Part 33 (2/2)
”Oh yes, it's our secret, Fred.”
”And how we could scare the servants now, by hiding and groaning.”
”Till my father examined and found it all out. I shouldn't like to look him in the face when he did.”
”No,” said Fred; ”it wouldn't be nice. I say, what stupids we should look!”
”Did you get up so early on purpose to come over here yesterday?” said Scarlett, suddenly.
”No. I was woke up by hearing Captain Miles go.”
”Captain Miles? Who is he?”
”I don't know; an old fellow-officer of my father, I think. I say, Scarlett, I'm to be a soldier.”
Scarlett laughed, and his companion felt nettled.
”Well,” he said, ”I shall grow older and stronger some day.”
”Why, you couldn't pull a sword right out of its sheath,” said Scarlett.
”Couldn't I? Let's go into the house and try.”
”Come along, then,” cried Scarlett; and the two lads ran right into the Hall, where Fred seized an old weapon from one of the suits of armour, and proved his ability by drawing it from the sheath, Scarlett following his example.
”Now, then!” cried Fred; ”_en garde_!”
Nothing loth, Scarlett crossed swords with him, just as his father came thoughtfully out of the library, and stopped to watch them.
”I say, this old sword is heavy though,” said Fred, as the point of the long blade seemed attracted toward the ground.
”It's because you haven't muscle enough,” replied Scarlett, as the blades grated together. ”Wonder whether this one ever cut off a man's head?”
”Is this an omen?” said Sir G.o.dfrey to himself. ”Friend against friend, perhaps brother against brother, all through our unhappy land. Well, Heaven's will be done! My duty is to my king.”
Meanwhile, the two boys were laughingly making a few cuts and guards with the clumsy old weapons; but directly after they started apart in confusion, as Sir G.o.dfrey said aloud--
”Boys, do you remember the words of Scripture!”
Neither answered; but, with the points of the swords resting on the old oak floor, they stared at him abashed.
”'They that take the sword shall perish with the sword.'”
There was silence in the grand old hall for a brief s.p.a.ce, as the two boys stood there in the centre, with the bright lights from the stained-gla.s.s windows showering down upon them, and the portraits of Scarlett's warlike ancestors seeming to be watching intently all that was taking place.
Then Sir G.o.dfrey moved slowly across the hall, paused and looked back, and then said gently--
<script>