Mabel and her aunt had taken up their residence for some time at the
small bow-windowed house in the upper part of the town of Lynderton. It
had been described as a very genteel residence for a spinster lady. To
say that it had neat wooden railings before it, and steps leading up to
the front door, kept scrupulously clean, will be sufficient to give an
idea of Mabel's new abode. The style of life the two ladies led was
very different to what they had been accustomed to. Mary remained as
general servant, while the cook, who had grown fat and aged at Stanmore,
entreated that she might accompany her old mistress. Paul Gauntlett
declared that the day he should be separated from them would be his
last. So he also was allowed to take up his abode in the bow-windowed
house, though his accommodation was limited in the extreme. All he
wanted was house-room. Wages he would not receive, and he had been too
long accustomed to forage for himself to require being fed. It cannot
be said that the family were reduced to complete poverty, still their
means were very scanty. Mabel had literally nothing, but an annuity had
been secured to Madam Everard on the Stanmore estates, which Mr. Sleech
could not touch, though he did his best to make it as small as possible
by putting her to considerable expense before she could obtain it.
Strange to say, when Mabel heard that her father and Harry were still
alive, her regret for her loss of property was greater than it had been
previously. She had formed all sorts of plans for her future career.
As long as her aunt lived, she would attend to her. When she was called
away she would go out and teach, or enter some family as a governess.
Now, however, the case was altered. Her father would never consent to
her doing that, while she could no longer hope, as she had hoped, to
become the well-dowered wife of Harry Tryon. She loved him--that she
knew. Would he continue to love her? She had no doubt about that, but
would he have the power of giving her a home? Would he be able to
return to the position he had abandoned in Mr. Coppinger's
counting-house, and, with the assistance of his guardian, labour till he
had gained an independence? She thought Harry would be capable of
anything. Her father would, at all events, be ready to help him by
every means in his power. He surely could refuse nothing to the man who
had saved his life so bravely at the risk of his own. Her father had
always been looked upon as a man of great influence. It did not occur
to her that this arose from his being supposed to be the heir of
Stanmore--the owner of the borough, who could return two members at his
will. Poor girl! Captain Everard as he had been, and Captain Everard,
though a very good officer, without a vote in Parliament, and with his
pay only to support him, were very different persons.
The Everards had always been Tories. Mr. Sleech supported the opposite
party, and was now giving all his influence to the Whig interest.
The people in the neighbourhood, however, called very frequently at
Madam Everard's door to inquire after her. Among the few admitted was
the Baron de Ruvigny. Each time he came he talked more and more of the
Coppingers, and Mabel could not help discovering that he was completely
captivated by the charms of Sybella Coppinger. He brought also all the
news of the day. From Paul Gauntlett, however, who read the paper
through, they learned chiefly the progress of the mutiny.
Mabel at length became very anxious about Harry. She did not know in
what ship he was serving, and though she felt sure that he would not
join the mutineers, she could not help dreading that he might be placed
in danger in consequence of what was occurring. Her anxiety was
increased by not hearing from him as she had expected. She was certain
that he had not forgotten her. Her confidence, indeed, in his faith and
love remained unshaken. At last Mary received a letter in an unknown
hand. It was very unlike the one which Harry had written at Tuttle's
dictation, but this also professed to be from Jacob. It was short, for
the writer was evidently not much accustomed to the use of the pen. It
ran thus: "Dear Mary,--This comes to tell you that we're in a mess.
Some of our fellows have been holding out against the Government, and
have got nothing for their pains. We have had a number of delegates
going about from ship to ship, and they have been and got some of
themselves hung, and not a few flogged round the fleet. Sarves them
right, say I. I should not mind it, if it was not for a shipmate, you
knows who, who has been put in limbo. His name abroad is Andrew Brown,
but your young lady knows him, and knows that that is not his name.
Worser still, he's going to be hung. If I could get liberty, I'd go and
see you and tell you all. It's a sad thing, and I would give my eyes to
save the young chap.--Yours to command, Jacob Tuttle--his cross X."
Mary, who had not deciphered the letter very clearly, brought it to her
mistress. As Mabel finished it, the paper fell from her hands. A
deadly pallor overspread her countenance, and she fell back fainting
into the arms of her attendant. Happily, Paul at that moment came into
the sitting-room, and assisted the damsel in placing her mistress on a
sofa. While Mary ran to get restoratives, and to call Madam Everard,
his eye fell on the paper. Seeing the rough style of handwriting, he
thought that he might with propriety read it over.
"That's it," he said to himself; "it's that young gentleman, he's gone
and done something desperate. We must get him out of the scrape, or it
will be the death of Miss Mabel."
Mabel quickly returned to consciousness and found Paul and Mary standing
near her. Madam Everard had gone out.
"I know all about it, Miss Mabel," said Paul, "and I want to help you."
"Do you think this can allude to Harry?" she asked; "I mean Mr. Tryon."
"Too likely," said Paul; "I won't deny it, because it's clear to my mind
that something must be done to save him. Cheer up, Miss Mabel. We will
do it if it can be done. There's that old gentleman who takes an
interest in Master Harry--his guardian, you call him. I would go to
him. He would be the best man to say what can be done, and I am sure he
would do it."
"Oh! that he would, for I am confident that Harry is innocent. He never
would have done anything worthy of death. I will go up to the Admiralty
and plead for him; I will tell them who he is. They would never allow
him to be executed; or if they will not listen to me, I will go to the
King himself. I will plead with his Majesty; he will surely have power
to save him."