Mistress Nancy Molesworth

hall within. But nothing appeared to me with distinctness. The strident voices of the Killigrews had the effect of making me keep my hand

pecially of those who belong to that class with which my people mated, I felt t

ing eyebrows, gleamed a pair of piercing black eyes. He arose as I entered, and I saw that he was well on towards seventy. "A warm welcome, Roger Penryn," he said. "From what I hear my sons played a rough

the thought that I appeared under an assumed name, for I hate fighting an under-handed battle.

There are many rumours of treason afloat in my part of the country. Indeed, Hugh Bos

head, still ey

g

ugh Boscawe

eplied, "but I

t of joining his

of Hanover, when the real King of England is p

alk of these things now," he said; "perchance when you have been here a few hours we can discuss such matt

f, another followed bearing other things, and

sed wine upon me. But I had passed the age of hot-blooded boyhood, and, knowing the work I h

sked Colman Killigrew presently. "

y used. For, careless as I was in those days, I loved not to hear men speak of maidens as though they were brute[Pg 54] beasts. I have also discovered that men, w

e-man of the family. He had more learning too than the others, and spoke with more taste. He was not pleasant to look upon; he had a short bull-neck, and there was a round upon his back which almost approached a hump. I saw

e house often, and knew the ways of the inmates. He had a seat of honour beside old Colman Killigrew too,

e the kitchen maiden I had kept at Trevanion. Two out of the three were past mid-age, too, while the third was a large-lim

a song and a story!"

little stoary first, then?" aske

then a galloping song and dance

around the room; then, standing up,

aigels' (eagles); they 'ave flied 'igh; they 'ave stood avore kings, they 'ave. Ther've bin wisht times laately, but a better d

re no women to love around here-they are afraid of us; but drinki

into the huge fireplace, and spoke not. From that moment I f

vanion. It was[Pg 56] moreover peculiar to Cornwall, and, interspersed as it was by Uncle Anthony's explanations, caused even the hard-featured serving-women of Endellion to

the wind to-d

the draps

ew-luv that

enwud 'ee

the gaarden-gr

u and I

ower that in th

(withered)

ll graw no lai

s will ne'

an love es d

I do but

ipt they've got a man by 'em. The man es the tree, an' the maid es an ivy-laif, and tha's oal 'bout it. But you do

th an' a day

it rised

s clay cowl

mells 'evvy

iss my cowld

will not

g

ll she 'ad kissed the booy she loved; and w'en she'd kis

kiss from yer

is oal

kiss from yer d

back to y

n the maid and what he called her "booy's sperrit," who tried to make her accompan

marked Uncle Anthony, "that t

ed many surmises concerning me. He took a long time to tell the story, for he weaved in a love episode, a duel, the appearance of a ghost and a wizard, besides many droll sayings peculiar to the[Pg 58] county; but through it all I could see that he aimed at me, and gave hints that he suspected I had other motives in coming to Endellion than those which I had revealed. He described me as an unknown cavalier who wore a mask; he also spoke of a wise man whose eyes pierced the mask. It is true he dated the story in the far back past; all the same, I coul

ed cavalier?" asked Otho Kil

e this way," replied Uncle Anthony.

n?" I asked,-"wh

e top 'igh plaaces, my deear. A wise man do mount a 'igh rock, and rest in paice. Around 'im es the wild, treacherous waaste, but up there[Pg

m alone. I decided that he was not what he seemed; but how I could converse with him again was not ea

e sounds at the door that some visitor was approaching. At a look from Colman Killigrew, all the ser

hough of no great force of character. He was dressed in accordance with the latest foppery of the times, and was, I thought, mighty careful about hi

ach of the sons looked at him distrustfully, almost sava

with you alone," he

g

e reply. "I have no

ranger among you,"

taying with us. He is of the same r

leave, but Colman Killigrew,

fair for the ears of a

at may not be discussed by all

ating me as one of his family, even though I was a stranger, he would cause me to be more obedi

ouch of anger in his voice. "You know, then

d man

ove

whatever, but the sons made a movem

is cheeks. I could see, too, that he had difficulty i

g

ieve that my sentimen

n Killigrew

ou. He bore a letter containing an offer

d man

I cannot think you fairly understood the purport of the let

swer wa

not such an answer as one ge

eagles mate n

you understood. My family is

ance-but on the mother's?-Ba

ously with the hilt of his sword; but

"I am come in person to offer my name and fortune-a name as good

er that I gave to your me

still kept o

ce took a loftier tone. "I am here to offer Mistress Nancy [Pg 62]Molesworth t

had been pricked on the quick at l

live here!" cried Polperro. "That your sons pay her attention which she hates; that

uttered these words as soon

wever, I had a feeling of admiration. Courage is always good, even although it be shown at the wr

ro. "You allowed her to visit Mistress Arundell, where she met with a friend she had

is purpose better. I saw, too, that old Colman Killigrew ground his teeth with rage, and I heard him mutter something about his being mad to let

vesick fool may. Let me also say this, although you deserve not this explanation: Mistress Nancy Molesworth is betrothed to my

r own will?" c

d the old man, "and is no more to be relied on. B

"and these," looking with scorn on

angry looks bestowed upon him. Benet Killigrew turned

st," he said. "The time may come when the laws of courtesy may

ess Nancy Molesworth is without friends. And besides that, it might be profitable for you to

r Penryn," said the old man when he had gone, "for in

tions which hung on my lips. "He sadly lacked wisdom, howev

ver. I am not as young as I was, and young Polperro's words have ill prepared me to speak on matt

l, I dreaded the man. I instinctively felt his eyes probing me. I knew he had been ma

aid; "perchance you, too, wil

illigrew; "it is easy for a stran

to stay among them and drink another bottle of wine

man[Pg 65] walking to and fro; but he seem

or two with us, I t

in the af

go you fart

n what your father

, but spoke no word more unti

said; "but we have the name for a rough people.

I ass

e who merited their friendship," concluded Otho; "but

wly and distinctly, as w

e bade me good-night. "The Tower of London

lied; "but a good sword and a ready h

he corridor. He walked slowly, like a man deep in thought. D

ost regretted having undertaken to do Peter Trevisa's bidding. Not because of the danger. Nay, that was almost the only redeeming feature in the business. And yet I tried to persuade myself that my mission was good

n. She did not look a well-bred dame; at the same time she was different from the serving-women I had seen in the hall. I started to follow her; but before I had taken two st

und before starting to seek it, then stopped. I heard the clank of steel.

mused; "truly, the

had not seen me. My stockinged foot touched

so, after carefully bolting my door, I made my way towards t

br type