The Viscount took out his snuff-box, tapped it, opened it, and shut it up again.

"Uncle," said he at last, "nunky--sir--" suddenly he rose and caught the Major's hand, gripping it hard: "Gad prasper me sir, I think--yes I think, I'd better--step upstairs and rid me of some o' this Kentish dust."

As he spoke the Viscount turned and strode from the room leaving the Major deep in anxious thought.

CHAPTER XXV

IN WHICH THE GHOST IS LAID

My Lady Elizabeth Carlyon, seated upon a rickety chair among a pile of other lumber high under the eaves, kicked her pretty heels for very triumph as she watched the tatterdemalion eat and drink the dainty meal she had just set before him.

"O Charles--'tis all so vastly romantic!" she exclaimed.

My Lord of Medhurst, chancing to have his mouth rather full, spluttered and lifted handsome head indignantly; thus the likeness to his twin sister was manifest, the same delicate profile and regularity of features, bright, fearless eyes and firm set of mouth and chin, the same proud and lofty carriage of the head.

"Romantic be d.a.m.ned, Bet--saving your presence!" said he, "I've led a very dog's life----"

"My poor, poor boy!" she sighed, touching his thin cheek with gentle, loving fingers which he immediately kissed; thereafter he fell to upon the viands before him with renewed appet.i.te and gusto.

"Egad, Bet," he mumbled, "this is better than a diet of raw turnips and blackberries or eggs sucked warm from the nest----"

"O Charles, hath it been so bad as that?"

"Aye--and worse! Lord, Bet--la.s.s, I've begged and thieved my way hither from the Border. Heaven only knows how oft I've sat i' the stocks for a ravished hen, been kicked and cuffed and stoned out o'

villages for a vagrant, consorted with rogues of all kinds, hidden in barns, slept in hayricks and hedges, been abused by man, and stormed at and buffeted by the elements and, on the whole--am the better for it.

Nay, sweet la.s.s, no tears!"

Down went knife and fork with a clatter and his ragged sleeve was about her. "No tears, Bet," said he consolingly, "damme, I'll not endure 'em!"

"But O my dear, to think what you have suffered and I--so careless, while you, Charles, you----"

"Learned the meaning of life, Bet! Learned to--to be a man, for I do protest the beggar is a better man than ever was his idle scatterbrain lordship. A year ago when I had all and more than I needed, I was a discontented fool a--a very a.s.s, Bet. To-day, though I've lost all, I've found--I've learned--Egad, I don't know just how to put it but you--you get me, Bet?"

"I understand, dearest boy!"

"Y'see, Bet la.s.s, hardship makes a man either a rogue or a--very man.

And, though I'm a beggar, I'm no rogue. 'Twas a great adventure, Bet, a n.o.ble effort brought to red ruin by--ah well--'tis finished! I was wounded, as I told you, and had to lie hid for weary weeks. When I ventured abroad at last, 'twas to learn poor Derwent.w.a.ter was executed and Eversleigh too--poor old d.i.c.k! And the rest either in prison with Nithsdale or scattered G.o.d knoweth where. So there was I, dest.i.tute and with none to turn to of all my friends--for, as you know, 'tis prison or death to shelter such as I, and so in my extremity I--I came to you, Betty----"

"Thank G.o.d!" she whispered fervently, giving him a little squeeze.

"But only to beg money enough to carry me beyond seas, dearest!

To-night or to-morrow at latest I must be gone----"

"Pho--'tis preposterous, foolish boy! 'Twere madness, dear Charles! I say you shall remain here safe hid until you are fully recovered of your sufferings!"

"Nay Bet, I'll be curst if I do! How, skulk here 'neath your petticoat and let you run the risk of sheltering a 'rebel'? No, no, I'll be----"

"You'll be ruled by me, dear Charles, of course! As for danger, I am your sister and proud to share it with you----" Hereupon he kissed her heartily and sitting down on the floor beside her made great play with knife and fork again.

"In three or four days at most I should reach the sea, Betty. And I'm determined on making the attempt within a night or so. As for risk--bah! I'm become so adept at skulking and hiding I'd elude a whole regiment! And with money in my pocket and no need to thieve or poach--Egad! Talking of poaching, I should be on my way to the plantations at this minute but for a neighbour of yours----"

"Neighbour, Charles?"

"Aye--tall, keen-eyed, soft-spoken and dev'lish placid; true-blue 'spite his limp and infernal old coat----"

"Ah," said Betty softly, "you mean Major d'Arcy, of course!"

"That was the name, I believe, and 'tis thanks to him----"

"Tell me all about it, Charles."

"Well, I'd poached a rabbit, Bet. Keeper saw me, knocked keeper down and bolted. Other keepers headed me off but I ran like a hare and bursting through a hedge, came full tilt upon three be-ruffled exquisites lounging down that quiet bye-lane for all the world as it had been St. James's--and Bet, who should they be but Alton, Marchdale and Alvaston! Seeing me in my rags and the keepers in full cry, Alton yells a 'view hallo' and after me they came on the instant. And a dev'lish fine run I gave 'em, egad! O Betty, I mired 'em in bogs and tore 'em finely in brambles and things before they ran me to earth--even then I doubled up Alton with a leveller, thumped Alvaston on the ear and Marchdale on the nose. Finally the keepers dragged me before a little pompous fellow with a scratch wig and red face, called himself Rington. By this time a crowd had collected and though I was minded to get word to Alvaston 'twas too late, Rington's keepers and the yokels were all about me. So they marched me off in triumph to the Squire, Major d'Arcy, who, smiling mighty affable, threatened to shoot Rington, sent the crowd off with a flea in their ear, as you might say, and me to the kitchen to bathe my hurts and eat a meal, and so to the lock-up. Next morning he woke me very early, bestowed on me some useful advice, a couple o' guineas and my liberty and limped serenely off."

Here my Lord Medhurst proceeded to finish what remained of his supper while Betty sat, chin in hand, staring at the dormer window just now glowing with sunset.

"To-morrow there's no moon. I shall start to-morrow, Bet."

"Faith and you'll not, Charles!"

"Aye, but I will. Look'ee Bet, I'm determined----"

"See here, Charles--so am I!"

"Pish, girl!" said he, looking dignified.

"Tush, boy!" said she, kissing him.

"Nay but, dear Bet, I've your safety at heart and therefore----"

"But, dearest Charles, you've no money in your pocket--and therefore!"

"Egad and that's true enough!" said he ruefully.

"So you'll be ruled by me, boy, and stay here until I think you are fit for travel."

"What o' the servants?"

"This part of the house is empty and--I'll manage the servants!"

"There's Aunt Belinda, she's an infernal sharp nose, Bet."

"Nay, I'll manage Aunt Belinda."

"Why then, what of this Dalroyd?"

"O!" said my lady, knitting black brows, "I'll manage him also."