A Jacobite Exile

d house. It was ever a matter of regret to its owner, Sir Marmaduke Carstairs, that his grandfather had so modified its construction, by levelling one side of the

s as to what would have been the fate of her husband, if they had caught him there, until, though but eight years old, he had smitten one of the troopers, as he sat, with all his force. What had happened after that, he did not recollect, for it was not until a week after the Roundheads had ridden away that he found

not, have burnt it to the ground. As it was, I came back here to find it whole and safe, except that the crop-eared scoundrels had, from pure wantonness, destroyed the pictures

in fighting, when there is some chance, even a slight one, of success, but I

London, to pay his respects to Charles the Second. He was well received, and although he tired, in a very short time, of the gaieties of the court, he returned to Lynnwood with his feelings of loyalty to the Stuarts

reparations had been made for a great Jacobite rising throughout the country. Nothing came of it, for the Duke of Berwick, who was to have led it, failed in getting the two parties who were concerned to come to an agreement. The Jacobites were ready to rise, directly a French army landed. The French king, on the other hand, would not send an army until the Jacobites

ropose to me a plot to assassinate him. Such scoundrels as Barclay would bring disgrace on the best cause in the world. Had I heard as much as a whisper of it, I would have buckled on my sword, and ridden to London to warn the Dutchman of his da

e, or forty, that their banner is hoisted again; but keep yourself free from all plots, except those that deal with fair and open warfare. Have no faith whatever in politicians, w

ought and vanquished Alured Dormay, his second cousin, and two years his senior, for speaking of King James' son as the Pretender, and was ready, at any time, to do battle with any boy of his own

s well that the lads were not four years older, for then, instead of taking to fisticuffs, their swords would have been out, and as my boy has, for the last four years, been exercised daily in t

though each man has a right to his own opinions, he has no right to offend those of others--besides, at present it is as well to keep a quiet t

the Rector of Apsley can teach them, more than half are

a lad of that age. He needs curbing, and would carry himself all the better if, like Charlie, he had an hour a day at sword exercise. I speak for the boy's good. It is true that you yourself, being a bitter Whig, mix but little with your neighbours, who are for the most part

s wife's cousin, for the knight was a man of far higher consideration, in the coun

pected, Sir Marmaduke. I came to complain

ly my son who openly resented his ill-timed remarks, but you may be sure that others were equally displeased, and maybe their resentment will last much longer than that which was quenched in a fair stand-u

said blandly, "and I will make it my business that, should the boys meet aga

it were not that he is husband to my cousin Celia, I would have nought to do with him. She is my only kinswoman, and, were aught to

smile, when I know that he would fain swear. I like my cousin Celia, and I like her little daughter Ciceley, who takes after her, and not after John Dormay; but I would that the fellow lived on th

er that is against him. If he were anyone but Celia's husband, I would say that he is a smooth-faced knave, though I altogether lack proof of my words, beyond that he has added half a dozen farms to his estate, and, in each case, there were complain

r to Rockley, much oftener than I otherwise should do, for her sake and Ciceley's, though I would rather, a hundred times, that they should come here. Not that the visits are pleasant, when they do come, for I can see that Celia is always in fear, lest I should ask her

It was as much as I could do, not to rub my hands and chuckle, when his father told me all about it. However, I must speak gravely to Charlie. If he takes it up, every time a Whig speaks scornfully of the kin

d hate assassination, so that many who had, hitherto, been opponents of William of Orange, now ranged themselves on his side, declaring they could no longer support a cause that used assassination as one of its weapons. More zealous Jacobites, although they regretted the assassination plot, and were as vehement

earned to dance; quarrelled occasionally with his cousin Alured, spent a good deal of his time on horseback, and rode over, not unfrequently, to Rockley, choosing, as far as poss

her husband likes not her intimacy here. It is well, then, that you should go over and see them, for it is only when you bring h

, never offered any objection to the girl's visits to Lynnwood. She thought that, perhaps, he was pleased that there should be an intimacy between some member, at least, of his family, and Sir Marmaduke's. There were so few houses at which he or his were welcome, it was pleasant to him to be able to refer to the c

ie Carstairs; and although, when he had once brought her to the house, he considered that his duties were over until the hour arrived fo

egree in her. He was now past eighteen, and was beginning to regard himself as a man, and had, to Ciceley's satisfaction, gone a few week

England and Scotland. Charlie saw but little of him, for he was frequently absent, from early morning until late at night, riding to visit friends in Westmoreland and Yorkshire, sometimes being away t

t are brought forward. Here am I, a man of sixty, ready to risk life and fortune in the good cause, and there are many, not half my age, who speak with as much caution as if they were graybeards. Still, lad, I have no doubt that the matter will straighten itself out, and come right in the end. It is always the most trying time, for timorous hearts, before the first shot of a battle is fired. Once

e did come, he should ride by his side, and with that promise he was content to wait, knowing that, at pre

a push with her foot on the ground, and then swaying gently backward and forward, until the swing was again at rest. Charlie was seated on the ground, near

wander away till I come. It is too hot today to be hunting for y

t a short time u

starting for Bristowe's, and, as it is over twen

s face who brought the

ly. "I have not noticed him much.

asked, a minute later, seeing t

Charlie. You know my father does not t

politics. They chatted over the crops, and the chances of a war in Europe, and of the quarrel between Holstein and Denmark, and whether the young king of Sweden would aid the duke, who seems to be threatened by Saxony as well as by Denmark. I did not know anything

he never says so to him; but, when we are alone together, sometimes she shakes her head and says she fears that trouble is coming, and it makes her very unhappy. One day I

eard what you were not meant to hear, you o

rns you and S

y are out of temper, that they don't quite mean, and it would make terrible mischief if such things were rep

her and yours are very friendly together, which is natural, when my father is all fo

ie no

till, I don't understand in the least

arting the swing afresh, and then relapsing in

r Marmaduke is very kind to me, and I love him dearly, and so I do yo

ay be quite sure of, whatever you tell me, it is like te

r's study. I did not know who he was, but it did seem funny his entering by that door, as if he did not want to be seen by anyone in the house. I did not think

steward, and helps clean the silver. He waits when we have several fr

inly curious. What can he

n't know anything about it.

w," Charlie agreed thoughtfully. "I daresay it is

she asked eagerly. "Because,

st the sort of thing it is well to know, but I expect there is no harm in it, one way or the other. Of course, he must have known your father before he came to us, and may have business of some sort with

er was engaged heart and soul in a projected Jacobite rising. He knew that John Dormay was a bitter Whig. He bel

nship with his father had rendered him older than most lads of his age. He was as warm a Jacobite as his father, but the manner in which William, with his Dutch troops, had

maduke into disgrace. Charlie could hardly believe that his cousin would be guilty of setting a spy to watch his father, but it was certainly possible, and

en it would be traced to her. She has not a happy home, as it is, and it would be far worse if her father knew that it was she who had put us on o

lemen rode in, and, as usual, had a lo

listen at the door, or at one of the windows. It is not likely that he will get into the room, for to do that he must have hidden himself before supper

. As soon, then, as he knew that the servants were clearing away the supper, he took a heavy cudgel and went out. He walked straight away from the house, and then, when he knew that his figure could no longer be seen in the twilight, he made

were drawn, but the casement was open two or three inches

listen, then he sprang forward, and, with his whole strength, brought his cudgel down upon the man's head. He fell like a stone. Charlie threw open

, and was about to leap through t

a fellow listening at the window

done,

ntlemen. Let us see what

t his ankles grasped and his feet pulled from under him. He came down with such a crash that, for a mome

y boy? Has the sc

said as he sat up; "and, what is

through the gardens," Sir Marmaduke

g was discovered. Charlie had been so shaken that he was unable to join the pursuit, but

harlie. Have you an

s too dark to see his face. I could see the outline of his head against the win

me you here

t afterwards, father

of them had torches, and, as they approached, Sir Marmaduke saw

blow, Charlie, for here is a clean cut through the cloth, and a pat

r it was but a moment after, when I was speaking to you, that I felt my ankles seized, and I went down with a crash.

ndow open w

two or th

evidently a p

d we may be pretty sure he will never again show his face here. Fortunately he heard not

one of the others said. "The questio

uke looked

istening at the windows; and that this shrubbery would form a very good shelter for an eavesdropper. So I thought, this evening I would take up my place here, to assure myself that there was no traitor in the

armaduke said. "There is no fear o

om where that fellow slept, and make a thorough search of any clothes he may have left behind, and of

ed no results. Not a scrap of paper of any kind was found, an

s being felt, by all, at the incident of the evening.

lse. What was it brought you to that window? Your story was straight-forward enough, but it was certainly singular your happening to be there, and I fancy some of our friends thought that you had gone round to

that is better than that the truth should be known. This is how it

ow has been prying and listening, or how much he may have learnt. I don't think it can be much. We talked it over, and my friends all agreed with me that they do not remember those curtains having been drawn before. To begin with, the evenings are shortening fast, and, at our meeting last week, we finished our supper by daylight; and, had the cu

we have every reason to hope that our councils have not been overheard. Were it otherwise, I should lose no

s, father, that the m

ned before we separated. Such letters as I have had from France, I have always destroyed as soon as I have read them. Perilous stuff of that sort should never be l

arlie. It is long p