Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall

my own history previous to the opening of the story I am about to tell you will su

?ois de Lorraine Vernon. My father was cousin-german to Sir George Vernon, at and near

it is not of the highest nobility, it is quite gentle and noble enough to please those who bear its honored name. My mother boasted nobler b

find in me either compensation or consolation for the loss of her child's father, also died, of a broken heart, it was said. But God was right, as usual, in taking my parents; for I should have brought them no happiness, unless perchance they could have moulded my life to a better form than it has had-a doubtful chance, since

of twenty-five I returned to the chateau, there to reside as my uncle's representative, and to endure the ennui of peace. At the chateau I found a fair, tall girl, fifteen years of age: Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, soon afterward Queen of France and rightful heiress to the English throne. The ennui of peace,

mpty it seems. Do not from these words conclude that I am a fanatic, nor that I shall pour into your ears a ranter's tale; for cant is more to be

eavy upon my heart for many years. Sweethearts I had by the scores, but she held my longings from all

d with her, was nobody. For this difference of rank I have since had good cause to be thankful. Great beauty is diffusive in its tendency. Like the sun, it cannot s

s marriage to a simpering fool, Francis II., whom she loathed,

ws her sad history. The stories of Darnley, Rizzio, and Bothwell will be rich morsels, I su

ago that now as I write it seems bu

ck to Scotland to ascend her native throne, I went with her, and

! what a scene for hell was that! Then followed the Bothwell disgrace, the que

u will find that same strange fatality which during all her life brought

resolved that I would see her never again, and that I would turn my back upon the evil life I had led for so many years, and would seek to acquire that quiescence of nature whi

solves my friend, Sir Thomas Douglas, entered

he asked hurriedl

esence, Sir Thomas," I an

f her friends-you among the number. Officers are now coming to serve the writ. I rode hither in all haste

My horse?"

you to Craig's ferry. If I fail, cross the firth without

ends. I sought the back streets and alleys and walked rapidly toward the west gates of the city. Upon arriving at the gates I found them closed. I aroused the warden, and with the artful argument of gold had almost pe

to offer it to them. My action threw the men off their guard, and when I said, "Here it is

led in conscience. I had not, however, given my parole, nor had I surrendered; and if I ha

drew his sword; but he was no match for me, and soon I left

my fifteenth birthday my occupations had been arms and the ladies-two a

od or drink. Two hours before sunrise next morning I reached Craig's Ferry. The horse sent by Douglas awaited me, but the ferry-master had been prohibited from carrying passengers across the firth, and I could not take the horse in a small boat. In truth, I was in great alarm lest I should be unable to cross, but I walked up the Tay a short distance, and found a fisherm

loak, and doublet. When the board was loosened I pressed my heel against it with all the force I could muster, and through an opening six inches broad and four feet long came a flood of water that swamped the boat before one could utter twenty words. I heard a cry from one of the men: "The dog has scuttled the boat. Shoot him!" At the same instant the blaze and noise of two fusils broke the still blackness of the night, but I was overboard

rrible things to come, but I am glad I can reassure you on that point. Although there may be some good fighting ah

in all the world whom she should have avoided-as girls are wont to be. This perverse tendency, philosophers tell us, is owing to the fact that the

ogether. One must have warm, rich blood to do either well; and, save religion, there is n

ached land safely after I scuttled the boat, else I

pondered the question and determined to make my way to Haddon Hall in Derbyshire, where I was sure a warm welcome would await me from my cousin, Sir George Vernon. How I found a peasant's cottage, purchased a poor horse and a few coars

ity of Carlisle. There I purchased a fine charger. I bought clothing fit for a gentleman, a new sword, a hand-fusil, a breastplate, and a

spies who were on the watch for friends of the deposed Scottish queen. Several Scotchmen had been arrested, and it was the general opinion that upon one pretext or another they would be hanged. I therefore chose a circuitous road leading to the town o

f beef a stranger entered the room and gave his orders in a

. Soon we were filling our glasses from the same bowl of punch, and we seemed to be on good terms with each other. But when God breathed into the human body a part of himself, by

o we were until I, forgetting for the moment Elizabeth's hatred of Mar

me and sat in silence. I was older than he, and it had seemed to me quite proper and right that I should make the first advance. But instantly after I had spoken I regretted my words. I remembered not only my danger, being a Scottish refugee, but I al

"having imparted information that seems to annoy you. The Vernons, whom

they are of good blood and lineage. As for wealth, I am told Sir

eorge?" I asked

I am glad to say," r

ir, you sh

leasure, S

is now," I re

irs against the wall to make room for the fight; bu

I am as hungry as a wolf. I would prefer

"Perhaps you will not ca

eaning to boast of my skill, that I can kill you if I wish to do so. Therefore you must see that the re

est swordsmen in France, where the art of sword-play is really an art! The English are but

en it occurred to me that I really did not wish to kill the han

you should owe me your life. I

t lift his sword,

ly do not wish to kill you. In truth, I would be

r I will run you through where

ubborn fellow, with a coolness that sh

rd-point to the floor, and forgetting for the

ered, "until we have discovered

, save for a moment at the gates of Dundee, and I was loath to miss the opportunity, so

You offered affront to the name of Sir George Vernon, and insultingly refused

not care to hear it; and I said I was glad not to know Sir George Vernon because-b

"You certainly are right. I d

le back to its former place. Sir John stood in

truce for to-night? There is nothin

t the fire, half regretful that

ousin hates my father; and I try to make myself believe that I hate you

no man's heart was more sensitive tha

ohn, when I say that I do

Sir Malcolm. Will yo

and I offered my hand t

two bottles of your best sack.

able together, and when the sack and roast beef, for which the Royal Ar

igarro, and I, proud not to be behind him in new-fashioned, gentlemanly accomplishments, called to the landlo

a friend to Mary Stuart. I knew that treachery was not native to English blood, and my knowledge of mankind had told me that the vice could not live in Sir John Manners's heart. B

when I admit that one of my many sins was an excessive indulgence in wine. While I was not a drunkard, I was given to my cups sometimes in a degree both dangerous and disgracef

hat I need fear nothing from having told him that I was a friend of Queen

d toward me. Her friends are not welcome visitors to England, and I fear evil will befall those who come to us as refugees. You need have no fear that I will betray you. Your secret is safe with me. I will give you hostage. I also am Queen Mary's friend. I would

recalled by each of us, and the baneful influence of Mary's beauty upon all whom it touched was to be shown more fatally than had appeared e

he night, I asked Sir John, "Wha

nd Castle by way of

all we not extend our truce over the morrow a

e the truce perpetual,"

I," was my

e warp and woof of enmity a friendship which bec

Haddon Hall, there to drone away my remaining days in fat'ning, peace, and quietude? I could not answer my own question, but this I knew: that Sir George Vernon was held in high esteem by Elizabeth, and I felt that his house was, perhaps, the only spot in England where my head could safely lie. I also had other plans concerning Sir George and his household wh

e, who had no son, was anxious that his vast estates should remain in the Vernon name. He had upon the occasion of my last visit intimated to me that when Doll should become old enough to marry, and I, perchance, h

ght, however, I had not been permitted to bask in the light of Mary's smiles to the extent of my wishes. Younger men, among them Darnley, who was but eighteen years of age, were preferred to me, and I had begun to consider the advisability of an orderly retreat from the Scottish court before my lustre should be entirely dimmed. It is said that a man is young so long as he is strong, and I was strong as in the days of my youth. My cheeks were fresh, my eyes were brigh

like another to me, and Dorothy would answer as well as any for my wife. I could and would be kind to her, and that alone in time would make me fond. It is true, my affection would be of a fashion more comfortable than exciting; but who, having passed his galloping youth, will contemn the joys that come from makin

out our assistance. Self-willed, arrogant creatures are those same fate