CHAPTER XXXVI.
The search was over. It had proved, as I have said, vain; and LordCalverly was in a state of bewildered confusion of mind, which it wasimpossible to describe. Obey the king's commands by placing Iola oncemore in the abbey of St. Clare of Atherston, he could not do. Toexplain to Richard the cause of his disobedience was only to accusehimself of a worse fault of the same kind. To frame any excuse, realor false, for his conduct, he knew not how; and his whole anxietyseemed to be to pursue and overtake the fugitive, wherever she mighthave taken refuge. Several of the servants were examined, in order toobtain some clue to the course which she had followed; but no onecould afford any. Her waiting-woman, Susan, was as much grieved,distressed, and anxious as the rest. The porter declared that he hadclosed every postern before he was shut into his lodging by SirWilliam Arden; and, at first, the old lord was inclined to supposethat Iola had taken advantage of the keys having been left in thedoor, to make her escape, while Arden was remonstrating with him inthe hall. But, on the one hand, the porter declared that the keys hadnever been removed from the place where Arden had left them till theywere taken to give admission to the king's messenger; and the man whohad been shut up with him confirmed the story. They had both watchedanxiously, they said, and must have heard the sound of the keys beingwithdrawn, had such a thing occurred. Sir William's attendant, too,who had given admission to the royal courier, stated that he had foundthe gates both locked and barred. The girl, Susan, too, showed thatshe had remained in her mistress's antechamber for nearly threequarters of an hour immediately before she was missed; and everyservant stated positively that they had neither seen the lady, nor anyfigure, which could have been hers disguised, attempt to pass out ofthe castle.
"Nothing can, at all events, be done till morning," said Sir WilliamArden, "and therefore, my good lord, I will wish you good night. Letus take counsel with our pillows."
His suggestion was followed, Chartley accompanying his friend withless anxiety apparent on his countenance than the occasion mightperhaps have justified. Before Arden went, he contrived to say a fewwords to Constance, unheard by the rest; but Constance shook her head,replying, "I know nought, indeed, and can give no information; but yetI am inclined to believe that dear Iola is in no danger, wherever sheis. She used to roam far and wide, where I should have been afraid toventure; and I feel sure she is safe." Then dropping her voice quiteto a whisper, she added, "Pray, tell Lord Chartley so."
A few minutes after, Chartley and his friend sat together in thechamber of the former; and Arden eyed him with an enquiring and yet asmiling glance.
"Know you aught of this escapade, Signor Chartley?" he said, atlength. "Methinks you seem not so heart-wrung and fear-stricken asmight have been expected, at the unaccountable disappearance of yourlady love."
"Nevertheless, I am anxious," replied Chartley, "for I know not whereshe is, nor what has become of her, any more than the rest. But, atthe same time, I have this consolation, that I believe her escape musthave been planned, in case of need, long before; for she boasted to methat she could pass through the walls of this castle like a spirit. Itherefore argue, that we have every reason to think her safe; and, totell the truth, I should not much regret her having put herself beyondthe power of her excellent wise uncle, were I not here in ward, andunable to do as I could wish."
"What would you do, if you were out of the old earl's clutches?"demanded Arden, with a smile.
"I would set off by day-break to seek her--" replied Chartley, "byday-break to-morrow morning."
"And having found her?" asked Arden.
Chartley smiled, and looked thoughtfully down on the table, for amoment or two, answering at length, "Don't you think, Arden, that ifone going a journey found a peculiarly beautiful flower growing nearhis path, he would be inclined to gather it at once, not waiting tillhe came back again, lest it should be withered or plucked in the meantime. One would not mind a few scratches either, to get at it."
"Come, come, no metaphors," said Arden. "You know, I am dull as to allfanciful things, my good lord, so tell me plainly what you would do."
"Well, then," answered Chartley, "if I found her, as you suppose, Ishould be strangely tempted to ask her to get upon the back of anambling mule or light-footed Barbary jennet, and make a pilgrimagewith me to some shrines of great repute in Britanny or France."
"Hymen's for one of them, I suppose," said Arden, laughing; "ah,Chartley, you are but a pagan after all. But you forget such thingsmight be dangerous. When you came back, your head would be in atottering condition, or, at the best, your dearly beloved liberty ofroaming might be confined within the four walls of a small room."
"I might stay away, till heads were more sure upon men's shoulders,and liberties were not the sport of a tyrant's caprice," repliedChartley, more gravely than was his wont. "This state of things cannotlast for ever, Arden. The world is getting sick of it. There arestrange rumours abroad. Our poor queen Ann is ill; and men muchsuspect she will not recover. Few indeed do under the treatment she islikely to have; and Richard, they say, is very anxious for heirs."
"So, so," cried Arden, "sets the wind there? Why, methought a Chartleywould never draw his sword against the house of York."
"Assuredly," replied Chartley, "so long as the lawful heirs of thathouse sat upon the throne. But there is such a thing, Arden, as twostreams mingling--such a thing as two factions, long rivals arrayed inbloody opposition, finding a bond of fellowship, and uniting tooverthrow one who has wronged and slaughtered both.
"I have heard something of this," said Arden, thoughtfully. "Therightful heir of York is Elizabeth of York; and, were such a thingpossible, that Harry of Richmond should graft the red rose on thewhite rose stem, there is many a man beside yourself who would gladlycouch a lance in his support."
Chartley gazed at him for a moment thoughtfully, and then answered."He has sworn it, Arden, in the cathedral church of Rennes. I know Ican trust you; and I tell you he has sworn it. The queen Elizabeth,too, consents, I am informed; and men but wait for the propitioushour."
"You have heard from Richmond!" said Arden, bluffly. "Your Arabbrought you letters from the earl."
"No," answered Chartley; "but I have heard from Oxford. He is alreadyin arms in Picardy; and Calais had better close fast her gates."
"Well, well," said Arden. "Love and war, 'tis strange how well thesetwo dissimilar dogs hunt in couples. We were talking of love just now,and lo, she runs straight up to the side of war. So, if you were free,you would ride off with this sweet pretty Iola, and wait for bettertimes, tending hens and sowing turnips round a cottage door. Upon mylife, I see no reason why you should not, even as the matter is."
"But I am in ward," said Chartley. "My pledge has been given to thisgood old Lord Calverly."
"That is all at an end," replied Arden, with a smile, drawing somepapers from his pocket. "I have kept you all this time in ignorance,to win your secrets from you. But now know, my lord, that you are inward to me, and not Lord Calverly. Here is the king's letter to me,and there is one from his gentle grace for you, probably announcingthe same thing. The truth is, I fancy, this rash Lord Fulmer has letRichard into too many secrets; and the king is determined to keep hishold of the young lover, by delaying his marriage, while he at thesame time separates you from her, to ensure that she is not won by arival. How he happened to fix upon me as your jailer is a marvel."
While he had thus spoke, Chartley had opened the king's letter, andwas reading it eagerly.
"Wrong, Arden, wrong!" he exclaimed, with a joyous look, "wrong, andyet right in some things--read, read!"
Arden took the letter and ran over the contents with that sort ofrapid humming tone which renders some words distinct, while others areslurred over. Every now and then he added a comment in his ownpeculiar way, not always in the most polite or reverent language; forthose were not times of great refinement, and right names were oftenapplied to things which we now veil both in word and seeming.
"'To our tru
sty and well beloved'--well, well--so he wrote toBuckingham--'our intentions towards you were more gentle than the needof example required to be apparent'--doubtless, his intentions arealways gentle; but his needs are numerous--'somewhat exceeded instrictness the spirit of our injunctions'--Poor Lord Calverly, mightystrict indeed when he lets his house be mastered by a prisoner and ahandful of guests!--'transferred you therefore in ward to your cousin,Sir William Arden, who will better comprehend our intentions. Nor dowe purpose here to shut up our benevolence towards you, but to enlargeit according to your merits and services, even in that which you mostdesire'--What does the hypocrite mean? He will have your head off erehe has done--'In the mean time, as you incurred displeasure byrashness, so win fair fortune and your heart's content by prudence;for having learned your wishes from a rival and an enemy, we give youan earnest of our good will, in disappointing his desires, with thethought of gratifying yours, according to your deserving, in goodseason. So, commending you to the protection of God, the BlessedVirgin, and St. Paul'--what a number of them!--'we bid you, etcetera.'"
Arden laid down the letter, and fell into deep thought. Chartley spoketo him, but he did not seem to hear. Chartley gazed at him, andlaughed in the joyous hopefulness of youth; but Arden took no notice.Chartley shook him by the arm; but his cousin merely said in a sharptone--
"Let me think, idle boy!--Let me think. Would you be chained to thecollar of a boar, to be dragged with him, wallowing through the bloodof the dogs, which will soon be let loose to hunt him to the death?"
"I know not what you mean," exclaimed the young nobleman; "have yougone mad, Arden?"
"It is you who are mad, if you see not the object of this letter,"replied Arden. "Hope to you--suspense to Fulmer--both for the samepurpose. To keep you his. He holds out a prize to the eyes of both, tobe won by a race of services and submissions to himself. Will youenter upon this course, Chartley? Will you, even for the hand of Iola,become the labouring straining serf of him who slew your royalmaster's children, slaughtered innocent babes, spilt the blood of hisown house? See through his artful policy--shut not your eyes to hispurpose--calculate the price you must pay for his support of yoursuit--judge accurately whether, when all is done, the hypocrite willkeep the spirit of his promise; and then choose your path."
"I saw it not in that light," replied Chartley, at once brought downto a graver mood, "and yet it may be as you say."
"May be? It is!" replied Arden, "by St. Peter, that dear little girlwas right and wise, to fly away and not be made a decoy to lead thegame into his net! She knew it not indeed; but that matters not. 'Tiswell that she is gone. Her foolish uncle must be sent to court, toconfess his sins and excuse them as he may. It is the best course forhim, the best result for us. Time--it is time we want."
"But I want something more, Arden," said. Chartley. "I wantliberty--freedom to act as I will. Then my course is soon decided. ByHeaven, I have a thousand minds to rise upon my ward master, bind him,and carry him with me--whither he would be right willing to go, _undercompulsion_."
"No, Chartley, no!" answered Arden. "I will not put a colouring uponmy actions that they merit not. I will not seem to do by force thatwhich I am afraid to do with good will and openly."
"Then what will you do? How will you act?" demanded Chartley, somewhatpuzzled.
"'Tis a case of difficulty," replied Arden, musing. "I must not accepta charge and then violate a trust; I must not shelter a breach offaith under an equivocation."
"But if you refuse to ward me," answered Chartley, "'Tis certain Ishall be placed in stricter hands."
"I will not refuse," replied his cousin. "I know this king, and I willaccept the ward for a time; but I will write to him and tell him, thatit shall be for but one month, as I could never manage you long in mylife--which Heaven knows is true enough. If it last longer I renounceit. I know well how it will be. If he sees you tranquil and quiet, hemay perhaps let you have full liberty then, thinking that he has powerover you by the hope of this fair lady's hand. If not, he will writeto me at the month's end, to keep you still in ward, which I will notdo for an hour. Meanwhile, we shall have time for all preparations, tofind the lady, and seek both the means of flight and means of livingafar. Then, have with you, Chartley, and good fortune speed us both!"
This arrangement was not altogether pleasing to his more ardent andimpatient companion.
"But hark you, Arden," he said, "long ere the time you speak of,things may have occurred which will require instant decision.Everything is hurrying here to a close; and, before a month be over,much may take place which will render it necessary to act at once."
"I do not think it," answered Arden, deliberately. "The march of greatevents is generally slow. Sometimes, indeed, it happens that anearthquake comes and shatters all; but more frequently the changes ofthe world are like the changes of the year, spring, summer, autumn,winter; cloud, sunshine, wind, rain, thunderstorm, sunshine once more,and then the same course round."
"But I tell you, Arden, Oxford is already in arms," replied Chartley,"and marching towards Calais, to take it from the usurper, thatRichmond is promised aid from France, and that troops are alreadygathering at Rouen."
"Rain drops before the storm," answered Arden; "but, before you can doaught, you must find your sweet lady Iola, gain her consent to yourplans, make all your preparations for escape; and this will all takesome time, let me tell you."
"What if we find her speedily," said Chartley, "and see, moreover,that she is likely to fall into the king's hands, and to be held out,as you yourself have said, as a prize to the most serviceable."
"Good faith, then you must act as you think fit," said Arden. "I shallguard you, and your seven or eight servants, with myself and my ownthree. Richard cannot expect that I should augment my household topleasure him, in a matter that he puts upon me without my wish. Shouldneed be, you must lay your own plans and execute them. Only let me notknow them, at least, till the month is over. But methinks, my goodlord and cousin, your impatience somewhat miscalculates the future. Amonth is a short time for all I have mentioned."
"Ay, but I go fast," answered Chartley. "To-morrow we will away toseek this fair lady, and never give the search up till we have foundher. You despatch this old lord as fast as may be to York; for, if heshould stay and find her out, we might have strife or difficulty."
"See how he takes the tone of command already," exclaimed Arden,laughing; "but do you know, Signor Chartley, that I have a strangehankering for this great castle of Chidlow, and do not love to leaveit yet. There are others to be served as well as you."
"How so?" demanded Chartley, in surprise; "why should you wish to stayat Chidlow?"
"Because there is a little maiden there, with sweet soft eyes,"replied Arden, "who though, God wot, somewhat given to pensive mood,smiles brightly when I talk to her; and methinks it will not be veryeasy to tear myself away."
"What, Constance?" exclaimed Chartley. "You, Arden, you! You thinkingof love and matrimony! Why, I have given you over to dull celibacy forthe last ten years. You were wont to think no eyes so bright as aspear's point, to feel no love for aught but a suit of Milan steel, towarm to the sound of cannon sooner than the lute, and to think theblast of the trumpet sweeter than any lady's tongue. Now, farewell toall hopes of your inheritance! Lack-a-day, what a splendid fortune Ihave missed by not watching you more closely! and we shall soon havehalf a score of little Ardens, with round curly heads, playing withyour rusty greaves, and calling you Papa."
"Go on. I am laughter proof," answered Arden. "Let him laugh who wins.Of one thing, at least, I am certain, if she gives me her hand, 'tiswith free will and all her heart. No ambition in a case where thebridegroom is a simple knight, no ambition where she does not know himto possess a single angel in the world, except herself. But tell me,Chartley, where have been your eyes?"
"Looking into Iola's, I fancy," answered Chartley. "'Tis true, I sawyou sit and talk with her upon the battlements the other day, andheard you laugh, and saw
you smile; but I thought, good sooth, 'twasmere good-nature that kept you lingering behind with Constance, inorder that Iola and I might have free leave to pour forth our heartsto each other."
"No, no," answered Arden. "I am very good-natured and generous, Iknow; but in this instance, like the rest of the world, I wasgood-natured--with an object. 'Tis true," he continued, in a gravertone, "there is a great difference between her age and mine--some fourand twenty years, and I shall wither while she will still bloom.Perhaps you think her too young, Chartley, to be taken as my wife; butI am not yet old enough to adopt her as my daughter; and one or theother she shall be, if she will; for I will not leave that dear girlto the sad choice of vowing herself to a convent, or remainingdependent upon her foolish uncle's bounty."
Chartley laid his hand affectionately upon his cousin's, saying, "Farfrom thinking her too young to be your wife, Arden--far from thinkingyou should not make her such, I believe and trust that you will findhappiness with her, such as you have never known before. I have seenthe honeysuckle in the woods, twining itself sweetly round the trees.It chooses generally a stout and sturdy trunk, of mature growth, andthere it winds itself up, loading the strong branches with itsnectar-dropping blossoms. Sometimes, however, I have seen it climb upa light sapling, till they mingled leaves and flowers together, in oneheavy mass; but then, there being no steadiness in either, they havebeen blown to and fro with every wind, till a fiercer blast of thetempest has broken or rooted up the frail prop; and the honeysucklehas been laid low with that it clung to."
"Well, I have no cause to make the objection if she do not," answeredArden. "She has wound herself round my heart, I know not how; but Ihave concealed nothing from her: She knows my birth-day as well as Ido myself; and she says she does not care a groat"--Chartleysmiled--"no, not exactly a groat," continued Arden, "but what shesaid, was this, that when one loved any body, the heart never stoppedto ask whether he was rich or poor, old or young; that wherecalculation entered, love was not. Upon my life, I believe what shesaid is true; for I know I began to make love to her without anycalculation at all, and not much thinking of what I was about. Is thatthe usual way, Chartley?"
"Precisely!" answered his cousin.
"Well, then, let us go to bed," said Arden; "for I shall rouse thisold lord by cock-crow, and send him off, as soon as I can, to York."