ffff 7^^" -4" ^ }^. 5 ^ r -J -4 A P?^- • •»■' » " .' . *••'.••. • • • • • • • • WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH AND T. CADELL, LONDON. MDCCCXXIV. c • t 1 I .* *. J- 2 1^ d) PERCY MALLORY CHAPTER I. It was upon a gloomy evening in the month of November, that a young Templar, passing to- wards his chambers, through one of those obscure courts which run westward from the immediate neighbourhood of Blackfriars, was suddenly ar- rested by the screams of a woman, who appeared, through the murky atmosphere of the alley — Ughted by a single lamp — fleeing hastily towards the spot where he stood. He stepped aside, un- der a rude projecting porch — such as frequently denotes a house of humble entertainment — in or- der to leave a free space open to the fugitive through this narrow pass ; but, before he was VOL. I. A a PERCY MALLORY. aware of her purpose, or the action which disclos- ed it, a burthen which seemed to impede the ra- pidity of her course, was thrown into his arms, which instinctively closed upon it, as the words " Save it — in mercy save it," struck upon his ear. The speaker was out of sight before the appeal died upon his ear, and, in a few seconds, three men rushed hastily past the place which now concealed the Templar from their view, swearing, and muttering to each other, heavy denunciations against the object of their pursuit, which could not be mistaken by the young lawyer. The passing screams of the fugitive had caUed forth several of the inhabitants of this narrow de- file, who, with candles in their hands, cautiously guarded from the night breeze by their uplifted aprons, began to peer about from within their half opened doors. All, for some time, remaining still without, they became more adventurous, and the immediately contiguous neighbours began to in- stitute mutual inquiries respecting the probable causes of the late disturbance. " 'Tis Al'ce Hal- pin, my life on't, at her old vagaries," cried one ; " Likely enow — likely enow," responded a second; 11 CHAPTER I. 3 " I'm sure, I wish we was well quit of the var- mint — them ud be no loss.'' — " It's a mortalshame," cried a third, with a toss of her head — although the rigid virtues were not very legibly written on her features — " that's what it is — she should be allow- ed to nm her rigs in a respectable neighbourhood like this !" Our Templar, in the mean while, who remain- ed lost in his reflections, almost as deeply as he was in the shade of the penthouse — was Uttle dis- posed to take any share in a conversation, which being, as he collected, vague and conjectural, and, as he knew, in part, unfounded, he considered lit- tle calculated to help him out of his present embar- rassment. The general sentiment against the person and habits of Mistress Alice Halpin became more audibly expressed, as the allied forces more close- ly effected their junction, and at length reached the ears of the innocent — upon this occasion at least — and vituperated object of their animadver- sions. Unfortunately for the Templar, the porch, un- der which he felt himself securely sheltered, and 4 PERCY MALLORY. purposed to remain until the coast should be clear — was an appendage to this lady\s dwelling — and, upon an extraordinary epithet being coupled with her name — for she was no stickler for trifles — which had penetrated through the frail door of the tene- ment, this slight barrier to her awakened indigna- tion burst from its hinges, and displayed her Ama- zonian form to her hasty retreating calumniators. Her drapery, partaking of every hue of the rain- bow — a little faded by times and seasons — hung loosely about her masculine person. Her grisly locks, unrestrained by any cap or head gear, streamed in a matted mass over a breadth of shoulder which would have done honour to a gre- nadier of the Guards, even without the worsted tufts of an old regimental jacket, which enhanced their apparent dimensions to a portentous magnitude ! With a candle in her left hand, elevated above her head — like one of Congreve's parachute rockets — the more elearly to expose the objects of her meditated vengeance to her view, and with some- thing that a])peared to have been an ancient hal- bert or train-pike in her right, she paused for a moment to survey the field, then, under a flourish CHAPTEK I. 5 of oatlis, which, had they taken effect, would, " at one fell swoop," have dismissed all her adversaries from the face of the earth, she advanced in order of battle, but was arrested in her mid-career by the figure of our young Templar, holding in his arms a half naked infant, and evidently in the act of at- tempting to make good his retreat, without taking any part in the approaching engagement. Per- ceiving, however, that he was effectually hedged in by the besieging forces — who had only retreat- ed, not dispersed — his first impulse was to leave his arms at liberty to act as the fortune of the day might decide, by depositing the child on the side seat of the porch. Neutrality in his present posi- tion, judging fi-om the aspect of the array on either side, seemed to be no longer in his power. But never did a general make so improvident a movement. It is impossible, at the distance of time, to say — under the then existing posture of affairs — what alliances hemighthavefonned among the antagonists of Mrs Alice Halpin, or what di- vision he might have made among such vmdisci- plined troops by a skilful manoeuvre to evade them, but the attempt to deposit, or, in technical ian- b PERCY MALLORY. guage, " to drop" a child, instantaneously operat- ed to form a coalition of both the contending parties against him. Alice, without a moment's demur — without pausing even to sound a parley — or enter into a temporary truce with the enemy which had brought her into the field, pounced upon the supposed culprit as a hawk stoops to its quar- ry, and almost raising him from the ground, as she held him grasped by the collar, was cheered and manfully seconded by the very league formed originally against herself; they gladly accepting these implied terms of pacification, when they ob- served her vigorous preparations, and means to boot, for the campaign. In vain did the Tem- plar protest his innocence, and endeavour to ex- plain the predicament in which he had been so un- expectedly placed. His voice was drowned in the chorus of shouts and exclamations against his bar- barous and unnatural pui'pose. There was no dearth of epithets to mark their detestation of his depravity — and there would have been as little need of hands to inflict the penalty, had not the stentorian voice, and muscidar arm of Alice, ele- vated to the gesture of command, called off the CHAPTER I. 7 executioners, and awed them into silence and obe- dience. " Let us not defraud the gallows of its due, my gossips !" she exclaimed. " Here's more abroad than ye wot of — heard ye the screams of the dying — and see ye not the blood upon the hand that did it ?" — And sure enough the hands of the unfortunate Maitland, as well as the wrapper of the infant, upon whose head there appeared a deep and dangerous wound, bore ample testimony to the truth of her charge. A physiognomist would have discovered in the genuine start of sur- prise exhibited by the young lawyer, a strong in- dication of his innocence, but the nearer it ap- proached to truth, before such prejudiced judges, the more satisfied were they of his skilful cunning, as characteristic of an old offender. " Aye, aye" — exclaimed an ancient spectacled dame, as she lifted her withered arm in denunciation against him — " Thee cas'nt deceive ould birds, mun — thee'st hang dog written in thee face — and Jock o' the Baily wad knaw thee out of a kit on 'em !" In the mean while, the alarm having spread, seve- ral watchmen, who had just arrived at their posts in the neighbouring streets, began to spring their 8 PERCY MALLORY. rattles, with the friendly intention, no doubt, of giving '-'" ^Hesce lAot; iRBii^B oebi' ^i£e: ^■^ T- ^»- < f'"***^' 38 PERCY MALLORY. was readily admitted to personal bail for his ap- pearance wlien necessary. He was accordingly discharged, and, by being suffered to depart by a private way, escaped being torn in pieces by an infuriated mob for hav- ing, as it should appear, accidentally made a wrong turn into a blind alley, and, at the pre- cise moment of time, when he ought to have been — any where else. In a few weeks, the trial came on at the Old Bailey Sessions. Little more transpired on the occasion beyond that with which the reader is al- ready acquainted, except that the husband of Ju- dith Mallory (who, it appeared, had absconded, and could no where be discovered) was, by the averment of the prisoners, the original instigator of the crime, although his motives, or his employ- ers, were equally unknown to them. It came out in the course of the evidence, that Judith Mallory had, jointly with her husband, negotiated the affair with Alice Halpin, — that she had already received an hundred pounds for the job, besides all her expenses, — and that the money was supplied l)y her husband, although 10 CHAPTER. I. 39 she was unacquainted with the source from whence he had drawn it, — he being a poor man, and only occasionally employed as a copying clerk in an attorney's office. It appeared also, that her inducement to take so active a share in the transaction was the apprehension, and even the actual threat, of having her own child torn from her, if another could not be found, — and — which served to throw a still more mysterious veil over the whole affair — that a specific object had been pointed out, as necessary to the views of their hidden employer, and the child of a Mr Levison Rycott of Cumberland named for the purpose. Alice Halpin, who had for some time kept a public-house of no very pure fame in the neigh- bourhood of the Mallorys, and who was known to have formerly been attached to a wandering tribe of gypsies in the north, though subsequent- ly a sutler and follower of the British army on foreign service — appeared to the husband to be a fit and apt agent for his purpose, and she having cheerfully met his first overtures, was finally em- ployed to carry the project into effect. 40 PERCY MALLORY. This woman was ignorant of the connection be- tween her accidental rencontre with the young Templar, and the transaction in which she per- formed so principal a part, mitil it was too late to profit by it, and the unexpected appearance of Judith Mallory, in charge of the officers of jus- tice, frustrated the plan she had previously ar- ranged for eluding the vigilance of the magi- strate. Her daring hardihood afterwards did not desert her, when she perceived the inevitable consequences that must follow the clear evidence against her. She had led a wandering life, and was almost indifferent whether her fate led her to the distant shores of the Pacific Ocean, or still left her on the muddy banks of the Thames. She was a female citizen of the world — an Ana- charsis Cloots en jupon ! What were her motives for contradicting the evidence of her fellow prisoner, as to the identity of the child, it is not easy to divine, supposing the latter to have no object beyond maternal af- fection for claiming it,— -for it came out in the course of the trial, — at least, it was affirmed by .Judith Mallory, with every appearance of since- CHAPTER I. 41 rity, that, on the evening when the officers had entered her habitation, and within a very few mi- nutes of their arrival, she had herself dehvered the stolen child into the hands of her husband, — and, from that period, had neither seen nor heard of either the one or the other. Still Alice Halpin maintained, that the child delivered to the Templar, or, at least, found in his possession, was the one she had been employ- ed to carry off; and her evidence on this occa,- sion was fvdly corroborated, as we have seen, by the testimony of the domestics of ]\Ir Levison Rycott, who had accompanied that gentleman's agent to town. The case appeared, both to the judge and ju- ry, to be so clearly m-ade out, that a verdict was given, without the latter leaving the court, against both the prisoners; and the subsequent sentence of transportation for fourteen years pass- ed upon them. The innocent cause of aU this mischief and con- fusion was safely reconducted to Cvunberland, and received with due transport, it may be conceived, by its parents, — whilst in due time, Judith iNIal- 4 42 PERCY MALLORY. lory, and her more accomplished companion, Alice Halpin, were dismissed on their voyage to a new world, — and if report speaks true, a much more delightful one than that from which their crimes had exiled them, — a solecism in our national po- licy which at least blunts the point of the stale sarcasm against a sentence of Scotch expatria- tion! CHAPTER II. 43 CHAPTER IT. It is the more usual way with historical writers, and is certainly more strictly correct in point of chronology, which, I believe, is sometimes called one of the handmaids of history, to give some ac- count of a father before his son is introduced up- on the stage — as one naturally descends from the upper to the second, and so down a whole flight of steps, as the safest and readiest mode of secur- ing a fair landing at the bottom. But there are exceptions to all rules ; and as the father very probably, in the present instance, might never have been thought worthy of any particular re- cord, unless the son, in process of time, had ren- dered himself obnoxious to the pen of the histo- rian, so, as the son, by a strange concatenation of circumstances, not only began to travel Ijefore he 44 PERCY MALLORY. had found his legs, but had appeared in more than one Court of Justice to accuse, convict, and expatriate two full-grown persons, and to outlaw a third, without having yet learnt to supply his own most necessary wants, it is clear, that he must have been the most extraordinary child — I cannot say of his years, or, perhaps, strictly speaking, of his standing, but of his days — whilst his father, on the contrary, was, indeed, a most respectable country gentleman, — that is, in his own way, — but who, for the ten preceding years, had travelled, it is affirmed, little beyond his own immediate neigh- bourhood ; and, although actually in the commis- sion of the peace, had never been known to con- vict a single individual for any thing more hein- ous than a petty larceny, nor borne even a part (as one of the quorum) in the infliction of any heavier penalty than a private whipping, or hard labour for three months in the county bridewell. The happy discovery of the " Tread-Mill"'"' had not then been made, which I simply mention to avoid the possible charge of anachronism in the detail of events which it has fallen to my lot to narrate for the benefit and example of posterity. CHAPTER TT. 45 Mr Levison Rycott was a gentleman, living in apparent affluence upon property of his own, in Cumberland, situated in one of those wild and ro- mantic vallies formed by the mountainous chain of Helvellyn, and opening upon the picturesque banks of Ullswater. Wolston Worthy, the name of his demesne, had evidently been, in its origin- al state, little more than a cottage, or farm-house ; and although, at the period when it becomes oiu* duty to break in upon this gentleman"'s retirement, it was not only a commodious, but a spacious house, it retained much of its original character ; and th# experienced eye at once perceived, that, as rooms had been wanted, they had been added ac- cording to the notions of comfort and accommoda^ tion, rather than upon any principle of symmetry or unity of design. It was not on that account, however, less pleasing to the eye, or less in cha- racter with the surrounding scenery. The grounds about it presented an uneven surface ; but well wooded, and assuming the appearance of lawn and paddock, such as are to be found about the mansions of country gentlemen, in the more southerly parts of England. In every direction. 46 PERCY MALLORY. except towards the lake, this little home view was confined and surrounded by rocky and bold emi- nences, rising, as they receded, into the loftier and more simple forms of mountain outline, — whose peaks again were embraced and shrouded by every passing vapour or cloud,-— or absorbed in the tints of the atmosphere. Mr Rycott was an oddity in his way, as the reader may have frequent occasion to remark. He had long retired from the world, and bore about him the characteristics of a man who had been disgusted with mankind, rather than influenced by a love of seclusion, as the means of cultivatmg abstract studies, or literary tastes. These were exhibited in a sort of petulant op- position to the opinions and judgment of others, however founded, or however elicited, and an ha- bitual tendency to suspect every man who approach- ed him of some sinister design. He was not deficient in good qualities, but his habits and his temper too often intercepted or mo- dified their exercise ; and his general character among those whom chance or business brought in contact with him was that of a " cross-grained, CHAPTER II. 47 out-of-the-way sort of a gentleman.'''' If it might be inferred, from his mode of Hfe, that he was distrustfiil of his fellow man, it was still more evi- dent, that he considered Nature to be in one per- petual warfare against him ; for, whether induced by the listlessness of a life of retirement, without the habits of rendering it either interesting or profitable, or from slight causes unduly magnified from being made the constant object of solicitude and reflection, certain it is, that there is no dis- ease to be found in the nomenclature of human sufferings, with which, at some period or other of his life, Mr Levison Rycott's vivid imagination had not been visited or threatened. These are the shades ; — I repeat, there were bright spots about the picture ; and I take it to be a more kindly part to point out the partial de- fects of a friend, upon a first introduction, than to leave them to be discovered by the world; first, be- cause it prevents disappointment ; and, secondly, because this same world, when it has made the discovery, is, in its extreme love of justice, very fre- quently disposed to take as much credit for what it suspects to be behind, as for what it has authorita- 48 PERCY AIALLORV. tively ascertained. I have, therefore, been at the pains to sum up what I beheve may fairly amount to the total of the legitimate charges against the physical man, — namely, that he was a peevish va- letudinarian. Of his moral worth, the reader must hereafter judge for himself. He had been settled for many years in this se- clusion, and had encountered certain and obvious misfortunes, which his neighbours, however, did not conceive to be of sufficient weight to account for the irritable habits which had so long siu-vived them. He had lost several children — and some of them under circumstances most trying to the feehngs of a parent. Thus bereft, he had arrived at the middle age of man, when the pregnancy of Mrs Rycott was unexpectedly announced in due form, and an activity excited in the household, which had appeared to the surrounding gossips to be finally setthng down into a sterile and dormant state. In due time a man child made its appear- ance ; but, as if to justify the querulous apprehen- sions of Mr Rycott, he was, as we have seen, sud- denly and rudely torn from the parent stem, and the wild recesses of an almost insulated sohtudc in CHAPTER II. 49 the North, invaded for the purpose of forwarding some conspiracy concocted in the very heart of the metropoHs. Mr Levison Rycott was not of a very communicative disposition, but, roused by this audacious breach of the pubhc laws, and of his ow-n domestic happiness, he condescended to can- vass with his spouse the various motives in which so extraordinary an outrage could have originated — and hence to look round upon the small circle of individuals to whom they were known, as being the only persons who could even be acquainted with the fact of the child's birth. Thus we are often led to roam to a distance for what we might probably find close at hand, as I have known a man hunt for his spectacles whilst they were quietly sitting astride his nose. After the first ebullition of despair, and when conjecture had exhausted itself in gaining a clew to the agents in the abduction of the child, one domestic hinted, a second whispered more confidently, and a third ventured to communicate to his master, that a strange woman, belonging, as she affirmed, to a caravan of gypsies, wandering among the hills, had not only been employed to trace their VOL. I. D 50 PERCY MALLORY. fiiture destinies in the lines of their hands, but had been admitted — in the hope of rendering her more propitious to their wishes — into the servants' liall, and even supphed for several nights with clean straw in an adjoining outhouse. Upon a more strict investigation, and after the domestics had communicated together by certain side glances, first at each other, and then towards their master — -just as a physician feels the pidse of his patient in order to ascertain the dose he is able to carry — it was admitted that the woman had taken up her lodging on the previous night in this place, and that the door of communication between her loft and the mansion-house had been found open in the morning. The nurse, finding the ice brok- en, no longer attempted to conceal that she had taken rather " a stoup extraordinar for her night- cup"'' at the suggestion of this beldame ; and that, although " she did not wish to mention it at first, she had aU along been suspecting the gypsey quean wer the thier' — ^from the very suspicious cir- cumstance of the nursery door being also found open, and her having observed, in the morning, CHAPTEE II. 51 that her rush-light had been carefiilly extinguish- ed, and turned down in the socket. It were a waste of words, as Mr Rycott proved, to recapitulate the long string of epithets which ac- companied the reproaches of that gentleman upon the disobedience of orders and neghgent conduct of his servants, who had evidently contributed to the success of the woman''s machinations, or per- haps, by offering facilities, and the means to boot, had suggested the act in the ordinary prosecution of her nomadic course of life. In spite of an incipient fit of the gout — which, however, had never been known to proceed further than a threat — he threw himself into his carriage, and drove without stopping until he arrived at Penrith, where, finding his soUcitor at home, he consulted him upon the measures necessary to be pursued; and, having armed him with a neces- sary warrant for the apprehension of the g}'psey woman, he returned home in order to ascertain what had been done in his absence by the scour- ing parties despatched to the hills, and the known haunts of the jdingy tribe of soothsayers. Nothing, however, had transpired to throw any 52 PERCY MALLQUY. light Upon the mode — or the track of the woman's flight — until near twelve o'clock, when the wearied household were about to retire to their several chambers for the night — a horseman was then heard at full speed approaching the house, and be- fore he could demand admission, Mr Rycott, and half a dozen half dressed domestics, were at the door. The messenger came from Mr Hedges, the Penrith attorney, who, in a few lines, informed the disconsolate father, that a woman with an in- fant, answering to the description given, had, in the early part of the day, hired a chaise at Shap, but that, from her appearance, suspicion having been excited in the mind of the landlord, he had contrived to detain her for some hours, whilst he despatched a messenger to a neighbouring magi- strate ; that one of Hedges's scouts had received the information, and that he himself was imme- diately starting for the purpose of securing her. He desired that Mr Rycott would send off the nurse, who could identify the child as well as the culprit, and that any others who could swear to the woman or the child might also accompany her. Not a moment was lost in complying with the 11 CHAPTER II. 53 requisition. Fortunately a bright moon robbed the party of all pretext for delay in traversing a not very practicable road, although Mr Rycott was not exactly the man to have suffered even a real or substantial difficulty to have stood in the way of the prompt and active measures nece^ary to be pursued. A want of vigilance, however, was imputa- ble somewhere. Mr Hedges cannot be said, in the vulgar phrase, to have reckoned without his host, but his host had reckoned without much foresight, when he conceived that a person, really under apprehension of surprise, would not be as quick-sighted in preventing, as he in contriving, the means of detection. The woman, at once, perceived his intention, for she had not entered the inn until she had ascertained that both chaise and horses were at home, and when his counte- nance (for he was of the plain honest Westmore- land breed) betrayed what was passing in his mind, and added his doubt of being able to let her have horses for several hours, she saw, at once, into his design. Without expressing a symptom of disappointment, she said, " It was of little con- 54 PERCY MALLORY. sequence, so that she got to her journey's end be- fore nightfall." Mine host thought in his wisdom that he might be allowed a very apposite question, and simply asked, " How far that might be ?" " Beyond your ken, Mr Boniface," replied she, "and farther from your business ; — so e'en give me a room, that I may feed my babe, and wait your horses' pleasure." And she had a room, from which — about half an hour afterwards, when the landlord peeped into it for the purpose, as he said, of keep- ing his eye upon the wench, — she had, by the help of the Devil, as he further suggested, vanished, and left nothing but a confounded smell of brimstone behind her. It was to be accounted for in no other way, for he had set John Ostler and the spare postboy to watch the window, and both swore that they had never taken their eyes off duty. Mr Hedges, indeed, — but then he was an attorney, and not willing to give even the Devil more than his due — pointed out a door, corresponding with the one which had been supposed strong enough to secure a mere woman and a child, and which, by crossing a passage of exactly three feet in breadth, led into a dairy, which dairy opened, for CHAPTER II. 55 the sake of coolness and shade, into a coppice of underwood, and which coppice, again, opened the way — Mr Hedges had no doubt — to the woman''s escape. Acting upon this, rather than the ingenious hypothesis of the landlord, the attorney again set his emissaries at work ; and keeping the high road, whilst they scoured the country on either side, he, at length, got a faint scent of his game between Kendal and Lancaster, on the second day of the pursuit. At Lancaster he was again at fault, but the driver of a return chaise having seen a woman and a child on the road — no very extraordinary occurrence in the course of a sixteen mile stage — Mr Hedges roused his whole pack from their kennel, into which they had just crept, and again took the field. The reader probably is not so keen a sports- man as this legal whipper-in, nor likely to be so well rewarded by joining in the chace — he may, therefore, probably be satisfied with the simple result, which, after nearly a fortnight's hard rid- ing in an irregular line, touching, in some point, almost every northern and midland county of 56 PERCY MALLORY, England, brought the gallant huntsman and his pack to the metropolis. It is just possible a coun- try attorney might have been thrown out, when his game had taken to such a cover, — ^but having been pre\iously joined by a fresh force from the London Police, he, with their aid, recovered the scent, ran in upon his prey, and seciured it, — as we have seen. CHAPTER III. 57 CHAPTER III. The child, after his restoration to the pater- nal roof, speedily recovered from the effects of the wounds he had so unaccountably received, and which, upon examination, appeared to have been occasioned, as the London surgeon had opined, by some violent blow, which left a considerable scar on the frontal scalp, although not sufficient to dis- figure or to disqualify this intended victim, from being the hero of the following most interesting narrative. There was nothing extraordinary in the mode of his education. A neighbouring clergyman, pe- culiarly quahfied for the task, as a man of erudi- tion and a Christian teacher, in order to add some- thing to a very narrow stipend, undertook to ground him in the several branches of classical and scien- 58 PERCY MALLORY. tific knowledge, and, I believe, the father had as little to complain of in this discharge of his duty, as the master had of his pupil in due attention to his instructions. Percy — ^for so, from some asso- ciation with the pride of family, the boy was chris- tened — was early removed from the charge of his mother, towards whom, at no time, did there ap- pear any great deference on the part of her hus- band. She was a quiet, inoffensive sort of woman, who literally abided by the obligation she had ta- ken upon her at the altar, to obey her husband in all things, — and on this account only could she be considered to possess any thing extraordinary, or out of the common way, either in her habits or character. When young Percy began to make his own ob- servations upon what was passing around him, he did not fail to perceive, that a defect of birth and connection was one very prominent cause of the neglect with which his mother was treated, and often when the good lady was reprimanded for too implicitly obeying the injunctions of her husband — who was too fond of opposition, to approve an entire submission, even to his own will — her want CHAPTEE III. 59 of spirit was openly imputed to the early neglect of her education, and the absence of those stimu- lants, which a consciousness of family distinction never fail to supply to those who have the small- est pretensions to it. It was naturally to be inferred that Mr Rycott, who considered this blot on his half escutcheon so unpardonable an offence, had substantial grounds for valuing himself upon the quarterings, which amphfied the dexter side of his shield. This was, indeed, affirmed or implied upon all occasions, and never contradicted, even in a temporary fit of peevishness by his— rlesser half; but contradiction, as we have before observed, was not her forte, and there appeared to be no other person capable, or at least wilHng, to dispute Mr Rycott's claim of propinquity to all the Russells and all the How- ards. What, therefore, struck the young Percy as ex- traordinary — ^for boys are close observers, whilst they appear to observe nothing — was the total absence of all the collateral branches of a family of which he was sedulously taught to be proud, and even the bare mention of a single relative or 60 PERCY MALLORY. connexion bearing his own name. Levison Rycott appeared to be the sole depository of all the honours claimed for his race, and to be as in- sulated in blood as he was in the locality of his seclusion. But, although little Percy was at certain times surprised that no titled grandfather, nor blue- ribboned uncle, appeared to claim him as a dis- tinguished link in the chain of family genealogy, he never questioned their existence, or for a mo- ment doubted the legitimacy of his claim. By the time he was fovu-teen, therefore, he had as full a proportion of the family pride as his anxious father could desire — but whether the humbler mind of his mother, in mixing up with the ingre- dients of his composition, had, contrary to the hopes of his sire, given a softer tone to the whole mass, — or from some other hidden cause which it might puzzle even a Scotch metaphysician to de- termine, his education had tended to qualify this tendency, certain it is, that it produced no visible effects in his conduct or demeanour to those be- neath him, or to his equals — and was only betrayed when a mean or dishonourable proposition reach- CHAPTER III. 61 ed his ear, or approached under covert even of a temptation to youthful folly or excess. The wild and picturesque scenery with which he was surrounded on every side — his daily ex- cursions to explore its ever varying beauties, and dare untrodden paths of danger, gave to his charac- ter a certain manly independence, tinctured in no small degree with the chivalrous and romantic. He had formed a band of young adventurers from among the sons of the neighbouring dale- landers and dalesmen, who were ready, at the word of command, to undertake any enterprise, however difficult or hazardous. To scale the crag, and snatch the brood from the cloud-capt eyrie,— to spring over chasms whose dark and impenetrable depth would dizzy the head of a Lowlander to look upon, — or, like the bounding roe, to leap from point to point where the fix- ed foot could scarcely find a space to rest upon, were, in the mere ordinary course of their daily exercise. A new race of gviides was disciplined un- der their active leader — and many a tourist and fe- Hcity-hunter has, I doubt not, benefited by, and hailed with rapture, the discoveries of Cob (or 62 PERCY MALLORY. chief) Percy, as he was provincially termed by his followers. ' It was on an autumnal morning, that, long be- fore daybreak, Percy being roused from his slum- bers by an unusual bustle in the valley, started from his bed to ascertain the cause of the commotion, and found that it arose from a caravan of dales- men, and their wives and children, who were on their way to a great fair in the neighbourhood of Penrith. Not being disposed to join the party, he distributed some money among them, and seizing his constant and now only companion, his scaling or leaping pole, sprang forward on an ex- cursion to the hills. He soon found himself near the summit of one among the loftiest of the range, and paused to take breath, and to contemplate the awful majesty of the scene around him. He be- held the first rays of the sun pencilling with their saffron hues the broader lines of hill and dale. He followed, with delighted eye, their soft stealing in- fluence, which seemed gradually to varnish, and bring out from the deeper masses, the details of the wide spreading landscape under his feet — now penetrating, through some unseen passage, the 1 CHAPTER III. 63 umbrageous valley — now tracking the silvery line of some winding stream or distant cataract, lost in its descent — or traced only by the en- creasing illumination of its own dewy spray — now, as the teeming source of light advanced, its more glowing hues spread over the broader sur- face of the surrounding meres, whilst the deep shade and rugged outline of each crag and fell lay on its sleeping and unruffled bosom. A breeze now gently swept around him as he stood. The mist, driven from the nether earth by the genial influence of the sun, first rolled in majestic volumes beneath his feet — then envelop- ed him, — and finally excluded the rest of crea- tion from his view. He still gazed on this mighty void ; — all was noiseless, save the sweeping whisper of. the va- pour as its circling eddies bore it along the al- pine solitude. It is the sport of Nature to ex- hibit in these regions her more vivid and sublime phenomena. In a moment the gloom was par- tially dispelled. The general landscape still lay buried under an ocean of vapour which spread before him, on every side, to the scarcely defin- 64 VERCY MALLOKY. ed line of the horizon, — ^but, from out the bosom of this vast expanse, rose, like scattered islands, the upmost peaks and summits of this mountain range The eyes of Percy were fixed upon one of these as it emerged in face of the rugged crag on which he stood — when suddenly he thought he perceiv- ed human forms, — obscurely shadowed indeed, — but still sufficiently distinct to justify the con- viction, that there were living objects among these hitherto inaccessible summits. But the thing was impossible. — He looked again, — and again he beheld more clearly, not only men and women, but even horses and the rude carriages of the dale leisurely winding up and down those bold crags and precipices, which even his adventurous spirit had never yet dared attempt. The forms again faded away — and he began to think the whole was the force of imagination, or some chance combi- nation of the elements. — Again the figures pre- sented themselves to his view, varied in their po- sition, — and more vivid in their form and co- louring. — It was but for a moment — they then CHAPTER III. 65 were dispersed and lost in the wild drift of the vapour. ^ He struck himself on the arm with his leaping pole to he assured he was awake. Thus reassured, he turned towards the peak, more narrowly to watch the phenomenon — but the vision returned no more. He moved onward slowly, pondering deeply upon what he had seen. His senses could not deceive him, in these repeated instances. He had heard much of fays and sprites, and all that brood of distempered fency which flourish in full sovereignty in these regions of romance. Mr Paston, his tutor, had, indeed, superseded the early impressions of the nursery, by a more ration- al view of the operations of nature ; but there are times and seasons, when those who consider them- selves the least chargeable with superstition, are beset with a vague, undefined sort of apprehen- sion, which is very near akin to it. Again he checked his course, and looked cau- tiously about him, as if wishing, yet fearing to view something unusual, when, gi'v'ing a sudden start, his eye was fixed by a new, and not less VOL. I. E 66 PERCY MALLOKY. astounding appearance, in the gigantic form of a human being standing, like himself, upon an in- sulated headland, directly opposite to him. He retreated a few paces — the figure appeared to do the same. He stretched out his pole in the in- voluntary act of self-defence — the motion was ex- actly repeated by the phantom. " It must be my own shadow !" he exultingly exclaimed aloud, as he dropped his staff on his shoulders, and crossed his arms upon it. He felt as if this elucidation of the mystery was a con- quest over some encroaching doubts, which had given alarm to his manhood. He repeated his ex- periments, and found his theory established. He began to compare the former appearance with that before him, and to trace each to the same cause ; but this he found to be no easy task. Here was a substance to account for the shadow, but where was he to find, in these alpine latitudes, animals and vehicles more likely to sink into soughs and quagmires, than mount into the mid air ? * * These phenomenii have given rise to many a niarvellous talc in tlic romantic regions of Westmoreland and Cumberland. CHAPTER III. 67 At length he solved the difficulty, like many greater men, by generahzing it ; and having as- sured himself it was an optical illusion, occasioned by reflection or refraction, he retraced in his me- mory some faint allusion to these phenomena, which had hitherto been numbered with the less authenticated tales of the neighbouring gossips. He turned once more to take a final leave of his representative, when his theory was again disturb- ed by the sudden appearance of a second form, somewhat elevated above the other. " It must be a double shadow !" thought he, as he hastily recover- ed himself. He again began his evolutions — they were repeated as before by his counterpart — but, to his renewed surprise, the other neither regard- ed his motions, nor obeyed his signals. He look- ed at it more narrowly. It was ajiparently a light aerial form, with the floating drapery of a female, sporting in the wind. He could not be mistaken, much as he felt entitled to doubt the evidence of his senses, under such a variety of extraordinary appeals. He turned suddenly round, in expectation of catching the substance — which, accorduig to his 68 PERCY MALLOEY. philosophy, must be nearly in a line with himself, and consequently at no great distance from him. But his point of view was circumscribed. He stood upon the boundary line, as it might be called, of light and darkness. There were some higher points, indeed, on this craggy elevation which were clear, and as he struck towards them, he looked back upon the scene he was lea\ang be- hind him, to observe how the phantom was affect- ed by his change of elevation — but he looked in vain. It was no longer there — still he persevered, and satisfied himself he had at one time gained the station which would project the reflected sha- dow on the opposite hill — but his speculation fail- ed him. He looked down towards the region of mist, and there, indeed, he thought he perceived a catching light upon some passing object, which broke the uniform hue of the vapour. He seized his pole, and sprang forward. Again he occa- sionally caught sufficient to warrant his suspicion, that there was some moving and living object de- sirous of evading his pursuit. This — had the ap- pearances been repeated in a right line — would have been sufficient for his guidance, and his CHAPTEll III. 69 agility in his native region, he was fully con- fident, would baffle the most enterprising oppon- ent who should seek to elude him ; — ^but the mo- mentary gleams, as they struck his eye in the hazardous descent, appeared at one time on his right hand, at another on his left, and in so devi- ous a direction, as to exclude him from all the ad- vantages which were so peculiarly his own. When his eye left him at fault, he paused for a sound to direct his steps ; but, except the driving of the wind, which now blew with considerable force, and whistled through his mouth and ears, he heard nothing. He knew the precipitous breaks and hollows of the mountain, and was fearful lest the person, whoever it might be, should be driven, by apprehension even of him- self perhaps, into some of the fearful gulfs which yawned on every side of the descent. He called aloud — promising safety — at least aid, in case any one was in danger. His voice returned upon his ear, before it was reverberated from the hills around him. All was again silent. He pushed forward in the line which had last shadowed out the fugitive form. One step further would have 70 PERCY MALLORY. carried him over a precipice which he saw not, until his foot was suspended over the brink of it. Instinctively he threw himself on his back, and striking his pole in the firm ground, was on his legs again in safety. At this moment, he clearly heard, at some distance from him, a female shriek, apparently from the chasm beneath. Striking the broken surface of the craggy path, his pole thrown out before him, he ran along the edge of the precipice in the direction from which the cry seemed to issue. It had ceased, — again he heard it, but in a fainter tone. He shouted aloud, and as loudly demanded the cry might be repeated as a guide to his research. The com- mand was not obeyed, — and he still keeping close to the edge of the gulf, strained his eyes to pe- netrate the deep and dense gloom beneath him, from which he was now more perfectly assured the sounds of suffering had come up. He thought he perceived some object through the vapour — it was scarcely distinguishable from the mists which enveloped it on every side. A passing sun-beam penetrated athwart the gloom, and, for an instant, he caught the si^^lit of the floating drapery of a CHAPTER III. 71 woman, such as he had seen in the shadowy form of the mountain peak, suspended as it were in mid air ! — Again he called, and a plaintive voice, harmonious even in agony, rose from the abyss, calling for mercy and aid — not from mortal man, but from Him, whose power alone appeared suffi- cient to rescue the victim from destruction ! Percy thought not of danger to himself. He struck the point of his pole downwards, and it touched upon a projection thrown out from the face of the shaggy cUff. Fixing his hands on the upper part of it, he sprang forward, and, sliding down it, ahghted on a mere point of not more than a foot of level space — when, far below him, the object of which he was in search became clearer to his vision. He could trace a female figure evidently clinging by something which the dense vapours hid from his view. He paused for a moment — and looked about him, to ascertain how far his knowledge of the spot might enable him to judge of the best resources at hand. He spoke at the same time in the voice of comfort — of promised aid — ^but his situation was critical, and he saw all the difficulties and dangers with ^2 PERCY MALLORY. which he was beset. His footing was insecure. The mixed rock and soil on which he stood trembled under his feet, and the hapless being, whose safety wholly occupied his mind, was so situated beneath him, that if it gave way, it must inevitably preci- pitate her fate. He saw not how she was support- ed. If he were to let himself drop, he might by the shock displace her, or wrest from her the present means of preservation, before he could substitute others in their stead ; and yet to remain where he was he found to be impracticable, even if adviseable. He calculated through the deceptive medium, that she must be some fathoms beneath him. — There might be intervening projections. He stooped, as well as his straitened position would allow, and threw his pole around. It struck upon some other projection below him, — the moment was critical, — a despairing groan reach- ed him, which seemed to banish every hope on the part of thej being who uttered it. His own life, so often risked in sport and adventure, was not to be thought of. He again grasped the head of liis pole, and thinking it firm enough to bear his weight, bent forward, and rcHeving him- CHAPTER HI. 73 self from the crumbling ledge, with as little effort as possible, he dropped down, and for a moment gained a footing, but in the next, carrying some of the fragments with him, he was precipitated still lower, and fell within a few paces of the hap- less being whose destiny seemed to be now hnk- ed with his own, in one common and inevitable ruin. His knowledge of the danger, not a little enhanced the pangs he felt for the youthfiil and beautiftd victim, now more perfectly expos- ed to his view — nor are we to suppose him so much of a hero, as not to feel something for him- self, with the prospect of an immediate terrific and torturing death before him. The spot on which both were now sustained was similar to that which he had left, only of somewhat larger dimensions. A gradual accu- mulation of soil had been formed round a rude projection of the perpendicular cliff", and in pro- cess of time, had gained more than its natural consistency, from the fibres and roots of the wild thorn — but these, by the reaction of old age, and bleak exposure to the storm, were now stunt- ed and nearly decayed. It had proved sufficient, 74 PERCY MALLORY. however, to arrest the descent of the unfortunate girl, and to save her — for the moment at least — from the yawning abyss, over which Percy now found her suspended. Her clothes had been caught in the tangled branches of the thorn, and she had instinctively grasped the main stem, and, by degrees, got her arm over it. Percy was horror-stricken — he feared to move until he could ensure a firmer hold for his sink- ing companion. The loud beating of his own heart was all that broke the horrible silence around them — not an external sound reached his ears that indicated a hope of approaching rehef, even supposing their present position to be tenable for any length of time. But, alas ! this even ap- peared to be hopeless. He spoke in agitated but soft accents of confidence and hope — was pro- strate as far as his confined situation admitted — and stretched his left arm towards his companion, drawing himself nearer by almost imperceptible approaches, so as to avoid any partial pressure upon their frail support. She seemed to be speechless and insensible — she might loosen her liold — and he made a desperate effort, in whicli he succeeded in grasping her waist firmly with 1 CHAPTER III, 75 his left arm, whilst he supported himself with the right. She raised her head, — but it fell back up- on her shoulders. He thought her hold relaxing. — " For God's sake, hold firm,"" he whispered ; — " exert your energies for a few moments,"' he ad- ded, " and, by God's help,"" raising his eyes to- wards heaven, " we may yet be saved."" Crumbhng fragments of the shelf on which he lay rolled at every movement, however slight, that he made, and, like their passing beU, were heard to strike at intervals against the rugged impediments they met with in their way down the echoing abyss. His companion gave a slight shudder. He again entreated her to struggle against despair, and to exert her mind to the ut- most, so as to be able to avail herself of any means which might momentarily present them- selves, of withdrawing from her painful and peril- ous situation. She faintly articulated, " It is all over, — but our fate will be dreadful." The wind had now increased, and, driving the vapour before it, the horrors of their situation became more obvious to the experienced eye of Percy. In vain he looked for a resoiu'ce. To 76 PERCY MALLORY. attempt to scale the pei'pendicular cliff' might have been an effort worthy his adventurous spirit, had he been alone — but, as he measured with his eye the height, he acknowledged it to be im- practicable, even had he been able to leave the partner of his dangers in a temporary place of safety. When he looked downwards, he could only imperfectly discern huge dislocated masses of rock and cliff*, against which they must inevitably be dashed to atoms in their descent. Percy was now startled by a rushing noise above them — familiar, but not less formidable in his present situation to his ear, and a large eagle soon floated down towards the spot on which they clung. With heavy wing he wound round about with his eyes flxed upon them, as if medi- tating an attack. Percy felt the whole force of this new danger, and having warned his now nearly insensible com- panion of his purpose, gave the cry, which the dales- men use to frighten away this voracious enemy, when meditating an assault upon their folds. For an interval, the l)ird made a wider circuit ; but, again closing and narrowing his circle, Percy, with CHAPTER III. 77 his disengaged hand, contrived, by degrees, to draw his pole from beneath him, and to place it in an inclined, but firm position, with the point upwards, so as to protect, if possible, the person of his shrinking companion, in the event of an at- tack. This seemed rather to irritate than alarm the animal, whose hoarse cries now rang closer to the appalled ears of Percy. — What was to be done ? — Former apprehensions almost vanished. — As long as they could cling, or as long as the mass would hold together, there was hope ; but an at- tempt to repel the now evidently determined as- sault of their new enemy must dislodge, and pre- cipitate them into the gulf beneath. At this moment, a bullet whizzed near Percy's head — he felt the wind of it. The report of a gun soon followed ; but not so soon as the hoarse scream of the eagle proved that it had taken effect. His head, with ruffled crest, fell back upon his scapular — a few drops of blood fell, as he hovered, for a moment, over the spot, upon the white robe of his companion. Percy shuddered at the omen. The bird seemed still, with straining eye, to me- ditate vengeance, or, at least, a lodgment on the 78 PERCY MALLORY. spot ; when, suddenly sliooting upwards, by a sort of desperate effort, Percy, with an eye scarcely less keen and penetrating than its own, saw it sink into an eyrie, which he now beheld at only a short distance on the ledge above him. He had lost one enemy, and hope began to re- vive. Could he make himself heard — of which, in the increasing violence of the wind, as it swept through the deep recesses of the mountain, he al- most despaired — he knew he was within reach of succour, or, at least, the attempt to afford it. Fearful of giving any shock to the hapless be- ing, whom he still supported with his left arm, he told her his purpose ; and then, shouting aloud, gave note, which would be quickly intelligible to any companion, or even dalesman who might be eyrie hunting, of which he now felt pretty certain was the case — from the circumstances of the shot, and his proximity to the nest. Again he shout- ed ; but either no answer was returned, or the wind had borne it from him. There was the pause of a moment — and then he distinctly heard the well-known signal retvu-ned. Gently turning himself so as to look upwards towai'ds the spot CHAPTER III. 79 whence the voice proceeded, he beheld, to his un- speakable delight, a human face peering over the summit of the precipice, which hung nearly per- pendicularly above his head. He again called out, bvit was fearful the wind might baffle the direc- tion of the sound — and again drawing his pole to- wards him, he contrived to place a straw-hat be- longing to his companion, and which lay crushed under him, upon the point. This he projected as far as he was able to do so in his prostrate si- tuation, in order to'point out his position to those above him. He felt his left arm benumbed from the want of free circulation, and dreading it should become powerless before aid could arrive, he made an ef- fort to loosen it from the grasp it had maintained, of the slender waist of his fair fellow sufferer, and to strengthen his hold, by seizing upon the main stem of the thorn, which was already passed un- der her arm, and was, at first, her only support. " Are you sensible ?'''' demanded he ; — a slight spasm of her whole frame seemed intended as an affirmative. " Embrace with increased force, for a single moment, the branch which passes under 80 PEHCY MALLORY. your arm/' She seemed to understand and to obey the injvmction to tlie utmost of her power. He struck his arm forward, and made good his hold upon the stem, by which means he formed a sort of cradle, and gave freedom to the muscles of his limb ; but the effort, though successfid, had nearly proved fatal — for the branch yielding to the double pressure, loosened the soil at the roots, and a considerable fragment was dislodged and precipitated with a hideous crash into the abyss below. — A slight convulsive scream escaped the fe- male. " God have mercy upon our souls !" burst from the lips of Percy, who now felt the crisis had arrived, and he instinctively grasped the wretched girl more firmly in his hold. There was a deadly pause for a few seconds. The detached portion of the shelf had not, however, produced any other effect than that of leaving one of Percy"'s legs without support pendant over the ledge. He gent- ly drew it up — and hope — for when does hope utterly desert the youthful mind ? — again inspired the thought that they might yet be preserved till succour, which he felt assured was at hand, should arrive. The effort, though made at such a ha- 4 CHAPTER III. 81 zard, had secured him a firmer hold upon the poor girl, and left his other arm more at liberty to ap- ply the means, which he already anticipated of effecting her deliverance. A fresh shout roused his attention— it approach- €d nearer— -it was a well known one, and, as if launched in mid air from the Heavens, a human form was seen floating downwards, which soon reached the spot. " God reward thee, Blencow ! thou hast done a deed of mercy this day," cried Percy, looking to the ruddy smiling youth, to whom he addressed himself. " Stay till it is done," replied this young Ica- rus, who was seen balancing himself, and evident- ly contemplating a footing on the ledge, when Percy cried out, " Stop — stop, it is rotten — and even now trembles under its weight — a feather would overwhelm us !" "What^sto be done. Con ?" demanded the other. " Signal to lower you till you can take this wretched lady in your arms. — I fear she camiot help to support herself— -but His only for a mo- ment. ' VOL. I. F 82 PERCY MALLORY. " It is impossible," cried the other — " the rope will not bear double." " Try it — it is but ■ - ■■ — we are sinking at this moment — my very voice shakes our tottering foun- dation — hold — for mercy''s sake, Blencow."" Another rope, with a heavy weight attached to it, was now seen descending. " God of mercy be praised !"" Percy solemnly exclaimed. " He means not — He wills not — that we should perish — cheery, cheery, my fair fel- low sufferer,"" and he attempted to seize the rope. The wind took it, and it swayed beyond his reach. The dalesman could not aid him, being unable to steady himself, without some fixed point on which to seize with the short iron-headed pole, which he carried to combat with his feathered enemy. Percy again had recourse to his pole ; he touched the rope — it nearly reached his grasp, and again eluded it. Again he began to despair. Those above could afford little aid, as the edge of the precipice projected, in part, over the spot on which they hung suspended, and the impetu- ous rushing of the wind bore away the voices of those below, before any distinct articulation could 11 CHAPTER III. 83 reach the elevated station, to direct any thing like minute evolutions. Certain established signals only could be conveyed. Percy made another ef- fort, dreading at each motion, however cautiously made, that their frail hold would give way ; — at length, as the wind swayed the rope, after several ineffectual attempts, he caught the end of it be- tween his teeth. He trembled with agitation, as the hope of relief seemed so nearly about to be reahzed. To coil and get the running noose un- der her arms would, in his skilful hands, have been the work of a minute, had those hands been at liberty ; but the habitual facility of doing it was, under the alarming and hazardous circumstances of his situation, rather a drawback than an aid to the execution of it. He saw how it might be more immediately effected — but dared not proceed in a regular manner. Every thing was to be revers- ed, and yet to be achieved by the one hand, and its only ally, his teeth. After several trials, he finally succeeded in passing the rope, not only under her arms, but so as to form a cradle to re- ceive her, when she should relax her present hold. Blencow, who had by this time steadied himself in 84- PERCY MALLOnV. some measure in a line, level with the motionless object of their solicitude, secured it again round her legs, and returned it to Percy to make good the master knot. This done — he still dreaded to take the last decisive measure, of either loosen- ing his own hold — or directing her to do so, lest there should be any thing defective in the tackle He tremblingly called to Blencow to watch his motions, when he should give the signal in the in- stant " to hoist." He now spoke to his helpless companion, praying fervently to Heaven at the moment, that she might hear and be enabled to perform the little she had to do in her own be- half. He bad her, as she hoped for safety, to rouse, for a moment, every energy of her mind and body, to think of nothing but the implicit obedience necessary to the few directions about to be given. Blencow had now hold of the rope, by which she was to be suspended in the air ; — he gently tried it — it answered to the pull from above ; then taking the arm, which had so long been pen- dant at her side, he, by degrees, elevated it to a hold or loop above her head. Percy watched the CHAPTER III. 85 operation, and hailed its success, when he perceiv- ed her delicate fingers close upon it. " Now," said he, in the softest and most steady tone ; — " Now — for God's sake attend — raise your other arm — if it has not lost its power — quickly and suddenly — ^not yet," — for he felt the slightest motion of the muscles, and had not secured his own hold, so as to sustain her full weight, until she had caught the second loop, which Blencow had contrived to lower to within her immediate reach. " Now." — Despair gave her momentary strength ; he saw her balanced, apparently secured. He still hesitated — he traced the line to the summit — and ran again over every slip and noose of the tackle with his eyes ; and, with a palpitating heart, gradually withdrew his supporting arm. The cord tightened with the increasing weight — he trembled to trust the whole to it — the last slight hold was upon her. " God speed — God protect you !" he cried, and she swung freely in her frail cradle, seve- ral feet from the station — her eyes, brilliant as the morning star, were, for tlie first time, opened — they seemed bursting from their sockets. "For Hea- ven's sake be collected!" Percy eagerly cried, 86 PERCY MALLORY. as her relaxingholcl seemed to indicate inanition, or a failure of intellect. " Shut — shut your eyes — and do not open them until — until ^" Blencow now gave the signal for hoisting to those above. " Do you hear .^"" anxiously demand- ed Percy ; " do you hear ? — as you value your life, keep your eyes closed two seconds and you are safe."" In less than two seconds he saw her disappear over the impending summit of the crag, and he lay motionless, whilst he uttered an inward prayer and thanksgiving to that Power, who alone, he felt assured, could have saved her, vmder such a complication of dangers. The weight was off his soul. — He felt himself safe — he had no fears of being dizzied by the horrors, which would appal the imagination of one less experi- enced or unaccustomed to them. He boldly caught at the rope, now sent down to him, and only fix- ing a foot in the loop, caught the main line, and launched himself fearlessly into the air with the other — and as this foot spurned the crumb- ling shelf, which had so long sustained his com- panion and himself, the shock carried down a large fragment of it, and made even his spirit CHAPTER III. 87 quail, as the gulf gave up the reverberated echoes of its fall. His first care, after having reciprocated thanks and congratulations with his preservers, was de- voted to his female companion. She lay motion- less on the ground, where the men had carefully deposited her, with her eyes closed as in death. He knelt down, and gently raising her head, which fell back incapable of self support, she dis- played, even in the image of death, a counte- nance such as Percy had never before seen— except in the dreams of creative fancy. He endeavour- ed to find a pidse, which, as the son of a valetu- dinarian, he was sufficiently experienced to make in some degree the criterion of his judgment. He found it, but so languid, that each beat seemed to be the last lingering throb of existence. He saw a flask at the girdle of one of the dalesmen, and catching at it, applied it to the lips of the fair sufferer. Not being very measured in the dose, he, perhaps, by venturing more than a regular prescriber would have done, proved himself the better practitioner, for it produced an immediate effect, and a convulsive sob seemed to be the sig- 88 PEECY MALLORY. nal of restored animation. The first object in Percy's mind, was to remove her to some spot, where she might be sheltered from the keen air of the mountain, and medical aid be immediately procured. A sort of hammock was soon formed by the little party, composed of ropes interlaced, supported by their poles. Their jackets were converted into a rude species of mattrass, upon which their lovely burthen was gently raised and deposited. Percy took the lead of the party, and their de- scent down crag and rock would, had she been ca- pable of sensation, have been as little felt — or less so — than is experienced by many a fine lady, with half a dozen powdered lacqueys before and behind her, as she is conveyed in a sedan to the drawing-room, or to Almack's. As they reach- ed the base of the mountain, there stood, within a bow-shot, a cottage, but it had long been unin- habited ; and this Percy knew. He, therefore, pushed forward in a contrary direction, although it was nearly half a mile to any other habitation. " Why not to Loddcn Beck, Con P'' asked Blcncow, as he pointed towards the cot. CHAPTER III. 89 " Poor Swinny''s dead, man," was the reply. " There's a new holder. Con." The order of march was reversed, and the party was received at the door by a decent-looking wo- man, who, though a stranger to all the party, gladly offered the accommodation her humble means appeared to afford. A rude, but clean bed, was quickly prepared for the sufferer, and Percy hastened home, in order to despatch a horseman for the doctor. 90 PERCY MALLORY. CHAPTER IV. Percy was preparing to return to his charge, when he was hailed by his father from a window, who began to question him as soon as he entered the apartment, which, Uke all the sitting rooms of the house, was on the ground floor, and opened, with French windows, towards the lawn. " How, now, Sirrah, what's in the wind with all this plague and clatter ? Hey," (starting up,) " where the deuce is Benjamin galloping ? By Jove, Sir, he has the Malton bay !" " He is on my gelding, Sir.'"* " And why the devil is he on your gelding. Sir ? — and whither is he pelting at this rate ?'^ " For Doctor Drizzlethwaite, Sir." " Doctor Devil ! — Confound the doctor, who CHAPTER IV. 91 wants him ? Never better in my life, except a slight touch of the sciatica — and for that " " Not for you, Sir/' " Who then, Sir ? — By Jove, I should like to know who sends the Malton bay for a doctor for any body but myself?"" " It is for one in imminent danger. Sir. I can- not stop — indeed, I must "' " You MUST, Sirrah ! where did you learn that phrase — not at home, I'll be bound, or '''' " Imperious duty " " Duty me — no duty — but to your father, Sirrah — is not that yoiu- duty — yoiu* first duty — By Jove ? " *' I have always," answered Percy respect- fidly, " shown that I feel it to be so, Sir — but in this case my presence is necessary— and it is a duty ^" " Who taught thee, boy, to define duties ?— What's this fancy ? — what vagary has't got into thy head ? — By Jove, you've thrown the blood into my head, and I may ■ ■ ■ ■ " It is a case of life and death, Sir." " And art thou a doctor ?"" 92 PERCY MALLOUY. " I may preserve a life — — " " Whose life ? — the boy''s head's a woolgather- ing. Thy mother ! — she's well — well enough to give me a fit of the spleen, by beating the DeviPs tattoo with the end of her knotting-pin, till I was worked into sueh a fit of irritation, as nearly to bite off the tip of my tongue." " It is not my poor mother, Sir." " Your POOR mother, Sir ! — never speak dis- paragingly of any one bearing my name — that is — but no matter — she's your mother, and my wife — and, by Jove, Sir, I will not have her de- graded by any term of commiseration. — D'ye mark me. Sirrah .'"' " I do. Sir ; — but, I repeat, it is another " " What, Old Winny — and have you dared to send the bay Malton ?" " Sir — my good father — listen to me for a mo- ment.'* " Sirrah, I will not be dictated to." " I never presumed — .. .. " " Nor shall now — why the bay Malton, an- swer me that — why " CHAPTER IV. 93 " I sent little Ben on my own horse, Sir, be- cause " " Your own horse, Sirrah ? — has Old Paston in- structed you so little in the laws of your country, that you are ignorant that a minor can have no- thing properly his own — that is " *' Sir, he taught me " " Not to interrupt your father, Sirrah — hey !"" " He taught me, Sir," cried Percy, no longer able to bear even with a parent'^s frailties, when a paramount duty seemed to warrant the exception to his general demeanour — " he taught me that humanity was a Christian virtue, which no earth- ly consideration should be suffered to bar ; and as my presence can be of no use to you, my dear father, and may be of the greatest to — an angel, I'm sure of your pardon by and by, and so" — flying out of the door, with a hop step and jump, he heard not, or heeded not, the cry of " Stop, stop, or by Jove," — which, with many coarser auxiliaries of an impetuous temper, was vociferat- ed by his father — who, in ordinary times, and on general occasions, had found a simple imperative 94 PERCY MALLOBY. sufficient to stifle all resistance on the part of his passive and well disciplined household. Percy ran, or rather leaped, as with his pole he cleared all impediments in his progress, towards the cottage, where he had left the companion of his morning adventures. He was informed that she had recovered her senses ; but could only articulate, in single mono- syllables, such answers as were considered abso- lutely necessary to be put to her, by those who were officiating about her. Her name and place of abode were equally unknown ; but from her dress and appearance, although simple and unpre- tending, and in a state of no little disorder, he was satisfied that she had nothing in common with the class of people who inhabited the imme- diate neighbourhood. From the surgeon, when he arrived, he expected to receive full satisfaction on this head, as, from his practice for miles round, he doubted not he must be acquainted with every family of respectability within his circuit. Dr Drizzlethwaite, as he was called, at length made his appearance — and, although his horse was covered with dust and foam, the gentleman him- CHAPTER IV. 95 self was cool and collected, as if he had just pass- ed from one room to another. " For Heaven's sake, my dear Drizzle," cried Percy, " make haste — every moment is precious."" The other, taking out his watch, seemed to be calculating the time he had taken in reaching his present destination, as a sort of tacit answer to the young man's impetuosity. He returned the watch to his fob — and, repeating in a low tone of voice — " Thirty-seven minutes and two seconds," quietly drew a chair, and seated himself, whilst he dehberately took his hat from his head. He wiped off a few particles of dust from it with one of his gloves, which he had methodically drawn from his hand. Percy fidgetted about the cottage kitchen, in which this scene took place — then stood with the door, ajar, in his hand, as if waiting for the doc- tor, as a matter of course, to ascend the little stair- case which led to the apartment of the invalid. " Come— come," he impatiently repeated more than once, of which Dr Drizzlethwaite seemed to take no note whatever — his attention being evi- dently prc-occupied in unbuttoning the over-alls, 96 PERCY MALLORV. which had been tlie safeguard and protection of a pair of highly polislied boots, now slowly dis- closing themselves to view. « Why — Dr Drizzlethwaite !" " Sir !"" responded the doctor, as he turned up his head sideways from discharging the last but- ton at his heel. " The patient." " True," ansAvered the imperturbable doctor, as he neatly folded the leathern appurtenances, and turned them over the back of a chair. " Will you — will you go up stairs, Sir .?■" de- manded Percy, out of all patience with this son of Esculapius, although well acquainted with his habijts, which might — as they had often done — af- ford food for a passing joke — but were insuffera- ble in a moment of real agitation and anxiety. " I will, Mr Percy — but first" — pulling down his shirt-sleeves, and adjusting the buckle of his stock — " the case .'*" " How should I know — come and judge for yourself ?" " Male or female ?" " A lovely girl — a " 10 CHAPTER IV. 97 " A labour !" " Psha ! — an accident."" " A miscarriage !" " A miscarriage ! — a mis come — come, Drizzle, for God''s sake, see the poor sufferer. — She has had a fall. — She was nearly destroyed. — She may be bruised — a hmb broken." " The case — Why did''st not say so before ?''"' slowly demanded he, as he deliberately raised himself from the chair — when, turning somewhat more abruptly towards the window, as Percy had taken the lead towards the door, he quietly open- ed the casement, and calling to a boy who held his horse — " Walk the mare — walk the mare — gently chum — there — don't let her stand still." He followed slowly up the narrow staircase — whilst his conductor gently knocked at the door of the chamber — which, being opened, the doc- tor entered, and Percy retreated to the lower apartment. Here he paced up and down, an- xiously awaiting the doctor's opinion of the case, and all other information concerninff a beinff who had excited in his bosom a sensation and an inte- rest he had never before experienced. He felt VOL. I. G 98 PERCY MALLORY. himself of greater importance than upon any for- mer occasion. — He was the principal actor in a scene of no ordinary interest, and had been not only instrumental in rescuing a human being from destruction, but it so happened, that the human being was one of the prettiest and most fascinating creatures he had ever beholden. In the midst of his ruminations, the good woman of the house precipitately descended the staircase, and ran about the room collecting hot water — and basons — and other articles as were, she informed him, necessary for the operation of bleeding, which the doctor found expedient — and which, in the bare communication, by sympathy, no doubt, had the effect of extracting the blood, if not from the system, at least from the cheeks of the young man. " What !" exclaimed he, " is she so bad as to require this ?'''' " This ! bless your lovely eyes,'" cried the wo- man, turning round, and looking full in his face — " why you seem to want it as much as she." " Come — come, Goody — don't mind me. — Get the things, and I wish it was well over."" CHAPTER IV. 99 " Lord love you — it will be over in five mi- nutes — don't ye vex your dear good heart," she added, as she again turned her head towards him in stooping to ascend the staircase. Now, whether the worthy landlady was rather too far advanced in life to render her attentions worthy of notice — or whether our young gentleman was one of those rare beings who are unmoved by flattery — the truth is, he regarded her open testimony in favour of his eyes and heart as rather obtrusive ; and, having gazed after her, because she was go- ing where, if propriety had warranted it, he would gladly have gone in her stead — he only muttered — " A forward old lassie," — and resumed his walk in the extremest diagonal he could draw within the circumscribed limits of this cottage kitchen. He now and then stopped at the foot of the stairs to catch some clew that might guide his speculations ; but an occasional low, suppressed murmur of voices — with the more rare jingle of a gass or a bason — were all that reached his ear. — Again he paced the apartment — a third — a fourth time traced the prodigal from his father"'s house, through all the varieties of his fortunes, back 100 PERCY MALLORY. again, as they stood recorded in black and white, with an occasional splash of red and blue, to bring them under the general designation of coloured prints — bordered with black wood, and suspended, in a series, round the clean white-washed walls of the apartment. He looked repeatedly at a cuckoo-clock, which was placed over the chimney — and then at his watch, to ascertain which of them " stood still ;"" for the single quarter which at first appeared only wanting to the period, when the bird shoidd an- nounce, in its " native wood notes wild," an hour complete, seemed to the youth to have been ex- tended to at least treble its duration. He sat down on a chair — and, in the suddenness of the act, jerked the doctor''s afore-named over- alls, which he had so carefully arranged, into the chimney-corner, and directly upon the glowing embers of a bright wood fire. The incident was favourable — for it occupied his attention, and en- gaged his activity for several minutes, (and the reader has perceived the rate at which he calcu- lated them when he had nothing to do,) to snatch them from destruction, and to obliterate, as far as CHAPTER IV. 101 possible, the effects which, in spite of his efforts, the devouring element had produced upon them. He had scarcely finished his task when he heard the latch of the chamber-door above lifted, and perceived the gradual developement of the person of the landlady, as she descended the staircase. " Well .?"— demanded he. " God bless you !"" cried the woman — as she passed towards the outward door, and shouted out, " Mun — mun." " Percy caught her arm — and arrested her pro- gress. — " Where are you going ? — what, in the name of Heaven, do you want .p" " The doctor's horse — sweetheart." " Psha! — the doctor can't havehis horse yet. — How is the young lady — how has she borne ?" Here the doctors long well-polished boots ap- peared on the upper part of the staircase, and gradually brought after them the rest of his long gaunt figure, bent nearly double, in order to bear him harmless from its shelving roof, and contract- ed walls. Percy seized the hand which he had projected. 102 PERCY MALLORY. for the purpose of securing a fulcrum, in the wooden pin of tlie door, in order to obtrude him- self perpendicularly into the apartment, and there- by — by reversing the well digested theory of this disciple of Galen — reduced him nearly to a hori- zontal line upon the well-sanded flags of the floor. " How, now. Master Percy ?" cried he, rather more rapidly than was his wont. " A thousand pardons, my good doctor ; but how is the lady — how has she borne the operation — how is she affected — any fracture — any ?" " Can't answer ten questions at a time." " Nay — nay then — how is she ? — is she in danger 'f* " It is impossible to say."" " Have you then dou — doubts .''■" " Never come to hasty conclusions — where''s my horse, good woman T'' " Why, you — you wouldn't leave me in this state r " Why — what ails thee 'f instinctively advan- cing his hand to feel his pulse. " Will you not tell me — how the suffering angel is .'"' CHAPTER IV. 103 « No acquaintance with angels.'" " Your patient above stairs, then ?" " I have said ^" " WiU she die ?" " Perhaps not." " Only perhaps.— Good God! doctor— do you reaUy think there is a chance — " " There is always a chance." " And only a chance !" " What would'st have .?" " A certainty — a hope at least— nay, do not trifle with me." " I — I — trifle, Mr Percy !" cried the doctor, with something hke an air of surprise. " Psha — I mean — do you think— do you think she is in immediate danger ?'''' " Not exactly." " Then why did you not say so before ?"" ask- ed Percy peevishly. " Because you didn't put the question." " Did I not ask whether she was in danger ? — Did I not inquire her state — her " Repeat, I can't answer ten questions at a once." 104 PERCY MALLORY, (( (( " Is she suffering ?"" " Suppose so — sickness is suffering. — What has happened to my spatterdashes, woman ?'"' vainly trying to button them. " Nothing, your Honor, I'll be sworn." " Nothing — Fah ! — been in the fire."" I'U take my Bible oath, your Honor "" Don't do that, Goody," interrupted Percy, " for in the fire they certainly have been ; and I wish they had been burnt to ashes," added he, grinding his teeth at the phlegmatic doctor. " Mr Percy Rycott !" " Yes, — you are enough to drive one mad." " Mad, in verity !" returned the doctor with perfect sang froid, as he rose up from the vain attempt, to reconcile and bring together the lower buttons, and button-holes of the shrivelled straps of his over-alls — or spatterdashes, as he preferred to call them. " Good day, mistress — keep her cool — barley- water — panada ^" " Yes, your Honour — Fll take care of her as if she were my own." " Thine !" muttered Percy, as he looked upon CHAPTER IV. 105 the woman with horror, at the bare supposition of her being even of the same species. " I will see her friends,'"' said the doctor, as he stalked out of the door, again stooping to make good his retreat. " Her friends !"" exclaimed Percy, as he caught at Drizzlethwaite's arm, and had again nearly overset him ; " do you know them ?''"' " What then ?" " Will you not tell me .?" " And why ?'' " Because I wish to be informed.^' " Wish — wished to burn my spatterdashes !" " 111 give you a dozen new pair." *' Hold the stirrup, mun, — there ^" " WiU you, or wiU you not, tell me ?'" fiercely demanded Percy, seizing the bridle, as the doctor seated himself in his saddle. " If not .?■" coolly asked the doctor. " Then you are '''' " Off!" inteiTupted the doctor, who, striking his spurs into the mare"'s sides, jerked the bridle out of Percy's hand, and nearly threw him to the ground, whilst, upright as a dart, and collected as 106 PERCr MALLOBY. if nothing had happened, he cantered away, with- out once deigning to turn his head upon his en- raged opponent. " Well, then, if ever I see such a brute as that doctor — a pretty doctor truly. Why, he hasn't a hurt thee, dear ?''"' cried the woman, as she took hold of Percy's arm. " Psha ! woman — no — the Devil take him." " And so say I — and he must be the Devil's own, to hurt such a kind, good, beautiful, young gentleman as ■" " Nay, nay — prithee. Goody, leave me to my- self." " And won't you see Miss Bull ?"" " BuU !— who .?" " Miss BuUy-man — that's the name, I thinks —Lord, how can you turn up those beautiful eyes in that there way ?" " Is that her name .'''' " It's that— or somewhat liken to it." " And who is she .?" " You may e'en ask her yourself— she's no- ways proud." " Will she see me ?" CHAPTER IV. 107 " To be sure she •wiU." " Did she say so ?"" " La — no — but she can't refuse you nothing — Why she told that poker of a doctor all how and about your shooting the eagle, and then carrying her off on his back." " YouVe put the cart before the horse, Goody. If the eagle carried us off on his back — it must at least have been before he was shot." " Why, do you know — I was thinking of that — but she did so talk of yoiu: presents." " My presents ! — you are mad. Goody." " Not I, truly — ^bless your sweet smile — unless it be for joy." « Joy — because an angel was nearly lost !" " Aye — but she was saved by another angel, and she vowed to the doctor all along of your pre- sents." " Presents again !" " I don't know what they was — for I asked if they was gold or silver — and she smiled and said, they was something much valuabler — for they was the presents of your mind, and so I be- thought me perhaps " 108 PERCY MALLOEY. a I Oh Goody ! Goody-^you needn't think, youVe no conjuror." " Mayhap not," returned the poor woman pet- tishly ; " but I knows them as is." " Well — I wish you would consult them how I may best gain admission above stairs." " Ifackins there^'s no conjuring necessary there ; for it's hard, in my own house, if I can't ^" and she was advancing to the staircase, when Percy caught her by the gown, and drew her back. " For worlds I would not force myself into her presence." " La — how scrupulous you be — why she wants to see you." " Did she say so .?" " No — ^but I could tell it by her looks." " Nay, nay — that won't do." " She looked so sharply at the door, every time it opened, and she asked " " What .?" " Nothing — but she did look so glum upon that long stick of a doctor — I didn't think it was in her. It was just as mvich as to say — the deuce take you, who sent for you, I thought it was ^" CHAPTER IV. 109 *' Well, well — then just go up — and present my respects, and say — say, that if she will allow me the honor " " Honor ! forsooth." " Say honor, Goody, as I direct yovi — the ho- nor of waiting upon Miss whatever her name is — it can't be Bull — anything."" " 'Tis Bull— or Bully-man." " Well — the honor of paying my respects to her for five minutes." " Lord love ye — why should you tie yourself down so to time ? — There's nobody coming to in- terrupt you." " Prithee, good woman, do as you are bid." " Well — well — I'm going." Percy followed her softly up the stairs, and rest- ing midway, whilst she advanced into the chamber, he heard her address the young lady, — " Dear, dear, my young madam — the beautifvd young gentleman below — as is the son of the great rich Mr Rycott, is over head and ears in love with you, thof he looks such a lad — I can tell you. Miss, he'll be nineteen come next November — aye the very next as comes — that's what he will — and " 110 PERCY MALLORY. " What are you talking about, my good woman?" asked the young lady, loud enough to be heard by Percy, who, biting his lips, murmured — " The DeviFs in the woman, I believe." " La ! Miss — you know well enough what I'm talking about — and the dear young gentleman in- sists upon coming up."" " 'Tis false, by Heaven !" — exclaimed Percy, darting up the stairs — and addressing himself from the outside of the door to the young lady — " Do not believe this gossiping body, my dear Madam — I neither insisted, nor dreamt of intruding. I only requested — that if — that is — if you were suf- ficiently recovered from your indisposition, I might be permitted the honor of paying my respects to you."" A soft but animated voice, which could not be mistaken for that of Dame Wigram, (the name of mine hostess,) requested him to enter the chamber, which he no longer hesitated to do. " I shoukhft have thought of such a fuss about nothing," muttered Goody Wigram, with a toss of her head. " I wish," interrupted Percy, who dreaded what CHAPTER IV. Ill might follow—" that you would not think at all, or speak about matters with which you can have no possible concern.'' " Marry come up !" " Goody, go down," again interrupting her, leading her towards the door. " What ! — and leave you and Miss .''" " Silence, woman — and dare not " " I dare more than you think for, my young Testy." " This is intolerable — Will you allow me to speak to this young lady, without being interrupt- ed by your rude " " I don't want to be rude — but I must have some words with you, my young squire !" " Whenever you please — but, now, I must in- sist " and again he led her towards the door ; but she was not destined to pass it, for the young lady, who was reposing on the bed, proposed an accommodation between the two belligerents, re- quiring a cessation of oral hostility on the part of the hostess, and, as an equivalent for so consider- able a sacrifice, a surrender, on the part of Percy, of all future attempts to dislodge the enemy from 112 1>EUCY MALLORY. * her present position ; a decision by which Percy's sense of decorum quickly convinced him he was bound to abide, and which a look towards his per- secutor shewed he was determined to enforce on both the contracting parties. He then advanced towards the object of his newly awakened interest, and, in a tone of voice which betrayed the feelings which rendered it scarcely audible, inquired how she felt after the " terrific trials of the morning — and the discipline to which she had been since subjected ?" She blushed — and with a countenance beaming intelligence and animation — answered his inqui- ries, by expressing her hope, that he had not suf- fered by his generous and almost incredible ex- ertions in her favour. His reply may be safely trusted to the imagination of the reader, and these preliminaries having passed, the parties began to feel themselves somewhat more at their ease. Percy adventured on some further inquiries, but in so circuitous a manner, that he would pro- bably never have arrived at his point, had not the young lady interrupted him with a winning smile, — 4 CHAPTER IV. 113 " In short — you wish to know who the wander- ing damsel is, whom your adventurous gallantry has this morning rescued from the enchanter''s spell — and the winged dragon — Oh V — chang- ing her tone — " I shudder at the very recollec- tion." " I would not presume to " Indeed, and indeed you would, if you are as sincere as I believe you to be, and you are en- titled from me to more than I shall ever, ever be able to repay — more than I can ever again owe to mortal man. To the Great Being,"" she said impressively, raising her eyes — " who willed my rescue, my first tribute has been silently paid, but,''"' — added she, recovering her smiles, — " as you cannot read my heart, it would burst, I am sure, if I were to refuse to let it speak its genuine and honest feelings.'''' Somehow or other it did not speak — ^for a tear struggled with the smile, and a slight hysteric sob seemed to check her further utterance. — Percy started, and seizing a small phial of he knew not what, was about to apply it to her lips, when Goody Wigram caught at his arm, and screamed " hartshorn !" VOL. I. II 114 PERCY MALLORY. " The devil!''"' — exclaimed Percy, turning upon her, offended by her breach of the treaty, and the tone in which it was effected, which seemed absolute discord to his ear, after the mellifluous sounds with which it had been so lately filled.— He did not appear sensible of the information she intended to convey, until she actually screamed out, " 'TwiU burn her to cinders."" He dropt the bottle. " Nay, Sir,"" — said the invalid— the smile hav- ing effectually chased away the tear — " you must not destroy your own good work — or kill, even with kindness, one whom you have so miraculous- ly saved." " I— I, Madam, have done nothing but what any being, endowed with manhood, would have done.'' " It seems to have been a very recent endow- ment with you. Sir — and you have lost no time in proving it.'"" " Who,'"" returned Percy, whose colour and eloquence seemed to glow and graduate together as the conversation proceeded — " who could merit such a reward as is at this moment bestowed up- CHAPTER IV. 115 on me ? What exertion of the proudest faculties of man — the boldest energies of our nature — the—" " Nay, nay, spare me, my kind champion — I am still too feeble for heroics, and am so perfect- ly satisfied with all that you have done for me, that I feel afraid all the energies, and all the fa- culties which you are about to conjure up in or- der diffidently to depreciate yourself, would, in their happiest combination, have failed to effect my rescue from impending destruction, so effec- tually as you have done with all your modest dis- claimers.'''' Percy was overpowered by a new sensation— Of heroics he knew little, and they certainly had never been called forth before.— His humanity, and the active pursuits of his youth, had often rendered him of use to his less gifted, or more Unfortunate fellow creatures ; but as the objects of his enterprising spirit had not been hitherto dis- tinguished by any marked superiority of person or qualification, he had received their professions of gratitude as a matter of course, and quietly enjoyed the satisfaction of having had an oppor- 116 PERCY MALLORY. tunity afforded him of doing good. — But, in the present case — every feeling and sentiment ap- peared to be reversed. He trembled to approach the being who owed her very existence to him — and felt overpowered with the obligation of hav- ing his services acknowledged by one, who seem- ed, in the very act, to bestow the blessing of a new life upon him. He did not know how to set about it, but felt every disposition to throw himself on his knees, and worship the fair idol before him. He found the flow of his eloquence as suddenly checked, as it had been just before inspired, and with an awk- ward shyness, which was as foreign to his nature as to his habits, he stammered and hesitated for a single connected phrase, to convey what he felt and wished to say. The young lady appeared to understand him better than he did himself, and, although appa- rently possessing no advantage over him, in point of years, she was far superior to him in point of discretion ; for, although there is some reason to suspect that her feelings were as powerfully ex- cited as his own, she had, at least, a sort of in- CHAPTER IV. 117 tuitive knowledge of their tendency, and was, therefore, the more strongly convinced of the ne- cessity of concealing them. Fearful, however, of being betrayed, should her less experienced companion stumble upon the truth, she ingeniously turned the conversation, by asking Goody Wigram, if any person had been despatched to her aunt, to inform her of her si- tuation. " The doctor promised. Miss — but I'm sure there's no trusting to such a "" " Suffer me," cried Percy, relieved by a new demand upon his activity — " Suffer me to fly to — to be of some use," and he was already half down the narrow staircase. " Where are you going. Sir .'*'" asked the young lady, smiling. " To — to your aunt, Madam." " You know her, then ?" " I had forgotten ;" and he returned over the threshold. " I cannot, indeed, think of adding to your fa- tigue — it must be seven or eight miles by the road." 118 PERCY MALLORY. " What, if it were fifty r " La ! my dear sweet soul,'"' interrupted Mrs Wigram, " I wouldn't have you walk fifty miles on no account, after such a " " Silence, once more I entreat you, my good woman, what can you have to do with " " Nay — but you must listen to me,'*' said the young lady." " For ever could I listen to you." " La ! what nonsense !" interrupted the imprac- ticable landlady. Percy could endure no more — he took the troublesome Goody, and fairly turn- ing her on the staircase, shut her out of the room. Vain were her attempts to re-enter — ^he kept his back against the door — and again bowing to the fair invalid, repeated his determination to seek out her friends. Mrs Wigram was vociferous in maintaining her right to enter any apartment in her own house. He coidd only, amid this cla- mour, collect half the information he needed, and even that was rather extracted at intervals, than given in regular succession, by the half laughing and half angry invalid. " Will you kill this angel with your noise .''" 11 CHAPTEE IV. 119 demanded he of his back neighbour, whose efforts, manual as well as vocal, intercepted the most in- teresting point of communication, or, in plainer words, the name of the said angel. " I want to kill nobody — but I won't allow such doings in my house — I won't — I won't." " For Heaven's sake, Sir !" cried the offended young lady, "open the door^ — or the good wo- man's tongue-"——" " The Devil's tongue !" exclaimed he, as, re- lieving the door, it burst open, and brought their clamorous hostess headlong into the apartment. "And what of my tongue — what of my tongue?" demanded she, as she rose from her humiliating prostration, " Hav'n't I a right to use it in my own house ?''"' "• " I tell you what, Mrs whatever may be your name " " Why, you don't doubt it ?" " I don't know it — neither do I care for it." " Mark that — mark that — he don't know my name— he don't care for it." " Why, zounds, woman, what is your name to me .'*' 120 PERCY MALLORY. " That's as may happen, my lad of wax— 111 teach you " " By Heavens you shall teach me nothmg now —Madam — Madam," turning towards the young lady, " do, I beseech you, finish your instructions, whilst I keep my hand on this plaguy woman's mouth — Glendara — I know its position — Mrs——" " NorcHffe." « And ^" " Mine— Loo Bellenden." " Bellenden— Fool !" turning to his struggling hostess, whom he had released from the forcible embargo on her tongue — " Fool r he again repeat- ed, as he ran, or rather slided down the stairs, and compared the soft flowing " Bellenden" with the " Bull something" of his cacophonizing hostess. " Fool !" was reiterated by the good woman herself — not re-echoed — for the tone in which her indignant feelings gave utterance to it, struck upon the ear of Miss Bellenden as the most harsh and discordant she had ever heard, and certainly conveyed no sensation in common with that left upon it by the voice of Percy Rycott. Fortunately for that young lady, Goody Wig- CHAPTER IV. 121 ram was too much enraged to suffer any of her indignant expressions to be lost upon the person against whom they were now directed, and p\ir- suing her victim, she vollied forth her vitupera- tions, accompanied with threats which were as unintelligible as they were unregarded, far be- yond the precincts of her own cottage — and in- deed long after the heedless object of them was fairly out of sight. It is to be presumed, as in most cases of this nature, that a sudden calm followed this out- pouring of the storm — ^for Miss Bellenden heard nothing more of her hostess — if we except the sudden close of the outer door, and certain oc- casional sounds which indicated the abrupt trans- fer of a chair, or other article of furniture, from its wonted station below stairs. The young lady had, therefore, full leisure to repose after her fa- tigues — or to reflect upon what had passed during the eventful morning. The reader must be left to divine which was the most necessary — and which the most likely of these alternatives, to be resorted to upon the occasion. 122 PERCY MALLORY. CHAPTER V. Percy made his way over the hills, directly towards his point, which his knowledge of the carte du pays enabled him to do with an accu- racy that would have done honour to an adjutant- general. In his descent, he beheld before him, nearly in a right Une, the object he was in search of, and ran, or rather leapt forward, until he reached the outer gate of a small plantation, in the bosom of which stood a very elegant and picturesque building of the cottage character, but with all those distinctions which render dwellings of this description as httle characteristic of what they are proposed to resemble, as possible. It appear- ed calculated for any thing rather than humble life — and with such a paradise— and such an in- CHAPTER V. 123 mate as Percy now knew it was destined to con- tain, he felt he could be content to dwell for ever — " the world forgetting" — and for ought he cared — "by the world forgot."" — Love, in such a cottage, was no chimera of a lover's brain ! He paused for a moment to regain his breath, then ringing at the bell, inquired of the servant who answered it, if his lady were at home ? " No, Sir — but Mam'selle is." « This is Glendara !" " Aye, sure is it,'" answered the man. " And Mrs Norcliffe is from home T'' " Yees — but Mam'selle's at hoom, I tell you."' " Who is Mam'selle, Sir ?"" " La — daunt ye knaw she .''" " Will she see me ?"" " To be zure she will,"" — and Percy was usher- ed into a delightful apartment, opening with French windows upon a French flower-garden; books, harp, piano-forte, work tables, sofas, otto- mans, in pleasing confusion, spoke a variety of pur- suits, and at once conveyed to the mind the Eng- lish impression of comfort. Percy had neither time nor inclination to examine anything in de- 124 PERCY MALLORY. tail. He strode about the room — and fidgetted, and was about to apply to the bell, when a voice — rapid as a momitain stream, and nearly as loud — struck on his ear, and was evidently de- scending towards the door of the apartment, which seemed to fly open for its admission. Percy started at the object which presented it- self — not from any hideousness of aspect or alarming distortion of form, new and singular as it may have been to his eyes — but from its total incongruity, and want of consistency with the notions which had associated and identified them- selves in his mind with all that pertained in any relation to Loo Bellenden. He had no time for dwelling upon, or analysing the impression, which a huge French night-cap enveloping a head which would have set proportion at defiance — had it all been bestowed by nature — set upon a neat little trim figure — short petticoat, well turn- ed ancle, and two httle feet (slip-shod) covered with pink satin, made upon him — for after a start, which implied something like a reciproca- tion of his own astonishment, the voice, which had made a momentary pause during the interval CHAPTER V. 125 necessary for two bobs and a curtsey, again sounded in his ear, and was intelligible only as accompanied by " the action to the word"" so per- fectly practised by our continental neighbours, male and female. He had bowed thanks for what was e^ddently intended as a warm reception — and had taken a seat in obedience to the invitation which could not be mistaken. " Monsieur — Monsieur, pardon.— Je suis ac- cable'e — mais cet etourdi m'a dit que — n'importe — mais ce deshabille ! Monsieur, pardonnera."" Percy endeavoured to say something, and the lady paused — a mark of respect — perhaps a sa- crifice, which, alas ! he did not duly appreciate — he could only pronounce the name of " Mrs NorclifFe." " Mais Monsieur parle Fran9ois ?"" Now Percy could read French — but as he had never had occasion to speak it, he coidd only answer to this very simple question, " Non Ma- dame — but '" " Mademoiselle^ — jNIonsieur, mais — vous Ang- lais — vous etes si modestes, ou peut-etre si or- gueilleuxj que vous ne daignez pas soulagcr uu 126 PERCY MALLORY. etranger de la peine de parler votre langue diffi- cile." Percy could not follow her — and rising whilst he politely bowed, made , sign to approach the door. " Arretez, Monsieur — stop, Saar, I vill make a mysel parfaitly understood — so you shall see I ave not mispend the time." " The time is more precious, Madam."" " Encore Madame .'' — Mademoiselle, s'il vous plait — dat is — I am no Madame, Monsieur — hot in dat state you call — mon Dieu — what you call, celibat."" " Single blessedness, I suppose, Mad — Made- moiselle," catching at the word. " Ma foi — ma foi — Monsieur, ne'st pas galant — it is no for blessed state-— except — grace a Dieu," — looking down upon a gold cross, which was pendant from her neck — " it is devote to Ea-ven." " I am anxious. Mademoiselle — most anxious to see Mrs Norclift'e — to——" " Madame Norcliffe ne'st pas— c''est-a-dire. Monsieur — she is not in de home." CHAPTER V. 127 « Where shall I find her r " Pardonnez moi, Monsieur — I vas mean to ask a you — I moch weesh a to know if dat you see — vat you — vouloir faire — vat you do — weesh to do vid her ?"" " I have hurried here, Madam — — '' " Encore Madame ?" " Mademoiselle — pray pardon me." " Assurement — hot "" " I have not a moment to waste." " Vaiste ! vaiste ! mais qu'est que c'est — vaiste!"" " To lose — pardon me." " Nous ne sommes pas accoutumees, Monsieur, a entendre dire, dans la compagnie des dames, que le temps est perdu — cela n'est pas fort galant, Monsieur — ^mais n'importe" — drawing up with a reserve that gave Percy the first opportunity of perfecting a sentence. Seeing her offended, he repeated his offence by way of palliation, in a tone of earnest conciliation — " I have already lost too much time whilst an angel, whom it has been my good fortune to re- scue from destruction, and in whom Mrs Norcliffe 128 PERCY MALLORV. imist necessarily be most deeply interested— an angel whom — — — " " Un ange ! — Vat is to me — un ange you risk you — you entair-ten von lady vid your oder anges — c'est une betise, Monsieur." " Spare me, I entreat you — Miss Bellenden must have fallen a victim — must have perished under the most horrible circumstances — — " " Grand Dieu ! — Mademoiselle Bellenden— perit — morte !" And here a new scene opened upon our poor young friend, for, after a scream that he might have expected to hear reverberated from the surrounding hills — the lady fell into the most violent hysterics, and kicked and plunged in so awful a manner, that he found all his efforts to restrain or moderate her wholly ineffectual. He applied himself to the bell, and kept shouting in her ear, " Miss Bellenden is alive — alive, Ma- dame !" — when several servants of either sex rush- ed into the room. " Help — help, for pity's sake,'" cried Percy, still endeavouring to fix his volatile patient, who con- tinued to struggle and scream on the floor. " Hubbaboo ! — it's only Mamselle,"" cried the CHAPTER V. 129 fellow, with a broad grin on his countenance, who had opened the door to Percy. " Why, sure, young gentleman, you ha'ntabeen rude to Mamselle ?" — said a female inquisitor, who was rubbing the poor lady''s temples witli hartshorn — and laughing as she was looking for an answer, unfortunately suffered some drops to penetrate the eye of her extended victim. In pro- portion as this strong remedy was operating to re- store sense, it contributed by its misapplication — like many other good things in this life — to ren- der sensation more acute — and it became absolute- ly necessary to call into requisition the strength of the whole party, to subdue the violence of the paroxysm, under which the poor French lady now laboured. The females very properly insisted upon her immediate removal to her chamber, and as she for once had no voice in the question, it was carried 7iem. con.^ to the entire satisfaction of Percy, who now felt himself at liberty to make such further inquiries as were necessary — to clear up a very simple business, which, for want of a due understanding of terms — a circumstance which has proved equally embarrassing upon subjects of VOL. I. I 130 peucy mallory. yet greater moment — liad led to a somewhat seri- ous catastroplie — a catastrophe, however, which we are compelled to acknowledge, if it had occur- red only four and twenty houi's previously, would have been more likely to excite his laughter than those sentiments of commiseration which he now felt for the sufferings of this unfortunate lady— as an appendage to IVIiss Bellenden's establish- ment. He saw she must also be very deeply inte- rested in that young lady's fate — and his opinion, and consequently his interest in her, had rapidly undergone a revolution. He interrogated the servant, who now returned to the apartment, and who could scarcely smother the laughter, which " Mamselle's tantrums," as he chose to term them, had called forth. *' Why, la — your Honor — this is nothing to what we ha sometimes. When the doctor comed all about young Misscss tumbling down a ditch. Ma'am Norcliffe would'nt let IVIamselle know no- thing at all about it, for fear she should tumble into one of them there frantiques."' " Mrs Norclifle knows then of Miss Bellcndcn's accident ?"" CHAPTER V. 131 ^' To be sure she do — and ha been ater she in the carriage an hour agone.*" " Was there ever any thing so unfortunate !^ " La — your Honor, there's nothing inifortu- nate in it — she'll be up and well in five minutes."" « Who ?" « Why, MamseUe/' " The deuce take Mamselle."" "So us all say, your Honor — and she's my arty good will, for she's a vixen, that's the truth on't, and hates us true born " " Psha !" — exclaimed Percy, rushing out of the room — " tell INIrs NorclifFe I called, if I should yet miss her." " Yes, your Honor," cried the fellow, shout- ing after him — " but how shall I know your Ho- nor .?" '* Rycott — Wolston AVorthy," was returned in the same loud tone, in order to reach from the outer-gate to the house door — but the passage of the sound through the intermediate air had so jumbled the syllables together, that honest Peter —for thus we have ascertained he was most assur- edly called — in endeavouring to make them out. 132 PERCY MALtQRY. was compelled, when called upon to repeat the name, to have recourse to a periphrasis, and when the whole transaction was reported to Mrs Nor- cliffe on her return, he described the visitor, as "the comeliest and handsomest young fellow as ever he had set his blessed eyes upon, with the longest, and most outlandish name he had ever heard!" CHAPTER VI. 133 CHAPTER VI. Percv, who, like most heroes, never felt fa- tigue — or at least never acknowledged it, except where too much haste might mar the schemes of his historian — again scaled the hills, and took his pathless and aerial route so as to descend in the direction of the cottage where he had deposited Miss Bellenden. Just as he had entered the valley, he perceived a horseman galloping towards him, whom he soon discovered to be one of his father's servants. To avoid him was impossible, as, from the direction he was taking, and the proofs displayed of recogni- tion, he found that he was the special object of the man's search. He did not, however, wait for him, but, still advancing in the direction of the cottage, 134 PERCY MALLORY. demanded of tlie servant, when lie had overtaken him, " A¥hat he wanted ?" " My master — Sir — my master is dying,"" ^ ^' Dying !" " So he says. Sir." " But is he iU ?" " So he says. Sir," " I ask you — is it so ?" " I can't go for to gainsay what his Honor says — I know he has taken a world of physic — and says you, Sir, will be the death of him." " I !" " His worship says youVe thrown the gout in- to his stomach." " I'll be with — be with him immediately." " He desired me not to lose sight of your Ho- nor if I once caught you." " Caught me ! — no matter — I must call at yon- der cottage — so follow." The cottage had lost its interest. Mrs Wig- ram, who, though sullen, had apparently abated much of her irritable fcehngs, would have detain- ed him with a long story ; but when it began with an account that " Mrs Norclilfc had carried CHAPTER VI. 135 off Miss Bcllcnden half an hour before,'"' he cut it short, by leaping upon his servant's horse, and bidding the fellow follow him. We have not time to repeat the rekindled re- proaches of this indignate and eloquent lady, with whose powers in that line the reader, from the specimens already afforded, is sufficiently well acquainted. They were uttered to the winds, and are certainly not worth being re-embodied. Young Percy rushed into his father"'s study, when, perceiving the worthy gentleman apparent- ly in sound health, he suddenly checked himself, and only stammered out that " he was exceeding- ly sorry."" " Sorry— sorry — what good will your sorrow do, you graceless dog ? — Hey ! — will it cure the gout — will it drive it from the vitals when your insolent — audacious — — ?'''' " Indeed, my dear Sir — I was not aware " " Not aware — not aware of my commands P'"" " Your commands "" " Have I not a thousand times forbidden you repeat my words .'' — Did I not forbid you too to leave the room — and did I not bawl after you, 136 PERCY MALLORY. till I had nearly broken a blood-vessel in my lungs ? — I believe I spat blood. — Ask your mother there ?^' addressing his lady, who sat on the other side of the fire-place. " I think it was snufF, Mr Rycott," replied she, with most provoking frigidity of tone and manner. " You think — you think ! — why shouldn't it have been blood ? answer me that." " Only because I don't think " " Think, think again — what has a woman to do with thinking ? — the boy has inherited it — and presumes to think for himself, and set his father at nought." " I protest, Sir," interrupted the son, " I had no intention of giving oifence." " Who's the best judge of that. Sirrah ? — Did I not command you to stay — did you not bounce out of the window ?" " It was to save a life, more valuable ^" " Than your father's — thou unnatural, harden- ed, young " " Excuse me. Sir." " I will not excuse you, Sir." CHAPTER VI. 137 " I have done." " You have not done, Sir — you shall not have done — I will not have my authority disputed in my own house — your mother, there, never dis- putes " " Never, my dear."' " I'm sure. Sir," said Percy, " I never did." " Because I wouldn't suffer it, by Jove — nor wiU J suffer it now. — Why don't you answer ? — Are you dumb — or sulky — or ? Now, I dare swear, in your heart, you are setting up your fa- ther as an oppressive, tyrannical " " Who— I, Sir !" " Yes — you. Sir ! — deny it if you can !" Percy, who held an untruth in abhorrence, was silent. " Deny it — deny it — Sir — in so many words if you can — I insist " " Why, Sir — indeed — I am sorry." " No doubt — no doubt — for having such an overbearing, cruel, hard-hearted father — but, by Jove " " No, Sir — but I cannot help thinking it hard 138 PERCY MALLORY. that I should incur your anger for nothing but " '' For nothing — and so, Sir — to disobey your father''s solemn injunctions — to leave the house, merely because he enjoined you to stay in it — to exasperate a man, and that man your tender pa- rent, whose life, you know, hangs by a thread — by a hair — with the gout flying about him — and only waiting an opportunity to fix on some vital part — with lungs like a honeycomb ! — By Jove, Sir- " " Indeed, Sir — I knew no such thing." " You didn't — you haven't heard me declare it over and over again — the arthritica vaga— the " " Yes, Sir — but I remember your saying so from my cradle." " Oh ! is it so, Mr Wise- Acre ? — you don't credit it ? — your father's an old fool — a hypochon- driac, as that blockhead Drizzlethwaite had the effrontery — and he only — to call me — a — — '** " For worlds. Sir, I wouldn't presume to call my father by such names." " No, to be sure — you knew lic'd knock you CHAPTER VI. 139 down if you did — but, by Jove, you have them all at the tip of your tongue. Have you not dared to say the thing in substance ? Answer me that."" " I meant only, my dear Sir, that, if you had been for the last eighteen or nineteen years in the state your nervous apprehension " " Nerves ! — nerves ! — out of my sight ! By Jove ! — to be told by my own child — my own law- fiiUy begotten son — that all my deadly symptoms are mere nervous affections ! You have been con- sxdting Drizzlethwaite — he has let you into the mystery of his diagnostics — is it not so ? Answer me. Sirrah ! Have you not been picking the brains of that profound, skilful, and erudite Es- culapius ?"" " I have. Sir — but not "" " You have — ^by Jove, I thought as much — I thought so — and so, Sir — have you agreed to- gether — to sue out a commission of lunacy against your father — a ?^'' " God forbid, Sir ! I only answered your ques- tion, but you would not hear me out." " Hear you out ! What need of it ? Have 140 PERCY MALLORY. I not heard enougli — to be told by a boy — an imp — a suckling — a babe — zounds ! there's my fatal vertigo — ring — ring for Schwartz.''"' Both mother and son applied themselves to the bell, but no one answered the summons. — " Ring again — do you wish me to go off in an apoplexy before your eyes — without aid — without Ring twice — twice."' He was obeyed, and a stranger, perhaps, would have been surprised, at seeing Mrs Rycott quietly resume her place, and her knotting-needle, as if nothing had oc- curred ; but she was used to this sort of scene — and knew the best remedy was near at hand. " The DeviFs in you all, I beheve,'' exclaimed her husband, as he held both his hands to his head, in seeming apprehension of its bursting asunder. " Why don't you run. Sirrah — and bring the fellow here neck and crop .^ — By Jove, you are all in a conspiracy against me." Off ran Percy, happy in the opportimity of escaping. " Will the scounch-el never come ? — Ring again, woman — ring till the spring break — I'll trounce the neghgent puppy. — Aye, aye — it's all over — I feel the effect of the bursting of that vessel." CHAPITER VI. 141 " It was snufF, I assure you, Mr Rycott." " Zounds ! Mrs Mrs Rycott — Cleave the room, leave the room. — Aye, that's right — ready at a word — go, go — and leave me to die under the paroxysm — that's right — all proper — go, go — by Jove, you shan't stay." Mrs Rycott was returning — but again he bad her go — and she went, as the tardy Schwartz made his appearance, who, walking slowly and methodically up to his master's chair, demanded what was the matter. " Oh, Schwartz — my faithful fellow — I verily believe I am going off in earnest now." " Bah !" " It's no bah, Schwartz, I feel it here." " You feel'n it every where — vat the deivel ish the fagary you get — the kimmer meid com to me, and say her mashter ish ringing for life or de dead — and here you look plomp and fraish Hke your own Anglish rindfleish." " Plethora — plethora — be assured, my good Schwartz." " I'll no be assured of no soch ding — your poise 142 rERCY MALLOUY. beat von^ two, dree — like dc clock — and tisli no- ding but von great passion." " My head throbs, Schwartz, and there's no pulsation at the heart." " Vat den, as de heart got into de head ?'" " I must lose blood." "Loos the deivel — DoctoreDweezempate swear you bleed yourself into wasser — dat is drobzcy." " What am I to do, Schwartz ?" *' Noding ad all." " With this pulse r « Tish no poise." " No pulse — then it's all over with me indeed." " Tish no ower wid you — bcin quiet, and no scolda de weif and child." " I have no patience with them." " I zee — I know dat — quite a well enogh." " They think nothing-s the matter with me." " Dere is noding dc matter wid you-— I say — and dat's true." " Aye ! Schwartz — but you are tender of me, and know my constitution." " Well, den, can not you be zatizficd .p" " I must be." CHAPTER VI. 143 " Eef you pot yovirzclf in soch grand passion, just for noding ad all." " For nothing at all ?" " I zay, joost for noding ad all — you vil borzt som blode vein."" " My God r " Id isli true — pon mein zole." " I won't — I won't utter a word." " Nonseince — you speak wer well — but no speak in von passion." "FUtry." " Mein Gode ! you most do cet — or- you shall die !" " Die !" *' Like ein dog." " You may go, Schwartz." " I need note to hav com — dat I zee.'" And away stalked Mynheer Schwartz, who may, perhaps, have surprised certain of my readers, by the display of something like miraculous power in thus quelling a storm, which seemed to threaten a whole household with destruction. But let such be assured, that it was all in the natural course of things and events in this life. The notion of in- 10 144 PERCY MALLORY. dependence is one of those chimeras which germi- nate upon the pride of man. Even the Eastern mythologist, when he had acknowledged the earth to be dependant upon the elephant who bore it on his back; and he agam dependant upon the tortoise, who performed the part of a double atlas, was yet unable to make out a reason- able tale of independence in favour of the latter. There is, in fact, no such thing — surrounded by all that riches, rank, and health can supply, still is man dependant upon his fellow men, for all that essentially contributes to make up the sum of human happiness. This is too self-evident to re- quire any illustration — but there is a species of dependance which is not so apparent to the com- mon observer, and which peculiarly attaches to those who value themselves upon the power of ren- dering the world — politically or domestically speak- ing — subservient to their wishes and control. We have all read of tyrants and conquerors who mowed down nations — or heads — or whatever elsemight seem to standin the way of their power — but if we look a Httle further, and penetrate behind the scenes, wc shall generally find a niinion, a fa- 1 CHAPTER VI. 145 vourite, or a mistress, who has firm hold on some one string, by which the despot himself is held, and worked at the will and pleasure of one of those — his chief dependants ! We need not be learned on the subject by displaying all that has been said or written by historians and poets, an- cient or modern, in corroboration of the opinion. It is in every schoolboy's hands, and if it were not, we have only to open our eyes to see the same thing — though not exactly j9«n passu — every day passing in the world before us. Open them wide, and you shall see tyrannical husbands in leading-strings with their mistresses — domineer- ing fathers led by the nose by a young pet — straining landlords under the control of a steward, who knows exactly where the shoe pinches — and a pedagogue, who flogs twenty boys per diem, submitting with patience to the master spirit of a wife. Mr Rycott, during a short tour, many years previous to the opening of our history, through France and Germany, was seized with a sudden illness in an obscure and retired village in the latter country, where no medical aid was at hand. VOL. I. K 146 PEECY MALLORY. Michael Schwartz, who had just been discharged from the office of attendant upon a travelling char- latan of the native breed, and happened to be in the miserable auberge where Mr Rycott was de- tained, volunteered his ad\4ce and services, well knowing that if, by some lucky chance, he succeed- ed in favour of IVIilord Anglois — who is as duly acknowledged in Germany as in France — he would be well paid — ^beyond which, for the mo- ment, he did not extend his speculation. The landlord knew no more of him, than what he had been pleased to communicate respecting himself, during a residence of a few days under his roof, whilst pondering upon his futiu-e fortunes, and as this may be supposed to have conveyed nothing to his disadvantage — and as he was, moreover, his countryman — which Mr Rycott was not — he strongly recommended him as a " learned leech," in whom every body had great faith. Wherever a man is placed in life, he may learn something, and, although it must be acknowledged, that Michael Schwartz had seldom been permit- ted to practise upon hiped patients, he was able to wield a lance or phlcme with some dexterity. CHAPTER VI. 147 and knew how many grains of calomel or opium might be administered without incurring the charge of murder — even in a human subject. — By one of those fortunate coincidences, which not unfrequently tend to colour the future destiny of man, Mr Ry cott''s malady was precisely of that nature, which the na,rrow regimen of Michael Schwartz embraced — and, as opportunely the pa- tient was just in that stage, when the critical opera- tion of phlebotomy was necessary — so that, although by the copiousness of the evacuation — which, according to the doctor's notions, was to be left to the decision of nature, who would, doubtless, ex- hibit a syncope whenever she was satisfied — the patient was miserably reduced — all the alarming symptoms almost immediately disappeared. No wonder, then, that Michael Schwartz should become the magnus apollo of Mr Rycott, who having been informed — after a necessary prepara- tion on the part of the examinant — that he had studied physic at Leyden and other places — that he had recently lost his parents, who were persons of great respectability, but had somehow or other incurred the frowns of fortune, and that he was 148 PERCY MALLORY, now compelled to convert his distinguished abili- ties into the means of future subsistence — felt sa- tisfied that he would make a valuable acquisition in securing the exclusive services of such a man. The trap was well laid, and admirably baited for a valetudinarian — a negotiation was set on foot, and finally terminated in fixing Doctor Michael Schwartz about the person of Mr Rycott as a sort of medical valet, in which office, having found means, through a natural shrewdness of character, to make himself master of that gentleman**s fail- ings, he, in the course of years, had contrived to render himself so necessary to him, as to be nearly master of his conduct, as well as of the greater part of his household. At the period of which we are treating, Michael Schwartz might indeed be said to have been the Lord of the Val- ley, for Squire Rycott — who ruled his family and tenantry in the plenitude of patriarchal power — was as a child in the hands of this " Cardinal VVolsey," who effectually ruled the patriarch ! We are no longer to wonder, therefore, at the sudden change wrought upon Mr Rycott by the appearance of this personage in his apartment, U CHAPTER VI. 149 or at the absence of all attempt on his part to carry into effect the formidable threats he had denounced against him — in his absence — ^for his tardy answer to the peal which had been rung for him. The advice conveyed in the short consultation, and the strict obedience to it — which was the main-spring of the connection — was of infinite be- nefit to the domestic circle, as long as it was to be considered in force. After dinner, Squire Rycott led, with " un- wonted mildness," towards the subject of the morning adventures of his son, and encouraged him to detail them — at least, as far as he was dis- posed to do so — at full length. He was not, however, without his struggles — which his compa- nions might have mistaken for a suppressed covigh —as the various occurrences, which seemed to trench upon the prerogative, presented themselves as provocatives. " You are quite a knight-errant, Mr Percy," observed he, with a sneer that occasioned little exertion — when his son had finished his narra- tive. 150 I'EECY MALLORY. " So said Miss Bellenden, Sir," replied he, smiling. " D-^ Psha !— Hem !— By Jove !'' " You are not angry, Sir ?''"' " Angry — an — what ? — You wish to make me angry — do you ? — Humph !" " No, indeed, my dear Sir — I wish you to think of Miss Bellenden as I do — ^for she has made an impression upon my heart which never can be effaced.'" " Heart ! — by Jove, Sir ! — no matter — I'm quite calm — ^you may do with me as you please — I am in your hands."" " In my hands. Sir ! — then "" " Percy, my dear," interrupted Mrs Rycott, — " don't say any thing to provoke your father." " Provoke me ! Madam — ^but — * Tec turn tee dee,' " — humming a tune to keep down his accu- mulating wrath. " He had better keep his thoughts to himself, Mr Rycott." " What ! — when I license him to give them utterance ! — Go on, Sir — never mind her.'" " Indeed, Sir, I have nothing to say that can CHAPTER VI. 151 possibly give offence. It has been my good for- tune to rescue the most perfect of her sex from destruction — and I would guard her from harm through hfe.'*' " Good — good — hem ! — Perhaps, Mr Per- cy, you would condescend — to — marry her ?"" " With all my soul, Sir," returned Percy, as he almost leapt from his chair. " By Jove ! — this is intolerable — you'U be the death of me — I cannot contain — I shall burst." " You'd better not talk, my dear Mr Rycott," said his lady calmly. " Not talk — not talk ? — but no — I'll not risk my life to leave that — that boy — to marry the first beggar he finds upon a bush !" " A beggar ! Sir — Miss Bellenden ?" " Why, aye. Sir — will you fight your father for his assertion ? — but — you may say what you please just now, Sir — ^by Jove !" " You'd better say nothing at all, Percy," said the pacific Mrs Rycott ; " your poor father's a little fanciful." " Fanciful ! Madam — where did you find that word — that word, Mrs Rycott ? — 'Tis that block- 152 PERCY MALLORY. head Drizzlethwaite's coinage, I'll bet my life on"'t — but I'd have you know no — no — Oh ! my side ! 1 see your design — but I'll not be angry — no — no— go on, Sir — never mind this woman — if she were to see me a corpse — she'd say it was fancy !" " Lah ! Mr Rycott ! I'm sure, I should say no such thing." " Don't contradict me, Mrs Rycott. — I know you better than you do yourself What's the puppy grinning at — hey .'^" " I was only thinking. Sir — that "" " Only thinking ? — and what right. Sir, have you, I again ask you, to think before you come to years of discretion ? — But I am forbidden to talk — a spasm, by Jove ! — One word only — you see this girl no more." " Miss Bellenden, Sir — no more ?" " No more ! — Isn't it English, Sirrah .?— d'ye mark me .?" " Goodness me ! Mr Rycott, won't that look very odd .''" asked the good lady, just lifting her vacant eye towards her better half " Odd ! — so much the better. What have CHAPTER VI. 153 you to do with it ? — Why don't you answer, Sir- rah r " Because I am fearftil of giving offence, Sir.^ " ISIighty cautious — mighty cautious — but by Jove ! Sirrah, you shall answer.'" " What can I say. Sir r " Are you a puppet, for me to put words in your mouth ?"" " I dread " " Not to disobey your father, I warrant P'"" " I would obey him m all things, but — — " " But — but — what he commands you — hey ? — Isn''t so ? — But — ah ! — that twinge — pleuritic, by Jove l'' " Forbid me. Sir, to eat — to drink — to breathe — but do not exact such a sacrifice as INliss Bel- lenden."" " Miss Bell — de^-il ! — By Jove, Sir ! — you shall see her no more — an artf\il, cunning, sedu- cing fortune-hunter."" " Do you know her. Sir ?" " Know her ! — know her ! — what is that to you, Sirrah ? — I know well enough that girls don't 154 PERCY MALLOEY. hang themselves upon gooseberry-bushes to catch boys, if they can catch any thing better." *' By Heavens, Sir ! — pardon me — she is the noblest of human creatures." *' And Mr Percy Rycott, at the mature age of nineteen, has intuitively made the discovery in the course of a single morning ? — But I''ll not be in a passion. — no, Sir — you shall not be gratified — I'm calm, and can bear any thing — but by Jove ! —you troop — you troop, Sirrah—so pack up— and be off." " Whither, my father ?" " Shan't tell you— shall have sealed orders, by Jove !" " I must see Miss Bellenden first. Sir — com- mon decency — — " *' Decency — decency ! — a girl who throws her- self into the arms of the first boy she meets with —talk of decency ?" " I threw myself " " Worse and worse ! — be silent — ^be quiet. Sir — she''s a mere wanton— a baggage wants to practise on my weakness." " Dear heart ! Mr Rycott, what an idea !" said the lady, almost committing a smile. CHAPTER VI. 155 (( Silence, woman !— to force herself upon my family — rob me of my son — ruin his hopes — de- feat my object — plague — plague — oh ! oh ! — ring the bell — the gout tincture — Schwartz V " You'd better sit still and compose yourself, IVIr Rycott — and get calm,"" said Mrs Rycott, whose very composure was oil upon her worthy husband's fiery humour. " Compose the Devil, Madam ! — I won't sit still — I won't be calm — to be thus baited— oh ! — ^my back — my back — my loins — lumbago, by Jove ! or something worse." " Dear heart, Mr Rycott, it's as common as can be — I have it often — it comes of sitting crook- ed in your chair," observed ]\Irs Rycott, who had just taken up her eternal knotting. " What the deuce is your having it to me ? — hey, ]Mrs Rycott — I know it to be Ring — ring — why, zounds ! — here, Sirrah — Humphrey," — to the servant who just appeared at the door — " run — order Schwartz to come here immediately — and hark ye — what ! going with half a mes- sage, puppy ! — tell him to bring his lancets — his 156 PERCY MALLORY. cupping machine — FU be blooded— I'll be blood- ed !" " Men Gode — bot you shol note." " Not blooded, Schwartz ?" who had followed the servant into the room. " No — I tell dat you shol note loos von drope as moch as shal drone a flea !" " Humph !" and the poor gentleman sighed un- der his oppression. " Come wid me — you hare note feet fore de compagny." " They have irritated me beyond bearing.'" " Goodness me — Mr Rycott — how can you say " Peace !" " Pease yourself, mein good Sare — if you note compose yourself, I cannot answer de consequence which shall follow eem.'"" " Do with me as you please, Schwartz— you are my only friend."" " Come den to your stody — and take de ziesta, and I weel geeve to you what is goodc physic to make a you well." " Heigh ho !" CHAPTER VI. 157 " Tees no eigh oh— 'tis feedle ma dee ;"" and, without a word more, the bear followed his lead- er, to the abundant relief of both wife and son, who calculated upon having the remainder of the even- ing at their own disposal. In this, however, one of the parties, at least, was doomed to suffer a disappointment ; for, in the course of a few hours, the pleasure of Mr Rycott was announced to his son — by a missive from that gentleman, whose nerves were not in a state to be subjected to any additional cause of irritation from a personal interview, directing him by day-break, on the ensuing morning, to proceed to the mansion of Sir Hugh Ferebee de Lacy, in the vicinage of Carlisle, and there to re- main until fm-ther orders. Remonstrance, Percy was aware — would pro- duce no effect upon his commander. He, there- fore, began to turn in his mind, how it might be so managed as to render his obedience to the de- cree paternal subservient to, if not concurrent with, the gratification of his own wishes — for, to see IMiss Bellenden, was a point so fixed in his mind — that he would as soon have admitted a doubt of 158 PERCY MALLORY. his own identity — as the bare possibility of dis- appointment on this head. He went to the apartment of his mother, in or- der to consult with her upon the measures to be taken, for such is the consequence of tyranny in domestic as well as political matters, that it is sure to unite all who are sufferers from it in one common cause, however remote, or even opposite, the interests of the individuals. — Percy loved his mother, but he could not feel that respect for her which is the firmest link in the chain of fiUal attachment. — She was weak and uneducated, and daily committed a thousand little follies which, whilst they tended to exasperate the ever irritable feelings of her husband, tortured her son, who could not bear to see her subjected to the caprices and ill-humour to which they expos- ed her. — He might, however, have spared him- self this pain, for, to say the truth, Mrs Rycott was, happily for herself, of that quiet and placid temperament which throws oft' the cares and vexations of life, as a rock doth the rude and boisterous visitation of the waves. — She was — in simple verity, without a figure or a trope — a CHAPTER VI. 159 woman of little or no sensibility — and the appren- ticeship she had served under her task-master had, in a great measure, supplied the place of philosophy, by freezing up the scanty sources of feehng with which nature had, perhaps, original- ly endowed her. It cannot, therefore, be a matter of surprise to the reader, that, in her intercourse with her husband — whose feelings, strong by nature, and soured by circumstances with which we may here- after become acquainted, and strengthened by habitual indulgence — when she performed the part of Rock, she should, at the same time, work him up into something, which may, as apt- ly, be compared with the lashing waves of the mighty deep. I sincerely believe, and I speak from observation — that there is nothing more provoking — more gaUing — more effectively irri- tating to a passionate man, than a calm and un- moved, or contemptuous opponent. Mrs Rycott always listened listlessly to the objurgations of her husband — and as uniformly pursued her own plans. She had but to encounter a new storm — which, in process of time, she contemplated pret- 160 PERCY MALLORY. ty nearly in the saane manner as men do summer lightning ;— something to look at — perhaps to gaze upon — but nothing to dread, or be alarmed at. — Percy found his lady mother in her own boudoir, and proceeded at once to inform her of his doubts and difficulties — requesting her ad- vice—or, at least, her sanction, which he consi- dered in some measure necessary to relieve his conscience from the burthen of absolute disobe- dience to the commands of his other parent. — It is to be remembered, that he had not yet ven- tured to throw off the yoke, or even to take up the position in which his mother had entrenched herself. She heard him without interruption, and, in- deed, without a single pause in her knotting, nor, until Percy had repeated his questions in se- veral forms, and finally demanded what was to be done ? was she induced to answer him. " Go— to be sure, Percy." " Where .?" " To Sir HugVs." " I must go there, my good mother — but — I wish to see Miss Bellenden first.'^ CHAPTER VI. 161 " Well, then — what hinders you ?" " The roads lie in different directions."" " What of that, my dear .?" " If my father should hear ''"' " What, then, Percy ?'' " He woidd " " Raise a storm — what of that .''"" " I should be sorry — I do not like to irritate my father." " Nor I — but one can't help it, you know — I suppose, then, you had better not go.'"* " For Heaven's sake, my dear Madam, don't be so indifferent." " Why now, my dear Percy — what difference on earth can it make to me, whether you go or stay .?" " True, true. Madam — but to me it is every thing." " Dear heart, then, — why don't you go .?" " I have told you. Madam." " I know, I should go, in your case." " You would .?" Lah ! to be sure, my dear — if I minded VOL. I. L a 162 PEECY MALLORY. one of your fiither's storms, I should be in a fine- situation truly," " You think there is no harm, then ?"" " Harm— what harm can there be in paying a visit P"^ " True, Madam — but my father ^" " Never knows his own mind for two minutes together." " You, think, then he would not be offended ?" " Dear heart, love, what does it signify if he is ? — you might as well try to move the house as please him— and so we must e'en please oui*- selves." CHAPTER VII. 163 CHAPTER VII. The argument and the authority of his mo- ther were conclusive ; and Percy made his ar- rangements accordingly. Resolved to evade any postscript or unnecessary supplement of details to the instructions already received from his father, he ordered his groom to be ready with the horses at daybreak, — and long before the sun had penetrated into his native valley, he had left it some miles behind him. Having arrived at a particular spot, he dis- mounted, and directing his servant to wait for him at a small village within a few miles of Sir Hugh de Lacy's house, he began to ascend the hills, in order to pursue the desart tract, to the cottage of Mrs Norchff'e. He had nearly reached the point, at which the 164 PEltCY MALLOUY. first shadow of Loo Bellenden had displayed it- self to him, and turning his eyes in that direc- tion, beheld a living object, which even the ima- gination of a young and ardent lover could not invest with the attributes of the being, who had occupied it for the last four and twenty hours. Partly lost in the mist, the form, which ad- vanced slowly towards him, appeared to be gi- gantic, and yet the drapery which envelojied it bespoke it of the feminine gender. Percy, unused to find any but his own adventurous com- panions in these vast solitudes, stood still for a moment, awaiting the approach of the stranger — and even grasped his pole as if he felt it neces- sary to stand upon the defensive. " Who are you — and what do you here .'*" he demanded. '* A woman — and my business, with you !" " Do you know me .''" dropping the point of his pole. " Better than you do yourself, Percy Rycott !" " Speak, then — for I am in haste *'"' " Go not to Glcndara, for there lurks dan- ger." CHAPTER VII. 165 " Psha — what have you to do with my go- ings, or danger ?" " Much — and more than I dare speak," " Come, my good woman, it is impossible you can have anything to say or to do with me ; — if you want money, here it is for you — ^but do not interrupt me, for I repeat I am in haste." " Stay, young headstrong, and, by the stars, I wiU unfold " " Silly old lassie, you have mistaken your man, — you look the sybil better than you act it. Stand off — I am no fool for such as you to play with." " You believe in Providence ?'''' " And therefore despise the tricksters who would assume to be its agents. Descend from your stilts, for I am not to be awed by weird or wizard." " Then, to speak plain, — you are going to your fate." " That is as it may be — go, I certainly shall — why, thou foolish old quean, — who the deuce put you upon this piece of mummery ? — did my father employ thee ?" ii 166 PEBCY MALLORT. " Heaven employed me." " Have done with your mummery, and if you really have a part to act — act it out quickly, or if lyou will speak plain English, I will buy you off your job. — Psha, — leave your antics — do you not see they are thrown away upon me ?"" And yet you shall repent." Losing my time with thee, I surely shall, — so I will save myself from fruther "" " Stop — Percy Rycott, — you little know what you are doing." '^' I am going to Glendara — you seem to know as well as I." " I said you were going to your ruin." " And I laughed, as I do again, at your pre- diction." " It may be, on the wrong side of your mouth." " There spoke plain English — answer as plain- ly for what purpose my father sent you hither." " Know ye — your father ?"" " Aye, Goody — and therefore am I a wise son." Not o'erwise, an ye rest on that. CHAPTER VII. 167 " None of your grimacing — answer me plainly about my father." " I dare not, — the hour is not ripe." *' Then I cannot wait for its coming, so re- turn. Goody, and tell him all you know, and he will not be much the wiser." " He will be wiser ere long." " Not if he make you his oracle — but I waste time ^" " Or rather save it " " With you, when I might be ^" " With Loo Bellenden !" " With — but why the devil dost thou watch my motions .?" " You see I understand them, at least — this is no high road." " At your conjuring again, old lady — but he who sent you might have given a shrewd guess- it is now too late, thank heaven, for him to act upon it." " Not too late for you to retreat." " It will be too late for me to go forward at least, unless I run for it — so Goody, farewell — now for your valediction, or malediction if you 168 PERCY MALLORY. will — that's the posture — wave your arm, and out with it."" " I'll not bear this, thou young 'scape-grace — but stop — stay, I charge you, and I will speak " " InteUigibly ?" " To your heart's core — I am no fool of old Rycott's." " Speak more reverently, Goody, of my fa- ther." " I name him not." " You shall not without due respect." " Honour where honour is due." " Out of bounds again — what — the devil quote scripture.-^ You don't support your character, thou grim white woman !" " Know thine own !" " I leave that to wiser men." " And yet you profess to be wiser " " Than to lose another moment with thee." " Then hear — in one word " " No more — I swear " " 1^00 Bellendcn is your fate." CHAPTER VII. 169 " And a very pretty fate she is — I wouldn't de- sire a better — ^but are you sure of your words ?" " As sure as " " Then 111 shew my faith in you, by pursuing it." " And embrace infamy." " Woman ! — audacious fiend ! — for I begin to think thee something more — or ratlier less than hu- man — how darest thou profane the name of Loo Bellenden by such an association ? — But 111 have thee set in the stocks — or give thee the ducking- stool." " And who shall set me there, thou poor crea- ture .?" " The beadle — and the crier — I shall not send priests or exorcists after thee, beldame !" " By hell, you shall do my will." " By Heaven, I will not — but I like your plain- ness — there spake pure mortality." " Would you — listen to me — would you dis- grace the blood you seem so proud of?" " Is that a question from such as thou art ?'"' " You may make it a question." *' Who dares suspect me ?''"' 170 PERCY MALLOBY. " One — who dares charge thee.'" " Thou infernal hag— 111 " " Spare your threats — I heed them not— I re- peat, you are tempting your ruin — and the dis- grace of the blood you are so proud of."" " How ?" ' By seeking her whom you seek."" ' No cant, thou vile woman — Do you mean < Miss Bellenden ? " She " " Is what ?" " The chUd of shame." " Beware "" " Of infamy .'^ " Silence, thou less than woman, and more than fiend r " Unacknowledged." " 'Tis false as hell." " Sound the truth — and you shall find it ;" — and turning a look upon him as malignant as if she were really possessed of the " evil eye," she muttered some unintelligible threat, and left Per- cy to pursue his way. He was by no means beliind hand in the wishes CHAPTER VII. lyi he bestowed upon her at parting ; but, neverthe- less, if her object was to wound the feehngs of the young man, she had fully gained her point ; for, although he would probably have shot the next person he met through the head, if he had repeat- ed her assertion, he was by no means satisfied in his own mind that it might not be true. The deep obscurity in which Mrs NorclifFe had lived — his utter ignorance of her name — and of course of her family connections, although living within a few miles of his own home, bespoke something like mystery, and awakened in his mind doubts and suspicions which certainly did not contribute to its peace or satisfaction. To himself, however, he did not acknowledge even this — the pain and annoyance which he felt — and even the agitation with which he pidled the bell at the door of Glendara Cottage, he attribut- ed exclusively to the indignation excited by the base calumnies of the momitain hag. 172 PERCY MALLORY. CHAPTER VIII. Percy was conducted to the presence of Mrs NorclifFe, who received him alone in the drawing- room, and, after politely thanking him for the share he had borne in rescuing her niece, entered upon some general topics which seemed scarcely within the sphere of Percy's intelligence, whose whole attention was directed towards the door, which he momentarily expected would be opened by Miss Bellenden. " The morals of the lower classes, Sir, are, as I before observed, strangely neglected in these parts, and it were much to be wished that there were more worthy pastors to superintend these scattered flocks." " Plenty, Madam — plenty." " Sir !" CHAPTER VIII. 173 " Plenty of pastors — but is Miss Bellen- den perfectly recovered from the effects of her alarm ?" " Perfectly, Sir — Nothing affects her for ten minutes together — She is lost " " Madam I" exclaimed Percy, as he half rose from his chair. " Lost in a world of frivolity."" " Miss Bellenden — I thought. Madam, she had grown up in this retirement."" " She has hitherto lived in retirement — but of what avail is it, if her wild flow of spirits exclude from her all serious contemplation, and blind her to every thing future .^''■'— A maid now entered the room, and having answered " Yes, my lady," to a whispered question — laid a key upon the table and retired. " Blessed state of innocence !" " Did you speak, Sir ?" " I was only admiring the charming influence of a guileless heart, Madam, over the animal spirits of youth." " I am afraid. Sir, you have never reflected deeply on the subject." 174 PERCY MALLOBY. " Never, Madam — it must be felt to be duly appreciated, and is not to be analyzed." " Pray, Sir — has Mr Rycott a chaplain in his house ?" " A chaplain, Madam ! — he would as soon think of having a confessor." " And yet, Sir — I must needs think that the advantage of a constant monitor-—! speak of men of real vital piety — a regvdar overseer and check upon our daily and hourly conduct " " Bless your soul, my dear Madam — you don't know my father — he wouldn't bear a check, though the Archbishop of Canterbury himself were to take him in hand." " Perhaps not the Archbishop of Canterbury, but an adviser of another character." " Oh, Madam ! I can't go farther than the Archbishop — if he won't do — we must give up the question." " By no means. Sir — there are men, who, de- spising the things of this life — who content to humble themselves " " - That they may be exalted — I understand, Madam, but 1 bog j)ardon — may I hope for CHAPTEU VIII. 175 the honour of paying my respects to Miss Bellen- den?" " I never suifer Miss Bellenden, Sir, to inter- rupt my morning meditations — she has her own pursuits." " May I be permitted to "" " She has not left her chamber." Percy had forgotten that, in spite of his deten- tion by the old woman of the mountain, he had so winged his flight, by the force of attraction, that his visit was made at a very unusual and rather unseasonable hour— and turning his eye towards a half-opened folding-door, perceived a breakfast- table as yet unviolated by a hungry guest. He faltered out an apology — and endeavoured to ex- plain the circumstances which had led to so early a visit. The lady merely bowed, and took up a tract that was on the table before her. Percy, feeling the awkwardness of a prolonged interview, when the silence of both parties seemed to point out that there was no necessity for its continuance, determined to say something. " You have lived some time, Madam, in this delicious retirement .''" 176 I'ERGY MALLORY. " For some time in the neighbourhood."" " It is extraordinary that I should never be- fore have had the happiness of meeting " " Nothing extraordinary, Sir — since we admit few guests — and do not purpose to extend our circle." " Madam ! — I only mean that by chance." " We did not leave it to chance, Sir — Every hmnan being is responsible for his motives, as well as actions, as Mr Flowerdew justly observes." " In trivial matters. Madam, it may be pre- sumed that so rigid a self-examination ^" " Trivial matters. Sir ! — is the eye that watches the fall of a sparrow " " Good God ! Madam — are such things " " Profane not the holy name." " I stand corrected, Madam — but I thought enthusiasts or Methodists alone held this extreme doctrine." " I see. Sir — young as you appear to be, you are duly tinctured with the vanities and profane- ness of the world — the Lord help you." " Mr Flowerdew, Mada,m, in the study," said a servant — " I wish you a good morning, Sir," — CHAPTEK VIII. 177 the lady added, as she opened a side door of tlie apartment. " I am bound to thank you, Sir, as an instrument in the hands of Providence for the rescue of Miss Bellenden from probable death — which, in her state, alas ! — wovdd be death mdeed — but farther we cannot presume to judge, nor are we bound to consider the fitness or wortliiness of the instrument employed." So saying, the good lady touched the bell, and leaving the room, closed the door after her. Percy was thunderstruck — He had felt no dis- position to overrate his services, as we have seen — and had most devoutly returned thanks to Heaven for so awful an instance of its interposition in sav- ing himself and his companion from what appear- ed to be an inevitable fate. But he certainly was not prepared to have his exertions so coolly de- preciated—or to be lectured upon his want of Christian feeling in the first moment of his life, in which he felt it had been duly and powerfully excited. He was not long left to his ruminations upon a reception so unexpected, for the servant answering the summons of the beU, asked him, "If he had rung ?'" VOL. I. M 178 PEttCY MALLOEY. " No" — answered Percy — " no — I don't think I did." " I thought, mayhap ^" " No" — ^'again faltered Percy — " no— I didn't — at least I don't recollect touching the bell." " It was Missis then." " Very likely." " To let your Honor out." " I am not going — I shall wait your lady's re- turn." " Lord love ye, Sir — Mr Flowerdew and she will be a good hour thegether, afore they has us in." " In !" " To prayers." " Oh ! — I beg pardon — you are going to fami- ly prayers .^" " Lah ! no. Sir — we han't them — we ha Par- son Flowerdew's prayers." " He reads them, you mean .?" " Read ! — no — he makes them — all like any- thing." " Makes them 1" CHAPTER VIII. 179 " Yes, your Honor — they're all trumpery pray- ers.'^ " Extempore, perhaps ?" " Aye, trumpery." " I'U take a turn in the garden, until——" " Your Honor — Missis never lets no stranger into the garden." " I wish to see Miss Bellenden." " You'd better not let Missis know that." " And why, prithee .'*" " Cause why ? — she never lets her loose to see no strangers." " I am no stranger, friend, to Miss BeUenden." " That's all the waur — for she have had such a sessararo for yesterday's business as set Mam- selle into fits agen." " And she— Miss BeUenden." " Oh ! — why, it set she a laughing, and so Missis would have sent forMrFlowerdew to preach to her, if Mamselle hadn't declared it was his tricks, just like her own." " WiU she not come down to breakfast ?''' " Not till Mr Flowerdew's done wi' mistress." " She will—then." 180 PEECY MALLORY. " Yes — if your Honor's gone." " Not till I am gone ?"" " Why, lah ! your Honor, she's always lock- ed up, when strangers calls." " What can this mean ?''' " That's as clear as the pike-staff in your Ho- nor's hand." '* What .?" " That you be'nt to see her." " I am resolved ^" " That's nought, Sir — she were resolved last night that, come when you would, she would see you." " Say you so ?''"' " Aye, sure do I." " Why then, open war — there are two guineas, my lad, to shew me her apartment." " What argufies her apartment, didn't your Honor see Jessy give Missis the key .?" " The key ! — what, is she literally locked up ?" " As literatcly as your Honor stands there." " Where does her window open ?" " Just over the porch." CHAPTER VIII. 181 a Enough — I will go."" " I'm glad on't, for you'd soon have Parson Flowerdew on your back — and then, Lord have mercy upon you !" " The Devil take Parson Flowerdew " " Stop, stop, your Honor, if he were to hear you." " What then ?" " He'd call ye names out of the Bible, as long as my arm." Percy indignantly left the house, but turning to view the window embosomed in jasmine, and other " sweet parasites," which Peter had point- ed out as belonging to the apartment of Miss Bellenden, he paused — at first dreading to be guilty of the impropriety of intruding upon her privacy, and even doubting whether he was quite sure of being right, in committing her with the formal lady of the mansion. Resolved at length, he struck the iron point of his pole with force upon the gravel walk, and hemmed aloud, as if oppressed by a cough. — He saw he had been heard, — a muslin curtain, gently moved by a hand within, gradually open- 182 PERCY MALLORY. ed to his \iew the object he had been at so much pams to seek, blooming with all the freshness of the morning, and breaking like the dawn upon his bewildered faculties. He was indeed so charmed, that he stood fixed without the power of speech, apparently forgetfiil, that, as he had called up the fair spirit, he was bound at least to speak to it — ^but he appeared doomed to reverse the fate of Cymon, and to be stultified by the beauty which should have given him new life and existence. The casement was gently opened. " I fear," uttered the sweetest voice that ever broke the silence of nature, " I fear, IVIr Rycott, you have met with a very ungracious return for all your goodness. My aunt has rather peculiar notions upon these subjects." " What return can any humble service of mine merit, which is not at this moment repaid tenfold into my heart .?" " Ah ! Mr Rycott, we must not talk of hearts ; it is not only a forbidden, but a dangerous topic," she added smiling. " I am not even allowed to speak of my gratitude — but be assured I can feel CHAPTER VIII. 183 as deeply as those who are at liberty to talk of it by the hour together."" " I am tortured to see you thus immured — thus enslaved to caprices which it were a virtue to elude." " And so, run away from them ?" " Yes, by Heaven ! — and I a star to guide thy footsteps !" " You are not yet in the ascendant," she said as she smiled at his ardour. " Light borrowed from thee would guide me to it." " Do you know, you are talking very wild- ly, though, it must be admitted, very eloquent- ly?" " I am mad." " We should change places then — but you will admit that it is hard I should be confined for your crime." " Is it a crime to adore — to — — " " The greatest possible, in this instance at least ; and I am not sure whether your idolatry might not cost you a limb, at least, if you should be taken in the fact." " Why then art thou an angel ?" 184 PEHCV MALLORY. " C'est un pourquoi pour un pourquois — en- core un ange — mais Monsieur allez — vite — go your way,''— cried his old acquaintance the French night-cap from a neighboiu-ing casement. " Nay, Mademoiselle." " Eh bien — Mademoiselle — bon — bote Saar, it ees note de question, ven Madame Norcliffe hav don de prieres, she vil play de diable vid us all — for your stay mak here." " Let me entreat you," added Miss Bellenden smiling, " to be gone — you will only offend my aunt, and " " I am gone — only — — " " Allez vite — she openn cr door." " Hear me, Miss Bellenden, one word." " It must be only one." " May I hope to see you again ?" " Not for a month at least." " An age — Oh ! say !" " I can only say what is probable — my wan- derings of yesterday might have been fatal but for you — but as it was, it betrayed my truancy and Mademoiselle's good nature." " Heaven bless Mademoiselle." " Je vous remcrcie, Monsieur — vou aar bien CHAPTER VIII. 18o poll — oui, Mademoiselle, il n'est pas si bete comme je '' " I hear a noise from below," whispered Miss Bellenden ; " pray, Sir — go — and carry, if you value them, my blessing and eternal gratitude."^ " Oh ! for a sentiment yet more tender." " Mais, Monsieur ^" " Hush, ma chere Mademoiselle." " Oh ! say — that I am not hated !" " I will say much more." " That you " " Fi done, Monsieur." " That I never shall cease to entertain the tenderest recollection of what I owe to you." " You owe me nothing — and yet — could I — did I dare hope my heart " " Heart again — remember my warning." " Oh ! I am past all warning — say but I may hope for your love by years of servitude and devotion." " Madame Norcliife — Monsieur — ron vid your legs — vite " '* Let the storm break — let the world unite against me — be you Miss Bellenden ^" 186 PERCY MALLORY. " Locked up for a twelvemonth — nay, nay, no protestations — I would not have you insulted." " But — may I live in hope ?" " To be sure you may, or what would life be worth ?" " Of— of your " *' Yes, yes — of our meeting again.'*'' " Your love ?" " Heavens ! what a word ! — why, you make me as much afraid of you as my aunt."" '• And yet '' " Nay — nay — I repeat to you — hearts and love are forbidden gi'ound— and you will be caught."——- " I am already caught " " By Mrs NorcUffe and her household ? — nay, now she is on the stairs." " Would she were in Heaven!" " For shame !" " I heed her not — if you bid me stay." " I — I beseech you to go." " I fly." " And yet move not.?" " Vite — vite. Monsieur — nous serons abimes si ^' CHAPTER VIII. 187 " Say — I shall see you again ?" " Well — well — you shall — go — go." " When r " How can a captive say ?" At this moment Mrs Norcliffe's voice was heard in a tone of remonstrance within Miss Bellenden''s chamber — and the muslin curtain restored to its former station — but not before the snow-white hand, as it relaxed its hold, had waved a silent adieu. " No power shall awe me — speak, Miss Bel- lenden, say you are safe — unhurt — uncontrolled — not all the host of hell shall move me."" " Misericorde, Monsieur !"" whispered IMade- moiselle, as she softly closed her window. "INIay Heaven move thee, young man,"" drawled out a voice in a half chaunt, as the door of the house opened, and a very handsome young man, with strait combed black hair, and a countenance of profoimd gravity, advanced towards him. " Heaven ! is not Paradise before me ?"" " Profane youth— thou knowest not what thou sayest." " I say, at least, only what I feel,"" retorted 188 PEECY MALLORY. Percy ; " and there would be more honesty in the world, if all men did the same !*" *' Impious reflection !"''' " I request, Sir, you will be silent — I have nothing to do with you."" " You have nothing to do here." " Much — and more than you dream of.'" " Sir !" " Yes, Sir — so stand off.'' " Are you aware to whom you address your- self?^ " I guess — the Confessor of Mrs Norcliffe — but I want none such — thank God I can confess myself." " Confessor, Sir 'r *' Aye, Sir — I don''t know what you call your- self — but it answers the purpose for which I use it — and that's sufficient."" " Sir — I must insist upon you leaving this place." " Are you master here, Sir .?" " I am the humble delegate of ^" " Then, I can have nothing to say to your humility — I always deal with principals. — Ma- dam — Miss Bcllcnden !" calling up to the window. CHAPTER VIII. - 189 " Be silent," he heard in the voice of Mrs Nor- cliffe. " Silence ! I command you !" repeated the Re- verend Mr Flowerdew, as he authoritatively di- rected his words towards the window. " Nay, then," cried Miss Bellenden, laughing, as she once more withdrew the invidious veil of mushn ; " if it be only to assert my female inde- pendence — I must speak." Mrs Norcliff'e was evidently endeavoiu-ing to withdraw her from the window. " Madam — Madam," cried Miss Bel- lenden more gravely, " do not subject me to the necessity of disputing an authority I have hither- to cheerfully obeyed, without strictly analysing the justice of its exercise — ^but until Mr Flower- dew produce his credentials, I must be permitted to protest against every attempt on his part to im- pose either a spiritual or temporal yoke upon me." " Presumptuous child of vanity !" « Silence, man !" exclaimed Percy fiercely. " Let me entreat, Mr Rycott," she added, turn- ing towards him, " that you will subject yourself to no further insult or inconvenience on my ac- count." 190 PERCY MALLORY. " Is the girl mad ?" exclaimed Mrs NorclifFe, now appearing at the window — and again endea- vouring to interpose her authority. " Neither mad — nor possessed, as Mr Flower- dew has, more than once, most charitably insinu- ated — but above dissimulation — as superior to injustice. Mr Percy Rycott — to you, I repeat, I am indebted for more than I owe to any other created man — for to you, under Heaven, I am indebted for life itself — for preservation from a horrible and appalling death — I owe it, Sir — ^not to any casual or passing sentiment of compassion, but to the voluntary predetermined resolution of risking your own life to save mine — Providence smiled upon the noble eifort — and saved both— do not then suppose ''"' " I conjure you, Madam,*" cried Mr Flower- dew, addressing himself to Mrs Norclift'e, and in- capable of restraining his passion ; " not to al- low this profane — vain babbling !" " By Heavens ! Sir,'"' interrupted Percy, seiz- ing his arm, " if you treat this masterpiece of divine eloquence with such irreverence, I shall 1 CHAPTER VIII. 191 question the authority of the commission, which, alone, even now, screens you from my resentment." Mr Flowerdew uttered only a groan — but look- ed " unutterable things'" towards the window. Miss BeUenden, without seeming to regard the interruption — or the continued remonstrances of Mrs NorclifFe, who repeatedly called for the aid of Mademoiselle Baguenaudiere, though she ap- peared not at her bidding — proceeded in her ad- dress to Percy — " Do not suppose, Sir, that the feelings awak- ened in my breast by your noble conduct can ever be effaced — still less, that they are likely to be affected by any thing which has occurred in this strange, and, on our part, discourteous proceeding. I submitted, without opposition, to the interdict of Mrs Norcliffe, because I deemed it of little importance whether I expressed feelings towards you — feelings which must live and die with me — to-day — or to-morrow — or a week hence." " Angel of light !" exclaimed Percy, hiu-ling Mr Flowerdew from him. " Deluded sinner !" " Peace, Sir — or "" 192 , PEECY MALLORY. " Be patient, Mr Rycott — I am possessed of an independent spirit — and am roused, not de- pressed, by any attempt at oppression or injustice. I should scarcely feel justified in acting as I now do, were it not that I consider myself responsible for the slights you have experienced." " I feel them not." " Be it so — / do — most deeply — and it is ne- cessary to my peace of mind, that you should know the full extent of my feelings." *' Was there ever such effrontery T' interrupt- ed Mrs Norchffe. " What is this world come to.?" " What, indeed !" re-echoed Mr Flowerdew. *' Once more. Sir I" fiercely retorted Percy. *' I have little more to say," added Miss Bel- lenden. " I have no cause to blush for my sen- timents. Why should I then hesitate, under such circumstances, to avow them .? They arc the offspring of faith in that Being who implanted them for the best and noblest of purposes." " There is no standing this, Mr Flowerdew," crictl Mrs Norchffe, turning up her eyes, which CHAPTER VIII. 193 was the only sign the reverend gentleman dared repeat. " Yes, Madam," continued Loo Bellenden ; " for the best and noblest of purposes — to attest our love of virtue — and afford the charm of sym- pathy to warm into life every impulse of benevo- lence. ]\ir Rycott at least will understand me — it must be my endeavour, certainly, that he should not misunderstand me — as those who ought to know me best have done. I have spoken — freely and unreservedly — the feelings of my heart."" " Gracious, and best of human beings !" " I have characterized them as truly " " Inspired by virtue''s self*' " No — Mr Rycott — I am an humble, and a very erring being — but I am an honest one — and before I relieve you from your most irksome situation " " Irksome ! — I would not change it for the diadem of Europe."" " You shall change it very shortly, I pro- mise you,"" cried Mrs Norcliffe, retiring to pidl the bell, which she did with no little violence. " Madam,'"" said Miss Bellenden-—" I shall not VOL. I. X 194 PERCY MALLORY. detain Mr Rycott long — but it is right that you should hear what I have further to say.*" Then, again addressing Percy, she proceeded — " It would be impossible to misinterpret certain ex- pressions which, in the warmth of your own feel- ings, my dear Sir, have escaped your lips, even if I were inclined to play the dissembler — but no — if I had no other motive for my honesty, my gratitude towards you would compel it." " Oh ! if I am blessed with a dawn of hope, say so — speak it boldly — fear nothing — I will look these obstacles into annihilation." " I am struck dumb," groaned Flowerdew. " Remain so !" and Percy darted towards him, as the reverend gentleman hastily retreated into the house. " You spare me, my dear Sir, the difficulty of explaining myself — for we must be novices, at least, in what is called love." " My life seems to have been made up of love," cried Percy — " and to have been ripening into this one hour of bliss." " You pain me, Mr Rycott — another time I would have endeavoured to hiugh you out of CHAPTER VIII. 195 what I once before was saucy enough to call your heroics. But, at present, my duty is more im- perative and grave ; and, that I may not even be suspected of trifling with a being, for whom, I do not hesitate to say, I would sacrifice — yes, willingly,'"' cried she, with an enthusiasm that glowed on her cheek, and sparkled in a tear — " sacrifice the life he saved — he must learn from my own lips a truth, which may save him from much future suffering — if he were disposed to suffer,"'"' and she smiled as she spoke it, " for one like me.'' " For thee ! — yes — all that the world can inflict." " Never, I trust — and pray. — Love must make no part of that covenant into which my gratitude and esteem have already entered into with you. — Hear me out — I am young — and know little of what is meant by love, beyond the romantic de- scriptions of the poets — but my soul is armed against it."""* " What do I hear ?" " It is not that I have tried it — but that I avoid it ; for, if I have learnt the little I do know of it correctly, love seeks the happiness of the object 1S« i^ - Y. Mrs N«areiJe^ inuy ■" '. 12: _ '-^ '- ■ ^. itsufe. .v^rs^ '•*isl3l nr — 'jar ins&esr :rFEaBs©& nwmi THcanmL ant mssn. xtznssS^ «-- leiiuiL'^iilff. _i: Ta (snndintEe Tpt ^iuskSL IPifff 3fe£- RTTffRrr lanait isitl:?^ :iiic ssqe w^r amn. ant tt TTtTrrr .iiirTRfL arr^vrmf tiri7iT yw*wr 1F?¥!t??: *- 3^?^::;. je^j^si. 3i~ : : iiesssL. arrf lyiiarniar arg^; — nETOar "»iiL ^ mmsr i iami^- ^ aaial tnian: ic i'vst a !«iHflikHJUL nf JngairarT ~ 7^ Twn: «fUL :E-njiff je Si^"'' srafl iBssE TO g TRK iwignttw^^rrvT tp" t jiuss: ie ttSBS V3'5SI. lIKWiSl. "▼IlL : X *'J1L aHF- ToeuneL is ife T FfTfc i::- . tt -^ef TTmrmr -friHT- TTtan: n: ^ jtemanE i- :iiri3i: nt -tiEE nmranair. 198 PERCY MALLOllY. " This is no sudden or hasty determination, believe me — it has been my fixed resolve, from the moment I was of an age to understand my rela- tive situation in life — nothing can induce me to change it — and, least of all," added she, with a smile, sufficient to banish all reason from the breast of Percy, " in a case, where the best affec- tions my poor heart is capable of bestowing are rivetted by a gratitude, which, I glory to repeat, will expire only with the last breath of existence. If you are content to share in all I can honor- ably grant — if you can be satisfied with the friendship and sisterly affection of Loo Bellen- den, we may again meet. May Heaven bless and protect you, Mr Rycott ;"'' and she raised one hand towards Heaven, whilst the other was held to her forehead — and the curtain again concealed all but her shadowed outline — which, in a mo- ment, was again lost by her evident retreat. Percy called to her to return. He had a thou- sand things to say — a thousand protestations to make — but he was unheeded — and, at length, by a desperate cffiirt, tore himself away from the spot, which contained all that he now thought worth possessing in life. 11 CHAPTER IX. 199 CHAPTER IX. He walked slowly onward, occasionally stop- ping to look back upon the casket which contain- ed his treasure. He retraced a few steps, as if resolved to re-enter the house. Again he asked himself what end it could answer to force his way amid tumult, insidt, and uproar — he went for- ward — he would write to her — he would solicit a private interview — he would avow his resolution to marry her, even though she were a beggar\s brat. Hah ! — he had here touched a tender point — he had been educated, from his cradle, in certain notions of family pride, which revolted at any thing like contamination of blood — ^his father could not make him hypochondriacal — he could not make him testy, for his own testiness, like the drunken Helots, would have operated a cure, had 200 PERCY MALLORY. it even descended in his blood — but the pride of family having nothing to oppose it in its progress — and having proved, as he had often observed, a check upon his father's conduct, when his pas- sions had nearly led him into some criminal ex- cess, it had taken such deep root, as almost to have become an integi*al part of his very exist- ence. He saw all the difficulties and prejudices he had to encounter — but in once more looking down upon the distant cottage, he thought he saw Loo 'Bellenden, and forgot them all ; and it was not until he had descended very considerably in the opposite direction, that he was compelled to admit that his case was hopeless, and his fu- ture life a blank. I believe this is the natural course of a first love — when it meets its first im- pediment — and the next resolution he formed was to be as miserable as possible, and to consider the whole world, as his father had done before him, leagued in strict union and confederacy against him. But Loo Bellcndcn had promised him her friendship — had pledged herself to see him — why was he to be miserable, hopeless, or misanthro- CHAPTER IX. 201 pic ? — The sun shone fortli at the moment, and he took it as a happy omen. " She will love me in time," — but — but aye, this htd. He thought the sun was obscured by a cloud — he looked up, and it shone bright as before. 'Twas strange — perhaps she had noble blood in her veins ! — Psha ! what has blood to do with hap- piness ? — a man might as well think about money — she might still be his — but — but, again, what would his father say ! Fathers have been disobeyed on points hke these — and happiness is not to be sacrificed to a foohsh prejudice. But his own prejudice — what was he to do with that ? He approached the village, and saw his groom waiting with the hor- ses. The servant advanced, and Percy was cer- tainly not proud to his inferiors. " Began to think your Honor had lost your way." " And what the devil is it to you — if I had ?" The man stared — Percy walked forward with- out mounting — and the servant followed, leading the animals at a half trot after liim. Percy's vision still embraced Glcndara — the cottage— the 202 PERCY MALLORY. window — the muslin curtain — and the fair form which it enshrouded. He had sworn a thousand times to his father, when in a placable mood, that he would sacrifice life, rather than entail a blot upon the family escutcheon. " A spuri- ous offspring ! — ' Obscure,' she said, certainly — it might be. Confound the fellow — why do you follow me with your cursed chatter .?" " I only spoke to bay Malton, your Honor — she wanted to play with the pole there dragging ater you." " What's that to me .?" " I only '' " Peace — you distract me ;"" and distracted the poor man supposed him to be, and thought him more like his father, than he had ever seen him before. A long pause ensued — during which, a mile of road, at least, had been traversed. Percy sud- denly stopping, appeared to his servant a new being. His brow was cleared — a smile curled his lip — he set his foot in the stirrup — vaulted on his favourite steed — and lifting his foraging cap from his head, seemed, with his handkerchief, in CHAPTEB IX. 203 the act of brushing away the cobwebs which had for some time been meshing themselves about his brain. " Have you been long waiting, Benjamin P'' " Yes, your Honor — a good bit." " I'm sorry to have kept you."" " Oh, it's nothing, your Honor, now that "" " I beg your pardon, Ben — mount ;"" — and if Benjamin thought him a little odd on foot, he set him down as a very devil on horseback — for he clapped his heels to the sides of the animal, and rode off as if the view holloa had been given from a whole field of fox-hvmting veterans. Why was he so suddenly transported ? the reader will natu- rally ask. — He had determined upon a Platonic friendship with Miss Loo Bellenden — and made up his mind to consult his playmate and confiden- tial friend, Miss de Lacy, upon the interesting subject. If this be not accepted as a sufficient rea- son for the sudden metamorphosis — or, if you, my fair young friend, suppose, that such trifling causes are insufficient to light up, or to extinguish hope in a lover's breast, I am perfectly satisfied 204> PERCY MALLORV. you are a novice, and know nothing at all about the matter. — You had better consult your mama, whether it will be prudent for you to read any further until you have gained a little more actual experience. In about half the time it would have taken an ordinary horseman to reach Lacy Royal, Percy and his panting groom arrived at the park^ gates, and in " no time," as the modern expressicm goes, — he was at the Castle. But before we proceed a step further, it is incumbent upon me to present to my readers the worthy Baronet, whose domains we have tluis entered — and they may consider themselves in good luck, if they are permitted to escape some of those formalities in the mode of introduction — with not a tittle of which the lord and master himself would have dispensed, were the ceremony to be performed in person. CHAPTER X. 205 CHAPTER X. SiE Hugh Ferebee de Lacy was lineally de- scended from an old Norman family, and inherit- ed, with the honors, all the pride of ancestry — but there was nothing offensive in his mode of dis- playing it beyond a certain stiff formality of man- ner, which seems to be inherent in the family of the Grandisons, to whom he was allied through the marriage of his father. Sir Hugh, in his younger days, had, owing to the loss he sustained in the premature death of both his parents, been educated, almost entirely, under the eye of his venerable maternal relation. Sir Charles, with whose character the historical reader has been minutely made acquainted through the indefatigable labours and researches of tlie fa- mily biographer, Mr Richardson. It is not to 10 206 PERCY MALLOEY. be wondered at, therefore, that the young Sir Hugh, thus early imbued with the refined habits and manners of his great exemplar and archetype, should, in his advances towards maturer age, have found his predilection for them increase in proportion as the daring innovations and iiu*oads of the succeeding generations graduated through the several orders, Macarony, Blood, and Buck, into the mongrel breed, which now passes under the generic classification of Dandy ! — We regret that the introduction has necessarily been so long de- ferred ; but Sir Hugh, at the period we are now treating of, was in his sixtieth year, and had, during that period, almost constantly resided up- on the principal family estate of Lacy Royal, in Cumberland ; so that, whatever may have been the justice of his early opinions concerning the dignity of the human character, or of its various modes of developcment, there was as little oppor- tunity as there appeared to be inclination on his part to adopt the improvements, as others may be disposed to term them, which the changefid hue of fashion had, in the ])rogress of years, tlirown over the habits and manners of his countrymen. CHAPTER X. 207 Both in his dress, and in the furniture of his family mansion, the consistent uniformity of his opinions was observable — and whilst on his own person still reposed in primeval dignity the so- Htaire and rosette of the meille cour, the walls re- tained their hangings of Gobelin tapestry — or shone hke the floors, coeval, at least, with the reign of Elizabeth, with black oak pannels. There was a history attached to every moveable in the house, and not a carpet or chair-cover presented itself without recording an auto-biographical in- stance of notability in grandmama Bridget, good aunt Tabitha, or the " ever-to-be-lamented'*'' kins- woman Penelope, who died in snapping the last skein of worsted from the Herculean labour of the twelve apostles, as large as life, in the saloon of Lacy Royal ! Every thing was magnificent, although the magniticence of another era, and it would have appeared incongruous even to a mo- dern eye, if the noble host had figured among his ancestorial relics in a jockey coat, or a cropped jaxey of the present cut. Percy, from early childhood, had been in the habit of passing much of his time at Lacy Royal, 208 PERCY MALLORY. where the triple refined urbanity of the Baronet appeared to considerable advantage, in contrast with the less studied and more abrupt manners of Mr Levison Rycott. Sir Hugh had been blessed with only two children, a son and a daughter. The latter, Gertrude de Lacy, had been the constant sharer of Percy's early confidence, and the partner, whenever the discipline of the house did not pre- clude it, of his boyish pursuits. The son, Gran- dison de Lacy, had been the only emigrant from the family mansion, for Sir Hugh would on no ac- count have departed from the general system of the family to despatch the heir, after a certain resi- dence at the university, on a tour through Europe, under the superintendence of a tutor, who had ori- ginally educated him beneath the paternal roof, and been chosen for his strict conformity to the family predilections^-oj as others may choose to designate them — prejudices. Tliis gentleman and his pro- tege were hourly expected at Lacy Royal, when Percy, so sorely against his will, was compelled to become an inmate of it. Thus, then — excepting the increased distance CHAPTER X. 209 from the new magnet, which had awakened sen- sations to which he had hitherto been a stranger, Percy had little to complain of in the exchange of residence. He was no longer subjected to the caprices of the valetudinarian — he was more mas- ter of his own actions, and less open to observa- tion, in proportion as he was removed from the immediate seat of government — at least, so he rea- soned — and so, in full confidence of his inferences, he presented the letter which his father had en- trusted to his care, for Sir Hugh. " Your excellent father, Mr Percy Rycott, is, I trust, in good health .?"" " As good as usual. Sir Hugh."" " Humph — and your worthy mother .?" " Quite weU, Sir Hugh.^^ " I am heartily glad to hear it — and good Mr Paston ?" " As stout as ever. Sir." " Good — there are few gratifications more un- alloyed than the pleasure we derive from the hap- piness of those whose merits entitle them to so large ashareof it. LadyRodolpha do Lacy will be charm- ed to see her young friend — her Ladyship is out up- VOL. I. o 210 PERCY MALLORY. on her usual round of charitable visits, but will be home to dinner punctually at two. We are old-fashioned regular folks, Mr Percy Rycott, as you know. — I hope Mr Rycott, your worthy fa- ther has not given into these new-fangled fashions and hours, which turn night into day ?''"' " Our dinner hour at home. Sir Hugh, is six." " I am grieved to hear it — our wiser ancestors took their substantial meal at twelve — but times and opinions are altered, I wish I could add for the better. — We wiU call a new subject. — Pray, Mr Percy Rycott, what was the name of the young man, concerning whose appointment in the customs at Whitehaven you — so much to your credit — were interested in ?^'' " Loo BcUenden — I beg pardon.*" " That surely was not the name." " No, no. Sir Hugh, — I mistook your question ; you were speaking — of — of my father." " Indeed, Mr Percy, I was not referring to that worthy gentleman at the moment — but perhaps you had something yourself to say respecting the individual in question — and I can easily postpone my inquiry." CHAPTER X. 211 " No, indeed, Sir.'' " I should know the name — Bellenden I tliink it was." " What do you know of it, Sir Hugh ?" de- manded Percy eagerly. " It is a name of some note in the north — ^let me see — there was, as far back as the reign of Ed- ward the Fovurth, a Sir Bolsover Bellenden." " No, no, Sir — that won't do." " Won't do ! How am I to understand you, my good Mv Percy ?" " I mean, Sir Hugh, that she — that is, he — is not ^" " Certainly not the name you gave me." " I gave yozi, Sir ?"" " For the tide-waiter's place at Whitehaven." " Hoh ! — no, Sir,-— assuredly not — I recollect now — it was " " Not Bellenden, Mr Percy." « No— Bob " " Why will you destroy the beauty of our language, worthy Mr Percy, by abbreviations ? — Robert is much softer, and certainly a more proper appellation for a rational being than Bob." 212 PERCY MALLORY, " Robert Gnib." " A very different appellation from Bellenden, Mr Percy.'' " Very different, indeed r sighed Percy. " I woidd have taken the liberty of reading good Mr Rycott's letter in your presence, Mr Percy, being quite among friends — but I confess that I see so much mischief and confusion arising in the world, from the neglect of those petltes morales, of which my respected and ever-to-be- lamented relative. Sir Charles, was so observant, that I am loath to break in upon the nicest, and what some might call even fastidious points of etiquette." " Oh ! pray don't mind me. Sir Hugh," cried Percy, panting for a release. " I refer to things, Mr Percy Rycott, not to in- dividuals — ^it is from the want of this distinction, that much of that conftision which I deplore has arisen. I will withdraw to my study, and in the meantime Miss Gertrude de Lacy will have the honor to entertain you. My good and gentle Gertrude, — for you are all goodness and gentle- ness — the son of our worthy neighbour, Mr CHAPTEE X. 213 Rycott, will expect you to do the honors of the house, in the absence of your excellent mother." Sir Hugh took the hand of his daughter, and gently stooping upon it, added to Percy — with what would make at least six modern bows — " For a short interval, Mr Percy, your most obedient," and left the drawing-room. Percy, relieved from the presence of the Baro- net, who, with all his respect and real veneration for him, was considered somewhat of a damper, by a youth of Percy's vivacity — entered more freely into conversation with Gertrude de Lacy, towards whom he had ever felt the affection of a brother. When alone with her he was permitted to call her Gertrude — and on some occasions, she, with only a slight blush, at such a transgression of here- ditary etiquette^ ventured upon the freedom of re- sponding " Percy." Her character must speak for itself; but it is not to be expected, that, educated beneath her paternal roof, and under the strictest Grandison forms of government, she should al- together partake of the free and unembarrassed manner of her modern contemporaries. Percy was too full of one subject to have mucli 214 PERCY MALLORY. to say upon any other — and fearing that his fa- ther's letter, especially as he was not accustomed to write very long ones, might be too soon dis- patched, and bring back Sir Hugh, before he could get half through his story, he proposed to Gertrude to take a stroll in the park or the gardens. " There can be no impropriety in it," she said, half in the tone of doubt, and half as a question. " Impropriety ! Gertrude — why — what has happened to you .?" " I will just step to my room, then for my gloves and cloak." " Oh ! — go as you are — the weather is like spring." " Nay, Mr Percy — you would not have me appear abroad, as in my own apartment ?"" " You often have, Gertrude — and who on earth is to observe you ?" " I was giddy, my dear Mr Percy, and did not attend to " " Run, then, my dear Gertrude, for we have not a moment to lose." I will not promise to run — but I will lose no time in returning," and she retired accordingly. CHAPTEK X. 215 " She is not half so amiable,'"' sighed Percy, " as when — as she used to be She'll become a prig like themselves." He walked himself into a feveret in traversing the room — looking every instant at the door, be- tween hope and fear — not knowing wliich, at this snaiFs pace, would be first to return — Sir Hugh or his daughter. At this moment he heard the heavy sound of an approaching carriage — he beheld the arrival of the old family-coach, with four long-tailed blacks, and threw himself into a chair in perfect despair. He would have left the apartment, but knew not where to go. The room opened into the great hall, and there Lady Rodolpha de Lacy would be in a few moments. There was another door, but it opened upon a suite of rooms conducting to Sir Hugh's library. Rendered desperate at last, when he heard the steps of the carriage let down" at the great hall-door, he seized the lock of the side door, and suddenly opening it, dashed for- ward, alas ! — into Sir Huglfs arms, who stood petrified, and nearly overturned by so unaccustom- ed a mode of approach. 216 PERCY MALLORY. He demanded, " If any thing had happened to alarm his good young friend ?" Percy faltered out something in the shape of an apology — but Sir Hugh was rather partial to de- tails — and commenced a sort of catechism which scarcely ever failed of eliciting them. " Sorry ! — what should make you sorry, my excellent young friend ? — Whither were you going with such speed, as nearly to have occasioned the loss of my equilibrium ?" " Going, Sir Hugh !'' " Going, Mr Percy— it is among other innova- tions of the present day, I perceive, to repeat in- stead of answering questions.*" " My dear Sir — I was going — going to take a walk.'' " I should have said rather that you were go- ing to take a run," — and the old gentleman smil- ed at this little discvirsive attempt at a joke. Percy thought himself secure after this little excess on the part of his companion, joined in the smile, which at length degenerated into a laugh. But this indecorum operated rather as a check than a further incitement to the Baronet's hilarity, CHAPTER X. 217 SO that Percy was obliged to resettle his counte- nance, and answer to Sir Hugh's inquiring look that " he was going to walk with Gertrude." " Miss Gertrude de Lacy, Mr Percy, was not, I apprehend, going to run with you." Percy was again thrown out — and the sound of voices in the room, on whose threshold this short dialogue had taken place, became a pretext to retreat, when he thus found himself engaged in such unequal hostiHty. Sir Hugh followed him with an air of somewhat more hauteur than usual, nor did he relax much of this when he actually perceived Miss de Lacy standing beside her mo- ther, in a dress that clearly indicated her inten- tion either to walk or run, with Percy, even as he had ventured to affirm. Lady Rodolpha de Lacy had advanced to meet Percy, and after a curtsey, which even majesty can scarcely draw forth in these degenerate times, held out her hand towards him in token of her Lady- ship's pecuHar condescension. He bent upon it, as he had been iiniformly taught to do — and her Ladyship, recovering herself, walked towards her own high-backed arm-chair, on the left side of the 218 ri:iicY mallory. fire-place. There duly seated in a posture that would have detected a false perpendicular in the original manufacturer of the chair, had he been guilty of the error — she deliberately folded up a pair of black lace gloves or mittens, which she had drawn from her arms. With equal precision she stroked down the ruffles which clustered from her elbow, — and brought them in quintuple glory to fall just within the line of her ladyship's garnet bracelets, elapsed and collected round two large miniatures of Sir Hugh as a boy and as a lover. She then graciously turned to the party, who had remained standing, and requested they would " be seated" — and with sweet complacency, com- menced her inquiries respecting the health of " good'' Mr llycott — the worthy Mrs Rycott — and the estimable Mr Paston, to all which she waited for, and received full and particular an- swers, from the mortified and fidgetting Percy — who had once or twice risen from his seat to re- lieve himself from the irritation of his feelings — and was as constantly requested again " to be seated." " May I take the hberty of asking Mr Percy CHAPTER X. 219 Rycott if he has brought with him the recipe for spasmodic affections, which Monsieur Schwartz was to send me by the first conveyance ?"" " I am sorry, Madam, to say — either he or I entirely forgot it." " He — Mr Percy — would hardly have forgot- ten what I considered worthy of beii^ accepted as a favour at his hand." " Oh, surely not — ^but your Ladyship is not .aware, that I left home unexpectedly— that is — at very short notice." " He surely was aware of such an event, Mr Percy Rycott ; — you did not leave home, I pre- sume, without some preparations, for a visit to Lacy Royal .'*" " Indeed, my dear Madam, I did — I never con- cern myself about such things." " Mr Percy Rycott !" " Besides-^I was off before day-break." Sir Hugh, very deliberately, drew forth his watch, and observed that " Mr Percy had not arrived at Lacy Royal vmtil near one o''clock ; and, from the state of his cavalry" — smiling be- nignantly — " he had supposed a ride of twenty 220 PEKCY MALLORY. miles might have been effected in less than seven hours — as I calculate the sun to have risen this morning at about fifty-five minutes past five ! — let me see " *' I came round " " I don't doubt it, Mr Percy/' « I wallced " " I thought I had seen you across the park, galloping like that excellent, but rather desperate, Nimrod, Mr Sainuel Helterskelt, who always rides over the hounds'' — (smiling.) " Dear, good Sir Hugh" — said her Ladyship, with a benevolent smile — " there is nobody who utters a good thing with half your grace." *' Your Ladyship" (bowing) " is all goodness — I have little pretensions to wit — but there is no harm in a Uttle innocent pleasantry." *' Harm ! — excellent Sir Hugh — it is the sweet- ener of social converse." " Your Ladyship almost makes me blush," replied the gallant Baronet, who rose from his chair, to kiss her Ladyship's presented hand. Percy rose too — but was again signaFd to be reseated, when Sir Hugh had resumed liis posi- CHAPTER X. 221 tion in liis appropriated chair, on the right of the high statuary chimney-piece, which occupied, at least, one-third of that side of the apartment. " It is certainly singular, that good Mr Schwartz should have omitted to send the re- cipe," repeated her persevering Ladyship — who was as little accustomed to have her requests de- nied — as she — in common with her family — for she, too, was a Grandison by propinquity — were to relinquish a topic, until it had been duly ex- hausted. " Perhaps our good friend, Mr Percy," ob- served Sir Hugh, " in his haste to leave home, forgot it." " Not I, upon my honor, Sir Hugh — I never heard of it" " It is passing strange," said her Ladyship, " for I wrote expressly in the second postscript of Sir Hug^s letter, of the 13th of last month, concerning the situation of the young man in the customs at Whitehaven. — Am I saying any thing wrong, my good Sir Hugh, that you smile .'*" " It were impossible, Lady Rodolpha, that you should ever say or do any thing tliat is wrong." 222 PERCY MALLOBY. cc You flatter me, my best of men." " I would not flatter a prince, as you know, my excellent Lady Rodolpha ;" and he drew him- self up like his great-uncle — " but my smile, to say the truth, was a little wicked,"'"' and he smiled again. " I was thinking of the importance of a lady'*s postscripts."" " Ah ! now, you are very wicked, my dear Sir Hugh,"" shaking a large Chinese figured fan at him — which hung pendant on her Ladyship''s arm — by a broad black ribbon. " Not absolutely wicked, I hope, dearest Lady Rodolpha, only a little unjust, if I did not make your Ladyship an exception to this general im- putation upon the correspondence of the fair sex — ^but I have done — I see I distress the best of women, by reminding her of her very excellencies. Pray, my good Mr Percy — to resume the sub- ject from which we have wandered — have you reason to believe that Mynheer Schwartz was unacquainted with your intention to leave Wol- ston Worthy so early — that is, at the early hour you have named ?" 4 CHAPTER X. 223 " On my soul, Sir Hugh, I know nothing at all about the matter." " There again, my good young friend — what need of asseverations — unseemly in themselves — to attest the veracity of a young gentleman of honor? — I have been taught, from my earliest youth, to consider every species of what is com- monly called " swearing" in strict abhorrence ; and I remember upon an occasion " Here the first dinner bell soimded from the old turret of the castle, like a summons to devotion — and ap- peared to be holden in equal reverence by each individual of the assembled part}', who rose in- stinctively from their seats as the first stroke was heard. Sir Hugh, gently inclining his head to- wards Percy, and encouraging him by the promise that he would conclude what he had to say " at a more fit season." Percy was prepared to speed, like an arrow from a home-drawn bow, from the killing restraint un- der which he had been labouring ever since he had been pinned down to his chair — but this he was not able to do until Sir Hugh had duly handed her Ladyship to the foot of the grand 224 PERCY MALLORY. Staircase, followed by his daughter, where, having raised a hand of each to his lips, he retired to his own dressing-room, in order to sacrifice to the graces. CHAPTEll XI. 225 CHAPTER XI. Percy's rapid steps were up a back staircase, which led to the well-known apartment, which had, for years, been distinguished as the peculiar ap- purtenance of Mr Percy Rycott. He threw him- self into a chair, which, on account of its being of too easy and lounging a construction, had long been discarded from the ordinary use of the state sitting-rooms. Here he meditated — here he rav- ed to himself, because all other vent to his feel- ings was denied — he wished the Baronet and his Lady anywhere but in his way — and wished himself anywhere but where he was — he threw off' his jacket, and jerked it to the other end of the room — he kicked off" his boots so dexterously, that one lodged on the tester of the bed, whilst the other dislodged a water ewer, and half deluged the VOL. I. p 226 PERCY MALLORY. apartment. How was he to get through dinner — then a long, long afternoon, to say nothing of an endless evening to follow ? — Why was he to be tormented with the sins of Sir Hugh''s grand- sires and great-uncles, who felt hungry at two o*'clock, instead of waiting rationally till six ? — He would not submit to it. — Gertrude would not be allowed to converse with him — and thus the only douceur that reconciled him to the visit was at once snatched from him. Up to the period of his last abode here — just six months before — he had been treated as a boy — until eighteen, he and Gertrude, his junior by a year, had only been admitted with the dessert — and were able to run riot together, at a distance from the house, whilst the old superannuated gouvernante dozed in the school-room. How cordially did he regret his hoop, and his trap-ball ! — But those happy days, alas ! were flown — and though he had found it tedious and irksome on the first investiture of the toga virilis, it had been fitted upon him so gra- dually, accompanied by a sympathy and associa- tion with another suiFercr, that it was forgotten as soon as passed — but now— now that he felt stone CHAPTER XI. 227 walls — fences — every thing in the shape of a boundary — as a sort of prison — now, when he yearned to give full scope to all the tumult of his feelings on the mountain peak, and far above all mortal ken or communion, to be doomed to a domestic " Tread-Mill," in every motion of which he was perfectly experienced, and had found himself condemned to hard labour, was be- yond the endurance even in prospect. He would leave the house, and incur a double penalty for breach of orders, and breach of etiquette — sins equally unpardonable in the two courts — the au- thority of whose laws he had never yet been hardy enough to dispute. " Master Percy," said his servant entering, and staring round the room — " the second bell will ring in six minutes — and all the fat will be in the fire if " " I don't know that I shall dine at all." " Not dine, Master Percy — that would be a queer joke." " No joke to me — I promise you." " Lackaday ! Sir — there's Madam — Lady Red 228 PERCY MALLORY. Buffer's silks rustling on the stairs — and dinners always, your Honor knows, to a minute." Percy could not make up his mind during the few seconds left for deliberation — but just then recollecting that his resolution might be taken af- ter dinner as well as before, he hastened his toil- ette in order to gain time to digest his plan of re- bellion before he openly declared himself — but his resolution came somewhat late, for the fatal signal tolled from the turret, and he had hitherto only undressed himself. " Confound these shoes, blockhead ! — there are no strings to them — give me my gaiters." A knock at the door. '* Come in — who the deuce ?''"' " Sir Hugh and Lady Rodolpha,"" said a grey- headed servant in a full worsted-lace livery — " wait dinner for you. Sir." " Beg them, my good friend, to — Where"*s the key of my dressing-case .'' — beg them not to wait — I shall be down in an instant." " Hav'nt you got the key, Master Percy ?''"' asked his own man — whilst the other retired. " Key — no — zounds! how should I have it?" CHAPTER XI. 229 a I gave it your Honor — and you put it in your jacket pocket." " What are you gaping at — feel in the pocket, can't you ?''"' " I don't see your Honor's jacket." « See !— why ?" " There now — your Honor — I'll be hanged if it arn't dangling out o' window — there's no key here." " Break the case open." " Sir Hugh and Lady Rodolpha send their compliments, Sir," said another venerable man in the family livery, half opening the door, at which he had tapped twice without being heard ; " they cannot think of sitting down without you." " Conf ^pray — good Mr Geoffrey — say I have lost a key." Away stalked the solemn am- bassador. " It's a pattern lock, your Honor, and it won't be picked." " Wrench it open, booby." " The poker's done his business — there, your Honor — there now — it's done at last — all smash — What's that in your Honor's hand ?'''' 23Q PERCY INFALLOUY. " Hand ! — the deuce take it — 'tis the key.'" " That's a good un.'' " Silence, Sirrah — What the devil is there good in it ? — here button this sleeve."" *' There's ne'er a button, your Honor." " Hands off — ha ! — see who's at the cursed door again." " It's only me, Master Percy," said the most reverend butler in person ; " Sir Hugh and La- dy Rodolpha's best respects, and cannot think of sitting down without you — but particularly desire Mr Percy Rycott will not hurry himself — these are Sir Hugh's very words, Mr Percy." " Hurry myself ! — I shall go mad — say I am coming — coming immediately, good Mr Roland." " I will. Sir" — and the door closed upon him. " Give me my coat, Ben." " Here, your Honor— you've got your arm in the wrong sleeve." " Psha!" *' Lud — if you hav'nt torn the sleeve nearly off." Another step was heard to ascend the stairs. " Is there no other .?" CHAPTER XI. 231 " In the portmantle below." " Give me my jacket." " What will Sir Hugh say to " « Da " " Fie, Master Percy." " Silence, rascal — Coming, coming" — as he heard a voice again at the door — and^ with his morning jacket half on, rushing past the speaker before he had uttered two sentences, darted down stairs, and, throwing open the door of the drawing- room, had nearly overturned Sir Hugh and Lady Rodolpha, who had approached the point, in rea- diness to receive the report of their fourth ambas- sador. " I beg ten thousand pardons, Sir Hugh Lady Rodolpha — but ^" " Lady Rodolpha's hand awaits you, Mr Per- cy Rycott — we will discuss your apologies at a more convenient moment — Dinner has waited near seven minutes." Percy led forward the hostess in all the pomp of Meckhn lappets — point ruffles — and damask drapery, that moved without the rumple of a fold, like a Dutch toy, on wheels. He would have 232 PEKCY MALLORY. made his peace during the journey across a hall that traversed the whole depth of tlie mansion — and through a suite of papered and bagged apart- ments which led to the salon a diner — ^but a very short observation of her Ladyship"'s checked his first attempt. " There were few points,*" she remarked, " in which good Sir Hugh was so particular as pvmc- tuality in all engagements." Percy said no more — Her Ladyship on their ar- rival took her seat at the head of the table — Sir Hugh seated himself at the bottom — Miss Ger- trude and Percy yi* a vis made up the partie carree. Even the chaplain was absent — who, though par- taking in the family characteristics, Percy had calculated upon as an occasional diversion in his favour — as he felt little disposed to take a share in any conversation likely to occur. " Good Dr Patterson is obliged to absent him- self on account of some urgent business at Ken- dal," observed Lady Rodolj)ha, as a sort of im- plied apology to Percy for Sir Hugh taking upon himself the duty of saying grace. " Indeed !"' — sighed Percy — viewing the formi- CHAPTER XT. 233 dable array of domestics planted round him, as if presenting a new barrier against escape, which seemed to engage his speculations to the exclu- sion of every thing else. After a long pause, " Tell Mrs Knowles," said Sir Hugh, looking benevolently towards the butler — whilst his eyes watered — and the colour on his cheeks was some- what heightened, " that she has been rather too bountiful with her seasoning in the soup." " Certainly, Sir Hugh — but I had informed Mrs Knowles, Sir Hugh, that her Ladyship, on Tuesday last, thought the vermicelli rather insi- pid." " Excellent Roland," interrupted her Lady- ship, " you recollect my most trifling wishes." " They are our law, my Lady" — and at the signal, all the grey-headed livery-men bowed in token of their sympathy. " Extremes," observed Sir Hugh, with a smile, " are generally pernicious — and so, my good Lady Rodolpha, I have been a martyr in your cause — your Ladyship cannot do less than assuage my torments by a glass of Madeira." " God forbid !" returned the gracious lady, 234 PERCY MALLORY. " that I should ever be the occasion of torment to my ever-indulgent Sir Hugh — ^but I flatter my- self if your present sufferings can be so easily re- lieved, they have not been very excruciating — Am I not a saucy creature, Sir Hugh ?"" " You are all excellence, and are never more endeared to me than when your Ladyship suffers your little playfulness of fancy to animate our happy domestic circle Good Roland — a glass of old Madeira to your excellent lady." *' You have forgiven good Mrs Knowles, my best of friends'" — said Lady Rodolpha, with one of her most winning smiles — " for her bountiful extreme."** " Sweetly engaging Lady Rodolpha ! — had I really cause of offence, your Ladyship''s happy mode of intercession would make me forget it, in the admiration of a talent so peculiarly your own.'' " Kind Sir Hugh ! — you will make me vain." " No one has more reason — ^no one is less likely to become so than Lady Rodolpha de Lacy " " I declare, Sir Hugh — you make me blush " " For a naughty world, excellent woman — but CHAPTER XI. 235 never for yourself. — Worthy Roland," turning to the butler — " tell Mrs Knowles that her soup is like all she does — she is indeed a most excellent person." ** You are the most charitable — Sir Hugh," said her Ladyship, in a subdued tone of voice. " It is my humble effort to be so — it is the duty of us all to be so — tell her, good Roland, that her soup is admirable — but add, as from your- self, that perhaps it would suit the taste of Lady Rodolpha and myself better, were it, in future, less highly seasoned." " I shall. Sir Hugh — what a master !"" was add- ed in a half whisper to Mr Poison, the steward, who stood retired — and was seconded by a bend, as be- fore, from every one of the grey-headed circle in worsted-lace. " How delicately considerate !" — observed her Ladyship — " Few but the ever-indulgent Sir Hugh would have thought of a reproof so gently, yet so effectually conveyed." This was said in a whisper, and though heard by all — was understood not to reach beyond the back of the chairs — not a look or a wink — such as may sometimes be observ- 236 PERCY MALLORY. ed on the countenances of modern lacquies — ^ruf- fled the serene visages of the domestics. Sir Hugh, who was supposed to hear it, enter- ed into a considerable long disclaimer, diverging from his own demerits, into a discussion upon ge- neral duties — and concluded by observing, " That it was in the discharge of these domestic duties — by observing strict justice in our dealings — and by watching over our words and actions in the more ordinary intercourse with those over whose interests and concerns, in the various relations of life, we are in any degree supposed to have a con- trol, that the higher duties of the magistrate, the legislator, and the sovereign power itself, are ma- tured, and beneficially exercised — I remember," he added, " it was an observation of that most distinguished and exemplary of men, my ever-re- spected," and he brushed a tear from his eye, " great-uncle Sir Charles — ' That a man's charac- ter might be known by the manner in which he would pick up a pin from the floor !' " " Admirable Sir Charles !" sighed Lady Ro- dol})ha. CHAPTER XI. 237 " Excellent appreciator of excellence ^ return- ed Sir Hugh ; " but the moral \'irtues " " May I trouble your Ladyship for some trout before it is quite cold ?" interrupted Percy Rycott — Miss Gertrude smiled. " What is my amiable Gertrude thinking upon, that calls up one of her sweetest smiles .^^ asked Sir Hugh. " I was only thinking" — and she blushed — " thinking that " " What, my good child ? — you can have no thoughts that will not reflect credit on yourself, and convey something innocently pleasing to the good company.'"' " Really, my dear Papa "" " You know, my sweet GertTude," observed her Ladyship, "it is a rule in our family to have no reserves — your worthy progenitors even held it a virtue to think aloud.*" " My dear Mama — I really am ashamed of myself — I was only thinking of Percy's interrup- tion." " Mister Percy — noWf if you please, my ex- cellent Gertrude." 238 PERCY MALLOllY. The girl blushed again. " Say on, sweet innocence," said Sir Hugh in an encoiuraging tone — for a subject once introdu- ced, was never suffered to die a natural death. " Only, Sir — I was struck by the odd circum- stance of Mr Percy "" " What have I done, Gertrude ?''"' asked Percy, now looking up from his plate. " Miss Gertrude — Mr Percy Rycott, is about to inform us," observed Lady Rodolpha, draw- ing herself up in form. " Merely," continued the hesitating girl, " that he should think of the fish being cold, just as Papa was talking — talking of — moral virtues !" " I beg pardon," said Percy ; " but — I thought Sir Hugh had been scolding the cook, for putting too much pepper in the soup." " I — I scold ! Mr Percy Rycott." " Sir Hugh Ferebee de Lacy scold his do- mestics !" exclaimed her Ladyship with a look of utter dismay — a sudden convulsive movement agi- tated the whole line of domestics, after Mr Stew- ard and Mr Butler had uttered a sigh, almost amounting to a groan — and turned up their eyes CHAPTER XI. 239 as if in the act of devotion — the grey subalterns went through the silent manoeuvre of a shrug of the shoulders only. " It is clear, that my good young friend," ob- served Sir Hugh, " did not pay very particidar attention to the few observations which the oc- casion appeared to require." " The transition from soup to fish was natural," said Percy laughing, in the obvious desire of avoiding any further explanation. " I should rather have said artificial, my good Mr Percy — as it is only habit which " " Habit is second nature, you know, Sir Hugh — and, therefore " " I must not be interrupted, Mr Percy" — and the very supposition of such a heresy startled the servant who was changing Sir Hugh's plate — in- somuch that he let it fall — broke it, and with its contents, lodged it on the long flaps of his mas- tery's laced vest, to the evident disturbance of the Baronet''s philosophy. It was but a passing sen- sation — the poor man apologised and trembled — Mr Butler pushed the man with some rudeness from the post of honor — and frowned on him, 240 PERCY MALLOBY. wliilst he applied his clean napkin to the part af- fected. " It's no matter," observed Sir Hugh, col- lecting all his benevolence of manner, which ap- peared to be necessary on the occasion ; " Good Richard did not intend it." " No, indeed, your Honor — Sir Hugh." " I am perfectly assured of that — go — my worthy Richard — you had better retire — you ap- pear to be much agitated." " Such a clumsy fellow !" muttered the stew- ard. " Such a master !" repeated the butler. " God bless him !" whispered the liveried semi- chorus. " The Dresden set, too ?" exclaimed Mr Pol- son, the steward, in a louder and more emphatic tone of voice. " Never mind that, worthy Poison," said her Ladyship smiling, through something that resem- bled a passing cloud of irritation ; " Good Rich- ard's mind must not be disturbed by that reflec- tion." *' Heavenly, considerate being!" cried Sir Hugh, CHAPTER XI. 241 who Stood in the act of being rubbed down like one of his long-tailed coach-horses, by his zealous grooms — " Not even the most provoking of all domestic accidents can move the gall of your dove- like temper — most excellent of women — thou " Mistress of thyself, though China fall." Affairs, at length, being restored to their pristine order, and each domestic to his well-known post — the dinner proceeded under its accustomed fonns. The chain of conversation, however, was not to be broken by the rare occurrence of an incident out of the ordinary and prescribed rules of the domes- tic economy, severely as it may be supposed to have operated upon certain individuals of the party. Wishing neither to extenuate, nor yet to expose xmnecessarily any tendency to impropriety on the part of our friend Percy, I shall avoid any refer- ence to the manner in which he attempted to offer apologies for his imphed share in the cause of the late confusion— or to the gravity under which he attempted to conceal an unfortunate propensity to laugh at the evil which he had occasioned. By tlie time these matters hatl been compromised, and VOL. I. a 242 PERCY MALLORY. the Baronet was replaced in the seat and centre of hospitality, Percy^s own reflections and calcu- lations upon the mode in which he was probably doomed— without the absolutely revolutionary movement of an unceremonious departure — had perfectly absorbed his mind. — The possibility of passing the long remainder of the day, as it had commenced, had sobered him down to the out- ward demeanour, at least, of a gravity suited to the temperature of the climate, in which he thus felt destined to vegetate when Sir Hugh's voice, therefore, again reached his ears, he started as if he had received a blow. " To resume the thread of my observations,''"* observed the Baronet, " which has been so un- accountably broken — but let that pass — ^it is ne- cessary to observe, my good Mr Percy Rycott, that habit which, good humouredly no doubt, but certainly not in strict propriety, you interrupted me, by assuming to be second nature, — not a word of apology — I am perfectly satisfied — pray sit still— Habit, my excellent young friend, is not, cannot be made a plea for an infringement upon any article of good breeding, still less can it be CHAPTER XI. 243 urged in extenuation of a false mode of reasoning, which, by substituting a low — pardon the expres- sion — a low play upon words to evade their strict application to the cause in hand, tends to con- found truth and falsehood, and to give to sophis- try an advantage over the sober results of sound reason," " My dear Sir Hugh, I never dreamed of so- phistry — indeed, I meant nothing but a very sorry joke." " Hce nugcB — my good young friend, you know — Lady Rodolpha will pardon my reference to a dead language — it is perfectly innocent, my incomparable Lady Rodolpha." " How could it be otherwise," returned her smihng Ladyship, " coming from the pure source of the good Sir Hugh de Lacy's ever ^" " By Heaven !" exclaimed Percy, starting from his chair, " there's somebody coming to relieve us!" " Reheve us ! Mr Percy Rycott !" " It is a travelling carriage," continued Percy, regardless of the interruption — and thrusting his 244 PEllCY MALLORY. head out of the window, the heavy sash of which he had unceremoniously thrown up. " The arrival will be announced, Mr Percy Rycott," observed Sir Hugh, rather ruffled — " by the proper attendant."" " Four horses — and the avant courier at the door," cried the still exulting Percy. " May I request our good friend, Mr Percy Hycott, to be seated ?"" continued the Baronet, co- louring somewhat too highly for his creed of equanimity. " Two gentlemen V Percy continued, who probably did not hear Sir Hugh, as his body hung half out of the window in tracing the course of the caiTiage through the park. " It is not the custom of this house, Mr Percy Rycott, to " " My young Master !" exclaimed the agitated butler, Mr Roland, who, with less ceremony than usual, had thrown open the door. " Excellent youth !" cried Sir Hugh. " Beloved Grandison !" was all her Ladyship could utter, in reducing her feehngs to the stand- ard of propriety. CHAPTER XI. 245 Percy was hurrying out of the room with his usual impetuosity, when the voice of Sir Hugh arrested his steps, and in a tone more than ordi- narily imperative, desired him once more to be seated — then turning to the butler, " Good Roland,"" said he, " you have been thrown off your guard by the suddenness of my worthy son"'s arrival. — I am not angry with you — but you have forgotten " " No — my honored master." " Hear me out, good Roland — you have for- gotten the respect due to the feelings of your best of Ladies, by the abruptness of this annun- ciation.'" I am grieved to the heart, Sir Hugh." Nay, my good Roland, to be sorry is suf- ficient to atone for any fault you can commit — attend to her Ladyship, my beloved Gertrude, — Mr Percy Rycott." " Will you not run to meet Grandison, Sir Hugh ?'" asked Percy. " I am not so fond of running, my good young friend, as you appear to be — nay, sit still — I 246 PERCY MALLOnV. must not be interrupted. Are all the servants ready in the great hall, worthy Roland ?" " I left them, ranging imder Mr Poison's order, Sir Hugh." " Good — go — take your place — and when the carriage arrives at the entrance, do you announce it to your excellent Lady and myself and the good party present."" " I will, honored Sir,*" " Worthy Roland! — Are you equal, best of mo- thers, and let me add — of wives," as he rose to take her Ladyship's hand, and bend upon it — " are you equal to the public reception of our be- loved son ?''"' " Ever equal to any commands of the most considerate and indulgent of husbands," returned her Ladyship, sweetly smiling. Percy was hurrying again towards the door, but again was doomed to be intercepted by Sir Hugh. " No one, Mr Percy, is more indulgent than myself towards the vivacity of youth; but a breach of decorum even in moments — -— " Here the Baronet was checked by a sort of shout from the CHAPTER XI. 247 hall, and the accompanying sound of carriage- wheels through the vaulted roof, was the signal fox the order of march. Sir Hugh, taking the hand of her Ladyship, directed the attention of Percy to Miss Gertrude, whose arm he uncere- moniously drew within his own, and almost press- ed upon the heels of his superiors, by his anxiety to greet his old playfellow Grandison. Sir Hugh — never thrown off his guard — requested the young man to take his daughter's hand — and promised to conclude what he had to say further upon decorum at a more leisiu*e moment. " He wished not," he added, " the feelings of his dear son to be shocked by any breach of that decent etiquette, to which he had been habituated from his cradle." Sir Hugh and Lady Rodolpha approached the great entrance, just near enough to terminate the vista of the avenue formed by the line of male and female domestics of Lacy Royal, on either side — and just time enough to see the heir and hope of the family honors descend from the carriage at the foot of a broad flight of stone 248 PERCY MALLORY. Steps, which 'conducted to the massy folding doors of the grand entrance. There was ample time, as well as space, to af- ford the worthy host and hostess a full opportu- nity of making their observations upon the per- son and appearance of Mr Grandison de Lacy. *' The excellent youth still preserves the dig- nified deportment of the family,"'"' observed the Baronet complacently to his Lady. " Ingenuous Grandison ! — but what, my good Sir Hugli, has the beloved child of my heart tied round his neck ?" " It's a Belcher,'" interrupted Percy, thrusting his head forward. " Mr Percy Rycott ! — we are not accustomed to '' " Good Heavens !*" exclaimed Lady Rodol- pha, " he walks lame — I trust no accident ^" " Harbour no fears, my too sensitive Lady Rodolpha V said Sir Hugh soothingly. " His eyes seem affected. Papa," whispered Miss Gertrude. " Grandison never used a glass before he left England." None of tlie Grandisons wore near-sighted," <( CHAPTER XI. 249 said her Ladyship, who had also observed that he was eyeing every thing, and every person, through his glass — hut there was no more time for ohser- vation — the hero approached. He was in a fa- shionable travelling undress — wore a coloured silk handkerchief round his neck, a surtout covered with frogs, and lined with sables. One arm, ne- gligently thrown through that of his travelling companion, carried loosely an ornamented forag- ing cap, whilst the other supported the glass held to his eye, which seemed to be fixed by no parti- cular object in the vague direction in which it wandered. There was an indolent lounge in his gait, which his good mother, alas ! mistook for some natiural or acquired defect — and to the so- lemn reverences of the liveried phalanx, as well as the less disciplined bobs of the household dam- sels, the same placid inclination of the head was returned, without exception — until, towards the end of the Hue, as he approached the heads of the family — whom he had not yet discovered — a cher- ry-cheeked dairy-maid attracted his eye — whom he " patted under the chin ;" and turning to his 250 PERCY MALLORY. companion, observed, " A fine Cumberland pip- pin, upon my soul, Birty !"" Sir Hugh and Lady Rodolpha absolutely start- ed, in defiance of the habitual rigidity of their muscles — but they felt that it was not intended for their ears, and suddenly regaining their self- possession, graciously advanced a few steps, hand in hand, towards their son. " My beloved Grandison !"" cried her Lady- ship, with a tearful eye. " Welcome, most excellent son, to the Hall of thy fathers V exclaimed Sir Hugh. " Hah !" looking at them through his glass, " my father, and my lady mother here too !" shaking both with a listless cordiality by the hands, which had been extended for him to kiss upon his bended knees. " Delighted to see you — am, upon my honor — not a day older — who should think of seeing you in the Hall among this omnium gatherem — taken by surprise, 'pon my soul.^^ " Where should we be, Mr Grandison de Lacy, but in our proper station?" demanded Sir 11 CHAPTEll XI. 251 Hugh, with no slight accession to the austere formality of his manners. " Beg pardon — quite forgot — you keep up the antiquated forms stiU — hey, my very best of fa- thers !'" Sir Hugh was thrown out. " You do not, Mr Grandison, seem to recollect your sister, Ger- trude !" " Gertrude ! — is that fine girl, my sister Ger- trude ? — May I die, if I should have suspected — three years have done wonders.'" " Indeed they have," sighed Sir Hugh — and Lady Rodolpha sighed Hke a triple echo. " Come, my girl — give me a kiss — I like old customs sometimes.'" " These are not the customs of Lacy Royal," observed Sir Hugh, in a tone which proved that his equanimity was not quite proof against un- expected assaults ;— " but," recollecting himself, he added, " we had better adjourn, with the per- mission of your best of mothers, to the Oak Par- lour." " An excellent move, my good father, for it is consumedly cold in this marble quarry. Allons, 252 PERCY MALLORY. Birtwhistle," again taking the arm of his friend. There was some derangement in the order of march, and Grandison, seizing his sister round the waist, gave the trembUng girl a very hearty salute, who, reddening, as her parents turned in more awful confusion at so persevering a breach of decorum, hastily withdrew from his embrace. " Don't be alarmed, child. We shall be at some trouble to polish you, if we find you worth the pains — if not,"" — and he appeared to forget the alternative. When the party had entered the great par- lour. Sir Hugh and Lady Rodolpha, who were unable to reconcile the visible alteration whicli had taken place in the manners of their son and heir, with any of tlieir preconceived notions of what their son and heir ought to be, were, never- theless, too conversant with all the duties which attached to their own station, to omit any thing which the family had been accustomed to do upon similar occasions. Having again welcomed Mr Grandison de Lacy to his paternal home. Sir Hugh — after Lady Ro- dolpha had taken up her position in her own chair 10 CHAPTEE XI. 253 —seated himself in his, and those who had been properly drilled, followed, of course, in regular succession, to their allotted stations. " Be seated, my good son," said Sir Hugh, addressing Grandison, who, with his glass, was viewing a picture which hung within one of the oak pannels. " A vile daub, my good father — no more a Claude than the arms on my carriage.'' " It has been reckoned i ■ "" " No matter." " Pray, be seated. Mister Grandison," repeat- ed Sir Hugh, even more sternly. " Can't think of it, my kind father — these chairs could never be meant to be used." " Grandison !" " Drag that piece of lumber out of the corner, Birtwhistle — it implies the notion of a sofa, though confoundedly distorted in the fabrication — I daresay it is not nailed to the wall." " Is this, Mr Grandison de Lacy, the manner in which your reception ^" " Don't disturb yourself, my best of fathers — stand upon no ceremony with mc— 1 am con- 254 PE^CY MALLORY. sumedly tired with travelling over these infernal cross roads, and positively cannot answer a word till Birtwhistle has — nay, Birty — take all those cushions " " It is necessary. Sir," interrupted Sir Hugh, no longer able to contain himself; " it is neces- sary, in this house, that the master "" " Nay, my good father — dispense with all this form — I am in the habit of making myself com- fortable wherever I go — that will do, Birty — place another under my head — that's right. Now, my respected father, I am all attention to any requisition you may have to make, only first,"" pulling out his watch, as he lay half recumbent upon the old tapestry worked sofa, " only first inform me, at what hour we may expect dinner." " Mr Grandison ! — Sir ! — but I am imwilling to express all that I feel " " Perfectly natural, my best of fathers — feel- ings, and all that — but they are consumedly fa- tiguing, and we will take them for granted." " But — but — Mr Grandison de I^acy — there are forms which cannot be dispensed with." " Oh, banish tlion all in mercy — no set dinner CHAPTER XI. 255 — treat us not as strangers — my own man can throw up a soufflet at half an hour's notice — can he not, Birtwhistle ?"" « Just so." " The estabhshment at Lacy Royal,"" observed Lady Rodolpha, more erect in her chair than usual, " requires no foreign aid, my — my dear son Grandison." " Nothing without it — your English cooks, my excellent mother, are barbarians — are they not, Birty .^" " Perfectly so." " But,"" continued the unlucky heir, who seem- ed unconscious of giving offence, " we wander from the point, as you, my dear father, used to say — you see I have not forgotten old times." " I am compelled to say, Mr Grandison de Lacy, you appear to have forgotten yourself."" '* As much as possible, my good Sir, that is, my former rusticated self — but the rust stuck by me longer than might have been wished — hey, Birty .?" " Even so." 256 peucy mallory. " I owe much," continued he, " to Birtwhistle — Iiey, Birty ?'' '* You do me honor." Lady Rodolpha, perceiving the agitation of Sir Hugh, and anxious to avert a storm, which, being of rare occurrence, might burst Uke another erup- tion of Vesuvius, relaxed somewhat of her pwn conscious dignity, in the hope of yet averting it. *'^ You have neglected, my dear Grandison, to present your friend, Mr , the worthy gentle- man who has done us the honor of accompanying you to "" a Ten thousand pardons, my respected mother, I am the most absent being on earth. Mr Birt- whistle — Sir Hugh — Lady Rodolpha — Miss Ger- trude de Lacy, and" — putting his glass to his eye, and looking towards Percy — " and "" My dear Grandison," asked her Ladyship, do you not recollect Percy Rycott ?" Rycott ! Rycott — I have heard the name- but these hyperborean patronymics strike upon the car like — I beg your pardon, Mr — — - Mr Redoubt." CHAPTER XI. 257 " Rycott — surely — my son Grandisou cannot, in three short years, have forgotten " " Oh — ha — it comes on me like the recollec- tion of a dream — the old Grim GrifFenhoof, that lives " " By Heavens ! Sir," cried Percy, starting on his legs — " if you dare utter a syllable — a breath — reflecting upon my father " " Your father ! — Pray, my good Sir — ^be paci- fied — if that old gentleman has the honor of being your father, I am satisfied he must be the most respectable of all old gentlemen — but it is impos- sible for a stranger, as I am — even at home — to know the fathers of all the young gentlemen who happen to cross me on my arrival. I dare swear I shall be involved in a thousand contretems of this nature."'' " Be assured. Sir,'' retorted Percy, " I shall never cross yom- path intentionally again — Sir Hugh — Lady Rodolpha — I ask pardon ; but I cannot consent to remain another moment even under your roof — thus subjected to insult from one who once deemed me worthy his friendship, and even confidence."" Sir Hugh rose with dig- VOL. I. B 258 PEBCY MALLORY. nity from his chair, and taking Percy's hand, ad- dressed him, " My excellent young friend — not only have you my pardon — but my frill and perfect approv- al of the very proper expression of your- feelings at conduct so strange and alien to the habits and usages of Lacy Royal. You are at liberty to de- part — although contrary to the wishes expressed by the worthy Mr Rycott, for reasons, with which, in fact, he has condescended to acquaint me. I do not feel myself equal, at this moment, to enter more ftiUy upon this — or, indeed, any other to- ];»ic — I will do myself the honor to write to your excellent father, as well as to yourself, my good young friend, when I can, without subjecting you to ill manners — Yes, Sir," turning, with an inflam- ed countenance, towards his son, " to ill manners, which even moderate degeneracy cannot sanction — and which no gentleman can eitlier practise or submit to, whilst a drop of English blood circu- lates in his veins."" The phenomenon of Sir Hugh's uncontrolled anger operated upon Lady Uodolpha as might be expected. She fainted, and for the first time CHAPTER XI. 259 in her life, perhaps, lost the perpendicular in her high back chair, before her affectionate husband, her daughter, and Percy, were able to afford her the necessary aid to support her usual erectness of postVire. Grandison started from his recumbent posture — and, with symptoms of real alarm and contri- tion, hurried towards his mother. " 'Pon my soul, I meant nothing," stammered he. " Stand back, Mr Grandison de Lacy," said Sir Hugh — " nor farther insult your venerated and excellent mother, by appearing before her, until you have relearnt how to conduct yourself as a son of the De Lacys." " Really — Sir — my good father — I had no in- tention — had I, Birtv ?" " None whatever." " Mr Grandison de Lacy — once more I com- mand you to retire," said Sir Hugh with dignity, l)ut without passion — " I am not to be trifled with — I am not wont to be angry. Sir — It has cost me much to subdue the natural irritability of my temper — but that my efforts have been sue- 260 PERCY MALLORY. cessful, may be, in some measure, inferred, from my being able, at tliis moment, when your best of mothers, overpowered by the bitterest infliction that can befal a fond and doating parent, lies the image of death before me — to withhold the sen- tence of eternal banishment from my heart and my house against you. You know your own apartment, Sir — and a servant will conduct your friend to the one prepared for him — Not a word, Sir," and lie approached and pulled the bell. Mr Grandison de Lacy did not appear dispo- sed to disobey orders — but with a considerable abatement of his nonchalance^ and with a coun- tenance that bespoke something like internal emo- tion, he bowed, and, taking the arm of his friend, observed, in a low tone of voice, " Quite a scene V to which Mr Birtwhistlc responded, " Quite so," and they left the apartment. I need not assure the reader, that Lady Ro- dolpha, after the usual expedients upon such occa- sions had been resorted to, was decently restored to her senses — that, supported by Sir Hugli and her lovely daughter, she was conveyed to lier cb-essing-room — and that Percy had measured in CHAPTER XI. 261 his " mind's eye" many miles of road from Lacy Royal. It may not be so easy to calculate in what line he proposed to diverge from the centre of what he unceremoniously — as no one heard him — chose to add, pride and formaUty — but he was a young man, and had yet to learn that both pride and formality may be very useful things in their way, in an age when familiarity is likely to breed something of a much more active nature than mere contempt. Although we have, with a few touches, like other great masters in the sister art, attempted to describe the temporary subsidence of the storm which threatened the long established peace of Lacy Royal with civil commotion, we are sure our readers have seen enough of its domestic arrange- ments, to be aware that the details occupied much more time and attention than we have thought proper to bestow upon them. Sir Hugh promised to write a letter to the elder Mr Rycott, and Sir Hugh never failed in a tittle to redeem a pledge. — He even filled up certain blanks left in some broken conversations, to which our readers may recollect the worthy Baronet stood pledged, 262 PEECY MALLORY. whilst the sealed packet was balanced between his fore-finger and thumb ; nor did the impatient Per- cy gain anything by attempting more than once to take the said packet from Sir Hugh''s hand, as he held it forth like certain great orators, who use a roll of paper or parchment for the same purpose — that is, we presume, to give more ef- fect to the emphatical periods of his lecture. In- deed, these little errors of judgment, to call them by no harsher name, occasioned two or three digressions by way of illustration to the worthy Baronet^s animadversions upon decorum and good breeding, which operated practically upon Percy's mind with much greater effect than the theory, which, it must be confessed, had not the full be- nefit of being duly heard. — Sir Plugh thought only of improving the character of a young man, of whom he thought highly — as the reader will hereafter perceive — whilst Percy ""s thoughts were wholly circumscribed by a speculation on the best mode of improving his unhoped for liberation. Thus it is, that a want of sincerity in our inter- course with each other, occasions a surprisingly great loss of time and good counsel — for, if the de- CHAPTER XI. 263 gree of attention necessary to benefit, by whole- some instruction, were made the first point of cal- culation, I have a great notion, that lectures and speeches, of all descriptions, would be marvellous- ly cm-tailed — and that the members of a certain House — as well as the members of much lesser houses, might be permitted to go to bed at reason- able hours, and have their natural sleep, in the place to which it was originally limited. 264) PEHCY MALLORY. CHAPTER XII. We have already premised that every thing at Lacy Royal was conducted like clock-work, and it is not necessary to add, that clocks will go — that is, if they are properly wound up — but that, whether wound up or not. Time runs on at one even pace, however it may be misreckoned by lovers — or by the auditors of an unseasonable lecture. — Now Percy, had he determined to take the plain high road to his father's house, must inevitably have been benighted, and, al- though there was a moon, upon which he might calculate at a certain hour, he either did not, or would not, take this into his reckoning — night was night — and when he arrived at the village, where his servant had waited for him with the horses in the morning, he inquired if he could be CHAPTER XII. 265 accommodated with a bed andstallsfor his cattle. — - The happy recollection that the latter might be fatigued from the double journey of the day, af- forded him another most pressing motive for re- maining where he was — and proved amply suf- ficient to satisfy any latent curiosity of his servant, upon the subject of so unusual a proceeding, if he had not already been predisposed to the arrange- ment, by the pleasing anticipations derived from a large blazing fire, which illuminated the entrance, from the door to the kitchen, which opened upon it. It was about seven o'clock — and, as well as I am able to recollect, early in the month of Octo- ber. Percy, it may be supposed, had no inten- tion of sitting down to read, even had there been an old thumbed newspaper, or a broken copy of a broken set of old magazines, at hand to supply his studies — One object filled his imagination — and having mechanically refreshed himself with something his servant had ordered for the credit of his master, and had duly set before him, he snatched up his constant travclUng companion, that is his pole, and sallied forth withal — or, at 266 PEllCY MALLORY. least, without admitting even to himself — that he had any particular purpose in view. Intuitively — as it should appear — he happened to start in the very direction which pointed to his morning ramble, and, after walking briskly for some time, he appeared to recollect the circum- stance, without, however, pausing for a moment in his career — or thinking it necessary to retrace his steps on that account — and there could be no other inducement to alter his route. — This, per- haps, by an author more learned in matters of this nature than I profess to be, might be termed the " Instinct of Love" — but I am of opinion with those who leave instinct to the brute creation, and endow man with the distinguishing faculty of reason. — This is the only way of accounting for the latter so perpetually losing their way — and the former never — and for the still more extraor- dinary phenomenon of those who are the loudest to claim a large portion of the endowment, being particularly remarkable for this disposititain again resumed : — " Respecting our own family arrangements, I am of opinion, should not your better judgment decide against me, that for some time, at least, they had better be left to the young folks altogether — ]Mr Percy Rycott, as you still choose to call him '' " There — there," interrupted the old gypsey, " did I not tell thee, he was no son o' his ?" " Who cares ? — son, or no son, his sand's run out, and who needs thy clappers to ring out his birth, parentage, and education ?" " No joking upon such subjects," said the Ace of Clubs, retorting upon his leader. " Nor upon any other," replied he doggedly ; " and if ye interrupt me again, by St Dunstan, 111 try to find thy nose with a pair of tongs." " Bad hunting where there's scant o' game. Master Captain — a bald head's soon shaven," ob- served he, whom they called Billy. " A fool's bolt's as soon shot," retorted tlic captain, who made a sort of back-handed move- ment with his sword-arm, ratlicr indicative of 288 PERCY MALLORY. playful contempt, than any intention to strike, though the wary wit, instinctively, as it were, darted back from the circle which his accustomed eye knew the glittering blade woidd describe, if duly extended. He went on : " Mr Percy Rycott, as you still choose to call him, may wander a little out of the high road — what of that ? — with the assistance of the lights which you and worthy Mr Paston have afforded him, I will answer for his finding his way back again."" " What lights, captain ?" " Curse me if I know — did you search him well, Pike .?" " Aye, aye. Sir — not a shiver about un — I han't a fingered " " Did'st find any combustibles ?'''' " Not a candle's cend, thof he mought ha been gauing for some'at when I gied him his quiee-tusP'' " Search about — he may have laid a train." " Blockhead ! — what, to blow himself up ! — But let us finish." The reader went on : — " His present object is, indeed, a Will o' the Wisp. It may lead him a wild goose chase . CHAPTER XIII. 289 through quagmires and bogs — but he will soon find the right path, and return to the bosom of his family, with nothing more than a skin-deep wound — or, what is better, with no wound at all.''' " Out there. Master Prophet." " Or Pike Gargrave has bungled his job," said another, grinning most ghastly. " It can be repaired at least," retorted the captain, as with a leer he turned his eye to the corner, where Percy looked a corpse to admiration, although it must be acknowledged he was quite ahve to what was passing. " Read on, captain — the ould laced bell- wether"'s woundy long winded." " He may find his wind slackened," dryly ob- served the captain, and proceeded : — " I know something of the parties — they have been in the neighbourhood some time, and their present obscure retreat — which you do not inform me how your excellent son discovered — has been resorted to, in consequence of some suspicions which their mysterious conduct had awakened among a certain class of people, who are not the VOL. I. X 290 PERCY MALLORY. best neighbours in the world, to those who have ^any thing to conceal.'" " That's the villain Claggett, and his crew.'" " Pshaw !— every one suspected us."" " You see, the young rascal there had dis- covered us before.'" " And perhaps led the officers." " Billy, Billy, thou wantest a head-piece — wouldn't they ha been on us, before the boy's business were done .'"' " No, Bully — warn't he found , peeping and spying out for 'em .p" " And wouldn't they ha been on. Pike Gar- grave, before he had a done the job ? Pshaw !" " There are only two lines more." *' Read, captain — read." He obeyed. — " It is better, trust me, my very good Mr Rycott, on these occasions to proceed with caution. A sudden attack would only serve to raise up a host in self-defence, which it might prove difficult hereafter to quell. The good young man, who has all his eyes about him, will soon ascertain the sort of people he has to deal with — and be assured, will escape from their snares, be- CHAPTER XIII. 291 fore they have securely coiled themselves round hun." " Look to him," cried several voices. " Escape ! — let him if he can." *' If he 'scape Pike's bludgeon — he'll no 'scape the- rope at all events ;" and a laugh, loud and savage, bore testimony to the excellence of the joke. " Here's nothing more but complaints and fal lals — and butter to grease the old man's beard with — and here a full measure of his own family legend at bottom — Hugh Ferebee de Lacy !" Various speculations were started, and followed each other in such quick succession, that, as they passed round, a proportionable elevation of voice became necessary for each to make its way, so that Babel in its glory could scarcely have rivalled the scene, either in the variety of its dialects, or the confusion of its divisions. By degrees, the necessity of attending to busi- ness reduced the assembly to some degree of or- der, but not before Hurtlefell, which, it appears, was the name of the chief, had thrice waved his broad blade over the ducking heads of his nearer 292 I'EUCY MALLOllY, neighbours, and made every horn and can upon the table dance under the sturdy blows inflicted on it, with the massive iron hilt of his trusty broad-sword. " Is HuiFey returned with Farmer Thwaites' cattle ?" demanded he, when silence was once more restored. " No— captain — a couldn't ha done the job afore ten. The ould jockey tipples, and doesn't lock up soon enow." " See that he be warned — are the carts away from Blencow's ?''"' " Dickon Braine was a-watching — the young un was out — and he feared his coming across un." " Why didn't he give him a pill ?''"' " I tell thee. Bully, he warn't at home." " Might gie it him on the hills — these are no times to stickle for trifles — wliat cattle have we .'^" " Ten carters, and the shag ponies." " Carriages .?" " Two of the miller's, and a noddy from the parson's." " The Devil !— we maun ha more — sec to it, 1 CHAPTER XIII. 293 Grimm." Then perceiving that the female part of his auditory were still loitering, and gossiping about the table — " Women, what the dell ails ye? — serve them out, BiUy, and keep 'em to't — we aren't half ballasted — see to the boys. What are ye gaping at, ye weens ? — gi' 'em a rope's end, Craiggie. — Zounds, man, an we are not off afore twelve, we'U ne'er reach the deail-head in time for our marchants." The women and children were urged on, but even the apprehension of losing their market, never suggested the idea to the lords of creation of leaving their cans, to facilitate or expedite the operations of the evening. It is not to be sup- posed, that the ladies — however accustomed to the yoke — bent beneath it without the sexual re- lief of retorting upon their task-masters. The concert — if the discord of harsh sounds can be so termed, as we have heard it appUed to our Dutch neighbours — was by no means deficient in female voices ; but as the words to which these airs were adapted, were such as would afford more instruc- tion than amusement to our female readers, we must beg leave to decline becoming their enlight- 294 PERCY MALT>ORY. eners upon this occasion. It is sufficient to ob- serve, that if, in the abstract, we might feel dis- posed to consider the wives or mistresses — ^for it would be difficult nicely to analyze the claims of the groupe before us — ^rather unfairly dealt with by their masters, as they usually call, as well as find them — we lose a considerable degree of the sympathy which might otherwise be excited in their behalf, when our recollection brings back the language in which, like other larger and bet- ter taught bodies, they allowed themselves to vent their grievances. Be this as it may, the harder they worked, the less time did they find for the exercise of their tongues — and as the strains be- came softened or suspended, it may be inferred, that the ears of their male auditors became sooth- ed, for, one by one, a considerable portion of the company began to nod in their seats, and, by de- grees, either to drop their heads between their arms upon the table, or to stretch themselves where the accommodation presented itself, upon the benches which had previously served them for seats. Four or five, however, who'still persevered in 10 CHAPTER XIII. 295 paying their liomage to the good things within their reach, kept their pipes to their mouths, and began by degrees to enter into a sort of boosing, cozey conversation in the stated intervals, when a word might be permitted to escape with the volume of smoke to be discharged from the mouths of the several contributors to the clouds which revolved over their heads. The captain lay back in a large high-backed wooden-railed arm- chair — a seat, no doubt, of dignity, such as general- ly adorns a college combination room — or that ap- propriated by name to travellers in an inn. His legs were stretched out towards the huge fire- place — and he exercised his functions, with some- thing of an air of superiority — whilst the others made themselves comfortable in their own way. — One spread his brawny limbs on the floor, support- ing his back against the bench, which his next neighbour kept steady with his weight, as he him- self lay half rechned against the broad oaken table, as a sort of artificial back ; — a third, not having any support in his rear, bent his formi- dably long back forward, as he sat upon a bale of some contraband goods, ready packed for trans- 296 PERCY MALLORY. port, and supporting his elbows on his knees, licld in the hand unoccupied with his pipe, a large pewter measure or stoup, which afforded a luxurious alternation of spirit and vapour with little muscular effort; — whilst a fourth, sitting like a representative of Bacchus, but more akin to Sile- nus i7i effigie, astride a barrel, ingeniously steadied himself with a foot on either side, whilst he balanced a horn cup of some favourite beverage, on what, for want of any known proper name, might be called the pommel of his hoop-bound saddle. The captain had, as a preliminary step in this implied but silent compact, thrown some fresh faggots, which lay piled in a small stack behind his chair, upon the glowing heap of embers, and adjusted them with his huge sword, which seem- ed held by him, not only as the sceptre of autho- rity, but as an active minister always at hand to answer his bidding and fulfil his behests, in every department of the public service. " The wind's up, captain." " No'orthing, WuUy." " Bring in the Sally !" " Too soon, Bluey.'' CHAPTER XTII. 297 A long silence. " It does blow for certain.'" " Great guns, by the Lord Harry." " Just such a night as when the poor Mermaid went down."" " Curse your croaking, Billy — It daun't a blow a cap full.^' In this sort of dialogue — carried on at inter- vals, time wore — and the women and brats hav- ing completed their task, and carried the bales, &c. &c. piece-meal into the hall from whence they were to be conveyed to the carts and other vehicles of transport up the country — retired al- together from the principal apartment, to partake among themselves of such refreshments as the stores of their lords and masters amply provided for them. The old gypsey woman, however, still lingered after the rest, still pretending to be employed, although nothing presented itself to be done. She took a broom, and as if sweeping up the remnants of straw and hay-bands which half choked up the apartment, by several eccentric turns, was evidently making advances towards 298 PERCY MALLORY. the corner where poor Percy lay — but the eye of the captain, already immortalized by our pen, was on all her motions, and taking his pipe from his mouth, — The DeviPs in the woman,^ roared he, what art doing there ? — out with the rest o'' the plagues." " Hut, tut, mun — I'm no to be bullied in that wise." (C Take thy broom and mount it, witch, but tarry not here — or by " " Ye may do better, captain, than fright a poor woman wi' yoin* poppers." " I can't do worse than be hag-ridden — stand out of the line, or by ^" " I'll no stand to be shot at, ye may be sure, but I'll cap my eye upon ye," and she threw down the broom with violence, and left the apart- ment. *' She have a cast her evil eye upon thee, cap- tain." " Confound her evil eye — though she be the devil's dam herself " CHAPTER XIII. 299 " It shall be on ye though," was muttered out- side the door. " Listeners ! — there, take that, by "" and a brace of bullets would have followed the direction of the voice, had not his companions started up to arrest his hand — and prevent a very unnecessary instance of their captain's prowess. He was in- duced at length, though not without some strug- gles, and more oaths, to return the weapon to his belt A long, sullen silence prevailed, interrupted only by deep-drawn breathing, and snorting con- %^lsions of the dormant partners of the firm. Shaking the embers from his pipe, Hurtlefell muttered, in a tone of sulky displeasure, — " I wish the devil or myself were at the heels of these loiterers — we shall have daylight athwart our path afore half our night, I observe." " What's to be done, Bidly — if honest men won't go to bed at sun down ?" " Carry off their cattle before their eyes, and be hanged to them." " Can't play at that game twice. Bully !" " Give 'cm some cold lead then." 300 PERCY MALLORY. "• That may be once too often, Bully — some- how or other, thee'st over handy with thy picklers — thee mightst have cuUendered yon old dame e'en now — and thee mightest have been sorry for't too." " Not I '' " Hast no fears, Bully ?" " None — What should I fear ?" " Some folks like dancing on a trencher better than dancing on nothing — but all to their tastes — and that mayn't be yours." " They maun catch me first, Bluey." " So said poor Nimmer — but he swung ne'er the less for a' that." " Pshaw !" " Why, captain — I see no fun in doing the devil's work for naught." " Ye're a cowardly hulk. Bill — it's the devil's own trade to crow well and scrape ill." " Mayhap, Bully — but it's a bad trade scraping where you can only catch scratches." " Aye, and the profit too, Billy Lilly — and if I swing — your necks will have a crick in 'em, or I'm mistaken." -CHAPTER XIII. 301 " Come, come" — quotli a new interlocutor, whose pipe had never yet been suffered to desert its post — " it's bad talking of one''s own fate."" " Feltspar's right," observed Billy. " Feltspar's a fool," retorted the captain ; " every man should look his fate in the face, and then he knows the worst as can happen." " Hast ever thought. Bully Hurtlefell, of the Devil's proker .?" " I never thinks upon such things at all." " And yet, Bully, thee talk'st of looking thy fate in his face." " The deviPs no fate of mine." " He may be thy portion, though, Bully." " That for him," quoth the captain — magnani- mously snapping his fingers — " I'm not to be cow- ed with black petticoat humbug at this time o"" day." " And thee would'snt mind meeting any o' the good friends thee hast sent him, were they to ap- pear at this time o' night !" " Pshaw ! " Thee know'st what driv ould Geldart out of this here house .''" 3(^3 PERCY MALLORY. " Flam — a few rats and an oiild cracking wainscot !'' " Something more than that, Bully.*" " I care not."" " One night there was seen ''' " Hold thy lubberly jaw — I don't want to hear." " Go on, Billy," quoth he called Blackstrap. " What about one night ?" — demanded Felt- spar, laying down his pipe. " Ha done, Billy — thee'lt make them as pi- gcon-livered as yourself," quoth the captain in a more subdued tone. " No, Bully — if thy face is to be believed, thy liver is no so deep coloured as it was." " Curse ye, d'ye mean to say — — " " I mean to tell my story — and ye needn't list- en, ye know !" " Balderdash !" " May be — but as I was saying, Feltspar, one night " " Aye, one night." '* I'll leave the room — have I no voice left among this cursed crew .^" demanded the captain. CHAPTEE XIII. 303 " A voice for two, Bully — no one stops your soins — tDut I'd advise thee not to go." *' Not to go !" starting upon his legs. « In the dark, Bully." " A plague o' yoiur nonsense," — and the captain reseated himself, but with his legs crossed and so inchned in his chair, as to place his back eiFectu- aUy towards the speaker, who, with an arch sort of doggedness, as addressing himself solely to his other three companions, proceeded in his tale. " One day '' " One night, Billy." " One night, I mean — as it might be now — when the wind was a howling round these ould gables — and towers — and battlements — and just about the same hour ^" " I say it was the wind," interrupted the cap- tain, " wliat's the use of going on wi' a cock and a bull ?" "There's neither cock nor buU in it," drily an- swered the narrator ; " so, ye see, ould Geldart, and Goody, and the rest on "'em, was sitting cozey — as we may be — and taking their night-cup— 304 PERCY MALLORY. just as we may be — when — when — when there came such a noise."" " 'Twas the wind, and be cursed to you," again interrupted Captain Hm'tlefell, without changing his position. " 'Twas the Devil rather," said Lillywhite in • a very solemn tone of voice — whilst he noted with a wink to his companions, a sort of convul- sive contraction in the legs and thighs of the brawny captain, " for the noise they heard was of so curious a nature altogether, that" — and at this moment one of the sleeping partners drew so sonorous a breath, that the captain was on his legs in an instant, with a look of horror that , spoke more of his confidence in the truth of the relation than lie was probably disposed to admit. He discovered his error in a moment, but not before Billy Lillywhite had commimicated by a side glance with his neighbours, and shaking out . his pipe, refilled it, with as steady a hand as he could command ; but as he snatched with a sort of spasmodic twitch, a piece of touchwood which lay near him on the hearth, in order to apply it to the boll of his pipe, he foimd his hand shake, CHAPTER XIII. 305 SO as to prevent his immediate purpose of bring- ing the parties in contact. He scowled upon his companions under his bristled brow to see if he was observed — and throwing the light from him, resumed his pipe as if it had been successfully kindled, being evidently resolved not to renew the unsuccessful experiment. Lillywhite rubbed his hands together, and thrust them between his knees, as a man does when he finds all the points of his jest weU taken, and, with mock gravity, re- sumed his narrative. " Just as they had recovered from their fright — for it was a very different noise from that as fritted our noble captain a while gone " " D — d— d'ye think I was fritted?'"' demanded the captain, trying to look round. " May be — may be not — that's not to the purpose, but Goodman Geldart was — aye — and every man John, and maid Marian on 'em — for mercy on us, just as they had begun to make up their minds that it was the wind — or the rats — or a snore — or a snort, as Bully Hurtlefell did just now, there came such a " but the des- cription was anticipated, by a most appalling VOL. I. u 306 PERCY MALLORY. scream and a succession of groans, which were re- echoed through the vaulted passages of the dwell- ing, and, by a simultaneous impulse, brought the waggish narrator himself, and his three confede- rates, upon their legs, as rapidly as the former sum- mons had produced a similar effect upon the captain. " What the DeviPs that ?" " Du'ont ye name him Billy," said Feltspar through his chattering teeth. " I believe that was the wind too,'' cried the bold story-teller, who looked cautiously about him. " Through a dead man's gullet, Billy." The captain — ^beyond a repetition of the sort of shudder before noticed, which was unobserved in the present instance by the party — moved not- uttered not a word — but whilst the awful pause continued, which seems, by tacit agreement, to be made upon all occasions, when any thing we fear to see or hear is likely to become visible or audible — the pipe of Captain Hurtlefcll was snapt in shivers — it is to be presumed, from some over pres- sure of the nerves of the hand — and if he had been in a humour to avail himself of the retort, he might have turned the tables upon his boon CHAPTER XIII. 307 companions, who certainly, for the moment at least, thought they perceived the cloven foot which had dashed the pipe from the captain's hand, now dangling uselessly at his side. Lilly- white the wag, who was a shrewd fellow — and not over given to superstitious apprehensions, soon perceived a very natural cause for this new inter- ruption to his story — and having thus accounted for the former, it was a fair inference, that the noise, as yet unaccounted for, might, if the means were equally close at hand, equally admit of ex- planation. " It's some mumming among the petticoats," said he confidently. No answer was returned to this philosophical observation — the pipes were resumed, and silence again prevailed. This was, however, again sud- denly broken — not by any of the party, but by a deep and hollow groan, which seemed to issue from the passages upon which the door of the chamber opened. The men were in an instant on their legs — a repetition— now rising to a scream of indescribable horror — brought parties into im- mediate contact — or rather drove them together 308 PERCY MALLORY. in a four-deep file, by which evolution the faceti- ous Ace of Clubs was forced into the front. The only movement of the captain was the transfer- ence of his broad sinewy hands from a recumbent posture over the arms of his chair, to what might be called a deprecatory junction across the part, in whose region anatomists usually find a heart. But whatever deficiency we might infer, in this article, as appertaining unto the leader, it was very evident that his subalterns were not denied such an appendage — for as they hugged each other, as if to escape from themselves, not only were its piJsations felt — but, in the awful pause which ensued, distinctly heard. The sounds approached the apartment, accompanied by a sort of stealing noise, which was too indefinite even to be guessed at by the strongest head and stoutest heart in company. At length a sudden rush was heard at the very doorway, and a coun- tenance of horror — pale and distorted — glared for an instant in the open space, and, after a gasping effort at utterance, fell forward with a dead weight upon the floor. What it was coiUd not immedi- ately be discerned by the terrified phalanx, cmbo- CHAPTER XIII, 309 died under Billy Lilly white — for the table and its slumbering adherents intervened between their vi- sion and the door. Another groan was heard, which held the pha- lanx in close order — until a voice, which it was not difficult to recognize, uttered the names of the Captain and Lillywhite, and shouted for mercy. " Stand off — ye mummers," cried the latter hero, now perfectly reassured that no ghost was in the case — " See to the poor devil — as siu-e it's only some of Pike*'s gammon." His companions relaxed their hold, and, in a sort of hysteric laugh, endeavoured to turn the tables upon each other as they followed Lilly- white to the door. The man was Ufted upon his legs, and placed on a bench by the active associates — and when brought to the light, displayed-^though pale and distorted, and with his eye-balls straining as if ready to burst from their sockets — the well known fece of Pike Gargrave, who had, as our readers will recollect, been dispatched to build — or rather dig a house for our unfortunate friend Percy in the garden. 310 PERCY MALLORY. The slumberers had all been awakened by the clamour which now prevailed — and it was some time before the appalled sufferer could sufficient- ly articulate to make known the cause of his ter- rors. Our readers will spare the detail and exaggera- tions of the actual narrator, which — whatever their effect upon his auditors might have been — was garnished witli all those accessaries to a goblin tale, in which a man, who has been " vouchsafed an appearance,'' may be allowed to indulge, even if his fears were not an admitted medium through which to magnify as well as multiply the objects of his alarm. It must not be omitted, however, that the sub- stance of his narrative, to which he bound himself by every asseveration that could be brought to at- test his veracity, recorded, that when he had made his way about four feet beneath the surface of the earth, in the performance of his task — rais- ing himself for the purpose of exchanging his mattock for the spade which lay on the surface, he saw rising out of the grovmd, not two yards be- fore him, and in a direct line with his own nose, CHAPTER XIII. 311 a horrible spectre — white as a shroud, mumming and threatening him with glaring eyes, and an uplifted arm ; — that he endeavoured to scream, but that his tongue was miraculously fixed to the roof of his mouth, and that he was by some super- natural means hurled back into the grave, which he expected every moment to be closed over him; — that all remaining quiet for some time, he at length ventured to open his eyes, when, again, he thought the Devil's fingers were on the lids — for not an object could he perceive, so total was the darkness in which he was involved — ^his lanthorn had evidently been carried away by the Devil — and groping his way in the dark out of the grave, he had scrambled along the ground — and scarce- ly able to support himself, as he was sure he heard something close at his heels — just reached the hall-door, in time to fall exhausted into the room. The captain had remained in his chair from the beginning of the recital, and a casual observ- er might have hesitated, under a strict cross-ex- amination, to say, whether he was wholly absorb- ed by attention to the details — or petrified by 312 PERCY MALLORY. them into a statue — for he sat with his head bent down upon his chest — and his hands grasping each an arm of his chair, as if to let go his hold would launch him into a chasm beneath his feet. As the noise and bustle, however, increased — for the females and children had by this time been recall- ed into the field — he became reanimated — and, not knowing fear by name, as long as he had to contend only with flesh and blood, he was among the very first to reproach the dehnquent ghost-seer with rank cowardice, and swore his belief, under a discharge of gallant sea oaths — that " the fellow had been scared by a Tom-cat —or a Jack-o'-Lanthorn, from the near bog. O' He thundered out his orders for immediate departure — commanded some to this post — and others to that — bade the women be on the alert — and the boys to bring out the cattle. — " Take to your cans, my masters — ^here'^s a toast for ye — here's — ^my service to the ghost !'' Slap — bang came a crash — ^like a peal of thun- der breaking through the roof — whicli brought huge fragments of the broken plaster from the ccihng, and extinguished several of the lights, CHAPTER XIII. 313 whilst it struck on some heads, insensible to the shock from the more awful alarm which preceded it. — Screams — oaths — every species of clamour, which the frenzy of alarm can call forth among such a class of patients, were unsparingly contri- buted and commingled by this terrified and half prostrate host. Some had fallen beneath the table — others had jumped upon it — the women had thrown themselves together in a heap — and the very hounds slunk under the benches, after their first dreary yell ; when the shock fell upon the confederates. Lillywhite was not in a humour to be waggish — although his butt, the captain, lay back in his chair with his hands over his eyes, labouring to articulate such clauses of the Lord's Prayer as he could call to mind. But the spirit — if such it was — appeared to be of too restless a disposition to allow time for the poor patients to recover from its inflictions. The noise was renewed, although in another character — and the heavy clank of chains was heard, as if within the very room itself. It appeared to pass from one side to the other — and in every inter- val, moans were heard accompanying their pro- 314 PERCY MALLOKY. gress. The whole groupe, male and female, were, by a new revolution, now huddled together in the centre of the apartment. This was an effort beyond the powers of the hero, Hurtlefell, who sat, the conspicuous victim of stupifying horror — mumbhng yet louder the broken fragments of prayer. — Strange, however, to say, he excited neither ridicule nor contempt — although, as the chains rattled about him, and seemed stationary for a time near his very chair, every eye was di- rected towards him — with the momentary expec- tation of seeing him vanish in a flame of fire ! You might now have heard a pin drop in this well filled apartment. Those who could yet re- spire, seemed to dread becoming a singled out object for the ghost's particular anger, by draw- ing their breath, so as to be heard even by them- selves. Percy, equally astonished at all that was passing before him — but not quite so cautious — uttered something between a sigh and a groan, which was felt throughout the groupe, as if an electric spark had been conveyed by it. " It's a fearful thing," sobbed out a female voice, " to murder men in cold blood." CHAPTER XIIT. 315 " MuRDEE !" was distinctly heard as if it were an echo in the same key. " Who's that ?" demanded Lillywhite. *' Murder !" was again repeated in the same hollow tone of voice, and there was again a deep and awful silence. " Shall we bury the poor youth .?" demanded a female voice. " Aye — aye," was answered by several others. « No ! — NO !"" was slowly and solemnly uttered by the invisible agent. Percy was startled — the voice was close to his ear. " I hear a footstep !" cried Lillywhite. — " Ghosts don't wear shoes — by here's a trick, and if I don't Here, my lads — don't be cowed by a shadow — ^here's neither ghost nor devil — take off your heeltaps, and follow me " He was interrupted by a deep groan. " Aye, aye, Master Ghost, groan till your heart aches — I'll stop your gambols with a ven- geance. Here, Feltspar, Bluey, Wully, out with your barking irons, and he as likes to lay ghosts follow me. Here, ye ould gapers — take a — light 4 316 PERCY MALLORY. here boy" and two or three, thus encouraged, ranged on the side of Lillywhite, who advanced towards the door. These, of course, had been selected from the flower of the army, by this ex- perienced general — he was not reduced to count noses, or if he had — but no matter — these chosen men might have been selected, as, no doubt, they were, for their superior strength of nerve — but they followed slowly, as if discretion were the bet- ter part of valour in their sober judgment — others joined them from very opposite motives — namely, because they had not nerve to remain of a party, whence the strongest were about to be subtracted — and every man, woman, and child, clung to them, with their eyes turned backwards, as if dreading to be detained by the invisible power, who, they doubted not, according to his known prerogative, would, at least, secure the hindmost ! The gallant Captain Hurtlefell made an effort to join in this general retreat — but it was at first beyond his strength, and before he could rally his spirits for a second trial, the whole of the room must have been traversed alone — as it was now nearly empty — and the conviction that he was CHAPTER XIII. 317 tied down to his seat by the phantom, effectually prevented him from making any further attempt to release himself. As the receding steps of the crowd were heard ascending the old spacious staircase of the mansion, the variation of the pulse might have been felt at this man's heart — and by the time the distant voices had subsided into a confused murmvu", which fear had almost hushed into silence — it may be doubted whether he was conscious even of respiration. His eyes peered through the opening made by his fingers now strained over them, and placed there as if more effectually to guard him against some hor- rific vision momentarily to be apprehended. Judge, gentle reader, then, his sensations, when these anticipated horrors shewed themselves about to be realized — conceive his agonies, when, just above the head of Percy Rycott, extended as a corse in a direct line with his eye — a blue lam- bent flame appeared — which gradually spreading and expanding over the apparently lifeless form — first shed a doubly ghastly hue upon him, and then nearly obsciured him in its increasing invo- lutions. The man seemed to shrink within him- 11 318 PERCY MALLORY. self, as, with a groan, which sounded like an ex- piring effort, he dragged his ahnost paralyzed legs under him upon the upper rail of his chair. He wished to close his eyes, and to cover them as he had prepared to do — but he could not take them from objects which seemed to fascinate, whilst they almost annihilated his faculties. Gra- dually he beheld the half obscured and ghastly form of Percy gently rising without an effort or the motion of a muscle, midway between the floor and the ceiling — and with a groan that struck upon his soul, as if iron had passed into it, almost imperceptibly in its gradations — dis- appear from his view. He felt nothing more. — Nature was subdued within him. His head fell back — his arms dropped paralyzed from their ele- vation. We cannot conclude this extraordinary passage in our history, without conducting our curious readers — others may remain behind with the gal- lant ruffian Hurtlefell — up the staircase of the old Manor-house of Kalwart. Most gallantly did the leader Lillywhite lead the van, and as gallantly strode the creaking stairs after him CHAPTER XIII. 319 his valiant staff. Happy did those deem them- selves who gained the interior of the clubbed bat- talion which had made good its footing on the landing-place — whilst labouring at the boasted power of the Hounyhims, to see behind as well as before them. The rear guard, which could not advance beyond the staircase itself, acted as a lever to force forward the phalanx. The great folding doors of the apartment — which not only extended over the room below, but took the whole range of the building on that side of the building, and had formerly been used as a gal- lery for pictures — were firmly fastened within, and here the first impediment to the progress of the enterprise presented itself. It cannot be doubted that there were means sufficient at hand to force a mere timber barrier, and, indeed, the pressure from behind threatened to decide the question, -before the council of war had half dis- cussed it. The doubt which had occasioned this suspen*- sion of arms was started by one of the party — who being perhaps better qualified for a negotiator than a general— thought it better to sound a par- 320 PEECY MALLORY. ley with the enemy, hi the course of which better means might be afforded of ascertaining whether they had to contend with a carnal or a spiritual force. If the former, their arms were sufficient to encounter half a troop of dismounted dragoons, who, it was shrewdly inferred, could not have brought their horses with them, unless by super- natural aid — ^but if the latter, an old missal or a prayer-book was a force better able to cope, with any probability of success, with their adversary. Lillywhite would have easily warded off this objection by some turn of waggery — had he been fully satisfied in his own mind that he was not ac- tually leading his forces against a squadron duly commissioned from the Red Sea. But the fact is — the bravado had half expended itself, even upon his stronger nerves, before he had reached the place of destination, and the doubt of his adjutant had come very seasonably to his relief, by affording breathing time at least before the final blow was to be stricken. He was not pre- pared to controvert the prudence of the proposi* tion, but professed himself at some loss in finding the means of obtaining the ammunition required. CHAPTER XIII. 321 in the event of the enemy disproving his title to flesh and blood. " Has every man his popper and his toaster ?"" " Aye, aye — all." " Has any man a prayer-book or a Bible ?" There was no answer. " The case is decided,"" cried Lilly white ; " and if it should be ^^ and his speech was checked by a thin clear stream of blue light projected through the key-hole of the door. ** Gie me a dozen at the yard-arm," cried one of the crowd, " if that ar"'nt as good a Bengal light as ever was mannifacterd." " I smell it," cried another. " And I smell it too," quoth Lillywhite — " Ghosts don't make Bengal lights — Now, my boys, a push — a strong push, and a push altoge- ther for the devil and his legions." And retreat- ing, in order to give full effect to his command, the entire force of the compacted body was return- ed against the door, which not only gave way, but brought the whole of the advanced guard upon their hands and feet into the room. Those behind pushed forward, thinking any VOL. I. X 322 PERCY MALLORY. change must better them, and the pele mele con- fusion of the scene, which prevented those from rising who had fallen, and brought every one down as he or she advanced, spread throughout the corps a new and stronger conviction than ever, upon the major part, that they were under some spell or witchery. Nor was this impression di- minished, when those who were beginning to re- cover themselves among the foremost — beheld, at an extreme point of the apartment, an object which, by a dim light around it, looked like a moving corpse, slowly retreating from their view — and, before Lillywhite could exclaim, " By 'tis the dead boy below !" — a shriek was heard rever- berating through the dreary apartment — and a sudden illumination, followed by an explosion that shook the house to its foundations, completed the confusion of the assailants. All — whatever might be the doubts of some — were hurried backward by the same impulse. Some were trampled down— -but none attended to. The shrieks, the groans, the execrations, were ter- rific — but nothing to those which followed, when, as the whole body were clustered on and about it. CHAPTER xiir, 323 the old staircase, unused to such a pressure, gave way, and, with a crash that might have alarmed Beelzebub himself, precipitated its own fragments and its clustering tenants, in one mass of rums, to the level below. We have not collected the details of fractures — or of the killed and wounded upon the occasion — nor will our readers, we suspect, quarrel with us for the omission ; — but there is great reason to be- lieve, that the captain — and in precedence it was doubtless his due — was the only individual of the gallant band who was really more frightened than hurt. 324 PERCY MALLORY. CHAPTER XIV. I BEG leave to assure my readers, that I am perfectly well versed in the modes by which writers of romance extricate themselves from all the difficulties which occur in accounting for su- pernatural appearances — when they are no longer of use to puzzle either the heroes, the heroines, or those readers who love to tremble under the hor- rors of their recital. But I am employed in writ- ing a real history, and although I might find — andno doubt should find — many well-disposed per- sons ready to acquiesce in the justice and proprie- ty of super-human agency, in extricating an unof- fending young man from the scalping-knives of a horde of savages, I am willing to abide by the Horutian injunction, to have nothing to do with gods and demons, unless — I could not do without CHAPTEK XIV. 325 them. I have no occasion for such machinery, as long as my Note-book is capable of supplying sa- tisfactory materials for the natural solution of all difficulties which may possibly occur in our narra- tive. Without, therefore, trying thy patience further, my good friend — or teasing you to surmise how these things could have happened, especially as you may be obliged to go to bed in the dark, just in this passage of our history — I shall simply call to your recollection a wild young aid-du-camp of Cob Percy in his mountain enterprises — to whom, even since the commencement of our history, he has al- ready been indebted for his life, and, what he va- lued still higher, the life of Loo Bellenden. It will be remembered — at least it ought to be re- membered by a steady and attentive reader — that, to one of Captain Hurtlefeirs questions respect- ing Farmer Blencow's cattle, an answer was given, that the said cattle could not be safely borrowed, because his son was abroad — and a sort of suspi- cion insinuated, that he was upon what is called the " Look-out." The suspicion was justified by the event. It 326 PERCY MALLORV. was known about the coast, that a large cargo of contraband goods had been " run," and the land- ing effected — and those farmers and land owners in the neighbourhood, who were not good natured- ly disposed to have their horses pressed into the service, even though the occasional douceur of a few pounds of tea, or half a dozen kegs of spirits, were found in their barns and stables the next morning — were determined to give all the aid in their power to the King''s officers, in dislodging what they had some reason to consider a heavy tax upon their property. Young Blencow, whose activity and science in the earte du pays was universally known and acknowledged, was easily induced by his father, and other non-conformists to this liberal system, to tender his services on the occasion — and he soon traced the scouts into their new retreat. Now, IJlcncow had a little of the rogue in him — and well it was for his patron Percy that he had. — The fact is, it was owing to a conspiracy, formed by this young advcntvircr among his thoughtless companions, that poor oldGcldart, the CHAPTER XIV. S27 former tenant, had been driven out of the old Manor-house of Kalwart. The farmer had given some offence to these youngsters — partly by withdrawing his daughters — fine handsome lassies — ^from some of their accus- tomed sports, and other little encroachments as they chose to call them, upon their freedom of in- tercourse — which determined them to frighten the old gentleman out of a mansion, which, owing to its dilapidated state — the residence of the owner in a distant county, and, above all, from its repu- tation of not being wholly free from unearthly tenants, he rented upon terms too easy, for a cur- mudgeon who had taken upon him to become a check upon his younger neighbours. We have al- ready given a sketch of the elevation of this old Manor-house — and Percy could give, perhaps, a more detailed, though somewhat partial, account of the interior — but it was to Blencow alone, and those whom he admitted into his secret coun- cils, that the real nature of the building was per- fectly known. It had, during the civil wars, been in the occupation of one of Cromwell's generals, and upon the Restoration, was fitted up by him, as 328 PERCY MALLORY. the retreat of those persons, who, from time to time, were more particularly obnoxious to the reigning powers. Never was there a spot better suited to the purpose — both as regarded its locali- ty, which was in a secluded glen in the very heart of that mountainous district — and its con- struction, which boasted all the massive and sub- stantial form of architecture of the reigns of Eliza- beth and the first James. The thickness of the walls admitted of secret chambers, as well as pas- sages — which Ephraim Calgart so enlarged, and extended for his own especial purposes, that two famiUes might have been housed within the walls for a twelvemonth without ever coming to a knowledge of each other. This, then, will explain the whole mystery of the haunted house. By some accident, Blencow had obtained a clew to the secret, and when he had determined upon avenging the cause of him- self and his companions, upon the offending Gel- durt, he had conveyed to his secret recesses all those aids and auxiliaries to supernatural agency, which have been attributed to troubled spirits as their right by every succeeding generation of CHAPTER XIV. 329 gossips and wonder-seekers since their primeval institution ! When he had traced the outposts — or rather the scouring parties of the smugglers to this their new possession, he naturally availed himself of the advantage which would make him master of all their plans and proceedings — and by these means he became an unprepared spectator of all that had passed respecting his poor friend and pa- tron Percy. Fortunately, his materials had not all been expended upon Goodman Geldart — he found in his stores sufficient remnants of sulphur, saltpetre, and powder, for his present purpose, with the means and appurtenances to boot of chains, bolts, and pipes, for the conveyance of sound. His only desideratum was a light — and the grave-dig- ger supplied him with his lanthorn, which he pro- bably would have ceded to no lesser a power than his Satanic majesty, of whose personal appearance he entertained not a particle of doubt. The two great — and unfortunately opposed ob- jects of the grand operator, were, first, to drive the smugglers out of the room, in which they were all assembled — and next, when, by the quick- 330 PERCY MALLORY. nes8 of Lilly white's ear, they were proceeding to the apartment above, to detain them, if possible, from entering it, before he was prepared for their reception. The moment they had vacated the former — with the exception of the immoveable captain — he proceeded to effect his first coup de main. The pannel, which was formed like the other compartments of the dark wainscotted room, and in which the staple was fixed, which held Percy half suspended by the cords, forming the ligature of his arms, was one of the communica- tions between the common and the secret apart- ments of the dwelling, and moved upon a hinge concealed within the mouldings of the compartment itself In order to cover his retreat, Blencow had recourse to his blue-lights, to conceal his opera- tions from the stupified captain — and in his pas- sage through the gallery above, was compelled to repeat his experiment, in order to gain time to drag poor Percy, who was incapable of moving himself, to a concealed door at the opposite end, througli which only could his immediate escape — rendered necessary by his friend's desperate situ- ation — be secured. We have seen the success CHAPTEU XIV. 331 which attended the operations of the campaign — which, if we give credit to a report, which speaks of a book having been purloined from Mr Paston's library, containing Dr Plot's Narrative, with " Funny Joe Collinses" Confessions upon tlie same — was probably carried on, upon a system, which, as it was found capable of frightening a whole board of sainted commissioners out of their wits, may ea- sily be supposed to have produced its full effect upon a host of smugglers, who could not be sus- pected of having anything saintly about them. The remaining difficulties were to be overcome by extreme vigilance and activity. A door, con- cealed within a buttress of the building, opened upon the stable-yard — and the first rush of air so far restored Percy to his senses as to enable him, after a short time, to comprehend, from the whispers and motions of Blencow, the necessity of silence and obedience to orders. The latter pla- ced his friend on the ground, with his back sup- ported in a nook, which even the occasional burst of moonhght only rendered more obsciu-e. He proceeded on tip-toe to the stables. The first door he tried was locked — and the slight noise 332 PERCY MALLORY. made in the effort to turn the latch awakened the watchful dog within, and drove him to the next — conscious, that, almost instinctively, the ear of a smuQ-ffler would catch the notes of the animals, who were taught to give tongue only when an ene- my — or, at least, a stranger — was at hand. This door also was locked — but there appeared to be no dog on the watch within. It was no time for deliberation. He set his shoulders to the job— and drove the rotten door from its fastenings. — The dogs from the adjoining stable began to bark most horribly — he felt his way — for he had been obliged to sacrifice his light in the last explo- sion above — and finding himself in contact with the rump of a horse, he followed his touch until he reached the head — which had only a halter on it — he dared not be scrupulous — he turned, and led the animal out of the stable towards the spot where Percy lay. He called upon him for exer- tion — but he lay like a child in his arms, as he lifted him from the ground. — He could only raise him up so as, by an effort, to throw him, like a sack, across the back of the aniinal, who be- gan to snort and fidget under a burthen to which CHAPTER XIV. 333 he did not seem to have been accustomed. At this moment, Blencow heard the front door of the mansion thrown open — followed by the sound of voices, as of persons issuing hastily from the por- tal. The stables, at an angle of which he now stood, were situated on the side of the main build- ing, and he was still concealed from view, but a few paces would bring him in a Hne with the front, which could not be passed without encountering the party who now occupied it, and the reflection of whose lights was visible on the opposite wall, which formed the garden boundary from the road, through a breach of which, it will be recollected, Percy made his first entry. He would not have hesitated, had he known his horse — and deeply did he regret at the moment, that one of his fa- ther's cattle had not formed the temporary stud of the gang — but the animal kept snorting and plunging at every attempt he made to mount, which was farther impeded by the necessity of maintaining Percy's balance on his back, from which, every moment, he seemed in danger of fall- ing on one side or the other. The barking and howling of the dogs, whose 334 PERCY MALLORY. quick ears Ccaught all that was passing in their neighbourhood, could no longer, Blencow felt as- sured, remain unnoticed by their masters. A des- perate effort placed him in his seat. He grasped the body of Percy with one hand — seized the hal- ter with the other — and, with its pendant end, formed a sort of whip. — Clapping his heels against the sides of the animal, he resolved to take the desperate, because the only chance of escape, of passing full speed within view of his enemies, and thus gain time, before they could take horse to follow him. Had Percy not been so complete- ly put hors de combat, no difficulty would have presented itself to his mind — for, on foot, their general knowledge of the hill country would have set a legion of horsemen at defiance. As it was, their only chance was the bold one, upon which Blencow now determined to adventure. Upon feeling the heels at his side, the animal probably calculated upon something more pungent that was to follow — and the simultaneous applica- tion of what he might for once or twice mistake for a well thonged whip, contributed, no doubt, to produce a very evident disposition to be obedi- CHAPTER XIV. 335 ent. The manner of displaying it, nevertheless, proved little satisfactory to a rider, who, without saddle or saddle-cloth, had to maintain, not only his own, but the balance of another upon his back, for, at two most extraordinary springs, he brought himself and his burden very nearly to the ground, and, at the same moment, displayed both, just within the angle of incidence, at which the smug- glers and their apparent victims became palpably visible to each other. After this feat, the horse stood stock-still, as if he thought the effort he had made was amply sufficient for aU the pur- poses of his rider, and turned his head towards the Hghts and the objects they exhibited, in and about the front porch. Blencow, in a moment, perceived the cause of his failure, and the occa- sion of his danger, which nothing short of a miracle, he felt, could now avert from his unfor- tunate companion and himself To the fore foot of the animal had been attached, by a chain, a ponderous billet of wood, by way of tether, to re- lease himself from which had been the occasion of all the difficulties which presented themselves at first starting, and perfectly accounted for a 336 PERCY MALLORY. noise which Blencow had hitherto attributed to the efforts of the dogs to release themselves from the stable. To dismount in the face of the enemy, in order to remedy the evil, was only to surrender himself to immediate destruction — and Percy must have fallen from the horse whilst he attempted the operation, even had the attempt been practicable under the circumstances. — His doubts, and his very agitations, proved the safeguard of both. He had entirely forgotten, in the confusion of the moment, that, preparatory to his attack upon the grave-digger, he had plastered his face with meal or flour, and thrown off* his jacket, so as to dis- play only his shirt, skirts and all, for the better personification of a grim white spectre ! The horror, therefore, displayed in his own features, now distorted by apprehension of immediate de- struction, aided by the ghastly hue thrown over them by the previous process, together with the partial view obtained of him, and the fortunate coincidence of the mare he rode being grey — and, therefore, in this instance, at least, proving to be the better horse — afforded, especially after what CHAPTER XIV. 337 they had seen, heard, and suffered themselves, such a confirmation of Pike Gargrave's report of the spectre, that, after a howl of horror, of which it is impossible to convey an adequate notion to the reader — every light, and every individual of the scared gang was, in half the time we are oc- cupied in relating the event, securely rehoused within the door, which was shut with a violence that reverberated among the liiils like a peal of thunder. Blencow could scarcely believe the evidence of his eyes — he began to doubt, even, whether something more than mere human agency had not been employed in his favour — his reflections, however, did not impede his more active opera- tions — his mind was quickly made up as to what was necessary to be done. The very impediment to which a moment before he had rashly attribut- ed his impending destruction, he now felt might be made the most secure means of preventing a premature detection. No sooner had the crowd disappeared from the door, than he heard the hea- vy casements, even within a short distance of him, cautiously opened from within. The least error VOL. I, Y 338 PERCY MALLOBY. in judgment might be fatal. In a subdued tone — but one which he felt he could render intelligi- ble to his poor shackled brute, he encouraged her to proceed slowly. She, no doubt, flattered by his soothing tones into acquiescence, proceeded, step by step, dragging, at each move, if not a " lengthened chain,"'"' at least a rattling one, which was more important on the present occasion. The most studied effort of ingenuity could not have achieved a more apt illusion for the persons upon whom it was operating — and nothing could have been wanting to rival the very best representative of his renowned rival in Don Juan, had Blencow been prepared with an ostrich plume for a head- piece. It was necessary, as I have before observed, to pass in a line, stiU beyond the outer wall, in the very front of the house. The obscurity, broken only by the partial lights which issued from one or two of the casements, gave a sort of catching and imperfect form to the passing objects, which, aided by the mists which hatl only been partially dispersed by the wind, in no small degree height- CHAPTER XIV. 339 ened the mysterious effect of the scene, upon the fears of the garrison. Blencow was too good a politician, however, to carry the expedient beyond the due limits of its probable success. He recollected the quick tran- sition of Lillywhite from fear to suspicion — and was no sooner, therefore, beyond the waU, and secured by a sudden turn of the road, than he checked his charger, and gently dropping from her back, unbuckled the clog, and finding Percy sufficiently recovered as to be raised upon her back, he resumed his seat, and holding his suffer- ing companion firmly round the waist, put the mare into a sharp trot, and was soon in a track, where, from his rapid observations, he knew he might set all the activity or ingenuity of his pur^ suers at defiance. The route he was thus compelled to take, how- ever, had this disadvantage, that it cut him off from those prompt and immediate resources, which the virgency of Percy's case seemed to require — as it withdrew him from the line of road in which lay his father's house. But from what he had collect- ed in the course of conversation amoner the smu"-- O D 340 PERCY MALLORY. glers, this was the very road they must necessari- ly take for the purpose of reaching the spot they had named for a rendezvous — and he doubted not, that the effect of their present alarms would tend rather to expedite than retard their move- ments. The night was tempestuous, but not rainy. — The moon occasionally burst from beneath the flitting and rapidly succeeding clouds, and Blen- cow not only saw his way, but had shortly fixed upon the plan he now hastened to adopt. Percy breathed more freely, either from the effect of the air thus blowing freely around him, or from the motion of the horse, which was increased or check- ed as Blencow perceived, or thought he perceived, it produced its effects upon his companion, who had not yet sufficiently recovered, to answer any question put to him — and could only occasionally utter a sigh or a groan, as he lay back in the friendly grasp of his guide. CHAPTER XV. 341 CHAPTER XV. After proceeding in this manner for some considerable time, Blencow, with his helpless charge, began to descend on the opposite side of the range they had hitherto been climbing — and shortly after reaching an inclosure, which evi- dently led to a house, whose chimnies were ever and anon disclosed by the fitful passages of the clouds from over the disk of the moon, Blencow demanded of Percy if he knew where they were — as if he wished to consult hira as to the pro- priety of demanding admission — but receiving no answer, he felt called upon to decide for himself — and the very inabiUty of his companion con- vinced him, that all delay in affording him suc- cour was to be avoided. With this view, he gent- ly dropped from his horse when he had reached 342 PERCY MALLORY. the barrier which marked the entrance to the small inclosed paddock in which stood the house — and holding Percy firmly on his seat, opened the gate, and led the horse forward to the door of the building. — He rang, but no answer was re- turned. — He repeated the signal, and a window at some distance above him was opened, and a female voice demanded " Who was there ?'''' Blencow answered, by entreating admission for a wounded gentleman who must die if some relief were not immediately afforded him. *' What have wounded gentlemen to do wan- dering about the country at this time of night .'*'* was the answer. " He has fallen among rogues, Ma''am.'" " I don"'t doubt it — and so may we — or they may fall among us if we open our doors to them."" " For God's sake ! think, good lady — if death " " That's no business of mine — you don't talk much like a dying man, friend." " It is not myself, Ma'am." " What is it you want then ?" " It's my comrade." CHAPTER XV. 343 a Oh ! — then there's a gang of you^I shall settle this business very shortly. — Here Samuel — Jarvis." And the jingle of bells was heard summoning the household to the aid of their mis- tress, who appeared to deem it necessary to put the garrison in a state of defence. A small sweet voice interrupted the reverie in- to which this inhospitable treatment had thrown poor Blencow. It seemed to issue from a small casement just over the porch before which he stood supporting Percy. " For Heaven's sake. Sir — tell me what has happened !" " A thousand blessings on you, young lady^ it is a gentleman sadly wounded by the smug- glers." " Wounded !" " Aye — to death I fear — if speedy help ben't given him." " Who is he, Sir ? — speak — quick — and who are you ?" " My name is Blencow." " Blencow— -surely — yet speak again— Who is your friend ?" 344 PERCY MALLOUY. " Mr Percy Rycott, Miss." " Gracious Heaven !" And the casement was shut with violence, whilst a new peal was set up within — to which was now added the appearance of quick passing lights along several of the win- dows. Blencow heard voices, and footsteps ap- proaching the door, which seemed to bode no good to his cause. He was alarmed lest an at- tack should be made upon himself and his help- less friend before a parley could be sounded. He shouted ovit, so as to be heard within call- ing for mercy — and aid — swearing, in the same breath, that his intentions were honest, and all that he required was some temporary shelter for his companion, who must fall a victim, should it be much longer denied to him. He thought he heard something like a diversion in his favour — for there had evidently arisen a contest of opi- nions within — and a house divided against it- self, he thought — but before he could come to any decision upon the question, the door was thrown open, and exhibited a fair female form, •simply enveloped in a loose wrapping gown, strug- gling with another form, not so feminine, but CHAPTER XV. 345 of apparently higher authority — surrounded by several half-equipped waiting damsels — and two brawny fellows, with little more than their shirts to their backs, each armed with a blunderbuss, which seemed to Blencow formidable, rather from the unskilful manner in which they carried them — than from any appearance of intention, on the part of the bearers, to use them oiFensively. " Miss Bellenden," cried the superior, in a tone of command, " I insist upon your immediately retiring to your chamber."" Percy seemed for a moment to revive at the sound of the name — but it was little more than a convulsive start. " No power on earth. Madam,"" replied Miss Bellenden, with firmness, " shall remove me from this spot, until this scene is explained — and ^" " God bless you. Miss," interrupted Blencow, with tears in his eyes — " do not let him die for want of '*'' " Die V exclaimed she, forcing herself from Mrs Norchffe"'s hold, and rushing towards the horse " No ! — though my life be given to save 346 PERCY MALLORY. his — Here, Samuel — lay down your arms — come and help him from his horse." " On yoiu- peril, Mr Samuel," — cried Mrs NorclifFe, and placed her hand upon his arm to arrest his willing progress. " Why, Madam, the gentleman maun "^ " Silence, Sir — and be obedient."" " And is this. Madam," retorted Loo Bellen- den, " is this — pardon me — the Christian charity which you make your boast ?" " No infidel taunts, Miss, I desire. — I know my duty." " And I will perform mine — Mr — Mr Blen- cow, I will aid you in lifting your unfortunate friend from his horse — Good God ! Madam, look at him — is this an object to shut your heart against .?" *' My heart. Madam, is not so susceptible as yours." " Mon Dieu ! — Mon Dieu !" exclaimed a little figure, enveloped in a night-cap of prodigious di- mensions, and doubled, in apparent capacity, by large scollops of liright pink ribbon, now forcing its way to the front rank — " Mon Dieu ! Ma- CHAPTER XV. 347 demoiselle — qu"'est que vous faites la — ^point de bas, points de — ^mais "" and she stooped to pick up a piece of cotton, with -which she had been heightening the colour of one cheek, in order to correspond with the other, which had, in her alarm and hurry of rising from her bed, been de- nied its due share. " Mademoiselle -je repete, Mademoiselle Bellenden — what is dat you do — absolument vi- dout your — and de men creation about — vid — arretez done — ou-^-ou. Mademoiselle, est la con- venance — le s9avoir vivre — de decency — vat you caU .?" Miss Bellenden, as regardless of these remon- strances of Mademoiselle Baguenaudiere, as she had been of the previous commands of Mrs Nor- chfFe, not only had assisted Blencow in remov- ing Percy from the horse, but supporting liis head upon her shoulder, helped to draw him towards the door. " I will have none of your gallants brought within my doors, IMadam," cried Mrs Norcliffe, standing on the very threshold so as to preclude all entrance from without. 34i8 PERCY MALLORY. " Then, ]\Iadam, you must shut them against me — But no — his Hfe may be the sacrifice, and that must not be. — I insist upon admission, and claim the support of every being who is alive to humanity and Christian feeling, to aid me in af- fording immediate succour to this excellent and suffering young man !" " Do you call upon my servants to disobey me, Miss Bellenden ?" " I call upon them to obey the voice of nature and rehgion, Madam !" " Presumptuous girl ! — but "'"' " Nay — there is no time to be lost — and in such a moment, I shall venture to act upon the presumption, that these servants are equally bound to obey we.'"" " Do you know what you are about ?"" '' Perfectly, Madam — and again, Samuel, I command you to aid me in bringing this unfor- tunate gentleman into the house and to a bed." " Au lit — Mademoiselle ! — etes vous '' " Yes, Mademoiselle — and to my bed, if every other be denied him. — Do as I command, Sa- muel," — who had already put down his formidable 10 CHAPTER XV. 349 weapon, and was advancing — " I will be the guarantee for all who obey me on this occasion. To this gentleman and his companion now be- fore you, I am indebted, under Heaven, for life — and the gift would be valueless, were it not in turn at their command I" The mutiny was no longer suspended. — INIrs NorclifFe assumed the airs of command. — Made- moiselle the gesticulations of offended delicacy — Every hand and every heart was attracted to- wards the man who had saved the life of their young mistress — and in less than a quarter of an hour, Percy was placed in a well aired comfort- able bed — and the housekeeper, who was a not- able doctress, had half a dozen sauce-pans on the fire, to make fomentations, decoctions, and cor- dial restoratives for her still senseless patient. END OF VOLUME FIRST. Printed by George Ramsay and Co. Edinburgh, 1823. iMlely Puhlishid, by fhe same Author, In 3 Vols. Post Swo. Price L. 1, lis. 6tl. PEN OWEN. " Why so I—This gaUant will command the sun." UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Alleles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 315 3 1158 00682 848 .>/^ ..yCSOUTHERfVREGiOfiAL LIBRARY FACILITY ^A 000 376 177 I WTVERSTTYof r^^LIFORNlA LOS A ,GELfiS Nl y