Doubtlesse I lookt noe less surprised than I felt;--a suddain Prick at
the Heart prevented Speech; but it shot acrosse my Heart that I had
made out the Words "_Aldersgate_" and "new Home," in the Fragments of
the Letter my Father had torn. _Rose_, misjudging my Silence, burst
forth anew with, "Oh, _Cousin_! _Cousin_! coulde anie Home, however
dull and noisesome, drive me from _Roger Agnew_? Onlie think of what
you are doing,--of what you are leaving undone!--of what you are
preparing against yourself! To put the Wickednesse of a selfish Course
out of the Account, onlie think of its Mellancholie, its
Miserie,--destitute of alle the sweet, bright, fresh Well-springs of
Happinesse;--unblest by _God_!"
Here _Rose_ wept passionatelie, and claspt her Arms about me; but, when
I began to speak, and to tell her of much that had made me miserable,
she hearkened in motionlesse Silence, till I told her that _Father_ had
torn the Letter and beaten the Messenger. Then she cried, "Oh, I see
now what may and shall be done! _Roger_ shall be Peacemaker," and ran
off with Joyfulnesse; I not withholding her. But I can never be
joyfulle more--he cannot be Day's-man betwixt us now--'tis alle too
late!
_Nov. 28, 1643_.
Now that I am at _Forest Hill_ agayn, I will essay to continue my
Journalling.--
Mr. _Agnew_ was out; and though a keene wintry Wind was blowing, and
_Rose_ was suffering from Colde, yet she went out to listen for his
Horse's Feet at the Gate, with onlie her Apron cast over her Head.
Shortlie, he returned; and I heard him say in a troubled Voice, "Alle
are in Arms at _Forest Hill_." I felt soe greatlie shocked as to neede
to sit downe instead of running forthe to learn the News. I supposed
the parliamentarian Soldiers had advanced, unexpectedlie, upon
_Oxford_. His next Words were, "_Dick is_ coming for her at
Noone--poor Soul, I know not what she will doe--her Father will trust
her noe longer with you and me." Then I saw them both passe the
Window, slowlie pacing together, and hastened forth to joyn them; but
they had turned into the pleached Alley, their Backs towards me; and
both in such earnest and apparentlie private Communication, that I
dared not interrupt them till they turned aboute, which was not for
some While; for they stood for some Time at the Head of the Alley,
still with theire Backs to me, _Rose's_ Hair blowing in the cold Wind;
and once or twice she seemed to put her Kerchief to her Eyes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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