|ANNA Webb, who rode a capital horse, provided for her from the
Bamborough stables, and was accompanied by Tom Forster and his sister,
was greatly struck by the view of the castle at the end of the vista
formed by the long avenue of chestnut trees; and if we may venture
to reveal the secrets of her breast, we must state that she ardently
desired to become the mistress of that stately mansion. Nor was this
desire lessened when she entered the great quadrangular court and gazed
around it.
Certain of a hearty welcome, Tom Forster rode in first, and cracked his
hunting-whip loudly, as he passed through the gateway, to summon the
servants. Newbiggin and three or four footmen rushed down the perron to
meet him. He contented himself with announcing to the butler that he had
come to dine with his lordship, and pass the night at the castle, and
had brought Miss Forster and Sir John Webb and his family with him, and
then jumping from the saddle, gave his horse to one of the servants. To
his surprise, Newbiggin looked rather embarrassed.
“What!--not at home?” cried the squire.
“Oh, yes, his lordship is at the castle, but he is engaged on rather
particular business,” replied the butler. “Some one is with him.”
“Oh, never mind!” cried the squire. “He'll get his business done before
dinner-time. Mr. Charles Radclyffe will take care of us.”
As he spoke, Dorothy and Anna rode into the court, and immediately
afterwards the great lumbering coach followed.
After a moment's consideration, Newbiggin made up his mind to admit
them. Aware that Mr. Forster was a Jacobite, and also aware that Sir
John Webb was a Roman Catholic and a staunch adherent of the Stuarts, he
thought he couldn't be doing wrong.
Accordingly, he flew to the carriage, and helped its occupants to
alight, leaving the young ladies to the care of the grooms, and, by the
time he had fulfilled his duties, Charles Radclyffe made his appearance
with Father Nor-ham, and welcoming the party with great cordiality in
his brother's name, led them to the garden. Having brought them to the
lawn, he left them there with Father Norham, and went in search of the
earl.
If Anna had been pleased with what she had seen of the castle, she was
quite enraptured now.
Never, she declared to Dorothy, had she beheld anything finer than the
prospect from the terrace. What charming scenery! what a lovely park!
what brown moors! what woods! And how well the Tyne looked in the
distance!
She next praised the romantic beauty of the glen, with its trees, and
rushing stream, and, above all, the picturesque old bridge.
In short, everything delighted her. And though she said least about it,
she was, perhaps, best pleased with the mansion itself. It was larger
and more imposing than she expected, and she again thought what a fine
thing it would be to be mistress of such a splendid place.
Lady Webb was just as much struck with the castle and its surroundings
as her daughter, and fondly hoped that she might soon have a stronger
interest in the place. Her ladyship was conversing with Father Norham,
and all she heard about the young earl heightened her desire to call
him her son-in-law. Father Norham spoke with the greatest warmth of his
lordship's goodness of heart, noble qualities, and chivalrous character.
“He is like Bayard himself,” he said; “a chevalier without fear and
without reproach.”
“With such a splendid mansion as this, and with such wealth as his
lordship possesses, 'tis a wonder he does not marry,” remarked Lady
Webb.
“His lordship will never marry except for love,” replied the priest.
“That is perfectly consistent with the noble and disinterested character
you have given him,” said Lady Webb. “But I should have thought,” she
added, glancing towards Dorothy, “that a very charming young friend of
ours might have touched his heart.”
“Apparently not,” replied Father Norham. “I myself should have been well
pleased if such had been the case. But I do not think Lord Derwentwater
will marry till our rightful king is restored.”
“Then he may have to wait long.” said her ladyship.
At this moment Charles Radclyffe made his appearance.
Seeing him return alone, Lady Webb and her daughter began to have some
misgivings, but they were quickly set at rest by Charles, and a few
minutes later his lordship himself was seen at the end of the terrace.
Lord Derwentwater was, of course, accompanied by the prince, but he left
him at the further end of the lawn, and went quickly on alone to welcome
his visitors.
Oh! how Anna's heart fluttered as she beheld him.
His devoirs were first paid to Lady Webb, and then to the younger
ladies. Dorothy was quite easy in her manner, and shook hands with him
warmly, but Anna courtesied deeply to the formal bow he addressed to
her. At the same time, the flush on her cheek betrayed the state of her
feelings.
Lord Derwentwater could not fail to perceive this, and we doubt not he
was much gratified by the discovery, but he was obliged to turn to the
others.
Meanwhile, the prince had come up, and in compliance with the
instructions he had received, Lord Derwentwater introduced him as Mr.
Johnson--but without another word.
Sir John Webb bowed rather stiffly to the stranger, and Forster was
scarcely more polite; indeed, very little notice was taken of him,
except by the young ladies, both of whom were struck by his manner, and
entered into conversation with him.
They soon found out that he was a person of distinction, and learning
that he had only just come from France, felt sure he must be a messenger
from the Chevalier de Saint George, and began to question him about
the prince, displaying an interest in the cause, that could not but be
agreeable to the hearer.
“I shall probably see the prince ere long,” said the Chevalier, “and
will not fail to tell him what warm partisans he has among the ladies of
Northumberland.”
“Tell him that Dorothy Forster, of Bamborough Castle, will do her best
to aid him whenever he comes,” cried that young lady.
“Tell him that Anna Webb begins to think he never means to come at all,
and fears he has forgotten his friends,” added the other.
“Both messages shall reach him, I promise you,” said the prince. “And
when he learns how surpassingly beautiful are the two damsels who sent
them he will be doubly gratified.”
“We need no compliments,” said Anna. “For my part I am out of patience
with the prince.”
“Why so?”
“Because he neglects so many opportunities. He might be on the throne
now, had he chosen.”
“The prince has neglected no chance. But you are not aware of the
difficulties he has had to encounter.”
“I can partly guess them. But they are nothing. Were I in his place I
would have made twenty attempts, and either have succeeded or perished.”
“I admire your spirit. But to win a kingdom, you must have an army. And
the prince has no army.”
“He could have one very soon,” cried Anna.
“Yes, that is certain,” added Dorothy. “A small army could be raised
in this county. Lord Derwentwater could bring five hundred men. And my
brother, Mr. Forster could raise a troop.”
“Tell this to the prince, when you go back,” cried Anna. “Say that the
Jacobite ladies of England are dying to behold him.”
“That will bring him, if anything will,” laughed the prince.
At this moment Lord Derwentwater came up, and said to Anna:
“May I ask what message you are sending to the prince?”
“That we are all tired of waiting for him,” she replied. “We have been
so often disappointed, that we begin to think he will never come.”
“Then let me inform you that I have just received certain intelligence
that his majesty is in England at this moment.”
Dorothy and Anna uttered exclamations of surprise and delight.
“You hear that, papa?” cried the latter to Sir John Webb. “Lord
Derwentwater says that his majesty, King James the Third, is now in
England. Is not that good news?”
“Wonderfully good news!” exclaimed Sir John. “Where has he landed?”
“I can't tell you where he has landed,” cried Tom Forster, scarcely
repressing a joyous shout. “But I can tell you where he is now. Since
none of you have discovered him, I'll be first to kiss hands.”
And rushing forward, he bent before the prince, who graciously extended
his hand towards him.
On this there was a general movement towards the prince, who had now
entirely changed his deportment, and received them all with dignified
affability.
To Lady Webb he showed marked attention, and to each of the young ladies
he had something pleasant to say, and soon relieved any uneasiness they
might feel as to the freedom with which they had spoken to him.
This little ceremony over, he took Sir John Webb and Mr. Forster apart,
and remained in earnest conversation with them for a few minutes.
He then returned to the ladies, and proposed a walk in the garden, to
which they delightedly assented.