CHAPTER VIII.
ST. AUGUSTINE'S GREEN.
Wholly unconscious that they were followed, the king and his attendantmounted the eminence on which stood St. Augustine's Church. By thistime the moon had risen, and its beams silvered the tower and roof ofthe majestic edifice. Before entering St. Augustine's Green--now knownas College Green--a large quadrangular piece of ground bordered bytrees, spread out in front of the cathedral, Charles cast a glance atthe city, which, viewed from this elevation, with its walls, ancienthabitations, and church towers, illumined by the moon's radiance,presented a striking picture. While gazing in this direction he noticedtwo troopers at the foot of the hill, who had evidently just crossedover from the quay, but they did not excite his apprehension.
The moon being at the back of the collegiate church, the broad blackshadow of the venerable pile was thrown upon the green, reaching almostas far as the high cross which stood in the centre of the enclosure.As Charles walked towards the cross he saw a female figure hurry away,and enter the alley of trees that bordered the green on the west. Heinstantly followed, and found Dame Gives.
"Why did you fly from me?" he asked.
"I was not certain that it was your majesty," she rejoined. "The personwith you is a stranger to me."
"He is a faithful adherent whom I have found at Abbots Leigh," repliedCharles. "I could not bring Major Careless with me, for he is otherwiseoccupied, but you will see him anon."
And he then proceeded to explain that Careless had been left to lookafter the master of the lugger.
"Heaven grant that all may go well!" she exclaimed. "How rejoiced Ishall be when your majesty is safe at Swansea!"
"You will be still more pleased when we are all safe in France," saidCharles.
"I do not think I shall ever arrive there, sire," she rejoined, sadly."I am not usually down-hearted, as you know. But I am so low-spiritedto-night that I think you will be better without me."
"No, no," cried Charles. "Go you must. Major Careless will be miserableif you are left behind."
"Nay, I don't desire to make him miserable," she rejoined, forcing alaugh. "Whatever may happen I will go. But I will tell your majestywhy I feel so uneasy. While I was standing under the shadow of thechurch a dark figure approached me, and at first I thought it was MajorCareless, whom I expected. A strange terror seized me. The figureslowly and noiselessly advanced, and as it drew near the blood frozein my veins, and my heart ceased to beat, for I saw that it was Urso.Yes, it was Urso, come from the grave to torment me! His face was theface of a corpse, but his eyes gleamed with preternatural brightness.I tried to fly, but I continued chained to the spot. The phantomapproached--and oh, horror! it stood close beside me, and these words,uttered in a sepulchral tone, reached my ear: 'I have come to summonyou.' For a moment my senses seemed to desert me. When I recovered, thephantom was gone."
"'Twas the delusion of an over-excited imagination," observed Charles,who nevertheless was powerfully impressed by the relation.
"No, sire," she replied, shuddering. "I could not be deceived. I sawUrso too plainly. Nothing could equal the horror with which he inspiredme. Death would be dreadful indeed if I must rejoin him."
There was a pause, during which Charles made no remark, for, in spiteof himself, he felt a sense of terror creeping over him.
At length Dame Gives broke the silence:
"As soon as I regained the use of my limbs," she said, "I went toyonder chapel," pointing to a small sacred structure on the easternside of the green, "and finding the door open I went in, and kneelingdown, prayed fervently. Since then I have felt greatly relieved, andprepared for whatever may ensue."
"'Tis a mere trick of fancy," cried Charles. "But, despite the fanciedsummons, you must go with me. If we remain here longer, I shall think Isee Urso's ghost myself."
He then called to Pope, who was standing near at hand, and bade himlead the way to the downs. Marching in advance, the butler took them tothe further end of the green, and then commenced another steep ascent.Dame Gives still felt rather faint, and required the aid of the king'sarm in mounting the hill. Not one of the party was aware that they werecautiously followed by the two troopers.
Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651 Page 80
