared, as that faithful man, Hold-the-Faith +Jenkins, will exhort the men this night. I came up by Elmwood to learn tidings +of you. Ha, Stead! Thou art grown, my lad. May you be as much grown in +grace."</p> + +<p>"You are grown, too," said Patience, almost timidly. "What a +man you are, Jeph! Here, Rusha, you mind Jeph, and here is little Benoni."</p> + +<p>"You have reared that child, then," said Jeph, as the boy clung to +his sister's skirts, "and you have kept things together, Stead, as I hardly +deemed you would do, when I had the call to the higher service." It was an +odd sort of call, but there was no need to go into that matter, and Stead +answered gravely, "Yes, I thank God. He has been very good to us, and we +have fared well. Come in, Jeph, and see, and have something to eat! I am glad +you are come home at last."</p> + +<p>Jephthah graciously consented to enter the low hut. He had to bend his tall +figure and take off his steeple-crowned hat before he could enter at the low +doorway, and then they saw his closely cropped head.</p> + +<p>Patience tarried a moment to ask Rusha what had become of Emlyn.</p> + +<p>"She is hiding in the cow shed," was the answer. "She ran off +as soon as she saw Jeph coming, and said he was a crop-eared villain."</p> + +<p>This was not bad news, and they all entered the hut, where the fire was made +up, and one of Patience's rush candles placed on the table with a kind of screen +of plaited rushes to protect it from the worst of the draught. Jeph had grown +quite into a man in the eyes of his brothers and sisters. He looked plump and +well fed, and his clothes were good and fresh, and his armour bright, a contrast +to Steadfast's smock, stained with weather and soil, and his rough leathern +leggings, although Patience did her best, and his shirt was scrupulously clean +every Sunday morning.</p> + +<p>The soldier was evidently highly satisfied. "So, children, you have done +better than I could have hoped. This hovel is weather-tight and quite fit to +harbour you. You have done well to keep together, and it is well said that he +who leaves all in the hands of a good Providence shall have his reward."</p> + +<p>Jeph's words were even more sacred than these, and considerably overawed +Patience, who, as he sat before her there in his buff coat and belt, laying down +the law in pious language, was almost persuaded to believe that their present +comfort and prosperity (such as it was) was owing to the faith which he said had +led to his desertion of his family, though she had always thought it mere +impatience of home work fired by revenge for his father's death.</p> + +<p>No doubt he believed in this reward himself, in his relief at finding his +brothers and sisters all together and not starving, and considered their +condition a special blessing due to his own zeal, instead of to Steadfast's +patient exertion.</p> + +<p>He was much more disposed to talk of himself and the mercies he had received, +but which the tone of his voice showed him to consider as truly his deserts. +Captain Venn had, it seemed, always favoured him from the time of his enlistment +and nothing but his youth prevented him from being a corporal. He had been in +the two great battles of Marston Moor and Naseby, and come off unhurt from each, +and moreover grace had been given him to interpret the Scriptures in a manner +highly savoury and inspiriting to the soldiery.</p> + +<p>Here Patience, in utter amaze, could not help crying out "Thou, Jeph! +Thou couldst not read without spelling, and never would."</p> + +<p>He waved his hand. "My sister, what has carnal learning to do with +grace?" And taking a little black Bible from within his breastplate, he +seemed about to give them a specimen, when Emlyn's impatience and hunger no +doubt getting the better of her prudence, she crept into the room, and presently +was seen standing by Steadfast's knee, holding out her hand for some of the +bread and cheese on the table.</p> + +<p>"And who is this little wench?" demanded Jeph, somewhat displeased +that his brother manifested a certain inattention to his exhortation by signing +to Patience to supply her wants. Stead made unusual haste to reply to prevent +her from speaking.</p> + +<p>"She is biding with us till she can join her father, or knows how it is +with him."</p> + +<p>"Humph! She hath not the look of one of the daughters of our +people."</p> + +<p>"Nay," said Steadfast. "I went down last night to the mill, +Jeph, to see whether perchance you might be hurt and wanting help, and after I +had heard that all was well with you, I lighted on this poor little maid +crouching under a bush, and brought her home with me for pity's sake till I +could find her friends."</p> + +<p>"The child of a Midianitish woman!" exclaimed Jeph, "one of +the Irish idolaters of whom it is written, 'Thou shalt smite them, and spare +neither man, nor woman, infant, nor suckling.'" "But I am not +Irish," broke out Emlyn, "I am from Worcestershire. My father is +Serjeant Gaythorn, butler to Sir Harry Blythedale. Don't let him kill me," +she cried in an access of terror, throwing herself on Steadfast's breast.</p> + +<p>"No, no. He would not harm thee, on mine hearth. Fear not, little one, +he <i>shall</i> not."</p> + +<p>"Nay," said Jephthah, who, to do him justice, had respected the +rights of hospitality enough not to touch his weapon even when he thought her +Irish, "we harm not women and babes save when they are even as the +Amalekites. Let my brother go, child. I touch thee not, though thou be of an +ungodly seed; and I counsel thee, Steadfast, touch not the accursed thing, but +rid thyself thereof, ere thou be defiled."</p> + +<p>"I shall go so soon as father comes," exclaimed Emlyn. "I am +sure I do not want to stay in this mean, smoky hovel a bit longer than I can +help."</p> + +<p>"Such are the thanks of the ungodly people," said Jeph, gravely +rising. "I must be on my way back. We are digging trenches about this great +city, assuredly believing that it shall be delivered into our hands."</p> + +<p>"Stay, Jeph," said Patience. "Our corn! Will your folk come +and cart it away as they have done my lady's?"</p> + +<p>"The spoil of the wicked is delivered over to the righteous," said +Jeph. "But seeing that the land is mine, a faithful servant of the good +cause, they may not meddle therewith."</p> + +<p>"How are they to know that?" said Steadfast, not stopping to +dispute what rather startled him, since though Jeph was the eldest son, the land +had been made over to himself. To save the crop was the point.</p> + +<p>"Look you here," said Jeph, "walk down with me to my good +Captain's quarters, and he will give you a protection which you may shew to any +man who dares to touch aught that is ours, be it corn or swine, ox or ass."</p> + +<p>It was a long walk, but Steadfast was only too glad to take it for the sake +of such security, and besides, there was a real pleasure in being with Jeph, +little as he seemed like the same idle, easy-going brother, except perhaps in +those little touches of selfishness and boastfulness, which, though Stead did +not realise them, did recall the original Jeph.</p> + +<p>All through the moonlight walk Jeph expounded his singular mercies, which +apparently meant his achievements in killing Cavaliers, and the commendations +given to him. One of these mercies was the retention of the home and land, +though he kindly explained that his brothers and sisters were welcome to get +their livelihood there whilst he was serving with the army, but some day he +should come home "as one that divideth the spoil," and build up the +old house, unless, indeed, and he glanced towards the sloping woods of Elmwood +Manor, "the house and fields of the malignants should be delivered to the +faithful."</p> + +<p>"My lady's house," said Steadfast under his breath.</p> + +<p>"Wherefore not? Is it not written 'Goodly houses that ye builded not.' +Thou must hear worthy Corporal Hold-the-Faith expound the matter, my +brother."</p> + +<p>They crossed the ferry and reached the outposts at last, and Stead was much +startled when the barrel of a musquet gleamed in the moonlight, and a gruff +voice said "Stand."</p> + +<p>"The jawbone of an ass," promptly answered Jephthah.</p> + +<p>"Pass, jawbone of an ass," responded the sentry, "and all's +well. But who have you here, comrade!"</p> + +<p>Jeph explained, and they passed up the narrow lane, meeting at the end of it +another sentinel, with whom the like watchword was exchanged, and then they came +out on a large village green, completely changed from its usual aspect by rows +of tents, on which the moonlight shone, while Jeph seemed to know his way +through them as well as if he were in the valley of Elmwood. Most of the men +seemed to be asleep, for snores issued from sundry tents. In others there were +low murmurings, perhaps of conversation, perhaps of prayer, for once Stead heard +the hum of an "Amen." One or two men were about, and Jeph enquired of +one if the Captain were still up, and heard that he was engaged in exercise with +the godly Colonel Benbow.</p> + +<p>Their quarters were in one of the best houses of the little village, where +light gleamed from the window, and an orderly stood within the door, to whom +Jeph spoke, and who replied that they were just in time. In fact two officers in +broad hats and cloaks were just coming out, and Stead admired Jeph's military +salute to them ere he entered the farmhouse kitchen, where two more gentlemen +sat at the table with a rough plan of the town laid before them.</p> +<p>"Back again, Kenton," said his captain in a friendly tone. +"Hast heard aught of thy brethren?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I have found them well and in good heart, and have brought +one with me."</p> + +<p>"A helper in the good cause? Heaven be gracious to thee, my son. Thou +art but young, yet strength is vouchsafed to the feeble hands."</p> +<p>"Please, sir," said Steadfast, who was twisting his hat about, +"I've got to mind the others, and work for them."</p> + +<p>"Yea, sir," put in Jeph, "there be three younger at home whom +he cannot yet leave. I brought him, sir, to crave from you a protection for the +corn and cattle that are in a sort mine own, being my father's eldest son. They +are all the poor children have to live on."</p> + +<p>"Thou shalt have it," said the captain, drawing his writing +materials nearer to him. "There, my lad. It may be thou dost serve thy +Maker as well by the plough as by the sword."</p> + +<p>Steadfast pulled his forelock, thanked the captain, was reminded of the word +for the night, and safely reached home again.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XII.<br> +FAREWELL TO THE CAVALIERS.</h3></center> + + +<p align="center"><img src="farewellcavaliers.jpg" alt="farewellcavaliers"></p> + + +<center><p>"If no more our banners shew<br> +Battles won and banners taken,<br> +Still in death, defeat, and woe,<br> +Ours be loyalty unshaken."<br> +SCOTT</p></center> + +<p>The next day the whole family turned out to gather in the corn. Rusha was +making attempts at reaping, while Emlyn played with little Ben, who toddled +about, shouting and chasing her in and out among the shocks. Now and again they +paused at the low, thunderous growl of the great guns in the distance, in +strange contrast to their peaceful work, and once a foraging party of troopers +rode up to the gate of the little field, but Steadfast met them there, and +showed the officer Captain Venn's paper.</p> + +<p>"So you belong to Kenton of Venn's Valiants? It is well. A blessing on +your work!" said the stern dark-faced officer, and on he went, happily not +seeing Emlyn make an ugly face and clench her little fist behind him.</p> +<p>"How can you, Stead?" she cried. "I'd rather be cursed than +blessed by such as he!"</p> + +<p>Stead shook his head slowly. "A blessing is better than a curse any +way," said he, but his mind was a good deal confused between the piety and +good conduct of these Roundheads, in contrast with their utter contempt of the +Church, and rude dealing with all he had been taught to hold sacred.</p> +<p>His harvest was, however, the matter in hand, and the little patch of corn +was cut and bound between him and his sisters, without further interruption. The +sounds of guns had ceased early in the day, and a neighbour who had ventured +down to the camp to offer some apples for sale leant over the gate to wonder at +the safety of the crop, "though to be sure the soldiers were very civil, if +they would let alone preaching at you;" adding that there was like to be no +more fighting, for one of the gentlemen inside had ridden out with a white flag, +and it was said the Prince was talking of giving in.</p> + +<p>"Give in!" cried Emlyn setting her teeth. "Never. The Prince +will soon make an end of the rebels, and then I shall ride-a-cock horse with our +regiment again! I shall laugh to see the canting rogues run!"</p> + +<p>But the first thing Steadfast heard the next day was that the royal standard +had come down from the Cathedral tower. He had gone up to Elmwood to get some +provisions, and Tom Oates, who spent most of his time in gazing from the +steeple, assured him that if he would come up, he would see for himself that the +flags were changed. Indeed some of the foot soldiers who had been quartered in +the village to guard the roads had brought the certain tidings that the city had +surrendered and that the malignants, as they called the Royalists, were to march +out that afternoon, by the same road as that by which the parliamentary army had +gone out two years before.</p> + +<p>This would be the only chance for Emlyn to rejoin her father or to learn his +fate. The little thing was wild with excitement at the news. Disdainfully she +tore off what she called Rusha's Puritan rags, though as that offended maiden +answered "her own were <i>real</i> rags in spite of all the pains Patience had +taken with them. Nothing would make them tidy," and Rusha pointed to a +hopeless stain and to the frayed edges past mending.</p> + +<p>"I hate tidiness. Only Puritan rebels are tidy!"</p> + +<p>"We are not Puritans!" cried Rusha.</p> + +<p>Emlyn laughed. "Hark at your names," she said. "And what's +that great rebel rogue of a brother of yours?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! he is Jeph! He ran away to the wars! But Stead isn't a +Puritan," cried Rusha, growing more earnest. "He always goes to +church--real church down in Bristol. And poor father was churchmartin, and knew +all the parson's secrets."</p> + +<p>"Hush, Rusha," said Patience, not much liking this disclosure, +however Jerusha might have come by the knowledge, "you and Emlyn don't want +to quarrel when she is just going to say good-bye!"</p> + +<p>This touched the little girls. Rusha had been much enlivened by the little +fairy who had seen so much of the world, and had much more playfulness than the +hard-worked little woodland maid; and Emlyn, who in spite of her airs, knew that +she had been kindly treated, was drawn towards a companion of her own age, was +very fond of little Ben, and still more so of Steadfast.</p> + +<p>Ben cried, "Em not go;" and Rusha held her hand and begged her not +to forget.</p> + +<p>"O no, I won't forget you," said Emlyn, "and when we come back +with the King and Prince, and drive the Roundhead ragamuffins out of Bristol, +then I'll bring Stead a protection for Croppie and Daisy and all, a silver +bodkin for you, and a Flanders lace collar for Patience, and a gold chain for +Stead, and --But oh! wasn't that a trumpet? Stead! Stead! We must go, or we +shall miss them." Then as she hugged and kissed them, "I'll tell Sir +Harry and my lady how good you have been to me, and get my lady to make you a +tirewoman, Rusha. And dear, dear little Ben shall be a king's guard all in +gold."</p> + +<p>Ben had her last smothering kiss, and Rusha began to cry and sob as the gay +little figure, capering by Stead's side, disappeared between the stems of the +trees making an attempt, which Steadfast instantly quenched, at singing,</p> +<p>"The king shall enjoy his own again."</p> + +<p>Patience did not feel disposed to cry. She liked the child, and was grieved +to think what an uncertain lot was before the merry little being, but her +presence had made Rusha and Ben more troublesome than they had ever been in +their lives before, and there was also the anxiety lest her unguarded tongue +should offend Jeph and his friends.</p> + +<p>Emlyn skipped along by Steadfast's side, making him magnificent promises. +They paused by the ruins of the farm where Stead still kept up as much of the +orchard and garden as he could with so little time and so far from home, and +Emlyn filled her skirt with rosy-cheeked apples, saying in a pretty gentle +manner, "they were such a treat to our poor rogues on a dusty march," +and Stead aided her by carrying as many as he could.</p> + +<p>However, an occasional bugle note, clouds of dust on the road far below in +the valley, and a low, dull tramp warned them to come forward, and station +themselves in the hedge above the deep lane where Steadfast had once watched for +his brother. Only a few of the more adventurous village lads were before them +now, and when Stead explained that the little wench wanted to watch for her +father, they were kind in helping him to perch her in the hollow of a broken old +pollard, where she could see, and not be seen. For the poor camp maiden knew the +need of caution. She drew Steadfast close to her, and bade him not show himself +till she told him, for some of the wilder sort would blaze away their pistols at +anything, especially when they had had any good ale, or were out of sorts.</p> + +<p>Poor fellows, there was no doubt of their being out of sorts, as they tramped +along, half hidden in dust, even the officers, who rode before them, with ragged +plumes and slouched hats. The silken banners, which they had been allowed to +carry out, because of their prompt surrender, hung limp and soiled, almost like +tokens of a defeat, and if any one of those spectators behind the hawthorns had +been conversant with Roman history, it would have seemed to them like the +passing under the yoke, so dejected, nay, ashamed was the demeanour of the +gentlemen. Emlyn whispered name after name as they went by, but even she was +hushed and overawed by the spectacle, as four abreast these sad remnants of the +royal army marched along the lane, one or two trying to whistle, a few more +talking in under tones, but all soon dying away, as if they were too much out of +heart to keep anything up.</p> + +<p>She scarcely stirred while the infantry, who were by far the most numerous, +were going by, only naming corps or officer to Stead, then there came an +interval, and the tread of horses and clank of their trappings could be heard. +Then she almost forgot her precautions in her eagerness to crane forward. +"They are coming!" she said. "All there are of them will be a +guard for the Prince."</p> + +<p>Stead felt a strange thrill of pain as he remembered the terrible scene when +he had last beheld that tall, slight young figure, and dark face, now far +sterner and sadder than in those early days, as Rupert went to meet the +bitterest hour of his life.</p> + +<p>Several gentlemen rode with him, whom Emlyn named as his staff, and then came +more troopers, not alike in dress, being, in fact, remnants of shattered +regiments. She was trembling all over with eagerness, standing up, and so +leaning forward, that she might have tumbled into the lane, had not Steadfast +held her.</p> + +<p>At last came a scream. "There's Sir Harry! There's Dick! There's +Staines! Oh! Dick, Dick, where's father?"</p> + +<p>There was a halt, and bronzed faces looked up.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Who's there?"</p> + +<p>"I! I! Emlyn. Oh! Dick, is father coming?"</p> + +<p>"Hollo, little one! Art thou safe after all?"</p> + +<p>"I am, I am. Father! father! Come! Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"It is poor Gaythorn's little wench," explained one of the +soldiers, as Sir Harry, a grey-haired man, looking worn and weary, turned back, +while Steadfast helped the child out on the bank with some difficulty, for her +extreme haste had nearly brought her down, and she stood curtseying, holding out +her arms, and quivering with hope that began to be fear.</p> + +<p>"Poor child!" were the old gentleman's first words. "And where +were you?"</p> + +<p>"Please your honour, father left me in the thorn brake," said +Emlyn, "and said he would come for me, but he did not; it got dark, and +this country lad found me, and took me home. Is father coming, your +honour?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! my poor little maid, your father will never come again," said +Sir Harry, sadly. "He went down by the mill stream. I saw him fall. What is +to be done for her?" he added, turning to a younger gentleman, who rode by +him, as the child stood as it were stunned for a moment. "This is the worst +of it all. Heaven knows we freely sacrifice ourselves in the cause of Church and +King, but it is hard to sacrifice others. Here are these faithful servants, +their home broken up with ours, their children dying, and themselves +killed--she, by the brutes after Naseby, he, in this last skirmish. 'Tis enough +to break a man's heart. And what is to become of this poor little maid?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I'll go with your honour," cried Emlyn, stretching out her +arms. "I can ride behind Dick, and I'll give no one any trouble. Oh! take +me, sir."</p> + +<p>"It cannot be done, my poor child," said Sir Harry. "We have +no women with us now, and we have to make our way to Newark by forced marches to +His Majesty. I have no choice but to bestow you somewhere till better times +come. Hark you, my good lad, she says you found her, and have been good to her. +Would your mother take charge of her? I'll leave what I can with you, and when +matters are quiet, my wife, or the child's kindred, will send after her. Will +your father and mother keep her for the present?"</p> + +<p>"I have none," said Steadfast. "My father was killed in his +own yard by some soldiers who wanted to drive our cows. Mother had died before, +but my sister and I made a shift to take care of the little ones in a poor place +of our own."</p> + +<p>"And can you take the child in? You seem a good lad."</p> + +<p>"We will do our best for her, sir."</p> + +<p>"What's your name?" and "Where do you live?" followed. +And as Steadfast replied the old Cavalier took out his tablets and noted them, +adding, "Then you and your sister will be good to her till we can send +after her."</p> + +<p>"We will treat her like our little sister, sir."</p> + +<p>"And here's something for her keep for the present, little enough I am +afraid, but we poor Cavaliers have not much left. The King's men were well to do +when I heard last of them, and they will make it up by-and-by. Or if not, my +boy, can you do this for the love of God?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Steadfast, looking up with his honest eyes, and +touching his forelock at the holy Name.</p> + +<p>"Here, then," and Sir Harry held out two gold pieces, to which his +companion added one, and two or three of the troopers, saying something about +poor Gaythorn's little maid, added some small silver coins. There was something +in Steadfast's mind that would have preferred declining all payment, but he was +a little afraid of Patience's dismay at having another mouth to provide for all +the winter, and he thought too that Jeph's anger at the adoption of the +Canaanitish child might be averted if it were a matter of business and payment, +so he accepted the sum, thanked Sir Harry and the rest, and renewed his promise +to do the best in his power for the little maiden. He rather wondered that no +questions were asked as to which side he held; but Sir Harry had no time to +inquire, and could only hope that the honest, open face, respectful manner, +clean dress, and the kindness which had rescued the child on the battlefield +were tokens that he might be trusted to take care of the poor little orphan. +Besides, many of the country people were too ignorant to understand the +difference between the sides, but only took part with their squire, or if they +loved their clergyman, clung to him. So the knight would not ask any questions, +and only further called out "Fare thee well, then, poor little maid, we +will send after thee when we can," and then giving a sharp, quick order, +all the little party galloped off to overtake the rest.</p> + +<p>Emlyn had been bred up in too much awe of Sir Harry to make objections, but +as her friends rode off she gave a sharp shriek, screamed out one name after +another, and finally threw herself down on the road bank in a wild passion of +grief, anger, and despair, and when Steadfast would have lifted her up and +comforted her, she kicked and fought him away. Presently he tried her again, +begging her to come home.</p> + +<p>"I won't! I won't go to your vile, tumble-down, roundhead, crop-eared +hole!" she sobbed out.</p> + +<p>"But, Sir Harry--"</p> + +<p>"I won't! I say."</p> + +<p>He was at his wits' end, but after all, the sound of other steps coming up +startled her into composing herself and sitting up.</p> + +<p>"Hollo, Stead Kenton! Got this little puppet on your hands?" said +young Gates. "Hollo, mistress, you squeal like a whole litter of +pigs."</p> + +<p>"I am to take charge of her till her friends can send for her," +said Stead, with protecting dignity.</p> + +<p>"And that will be a long day! Ho, little wench, where didst get that +sweet voice?"</p> + +<p>"Hush, Tom! the child has only just heard that her father is dead."</p> + +<p>This silenced the other lads, and Emlyn's desire to get away from them +accomplished what Steadfast wished, she put her hand into his and let him lead +her away, and as there were sounds of another troop of cavalry coming up the +lane, the boys did not attempt to follow her. She made no more resistance, +though she broke into fresh fits of moaning and crying all the way home, such as +went to Steadfast's heart, though he could not find a word to comfort her.</p> + +<p>Patience was scarcely delighted when Rusha darted in, crying out that Emlyn +had come back again, but perhaps she was not surprised. She took the poor +worn-out little thing in her arms, and rocked her, saying kind, tender little +words, while Steadfast looked on, wondering at what girls could do, but not +speaking till, finding that Emlyn was fast asleep, Patience laid her down on the +bed without waking her, and then had time to listen to Stead's account of the +interview with Sir Harry Blythedale.</p> + +<p>"I could not help it, Patience," he said, "we couldn't leave +the poor fatherless child out on the hedge-side."</p> + +<p>"No," said Patience, "we can't but have her, as the gentleman +said, for the love of God. He has taken care of us, so we ought to take care of +the fatherless--like ourselves."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Patience," said Steadfast, much relieved in his +mind, "and see here!"</p> + +<p>"I wonder you took that, Stead, and the poor gentlemen so ill off +themselves."</p> + +<p>"Well, Patience, I thought if you would not have her, Goody Grace might +for the pay, but then who knows when any more may come?"</p> + +<p>"Aye," said Patience, "we must keep her, though she will be a +handful. Anyway, all this must be laid out for her, and the first chance I have, +some shall be in decent clothes. I can't a-bear to see her in those dirty +gewgaws."</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XIII.<br> +GODLY VENN'S TROOP.</h3> + +<p>"Ye abbeys and ye arches,<br> +Ye old cathedrals dear,<br> +The hearts that love you tremble,<br> +And your enemies have cheer."<br> +BP. CLEVELAND COXE.</p></center> + +<p>"What would Jeph say?" was the thought of both Steadfast and Patience, as +Emlyn ran about with Rusha and Ben, making herself tolerably happy and +enlivening them all a good deal. After one fight she found that she must obey +Patience, though she made no secret that she liked the sober young mistress of +the hut much less than the others, and could even sometimes get Steadfast to +think her hardly used, but he seldom showed that feeling, for he had plenty of +sense, and could not bear to vex his sister; besides, he saw there would be no +peace if her authority was not supported. It was a relief that there was no +visit from Jeph for some little time, though the fighting was all over, and +people were going in and out of Bristol as before.</p> +<p>Stead took the donkey with the panniers full of apples and nuts on market +day, and a pile of fowls and ducks on its back, while he carried a basket of +eggs on his arm, and in his head certain instructions from Patience about the +grogram and linen he was to purchase for Emlyn, in the hope of making her +respectable before Jeph's eyes should rest upon her. Stead's old customers were +glad to see him again, especially Mrs. Lightfoot, who had Dr. Eales once again +in her back rooms, keeping out of sight, while the good Dean was actually in +prison for using the Prayer-book. Three soldiers were quartered upon her at the +Wheatsheaf, and though, on the whole, they were more civil and much less riotous +than some of her Cavalier lodgers had been, she was always in dread of their +taking offence at the doctor and hauling him off to gaol.</p> +<p>Steadfast confided to her Patience's commission, which she undertook to +execute herself. It included a spinning-wheel, for Patience was determined to +teach Emlyn to spin, an art of which no respectable woman from the Queen +downwards was ignorant in those days. As to finding his brother, the best way +would be to ask the soldiers who were smoking in the kitchen where he was likely +to be.</p> +<p>They said that the faithful and valiant Jephthah Kenton of Venn's horse would +be found somewhere about the great steeple house, profanely called the +Cathedral, for there the troops were quartered; and thither accordingly Stead +betook himself, starting as he saw horses gearing or being groomed on the sward +in the close which had always been kept in such perfect order. Having looked in +vain outside for his brother, he advanced into the building, but he had only +just had a view of horses stamping between the pillars, the floor littered down +with straw, a fire burning in one of the niches, and soldiers lying about, +smoking or eating, in all manner of easy, lounging attitudes, when suddenly +there was a shout of "Prelatist, Idolater, Baal-worshipper, Papist," +and to his horror he found it was all directed towards himself. They were +pointing to his head, and two of them had caught him by the shoulders, when +another voice rose "Ha! Let him alone. I say, Bill! Faithful! It's my +brother. He knows no better!" Then dashing up, Jeph rammed the great hat +down over Stead's brow, eyes and all, and called out, "Whoever touches my +brother must have at me first."</p> +<p>"There," said one of the others, "the old Adam need not be so +fierce in thee, brother Jephthah! No one wants to hurt the lad, young prelatist +though he be, so he will make amends by burning their superstitious books on the +fire, even as Jehu burnt the worshippers of Baal."</p> +<p>Steadfast felt somewhat as Christians of old may have felt when called on to +throw incense on the altar of Jupiter, as a handful of pages torn from a +Prayer-book was thrust into his hands. Words did not come readily to him, but he +shook his head and stood still, perhaps stolid in resistance.</p> +<p>"Come," said Jeph, laying hold of his shoulder to drag him along.</p> +<p>"I cannot; 'tis Scripture," said Stead, as in his distress his eye +fell on the leaves in his hand, and he read aloud to prove it--</p> +<p>"Thy Word is a lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my path."</p> +<p>There was one moment's pause. Perhaps the men had absolutely forgotten how +much of their cherished Bible was integral in the hated Prayer-book; at any rate +they were enough taken aback to enable Jeph to pull his brother out at the door, +not without a fraternal cuff or two, as he exclaimed:</p> +<p>"Thou foolish fellow! ever running into danger for very dullness."</p> +<p>"What have I done, Jeph?" asked poor Stead, still bewildered.</p> +<p>"Done! Why, doffed thy hat, after the superstitious and idolatrous +custom of our fathers."</p> +<p>"How can it be idolatrous? 'Twas God's house," said Stead.</p> +<p>"Aye, there thou art in the gall of bitterness. Know'st thou not that no +house is more holy than another?" and Jeph would have gone on for some time +longer, but that he heard sounds which made him suspect that someone had +condemned the version of the Psalms as prelatical and profane, and that his +comrades might yet burst forth to visit their wrath upon his young brother, whom +he therefore proceeded to lead out of sight as fast as possible into the Dean's +garden, where he had the entree as being orderly to Captain Venn, who, with +other officers, abode in the Deanery.</p> +<p>There, controversy being dropped for the moment, Stead was able to tell his +brother of his expedition, and how he had been obliged to keep the child, for +very pity's sake, even if her late father's master had not begged him to do so, +and given an earnest of the payment.</p> +<p>Jeph laughed a little scornfully at the notion of a wild Cavalier ever +paying, but he was not barbarous, and allowed that there was no choice in the +matter, as she could not be turned out to starve. When he heard that Stead had +come with market produce he was displeased at it not having been brought up for +the table of his officers, assuring Stead that they were not to be confounded +with the roistering, penniless malignants, who robbed instead of paying. Stead +said he always supplied Mistress Lightfoot, but this was laughed to scorn. +"The rulers of the army of saints had a right to be served first, above all +before one who was believed to harbour the idolater, even the priest of the +groves."</p> +<p>Jeph directed that the next supply should come to the Deanery, as one who had +the right of ownership, and Stead submitted, only with the secret resolve that +Dr. Eales should not want his few eggs nor his pat of fresh butter.</p> +<p>Jeph was not unkind to Stead, and took him to dine with the other attendants +of the officers in the very stone hall where he had eaten that Christmas dinner +some twenty months before. There was a very long grace pronounced extempore, and +the guests were stout, resolute, grave-looking men, who kept on their +steeple-crowned hats all the time and conversed in low, deep voices, chiefly, as +far as Stead could gather, on military matters, but they seemed to appreciate +good beef and ale quite as much as any Cavalier trooper could have done. One of +them noticing Stead asked whether he had come to take service with the saints +and enjoy their dominion, but Jeph answered for him that his call lay at home +among those of his own household, until his heart should be whole with the +cause.</p> +<p>On the whole Stead was proud to see Jeph holding his own, though the youngest +among these determined-looking men. These two years had made a man of the rough, +idle, pleasure-loving boy, and a man after the Ironsides' fashion, grave, +self-contained, and self-depending. Stead had been more like the elder than the +younger brother in old times, but he felt Jeph immeasurably his elder in the +new, unfamiliar atmosphere; and yet the boy had a strong sense that all was not +right; that these were interlopers in the kind old Dean's house; that the talk +about Baal was mere absurdity; and the profanation of the Cathedral would have +been utterly shocking to his good father. His mind, however, worked slowly, and +he would have had nothing to say even if he could have ventured to speak; but he +was very anxious to get away; and when Jeph would have kept him to hear the +serjeant expound a chapter of Revelation, he pleaded the necessity of getting +home in time to milk the cows, and made his escape.</p> +<p>On the whole it was a relief that Jeph was too much occupied with his +military duties to make visits to his home. It might not have been over easy to +keep the peace between him and Emlyn, fiery little Royalist as she was, and too +much used to being petted and fascinating everyone by her saucy audacity to be +likely to be afraid of him.</p> +<p>If Patience crossed her she would have recourse to Stead, and he could seldom +resist her coaxing, or be entirely disabused of the notion that his sister +expected too much of her. And perhaps it was true. Patience was scarcely likely +to understand differences of character and temperament, and not merely to +recollect that Emlyn was only eighteen months younger than she had been when she +had been forced into the position of the house mother. So, while Emlyn's wayward +fancies were a great trial, Steadfast's sympathy with them was a greater one.</p> +<p>Stead continued to see Jeph when taking in the market produce, for which he +was always duly paid. Jeph also wished the whole family to come in on Sunday to +profit by the preaching of some of the great Independent lights; but Stead, +after trying it once, felt so sure that Patience would be miserable at anything +so unaccustomed, so thunderous, and, as it seemed to him, so abusive, that he +held to it that the distance was too great, and that the cattle could not be +left. The soldiery seemed to him to spend their spare time in defacing the many +churches of the city, chiefly in order to do what they called purifying them +from all idols, in which term they included every sort of carving or picture, or +even figures on monuments.</p> +<p>And in this work of destruction a chest containing church plate had been come +upon, making their work greedy instead of only mischievous.</p> +<p>When all the churches in Bristol had been ransacked, they began to extend +their search to the parish churches in the neighbourhood, and Stead began to be +very anxious, though he hoped and believed that the cave was a perfectly safe +place.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XIV.<br> +THE QUESTION.</h3> + +<p>"Dogged as does it."--TROLLOPE.</p></center> + +<p>Stead, Stead," cried Rusha, running up to him, as he was slowly digging +over his stubble field to prepare it for the next crop, "the soldiers are +in Elmwood."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Emlyn, coming up at the same time, "they are +knocking about everything in the church and pulling up the floor."</p> +<p>"Patience sent us to get some salt," explained Rusha, "and we +saw them from Dame Redman's door. She told us we had better be off and get home +as fast as we could."</p> + +<p>"But I thought we would come and tell you," added Emlyn, "and +then you could get out the long gun and shoot them as they come into the +valley--that is if you can take aim--but I would load and show you how, and then +they would think it was a whole ambush of honest men."</p> + +<p>"Aye, and kill us all--and serve us right," said Stead. "They +don't want to hurt us if we don't meddle with them. But there's a good wench, +Rusha, drive up the cows and sheep this way so that I can have an eye on them, +and shew Captain Venn's paper, if any of those fellows should take a fancy to +them."</p> + +<p>"They are digging all over old parson's garden," said Rusha, as she +obeyed.</p> + +<p>"Was Jeph there?" asked Stead.</p> + +<p>"I didn't see him," said the child.</p> + +<p>Steadfast was very uneasy. That turning up the parson's garden looked as if +they might be in search of the silver belonging to the Church, but after all +they were unlikely to connect him with it, and it was wiser to go on with his +regular work, and manifest no interest in the matter; besides that, every +spadeful he heaved up, every chop he gave the stubble, seemed to be a comfort, +while there was a prayer on his soul all the time that he might be true to his +trust.</p> + +<p>By-and-by he saw Tom Oates running and beckoning to him, "Stead, Stead +Kenton, you are to come."</p> + +<p>"What should I come for?" said Stead, gruffly.</p> + +<p>"The soldiers want you."</p> + +<p>"What call have they to me?"</p> + +<p>"They be come to cleanse the steeple house, they says, and take the +spoil thereof, and they've been routling over the floor and parson's garden like +so many hogs, and are mad because they can't find nothing, and Thatcher Jerry +says, says he, 'Poor John Kenton as was shot was churchwarden and was very great +with Parson. If anybody knows where the things is 'tis Steadfast Kenton.' So the +corporal says, 'Is this so, Jephthah Kenton?' and Jeph, standing up in his big +boots, says, 'Aye, corporal, my father was yet in the darkness of prelacy, and +was what in their blindness they call a Churchwarden, but as to my brother, +that's neither here nor there, he were but a boy and not like to know more than +I did.' But the corporal said, 'That we will see. Is the lad here?' So I ups and +said nay, but I'd seen you digging your croft, and then they bade me fetch you. +So you must come, willy-nilly, or they may send worse after you."</p> + +<p>Stead was a little consoled by hearing that his brother was there. He +suspected that Jeph would have consideration enough for his sisters and for the +property that he considered his own to be unwilling to show the way to their +valley; and he also reflected that it would be well that whatever might happen +to himself should be out of sight of his sisters. Therefore he decided on +following Oates, going through on the way the whole question whether to deny all +knowledge, and yet feeling that the things belonging to God should not be +shielded by untruth. His resolution finally was to be silent, and let them make +what they would out of that, and Stead, though it was long since he had put it +on, had a certain sullen air of stupidity such as often belongs to such natures +as his, and which Jeph knew full well in him.</p> + +<p>They came in sight of the village green where the soldiers were refreshing +themselves at what once had been the Elmwood Arms, for though not given to +excess, total abstinence formed no part of the discipline of the Puritans; and +one of the men started forward, and seizing hold of Steadfast by the shoulder +exclaimed--</p> + +<p>"As I live, 'tis the young prelatist who bowed himself down in the house +of Rimmon! Come on, thou seed of darkness, and answer for thyself."</p> +<p>If he had only known it, he was making the part of dogged silence and +resistance infinitely easier to Steadfast by the rudeness and abuse, which, even +in a better cause, would have made it natural to him to act as he was doing now, +giving the soldier all the trouble of dragging him onward and then standing with +his hands in his pockets like an image of obstinacy.</p> + + +<p align="center"><img src="steadroundheads.jpg" alt="steadroundheads"></p> + + +<p>"Speak," said the corporal, "and it shall be the better for +thee. Hast thou any knowledge where the priests of Baal have bestowed the +vessels of their mockery of worship."</p> + +<p>Stead moved not a muscle of his face. He had no acquaintance with priests of +Baal or their vessels, so that he was not in the least bound to comprehend, and +one of them exclaimed "The oaf knows not your meaning, corporal. Speak +plainer to his Somerset ears. He knows not the tongue of the saints."</p> + +<p>"Ho, then, thou child of darkness. Know'st thou where the mass-mongering +silver and gold of this church be hidden from them of whom it is written 'haste +to the spoil.' Come, speak out. A crown if thou dost speak--the lash if thou +wilt not answer, thou dumb dog."</p> + +<p>Stead was really not far removed from a dumb dog. All his faculties were so +entirely wrought up to resistance that he had hardly distinguished the words.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Stead," said Jeph, "thou art too old for thine +old sulky moods. Speak up, and tell if thou know'st aught of the Communion Cup +and dish, or it will be the worse for thee. Yes or no?"</p> + +<p>Stead made a move with his shoulder to push away his brother, and still stood +silent.</p> + +<p>"There," said Jeph, "it is all Faithful's fault for his rough +handling. His back is set up. It was always so from a boy, and you'll get nought +out of him."</p> + +<p>"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction +shall drive it far from him," quoted the Corporal, taking up a waggoner's +whip which stood by the inn door, and the like of which had no doubt once been a +more familiar weapon to him than the sword.</p> + +<p>"Speak lad--or--" and as no speech came, the lash descended on +Stead's shoulders, not, however, hurting him much save where it grazed the skin +of his face.</p> + +<p>"Now? Not a word? Take off his leathern coat, Faithful, then shall he +feel the reward of sullenness."</p> + +<p>That Jeph did not interfere, while Faithful and another soldier tugged off +his leathern coat, buffeting and kicking him roughly as they did so, brought +additional hardness to Stead. He had been flogged in his time before, and not +without reason, and had taken a pride in not giving in, or crying out for pain; +and the ancient habit acquired in a worse cause, came to his help. He scarcely +recollected the cause of his resistance; all his powers were concentrated in +holding out, and when after another "Now, vile prelatic spawn, is thy heart +still hardened? Yes or no?" the terrible whip came stinging and biting down +on his shoulders and back, only protected by his shirt, he was entirely bound up +in the determination to endure the pain without a groan or cry.</p> + +<p>But after blows enough had fallen to mark the shirt with streaks of blood, +Jeph could bear it no longer.</p> + +<p>"Hold!" he said. "You will never make him speak that way. +Father and mother never could. Strokes do but harden him."</p> + +<p>"The sure token of a fool," said the corporal, and prepared for +another lash.</p> + +<p>"'Tis plain he knows," said one of the others. "He would never +stand this if a word would save him."</p> + +<p>"Mere malice and obstinacy," said Faithful, "and wilfulness. +He will not utter a word. I would beat it out of him, as I was wont with our old +ass."</p> + +<p>Another stroke descended, worse than all the others after the brief interval, +but Jeph again spoke, "Look you, I know the lad of old and you'll get no +more that way than if you were flogging the sign-post there. Whether he knows +where the things are or not, the temper that is in him will never answer while +you beat him, were it to save his life. Leave him to me, and I'll be bound to +get an answer from him."</p> + +<p>"And I am constable, and I must say," said Blacksmith Blane, moving +forwards, with a bar of iron in his hand, and four or five stout men behind him, +"that to come and abuse and flog a hard-working, fatherless lad, that never +did you no harm, nor anyone else, is not what honest men look for from soldiers +that talk so big about Parliament and rights and what not!"</p> + +<p>"'Twas for contumacy," began the corporal.</p> + +<p>"Contumacy forsooth, as though 'twas the will of the honest gentlemen in +Parliament that boys should be misused for nothing at all!"</p> + +<p>"If the young dog would have spoken," began the corporal, but +somehow he did not like the look of Blane's iron bar, and thought it best to +look up at the sun, and discover that it was time to depart if the party were to +be in time for roll-call. As it was a private marauding speculation, it might +not be well to have complaints made to Captain Venn, who never sanctioned +plunder nor unnecessary violence. Even Jeph had to march off, and Steadfast, who +had no mind to be pitied, nor asked by the neighbours what was the real fact, +had picked up his spade and jerkin, and was out of sight while the villagers +were watching the soldiers away.</p> + +<p>The first thing he did was to give thanks in heart that he had been aided +thus far not to betray his trust, and then to feel that Corporal Dodd's flogging +was a far severer matter than the worst chastisement he had ever received from +his father, even when he kept Jeph's secret about the stolen apples. Putting on +his coat was impossible, and he was so stiff and sore that he could not hope to +conceal his condition from Patience.</p> + +<p>At home all were watching for him. They ran up in anxiety, for one of the +ever ready messengers of evil had rushed down the glen to tell Patience that the +soldiers were beating Stead shamefully, and Jeph standing by not saying one +word. Little Ben broke out with "Poor, poor!" and Rusha burst into +tears at sight of the blood, while Emlyn said "Just what comes of going +among the rascal Roundheads," and Patience looked up at him and said +"Was it--?" he nodded, and she quietly said "I'm glad." He +added, "Jeph's coming soon," and she knew that the trial was not over. +The brother and sister needed very few words to understand one another, and they +were afraid to say anything that the younger ones could understand. Patience +washed the weals with warm water and milk, and wrapped a cloak round him, but +even the next morning, he could not use his arms without fresh bleeding, and the +hindrance to the work was serious. He could do nothing but herd the cattle, and +he was much inclined to drive them to the further end of the moorland where +Jephthah would hardly find him, but then he recollected that Patience would be +left to bear the brunt of the attack, so that he would not go far off, never +guessing, poor fellow, that in his dull, almost blundering fashion, he was doing +like the heroes and the martyrs, but only feeling that he must keep his trust at +all costs. Jeph, however, did not come that day or the next, so that inwardly, +the wound-up feeling had passed into a weariness of expectation, and outwardly +the stripes had healed enough for Stead to go about his work as usual only a +little stiffly. He went into Bristol on market day as usual, and then it was, on +his way out that Jeph joined him, saying it was to bid Patience and the little +ones farewell, since the marching orders were for the morrow. He was unusually +kind and good-natured; he had a load of comfits for Rusha and Ben, and a stout +piece of woollen stuff for Patience which he said was such as he was told godly +maidens wore, and which possibly the terror of his steel cap and corslet had +cheapened at the mercer's; also he had a large packet of tractates for Stead's +own reading, and he enquired whether they possessed a Bible.</p> + +<p>Stead wondered whether all this was out of regret at the treatment he had +undergone, or whether it was to put him off his guard, and this occupied him +when Jeph began to preach, as he did uninterruptedly for the last mile, without +any of the sense, if there were any, reaching the mind of the auditor.</p> + +<p>They reached the hut, the gifts were displayed; and when the young ones, who +were all a little afraid of the elder brother, had gone off to feast upon the +sweets, Jeph began with enquiries after Steadfast's back, and he replied that it +was mending fast, while Patience exclaimed at the cruelty and wickedness of so +using him.</p> + +<p>"Why wouldn't he speak then?" said Jeph. "Yea or nay would +have ended it in a moment, but that's Stead's way. He looks like it now!" +and he did, elbows on knees, and chin on hands.</p> + +<p>"Come now, Stead, thou canst speak to me! Was it all because Faithful +hauled thee about?"</p> + +<p>"He did, and he had no call to," said Stead, surlily.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's true, but I'm not hauling thee. Tell me, Stead, I mind now +that thou wast out with father that last day ere the Parson was taken to receive +his deserts. I don't believe that even thy churlishness would have stood such +blows if thou hadst known naught of the idolatrous vessels, and couldst have +saved thy skin by saying so! No answer. Why, what have these malignants done for +thee that thou shouldst hold by them? Slain thy father! Burnt thine house! No +fault of theirs that thou art alive this day! Canst not speak?"</p> + +<p>Jeph's temper giving way at the provocation, he forgot his conciliatory +intentions and seizing Stead by the collar shook him violently. Growler almost +broke his chain with rage, Patience screamed and flew to the rescue, just as she +had often done when they were all children together, and Jeph threw his brother +from him so that he fell on the root of a tree, and lay for a moment or two +still, then picked himself up again evidently with pain, though he answered +Patience cheerfully that it was nought.</p> + +<p>"Thou art enough to drive a man mad with thy surly silence," +exclaimed Jeph, whom this tussle had rendered much more like his old self, +"and after all, knowing that even though thou art not one of the holy ones, +thou wilt not tell a lie, it comes to the same thing. I know thou wottest where +these things are, and it is only thy sullen scruples that hinder thee from +speaking. Nevertheless, I shall leave no stone unturned till I find them! For +what is written 'Thou shalt break down their altars.'"</p> + +<p>"Jeph," said Stead, firmly. "You left home because of your +grief and rage at father's death. Would you have me break the solemn charge he +laid on me?"</p> + +<p>"Father was a good man after his light," said Jeph, a little +staggered, "but that light was but darkness, and we to whom the day itself +is vouchsafed are not bound by a charge laid on us in ignorance. Any way, he +laid no bonds on me, but I must needs leave thee alone in thy foolishness of +bondage! Come, Patience, wench, and aid me, I know this rock is honeycombed with +caves, like a rabbit warren, no place so likely."</p> + +<p>"I help thee--no indeed'" cried Patience. "Would I aid thee to +do what would most grieve poor father, that thou once mad'st such a work about! +I should be afraid of his curse."</p> + +<p>Possibly if Jeph had not pledged himself to his comrades to overcome his +brother's resistance, and bring back the treasures, he might have desisted; but +what he did was to call to Rusha to bring him a lantern, and show him the holes, +promising her a tester if she would. She brought the lantern, but she was a +timid, little, unenterprising thing, and was mortally afraid of the caverns, a +fear that Patience had thought it well not to combat. Emlyn who had already +scrambled all over the face of the slope, and peeped into all, could have told +him a great deal more about them; but she hated the sight of a rebel, and sat on +the ground making ugly faces and throwing little stones after him whenever his +back was turned.</p> + +<p>Stead, afraid to betray by his looks of anxiety, when Jeph came near the +spot, sat all the time with his elbows on his knees, and his hands over his +face, fully trusting to what all had agreed at the time of the burial of the +chest, that there was no sign to indicate its whereabouts.</p> + +<p>He felt rather than saw that Jeph, after tumbling out the straw and fern that +served for fodder in the lower caves, where the sheep and pigs were sheltered in +winter, had scrambled up to the hermit's chapel, when suddenly there was a +shout, but not at all of exultation, and down among the bushes, lantern and all +came the soldier, tumbling and crashing into the midst of an enormous bramble, +whence Stead pulled him out with the lantern flattened under him, and his first +breathless words were--</p> + +<p>"Beelzebub himself!" Then adding, as he stood upright, "he +made full at me, and I saw his eyes glaring. I heard him groaning. It is an +unholy popish place. No wonder!"</p> + +<p>Patience and Rusha were considerably impressed, for it was astonishing to see +how horribly terrified and shaken was the warrior, who had been in two pitched +battles, and Ben screamed, and needed to be held in Stead's arms to console him.</p> + +<p>Jeph had no mind to pursue his researches any further. He only tarried long +enough to let Patience pick out half-a-dozen thorns from his cheeks and hands, +and to declare that if he had not to march to-morrow, he should bring that +singular Christian man, Captain Venn, to exorcise the haunt of Apollyon. +Wherewith he bade them all farewell, with hopes that by the time he saw them +again, they would have come to the knowledge of the truth.</p> + +<p>No sooner was he out of sight among the bushes than Emlyn seized on Rusha, +and whirled her round in a dance as well as her more substantial proportions +would permit, while Steadfast let his countenance expand into the broad grin +that he had all this time been stifling.</p> + +<p>"What <i>do</i> you think it was?" asked Patience, still awestruck.</p> + +<p>"Why--the old owl--and his own bad conscience. He might talk big, but he +didn't half like going against poor father. Thank God! He has saved His own, and +that's over!"</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XV.<br> +A TABLE OF LOVE IN THE WILDERNESS.</h3> + +<p>"Yet along the Church's sky<br> +Stars are scattered, pure and high;<br> +Yet her wasted gardens bear<br> +Autumn violets, sweet and rare,<br> +Relics of a Spring-time clear,<br> +Earnests of a bright New Year."<br> +KEBLE</p></center> + +<p>No more was heard or seen of Jephthah, or of Captain Venn's troop. The +garrison within Bristol was small and unenterprising, and in point of fact the +war was over. News travelled slowly, but Stead picked up scraps at Bristol, by +which he understood that things looked very bad for the King. Moreover, Sir +George Elmwood died of his wounds; poor old Lady Elmwood did not long survive +him, and the estate, which had been left to her for her life, was sequestrated +by the Parliament, and redeemed by the next heir after Sir George, so that there +was an exchange of the Lord of the Manor. The new squire was an elderly man, +hearty and good-natured, who did not seem at all disposed to interfere with any +one on the estate. He was a Presbyterian, and was shocked to find that the +church had been unused for three years. He had it cleaned from the accumulation +of dirt and rubbish, the broken windows mended with plain glass, and the altar +table put down in the nave, as it had been before Mr. Holworth's time; and he +presented to the living Mr. Woodley, a scholarly-looking person, who wore a +black gown and collar and bands.</p> + +<p>The Elmwood folk were pleased to have prayers and sermon again, and Patience +was glad that the children should not grow up like heathens; but her first +church going did not satisfy her entirely.</p> + +<p>"It is all strange," she said to Stead, who had stayed with the +cattle. "He had no book, and it was all out of his own head, not a bit like +old times."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," said Emlyn. "He had got no surplice, and I +knew him for a prick-eared Roundhead! I should have run off home if you had not +held me, Patience. I'll never go there again."</p> + +<p>"I am sure you made it a misery to me, trying to make Rusha and Ben as +idle and restless as yourself," said Patience.</p> + +<p>"They ought not to listen to a mere Roundhead sectary," said Emlyn, +tossing her head. "I couldn't have borne it if I had not had the young +ladies to look at. They had got silk hoods and curls and lace collars, so as it +was a shame a mere Puritan should wear."</p> + +<p>"O Emlyn, Emlyn, it is all for the outside," said Patience. +"Now, I did somehow like to hear good words, though they were not like the +old ones."</p> + +<p>"Good, indeed! from a trumpery Puritan."</p> + +<p>Stead went to church in the afternoon. He was eighteen now, and that great +struggle and effort had made him more of a man. He thought much when he was +working alone in the fields, and he had spent his time on Sundays in reading his +Bible and Prayer-book, and comparing them with Jeph's tracts. Since Emlyn had +come, he had made a corner of the cowshed fit to sleep in, by stuffing the walls +with dry heather, and the sweet breath of the cows kept it sufficiently warm, +and on the winter evenings, he took a lantern there with one of Patience's rush +lights, learnt a text or two anew, and then repeated passages to himself and +thought over them. What would seem intolerably dull to a lad now, was rest to +one who had been rendered older than his age by sorrow and responsibility, and +the events that were passing led people to consider religious questions a great +deal.</p> + +<p>But Stead was puzzled. The minister was not like the soldiers whom he had +heard raving about the reign of the saints, and abusing the church. He prayed +for the King's having a good deliverance from his troubles, and for the peace of +the kingdom, and he gave out that there was to be a week of fasting, preaching, +and preparation for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.</p> + +<p>The better sort of people in the village were very much pleased, nobody +except Goody Grace was dissatisfied, and people told her that was only because +she was old and given to grumbling at everything new. Blane the Smith tapped +Stead on the shoulder, and said, "Hark ye, my lad. If it be true that thou +wast in old Parson's secrets, now's the time for thou know'st what."</p> + +<p>Stead's mouth was open, and his face blank, chiefly because he did not know +what to do, and was taken by surprise, and Blane took it for an answer.</p> + +<p>"Oh! if you don't know, that's another thing, but then 'twas for nothing +that the troopers flogged you? Well," he muttered, as Stead walked off, +"that's a queer conditioned lad, to let himself be flogged, as I wouldn't +whip a dog, all out of temper, because he wouldn't answer a question. But he's a +good lad, and I'll not bring him into trouble by a word to squire or +minister."</p> + +<p>The children went off to gather cowslips, and Stead was able to talk it over +with Patience, who at first was eager to be rid of the dangerous trust, and +added, with a sigh, "That she had never taken the Sacrament since the +Easter before poor father was killed, and it must be nigh upon Whitsuntide +now."</p> + +<p>"That's true," said Stead, "but nobody makes any count of holy +days now. It don't seem right, Patience."</p> + +<p>"Not like what it used to be," said Patience. "And yet this +minister is surely a godly man."</p> + +<p>"Father and parson didn't say ought about a godly man. They made me take +my solemn promise that I'd only give the things to a lawfully ordained +minister."</p> + +<p>"He is a minister, and he comes by law," argued Patience. "Do +be satisfied, Stead. I'm always in fear now that folks guess we have somewhat in +charge; and Emlyn is such a child for prying and chattering. And if they should +come and beat thee again, or do worse. Oh, Stead! surely you might give them up +to a good man like that; Smith Blane says you ought!"</p> + +<p>"I doubt me! I know that sort don't hold with Bishops, and, so far as I +can see, by father's old Prayer-book, a lawful minister must have a Bishop to +lay hands on him," said Stead, who had studied the subject as far as his +means would allow, and had good though slow brains of his own, matured by +responsibility. "I'll tell you what, Patience, I'll go and see Dr. Eales +about it. I wot he is a minister of the old sort, that father would say I might +trust to."</p> + +<p>Dr. Eales was still living in Mrs. Lightfoot's lodgings, at the sign of the +Wheatsheaf, or more properly starving, for he had only ten pounds a year paid to +him out of the benefice that had been taken away from him; and though that went +farther then than it would do now, it would not have maintained him, but that +his good hostess charged him as little as she could afford, and he also had a +few pupils among the gentry's sons, but there were too many clergymen in the +same straits for this to be a very profitable undertaking. There were no +soldiers in Mrs. Lightfoot's house now, and the doctor lived more at large, but +still cautiously, for in the opposite house, named the "Ark," whose +gable end nearly met the Wheatsheaf's, dwelt a rival baker, a Brownist, whose +great object seemed to be to spy upon the clergyman, and have something to +report against him, nor was Mrs. Lightfoot's own man to be trusted. Stead +lingered about the open stall where the bread was sold till no customer was at +hand, and then mentioned under his breath to the good dame his desire to speak +with her lodger.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," she said, but the Doctor was now with his pupils at +Mistress Rivett's. He always left them at eleven of the clock, more shame of +Mrs. Rivett not to give the good man his dinner, which she would never feel. +Steadfast had better watch for him at the gate which opened on the down, for +there he could speak more privately and securely than at home.</p> + +<p>He took the advice, and passed away the time as best he could, learning on +the way that a news letter had been received stating that the King was with the +Scottish army at Newcastle, and that it was expected that on receiving their +arrears of pay, the Scots would surrender him to the Parliament, a proceeding +which the folk in the market-place approved or disapproved according to their +politics.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rivett's house stood a little apart from the town, with a court and +gates opening on the road over the down; and just as eleven strokes were chiming +from the town clock below, a somewhat bent, silver-haired man, in a square cap +and black gown, leaning on a stick, came out of it. Stead, after the respectful +fashion of his earlier days, put his knee to the ground, doffed his +steeple-crowned hat and craved a blessing, both he and the Doctor casting a +quick glance round so as to be sure there was no one in sight.</p> + +<p>Dr. Eales gave it earnestly, as one to whom it was a rare joy to find a +country youth thus demanding it, and as he looked at the honest face he said:</p> + +<p>"You are mine hostess' good purveyor, methinks, to whom I have often +owed a wholesome meal."</p> + +<p>"Steadfast Kenton, so please your reverence. There is a secret matter on +which I would fain have your counsel, and Mistress Lightfoot thought I might +speak to you here with greater safety."</p> + +<p>"She did well. Speak on, my good boy, if we walk up and down here we +shall be private. It does my heart good to commune with a faithful young son of +the Church."</p> + +<p>Steadfast told his story, at which the good old Canon was much affected. His +brother Holworth, as he called him, was not in prison but in the Virginian +plantations. He was still the only true minister of Elmwood, and Mr. Woodley, +though owned by the present so-called law of the land, was not there rightly by +the law of the Church, and, therefore, Stead was certainly not bound to +surrender the trust to him, but rather the contrary.</p> + +<p>The Doctor could have gone into a long disquisition about Presbyterian +Orders, contradicting the arguments many good and devout people adduced in +favour of them, but there was little time, so he only confirmed with authority +Stead's belief that a Bishop's Ordination was indispensable to a true pastor, +"the only door by which to enter to the charge of the fold."</p> + +<p>Then came the other question of attendance on his ministry, and whether to +attend the feast given out for the Sunday week, after the long-forced +abstinence: Patience's, ever since the break-up of the parish; Steadfast's, +since the siege of Bristol. Dr. Eales considered, "I cannot bid you go to +that in the efficacy of which neither you nor I believe, my son," he said. +"It would not be with faith. Here, indeed, I have ministered privately to a +few of the faithful in their own houses, but the risk is over great for you and +your sister to join us, espied as we are. How is it with your home?"</p> + +<p>"O, sir, would you even come thither?" exclaimed Steadfast, +joyfully, and he described his ravine, which was of course known to the Elmwood +neighbours, but very seldom visited by them, never except in the middle of the +day, and where the thicket and the caverns afforded every facility for +concealment.</p> + +<p>Whitsun Day was coming, and Dr. Eales proposed to come over to the glen and +celebrate the Holy Feast in the very early morning before anyone was astir. +There were a few of his Bristol flock who would be thankful for the opportunity +of meeting more safely than they could do in the city, since at Easter they had +as nearly as possible been all arrested in a pavilion in Mr. Rivett's garden +which they had thought unsuspected.</p> + +<p>There would be one market day first, and on that Stead would come and explain +his preparations, and hear what the Doctor had arranged. And so it was. The time +was to be three o'clock, the very dawn of the long summer day, the time when +sleep is deepest. Dr. Eales and Mrs. Lightfoot would come out the night before, +he not returning after his lesson to the Rivetts, and she making some excuse +about going to see friends for the Sunday.</p> + +<p>The Rivetts, living outside the gates where sentries still kept guard, could +start in the morning, and so could the four others who were to form part of the +congregation. Goody Grace was the only person near home whom Patience wished to +invite, for she too had grieved over the great deprivation, and had too much +heart for the Church to be satisfied with Mr. Woodley's ministrations. Perhaps +even she did not understand the difference, but she could be trusted, and the +young people knew how happy it would make her.</p> + +<p>Little can we guess what such an opportunity was to the faithful children of +the Church in those sad days. Goody Grace folded her hands and murmured, +"Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace," when Patience +told her of the invitation, and Patience, though she had all her ordinary work +to do, went quietly about it, as if she had some great thought of peace and awe +upon her.</p> + +<p>"Why, Patience, you seem as if you were making ready for some guest, the +Prince of Wales at least!" said Emlyn, on Saturday night.</p> + +<p>Patience smiled a sweet little happy smile and in her heart she said +"And so I am, and for a greater far!" but she did say "Yes, +Emlyn, Dr. Eales is coming to sleep here to-night, and he will pray with us in +the early morning."</p> + +<p>It had been agreed that the Celebration should take place first, and then +after a short pause, the Morning Service. Jerusha was eleven years old, and a +very good girl, and since Confirmation was impossible, her brother and sister +would have asked for her admission to the Holy Feast without it, but she could +not be called up without the danger of awaking Emlyn; and Patience was so sure +that it was not safe to trust that damsel with the full knowledge of the +treasure that, though Steadfast always thought his sister hard on her, he was +forced to give way. The children were to be admitted to Matins, for if any idea +oozed out that this latter service had been held, no great danger was likely to +come of it. Dr. Eales arrived in the evening, Steadfast meeting him to act as +guide, and Patience set before him of her best. A fowl, which she had been +forced to broil for want of other means of dressing it; bread baked in a tin +with a fire of leaves and small sticks heaped over it; roasted eggs, excellent +butter and milk. She apologised for not having dared to fetch any ale for fear +of exciting suspicion, but the doctor set her quite at ease by his manifest +enjoyment of her little feast, declaring that he had not made so good a meal +since Bristol was taken.</p> + +<p>Then he catechised the children. Little Ben could say the Lord's Prayer, the +Belief, and some of the shorter Commandments, and the doctor patted his little +round white cap, and gave him two Turkey figs as a reward.</p> + +<p>Jerusha, when she got over her desperate fright enough to speak above a +whisper, was quite perfect from her name down to "charity with all +men," but Emlyn stumbled horribly over even the first answers, and utterly +broke down in the Fourth Commandment; but she smiled up in the doctor's face in +her pretty way, and blushed as she said "The chaplain at Blythedale had +taught us so far, your reverence."</p> + +<p>"And have you learnt no further?"</p> + +<p>"If you were here to teach me, sir, I would soon learn it," said +the little witch, but she did not come over him as she did with most people.</p> + +<p>"You have as good an instructor as I for your needs, in this discreet +maiden," said Dr. Eales, and as something of a pout descended on the +sparkling little face, "when you know all the answers, perchance Steadfast +here may bring you to my lodgings and I will hear you."</p> + +<p>"I could learn them myself if I had the book," said Emlyn.</p> + +<p>The fact being that the Catechism was taught by Patience from memory in those +winter evenings when all went to bed to save candle light, but that when +Steadfast retired to the cow-house, Emlyn either insisted on playing with the +others or pretended to go to sleep; and twitted Patience with being a Puritan. +However, the hopes of going into Bristol might be an incentive, though she +indulged in a grumble to Rusha, and declared that she liked a jolly chaplain, +and this old doctor was not a bit better than a mere Puritan.</p> + +<p>Rusha opened her big eyes. She never did understand Emlyn, and perhaps that +young maiden took delight in shocking her. They were ordered off to bed much +sooner than they approved on that fair summer night, when the half-moon was high +and the nightingales were singing all round--not that they cared for that, but +there was a sense about them that something mysterious was going on, and Emlyn +was wild with curiosity and vexation at being kept out of it.</p> + +<p>She would have kept watch and crept out; but that Patience came in, and lay +down, so close to the door that it was impossible to get out without waking her, +and besides if Emlyn did but stir, she asked what was the matter.</p> + +<p>"They mean something!" said Emlyn to herself, "and I'll know +what it is. They have no right to keep me out of the plot; I am not like stupid +little Rusha! I have been in a siege, and four battles, besides skirmishes! I'll +watch till they think I'm asleep, if I pull all the hulls out of my bed! Then +they will begin."</p> + +<p>But nothing moved that Emlyn could hear or see. She woke and slept, but was +quite aware when Patience rose up after a brief doze, and found the first +streaks of dawn in the sky, a cuckoo calling as if for very life in the nearest +tree, and Steadfast quietly sweeping the dew from the grass in a little open +space shut in by rocks, trees, and bushes, close to the bank of the brook.</p> + +<p>A chest which he kept in the cow-shed, and which bore traces of the fire in +the old house, had been brought down to serve as an Altar, and it was laid over, +for want of anything better, with one of poor Mrs. Kenton's best table-cloths, +which Patience had always thought too good for use.</p> + +<p>The next thing was to meet the rest of the scanty congregation at the +entrances of the wood, and guide them to the spot. This was safely done, Goody +Grace knew the way, and had guided one of the old Elmwood maid servants whom she +had managed to shelter for the night. Mrs. Lightfoot was there with Mrs. Rivett, +her daughter, elder son, and a grave-looking man servant, Mr. Henshaw, a +Barbados merchant, with his wife, and a very worn battered shabby personage, but +unmistakably a gentleman of quality, and wounded in the wars, for he was so lame +that the merchant had to help him over the rough paths.</p> + +<p>It was a wonderful Whitsun-day morning that none of the little party could +ever forget. The sunrise could not be seen in that deep, narrow place, but the +sky was of a strange pale shining blue, and the tender young green of the trees +overhead was touched with gold, the glades of the wood were intensely blue with +hyacinths, and with all sorts of delicate greens twined above in the bushes over +them. A wild cherry, all silver white, was behind their Altar, the green floor +was marbled with cuckoo flowers and buttercups, and the clear little stream +whose voice murmured by was fringed with kingcups and forget-me-nots. The scents +were of the most delicious dewy freshness; and as to the sounds! Larks sang high +up in the sky, wood pigeons cooed around, nightingales, thrushes, every bird of +the wood seemed to be trying to make music and melody.</p> + +<p>And in the midst the grey-haired priest stood close to an ivy-covered rock, +with the white covered Altar, and the bright golden vessels which he had +carefully looked to in the night, and the little congregation knelt close round +him on cloaks and mats, the women hooded, the old Cavalier's long thin locks, +the merchant's dark ones, and the close cropped heads of the servant and of +Steadfast bared to the morning breeze in its pure, dewy, soft freshness, fit +emblem of the Comforter. No book was produced, all was repeated from memory. +They durst not raise their voices, but the birds were their choir, and as they +murmured their <i>Gloria in Excelsis</i>, the sweet notes rang out in that +unconscious praise.</p> + +<p>When the blessing of peace had been given there was a long hush, and no one +rose till after the vessels had been replaced in their casket, and Stead was +climbing up with it again to the hiding place. Then there was a move to the +front of the hut, where Rusha was just awakening, and Emlyn feigned to be still +asleep. It was not yet four o'clock, but the sweet freshness was still around +everything. Young Mistress Alice Rivett and her brother were enchanted to gather +flowers, and ran after their hosts to see the cows milked, and the goats, pigs, +and poultry fed, sights new to them; but the elder ladies shivered and were glad +to warm themselves at the little fire Patience hastily lighted, after cleaning +the hut as fast as she could, by rolling up the bedding, and fairly carrying Ben +out to finish his night's rest in the cow-house.</p> + +<p>The guests had brought their provisions, and insisted that their young hosts +should eat with them, accepting only the warm milk that Patience brought in her +pail, and they drank from the horn cups of the family. Dr. Eales observed to the +Cavalier that it was a true <i>Agape</i> or love-feast like those of the ancient +Church, and the gentleman's melancholy, weather-beaten face relaxed into a smile +as he sighed and hoped that the same endurance as that of the Christians of old +would be granted in this time of persecution.</p> + +<p>Emlyn was gratified at being a good deal noticed by the company as so unlike +the others. She was not shy and frightened like Rusha, who hung her head and had +not a word to say for herself, but chattered away to the young Rivetts, showing +them the kid, the calves, and the lambs, taking Mistress Alice to the biggest +cowslips and earliest wild roses, and herself making a sweet posy for each of +the ladies. The old Cavalier himself, Colonel Harford, was even amused with the +pretty little maid, who, he told Dr. Eales, resembled Mirth as Master John +Milton had depicted her, ere he took up with General Cromwell and his crew; and +was a becoming figure for this early morn.</p> + +<p>On learning the child's history, he turned out to know Sir Harry Blythedale, +but not to have heard of him since they had parted at Newark, he to guard the +king to Oxford, Sir Harry to join Lord Astley, and he much feared that the old +knight had been killed at Stowe, in the fight between Astley and Brereton. This +would account for nothing having been heard from him about Emlyn, but Colonel +Harford promised, if any opportunity should offer, to communicate with Lady +Blythedale, whom he believed to be living at Worcester; and he patted Emlyn on +the head, called her a little loyal veteran, accepted a tiny posy of +forget-me-not from her, and after fumbling in his pocket, gave her a crown +piece. Steadfast and Patience were afraid it was his last, and much wished she +had contrived not to take it, but she said she should keep it for a remembrance.</p> + +<p>After this rest, the beautiful Whitsuntide Matins was said in the fair forest +church, and before six o'clock this strange and blessed festival had ended, +though not the peace and thankfulness in the hearts of the little flock.</p> + +<p>Indeed, instead of a sermon, Dr. Eales's parting words were "And he went +in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights."</p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XVI.<br> +A FAIR OFFER.</h3> + +<p>"We be content" the keepers said,<br> +"We three and you no less,<br> +Then why should we of you be afraid,<br> +As we never did transgress."<br> +ROBIN HOOD BALLAD.</p></center> + +<p>Steadfast was busy weeding the little patch of barley that lay near the ruins +of the old farm house with little Ben basking round him. The great carefulness +as to keeping the ground clear had been taught him by his father, and was one +reason why his fields, though so small, did not often bear a bad crop. He heard +his name called over the hedge, and looking up saw the Squire, Mr. Elmwood, on +horseback.</p> + +<p>He came up, respectfully taking off his hat and standing with it in his hand +as was then the custom when thus spoken to. "What is this I hear, +Kenton," said the squire, "that you have been having a prelatist +service on your ground?"</p> + +<p>Steadfast was dismayed, but did not speak, till Mr. Elmwood added, "Is +it true?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," he answered resolutely.</p> + +<p>"Did you know it was against the law to use the Book of Common +Prayer?"</p> + +<p>"There was no book, sir."</p> + +<p>"But you do not deny it was the same superstitious and Popish ceremony +and festival abolished by law."</p> + +<p>"No, sir," Stead allowed, though rather by gesture than word.</p> + +<p>"Now, look you here, young Kenton, I ask no questions. I do not want to +bring anyone into trouble, and you are a hard-working, honest lad by what they +tell me, who have a brother fighting in the good Cause and have suffered from +the lawless malignants yourself. Was it not the Prince's troopers that wrought +this ruin?" pointing towards the blackened gable, "and shot down your +father? Aye! The more shame you should hold with them! I wish you no harm I say, +nor the blinded folk who must have abused your simplicity: but I am a justice of +the peace, and I will not have laws broken on my land. If this thing should +happen again, I shall remember that you have no regular or lawful tenure of this +holding, and put you forth from it."</p> + +<p>He waited, but a threat always made silent resistance easy to Steadfast, and +there was no answer.</p> + +<p>Mr. Elmwood, however, let that pass, for he was not a hard or a fanatical +man, and he knew that to hold such a service was not such an easy matter that it +was likely to be soon repeated. He looked round at the well-mended fences, the +clean ground, and the tokens of intelligent industry around, and the clean +homespun shirt sleeves that spoke of the notable manager at home. 'You are an +industrious fellow, my good lad," he said, "how long have you had this +farm to yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Getting on for five years, your honour," said Steadfast.</p> + +<p>"And is that your brother?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, please your honour," picking Ben up in his arms to prevent +the barley from being pulled up by way of helping him.</p> + +<p>"How many of you are there?"</p> + +<p>"Five of us, sir, but my eldest brother is in Captain Venn's +troop."</p> + +<p>"So I heard, and what is this about a child besides?"</p> + +<p>"An orphan, sir, I found after the skirmish at the mill stream, who was +left with us till her friends can send after her."</p> + +<p>"Well, well. You seem a worthy youth," said Mr. Elmwood, who was +certainly struck and touched by the silent uncomplaining resolution of the mere +stripling who had borne so heavy a burthen. "If you were heartily one of +us, I should be glad to make you woodward, instead of old Tomkins, and build up +yonder house for you, but I cannot do it for one who is hankering after prelacy, +and might use the place for I know not what plots and conspiracies of the +malignants."</p> + +<p>Again Steadfast took refuge in a little bow of acknowledgment, but kept his +lips shut, till again the squire demanded, "What do you think of it? +There's a fair offer. What have you to say for yourself?"</p> + +<p>He had collected himself and answered, "I thank you, sir. You are very +good. If you made me woodward, I would serve your honour faithfully, and have no +plots or the like there. But, your honour, I was bred up in the Church and I +cannot sell myself."</p> + +<p>"Why, you foolish, self-conceited boy, what do you know about it? Is not +what is good enough for better men than you fit to please you?"</p> + +<p>To this Stead again made no answer, having said a great deal for him.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Elmwood, angered at last, "if ever I saw a +dogged moon-calf, you are one! However, I let you go scot free this time, in +regard for your brother's good service, and the long family on your hands, but +mind, I shall put in an active woodward instead of old Tomkins, who has been +past his work these ten years, and if ever I hear of seditious or prelatical +doings in yonder gulley again, off you go."</p> + +<p>He rode off, leaving Steadfast with temper more determined, but mind not more +at ease. The appointment of a woodward was bad news, for the copsewood and the +game had been left to their fate for the last few years, and what were the +rights of the landlord over them Stead did not know, so that there might be many +causes of trouble, especially if the said woodward considered him a person to be +specially watched. Indeed, the existence of such a person would make a renewal +of what Mr. Elmwood called the prelatist assembly impossible, and with a good +deal of sorrow he announced the fact on the next market day to Mrs. Lightfoot. +He could not see Dr. Eales, but when next he came in, she gave him a paper on +which was simply marked "Ps. xxxvii, 7." He looked out the reference +and found "Hold thee still in the Lord and abide patiently upon Him." +Stead hoped that Patience and the rest would never know what an offer had been +made to him, but Master Brown, who had recommended him, and who did not at all +like the prospect of a strange woodward, came to expostulate with him for +throwing away such a chance for a mere whim, telling Patience she was a sensible +wench and ought to persuade her brother to see what was for his own good and the +good of all, holding up himself as an example.</p> + +<p>"I never missed my church and had the parson's good word all along, and +yet you see I am ready to put up with this good man without setting myself up to +know more than my elders and betters! Eh! Hast not a word to say for thyself? +Then I'll tell the squire, who is a good and friendly gentleman to all the old +servants, that you have thought better of it, and will thankfully take his +kindness, and do your best."</p> + +<p>"I cannot go against father," said Steadfast.</p> + +<p>"And what would he have done, good man, but obey them that have the +rule, and let wiser folk think for thee. But all the young ones are pig-headed +as mules now-a-days, and must think for themselves, one running off to the +Independents, and one to the Quakers and Shakers, and one to the Fifth Monarchy +men, and you, Steadfast Kenton, that I thought better things of, talking of the +Church and offending the squire with thy prelatic doings, that have been +forbidden by Act of Parliament. What say you to that, my lad? Come, out with +it," for Stead had more difficulty in answering Master Brown, who had been +a great authority throughout his life, than even the Squire himself.</p> + +<p>"Parson said there was higher law than Parliament."</p> + +<p>"Eh! What, the King? He is a prisoner, bless him, but they will never +let him go till they have bent him to their will, and what will you do +then?"</p> + +<p>"Not the King," muttered Steadfast.</p> + +<p>"Eh! what! If you have come to pretending to know the law of God better +than your elders, you are like the rest of them, and I have done with you." +And away tramped the steward in great displeasure, while Patience put her apron +over her head and cried bitterly.</p> + +<p>She supposed Stead might be right, but what would it not have been to have +the old house built up, and all decent about them as it was in mother's time, +and fit places to sleep in, now that the wenches were growing bigger?</p> + +<p>"But you know, Patty, we are saving for that."</p> + +<p>"Aye, and how long will it take? And now this pestilent woodward will be +always finding fault--killing the fowls and ducks, and seizing the swine and +sheep, and very like slaughtering the dogs and getting us turned out of house +and home; for now you have offended the squire, he will believe anything against +us."</p> + +<p>"Come, Patty, you know I could not help it. This is sorest of all, you +that have always stood by me and father's wish."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," sobbed Patience. "I wot you are right, Stead. I'll +hold to you, though I wish--I wish you would think like other folk."</p> + +<p>Yet Patience knew in her secret soul that then he would not be her own +Steadfast, and she persuaded him no more, though the discomforts and +deficiencies of their present home tried her more and more as the family grew +older. Stead had contrived a lean-to, with timbers from the old house, and +wattled sides stuffed with moss, where he and little Ben slept in summer time, +and they had bought or made some furniture--a chair and table, some stools, +bedding, and kitchen utensils, and she toiled to keep things clean, but still it +was a mere hovel, with the door opening out into the glade. Foxes and polecats +prowled, owls hooted, and the big dog outside was a needful defender, even in +summer time, and in winter the cold was piteous, the wet even worse, and they +often lost some of their precious animals--chickens died of cold, and once three +lambs had been carried away in a sudden freshet. Yet Patience, when she saw +Steadfast convinced, made up her mind to stand by him, and defended him when the +younger girls murmured.</p> + +<p>Rusha was of a quiet, acquiescent, contented nature, and said little, as +Emlyn declared, "She knew nothing better;" but Emlyn was more and more +weary of the gulley, and as nothing was heard of her friends, and she was +completely one of the home, she struggled more with the dullness and loneliness. +She undertook all errands to the village for the sake of such change as a +chatter with the young folk there afforded her, or for the chance of seeing the +squire's lady or sons and daughters go by; and she was wild to go on market days +to Bristol.</p> + +<p>In spite of Puritan greyness, soldiers, sailors, gentlemen, ladies, and even +fashions, such as they were, could be seen there, and news picked up, and Emlyn +would fain have persuaded Steadfast that she should be the most perfect market +woman, if he would only let her ride in on the donkey between the panniers, in a +broad hat, with chickens and ducks dangling round, eggs, butter, and fruit or +nuts, and even posies, according to the season, and sit on the steps of the +market-place among the other market women and girls.</p> + +<p>Steadfast would have been the last to declare that her laughing dark eyes, +and smiling lips, and arch countenance would not bring many a customer, but he +knew well that his mother would never have sent his sister to be thus exposed, +and he let her pout, or laughed away her refusal by telling her that he was +bound not to let a butler's daughter demean herself to be stared at by all the +common folk, who would cheapen her wares.</p> + +<p>And when she did coax him to take her to Bristol on any errand she could +invent, to sell her yarns, or buy pins, or even a ribbon, he was inexorable in +leaving her under Mrs. Lightfoot's care, and she had to submit, even though it +sometimes involved saying her catechism to Dr. Eales. Yet that always ended in +the old man's petting her. It was only from her chatter that the old clergyman +ever knew of the proposal that Stead had rejected for conscience's sake. It +vexed the lad so much that he really could not bear to think of it, and it would +come over him now and then, was it all for nothing? Would the Church ever lift +up her head again? or would Mr. Woodley be always in possession at Elmwood +Church, where everyone seemed to be content with him. The Kentons went thither. +It was hardly safe to abstain, for a fine upon absence was still the law of the +land, though seldom enforced; and Dr. Eales who considered Presbyterianism by +far the least unorthodox and most justifiable sect, had advised Stead not to +allow himself or the others altogether to lose the habit of public worship, but +to abstain from Communions which might be an act of separation from the Church, +and which could not be accepted by her children as genuine. Such was the advice +of most of the divines of the English Church in this time of eclipse; and though +Stead, and still less Patience, did not altogether follow the reasoning, they +obeyed, while aware that they incurred suspicion from the squire by not coming +to "the table."</p> + +<p>The new woodward, Peter Pierce, was not one of the villagers as usual, but +had been a soldier in one of the regiments of the Earl of Essex, in which Mr. +Elmwood's eldest son had served.</p> + +<p>Instead of succeeding to old Tomkins's lodge in the great wood, he had a new +one built for him, so as to command the opening of Hermit's Gulley towards the +village, and one of the Bristol roads. Could this be for the sake of watching +over anything so insignificant as the Kentons?</p> + +<p>The copse on their side of the brook was their own, free to do what they +chose with except cutting down the timber trees, but the further side was the +landlord's, as they had now to remember; and as, when the brook was at its +lowest, their pigs and goats were by no means likely to recollect; though +Steadfast was extremely anxious to give no occasion for the mistrust and +ill-will with which Pierce regarded him, as a squatter, trespasser, and poacher, +almost as a matter of course, and likewise a prelatist and plotter.</p> + +<p>Once he did find a kid on the wrong side, standing on a rock, browsing a +honeysuckle, and was about either to seize it or shoot it, as it went off in +three bounds, when Emlyn darted out, and threw herself between. It was her +darling kid, it should never trespass again, she would--she would thank him ever +more--if he would spare it this once.</p> + +<p>And Emlyn as usual had touched the soft place in the heart of even a +woodward. He told her not to cry, and contented himself with growling a +tremendous warning to Steadfast and Patience.</p> + +<p>There were several breezes about Growler, who was only too apt to use his +liberty in pursuing rabbits on the wrong side, and whom Peter more than once +condemned; but Emlyn and Ben begged him off, and he was kept well chained up. At +last, however, he won even the woodward's favour by the slaughter of a terrible +wild cat and her brood, after all Peter's dogs had returned with bleeding faces +from the combat.</p> + +<p>The woodward had another soft place in his heart. He had a pretty young wife +and a little son. Nanny Pierce was older in years, but far more childish than +Patience, and the life in this gulley seemed to her utter solitude and +desolation, and if Patience had been ten times a poacher and a prelatist, she +could not have helped making friends with the only creature of her own kind +within a mile. And when Patience's experience with Ben and other older babes at +rest in the churchyard, had aided the poor little helpless woman through a +convulsion fit of her baby's before Goody Grace could arrive, Peter himself +owned that "the Kenton wench was good for somewhat," though he +continued to think Steadfast's great carefulness not to transgress, only a +further proof that "he was a deep one"--all the more because he +refused to let anyone but himself have a search for a vanished polecat in +"them holes," which Peter was persuaded contained some mystery, though +Steadfast laid it, and not untruly, on the health of the young stock he kept +penned in the caves, which were all, he hoped, of which Peter was aware.</p> + +<p>All this was harassing, but a greater trouble came in the second winter. Good +Dr. Eales was failing, and the tidings of the King's execution were a blow that +he never recovered. Mrs. Lightfoot had tears in her eyes when Stead asked after +him, week by week, and she could only say that he was feebler, and spent all his +days in prayer--often with tears.</p> + +<p>At last came peace. He lay still and calm, and sent a message that young +Kenton should be brought to him for a last farewell.</p> + +<p>And as Stead stood sorrowful and awed by his bed side, he bade the youth +never despair or fall away from his hope of the restoration of the Church.</p> + +<p>"Remember," he said, "she is founded on a rock, and the gates +of hell shall never prevail against her. She shall stand forth for evermore as +the moon, which wanes but to wax again; and I have good hope that thou wilt see +it, my son. He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."</p> + +<p>Then Dr. Eales pointed to a small parcel of books, which he had caused Mrs. +Lightfoot to put together, telling Steadfast that he had selected them alike for +devotion and for edification, and that if he studied them, he would have no +doubt when he might deliver up his trust to a true priest of the Church.</p> + +<p>"And if none should return in my time?" asked Steadfast.</p> + +<p>"Have I not told thee never to despair of God's care for His Church? Yet +His time is not as our time, and it may be--that young as thou art--the days of +renewal may not be when thou shalt see them. Should it thus be, my son, leave +the secret with one whom thou canst securely trust. Better the sacred vessels +should lie hidden than that thou shouldst show thy faith wanting by surrendering +them to any, save according to the terms of thy vow. See, Steadfast, among these +books is a lighter one, a romance of King Arthur, that I loved well in my +boyhood, and which may not only serve thee as fair pastime in the winter nights, +but will mind thee of thine high and holy charge, for it goeth deeper than the +mere outside."</p> + +<p>His voice was growing weak. Mrs. Lightfoot gave him a cordial, and Stead +knelt by his bedside, felt his hand on his head, and heard his blessing for the +last time. The next market day, when he called at the good bakester's stall, she +told him in floods of tears that the guest who had brought a blessing on her +house, was gone to his rest.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XVII.<br> +THE GROOM IN GREY.</h3> + +<p>"Heroes and kings, in exile forced to roam,<br> +Leave swelling phrase and seven-leagued words at home."<br> +SCOTT.</p></center> + +<p>Another summer and winter had gone by and harvest time had come again, when +Steadfast with little Ben, now seven years old, for company, took two sacks of +corn to be ground at the mill, where the skirmish had been fought in which +Emlyn's father had been killed.</p> + +<p>The sacks were laid across a packsaddle on a stout white horse, with which, +by diligent saving, Steadfast had contrived to replace Whitefoot, Ben was +promised a ride home when the sacks should have been emptied, and trotted along +in company with Growler by his brother's side, talking more in an hour than +Stead did in a week, and looking with great interest to be shown the hawthorn +bush where Emlyn had been found. For Stead and Ben were alike in feeling the +bright, merry, capricious, laughing, teasing Emlyn the charm and delight of +home. In trouble, or for real aid, they went to Patience, but who was like Emlyn +for drollery and diversion? Who ever made Stead laugh as she could, or who so +played with Ben, and never, like Rusha, tried to be maidenly, discreet, nay, +dull?</p> + +<p>It was very inconvenient that just as they reached the famous thorn bush, the +white horse began to demonstrate that his shoe was loose. They were very near +the mill, and after disposing of the sacks, the brothers led the horse on to a +forge, about a furlong beyond. It was not a place of which Stead was fond, as +the smith was known to be strong for the Covenant, and he could not help wishing +that the shoe had come off nearer to his good friend Smith Blane.</p> + +<p>Original-Sin Hopkins, which was the name of the blacksmith, was in great +excitement, as he talked of the crowning mercy vouchsafed at Worcester, and how +the son of the late man, Charles Stewart, had been utterly defeated, and his +people scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Three or four neighbours were +standing about, listening to the tidings he had heard from a messenger on the +way to Bristol. One was leaning on the unglazed window frame, and a couple of +old men basking, even in that September day, in the glow of the fire, while a +few women and children loitered around, thinking it rather fine to hear Master +Original-Sin declaim on the backsliding of the Scots in upholding the son of the +oppressor.</p> + +<p>The shoeing of Stead Kenton's horse seemed a trivial matter beneath the +attention of such an orator; but he vouchsafed to bid his lad drive in a few +nails; and just as the task was commenced, there came to the forge a lady in a +camlet riding dress and black silk hood, walking beside a stout horse, which a +groom was leading with great care, for it had evidently lost a shoe. And it had +a saddle with a pillion on which they had been riding double, after the usual +fashion of travelling for young and healthy gentlewomen in those days of bad +roads.</p> + +<p>The lady, a quiet, self-possessed person, not in her first youth, came +forward, and in the first pause in the blacksmith's declamation, begged that he +would attend to her horse.</p> + +<p>He gave a nod as if intending her to wait till Steadfast's work was done, and +went on. "And has it not been already brought about that the man of blood +hath--"</p> + +<p>"So please you," interrupted the lady, "to shoe my horse at +once. I am on my way to Abbotsleigh, and my cousin, Mr. Norton, knows that my +business brooks no delay."</p> + +<p>Mr. Norton, though a Royalist, was still the chief personage in that +neighbourhood, and his name produced sufficient effect on Original-Sin to make +him come forward, look at the hoof, and select a shoe from those hung on the +walls of his forge. Little Ben looked on, highly delighted to watch the +proceedings, and Steadfast, as he waited, glanced towards the servant, a +well-made young man, in a trim, sober suit of grey cloth, with a hat a good deal +slouched over a dark swarthy face, that struck Stead as having been seen by him +before.</p> + +<p>After all, the lady's horse was the first finished. Hopkins looked at all the +other three shoes, tapped them with his hammer, and found them secure, received +the money from the lady, but gave very slight salutations as the pair remounted, +and rode away.</p> + +<p>Then he twisted up his features and observed, "Here is a dispensation! +As I am a living soul, this horse shoe was made at Worcester. I know the make. +My cousin was apprenticed there."</p> + +<p>"Well, outlandish work goes against one's stomach," said one of the +bystanders, "but what of that, man?"</p> + +<p>"Seest thou not, Jabez Holt? Is not the young man there one of them who +trouble Israel, and the lady is striving for his escape. Mr. Norton is well +known as a malignant at heart, and his man Pope hath been to and fro these last +days as though evil were being concerted. I would that good Master Hatcham were +here."</p> + +<p>"Poor lad. Let him alone. 'Tis hard he should not get off," said +one of the bystanders.</p> + +<p>"I tell thee he is one of the brood of Satan, who have endeavoured to +break up the godly peace of the saints, and fill this goodly land with blood and +fire. Is it not said 'Root them out that they be no more a people?'"</p> + +<p>"Have after them, then," said another of the company. "We want +no more wars, to be taking our cows and killing our pigs. After them, I +say!"</p> + +<p>"You haven't got no warrant, 'Riginal," said a more cautious old +man. "Best be on the safe side. Go after constable first, and raise the +hue-and-cry. You'll easy overtake them. Breakneck Hill be sore for +horseflesh."</p> + +<p>"I'd fain see Master Hatcham," said the smith, scratching his head.</p> + +<p>Stead had meantime been listening as he paid his pence. It flashed over him +now where he had beheld those intensely dark eyes, and the very peculiar cut of +features, though they had then been much more boyish. It was when he had seen +the Prince of Wales going to the Cathedral on Christmas Day, in the midst of all +his plumed generals, with their gay scarfs, and rich lace collars.</p> + +<p>He had put little Ben on horseback, and turned away into the long, dirty +lane, or rather ditch, that led homeward, before, through his consternation, +there dawned on him what to do. A gap in the hedge lay near, through which he +dragged the horse into a pasture field, to the great amazement of Ben, saying +"See here, Ben, those folk want to take yonder groom in grey. We will go +and warn them."</p> + +<p>Ben heartily assented.</p> + +<p>"I like the groom," he said. "He jumped me five times off the +horseblock, and he patted Growler and called him a fine fellow, who didn't +deserve his name--worth his salt he was sure. We won't give Growler salt, Stead, +but don't let that ugly preaching man get the good groom!"</p> + +<p>Steadfast was by this time on the horse behind his little brother, pressing +through the fields, which by ancient custom were all thrown open from harvest +time till Christmas; and coming out into the open bit of common that the +travellers had to pass before arriving at Breakneck Hill, he was just in time to +meet them as they trotted on. He hardly knew what he said, as he doffed his hat, +and exclaimed--</p> + +<p>"Madam, you are pursued."</p> + +<p>"Pursued!" Both at once looked back.</p> + +<p>"There's time," said Steadfast; "but Smith Hopkins said one of +the shoes was Worcester make, and he is gone to fetch the constable and raise +the hue-and-cry."</p> + +<p>"And you are a loyal--I mean an honest lad--come to warn us," said +the groom.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. I think, if you will trust me, they can be put off the +track."</p> + +<p>"Trusty! Your face answers for you. Eh, fair Mistress Jane?"</p> + +<p>"Sir, it must be as you will."</p> + +<p>"This way then, sir," said Steadfast, who was off his own horse by +this time, and leading it into a rough track through a thicket whence some +timber had been drawn out in the summer.</p> + +<p>"They will see where we turned off," whispered the lady.</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am, not unless you get off the hard ground. Besides they will go +on the way to Breakneck Hill. Hark! I hear a hallooing. Not near--no--no fear, +madam."</p> + +<p>They were by this time actually hidden from the common by the copsewood, and +the distant shouts of the hue-and-cry kept all silent till they were fairly out +beyond it, not far from Stead's own fields.</p> + +<p>Happily they had hitherto met no one, but there was danger now of +encountering gleaners, and indeed Stead's white horse could be seen from a +distance, and might attract attention to his companions.</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" exclaimed the groom, as they halted under shelter of a +pollard willow. "I've heard tell that a white horse is the surest mark for +a bullet in a battle, and if that be Breakneck Hill, as you call it, your beast +may bring the sapient smith down on us. Had we not best part?"</p> + +<p>"Aye," said Steadfast. "I was thinking what was best. Whither +were you going?'</p> + +<p>He blurted it out, not knowing to whom to address himself, or how to frame +his speech. The lady hesitated, but her companion named Castle Carey.</p> + +<p>"Then, please your honour," said Stead, impartially addressing +both, "methinks the best course would be, if this--"</p> + +<p>"Groom William," suggested that personage.</p> + +<p>"Would go down into yonder covert with my little brother here, where my +poor place is, and where my sister can show a safe hiding-place, in case Master +Hopkins suspects me, and follows; but I scarce think he will. Then meanwhile, if +the lady will trust herself to me--"</p> + +<p>"O! there is no danger for me," she said.</p> + +<p>"Go on, my Somerset Solomon," said the groom.</p> + +<p>"Then would I take the lady on for a short space to a good woman in +Elmwood there. And on the way this horse shall lose his Worcester shoe, and I +will get Smith Blane, who is an honest fellow, to put on another; and when the +chase is like to be over, I will come back for him and put you on the cross lane +for Castle Carey, which don't join with the road you came by, till just ere you +get into the town."</p> + +<p>"There's wit as well as cheese in Somerset. What say you, my guardian +angel?" said Groom William.</p> + +<p>"It sounds well," she reluctantly answered. "Does Mr. Norton +know you, young man?"</p> + +<p>"No, madam," said Stead, with much stumbling. "But I have seen +him in Bristol. My Lady Elmwood knew of me, and Sir George Elmwood too, and the +Dean could say I was honest."</p> + +<p>"Which the face of you says better than your tongue," said the +groom. "Have with you then, my bold little elf," he added, taking the +bridle of the horse on which Ben was still seated. "Or one moment more. You +knew me, my lad--are there any others like to do so?"</p> + +<p>"I had seen you, sir, at Bristol, and that is why I would not have you +shew yourself in Elmwood. But my sister has never seen you, and the only +neighbours who ever come in are the woodward and his wife. He served in my Lord +of Essex's army, but he has never seen you. Moreover, he was to be at the +squire's to-day helping to stack his corn. Ben, do you tell Patience that +<i>he</i>"--again taking refuge in a pronoun--"is a gentleman in danger, +and she must see to his safety for an hour or two till I come back for +him."</p> + +<p>"A gentleman in danger," repeated Ben, anxious to learn his lesson.</p> + +<p>"He and I will take care of that," said the grey-coated groom +gaily, as he turned the horse's head, and waved his hat in courtly fashion to +the lady so that Steadfast saw that his hair was cropped into black stubble.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the lady with a sigh, for the loss of a Cavalier's locks +was a dreadful thing. "You know him then."</p> + +<p>"I have seen him at Bristol," said Steadfast, with considerably +less embarrassment, though still in the clownish way he could not shake off.</p> + +<p>"And you know how great is the trust you--nay, we have undertaken. But, +as he says, he has learnt the true fidelity of a leathern jerkin."</p> + +<p>Then Jane Lane told Steadfast of the King's flight from Worcester, and +adventures at Boscobel with the Penderells, and how she had brought him to +Abbotsleigh, in hopes of finding a ship at Bristol, but that failing, it was too +perilous for him to remain there, so that she was helping him as far as Castle +Carey on his way to Trent.</p> + +<p>Before they were clear of the wood, Stead asked her to pause. He knocked off +the tell-tale shoe with the help of a stone, threw it away into the middle of a +bramble, and then after a little consultation, she decided on herself +encountering the smith, not perhaps having much confidence in the readiness of +speech or invention of her companion.</p> + +<p>When they arrived at the forge, where good-humoured, brawny Harry Blane was +no small contrast to his gaunt compeer Original-Sin Hopkins, she averred that +she was travelling from her relations, and having been obliged to send her +servant back for a packet that had been forgotten, this good youth, who had come +to her help when her horse had cast a shoe, had undertaken to guide her to the +smith's, and to take her again to meet her man, if he did not come for her +himself. Might she be allowed in the meantime to sit with Master Blane's good +housewife?</p> + +<p>Master Blane was only too happy, and Mistress Jane Lane was accordingly +introduced to the pleasant kitchen, with sanded floor, and big oak table, open +hearth, and beaupots in the oriel window where the spinning-wheel stood, and +where the neat and hospitable Dame Blane made her kindly welcome.</p> +<p>Steadfast, marvelling at her facility of speech, and glad the king's safety +did not depend on his uttering such a story, told Blane that he must go after +his cattle and should look after the groom on the way.</p> + +<p>As he walked through the wood, and drew near the glade, he was dismayed to +hear voices, and to see Peter Pierce leaning against the wall of the house, but +Rusha came running up to him exclaiming, "Oh! Stead, here is this good +stranger that you met, telling us all about brother Jeph."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my kind host," said the grey-coated guest, with a slight +nasal intonation, rising as Stead came near, "I find that you are the very +lad my friend and brother Jephthah Kenton, that singular Christian man, bade me +search out. 'If you go near Bristol, beloved,' quoth he,' search me out my +brothers Steadfast and Benoni, and my sisters, Patience and Jerusha, and greet +them well from me, and bear witness of me to them. They dwell, said he, in a +lonely hut in the wood side, and with them a fair little maiden, sprung of the +evil and idolatrous seed of the malignants, but whom their pious nurture may yet +bring to a knowledge of the truth,' and by that token, I knew that it was the +same." There was an odd little twinkle towards Emlyn just then.</p> + +<p>"And Stead, Jeph is an officer," said Patience, who was busied in +setting before the visitor on a little round table, the best ale, bread, cheese, +and butter that her hut afforded, together with an onion, which, he declared, +was "what his good grandfather, a valiant man for the godly, had ever loved +best."</p> + +<p>"An officer! Aye is he. A captain of his Ironside troop, very like to be +Colonel ere long."</p> + +<p>Stead was absolutely bewildered, and could not find speech, beyond an awkward +"Where?"</p> + +<p>"Where was he when I last saw him? Charging down the main street of +Worcester, where the malignants and Charles Stewart made their last stand. +Smiting them hip and thigh with the sword of Gedaliah, nay, my tongue tripped, +'twas Gideon I would say."</p> + +<p>"Aye," said the woodward, "Squire had the tidings two days +back in a news letter. It was a mighty victory of General Cromwell."</p> + +<p>"In sooth it was," returned the groom; "and I hear he hath +ordered a solemn thanksgiving therefore."</p> + +<p>"But Jephthah," put in Patience, "you are sure he was not +hurt?"</p> + +<p>"The hand of Heaven protecteth the godly," again through his nose +spoke the guest. "He was well when I left him; being sent south by my +master to attend my mistress, and so being no more among them that divide the +spoil."</p> + +<p>"Where have you served, sir?" demanded the woodward.</p> + +<p>"I am last from Scotland," was the answer. "A godly +land!"</p> + +<p>"Ah! I know nought of Scotland," said the woodward. "I was +disbanded when my Lord Essex gave up the command, more's the pity, for he was +for doing things soberly and reasonably, and ever in the name of the poor King +that is gone! You look too young to have seen fire at Edgehill or Exeter, +sir."</p> + +<p>"Did I not?" said the youth. "Aye, I was with my father, +though only as a boy apart on a hill."</p> + +<p>The reminiscences that were exchanged astonished Steadfast beyond measure, +and really made him doubt whether what had previously passed had not been all a +dream. The language was so like Jephthah's own too, all except that one word +"fair" applied to Emlyn; and Patience, Rusha, and the Pierces were +entirely without a suspicion, that their guest was other than he seemed. How +much must have been picked out of little Ben, without the child's knowing it, to +make such acting possible?</p> + +<p>And how was the woodward, who was so much delighted with the visitor, to be +shaken off? Stead stood silent, puzzled, anxious, and wondering what to do next, +a very heavy and awkward host, so that even Patience wondered what made him so +shy.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, however, a whistle, and the sharp yap of a dog was heard across the +stream. Nanny Pierce exclaimed, "There are those rascal lads after the +rabbits again!" and the gamekeeper's instinct awoke. Pierce shook hands +with his fellow soldier, regretted he could not see more of him, and received +his promise that if he came that way again, he would share a pottle of ale at +the lodge; and then tramped off after his poachers over the stream.</p> + +<p>Groom William then kissed the young women (the usual mode of salutation +then), Nanny Pierce and all, thanked Patience, and looked about for the goodly +little malignant, as he called Emlyn, but she was nowhere to be seen, and Stead +hurried him off through the wood.</p> + +<p>"Ho! ho! sly rascal," said Charles, as they turned away. +"You're jealous! You would keep the game to yourself."</p> + +<p>Stead had no answer to make to this banter, the very notion of Emlyn as aught +but the orphan in his charge was new to him.</p> + +<p>They were not yet beyond the gulley when from between the hazel stems, out +sprang Emlyn, and kneeling on the ground caught the King's hand and kissed it.</p> + +<p>"Fairy-haunted wood!" cried Charles, and indeed it was done with +great natural grace, and the little figure with the glowing cheeks, her hood +flying back so as to shew her brilliant eyes sparkling with delight and +enthusiasm, was a truly charming vision. "It is like one of the masques of +the merry days of old." And as he retained her hand and returned the salute +on her lips, "Queen Mab herself, for who else saw through thy poor brother +sovereign's mean disguise?"</p> + +<p>"I had seen your Majesty with the army," replied Emlyn, modestly +blushing a good deal.</p> + +<p>"Ah! The Fates have provided me with a countenance the very worst for +straits like mine. But that matters the less since it is only my worthy subjects +who see through the grey coat. I would lay my crown, if I had it, to one of +those crispy ringlets of yours, that Queen Mab was the poacher who drew off the +crop-eared keeper."</p> + +<p>"'Tis Robin Goodfellow, please your Majesty, who leads clowns +astray," said Emlyn in the same tone.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes a horse I'll be, sometimes a hound," quoted the King.</p> + +<p>Stead could only listen in amazement without a word to say for himself. Near +the confines of the wood, he had to leave Emlyn to guide the King over a +field-path while he fetched Mrs. Jane Lane and the horse to meet them beyond, as +it was wiser for the King not to shew himself in the village. Again Charles +jested on his supposed jealousy of leaving the fair Queen Mab alone in such +company, and on his blunt answer, "I only feared the saucy child might be +troublesome, sir."</p> + +<p>At which the King laughed the more, and even Emlyn smiled a little.</p> + +<p>All was safely accomplished, and when Steadfast had brought Mrs. Lane to the +deep lane, they found the King and Emlyn standing by the stile, and could hear +the laughter of both as they approached.</p> + +<p>"He can always thus while away his cares," said Jane Lane in quite +a motherly tone. "And well it is that he is of so joyous a nature."</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was said as a kind of excuse for the levity of one in so much +danger chattering to the little woodland maid so mirthfully, and like one on an +equality. When they appeared, Charles bestowed a kiss on Emlyn's lips, and shook +hands cordially with Steadfast, lamenting that he had no reward, nor even a +token to leave with them.</p> + +<p>Stead made his rustic bow, pinched his hat, and muttered, "It is enough +to--"</p> + +<p>"Enough reward to have served your Majesty," said Emlyn, "he +would say."</p> + +<p>"Yea, and it is your business to find words for him, pretty one," +said the King. "A wholesome partnership--eh? He finds worth, and you find +wit! And so we leave the fairy buried in the woodland."</p> + +<p>And on the wanderers rode, while Steadfast and Emlyn turned back over the +path through the fields; and she eagerly told that the King had slept at +Blythedale on his way to Worcester, and that though Sir Harry was dead, his son +was living in Holland. "And if the King gets there safely, he will tell +Master George, and if my uncle is with him, no doubt he will send for me, or +mayhap, come and fetch me."</p> + +<p>There was a shock of pain in Steadfast's heart.</p> + +<p>"You would be glad?"</p> + +<p>"Poor old Stead. I would scarce be glad to quit you. I doubt me if the +Hague, as they call it, would show me any one I should care for as much as for +your round shoulders, you good old lubber! But you should come too, and the King +would give you high preferment, when he comes to his own again, and then we +won't be buried alive in this Hermit's Gulley."</p> + +<p>She danced about in exultation, hardly knowing what wild nonsense she talked, +and Stead was obliged to check her sharply in an attempt to sing</p> + +<center><p>"The king shall enjoy his own again."</p></center> + +<p>"But Stead," asked Ben, after long reflection, "how could +Groom William know all about brother Jeph?"</p> + +<p>A question Stead would not hear, not wishing to destroy confidence in His +Majesty's veracity.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XVIII.<br> +JEPH'S GOOD FORTUNE.</h3> + +<p>"Still sun and rain made emerald green the loveliest fields on earth,<br> +And gave the type of deathless hope, the little shamrock, birth."<br> +IRISH BALLAD.</p></center> + +<p>The King's visit left traces. Emlyn had become far more restless and +consciously impatient of the dullness and seclusion of the Hermit's Gulley. Not +only did she, as before, avail herself of every pretext for going into the +village, or for making expeditions to Bristol, but she openly declared the place +a mere grave, intolerable to live in, and she confided to Jerusha that the King +had declared that it was a shame to hide her there--such charms were meant for +the world.</p> + +<p>The only way of getting into the world that occurred to her was going into +service at Bristol, and she talked of this whenever she specially hated her +spinning, or if Patience ventured to complain of her gadding about, gossipping +with Nanny Pierce or Kitty Blane, or getting all the young lads in Elmwood round +her, to be amused and teased by her lively rattle.</p> + +<p>Patience began to be decidedly of opinion that it would be much better for +all parties that the girl should be under a good mistress. Both she and Rusha +were over sixteen years old; and though it was much improved, the house was +hardly fit for so many inhabitants, and both Goody Grace and Dame Blane had told +Patience that it would be better, both for the awkward Rusha and the gay Emlyn, +if they could have some household training.</p> + +<p>Mistress Elmwood, at the Hall, had noted the family at church, and observed +their perfect cleanliness and orderliness, and it was intimated that at the +Ladyday hiring, she would take Rusha among her maidens.</p> + +<p>Shy Rusha cried a great deal, and wished Emlyn would go instead, but Mrs. +Elmwood would not have hired that flighty damsel on any account, and Emlyn was +sure it would be but mopish work to live under a starched old Puritan. Mrs. +Lightfoot was therefore applied to, to find a service for Emlyn Gaythorn, and +she presently discovered one Mistress Sloggett, a haberdasher's wife of wealth +and consideration, who wanted a young maidservant.</p> + +<p>Emlyn was presented to her by the bakester, undertook for everything, and was +hired by the twelvemonth, going off in high glee at the variety and diversion +she expected to enjoy at the sign of the "Sheep and Shears," though +clinging with much tenderness to her friends as they parted.</p> + +<p>"Remember, Emlyn, this is the home where you will always be +welcome," said Stead.</p> + +<p>"As if I wanted to <i>remember</i> it," said Emlyn, with her sweet +smile. "As if I did not know where be kind hearts."</p> + +<p>The hovel seemed greatly deserted when the two young girls were gone. +Patience sorely missed Rusha, her diligent little helper, and latterly her +companion too; and the lack of Emlyn's merry tongue made all around seem silent +and tedious. Steadfast especially missed the girl. Perhaps it was due to the +King's gibes that her absence fully opened to him the fact that he knew not how +to do without her. After his usual fashion, he kept the discovery to himself, +not even talking to Patience about it, being very shamefaced at the mere +thought, which gave a delicious warmth to his heart, though it made him revolve +schemes of saving up till he had a sufficient sum, with which to go to the +squire and propose to meet him half-way in rebuilding the old house; not such an +expensive matter as it would be in these days. There, in full view of all that +passed down Elmwood Lane, Emlyn could not complain of solitude, he thought! But +there was this difficulty in the way, that Jephthah had never resigned his +claims as eldest son, and might come home at any time, and take possession of +all the little farm at which Steadfast had worked for seven years.</p> + +<p>The war was over, and nothing had been heard of Jeph, except the king's +apocryphal history, since his visit after the taking of Bristol. Patience had +begun to call him "poor Jeph," and thought he must have been killed, +but Stead had ascertained that the army had not been disbanded, and believed him +still to be employed.</p> + +<p>At length, one market day, Mrs. Lightfoot told him, "There has been one +asking for you, Kenton, Seth Coleman, the loriner's son, that went soldiering +when your brother did. He landed last week from Ireland with a wooden leg, and +said he, 'Where shall I come to the speech of one Steadfast Kenton? I have a +greeting from his brother, the peculiarly favoured,' or some such word, +'Jephthah Kenton, who told me I should hear tidings of him from Mrs. Bakester +Lightfoot, at the sign of the "Wheatsheaf."' I told him where you +abode, and he said he knew as much from your brother, but he could not be +tramping out to Elmwood on a wooden leg. So says I 'I will send Steadfast Kenton +to you next market day.' You will find him at the sign at the 'Golden Bridle,' +by the Wharf Stairs."</p> + +<p>Stead had no sooner disposed of his wares than he went in search of the +loriner's shop, really one for horse furniture. There was a bench outside, +looking out on the wharf and shipping, and on it was seated the returned +soldier, with a little party round him, to whom he was expounding what sounded +more military than religious:</p> + +<p>"And so, the fort having been summoned and quarter promised, if so be no +resistance were made, always excepting Popish priests, and-- Eh! What now? Be +you an old neighbour? I don't remember your face."</p> + +<p>"I have seen you, though. I am Jephthah Kenton's brother, that you asked +for."</p> + +<p>"I mind you were but a stripling in those days, and yet in gross +darkness. Yea, I have a letter for thee from my comrade, who is come to high +preferment."</p> + +<p>"Jeph!"</p> + +<p>"Yea, things have prospered with him. He was a serjeant even before we +sailed for Ireland, and there he did such good service in hunting out Popish +priests and rebels in their lurking places in the bogs and mountains, that the +Lord General hath granted him the land that he took with his sword and his bow, +even a meadow land fat and fertile, Ballyshea by name, full of the bulls of +Bashan, goodly to look at. And to make all sure, he hath taken to wife the +daughter of the former owner of the land a damsel fair to look upon."</p> +<p>"Jeph! But sure--the Irish are Papists."</p> + +<p>"Not the whole of them. There are those that hold to Prelacy and call +themselves King's men, following the bloody and blinded Duke of Ormond. Of them +was this maid's father, whom we slew at the taking of Clonmel, where I got this +wound and left my good right leg. So is the race not to the swift, nor the +battle to the strong, but time and chance happeneth to all. When I could hobble +about once more on crutches, I found that the call had come to divide and +possess the gate of the enemy, and that the meads of Ballyshea had fallen to +Serjeant Kenton. Moreover, in the castle hard by, dwelt the widow and her +daughter, who cried to General Lambert for their land, and what doth he say to +Jephthah, but 'Make it sure, Kenton. Take the maid to wife, and so none will +disturb you in the fair heritage.' Yea, and mine old comrade would have me +sojourn with him till I was quite restored, so far as a man with one limb short +may be. I tell you 'tis a castle, man."</p> + +<p>"Our Jeph lord of a castle?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, even so. Twice as big as Elmwood Hall, if half were not in ruins, +and the other half the rats run over like peas out of a bag. While as to the +servants, there are dozens of them, mostly barefoot and in rags, who will run at +the least beck from the old mistress or the young mistress, though they scowl at +the master. But he is taking order with them, and teaching them who is to be +obeyed."</p> + +<p>"Then our Jephthah is a great man?"</p> + +<p>"You may say that--a bigger man than the squire at Elmwood, or at Leigh +I can tell you. Only I would give all that bare mountain and bog, full of wild, +Popish, red-haired kernes for twenty yards in a tidy street at Bristol, with +decent godly folk around me. Murdering or being murdered, I have marvelled more +than once whether the men of Israel were as sick of it in Canaan as I was at +Drogheda, but the cry ever was, 'Be not slack in the work.' But I will bring you +Jephthah's letter. He could not write when he went off, but he could not be a +serjeant without, so we taught him--I and Corporal Faith-Wins."</p> + +<p>Jephthah's handwriting was of a bold description doing honour to his tutors, +but the letter was very brief, though to the purpose--</p> + +<p>"Dear Brothers and Sisters,</p> +<p>"This is to do you, to wit, that by the grace of Heaven on my poor +endeavours I am come to high preferment. A goodly spoil hath fallen unto me, +namely, the castle and lands of Ballyshea, and therewith the daughter of the +owner, deceased, by name Ellen Roche, whom I have espoused in marriage, and am +bringing to the light of truth. I have castle, lands, flocks and herds, +men-servants and maid-servants in abundance, and I give thanks to Him who hath +rewarded His servant.</p> +<p>"Therefore I wholly resign to you, my brethren, Steadfast and Benoni, +any rights of heirship that may be mine in respect of the farmstead of Elmwood, +and will never, neither I nor my heirs, trouble you about it further. Yet if +Ben, or my sisters Patience and Jerusha, be willing to cross over to me in this +land of promise they shall be kindly welcome, and I shall find how to bestow +them well in marriage. Mine old comrade, Seth Coleman, will tell them how to +reach the Castle of Ballyshea, and how to find safe convoy, and tell you more of +the estate wherewith it has pleased Heaven to reward my poor services.</p> +<p>"And so commending you to His holy keeping, no more from your loving +brother,</p> +<p>"JEPHTHAH KENTON."</p> + +<p>The spelling of this was queer, even according to the ways of the time, but +it was not hard to understand, and it might well fill Steadfast with amazement.</p> + +<p>He longed to share the tidings with Emlyn, but he did not feel as if it would +be right to let anyone hear before Patience. Only as he went back and called +again at Mrs. Lightfoot's for his basket, she asked whether he had found Seth +Coleman, and if his brother had come to such preferment as was reported.</p> + +<p>"Yea," said Steadfast, "he hath a grant of land, and a castle, +and a wife."</p> + +<p>"Eh, now! Lack-a-day! 'Tis alway the most feather-pated that fly +highest."</p> + +<p>Cromwell's Ironsides feather-pated! But that did not trouble Steadfast, who +all the way home, as he rode his donkey, was thinking of the difference it made +in his prospects, and in what he had to offer Emlyn to be able to feel his +tenure so much more secure.</p> + +<p>Patience and Ben listened in utter amazement ending in a not complimentary +laugh on the part of the former. "Our Jeph lord of a castle? I'd like to +see him."</p> + +<p>"Would you? He has a welcome and a husband ready for you and Rusha +both?"</p> + +<p>"D'ye think I would go and leave you for Jeph, if he were lord of ten +castles?"</p> + +<p>And Ben, whose recollections of Jeph were very dim, exclaimed, "Lord of +a castle! I shall have a crow over Nick Blane now!"</p> + +<p>Rusha, who was well content with her service at the hall, had no mind for +such a terrible enterprise as a journey "beyond seas" to Ireland, and +mayhap Jeph's prospective husband was a less tempting idea, because a certain +young groom had shown symptoms of making her his sweetheart.</p> + +<p>Steadfast thought often of telling the great secret of his heart to his +faithful sister Patience, but his extreme shyness and modesty, and the reserve +in which he always lived, seemed to make it impossible to him to broach the +subject, and there might be a certain consciousness that Emlyn, while his own +pet, had been very troublesome to Patience.</p> + +<p>Stead was two-and-twenty, a sturdy well-grown fellow, but the hard work he +had been obliged to do as a growing lad, had rounded his shoulders, and he +certainly did not walk like the men who had been drilled for soldiers. His face +was healthy and sunburnt, with fair short hair and straightforward grey eyes. At +the first glance people would say, "What a heavy-looking, clownish young +man," but at the second there was something that made a crying child in the +street turn to him for help in distress, and made the marketing dames secure +that he told the truth about his wares.</p> + +<p>Patience was rather startled by seeing him laboriously tying up a posy of +wild rose, honeysuckle, and forget-me-not, and told him the Bristol folks would +not buy those common wild flowers.</p> + +<p>"They are for none of them," replied Stead, a little gruffly, and +colouring hotly at being caught.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Patience, in her simplicity. "Are they for Emlyn? I +do not think her mistress will let you see her."</p> + +<p>"I shall," said Stead. "She ought to know of our good +fortune."</p> + +<p>"He has forgotten that Emlyn is not our sister after all," said +Patience, as she went back to her washing.</p> + +<p>"She might as well," said Ben, who could not remember the hut +without Emlyn.</p> + +<p>Stead had better luck than Patience foreboded from a household where the +servants were kept very strictly, for there was a good deal of curiosity in +Bristol about the report that a lad from the neighbourhood had won an Irish +heiress and castle, and when Stead presented himself at the door of the house +under the overhanging gable, and begged to see Emlyn Gaythorn to give her some +tidings, the maid who opened it exclaimed, "Is it anent the castle in +Ireland?"</p> + +<p>Stead awkwardly said "Aye, mistress." And as it became evident that +the readiest way of learning the facts would be his admission, he was let into +the house into a sort of wainscotted hall, where he found the mistress herself +superintending three or four young sempstresses who were making shirts for the +gentlemen of the garrison. Emlyn was among them, and sprang up looking as if +white seams were not half so congenial as nutting in the gulley, but she looked +prettier than ever, as the little dark curls burst out of the prim white cap, +she sniffed the flowers with ecstasy, and her eyes danced with delight that did +Stead's heart good to see. He needed it, for to stand there hat in hand before +so many women all staring at him filled him with utter confusion, so that he +could scarcely see, and stumbled along when Mrs. Sloggett called, "Come +here, young man. Is it true that it is your brother who has won a castle and a +countess in Ireland?"</p> + +<p>"Not a countess, ma'am," said Stead, gruff with shyness, "but +a castle."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sloggett put him through a perfect catechism on Jeph and his fortunes, +which he answered at first almost monosyllabically, though afterwards he could +speak a little more freely, when the questions did not go quite beyond his +knowledge. Finally he succeeded in asking permission to take Emlyn and show her +his brother's letter. Mrs. Sloggett was gracious to the brother of the lord of a +castle, even in Ireland, and moreover Emlyn was viewed in the light of one of +the Kenton family.</p> + +<p>So leave was granted to take Master Kenton (he had never been so called +before) out into the garden of pot-herbs behind the house, and Emlyn with her +dancing step led the way, by a back door down a few steps into a space where a +paved walk led between two beds of vegetables, bordered with a narrow edge of +pinks, daisies, and gilliflowers, to a seat under the shade of an old apple +tree, looking out, as this was high ground, over the broad river full of +shipping.</p> + +<p>"Stead! Stead, good old Stead," she cried, "to come just as I +was half dead with white seam and scolding! Emlyn here! Emlyn there! And she's +ready with her fingers too. She boxed mine ears till they sang again +yesterday."</p> + +<p>"The jade," muttered Stead. "What for?"</p> + +<p>"Only for looking out at window," said Emlyn. "How could I +help it, when there were six outlandish sailors coming up the street leading a +big black bear. Well, Stead, and are you all going to live with Jeph in his +castle, and will you take me?"</p> + +<p>"He asks me not," said Stead, and began to read the letter, to +which Emlyn listened with many little remarks. "So Patience and Rusha wont +go. I marvel at them, yet 'tis like sober-sided old Patty! And mayhap among the +bogs and hills 'tis lonelier than in the gulley. I mind a trooper who had served +in Ireland telling my father it was so desolate he would not banish a dog there. +But what did he say about home, Stead, I thought it was all yours?"</p> + +<p>Stead explained, and also the possibility of endeavouring to rebuild the +farmhouse. If he could go to Mr. Elmwood with thirty pounds he thought it might +be done. "And then, Emlyn, when that is saved (and I have five pounds +already), will you come and make it your home for good and all?"</p> + +<p>"Stead! oh Stead! You don't mean it--you-- Why, that's +sweethearting!"</p> + +<p>"Well, so it is, Emlyn," said Stead, a certain dignity taking the +place of his shyness now it had come to the point. "I ask you to be my +little sweetheart now, and my wife when I have enough to make our old house such +as it was when my good mother was alive."</p> + +<p>"Stead, Stead, you always were good to me! Will it take long, think you? +I would save too, but I have but three crowns the year, and that sour-faced +Rachel takes all the fees'"</p> + +<p>"The thing is in the hands of God. It must depend on the crops, but with +this hope before me, I will work as never man worked before," said Stead.</p> + +<p>"And I will be mistress there!" cried Emlyn.</p> + +<p>"My wife will be mistress wherever I am sweet."</p> + +<p>"Ah, ha!" she laughed, "now I have something to look to, I +shall heed little when the dame flouts me and scolds me, and Joan twits me with +her cousin the 'prentice."</p> + +<p>They had only just time to go through the ceremony of breaking a tester +between them before a shrill call of "Emlyn" resounded down the +garden. Mrs. Sloggett thought quite time enough had been wasted over the young +man, and summoned the girl back to her sewing.</p> + +<p>Emlyn made a face of disgust, very comical and very joyous, but as the good +dame was actually coming in search of her no more could pass.</p> + +<p>Stead went away overflowing with happiness, and full of plans of raising the +means of bringing back this sunshine of his hearth. Perhaps it was well that, +though slow of thought, Patience still had wit enough in the long hours of the +day to guess that the nosegay boded something. She could not daunt or damp +Steadfast's joy--nay, she had affection enough for the pretty little being she +had cherished for seven years to think she shared it--but she knew all the time +that there would be no place in that new farmhouse for her, and there was a +chill over her faithful heart at times. But what would that signify, she +thought, provided that Stead was happy?</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XIX.<br> +PATIENCE.</h3> + +<p>"I'm the wealthy miller yet."<br> +TENNYSON.</p></center> + +<p>Most devoted was the diligence with which Steadfast toiled and saved with the +hope before him. Since the two young girls were no longer at home, and Ben had +grown into a strong lad, Stead held that many little indulgences might be +dispensed with, one by one, either because they cost money or prevented it from +being acquired. No cheese was bought now, and he wanted to sell all the butter +and all the apples that were not defective.</p> + +<p>Patience contrived that Ben should never be stinted of his usual fare; and +she would, not allow that he needed no warm coat for the winter, but she said +nothing about the threadbare state of her own petticoat, and she stirred nothing +but the thinnest buttermilk into her own porridge, and not even that when the +little pigs required it. It was all for Stead.</p> + +<p>Patience at twenty was not an uncomely maiden so far as kindly blue eyes, +fresh healthy cheeks, and perfect neatness could make her agreeable to look at, +but there was an air of carefulness, and of having done a great deal of hard +work, which had made her seem out of the reach of the young men who loitered and +talked with the maidens on the village green, and looked wistfully at the spot +where the maypole had once stood.</p> + +<p>Patience was the more amazed by a visit from the Miller Luck and his son. The +son was a fine looking young man of three or four and twenty, who had about +three years before married a farmer's daughter, and had lost her at the birth of +her second child. There he stood, almost as bashful as Stead himself could have +been under the circumstances, while his father paid the astonished Patience the +compliment of declaring that they had put their heads together, and made up +their minds that there was no wench in those parts so like to be a good mother +to the babes, nor so thrifty a housewife as she; and, that, though there were +plenty of maids to be had who could bring something in their hands, her ways +were better than any portion she could bring.</p> + +<p>It really was a splendid offer. The position of miller's wife was very +prosperous, and the Lucks were highly respected. The old miller was good and +kindly, Andrew Luck the steadiest of young men, and though not seen to much +advantage as he stood sheepishly moving from leg to leg, he was a very fine, +tall, handsome youth, with a certain sweetness and wistfulness in his +countenance. Patience had no scruples about previous love and courtship. That +was not the point as she answered--</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Master Luck, you are very good; but I cannot leave my +brothers."</p> + +<p>"Let the big one get a wife of his own then," and, as Patience +shook her head, and glanced at where Ben, shy of strangers, was cutting rushes, +"and if you be tender on the young one, there would be work for him about +the place. I know you have been a good mother to him, you'd be the same to our +little ones. Come, Andrew, can't ye say a word for yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Come, Patience, do 'ee come!" pleaded poor Andrew, and the tears +even sprang to his eyes. "I'd be very good to thee, and I know thou +would'st be to my poor babes."</p> + +<p>Patience's heart really warmed to him, and still more to the babes, but she +could only hold out.</p> + +<p>"You must find another," she said.</p> + +<p>"Come, you need not be coy, my lass," said the old miller. +"You'll not get a better offer, and Andrew has no time nor heart either for +running about courting. What he wants is a good wife to cheer him up, and see to +the poor little children."</p> + +<p>It was powerful pleading, and Patience felt it.</p> + +<p>"Aye, Master Miller," she said, "but you see I'm bound not to +leave Steadfast till he is married. He could not get on no ways without +me."</p> + +<p>"Then why--a plague on it--don't he wed and have done with it?"</p> + +<p>"He cannot," said Patience, "till he has made up enough to +build up our old house, but that won't be yet awhile--for years maybe; and he +could not do it without me to help him."</p> + +<p>"And what's to become of you when you've let your best years go by +a-toiling for him, and your chance is gone by, and his wife turns you to the +door?" said Master Luck, not very delicately.</p> + +<p>"That God will provide," said Patience, reverently. "Anyway, I +must cleave to Steadfast though 'tis very good of you, Master Luck and Master +Andrew, and I never could have thought of such a thing, and I am right sorry for +the little ones."</p> + +<p>"If you would only come and see them!" burst out the poor young +father. "You never see such a winsome little poppet as Bess. And they be so +young now, they'd never know you were not their own mother."</p> + +<p>"Don't, don't, Master Andrew!" cried Patience, "I tell you I'd +come if I could, but you can't wait, and they can't wait; and you must find a +good mother at once for them, for I have passed my word to hold by Stead till he +is married, and I must keep to it."</p> + +<p>"Very well, my lass," said the miller, grimly. "There's +wenches better portioned and better favoured than you, and I hope you won't have +to repent of missing a good offer."</p> + +<p>Of course he said it as if he hoped she would. Patience cried heartily when +they were gone. Ben came up to her and glowered after them, declaring he +wouldn't have his Patty go to be only a step-mother to troublesome brats; but +Stead, when he came to know of it, looked grave, and said it was very good of +Pat; but he wished she could have kept the young fellow in play till she was +ready for him.</p> + +<p>Goody Grace, who was looking after the children till the stepmother could be +found, came and expostulated with Patience, telling her she was foolish to miss +such a chance, and that she would find out her mistake when Stead married and +that little flighty, light-headed wench made the place too hot to hold her. What +would she do then?</p> + +<p>"Come and help you nurse the folk, Goody," said Patience, +cheerfully.</p> + +<p>Her heart would fail her sometimes at the outlook, but she was too busy to +think much about it. Only the long evenings had been pleasanter when Stead used +to teach Ben to read Dr. Eales's books and tell her bits such as she could +understand than now when he grudged a candle big enough to be of any use, and +was only plaiting rushes and reckoning up what everything would bring.</p> + +<p>Ben was a bright little fellow, and could read as well as his brother. He +longed for school, for when boys were not obliged to learn, some of them wished +to do so. There was a free grammar school about three miles off to which he +wanted to go, and Patience, who was proud of his ability, wished to send him, +neither of them thinking anything of the walk.</p> + +<p>Stead, however, could see no use in more learning than he had himself. +Neither he nor Jeph had been to school. Why should the child go? He could not be +spared just as he was getting old enough to be of some use and save time, which +was money.</p> + +<p>And when the little fellow showed his disappointment, Stead was even surly in +telling him "they wanted no upstarts."</p> + +<p>It was a hard winter, and the frost was followed by a great deal of wet. One +of the sheep was swept away by the flood; three or four lambs died; and Stead, +for about the first time in his life, caught a severe feverish cold in looking +after the flock, and was laid by for a day or two, very cross and fretful at +everything going wrong without him.</p> + +<p>Poor little Ben was more railed at for those few days than ever he had been +before, and next he broke down and had to be nursed; and then came Patience's +turn. She was ill enough to frighten her brothers; and Goody Grace, who came to +see to her, finding how thin her blanket was, and how long it was since she had +had any food but porridge, gave Steadfast a thorough good scolding, told him he +would be the death of a better sister than he deserved, and set before him how +only for his sake Patience might be living on the fat of the land at the mill.</p> + +<p>To all appearance, Stead listened sulkily enough, but by-and-by Goody found a +fowl killed and laid ready for use. It was an old hen, whose death set Patience +crying in her weakness. Nevertheless, it was stewed down into broth which +heartened her up considerably, and a blanket that came home rolled up on the +donkey's back warmed her heart as much as her limbs.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Elmwood spared Rusha for a week, and it was funny to see how the girl +wondered at its having been possible to live in such a den. She absolutely cried +when Ben told her how hard they had been living, and said she did not think +Stead would ever have used Patience so.</p> + +<p>"Then why did she make as if she liked it?" said Stead, gruffly.</p> + +<p>But for all that Stead was too sound-hearted not to be grieved at himself, +and to see that his love and impatience had led him into unkindness to those who +depended on him; and when Master Woodley preached against love of money he felt +pricked at the heart, though it had not been the gain in itself that he aimed +at. And when he had to go to the mill, the sight of the comfortable great +kitchen, with the open hearth, glowing fire, seats on either side, tall settle, +and the flitches of bacon on the rafters, seemed to reproach him additionally. +The difficulties there had been staved off by the old miller himself marrying a +stout, motherly widow, who had a real delight in the charge of a baby.</p> + +<p>"For," said Master Luck, "Andrew and I could agree on no one +for him."</p> + +<p>Moreover, Stead ceased to grunt contemptuously when Patience, with Goody +Grace to back her, declared that Ben was too young and slight for farm work.</p> + +<p>The boy was allowed to trudge his daily three miles to school, and there his +progress was the wonder and delight of his slower-witted brother and sister.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XX.<br> +EMLYN'S SERVICE.</h3> + +<p>"Oh, blind mine eye that would not trace,<br> +And deaf mine ear that would not heed<br> +The mocking smile upon her face,<br> +The mocking voice of greed."<br> +LEWIS CARROLL.</p></center> + +<p>When Lady-day came round, Steadfast found to his delight and surprise a +little figure dancing out to meet him from Mrs. Lightfoot's.</p> + +<p>"There, Master Stead. Are not you glad to see me, or be you too +dumbfounded to get out a word, like good old Jenny?" stroking the donkey's +cars. "Posies of primroses! How sweet they be! You must spare me one."</p> + +<p>"As many as you will, sweetheart. They be all for you, whether given or +sold. And you've got a holiday for Lady-day."</p> + +<p>"Have a care! I got my ears boxed for such a Popish word. 'Tis but +quarter day, you know, being that, hang, draw, and quarter is more to the +present folks' mind than ladies or saints. I have changed my service, you must +know, as poor Dick used to sing:--</p> + +<p>"Have a new master, be a new man."</p> + +<p>"You have not heard from your own folk," cried Stead, this being +what he most dreaded.</p> + +<p>"Nay. But I can away no more with Dame Sloggett, and Cross-patch Rachel, +white seam and salmon, and plain collars. So I bade her farewell at the end of +the year, and I've got a new mistress."</p> + +<p>Stead stood with open mouth. To change service at the end of a year was +barely creditable in those days, and to do so without consultation with home was +unkind and alarming.</p> + +<p>"There now, don't be crooked about it. I had not time to come out and +tell you and Patience, the old crones kept me so close, stitching at shirts for +a captain that is to sail next week, and I knew you would be coming in."</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" was all Stead uttered.</p> + +<p>"What think you of Master Henshaw's, the great merchant, and an honest +well-wisher to King and Church to boot?"</p +> +<p>"Master Henshaw, the West Indian merchant? His is a good, well-ordered +household, and he holds with the old ways."</p> + +<p>"Yes. He was out that Whitsun morning we wot of," said Emlyn. +"I wist well you would be pleased."</p> + +<p>"But I thought his good lady was dead," said Steadfast.</p> + +<p>"So she is. She that came out to the gully, but there's a new Mistress +Henshaw, a sweet young lady, of a loyal house, the Ayliffes of Calfield. And I +am to be her own woman."</p> + +<p>"Own woman," said Mrs. Lightfoot, for they were by this time among +the loaves in her stall. "Merchants' wives did not use to have women of +their own in my time."</p> + +<p>For this was the title of a lady's maid, and rules as to household +appointments were strictly observed before the rebellion.</p> + +<p>"Mistress Henshaw is gentlewoman born," returned Emlyn, with a toss +of her head. "She ought to have all that is becoming her station in return +for being wedded to an old hunks like that! And 'tis very well she should have +one like <i>me</i> who has seen what becomes good blood! So commend me to Patience +and Rusha, and tell Ben maybe I shall have an orange to send him one of these +days. And cheer up, Stead. I shall get five crowns and two gowns a year, and +many a fee besides when there is company, so we may build the house the sooner, +and I shall not be mewed up, and shall see the more of thee. 'Tis all for you. +So never look so gloomy on it, old Sobersides."</p> + +<p>And she turned her sweet face to him, and coaxed and charmed him into being +satisfied that all was well, dwelling on the loyalty and excellence of the +master of the house.</p> + +<p>He found it true that it was much easier to see Emlyn than before. Mrs. +Henshaw, a pretty young creature, not much older than Emlyn, was pleased to do +her own marketing, and came out attended by Emlyn, and a little black slave boy +carrying a basket. She generally bought all that Steadfast had to sell, and then +gave smiling thanks when he offered to help carry home her purchases. She would +join company with some of her acquaintance, and leave the lovers to walk +together, only accompanied by little Diego, or Diggo as they called him, whose +English was of the most rudimentary description.</p> + +<p>Emlyn certainly was very happy in her new quarters. Neither her lady nor +herself was arrayed with the rigid plainness exacted by Puritanism, and many +disapproving glances were cast upon the fair young pair, mistress and maid, by +the sterner matrons. Waiting women could not indulge in much finery, but +whatever breast knots and tiny curls beyond her little tight cap could do, Emlyn +did without fear of rebuke. Stead tried to believe that the disapproving looks +and words, by which Mrs. Lightfoot intimated that she heard reports unfavourable +to the household were only due to the general distrust and dislike to the bright +and lively Emlyn. Mrs. Lightfoot was no Puritan herself, but her gossips were, +and he received her observations with a dull, stony look that vexed her, by +intimating that it was no business of hers.</p> + +<p>Still it was borne in upon him that, good man as Mr. Henshaw certainly was, +the household was altered. It had been poverty and distress which had led the +Ayliffe family to give their young sister to a man so much her elder, and +inferior in position; and perhaps still more a desire to confirm the Royalist +footing in the city of Bristol. The lady's brothers were penniless Cavaliers, +and one of them made her house his home, and a centre of Royalist plots and +intelligences, which excited Emlyn very much by the certainty that something was +going on, though what it was, of course, she did not know; and at any rate there +was coming and going, and all sorts of people were to be seen at the merchant's +hospitable table, all manner of news to be had here, there, and everywhere, with +which she delighted to entertain Steadfast, and show her own importance.</p> + +<p>It was not often good news as regarded the Cavalier cause, for Cromwell was +fixing himself in his seat; and every endeavour to hatch a scheme against him +was frustrated, and led to the flight or death of those concerned in it. +However, so long as Emlyn had something to tell, it made little difference +whether the tidings were good or bad, whether they concerned Admiral Blake's +fleet, or her mistress's little Italian greyhound. By-and-by however instead of +Mrs. Henshaw, there came to market Madam Ayliffe, her mother, a staid, elderly +lady, all in black, who might as well, Emlyn said, have been a Puritan.</p> + +<p>She looked gravely at Stead, and said, "Young man, I am told that you +are well approved and trustworthy, and that my daughter suffers you to walk home +with this maiden, you being troth plight to her."</p> + +<p>Stead assented.</p> + +<p>"I will therefore not forbid it, trusting that if you be, as I hear, a +prudent youth, you may bring her to a more discreet and obedient behaviour than +hath been hers of late."</p> + + +<p align="center"><img src="emlynmarket.jpg" alt="emlynmarket"></p> + + +<p>So saying, Mrs. Ayliffe joined company with the old Cavalier Colonel and went +on her way as Emlyn made that ugly face that Stead knew of old, clenched her +hand and muttered, "Old witch! She is a Puritan at heart, after all! She is +turning the house upside down, and my poor mistress has not spirit to say 'tis +her own, with the old woman and the old hunks both against her! Why, she +threatened to beat me because, forsooth, the major's man was but giving me the +time of day on the stairs!"</p> + +<p>"Was that what she meant?" asked Stead.</p> + +<p>"Assuredly it was. Trying to set you against me, the spiteful old +make-bate, and no one knows how long she will be here, falling on the poor lads +if they do but sing a song in the hall after supper, as if she were a very +Muggletonian herself. I trow she is no better."</p> + +<p>"Did you not tell me how she held out her house against the Roundheads, +and went to prison for sheltering Cavaliers?"</p> + +<p>"I only wish they had kept her there. All old women be Puritans at +heart. I say Stead, I'll have done with service. Let us be wed at once."</p> + +<p>Stead could hardly breathe at this proposition. "But I have only nine +pounds and two crowns and--" he began.</p> + +<p>"No matter, there be other ways," she went on. "Get the house +built, and I'll come, and we will have curds and whey all the summer, and +mistress and all her friends will come out and drink it, and eat +strawberries!"</p> + +<p>"But the Squire will never build the place up unless I bring more in +hand."</p> + +<p>"You 'but' enough to butt down a wall, you dull-pated old Stead," +said Emlyn, "you know where to get at more, and so do I."</p> + +<p>Stead's grey eyes fixed on her in astonishment and bewilderment.</p> + +<p>"Numskull!" she exclaimed, but still in that good humoured voice of +banter that he never had withstood, "you know what I mean, though maybe you +would not have me say it in the street, you that have secrets."</p> + +<p>"How do you know of it?"</p> + +<p>"Have not I eyes, though some folk have not? Could not I look out at a +chink on a fine summer morning, when you thought the children asleep? Could not +I climb up to your precious cave as well as yourself; and hear the iron clink +under the stone. Ha, ha! and you and Patience thought no one knew but +yourselves."</p> + +<p>"I trust no one else does."</p> + +<p>"No, no, I'm no gad-about, whatever you may be pleased to think me. They +say everything comes of use in seven years, and it must be over that now."</p> + +<p>"Ten since 'twas hidden, nigh seven since that Whitsuntide. There's +never a parson who could come out, is there? Besides, with Peter Woodward nigh, +'tis not safe to meet."</p> + +<p>"That's what your head is running on. No, no. They will never have it +out again that fashion. The old Prayer-book is banished for ever and a day! I +heard master and the Captain say that now old Noll has got his will, he will +soon call himself king, and there's no hope of churches or parsons coming back; +and old madam sat and cried. The Jack Presbyters and the rest of the sectaries +have got it all their own way."</p> + +<p>"Dr. Eales said I had no right to give it to Master Woodley, or any that +was not the right sort."</p> + +<p>"So why should you go on keeping it there rotting for nothing, when it +might just hinder us from wearing our very lives out while you are plodding and +saving?"</p> + +<p>Stead stood stock still, as her meaning dawned on him, "Child, you know +not what you say," at last he uttered.</p> + +<p>"Ah well, you are slow to take things in; but you'll do it at +last."</p> + +<p>"I am slow to take in this," said Stead. "Would you have me +rob God?"</p> + +<p>"No, only the owls and the bats," said Emlyn. "If they are the +better for the silver and gold under them! What good can it do to let it lie +there and rot?"</p> + +<p>"Gold rots not!" growled Stead.</p> + +<p>"Tarnishes, spoils then!" said Emlyn pettishly. "Come, what +good is't to any mortal soul there?"</p> + +<p>'It is none of mine."</p> + +<p>"Not after seven years? Come, look you now, Stead, 'tis not only being +tired of service and sharp words, and nips and blows, but I don't like being +mocked for having a clown and a lubber for my sweetheart. Oh yes! they do, and +there's a skipper and two mates, and a clerk, and a well-to-do locksmith, +besides gentlemen's valets and others, I don't account of, who would all cut off +their little fingers if I'd only once look at them as I am doing at you, you old +block, who don't heed it, and I don't know that I can hold out against them +all," she added, looking down with a sudden shyness; "specially the +mates. There's Jonah Richards, who has a ship building that he is to have of his +own, and he wants to call it the 'Sprightly Emlyn,' and the other sailed with +Prince Rupert, and made ever so many prizes, and how am I to stand out when you +don't value me the worth of an old silver cup?"</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Em, that's only to frighten a man." But she knew in +his tone that he was frightened.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit! I should be ever so much better off in a tidy little house +where I could see all that came and went than up in your lane with nought to go +by but the market folk. 'Tis not everyone that would have kept true to a big +country lout like you, like that lady among the salvage men that the King spoke +of; and I get nothing by it but wait, wait, wait, when there's stores of silver +ready to your hand."</p> + +<p>"Heaven knows, and you know, Emlyn, 'tis not for want of love."</p> + +<p>"Heaven may know, but I don't."</p> + +<p>"I gave my solemn word."</p> + +<p>"And you have kept it these ten years, and all is changed." Then +altering her tone, "There now, I know it takes an hour to beat a notion +into that slow brain of yours, and here we be at home, and I shall have madam +after me. I'll leave you to see the sense of it, and if I do not hear of +something before long, why then I shall know how much you care for poor little +Emlyn."</p> + +<p>With which last words she flitted within the gates, leaving Steadfast still +too much stunned to realise all she meant, as he turned homewards; but all grew +on him in time, the idea that Emlyn, his Emlyn, his orphan of the battlefield, +bereaved for the sake of King and Church, should be striving to make him betray +his trust! "The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine," rang in his +ears, and yet was it not cruel that when she really loved him best, and sought +to return to him as a refuge from the many temptations to her lively spirit, he +should be forced to leave her in the midst of them--against her own warning and +even entreaty, and not only himself lose her, but lose her to one of those +godless riotous sailors who were the dread and bane of the neighbourhood? Was +not a human soul worth as much as a consecrated Chalice?</p> + +<p>These were the debates in Steadfast's much tormented soul. He could think, +though he could not clothe his thoughts in words, and day after day, night after +night he did think, while Patience wondered at the heavy moodiness that seemed +to have come over him. He would not open his lips to ask her counsel, being +quite certain of what it would be, and not choosing to hear her censure of Emlyn +for what he managed to excuse by the poor child's ignorance and want of +training, and by her ardent desire to be under his wing and escape from +temptation.</p> + +<p>He recollected a thousand pleas that he might have used with her, to show it +was not want of love but a sacred pledge that withheld him, and market day after +market day he went in, priming himself all the way with arguments that were to +confirm her constancy, arm her against temptation, and assure her of his +unalterable love, though he might not break his vow, nor lay his hand upon +sacred things.</p> + +<p>But whether Emlyn would not, or could not, meet him, he did not know, for a +week or two went by before he saw her, and then she was carrying a great fan for +her young mistress, who was walking with a Cavalier, as gay as Cavaliers ever +ventured to be, and another young lady, whose waiting woman had paired with +Emlyn. They were mincing along, gazing about them, and uttering little +contemptuous titters, and Stead could only too well guess what kind of remarks +Emlyn's companion might make upon him.</p> + +<p>Near his stand, however, the other lady beckoned her maid to adjust something +in her dress; and Stead could approach Emlyn. She looked up with her bright, +laughing eyes with a certain wistfulness in them.</p> + +<p>"Have you made up your mind to cheat the owls?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Emlyn, if you would not speak so lightly, I could show cause--"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's enough," she answered hastily, turning as the other +maid joined her; and Stead caught the shrill, pert voice demanding if that was +her swain with clouted shoes. Emlyn's reply he could not hear, but he saw the +twist of the shoulders.</p> + +<p>There are bitter moments in everyone's life, and that was one of the very +bitterest of Steadfast Kenton's.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XXI.<br> +THE ASSAULT OF THE CAVERN.</h3> + +<p>"By all description this should be the place.<br> +Who's here?"<br> +SHAKESPEARE.</p></center> + +<p>Harvest was over, and the autumn evenings were darkening. It was later than +the usual bed time, but Patience had a piece of spinning which she was anxious +to finish for the weaver who took all her yarn, and Stead was reading Dr. +Eales's gift of the Morte d'Arthur, which had great fascination for him, though +he never knew whether to regard it as truth or fable. He wanted to drive out the +memory of what Mrs. Lightfoot had told him about the Henshaw household, where +the youngest of the lady's brothers had lately arrived from beyond seas, +bringing with him habits of noise and riot, which greatly scandalised the +neighbours.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Growler started up with pricked ears, and emitted a sound like +thunder. Patience checked her wheel. There was an unmistakable sound of steps. +Stead sprang up. Growler rushed at the door with a furious volley of barking. +Stead threw it open, catching up a stout stick as he did so, and the dog dashed +out, but was instantly driven back with an oath and a blow. It was a bright +moonlight night, and Stead beheld three tall men evidently well armed.</p> + +<p>"Ho, you fellow there," one called out, "keep back your cur, +we don't want to hurt him nor you."</p> + +<p>"Then what are you doing here?" demanded Stead.</p> + +<p>"We are come for what you wot of. For the King's service."</p> + +<p>"Who sent you?" asked Stead, for the moment somewhat dazed.</p> + +<p>One of them laughed and said, "As if you did not know."</p> + +<p>There was a sickening perception, but Stead's powers were alert enough for +him to exclaim, "Then you have no warrant."</p> + +<p>"My good fellow, don't stickle about such trifles. For the King's +service it is, and that should be enough for all loyal hearts. Hollo, what's +that? Silence your dog, I say," as Growler's voice resounded through the +gulley, "or it will be the worse for you and him."</p> + +<p>Stead took hold of the dog's collar, and amidst his choked grumbles, said, +"I do nought but on true warrant."</p> + +<p>"Hark ye, blockhead," said the foremost. "I'm an officer of +His Majesty's, with power to make requisitions for his service."</p> + +<p>"Shew it," said Stead, quite convinced that this was sheer robbery.</p> + +<p>"You addle-pated, insolent clown, to dispute terms with gentlemen in His +Majesty's service. Stand aside. I've done you only too much honour by parleying +with you. Out of the way. We don't want to take a stick of your own trumpery, I +say."</p> + +<p>"Sir, it is Church plate."</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha! Church plate is His Most Sacred Majesty's plate. Don't ye know +that, you ass? Here! we'll throw you back something for yourself if you will +show us the cave and save us trouble, for we know which it is by the token of +the red stone and twisted ash. Ho! take-- What's become of the clown? He has run +off. Discreet fellow!"</p> + +<p>For Stead had disappeared in the black darkness behind the hut. He remembered +Jephthah's discomfiture by the owl, and it struck him that from within the +cavern it would be quite possible to keep the robbers at bay, if they tried +without knowing the way to climb up among the bushes. He was not afraid for his +brother and sister, as the marauders evidently did not want anything but the +plate. Indeed, his whole soul was so concentrated on the defence of his charge +that he had no room for anything else.</p> + +<p>Knowing the place perfectly, Stead had time to swing himself, armed with a +stout bludgeon, up into the hermit's cave, and even to drag after him Growler, a +very efficient ally. The contrasts of moonlight were all in his favour, the +lights almost as bright as in sunshine, the shadows so very dark. He could see +through the overhanging ivy and travellers' joy the men peering about with their +dark lantern, looking into the caves where the pigs were, among the trees, and +he held Growler's mouth together lest the grim murmurs that were rolling in the +beast's throat should serve as a guide.</p> + +<p>Then he heard them shout to Patience to come and guide them since her coward +of a brother had made off, and he heard her answer, "Not I, 'tis no +business of mine."</p> + +<p>"We'll see about that. D'ye know how folks are made to speak, my +lass?"</p> + +<p>Then Stead recollected with horror that he had left her to her fate. Would he +be obliged to come down to her help? At that moment, however, there was a call +from the fellow who bore the lantern. "Here's the red stone. That must be +the ash. Now then!"</p> + +<p>"You first, Nick." Then came a crackling and rustling of boughs, a +head appeared, and at that moment Stead loosed Growler and would have dealt a +blow with his stick, but that the assault of the dog had sufficed to send the +assailant, roaring and cursing, headlong down the crag.</p> + +<p>Furious threats came up to him and his dog, but he heard them in silence, +though Growler's replies were vociferous. Stead gathered that the fall had in +some degree hurt the man for he made an exclamation of pain, and the others bade +him stay there and keep back the wench.</p> + +<p>"We'll have you down though we smoke you out like a wasps' nest, you +disloyal adder, you," was one of the threats.</p> + +<p>"Or serve him like the Spaniard at Porto Santo," said another.</p> + +<p>Presently after numerous threats and warnings that they had firearms and were +determined to use them, two of the men began climbing much more cautiously, +holding by the trees, so as not to be suddenly overthrown. However the furious +attack of such a dog as Growler, springing from utter darkness was a formidable +matter, and the man against whom he had launched himself could not but fall in +his turn, but the dog went after him, and the companion, being on his guard, was +not overthrown. Stead aimed a blow at the fellow with all his might, but the +slouching hat warded off the full force of the bludgeon. Then Stead sprang at +him and grappled with him. There was the report of a pistol, and both rolled +headlong among the bushes, but at that moment a fresh shout was heard--a cry of +"Villains, traitors, robbers--what be at?" and a rush of feet, while +in the moonlight appeared Peter Pierce with his fowling piece, another man, Ben, +and four or five dogs.</p> + +<p>The robbers never waited to see how small the reinforcement was, and it made +noise enough for the whole hue-and-cry of the parish. Off they dashed, through +the wood, the new comers after them.</p> + +<p>But all Patience knew was that Steadfast was lying senseless at the bottom of +the cliff, with poor Growler moaning by him, and licking his face, and that her +hands were wet with what must be blood.</p> + +<p>It was too dark to see anything, but she could hardly bear to leave him, as +she hurried back to the hut for the lantern. All this had taken but few minutes, +so that she had only to catch it up from the table where Stead's book still lay.</p> + +<p>By the time she came back, he had opened his eyes, and his hand was on +Growler's head.</p> + +<p>"Are they gone?" he asked faintly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and Peter after them. Oh! Stead, you are badly hurt."</p> + +<p>"They have not got it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no, no, you saved it."</p> + +<p>"Thank God. Is Ben safe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, after them with Peter. I sent him out while you were talking to +call Peter."</p> + +<p>"Good--" and his eyes closed again. "Good Growler, poor +Growl--" he added, fondling the big head, as the dog moaned. "See to +him, Pat."</p> + +<p>"I must see to you first. Oh! Stead, is it very bad?"</p> + +<p>"I'll try to get in, if you'll help me."</p> + +<p>He raised himself, but this effort brought a rush of blood to the lips, which +greatly terrified Patience. To her great relief, however, Nanny Pierce having +satisfied herself that all was quiet round the hut, here called out to ask where +Patience was. She was profuse in "Lack-a-daisy!" "Dear +heart!" and "Poor soul!" and was quite sure Stead was as good as +a dead man; but she had strong arms, and so had Patience, and when they had done +what they could to stanch the wound in his side, which however, was not bleeding +much externally, they carried him in between them to Patience's bed which had +been Emlyn's, and therefore was the least uncomfortable. Poor Growler crept +after, bleeding a good deal, and Steadfast would not rest till his faithful +comrade was looked to. There was a dagger cut in his chest, which Nanny, used to +dog doctoring, bound up, after which the creature came close to his master, and +fell asleep under his hand.</p> + +<p>It was a very faint hand. Movement or speech alike brought blood to the +mouth, and Stead's ruddy checks were becoming deadly white. He struggled to say, +"You and Ben guard it! Say a prayer, Pat," and then the two women +really thought that in the gush that followed all was over, and Nanny marvelled +at the stunned calm in which Patience went over the Lord's Prayer, and such +Psalms as she could remember.</p> + +<p>Steps came, and Nanny shrieked. Then she saw it was her husband and the other +two men.</p> + +<p>"Made off to the town," said Peter, gruffly.</p> + +<p>"How now--hurt?"</p> + +<p>'O, Peter, they have made an end of the poor lad. Died like a lamb, even +now."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said Peter, as he came close to the bed with his more +experienced eye; "he ain't dead. 'Tis but a swoon. Hast any strong waters, +Pat? No, I'll be bound. Ho, you now, Bill, run and knock them up at the Elmwood +Arms, and bring down a gill."</p> + +<p>"And call Goody Grace," entreated Patience, "she will know +best what to do."</p> + +<p>On the whole, Peter's military experience was more hopeful, if not more +helpful than Goody Grace's. He was the only person who persisted in declaring +that such wounds were not always mortal, though he agreed in owning that the +inward bleeding was the worst sign. Stead did not attempt to speak again, but +lay there deadly white and with a stricken look on his face, which Patience +could not bear to see, and she ascribed to the conviction that the wretched +little Emlyn must have betrayed his secret.</p> + +<p>The hut was over-full of volunteers of assistance and enquiry the next day, +including the squire and Master Woodley; but nobody seemed to guess at the real +object of the robbers' attack, everybody thinking they had come for the savings +which Stead was known to be making towards rebuilding the farmhouse.</p> +<p>Mr. Elmwood was very indignant and took Pierce, and Blane the constable, into +Bristol to see whether the felons could be captured and brought to justice, but +they proved to have gone down to the wharf, and to have got on board a vessel +which had dropped down the river in the early morning. They were also more than +suspected of being no other than buccaneers who plied their trade of piracy in +the West Indies. The younger Ayliffe had gone with them, and was by no means +above suspicion.</p> + +<p>Mr. Elmwood also brought out a barber surgeon to see young Kenton, a thing +which his sister would not have dared to propose. But there was not much to be +done, the doctor decided that the bullet was where the attempt at extraction +would be fatal, and that the only hope of even partial recovery was in perfect +stillness and silence--and this Patience could promise to ensure as far as in +her lay. Instructions on dressing the wound were given to her, and she was to +send in to the barber's shop if ointment or other appliances were needed. This +was all that she was to expect, and more indeed than she had thought feasible; +for folks of their condition were sick and got well, lived or died without the +aid of practitioners above the skill of Goody Grace. However, he gave her very +little hope, though he would not pronounce that her brother was dying. A few +days would decide, and quiet was the only chance.</p> + +<p>Scarcely however were the visitors gone, and Stead left to what rest pain +would allow him after being handled by the surgeon, when a sound of sobbing was +heard outside. "Oh! oh! I'm afraid to go in! Ben! Oh! tell me, is he not +dead? I'm the most miserable maid in the world if he is."</p> + +<p>"He's alive, small thanks to you," responded Ben, who had somehow +arrived at a knowledge of the facts, while Rusha, who was milking, buried her +head in Daisy's side, and would not even look at her. Patience felt in utter +despair, and longed to misunderstand Stead's signs to her to open the door. She +tried to impress the need of quiet, but Emlyn darted in, her hood pushed back, +her hair flying, her dress disordered, looking half wild, and dropping on the +floor, she crouched there with clasped hands, crying "Oh! oh! he looks like +death. He'll die and I'm the most--"</p> + +<p>"If you make all that noise and tumult he will," said Patience, who +could bear no more. "Are you come here to finish what you have done? Do go +away."</p> + +<p>"Oh! but I must tell you! They said it was for the King, and that he had +the right. Yes they did, and they swore that they would hurt no one."</p> + +<p>Stead looked to a certain extent pleased, but Patience broke out, "As if +you did not know he would rather die than give up his trust."</p> + +<p>"I thought he would never know--"</p> + +<p>"Robber!" said Patience. "Go! You have done harm enough +already."</p> + +<p>"But I must tell you," persisted Emlyn. "I used to see Dick +Glass among Lord Goring's troopers, and he is from our parts, and he has been +with Prince Rupert. There was a plot, I know there is, and both the Master +Ayliffes are in it, and we were to go and raise Worcestershire, only they wanted +money, and Dick was to--to wed me--and set us across the river this morning, +when they had got the treasure. 'Twas for the King. And now they are all gone, +Master Philip and all, and master says they are flibustiers, and pirates, and +robbers; and Mrs. Lightfoot's boy came and said Stead Kenton was shot dead at +his house door, and then I was neither to have nor to hold, but I ran off here +like one distraught, for I never loved anyone like you Stead."</p> +<p>"Pretty love!" said Patience. "Oh! if you think you love him, +go and let him be at peace."</p> + +<p>"I do! I do!" cried the girl, quite unmanageable. "Only it +made me mad that he should heed an old chest and a musty parson more than me, +and so I took up with Dick, and he over persuaded me with his smooth tongue that +we would raise folk for the King."</p> + +<p>Stead held out his hand.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Stead, Stead, you are always kinder than Patience! You forgive me, +dear old Stead, do not you? And I'll tend you day and night, and you shall not +die, and I'll wed you, if you have nought but the shirt to your back."</p> + +<p>Patience felt nearly distracted at the notion of Emlyn there day and night, +but at that instant Goody Grace, who had been to her home in preparation for +spending the night in nursing, walked in.</p> + +<p>"How now, mistress, what are you about here?"</p> + +<p>"She wants to stay and tend him, and I don't know whether she has come +with her mistress's knowledge," sighed Patience.</p> + +<p>"Fine tendance!" said the old woman. "My lady wants to kill +him outright. Nay, nay, my young madam, we want none of your airs and flights +here. You can do no good, except by making yourself scarce--you that can't hold +your tongue a moment"</p> + +<p>Stead here whispered, "Her mistress, will she forgive her?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, no fear but that she will," said Emlyn, who perhaps had +revolved in her mind, since her first impulse, what it would be to nurse Stead +in that hovel, with two such displeased companions as Goody and Patience. More +to pacify Steadfast's uneasy eyes than for her own sake, Patience gave her a +drink of milk and a piece of bread, and Peter coming just then to ask if he +could help Ben with the cattle, undertook to see her safely on her way, since +twilight was coming on. Sobered and awestruck by the silence and evident +condemnation of all around, she ended by flinging herself on her knees by the +bed, and saying "Stead, Stead, you forgive me, though no one else +does?"</p> + +<p>"Poor child--I do--as I hope--"</p> + +<p>"The blood again. You've done it now," exclaimed Goody Grace. +"Away with you!"</p> + +<p>Peter fairly dragged her out, while the women attended to Stead.</p> + +<p>But he let her wait outside till they heard, "Not dead, but not far from +it"</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XXII.<br> +EMLYN'S TROTH.</h3> + +<p>"Woman's love is writ in water,<br> +Woman's faith is traced in sand."<br> +AYTOUN.</p></center> + +<p>Day after day Steadfast Kenton lingered between life and death, and though +the external wound healed, there was little relief to the deeper injury which +could not be reached, and which the damps and chills of autumn and winter could +only aggravate.</p> + +<p>He could move little, and speak even less; and suffered much, both from pain +and difficulty of breathing, as he lay against sacks and pillows on his bed, or +sat up in an elbow chair which Mrs. Elmwood lent him. Everybody was very kind in +those days of danger. Mrs. Elmwood let Rusha come on many an afternoon to help +her sister, and always bringing some posset, or cordial, or dainty of some sort +to tempt the invalid. Goody Grace, Mrs. Blane, Dame Oates, Nanny Pierce vied +with each other in offers of sitting up with him; Andrew, the young miller, came +out of his way to bring a loaf of white bread, and to fetch the corn to be +ground. Peter Pierce, Rusha's lover, and more old comrades than Patience quite +desired, offered their services in aiding Ben with the cattle and other +necessary labours, but as the first excitement wore off, these volunteers became +scantier, and when nothing was to be heard but "just the same," +nothing to be seen but a weak, wan figure sitting wrapped by the fire, the +interest waned, and the gulley was almost as little frequented as before. Poor +Ben's schooling had, of course, to be given up, and it was well that he was +nearly as old as Stead had been when they were first left to themselves. Happily +his fifteen months of study had not made him outgrow his filial obedience and +devotion to the less instructed elder brother and sister, who had taken the +place of the parents he had never known. Benoni, child of sorrow, he had been +named, and perhaps his sickly babyhood and the mournful times around had tended +to make him a quiet boy, without the tearing spirits that would have made him +eager to join the village lads in their games. Indeed they laughed at him for +his poverty and scholarship, and called him Jack Presbyter, Puritan, bookworm, +and all the opprobrious names they could think of, though no one ever less +merited sectarian nicknames than he, as far as doctrine went. For, bred up on +Dr. Eales' books, and obliged to look out on the unsettled state of religious +matters, he was as staunch a churchman as his brother, and fairly understood the +foundations of his faith. Poor boy, the check to his studies disappointed him, +and he spent every leisure moment over his Latin accidence or in reading. Next +to the stories in the Bible, he loved the Maccabees, because of the likeness to +the persecuted state of the Church; and he knew the Morte d'Arthur almost by +heart, and thought it part of the history of England. Especially he loved the +part that tells of the Holy Grail, the Sacred Cup that was guarded by the maimed +King Pelles, and only revealed to the pure in heart and life. Stead had fully +confided to him the secret of the cave, in case he should be the one left to +deliver up the charge; and, in some strange way, the boy connected the treasure +with the Saint Grail, and his brother with the maimed king. So he worked very +hard, and Patience was capable of a good deal more than in her earlier days. +Stead, helpless as he was, did not require constant attendance, and knew too +well how much was on his sister's hands to trouble her when he could possibly +help doing so. Thus they rubbed on; though it was a terrible winter, and they +often had to break in on the hoard which was to have built the house, sometimes +for needments for the patient, sometimes to hire help when there was work beyond +the strength of Patience and Ben, who indeed was too slender to do all that +Stead had done.</p> + +<p>Ben did not shine in going to market. He was not big enough to hold his own +against rude lads, and once came home crying with his donkey beaten and his eggs +broken; moreover, he was apt to linger at stalls of books and broadsheets. As +soon as Patience could venture to leave her brother, she was forced to go to +market herself; and there was a staidness and sobriety about her demeanour that +kept all impertinence at a distance. Poor Patience, she was not at all the +laughing rustic beauty that Emlyn would have been at market. She would never +have been handsome, and though she was only a few years over twenty, she was +beginning to look weather-beaten and careworn, like the market women about her, +mothers of half-a-dozen children.</p> + +<p>Now and then she saw Emlyn in all her young, plump beauty, but looking much +quieter, and always coming to her for news of Steadfast. There were even tears +in those bright eyes when she heard how much he suffered. The girl had evidently +been greatly sobered by the results of her indiscretion, and the treachery into +which it had led her. She probably cared more for Steadfast than for anyone else +except herself, and was shocked and grieved at his condition; and she had +moreover discovered how her credulity had been played upon, and that she had had +a narrow escape of being carried off by a buccaneer.</p> + +<p>Her master too had been called to order by the authorities, fined and +threatened for permitting Royalist plots to be hatched in his house. He had been +angered by the younger Ayliffe's riotous doings, and his wife had been +terrified. There had been a general reformation in which Emlyn had only escaped +dismissal through her mistress's favour, pleading her orphanhood, her +repentance, and her troth plight to the good young man who had been attacked by +those dissolute fellows, though Mrs. Henshaw little knew how accountable was her +favourite maid for the attack.</p> + +<p>So good and discreet was Emlyn, so affectionate her messages to Stead, and so +much brightness shone in his face on hearing them; there was so much pleasure +when she sent him an orange and he returned the snowdrops he had made Rusha +gather, that Patience began to believe that Stead was right--that the shock was +all the maiden needed to steady her--and that all would end as he hoped, when he +should be able to resume his labours, and add to the sadly reduced hoard.</p> + +<p>It was not, however, till the March winds were over that Stead made any +decided step towards recovery, and began to prefer the sun to the fire, and to +move feebly and slowly about the farmyard, visiting the animals, too few in +number, for his skilled attention had been missed. As summer came on he was able +to do a little more, herd them with Growler's help, and gradually to undertake +what required no exertion of strength or speed, and there he stopped short--all +the sunny months of summer could do no more for him than make him fit to do such +work as an old man of seventy might manage.</p> + +<p>He was persuaded, much against his will, to ride the white horse into Bristol +at a foot-pace to consult once more the barber surgeon. That worthy, who was +unusually sagacious for his time and had had experience in the wars, told him +that his recovery was a marvel, but that with the bullet where it was lodged, he +could scarcely hope to enjoy much more health or comfort than at present. It +could not be reached, but it might shift, when either it would prove fatal or +become less troublesome; and as a friend and honest man, he counselled the poor +youth not to waste his money nor torture himself by having recourse to remedies +or doctors who could do no real good.</p> + +<p>Stead thanked the barber, paid his crown, and slowly made his way to Mrs. +Lightfoot's, where he was to rest, dine, and see Emlyn.</p> + +<p>Kind Mrs. Lightfoot shed tears when she saw the sturdy, ruddy youth grown so +thin and pale; and as to Emlyn, she actually stood silent for three minutes.</p> + +<p>The two were left together in Mrs. Lightfoot's kitchen, for Patience was at +market, and their hostess had to mind her trade.</p> + +<p>Stead presently told Emlyn somewhat of the doctor's opinion, and then, +producing his portion of the tester, and with lips that trembled in spite of +himself, said that he had come to give Emlyn back her troth plight.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Stead, Stead," she cried, bursting into tears. "I thought +you had forgiven me."</p> + +<p>"Forgiven you! Yea, truly, poor child, but--"</p> + +<p>"But only when you were sick! You cast me off now you are whole."</p> + +<p>"I shall never be whole again, Emlyn."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe Master Willis. He is nought but a barber," she +exclaimed passionately. "I know there are physicians at the Bath who would +cure you; or there's the little Jew by the wharf; or the wise man on Durdham +Down. But you always are so headstrong; when you have made up your mind no one +can move you, and you don't care whose heart you break," she sobbed.</p> + +<p>"Hearken, little sweet," said Stead. "'Tis nought but that I +wot that it would be ill for you to be bound to a poor frail man that will never +be able to keep you as you should be kept. All I had put by is well nigh gone, +and I'm not like to make it up again for many a year, even if I were as strong +as ever."</p> + +<p>"And you won't go to the Jew, or the wise man, or the Bath?"</p> + +<p>"I have not the money."</p> + +<p>"But I will--I will save it for you!" cried Emlyn, who never had +saved in her life. "Or look here. Master Henshaw might give you a place in +his office, and then there would be no need to dwell in that nasty, damp gulley, +but we could be in the town. I'll ask my mistress to crave it from him."</p> + +<p>Stead could not but smile at her eagerness, but he shook his head.</p> + +<p>"It would be bootless, sweetheart, I cannot carry weights."</p> + +<p>"No, but you can write."</p> + +<p>"Very scurvily, and I cannot cypher."</p> + +<p>For Stead, like everyone else at Elmwood, kept his accounts by tally and in +his head, and the mysteries of the nine Arabic figures were perfectly unknown to +him. However, Emlyn stuck to the hope, and he was so far inspired by it that he +ceased to insist on giving up the pledges of the betrothal, and he lay on the +settle in quiet enjoyment of Emlyn's castle building, as she sat on a stool by +his side, his hand on her shoulder, somewhat as it was wont to lie on Growler's +head. And in spite of Master Willis's opinion, he rode home to the gulley a new +man, assuring Patience, on the donkey by his side, that there was more +staunchness and kindness in little Emlyn than ever they had thought for. Even +the ferryman who put them over the river declared that the doctor must have done +Master Kenton a power of good, and Stead smiled and did not contradict him.</p> + +<p>Stead actually consulted Mr. Woodley how to learn cyphering beyond what Ben +had acquired at school; and the minister lent him a treatise, over which he +pored with a board and a burnt stick for many an hour when he was out on the +common with the cattle, or on the darkening evenings in the hut. Ben saw his way +into those puzzles with no more difficulty than whetted his appetite, worked out +sum after sum, and explained them to his brother, to the admiration of both his +elders, till frowns of despair and long sighs from Stead brought Patience to +declare he was mazing himself, and insist on putting out the light.</p> + +<p>Stead had more time for his studies than he could wish, for the cold of +winter soon affected the injured lungs; and, moreover, the being no longer able +to move about rapidly caused the damp and cold of the ravine to produce +rheumatism and attendant ills, of which, in his former healthy, out-of-door +life, he had been utterly ignorant, and he had to spend many an hour breathless, +or racked with pain in the poor little hovel, sometimes trying to give his mind +to the abstruse mysteries of multiplication of money, but generally in vain, and +at others whiling away the time with his books, for though there were only seven +of them, including Bible and Prayer-book, a very little reading could be the +text of so much musing, that these few perfectly sufficed him. And then he was +the nurse of any orphaned lamb or sick chicken that Patience was anxious about, +and his care certainly saved many of those small lives.</p> + +<p>The spring, when he came forth again, found him on a lower level, less strong +and needing a stick to aid his rheumatic knee.</p> + +<p>Not much was heard of Emlyn that spring. She did not come to market with her +mistress, and Patience was not inclined to go in quest of her, having a secret +feeling that no news might be better for Stead than anything she was likely to +hear; while as to any chance of their coming together, the Kentons had barely +kept themselves through this winter, and Steadfast's arithmetic was not making +such progress as would give him a place at a merchant's desk.</p> + +<p>Patience, however, was considerably startled when, one fine June day, she saw +Mrs. Henshaw's servant point her out to two tall soldierly-looking men, +apparently father and son.</p> + +<p>"Good morrow to you, honest woman," said the elder. "I am told +it is you who have been at charges for many years for my brother's daughter, +Emlyn Gaythorn."</p> + +<p>Patience assented.</p> + +<p>"You have been right good to her, I hear; and I thank you for that same, +and will bear what we may of the expense," he added, taking out a heavy bag +from his pouch.</p> + +<p>He went on to explain that he and his son having gone abroad with his master +had been serving with the Dutch, and had made some prize money. Learning on the +peace that a small inheritance in Worcestershire had fallen to the family, they +had returned, and found from Lady Blythedale that the brother's daughter was +supposed to be alive somewhere near Bristol. She had a right to half, and being +honourable men, they had set out in search of her, bringing letters from the +lady to Mr. Henshaw, whose house was still a centre of inquiry for persons in +the Cavalier interest. There, of course, they had discovered Emlyn; and Master +Gaythorn proceeded to say that it had been decided that the estate should not be +broken up, but that his son should at once wed her and unite their claims.</p> + +<p>"But, sir," exclaimed Patience, "she is troth plight to my +brother."</p> + +<p>"So she told me, but likewise that he is a broken man and sickly, and +had offered to restore her pledge."</p> + +<p>Patience could not deny it, though she felt hotly indignant.</p> + +<p>"She charged me to give it back to you," added the uncle; "and +to bid you tell the young man that we are beholden to you both; but that since +the young folk are to be wedded to-morrow morn, and then to set forth for +Worcestershire, there is no time for leave-takings."</p> + +<p>"I do not wonder!" exclaimed Patience, "that she has no face +to see us. She that has been like a child or a sister to us, to leave us thus! O +my brother!"</p> + +<p>"Come, come, my good woman, best not make a pother." Poor +Patience's homely garb and hard-worked looks shewed little of the yeoman class +to which she belonged. "You've done your duty by the maid and here's the +best I have to make it up."</p> + +<p>Patience could not bring herself to take the bag, and he dropped it into her +basket "I am sorry for the young man, your brother, but he knew better than +to think to wed her as he is. And 'tis better for all there should be no women's +tears and foolishness over it."</p> + +<p>"Is she willing?" Patience could not but ask.</p> + +<p>"Willing?" Both men laughed. "Aye, what lass is not willing to +take a fine, strapping husband, and be a landed dame? She gave the token back of +her own free will, eh, Humfrey; and what did she bid us say?"</p> + +<p>"Her loving greetings to-- What were their Puritanical names?" said +the son contemptuously. "Aye, and that she pitied the poor clown down +there, but knew he would be glad of what was best for her."</p> + +<p>"So farewell, good mistress," said Master Gaythorn, and off they +clanked together; and Patience, looking after them, could entirely believe that +the handsome buff coat, fringed belt, high boots, and jauntily cocked hat would +have driven out the thought of Stead in his best days. And now that he was bent, +crippled, weak, helpless,--"and all through her, what hope was then," +thought Patience, "yet if she had loved him, or there had been any truth in +her, she could have wedded him now, and he would have been at ease through life! +A little adder at our hearth! We are well quit of her, if he will but think so, +but how shall I ever tell him?"</p> + +<p>She did not rush in with the tidings but came home slowly, drearily, so that +Stead, who was sitting outside by the door, peeling rushes, gathered that +something was amiss, and soon wormed it out of her, while her tears dropped fast +for him. Still, as ever, he spoke little. He said her uncle was right in sparing +tears and farewells, no doubt reserving to himself the belief that it was +against her will. And when Patience could not help declaring that the girl might +have made him share her prosperity, he said, "I'm past looking after her +lands. Her uncle would say so. 'Tis his doing; I am glad of what is best for my +darling as was. There's an end of it, Patience--joy and grief. And I thank God +that the child is safely cared for at last."</p> + +<p>He tried to be as usual, but he was very ill that night.</p> + +<p>Patience found the money in her basket. She hated it and put it aside, and it +was only some time after that she was constrained to use it, only then telling +Stead whence it came, when he could endure to hear that the uncle had done his +best to be just.</p> +<p> </p> + +<center><h3>CHAPTER XXIII.<br> +FULFILMENT.</h3> + +<p>"My spirit heats her mortal bars,<br> +As down dark tides the glory glides,<br> +And mingles with the stars."<br> +TENNYSON.</p></center> + +<p>The year 1660 had come, and in the autumn, just as harvest was over, and the +trees on the slopes were taking tints of red, yellow, and brown, an elderly +clergyman, staff in hand, came slowly up the long lane leading to Elmwood, +whence he had been carried, bound to his horse, seventeen years before.</p> + +<p>He had not suffered as much as some of his fellow priests. After a term of +imprisonment in London, he had been transported to the plantations, namely, the +American settlements, and had fallen in with friends, who took him to Virginia. +This was chiefly colonized by people attached to the Church, who made him +welcome, and he had ministered among them till the news arrived of the +Restoration of Charles II, and likewise that the lawful incumbents of benefices, +who had been driven out, were reinstated by Act of Parliament. Mr. Holworth's +Virginian friends would gladly have kept him with them, but he felt that his +duty was to his original flock, and set out at once for England, landing at +Bristol. There, however, he waited, like the courteous man he was, to hold +communication with his people, till he had written to Mr. Elmwood, and made +arrangements with him and Master Woodley.</p> + +<p>They were grieved, but they were both men who had a great respect for law and +parliament, so they made no difficulties. Mr. and Mrs. Woodley retired to the +hall and left the parsonage vacant, after the minister had preached a farewell +sermon in the church which made everyone cry, for he was a good man and had made +himself loved, and there were very few in the parish who could understand that +difference between the true Church and a body without bishops. Mr. Holworth had +in the meantime gone to Wells to see his own Bishop Piers, an old man of +eighty-six, and it was from thence that he was now returning. He had not chosen +to enter his parish till the intruded minister had resigned the charge, but he +had been somewhat disappointed that none of his old flock, not even any Kentons, +who had so much in charge, had come in to see him. He now arrived in this quiet +way, thinking that it would not be delicate to the feelings of the squire and +ex-minister to let the people get up any signs of joy or ring the bells, if they +were so inclined. Indeed, he was much afraid from what he had been able to learn +that it would be only the rougher sort, who hated Puritan strictness and wanted +sport and revelry, who would give him an eager welcome.</p> + +<p>So he first went quietly up to the church, which he found full of benches and +pews, with the Altar table in the middle of the nave, and the squire's +comfortable cushioned seat at the east end. He knelt on the step for a long +time, then made a brief visit to his own house, where the garden was in +beautiful order, but only a room or two were furnished with goods he had bought +from the Woodleys, and these were in charge of a servant he had hired at +Bristol.</p> + +<p>Thence the old man went out into the village, and his first halt was at the +forge, where Blane, who had grown a great deal stouter and more grizzled, +started at sight of his square cap.</p> + +<p>"Eh! but 'tis the old minister! You have come in quietly, sir! I am +afraid your reverence has but a sorry welcome."</p> + +<p>"I do not wonder you are grieved to part with Master Woodley."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, he be a good man and a powerful preacher, though no doubt +your reverence has the best right, and for one, I'm right glad to see an old +face again. We would have rung the bells if we had known you were coming."</p> + +<p>"That would have been hard on Master Woodley. I am only glad they are +not melted. But how is it with all my old friends, Harry? Poor Sir George writ +me that old clerk North died of grief of the rifling of the church; and that +John Kenton had been killed by some stragglers. What became of his +children?"</p> + +<p>"That eldest lad went off to the Parliament army, and came swaggering +here in his buff coat and boots like my Lord Protector himself, they say he has +got a castle and lands in Ireland. Men must be scarce, say I, if they have had +to make a gentleman of Jeph Kenton."</p> + +<p>"And the rest?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I'm afraid that poor lad, Stead, is in poor plight. You +mind, he was always a still, steady, hard-working lad, and when his father was +killed, and his house burnt, and his brother ran away, the way he and his sister +turned to was just wonderful. They went to live in an old hut in the gulley down +there, and they have made the place so tidy as it does your heart good to look +at it. They bred up the young ones, and the younger girl is well married to one +of the Squire's folks, and everyone respected them. But, as ill-luck would have +it, some robbers from Bristol seem to have got scent of their savings. Some said +that the Communion Cup was hid somewhere there."</p> + +<p>Mr. Holworth made an anxious sound of interrogation.</p> + +<p>"Well, I did see the corporal, when the Parliament soldiers were at +Bristol, flog Stead shamefully to know where it was, and never get a word out of +him, whether or no; and as he was a boy who would never tell a lie, it stands to +reason he knew where they were."</p> + +<p>"But how did anyone guess at his knowing?" asked Mr. Holworth.</p> + +<p>"His brother might have thought it likely, poor John being thick with +your reverence," said Blane. "After that I thought, myself, that he +ought to give them up to Master Woodley, if so be he had them; but I could never +get a hint from him. The talk went that old Dr. Eales, you mind him, sir, before +he died, came out and held a prelatist service, begging your pardon, sir, and +that the things were used. Stead got into trouble with Squire about it."</p> + +<p>"But the robbers, how was that? You said he was hurt!"</p> + +<p>"Sore hurt, sir; and he has never got the better of it, though 'tis nigh +upon four years ago. There was a slip of a wench he picked up as a child after +the fight by Luck's mill, and bred up; a fair lass she grew up to look on, but a +light-headed one. She went to service at Bristol, and poor Stead was troth +plight to her, hoped to save and build up the house again, never knowing, not +he, poor rogue, of her goings on with the sailors and all the roistering lads +about her master's house. 'Tis my belief she put those rascals on the track, +whether she meant it or not. Stead made what defence he could, stood up like a +man against the odds, three to one, and got a shot in the side, so that he was +like to die then. Better for him, mayhap, if he had at once, for it has been +nought but a lingering ever since, never able to do a day's work, though that +wench, Patience, and the young lad, Ben, have fought it out wonderfully. That I +will say."</p> + +<p>Mr. Holworth had tears in his eyes, and trembled with emotion.</p> + +<p>"The dear lad," he said. "Where is he? I must go and see +him."</p> + +<p>"He bides in the gulley, sir; he has been there ever since the +farm-house was burnt."</p> + +<p>Ere long Mr. Holworth was on his way to the gulley. What had been only a +glade reaching from rock to stream, hidden in copsewood, was now an open space +trodden by cattle, with the actual straw-yard more in the rear, but with a goat +tethered on it and poultry running about. It was a sunny afternoon, and in a +wooden chair placed so as to catch the warmth, with feet on a stool, sat, +knitting, a figure that Mr. Holworth at first thought was that of an aged man; +but as he emerged from the wood, and the big dog sprang up and barked, there was +a looking up, an instant silencing of the dog, a rising with manifest effort, a +doffing of the broad-brimmed hat, and the clergyman beheld what seemed to him +his old Churchwarden's face, only in the deadly pallor of long-continued +illness, and with the most intense, unspeakable look of happiness and welcome +afterwards irradiating it, a look that in after years always came before Mr. +Holworth with the "Nunc dimittis."</p> + +<p>Dropping the knitting, and holding by the chair, he stood trembling and +quivering with gladness, while, summoned by the dog's bark, Patience, pail in +hand, appeared on one side, and Ben, tall and slight, with his flail, on the +other.</p> + +<p>"My dear lad," was all Mr. Holworth could say, as he took the thin, +blanched hand, put his arm round the shoulders, and reseated Stead, still +speechless with joy. Patience, curtseying low, came up anxiously, showing the +same honest face as of old, though work and anxiety had traced their lines on +the sun-burnt complexion, and Ben stood blushing, and showing his keener, more +cultivated face, as the stranger turned to greet them so as to give Steadfast +time to recover himself.</p> + +<p>"Oh! sir, but we are glad to see your reverence," cried Patience. +"Will you go in, or sit by Stead? Ben, fetch a chair."</p> + +<p>"And is this fine strapping fellow, the sickly babe that you were never +to rear, Patience?"</p> + +<p>"God has been very good to us, sir," said Patience.</p> + +<p>"And this is best of all," said Stead, recovering breath and +speech. "I thank Him that I have lived to see this day! It is all safe, +sir."</p> + +<p>"And you, you faithful guardian, you have suffered for it."</p> + +<p>If it had not been for Blane's partial revelations, Mr. Holworth never would +have extracted the full story of how for that sacred trust, Steadfast Kenton had +endured threats and pain, and had foregone ease, prosperity, latterly happiness, +and how finally it had cost him health, nay life itself, for he was as surely +dying of the buccaneer's pistol shot, as though he had been slain on the spot.</p> + +<p>Long illness, with all the thought and reflection it had brought, had so far +changed and refined Stead that his awkward bashfulness and lack of words had +passed from him, and when he saw the clergyman overcome with emotion at the +thought of all he had undergone he said,</p> + +<p>"Never heed it, your reverence, it has come to be all joy to me to have +had a little to bear for the Master! 'Tis hard on Patience and Ben, but they are +very good to me; and being sick gives time for such comforts as God sends me. It +is more than all I could have had here."</p> + +<p>"I am sure of that, my dear boy. I was not grieving that I gave you the +trust, but thinking what a blessed thing it is to have kept it thus +faithfully."</p> + +<p>Two Sundays later, the Feast was again meetly spread in Elmwood Church, the +Altar restored to its place, and all as reverently arranged as it could yet be +among the broken carved work.</p> + +<p>In some respects it was a mournful service, few there were who after the +lapse of seventeen years even remembered the outlines of the old forms; and the +younger people knew not when to kneel or stand. There were few who could read, +and even for those who could there were only four Prayer-books in the church, +the clergyman's, the clerk's, the Kentons', and one discovered by an old Elmwood +servant. The Squire's family came not; Goody Grace was dead, and though Rusha +tried to instruct her husband and her little girl, she herself was much at a +loss.</p> + +<p>To Mr. Holworth it was almost like that rededication of the Temple when the +old men wept at the thought of the glory of the former house, but there were +some on whom his eye rested with joy and peace. There were Blane and his wife, +good and faithful though ignorant; there were the old miller and his son, who +had come all that distance since there had as yet been no restoration in their +church, and the goings on of Original-Sin Hopkins and his friends had thoroughly +disgusted them, and made the old man yearn towards the church of his youth, and +there was the little group of three, the toil-worn but sweet-faced sister, calm +and restful, though watchful; the tall youth with thoughtful, earnest, +awe-struck face, come for his first Communion, for which through those many +years he had been taught to pray and long, and between them the wasted form and +wan features lighted up with that wonderful radiance that had come on them with +the sense that the trust was fulfilled, only it was brighter, calmer, higher, +than even at the greeting of the vicar. Did Steadfast see only the burnished +gold of the Chalice and paten he had guarded for seventeen years at the cost of +toil, danger, suffering, love, and life itself? Did he not see and feel far +beyond those outward visible signs in which others, who had not yet endured to +the end, could only as yet put their trust by faith?</p> + +<p>Mr. Holworth, as he stood over him and saw the upturned eye, was sure it was +so. No doubt indeed Ben thought so too, but poor imaginative Ben had somehow +fancied it would be with his brother as with the King who guarded that other +sacred Cup, and when all was over, was quite disappointed that Stead needed his +strong arm as much as ever, nay more, for on coming out into the air and +sunshine a faintness and exhaustion came on, and they had to rest him in the +porch before he could move.</p> + +<p>"O Stead, I thought it would have healed you," the lad said.</p> + +<p>Stead slightly smiled. "Healed? I shall soon be healed altogether, +Ben," he said. He had with great difficulty and very slowly walked to +church, and Mr. Holworth wished him to come and rest at the Vicarage, but he was +very anxious to get home, and after he had taken a little food, Andrew Luck +offered to share with Ben and Rusha's husband the carrying him back between them +on an elbow chair.</p> + +<p>This pleased him, and he looked up to Andrew and said, "You are in the +same mind as long ago?"</p> + +<p>"I never found anyone else I could lay my mind to, since my poor +Kitty," said Andrew.</p> + +<p>"She will come to you--soon," said Stead. "She'll have a sore +heart, but you will be good to her."</p> + +<p>"That I will. And little Bess and Kate shall come and tell her how they +want her."</p> + +<p>Stead smiled and his lips moved in thankfulness.</p> + +<p>"And if Ben would come with her," added Andrew, "I'd be a +brother to him."</p> + +<p>"Parson wants Ben," said Stead. "He says he can make a scholar +of him, and maybe a parson, and it will not be so lonesome in the +vicarage."</p> + +<p>"And your farm?"</p> + +<p>"Rusha and her man take that. They have saved enough to build the house. +Yes, all is well. It is great peace and thankfulness."</p> + +<p>Patience returned with the cushions she had borrowed and they brought +Steadfast home, very much exhausted, and not speaking all the way. Perhaps the +unusual motion and exertion had made the bullet change its place, for he hardly +uttered another word, and that night, as he had said to Ben, he was healed for +ever of all his ills.</p> + +<p>The funeral sermon that Mr. Holworth preached the next Sunday, was on the +text so dear to all the loyal hearts who remembered the White King's coronation +text--</p> + +<p>"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of +life."</p> + +<p> </p> +<center><h3>THE END</h3></center> + +<pre> + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Storm, by Charlotte M. 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