CHAPTER FIFTY SIX.
AN INTRODUCTION IN THE SADDLE.
"Who can they be? Not soldiers of the Parliament?"
"No; too much gaud and glitter for that."
"Sir Henry Lingen's!"
"Scarcely either. I heard Richard say Sir Henry's men carry lances.These have none. More probably they're from Monmouth, or rather Raglan.The old Marquis of Worcester's greatly given to display; and his son,Lord Herbert. The shining peacock at their head is likely Herberthimself. They are Royalists, anyhow; that's certain."
The dialogue was between the sisters, commenced as they caught sight ofthe scarlet-coated horsemen, who had entered within their park.Hurriedly they talked, and in tone telling of agitation. For it was aspectacle to cause them alarm; King's soldiers coming to Hollymead couldmean no good, but all the opposite. Just the visitors foreshadowed byVaga's fears; her presentiment fulfilled after all!
"What can they be wanting, I wonder?" she queried in a half mechanicalway. "Nothing with us, hope?"
"Not likely with us; but father. We were wishing him at home. Howfortunate he isn't?"
"But he may come at any time?"
"Indeed, yes. What's to be done?" The elder sister seemed perplexed.Only for a short while; then a thought came to her aid; and half turningto the groom who attended them, she said,--
"Rees! Ride back through the firs; gently, and as if looking forsomething left behind. When on the other side go as fast as ever youcan; out through the back gate. First round to Ruardean, to thecadger's cottage. Tell Winny to come up to the house in all haste.Then gallop along the Gloucester road, and, if you meet your master,turn him back. You understand?"
Rees was a quick-witted Welshman, and did understand. Said so; and atonce started to execute the order; riding slowly off towards thespinney, in zigzags, with body bent and eyes searching over the ground.Once under cover of the trees, however, he straightened himself in thesaddle, and was soon outside the inclosure.
The despatching him had been but the work of a few seconds, and he wasgone before any movement had been made by the soldiers, who were stillhalted at the gate.
"What have they stopped for?" again wondered Vaga. "Surely they intendgoing on to the house?"
"'Tis we who have stopped them. Their faces are turned this way--theysee us?"
"Ah, yes! And two have separated from the rest--are coming towards us!What ought we to do?"
"We may as well await them here; 'twould be impossible to shun themnow."
"How should we receive them?"
"Why, civilly of course. We've no alternative but be civil to them. Ifit be the Lord Herbert we need not fear any special rudeness. Althoughthey are Papists, the Raglan people have never yet--"
"It's not the Lord Herbert?" interrupted Vaga of keener sight; her eyemore occupied with the two making approach.
"How know, you it's not?" demanded her sister, in some wonder. "Younever saw him did you?"
"No; but I've seen the one we've been taking for him--the shiningpeacock, as you call him. So have you."
"Who is he, then?"
"Prince Rupert!"
"So it is, indeed! And the other--"
"Reginald Trevor!"
By this the two horsemen were so near, there was no opportunity for thesisters to exchange further speech, save in undertone; Sabrina, as alast word of caution, whispering,--
"We are helpless, and must play a part I've thought of it; will tell youwhen we're alone. So be more than civil; very polite."
"I will try."
Rupert, a little in the advance, was now up; and suddenly checked hischarger to a halt, in such wise as to present the attitude of Mercuryjust alighted on a "heaven-kissing hill."
"Fair ladies?" he said. "I have not the pleasure of knowing you. Butthis gentleman, who has, if you object not, will do me the honour of anintroduction."
"His Royal Highness, Prince Rupert," announced Trevor, after saluting onhis own account, somewhat awkwardly.
The "fair ladies" acknowledged the introduction with a bow; evensmilingly, which was more than might have been expected. They saidnothing, however, leaving the Prince to direct the course ofconversation.
Well pleased with his reception he went on,--
"Apologies are owing for the interruption of your sport. I fear we'vedone that?"
"No, your Highness," said Sabrina. "We had finished for the day."
"Egad! A good finish too. I myself witnessed the kill, and never sawhandsomer. Your peregrines are noble birds, and well trained to theirwork. Ah! you have a merlin, too. Pretty creature?"
By chance the merlin was perched upon the neck of Vaga's palfrey; and,while speaking, the Prince had drawn close up, as if to get a nearerview of it. But his eyes were on the girl's face instead, and the"pretty creature" seemed an apostrophe to her rather than the bird. Forit was spoken with peculiar emphasis, and in a subdued tone, as if hedid not desire her sister to hear it. Nor did she, having becomeengaged in conversation with Captain Trevor, some distance apart.
"She's very clever," rejoined Vaga, referring to the merlin, and withoutappearing to notice the gaze directed upon her,--"can kill everythingshe's cast-off at."
"Ah!" sighed the Prince. "Fatal to all the larks and buntings, just asthe eyes of her mistress must be to all men."
She looked at him with a puzzled expression. What a strange remark tomake about her sister, whom he could never have seen, save that once asthey passed him going out of Bristol! But she understood it, on hisadding,--
"The little beauty is yours, I take it?"
"No, your Highness," she answered, without making any allusion to theimplied compliment, though its _braverie_ jarred upon her ear. "Themerlin belongs to my sister. The peregrines are mine."
"Happy peregrines!" he exclaimed, pretending to apostrophise the twogreat falcons, that, now hooded, had been returned to their kedge. "HowI should like to be one of you! Ay; would consent to be held in leashfor life, could I but hope for caresses, such as you receive from thehands of your beautiful mistress. Ah! that must be sweet?"
There could be no mistaking the character of speech like this, rude evento impertinence. It brought the red into the young girl's cheeks, andshe would have angrily resented it, but was restrained by the cautionlate received from her sister. Still, to let it pass unnoticed was outof the question, and would likely lead to her being yet furtherinsulted. Making an effort to curb her kindling indignation, sherejoined, calmly as she could,--
"Such language may befit the fine Court ladies, with whom your Highnessis accustomed to hold conversation. We simple country girls are notused to it."
Regardless of modest manners, even of common decency, as was this GermanPrince, he felt the rebuke, and quailed under it. For the glance ofquiet scorn that went with the words told him he was putting on airs,and paying compliments to no purpose. In that quarter all would bethrown away.
With a light laugh he endeavoured to conceal his discomfiture, sayingapologetically,--
"Oh! mistress, you must pardon the free speech of a Cavalier. Ourtongues, as our swords, often fly out without reflection. Be assured Imeant not to offend--far from it."
Apology was a bitter pill for Prince Rupert to swallow; but he gulped itdown with a better grace, confident of having the "bit of saucysweetness" in his power. If he failed to make conquest of her, therewas another way to fall back upon; that to which his low familiar,Lunsford, had been all along counselling him.
The little _desagrement_ brought their _tete-a-tete_ to an end, thePrince not caring to continue it. It could be resumed at a morefavourable opportunity, which he meant to find before leaving Hollymead.Seeming suddenly to recollect himself, he said, in voice loud enough tobe heard by the elder sister, as he intended it,--
"But, ladies! I've only half apologised for our intrusion, and trustyou will pardon it, when you hear my excuses. I was on the way to visityour worthy father, with whom I have some busines
s. When hearing the_hooha-ha_!--ardent falconer as I am--I couldn't resist coming across tolearn the result. Permit me to take leave of you, with thanks for yourgracious reception. Unless, indeed, you do me the further honour ofletting me escort you to the house. If I dared make so free, I wouldeven ask the favour of being introduced by you to your father, with whomI regret not having personal acquaintance."
"Our father is not at home," said Sabrina, speaking for both.
"Indeed?" he exclaimed, looking half-disappointed, half-pleased."That's unfortunate. But I suppose you expect him soon?"
"We cannot tell what time he may return, your Highness."
"Ah! he's gone upon a journey, then. May I ask whither? You'll pardonthe inquiry, in view of my business with him?"
"To Gloucester," she answered, without hesitation, too glad to have thequestioner think that he inquired about was in that safe city.
"His absence is disappointing," said the Prince--half in soliloquy, andhalf addressing himself to Captain Trevor. "It will necessitate ourstaying here for the night." This loud enough for the ladies to hear."I regret that," he pursued, again turning to them, "not on my ownaccount, but because the quartering of my escort at Hollymead cannot beover agreeable to you. However, I can promise best behaviour on theirpart; and should your servants have any rudeness to complain of it shallbe punished with all severity."
This self-invitation to the hospitality of Hollymead House, howevervexatious to the daughters of its absent owner, did not at all surprisethem. They had been expecting it as the upshot; for, despite his finephrases of apology--all pretence--the Prince's bearing and manner toldthem how much he felt himself their master.
Withal, they were not dismayed, Sabrina making calm rejoinder, with someformal words, that Hollymead would be too much honoured by his presence.Then in a whisper to Vaga, as they drew side by side to ride home,--
"Keep up courage, Vag. Above all keep your temper. Everything maydepend on that. We're among wolves, that may tear us if angered."
"Go back, Captain!" called the Prince to Trevor. "Give my commands toColonel Lunsford, and tell him to bring the escort on to the house."
"Lunsford along with them!" ejaculated Sabrina, in undertone to hersister. "That makes my words good. We _are_ among wolves."
The evil repute of this man justified her speech. It had been spreadingday by day, till his name was now become a synonym of inhumanity--abogie to stop the crying of the babes in the cradle.