MY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
I have stated that I was placed in the troop of Captain Francis
Lindsay, which for a time separated me from my friends, Charters and
Kirkton. This was one of the nine troops of Light Horse, or Hussars,
lately formed, one of which had been added to every regiment of heavy
cavalry.
In a speech recently made in Parliament, His Majesty observed "that
the late success of his ally in Germany had given a happy turn to his
affairs, which it would be necessary to improve."
The loyal Commons took the hint and liberally granted new supplies,
both for the service of Frederick of Prussia, who was then at
hostilities with the French monarch, and for enabling the army in
Hanover to co-operate with him vigorously; and war having two years
before been declared against France, an expedition--of which we were
to form part--was prepared for a descent upon the coast of that
country.
We were detached from the regiment, and ordered from Maidenhead to
Southsea Common, where we were encamped and brigaded with the light
troops of other dragoon corps, for instruction in the Prussian
exercise; and I may state without vanity that the light troop of the
Greys in aspect, mount, and discipline, were allowed by those who saw
them far to excel every other in the camp.*
* "The _flower_ of the Hussars is the troop commanded by Captain
Lindsay, quartered at Maidenhead, where they have been practising the
Prussian exercise, and for some days have been digging large trenches
and leaping over them; also leaping high hedges with broad ditches on
the other side. Their captain on Saturday last swam his horse over
the Thames and back again, and the whole troop were yesterday to swim
the river."--_Weekly Journal_, May 23, 1758.
Resolved to rise in the service by my own merit alone, I strained
every energy to become master of my drill in all its principles and
theory. The sword or foil was never out of my hand when I could find
an antagonist; thus I became an expert swordsman, as well as an
excellent horseman, and a decidedly good average shot with pistol or
carbine. With either, I would put a bullet through a common playing
card, when passing it on the ground at full gallop. This devotion to
my profession, and my rapid progress did not fail to recommend me to
Captain Lindsay, a brave and high-spirited officer, to whom we were
all devoted. He was a handsome fellow too, and generous as a
prince--to use a common phrase--especially when on service, sharing
whatever he possessed with his men.
It was while here under canvas, working hard, drilling, trenching and
ditching, teaching myself and my horse--a noble grey, sixteen hands
high, and a model of temper and courage--to swim when fully
accoutred, that in a tavern near the camp, an old, tattered, and
liquor-stained copy of the "Weekly Journal" one evening fell in my
way. Books, periodicals, and papers were then almost unknown in camp
and barracks, though the gallant General Wolfe had striven hard to
encourage the formation of regimental libraries, and since I had
donned the red coat, I had neglected everything connected with
literature, save a French grammar, of which during my scanty leisure
hours, or when on guard, I laboured hard to make myself master.
While lingering over a pint of beer, I read every word of the
"Journal," even to the obituary; and in the column of the latter, was
a notice that gave me a shock, as if struck by a bullet.
It recorded the death of my grandfather four months ago by a sudden
attack of gout in the head, caused, it was stated, by the grief he
experienced on hearing that his well-beloved heir, Mr. Anthony
Gauntlet, had been killed by a fall from his horse when riding
furiously near Kirk Yetholm. "Thus," continued the paper, "the
estates of Netherwood, worth thirty thousand per annum, pass to Mr.
Anthony's only sister, the charming Miss Aurora Gauntlet, who becomes
one of the richest heiresses on the Border, and thus disappears one
of our oldest baronetcies, the first Sir John Gauntlet of that ilk,
having been one of those, _infeft_ in lands in Canada with power of
castle, pit and gallows, in the usual form, by the earth and stone of
the castle hill of Edinburgh, and by the hand of Charles I., in
person, in 1633."
"Disappears!" I muttered, through my clenched teeth. "True, the
title disappears; but only for a time I trust."
I sat long buried in thought after this. Thirty thousand pounds per
annum! That money by right was mine; this cousin, this Aurora, whom
I had never known, never seen, and whom I hated in my heart as a
fresh usurper, would doubtless be married by some one--a
fortune-hunter, a needy adventurer perhaps--and thus my patrimony
would go to the enrichment of strangers, while I----
Thick and fast, fierce thoughts crowded upon me; I had little more
than enough to pay for the poor glass of beer I had drunk, but I
threw it on the table, and walked sullenly off without waiting for
the change.
As I walked along the road, other emotions came over me--emotions
that were prouder, better, more lofty and more soothing, for I saw
the white tents of the camp--my new home--shining in the setting sun,
as they dotted all Southsea Common.
I remembered the story of one whose fate was somewhat, if not
exactly, similar--the poor Scottish baronet, Sir Robert Innes, who
became a private in the foot regiment of Colonel Winram, of Liberton,
and remained there long in obscurity, as private Robert Innes, till a
former friend recognised him when on duty as sentinel one day before
the quarters of the colonel.
On discovering that he was thus honoured by having a baronet to guard
his door, Winram obtained Innes a commission, and gave him in
marriage his only daughter and heiress, Margery. I thought I would
strive to be like him, and until the lucky spoke of Fortune's wheel
turned upmost, I would relinquish, save in my secret heart, all pride
of birth or position of family, and the past, and forget too the
important monosyllable, of which my unnatural grandfather had left
nothing undone to deprive me. This was a brilliant bit of romance,
no doubt, but unlike Winram, poor old Colonel Preston had no
inheritance save his sword and his quaint uniform; and no beautiful
daughter to bestow. I had no former friends to recognise me, and
bring about a striking denouement, so I might be sentinel at his door
for a hundred years before he could befriend me as Sir Robert Innes
was befriended by Colonel Winram.
As a supplement to the notice I had seen, next day on parade the
trumpet-major of the Light Horse, who usually acted as our postman,
handed me a large thick letter. It bore the Berwick postmark, and
was addressed in the familiar handwriting of Mr. Nathan Wylie.
My heart sprang to my lips, but I had only time to thrust the missive
into one of my holsters, for the trumpets sounded to "fall in" and I
was kept in an agony of suspense and anxiety to learn the
contents--which seemed rather bulky--during the whole of a long and
tedious morning parade, with its subsequent drill on the common.
What could this letter be about, what its contents? Money? It
seemed too hard for bank-notes. Was it about Ruth--poor little Ruth
whose soft image now rose so upbraidingly before me; for sooth to
say, in the hurly-burly of camp and quarters, I had quite forgotten
her.
The moment parade and drill were over, I rushed away to a quiet nook,
and tore the packet open. It contained a letter from Nathan Wylie,
short, dry, and professional, together with an old parchment,
snuff-coloured by time.
It briefly stated that in his last will and testament, my respected
grandfather had cut me off with the sum of one shilling sterling,
which the writer herein inclosed, together with a document which he
sent, doubtless as a taunt upon my private's uniform--the diploma of
the Netherwood baronetcy.