CHAPTER XVI
As we came to the high stockade which surrounded the Roanoke RacingPlain, a bell struck somewhere inside; there was a moment's silence,then a roar, "They're off!" and the confused shouting of a crowd:"Greensleeves leads! Heather-Bee! Heather-Bee!" which suddenly diedout, ceased, then swelled into a sharp yell: "Orange and Black! Orangewins! Baltimore! Baltimore! Baltimore! No! No! The Jersey colt! TheJersey colt! Crimson! Crimson!" A hush; the dull, double thud ofgalloping; a scramble, a rush, and a hurricane of wild cheers:"Heather-Bee! Heather-Bee! Good Greensleeves! Hi--yi--yi! Hooray!"
"I would I had a sovereign laid on this same Heather-Bee," said Mount,mechanically fumbling in his empty pockets.
I glanced at him in surprise. Had the novelty of our present perilalready grown so stale that the shouting of a rabble over a winninghorse could blot it out?
He observed my disapproval and took his hands from his pocket-flaps,muttering something about a passion for betting; and I paid thegate-keepers the fee they demanded for us both, which included a cardgiving us entry to the paddock.
When I entered I expected to see a "sweet and delightsome plain," asthe public crier had advertised so loudly with his horn, but truly Iwas not prepared for the beauty which was now revealed. Bowered intrees the lovely pale green meadow lay, all starred with buttercupsand cut by the bronzed oval of the course. Pavilion and field glowedin the colours of fluttering gowns; white and scarlet and green markedthe line where half a dozen mounted jockeys walked their lean horsesunder the starter's tower. The sun blazed down, gilding the chestnutnecks of the horses; a cool breeze bellied the bright sleeves of thejockeys, and blew the petticoats and ribbons till they flapped likerainbow flags.
Mount was nudging me, sulkily demanding to be informed where bets wereplaced, and adding that he knew a horse as well as the next man.However, when he proposed that I allow him to double my capital forme, I flatly refused, and reproached him for wishing to risk anythingnow.
"Well, then," he muttered, "lay a sovereign yourself for luck;" but Ipaid no attention, and fixed my eyes on the pavilion to search itthrough and through for Silver Heels.
The longer I searched the more hopeless I felt my task to be; I couldsee a score of maids in that vast bouquet, any one of which might havebeen Silver Heels, but was not.
I then sought to discover Lady Shelton, a large, sluggish lady whom Ihad noticed at Johnstown--not attracted by her beauty, but to observeher how she did eat a barrel of oysters in pickle, when visiting ourguard-house with her kinsman, Colonel Guy Johnson.
I could not find her, though there were many ladies in the pavilionwho appeared to resemble her in largeness and girth, and in fatness ofhand and foot.
With my arm on Mount's, who had fallen a-pouting, I paced the sward,searching the pavilion through and through, unmindful of the batteryof bright eyes which swept and raked us with indolent contempt. Wherewas Silver Heels? Ay, where in the devil's name had the little baggagehid herself? Many ladies and their consorts in the pavilion wererising and passing under a yellow canopy to the right, where thereappeared to be a luncheon spread on tables; and I did see and smelllarge bowls of sweetened punch, Mount smelling the same andthoughtfully clacking his tongue.
"The quality," he observed, "have punch and French wines. Yet I darewager a pocketful o' sixpences that they have not my depth, and Godknows I would cheerfully prove it."
"Nobody is like to challenge you," I said, coldly. "Come, we must findmy cousin, Miss Warren, or our journey here fails."
The fox-hunting gentry in pink were coming across the field in a body,spurs glistening and curly horns striking fire in the sunshine. Asthey passed us, clink! clink! over the turf, a strangely familiar eyemet mine and held it--the puzzled eye of a young man, dressed in redcoat and tops and wearing a black velvet cap. Where had I seen himbefore? He, too, appeared perplexed, and, as he passed, involuntarilytouched the peak of his cap with his hunting-whip. Suddenly I knewhim, and at the same moment he left the company and came hastily up tome, offering his hand. The fox-hunter was my old acquaintance, Mr.Bevan, the dragoon, and he had actually recognized me under my sunburnand buckskins. Rivals never forget.
However, there was no mistaking his cordiality, and I should have beenan oaf and a churl not to have met him fairly by the hand he offered.
"_Sans arriere pensee, sans rancune!_" he said, heartily, the Frenchnot pleasing me; but I returned his straightforward clasp and told himI bore no more malice than did he.
"I heard you speak in 'Governor's Hall,'" he said, and I saw his eyestwinkle, though his mouth betrayed no mirth, so I only bowed seriouslyand told him I was honoured by his presence.
"Was not that gentleman Patrick Henry--the one in black who led thepoor savage out?" he asked.
"Doubtless you know Patrick Henry better than I do," I answered,cautiously.
He laughed outright.
"Pray, believe me, Mr. Cardigan, I am not prying. It is rumoured thatPatrick Henry has been at some rebel tavern in town. A few thoughtthey recognized him in 'Governor's Hall,' and many claim that he wrotethat great speech for Logan."
"If he did he is the greatest orator of our times," I said.
"Do you believe he did?"
"No," said I, bluntly.
He looked at me with curious, friendly eyes.
"You have become famous, Mr. Cardigan, since we last met."
"You would say 'notorious,'" I rejoined, smiling.
He protested vigorously:
"No! no! I understand you are not of our party, but, believe me, wereI a--a--patriot, as they say, I should be proud to hear a comradeutter the words you uttered in 'Governor's Hall'!"
"Did I say I was a rebel?" I asked, laughing.
"Well," he rejoined, "if that speech did not commit you, we are but adull company here in Pittsburg."
He glanced after his comrades, who were now entering the canopiedspace where refreshments lay piled between the bottles andpunch-bowls; and he straightway invited me, turning with a bow toinclude Jack Mount, whom I had not dared present under his propername.
Mount began to accept with a flourish, but I cut him short withexcuses, which Mr. Bevan accepted politely, expressing his regret.Then again he offered me his hand so frankly that I drew him aside,and begged his indulgence and forgetfulness for my boorish behaviourat Johnson Hall.
"The fault was mine," he said, instantly; "I sneered at your militiaand deserved your rebuke. Had I not deserved it, I should have calledyou out, Mr. Cardigan."
"You conducted properly," said I; "on the contrary, I must blush formy churlishness when you favoured my hilt with a ribbon."
His friendly eyes grew grave, and he began bending his hunting-whipinto a bow, thoughtfully studying the buttercups at his feet.
After a moment he looked up, saying, "Do you know that this morningthe banns were published for the wedding of Lord Dunmore and yourkinswoman, Miss Warren?"
So, after all, and in spite of my letter, Dunmore had done thisshameful thing! I think my scowling face gave Bevan his answer, for helaid his hand on my arm and looked at me earnestly.
"It is no shame," he said, "for me to tell you that Miss Warren hasrefused me. How can a heart be humbled which has loved such a woman?"
"She is not a woman yet," I said, harshly; "she is a child, and awilful one at that! Damnation! sir, it maddens me to see men afterher, and she but fifteen!"
"Miss Warren celebrated her sixteenth birthday with a dinner at LadyShelton's a week since," said Bevan, colouring up.
I thought a moment, frowning and counting on my fingers. Yes, that wastrue; Silver Heels was sixteen now. But that only increased myirritation, for the danger suddenly assumed menacing proportions,which must increase every moment now that the barriers of childhood nolonger barred the men who hunted her.
"I have told you this," said Bevan, stiffly, "because I believed youwere in love with Miss Warren, and must suffer great pain to learn ofher betrothal to Lord Dunmore."
"And--w
hat then, sir?" I asked, angry and perplexed.
"This, Mr. Cardigan! That my own ill fortune has not left me lessdevoted to her happiness; that this marriage is a monstrous thing andwill one day drive her to despair; that I do most earnestly believethat Miss Warren loves a man more worthy of her."
"What man?" I demanded, sharply.
"You should not ask me that!" he retorted, more sharply still.
"But I do! Confound it, I know from her own lips that she dotes onsome conceited, meddling ass! And if I can but lay my hand on hiscollar--"
Bevan was staring at me in such frank amazement that I bit my wordsshort.
"Did Miss Warren confess that she loved?" he asked.
I assented in silence.
"A--a fool?"
I nodded.
Bevan burst into a bitter laugh.
"Then let me tell you, sir, that I have heard her praise this samemeddling fool and laud his every word as Heaven's own wisdom! Ay, sir,and boast of his bravery and his wit and his glorious person till Ithought this fool a very god from Olympus, and marvelled at my ownblindness in not earlier perceiving it."
"You know him?" I cried.
"Indeed, he is now well known in Pittsburg town, Mr. Cardigan."
"But you--"
"Yes, I know him."
After a moment's silence I said, "Is he worthy of her?"
"What man is?" he answered, quietly.
"Oh, many men; pardon, but you are in love, and so are blinded. I seeclearly. I know my cousin, and I know that she is a wilful maid whohas raised the devil out o' bounds, and is ready to run to cover now."
Bevan was red in the face.
"It is a kinsman's privilege to criticise," he said.
"A kinsman's duty!" I added. "Were I not jealous for her honour andhappiness, I would cry Dunmore _merci!_ and think my cousin afortunate maid! Curse him! When I think of that man I can scarce lookat my hands so guiltless of the creature's blood. But they will notstay clean long if he pushes me. God help the man who bars our waynorthward!"
"If you mean to take her," said Bevan, in a low voice, "I wish yougodspeed. But how can you pass the fort, Mr. Cardigan?"
"Do you believe Dunmore would detain us?" I asked, blankly.
"I know he would if he heard of it in time."
I thought a moment, then laid my hand on Bevan's shoulder, and, on theimpulse, told him what our plans were. He listened in silent sympathy,nodding at times, turning to glance at Mount, who sat under a treechewing grass-blades and sniffing at the distant punch-bowls.
When I had told him all, he reflected, slowly switching the sod withhis whip. Presently he said: "I am glad you told me this. I will be atthe King's Road gate to-night. If there is trouble with the sentries Iwill vouch for you."
His quiet generosity touched me deeply, and I told him so.
"Could a gentleman do less?" he asked, gravely. Then a sudden smilelighted his eyes, and he added: "She will never give up her Olympiangod, though she thought to fling him away for his indifference. And,Mr. Cardigan, though this man she loves is truly all she claims, heis, as she told you, the greatest fool on earth!"
"Then he can never have her!" I said, contemptuously.
"Ah--wait!" he replied, with a curiously sad smile. "A fool and hisfolly are soon parted when in the company of Miss Warren."
"You believe he will follow her? That's what she said, too!" Iexclaimed, hotly.
Again he burst into a laugh which was quite free from bitterness.
"Yes, he is certain to follow you," he said. "Black Care rides behindthe horseman, but this man will stick closer than your own shadow."
"We'll see," I muttered.
He offered me his hand, pressing mine firmly.
"You know Miss Warren is here?" he asked, cautiously.
"I am seeking her," said I.
"She walked to the hill, yonder, with Lady Shelton, after the lastrace," he said, pointing with his whip to a wooded knoll which I couldjust see rising behind the paddocks.
"Dunmore is searching everywhere for her," he added, significantly.
So we parted, I warm with gratitude, he quietly cordial, yet stillwearing that singular smile which I could not quite understand.
As for pity, I had none for him, nor did I believe his sorrow could bevery profound over his dismissal by Silver Heels. But then I knewnothing of such matters, having never been in love. As for thegentleman-god who had turned Silver Heels's silly head, I meant todeal with him the instant he made his appearance.
Mount, tired of cropping the herbage under his tree, rejoined mefretfully, demanding to know why I had not accepted the invitation torefreshment; and I told him quite plainly that I had no intention tofurther test his sobriety, in view of the work we had before us.
Together we entered the paddock, where hostlers and jockeys weregrooming the beautiful, slender horses, and though I longed to linger,I dared not stay longer than to hug one splendid mare and whisper inher listening, silky ears that she was a beauty without peer.
The boy who was washing her sourly warned me off, doubtless fearingthe touch of a stranger, lest he prove one of those miscreants whoharm horses. So I passed on, nodding good-bye to the lovely mare,Heather-Bee, as she was called by the name stitched on her blanket.
In the rear of the paddock a path led through a gate and up the woodedknoll. I looked around for Mount; he was plaintively helping himselfto a cup of water from the horse-trough spring, so I waited. And, as Istood there, down the path came two fat people, a lady and her escort,picking their way with all the majesty of elephants. I knew LadyShelton at once; none could mistake that faded and moon-like face withthe little selfish under-lip and the folded creases beside a mouthwhich was made only for feeding. None could mistake those little fatfeet, trotting under the daintily raised petticoat.
She scarcely deigned to glance at me; the gentleman beside her paid meno attention; and I was thankful enough that Lady Shelton had notrecognized me.
They were waddling down the paddock some distance away when Mountrejoined me, complaining of the cheerless draught which my obstinacyhad compelled him to swallow, and we passed the gate and ascended thepretty slope.
We were, perhaps, half-way up the slope, when I heard a footstepbehind us and glanced back. What was my astonishment to behold theWeasel trotting along at our heels.
"Where on earth did you come from?" I asked.
"From the 'Virginia Arms,'" he replied, seriously. "I like to be nearJack."
Mount, in pleased surprise, had already laid his great paw on theWeasel's shoulder. Now he smiled at the little careworn man withwonderful tenderness. It was strange, the affection between these tworoaming men, the naive fidelity of the Weasel, the fostering care ofthe younger giant, whose attitude was sometimes fatherly, sometimesfilial.
The Weasel looked back at the course where, already, the bell wasstriking to warn the jockeys, and where, one after another, the horsescantered out to the judges' stand and stood restively, or backed andpirouetted and reared in the sunshine.
"Have you ever before seen a race?" I asked.
"I? A race?" He waved his hand with a peculiarly sad gesture. "Many anoble horse has carried my colours on Cambridge Downs," he said,simply. "Many a plate have my youngsters won for me, Mr. Cardigan."
He looked out over the green meadow, folding his small, dry handsmeekly.
"Lord, Lord," he murmured, "the world has changed since then! Theworld has changed!"
"Friends have not," murmured Mount.
"No, no, you are quite right, Jack," said Renard, hastily.
"Then who the devil cares how the world may change," snapped Mount."Come, Cade, old friend, sit you here in the sweet grass and you and Iwill wager straws on the jockeys' colours yonder, while our younggentleman here lightly goes a-courting!"
I did not choose to notice Mount's remark, knowing that he meant nooffence, so I left the pair sitting on the sod and climbed theremaining half of the slope alone.
Now, no soo
ner had I reached the top of the knoll than I perceivedSilver Heels, sitting upon a rock, reading a letter; and when I drewnear, my moccasins making no sound, I could not help but see that itwas my letter she perused so diligently. It gratified me to observethat she apparently valued the instructions in my letter, and Itrusted she intended to profit by them, for Heaven knew she neededadmonition and the judicious counsel of a mature intellect.
"Silver Heels," I began, kindly.
She started, then crushed the letter to a ball, thrusting it into herbosom.
"Oh, Michael, you are insufferable!" she cried.
"What!" I exclaimed, astonished.
Her eyes filled and she sprang up.
"I know not whether to laugh or cry, so vexed am I!" she stammered,and called me booby and Paul Pry, drying her eyes the while her tongueupbraided me.
"I am not spying," said I, hotly; "don't pretend that scrawl was alove-letter, for I know it to be my own!"
"Ah--you _did_ come spying!" she flashed out, stamping her footfuriously.
"Lord! was there ever such a spiteful maid!" I cried. "I came here tohave a word with you concerning our journey this night. I care not apenny whistle for your love-letters. Can you not understand that?"
She turned somewhat pale and stood still. Her under-lip quiveredbetween her teeth.
"Yes," she said, slowly, "I understand."
I had not meant to speak harshly, and I told her so. She nodded,scarcely listening. Then I spoke of our coming journey, which, thoughit galled me to say so, I explained to her was nothing less than aflight.
She acquiesced, saying she was ready, and that she only longed toleave the town forever. She said that she had known nothing butunhappiness here, and that the memory of it would always be abhorrent,which surprised me, as I had understood that the gentleman-god dwelthereabouts. However, I said nothing to disturb her or endanger herdocility, and we discussed our plans reasonably and with perfectcalmness.
I was pleased to see that she already appeared to be in better health.Rouge and patch had disappeared; her colour was better; her eyesbrighter; her lips redder. Also, her gown was simpler and morepleasing to me, and her hair bore no extravagant towers, but wassweetly puffed and rolled from her white forehead. Still, her armswere more frail than I liked to see, and there rested a faint bluishshadow under each eye.
"How came you to find me out, here in my retreat?" she asked, slowly.
"Mr. Bevan told me," I replied, watching her.
"Poor Mr. Bevan," she murmured; "how jealous you were of him."
"He is a splendid fellow," I declared, much ashamed.
"So you are already friends," she observed, in a musing way.
"I trust so," I replied, fervently.
"Is it not sudden?" she asked.
But I would not commit myself.
"Silver Heels," I said, "does it not seem good to be together againhere in the sunshine?"
"Ah, yes!" she cried, impetuously, then stopped.
Doubtless she was thinking of the gentleman-god.
I sat down on the grass beside her and began pulling buttercups. One Iheld under her white chin to see if she still loved butter.
"I love all that I ever loved," she said, leaning forward over herknees to pluck a tiny blue bud in the grass.
"Do you remember that day you bit me in the school-room?" I asked,with youthful brutality.
The crimson flooded her temples. She involuntarily glanced at my lefthand; the scar was still there, and she covered her eyes tightly withher hands.
"Oh! Oh! _Oh!_" she murmured, in horror. "What a savage I was! Nowonder you hated me--"
"Only at moments," I said, magnanimously; "I always liked you, SilverHeels."
Presently she drew her hands from her eyes and touched her flushedcheeks with the blue blossom thoughtfully.
"Michael," she said, "I--I never told you, but I was very glad whenyou came to explain to me that night in the pantry."
"Well," said I, stiffly, "you certainly concealed your pleasure. Lord,child, how you scorned me!"
"I know it," she muttered, in quick vexation; "I was a perfect fool.You see, I--I was hurt so deeply that it frightened me--"
"You ought to have known that I meant nothing," said I. "Mrs. Hamiltontormented me till I--I--well, whatever I did was harmless. Anyway, itwas done because I thought I loved you--I mean like a lover, youknow--"
"I know," said Silver Heels.
"After that," said I, smiling, "I knew my own mind."
"And I knew mine," said Silver Heels.
"And now I know the difference between hurt vanity and love," I added,complacently.
"I, too," said Silver Heels.
"You can't know such things; you are scarcely sixteen," I insisted.
"My mother was wedded at sixteen; she wedded for love."
After a silence I asked her how she knew that, as she had never seenher mother.
"Sir Peter Warren has told me in his letters," she said, simply."Besides, you are wrong when you say I never saw my mother. I did, butI was too young to remember. She died when I was a year old."
"But you never saw your father," I said.
"Oh no. He was killed at sea by the French."
That was news to me, although I had always been aware that he had diedat sea on board his Majesty's ship _Leda_, one of Sir Peter'ssquadron.
"Who told you he was killed by the French?" I asked, soberly.
"Sir Peter. A few days after you left Johnstown I received a packetfrom Sir Peter. It came on a war-ship which put in at New York, andthe express brought it. Sir Peter also wrote to Sir William. I don'tknow what he said. Sir William was very silent with me after that, butjust before I left with Lady Shelton to come here, he had a long talkwith me--"
She stopped abruptly.
"Well?" I asked.
Silver Heels twirled the blue bud in her fingers.
"He said--to--to tell you if I saw you in Pittsburg--to--to--I meanthat I was to say to you that Sir William had changed his mind--"
"About what?" I demanded, irritably.
"Our betrothal."
"Our betrothal?"
"Yes. I am not to wed you."
"Of course not," I said, rather blankly; "but I thought Sir Williamdesired it. He said that he did. He said it to me!"
"He no longer wishes it," said Silver Heels.
"Why?"
"I don't know," she answered, faintly.
I was hurt.
"Oh, very well," I observed, resentfully, "doubtless Sir William haschosen a wealthy gentleman of rank and distinction for you. He isquite right. I am only a cornet of horse, and won't be that long. Allthe same, I cannot see why he forbids me to wed you. He told me hewished it! I cannot see why he should so slight me! Why should heforbid me to wed you?"
"Do you care?" asked Silver Heels.
"Who--I? Care? Why--why, I don't know. It is not very pleasant to betold you are too poor and humble to wed your own kin if you wish to.Suppose I wished to?"
After a moment she said: "Well--it's too late now."
"How do you know?" I said, sharply. "I do not see why I should bedriven away from you! It is unfair! It is unkind! It is mortifying andI don't like it! See here, Silver Heels, why should Sir William driveme away from you?"
"You have never needed driving," said Silver Heels.
"Yes, I have!" I retorted. "Didn't you drive me away for Bevan?"
After a silence she stole a glance at me.
"Would you come back--now?"
Something in her voice startled me.
"Why--yes," I stammered, not knowing exactly what she meant; "I cannotsee that there is such difference in rank between us that Sir Williamshould forbid me to wed you. Of course you would not wed beneath you,and, as for me, I'd sooner cut my head off!"
"I was afraid," she ventured, "that perhaps--perhaps Sir Williamthought you had become too fine for me. I could not endure to wed youif that were true."
This was a new idea. Was it true t
hat my quality unfitted me to matewith Silver Heels? The idea did not gratify me now.
"I'll tell you this," said I, "that if I loved you in that way--youknow what I mean!--I'd wed you anyhow!"
"But I would not wed you!" she said, haughtily.
"You would not refuse me?" I asked, in amazement.
"I should hate you--if you were above me--in rank!"
"Even if you loved me before?"
"Ah, yes--even if I loved you--as I love--him whom I love."
Her clear eyes were looking straight into mine now. Again her voicehad stirred some new and untouched chord which curiously thrilled,sounding stealthily within me.
She lowered her eyes to the blue blossom in her fingers, and I saw hercrush it. What soft, white fingers she had! The flushed tips, crushingthe blossom, fascinated me.
Again, suddenly, my heart began to beat heavily, thumping in my throatso strangely that I shivered and passed my hand over my breast.
Silver Heels bent lower over her idle hands; her fingers, soexquisite, were still now.
Presently I said, "Who is this fool whom you love?"
I had not thought to fright or hurt her, but she flushed and burneduntil all her face was surging scarlet to her hair.
"Silver Heels," I stammered, catching her fingers.
At the touch the strange thrill struck through my body and I choked,unable to utter a word; but the desire for her hands set me quivering,and I caught her fingers and drew them, interlocked, from her eyes.Her eyes! Their beauty amazed me; their frightened, perilous sweetnessdrew my head down to them. Breathless, her mouth touched mine; againstme her heart was beating; then suddenly she had gone, and I sprang tomy feet to find her standing tearful, quivering, with her hands on herthrobbing throat. I leaned against a sapling, dazed, content to meether eyes and strive to think. Useless! In my whirling thoughts I couldbut repeat her name, endlessly. Other thoughts crept in, but flewscattering to the four winds, while every pulse within me throbbed outher name, repeating, ceaselessly repeating, in my beating heart.
We were so poor in years, so utterly untried in love, that thestrangeness of it set us watching one another. Passion, shaking frailbodies, startles, till pain, always creeping near, intrudes, dismayingmaid and youth to love's confusion.
With a sort of curious terror she watched me leaning there, and I sawher trembling fingers presently busied with the silken hat ribbonsunder her chin, tying and retying as though she knew not what she did.Then of a sudden she dropped on the rock and fell a-weeping without asound; and I knelt beside her, crushing her shoulders close to me, andkissing her neck and hands, nay, the very damask on her knees, and thesilken tongue of her buckled shoon among the buttercups.
Why she wept I knew not, nor did she--nor did I ask her why. Her frailhands fell listlessly, scarcely moving under my lips. Once she laidher arm about my neck, then dropped it as though repelled. And never aword could we find to break the silence.
I heard the wind blowing somewhere in the world, but where, I carednot. I heard blossoms discreetly stirring, and dusky branchesinterlacing, taking counsel together behind their leafy, secretscreens. My ears were filled with voiceless whisperings, delicate andnoiseless words were forming in the silence, "I love you"; and my dumbtongue and lips, unstirring, understood, and listened. Then, when mysweetheart had also heard, she turned and put both arms around myneck, linking her fingers, and her gray eyes looked down at me, besideher knees.
* * * * *
"Now you must go," she was repeating, touching her little French hatwith tentative fingers to straighten it, but eyes and lips tenderlysmiling at me. "My Lady Shelton and Sir Timerson Chank will surelyreturn to catch you here if you hasten not--dear heart."
"But will you not tell me when you first loved me, Silver Heels?" Ipersisted.
"Well, then--if you must be told--it was on the day when you firstwore your uniform, and I saw you were truly a man!"
"That day! When you scarcely spoke to me?"
"Ay, that was the reason. Yet now I think of it, I know I have alwaysloved you dearly; else why should I have been so hurt when you misusedme; why should I have cried abed so many, many nights, vowing to myheart that I did hate you as I hated no man! Ah--dear friend, you willnever know--"
"But," I insisted, "you grew cool enough to wed Lord Dunmore--"
"Horror! Why must you ever hark back to him when I tell you it was notI who did that, but a cruelly used and foolish child, stung with thepain of your indifference, maddened to hear you talk of mating me asthough I were your hound!--and my only thought was to put myself aboveyou and beyond your reach to shame me--"
"Oh, Silver Heels!" I murmured, aghast at my own wickedness.
But she was already smiling again, with her slender hands laid on myshoulders.
"All that tastes sweetly--now," she said.
"It is ashes in my mouth," I said, bitterly, and upbraided myselfaloud, until she placed her fingers on my face and silently signed meto turn around.
At the same instant a wheezy noise came to my ears, and the nextmoment, over the edge of the slope, a large, round face rose like thefull moon.
Fascinated, I watched it; the wheezing grew louder and more laboured.
"Lady Shelton! Oh, go! go!" whispered Silver Heels. But it was toolate for flight had I been so minded.
Suddenly my Lady Shelton's fat feet began to trot as though of theirown notion, for her cold, flabby features expressed no emotion,although, from the moment her moon-like face had risen behind thehill, I saw that her eyes were fixed on me.
After her puffed the fat gentleman, Sir Timerson Chank, and behind himcame mincing Lord Dunmore, fanning his face with a lace handkerchief,his little gold-edged French hat under his arm. Faith, he was in arare temper.
Lady Shelton paddled up to Silver Heels, halted, and panted at her.Then she turned on me and panted at me until her voice returned. Withher voice, her features assumed a most extraordinary change; billowsof fat agitated the expanse of chin and cheek, and her voice, babyishin fury, made me jump, for it sounded as though some tiny, pixycreature, buried inside of her, was scolding me.
Sir Timerson Chank now bore down on my left and presently rounded to,delivering his broadside at short range; but I turned on him savagely,bidding him hold his tongue, which so astonished him that he obeyedme.
As for Dunmore, his shrill prattle never ceased, and he danced andvapoured and fingered his small-sword, till my hands itched to throwhim into the blackberry thicket.
"If," said I, to Lady Shelton, "you are pleased to forbid me yourdoor, pray remember, madam, that your authority extends no farther! Ishall not ask your permission to address my cousin, Miss Warren--noryours!" I added, wheeling on Sir Timerson Chank.
"Sir Timerson! Sir Timerson! Arrest him! You are a magistrate. SirTimerson! Arrest him! Oh, I'm all of a twitter!" panted Lady Shelton.
But Sir Timerson Chank made no sign of compliance.
"Lord Dunmore," I said, "by what privilege do you assume to vapour andhandle the hilt of your small-sword in Miss Warren's presence?"
"Sink me!" cried Lord Dunmore. "Sink me now, Mr. Cardigan; you shouldknow that I have privileges, sir. I will have you to know that I haveprivileges, sir! Crib me! but I will assert my rights!"
"Your--what?" I replied, contemptuously.
"My rights! My privilege to defend Miss Warren--my rights, sir! Istand upon them, crib me, if I don't!"
"Shame on you!" cried Lady Shelton, panting angrily at me. "Shame onyou--you mannerless, roving, blustering, hectoring rebel!--you--you_boy_! Oh, I'm all of a twitter! Sir Timerson, I'm all of atwitter!--"
"Oh tally!" broke in Dunmore, peeping at me through hisquizzing-glass. "The lad's moon-mad! A guinea to a china orange thatthe lad's moon-mad. You may see it in his eyes, Sir Timerson. You maysee he's non compos--eh, Sir Timerson? Sink me if he isn't!"
How I controlled myself I scarcely know, but I strove to remember thata hand raised to Lord Dunmore, Governo
r of Virginia, meant the ruin ofmy plans for the night. As I stood staring at the wizened macaroni,aching to take his sword, break it, and spank him with the fragments,I saw Jack Mount and the Weasel cautiously reconnoitring the situationfrom the hill's edge.
Ere I could motion them away they had made up their minds that I wasin distress, and now they came swaggering into our circle, thumbshooked in their shirts, saluting poor Silver Heels with a flourishthat drew a thin scream from Lady Shelton.
"Trouble with this old scratch-wig?" inquired Mount, nodding his headsideways towards Lord Dunmore.
"Damme!" gasped Dunmore. "Do you know who I am, you beast?"
"I know you're a ruddled old hunks," said Mount, carelessly. "Who maythe other guinea wig-stand be, Mr. Cardigan?"
As he spoke he looked across at Sir Timerson Chank, then suddenly hiseyes grew big as saucers and a low whistle escaped his lips.
"Gad!" he exclaimed. "It's the magistrate or I'm a codfish!"
"Fellow!" roared Sir Timerson, his face purpling with passion."Fellow! Thunder and Mars! Lord Dunmore, this is Jack Mount, thehighwayman!"
For an instant Dunmore stood transfixed, then he screamed out: "Closethe gates! Close the gates, Sir Timerson! He shall not escape, damme!No, he shall not escape! Call the constables, Sir Timerson; call theconstables!"
Mount had paled a little, but now as Sir Timerson began to bellow fora constable, his colour came back and he stepped forward, laying aheavy hand on the horrified magistrate's shoulder.
"Come now; come now," he said; "stop that bawling, or I'll put yourhead between your knees and truss you up like a basted capon!" And hegave him a slight shake which dislodged Sir Timerson's forty-guineawig.
"You Tory hangman," said Mount, scowling, "if I ever took a penny fromyou it was to help drive you and your thieving crew out of the land!Do you hear that? Now go and howl for your thief-takers, and take hisLordship, here, with you to squall for his precious constables!" Andhe gave Sir Timerson a shove over the grassy slope.
Lady Shelton shrieked as Sir Timerson went wabbling down the hill, butMount turned fiercely on Dunmore and shook his huge fist under hisnose.
"Hunt me down if you dare!" he growled. "Move a finger to molest meand the people shall know how you stop public runners and scalp them,too! Oho! Now you scare, eh? Out o' my way, you toothless toad!"
Dunmore shrank back, almost toppling down the hill, which he hurriedlydescended and made off after Sir Timerson towards the pavilion.
"Come," said I, "that will do for the present, Jack. Look yonder! Yourfriend, the magistrate, is toddling fast to trap you. You should bestarting if you mean to get out of this scrape a free man."
"Pooh!" replied Mount, swaggering. "I've time to dine if I chose, butI'm not hungry. Come, Cade; we needs must kick some planks out of thatstockade below us, if they guard the gates. But we have time tostroll."
The Weasel did not appear to hear him, and stood staring at SilverHeels with an expression so strange that it was almost terrifying. Fora moment I feared he had gone stark mad.
"Cade!" repeated Mount. "What is the matter, Cade? What do you see?Not another fat magistrate? Cade! What on earth troubles you, oldfriend?" And he stepped quickly to the Weasel's side, I following.
"Cade!" he cried, shaking his comrade's arm.
The Weasel turned a ghastly face.
"Who is she?" he motioned, with his lips.
"Do you mean Miss Warren?" I asked, astonished.
"A ghost," he muttered, shivering in every limb.
Presently he began to move towards Silver Heels, and Mount and I drewhim back by the shoulders.
"Cade! Cade!" cried Mount, anxiously. "Don't look like that, for God'ssake!"
"For God's sake," repeated Renard, trembling.
His eyes were dim with tears. Mount leaned over to me and whispered:"He is mad!" But the Weasel heard him and looked up slowly.
"No, no," he said; "a little wrong in the head, Jack, only a littlewrong. I thought I saw my wife, Jack, or her ghost--ay, her ghost--theghost of her youth and mine--"
A spasm shook him; he hid his face in his hands a moment, then scouredout the tears with his withered fingers.
"Ask the young lady's pardon for me," he muttered; "I have frightenedher."
I walked over to Silver Heels, who stood beside Lady Shelton, amazedat the scenes which had passed so swiftly before her eyes, and I drewher aside, mechanically asking pardon from the petrified dowager.
"He is a little mad," I said; "he thought he saw in you the ghost ofhis lost wife. Sorrow has touched his brain, I think, but he is verygentle and means no harm. Speak to him, Silver Heels. I owe my life tothose two men."
She stood looking at them a moment, then, laying her hand on my arm,she went slowly across to Mount and Renard.
They uncovered as she came up; the Weasel's face grew dead and fixed,but the pathos in his eyes was indescribable.
"If you are Mr. Cardigan's friends, you must be mine, too," saidSilver Heels, sweetly. "All you have done for him, you have done forme."
Fascinated, Mount gaped at her, tongue-tied, clutching his coon-skincap to his breast. But the fibre of the two men showed the differenceof their grain in a startling form, for, into Renard's shrunken framecame something that straightened him and changed him; he lifted hishead with a peculiar dignity almost venerable, and, stepping forward,took Silver Heels's small hand in his with a delicate grace that anyman might envy. Then he bent and touched her fingers with his lips.
"An old man's devotion, my child," he said. "You have your mother'seyes."
"My--my mother's eyes?" faltered Silver Heels, glancing fearfully atme.
"Yes--your mother's eyes--and all of her. I knew her, child."
"My--mother?"
He touched her hand with his lips again, slowly.
"I am a little troubled in my head sometimes," he said, gravely. "Doyou fear me?"
"N--no," murmured Silver Heels.
Their eyes met in silence.
Presently I took Silver Heels by the hand and led her back to LadyShelton.
"Madam," I said, "if aught of harm comes to these two men, throughLord Dunmore, betwixt this hour and the same hour to-morrow, there isnot a hole on earth into which he can creep for mercy. Tell this to myLord Dunmore, and bid him stay away. I speak in no heat, madam; I meanwhat I say. For as surely as I stand here now, that hour in which LordDunmore and Sir Timerson start to hunt us down, they die. Pray you,madam, so inform those gentlemen."
Then I turned to Silver Heels, who impulsively stretched out bothhands. The next moment I rejoined Mount and Renard, and we passedrapidly through the grove and down the hill to the stockade, whereMount drove out a plank with his huge shoulder, and we were free ofRoanoke Plain.