CHAPTER XIII.
ONE DAY.
In times of great sorrow the godly person ought to look forward tothe never-ending joy and happiness that will follow this short life.Yet we still look backwards to the happy time that is past and cannever come again. And then, how happy does it seem to have been incomparison with present affliction!
It pleased Heaven after many trials to restore my earthlyhappiness--at least, in its principal part, which is earthly love.Some losses--grievous and lamentable--there were which could not berestored. Yet for a long time I had no other comfort (apart fromthat hope which I trust was never suffered to leave me) than therecollection of one single day in its course, too short, from dewymorn till dusky eve. I began that day with the sweetest joy that agirl can ever experience--namely, the return of her lover and thehappiness of learning that he loves her more than ever, with theknowledge that her heart hath gone forth from her and is wholly his.To such a girl the woods and fields become the very garden of Eden;the breath of the wind is as the voice of the Lord blessing anotherEve; the very showers are the tears of gladness and gratitude; thebirds sing hymns of praise; the leaves of the trees whisper wordsof love; the brook prattles of kisses; the flowers offer incense;the royal course of the sun in splendour, the glories of the sunriseand sunset, the twinkling stars of night, the shadows of the flyingclouds, the pageant of the summer day--these are all prepared forthat one happy girl and for her happy lover! Oh, Divine Gift ofLove! which thus gives the whole world with its fruits in season toeach pair in turn! Nay, doth it not create them anew? What was Adamwithout Eve? And Eve was created for no other purpose than to be acompanion to the man.
I say, then, that the day when Robin took me in his arms and kissedme--not as he had done when we parted and I was still a child, butwith the fervent kiss of a lover--was the happiest day in all mylife. I say that I have never forgotten that day, but, by recallingany point of it, I remember all: how he held my hand and how hemade me confess that I loved him; how we kissed and parted, to meetagain. As for poor Humphrey, I hardly gave him so much as a thoughtof pity. Then, how we wandered along the brook hand in hand!
'Never to part again, my dear,' said the fond lover. 'Here willwe live, and here we will die. Let Benjamin become, if he please,Lord Chancellor, and Humphrey a great physician: they will have tolive among men in towns, where every other man is a rogue. We shalllive in this sweet country place, where the people may be rude butthey are not knaves. Why, in that great city of London, where themerchants congregate upon the Exchange and look so full of dignityand wisdom, each man is thinking all the time that, if he fail tooverreach his neighbour, that neighbour will overreach him. Whowould live such a life when he can pass it in the fields with such acompanion as my Alice?'
The pleasures of London had only increased his thirst for thecountry life. Surely, never was seen a swain more truly rustic inall his thoughts! The fine ladies at the playhouse, with theirpainted faces, made him, he told me, think of one who wore a russetfrock in Somersetshire, and did not paint her sweet face--this wasthe way he talked. The plays they acted could never even be read,much less witnessed, by that dear girl--so full of wickedness theywere. At the assemblies the ladies were jealous of each other, andput on scornful looks when one seemed preferred; at the tavernsthe men drank and bellowed songs and quarrelled; in the streetsthey fought and took the wall and swaggered; there was nothing butfighting among the baser sort, with horrid imprecations; at thecoffee-houses the politicians argued and quarrelled. Nay, in thevery churches the sermons were political arguments, and while theclergyman read his discourse the gallants ogled the ladies. All thisand more he told me.
To hear my boy, one would think there was nothing in London but whatwas wicked and odious. No doubt it is a wicked place; where many menlive together, those who are wicked easily find each other out, andare encouraged in their wickedness. Yet there must be many honestand God-fearing persons, otherwise the Judgment of Heaven wouldagain fall upon that city as it did in the time of the Plague and inthe Great Fire.
'My pretty Puritan,' said Robin, 'I am now come away from thatplace, and I hope never to see it again. Oh! native hills, I saluteyou! Oh! woods and meadows, I have returned, to wander again inyour delightful shade.' Then, which was unusual in my boy, and wouldhave better become Mr. Boscorel or Humphrey, he began to repeatverses. I knew not that he had ever learned any:--
As I range these spacious fields, Feast on all that Nature yields; Everything inspires delight, Charms my smell, my taste, my sight; Every rural sound I hear Soothes my soul and tunes my ear.
I do not know where Robin found these verses, but as he repeatedthem, waving his arm around, I thought that Humphrey himself nevermade sweeter lines.
He then told me how Humphrey would certainly become the most learnedphysician of the time, and that he was already master of a politeand dignified manner which would procure him the patronage ofthe great and the confidence of all. It was pleasant to hear himpraise his cousin without jealousy or envy. To be sure, he knew notthen--though afterwards I told him--that Humphrey was his rival.Even had he known this, such was the candour of my Robin and theintegrity of his soul that he would have praised him even moreloudly.
One must not repeat more of the kind and lovely things that the dearboy said while we strolled together by the brook-side.
While thus abroad we walked--'twas in the forenoon, after Humphrey'svisit--Sir Christopher, his grandfather, dressed in his best coatand his gold-laced hat, which he commonly kept for church, andaccompanied by Madam, walked from the Manor House through thevillage till they came to our cottage. Then, with great ceremony,they entered, Sir Christopher bowing low and Madam dropping a deepcourtesy to my mother, who sat humbly at her wheel.
'Madam,' said Sir Christopher, 'we would, with your permission, saya few words with the learned Dr. Eykin and yourself.'
My father, who had now returned and was in his room, came forth whenhe was called. His face had recovered something of its serenity, buthis eyes were still troubled. Madam sat down, but Sir Christopherand my father stood.
'Sir,' said his Honour, 'I will proceed straight to the point. Mygrandson desires to marry your daughter Alice. Robin is a goodlad--not a scholar if you will--for his religion, the root of thematter is in him; for the goodness of his heart I will answer; forhis habit of life, he hath, so far as we can learn, acquired no vilevices of the city--he doth neither drink nor gamble, nor waste hishealth and strength in riotous living; and for his means they are myown. All that I have will be his. 'Tis no great estate, but 'twillserve him as it hath served me. Sir, the boy's mother and I havecome to ask your daughter in marriage. We know her worth, and weare right well satisfied that our boy hath made so good and wise achoice.'
'They were marrying and giving in marriage when the Flood came; theywill be marrying and giving in marriage in the Great Day of theLord,' said my father.
'Yes, gossip; but that is no reason why they should not now bemarrying and giving in marriage.'
'You ask my consent?' said my father. 'This surprises me. The childis too young: she is not yet of marriageable age'----
'Husband, she is nigh upon her twentieth birthday!'
'I thought she had been but twelve or thereabouts! My consent?Why, Sir Christopher, in the eyes of the world this is greatcondescension on your part to take a penniless girl. I looked, Isuppose, to the marriage of my daughter some time--perhaps to afarmer--yet--yet, we are told that a virtuous woman hath a price farabove rubies; and that it is she who buildeth up the house, and weare nowhere told that she must bring her husband a purse of gold.Sir Christopher, it would be the blackest ingratitude in us to denyyou, even if this thing were (which I say not) against the mind ofour daughter.'
'It is not--it is not,' said my mother.
'Wherefore, seeing that the young man is a good man as youths go,though in the matter of the Latin syntax he hath yet much to learn;and that his heart is disposed towards religion, I am right gladtha
t he should take our girl to wife.'
'Bravely said!' cried Sir Christopher. 'Hands upon it, man! And wewill have a merry wedding. But to-day I bid you both to come andfeast with us. We will have holiday and rejoicing.'
'Yes,' said my father, 'we will feast; though to-morrow comes theDeluge.' I know now what he meant, but at that time we knew not, andit seemed to his Honour a poor way of rejoicing at the return of theboys and the betrothal of his daughter thus to be foretelling woes.'The Vision of the Plumb-line is before mine eyes,' my father wenton. 'Is the land able to bear all this? We talk of feasting and ofmarriages. Yet a few days, or perhaps already----But we will rejoicetogether, my old friend and benefactor, we will rejoice together.'With these strange words he turned and went back to his room, andafter some tears with my mother, Madam went home and Sir Christopherwith her. But in honour to the day he kept on his best coat.
Robin suffered me to go home, but only that I might put on my bestfrock (I had but two) and make my hair straight, which had beenblown into curls, as was the way with my hair. And then, learningfrom my mother with the utmost satisfaction what had passed, he ledme by the hand, as if I were already his bride, and so to the ManorHouse, where first Sir Christopher saluted me with great kindness,calling me his dear granddaughter, and saying that next to Robin'ssafe return he asked for nothing more than to see me Robin's wife.And Madam kissed me, with tears in her eyes, and said that she coulddesire nothing better for her son, and that she was sure I should domy best endeavours to make the boy happy. Then Humphrey, as quietlyas if he had not also asked me to be his wife, kissed my hand, andwished me joy; and Mr. Boscorel also kissed me, and declared thatRobin ought to be the happiest dog on earth. And so we sat down toour feast.
The conversation at dinner was graver than the occasion demanded.For though our travellers continually answered questions about theforeign lands and peoples they had seen, yet the subject returnedalways to the condition of the country, and to what would happen.
After dinner we sat in the garden, and the gentlemen began to talkof Right Divine and of Non-Resistance, and here it seemed to meas if Mr. Boscorel was looking on as from an eminence apart. Forwhen he had once stated the texts and arguments upon which theHigh Church party do mostly rely, he retired and made no furtherobjections, listening in silence while my father held forth uponthe duty of rising against wicked princes. At last, however, beingchallenged to reply by Humphrey, Mr. Boscorel thus made answer:
'The doctrine that subjects may or may not rebel against theirSovereign is one which I regard with interest so long as it remainsa question of logic and argument only. Unfortunately, the times aresuch that we may be called upon to make a practical application ofit: in which case there may follow once more civil war, with hardknocks on both sides, and much loss of things temporal. Whereforeto my learned brother's arguments, which I admit to be plausible, Iwill, for the present, offer no reply, except to pray Heaven thatthe occasion may not arise of converting a disputed doctrine into arule of conduct.'
Alas! even while he spoke the messenger was speeding swiftly towardsus who was to call upon all present to take a side.
The question is now, I hope, decided for ever: but many men hadfirst to die. It was not decided then, but three years later, whenKing William cut the knot, and, with the applause of the nation,pulled down his father-in-law, and mounted the throne himself withhis gracious consort. We are agreed, at last, that kings, likejudges, generals, and all great officers of State, are to hold theiroffices in good behaviour. If they enter into machinations againstthe liberty of the people and desert the national religion, theymust descend, and let others take their place. But before that rightcould be established for the country, streams of blood must firstflow.
While they talked, we--I mean Madam, my mother, and myself--satand listened. But my mind was full of another subject, and I heardbut little of what was said, noting chiefly the fiery ardour of myfather and the careless grace of Mr. Boscorel.
Presently my father, who was never easy in the company of Mr.Boscorel--(so oil and water will not agree to fill a cup infriendship)--and, besides, being anxious to rejoin the society ofhis books, arose and went away, and with him my mother--he, inhis ragged cassock, who was a learned scholar; she in her plainhome-spun, who was a gentlewoman by birth. Often had I thought ofour poverty with bitterness. But now it was with a softened heartthat I saw them walk side by side across the lawns. For now Iunderstood plainly--and for the first time--how love can strengthenand console. My mother was poor, but she was not therefore unhappy.
Mr. Boscorel also rose and went away with Humphrey. They went totalk of things more interesting to the Rector than the doctrine ofNon-Resistance: of painting, namely, and statuary and medals. Andwhen we presently walked from the Rectory gardens we heard a mostgladsome scraping of fiddlestrings within, which showed that theworthy man was making the most of Humphrey's return.
When Sir Christopher had taken his pipe of tobacco he fell asleep.Robin and I walked in the garden and renewed our vows. Needs mustthat I should tell him all that I had done or thought since he wentaway. As if the simple thoughts of a country maid should be ofinterest to a man! Yet he seemed pleased to question and to listen,and presently broke into a rapture, swearing that he was in lovewith an angel. Young lovers, it is feared, may fall into grievoussin by permitting themselves these extravagances of speech andthought; yet it is hard to keep them sober, and besides (becauseevery sin in man meeteth with its correspondent in woman), if thelover be extravagant, the maiden takes pleasure in his extravagance.To call a mortal, full of imperfections, an angel, is little shortof blasphemy. Yet I heard it with, I confess, a secret pleasure. Weknow ourselves and the truth concerning ourselves; we do not deceiveourselves as to our imperfections; yet we are pleased that ourlovers should so speak and think of us as if we were angels indeed.
Robin told me, presently ceasing his extravagances for a while, thathe was certain something violent was on foot. To be sure, everybodyexpected so much. He said, moreover, that he believed Humphrey hadcertain knowledge of what was going to happen; that before theyleft the Low Countries Humphrey had been present at a meeting ofthe exiles in Rotterdam, where it was well known that Lord Argyle'sexpedition was resolved upon; that he had been much engaged inLondon after their return, and had paid many visits, the nature ofwhich he kept secret; and that on the road there was not a town andscarcely a village where Humphrey had not someone to visit.
'My dear,' he said, 'Humphrey is slight as to stature and strength,but he carries a stout heart. There is no man more bitter againstthe King than he, and none more able if his counsels were listenedto. Monmouth, I am certain, purposes to head an expedition intoEngland like that of Lord Argyle in Scotland. The history of Englandhath many instances of such successful attempts. King Stephen, KingHenry IV., King Henry VII., are all examples. If Monmouth lands,Humphrey will join him, I am sure. And I, my dear'----he paused.
'And you too, Robin? Oh! must you too go forth to fight? And yet, ifthe Duke doth head a rising all the world would follow. Oh! to driveaway the Papist King and restore our liberty!'
'My dear, I will do what my grandfather approves. If it be my dutyto go, he will send me forth.'
I had almost forgotten to say that Madam took me to her own chamber,where she opened a box and pulled out a gold chain, very fine. Thisshe hung about my neck, and bade me sit down, and gave me some soundadvice, reminding me that woman was the weaker vessel, and shouldlook to her husband not only to love and cherish her, but also toprevent her from falling into certain grievous sins, as of temper,deceitfulness, vanity, and the like, to which the weaker nature isever prone. Many other things she said, being a good and virtuouswoman, but I pass them over.
After supper we went again into the garden, the weather being warmand fine. The sun went down, but the sky was full of light, thoughit was past nine o'clock and time for me to go home and to bed. Yetwe lingered. The birds had gone to sleep; there was no whisper ofthe wind; the village was in silen
ce. And Robin was whispering inmy ear. I remember--I remember the very tones of his voice, whichwas low and sweet. I remember the words he said: 'Sweet love! Sweetlove! How could I live so long without thee!' I remember my swellingheart and my glowing cheeks. Oh! Robin--Robin! Oh! poor heart! poormaid! The memory of this one day was nearly all thou hadst to feedupon for so long--so long a time!