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the pigeon pie-第12部分
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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
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