by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER XVIII
A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE
Having finally disposed of John Wilkes's scruples as to leaving thehouse during the daytime, Cyril thenceforth went out with him everyday. If the tide was in flood they rowed far up the river, and camedown on the ebb. If it was running out they went down as far as itwould take them. Whenever the wind was favourable they hoisted thesail; at other times, they rowed. The fresh air, and the exercise,soon did their work. Cyril at first could only take one scull, andthat only for a short time, but at the end of a fortnight was able tomanage both for a time, or to row with one for hours. The feeling oflassitude which had oppressed him passed away speedily, the colourcame back to his cheeks, his muscles strengthened, and he began toput on flesh.
They were now in November, and needed warm garments when on thewater, and John insisted on completely muffling him up whenever theyhoisted the sail; but the colder weather braced him up, and he wasoften inclined to shout with pleasure as the wind drove the boatalong before it.
It was cheering to know that others were benefiting by the change. Inthe week ending October 3rd the deaths officially given were 4,328,though at least another thousand must be added to this, for greatnumbers of deaths from the Plague were put down to other causes, andvery many, especially those of infants, were never counted at all. Itwas said that as many people were infected as ever, but that thevirulence of the disease was abated, and that, whereas in Augustscarce one of those attacked recovered, in October but one out ofevery three died of the malady.
In the second week of October, the number of deaths by the Plague wasbut 2,665, and only 1,250 in the third week, though great numberswere still attacked. People, however, grew careless, and ranunnecessary risks, and, in consequence, in the first week of Novemberthe number of deaths rose by 400. After this it decreased rapidly,and the people who had fled began to come back again--the more sobecause it had now spread to other large cities, and it seemed thatthere was less danger in London, where it had spent its force, thanin places where it had but lately broken out. The shops began to openagain, and the streets to reassume their former appearance.
Cyril had written several times to Captain Dowsett, telling him howmatters were going on, and in November, hearing that they werethinking of returning, he wrote begging them not to do so.
"Many of those who have returned have fallen sick, and died," hesaid. "It seems to me but a useless risk of life, after taking somuch pains to avoid infection, to hurry back before the danger hasaltogether passed. In your case, Captain Dave, there is the lessreason for it, since there is no likelihood of the shipping tradebeing renewed for the present. All the ports of Europe are closed toour ships, and it is like to be a long time before they lose fear ofus. Even the coasting trade is lost for the present. Therefore, myadvice is very strongly against your returning for some weeks. All isgoing on well here. I am getting quite strong again, and, by theorders of the doctor, go out with John daily for a long row, and havegained much benefit from it. John sends his respects. He says thateverything is ship-shape above and below, and the craft holding wellon her way. He also prays you not to think of returning at present,and says that it would be as bad seamanship, as for a captain who hasmade a good offing in a gale, and has plenty of sea-room, to run downclose to a rocky shore under the lee, before the storm has altogetherblown itself out."
Captain Dave took the advice, and only returned with his wife andNellie a week before Christmas.
"I am glad indeed to be back," he said, after the first greetingswere over. "'Twas well enough for the women, who used to help in thedairy, and to feed the fowls, and gather the eggs, and make thebutter, but for me there was nothing to do, and it seemed as if thedays would never come to an end."
"It was not so bad as that, father," Nellie said. "First of all, youhad your pipe to smoke. Then, once a week you used to go over withthe market-cart to Gloucester and to look at the shipping there, andtalk with the masters and sailors. Then, on a Sunday, of course,there was church. So there were only five days each week to getthrough; and you know you took a good deal of interest in the horsesand cows and pigs."
"I tried to take an interest in them, Nellie; but it was very hardwork."
"Well, father, that is just what you were saying you wanted, and I amsure you spent hours every day walking about with the children, ortelling them stories."
"Well, perhaps, when I think of it, it was not so very bad afterall," Captain Dave admitted. "At any rate, I am heartily glad I amback here again. We will open the shop to-morrow morning, John."
"That we will, master. We sha'n't do much trade at present. Still, afew coasters have come in, and I hope that every day things will getbetter. Besides, all the vessels that have been lying in the Poolsince June will want painting up and getting into trim again beforethey sail out of the river, so things may not be so slack after all.You will find everything in order in the store. I have had little todo but to polish up brass work and keep the metal from rusting. Whendo the apprentices come back again?"
"I shall write for them as soon as I find that there is something forthem to do. You are not thinking of running away as soon as we comeback I hope, Cyril? You said, when you last wrote, that you were fitfor sea again."
"I am not thinking of going for some little time, if you will keepme, Captain Dave. There is no news of the Fleet fitting out atpresent, and they will not want us on board till they are just readyto start. They say that Albemarle is to command this time instead ofthe Duke, at which I am right glad, for he has fought the Dutch atsea many times, and although not bred up to the trade, he has shownthat he can fight as steadily on sea as on land. All say the Dukeshowed courage and kept a firm countenance at Lowestoft, but therewas certainly great slackness in the pursuit, though this, 'tis said,was not so much his fault as that of those who were over-careful ofhis safety. Still, as he is the heir to the throne, it is but rightthat he should be kept out of the fighting."
"It is like to be stern work next time, Cyril, if what I hear betrue. Owing partly to all men's minds being occupied by the Plague,and partly to the great sums wasted by the King in his pleasures,nothing whatever has been done for the Fleet. Of course, the squadronat sea has taken great numbers of prizes; but the rest of the Fleetis laid up, and no new ships are being built, while they say that theDutch are busy in all their ship-yards, and will send out a muchstronger fleet this spring than that which fought us at Lowestoft. Isuppose you have not heard of any of your grand friends?"
"No. I should have written to Sydney Oliphant, but I knew not whetherhe was at sea or at home, and, moreover, I read that most folks inthe country are afraid of letters from London, thinking that theymight carry contagion. Many noblemen have now returned to the WestEnd, and when I hear that the Earl has also come back with his familyit will, of course, be my duty to wait upon him, and on Prince Rupertalso. But I hope the Prince will not be back yet, for he will bewanting me to go to Court again, and for this, in truth, I have noinclination, and, moreover, it cannot be done without much expensefor clothes, and I have no intention to go into expenses on folliesor gew-gaws, or to trench upon the store of money that I had fromyou, Captain Dave."
They had just finished breakfast on the day before Christmas, whenone of the apprentices came up from the shop and said that one MasterGoldsworthy, a lawyer in the Temple, desired to speak to Sir CyrilShenstone. Cyril was about to go down when Captain Dave said,--
"Show the gentleman up, Susan. We will leave you here to him, Cyril."
"By no means," Cyril said. "I do not know him, and he can assuredlyhave no private business with me that you may not hear."
Mrs. Dowsett and her daughter, however, left the room. The lawyer, agrave-looking gentleman of some fifty years of age, glanced at Cyriland the Captain as he entered the room, and then advanced towards theformer.
"My name is unknown to you, Sir Cyril," he said, "but it has beensaid that a bearer of good news needs no introduction, and I come inthat capacity. I bring yo
u, sir, a Christmas-box," and he took from abag he carried a bundle of some size, and a letter. "Before you openit, sir, I will explain the character of its contents, which wouldtake you some time to decipher and understand, while I can explainthem in a very few words. I may tell you that I am the legal adviserof Mr. Ebenezer Harvey, of Upmead Court, Norfolk. You are, I presume,familiar with the name?"
Cyril started. Upmead Court was the name of his father's place, butwith the name of its present owner he was not familiar. Doubtless, hemight sometimes have heard it from his father, but the latter, whenhe spoke of the present possessor of the Court, generally did so as"that Roundhead dog," or "that canting Puritan."
"The Court I know, sir," he said gravely, "as having once been myfather's, but I do not recall the name of its present owner, thoughit may be that in my childhood my father mentioned it in my hearing."
"Nevertheless, sir, you know the gentleman himself, having met him,as he tells me, frequently at the house of Mr. Wallace, who wasminister of the chapel at which he worshipped, and who came up toLondon to minister to those sorely afflicted and needing comfort. Notonly did you meet with Mr. Harvey and his wife, but you rendered tothem very material service."
"I was certainly unaware," Cyril said, "that Mr. Harvey was thepossessor of what had been my father's estate, but, had I known it,it would have made no difference in my feeling towards him. I foundhim a kind and godly gentleman whom, more than others there, was goodenough to converse frequently with me, and to whom I was pleased tobe of service."
"The service was of a most important nature," the lawyer said, "beingnothing less than the saving of his life, and probably that of hiswife. He sent for me the next morning, and then drew out his will. Bythat will he left to you the estates which he had purchased from yourfather."
Cyril gave a start of surprise, and would have spoken, but MasterGoldsworthy held up his hand, and said,--
"Please let me continue my story to the end. This act was not theconsequence of the service that you had rendered him. He hadpreviously consulted me on the subject, and stated his intentions tome. He had met you at Mr. Wallace's, and at once recognised yourname, and learnt from Mr. Wallace that you were the son of Sir AubreyShenstone. He studied your character, had an interview with Dr.Hodges, and learnt how fearlessly you were devoting yourself to thework of aiding those stricken with the Plague. With his own son hehad reason for being profoundly dissatisfied. The young man hadthrown off his authority, had become a notorious reprobate, and had,he believed, sunk down to become a companion of thieves andhighwaymen. He had come up to London solely to make a last effort tosave him from his evil courses and to give him a chance ofreformation by sending him out to New England.
"Mr. Harvey is possessed of considerable property in addition to theestates purchased of your father, for, previous to that purchase hehad been the owner of large tanneries at Norwich, which he has eversince maintained, not so much for the sake of the income he derivedfrom them as because they afforded a livelihood to a large number ofworkmen. He had, therefore, ample means to leave to his son, shouldthe latter accept his offer and reform his life, without the estatesof Upmead. When he saw you, he told me his conscience was moved. Hehad, of course, a legal right to the estates, but he had purchasedthem for a sum not exceeding a fifth of their value, and heconsidered that in the twenty years he had held them he had drawnfrom them sums amply sufficient to repay him for the price he hadgiven for them, and had received a large interest on the money inaddition. He questioned, therefore, strongly whether he had any rightlonger to retain them.
"When he consulted me on the subject, he alluded to the fact that, bythe laws of the Bible, persons who bought lands were bound to returnthe land to its former possessors, at the end of seven times sevenyears. He had already, then, made up his mind to leave that portionof his property to you, when you rendered him that great service, andat the same time it became, alas! but too evident to him that his sonwas hopelessly bad, and that any money whatever left to him wouldassuredly be spent in evil courses, and would do evil rather thangood. Therefore, when I came in the morning to him he said,--
"'My will must be made immediately. Not one penny is to go to my son.I may be carried off to-morrow by the Plague, or my son may renew hisattempt with success. So I must will it away from him at once. Forthe moment, therefore, make a short will bequeathing the estate ofUpmead to Sir Cyril Shenstone, all my other possessions to my wifefor her lifetime, and at her death also to Sir Cyril Shenstone.
"'I may alter this later on,' he said, 'but for the present I desirechiefly to place them beyond my son's reach. Please draw up thedocument at once, for no one can say what half an hour may bringforth to either of us. Get the document in form by this evening, whensome friends will be here to witness it. Pray bring your two clerksalso!'
"A few days later he called upon me again.
"'I have been making further inquiries about Sir Cyril Shenstone,' hesaid, 'and have learnt much concerning him from a man who is in theemployment of the trader with whom he lives. What I have learnt morethan confirms me in my impression of him. He came over from France,three years ago, a boy of scarce fourteen. He was clever at figures,and supported his reprobate father for the last two years of his lifeby keeping the books of small traders in the City. So much was heesteemed that, at his father's death, Captain Dowsett offered him ahome in his house. He rewarded the kindness by making the discoverythat the trader was being foully robbed, and brought about the arrestof the thieves, which incidentally led to the breaking-up of one ofthe worst gangs of robbers in London. Later on he found that hisemployer's daughter was in communication with a hanger-on of theCourt, who told her that he was a nobleman. The young fellow set awatch upon her, came upon her at the moment she was about to elopewith this villain, ran him through the shoulder, and took her back toher home, and so far respected her secret that her parents wouldnever have known of it had she not, some time afterwards, confessedit to them. That villain, Mr. Goldsworthy,' he said, 'was my son!Just after that Sir Cyril obtained the good will of the Earl ofWisbech, whose three daughters he saved from being burnt to death ata fire in the Savoy. Thus, you see, this youth is in every way worthyof good fortune, and can be trusted to administer the estate of hisfathers worthily and well. I wish you to draw out, at once, a deedconveying to him these estates, and rehearsing that, having obtainedthem at a small price, and having enjoyed them for a time long enoughto return to me the money I paid for them with ample interestthereon, I now return them to him, confident that they will be ingood hands, and that their revenues will be worthily spent.'
"In this parcel is the deed in question, duly signed and witnessed,together with the parchments, deeds, and titles of which he becamepossessed at his purchase of the estate. I may say, Sir Cyril, that Ihave never carried out a legal transfer with greater pleasure tomyself, considering, as I do, that the transaction is alike just andhonourable on his part and most creditable to yourself. He begged meto hand the deeds to you myself. They were completed two monthssince, but he himself suggested that I should bring them to you onChristmas Eve, when it is the custom for many to give to theirfriends tokens of their regard and good will. I congratulate youheartily, sir, and rejoice that, for once, merit has met with a duereward."
"I do not know, sir," Cyril replied, "how I can express my feelingsof deep pleasure and gratitude at the wonderful tidings you havebrought me. I had set it before me as the great object of my life,that, some day, should I live to be an old man, I might be enabled torepurchase the estate of my father's. I knew how improbable it wasthat I should ever be able to do so, and I can scarce credit thatwhat seemed presumptuous even as a hope should have thus been sostrangely and unexpectedly realised. I certainly do not feel that itis in any way due to what you are good enough to call my merits, forin all these matters that you have spoken of there has been nothingout of the way, or, so far as I can see, in any way praiseworthy, inwhat I have done. It would seem, indeed, that in all these matters,and in the savin
g of my life from the Plague, things have arrangedthemselves so as to fall out for my benefit."
"That is what Mr. Harvey feels very strongly, Sir Cyril. He has toldme, over and over again, that it seemed to him that the finger of Godwas specially manifest in thus bringing you together, and in placingyou in a position to save his life. And now I will take my leave. Imay say that in all legal matters connected with the estate I haveacted for Mr. Harvey, and should be naturally glad if you willcontinue to entrust such matters to me. I have some specialfacilities in the matter, as Mr. Popham, a lawyer of Norwich, ismarried to my daughter, and we therefore act together in all businessconnected with the estate, he performing what may be called the localbusiness, while I am advised by him as to matters requiring attentionhere in London."
"I shall be glad indeed if you and Mr. Popham will continue to act inthe same capacity for me," Cyril said warmly. "I am, as you see, veryyoung, and know nothing of the management of an estate, and shall begrateful if you will, in all matters, act for me until I am of an ageto assume the duties of the owner of Upmead."
"I thank you, Sir Cyril, and we shall, I trust, afford yousatisfaction. The deed, you will observe, is dated the 29th ofSeptember, the day on which it was signed, though there have beenother matters to settle. The tenants have already been notified thatfrom that date they are to regard you as their landlord. Now that youauthorise us to act for you, my son-in-law will at once proceed tocollect the rents for this quarter. I may say that, roughly, theyamount to seventeen hundred pounds a year, and as it may be aconvenience to you to draw at once, if it so please you I will place,on Monday next, the sum of four hundred pounds to your credit withMessrs. Murchison and Graham, who are my bankers, or with any otherfirm you may prefer."
"With the bankers you name, by all means," Cyril said; "and I thankyou heartily for so doing, for as I shall shortly rejoin the Fleet, aportion, at least, of the money will be very useful to me."
Mr. Goldsworthy took his hat.
"There is one thing further I have forgotten. Mr. Harvey requested meto say that he wished for no thanks in this matter. He regards it asan act of rightful restitution, and, although you will doubtlesswrite to him, he would be pleased if you will abstain altogether fromtreating it as a gift."
"I will try to obey his wishes," Cyril said, "but it does not seem tome that it will be possible for me to abstain from any expression ofgratitude for his noble act."
Cyril accompanied the lawyer to the door, and then returned upstairs.
"Now I can speak," Captain Dowsett said. "I have had hard work tokeep a stopper on my tongue all this time, for I have been well-nighbursting to congratulate you. I wish you joy, my lad," and he wrungCyril's hand heartily, "and a pleasant voyage through life. I am asglad, ay, and a deal more glad than if such a fortune had come in myway, for it would have been of little use to me, seeing I have allthat the heart of man could desire."
He ran to the door and shouted loudly for his wife and daughter.
"I have news for you both," he said, as they came in. "What do youthink? Cyril, like the King, has come to his own again, and he is nowSir Cyril Shenstone, the owner of the estate of Upmead."
Both broke into exclamations of surprise and pleasure.
"How has the wonder come about?" Nellie asked, after the firstcongratulations were over. "What good fairy has brought this round?"
"The good fairy was the Mr. Harvey whose name Cyril once mentionedcasually, and whose life, as it now appears, he saved, though he hassaid nothing to us about it. That gentleman was, most strangely, theman who bought the estate from his father. He, it seems, is a wealthyman, and his conscience has for some time been pricked with thethought that he had benefited too largely from the necessities of SirAubrey, and that, having received back from the rents all the moneyhe paid, and goodly interest thereon, he ought to restore the estateto its former owner. Possibly he might never have acted on thisthought, but he considered the circumstance that he had so strangelymet Cyril here at the time of the Plague, and still more strangelythat Cyril had saved his life, was a matter of more than chance, andwas a direct and manifest interposition of Providence; and he hastherefore made restitution, and that parcel on the table contains adeed of gift to Cyril of all his father's estates."
"He has done quite rightly," Mrs. Dowsett said warmly, "though,indeed, it is not everyone who would see matters in that light. Ifmen always acted in that spirit it would be a better world."
"Ay, ay, wife. There are not many men who, having got the best of abargain, voluntarily resign the profits they have made. It ispleasant to come across one who so acts, more especially when one'sbest friend is the gainer. Ah! Nellie, what a pity some good fairydid not tell you of what was coming! What a chance you have lost,girl! See what might have happened if you had set your cap at Cyril!"
"Indeed, it is terrible to think of," Nellie laughed. "It was hard onme that he was not five or six years older. Then I might have doneit, even if my good fairy had not whispered in my ear about thisfortune. Never mind. I shall console myself by looking forward todance at his wedding--that is, if he will send me an invitation."
"Like as not you will be getting past your dancing days by the timethat comes off, Nellie. I hope that, years before then, I shall havedanced at your wedding--that is to say," he said, imitating her, "ifyou will send me an invitation."
"What are you going to do next, Cyril?" Captain Dave asked, when thelaugh had subsided.
"I don't know, I am sure," Cyril replied. "I have not really woke upto it all yet. It will be some time before I realise that I am not apenniless young baronet, and that I can spend a pound without lookingat it a dozen times. I shall have to get accustomed to the thoughtbefore I can make any plans. I suppose that one of the first thingsto do will be to go down to Oxford to see Prince Rupert--who, Isuppose, is with the Court, though this I can doubtless learn at theoffices of the Admiralty--and to tell him that I am ready to rejoinhis ship as soon as he puts to sea again. Then I shall find out whereSydney Oliphant is, and how his family have fared in the Plague. Iwould fain find out what has become of the Partons, to whom, andespecially to Lady Parton, I owe much. I suppose, too, I shall haveto go down to Norfolk, but that I shall put off as long as I can, forit will be strange and very unpleasant at first to go down as masterto a place I have never seen. I shall have to get you to come downwith me, Captain Dave, to keep me in countenance."
"Not I, my lad. You will want a better introducer. I expect that thelawyer who was here will give you a letter to his son-in-law, whowill, of course, place himself at your service, establishing you inyour house and taking you round to your tenants."
"Oh, yes," Nellie said, clapping her hands. "And there will be finedoings, and bonfires, and arches, and all sorts of festivities. I dobegin to feel how much I have missed the want of that good fairy."
"It will be all very disagreeable," Cyril said seriously; whereat theothers laughed.
Cyril then went downstairs with Captain Dave, and told John Wilkes ofthe good fortune that had befallen him, at which he was as muchdelighted as the others had been.
Ten days later Cyril rode to Oxford, and found that Prince Rupert wasat present there. The Prince received him with much warmth.
"I have wondered many times what had become of you, Sir Cyril," hesaid. "From the hour when I saw you leave us in the _Fan Fan_ I havelost sight of you altogether. I have not been in London since, forthe Plague had set in badly before the ships were laid up, and as Ihad naught particular to do there I kept away from it. Albemarle hasstayed through it, and he and Mr. Pepys were able to do all there wasto do, but I have thought of you often and wondered how you fared,and hoped to see you here, seeing that there was, as it seemed to me,nothing to keep you in London after your wounds had healed. I havespoken often to the King of the brave deed by which you saved us all,and he declared that, had it not been that you were already abaronet, he would knight you as soon as you appeared, as many of thecaptains and others have already received that h
onour; and he agreedwith me that none deserved it better than yourself. Now, what hasbecome of you all this time?"
Cyril related how he had stayed in London, had had the Plague, andhad recovered from it.
"I must see about getting you a commission at once in the Navy," thePrince said, "though I fear you will have to wait until we fit outagain. There will be no difficulty then, for of course there weremany officers killed in the action."
Cyril expressed his thanks, adding,--
"There is no further occasion for me to take a commission, Prince,for, strangely enough, the owner of my father's property has justmade it over to me. He is a good man, and, considering that he hasalready reaped large benefits by his purchase, and has been repaidhis money with good interest, his conscience will no longer sufferhim to retain it."
"Then he is a Prince of Roundheads," the Prince said, "and I mostheartily congratulate you; and I believe that the King will be aspleased as I am. He said but the other day, when I was speaking tohim of you, that it grieved him sorely that he was powerless to doanything for so many that had suffered in his cause, and that, afterthe bravery you had shown, he was determined to do something, andwould insist with his ministers that some office should be found foryou,--though it is not an easy matter, when each of them has specialfriends of his own among whom to divide any good things that fallvacant. He holds a Court this evening, and I will take you with me."
The King was most gracious when the Prince again presented Cyril tohim and told him of the good fortune that had befallen him.
"By my faith, Sir Cyril, you were born under a lucky star. First ofall you saved my Lord of Wisbech's daughters; then, as Prince Ruperttells me, you saved him and all on board his ship from being burned;and now a miracle has well-nigh happened in your favour. I see, too,that you have the use of your arm, which the Prince doubted wouldever altogether recover."
"More still, Your Majesty," the Prince said. "He had the Plague inAugust and recovered from it."
"I shall have to keep you about me, Sir Cyril," the King said, "as asort of amulet to guard me against ill luck."
"I am going to take him to sea first," Prince Rupert broke in, seeingthat Cyril was about to disclaim the idea of coming to Court. "I maywant him to save my ship again, and I suppose he will be going downto visit his estate till I want him. You have never seen it, haveyou, Sir Cyril?"
"No, sir; at least not to have any remembrance of it. I naturallylong to see Upmead, of which I have heard much from my father. Ishould have gone down at once, but I thought it my duty to comehither and report myself to you as being ready to sail again as soonas you put to sea."
"Duty first and pleasure afterwards," the King said. "I am afraidthat is a little beyond me--eh, Rupert?"
"Very much so, I should say, Cousin Charles," the Prince replied,with a smile. "However, I have no doubt Sir Cyril will not grudge usa few days before he leaves. There are several of the gentlemen whowere his comrades on the _Henrietta_ here, and they will be glad torenew their acquaintance with him, knowing, as they all do, that theyowe their lives to him."
As Cyril was walking down the High Street, he saw a student comingalong whose face seemed familiar to him. He looked hard at him.
"Surely you must be Harry Parton?" he said.
"That is my name, sir; though I cannot recall where I have met you.Yet there seems something familiar in your face, and still more inyour voice."
"I am Cyril Shenstone."
"Why, what has become of you, Cyril?" Harry said, shaking him warmlyby the hand. "I searched for you a year ago when I was in London, butcould obtain no tidings whatever of you, save that you had lost yourfather. We are alike there, for my father died a few months afteryours did."
"I am sorry indeed, Harry. I had not heard of it before. I was not,indeed, in the way of doing so, as I was working in the City and knewnothing of what was passing elsewhere."
"This is my college, Cyril. Come up to my room; there we can talkcomfortably, and we have much to tell each other. How is it that youhave never been near us?" he went on, when they were seated in frontof a blazing fire in his room. "I know that there was some quarrelbetween our fathers, but when we heard of Sir Aubrey's death, both myfather and mother thought that you would come to see us or would havewritten--for indeed it was not until after my father's death that wepaid a visit to London. It was then my mother asked me to search foryou; and after great difficulty I found the quarter in which you hadlived, and then from the parish register learned where your fatherhad died. Going there, I learned that you had left the lodgingdirectly after his death, but more than that the people could nottell me."
"I should have come to see your mother and Sir John, Harry. I knowhow deeply I am indebted to them, and as long as I live shall nevercease to be grateful for Lady Parton's kindness to me. But I hadreceived so much kindness that I shrank from seeming to wish topresume upon it further. I had, of course, to work for my living, andI wanted, before I recalled myself to them, to be able to say that Ihad not come as a beggar for further favours, but that I was makingmy way independently. Sooner or later I should have come, for yourfather once promised me that if I followed out what you remember wasmy plan, of entering foreign service, he would give me letters ofintroduction that would be useful to me. Had I that favour still toask I could do it without shame. But more than that I would not haveasked, even had I wanted bread, which, thank God! was never thecase."
"I can understand your feeling, Cyril, but my mother assuredly wouldalways have been pleased to see you. You know you were a favourite ofhers."
"Had you been near town, Harry, I should certainly have come to seeher and you as soon as I had fairly established myself, but I heardfrom my father that you had all gone away into the country soon afterthe unfortunate quarrel he had with Sir John, and therefore delayedtaking any step for the time, and indeed did not know in what part ofthe country your father's estates lay. I know that he recovered themas soon as he returned."
"They had never been forfeited," Harry said. "My father retired fromthe struggle after Naseby, and as he had influential friends amongthe Puritans, there was no forfeiture of his estates, and we weretherefore able, as you know, to live in comfort at Dunkirk, hissteward sending over such monies as were required. And now aboutyourself. Your brains must have served you rarely somehow, for youare dressed in the latest fashion, and indeed I took you for a Courtgallant when you accosted me."
"I have been truly fortunate, Harry, and indeed everything has turnedout as if specially designed for my good, and, in a most strange andunlooked-for manner, I have just come into my father's estatesagain."
"I am glad indeed to hear it, Cyril. Tell me how it has all comeabout."
Cyril told the story of his life since he had come to London.
"You have, indeed, had strange adventures, Cyril, and, though you saylittle about it, you must have done something special to have gainedPrince Rupert's patronage and introduction to Court; but I shall wormall that out of you some day, or get it from other lips. What acontrast your life has been to mine! Here have you been earning yourliving bravely, fighting in the great battle against the Dutch, goingthrough that terrible Plague, and winning your way back to fortune,while I have been living the life of a school-boy. Our estates lie inShropshire, and as soon as we went down there my father placed me ata school at Shrewsbury. There I remained till his death, and then, aswas his special wish, entered here. I have still a year of my courseto complete. I only came up into residence last week. When the summercomes I hope that you will come down to Ardleigh and stay with us; itwill give my mother great pleasure to see you again, for I never seeher but she speaks of you, and wonders what has become of you, and ifyou are still alive."
"Assuredly I will come, and that with the greatest pleasure," Cyrilsaid, "providing only that I am not then at sea, which is, I fear,likely, as I rejoin the ship as soon as Prince Rupert takes the seaagainst the Dutch. However, directly we return I will write to you."
"If
you do so, let it be to Ardleigh, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire.Should I be here when your letter arrives, my mother will forward itto me."