Great Britain -- History -- Civil War, 1642-1649 -- Fiction
“No right,” he said, his voice faltering, “but by the memory of your
mother I implore you, Hilary.”
“I will think of it,” she said. “What! are you going?”
“I distrust that fanatic Waghorn, he may stir up the soldiers once
more,” he replied. Then, with an irrepressible sigh, “’Tis like
enough, Hilary, that you and I may never meet again; will you not give
me that one word of comfort?”
The sudden stab of pain at the thought that this might indeed be their
last meeting, broke down her pride.
“Well--I promise,” she said, gently. Then, as he bent down and kissed
her hand, the familiar notes of “In trouble and adversity,” fell upon
her ear. “Do you hear what they are singing?” she cried. “’Tis our
psalm that we sang years ago in the Cathedral, that day when----” she
broke off in confusion.
“You still remember?” he said, tenderly, his eyes full of happiness as
they met hers.
At that moment, to his bitter regret, they heard steps on the path, and
looking up, saw a burly sergeant approaching. Gabriel went to give him
his orders, then returned to the porch.
“We must march as soon as they have ended the psalm,” he said, stooping
once more to press a passionate kiss on her hand. “I am glad you
remember that day, Hilary. Remember always! Remember always!”
She heard his voice tremble, yet could not speak; she watched him walk
rapidly down the path to the lych-gate, and then as the hearty voices of
the soldiers and the villagers rose in the final verse, she sank down
on one of the benches in the porch, and, hiding her face in her hands,
burst into tears.
About three o’clock that afternoon Norton, waking from an after-dinner
nap, sauntered out into one of the corridors at Canon Frome Manor.
“There is a carpenter-fellow, sir, at work in the house, and he bade me
give this into your hands,” said his servant, approaching him.
Norton carelessly broke the seal and glanced at the laboriously-written
lines. A smile began to flicker about his lips, and with some curiosity
he made his way to the ante-room which led to Dame Elizabeth’s
apartments. Here he found Waghorn busily engaged in mending a
spinning-wheel.
“Good-day, Colonel,” said the fanatic, gloomily. “Hath my missive been
delivered?”
“So this is from you!” said Norton, with a sarcastic smile. “You are the
fellow I met once at Bosbury. Have you thought better of it, and are you
going to change sides?”
“Nay, nay, I trow not,” replied Waghorn, his eyes gleaming. “But I would
fain be used as the instrument of vengeance on the ungodly, even though
for the time I do serve thee and thy cause.”
Norton gave one of his short scoffing laughs.
“I faith I scarce know if I could be served by one of such a vinegar
aspect!”
“Dost thou love Mistress Hilary Unett?” asked the wood-carver, sternly.
The Colonel started.
“What is that to you, scarecrow?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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