Hayslope Grange / A Tale of the Civil War

w, and hardly cared. This one fact was enough for her; Harry was wounded-wounded and ill-perhaps dying among strangers. It might be he was prisoner even, a

her under such a trial, and could only point her to Him who, having "borne our g

d travelled thither before her-news of humiliation,

g-room. "Prince Rupert defeated by that son of a brewer and his handful of so

ws," said Master Drury, hoping it might be so, for h

tern, impassive face told nothing, and Mary's, in its proud resolve, no more; and she dared not utter the for

g in a corner of the garden crying bitterly, while Bertram was marching u

GRIEF F

kind of you, Maud," she sobbed, "but you are not Harry's sister-not a Drury, like Mary and I. If Mary woul

ou not that I am sor

ardly knowing how to express herself; "but you know you are

rom laughing. "And will he expect you to cry for him a

and she seemed bent upon doin

is something else he will expect me to do, and that is to comfort his little sister;" and she took the little girl in her arms, and laid the hot tear-stained cheek against hers, and whispered

lage was correct, but they were not the days of newspapers, and an army might be within a few miles of Hayslope itself, and t

em mention was made of the disastrous battle of Marston Moor. These despatches were commands for the Captain to collec

for there could be no certainty of his returning to Hayslope until then. There was always a truce of a few months during

ever at Hayslope Grange. Out of the direct main road, strangers rarely came that way, and

having yielded to Fairfax, the Parliamentary general. This was all the news that came to Hayslope through all the remaining days of July and the sultry we

to their unwonted toil, a baby in one hand and a reaping-hook in the other, and thought of the burden of sorrow they

ing Mary's house linen, but because she could not endure the scrutiny of those hard cold eyes, and to get away from them she did as Harry had

ter. It could not be said that they were not welcome, and yet provisions were now so dear, owing to the scanty harvest and heavy taxes, that every extra mouth t

e hope was taken away and the faint sickening languor again stole over her frame. It might have grown upon her more than it did, but the wants of the poor people in the villa

with their bargain, but Maud could not tell whether they loved each other. She hoped they did, but Mary never gave her an opportunity of speakin

n the green, and the prospect of a good dinner was very pleasant to them under the present circumstances. Captain Stanhope

er about this, saying that Bertram would want them by-and-by if Harry did not return, she retorted, "Harry Drury never will return

ed. "What can you m

g Bertram to think Harry right in rebelling again

have not sought to teach Bertram that Harry's way is right for him. I have only told him to keep the

hat has made Harry a traitor,"

raitor," said Maud, calmly.

e went out of the room; but she evidently did not alter her opinion, for she con

hope had departed with her husband to Oxford, the house seemed

a fever of mingled anger and sorrow. A man had stopped at the blacksmith's shed on his way from Lon

or a few minutes, and her first act was to take

ry as this," said the lady, looking angrily at the ribbons and ruffles. Bessie wondered what they had to do with it, while Mistress Mabel sto

n Mistress Mabel; "and I hope, brother, that you will see to i

; "order whatever is seemly at this time. I know not w

ress Mabel. "Where will their iniquity end? They will

felt she must say something in defence of the Parliament, said, "Nay, nay, M

nd that God may rescue this nation from their hands, it behoves us

o mourning?" asked Be

ffles, and such light vanities at th

but hardly knowing how she had offended, until Bertram ask

hless wish to do so," replied Mistres

d been worn at her sister's wedding. "I don't mind wearing the black hood and wimple, Maud," she said; "but then I thought p

not, dear

e little girl; "and father never looked so sorry a

ry he is about Harry," said Maud, "but

own to silver white, his tall erect form was bowed as with the weight of an added twenty years; and she thought with a keen pang that if Harry did not soon come he would n