Part 53 (2/2)
CHAPTER FOURTEENTH.
So soon as I can win the offended king, I will be known your advocate.
Cymbeline.
The Duke of Argyle led the way in silence to the small postern by which they had been admitted into Richmond Park, so long the favourite residence of Queen Caroline. It was opened by the same half-seen janitor, and they found themselves beyond the precincts of the royal demesne.
Still not a word was spoken on either side. The Duke probably wished to allow his rustic prote'ge'e time to recruit her faculties, dazzled and sunk with colloquy sublime; and betwixt what she had guessed, had heard, and had seen, Jeanie Deans's mind was too much agitated to permit her to ask any questions.
They found the carriage of the Duke in the place where they had left it; and when they resumed their places, soon began to advance rapidly on their return to town.
”I think, Jeanie,” said the Duke, breaking silence, ”you have every reason to congratulate yourself on the issue of your interview with her Majesty.”
”And that leddy was the Queen herself?” said Jeanie; ”I mis...o...b..ed it when I saw that your honour didna put on your hat--And yet I can hardly believe it, even when I heard her speak it herself.”
”It was certainly Queen Caroline,” replied the Duke. ”Have you no curiosity to see what is in the little pocket-book?”
”Do you think the pardon will be in it, sir?” said Jeanie, with the eager animation of hope.
”Why, no,” replied the Duke; ”that is unlikely. They seldom carry these things about them, unless they were likely to be wanted; and, besides, her Majesty told you it was the King, not she, who was to grant it.”
”That is true, too,” said Jeanie; ”but I am so confused in my mind--But does your honour think there is a certainty of Effie's pardon then?”
continued she, still holding in her hand the unopened pocket-book.
”Why, kings are kittle cattle to shoe behind, as we say in the north,”
replied the Duke; ”but his wife knows his trim, and I have not the least doubt that the matter is quite certain.”
”Oh, G.o.d be praised! G.o.d be praised!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jeanie; ”and may the gude leddy never want the heart's ease she has gien me at this moment!-- And G.o.d bless you too, my Lord!--without your help I wad ne'er hae won near her.”
The Duke let her dwell upon this subject for a considerable time, curious, perhaps, to see how long the feelings of grat.i.tude would continue to supersede those of curiosity. But so feeble was the latter feeling in Jeanie's mind, that his Grace, with whom, perhaps, it was for the time a little stronger, was obliged once more to bring forward the subject of the Queen's present. It was opened accordingly. In the inside of the case was the usual a.s.sortment of silk and needles, with scissors, tweezers, etc.; and in the pocket was a bank-bill for fifty pounds.
The Duke had no sooner informed Jeanie of the value of this last doc.u.ment, for she was unaccustomed to see notes for such sums, than she expressed her regret at the mistake which had taken place. ”For the hussy itsell,” she said, ”was a very valuable thing for a keepsake, with the Queen's name written in the inside with her ain hand doubtless--_Caroline_--as plain as could be, and a crown drawn aboon it.”
She therefore tendered the bill to the Duke, requesting him to find some mode of returning it to the royal owner.
”No, no, Jeanie,” said the Duke, ”there is no mistake in the case. Her Majesty knows you have been put to great expense, and she wishes to make it up to you.”
”I am sure she is even ower gude,” said Jeanie, ”and it glads me muckle that I can pay back Dumbiedikes his siller, without distressing my father, honest man.”
”Dumbiedikes! What, a freeholder of Mid-Lothian, is he not?” said his Grace, whose occasional residence in that county made him acquainted with most of the heritors, as landed persons are termed in Scotland.--”He has a house not far from Dalkeith, wears a black wig and a laced hat?”
”Yes sir,” answered Jeanie, who had her reasons for being brief in her answers upon this topic.
”Ah, my old friend Dumbie!” said the Duke; ”I have thrice seen him fou, and only once heard the sound of his voice--Is he a cousin of yours, Jeanie?”
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