Part 6 (1/2)
”At all events, I intend to go over to-, and inquire what has happened to hi any remarks which would lead you Aunt Deb, to suppose that he was otherwise than a well-conducted fellow He seems much attached to his family, and they're evidently very fond of him”
”Perhaps his father spoils hi at the Vicar ”The sooner you break off your intimacy with him the better in my opinion--and now you are aware of my sentiments”
The latter was a reument, by which she intended it to be understood that her opinion was not to be disputed
Nextonly a crust of bread and a cup of milk, I set off, anxious to learn what had happened to e I saw Mary at the door
”Oh! Master dick, I'lad you're co Mark has got into trouble When he went out yesterday evening he o shooting where he ought not to have gone, and all three were caught by Sir Reginald's keepers They had a fight for it, and Quilter and Bass knocked one of the keepers down, and would have treated hi up, they were all carried off to the Hall, where they have been locked up ever since Father only heard of it yesterday evening after you went He at once set off to try and see Sir Reginald, and he only got back late last night, or rather this ot up He said that the Squire was very savage with hireat difficulty that father got leave to see Mark, who told him how he had saved the keeper's life, but the Squire would not believe it, and said that he had been caught poaching, and must take the consequences”
”I'm very sorry to hear this,” I said to Mary; ”but don't despair of your brother getting off I'll ask o myself and tell the Squire what a capital fellow Mark is It would be a shaht be ready enough to go of his own accord”
After I had talked the e, where I found Mrs Riddle looking very downcast, and soon afterwards old Roger made his appearance He repeated what Mary had said, and added that he intended to engage the services of Lawyer Roe to defend Mark, though the expenses would be greater than he could well bear I was afraid, however, that Lawyer Roe could do nothing for Mark, taken as he had been with a gun in his hands, in Sir Reginald's preserves, should the baronet resolve to prosecute I again offered to go off at once to see Sir Reginald I however much doubted that my father would undertake the mission, especially as Aunt Deb would endeavour to persuade hi to do with the matter Mrs Riddle and Mary pressed me to take some breakfast, which they had just prepared, and as by this tiladly accepted their invitation As it was iet early to the Hall, directly breakfast was over I started, resolved to eet Mark liberated It didn't occur to inald would pay no attention to my request, or that he would consider my interference as a piece of impertinence I made up my mind to speak boldly and forcibly, and felt very confident that I should gain er accoht it was better not to be seen near the Hall, lest it should be supposed I had been influenced by him I was but a little fellow, it must be remembered, and without any experience of the world, or h
”Never fear, Mr Riddle,” said I, as I parted froe, by hook or by crook, to get Mark set free, so tell Mrs Riddle and Mary to keep up their spirits”
When I reached the Hall, I walked boldly up to the front porch, and gave a sturdy pull at the bell A powdered footinald
”He is at breakfast”
”Then say Mr Richard Cheveley has called, and begs to see hiave an equivocal smile down at me, and went into the breakfast-room at one side of the Hall
I heard a lady's voice say--
”Oh! Do let hi, showed me into the breakfast-room, in which several ladies were at one end of a well-covered table Lady Knowsley was seated, presiding at the tea-urn, with several young ladies on either side, and Sir Reginald at the foot
I made my bow as I entered Lady Knowsley held out her hand without rising, and Sir Reginald turned partly round in his chair and gaveladies smiled
The footman placed a chair forwalk, and must be ready for breakfast,” said Lady Knowles, in a kind tone
”Thank you, I took so to loose ti to repeat an operation I felt that I could not perfor ladies with ot up another appetite by this ti and some ham Julia, cut him a slice of bread, and Lady Knoill supply you with tea Fall to, now, and let me see what sort of a man you are”
Thus pressed, I was compelled to eat as set before inald was too polite to ask me the object of my visit till I had finished He pressed me to take more, but I declined, and I then told hi with some other lads who had led him astray
”That is your opinion, Master Cheveley,” observed Sir Reginald, with a laugh; ”why the fellow is the hbourhood My people have been aware of it for a long time, but have hitherto been unable to capture hiinald,” I observed; ”I have seen a good deal of Mark Riddle, and his father is a very fine old sailor”
”He h I have reason to believe that he is, besides, as deter to be caught,” answered the baronet ”No, no, Master Cheveley; young Mark o to sea instead”
I was deter what the baronet had said I still pleaded for Mark, and the ladies, who are generally ready to take the weaker side joined withIf he would proain, will it not be kind to let hiive hiinald; ”notwithstanding all his proht end by killing a keeper, and have to be sent to the gallows, as has been the fate of lers must be put down at all costs”