Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
Page 15
CHAPTER XII.
HOW URSO GIVES WAS WEDDED TO MARY RUSHOUT.
Amid his manifold distractions, Careless had not forgotten prettyMary Rushout. Twice had he seen her at her grandmother's dwelling inAngel-lane, but on the second occasion she prayed him with tears in hereyes never to come to the house again.
"We must part," she said; "and it would have been better if we hadnever met. Urso, you know, is exceedingly jealous, and keeps thestrictest watch over me. He saw you enter the house last night, andwaited outside till you departed."
"He must have waited long," remarked Careless, smiling.
"Ah! it's no laughing matter, I can assure you," cried Mary. "Urso isa terrible man. I won't tell you how bitterly he reviled you, but hesaid you had better look to yourself if you came to Angel-lane again.I shouldn't wonder if he is on the watch now. Ay, there he is of asurety," she added, stepping towards the little lattice window, andpeeping out into the lane.
"Heed him not," cried Careless, drawing her back. "I was going--but, topunish him, I'll stay an hour longer."
"No, no--you mustn't--indeed you mustn't!" she exclaimed. "It willdrive him frantic, and when he is in one of his rages, he is capable ofkilling me. You must go immediately."
"Impossible, sweetheart. I have much to say to you. Don't troubleyourself about this jealous Roundhead. Leave me to deal with him. I'llcrop his ears still more closely to his head. Why don't you give himup?"
"Unluckily, I've plighted my troth to him, or I would."
"Never mind that, sweetheart. I'll liberate you from your pledge."
"You graceless Cavaliers will swear anything, and care not for breakingyour vows--that's what Urso says."
"Truce to Urso. You will believe me, when I swear that I love you."
"No; because I find you do not regard an oath."
"Bah! promise to love me."
"No; because it would be sinful to make such a promise. Urso himselfwould say so."
"Urso again!--confound him! I must find means to free you from thistie--even if I sever it with my sword."
"That won't make me love you--rather hate you. But you must really go.Pray do not quarrel with Urso."
"If he stops me, I shall assuredly chastise him. Adieu, sweetheart!Expect me at the same hour to-morrow?"
"No, no--you must not come--indeed, you must not."
But she seemed so little in earnest, that Careless construed herprohibition in the opposite sense, and believed she wished him to come.
As he went forth, Angel-lane--a narrow street running nearly parallelwith the walls on the north of the city, in the direction of AllHallows--appeared quite deserted, and he thought that Urso Gives wasgone. But he had scarcely reached the church, when a tall figurestepped from behind a buttress and barred his path.
"Out of my way, fellow!" he cried, haughtily, feeling sure it was Urso.
"Not till I have spoken with you," rejoined the other, maintaining hisground.
The Independent then continued, in a stern, menacing voice, "On theperil of your life, I forbid you to re-enter the house you have justprofaned by your presence. You have beguiled the damsel who dwellsthere by your false speeches, and have sought to corrupt her. Youcannot feign ignorance that she is my affianced wife, for I myselfheard her tell you so."
"Since you have been playing the spy, you might easily have learnt thatI am coming again to-morrow night at the same hour," rejoined Careless,in a mocking tone.
"Think it not," rejoined Urso, fiercely. "Since you will not bedeterred from your evil courses by the warning given you, look toyourself!"
And suddenly drawing forth the long tuck-sword which he held under hiscloak, he placed its point at the other's breast.
Careless sprang back and so saved his life, and drawing his own sword,their blades were instantly crossed.
Notwithstanding his eminently peaceful vocation, Urso proved nocontemptible swordsman, and Careless failed to disarm him as soon as heexpected. The clash of steel roused the inmates of the houses, and someof them opened their doors, but when they perceived that an officer ofrank was engaged with a Roundhead they did not interfere.
Mary Rushout, however, came forth, screaming with terror, and reachedthe combatants just as Careless, having knocked Urso's weapon from hisgrasp, seized him by the throat, and forced him down upon his knees,exclaiming:
"Sue for mercy, caitiff hound, or I will despatch thee!"
"Spare him, gentle sir!--spare him!" cried Mary, seizing the Cavalier'sarm.
"He owes his worthless life to your intercession, sweet Mary," criedCareless, spurning Urso from him. "If he is not sufficiently gratefulfor the obligation, let me know, and I will sharpen his gratitude.Adieu, till to-morrow!"
And sheathing his sword, he strode away.
Quite crestfallen at his discomfiture, and eager to escape fromthe jeers of the neighbours who had come forth, Urso picked up histuck-sword and hurried back to the house with Mary.
What passed between them need not be recounted. It will be sufficientto state the result.
Not till the second evening after the occurrence just described, didCareless return to Angel lane. His duties to the king had detained himin the interval.
After tapping softly at the door of Mary's dwelling, he raised thelatch, but the door was fastened, and he was compelled to knock moreloudly. Still, no answer to the summons. He listened intently, butnot the slightest sound was to be heard within; neither was any lightvisible through the little lattice window.
While he was making another ineffectual attempt to obtain admittance, aglover, who lived next door, came forth and told him that Dame Rushoutand Mary were gone.
"Gone! whither?" cried Careless.
"That is more than I am able to inform your honour," replied theglover; "but you are not likely to see Mary again, since Master Giveshas taken her way."
"'Sdeath! did she consent to go with him?"
"She could not very well refuse, seeing that she has become his wife,"responded the glover.
"Amazement!" cried Careless. "I could not have believed she would wedhim."
"No one expected it, though the marriage has been long talked of,"said the glover. "But we think her grandam must have wrought uponMary to consent--for she herself seemed wondrously reluctant. Be thisas it may, and I cannot speak for certain, she and Urso were marriedby the Rev. Laban Foxe, an Independent minister, and soon after theceremony--if ceremony it can be called--Urso and his bride, with theold dame, quitted Worcester."
Careless had heard enough, and strode away to hide his vexation.