St. George and St. Michael, Volume 2MacDonald, George
History
St. George and St. Michael, Volume 2
MacDonald, George
Great Britain -- History -- Civil War, 1642-1649 -- Fiction
A black shadow went from the foot of the library tower, tearing
across the moonlight to the hall door, where it vanished. But in
vain lord Herbert kept his eyes on the fountain court, in the hope
of its reappearance there. Presently they heard a heavy plunge in
the water on the other side of the keep, and running round, saw
plainly, the moat there lying broad in the moonlight, a little black
object making its way across it. Through the obstructing floats of
water-lily-leaves, it held steadily over to the other side. There
for a moment they saw the whole body of the animal, as he scrambled
out of the water up against the steep side of the moat--when
suddenly, and most unaccountably to lady Margaret, he disappeared.
'I have it!' cried lord Herbert. 'What an ass I was not to think of
it before! Come down with me, my dove, and I will show thee.
Dorothy's Marquis hath got into the drain of the moat! He is a large
dog, and beyond a doubt that is where the young roundhead entered.
Who could have dreamed of such a thing! I had no thought it was such
a size.'
Dorothy, having made the circuit, and arrived again at the brick
gate, found lord Herbert waiting there, and pulled up.
'I have seen nothing of him, my lord,' she said, as he came to her
side. 'Shall I ride round once more?'
'Do, prithee, for I see thou dost enjoy it. But we have already
learned all we want to know, so far as goeth to the security of the
castle. There is but one marquis in Raglan, and he is, I believe, in
the oak parlour.'
'You saw my Marquis make his exit then, my lord?'
'My lady and I both saw him.'
'What then can have become of him?--We went very fast, and I
suppose he gave up the chase in despair.'
'Thou wilt find him the second round. But stay--I will get a horse
and go with thee.'
Dorothy went within the gate, and lord Herbert ran back to the
stables. In a few minutes he was by her side again, and together
they rode around the huge nest. The moon was glorious, with a few
large white clouds around her, like great mirrors hung up to catch
and reflect her light. The stars were few, and doubtful near the
moon, but shone like diamonds in the dark spaces between the clouds.
The rugged fortress lay swathed in the softness of the creamy light.
No noise broke the stillness, save the dull drum-beat of their
horses' hoofs on the turf, or their cymbal-clatter where they
crossed a road, and the occasional shrill call from Dorothy's
whistle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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