The Nest of the Sparrowhawk: A Romance of the XVIIth CenturyOrczy, Emmuska Orczy, Baroness
History
The Nest of the Sparrowhawk: A Romance of the XVIIth Century
Orczy, Emmuska Orczy, Baroness
Great Britain -- History -- Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649-1660 -- Fiction; Historical fiction
Sir Marmaduke had been very kind, had given him a new suit of grogram,
lined with flowered silk, which Lambert thought the richest garment he
had ever seen. He was very loyal in his thoughts to his employer,
bearing with the latter's violence and pandering to his fits of
ill-humor for the sake of the home which Sir Marmaduke had provided for
him.
To Lambert's mind, Sir Marmaduke's kindness to him was wholly
gratuitous. His own position as secretary being but a sinecure, the
young man readily attributed de Chavasse's interest in himself to innate
goodness of heart, and desire to help the poor orphan lad.
This estimate of his employer's character Richard Lambert had not felt
any cause to modify. He continued to serve him faithfully, to look after
his interests in and around Acol Court to the best of his ability; above
all he continued to be whole-heartedly grateful. He was so absolutely
conscious of the impassable social barrier which existed between himself
and the rich daughter of the great Earl of Dover, that he never for a
moment resented Sir Marmaduke's sneers when they were directed against
his obvious, growing love for Sue.
Remember that he had no cause to suspect Sir Marmaduke de Chavasse of
any nefarious projects or of any evil intentions with regard to himself,
when he told him that together they would go this night to the house of
an old friend, Mrs. Endicott, where they would derive much pleasure and
entertainment.
They had spent the previous night at the Swan Inn in Fleet Street and
the day in visiting the beautiful sights of London, which caused the
young lad from the country to open wide eyes in astonishment and
pleasure.
Sir Marmaduke had been peculiarly gracious, even taking Richard with him
to the Frenchman's house in Queen's Head Alley, where that curious
beverage called coffee was dispensed and where several clever people met
and discussed politics in a manner which was vastly interesting to the
young man.
Then when the evening began to draw in, and Lambert thought it high time
to go to bed, for 'twas a pity to burn expensive candles longer than was
necessary, Sir Marmaduke had astonished his secretary by telling him
that he must now clean and tidy himself for they would proceed to the
house of a great lady named Mistress Endicott--a friend of the ex-Queen
Henrietta Maria and a lady of peculiar virtues and saintliness, who
would give them vast and pleasing entertainment.
Lambert was only too ready to obey. Enjoyment came naturally to him
beneath his Quaker bringing-up: his youth, good-health and pure,
naturally noble intellect, all craved companionship, with its attendant
pleasures and joys. He himself could not afterwards have said exactly
how he had pictured in his mind the saintly lady--friend of the unhappy
Queen--whom he was to meet this night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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