The Cornet of Horse: A Tale of Marlborough's Wars, Page 3

  Chapter 3: A Kiss and its Consequences.

  Three months have passed since the Earl of Marlborough's visit tothe Chace. Changes have taken place in England, for on the eighthof March King William died from the effects of a fall from hishorse, and the Princess Anne ascended the throne. After heraccession, one of her first steps had been to shower honour uponthe Earl of Marlborough. A whig cabinet was formed, of which he andLord Godolphin were the leading spirits, two tories however--Harleyand Saint John--having seats in the ministry.

  The Earl of Marlborough was her most trusted adviser. He had duringthe reign of the late monarch been always a firm friend of thePrincess Anne, and was at one time regarded almost as a tory. Hehad indeed plotted for the restoration of the Stuarts, and hadentered into negotiation with the French king for that purpose. Theplot having been discovered, he had with other noblemen been sentto the Tower, and had continued in disgrace until a year after thedeath of William.

  Anne appointed him one of her ministers, and made the duchess hermost intimate friend. In fact, in politics the Duke of Marlboroughtook no very strong part. He was attached to the Stuarts, for underthem he had at first risen to rank and honour; but he was a strongProtestant, and therefore in favour of the maintenance of the Actof Succession, fixing the reversion of the throne on the Elector ofHanover, who, although not the nearest in the line of succession,had been selected because the nearest heirs to the throne wereCatholics.

  At the Chace things have gone on as before. Rupert has worked hardat his lessons and his fencing, and Monsieur Dessin allows that,save for his extra length of reach, he should have no advantage nowover his pupil. In the afternoon the lad spent his time with hishawks, or practised firing with pistol or carbine, or roamed overthe country with Hugh.

  Nevertheless, things had somehow changed. Colonel Holliday hadbecome gloomy and silent; and although he and his daughter-in-lawwere studiously ceremonious and polite to each other, it was clearthat a cloud had risen between them. Rupert saw but little of this,however, and was surprised one day when, as he was going out for aride, his grandfather said to him gravely:

  "Take a turn in the garden with me, Rupert. I want to have a talkwith you.

  "I think it well, Rupert," he said, after walking for some time insilence, "to prepare you for what, if you have not guessed already,you will be told ere long. Madam will no doubt herself inform youof it; and it is as well, my lad, that you should be prepared, foryou might in your surprise say something hasty, and so cause abreach which it would take long to heal."

  Rupert looked in astonishment at his grandfather. He had not themost remote idea of what was coming.

  "You have doubtless noticed," Colonel Holliday went on, "thefrequency of Sir William Brownlow's visits here?"

  "Yes, sir, I have noticed that, but I do not often see him. I keepout of his way, for in truth I like him not, nor that son of his,who, on the strength of his three years' seniority, looks down uponme, and gives himself as many airs as madam my mother's peacock."

  "And you have never even thought why he comes here so frequently?"

  "No, sir," Rupert said, surprised; "it was no business of mine, andI gave no single thought to it."

  "He is a suitor for your lady mother's hand," Colonel Hollidaysaid, gravely.

  "What!" almost shouted Rupert; "What, sir! He, with his sneeringface, dares to think--"

  "My dear boy, he not only dares to think, but madam approves of thethought, and has promised him her hand."

  Rupert stood motionless.

  "It shall not be," he burst out. "We must stop it, sir. Why do notyou?"

  "I have no shadow of authority over Mistress Holliday," the oldcolonel said. "As far as I could go, for your sake I havegone--farther, perhaps, than was wise. It has been a great blow forme, Rupert. I had hoped that in the time to come you would bemaster of the Chace, and of all the broad acres I owned when young;now it will never be. This house and the home farm are mine, andwill be yours, lad; but the outlying land will never come back tothe Chace again, but will go to swell the Haugh estate on the otherside. My lady can leave it as she likes. I have begged her to haveit settled upon you, but she has declined. She may have anotherfamily, and, infatuated as she is with her suitor, she is morelikely to leave it to them than to you, especially as I fear thatyou will not take kindly to the new arrangement."

  "I will not submit to it, sir; I will not have it. I will insulthim, and force him to fight me," the lad gasped, his face whitewith passion.

  "No, Rupert, it won't do, lad. Were you four or five years olderyou might interfere; now he would laugh at you for a headstrongboy. You would gain his hate, and forfeit your mother's favourutterly. It was because I feared an outbreak like this that I toldyou today what you will in a few hours learn from her."

  "What is to be done?" Rupert said, despairingly.

  "Nothing, my boy. At her marriage, your mother will of course liveat the Haugh with Sir William. This house is mine, and if youcannot get on at the Haugh, it will be always open to you."

  "I will never set my foot inside the Haugh," Rupert said, firmly."My lady mother may leave her lands where she will; but if I am tohave them only at the price of being the humble servant of this newfather-in-law, I care not for them. He has an evil face,grandfather, and I hated him before I knew what he came for."

  "My boy," Colonel Holliday said, "we have all many things to gothrough in life that we like not. This is your trial, and I trustthat you will come out of it worthily. Your respect and duty aredue to your mother. If you will not feign gladness that you do notfeel, I do not blame you; but when she tells you the news, answerher with that respect which you owe her. She has a clear right tochoose for herself. She is still a comely dame, and no one willblame her for taking another husband. To me and to you the thingmay seem hard, even unnatural, but it is not so. I like Sir Williamno more than you do. Report says that he has deeply dipped into hisestates over the dice box; and your lady mother's estates, and thesum that many years of quiet living has enabled her to save, aredoubtless items which he has not overlooked."

  Rupert remained for some time silent.

  "I will be perfectly respectful to my mother," he said, "but I willnot disguise my feelings. If I did so at first, it would in the endbe useless, for Sir William I could never treat with respect.Sooner or later a quarrel would come, and I may therefore as wellhave it understood first as last. The estates I care for onlybecause they were part of the Chace, and I know that they willnever be mine if this match is made. You feel that yourself, do younot, sir?"

  "Yes," the colonel said, reluctantly, "I have felt that all along."

  "Very well, sir," Rupert said; "in that case I have nothing to gainby affecting a satisfaction at this match. I shall respectfully butfirmly warn my mother against it, and tell her that if she persistsin it I will never put my foot under the roof of Sir WilliamBrownlow."

  The next morning the servant brought word to Rupert, that MistressHolliday wished to speak to him in her room. Knowing what wascoming, Rupert went with slow steps and a heavy heart to the littledrawing room which was known as madam's room.

  "Rupert," she said, as he stood respectfully before her, "I havesent for you to tell you that I have accepted the offer of marriageof Sir William Brownlow. Sir William has much court influence, andwill be able to do you much service, and he has promised me to lookupon you as a son of his own."

  "Madam." Rupert said, calmly and respectfully, "that you shouldmarry Sir William Brownlow is a matter as to which, alas! I have noright to say aught. I trust that the marriage will bring youhappiness, although my mind sorely misgives me as to whether itwill be so. As to myself, I decline Sir William's offer ofprotection. It is enough for me that my fathers have forgenerations owned Windthorpe Chace. Come what may, madam, I neitheracknowledge Sir William as my father, nor do I put a foot under hisroof."

  "Malapert boy!" Mistress Holliday said angrily, "this is theteaching of Colonel Holliday."

  "Pardon me," Rupert s
aid quietly. "Colonel Holliday begged me tosubmit to what could not be helped; but I declined. This man is notworthy of you, madam. Were you about to marry a good man, I wouldgladly receive him as my father. I should be glad to know when outin the world that you were cared for and happy; but this is not agood man."

  "Hush, sir," Mistress Holliday said. "I will not suffer you tospeak thus. And know, Rupert, if you do not know it already, that Ihave absolute power over the estates of the Chace, and that if youdefy me I can leave them where I will."

  "I know it, madam," Rupert said, sadly; "but this will in no wayalter my determination. If when you marry you give me yourpermission to remain here with my grandfather, I will do so. Ifnot, I will go forth into the world to seek my fortune."

  "Insolent boy!" Mistress Holliday said, furiously, "I have a mindto call the lackeys in and bid them beat you."

  "Madam," Rupert said, drawing himself up and touching his swordlightly, "if you value your lackeys you will give no such order;for the first man, lackey or lord, who lays his hand on me, I wouldkill like a dog. With your permission, madam, I will retire, sincethis morning I take my dancing lesson."

  So saying, with a ceremonious bow Rupert left his mother'spresence. Monsieur Dessin and his daughter were already withColonel Holliday when Rupert joined them, and he went through hisdancing lesson as usual. Then Adele went as usual out into thegarden, and the fencing lesson began. When it was half over,Rupert's brow clouded angrily, for he heard horsemen ride up to thedoor, and felt sure who they were.

  "Steady, my dear pupil, steady," Monsieur Dessin cried, as withknitted brow Rupert pressed him hotly, fancying at the moment thatSir William Brownlow stood in front of him.

  "Peste!" he exclaimed, as the lad lunged and touched him in thechest, "you are terrible, Monsieur!

  "Colonel," he went on, dropping his sword, "I resign my post. Ihave seen it coming for some time, and now it has arrived. Yourgrandson is more than a match for me. He has all my skill, some ofyours, and has besides an activity and suppleness greater, I think,than I ever had. You young islanders are trained to use hand andeye; and although French lads may have as much activity, they havefar less strength, far less aptitude for such exercises. Besides,there are other reasons.

  "Go, Monsieur Rupert, and take care of my daughter; I would talkwith monsieur your grandfather."

  Slowly, and brooding over the change which the late twenty-fourhours had made in his fortune, Rupert sought the garden. As hesauntered along the walks he heard a cry, and looking up saw Adelestruggling in the arms of James Brownlow, who was trying to kissher, while a young fellow his own age stood by laughing. Rupert'spent-up fury found a vent at last, and rushing forward, he struckthe aggressor so violent a blow between the eyes that, loosing hishold of Adele, he fell to the ground.

  "Thunder and lightning," the other young man exclaimed, drawing hissword, "what means this, young cockerel?"

  Rupert's sword flew from its sheath, but before he could cross it,James Brownlow sprang to his feet and crying to his friend, "Standback! I will spit the saucy knave!" rushed upon Rupert.

  The swords clashed, and almost simultaneously Brownlow's weaponflew far through the air.

  With a cry of fury he ran to fetch it, while his companion burstinto a coarse laugh.

  Rupert did not move from his position, but stood passive, until hisantagonist again rushed at him.

  "Mind this time," Rupert said, between his teeth, "for I will killyou like a dog."

  Warned by the lesson, James Brownlow fought more carefully; but hewas too enraged to continue these tactics long, and after a shortbout he lunged furiously. Rupert turned aside the point andstraightened his arm, and his antagonist fell to the ground, runcompletely through the body.

  "You are a witness that I killed him in fair fight," Rupert said,turning to the young man, who gazed stupefied at the body of hiscomrade, and then sheathing his sword bounded away to the stables.

  Hugh was there.

  "Quick, Hugh; saddle Ronald. I have just killed young Brownlow, andmust ride for it."

  Hugh stood for a moment astonished, and then calling a helper raninto the stables. In a minute he came out with two horses saddled.Without a word Rupert leapt on one, while he vaulted on the other,and the two dashed off at full speed.

  "Where are you going, Master Rupert?"

  "To London," Rupert said. "This is no place for me now. I killedhim in fair fight, and after warning; still, what with Sir Williamand my lady mother, there will be no stopping here. You had betterride back, Hugh, and tell my grandfather, privately, that I amgoing to the Earl of Marlborough, to ask him to give me thecornetcy he promised me."

  "With your leave, Master Rupert, I shall do nothing of the sort.Where you go, I go. My grandfather rode out with yours to Naseby,and died there. My people have been the tenants of the Chace aslong as the Hollidays have been its lords, and have always followedtheir master to the field. My old father would beat me out of thehouse with a broom handle, if I went back and said I had let you goto the wars alone. No, master Rupert, wherever you go, Hugh Parsonsgoes too."

  Rupert held out his hand, which his companion grasped, and the twogalloped rapidly along the road towards London.

  In the meantime all was consternation at the Chace.

  Colonel Holliday and Monsieur Dessin were deeply engaged inconversation when Adele burst in upon them.

  "Quick, quick!" she exclaimed, "Monsieur Rupert is fighting with awicked young man!"

  "Then," said Monsieur Dessin grimly, "it will be very bad for thewicked young man, whoever he is."

  "Where are they?" exclaimed Colonel Holliday.

  "In the garden," the girl said, bursting into tears. "The wickedyoung man was rude to me, and wanted to kiss me, and MonsieurRupert knocked him down, and then they began to fight, and I ranaway."

  Monsieur Dessin swore a very deep oath in French, and was about tohurry out with Colonel Holliday. Then he stopped, and putting hishand on the colonel's shoulder, said coldly:

  "Do not let us hurry, sir. Monsieur Rupert has taken the matter inhis hands. It is as well that he should kill this fellow as that Ishould have to do so."

  Just at this moment they reached the door, and a young man camerunning up to the house shouting:

  "Young Mr. Brownlow is killed. Help! help!"

  "I think, Monsieur Dessin," Colonel Holliday said, stopping, "itwould be as well if you and mademoiselle were for the present toleave us. There will be trouble enough, and the fewer in it thebetter. Sir William is a hot man, and you are not a cool one.Enough mischief has been done."

  "You are right," Monsieur Dessin said. "Will you tell MonsieurRupert that so long as my arm can lift a sword it is at hisservice, and that I am his debtor for life.

  "Come, Adele, let us leave by the front of the house."

  Colonel Holliday now hurried out into the garden, just as SirWilliam Brownlow, accompanied by his son's friend, rushed out ofthe house, followed by some lackeys with scared faces.

  Not a word was spoken as they ran to the spot where young Brownlowwas lying.

  Sir William and Colonel Holliday both knelt beside him, and thelatter put his finger to his pulse.

  "He is not dead," he said, after a moment. "Ralph, saddle a horse,and ride with all speed to Derby for a doctor."

  "Ay," Sir William said, "and tell the chief magistrate that he iswanted here, with one of his constables, for that murder has beendone."

  "You will do nothing of the sort," Colonel Holliday said.

  "Sir William Brownlow, I make every excuse for you in your grief,but even from you I will permit no such word to be used. Your sonhas been wounded in fair fight, and whether he dies or not, altersthe circumstances no whit. My grandson found him engaged inoffering a gross insult to a young lady in the garden of my house.He did what I should have done had I so found him--he knocked himdown. They fought, and your son was worsted. I think, sir, that forthe credit of your house you had best be quiet over the matter.

  "Hus
h, sir," he went on sternly, seeing that the baronet was aboutto answer furiously. "I am an old man, but I will put up withbluster from no man."

  Colonel Holliday's repute as a swordsman was well known, and SirWilliam Brownlow swallowed his passion in silence. A door was takenoff its hinges, and the insensible young man was carried into thehouse. There he was received by Mistress Holliday, who was vehementin her reproaches against Rupert, and even against ColonelHolliday, who had, as she said, encouraged him in brawling.

  The colonel bent quietly before the storm; and leaving the woundedman in the care of his daughter-in-law and the attendants, made hisway to the stables, to inquire what had become of Rupert. There hefound that a few minutes before, Rupert, accompanied by HughParsons, had ridden off at full speed, having placed valises and abrace of pistols in the holsters on their saddles. The colonel wasglad to hear that Rupert had his humble friend with him, anddoubted not that he had made for London. With a somewhat lightenedheart he went back to the house.

  After galloping fast for the first two miles, Rupert drew rein, forhe had now time to think, and was assured that even should SirWilliam at once send into Derby for a warrant for his apprehension,he would be across the borders of the county long before he couldbe overtaken.

  "Have you any money with you, Hugh?" he asked, suddenly; "for Ihave not a penny with me."

  "I have only two shillings, Master Rupert. I got that yesterday inDerby for a nest of young owlets I found in the copse."

  Rupert reined up his horse in dismay.

  "Two shillings between us, Hugh! And it is 126 miles to London.What are we to do?"

  Hugh thought a moment. "We can't go on with that, sir. Do you takethese two shillings and ride on to the Red Dragon. You will beoutside the county there. I will ride back to father's. It's undertwo miles, and I shall be back here in half-an-hour again. He willgive me any money he may have in the house. I may as well fill myvalise too, while I am about it; and he's got a pair of pistols,too, that he will give me."

  It was clearly the best course to take, and Rupert trotted forwardon his way, while Hugh galloped back at full speed. In a quarter ofan hour the latter drew rein at his father's door.

  "Hullo, Hugh, lad," the farmer, a hearty man of some fifty years of age,said, as he came to the door, "be'est thou? What art doing on thesquire's horse? He looks as if thou had ridden him unmercifully, surely?"

  In a few words Hugh related what had taken place, and told him ofhis own offer to go to the wars with Rupert.

  "That's right, lad; that's right and proper. It's according to thenature of things that when a Holliday rides to the war a Parsonsshould ride behind him. It's always been so, and will always be so,I hope. Mother will grieve, no doubt; but she won't want to fly inthe face of nature.

  "Here, mother, come out. Master Rupert's killed Sir WilliamBrownlow's son, and is off to the wars, and so our Hugh's,natural-like, going with him."

  Mrs. Parsons after her first ejaculation of surprise burst intotears, but, as her husband had predicted, offered no objectionwhatever to what seemed to her, as to him, a matter of plain dutyon the part of her son. Hugh now explained the reason of hisreturn.

  "Ay, ay, lad; thou shalt have the money. I've got fifty pounds fornext quarter's rent. Colonel Holliday will be glad enough for someof it to go to his grandson. I'll gin ye half o't, Hugh, and takemy chance of the colonel agreeing to it. I'll give'e as much moreout of my old stocking upstairs. Put it carefully by, lad. Money isas useful in war as at other times, and pay ain't always regular;maybe the time may come when the young master may be short ofmoney, and it may come in useful. Now put on thy riding coat; andmother will put thy best clothes in a valise.

  "Bustle up, mother, there bain't no time to lose."

  Thus addressed, Mrs. Parsons dried her tears and hurried away.Hugh, hitching the bridle over a hook, made his way to his room tochange his clothes. When he came down, all was ready.

  "Thy clothes are in the valise, Hugh. I have put on the holsters,and the pistols are in them. They are loaded, boy. In the bottom ofone are the master's twenty-five pounds. Thy own money is in thevalise. Here, boy, is my father's sword; it hasn't been used sinceNaseby, but it's a good blade. Thou art a deft hand at quarterstaffand singlestick, though, and I doubt not that thy hands can guardthy head. I need not say, Hugh Parsons, you will, if need be, diefor thy master, for I know thou will do it, lad. Now kiss thymother, boy; and God speed you."

  A long embrace with his father and mother, and then Hugh, blindedby his tears, mounted his horse, and rode off in the track ofRupert.

  After an hour's sharp riding he overtook him, at a wayside inn,just across the boundary between Derby and Leicestershire.

  "Is it all right, Hugh?" he asked, as Hugh drew up at the door.

  "All right, Master Rupert. Father has sent thee twenty-five poundsout of the rent that will be due at Lady day; and he doubts notthat the colonel will approve of what he has done. H ow long haveyou been here?"

  "Only some five minutes, Hugh. We had best let the horses feed, andthen ride quietly into Leicester, it's only fifteen miles away. Isee you've got a sword."

  "A sword and pistols, Master Rupert; and as you have the same,methinks any highwayman chaps we might meet would think twice erethey venture to cry 'Stand and deliver.'"

  "You heard no word of whether James Brownlow was alive or dead,Hugh? I should be very glad to hear that he is not killed."

  "No word of the matter had come to the farm when I came away," Hughsaid; "but I should not worry about it one way or the other, MasterRupert. You'll kill lots more when you get to the wars; and thecountry won't grieve over James Brownlow. Young as he was, he was abad one; I've heard more than one dark story whispered of him.Folks say he took after his father, who was as wild and as bad asany man in Derbyshire when he was young."