Chapter V.
MASTER WINDYBANK.
"Then thou dost refuse to listen to my suit, Mistress Dorothy?"
"Refuse! Alack, good Master Windybank, what a word to utter. Look atyonder sundial and thou wilt see that I have hearkened most patientlyfor more than an hour." Mistress Dorothy opened her blue eyes verywidely, and her tone was a trifle indignant.
"Ay, but there is listening and listening, mistress," was the testyresponse.
"And surely my listening deserves commendation, seeing that I made nointerruption, scarcely speaking a word."
"But I wanted thee to speak, to interrupt, to contradict, to argue.Thy silence betokened indifference. I had rather that thou hadst flowninto a temper and bidden me begone than sat mum all the while."Windybank jumped up from the garden seat and began to pace to and fro,to the peril of Dorothy's flower-beds.
"But why should I argue or contradict or fly into a passion if thoudost tell me my eyes are blue? 'Tis the truth." Dorothy opened themwider, and made them look more innocent and beautiful than ever.
"Was that all I said for the space of an hour?" was the sullenrejoinder.
"No," said the cool little maiden, "'twas not; but thou didst offer noground for argument. I heard a catalogue of virtues recited, and wasbidden to believe that mine own small person gave lodging andnourishment to them all. Well, in good faith, sir, 'tis my earnesthope that some are guests in my heart, and I would fain believe that Igive harbourage to all the noble train. Thou didst speak at somelength of thyself, thy hopes and aspirations, they were such as wouldbecome thy youth and station: why should I quarrel with thee concerningthem? Again, I had a list of thy possessions, the tale of gold in thycoffers. Should I give thee the lie over thy arithmetic? Thy uncle isrich, and thou art his heir. Shall I lose my temper because of JohnWindybank's money?"
The youth turned fiercely upon the maiden and grippedher by the shoulders so that she winced with the pain."I--told--thee--that--I--loved--thee!" he said with deliberateemphasis. "What hast thou to say to that?"
"That a maid is honoured by the affection of any good man."
"Dost thou love me?"
"No," said Dorothy, rising also and removing his hands.
Windybank's eyes were blue like those he confronted, but they were asshifty as the maiden's were steady, and whilst the blue of hersdeepened with anger, his assumed a greenish tint that was both uncomelyand cruel. For a moment he stared into the azure deeps before him,trying to fathom them. He failed.
"Would 'No' have been Jack Morgan's answer?" he asked.
Dorothy's eyes flashed, but her lips remained closed. She showed nosigns of anything save anger. The baffled lover lost his head, andwith it went his common sense and veneer of gentlemanly breeding.
"Silence is answer enough," he snarled. "Morgan's black eyes andswarthy face have bewitched thee as thou hast bewitched me. Well, takethy choice between us. He hath the start of me in inches, but amoon-calf would hardly benefit by bargaining wits with him--a grinning,guzzling giant whose chief delight is singing songs in a tavern orwrestling with brawny clowns as empty-headed as himself!"
Windybank paused for breath, and Dorothy faced him as unflinchingly asbefore, her lips curling in contempt.
"Hast nothing to say now?" he went on. "Have I not given thee matterfor contradiction, fuel to feed the fires of thine anger?"
"John Morgan needs no woman's help," she said quietly.
"Neither help of man nor woman shall avail him ere long. Hark'ee,mistress" (he lowered his voice): "there is power awaiting the man boldenough to make a venture to obtain it. Look for the day when I am thymaster. And tell some others to look to their heads. I'll break thyspirit yet, and see fear in thy blue eyes instead of scorn. I am nobraggart!"
"But thou art a coward!" said Dorothy, whose face had grown very white."Think not that I shall feel anything save scorn for the man whothreatens a girl and slanders the absent. Thou art our neighbour, elseI would call a servant to put thee forth on to the highway. Begone!"
Master Windybank turned to go. It was time, for Johnnie Morgan and SirWalter could be seen making their way towards the house door. "Tellthy long-legged swashbuckler of our meeting," he sneered.
"I do not fear thee enough to call in a champion," cried Dorothycalmly. "Yonder is the gate."
The rejected suitor strode off. The maiden ran into a little arbourand had a good cry. "Sweet seventeen" does not like to be bullied andthreatened by a man in whom her quick eyes have discerned thepossibilities of a thorough villain.
The little shower of anger and wounded pride lasted about threeminutes. Then sunny thoughts broke through the clouds, and presentlythe sky was clear again. "Johnnie is come!" said Dorothy's heart."Sir Walter and Master Morgan are in the house," murmured Dorothy'slips. "I must see to my duties as hostess, and I do not want to bequizzed about tear-stains. Plague take that little Windybank!" Adainty foot was stamped quite viciously. "I hope Johnnie will cudgelhim. A whipping would do him good!" Dorothy sat with folded hands andpleasantly contemplated the corrective operation. Then a voice washeard in the garden calling her name. She listened. "Only nurse!" shemurmured in a disappointed tone.
An old crone with a wrinkled but good-natured face came along to thearbour. "Dolly, sweetheart," she cried, "dost thou not know who iswithin?"
"I saw Sir Walter turn in at the gate to speak to father."
"Hoighty-toity!" exclaimed the old dame. "Saw Sir Walter, did we! Andwhat of the head and pair of shoulders that stood above those of theknight? We did not see them!"
"Was it Master Morgan with him, Peggy?" asked Dorothy unconcernedly.
"Ask him who ran away just now," snapped Peggy. "I saw the toadylittle villain sneak off. I'd ha' given my Sunday kirtle to my worstenemy if Johnnie had espied him and known that he and thee had beensitting cheek by jowl for an hour."
"Master Windybank is our neighbour," said Dorothy haughtily, "and hecomes hither with my father's consent."
"Ay, men are as blind as owls to each other's failings," was the tartresponse. "But I can see through a quick-set hedge as far as mostfolks, and know when a rascal lies in hiding behind one. Get theeindoors and talk to Master Morgan, an honest fellow whom thymother--God rest her soul!--loved before death took her from us."
But Dorothy refused to be hurried. Peggy had loved her and motheredher since she was a tiny prattler of three, and she often found her, asshe declared to her gossips, "a handful." Peggy, angry with hernursling, turned to go, but she discharged a telling shot at parting."Very well!" she cried, "I'll go and bind up Master Morgan's woundsmyself. One of the bravest knights in England is attacked by a Spanishgiant in the forest. A brave lad jumps in to save him, and receivesthe dagger in his own body. He comes to those who should love him, tohave the flow of his precious blood stanched; but no, good lack; welove not brave lads--we dally away God's good time with cowards andrascals!"
"Peggy! Peggy!" cried Dorothy, and the blue eyes were running overagain, and the cheeks were pale as a ghost's, "is Master Morganwounded?"
"He may be dying; the dagger perhaps was poisoned," said Peggy. "I'llgo and kiss the brave lad whilst he has wit enough left to know me.Stay thou here, mistress; only loving hands must tend the brave!"
But Dorothy flew after her and clutched her arm. "Kiss me, Peggy!" shewailed, "kiss me!" But Peggy refused.
"You shall not touch him, Peggy; you are my nurse, but I am his. Doyou hear?"
But the old woman was deaf, and she stalked on with her thin nose inthe air. Dorothy clung to her, and they reached the house together.It so happened that the story of the attack had been told to Dorothy'sfather, and Sir Walter was getting a little fun at the expense ofJohnnie and his wrestlings with the muse of poetry. A lively,good-humoured sally, at the moment when Dorothy's trembling limbscarried her over the threshold, evoked a peal of stentorian laughterfrom Master Morgan's capacious lungs. The tearful maid stoodbewildered for an insta
nt, then a roar from all three men brought thecolour back swiftly to her cheeks. Johnnie Morgan dying? The wickedrascal was convulsed with merriment, and his friends, who should besorrowing for his untimely fate, were as merry as he! With anindignant look at the chuckling Peggy, the maiden turned and fled intothe garden again. But Master Morgan, who had been anxiously listeningfor her amidst all the chatter and uproar, heard the light patter ofher footsteps upon the flagged courtyard. He sprang to the window,caught sight of the flying figure, felt his heart beating like a greatdrum, murmured an apology to his companions, and darted out of theroom, almost laying Peggy full length on the threshold as he ran off.