Love and Life

On that summer's day, however, no cloak was at hand. They went down the river very rapidly, for the tide was running out and at length Jem Green pointed out the neat little garden. On the step sat a woman, apparently weeping bitterly. Could it be the object of their search? No, but as they came nearer, and she was roused so as to catch sight of the scarlet coat, she beckoned and gesticulated with all her might; and as they approached Sir Amyas recognised her as his mother's maid.

'You will be in time yet,' she cried breathlessly. 'Oh! take me in, or you won't know the ship!'

So eager and terrified was she, that but for the old steersman's peremptory steadiness, her own life and theirs would have been in much peril, but she was safely seated at last, gasping out, 'The Red Cloud, Captain Karen. They've been gone these ten minutes.'

'Aye, aye,' gruffly responded Green, and the oars moved rapidly, while Loveday with another sob cried, 'Oh! sir, I thought you would never come!'

'You sent the warning?'

Yes, sir, I knew nothing till the morning, when my Lady called me up. I lie in her room, you know. She had given orders, and I was to take the sweet lady and go down the river with her to Mrs. Darke, the perfuming woman my Lady has dealings with about here hair and complexion. There I was to stay with her till-till this same sea- captain was to come and carry her off where she would give no more trouble. Oh, sir, it was too much-and my Lady knew it, for she had tied my hands so that I had but a moment to scribble down that scrip, and bid Syphax take it to you. The dear lady! she said, 'her God could deliver her out of the mouth of the lion,' and I could not believe it! I thought it too late!'

'How can we thank you,' began Betty; but she was choked by intense anxiety, and Jem Green broke in with an inquiry where the ship was bound for. Loveday only had a general impression of the West Indies, and believed that the poor lady's destined spouse was a tobacconist, and as the boat was soon among a forest of shipping where it could not proceed so fast, Green had to inquire of neighbouring mariners where the Red Cloud was lying.

'The Red Cloud, Karen, weighs anchor for Carolina at flood tide to-night. Shipper just going aboard,' they were told.

Their speed had been so rapid that they were in time to see the boat alongside, and preparations being made to draw up some one or something on board. 'Oh! that is she!' cried Loveday in great agitation. 'They've drugged her. No harm done. She don't know it. But it is she!'

Sir Amyas, with a voice of thunder, called out, 'Halt, villain,' at the same moment as Green shouted 'Avast there, mate!' And their boat came dashing up alongside.

'Yield me up that lady instantly, fellow!' cried Sir Amyas, with his sword half drawn.

'And who are you, I should like to know,' returned Karen, coolly, 'swaggering at an honest man taking his freight and passengers aboard?'

'I'll soon show you!'

'Hush, sir,' said Green, who had caught sight of pistols and cutlasses, 'let me speak a moment. Look you here, skipper, this young gentleman and lady have right on their side. This is her sister, and he is her husband. They are people of condition, as you see.'

'All's one to me on the broad seas.'

'That may be,' said Green, 'but you see you can't weigh anchor these three hours or more; and what's to hinder the young captain here from swearing against you before a magistrate, and getting your vessel searched, eh?'

'I've no objection to hear reason if I'm spoke to reasonable,' said Karen, sulkily; 'but I'll not be bullied like a highwayman, when I've my consignment regularly made out, and the freight down in hand, square.'

'You may keep your accursed passage-money and welcome,' cried Sir Amyas, 'so you'll only give me my wife!'

'Show him the certificate,' whispered Betty.

Sir Amyas had it ready, and he read it loud enough for all on the Thames to hear. Karen gave a sneering little laugh. 'What's that to me? My passenger here has her berth taken in the name of Ann Davis.'

'Like enough,' said Loveday, 'but you remember me, captain, and I swear that this poor young lady is what his Honour Sir Amyas say. He is a generous young gentleman, and will make it up to you if you are at any loss in the matter.'

'A hundred times over!' exclaimed Amyas hotly.

'Hardly that,' said Karen. 'Van Draagen might have been good for a round hundred if he'd been pleased with the commission.'

'I'll give you and order-' began Sir Amyas.

'What have you got about you, sir?' interrupted Karen. 'I fancy hard cash better than your orders.'

The youth pulled out his purse. There was only a guinea or two and some silver. 'One does not go out to parade with much money about one,' he said, with a trembling endeavour for a smile, 'but if you would send up to my quarters in Whitehall Barracks-'

'Never mind, sir,' said Karen, graciously. 'I see you are in earnest, and I'll put up with the loss rather than stand in the light of a couple of true lovers. Here, Jack, lend a hand, and we'll hoist the young woman over. She's quiet enough, thanks to Mother Darkness.'

The sudden change in tone might perhaps be owing to the skipper's attention having been called by a sign from one of his men to a boat coming up from Woolwich, rowed by men of the Royal navy, who were certain to take part with an officer; but Sir Amyas and Betty were only intent on receiving the inanimate form wrapped up in its mantle. What a meeting it was for Betty, and yet what joy to have her at all! They laid her with her head in her sister's lap, and Sir Amyas hung over her, clasping one of the limp gloved hands, while Eugene called 'Aura, Aura,' and would have impetuously kissed her awake, but Loveday caught hold of him. 'Do not, do not, for pity's sake, little master,' she said; 'the potion will do her no harm if you let her sleep it off, but she may not know you if you waken her before the time.'

'Wretch, what have you given her?' cried Sir Amyas.

'It was not me, sir, it was Mrs. Darke, in a cup of coffee. She vowed it would do no hurt if only she was let to sleep six or eight hours. And see what a misery it has saved her from!'

'That is true,' said Betty. 'Indeed I believe this is a healthy sleep. See how gently she breathes, how soft and natural her colour is, how cool and fresh her cheek is. I cannot believe there is serious harm done.'

'How soon can we reach a physician?' asked Sir Amyas, still anxiously, of the coxswain.

'I can't rightly say, sir,' replied he; 'but never you fear. They wouldn't do aught to damage such as she.'

Patience must perforce be exercised as, now against the tide and the stream, the wherry worked its way back. Once there was a little stir; Sir Amyas instantly hovered over Aurelia, and clasped her hand with a cry of 'My dearest life!' The long dark eyelashes slowly rose, the eyes looked up for one moment from his face to her sister's, and then to her brother's, but the lids sank as if weighed down, and with a murmur, 'Oh, don't wake me,' she turned her face around on Betty's lap and slept again.

'Poor darling, she thinks it a dream,' said Betty. 'Eugene, do not. Sir, I entreat! Brother, yes I will call you so if you will only let her alone! See how happy and peaceful her dear face is! Do not rouse her into terror and bewilderment.'

'If I only were sure she was safe,' he sighed, hanging over, with an intensity of affection and anxiety that brought a dew even to the old steersman's eyes; and he kindly engrossed Eugene by telling about the places they passed, and setting him to watch the smart crew of the boat from the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, which was gaining on them.

Meanwhile the others interrogated Loveday, who told them of the pretext on which Lady Belamour had sent her captive down to Mrs. Darke's. No one save herself had, in my Lady's household, she said, an idea of where the young lady was, Lady Belamour having employed only hired porters except on that night when Lady Aresfield's carriage brought her. This had led to the captivity being know to Lady Belle and her brother, and Loveday had no doubt that it was the discovery of their being aware of it, as well as Jumbo's appearance in the court, that had made her mistress finally decide on this frightful mode of ridding herself of the poor girl. The maid was as adroit a dissembler as her mistress, and she held her peace as to her own part in forwarding Colonel Mar's suit, whether her lady guessed it or not, but she owned with floods of tears how the sight of the young lady's meek and dutiful submission, her quiet trust, and her sweet, simple teaching of the children, had wakened into life again a