Part 29 (1/2)

”I know not why I should creep off as though I had done aught that was evil,” said Humfrey, drawing himself up.

”Well,” said Will, ”my Lord is always wroth at brawling with swords amongst us, and he might-my mother egging him on-lay you by the heels in the strong room for a week or so. Nay, for my part, methinks 'twas a strange requital of poor Babington's suit to your sister! Had she been your love instead of your sister there might have been plainer excuse, but sure you wot not of aught against Tony to warrant such heat.”

”He was importuning her when she would have none of him,” said Humfrey, feeling the perplexity he had drawn on himself.

”Will says well,” added the father, feeling that it by all means behoved them all to avert inquiry into the cause of Humfrey's pa.s.sion, since neither Cicely's birth nor Antony's perilous inclinations could be pleaded. ”To be detained a week or two might hinder thy voyage. So we will speed thee on thy way instantly.”

”Tell me not where he halts for the night,” said Cavendish significantly. ”Fare thee well, Humfrey. I would return ere I am missed. I trust thou wilt have made the Spaniard's s.h.i.+ps smoke, and weighted thy pouch with his dollars, before we see thee again.”

”Fare thee well, Will, and thank thee kindly,” returned Humfrey, as they wrung each other's hands. ”And tell Antony that I thank him heartily for his thought, and owe him a good turn.”

”That is well, my son,” said Richard, as Cavendish rode out of the court. ”Babington is both hot and weak-headed, and I fear me is in the toils of the Scottish lady; but he would never do aught that he held as disloyal by a comrade. I wish I could say the same of him anent the Queen.”

”And you will guard her from him, sir?” earnestly said Humfrey.

”As I would from-I would have said Frenchman or Spaniard, but, poor maid, that may only be her hap, if her mother should come to her throne again;” and as Humfrey shrugged his shoulders at the improbability, ”But we must see thee off, my boy. Poor mother! this hurries the parting for her. So best, mayhap.”

It was hastily arranged that Humfrey should ride off at once, and try to overtake a squire who had been at the festival, and had invited him to turn a little out of his road and spend a day or two at his house when leaving home. Humfrey had then declined, but hospitality in those days was elastic, and he had no doubt of a welcome. His father would bring Diccon and his baggage to join him there the next day.

Thus there were only a very few minutes for adieux, and, as Richard had felt, this was best for all, even the anxious mother. Cicely ran about with the rest in the stress of preparation, until Humfrey, hurrying upstairs, met her coming down with a packet of his lace cuffs in her hands.

He caught the hand on the bal.u.s.ters, and cried, ”My princess, my princess, and art thou doing this for me?”

”Thou hast learnt fine compliments, Humfrey,” said Cis, trying to do her part with quivering lips.

”Ah, Cis! thou knowest but too well what hath taught me no fine words but plain truth. Fear me not, I know what is due to thee. Cis, we never used to believe the tales and ballads that told of knights wors.h.i.+pping princesses beyond their reach, without a hope of more than a look-not even daring to wish for more; Cis, it is very truth. Be thou where thou wilt, with whom thou wilt, there will be one ready to serve thee to the uttermost, and never ask aught-aught but such remembrance as may befit the brother of thy childhood-”

”Mistress Cis,” screamed one of the maids, ”madam is waiting for those cuffs.”

Cis ran down, but the squeeze and kiss on the hand remained, as it were, imprinted on it, far more than the last kiss of all, which he gave, as both knew and felt, to support his character as a brother before the a.s.sembled household.

CHAPTER XX.

WINGFIELD MANOR.

The drawing of swords was not regarded as a heinous offence in Elizabethan days. It was not likely, under ordinary circ.u.mstances, to result in murder, and was looked on much as boxing is, or was recently, in public schools, as an evidence of high spirit, and a means of working off ill-blood.

Lady Shrewsbury was, however, much incensed at such a presumptuous reception of the suitor whom she had backed with her would-be despotic influence; and in spite of Babington's making extremely light of it, and declaring that he had himself been too forward in his suit, and the young lady's apparent fright had made her brother interfere over hastily for her protection, four yeomen were despatched by her Ladys.h.i.+p with orders instantly to bring back Master Humfrey Talbot to answer for himself.

They were met by Mr. Talbot with the sober reply that Master Humfrey was already set forth on his journey. The men, having no orders, never thought of pursuing him, and after a short interval Richard thought it expedient to proceed to the Manor-house to explain matters.

The Countess swooped upon him in one of her ungovernable furies-one of those of which even Gilbert Talbot avoided writing the particulars to his father-abusing his whole household in general, and his son in particular, in the most outrageous manner, for thus receiving the favour she had done to their beggarly, ill-favoured, ill-nurtured daughter. Richard stood still and grave, his hat in his hand, as unmoved and tranquil as if he had been breasting a stiff breeze on the deck of his s.h.i.+p, with good sea-room and confidence in all his tackle, never even attempting to open his lips, but looking at the Countess with a steady gaze which somehow disconcerted her, for she demanded wherefore he stared at her like one of his clumsy hinds.

”Because her Ladys.h.i.+p does not know what she is saying,” he replied.

”Darest thou! Thou traitor, thou viper, thou unhanged rascal, thou mire under my feet, thou blot on the house! Darest thou beard me-me?” screamed my Lady. ”Darest thou-I say-”

If the sailor had looked one whit less calm and resolute, my Lady would have had her clenched fist on his ear, or her talons in his beard, but he was like a rock against which the billows expended themselves, and after more of the tempest than need stain these pages, she deigned to demand what he meant or had to say for his son.