"Apologies are owing for the interruption of your sport. I fear we've
done that?"
"No, your Highness," said Sabrina. "We had finished for the day."
"Egad! A good finish too. I myself witnessed the kill, and never saw
handsomer. Your peregrines are noble birds, and well trained to their
work. Ah! you have a merlin, too. Pretty creature?"
By chance the merlin was perched upon the neck of Vaga's palfrey; and,
while speaking, the Prince had drawn close up, as if to get a nearer
view of it. But his eyes were on the girl's face instead, and the
"pretty creature" seemed an apostrophe to her rather than the bird. For
it was spoken with peculiar emphasis, and in a subdued tone, as if he
did not desire her sister to hear it. Nor did she, having become
engaged in conversation with Captain Trevor, some distance apart.
"She's very clever," rejoined Vaga, referring to the merlin, and without
appearing to notice the gaze directed upon her,--"can kill everything
she's cast-off at."
"Ah!" sighed the Prince. "Fatal to all the larks and buntings, just as
the eyes of her mistress must be to all men."
She looked at him with a puzzled expression. What a strange remark to
make about her sister, whom he could never have seen, save that once as
they passed him going out of Bristol! But she understood it, on his
adding,--
"The little beauty is yours, I take it?"
"No, your Highness," she answered, without making any allusion to the
implied compliment, though its _braverie_ jarred upon her ear. "The
merlin belongs to my sister. The peregrines are mine."
"Happy peregrines!" he exclaimed, pretending to apostrophise the two
great falcons, that, now hooded, had been returned to their kedge. "How
I should like to be one of you! Ay; would consent to be held in leash
for life, could I but hope for caresses, such as you receive from the
hands of your beautiful mistress. Ah! that must be sweet?"
There could be no mistaking the character of speech like this, rude even
to impertinence. It brought the red into the young girl's cheeks, and
she would have angrily resented it, but was restrained by the caution
late received from her sister. Still, to let it pass unnoticed was out
of the question, and would likely lead to her being yet further
insulted. Making an effort to curb her kindling indignation, she
rejoined, calmly as she could,--
"Such language may befit the fine Court ladies, with whom your Highness
is accustomed to hold conversation. We simple country girls are not
used to it."
Regardless of modest manners, even of common decency, as was this German
Prince, he felt the rebuke, and quailed under it. For the glance of
quiet scorn that went with the words told him he was putting on airs,
and paying compliments to no purpose. In that quarter all would be
thrown away.
With a light laugh he endeavoured to conceal his discomfiture, saying
apologetically,--
"Oh! mistress, you must pardon the free speech of a Cavalier. Our
tongues, as our swords, often fly out without reflection. Be assured I
meant not to offend--far from it."
Apology was a bitter pill for Prince Rupert to swallow; but he gulped it
down with a better grace, confident of having the "bit of saucy
sweetness" in his power. If he failed to make conquest of her, there
was another way to fall back upon; that to which his low familiar,
Lunsford, had been all along counselling him.
The little _desagrement_ brought their _tete-a-tete_ to an end, the
Prince not caring to continue it. It could be resumed at a more
favourable opportunity, which he meant to find before leaving Hollymead.
Seeming suddenly to recollect himself, he said, in voice loud enough to
be heard by the elder sister, as he intended it,--
"But, ladies! I've only half apologised for our intrusion, and trust
you will pardon it, when you hear my excuses. I was on the way to visit
your worthy father, with whom I have some business. When hearing the
_hooha-ha_!--ardent falconer as I am--I couldn't resist coming across to
learn the result. Permit me to take leave of you, with thanks for your
gracious reception. Unless, indeed, you do me the further honour of
letting me escort you to the house. If I dared make so free, I would
even ask the favour of being introduced by you to your father, with whom
I regret not having personal acquaintance."
"Our father is not at home," said Sabrina, speaking for both.
"Indeed?" he exclaimed, looking half-disappointed, half-pleased.
"That's unfortunate. But I suppose you expect him soon?"
"We cannot tell what time he may return, your Highness."
"Ah! he's gone upon a journey, then. May I ask whither? You'll pardon
the inquiry, in view of my business with him?"
"To Gloucester," she answered, without hesitation, too glad to have the
questioner think that he inquired about was in that safe city.
"His absence is disappointing," said the Prince--half in soliloquy, and
half addressing himself to Captain Trevor. "It will necessitate our
staying here for the night." This loud enough for the ladies to hear.
"I regret that," he pursued, again turning to them, "not on my own
account, but because the quartering of my escort at Hollymead cannot be
over agreeable to you. However, I can promise best behaviour on their
part; and should your servants have any rudeness to complain of it shall
be punished with all severity."
This self-invitation to the hospitality of Hollymead House, however
vexatious to the daughters of its absent owner, did not at all surprise
them. They had been expecting it as the upshot; for, despite his fine
phrases of apology--all pretence--the Prince's bearing and manner told
them how much he felt himself their master.
Withal, they were not dismayed, Sabrina making calm rejoinder, with some
formal words, that Hollymead would be too much honoured by his presence.
Then in a whisper to Vaga, as they drew side by side to ride home,--
"Keep up courage, Vag. Above all keep your temper. Everything may
depend on that. We're among wolves, that may tear us if angered."
"Go back, Captain!" called the Prince to Trevor. "Give my commands to
Colonel Lunsford, and tell him to bring the escort on to the house."
"Lunsford along with them!" ejaculated Sabrina, in undertone to her
sister. "That makes my words good. We _are_ among wolves."
The evil repute of this man justified her speech. It had been spreading
day by day, till his name was now become a synonym of inhumanity--a
bogie to stop the crying of the babes in the cradle.