Part 52 (1/2)
”Oh, Lanigan, is Reilly safe?--is he set at large? Oh, I am sure he must be. Never was so n.o.ble, so pure, and so innocent a heart.”
”Curse him, look at the eye of him,” said her father, pointing his cane at Lanigan; ”it's like the eye of a sharp-shooter. What are you grinning at; you old scoundrel?”
”Didn't you expect Sir Robert Whitecraft here to-day to marry Miss Folliard, sir?”
”I did, sirra, and I do; he'll be here immediately.”
”Devil a foot he'll come to-day, I can tell you; and that's the way he treats your daughter!”
”What does this old idiot mean, Helen? Have you been drinking, sirra?”
”Not yet, sir, but plaise the Lord I'll soon be at it.”
”Lanigan,” said Helen, ”will you state at once what you have to say?”
”I will, miss; but first and foremost, I must show you how to dance the 'Little House under the Hill,'” and as he spoke he commenced whistling that celebrated air and dancing to it with considerable alacrity and vigor, making allowances for his age.
The father and daughter looked at each other, and Helen, notwithstanding her broken spirits, could not avoid smiling. Lanigan continued the dance, kept wheeling about to all parts of the room, like an old madcap, cutting, capering, and knocking up his heels against his ham, with a vivacity that was a perfect mystery to his two spectators, as was his whole conduct.
”Now, you drunken old scoundrel,” said his master, catching him by the collar and flouris.h.i.+ng the cane over his head, ”if you don't give a direct answer I will cane you within an inch of your life. What do you mean when you say that Sir Robert Whitecraft won't come here to-day?”
”Becaise, sir, it isn't convanient to him.”
”Why isn't it convenient, you scoundrel?”
”Bekaise, sir, he took it into his head to try a change of air for the benefit of his health before he starts upon his journey; and as he got a very friendly invitation to spend some time in Sligo jail he accepted it, and if you go there you will find him before you. It seems he started this morning in great state, with two nice men belonging to the law in the carriage with him, to see that he should want for nothing, and a party of cavalry surroundin' his honor's coach, as if he was one of the judges, or the Lord Lieutenant.”
The figurative style of his narrative would unquestionably have caused him to catch the weight of the cane aforesaid had not Helen interfered and saved him for the nonce.
”Let me at him, Helen, let me at him--the drunken old rip; why does he dare to humbug us in this manner?”
”Well, then, sir, if you wish to hear the good news, and especially you, Miss Folliard, it will probably relieve your heart when I tell you that Sir Robert Whitecraft is, before this time, in the jail of Sligo, for a charge of murdher, and for burnin' Mr. Reilly's house and premises, which it now seems aren't Mr. Reilly's at all--nor ever were--but belong to Mr. Hastings.”
”Good heavens!” exclaimed the squire, ”this is dreadful: but is it true, sirra?”
”Why, sir, if you go to his house you'll find it so.”
”Oh, papa,” said Helen, ”surely they wouldn't hang him?”
”Hang him, Helen; why, Helen, the tide's turned; they want to make him an example for the outrages that he and others have committed against the unfortunate Papists. Hang him!--as I live, he and the Red Rapparee will both swing from the same gallows; but there is one thing I say--if he hangs I shall take care that that obstinate scoundrel, Reilly, shall also swing along with him.”
Helen became as pale as ashes, the flush had disappeared from her countenance, and she burst again into tears.
”Oh, papa,” she exclaimed, ”spare Reilly: he is innocent.”
”I'll hang him,” he replied, ”if it should cost me ten thousand pounds.
Go you, sirra, and desire one of the grooms to saddle me Black Tom; he is the fastest horse in my stables; I cannot rest till I ascertain the truth of this.”
On pa.s.sing the drawing-room he looked in, and found Mr. Strong and the two Misses Ashford waiting, the one to perform, and the others to attend, at the ceremony.
”Sir. Strong and ladies,” said he, with looks of great distraction, ”I fear there will be no marriage here to-day. An accident, I believe, has happened to Sir Robert Whitecraft that will prevent his being a party in the ceremony, for this day at least.”
”An accident!” exclaimed the ladies and the clergyman. ”Pray, Mr.