The Admirable Lady Biddy Fane

  CHAPTER XIX.

  I MAKE MYSELF KNOWN TO LADY BIDDY, WITH DIVERS OTHER MATTERS.

  Scarce had this piteous moan passed her tender lips when Rodrigues (as Iam told), opening the door, made her a mighty respectful reverence, and,says he--

  "Madam, I am delighted you have recovered of your swoon, and I trust youfeel no ill-effect of the rough usage we were forced to exercise inbringing you hither."

  "Where am I?" cried Lady Biddy, fiercely. "Why have you brought mehere?"

  "You are on board the _Robin Goodfellow_," says he, gravely, "or, as myfellows prefer to call it, the _Black Death_; and I have brought youhere because I had not the heart to leave you on the _Faithful Friend_,to endure the hardships to which her company must be reduced."

  "Where is my uncle? Get you hence and bring him to me!" she cries, withthe same impetuous fury.

  "In anything else I shall obey you punctually," says he; "but it isimpossible for me to comply with this demand, for Sir Bartlemy Pengillyis in the ship yonder, which we are leaving behind."

  "You gave him your promise that not one of those who were in theroundhouse should be injured in any way if he laid down his arms. It wasto save me from the violence of your crew that he submitted himself withthe brave men who stood by him."

  "Madam, it was to that very end I gave my promise. Undoubtedly, had youruncle stood out, I could not have stayed my company from firing into theroundhouse and putting an end to the obstinate resistance there,notwithstanding you were likely to have fallen a victim with yourfriends."

  "Would to God we had met that fate, rather than trust to your promises,dastard villain!" says she; "for then had there been an honorable end totheir woes and mine."

  "Patience, patience, lady!" says he, in a tone calculated only to arouseher greater indignation. "You are much too young to die, and toobeautiful. Trust me, your fate will be a happier one than you can atpresent conceive. When your spirits are calmer you will see that thisunfortunate business is due to the impetuosity of your uncle, and that Iam the best friend you could have found, in the midst of deplorablecircumstances. Your uncle fired the first shot, and the first man whofell in the conflict was on board this ship. Could you expect my men tosee their innocent comrades slaughtered with indifference, or me to makeno effort for their preservation from further mischief? We fought, andhaving overcome those who would have overcome us, we did all that amagnanimous victor could reasonably afford to do. We forgave those wholaid down their arms, and gave them a ship to continue their journey in.I had promised no injury should be inflicted upon you, and for thatreason I brought you hither, where, as you see, you will be notill-lodged, and shall have the best nurture and service the stores andmy company can offer. Had I left you on the _Faithful Friend_ your casewould have been different, for the vessel is badly injured, and I fearthe company will be sorely put to it for provisions, as, to supply ourown wants, we were obliged to take from her stores--a poor recompensefor the loss and injury inflicted upon us. I have been careful to haveyour personal effects brought hither for your use; they are here. Ifanything is short of your requirements, or if--"

  "Silence!" cried Lady Biddy, who, turning her back on Rodrigues, hadtried to turn a deaf, indifferent ear to his harangue, but was at lengthby his long-winded perseverance and mock-humility wrought to anintolerable degree of impatience. "Silence!" cries she, turning upon himand stamping her little foot. "Leave me, or, by my soul, I'll put an endto this torment another way," and indeed (as I learn) she did lookaround in desperation for some instrument wherewith to destroy herself,being very bitterly aggrieved by this hypocrite.

  Again this Rodrigues makes her a low reverence, and with his hand on thedoor says, "I shall hope to find your spirits easier when I next givemyself the pleasure to inquire after your condition. I have hadrefreshment placed in this next cabin, and should you need anything, youhave but to pull the bell. And so good-morning to your ladyship."

  Lady Biddy gave him no reply, but as soon as he had closed the seconddoor after him--turning the key in the outside, she ran to the bed, andcasting herself upon it, gave vent to her feeling in an agony of tears.

  And to hear her sobbing above me, yet striving to smother the sound,lest Rodrigues should know that her pride had broken down, would havetouched any stony heart. It was so pitiful to my ear that the tearscoursed down my own cheeks as I listened.

  Thus she sobbed in a great tumult for some while, and then her passionsoftening into mere maiden's sorrow, she murmured in a low tone, stillsmothering her sweet voice in the pillow lest it should be heard, andyet not able to keep quite silent either--"Oh, my heart! Oh, my poorheart!" and this she said over and over again--"Oh, my poor heart! Oh,my heart!" with mournful tremor, unable to find other words to expressthe commotion of her feelings.

  Now would I have given anything to be of comfort to her, yet I dared notcome forth from where I lay, lest my sudden appearance should move herto cry out with terror ere she discerned who I was, which would havebrought Rodrigues back in a twinkling, and ruined all. So I waitedpatiently awhile, and when she ceased to make moan, and only sobbed atintervals, like a child exhausted with weeping, I began to gentlyscratch the tick of the bed with my finger-nail, making no more noisethan might a mouse nibbling.

  Of this she at first took no notice, but anon I observed she smothered asob, as if to listen with greater attention, and then by the movementabove I noticed she had started up as if resting on her elbow; as Istill continued the scratching, she presently made a movement of theclothes, as if to frighten the thing away, for the bravest of women dogreatly fear a mouse; upon which, ceasing to scrape the tick, I saidquickly, in a very low whisper--

  "Do not cry out, a friend is here--I, Benet Pengilly!"

  Then whipped she off the bed, yet making no sound, and I, putting myhands and feet as I have aforesaid against the wall, pushed myself outfrom my cramped hiding-place, and got upon my feet before her, raisingmy finger and casting my eyes about for fear of discovery.

  I must have been very villainous and horrid to look upon, my hairuntrimmed and hanging about my face in dank wisps clotted with bloodfrom my wound, my clothes in a like pickle, and no cleaner in my fleshthan the sea had washed me the day before; but such horrors had she seenthat her senses were, as it were, the accustomed to such dreadfulimages, and she saw me no worse than others, but rather better, forbeing there a friend where she thought was none but enemies.

  Catching the meaning of my gesture, she went quickly to the panel doorand spied into the next cabin, whence she came back light of foot,nodding to assure me all was safe. Then she gave me her hand, and Itaking no heed whether mine was reasonably clean or proper to hold sodainty, delicate a thing, took it; and to feel those soft, cool fingersclinging tightly to my rough palm, did seem to contract every muscle ofmy back with physical delight. Also was my heart quickly moved with joyto perceive in her dear eyes--though they were swollen and red withweeping--a bright beam of hope and satisfaction, whilst the corners ofher lips curved with a little smile.

  Coming quite close to me, she whispered eagerly in my ear--

  "You will save me, Benet, won't you? You will be my good friend?"

  "Ay," says I as softly as she (if that might be). "With God's help, noharm shall befall you."

  On this she presses my hand a little closer, and then goes again to thedoor, from which she returns with almost a child's glee to tell me allis safe, and to ask by what miracle I came to her succor.

  This joy in the midst of such trouble and peril, this kindness to me forwhom she had shown little liking hitherto, but rather detestation forthe most part, will seem unnatural, as being contrary to the proud, highspirit and independence of Lady Biddy, and so would it have been at anyother time; but there is none--be he a man and never so strong--butgrief and terrible anxiety will reduce to the unresisting soft temper ofa child; so I do think and thus explain this truth. And, indeed, shegave present proof of weakness, for while the smile was yet on her lips,she clasps her ha
nd to her heart and sinks down, sitting on the bed asif she could no longer hold her footing.

  Seeing she was faint, I went with all speed and reckless into the nextchamber for that refreshment Rodrigues said was set there for heruse--than which no madder thing fool ever did, for there were windowsopposite the gallery looking on to the deck, and had one been pryingthere I must have been seen, for all the two curtains were drawn, therebeing space enough for one to peep through from the outside if he wereso minded. But--thanks be to God!--there was no one spying, and so I gotthe tray of refreshments from the table where it lay and carried it intothe next cabin with no mischance.

  This tray I set on the bed beside Lady Biddy, and she ate and drank withappetite, poor soul, for all the time they had been shut up in theroundhouse--she, with her uncle, and the poor remnant of hiscompany--not one had broken fast, for there was neither bit nor sup tobe got. Which also is a reason for that behavior of Lady Biddy's towhich I have spoken as seeming unnatural.

  While she satisfied her own cravings she made me eat likewise, whereto Iwas nowise loth myself, having eaten nothing for many hours but a fewpaltry raisins.

  As she sat on the bed, I knelt on the ground by her feet for my betterconvenience in eating and also conversing in that low tone to which wewere constrained. So as we ate I told her how I had come aboard andhidden myself, with other matters which there is no necessity to repeat;and this I did with reasonable calm, but the abounding joy and gladnessof my heart to be there alone with that dear lady, kneeling at her veryfeet, listening to her whisper, feasting my eyes when hers were on therefreshment and I dared to do so unseen, no pen can describe, as I doubtalso no imagination can conceive.

  After she had eaten and drunk and would no more, being much refreshedand invigorated, I was for taking the tray back; but here her quick witappearing where my dullness showed, she pointed out the danger, andtaking the tray, carried it herself into the next chamber.

  Coming back she seated herself on a settle that ran along one side ofthe cabin and bidding me sit beside her, asked how I meant to contriveher escape, which indeed would have been a poser for me at another time,but did now to my excited imagination appear the easiest thing in theworld. For when one's spirits are filled with joy there seems nothinginsurmountable, as, on the other hand, in grief we can see no way out ofour trouble.

  "Why," says I, "we need not fear but we shall get away safe enough, andshortly too. For, as Rodrigues obligingly told you, the company is shortof victuals, and must therefore lose no time in seeking a port wherethey can refresh with meat and drink; besides that, the ship may needlooking to for the damage she has got. And being in a port where thereare Christian souls, what is to keep us here?"

  "A rascal named Rodrigues," says Lady Biddy very pertinently.

  "Pish!" says I. "I have escaped him times enough to know he is a fool,for all his pretense to cleverness. Nay, have I not hid myself under hisown cot in broad day? Not dreaming but you are helpless, he will thinkyou sufficiently secured if he locks the door and sets one of hisrascals to watch it. But the stern gallery is open, and as I got in socan I get out, with the night to give me help and better security."

  "Do you think it will be as easy for me?" asks Lady Biddy doubtfully.

  "Ay, I shall make it so, please God," says I. "For in the night that Iswim to shore will I bring back a boat, and by a ladder of ropes shallyou get down into it."

  Lady Biddy here nodded her head in hopeful approval.

  "Once on shore we may hide ourselves safely, I do not question, andRodrigues dare not waste a long time in looking for us, since thenecessity that brought him hither will also bring on Sir Bartlemy. Thendare not these rascal pirates stay, lest they bring themselves to theirwell-earned gallows."

  Then again Lady Biddy nodded to show her satisfaction, clasping herlittle hands at the same time, with a sigh in which all her troubleseemed to be wafted away. But in this moment of our confidence on futureescape were we brought to consciousness of our present peril by thesudden opening of the door in the further chamber.

  Together we started to our feet, and my first thought was to fetch thejack-knife from my pocket, but Lady Biddy, with that self-command whichdoes animate women above men in the hour of danger to do the right thingand not the foolish one, quickly laid her hand on my arm to keep mestill, and putting on as stern an air as any tragic player, went to thelittle betwixt door to ask Rodrigues why he dared disturb her.

  But no Rodrigues was there; for it was only the little blackguard boy hehad sent in to know if madam would take a dish of chocolate.

  When she had dismissed him, saying she needed no more today (it beingnow pretty nigh sundown, for I have bridged over many things), but wouldhave her breakfast brought the next morning at seven, she came back tome, and we continued to talk of our escape, like any children ofair-castles, till the light faded.

  And then with some trouble I began to see that I must presently go outof that chamber; and also I think Lady Biddy grew uneasy as to how Imight conduct myself in the darkness of night, and she, so to speak, atmy mercy.

  Again the outer door opened; and this time the boy came to light thehanging lantern. She left the between door open when the lamp was litand the boy again gone, and by a more cheerful bearing seemed to feelmore security for this light.

  "Presently," says I, "you will go in and put out that lamp."

  "Why? Is it not more cheerful to have a light?" says she.

  "Yes," says I, "but with that light burning I dare not go through thenext cabin."

  "Through it!" says she, in wonder, and yet with a little fear in hertone; "whither are you going?"

  "Out on the gallery," says I, "where I shall sleep very safely till themorning."

  This would she not hear of, but would have me lie in her room while shereposed on the sofett in the next; that would I not allow, and so atlength we compromised it in this wise: she kept her own chamber afterputting out the lamp, and I, having bolted the door in the outer cabin,lay myself on the cushions, she giving me her cloak that I might wrap itabout me and so seem to be she if by accident she so overslept herselfthat she could not admit me to the inner chamber before daybreak.

  And so with the cloak that she had worn on her dear body pressed to mylips, I fell asleep that night a happier man than ever before I had beenin all my life.