Mistress Nancy Molesworth

liberty. On reaching the high-road, however, I began to cast about for my course of procedure. Knowing that I should probab

he would fare among the Killigrews. My first determination to ride towards London I abandoned, and so I rode on dejectedly until I bethought me of a sentence which Benet Killigrew had let drop about a priest coming from Padstow who was to wed Mistress Nancy to Otho. This decided me, and without more ado I touched Chestn

rred that the whole place was often covered with sand, while the church was so much buried that the people often had a difficulty in entering. Indeed report had it

river, and after some argument succeeded in persuading him to take me across. Long before we had reached the lit

rotestant," I said after a goo

I do zay, sur,"

your great famil

in the Ros

N

; the Kil

es

, and the young Killigrews be son

g

come enquiring of you whether

ed at m

Protestant

," I r

want me to know who yo

clever man,

h a grin, "onnly you must know, sur,

d him this, feeling my

. "My brother do work the ferry from this side, sur, and 'ee's ov the saame opinions a

accommodation, even after I had spent a good half-hour in arousing the landlord. However Chestnut was

Indeed, although the priest lodged with a Papist family in the town, he spent much of his time in visiting the few Catholic famili

ple hate hi

ou ever zeed. I tell 'ee, sur, ef oal the priests 'ad a-bin like he, I do

illigrews. Although I little expected it, I fell asleep almost immediately, nor did I wake until late the following morning, when

e would not be home until night. He had gone to Lanherne the previous day, on urgent business, but had bade the

good sword, which done I felt myself ready to meet the priest. It was therefore with much impatience that I waited until nine o'clock, the hour when he[Pg 129] was supposed to arrive; then remembering that probably he would want food after his journey I decided to put off

u of me, my s

e rite, father," I asked, noting the friendly and

et to be found in the country. You look on marriage as a sacrament

ather. When co

here in Padst

t present with heretics, bu

her name,

g through the day, and which was so plau

eight years before the famous law passed by Lord Hardwicke, through whose influence it was decreed that

g

bring her here to-morr

ll have to wait a few da

ther?"

he Killigrews at Endellion, and sh

eturn from Endellion, I s

r days," was his reply; "at the

u after that time,

this country. Cornish people love not the Stuarts, although in some countrie

many thoughts. I waited not an hour longer at Padstow, and not wishing to cross the river again by means of the ferry, I determined to ride to Wadebrid

ses in the village, and I could easily discover what I wanted to know, if I cared to ask of the cottagers; but this I would not do, for it is well known that people with little to interest them talk much about what any stranger may say. I therefore waited until after eight

Jennifer my fin

e going to teel taetis" (till potat

eried, for the girl seemed too fr

rd 'bout 'ee. Do 'ee b

been home lat

laast nig

tell yo

e towld me 'b

thought sh

hink, sur, 'cept that you be

ou what her mistres

shook h

g

, I want to see you

ed weth 'ee up at the 'ouse. They 'll kill '

st, and that she was a

r sister loves her young

sur, that

ts a friend

usn't say nothin'

Endellion this day and see your sister.

ded in persuading her at length. I also told her wh

he house at once, and tell her to find out all she can through the day. Tell her I would befriend her y

remained at St. Kew all the day, not stirring outside the inn, until it was time for[Pg 133] me to go to meet Amelia Lanteglos. When I arrived at the stile, no one was to be seen, and I feared much t

told me all that had happened at the house. Sam Daddo had told her that the Killi

Killigrew

e you wos put, to zee that you wos saafe, and that you took 'im unawares

y, after the maid had talked about Be

e thot of marryin' Maaster Otho, and she do zay

she trust

etimes. She wud be glad to do anythi

a bold step to get away from E

r. She's watche

eans were

g

wud git away

devotion to her mistress, for I was risking everything u

d. I would take her from yon den, and on my oath as a gentleman I seek to free her from the

the maid, who tr

grew wants h

up the thot now; besides my mistress do

but you must

, s

d at Endellion. He wanted me to help him, and offered me my liberty on condition that I would help to carry out his plans. His design is to take her t

den't, sur,

r Benet to get horses and be ready

g

Maaster Otho to-morra night. Besides she'd rut

mistress. You must ride through Endellion village, and when you get t

good'll

ome with you, and then I shall stop yo

he's a terable fight

fought the other night? I t

d, after many protestations, she agree

ligrews intend marrying he

iss,

ennifer must go to you, and you must tell her if she hath consented to my plans. Mind, if y

nsidered what I had done, the more did difficulties present themselves. How could the maid Nancy be expected to trust me? Only once had I seen her, and then she had torn my lying disguise from me in a minute. I had lef

ld she not risk anything to escape them? Had she not written me a letter, and therein told me that she would trust me? But if she did, could I carry out my plans?

sa? Was I not day by day spending his money? Again and again I felt like giving up the whole business; but when I encouraged such a thought the remembrance of Nancy Molesworth's face would come to me, and I saw her just as[Pg 137] when she laid her hand on my arm on the roof of the house, and said: "I am alone, helpl

ly, and when I made my way towards the stile the following morning I had

ing for me. She had just come f

our sister this

s,

ited impatiently

ise, sur, t

heart seemed to have

y spoken to Benet?"

'ave. Maaster Benet

arrange t

oing to leave the ho

ow

g

'n tell me, she 'ad n' tim

sed, but I comforted myself with the thought that Mistress Nancy Molesworth was not to be imposed upon, and that she would see to it that all my behests were obeyed. All the same, as I

appen. I looked around me, for it was bright moonlight, and took note of the position. It was a lonely spot,

e and taken her the other way? Had Otho discovered the plot? Had Amelia proved false? Had Nancy changed her mind at the last m

to ride towards Endellion, when I heard the sound of horses' hoofs; a[

d, and waited.