Hayslope Grange / A Tale of the Civil War

elt anxious about her brother; but she dared not question her aunt as the children did; and from her answers to them little could be gathered beyond this, that Harry had disgraced himself thro

y highly, so that how Harry could have disgraced himself while with him, or what

een placed at the table as usual, ordered it to be carried away without mentioning his name, and said, "That seat wil

o brother," said Ma

side her pewter plate, and laying her head on

ess or Mary's look of mute agony, she rose from her seat, and walking round t

her brother, opened her eyes wide with astonishment on hearing it. "He

nd sit down," said M

me where Harry is, first," she said, s

as turned his head with his stories of the traitor Parliament. He hath done this

ld be at an end now, but the young lady asked, "What did yo

impertinence of the question, but Mau

not a Drury, to be disgraced by this traitor caitiff, who was my son. This must be the last time he is ever spoken of in this hous

and both sat with white frightened

ence among those who cared to eat. Maud and Mary sat with their plates before them, but left t

head on Mary's shoulder, she burst into tears, moanin

ught to be very glad you are not a Drury, to

d!" she said; "nay, nay, I wish I were a Drury, that I might g

ever taken part with any riotous mob, and now Harry has dragged our family honour to the very dust. Everybody will know it soon, and every village wench wi

DISGRACE

er own self-reproachful thoughts on her conduct of the morning. She had no idea then that his father had treated him so harshly

y Mary saying, "It is so wicked, so

against his conscience," said Maud, giv

? prithee, it cannot be right fo

o make ourselves a conscience to other people; and i

rrupted Mary. "God's Word says

Harry has been led to adopt these new views. I can't see how they are right; but then I suppose living here in this quiet village, a

raitor yourself," inter

ous bearing and his loving care of his children; but even Master Drury denies not that he has oft-times b

re a traitor; and by my troth you m

s myself, and tell him how sorely grieved many of his subjects a

evil," said Mary, in a

to think it possible that the King can do wrong; but what am I to think when he breaks the Divine laws of truth a

ink about such things at a

he understanding of such weighty matters; but for men it is different, and that is

ow evil are its doings, and how it has laid violent hands

ght, I trow, although you and I se

found it impossible to settle down to her usual spinning to-day, and telling the children she must lo

ry now," sobbed the little girl,

the tumbled hair from her hot forehead. "He has onl

t just the same; he was my brother before-my very own, and

all the same, I am sure, and you can love him; so

passionately exclaimed Bessie. "Y

she went on-"You said Harry was not your real brother, and now I am

s name is Drury still," she said, "and he has disgraced i

"Are you glad your name

d, "and then I could make you understand bett

n't it?" said Bessi

t, d

change your na

e into her eyes as she shook her head and said, "No, dear, I shall never change my name now." Then,

Mabel says it is to be his, now; but Bertram says he w

ud. "He will miss his master almost as much as you

ent that way. Bertram had sobbed out the first portion of his grief to his brother's dumb favourite, and now stood stroking its si

, Cavalier," sai

ost as fond of Maud as he

ine now, Aunt Mabel says; but I shall never be able to ride him, for thinking of H

propriation of his things in this way she did not approv

y bought for me, if I don't like it; and I can't b

l have Cavalier, and ride him every day, and I wil

in such a small matter as keeping a horse for her individual use. Mistress Mabel grumbled a little when