CHAPTER XXVI.
_Mercury_. "I permit thee to be Sosia again." _Dryden,_
We must leave the two adventurers winding their way among the brokenpiles, and venturing boldly beneath the tottering arches of the ruin,to accompany the reader, at the same hour, within the more comfortablewalls of the abbey; where, it will be remembered, Borroughcliffe wasleft in a condition of very equivocal ease. As the earth had, however,in the interval, nearly run its daily round, circumstances hadintervened to release the soldier from his confinement--and no one,ignorant of the fact, would suppose that the gentleman who was nowseated at the hospitable board of Colonel Howard, directing, with somuch discretion, the energies of his masticators to the delicacies ofthe feast, could read, in his careless air and smiling visage, thatthose foragers of nature had been so recently condemned, for four longhours, to the mortification of discussing the barren subject of his ownsword-hilt. Borroughcliffe, however, maintained not only his usual post,but his well-earned reputation at the table, with his ordinary coolnessof demeanor; though at times there were fleeting smiles that crossedhis military aspect, which sufficiently indicated that he considered thematter of his reflection to be of a particularly ludicrous character. Inthe young man who sat by his side, dressed in the deep-blue jacket ofa seaman, with the fine white linen of his collar contrasting stronglywith the black silk handkerchief that was tied with studied negligencearound his neck, and whose easy air and manner contrasted still morestrongly with this attire, the reader will discover Griffith. Thecaptive paid much less devotion to the viands than his neighbor, thoughhe affected more attention to the business of the table than he actuallybe stowed, with a sort of consciousness that it would relieve theblushing maiden who presided. The laughing eyes of Katherine Plowdenwere glittering by the side of the mild countenance of Alice Dunscombe,and, at times, were fastened in droll interest on the rigid and uprightexterior that Captain Manual maintained, directly opposite to where shewas seated. A chair had, also, been placed for Dillon--of course it wasvacant.
"And so, Borroughcliffe," cried Colonel Howard, with a freedom of voice,and a vivacity in his air, that announced the increasing harmony ofthe repast, "the sea-dog left you nothing to chew but the cud of yourresentment!"
"That and my sword-hilt," returned the immovable recruiting officer."Gentlemen, I know not how your Congress rewards military achievements;but if that worthy fellow were in my company, he should have a halberdwithin a week--spurs I would not offer him, for he affects to spurntheir use."
Griffith smiled, and bowed in silence to the liberal compliment ofBorroughcliffe; but Manual took on himself the task of replying:
"Considering the drilling the man has received, the conduct has beenwell enough, sir; though a well-trained soldier would not only have madeprisoners, but he would have secured them."
"I perceive, my good comrade, that your thoughts are running on theexchange," said Borroughcliffe, good-humoredly; "we will fill, sir, and,by permission of the ladies, drink to a speedy restoration of rights toboth parties--the status quo ante bellum!"
"With all my heart!" cried the colonel; "and Cicely and Miss Katherinewill pledge the sentiment in a woman's sip; will ye not, my fairwards?--Mr. Griffith, I honor this proposition of yours, which will notonly liberate yourself, but restore to us my kinsman, Mr. ChristopherDillon. Kit had imagined the thing well; ha! Borroughcliffe! 'twasingeniously contrived, but the fortune of war interposed itself to hissuccess; and yet it is a deep and inexplicable mystery to me, how Kitshould have been conveyed from the abbey with so little noise, andwithout raising the alarm."
"Christopher is a man who understands the philosophy of silence, as wellas that of rhetoric," returned Borroughcliffe, "and must have learned inhis legal studies, that it is sometimes necessary to conduct matters subsilentio. You smile at my Latin, Miss Plowden; but really, since Ihave become an inhabitant of this monkish abode, my little learningis stimulated to unwonted efforts--nay, you are pleased to be yet moremerry! I used the language, because silence is a theme in which youladies take but little pleasure."
Katherine, however, disregarded the slight pique that was apparent inthe soldier's manner; but, after following the train of her own thoughtsin silent enjoyment for a moment longer, she seemed to yield to theirdrollery, and laughed until her dark eyes flashed with merriment.Cecilia did not assume the severe gravity with which she sometimesendeavored to repress, what she thought, the unseasonable mirth of hercousin; and the wondering Griffith fancied, as he glanced his eye fromone to the other, that he could discern a suppressed smile playingamong the composed features of Alice Dunscombe. Katherine, however, soonsucceeded in repressing the paroxysm, and, with an air of infinitelycomic gravity, she replied to the remark of the soldier:
"I think I have heard of such a process in nautical affairs as towing;but I must appeal to Mr. Griffith for the correctness of the term."
"You could not speak with more accuracy," returned the young sailor,with a look that sent the conscious blood to the temples of the lady,"though you had made marine terms your study."
"The profession requires less thought, perhaps, than you imagine, sir;but is this towing often done, as Captain Borroughcliffe--I beg hispardon--as the monks have it, sub silentio?"
"Spare me, fair lady," cried the captain, "and we will establish acompact of mutual grace; you to forgive my learning, and I to suppressmy suspicions."
"Suspicions, sir, is a word that a lady must defy."
"And defiance a challenge that a soldier can never receive; so Imust submit to talk English, though the fathers of the church were mycompanions. I suspect that Miss Plowden has it in her power to explainthe manner of Mr. Christopher Dillon's departure."
The lady did not reply, but a second burst of merriment succeeded, of aliveliness and duration quite equal to the former.
"How's this?" exclaimed the colonel; "permit me to say, Miss Plowden,your mirth is very extraordinary! I trust no disrespect has been offeredto my kinsman? Mr. Griffith, our terms are, that the exchange shall onlybe made on condition that equally good treatment has been extended tothe parties!"
"If Mr. Dillon can complain of no greater evil than that of beinglaughed at by Miss Plowden, sir, he has reason to call himself a happyfellow."
"I know not, sir; God forbid that I should forget what is due to myguests, gentlemen!--but ye have entered my dwelling as foes to myprince."
"But not to Colonel Howard, sir."
"I know no difference, Mr. Griffith. King George or ColonelHoward--Colonel Howard or King George. Our feelings, our fortunes,and our fate, are as one; with the mighty odds that Providence hasestablished between the prince and his people! I wish no other fortunethan to share, at an humble distance, the weal or woe of my sovereign!"
"You are not called upon, dear sir, to do either, by the thoughtlessnessof us ladies," said Cecilia, rising; "but here comes one who should turnour thoughts to a more important subject--our dress."
Politeness induced Colonel Howard, who both loved and respected hisniece, to defer his remarks to another time: and Katherine, springingfrom her chair with childish eagerness, flew to the side of her cousin,who was directing a servant that had announced the arrival of one ofthose erratic venders of small articles, who supply, in remote districtsof the country, the places of more regular traders, to show the ladinto the dining-parlor. The repast was so far ended as to render thisinterruption less objectionable; and as all felt the object of Ceciliato be the restoration of harmony, the boy was ushered into the roomwithout further delay. The contents of his small basket, consistingchiefly of essences, and the smaller articles of female economy, wereplayfully displayed on the table by Katherine, who declared herself thepatroness of the itinerant youth, and who laughingly appealed to theliberality of the gentlemen in behalf of her protege.
"You perceive, my dear guardian, that the boy must be loyal; for heoffers, here, perfume, that is patronized by no less than two royaldukes: do suffer me to place a box aside, for your espe
cial use: youconsent; I see it in your eye. And, Captain Borroughcliffe, as youappear to be forgetting the use of your own language, here is even ahornbook for you! How admirably provided he seems to be. You must havehad St. Ruth in view, when you laid in your stock, child?"
"Yes, my lady," the boy replied, with a bow that was studiously awkward;"I have often heard of the grand ladies that dwell in the old abbey, andI have journeyed a few miles beyond my rounds, to gain their custom."
"And surely they cannot disappoint you. Miss Howard, that is a palpablehint to your purse; and I know not that even Miss Alice can escapecontribution, in these troublesome times. Come, aid me, child; what haveyou to recommend, in particular, to the favor of these ladies?"
The lad approached the basket, and rummaged its contents, for a moment,with the appearance of deep mercenary interest; and then, withoutlifting his hand from the confusion he had caused, he said, whilehe exhibited something within the basket to the view of his smilingobserver:
"This, my lady."
Katharine started, and glanced her eyes, with a piercing look, at thecountenance of the boy, and then turned them uneasily from face toface, with conscious timidity. Cecilia had effected her object, andhad resumed her seat in silent abstraction--Alice was listening to theremarks of Captain Manual and the host, as they discussed the proprietyof certain military usages--Griffith seemed to hold communion withhis mistress, by imitating her silence; but Katharine, in her stolenglances, met the keen look of Borroughcliffe, fastened on her face, in amanner that did not fail instantly to suspend the scrutiny.
"Come, Cecilia," she cried, after a pause of a moment, "we trespass toolong on the patience of the gentlemen; not only to keep possessionof our seats, ten minutes after the cloth has been drawn! but evento introduce our essences, and tapes, and needles, among the Madeira,and--shall I add, cigars, colonel?"
"Not while we are favored with the company of Miss Plowden, certainly."
"Come, my coz; I perceive the colonel is growing particularly polite,which is a never-failing sign that he tires of our presence."
Cecilia rose, and was leading the way to the door, when Katherine turnedto the lad, and added:
"You can follow us to the drawing-room, child, where we can make ourpurchases, without exposing the mystery of our toilets."
"Miss Plowden has forgotten my hornbook, I believe," saidBorroughcliffe, advancing from the standing group who surrounded thetable; "possibly I can find some work in the basket of the boy, betterfitted for the improvement of a grown-up young gentleman than thiselementary treatise."
Cecilia, observing him to take the basket from the lad, resumed herseat, and her example was necessarily followed by Katherine; though notwithout some manifest indications of vexation.
"Come hither, boy, and explain the uses of your wares. This is soap, andthis a penknife, I know; but what name do you affix to this?"
"That? that is tape," returned the lad, with an impatience that mightvery naturally be attributed to the interruption that was thus given tohis trade.
"And this?"
"That?" repeated the stripling, pausing, with a hesitation betweensulkiness and doubt; "that?--"
"Come, this is a little ungallant!" cried Katherine; "to keep threeladies dying with impatience to possess themselves of their finery,while you detain the boy, to ask the name of a tambouring-needle!"
"I should apologize for asking questions that are so easily answered;but perhaps he will find the next more difficult to solve," returnedBorroughcliffe, placing the subject of his inquiries in the palm ofhis hand, in such a manner as to conceal it from all but the boy andhimself, "This has a name too; what is it?"
"That?--that--is sometimes called--white-line."
"Perhaps you mean a white lie?"
"How, sir!" exclaimed the lad, a little fiercely, "a lie!"
"Only a white one," returned the captain. "What do you call this. MissDunscombe?"
"We call it bobbin, sir, generally, in the north," said the placidAlice.
"Ay, bobbin, or white-line; they are the same thing," added the youngtrader.
"They are? I think, now, for a professional man, you know but little ofthe terms of your art," observed Borroughcliffe, with an affectationof irony; "I never have seen a youth of your years who knew less. Whatnames, now, would you affix to this, and this, and this?"
While the captain was speaking he drew from his pockets the severalinstruments that the cockswain had made use of the preceding night tosecure his prisoner.
"That," exclaimed the lad, with the eagerness of one who would vindicatehis reputation, "is rattlin-stuff; and this is marline; and that issennit."
"Enough, enough," said Borroughcliffe; "you have exhibited sufficientknowledge to convince me that you _do_ know something of your _trade_,and nothing of these articles. Mr. Griffith, do you claim this boy?"
"I believe I must, sir," said the young sea-officer, who had beenintently listening to the examination. "On whatever errand you have nowventured here, Mr. Merry, it is useless to affect further concealment."
"Merry!" exclaimed Cecilia Howard; "is it you, then, my cousin? Are you,too, fallen into the power of your enemies! was it not enough that--"
The young lady recovered her recollection in time to suppress theremainder of the sentence, though the grateful expression of Griffith'seye sufficiently indicated that he had, in his thoughts, filled thesentence with expressions abundantly flattering to his own feelings.
"How's this, again!" cried the colonel; "my two wards embracing andfondling a vagrant, vagabond peddler, before my eyes! Is this treason,Mr. Griffith? Or what means the extraordinary visit of this younggentleman?"
"Is it extraordinary, sir," said Merry himself, losing his assumedawkwardness in the ease and confidence of one whose faculties hadbeen early exercised, "that a boy like myself, destitute of motherand sisters, should take a like risk on himself, to visit the only twofemale relatives he has in the world?"
"Why this disguise, then? surely, young gentleman, it was unnecessary toenter the dwelling of old George Howard on such an errand clandestinely,even though your tender years have been practised on, to lead you astrayfrom your allegiance. Mr. Griffith and Captain Manual must pardon me,if I express sentiments, at my own table, that they may find unpleasant;but this business requires us to be explicit."
"The hospitality of Colonel Howard is unquestionable," returned the boy;"but he has a great reputation for his loyalty to the crown."
"Ay, young gentleman; and, I trust, with some justice."
"Would it, then, be safe, to entrust my person in the hands of one whomight think it his duty to detain me?"
"This is plausible enough, Captain Borroughcliffe, and I doubt not theboy speaks with candor. I would, now, that my kinsman, Mr. ChristopherDillon, were here, that I might learn if it would be misprisionof treason to permit this youth to depart, unmolested, and withoutexchange?"
"Inquire of the young gentleman, after the Cacique," returned therecruiting officer, who, apparently satisfied in producing the exposureof Merry, had resumed his seat at the table; "perhaps he is, in verity,an ambassador, empowered to treat on behalf of his highness."
"How say you?" demanded the colonel; "do you know anything of mykinsman?"
The anxious eyes of the whole party were fastened on the boy for manymoments, witnessing the sudden change from careless freedom to deephorror expressed in his countenance. At length he uttered in anundertone the secret of Dillon's fate.
"He is dead."
"Dead!" repeated every voice in the room.
"Yes, dead!" said the boy, gazing at the pallid faces of those whosurrounded him.
A long and fearful silence succeeded the announcement of thisintelligence, which was only interrupted by Griffith, who said:
"Explain the manner of his death, sir, and where his body lies."
"His body lies interred in the sands," returned Merry, with adeliberation that proceeded from an opening perception that, ifhe uttered too much,
he might betray the loss of the Ariel, and,consequently, endanger the liberty of Barnstable.
"In the sands?" was echoed from every part of the room.
"Ay, in the sands; but how he died, I cannot explain."
"He has been murdered!" exclaimed Colonel Howard, whose command ofutterance was now amply restored to him; "he has been treacherously, anddastardly, and basely murdered!"
"He has _not_ been murdered," said the boy, firmly; "nor did he meethis death among those who deserve the name either of traitors or ofdastards."
"Said you not that he was dead? that my kinsman was buried in the sandsof the seashore?"
"Both are true, sir--"
"And you refuse to explain how he met his death, and why he has beenthus ignominiously interred?"
"He received his interment by my orders, sir; and if there be ignominyabout his grave, his own acts have heaped it on him. As to the manner ofhis death, I cannot, and will not speak."
"Be calm, my cousin," said Cecilia, in an imploring voice; "respect theage of my uncle, and remember his strong attachment to Mr. Dillon."
The veteran had, however, so far mastered his feelings, as to continuethe dialogue with more recollection.
"Mr. Griffith," he said, "I shall not act hastily--you and yourcompanions will be pleased to retire to your several apartments. I willso far respect the son of my brother Harry's friend as to believe yourparole will be sacred. Go, gentlemen; you are unguarded."
The two prisoners bowed low to the ladies and their host, and retired.Griffith, however, lingered a moment on the threshold, to say:
"Colonel Howard, I leave the boy to your kindness and consideration. Iknow you will not forget that his blood mingles with that of one who ismost dear to you."
"Enough, enough, sir," said the veteran, waving his hand to him toretire: "and you, ladies; this is not a place for you, either."
"Never will I quit this child," said Katherine, "while such a horridimputation lies on him. Colonel Howard, act your pleasure on us both,for I suppose you have the power; but his fate shall be my fate."
"There is, I trust, some misconception in this melancholy affair," saidBorroughcliffe, advancing into the centre of the agitated group; "and Ishould hope, by calmness and moderation, all may yet be explained; younggentleman, you have borne arms, and must know, notwithstanding youryouth, what it is to be in the power of your enemies?"
"Never," returned the proud boy; "I am a captive for the first time."
"I speak, sir, in reference to our power."
"You may order me to a dungeon; or, as I have entered the abbey indisguise, possibly to a gibbet."
"And is that a fate to be met so calmly by one so young?"
"You dare not do it, Captain Borroughcliffe," cried Katherine,involuntarily throwing an arm around the boy, as if to shield him fromharm; "you would blush to think of such a cold-blooded act of vengeance,Colonel Howard."
"If we could examine the young man, where the warmth of feeling whichthese ladies exhibit might not be excited," said the captain, apart tohis host, "we should gain important intelligence."
"Miss Howard, and you, Miss Plowden," said the veteran, in a manner thatlong habit had taught his wards to respect, "your young kinsman is notin the keeping of savages, and you can safely confide him to my custody.I am sorry that we have so long kept Miss Alice standing, but she willfind relief on the couches of your drawing-room, Cecilia."
Cecilia and Katherine permitted themselves to be conducted to thedoor by their polite but determined guardian, where he bowed to theirretiring persons, with the exceeding courtesy that he never failed touse, when in the least excited.
"You appear to know your danger, Mr. Merry," said Borroughcliffe, afterthe door was closed; "I trust you also know what duty would dictate toone in my situation."
"Do it, sir," returned the boy; "you have a king to render an accountto, and I have a country."
"I may have a country also," said Borroughcliffe, with a calmness thatwas not in the least disturbed by the taunting air with which the youthdelivered himself. "It is possible for me, however, to be lenient, evenmerciful, when the interests of that prince, to whom you allude, areserved--you came not on this enterprise alone, sir?"
"Had I come better attended, Captain Borroughcliffe might have heardthese questions, instead of putting them."
"I am happy, sir, that your retinue has been so small: and yet even therebel schooner called the Ariel might have furnished you with a morebecoming attendance. I cannot but think that you are not far distantfrom your friends."
"He is near his enemies, your honor," said Sergeant Drill, who hadentered the room unobserved; "for here is a boy who says he has beenseized in the old ruin, and robbed of his goods and clothes; and, by hisdescription, this lad should be the thief."
Borroughcliffe signed to the boy, who stood in the background, toadvance; and he was instantly obeyed, with all that eagerness which asense of injury on the part of the sufferer could excite. The tale ofthis unexpected intruder was soon told, and was briefly this:
He had been assaulted by a man and a boy (the latter was in presence),while arranging his effects, in the ruin, preparatory to exhibitingthem to the ladies of the abbey, and had been robbed of such part of hisattire as the boy had found necessary for his disguise, together withhis basket of valuables. He had been put into an apartment of an oldtower, by the man, for safe keeping; but as the latter frequentlyascended to its turret, to survey the country, he had availed himself ofthis remissness, to escape; and, to conclude, he demanded a restorationof his property, and vengeance for his wrongs.
Merry heard his loud and angry details with scornful composure, andbefore the offended peddler was through his narrative, he had divestedhimself of the borrowed garments, which he threw to the other withsingular disdain.
"We are beleaguered, mine host! beset! besieged!" cried Borroughcliffe,when the other had ended. "Here is a rare plan to rob us of our laurels!ay, and of our rewards! but, hark ye, Drill! they have old soldiers todeal with, and we shall look into the matter. One would wish to triumphon foot; you understand me?--there was no horse in the battle. Go,fellow, I see you grow wiser; take this young gentleman--and remember_he is_ a young gentleman--put him in safe keeping, but see him suppliedwith all he wants."
Borroughcliffe bowed politely to the haughty bend of the body with whichMerry, who now began to think himself a martyr to his country, followedthe orderly from the room.
"There is mettle in the lad!" exclaimed the captain; "and if he live toget a beard, 'twill be a hardy dog who ventures to pluck it. I am glad,mine host, that this 'wandering Jew' has arrived, to save the poorfellow's feelings, for I detest tampering with such a noble spirit. Isaw, by his eye, that he had squinted oftener over a gun than through aneedle!"
"But they have murdered my kinsman!--the loyal, the learned, theingenious Mr. Christopher Dillon!"
"If they have done so, they shall be made to answer it," saidBorroughcliffe, reseating himself at the table, with a coolness thatfurnished an ample pledge of the impartiality of his judgment; "but letus learn the facts, before we do aught hastily."
Colonel Howard was fain to comply with so reasonable a proposition, andhe resumed his chair, while his companion proceeded to institute a closeexamination of the peddler boy.
We shall defer, until the proper time may arrive, recording the resultof his inquiries; but shall so satisfy the curiosity of our readers, asto tell them that the captain learned sufficient to convince him a veryserious attempt was meditated on the abbey; and, as he thought, enoughalso to enable him to avert the danger.