Preston Fight Part 5

The dinner was magnificent, though little time had been allowed for its preparation. Still, with the resources at Lord Derwent.w.a.ter's command, a great deal can be accomplished. The prince sat on the right of the earl, and on his lordship's left was placed Lady Webb. Next to her ladyship was Colonel Oxburgh, and next to the prince, on the right, was Sir John Webb. Then came the Squire of Bamborough. We cannot record how the rest of the company was placed, but we must mention that the fair Dorothy was not very far from Charles Radclyffe, who sat at the foot of the table. Undoubtedly, the party lacked its chief attraction-at least in the eyes of Lord Derwent.w.a.ter-but he was so much occupied by the prince that he had not much time to think of the fair absentee; and besides, Lady Webb a.s.sured him that there was not the slightest cause for uneasiness.

The Chevalier de Saint George was in high spirits. No contretemps of any kind had occurred since his arrival at Dilston. All the guests were devoted to his cause, and some of them were his warmest partisans. Of the attachment of Sir John Webb and Colonel Oxburgh, he had no doubt. Of Forster's loyalty he was not quite so sure, and he therefore paid him particular attention. But he had a gracious word for every one, and not a single person present could complain that the prince had overlooked him. Moreover, his highness took care to make it understood that he desired his presence should be no restraint to the company.

The dinner therefore pa.s.sed off admirably, and as the wine was not stinted, and b.u.mpers were quaffed according to the good old custom, the enthusiasm of the guests rose to a very high pitch, and could scarcely be repressed. But it soon found vent when the cloth was drawn, and gla.s.ses were filled to the brim. The n.o.ble host arose, and with him rose every guest-save one-and the hall rang with shouts of "Long live King James the Third."

Lady Webb and Dorothy then disappeared, and all the servants having left the room, except Newbiggin, whose discretion could be relied on, some serious discussion took place.

As yet the prince had not made known his design of seeking an interview with the queen, his sister; and it was now, at his highness's request, disclosed by Lord Derwent.w.a.ter. A deep silence ensued.

"It appears that you do not approve my plan, gentlemen," remarked the prince, after a short pause.

"My liege," replied Colonel Oxburgh, answering for the others, "we all hoped and believed that you were come to call us to arms, and we cannot conceal our disappointment when we find that, instead of making a determined attempt to recover the throne, which we are persuaded would be successful, your majesty is about to appeal to the queen, who has no sympathy or affection for you, and is hostile to our religion. Rest a.s.sured, the attempt will be useless, if it does not lead to other ill consequences. Abandon it, therefore, I pray you. On the other hand, there is every reason to believe that an insurrection in your majesty's favour would be attended with success. That we are fully prepared for it, I will not a.s.sert. But a very short time will enable us to get ready a sufficient force to march towards London, and we shall gather strength as we go on. None can be better acquainted with the feeling of the country than myself and my friends, who have visited the houses of half the Jacobites and High Church Tories in the North of England, and I can state positively that a rising would be hailed by many influential persons with the greatest enthusiasm. Should your majesty decide on leading the army in person-as I trust you will-thousands will flock to your standard, and you will find yourself resistless as well from the number of your followers as from the justice of your cause. That your majesty is the rightful King of England cannot be denied. Why then allow the crown to be kept from you-even for a day? Do not sue for it, but demand it; and if it be refused, take it!"

The exclamations that arose from the company made it evident that they all agreed with the speaker. But though stirred by the colonel's energetic language, the prince was not to be turned from his purpose.

"I have already explained to Lord Derwent.w.a.ter my reasons for the course I am about to pursue," he said. "Like yourselves he has endeavoured to dissuade me from my design-but ineffectually. I propose to set out for London tomorrow, or next day, at the latest-and his lordship will accompany me."

"Without an escort?" cried Colonel Oxburgh. "That must not be. Since your majesty is resolved on this rash step, my friends and myself will attend you. Do I not express your wishes, gentlemen?" he added to the others.

"Most certainly," replied Captain Wogan, answering for the rest. "We shall be proud to escort his majesty, if he will permit us."

"I accept your offer, gentlemen," said the prince. "I did not calculate on such good company."

"We may be of use to your majesty on the journey," remarked Captain Wogan.

"I doubt it not," said the prince. "Will you go with me?" he added to Forster.

"I pray your majesty to excuse me," replied the squire. "I must frankly own I would rather not be engaged in the expedition."

"As you please, sir," said the prince, with affected indifference. "I can do very well without you."

"I see that I have not made myself understood, my liege," said Forster. "I am ready to fight for you, and if need be, die for you, but I will not be instrumental in delivering you to your enemies."

"Ah! I see I have done you an injustice," said the prince.

The conversation then took another turn, and a good deal of curiosity was manifested both by Sir John Webb and Colonel Oxburgh as to the prince's future plans, but his highness displayed considerable reserve on this point, and did not choose to gratify them. Indeed, he soon afterwards retired, and Lord Derwent.w.a.ter went with him, leaving Charles Radclyffe to attend to the company.

Those were hard-drinking days, and the Jacobites were as fond of good claret, as their predecessors the Cavaliers. We are afraid to say how many magnums were emptied on the occasion, but before the party broke up, which it did not do till a late hour, a general resolution was come to, that a more strenuous effort should be made on the morrow, to induce his majesty to forego his ill-advised journey to London, and instead of endangering his safety by such a senseless attempt, to set up his standard, and summon all his adherents to join him. Then he might proceed to London, as soon as he pleased.

A loud shout, with which his majesty's name was coupled, concluded a vehement harangue made by Colonel Oxburgh, and the party broke up.

Some of them retired to rest, but Tom Forster and two or three others adjourned to a smaller room not far from the butler's pantry; where a bowl of capital punch was provided for them by Newbiggin.

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XI.

A Mysterious Occurrence in the Chapel

ANNA WEBB submitted unrepiningly to the penance enjoined by Father Norman. She remained in her own room, and was not distracted by a visit either from her mother, or Dorothy. Some refreshments were brought her by a female servant, but they were untouched. Several hours were thus pa.s.sed in solitude and prayer, and night had come on. She wondered when the priest would come, according to his promise, to take her to the chapel.

At length, he appeared, and desired her to follow him. Wishing to avoid the servants, who were crowded in the great hall, he led her down a back staircase to a small room on the ground floor, where he obtained a lantern. In another minute, they had crossed the court, and reached the door of the chapel.

The little structure, it has been said, was screened by trees, and the place was so dark, it would have been difficult to find the door, save with the lantern's aid.

A slight shiver ran through Anna's frame as she entered the building, but she attributed the feeling to the damp atmosphere. Meanwhile, Father Norman had lighted a couple of tapers at the altar, and their feeble glimmer enabled her to survey the place.

Its simplicity and diminutive size pleased her, and rea.s.sured her. Knowing she would have to remain there alone till midnight, she might have felt some misgivings had the room been large and sombre. Fortunately, she was not aware that there was a vault beneath, in which rested the earl's ancestors. Marble tablets were on the walls, but she did not read them.

After an exhortation, to which she listened devoutly, the priest withdrew. Thus left alone, she knelt down at the altar, and was soon engrossed in prayer.

For awhile she continued thus employed, but at length a feeling of drowsiness came over her, which she found it impossible to resist.

How long she slept she could not tell, but when she awoke the place was buried in darkness.

What had happened while she slumbered? And how came the tapers to be extinguished?

Very much alarmed, she started to her feet, and somehow-though she scarcely knew how-made her way to the door.

It was fastened. Father Norman must have locked it when he went out.

She was thus to be kept in that dreadful place-for dreadful it now seemed to her-till his return at midnight.

She could not guess the hour, but she might have to wait long-very long! Moments seemed ages now. Her terror was insupportable.

Just then she heard the castle clock, and counted the strokes.

Eleven! Another agonising hour had to be borne!-another hour!-when five minutes had been intolerable!

Rendered desperate by terror, she went back to the altar, and kneeling down once more, prayed for deliverance.

Becoming somewhat calmer, she felt ashamed of her weakness, and tried to persuade herself that the tapers might have gone out by accident. The notion gave her momentary courage.

But her fears returned with greater force than before as she heard a deep sigh, seemingly proceeding from some one close beside her, and she fancied she discerned a dusky figure.

"Who is there?" she cried. "Is it you, holy father?"

No answer was returned, but a slight sound was heard, and the figure seemed to retreat.

She heard and saw no more.

Uttering a cry, she fell senseless at the foot of the altar, where she was found shortly afterwards by Father Norman and her mother.

The former having brought the lantern with him, her situation was perceived at once, and the prompt application of a smelling-bottle by Lady Webb quickly restored her to consciousness. She was able to walk back to the mansion, but begged not to be questioned as to the cause of her fright till the morrow, when she should have quite recovered from its effects.

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XII.

A Letter from the Earl of Mar

NEXT morning she related the mysterious occurrence to them both, but they treated it very lightly, though neither could understand how the tapers had been extinguished. All the rest they regarded as the effect of an over-excited imagination.

"No one could have entered the chapel," remarked the priest. "I locked the door, and took the key with me. However, you must dismiss all these thoughts from your mind, daughter. To-day the chapel will present a very different appearance from what it did last night."

"Yes-it will be the scene of your betrothal," said Lady Webb.

"I would rather the ceremony took place elsewhere," said Anna.

"It cannot be," said Father Norman. "His lordship has arranged the matter. The prince will be present, and it would be a great disappointment to the household to be deprived of the sight."

"It would also be a great disappointment to Sir John and myself," observed Lady Webb. "Besides, there are several guests in the castle who ought not to be excluded. For many reasons, therefore, there must be no change in the plan."

"Don't say a word, mamma," said Anna. "I am quite convinced. My objections were ridiculous. The morning is delightful, and a walk in the garden will set me quite right."

"You will find Lord Derwent.w.a.ter, his majesty, and almost all the company a.s.sembled on the lawn," said Lady Webb. "Come, I will take you thither. Perhaps, Father Norman will accompany us."

"With the greatest pleasure," replied the priest.

On Anna's appearance, Lord Derwent.w.a.ter, who was standing with the company on the terrace, came forward to meet her; and as he approached, he remarked that she looked very pale. This did not detract from her beauty, but rather gave interest to her countenance-at least, in his eyes. He made some slight allusion to the circ.u.mstance, but she laughed it off.

Not much pa.s.sed between them, for the prince presently came up to offer her his greetings, and by this time her cheek was flushed.

"I have news for you, fair lady," said his highness, "and I desire to be the first to communicate it. I do not mean to rob you of your lover, so you may rest quite easy on that score. My proposed journey to London will not be undertaken. A messenger has just arrived at the castle bringing me a letter from the Earl of Mar, Secretary of State to Queen Anne. His lordship had engaged that I should see the queen, and led me to hope that great results would follow from the interview. These confident expectations are now at an end, and my project must be given up. Lord Mar writes that the queen, forgetful of her promises, refuses to receive me, and that if I should present myself at Saint James's Palace, he will not answer for my safety. Under such circ.u.mstances, it would be madness to make the attempt. It is well that I arranged with the Earl of Mar to write to me here, as if I had not heard from him, I should have started on the journey. What might then have befallen me I know not. Perchance, imprisonment in the Tower, in the hope of compelling me to relinquish my pretentions to the crown-but that I never would have done."

"Your majesty need not give us that a.s.surance," cried Anna. "But imprisonment would have been grievous, and might have disheartened your friends."

"From the first I have been opposed to the scheme, as your majesty is aware," said Lord Derwent.w.a.ter; "and I cannot, therefore, affect to regret its abandonment."

"I do not wonder you are better pleased to remain where you are, cousin," said the prince.

"I shall be far better pleased if your majesty will decide upon summoning all your partisans to arms," said the earl.

"Nothing would rejoice me more than to see ten thousand men a.s.sembled at the castle," said Anna with increased enthusiasm, "and eager for their king to lead them on to victory. That is how I should like to see your majesty march to London-and Lord Derwent.w.a.ter with you."

"Ay, I will never be left behind," cried the earl.

Fire lighted up the prince's eyes as they spoke, but it faded away.

"It cannot be," he said. "It cannot be."

"What cannot be, my liege?" cried Anna, regarding him fixedly. "Not the insurrection? Not the march to London?"

"No," he replied. "The Earl of Mar, in his letter, counsels me to make no immediate movement."

"For what reason?" demanded Lord Derwent.w.a.ter in surprise.

"He gives no reason," rejoined the prince. "But Lord Mar knows the feeling of the clans, and evidently deems the present juncture unpropitious to a rising."

"I cannot tell what may be the state of the clans," said Lord Derwent.w.a.ter, scarcely able to repress his impatience, "but I am certain the opportunity is favourable in the North of England-as can soon be shown, if your majesty will give the signal."

"I will not commit myself to any decisive step now, my lord," said the prince, who when thus urged, seemed to shrink from the enterprise. "Nor do I think it will be prudent for me to remain here long."

"What danger does your majesty apprehend?" cried the earl. "All are devoted to you. There are no traitors in the castle."

"But I have many enemies in the country, and the Earl of Mar bids me 'beware,'" said the prince.

"We will defend you against your enemies, my liege," said Lord Derwent.w.a.ter. "You need not fear them. Immediate preparations shall be made."

"No haste is needful, cousin," said the prince. "I have a strong guard enough," he added, glancing at Colonel Oxburgh and his friends, who were standing at a little distance. "Let the day pa.s.s tranquilly-if it will. To-morrow, we will consider what shall be done."

"Heaven grant your majesty may change your mind in the interim!" observed Anna.

"If you exercise your powers of persuasion, fair lady, there is no saying what you may accomplish," said the prince, gallantly.

At this moment a bell was heard, and Newbiggin came forth with two other servants in livery, and respectfully announced breakfast.

The prince offered his hand to Anna and led her to the house, and the rest of the party followed.

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