"Eyeh, man! and that's a' the geed ye've done? If I had but had the
sense to ging mysel'! Where's my son? Black be the day ye coom across
this door, ye bletherin' Ould Hunderd! Where's my Sam? Eyeh, my purty
boy, that was aye handy to a' things, and ne'er a crooked word in his
mouth but when you crossed him, and a temper like an angel? Where's my
Sam? Do you mean to tell me you've gane and you've coomed, John
Gilsland, and brought nae guid news in your hand?"
"The devil's i' the woman!" cried honest John. "Could I lay the lad on
the front o' the mare, and bring him hame like a sack o' corn? He's
sorry enough and sick enough by this time, if that's a consolation; but
do you think it was me to face the sodger officers, and say he bud not
to list?--and him _had_ listed, if I preached till the morn. Na, wife,
he's fast and sure--as fast as the Ould Hunderd himsel'. If ye'll take
my advice, the best thing you can do is to put up his bundle and make
him commforable. He's brewed, and so must he drink. It's for better, for
warse, like the marriage state itsel'."
"And grand I would be taking _your_ advice!" said the landlady, more
from habit than anger; "and a grand joodge you would mak' o' what a
mother'll do for her son! Eyeh, away! I've nae pleasure in man nor
woman. Oh, my Sammy! and after all the pains the Colonel took to speak a
word to the lad himsel'; and after all his schooling and what was done
for him; and a new waistcoat and buttons I bought him mysel' but a week
agoo; and everything he could set his face to to make him commforable.
Oh! Sammy, Sammy! what will ye say when your mother's grey hairs is
brought to the grave in sorrow along o' you? I'll tear the een out o'
that murderin' Ould Hunderd if he come near this door!--I will! if he
was the best customer in twenty mile. What do I care for his dribble of
drink and his deceiving tongue? If it hadn't been for him, I would ne'er
have lost my Sammy, the best lad, though I say it as shouldn't, and the
cleverest, ye could set your eyes on. I could have trusted him with
every key in the house, I could; and the modestest lad! Praise him to
his face, and he would colour up like a girl. If I had but had the sense
to ging and speak to the offisher mysel'!"
"Eyeh, woman, if ye but had!" said John, "ye would have knowed better;
yon'er he is fast enough, and no a penny less than thirty pound'll buy
him off, and ye know best yoursel' if ye can spare that off of the
business in such bad times; but there's mair as bad off as you. And I
can tell you I saw greater folk nor our Sam look wistful at the ribbons.
As I sat down by the chimney side, who should come in but Mr. Roger, him
that should be the young Squire by rights, if the ould wan had done
fairly by him. He stood i' the door, as I might be dooing, and gave a
look athwart the place. If he warn't envying of the lads as could 'list,
and no more said, never trust my word again. I'll bet a shilling he was
in twenty minds to take the bounty himsel'. Though he is a gentleman,
he's a deal worse off nor our Sam; he'll goo hanging about in London,
till the great folk doo somat for him. He durstent set for'ard bold, and
into the ranks wi' him. I'm more grieveder like, in a general way, for
the sort of him nor our lad. Dry thy een, wife, and set on a great wash,
and take it out on th' wench; it'll do thee good, and thoo canst do nae
benefit to Sam."
Mrs. Gilsland, though she contradicted her husband as usual, found some
wisdom in his advice, and, after doing something elaborately the reverse
for a time, adopted it, to the discomfiture of her poor
maid-of-all-work, who might not have appreciated her master's counsel
had she been aware of it. A good scold did the landlady good; she sought
out poor Sam's wardrobe, collected a little heap of articles to be
washed and mended for him, and managed, by this means, to get through
the day with tolerable comfort, though interrupted by many gossiping
visits of condolence, in all of which she renewed and expatiated upon
her grief. When the evening arrived, Mrs. Gilsland was in considerable
force, with red eyes, and face a little swollen, but strong in all her
natural eloquence and courage, lying in wait for the arrival of the
unsuspecting "Ould Hunderd," who had not yet been informed, so far as
she was aware of, what had taken place. Before he made his appearance,
however, there arrived the carrier from Kenlisle, who made a diversion
in her excitement. He brought a note from Horace Scarsdale to John
Gilsland, enclosing an open one, addressed to Peggy at Marchmain, and
requested her to send his trunk with the bearer; a communication which
very much roused the curiosity of both husband and wife. While they were
considering this billet, Sergeant Kennedy came in as usual, and got his
place, and his pipe, in the public room, without calling forth any
demonstration of hostilities. When she became aware of his presence,
Mrs. Gilsland rushed into the apartment, with the note still in her
hand.
"Eyeh, gude forgive me if I'm like to swear!" cried the indignant
mother, "you're here, ye ould deceiver! You're here to beguile other
folks's sons, and dare to look me in the face as if ye had ne'er done
mischief in your days. Where's my Sam? Where's my lad, that never had an
ill thought intill his head till he came to speech of you? Well did the
Cornel say ye wur an ould humbug! Where's my son?"
"Husht! husht!" said the Sergeant, soothingly--"I have heard on't
already in the town. I always said he was a lad of spirit--he'll make a
good souldhier, and some day ye'll be proud enough to see him in his
uniform. Husht, would you have the onlearned believe he had 'listed in
drink, or because of ill-doing? You're an oncommon discreet woman when
ye like. Think of the poor lad's credit, then, and hould your peace.
Would you make the foulks think he 'listed like a ne'er-do-well? Husht,
if any person says so of Sam Gilsland to me, Sergeant Kennedy, o' the
Ould Hunderd, I'll knock him down."
This sudden new aspect of the subject took away the good woman's breath;
she was not prepared for so skilful a defence, since, to blame her son
in blaming Kennedy, was the last thing she could have thought of. After
a few moments she recovered herself, but not the full advantage she had
started with.
"I said you was a deceiver, and it's proved upon me," said Mrs.
Gilsland; "and you think you can take me in with your lyin' tongue as
well as my boy! How dare ye speak of drink or ill-doing and my Sam?--a
steadier lad was never born; he's no' like you, you ould sponge that you
are, soaking in whatever's gooing in the way of liquor. He's no as
long-tongued nor as acquaint with ill; and but for coming across of you
when the lad knowed no better, and taking a' your stories for Gospel,
he'd ha' been here this day. And you sit and lift up your face to me in
my own house, you do! Ye ould storyteller!--ye cruel deceiver!--ye
onnat'ral ould man! You a feyther yoursel' and make other foulks's house
desolate! But what need I speak?--there's wan there forenenst ye, that
cares little more nor you do, for all the lad I'm naming is his son as
well as mine!"
This sudden attack took the unfortunate John entirely by surprise; he
recoiled a step or two, with an exclamation of amazement and injury. He
had been standing calmly by, enjoying the unusual pleasure of listening
to his wife's eloquence as a spectator, and rather rejoicing in the
castigation of the sergeant. This assault took away his breath--nor was
it allowed to remain a single blow. Before anyone could speak, an old
cracked, high-pitched voice made itself heard from the door of the
apartment, where, shivering with cold, and anger, and age, with an old
checked shawl thrown over her cap, old Sally from the Grange shook her
withered and trembling hand at the unhappy John.
"It's you that's a-spreading tales against the young maister--it's you!"
she cried, in her shrill accents; "and it's you, Betty Gilsland, that's
puttin' him up to it; you that's eaten the Squire's bread, and married
on his present, and thrived wi' his coostom. Fie upon me for a silly
ould fool, that thought there was such a thing as thankfulness to the
fore in this world! Eh, man! to think ye should have come coorting to
the Grange kitchen, many's the day, and eaten your commforable supper
wi' the rest on us, and yet have the heart to turn again Mr. Roger, like
the gentry themsels! I would not have believed it if half the sheer had
ta'en their Bible oath--no, not for nothing but hearing on it mysel'.
What ill did he ever doo you, that you should raise a story on Mr.
Roger? Oh, fie, fie, fie, for shame!"
The husband and wife looked at each other in mutual amazement at this
unexpected charge, while Kennedy pricked up his ears and recovered his
former boldness. He did not doubt now to come out of the affair with
flying colours; for though John Gilsland's reflections on the looks of
Roger when he encountered him the previous night had been overheard and
carried rapidly to the interested ears of Sally, the sergeant was still
unaware both of Roger's purpose and his departure. He inclined his ear
with great attention to Sally's complaint; he cocked his cap upon one
side of his head, and assumed the part of moderator with a masterly
promptitude; he called her in, waving his hand to her, and set a stool
for her near the fire.
"It's mortial cowld," said the sergeant, "here's a drop of beer for you,
ould Sally. Them good foulks there, take my word, had no ill maening to
Mr. Roger. We'll al' hear the rights on it. Many's the talk I've had
with him, and many's the good advice I gave the young man. Onexperienced
lads they're al'ways the better of a good advice. Take a drop of beer."
Sally made a nervous, frightened curtsey, warmed her icy fingers at the
fire, and took the beer in her hand, with her respects to the sergeant;
but before she could drink it Mrs. Gilsland arrested her with a sudden
exclamation.
"Sally! touch you none on it--it's pisoned--it's Judas--it's a-betraying
on you!" cried the landlady; "if there's harm come to your young
gentleman, who should it be but him there? He's seduced away my innocent
lad. He's led Sam astray, and putten it into his head to 'list and goo
for a souldhier. He's nothing but lies and deceits from end to end on
him. If there's harm to the young Squire, you take my word, it's _him_!"
"Lord have a care of us!" cried Sally, emphasizing her exclamation by a
violent start, and dropping the glass from her hands; "pisoned!--eh, the
cannibal! the murderin' villain!--and what harm did I ever do to him, a
puir old body like me?"
Upon which text the excellent Mrs. Gilsland made a renewed onslaught
upon the sergeant, referring directly or indirectly to his influence all
the accidents of the country side. If he was in some way to blame for
the failed crops and the potato disease, he was evidently first cause
that Mr. Roger had left the Grange, and her boy had gone away; both were
entirely under the influence of the all-conquering sergeant. John
Gilsland stood by a little nervous, but secretly enjoying the attack
which old Sally, easily diverted from her indignation against himself,
and turning her arms upon "th' Ould Hunderd," aided with all her feeble
forces. The other spectators encouraged the combatants with vociferous
plaudits. As for the sergeant, he gave his cap a fiercer cock, crossed
his arms upon his breast, sat back upright as a post in his chair, and
puffed mighty volumes of smoke from his pipe. It was impossible to move
him. When at last, in sheer exasperation and rage, the women found
nothing more to say, Kennedy took the pipe from his mouth, thrust his
chair farther back, and made his exculpatory address:--
"If you will listen to me," said the sergeant, stretching forth his
arms, and laying down the plan of his discourse with the fingers of one
hand upon the palm of the other, "I'll make you my answer under three
heads: There's, firstly, Sam Gilsland--and there's, secondly, Mr.
Roger--and there's, thirdly, the Cornel. As ye cannot onderstand the
first till ye've heard the last, I advise ye to have patience. Then, in
the first place, Sam--he's a very fine lad, clean, well-made, a good
figure, a good spirit, fond to be out o' dours, and to see the world.
I'll say, before a hunder faothers and maothers, it's a disgrace to
keep a man like that serving beer. He behooved to serve his country, did
a lad like that; thinks I to mysel', there's a figure for a uniform; if
the drill-sergeant had his will o' him, there's hands would be clever at
their weapons! Was it my fault that his Maker had made him straight and
strong? He heard me speak of the service, sure; I'm a man of experience;
I see no good reason to hide my light away from the world; and natur' up
and spoke. I knowed no more of his going away nor the babe unborn."
The wily sergeant saw with the corner of his eye that Sam's mother,
overcome by this eloquence, had fallen to crying--he knew the day was
won.
"_And_ I ask ye a'," said the sergeant, "when a man that's served his
country sets foot among ye, with the Queen's coat on his back, and a
medal on his breast, do ye turn your backs upon him? Is he not as great
a man as the Duke till his furlough's done; _and_ I ask _you_,"
continued Kennedy, turning boldly round upon his principal accuser,
"when the boy comes to end his life in aise and comfort, with a pension
to keep him snug, and never to move his hand but when he pleases--would
ye rather he was looking after the farmers' horses, good weather and bad
weather, and serving beer?"
Mrs. Gilsland was overcome; flattering fancies stole over her mind;
splendid visions of a figure in uniform, with honours and rewards heaped
upon him by the public gratitude, which should call her mother; she put
up her apron to her eyes and sobbed. The sergeant was victorious.
"And as for Mr. Roger, I am not the man to meddle with them that are
aboon my hand--I gave him my advice, like any other speerited young
man," said the sergeant; "I tould him my mind of the service. I tould
him there was glory and fame to be found in the profession of arms. He
was very well inclined to lead me on, was Mr. Roger; he asked about this
one and he asked me about the t'other one, and I gave the young
gentleman what information I could. And then, ye see, al' at once, out
of my knowledge, comes up the Cornel. I cannot purtend to say what
business he had here. There was some story about a nevvy of his, Mr.
Horry, that ye al' knowe. I've no very great faith in Mr. Horry, for my
own account. My belief is--for he never spared pains or trouble for his
men, as I can well say--my belief is, if ye ask me, that the Cornel
heard there was some promising lads here, and came to take a look at
them himself. That's just my fixed opinion, if ye ask me. So there's Sam
away, and Mr. Roger away, and I'll lay any man here a hunder pounds
we'll hear tell of the Cornel again."
"Eyeh, man! d'ye think it's true?" cried Mrs. Gilsland. "I asked the
Cornel to speak to my Sam mysel'. Eyeh, sergeant! it's an awfu'
misfortune--but it's a great honour! Do ye think it would be _that_ that
brought the Cornel here?"
John Gilsland was more sceptical than his wife; but, at the same time,
he was more favourable. "Here's Mr. Horry gone his gate also," said
John--"I'm strong o' the mind to take the cart mysel', and goo round by
Marchmain the morn for his trunk as he bids, and see if I can see owght
o' the ould man."
"Thoo'st aye right ready for a ploy," said his wife, "a deal better than
honest work. Eyeh, but it's true--Mr. Horry has gane as well--three
young men of them out of this wan place! Blees me! its awful like as if
the Cornel was at the bottom o't, after all."
"Ay, ay--you'll come into my opinion. I seed him three times mysel'. The
Cornel was aye an affable gentleman, and spoke his mind free; I knows
what I knows," said the sergeant--"he had his own occasions here."
"Come you with me, Sally, and you shall have a cup o' tea to comfort
your heart," said Mrs. Gilsland. "Eyeh, woman, I'm heartbroken; but I'm
glad!--three on them, and his own nevvy! That Mr. Horry is a rael queer
lad--he takes no more notice of a body nor if they were the dust beneath
his feet; but dreedful clever, there's no doubt. I'll make John goo
himsel' to Marchmain as he said--maybe there's some news. Keep a good
heart about the young Squire, Sally. I would not say but them three
they're all together, and the Cornel with them; and they're rael well
off, if _he's_ there, that's for certain; such a man!"