The Pigeon Pie Part 5

"And now tell me of yourselves. My mother is feeble and unwell, you say?"

"Never strong, but tolerably well at present."

"So Walter said. By the way, Walter is a fine spirited fellow. I should like to have him with me if we take another African voyage."

"He would like nothing better, poor fellow. But what strange things you have seen and done since we met! How little we thought that morning that it would be six years before we should sit side by side again! And Prince Rupert is kind to you?"

"He treats me like a son or brother: never was man kinder," said Edmund, warmly. "But the children? I must see them before I depart.

Little Lucy, is she as bold and pert as she was as a young child?"

"Little changed," said Rose, smiling, and telling her brother the adventures at the dinner.

As cheerfully as might be they talked till Edmund had finished his meal, and then Rose begged him to let her examine and bind up the wound. It was a sword-cut on the right shoulder, and, though not very deep, had become stiff and painful from neglect, and had soaked his sleeve deeply with blood. Rose's dexterous fingers applied the salve and linen she had brought, and she promised that at her next visit she would bring him some clean clothes, which was what he said he most wished for. Then she arranged the large horseman's cloak, the hay, and his own mantle, so well as to form, he said, the most luxurious resting place he had seen since he left Dunbar; and rolled up in this he lay, his head supported on his hand, talking earnestly with her on the measures next to be taken for his safety, and on the state of the family. He must be hidden there till the chase was a little slackened, and then escape, by Bosham or some other port, to the royal fleet, which was hovering on the coast. Money, however-- how was he to get a pa.s.sage without it?

"The Prince, at parting--heaven knows he has little enough himself-- gave me twenty gold crowns, which he said was my share of prize-money for our captures," said Edmund, "but this is the last of them."

"And I don't know how we can get any," said Rose. "We never see money. Our tenants, if they pay at all, pay in kind--a side of bacon, or a sack of corn; they are very good, poor people, and love our mother heartily, I do believe. I wish I knew what was to be done."

"Time will show," said Edmund. "I have been in as bad a case as this ere now, and it is something to be near you all again. So you like this place, do you? As well as our own home?"

Rose shook her head, and tears sprang into her eyes. "Oh no, Edmund; I try to think it home, and the children feel it so, but it is not like Woodley. Do you remember the dear old oak-tree, with the branches that came down so low, where you used to swing Mary and me?"

"And the high branch where I used to watch for my father coming home from the justice-meeting. And the meadow where the hounds killed the fox that had baffled them so long! Do you hear anything of the place now, Rose?"

"Mr. Enderby told us something," said Rose, sadly. "You know who has got it, Edmund?"

"Who?

"That Master Priggins, who was once justices' clerk."

"Ha!" cried Edmund. "That pettifogging scrivener in my father's house!--in my ancestors' house! A rogue that ought to have been branded a dozen years ago! I could have stood anything but that!

Pretty work he is making there, I suppose! Go on, Rose."

"O Edmund, you know it is but what the King himself has to bear."

"Neighbour's fare! as you say," replied Edmund, with a short dry laugh. "Poverty and wandering I could bear; peril is what any brave man naturally seeks; the acres that have been ours for centuries could not go in a better cause; but to hear of a rascal such as that in my father's place is enough to drive one mad with rage! Come, what has he been doing? How has he used the poor people?"

"He turned out old Davy and Madge at once from keeping the house, but Mr. Enderby took them in, and gave them a cottage."

"I wonder what unlucky fate possessed that Enderby to take the wrong side! Well?"

"He could not tell us much of the place, for he cannot endure Master Priggins, and Master Sylvester laughs at his Puritanical manner; but he says--O Edmund--that the fish-ponds are filled up--those dear old fish-ponds where the water-lilies used to blow, and you once pulled me out of the water."

"Ay, ay! we shall not know it again if ever our turn comes, and we enjoy our own again. But it is of no use to think about such matters."

"No; we must be thankful that we have a home at all, and are not like so many, who are actually come to beggary, like poor Mrs. Forde. You remember her, our old clergyman's widow. He died on board s.h.i.+p, and she was sent for by her cousin, who promised her a home; but she had no money, and was forced to walk all the way, with her two little boys, getting a lodging at night from any loyal family who would shelter her for the love of heaven. My mother wept when she saw how sadly she was changed; we kept her with us a week to rest her, and when she went she had our last gold carolus, little guessing, poor soul, that it was our last. Then, when she was gone, my mother called us all round her, and gave thanks that she could still give us shelter and daily bread."

"There is a Judge above!" exclaimed Edmund; "yet sometimes it is hard to believe, when we see such a state of things here below!"

"Dr. Bathurst tells us to think it will all be right in the other world, even if we do have to see the evil prosper here," said Rose, gravely. "The sufferings will all turn to glory, just as they did with our blessed King, out of sight."

Edmund sat thoughtful. "If our people abroad would but hope and trust and bear as you do here, Rose. But I had best not talk of these things, only your patience makes me feel how deficient in it we are, who have not a t.i.the to bear of what you have at home. Are you moving to go? Must you?"

"I fear so, dear brother; the light seems to be beginning to dawn, and if Lucy wakes and misses me--Is your shoulder comfortable?"

"I was never more comfortable in my life. My loving duty to my dear mother. Farewell, you, sweet Rose."

"Farewell, dear Edmund. Perhaps Walter may manage to visit you, but do not reckon on it."

CHAPTER V.

The vigils of the night had been as unwonted for Lucy as for her sister, and she slept soundly till Rose was already up and dressed.

Her first reflection was on the strange sights she had seen, followed by a doubt whether they were real, or only a dream; but she was certain it was no such thing; she recollected too well the chill of the stone to her feet, and the sound of the blasts of wind. She wondered over it, wished to make out the cause, but decided that she should only be scolded for peeping, and she had better keep her own counsel.

That Lucy should keep silence when she thought she knew more than other people was, however, by no means to be expected; and though she would say not a word to her mother or Rose, of whom she was afraid, she was quite ready to make the most of her knowledge with Eleanor.

When she came down stairs she found Walter, with his elbows on the table and his book before him, learning the task which his mother required of him every day; Eleanor had just come in with her lapfull of the still lingering flowers, and called her to help to make them up into nosegays.

Lucy came and sat down by her on the floor, but paid little attention to the flowers, so intent was she on showing her knowledge.

"Ah! you don't know what I have seen."

"I dare say it is only some nonsense," said Eleanor, gravely, for she was rather apt to plume herself on being steadier than her elder sister.

"It is no nonsense," said Lucy. "I know what I know."

Before Eleanor had time to answer this speech, the mystery of which was enhanced by a knowing little nod of the head, young Mr. Enderby made his appearance in the hall, with a civil good-morning to Walter, which the boy hardly deigned to acknowledge by a gruff reply and little nod, and then going on to the little girls, renewed with them yesterday's war of words. "Weaving posies, little ladies?"

"Not for rebels," replied Lucy, pertly.

"May I not have one poor daisy?"

"Not one; the daisy is a royal flower."

"If I take one?"

"Rebels take what they can't get fairly," said Lucy, with the smartness of a forward child; and Sylvester, laughing heartily, continued, "What would General Cromwell say to such a nest of little malignants?"

"That is an ugly name," said Eleanor.

"Quite as pretty as Roundhead."

"Yes, but we don't deserve it."

"Not when you make that pretty face so sour?"