The Young Castellan: A Tale of the English Civil War

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

  ROY GETS OVER HIS FIT.

  The dawn came, and Lady Royland still knelt by the couch where her sonslept heavily. She did not stir till the sun rose, and then she rosesoftly to go to the narrow slit in the massive wall, reach as far as shecould into the deep splay, and gaze out.

  She sighed, for far-away in the distance she could see mounted men withthe sun flashing from their armour.

  She turned back, for she had learned all she wished to know--the enemywas still there; and, wondering what that day might bring forth, shewent and sat down now by her son's head to watch him as he slept.

  The time crept on with the sounds of the awakening household mingledwith the clangour of the morning calls and the tramp of armed menfloating in through the window; but the watcher did not stir till thedoor was opened, and a couple of the maids appeared, to start back inaffright, after a wondering glance at the untouched meal upon the table,for Lady Royland rose quickly with a gesture to them to be silent.

  They crept away, and she followed to the door.

  "Prepare the breakfast in the library," she said, and then returned toher seat.

  The clock chimed and struck again and again, but Roy did not wake; andat last one of the maids came and tapped very softly.

  "Breakfast is quite ready, my lady," she whispered.

  "I am not coming till my son wakes," replied Lady Royland. "Ask MasterPawson not to wait."

  "He's not down yet, my lady," said the woman.

  "Very well: ask him not to wait when he does come. The gentlemen areweary after the troubles of a very anxious night."

  The woman went away, and Lady Royland returned to her seat, to bend overher son again as he lay there breathing evenly, still plunged in hisdeep sleep; and then at its stated intervals, the clock in the gate-waychimed, and chimed, and struck, and struck again, to mark off the secondhour before there was another tap at the door, and the maid announced ina whisper that Sergeant Martlet was asking for Captain Roy.

  "Send him here," said her ladyship, "and bid him come in gently."

  "Yes, my lady," said the woman; "and, if you please, my lady, MasterPawson has just come down, and is having his breakfast."

  "Very good," said Lady Royland, coldly, and the maid retired.

  Five minutes later, the old soldier, fully armed, came softly to thedoor, was admitted, and stood upon the thick carpet, saluting his lady.She pointed to the couch, and a grim smile of satisfaction crossed thesoldier's deeply-lined face.

  "He was quite worn-out and exhausted," said Lady Royland, in a whisper,as she crossed to where Ben stood,--"too faint and troubled with thecares and anxieties of this weary business even to eat."

  "But he has slept, my lady?" whispered Ben.

  "Ever since."

  "Let him sleep, then, till he wakes, and he'll be right enough again."

  "I hope so; but he was very low and despondent last night. He feels theresponsibility of his position so much."

  "Course he does, my lady. That's his breed. His father always did.Used to make as much fuss over one of us as went down or got a wound asif we'd been his own children. But you let him sleep, my lady; he'll belike a new man when he gets up. He's a wonder, my lady; that he is."

  "He was afraid that the men were disposed to smile at him because he isso young."

  "I should just like to ketch one on 'em a-doing it," growled Ben. "Butit aren't true, my lady," he continued, excitedly. "They smiles when hecomes up, o' course, but it's because he seems to do 'em good, and theycan't help it, they're so pleased to see him. Why, if you'll believeme, my lady, from Sir Granby's corporal o' dragoons down to IsaiahWiggens, as got nigh upon drowned being pulled across the moat lastnight, my lady--"

  "Oh, how horrible!"

  "Horrid? Not it, my lady--begging your pardon. Sarve him right! Greatbig hulking lubberly chap like that, and not able to swim!"

  "But is he ill this morning?"

  "Not he, my lady. He was so roasted in the guard-room after, that hegot up at daylight and went into the moat again 's morning to begin tolarn."

  "But tell me, what news?"

  "They're all padrolling us, my lady, same as they were last night. Theygot the oats from Farmer Raynes, and they think they're going to starveus by stopping everything else from coming in; but we can afford tolaugh at 'em for about three months; and at the end of that time, if SirGranby don't come and raise the siege, I've got an idee for trappingenough meat for the men."

  "Indeed!"

  "Yes, my lady," said Ben, with a grin. "Only to lower the drawbridgeand hyste the portcullis, to let a whole court-yard-full ride in. Thendrop the grating behind 'em, and they're trapped. After that we canmake 'em lay down their arms, turn 'em out, and keep their horses.They'll do to feed the men. I've eaten horse, and Sir Granby too, at apinch, and it aren't so bad; but o' course I'd rather have beef."

  "Then there is nothing to fear for the present?"

  "Aren't nothing to fear at all, past, present, or futur', my lady, sodon't you be uncomfortable. And as for Master Roy, he needn't gothinking no nonsense o' that sort about the men, for they just worshiphim, all of 'em, and that's the honest truth."

  "I believe it, Martlet. Have you breakfasted this morning?"

  "Had a chunk o' bread and a mug o' milk, my lady."

  "That is not enough for a busy man like you are. Sit down to thattable, and eat."

  "What, here, my lady! Oh, no, I couldn't presume!"

  "Hush! Do not speak so loud," said Lady Royland, smiling. "These arenot times for standing upon ceremony, Martlet. We women cannot fight;but we can help in other ways, above all in attending to our bravedefenders, and seeing that they have all that is necessary. And if theworst comes to the worst, and--"

  "Yes; I know what your ladyship means," said the old soldier, for LadyRoyland had paused, "and to be plain, the men have been talking a bitabout that same, and what they were to do if they were hurt and nodoctor here. I said--"

  It was the sergeant's turn to be silent now, and he stopped as if thewords would not come.

  "And what did you say?"

  "Well, my lady, I took the liberty of saying that your ladyship wastraining up the women, and that when one of us was lucky enough to getwounded in the service of his king and country, he'd be carried into oneof the big rooms o' the east side, as would be turned into a hospital,and there tied up and put to bed, and souped and jellied and pastied,and made so much of, that he'd be sorry for the poor comrades who wereonly working the guns and doing the fighting."

  "You were quite right, Martlet," said Lady Royland. "Tell the men thatthe wounded shall each be treated as if he were my own son."

  "Begging your ladyship's pardon, that's just what I did tell 'em, only Iput a few flourishes to it, and I won't say it again, because it maymake 'em rash and wanting to get wounded for the sake of being carriedinto the snug quarters, and--"

  "Sit down, Martlet, and eat," said Lady Royland, pushing a chair towardsthe table.

  "With your ladyship's permission, I'd rather cut off a bit o' something,and go and sit on one of the guns to eat it, and look out too. I shouldenjoy it better."

  "Do as you wish," said Lady Royland. "There, take that fowl and loaf."

  "Thank you kindly, my lady, and--Morning, Master Roy, sir. Had a goodsleep?"

  For at that moment Roy sprang from the couch and looked excitedly round.

  "What is it?" he cried. "What's the matter? Morning! Surely I havenot--"

  "Yes, Roy, soundly and well, all night. Come, you must be ready forbreakfast."

  "Yes, yes, mother," cried the boy, impatiently.--"But tell me, Ben--Oh,you ought not to have let me sleep all night. Here, what has happened?"

  "Nothing at all, sir, or I should have sent for you," said the oldsoldier, who had taken out a handkerchief, given it a shake, and spreadit upon the carpet, placed in it the roast chicken and loaf, sprinkledall liberally with salt, and now proceeded to tie
the ends of thehandkerchief across, to make a bundle. "They're a-padrolling round andround, just as they have been all night, and keeping well out ofgunshot. Wouldn't like me to send a ball hopping along the ground totry the range, would you, sir?"

  "No, not unless they attack," said Roy, quickly.

  "Thought you wouldn't, sir, when I spoke.--Thank ye for this snack, mylady. I'll go back now to the ramparts.--P'raps you'll jyne me there,Master Roy, when you've had your breakfast. All's well, sir; and themten farmers are ready to stand on their heads with joy at gettingthrough the enemy's ranks."

  "Ah! how was it?"

  "Only kept back by the sentries watching 'em; so they all went home asif they'd done work, and agreed to crawl to our place after dark, andcreep to the gates."

  "But no one was hurt?"

  "No, sir; nothing worse happened to 'em than a wetting in the moat, andthat don't count, because they were well wet before with crawlingthrough the grass and damp ditches. See you in 'bout an hour's timethen, sir?"

  Roy nodded shortly, and the man left the room with his bundle; whileRoy, uneasy still in mind, turned to his mother, who embraced himtenderly.

  "You will not be long, Roy, my dear?" she said. "I want my breakfast,too."

  "But surely, mother, you have not been sitting up all night while Islept?"

  "Indeed, yes," she said, merrily. "And many a time before last night,when you were a tiny thing and could not sleep. Last night you could,peacefully and well, to awake this morning strong mentally and bodily,to do your duty like my brave son."

  Roy winced; but there was something in his mother's look which told himthat his words of the past night were as if uttered only to himself, andthat the subject of their conversation must be buried in the past.

  "You will not be long?" said Lady Royland, as she went to the door.

  "No, mother; not above ten minutes. Quite enough for a soldier'stoilet," he said, cheerily. And she nodded and went off; while hehurried to his own room, and after plunging his face in the fresh coldwater felt such a healthy glow coming through his veins, that he wasready to wonder at the previous night's depression.

  "What a glorious morning!" he muttered. "Couldn't have been well lastnight.--Hope my mother didn't think me stupid.--What a shame to let hersit up there all night!--Why, how hungry I do feel!--And only to thinkof our getting those fellows in quite safe after all.--Ha, ha, ha! howmad the enemy must have felt."

  Roy was standing before a mirror combing his wet locks as he burst outinto a hearty laugh, full of enjoyment; but he checked it directly, andstood staring at himself in wonder as the thoughts of the past nightintruded, and he remained for a few moments puzzled to account for thechange that a long rest had wrought in him.

  The next minute he was hurrying with his sword and belt under his arm tothe breakfast-room, where he found his mother waiting, and MasterPawson, who looked very pale, in conversation with her.

  "Good-morning, Roy," he said. "I congratulate you upon the accession tothe strength of the garrison. The men are all in the highest spirits,and full of praise of the gallant way in which you drove the enemyback."

  "Then I shall have to undeceive them, Master Pawson," replied Roy, as hejoined his mother at the table. "It was in the dark, and they could notsee. All Ben Martlet's doing from beginning to end."

  "I'm afraid you are too modest," said the secretary, smiling, as Roybegan his breakfast with a splendid appetite. "And tell me," hecontinued, anxiously--"I ought not to ask, perhaps, but I take suchinterest in the proceedings--you will not listen to any proposals forsurrender, even on good terms, which may come from the enemy?"

  "What capital ham, mother," said Roy. Then turning to the secretary: "Iwouldn't have listened to any proposals for surrender without those tenmen, Master Pawson. When all the guns are disabled and the powder done,and nearly everybody wounded, I won't surrender; for you'll put on ahelmet and back-piece then, and come and help the maids throw downstones upon their heads, and--yes, we shall have to use themachicolations then; but it shall be hot water for the enemy, not hotlead. The women can manage the boiling water better than the metal.Surrender! Bah! I say, sit down and have some more breakfast. I'm toobusy to talk."

  "Ah! what a spirit you have," cried the secretary, with a look ofadmiration in the lad's face. "But you are right. No surrender uponany terms; and if you talk much more like this, Roy, you will inspireme. I, too, shall want to fight, or at least help to load the guns."

  "I hope you won't," thought Roy; "for I'd a great deal rather you wouldstop away."

  Ten minutes later he was buckling on his sword, without a trace of thelast night's emotion visible on his countenance.

  "I'll go down to the great gate," said the secretary. "You will join methere?"

  "Yes, directly. But I say, Master Pawson, I hope you managed to makeshift at your new bedroom."

  "Don't mention it. I shall be all right.--For the present, LadyRoyland!" And the secretary left the room.

  "No surrender, Roy, my boy."

  "No, mother; and--and--last night, I--"

  "Was tired out, and no wonder. No--hush! Not another word. Some daywhen all is at peace once more, I will reopen the subject in yourfather's presence. Till then, it is our mutual confidence. There, goand show yourself to the men, and see how they will greet you on thisbonnie, sunny day."

  The boy hurried out with burning cheeks, and they seemed to scorch as hefound his mother's flower-beds trampled down, and the whole strength ofthe garrison on parade; for the moment he appeared, discipline seemed tobe at an end, swords and muskets, adorned with steel caps, were wavingin the air, while the flag flew out bravely from the great toweroverhead, as if fluttered by the wind of the great hearty cheer whicharose as he marched to the front, saluting as he went.

  "Ah!" he sighed to himself, as his blood seemed to effervesce, and athrill ran through his nerves, "who could be a coward at a time likethis?"