CHAPTER XVI.
ASHLOCK GIVES THE NEWS.
Then I remembered the curtain cord. I felt that Rookley was trying topass it from one hand to the other beneath my arms; I could hear thetassel bobbing and jerking on the floor, and I summoned all mystrength to draw my arms apart For if he prevailed, here was the endof all my fine resolve to secure Mr. Herbert's enlargement!
I had flattered myself with that prospective atonement, as though itwas a worthy action already counted to my credit. I saw this in aflash now, now that I was failing again, and the perception was likean agony in my bones. It seemed to me that a woman's face rose out ofthe darkness before me, mournful with reproach, and the face was notthe wife's who waited in Keswick, but Dorothy's. She looked at me frombeneath a hood half thrown back from the head and across her shoulder,as though she had passed me, even as I had seen in my fancies awoman's face look at me, when I had watched the procession of my hoursto come in the Rector's Library at the Jesuit College.
Meanwhile Rookley's knee so closely pressed me to the floor that mystruggles did but exhaust myself, and delay the event. I was no matchfor him in bodily strength, and he held me, moreover, at thatdisadvantage wherein a weak man might well have triumphed over astrong.
I could get no purchase either with hand or foot, and lay like a fishflapping helplessly on the deck of a boat, the while he pressed myarms closer and closer together.
It is not to be imagined that this unequal contest lasted any greatwhile. The thoughts which I have described raced through my mind whilemy cry seemed still to be echoing about the walls, and as though inanswer to that cry, a latch clicked as I felt the cord tighten aboutmy elbows.
The sound came from somewhere on the opposite side of the hall, and Ido not think that Rookley heard it, for now and again he laughed in alow, satisfied fashion as though engrossed in the pleasure of histask. I heard a shuffling of feet, and a light brightened in thepassage which led to the steward's office. A great hope sprang upwithin me. There was one servant in the house whom I could trust.
"Ashlock!" I shouted at the top of my voice.
The footsteps quickened to a run.
"Damn you!" muttered Rookley, and he let go the cord. He had raisedhis hand to strike, but I did not give him time for the blow. With afinal effort I gathered up my knees beneath me and raised myself on myfore-arms. Rookley's balance was disturbed already. He put out a handto the floor. I got the sole of my foot upon the boards, jerked himoff my back, and rolled over upon him with my fingers at his throat.Ashlock ran towards us with a lighted lamp in his hand. I let go myhold and got to my feet. Rookley did the same.
"You came in the nick of time," said Rookley, "My good cousin wouldhave murdered me;" and he arranged his cravat.
"That's a lie," said I, with a breath between each word.
"It was Mr. Clavering's cry I heard," said Ashlock.
And while he spoke a commotion arose in the upper part of the house.Doors opened and shut, there was a hurry of footsteps along thepassages, and voice called to voice in alarm. My cry had roused thehousehold, and I saw Jervas Rookley smile. I crossed the hall andpicked up my sword. As I returned with it, I saw here and there awhite face popped over the balusters of the staircase.
"I have fought with you in your way," said I. "It is your turn tofight with me in mine."
Rookley crossed his arms.
"To fight with a hunted traitor!" said he. "Indeed, my cousin, you asktoo much of me; I would not rob the gallows of so choice a morsel.Burtham, Wilson, Blacket!" and he lazily called up the stairs to theservants clustered there. "This is your work. Ashlock, do you carrythe news to the sheriff."
I glanced at Ashlock; he did not stir. On the staircase I heard aconflict of muttering voices, but as yet no one had descended. So afull minute passed, while my life and more than my life hung in thebalance.
I kept my eyes on Rookley, debating in my mind what I should do, ifhis servants obeyed him. Every nerve in my body tingled with thedesire to drive at him with my sword point; but he stood, quietlysmiling, his arms folded, his legs crossed. I could not touch him;being unarmed he was best armed of all, and doubtless he knew it.
"Well!" he asked, as with some impatience. "Are my servants leaguedagainst their master to betray his King?"
One man descended a couple of steps, and then Ashlock spoke.
"Sir," he said, "it is not for poor men like us to talk of kings.Kings are for you, masters are for us. And as it seems there are twokings for you to choose between, so there are two masters for thelikes of us. And for my part," he raised his voice, and with his voicehis face, towards the stairs--"for my part, I stand here;" and hecrossed over to me and stood by my side.
I can see the old man now as he held up the lamp in his tremulous handand the light fell upon his wrinkled face. I can hear his voiceringing out bold and confident. It was Ashlock who saved me thatnight. I saw the servants draw back at his words, and the mutter ofvoices recommenced.
"Very well," cried Rookley, starting forward. "Choose him for yourmaster, then, and see what comes of it!" He shook his fist towards theservants in his passion. "One and all you pack to-morrow. Your master,I tell you, is the master of Blackladies."
"They have no master, then," I cried, for it seemed that at his wordsthey again pressed forward. "For you have less right here than I."
Rookley turned and took a step or two towards me, his eyes blazing,his face white. But he spoke in a low voice, nodding his head betweenthe words:
"They shall pay for this at Applegarth."
It was my turn to start forward.
"Dorothy Curwen shall pay for this--little Dorothy Curwen!"--with avenomous sneer. "Your friend, eh? But mine too. Ah, my good cousin, itseems your fortune always to come second."
At that I did what I had so much longed to do when I first saw himasleep. He was within two feet of me; I held my drawn sword in myhand. I made no answer to him in speech, but the instant the wordswere past his lips, I took my sword by the blade, raised it above myhead, and brought the hilt crashing down upon his face. He spun roundupon his heels and pitched sideways at my feet.
"Now, Ashlock," said I, "get me a horse."
"But there's no such thing, sir, at Blackladies," he replied. "Theywere seized this many a week back."
"How travels this?" and I pointed to Jervas Rookley.
"He travels no further than between the dining-room and the cellar."
And I crossed into the little parlour and picked up my cloak and hatThen I returned to the hall. Burtham had raised Jervas Rookley's headupon his knee, and Wilson was coming from the kitchen with a bason ofwater and a towel. They looked at me doubtfully but said no word. Iwent to the hall door, unfastened the bolts, and started at a run downthe drive. I had not, however, advanced many yards, when a cry frombehind brought me to a halt; and in a little, old Ashlock joined me.
"I did but go for my hat, sir," he said, reproachfully. "A bald pateand an old man--they are two things that go ill with a night wind."
He was walking by my side as he spoke, and the words touched me to anextreme tenderness. He was venturing himself, without a question, intounknown perils, and for my sake. I could hear his steps dragging onthe gravel, and I stopped.
"It must not be," I said. "God knows I would be blithe and glad tohave a friend to bear me company, and it is a true friend you havebeen to me." I laid a hand upon his shoulder "But it is into dangersand hardships I shall be dragging you, and that I have no right to dowithout I can give you strength to win through them, and that strengthI cannot give. These last days, the rain and hail have beat upon me byday, and the night wind has whistled through my bones in the dark. Myroof-tree has been a jutting rock, my bed the sopping bracken, and soit will be still. It needs all my youth to bear it, it will mean deathand a quick death to you. You must go back."
"Master Lawrence," he replied, catching at my arm, "Master Lawrence, Icannot go back!" and there was something
like a sob in his voice.
"Had we horses," I continued, "I would gladly take you. But even thismorning there is work for me to do that cries for all my speed."
Ashlock persisted, however, pleading that I should name a place wherehe could join me. Two things were plain to me: one that he hadresolved to throw his lot in with me; the other that I must cross thefells to Applegarth without the hamper of his companionship. ForJervas Rookley, I felt sure, would seize the first moment ofconsciousness to exact his retribution. At last a plan occurred to me.
"You have crossed to Lord's Island already," I said. "Go to LordDerwentwater again. Tell him all you have heard to-night, and makethis request in my name: that he will keep you until I send word whereyou can join me."
"But Lord Derwentwater has fled," Ashlock exclaimed. "He fled north toMr. Lambert, and thence goes to his own seat at Dilston, inNorthumberland."
"He has fled! How know you this?"
"I was at Lord's Island this two days since, sir, seeking news of you.The warrant was out for him even then. He meets Mr. Forster atGreenrig, on the 6th of October. He told me he had sent to yourhiding-place and bidden you join him there."
"At Greenrig with Mr. Forster? Then the country's risen." I could havegone down on my knees as I had seen my cousin do. "If only God wills,the rising will succeed;" and I cried out my prayer, from a feelingeven deeper than that I cherished for the King. "Listen, Ashlock! Themorning is breaking. Do you meet me by noon betwixt Honister Crag andEnnerdale Lake. There is a path; hide within sight of it;" and withoutwaiting to hear more from him I set out at a run across Borrowdale. Itwas daylight before I had crossed the valley, and the sun was up.
But I cared little now whether or no I was seen and known. SinceJervas Rookley knew I had lain hidden those first weeks atApplegarth--why, it mattered little now who else discovered the fact.But indeed, Jervas Rookley was not the only one who knew.
For when I reached Applegarth, I found the house deserted. I banged atthe door, and for my pains heard the echo ring chill and solitarythrough an empty house. I looked about me; not a living being could beseen. Backwards and forwards I paced in front of those blind windowsand the unyielding door. I ran to the back of the house, thinking Imight find an entrance there. But the same silence, the same deadlyindifference were the only response I got. I know not what wild fears,what horrible surmises passed through my mind! It was because thehouse had sheltered me, I cried to myself, that desolation made itshome there. I dropped on the grass and the tears burst from my eyes.For I remembered how Dorothy had sung within the chambers, how herlittle feet had danced so lightly down the stairs.
Ashlock was already waiting me when I retraced my steps to theHonister Crag, and, indeed, I was long behind the time.
"To Greenrig," I said. Towards evening, however, Ashlock's strengthgave out, and coming to the house of a farmer, I procured a lodging.In truth, I was well-nigh exhausted myself. The next day, however,Ashlock was in no condition to accompany me, and leaving a littlemoney which I had with me for his maintenance, I went forward on myway alone.
Sleeping now in a cottage, now in the fields, and little enough ineither case, using such means of conveyance as chance offered me uponthe road, I came early in the morning of the sixth to Greenrig inNorthumberland, and while wandering hither and thither, in search ofthe place of meeting, and yet not daring to inquire for it, I cameupon a cavalcade. It was Lord Derwentwater at the head of hisservants, all armed and mounted. I ran forward to meet him.
"What is it, lad?" he asked, reining in his horse. I do not wonderthat he had no knowledge of me. For my clothes hung about me intatters. No dirtier ragamuffin ever tramped a country road.
"How is it they did not seize your horses?" I asked, with my witswandering.
Lord Derwentwater laughed heartily.
"There is a saying of Oliver Cromwell's," he replied, "that he couldgain his end in any place with an ass-load of gold. But who are youthat put the question?" and he bent over his horse's neck.
I caught at the reins to save myself from falling.
"I am Lawrence Clavering," I said; "you bade me meet you here." Andwith that I swooned away.
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