CHAPTER X
No one cares to read of sickness and pain (unless it may be those whosebusiness it is to cure them), but I am in a manner compelled to saysomething of my wounds, else my story later on would be hardlyunderstood. The cut in my wrist caused me much trouble by the thirdday, so much that I could scarcely forbear from ripping off thebandage. By-and-by the pain in my hand was almost intolerable. Thehurts in my shoulder were painful too. The earlier wound broke outagain, and the bite inflamed greatly, and a kind of fever came upon me,so that I grew light-headed at times, and hardly knew where I was, orwhat I said. When I was myself again, I fumed and chafed at my weakand helpless condition, and sometimes grew frightened lest the bite ofthe mad woman might communicate madness. I could not comprehend my ownirritability and want of self-command. The servants enraged me bystealing in and out of my room so softly, and by speaking in sharpwhispers which went to my brain like stiletto thrusts. Good Mr.Butharwick, who nursed me with nigh unsleeping care, nearly drove mecrazy by bidding me not to think of subjects which disturbed me, and bytalking of matters that in nowise concerned me. He had made someastounding discovery about the children of Israel, and how theirdestiny was written in the sky, as also were the future of the trueChurch and the doom of Antichrist. Everything could be made plain toone who read the Bible and knew astrology, and my good tutor appearedto think I might be soothed by hearing these mysteries expounded. Irefrain from blasphemous language about the Holy Scriptures, but I saidthings about the stars and star-gazing which hurt Mr. Butharwickgrievously.
Dick Portington watched with me one night, and in my intervals ofrelief from pain, he told me how the commissioner had been carried awaymore dead than alive, but vowing vengeance on those who had caused hissufferings. Of fights between the Dutch and the Islonians he had muchto tell; how the men of Haxey had driven off Vermuijden's men, throwndown their embankments, filled up the drains, burned carts and tools,and utterly destroyed their works in the south of the Isle; how anattack had been made on Sandtoft and repelled, some of the assailantsfalling into the hands of the Dutch, who had flogged them within aninch of their lives, and then turned them loose to shift as best theycould, threatening worse punishment to the next batch of captives.This was done by order of the new commandant, Vliet, who was in highesteem with the Dutchmen on account of his boldness and cunning.Vermuijden had gone away to oversee another operation in Bedfordshire,leaving Vliet in full authority.
For the next two days I was in high fever, and my guardians refused togive Dick another opportunity of conversing with me. Luke was my bestnurse and companion in these days, for my stolid man was in love, andin love with Martha, Anna's maid. They contrived to meet somehow,whenever I gave him permission to cross to Sandtoft, which I was neverloath to do. If he had asked leave to go seven times a week, I shouldnot have said him nay. In fact, losing count of time as I sometimesdid, by reason of weakness and wandering of mind, I would ask him if hemeant to go to-day, and he would answer, "Lord love you, Measter Frank,an' 'twere but yesterday I fared across." Through Luke I heard of mylove, and she sent me messages, and gave him directions about thetreatment of my hurts and as to my diet, Luke it was who told me thather mother was an English woman, the daughter of a London merchant, whohad gone into exile for conscience sake. Martha also was of Englishparentage, the child of a servant who had accompanied the family to theNetherlands. "Which accounts for her pastry-making," added Luke.Through Luke I heard that Vliet pressed his suit with ardour, DoctorGoel seconding him; but that I had a friend at court in the maid, whowas a humble friend rather than a common servant, and hated Sebastianwith a perfect hatred. I was surprised and perplexed to hear Sheffieldhad visited Sandtoft, and struck up a friendship with Vliet. This Icould not understand, and it disquieted me.
At the end of a fortnight I could go about a little, but the wounds inthe shoulder did not properly heal, and I recovered strength but slowly.
One day as I sat out on the lawn in front of the house, Luke near me,busied in cleaning a gun, an old woman, with a tattered shawl over herhead and a basket on her arm, came feebly up the drive, now and thencoughing asthmatically. In a wheezing voice she begged to be allowedto show me the contents of her basket. Luke gave her his stool, whichshe accepted with profuse gratitude, and then asked for a drink ofwater.
"Bring her a cordial, Luke," I said, as he went off to the kitchen.
As soon as he was out of hearing, the old woman said in Bess Boswell'svoice.
"Send him away again when he returns. I must have a private word withyou."
Sure enough, now I looked narrowly at her, I recognised the eyes, butthe rest of the face was that of an aged woman.
"What is the meaning of this mummery, Bess?" I asked.
"Have you forgotten what I told you? It is dangerous for me to be seenspeaking to you," she replied.
"No; but I can't for the life of me understand the danger," said I.
"Certainly you can't; but that does not alter the fact," answered she,in a tone rather scornful of my sagacity, I thought.
Luke came toward us with the cordial at this point, and I bade himleave us awhile, as the poor body had something to tell me of heraffairs. He withdrew out of earshot, but remained within sight of us.
"Your man is quicker of apprehension than you," she said. "He doesn'tknow me, and he doesn't trust me. He is loading his gun, and keeping awatchful eye on me; a good servant, that. I wish you would take a leafout of his book, and be on your guard against strangers. Two monthsago I begged you to go away out of the Isle, and it is by the mostwonderful luck you are alive to-day."
"I have been in danger once or twice; I do know so much."
Bess waved her hand loftily.
"I do not speak of mobs and crazy women; your enemies are much moreformidable."
"Come now, Bess, drop this mysterious style, and tell a plain tale, ifyou have one. You mean that Sheffield owes me a grudge, and won'tstick at trifles to pay it. I know that as well as you, and I am notshaking in my shoes about it."
Bess laughed. "One of your worst enemies is your confidence in bodilystrength and pluck. Lord Sheffield is not blessed with the sharpestwits in the world, though he is more than your match in craftiness, buthe has the help of a man as cunning as the devil."
"Do you mean the Dutchman, Vliet?" I asked.
Bess laughed again. "The Dutchman is a bulldog, and, if you areprudent, you will not go near his kennel. But you have to be on yourguard against one who can intrigue. Let me tell you there are swornaccusations now at Castle Mulgrave that Daft Jack was your tool, and ifthe poor fellow is caught he will be made to confess that he was."
"But it is a lie!" I exclaimed.
"I wonder how many lies have been confessed on the rack," retortedBess. "There is a charge against you--waiting for something tostrengthen the case--of having resisted the King's authority at Thorne,and inciting others to do so. At the same time it is being whisperedabout among the common sort that you are a traitor to the Isloniancause, and to your father. The Dutch are told that you are theirsecret enemy, the instigator of the attacks made on them."
"But these stories are contradictory, the one of the other!"
"What does that matter? The effect of them is that you are looked uponwith hate and disgust all round. You were in great favour with thepeople just after the Crowle flood, but they are in a different mindto-day. Tales are told of you in every alehouse which would belaughable, if they were not believed. All this is done on the chancethat your enemy may be saved the trouble of your taking off; he isprepared to act himself, if they don't."
"But what motive can he have?" I asked, incredulously.
"To get money," she answered.
"Who is the man?"
"Before I tell you, I must have your word never to betray me--never totell any one else, directly or indirectly."
"I give it you."
"The man is my father."
I laughed now. "Lord Bozzy," "c
heating Bozzy," the gipsy rascal, whosefeats and pranks were a perpetual and relishing jest all over the Isle!It was ridiculous to consider him in the light of a malignant, subtleenemy.
Bess gave me a contemptuous smile. "Do you happen to know that he hasstolen a horse, and sold it afterwards to the man from whom he hadstolen it? Did you ever hear of his being entertained as an honouredguest at the house of a magistrate, who had condemned him to the stocksa day or two before? Have you heard of his passing for a clergyman,London merchant, French traveller, and a dozen other characters, amongpeople who knew him well, or thought they did? And if he can take inevery dull-witted squire in the Isle just for mirth and play, what doyou suppose he can't do, when he is to gain a fortune by doing it?"
On reflection, I admitted to myself that contempt for Boswell might befoolish, and passed at once to suspicion. What if this girl had beenemployed to frighten me away? Her I did not suspect, but might she nothave been allowed to hear this and that, in the hope that she wouldinform me, and so I might be driven out of the Isle? A fine fellow Ishould be to run for my life, because a wench cried Bugaboo!
"Well, Bess, I am infinitely obliged to you," I said; "but I am notlikely to take to flight. If you are good enough to warn me of anyscheme you may hear of, I shall be forearmed."
"Do you suppose my father imparts his plans to me, or any one? I mayguess his design by some direction he gives; I may divine a purpose bywatching him closely. He doesn't talk of doing a thing, he does it."
It was curious to see the sort of pride she had in the man whose plansshe was endeavouring to thwart, pride mingled with fear.
We sat a little while in silence. Then Bess got up to go.
"You will not heed my warning? Oh, you are bewitched, or you would notlose house and land, scorn a fair damsel, who would be your loving,faithful wife, break your father's heart, risk your life, all for--anoutlandish woman!"
"I believe you honest, Bess," I rejoined; "but is all this of your ownmotion?"
"And who should prompt me?" she asked.
"Nay, that I cannot guess."
"Nor ever will." And away she went without another word.
A day or two later, my father returned, looking worn and aged, so thatmy heart ached to see the change. He, on his part, was deeplyconcerned to find me weak and ailing, and sent Luke to Doncaster with aletter to a physician there, forbidding him to return until he couldbring the doctor. When he heard that my wounds had been got indefending the Goels, he refrained from speech, but his looks were ofsorrow and anger both.
Late in the evening he gave to Mr. Butharwick and me an account of whathe had done to get the decision of the judges put in force againstVermuijden, but all in vain. At length he determined to appeal to theKing himself, whose will made null and void the sentence of the law.He bribed some of his Majesty's attendants heavily, but could not for along time obtain audience. The King was in such anxiety and excitementabout the Queen's French servants, of whom he greatly desired to berid, and to have them sent back to their own country, that he couldthink or hear of nothing else, unless it were of some means of layinghands on money, which he wanted sorely. So the courtiers and servantssaid. Nevertheless, my father followed the King, who was exceedinglyrestless, from one place to another, seeking a favourable occasion, andat last found it in a village near Cambridge. One of the King'sgentlemen, who had taken my father's money, came to him at his lodging,reporting his Majesty to be in better humour that evening, having hadfrom his Grace of Buckingham a letter which satisfied him the mounseerswould soon be packed off to France. Seeing him in this temper, thegentleman had presented my father's petition, which the King had read,and then signified that the petitioner might be admitted to his chamber.
"But as soon as I came into the King's presence," said my father, "Iknew, by the scowl on his face, my plea had no chance of success. Hedid not condescend to speak to me until he had told his people I wasfrom Lincolnshire, which Henry VIII. had declared the most disloyalcounty in England, which condemnation was justified in his ownexperience. And of this rebellious county, the worst part was the Isleof Axholme, where one of his commissioners had been vilely used oflate. Then he went on to say that in his care for his subjects in thatbarbarous corner of his dominions, he had authorized a scheme forreclaiming many acres of soil now under water, and, pointing to me, hesaid, 'This fellow has dared to defy his King by opposing our graciouspurpose, setting forth I know not what legal quibbles in the courts oflaw; and when he fails in his rebellious design, actually has theaudacity to approach us in person.' Then he tore up the paper andthrew it into the fire, and turned to me, saying, 'Go to the devil, andthank your stars you are not helped thither by a sword through yourbody.' Whereupon I was jostled out of the sacred presence."
After Mr. Butharwick had retired, my father opened out to me on thestate of our affairs, and in a strain altogether new. The change wasso great as to make me afraid of I hardly knew what. He, who was usedto speak and act with so much resolution and masterfulness, nowlamented his unwisdom in taking upon him the burdensome charge of the"solicitorship," and accused himself of wronging me thereby. I couldscarcely believe my ears, and doubted whether I was awake or dreaming.
"I had confidence that a just cause must prevail in England, but Iought to have perceived that everything is changed in this country. AKing, who despises the rights of his people in general, and flouts hisParliament, cannot be hindered of his will with a few landowners andpoor folk in Axholme, when he is in dire straits for money, and can getit by trampling us underfoot. In my foolish confidence I have done agreat wrong by encumbering the estate so heavily."
I knew not how to answer; babbled something about doing our utmost torepair the mischief.
"Happily, it is possible to do that," he replied. "There is no doubtthat Mistress Ryther and her father will welcome you as a suitor forher hand in marriage. You may not be inclined for matrimony just atpresent, and there is no hurry, but you should lose no time in askingthe lady's promise. That obtained, all our troubles are at an end.And as soon as you are wedded I will go abroad, taking Butharwick withme, leaving the bride to queen it here. When I return, a house inBeltoft will suffice for me.
"Unfortunately, I cannot ask Mistress Ryther to marry me," I answered,"because I love another lady with every fibre of my body and everythought of my heart."
My father smiled. "You think so, Frank; and it is partly my fault. Iought to have turned you loose in town, sent you on the grand tour,given you a chance to prove how often we can be in love, and howquickly out of it again. 'Tis a malady incident to youth, a passingfever; but while the delirium lasts, we see and converse with angels.Change of air is a cure for it."
How I threw scorn on this scorn of love, how I protested and vowed mylove could not die, may be imagined by a lover, and no other would careto read such matter.
My father replied, with an indulgent smile, "Yes, yes, my son, I know.But you must see that marriage with the Dutch girl is out of thequestion. You have nothing to marry on. If you refuse MistressRyther, you are a landless, penniless man. Even if it were otherwise,how can you wed the daughter of a fellow who broke prison and fled hiscountry, sooner than take his trial for conspiracy to murder hisPrince? A pretty family connection for the master of Temple Belwood!You might as well propose to marry a gipsy; better indeed, for your ownpeople would not burn the house over your head for that, as theycertainly would, if you took a wife from the camp of the Dutchinvaders. Besides, the girl is mated already--or as good asmated--with a rascal who was drummed out of King Christian's army forcheating at dice. You see I have taken some pains to inform myselfabout your Fancy and her associates."
"And who is your informant, may I ask?"
"A Frenchman, Chavatte by name, a gentleman and a man of affairs, whocame over with Vermuijden, putting much money into the business. I metwith him at Cambridge, where he was seeking Vermuijden, as I wasseeking the Lord's Anointed. He has withdrawn from the company
forgood reasons. For one thing, he is convinced that the plan for thedrainage is fatally defective, and Vermuijden will not hear ofalteration. Then he has discovered that the King has sold what neverbelonged to him, and has no mind to be a receiver of stolen goods, nordoes he expect that the rightful owners will ever submit to therobbery. And he has the strongest distaste to Vermuijden's lieutenantand deputy. He is trying to recover some of his money, and willshortly go home. You will be inclined to consider him a man of sense,for he admires Mistress Goel's beauty, and applauds her devotion to herfather, whom he regards as lunatic, most especially because he desiresto give her in marriage to this Vliet. 'But he finds favour with theincomprehensible sex,' Chavatte added, with his French shrug of theshoulders."
I did not speak for some time. A horrible doubt had crept into mymind. Suppose Anna's filial piety should overcome her repugnance toSebastian Vliet. Suppose the fellow had reformed his conduct. Supposehe succeeded in gaining her consent. If Anna were lost to me, whatmattered it to me whether I married Mistress Ryther, or a gipsy, or ablackamoor? If I could redeem the dear old place, and make my fatherhappy, was it not my duty to do so? Always supposing that Anna couldnot, or would not be my wife. It was the first time I had given way todespondency, and even now I do not understand what it was that plungedme into gloom.
One thing only was clear to me, that I must see Anna without delay, andlearn whether I was to be blessed or miserable for the whole of mylife. I could not keep before myself that I had nothing to offer forher acceptance, or that her father might treat the offer with ridicule.I could think of nothing but the necessity to see Anna, and hear theword which should decide my fate. My father said nothing to interruptmy meditations. Since he had been away from home, he had formed thehabit of smoking, and he now lighted his pipe and puffed silently.When he had finished his pipe and knocked out the ashes, he said--
"I will not press you for an answer to-night; but it is to beremembered that handsome young women, who have heaps of money, are notas plentiful as blackberries in September."
"I will give you an answer to-morrow evening," I replied; but did notsay anything of my intention to go to Sandtoft in the morning, for Ifelt certain my father would oppose it strongly. Indeed, what with thelightness of my head and the heaviness of my heart, it took me sometime to get upstairs and to bed. Luke, who was accustomed to help me,was away, and it occurred to me that if I missed him to-night, I shouldmiss him much more to-morrow.
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