Constance Sherwood: An Autobiography of the Sixteenth Century

by Georgiana Fullerton

wardship.

  I said, "If he was returned, it must surely be for some sufficientcause, but that I had heard nothing thereof, and had no reason toexpect it."

  "But you would know it, I presume, if he was in London?" he urged. Imisliked his manner, which always put me in mind of one in the dark,which feeleth his way as he advances, and goeth not straight to thepoint.

  "_Is_ Basil in England?" I inquired, fixing mine eyes on him, and witha flutter at my heart from the thought that it should be possible.

  "I heard he was," he answered in a careless tone; "but I think it notto be true. If he should come whilst this matter is in hand, I doconjure you, Constance, if you value your father's existence andBasil's also, let him not into this secret."

  "Wherefore not?" I quickly answered. "Why should one meet to betrusted, and by me above all other persons in the world, be keptignorant of what so nearly doth touch me?"

  "Because," he said, "there is a rashness in his nature which willassuredly cause him to run headlong into danger if not forciblywithheld from the occasions of it."

  "I have seen no tokens of such rashness as you speak of in him," Ireplied; "only of a boldness such as well becomes a Christian and agentleman."

  "Constance Sherwood!" Hubert exclaimed, and seized hold of my handwith a vehemency which caused me to start, "I do entreat you, yea, onmy bended knees, if needs be, I will beseech you to beware of thatindomitable and resolved spirit which sets at defiance restraint,prudence, pity even; which leads you to brave your friends, spurnwholesome counsel, rush headlong into perils which I forewarn you dohang thickly about your path. If I can conjure them, I care not bywhat means, I will do so; but for the sake of all you do hold dear,curb your natural impetuosity, which may prove the undoing of thoseyou most desire to serve."

  There was a plausibility in this speech, and in mine own knowledge ofmyself some sort of a confirmation of what he did charge me with,which inclined me somewhat to diffide of mine own judgment in thismatter, and not to turn a wholly deaf ear to his advertisement. He hadthe most persuasive tongue in the world, and a rare art atrepresenting things under whatever aspect he chose. He dealt socunningly therein with me that day, and used so many ingeniousarguments, that I said I should be very careful how I disclosedanything to Basil or any one else touching my father's imprisonment,who Mr. Tunstall was, and my near concern in his fate; but would giveno promise thereupon: so he was forced to content himself with as muchas he could obtain, and withdrew himself for that day, he said;but promised to return on the morrow.

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  When at last I entered the house I sought Mistress Ward; for I desiredto hear what assistance she had procured for the escape of theprisoners, and to inform her of my father's resolved purpose nothimself to attempt this flight, albeit commending her for moving Mr.Watson to it and assisting him therein. Not finding her in the parlor,nor in her bed-chamber, I opened the door of my aunt's room, who wasnow very weak, and yet more so in mind than in body. She was lyingwith her eyes shut, and Mistress Ward standing by her bedside. Imarked her intent gaze on the aged, placid face of the poor lady, andone tear I saw roll down her cheek. Then she stooped to kiss herforehead. A noise I made with the handle of the door caused her toturn round, and hastening toward me, she took me by the hand and ledme to her chamber, where Muriel was folding some biscuits and cakes inpaper and stowing them in a basket. The thought came to me of thefirst day I had arrived in London, and the comfort I had found in thisroom, when all except her were strangers to me in that house. She satdown betwixt Muriel and me, and smiling, said: "Now, mine own dearchildren, for such my heart holds you both to be, and ever will whilstI live, I am come here for to tell you that I purpose not to return tothis house to-night, nor can I foresee when, if ever, I shall be freeto do so."

  "O, what dismal news!" I exclaimed, "and more sad than I did expect."

  Muriel said nothing, but lifting her hand to her lips kissed it.

  "You both know," she continued, "that in order to save one in cruelrisk and temptation of apostasy, and others perhaps, also, whom hispossible speaking should imperil, I be about to put myself in somekind of danger, who of all persons in the world possess the best rightto do so, as having neither parents, or husband, or children, or anyon earth who depend on my care. Yea, it is true," she added, fixingher eyes on Muriel's composed, but oh how sorrowful, countenance,"none dependent on my care, albeit some very dear to me, and whichhang on me, and I on them, in the way of fond affection. God knowethmy heart, and that it is very closely and tenderly entwined about eachone in this house. Good Mr. Congleton and your dear mother, who hathclung to me so long, though I thank God not so much of late by reasonof the weakening of her mind, which hath ceased greatly to noticechanges about her, and you, Constance, my good child, since yourcoming hither a little lass commended to my keeping. . . . ." Thereshe stopped; and I felt she could not name Muriel, or then so much aslook on her; for if ever two souls were bound together by anunperishable bond of affection, begun on earth to last in heaven,theirs were so united. I ween Muriel was already acquainted with herpurpose, for she asked no questions thereon; whereas I exclaimed, "Ido very well know, good Mistress Ward, what perils you do run in thischaritable enterprise; but wherefore, I pray you, this final manner ofparting? God's providence may shield you from harm in this passage,and, indeed, human probability should lead us to hope for your safetyif becoming precautions be observed. Then why, I say, this certainfarewell?"

  "Because," she answered, "whatever comes of this night's enterprise, Ireturn not to this house."

  "And wherefore not?" I cried; "this is indeed a cruel resolve, a hardmisfortune."

  "Heretofore," she answered, "I had noways offended against the laws ofthe country, except in respect of recusancy, wherein all hereare alike involved; but by mine act tonight I do expose myself to soserious a charge (conscience obliging me to prefer the law of divinecharity to that of human authority), that I may at any time andwithout the least hope of mercy be exposed to detection andapprehension; and so am resolved not to draw down sorrow and obloquyon the gray hairs of my closest friends and on your young years suchperils as I do willingly in mine own person incur, but would not haveothers to be involved in. Therefore I will lodge, leastwise for atime, with one who feareth not any more than I do persecution, whohath no ties and little or nothing on earth to lose, and if she hadwould willingly yield it a thousand times over for to save a soul forwhom Christ died. Nor will I have you privy, my dear children, to theplace of mine abode, that if questioned on it you may with truth averyourselves to be ignorant thereof. And now," she said, turning to me,"is Mr. Sherwood willing for to try to escape by the same means as Mr.Watson? for methinks I have found a way to convey to him a cord, and,by means of the management he knoweth of instructions how to use it."

  "Nay," I answered, "he will not himself avail himself of this means,albeit he is much rejoiced you have it in hand for Mr. Watson'sdeliverance from his tormentors; and he doth pray fervently for it tosucceed."

  "Everything promiseth well," she replied. "I dealt this day with anhonest Catholic boatman, a servant of Mr. Hodgson, who is willing toassist in it. Two men are needed for to row the boat with so muchspeed as shall be necessary to carry it quickly beyond reach ofpursuers. He knoweth none of his own craft which should be reliable orelse disposed to risk the enterprise; but he says at a house of resortfor Catholics which he doth frequent, he chanced to fall in with ayoung gentleman, lately landed from France, whom he doth make surewill lend his aid in it. As dextrous a man," he saith, "to handle anoar, and of as courageous a spirit, as can be found in England."

  As soon as she had uttered these words, I thought of what Hubert hadsaid touching a report of Basil being in London and of his rashness inplunging into dangers; a cold shiver ran through me. "Did he tell youthis gentleman's name?" I asked.

  "No," she answered, "he would not mention it; but only that he was onewho could be trusted with the lives of ten thousand persons, and sozealous a Catholic
he would any day risk his life to do some goodservice to a priest."

  "And hath this boatman promised," I inquired, "to wait for Mr. Watsonand convey him away?"

  "Yea, most strictly," she answered, "at twelve o'clock of the night heand his companion shall approach a boat to the side of somescaffolding which lieth under the wall of the prison; and when theclock of the tower striketh, Mr. Watson shall open his window, thebars of which he hath found it possible to remove, and by means of thecord, which is of the length he measured should be necessary, he willlet himself down on the planks, whence he can step into the boat, andbe carried to a place of