The Span o' Life: A Tale of Louisbourg & Quebec
CHAPTER VI
HOW I TAKE TO THE ROAD AGAIN, AND OF THE COMPANYI FALL IN WITH
I fully expected an outburst from Lady Jane the moment we were inthe coach, but all she said was:
"Such a man! I have known women silly and vain; I have known womencruel and brainless; but such a combination of the qualities Inever expected to meet in man; it makes me blush for the vices ofmy sex!"
"Do not scold him, dear, do not scold him!" cried Margaret, joyously."My heart is too full of thankfulness to hear a word against him."
"My dear Mistress--Margaret," said I, "I would not for the worlddash your joy, but there is still much to do, for I doubt if eventhe King could give a pardon off-hand in this fashion. Remember,England is not France."
"Oh, do not say it is useless!" she cried, in sudden alarm.
"Not useless, certainly. I doubt, however, if the presentation ofthat scrap of paper before the gates of Fort William would rewardyou with anything more than the most bitter of disappointments anda broken heart. It was an easy way enough for his Grace to ridhimself of our importunities, but we'll make it more effective thanhe guesses. Now is the time for the Vicomte to play his part. Heis in a position where, with many anxious to do him favours, hecan readily place this in the proper channel where it will gothrough the necessary hands, of which we know nothing, and couldnot reach if we did; he can so place it without reflection on hisposition, without suspicion of his motive, and I'm certain you cancount upon his best efforts in your service."
"Come, come, Hughie!" broke in Lady Jane; "you needn't be tryingto take credit to yourself for what Gaston is only too ready todo. That your flattering and ready tongue stood us in good steadwith this silly noddy I'll not dispute, but I can readily see asclearly as he says he can; and though your suggestion is good, itshould end there. Let Gaston make his offers himself."
So I laughed, and at once abandoned that line of approach. LadyJane might not always have control of her temper, but she knewevery move a man might make, even before he realised it himself,as in the present instance; possibly this was the reason she wasso tolerant of my sex.
However, I had but little time for such reflections. The more Ithought over the end of our interview with the Duke the less Iliked it, and on comparing impressions with Lady Jane on our arrivalat Essex Street, she quite agreed that I was in a ticklish position.London was then infested with spies, most of whom had a keen scentfor what the failure of our late enterprise had now fixed as treason,and despite my precaution in keeping out of questionable resortsand company, I knew that in my case 'twas little more difficult tosmoke the Jacobite, than the gentleman, in whatever disguise Imight assume.
"Hughie, I'm not one for silly alarms," said Lady Jane, "but Imistrust that doddering old pantaloon, and 'you must build a highwall to keep out fear.' You've done all you can here, and I doubtbut you've got yourself in a rare coil in the doing of it. Now toundo it as best we may."
"I'll not deny that things look 'unchancy,' as we say in the North,Cousin Jane; but, for the life of me, I don't see how they are tobe bettered by anything I can do now."
"My heart! But men are slow to see ahead! We will be away out ofthis the moment we are assured of this young callant's safety, ina week or so at most, I hope. I will take ship from Harwich, andyou shall journey with us as my servant, my courier."
"Do you think that is absolutely necessary, cousin?"
"Hughie, Hughie, how long will you continue to walk with Vanity?"
"Just so long as I must lie down with Adversity, cousin. Cannotyou understand it is humiliating for a man of my condition to gomasquerading about the country as a lackey?"
"Not so readily as I can understand the awkwardness of being laidby the heels, Master Hughie. Now don't have any more nonsense! Doyou start off this very night for Huntingdon, and lie at the BellInn there, until you hear from me. It will not be for more than aweek. Let me see, yes, 'Simpkin' will be a good name for you."
"Do I look like Simpkin?" I returned, indignantly.
"My certes, no! You look more like the Grand Turk at the moment,"she answered, laughing. "But you must conceal your rank, my lord,by your modesty and 'Mr. Simpkin,' until I can offer it a moreeffective covering in a suit of bottle-green livery."
"I trust your ladyship will not require any reference as tocharacter?"
"It is written on your face, sir. There! I will countersign it foryou," whereat she put her two hands on my cheeks and kissed me.
"'Pon my soul, Cousin Jane, I don't wonder the men raved over you!"I said, in admiration.
"No, poor things, it doesn't take much to set them off at the bestof times. But do not begin your flatteries, Hughie; even age is nowarrant for common-sense when it meets with old gratifications. Beoff, now, and get back here for supper, ready for your travels."
I hurried off to my old lodgings, and soon made such preparationfor my journey as was necessary.
When I parted from Mistress Routh I said: "I have learned duringthe time spent under your roof how irrevocable your resolve is,and have accepted it as absolutely as yourself, but now that I amgoing away from England, which I shall probably never set foot inagain, and it is still more probable that we may never meet, I haveone promise to exact which you cannot refuse. It is presumable myway in life will be in some degree successful, and that my son maysome day need such aid as I may be able to give him; he is yourswhile you live, but promise me when your time comes you will tellhim who his father is. Because you have chosen a different way oflife from mine, do not be tempted to allow the boy to go to strangerswhen you know he has a heart waiting to love and cherish him. Ihave never done a dishonourable action in my life, so far as I canjudge, and, if only for his sake, I will always try and keep myconscience free to make the same affirmation. A message to Mr.Drummond, the banker, in Charing Cross, will always find me. Canyou refuse?"
"No; it is only justice. Your claim comes after mine. I promise Iwill not die without telling the boy who you are."
For herself she resolutely refused to take a shilling more thanwas due for my lodging, but I succeeded in forcing her acceptanceof a matter of twenty pounds, the last of my own money, not LadyJane's, to be used for the boy. She stood beside me silent andunmoved while I kissed him in his sleep, and when I parted fromher she said, "Good-bye, Captain Geraldine," with a composure Ifain would have assumed myself, but it was impossible.
The supper at Lady Jane's was gay enough, even the Vicomtecontributing his modicum of entertainment, no doubt stimulatedthereto by the thought of my near departure, and surely, when aman may give pleasure by his goings as well as by his comings, heis in a position to be envied. I sang Jacobite songs that eveningwith an expression that would have carried conviction to the Dukeof Cumberland himself, and when I took my departure with the Vicomteafter midnight, I left a veritable hot-bed of sedition behind.
My companion, though outwardly civil, took my little pleasantrieswith so ill a grace that I was in a measure prepared for his wordsat our parting before the coach-office.
"Chevalier, you are a man of many charming parts; I trust you willlong be spared to exercise them in quarters where they may fail togive offence to any one."
"My dear Vicomte," I replied, "Providence has bestowed on me onlymy poor talents, but has not granted me the power to provideappreciation in others. Still, if you should feel at any time thatI am answerable for your personal short-comings, do not, I pray,let any false delicacy stand in your way. I should be complimentedin sustaining such an argument." At which he only bowed in hisstateliest manner, and wishing me a safe journey, bent his stepstowards St. James's Street.
I must confess such a quarrel would have been infinitely to mytaste, but unfortunately there would have been no satisfaction tome, even had I pushed it to a successful issue. My way towardsMargaret was stopped by a much more serious obstacle than any manwho ever drew sword. Did the Vicomte but know this, possibly myconnection with Lady Jane might not have appeared to him so radicala reason for keepin
g the peace between us. With these thoughts andothers germane to them I whiled away the time until the coach wasready, and at the dead hour of two in the morning we rolled out ofLondon on our way to Huntingdon, where we arrived at eight thefollowing evening.
I put up at the Bell, which was comfortable enough, and made shiftto employ my time through the long week before me in some mannerthat would reasonably account for my stay in a dull country townwhich offered no attractions to a man of fashion.
At length my letters reached me, and my gorge rose at the address:
_Mr. Simpkin,_ _Lying at the Bell Inn,_ _Huntingdon._
Now it had never cost me a second thought to travel as a pedlarwhen making my escape from Scotland, but this wishy-washy nonentityof a name annoyed me beyond measure. Think you, did ever "Mr.Simpkin" salute at Fontenoy, or make a leg at Marly? I doubt it.Nor is it strange that a man, with no more vanity than myself,should find some little vexation at the perversity of Lady Jane infastening this ridicule upon me. That it was intentional I couldnot doubt from her letter, for she rallied me upon it at every turnshe could drag in. However, I had the consolation that I was tojoin her forthwith at Harwich, and my journey across the countryover bad roads with a pair of wretched nags gave me more materialdiscomforts to rail at, and by these means I brought myself to aframe of mind that I could at least imagine Lady Jane's enjoymentof her childish jest.
When I reached Newmarket, I found, to my disgust, it was impossibleto go forward again that night, but was on the road bright andearly the next morning; however, it was evening before I was setdown at a decent-looking inn beside an arm of the sea, across whichI saw the spires of Harwich twinkling a welcome to me in the settingsun.
Having settled with the post-boys, I desired the land-lord to attendme within.
"I see you have boats there, which is fortunate, for I wish to beset across the water at once," I said, on his entry.
"That is impossible, your honour; it is too late."
"Nonsense, my man. There is for a bottle of your best, and enoughto make up to you my not remaining overnight. I must set off atonce!"
"But, your honour, it can't be done. No boat is allowed to crossafter sunset. The frigate lying there is for no other purpose thanto prevent it. 'Tis on account of the smuggling."
"Don't talk such rank nonsense to me, sir. Do I look like a smuggler?"
"No, your honour, you do not, so far as I can judge."
"Then come, my man, I must be put across."
"Oh, sir, 'tis of no use; I should be a ruined man," cried thepoor-spirited creature, almost snivelling.
Seeing this, I tried him on a new tack. "You scoundrel!" said I,laying my hand on my sword and advancing towards him threateningly,"if you fail to have me on my way before half an hour is over, I'llpink the soul out of you."
"Oh Lord, sir, have a care what you do!" he shrieked in terror,and before I could intercept him he had thrown open the door intothe adjoining room, where three officers sat at their wine beforethe fire.
"Captain Galway! Your honour! I am undone for upholding the law!Save me! Save me!"
"Damn you for a whining hound! What do you mean by rushing in likethis?" roared the officer addressed, who I marked wore a navaluniform.
During the babel of explanations which followed from the terrifiedcreature, I was by no means easy in my mind, for I could not butthink the frigate was stationed there for a purpose that touchedme more nearly than smuggling, and certainly King's officers werenot the company I should have chosen. But hesitation would havebeen the height of folly. I advanced assuredly, and addressing thecompany, said:
"Gentlemen, your pardon, for I am afraid that I am really more toblame than this poor man, who it appears was only preventing anunintentional breach of the law on my part. The truth is, I am mostanxious to cross over to Harwich to-night, and had no thought tomeet with any obstacle in my design, least of all that I should betaken for a smuggler."
There was a laugh at this, and he whom the inn-keeper had addressedas Captain Galway said, roundly enough:
"Thank God, sir, his Majesty's officers have still something abovethe excise to look after!"
"Then, sir," I replied, though his words confirmed me in my suspicion,"I have but this moment paid for a bottle of our host's best; wecan discuss it with your leave, and it may serve as footing for myinterruption."
There were bows on all sides at this, and my gentleman introducedhimself as Captain Galway, commanding the _Triumphant_, now ridingat anchor in the bay, and his friends as Major Greenway and CaptainHargreaves, of the 32d Regiment. In turn I introduced myself asMr. Johnstone, for I was determined to have done with Mr. Simpkin,come what might.
"Ah!" drawled Captain Hargreaves, "one of the Johnsons of Worcester?"
"No," I answered, shortly; "mine is the Border family, but I comedirect from London."
Much to my relief, our host now made his appearance with the wine,and put an end to this uncomfortable questioning. His sample provedexcellent; so good that I doubted if even the smuggling story mightnot have some foundation, and so exact was it to Captain Galway'spalate that before we had made an end of the second bottle he sworeby all his gods, whose seats appeared to be chiefly in those partswhich served for his most important corporate functions, that Ishould be put across the water though he had to do it himself.
So far everything seemed to run exactly to my liking; but when athis invitation I took my place in the stern-sheets of his boat, itwas not without uneasiness I observed Captain Hargreaves draw himaside and whisper to him earnestly, and on his taking his place Isaw his humour was altered.
He ordered his men to give way in a voice that suggested the clapof a prison door, and his first words to me were scarce reassuring:
"You are from the Border, you say, Mr. Johnstone? Possibly fromthe northern side?"
"He ordered his men to give way in a voice thatsuggested the clap of a prison door."]
"Yes," I answered, seeing what was before me, and cursing the illluck that had drawn me into such a trap, but determined to put abold face on it. "Yes, I am from Kirksmuir, beyond Lanark."
"Then you may know my midshipman here, Mr. Lockhart, of Carnwath?"and he indicated a lad about eighteen beside me.
My heart sank within me, for this very boy's elder brother hadunfortunately been drawn into this unhappy rebellion, and with himI had been intimate. I had been a constant guest at his father'shouse, and it was impossible to tell what this youngster might haveheard.
"Mr. Lockhart's family is honourably known, sir, throughout ourcountry, and I doubt not he can speak equally well of my own," Ireturned, in my best manner, and fortunately for me the lad waseither so bashful, or so busily employed in racking his brain topuzzle out what family mine was, that he could make no reply, andI went on, with my most careless air:
"Surely, Captain Galway, it is unnecessary to keep so far down withthe tide as it sets. I would not take you out of your way for theworld."
"Oh, nonsense!" he cried, with a poor attempt at heartiness. "Youshall come on board. We too seldom meet with one of your qualityto part so easily. You must make your excuses to your friends. Sayyou were kept a prisoner." And he laughed loudly at his wit.
Good heavens! how I despised the man who could make a jest of afellow-creature in such a strait! Had I been a swimmer, I wouldhave taken the chance of a plunge over the side; but in my casethat would have been little short of suicide.
"Come, sir, come! You make a poor return for my offer of hospitality,"he continued, banteringly; "you are not at all the same man I tookyou for at the inn."
"Pardon me," I returned, quickly, for his last remark spurred meto my utmost effort, "you gentlemen who go down to the sea in shipsforget that we landsmen find even the wobble of a boat discommoding.No man is the same with an uneasy stomach."
"Next thing to an uneasy conscience--eh, Mr. Johnstone?"
"Worse, sir, far worse. You may forget the one at times, but theother is never at rest."
"Oh, well, we are for a time now, at all events!" he cried, witha ring of triumph in his voice, as we slowed up alongside the greatship, and the sailors made us fast by the ladder.
"After you, sir," said my tormentor, as he pointed upward, and,willy-nilly, I mounted the shaking steps with the horrid thoughtthat perhaps it was the last ladder I should mount save one thatwould lead to a platform whence I would make my last bow to ahowling mob at Tyburn.
"It is fast growing dark, sir; we will not stand on ceremony," saidthe captain, leading to the cabin.
"Do not, I pray," I answered, with some firmness, for now I wasonly anxious for the last act of the ghastly farce to end; thesuspense was growing intolerable.
When wine and glasses were placed before us, the captain filledthem both and raised his.
"'Pon my soul, Mr. Johnstone, I am sorry to lose so good a companion,but we must not put your landsman's endurance to too hard a proof.I wish you a safe arrival with all my heart! My men will put youashore at once."
I was so fluttered by the unexpected turn and the honest heartinesshe threw into his words that I could scarce reply, but in some wayI made my acknowledgments. In a few moments I was over the sideand speeding towards the Harwich shore with all the force of sixoars pulled by six impatient men, and I'll wager none among themwas so impatient as the passenger they carried.