Part 27 (2/2)
They were rejoiced to see me; Mistress Lucy was greatly interested to learn that I had but lately come from scenes she knew so well, and we talked for a long time about friends and acquaintances of hers whom I had met. And when I was alone with Mr. Allardyce I did not fail to inquire how things stood in the matter of her guardians.h.i.+p. He told me that no more had been seen of Vetch, and indeed the espionage upon the house had ceased, Sir Richard being resolved apparently to abide the issue of the action at law. The bill in chancery had been filed; answers had been put in by Mr.
Moggridge on behalf of Sir Richard; and Mr. Allardyce hoped that the proceedings might drag along for a couple of years, when Mistress Lucy would be of age and her own mistress. And so 'twas with a light heart that I went on to Shrewsbury, to tickle the ears of my old friends there with the tale of my wanderings.
Chapter 22: I Walk Into A Snare.
Cruising on sh.o.r.e is a flat and sorry business to a man who has obeyed the call of the sea, and I was glad enough when, soon after Christmas, I was summoned to rejoin my s.h.i.+p. There were already whispers that war was like to break out again ere long between England and France, owing to the machinations of King Lewis, who had procured from the king of Spain on his death bed a will appointing the Duke of Anjou to succeed him. 'Twas not to be expected that our good King William, having striven all his life to prevent Europe from being swallowed up by King Lewis, would tamely submit to see a great kingdom like that of Spain disappear into that ravenous maw; and when the new parliament met in February, 1701, it was significant that their first resolution was ”to support His Majesty and take such effectual measures as may best conduce to the interest and safety of England.” There was a widespread suspicion that the French proposed to invade our sh.o.r.es from Dunkirk, and Admiral Benbow, who was then commanding in The Downs, was ordered to use his utmost diligence to frustrate any such design.
In common with every officer in the fleet I hoped that the French would take the sea, so that we might have the pleasure of thras.h.i.+ng them. But in this we were disappointed: I suppose they were deterred by the knowledge that the channel was swarming with our s.h.i.+ps; for, besides Admiral Benbow off Dunkirk, there was Sir George Rooke in The Downs, and Sir Cloudesley with six and forty vessels at Spithead. Whatever be the reason, we saw nothing to alarm us; and toward the middle of August Admiral Benbow was ordered to proceed once more to the West Indian station, with two third rates and eight fourth rates. The French and Spanish both had large fleets in the Indies, and 'twas to secure our possessions against attacks in case war should be declared, that Admiral Benbow was sent out again.
Since it was not expected that we should set sail for several weeks, I obtained leave from my captain to go to Shrewsbury and take farewell of my friends. With war imminent, and the possibility that I might never return; I should not have been happy without seeing them once again and leaving with their blessing. You may be sure I took the Hall in my way, for having been almost wholly at sea since my last visit, I had not heard anything from the family, and I was anxious to know whether the chancery case had yet been settled. Mr. Allardyce was not at home when I rode up to the door; but I was taken to Mistress Allardyce, who astonished me beyond measure by bursting into tears when she saw me.
”Good heavens, ma'am!” I cried, imagining all kinds of ill, ”what is amiss?”
”Oh, Mr. Bold,” says the good lady, ”I am so glad to see you. We are in such trouble.”
”Have the Cluddes got her?” I asked, Mistress Lucy being uppermost in my thoughts.
”No, it is not so bad as that, though I fear that will be the end of it. But she has left us, and I tremble to think of the poor child so far away, and among strangers.”
”Among strangers! Pray, ma'am, explain,” I said, glad enough that my first fear was unfounded, but marveling much at what had happened.
”She left us six months ago,” Mrs. Allardyce went on. ”She has gone back to Jamaica.”
”To Jamaica!” I said. ”What on earth induced her to do that, ma'am?”
”'Twas that dreadful law case, Mr. Bold. The squire lost the day. I do not understand it myself, he will explain it all to you when he comes home: he has indeed gone to Bridgenorth this very day to see his lawyer about it. Oh, Mr. Bold, I am so distressed! If I only knew she was safe I could bear the separation so much better.”
”I do not think you need be uneasy on that score,” I said. ”She has friends in Jamaica, as you know; the people there are all very kind; and you may be sure they will see to her happiness.”
”I am so glad to hear that,” said the lady. ”After all, she is no longer a child; she is twenty now, Mr. Bold, and has a will of her own, and great self reliance. We had one letter from her, to say that she had arrived safely; that was three months ago: I suppose there has not been time to receive another.”
”There has been time, certainly,” I replied, with some misgivings.
”Vessels leave Port Royal every week. But her estate is situate a long way from the port, and maybe it is not convenient to send letters often.”
”'Tis the absence of letters that makes the squire so uneasy. But for his being unwilling to leave me, I am sure he would have sailed to Jamaica himself to make sure that all is well. He dotes on Lucy.
'Tis a thousand pities that Roger's military duties will not permit of his going out. Do you think that Jamaica is a healthy place to live in, Mr. Bold?”
We were still talking when Mr. Allardyce returned. He was heartily glad to see me, and at once poured out his tale of trouble. The Court of Chancery, it appeared, had made Miss Lucy a ward, but instead of appointing Mr. Allardyce to be her guardian, it had given that office to Sir Richard Cludde, her paternal uncle. Mr.
Allardyce spoke of the judge with the most bitter obloquy; he was a cross-grained, dried-up old mummy, said the squire, without a drop of good red blood in his veins.
”He was prejudiced against us from the beginning, and when our counsel said that Lucy herself entreated to be placed formally under my guardians.h.i.+p the old wretch refused to listen, and said that girls were better seen and not heard. I suppose he has a nagging wife, and serve him right!”
”And there is no appeal?” I asked.
”Oh, the wretch said we might appeal if we pleased, but meanwhile 'twas the order of the court that Lucy should pa.s.s under Cludde's guardians.h.i.+p. But he had not reckoned with Lucy. While I was in London about the miserable business she was with Mistress Allardyce at Bath, where madam had gone to take the waters. 'Twas lucky Cludde did not know that, for as soon as the decision was made, he posted off with the decree in his pocket, making no doubt that he would seize her here and carry her off in triumph. Ha! ha! you should hear Giles tell how he raved and cursed when he found she was not here. He demanded to know where she was, but not a man or maid would tell him; I've raised their wages all round. Meanwhile I had posted to Bath, and no sooner does Lucy hear what has happened than she jumps up and cries: 'I'll not have him for guardian for all the judges in the country. Uncle, I'll go back to Jamaica; please find me a s.h.i.+p at once.' Egad, I like spirit in a woman.
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