Part 18 (1/2)
As the housemaid was just opening the front door, Jack entered, and learned that the Squire was already on foot, and that Mistress Alethea would soon be down to breakfast. Jack hurried into the Squire's own room, where he was examining several fire-arms, placed against the wall.
”Mr Harwood,” he exclaimed, ”I fear that you are in danger! If you have been connected with those engaged in the conspiracy to bring over a foreign army, and to dethrone King William, let me urge you to fly or to conceal yourself. The plot has been discovered!”
Mr Harwood turned deadly pale on hearing this, and trembled in every limb.
”I am deeply thankful to you for the warning you have given me,” he answered. ”But what am I to do? I cannot leave my daughter, and know not where to conceal myself.”
”Mistress Alethea will surely find a welcome and shelter in the house of my father,” answered Jack. ”I will endeavour to a.s.sist you to escape to a place of safety. It may be that no one will search for you here; but if you think it more advisable to go abroad, I will accompany you either to Yarmouth or Harwich, where you may take s.h.i.+p and get across to France.”
Mr Harwood overwhelmed Jack with thanks, and gladly accepted his offer.
Their plans were scarcely arranged when Alethea entered the room. She showed far more courage than her father had done on hearing of the discovery of the plot, though anxious about his safety. She at once declared her intention of accompanying him.
”That cannot be, my child!” said Mr Harwood. ”You know not the difficulties and dangers I may have to go through; and though you might be willing to share them, they must of necessity be greatly increased should you be with me. We have friends in this neighbourhood who will, I am sure, take charge of you.With them you will live happily and securely; and I trust that in a short time, when this matter has blown over, I may be able to return once more to England.”
Jack's heart beat violently when he heard these remarks of Mr Harwood.
”Oh, yes!” he exclaimed; ”I feel sure that my mother and sisters will gladly afford all the protection Miss Harwood requires. I wish that I could accompany her to Nottingham. Could I not do it, and rejoin you, Mr Harwood?”
”What, and run the risk of being apprehended yourself?” exclaimed the Squire. ”No; I will send Alethea under the escort of two trusty grooms with her tirewoman, and will throw myself on the kindness of your family. Already I am deeply indebted to them, and shall but add to the obligation.”
The Squire spoke with some hesitation. Even at that moment his aristocratic feelings influenced him, and he felt as if he was honouring the Deane family by thus confiding his daughter to their charge. Some time had thus pa.s.sed when the Squire recollected that Jack must require food.
”It would never do to set forward without being prepared,” he observed.
”Take your breakfast with Alethea, while I go and put together such valuables as it may be prudent for me to carry; and you, my daughter, will take the remainder, for I know not, should I be informed against, what will be the fate of the old Grange and of the estate my fathers have held for so many centuries.”
Jack, as he sat by the side of Alethea endeavouring to eat his breakfast, in vain tried to utter the sentiments with which his heart was full. Whenever he attempted to speak he hesitated and stammered, and his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. Alethea was more serious, naturally, than he had ever seen her before.
”I foresaw that it might come to this,” she said, at last, to Jack.
”But, do you know, I rather glory in suffering for what I believe to be a right cause!”
”But oh, Miss Harwood,” exclaimed Jack, now able to speak, ”surely no cause would justify the means by which the conspirators have attempted to carry out their project--to murder the great and brave king! Surely nothing can justify a.s.sa.s.sination!”
”Oh, no, no!” exclaimed Alethea. ”But surely those with whom my father was a.s.sociated have not attempted to commit so fearful a crime?”
”Most certainly the crime was contemplated,” answered Jack. ”I heard the whole plan discussed, but whether Mr Harwood's especial friends were acquainted with it or not, I cannot say; but of one thing I feel very sure, from what I heard, that James was well aware of the project, and sanctioned it by the countenance he gave to those who undertook to carry it out.”
”If I were sure of that,” exclaimed Alethea, with a tone of indignation, ”my whole feelings towards King James would be changed! While I thought him an honourable and an injured man, and the rightful sovereign of these realms, my feelings were in his favour; but if his principles would allow him to act as you describe, then I cannot but feel that the n.o.bles and commons of England were right in their dread of having such a man to reign over them.”
”I wish Mr Harwood had seen matters in that light before he allowed himself to be drawn into the plot!” said Jack. ”Perhaps, however, he may now be induced to do so. If so, when those who have princ.i.p.ally engaged in it have suffered the penalty of their crimes, he will probably be allowed to return home, and live quietly as heretofore. For my own part, as I have been consorting with the king's enemies, though unknowingly, I have determined, from henceforth, to fight for him and his friends, and to try my fortune on the ocean. It will be more to my taste than being pinched up in breastplate and helmet, and having to fight on sh.o.r.e. I may there win a name and fame, Alethea; and perchance when I come back I may look forward to--”
Whatever Jack was going to say was interrupted by the entrance of Mr Harwood. As may be supposed, he had but a small appet.i.te for breakfast, though pressed by his daughter, who in every way tried to keep up his spirits, to partake of it. The steward and head groom were ordered to accompany Miss Harwood into Nottingham, while his own fleetest hunter was to be got ready to start as soon as Jack's horse was sufficiently rested.
In vain Jack waited for an opportunity to finish the sentence he had begun, for having, as he thought, broken the ice, he hoped to get yet farther in, but just as the party were rising from breakfast, which had been put off to a later hour than usual, a visitor was announced, and Jasper Deane entered the room. His surprise at seeing Jack was very great. They greeted each other, however, as affectionate brothers, though Jasper refrained from asking Jack questions which it might have been disagreeable to him to answer in the presence of Alethea and Mr Harwood.
”I am sure, Jasper, you will answer for our parents being ready to receive Miss Harwood,” said Jack, ”during the temporary absence of her father. I have brought him some news, with which I need not trouble you, which requires him to leave home immediately.”
”Why not trust me?” answered Jasper; ”surely I would not betray Mr Harwood's secrets!”
”For your own sake it may be better for you not to know them,” answered Jack. ”It is time that we should be on our road. Bear my duty to my father and mother and my love to our sisters, and I will write to them of my proceedings as soon as I have an opportunity.”