Simon Dale

ur conversation Darrell had left me abruptly, and I saw him no more. But my own thoughts gave me occupation enough; for even to a dull mind, and one unversed in Court intrigues, it s

easy to know that you are glad to be with a lady; your very blood tells you; but to say why is often difficult. I told myself that my sole cause for pleasure lay in the services I might be able to render to my old friend's daughter; she would want me to run her errands and do her bidding; an attentive cavalier, however lowly, seldom comes amiss; these pleas I muttered to myself, but swelling pride refused them, and for once reason came as pride's ally, urging that in such company as would assemble at Dover a girl might well need protection, no less than compl

yes were not dull with sleep but seemed to blaze with some strong excitement; he had not been to his bed, for his dress was not disordered, and a light burnt bright in my parlour. To crown all, from the same parlour came the sound of a psalm most shrilly and villainously chanted through the nose in a voice familiar

l's name brings y

f God," he ans

t forbid slee

ung man?" he asked, pertine

g my respects to H

im and you," w

our intercession no more than has the King. If Jonah brought you here, it was withou

ed his hand

ument. Even now the plot is laid, even now men conspire to bring this kingdom again into the bondage of Rome. Have you no ears, h

air of getting quit of him, flung myself into a

with you-what of him? Is

d I, smiling in spite of myself, for a k

ng over me with an admonishing

asked. "Yet cleave to him. Be

e goes," said I, yawning. "For we are b

d's will!" cried Phineas,

hands off me, man, if you can't keep your to

fierce and angry frown on his face. A moment later he was across the room and

rs; to my horror they had been cropped level across their tops by the shears. "Do your wil

to him in lo

ot bridle your tongue. It's not for you

looked at the two men. The interest of the scene grew

ell's threat, "is not of you; he shall be snatched from the bu

ed to me and

mine. Do you suffer the presen

te doesn't ask my pleasure in his coming and goi

t known that he was here," Darrell remin

infirmity of temper that I have touched on before, his present tone set

f York? My Lord Arlington? Or do you mean the Duke

answered Darrell, keeping h

prefer a Ranter to

e respect), these grand dukes little better? Had Phineas Tate also his place on the board where souls made the stakes? In such a game none is too low for value, none too high for use. Surely my finger w

tifies the instrument, yea, it makes clean that which is foul. Verily, at His h

words; my thoughts flew readily

ullen scowl not a whit, cried to him, "Repent, repent, vengeance is near!" and so at last was out of the room before either of us could hinder

I. "Don't let it disturb you. If Jonah admi

u to share my lodging, I did not f

and now his Grace the Duke. Indeed, seeing how destiny-or, if you will, chance-rules, a man may well be though

r and my evident determination to have no quarrel won h

seating himself and smoothing his brow. "You're fa

it's too soon for bed and too late to go abroad. Jonah, bring us some w

cy. He heard me with an attention which belied the contempt he asserted; I have noticed that men pay heed to these things however much they laugh at them. At

dy, to my infinite misery, love where he loves?" For the picture of Nell had come suddenly across me in rene

orrows do not thrive) I looked furtively at him between the fingers of my hand. He sat moody, thoughtful, and frowning. I raised my h

ye

ink of

so she

ed in boisterous scorn, "What, you believe these fables? Does God reveal hidden things to old crones? I thought you at Court were n

nly, as though I had spoken of

il's work,

ork it will, I'll do it. I'll find what he hides. I'll drink of his cup. Come, you're glum! Drink

bt, shone bright with excitement and the exhilaration of the wine. The look of me, or the hour of

into my face as though I had bee

than confusion could in him. For my random ravings had most marvellously struck on something more than my sob

now? What in Heaven's name is there to know?" And I smiled cunning

uttered uneasily. "The w

ut two glasses; I h

me," he growled. "That, and

ke secrets where there are

there are secrets where the

and I added, "I'm not for a quarrel, secret or no secret, so if that's

r rebuked his temper, he grew more gentle; he l

in London, Simon; but

d in my face," said I, "and I too

Duke of

r, if it had chan

persuasively. "Why not live in pea

"Is it a bargain? Whither sh

xclaimed w

st for you? Come, shall we both go to-morrow to Hatchstead-a pre

not. I serve my

e Duke of

is the King

race the K

obstinate--" he

or as yourself!" I said, laughing and throwing mysel

it to you," he said,

to make a profit of his

ou could

turned, Darrell. Co

s," he answered, but wit

r duty to

for that reservation,

on his brow. But he made no reply, being unable to trust his self-control or answer my light banter in its own kind. He left me with no more than a shake of his head and a wave of his hand; a

n those days all things were sport, even the high disputes of Churches or of Kingdoms. We look at the world through our own glasses; little as it recks of us, it is to us material and opportunity; there in the dead of night I wove a dream wherein the part of hero was played by Simon Dale, with Kings and Dukes to bow him on and off the stage and Christ

asy fashion, but seemed to take courage when I did not break into abuse, but asked him mildly why he had not sought rest and what he wanted with me. His first answer was to implore me

ides, we shall not be long here. For yo

urney

onmouth, and you go with me,

very sadly on my brain, for I swear even this fel

over,

e all the gaiety there

ed away; he was dolefully tr

ed, for I did not wish him to suspect t

were from home, she called to me and bade me take a message for you. I prayed her to write it, but she

of lady was

ot tall; she was very merry, sir." Jonah sighed deeply; wi

rpose she wanted me?" I ask

w the purpose, and that she woul

here,

d Burford House,

ve you

name, and she

t wa

, and she laughed as she gave it;

aid I dryly. "You may leave me,

the n

I know the name!

obation, whether most of my oath, or of the heath

rhaps he would have preached to her, as had Phineas Tate, his master in religion. For, beyond doubt, that heat

the house called Burford House in Chelsea? A wave of memory swept over me, and I saw her simple-well then, more simple!-though always merry, in the sweet-smelling fields at home, playing with my boy's heart as with a toy that she knew little of, but yet by instinct handled deftly. It pleased her mightily, that toy, and she seemed to wonder when she found that it felt. She did not feel; joy was hers, nothing deeper. Yet could she not, might she not, would she not? I knew what she was; who knew what she might be? The picture of her rose again before my eyes, inviting a desperate venture, spurring me on to an enterprise in which the effort seemed absurdit

ower that should draw where his repelled. For my love, shaken not yet shattered, wounded not dead, springing again to full life and force, should breathe its vital energy into her soul and impart of

from the little closet beyond, where Jonah stretched his weary legs, and, as I hoped, had forgotten in harmless sleep the soul that he himself tormented worse than would th

and openeth a path through the wilderness, and setteth in the hand of

there was no lack in the days of King Charles. But was Jonah Wall to smite them? I opened my door with a laugh. We were