CHAPTER XIX
NARRATTVE OF DARSIE LATIMER, CONTINUED
Left to his solitary meditations, Darsie (for we will still term SirArthur Darsie Redgauntlet of that Ilk by the name to which the readeris habituated) was surprised not only at the alteration of his own stateand condition, but at the equanimity with which he felt himself disposedto view all these vicissitudes.
His fever--fit of love had departed like a morning's dream, and leftnothing behind but a painful sense of shame, and a resolution to be morecautious ere he again indulged in such romantic visions. His stationin society was changed from that of a wandering, unowned youth, in whomnone appeared to take an interest excepting the strangers by whom he hadbeen educated, to the heir of a noble house, possessed of such influenceand such property, that it seemed as if the progress or arrest ofimportant political events were likely to depend upon his resolution.Even this sudden elevation, the more than fulfilment of those wisheswhich had haunted him ever since he was able to form a wish on thesubject, was contemplated by Darsie, volatile as his disposition was,without more than a few thrills of gratified vanity.
It is true, there were circumstances in his present situation tocounterbalance such high advantages. To be a prisoner in the hands of aman so determined as his uncle, was no agreeable consideration, whenhe was calculating how he might best dispute his pleasure and refuseto join him in the perilous enterprise which he seemed to meditate.Outlawed and desperate himself, Darsie could not doubt that his unclewas surrounded by men capable of anything--that he was restrained byno personal considerations--and therefore what degree of compulsion hemight apply to his brother's son, or in what manner he might feel atliberty to punish his contumacy, should he disavow the Jacobite cause,must depend entirely upon the limits of his own conscience; and whowas to answer for the conscience of a heated enthusiast who considersopposition to the party he has espoused, as treason to the welfare ofhis country? After a short interval, Cristal Nixon was pleased to throwsome light upon the subject which agitated him.
When that grim satellite rode up without ceremony close to Darsie'sside, the latter felt his very flesh creep with abhorrence, so littlewas he able to endure his presence, since the story of Lilias had addedto his instinctive hatred of the man.
His voice, too, sounded like that of a screech-owl, as he said, 'So, myyoung cock of the north, you now know it all, and no doubt are blessingyour uncle for stirring you up to such an honourable action.'
'I will acquaint my uncle with my sentiments on the subject, before Imake them known to any one else,' said Darsie, scarcely prevailing onhis tongue to utter even these few words in a civil manner.
'Umph,' murmured Cristal betwixt his teeth. 'Close as wax, I see; andperhaps not quite so pliable. But take care, my pretty youth,' he added,scornfully; 'Hugh Redgauntlet will prove a rough colt-breaker--he willneither spare whipcord nor spur-rowel, I promise you.'
'I have already said, Mr. Nixon, answered Darsie, 'that I will canvassthose matters of which my sister has informed me, with my uncle himself,and with no other person.'
'Nay, but a word of friendly advice would do you no harm, young master,'replied Nixon. 'Old Redgauntlet is apter at a blow than a word--likelyto bite before he barks--the true man for giving Scarborough warning,first knock you down, then bid you stand. So, methinks, a little kindwarning as to consequences were not amiss, lest they come upon youunawares.'
'If the warning is really kind, Mr. Nixon,' said the young man, 'Iwill hear it thankfully; and indeed, if otherwise, I must listen to itwhether I will or no, since I have at present no choice of company or ofconversation.'
'Nay, I have but little to say,' said Nixon, affecting to give to hissullen and dogged manner the appearance of an honest bluntness; 'I amas little apt to throw away words as any one. But here is thequestion--Will you join heart and hand with your uncle, or no?'
'What if I should say Aye?' said Darsie, determined, if possible, toconceal his resolution from this man.
'Why, then,' said Nixon, somewhat surprised at the readiness of hisanswer, 'all will go smooth, of course--you will take share in thisnoble undertaking, and, when it succeeds, you will exchange your openhelmet for an earl's coronet perhaps.'
'And how if it fails?' said Darsie.
'Thereafter as it may be,' said Nixon; 'they who play at bowls must meetwith rubbers.'
'Well, but suppose, then, I have some foolish tenderness for mywindpipe, and that when my uncle proposes the adventure to me I shouldsay No--how then, Mr. Nixon?'
'Why, then, I would have you look to yourself, young master. There aresharp laws in France against refractory pupils--LETTRES DE CACHETare easily come by when such men as we are concerned with interestthemselves in the matter.'
'But we are not in France,' said poor Darsie, through whose blood ran acold shivering at the idea of a French prison.
'A fast-sailing lugger will soon bring you there though, snug stowedunder hatches, like a cask of moonlight.'
'But the French are at peace with us,' said Darsie, 'and would notdare'--
'Why, who would ever hear of you?' interrupted Nixon; 'do you imaginethat a foreign court would call you up for judgement, and put thesentence of imprisonment in the COURRIER DE L'EUROPE, as they do at theOld Bailey? No, no, young gentleman--the gates of the Bastille, and ofMont Saint Michel, and the Castle of Vincennes, move on d--d easy hingeswhen they let folk in--not the least jar is heard. There are cool cellsthere for hot heads--as calm, and quiet, and dark, as you could wish inBedlam--and the dismissal comes when the carpenter brings the prisoner'scoffin, and not sooner.'
'Well, Mr. Nixon,' said Darsie, affecting a cheerfulness which he wasfar from feeling, 'mine is a hard case--a sort of hanging choice, youwill allow--since I must either offend our own government here andrun the risk of my life for doing so, or be doomed to the dungeons ofanother country, whose laws I have never offended since I have nevertrod its soil--Tell me what you would do if you were in my place.
'I'll tell you that when I am there,' said Nixon, and, checking hishorse, fell back to the rear of the little party.
'It is evident,' thought the young man, 'that the villain believes mecompletely noosed, and perhaps has the ineffable impudence to supposethat my sister must eventually succeed to the possessions which haveoccasioned my loss of freedom, and that his own influence over thedestinies of our unhappy family may secure him possession of theheiress; but he shall perish by my hand first!--I must now be on thealert to make my escape, if possible, before I am forced on shipboard.Blind Willie will not, I think, desert me without an effort on mybehalf, especially if he has learned that I am the son of his lateunhappy patron. What a change is mine! Whilst I possessed neither ranknor fortune, I lived safely and unknown, under the protection of thekind and respectable friends whose hearts Heaven had moved towards me.Now that I am the head of an honourable house, and that enterprises ofthe most daring character await my decision, and retainers and vassalsseem ready to rise at my beck, my safety consists chiefly in theattachment of a blind stroller!'
While he was revolving these things in his mind, and preparing himselffor the interview with his uncle which could not but be a stormy one,he saw Hugh Redgauntlet come riding slowly back to meet them without anyattendants. Cristal Nixon rode up as he approached, and, as they met,fixed on him a look of inquiry.
'The fool, Crackenthorp,' said Redgauntlet, has let strangers into hishouse. Some of his smuggling comrades, I believe; we must ride slowly togive him time to send them packing.'
'Did you see any of your friends?' said Cristal.
'Three, and have letters from many more. They are unanimous on thesubject you wot of--and the point must be conceded to them, or, far asthe matter has gone, it will go no further.'
'You will hardly bring the father to stoop to his flock,' said Cristal,with a sneer.
'He must and shall!' answered Redgauntlet, briefly. 'Go to the front,Cristal--I would speak with my nephew. I trust, Sir Arthur Redgauntlet,you are sati
sfied with the manner in which I have discharged my duty toyour sister?'
'There can be no fault found to her manners or sentiments,' answeredDarsie; 'I am happy in knowing a relative so amiable.'
'I am glad of it,' answered Mr. Redgauntlet. 'I am no nice judge ofwomen's qualifications, and my life has been dedicated to one greatobject; so that since she left France she has had but little opportunityof improvement. I have subjected her, however, as little as possible tothe inconveniences and privations of my wandering and dangerous life.From time to time she has resided for weeks and months with families ofhonour and respectability, and I am glad that she has, in, your opinion,the manners and behaviour which become her birth.'
Darsie expressed himself perfectly satisfied, and there was a littlepause, which Redgauntlet broke by solemnly addressing his nephew.
'For you, my nephew, I also hoped to have done much. The weakness andtimidity of your mother sequestered you from my care, or it would havebeen my pride and happiness to have trained up the son of my unhappybrother in those paths of honour in which our ancestors have alwaystrod.'
'Now comes the storm,' thought Darsie to himself, and began to collecthis thoughts, as the cautious master of a vessel furls his sails andmakes his ship snug when he discerns the approaching squall.
'My mother's conduct in respect to me might be misjudged,' he said, 'butit was founded on the most anxious affection.'
'Assuredly,' said his uncle, 'and I have no wish to reflect on hermemory, though her mistrust has done so much injury, I will not say tome, but to the cause of my unhappy country. Her scheme was, I think,to have made you that wretched pettifogging being, which they stillcontinue to call in derision by the once respectable name of a ScottishAdvocate; one of those mongrel things that must creep to learn theultimate decision of his causes to the bar of a foreign court, insteadof pleading before the independent and august Parliament of his ownnative kingdom.'
'I did prosecute the study of law for a year or two, said Darsie, 'but Ifound I had neither taste nor talents for the science.'
'And left it with scorn, doubtless,' said Mr. Redgauntlet. 'Well, I nowhold up to you, my dearest nephew, a more worthy object of ambition.Look eastward--do you see a monument standing on yonder plain, near ahamlet?'
Darsie replied that he did,
'The hamlet is called Burgh-upon-Sands, and yonder monument is erectedto the memory of the tyrant Edward I. The just hand of Providenceovertook him on that spot, as he was leading his bands to complete thesubjugation of Scotland whose civil dissensions began under his accursedpolicy. The glorious career of Bruce might have been stopped in itsoutset; the field of Bannockburn might have remained a bloodless turf,if God had not removed, in the very crisis, the crafty and bold tyrantwho had so long been Scotland's scourge. Edward's grave is the cradle ofour national freedom. It is within sight of that great landmark of ourliberty that I have to propose to you an undertaking, second in honourand importance to none since the immortal Bruce stabbed the Red Comyn,and grasped with his yet bloody hand the independent crown of Scotland.'
He paused for an answer; but Darsie, overawed by the energy of hismanner, and unwilling to commit himself by a hasty explanation, remainedsilent.
'I will not suppose,' said Hugh Redgauntlet, after a pause, that youare either so dull as not to comprehend the import of my words--or sodastardly as to be dismayed by my proposal--or so utterly degeneratefrom the blood and sentiments of your ancestors, as not to feel mysummons as the horse hears the war-trumpet.'
'I will not pretend to misunderstand you, sir,' said Darsie; 'but anenterprise directed against a dynasty now established for three reignsrequires strong arguments, both in point of justice and of expediency,to recommend it to men of conscience and prudence.'
'I will not,' said Redgauntlet, while his eyes sparkled with anger,--'Iwill not hear you speak a word against the justice of that enterprise,for which your oppressed country calls with the voice of a parent,entreating her children for aid--or against that noble revenge whichyour father's blood demands from his dishonoured grave. His skull isyet standing over the Rikargate, [The northern gate of Carlisle was longgarnished with the heads of the Scottish rebels executed in 1746.] andeven its bleak and mouldered jaws command you to be a man. I ask you,in the name of God and of your country, will you draw your sword andgo with me to Carlisle, were it but to lay your father's head, now theperch of the obscene owl and carrion crow and the scoff of every ribaldclown, in consecrated earth as befits his long ancestry?'
Darsie, unprepared to answer an appeal urged with so much passion, andnot doubting a direct refusal would cost him his liberty or life, wasagain silent.
'I see,' said his uncle, in a more composed tone, 'that it is notdeficiency of spirit, but the grovelling habits of a confined education,among the poor-spirited class you were condemned to herd with, thatkeeps you silent. You scarce yet believe yourself a Redgauntlet; yourpulse has not yet learned the genuine throb that answers to the summonsof honour and of patriotism.'
'I trust,' replied Darsie, at last, 'that I shall never be foundindifferent to the call of either; but to answer them with effect--evenwere I convinced that they now sounded in my ear--I must see somereasonable hope of success in the desperate enterprise in which youwould involve me. I look around me, and I see a settled government--anestablished authority--a born Briton on the throne--the very Highlandmountaineers, upon whom alone the trust of the exiled family reposed,assembled into regiments which act under the orders of the existingdynasty. [The Highland regiments were first employed by the celebratedEarl of Chatham, who assumed to himself no small degree of praise forhaving called forth to the support of the country and the government,the valour which had been too often directed against both.] France hasbeen utterly dismayed by the tremendous lessons of the last war, andwill hardly provoke another. All without and within the kingdom isadverse to encountering a hopeless struggle, and you alone, sir, seemwilling to undertake a desperate enterprise.'
'And would undertake it were it ten times more desperate; and haveagitated it when ten times the obstacles were interposed. Have I forgotmy brother's blood? Can I--dare I even now repeat the Pater Noster,since my enemies and the murderers remain unforgiven? Is there an art Ihave not practised--a privation to which I have not submitted, to bringon the crisis, which I now behold arrived? Have I not been a vowed and adevoted man, forgoing every comfort of social life, renouncing even theexercise of devotion unless when I might name in prayer my prince andcountry, submitting to everything to make converts to this noble cause?Have I done all this, and shall I now stop short?' Darsie was about tointerrupt him, but he pressed his hand affectionately upon his shoulder,and enjoining, or rather imploring, silence, 'Peace,' he said, 'heir ofmy ancestors' fame--heir of all my hopes and wishes. Peace, son of myslaughtered brother! I have sought for thee, and mourned for thee, asa mother for an only child. Do not let me again lose you in the momentwhen you are restored to my hopes. Believe me, I distrust so much my ownimpatient temper, that I entreat you, as the dearest boon, do naught toawaken it at this crisis.'
Darsie was not sorry to reply that his respect for the person of hisrelation would induce him to listen to all which he had to apprise himof, before he formed any definite resolution upon the weighty subjectsof deliberation which he proposed to him.
'Deliberation!' repeated Redgauntlet, impatiently; 'and yet it is notill said. I wish there had been more warmth in thy reply, Arthur; but Imust recollect, were an eagle bred in a falcon's mew and hooded like areclaimed hawk, he could not at first gaze steadily on the sun. Listento me, my dearest Arthur. The state of this nation no more impliesprosperity, than the florid colour of a feverish patient is a symptomof health. All is false and hollow. The apparent success of Chatham'sadministration has plunged the country deeper in debt than all thebarren acres of Canada are worth, were they as fertile as Yorkshire--thedazzling lustre of the victories of Minden and Quebec have been dimmedby the disgrace of the hasty peace--by the war, England,
at immenseexpense, gained nothing but honour, and that she has gratuitouslyresigned. Many eyes, formerly cold and indifferent, are now lookingtowards the line of our ancient and rightful monarchs, as the onlyrefuge in the approaching storm--the rich are alarmed--the nobles aredisgusted--the populace are inflamed--and a band of patriots, whosemeasures are more safe than their numbers are few, have resolved to setup King Charles's standard.'
'But the military,' said Darsie--'how can you, with a body of unarmedand disorderly insurgents, propose to encounter a regular army. TheHighlanders are now totally disarmed.'
'In a great measure, perhaps,' answered Redgauntlet; 'but the policywhich raised the Highland regiments has provided for that. We havealready friends in these corps; nor can we doubt for a moment what theirconduct will be when the white cockade is once more mounted. The restof the standing army has been greatly reduced since the peace; and wereckon confidently on our standard being joined by thousands of thedisbanded troops.'
'Alas!' said Darsie, 'and is it upon such vague hopes as these, theinconstant humour of a crowd or of a disbanded soldiery, that men ofhonour are invited to risk their families, their property, their life?'
'Men of honour, boy,' said Redgauntlet, his eyes glancing withimpatience, 'set life, property, family, and all at stake, when thathonour commands it! We are not now weaker than when seven men, landingin the wilds of Moidart, shook the throne of the usurper till ittottered--won two pitched fields, besides overrunning one kingdom andthe half of another, and, but for treachery, would have achieved whattheir venturous successors are now to attempt in their turn.'
'And will such an attempt be made in serious earnest?' said Darsie.'Excuse me, my uncle, if I can scarce believe a fact so extraordinary.Will there really be found men of rank and consequence sufficient torenew the adventure of 1745?'
'I will not give you my confidence by halves, Sir Arthur,' replied hisuncle--'Look at that scroll--what say you to these names?--Are they notthe flower of the western shires--of Wales of Scotland?'
'The paper contains indeed the names of many that are great and noble,'replied Darsie, after perusing it; 'but'--
'But what?' asked his uncle, impatiently; 'do you doubt the ability ofthose nobles and gentlemen to furnish the aid in men and money at whichthey are rated?'
'Not their ability certainly,' said Darsie, 'for of that I am nocompetent judge; but I see in this scroll the name of Sir Arthur DarsieRedgauntlet of that Ilk, rated at a hundred men and upwards--I certainlyam ignorant how he is to redeem that pledge.'
'I will be responsible for the men,' replied Hugh Redgauntlet.
'But, my dear uncle,' added Darsie, 'I hope for your sake that the otherindividuals whose names are here written, have had more acquaintancewith your plan than I have been indulged with.'
'For thee and thine I can be myself responsible,' said Redgauntlet; 'forif thou hast not the courage to head the force of thy house, the leadingshall pass to other hands, and thy inheritance shall depart from theelike vigour and verdure from a rotten branch. For these honourablepersons, a slight condition there is which they annex to theirfriendship--something so trifling that it is scarce worthy of mention.This boon granted to them by him who is most interested, there is noquestion they will take the field in the manner there stated.'
Again Darsie perused the paper, and felt himself still less inclined tobelieve that so many men of family and fortune were likely to embark inan enterprise so fatal. It seemed as if some rash plotter had putdown at a venture the names of all whom common report tainted withJacobitism; or if it was really the act of the individuals named, hesuspected that they must be aware of some mode of excusing themselvesfrom compliance with its purport. It was impossible, he thought, thatEnglishmen, of large fortune, who had failed to join Charles when hebroke into England at the head of a victorious army, should have theleast thoughts of encouraging a descent when circumstances were so muchless propitious. He therefore concluded the enterprise would fall topieces of itself, and that his best way was, in the meantime, to remainsilent, unless the actual approach of a crisis (which might, however,never arrive) should compel him to give a downright refusal to hisuncle's proposition; and if, in the interim, some door for escape shouldbe opened, he resolved within himself not to omit availing himself ofit.
Hugh Redgauntlet watched his nephew's looks for some time, and then, asif arriving from some other process of reasoning at the same conclusion,he said, 'I have told you, Sir Arthur, that I do not urge your immediateaccession to my proposal; indeed the consequences of a refusal would beso dreadful to yourself, so destructive to all the hopes which I havenursed, that I would not risk, by a moment's impatience, the object ofmy whole life. Yes, Arthur, I have been a self-denying hermit at onetime--at another, the apparent associate of outlaws and desperadoes--atanother, the subordinate agent of men whom I felt in every way myinferiors--not for any selfish purpose of my own, no, not even to winfor myself the renown of being the principal instrument in restoringmy king and freeing my country. My first wish on earth is forthat restoration and that freedom--my next, that my nephew, therepresentative of my house and of the brother of my love, may have theadvantage and the credit of all my efforts in the good cause. But,' headded, darting on Darsie one of his withering frowns, 'if Scotland andmy father's house cannot stand and flourish together, then perish thevery name of Redgauntlet! perish the son of my brother, with everyrecollection of the glories of my family, of the affections of my youth,rather than my country's cause should be injured in the tithing ofa barley-corn! The spirit of Sir Alberick is alive within me at thismoment,' he continued, drawing up his stately form and sitting erect inhis saddle, while he pressed his finger against his forehead; 'and ifyou yourself crossed my path in opposition, I swear, by the mark thatdarkens my brow, that a new deed should be done--a new doom should bedeserved!'
He was silent, and his threats were uttered in a tone of voice so deeplyresolute, that Darsie's heart sank within him, when he reflected on thestorm of passion which he must encounter, if he declined to join hisuncle in a project to which prudence and principle made him equallyadverse. He had scarce any hope left but in temporizing until he couldmake his escape, and resolved to avail himself for that purpose of thedelay which his uncle seemed not unwilling to grant. The stern,gloomy look of his companion became relaxed by degrees, and presentlyafterwards he made a sign to Miss Redgauntlet to join the party, andbegan a forced conversation on ordinary topics; in the course of whichDarsie observed that his sister seemed to speak under the most cautiousrestraint, weighing every word before she uttered it, and alwayspermitting her uncle to give the tone to the conversation, though of themost trifling kind. This seemed to him (such an opinion had he alreadyentertained of his sister's good sense and firmness) the strongest proofhe had yet received of his uncle's peremptory character, since he saw itobserved with so much deference by a young person whose sex might havegiven her privileges, and who seemed by no means deficient either inspirit or firmness.
The little cavalcade was now approaching the house of FatherCrackenthorp, situated, as the reader knows, by the side of theSolway, and not far distant front a rude pier, near which lay severalfishing-boats, which frequently acted in a different capacity. The houseof the worthy publican was also adapted to the various occupations whichhe carried on, being a large scrambling assemblage of cottages attachedto a house of two stories, roofed with flags of sandstone--the originalmansion, to which the extensions of Mr. Crackenthorp's trade hadoccasioned his making many additions. Instead of the single longwatering-trough which usually distinguishes the front of the Englishpublic-house of the second class, there were three conveniences of thatkind, for the use, as the landlord used to say, of the troop-horses whenthe soldiers came to search his house; while a knowing leer and a nodlet you understand what species of troops he was thinking of. A hugeash-tree before the door, which had reared itself to a great sizeand height, in spite of the blasts from the neighbouring Solway,overshadowed, as usual, the ale-bench, a
s our ancestors called it,where, though it was still early in the day, several fellows, who seemedto be gentlemen's servants, were drinking beer and smoking. One or twoof them wore liveries which seemed known to Mr. Redgauntlet, for hemuttered between his teeth, 'Fools, fools! were they on a march to hell,they must have their rascals in livery with them, that the whole worldmight know who were going to be damned.'
As he thus muttered, he drew bridle before the door of the place,from which several other lounging guests began to issue, to look withindolent curiosity as usual, upon an ARRIVAL.
Redgauntlet sprang from his horse, and assisted his niece to dismount;but, forgetting, perhaps, his nephew's disguise, he did not pay him theattention which his female dress demanded.
The situation of Darsie was indeed something awkward; for Cristal Nixon,out of caution perhaps to prevent escape, had muffled the extreme foldsof the riding-skirt with which he was accoutred, around his ankles andunder his feet, and there secured it with large corking-pins. We presumethat gentlemen-cavaliers may sometimes cast their eyes to that partof the person of the fair equestrians whom they chance occasionally toescort; and if they will conceive their own feet, like Darsie's, muffledin such a labyrinth of folds and amplitude of robe, as modesty doubtlessinduces the fair creatures to assume upon such occasions, they willallow that, on a first attempt, they might find some awkwardness indismounting. Darsie, at least, was in such a predicament, for, notreceiving adroit assistance from the attendant of Mr. Redgauntlet, hestumbled as he dismounted from the horse, and might have had a bad fall,had it not been broken by the gallant interposition of a gentleman, whoprobably was, on his part, a little surprised at the solid weight of thedistressed fair one whom he had the honour to receive in his embrace.But what was his surprise to that of Darsie, when the hurry of themoment and of the accident, permitted him to see that it was his friendAlan Fairford in whose arms he found himself! A thousand apprehensionsrushed on him, mingled with the full career of hope and joy, inspired bythe unexpected appearance of his beloved friend at the very crisis, itseemed, of his fate.
He was about to whisper in his ear, cautioning him at the same time tobe silent; yet he hesitated for a second or two to effect his purpose,since, should Redgauntlet take the alarm from any sudden exclamation onthe part of Alan, there was no saying what consequences might ensue.
Ere he could decide what was to be done, Redgauntlet, who had enteredthe house, returned hastily, followed by Cristal Nixon. 'I'll releaseyou of the charge of this young lady, sir;' he said, haughtily, to AlanFairford, whom he probably did not recognize.
'I had no desire to intrude, sir,' replied Alan; 'the lady's situationseemed to require assistance--and--but have I not the honour to speak toMr. Herries of Birrenswork?'
'You are mistaken, sir,' said Redgauntlet, turning short off, andmaking a sign with his hand to Cristal, who hurried Darsie, howeverunwillingly, into the house, whispering in his ear, 'Come, miss, let ushave no making of acquaintance from the windows. Ladies of fashion mustbe private. Show us a room, Father Crackenthorp.'
So saying, he conducted Darsie into the house, interposing at the sametime his person betwixt the supposed young lady and the stranger of whomhe was suspicious, so as to make communication by signs impossible. Asthey entered, they heard the sound of a fiddle in the stone-flooredand well-sanded kitchen, through which they were about to follow theircorpulent host, and where several people seemed engaged in dancing toits strains.
'D--n thee,' said Nixon to Crackenthorp, 'would you have the lady gothrough all the mob of the parish? Hast thou no more private way to oursitting-room?'
'None that is fit for my travelling,' answered the landlord, laying hishand on his portly stomach. 'I am not Tom Turnpenny, to creep like alizard through keyholes.'
So saying, he kept moving on through the revellers in the kitchen; andNixon, holding Darsie by his arm, as if to offer the lady support butin all probability to frustrate any effort at escape, moved through thecrowd, which presented a very motley appearance, consisting of domesticservants, country fellows, seamen, and other idlers, whom WanderingWillie was regaling with his music.
To pass another friend without intimation of his presence would havebeen actual pusillanimity; and just when they were passing the blindman's elevated seat, Darsie asked him with some emphasis, whether hecould not play a Scottish air? The man's face had been the instantbefore devoid of all sort of expression, going through his performancelike a clown through a beautiful country, too much accustomed toconsider it as a task, to take any interest in the performance, and, infact, scarce seeming to hear the noise that he was creating. In aword, he might at the time have made a companion to my friend Wilkie'sinimitable blind crowder. But with Wandering Willie this was only anoccasional and a rare fit of dullness, such as will at times creep overall the professors of the fine arts, arising either from fatigue, orcontempt of the present audience, or that caprice which so often temptspainters and musicians and great actors, in the phrase of the latter, towalk through their part, instead of exerting themselves with the energywhich acquired their fame. But when the performer heard the voice ofDarsie, his countenance became at once illuminated, and showed thecomplete mistake of those who suppose that the principal point ofexpression depends upon the eyes. With his face turned to the point fromwhich the sound came, his upper lip a little curved, and quivering withagitation, and with a colour which surprise and pleasure had brought atonce into his faded cheek, he exchanged the humdrum hornpipe which hehad been sawing out with reluctant and lazy bow, for the fine Scottishair,
You're welcome, Charlie Stuart,
which flew from his strings as if by inspiration and after a breathlesspause of admiration among the audience, was received with a clamour ofapplause, which seemed to show that the name and tendency, as well asthe execution of the tune, was in the highest degree acceptable to allthe party assembled.
In the meantime, Cristal Nixon, still keeping hold of Darsie, andfollowing the landlord, forced his way with some difficulty through thecrowded kitchen, and entered a small apartment on the other side of it,where they found Lilias Redgauntlet already seated. Here Nixon gaveway to his suppressed resentment, and turning sternly on Crackenthorp,threatened him with his master's severest displeasure, because thingswere in such bad order to receive his family, when he had given suchspecial advice that he desired to be private. But Father Crackenthorpwas not a man to be brow-beaten.
'Why, brother Nixon, thou art angry this morning,' he replied; 'hastrisen from thy wrong side, I think. You know, as well as I, that most ofthis mob is of the squire's own making--gentlemen that come with theirservants, and so forth, to meet him in the way of business, as old TomTurnpenny says--the very last that came was sent down with Dick Gardenerfrom Fairladies.'
'But the blind scraping scoundrel yonder,' said Nixon, 'how dared youtake such a rascal as that across your threshold at such a time as this?If the squire should dream you have a thought of peaching--I am onlyspeaking for your good, Father Crackenthorp.'
'Why, look ye, brother Nixon,' said Crackenthorp, turning his quid withgreat composure, 'the squire is a very worthy gentleman, and I'll neverdeny it; but I am neither his servant nor his tenant, and so he needsend me none of his orders till he hears I have put on his livery. Asfor turning away folk from my door, I might as well plug up the ale-tap,and pull down the sign--and as for peaching, and such like, the squirewill find the folk here are as honest to the full as those he bringswith him.'
'How, you impudent lump of tallow,' said Nixon, 'what do you mean bythat?'
'Nothing,' said Crackenthorp, 'but that I can tour out as well asanother--you understand me--keep good lights in my upper story--know athing or two more than most folk in this country. If folk will come tomy house on dangerous errands, egad they shall not find Joe Crackenthorpa cat's-paw. I'll keep myself clear, you may depend on it, and let everyman answer for his own actions--that's my way. Anything wanted, MasterNixon?'
'No--yes--begone!' said Nixon, wh
o seemed embarrassed with thelandlord's contumacy, yet desirous to conceal the effect it produced onhim.
The door was no sooner closed on Crackenthorp, than Miss Redgauntlet,addressing Nixon, commanded him to leave the room and go to his properplace.
'How, madam?' said the fellow sullenly, yet with an air of respect,'Would you have your uncle pistol me for disobeying his orders?'
'He may perhaps pistol you for some other reason, if you do not obeymine,' said Lilias, composedly.
'You abuse your advantage over me, madam--I really dare not go--I am onguard over this other miss here; and if I should desert my post, my lifewere not worth five minutes' purchase.'
'Then know your post, sir,' said Lilias, 'and watch on the outside ofthe door. You have no commission to listen to our private conversation,I suppose? Begone, sir, without further speech or remonstrance, or Iwill tell my uncle that which you would have reason to repent be shouldknow.'
The fellow looked at her with a singular expression of spite, mixedwith deference. 'You abuse your advantages, madam,' he said, 'and act asfoolishly in doing so as I did in affording you such a hank over me. Butyou are a tyrant; and tyrants have commonly short reigns.'
So saying, he left the apartment.
'The wretch's unparalleled insolence,' said Lilias to her brother, 'hasgiven me one great advantage over him. For knowing that my uncle wouldshoot him with as little remorse as a woodcock, if he but guessed at hisbrazen-faced assurance towards me, he dares not since that time assume,so far as I am concerned, the air of insolent domination which thepossession of my uncle's secrets, and the knowledge of his most secretplans, have led him to exert over others of his family.'
'In the meantime,' said Darsie, 'I am happy to see that the landlordof the house does not seem so devoted to him as I apprehended; and thisaids the hope of escape which I am nourishing for you and for myself. OLilias! the truest of friends, Alan Fairford, is in pursuit of me, andis here at this moment. Another humble, but, I think, faithful friend,is also within these dangerous walls.'
Lilias laid her finger on her lips, and pointed to the door. Darsie tookthe hint, lowered his voice, and informed her in whispers of the arrivalof Fairford, and that he believed he had opened a communication withWandering Willie. She listened with the utmost interest, and had justbegun to reply, when a loud noise was heard in the kitchen, causedby several contending voices, amongst which Darsie thought he coulddistinguish that of Alan Fairford.
Forgetting how little his own condition permitted him to become theassistant of another, Darsie flew to the door of the room, and findingit locked and bolted on the outside, rushed against it with allhis force, and made the most desperate efforts to burst it open,notwithstanding the entreaties of his sister that he would composehimself and recollect the condition in which he was placed. But thedoor, framed to withstand attacks from excisemen, constables, and otherpersonages, considered as worthy to use what are called the king's keys,[In common parlance, a crowbar and hatchet.] 'and therewith to makelockfast places open and patent,' set his efforts at defiance. Meantimethe noise continued without, and we are to give an account of its originin our next chapter.