The Young Castellan: A Tale of the English Civil War

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

  MASTER PAWSON SHOWS HIS COLOURS.

  As the time glided on, no further communication arrived from Sir Granby,and Lady Royland and her son began to realise more and more that theywere shut off in a part of England where the king's friends were few andfar between, while those who remained true felt themselves sooutnumbered by their neighbours that they dared not display theirprinciples.

  Letters had been sent round by Lady Royland to several of the gentryresiding at different places, asking for help if it were needed, and atthe same time offering the castle as a sanctuary and rallying-point.

  One answer which was received will suffice to show the general feelingof the district.

  The letter was brought in while Lady Royland and her son were seated atbreakfast, and the servant-maid stated that it had been left with oldJenkin, at the gate, by a messenger the old man did not know, but whosaid that there was no reply needed.

  A letter was sufficient to throw Roy's mother into a state of agitation,eager as she was for news from her lord, and she eagerly tore it open,read it with a sigh, and passed it on to her son.

  Roy took it as eagerly and began reading it aloud.

  It was very brief, and was written in a peculiar hand that was notfamiliar.

  "Take counsel with yourself as to what you are doing. A great change iscoming over the country, for the king's cause is undoubtedly lost. Manywho respect the old family of Royland, and would help if they dared,feel that it is unwise to fly in the face of the new power, and to go inopposition to the people, who in all directions are declaring againstthe king. All who respect Dame Royland join in advising her to ceasethe show of resistance she is making, and to settle down quietly, readyto accept the fresh position, for resistance must mean destruction.Pause before it is too late.--From an old friend."

  "Well," said Lady Royland, as her son read the letter through twice,"what do you think of that, Roy?"

  "That the man who wrote it must be a coward."

  "It explains why we have not had more offers of help, my boy. I havefelt for days past that there must be something very wrong. We are, itseems, becoming isolated in an enemy's country, and so as to secure oursafety, I am advised to lay down my arms, and turn over my allegiance tothe new government, whatever it may be. That is what the letteradvises."

  "Yes, but who wrote it?" cried Roy.

  "It is evidently written by one person acting for others, and explainswhy my letters to gentlemen who I should have thought would have beenready to help me have remained unanswered."

  "Then we are to have no more help?"

  "None, save that which we have secured from the village, and of coursefrom the tenants on our estate. What do you think, Roy? If I resist,we shall, from our weakness, in all probability be beaten, and the newgovernment will confiscate your father's property here; while, if wesettle down to an ignoble peace--"

  "They'll perhaps seize upon the estate all the same."

  "Then you would resist, my boy?" said Lady Royland, watching her son'sface closely.

  "Resist, mother?" he cried, indignantly; "why, of course. After whatfather said, it is our duty to shut ourselves up here, hoist the king'sflag, and show the cowards who sent that letter that we're going tofight as long as there's a tower left in the old place."

  "Then you would advise me to go against everything that is said in thatletter?"

  "Pah!" cried the boy, with a look of disgust. "I wonder you can ask mesuch a question, mother."

  Roy had risen from the table, and with his face scarlet was walking upand down the room.

  "I asked you because I wanted to see what your real feelings were, myboy," said Lady Royland, going to him to lay her hands on his shoulderand look proudly in his face. "Roy, my boy, if I followed the advice ofthat contemptible time-serving letter, I should feel that I was provingfalse to the brave men who have gathered round us at my call, to myhusband, and my king; lastly, my boy, to you. Give up? You know how Ishuddered at the thought of war; how it was my prayer that you shouldnot follow your father's career; but when duty called, Roy, I cast allmy fears behind, and stood forward ready to do or die. No, Roy! notwhile we have a shot left to fire, a strong hand to raise! Let thosewho will seek for safety in this base submission to the rebel powers: wewill show them that a woman and a boy can be faithful to the end. Thatfor the letter and its cowardly advice," she cried, tearing itdisdainfully to pieces. "We have but one thought here, Roy, and the oldwalls shall echo it as long as the stones will stand--God save theking!"

  Roy leaped upon one of the chairs, drew his sword and waved it round hishead, roaring out, with all his might, "God save the king!" Anddirectly after there was a hurried step at the door, which was thrownopen, and the electric excitement in the lad's breast was discharged asif he had received a touch from a rod.

  For the maid-servant appeared, looked at him in astonishment, and said,"Did you call, Master Roy?"

  The boy got down, and sheathed his sword, babbling out something, andhis mother smilingly said--

  "No; you were not called."

  "I beg pardon, my lady," said the woman, and she retired.

  "Oh, I say, mother!" faltered Roy; "how stupid I must have seemed!"

  "I did not think so," said Lady Royland, smiling.

  "But it looked as if I were acting."

  "Go on acting so, then, my son," said his mother, proudly; "we need notstudy what people think."

  "Here's Master Pawson," whispered Roy, quickly. "Go back to your chair,mother."

  Roy went to his own, and Lady Royland slowly followed his example, asthe secretary, after passing the window, entered the room.

  "I beg pardon," he said, "for being so late. Good-morning, LadyRoyland; good-morning, Roy. I slept so dreadfully soundly."

  "You need not apologise, Master Pawson," said the lady, gravely; and shenoted that his quick eyes had rested upon the fragments of the torn-upletter scattered about the room, where she had tossed themcontemptuously. "You are looking at the letter I received thismorning."

  "A letter?" he cried, eagerly; "from Sir Granby?"

  "No," said Lady Royland, with a sigh which she could not restrain; "itis from close at hand--from some of our neighbours. I wish I had keptit for you to see."

  "Not bad news, I hope," he said, looking pale.

  "Yes; very bad news," said Lady Royland. "I have been waiting fordays--it is right that you should know--hoping to get promises of helpfrom the different friends we have round, but till now the answer to myappeal has been silence. This morning they gave me their reason for notreplying."

  "May I ask from whom you have heard?"

  "I cannot tell you," said Lady Royland; "the letter is signed `afriend,' and it advocates total surrender to the rebellious power ofwhich we hear so much."

  "But you will not surrender, Lady Royland?"

  "Surrender? No!" cried Roy. "Never!"

  "That is right," said the secretary, flushing a little.

  "No; I shall not surrender," said Lady Royland, firmly; "but as it meansthat we are becoming isolated, and are doomed to stand alone, I feel itmy duty to speak plainly to you, Master Pawson."

  He turned very pale again, and his eyes glanced restlessly from one tothe other.

  "I hope--I trust," he faltered, "that I have not done anything more toincur your displeasure, Lady Royland."

  "No, Master Pawson, nothing; on the other hand, I have to thank you forthe brave way in which for some days past you have mastered your disliketo the proceedings here, and helped my son to advance my objects."

  "I--I have only tried to do my duty," he said, flushing again.

  "Still, I cannot disguise from myself, Master Pawson, that dangers aregathering around us fast, and that it is my duty to relieve you of aposition which must be growing intolerable."

  "I--I do not understand your ladyship," he said, looking at herwonderingly.

  "Let me explain, then. I feel that I have no right, Master Paws
on, tokeep you here. I think, then, that while there is the opportunity, andbefore you are compromised in any way, you should sever your connectionhere and go."

  "Ah! I see what your ladyship means now," he said, drawing a deepbreath as if of relief, and looking firmly in Roy's searching eyes. "Goaway before any one of importance comes and makes a demand for thesurrender of the castle."

  "That is what I do mean."

  "Yes, exactly," said the secretary, thoughtfully; "and when the troublesare over, and the king has chastised all these insolent people who haverisen against him, and, lastly, when I meet Sir Granby Royland, and heasks me why I deserted his wife and son in their emergency, what can Isay?"

  Lady Royland was silent for a few moments, and her eyes rested in asoftened manner upon the secretary's face.

  "Say," she said at last, and her voice sounded a little husky, "that itwas my wish that you should go, for I did not desire that any one but Ishould be compromised."

  "Thank you, Lady Royland," said the secretary, quietly; and as he spoke,Roy felt his dislike to the man increasing moment by moment up to acertain point. "And, of course," he said, "I must require money fortravelling and to make my way back to London."

  "That you shall be properly supplied with, of course, Master Pawson."

  "Thank you again, Lady Royland," he said, as he went on calmly with hisbreakfast; "it is very good of you, and when I require it, I will ask."

  "Better that it should be done at once, sir," Lady Royland said, firmly,"and that you should go."

  "And leave you and Master Roy here to your fate!"

  "We can protect ourselves, sir."

  "You must forgive me for being so slow over my breakfast, Master Roy,"said the secretary, smiling in the lad's disgust-filled face. "I seeyou are impatient to go, but I am talking so much."

  "Oh, eat a good breakfast," said Roy, now he was thus appealed to, "forthe last--"

  "Oh, no! not by a great many," said Master Pawson, smiling. "I like thedear old castle far too well, and I hope to have many a long year ofhappy days in it. It is very good of you, Lady Royland; but I hope Ican do my duty to Sir Granby like a man. You judge me by what I said atthe beginning of these preparations. I thought then that I was right.I did not believe we should be interfered with here; but I see now thatI was wrong, and I am ready to help you heart and soul. Do you think Icould go away at a time like this? Why, I should never forgive myself--never. It is impossible, Lady Royland; now isn't it, Roy? I'm not afighting man; nature never meant me for anything but music and books,but I'm not such a contemptible coward as all that. When the enemycomes and begins firing, I may be induced to go somewhere that I think_is_ safe; but go away? No, I could never hold up my head again."

  "Master Pawson," cried Roy, excitedly, springing from his seat, "do youmean this?"

  "Mean it, Roy?" said the secretary. "Why, of course. I promised SirGranby to do my duty by his dame and his son, and according to the bestof my powers. I'm going to do it, and--Well, that's a very nice raisedpie."

  "Here, I want to beg your pardon, Master Pawson, for all kinds ofunpleasant thoughts about you," cried Roy, going round to the secretaryand holding out his hand, which the other took and held.

  "Do you?" he said, laughing. "Oh, no, there's no need. Boys generallyquarrel mentally with their teachers just out of want of knowledge. Iknow. You've called me old Pawson many a time--now, haven't you?--andsaid I was fat and soft and stupid, eh?"

  The lad did not answer, but looked scarlet.

  "That's all right, Roy. I'm old enough to understand a little abouthuman nature. Don't you think I mind what a boy says or does in a fitof spleen. We shall understand one another better as time goes on."

  Then turning to Lady Royland, who stood there flushed and with her eyeshumid, he said, with grave respect, "I thank you, madam. It is onlywhat I should have expected from one of your good, considerate nature,and I shall never forget it.--There, Roy," he said, "I am going back tomy room, and shall always be there when you want me. I stay therebecause I fear to be in the way, but I'll come and do anything you wishif I can be useful. But, please," he added, with a comical look ofappeal, "don't ask me to buckle on a sword, to come and fight, nor yetto fire guns. I should be sure to shut my eyes when I pulled thetrigger, and waste the charge. Good-morning; I'm sorry I was so late."

  He made as if to go, but paused as Lady Royland took a step or twoforward and held out her hand, which he took and kissed respectfully.

  "Thank you, Master Pawson," she said, with her voice low from emotion;"you have made everything seem brighter to us than it has looked fordays. I feel now that the world is not so cowardly and cruel as thisletter makes out that it was. I thank you. Sir Granby shall know ofyour noble conduct, and--"

  "No, no! please don't say any more now," cried the secretary, hurriedly;and he hastened to quit the room.

  "I am glad," cried Roy, as the door was closed.

  "Glad!" exclaimed Lady Royland; "and I am sorry, Roy, that we shouldhave been so ready to misjudge."