put yourself in his place-第47部分

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　cruel　ping　of　shot；　and　this　time　his　hands　were　covered　with　blood。

The　others　rolled　yelling　out　of　the　line　of　fire；　and　ran　up　the　aisle　for　their　lives。

Cole；　yelling；　tried　to　follow；　but　Henry；　though　sick　and　weak　with　the　blows；　caught　him；　and　clung　to　his　knees；　and　the　next　moment　the　place　was　filled　with　men　carrying　torches　and　gleaming　swords；　and　led　by　a　gentleman；　who　stood　over　Henry；　in　evening　dress；　but　with　the　haughty　expanded　nostrils；　the　brilliant　black　eyes；　and　all　the　features　of　that　knight　in　rusty　armor　who　had　come　to　him　in　his　dream　and　left　him　with　scorn。

At　this　moment　a　crash　was　heard：　two　of　the　culprits；　with　desperate　agility；　had　leaped　on　to　the　vestry　chest；　and　from　that　on　to　the　horse；　and　from　him　headlong　out　of　the　window。

Mr。　Raby　dispatched　all　his　men　but　one　in　pursuit；　with　this　brief　order〃Take　them；　alive　or　deaddoesn't　matter　whichthey　are　only　cutlers；　and　cowards。〃

His　next　word　was　to　Cole。　　〃What；　three　blackguards　to　one！that's　how　Hillsborough　fights；　eh？〃

〃I'm　not　a　blackguard；〃　said　Henry；　faintly。

〃That　remains　to　be　proved；　sir；〃　said　Raby；　grimly。

Henry　made　answer　by　fainting　away。


CHAPTER　XVI。


When　Henry　Little　came　to　himself；　he　was　seated　on　men's　hands；　and　being　carried　through　the　keen　refreshing　air。　　Mr。　Raby　was　striding　on　in　front；　the　horse's　hoofs　were　clamping　along　on　the　hard　road　behind；　and　he　himself　was　surrounded　by　swordsmen　in　fantastic　dresses。

He　opened　his　eyes；　and　thought；　of　course；　it　was　another　vision。　But　no；　the　man；　with　whose　blows　his　body　was　sore；　and　his　right　arm　utterly　numbed；　walked　close　to　him　between　two　sword…dancers　with　Raby…marks　and　Little…marks　upon　him；　viz。；　a　face　spotted　with　blood；　and　a　black　eye。

Little　sighed。

〃Eh；　that's　music　to　me；〃　said　a　friendly　voice　close　to　him。　　It　was　the　King　George　of　the　lyrical　drama；　and；　out　of　poetry；　George　the　blacksmith。

〃What；　it　is　you；　is　it？〃　said　Little。

〃Ay；　sir；　and　a　joyful　man　to　hear　you　speak　again。　　The　cowardly　varmint！　　And　to　think　they　have　all　got　clear　but　this　one！　　Are　ye　sore　hurt；　sir？〃

〃I'm　in　awful　pain；　but　no　bones　broken。〃　　Then；　in　a　whisper　〃Where　are　you　taking　me；　George？〃

〃To　Raby　Hall；〃　was　the　whispered　reply。

〃Not　for　all　the　world！　if　you　are　my　friend；　put　me　down；　and　let　me　slip　away。〃

〃Don't　ask　me；　don't　ask　me；〃　said　George；　in　great　distress。　　〃How　could　I　look　Squire　in　the　face？　　He　did　put　you　in　my　charge。〃

〃Then　I'm　a　prisoner！〃　said　Henry；　sternly。

George　hung　his　head；　but　made　no　reply。

Henry　also　maintained　a　sullen　silence　after　that。


The　lights　of　Raby　came　in　sight。

That　house　contained　two　women；　who　awaited　the　result　of　the　nocturnal　expedition　with　terrible　anxiety。

Its　fate；　they　both　felt；　had　been　determined　before　they　even　knew　that　the　expedition　had　started。

They　had　nothing　to　do　but　to　wait；　and　pray　that　Henry　had　made　his　escape；　or　else　had　not　been　so　mad　as　to　attempt　resistance。

In　this　view　of　things；　the　number　and　even　the　arms　of　his　assailants　were　some　comfort　to　them；　as　rendering　resistance　impossible。

As　for　Mr。　Coventry；　he　was　secretly　delighted。　　His　conscience　was　relieved。　　Raby　would　now　drive　his　rival　out　of　the　church　and　out　of　the　country　without　the　help　of　the　Trades；　and　his　act　of　treachery　and　bad　faith　would　be　harmless。　　Things　had　taken　the　happiest　possible　turn　for　him。

For　all　that；　this　courtier　affected　sympathy；　and　even　some　anxiety；　to　please　Miss　Carden；　and　divert　all　suspicion　from　himself。　　But　the　true　ring　was　wanting　to　his　words；　and　both　the　women　felt　them　jar；　and　got　away　from　him；　and　laid　their　heads　together；　in　agitated　whispers。　　And　the　result　was；　they　put　shawls　over　their　heads；　and　went　together　out　into　the　night。

They　ran　up　the　road；　sighing　and　clasping　their　hands；　but　no　longer　speaking。

At　the　first　turn　they　saw　the　whole　body　coming　toward　them。

〃I'll　soon　know；〃　said　Jael；　struggling　with　her　agitation。　　〃Don't　you　be　seen；　miss；　that　might　anger　the　Squire；　and；　oh；　he　will　be　a　wrathful　man　this　night；　if　he　caught　him　working　in　yonder　church。〃

Grace　then　slipped　back；　and　Jael　ran　on。　　But　no　sooner　did　she　come　up　with　the　party；　than　Raby　ordered　her　back；　in　a　tone　she　dared　not　resist。

She　ran　back；　and　told　Grace　they　were　carrying　him　in；　hurt；　and　the　Squire's　eyes　were　like　hot　coals。

Grace　slipped　into　the　drawing…room　and　kept　the　door　ajar。

Soon　afterward；　Raby；　his　men；　and　his　prisoners；　entered　the　hall；　and　Grace　heard　Raby　say；　〃Bring　the　prisoners　into　the　dining…　room。〃

Grace　Carden　sat　down；　and　leaned　her　head　upon　her　hand；　and　her　little　foot　beat　the　ground；　all　in　a　flutter。

But　this　ended　in　a　spirited　resolve。　　She　rose；　pale；　but　firm；　and　said；　〃Come　with　me；　Jael；〃　and　she　walked　straight　into　the　dining…　room。　　Coventry　strolled　in　after　her。

The　room　was　still　brilliantly　lighted。　　Mr。　Raby　was　seated　at　his　writing…table　at　the　far　end；　and　the　prisoners；　well　guarded；　stood　ready　to　be　examined。

〃You　can't　come　in　here；〃　was　Mr。　Raby's　first　word　to　Grace。

But　she　was　prepared　for　this；　and　stood　her　ground。　　〃Excuse　me；　dear　uncle；　but　I　wish　to　see　you　administer　justice；　and；　besides；　I　believe　I　can　tell　you　something　about　one　of　the　prisoners。〃

〃Indeed！　that　alters　the　case。　　Somebody　give　Miss　Carden　a　chair。〃

She　sat　down；　and　fixed　her　eyes　upon　Henry　Littleeyes　that　said　plainly；　〃I　shall　defend　you；　if　necessary：〃　his　pale　cheek　was　flushing　at　sight　of　her。

Mr。　Raby　arranged　his　papers　to　make　notes；　and　turned　to　Cole。　〃The　charge　against　you　is；　that　you　were　seen　this　night　by　several　persons　engaged　in　an　assault　of　a　cruel　and　aggravated　character。　You；　and　two　other　men；　attacked　and　overpowered　an　individual　here　present；　and；　while　he　was　helpless；　and　on　the　ground；　you　were　seen　to　raise　a　heavy　cudgel　（Got　the　cudgel；　George？）〃

〃Ay；　your　worship；　here　'tis。〃

〃And　to　strike　him　several　times　on　the　head　and　limbs；　with　all　your　force。〃

〃Oh；　cruel！　cruel！〃

〃This　won't　do；　Miss　Carden；　no　observations；　please。　　In　consequence　of　which　blows　he　soon　after　swooned　away；　and　was　for　some　time　unconscious；　and〃

〃Oh！〃

〃For　aught　I　know；　may　have　received　some　permanent　injury。〃

〃Not　he；〃　said　Cole；　〃he's　all　right。　　I'm　the　only　man　that　is　hurt；　and　I've　got　it　hot；　he　hit　me　with　his　hammer；　and　knocked　me　down　like　a　bullock。　　He's　given　me　this　black　eye　too。〃

〃In　self…defense；　apparently。　　Which　party　attacked　the　other　first？〃

〃Why　they　attacked　me；　of　course；〃　said　Henry。　　〃Four　of　them。〃

〃Four！　　I　saw　but　three。〃

〃Oh；　I　settled　one　at　starting；　up　near　the　forge。　　Didn't　you　find　him？〃　　（This　to　George。）

〃Nay；　we　found　none　of　the　trash　but　this；〃　indicating　Cole；　with　a　contemptuous　jerk　of　the　thumb。

〃Now；　don't　all　speak　at　once；〃　said　Mr。　Raby。　　〃My　advice　to　you　is　to　say　nothing；　or　you'll　probably　make　bad　worse。　　But　if　you　choose　to　say　anything；　I'm　bound　to　hear　it。〃

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　Cole；　in　a　carneying　voice；　〃what　I　say　is　this：　what　need　we　go　to　law　over　this？　　If　you　go　against　me　for　hitting　him　with　a　stick；　after　he　had　hit　me　with　a　blacksmith's　hammer；　I　shall　have　to　go　against　you　for　shooting　me　with　a　gun。〃

〃That　is　between　you　and　me；　sir。　　You　will　find　a　bystander　may　shoot　a　malefactor　to　save　the　life　of　a　citizen。　　Confine　your　defense；　at　present；　to　the　point　at　issue。　　Have　you　any　excuse；　as　against　this　young　man？〃　　（To　Henry。）〃You　look　pale。　　You　can　sit　down　till　your　turn　comes。〃

〃Not　in　this　house。〃

〃And　why　not　in　this　house；　pray？　　Is　your　own　house　a　better？〃

No　answer　from　Henry。　　A　look　of　amazement　and　alarm　from　Grace。　But　she　was　afraid　to　utter　a　word；　after　the　admonition　she　had　received。

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　Cole；　〃he　was　desecrating　a　church。〃

〃So　he　was；　and　I　shall　talk　to　him　in　his　turn。　　But　you　desecrated　it　worse。　　He　turned　it　into　a　blacksmith　shop；　you　turned　it　into　a

shambles。　　I　shall　commit　you。　　You　will　be　taken　to　Hillsborough　to…morrow；　to…night　you　will　remain　in　my　strong…room。　　Fling　him　down　a　mattress　and　some　blankets；　and　give　him　plenty　to　eat　and　drink；　I　wouldn't　starve　the　devil　on　old　Christmas　Eve。　　There；　take　him　away。　　Stop；　search　his　pockets　before　you　leave　him　alone。〃

Cole　was　taken　away；　and　Henry's　turn　came。

Just　before　this　examination　commenced；　Grace　clasped　her　hands；　and　cast　a　deprecating　look　on　Henry；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃Be　moderate。〃　And　then　her　eyes　roved　to　and　fro；　and　the　whole　woman　was　in　arms；　and　on　the　watch。

Mr。　Raby　began　on　him。　　〃As　for　you；　your　offense　is　not　so　criminal　in　the　eye　of　the　law；　but　it　is　bad　enough；　you　have　broken　into　a　church　by　unlawful　means；　you　have　turned　it　into　a　smithy；　defiled　the　graves　of　the　dead；　and　turned　the　tomb　of　a　good　knight　into　an　oven；　to　the　scandal　of　men　and　the　dishonor　of　god。　　Have　you　any　excuse　to　offer？〃

〃Plenty。　　I　was　plying　an　honest　trade；　in　a　country　where　freedom　is　the　law。　　The　Hillsborough　Unions　combined　against　me；　and　restrained　my　freedom；　and　threatened　my　life；　ay；　and　attempted　my　life　too；　before　to…day：　and　so　the　injustice　and　cruelty　of　men　drove　me　to　a　sanctuary；　me　and　my　livelihood。　　Blame　the　Trades；　blame　the　public　laws；　blame　the　useless　police：　but　you　can't　blame　me；　a　man　must　live。〃

〃Why　not　set　up　your　shop　in　the　village？　　Why　wantonly　desecrate　a　church？〃

〃The　church　was　more　secret；　and　more　safe：　and　nobody　worships　in　it。　　The　wind　and　the　weather　are　allowed　to　destroy　it；　you　care　so　little　for　it　you　let　it　molder；　then　why　howl　if　a　fellow　uses　it　and　keeps　it　warm？〃

At　this　sally　there　was　a　broad　rustic　laugh；　which；　however；　Mr。　Raby　quelled　with　one　glance　of　his　eye。

〃Come；　don't　be　impertinent；〃　said　he　to　Little。

〃Then　don't　you　provoke　a　fellow；〃　cried　Henry；　raising　his　voice。

Grace　clasped　her　hands　in　dismay。

Jael　Dence　said；　in　her　gravest　and　most　mellow　voice；　〃You　do　forget　the　good　Squire　saved　your　life　this　very　night。〃

This　was　like　oil　on　all　the　waters。

〃Well；　certainly　I　oughtn't　to　forget　that；〃　said　Henry