knowledge of the place tofulfil Lady Markham's wishes, and over these he worked the harder,because he felt that by hastening the production of the necessaries forthe troops, much waste and destruction would be spared.
The result was that in less than an hour the Hall was occupied by thelittle force, which was in high good humour with its pleasant quarters,while sentries were put in different directions, and every precautiontaken against surprise.
"Capital quarters, my boy," said the general, as he sat with hisofficers in the old oak dining-room; "and I wish your father was here toshare them. But you have not taken care of yourself in all thisbusiness."
"Oh, I have snatched a little food, sir," replied Fred. "I'm nothungry, but--"
"Well, what is it? Speak out. What do you want?"
Fred hesitated for a moment, as if collecting himself.
"You know that the Manor is only two miles from here, sir?"
"Eh? So near. No; I knew it was somewhere about this part," said thegeneral, smiling. "Oh, I see, my boy. Well, it's quite right, butrisky. And besides, we may stay here a week or we may stay a minute.How do I know how soon the enemy may rout us out? No, Fred, my boy,love must give way to duty. I cannot spare my young officer, even to goand see his mother, much as I should like to say `Yes.'"
"You mistake me, sir," said Fred, colouring a little. "I would not haveasked leave at this busy time for that."
"Then what do you want, my boy?"
"Lady Markham and her daughter, sir. This is no place for them."
"Humph! No. But we have no time for paying attentions to ladies."
"No, sir; but what I want to do is a little thing. We may stay heresome time, and other troops join us."
"Yes, I am expecting reinforcements. What do you want to do?"
"As this may be quite a rendezvous for some time, to get them away."
"I cannot undertake such duties, my boy; but Lady Markham and herdaughter are free to go anywhere."
"Thank you, sir. That is what I want; but the only asylum for them isour old home, and they would not go there unasked."
"Well, ask them."
"It would be of no use."
"My good lad, I am tired out. I want to snatch a few hours' sleep.What is it you want?"
"I want to take half a dozen men to ride over and fetch my mother here.They were once dear friends, and if my mother came, she could persuadeLady Markham, for her child's sake, to go back with her."
The general sat frowning for a few minutes, during which he poured out alittle wine in a long Venice glass, filled up with water, and drank.
"Yes," he said in a quiet, decided voice, as he set down his glass,"take a sergeant and half a dozen--no, a dozen men, ride over and do thebusiness as quickly as you can, so that the men and their horses may getback and rest. It means a double journey, you see. No; no thanks.Despatch!"
Fred looked his thanks, and retired with the promptness loved by hisleader; and a very short time later, just as the turret clock wasstriking ten, he rode out with his little detachment, being challengedagain and again by the mounted sentries placed along the road whichskirted the west end of the lake.
"Only think of it, Master Fred," whispered Sergeant Samson Dee, as theyrode slowly along beneath the light of the stars--"going home in thisway. What will the mistress say?"
They were not long in hearing.
As they rode over the familiar ground, Samson was very silent, for hewas thinking of the old garden, while Fred felt a swelling sensation athis breast as every object so well-known peered cut of the surroundingdarkness. There was the pond in which Dodder took refuge one day afterhe had broken out of the field to escape capture, and there stuck sotightly in the mud that cart ropes had to be thrown over him, and he wasdragged out looking the most drenched and deplorable object possible.
There, looming up under the stars, was the great hollow elm where theowls regularly bred and slept all day. Another minute, and the horses'hoofs were slashing up the babbling water of the stream which crossedthe road--the tiny river where they had so often waded after trout andstone loaches.
There at last, calm and still in the starlight, lay the Manor, and theyoung officer felt a wild kind of joy, which he had to fight down, lesthe should seem childish before his followers, for the impulse of themoment was to leap from the horse and rush through the garden, over thelawn, and up to the doorway, shouting for joy.
But discipline, the desire to seem manly, and a strange feeling of dreadkept him calm and stern beyond his years, the feeling of dread soondominating the other sensations. For how could he tell but that a partyof the enemy had ridden up to his dear old home, as they had thatevening ridden up to Scarlett's, and were perhaps behaving with far lessconsideration than they had shown? and how did he know that his oldhabitation was not a ruin, and his mother a wanderer far away.
A curious dimness came over his sight at these terrible thoughts, and hefelt as if he were going to fall from his horse. His old injuriesthrobbed and stung, and it seemed to him that his fears were correct,for the old Manor did not look as it should be. Surely the windows wereall bare of glass, the great chimney stack was down, and the ivy whichclothed the front torn away and scorched by fire.
The giddy sensation increased, and he involuntarily clutched the pommelof his saddle as he bent forward, staring wildly at the dear old place,when he was suddenly brought to himself by the voice of Samson, who saidaloud--
"All fast asleep. Oh, Master Fred, I wonder how my dear old gardenlooks."
The misty, giddy sensation had gone, and in a firm voice Fred cried,"Halt!"
For there before him, dimly seen in the starlight, lay the old Manor,quite unscathed, for the tide of war had not yet swept over that part ofthe pleasant land.
Fred dismounted, passed through the little oaken gate, and walking upthe path, was about to rap at the door with the hilt of his sword.
But the trampling of horses and a loud neigh like a challenge hadawakened those within. A well-known casement was opened, and a familiarvoice exclaimed--
"Who's there?"
"Mother!" whispered Fred, hoarsely.
There was a cry of joy from the open window; then a clicking noise offlint and steel, a light gleamed blue and faint on the ivy leaves whichframed the casement; then a brighter light, and in a few minutes thelower windows were illumined; there was the sound of the bolts beingshot, and directly after Fred was in the little hall, clasped in hismother's arms.
"My boy!" she whispered in a deep voice. Then, in a quick, agitatedmanner, "Your father?"
"Safe and well, mother."
"And you have come to stay? Thank God, thank God."
"No, not to stay," he cried earnestly, "but to ask you to perform aduty, an act of kindness towards--"
"Some wounded men? Yes, yes, my boy; bring the poor fellows in."
"No, no, mother, not towards men," said Fred, holding her tightly to hisside, "to one who was once your dearest friend--to her and her child."
"Lady Markham? Oh, Fred, my boy, they are still dear to me, though thisterrible war keeps us apart. But they are there. Oh, why do you stop?Bring them in at once."
"No, no, dearest mother, you are too hasty," whispered Fred. "They areat their own place. But it is taken by our troops. It is to be alittle camp for us, perhaps for weeks. It is no place for them.General Hedley consents, and I want you to come and fetch them here."
"Yes, yes, my boy; but Lady Markham would not leave her home."
"Yes, she will, at your persuasion, mother. You must come at once."
Mistress Forrester drew a long breath, stifled a sob, and said firmly--
"I will be ready in a few minutes."
"Shall I saddle Dodder, mistress, or will you ride pillion behind thecaptain?" said a gruff voice at the door.
"Ah, Samson, my good, true lad," cried Mistress Forrester, "I am glad tohear your voice again."
She ran forward, and held out her hand.
"And
it's like the sweet music of the birds to hear yours, mistress,"said the rough fellow, kissing the extended hand.
"Quick, my boy!" whispered Mistress Forrester. "Give your menrefreshment. Saddle the pony, Samson. I will soon be down."
She ran to the staircase, and Samson tramped off to the old stable,thrust his hand in the thatch over the door, where, to use hisexpression, "the key always laid," and a neigh of recognition greetedhim as soon as he spoke.
In five minutes he was leading the pony round to the gate, where he wasin time to find a huge black jack of cider being passed round with hornsto the men, one of the maids having hastily dressed and come down.
Directly after, in her dark