Old Mortality, Volume 2. Page 7

  CHAPTER VII.

  Gie ower your house, lady, he said,-- Gie ower your house to me. Edom of Gordon.

  Morton had finished the revisal and the making out of a fair copy of thepaper on which he and Poundtext had agreed to rest as a full statement ofthe grievances of their party, and the conditions on which the greaterpart of the insurgents would be contented to lay down their arms; and hewas about to betake himself to repose, when there was a knocking at thedoor of his apartment.

  "Enter," said Morton; and the round bullethead of Cuddie Headrigg wasthrust into the room. "Come in," said Morton, "and tell me what you want.Is there any alarm?"

  "Na, stir; but I hae brought ane to speak wi' you."

  "Who is that, Cuddie?" enquired Morton.

  "Ane o' your auld acquaintance," said Cuddie; and, opening the door morefully, he half led, half dragged in a woman, whose face was muffled inher plaid.--"Come, come, ye needna be sae bashfu' before auldacquaintance, Jenny," said Cuddie, pulling down the veil, and discoveringto his master the well-remembered countenance of Jenny Dennison. "Tellhis honour, now--there's a braw lass--tell him what ye were wanting tosay to Lord Evandale, mistress."

  "What was I wanting to say," answered Jenny, "to his honour himsell theother morning, when I visited him in captivity, ye muckle hash?--D'yethink that folk dinna want to see their friends in adversity, ye dourcrowdy-eater?"

  This reply was made with Jenny's usual volubility; but her voicequivered, her cheek was thin and pale, the tears stood in her eyes, herhand trembled, her manner was fluttered, and her whole presence boremarks of recent suffering and privation, as well as nervous andhysterical agitation.

  "What is the matter, Jenny?" said Morton, kindly. "You know how much Iowe you in many respects, and can hardly make a request that I will notgrant, if in my power."

  "Many thanks, Milnwood," said the weeping damsel; "but ye were aye a kindgentleman, though folk say ye hae become sair changed now."

  "What do they say of me?" answered Morton.

  "A' body says," replied Jenny, "that you and the whigs hae made a vow toding King Charles aff the throne, and that neither he, nor his posteriorsfrom generation to generation, shall sit upon it ony mair; and JohnGudyill threeps ye're to gie a' the church organs to the pipers, and burnthe Book o' Common-prayer by the hands of the common hangman, in revengeof the Covenant that was burnt when the king cam hame."

  "My friends at Tillietudlem judge too hastily and too ill of me,"answered Morton. "I wish to have free exercise of my own religion,without insulting any other; and as to your family, I only desire anopportunity to show them I have the same friendship and kindness asever."

  "Bless your kind heart for saying sae," said Jenny, bursting into a floodof tears; "and they never needed kindness or friendship mair, for theyare famished for lack o' food."

  "Good God!" replied Morton, "I have heard of scarcity, but not of famine!It is possible?--Have the ladies and the Major"--

  "They hae suffered like the lave o' us," replied Jenny; "for they sharedevery bit and sup wi' the whole folk in the Castle--I'm sure my poor eensee fifty colours wi' faintness, and my head's sae dizzy wi' themirligoes that I canna stand my lane."

  The thinness of the poor girl's cheek, and the sharpness of her features,bore witness to the truth of what she said. Morton was greatly shocked.

  "Sit down," he said, "for God's sake!" forcing her into the only chairthe apartment afforded, while he himself strode up and down the room inhorror and impatience. "I knew not of this," he exclaimed in brokenejaculations,--"I could not know of it.--Cold-blooded, iron-heartedfanatic--deceitful villain!--Cuddie, fetch refreshments--food--wine, ifpossible--whatever you can find."

  "Whisky is gude eneugh for her," muttered Cuddie; "ane wadna hae thoughtthat gude meal was sae scant amang them, when the quean threw sae mucklegude kail-brose scalding het about my lugs."

  Faint and miserable as Jenny seemed to be, she could not hear theallusion to her exploit during the storm of the Castle, without burstinginto a laugh which weakness soon converted into a hysterical giggle.Confounded at her state, and reflecting with horror on the distress whichmust have been in the Castle, Morton repeated his commands to Headrigg ina peremptory manner; and when he had departed, endeavoured to soothe hisvisitor.

  "You come, I suppose, by the orders of your mistress, to visit LordEvandale?--Tell me what she desires; her orders shall be my law."

  Jenny appeared to reflect a moment, and then said, "Your honour is saeauld a friend, I must needs trust to you, and tell the truth."

  "Be assured, Jenny," said Morton, observing that she hesitated, "that youwill best serve your mistress by dealing sincerely with me."

  "Weel, then, ye maun ken we're starving, as I said before, and have beenmair days than ane; and the Major has sworn that he expects relief daily,and that he will not gie ower the house to the enemy till we have eatenup his auld boots,--and they are unco thick in the soles, as ye may weelmind, forby being teugh in the upper-leather. The dragoons, again, theythink they will be forced to gie up at last, and they canna bide hungerweel, after the life they led at free quarters for this while bypast; andsince Lord Evandale's taen, there's nae guiding them; and Inglis sayshe'll gie up the garrison to the whigs, and the Major and the leddiesinto the bargain, if they will but let the troopers gang free themsells."

  "Scoundrels!" said Morton; "why do they not make terms for all in theCastle?"

  "They are fear'd for denial o' quarter to themsells, having dune saemuckle mischief through the country; and Burley has hanged ane or twa o'them already--sae they want to draw their ain necks out o' the collar athazard o' honest folk's."

  "And you were sent," continued Morton, "to carry to Lord Evandale theunpleasant news of the men's mutiny?"

  "Just e'en sae," said Jenny; "Tam Halliday took the rue, and tauld me a'about it, and gat me out o' the Castle to tell Lord Evandale, if possiblyI could win at him."

  "But how can he help you?" said Morton; "he is a prisoner."

  "Well-a-day, ay," answered the afflicted damsel; "but maybe he could makfair terms for us--or, maybe, he could gie us some good advice--or,maybe, he might send his orders to the dragoons to be civil--or"--

  "Or, maybe," said Morton, "you were to try if it were possible to set himat liberty?"

  "If it were sae," answered Jenny with spirit, "it wadna be the first timeI hae done my best to serve a friend in captivity."

  "True, Jenny," replied Morton, "I were most ungrateful to forget it. Buthere comes Cuddie with refreshments--I will go and do your errand to LordEvandale, while you take some food and wine."

  "It willna be amiss ye should ken," said Cuddie to his master, "that thisJenny--this Mrs Dennison, was trying to cuittle favour wi' Tam Rand, themiller's man, to win into Lord Evandale's room without ony body kennin'.She wasna thinking, the gipsy, that I was at her elbow."

  "And an unco fright ye gae me when ye cam ahint and took a grip o' me,"said Jenny, giving him a sly twitch with her finger and her thumb--"if yehadna been an auld acquaintance, ye daft gomeril"--

  Cuddie, somewhat relenting, grinned a smile on his artful mistress, whileMorton wrapped himself up in his cloak, took his sword under his arm, andwent straight to the place of the young nobleman's confinement. He askedthe sentinels if any thing extraordinary had occurred.

  "Nothing worth notice," they said, "excepting the lass that Cuddie tookup, and two couriers that Captain Balfour had dispatched, one to theReverend Ephraim Macbriar, another to Kettledrummle," both of whom werebeating the drum ecclesiastic in different towns between the position ofBurley and the head-quarters of the main army near Hamilton.

  "The purpose, I presume," said Morton, with an affectation ofindifference, "was to call them hither."

  "So I understand," answered the sentinel, who had spoke with themessengers.

  He is summoning a triumphant majority of the council, thought Morton tohimself, for the purpose o
f sanctioning whatever action of atrocity hemay determine upon, and thwarting opposition by authority. I must bespeedy, or I shall lose my opportunity.

  When he entered the place of Lord Evandale's confinement, he found himironed, and reclining on a flock bed in the wretched garret of amiserable cottage. He was either in a slumber, or in deep meditation,when Morton entered, and turned on him, when aroused, a countenance somuch reduced by loss of blood, want of sleep, and scarcity of food, thatno one could have recognised in it the gallant soldier who had behavedwith so much spirit at the skirmish of Loudon-hill. He displayed somesurprise at the sudden entrance of Morton.

  "I am sorry to see you thus, my lord," said that youthful leader.

  "I have heard you are an admirer of poetry," answered the prisoner; "inthat case, Mr Morton, you may remember these lines,--

  'Stone walls do not a prison make, Or iron bars a cage; A free and quiet mind can take These for a hermitage.'

  But, were my imprisonment less endurable, I am given to expect to-morrowa total enfranchisement."

  "By death?" said Morton.

  "Surely," answered Lord Evandale; "I have no other prospect. Yourcomrade, Burley, has already dipped his hand in the blood of men whosemeanness of rank and obscurity of extraction might have saved them. Icannot boast such a shield from his vengeance, and I expect to meet itsextremity."

  "But Major Bellenden," said Morton, "may surrender, in order to preserveyour life."

  "Never, while there is one man to defend the battlement, and that man hasone crust to eat. I know his gallant resolution, and grieved should I beif he changed it for my sake."

  Morton hastened to acquaint him with the mutiny among the dragoons, andtheir resolution to surrender the Castle, and put the ladies of thefamily, as well as the Major, into the hands of the enemy. Lord Evandaleseemed at first surprised, and something incredulous, but immediatelyafterwards deeply affected.

  "What is to be done?" he said--"How is this misfortune to be averted?"

  "Hear me, my lord," said Morton. "I believe you may not be unwilling tobear the olive branch between our master the King, and that part of hissubjects which is now in arms, not from choice, but necessity."

  "You construe me but justly," said Lord Evandale; "but to what does thistend?"

  "Permit me, my lord"--continued Morton. "I will set you at liberty uponparole; nay, you may return to the Castle, and shall have a safe conductfor the ladies, the Major, and all who leave it, on condition of itsinstant surrender. In contributing to bring this about you will onlysubmit to circumstances; for, with a mutiny in the garrison, and withoutprovisions, it will be found impossible to defend the place twenty-fourhours longer. Those, therefore, who refuse to accompany your lordship,must take their fate. You and your followers shall have a free pass toEdinburgh, or where-ever the Duke of Monmouth may be. In return for yourliberty, we hope that you will recommend to the notice of his Grace, asLieutenant-General of Scotland, this humble petition and remonstrance,containing the grievances which have occasioned this insurrection, aredress of which being granted, I will answer with my head, that thegreat body of the insurgents will lay down their arms."

  Lord Evandale read over the paper with attention.

  "Mr Morton," he said, "in my simple judgment, I see little objection thatcan be made to the measure here recommended; nay, farther, I believe, inmany respects, they may meet the private sentiments of the Duke ofMonmouth: and yet, to deal frankly with you, I have no hopes of theirbeing granted, unless, in the first place, you were to lay down yourarms."

  "The doing so," answered Morton, "would be virtually conceding that wehad no right to take them up; and that, for one, I will never agree to."

  "Perhaps it is hardly to be expected you should," said Lord Evandale;"and yet on that point I am certain the negotiations will be wrecked. Iam willing, however, having frankly told you my opinion, to do all in mypower to bring about a reconciliation."

  "It is all we can wish or expect," replied Morton; "the issue is in God'shands, who disposes the hearts of princes.--You accept, then, the safeconduct?"

  "Certainly," answered Lord Evandale; "and if I do not enlarge upon theobligation incurred by your having saved my life a second time, believethat I do not feel it the less."

  "And the garrison of Tillietudlem?" said Morton.

  "Shall be withdrawn as you propose," answered the young nobleman. "I amsensible the Major will be unable to bring the mutineers to reason; and Itremble to think of the consequences, should the ladies and the brave oldman be delivered up to this bloodthirsty ruffian, Burley."

  "You are in that case free," said Morton. "Prepare to mount on horseback;a few men whom I can trust shall attend you till you are in safety fromour parties."

  Leaving Lord Evandale in great surprise and joy at this unexpecteddeliverance, Morton hastened to get a few chosen men under arms and onhorseback, each rider holding the rein of a spare horse. Jenny, who,while she partook of her refreshment, had contrived to make up her breachwith Cuddie, rode on the left hand of that valiant cavalier. The tramp oftheir horses was soon heard under the window of Lord Evandale's prison.Two men, whom he did not know, entered the apartment, disencumbered himof his fetters, and, conducting him down stairs, mounted him in thecentre of the detachment. They set out at a round trot towardsTillietudlem.

  The moonlight was giving way to the dawn when they approached thatancient fortress, and its dark massive tower had just received the firstpale colouring of the morning. The party halted at the Tower barrier, notventuring to approach nearer for fear of the fire of the place. LordEvandale alone rode up to the gate, followed at a distance by JennyDennison. As they approached the gate, there was heard to arise in thecourt-yard a tumult, which accorded ill with the quiet serenity of asummer dawn. Cries and oaths were heard, a pistol-shot or two weredischarged, and every thing announced that the mutiny had broken out. Atthis crisis Lord Evandale arrived at the gate where Halliday wassentinel. On hearing Lord Evandale's voice, he instantly and gladlyadmitted him, and that nobleman arrived among the mutinous troopers likea man dropped from the clouds. They were in the act of putting theirdesign into execution, of seizing the place into their own hands, andwere about to disarm and overpower Major Bellenden and Harrison, andothers of the Castle, who were offering the best resistance in theirpower.

  The appearance of Lord Evandale changed the scene. He seized Inglis bythe collar, and, upbraiding him with his villainy, ordered two of hiscomrades to seize and bind him, assuring the others, that their onlychance of impunity consisted in instant submission. He then ordered themen into their ranks. They obeyed. He commanded them to ground theirarms. They hesitated; but the instinct of discipline, joined to theirpersuasion that the authority of their officer, so boldly exerted, mustbe supported by some forces without the gate, induced them to submit.

  "Take away those arms," said Lord Evandale to the people of the Castle;"they shall not be restored until these men know better the use for whichthey are intrusted with them.--And now," he continued, addressing themutineers, "begone!--Make the best use of your time, and of a truce ofthree hours, which the enemy are contented to allow you. Take the road toEdinburgh, and meet me at the House-of-Muir. I need not bid you beware ofcommitting violence by the way; you will not, in your present condition,provoke resentment for your own sakes. Let your punctuality show that youmean to atone for this morning's business."

  The disarmed soldiers shrunk in silence from the presence of theirofficer, and, leaving the Castle, took the road to the place ofrendezvous, making such haste as was inspired by the fear of meeting withsome detached party of the insurgents, whom their present defencelesscondition, and their former violence, might inspire with thoughts ofrevenge. Inglis, whom Evandale destined for punishment, remained incustody. Halliday was praised for his conduct, and assured of succeedingto the rank of the culprit. These arrangements being hastily made, LordEvandale accosted the Major, before whose eyes the scene h
ad seemed topass like the change of a dream.

  "My dear Major, we must give up the place."

  "Is it even so?" said Major Bellenden. "I was in hopes you had broughtreinforcements and supplies."

  "Not a man--not a pound of meal," answered Lord Evandale.

  "Yet I am blithe to see you," returned the honest Major; "we wereinformed yesterday that these psalm-singing rascals had a plot on yourlife, and I had mustered the scoundrelly dragoons ten minutes ago inorder to beat up Burley's quarters and get you out of limbo, when the dogInglis, instead of obeying me, broke out into open mutiny.--But what isto be done now?"

  "I have, myself, no choice," said Lord Evandale; "I am a prisoner,released on parole, and bound for Edinburgh. You and the ladies must takethe same route. I have, by the favour of a friend, a safe conduct andhorses for you and your retinue--for God's sake make haste--you cannotpropose to hold out with seven or eight men, and without provisions--Enough has been done for honour, and enough to render the defence of thehighest consequence to government. More were needless, as well asdesperate. The English troops are arrived at Edinburgh, and will speedilymove upon Hamilton. The possession of Tillietudlem by the rebels will bebut temporary."

  "If you think so, my lord," said the veteran, with a reluctant sigh,--"Iknow you only advise what is honourable--if, then, you really think thecase inevitable, I must submit; for the mutiny of these scoundrels wouldrender it impossible to man the walls.--Gudyill, let the women call uptheir mistresses, and all be ready to march--But if I could believe thatmy remaining in these old walls, till I was starved to a mummy, could dothe King's cause the least service, old Miles Bellenden would not leavethem while there was a spark of life in his body!"

  The ladies, already alarmed by the mutiny, now heard the determination ofthe Major, in which they readily acquiesced, though not without somegroans and sighs on the part of Lady Margaret, which referred, as usual,to the /dejeune/; of his Most Sacred Majesty in the halls which were nowto be abandoned to rebels. Hasty preparations were made for evacuatingthe Castle; and long ere the dawn was distinct enough for discoveringobjects with precision, the ladies, with Major Bellenden, Harrison,Gudyill, and the other domestics, were mounted on the led horses, andothers which had been provided in the neighbourhood, and proceededtowards the north, still escorted by four of the insurgent horsemen. Therest of the party who had accompanied Lord Evandale from the hamlet, tookpossession of the deserted Castle, carefully forbearing all outrage oracts of plunder. And when the sun arose, the scarlet and blue colours ofthe Scottish Covenant floated from the Keep of Tillietudlem.