CHAPTER IX.
Although there can be few things more pleasant to many of the senseswith which our dull clay is vivified than to sail over a shining seaunder a moonlight sky,--although the feeling of repose which emanatesfrom rapid easy motion is then most sweetly tasted,--yet when we are inhaste we would always wish the breeze to be favorable and full. We couldbear a little more rocking of our sea-cradle did we but know that ourprogress was all the faster. In this respect, at least, Edward Langdalewas not to be gratified that night. The wind, it is true, was notexactly adverse; but it was not quite favorable, and, moreover, it waslight. The boat did not make three miles an hour through the water, andwas obliged to take a good stretch to the westward in order to avoidsands and shoals.
In the mean time, the party in the boat was arranged very properly:Lucette sat near the stern, and Master Ned next to her, with Pierrot onhis left; while on the other side were the newly-engaged servant and twosailors. But Lucette was silent, and Edward thought it better for a timeto leave her so, as tears--springing from what sources it is not worthwhile to inquire--were still flowing, and the youth heard every now andthen a gentle sob. For his part, he talked a little to Pierrot, who toldhim that he had twice seen the good-man Jargeau that day, had honestlynotified him of his dereliction of his service, and had returned him histwo horses, as he, Pierrot, had been ordered. Jargeau, he said, had beensomewhat supercilious, somewhat triumphant, had shown that he knew allabout Master Ned's encounter in Rochelle, and its consequences, observedthat it would have been better for the youth if he had followed goodcounsel, and had laughed heartily at Pierrot's own resolutions oftemperance, which he tried hard to make him break on the spot.
"I saw he had a great contempt for me, Master Ned," said the man; "but Ishowed him I could resist."
"He will laugh at you ten times more if ever you break your resolution,"answered Edward Langdale; "and then he will laugh with some reason. Ofcourse you gave him no cause to think we were going to-night?"
The man replied in the negative, and Edward--judging not amiss of theprecise moment when comfort is most available--applied himself to soothehis beautiful young companion. It is a very delicate and even dangeroustask for a young man of any thing short of sixty; and it would be vainto say that Edward Langdale did not perform the office of consolerwarmly. The nature of the case inspired tenderness; the gentleness andcare with which she had nursed him required it; and their very youthjustified it. He called her "dear Lucette" several times; and he triedhard to prompt hope of a speedy return to Rochelle and a reunion withher excellent father.
At the latter word Lucette gave a little start. "You mistake, Edward,"she said: "he is not my father, though indeed he has been a father, andmore than a father, to me. But you are protecting an orphan, my friend.I have neither father nor mother living."
"Then is he your grandfather, as you first called him?" asked the youth."I thought he was very old to have a daughter of your age."
"He is no relation whatever," she answered, gravely, "but is as dear tome as any parent could have been. It is a long story, which I may sometime or other have an opportunity of telling you; but enough for thepresent that he has had the care of my education in Rochelle for someyears, and has ever shown to me the affection of a father and won fromme the love and reverence of a child. I weep to part with him; but Iweep from many other causes. Rochelle has been to me like the nest to ayoung bird; and now I am going forth into a world where I am almost astranger, to a fate that I know not, but which can hardly be a peacefulone. Let us not talk of it; for it is better not even to think of it.What will come must come; and I must bear all with patience."
"Well, then, let us look at that beautiful sea," said Edward Langdale."Is it not like an ocean of melted silver? Look there! Here comes agreat wave curling over in the moonlight: now we rise above it, and itis past. So it is, Lucette, with the misfortunes of this world: theyseem ready to overwhelm us; but with good steering and a strong mind werise above them and leave them behind us."
"But who shall teach me to steer my boat?" asked Lucette, sadly.
Had it been a few years later in his life, Edward would probably havesaid, "Let me;" but he did not say it, and he was wise. He appliedhimself, however, with more earnestness than ever, to soothe his sweetcompanion and to wean her thoughts from subjects of pain or anxiety; nordid he do so without success. His mind was stored with the riches ofmuch and very various study, and he found, too, that her young hours hadnot been employed in vain. She could talk with him of things which fewof her age and her country could converse upon; and, to his delight, hefound that she spoke English as well as he did himself, with hardly anyaccent, and with perfect facility. Thenceforward their conversation wascarried on in his mother-tongue; and his mind easily saw the manyadvantages which might arise, should any impediment present itself ontheir journey, from their perfect acquaintance with two languages.
It was all very perilous for the two young people; and really, could ithave been avoided, they should not have been placed in such a situation;but there are times and circumstances when proprieties must be forgottenand folks must take their chance or die. Now, the period was rapidlyapproaching when not a mouse could get out of Rochelle; and old ClementTournon foresaw its coming. To take advantage of Edward's journey wasall that was left for him; and that was almost too late. Besides,decorum came in with George the First, and little of it was known in theworld at large before the time of William the Taciturn. Nevertheless,was it not dangerous to set two young souls, full of early life, andwith all its passions and imaginations just budding, to sail over "themoonlight sea" together, talking a language unknown to their companions,with mystery and misfortune and interest on one side, and gratitude,compassion, and curiosity on the other? They did not, it is true, getout of that boat with the same feelings they carried into it; but thenall these matters are progressive, except in Italy, and some parts ofSpain, and two or three other countries I could name,--countries wherepeople jump into love with their eyes open, or fall into it with theireyes shut. In England we slide into it. But, as I was remarking, allsuch things--with the exceptions already specified--are progressive; andthere were several little accidents which helped the matter on. Lucettewas cold, and Edward fastened the agrafes of the loose coat over herfair bosom; and then he wrapped a cloak round her; and then the windshifted and the sea began to run very high, and he had to put his armabout her to keep her steady on the seat. Then, what between fear andheadache, she leaned her brow upon his shoulder; and he had to comfortand reassure her the best way he could. There is something in animalmagnetism, dear reader, depend upon it,--although I think it acts in adifferent way from that generally attributed to it.
But, to pause no more upon such discussions,--which are always veryfruitless,--I must say their situation soon became very unpleasant, andeven critical. The wind and the currents carried the little craft far tothe westward of Marans, and the boat shipped many a heavy sea. She wasgood and stanch, however, and the sailors were fearless, hardy, andexperienced; but that comforted poor Lucette very little, so that allher consolation was to cling through long hours to Edward Langdale andto ask him from time to time if there was any danger. At length,however,--just when, having run a good way to the northwest, they hadcontrived to tack and lay their course with a better wind towardMarans,--the sun began to rise, and Edward whispered, "Now we shall soonbe there, dear Lucette."
But he was mistaken. Expectation is always mistaken. There really seemsa perversity about those ladies with the distaff and scizzors whichleads them to spin the thread of our life with knots and tangles, to cutit short at the very moment of fruition, and--especially when they seeany one foolish enough to calculate upon success--to ravel the wholeskein into inextricable confusion. The boat could only approach theshore by continual tacking; and I would tell all the tacks she made, andhow long each took,--but, unhappily, I know nothing of nautical matters,except that a ship has a head and a stern, as most other things have;that a fair wind
carries people rapidly to port, and a foul wind delaysthem often a long time. The sun had passed the meridian at least threehours when the boat at last reached the mouth of the Sevre Niortaise,which would at that time float small vessels very comfortably. I knownot what it will do now; for the sands upon the west coast of Francehave so encroached upon the domains of old Ocean that Hennebon was oncewithin a short distance of the sea and is now actually an inland town,only to be reached by a post-road or a good long sail up the riverBlavet. As good fortune would have it, however, and thanks to thepaternal care of good Clement Tournon, there were plenty of provisionson board the boat; and the Sevre Niortaise received them less hungrythan might otherwise have been the case. The ascent of the river as faras the spot where it was proposed to stop occupied two hours more; butall was calm now, and the change from danger to security is a greatpromoter of rash hope. The color came back into Lucette's face, and sheand Edward Langdale talked gayly of the coming hours. At length they ranup to a little landing where a few houses, all occupied by Protestants,lined the shore, headed by a good-looking cabaret with white walls and abrush upon the top of a pole. The Rochellois boatmen were well known tothe host, and his welcome was joyful; but when, after seeing Lucettecomfortably lodged in a room by herself,--although the landlord seemedto think that too much care was taken of a boy who ought to take care ofhimself,--Master Ned proceeded to inquire into the facilities forreaching Mauze, he found more serious impediments than he had expected.No horses were to be bought nearer than Marans, some three milesdistant; and between the river and the chateau of Mauze the hostreported several large bodies of Catholic soldiers and workmen, whoseconduct, according to his account, was not over-scrupulous. Horses,however, had to be procured at all events; for to reach the chateau ifpossible Edward Langdale was bound; and accordingly, with somehesitation, he despatched Pierrot la Grange to Marans, with a stronginjunction to temperance. Pierrot's virtue was probably not veryseverely tried; for the wine--the only wine to be procured in that partof the country--was execrable; and brandy at that time, notwithstandingthe proximity of Rochelle, found its way to Marans in very smallquantities. At all events, toward ten o'clock at night he reappeared atthe cabaret with the four horses and their equipments, as his youngmaster had required, and a boy leading the two last-bought, while hehimself, mounted on one, led another by the bridle.
The landlord was conversing with the boatmen at the door, while Edwardwas calmly sleeping on a bench in the kitchen; but the former seemed tohave received some intimation that the page was not exactly what heappeared, for he requested Pierrot in a whisper to tell his young lordthat there was a minister in the hamlet, and that young people could bemarried there just as well as at Mauze.
In about an hour the whole party were mounted and on their road, Pierrothaving assured his master that he could guide him to Mauze as well asany man born on the spot. Nor did he exaggerate his knowledge, butproceeded perfectly steadily and carefully, till at length the littlebridle-path they followed lost itself in the moors which cover that partof the country.
The moon, however, was shining as brightly as it had done the nightbefore, and there seemed no difficulty in finding the way; but the wideexpanse before them looked solitary and cheerless with its gray shadowsand stunted bushes and pieces of fenny swamp, while here and there rosea small clump of low rugged pines, or a deep pit obstructed the advanceof the travellers. At the end of about two hours, Pierrot remarked, "Weare not three miles from Mauze now, sir, and we had better be a littlecareful; for, if there be any folks we have to fear, they must be abouthere." Hardly had he spoken when a line of lights came in sight, whichMaster Ned instantly understood to proceed from scattered watch-fires;and, halting for a few minutes, he held a short council with hisfollowers, in which their future proceedings were determined. The lightsextended some way to the right and left; and it was conjectured thatthe lines which it was known the king's army were employed inconstructing stopped at a certain point on one side or the other,leaving a passage round the extremity, by which the little village andits castle could be reached. The question only was which side was free,and Edward resolved to ride on in advance with one of the men andreconnoitre, leaving Lucette and the other man at the first shelteredspot they could find. One of the deep pits which I have mentioned wassoon met with, and its edge, on the opposite side from that which thelittle party approached, was edged with a fringe of low wood, whichconcealed it well. A road which had been cut for the purpose of digginggravel--Heaven knows for what purpose the gravel itself was wanted, asgravel walks were few in that part of the country--led right into thepit; and along it Edward and his party found their way in. He liftedLucette from her horse, and, being more considerate than most lads ofhis age, he paused to think which of the men he should leave with her.That was soon settled. The man he had hired in Rochelle was well knownto Clement Tournon. His name was Jacques Beaupre, by-the-way; and thegood syndic had guaranteed his honesty, adding, that he was a courageousman and witty. Now, Jacques had not uttered three words since he hadbeen in Edward's service, and therefore of his wit the young gentlemanknew nothing; but his honesty and his courage were much more importanton the present occasion. Pierrot, Master Ned knew, could be trusted inall things but one; but there was much to be remembered. He himselfmight be taken; and, once delivered from the restraint of his presence,Edward naturally concluded that the bottle might have too greattemptations for his worthy follower, and Lucette be left to the perilousguardianship of a drunken man. Jacques Beaupre was therefore left withLucette. The bags were taken off the horses and deposited in his care,with orders to make his way to Mauze, should any misadventure occur toEdward, and to place them and Lucette under the care of the Prince deSoubise. A warning was also given him to destroy, if possible, the bagwhich had a red cross marked upon it, in case he saw that he could notescape the Catholic army. It may be supposed that all these directionsalarmed poor Lucette a good deal; but she did not give way to her fears,although she fully forgave Edward for making his parting embrace alittle warmer than even the customs of that day justified.
We are too apt in this world to make no allowance for the customs ofdifferent times and phases of society. Some fall into this fault fromignorance of any state of society but their own, with a vague idea ofsomething having been strange in the customs of the Greeks and Romansand the people whom Mr. Hallam wrote about. Some who have read thechronicles of other times forget the minute particulars in theirattention to more important facts. But believe me, dear reader, thetimes and the country, the climate and the water, do make very greatdifference in the notions which obtain regarding customs, and evenmorals,--ay, morals. Half the morals in the world are made bysociety,--and all the customs. I remember a Turkish ambassador, beingpresent at a dance, and asking, gravely, "What does all that palmingcome to?" Since then the Turks have very generally left off theirpetticoats, and have acquired a good many new notions; but they stillobject to the "_palming_," and think its tendencies not desirable,--theKoran notwithstanding. However, the age of which I am now writing was akissing age,--an age of _embrassades_. Everybody kissed everybody--oncertain occasions; but it was specified that, in public and beforewitnesses, the kisses were to be bestowed on the right and left cheek,and not upon the mouth,--especially in the case of young gentlemen andladies. Now, the dereliction of poor Edward Langdale was that his lipsdid not altogether confine themselves to the cheek of Lucette. Wherethey went, Heaven knows; but I do not. However, she forgave him; and Ido not see why we should not do so too. I am sure I should have kissedher lips if I had had the opportunity; for they were rich, and soft, andfull, and her breath was as fragrant as new-mown hay.
After that kiss, he jumped upon his horse again and rode away, leavingall his precious things behind him,--both those he had brought fromEngland and those he had found in Rochelle.
The title I have affixed to this book compels me to adhere to theadventures of Master Ned; but, as that night was one of criticalinfluence upon his fate, I cannot finish i
ts events at the fag-end of achapter which is already somewhat too long for the reader's patience,and for the writer's too.
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