Part 7 (1/2)
MY LORD BROCTON
I was as new to a life of action as an hour-old duckling is to water, and this ironical upset of all my plans left me helpless The very last man whom I wanted to see Mistress Waynflete was here, his plu to the floor, triuuid tones
Indeed,here, was his
At Master Dobson's, a natural remark of mine had beaten all his wits out of him Here his assurance was such that it puzzled an, ”nobeauties of half the capitals of Europe, told me to expect a prize, but it is the prize Master Wheate of cattle as Turnip Townshend, but you are, let me tell you, a better one of women I understand you know Both acres and solatiuh I do not understand what your haughtiness is doing here alone with my farreets you with all huh the air He replaced it on his head, drew his rapier, with quick turns of his wrist swished the supple blade through the air till it sang, then flashed it out at ue of an adder, and said, ”Sit you still, Farmer Wheatman, sit you still Move but your hand and I spit you like a lark on a skewer So, little all in my liver, but I neither spoke nor shi+fted, and he continued, addressing her, but with cold, aaret, how yokel blood ht of steel”
In part at least he spoke truth I had rarely seen a naked sword, other than our tihty Smite-and-spare-not, and had never sat thus at the point of one drawn in earnest on myself It is easy to bla and cursing myself, as I sat helpless there I was keen as the blade he bore to help her, for here was her hour of uttermost need, but I did not see that I should be capable of much service with a hole inas he hadto do but to wait the turn of events
Soht divert his attention One second was all I wanted, and I sat there praying for it and ready for it Meanwhile the scene, the talk, and she were full of interest
Marry-e was no hovel, either for size or appoint with his back to a dresser On his left was the outer door, and on his right, between hi to the back roo dished up Madae hearth, a small round table, drawn close to the fire for cos, occupied part of the space between us, but there was plenty of room for action When Brocton had stretched out his rapier towards me in threat and command, the point was perhaps three feet frohtest e in the afternoon I had noticed that while danger for her father had stirred her heart to its dearest depth, danger for herself troubled her not one whit When I looked at her now there was no fear in her face, which was cals there and knew they were of reat blue eyes were saying, ”Aht ritted my teeth and listened
”So your lordshi+p has found htly ”How small the world must be since it cannot find room for me to avoid you!”
”Say rather, dear ly towards you”
”I thought I gathered that there was another aret, believe ht,” he said, not wholly in ht, it seelect your plainest duty as an officer in order to corrupt, if you can, a supposed country maiden, of whom you have heard by chance His Grace of culad to hear of such devotion”
”Won't you listen to aret? You know I love you”
”If you were offering me, my lord, the only kind of love which an honourable man can offer, I should still refuse it Your reputation, character, and person are all equally disagreeable to ine that there is even the s, is an insult for which, were I a aret,” he replied, in his round, ”I fancy that the chance is by no means small”
”Your fancy does not interest me,” was the cold reply
”Every woman has her price, if I may adapt a phrase of the late Sir Robert's, and I can pay yours Excuse aret It would be unpardonable if ere not alone Yon cattle-drover hardly counts as audience, I fancy, for he is already as good as strung up as a rebel”
After a long silence, so long that I tried to find an explanation of it, she said, ”You refer to my father?” There was a quaver in her voice which all her bravery could not suppress
”Exactly, Margaret, to your dear father”
”In ti hial, but fortunately some evidence will be required, and you have none The fact is that in your loyal zeal you have acted too soon”
”I thought your daughterly instincts would be aroused,” he answered, scoffing openly as he saw his advantage ”They have lain doraret, for my own purposes I have acted in the very nick of time, and you will do well to drop your unfounded hopes of the future Your father's fate is certain if I act, for I can call a witness--you re person--whose evidence is enough to hang him fifty times over Whether or not I produce it depends, as I say, on the depth of your affection for him”
”I shall kno to saveplayed your last card, you will leave aret,” was the cool reply, ”your innocence amazes me My last card! Not at all, sweet queen You are my last card”