CHAPTER SEVEN.
HOW I FOUND TROUBLE ON MY RETURN.
It surprised me to find how desolate I felt as I set out alone on thelast stage of my journey. For when I started from London not two weeksago I was blithe enough, and well content with my own company. Butsince Ludar came across my path, I was conscious that there was some manbetter and nobler in the world than Humphrey Dexter; and to be left nowto my own sweet society seemed a poor exchange for the companionship Ihad had the last few days.
My first thought was to find my way to Master Udal's at Kingston, so asto be near my friend and my enemy both at Richmond. But when Iremembered I had lost the minister's horse and failed to carry out hiserrand, it seemed to me wiser not to go near him at present, but push onto my master's house and make a clean breast of all to him.
The dawn was breaking as I got clear of the park and found the road toBrentford Ferry. I cared not much if Sir William's men came after me,nor was the prospect before me at my journey's end enough to urge meforward with much eagerness. So I dawdled the morning away on theriver's bank, bathing and lying disconsolately in the shade, so that itwas well-nigh mid-day before I reached the ferry.
Here the strangest adventure befel me. For as I sat watching the boatcome over towards me, I perceived that it contained three persons, ofwhom one was a serving man, and two were women. What was it which mademe tremble and catch my breath as my eyes lit on the upright, fearlessfigure of the maiden who sat in the stern? I knew her a hundred yardsoff. I stood irresolute, not knowing whether to fly or wait. If Iwaited and she knew me not, 'twould be more than I could bear. Yet, ifI fled, I were a paltroon and a boor.
I waited, and the minutes seemed hours while the boat came over. Therewere four horses also in the boat, one laden with baggage, as for ajourney. Were they then leaving London for some distant home where Ishould never see her more? Yet if so, why came they this way?
As they came to shore, I summoned up courage to advance. She knew me ina moment, despite my travel-stained garb and unkempt look; and held outher hand with a smile of mingled surprise and welcome.
"My kind protector," she said. "To think of meeting you in a place likethis."
"I am returning from a long journey," said I.
"And we are starting on a longer," said she.
"And a pretty prey we be," said the old nurse, "to all the bandits, andman slayers, and women eaters with which you English line your highroads. In Ireland, my pretty lady might walk alone from Bengore to theHead of Kinsale, and not a body would hurt her; but here, we durst notturn a corner, for fear of one of ye."
"Nay, Judy, talk not to our friend here as if he were one of them wefear. Besides," added she, seeing, I suppose, the trouble in my face,"we are like to have a brave enough escort, if what Sir William promisescome true."
Sir William! A great terror came over me when I heard that name.
"Are you then going to Sir William Carleton's?" said I.
"Yes, and how came you to know it?" said the maiden.
"Madam," said I, "pardon my boldness. Do you know who is there?"
I thought she looked offended at this, for she said, gravely:
"Sir William is my mother's kinsman. Is his house far from here?"
"Not far. I pray you let me take you so far."
"By no means," said she, "our ways lie in different directions. I havea conductor, as you see. Will you inform him as to the way?"
I obeyed, and, further, bade the fellow look well to his mistress, andkeep his eye on a certain captain, who might be at the place to whichthey went.
Then, as I assisted the maiden to mount her horse, I summoned upcourage, cost what it would, to say:
"Sir William hath a guest whom you and I saw last at Finsbury Fields. Ibeseech you, maiden, let me go thither as your servant."
She bridled up proudly, yet, not unkindly.
"No," said she, "if I needed a protector, I could have none better thanyou. But I need none. Farewell, and thanks, good Master Dexter. TheO'Neill's daughter will not forget that one Englishman at least neverdid her harm. Adieu."
And without waiting for more, she rode forward, followed by herattendants.
Then it seemed as if the sun had gone out of heaven. What was I, a meanLondon 'prentice, to such as she? Nay, what right had I to suppose sheneeded either my warning or my protection?
One thing only comforted me. Sir Ludar was still at his guardian'shouse, and with him there, no harm could well befall any distressedmaiden. In my vanity I even wished he could know that in serving her hewould be serving me, his friend. Yet, I fancied, if it came to thepoint, he might as soon wring the captain's neck for the maiden's sake,as for mine.
The one thing this meeting had gained for me, was that it assured me,however little she cared for me, she yet remembered me; and, further,now I knew her name, and that to one in my plight was no small prize.
"If your worship be not pressed for time," said a voice, "I am; so good-day to you."
I looked round, and there was my old acquaintance the ferryman, makingready to put off.
This roused me, and I jumped into the boat.
This time the ill-looking Charon made no venture for my purse. Littleenough he would have found in it, had he got it. He demanded his fareas if he had never before seen me; nor was it till I demanded if hisrascally mate, whom I pitched into the river, had ever reached theshore, that he condescended to recall what happened ten days before.
But I was in no humour to heed his bluster; and I let him swear on. Hadhe been civil I should have had to pay him; as it was, he spared methat, and was lucky that I did not crack his skull with his own oar,into the bargain. I spent the twopence on bread and meat at his inn,and he durst not refuse it; then, with light purse and heavy heart, Iset out to reach London that night. It mattered little to me that theway was beset with robbers and bullies. I had neither horse nor cloak;my homely apparel was rent and dirty; my boots were in holes, and mybelt was empty. I was not worth robbing, and the few who set on me inmistake, did not stay long when they found the temper I was in. So latethat night--it must have been towards midnight--I brought my journey toan end, and stood at my master's door.
Here a sore rebuff met me. For a long time I knocked and called invain, and woke the echoes of the sleeping Strand. Then from an upperwindow a voice descended:
"Who goes there? Hold your peace, with a plague on you, or I'll callthe watch."
"It is I, Humphrey Dexter. Is that you Master Walgrave?"
"Walgrave! Master Walgrave! you will find him where he has a right tobe, in the White Lion; and if you be the apprentice that he spoke of,harkee, the less you are seen about here the better for you; for theysay you are as great a knave as your master."
"The White Lion! My master in gaol!" cried I, amazed. "How comes that?Is it true or a lie? By whose order?"
"Make less noise at this hour," said the voice, "and if you doubt me, goand ask. But take my warning and be not seen too near here. Yourindentures are ended for long enough. Go and seek a new master and abetter; and leave me to sleep in peace."
With that, the window closed, and there was no more to be said.
I could scarcely believe the news the man told me. And yet, when Iremembered my master's disorderly ways, and the secret press in thecellar, it was easier understood. Yet it must be for some otherbusiness than that which took me to Oxford. For the Bishop's man I hadmet certainly never had Mr Walgrave's name from me, nor had a singlecopy of that scandalous libel, "A Whip for the Bishops," escaped fromthe hollow tree in Shotover wood.
If Master Walgrave were in durance vile, where was my mistress and herfamily? It was vain, I knew, to attempt to learn more from the sleepycaretaker, at least till morning; nor was there anyone else, that I knewof, from whom I could get satisfaction. So I had e'en to tramp thestreets like a watchman till daybreak; and weary enough I was at the endof it.
Then I remembered that Mistress Walgrav
e had a constant gossip inMistress Straw, the horologer's wife, three doors off. Perhaps MistressStraw could give me news. So I waited till the 'prentices (the same twowho had shamefully eaten hasty pudding that day the Queen came intoLondon), came to open the door and set out their ware. With them, to mysurprise, I saw Peter Stoupe, my fellow 'prentice. He looked sheepishwhen I hailed him.
"What, Humphrey," said he, in his doleful drawl, "thou hast returned atlast. In what misfortune dost thou find us! Our good master in prison,you and I homeless, my dear mistress and her poor babes--"
"Ay, what of them?" demanded I, in no humour to hear him out.
"My dear mistress and her poor babes," continued he, heedless of mytone, "dependent on the goodness of others. Oh! Humphrey, hadst thoustayed at thy post, instead of--"
"A pox on your canting tongue!" cried I. "Tell me where my mistress is,or, by my soul, I'll shake every tooth out of your head."
And I put my hand, not lightly, on his shoulder.
This brought him to reason; it generally did. Peter Stoupe could neverremember how to talk till he was reminded.
"She is here, in this house; and I am here to take care of her, by mymaster's orders," said he, "and there is no room for thee too."
"And Master Walgrave, when was he arrested, and why?" I asked.
"Only yesterday--pray, unhand me, good Humphrey, thy hand is irksome--apursuivant of his Grace's, with Timothy Ryder from Stationers' Hall, anda handful of the Company at their backs, made a sudden visitation, andsearched us up and down, till they lit on--you know what."
"The secret press," cried I, like a fool, letting him see that I knew ofit.
"Alack! Humphrey," said he, "there is nothing secret that shall not bemade manifest. Without more ado, my poor master was seized and hauledaway to the White Lion. 'Woe is me,' said he, as he departed, 'an enemyhath done this, Peter--a viper whom I have nourished at my hearth. Lookto my poor wife and little ones, my faithful friend'--these were hiswords--'and Heaven will reward thy faithful service.' It seemed to me,Humphrey, that when he spoke of the viper, he meant thee. Pray Heaven Imay be wrong." Fancy if I felt merry at this speech! But that I knewby the blink of his eyes the rogue was lying, I could have saved thegallows a job. As it was, I flung him aside and went into the house.
No one but the 'prentices were stirring; so I sat in the shop andwaited. It cost me a pang to see the gourmands devour their breakfast,with never a bite for myself; yet, since Peter Stoupe was of thecompany, it would have cost me a greater pang to eat, had any beenoffered me--which it was not. For a round hour I sat there, like ahungry bear, neither speaking nor spoken to, when at last there came thesound of a halting footstep on the stairs.
It was my sweet little mistress, and at sight of me she broke forth intocrying and laughing.
"Oh, he has come! _Maman! voici notre bon Humphrey_. Why did you stayso long? Why were you not there to save our _pauvre pere_? Oh, I amglad to have you back. We shall be happy again."
And she put up her face to be kissed, which I did with beating heart;for she had never looked to me so sweet, nor had her voice sounded solike music to my ears.
"They said you had deserted us," said she, "but I knew it was a bad lie.Peter, _mechant_, what think you now, he has come back, our Humphrey?Go and tell _maman_, and Prosper and the little ones."
You would have been sorry for Peter at that! His face was glum enoughwhen I kissed my little mistress; but it looked fairly ugly when shesent him on this errand. What cared I? There were some yet who thoughtnot ill of Humphrey Dexter.
Mistress Walgrave, my dear mistress, received me sadly yet kindly.Whether she had believed the false tales of my fellow 'prentice or not,I know not. But she had nothing but welcome for me when she heard mystory. And when it was done she told me how she wished I had been homewhen all the trouble happened.
"'Tis as well this journey of yours failed," said she. "It might havebrought us even greater peril. Your master is too busy a man; one presswas not enough for him, nor one libel. What they took was I know notwhat, some lamentable complaint, far less harmful than that we sewed inyour cloak. How they knew of it, we know not."
"And what is to be done now?" I asked.
"We cannot stay here," said she, "Mistress Straw, kind as she is, hathnot the room nor the means to keep us. Besides, my husband bade me,when this happened, seek shelter from Master Udal, the minister, atKingston. To him we must go, anon. As for you and poor Peter--whomeans well, I think--I grieve for you. For I can give you neither worknor board."
"Nay," said I, "you are not done with me, mistress. I will at least seeyou and the little ones safe to Kingston. But first I would see mymaster, if I may."
"You may try," said she, brightening up, "but before that, you must havefood, for you look weary and half-starved. Come, Jeannette, make readysomething for breakfast, and do you, Peter, help us."
After much ado, I was admitted to see Master Walgrave, in the WhiteLion. He was in a sour mood and well disposed to look on me as theauthor of his troubles. When I showed him how that could not be, hesoftened a little.
"I make no complaint for myself," said he. "'Tis a good cause on whichI am embarked, and I shall see it through yet. As for my wife andlittle ones, let your last service to me be to see them safe to MasterUdal's. Had it been possible, I would have had them safe at Rochelle,where even their Graces have no jurisdiction. But for the present Ihave a claim on the minister for this shelter. Peter Stoupe I mistrust,the more so that he bade me mistrust you. When I am released, you maystill claim me as master, though I can no longer claim you asapprentice."
I assured him I wanted no better master, and hoped I might yet servehim. Meanwhile, I promised, that same day, to conduct his family toKingston.
I had some trouble to persuade Peter Stoupe that his service was neitherexpected nor desired. Nay, he claimed so stoutly his master's authorityto be the guardian of the family, that I had to shake his obstinacy outof him a bit before he would be still. My mistress and the prettyJeannette were, I think, glad to be rid of him; and after many thanks toMistress Straw, we embarked on a fair tide, by which. Prosper and Iplying the oars diligently, we reached Mortlach; whence in a cart wedrove as night fell to Kingston. Little enough baggage we had, for theCompany's men had forbidden aught to be removed from the house till suchtime as a further search should be made. So all had to be left untilthen.
You may fancy Master Udal's amazement, when we landed at his door. Hehad gone to bed, and had our cart come to take him off to Tyburn, hecould scarcely have shown himself more alarmed. However, he was a goodman, and owed much to Master Walgrave. So, after praying for strength,he took us all in and bade us lie as we could till morning, when hewould make better provision. His own chamber he gave to my mistress andher little ones, while Prosper and he and I lay on the hard floor of thekitchen. Many were the religious exercises in which he led us before helet us sleep; and even when they were done, he fell on me, and drew fromme a full and penitent account of my journey to Oxford and my folliesthere, for the which he called me many hard names, and bade me takeshame to myself, and pray God I might not one day become a knave as wellas a fool. Which prayer I humbly uttered then and there, and many atime since.