CHAPTER VIII. AN EVENING OF ONE OP THE "THREE DAYS"
On the evening which witnessed these events Lady Dorothea's "reception"had been more than usually brilliant. Numbers had come to show ofhow little moment they deemed this "street disturbance," as they werepleased to call it; others, again, were curious to pick up in societythe opinions formed on what was passing, among whom were several highin the favor of the Court and the confidence of the Government. All, asthey arrived, had some little anecdote or adventure to relate as to thedifficulties which beset them on the way,--the distances which they wereobliged to travel, the obstructions and passwords and explanations whichmet them at every turn. These were all narrated in the easy, joculartone of passing trifles, the very inconvenience of which suggested itsshare of amusement.
As the evening wore on, even these became less frequent; the streetswere already thinning, and, except in some remote, unimportant parts ofthe capital, the troops were in possession of all the thoroughfares. Ofcourse, the great topic of conversation was the bold stroke of policythen enacting,--a measure which all pronounced wise and just, andeminently called for.
To have heard the sentiments then uttered, the disparaging opinionsexpressed of the middle and humbler classes, the hopelessness of everseeing them sufficiently impressed with their own inferiority, theadulation bestowed on the monarch and all around him, one might reallyhave fancied himself back again at the Tuileries in the time of Louisthe Fourteenth. All agreed in deeming the occasion an excellent one togive the people a salutary lesson; and it was really pleasant to seethe warm interest taken by these high and distinguished persons in thefortunes of their less happy countrymen.
To Lady Dorothea's ears no theme could be more grateful; and she movedfrom group to group, delighted to mingle her congratulations with thosearound, and exchange her hopes and aspirations and wishes with theirs.Kate Henderson, upon whom habitually devolved the chief part in these"receptions," was excited and flurried in manner; a more than ordinaryeffort to please being dashed, as it were, by some secret anxiety, andthe expectation of some coming event. Had there been any one to watchher movements, he might have seen the eagerness with which she listenedto each new account of the state of the capital, and how impatientlyshe drank in the last tidings from the streets; nor less marked was theexpression of proud scorn upon her features, as she heard the insultingestimate of the populace, and the vainglorious confidence in thesoldiery. But more than all these was her haughty indignation as shelistened to the confused, mistaken opinions uttered on every side as tothe policy of the Government and the benevolent intentions of the king.Once, and only once, did she forget the prudent resolve she wished toimpose upon herself; but temper and caution and reserve gave way, asshe heard a very distinguished person amusing a circle around him by anunfair and unfaithful portraiture of the great leaders of '92. It wasthen, when stung by the odious epithet of _canaille_ applied to thosefor whose characters she entertained a deep devotion, that she forgoteverything, and in a burst of indignant eloquence overwhelmed andrefuted the speaker. This was the moment, too, in which she replied toVillemart by a word of terrible ferocity. Had the red cap of Libertyitself been suddenly hoisted in that brilliant assemblage, the dread andterror which arose could scarcely have been greater.
"Where are we?" cried the Marquise de Longueville. "I thought we were inthe Place de Vendome, and I find myself in the Faubourg St. Antoine!"
"Does my Lady know that her friend and confidante is a Girondist of thefirst water?" said an ex-Minister.
"Who could have suspected the spirit of Marat under the mask of Ninon del'Enclos?" muttered Villemart.
"What is this I hear, dearest Kate?" cried the Duchesse de Mirecourt,as she drew the young girl's arm within her own. "They tell me you haveterrified every one,--that Madame de Soissons has gone home ill, and theold Chevalier de Gardonnes has sent for his confessor."
"I have been very rash, very foolish," said Kate, as a deadly pallorcame over her; "but I could bear it no longer. Besides, what does itmatter? They 'll hear worse, and bear it too, before three days areover."
"Then it is all true?" cried the Duchess, eagerly. "You told Villemartthat when the Government spoke with grape-shot, the people replied withthe guillotine!"
"Not exactly," said Kate, with a faint smile. "But are they all going?"
"Of course they are. You have frightened them almost to death; and Iknow you only meant it for jest,--one of those little half-cruel jestsyou were ever fond of. Come with me and say so,--come, dearest." And shedrew her, as she spoke, into the crowded salon, now already a scene ofexcited leave-taking. The brilliant company, however, fell back as theycame forward, and an expression of mingled dismay and compassion wasturned towards the young Duchess, who with a kind of heroic courage drewKate's arm closer within her own.
"I am come to make an explanation, messieurs et mesdames," said theDuchess, with her most captivating smile; "pray vouchsafe me a hearing.My friend--my dearest, best friend here--has, in a moment of sportivepleasantry, suffered herself to jest--"
"It was a jest, then?" broke in Madame de Longueville, haughtily.
"Just as that is," replied Kate, lifting her hand and pointing in thedirection whence came a terrible crash of artillery, followed by therattle of musketry.
"Let us go,--let us away!" was now heard in affrighted accents on everyside; and the splendid assemblage, with less of ceremony than might beexpected, began to depart. Lady Dorothea alone was ignorant of what hadoccurred, and witnessed this sudden leave-taking with amazement. "Youare surely not afraid?" said she to one; "there is nothing serious inall this."
"She has told us the reverse, my Lady," was the reply. "We should becompromised to remain longer in her company."
"Adieu, my Lady. I wish we left you in safer companionship."
"Farewell, Madame, and pray be warned of your danger," whisperedanother.
"Your Ladyship may be called upon to acquit debts contracted by another,if Mademoiselle continues a member of your family," said Villemart, ashe bowed his departure.
"Believe me, Madame, none of us include _you_ in the terrible sentimentswe have listened to."
These, and a vast number of similar speeches attended the leave-takingof nearly each of her guests, till Lady Dorothea, confused, almoststunned by reiterated shocks, sat silently accepting these mysteriousannouncements, and almost imagining herself in all the bewilderment of adream.
Twice she made an effort to ask some explanation, but failed; and it wasonly as the Duchesse de Mirecourt drew nigh to say farewell, that in afaint, weak voice she said,--"Can you tell me what all are hinting at,or am I only confusing myself with the terrible scenes without?"
"I 'd have prevented it had I been near. I only heard it when too late,my Lady," said the Duchess, sorrowfully.
"Prevented what?--heard what?" cried Lady Dorothea.
"Besides, she has often said as much amongst ourselves; we only laughed,as indeed every one would do now, did not events present so formidablean aspect."
"Who is she you speak of? Tell me, I beseech you. What does this mean?"
"I am the culprit, my Lady," said Kate, approaching with all thequiet stateliness of her peculiar manner. "I have routed this gorgeousassembly, shocked your most distinguished guests, and horrified allwhose sentiments breathe loyalty! I am sincerely sorry for my offence;and it is a grave one."
"_You--you_ have dared to do this?"
"Too true, madam," rejoined Kate.
"How and to whom have you had the insolence--"
She stopped, overcome by passion; and Kate replied,--"To all who pleasedto listen, my Lady, I have said what doubtless is not often uttered insuch choice company, but what, if I mistake not greatly, their ears willgrow familiar with erelong."
"Nay, nay," said the Duchess, in a tone of apology, "the matter is notso serious as all this. Every one now is terrified. This disturbance,the soldiery, the vast crowds that beset the streets, have all producedso much excitement that even a f
ew words spoken at random are enoughto cause fear. It is one of Kate's fancies to terrorize thus over weakminds. She has the cruel triumph of not knowing what fear is. In a word,it is a mere trifling event, sure to be forgotten in the midst of suchscenes as we are passing through."
This attempt at explanation, poured forth with rapid utterance, did notproduce on Lady Dorothea the conviction it was intended to impose, andher Ladyship received the last adieus of the Duchess with a cold andstately formality; and then, as the door closed after her, turned toKate Henderson, and said,--"I want _your_ explanation of all this. Letme have it."
"It is easily given, my Lady," said Kate, calmly. And then, in a voicethat never trembled nor varied, she narrated briefly the scene whichhad just occurred, not extenuating in the slightest her own share in thetransaction, or offering a single syllable of excuse.
"And you, being who and what you are, dared thus to outrage the bestblood of France!" exclaimed Lady Dorothea, trembling all over withpassion.
"Perhaps, my Lady, if I sought for an apology, it would be in the factof being who and what I am."
"And do you imagine that after conduct such as this, after exposing meto a partnership in the shame that attaches to yourself, that you areany longer to enjoy the shelter of my roof?"
"It never occurred to me to think of that, madam," said Kate, with anill-repressed scorn.
"Then it is for _me_ to remind you of it," said her Ladyship, sternly."You shall, first of all, write me an humble apology for this vulgartirade, this outrage upon my company, and then you shall leave thehouse. Sit down there, and write as I shall dictate to you."
Kate seated herself with an air of implicit obedience at awriting-table, and took up a pen.
"Write," cried Lady Dorothea, sternly. "Begin, 'My Lady.' No. 'Iapproach your Ladyship for the last time.' No, not that. 'If the sinceresorrow in which I pen these lines.' No. Do it yourself. You best canexpress the shame your heart should feel in such a moment. Let the wordsbe your own!"
Kate leaned over the paper and wrote rapidly for a few seconds. Havingfinished, she read over the lines, and seemed to reflect on them.
"Show me that paper!" cried Lady Dorothea, impatiently. But, withoutobeying the command, Kate said,--"Your Ladyship will not be able toleave Paris for at least forty hours. By that time the Monarchy willhave run its course in France. You will probably desire, however, toescape from the scenes of turbulence sure to ensue. This will secure youa free passage, whichever road you take."
"What raving is all this?" said Lady Dorothea, snatching the paperfrom her hand, and then reading aloud in French,-- "'The authoritiesare required to aid and tender all assistance in their power to LadyDorothea Martin and all who accompany her, neither giving nor sufferingany opposition to be given to her or them in the prosecution of theirjourney.'
(Signed) "Jules Lagrange,
"'Minister of Police _ad interim_'
"And this in your own hand, too!" exclaimed Lady Dorothea,contemptuously.
"Yes, madam; but it will entitle it to the seal of the Prefecture, andentitle _you_ to all that it professes."
"So that I have the honor to shelter within my walls a chief of thisinsurrection,--if it be worthy of such a name; one in the confidence ofthis stupid _canaille_, who fancy that the fall of a Monarchy is like arow in a _guinguette!_"
"Your Ladyship is no longer in a position to question me or arraignmy actions. Before two days are over, the pageant of a king will havepassed off the stage, and men of a different stamp take the directionof affairs. One of these will be he whose name I have affixed to thatpaper,--not without due warranty to do so. Your Ladyship may or may notchoose to avail yourself of it."
"I spurn the imposition," said Lady Dorothea, tearing it in fragments."So poor a cheat could not deceive _me_. As for yourself--"
"Oh, do not bestow a thought upon _me_, my Lady. I can suffice for myown guidance. I only wait for morning to leave this house."
"And it is to a city in such a state as this you would confide yourself.Truly, mademoiselle, Republicanism has a right to be proud of you. Youare no half-convert to its principles."
"Am I again to say, my Lady, that your control over me has ceased?"
"It has not. It shall not cease till I have restored you to the humbleroof from which I took you," said Lady Dorothea, passionately. "Yourfather is our creature; he has no other subsistence than what wecondescend to bestow on him. He shall know, when you re-enter his doors,why and for what cause you are there. Till that time come, you are, asyou have been, in my service."
"No, my Lady, the tie between us is snapped. Dependence is but a sadpart at the best; but so long as it is coupled with a certain show ofrespect it is bearable. Destroy _that_, and it is mere slavery, abjectand degrading. I cannot go back to your Ladyship's service." And shegave to the last word an emphasis of intense scorn.
"You must and you shall," said Lady Dorothea. "If _you_ are forgetfulof what it is your duty to remember, I am not. Here you shall remain;without," added she, in an accent of supreme contempt, "your counsel anddirection shall be sought after by the high and mighty individuals whoare so soon to administer the affairs of this nation."
The loud roll of a drum, followed by the louder clank of sabres andmusketry, here startled the speakers; and Kate, hastening to the window,opened it, and stepped out upon the balcony. Day was just dawning; agray half-light covered the sky, but the dark shadows of the tallhouses still stretched over the Place. Here, now, the troops were all inmotion; a sudden summons having roused them to form in rank. The hastycharacter of the movement showed that some emergency was imminent,--afact confirmed by the frequent arrival and departure of orderlies atfull speed.
After a brief interval of preparation the infantry formed in column,and, followed by the artillery and cavalry, moved out of the Place ata quick step. The measured tramp of the foot-soldiers, the clatteringnoise of the train and the dragoons could be heard long after they hadpassed out of sight; and Kate stood listening eagerly as to what wouldcome next, when suddenly a man in plain clothes rode hastily from one ofthe side-streets into the centre of the Place. He looked around him fora moment or two, and then disappeared. Within a few seconds after, adull, indistinct sound seemed to rise from the ground, which swelledgradually louder and louder, and at last grew into the regular footfallof a great multitude moving in measured time; and now a vast crowdpoured into the Place, silent and wordless. On they came from thevarious quarters that opened into the square,--men, for the most partclad in blouses or in the coarse garb of laborers. They were armedeither with musket or sword, and in many instances wore the cross-beltof the soldier. They proceeded at once to barricade the square at itsopening into the Rue de la Paix,--a work which they accomplished withastonishing speed and regularity; for, while Kate still looked, aformidable rampart was thrown up across the entire street, along which aline of armed men was stationed, every one of whom, by his attitude andgesture, betrayed the old discipline of a soldier's life. Orders weregiven and obeyed, movements made, and dispositions effected, withall the regularity and precision of regular troops; and by the readyobedience of all, and the steady attitude observed, it was easy to seethat these men were trained to arms and to habits of discipline. Notless evident was it that they who commanded them were not new to suchduties. But, more important than all such signs was the fact that hereand there through the mass might be seen the uniform of a soldier, orthe epaulette of an officer, showing that desertion to the ranks of thepeople had already begun.
Kate was so occupied in attentive observation of the scene that she hadnot noticed the arrival of another person in the apartment, and whosevoice now suddenly attracted her. It was Martin himself, hastily arousedfrom his bed by his servant, who in great alarm told him that thecapital was in open revolt, the king's troops beaten back, and thepeople victorious everywhere. "There 's not a moment to lose," criedhe; "we must escape while we can. The road to Versailles is yet inpossession of the troops, and we can take that way."
Lady Dorothea, partly overcome by the late scene, partly stunned by therepeated shocks she experienced, made no reply whatever; and Martin,judging from the expression of her features the anxiety she wassuffering, hastily added, "Let me see Kate Henderson,--where is she?"
Lady Dorothea merely pointed towards the balcony, but did not utter aword.
"Oh, have I found you?" said Martin, stepping out upon the balcony. "Yousee what is doing,--I might say what is done," added he; "for I believethe game is well-nigh decided. Nothing but an overwhelming force willnow crush this populace. We must get away, and at once. Will you givethe orders? Send for post-horses; tell them to pack up whatever theycan,--direct everything, in fact. My Lady is too ill,--too much overcometo act, or think of anything. Our whole reliance is upon you." While hewas yet uttering these broken, disjointed sentences, he had drawn Kateby the arm within the room, and now stood beside Lady Dorothea's chair.Her Ladyship raised her head and fixed her eyes upon Kate, who sustainedthe gaze calmly and steadily, nor by the slightest movement displayedone touch of any emotion. The glance, at first haughty and defiant,seemed at length to grow weaker under the unmoved stare of the younggirl, and finally she bent down her head and sat as though overcome.
"Come, Dora," said Martin, kindly, "rouse yourself; you are always equalto an effort when necessity presses. Tell Kate here what you wish, andshe 'll do it."
"I want no aid,--no assistance, sir. Miss Henderson is her ownmistress,--she may do what, or go where she pleases."
Martin made a sign to Kate not to mind what he believed to be the merewandering of an over-excited brain; and then bending down over thechair, said, "Dear Dora, we must be active and stirring; the people willsoon be masters of the capital,--for a while, at least,--and there is nosaying what excesses they will commit."
"Do not offend Miss Henderson, sir," interposed Lady Dorothea; "she hasequal confidence in their valor and their virtue."
"What does this mean?--when did she fall into this state?" asked he,eagerly. And although only spoken in a whisper, Lady Dorothea overheardthem, and said,--"Let _her_ tell you. She can give you the very fullestexplanation."
"But, Dora, this is no time for trifling; we are here, in the midst ofan enraged populace and a maddened soldiery. There, listen!--that wasartillery; and now, hear!--the bells of the churches are sounding thealarm."
"They are ringing the knell of the Monarchy!" said Kate, solemnly.
A hoarse, wild shout--aery like that of enraged wild beasts--arosefrom the Place beneath, and all rushed to the window to see what hadoccurred. It was a charge of heavy cavalry endeavoring to force thebarricade; and now, vigorously repulsed by the defenders, men and horseswere rolling on the ground in terrible confusion, while on the barricadeitself a hand-to-hand conflict was raging.
"Sharp work, by George!" said a voice behind Kate's shoulder. She turnedand saw Captain Martin, who had just joined them unobserved.
"I thought you many a mile away," said Kate, in a whisper.
"So I should have been," replied he, in the same tone, "but I was n'tgoing to lose this. I knew it was to come off to-day, and I thought itwould have been a thousand pities to be absent."
"And are your wishes, then, with these gallant fellows?" said she,eagerly. "Do I hear you aright, that it was to aid them you remained?There! see how they bear down on the soldiery; they will not berestrained; they are crossing the barricade, and charging with thebayonet. It is only for liberty that men can fight thus. Oh that I werea man, to be amongst them!"
A stray shot from beneath here struck the architrave above their heads,and sent down a mass of plaster over them.
"Come, Dora, this is needless peril," said Martin, drawing her withinthe room. "If you will not leave this, at least do not expose yourselfunnecessarily."
"But it is exactly to get away--to escape while there is time--that Icame for," said the Captain. "They tell me that the mob are getting thebest of it, and, worse again, that the troops are joining them; so,to make sure, I 've sent off Fenton to the post for horses, and I 'mexpecting him every moment. But here he is. Well, have you got thehorses?"
"No, sir: the horses have all been taken by the people to mountorderlies; the postmaster, too, has fled, and everything is inconfusion. But if we had horses the streets are impassable; from here tothe Boulevard there are no less than five barricades."
"Then what is to be done?" cried Martin.
"They say, sir," replied Fenton, "that by gaining the outer Boulevard onfoot, carriages and horses are easily found there, to reach Belleville,St. Germain, or Versailles."
"He is right," said the Captain; "there is nothing else to be done. Whatdo _you_ think?" said he, addressing Kate, who stood intently watchingthe movements in the Place beneath.
"Yes; do you agree with this plan?" asked Martin, approaching her.
"Look!" cried she, eagerly, and not heeding the question; "the troopsare rapidly joining the people,--they come in numbers now,--and yonderis an officer in his uniform."
"Shame on him!" exclaimed Lady Dorothea, indignantly.
"So say I too," said Kate. "He who wears a livery should not assume theport and bearing of a free man. This struggle is for liberty, and shouldonly be maintained by the free!"
"How are we to pass these barricades?" cried Martin, anxiously.
"I will be your guide, sir, if that be all," said Kate. "You may trustme. I promise no more than I can perform."
"She speaks truly," said Lady Dorothea. "Alas that we should see the daywhen we cannot reject the aid!"
"There is a matter I want to speak to you about," said Martin,drawing his father aside, and speaking in a low, confidential tone."Massingbred--Jack Massingbred--is now here, in my room. I know allabout my mother's dislike to him, and _he_ knows it; indeed, he has asmuch as owned to me that he deserved it all. But what is to be done? Wecannot leave him here."
"How came he to be here?" asked Martin.
"He accompanied me from the Club, where, in an altercation of some sort,he had just involved himself in a serious quarrel. He came here to beready to start this morning for Versailles, where the meeting was totake place; but indeed he had no thought of accepting shelter underour roof; and when he found where he was, it was with the greatestdifficulty I could persuade him to enter. None of us anticipated such aserious turn of affairs as this; and now, of course, a meeting will bescarcely possible. What are we to do with him?"
"Ask him frankly to join us if we obtain the horses."
"But my mother?"
"I 'll speak to her,--but it were better you did it, Harry. These arenot times to weigh scruples and balance difficulties. I don't myselfthink that Massingbred treated us fairly, but it is not now I 'd like toremember it. There, go; tell her what you have told me, and all will bewell."
The Captain drew nigh Lady Dorothea, and, leaning over her chair,whispered to her for some minutes. At first, a slight gesture ofimpatience burst from her, but afterwards she seemed to hear him calmlyand tranquilly.
"It would seem as though the humiliations of this night are never tohave an end," said she, with a sigh. "But I'll bear my share of them."
"Remember," said the other, "that it was by no choice of _his_ he camehere. His foot was on the threshold before he suspected it."
"Miss Henderson sent me, my Lady," said a servant, entering hastily, "tosay that there is not a minute to be lost. They are expecting an attackon the barricade in the Rue de la Paix, and we ought to pass through atonce."
"By whose orders?" began she, haughtily; then, checking herselfsuddenly, and in a voice weak and broken, added: "I am ready. Give meyour arm, Harry, and do not leave me. Where is Mr. Martin?" asked she.
"He is waiting for your Ladyship at the foot of the stairs with anothergentleman," said the servant.
"That must be Massingbred, for I told them to call him," said theCaptain.
When Lady Dorothea, supported by the arm of her son, had reachedthe gate, she found Martin and Massingbred standing to recei
ve them,surrounded by a numerous escort of servants, each loaded with someportion of the family baggage.
"A hasty summons, sir," said she, addressing Massingbred, and thusabruptly avoiding the awkwardness of a more ceremonious meeting. "Afew hours back none of us anticipated anything like this. Will it endseriously, think you?"
"There is every prospect of such, madam," said he, bowing respectfullyto her salutation. "Every moment brings fresh tidings of defection amongthe troops, while the Marshal is paralyzed by contradictory orders."
"Is it always to be the fate of monarchy to be badly served in times ofperil?" said she, bitterly.
"It is very difficult to awaken loyalty against one's convictions ofright, madam. I mean," added he, as a gesture of impatience broke fromher, "that these acts of the king, having no support from his realfriends, are weak stimulants to evoke deeds of daring and courage."
"They are unworthy supporters of a Crown who only defend what theyapprove of. This is but Democracy at best, and smacks of the policywhich has little to lose and everything to gain by times of trouble."
"And yet, madam, such cannot be the case here; at least, it is assuredlynot so in the instance of him who is now speaking with Miss Henderson."And he pointed to a man who, holding the bridle of his horse on his arm,walked slowly at Kate's side in the street before the door.
"And who is he?" asked she, eagerly.
"The greatest banker in Paris, madam,--one of the richest capitalists ofEurope,--ready to resign all his fortune in the struggle against a rulewhich he foresees intended to bring back the days of a worn-out, effetemonarchy, rather than a system which shall invigorate the nation, andenrich it by the arts of commerce and trade."
"But his name--who is he?" asked she, more impatiently.
"Charles Lagrange, madam."
"I have heard the name before. I have seen it somewhere lately," saidshe, trying to remember where and how.
"You could scarcely have paid your respects at Neuilly, madam,without seeing him. He was, besides, the favored guest at Madame deMirecourt's."
"You would not imply, sir, that the Duchess condescended to any sympathywith this party?"
"More than half the Court, madam, are against the Crown; I will not say,however, that they are, on that account, for the people."
"There! she is making a sign to us to follow her," said Martin, pointingtowards Kate, who, still conversing with her companion, motioned to theothers to come up.
"It is from that quarter we receive our orders," said Lady Dorothea,sneeringly, as she prepared to follow.
"What has she to do with it?" exclaimed the Captain. "To look at her,one would say she was deep in the whole business."
A second gesture, more urgent than before, now summoned the party tomake haste.
Through the Place, crowded as it was by an armed and excited multitude,way was rapidly made for the little party who now issued from the doorof the hotel. Kate Henderson walked in front, with Massingbred at herside talking eagerly, and by his gestures seeming as though endeavoringto extenuate or explain away something in his conduct; next came LadyDorothea, supported between her husband and her son, and while walkingslowly and with faltering steps, still carrying her head proudly erect,and gazing on the stern faces around her with looks of haughty contempt.After them were a numerous retinue of servants, with such effects asthey had got hurriedly together,--a terror-struck set, scarcely able tocrawl along from fear.
As they drew nigh the barricade, some men proceeded to remove a heavywagon which adjoined a house, and by the speed and activity of theirmovements, urged on as they were by the orders of one in command, itmight be seen that the operation demanded promptitude.
"We are scarcely safe in this," cried the officer. "See! they are makingsigns to us from the windows,--the troops are coming. If you pass outnow, you will be between two fires."
"There is yet time," said Kate, eagerly. "Our presence in the street,too, will delay them, and give you some minutes to prepare. And as forourselves, we shall gain one of the side-streets easily enough."
"Tie your handkerchief to your cane, sir," said the officer toMassingbred.
"My flag is ready," said Jack, gayly; "I only hope they may respect it."
"Now--now!" cried Kate, with eagerness, and beckoning to Lady Dorotheato hasten, "the passage is free, and not a second to be lost!"
"Are you not coming with us?" whispered Martin to her, as they passedout.
"Yes; I'll follow. But," added she, in a lower tone, "were the choicegiven me, it is here I 'd take my stand."
She looked full at Massingbred as she spoke, and, bending down his head,he said, "Had it been your place, it were mine also!"
"Quick,--quick, my Lady," said Kate. "They must close up the passage atonce. They are expecting an attack." And so saying, she motioned rapidlyto Martin to move on.
"The woman is a fiend," said Lady Dorothea; "see how her eyes sparkle,and mark the wild exultation of her features."
"Adieu, sir,--adieu!" said Kate, waving her hand to one who seemed thechief of the party. "All my wishes are with you. Were I a man, my handshould guarantee my heart."
"Come--come back!" cried the officer. "You are too late. There comes thehead of the column."
"No, never--never!" exclamed Lady Dorothea, haughtily; "protection fromsuch as these is worse than any death."
"Give me the flag, then," cried Kate, snatching it from Massingbred'shand, and hastening on before the others. And now the heavy wagon hadfallen back to its place, and a serried file of muskets peeped over it.
"Where's Massingbred?" asked the Captain, eagerly.
"Yonder,--where he ought to be!" exclaimed Kate, proudly, pointingto the barricade, upon which, now, Jack was standing conspicuously, amusket on his arm.
The troops in front were not the head of a column, but the advancedguard of a force evidently at some distance off, and instead ofadvancing on the barricade, they drew up and halted in triple fileacross the street. Their attitude of silent, stern defiance--for it wassuch--evoked a wild burst of popular fury, and epithets of abuse andinsult were heaped upon them from windows and parapets.
"They are the famous Twenty-Second of the Line," said the Captain, "whoforced the Pont-Neuf yesterday and drove the mob before them."
"It is fortunate for us that we fall into such hands," said LadyDorothea, waving her handkerchief as she advanced. But Kate had alreadyapproached the line, and now halted at a command from the officer. Whileshe endeavored to explain how and why they were there, the cries andmenaces of the populace grew louder and wilder. The officer, avery young subaltern, seemed confused and flurried; his eyes turnedconstantly towards the street from which they had advanced, and heseemed anxiously expecting the arrival of the regiment.
"I cannot give you a convoy, Mademoiselle," he said; "I. scarcely knowif I have the right to let you pass. We may be attacked at any moment;for aught I can tell, _you_ may be in the interests of the insurgents--"
"We are cut off, Lieutenant," cried a sergeant, running up at themoment. "They have thrown up a barrier behind us, and it is armedalready."
"Lay down your arms, then," said Kate, "and do not sacrifice your bravefellows in a hopeless straggle."
"Listen not to her, young man, but give heed to your honor and yourloyalty," cried Lady Dorothea. "Is it against such an enemy as thisFrench soldiers fear to advance?"
"Forward!" cried the officer, waving his sword above his head. "Letus carry the barricade!" And a wild yell of defiance from the windowsrepeated the speech in derision.
"You are going to certain death!" cried Kate, throwing herself beforehim. "Let _me_ make terms for you, and they shall not bring dishonor onyou."
"Here comes the regiment!" called out the sergeant. "They have forcedthe barricade." And the quick tramp of a column, as they came at a run,now shook the street.
"Remember your cause and your King, sir," cried Lady Dorothea to theofficer.
"Bethink you of your country,--of France,--and of L
iberty!" said Kate,as she grasped his arm.
"Stand back!--back to the houses!" said he, waving his sword."Voltigeurs, to the front!"
The command was scarcely issued, when a hail of balls rattled throughthe air. The defenders of the barricade had opened their fire, and witha deadly precision, too, for several fell at the very first discharge.
"Back to the houses!" exclaimed Martin, dragging Lady Dorothea along,who, in her eagerness, now forgot all personal danger, and only thoughtof the contest before her.
"Get under cover of the troops,--to the rear!" cried the Captain, as heendeavored to bear her away.
"Back--back--beneath the archway!" cried Kate, as, throwing her armsaround Lady Dorothea, she lifted her fairly from the ground, and carriedher within the deep recess of a _porte cochere_. Scarcely, however, hadshe deposited her in safety, than she fell tottering backwards and sankto the ground.
"Good Heavens! she is struck," exclaimed Martin, bending over her.
"It is nothing,--a spent shot, and no more," said Kate, as she showedthe bullet which had perforated her dress beneath the arm.
"A good soldier, by Jove!" said the Captain, gazing with real admirationon the beautiful features before him; the faint smile she woreheightening their loveliness, and contrasting happily with their pallor.
"There they go! They are up the barricade already; they are overit,--through it!" cried the Captain. "Gallantly done!--gloriously done!No, by Jove! they are falling back; the fire is murderous. See how theybayonet them. The troops must win. They move together; they are like awall! In vain, in vain; they cannot do it! They are beaten,--they arelost!"
"Who are lost?" said Kate, in a half-fainting voice.
"The soldiers. And there 's Massingbred on the top of thebarricade, in the midst of it all. I see his hat They are drivenback--beaten--beaten!"
"Come in quickly," cried a voice from behind; and a small portion of thedoor was opened to admit them. "The soldiers are retiring, and will killall before them."
"Let _me_ aid you; it is _my_ turn now," said Lady Dorothea, assistingKate to rise. "Good Heavens! her arm is broken,--it is smashed in two."And she caught the fainting girl in her arms.
Gathering around, they bore her within the gate, and had but time to barand bolt it when the hurried tramp without, and the wild yell of populartriumph, told that the soldiers were retreating, beaten and defeated.
"And this to save me!" said Lady Dorothea, as she stooped over her. Andthe scalding tears dropped one by one on Kate's cheek.
"Tear this handkerchief, and bind it around my arm," said Kate, calmly;"the pain is not very great, and there will be no bleeding, the doctorssay, from a gun-shot wound."
"I'll be the surgeon," said the Captain, addressing himself to the taskwith more of skill than might be expected. "I 've seen many a fellowstruck down who did n't bear it as calmly," muttered he, as he bent overher. "Am I giving you any pain?"
"Not in the least; and if I were in torture, that glorious cheer outsidewould rally me. Hear!--listen!--the soldiers are in full retreat; thepeople, the noble-hearted people, are the conquerors!"
"Be calm, and think of yourself," said Lady Dorothea, mildly, to her;"such excitement may peril your very life."
"And it is worth a thousand lives to taste of it," said she, while hercheek flushed, and her dark eyes gleamed with added lustre.
"The street is clear now," said one of the servants to Martin, "and wemight reach the Boulevard with ease."
"Let us go, then," said Lady Dorothea. "Let us look to _her_ and thinkof nothing till she be cared for."
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II) Page 8