Peveril of the Peak

no worse prison

ler tha

CAPT

like the usual gentle acquiescence of her manners, that Major Bridgenorth was ast

rting from the natural calmness of her voice and manner; "but it is a roo

se for the crimes of those who inhabit the one and bear the other. I believed him not, but now see he is wiser than I. Yet think not I will endure this tamely. The blood of my brother - of the friend of my bosom - s

art not from this place, Master Bridgenorth, unless you give me your word to ren

his own head!" As Major Bridgenorth spoke, Whitaker threw open the door, and showed that, with the alertness of an old soldier, who was not displeased to see things tend once more

e men be so desperate as to stop me, a freeborn Engli

er and his armed assistants, with

Lady Peveril; and added, in the same moment, "Lay hold

. He half drew his sword, and offered such show of resistance as made it necessary to secure him by actual force; but then yielded up his weapon, and declared that, s

lady's word is as good as a warrant, sure, as Old Noll's commission; and you bore that many a day, Master Bridgenorth, and, moreover

f Derby can have nothing to fear from your pursuit. I could easily send an escort with her that might bid defiance to any force you could muster; but I wish, Heaven knows, to bury t

t of human injuries which I can forget. The last thought of earthly kind

n this room you will be supplied with every necessary of life, and every convenience; and a message shall relieve your domestics of the anxiety which your absence from the Hall is not u

nd must submit to her pleasure; and then turned sullenly

cerning the mode in which she was desirous that Bridgenorth should be guarded and treated during his temporary confinemen

ow the captive's bedding and table should be supplied; and he thought Lady Peveril displayed a very undue degree of attention to her prisoner's comforts. "I warrant," he said, "that the cuckoldly Roundhead ate enough of our fat beef yesterday to serve him for a month; and a little fasting will do

e Master Bridgenorth's bedding and food in the way I have signi

hall have all your directions punctually obeyed;

to the family bedroom; and, on the other, to the still-room which communicated with the garden. There was also a small door which, ascending a few steps, led to that balcony, already mentioned, that overhung the kitchen; and t

w in the chapel, there is a sort of scuttle, which opens into the kitchen, so that the good lady could ever and anon, without much in

is, that yonder roundheaded fellow should have dared to use such insolence in the house of Peveril of the Peak. If your husband is yet the same honest and downright Cavalier whom I once knew, and had chanced to be at home, he would have thrown the knave out of window. But what I wonder at still more, Margaret, i

eril; "he has served us often and kindly, in these late times; but neither he, nor

fect heroine, Margaret

Peveril, "may have taught me presence of mind.

, but in being prompt to confront and disarm it; - and we may have present occasion for all that we possess,"

jack-boots was heard, as, in his haste to see his lady, he ascended the staircase by two steps at a time. He burst into the room; his manly countenance and disordered dress showing marks that he had been riding fast; and without looking to any one else,

ril, though turned courtier and favourite, still values the treasure which she had some shar

out to him; "I am as glad to see your ladyship in my poor house, as I would be to hear that they had found a vein of lead in the Brown Tor. I rode hard, in the

you so? an

, and other friends, do not doubt the matter will be driven to a fine; but they say the Chancellor, and Harry Bennet, and some others of the over-sea counsellors, are furious at what they call a

f for my chastisement

r kind Cheshire, and others, tried to bring it to a fine; but som

f I am removed from the personal superintendence of my son's dominions in Man, I know not what new usurpation may be attempted there. I must b

ough you had come here at midnight, and with the rogue's head in your apron, lik

ort much to the Co

saying, when miners do begin to bore in these parts, it

with much countenance?

hath so gracious a manner, that it makes every man's hopes blo

ountess, "had room to complain of ingratitude, I tr

y knight expect from the King, besides the pleasure of seeing him in Whitehall once more, and enjoying his own again? And his Majesty was very gracious when I was presented, and spoke to me of Worcester, and of my horse, Black Hastings - he had forgot his nam

dangers risked - such considerable losses - merited som

William the Conqueror - craving your ladyship's pardon for boasting it in your presence - would not have become a higher rank or title worse than the pedigree of some who have been promoted. But what said the witty Duke of Buckingham, forsooth? (whose

ountess; "and well it might, where good arguments pass for

ngs to the stable-yard, alone in the saddle; and that Saunders though he walked by the horse's head, did not once put his hand upon the rein, and Brewer, though he stood beside him, scarce held him by the knee

ed, and have my present affair arranged, you must let me have this little Julian of yours some time hence, to be nurtured in my house, held as my page, an

ng of noble youths is given up and neglected, that I have often feared I must have kept Gil to be young master at home; and I have had too little nurture myself to teach him much, and so he woul

she continued, "and the tear stands in your eye? Do not be so foolish, my love - what I ask is better than you can desire for your boy; for the house of my father, the Duke de la Tremouille, was the most famous school of chivalry in Fran

il, "and must acquiesce in what your ladyship honours us by proposin

y too high deference to our masters, the male sex, if you allow Julian

and replied to her marks of fondness. This mistake embarrassed Lady Peveril exceedingly. Knowing the blunt impetuosity of her husband's character, his devotion to the memory of the deceased Earl of Derby, and his corresponding veneration for his widow, she was

s allegiance in the late times by a d - d Presbyterian scoundrel, who calls himself a parson, and whom I hope to fetch down from his perch presently, with a wannion to him! He has been cock of the roost lon

names in Derbyshire - I remember nothing of Bridgenorth. - But stay - was th

you may conceive the reluctance with which I submitted to receive good offices from one of his kidney

et, though little Alice showed a disinclination to the change of place, which the lady of De

g us down to. Yet I did think Peveril of the Peak would have resided

ough, but not so bad as you would make him; he is but a Pr

ents massacred. Betwixt such sects I prefer the Independents. They are at least bold, bare-faced, merciless villains, have more o

she saw Lady Peveril wa

something, I know not what, to distress you, Margaret - My

nity to tell my husband what had happened - Sir Geoffrey, Master Bridgenorth was unfortuna

brows. "You were ever something too fond, dame,

whom Lord Derby's story related - was the brother of his late

friend - the noble Charlotte of Latham House! - by Heaven, the prick-eared slav

ou forget how much we

cuniary obligations - "if I do owe him some money, hath he not security for it? and must he have the right, over and above, to d

to defend me against this discourteous faitour, as Morte d'Arthur would have called him. I promise you my kinswoman hath fully righted my wrong; and I am

erceived that he was becoming angry, now took up the story, and plainl

m. But you should have told me this instantly - It consists not with my honour that he should be kept prisoner in this house, as

anxiety for the event of an angry meeting between a temper hasty as that of her husband, and stubborn like th

that a chink had remained open, sufficient to indicate its existence to Bridgenorth; who withdrawing it altogether, had found his way into the secret apartment with which it communicated, and from thence to the postern of the Castle by another secret passage, which had been formed in the thickness of the wall, as is not uncommon in ancient mansions; the lords of whic

ation, upon personal danger. But when at a distance, he had been for many years accustomed to consider Bridgenorth's power and influence as something formidable; and notwithstanding the late change of affairs, his ideas so naturally reverted to his neighbour as a powerful friend

oured Martindale with a few days' residence, which might have been kept private until the search after you was ended. Had I seen this fellow Bridgenorth, I have no dou

aused, and seemed

r conceal nor protect

numerous than I would wish them; and if he falls in with the pursuivant fellow who carries the warrant of the Privy Council, it is likely he will back him with force suff

rms, in my name, against the King's war

can think of in this emergence is - though the proposal be something inhospitable - that your ladyship should take presently to horse, if your fatigue will

n the private chamber, to which Ellesmere had guided her on the preceding evening, and was quite read

r; but she saw no alternative equally safe. Nay, however strong her attachment to Lady Derby, she could not but be more readily reconciled to her hasty departure, when she considered

w stout fellows, with back and breast pieces, and steel-caps. "There are the two lackeys, and Outram and Saunders, besides the other groom fellow, and Roger Raine, and his son; but bid Roger not come drunk again; - thyself, young Dick of the Dale and his servant,

ty of the case, asked if he shoul

ow; and therefore I will bring no lands or tenements into peril, saving mine own. Sir Jasper hath had a tro