Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
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CHAPTER V.
HOW CHARLES ARRIVED AT TRENT.
Next day, about an hour before noon, Colonel Wyndham and his lovelycousin mounted their steeds and rode towards Sherborne to meet theking. They had not got beyond the colonel's domain when he went intoa field to speak to some of his men, leaving Juliana beneath a tree,which threw its branches across the road. She had been alone for a fewminutes, when a solitary horseman was seen coming from the direction ofSherborne.
For a moment her expectations were raised, but as the horseman drewnearer she judged from his garb and general appearance that he couldonly be a farmer's son. Presently the young man rode up, and doffedhis cap respectfully. He was excessively swarthy, and his hair wasclipped very close to his head. With a certain freedom of manner, whichJuliana did not at all like, he inquired whether Colonel Wyndham dweltthereabouts.
"The colonel is in yonder field," she replied. "You can go to him, ifyou think proper."
"No; I will wait for him here," said the young man. "If I am notmistaken, you are his cousin, Mistress Juliana Coningsby."
The young lady regarded him haughtily, as much as to say, "What can itmatter to you who I am?"
"Nay, I meant no offence," he said, construing the look correctly. "Ifyou are Mistress Juliana Coningsby, as I shrewdly suspect, report hasdone you scant justice."
Juliana's proud lip slightly curled.
"You are reported to be very handsome, but more might be said,methinks," continued the young man, scarcely repressing his admiration.
"Thou art a bold fellow to tell me this to my face," cried Juliana.
"I may be bold, but I am not a flatterer," rejoined the young man."Truth ought not to be disagreeable, and I have spoken nothing buttruth."
"But were I to say thou art singularly ill-favoured, it would be truth,yet thou wouldst not like it," remarked Juliana.
"It would certainly be a poor return for my civil speech," rejoined theyoung man, laughing. "But if you knew me better you might change youropinion. I have not always been thought ill-favoured."
"They who thought thee otherwise must have been bad judges, withwhom thy impertinence might pass for wit," said Juliana. "But I willtolerate no more of it. Stand back, and do not presume to addressme again, or I will acquaint the colonel, and he will punish thypresumption."
"I am not aware that I have presumed, fair mistress," replied theother. "But if you deem so, I humbly ask your pardon."
"Ah! here comes the colonel," cried Juliana. "He will read thee awholesome lesson for thy freedom of speech."
Colonel Wyndham's approach produced a sudden change in the young man'sdemeanour that astonished Juliana.
Pushing forward to the gate, he called out lustily, "Frank, Frank! howart thou?"
At the sound of this well-known voice the colonel quickened his pace,exclaiming joyously:
"Welcome, my liege!--welcome! I am rejoiced to see you."
"And I am equally rejoiced to see thee, Frank," cried Charles, heartily.
"'Tis the king!" exclaimed Juliana, in mingled surprise andconsternation. "Oh, sire! pardon my excessive stupidity! I ought tohave recognised your majesty in any disguise. What appears impertinencein a groom is only condescension in a monarch."
"Oddsfish! I have nothing to pardon," rejoined Charles, laughing. "Youhave told me some home truths, that's all. I am very glad I rode on, orI should have lost this diverting scene. Ah! here they come," he cried,as Jane Lane and the others appeared in sight.
Next moment the new-comers rode up, and were introduced to ColonelWyndham and his fair cousin by Careless. The two young ladies seemedmutually pleased with each other.
"I must explain that during your stay at Trent you are to be treatedas a near relative of the family," observed Juliana to Jane. "I shalladdress you as cousin."
"An excellent arrangement," said Jane. "But my stay must of necessitybe very brief. Having brought his majesty in safety here, my duty isfulfilled, and I shall return with Sir Clement to-morrow."
"I am sorry to hear that," said Colonel Wyndham. "I hoped you and SirClement would have remained with us for a few days, but I will notattempt to persuade you to act against your inclinations. Do exactly asyou please."
They then proceeded towards the house, and as they passed through thevillage the cottagers rushed to their doors to look at the strangers,and Charles had to enact his part carefully while he was under theirobservation. The Reverend Lift-up-Hand Meldrum likewise came forth fromthe rectory, and carefully scrutinised the party, but he paid littleattention to the disguised monarch.
Naturally there was a great deal of bustle in the yard while the partywas dismounting, and Colonel Wyndham seized the opportunity of saying afew words in private to the king, but some little time elapsed beforehis majesty could be taken to the room prepared for him.
THE KING'S ROOM IN TRENT HOUSE.]
In a very few minutes after he had taken possession of the apartment itwas as full of visitors as if he had held a lev?e.
As a matter of course, the ladies of the house were first presented tohim, and were most graciously received, Charles expressing his warmobligations to Lady Wyndham for the kindness she had shown him. Mrs.Wyndham had some pleasant observations made to her, and Juliana was socharmed with the king's manner that she wondered how she could everhave been mistaken in regard to him. Mr. Langton was likewise presentedto his majesty, and congratulated him on his escapes.
In this agreeable and sympathetic society Charles passed thepleasantest hour he had enjoyed for some time. Not one of the personspresent, as he well knew, but was devoted to his cause, and several ofthem had given abundant proofs of their devotion. No wonder, then, thathe felt unusually cheerful; and while listening to his lively sallies,several of those who were present could scarcely believe that they wereuttered by a fugitive king, upon whose head a price was set.