Part 107 (1/2)

Samson gave his mouth a slap with his h.o.r.n.y palm, and walked away.

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE.

GREETINGS AFTER LONG YEARS.

During the month which followed Sir G.o.dfrey's escape, the forces of the Parliamentarians achieved success after success, Colonel Forrester and his son being despatched with a little column to the east two days later.

The dilemma to Fred before starting seemed terrible, but just as he felt that there was nothing left for him to do but confess all he had done to his father, he encountered Samson.

”Why, Master Fred!” he exclaimed, ”you look as if you'd got the worries on you.”

”Worry? Why, man, we have to march almost directly, and those poor people in the cave are--”

”What poor people? in what cave? Only wish I was one of 'em. Having it luscious, that's what they're a-having, Master Fred, sir. Chicken and eggs, and b.u.t.ter and new bread, and milk and honey, and nothing to do.

Blankets to wrap 'em in, and cider and wine, and ladies to go and talk to 'em.”

”Samson, are you sure of this?” cried Fred, joyfully.

”Wish I was as sure as all this human being c.o.c.k-fighting was nearly over, Master Fred.”

”Then you've been over?”

”'Course I have, sir. I aren't like the colonel, about here all these weeks, and never going home nor letting you go. I got leave this time, for I met the general, and told him how near I was to my garden, and how anxious I was about the weeds, and he laughed and give me a pa.s.s directly.”

”And my mother?”

”Your mother, Master Fred? Why, I couldn't get to know about them in the cave for her asking me questions about the colonel and her boy! She would call you a boy, sir, though you think you're a man, and no more muscle in your arms than a carrot.”

”But the people in the cave, Samson?”

”Don't I tell you they're all right, sir--right as right can be; and first chance there's going to be a boat round from Barnstaple to take Sir G.o.dfrey and Miss Lil and my lady away across the sea to France, and Pshaw! I never heard the like of it; they're going to take that great rough ugly brother of mine with them. They're all right.”

Many weeks of busy soldiering followed, by which time the king's power was crushed, and the Parliamentary forces had swept away all opposition.

Regiments were gradually disbanded, and the Forresters at last returned to the Manor, from which Colonel Forrester's stern sense of duty had kept him away, as much as the calls of his military life.

”There, Samson,” he said, smiling, as they rode home, ”you may sheathe your sword, and sharpen your rusty scythe; while you, Fred--what are we to do with you? Send you back to school?”

”No, father, I must be what I am--a soldier still,” said Fred, proudly; ”but I hope in peace more than in war.”

”Yes; we have had enough of war for years to come.”

The colonel drew rein that sunny afternoon as they were pa.s.sing the ruined Hall, and Fred heard him sigh, but he forgot that directly after in his eagerness to get home; and soon after father and son were locked in turn in sobbing Mistress Forrester's arras.

There was abundance to tell that night as they sat in the old, old room, where mother and son exchanged glances, each silently questioning the other with the eye as to whether the time had not come for telling all; but still they hesitated, till all at once Colonel Forrester exclaimed sadly--

”This is nearly perfect happiness--home and peace once more; but it is not complete. You say Lady Markham and her daughter left a month ago for France?”

”Yes, dearest,” replied Mistress Forrester.

”Ah!” sighed the colonel, ”I'd give all I have to know that mine enemy was saved from the horrors of that terrible evening.”