|At length the mandate came.
A letter arrived from the Chevalier de Saint George enjoining the Earl
of Derwentwater to prepare for immediate action.
“So soon as the standard is set up in Scotland by Mar, you must rise,”
ran the missive.
Aware that the earl had received a despatch from France, the countess
flew to his cabinet, and found him pacing to and fro within it, in a
state of great perturbation.
“Read that,” he said, giving her the letter.
Her cheeks flushed as she scanned it, and she exclaimed almost joyfully:
“You will obey his majesty's orders. There must be no hesitation now. If
there is one man in England on whose zeal and fidelity King James ought
to be able to count, it is the Earl of Derwentwater, with whom he
is connected by birth, and whom he regards as a brother. Would you
disappoint all the hopes he has formed of you! Shake off this worse than
womanish weakness if you would not have me despise you.”
“No more!” cried the earl, almost fiercely. “You have said enough. You
have hardened my breast. I care not now what ensues.”
“I am glad I have roused you,” she cried. “Had you been wanting in the
hour of action, you would have been deemed a traitor to your king, and
have lost the respect of all honourable men.”
Just then Father Norham entered the room.
“I fear I have come at an unlucky moment,” he said, perceiving from
their looks that some misunderstanding had occurred between them; “and
I would at once retire, had I not important news to communicate. I have
just received private information from Newcastle that a warrant has
been issued for your lordship's arrest on a charge of high treason. The
officers will be here to-morrow, and as they will be accompanied by a
party of horse-militia, you must either resist them or keep out of the
way. Since you are not fully prepared for a rising, I would counsel the
latter course.”
“And I advise resistance,” said the countess.
“No--that would precipitate the outbreak,” said the earl. “I must
concert measures with my friends ere I take up arms.”
“You cannot remain in the castle, my lord,” said the priest. “A most
rigorous search will be made, and if you are discovered, you will be
apprehended and placed in confinement.”
“Where shall I find a secure retreat?” said the earl.
“You ought not to be too far off, in case of a sudden emergency,” said
the countess.
“Your lordship would be perfectly safe in Nathan the woodcutter's hut in
the thicket,” said the priest. “No one will seek you there--and even if
the place should be visited, you can easily escape into the wood.”
“Nathan Blacklaw is a trusty fellow,” said the earl. “I can perfectly
depend upon him. His hut will afford me an excellent hiding-place. When
inquiries are made for me, the servants can say that I am gone to
visit some Roman Catholic friends in Lancashire. The statement will be
credited, since the magistrates must have learnt that Lord Widdrington
is now staying with his brother-in-law, Mr. Townley, of Townley, in that
county. I will now go and see Nathan Blacklaw, and direct him to prepare
for me to-morrow morning.”
“Take me with you, I entreat!” said the countess. “I should like to see
how you will be lodged in the hut. I wish I could bear you company.”
“Alas! that cannot be!” sighed the earl. “Your presence would reconcile
me to any inconvenience. But it would infallibly lead to my discovery.
Besides, you must be at the castle to see how things go on, and
communicate with me.”
“I quite understand,” she replied.
“When my brother returns from Corbridge, acquaint him with my purpose,”
said the earl to Father Norham. “I do not think he is in any danger of
arrest.”
“I have received no caution respecting Mr. Charles Radclyffe,” said the
priest. “I believe your lordship to be the only person threatened. But I
may hear further at night, as I expect a second messenger.”
“Long before then Charles will have returned,” said the earl. “And now
for the hut,” he added to the countess. “I have a melancholy foreboding
that when I once quit the castle I shall never come back to it.”
“Dismiss these thoughts, my dear lord,” said the priest, “Rest assured
that better days are in store for you.”