Hayslope Grange / A Tale of the Civil War

green in honour of Captain Stanhope and his soldiers. Maud, and many another as sad-hearted as she, were in no humour for revelry when their dear ones w

sionally giving them a fanfare from their trumpets, drinking with them, and telling them stories of "glorious war." It had the

principles should be doubted. But it seemed that Roger was not the only prize the young soldier coveted, for the day following the revel he asked the hand of Mary Drury i

bies in their arms, widows, whose lives this civil war had made desolate, and sad-eyed maidens widowed already in heart and affection through the intolerance of King Charles. Among these, Maud had already made herself known, and now her rich robes of cherry-colour flowered satin might be seen

Stanhope, it seems, had heard the same. Some one had ventured to remark that the bride-elect did not join the dancers, and he resolved to spe

t. Maud hardly knew whether to be angry or sorry, but she contrived to make him understand most clearly that it was

ertram at a little distance, and the idea at once entered his head that this annoyance could be got over by at once proposing to Mary, when it would be thought he was only playing with Maud, while in reality he was attached to Mary.

herself so disgraced since Harry had gone away, that she would gladly exchange the name of Drury for Stanhope. She did not tell her lover this, she only said something about thinking he

chose to own even to himself, and did not care to part with his eldest daughter just now, but he resolved to let Mary

her father's presence, for she guessed

iness with Captain Stanhope. Dost thou wish

name, father," said M

art thou so anx

it has been so deeply

that had sought her hand in marriage, and he did not believe that he loved her; but he was powerless to withhold his consent if Mary wished it, which she evidently did. "It will

sen her mother, or been accepted by her. But the matter seemed to have been settled by Mary without his i

ad taken place. She had expected some surprise, but not the

do it," she uttered, as so

t what you mean, Maud,"

hat it is all a fable about your marrying

e as that your name is Mau

her, could only think that she was disappointed. "Tell me, when did this take

uestion," said Mary, indignantly. "Did he propos

. "Tell me when he asked you this?" she cried. "Prithee, te

t was last night," said

from the villa

left me," said Mary. "I saw him walking

been after I came i

ame and threw herself on a cushion at her feet, and, forgetting the bitter words that had been spoken only a minute or two befor

you to tell me, Mary, do you love th

sk this quest

tly fear he loves not

love you?" said Mary,

"Mary, sweetheart, we have been as sisters," she said, "and I would you knew how much I loved you; and by my faith, it is because of

ed the last scruple I had in accepting him." Whether this was true, or whether the gay manner was only put on, Maud could not tell, but it made her very unhappy, and

the sound of women crying; and when she drew near she found it was the soldiers leaving

against the young master whom he loved almost overcame her now, and she could hardly res

t might be that as a royalist soldier Roger would have that power some day, she thought; and then she rode on down the lane, while the poor fellows who were going away bade wives and sister

Mary and Captain Stanhope. It could not be for some time, she thought-not until this d

very weak and ill, and so feeble she could hardly speak. Ma

so hungry." Maud ran to the cupboard; there was not a bit of anythin

ourself a rye loaf?" she said. Dame Coppins shook her

if they could not drown her, and so every one had refused to supply her w

m the Grange, or make her purchases herself in the village, so that a

ed to stop to get the damage repaired. The man looked travel-stained and tired, and the blacks

f weighty import. There has been a great battle in Yorkshire."

r: can you tell me augh

and fought with Lieutenant Cromwell's Ironsides,

GER AT TH

But we be all King Charl

ry Drury cometh from Hayslope, and he fought right bravely with the Parliam