友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
合租小说网 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

the pigeon pie-第12部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!



following what he had said; grieving and rebelling at the fate

prepared for him; and at the same time sensible of shame at having so

far fallen short of all he had hoped to feel and to prove himself in

the time of trial。  He had been of very little use to Edmund; his

rash interference had only done harm; and added to his mother's

distress; he had been nothing but a boy throughout; and instead of

being a brave champion; he had been in such an agony of terror at an

empty threat; that if the rebel captain had been in the room; he

might almost; at one moment; have betrayed his brother。  Poor Walter!

how he felt what it was never to have learnt self…control!



The brothers arranged themselves for the night without undressing;

both occupying Walter's bed。  They were both too anxious and excited

to sleep; and Walter sat up after a time; listening more calmly to

Edmund; who was giving him last messages for Prince Rupert and his

other friends; should Walter ever meet them; and putting much in his

charge; as now likely to become heir of Woodley Hall and Forest Lea;

warning him earnestly to protect his mother and sisters; and be loyal

to his King; avoiding all compromise with the enemies of the Church。







CHAPTER VII。







Forest Lea that night was a house of sorrow:  the mother and two sons

were prisoners in their separate rooms; and the anxieties for the

future were dreadful。  Rose longed to see and help her mother;

dreading the effect of such misery; to be borne in loneliness; by the

weak frame; shattered by so many previous sufferings。  How was she to

undergo all that might yet be in store for herimprisonment; ill…

treatment; above all; the loss of her eldest son?  For there was

little hope for Edmund。  As a friend and follower of Prince Rupert;

he was a marked man; and besides; Algernon Sydney; the commander of

the nearest body of forces; was known to be a good deal under the

influence of the present owner of Woodley; who was likely to be glad

to see the rightful heir removed from his path。



Rose perceived all this; and her heart failed her; but she had no

time to pause on the thought。  The children must be soothed and put

to bed; and a hard matter it was to comfort poor little Lucy; perhaps

the most of all to be pitied。  She relieved herself by pouring out

the whole confession to Rose; crying bitterly; while Eleanor hurried

on distressing questions whether they would take mamma away; and what

they would do to Edmund。  Now it came back to Lucy; 〃O if I had but

minded what mamma said about keeping my tongue in order; but now it

is too late!〃



Rose; after doing her best to comfort them; and listening as near to

her mother's door as she dared; to hear if she were weeping; went to

her own room。  It adjoined Walter's; though the doors did not open

into the same passage; and she shut that which closed in the long

gallery; where her room and that of her sisters were; so that the

Roundhead sentry might not be able to look down it。



As soon as she was in her own room; she threw herself on her knees;

and prayed fervently for help and support in their dire distress。  In

the stillness; as she knelt; she heard an interchange of voices;

which she knew must be those of her brothers in the next room。  She

went nearer to that side; and heard them more distinctly。  She was

even able to distinguish when Edmund spoke; and when Walter broke

forth in impatient exclamations。  A sudden thought struck her。  She

might be able to join in the conversation。  There had once been a

door between the two rooms; but it had long since been stopped up;

and the recess of the doorway was occupied by a great oaken cupboard;

in which were preserved all the old stores of rich farthingales of

brocade; and velvet mantles; which had been heirlooms from one Dame

of Mowbray to another; till poverty had caused them to be cut up and

adapted into garments for the little Woodleys。



Rose looked anxiously at the carved doors of the old wardrobe。  Had

she the key?  She felt in her pouch。  Yes; she had not given it back

to her mother since taking out the sheets for Mr。 Enderby。  She

unlocked the folding doors; and; pushing aside some of the piles of

old garments; saw a narrow line of light between the boards; and

heard the tones almost as clearly as if she was in the same room。



Eager to tell Edmund how near she was; she stretched herself out;

almost crept between the shelves; leant her head against the board on

the opposite side; and was about to speak; when she found that it

yielded in some degree to her touch。  A gleam of hope darted across

her; she drew back; fetched her light; tried with her hand; and found

that the back of the cupboard was in fact a door; secured on her side

by a wooden bolt; which there was no difficulty in undoing。  Another

push; and the door yielded below; but only so as to show that there

must be another fastening above。  Rose clambered up the shelves; and

sought。  Here it was!  It was one of the secret communications that

were by no means uncommon in old halls in those times of insecurity。

Edmund might yet be saved!  Trembling with the excess of her delight

in her new…found hope; she forced out the second bolt; and pushed

again。  The door gave way; the light widened upon her; and she saw

into the room!  Edmund was lying on the bed; Walter sitting at his

feet。



Both started as what had seemed to be part of the wainscoted wall

opened; but Edmund prevented Walter's exclamation by a sign to be

silent; and the next moment Rose's face was seen squeezing between

the shelves。



〃Edmund!  Can you get through here?〃 she exclaimed in a low eager

whisper。



Edmund was immediately by her side; kissing the flushed anxious

forehead:  〃My gallant Rose!〃 he said。



〃Oh; thank heaven! thank heaven! now you may be safe!〃 continued

Rose; still in the same whisper。  〃I never knew this was a door till

this moment。  Heaven sent the discovery on purpose for your safety!

Hush; Walter!  Oh remember the soldier outside!〃 as Walter was about

to break out into tumultuous tokens of gladness。  〃But can you get

through; Edmund?  Or perhaps we might move out some of the shelves。〃



〃That is easily done;〃 said Edmund; 〃but I know not。  Even if I

should escape; it would be only to fall into the hands of some fresh

troop of enemies; and I cannot go and leave my mother to their

mercy。〃



〃You could do nothing to save her;〃 said Rose; 〃and all that they may

do to her would scarcely hurt her if she thought you were safe。  O

Edmund! think of her joy in finding you were escaped! the misery of

her anxiety now!〃



〃Yet to leave her thus!  You had not told me half the change in her!

I know not how to go!〃 said Edmund。



〃You must; you must!〃 said Rose and Walter; both at once。  And Rose

added; 〃Your death would kill her; I do believe!〃



〃Well; then; but I do not see my way even when I have squeezed

between your shelves; my little sister。  Every port is beset; and our

hiding places here can no longer serve me。〃



〃Listen;〃 said Rose; 〃this is what my mother and I had planned

before。  The old clergyman of this parish; Dr。 Bathurst; lives in a

little house at Bosham; with his daughter; and maintains himself by

teaching the wealthier boys of the town。  Now; if you could ride to

him to…night; he would be most glad to serve you; both as a cavalier;

and for my mother's sake。  He would find some place of concealment;

and watch for the time when you may attempt to cross the Channel。〃



Edmund considered; and made her repeat her explanation。  〃Yes; that

might answer;〃 he said at length; 〃I take you for my general; sweet

Rose。  But how am I to find your good doctor?〃



〃I think;〃 said Rose; after considering a little while; 〃that I had

better go with you。  I could ride behind you on your horse; if the

rebels have not found him; and I know the town; and Dr。 Bathurst's

lodging。  I only cannot think what is to be done about Walter。〃



〃Never mind me;〃 said Walter; 〃they cannot hurt me。〃



〃Not if you will be prudent; and not provoke them;〃 said Edmund。



〃Oh; I know!〃 cried Rose; 〃wear my gown and hood! these men have only

seen us by candle…light; and will never find you out if you will only

be careful。〃



〃I wear girl's trumpery!〃 exclaimed Walter; in such indignation that

Edmund smiled; saying; 〃If Rose's wit went with her gown; you might

be glad of it。〃



〃She is a good girl enough;〃 said Walter; 〃but as to my putting on

her petticoat trash; that's all nonsense。〃



〃Hear me this once; dear Walter;〃 pleaded Rose。  〃If there is a

pursuit; and they fancy you and Edmund are gone together; it will

quite mislead them to hear only of a groom riding before a young

lady。〃



〃There is something in that;〃 said Walter; 〃but a pretty sort of lady

I shall make!〃



〃Then you consent?  Thank you; dear Walter。  Now; will you help me

into your room; and I'll put two rolls of clothes to bed; that the

captain may find his prisoners fast asleep to…morrow morning。〃



Walter could hardly help laughing aloud with delight at the notion of

the disappointment of the rebels。  The next thing was to consider of

Edmund's equipment; Rose turned over her ancient hoards in vain;

everything that was not too remarkable had been used for the needs of

the family; and he must go in his present blood…stained buff coat;

hoping to enter Bosham too early in the morning for gossips to be

astir。  Then she dressed Walter in her own clothes; not without his

making many faces of disgust; especially when she fastened his long

curled love…locks in a knot behind; tried to train little curls over

the sides of his face; and drew her black silk hood forward so as to

shade it。  They were nearly of the same height and complexion; and

Edmund pronounced that Walter made a very pretty girl; so like Rose

that he should hardly have known them apart; w
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!