Part 9 (2/2)
”I did; and I will go to Redware as soon as I have eaten my dinner. If Lottie saw him, it will be known all over. And if no one came up here on purpose to tell Will, he would hear it at Dalton next week, when that lot of bothering old squires sit down to their market dinner. It would be a grand bit for them to chew with their victuals.”
”I thought they talked about politics.”
”They are like other men. If you get more than one man in a place, they are talking bad about some woman. They call it politics, but it is mostly slander.”
”I am going to tell Will myself.”
”That is a deal the best plan.”
”Be sure to frighten Lady Redware; make her think Ulfar's life is in danger,--anything to get him out of the dales.”
”She will feel as if the heavens were going to fall, when I get done with her. My word! who would have thought of him coming back? Life is full of surprises.”
”But only think, if there was never anything accidental happened!
Surprises are just what make life worth having,--eh, Brune?”
”Maybe so, and maybe not. When Will comes home, tell him everything at once. I can manage Lady Redware, I'll be bound.”
With the promise he went away to perform it, and Aspatria carried her trembling heart into solitude. But the lonely place was full of Ulfar.
A thousand hopes were budding in her heart, growing slowly, strongly, sweetly, in that earth which she had made for them out of her love, her desires, her hopes, and her faithful aspirations.
CHAPTER V.
BUT THEY WERE YOUNG.
Brune arrived at Redware Hall while it was still afternoon, and he found no difficulty in obtaining an interview with its mistress. She was sitting at a table in a large bay-window, painting the view from it. For in those days ladies were not familiar with high art and all its nomenclature and accessories; Lady Redware had never thought of an easel, or a blouse, or indeed of any of the trappings now considered necessary to the making of pictures. She was prettily dressed in silk; and a square of bristol-board, a box of Newman's water-colours, and a few camel's-hair pencils were neatly arranged before her.
She rose when Brune entered, and met him with a suave courtesy; and the unsophisticated young man took it for a genuine pleasure. He felt sorry to trouble such a nice-looking gentlewoman, and he said so with a sincerity that made her suddenly serious. ”Have you brought me bad news, Mr. Anneys?” she asked.
”I am afraid you will be put about a bit. Sir Ulfar Fenwick met my sister this morning; and they were seen by ill-natured eyes, and I came, quiet-like, to let you know that he must leave the dales to-night.”
”Cannot Sir Ulfar meet his own wife?”
”Lady Redware, that is not the question. Put it, 'Cannot Sir Ulfar meet your sister?' and I will answer you quick enough, 'Not while there are two honest men in Allerdale to prevent him.'”
”You cannot frighten Sir Ulfar from Allerdale. To threaten him is to make him stay.”
”Dalesmen are not ones to threaten. I tell you that the vicar's maid saw Sir Ulfar and my sister together; and when William Anneys hears of it, Sir Ulfar will get such a notice to leave these parts as will give him no choice. I came to warn him away before he could not help himself. I say freely, I did so to please Aspatria, and out of no good-will going his way.”
”But if he will not leave Allerdale?”
”But if William Anneys, and the sixty gentlemen who will ride with William Anneys, say he must go? What then?”
”Of course Sir Ulfar cannot fight a mob.”
”Not one of that mob of gentlemen would fight him; but they all carry stout riding-whips.” And Brune looked at the lady with a sombre intentness which made further speech unnecessary. She had been alarmed from the first; she now made no further attempt to disguise her terror.
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