Then I will, said Rose, advancing.
No, no, Mistress Rose, said Deborah, running forward. Dont I know what is fit for the like of you? You go opening the door to rogues and vagabonds, indeed! and with these words she undrew the bolts and opened the door.
Is this the way you keep us waiting? said an impatient voice; and a tall youth, handsomely accoutred, advanced authoritatively into the room. Prepare to but as he saw himself alone with women and children, and his eyes fell on the pale face, mourning dress, and graceful air of the lady of the house, he changed his tone, removed his hat, and said, Your pardon, madam, I came to ask a nights lodging for my father, who has been thrown from his horse, and badly bruised.
I cannot refuse you, sir, said Lady Woodley, who instantly perceived that this was an officer of the Parliamentary force, and was only thankful to see that he was a gentleman, and enforced with courtesy a request which was in effect a command.
The youth turned and went out, while Lady Woodley hastily directed her daughters and servant. Deborah, set the blue chamber in order; Rose, take the key of the oak press, Eleanor will help you to take out the holland sheets. Lucy, run down to old Margery, and bid her kill a couple of fowls for supper.
As the girls obeyed there entered at the front door the young officer and a soldier, supporting between them an elderly man in the dress of an officer of rank. Lady Woodley, ready of course to give her help to any person who had suffered an injury, came forward to set a chair, and at the same moment she exclaimed, in a tone of recognition, Mr. Enderby! I am grieved to see you so much hurt.
My Lady Woodley, he returned, recognising her at the same time, as he seated himself in the chair, I am sorry thus to have broken in on your ladyship, but my son, Sylvester, would have me halt here.
This gentleman is your son, then? and a courteous greeting passed between Lady Woodley and young Sylvester Enderby, after which she again enquired after his fathers accident.
No great matter, was the reply; a blow on the head, and a twist of the knee, that is all. Thanks to a stumbling horse, wearied out with work, I have little mind tothe pursuit of this poor young man.
Not the King? exclaimed Lady Woodley, breathless with alarm.
It was with no apparent satisfaction that the rebel colonel replied, Even so, madam. Cromwells fortune has not forsaken him; he has driven the Scots and their allies out of Worcester.
Lady Woodley was too much accustomed to evil tidings to be as much overcome by them as her young son had been; she only turned somewhat paler, and asked, The King lives?
He was last seen on Worcester bridge. Troops are sent to every port whence he might attempt an escape.
May the God of his father protect him, said the lady, fervently. And my son? she added, faintly, scarcely daring to ask the question.
Safe, I hope, replied the colonel. I saw him, and I could have thought him my dear old friend himself, as he joined Charles in his last desperate attempt to rally his forces, and then charged down Sidbury Street with a few bold spirits who were resolved to cover their masters retreat. He is not among the slain; he was not a prisoner when I left the headquarters. I trust he may have escaped, for Cromwell is fearfully incensed against your party.
Colonel Enderby was interrupted by Lucys running in calling out, Mother, mother! there are no fowls but Partlet and the sitting hen, and the old cock, and I wont have my dear old Partlet killed to be eaten by wicked Roundheads.
Come here, my little lady, said the colonel, holding out his hand, amused by her vehemence.
I wont speak to a Roundhead, returned Lucy, with a droll air of petulance, pleased at being courted.
Her mother spoke gravely. You forget yourself, Lucy. This is Mr. Enderby, a friend of your dear father.
Lucys cheeks glowed, and she looked down as she gave her hand to the colonel; but as he spoke kindly to her, her forward spirit revived, and she returned to the charge.
You wont have Partlet killed?
Her mother would have silenced her, but the colonel smiled and said, No, no, little lady; I would rather go without supper than let one feather of Dame Partlet be touched.
Nay, you need not do that either, sir, said the little chatter-box, confidentially, for we are to have a pie made of little Jennys pigeons; and Ill tell you what, sir, no one makes raised crust half so well as sister Rose.
Lady Woodley was not sorry to stop the current of her little girls communications by despatching her on another message, and asking Colonel Enderby whether he would not prefer taking a little rest in his room before supper-time, offering, at the same time all the remedies for bruises and wounds that every good housekeeper of the time was sure to possess.
She had a real regard for Mr. Enderby, who had been a great friend of her husband before the unhappy divisions of the period arrayed them on opposite sides, and even then, though true friendship could not last, a kindly feeling had always existed.
Mr. Enderby was a conscientious man, but those were difficult times; and he had regarded loyalty to the King less than what he considered the rights of the people. He had been an admirer of Hampden and his principles, and had taken up arms on the same side, becoming a rebel on political, not on religious, grounds. When, as time went on, the evils of the rebellion developed themselves more fully, he was already high in command, and so involved with his own party that he had not the resolution requisite for a change of course and renunciation of his associates. He would willingly have come to terms with the King, and was earnest in the attempt at the time of the conferences at Hampden Court. He strongly disapproved of the usurpation of power by the army, and was struck with horror, grief, and dismay, at the execution of King Charles; but still he would not, or fancied that he could not, separate himself from the cause of the Parliament, and continued in their service, following Cromwell to Scotland, and fighting at Worcester on the rebel side, disliking Cromwell all the time, and with a certain inclination to the young King, and desire to see the old constitution restored.