Preston Fight Part 24

"Shall we go to this ball?" said the countess to the earl.

"By all means," he replied. "It will be very numerously attended. In addition to the officers, all my gentlemen soldiers will be there."

"Yes, there will be plenty of military," observed General Forster. "Your ladyship may think I am jesting, but I a.s.sure you there is not an officer or a trooper in the Northumbrian regiments, who isn't in love."

"Beginning with the general himself," remarked the countess.

"Yes, I own the soft impeachment," he replied.

Mrs. Scarisbrick affected not to hear the observation, and said to Lady Derwent.w.a.ter: "I must congratulate your ladyship on the house you have got. 'Tis the best in the place."

"So I fancied," said the countess. "Sir Henry Hoghton must have been very sorry to quit it."

"He was driven out by General Forster's approach," laughed Mrs. Scarisbrick.

"Do you know him?" inquired the countess.

"Intimately," replied Mrs. Scarisbrick; "and like him very much. But he has one great fault. He is a Whig and a Hanoverian."

"Then I presume you are a Jacobite?" said the countess.

"As ardent a Jacobite as your ladyship," replied Mrs. Scarisbrick.

"I know you are very well informed, Mrs. Scarisbrick," observed Lord Derwent.w.a.ter. "What think you of the news that General Wills has arrived at Wigan?"

"I don't believe it," she replied. "Had it been the case, I must have heard of it. There are all sorts of disquieting rumours at present-but General Forster needn't trouble himself about them."

"I don't," said Forster, emphatically.

"You may depend upon having early information from me," said Mrs. Scarisbrick. "I have friends at Wigan who will be sure to send me word if anything is to be apprehended. You may therefore rest quite easy."

"Nevertheless, I think you ought to advance to-morrow, general," observed Lord Derwent.w.a.ter.

"To-morrow!" exclaimed Mrs. Scarisbrick. "I am sure Lady Derwent.w.a.ter will never consent to that."

"I would if there were any necessity for the step," rejoined the countess.

"But there is none-none whatever!" said Mrs. Scarisbrick.

"You say you are a particular friend of Sir Henry Hoghton, Mrs. Scarisbrick," remarked Lord Derwent.w.a.ter. "May I ask whether you have heard from him since he left?"

"I had a letter from him this very morning," she replied.

"Indeed!" exclaimed the countess and Dorothy.

"I showed it to General Forster, as he will tell you," pursued Mrs. Scarisbrick. "But Sir Henry doesn't say a word about General Wills."

"Not very likely he would," remarked Dorothy.

"There I differ with you," said the general. "I am certain he would."

"So am I," said Mrs. Scarisbrick. "Besides, I have other correspondents as well as Sir Henry, and I am confident they would have sent me information of so important a circ.u.mstance."

"Then you think we may rest easy for the present?" observed Dorothy.

"Perfectly," said Mrs. Scarisbrick. "You shall have timely information of any danger from me."

"No need to send a spy to Wigan to watch the enemy's movements," observed Forster, with a laugh. "I get all the information I require without trouble."

"So it seems," remarked Lord Derwent.w.a.ter. "But I again counsel an immediate march on Wigan."

"Nay, nay, let us rest quietly here for a day or two, and enjoy ourselves," said Forster. "We can't have better quarters. Preston has a hundred recommendations that no other place possesses. And since the countess has joined us, I shouldn't have thought your lordship would desire to move. What says your ladyship?" he added, appealing to her.

"I should certainly like to remain here for a day or two, if it can be done with safety," she replied.

"It can-I'll answer for it," said Forster; "and since I am responsible for any mistake, you may be sure I shall be careful."

"Trust to me," said Mrs. Scarisbrick. "Depend upon it I will procure information of the enemy's movements."

"Is she to be relied on?" whispered Dorothy to the earl.

"I cannot tell," he replied in the same tone. "But your brother is so bewitched that he will never move. You must look after him."

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V.

Important Recruits

JUST then a great tumult was heard outside, and the ladies flew to the windows, which looked upon the street, to see what was the matter.

The disturbance was caused by the arrival of some five or six well-mounted gentlemen, each attended by a dozen armed retainers on horseback, so that they formed quite a troop. A shouting crowd followed them, adding to the noise.

General Forster, who had likewise rushed to the window, was greatly delighted by the sight, since it could not be doubted that these gentlemen had come to join his forces. They had stopped at the entrance to his quarters, and were told by one of the sentinels stationed at the gate, that the general was then at Lord Derwent.w.a.ter's house on the opposite side of the street.

At this juncture, however, Lord Widdrington came forth, and shook hands very heartily with one of the recruits, a very fine-looking man.

"Who is that handsome and distinguished-looking person?" said the countess to her lord, who had followed her to the window.

"That is Mr. Townley, of Townley," replied the earl. "He is Lord Widdrington's brother-in-law, and belongs to one of the oldest families in Lancashire. I am rejoiced to see him here."

"And so am I!" cried Forster, joyfully. "Mr. Townley is a great acquisition. But who is the person next him?"

"I can tell you," replied Mrs. Scarisbrick. "He is Mr. Shuttleworth of Shuttleworth Hall, and belongs to as old a family as Mr. Townley."

"Bravo!" exclaimed Forster.

"The gentleman next him," said Father Norman, who had now come up, "is Sir Francis Anderton, of Lostock Hall-a strict Roman Catholic. I know him well. Next him is another Roman Catholic, Mr. Richard Chorley, of Chorley."

"Who comes next?" inquired Forster.

"Mr. Gabriel Hesketh, of Whitehall, near St. Michael's-le-Wyre," replied Mrs. Scarisbrick. "The young gentleman with him is his son, Mr. Cuthbert Hesketh. Then comes Mr. John Leyburne, of Natesby Hall."

"But one remains-Mr. Ralph Standish, of Standish," said Lord Derwent.w.a.ter, "He is nearly related to Mr. Townley."

"All these gentlemen belong to the old religion," observed Father Norman.

"It must be owned that the Roman Catholics have proved loyal to King James," said Forster.

"If the High Church Tories support us equally well we cannot fail," said Lord Derwent.w.a.ter.

"Oh! we are quite sure of them," said Forster. "But I must go and receive our distinguished recruits. I must beg your lordship to come with me," he added to Lord Derwent.w.a.ter.

They were about to leave the room, when the door was thrown open and Lord Widdrington entered with Mr. Townley, whom he presented to General Forster, stating that he was come to join the insurgent force, and Forster had scarcely welcomed him, when the other gentlemen came in, and were presented in like manner.

This little ceremony gone through, Forster expressed his high gratification at the adherence of such distinguished persons, and said: "To prove how sensible I am of the importance of your accession, gentlemen, you will understand that you all join with the rank of captain, and I am quite certain you will do credit to the troops you will command."

This courteous act, as judicious as good-natured, gave great satisfaction to the gentlemen, and was suitably acknowledged.

Lord Derwent.w.a.ter then came forward, and welcomed them in his turn, offering to provide them all with quarters in his large house.

"My servants will show you the rooms I have to spare, gentlemen," he said, "and if you like them, they are quite at your disposal."

Thanks were offered his lordship for the obliging offer, but it was eventually arranged that Mr. Townley and Mr. Standish should be quartered with General Forster, while the others gladly agreed to become Lord Derwent.w.a.ter's guests.

These matters being arranged, the gentlemen were presented by his lordship to the countess, and by General Forster to his sister and Mrs. Scarisbrick.

Shortly afterwards another arrival took place. This was Mr. Richard Gascoigne, a Roman Catholic gentleman, belonging to an Irish family of some distinction. A person of very refined manners, Mr. Gascoigne was a friend of Colonel Oxburgh, by whom he was presented to General Forster, and like those who had preceded him was complimented with the rank of captain. Mr. Gascoigne was very handsome, and seemed to make a favourable impression upon the ladies-particularly upon Mrs. Scarisbrick. The general offered him quarters, which he very gladly accepted.

Several other important additions were made to the force in the course of the day; but it was remarked that they were all Roman Catholics. Notwithstanding the promises of support from that party, not a single High Church Tory joined.

When questioned as to this strange falling off on the part of his friends, General Forster declared he could not account for it. However it was quite clear that the insurgent army was considerably augmented.

On the second day after their arrival at Preston, the rebels numbered more than four thousand men.

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VI.

The Ball at the Town-Hall

THOUGH little time had been allowed for its preparation, the ball at the town-hall was really very brilliant. The rooms were large, but crowded to excess, and s.p.a.ce could with difficulty be found for the dancers. As the greater part of the male guests were military, their varied costumes added materially to the effect of the scene. The leaders of all the English and Scottish regiments were present, and though Brigadier Mackintosh rarely appeared at such an a.s.sembly, his tall figure could be descried amid the gay throng.

As a matter of course, General Forster was there-in fact, he was looked upon as the most important guest, and the greatest attention was paid him by the master of the ceremonies and the stewards, but he seemed entirely engrossed by Mrs. Scarisbrick.

The two ladies who attracted most attention by their beauty and grace were the Countess of Derwent.w.a.ter and Dorothy Forster. Both looked charming. They had not come prepared for such a ball, but their dresses were very becoming. They were attended by Lord Widdrington, Charles Radclyffe, and several of the Scottish n.o.bles. Lord Derwent.w.a.ter was not very far off, but he was engaged in converse with Mr. Townley, Mr. Standish, and Sir Francis Anderton.

At this ball all the beauty of Preston was displayed, and no town in the county-perhaps no town in the kingdom-could have made such a display.

The Preston ladies had a witchery about them that very few of the opposite s.e.x could resist. Wherein the charm consisted we cannot say exactly-but since most of them had extremely fine eyes, their glances may have had something to do with it. Be this as it may, the effect of the fascination was manifest. All submitted to the influence-the old campaigner as well as the young recruit. Every damsel appeared to have an admirer-some half a dozen.

Whatever political opinions they had heretofore entertained, the ladies were all now staunch adherents of King James, who could not, they declared, be better represented than by his army, and that army must not be in a hurry to depart. So far from desiring to go, the gallant young troopers declared they should like to remain at Preston for ever.

At the special request of Captain Shaftoe, the handsome young recruits from Lancaster had been invited, and they caused quite as great a sensation as they had done on their arrival at the town. They had no difficulty in obtaining partners, for all the young ladies were anxious to dance with them, and it must be owned that they danced with remarkable spirit and grace. A cotillon in which they figured with some of the prettiest girls in the room, was the great success of the evening.

"Who are those smart young fellows?" inquired Mrs. Scarisbrick, who was looking on at the dance with General Forster.

"I know nothing about them, except that they are recruits from Lancaster," he replied. "They have been introduced by Captain Shaftoe. You must apply to him for information."

"They dance charmingly," observed the lady. "But they look like women."

"They may be women for aught I know," said the general. "But they have joined as troopers-at least, Shaftoe tells me so. He is speaking to their captain now."

"And if the so-called captain is not a woman in disguise, I am very much mistaken," observed Mrs. Scarisbrick.

The music having struck up for another dance the young sparks ought to have surrendered their partners, who were engaged three or four deep, instead of which they stood up with them again-a course of proceeding that gave great umbrage to the claimants; and in a few minutes a disturbance arose that threw the whole room into confusion.

The Lancaster recruits showed great spirit, and refused to give up their partners, defying the claimants to take them. The challenge was accepted, and a struggle ensued, in the midst of which screams arose, and it was found that three of the Lancashire youths had fainted. Their s.e.x could, therefore, no longer be concealed; and it then came out, as Mrs. Scarisbrick had suspected, that they were a party of young damsels, who had followed their lovers from Lancaster.

The occurrence caused much merriment, and Captain Shaftoe had to undergo a good deal of raillery from Mrs. Scarisbrick.

Shortly afterwards, the more distinguished guests were summoned to a magnificent supper, which was served in an adjoining room.

In the course of the evening there were several Highland dances, which from their novelty produced a great effect. One of these was a Highland reel, in which Lady Derwent.w.a.ter and Dorothy took part. The countess danced with Lord Charles Murray, and Dorothy with Colonel Farquharson of Invercauld, and acquitted themselves admirably. Besides these, two other ladies joined the reel and found partners in the Master of Nairn and Captain Gordon. All danced with great spirit to the stirring accompaniment of the pipes. A Highland fling, executed by Lord Charles Murray and Captain Gordon, was rewarded by the applause of Brigadier Mackintosh.