CHAPTER XII
At Tiverton Keep
Since Miss Ward's return to The Towers Violet had begun lessons again,and was occupied each morning with her governess in the schoolroom.Mildred, who was still enjoying holidays, was therefore left for severalhours every day to her own devices. She found it no hardship, for it waseasy enough to amuse herself. Sometimes she sat with a book in thegarden, sometimes sauntered round the grounds, or explored the beautifulborders of the lake. She had brought her camera from home, and thetaking and developing of photographs gave her plenty of occupation. Shewas making a little collection of views of Castleford, and meant topaste them in an album as a reminiscence of the lovely scenery. Oneglorious warm morning it occurred to her that she would like to takesnapshots of Tiverton Keep, an old border turret which stood on a hill amile and a half above The Towers. So far, while Violet and Miss Wardwere busy, she had kept strictly to the private grounds of the Castle,but to-day she thought there would surely be no harm in venturingfarther afield. She would have asked permission, but Sir Darcy was out,Lady Lorraine was in bed with a headache, and Miss Ward was givingViolet a music lesson; so Mildred decided that she might very well makethe expedition on her own authority. Down the road through the wood shestarted, therefore, rounding the corner of the lake and turning upthrough the village. As she passed the Vicarage she met Diccon, theyoungest boy, wheeling his motor bicycle out at the gate.
"Hello, Mildred!" he cried. "Where are you off to? You told me you neverstirred out of the garden till the thermometer dropped. Whence thisthusness?"
"I'm going to take some snapshots of Tiverton Keep. It's such a gloriousmorning for photographing. The light and shade will be just perfect."
"Wish I could have gone with you! I'm obliged to ride over to Whiteriggto send off a parcel by train to London. By the by, if you're going toTiverton, keep a look-out for the lunatic!"
"What do you mean?"
"What I say. Someone of unsound mind has been haunting the place lately,and he might, perhaps, give you a fright."
"I haven't heard of anybody."
"He's been there, though. He's quite a young chap, so I'm told (that'sthe pity of it!), but he's been overworking at classics, and gone cleandotty. His relations have brought him here to recruit, and generallythey keep a good eye over his movements, but sometimes he dodges themand scoots off by himself. Then he's apt to play some uncommonly queerpranks. He's taken a tremendous fancy to the Keep, goes poking about,filling his pockets with pebbles and things, and insists that the placeis still in the mediaeval condition, and inhabited by people who livedin the days of the Plantagenets. He gets violently excited and dangerousif anyone ventures to contradict him. They have to pretend all sorts ofnonsense to humour him. The family are staying at Lowood Farm."
"I heard that some people are there for the summer," replied Mildred,"and I certainly saw two girls in the lane with a young man of abouttwenty. He didn't look insane. What a most fearful affliction!"
"Yes, it's a warning against overworking oneself," said Diccon. "Shallyou venture to the Keep?"
"I must go and take those photographs. I don't suppose I shall meet thisunfortunate young fellow. If I do, I'll be careful to give him a wideberth. His family ought to have an attendant for him, if they can't lookafter him properly themselves."
Tiverton Keep was still a mile away--a beautiful walk up a rocky glen,and then over the open fell. It was much cooler on the moorland than inthe village; quite a pleasant breeze was stirring, there was arefreshing bubbling sound of small brooklets trickling between clumps ofheather and lady fern, while below lay the silver gleam of the lake. Theold castle stood on a slight eminence, commanding an excellent view ofthe surrounding country, and in former days it must have been a usefulfactor in border warfare. Only a portion of the Keep was still standing,but the ancient guard-room remained intact, and a winding staircase ledto the battlements. The day was an ideal one for using the camera. Thelight was perfect, and Mildred congratulated herself that she would beable to take a splendid series of snapshots.
"How delightful it is to have the place to oneself, without any touristsabout!" she thought.
She did not spare her films, and after photographing the exterior andthe ground floor, she toiled up the winding stairs till she reached thebroad walk that ran round the top of the tower. Here she took severalpictures, and finally climbed a few remaining steps which led to alittle turret at the extreme summit of the Keep. From this crow's-nestshe had a grand bird's-eye prospect of the whole landscape. How smalleverything looked! The windmill at the other side of the glen was like achild's toy, and the sheep grazing on the moor seemed white dots. Sheleaned her arms on the railing, and peered down into the castlecourtyard below. Someone was walking about there, for she heard thesound of footsteps, and presently the intruder came in sight. Mildred'sheart gave a sudden uncomfortable jump. She recognized in an instant thetall figure of the classical student who was staying at Lowood Farm. Hemoved slowly, with his eyes fixed on the ground, as if he were searchingfor something, and every now and then he dived among the piles of loosestones, apparently picking up small objects which he placed in hispockets.
"So Diccon was right!" thought Mildred. "How fearfully sad! He lookssuch a fine young fellow physically, one wouldn't imagine he'd lost hismental balance. Poor creature! Filling his pockets with rubbish! I hopehe's not here all alone. Where are his sisters?"
She looked around anxiously to see if a feminine petticoat werefluttering in the vicinity, but there was no sign of anyone.
"He must have escaped again, and run from them, I suppose," shesoliloquized. "I hope he won't notice me on the tower, for I certainlydon't want to encounter him."
After a little consideration she decided to stay where she was, to givethe intruder time to go away before she ventured from the battlements.He soon disappeared out of the courtyard, but whether to enter theguard-room, or to take his departure, Mildred had no means ofascertaining. She lingered for what seemed an immense while, and heardno sound of further footsteps.
"I've been here for ages; I'm sure it must be nearly half-past twelve,"she thought. "I wish I had put on my watch. I can't wait for ever. Iexpect he's gone, so I'm going to risk it," and she sallied down fromthe turret.
She had walked half-way round the battlements, and was just gainingconfidence, when she suddenly saw a head appearing up the windingstaircase, and before she could beat a retreat a tall figure in tennisflannels stepped on to the parapet. He glanced at Mildred with a mixtureof confusion and consternation in his face, hesitated, seemed for amoment inclined to retrace his steps, then walked forward with adetermined air.
"Good morning! Admiring the view here?" he remarked politely.
Mildred was shivering with alarm, but she had the presence of mind toassent calmly.
"Whatever I do, I mustn't let him see that I notice anything unusualabout him; I believe lunatics are very sensitive on that score. If Ibehave in an ordinary manner, perhaps he'll go away soon," she thought.
"I'm particularly fond of the battlements, they seem such a great heightup," she added aloud, leaning over the wooden railing which guarded theparapet.
He glanced hurriedly down, as if measuring the distance to the courtyardbeneath, then turned to her with a marked uneasiness in his gaze.
"It's really nicer below on the grass," he urged. "Won't you come downand try the difference?"
"No, thanks, I prefer remaining here," replied Mildred, hoping that herunwelcome companion would depart by himself to test the superior meritsof the courtyard.
To leave her, however, did not seem to enter his calculations. He staredat her again, with a queer look, almost of apprehension, fidgeted alittle, coughed, turned rather red, and finally remarked shyly:
"They're waiting for you in the hall."
"Who?" asked Mildred.
"Why, the seneschal and the Baron, and the retainers, and--er--thejester, and all the rest of them."
"There! He's begun on the m
ediaeval topic!" thought poor Mildred. "He'sevidently as mad as a hatter. I mustn't irritate him. Diccon said hegrew very violent if contradicted. I must try and humour him."
"The Baron may wait my pleasure," she replied, with an attempt at whatshe hoped was the hauteur of a _grande dame_ of the Plantagenet period."As for the rest, they are but vassals and serfs."
"True, lady, but they long for the sunshine of your presence. Will itnot please you to show yourself to them on the dais?"
"The dinner is not yet ready," faltered Mildred, trying to conjure upany plausible excuse, though she could not frame it in mediaevallanguage.
"My lady mistakes. The scullions are even now removing the wild geesefrom the spits, the boar's head is placed on the trencher, the venisonpasties are baked, and the ale is broached."
"He knows far too much about old customs," thought Mildred ruefully."How shall I get out of it? I must put him on another track." Holdingher hand to shade her eyes, she gazed at the distant horizon. "Methinksthere is a rumour that the Scots are abroad. Tell me if you see aughtthat looks like a body of armed men on yonder fell."
Her companion scanned the hillside seriously and earnestly, as if hereally expected to find flashing pikes and helmets, though nothing moredangerous than a flock of sheep was to be seen.
"It will perchance be the Black Douglas," he answered in solemn tones."Lady, your position here is one of danger! You are a mark for everyarrow. I pray you descend to the safety of the guard-room."
"They are not near enough yet to shoot," said Mildred quickly. "Indeed,I am not certain whether it is the foe, or merely a band of peacefulpilgrims. If you would mount into yonder watch-tower, you could call tome if you recognize the banner of the Black Douglas."
Mildred hoped by this suggestion to send her companion up into thelittle turret, and the moment his back was turned she intended to boltdown the winding staircase. Apparently he saw through her design, for hereplied at once in the negative. He moved a step nearer to her, and awatchful look came into his eyes.
"How atrociously clever lunatics are!" thought Mildred. "It seemsimpossible to outwit him. Yet I simply daren't walk down the stairs withhim. He might give me a sudden push. What can I possibly say to himnext? I'll try flattery."
Looking him over coolly from head to foot, she announced:
"Methinks I like not my lord's attire. 'Tis unworthy of so handsome aknight. I would have you put on fresh bravery, and present yourself tome in your velvet doublet and the trunk-hose which even the Baronenvies. They would do justice to your comely person."
Her companion glanced at his tennis flannels and blushed--yes, actuallyblushed. He gazed at her for a moment almost despairingly, then took ahasty walk up and down the parapet, twisting and untwisting his handswith a nervous action.
"I hope he's not getting excited and violent," thought Mildred.
He returned at last, as if for a final appeal. "If my lady will come andreview my poor wardrobe, perchance she may find something to her taste,and I will don it at her command."
He held out his arm, awkwardly enough, and not at all with the grace ofa mediaeval courtier, as if to lead her from the battlements. Mildrededged away from him, holding on to the railing. Would no one come tothe rescue? She thought she heard a footstep, and glanced down anxiouslyinto the courtyard below, hoping that one of his sisters had arrived insearch of him. To her horror he immediately rushed at her and graspedher firmly by the arm.
"You shan't take your life if I can prevent it!" he exclaimed.
To find herself thus in his clutch was more than Mildred's self-commandcould stand. She shrieked with terror, trying to tear herself away, butthe more she pulled the more tightly and determinedly he gripped her.
"There! There! That'll do, Chorlton. Let her go; she's all right,"shouted a familiar voice; and loosed as suddenly as she had been seized,Mildred turned and saw the grinning face of Diccon appearing from thedoorway of the staircase. He advanced along the parapet in explosions oflaughter, which were certainly not shared by either Mildred or thestranger, both of whom stood regarding him with amazement.
"Oh, you simpletons! You credulous pair of infants! I never imaginedyou'd both swallow it whole. Oh, it's too ripping for anything! It'sabsolutely killing me! I've been listening to the whole interview. Oh,let me get my breath!"
In a flash Mildred comprehended.
"Diccon! You odious boy! Do you mean it's all a hoax?"
"Of course it is! Poor old Chorlton's as sane as you are! Oh, I say,Chorlton! Don't look so deliciously blank, or I shall have a fit!"
"This wretched boy told me you were mad," faltered Mildredapologetically to her companion.
"And he told me that you were mad, with a suicidal tendency," repliedMr. Chorlton.
"The whole thing worked out so neatly," chuckled naughty Diccon. "Pleaseallow me to recount my own joke. I told Mildred that you were violentunless humoured on the subject of mediaevalism, and I told you that shemight fling herself over the battlements if she were contradicted insupposing herself a lady of the Plantagenet period."
"You thoroughly deserve a thrashing, you young imp!" declared Mr.Chorlton.
"No, I don't. I've afforded you each a most exciting adventure. Youdidn't know Chorlton was a college friend of Eric's, Mildred? We onlydiscovered last night that he's staying at Lowood Farm. I stuffed youabout him for a lark, and then when I met him in the village just afteryou started, I couldn't resist the fun of playing a trick on you both.Chorlton was going to the Keep, too, so I told him a yarn about anunfortunate demented girl who occasionally escaped there and tried tocommit suicide. He went up the battlements on purpose to cajole you downto safety. Oh, it was prime to hear you fencing with each other!" andDiccon rubbed his hands in his glee.
"I think you've treated Mr. Chorlton abominably," said Mildred.
"Then you'll consent to descend the staircase with me now?" said Mr.Chorlton, smiling.
"Yes, if you promise not to don trunk-hose and a velvet doublet."
"Trust me! I was racking my brains all the time for mediaeval terms. Imust have appeared an awful lunatic!"
"But may I ask why you were picking up pebbles in the courtyard? Thatdid look rather peculiar, I own."
"They weren't pebbles. They're land-snail shells. I'm collecting them.Mad on conchology, if you like!"
"I had to sprint to Whiterigg and back, so as to be able to follow you,"chuckled Diccon. "I was so afraid I might be too late for the fun. Itwas luck to get here just in time."
Mildred had much to tell on her return to lunch at The Towers. Violet,to whom Diccon's practical jokes were well known, was immensely amused,though Sir Darcy and Lady Lorraine were not inclined to treat theepisode so humorously.
"Mildred must not take solitary walks again," said her aunt. "I shouldnever have given her permission to go out alone, and she must rememberthat in future."
"I won't forget," promised Mildred. "I was horribly scared at the time."
"Oh, it was funny!" laughed Violet. "That wretch Diccon deserves to bepaid back in his own coin, though. I wonder if we couldn't manage toplay a trick upon him? I'm going to cudgel my brains till I think ofsomething."