The exclamatory phrase had reference to a horseman seen riding down the road so narrowly watched; though the speaker was not the first to see him. He had been already sighted by Sabrina, and it was the flash of excitement in her eyes that guided those of her sister.

The horseman had not all the road to himself; another coming on behind, but at such short distance as to tell of companionship--that of master and servant. He ahead was undoubtedly a gentleman, as evinced by the bright colour of his dress, with its silken gloss under the sunlight, and the glitter of arms and accoutrements; while the more soberly-attired rider in the rear was evidently a groom or body servant.

As the girls stood regarding, the look in the eyes of the elder, at first satisfied and joyous, began gradually to change. The distance was too great for the identification of either face or figure. All that could be distinguished was that they were men on horseback, with the general hue of their habiliments, and the sparkle of arms and ornaments.

It was just these--their brightness and splendour--as affected the foremost of the two, which had brought the change over Sabrina's countenance. Sir Richard Walwyn was not wont to dress gaudily, but rather the reverse. Still, time had elapsed since she last saw him. He had been abroad, in the Low Countries, and with Gustavus of Sweden, battling for the good cause. The foreign fashions may have changed his ideas about dress and its adornments. But little cared she for that so long as his heart was unchanged; and that it was so she knew by the letter which had betrayed her own heart's secret to her sister.

Almost simultaneously upon Vaga's features appeared a change too--almost expressing doubt. It became certainty on the instant after, still another replacing it, as she again exclaimed, contradicting herself--

"Bless me, no! That's Reginald Trevor."

CHAPTER SIX.

A CAVALIER IN LOVE.

Reginald Trevor it was, for Vaga was not guessing. Something she saw about the horseman, or his horse, had enabled her to identify him; as she did so, that third and latest change coming over her countenance, giving it also a serious cast.

But nothing compared with that which now showed on the face of her sister. The varied expressions of hopeful antic.i.p.ation, surprise, delight, then doubt, rapidly succeeding one another, were all past, and in their place a dark shadow sat cloud-like on her brow. In her eyes, too, still scanning the distant horseman, was a look that betokened pain, or at least uneasiness, with something of fear and anger. In truth, the expression on their face, though differing from each other, would have been unreadable to any one who was a stranger to them and Reginald Trevor.

Some knowledge of this gentleman and his antecedents will throw light upon the grave impression seemingly produced upon the two girls by the sight of him.

As the name might indicate, he was kin to the young courtier, late gentleman-usher at Whitehall--his cousin. Different, however, had been their lots in the lottery of life; those of Eustace so far having all come out prizes, while Reginald had been drawing blanks. A dissolute, dissipated father had left the latter nought but a bad name, and the son had little bettered it. Still was he a gallant Cavalier, as the word went, and at least possessed the redeeming quality of courage. He had given proofs of it as an officer in that army sent northward against the Scots, where he had served as a lieutenant under Lunsford. _Per contra_, as the father who begot him, he was given to dissipation, a drinker, dicer, wencher, everything socially disreputable and distasteful to the Parliamentarians,--far more the Puritans,--though neither disgracing or lowering himself in the eyes of his own party--the Cavaliers. If lat.i.tudinarianism in morals could be accounted Christian charity, none were endowed with this virtue in a higher degree than they.

Reginald Trevor had the full benefit of their tolerance in that respect: pa.s.sed among them as a rare good fellow; no harm in him, save what affected himself. To use a common phrase, he was his own worst enemy.

Beginning life penniless, he was no better off at the commencement of his military career; and his spendthrift habits had kept him the same ever since. At that hour, when seen coming down the road--save his sword, horse, clothing; and equipments--he could not call anything his own. These, however, were all of the best; for he was a military dandy, and, despite poverty, always contrived to rig himself out in grand array. Just now he was well up in everything, though possibly nothing had been paid for--horse, clothing, nor accoutrements. But he had got a good post, which enabled him to get good credit, and that satisfied him all the same. Thrown out of commission--as Lunsford and others after their return from the North--he had lived for some months in London as best he could; often at his wits' end. But swords were now once more in demand, with men who could wield them; and Sir John Wintour, who had commenced fortifying his mansion at Lydney to hold it for the King, casting about for the right sort to defend it, chose Reginald Trevor as one of them.

For some weeks antecedent to the time of his introduction to the reader, he had been in Sir John's service; acting in a mixed capacity, military and political, with some duties appertaining to the civil branch of administration. These had taken him all over the Forest of Dean, introducing him into many a house where he had hitherto been a stranger.

But of all honoured by his visit, there was only one he cared ever returning to. It he could revisit again and again; had done so; and would have been glad to stay by it for the rest of his life. A lone house, too, though a mansion, standing remote from anything that could be called city, or even town; remote from other houses of its cla.s.s. It may seem strange such a solitary habitation should have attractions for a man of his character; but not when its name is given--for it was Hollymead. This known, it needs no telling why Reginald Trevor was attracted thither; only to specify which of the two girls was the loadstone that drew him. Even this may be guessed--not likely Sabrina, but very likely Vaga. And Vaga it was. He had fallen in love with her, pa.s.sionately, madly; and, stranger still, purely; for, in all likelihood, it was the first honest love of his life. Honest it was, however; and honestly he had been acting so far; his courtship respectful, and free from the bold rude advances which, as a rule, marked the conduct of the Cavaliers. For, despite all said to the contrary, their behaviour to women was more "gallantry" than gallant, and anything but chivalrous.

But, although behaving his best, Reginald Trevor had not prospered in his suit; on the contrary received a check which brought it to an abrupt ending for the time, and it might be for ever. This in the shape of a hint that his visits to Hollymead House were neither welcome nor desirable, rather the reverse. Not given him by the girl herself--she did not even know of it,--but conveyed by her father privately and quietly, yet firmly. Of course it was taken, and the visits discontinued.

That was but a fortnight ago, and yet Reginald Trevor was once more on his way to Hollymead! But very different the cause carrying him thither now to that which had oft taken him before; different his feelings, too, though not as regarded the young lady. For her they were the same--his pa.s.sion hot as ever. And yet was it a flame burning blindly, without a word of encouragement to fan or keep it alive. Never once had she spoken to tell him his love was reciprocated; never given him smile or look that could be interpreted in that sense. For all this, he so interpreted some she had bestowed on him. Successes, conquests many, had made him vain, and he deemed himself irresistible--fancied he would conquer her, too.

Nevertheless, he felt less confident now. That rupture of relations had become a grievous obstacle. Nor was he on the way to Hollymead with any hope of being able to bind up the broken threads; instead, his errand thither had for object that which was sure further to sever them. It was not of his own seeking, and he had entered upon it with reluctance.

Dark and gloomy was the shadow on his face as he rode under that of the trees. At intervals it became a scowl, with resentment blazing up in his eyes, as he thought of that dismissal, so wounding to his self-esteem, so insulting. But he was armed with that which would give him a _revanche_; make the master of Hollymead humble if not hospitable--a doc.u.ment such as has humbled the master of many another house, angering them at the same time. For it was a letter of request for a loan, signed and stamped with the King's seal.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

A YOUNG LADY NOT IN LOVE.

"I do believe it's Reginald Trevor."

Sabrina said this in rejoinder, now certain it was not the man she had climbed that hill in hopes of meeting.

"I'm sure of it," affirmed Vaga, in confident tone as before. "If I couldn't tell him, I can the horse--the light grey he always rides. And that's his dress--the colour at least. I don't think he has many changes, exquisite as he is, or we'd have seen some of them at Hollymead."

She made this remark with a smile of peculiar significance.

"Oh! yes; 'tis he," a.s.sented the sister, her eyes still upon him. "I'm sure now, myself. The horse--yes, the dress too. And, see! a red plume in his hat--that's enough. I wonder where he's bound for--surely not Hollymead!"

It was then the grave look already alluded to showed itself in her eyes.

"Perhaps you can tell, sister?" she added, interrogatively.

"Sabrina! why do you say that? How should I be acquainted with Mr Trevor's movements or intentions--any more than yourself?"

"Ha--ha! What an artful little minx you are, Vag! A very mistress of deception!"

"You'll make me angry, Sab--I'm half that already."

"Without cause, then, or reason."

"Every reason."

"Name one."

"That you should suspect me of having a secret and keeping it from you."

"Goodness gracious! How just you are in your reproaches--you, who but this very moment have been accusing me of that selfsame thing! I, all candour, all frankness!"

Vaga was now flung back, as a sailor would say, on her "beam ends."

For, in truth, she had made herself amenable to the charge.

"Oh! you innocent!" cried Sabrina, pressing her triumph. "Though you are three years younger than I, you're quite as old about some things, and this is _one_ of them."

"This what?"

"This that; the thing, or man, if he may be so called, we see riding down yonder road."

"You wrong me, sister; I've no secret concerning him. I never cared for Rej Trevor in the way you appear to be hinting at--not three straws."

"Are you serious in what you say, Vag? Tell me the truth!"

There was an earnestness in the way the question was put--tone, air, everything--that bespoke more than a common interest about the answer.

It came, causing disappointment, with some slight vexation. For Vaga, thinking she had been badgered long enough, and, remembering, moreover, how very reticent the other had just shown herself, determined on having a _revanche_. It was altogether in consonance with her nature; though she had no idea of advantage beyond that of mere fun.

"Curiosity on the rack!" she triumphantly retorted. "What you've just been dooming me to! How does it feel, sister Sab!"

"Sister Sab" made no response; in turn being fairly conquered and cornered. But her silence and submissive look were more eloquent than any appeal she could have made. And, responding to them, her conqueror relentingly asked:

"Are you very, _very_ desirous of knowing how the case stands between myself and Master Reginald Trevor?"

"I am, indeed. And when you've told me, I'll give you the reason."