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diff --git a/6254-0.txt b/6254-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..99b178a --- /dev/null +++ b/6254-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1727 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of John Enderby, by Gilbert Parker + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: John Enderby + +Author: Gilbert Parker + +Release Date: October 18, 2006 [EBook #6254] +Last Updated: August 28, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN ENDERBY *** + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +JOHN ENDERBY + +By Gilbert Parker + + + + +I + +Of all the good men that Lincolnshire gave to England to make her proud, +strong and handsome, none was stronger, prouder and more handsome than +John Enderby, whom King Charles made a knight against his will. + +“Your gracious Majesty,” said John Enderby, when the King was come +to Boston town on the business of draining the Holland fen and other +matters more important and more secret, “the honour your Majesty would +confer is well beyond a poor man like myself, for all Lincolnshire knows +that I am driven to many shifts to keep myself above water. Times have +been hard these many years, and, craving your Majesty’s pardon, our +taxes have been heavy.” + +“Do you refuse knighthood of his Majesty?” asked Lord Rippingdale, with +a sneer, patting the neck of his black stallion with a gloved hand. + +“The King may command my life, my Lord Rippingdale,” was Enderby’s +reply, “he may take me, body and bones and blood, for his service, but +my poor name must remain as it is when his Majesty demands a price for +honouring it.” + +“Treason,” said Lord Rippingdale just so much above his breath as the +King might hear. + +“This in our presence!” said the King, tapping his foot upon the ground, +his brows contracting, and the narrow dignity of the divine right +lifting his nostrils scornfully. + +“No treason, may it please your Majesty,” said Enderby, “and it were +better to speak boldly to the King’s face than to be disloyal behind +his back. My estates will not bear the tax which the patent of this +knighthood involves. I can serve the country no better as Sir John +Enderby than as plain John Enderby, and I can serve my children best by +shepherding my shattered fortunes for their sakes.” + +For a moment Charles seemed thoughtful, as though Enderby’s reasons +appealed to him, but Lord Rippingdale had now the chance which for ten +years he had invited, and he would not let it pass. + +“The honour which his Majesty offers, my good Lincolnshire squire, is +more to your children than the few loaves and fishes which you might +leave them. We all know how miserly John Enderby has grown.” + +Lord Rippingdale had touched the tenderest spot in the King’s mind. His +vanity was no less than his impecuniosity, and this was the third time +in one day he had been defeated in his efforts to confer an honour, and +exact a price beyond all reason for that honour. The gentlemen he had +sought had found business elsewhere, and were not to be seen when his +messengers called at their estates. It was not the King’s way to give +anything for nothing. Some of these gentlemen had been benefited by the +draining of the Holland fens, which the King had undertaken, reserving +a stout portion of the land for himself; but John Enderby benefited +nothing, for his estates lay further north, and near the sea, not far +from the town of Mablethorpe. He had paid all the taxes which the King +had levied and had not murmured beyond his own threshold. + +He spoke his mind with candour, and to him the King was still a man to +whom the truth was to be told with directness, which was the highest +honour one man might show another. + +“Rank treason!” repeated Lord Rippingdale, loudly. “Enderby has been in +bad company, your Majesty. If you are not wholly with the King, you +are against him. ‘He that is not with me is against me, and he that +gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.’” + +A sudden anger seized the King, and turning, he set foot in the stirrup, +muttering something to himself, which boded no good for John Enderby. A +gentleman held the stirrup while he mounted, and, with Lord Rippingdale +beside him in the saddle, he turned and spoke to Enderby. Self-will and +resentment were in his tone. “Knight of Enderby we have made you,” he +said, “and Knight of Enderby you shall remain. Look to it that you pay +the fees for the accolade.” + +“Your Majesty,” said Enderby, reaching out his hand in protest, “I will +not have this greatness you would thrust upon me. Did your Majesty need, +and speak to me as one gentleman to another in his need, then would I +part with the last inch of my land; but to barter my estate for a gift +that I have no heart nor use for--your Majesty, I cannot do it.” + +The hand of the King twisted in his bridle-rein, and his body stiffened +in anger. + +“See to it, my Lord Rippingdale,” he said, “that our knight here pays to +the last penny for the courtesy of the accolade. You shall levy upon his +estate.” + +“We are both gentlemen, your Majesty, and my rights within the law are +no less than your Majesty’s,” said Enderby stoutly. + +“The gentleman forgets that the King is the fountain of all law,” said +Lord Rippingdale obliquely to the King. + +“We will make one new statute for this stubborn knight,” said Charles; +“even a writ of outlawry. His estates shall be confiscate to the Crown. +Go seek a King and country better suited to your tastes, our rebel +Knight of Enderby.” + +“I am still an Enderby of Enderby, and a man of Lincolnshire, your +Majesty,” answered the squire, as the King rode towards Boston church, +where presently he should pray after this fashion with his subjects +there assembled: + + “Most heartily we beseech Thee with Thy favour to behold our most + gracious sovereign King Charles. Endue him plenteously with + Heavenly gifts; grant him in health and wealth long to live; + strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies; + and, finally, after this life, he may attain everlasting joy and + felicity.” + +With a heavy heart Enderby turned homewards; that is, towards +Mablethorpe upon the coast, which lies between Saltfleet Haven and +Skegness, two ports that are places of mark in the history of the +kingdom, as all the world knows. + +He had never been so vexed in his life. It was not so much anger against +the King, for he had great reverence for the monarchy of England; +but against Lord Rippingdale his mind was violent. Years before, in a +quarrel between the Earl of Lindsey and Lord Rippingdale, upon a public +matter which Parliament settled afterwards, he had sided with the Earl +of Lindsey. The two Earls had been reconciled afterwards, but Lord +Rippingdale had never forgiven Enderby. + +In Enderby’s brain ideas worked somewhat heavily; but to-day his +slumberous strength was infused with a spirit of action and the warmth +of a pervasive idea. There was no darkness in his thoughts, but his +pulse beat heavily and he could hear the veins throbbing under his ear +impetuously. Once or twice as he rode on in the declining afternoon he +muttered to himself. Now it was: “My Lord Rippingdale, indeed!” or “Not +even for a King!” or “Sir John Enderby, forsooth! Sir John Enderby, +forsooth!” Once again he spoke, reining in his horse beside a tall cross +at four corners, near Stickford by the East Fen. Taking off his hat he +prayed: + +“Thou just God, do Thou judge between my King and myself. Thou knowest +that I have striven as an honest gentleman to do right before all men. +When I have seen my sin, oh, Lord, I have repented! Now I have come upon +perilous times, the gins are set for my feet. Oh, Lord, establish me in +true strength! Not for my sake do I ask that Thou wilt be with me and +Thy wisdom comfort me, but for the sake of my good children. Wilt Thou +spare my life in these troubles until they be well formed; till the lad +have the bones of a man, and the girl the wise thought of a woman--for +she hath no mother to shield and teach her. And if this be a wrong +prayer, my God, forgive it: for I am but a blundering squire, whose +tongue tells lamely what his heart feels.” + +His head was bowed over his horse’s neck, his face turned to the cross, +his eyes were shut, and he did not notice the strange and grotesque +figure that suddenly appeared from among the low bushes by the fen near +by. + +It was an odd creature perched upon stilts; one of those persons called +the stilt-walkers. They were no friends of the King, nor of the Earl of +Lindsey, nor of my Lord Rippingdale, for the draining of these fens +took from them their means of living. They were messengers, postmen and +carriers across the wide stretch of country from Spilsby, even down to +the river Witham, and from Boston Deep down to Market Deeping and over +to the sea. Since these fens were drained one might travel from Market +Deeping to the Wolds without wetting a foot. + +“Aw’ll trooble thee a moment, maister,” said the peasant. “A +stilt-walker beant nowt i’ the woorld. Howsome’er, aw’ve a worrd to +speak i’ thy ear.” + +Enderby reined in his horse, and with a nod of complaisance (for he was +a man ever kind to the poor, and patient with those who fared ill in the +world) he waited for the other to speak. + +“Thoo’rt the great Enderby of Enderby, maister,” said the peasant, +ducking his head and then putting on his cap; “aw’ve known thee sin tha +wast no bigger nor a bit grass’opper i’ the field. Wilt tha ride long, +Sir John Enderby, and aw’ll walk aside thee, ma grey nag with thy +sorrel.” He glanced down humorously at his own long wooden legs. + +Enderby turned his horse round and proceeded on his way slowly, the old +man striding along beside him like a stork. + +“Why do you dub me Knight?” he asked, his eyes searching the face of the +old man. + +“Why shouldna aw call thee Knight if the King calls thee Knight? It is +the dooty of a common man to call thee Sir John, and tak off his hat at +saying o’ it.” His hat came off, and he nodded in such an odd way that +Enderby burst out into a good honest laugh. “Dooth tha rememba little +Tom Dowsby that went hoonting wi’ thee when tha wert not yet come to +age?” continued the stilt-walker. “Doost tha rememba when, for a jest, +thee and me stopped the lord bishop, tha own uncle, in the highway at +midnight, and took his poorse from him, and the rich gold chain from his +neck? And doost tha rememba that tha would have his apron too, for tha +said that if it kept a bishop clean, wouldna it keep highwaymen clean, +whose work was not so clean as a bishop’s? Sir John Enderby, aw loove +thee better than the King, an’ aw loove thee better than my Lord +Rippin’dale-ay, theere’s a sour heart in a goodly body!” + +John Enderby reined up his horse and looked the stilt-walker in the +face. + +“Are you little Tom Dowsby?” exclaimed he. “Are you that scamp?” He +laughed all at once as though he had not a trouble in the world. “And do +you keep up your evil practices? Do you still waylay bishops?” + +“If aw confessed to Heaven or man, aw would confess to thee, Sir John +Enderby; but aw’ll confess nowt.” + +“And how know you that I am Sir John Enderby?” + +“Even in Sleaford town aw kem to know it. Aw stood no further from +his Majesty and Lord Rippin’dale than aw stand from you, when the pair +talked by the Great Boar inn. Where doos tha sleep to-night?” + +“At Spilsby.” + +“To-night the King sleeps at Sutterby on the Wolds. ‘Tis well for thee +tha doost not bide wi’ his Majesty. Theer, aw’ve done thee a service.” + +“What service have you done me?” + +“Aw’ve told thee that tha moost sleep by Spilsby when the King sleeps at +Sutterby. Fare-thee-well, maister.” + +Doffing his cap once more, the stilt-walker suddenly stopped, and, +turning aside, made his way with an almost incredible swiftness across +the fen, taking the ditches with huge grotesque strides. Enderby looked +back and watched him for a moment curiously. Suddenly the man’s words +began to repeat themselves in Enderby’s head: “To-night the King sleeps +at Sutterby on the Wolds. ‘Tis well for thee tha doost not bide wi’ his +Majesty.” Presently a dozen vague ideas began to take form. The man had +come to warn him not to join the King at Sutterby. + +There was some plot against Charles! These stiltwalkers were tools in +the hands of the King’s foes, who were growing more powerful every day. +He would sleep to-night, not at Spilsby, but at Sutterby. He was a loyal +subject; no harm that he could prevent should come to the King. + +Before you come to Sutterby on the Wolds, as you travel north to the +fenland, there is a combe through which the highway passes, and a stream +which has on one side many rocks and boulders, and on the other a sort +of hedge of trees and shrubs. It was here that the enemies of the King, +that is, some stilt-walkers, with two dishonourable gentlemen who had +suffered from the King’s oppressions, placed themselves to way lay his +Majesty. Lord Rippingdale had published it abroad that the King’s route +was towards Horncastle, but at Stickney by the fens the royal party +separated, most of the company passing on to Horncastle, while Charles, +Lord Rippingdale and two other cavaliers proceeded on a secret visit to +a gentleman at Louth. + +It was dark when the King and his company came to the combe. Lord +Rippingdale suggested to his Majesty that one of the gentlemen should +ride ahead to guard against surprise or ambush, but the King laughed, +and said that his shire of Lincoln bred no brigands, and he rode on. He +was in the coach with a gentleman beside him, and Lord Rippingdale rode +upon the right. Almost as the hoofs of the leaders plunged into the +stream there came the whinny of a horse from among the boulders. +Alarmed, the coachman whipped up his team and Lord Rippingdale clapped +his hand upon his sword. + +Even as he did it two men sprang out from among the rocks, seized the +horses’ heads, and a dozen others swarmed round, all masked and armed, +and calling upon the King’s party to surrender, and to deliver up their +valuables. One ruffian made to seize the bridle of Lord Rippingdale’s +horse, but my lord’s sword severed the fellow’s hand at the wrist. + +“Villain,” he shouted, “do you know whom you attack?” + +For answer, shots rang out; and as the King’s gentlemen gathered close +to the coach to defend him, the King himself opened the door and stepped +out. As he did so a stilt struck him on the head. Its owner had aimed it +at Lord Rippingdale; but as my lord’s horse plunged, it missed him, and +struck the King fair upon the crown of the head. He swayed, groaned and +fell back into the open door of the coach. Lord Rippingdale was at once +beside him, sword drawn, and fighting gallantly. + +“Scoundrels,” he cried, “will you kill your King?” + +“We will have the money which the King carries,” cried one of his +assailants. “The price of three knighthoods and the taxes of two shires +we will have.” + +One of the King’s gentlemen had fallen, and another was wounded. Lord +Rippingdale was hard pressed, but in what seemed the last extremity of +the King and his party there came a shout from the other side of the +stream: + +“God save the King! For the King! For the King!” + +A dozen horsemen splashed their way across the stream, and with swords +and pistols drove through the King’s assailants and surrounded his +coach. The ruffians made an attempt to rally and resist the onset, +but presently broke and ran, pursued by a half-dozen of his Majesty’s +defenders. Five of the assailants were killed and several were wounded. + +As Lord Rippingdale turned to Charles to raise him, the coach-door +was opened upon the other side, a light was thrust in, and over the +unconscious body of the King my lord recognised John Enderby. + +“His Majesty”--began John Enderby. + +“His Majesty is better,” replied Lord Rippingdale, as the King’s +eyes half opened. “You lead these gentlemen? This should bring you a +barony,--Sir John,” my lord added, half graciously, half satirically; +for the honest truth of this man’s nature vexed him. “The King will +thank you.” + +“John Enderby wants no reward for being a loyal subject, my lord,” + answered Enderby. + +Then with another glance at the King, in which he knew that his Majesty +was recovered, he took off his hat, bowed, and, mounting his horse, rode +away without a word. + +At Sutterby the gentlemen received gracious thanks of the King who had +been here delivered from the first act of violence made against him in +his reign. + +Of the part which Enderby had played Lord Rippingdale said no more to +the King than this: + +“Sir John Enderby was of these gentlemen who saved your Majesty’s life. +Might it not seem to your Majesty that--” + +“Was he of them?” interrupted the King kindly; then, all at once, out of +his hurt vanity and narrow self-will, he added petulantly: “When he hath +paid for the accolade of his knighthood, then will we welcome him to us, +and make him Baron of Enderby.” + +Next day when Enderby entered the great iron gates of the grounds of +Enderby House the bell was ringing for noon. The house was long and low, +with a fine tower in the centre, and two wings ran back, forming the +court-yard, which would have been entirely inclosed had the stables +moved up to complete the square. + +When Enderby came out into the broad sweep of grass and lawn, flanked +on either side by commendable trees, the sun shining brightly, the rooks +flying overhead, and the smell of ripe summer in the air, he drew up his +horse and sat looking before him. + +“To lose it! To lose it!” he said, and a frown gathered upon his +forehead. + +Even as he looked, the figure of a girl appeared in the great doorway. +Catching sight of the horseman, she clapped her hands and waved them +delightedly. + +Enderby’s face cleared, as the sun breaks through a mass of clouds and +lightens all the landscape. The slumberous eyes glowed, the square head +came up. In five minutes he had dismounted at the great stone steps and +was clasping his daughter in his arms. + +“Felicity, my dear daughter!” he said, tenderly and gravely. + +She threw back her head with a gaiety which bespoke the bubbling +laughter in her heart, and said: + +“Booh! to thy solemn voice. Oh, thou great bear, dost thou love me with +tears in thine eyes?” + +She took his hand and drew him inside the house, where, laying aside his +hat and gloves and sword, they passed into the great library. + +“Come, now, tell me all the places thou hast visited,” she said, +perching herself on his arm-chair. + +He told her, and she counted them off one by one upon her fingers. + +“That is ninety miles of travel thou hast had. What is the most pleasing +thing thou hast seen?” + +“It was in Stickford by the fen,” he answered, after a perplexed pause. +“There was an old man upon the roadside with his head bowed in his +hands. Some lads were making sport of him, for he seemed so woe-begone +and old. Two cavaliers of the King came by. One of them stopped and +drove the lads away, then going to the old man, he said: ‘Friend, what +is thy trouble?’ The old man raised his melancholy face and answered: +‘Aw’m afeared, sir.’ ‘What fear you?’ inquired the young gentleman. ‘I +fear ma wife, sir,’ replied the old man. At that the other cavalier sat +back in his saddle and guffawed merrily. ‘Well, Dick,’ said he to his +friend, ‘that is the worst fear in this world. Ah, Dick, thou hast ne’er +been married!’ ‘Why do you fear your wife?’ asked Dick. ‘Aw’ve been +robbed of ma horse and saddle and twelve skeins o’ wool. Aw’m lost, +aw’m ruined and shall raise ma head nevermore. To ma wife aw shall ne’er +return.’ ‘Tut tut, man,’ said Dick, ‘get back to your wife. You are +master of your own house; you rule the roost. What is a wife? A wife’s +a woman. You are a man. You are bigger and stronger, your bones are +harder. Get home and wear a furious face and batter in the door and say: +“What, ho, thou huzzy!” Why, man, fear you the wife of your bosom?’ The +old man raised his head and said: ‘Tha doost not know ma wife or tha +wouldst not speak like that.’ At that Dick laughed and said: ‘Fellow, I +do pity thee;’ and taking the old man by the shoulders, he lifted him +on his own horse and took him to the village fair. There he bought him +twelve skeins of wool and sent him on his way rejoicing, with a horse +worth five times his own.” + +With her chin in her hands the girl had listened intently to the story. +When it was finished she said: “What didst thou say was the gentleman’s +name?” + +“His friend called him Dick. He is a poor knight, one Sir Richard +Mowbray, of Leicester, called at Court and elsewhere Happy Dick Mowbray, +for they do say a happier and braver heart never wore the King’s +uniform.” + +“Indeed I should like to know that Sir Richard Mowbray. And, tell me +now, who is the greatest person thou hast seen in thy absence?” + +“I saw the King--at Boston town.” + +“The King! The King!” Her eyes lightened, her hands clapped merrily. +“What did he say to thee? Now, now, there is that dark light in thine +eyes again. I will not have it so!” With her thumbs she daintily drew +down the eyelids and opened them again. “There, that’s better. Now what +did the King say to thee?” + +“He said to me that I should be Sir John Enderby, of Enderby.” + +“A knight! A knight! He made thee a knight?” she asked gaily. She +slipped from his knee and courtesied before him, then seeing the +heaviness of his look, she added: “Booh, Sir John Enderby, why dost thou +look so grave? Is knighthood so big a burden thou dost groan under it?” + +“Come here, my lass,” he said gently. “Thou art young, but day by day +thy wisdom grows, and I can trust thee. It is better thou shouldst know +from my own lips the peril this knighthood brings, than that trouble +should suddenly fall and thou be unprepared.” + +Drawing her closely to him he told her the story of his meeting with the +King; of Lord Rippingdale; of the King’s threat to levy upon his estates +and to issue a writ of outlawry against him. + +For a moment the girl trembled, and Enderby felt her hands grow cold +in his own, for she had a quick and sensitive nature and passionate +intelligence and imagination. + +“Father,” she cried pantingly, indignantly, “the King would make thee an +outlaw, would seize upon thy estates, because thou wouldst not pay the +price of a paltry knighthood!” Suddenly her face flushed, the blood came +back with a rush, and she stood upon her feet. “I would follow thee to +the world’s end rather than that thou shouldst pay one penny for that +honour. The King offered thee knighthood? Why, two hundred years before +the King was born, an Enderby was promised an earldom. Why shouldst thou +take a knighthood now? Thou didst right, thou didst right.” Her fingers +clasped in eager emphasis. + +“Dost thou not see, my child,” said he, “that any hour the King’s troops +may surround our house and take me prisoner and separate thee from me? +I see but one thing to do; even to take thee at once from here and place +thee with thy aunt, Mistress Falkingham, in Shrewsbury.” + +“Father,” the girl said, “thou shalt not put me away from thee. Let +the King’s men surround Enderby House and the soldiers and my Lord +Rippingdale levy upon the estates of Enderby. Neither his Majesty nor +my Lord Rippingdale dare put a finger upon me--I would tear their eyes +out.” + +Enderby smiled half sadly at her, and answered “The fear of a woman is +one of the worst fears in this world. Booh!” + +So ludicrously did he imitate her own manner of a few moments before +that humour drove away the flush of anger from her face, and she sat +upon his chair-arm and said: + +“But we will not part; we will stand here till the King and Lord +Rippingdale do their worst--is it not so, father?” + +He patted her head caressingly. + +“Thou sayest right, my lass; we will remain at Enderby. Where is thy +brother Garrett?” + +“He has ridden over to Mablethorpe, but will return within the hour,” + she replied. + +At that moment there was a sound of hoofs in the court-yard. Running +to a rear window of the library Mistress Felicity clapped her hands and +said: + +“It is he--Garrett.” + +Ten minutes afterwards the young man entered. He was about two years +older than his sister; that is, seventeen. He was very tall for his age, +with dark hair and a pale dry face, and of distinguished bearing. Unlike +his father, he was slim and gracefully built, with no breadth or power +to his shoulders, but with an athletic suppleness and a refinement +almost womanlike. He was tenacious, overbearing, self-willed, somewhat +silent and also somewhat bad-tempered. + +There was excitement in his eye as he entered. He came straight to his +father, giving only a nod to Mistress Felicity, who twisted her head in +a demure little way, as though in mockery of his important manner. + +“Booh!--my lord duke!” she said almost under her breath. + +“Well, my son,” said Enderby, giving him his hand, “your face has none +so cheerful a look. Hast thou no welcome for thy father?” + +“I am glad you are home again, sir,” said young Enderby, more dutifully +than cordially. + +There was silence for a moment. + +“You do not ask my news,” said his father, eyeing him debatingly. + +“I have your news, sir,” was the young man’s half sullen reply. + +His sister came near her father, where she could look her brother +straight in the face, and her deep blue eyes fixed upon him intently. +The smile almost faded from her lips, and her square chin seemed +suddenly to take on an air of seriousness and strength. + +“Well, sir?” asked his father. + +“That you, sir, have refused a knighthood of the King; that he insists +upon your keeping it; that he is about to levy upon your estates: and +that you are outlawed from England.” + +“And what think you about the matter?” asked his father. + +“I think it is a gentleman’s duty to take the King’s gifts without +question,” answered the young man. + +“Whether the King be just or not, eh? Where would England have been, my +son, if the barons had submitted to King John? Where would the Enderbys +have been had they not withstood the purposes of Queen Mary? Come, +come, the King has a chance to prove himself as John Enderby has proven +himself. Midst other news, heard you not that last night I led a dozen +gentlemen to the rescue of the King?” + +“‘Twas said in the village that his Majesty would remove his interdict +and make you a baron, sir, if you met his levy for the knighthood.” + +“That I shall never do. Answer me, my son, do you stand with the King or +with your father in this?” + +“I am an Enderby,” answered the youth, moodily, “and I stand with the +head of our house.” + +That night as candles were being lighted, three score of the King’s men, +headed by Lord Rippingdale, placed themselves before the house, and an +officer was sent forward to summon forth John Enderby. + +Enderby had gathered his men together, and they were posted for defence +at the doorways and entrances, and along the battlements. The windows +were all heavily shuttered and barred. + +The young officer commissioned to demand an interview with Enderby came +forward and knocked at the great entrance door. It opened presently and +showed within the hallway a dozen men well armed. Enderby came forward +to meet him. + +“I am Sir Richard Mowbray,” said the newcomer. “I am sent by Lord +Rippingdale, who arrives on a mission from his Majesty.” + +Enderby, recognising his visitor, was mild in his reply. + +“Sir Richard Mowbray, I pray you tell Lord Rippingdale that he is +welcome--as commissioner of the King.” + +Mowbray smiled and bowed. + +“My lord begs me to ask that you will come forth and speak with him, Sir +John?” + +“My compliments to Lord Rippingdale, Sir Richard, and say that I can +better entertain his Majesty’s commissioner within my own house.” + +“And all who wait with him?” asked the young officer, with a dry sort of +smile. + +“My lord, and his officers and gentlemen, but not his troopers.” + +Mowbray bowed, and as he lifted his head again he saw the face of +Mistress Felicity looking through the doorway of the library. Their eyes +met. On a sudden a new impulse came to his thoughts. + +“Sir John Enderby,” said he, “I know how honourable a man you are, and I +think I know the way you feel. But, as one gentleman to another, permit +me a word of counsel. ‘Twere better to humour my Lord Rippingdale, and +to yield up to the King’s demands, than to lose all. Lack of money +and estate--that is hard enough on a single man like me, but with a +gentleman who has the care of a daughter, perhaps”--his look again met +the young lady’s face--“the case is harder. A little yielding on your +part--” + +“I will not yield,” was Enderby’s reply. + +Mowbray bowed once more, and retired without more speaking. + +In a few moments he returned, Lord Rippingdale with him. The entrance +doors were once more opened, and my lord, in a temper, at once began: + +“You press your courtesies too far, Sir John Enderby.” + +“Less strenuously than the gentlemen of the road pressed their +discourtesies upon his Majesty and yourself last night, my lord.” + +“I am come upon that business. For your bravery and loyalty, if you +will accept the knighthood, and pay the sum set as the courtesy of the +accolade, his Majesty will welcome you at Court, and raise you to a +barony. But his Majesty must see that his dignity be not injured.” + +“The King may have my life and all my goods as a gift, but I will not +give either by these indirect means. It does not lie in a poor squire +like me to offend the King’s dignity.” + +“You are resolved?” + +“I am resolved,” answered Enderby, stubbornly. “Then you must bear +the consequences, and yield up your estates and person into my hands. +Yourself and your family are under arrest, to be dealt with hereafter as +his Majesty sees fit.” + +“I will not yield up my estates, nor my person, nor my son and daughter, +of my free will.” + +With an incredulous smile, Rippingdale was about to leave and enter upon +a siege of the house, when he saw young Enderby and caught a strange +look in his face. + +“Young gentleman,” said he, “are you a cipher in this game? A barony +hangs on this. Are you as stubborn and unruly as the head of your +house?” + +Garrett Enderby made no reply, but turned and walked into the library, +his father’s and sister’s eyes following him in doubt and dismay, for +the chance was his at that moment to prove himself. + +A moment afterwards Lord Rippingdale was placing his men to attack the +house, disposing of some to secure a timber to batter in the door, and +of some to make assaults upon the rear of the building. Enderby had +placed his men advantageously to resist attack, giving the defence of +the rear of the house to his son. Mistress Felicity he had sent to an +upper room in the care of her aunt. + +Presently the King’s men began the action, firing wherever a figure +showed itself, and carrying a log to batter in the entrance door. +Enderby’s men did good work, bringing down four of the besiegers at the +first volley. + +Those who carried the log hesitated for a moment, and Enderby called +encouragingly to his men. + +At this exciting moment, while calling to his men, he saw what struck +him dumb--his son hurrying forward with a flag of truce to Lord +Rippingdale! Instantly my lord commanded his men to retire. + +“Great God!” said Sir John, with a groan, “my son--my only son--a +traitor!” Turning to his men he bade them cease firing. + +Throwing open the entrance doors, he stood upon the steps and waited for +Lord Rippingdale. + +“You see, Sir John Enderby, your son--” began my lord. + +“It was to maintain my rights, and for my son’s sake and my daughter’s, +that I resisted the command of the King,” interrupted the distressed and +dishonoured gentleman, “but now--” + +“But now you yield?” + +He inclined his head, then looking down to the place where his son +stood, he said: + +“My son--my only son!” And his eyes filled with tears. + +His distress was so moving that even Rippingdale was constrained to say: + +“He did it for your sake. His Majesty will--” With a gesture of despair +Enderby turned and entered the house, and passed into the library, where +he found his daughter. Pale and tearful she threw herself into his arms. + +At eleven o’clock that night as they sat in the same room, while Lord +Rippingdale and his officers supped in the dining-room, Sir Richard +Mowbray hurriedly entered. + +“Come quickly,” said he; “the way is clear--here by this window. +The sentinels are drunk. You will find horses by the gate of the +grape-garden, and two of your serving-men mounted. They will take you to +a hiding-place on the coast--I have instructed them.” + +As he talked he helped them through the window, and bade them good-bye +hurriedly; but he did not let Mistress Felicity’s hand drop till he had +kissed it and wished her a whispered God-speed. + +When they had gone he listened for a time, but hearing no sound of +surprise or discovery, he returned to the supper room, where Garrett +Enderby sat drinking with Lord Rippingdale and the cavaliers. + + + + +II + +Seven years went by before John Enderby saw his son again or set foot in +Enderby House. Escaping to Holland on a night when everything was taken +from him save his honour and his daughter, he had lived there with +Mistress Felicity, taking service in the army of the country. + +Outlaw as he was, his estates given over to his son who now carried a +knighthood bestowed by King Charles, he was still a loyal subject to +the dynasty which had dishonoured him. When the King was beheaded at +Whitehall he mourned and lamented the miserable crime with the best of +his countrymen. + +It was about this time that he journeyed into France, and there he +stayed with his daughter two years. Mistress Falkingham, her aunt, was +with her, and watched over her as carefully as when she was a child in +Enderby House. + +About this time, Cromwell, urged by solicitous friends of the outlaw, +sent word to him to return to England, that he might employ him +in foreign service, if he did not care to serve in England itself. +Cromwell’s message was full of comforting reflections upon his +sufferings and upon the injustice that had been done to him by the late +King. For his daughter’s sake, who had never been entirely happy out of +England, Enderby returned, and was received with marked consideration by +Cromwell at Whitehall. + +“Your son, sir,” said Cromwell, “hath been a follower of the man of sin. +He was of those notorious people who cried out against the work of God’s +servants when Charles paid the penalty of his treason at Whitehall. Of +late I have received news that he is of those children of Belial who are +intriguing to bring back the second Charles. Two days ago he was bidden +to leave Enderby House. If he be found among those who join the Scotch +army to fight for the Pretender, he shall bear the penalty of his +offence.” + +“He has been ill advised, your Highness,” said Enderby. + +“He shall be advised better,” was the stern reply. “We will have peace +in England, and we will, by the help of the Lord’s strong arm, rid this +realm of these recalcitrant spirits. For you, sir, you shall return to +your estate at Enderby, and we will use you abroad as opportunity shall +occur. Your son has taken to himself the title which the man of sin +conferred upon you, to your undoing.” + +“Your Highness,” replied Enderby, “I have but one desire, and that is +peace. I have been outlawed from England so long, and my miseries have +been so great, that I accept gladly what the justice of your Highness +gives thus freely. But I must tell your Highness that I was no enemy of +King Charles, and am no foe to his memory. The wrong was done by him to +me, and not returned by me to him, and the issue is between our Maker +and ourselves. But it is the pride of all Englishmen that England be +well governed, and strong and important in the eyes of the nations; and +all these things has your Highness achieved. I will serve my country +honourably abroad, or rest peacefully here on my own estate, lifting +no hand against your Highness, though I hold to the succession in the +monarchy.” + +Cromwell looked at him steadily and frowningly for a minute, then +presently, his face clearing, he said: “Your words, detached from your +character, sir, would be traitorous; but as we stand, two gentlemen of +England face to face, they seem to me like the words of an honest man, +and I love honesty before all other, things. Get to your home, sir. +You must not budge from it until I send for you. Then, as proof of your +fidelity to the ruler of your country, you shall go on whatever mission +I send you.” + +“Your Highness, I will do what seems my duty in the hour of your +summons.” + +“You shall do the will of the Lord,” answered the Protector, and, bowing +a farewell, turned upon his heel. Enderby looked after him a moment, +then moved towards the door, and as he went out to mount his horse he +muttered to himself: + +“The will of the Lord as ordained by Oliver Cromwell--humph!” + +Then he rode away up through Trafalgar Square and into the Tottenham +Court Road, and so on out into the Shires until he came to Enderby +House. + +Outside all was as he had left it seven years before, though the hedges +were not so well kept and the grass was longer before the house. An air +of loneliness pervaded all the place. No one met him at the door. He +rode round into the court-yard and called. A man-servant came out. From +him he learned that four of Cromwell’s soldiers were quartered in the +house, that all the old servants, save two, were gone, and that his son +had been expelled the place by Cromwell’s order two days before. Inside +the house there was less change. Boon companion of the boisterous +cavaliers as his son had been, the young man’s gay hours had been spent +more away from Enderby House than in it. + +When young Enderby was driven from his father’s house by Cromwell, he +determined to join the Scotch army which was expected soon to welcome +Charles the Second from France. There he would be in contact with Lord +Rippingdale and his Majesty. When Cromwell was driven from his place, +great honours might await him. Hearing in London, however, that his +father had returned, and was gone on to the estate, he turned his horse +about and rode back again, travelling by night chiefly, and reached +Enderby House four days after his father’s arrival there. + +He found his father seated alone at the dinner-table. Swinging wide open +the door of the dining-room he strode in aggressively. + +The old man stood up in his place at the table and his eyes brightened +expectantly when he saw his son, for his brain was quickened by the +thought that perhaps, after all his wrong-doing, the boy had come back +to stand by him, a repentant prodigal. He was a man of warm and firm +spirit, and now his breast heaved with his emotions. This boy had been +the apple of his eye. Since the day of his birth he had looked for great +things from him, and had seen in him the refined perpetuation of the +sturdy race of the Enderbys. He counted himself but a rough sort of +country gentleman, and the courtly face of his son had suggested the +country gentleman cast in a finer mould. He was about to speak kindly as +of old, but the young man, with clattering spurs, came up to the other +end of the table, and with a dry insolence said: + +“By whose invitation do you come here?” + +The blood fled from the old man’s heart. For a moment he felt sick, and +his face turned white. He dropped his head a little and looked at his +son steadily and mournfully. + +“Shall a man need an invitation to his own house, my son?” he said at +last. + +The arrogant lips of the young man tightened; he tossed up his head. +“The house is mine. I am the master here. You are an outlaw.” + +“An outlaw no longer,” answered the old man, “for the Protector has +granted me again the home of which I was cruelly dispossessed.” + +“The Protector is a rebel!” returned the young man, and his knuckles +rapped petulantly upon the table. “I stand for the King--for King +Charles the Second. When you were dispossessed, his late martyred +Majesty made me master of this estate and a knight also.” + +The old man’s hands clinched, in the effort to rule himself to +quietness. + +“You are welcome to the knighthood which I have never accepted,” said +he; “but for these estates--” All at once a fierce anger possessed him, +and the great shoulders heaved up and down with emotion--“but for these +estates, sir, no law nor king can take them from me. I am John Enderby, +the first son of a first son, the owner of these lands since the time my +mother gave me birth. You, sir, are the first of our name that ever was +a traitor to his house.” + +So intent were the two that they did not see or hear three men who +drew aside the curtains at the end of the room and stood spying upon +them--three of Cromwell’s men. Young Enderby laughed sneeringly and +answered: + +“It was a King of England that gave Enderby Manor to the Enderbys. The +King is the source of all estate and honour, and I am loyal to the King. +He is a traitor who spurns the King’s honour and defies it. He is a +traitor who links his fortunes with that vile, murderous upstart, that +blethering hypocrite, Oliver Cromwell. I go to Scotland to join King +Charles, and before three months are over his Majesty will have come +into his own again and I also into my own here at Enderby.” + +The old man trembled with the fierceness of his emotions. + +“I only am master here,” he said, “and I should have died upon this +threshold ere my Lord Rippingdale and the King’s men had ever crossed +it, but for you, an Enderby, who deserted me in the conflict--a coward +who went over to the enemies of our house.” + +The young man’s face twitched with a malignant anger. He suddenly +started forward, and with a sidelong blow struck his father with the +flat of his sword. A red ridge of bruised flesh instantly rose upon +the old man’s cheek and ear. He caught the arm of the chair by which he +stood, staggering back as though he had received a mortal wound. + +“No, no, no!” he said, his voice gulping with misery and horror.--“No, +no! Kill me, if you will--I but cannot fight you. Oh, my God, my God!” + he gasped scarcely above a whisper. “Unnatural-unnatural!” He said no +more, for, upon the instant, four men entered the room. They were of +Cromwell’s Ironsides. Young Enderby looked round swiftly, ready to +fight, but he saw at once that he was trapped. The old man also laid his +hand upon his sword, but he saw that the case was hopeless. He dropped +into his chair and leaned his head upon his hands. + + ...................... + +Two months went by. The battle of Dunbar was fought, and Charles had +lost it. Among the prisoners was Garrett Enderby, who had escaped from +his captors on the way from Enderby House to London, and had joined +the Scottish army. He was now upon trial for his life. Cromwell’s anger +against him was violent. The other prisoners of war were treated as +such, and were merely confined to prison, but young Enderby was charged +with blasphemy and sedition, and with assaulting one of Cromwell’s +officers--for on the very day that young Enderby made the assault, +Cromwell’s foreign commission for John Enderby was on its way to +Lincolnshire. + +Of the four men who had captured Garrett Enderby at Enderby House, three +had been killed in battle, and the other had deserted. The father was +thus the chief witness against his son. He was recalled from Portugal +where he had been engaged upon Cromwell’s business. + +The young man’s judges leaned forward expectantly as John Enderby took +his place. The Protector himself sat among them. + +“What is your name, sir?” asked Cromwell. “John Enderby, your Highness.” + +“It hath been said that you hold a title given you by the man of sin.” + +“I have never taken a title from any man, your Highness.” + +A look of satisfaction crossed the gloomy and puritanical faces of the +officers of the court-martial. Other questions were put, and then came +the vital points. To the first of these, as to whether young Enderby had +uttered malignant and seditious libels against the Protector, the old +man would answer nothing. + +“What speech hath ever been between my son and myself,” he said, “is +between my son and myself only.” A start of anger travelled round the +circle of the court-martial. Young Enderby watched his father curiously +and sullenly. + +“Duty to country comes before all private feeling,” said Cromwell. “I +command you, sir, on peril of a charge of treason against yourself, to +answer the question of the Court. ‘If thy right hand offend thee, cut +it off; if thy foot cause thee to stumble, heave it to the shambles. +The pernicious branch of the just tree shall be cloven and cast into +the brush-heap.’ You are an officer of this commonwealth, sir?” asked +Cromwell, again. + +“By your Highness’s permission,” he replied. + +“Did your son strike you upon the face with the flat of his sword upon +the night recorded in this charge against him?” + +“What acts have passed between my son and myself are between my son and +myself only,” replied Enderby, steadily. He did not look at his son, but +presently the tears rolled down his cheeks, so that more than one of his +judges who had sons of their own were themselves moved. But they took +their cue from the Protector, and made no motion towards the old man’s +advantage. Once more Cromwell essayed to get Enderby’s testimony, but, +“I will not give witness against my son,” was his constant and dogged +reply. At last Cromwell rose in anger. + +“We will have justice in this realm of England,” said he, “though it +turn the father against the son and the son against the father. Though +the house be divided against itself yet the Lord’s work shall be done.” + +Turning his blazing eyes upon John Enderby, he said: “Troublous and +degenerate man, get gone from this country, and no more set foot in it +on peril of your life. We recalled you from outlawry, believing you to +be a true lover of your country, but we find you malignant, seditious +and dangerous.” + +He turned towards the young man. + +“You, sir, shall get you back to prison until other witnesses be found. +Although we know your guilt, we will be formal and just.” + +With an impatient nod to an officer beside him, he waved his hand +towards father and son. + +As he was about to leave the room, John Enderby stretched out a hand to +him appealingly. + +“Your Highness,” said he, “I am an old man.” + +“Will you bear witness in this cause?” asked Cromwell, his frown +softening a little. + +“Your Highness, I have suffered unjustly; the lad is bone of my bone and +flesh of my flesh. I cannot--” + +With an angry wave of the hand Cromwell walked heavily from the room. + +Some touch of shame came to the young man’s cold heart, and he spoke to +his father as the officers were about to lead him away. + +“I have been wrong, I have misunderstood you, sir,” he said, and he +seemed about to hold out his hand. But it was too late. The old man +turned on him, shaking his shaggy head. + +“Never, sir, while I live. The wrong to me is little. I can take my +broken life into a foreign land and die dishonoured and forgotten. But +my other child, my one dear child who has suffered year after year with +me--for the wrong you have done her, I never, never, never will forgive +you. Not for love of you have I spoken as I did to-day, but for the +honour of the Enderbys and because you were the child of your mother.” + +Two days later at Southampton the old man boarded a little packet-boat +bound for Havre. + + + + +III + +The years went by again. At last all was changed in England. The +monarchy was restored, and the land was smiling and content. One day +there was a private reading in the Queen’s chamber of the palace. The +voice of the reader moved in pleasant yet vibrant modulations: + + “The King was now come to a time when his enemies wickedly began to + plot against him secretly and to oppose him in his purposes; which, + in his own mind, were beneficent and magnanimous. From the shire + where his labours had been most unselfish came the first malignant + insult to his person and the first peril to his life, prefiguring + the hellish plots and violence which drove him to his august + martyrdom--” + +The King had entered quietly as the lady-in-waiting read this passage to +the Queen, and, attracted by her voice, continued to listen, signifying +to the Queen, by a gesture, that she and her ladies were not to rise. +This was in the time when Charles was yet devoted to his Princess of +Portugal, and while she was yet happy and undisturbed by rumours--or +assurances--of her Lord’s wandering affections. + +“And what shire was that?” asked the King at that point where the +chronicler spoke of his royal father’s “august martyrdom.” + +“The shire of Lincoln, your Majesty,” said the young lady who read, +flushing. Then she rose from her footstool at the Queen’s feet, and made +the King an elaborate courtesy. + +Charles waved a gentle and playful gesture of dissent from her extreme +formality, and, with a look of admiration, continued: + +“My Lord Rippingdale should know somewhat of that ‘first violence’ of +which you have read, Mistress Falkingham. He is of Lincolnshire.” + +“He knows all, your Majesty; he was present at that ‘first violence.’” + +“It would be amusing for Rippingdale to hear these records--my Lord +Clarendon’s, are they not? Ah--not in the formal copy of his work? +And by order of my Lord Rippingdale? Indeed! And wherefore, my Lord +Rippingdale?” + +“Shall I read on, your Majesty?” asked the young lady, with heightened +colour, and a look of adventure and purpose in her eyes. Perhaps, too, +there was a look of anger in them--not against the King, for there was +a sort of eagerness or appealing in the glance she cast towards his +Majesty. + +The Queen lifted her eyes to the King half doubtfully, for the question +seemed to her perilous, Charles being little inclined, as a rule, to +listen to serious reading, though he was ever gay in conversation, +and alert for witty badinage. His Majesty, however, seemed more than +complaisant; he was even boyishly eager. + +The young lady had been but a short time in the household, having come +over with the Queen from Portugal, where she had been brought to +the notice of the then Princess by her great coolness and bravery in +rescuing a young lady of Lisbon from grave peril. She had told the +Princess then that she was the daughter of an exiled English gentleman, +and was in the care of her aunt, one Mistress Falkingham, while her +father was gone on an expedition to Italy. The Princess, eager to +learn English, engaged her, and she had remained in the palace till the +Princess left for England. A year passed, and then the Queen of England +sent for her, and she had been brought close to the person of her +Majesty. + +At a motion from Charles, who sat upon a couch, idly tapping the buckles +on his shoes with a gold-handled staff, the young lady placed herself +again at the Queen’s feet and continued reading: + + “It was when the King was come to Boston town upon the business of + the Fens and to confer sundry honours and inquire into the taxes, + and for further purpose of visiting a good subject at Louth, who + knew of the secret plans of Pym and Hampden, that this shameful + violence befel our pious and illustrious prince. With him was my + Lord Rippingdale and--” + +“Ah, ah, my Lord Rippingdale!” said Charles, half aloud, “so this is +where my lord and secret history meet--my dear, dumb lord.” + +Continuing, the young lady read a fair and just account of the +King’s meeting with John Enderby, of Enderby’s refusal to accept the +knighthood, and of his rescue of the King at Sutterby. + +“Enderby? Enderby?” interjected the King, “that was not one Sir Garrett +Enderby who was with the Scottish army at Dunbar?” + +“No, your Majesty,” said the young lady, scarcely looking up from the +page she held, “Sir Garrett Enderby died in Portugal, where he fled, +having escaped from prison and Cromwell’s vengeance.” + +“What Enderby did this fine thing then? My faith, my martyred father had +staunch men--even in Lincolnshire.” + +“The father of Sir Garrett Enderby it was, your Majesty.” + +“How came the son by the knighthood? ‘S’death, it seems to me I have a +memory of this thing somewhere, if I could but find it!” + +“His gracious Majesty of sacred memory gave him his knighthood.” + +“Let me hear the whole story. Is it all there, Mistress Falkingham?” + said the King, nodding towards the pages she held. + +“It is not all here, your Majesty; but I can tell what so many in +England know, and something of what no one in England knows.” + +The Queen put out her hand as if to stay the telling, for she saw what +an impression her fair reader had made upon the King. But the young lady +saw no one save Charles--she did not note the entrance of two gentle +men, one of whom looked at her in surprise. This was Sir Richard Mowbray +of Leicester. The other was Lord Rippingdale (now lord chamberlain), who +had brought Sir Richard thither at the request of the King. Sir Richard +had been momentarily expected on his return from a mission to Spain, and +my Lord had orders to bring him to the King on the very instant of his +arrival. + +The King waved his hand when Lord Rippingdale would have come forward, +and the young lady continued with the history of John Enderby. She +forgot her surroundings. It seemed as though she were giving vent to +the suppressed feelings, imaginations, sufferings and wrongs of years. +Respectfully, but sadly, when speaking of the dead King; eloquently, +tenderly, when speaking of her father; bitterly, when speaking of Oliver +Cromwell, she told the story with a point, a force and a passionate +intelligence, which brought to the face of Charles a look of serious +admiration. He straightened himself where he sat, and did not let his +eyes wander from the young lady’s face. As she spoke of Sir Garrett +Enderby and his acts--his desertion when Lord Rippingdale laid siege +to the house, his quarrel with his father, the trial of the son, the +father’s refusal to testify against him, and the second outlawing +by Cromwell--her voice faltered, but she told the tale bravely and +determinedly; for she now saw Lord Rippingdale in the chamber. Whenever +she had mentioned his name in the narrative, it was with a slight +inflection of scorn, which caused the King to smile; and when she spoke +of the ruin of Enderby House, her brother’s death and her father’s years +of exile, tears came into the Queen’s eyes, and the King nodded his head +in sympathy. + +Sir Richard Mowbray, with face aflame, watched her closely. As she +finished her story he drew aside to where she could not see him without +turning round. But Lord Rippingdale she saw with ease, and she met his +eyes firmly, and one should say, with some malicious triumph, were she +not a woman. + +“My lord Rippingdale,” said the King, slowly and bitingly, “what shall +be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour?” + +“Were I Mordecai I could better answer that question, Sir,” was my +Lord’s reply. + +“Perhaps my Lord Rippingdale could answer for Haman, then,” returned his +Majesty. + +“My imagination is good, but not fifty cubits high, Sir.” + +The answer pleased the King. For he ever turned life into jest--his +sorrows and his joys. He rose motioning towards the door, and Lord +Rippingdale passed out just behind him, followed by Sir Richard Mowbray, +who stole a glance at the young chronicler as he went. She saw him, then +recognised him, and flushed scarlet. + +She did not dare, however, to let him come to her. He understood, and he +went his way after the King and Lord Rippingdale. + +In all the years that had passed since the night he had helped her +father and herself to escape from Enderby House; since he aided them +to leave their hiding-place on the coast and escape to Holland, she had +never forgotten his last words to her, the laughing look of his eyes, +the pressure of his hand. Many a time since she had in her own mind +thought of him as she had heard her father call him, even as “Happy Dick +Mowbray!” and the remembrance of his joyous face had been a help to her +in all her sufferings. His brown hair was now streaked with grey, but +the light in the face was the same; there was the same alertness and +buoyant health in the figure and the same row of laughing white teeth. + +As she stood watching the departing figure, she scarcely knew that the +Queen was preparing to go to her bed-chamber. She became aware of it +definitely by the voice of her Majesty, now somewhat petulant. + +Two hours later she was walking alone in one of the galleries when, +hearing a gentle step behind her, she turned and saw the King. She made +an obeisance and was about to move on, when he stopped her, speaking +kindly to her, and thanking her for the great pleasure she had given him +that afternoon. + +“What should be done for this quasi knight of Enderby?” asked the King. + +“He saved the life of the King,” she said; then boldly, confidently, +“your Majesty, for conscience sake he lost all--what can repay him for +his dishonoured years and his ruined home!” + +“What think you, Mistress, should be done with him? Speak freely of the +man whom the King delighteth to honour.” + +She felt the sincerity under the indolent courtesy, and spoke as only a +woman can speak for those she loves. “Your Majesty, he should have the +earldom promised his ancestor by Wolsey, and his estates restored to him +as he left them.” + +The King laughed dryly. + +“He might refuse the large earldom, as he scorned the little +knighthood.” + +“If your Majesty secured him estates suitable to his rank he could have +no reason to refuse. He was solicitous and firm then for his son--but +now!” + +Her reply was as diplomatic and suggestive as it was sincere, and +Charles loved such talents. + +“Upon my soul, dear Mistress Falkingham, I love your cleverness,” said +the King, “and I will go further, I--” He stooped and whispered in her +ear, but she drew back in affright and anxiety. + +“Oh, your Majesty, your Majesty,” she said, “I had not thought--” + +She moved on distractedly, but he put out his hand and stayed her. + +“Ah, a moment, sweetheart,” he urged. + +“I must go to the Queen,” she answered hurriedly. “Oh, your Majesty, +your Majesty,” she repeated, “would you ruin me?” Her eyes filled with +tears. “Until the Queen welcomed me here I have had nothing but sorrow. +I am friendless and alone.” + +“No, no,” said Charles, kindly, “not alone while Charles is King in +England.” + +“I am little more than an orphan here,” she said, “for my father is now +only a common soldier, your Majesty, and--” + +“A common soldier!” repeated Charles a little stiffly; “they told me he +was a gentleman of England doing service in Italy.” + +“My father is in your Majesty’s household guard,” she answered. “He was +John Enderby--alas! none would recognise him now as such.” + +The King stared at her a moment. “You--you--Mistress--you are John +Enderby’s daughter?” + +Her reply was scarce above a whisper. “His only child, Sir.” + +“Upon my soul! Upon my soul!” was all Charles said for a moment, and +then he added: “Why did you not speak before?” + +“My father would not permit me, your Majesty. He is only returned to +England these few months.” + +“He is here to--?” + +“To be near to myself, Sir.” + +The King bowed low over her hand. + +“Mistress Enderby,” said he, frankly, “we are honoured by your presence +in this place. To-morrow morning at eleven your father shall come to us. +You are still but a child in face,” he said; “and yet--eh?” + +“I am twenty-seven years old,” she answered frankly. + +“Quite old enough to be a countess,” he said charmingly, “and young +enough to enjoy the honours thereof.” So saying he bowed again, and with +a gracious smile dismissed her. She went so quickly that she did not see +two gentlemen almost at her elbow as she left the gallery. One of them +was Lord Rippingdale. + +“Ha,” said my lord, with a wicked smile, “a new violet in the King’s +garden!” + +His companion turned on him swiftly. + +“My lord,” said he, “this is the second time to-day you have slandered +this lady.” + +The other lifted his eyebrows. + +“Is it a slander to say that the King finds a lady charming at any hour +o’ the clock?” he rejoined. + +Sir Richard slapped him across the cheek with his glove. + +“I take a pleasant duty from John Enderby’s shoulders, my lord. I will +meet you at your pleasure.” + +The next morning at sunrise Lord Rippingdale declared with his last +breath that he did not know the lady was John Enderby’s daughter, and he +begged Sir Richard to carry to Enderby his regret for all past wrongs. + +Sir Richard came in upon the King at the moment that his Majesty was +receiving John Enderby--a whiteheaded old man, yet hale and strong, and +wearing the uniform of the King’s Guard. The fire of Enderby’s eye was +not quenched. The King advanced towards him, and said: + +“You are welcome to our Court, Squire Enderby. You have been absent too +long. You will honour us by accepting a tardy justice--without a price,” + he added, in a low tone. + +“Your Majesty,” said Enderby, “for me justice comes too late, but for my +child--” + +“An earldom can never come too late--eh?” asked the King, smiling gaily. + +“For me, your Majesty, all comes too late except--” his voice shook a +little--“except the house where I was born.” + +Charles looked at him gravely. + +“Upon my soul, Enderby,” said he, “you are a man to be envied. We will +not rob you of your good revenge on our house or of your independence. +But still we must have our way. Your daughter,”--he turned lightly +towards Felicity,--“if she will not refuse me, and she cannot upon the +ground that you refused my father--she shall be Countess of Enderby in +her own right; with estates in keeping.” + +Womanlike, Mistress Felicity had no logical argument against an honour +so munificently ordained. “And now for your estates--who holds them?” + asked the King. + +“Lord Rippingdale, your Majesty,” answered Enderby. + +“Yes, yes, my lord Haman! We have already sent for him. It is long past +the time.” His brow darkened. + +Sir Richard Mowbray stepped forward and said: “Your Majesty, Lord +Rippingdale is beyond obedience or reparation;” and then he gave the +message of the dead man to John Enderby. + +A month later Mowbray was permitted to return to Court, and with him +came John Enderby and the Countess of Enderby. When Charles was told +how matters had gone between the younger two, he gave vent to a mock +indignation; and in consequence he made Sir Richard Mowbray an earl +also, that, as he said, they might both be at the same nearness to him; +for etiquette was tyrannical, and yet he did not know which of them he +loved better! + +As for the man so long dishonoured, Charles swore that since John +Enderby came not to the King at Court, the King would go to him at +Enderby. And go he did in good temper and in great friendship for many a +year. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of John Enderby, by Gilbert Parker + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN ENDERBY *** + +***** This file should be named 6254-0.txt or 6254-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/6/2/5/6254/ + +Produced by David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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