第65章 THE GREAT NORTH ROAD(7)

The sound of her laughter was sincere and musical,and perhaps its beauty barbed the offence to Mr.Archer.The blood came into his face with a quick jet,and then left it paler than before.'It is a physical weakness,'he said harshly,'and very droll,no doubt,but one that I can conquer on necessity.See,I am still shaking.Well,Iadvance to the battlements and look down.Show me your cousin's path.'

'He would go sure-foot along that little ledge,'said Nance,pointing as she spoke;'then out through the breach and down by yonder buttress.It is easier coming back,of course,because you see where you are going.From the buttress foot a sheep-walk goes along the scarp -see,you can follow it from here in the dry grass.And now,sir,'she added,with a touch of womanly pity,'I would come away from here if I were you,for indeed you are not fit.'

Sure enough Mr.Archer's pallor and agitation had continued to increase;his cheeks were deathly,his clenched fingers trembled pitifully.'The weakness is physical,'he sighed,and had nearly fallen.Nance led him from the spot,and he was no sooner back in the tower-stair,than he fell heavily against the wall and put his arm across his eyes.A cup of brandy had to be brought him before he could descend to breakfast;and the perfection of Nance's dream was for the first time troubled.

Jonathan was waiting for them at table,with yellow,blood-shot eyes and a peculiar dusky complexion.He hardly waited till they found their seats,before,raising one hand,and stooping with his mouth above his plate,he put up a prayer for a blessing on the food and a spirit of gratitude in the eaters,and thereupon,and without more civility,fell to.

But it was notable that he was no less speedily satisfied than he had been greedy to begin.He pushed his plate away and drummed upon the table.

'These are silly prayers,'said he,'that they teach us.Eat and be thankful,that's no such wonder.Speak to me of starving -there's the touch.You're a man,they tell me,Mr.Archer,that has met with some reverses?'

'I have met with many,'replied Mr.Archer.

'Ha!'said Jonathan.'None reckons but the last.Now,see;I tried to make this girl here understand me.'

'Uncle,'said Nance,'what should Mr.Archer care for your concerns?He hath troubles of his own,and came to be at peace,I think.'

'I tried to make her understand me,'repeated Jonathan doggedly;'and now I'll try you.Do you think this world is fair?'

'Fair and false!'quoth Mr.Archer.

The old man laughed immoderately.'Good,'said he,'very good,but what I mean is this:do you know what it is to get up early and go to bed late,and never take so much as a holiday but four:and one of these your own marriage day,and the other three the funerals of folk you loved,and all that,to have a quiet old age in shelter,and bread for your old belly,and a bed to lay your crazy bones upon,with a clear conscience?'

'Sir,'said Mr.Archer,with an inclination of his head,'you portray a very brave existence.'

'Well,'continued Jonathan,'and in the end thieves deceive you,thieves rob and rook you,thieves turn you out in your old age and send you begging.What have you got for all your honesty?A fine return!You that might have stole scores of pounds,there you are out in the rain with your rheumatics!'

Mr.Archer had forgotten to eat;with his hand upon his chin he was studying the old man's countenance.'And you conclude?'he asked.

'Conclude!'cried Jonathan.'I conclude I'll be upsides with them.'

'Ay,'said the other,'we are all tempted to revenge.'

'You have lost money?'asked Jonathan.

'A great estate,'said Archer quietly.

'See now!'says Jonathan,'and where is it?'

'Nay,I sometimes think that every one has had his share of it but me,'was the reply.'All England hath paid his taxes with my patrimony:I was a sheep that left my wool on every briar.'

'And you sit down under that?'cried the old man.'Come now,Mr.Archer,you and me belong to different stations;and Iknow mine -no man better -but since we have both been rooked,and are both sore with it,why,here's my hand with a very good heart,and I ask for yours,and no offence,Ihope.'

'There is surely no offence,my friend,'returned Mr.Archer,as they shook hands across the table;'for,believe me,my sympathies are quite acquired to you.This life is an arena where we fight with beasts;and,indeed,'he added,sighing,'I sometimes marvel why we go down to it unarmed.'

In the meanwhile a creaking of ungreased axles had been heard descending through the wood;and presently after,the door opened,and the tall ostler entered the kitchen carrying one end of Mr.Archer's trunk.The other was carried by an aged beggar man of that district,known and welcome for some twenty miles about under the name of 'Old Cumberland.'Each was soon perched upon a settle,with a cup of ale;and the ostler,who valued himself upon his affability,began to entertain the company,still with half an eye on Nance,to whom in gallant terms he expressly dedicated every sip of ale.First he told of the trouble they had to get his Lordship started in the chaise;and how he had dropped a rouleau of gold on the threshold,and the passage and doorstep had been strewn with guinea-pieces.At this old Jonathan looked at Mr.Archer.Next the visitor turned to news of a more thrilling character:how the down mail had been stopped again near Grantham by three men on horseback -a white and two bays;how they had handkerchiefs on their faces;how Tom the guard's blunderbuss missed fire,but he swore he had winged one of them with a pistol;and how they had got clean away with seventy pounds in money,some valuable papers,and a watch or two.

'Brave!brave!'cried Jonathan in ecstasy.'Seventy pounds!

O,it's brave!'

'Well,I don't see the great bravery,'observed the ostler,misapprehending him.'Three men,and you may call that three to one.I'll call it brave when some one stops the mail single-handed;that's a risk.'