Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

"What detained you, sirrah?" asked the other sharply. The yeoman muttered an excuse; but his speech betrayed him. "You have been drinking," said Calverley, with anger. "Could you not have kept sober till you had seen me?"

"Why, Master Calverley, to tell you the truth, that old mother Holgrave frightened me so that

"Your childish cowardice had like to have betrayed us. Byles, you have not dealt honestly by me in this affair- but you are not in a state to be spoken to now."

“There you are mistaken, squire. I am just as sober as I ought to be to come to this place: but I can't see why we could n't have talked as well any where else as here!"

66

Yes, and have some old gossiping fool break in. No, nohere we are safe. But come nearer, and stand, as I do, in the shadow of the cliff." "Not a foot nearer, Master Calverley, for all the gold in England. Why, you are standing just where the poor lady and her babe were buried!"

"Suppose I am-think you they will sleep the worse because I stand on their grave? Oh! it is a fine thing," he continued, as if following up some reflection in his mind, "to bury those we hate-deep, deep-so that they may never blast our sight again!- Byles, you perjured yourself in that affair of the buck. You swore to aid me. You had gold for the service, and yet it would have been better that the beast were still alive, than to have left it behind in the chase; it has only brought suspicion on me, and given Holgrave a fresh triumph!"

"No fault of mine, squire," answered Byles, in a sullen tone; "there was no such thing as getting the creature out; and if Sam or I had been caught, it would have been worse still. But bad as Stephen is, he would n't have thought of accusing us, if it had n't have been for that old she-fox, his mother."

[ocr errors]

"Aye," said Calverley, with a smile-if the curve of a bloodless lip could be so designated "aye, you name her rightly, Byles: she is a fox, and like a fox shall she die, --hunted-driven-tortured. Byles, have you never heard it said that this woman was a witch ?"

“Why — yes — I have, Master Calverley; but in truth I don't like to have anything to do with her. If she set a spell upon me, I could never do good again. Did not she tell Roger Follett, that if he did n't take care, sooner or later, the gable end of his house would fall? and so, sure enough it did."

"And yet, knowing this woman a witch, you would not assist in ridding the parish of such a pest?"

Byles made no reply.

"Well," resumed Calverley, taking some nobles from a small bag he had in his hand, "these must be for him who will aid me. You have been well paid, John Byles, for the work you did not do, and now, -see if your industry and your profitable farm will befriend you as much as I should have done."

This speech acted as Calverley had anticipated. The yeomen's scruples fled; and alarmed at the prospect of losing those comforts he had enjoyed since entering into the nefarious league, he said more earnestly than he had yet spoken

once."

"Master Calverley, you will find no man act more faithfully by you than John Byles. You have been a good friend to me, and I would do any thing to serve you, but- you see a man can't stifle conscience all at "Conscience!" repeated Calverley, with a smile of irony. "Do you know, Byles, I think that conscience of yours will neither serve you in this world, nor in the next! You have too little to make you an honest man,

and too much to make you a reckless knave. But a truce with conscience. I have here," said he, holding up the bag of coin," that which would buy the conscience of twenty such as you; and now, Byles, if you choose to earn this gold, which will be given to another if you hesitate, swear on these gospels," presenting to the yeoman a Testament," that you will be a faithful and willing confederate in my future plans respecting the Holgraves. Will you swear?"

66

Yes," replied Byles; but as he spoke, he looked wistfully round, in evident trepidition.

"Are you afraid of good or bad spirits? Nonsense! do as you have promised, and take the gold."

Byles made the required asseveration, and took the price.

"What are you gazing at, Byles ?" asked Calverley.

[ocr errors]

See, see!" said Byles, pointing to the northwest.

Calverley stepped from the shadow of the cliff, and beheld a meteor in the sky, brightening and expanding, as the clouds opened, until it assumed the appearance of a brilliant star, of astonishing magnitude, encircled by dazzling rays, which, in a singular manner, were all inclined in one direction, and pointing to that part of the horizon where lay the rival of England France.

Even in Calverley's breast, the bad passions were for a moment hushed, as he gazed upon the radiant phenomenon; but upon the more gross and more timorous mind of Byles, the effect produced was much more striking. He seemed to imagine, that from that brilliant star some celestial being was about to descend, and blast him with the wrath of heaven: and when a lambent flame, darting across the firmament, played for an instant around the quarry, he concluded that heaven's vengeance had, indeed, overtaken him. Rushing from the haunted spot, he stopped not in his headlong course, until he stood in the midst of a group of half-dressed neighbours near his own door, who had been aroused from their slumbers to gaze upon the comet.

Calverley, although possessed of more moral courage than Byles, and viewing the meteor with altogether different feelings, was yet not so entirely imbued with the philosophy of later times, as to behold it without apprehensions. When Byles had fled, he turned, and walked on towards the castle with a more rapid pace than usual.

Nothing of moment occurred at Sudley Castle for many months, if we except the birth of an heir; the appointment of Mary Byles, through Calverley's influence, to be the nurse; and the accession of Calverley himself to the coveted stewardship. The baroness's infant grew a fine, healthy child; but, as is sometimes the case with stout children, it had occasionally convulsive fits in teething. This, however, was carefully concealed from the mother, and Mary continued to receive great praise for her nursing. But it unfortunately happened, that one morning, when the boy had been laughing and playing in the highest spirits, Mary saw its countenance suddenly change. This was the more unfortunate, as De Boteler and his lady were momentarily expected to return, after a fortnight's absence, and Mary had dressed the infant in its gayest apparel to meet its parents, and had been congratulating herself upon the sprightliness and health of the boy. No excuses of sleep would satisfy the mother now: if the child was not taken to her, the nurse was assured she would come to look at him, and kiss him as he slept.

At this moment of perplexity, some medicine, that she had obtained from Edith, occurred to her, and, with a feeling of confidence, and almost of ecstasy, she took a phial from a shelf in a cupboard where she had placed it, and, pouring out the contents in a large spoon, hesitated an instant ere she administered it. "Let me see," said she; " surely it was a large spoon

ful Edith told me to give-yet all that was in the phial doesn't fill the spoon. Surely I can't be wrong: no- -I remember she said a large spoonful, and we did n't talk of anything else— so I must be right." But Mary still hesitated, till, hearing a sudden noise in the court-yard, which, she conjectured, was her mistress returned, and as the child was getting worse every moment, she leaned back its head, and, forcing open its mouth, compelled the patient, though with difficulty, to swallow its death. The draught was taken; the rigid muscles relaxed, and for a minute the child lay motionless in her lap; but in an instant after, Mary could scarcely suppress a shriek at the horrid sight that met her gaze. The eyes opened, and glared, and seemed as if starting from the head- the fair face and the red lips were blue, deepening and deepening, till settling in blackness - the limbs contracted the mouth opened, and displayed a tongue discoloured and swollen - then came a writhing and heaving of the body, and a low, agonized moan: and, as Mary looked almost frantic at this dreadful sight, Edith's words, when she had given her the phial," that there was enough there to kill," suddenly occurred to her and then, too, came, with a dreadful distinctness, the remembrance of the true directions which Edith had given.

[ocr errors]

"Oh, I have murdered the child!" exclaimed Mary, in the dreadful excitement of the moment. "What will become of me? what shall I do? I shall surely be hung. Oh! oh!" she continued, covering her face with her hands, to shut out the sight of the gasping infant. At this instant, the door opened; Mary looked up fearfully- -it was her husband. "Oh, Byles! Byles! look at this child! What will become of me?"

"The saints preserve us !" ejaculated Byles, as he looked at the babe: "Mary, how is this?"

"Oh! don't ask me; but go for Master Calverley. For God's sake, do not stand as if you were bewitched: see! see! he is dying. The poor child! What will become of me? Run, Byles, run, for mercy's sake, and

tell Master Calverley."

Byles stood looking, with a countenance expressive of stupified horror, and yet, as if doubting that the livid, distorted, suffering creature could be the fine blooming boy he had so lately seen. At length, aroused by the increasing energy of Mary, he turned silently round and left the room; as he closed the door, the agonized spirit of the little Roland passed away.

In an instant Byles returned with Calverley, and even he started and uttered an exclamation, as his eyes fell on the ghastly face of the dead child.

[ocr errors]

Mary Byles, how did this happen?" asked Calverley, eagerly.

"Master Calverley, I will tell you truly," answered Mary, in a voice scarcely audible from its tremor. "You have been our best friend, and you would not see me hung? It was all a mistake-I am sure I would n't hurt a hair of the dear creature's head." And here the feelings of woman so far prevailed, that she shed some disinterested tears.

"You could have no motive to destroy the child—but tell me quickly what you have to say." Calverley spoke with a harshness that instantly recalled all Mary's fears and selfishness.

"Edith Holgrave," said she, " gave me some medicine to-"

"Edith Holgrave!" interrupted Calverley, with a quickness of voice and eagerness of look that told how greatly the name interested him.

"Yes, Edith Holgrave told me to give ten drops out of that little bottle, pointing to the empty phial,) and I gave - but, oh! Master Calverley, I forgot

"You gave it all?" said Calverley, impatiently.

"Yes."

[ocr errors][merged small]

will swear it was a draught that Edith Holgrave gave you

that has killed the child?" said Calverley, with a brightening counte

nance.

"Oh, yes," replied Mary; "but indeed - "

"Nonsense!" interrupted Calverley.. "Hear me, or you will be hanged! If you hope to save your life, Mary Byles, you must swear that you gave it according to Edith's directions-breathe not a syllable of the drops!" Mary looked with a fearful wildness at Calverley, as she comprehended his meaning; but Byles said quickly,

"What! do you mean her to hang old Edith ?"

"Certainly," returned Calverley, coolly, "unless you prefer a gallows for your wife. But I dare say you would rather see Mary hanged than that old witch! I will leave you to manage the matter between yourselves."

"Oh, don't leave us ! - do n't leave us!" said Byles, in an agony. "Oh, save me! save me !" sobbed Mary.

"Was any one present when you gave it ?" inquired Calverley, as he turned round and addressed Mary.

"Yes; Winifred handed me the bottle, but the child began to cry, so I sent her out."

[ocr errors]

not a

"It was well she was here," returned he: "and now, remember word of the drops! swear, simply, that the draught destroyed the infant." And, without awaiting her reply, he seized the pale and trembling Byles by the arm, and dragged him from the room into the passage. He then unlocked a door that had never been observed by either Byles or his wife, and, closing it after them, led the yeoman down a flight of dark steps, and, pausing a moment at the bottom to listen, he unlocked another door, and Byles found himself in a dark passage that branched from one of the entrances of the court-yard to some of the culinary offices. "Go you that way, and I will go this," said Calverley, "and, remember, you know nothing of the child's death." As he spoke, he darted from Byles, and gained the courtyard without farther observation. He walked carelessly about, till a female domestic passing, he called to her, desiring her to go and ask Mary Byles if the young Lord Roland was ready to meet his parents, as they were momentarily expected. The woman departed, and he walked over to the gate between the front towers, as if looking for the return of his lord.

CHAPTER IV.

"WHAT ails you, Stephen," asked Margaret, alarmed at the strange paleness of the yeoman's countenance, and the agitation of his manner, as he entered the cottage on the afternoon the child died. But Holgrave, without replying to her interrogatory, hastily closed and bolted the door. He then drew the large oak table from the side of the wall, and placed it as a barricade before it. "Stephen, what means this bolting and barring?" inquired Edith, as she saw with surprise his defensive preparations. "What fear you, my son ?"

"Fear! mother?" replied Holgrave, taking a lance and battle-axe from their place over the chimney, and firmly grasping the former as he stood against the table; "I do not fear now, mother, nor need you-for, by the blessed St. Paul, they shall pass over my mangled body before they reach you!"

"Stephen Holgrave, are you mad?" returned Edith, alarmed: "tell me the meaning of this! - Speak, I command thee!"

"Oh, mother, I cannot tell you," answered Holgrave, turning away his face from her searching glance; "oh, no, I cannot tell you!"

"Stephen, you were not used to answer me thus. I charge you, by the authority and love of thy mother, and in the name of the blessed saints, to tell me what has happened."

"Alas! my mother, you will know it soon enough. It is said you have -have- bewitched- - or poisoned the baron's son!" "Oh, mother!" shrieked Margaret. sanctuary!"

"Fly!to the abbey, and take

"Margaret!" replied Edith, "I stir not hence. The guilty may take refuge from the anger of the laws; but it is not for the innocent to fear and fly like the felon !"

Margaret then threw herself at the feet of Edith, and besought her, in the most earnest and pathetic manner, to take refuge at Hailes Abbey, in which she was seconded by Holgrave. The old woman remained silent; but there was a brightness -a glistening in her eyes as if a tear had started; --but if a tear did start, it did not fall. At length, recovering her composure, she rose firmly from her seat

"My son,” said she, "lay down your arms, I command. Should my life be offered up to the vengeful spirit of Thomas Calverley, who alone can be the foul author of this charge, it will be only taking from me a few short years perhaps days- of suffering. But thou hast years of health and life before thee, and thou hast this gentle weeping creature to sustain."

[ocr errors]

"What!" interrupted Margaret warmly; "Oh, no the mother of Stephen Holgrave to be torn from us without a blow! Did he not fight for his lord? and shall he not risk his life for his mother?"

"And is this thy counsel, foolish woman ?" replied Edith, in a tone of rebuke."

"She speaks my purpose," said Holgrave, as he grasped still firmer the poised weapon.

Edith stepped quickly up to her son and knelt before him

[ocr errors]

"Oh Stephen, my son, my first-born — thy mother kneels to thee. Lay aside that lance, and hearken to the words of her who bore thee and nourished thee. Oh, bring not sorrow and ruin on thyself and her! What would be the bitterness of my dying moments if my son lived not to lay me beside his father? - if thy Margaret was left to mourn in lowly widowhood — and, perhaps, to fall beneath the base arts of Calverley! Oh, my son, my son, by the soul of thy dead father, and by the blessing of thy mother, resist - Hark! they come — they come! Haste, Stephen - Give me the

not!

weapon."

Holgrave, shocked and agitated, could only think of raising his mother from her knees. He suffered her, without resistance, to take the lance from his hand, and then attempt, with her weak fingers, to remove the barricade, while advancing footsteps were heard without.

The hostile party reached the cottage, and the latch was quickly raised; but, finding it resist their attempts, the voice of Calverley, in an authoritative tone, pronounced

[ocr errors]

"In the name of the Lord Roland de Boteler, I demand the body of Edith Holgrave, who is accused of the foul crimes of witchcraft and murder.Open the door, Stephen Holgrave, if you are within !"

"Fiend of hell! it is he!" muttered Holgrave, gnashing his teeth, but without moving.

The party without seemed to have expected resistance; for the next moment a blow was struck upon the door which made the whole house shake; and the besieged perceived that they were forcing an entrance with the trunk of a young tree, or some such machine, in imitation of the ram, not yet disused in warfare. Speedily the timber yielded and cracked; and

« AnteriorContinuar »