CHAPTER VI.
WHAT PASSED BETWEEN WILL JONES AND THE BLACKSMITH.
They were now in the fair county of Warwick, and only a few miles fromPackington Hall, the seat of Sir Clement Fisher. Crowning an eminence,said to be as high as any ground in England, this fine old mansioncommanded a magnificent prospect over a most lovely country. From itselevated position, the stately pile could be descried afar, and onlearning to whom it belonged, Charles regarded the house with greatinterest, and was well pleased by reflection that Jane might one daybecome its mistress. The mansion was embosomed in a grove haunted byrooks, and the park contained much noble timber.
Suddenly Mr. Petre called out to the supposed groom:
"Why, Will, thy horse has cast a shoe. Luckily, we are near a village,where thou wilt be sure to find a blacksmith."
Presently they came to a pretty little inn, very pleasantly situated onthe outskirts of the village, and having a large tree in front of it,encircled by a bench. Here the party alighted, and Mr. Petre ordered apottle of sack, while Charles took his horse to the smithy, which wasat no great distance from the inn. Bryan Compton, the smith, was a big,burly fellow, with a broad honest face begrimed by smoke. His brawnyarms were bared to the shoulder, and a leather apron was tied round hiswaist. Pleased by his physiognomy, Charles took it into his head thatthe man must be a Royalist, but in this he was mistaken. The blacksmithproved to be a sturdy, outspoken Republican.
Not happening to be busy at the time, Bryan set to work at once, andhaving selected an iron plate, was heating it in his forge, whenCharles asked him, "What news?"
"Nay, I ought to ask you that question," rejoined Bryan. "We hear butlittle in this retired village, and I reckon it would be no news toyou to learn that that harebrained Charles Stuart has been routed atWorcester. He deserved to be beaten if only for bringing the Scots toEngland."
"You are right," said Charles, "and I think he must have found out hismistake. It seems the Scots wouldn't stand by him."
"Stand by him! not they! They soon ran away from Old Noll. I hopethey're all driven out of the country."
"But I've heard say there were many English nobles and gentlemen withCharles Stuart," remarked the king. "Have any of them been taken?"
"Not that I know of," replied the smith. "There's one person I shouldlike to capture," he added, working away vigorously at the bellows.
"Ah! who's he?" inquired the supposed groom.
"Charles Stuart himself," rejoined the smith, placing the red-hot ironon the anvil and making the sparks fly about, as he hammered it intoshape. "I wish I had the chance of taking him--ha! ha! But he's notlikely to come this way." Then resting for a moment, he asked, "Wheredo you come from, friend--and where may you be going?"
"I come from Bentley House with my young mistress, and am taking her toPackington Hall," replied Charles, readily.
"Why, then, you must be Mistress Jane Lane's groom," observed thesmith. "The gossip hereabouts is that Sir Clement Fisher is betrothedto her. But I don't think the marriage will take place just yet."
"Wherefore not?" inquired the king.
"Because Sir Clement has got himself into trouble by his foolishadherence to Charles Stuart. He is sure to be heavily fined, if notimprisoned. Why, you look confounded, young man. Hold up your horse'sfoot while I clap on the shoe."
Charles complied, and nothing more passed between them until the smithhad completed his job, when he remarked:
"This is a good horse of yours, friend. He would go a long way withouttiring."
"Yes, I have ridden him a good many miles at a stretch" rejoinedCharles.
"Perchance from Worcester to Bentley House?" remarked the smith, with aknowing look.
"Not quite so far as that," replied the king.
"Nay, I don't wish to appear inquisitive," said the smith. "I've heardthat Colonel Lane was at Worcester, and I thought you might have beenthere with him."
"I am Mistress Jane Lane's servant, as I have already told you," saidCharles.
"Mistress Jane was at Worcester as well as her brother, unless I havebeen misinformed," rejoined the smith.
Charles made no answer, but paid for the shoe, and departed.
"There's something odd about that young man," mused the smith, lookingafter him. "I should like to have questioned him a little more.However, I shan't forget him or his horse."
Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651 Page 68
