Roger Kyffin. He sprangforward, then stopped for a moment and hung down his head.
"You cannot come to own a wretched convict like me," he exclaimed, in atone of sadness.
"Do not say that, Harry," answered Mr. Kyffin, stepping forward andtaking his hands. "Not a moment's rest or happiness have I enjoyedsince I learned the dangerous position in which you were placed. Do notdoubt the regard I must ever have for you. I have discovered how youhave been deceived, and how you were induced to desert your truestfriend; I have therefore every excuse for you. I have learned that evenin this instance you are guiltless of disloyalty, and, believe me,Harry, however guilty you have been, I should still have looked upon youas a son."
"You make me desire once more to live," exclaimed Harry, for the firsttime perhaps in his life bursting into tears. "I thought no one caredfor me. I was prepared to die unknown and unlamented; and oh! tell me,Mr. Kyffin, does Mabel know of my condition?--has she discarded me?"
His voice trembled. He looked eagerly in his guardian's face for areply.
"No, Harry, indeed she has not discarded you. She is true-hearted."
"Is there any hope for me--must I suffer as so many unhappy men havedone?" gasped out Harry.
"There is hope, my boy. I cannot say for a certainty that you will besaved. Mabel herself obtained from the King a request to his ministersthat your life should be spared, and I have seen the governor of theprison, and he believes it confers sufficient authority on him not todeliver you up till his Majesty's pleasure shall be further known."
Mr. Kyffin then explained to Harry more clearly the particulars of whichthe reader is already aware. Harry Tryon sank down on his knees, andthanked Heaven from the depth of his heart for the prospect of a releasefrom the ignominious death for which he had been prepared. Alas! he hadnot often truly prayed. His grandmother had not attempted to teach himeven a form of prayer, and seldom, during the life he spent in Londonhad he ever dared to kneel to ask a blessing of his Heavenly Father. Hehad now, however, learned an important lesson. He had felt his utterhelplessness and weakness, and had discovered that when lifting up hisheart to God he received a strength and courage which he could by noother means have obtained.
"And Mabel! bless her for what she has done for me! But oh! Mr.Kyffin, tell me where is she, how is she?"
"She bears up wonderfully," answered Mr. Kyffin, "and even now she andher kind friend Mrs. Barbara Thornborough have gone to Mr. Pitt toendeavour, if possible, to see him, and obtain his warrant for yourliberation."
"Then I am sure she will succeed," exclaimed Harry, joyfully.
"Do not raise your hopes too high, my boy, and yet I would wish tosupport and encourage you," remarked Mr. Kyffin. "My stay with you nowmust be short, as I promised to meet Miss Everard after she had had aninterview with the minister. Even should he refuse, we must not loseheart. We must bring other influence to bear on him. However, Harry, Iknow you too well to think that there is any necessity to urge you notto despair. And now farewell. I purpose to return before long. I hopeto bring good news, but you must not be disappointed if it is not asgood as we wish. This mutiny, so happily quelled has been very serious,and might have proved most disastrous to the country. The nationtherefore is naturally little inclined to look with leniency on thosewho took a part in it, especially on the leaders; and from your havingbeen associated with Parker, you, in the ordinary course, could scarcelyexpect a pardon."
Mr. Kyffin was gone, and Harry was once more left to his own thoughts.The hours passed wearily by, they seemed longer than any during hisimprisonment. Sleep would not visit his eyelids. Anxiously he listenedfor every sound, hoping for the speedy return of his friend.
Meantime Mabel, who had parted from Mr. Kyffin at Mr. Thornborough'shouse after their return from Windsor, prepared to set out with Mrs.Barbara, attended by the two seamen and Paul,--to Mr. Pitt's house atPutney. She waited but a short time to obtain a little refreshmentwhich Mistress Barbara urged on her, and together they drove towards theresidence of the minister, while Mr. Kyffin proceeded down the river topay the visit to Harry which has been described.
It was late in the evening when they arrived at the villa. The twoladies, sending up their names, earnestly requested that they might beadmitted. Mr. Pitt was very much engaged, and could receive novisitors.
"Is Lady Hester at home?" asked Mrs. Barbara. "Her Ladyship mayremember me," she observed, turning to Mabel; "if she does, she will, Ithink, see us, and through her we may press our suit on her uncle."
The two ladies waited anxiously for the return of the servant.
"Lady Hester will see you, ladies," was the reply, and Mabel and herfriend descended from the carriage.
They were ushered into a handsome drawing-room, where Lady Hester wasseated alone at a writing-table.
"I remember you, Mistress Thornborough," she said, rising and comingforward in a gracious manner. "Tell me, to what cause am I indebted forthe honour of this visit?"
"My young friend here will explain it to you," said Mrs. Barbara, nowintroducing Mabel. "One in whom she is deeply interested has beenimplicated in the late mutiny at the Nore, and in consequence of properevidence not having been brought forward which would have proved that heacted under compulsion, he has been condemned to death. We have seenhis Majesty, who was acquainted with the young gentleman, and have nowcome, wishing to see Mr. Pitt, with two seamen of the ship on boardwhich he served, who can clearly prove that he was an unwillingparticipator in what took place. Still time is pressing."
"I can hold out but slight hopes of Mr. Pitt's interference," answeredLady Hester. "He sees the importance of preventing the recurrence ofsuch a mutiny by striking a wholesome terror into the minds of theseamen."
"But surely he would not wish an innocent person to suffer!" exclaimedMabel. "He can be proved innocent, believe me, your ladyship. The Kinghimself is convinced that he is so. Let me entreat you to beg Mr. Pittto grant a pardon to this young man."
"You take a warm interest in him," said Lady Hester, looking at Mabelsomewhat harshly.
"Yes, indeed I do, I have known him from his youth," answered Mabel."He is true and loyal, and would never have aided so dangerous aconspiracy as this appears to have been, to destroy the naval power ofEngland."
Lady Hester seemed to relent as she gazed at the young girl. "I amready to believe you," she answered, "that this young man is innocent.Tell me, how came he to be on board ship in the capacity of an ordinaryseaman?"
Mabel blushed and hesitated.
"Oh, I see how it was," said Lady Hester; "and now you repent. I willsee Mr. Pitt, and give him your statement of the case."
"Then may I beg you to deliver this letter from his Majesty at the sametime?" said Mabel, presenting the King's note.
Lady Hester took the paper, and remarked, as she rose to leave the room,"It may have weight with my uncle, but, at the same time, even the Kinghimself cannot turn him from his will when he has once made up hismind."
Once more the ladies were left in doubt and anxiety. Mabel could nothope much from Lady Hester's manner. Mrs. Barbara, who had seen herbefore, argued favourably. Lady Hester was some time absent.
At length the door opened, and she returned, followed by aslightly-built gentleman, scarcely yet of middle age, whose bright eyeand broad forehead betokened intellect of no ordinary kind. His mannerwas somewhat stiff and formal as, bowing to the ladies, who had risen atthe entrance of Lady Hester, he took his seat near them.
"You come with a request from his Majesty, I understand, to beg me tointerfere in the case of one of the mutineers of the Nore. HisMajesty's commands have always great influence with me; at the sametime, you must understand that the matter is one of a most seriouscharacter. A great many men have been pardoned who really took a partin the mutiny by supporting their leaders. If the leaders themselvesare pardoned, the men will think that, after all, the crime theycommitted was a slight one," he observed, in a tone of voice which madeMabel's hear
t sink within her.
"But, oh! sir," she exclaimed, pressing her hands before her in apleading attitude, "but this young man, Andrew Brown, for by that namehe is known, was not guilty of any evil intentions."
Mabel repeated the statement she had already made to the King.
"You plead his cause earnestly young lady," said the minister, "andright well, too. Let me see these witnesses, and if they give asatisfactory statement, I will recommend the young man as a fit subjectfor his Majesty's clemency. I cannot reverse the judgment of the court,you must remember. If that condemned him, condemned he must be, but hisMajesty can exert his prerogative of mercy, and both save his life andobtain his