Chapter the Nineteenth.
Now choose thee, gallant, betwixt wealth and honour; There lies the pelf, in sum to bear thee through The dance of youth, and the turmoil of manhood, Yet leave enough for age's chimney-corner; But an thou grasp to it, farewell ambition, Farewell each hope of bettering thy condition, And raising thy low rank above the churls That till the earth for bread. OLD PLAY.
It is necessary to dwell for some brief space on the appearance anddemeanour of young Glendinning, ere we proceed to describe his interviewwith the Abbot of St. Mary's, at this momentous crisis of his life.
Halbert was now about nineteen years old, tall and active rather thanstrong, yet of that hardy conformation of limb and sinew, which promisesgreat strength when the growth shall be complete, and the systemconfirmed. He was perfectly well made, and, like most men who have thatadvantage, possessed a grace and natural ease of manner and carriage,which prevented his height from being the distinguished part of hisexternal appearance. It was not until you had compared his stature withthat of those amongst or near to whom he stood, that you becamesensible that the young Glendinning was upwards of six feet high. In thecombination of unusual height with perfect symmetry, ease, and grace ofcarriage, the young heir of Glendearg, notwithstanding his rustic birthand education, had greatly the advantage even of Sir Piercie Shaftonhimself, whose stature was lower, and his limbs, though there wasno particular point to object to, were on the whole less exactlyproportioned. On the other hand, Sir Piercie's very handsome countenanceafforded him as decided an advantage over the Scotsman, as regularity offeatures and brilliance of complexion could give over traits which wererather strongly marked than beautiful, and upon whose complexion the"skyey influences," to which he was constantly exposed, had blendedthe red and white into the purely nut-brown hue, which coloured alikecheeks, neck, and forehead, and blushed only in a darker glow upon theformer.--Halbert's eyes supplied a marked and distinguished part ofhis physiognomy. They were large and of a hazel colour, and sparkled inmoments of animation with such uncommon brilliancy, that it seemed asif they actually emitted light. Nature had closely curled the locks ofdark-brown hair, which relieved and set off the features, such as wehave described them, displaying a bold and animated disposition, muchmore than might have been expected from his situation, or from hisprevious manners, which hitherto had seemed bashful, homely, andawkward.
Halbert's dress was certainly not of that description which sets off tothe best advantage a presence of itself prepossessing. His jerkin andhose were of coarse rustic cloth, and his cap of the same. A beltround his waist served at once to sustain the broad-sword which we havealready mentioned, and to hold five or six arrows and bird-bolts, whichwere stuck into it on the right side, along with a large knife hiltedwith buck-horn, or, as it was then called, a dudgeon-dagger. To completehis dress, we must notice his loose buskins of deer's hide, formed so asto draw up on the leg as high as the knee, or at pleasure to be thrustdown lower than the calves. These were generally used at the period bysuch as either had their principal occupation, or their chief pleasure,in silvan sports, as they served to protect the legs against the roughand tangled thickets into which the pursuit of game frequently ledthem.--And these trifling particulars complete his external appearance.
It is not easy to do justice to the manner in which young Glendinning'ssoul spoke through his eyes when ushered so suddenly into the company ofthose whom his earliest education had taught him to treat with awe andreverence. The degree of embarrassment, which his demeanor evinced, hadnothing in it either meanly servile, or utterly disconcerted. It was nomore than became a generous and ingenuous youth of a bold spirit, buttotally inexperienced, who should for the first time be called upon tothink and act for himself in such society and under such disadvantageouscircumstances. There was not in his carriage a grain either offorwardness or of timidity, which a friend could have wished away.
He kneeled and kissed the Abbot's hand, then rose, and retiring twopaces, bowed respectfully to the circle around, smiling gently as hereceived an encouraging nod from the Sub-Prior, to whom alone he waspersonally known, and blushing as he encountered the anxious look ofMary Avenel, who beheld with painful interest the sort of ordeal towhich her foster-brother was about to be subjected. Recovering from thetransient flurry of spirits into which the encounter of her glance hadthrown him, he stood composedly awaiting till the Abbot should expresshis pleasure.
The ingenuous expression of countenance, noble form, and gracefulattitude of the young man, failed not to prepossess in his favor thechurchmen in whose presence he stood. The Abbot looked round, andexchanged a gracious and approving glance with his counsellor FatherEustace, although probably the appointment of a ranger, or bow-bearer,was one in which he might have been disposed to proceed without theSub-Prior's advice, were it but to show his own free agency. But thegood mien of the young man now in nomination was such, that he ratherhastened to exchange congratulation on meeting with so proper a subjectof promotion, than to indulge any other feeling. Father Eustace enjoyedthe pleasure which a well-constituted mind derives from seeing a benefitlight on a deserving object; for as he had not seen Halbert sincecircumstances had made so material a change in his manner and feelings,he scarce doubted that the proffered appointment would, notwithstandinghis mother's uncertainty, suit the disposition of a youth who hadappeared devoted to woodland sports, and a foe alike to sedentary orsettled occupation of any kind. The Refectioner and Kitchener were sowell pleased with Halbert's prepossessing appearance, that they seemedto think that the salary, emoluments, and perquisites, the dole, thegrazing, the gown, and the galligaskins, could scarce be better bestowedthan on the active and graceful figure before them.
Sir Piercie Shafton, whether from being more deeply engaged in his owncogitations, or that the subject was unworthy of his notice, did notseem to partake of the general feeling of approbation excited by theyoung man's presence. He sate with his eyes half shut, and his armsfolded, appearing to be wrapped in contemplations of a nature deeperthan those arising out of the scene before him. But, notwithstanding hisseeming abstraction and absence of mind, there was a flutter of vanityin Sir Piercie's very handsome countenance, an occasional change ofposture from one striking attitude (or what he conceived to be such)to another, and an occasional stolen glance at the female part of thecompany, to spy how far he succeeded in riveting their attention, whichgave a marked advantage, in comparison, to the less regular and moreharsh features of Halbert Glendinning, with their composed, manly, anddeliberate expression of mental fortitude.
Of the females belonging to the family of Glendearg, the Miller'sdaughter alone had her mind sufficiently at leisure to admire, from timeto time, the graceful attitudes of Sir Piercie Shafton; for both MaryAvenel and Dame Glendinning were waiting in anxiety and apprehensionthe answer which Halbert was to return to the Abbot's proposal, andfearfully anticipating the consequences of his probable refusal.The conduct of his brother Edward, for a lad constitutionally shy,respectful, and even timid, was at once affectionate and noble. Thisyounger son of Dame Elspeth had stood unnoticed in a corner, afterthe Abbot, at the request of the Sub-Prior, had honoured him with somepassing notice, and asked him a few common-place questions about hisprogress in Donatus, and in the _Promptuarium Parvulorum_, withoutwaiting for the answers. From his corner he now glided round to hisbrother's side, and keeping a little behind him, slid his right handinto the huntsman's left, and by a gentle pressure, which Halbertinstantly and ardently returned, expressed at once his interest in hissituation, and his resolution to share his fate.
The group was thus arranged, when, after the pause of two or threeminutes, which he employed in slowly sipping his cup of wine, in orderthat he might enter on his proposal with due and deliberate dignity, theAbbot at length expressed himself thus:--
"My son--we your lawful Superior, and the Abbot, under God's favour,of the community of Saint Mary's, have heard of your manifold goodgifts--a-hem--especi
ally touching wood-craft--and the huntsman-likefashion in which you strike your game, truly and as a yeoman should, notabusing Heaven's good benefits by spoiling the flesh, as is too oftenseen in careless rangers--a-hem." He made here a pause, but observingthat Glendinning only replied to his compliment by a bow, heproceeded,--"My son, we commend your modesty; nevertheless, we willthat thou shouldst speak freely to us touching that which we havepremeditated for thine advancement, meaning to confer on thee the officeof bow-bearer and ranger, as well over the chases and forests whereinour house hath privilege by the gifts of pious kings and nobles, whosesouls now enjoy the fruits of their bounties to the Church as to thosewhich belong to us in exclusive right of property and perpetuity. Thyknee, my son--that we may, with our own hand, and without loss of time,induct thee into office."
"Kneel down," said the Kitchener on the one side; and "Kneel down," saidthe Refectioner on the other.
But Halbert Glendinning remained standing.
"Were it to show gratitude and good-will for your reverend lordship'snoble offer, I could not," he said, "kneel low enough, or remain longenough kneeling. But I may not kneel to take investure of yournoble gift, my Lord Abbot, being a man determined to seek my fortuneotherwise."
"How is that, sir?" said the Abbot, knitting his brows; "do I hear youspeak aright? and do you, a born vassal of the Halidome, at the momentwhen I am destining to you such a noble expression of my good-will,propose exchanging my service for that of any other?"
"My lord," said Halbert Glendinning, "it grieves me to think you holdme capable of undervaluing your gracious offer, or of exchangingyour service for another. But your noble proffer doth but hasten theexecution of a determination which I have long since formed."
"Ay, my son," said the Abbot, "is it indeed so?--right early haveyou learned to form resolutions without consulting those on whom younaturally depend. But what may it be, this sagacious resolution, if Imay so far pray you?"
"To yield up to my brother and mother," answered Halbert, "mineinterest in the fief of Glendearg, lately possessed by my father, SimonGlendinning: and having prayed your lordship to be the same kind andgenerous master to them, that your predecessors, the venerable Abbotsof Saint Mary's, have been to my fathers in times past; for myself, I amdetermined to seek my fortune where I may best find it."
Dame Glendinning here ventured, emboldened by maternal anxiety, tobreak silence with an exclamation of "O my son!" Edward clinging to hisbrother's side, half spoke, half whispered, a similar ejaculation, of"Brother! brother!"
The Sub-Prior took up the matter in a tone of grave reprehension, which,as he conceived, the interest he had always taken in the family atGlendearg required at his hand.
"Wilful young man," he said, "what folly can urge thee to push back thehand that is stretched out to aid thee? What visionary aim hastthou before thee, that can compensate for the decent and sufficientindependence which thou art now rejecting with scorn?"
"Four marks by the year, duly and truly," said the Kitchener.
"Cow's-grass, doublet, and galligaskins," responded the Refectioner.
"Peace, my brethren," said the Sub-Prior; "and may it please yourlordship, venerable father, upon my petition, to allow this headstrongyouth a day for consideration, and it shall be my part so toindoctrinate him, as to convince him what is due on this occasion toyour lordship, and to his family, and to himself."
"Your kindness, reverend father," said the youth, "craves my dearestthanks--it is the continuance of a long train of benevolence towards me,for which I give you my gratitude, for I have nothing else to offer. Itis my mishap, not your fault, that your intentions have been frustrated.But my present resolution is fixed and unalterable. I cannot accept thegenerous offer of the Lord Abbot; my fate calls me elsewhere, to sceneswhere I shall end it or mend it."
"By our Lady," said the Abbot, "I think the youth be mad indeed--or thatyou, Sir Piercie, judged of him most truly, when you prophesied that hewould prove unfit for the promotion we designed him--it may be you knewsomething of this wayward humour before?"
"By the mass, not I," answered Sir Piercie Shafton, with his usualindifference. "I but judged of him by his birth and breeding; for seldomdoth a good hawk come out of a kite's egg."
"Thou art thyself a kite, and kestrel to boot," replied HalbertGlendinning, without a moment's hesitation.
"This in our presence, and to a man of worship?" said the Abbot, theblood rushing to his face.
"Yes, my lord," answered the youth; "even in your presence I return tothis gay man's face, the causeless dishonour--which he has flung on myname. My brave father, who fell in the cause of his country, demandsthat justice at the hands of his son!"
"Unmannered boy!" said the Abbot.
"Nay, my good lord," said the knight, "praying pardon for thecoarse interruption, let me entreat you not to be wroth with thisrustical--Credit me, the north wind shall as soon puff one of your rocksfrom its basis, as aught which I hold so slight and inconsiderate as thechurlish speech of an untaught churl, shall move the spleen of PiercieShafton."
"Proud as you are, Sir Knight," said Halbert, "in your imaginedsuperiority, be not too confident that you cannot be moved."
"Faith, by nothing that thou canst urge," said Sir Piercie.
"Knowest thou, then, this token?" said young Glendinning, offering tohim the silver bodkin he had received from the White Lady.
Never was such an instant change, from the most contemptuous serenity,to the most furious state of passion, as that which Sir Piercie Shaftonexhibited. It was the difference between a cannon lying quiet in itsembrasure, and the same gun when touched by the linstock. He startedup, every limb quivering with rage, and his features so inflamed andagitated by passion, that he more resembled a demoniac, than a man underthe regulation of reason. He clenched both his fists, and thrusting themforward, offered them furiously at the face of Glendinning, who was evenhimself startled at the frantic state of excitation which his actionhad occasioned. The next moment he withdrew them, struck his open palmagainst his own forehead, and rushed out of the room in a state ofindescribable agitation. The whole matter had been so sudden, that noperson present had time to interfere.
When Sir Piercie Shafton had left the apartment, there was a moment'spause of astonishment; and then a general demand that HalbertGlendinning should instantly explain by what means he had produced sucha violent change in the deportment of the English cavalier.
"I did nought to him," answered Halbert Glendinning, "but what you allsaw--am I to answer for his fantastic freaks of humour?"
"Boy," said the Abbot, in his most authoritative manner, "thesesubterfuges shall not avail thee. This is not a man to be driven fromhis temperament without some sufficient cause. That cause was given bythee, and must have been known to thee. I command thee, as thou wiltsave thyself from worse measure, to explain to me by what means thouhast moved our friend thus--We choose not that our vassals shall driveour guests mad in our very presence, and we remain ignorant of the meanswhereby that purpose is effected."
"So may it please your reverence, I did but show him this token," saidHalbert Glendinning, delivering it at the same time to the Abbot, wholooked at it with much attention, and then, shaking his head, gravelydelivered it to the Sub-Prior, without speaking a word.
Father Eustace looked at the mysterious token with some attention; andthen addressing Halbert in a stern and severe voice, said, "Young man,if thou wouldst not have us suspect thee of some strange double-dealingin this matter, let us instantly know whence thou hadst this token, andhow it possesses an influence on Sir Piercie Shafton?"--It would havebeen extremely difficult for Halbert, thus hard pressed, to have eitherevaded or answered so puzzling a question. To have avowed the truthmight, in those times, have occasioned his being burnt at a stake,although, in ours, his confession would have only gained for him thecredit of a liar beyond all rational credibility. He was fortunatelyrelieved by the return of Sir Piercie Shafton himself, whose ear caught,as he entered, the s
ound of the Sub-Prior's question.
Without waiting until Halbert Glendinning replied, he came forward,whispering to him as he passed, "Be secret--thou shalt have thesatisfaction thou hast dared to seek for."
When he returned to his place, there were still marks of discomposure onhis brow; but, becoming apparently collected and calm, he looked aroundhim, and apologized for the indecorum of which he had been guilty, whichhe ascribed to sudden and severe indisposition. All were silent, andlooked on each other with some surprise.
The Lord Abbot gave orders for all to retire from the apartment, savehimself, Sir Piercie Shafton, and the Sub-Prior. "And have an eye," headded, "on that bold youth, that he escape not; for if he hath practisedby charm, or otherwise, on the health of our worshipful guest, I swearby the alb and mitre which I wear, that his punishment shall be mostexemplary."
"My lord and venerable father," said Halbert, bowing respectfully, "fearnot but that I will abide my doom. I think you will best learn from theworshipful knight himself, what is the cause of his distemperature, andhow slight my share in it has been."
"Be assured," said the knight, without looking up, however, while hespoke, "I will satisfy the Lord Abbot."
With these words the company retired, and with them young Glendinning.When the Abbot, the Sub-Prior, and the English knight were left alone,Father Eustace, contrary to his custom, could not help speaking thefirst. "Expound unto us, noble sir," he said, "by what mysterious meansthe production of this simple toy could so far move your spirit, andovercome your patience, after you had shown yourself proof to all theprovocation offered by this self-sufficient and singular youth?"
The knight took the silver bodkin from the good father's hand, looked atit with great composure, and, having examined it all over, returned itto the Sub-Prior, saying at the same time, "In truth, venerable father,I cannot but marvel, that the wisdom implied alike in your silver hairs,and in your eminent rank, should, like a babbling hound, (excuse thesimilitude,) open thus loudly on a false scent. I were, indeed, moreslight to be moved than the leaves of the aspen-tree, which wag at theleast breath of heaven, could I be touched by such a trifle as this,which in no way concerns me more than if the same quantity of silverwere stricken into so many groats. Truth is, that from my youth upward,I have been subjected to such a malady as you saw me visited with evennow--a cruel and searching pain, which goeth through nerve and bone,even as a good brand in the hands of a brave soldier sheers through limband sinew--but it passes away speedily, as you yourselves may judge."
"Still," said the Sub-Prior, "this will not account for the youthoffering to you this piece of silver, as a token by which you wereto understand something, and, as we must needs conjecture, somethingdisagreeable."
"Your reverence is to conjecture what you will," said Sir Piercie; "butI cannot pretend to lay your judgment on the right scent when I see itat fault. I hope I am not liable to be called upon to account for thefoolish actions of a malapert boy?"
"Assuredly," said the Sub-Prior, "we shall prosecute no inquiry whichis disagreeable to our guest. Nevertheless," said he, looking to hisSuperior, "this chance may, in some sort, alter the plan your lordshiphad formed for your worshipful guest's residence for a brief term inthis tower, as a place alike of secrecy and of security; both of which,in the terms which we now stand on with England, are circumstances to bedesired."
"In truth," said the Abbot, "and the doubt is well thought on, were itas well removed; for I scarce know in the Halidome so fitting a placeof refuge, yet see I not how to recommend it to our worshipful guest,considering the unrestrained petulance of this headstrong youth."
"Tush! reverend sirs--what would you make of me?" said Sir PiercieShafton. "I protest, by mine honour, I would abide in this house were Ito choose. What! I take no exceptions at the youth for showing a flashof spirit, though the spark may light on mine own head. I honour thelad for it. I protest I will abide here, and he shall aid me in strikingdown a deer. I must needs be friends with him, and he be such a shot:and we will speedily send down to my lord Abbot a buck of the firsthead, killed so artificially as shall satisfy even the reverendKitchener."
This was said with such apparent ease and good-humour, that the Abbotmade no farther observation on what had passed, but proceeded toacquaint his guest with the details of furniture, hangings, provisions,and so forth, which he proposed to send up to the Tower of Glendearg forhis accommodation. This discourse, seasoned with a cup or two ofwine, served to prolong the time until the reverend Abbot ordered hiscavalcade to prepare for their return to the Monastery.
"As we have," he said, "in the course of this our toilsome journey,lost our meridian, [Footnote: The hour of repose at noon, which, in themiddle ages, was employed in slumber, and which the monastic rules ofnocturnal vigils rendered necessary.] indulgence shall be given to thoseof our attendants who shall, from very weariness, be unable to attendthe duty at prime, [Footnote: _Prime_ was the midnight service of themonks.] and this by way of misericord or _indulgentia._" [Footnote:_Misericord,_ according to the learned work of Fosbrooke on BritishMonachism, meant not only an indulgence, or exoneration from particularduties, but also a particular apartment in a convent, where the monksassembled to enjoy such indulgences or allowances as were granted beyondthe rule.]
Having benevolently intimated a boon to his faithful followers, which heprobably judged would be far from unacceptable, the good Abbot, seeingall ready for his journey, bestowed his blessing on the assembledhousehold--gave his hand to be kissed by Dame Glendinning--himselfkissed the cheek of Mary Avenel, and even of the Miller's maiden, whenthey approached to render him the same homage--commanded Halbert to rulehis temper, and to be aiding and obedient in all things to theEnglish Knight--admonished Edward to be _discipulus impiger atquestrenuus_--then took a courteous farewell of Sir Piercie Shafton,advising him to lie close, for fear of the English borderers, who mightbe employed to kidnap him; and having discharged these various officesof courtesy, moved forth to the courtyard, followed by the wholeestablishment. Here, with a heavy sigh, approaching to a groan, thevenerable father heaved himself upon his palfrey, whose dark purplehousings swept the ground; and, greatly comforted that the discretion ofthe animal's pace would be no longer disturbed by the gambadoes of SirPiercie and his prancing war-horse, he set forth at a sober and steadytrot upon his return to the Monastery.
When the Sub-Prior had mounted to accompany his principal, his eyesought out Halbert, who, partly hidden by a projection of the outwardwall of the court, stood apart from, and gazing upon the departingcavalcade, and the group which assembled around them. Unsatisfied withthe explanation he had received concerning the mysterious transactionof the silver bodkin, yet interesting himself in the youth, of whosecharacter he had formed a favourable idea, the worthy monk resolvedto take an early opportunity of investigating that matter. In themeanwhile, he looked upon Halbert with a serious and warning aspect, andheld up his finger to him as he signed farewell. He then joined the restof the churchmen, and followed his Superior down the valley.