Hayslope Grange

  CHAPTER X.

  "ON, CAVALIER, ON!"

  To Maud's great joy, the stately towers and ancient buildings of Oxfordat length rose before her. As she rode into the principal street of thecity she was met by a crowd of people who were talking loudly andeagerly, so that Maud had but little difficulty in making out the words."Down with all parliament men! Shoot the traitors, and all the rebelarmy!" and many other speeches, convinced Maud something unusual hadtaken place, or was about to take place.

  Her cheeks grew pale with anxious fear as the bridle of her horse was atlength seized, and she was forced back against a wall; and then for thefirst time she noticed that a body of soldiers were drawing near, andbeyond them marched a number of downcast-looking men, evidentlyprisoners. Could it be that they were already on their way toexecution?--that the delivery of her papers would be too late to savethem? This thought almost maddened her, and turning her horse's head,she said, "On, Cavalier, on!" and at the same moment drew out herpacket, and held it high above her head.

  "ON CAVALIER, ON!"]

  The effect of her words seemed magical--not upon her horse, but upon thesoldiers by whom she was now surrounded. The officer in command bowed asshe uttered the ringing words, "On, Cavalier, on!" and instead ofturning her back to the wall, called upon his men to halt, while Maudpassed through their midst, holding high the official-looking documentwhich she thought had gained her this privilege, but which in realitythe officer had hardly noticed.

  Quite unconsciously, Maud had used their password in addressing herhorse, and to this she owed it that she was allowed to pass through theranks, the officer believing she came with orders from the King to thosein charge of the prisoners. She heeded not the looks of the soldiers;indeed, she scarcely saw them, but rode straight on to where an officerstood waiting to demand her business, and why the cavalcade had beenstopped.

  Maud handed him her packet. "It concerneth the prisoners," she said,panting with excitement.

  The officer took it from her hand, and rode back to another officerafter glancing at the address, and Maud, then face to face with thepale, weary-looking prisoners, glanced at them for the first time. Onewas looking at her and her horse most earnestly, but she did notrecognise him; and when the officer came back she rode on, wonderingwhether she had been in time to save them after all. The papers had beensent to the residence of the general in command, and they were stillhalting, to know the result of his reading them; and Maud was detained,lest she should be wanted too. They had not to wait long. In a fewminutes a soldier rode up with a note from the general. The prisonerswere to be taken back to their prison and the messenger released; andMaud was allowed to go on her way, while the whole cavalcade turnedback, to the great disappointment of the Oxford crowd, who would fainhave testified their loyalty to the King by making a holiday over theexecution of these rebels.

  Maud had no other care than to get out of the way of the crowd and thedetachments of soldiers; but as soon as a by-street was gained, and shewas left in comparative quiet, weariness and exhaustion almost overcameher, and for the first time she noticed that Cavalier had fallen lamewith his exertions. To get back to Hayslope Grange, as she had at firstintended, was therefore impossible, and she resolved to ask thehospitality of Mistress Stanhope for a few days. She hoped Master Drurywas there, but of this she could not feel sure; but whether or no he wasthere, she must go, and she made instant inquiry of a bystander forCaptain Stanhope's house. After some little difficulty she found it, andto her joy heard that Master Drury was there. He seemed much astonishedto see Maud, and Mistress Stanhope was in no little alarm at hertravel-stained appearance.

  "Has the rebel army appeared before Hayslope?" he asked, anxiously.

  "No," answered Maud, faintly smiling. "Nothing had happened to Hayslopewhen I left."

  "Then wherefore hast thou come here?" asked Master Drury. "Has anythinghappened to Mistress Mabel or the children?"

  "Nay, they are all well," said Maud. "I came as a messenger, to bringcertain letters from London to the King."

  "Marry, now be truthful, Mistress Maud," said Mary, "and tell us thouart come to see the gay city of Oxford."

  "Nay, nay; I came not for that," said Maud. "I have ridden hard to reachhere in time, so hard that Cavalier hath fallen lame with his journey,and needs rest more than I do."

  "Then I will order Cavalier's rest and refreshment while Mary looketh toyour wants," said Master Drury; and he went out at once, leaving the twoladies alone. Mistress Stanhope was proud to play the hostess to her oldcompanion, and as soon as she had changed her dress, and had somerefreshment, she insisted upon showing her new and fashionable house, inspite of Maud's evident weariness. At length she was allowed to take upa book and sit down in peace, for some other visitors had called, andMary was obliged to go to them.

  The book Maud had taken up was quite a new one, just published, andwritten by Master John Milton, a schoolmaster of London. It was a volumeof poems, and Maud was soon absorbed in reading "Penseroso." Marysuddenly entering the room some time afterwards quite startled her, andthe book slipped from her hand on to the floor. But Mary did not stay,she had only come for something to show her visitor; and as Maud pickedup the book, she went out again, and did not see how pale Maud hadsuddenly grown, as she sat and stared at the inner cover of the book.

  There was nothing very remarkable there,--only, "Mistress Stanhope, froman old friend. Oxford, 1645." But Maud knew that Harry's hand had tracedthose letters, and she wondered how it was he was at Oxford, and whetherhe was there now. When Mary came back Maud was still staring at her namein the book.

  "Marry, what are you looking at?" asked the young matron, glancing overher shoulder.

  "Harry wrote this?" gasped Maud.

  "I suppose he did," coolly spoke Mary; "but he had the grace to concealthe fact that I was his sister."

  Maud had noticed that he wrote "friend" instead of "brother."

  "Why should he do this?" she said.

  "Prithee, Maud, will you never see how he has disgraced our name?" saidMary, impatiently. "Nay, nay, you have not seen my father's misery sincehe hath been here, and how closely he hath kept himself shut up, lestany should hear his name."

  "But why should he do this?" asked Maud.

  "Why?" uttered Mary, "when all men are talking of the traitor rebel,Harry Drury, who was this day to be executed."

  Her voice faltered as she said the last words, although she tried toappear unmoved as she added, "But the execution is postponed, I hear."

  "Only postponed!" gasped Maud, who sat with widely staring eyes.

  "The letters were to save their lives, I heard."

  "What letters?" asked Mary.

  "Those I brought from Hayslope, where the parliament messenger liessorely wounded," said Maud.

  Mary did not wait to hear more, but went to meet her husband, who wascoming up the stairs. The gaily dressed officer bowed to Maud as heentered a few minutes afterwards, but she could see he looked annoyed.

  "Good-morrow, lady messenger," he said. "You did but reach Oxford intime, and if you had been an hour later 'twere better for his Majesty, Itrow."

  "Prithee, tell me why?" said Maud.

  "There would have been six stout-hearted rebels the less to fightagainst King Charles," said Captain Stanhope.

  "Are the prisoners released?" asked Maud, with an exclamation of joy.

  "Nay, nay, not yet; but we cannot afford to execute them, for the rebelarmy hath five thousand of our loyal troopers, and they propose toexchange some of these for the handful we have here in our prison, andHarry Drury is specially named as one of them--Harry Drury and GilbertClayton, whom Prince Rupert's men captured some time since."

  To describe Maud's feelings when she heard how near Harry had been to anignominious death would be impossible. For a time she could only bow herhead in her hands, and weep out her thanksgiving to God for His greatmercy; but by degrees the hope that she should soon see him graduallystole over her, until she recollected
that Harry would scarcely ventureto call upon them, even though he had seen her in the town; for shedoubted not but that the prisoner who had looked at her so closely wasHarry, although she had failed to recognise him.

  When Master Drury came in soon afterwards, it was evident he had heardthe news, although Harry's name was not mentioned.

  "Maud," he said, drawing his chair close to hers as soon as they wereleft alone, "you heard that the King's cabinet had been captured at thebattle of Naseby?"

  Maud bowed. "Hath it been retaken?" she asked.

  Master Drury shook his head. "Prithee, I would it had never existed," hesaid, "or that I knew not aught of it."

  "Have you seen the King's letters?" asked Maud.

  "All the world will see them shortly," sighed the gentleman. "The rebelshave published some of his papers, calling it 'The King's CabinetOpened.'"

  "Then all the world will know what a just and gentle monarch he is,"said Maud.

  "Alas! they will see that what these rebels say of him is true; that hehath tried to sell his people to a foreign foe," groaned Master Drury."All his doings with the Irish rebels, and his negotiations with foreignprinces to bring troops over here, are given in these papers."

  Maud started to her feet, flushed with indignation. "It is not true,"she said. "It would be unkingly--beneath the majesty of our royalCharles. It is a fabrication of the Parliament rebels."

  "I would fain think so if I could," sighed Master Drury; "but, Maud, Ihave heard from those who knew all the King's matters that these lettersare true copies of what were in the cabinet."

  Maud dropped into her seat as though she had been shot. "The King isfalse and untrue, then," she gasped, "and Harry is right after all."

  "Hush, prithee, hush!" said Master Drury. "You know not what you say,Maud;" but he did not speak as though he were angry that Harry's namehad been uttered.

  "Marry, but I cannot hold my peace when true and noble men are riskingtheir lives to fight for this false king," said Maud.

  "I will not fight," quietly spoke Master Drury. "I will go back with youto Hayslope."

  "Prithee, but you will see Harry before you leave Oxford?" said Maud, afaint colour stealing into her cheek as she spoke.

  Master Drury was deeply moved. It was evident he was longing to see hisson, but he said in a faint voice, "Nay, nay, I dare not see him. MaryStanhope has spread the report that I have cast him off as a traitorrebel, and my loyalty to the King would be suspected if I were to seehim now;" and he heaved a deep sigh as he spoke.

  "But it is true that you think the King false?" said Maud. "Harry didthe same, and avowed it."

  Master Drury winced at the implied reproach. "Nay, nay, I cannot go sofar as that," he said; "if I were I should be a rebel."

  "Then you must be false to yourself to _seem_ true to the King," saidMaud, boldly; "and that is why there are so many true and honest menamong the rebels, and why they are so strong. It is not their hatred ofoppression only, nor their wish to save England's liberties, as theysay; but they cannot do otherwise if they would be true tothemselves--true to God, who has said, 'Fear God,' first, and then'Honour the king.'"

  Maud was speaking for Harry, and that gave her courage, or she wouldnever dared to have said so much to her guardian. But it was all invain. Family honour demanded the sacrifice of principle--at least, sothought Master Drury--and he would not allow Maud to seek an interviewwith Harry, or claim acquaintance with the all but executed traitor.