Richard Carvel -- Volume 02

leman whom I loved and honoured above any in this world, and with whom I had always lived and dealt openly. After my grandfather was pronounced to be mending, I went b

h the town was ringing. That body had met but a while before, primed to act on the circular drawn up by Mr. Adams of Massachusetts. The Governor's message had not been so prompt as to forestall them, and I am occupied scarce the time in the writing of this that it took our brave members to adopt the petition to his Majesty and to pass resolutions of support to our sister colony of the North. This being done, and a most tart reply penned to his Excellency, they ended that sitting and passed in procession to the Governor's mansion to deliver it, Mr. Speaker Lloyd at their head, and a vast concourse

teach you in Gloucester Street,

his attitude until the day in June my

irit remained the same as of old: but for that spirit I believe he had never again risen from his bed in Marlboro' Street. My uncle and the rector were among those

d Scipio standing by with my grandfather's punch. Mr. Carvel would have me rehearse again all that had passed in town and colony since his

ve done more than Dr. Leiden's physic for this old frame of mine. I well

s, sir?

ief and gladness there was in the words as I had not h

Richard." And when the glass was brought m

rence, but dreading that aught I might say would disturb him, held my peac

it to Mr. Allen as well as to you. In short, sir, the rector gives me an excellent good account

joy and pride, and knew not what to say or do. The answer I framed, alas, remained unspoken. From his own lips I had heard how much the news had mended

on next fall. I am not much longer for this earth, and can ill sp

ould I have laid hands on the rector then, I would have

the black grooms stood in livery to receive us. Harvey held by the bridle a blooded bay hunter, and her like could scarce be f

ly. I have got her for

ow old enough to have a

re to keep me as his pupil, since he was well paid for his tuition. Still, the game did not seem worth the candle. However, he was s

inheritance. Praised be God, I never thought of that! But I came by nature to hate and to fear my uncle, as I hated and feared the devil. I saw him with my father's eyes, and with my mother's, and as my grandfather had seen him in the old days when he was strong. In

as hard. And a remembrance of many things was fresh in my mind." He paused for breath, as was his habit now. And I said nothing. "But Grafton has striven to wipe out the past. Sickness teaches us that we must condone, and not condemn. He has liv

o Grafton. The Governor knew my uncle well, a

le has atoned. He hath been faithful during my illness, despite my cold treatment. And he

get his attempts to prevent my father's marriage, and to throw doubt upon my mother's birth. The agony it gave me, comin

o gay. It must be remembered that there were times when young ladies made their entrance into the world at sixteen, and for a beauty to be unmarried at twenty-two was rare in

not let these young gallants get ahead of you. How does

ill Fotheringay, who spent some of his time with me at the Hall. Silver and China, with the Manners coat-of-arms, were laid out that had not seen the light for many along day. And there were picnics, and sailing parties, and dances galore, some of which I attended, but h

uld: not break my word. I must have sat very silent and preoccupied at the table, where all was wit and merriment. And more than once I saw the laughter leave Dorothy's face, and caught her eyes upon; me with suc

e house aglow, with light, the music of the fiddles and the sound of laughter floating out of the open windows. Even as I gap

not well,

answered. I scarce

grandfath

; he seems b

re, save for the little puff at the shoulders; her simple dress drawn a little above the waist, t

over, as you used to?"

l cannot attend to his affairs." I longed to tell

aging the estate al

no one els

e. I-I have seen it. You are so silent, and-and you seem

on, and because she had divined s

she ask

aid; "yes,

calling from the hous

Richard. I sha

taring after her until she disappeared in the door. All the way hom

aw her, I thought

d, and I came to know the yield of every patch to a hogshead and the pound price to a farthing. I grew to understand as well as another the methods of curing the leaf. And the wheat pest appearing that year, I had the good fortune to discover some of the clusters in the sheaves, and ground our oyster-shells in time to save the crop. Many a long even

her was a soldier afore ye, ye were born to the de

I laughed once, when he had repeated

bove the singing

style. And her piercin's be not like a frigate." He said this with a readiness to startle me, and little enough superstition I had. A light was on his seared face, and his pipe la

came back to me when the old man was laid away in the sp

fields of an evening, it had been on my tongue to confess the lie Mr. Allen had led me into. But the sight of the old man, trembling and tremulous, aged by a single stroke, his childlike trust in my strength and b

standing booted and spurred in the stables, Harvey putting

"Marse Satan he come i

ssis Satan, and Ma

evil do you

" chuckled Harvey; "'tis t

ellow?" I demanded, the unw

y, laconically. "You won't be

or the news had put me in ang

sharp with the first touch of autumn, and a huge backlog lay on the irons. Around it, in a comfortable half-circle sat our guests, Grafton and Mr. Allen and Philip smoking and drinking for a whet against

," Grafton said gayly, "I'll, lay a

and said querulously, "Guests, my lord, and I have d

ung me. How different would h

r side. And together, with Diomedes help; we undressed him, Grafton talking in low tomes the while: Since this was, an office I was wont to perform, my temper was now overwhelming me. But I kept my

with a yawn, and rings the hand-bell. "S

rd. But my uncle rais

t this is not our house

st then the door swung on its hinges, and Mr. Stark

e all secure; Mr.

rned to Scipio, standing by the low-b

t the usual hour

mour. Mr. Allen talked from force of habit, being used to pay in such kind for his meals. But presently the madeira, warmed these two into a better spirit. I felt that I had victory on m

nd Philip had decamped with two of our choice horses, and that my uncle an

n is dry fambly!" This was Scipio's strongest argument. "I jes' can't refuse on

d myself with bills of cargo until I heard the horses on the drive. Mr. Allen and Philip came

ou, Mr. Allen!

like," he said gayly, "as soon as

es, when he followed me into the li

al and spiritual adviser, I intend speaking plain. For I

or I had some notion he might run m

" he replied; "but first le

at him down by the window. For the mo

ther I should. I like you, Richard," said he. "You are straight-spoken and commanding. In brief, sir, you are the kind of lad I should have been

of the world, and for the life of me, I could not help liking him then. He had a fine

obtaining what you wish than those

se are well enough, and shorter. You were ab

s. I had, however, lost muc

victions, Mr. Allen," I said. "I am not of the King's party no

chard, my lad," said he, br

," I retorted. "Why

a while, but his b

ld him on the very brink of the grave, and ask me again why I lied to him! His hope of heaven is scarce less sacred to him than his love of the King, and both are so tightly w

able and said it. And yet he had struck the very note of my own f

remarked presently; "you have a cause for keeping

me a str

ar," said he; "your ima

and I can teach you clas

t that the money I get f

cham

t enough," I

nswered with a laugh, and left the room w

other day, a threat that did not seem to move Grafton greatly. Philip ever maintained the right to pitch it on the side of his own convenience, and he chose in this instance to come to the rescue of his dear mamma, and turned the scales in her favour. He was pleased to characterize the Hall as insupportable, and vowed that his clothes would b

ing me unnecessarily. He had the imprudence once to ask of me the facts and figures of the estate; and tho' 'twas

emember. The morning of my talk with Mr. Allen I went to the stables to see how he had

tor as a representative of

d I'm thinking Mr. Allen will be standing for one. What be him and Mr. Grafton a-doin

said, catchi

mes in the calendar, I take it. I hear him and Mr. Grafton among the stalls this

e they saying

er Marlboro' and 'South River' and 'next voyage,' and that pro

the small rascalities they were forever at. But that name of Gri