Part 85 (1/2)
”You shall receive it,” I answered. ”And now I bid you good-by, and thank you.”
He seized and held my hand. Then walked blindly to the door and turned abruptly.
”I do not tell you that I shall change my life, Richard, for I have said that too many times before. Indeed, I warn you that any money you may send will be spent in drink, and--and worse. I will be no hypocrite to you. But I believe that I am better this hour than I have been since last I knelt at my mother's knee in the little Oxfords.h.i.+re cottage where I was born.”
When Dorothy returned to me, there was neither haste in her step nor excitement in her voice. Her very coolness inspired me.
”Do you feel strong enough for a journey, Richard?” she asked.
”To the world's end, Dolly, if you will but go with me.”
She smiled faintly. ”I have sent off for my Lord and Mr. Fox, and pray that one of them may be here presently.”
Scarcely greater were the visible signs of apprehension upon Mrs.
Manners. Her first care, and Dorothy's, was to catechise me most particularly on my state. And whilst they were so occupied Mr. Marmaduke entered, wholly frenzied from fright, and utterly oblivious to his own blame in the matter. He was sent out again directly. After that, with Aunt Lucy to a.s.sist, they hurriedly packed what few things might be taken. The costly relics of Arlington Street were untouched, and the French clock was left on the mantel to tick all the night, and for days to come, in a silent and forsaken room; or perhaps to greet impa.s.sively the King's officers when they broke in at the door. But I caught my lady in the act of wrapping up the Wedgwood cups and dishes.
In the midst of these preparations Mr. Fox was heard without, and was met at the door by Dorothy. Two sentences sufficed her to tell him what had occurred, and two seconds for this man of action to make his decision.
”In an hour you shall have travelling chaises here, Dorothy,” he said.
”You must go to Portsmouth, and take s.h.i.+p for Lisbon. And if Jack does not arrive, I will go with you.”
”No, Charles, you must not!” she cried, her emotion conquering her for the nonce. ”That might be to ruin your career, and perchance to lose your life. And suppose we were to escape, what would they say of you!”
”Fis.h.!.+” Charles retorted, to hide some feelings of his own; ”once our rebel is out of the country, they may speak their minds. They have never lacked for names to call me, and I have been dubbed a traitor before now, my dear lady.”
He stepped hastily to the bed, and laid his hand on me with affection.
”Charles,” I said, ”this is all of a piece with your old recklessness.
You were ever one to take any risk, but I will not hear of such a venture as this. Do you think I will allow the hope of all England to be staked for a pirate? And would you break our commander of her rank? All that Dorothy need do at Portsmouth is to curtsey to the first skipper she meets, and I'll warrant he will carry us all to the antipodes.”
”Egad, but that is more practical than it sounds,” he replied, with a glance of admiration at my lady, as she stood so tall before us. ”She has a cool head, Richard Carvel, and a long head, and--and I'm thinking you are to come out of this the best of all of us. You cannot get far off your course, my lad, with her at the helm.”
It was there his voice belied the jest in his words, and he left us with precipitation.
They lifted me out of my sheets (I was appalled to discover my weakness), and bundled me with tender care in a dozen shawls and blankets. My feet were thrust into two pairs of heavy woollen stockings, and Dorothy bound her own silk kerchief at my throat, whispering anxious questions the while. And when her mother and mammy went from the room, her arms flew around my neck in a pa.s.sion of solicitude. Then she ran away to dress for the journey, and in a surprising short time was back again, with her m.u.f.f and her heavy cloak, and bending over me to see if I gave any signs of failure.
Fifty and five minutes had been registered by the French clock, when the rattle of wheels and the clatter of hoofs sounded below, and Charles Fox panted up the stairs, m.u.f.fled in a huge wrap-rascal. 'Twas he and Aunt Lucy carried me down to the street, Dorothy walking at my side, and propped me up in the padded corner of one of the two vehicles in waiting. This was an ample travelling-carriage with a lamp hanging from its top, by the light of which my lady tucked me in from head to foot, and then took her place next me. Aunt Lucy filled most of the seat opposite. The baggage was hoisted up behind, and Charles was about to slam the door, when a hackney-chaise turned the corner at a gallop and pulled up in the narrow street abreast, and the figure of my Lord Comyn suddenly leaped within the compa.s.s of the lanthorn's rays. He was dressed as for a ball, with only a thin rain-cloak over his shoulders, for the night was thick with mist. He threw at us a startled look that was a question.
”Jack, Richard is to be betrayed to-night by his uncle,” said Charles, shortly. ”And I am taking them to Portsmouth to get them off for Lisbon.”
”Charles,” said his Lords.h.i.+p, sternly, ”give me that greatcoat.”
It was just the one time that ever I saw uncertainty on Mr. Fox's face.
He threw an uneasy glance into the chaise.
”I have brought money,” his Lords.h.i.+p went on rapidly; ”'Twas that kept me, for I guessed at something of this kind. Give me the coat, I say.”