The next morning, as soon as Jacob had given the children their
breakfast, he set off towards Arnwood. He knew that Benjamin had stated
his intention to return with the horse and see what had taken place, and
he knew him well enough to feel sure that he would do so. He thought it
better to see him, if possible, and ascertain the fate of Miss Judith.
Jacob arrived at the still smoking ruins of the mansion, and found
several people there, mostly residents within a few miles, some
attracted by curiosity, others busy in collecting the heavy masses of
lead which had been melted from the roof, and appropriating them to
their own benefit; but much of it was still too hot to be touched, and
they were throwing snow on it to cool it, for it had snowed during the
night. At last Jacob perceived Benjamin on horseback riding leisurely
towards him, and immediately went up to him.
"Well, Benjamin, this is a woeful sight. What is the news from
Lymington?"
"Lymington is full of troopers, and they are not over civil," replied
Benjamin.
"And the old lady--where is she?"
"Ah, that's a sad business," replied Benjamin, "and the poor children,
too. Poor Master Edward! He would have made a brave gentleman."
"But the old lady is safe," rejoined Jacob. "Did you see her?"
"Yes, I saw her; they thought she _was_ King Charles--poor old soul."
"But they have found out their mistake by this time?"
"Yes, and James Southwold has found it out too," replied Benjamin; "to
think of the old lady breaking his neck!"
"Breaking his neck? You don't say so! How was it?"
"Why, it seems that Southwold thought that she was King Charles dressed
up as an old woman, so he seized her and strapped her fast behind him,
and galloped away with her to Lymington; but she struggled and kicked so
manfully, that he could not hold on, and off they went together, and he
broke his neck."
"Indeed!--a judgment--a judgment upon a traitor," said Jacob.
"They were picked up, strapped together as they were, by the other
troopers, and carried to Lymington."
"Well, and where is the old lady, then? Did you see and speak to her?"
"I saw her, Jacob, but I did not speak to her. I forgot to say, that
when she broke Southwold's neck, she broke her own too."
"Then the old lady is dead?"
"Yes, that she is," replied Benjamin; "but who cares about her? It's
the poor children that I pity. Martha has been crying ever since."
"I don't wonder."
"I was at the `Cavalier,' and the troopers were there, and they were
boasting of what they had done, and called it a righteous work. I could
not stand that, and I asked one of them if it were a righteous work to
burn poor children in their beds? So he turned round, and struck his
sword upon the floor, and asked me whether I was one of them--`Who are
you then?' and I--all my courage went away, and I answered, I was a poor
rat-catcher. `A rat-catcher, are you? Well then, Mr Rat-catcher, when
you are killing rats, if you find a nest of young ones, don't you kill
them too? Or do you leave them to grow, and become mischievous,
eh?'--`I kill the young ones, of course,' replied I. `Well, so do we
Malignants whenever we find them.' I didn't say a word more, so I went
out of the house as fast as I could."
"Have you heard anything about the king?" inquired Jacob.
"No, nothing; but the troopers are all out again, and, I hear, are gone
to the forest."
"Well, Benjamin, good-bye; I shall be off from this part of the
country--it's no use my staying here. Where's Agatha and cook?"
"They came to Lymington early this morning."
"Wish them good-bye for me, Benjamin."
"Where are you going then?"
"I can't exactly say, but I think London way. I only stayed here to
watch over the children; and now that they are gone, I shall leave
Arnwood for ever."
Jacob, who was anxious, on account of the intelligence he had received
of the troopers being in the forest, to return to the cottage, shook
hands with Benjamin, and hastened away. "Well," thought Jacob, as he
wended his way, "I'm sorry for the poor old lady; but still, perhaps,
it's all for the best. Who knows what they might do with these
children?--Destroy the nest as well as the rats, indeed:--they must find
the nest first." And the old forester continued his journey in deep
thought.
We may here observe that, bloodthirsty as many of the Levellers were, we
do not think that Jacob Armitage had grounds for the fears which he
expressed and felt that is to say, we believe that he might have made
known the existence of the children to the Villiers family, and that
they would never have been harmed by anybody. That by the burning of
the mansion they might have perished in the flames, had they been in
bed, as they would have been at that hour, had he not obtained
intelligence of what was about to be done, is true; but that there was
any danger to them on account of their father having been such a staunch
supporter of the king's cause, is very unlikely, and not borne out by
the history of the times; but the old forester thought otherwise; he had
a hatred of the Puritans, and their deeds had been so exaggerated by
rumour that he fully believed that the lives of the children were not
safe. Under this conviction, and feeling himself bound by his promise
to Colonel Beverley to protect them, Jacob resolved that they should
live with him in the forest, and be brought up as his own grandchildren.
He knew that there could be no better place for concealment; for,
except the keepers, few people knew where his cottage was; and it was so
out of the usual paths, and so embosomed in lofty trees, that there was
little chance of its being seen, or being known to exist. He resolved,
therefore, that they should remain with him till better times; and then
he would make known their existence to the other branches of the family,
but not before. "I can hunt for them, and provide for them," thought
he, "and I have a little money, when it is required; and I will teach
them to be useful; they must learn to provide for themselves. There's
the garden, and the patch of land: in two or three years the boys will
be able to do something. I can't teach them much; but I can teach them
to fear God. We must get on how we can, and put our trust in Him who is
a Father to the fatherless."
With such thoughts running in his head, Jacob arrived at the cottage,
and found the children outside the door, watching for him. They all
hastened to him, and the dog rushed before them, to welcome his master.
"Down, Smoker, good dog. Well, Mr Edward, I have been as quick as I
can. How have Mr Humphrey and your sisters behaved? But we must not
remain outside to-day, for the troopers are scouring the forest, and may
see you. Let us come in directly; for it would not do that they should
come here."
"Will they burn the cottage down?" inquired Alice, as she took Jacob's
hand.
"Yes, my dear, I think they would, if they found that you and your
brothers were in it: but we must not let them see you."
They all entered the cottage, which consisted of one large room in
front, and two back rooms for bedrooms. There was also a third bedroom,
which was behind the other two, but which had not any furniture in it.
"Now let's see what we can have for dinner--there's venison left, I
know," said Jacob: "come, we must all be useful. Who will be cook?"
"I will be cook," said Alice, "if you will show me how."
"So you shall, my dear," said Jacob, "and I will show you how. There's
some potatoes in the basket in the corner--and some onions hanging on
the string--we must have some water--who will fetch it?"
"I will," said Edward; who took up a pail and went out to the spring.
The potatoes were peeled and washed by the children--Jacob and Edward
cut the venison into pieces--the iron pot was cleaned--and then the meat
and potatoes put with water into the pot, and placed on the fire.
"Now I'll cut, up the onions, for they will make your eyes water."
"I don't care," said Humphrey; "I'll cut and cry at the same time."
And Humphrey took up a knife, and cut away most manfully, although he
was obliged to wipe his eyes with his sleeve very often.
"You are a fine fellow, Humphrey," said Jacob. "Now we'll put the
onions in, and let it all boil up together. Now, you see you have
cooked your own dinner; ain't that pleasant?"
"Yes," cried they all; "and we will eat our own dinners as soon as it is
ready."
"Then, Humphrey, you must get some of the platters down which are on the
dresser; and Alice, you will find some knives in the drawer. And let me
see, what can little Edith do? Oh, she can go to the cupboard and find
the salt-cellar. Edward, just look-out, and if you see anybody coming
or passing, let me know. We must put you on guard till the troopers
leave the forest."
The children set about their tasks, and Humphrey cried out, as he very
often did, "Now, this is jolly!"
While the dinner was cooking Jacob amused the children by showing them
how to put things in order; the floor was swept, the hearth was made
tidy. He showed Alice how to wash out a cloth, and Humphrey how to dust
the chairs. They all worked merrily, while little Edith stood and
clapped her hands.
But just before dinner was ready Edward came in and said, "Here are
troopers galloping in the forest!" Jacob went out, and observed that
they were coming in a direction that would lead near to the cottage.
He walked in, and after a moment's thought, he said, "My dear children,
those men may come and search the cottage; you must do as I tell you,
and mind that you are very quiet. Humphrey, you and your sisters must
go to bed, and pretend to be very ill. Edward, take off your coat and
put on this old hunting-frock of mine. You must be in the bedroom
attending your sick brother and sisters. Come, Edith dear, you must
play at going to bed, and have your dinner afterwards."
Jacob took the children into the bedroom, and removing the upper dress,
which would have betrayed that they were not the children of poor
people, put them in bed, and covered them up to the chins with the
clothes Edward had put on the old hunting-shirt, which came below his
knees, and stood with a mug of water in his hand by the bedside of the
two girls. Jacob went to the outer room, to remove the platters laid
out for dinner; and he had hardly done so, when he heard the noise of
the troopers, and soon afterwards a knock at the cottage-door.
"Come in," said Jacob.
"Who are you, my friend?" said the leader of the troop, entering the
door.
"A poor forester, sir," replied Jacob, "under great trouble."
"What trouble, my man?"
"I have the children all in bed with the smallpox."
"Nevertheless, we must search your cottage."
"You are welcome," replied Jacob; "only don't frighten the children if
you can help it."
The man, who was now joined by others, commenced his search. Jacob
opened all the doors of the rooms, and they passed through. Little
Edith shrieked when she saw them; but Edward patted her, and told her
not to be frightened. The troopers, however, took no notice of the
children; they searched thoroughly, and then came back to the front
room.
"It's no use remaining here," said one of the troopers. "Shall we be
off? I'm tired and hungry with the ride."
"So am I; and there's something that smells well," said another.
"What's this, my good man," continued he, taking off the lid of the pot.
"My dinner for a week," replied Jacob. "I have no one to cook for me
now, and can't light a fire every day."
"Well, you appear to live well, if you have such a mess as that every
day in the week. I should like to try a spoonful or two."
"And welcome, sir," replied Jacob; "I will cook some more for myself."
The troopers took him at his word; they sat down to the table, and very
soon the whole contents of the kettle had disappeared. Having satisfied
themselves, they got up, told him that his rations were so good that
they hoped to call again; and, laughing heartily, they mounted their
horses, and rode away.
"Well," said Jacob, "they are very welcome to the dinner; I little
thought to get off so cheap." As soon as they were out of sight Jacob
called to Edward and the children to get up again, which they soon did.
Alice put on Edith's frock, Humphrey put on his jacket, and Edward
pulled off the hunting-shirt.
"They're gone now," said Jacob, coming in from the door.
"And our dinners are gone," said Humphrey, looking at the empty pot and
dirty platters.
"Yes; but we can cook another: and that will be more play, you know,"
said Jacob. "Edward, go for the water; Humphrey, cut the onions; Alice,
wash the potatoes; and Edith, help everybody, while I cut up some more
meat."
"I hope it will be as good," observed Humphrey; "that other did smell so
nice!"
"Quite as good, if not better; for we shall improve by practice, and we
shall have a better appetite to eat it with," said Jacob.
"Nasty men eat our dinner," said Edith. "Shan't have any more. Eat
this ourselves."
And so they did as soon as it was cooked; but they were very hungry
before they sat down.
"This is jolly!" said Humphrey, with his mouth full.
"Yes, Master Humphrey. I doubt if King Charles gets so good a dinner
this day. Mr Edward, you are very grave and silent."
"Yes, I am, Jacob. Have I not cause? Oh! If I could but have mauled
those troopers!"
"But you could not; so you must make the best of it. They say that
every dog has his day, and who knows but King Charles may be on the
throne again!"
There were no more visits to the cottage that day, and they all went to
bed and slept soundly.
The next morning Jacob, who was most anxious to learn the news, saddled
the pony, having first given his injunctions to Edward how to behave in
case any troopers should come to the cottage. He told him to pretend
that the children were in bed with the smallpox, as they had done the
day before. Jacob then travelled to Gossip Allwood's, and he there
learnt that King Charles had been taken prisoner, and was at the Isle of
Wight, and that the troopers were all going back to London as fast as
they came. Feeling that there was now no more danger to be apprehended
from them, Jacob set off as fast as he could for Lymington. He went to
one shop and purchased two peasant dresses which he thought would fit
the two boys, and at another he bought similar apparel for the two
girls. Then with several other ready-made articles, and some other
things which were required for the household, he made a large package,
which he put upon the pony, and taking the bridle, set off home, and
arrived in time to superintend the cooking of the dinner, which was this
day venison-steaks fried in a pan, and boiled potatoes.
When dinner was over he opened his bundle, and told the little ones that
now they were to live in a cottage they ought to wear cottage clothes,
and that he had brought them some to put on, which they might rove about
the woods in, and not mind tearing them. Alice and Edith went into the
bedroom, and Alice dressed Edith and herself, and came out quite pleased
with their change of dress. Humphrey and Edward put theirs on in the
sitting-room, and they all fitted pretty well, and certainly were very
becoming to the children.
"Now, recollect, you are all my grandchildren," said Jacob; "for I shall
no longer call you Miss and Master--that we never do in a cottage. You
understand me, Edward, of course?" added Jacob.
Edward nodded his head, and Jacob telling the children that they might
now go out of the cottage and play, they all set off quite delighted
with clothes which procured them their liberty.
We must now describe the cottage of Jacob Armitage, in which the
children have in future to dwell. As we said before, it contained a
large sitting-room, or kitchen, in which were a spacious hearth and
chimney, table, stools, cupboards, and dressers; the two bedrooms which
adjoined it were now appropriated, one for Jacob and the other for the
two boys; the third, or inner bedroom, was arranged for the two girls,
as being more retired and secure. But there were outhouses belonging to
it: a stall, in which White Billy, the pony, lived during the winter; a
shed and pigsty rudely constructed, with an enclosed yard attached to
them; and it had, moreover, a piece of ground of more than an acre, well
fenced in to keep out the deer and game, the largest portion of which
was cultivated as a garden and potato-ground, and the other, which
remained in grass, contained some fine old apple and pear trees. Such
was the domicile; the pony, a few fowls, a sow and two young pigs, and
the dog Smoker, were the animals on the establishment. Here Jacob
Armitage had been born--for the cottage had been built by his
grandfather--but he had not always remained at the cottage. When young,
he felt an inclination to see more of the world, and had for several
years served in the army. His father and brother had lived in the
establishment at Arnwood, and he was constantly there as a boy. The
chaplain of Arnwood had taken a fancy to him, and taught him to read--
writing he had not acquired. As soon as he grew up he served, as we
have said, in the troop commanded by Colonel Beverley's father; and
after his death, Colonel Beverley had procured him the situation of
forest ranger, which had been held by his father, who was then alive,
but too aged to do the duty. Jacob Armitage married a good and devout
young woman, with whom he lived several years, when she died, without
bringing him any family; after which, his father being also dead, Jacob
Armitage had lived alone until the period at which we have commenced
this history.