CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
"RESIST!"
In his defiant refusal the Master of Hollymead, as already said, hadreceived encouragement by a word spoken from the withdrawing-room. Itwas after the ladies had passed out of it; Sir Richard, who had followedthem to the door, simply saying, "Resist!" It was said in a significanttone though, and loud enough to be heard by him who stood in the porch.For the knight had now made up his mind to some sort of action, as yetknown only to himself; and but returned to the window to get furtherinformed of the chances in favour of it.
Judging by the sparkle of his eyes, they seemed satisfactory, eachmoment becoming more so. He had already taken stock of the soldiertroop, counted its files--less than twenty--saw that half of them werebut "Johnny Raws" in uniform; while the crowd beyond them numbered nightwo hundred. Not all men; but such women as were among them had thelook of being able to do man's work, even in the way of fighting. Norwere they all unarmed, though no warlike weapons were conspicuouslydisplayed. Here and there could be seen hands holding hedge forks, orgrasping hatchets, bill-hooks, and hay-knives; others carryinglong-shafted hammers and mattocks--tools of the mining industry peculiarto the Forest. All implements denoting peace; but readily convertibleinto weapons with which could be dealt deadly blows.
Sir Richard had taken all this in, as the soldiers came to a halt at thehaw-haw gate. And now that they were inside it, looking over theirheads from the high window, he saw something else, for which he had beenanxiously watching--another crowd on its way up the avenue, smaller thanthat already arrived, but more compact, and apparently under discipline.All men these, with one at their head, taller by inches than any ofthose behind him, easily recognisable as Rob Wilde.
The deer-stealer had been true to his promise, and done his work well;for not only was the Ruardean contingent a large one, but carried realwar weapons--here and there a matchlock and _snap-hans_, with pikes andhalberds held high above their heads--a bristling array of them.
It was just then, on catching sight of these, that Ambrose Powellretreated from the porch, and in, dashing to his door. For SirRichard's doings in the days past were all known to him, and why he hadgone out of his way, and lingered behind the hawking party at Ruardean.
At the same moment the knight made a hasty movement away from thewindow, as he did so saying,--
"Now, Master Trevor! Time's come for action. I'm not going to let ourgood host be plundered without an effort to prevent it. Of course youcan do as you like--remain neutral if it so please you."
"But it don't so please me," promptly responded the ex-gentleman-usher."If there's to be fighting, I draw swords too."
"On which side?"
"Oh, Sir Richard! Why do you ask that? After what I've just seen andheard, you might know. Never was I aware that the King sanctioned suchdoings as these, nor will I be the one to abet them. Besides, you seemto forget my debt to yourself--my life; and I've been longing for anopportunity to pay it. My sword is at your service, as my heart, eversince you conquered both."
"Eustace Trevor!" exclaimed the knight, with more than ordinary warmth,"I now know that you are not only my friend, but the friend of ourcause, which is that of country and humanity. Your generous offer ofalliance delights me, and I am grateful for it. But all the morereluctant you should compromise yourself with your father--your people.Reflect before drawing you sword! Among those we are to fight with--ifit come to that--is your own kinsman, your cousin, and you may have tocross blades with _him_."
"Be it so. I have reflected, and well, before espousing your cause.'Tis now more to me than cousin--a matter of conscience. Reginald's onthe wrong side--I the right one; and if we must cross swords, let himtake the consequences as will I."
Not often in man's face might be seen such expression as came over thatof Sir Richard Walwyn while listening to these determined words. Thehandsome youth he had made chance acquaintance with on the road, likinghim at first sight; continuing to like him notwithstanding their adversepolitical faith; reluctant to quarrel with him; refusing it till therewas no alternative with honour--this youth, now no more enemy either tohim or his cause, but friend of both, professed and sure of provingtrue--at thought of all this the eyes of the soldier knight sparkledwith an ecstatic joy which they alone can feel who fight for country,not king.
"Enough!" he said, grasping the youth's hand and warmly pressing it."Glad am I to think you will be with us. Swords such as yours were anaccession to any cause; and ere long, even now, there may be fineopportunity for you to prove it--baptise your new faith in the blood ofFreedom's foes. Come with me!"
Their dialogue had occupied but a brief interval of time; and as theknight brought it to an end, he strode hastily out into the hall, spursstill on and clanking. There to encounter their host, also hurryingabout, and shouting to his domestics to shutter the windows. The doorhe had already made secure.
In the hallway the three came together, but only for a few moments toremain so. The occasion called for quick, instant action, allowingscant time for speech. Nor was there much said; Sir Richard hurriedlysaying to their host,--
"Tell the ladies not to be alarmed. Say that Mr Trevor and I have goneout to reason with those rude visitors of yours, and see what terms wecan make with them. If they won't listen to--"
Whatever the alternative meant he left it unspoken, for chancing to turnhis eyes up the stairway, he there saw that he was being listened toalready. On its lowest landing were the sisters, who had overheard all.
They were coming down, and now came on; Sabrina gliding forward to theknight, and laying her hand on his shoulder. He had stepped a littleapart to receive her, with anticipation of something she might have tosay confidential, and with her, he, too, wanted a word of that kind.
"Oh, Richard!" she tremblingly exclaimed, "what are you going to do?Nothing rash, I hope?"
"Certainly not, dearest. Have you ever known me to act rashly?"
"No; but now--"
"Well, now. I'm not likely to change my ways. In what I intend theremay be no danger after all. A little risk true, but for a big stake.No less than three thousand pounds these royal miscreants demand fromyour father, and will have it if we don't do something. But we will,and they won't get it--not this day, unless I'm mistaken about the menwho are gathering outside. Ah! we'll match them, never fear."
He then spoke some words in a whisper, not to be overheard by theservants still rushing to and fro, which seemed further to reassure her.
"Now, love! let me go," he said, in conclusion. "There isn't a secondto spare. Mr Trevor and I must out."
She neither questioned nor tried to detain him longer. Whatever hemeant doing, she could confide in him; if to fight, believed him capableof conquering the whole world, and wisely ruling it after. For thewoman who loves there is no fancy too wild, no feat seeming impossibleto him who has her heart.
More constrained was the speech passing neat at hand, for there werethree taking part in it. Yet not less anxious than her sister seemedVaga,--if anything in greater distress about the danger apprehended.Possibly but for her father being beside her, she would have addressedEustace Trevor in a strain similar to that of Sabrina appealing to SirRichard. As it was her looks were eloquent of fear for him, mingledwith a confidence in his power to hold his own, whatever was to happen.
The scene was short--of not more than a minute's duration--and ended bythe two gentlemen guests of Hollymead House making all haste out of it--not by the front door, but one at back, which opened into thestable-yard.
Soon as on its stoop, Sir Richard called out,--"Horses, Hubert! Quick!"And quick they came. In an instant after, Hubert was seen leading twoout of their stalls, another pair being led behind by the servant ofEustace Trevor. Saddled and bridled all; for word had been sent outbefore, and everything was ready--even to the varlet having been warnedby the veteran and gained over to the good cause, now his master's.
In twenty seconds' time all four were
in the saddle, men as masterssetting themselves firm in the stirrups, taking tight hold of the reins,with a look to their swords to see there was no entanglement againstunsheathing them.
Then, at a word from Sir Richard, the yard gate, hitherto shut, wasthrown open, and out they all burst, spurring to a brisk canter as theyrode round for the front of the house.